'It strikes fear in the heart of the workforce and the public that consume government services.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas
Toronto (31 Aug. 2007) - Are Ontario voters being asked to re-elect Mike Harris disguised as his successor John Tory?
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) says the Conservative leader's talk of finding $1.5 billion in 'efficiencies' in the Ontario budget awakens memories of the Harris years, when big tax cuts were lavished on the wealthy as massive service cuts were imposed on ordinary citizens.
OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas says Tory's right-wing fiscal musings remind voters of the pain inflicted by Harris's so-called Common Sense Revolution.
"It strikes fear in the heart of the workforce and the public that consume government services," Thomas says, recalling the Walkerton water tragedy which was linked to cuts to provincial water inspection.
"I don't think there are any efficiencies left to find. The Common Sense Revolution was all about efficiencies. ... People are still trying to unravel the results of that."
Tory was defensive at being compared to Harris.
"When did I use the words service reductions?" he asked when questioned by the media. "My mission is to be able to demonstrate value to the taxpayers for their money and improve the level of services they have."
Liberal Finance Minister Greg Sorbara says Tory's $1.5 billion target, plus his plan to phase out the province's $2.6-billion health care tax, can only result in a new round of Harris-style cuts for Ontario.
"John Tory has been around balance sheets and expense sheets long enough to know that it's beyond the pale to say there is $1.5 billion (to cut) and that won't have any impact on schools, on hospitals, on municipalities," Sorbara said. "It's just not true."
The next Ontario election will be held on Oct. 10. NUPGE
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