Dowd

Ontario’s Liberal government is boasting a planned new drinking law will make the province more civilized, but being from far gentlemanly in its campaign to sell it.

Liberal Finance Minister Greg Sorbara has revealed he thought of running for party leader when Dalton McGuinty, now premier, won in 1996, but friends and advisers warned him the province was not ready for an Italian-Canadian premier.

In opposition Dalton McGuinty was the party leader with the readiest wit in recent years, but this has vanished since he became premier.

The people who regularly advise politicians free of charge how to do their jobs haven?t had much success getting themselves elected. This pattern is unlikely to change soon.

Ontario plans to allow trials without police having to be present, which is a bit like having a wedding without the bride.

Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty and some of his senior ministers have suddenly discovered they have deep affection for three former opponents appointed to powerful positions in the new Conservative federal government and it is touching.

A lot of people with influence use it to jump the queue for healthcare in Ontario and they now can be seen to include celebrity journalists. This can mean ordinary people with no special pull wait longer.

Politicians are different from most people because they are more persistent, or maybe they just have thicker skins.

To understand Stephen Harper you should know that for three years he ran a group started in and often focused on Ontario that was slightly to the right of Mike Harris and Margaret Thatcher, although this never emerged much in the federal election.

There are times a picture is worth a thousand words ? although a columnist who uses words to make a living may be reluctant to admit it.