Political analyst Robert Fisher looks at how the province's three party leaders are re-inventing and re-defining their positions following the recent Throne Speech. 7:12

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's throne speech on Monday didn't just reset the government's priorities, as promised. It marked the unofficial kick off to the season where all three parties try to get voters onside with their vision on how the province should be run.

Political analyst Robert Fisher spoke with Craig Norris of CBC Kitchener-Waterloo about the message that each leader hopes will result in votes.

Veteran political analyst Robert Fisher delivers his insights into Ontario politics every two weeks. (CBC) Fisher, a long-time Queen's Park reporter for the CBC, will deliver his take on provincial politics every two weeks. You can listen to the full interview by clicking the image at the top of this page or read an edited and abridged transcript of the interview below.

Why does a throne speech trigger a re-invigoration of the leaders?

First, it was a surprise. Second, remember that MPP's had been away form the legislature since June.

There's a lot of water under the bridge that has gone on that people want to get after each other on and thirdly, as you mentioned in the intro, we are so close to the next election.

It's about 20 months away. This is the time to start getting some things set down in the minds of voters before what we have what Bill Davis used to call a consultation with the public which equals the next election.

What are the messages the leaders want to get out?

A lot of it has to do with trust and longevity. For example, Patrick Brown, the Tory leader, was up on his feet in Question Period and more than once talked about Liberal scandals and Liberal waste and Liberal mismanagement, which is a theme with a government that is almost at its 13-year mark.

Many would argue, clearly in the opposition, that this government's best-before-date is now up.

I would add that we heard the same thing before the 2014 election and as I recall Kathleen Wynne won a pretty substantial majority from Ontarians.

Nevertheless, that's a message that Patrick Brown wants to get out. Andrea Horwath will talk about how, in her view, the province is on the tipping point, people worried — and I think there's probably a lot of truth to that — about things getting worse for them and their children.

Then you have Kathleen Wynne, on the defensive but someone who likes to play offense and enjoys the back and forth with the media and the opposition inside and outside the legislature.

For her it's the message she has taken since she became Premier and that is the government has been on the right path, that we are paying attention to Ontarians. Hydro rates is one thing, improvements to health care, in her view, another. And there's the HOV lanes. That's something where she is saying we're making sure people can get to work faster, spend less time in their car.

This is the kind of thing you will hear from her and the opposition leaders between now and the next election.

We are 20 months away from an election. How important is it to these leaders to get their messages out now?

Traditionally, this is when Ontarians begin to focus more on what's going on at Queen's Park.

Of all the things that go on, especially for the Wynne government, is the definition of Patrick Brown. Who is this man?

A lot of people support the Tories but still don't know who Patrick Brown is. The government wants to define him before he can define himself. In many ways he has already done that and the Liberals are late to the dance.

When you talk to Liberals privately some worry the Liberals should have been hammering Brown as soon as he made it to the legislature.

Wynne's main challenge is coming from Patrick Brown. You wan to leave in the public's mind that this is a man that, in the Liberal view, can't be trusted. Where is he on the issues? He says one thing before the election and maybe does something different after he wins as Premier.

The sex education curriculum issue that blew up during that by-election two weeks ago is an example of how the Liberals will use this trust factor. That's critically important. It could be the kind of thing that could evaporate support for the Tories and Mr. Brown personally.

What kind of reaction is the throne speech generating for the public?

It's been mixed.

I've head of and talked to some people who think the government is on the right track and others don't. The hydro rate cut is something the Premier wanted to introduce and did. Does it satisfy everybody? Clearly that's not the case. There's a real angst about the rates, a real anger about it.

Those people will never be satisfied not matter how much the government gives them. They feel there is a deeper problem with the government that must be dealt with. The sales pitch will continue. As I travel the province it is the issue that comes up most often. They see it as a pocketbook issue. Wynne has to convince people that if she wasn't listening in the past she certainly is now.

And how does that public reaction affect how receptive the public is to the politicians' messages?

It is referred to in politics as the message track. The message from the government is we are hearing your concerns. We are trying to do our very best to mitigate the cost of hydro, for example.

But, hey folks take a look at the system we inherited in 2003 when there was brownouts and blackouts and coal was being burned in Ontario polluting the environment.

Whether that message will be bought by Ontarians is an open question and what Mr. Brown talked about — scandal and, his view, the mismanagement of taxpayers dollars — whether that is taken into account when they have to mark that ballot come next election.

You can read and listen to Robert Fisher's take on Ontario politics every two weeks.