This just shows that politicians are full of BS...at election time theses creeps are telling everyone to get out and vote. These bunch of bullshitters are paid to show up to queens park and vote not abstain. They all should be docked pay...heck suspended would be more appropriate.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Did he really think he could banish Canadian citizens from Toronto...criminal record or not?
I like to think he knows that you can't and he's just paying politics...if he doesn't know then it is extremely sad that he got elected to any public position never mind mayor of Canada's largest city.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Boardroom confidential: What CEOs are asking of Jim Flaherty
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:16 PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:28 PM EDT
As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty goes behind closed doors for his sixth annual summer policy retreat, government documents obtained by The Globe and Mail reveal what gets discussed at these candid off-the-record confabs.
During last year’s sessions with business and policy leaders in Wakefield, Que., the minister was urged to adopt measures to reduce the pay of Canadian workers, limit union power by enacting U.S.-style right-to-work legislation, and allow two-tier health care.
The details are in a briefing note to Mr. Flaherty from his deputy minister that summarizes what was said.
For two days every summer, a select group of CEOs, other business leaders, and policy experts is invited to a retreat with the Finance Minister. The event is private. Participants are allowed to talk about the meeting afterward, but cannot reveal who said what.
Documents obtained by The Globe and Mail under Access to Information describe the advice Mr. Flaherty received. This year’s retreat, again in Wakefield, began on Wednesday and continues on Thursday.
Before this year’s sessions, Mr. Flaherty told reporters that the participants come from many backgrounds, but that it’s important to hear from Canadian CEOs because of their influence on the economy. “We do ensure that there are representatives from all walks of Canadian life there including from the academic community, economists,” he said.
A spokesperson for the minister later added that the government pursues some, but not all, of the ideas put forward at the retreats.
A wrap-up briefing note to the minister dated Aug. 16, 2011 – five days after last year’s retreat – provides a point-form summary of the discussions, broken down by topic. The memo does not say who made which comments.
Labour issues surface in several discussion categories, with the general view that Canadian workers are overpriced. “Need to address wage differentials in labor market among countries; we are losing jobs to other countries,” the memo reads. “Right to Work legislation should be pondered as it creates inequities in productivity; US example was provided.”
In the United States, about two dozen state governments have passed right-to-work legislation, which allows workers to opt out of paying union dues. Critics call the measures a form of union busting.
The memo indicates calls were made for junior public servants to be paid less. “Reduce public service wages (not in higher ranks, but those in the lower ranks such as administrative and clerical staff as they earn more than their private-sector counterparts) and reduce the overall size of the public service.”
Over the past year, the Conservative government has made several policy moves that unions said will drive down wages. Among them, Canadian companies will be allowed to bring in temporary foreign workers more quickly and to pay them 15 per cent less than the average wage for their jobs. Also, changes to Canada’s employment insurance rules will mean that Canadians who fall into a new category of “frequent” EI users will be expected to take any available work after six weeks on EI, even if it pays up to 30 per cent less than their previous job.
Federal cabinet ministers, including Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, have dismissed accusations that the government is acting to suppress wages.
The briefing note contains little detail on what was said about health-care policy, although under the heading of “efficiencies,” the note says: “Need two-tier health care.”
Andrew Jackson, chief economist for the Canadian Labour Congress, attended the 2009 retreat and said wage stats do not support claims that labour costs are a problem. He also said the participants tend to represent a one-sided view. “They’re overwhelmingly dominated by employer spokespeople, people from the right-wing think tanks,” said Mr. Jackson. “It is a point in the process where the minister is starting to frame key ideas for the next budget, so it’s an important opportunity to shape his thinking at a pivotal point in the process.”
Although the participants pay their own way, documents show that Finance Canada paid $43,237.76 in 2011 for meals, room rentals and other expenses, including transportation.
Boardroom confidential: What CEOs are asking of Jim Flaherty
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:16 PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:28 PM EDT
As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty goes behind closed doors for his sixth annual summer policy retreat, government documents obtained by The Globe and Mail reveal what gets discussed at these candid off-the-record confabs.
During last year’s sessions with business and policy leaders in Wakefield, Que., the minister was urged to adopt measures to reduce the pay of Canadian workers, limit union power by enacting U.S.-style right-to-work legislation, and allow two-tier health care.
The details are in a briefing note to Mr. Flaherty from his deputy minister that summarizes what was said.
For two days every summer, a select group of CEOs, other business leaders, and policy experts is invited to a retreat with the Finance Minister. The event is private. Participants are allowed to talk about the meeting afterward, but cannot reveal who said what.
Documents obtained by The Globe and Mail under Access to Information describe the advice Mr. Flaherty received. This year’s retreat, again in Wakefield, began on Wednesday and continues on Thursday.
Before this year’s sessions, Mr. Flaherty told reporters that the participants come from many backgrounds, but that it’s important to hear from Canadian CEOs because of their influence on the economy. “We do ensure that there are representatives from all walks of Canadian life there including from the academic community, economists,” he said.
A spokesperson for the minister later added that the government pursues some, but not all, of the ideas put forward at the retreats.
