Ontario’s health minister, Christine Elliot is leaving politics, again. Another conservative cabinet member is deserting Doug Ford’s sinking ship. She joins cabinet colleague Rod Phillips in leaving. Both leave behind nothing but trouble in their critical portfolios.
There is no question but the ministries of health and long-term care took the brunt of the mismanagement by the Tories during the pandemic. Both are woefully short of funding and staff, the balance of their staff demoralized and looking for solutions. And if money would help, they know they cannot get it from a Ford government. There were lots of promises but there is little evidence of promises kept.
Ontario’s hospitals and long-term care facilities are being bankrupted by inflation and a skinflint government that gives no quarter.
We watched as Christine Elliot grew old, backing up that buffoon Ford at his populist worst. You knew he was out of his depth. Yet, his ministers were not there to help but to seemingly reinforce his bad decisions.
We watched them make rules for the rest of us but exempting themselves. They stopped worrying about COVID-19 some time ago as they turned desperately to trying to get re-elected.
The re-election of this government is most unlikely. You can forget the pollsters. The supposed popularity of premier Doug Ford is more a factor of the lack of knowledge about his opponents than any love for the inept premier. Once the writ is issued and people start to be aware of the June 2 election date, other options will come into play.
One of Mr. Ford’s more serious problems is that it looks as though the conservatives are losing more than 25 per cent of their caucus. That is a large number bailing out on a first term premier. And Ford needs 65 seats for a majority. Even if his party wins half of those seats left empty by conservatives, he will still be short of a majority. And without a majority, Ford will lose the keys to the premier’s office.
-30-
Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to:[email protected]