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Thursday, August 30, 2007
Choose Your Poision on October 10!
Ontario will go to the polls on October 10, and voters will get the opportunity to choose how much we would like to increase government waste. Unfortunately, there just doesn’t seem to be any conservatives running in this election. It appears every candidate for Premier is proposing to increase spending and government size, and the choice given to voters is simply a matter of degree.
The Ontario Green Party
First, we have Frank de Jong of the Green Party. They’ve got some crazy policy platforms that really make your head spin. Most notable and nutty has to be their proposal to make capital gains on the sale of your residence taxable; basically removing the only tax free gain we Canadians have left! That would sure put the breaks on our housing market and the general mobility of the population.
Home equity — he calls it capital gains — that individuals build up on homes would revert to the community to pay for services, he says. [de Jong] says his house has appreciated in value by $100,000 over 10 years. That’s money he says belongs to the community.
Imagine you purchased your home 10 years ago for $200,000, and today it has appreciated to $300,000. A fairly typical scenario to be sure. Due to a change in circumstances, you need to relocate and would like to purchase a similar house in a different town. Unfortunately, de Jong won’t let you trade your $300K house for another, since you need to cough up the capital gains taxes on the $100K so-called “profit” you made on your current house.
Vote Green? Not a chance!
The Ontario NDP
That brings us to Howard Hampton and the NDP. Surf on over to their party’s Ontario website, and you won’t find the words “tax cut” anywhere. What you will find are all sorts of policy statements that sound rather expensive, with no mention of how they plan to pay for them. Of course, I think I can guess how they plan to pay for them!
The NDP will invest in schools, health care, municipalities and just about everything else you can possibly think of. If it costs money, the NDP plans to support it. The problem is it’s our money they plan to spend to do it!
Vote NDP? You’ve got to be kidding!
The Ontario Liberal Party
Up next, is Dalton “I won’t raise your taxes” McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals. Say, whatever happened to that no tax increase promise he made in the last election campaign anyway?
The Liberals haven’t released their official platform for the coming election yet, so we don’t know exactly what their plans are. However, McGuinty set the world record for promise breaking the last time out, so would it really matter what he said his plans are?
If his recent actions are any indication of his future behaviour, McGuinty plans to spend our tax dollars like a drunken sailor. Whether it’s funding every special interest group under the sun, or shovelling out grant money to groups who don’t even ask for it, Dalton can be seen wherever tax dollars are being wasted.
Vote Liberal? Yeah, right!
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party
Finally, we have John Tory of the Ontario PC Party. To listen to the Liberals describe John Tory, you would think he was a cross between Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch. They’re working hard to brand John Tory as the second coming of Mike Harris! It’s ironic that John Tory is nothing like Mike Harris, and would probably do better in the coming election if acted more like the character the Liberals are making him out to be.
Today, John Tory released his platform for the coming election. He talks about plans to scrap McGuinty’s health tax over the coming years, and he talks about finding efficiencies in the Government bureaucracy. That’s all well and good, but the numbers he proposed in his fiscal plan still call for some significant increases in government spending over the coming years.
Vote PC? I guess. I suppose it’s better than the other options.
No matter who wins on October 10, Ontarians shouldn’t expect to see much tax relief over the next four years. All things considered, Tory will likely waste less of my hard-earned tax dollars than the other choices available. Unlike McGuinty, at least Tory hasn’t been proven to be an untrustworthy liar.
On October 10th, I’m voting for John Tory. But I’m not particularly thrilled about it!
Cross-posted at www.exactlyright.ca.
Posted by Dave Hodson on August 30, 2007 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Good choice! Tory - or wastrels & spendthrifts. He's no Mike Harris, but John Tory won't bankrupt Ontario like the others will.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-30 7:41:33 PM
Boy, I'd hate to be in Ontario now.
Whoever gets elected is going to be carrying the anchor as the province's unemployment rate soars into double figures.
It won't be any politician's fault, of course. And, I'm serious about that and kind of frightened about what's going to happen to a populace that's been living a cushy lifestyle has its economic engine stall on it.
The Ontario manufacturing industries simply cannot compete with a 95-cent dollar and, unfortunately, there's going to be a lot more pain like today's GM plant layoff in the future.