A wrap-up briefing note to the minister dated Aug. 16, 2011 – five days after last year’s retreat – provides a point-form summary of the discussions, broken down by topic. The memo does not say who made which comments.
Labour issues surface in several discussion categories, with the general view that Canadian workers are overpriced. “Need to address wage differentials in labor market among countries; we are losing jobs to other countries,” the memo reads. “Right to Work legislation should be pondered as it creates inequities in productivity; US example was provided.”
In the United States, about two dozen state governments have passed right-to-work legislation, which allows workers to opt out of paying union dues. Critics call the measures a form of union busting.
The memo indicates calls were made for junior public servants to be paid less. “Reduce public service wages (not in higher ranks, but those in the lower ranks such as administrative and clerical staff as they earn more than their private-sector counterparts) and reduce the overall size of the public service.”
Over the past year, the Conservative government has made several policy moves that unions said will drive down wages. Among them, Canadian companies will be allowed to bring in temporary foreign workers more quickly and to pay them 15 per cent less than the average wage for their jobs. Also, changes to Canada’s employment insurance rules will mean that Canadians who fall into a new category of “frequent” EI users will be expected to take any available work after six weeks on EI, even if it pays up to 30 per cent less than their previous job.
Federal cabinet ministers, including Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, have dismissed accusations that the government is acting to suppress wages.
The briefing note contains little detail on what was said about health-care policy, although under the heading of “efficiencies,” the note says: “Need two-tier health care.”
Andrew Jackson, chief economist for the Canadian Labour Congress, attended the 2009 retreat and said wage stats do not support claims that labour costs are a problem. He also said the participants tend to represent a one-sided view. “They’re overwhelmingly dominated by employer spokespeople, people from the right-wing think tanks,” said Mr. Jackson. “It is a point in the process where the minister is starting to frame key ideas for the next budget, so it’s an important opportunity to shape his thinking at a pivotal point in the process.”
Although the participants pay their own way, documents show that Finance Canada paid $43,237.76 in 2011 for meals, room rentals and other expenses, including transportation.
Thanks for posting...
The two tier healt care I believe has been here for a long time. Where I live people have been going to the states for MRI'S, surgeries etc for along time, the wait times are way too long.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
“They’re overwhelmingly dominated by employer spokespeople, people from the right-wing think tanks,” said Mr. Jackson. “It is a point in the process where the minister is starting to frame key ideas for the next budget, so it’s an important opportunity to shape his thinking at a pivotal point in the process.”
So Canada holds it's only mini-Bilderberg conference every year, huh? This is outrageous. Our representatives should not be allowed to form policy off-record with 'industry leaders'.
Over the past year, the Conservative government has made several policy moves that unions said will drive down wages. Among them, Canadian companies will be allowed to bring in temporary foreign workers more quickly and to pay them 15 per cent less than the average wage for their jobs. Also, changes to Canada’s employment insurance rules will mean that Canadians who fall into a new category of “frequent” EI users will be expected to take any available work after six weeks on EI, even if it pays up to 30 per cent less than their previous job.
Ah yes, outsourcing jobs inside our own country, lovely....
We approve massive (mostly resource related) projects with ridiculously aggressive schedules, knowing full well the labour isn't available to complete them on time....then we loosen foreign worker legislation so that they can be paid 15% less, using the excuse that there is no labour available to complete these projects. Then we allow union members to opt out of paying their dues....then we lay everyone off when the project is complete (or the economy changes), and force them to take their next job at 30% less than the previous one.....so now foreign workers are making nearly 45% less than their industry average, and the unions are severely weakened. When in reality, if sustainable growth was even a consideration, there would be Canadian labour available to complete these projects. But hey, our ultimate Harper lapdog, Jason Kenney, has 'dismissed accusations that the government is acting to suppress wages'. Well that settles it, then!
Dalton-zilla, before you take another crushing step forward, look at the rubble left in your wake.
Your nine-year rampage as premier has caused massive damage; the province is a mess:
• eHealth – A billion-dollar boondoggle where Liberal crony consultants walked away with buckets of taxpayer dollars in untendered contracts. Provincial bureaucrats had salaries and bonuses hidden in hospital budgets. Taxpayers have little to show for such high expenses.
• Ornge – the not-for-profit air ambulance service that created a tangled web of sub-companies and double-dealings that rendered speechless forensic accountants trying to follow the subterfuge.
• Green Energy Act – Over-subsidized wind turbines for one and all! Well, not for vote-rich urban clusters (the insatiable heavy consumers of electricity), but rather for rural Ontario.
Don’t forget the microFIT solar program, one so popular in its subsidies that 20,000 Ontarians signed up. The program couldn’t keep up with demand for inclusion. Our antiquated power infrastructure wouldn’t be able to handle the load input anyway.
• Generational shift – Just before last year’s provincial election, the Liberals cancelled a six-year-old plan to build a natural gas-powered generating station in Mississauga. NIMBYs got their wish; the Liberals got their votes.
Now, that generating station is to be built in Lambton County. Good news for local construction jobs, but the price tag for the shift is a steep $180 million.
