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By Eric Dowd
Toronto – Ontario has so many premiers these days people are
getting confused.
Liberal
Premier Dalton McGuinty, who could be called the real premier, although
some would dispute it, keeps appointing a succession of so-called `acting
premiers,’ who stand in for him when he is away from the legislature.
At
least half a dozen ministers have filled in and those who have done it
most are Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, Health Minister George Smitherman,
Education Minister Gerard Kennedy, Government Services Minister Gerry
Phillips and Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky.
The
role is not as powerful or difficult as it sounds, particularly because it
mainly involves responding to questions by opposition parties, and acting
premiers like premiers refer the vast majority to ministers specifically
responsible for and more knowledgeable on topics raised. A question on
highways, for instance, is passed on to the transportation minister.
But
the acting premiers also have opportunities to impress by replying to more
general questions by counter-attacking and rallying their own troops, as
McGuinty would if he were present, and avoiding making gaffes that hurt.
The
acting premiers mostly have tried to be feisty, usually by declaring the
Progressive Conservative government that preceded them was the worst in
history, and have not tripped badly.
One
temptation is to see the ministers chosen as McGuinty’s rating of his
cabinet and obviously they have his confidence.
But
the role is not a severe test and McGuinty probably rates some others as
highly, including Attorney General Michael Bryant, who has got himself
rated by most news media as McGuinty’s heir, and Community Safety
Minister Monte Kwinter, a supreme example of an old pro who rarely puts a
foot wrong. McGuinty may feel they already have enough on their plates.
The
acting premiers will be watched also, however, because McGuinty is under
pressure to appoint a deputy premier, who would be second-in-command on a
continuing basis. All premiers in nearly three decades have had deputies,
although for varying reasons.
Conservative
premier William Davis named Bob Welch in 1977 because he had failed to win
majorities in two successive elections and an ambitious Darcy McKeough was
pushing him to move over and Davis wanted to emphasize he was not leaving
and discourage him.
Conservative
Frank Miller named Bette Stephenson, who had stronger credentials than any
male in their party, trying to show it supported equal opportunity.
Liberal
premier David Peterson appointed Robert Nixon, because he had been their
party’s heart for two decades and led unsuccessfully in three elections,
and still had a lot of life.
New
Democrat Bob Rae named Floyd Laughren deputy because he was steady and not
a silver-spoon Socialist, as many viewed Rae.
Conservative
Mike Harris named Ernie Eves because he brought financial acumen Harris
lacked and, when Eves left, filled the post with Jim Flaherty, whom he
knew would continue his far-right agenda.
And
Eves when he returned and became premier gave the job to Elizabeth Witmer,
who was more moderate and helped him become leader.
McGuinty’s
natural choice for deputy premier would have been Greg Sorbara, who more
than anyone rebuilt the Liberal party so it won an election in 2003 and
often was called `the real premier,’ but had to resign from cabinet when
police began investigating his actions as a company director.
McGuinty
recently returned after two weeks on a trade mission, but spent his first
day back in his legislature office because, he said, a huge backlog of
work accumulated while he was away.
A
deputy premier with some authority over the whole range of government
could have whittled some of this down so McGuinty could return quickly to
where he should have been, answering in the legislature for his
government’s actions.
Conservative
leader John Tory, who was there, three times called Phillips deputy
premier when he should have called him acting premier -- even insiders
have problems remembering who all these premiers are.
