TORONTO - The political fur is set to fly Monday as the Ontario legislature resumes for the last time before the Oct. 10 election with a budget hanging in the balance and opposition charges the Liberals intend to try buying their way back into power.
Health Minister George Smitherman -- the deputy premier and self-described Liberal attack dog -- is champing at the bit to resume his political battle with the Conservatives and NDP, the intensity of which will be heightened by the looming election campaign.
"It places all the issues you're going to have before you and puts them in a bit of an electoral context," Smitherman said in an interview.
"For my voice, with (Conservative Leader) John Tory, I'm going to hammer home the fact that ... he's had a really, really difficult time bringing forward (a party platform)."
Smitherman said the Liberals will continue to try and tie Tory to Conservative predecessors Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, and will remind voters of the Opposition leader's promise to eliminate the Liberal government's unpopular health-care tax of up to $900 per worker.
"I think the only thing he's really committed to in health care, besides privatization, is a $2.5-billion cut to health spending," Smitherman said.
"I'm looking forward to the chance of reminding Mr. Tory that whatever question he might want to pose to me, he's not offered any answer except to propose Harris-era cuts."
Last week, Tory unveiled his key message to Ontario voters with a classic Who tune blaring in the background: "Don't get fooled again."
The Conservative stood beside an armoured car to highlight what he described as out-of-control spending by the government, and claimed the Liberals have a $3-billion "slush fund" they will use in the budget to help get re-elected.
"They've somehow managed to spend at least $20 billion of additional taxpayers' money, billions beyond what they even planned on spending in their farcical election platform in 2003, and yet the people don't see any results," said Tory.
"That's what happens when you just shovel the money out the door and load up the Brinks trucks with the taxpayer's money and just send it anywhere where you think you can buy a vote."
NDP Leader Howard Hampton also predicted Thursday's provincial budget would contain pre-election goodies, but said voters know better than to believe everything the Liberals promise.
"I think people have to look at the promises very carefully, because the expiry date will be Oct. 11, the day after the election," said Hampton.
"People across Ontario know what a pre-election promise from Dalton McGuinty is worth."
Smitherman responded in kind, promising to warn voters that the New Democrats are bad financial managers and cannot produce a real financial plan to pay for their policy ideas.
"They're kind of like that couple that checks into the fancy suite at the hotel for the weekend, but has a difficult time to settle their bill," said Smitherman.
Premier Dalton McGuinty recently signalled the fourth Liberal budget would include specific measures to help low-income families, especially their children, while he also promised new government initiatives this spring to combat climate change, although not with new legislation.
"I think you'll see a good focus on the poverty agenda," said Smitherman.
The government has also indicated its spring legislative agenda will include new bills to make Ontario schools safer, to crack down on illegal street racing and to offer more protection to species at risk.
The Liberals say they have no plans to adjourn the legislature after a few weeks so they can recall the house for a brief new session -- complete with a promise-filled Throne Speech that would form the basis of their election platform -- although McGuinty recently left the door open to ending the session early.
Tory thinks at the very least, the Liberals will prorogue the session well before its scheduled June 28 end to avoid daily attacks on what he likes to call their mismanagement of health care and the Ontario economy.
"I think the government will be trying to close the session down as early as they can," predicted Tory.
"There's been no jobs plan. There's still huge problems in the health-care system. There's been no meaningful, long-term plan for farmers. They could get on with making changes to the relationship with municipalities, and give some relief to property tax payers."