• Home care – Patients convalescing at home seems like a win-win for everyone. The patients get away from the potential exposure to supergerms in our hospitals, plus hospitals save on bed expenses.
Naturally, Community Care Access Centres were given more cash to supposedly compensate. But here in Chatham-Kent, the move was so effective our CCAC faces an $8-million-plus deficit. And we can’t leave people in our hospitals for extended recovery as the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance faces a multi-million-dollar deficit as well.
• Health-care wars – this isn’t exactly behind you, Dalton-zilla, but is rather right under your foot. You plan on stomping on doctors, freezing their salaries. We’re short on physicians as it is, so you’re basically encouraging them to leave the province in droves. Plus, you and your Local Health Integration Networks have put a tight hand on the faucet that drips out health-care dollars to hospitals, without “encouraging” the hospitals to slice administration. The result is the loss of front-line health care. But considering how your government caters to its managers, this shouldn’t be surprising.
• Freeze-thaw – As you look to squash doctors and teachers by freezing their salaries, your effort rings hollow, given how you handed out bonuses to provincial managers last year.
Nice double fake in supposedly curbing spending by freezing salaries of public service salaries in 2011, ostensibly to save $34 million.
But then you doled out $35 million in bonuses. Frozen wages for all, but fat-cat bonuses for 8,700 managers.
Look over your shoulder, Dalton-zilla; see the damage you’ve wreaked. And see your opponents closing in, waiting to take you down when your minority government crumbles.
The only problem for Ontarians is whether either of the other political monsters, Mega-Con or The Big Dipper, can do any less damage.
This government is so incompetent, like most governments are. But to now legislate a contract, wage freeze and concessions with educational workers is very dictatorial, disgusting and way out of line. His government created this crisis in Ontario and now he wants public sector workers to pay, not by negotiating at the bargaining table but legislating.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
we are fucked here in ontario ... as bad as the liberals are ... neither of the other parties would do any better ...
to me I'd take my chance with the NDP...I just think they would be far more respectful of individual rights. I know your not a fan of Andrea but I just can't see them being any worse than what we got as of now.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
TORONTO - The governing Liberals’ decision to give 29 of its backbenchers a parliamentary assistant posting - ensuring all but one Liberal MPP gets additional salary - means Ontario is saying no to an “austerity agenda”, a tongue in cheek union press release says.
“By this bold signal that the austerity agenda stops at Ontario’s borders, the Liberal caucus sends a message of hope to the poorest in Ontario,” Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), said. “These (MPP salary bumps) would make such an enormous difference if they were also applied to people receiving social assistance and disability benefits.”
The parliamentary assistant postings came late on Nov. 9 and were didn’t get a lot of attention in the media. The 29 appointments means every Liberal MPP except veteran Greg Sorbara gets at least $16,667 extra in salary, on top of their annual $116,000 pay.
Another 22 Liberals get $49,000 extra for being cabinet ministers and Whip Jeff Leal earns an additional $21,000.
Hurley said the Grits have been less generous in their treatment of Ontarians on social assistance.
“They had a lot of ballyhoo about an anti-poverty agenda that would include jobs and housing and of course provisions for social assistance rates,” Hurley said in an interview.
“But we haven’t seen a move to restore the rates to even comparable to where they were in 1994.
“There was a big irony in the Liberals announcement. There’s just such huge irony in it. If there’s smoney for you guys, is there money for the poor?”
Since first being elected in 2003, the Liberals have moved to raise Ontario’s minimum wage, increased the Ontario Child Benefit and offered free dental care for low income children.
However, snce the global economic crisis began in late 2008, priorities have changed and a scheduled increase in the minimum wage for early 2011 was cancelled.
A government official dismissed the criticism, saying Ontario is serious about keeping costs down.
“The McGuinty government has taken many steps to reduce the size of government including forming a smaller cabinet, reducing the size of the Ontario Public Service by 10% and having fewer Parliamentary Assistants, who are responsible for helping implement the government’s plan to create jobs and economic growth,” the premier’s press secretary, Jane Almeida said.
“We have also frozen MPP salaries for three years.”
This blows me away as well...he wants everyone to take austerity measures but their own MPP"S. I can't find the source, but I remember reading that MPP salaries have gone up like 45% since Dalton took office. This might be the most corrupt, irresponsible government Ontario has ever had.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
to me I'd take my chance with the NDP...I just think they would be far more respectful of individual rights. I know your not a fan of Andrea but I just can't see them being any worse than what we got as of now.
she is awful ... the problem is also that politics (in general) is no longer about the issues but rather about PR ... the reality is that the liberals have made some decent progress on some things ... but no one ever writes that stuff ... i agree that they haven't done a good job and it stems partly from trying to make too many people happy ... if i were to give the liberals a grade ... it would be a C minus ... but i just don't see the cons or ndp getting better than a D ...
i do wish we had stronger leadership in the ndp provincially ...
to me I'd take my chance with the NDP...I just think they would be far more respectful of individual rights. I know your not a fan of Andrea but I just can't see them being any worse than what we got as of now.
she is awful ... the problem is also that politics (in general) is no longer about the issues but rather about PR ... the reality is that the liberals have made some decent progress on some things ... but no one ever writes that stuff ... i agree that they haven't done a good job and it stems partly from trying to make too many people happy ... if i were to give the liberals a grade ... it would be a C minus ... but i just don't see the cons or ndp getting better than a D ...
i do wish we had stronger leadership in the ndp provincially ...
