Priorty is Balancing the Budget

New Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is foremost concerned with financial figures

If the fire in the basement isn't put out, talking of building additions is pointless," told us Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. He was detailing how dire the Province's financial straits are, and how he intends to tackle the new and unexpected crisis.
Putting his electoral programme on hold, the new Premier explained his ideas for coping with emergencies: first and foremost telling people the truth, then immediately implementing programmes that would entail little cost but be greatly useful to all Ontarians.
These initiatives fall under two broad categories: Healthcare and Public Education.
McGuinty started by remarking, "We must avoid at all costs a repetition of these occurrences." He proposes a law compelling the government to obtain an independent audit of the budget one or two months in advance of a campaign. "That way," he added, "voters will not be made promises that could not be kept." During the last campaign, in fact, the Tories had boasted of balancing the budget, but an independent audit ordered by the Liberals after their victory uncovered a hole of $5.6 billion.
McGuinty has already entrusted Finance minister Greg Sorbara with preparing a bill with this provision.
Sources close to Queen's Park are rumouring about big problems still to be uncovered, especially in healthcare. McGuinty did not give details on new possible 'surprises' like the inadequate sterilization of medical supplies, but he revealed that all hospitals have been ordered to report on their situation and made a promise. "Ontarians can trust us to unveil any problem we shall become aware of. For sure," said McGuinty, "we won't hide the truth from our citizens."
Programmes have been put on indefinite hold, but the Liberal government intends to proceed with some initiatives requiring little financial effort. They refer mainly to healthcare and education, and their purpose will be to "lay proper foundations for a fair administration."
"For instance," reported McGuinty, "25 percent of students denounced being bullied in school. This must change."
He mentioned the possibility of installing surveillance cameras in key points of school buildings, especially since there are frequent cases of unauthorized entry. "Studying is a burden in itself," commented McGuinty; "our kids should not also be bullied."
New initiatives will also concern the health sector, with the introduction of the Medicare Act. "To the five principles of the Canada Health Act," declared McGuinty, "we are adding a sixth one, accountability."
Moreover, McGuinty mentioned the change of responsibility for the Province's Chief Medical Officer, who will go from answering to the government to answering directly to the public.
Talking about current problems, McGuinty could not rule out the possibility of other 'surprises', although he only said, "All hospitals are being audited and whatever will come out will be immediately disclosed."
Reactions to the Throne Speech were mixed. Tories spoke of 'unjustified whining', while the NDP accused the new Liberal government of being a carbon copy of the previous Tory cabinet. McGuinty said he wasn't surprised. "We know that great challenges lie ahead, and the metaphor of the burning basement wasn't just a figure of speech." McGuinty said that he can take criticism, "But we can only put out this fire that we did not light. If we ignore it, Ontario's growth would be stumped, but worse than that we would jeopardize what we have."
McGuinty was not worried about the criticism, but he intends to address the citizens directly.
"We need to convince them that what we are doing is not due to our desire to cut taxes to the rich or give favours to friends. We're doing it in order to improve education and healthcare for every citizen of this Province."

Publication Date: 2003-11-30
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3418