Street Racing? Not in this province!

The Ministry of the Attorny General of Ontario says it is standing by its street racing laws which a provincial court ruling in Newmarket stated was unconsitutional. The law itself states that any driver caught driving speeds exceeding 50 km/hr over the speed limited will be considered street racing or stunt-driving. The provincial court had ruled that the six-month jail sentence that could accompany the charge, as well as up to $2000 in fines is considered unconstitutional by the courts because it does not allow the accused to present a defense.

I don't know if a agree with not allowing an accused to present a defense in this situation. This might well be unconsitutional because there are certainly circumstances in which a driver may be forced to speed. Perhaps its a medical or personal emergency that a judge or crown could hear, and determine that there was reasonalbe justification for speeding. At the same time, the number of deaths as a result of street racing is also a legimiate concern in which strict laws need to be in place. There needs to be a heavy deterent to speeding that will remind drivers that if caught speeding, they will be heavily fined and even placed in jail. While I don't agree with not allowing a defense, the deaths from speeding seem tragic when people are speeding for no reason. People need to remember they are driving 2 ton death machines that can end their life and the lives of others if they are careless behind the wheel.

Source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/streetracing/article/729505--ontario-stands-firm-on-street-racing-law

Tories storm out of legislature over HST

Today during Question period, the Ontario Progressive Conservatives marched out in an organized protest over the ongoing dispute over the proposed Ontario HST. PC leader Tim Hudak claims the protest is in response to Premier Dalton McGuinty's refusal to hold public hearings on the governments plan to merge the 8 % provincial sales tax with the 5% federal goods and sevices tax. Hudak claims that Premier McGuinty's refusal to have open hearings as an attempt to avoid customers who will have to pay this increased tax hike. The PC's have been forced to revert to such tactics as a strong Liberal majority renders their opposition to legilsation a little more than hopeless in effecting any real change.The organized protest move has been criticized by both the Liberals and NDP who beleive that if its accountability the Tories want, then the best way to get it is through the legislature.

I personally have mixed feelings over the whole HST situation in Ontario. On one hand I personally believe that taxes should be low, allowing hard earned money to be put back into the pockets of Ontarians. That being said, the HST is highly touted as a smart economic decision, a move being endorsed by the Federal Conservatives who promise signifacant investment into the Ontario transition to the HST. I feel that the Ontario government should be doing more to educate Ontarians about what this tax shift is, how it will effect them and why it is a smart move. Rather than making periodic releases of tax exemptions, Ontarians deserve the facts about what we are tying to accomplish. As for the PC's, I beleive they are truely representing the wishes of Ontarians, given this tough economic climate, who legitimately oppose a tax increase. However, it will be interesting to see what they do if they should gain power in 2011, perhaps the HST wont be so villifed at that point in time? Certaintly something to pay attention to!

Source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-storm-out-of-ontario-legislature-over-hst/article1374439/

Caledonia, what a mess

David Brown, before a Superior Court Judge report the horrors that occured to him and his family in Caledonia, Ontario as they were kicked from their home, harrassed, vandalized and scared for their lives as Mokawk Natives took over their property in the ongoing Caledonia crisis. Now Brown is filing a $7 million lawsuit against the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for failing to respond to the crisis. This is just one of many examples of the ongoing dispute between governments and Natives, more specifically the lack of response to the illegal cirgarette trades, armed take-overs of lands and blockade of bridges and pipelines through various locations throughout the province. A 2006 census, showed that 61 % of Aboriginals found illegal tactives effective, and predicted more of them in the future.

Now if one can take anything away from this ongoing crisis in Caledonia, it is that something more needs to be done before these manouvers by Aborginals increases the tension to a boiling point for Ontarians. The blame can be laid against the Aboriginals all day long, but the reality is that the failure to act by the Ontario government and OPP is ultimately what lead this to reach the point it has. I can agreatly sympathize with the Aborginal anger over how they have been treated by the Canadian and Ontario governments. It has been well documented that Aboriginal reserves enjoy a much lower standard of living, with water source being found unsuitable to drink, lower socio-economic conditions across the board and lack of effective response to high levels of violence on reserve the Aborginal peoples in Canada have much to be upset about. We can point to the free education and tax exemptions all day long as way of downplaying Aborginal claims of abuse, pointing to all that we've "done" for them. But the record shows that we just don't care enough about the Aborginals to really attack the problem at its root, which would be a much more extensive task than tax exemptions and pieces of land here and there.