In whats supposed to be a democracy you can not take away people's bargaining rights...in the end any savings he hopes to save might be lost in court challenges and their a very real possibility the courts will throw the legislation out anyways...the three big unions he's fighting have a pile money stashed away for this fight.
For this government to attempt to strip away bargaining rights of workers ... I give him a D- ... I can't grade the NDP, I don't know what they would be like ... not a fan of Andrea either ... just terribly dissapointed in a government that wants to take away rights from people.
personally I think this legislation is along ways from certain ... the NDP have already said it will be voted down by them and I'd be surprised if Hudak supports it ... Hudak wants an election.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
personally I think this legislation is along ways from certain ... the NDP have already said it will be voted down by them and I'd be surprised if Hudak supports it ... Hudak wants an election.
of course hudak wants an election ... he is supported by a population base that don't think critically and vote guys like rob ford into office ... he basically has to say nothing and he will bet a large chunk of votes ...
York Catholic school board reaches deal with Liberals
The minority Liberal government’s push to freeze teachers’ wages gained momentum Wednesday as the York Catholic school board signed on and the Progressive Conservatives signalled they’ll support a wage bill — providing some changes are made.
“If you get half a loaf, take it,” Tory Leader Tim Hudak told reporters at Queen’s Park Wednesday, adding he would continue pressing for legislation on a wage freeze for the entire public sector as Ontario struggles to eliminate a $15 billion deficit.
“I think there’s a better way.”
Education Minister Laurel Broten said she was “encouraged” by Hudak’s response and hailed the York District Catholic School Board’s move as “very good news.”
The York board is the second in Ontario, after the Toronto District Catholic School Board, to sign on to a deal reached earlier this summer with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.
But Broten had some words of caution for Hudak and his expectations for changes to the bill, which would allow the government to impose the deal reached with Catholic teachers on holdout unions.
“It’s really important to recognize that the legislation that we will be introducing into the House on Monday is the result of 300 hours of negotiations. . . . It has been signed on to by 55,000 teachers,” Broten told reporters.
EDITORIAL BOARD PODCAST: Is McGuinty being unfair to teachers?
McGuinty has recalled the legislature — two weeks earlier than scheduled — to deal with the bill that would prevent a Sept. 1 contract rollover that would result in $473 million in wage increases for some teachers and allow them to continue banking unused sick days to cash out at retirement.
New Democrats have suggested they will not support the bill, so backing from Conservatives would give the minority Liberal government the votes it needs to impose the freeze.
Hudak said he’s concerned there aren’t enough “teeth” in the deal to freeze teacher wages — citing the recent example of 98 per cent of civil service managers who shared $36 million in bonuses despite a purported pay freeze — and that protections against strikes and lockouts of teachers are not strong enough.
Conservatives also balk at the deal with Catholic teachers because it allows younger teachers to continue moving up through the salary grid as they gain experience and seniority.
With the wage freeze, the McGuinty government is trying to impose on public elementary and high school teachers a deal similar to one already agreed to by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) and francophone teachers.
The holdout unions — the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation — have said they want to bargain with local school boards to reach contracts instead of having the OECTA deal thrust upon them.
The issue comes to a head against the backdrop of two crucial Sept. 6 byelection, where the Liberals are hoping to maintain their hold on the suburban riding of Vaughan and gain Kitchener—Waterloo from the Tories after the departure of former MPP Elizabeth Witmer last April.
Wins in both ridings would give the Liberals a de facto majority in the legislature.
Working with the Liberals on the teacher wage freeze would be a change for the Conservatives after last spring’s budget battle, where McGuinty incorporated some NDP ideas to win passage and did not do any deals with Hudak’s party.
At the time, McGuinty said he’d welcome Tory support on other initiatives as all parties learn to work in Ontario’s first minority government since the 1980s.
Hudak plans on supporting the legislation ... I guess I was wrong there ... Should not be surprised the cons are anti worker.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
personally I think this legislation is along ways from certain ... the NDP have already said it will be voted down by them and I'd be surprised if Hudak supports it ... Hudak wants an election.
of course hudak wants an election ... he is supported by a population base that don't think critically and vote guys like rob ford into office ... he basically has to say nothing and he will bet a large chunk of votes ...
I agree there ... Ontario is so screwed ...
How did we end up with such poor leadership in this country and province? you know their are really smart people out there ... problem not enough of them are running for office.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Yet these leaches running this province have the nerve to insinuate public sector workers wages are the problem...first cancel Mississauga project 190 million and now the Oakville project cost 40 million.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
personally, i think it's too early for him ... he is still raw and i think he's gonna take a beating but at the same time, the Liberal party needed a renewal similar to what they did under Dion and then caved when the people soaked up the smear campaign ...
personally, i think it's too early for him ... he is still raw and i think he's gonna take a beating but at the same time, the Liberal party needed a renewal similar to what they did under Dion and then caved when the people soaked up the smear campaign ...
