So here I'm left in Thornhill, on a blue island surrounded by a sea of red; the only GTA constituency to elect a Conservative to the provincial legislature yesterday. Thornhill was considered a potential win for the Liberals who closed the gap to about 2500 votes (pending final results) but it was not to be.
At this time, I'm expecting a rather stable minority government. Any opposition parliamentarians who precipitate an early defeat of the Liberal government will risk a beating in an unnecessary election, I believe. Ontario's fixed-date elections law means we shouldn't be going back to vote, or spending millions on campaigns and administration, before October 2015. We sent them to Queen's Park for four years and we expect them to get on with working for Ontario and not against each other. Compromises will be expected and are necessary.
Four-year terms are becoming ingrained in our thinking as a result of recent federal, provincial and municipal electoral rule changes. Voters don't like paying for what they see as unnecessary elections - witness the hammering federal Liberals took last spring, in part for precipitating what many considered the wrong issues at the wrong time. Barring some unseen galvanizing issue, the same fate is very likely to befall anyone who precipitates a premature trip back to the ballot boxes for pure partisan gain.
It's assured tough decisions will be required to manage provincial spending and regain control of Ontario's debt over the next few years. Premier McGuinty should be able to count on Conservative support for that. Liberal values, when it comes to health care, education, social services and justice, should be safe with NDP support. The premier and Cabinet will have to get used to a regime where the Legislature has real influence. Time will tell if they have the skills for that. The two opposition parties will need to show their opposition is reasonable; that they are offering constructive criticism and alternatives and not merely maneuvering for partisan gain.
These next four years can be positive ones for Ontario if Liberals, Conservatives and New Democrats act constructively and woe be to any politician who behaves otherwise. It is all about the future of Ontario, just like each promised over the weeks of the campaign.
