This and that for your Thursday reading. – Duncan Cameron writes that democratic socialism can produce a fair economy for everybody. And the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives puts the possibilities in concrete terms with its alternative federal budget. – Armine Yalnizyan argues that it’s long past time for a
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Accidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how public enterprises (such as Crown corporations) and a heritage fund should both be part of a general plan to build social capital – and why the Saskatchewan Party’s deference to business stands in the way. For further reading…– Stefani Langenegger reported on yesterday’s impressive rally in support
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how public enterprises (such as Crown corporations) and a heritage fund should both be part of a general plan to build social capital – and why the Saskatchewan Party’s deference to business stands in the way. For further reading…– Stefani Langenegger reported on yesterday’s impressive rally in support
Continue readingScripturient: Saunderson shirks his responsibility to taxpayers
The town’s budget is by far the single most important thing elected officials have to manage. It’s complicated, affects everyone in town, reaches into every department, ranges through services, user fees, and ultimately determines the quality of life for everyone here. It is the one thing that demands the full
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: Ontario government spending grows. But the deficit falls like a stone
Yesterday’s third quarter report from the Ministry of Finance indicates that their estimate of the deficit for 2016/17 fiscal year has fallen by $2.4 billion — from $4.3 billion to $1.9 billion. This despite the announcement of another $223 million in new spending increases for 2016/17. If you recall, the
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: Ontario government spending grows. But the deficit falls like a stone
Yesterday’s third quarter report from the Ministry of Finance indicates that their estimate of the deficit for 2016/17 fiscal year has fallen by $2.4 billion — from $4.3 billion to $1.9 billion. This despite the announcement of another $223 million in new spending increases for 2016/17. If you recall, the
Continue readingScripturient: Budget Bullshit
The first question you have to ask after following Collingwood Council’s sloppy and inept budget process is “Where did the money go?” Then the second question you have to ask, “Are they really that dense?” Yes, but let’s start with the first question. Back when he promoted dismantling the water
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Serious Questions Remain as York School Board Trustee Steps Down
(York School Board Trustee Nancy Elgie Tenders Her Resignation via Youtube) Yesterday York Region District School Board [YRDSB] Trustee Nancy Elgie told her constituents via a Youtube video that she would be stepping down as a Trustee, months after uttering a racial slur by “mistake”. In the almost 10 minute
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On non-solutions
Tammy Robert thoroughly documents how Brad Wall’s billion-dollar deficit has nothing to do with either resource revenues (being Wall’s primary excuse for blowing up the budget), or public services (which are his first target for attacks): I can’t consider the way the Saskatchewan government has handled the prospect of streamlining public
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: The end of provincial public sector austerity in Ontario?
The experts appointed to review the claim by the Auditor General that the surpluses in the teacher and civil servant pension plans cannot be counted as government assets have reported. Importantly they have sided withthe government and against the Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk. Lysyk’s pension surplus accounting policy required the
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: The end of provincial public sector austerity in Ontario?
The experts appointed by the Wynne government to review the recent claim by the Auditor General that the surpluses in the teacher and civil servant pension (Read more…) cannot be counted as an asset to reduce the provincial government’s debt and deficit have reported. Importantly they have sided withthe government
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: The Circus That Is Our Unaccountable Education System Coming to A School Board Near You
(Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne Likely To Read From A Blank Book On School Board Accountability) Over the past few months, the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) in Ontario has been embroiled in controversy surrounding governance, accountability, and racial tensions. The governing Liberal Party of Ontario promised to get to
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ministry’s Hands Are Tied On The Racial Slurs Of Trustee Elgie
(The York Region District School Board Acted To Protect Trustee Nancy Elgie From a Code of Conduct Review) This week has been a very tough week for the York Region District School Board (YRDSB). After Tuesday’s emotional meeting with parents, and bizarre apology for racial slurs by Trustee Nancy Elgie,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Scott Sinclair offers his take on what we can expect Donald Trump to pursue in renegotiating NAFTA, and points out that while there are some options which might boost Canadian manufacturing and other sectors, it’s also possible that matters could get far worse
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Head Injury to Blame For Racial Behavior At York Region District School Board
(York Trustee Nancy Elgie Blames Racial Slurs on Head Injury as Public Calls for Her Resignation Grow Louder) The scandal ridden York Region District School Board met with emotional parents Tuesday night. Many parents in York Region are concerned about the level of accountability the York Region District School Board
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading. – Owen Jones highlights the need for social democratic parties to present a real popular alternative to neoliberal government, and offers his suggestions as to how UK Labour can accomplish that: Political leadership means saying, here’s what’s wrong with society, here’s what our vision
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Lana Payne points out the significance of even central bankers like Mark Carney recognizing the desperate need to combat inequality. And Iglika Ivanova discusses how British Columbia’s election-year surplus represents a wasted opportunity to start addressing the social problems which the Libs have
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Branko Milanovic highlights the futility of pretending that market mechanisms will produce anything other than profit-oriented outcomes – and the observation represents an obvious reason not to put public services in corporate hands. And David Sloan Wilson (in introducing an interview with Sigrun
Continue readingDefend Public Healthcare: Ontario deficit cut over $5 billion in one year as revenue rolls in — but who will benefit?
The government’s unaudited financial statements for 2015-16 have been released (in lieu of the Public Accounts) and the deficit is down another$700 million from the last government estimate. Combined with earlier reductions, that means they came in with a deficit $3.5 billion less than they originally budgeted for 2015-16 in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Into the dark
Apparently provincial finances have joined monthly job reports as areas where if there’s nothing to be spun in the Saskatchewan Party’s favour, Brad Wall is making a concerted effort to hide what’s going on from the public. (Go on, just try to find the government’s monthly jobs release containing this
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