I'm going out on limb here...I think the liberal party is done for a long time, maybe forever. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the NDP became the centralist party people are looking for. I just don't see Harper being defeated in the next election unless something real scandalous happens that causes people to sour on him.
As for Trudeau couldn't stand his old man and sure as hell can't stand him...and quite honestly I'm not a fan of Harper but quite glad we got a PM thats not from Quebec for a change.
But unlike the Americans we are not bombarded for 4 years about the next election.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
personally, i think it's too early for him ... he is still raw and i think he's gonna take a beating but at the same time, the Liberal party needed a renewal similar to what they did under Dion and then caved when the people soaked up the smear campaign ...
When I spoke with Trudeau I was very impressed with him. Is he ready? I'm not sure but regardless he'll probably get my vote as the Conservative MP in my riding is an ass.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
I'm going out on limb here...I think the liberal party is done for a long time, maybe forever. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the NDP became the centralist party people are looking for. I just don't see Harper being defeated in the next election unless something real scandalous happens that causes people to sour on him.
As for Trudeau couldn't stand his old man and sure as hell can't stand him...and quite honestly I'm not a fan of Harper but quite glad we got a PM thats not from Quebec for a change.
But unlike the Americans we are not bombarded for 4 years about the next election.
liberals are polling in the mid 20% range ... that's not necessarily a party that is done ...
I'm going out on limb here...I think the liberal party is done for a long time, maybe forever. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the NDP became the centralist party people are looking for. I just don't see Harper being defeated in the next election unless something real scandalous happens that causes people to sour on him.
As for Trudeau couldn't stand his old man and sure as hell can't stand him...and quite honestly I'm not a fan of Harper but quite glad we got a PM thats not from Quebec for a change.
But unlike the Americans we are not bombarded for 4 years about the next election.
liberals are polling in the mid 20% range ... that's not necessarily a party that is done ...
Yeah...I'm seen how great polls are...if they were accurate...Harper would have a minority, Hudak would be Premier, The Parti Quebecois would have a majority, and Redford would not be Premier of Alberta and didn't the polls give Smitherman a shot a being Mayor of Toronto and Ford won easily ( I could be wrong on that one though).
So I generally don't take polls very seriously anymore.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Yeah...I'm seen how great polls are...if they were accurate...Harper would have a minority, Hudak would be Premier, The Parti Quebecois would have a majority, and Redford would not be Premier of Alberta and didn't the polls give Smitherman a shot a being Mayor of Toronto and Ford won easily ( I could be wrong on that one though).
So I generally don't take polls very seriously anymore.
the polling showed us exactly what happened ... obviously, how that translates in our voting system is different ... you can have 25% of the people and get like only 5% of the seats ...
but i don't think they are a party that is done ...
Yeah...I'm seen how great polls are...if they were accurate...Harper would have a minority, Hudak would be Premier, The Parti Quebecois would have a majority, and Redford would not be Premier of Alberta and didn't the polls give Smitherman a shot a being Mayor of Toronto and Ford won easily ( I could be wrong on that one though).
So I generally don't take polls very seriously anymore.
the polling showed us exactly what happened ... obviously, how that translates in our voting system is different ... you can have 25% of the people and get like only 5% of the seats ...
but i don't think they are a party that is done ...
I guess time will tell...doesn't matter to me anymore, PC, NDP, Liberal, Green or whatnot there all gangsters with their own agenda...and that agenda doesn't include middle class, lower middle class or poor people.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Comments
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Jarvis+ ... story.html
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Provinc ... story.html
This just shows that politicians are full of BS...at election time theses creeps are telling everyone to get out and vote. These bunch of bullshitters are paid to show up to queens park and vote not abstain. They all should be docked pay...heck suspended would be more appropriate.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/poli ... n-lifeline
Kind of surprised that they could even find people to work this mines...I guess people don't mind the $$$$ even if it means sacrificing your health.
Very sad and an extreme black mark on Canada for allowing this product to be exported.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Rob Ford's ex-con banishment plan won't fly, says minister
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... -ford.html
Did he really think he could banish Canadian citizens from Toronto...criminal record or not?
I like to think he knows that you can't and he's just paying politics...if he doesn't know then it is extremely sad that he got elected to any public position never mind mayor of Canada's largest city.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le4483479/
Boardroom confidential: What CEOs are asking of Jim Flaherty
BILL CURRY
OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:16 PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Aug. 15 2012, 10:28 PM EDT
As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty goes behind closed doors for his sixth annual summer policy retreat, government documents obtained by The Globe and Mail reveal what gets discussed at these candid off-the-record confabs.
During last year’s sessions with business and policy leaders in Wakefield, Que., the minister was urged to adopt measures to reduce the pay of Canadian workers, limit union power by enacting U.S.-style right-to-work legislation, and allow two-tier health care.
The details are in a briefing note to Mr. Flaherty from his deputy minister that summarizes what was said.
For two days every summer, a select group of CEOs, other business leaders, and policy experts is invited to a retreat with the Finance Minister. The event is private. Participants are allowed to talk about the meeting afterward, but cannot reveal who said what.
