When a government is in power for 15 years — as was the case with the just defeated Liberals in Ontario — some people foolishly come to think of it is infallible and god-like.
Because to hear the uninformed bafflegab now being spouted about terrible decisions by former Liberal premiers Kathleen Wynne and, before her, Dalton Mcguinty, you'd think Ontario simply cannot survive without the Liberals. Which is utter nonsense. For example, according to Liberal cheerleaders and apologists, Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives, by scrapping Wynne's cap-and-trade scheme, have abandoned a plan that would have rained billions of dollars of free money down on lucky Ontarians
To say nothing of reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change.
In the real world,
It's also doubtful the government will need to reimburse the full amount, since it gave out free carbon credits to most major industrial emitters for all of their emissions in 2017, and most of them in 2018.
Ford is also shutting down one particularly controversial industrial wind project (so far) that was opposed by the local municipal government, as most projects were, with critics warning the project's owner says it could cost Ontarians over $100 million.
Even if that's true, it has to be weighed against the cost of buying inefficient, unreliable and unneeded wind power from private developers for 20 years, for which the previous Liberal government, according to Lysyk in her 2015 report, overpaid by $9.2 billion.
Unsurprising since, as Lysyk noted, Ontario was paying twice the U.S. average for wind power, and 3.5 times for solar power.
Ford said during the election campaign he believed in man-made climate change so it's legitimate to challenge him on what he plans to do about it.
But doing what he said he would do in scrapping capand-trade and getting out of the financial madness of wind power, where possible, is just common sense.
And while we are on the subject of the Liberals, let's look at their federal counterparts. Doug Ford is doing battle with Trudeau, just like Manitoba's Brian Palliser and Quebec's Philiiipe Couillard over the costs province's must bear because of the flood of illegal border crossings.
This is from Candace Malcolm of Sun News Media
When someone crosses the border illegally, it's fair and accurate to call them an "illegal border crosser."
That isn't controversial. Earlier this year, I visited Roxham Road — the unofficial port of entry where approximately 95% of all illegal border crossers enter Canada. The Canadian government has put up a sign that makes it clear as day.
"STOP: It is illegal to cross the border here or any place other than a Port of Entry. You will be arrested and detained if you cross here."
Even the Liberals believe border-hopping at unofficial crossings is illegal.
"Crossing the border in between official border crossings is illegal," said Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a few months ago in the House of Commons.
It's bizarre, therefore, that Liberal immigration minister Ahmed Hussen is picking a fight with Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford over Ford's use of the term "illegal border crossers"
[size=150]Ford has firmly stated that the illegal border crisis is 100% Trudeau's responsibility, and that Ford's provincial government refuses to pick up the tab for the already strained social services and housing that asylum claimants are entitled to receive.
The federal government has created a mess — with Trudeau's open border, allare-welcome attitude and messaging – and thus, the feds should be responsible for paying for it.[/size]
In the past, the Liberals have abandoned resettlement groups, leaving them scrambling to help migrants with strained budgets and limited resources.
This week, Hussen told reporters he believes Ford's words are inaccurate and "difficult to understand," emphasizing his preference for the Liberal euphemism "irregular migration."
This simply distracts from the real issue.
The Liberals would rather talk about vocabulary and pick imaginary fights with Conservatives than discuss their record when it comes to the border crisis.
Under Trudeau, the number of illegal border crossers has proliferated. There have been upwards of 70,000 asylum claims in the past 18 months — a drastic spike over numbers from recent decades.
And while self-selected migrants without a valid visa are streaming into our country at a rate of about 50 per day, the feds have no system to quickly determine who is a bona fide refugee and who is simply trying to jump the immigration queue.
The government makes no distinction between these two very different camps of people, and, once in Canada, both are given the exact same rights, benefits and legal process.
[size=150]The current wait time to have a refugee case heard before a judge is anywhere between 20 months and 11 years, and, in the meantime, these asylum seekers get goldplated access to provincially-funded social services.
