Here we are in a provincial election campaign with a choice to make. Some random thoughts on the first 10 days:

1. The simplest politics are also the most complex: Doug Ford is beatable. His record the last 2, and 2.5 years has been so-so. Why not run against it? The Liberals, and NDP should remind us, and tell us what they’d do differently? It’s simple, but it also complex because you’d have to leave policies like the buck/ transit ride, and the increase to ODSB to the background, and really focus on what’s in front of us. The issues, and solutions aren’t so easy to explain.

2. Ignoring the Tough Conversations: The COVID-19 pandemic has found every single flaw in society and put the spotlight on it. Lots of ideas have been thrown around on how to fix healthcare, homecare and Long Term Care, but have we really talked about how we are going to afford them? Specifically government-owned long term care? Or what it’s going to take to properly staff hospitals? And where technology can help, and hinder in healthcare and education? Or the flaws in the Urban planning that see communities develop at rates faster than their infrastructure can keep up with? the downloading of social services? The list of conversations being ignored is miles long, and that’s without even talking crime, climate change or the economy.

3. “Bozo eruptions, riding expenses, and leaks oh my: The Liberals had a couple of candidates with bozo eruptions. The first a candidate from Parry Sound Muskoka who wrote a book claiming re-breathing by infants can cause homosexuality. The other a candidate from Sault Ste. Marie who was dropped following the discovery of derogatory comments towards women in an online forum.

PC’s have Lecce and his actions in university in the name of fundraising 16 years ago. I think his incompetence as Education Minister the last two years is more relevant than anything he did in university. They might have a worse problem with the appearances of Lisa McLeod, and other MPP’s taking money from the riding association, and using it for living expenses. Perfectly legal, but ethically questionable.

And then the leak. From Robert Benzie:

I tweeted some initial thoughts, that it could be true, based on what I’d seen and heard on the ground, but after talking a little last night, with someone I’m not sure. Over the last couple of years, there’s been the odd story that has left me shaking my head, wondering why they would leak this, so it could have come from somewhere. The who, and why are certainly sticking out there waiting to be answered. It could be something, or it could be nothing more than a distraction for something else. In either case, it’s something to take note of.

Locally speaking: It’s starting to ramp up here in Milton. I’m seeing transit as the big issue as it goes to affordability. There should be talk of development, growth, as well as natural resources (Quarry, 413, etc…). Two debates have already been held by the Downtown Business Improvement Area, and Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW). Am told the CFUW only hosted the NDP, and Liberal candidates. I don’t understand missing debates; it’s a free chance to have ideas heard. Who wouldn’t want that in an election?

Anyway… that’s it for today. Stay tuned.