Ontario Provincial Politics

Current
May 5, 2010
McGuinty admits the HST will cost families more!
Big surprise here, this is a government that increased taxes the day after he was first elected and wasn't the least bit ashamed of it! What is even more troubling is that we the taxpayers of Ontario have not only allowed the free spending ways of the government to continue but also re-elected him.
I'm curious to know from anyone why we continue to support this behavior?

Pharmacist feel Liz Sandals not supportive!
This is an alarming issue, since I have heard from various individuals and groups that Liz Sandals isn't supportive of much in the riding unless it falls 100% under the Provincial Liberals mandate. That is disturbing because the first priority of an elected official is the riding. This is another example of someone who continues to get re-elected but the community doesn't feel they are actually getting net worth.

Budget 2008
Is anyone surprised at today's budget? I hope not. Its the same old same old, when you have a major problem (such as major economic uncertainty) simply announce big spending initiatives with little or no substance. Heck the government always does that for health care, education, seniors, oh an the new one is the environment.
Now ask yourself this: Are any of those issues resolved?
Now ask yourself an even more important question: Why do we re-elect these people if we continue to get the same results?

The biggest announcement was $1.5B for jobs training, and the strategy is to retrain people who lose jobs in sectors such as manufacturing for high growth verticals such as high tech and biotechnology. Does anyone see the issues with the pie in the sky strategy? For example, I lose my job as a worker on some manufacturing assembly line, but not to worry I will get retrained to work in software or genetics. lol! How many manufacturing people do you think will be able to transition to computer or bio jobs? The other alternative is the retail industry which is growing as well. Hmmm so I lose my $25 - $30 per hour job at manyfacturer ABC but I can now work at Walmart or Home Depot for $9 per hour. Yipee! PROBLEM SOLVED

Current Assessment:

We are in the final stretch - only 3 days before the provincial election and unfortunately it looks like the Liberals will be re-elected.
Don't figure - you can be a horrible government, but as long as you run a great marketing machine and of course have even less than stellar opponents will assure you re-election.

I have not tallied the number of promises, but one thing that I have always found disturbing is that all these promises are funded with our money and yet the general populous seems to lap it up. Don't figure :-)

It also looks like Ontarians ever so cautious have decided to stick with the status quo and not vote in favour of MMP. What a missed opportunity for Ontario to evolve into an actual democracy rather than the archaic first past the post system we have now. Some suggest that the current system isn't broken and that MMP was designed for small parties such as minorities and women etc. Although somewhat true in that it does give those groups a fairer chance of being represented, it also does the same for the majority of Ontarians.
For Example - IN 2003 the provincial results were as follows:
Liberals - 74 seats/46% of the vote
PV - 24 seats/35% of vote
NDP - 7 seats/15% of vote
Other - 4% of vote
* Therefore, The Liberals under first past the post received 46% of the provincial vote while 54% of those who voted did not vote for the party that was elected. I ask you is that representative of Ontario's population?

Example 2 - In Wellington County (where I live), in 2003 the breakdown was as follows:
Liberals (Liz Sandals) - 42%
PC - 37%
NDP - 12%
Green - 7%
FC - 2%

Therefore Liz Sandals receives only 42% approval from the riding, while an
overwhelming 58% of voters did not choose her. Hardly a resounding vote of
confidence is it?

Therefore, that is the attempt of MMP, is to represent the majority of the
population, not a 200 year old system that clearly benefits less than half
the population.

Unfortunately MMP will not pass, but I would suggest its because of fear
mongering by the current top parties (and the media) and which interesting
enough are the same who have the most to lose should it pass.

Will Toronto ever Learn?

A poll released today in the Globe and Mail suggest that the Liberals are gaining ground in the 905 and surrounding region.

Doesn't it surprise anyone that the GTA and in particular 905 area code is more receptive to Liberal messaging?

1. They lied about key election issues (last time) so why would we ever believe them now?
2. Imposed a significant tax increase when the rest of the world is decreasing taxes!
3. Spent more money on education and health care and yet is it really better?
4. Social downloading was suppose to be a key issue in the last election, and yet they have not reversed that trend!
5. The environment?
6. Absolutely no economic plan for transition from a manufacturing based economy to say a knowledge based one.

I just don't get it! Can someone please explain this to me???