Canada PoliticsGas plant scandal, economy, different philosophies dominate the Ontario leaders’ debate
Who was the winner? Who lost?
Those are usually the first questions analysts and pundits ask after any leaders' debate.
On Tuesday night — at the Ontario leaders' debate — there was no game changer.
There was no major gaffe and there was no knock-out punch.
I think most would agree, however, that all three leaders' stuck to their 'respective' talking points that will help solidify their base.
Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne addressed the gas plant scandal early and tried to change the channel by framing Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak as the scary boogeyman.
"I've seen Tim Hudak's movie before too," she said at one point in the debate referring to the Harris-era.
"Tim Hudak was part of a government that slashed public services and did not care for the interests of the people of the province in terms of education in terms of health care. They said they were going to but then did not."
[ Related: Why are Ontarians ignoring the Liberal Party scandals? ]
Tim Hudak spent his time attacking Kathleen Wynne about the Liberal record and particularly the gas plant scandal. Moreover, for almost every debate topic -- transit, jobs, debt and deficits and education -- he somehow worked-in the name Dalton McGuinty.
Hudak also peppered his responses with anecdotes about his family: he spoke of his grandfather who lost the family farm; he told a story of his father instilling, within him, a passion for math; and one of his daughter getting an 'A' in math.
Could this be a way to emotionally connect with voters?
And NDP leader Andrea Horwath tried to differentiate her party from the other two.
"You don't have to choose between bad ethics and bad math," she said at one point.
[ Related: Ontario police union produces its first ever political attack ad ]
With just over a week left in the election campaign a new poll, released by Ekos Research on Tuesday, has the Liberals with 38.8 per cent support, the PCs with 30.5 per cent support and the NDP far behind at 17.8 per cent.
There more interesting part of the survey is the number of undecided: Almost 20 per cent of those surveyed remain undecided this late in the campaign.
Unfortunately, Tuesday's debate probably won't change that.
Three highlights of the debate:
1. The cringe worthy moment:
The first question out of the gate -- from a 'regular' Ontarian -- was to Kathleen Wynne about the gas plant scandal.
Wynne looked nervous and uncomfortable while delivering her prepared response.
"I want to address the issue, particularly of the relocation of the gas plants. The decision around the relocation of the gas plants that were made were wrong. I've apologized, I've taken responsibility for those decisions," she said.
"There was public money that was wasted in those decisions and that shouldn't have happened. And in the process the public good was sacrificed to partisan interests."
The question gave both Hudak and Horwath a launching point to frame their attacks.
"The Liberals have betrayed you. They've lied to you and wasted billions and billions of your dollars," the NDP leader said.
"You had a choice when you were going to sign off on those gas plant documents. You had a choice. Why did you not choose to stand up for the people of Ontario and ensure that those documents weren't signed. Why did you not respect the people of Ontario? Why did you make the wrong choice?"
2. The best exchange:
One of the most spirited exchanges of the evening best illustrated the very different philosophies of the two main parties.
Tim Hudak:
"If we're so deep in debt, where are you getting all this money. He asked you how you're going to cut spending you talk about spending more.
"You're acting like somebody who won the lottery when you know that you're bankrupt. You just don't have the money. And I wish you were honest with Ontarians that you've actually spent all the money and we're in debt."
Kathleen Wynne:
"We're talking about investing now so that we have that bright future. We know that that is what is needed right now. We do not need a shock to the system that is going to push us back into recession."
3. The best line of the night:
The best line of the night came from NDP leader Andrea Horwath evoking the old Buckley's cough medicine line.
At one point while Hudak was talking about balancing the books, she interrupted and said that this was "the thing" about Hudak's plan: "It tastes awful but it's not going to work."
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