Return to power Ontario Liberal Party

logo of ontario liberal party 2002 2011

in 2003 election, however, tories ran poor campaign, , new leader , premier ernie eves seen weak , untrustworthy. tories attempt repeat 1999 attacks on mcguinty unsuccessful. strong performance mcguinty on campaign trail , in debates led 72-seat majority government.

the new government called legislature in session in late 2003, , passed series of bills relating election promises. government brought in auto insurance reforms (including price cap), fixed election dates, rolled-back series of corporate , personal tax cuts had been scheduled 2004, passed legislation enshrined publicly funded medicare provincial law, hired more meat , water inspectors, opened provincially owned electricity companies freedom of information laws , enacted ban on partisan government advertising.

the mcguinty government benefited scandal involving previous progressive conservative government s management of ontario power generation , hydro one, broke in winter of 2003-04. revealed number of key figures associated mike harris s common sense revolution had received lucrative, untendered multimillion-dollar consulting contracts these institutions. among figures named in scandal tom long, former harris campaign chairman, leslie noble, former harris campaign manager , paul rhodes, former harris communications director.

on may 18, 2004, provincial finance minister greg sorbara released mcguinty government s first budget. centrepiece controversial new health premium of $300 $900, staggered according income. violated key liberal campaign pledge not raise taxes, , gave government reputation breaking promises. liberals defended premium pointing previous government s hidden deficit of $5.6 billion, , mcguinty claimed needed break campaign pledge on taxation fulfill promises on other fronts.

the ontario health premium became major issue in days of 2004 federal election, called week after ontario budget. believe controversy hampered liberal prime minister paul martin s bid re-election.

also controversial elimination of coverage health services not covered canada health act, including eye examinations , physical therapy. other elements included four-year plan tackle deficit left behind progressive conservatives, free immunization children, investments in education , investments lower waiting times cancer care, cardiac care, joint replacement, mri , ct scans.

soon after federal election, mcguinty hosted federal-provincial summit on public health-care funding resulted in new agreement national health accord. accord allowed provincial premiers , territorial leaders draw more money ottawa health services, , requires federal government take provincial concerns such hospital waiting-lists account. mcguinty s performance @ summit applauded canadian media.

the mcguinty government brought forward number of regulatory initiatives in fall of 2004. these included legislation allowing bring-your-own-wine in restaurants, banning junk food in public schools promote healthier choices, outlawing smoking in public places , requiring students stay in school until age 18. following series of high-profile maulings, government moved ban pit bulls.

during 2005, mcguinty called legislature rare winter session debate , pass several high-profile bills. government legislated greenbelt around toronto. size of prince edward island, greenbelt protects broad swath of land development , preserves forests , farmland. in response court decisions, liberals updated definition of marriage include homosexual couples.

mcguinty launched pr campaign narrow politically charged $23 billion gap between ontario contributes federal government , returned ontario in services. came sharp turn after more year of cooperating federal government, mcguinty pointed special deals worked out federal government newfoundland , labrador , nova scotia compromising nature of equalization payments. in particular, mcguinty noted immigrants in ontario receive $800 in support federal government, while in quebec receive $3800.

in 2003 campaign, liberals denounced public-private partnerships (also known 3p deals) infrastructure projects such building of hospitals. following campaign, however, mcguinty government allowed 3p hospital construction deals arranged previous government continue.

logo of ontario liberal party 2011 2013

the ontario liberals won second majority in row on october 10, 2007, winning 71 of province s 107 seats. winning 2 majorities back feat had not occurred party in 70 years.

in next general election on october 6, 2011, mcguinty led liberals win historic third consecutive term , once again form government, albeit minority of seats in legislature. liberals won 53 of 107 seats, short of 54-seat majority government. on october 15, 2012, mcguinty announced resign leader , premier.

the june 12, 2014 election triggered ontario new democratic party s decision reject 2014 ontario budget. liberal party under leadership of kathleen wynne won 58 seats in legislature, , formed majority government.

in 2015 liberals proposed sell 60 per cent of province s $16-billion share of province s electricity distribution utility, hydro one. hydro 1 brampton , hydro 1 networks distribution arm spun off separate company , sold outright $3 billion.