The title of my post today, taken from Act Five of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, occurs in a graveyard. Hamlet begins musing on what may become of one’s earthly remains, as even those of the most exalted in life, once their remains have fully decayed, may wind up as little more than
Continue readingTag: ontario premier dalton mcguinty
Politics and its Discontents: Thomas Walkom’s Perspective on Teacher Unrest
On this blog I have written periodically about unions in both a favourable and a critical light. I have argued both for their necessity to mitigate the depredations that employers are sometimes given to, and I have pilloried them when cronyism or ma…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Lying Politicians
Given the level of odium in which the public holds politicians, the title of this post probably seems redundant. However, it is also appropriate given an article written by Lawrence Martin yesterday and a not-so-surprising revelation made in today’s Toronto Star. First, Martin’s article, published yesterday in iPolitics, posits that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pick On Someone Your Own Size, Premier McGuinty
Much rhetoric has been uttered of late about the need for everyone to ‘share the pain’ as Ontario’s McGuinty government attacks the provincial deficit in a manner that many think is counterproductive, stripping away teachers collective bargaining rights being but one example. However one may feel about such moves, those
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: McGuinty’s Magical Thinking
“We’ve been through tough times before. This is one more.” At his leadership review yesterday, that was Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s rather understated response to his recent string of political misfires, misfires that include his costly efforts to win seats in the last election by shutting down two gas-fired power
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Smiling Face of Dalton McGuinty
… one may smile, and smile, and be a villain— At least I am sure it may be so in Ontario. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Inconvenient Truths for the Corporate Sector
Given that recent reports have helped to puncture the myth of job-creation benefits arising from corporate tax cuts and corporate welfare, I was pleased to read Martin Regg Cohn’s article in this morning’s Star. Entitled NDP leverages vote results to pressure big business to create jobs, the article discusses the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Salutin On Teacher Unions
We seem to be in the constant throes of anti-union sentiment during a time they are most needed. The right wing, including Ontario Conservative leader young Tim Hudak, seems to be especially enamored of the phrases “union bosses” and “workplace democracy,” both thinly-disguised anti-union euphemisms. And now that teachers are
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Embargo On Ideas In The Offing?
One of the pleasures of my retired life is getting together for coffee on a regular basis with my friend Ray, a retired vice-principal and one of the rare ‘good-guys’ of administration that I encountered in my life as a teacher. When we meet, we discuss a range of topics,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Uncommon Wisdom From The ‘Common’ People
That is the best way to assess the fact that last night, despite all of his gerrymandering, Dalton NcGuinty was decisively thwarted in his ruthless drive for the majority government he had been denied in the last general provincial election. Thanks to the people of Kitchener-Waterloo, both he and the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: McGuinty’s Gambit Fails
At least I can sleep well tonight. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Dalton McGuinty: A Man Running Or On The Run?
I have to admit, I find the imagery extraordinarily pleasing. Like a man on trial for criminal offences entering the courthouse via an underground passage to avoid the media glare, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty stole through the back door during a Wednesday evening stop at the campaign headquarters of Liberal
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Thursday’s Ontario Byelections
Compelling reasons to hope that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty does not secure his majority government via Thursday’s byelections: The Ornge scandal, and his refusal to appear before the Legislative committee to explain his role in it. The $180 million taxpayers are on the hook for because McGuinty cancelled the gas-fired
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