Documents obtained by The Globe and Mail under Access to Information describe the advice Mr. Flaherty received. This year’s retreat, again in Wakefield, began on Wednesday and continues on Thursday.
Before this year’s sessions, Mr. Flaherty told reporters that the participants come from many backgrounds, but that it’s important to hear from Canadian CEOs because of their influence on the economy. “We do ensure that there are representatives from all walks of Canadian life there including from the academic community, economists,” he said.
A spokesperson for the minister later added that the government pursues some, but not all, of the ideas put forward at the retreats.
A wrap-up briefing note to the minister dated Aug. 16, 2011 – five days after last year’s retreat – provides a point-form summary of the discussions, broken down by topic. The memo does not say who made which comments.
Labour issues surface in several discussion categories, with the general view that Canadian workers are overpriced. “Need to address wage differentials in labor market among countries; we are losing jobs to other countries,” the memo reads. “Right to Work legislation should be pondered as it creates inequities in productivity; US example was provided.”
In the United States, about two dozen state governments have passed right-to-work legislation, which allows workers to opt out of paying union dues. Critics call the measures a form of union busting.
The memo indicates calls were made for junior public servants to be paid less. “Reduce public service wages (not in higher ranks, but those in the lower ranks such as administrative and clerical staff as they earn more than their private-sector counterparts) and reduce the overall size of the public service.”
Over the past year, the Conservative government has made several policy moves that unions said will drive down wages. Among them, Canadian companies will be allowed to bring in temporary foreign workers more quickly and to pay them 15 per cent less than the average wage for their jobs. Also, changes to Canada’s employment insurance rules will mean that Canadians who fall into a new category of “frequent” EI users will be expected to take any available work after six weeks on EI, even if it pays up to 30 per cent less than their previous job.
Federal cabinet ministers, including Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, have dismissed accusations that the government is acting to suppress wages.
The briefing note contains little detail on what was said about health-care policy, although under the heading of “efficiencies,” the note says: “Need two-tier health care.”
Andrew Jackson, chief economist for the Canadian Labour Congress, attended the 2009 retreat and said wage stats do not support claims that labour costs are a problem. He also said the participants tend to represent a one-sided view. “They’re overwhelmingly dominated by employer spokespeople, people from the right-wing think tanks,” said Mr. Jackson. “It is a point in the process where the minister is starting to frame key ideas for the next budget, so it’s an important opportunity to shape his thinking at a pivotal point in the process.”
Although the participants pay their own way, documents show that Finance Canada paid $43,237.76 in 2011 for meals, room rentals and other expenses, including transportation.
Thanks for posting...
The two tier healt care I believe has been here for a long time. Where I live people have been going to the states for MRI'S, surgeries etc for along time, the wait times are way too long.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
:(
Ah yes, outsourcing jobs inside our own country, lovely....
We approve massive (mostly resource related) projects with ridiculously aggressive schedules, knowing full well the labour isn't available to complete them on time....then we loosen foreign worker legislation so that they can be paid 15% less, using the excuse that there is no labour available to complete these projects. Then we allow union members to opt out of paying their dues....then we lay everyone off when the project is complete (or the economy changes), and force them to take their next job at 30% less than the previous one.....so now foreign workers are making nearly 45% less than their industry average, and the unions are severely weakened. When in reality, if sustainable growth was even a consideration, there would be Canadian labour available to complete these projects. But hey, our ultimate Harper lapdog, Jason Kenney, has 'dismissed accusations that the government is acting to suppress wages'. Well that settles it, then!
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/08/ ... ys-rampage
Dalton-zilla, before you take another crushing step forward, look at the rubble left in your wake.
Your nine-year rampage as premier has caused massive damage; the province is a mess:
• eHealth – A billion-dollar boondoggle where Liberal crony consultants walked away with buckets of taxpayer dollars in untendered contracts. Provincial bureaucrats had salaries and bonuses hidden in hospital budgets. Taxpayers have little to show for such high expenses.
• Ornge – the not-for-profit air ambulance service that created a tangled web of sub-companies and double-dealings that rendered speechless forensic accountants trying to follow the subterfuge.
• Green Energy Act – Over-subsidized wind turbines for one and all! Well, not for vote-rich urban clusters (the insatiable heavy consumers of electricity), but rather for rural Ontario.
Don’t forget the microFIT solar program, one so popular in its subsidies that 20,000 Ontarians signed up. The program couldn’t keep up with demand for inclusion. Our antiquated power infrastructure wouldn’t be able to handle the load input anyway.
• Generational shift – Just before last year’s provincial election, the Liberals cancelled a six-year-old plan to build a natural gas-powered generating station in Mississauga. NIMBYs got their wish; the Liberals got their votes.
Now, that generating station is to be built in Lambton County. Good news for local construction jobs, but the price tag for the shift is a steep $180 million.
• Home care – Patients convalescing at home seems like a win-win for everyone. The patients get away from the potential exposure to supergerms in our hospitals, plus hospitals save on bed expenses.
