This is a federal election ? so why are an Ontario premier, his main challenger and a former premier up to their necks in it?
Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty got involved first by choice, saying he supports Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, which surprised some, because their family relationship had been stormy.
Martin in the last federal election did not want to be viewed as in the same party. The premier had become unpopular for breaking promises to avoid increasing taxes and balance the budget.
McGuinty more recently argued his federal cousins were cheating the province, because they collected from it $23 billion more a year in taxes than they returned in transfer payments and services.
Martin responded Ontario was economically strong, then softened and agreed to cough up $5.7 billion more, but not all of it is in the province?s hands yet.
McGuinty since has complained Martin?s government left natives in a northern Ontario community in living conditions so deplorable the province had to evacuate them.
The premier has now said in a year-end interview, he wants a national commission of the federal, provincial and territorial governments to re-examine the whole financial relationship between them.
McGuinty was asked if he stands a better chance of help from Martin or federal Conservative leader Stephen Harper. He replied he believes Martin ?will deliver for us.?
McGuinty is taking risks, because he has piled another burden on Martin, who has made so many costly promises he may run short of funds. If Martin wins and fails to deliver, McGuinty could be seen as breaking another promise.
If Harper wins, he may not look hard for funds for McGuinty, because the premier helped an opponent. As well Harper has said he lacks respect for McGuinty. This would provide a shaky start for a relationship between a prime minister and leader of the biggest province.
Harper told reporters McGuinty is out of step with most premiers, because most ?hate? Martin. Harper added McGuinty is untrustworthy and ?I wouldn?t want him behind my back.? He was apparently referring to the premier?s vacillating between criticizing and praising Martin.
McGuinty responded he gathers Harper?s real concern is he endorsed Martin.
Provincial Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, who once co-chaired a disastrous federal election campaign for prime minister Kim Campbell, is both canvassing for Harper and feeling confident enough to offer him advice.
Tory said Harper is handicapped in Ontario because its voters ?don?t know him and what he is about.?
He told Harper he has to spend more time in the province and focus on issues that matter most to its residents, particularly jobs, taxes and health care.
Tory said he hopes to spend a good deal of time campaigning with federal Conservative candidates.
Former Conservative premier Mike Harris, who retired from elected politics nearly four years ago, has been dragged into the campaign by federal Liberals, who feel they can extract votes from him.
Harris is frowned on by most residents because of growing recognition he weakened essential services to pay for tax cuts, although he retains a core of true believers.
Ontarians also have been reminded of Harris?s confrontational stances by recent testimony at a public enquiry he was abusive and obscene when ordering natives ejected from a provincial park.
The federal Liberals have urged their candidates to claim Harris ?cost Ontario dearly,? and Harper would ?damage Ontario like Harris did.?
McGuinty?s Liberals already seize every opportunity to remind of Harris, hoping this will help sway voters to reject the Conservatives in the next provincial election in 2007, and it almost seems Harris is still in the legislature.
Harris?s image is seen as such a handicap two levels of Liberals are now trying to wring votes from it ? few premiers have left such an impression.
Eric Dowd is a veteran member of the Queen?s Park press gallery.
