Preparing for the political posturing
Ahhhhhh! Spring is in the air. The snow has finally made it’s exodus and cabin fever is driving Windsorites out of doors to enjoy the sunshine, prep their gardens and haul out their patio furniture.
What better time to hold an election?
Purely coincidentally, I have just finished readin Terry Fallis’ “The High Road“, his followup novel to his Canada Reads winner “The Best Laid Plans” (both available as podcasts - click the links)
These novels were written for me. Political humour centred around Ottawa’s Centre Block, with the surprise election of a member of parliament (like CBC’s “The Backbencher” - whoda thunk our government would make such interesting entertainment fodder?) shaking things up in the House of Commons. What could be better? The amazing aspect of “The High Road” was its storyline focusing on Canada’s infrastructure deficit. In the book, following the surprise collapse of the Alexandra bridge joining Ottawa and Hull, protagonist MP Angus McLintock admonished ‘we didn’t slay our national deficit, we hid it in our rotting infrastructure. It is laying at the bottom of the Ottawa river’.
And then our government fell.
When nations are at war, one of the first targets an enemy will take out is a nations roads, bridges and water treatment plants. The lifeline of economies and culture. We’ve decided to take out our own through neglect and starvation.
So, you will (hopefully) be hearing candidates knocking on your front door asking for your support in the May 2 federal election. Determine your priorities ahead of time and prepare to make your voices heard. You may have realized what my priorities will be this election. What are our candidates proposing to do to help our cities?
How about permanent funding for infrastructure through gas tax fund ensuring stable and predictable funds for cities & towns?
How about a national transit strategy as espoused by FCM’s Big City Mayors caucus?
How about empowering municipalities to end homelessness and deliver affordable housing?
How about aiding municipalities struggling to keep up with increased immigration issues without overburdening their already suffering property tax base?
How about enlisting municipal governments in a national approach to clean air and climate change?
In the coming weeks, Scaledown will be preparing a brief questionnaire for our candidates in Windsor-Tecumseh and Windsor West. We wil be sharing them with you here, and I hope that you take them to heart when you cast your vote on May 2.
Post Feedback
We gotta questionaire going? awesome
Remember all this extra funding has to come from somewhere. When candidates talk tax cuts, I want to know where its coming from, likewise when they talk spending increases. Everytime I hear some whiner talk about taxes, I ask what programs would you see cut? Like wise when I hear someone say we need to fund this program I ask where will the money come from? I guess the whole “eat the rich” thing sounds good in theory but it aint gonna happen cause those rich people are mobile and will just move to where they’re taxed less.
Didn’t the Bronfmans take 2 billion out of the country and revenue canada rule they didn’t have to pay 7-800 million in tax in 1991? If you ever think those tax loopholes will be closed you’re dreaming. Simply mortgaging your building and defaulting on your mortgage would get the money out of Canada
when asking this of candidates please chase all who answer “the money will come from efficiencies and cutting waste” down the street yelling liar, liar, pants on fire.
You didn’t get the memo, Mark?
I see no party talking about any of the issues you mention
So far its about
1. f35 jets - not whether jets should be bought but simply how to tender
2. Coalition - an argument for idiots used by political opportunists. For those who don’t understand the Canadian system of government, A multiparty system will most always yield them at some point. That this is an issue speaks to how uneducated our populace is.
Will end up just taking up time and not influencing anyone as even though our electorate is uneducated, never underestimate their bullshit detectors
3. is anyone even talking about anything else?
How about Harper’s tax splitting for families - that will come into effect in 2015!!!!
Dunno guys. I think it’s been pretty interesting already, with some sensible policy such as the education stuff from the Liberals and the credit card interest rate limits from the NDP. I have no idea where the public is going to end up on this one.
The credit card promise exemplifies why I feel a 4th place party is useless. When you know you won’t ever be in a position of power you can say anything and not care about the ramifications.
Obviously I like the entire human race would like to pay lower rather than higher interest rates. However, the bubble the NDP lives in where there are no consequences to actions has reached absurd standards.
Ie.
1. did the NDP ever consider the amount of lower income people who would no longer be issued credit cards? Did they even consider this? So great, we end up with a 10fold increase in payday loans where interest becomes fees.
Dippers, be careful for what you wish for
How about this slogan. “The NDP, winning the battle regardless of losing the war”