It's going to get ugly. Hold onto your stock portfolios. Better yet, sell right now.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-08-30 7:57:26 PM
This is why I am glad and proud to be Albertan. We have only only one choice - the PCs - because the Liebrals and Dippers would destroy the economy if ever elected. While they are far from perfect, the PCs are at least committed to serving Albertans, not the corporate agenda from Toronto.
Ontarians seem to have no real choices - each as bad as the rest. Serves them right.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2007-08-30 8:32:05 PM
...wonder if the outgoing Liberal will try a scorched earth policy in case the Conservatives get in?
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-08-30 8:50:31 PM
They are alreday scorching with the amounts of cash they are spending before the election in order to buy votes.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-30 8:52:13 PM
John Tory can win a majority by putting one more plank into his platform.
Open beer and wine sales to every Variety store operator in Ontario pointing out the opportunity afforded them by a PC government.
Small business operators are hurting from dwindling tobacco sales.
It’s doable and a huge boost to small business owners.
The best part it will break the government monopoly and perhaps put some price competition into the market for once in a pricefixed market and our overtaxed lives.
As far as losing the screaming union votes - well they will not vote conservative anyway.
Let's find which party really has the welfare of small business in mind.
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2007-08-30 10:20:35 PM
McGuinty is a proven liar, broke all his promises.
Given that "a proof is a proof..." how can anyone reward a proven liar by returning him to power?
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-08-31 5:38:01 AM
Assuming they have someone up for election in my riding, the Freedom Party will be receiving my vote. If I lived in Toronto, I would have happily voted for John Tory as mayor, but I cannot in good conscience vote for the PC's provincially.
Unless the FPO's (potential) nominee is a complete numbskull, this time around I would rather vote for a politician and party that I like as opposed to choosing the option I dislike the least (ie. the provincial Tories).
Posted by: Matt Hillier | 2007-08-31 8:23:27 AM
Matt, I hear what you're saying, and it demonstrates good loyalty to your principles.
The only problem I have with voting for the Freedom Party (or another of the fringe parties), is it will help McGuinty to win. Since I'd rather have 4 years of Tory than 4 more of McGuinty, I need to do what I can to deliver the lesser of 2 evils.
Posted by: Dave Hodson | 2007-08-31 8:56:43 AM
Hi Dave,
I hear what your saying. I've never voted for a fringe party before for precisely that reason. And the thought of four more years of "Welcome to McGuinty's....would you like to supersize your nanny state" certainly causes one to shudder.
But I can't really see Tory's Tories being all that different. A slight improvement sure but I'm guessing the difference would be negligible. I suppose I'm just getting to the point where I'd like to try and 'move the centre to the right' (a la the Mark Steyn concept) instead of accepting a watered down version of right-wingery....for lack of a better term.
Anyway, I can certainly respect the choice to vote for the mainstream rightish party that has the best chance to defeat the Liberals and would never denigrate said choice. Quite the opposite really. I'm still conflicted over my decision as I don't want to be even minutely responsible for a returning McGuinty government all in the name of wasted protest vote. Well...not wasted really but you know what I mean.
Lol.....I'm starting to talk myself out it again.
Posted by: Matt Hillier | 2007-08-31 9:31:41 AM
I agree. We all know that McGuinty's a liar, pure and simple, and his henchmen like Smitherman, Colle, Broton et al are nothing but a bunch of dictatorial storm-troopers.Nothing but thugs. Give Tory a chance, if he screws up, the Party (of which I am a member)we will be quick to kick his sorry ass out of the job.
Posted by: atric | 2007-08-31 9:33:21 AM
People of New Brunswick elected a "new Liberal Government led by boyish Shawn Graham son of a former Liberal Provincial Cabinet Minister -but the "new Government is actually run by flunkies from the
office of former Premier Frank McKenna -New Brunswick's local myth -Liberals will be re-elected in Ontario, scabby, disgusting Toronto and the Ragheads
deserve them and their plan to keep increasing taxes and wasting money. Senior Liberals I knew in Ontario
always considered the McGuinty Brothers a bad joke.
Look wot happened -now the SOB considers himself a "statesman" Macleod laughing in the Picture Province !!!
