based on the source, but this is what Bob Rae would be up against if he were to win the Liberal Party leadership. (h/t Adler Online).
...Perversely, the Rae government's record-high taxes were accompanied by record-high provincial deficits. Revisionists will argue that circumstances forced deficits on the Rae administration but, at the time, the NDP claimed it was making a deliberate choice to let government spending outstrip revenue, in a Keynesian effort to spend the province to prosperity."We had a choice to make this year -- to fight the deficit or fight the recession," Mr. Rae's provincial treasurer announced. "And we are proud to be fighting the recession."
Alas, the tax-and-spend approach failed; the recession was not abated, the welfare rolls swelled to encompass one of every eight Ontarians, and the province lost its cherished triple-A credit rating. Liberal Greg Sorbara, now cited as a potential supporter of Mr. Rae's leadership bid, derided the reckless expenditure as nothing but "a big NDP payoff to its friends."
Observers disagree about the extent to which the government's high taxes and anti-business policies contributed to Ontario's economic slump.
While the sluggish U.S. economy was obviously a contributor, that alone does not explain the province's particularly dismal performance: Ontario was first in and last out of the recession, and suffered the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. When Mike Harris reversed those policies and cut taxes, Ontario's economy grew faster than that of any other province and, indeed, any G8 nation.
I am convinced that this Rae thing is going nowhere. In Ontario he regarded as the worst Premier in the history of the Province. In Quebec he would seen as an unacceptable centralist. In the rest of the country he would be seen as nothing more than a darling of the "Toronto elite". Explain to me again why he is appealing?
Comments (6)
Bob Rae? Damn good idea….for the Conservatives.
Posted by Richard Sharpe | March 16, 2006 3:25 PM
Posted on March 16, 2006 15:25
DID YOU JUST HEAR THAT PAUL MARTIN STEPPED DOWN AS LEADER??
Saints be praised, the ol bugger finally let go.
Posted by Riley Hennessey | March 16, 2006 4:52 PM
Posted on March 16, 2006 16:52
The Liberal media machine is cleverly using the free Headlines in the Press for leadership candidates that will give the winner plus the list of losers (who will hope to be in a cabinet) name recognition going into the next election. Name recognition is significant to the 60% that bother to place an X in Federal elections.
Posted by nomdenet | March 16, 2006 7:17 PM
Posted on March 16, 2006 19:17
Ontario was NOT the first into the recession. I recall a political cartoon from 1988 that lampooned the Bank of Canada’s high interest rate policies by having Ontario (portrayed as a fat opera singer having a faint) is being looked over by a doctor representing the head of the Bank of Canada. The doctor is saying “we need to cool you down! You’re overheating!”
Meanwhile, the prairie provinces and the Maritimes are depicted in the background, all bundled up, looking darn cold…
Posted by James Bow | March 17, 2006 7:15 PM
Posted on March 17, 2006 19:15
I agree with Richard Sharpe on that one..if the Libs want him ,he’ll fit right in with their socialist agenda. And enough Ontarian’s will remember Rae Days…forced days off work with no pay for healthcare and other public employees. The hospitals were a mess. Just how badly is Ontario determined to vote Liberal?…that would be a real test. Conservative Majority for sure!!Go Bobbie!!
Posted by Vicki | March 18, 2006 12:15 AM
Posted on March 18, 2006 00:15
Here is a not so positive story about Greg Sorbara MPP.
Posted by Greg Sorbara | June 9, 2006 1:06 PM
Posted on June 9, 2006 13:06