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OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s bid to insert himself into the expected fall federal election will include an open letter to all party leaders, the Premier said yesterday as he announced $1.1-billion for new municipal infrastructure.
The open letter will attempt to draw the federal leaders into his campaign to get his province a break on what he says are unfair equalization payments.
Mr. McGuinty said his letter will ask them to put in writing how their parties intend to respond to Ontario’s call for an easing of the province’s equalization tab.
The Premier said the answers will help Ontarians decide whom to vote for, although he has already made up his mind.
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“I’ll be voting for my brother or I’ll be kicked out of the family by my mother,” he said, in reference to his brother David and the Ottawa riding that both represent, one federally and one provincially. “That’s not a secret.”
During an earlier speech to the Canadian Federation of Municipalities in Ottawa, the Premier said the $1.1-billion announcement is the result of the new Investing in Ontario Act, which allows the province to spend surplus funds rather than devote all extra cash to the province’s debt.
“Just as the big boost to infrastructure I’ve announced today reflects last year’s strong economic performance, the economic challenges we’re facing this year mean I can safely predict I won’t make this kind of announcement 12 months from now,” Mr. McGuinty said.
The Premier predicted the money would create up to 11,000 construction jobs in the short term.
He also urged municipalities to get involved in the expected federal election campaign.
“Ontarians deserve to know where all federal parties stand on fairness for Ontario,” he said.
Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien said he was “very impressed” with the announcement, adding that some of the money will likely go toward plans for cleaning up the Ottawa River.
Mr. O’Brien’s term has been sidetracked by allegations, which he denies, that he offered to use his federal Conservative connections to secure a job for one of his challengers in the last mayoral race in exchange for dropping out.
Mr. O’Brien said yesterday that mayors are likely to remain non-partisan should there be a federal election.
“The one thing that we learn very early in municipal politics is to leave your party stripes at the back door,” he said. “We’ll have to work with all our partners.”