TORONTO - Kathleen Wynne is appealing for opposition ideas on the budget as she marks her first anniversary as Ontario premier today, but the Conservatives say she should be asking voters for a mandate.
Wynne fired off letters to both opposition leaders yesterday asking for their input on the province's budget, suggesting she wants another deal to keep the minority Liberal government alive.
On the other hand, she just completed a four-day, 12-city campaign-style tour as Liberal leader, testing the waters in advance of a possible election.
Progressive Conservative critic Doug Holyday says Wynne has gone "far too long" without seeking her own mandate from voters, and should call an election as soon as possible.
N-D-P house leader Gilles Bisson says Wynne is sending mixed signals about an election by saying she wants budget ideas from the Tories and New Democrats and then bashing both opposition parties in her speeches.
Bisson says Wynne hasn't been able to distance herself from the "dismal" record the Liberals had under former premier Dalton McGuinty, and knows she has a real credibility problem with voters.
Both the Tories and New Democrats predict Wynne will get a "resoundingly negative" response from voters whenever Ontario does hold its next general election.
(The Canadian Press)
