YRDSB Chair Loralea Carruthers (right) Still Dealing with Massive Public Confidence Issues This past week there was much indecision at the York Region District School Board [YRDSB] on how to fill former Trustee Nancy Elgie’s seat, punting the ball in an unprecedented move to the people of Georgina. Trustee Elgie
Continue readingTag: Ontario politics
Mind 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 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 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 readingMind Bending Politics: Ministry Responds To My Open Letter To Minister Coteau
As many of you may remember I wrote an open letter to the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services Micheal Coteau regarding some concerns I had with the transition process, and with my son’s situation. I was hoping for a direct response from Minister Coteau instead I received
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Brace Yourselves, The New Ontario Autism Program is Coming
The Toronto Star recently sat down with the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services Michael Coteau to discuss changes being made to autism services in Ontario. A common theme is starting to emerge over the past few months since the announcement of the new Ontario Autism Program. The
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Why Is Premier Kathleen Wynne Misinforming Parents on The New Autism Program?
This question was asked by Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown in question period twice today, only to be asked by the speaker of the legislature to withdrawal the questions. Question I would like to pose; why is the speaker of the Ontario legislature shutting down completely legitimate questions to the government? This latest bought […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Are Ontario’s Service Providers Siphoning Money From Autistic Kids?
I’ve had several parents come up too me with their stories since last week’s post on my son’s situation. There seems to be a large number of fights and battles with regional service providers like Kinark across the province that manage services for kids with autism too get kids the services they need. It’s important […]
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pillaging The Public Purse: On Hydro One’s Privatization
I have written in the past on my strong opposition to Kathleen Wynne’s selloff of 60% of Hydro One. She has no mandate for this pillaging of the public purse, and no good reason for it except her politically and ideologically-driven obsession with balancing the budget before Ontario’s next provincial election. She will not be getting my vote.
Recently, Linda McQuaig wrote a column that came out strongly against this sale, offering an historical perspective showing the public good that accrues from public ownership of such a utility.
In today’s Star, readers offer their own insights on this issue, one that is likely a big contributing factor in the Liberals’ current poor showing in the polls:
Continue readingRe: The case against privatizing Hydro One, Opinion Aug. 4
What’s most disturbing about reading Linda McQuaig’s strong case against privatizing Hydro One is that it reveals clearly that Premier Wynne seems to be selling it for no worthwhile reason.
When 73 per cent of Ontarians disagree with the sale and she insists on it, then she is not serving the public will. Further, to trade off the long-term benefits of Hydro One for a short-lived infusion of cash for infrastructure is economically incomprehensible.
With this kind of foolish, arbitrary decision, which is symptomatic of the disconnect between the public will and its leadership, Wynne will certainly join the infamous ranks of other failed premiers of Ontario, such as Mike Harris and Dalton McGuinty, who also carried out their personal agenda while forsaking the common good of the electorate.
Pity the serious voters.
Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
Timing is everything. Currently, along with a several other Ontarians, I am particularly interested in the timing of the Ontario Liberals’ Climate Change Action Plan.Last Nov. 15, the Ontario Liberals privatized Hydro One when they sold off 15 per cent of the former Crown Corporation. Sad but true.
In April, they sold off another 15 per cent. The following month, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change let the world know that Ontario is moving away from natural-gas home heating. Some back-peddling followed. Shortly after that, the Liberals released their official Climate Change Action Plan.
It indicated their intention to move to a more electricity-based society. Once complete, Ontario is to have far more electric vehicles, electric charging hubs, electric home initiatives, etc.
In summary, the Liberals are moving Ontario to a more electricity-based society after privatizing our province’s transmission grid and largest local distribution company! That means Hydro One will now go on to make record profits and a huge amount of potential income is being stripped away from Ontarians.
But why? To balance the current Liberal budget and dangle some shiny gifts ahead of the 2018 election. All this at the expense of Ontarians.
The whole thing reeks of corruption. Just waiting for the smoking gun to be revealed. Timing is everything.
Joel Usher, Newcastle
Thanks to Linda McQuaig for detailing the long history of support in Ontario for a public monopoly on electricity — right up to today. The public instinct is right: it is best to keep this rare and valuable asset so that profits go back to our treasury, and to avoid the risk of the monopoly control falling into the hands of those who would maximize their returns at the expense of consumers and the environment.
Ms. McQuaig could have added that selling off Hydro One is a bad deal, as concluded by Ontario’s Financial Accountability Officer. After all, investors are not stupid.
They will not pay full price for the value of the future Hydro One profits they would get as minority shareholders, due to the risk, because key decisions affecting profits are taken by government. The monopoly is worth more to the government as the decision-maker.
If you must sell an asset, this is a particularly bad one to sell.
Kim Jarvi, Toronto
Politics and its Discontents: Pillaging The Public Purse: On Hydro One’s Privatization
I have written in the past on my strong opposition to Kathleen Wynne’s selloff of 60% of Hydro One. She has no mandate for this pillaging of the public purse, and no good reason for it except her politically and ideologically-driven obsession with bala…
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario’s New Autism Policy Not Going Over Well With Parents
(Ontario’s new autism policy lipstick on a pig, rather than implementing needed changes) With the Ontario Government announcing major funding initiatives over the past few months, it looks like autism services are not high on its priority list. Back in March, the Ontario government announced that it was going to do away with much needed […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario To Axe CCAC In $50 Billion Health Care Overhaul
(Nothing to see here: Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins Announces The Closure of Community Care Access Centres) The horror stories continue for the people of Ontario. Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced today that the government will be closing all Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) in favor of cost cutting measures, and moving the home […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on Autism, Teachers Unions, and More
(Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne Still Talking Down To Parents Not At Parents) Yesterday Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne appeared as a co-host on CFRB 1010’s drive time talk show, where she discussed a wide range of topics including the autism protests, ABA and IBI therapy and the fact that she has been listening to parents. […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario’s Education System in Crisis: Proactive Change Needed in Youth and Education Services
As a parent with a non-verbal autistic kid, one of my worst nightmares is to have to deal with a teacher that isn’t qualified to ensure the care of my child. We’ve been pretty lucky. The teachers and staff taking care of my son in the school system are extremely caring, professional and have been […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Behaviour Experts Call Wynne’s Autism Policy Destructive
Toronto, April 20, 2016 – The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has declared that as of May 1, Ontario will no longer provide Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) to children of five years and older. A group of nine Board Certified Behavior Analysts™ (BCBAs), who are practitioners and advocates for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder […]
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Andrea’s Damascene Moment
In the Book of Luke, Jesus is reported to have said the following:I tell you that … there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.In Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s conversion…
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals With Special Needs Weighs In On Ontario’s New Autism Policy
The Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals With Special Needs (OASIS) has just weighed in on the new Ontario Autism Policy. In a media release David Barber, President at OASIS stated: This new policy, if implemented the way it stands, sets children and their families back Barber went on to stay: Early intervention is crucial for […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Child Advocates Call Autism Policy A New Low For Ontario Political Ethics
TORONTO, April 12, 2016 /CNW/ – We should all aspire to a province where a child in need receives what they need, when and where they need it. We are not there yet. This has been clear in the government’s recent announcement to address wait-times for children with autism requiring critical service. I am aware that […]
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Annoyed Ontario Liberals and Wynne’s Autism Echo Chamber:
This blog will be dedicated moving forward to following the conversations and policy discussions about Ontario’s new autism policy. The discussions going on right now are a national ethical and moral issue and those across Canada should be kept up to date as much as possible. On Tuesday there was a very emotional rally at our provincial legislature […]
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