Finance Minister Dwight Duncan presented a so-so budget yesterday. It had its good points- the expansion at Milton District Hospital escaped the knife, and there are signs the Liberals really mean to clamp down on public sector unions. It gave a slight nod to both the Progressive Conservatives (P.C.)'s by asking seniors making over $100 thousand to pay for some drugs, and the N.D.P. by freezing hospital C.E.O. and M.P.P. salaries. It attempted to strike a happy medium by keeping the Green Energy rebate, but capping it at 3000 kWh.
Lots in there for the education system. The Liberals have moved to cut the so-called "lap year," where students take an extra semester or two to boost marks. They're continuing to implement their centre piece all-day Kindergarten program, and will offer 30% tuition grants for post-secondary students. And contrary to what the opposition says there is a Jobs& Prosperity fund; expected to save according to their numbers $250 million. How that will affect job creation remains to be seen.
The bad points have to start with getting tough with the public sector unions. The ultimatum that the Liberal government could legislate a wage freeze, coupled with noises about public sector pensions will anger unions. O.P.S.E.U and the teaching unions are all in various stages of contract negotiations and I can't see them willing to just take the freeze without a fight. And I'm betting it could be a messy fight as well. I have to give the Liberals points on this though to be willing to break with the union support. But I have to ask, is it too little, too late? The ship labelled "public sector wage freeze" set sail the moment they began selectively giving raises.
Did it do enough to create jobs? Honestly no. The province isn't expected to see the savings from the Job & Prosperity fund until 2014-2015. Meanwhile there is still unemployment; cancelling corporate tax cuts while glamorous, and something that will win points with the N.D.P. won't create jobs. It needs to be easier for businesses to hire; people need to be working it increases the tax base.
In my opinion this budget isn't worth fighting an election over. While the budget is lacking in parts, it isn't worth wasting 35 days, and $100 million over. However when you take the so-so budget, and combine it with the Ornge scandal, and public sector union back lash against the budget we may find ourselves voting sometime in early May.
Showing posts with label provincial budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label provincial budget. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Ontario Budget: It's in the NDP's hands now
To cause an election or not cause an election that is the question whether tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged unions" (apologies to William Shakespeare for that one). That's essentially what it comes down to for Ontario's political parties after the provincial budget was read by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.
Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives have already said they will not support it, leaving it up to Andrea Horwath and the N.D.P to keep the McGuinty Government afloat. Andrea Horwath is taking a more measured approach, saying she wants to talk to Ontarians before making a final decision.
I think she's in a pretty sticky situation. There was in the budget a sternly worded ultimatum to the public sector workers from the McGuinty government to please take a pay freeze, or we'll legislate it. Both O.P.S.E.U (Ontario Public Sector Employees Union), and all teaching unions are in a contract year, and are at various stages of negotiating with their employer aka. the government. There has to be pressure from them to vote down the budget because of this, and that will be hard to ignore.
On the other hand as Andrea Horwath tours the province speaking to Ontarians she'll likely find the rest of us have little appetite for an election at this point. The economy is in a tough state of affairs, putting off fixing it for another 5 weeks for pretty much the same outcome is insanity itself really. Besides there is the money involved to consider as well: $100 million to be exact. And when offered a choice between a pay freeze and no job, most would probably take the pay freeze.
She'll probably find lots of anger over the Ornge scandal as well. Lately the provincial government has been using the line the money lost in the Ornge Ambulance debacle is only 3/4 of a percentage of the overall health care portion of the budget. In the context of a provincial budget it isn't much; but when you mention the disappearance of millions of dollars, and equipment sitting unused to regular Ontarians; some of whom can barely make ends meet then it's a lot of money, and a lot of waste.
Personally, I'd like to see this settled without another election. It's been less than six months since the last one, and I don't think it'll change much in terms of the standings. The timing aspect has to be part of the decision for the Lieutenant Governor as well. But he has another option; he could ask Andrea Horwath or Tim Hudak to meet the Legislature and try and form a government.
The Liberals have stated they would fight an election on their budget. I think that like the Governor General, the Lieutenant Governor has to obey a government so long as it is in office; so if a non-confidence vote ends up happening then expect a return to the polls. In the meantime the fate of the Ontario Budget is in the hands of the N.D.P. and Andrea Horwath.
Tim Hudak and the Progressive Conservatives have already said they will not support it, leaving it up to Andrea Horwath and the N.D.P to keep the McGuinty Government afloat. Andrea Horwath is taking a more measured approach, saying she wants to talk to Ontarians before making a final decision.
I think she's in a pretty sticky situation. There was in the budget a sternly worded ultimatum to the public sector workers from the McGuinty government to please take a pay freeze, or we'll legislate it. Both O.P.S.E.U (Ontario Public Sector Employees Union), and all teaching unions are in a contract year, and are at various stages of negotiating with their employer aka. the government. There has to be pressure from them to vote down the budget because of this, and that will be hard to ignore.
