Horwath evokes memory of Jack Layton

Andrea Horwath was evoking the memory of Jack Layton on the campaign trail Monday. Standing in front of a memorial statue to the former federal NDP leader — the provincial party leader vowed to fight Liberal corruption if she wins on Thursday. But would Horwath throw her party’s support behind the Progressive Conservatives if that party has the most seats in a likely minority government outcome?

Andrea Horwath would not say if she would be supporting the Conservatives or the Liberals but made it clear she is “running to be premier”.

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne slammed Horwath for refusing to rule out supporting the P.C.’s in a minority government situation. Wynne says the NDP is no longer the party of former federal leader Jack Layton. But Horwath says Layton fought Liberal corruption all his life and that is something she will be doing as well. Horwath was asked many times today if she would form a coaltion and although she never formally confirmed or denied, she did say she would not support job cuts from the P.C.’s or scandals with the Liberals: “I will not back any plan that kills 100 thousand middle class jobs and take firefighters, nurses, paramedics out of your community. I will not support corruption in government and I will not tolerate corruption in government.”

Horwath is urging Ontarians not to vote out of fear but instead cast a ballot for whatever party makes the most sense to them. Horwath repeated that voters don’t have to choose between bad math and bad ethics.

Whether it’s voter apathy, or voter indecision, the number of people casting a ballot in advance polls has dropped significantly compared to 2011. Elections Ontario says just under 567-thousand voters turned out for advance polls, a nine per cent drop from the last election. The 2011 election saw the lowest turnout in the province’s history, with only 49 per cent of voters casting a ballot.