2004
Tuesday June 22, 2004
![Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday June 22, 2004 NDP tantalized by prospect of sweeping Hamilton From his storefront campaign office on one of Hamilton's major thoroughfares, David Christopherson surveys a landscape of orange and green signs. It's a pleasant sight for a New Democrat who is running in a riding that for so many years has been federal Liberal turf. Mr. Christopherson is winning the street war against Revenue Minister Stan Keyes and pundits suggest Hamilton Centre is about to fall into NDP hands. The veteran provincial politician isn't about to say the battle has been won, but there is a feeling here -- and in the other ridings that make up this steel city -- that the Liberals are on their way out. "Signs don't vote," Mr. Christopherson said. "But they do show momentum in this town. People take that as an indication that . . . there are people who are not only going to vote for you, but are prepared to stand proud and help you get the message out.Ó In fact, this election could be the last stand for not just one, but two Liberal cabinet ministers from Hamilton. Tony Valeri, the Transport Minister, who won a vicious battle against Sheila Copps for the nomination in Hamilton-East Stoney Creek is in one of the toughest three-way races in Ontario, and critics are giving the edge to NDP candidate Tony DePaulo. On Hamilton Mountain, veteran Liberal Beth Phinney appears to be trailing her opponents and the NDP is hopeful of taking that riding. And in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, parts of the constituency are leaning toward Conservative candidate David Sweet while others seem to favour Gordon Guyatt, a New Democrat who is also an outspoken local doctor. Russ Powers, the Liberal, has a fighting chance. But it's tight. All of this has the NDP dreaming of the unlikely, but not unthinkable, prospect of taking Hamilton's four seats. "The first thing I noticed going out [to campaign]was the absolute rage that people](https://i0.wp.com/mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2004-06-22.jpg?resize=700%2C565&ssl=1)
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday June 22, 2004
NDP tantalized by prospect of sweeping Hamilton
From his storefront campaign office on one of Hamilton’s major thoroughfares, David Christopherson surveys a landscape of orange and green signs. It’s a pleasant sight for a New Democrat who is running in a riding that for so many years has been federal Liberal turf.
Mr. Christopherson is winning the street war against Revenue Minister Stan Keyes and pundits suggest Hamilton Centre is about to fall into NDP hands.
The veteran provincial politician isn’t about to say the battle has been won, but there is a feeling here — and in the other ridings that make up this steel city — that the Liberals are on their way out.
“Signs don’t vote,” Mr. Christopherson said. “But they do show momentum in this town. People take that as an indication that . . . there are people who are not only going to vote for you, but are prepared to stand proud and help you get the message out.”
In fact, this election could be the last stand for not just one, but two Liberal cabinet ministers from Hamilton. Tony Valeri, the Transport Minister, who won a vicious battle against Sheila Copps for the nomination in Hamilton-East Stoney Creek is in one of the toughest three-way races in Ontario, and critics are giving the edge to NDP candidate Tony DePaulo.
On Hamilton Mountain, veteran Liberal Beth Phinney appears to be trailing her opponents and the NDP is hopeful of taking that riding.
And in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, parts of the constituency are leaning toward Conservative candidate David Sweet while others seem to favour Gordon Guyatt, a New Democrat who is also an outspoken local doctor. Russ Powers, the Liberal, has a fighting chance. But it’s tight.
All of this has the NDP dreaming of the unlikely, but not unthinkable, prospect of taking Hamilton’s four seats.
“The first thing I noticed going out [to campaign]was the absolute rage that people had against the Liberals,” Mr. Christopherson said. “Every day I kept waiting for it to dissipate a little — it’s still there.” (Source: Globe & Mail)
Tuesday May 18, 2004
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 18, 2004
Budget Day
Taxpayers are likely to be paying more after Finance Minister Greg Sorbara unveils the Ontario Liberals’ first budget this afternoon. And they can thank a deficit the Liberals say has grown to as much as $8 billion.
Sorbara will read his budget speech in the Legislature to an attentive audience of groups advocating for more public funding and critics demanding that he hold the line on taxes. Watching from the sidelines is a general public that voted for both those policies in last October’s provincial election.
The Liberals under Premier Dalton McGuinty are expected to move to deliver on a promise to improve public services. And they are expected to reveal the final amount of the deficit they inherited from the former Conservative government as well as what the books will look like for their first fiscal year in office.
Former provincial auditor Erik Peters pegged the shortfall from last year (fiscal 2003-04) at $5.6 billion, although the Liberals have said that when hospital and children’s aid societies’ debt is included, the real deficit for last year is closer to $8 billion. The total provincial budget will exceed $71 billion. (Source: CBC)