[/size]
When someone crosses the border illegally, in an effort coordinated by human trafficking rings, and comes from a safe country (the United States) it's fair to be skeptical and accurate to call their actions illegal.
True refugees are desperate, and will submit their applications in the first safe country they arrive. The folks crossing at Roxham Road, by contrast, are opportunistic and savvy — more likely queue-jumping economic migrants than refugees escaping persecution and violence.
Words matter, and we should strive to be truthful and accurate in our speech. But that's the opposite of what Hussen and the Liberals are trying to do here — they're trying to confuse the issue and enforce politically correct gibberish to water down the truth.
The reality is, this illegal vs. irregular word feud is nothing but a distraction – designed to shift the conversation away from the Trudeau government's failed record on immigration and border security.
And an editorial from Sun News Media about the ongoing fight between Trudeau and Ford over who should pay for illegal border crossers.
The word from ottawa is that we're no longer supposed to refer to illegal border crossers as "illegal" border crossers.
Thanks, but no thanks. our word choice works just fine.
on Monday, federal Immigration Minister ahmed Hussen chastised ontario Premier doug ford and his colleagues for using the term.
"I'm very concerned by Premier ford and (provincial) minister (lisa) Macleod really making statements that are difficult to understand when it comes to how they're describing asylum seekers," Hussen said to reporters in Halifax.
"These are people who we have a legal obligation to give a fair hearing to, and so we're applying Canadian law, we're applying international law and that requires all levels of government to work together," Hussen continued.
These words were echoed in a press release sent out to the media by the Canadian association of Refugee lawyers.
They claim assigning the phrase "illegal" to any asylum claimants in Canada is inaccurate and that "the pejorative connotation associated with the term 'illegal' implies these claimants are doing something they should not or getting away with crimes."
Here's the problem in all of this: Those who cross the border illegally are doing something they shouldn't be doing, and it's a crime.
Canada hears all asylum claims, even those who cross into Canada through illegal means. That's where they get a fair hearing. Canada is signatory to a united Nations Refugee Convention that allows for just that.
legitimate refugees fleeing war and persecution are screened from those who understandably may wish to move to Canada for a better life, and potentially criminals and terrorists.
We have one hearing process for refugees, and another for immigration where those who want to emigrate here must undergo a rigorous application process.
Prime Minister Justin trudeau a year ago, after creating the border crisis with his "#Welcometocanada" tweet, was eventually forced to make that differentiation.
"for someone to successfully seek asylum it's not about economic migration," trudeau told reporters. "It's about vulnerability, exposure to torture or death, or being stateless people."
Those who show up at our borders do have tragic and compelling stories. But let's not kid ourselves all are refugees.
Politically correct hectoring about terminology distracts from the broader issue: That illegal border crossings are undermining our immigration system.
They can wait in line like everyone else. The last thing we need is a migrant crisis like the US or Europe.
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
We already have one. More than half the homeless shelter spots in Toronto are occupied by border crossers. Montreal is in the same boat.
We don't really have the same problem out West, so I guess I'm just not as aware of the scope of the problem as you guys are...
Then again, we get enough of your welfare bums, when Social Services gives them a one-way bus ticket out to here, 'cause they like the mild weather when they slum around parks and alleys doing their drugs of choice...
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
Then again, we get enough of your welfare bums, when Social Services gives them a one-way bus ticket out to here.
Greyhound doesn't go out West anymore.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Because to hear the uninformed bafflegab now being spouted about terrible decisions by former Liberal premiers Kathleen Wynne and, before her, Dalton Mcguinty, you'd think Ontario simply cannot survive without the Liberals. Which is utter nonsense. For example, according to Liberal cheerleaders and apologists, Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives, by scrapping Wynne's cap-and-trade scheme, have abandoned a plan that would have rained billions of dollars of free money down on lucky Ontarians
To say nothing of reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change.
