| Dalton McGuinty lied to us, just as Ernie Eves lied
to us.The provincial Liberals are building a political regime on
a foundation of deceit, and on such a rotten footing,
it will be difficult to build anything of lasting value
for Ontario. Having won an election a scant seven months
ago on the triple pledge of better services, no tax
increases and no deficit, McGuinty, as premier, has presided over
a budget -- his first budget -- that violates two
of those solemn vows. If the contents of this tax-raising,
red-ink leaking fiscal plan aren't enough to upset the citizens
of this province, the dishonesty upon which it is based
should be.
To be sure, the premier is not the only political
leader who did his best to deceive voters in the
last election. Then-premier and Conservative leader Ernie Eves also lied
to the people when he assured them that his government
could continue cutting taxes without running a deficit. Shortly after
Eves lost the vote, the provincial auditor pegged the projected
deficit at a whopping $5.6 billion. As of yesterday, the
deficit for the fiscal year that recently ended towered at
$6.1 billion. Eves must share with McGuinty responsibility for the
increased voter cynicism and apathy that such dishonesty will generate.
But as the person who won power on the basis
of his lies, McGuinty's sin is the more egregious.
"We're not going to raise your taxes,'' McGuinty declared unequivocally
after signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge last Sept. 11, as
the election campaign was entering into high gear. So what
is yesterday's budget if not a massive tax grab? Source... |