Naturally, Community Care Access Centres were given more cash to supposedly compensate. But here in Chatham-Kent, the move was so effective our CCAC faces an $8-million-plus deficit. And we can’t leave people in our hospitals for extended recovery as the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance faces a multi-million-dollar deficit as well.
• Health-care wars – this isn’t exactly behind you, Dalton-zilla, but is rather right under your foot. You plan on stomping on doctors, freezing their salaries. We’re short on physicians as it is, so you’re basically encouraging them to leave the province in droves. Plus, you and your Local Health Integration Networks have put a tight hand on the faucet that drips out health-care dollars to hospitals, without “encouraging” the hospitals to slice administration. The result is the loss of front-line health care. But considering how your government caters to its managers, this shouldn’t be surprising.
• Freeze-thaw – As you look to squash doctors and teachers by freezing their salaries, your effort rings hollow, given how you handed out bonuses to provincial managers last year.
Nice double fake in supposedly curbing spending by freezing salaries of public service salaries in 2011, ostensibly to save $34 million.
But then you doled out $35 million in bonuses. Frozen wages for all, but fat-cat bonuses for 8,700 managers.
Look over your shoulder, Dalton-zilla; see the damage you’ve wreaked. And see your opponents closing in, waiting to take you down when your minority government crumbles.
The only problem for Ontarians is whether either of the other political monsters, Mega-Con or The Big Dipper, can do any less damage.
This government is so incompetent, like most governments are. But to now legislate a contract, wage freeze and concessions with educational workers is very dictatorial, disgusting and way out of line. His government created this crisis in Ontario and now he wants public sector workers to pay, not by negotiating at the bargaining table but legislating.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
to me I'd take my chance with the NDP...I just think they would be far more respectful of individual rights. I know your not a fan of Andrea but I just can't see them being any worse than what we got as of now.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Liberal MPP salary hikes slammed
TORONTO - The governing Liberals’ decision to give 29 of its backbenchers a parliamentary assistant posting - ensuring all but one Liberal MPP gets additional salary - means Ontario is saying no to an “austerity agenda”, a tongue in cheek union press release says.
“By this bold signal that the austerity agenda stops at Ontario’s borders, the Liberal caucus sends a message of hope to the poorest in Ontario,” Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), said. “These (MPP salary bumps) would make such an enormous difference if they were also applied to people receiving social assistance and disability benefits.”
The parliamentary assistant postings came late on Nov. 9 and were didn’t get a lot of attention in the media. The 29 appointments means every Liberal MPP except veteran Greg Sorbara gets at least $16,667 extra in salary, on top of their annual $116,000 pay.
Another 22 Liberals get $49,000 extra for being cabinet ministers and Whip Jeff Leal earns an additional $21,000.
Hurley said the Grits have been less generous in their treatment of Ontarians on social assistance.
“They had a lot of ballyhoo about an anti-poverty agenda that would include jobs and housing and of course provisions for social assistance rates,” Hurley said in an interview.
“But we haven’t seen a move to restore the rates to even comparable to where they were in 1994.
“There was a big irony in the Liberals announcement. There’s just such huge irony in it. If there’s smoney for you guys, is there money for the poor?”
Since first being elected in 2003, the Liberals have moved to raise Ontario’s minimum wage, increased the Ontario Child Benefit and offered free dental care for low income children.
However, snce the global economic crisis began in late 2008, priorities have changed and a scheduled increase in the minimum wage for early 2011 was cancelled.
A government official dismissed the criticism, saying Ontario is serious about keeping costs down.
“The McGuinty government has taken many steps to reduce the size of government including forming a smaller cabinet, reducing the size of the Ontario Public Service by 10% and having fewer Parliamentary Assistants, who are responsible for helping implement the government’s plan to create jobs and economic growth,” the premier’s press secretary, Jane Almeida said.
“We have also frozen MPP salaries for three years.”
This blows me away as well...he wants everyone to take austerity measures but their own MPP"S. I can't find the source, but I remember reading that MPP salaries have gone up like 45% since Dalton took office. This might be the most corrupt, irresponsible government Ontario has ever had.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
she is awful ... the problem is also that politics (in general) is no longer about the issues but rather about PR ... the reality is that the liberals have made some decent progress on some things ... but no one ever writes that stuff ... i agree that they haven't done a good job and it stems partly from trying to make too many people happy ... if i were to give the liberals a grade ... it would be a C minus ... but i just don't see the cons or ndp getting better than a D ...
i do wish we had stronger leadership in the ndp provincially ...
In whats supposed to be a democracy you can not take away people's bargaining rights...in the end any savings he hopes to save might be lost in court challenges and their a very real possibility the courts will throw the legislation out anyways...the three big unions he's fighting have a pile money stashed away for this fight.
For this government to attempt to strip away bargaining rights of workers ... I give him a D- ... I can't grade the NDP, I don't know what they would be like ... not a fan of Andrea either ... just terribly dissapointed in a government that wants to take away rights from people.
personally I think this legislation is along ways from certain ... the NDP have already said it will be voted down by them and I'd be surprised if Hudak supports it ... Hudak wants an election.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
of course hudak wants an election ... he is supported by a population base that don't think critically and vote guys like rob ford into office ... he basically has to say nothing and he will bet a large chunk of votes ...
