The Status Quo

The Expositor is in favour of keeping the status quo by electing the McGuinty Liberals provincially and Dave Levac locally. They are also seemingly supporting the Conservative candidate in Haldimand- Norfork . This may seem strange but the Liberals really want nothing to do with any of the native conflicts and don't want a representative who will have to answer to the voters in this area. Besides McGuinty gutless handling of this issue has assured that no Liberal could be elected here anyway.

So if you like things the way they are just follow The Expositor's lead. Vote for more of the same. The same long waiting times for medical treatment and the same lack of doctors. The same delisting of services like eyesight testing. The same ever rising property taxes. The same rising electricity prices (just wait for the "smart meter). The same constant loss of high paying manufacturing jobs. The same lack of action when violence erupts at native occupations (you are on your own, Dalton is hiding under the bed). The same promises with the same lack of action. Things staying the same while being told how much better off we are.

The Expositor feels that John Tory should be punished for his change of policy on the faith-based school funding issue. What about McGuinty's changes of policy? Granted he never modified his positions during a campaign. He waited until he had grabbed power then reversed course. No new taxes? Oops, well just this one major regressive health tax. Funding for parents with autistic children? Well no, and he even fought them in court over it. The closing of all coal fired electricity plants by 2007? That has been pushed back so many times that who know when it might ever happen (and if it does we will all be in the dark literally). There are more lies and broken promises but of course Dalton must be forgiven and John Tory is the one who needs to be punished. So saith the Expositor in its infallible wisdom.

MMP

On Oct. 10, we get a chance to vote in a referendum that could change the way MPP are elected. You will be ask to decide if you want a form of Mixed Member Proportional representation made up of both elected and appointed MPPs.

While our current system of first past the post often results in parties getting a larger number of seats then their share of the vote this new system will be no better and probably even worse. For starters instead of one person one vote you would now get two votes, one for a candidate and one for a party. This might be helpful for those who like one candidate but not their party but also gives others two chances to send representatives of different parties to power. Hardly seems fair.

Under this system instead of 107 elected MPPs we would have 90 elected MPPs and 29 unelected but appointed MPPs. Not only will this increase the cost of government but how will they be paid? Will an elected MPP with constituent work get the same pay as an unelected MPP with no constituents? And with bigger ridings will MPPs not want more money even though they just received a large pay raise?

And how does having MPPs chosen by the party leader from a list (most likely party hacks and those who would never be elected) become any more representative then the general population electing all members? These new unelected MPPs would only have loyalty to their leader and not have to listen to regular taxpayers and voters. If you love the federal Senate you will love this except that unlike Senators these people will actually have a hand in shaping government policy.

Another result of this form of election would be that most governments would mostly be minority governments. This usually results in a party with few representatives (mostly unelected under this system) being able to dictate term of support to the party that forms the government in return for their support. And this is supposed to be fairer how?

There may be a better way to elect governments but this isn't it. Luckily it requires to be passed by 60% of all votes cast and 50% of all ballots cast in 64 of the 107 ridings. Not 60 of 147 riding as stated in a recent Brantford Expositor editorial. (Does anyone ever proof read that paper?)

The logical choice is to vote NO to this referendum question.

The Expositor Backs The Liberals

Surprise! Surprise! The Expositor is solidly behind Dalton McGuinty, Dave Levac and the Provincial Liberals despite the lies, broken promises, and lack of action on most fronts.

The Expositor says John Tory lacks leadership for modifying his promise on faith-based school funding while glossing over the fact that McGuinty promised in writing not to raise taxes and then did just that as one of his first acts as Premier. And has fought the parents of autistic children in court after also promising them funding. Some honesty and leadership.

For much of the campaign McGuinty has seemingly run against the Mike Harris government ignoring the fact that they he has had four years to change policies that Harris enacted that they don't like. It seems that they are very satisfied with the results that Harris achieved but want to distance themselves from any unpopularity that went with their implementation. He makes much of the fact that he inherited a small deficit when he assumed office but ignores the fact that when Harris assumed power he inherited a sting of deficits left from years of Peterson Liberal and Rae NDP governments. Harris had to make some tough choices to rein in this out of control spending. McGuinty chose to increase taxes and spend even more.

