Biting the tax bullet.

Campaign promises come back to haunt politicians and often very quickly. Less than six months after Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's election promise to improve health, education, and social services without raising taxes, he now has to cope with the aftermath. These three areas cover about 70% of the entire provincial budget.

The previous Tory government reduced services and carried on a program of large tax reductions. However, the tax cuts were greater than the cuts to expenditures and the Ontario government was forced to borrow heavily, leaving a substantial debt for the incoming Liberal government.

How will McGuinty manage his promises? The reality is that he can achieve these goals only if the economy grows at a rate higher than the three percent predicted by most economists. McGuinty has suggested the possibility of reducing services. For instance, certain procedures and drug benefits might be dropped from the province's health care programs. He has not yet stated that he might change eligibility rules to eliminate even more people from social assistance; nor has he mentioned any plans to cut day care programs or increase class room size. The problems left over by the previous government in young offender programs and mental health services are yet to be mentioned.

Premier McGuinty indicates that he will "consult" with the people. What kind of discussions will these be? We are reminded of the consultations on health care by the State of Washington, when people were asked to determine whether jaw surgery had a higher priority than shoulder surgery. Is he going to seek advice of this kind in order to cut health services? For instance, will he ask people to choose between child protection services and treatment of autism?

The Tory government that preceded the Liberals sold the voters on the idea that expenditures could be made without harm if "unnecessary services" were eliminated and the remaining programs were made more efficient. They brought in management teams that created expensive computer programs designed to second guess the decisions made by health and social service personnel on the front lines. The result has been colossal mismanagement.

There are long waiting lists for many medical and mental heath procedures; children with learning problems are neglected, young offenders awaiting assessment and court hearings are housed in unsuitable facilities that are dangerous for both youth and staff, and of course, the homeless whose numbers grew in the seven years of Tory rule, are still out there on the streets.

McGuinty is hoping that the consultations will produce priorities and ideas for more efficient government operations. In the end, the people of Ontario will tell him strongly that they want better health and education services, period. They may also tell him that they prefer little or no tax rise.

What to do? The Ontario Liberal government should continue to look at efficiencies in government services and consider eliminating unnecessary ones, as well as ways to control costs. Undoubtedly, they will look at more user fees and consider selling off government assets that no longer serve a useful public purpose. These will all no doubt help, but in the end a tax rise will be necessary. Otherwise, Premier McGuinty will continue the same old Tory program.

According to a federal Finance Department study, the Tory government of Ontario gave up almost $12 billion dollars in revenues in its seven years. Continuing at the same rate, the total will reach over $17 billion in the next two years. The benefits of these tax cuts are hard to see, most went to large corporations and to higher income earners. Ontario tax policies have helped the rich become richer, but it has not enriched the social or cultural life of the province.

The Liberal government must raise taxes fairly and equitably. This is the only way to meet the promise of improved health, education, and social services. They may not like the criticism that comes with a tax rise but they will surely appreciate the approbation that will come with better services, especially in health and education. We think the political fallout Will be favorable. Carrying out the promises made to improve these services by raising taxes will finally show that the province means business. Premier McGuinty should bite the bullet and move ahead now.

--L.K.