In the real world,
It's also doubtful the government will need to reimburse the full amount, since it gave out free carbon credits to most major industrial emitters for all of their emissions in 2017, and most of them in 2018.
Ford is also shutting down one particularly controversial industrial wind project (so far) that was opposed by the local municipal government, as most projects were, with critics warning the project's owner says it could cost Ontarians over $100 million.
Even if that's true, it has to be weighed against the cost of buying inefficient, unreliable and unneeded wind power from private developers for 20 years, for which the previous Liberal government, according to Lysyk in her 2015 report, overpaid by $9.2 billion.
Unsurprising since, as Lysyk noted, Ontario was paying twice the U.S. average for wind power, and 3.5 times for solar power.
Ford said during the election campaign he believed in man-made climate change so it's legitimate to challenge him on what he plans to do about it.
But doing what he said he would do in scrapping capand-trade and getting out of the financial madness of wind power, where possible, is just common sense.
I can hardly wait until our next premier scraps our very expensive carbon tax.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
They still do, but not for long! I hope this doesn't mean you'll fast track us a bunch of your bums before service stops!
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
Quote from: "seoulbro"
They still do, but not for long! I hope this doesn't mean you'll fast track us a bunch of your bums before service stops!
A former premier of Alberta used to do that..
I am sure new bus comapnies will start up connecting the major centres of the West with Ontario.
What makes you think we want your bums? We do NOT want your bums! Your bums should remain your problem!
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
I never thought you wanted our social assistance recipients..
Even our late premier who gave social assistance one way Greyhound tickets knew many British Columbians didn't want them.
Maybe we can send 'em back!
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
Your NDP government would never do that.
I'm sure Ontario needed a change.
15 years of one party in power seems a tad too long.
And Wynn did seem a bit loony.
Should be interesting to see how long the Tories last.
But it'd be a mistake for them to think they can go back to the ways of Mike Harris.
Perhaps the Liberals went too far in one direction, but the Tories shouldn't think they can do it in reverse.
Quote from: "JOE"
15 years of one party in power seems a tad too long.
And Wynn did seem a bit loony.
Should be interesting to see how long the Tories last.
But it'd be a mistake for them to think they can go back to the ways of Mike Harris.
Perhaps the Liberals went too far in one direction, but the Tories shouldn't think they can do it in reverse.
Wynn's legacy is Ontario having the highest sub sovereign debt in the world, hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs lost and people pushed into fuel poverty because green energy insanity.
And Mike Harris eliminated the annual deficit, even as he introduced corporate, capital-gains and personal tax cuts. Harris inherited an $11 billion deficit in 1995 and eliminated it in a few years. Now the Ford government inherited $11.4 billion in debt service charges alone, but will only freeze spending. This is no Harris government, but at least they are getting rid of Grit era green energy schemes, regulations and taxes that will encourage people to invest again in Ontario.
Anyone who has studied the Ontario Liberal government's failed experiment with wind power knows what a financial and social catastrophe it has been.
How billions of taxpayers' and hydro customers' dollars are being wasted, and will continue to be wasted for decades to come, because of former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty's naive blunder into wind energy, now fully supported by Premier Kathleen Wynne.
How it has contributed to skyrocketing hydro bills and to the loss of 300,000 manufacturing jobs in Ontario.
https://torontosun.com/2014/05/31/sun-news-network-documentary-down-wind-exposes-the-wynne-mcguinty-green-energy-disaster/wcm/b400c4c7-2bda-4864-b106-830474b3f515
But Ontario's industrial decline didn't begin under Wynn.
It started after the introduction of the US Canada free trade agreement in the 1990s.
So it started under Premiers Pedersen, Bob Rae, continued under Harris and perhaps accelerated with Wynn.
Regardless of who's in power, Ontario's industrial engine needs a drastic overhaul.
