Want to know whether it will be a Harper majority? You can read the polls, or you can read the Toronto Star. The unofficial organ of the Liberal party is doing its level best to unlevel the playing field.
The major headlines of yesterday’s Star included No break for TTC riders?
In the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) story, the newspaper tells readers if they ride public transit and expect to benefit from the tax credit being offered by Stephen Harper, they will be disappointed.
The Star isn’t quoting anyone predicting Harper will break the promise. The story tells readers if Harper keeps his promise, the local transit authority will hike fares to make up for the 16% discount the Harper promise could amount to. What Harper giveth, Toronto taketh away. Who’s the real bad guy in this story?
Story No. 2: “Toronto’s relationship with Ottawa could dramatically change under a Stephen Harper government.”
The Star quotes civic officials who sound the alarm bells about what will happen if a Stephen Harper government tears up agreements the Martin government has negotiated with the city of Toronto.
“With the Conservatives expected to win Monday’s federal election, city officials and politicians are scrambling to determine the fallout if Liberal agreements are ripped up or reconsidered.”
The article is short on facts and long on fears. Various civic officials are quoted. All of them, including the mayor of Toronto, are on the left. All of them sing from the same song sheet, saying public housing, daycare spaces and various infrastructure deals will go down the tubes if Harper chooses to shred signed agreements.
Readers are told a Harper government could cost them housing for the poor, child-care spaces, new roads and sewers, and water treatment.
The message is simple. A Tory victory will be the equivalent of bombing Toronto back into the Stone Age.
Before you decide fearmongering won’t work, you must take your own brain out of your cranium and put it in a jar. If you are a conservative voter, you need to know these articles aren’t meant for you. They are targeted at people who have a core belief government must continue to grow if our quality of life is to improve.
Many conservatives believe our quality of life was a lot better when government was smaller. But once again, the Star doesn’t care what you believe. They have a point of view that in this election runs counter to the other newspapers in the all-important GTA. Every other major newspaper is endorsing the Conservatives. The mission of the Red Star is to keep Liberals in power. There are some terrific columnists, James Travers and Chantal Hebert, who are allowed to go off that message.
Today it is Jack Layton’s face that is redder than a jalapeno because he knows that in many Ontario ridings, if the Star and its allies are able to convince only one out of 10 NDP voters to switch their vote, Toronto and environs will continue to be a sea of red.
In the next 40 hours, the fight is pitting hope against fear. On Monday, GTA fear of change will leave the Tory-majority hopefuls SOL (Somewhat Out of Luck).
By the time all the blood has been drained from this pig of a campaign, expect to see Stephen Harper operating a minority government.
He will then have two years to prove he doesn’t deserve to be Public Enemy No. 1 on the banks of Lake Ontario.
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