Queen's Park Politics

[Dr Nevergold]

^Most people aren't interested in politics at the level we are here in this discussion, so of course the memories aren't there for most issues.

[Pimpmasterdac]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

This, coming from the guy who a page or two ago blamed nigh everything on McGuinty?

Pot, meet kettle.

This, coming from the guy who a blamed nigh everything on the PCs, yet credits them for NOTHING?

Pot, meet kettle.
---
McGunity has done some good things. He stood up to Harper and the Feds when they wanted to screw Ontario out of their fair share of House of Commons seats, so whenever there is an increase (unless Quebec pisses and moans that they'll be less influential) we will get ~18 more seats.

He's complained about us getting robbed and raped with equalization and all these regional deals that end up coming for Ontario's contributions to the Federal treasury. While at least he acknowledges this, us becoming a have-not province under his watch isn't exactly inspiring.

[Dr Nevergold]

This election really is a referendum on the HST and Ontario's push toward Green energy. I think this can't be understated, because Canadians need to be aware that Green energy investments don't come cheap.

McGuinty's largest public policy changes really come from the restructuring of the tax code (HST tax simplification, which added a the provincial portion to energy both hydro and gasoline/diesel, while lowering some income tax rates and other areas). His green energy platform is among the most bold in North America, far more bold than anything south of the border. An aggressive push toward construction of wind farms, nuclear, and simultaneously taking out coal entirely. The funds for this push are coming from these higher taxes on adding the 'provincial portion' of the HST to fuels and energy.

Ontarians need to understand what is at stake: will Canada be a Green energy leader, stay with McGuinty - a proven record and guy who has spent serious political capital on this - or will they abandon the beacon of these programs in North America? McGuinty's leadership has been noted all over North America and indeed the world for shuttering coal and forging such bold plans.

Ontarians really do have a choice: to continue to lead, or show that they are easily coaxed by the do-nothing campaigns of tax cuts/spending cuts that Hudak is offering. Hudak has no plans, he just wants to buy votes, yet he supports the HST anyway...

The real question is if Ontarians are that gullible to be bought off and go so backwards. And who are these "Green" voters who won't vote for the Liberal party, which has been the most green party in North America. Dion spent the entire federal Liberal political capital on his Green Shift several years back, McGuinty has simultaneously been leading Ontario through a green revolution.

We aren't talking about platitudes or speeches, we're talking about a party at both levels of government that has put it's ass on the line and has spent it's political capital and actually done something.

I'm amazed Canadian Liberals actually have balls, because the American liberals certainly don't. I would be absolutely giddy if I were eligible to vote for McGuinty. The guy hasn't talked the talk, he's walked the walk and performed. Actions are far louder than words, and McGuinty is the greenest power player in North America, along with his friends in BC.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Brandon716

^Most people aren't interested in politics at the level we are here in this discussion, so of course the memories aren't there for most issues.

really? the question pertains to politics. I don't follow you...

Many of us were here, then.

[Dr Nevergold]

Drink fewer Molsons before you post next time...

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Pimpmasterdac

This, coming from the guy who a blamed nigh everything on the PCs, yet credits them for NOTHING?

Pot, meet kettle.

Wow, really original come back. How much time did you spend on that one?

And actually, I've never blamed the PC's for everything. The only thing I mentioned is that the left-wing parties are the ones who have done rather progressive things on the Federal level, while ALL parties have screwed over Ontario in the past, and Dalton's been doing an alright job, all things considered with the mess he inherited.

And do tell us then, what wonderful things the PC's have done for us?

McGunity has done some good things. He stood up to Harper and the Feds when they wanted to screw Ontario out of their fair share of House of Commons seats, so whenever there is an increase (unless Quebec pisses and moans that they'll be less influential) we will get ~18 more seats.

He's complained about us getting robbed and raped with equalization and all these regional deals that end up coming for Ontario's contributions to the Federal treasury. While at least he acknowledges this, us becoming a have-not province under his watch isn't exactly inspiring.

That's hardly the fault of McGuinty, let alone his party. Remember when the Liberals were first elected, they came out a week or two later and basically stated that the PC's left one hell of a financial mess for them, and they would not be able to fulfill many of their campaign promises. Then, the economy starts to sag, which didn't help matters any. It's also more or less a given that the policies of a decade ago are showing their effects today. That's why federal Liberal policies and spending cuts in the 90's helped us weather the 2008 recession better than most countries. In the 90's we were feeling the effects of Rae Days in Ontario, and now we're feeling the effects of the Harris/Eaves years. By 2020, we'll likely be feeling the effects of the Liberals, whatever they may be.

[SteelTown]

McGuinty promises refund if GO train 15 minutes late

Premier Dalton McGuinty is promising to go ahead with a proposal to give commuters in the Greater Toronto Area a refund if their GO Transit train is more than 15 minutes late.