McGuinty has been whining about the latest Conservative ads being negative that point out the failures and broken promises of the McGuinty government. Truth hurts does it Dalton? And what were all those ads aimed at Tory's faith-based funding idea if not negative, despite Dalton's assertion that he would never indulge in negative ads? More lies Mr. McGuinty?

Locally Levac has little to show for his time in office. The Expositor points to the $2 million that went to Laurier Brantford to establish a campus in Brantford. Well the funding of Universities is a provincial responsibility and that $2 million is dwarfed by the millions and millions that the property taxpayers of Brantford have doled out to Laurier. And the Expositor also glosses over the fact that 20,00 people do not have a primary care physician and this is no better than four years ago despite Dalton's claim of improved health care. Tell that to those 1 in 6 Brant County residents as they spend countless hours in the emergency room waiting for treatment. One of the reasons Levac was originally elected was over the closing of St. Joseph's Hospital but he now seems comfortable with the gutting of the Paris Willett hospital. Where is the logic in that Mr. Levac?

And on the matter of the relocation of B.C.I., Levac was mostly silent as well, blaming it on the funding formula and the amalgamation of boards by Harris. If these are the problems why have Levac and McGuinty not moved to change this. Same goes for high property taxes. The reason: Harris' downloading. But McGuinty has done little to reverse this. And just wait till market value assessment returns next year and watch property taxes shoot through the roof.

The problem of native land disputes? Levac has been missing here again and McGuinty has avoided the area and run from the problem blaming the federal government. Now that's real leadership. Right Expositor editor?

Dalton McGuinty and Dave Levac have had four years to deal with these issues and provide leadership. Sadly both are lacking. It's time to elect someone who will actually do something and not just blame others or say "there is more to be done" without doing anything. That's why I will be voting for the Conservatives despite the ever knowing Expositor.

Health Care

Dalton McGuinty claims that the health care system in Ontario has improved under his government. Yet despite the immediate imposition of a heath care tax after repeated promises not to raise taxes (he even signed a pledge to that effect, nice lie Dalton) there is little evidence that things are improving at all.

Here in Brantford wait times especially in the emergency department at Brantford General Hospital are as long or longer than ever. This has been aggravated by the closing of the former Terrace Hill walk-in clinic. But this closing should make the Liberals happy as it was a privately run clinic which the Liberals are opposed to. I'm surprised that Dave Levac skipped this opportunity for a photo-op. He could have had his picture taken as the last patient left the clinic and the doors were locked for good. After all, it's what he supports.

And the doctor shortage is acute as ever here with no doctors accepting new patients and thousands of residents without a family physician. Some improvements!

Brantford has now gotten an MRI machine although it is yet to be fully operational and this is being pointed at as a positive step but despite the local politician trying to take credit for it, the funding came mostly from private sources spearheaded by the Rizzo family.

So despite this major tax increase, which goes into general revenue, not any specific health related account, the health care system is no better (and probably worse) in Brantford and most of the rest of the province now than four years ago in spite of what a smiling Dalton McGuinty would try to have you believe. But then Dalton and the truth have always been strangers.

Faith-Based School Funding

It appears that John Tory has stepped on a political land mine when he included this in the Provincial Conservative's election platform. Even though Tory has modified his stand somewhat it is probably too late and will result in the re-election of the McGuinty government despite their record of lies, broken promises and poor performance.

The idea is to bring the thousands of children that attend these schools under the Ministry of Education so that they are taught the same curriculum and that those schools are up to provincial standards. A noble ideal and can only be achieved if the province provides them with funding. Either way these school will continue to exist and will not go away. Is it not better to insure that they are run in accordance with provincial standards?

But the Liberals have branded this as a devisive cause (although thay are the ones fanning the flames of division) by saying that this would detract from and take away money from the public school system and also subtly rasing the racist spectre of other than Christian faiths indoctrinating children.

It also is strange seeing that both Dalton McGuinty and his Education Minister Katleen Wynne have spoken in favour of this policy in the past but then why stand on your principles when political opportunism is so much easier. It's the Liberal way. And in fact Mr. McGuinty's four children attend or are currently attending the faith-based Roman Catholic school system that is funded by tax dollars and his wife was a teacher in this system as well. But apparently what works for his faith isn't to be available to others that don't share his beliefs.

Dalton McGuinty has shown himself to be not only a liar but now a bigot as well. Some leader.