(Niagara At Large is posting the following response to the Drummond Report from Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak for our readers’ information)
“The roots ofOntario’s current fix lie in both the economy and in the province’s record of failing to keep growth in government spending in line with revenue growth.” – Page 81, Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services
Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak
February 15, 2012
HUDAK: GET ON WITH THE JOB, PREMIER
QUEEN’S PARK – Don Drummond’s report has exposed a Liberal spending crisis more severe than anything previously disclosed, requiring immediate action to start reversing the damage – and straight talk from political leaders, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said today.
“The simple fact is that we would not be in this mess without years of uncontrolled McGuinty Liberal spending, which my Caucus and I have opposed every step of the way,” Hudak said.
“Yet for months now, the Liberals have shown fear that if they level with people they’ll fall in the polls. I believe that if we don’t level with people now,Ontariowill fall off a cliff.”
Every day’s delay now will only worsen the situation, Hudak added, saying his responsibility is both to hold the government to account and champion the changes needed to kick-start a provincial recovery and avertOntario’s bankruptcy.
“Dalton McGuinty needs to restore some confidence that this government has shaken off its paralysis. To start, he must declare a “quarantine zone” around the public purse. No more new, uncosted, one-off spending initiatives.”
Further, Hudak noted, Don Drummond said that every one of his recommendations must be acted on in order to balance the budget by 2017. “If the Premier takes a single one of them off the table he must specify an alternative approach.”
Hudak also called on the government to impose an immediate public sector wage freeze, put an end to corporate welfare – which, according to the report, shows little evidence “of achieving any economic benefit forOntario” (p. 309) – and implement pro-growth policies such as apprenticeship reform.
Longer term, Hudak said,Ontariogovernments need to return to first principles: spend only what you have; set spending priorities on essential programs and services such as health and education; and exit all other areas of business that government has no business being in.
“It’s time to say the things Ontarians need to know – not just what they want to hear: We’re running out of money, and running out of time,” Hudak said. “And, as we fight for a smaller, smarter government, we must also grow the private sector economy.
“I commit to lead this charge on behalf of Ontario’s hard-pressed taxpayers – and especially the 600,000 Ontarians who didn’t have a job to go to this morning.”
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to share their views on this post in the comment boxes below. Please remember that we only post comments with real names attached to them. Anonymous comments will not be posted.)
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Oh, wow. You want every word of Drummond’s recommendations enacted, Tim? I guess, like the feds, you’re ignoring the serious arguments against austerity as an effective way of attacking government deficits.
And, from now on, you’ll be going elsewhere for your healthcare services, right? Well, lucky old you. Some of us are stuck here watching our hospital services disappear — and Drummond’s proposals are only going to speed up the process.
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“The simple fact is that we would not be in this mess without years of uncontrolled McGuinty Liberal spending, which my Caucus and I have opposed every step of the way,” Hudak said.
You’re only half correct Tim. The other half is had you run even a half fast campaign you’d be in Toronto, and by now you’d have your chance at filling in the massive hole Dolton continues to dig us into.
Conspiring minds want to know — did the federal Conartists force you to not campaign? Ontario doesn’t like the same party in power both places… and hanging on to the federal is more important to them.
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Ontarians pay one of the LOWEST taxes in the free world. This is PART of WHY we have this deficit to begin with, because taxes, especially from people that earn more money, and especially from the top 5% of the earners … less revenue = less money for government = cuts to services. It is not the wealthy folks that suffer from cuts to services, etc., but the rest of us that don’t enjoy the opportunity to write off our yachts, trips to the Carribean and entertaining corporate clients at the Rogers’ Centre. They can pay out of pocket for health care and can afford it. The rest of us can’t, but yet we are forced to swallow their expenses.
If I borrow from the bank and use the money to buy a house, do I pass the debt onto my neighbours? That is exactly what the wealthy just did. We are paying THEIR debts. This has to be reversed.
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True Angela.