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-08-31 9:39:27 AM
McGuinty is a bad joke, if Toronto re-elects that lying bone head, as in not too bright, the jokes on us but we won't be laughing for the next four years.
It won't say much for the moral fiber of the people either.
Toronto has become a very dirty and dangerous city. It's nothing but a clearing house for all manner of immigrants and a Socialist/Leftist cesspool, from the Mayor right through.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-08-31 10:27:36 AM
When I sniff all the candidates, Tory stinks the least.
I hit the roof when he said he supports religious based school funding. Just what we need, government funded madrassas in Canada. It's bad enough McGoofy came within a hairs whisker of PERMITTING SHARIA LAW IN ONTARIO!
AAAAAAAARG! I cannot stand these naivist morons!
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 11:05:57 AM
Tory is sure off base with his funding all religious schools notion. It may play to his Toronto home base but it won't fly in much of the rest of the province.
Funding the Catholic System is being severely questioned. It's an issue that should go to a referendum with the election. We need one school system for all for a cohesive society. No Public money should be used to indoctrinate any religion.
It's a social disgrace and economic disaster.
McGuinty has taken a hypocritical stance on the issue. He favors the status quo. Fund only one religious school system and toss the rest into one pot.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-08-31 11:48:17 AM
I'm no fan of religious schools either but to think that madrassas are going to proliferate is I think, a bit over the top. Yes, in Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor but there's still a hell of a lot of province left over. There are many, many
Christian schools throughout the province that have been in operation for years.These people have been required to pay education taxes as well as tuition for their kids. This whole predictable mess was started when Bill Davis gave full-funding to the catholic school system. Any fool could see that it would only be a matter of time before the others wanted their piece of the action. I, for one,really can't blame them.
Posted by: atric | 2007-08-31 11:49:08 AM
atric ~
I'm not sure you can blame Davis for this one. It's my understanding that at Confederation, Catholic schools in Ontario were guaranteed equal funding as were Protestant schools in Quebec.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-31 11:51:59 AM
Alberta's system is best.
Funding follows the student.
Home schooling and charter school must follow the cirriculum.
My son was home schooled during Grades 7-9 and had plenty of time left over (about three days a week) to explore other interests.
Nobody was ever hurt by studying the true tenets of Christianity.
Posted by: set you free | 2007-08-31 11:55:53 AM
Just think about it for a moment.
An Islamic school where all the women are wearing burkhas and all the men their robes. They only speak arabic. They repeat in school what they hear their older siblings and parents and uncles say. It is the Middle East in microcosm for these kids 24 - 7.
At what point do these kids touch Western society? No where!
They do not get incorporated to Canadian society or receive exposure to western values. They will continue to live in their Islamic burbs and vote in Islamic politicians to city hall, the legislature and parliament.
I cannot think of a better precedence for this than Paris.
I was in Paris while those riots were on and I can tell you it was very, very scary for me. Parts of the city were close to civil war, that is how fed up people were. Now you know why Sarkozy coasted to victory.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 12:01:00 PM
That's why Leftoids dislike people like you, set.They have lost the opportunity to brainwash your child into Globull Warming madness, unions are beneficial to society, gays are equally decent people, and other Left wing causes.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-31 12:02:20 PM
Alberta has the best school system in the world with the highest test scores in the world.
So long as basic core curriculum elements are mandatory, I endorse these schools. But teachers are notoriously naivist and tolerant, I worry they start their manipulation campaigns. This is why it is so important to never elect teachers and naivists to school boards.
Now teachers want a 24 % wage increase. And they will use the test score results as justification for it. Rmemeber that teachers fought this system the whole time it was being implemented.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 12:08:57 PM
That's just the problem, school boards are full of retired teachers exactly the wrong people for the job.
The public are the naive ones for thinking somehow a teacher would be the best qualified for the job.
T'aint so!
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-08-31 12:23:54 PM
You know what? I would not mind serving on a school board! It is not as political as civic politics.
Think the public would want to elect a slightly ditzy Scots girl?
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 12:47:28 PM
Agreed OBC but it was Davis who put it in practice.It was left alone for over 100 years without any real problems. An evil act and one that's gonna cost Ontarians billions more.
