In the Ontario election some Liberals try to scare voters reminding them about Mike Harris or Bob Rae. The days that Bob Rae was Premier and in the NDP are in the past. The New Democratic Party can say with truth that Bob Rae is now a Liberal! In 2006 he ran for the leadership of the Liberal party and came in third place, and now he represents the Toronto Centre seat vacated following the retirement of Bill Graham. Bob Rae got his first taste of power in 1985 under a minority Liberal government, where the NDP got some of their legislation passed. In 1990 the popular vote was very close. The New Democratic Party had 37% of the popular vote and the Liberals had 34% of the popular vote. Under the dubious first past the vote winner takes all system Bob Rae was elected with a strong majority government with 74 seats in the Ontario Legislature. Bob Rae and the Ontario NDP had never governed before and were inexperienced. Ontario was also going through the worst recession since the Great Depression largely triggered by Brian Mulroney’s Free Trade. I do not criticize Bob Rae for the economy, but instead for his policies and failed promises. Bob Rae failed to deliver on his promise of public auto insurance, and along with Rae Days and the Social Contract, and a few other scandals the NDP lost popularity in Ontario. In 2002 Bob Rae was interviewed in the National Post and talked about his departure from the NDP, but many in the NDP had already distanced themselves from Bob Rae a long time ago. Bob Rae is now the Liberal’s problem, so I would appreciate it if Liberals would stop bringing him up in regards to the NDP in this provincial Ontario election. Bob Rae is now a Liberal and you’re stuck with him! I think anyone in the NDP would give the Liberals this salient advice… Get rid of Bob Rae before he destroys the credibility of your party too!

-Jason Setnyk