Dear Editor:
Citizens of Ontario soon head to the polls to elect a provincial government. Perhaps as never before, it is important that those eligible to vote research the options available to them and vote.
Many will experience information overload these days from the sheer number of issues requiring our attention and decision: the threat of U.S. tariffs, the federal Liberal leadership contest, worrisome international developments such as the need for resolution of the war in Ukraine, and front and centre for us all is the stubbornly high cost of living.
The incumbent premier campaigns in an election that few wanted, and directs virtually no attention to the hugely important issues before us. He continues to showboat on the issue of tariffs to little positive effect; in any case that matter is a federal one to resolve with the partnership support of the provinces and territories.
Left twisting in the wind on Ford’s watch has been the sorry state of Ontario’s health care, education, housing and support for the most vulnerable in society. Ontario’s economy performed better three years ago than it does now, including increases in unemployment.
The Ford government has had no mandate to privatize health care services, but pushes forward in doing so in the face of economists demonstrating that the cost to deliver health care through private for-profit providers is much more expensive than through a public system.
Why do we tolerate this? Without a significant change in direction and priorities from where Ontario has been heading, our situation will continue to deteriorate. We need a plan, people! Ontario needs provincial leadership that is responsible, transparent, accountable and free from the candy-floss vanity projects Ford has unleashed on us. Ontario Place redevelopment, beer in corner stores, closure of the Ontario Science Centre, $200 cheques to eligible Ontarians and more have cost Ontarians billions and will mortgage us for generations.
The decision of local PC candidate Joseph Racinsky and others not to attend local debates and share and defend a PC platform of priorities will contribute to the likelihood that Ontarians can expect more of the same.
Our taxes deserve better value for money than what we have been getting under the Ford government leadership. Please vote.
Vernon Lediett,
Guelph/Eramosa