Paul Martin and Claque: buying votes in Ontario with your taxpayer $$$ -- $5.7-BILLION of them

Ottawa, Ontario make a $5.75-billion deal CTV.ca News Staff, May 7, 05

Ontario will be getting an extra $5.75 billion in federal financial support over the next five years -- money that will mainly go into immigration, skills training and post-secondary education.

[. . . . ] McGuinty claims Ontarians send $23 billion more to Ottawa than they get back -- the "fiscal gap."

The feds have previously dismissed McGuinty's argument. Prominent pundits like the Toronto Star's Thomas Walkom have also questioned it.

But the political math is simple for Martin: His party currently holds 74 seats of 106 in Ontario. He'll need every one of those if he hopes to stay in power after the next federal election.

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