Question 1:
What do you like about the budget?
It gives the NDP leverage, at last. This head-in-the-sand government waited almost five months after the election (Feb. 29) before even setting up legislature committees. Whatever miracle they were hoping for did not happen. Now, they will have to admit they must negotiate. Refusal to negotiate should be presented as such arrogance as to be an affront to democracy. Paul Martin negotiated amendments to his budget. Is Dalton McGuinty less flexible and democratic than Paul Martin?
Question 2:What do you dislike about the budget introduced by the McGuinty government?
First, the shameful freeze on social assistance rates (including ODSP). Second, the dishonest claim that 20% of the deficit cuts -- $4.4 billion -- comes from increased revenues. Cancelling planned tax cuts is NOT increasing revenues. Amendments to actually increase revenues by $4.4 billion, including payments by corporations and the "1%" as well as the other planned real increases, highway tolls, and so on, would be only fair. Third, "a two-year wage freeze, with no incremental increases on the salary grid" for teachers not only freezes rates but takes away existing grid rights. Fourth, longer wait lists for long-term care, with 30,000 Ontarians already on long-term care wait lists, a false economy that leaves scarce hospital beds clogged.
Question 3:
Voting against the budget may force Ontario into an election. Would you support an election at this time?
Yes, if necessary. If we let them refuse to negotiate now, they never will. We should first insist on a process to negotiate changes. Refusal to even meet would be evident arrogance (see question 1.) The media should support the right of the legislative majority to request a democratic process. Then, we can move on to the specifics.
(Continued from thread #2):
http://rabble.ca/babble/ontario/austerity-coming-ontario-2