Ian Urquhart is correct to question exactly who won the provincial election. Dalton McGuinty could have used the Throne Speech to show that the Liberal government was going to be a government for all the people. Indeed, the appointment of Alvin Curling as speaker was promising start. The Throne Speech however shows makes one wonder if we really have elected a different government.

Like the Tories, this new government seems to be one that governs for those who are well off. But what of the working poor, making minimum wage? The $0.30 raise he promises still leaves them about $1.00 / hour behind inflation since the last time the minimum wage was raised. And our minimum wage still remains well below that of bordering U.S. states. It is also far lower than people can live on.

What of people receiving various forms of Government Assistance? Apparently they can't even count on a small increase in the benefits that have been frozen for 8 years.

What of the elderly or infirm? Are the health care dollars promised during the election ever going to appear? And will our children get the education funding they deserve?

What happened to election reform? What about the one out six people who voted for the NDP? Will their voices be heard in parliament or will McGuinty continue denying the NDP the funding it needs to be a real opposition? McGuinty knows that in another week most of the NDP caucus staff will have been laid off. If he doesn't grant the necessary funding quickly, the NDP will have to rebuild their caucus organization from scratch.

If this is the the sort of partisan political games that we are to expect from the Liberals, then the appointment of Alvin Curling was just for show. We have not replaced the Tory agenda but merely disguised it. We still don't have a government for all the people.

Gary Dale
West Hill, ON