Raising Taxes for the Health Care Premium

[Keepitsimple]

We've all seen Mr. McGuinty in commercials and in interviews - wringing his hands and saying that raising taxes was the toughest decision he ever had to make - but he had no choice because he was faced with a "surprise deficit" of over $5 billion. Read the attached CTV news article and see what you think of Mr. McGuinty's integrity. He quite clearly knew about the deficit and how large it was. Many people refuse to accept this as fact. Yes, leaders often have to make "tough" decisions that force them to change directions - and it can result in a broken promise...but when you make a promise with absolutely no intention of keeping it, then I think you'd have to call it something else.

Link: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...064243608889_5/

Ontario fiscal report at forefront of election

Updated Mon. Sep. 22 2003 3:23 PM ET

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- The issue of fiscal responsibility was brought to the forefront of the Ontario election campaign Monday -- the day before a televised leadership debate that's expected to help voters decide who they'll choose to lead the province.

Both the ruling Conservatives and the Liberals, who were favoured in a recent poll to come out on top in the Oct. 2 vote, were criticized in a Fraser Institute study released Monday as failing to give any answers to a provincial deficit that's projected to reach $4.5 billion in the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

The study drew immediate criticism from the Liberals and Tories, while NDP Leader Howard Hampton accused Premier Ernie Eves's government of digging Ontario into a deeper hole.

The study by the independent think-tank gives a $4.5-billion deficit estimate for the fiscal year ending March 2004 and says it will continue to grow for the next three years.

It also says that the election platforms of both the Tory and Liberal parties would only worsen the deficit, leading to at least $23 billion in extra government debt over the next four years.

Campaigning in Toronto, McGuinty insisted the Liberals would not run a deficit, and that the party's platform is based on prudent forecasts that won't force him to raise taxers.

Edited September 23, 2007 by Keepitsimple

[M.Dancer]

There should be two kinds of expenditures. Essential and luxary.

There are alot of other progammes that could be cut or axed before taxes go up or Health services are trimmed. I am thinking specifically of Arts funding and tourism initives. These areas should be the responsibility of either the consuming public or the operators.