I think the last PM Stephen Harper was offering massive incentives to keep American companies investing in Ontario but was having a difficult time preventing jobs from flowing South.
Ie - the Kellogg cereal plants and Caterpillar, right?
Quote from: "JOE"
It started after the introduction of the US Canada free trade agreement in the 1990s.
So it started under Premiers Pedersen, Bob Rae, continued under Harris and perhaps accelerated with Wynn.
Regardless of who's in power, Ontario's industrial engine needs a drastic overhaul.
I think the last PM Stephen Harper was offering massive incentives to keep American companies investing in Ontario but was having a difficult time preventing jobs from flowing South.
Ie - the Kellogg cereal plants and Caterpillar, right?
Ontario was already covered by the autopact, so free trade had little difference on our economy.
In the 1990s and into the 2000s, Ontario was a low-electricity-cost jurisdiction. This was a competitive advantage for the province, helping attract business and foster economic growth. Of course, in recent years, due largely to the Green Energy Act and its inefficiencies, Ontario electricity prices have soared, hurting industrial competitiveness, especially in the manufacturing sector where electricity is a major cost.
The results have been devastating.
Between 2005 and 2015, Ontario's manufacturing output fell by 18 per cent and manufacturing employment fell by 28 per cent.
More specifically, from 2008 to 2015, Ontario's manufacturing job levels fell from 805,170 to 688,735. Crucially, in a study published today by the Fraser Institute, we estimate that the province's high electricity prices are responsible for roughly 64 per cent of the losses — that's a staggering 75,000 manufacturing jobs.
https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/75000-manufacturing-jobs-lost-thats-the-price-of-ontarios-electricity-disaster
Well, regardless of whomever was in power, the steel industry sure took a hit in Ontario.
At least you should admit that much
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "JOE"
It started after the introduction of the US Canada free trade agreement in the 1990s.
So it started under Premiers Pedersen, Bob Rae, continued under Harris and perhaps accelerated with Wynn.
Regardless of who's in power, Ontario's industrial engine needs a drastic overhaul.
I think the last PM Stephen Harper was offering massive incentives to keep American companies investing in Ontario but was having a difficult time preventing jobs from flowing South.
Ie - the Kellogg cereal plants and Caterpillar, right?
Ontario was already covered by the autopact, so free trade had little difference on our economy.
In the 1990s and into the 2000s, Ontario was a low-electricity-cost jurisdiction. This was a competitive advantage for the province, helping attract business and foster economic growth. Of course, in recent years, due largely to the Green Energy Act and its inefficiencies, Ontario electricity prices have soared, hurting industrial competitiveness, especially in the manufacturing sector where electricity is a major cost.
The results have been devastating.
Between 2005 and 2015, Ontario's manufacturing output fell by 18 per cent and manufacturing employment fell by 28 per cent.
More specifically, from 2008 to 2015, Ontario's manufacturing job levels fell from 805,170 to 688,735. Crucially, in a study published today by the Fraser Institute, we estimate that the province's high electricity prices are responsible for roughly 64 per cent of the losses — that's a staggering 75,000 manufacturing jobs.
https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/75000-manufacturing-jobs-lost-thats-the-price-of-ontarios-electricity-disaster
Quote
At least you should admit that much
Indeed it has also been a victim of McGuinty/Wynn's green energy drive costs up madness.
Ontario now has the highest electricity costs across all Canadian provinces and among the highest costs in North America.
Ontario's manufacturing sector accounts for almost 40% of Canada's exports, so its decline is a matter of national concern. Between 2005 and 2015, Ontario's manufacturing output declined by 18% and employment by 28%. Notably, the paper manufacturing and iron and steel sectors, the two most electricity-intensive sectors in Ontario prior to the big price increases, shrank the most: the paper manufacturing sector by 32% and the iron and steel sector by 25%.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/rising-electricity-costs-and-declining-employment-in-ontarios-manufacturing-sector.pdf
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote
At least you should admit that much
Indeed it has also been a victim of McGuinty/Wynn's green energy drive costs up madness.
