The Ontario Conservative Social Contract

"My first approach is to say, 'Here's the framework of the province and we need to find two cents in every dollar, outside health and education'. I'll look for responsible leadership from the unions. (But) we'll consider all options on the table as a last resort ... I won't rule out any tools."

Finally, something approaching a commitment spelled out loud and clear from the leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives. The Conservative option never looked so good. People who would normally vote Liberal, are edging away from the McGuinty government. People who would normally vote NDP are thinking of a strategic vote this time around.

"We're all in this together, and I expect the unions to be responsible. The problem is Dalton McGuinty always folds. Over and over again, Dalton McGuinty has thrown down his cards and handed over the chips. We can't afford that anymore."

The current Ontario Liberal-led government has made so many strategic, careless blunders, from wasting money with nothing to show for it, with the e-health initiative, to raising taxes when they swore that was the furthest thing from their minds, to investing in green-energy initiatives without ensuring they were fully aware of the consequences and the options, let alone the practicalities involved, they've fumbled incessantly.

"If Dalton McGuinty gets back into the premier's chair, we're going to have the unions on one side of the table and a political party elected with union money on the other."

The Liberal government era this time around saw massive job losses in the province. It oversaw an economic decline that placed Ontario among the 'have-not' provinces, for the first time being 'entitled' to federal re-distribution of tax funding. The McGuinty government was fearful of applying the law equally to all its citizens, allowing aboriginal 'protests' in Caledonia to violently and criminally squash the rights of other Ontarians, leaving the thugs in charge.

The McGuinty government, time and again, caved in to unreasonable public union demands at a time when the province has a massive deficit and growing debt. And now Tim Hudak, speaking in public, in an address to the Canadian Club, has committed to imposing a wage freeze, if push comes to shove, on provincial civil servants.

"The conventional wisdom holds that every year we must increase the pay of public-sector workers faster than the wages of the private-sector workers that pay for them. We will fix the broken arbitration system that awards contracts based on the appetites of unions rather than the taxpayers' ability to pay."

Ontario has over one million public-sector workers, with wages taking up 55% of the province's budget to the tune of $50-billion annually. In 2005 high school teachers were awarded a 10.6% four-year contract, far outpacing inflation. Teachers' unions are up front, encouraging their members to vote Liberal in the upcoming election. Isn't that a surprising bloc vote?

It took political courage to defy the powerful public-sector unions just days before the provincial election, by stating this position. Given that an election campaign is generally no time to release information on what can be termed very unpopular (in related sectors) promises. Bob Rae did no such thing before his NDP party was elected to head the provincial government.

The Ontario Teachers' Federation, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Ontario Medical Association will all be in overdrive, urging their members to vote against the Progressive Conservatives. Or they could opt to be responsible citizens of a province in financial duress.

A little bit of co-operation on the part of the unions, given the sad state of the province's finances and the fuzzy outlook for the future would go a long way to helping others, as well as their own bottom line.