Editorial: Status quo for Liberals

Last Thursday, voters in Ontario returned Liberal Dalton McGuinty to office, albeit on a much shorter leash.

Locally, MPPs Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle were re-elected, the latter with a little less sweating than the former.

Mauro, who narrowly beat the NDP’s Mary Kozorys, his second straight nailbiter on election day, actually increased his percentage of the vote this time around – though at the expense of an invisible Green?Party candidate.

Gravelle, who had to answer for the perils of the forest industry, won by 2,600 votes over the NDP’s Steve Mantis.

Both parties lost votes to the Conservatives, who ran businessman Anthony LeBlanc in Thunder?Bay-Superior North.

When all was said and done, the Liberals have a minority at Queen’s Park.

Is this a good thing for Northwestern Ontario?

Well Gravelle will be back in cabinet, possibly in Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, but it wouldn’t surprise us if he takes on another portfolio, like transportation, to take some of the heat off the 16-year veteran.

With a voice at the cabinet table, the North will be heard. But what matters is how closely they listen. McGuinty needs to shore up his Toronto support, which won him the election. But he can’t afford to give up any ground in Thunder?Bay, seats he’ll need next time around if his party wants to earn a fourth term.