Despite polls suggesting the provincial election is anyone’s game, Nepean-Carleton incumbent Lisa MacLeod is predicting a majority win for the Ontario PC party.
“I think we’re on the cusp,” MacLeod told the Sun’s editorial board Friday.
MacLeod is running for re-election after serving the riding for the past five years.
With just two weeks left in the campaign, MacLeod was quick to comment on the city’s light rail transit plan.
MacLeod said a Conservative government will honour the $600M that has already been pledged by the Liberals.
“Dalton McGuinty made a multi-million dollar commitment to the city. That money has never flowed,” she said.
Since 2004, municipalities have received more than $1.3B in gas tax funding under the Liberals, in which consumers pay 14.7 cents per litre at the pump. OC Transpo got $32 million in 2011.
The Tories are pledging to make the gas tax permanent.
Four months ago, Transpo announced it was buying new double-decker buses and upgrading infrastructure with the money.
But given the nature of her rural-suburban riding, “you can’t put all your eggs in one basket,” MacLeod said.
“Right now, it’s supposed to only go to transit. We’re going to make it so it is available for the needs of the community, whether it’s roads, transit, or bridges,” said MacLeod.
MacLeod said the city needs a better transit system now.
“I just know that they’re going to have to continue to service my fast-growing communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South with rapid transit, whether that’s bus or rail, and it’s got to happen soon, because we have a growing population,” she said.
Addressing government waste, MacLeod said PC leader Tim Hudak has made a commitment to reducing the size of his cabinet by 20%, if he’s elected premier.
“He’s also said that if his cabinet ministers don’t meet the targets that have been set up on them…everyone, including the premier, will have their pay docked,” said MacLeod.
“Those are some big accountability measures.”
Last year, MacLeod put forth a private member’s bill called the Truth in Government Act.
“It will expand Freedom Of Information across all government agencies, boards, and commissions,” she said.
The bill calls for disclosure of travel and hospitality expenses.
“Any grant or contribution from the government over $10,000 will have to be posted online and any contracts over $10,000 will have to be posted online,” she said.
It was voted down but has been adapted in the party’s Changebook platform, she said.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/09/23/tory-majority-in-ontario-predicts-macleod
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