There is an encouraging article in today’s Toronto Sun by Tim Hudak. It’s title is “Rebuilding a Strong Confident Ontario,” a topic I assume is being discussed at this weekend’s AGM in Niagara Falls. The good news is that Hudak seems to have a much more confident and purposeful tone. For example, he mentions the loss of 57,000 jobs since the October 2011 election and how Ontarians have to defeat a defeatist attitude.
However, the bad news is that he still is not specific enough. Words are just spin if there is not a clear message. Yes, we Ontarians have a defeatist attitude. We have every reason to feel that way. But, exactly how will a PC Government change that? For example, here is a quote from Hudak’s piece with my words in point form at the end indicating how much clearer Hudak could be.
“Ontarians know instinctively that a better future really is possible, but that to get there, government must get smaller and do only what it needs to do. Spending must fall, taxes must be lowered, deficits and debt must be reversed and jobs can be created — if only government would get smaller, get smarter and get out of the way.”
- Government needs to get smaller. What would Hudak and his PCs do to make the Ontario government smaller? Would they have to reduce the public service by 10,000 workers? If yes, that is a tough message but absolutely truthful because there is no other way to make government smaller.
- Get government out of the way. That statement is meaningless. If the PCS are planning to streamline or reduce red tape, then Hudak should say so? In other words, Hudak should be specific with examples of what it is that is going to be done “to get government out of the way.”
- Lastly, jobs will be created. How? Will the reduced taxes and the streamlined red tape make Ontario open for business? If yes, then that is how jobs will be created, not just by saying so.