I have to give credit to the Ontario Liberal Machine (and that includes the leftwing media) for how they successfully stoke fear and manipulate voters.
And the renewed assault began right after the PCPO voted in favour of keeping Tim Hudak on as leader.
Martin Regg Cohn, one of the Star’s most left-leaning columnists IMHO, made a not so-subtle reference to the old Harris canard:
Delegates demanded that the road to renewal means returning to the party’s roots. Does that mean the next campaign be driven by core conservative policies that appeal to bedrock supporters but bypass Ontario’s mainstream? Significantly, Hudak gave a gushing shout-out to former premier Mike Harris in the front row, whose Tory government “did what it said it was going to do.”
Hudak may yet remake himself as a kinder, gentler leader. But if his party pulls him in the opposite direction, Ontarians will notice the disconnect.
And Education Minister Laurel Broten is also stoking the Fear Fire:
“It seems that Tim is turning very much to the right. I think that’s something Ontarians should be very concerned about,” Broten said.
[Well it wouldn't be hard to go a little 'right' when the Liberal Party is so far 'left'.]
But the strategy is brilliant. Keep the PC party from actually offering a conservative alternative. Then Ontario votes for the real Liberal party instead of Liberal-lite.
What Ontario needs right now is a party that puts principles ahead of politics. A party that focuses on what really will get us out of this fiscal hole Dalton threw us in.
Give Ontarians a real alternative. Stick to the basics. Be genuine.
Let’s just try it this once. Nothing else has worked so what have we got to lose?
And you just never know. Ontario voters may just live up to the expectation that they are smart enough to see through the Liberal hype.
* * * *
Tuesday Update
Keynesian meltdown – Terence Corcoran:
The McGuinty Liberals cannot be expected to admit that the massive stimulus balloon — which began with a $19-billion deficit in 2009-10 and has since expanded to an $80-billion-and-climbing monster that appears to be beyond control — has been a misguided disaster carried out under the influence of the finest economic minds in the country, if not the world. If a U.S. President can go crazy with US$1.5-trillion deficits, why shouldn’t the Premier of Canada’s largest province ring up $100-billion in deficits?
Ontario Liberals still avoiding their deficit diet – Scott Stinson:
If they are indicative of anything, the changes announced Monday are another sign that the McGuinty government is going to wait as long as possible before announcing initiatives that might anger anyone other than a small group of stakeholders. So far, the Premier and his Finance Minister appear ready to only go after the lowest of low-hanging fruit.
Like I said in my last two posts — the PC Party needs to head right into their hype. Embrace the past. Refute the lies and exaggerations. Then, the Liberals won’t know what to say. Guess who is behind this? A certain war room guru.
Well, the PCs need to stop acting like cowards and stand on principle. The PCs also need to the Liberals on how far left they really are and that to be right of them is exactly where Ontario should be.
The fear mongering didn’t work in 1995 and 1999. The Ontario PCs have to remember that and embrace their conservative roots.
Remember, it is ALL about politics and it is not called a blood sport for nothing.
The PCs should have anticipated what would happen after the leadership vote. That is where the current PCs are different from the Harris team — who would have been ready with their own spin.
We are now fighting for Ontario and that means fighting just as dirty as the other guy. For if we don’t, the average voter will only read and here what the Liberal establishment wants them to hear.
Sigh!
I only have so much energy. I will watch and see what happens in the next few weeks. If not much, I won’t be writing any more about the Ontario PCs, one way or the other.
I hear you Sandy. It’s all so frustrating.
Yeah, this isn’t a contest for Mr Nice Guy, we have a fight on our hands.
It’s not going to be a cake walk to work with the spoils of McGuinty’s romp in the province we live and pay taxes in, even IF the opposition does it’s job, gets together and sends him packing.
Don Drummond may be torn as he tries to make it look like the mess is something that can be sorted easily, he’s a Liberal working with and for Liberals. We could in the end be bigger losers than we already are for repeatedly, stupidly electing McGuinty on one issue.
