Who said Canadian politics was boring? Premier Dalton Mcguinty of Ontario resigned yesterday, in a rather unexpected move. He has been premier of Ontario for 9 years. I’ve had my beefs with him and his government the past year or 2, but no denying that a) he did bring in
Continue readingTag: Premier Dalton McGuinty
Cowichan Conversations: Will the Right Wingers Finally Be Set Back On Their Heels?
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Political Blogger If we were to judge the future political direction of Canada and the US based on recent political activity progressives should be clicking their heels with glee. So let’s see, in British Columbia the BC Liberals (Who are really Conservatives) are in meltdown with diminished
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Retired Administrator Sets The Record Straight
As he tries to appear tough for the upcoming byelections, Ontario’s self-proclaimed Education Premier, Dalton McGuinty, has been indulging in the kind of demagoguery that is an affront to critical thinkers everywhere. I was therefore pleased to read this article by Tom Roden, a retired vice-principal, attempting to puncture some
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: McGuiny Brings Out The Worst In Me
I readily admit to being a bit childish today. Contempt of premier brings out the worst in me. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Dalton McGuinty and the Ornge Scandal
As I recently observed in a post, Ontario’s Premier Dalton McGuinty has refused to testify before the legislative committee investigating the Ornge air ambulance scandal. Rather than try to help ferret out the wrongdoing that has cost Ontario taxpayers untold millions, enriched the accounts of high-placed Ornge executives, and engendered
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: We Have A Responsibility
As we go about our daily lives, the majority of us, I suspect, share a hierarchy of concerns ranging in priority from the health and well-being of our loved ones, to ourselves, and to our fellow humans. It is probably the latter than many of us pay only lip service
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: That Man Behind the Curtain
While I strongly believe in being critical of unions when their behaviour warrants it, I am steadfast in my belief that they serve a vital role for the working person, which, essentially, is all of us, at least until retirement. I therefore must disagree with those who claim that the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Truth In Nature
A Facebook friend just put this photo up with the caption: This reminds me of Mr. McGuinty: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: One May Smile And Smile And Be A Villain
The above title, a quotation from my favorite Shakespearean play, Hamlet, is, I suppose, something of a truism in today’s age of cynical politics. Yet it was the line that immediately occurred to me as I read this story from today’s Star that reveals Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s refusal to
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Because ….
…..some animals are more equal than others, I guess. At least that seems to be the message in McGuinty’s Ontario.* *Doctors, teachers, and most other public servants need not apply. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Salvo Against Teachers
Just came back from a rather tiring two-hour plus bike ride against a head wind. Because I am too tired to write a lengthy post, and as a follow-up to yesterday’s entry, for those interested in what is going on with teacher contract negotiations in Ontario, may I recommend Martin
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Thwarting Democracy, Ontario-Style
I recently linked a post to a story from the Star detailing how Dalton McGuinty, Ontario’s Premier, has reported to his caucus the wooing of at least two more members of opposition parties in the hopes of securing the majority government denied to him by the electorate in the last
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: McGuinty Continues His Campaign To Subvert Democracy
Conservative MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill) said it proves McGuinty “will stop at absolutely nothing to make sure he brings this back into what he perceives is balance, which is a majority government for him. You can read the full details of this crime against the will of the Ontario electorate
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Who Looks More Dishonourable Here?
I suppose some would say it is simply canny politics on the part of Dalton McGuinty here, and that Elizabeth Witmer sold herself to the highest bidder. On the other hand, I hope the Premier’s strategy fails, and Kitchener-Waterloo elects an NDPer in the byelection. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Art of the Possible
People have to give Andrea Horwath full marks for putting into practice the famous quote by Otto von Bismarck: Politics is the art of the possible. Through her willingness to compromise during negotiations with the McGuinty government, not only has she avoided an election that few wanted, but she has
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Sunday Reading Recommendation
For an insightful analysis of the choices facing both Andrea Horwath and Dalton McGuinty as they negotiate over changes to the Ontario budget that will win the support of the NDP, check out Martin Regg Cohn’s piece in today’s Star. As he points out, there is considerable risk for both,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Politics of Education
After I retired from teaching, my first blog was devoted to matters of education, including the institutional politics that frequently deform it. Now, more than five years into retirement, I spend most of my writing energies on this blog. However, today I would like to write a post in which
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Martin Regg Cohn On The Wider Implications of the Electro-Motive Debacle
So the first lesson of the London massacre: Ottawa must be vigilant about vetting foreign investment and retaining jobs, but also mindful of valuing — and anchoring — our homegrown intellectual property. Why underwrite our companies if we willingly sell off our embedded brainpower to foreign bidders who leave Canada
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Regg Cohn’s Thoughts on Catterpillar Inc.
I don’t have too much time this morning, but I highly recommend Martin Regg Cohn’s piece, which offers, amongst other things, a contrast between how long-serving Conservative Ontario Premier Bill Davis treated labour, and the current do-nothing philosophies of Dalton McGuinty and Steven Harper: The former Tory premier of Ontario
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: It’s time to step on a Caterpillar, Premier Mcguinty
I was reading a column that Martin Reg-Cohn wrote yesterday on the continuing saga in London where as those who’ve followed it know, Caterpillar has locked out it’s workers in a draconian effort to get them to slah their wages by half – this as the CEO earns a million
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