On the other side of the issue, while i sympathize with the frustration of Aborginals the Ontario government and police cannot simply allow things like armed take-overs in Caledonia to occur. Allowing natives to threaten residences, pointing guns at them, vandalizing their homes, transporting weapons and illegal contraband from reserve to reserve is condoning the acts all together. We may be terrified to take action against the Aborginals, perhaps its guilt, or the knowledge of the consequences that would result. However if nothing is done, this feud will reach a point of no return and Ontario risks the possibity of war within its borders. If this happens the question will then be, whose really the bad guys?

Its not like Ontario needs $2 Billion anyways

Its being reported that one in two cigarettes smoked in Ontario is illegal a study of Canadian Taboacco Manufacturer's found, this is costing the Ontario approximately $2 billion in potential revenue. Ontario and Quebec represent almost 95 % of illegal tobacco trade in Canada, which is being attributed to the fact that a majority of Ontarians do not realize that purchasing illegal cigarettes is against the law. A majority of the illegal trade that is occuring is said to be originating in northern Native reserves, as well as reserves located close to the border which makes for easy sales south of the boarder.

I'm not sure how this is happening, and I'm not one to fight for the poor o'l tobacco companies that are losing money here. However, we could definitely use that $2 billion in tax revenue in Ontario. Even if this comes from a product that knowingly kills people, things .. they're pretty desperate in this neck of the woods. So if we don't crack down on this type of illegal trade, we might just be looking back at the good old days where tobacco giants ruled the tobacco world, selling poison, but at the end of the day, hey .. they paid their taxes.

Ontario students may have some extra free time

Approximately 200, 000 full time Ontario college students could be out of luck when it comes time to return to school next year. Talks have recently broken down between Ontario Colleges and the Ontario Public Service Employees, a union representing over 9000 teachers, librarians and counsellors. The unions are requesting a salary increase of 13 % over the next three years yet the Ontario College spokesman Rob Savage says this is an unmanageble request and the best they can do is an 8% increase over the next three years. The strike could start as soon as the end of the year and end who knows when?

I for one am completely sick of strikes in Ontario, if its not the drivers strike that is wreaking havoct on drivers and more importantly truckers across Ontario its now the potential holdout over an unmanageble request in wage increases. Are we really going to throw the education of our youth in Ontario into jeopordy over a strike that could last an months if not longer? People need to get their act together in Ontario and realize that in these tough economic times, making unreasonable demands for money, threatening the education of students is just plain selfish. I respect that they have a job to and should be paid for their valuable work, but sometimes i can't help but wonder if unions do more evil then good? Their record isn't looking to good as of late.

"Dalton Days" are coming

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced last week that the Ontario government may have to make cost saving actions that would require unpaid days of work by public servants. Many critics are skeptical over whether this will really happen, questioning the resolve of the government to pick fights with nurses, teachers and civil servents. Add in an up coming 2011 Provincial election and the prospects of "Dalton Days" seem unlikely for many. However with the largest deficit in Ontario history, Premier McGuinty seems determined to paint this as a "greater good" move. Appealing to private sector workers ravished by the economic downturn, claiming the considerable consistency the public sector as seen as a legitimizing means for unpaid work days.

If these "Dalton Days" do arrive then Premeir McGuinty can be rest assured that many Ontarians will be heading over to the Hudak camp to see whats up? I can sympathize with the need to cut cost given the economic downturn, but the prospect of ticking off nurses and teachers does not seem like a solid plan to me. Ontario seems to be getting hit from all different angles, with a faultering manufacturing sector, a major deficit and an ongoing ehealth scandal, rest assured if these "Dalton Days" do come, it may just be the last thing McGuinty does before Ontarians completely give up on him and his government.

Liberals hope to create more transparency

The Ontario government is hoping to get Bill 212 passed through legislature before the new year. The bill itself hopes to create more transparency in muncipal elections; the bill would limit total contributions corperations can make to $5000. The current limit is $750 per candidate but corperations can give money to as many candidates is it wishes. The government hopes to bring the same transparency and accountability to municipal elections via limits on contributions similar to what is seen Provincially.

I'm torn on the whole limiting political contributions, on one side of the issue I can appreciate what this intends to accomplish, by limiting contributions your preventing politicians from feeling any obligations to corperations who may give signification amounts of money. Politicians are suppose to appeal to the needs of their constitutions not big spending companies. However, does limiting contributions to candidates limit their capacity to campaign? What if some candidates who would serve well as a represenative are unable to afford running in an election? Political contributions are "in theory" intended to support candidates who can rally support and contributors to support their cause. Plus theres alway the correlation between election spending and electoral success. But I suppse in the end, limiting political contributions is the sacrifice we need to make to ensure everyone feels they are getting the most honest and fair representation from the reps.

