The Toronto Star just published an article I wrote in response to claims made by the Fraser Institute and the Toronto Sun that Ontario has a runaway debt problem worse than California’s. The short version: I call BS. The slightly longer version: California has constraints, such as limits on the
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Joe Fantauzzi: A Few Questions About Toronto’s Relationship With The Province
Since we’re in the midst of an election, I think it’s a good time to ask some ex istential questions about Toronto and its relationship with the province. [View the story “A few questions about Toronto’s relationship with the province” on Storify]
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: A Few Questions About Toronto’s Relationship With The Province
Since we’re in the midst of an election, I think it’s a good time to ask some ex istential questions about Toronto and its relationship with the province. [View the story “A few questions about Toronto’s relationship with the province” on Storify]
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Don’t Tolerate Ignorance About the Minimum Wage
Now, stop tolerating ignorance! And smile, TGIF. Hello. It’s Friday. For many people it’s TGIF. But for many people who aren’t even teenagers, the work week isn’t ending today. We often THINK minimum wage is for the new entries to the job market. Maybe it was one day. Maybe just
Continue readingTrashy's World: As O-Town doesn’t really have a Mayoral race to speak of…
… this political junkie has to find another one to follow and enjoy. And Toronto, the land of the crack-smoking, loud, obnoxious, and the tacky champion of all Torontonians with a sub 75 IQ, is the place to watch. Especially now that Olivia Chow is resigning her seat in the
Continue readingPolitical Eh-conomy: The mouse in the room: Small business fetish and the minimum wage debate
The scrappy mom-and-pop shop may be a nice image, but how well does it reflect the reality of employment? Small business may be neither as ubiquitous nor economically heroic as many people think. If this is the case, then perhaps the needs of small business should not figure as prominently
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: Time to get serious with distracted drivers
In March, the fine for being caught texting, talking on your cell phone, or tinkering with your MP3 player while driving will jump from $155 to $280 in Ontario. That’s better, but not good enough. Distracted drivers are a growing threat to everyone sharing the road – other drivers, pedestrians,
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: Collingwood’s municipal debt and 2014 budget
Tuesday, Council got a combined debt-and-budget presentation that set the stage for the upcoming, fuller 2014 budget deliberations starting next week. CAO John Brown gave us a recap of a report (produced by BMA Management Consulting) about the town’s debt situation and financial wellbeing. It was a mix of good
Continue readingcmkl: Hudak drops ‘right to work’ policy
CBC is reporting that Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak has dropped the mandatory representation, voluntary dues policy for union membership from his party program. It’s nice to know that he figures it’s so unpopular as to hurt his chances at being the next premier.
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Affordable Housing and Homelesness
This morning I gave a presentation to an church group in Ottawa on affordable housing and homelessness. My slides can be downloaded here. Points I raised in the presentation include the following: -Though government provides subsidizes to some low-income households for housing, it is important to be mindful of the
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: SUPPORT: Auto Unions in the US and Canada are on a Roll
With all the union busting and union bashing going on by the 1% and their compradors in government, it’s nice to see the labour movement getting some traction. The next few days in Tennessee and Ontario could move workplace democracy and the 99% ahead significantly, with thousands of new unionized
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Nora Loreto offers an important reminder as to why we contribute taxes to social well-being: (T)axes still pay for things we need. Everyone benefits from a universal system of healthcare. Everyone is touched by the birth of someone and nearly everyone will
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: Another Conservative Against Tim Hudak’s Right-to-Work Gambit? ( #pcpo #onpoli )
Well, at least he used to be. Like Dave Brister and John O’Toole, the Conservative candidate for Niagara Falls, Bart Maves, likely has some reservations about Tim Hudak’s desire to legislate “right-to-work”. Did he change his tune to avoid being dumped as a candidate? The Conservative Party of Ontario’s drive
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: Another Conservative Fears Tim Hudak’s Right-to-Work Gambit ( #pcpo #onpoli )
There’s another Conservative who’s worried about Tim Hudak’s right-to-work plans. The MPP for Durham, Conservative John O’Toole, believes that the Conservative Party’s plan to introduce right-to-work legislation could cost them an election. See previously, Tim Hudak’s Right-to-Work Gambit.
Continue readingThe Liberal Scarf: PC candidates and MPPs flee from Hudak’s leadership
Hudak is down two candidates, with his candidates in Hamilton Mountain and Hamilton East-Stoney Creek resigning. This of course, comes hot on the heels of PC candidate Dave Brister getting the boot for standing up for his constituents and standing up to Hudak and his reckless “right to work for less” schemes,
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: Tim Hudak’s Right-to-Work Gambit ( #pcpo #onpoli )
It would appear that the Ontario Conservative Party’s support for right-to-work legislation is costing them support and costing them candidates. Ontario Conservatives are concerned how the labour policy messaging is looking. Forum — grain of salt alert — shows support for the Ontario Conservatives down. You can read the Wikipedia entry to
Continue readingPolitical Eh-conomy: The political aspects of the minimum wage
Discussion of the minimum wage can easily slide into a technocratic back-and-forth that ignores the vital political aspect at play. We can see this in much of the response to the report just released by the Ontario government’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel (MWAP). Andrew Coyne, for example, once again argues
Continue readingThe Progressive Right: Ontario Liberal Party Accrediting Bloggers to #OLPAGM? ( #OLP #onpoli )
I have inquired as to whether the party will be accrediting bloggers to the 2014 Ontario Liberal AGM on March 21-23. If I hear anything, dear readers, I’ll let you know and update this post accordingly. I will be attending the AGM as a delegate and will be tweeting /
Continue readingThe tar sands—our climate change nemesis
While Neil Young very publicly feuds with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and its ally the Canadian government, tar sands production continues to systematically advance Alberta’s position as the country’s pollution province. Already producing more greenhouse gasses than Ontario, despite having less than 30 per cent of its population,
Continue readingJoe Fantauzzi: Good Reading: Paisley Rae On Really Engaging With Toronto Politics
Toronto’s municipal election campaign is officially underway. When it is all over on Oct. 27, 2014, several school board trustees, 44 councillors and one mayor will be elected. Paisley Rae has written a poignant post pressing Torontonians to ask important questions about needs in the city and whether it is reasonable
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