If this thing gets passed you're going to see schools set up by unions and all sorts of malcontents.There's gonna be schools for Gays and Lezbos and those transgendered people as well.
Posted by: atric | 2007-08-31 12:51:29 PM
"you're going to see schools set up by unions"
Not likely since the public schools are already union schools. The other groups you listed - probably.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-31 1:08:20 PM
Well, "gays, lesbos and trangendered people" can't qualify unless they become a religion.
Who would ever think even five years ago people of the cloth would be blessing and joining two men or two women in "holy" matrimony?
Socialism+Unions= slow death of a nation.
Posted by: LizJ | 2007-08-31 1:51:41 PM
So many union members are personally conservative in their moral views. You don't see construction workers whistling at a guy with a cute ass after all!
It is too bad the rules for decertification are so rigourous. And that the converse of the fundamental rule of democracy, that being freedom of association and thereby freedom of disassociation are not enforced. This traps people.
Were these rules democratized, unions would almost cease to exist save for public sector workers.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 2:07:14 PM
The following from today's Mop and Pail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070831.wschool31/BNStory/National/home
It is a partial list the number of sexual assaults on children by instructors at private religious schools.
Before passing judgement, I would want to know how many sex assualts on children three have been over the same time period in public schools.
I have a feeling the public record is not great either but that the numbers in the religious schools are much, much higher on a ratio basis.
Why are paedophiles so attracted to religious institutions? The same applies to Islam. Oddly enough, I never hear of paedophile rabbis.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 2:25:30 PM
John "Red" Tory is a disgrace. When he's not bragging how unlike Mike Harris he is, he's promising government-funded madrassas to the Muslim hordes. He's taken the "Conservative" out of the PC Party and emphasized the "Progressive"--in the worst sense of the word: Leftist, liberal, trendy, pandering tax-and-spend dhimmitude.
I voted for Tory for mayor of Toronto. Too bad he didn't win, then David Miller would be back panhandling and Jim Flaherty would be the (small-c conservative) leader of the Ontario PCs and likely the next premier. I'm definitely not voting PC this time around. The Ontario Freedom Party or some other true right wing party that runs in my riding will get my vote. And I will let the PCs know that if they want my vote back, ditch Tory and get a real conservative as leader.
A just released poll predicts a Liberal minority government. Which is just about the worst possible outcome, a Liberal-NDP coalition. So I'm actually hoping for a Liberal majority which, looking at Ontario's history of supporting opposing parties federally and provincially, would likely help Harper and the federal Conservatives. I would urge all true-blue Ontario conservatives to vote for one of the fringe right wing parties so we can get rid of John Tory and get a real conservative leader in this province. Someone in the Mike Harris/Jim Flaherty/Stephen Harper tradition, not some leftist squish Joe Clark-wannabe like Tory.
Posted by: JP | 2007-08-31 3:07:11 PM
JP, uproot your family and move to Alberta, while you can still sell your house and afford one here.
I am not joking about the madrassas. I saw this happen in Europe. Anybody visted Londonistan lately?
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 3:18:20 PM
I hope it doesn't come to that, Epsi, but I will definitely be Alberta-bound if Dion ever becomes PM. In Ontario the Libs are against government-funded madrassas while the PCs (Pretend Conservatives) are for them. Therefore I am reduced to saying, with a heavy heart, "Go McGuinty".
Posted by: JP | 2007-08-31 3:35:21 PM
...Epsi, is it really that bad in Paris? I know i read these things in various blogs, but if it's just 3% of the population, that's not a cause for alarm.
Sure a riot isn't good, but where is it today? Passed and things returned to normal right?
If there was a coup or the army called in, then I'd say something is amiss.
London? How many years before it isn't British?
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-08-31 3:38:15 PM
I avoid London now.I think it is irreversible and Brits are leaving like rats on a sinking ship. They are fleeing to North America but a lot are moving to France and Spain and I gave serious thought to moving to France instead of Canada because of its strong values which are basically conservative irrespective of what the misnformed MSM says.
But Paris has ghettoized suburbs as do other cities and they are easy to miss. You have to really understand the french mindset. For them to see their beautiful country torn up, burned and vandalized and completely disrespected by immigrants is an attack on the heart and soul of France itself and therefore an attack on every french man and woman. Not as dramatic as 9/11, the emotional effect is the same and that is foreigners burning and looting my country.
