The honeymoon's over, Dalton

Normally, a political leader's honeymoon with the voters lasts longer than a hot spell in the Arctic. But not so with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. The Toronto Star, which darned near canonized Dalton when he was running for premier, is now digging a big hole in which to throw him. Funny, before the election, they found oceans of wisdom that were supposedly flowing from his lips.

I asked a veteran newspaperman at Queen's Park: "Why does it always seem that after a guy gets elected to high office, the newspapers and the media soon start to dump all over him?" He replied: "The polticians get rotten, that's why."

"So soon?"

"It doesn't take long."

"And our job is to straighten them out?"

"No, our job is to tell it like it is," the journalist retorted.

In Ontario, good news is often obscured by bad news. The good news: no stupid tests for teachers. No kicking welfare people permanently off the rolls for telling whoppers. (Think: politicians.) Minimum wage boosted. (Keep up with the inflation treadmill.)

But it's the big-ticket items wherein Dalton fails and will be judged. Everybody but Saddam Hussein suspected that Ontario was running a $4-5 billion deficit. Dalton, put that problem in a closet for now and forget about it. Don't pay any attention to the banks. I remember during the Great Depression, when the banks wouldn't loan you $10 unless you had $10 in the bank.

Dalton, you started off like a brave man on election night when you announced that there was to be no more building on the Oak Ridges moraine. Then, when the builders' lawyers threatened you with billion-dollar lawsuits, you collapsed. (You got a few crumbs.) Dalton, you should have said: "Sue me! We've got more money than you have! And we've got the voters of Ontario on our side! Hey, builders, do you think that this isn't going to cost you a whole lot of bread?" (The builders don't have limitless reserves and would have had to run for cover.)

Do you remember back in the 60s, when the feds wanted to build a white elephant airport called Pickering (to match another white elephant called Mirabel in Quebec) and Ontario premier Bill Davis said "no way" and squashed it. That took courage. Make notes, Dalton, while your head is still above water.

Grab back Highway 407 from those wily predators, whose lawyers suckered Mike Harris into a crummy deal selling the golden goose that continues to lay larger and larger golden eggs. They want to make 407 the richman's road. Don't let them. And don't let them threaten you. Call their bluff.

Dalton, shut that cupboard door. I gather you're hungering to sell the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Don't. It's another golden goose that lays glorious plump golden eggs endlessly. And means testing of seniors' drug plans is a recipe for political disaster. Seniors will stumble, limp and crawl to the nearest polling booths to throw you out of office after just one term. Dalton, don't go there. Hospital restructuring is another potential Oak Ridges moraine disaster waiting for you. If these are trial balloons, puncture them now.

Now, Dalton, if you were wily enough to put hiring 8,000 more nurses to a plebiscite - going directly to the voters of Ontario - I bet 78 per cent of the Ontario people would vote for it. That's one tax hike they'd vote for.

And when you asked 63,000 civil servants to tell you how to save bundles of taxpayers' money - if any of those people had the answer - they'd have your job.

I have to confess to readers that I did have an interview with Premier Dalton McGuinty head on very recently. I have to admit that it didn't go very well. I introduced myself and said that I represent The Interim, a pro-life, pro-family paper. Dalton didn't say anything but reached out and picked up my Queen's Park badge on my chest and read it. I told him that his late father was a strong pro-life supporter and that I appreciate the problems he has trying to accommodate a variety of positions that are promoted.

Dalton never said a word but smiled vacantly and turned back to speak to a veteran reporter at Queen's Park about real estate problems they were having.