Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TORONTO2680
2005-10-13 14:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:  

Sorbara's Resignation Trumps Lackluster

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPAO CA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TORONTO 002680 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO CA
SUBJECT: Sorbara's Resignation Trumps Lackluster
Ontario Throne Speech

Ref: (A) Toronto 2631 (B) 04 Toronto 364

Sensitive but unclassified - Protect accordingly.

UNCLAS TORONTO 002680

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO CA
SUBJECT: Sorbara's Resignation Trumps Lackluster
Ontario Throne Speech

Ref: (A) Toronto 2631 (B) 04 Toronto 364

Sensitive but unclassified - Protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) The 23-page October 12 throne speech
delivered in an hour-long monotone by Ontario's
Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman contained only a
few new initiatives: a money-back guarantee to provide
birth certificates within 15 days for on-line
requestors; and raising the age of mandatory education
age from 16 to 18, with the accompanying introduction
of an alternative secondary school "trades-focused"
diploma. Otherwise, the speech was a recitation
of past investments in and incremental adjustments to
education, health care, and environmental programs.


2. (SBU) The U.S. was mentioned several times in
passing as Ontario's number one trading partner and in
connection with the province's focus on fixing border
issues. Former Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Kergin,
the new borders czar was introduced to the assembly and
infrastructure improvements to border gateways in
Niagara Falls and Sarnia were included in the
recitation. Softwood lumber, agricultural subsidies
(in the U.S. and Europe),and BSE were mentioned as
check-off items, without much commentary. The Consul
General attended the ceremony with the rest of the
diplomatic corps.


3. (SBU) Comment: Spectators and cameras were far
more interested in former Finance Minister Greg
Sorbara, who assumed a backbench seat due to his
resignation after being named in an RCMP fraud warrant
(see ref (A)). Before the proceedings began, other
Liberal MPPs circled round Sorbara with handshakes and
embraces. During the throne speech, he rose
reluctantly to accept applause from fellow
parliamentarians, including some opposition members
(Progressive Conservative John Tory among them) when
the Lieutenant Governor mentioned that the provincial
deficit had declined from C$5.6 billion to C$1.6
billion. The Liberals appear to be successfully
limiting fallout from the Sorbara resignation.
Accepting Sorbara's prompt offer to resign and moving
on helps. Losing Sorbara is, however, "a body blow,"
as John Tory characterized it; but perhaps one less
serious than the press is now reporting. We are left
wondering why the RCMP issued the fraud warrant naming
Sorbara the day before the long-planned delivery of the
throne speech opening the Ontario Parliament.

LECROY