NDPander

Scott Stinson: Ontario NDP promotes more breaks for people who don’t need them

Oh it sounds fantastic.

But, with the amount of social spending the NDP wants to increase, and not to mention how in bed they already are with CUPE, Trade Unions and seem to have no intention of cutting any sort of social spending, where is the money going to come for this?

HST: While I'm no fan of the way the HST legislation has been enacted, it would take some belt-tightening in Ontario, at this point, to remove it off of hydro, gas, and all deemed as essentials. Again, not a bad idea: put some money back in the pockets of voters. But to balance the budget, some things would have to change/be cut, and the NDP are not exactly keen for any form of austerity or program cuts. It feels a bit like robbing Peter to pay Datlon Paul.

On the energy side of this topic, would the NDP challenge to mothball the Samsung wind turbine deal? Doubtful. They have a focused environmental platform with special attention to renewable/green energy. The efficiency and legislative rules put in place on this project are an absolute nightmare for the consumers' pocketbook; how will the tax-happy NDP marry these viewpoints?

Car Insurance: Would it be a gov't subsidy? 15% of your auto insurance back come tax time or a tax credit? Or, would they try to legislate (somehow) that private enterprise must follow a certain guideline on how much the NDP thinks the average consumer should pay for auto insurance?

I don't even know where to begin on this, but lets try:

First off, it's pandering.

Second, how in any free market society can you possibly put forward this legislation with the rocky economic/investment climate that is currently Ontario? Also, in what way can this even be achieved?

And third, whether you are fine with or despise the auto insurance industry, they are a private business, and can gladly cut bottom line at any time. It's their prerogative.

77,000 Private Auto Insurance jobs in this Province. How many of them will be at risk during this firestorm of misguided populism?

The Liberals have decimated the blue collar of Ontario over the past decade, now are the NDP taking aim at white collar?

Be careful, though the offer of these cost-saving trinkets sounds lovely, the HST plan is (obviously) ill thought out with regards to the rest of the NDP's platform and any form of Auto Insurance legislation, if actually enacted, is going to be yet another reason business and industry won't want to come to Ontario. It sends a message to private enterprise, and said message is not too inviting.

A move towards populism should always be scrutinized when the bearer is born, and dies, by its own interest base.  

Change is Needed on the Danforth and for Ontario

I live on the Danforth. I love the Danforth.

Over the years I have seen large stretches of my beloved riding begin to stagnate and rot away. Small business is hurting. Local proprietors are bleeding money. Poverty and drug use are a growing concern. While still a beautiful place to live, we can do better than this.

A very good friend of mine owns a pub near Greenwood and Danforth. She is a single mother of 3 children, works 7 days every week and is one of the kindest, most energetic people I have ever had the pleasure of calling friend. But her livelihood is suffering.

Despite the amount of events and promotions she brings to the her cozy local watering hole, she has noticed the financial crunch. People have less money in the area. There are less jobs available. Heck, one of the most prominent, and busy, spots on the strip further east is the Greenwood Employment Centre...right next to the Methadone clinic.

It isn't just the languishing economy and growing unemployment that's hurting local business, it's the current Liberal governments policies into other sectors of society. The other day that same friend was almost in tears over her hydro bill: something like a 30% increase over last year (comparing both December-January bills from the previous year) with no real explanation why such massive up-shoot of service costs would be thrown upon her.

The Liberals have been wrong on energy. The NDP? Their eyes have even more green-aspirations sparkling in them- just like the massive Samsung deal for those inefficient wind turbines in Essex county that are inflating the cost of energy provincially, not to mention lowered property values.

A lot of people from Windsor, Lasalle and surrounding areas have serious doubts and concerns over the project.

The Liberals have been wrong on employment opportunities. A growing and festering bureaucratic mess of public sector jobs is no trade-off for capital-producing private sector industry careers. Revenue-generation brings prosperity across society: more jobs, more employment, more disposable income, less people on social assistance, more investment from the top earners.

Also, Hasn't Mr. Tubuns been MPP-Emperor of the Danforth for a while now? Can you honestly say Toronto-Danforth is better off now than it was 5 years ago? As harsh as this may sound, when election time comes, before you check that box, remember- Peter Tabuns is the not late, and formidable, Jack Layton. Though Smilin' Jack was once a stalwart on the Danforth, he ran Federally, not Provincially. An important distinction I think many voters tend to forget.

We need new blood, new ideas and a change in direction for my riding, my province, my home.