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What a surprise – did we expect this when we re elected these IDIOTS – Now who are the real fools ????
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Does wage freeze include all the fat cats in parliament? I think not. Why not do away with the public/privact/partnership (a non-legal partnership/corporation) which hides more govt hand outs to the corporations? But then how do you pay off your backers? When Harris was in power we could have used the Province of Ontario Savings Office (owned by Ontario) to create at no inflation and spend into existance with no interest billions of dollars. Harris and Hudak et al sold the bank to private hands. Can we trust Tim?
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Mr. D is a banker type. Here are rhetorical questions for federal or provincial legislators re. banks.
1. Why did you take billions of dollars in taxpayers’ money in the form of bailouts, and not make structural changes to ensure that it doesn’t happen again?
2. Unregulated speculative banking (hedge funds, derivatives) create booms and busts. Goldman Sachs in the U.S was a huge contributor to the 2008 crash. Why is there not a tax on financial transactions in the “shadow banking” domains?
3. Why are banks still insulated (by taxpayers) from failing? Why are they still “too big to fail”? Bank Of Canada Governor Mr. Carney is of the opinion that they should not be “too big to fail”.
4. Last but not least. Why are the 99 targeted for most of the austerity? Why are corporate taxes not raised? The Drummond report acknowledges that cutting corporate tax rates is not productive.
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If Hudak is concerned about spending, why was he going to build a multi-billion dollar (un-needed) highway?
And would Hudak stop yammering on about the “public sector wage freeze”. This simply won’t do anything except raise the wages drastically after the freeze is lifted.
Plus wages need to be increased when the cost of peanut butter goes from $3 to $7 in one week. Coffee goes from $5 for 1kg to $8 for 635g.
And if you (Hudak) keep comparing the public & private sector wages, perhaps tell the private sector to raise their wages. Loblaws has record profits and continues to push their employees benefits and wages to as low as possible.
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Ryan, that is exactly why Drummond did not recommend a public sector wage freeze – for those reasons you gave.
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It would be nice if Mr. Hudak could use his pulpit to ask why CPP is not invested more in Ontario as well as Canada along with other Pensions. If we refuse to cut programs then we have to grow the economy. Seems like a perfect time for Canadians to invest in Canadians.
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Mr. Taliano, you have asked four very pointed and valuable questions but WHO are you asking to answer these questions?
I can only assume that you are asking those in charge! After all no one else has an answer for you except those in charge. Those in charges are responsible for all the things you cite in your four questions.
I’m confused Mr. Taliano, you continually blame those in charge and yet you ask for roof that ‘Government is to blame’. Government is to blame because government is in charge!
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Mr. Taliano, you have asked four very pointed and valuable questions but who are you asking to answer these four questions? I am assuming that you are asking those in charge since they are the only ones that can answer.
Mr. Taliano, the government is in charge, so why do you ask for proof that the government is to blame?
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Mr. H. You seem to be repeating yourself. What’s new, I ask.
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You are very astute Gail Benjafield. You discovered that at the location were I am at, the upload did not seem to be sending. That is why I wound up repeating myself. However the message is still valid.
Sorry for the confusion but look at the bright side. The goof gave you the opportunity to be insulting so what’s new, I ask?
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Mr. Haskell, they are rhetorical questions. Another question would be: Who is really in charge, the government or the corporations? Unfortunately, my answer would be: The corporations.
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Here are my answers:
1. Structural changes should have been made. Tax payers should not have to bail out banks. (This is Governor Bank Of Canada’s Mark Carney’s position. I agree.
2. There should be a Financial Transaction Tax to curb speculative/casino banking.
3.Banks should be able to fail (again, Mr. Carney’s advice). No company/corporation should be “too big to fail”.
4. Corporate taxes should be raised. (Again, who’s running the show?) Government should be higher on the hierarchy than corporations.
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I cannot disagree with you Mr. Taliano if what you are saying is that ‘the government who is in charge’ are the ones that are selling us out to corporations.
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