Tim Hudak’s jobs plan, the centerpiece of the PC party campaign, is currently garnering the most coverage in this election. And from the looks of it, it could prove to be the lightning rod for voters. In recent days Hudak has eclipsed both Liberal and NDP media coverage with his proposal to cut 100,000 public sector jobs, to create one million jobs and he’s now rolled out his full platform, the Million Jobs Plan.
But which narrative will resonate? So far the cuts – or 100,000 pink slips as the Liberals have coined it – are winning out. They have taken centre stage. And that’s just fine with Hudak’s opposition.
Hudak is hoping that by polarizing the electorate he will galvanize the right and attract voters looking for a dramatic change. Wynne and Horwath are hoping that voters view Hudak’s move as an unnecessarily harsh ploy to put their “friends and neighbours out of work.” What do voters think? A May 12, 2014, Forum Research poll found that nearly two-thirds of Ontarians disapprove of the proposed job cuts. Moreover, 63 per cent do not think the PC leader will be able to create the promised one million jobs. The cuts narrative continues.
What could this recent public reaction mean for Election Day? The Forum poll has the Liberals at 38 per cent, the PCs at 35 per cent, the NDP at 21 per cent and the Greens at 5 per cent. Want to know how this translates into seats? Click here for the results the H+K Election Predictor provides. Want to make your own prediction? Click here for our H+K Election Predictor which allows you – the voter – to make your own prediction, look at the results and share them with your family and friends. And follow the results on Twitter using #HKPredict.
Now, while the June 12 election outcome is way too early to call, what is clear is that the PCs have drawn a line in the sand. And with that line drawn, they are now shifting gears to talk about their full platform and specifically, creating one million jobs.
With the cuts narrative coming first though, is it too late to change the channel?  We will find out as the campaign continues.