The governing Liberals floated the $7-million trial balloon in June, saying they wanted to hear from riders before making a final decision.

McGuinty says if the Liberals are re-elected in the fall, the refunds will begin in 2012.

They will apply to trains that are 15 minutes late, not 20 as originally suggested.

http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/...5-minutes-late

[eternallyme]

Thing is about the green energy, 1 in 3 voters (at least) nowadays believe climate change is not happening and it is a scam. That is a more right-wing position than any major political party has in Canada. The environmental movement right now is on life support.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

The environmental movement right now is on life support.

Which is a sad state of affairs. This "scam" is only going to get worse and bit humanity in its collective ass. And I'll be there saying "we tried to tell you back in the 2000's, idiots".

[vid]

We're very self centred for worrying about it, though. It will devastate our economy, drastically change our way of life (it is already starting to do both) and then kill us off, but the earth itself will be fine, and the environment will find a new equilibrium once we're gone.

We're really just committing mass suicide. Ironic, as the PCs don't support the right for one to choose when one dies.

[Dr Nevergold]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

McGuinty promises refund if GO train 15 minutes late

Premier Dalton McGuinty is promising to go ahead with a proposal to give commuters in the Greater Toronto Area a refund if their GO Transit train is more than 15 minutes late.

The governing Liberals floated the $7-million trial balloon in June, saying they wanted to hear from riders before making a final decision.

McGuinty says if the Liberals are re-elected in the fall, the refunds will begin in 2012.

They will apply to trains that are 15 minutes late, not 20 as originally suggested.

http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/...5-minutes-late

Well, he's certainly shopping for the 905 vote.

[ForestryW]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Thing is about the green energy, 1 in 3 voters (at least) nowadays believe climate change is not happening and it is a scam. That is a more right-wing position than any major political party has in Canada. The environmental movement right now is on life support.

1 in 3 voters where? In Ontario? Where did you get that statistic? (only curious not skeptical)

[SteelTown]

One-metre bike buffer leads NDP election promises
By lee greenberg August 11, 2011 12:42 PM

TORONTO — Ontario’s New Democratic Party would make a law creating a one-metre buffer between cyclists and cars, party leader Andrea Horwath said Thursday in announcing her party’s environmental platform for the upcoming election.

The rule is part of a $60-million fund the party would create to help municipalities build bike lanes.

Horwath couldn’t explain how the one-metre law would work on narrower streets, where cars could in theory be forced into oncoming traffic to abide by the buffer.

When pressed, she said “common sense” would prevail.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/metre+b...#ixzz1UjxY3ubW

[Blitz]

The latest poll shows it's become a closer race between the PCs and the Liberals with the PCs still ahead.

It's a bit concerning that several high-profile Liberal MPPs have decided not to run again and the speculation is it's because they think the party doesn't have a chance to win.

Another issue with McGuinty is that he's not the most charismatic guy, and that's probably another thing that turns people off (though it really shouldn't matter).

[SteelTown]

Liberals promise to waive fees if document renewal takes too long

http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/...takes-too-long

TORONTO Ontario’s governing Liberals are promising to make it easier — and faster — to renew your driver’s licence or health card, The Canadian Press has learned.

If they win the Oct. 6 election, the Liberals plan to introduce a service guarantee to refund any provincial fees if people have to wait more than 20 minutes at a ServiceOntario outlet, sources said Thursday.

Under the proposal, the clock starts ticking when a person checks in at ServiceOntario. If that person isn’t called back to the counter within 20 minutes, all fees will be waived.

The guarantee would apply to any personal transactions at ServiceOntario, including applying for a birth certificate or changing an address.

It costs $74 to renew a licence plate sticker for a passenger vehicle in southern Ontario and $37 in northern Ontario, while fees for registering a newborn range from $25 to $35.

The Liberals also plan to allow families to change renewal dates for health cards and driver’s licences, usually each person’s birthday, so everyone in the family can renew their cards at the same time and “avoid multiple visits to ServiceOntario,” said one source.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by van Hemessen

1 in 3 voters where? In Ontario? Where did you get that statistic? (only curious not skeptical)

It was a Canada-wide poll done a while ago, but the numbers for Ontario are likely near the national numbers (since Quebec skews left and Alberta right).

[Blitz]

That's great about the Service Ontario time reductions but why the hell does it cost us $74 to renewal our license plates? When I lived in Manitoba, it cost me $8.

[Tibor420]

Kitchener Centre will definitely be going blue. The local celebrity weatherman is running Con and will get in on name recognition alone, even though Milloy's done a lot for the region. Ah well, **** happens....

[Richlord11]

This 40th Ontario general election will be very important for Ontario. I´m really looking forward to a day with big "D".

[Dr Nevergold]

What is a big D?