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Oct. 10 - Oct. 17, 2004 |
One Year at Queen's Park
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty reflects on his work and on broken promises
By Angelo Persichilli
One year ago, Ontario voters chose change and elected Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty as Premier. That election ended a decade of Conservative rule, characterized by reforms that not everybody appreciated and that raised deep divisions in public opinion.
The Liberals promised to reduce tension and address any problems with energy but also keeping an eye on social needs and repercussions. We met McGuinty in his Queen's Park study; the last time we were there, Ernie Eves was sitting behind this desk. Toronto just emerged from its second big crisis: the 2003 blackout.
Eves had not called the election yet, but during our interview he clearly hinted at his intention to do so and his trust in the results.
This is a prestigious room, even though its occupants feel like a passenger in a taxi: their ride can be over at any minute.
Premier McGuinty, how do you feel after leading the Province of Ontario for one year, sitting behind that desk?
"I'm very proud of the accomplishments we have been able to make so far. Ontario is getting better. We not only stopped the slide in the public service, but we have measurable improvements."
Such as...?
"Well, since September, 1,300 schools have smaller classes and more teachers."
But bigger problems seem to be in healthcare.
"We've put in place funding for 2,400 more nurses. Over the course of the next three years we will vaccinate over two million children, a save of over $600 per child; we have a plan in place and more funding to reduce the wait times for cancer care, cardiac care, MRIs, CAT scans, hips, knees, and more. On the other hand of things, we are entering into a mature, constructive relationship with communities, in particular with the City of Toronto. We understand that Toronto is different from any other city in this country."
Let's return to Medicare. Everybody's aware of more money being spent for it. Are we sure that they will be spent in the best way?
"While we are investing more money in healthcare, we have to make sure that results will be measurable, otherwise people will have the impression that the money got into a kind of black hole. That's why we have said, that there are going to be 3,600 more cardiac procedures every year, 9,000 more cataracts, 2,300 hip replacements, 100,000 seniors will get home care, 2,000 more people working in nursing homes and more."
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