York Catholic school board reaches deal with Liberals
The minority Liberal government’s push to freeze teachers’ wages gained momentum Wednesday as the York Catholic school board signed on and the Progressive Conservatives signalled they’ll support a wage bill — providing some changes are made.
“If you get half a loaf, take it,” Tory Leader Tim Hudak told reporters at Queen’s Park Wednesday, adding he would continue pressing for legislation on a wage freeze for the entire public sector as Ontario struggles to eliminate a $15 billion deficit.
“I think there’s a better way.”
Education Minister Laurel Broten said she was “encouraged” by Hudak’s response and hailed the York District Catholic School Board’s move as “very good news.”
The York board is the second in Ontario, after the Toronto District Catholic School Board, to sign on to a deal reached earlier this summer with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.
But Broten had some words of caution for Hudak and his expectations for changes to the bill, which would allow the government to impose the deal reached with Catholic teachers on holdout unions.
“It’s really important to recognize that the legislation that we will be introducing into the House on Monday is the result of 300 hours of negotiations. . . . It has been signed on to by 55,000 teachers,” Broten told reporters.
EDITORIAL BOARD PODCAST: Is McGuinty being unfair to teachers?
McGuinty has recalled the legislature — two weeks earlier than scheduled — to deal with the bill that would prevent a Sept. 1 contract rollover that would result in $473 million in wage increases for some teachers and allow them to continue banking unused sick days to cash out at retirement.
New Democrats have suggested they will not support the bill, so backing from Conservatives would give the minority Liberal government the votes it needs to impose the freeze.
Hudak said he’s concerned there aren’t enough “teeth” in the deal to freeze teacher wages — citing the recent example of 98 per cent of civil service managers who shared $36 million in bonuses despite a purported pay freeze — and that protections against strikes and lockouts of teachers are not strong enough.
Conservatives also balk at the deal with Catholic teachers because it allows younger teachers to continue moving up through the salary grid as they gain experience and seniority.
With the wage freeze, the McGuinty government is trying to impose on public elementary and high school teachers a deal similar to one already agreed to by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) and francophone teachers.
The holdout unions — the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation — have said they want to bargain with local school boards to reach contracts instead of having the OECTA deal thrust upon them.
The issue comes to a head against the backdrop of two crucial Sept. 6 byelection, where the Liberals are hoping to maintain their hold on the suburban riding of Vaughan and gain Kitchener—Waterloo from the Tories after the departure of former MPP Elizabeth Witmer last April.
Wins in both ridings would give the Liberals a de facto majority in the legislature.
Working with the Liberals on the teacher wage freeze would be a change for the Conservatives after last spring’s budget battle, where McGuinty incorporated some NDP ideas to win passage and did not do any deals with Hudak’s party.
At the time, McGuinty said he’d welcome Tory support on other initiatives as all parties learn to work in Ontario’s first minority government since the 1980s.
Hudak plans on supporting the legislation ... I guess I was wrong there ... Should not be surprised the cons are anti worker.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I agree there ... Ontario is so screwed ...
How did we end up with such poor leadership in this country and province? you know their are really smart people out there ... problem not enough of them are running for office.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/poli ... t-tune-out
Well are the PQ going to win? If so the rest of Canada will have to listen to the separatist for the next little while :fp: :fp:.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le4563275/
Yet these leaches running this province have the nerve to insinuate public sector workers wages are the problem...first cancel Mississauga project 190 million and now the Oakville project cost 40 million.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2 ... rship.html
personally, i think it's too early for him ... he is still raw and i think he's gonna take a beating but at the same time, the Liberal party needed a renewal similar to what they did under Dion and then caved when the people soaked up the smear campaign ...
I'm going out on limb here...I think the liberal party is done for a long time, maybe forever. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the NDP became the centralist party people are looking for. I just don't see Harper being defeated in the next election unless something real scandalous happens that causes people to sour on him.
As for Trudeau couldn't stand his old man and sure as hell can't stand him...and quite honestly I'm not a fan of Harper but quite glad we got a PM thats not from Quebec for a change.
But unlike the Americans we are not bombarded for 4 years about the next election.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv-5biChVrA
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
liberals are polling in the mid 20% range ... that's not necessarily a party that is done ...
Yeah...I'm seen how great polls are...if they were accurate...Harper would have a minority, Hudak would be Premier, The Parti Quebecois would have a majority, and Redford would not be Premier of Alberta and didn't the polls give Smitherman a shot a being Mayor of Toronto and Ford won easily ( I could be wrong on that one though).
So I generally don't take polls very seriously anymore.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
the polling showed us exactly what happened ... obviously, how that translates in our voting system is different ... you can have 25% of the people and get like only 5% of the seats ...
but i don't think they are a party that is done ...
I guess time will tell...doesn't matter to me anymore, PC, NDP, Liberal, Green or whatnot there all gangsters with their own agenda...and that agenda doesn't include middle class, lower middle class or poor people.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
If they win the next election, I'm moving to the states
i'm gonna go to iceland or new zealand i think ...