TORONTO – There’s a lot riding on Thursday’s five provincial byelections for all parties, even though the results won’t change the fact Ontario has a minority Liberal government.
The votes are being held in Windsor, London, Ottawa and two Toronto ridings to replace five Liberals who quit this year, including former premier Dalton McGuinty.
Like all the party leaders, Premier Kathleen Wynne downplays expectations for the byelections, saying they are always challenging for governments.
The Progressive Conservatives hope people use the byelections to register protest votes against the Liberals for the $585 million spent to cancel two gas plants prior to the 2011 election.
Opposition Leader Tim Hudak says it’s a chance for voters to look at the scandals and say they want a change in government.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says voters know the minority Liberal government’s budget was full of New Democrat proposals such as cutting auto insurance rates.
Horwath also predicts calling the byelections before a summer long weekend will backfire on Wynne, saying voters view it as a cynical attempt to give the Liberals an advantage.
The Liberals were one seat short of a majority before five of their members resigned after Wynne became premier last February, and they will still have the most seats in the legislature even if they should lose all five contests.
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