Today's Speech from the Throne is just out. Based on a glance at the speech, and on the previews given in Premier Dalton McGuinty's Heritage Dinner speech February 25, and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan's Canadian Club address last Friday , it's safe to say that McGuinty has laid out a detailed plan for Ontario's future, aimed not only at the completion of the electoral cycle a year from October, but well into a desired third mandate.
The details of the Open Ontario plan are there in abundance: battling the recession; setting the course of our economy; modernizing our industrial base; the future of health care and education; where and what the government will invest in, what tax measures will be undertaken to enable these changes - it's all there in black and white. All that remains now is the costing of the program within the fiscal framework. This will come with the budget at the end of the month.
Now, here's PC Leader Tim Hudak's major intervention, delivered at what was by all accounts a successful Conservative Convention last weekend in Ottawa. It's a lively, biting Opposition Leader speech, of the kind that Hudak has become adept at delivering.
What isn't there is a plan. There are some nostrums such as a pledge to cut taxes, and to eliminate some red tape that makes it difficult to go fishing. But we aren't seeing the PC plan at this point.
That's odd, when you think about it. In 1993, the Liberals laid out their commitments in loving detail in the 112-page Red Book, entitled Creating Opportunity. It was hailed as a breakthrough in political accountability. The Red Book set the tone for subsequent platforms at both levels of government all across the country.
In early May, 1994, Mike Harris' election platform The Common Sense Revolution was launched. That's a full year before the June, 1995 election.
Dalton McGuinty rolled out a detailed platform in five chuncks throughout 2002 and 2003, culminating with a full costing well before the election.
These documents, and their many successors, were complete expositions of philosophy, program initiatives, tax measures, fiscal frameworks and costings. That's why voters loved them: because they cut down on politicians' wiggle room. And that's why they became de rigeur.
This is how opposition parties need to do it if they want to be taken seriously. Its the first of many tests they need to pass to even be considered by the electorate in Ontario.
And that's why it's puzzling that Hudak is still keeping his policies under wraps. Pounding the government is good opposition fare. And it's necessary to do so effectively in order to mount a serious opposition effort. The leader needs to hammer the government in order to rally his troops. Tim Hudak's doing that well.
When the time comes, however, to pitch to the broader electorate, opposition red meat can turn into thin gruel pretty fast.
After weeks of appetizers, today Premier McGuinty has served up a banquet of policy direction for the province. Dwight Duncan will present dessert shortly.
Thus far, all we have seen from Tim Hudak's back room is a new logo. On policy, its still the same old, same old. He's going to need something real to say pretty soon.
And if he doesn't share it, the Liberals will be very happy to fill in the blanks.