Provincial Elections 2003 - Liberal wins

[Red Squirrel]

http://www.canada.com/toronto/features/ont...43-6596C30DFEF3

Voters turn Ontario Tory blue to Liberal red
Liberals sweep to power


Ontario voters think Dalton McGuinty is up to the job.

They've handed the Liberal leader a majority government.

The Liberals are elected or leading in 71 ridings.

They needed just 52 for a majority government.

The Tories have been shown the door after eight years of their Common Sense Revolution.

It's the first time in almost 70 years that a sitting Conservative premier in Ontario had lost an election outright.

::: Liberals :::

Liberal supporters are packed into the ballroom of Ottawa's historic Chateau Laurier hotel celebrating their election victory.

Incoming premier Dalton McGuinty has received calls from Tory Leader Ernie Eves, NDP Leader Howard Hampton and Prime Minister Chretien.

Deputy Prime Minister John Manley is among those helping celebrate McGuinty's majority government -- and the end of eight years of Tory rule.

::: Eves-Speech :::

An emotional Premier Ernie Eves has conceded defeat in tonight's election.

Eves says he phoned Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty to wish him well.

He says he encouraged the Grit boss to strive to continue to make this province a great place to live.

Eves vowed to ``keep faith'' with those who supported them, promising to continue to fight for students, homeowners, seniors and taxpayers.

He says the Tories will continue to fight for balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility and lower taxes.

He says the Tories have changed the face of Ontario and Canadian politics for all time.

::: Hampton :::

NDP Leader Howard Hampton was re-elected in Kenora-Rainy River but his party didn't do as well as he predicted.

He says Ontarians are seeing an end to eight years of majority Conservative government.

He feels tonight Ontario voters have spoken, and they have spoken for change loud and clear.

He notes voters have given McGuinty a mandate and says the NDP accepts their judgment.

Hampton says his party increased its share of the vote, but not the number of seats.

He believes the New Democrats waged an excellent campaign and deserved a better result.

::: Taxpayers-Reaction :::

Even though the Common Sense Revolution is dead, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation predicts a lasting legacy.

The federation's Ontario director says voters will never again tolerate arbitrary tax increases, budget deficits or politicians who break their word.

John Williamson says in 1995 people did not believe that former premier Mike Harris could cut taxes but they believed he was being honest -- and that's how it has changed.

::: Cabinet Ministers :::

Some Tory cabinet ministers have managed to hang onto their seats.

They include Public Security Minister Bob Runciman, Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer, Enterprise Minister Jim Flaherty, Native Affairs Minister Norm Sterling, Energy Minister John Baird, Transportation Minister Frank Klees, Consumer Minister Tim Hudak and Environment Minister Jim Wilson.

Other cabinet ministers are out.

They include Agriculture Minister Helen Johns, Colleges and Universities Minister Dianne Cunningham, Family Minister Brenda Elliott, Culture Minister Dave Tsubouchi, Citizenship Minister Carl DeFaria, Tourism Minister Brian Coburn, Labour Minister Brad Clark and Doug Galt, minister without portfolio.
© Copyright 2003 Canadian Press


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