McCallion endorses Wynne

(Update)

Along with the latest poll — there was another major boost Wednesday for Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal party. Wynne was endorsed by Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. At the same time, the Conservative and New Democrats were laying out more of their election plans and promises.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has an event scheduled in Brantford. She’s been in Liberal territory this afternoon trying to take away some of that Liberal support. But Wynne’s endorsement by one of the province’s most popular politicians is a major event for the Liberal campaign.

First thing in the morning in Mississauga, Wynne met with McCallion who said the Progressive Conservative tax cuts won’t work. And that she’s calling on voters to elect Wynne with a majority Liberal government: “The last thing the provinces needs is another minority governemnt. So I think the people of Ontario should look at the issues. Please address the isues. You know, this gas plant has taken over way too much. Terrible mistake, water under the bridge. Let’s get on and put the province of Ontario back on track.”

Later, at school in Guelph, Wynne lashed out at the Conservative plan to cut 100 thousand jobs, including teachers.

She said Hudak’s plan would hurt children, and the whole province: “He’s talking about cutting twice as many jobs as Mike Harris did. And here’s the spoiler alert — that is a recipe for recession and that is wrong for Ontario.”

The Progressive Conservatives and Tim Hudak released more of their party platform — outlinging a plan to cut government spending by six per cent over the next four years.

The plan would mean increased class sizes in schools and an end to the 30 per cent tuition grant for university and college students. But health care spending would increase.
And Hudak told a town hall meeting job creation would be at the centre of his government: “It all starts with jobs — That’s at the core of every decision I make.”

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is promising to cut waste in government, starting with a smaller cabinet under the NDP — 18 ministers instead of 22.

But one of them would be a minister of savings: “As premier, I will appoint a minister of savings and accountability. A key role for the new minister will be to identify new savings representing .5 per cent of the provincial budget.”

Horwath says that penny-pinching could save 600 million dollars a year. She is in Brantford to open a campaign office. That’s two Liberal ridings that Horwath was campaigning at today — trying to whittle away at the Liberal ridings.