[LINK] "‘I never took anything for granted.’ Kathleen Wynne in conversation"

[rfmcdonald]

The MacLean's interview conducted by Jonathon Gatehouse with Kathleen Wynne touches the basic points about the newly-elected premier of Ontario. (Questions about her sexual orientation and her wife are at the end, if you're curious.)

You underestimate Kathleen Wynne at your peril. Since taking over as Ontario premier from Dalton McGuinty 16 months ago, she has rejuvenated a scandal-ridden Liberal government by making big promises and tacking hard to the left. On June 12, voters rewarded her activist vision with a majority that few pundits or pollsters saw coming. She spoke with Maclean’s about what lies ahead for the country’s biggest province.

Q: You seemed surprised by your majority win. Why? Were your pollsters wrong too?

A: I think I was more pleased than surprised. We hadn’t known where we were going to land. There were polls all over the place: we were going to lose, or we had a majority, and everything in between. So I never counted on anything. I never took anything for granted.

Q: It was a campaign of stark choices: You were promising a lot of government stimulus; the Tories were promising austerity. So what message do you take away from this majority?

A: I think that people looked at some very clear differences and they chose the plan that was going to invest in them. Whether it’s the transit and transportation infrastructure they need in their communities, or whether it’s in a retirement pension plan that they, or their children or grandchildren need. They saw themselves reflected in the concerns and the investments we were talking about. That is what they want to see implemented.