On the other hand as Andrea Horwath tours the province speaking to Ontarians she'll likely find the rest of us have little appetite for an election at this point. The economy is in a tough state of affairs, putting off fixing it for another 5 weeks for pretty much the same outcome is insanity itself really. Besides there is the money involved to consider as well: $100 million to be exact. And when offered a choice between a pay freeze and no job, most would probably take the pay freeze.
She'll probably find lots of anger over the Ornge scandal as well. Lately the provincial government has been using the line the money lost in the Ornge Ambulance debacle is only 3/4 of a percentage of the overall health care portion of the budget. In the context of a provincial budget it isn't much; but when you mention the disappearance of millions of dollars, and equipment sitting unused to regular Ontarians; some of whom can barely make ends meet then it's a lot of money, and a lot of waste.
Personally, I'd like to see this settled without another election. It's been less than six months since the last one, and I don't think it'll change much in terms of the standings. The timing aspect has to be part of the decision for the Lieutenant Governor as well. But he has another option; he could ask Andrea Horwath or Tim Hudak to meet the Legislature and try and form a government.
The Liberals have stated they would fight an election on their budget. I think that like the Governor General, the Lieutenant Governor has to obey a government so long as it is in office; so if a non-confidence vote ends up happening then expect a return to the polls. In the meantime the fate of the Ontario Budget is in the hands of the N.D.P. and Andrea Horwath.
Monday, March 26, 2012
My Stories To Watch
We've got quite a week coming up in the news. Here's some of the stories I'll be watching for.
1.Provincial Budget: It has to be at the top of the list. The Provincial Liberals will present their first budget as a minority government. It's also quite a hot story locally, as local councilors await word of Milton Hospital expansion's fate. As the budget is financial issue, and it is a minority parliament it will be a matter of confidence. But what will happen? Will McGuinty have enough votes to pass it? Or will the opposition decide to flex its muscle and send us to another election? Or perhaps a more interesting possibility... are we going to see history of the '90's repeat itself and Andrea Horwath come to the forefront (Bob Rae anyone?)? What kind of role will Ornge play in it all?All of the drama will certainly play itself out over the next few days.
1a) In advance of tomorrow's provincial budget Ward 3 Councilor Cindy Lunau is presenting a motion at tonight's council meeting asking the Province to re-confirm its commitment to Milton Hospital expansion. Its text, along with contact information for you to make your wishes known to can be seen here. Just scroll down, it's near the bottom. Council meeting starts at 7pm in Chambers, or you can watch it here.
2. The Federal Budget: We're all being told this will be a document with modest cuts. We know there will be changes to Old-Age Security, the pensions system. They've been speaking of cuts to military spending, and the C.B.C. There will be cuts in the civil service. Politically it's going to pass with a majority- no guessing games here. But something to watch will be Thomas Mulcair's performance as he faces his first test the newly minted N.D.P. leader.
3. Ontario Superior Court strikes down Prostitution law: The Ontario Superior Court has begun the process that will make prostitution legal. The decision could potentially open the door to legal common bawdy houses, and allowing sex trade to hire body guards for example. The federal government has one year to respond to the ruling, but both sides have indicated they want to take it to the Supreme Court of Canada, which could lengthen the process to two years.
These are just some of the stories crossing my radar. Thoughts? Agree or disagree by all means leave a comment below.
1.Provincial Budget: It has to be at the top of the list. The Provincial Liberals will present their first budget as a minority government. It's also quite a hot story locally, as local councilors await word of Milton Hospital expansion's fate. As the budget is financial issue, and it is a minority parliament it will be a matter of confidence. But what will happen? Will McGuinty have enough votes to pass it? Or will the opposition decide to flex its muscle and send us to another election? Or perhaps a more interesting possibility... are we going to see history of the '90's repeat itself and Andrea Horwath come to the forefront (Bob Rae anyone?)? What kind of role will Ornge play in it all?All of the drama will certainly play itself out over the next few days.
1a) In advance of tomorrow's provincial budget Ward 3 Councilor Cindy Lunau is presenting a motion at tonight's council meeting asking the Province to re-confirm its commitment to Milton Hospital expansion. Its text, along with contact information for you to make your wishes known to can be seen here. Just scroll down, it's near the bottom. Council meeting starts at 7pm in Chambers, or you can watch it here.
2. The Federal Budget: We're all being told this will be a document with modest cuts. We know there will be changes to Old-Age Security, the pensions system. They've been speaking of cuts to military spending, and the C.B.C. There will be cuts in the civil service. Politically it's going to pass with a majority- no guessing games here. But something to watch will be Thomas Mulcair's performance as he faces his first test the newly minted N.D.P. leader.
3. Ontario Superior Court strikes down Prostitution law: The Ontario Superior Court has begun the process that will make prostitution legal. The decision could potentially open the door to legal common bawdy houses, and allowing sex trade to hire body guards for example. The federal government has one year to respond to the ruling, but both sides have indicated they want to take it to the Supreme Court of Canada, which could lengthen the process to two years.
These are just some of the stories crossing my radar. Thoughts? Agree or disagree by all means leave a comment below.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)