"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.