Ontario Budget 2014 -- Election

[Michael Hardner]

I think I saw an attack ad by the NDP where the centrepiece was an allegation that the Liberals are planning to privatize the TTC. I can't believe that's a good strategy because:

1 ) I don't think people care that much

2 ) There's no evidence that the Liberals want to do this, and in fact they have denied it

[Boges]

I think I saw an attack ad by the NDP where the centrepiece was an allegation that the Liberals are planning to privatize the TTC. I can't believe that's a good strategy because:

1 ) I don't think people care that much

2 ) There's no evidence that the Liberals want to do this, and in fact they have denied it

Yeah like truth matters in elections.

The ad was from a transit Union, not the NDP, but the NDP is accusing the Liberals of planning to do that. I wonder why Wynne isn't threatening to sue.

It's nice to hear Catherine Swift from the CFIB doing some attack ads on behalf of the Tories to counteract the deluge of Union ads attacking Hudak from Working Families.

[Michael Hardner]

Well, truth doesn't matter but there are degrees of ... let's call them 'untruths' ... that are so transparent as to make the claimant look desperate. Remember the Paul Martin ads that said something about Harper bringing tanks into the streets. Ridiculous.

[Boges]

I'm thinking Liberals didn't think it was desperate at the time. Remember HIDDEN AGENDA!!!!!!!?

I'm pretty sure HIDDEN AGENDA!!!!! will crop up from the Liberals in the next few weeks.

[Michael Hardner]

Well, to be fair Hudak is on record as being in favour of "right to work" so that isn't really hidden. Harper didn't propose martial law when he was in opposition. Edited to add: "Or banning abortion"

[Boges]

Well, to be fair Hudak is on record as being in favour of "right to work" so that isn't really hidden. Harper didn't propose martial law when he was in opposition. Edited to add: "Or banning abortion"

And Wynne is on record as favouring a hike in the HST and Gas Tax. She'll say she's opposed to it now, but giving her a majority is in essence an invitation to do that.

[Michael Hardner]

And Wynne is on record as favouring a hike in the HST and Gas Tax. She'll say she's opposed to it now, but giving her a majority is in essence an invitation to do that.

Most definitely. How else will they eliminate the deficit in 2 years ?

[Boges]

Thinking Wynne wants to eliminate the deficit! This budget increases the deficit!

Edited May 7, 2014 by Boges

[Michael Hardner]

Thinking Wynne wants to eliminate the deficit! This budget increases the deficit!

Only for two years when an economic boom wipes it out. What ? You don't believe ?

[Boges]

Only for two years when an economic boom wipes it out. What ? You don't believe ?

The Ontario Liberals can predict an economic boon? Aren't government's supposed to underestimate potential revenue?

[Argus]

John Baird, Tony Clement and Jim Flaherty made a very smart political shift to Ottawa. Jim is gone but Baird and Clement will soon be looking for a job. I do not believe that Baird has a chance at the Ontario PC leadership because he is gay and Ontario is not ready to elect (I said elect) an openly gay leader of a political party.. That leaves Clement.

You do know that Kathleen Wynne is openly gay, right?

Baird at least has a speaking voice, and a personality. He's very good in person, too, and very smart.

Tony Clement has all the personality of a mafia hitman, and no discernable charisma. The Tories would be nuts to elect him leader. Then again, they were nuts to elect Hudak leader. The only reason Hudak isn't polling at six percent is because of how thoroughly incompetent the Liberals have been.

[Michael Hardner]

Aren't government's supposed to underestimate potential revenue?

And people aren't supposed to use apostrophes on plurals.

If my Aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle... well, really my aunt with balls.

You get what you pay for.

Dance like no one is watching.

etc.

[Boges]

I love how a thread about the Ontario election has turned into a discussion about who should replace Tim Hudak as if the result isn't in question and he'll lose. Even though he's ahead in the polls.

[Boges]

And people aren't supposed to use apostrophes on plurals.

Grammar Nazi-much?

Edited May 7, 2014 by Boges

[Topaz]

Probably like so many Ontarians, I'm totally confused as who to vote for by the time I get done reading everyone's views. So here's my question....since its been the Liberals and the Tories, especially the Tories, that have had more time governing this province and have added more to the debt, besides the Libs, what's wrong with the NDP? They had had only one chance at governing and yes like all governments, they have made mistakes along the way but what's wrong with NDP?

[Boges]

Probably like so many Ontarians, I'm totally confused as who to vote for by the time I get done reading everyone's views. So here's my question....since its been the Liberals and the Tories, especially the Tories, that have had more time governing this province and have added more to the debt, besides the Libs, what's wrong with the NDP? They had had only one chance at governing and yes like all governments, they have made mistakes along the way but what's wrong with NDP?

THIS Liberal Government has DOUBLED the provinces debt in 11 years. They've also DOUBLED the budget. Don't put the Harris Conversatives or the 30 years of un-interupted rule like 30 years ago in the same boat.

I want to see the NDP do well, only because it means the Liberals will do badly. But they're just looking to spend even more money. At least the NDP aren't so punitive. the Liberals are the worst of both sides of the spectrum. They love spending lots of money but they also love taxing middle-income earners to death.

[Michael Hardner]

Grammar Nazi-much?

Ya !

[John]

I can't believe how many people I speak with are voting Liberal because they think Wynne is a "nice" lady. They say they don't care about the deficit because "that's the way governments do it."

The apathy is so stunningly demoralizing.

People just don't care.

[Big Guy]

...

They had had only one chance at governing and yes like all governments, they have made mistakes along the way but what's wrong with NDP?

Nothing is wrong. If they can convince enough Canadians that their policies are different from and better than the others then they might win. There is an interesting interactive comparison of party platforms in the Toronto Star;

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/05/06/interactive_where_parties_stand_on_key_ontario_election_issues.html

[Michael Hardner]

People just don't care.

The people who demand fiscal responsibility are inevitably the ones who "win" under the system, so maybe it's not a surprise that the masses don't care. We don't have a "public", we have masses. People don't see public costs as their problem, and it's part of the disenfranchisement that people talk about.

[Icebound]

Ontario is fooling itself if it thinks the books can be balanced without some "austerity". This Liberal government has ballooned government to such a point that they're actually raising taxes AND increasing the deficit in this past budget they proposed.

Oh, I don't know....... GM managed to write off billions in debt and resurface happily on the other side.

Why can't a public entity do what private enterprise does all the time?

....

[Boges]

I think many would disagree that GM resurfaced happily.

The Ontario budget is double what it was when the Liberals took over. That's an offensive increase in spending.

[WWWTT]

I think I saw an attack ad by the NDP where the centrepiece was an allegation that the Liberals are planning to privatize the TTC. I can't believe that's a good strategy because:

Never stopped the liberals and conservatives attacking the NDP.

Yeah like truth matters in elections.

Good!

Bout time someone started standing up to the corporate mouthpieces!

You know what they say about pay back!

WWWTT

[Topaz]

What about the PC's, Hudak says he's going to create a 1 million jobs...yeah right. How many here believe that? He is talking about jobs because the feds have used that for 7-8 years and more foreign workers have gotten jobs than Canadians, so can he do it and IF he could they would probably be part time. If he can't win he's out of a job himself, so he has to promise anything and everything!

[John]

Maybe it won't be a million but...hands down...PC policy will see more private sector job creation than either NDP or Liberal. More public sector jobs are not what we need.