NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she isn’t worried about vote splitting

Andrea Horwath and Michael Prue. Photo by Neal Jennings / Wikimedia Commons.

OTTAWA—Ontario’s NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is brushing off concerns of vote splitting among left-leaning voters eager to keep the Progressive Conservatives out of power.

Horwath says she doesn’t see Tim Hudak’s plan—which includes cutting 100,000 public sector jobs—gaining enough traction to warrant strategic voting come June 12.

During a campaign stop at a long-held Liberal riding in Ottawa, Horwath said people should know better than vote Liberal by default, saying that would amount to rewarding their “bad behaviour.”

The New Democrats unveiled their campaign platform Thursday, vowing to raise the corporate tax rate and offer financial help to hydro users, family caregivers and students if they form government.

The Liberals have criticized the plan, which they said would jeopardize Ontario’s position as the top jurisdiction in North America for direct foreign investment.

Premier Kathleen Wynne also accused the NDP of cribbing part of the Liberals’ spring budget—the same blueprint they rejected, triggering the election.