Patronage?

I am not necessarily against patronage in government per se.  As long as the appointee has at least some contribution to make to their appointment.  After all, any government wants their boards and commissions to represent their views and philosophies.

When I am adamantly opposed to though, is when a government campaigned on eliminating patronage, such as the last few elections by the federal Conservatives.  That is downright fraud.

The final demise of the Canadian Wheat Board

Two years ago, Mysteries of Canada posted a history of the Canadian Wheat Board - the CWB.   (http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canadian_Political_System/canadian_wheat_board.htm).  Pretty soon, if the government of Canada has its way, the CWB will be deader than a door nail.

Leaving aside that the "majority" government recieved a mandate from only 24% of Canadian eligible voters, the real problem is that the government is using its majority to trample the democratic rights of Canadian farmers who are part of the CWB.

The CWB is a Canadian-farmer controlled single-desk marketing system for Barley and Wheat.  Throughout its almost 100 years of existence, it has managed the flow of grain from the farm gate to the foreign purchasers.  Through thick and thin it has provided a stable income for farmers - back when farmers actually owned farms, that is.  Now that corporations own large the farms they want to squeeze out the remaining "little" guys by cutting off their legs at the ankles and the government is in lock-step with them.  If you want details on this, check out the report delivered by the National Farmers Union of Canada in 2010 (www.nfu.ca/press_releases/2010/06-07-losing_grip.pdf).

So farmers are the losers - well then, who are the winners?

A handful of private companies who own the large farms and the private (mostly foreign-controlled) elevator systems.  And, surprisingly - the railways who can up their rates whenever they want because the government will eliminate the Revenue Cap on freight rates.  They can also shut down short line routes that service farmer-owned elevators, forcing small farmers to haul their grain to big-corporation elevators.

What the dust-bowl period of the 1930's could not do - the government will be doing!

It is a tragedy!

Why is good policy toxic politics?

My good pal, Brian Crowley, leader of the Macdonald Laurier Institute, a supposed non-partisan think tank in Ottawa, recently gave a speech entitled, Why is good policy toxic politics?  He was referring to the issue of the HST in BC.  

Near the end of the speech he said, "The question of who made the mess is now secondary to the question of who is going to clean it up. In this regard it falls to all of us first to defend the HST on its merits and second to defend the decision to introduce it. But third, we must hold our politicians to a higher standard and ourselves as well, and reward those who speak frankly to us about hard choices before they have secured our votes."

I hope and expect that Brian has the integrity to tell that to the leader of the Ontario Conservatives!   Hudak has been all over the map on this issue.  He supported it - he hated it - he will cancel it - he will gut it - God knows what other position he can take.  Perhaps he can take the position that it is good for Ontario and Ontarians?  And pigs will fly.

Go get 'em, Brian.

It is time to take the politics OUT of politics

I have been watching very closely the lead up to the October election here in Ontario.  There is NO party that deserves to be elected.  They all stink!

Take the ruling Libs.  They have been in power for two terms now and are the people of Ontario better off?  I would say not.  Is it all their fault?  I would say not.  The world-wide financial mess certainly put a dent in things.  Could they have done better throughout the recession?  In my opinion, the answer is yes.

In business a recession is a time to get your house in order and pound the streets looking for opportunity; even if the opportunity is outside the next quarter.  After all, what else do you have to do with your time?

Did the government try to get their house in order during the recession?  Well Yes and No.  While they spent bags and bags of money they did not have to fix up old, and build new, infrastructure; thus creating work for pavers and builders; they really failed at the business of identifying new opportunities for the long term.  Oh sure, they will point to the Green Energy Act and I can agree that it will create some new employment, but what about the million other unemployed Ontarians.

But let's not just focus on the Libs.  The Cons and the Dippers are no better when it comes to having ideas.

The Cons, especially, are a party of whiners.  I always told my kids that it was easier to be a critic than an author.  What are the Cons promising to do for Ontario after October?  They tell us that they will kill the Green Energy Act, remove the HST on heating fuels, cancel the debt servicing charge on hydro bills, invest in healthcare, education and every other hot button that will get them elected - and not raise taxes.  Not raise taxes?  You have to be brain dead to believe that one... unless, no it is not possible... maybe they will just renege on all the promises once elected.  Wouldn't be the first time it was done.

The NDP?  On their web site the NDP leader is quoted with this, "You know the status quo isn’t working for you. You know it’s time for change. It’s your chance to demand the Ontario you want.  In this election, you can stick with the same tired ideas that you know aren’t working, that make your life more expensive, and your province less fair or you can pick change that puts people first."  Then the site goes on to lay out the platform.  End this fee, end that charge, freeze that charge, cut out consultants and get us on track to balance the budget.  How and by when?  No mention of that!  Did they mention holding down the wage increases of public servants?  What do you think.

Politics trumping politics?  It is a sad choice for Ontarians.