TORONTO - Despite facing tough decisions to deal with a $16-billion deficit, Ontario's minority Liberal government prefers negotiating with the opposition parties through the media instead of face-to-face, say the Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats.
All three political parties have been talking about the need to co-operate since the Liberals won 53 seats in the Oct. 6 election, one fewer than the Tories and NDP combined.
However, there are few signs to suggest they are willing to compromise and, at times, seem to still be fighting the recent election campaign.
Premier Dalton McGuinty has ignored repeated requests from PC Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to meet and discuss legislative priorities for the fall session, something they wouldn't have demanded if the Liberals had won a third majority.
"We have a minority parliament, so it seems to me that the smart thing to do would be to sit down with the other leaders and have a high-level conversation about the major goals to make the province a better place," said Horwath.
"Just having that high-level conversation I think would be very helpful and very productive, and it's disappointing it's not happening."
The government dismissed PC and NDP requests to be consulted on the throne speech, saying the opposition parties can have their say during the scheduled debate that follows its introduction Nov. 22.
"The opposition now controls the key committees," said Duncan.
"So the standing orders actually give us a very transparent, open and ultimately opposition-driven system that allows for great debate and great input."
That kind of partisan bickering angers voters, warned Horwath.
"If I was Mr. McGuinty, I would be quite embarrassed about the way Mr. Duncan behaved because Mr. Duncan was showing the same kind of behaviour that Ontarians hate most about politics," she said.
"They hate that nasty behaviour, and yet there he goes again."
Duncan said the government has sought opposition input.
"I've written both opposition leaders, asked them for their ideas, and I did that long before they ever started these little daily (media) scrums that they've had," he said. "I still haven't had a response."
McGuinty's refusal to consult the opposition leaders before the throne speech is a concern, especially when difficult decisions must be made soon to reduce the size and cost of government, said Hudak.
"I don't know whether that's arrogance or it's silliness," he said.
"We can do this by press conference and then they respond by their press conference and then Andrea (Horwath) does a press conference, and we can go on and on like that."
It would save a lot of time and aggravation if McGuinty would simply call the opposition leaders and set up a meeting before the legislature resumes sitting, added Hudak.
McGuinty has warned the government must limit spending hikes to one per cent a year until the deficit is eliminated in 2017-18, but the goal is to reduce health spending -- which eats up 42 per cent of the budget -- by three per cent at best.
Hudak said that will really mean two per cent, or about $5.5 billion, has to be cut from all areas except health and education.
"If health spending increases by three per cent, which is a restraint on health spending, education by one per cent, that means a two per cent annual reduction everywhere else," he said.
"Tough medicine has to come. I wish the premier had been a bit more honest going forward that this was the case."
The Liberals talk about working with the PCs and NDP on job creation and deficit reduction, but in the next breath launch another attack against the Tories for wanting tax cuts and the NDP for proposing expensive programs, including a reduction in the HST.
"We all are now seized with the importance of doing everything we can to strengthen our economy in addition to finding ways to continue to support health care and education," said McGuinty.
"So I'm hopeful that as the legislature returns they'll bring a more constructive and realistic approach to their role in opposition."
The Liberals need the help of the Tories and NDP to pass the throne speech -- which, like budget bills, is a matter of confidence -- but they know the opposition parties cannot afford to force an election right now.
McGuinty said Ontario can't afford "reckless" tax cuts proposed by the Tories and NDP, but it can afford the two key priorities from the Liberal campaign platform: a home renovation tax credit for seniors and a 30 per cent tuition cut for college and university students.
The opposition parties were already angry that McGuinty delayed the start of the legislature by a week until Nov. 21, because it will mean fewer opposition days.
There will also be fewer question periods in the brief session because most of the first week will be taken up with the election of a new Speaker, the throne speech and the fall economic update.
