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June 6 - June 13, 2004 |
Sorbara tests the water at Queen's Park
Provincial Finance Minister prepares for Dalton McGuinty's government's first budget
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2004-05-16
Next week, Dalton McGuinty's cabinet will present its first budget. For Liberals, that's something that has not happened since 1990, under Bob Nixon as Finance Minister. Next week the Liberals will once again tell the voters of Ontario how they plan to enact their economic and social agenda. The weight of this initiative lies on the whole cabinet of Premier McGuinty, but first and foremost on Finance Minister Greg Sorbara.
Days before the important event, we interviewed the first Italian-Canadian ever to occupy such a prestigious post.
Minister Sorbara, are you worried?
"I'm too busy to be worried. For sure, I'm concentrated. This is a very important moment in my life; being the minister of Finance is a honour but a lot of work. I believe in this Province, in this government. If there's a worry I have, it's to avoid failure. Failure is not an option."
We know that you like baseball. Is there anything in baseball with which this moment could be compared?
"Rather than baseball, I'd compare it with a Broadway premiere."
We're not asking for specifics, but what message does your budget send?
"The message is that what we do is being done in order to ensure the economic growth of our Province in future years. This budget must create the conditions for Ontario to respond to change and internal as well as international stimuli."
Any indication?
"For instance, the NDP government made a complete mistake in Floyd Laughrin's first budget. They weren't in bad faith, only mistaken. They increased expenditure during a deep recession, almost a depression. I don't want to repeat that mistake. If I make a mistake on one programme, I can correct course at a later date. I want to be sure that this budget lays the foundations for economic growth. I hope that entrepreneurs will note that this is the right path to follow."
Some people contend that if Harris went in power, that was due to your 1992 decision not to support Murray Elston over Lyn McLeod, considered a weaker contender. They say Elston would have beaten Rae and Harris.
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