2007 was an election year in Ontario so there was certainly no shortage of cartoon fodder with regard to provincial affairs.
Dalton McGuinty went into the election with a rather hefty piece of baggage for being a promise breaker, most noteably for imposing a health premium despite a pledge in the previous election not to raise taxes. At the beginning of the campaign it seemed as if only hypnosis would convince voters to reelect a Liberal government.
Then along came John Tory’s early promise in the race that a Progressive Conservative government would publically fund all faith based schools. Despite bowing to pressure and dumping the plank it would become the main theme of the 2007 election, as depicted by the hijacked jet plane.
Other controversies such as the Liberal slushfund and the huge payraises MPP’s gave themselves last Christmas would get scant airing during the campaign.
Perhaps the only political success accomplished by John Tory was his ability to get his name out and futher blur the associations of current PC party with the common sense revolutionary Harrisites.
While there was mild excitement in the air with the first provincial referendum question put to voters since the 1920’s, the issue of electoral reform hardly inspired Ontarians who flatly rejected the idea.
Like the cartoon drawn in January to mark Dalton McGuintys tour of India, 2007 will have ended with the Premier dancing with a renewed mandate and 4 more years in charge of the Province.
For more Canadian editorial cartoons go to www.old.mackaycartoons.net/ontario.
Coming up, The Canadian Cartoon Gallery