Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Progressive Conservative "Change Book"

The Progressive Conservative platform Changebook is a winner from a communications standpoint.  It hits on the themes of voters who want change, family, and general fatigue with the broken promises and scandal of the McGuinty regime.  Reading it, you can practically hear Hudak's voice in parts of it. I think it captures a mood in Ontario that maybe the Liberals haven't caught onto yet.

And it really does promise change for families; income splitting for parents; tax breaks for caregivers with elderly family members.  Help with red tape for small business, a promise to put more money into healthcare.  The idea of "Justice for all," to make prisoners in Ontario Jails work for their privlages.  Hudak wants to clean up government and has promised no tax increases unless they have a mandate to do so.  A noble promise yes, but who actually gives their government a mandate to raise taxes? It's ridiculous. 

But; what's in it for me? I'm not a family yet.  I'm not a caregiver for an elderly family member, or a small business.  I'm a little bit past the initial university/ college stage to benefit from changes to the apprenticeship program. I'm just a single person trying to make my way in the world; keep up with all my bills. It appears there's nothing really in the platform for me for people like me... I was hoping for an HST cut at least.   It's all well and good to base a platform around families; just remember single people live here too.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Walking Piano: It's a Want, not a Need

I had to chuckle a bit at the title of a thread on the Hawthorne Villager: Milton Walking Piano Proposal.  And then I read it.  The main reaction I had was it was a neat idea, but if a corporate sponsor couldn't be found for all costs associated with it, it shouldn't happen.  We shouldn't use the community fund for it either- not when we're trying to save for a hospital expansion, and there are numerous other infrastructure projects on the go or need moving up. I classify it as a want, not a need.

I have read through the report, and Town Staff pointed out the Arts Centre was coming in on budget.  "However, given the fact that the Theatre is not yet complete, and until staff are operational in the facility, there remains a list of “fit out” items which will need to be purchased."  Initial plans in March 2010 called for only the theatre's shell to be built, so in all likelihood there will be extra costs.   

Town Staff wants part of the costs shared with the Community Fund, which is a bad idea.  I think the spirit of the Community Fund is to provide money for events, facilities, and causes that will benefit the majority of people in the town of Milton.  A "Walking Piano" only benefits me if I go into the Arts Centre, and say "hey that looks cool" and walk up the stairs.  I don't  buy into the physical fitness argument- the Milton Sports Centre expansion will do more for my fitness  than the walking piano.


It's about priorities too.  This is the kind of project you usually  hear about when governments have been in power too long- Council has been there barely six months.  The priority with the Arts Centre should be to get it up and running smoothly- and try to stabilize the funding for it.  There are so many other things going on around town that need to be expanded, fixed, and built.  A "Walking Piano" isn't one of them.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Fantastic Finish

So... that was a fantastic finish election night wasn't it? It was initially a foregone conclusion; the Conservatives would win; but the N.D.P. did give them quite a scare didn't they?

I'm one of the few people who will publicly admit that I can find few faults with a Conservative majority government.  Four years of unadulterated peace, of not wondering if that next budget or policy announcement will lose the confidence of the House.  Four years to see what Stephen Harper can do with a majority, which, I think will prove very interesting.  The results are mixed for  Harper; he lost four cabinet ministers, and Quebec.  Each has to be considered a light slap on the wrist.  But he gained seats in what was previously termed the "Liberal fortress" Toronto and Ontario in general. The fact Harper would end the campagin the place he started- as Prime Minister was never in doubt who would oppose him was a different matter.

From the get-go everyone thought it was going to be the Liberals.  They had a good platform launch, and some good ideas. Around the time of the English debate it all fell apart.  It was then when the affable, charming Jack Layton of the N.D.P. struck a blow against his Liberal counterpart Michael Ignatieff.  It was on the surface a harmless comment- Layton remarked on Ignatieff's attendance- or absence in the House of Commons.  Ignatieff just brushed it aside, and that moment did more to crystalize why Canadians don't like Michael Ignatieff than any Conservative attack ad.

Things then began to get worse for Ignatieff; there were the near hysterical "rise up" moments.  And the moments where the party brought out Paul Martin, and Jean Chretien- each viewed as a sign of the party's  growing desperation.  And while it got worse for him, it got better for Jack Layton.

Layton's poll numbers continued going up.  Suddenly there was something about the N.D.P. that Canadians liked.  Within days of the election there were scenarios that would have seen Jack Layton Prime Minister. Who knows why he got as popular as he did; it might have been the underlying need for a change or the need to see something positive going on in Ottawa.  Whatever the reason was we woke up to an N.D.P sitting in the opposition with over 100 seats, and the Liberals sitting a historic third place at 34 seats.  As an added bonus, the Sepratist Bloc Quebecios were reduced to 4 seats, and not one of them was Gilles Duceppe. The Greens even had their first MP thanks to Elizabeth May.

I think the N.D.P. could very well temper the Conservatives.  Historically they've served as the country's "social conscience" and there's really no reason why they can't continue in that role more powerful than ever.  I don't think there's anything to fear from Harper's majority- the N.D.P. will temper it, and probably force them to go a little more left.  And a majority will mean a lot less sniping, and a little more governing- I don't know about you, but I am so ready for that.  Let's see what Harper will do the next four years- and then if we don't like it, we can throw him out.