The Election Agendas, Ontario Style

First off, demonstrate to the ordinary folk, the backbone of society, the rural dwellers, the country people, the farmers of this great country that you're with them in spirit, if you're a candidate for election; and sometimes with them also in your entire corporeal essence. When a special attraction draws people together from a good part of eastern Ontario, you run with the opportunity to make your presence known.

And since Premier Dalton McGuilty is in fact from eastern Ontario (guilty of ignoring the needs of the very geography from whence he comes) it makes good sense he would show up at the International Plowing Competition, along with his political competitors. An event, by the way, that draws interested participants and viewers from a much larger swath than merely eastern Ontario.

Toronto-born and bred John Tory has been swinging through Ottawa, taking every opportunity to point out to this city's voters how ignored their needs have been by this current Liberal government, busy burnishing its safe Toronto image. What Mr. Tory has been reminding Ottawans of has particular resonance in the area, since we always seem to be last-in-mind with this government.

And the leader of the provincial NDP hasn't exactly been a slacker, either. Howard Hampton has been reminding voters of such matters as principle and the recognition of priorities, and acting upon them. Unless and until proved otherwise, he is a man of resolute integrity. Both he and the Conservatives promise to phase out the retrograde health (tax) premiums. To place greater emphasis on the state of our crumbling but still vibrant health care system.

They've also had some assistance from that creature of legend who lived to rue the day he told untruths, Pinocchio, courtesy of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation whose "truth in taxes" mascot has been shadowing the premier wherever he turns up, to the crass ingratitude of his handlers one of whom was overheard to threaten "Stay away or I'll break your nose"; quietly, but insufficiently so.

One voter present at the event whose autistic child's plight led him to complain of the inadequacy of the provincially funded programme for children with autism went away frustrated for his efforts. He along with countless other parents of autistic children have been campaigning fruitlessly for more consideration from the provincial government. He ignored the premier's outstretched hand, claiming later for the media that respect has to be earned, not given.

Eastern Ontario's own firebrand agricultural representative, defiant of provincial government rulings that control how he operates his farm, and now putting his loudly aggrieved temperament to good use running for the Conservative Party, occasioned some embarrassed moments for Mr. Tory whose version of the Tories is that of a restrained, reasonable, moderate party.

All the candidates pulled out all their stops in courting those present at the plowing match, which, incidentally, in a three-way match for accuracy in plowing a straight furrow, our heroic NDP leader, Howard Hampton, won. Mr. Hampton pledged $300-million annually to assist farmers with rising costs and decreasing revenues; to make up the difference between production costs and sales.

So let's hear it for the redoubtable NDP! We need our farmers, in good-to-reasonable financial shape, to encourage them to keep ploughing and furrowing, growing and harvesting; the backbone of any community. To encourage greater use of locally grown food, the Conservatives would take steps to ensure that public institutions use Ontario-grown produce to the maximum possible.

Everyone has solutions to the problems that beset the province. Theory and promises make for good public relations on the campaign trail. It's what we get once we've committed our vote to engaging the winning candidate for the next four years that has us concerned. We've had plenty of experience with the aftermath of election campaigns, and nothing too much seems to change.

Ain't that the way of it?