Two weeks until Ontario election
Posted September 22, 2011 2:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – It’s two weeks before Ontarians head to the polls in the provincial election.
On the campaign trial Thursday, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty is promising a major renovation of the emergency department at Mount Sinai Hospital, along with a new 19-unit surgical suite.
McGuinty said the improvements will lead to shorter wait times and better services for people in and around Toronto.
There is no dollar figure yet for the project since the contract has yet to go to tender, but the Liberals said it will be in the hundreds of millions — money they have already set aside in their budget.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was asked if she would back the Liberals if they win a minority government. She said to ask her again after the election.
“I’m not ruling anything out because people haven’t made their ruling yet, and when people make their ruling, then we’ll talk about how it is that we deliver for them,” Horwath said.
The NDP is hoping to capitalize on the gains made by their federal cousins in the May 2 national election, which saw the party vault into the Opposition benches.
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak was ambushed Thursday by an activist for Stop the Mega-Quarry during a campaign stop with party supporters in Oakville.
The group has been protesting against Highland Companies’ plan to build a massive limestone quarry near Shelburne, saying it would threaten the region’s water tables and destroy prime farm land.
Danielle Nobrega said she wants Hudak to firmly oppose the project instead of simply pushing for more studies. Hudak told her he doesn’t like the company’s plans and supports his local MPP’s calls for more rigorous environmental testing.
Meanwhile, a poll shows Horwath is the leader most people would prefer to invite to a backyard barbecue.
McGuinty’s reaction was: “I love burgers, so everybody’s welcome to my place for burgers and beer,”
Hudak challenged his opponents to a barbecue contest, saying the poll results will be different once people try his pulled pork.
