Hi everyone -- awaiting Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP leader, at 2pm. Please submit your comments here or send a Tweet to @globejunius ...
We've got Ndp leader Andrea Horwath now at ed board #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: pls address issue of your son's fracture. How did this become an issue #voteON
A: used as example to show challenges of health care. Wasn't meant to slag the hospital staff
Q from John Stackhouse: do you believe economy is in worse shape than when campaign started? If so, need for more austere platform? #voteON
A: yes. That's why platform is way it is -- achievable, "practical first steps". We built in contingency and buffer #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: where are cuts coming from? A: reduction of ceo salaries; expenditure review. More a changing of priorities #voteON
Q from john Geiger: are corporate tax increases wise when economy is in trouble? #voteON
A: current tax rates aren't leading to investments. Tax rates alone aren't only thing that corporations use to site businesses #voteON
Q: how can be you sure to raise $1.4 to $1.8-billion in corp tax revenues given tax rate changes are poor predictor of revenues? #voteON
A: need to start somewhere; nDP platform was independently assessed by an economist #voteON
Q from Adam Radwanski: would you expect Drummond report on public service review to bend to your govt's wishes? A: it would be independent
Q from John Stackhouse: what areas of platform are non-negotiable? Is hst relief conditional for your support? #voteON
A: tax relief for families is important. I'm not prepared to indicate any conditions now though. Respect people's decisions #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: what would you do for job creation? A: hiring tax credits, jobs commissioner #voteON
A: we want more transparency around how rates are set. Also work with companies. Liberals brought higher rates, a lesser product. #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: would you consider public auto? A: first step is working with the industry. Can't have a fruitful conversation ...
A: ... If I have A big stick #voteON
Q from karim bardeesy: what are lessons of Bob Rae govt? A: I'm looking to the future; I don't hear from people that much about that anymore
A: ... Era from 90 to 95 is part of our history. As is jack layton. Look nationwide at history of ndp govt's #voteON
Q from Adam Radwanski: protectionism in your platform? A: principle is mutual benefit. I don't think the ratios we set out are onerous?
A: when I was in Timmins, raw logs were being shipped across to quebec to be processed. Let's try to process here #voteON
A: look at what was achieved by Danny Williams in processing in his province #voteON
Q: are you prioritizing access to public services over quality? #voteON
A: no, we're investing in both access and quality. $ for child care centre, and for transit operations #voteON
Q: do you agree with regionalizing hospitals? A: on emergency rooms, I disagree. We need to allow smaller communities to keep going #voteON
A: "does every service have to stay in every hospital? Obviously I don't think so" #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: mcguinty agreed to 0% increase for doctors. Would you? A: can't start honest negotiation if you put out ...
A: ... Bottom line that may or may not be achieved. McGuinty's zeros are for some but not for others #voteON
Q from John Stackhouse: what about your character would serve you well as premier? A: I work hard and I persevere ... #voteON
A: ... Also, we need to be practical and start borrowing from ideas that work, regardless of ideology. Engage people in solutions #voteON
That's it for Andrea Horwath from the editorial board. Thanks for tuning in. Tim Hudak coming at 515pm Friday #voteON