Ontario Politics

[maplesyrup]

Thank goodness there was a change in government in Ontario.

I know now where Peter MaKay can get the $800,000 he needs to enter the federal Conservative leadership race.

'Adviser to Eves left with $917,000

Buyout detailed in secret document

Liberal source says Eves' staff cut deal'

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=968350116467

'New Democrat MPP Michael Prue (Beaches-East York) said the sweetheart deal "shows that the rot was very deep within the Conservatives to have done that when they were leaving ..."'

Reading this article makes me realize all these labels we throw aroiund, with sweeping generalizations, aren't necessarily very useful. There are good people everywhere, whether they are Conservative, Liberal, NDP, right, left, or upsidedown. And some not so good.

All I know is that these government boondoggles, combined with tax loopholes, or tax avoidance schemes, and unfair taxation rates, have got to stop, so that our governments can do what they are supposed to do, for our Canadian citizens.

This is absolute nonsense, and hopefully the current Ontario government goes after him, and makes him return every cent, including interest, and costs involved to get the money back. This is a perfect example of why I beleve all governments, at all levels, should have their finances totally out in the open for everyone to see, unless it involves special circumstances like national security, defence, and privacy, such as healthcare information, etc.

Last Election Date: October 2, 2003

Latest Year for Next Election: 2008

Results of Last Election

Political Parties Popular-------Vote-------Seats Won----Status

Liberal Party --------------------46.5------72 seats ------Majority

Progressive Conservative ----34.6------24 seats-----Opposition

New Democratic Party---------14.7--------07 seats

Other------------------------------4.21

Edited January 7, 2004 by maplesyrup

[Neal.F.]

I've pointed this out before, but you prompted me to mention it again, when you posted those e;lection results.

4.21% for others.

Only two other parties ran enough candidates and did well enough to register that kind of support, to wit, the Greens, and the Family Coalition Party. All three established parties should be concerned about that. If both those parties had run a full slate of candidates (FCP ran 51 candidates) the percentage of "other" voters would have been even higher.

That combined with a low turnout, show there's an anger out there that says "a pox on both your houses!" some of whom still had enough faith faith in the system to go out and mark their ballot for the FCP or Greens in protest, though most stayed home. Cause for concern.

Both of those parti4es now have some results to show which will embolden their current forces, and artract new members. It would not surprise me if they could both win a coupl of seats next time around. The Liberals will muff things up so badly, and there will still be the odour of scandal left over from the PC regime, that it is possible.

The FCP had enough money to run radio ads in Ottawa (on CFRA and CHRI) and in Toronto on (CFRB and CJYE) From what I hear , they will have the money to do even more next time based on the encouraging results from this vote.

[maplesyrup]

Hi Neil.F.....I agree with you and all the more reason we need to bring in proportional representation ,so that the minorities, have some kind of representation. I believe that the Ontario liberals are committed to doing it, but we'll have to wait and see.

I remember living in Ontario and was stunned when Bob Rae and the NDP took power. Rae's government behaviour, by caving, and not sticking to their election platform, once they got elected, destroyed them, and also damaged the NDP right across the country for quite awile. I notice that they have not been reelected in Ontario since then.

I just don't know how the NDP does so well, as they have none of the media, or certainly not the mainstream media supporting them. They must be quite committed to their cause, much mores,o than any other group their size in the country. They probably have 10 times as many NDP supporters as the Liberals or the Conservatives because they don't have the money to compete with Bay Street. I very much respect Chtretien for the new electoral financing act - part of his legacy.

---------------------------------------------------------------

John Tory urged to join race to lead Ontario PCs

`The more the better': Flaherty

by John Benzie in today's t s

]

http://www.torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/Conte...ol=968705899037

Edited January 7, 2004 by maplesyrup

[Neal.F.]

I say mixed member proportional representation is the way to go.

As for the NDP, and how they win seats, 1990 excepted, they had brillaintly succeeded in building up a core of very strong ridings the majority of which they could deliver each and every election. Ditto for the Federal party. remember how in 2000 they held onto to party status despite geting 8% of the vote. In some seats they won by razor thin margins, such as in NYstroms riding in SK, hwere he held on by a couple hundred votes, Even Svend had his plurality cut to less than 2000 votes. Another Sask MP just held on as well, and Joe Comartin in Ontario won by a handful.

The secret is that in those core ridings they move heaven and earth to get every voter OUT to the polls. They have been known to drag in vanloads of known supporters 15 minutes before the polls close, that they just rousted out of the shower!