The Spectator’s view on the road ahead

Electioned out yet? We’re going to beg your indulgence one more time. It was a very significant election after all. Today, some post-vote tidying up.

Staying orange against the tide

There’s something endearing about most of Hamilton remaining stubbornly orange in the face of Doug Ford’s massive blue takeover of Ontario.

Yes, Ford candidate Donna Skelly won in new riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook. But outside of that, it seems like Hamilton voters took a look at what Ford was selling, and said no thanks. This is not new — no passing fancy. The city was strongly NDP when the Liberals were in power, too. Why? Labour roots, for one thing. A better than typical understanding of the need for a strong social safety net, no doubt. Based on Ford’s campaign, you wouldn’t know it exists, which does not bode well. But here in The Hammer, people seem to understand that a rising tide lifts all boats.

That may seem a quaint notion in the face of Ford’s far-right conservative populism. But it’s good to know our hometown hasn’t lost its sense of social democratic values, even if the rest of the province has.

But speaking of the NDP ...

You can’t blame Andrea Horwath for focusing on the positive in her remarks after the election. Her party did secure a larger piece of the electoral pie than in recent years. And Horwath’s personal popularity has to get credit for a lot of that.

But we must rain on this parade. How much of the NDP surge is due to the utter collapse of the Liberal vote? What would their numbers have looked like without that?

And here’s more reality check: The NDP finished second in a two-horse race. Yes, they will wear the official Opposition jerseys, but they will do so in the face of an overwhelming Conservative majority. Seventy six seats, as of midday Friday, compared to the NDP’s 39. Forty per cent of the popular vote compared to 33.7 per cent.

Does anyone really think the Ford government will be respectful and responsive to legislative opposition? If it lives up to Ford’s reputation as a democratic steamroller, the NDP has a much better chance of becoming legislative roadkill than of making a significant difference in policy and debate.

And what about leadership? Obviously, Horwath deserves credit for her brand of that precious commodity. But let’s be honest — she fell short, for the third time. If she couldn’t push the NDP over the top under these circumstances, when will she be able to?

Farewell to a local political icon

Not everyone loved Ted McMeekin, who lost his Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas seat to promising NDP candidate Sandy Shaw. But you need to know this: Hamilton did not have a bigger champion at Queen’s Park than the affable former mayor of Flamborough. Cut Ted’s skin, and he’ll bleed Steeltown.

He is also a man of deep conviction with strong socially democratic ideals. Kathleen Wynne has referred to him as the conscience of the government. McMeekin did the job for the right reasons, and he did it well. We wish him the best, and you should, too.

But you need to know this: Hamilton did not have a bigger champion at Queen’s Park than the affable former mayor of Flamborough. Cut Ted’s skin, and he’ll bleed Steeltown.