Could it be possible that the Mike Harris government has found its conservative way again If the Throne Speech is any indication, it appears as though the Premier and his team have once again been infected with the "common sense revolutionary" bug that swept them into power six years ago.

Entitled 21 Steps Into the 21st Century, the government has laid out a compelling plan to re-assert Ontario's economic dominance throughout the Canadian economic union. And the titles of each step are enough to make even the most ardent small-c conservatives ooze with joy.

The CTF has been instrumental in pushing the government to return to its "common sense" agenda. In fact, several Throne Speech commitments were lifted almost directly from the CTF 2001 pre-budget submission.

Throne Speech ...
"The second step of the plan is to pay down the province's accumulated debt. The budget will outline the next steps."

CTF Pre-Budget Submission ...
"That the Ontario government institutes a legislated schedule of debt reduction."

Throne Speech ...
"The government will sell businesses it should not operate and assets it should not own ... The government will strike a panel to make recommendations on the appropriate size of government in the 21st century: what its businesses should and shouldn't be; where it belongs and where it does not."

CTF Pre-Budget Submission ...
" ... an all-party committee legislative committee should be established once during each legislature to review all relevant government operations and highlight candidates (departments, agencies, boards, commissions, program areas, etc.) for divestiture and/or alternate service delivery."

Throne Speech ...
"Step 4 is to streamline government and make it more efficient."

CTF Pre-Budget Submission ...
"Unless Ontario initiates an expenditure priorization and management plan, future choices will increasingly see public service programs competing with each other. Politicians will be forced to chose between public services such as health care and education or health care and infrastructure."

And while the Throne Speech is chalk-full of CTF ideas for better government and accountability to taxpayers, its most welcome change of messaging and direction from the Ontario government has occurred in health care.

Throne Speech ...
"Your government wants to ensure that all people have access to quality health care, where and when they need it ... however, double-digit increases in health spending are no longer sustainable. In the absence of fundamental reform, increased funding is no answer to the national crisis facing the health care system."

CTF Pre-Budget Submission ...
"To date, Ontario has chosen the politically expedient route of "throwing more money at the problem." At current rates, this irresponsible strategy will lead to health care expenditures consuming the entire Ontario budget by fiscal 2038/2039."

"While lower health care growth rates and higher overall annual budget revenue growth could move the health care breaking point from 2038 to 2045, 2050, 2055 or farther out, the conclusion is the same, current expenditure trends are unsustainable."

"Outcomes analysis, restructuring health care governance, primary care reform and other initiatives are necessary and long overdue." The CTF will be watching the Harris government closely to ensure it does not stumble as it climbs its 21 steps toward 21st century focused and accountable government!