Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris has come out in support of Jean Charest for leader of the Conservative party, claiming the former Quebec premier has "a plan to grow the economy, especially in tough times.".In an email sent out to supporters, Harris said Ontario was "a lot like Canada is today," when he became premier in 1995, with massive debt, slow growth and missed job creation opportunities.."But I had a plan — the Common Sense Revolution," Harris said. "It was my road map to put Ontario back on track. And we did. So, when I hear anyone lie about Jean Charest’s economic record I know I have to say something to set the record straight.".During Harris' time as party leader until 2002, he implemented a government program of reducing the deficit by lowering taxes and cutting spending. Harris claimed he inherited a "fiscal disaster" from the NDP government under Bob Rae, which increased Ontario's debt from $35.4 billion in 1989–1990 to $90.7 billion in 1994–1995..According to Harris, Charest had similar "strong leadership" when it came to fiscal spending as the premier of Quebec. Harris said Charest made the province's economic growth from 2008 to 2012 stronger than in the US, Europe, and Canada..Harris also praised Charest for lowering the unemployment rate from 9.2% to 7.7%, reducing the size of the public service by over 6%, and cutting taxes by $1 billion. .Harris said this was made all the more impressive by the fact that this happened during the 2008 financial crisis. "That’s how you make life more affordable and put money back in people’s pockets. Jean had a plan then. He has a plan to turn Canada around now.".Harris also took some not-so-subtle shots at Conservative leadership race frontrunner, Pierre Poilievre, saying that "gambling" one's savings in an unregulated cryptocurrency market or threatening to fire the Bank of Canada's governor "might be good slogans for social media, but they aren’t a plan.".Poilievre has repeatedly attacked Charest for having formerly been a Liberal, even accusing him of currently wearing a "blue shirt to cover up a red shirt underneath it.".Harris said Charest understands that being a leader means making decisions based on facts, not "ideas he picked up on Youtube."."If you're a senior relying on pension income or a young family saving to buy a home, you want a leader who has a sensible plan to curb inflation, control spending, lower taxes, and grow the economy all across Canada. I trust Jean to put Canada’s economy back on track," he said.