1 Billion? Meh, why not a couple hundred million more?

Amid that ongoing scandal that has plagued the governing Liberals in Ontario, news reports out are claiming that another $236 million has been "quietly" put into the ehealth system. The money is being used to provide doctors with electronic records for their patients. The deal itself will only cover 5,700 of Ontario's 23, 000 physicians and will last over the next three years. This deal occurred despite Auditor General Jim McCarter's report showing that for the past 10 years free and loose spending, poor planning and sketchy records have put the electronic records system promised by 2015 into flux.

I'm getting pretty sick of governments in power, especially majority governments abusing their power. At the end of the day we elect representatives to the legislature to fight for our interests, they have a significant amount of control and deal with billions in taxpayers dollars. This entire ehealth scandal is yet another reminder of how a lack of accountability can cause many Ontarians and Canadians as a whole to lose faith in politicians. The lack of accountability by the McGuinty government is inexcusable, while the audacity to continue big spending amid a major recession is slap in the face of all Ontarians. The Liberals may feel they can act now, answer later but tephlon Don, er i mean Premier McGuinty better answer some tough questions quick, before Ontarians bring the heat come next election.

Ontario to run record deficit, what a shocker!

The Ontario government says it will run a deficit of approximately 24 billion dollars this year, the largest deficit in province history. Ontario has been hit the hardest of all provinces in Canada and has seen major reductions in auto exports, in which has been heavily reliant in the past. Overall the Ontario economy is expected to shrink 3.5 % in 2009, while economics expect economic rebounds to occur in 2010.

While i'm sure this is a great opportunity for opposition members of the legislature to jump on the Ontario government, one has to acknowledge that this economic downturn has been a global one, and something all of Canada is experiencing. Ontario seem particularily troubled due to its reliance on the auto sector, which needless to say hasn't been doing so hot. Ontario appears to be an a tough transition from a manufacturing centre in Canada, to a more knowledge-based province. This is a move that will cause a lot of problems in the short term, but I believe ultimately place Ontario in the mix as a global knowledge base.

However, I'm not going to let the McGuinty government off so easy, their reckless spending in this whole ehealth scandal, along with the new proposed "HST" tax seems to leave Ontarians scratching their heads as to where the money has been going. Factor in the fact that we are in a recession and I can't help but feel there is a lack of urgency in the governing Liberals, who seem a little to careless with our money.There needs to be more accountability, we pay taxes, we deserve to know where they are going!

Ontario sues big tabacco for $50 billion

It came to my attention today that the Province of Ontario is launching a $50 billion dollar lawsuit againts the big tobacco companies based in Canada, the United States and England. The $50 billion dollar sum is suppose to represent the cost that Canadian health care in Ontario has coughed up for smokers who needed treatment over the last 50 years. Those opposed to this lawsuit claim that it is a hypocritical act by the province that collects billions in tax revenue from tobacco companies. They also counter that the province should then go after alcholol and casinos who many consider detrimental to society.

I believe this lawsuit is fantastic; it is a real positive step in holding tabacco companies to account with our society. At the same time I acknowledge the potential problems this could bring about in our society. Those opposed to this lawsuit say it is a slippery slope and before long we will be suing compaines left and right in an attempt to pawn off or actions on others. I've considered this and have to admit I don't want to live in a US-style system where people can sue a McDonalds for mllions and win because they were scolded by an unnaturally hot pickle on their burger. The result of this case is yet to be seen. but its something to think about. Will this lawsuit open up Pandora's Box to a society where we relentlessly sue each other?

What if we look at another arguement that takes on responsibility of dealth and physical harm away from tabacco companies and places it on the individual. Many people argue that in this day and age, people are well aware of the health risks of smoking, and if they choose to smoke they must accept the consequence of their decision and not blame others. This arguement is fair, but what if we decide that because the adverse affects of smoking are so well know, that anyone who choose to smoke should forfeit their right to universal health care. If a smoker gets cancer as result of their smoking, rather than paying taxes on healthcare they have to front the entire cost of treatment. This is a controversial proposition but I believe that if people choose to kill themselves, we the tax payers shouldn't be forced to front the bill. This is especially true since the development of science has offered many opportunities for smokers to quit their addiction. Fair compromise or outrageous violation of individual rights? You be the judge.