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The good thing about future generations, of course, is that they’re not around to defend themselves. But even current generations may not be thrilled with the government’s habit of ratcheting up the debt load any time it gets into a jam. In a made-for-media moment, Wynne telephoned several Ontarians to personally explain her plan, only to run into a woman from Sturgeon Falls who questionedthe added billions it will cost and suggested Wynne get some better aides because “you’ve got a team there working and some of those are really bad advisers.”

Benzie went so far as to speculateon seven possible replacements should the party conclude Wynne has to go. They included Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, despitea troubledperformance as Ontario’s correctional services minister; Health Minister Eric Hoskins, best known for trenchant relations with Ontario’s disgruntled doctors; dulcet-toned Finance Minister Charles Sousa, whose Mulroney-like oratory can resemble a radio pitch-man flogging laxatives; and even Sandra Pupatello, who has the advantage of having quit politics after losing the leadership to Wynne in 2013 and thus can’t be blamed for anything that’s followed.

There’s already a bump in the road to new leadership, however. Wynne only sought the job after McGuinty stepped down of his own volition, and managed to win the next election thanks to an epically bungled Progressive Conservative campaign. Liberals who hope to repeat that feat have to contend with the fact the premier has no intention of giving them their wish.

“I’m going to run in the election in 2018,” she told the CBC after unveiling her power plan. “My job is not finished.”

Fear of her finishing her “job” may be just what frightens Ontarians, as three years of her leadership has seen the party sink to even lower levels than those that persuaded McGuinty to throw in the towel. Replacing an unpopular leader is one thing; forcing out a second premier in desperate hope of appeasing an angry electorate may be too much even for Ontario’s passive population. In the end, Wynne could be saved by her refusal to go quietly.

National Post