Ontario now has the highest electricity costs across all Canadian provinces and among the highest costs in North America.
Ontario's manufacturing sector accounts for almost 40% of Canada's exports, so its decline is a matter of national concern. Between 2005 and 2015, Ontario's manufacturing output declined by 18% and employment by 28%. Notably, the paper manufacturing and iron and steel sectors, the two most electricity-intensive sectors in Ontario prior to the big price increases, shrank the most: the paper manufacturing sector by 32% and the iron and steel sector by 25%.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/rising-electricity-costs-and-declining-employment-in-ontarios-manufacturing-sector.pdf
One major flaw of the Ontaeio economy is its overdependance on the United States for its export market. Even sonewhat pro business right leaning MacLeans and the Globe and Mail have pointed this out.
While Ontario is something like 80 or 90% dependent on the US, BC and other prvinces have moved away from this model and are now 50% Asia exports. And since the US midwest is in a decline so is Ontario because they have similar rust belt economies.
Wasnt this a major reason ex PM Harper devised and wanted the CETA with Europe? So he could make places like Obtarip less dependent on the US?
Quote from: "JOE"
One major flaw of the Ontaeio economy is its overdependance on the United States for its export market. Even sonewhat pro business right leaning MacLeans and the Globe and Mail have pointed this out.
While Ontario is something like 80 or 90% dependent on the US, BC and other prvinces have moved away from this model and are now 50% Asia exports. And since the US midwest is in a decline so is Ontario because they have similar rust belt economies.
Wasnt this a major reason ex PM Harper devised and wanted the CETA with Europe? So he could make places like Obtarip less dependent on the US?
As I told you already, our automotive sector has been integrated with it's American counterpart long before NAFTA. Cars and parts can travel back and forth across the border many times before becoming part of a finished car.
The auto sector and fuels account for 40 per cent of exports to the US. The state of Michigan has the largest trade deficit of any state with Canada and that is do to the Ontario auto sector. Now that has been declining because of high electricity costs in this province. Prior to the self inflicted wounds caused by deliberately making electricity expensive Ontario and BC were among the few provinces with growing exports to the US.
New Brunswick is the most reliant of any province on US exports.
And Maclean's is right leaning? What does that mean? They are opposed to same sex marriage or support a test for Canadian values?
NAFTA closed our Zippo plant... acc_angry
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
It closed long after NAFTA was implemented. Sales were in decline for years.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote
At least you should admit that much
Indeed it has also been a victim of McGuinty/Wynn's green energy drive costs up madness.
Ontario now has the highest electricity costs across all Canadian provinces and among the highest costs in North America.
Ontario's manufacturing sector accounts for almost 40% of Canada's exports, so its decline is a matter of national concern. Between 2005 and 2015, Ontario's manufacturing output declined by 18% and employment by 28%. Notably, the paper manufacturing and iron and steel sectors, the two most electricity-intensive sectors in Ontario prior to the big price increases, shrank the most: the paper manufacturing sector by 32% and the iron and steel sector by 25%.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/rising-electricity-costs-and-declining-employment-in-ontarios-manufacturing-sector.pdf
Regardless of his party affiliation, I sincerely hope Ford does better than his predessor did.
Canada can't really afford to have a weak Ontario, since it makes up close to 40% of Canada's population. And if they go down, then it drives things like the national debt up.
Ontario has to somehow find a way to reinvent itself. I think Wynn and the Liberals tried, but evidently failed. Plus the new green economy they envisioned for the province hadnt been invented yet. I still think the old ways of relying excessively on the US and a branch plant economy are eventually doomed to fail.
Ontario has to look East to Europe and West towards Asia for new markets and to diversify itself.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "Chuck Bronson"
It closed long after NAFTA was implemented. Sales were in decline for years.
