I noticed the streeter asking about Premier Kathleen Wynne’s steadily fizzling popularity in a local newspaper dropped on my driveway two days ago.

Eight Midtown residents were asked whether the most unpopular premier in Canada could still pull a rabbit out of a hat and win a second term in 2018.

I shouldn’t be surprised (seeing as Midtown is Liberal territory) that all but one actually thought she was doing what was right with her “fair” hydro scheme that will (temporarily) slash hydro rates by 25%.

One seemingly naive woman suggested that all would be right with the world once the rates are cut and get this, that the embattled Wynne actually had her best interests in mind.

OK, then.

There was no recognition from any of them of the fact that the Liberals messed up hydro rates in the first place, or that selling off slightly more than 50% of hydro shares will give the government less control over energy prices, or that Wynne has opted to mortgage her own grandchildren’s future with the temporary four-year rate fix (by amortizing the debt used to pay for electricity system upgrades over a longer period.)

But least of all, these naive souls seemed to have bought the Liberal spin and trust that Wynne was doing this to truly help them — not as a cynical attempt to improve her popularity before she returns to the polls next June.

It was truly frustrating to read, but I suspect there are many other Wynne deniers out there — voters who still don’t believe (after so many $1-billion-plus fiascos) that this premier and her sad, tired, incompetent, duplicitous and arrogant cabinet only care about their own interests and those special interests (can we say teachers’ unions and overpaid bureaucratic fatcats) who will endeavour to keep them in office.

So, I’m not the least bit surprised that while Wynne and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault were presenting a public face of deep concern for Ontario residents and their hydro bills (and shamelessly lauding themselves for this alleged concern), privately they were only moving the shells around — temporarily.

According to a confidential cabinet document released by the Tories on Thursday, once the dust settles on another Liberal term (at least in their fantasies), hydro rates will spike again and by 2024 they will reach on average $161 per month and $183 per month by 2026 compared to $123 per month this year.

The cabinet document also reveals that the controversial debt retirement charge will return under another name.

It has to happen. The government has no money. They can’t prop up their vote-buying schemes forever.

Interestingly enough, in his statement Thursday, Thibeault does not deny the rate increases but instead tries to change the channel by insisting the cabinet document is “outdated,” a distraction from their charitable efforts (the latter my words) and that PC Leader Patrick Brown has no “real plan.”

Look, what or who would anyone believe: A leaked cabinet document or a government that has messed up nearly every file it has dealt with (I haven’t even mentioned health care), has left the province mercilessly drowning in debt, put together a fake balanced budget and still has the gall to come out with cheesy spin about the great job they’re doing for Ontario residents.

I know it. Likely most of those who will read this article will agree, as well.

If only those people who still think Wynne is going to save them with a few shiny baubles could be shocked into reality.

SLevy@postmedia.com