Thank God Sarkozy is in and can restore some order.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 3:57:17 PM
Epsi-When I was in school in the 50's and 60's, if any teacher or other person tried to touch us we would take things into our own hands. Your buddies and you would kick the living shit out of anybody that tried that crap. I well remember being age 17 and some pervert math teacher grabbed one of the girl's breasts.We all got up without even exchanging glances, took him out into the hallway and kicked the living shit out of him. NOTHING ever came of it and the next year he was gone.
You just got to deal with things as they occur..
Posted by: atric | 2007-08-31 4:06:07 PM
Public schools can be drug invested hell holes full of bullies and terrified teachers.
School for me was a daily does of terror, hell and intimidation. I am sure I would have been much safer and much happier in jail.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-08-31 4:09:43 PM
O/T but important nevertheless:
"U.S. soldier returns from Iraq after brothers killed"
CTV.ca News Staff
After he lost a second brother in the Iraq war, and his own platoon recovered the body from the site of a Black Hawk helicopter crash, the U.S. military sent Spc. Jason Hubbard home.
Despite his family's horrific loss, the brothers' father said he still has faith that the American military belongs in Iraq, in order to fight international terrorism.
"The nation's at war," Jeff Hubbard, a retired police officer, told The Associated Press. "We just want people to support the nation and what it's trying to get accomplished by making the world a better place."
AND THE DRIVE-BY MEDIA will hail this father's sacrifices like they did Cindy Sheehan when she lost her patriotic son who volunteered to serve his country - WON'T THEY??? Will he be scheduled to be interviewed by CNN and every other Leftoid news outlet? OF COURSE NOT! This story doesn't fit their template.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-31 4:33:53 PM
See what happens when Leftoids take control of the public schools:
"Colorado Student Files Lawsuit Over Commencement Speech That Mentioned Jesus"
DENVER — A student who said she was told she wouldn't get her diploma unless she apologized for a commencement speech in which she mentioned Jesus has filed a lawsuit alleging her free speech rights were violated.
The school district contends its actions were "constitutionally appropriate."
Erica Corder was one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2006. All were invited to speak for 30 seconds at the graduation ceremony. When it was Corder's turn, she encouraged the audience to get to know Jesus Christ.
Corder had not included those remarks during rehearsals.
Corder's lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, said Principal Mark Brewer told her to prepare a public apology or she would not receive her diploma. She was still allowed to graduate.
The lawsuit said Brewer would not give Corder her diploma until she included a sentence saying, "I realize that, had I asked ahead of time, I would not have been allowed to say what I did." Corder received her diploma after complying.
The school district released a statement Wednesday saying officials reviewed Corder's case when it happened in 2006 and also met several times with Corder and her parents.
"While we are disappointed that this matter has resulted in litigation, we are confident that all actions taken by school officials were constitutionally appropriate," the statement said. "As a result, we intend to vigorously defend the claims. Beyond that, it is the district's policy not to comment on pending litigation."
Brewer, who now works for Douglas County schools, declined to comment Wednesday.
Posted by: obc | 2007-08-31 4:51:28 PM
Might as well go with Green Party then. Since they are the ones with crazy platforms, according to Mr. Dave Hodson. High risk brings High reward lol.
Posted by: Edmontonian | 2007-09-01 1:16:30 AM
Crazy like a fox!
Do they still allow fox-hunting in Ontario?
Posted by: missing link | 2007-09-01 2:17:01 AM
Crazy like a fox!
Do they still allow fox-hunting in Ontario?
Posted by: missing link | 2007-09-01 2:17:31 AM
Dear Sirs. Why does the Green party hate religion and multiculturism that it rejects the children? Bias, favourism, diversity indiffrence. More like civil libertarianism hatered, can not stand people who think diffrent than general thought. Where Christians are called to love everybody but hate bad deeds that people do. How can liberals hate children of other cultures. Does that make liberals feel good or maybe a pride makes then hate children of other cultures. This sounds to corrupt to me. A vote for a liberal is a vote for corruption, hatered of multiculturism in Canada Thank You Dan Lumley
Posted by: Danny Lumley | 2007-09-21 6:57:27 PM
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