Because fewer people smoke.
Quote from: "JOE"
Regardless of his party affiliation, I sincerely hope Ford does better than his predessor did.
Canada can't really afford to have a weak Ontario, since it makes up close to 40% of Canada's population. And if they go down, then it drives things like the national debt up.
Ontario has to somehow find a way to reinvent itself. I think Wynn and the Liberals tried, but evidently failed. Plus the new green economy they envisioned for the province hadnt been invented yet. I still think the old ways of relying excessively on the US and a branch plant economy are eventually doomed to fail.
Ontario has to look East to Europe and West towards Asia for new markets and to diversify itself.
Wynn didn't try to reinvent this great province, her and her predecessor tried to destroy it.
Whatever, you "think", the fact is Ontario's supply chain is interconnected with the Eastern US. That doesn't mean we can't seek new markets though. But, if we can't remain competitive with the Eastern US due to high electricity costs, high taxes and excessive regulations, we will never compete with new markets. The previous regime made us more dependent on the US by making us less competitive with the world.
Think Doug Ford is a fiscal hawk. Think again. He is a populist, but he won't slash the profligate spending he inherited from the Fiberals.
By Ben Eisen of the Fraser Institute
Last week, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli tabled Ontario's fall economic statement. this mini-budget was an opportunity for the Ford government to get serious about putting provincial finances on more sustainable footing.
Instead, on spending and deficits, the budget represents more of the same of what we have seen from Queen's Park under previous management.
Indeed, despite sharp rhetorical differences between party leaders on the campaign trail, the early evidence suggests the new government's fiscal strategy will largely reflect policy continuity from its predecessor.
The Ford government did lightly tap the brakes on spending growth, cancelling a number of election-year spending commitments made by its predecessor.
But these cancellations must be viewed in context. The Wynne government's 2018-19 budget called for provincial government program spending (all spending other than debt interest payments) to increase by 6.1 per cent this year.
In its mini-budget, the Ford government cancelled $3.2 billion worth of provincial spending growth planned for this year, largely by eliminating planned spending associated with the previous government's climate change plan.
Even with these cancellations, however, spending will still be up markedly this year. In fact, nominal program spending is still forecast to increase by 4.8% from 2017-18 levels.
This is a slightly lower rate of growth than the Wynne government had planned, but it's still slightly higher than what's needed to offset the combined effects of population growth and inflation (4.3%) and higher than the nominal rate of economic growth in the province (3.8%).
What's more, perhaps surprisingly, a 4.8% spending increase in the Ford government's first year is still faster than the rate of spending growth (on average) in the last three years of the Wynne government (4.4%). In short, [size=150]far from reforming and reducing spending, the Ford government in its first year is essentially maintaining the rate of spending growth that prevailed in the Wynne government's final years.[/size]
Unsurprisingly, this continued spending growth (relative to last year) means the deficit likely won't be going anywhere. Indeed, Ontario's deficit this year is projected at $14.5 billion — virtually identical to the pre-update status quo.
It's possible that when the spring budget rolls around the Ford government will change course and take meaningful steps to reform and reduce spending to quickly shrink the deficit. But rhetorical signals suggest not. Indeed, [size=150]last week's update explicitly says the government's approach to deficit-reduction will be "modest" and provides no indication of when it will commit to balancing the books.
[/size]
Thus, the mini-budget suggests, on deficits and spending, policy continuity will prevail. Remember, the Liberals also planned a very modest approach to deficit-reduction, based on trying to hold spending growth down (without ever cutting it) while hoping for revenue growth to close the gap for them.
This approach led to persistent deficits and rapid debt accumulation over the past decade. Its continuance will mean more of the same.
There's an old saying "if nothing changes, nothing changes." For the time being, the Ford government has not signalled a break with its predecessor's approach to spending and deficits. Until that changes, there's no reason to expect better results.