Jun 8, 2007
Mountain News
Forgive us for being a tad bit cynical over Premier Dalton McGuinty's recent pledge that he would not raise taxes if re-elected this October.
We all remember McGuinty's infamous pledge during the 2003 election campaign:
"I won't cut your taxes... but I won't raise them either."
Last weekend at a Liberal Party gathering in
You'd think the Premier would have learned a valuable lesson from his previous taradiddle. Compounding his previous jactitation into the realm of embarrassment was McGuinty's public signing of a pledge not to raise taxes during the 2003 campaign.
As the saying goes, 'Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you.'
The Premier's nose would likely prevent his arm from signing a similar pledge this time around.
In 2004, the Pinocchio Premier and his Gepetto Finance Minister Greg Sorbara announced the dreaded $2.4 billion health premium, which cost taxpayers between $300 to $900 a year, depending on income. So much for the promise not to raise taxes.
The government justified the tax increase by pointing the finger at the previous Conservative government and an inherited $5.6 billion deficit. While there is still debate over the actual deficit, it's hard to believe McGuinty would chose to travel the same road with a pledge not to raise taxes.
Ignorance is no excuse. Politicians should be held to higher standards.
"I'm in charge," he told the 1,100 people at the Liberal rally last weekend. "I'm not hiding a deficit."
Unless Mr. McGuinty has a secret crystal ball, how can he possibly make such a reckless promise?
By making this deceitful pledge, the Premier has refocused public anger on the fact he broke his 2003 promise on tax increases.
Why should we believe him now? He has absolutely no credibility on this issue, and leaves himself open for public ridicule.
Voters are getting tired of politicians who break campaign promises. This misleading tactic has become the norm in election campaigns for all parties, and has contributed to increased voter cynicism.
Instead of making false promises that are often impossible to fulfill, why not set expectations or objectives that can be measured and judged by voters through consideration of economic realities and unforeseen anomalies?
Politicians don't seem to give the public enough credit in making informed and rational decisions regarding the performance of a government in terms of its platform.
If Mr. McGuinty had suggested in 2003 that a Liberal government would work to hold the line on taxes as an objective, he likely would have avoided the wrath of voters who heard loud and clear on numerous occasions that "I will not raise your taxes."
Add the 50 or so other broken promises - roll backs on 407 tolls, not adding to the provincial debt (up almost $15 billion), cap on hydro rates, providing autism treatment beyond age six, close coal fired electricity plants by 2007, etc., etc., and it's clear the premier should avoid making anymore promises leading up to the 2007 election.
It's time politicians give voters real plans, with realistic goals and objectives. It's time politicians respect that voters are intelligent and will judge a government based on real achievements.
The mouse has figured out the cheese in the trap may smell good, but it's not worth the risk.
This October's provincial election is the Liberals to lose, and by regurgitating a broken promise, the premier is only helping to load the opposition cannon pointing straight at his government.
The Issue
McGuinty promises not to raise taxes... again
Our View
Voters will not be fooled again