(The following article is from the September 1-15, 2007 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

PV Ontario Bureau

According to Liz Rowley, CPC (Ontario) leader, a minority government is an increasingly likely outcome of the October 10 provincial election.

     "Polls show the Liberals have a slight edge over the Tories, with the NDP in third place and remarkably large support for `other' parties, some of which is for the Greens, but not all," she said. "It shows the public continues to distrust both the Big Business parties, that the NDP is still being punished for the Rae government. Support for the `other' parties tracks the work of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform and seems to be an indicator of public interest in voting reform, and for political alternatives to the status quo."

     "A minority that isolates the Tories and puts hard reigns on the Liberals, would be a big improvement over the status quo," said Rowley. "Of course, the big breakthrough would be the election of Communists and left-wing Greens, which will be more likely with the passage of MMP in the referendum."

     As it is, voters are left with the option of jumping from the Liberal frying pan into the Tory fire, said Rowley, noting Ontario voted Liberal in 2003 because of promises to reverse virtually everything the Harris Tories had done. This included promises to reverse P-3 hospitals, a new funding formula for public education, improve access to universities, protect public services, and fund municipalities.

     "Those promises were cancelled two weeks before election day, when McGuinty signed the pledge not to raise taxes, produced by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Voters had no idea what this would mean. But they do now," she said. "The Liberals have rolled out Tory policies for four years. The faces change, but the corporate, right-wing agenda rolls on. No wonder people are cynical."

     In this election, the same scenario seems to be playing out. Liberal promises to fund health care, education, cities and social services are attacked as "broken promises" by the Tories, whose leader John Tory studiously avoids any hint of policy.

     As the possibility of a minority government becomes more set, the Tories have fallen back on former Ontario Premier Bill Davis' wedge strategy to edge out a victory. Almost 25 years ago, Davis cut a deal with the Catholic bishops to extend full funding to Catholic schools up to Grade 13.

     Now, Tory leader John Tory is trying the same ploy. Wrapping himself in the flag of "equal rights", it seems Tory has made a deal with a vocal coalition of fundamentalist Christians, Muslims and Jews, who are demanding funding for all religious schools in the province. Will those votes deliver the Tories to government? John Tory seems to think it will.

     While the Tories tack to the right, the Liberals are tacking to the left. But as the polls show, at least up to now, voters aren't buying it.

     An aggressive campaign by the labour and people's movements for progressive policy and electoral reform can help block the drive to the right by the Big Business parties. An aggressive campaign by the NDP will also help.The Greens have come out in opposition to funding any religious schools, including the Catholic schools.

     The Communist Party, which for decades has campaigned for a single, universal and secular public school system open to all irrespective of religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or race, will run up to ten candidates.

     "We will campaign hard in every riding we contest," said Rowley. "We have strong progressive policies, a political agenda that has peoples' needs at its core, and a strategy for progress that hinges on unifying the labour and democratic forces around policies, parties and candidates working together in coalitions inside and outside the legislature. The passage of Mixed Member Proportional representation will make this much more possible. PR is a system the Communist Party has championed for decades, and MMP is a model of PR we are strongly supporting today.

     "We are also very pleased to put forward a slate of candidates with deep roots and a strong track record in their communities. We are delighted that a third of our candidates are first-time candidates; a third are under 26, and three are members of the Young Communist League. Shona Bracken and Johan Boyden are running in Toronto Danforth and Toronto Centre, and Drew Garvie is campaigning in Guelph. Several are active in student organizations and labour youth committees.

     "We are pleased to be running in St. Catharines for the first time in many years, and that labour columnist Sam Hammond will be our candidate there. Dave McKee, a printer and former Executive member of the Canadian Peace Alliance will be campaigning in Davenport. Veteran labour activist Bob Mann will once again campaign in Hamilton, fighting for manufacturing jobs, wages and pension rights, and universal healthcare. Stuart Ryan, another labour veteran, and prominent activist in Ottawa's peace movement, is campaigning again in Ottawa Centre.

     "And I am campaigning in Brampton for the first time, in two-tier Tony Clement's former riding, where P-3 hospitals were test-tube birthed at the Osler hospital. I'm delighted to make the links between Tory, Tory and Tony Clement. And we won't forget McGuinty!" she said.

     Other Communist nominations are pending.

     (Toronto-area readers are invited to meet the local Communist candidates on the evening of Sat., Sept. 29, at the Greek Hall, 290 Danforth Ave., Toronto. For information call 416-469-2446.)