Have you heard Andrew Breitbart who explained how he became a conservative in a liberal surrounding and explaining the university professors indoctrinating students into their way of thinking and of course the media?
Check
VIDEO: Andrew Breitbart on the need for conservatives to fight back
VIDEO: Andrew Breitbart talks to Brian Lilley in Washington about the Occupy movement
http://blogs.canoe.ca/lilleyspad/?s=Breitbart
Dalton or any liberal for that matter can walk on water just as long the media is at the bottom preventing them from sinking. Soon, those reporters will drown with the weight of Dalton’s heavy burden of lies taxes and ‘have not’ province.
Hudak blew it
He did not have the [deleted] to take out Dalton
No hst reduction
No economic policy
No spending reduction
No public sector tough medicine
He and the PCs stand for nothing just like the liberals
Until they get a leader with [deleted] and a conservative platform they are not going to win
Comment slightly edited by Blog Admin.
Every Conservative has their own idea of what ‘is’ a conservative platform.
Who ‘is’ conservative enough.
Hudak gained seats.
Identify the who and why, and work hard to increase the gains.
And for gawd’s sake, aim for getting off equalization.
Getting rid of equalization altogether would make provincial politicians more responsible about how they spend.
agree Liz J, Manitoban politicians need the same treatment of getting rid of equalization.
post stuck in filter in response to Liz J. 12:23
we already know the who and why’s re: where Hudak gained seats. It’s small/rural Ontario (Conservative with a smattering of NDP in the far north), vs. Urban Ontario (Liberal land with a smattering of NDP).
Re: Equalization – that quest started under Mike Harris (remember Sandy?) and continues with McGuinty. If Hudak’s on-side with McGuinty in that it doesn’t help him stand apart from the Liberals much.
Harris increased health care funding faster than McGuinty, despite having billions slashed from Chretien/Martin in transfer payments. The manufacturing sector increased dramtically when Harris put in place lower taxes, incentives, and easier regualations. The unemployment rate dropped under Harris, grew under McGuinty.
After cleaning up Bob Rae’s fiscal mess, Harris delivered a balanced budget every year he was in office. Former McGuinty finance minister admitted the PC’s did in fact balance the budget their last full year in office.
The number of people on welfare also dropped, as more people were able to find work under better economic conditions implemented by Harris. The comparisons between Harris and McGuinty are endless, and Harris comes out on top every time. I’ve long been asking for the PC’s to endorse the Harris years, and am happy to see they finally are going to get things right (pun intended).
Under Mike Harris I never questioned what it meant to be an Ontario Conservative (notice I didn’t say “progressive”).
That I now don’t know is why I can’t get behind Hudak just yet in a big provincial way. Locally, we’re Conservative and for now that’s how I have to judge things because so there’s not much to help figure out what being an Ontario Conservative means. I’m not alone on this.
I can tell you one thing. I’ve never been “progressive” at all. I started out as an NDP supporter and went Conservative because of Bob Rae. In politics, for me there is no mushy progressive middle-of-the-road. It’s either one or the other.
Ontario FinMin crying that Ontario isn’t getting their ‘fair share’ of equalization.
Just makes me want to scream!
Why is the most populated province in Canada receiving Equalization?
Why is Ontario draining ‘resource generated’ cash from the West while sitting on a gold mine of their own resources, yet REFUSING to exploit them?
McGuinty drags the PCs and Dippers into the conversations he can win, unions, teachers, nurses etc. do these people even vote PC?
I think it’s a safe bet to say “unions, teachers, nurses etc..” don’t vote PC, certainly not in large numbers.
Maybe Ontario can get some tips on whining from Quebec, a province on perpetual dole/equalization from the ROC while they concentrate on separation, early retirement and more benefits from the ROC even though they are rich in resources.
Ontario is rich in resources but is swimming in debt because of bad management, excessive spending and taxing itself out of business. Now they’re reduced to the blame game, they’ve taken it to the Federal Conservative government as we might expect.
McGuinty has left a huge gap for Hudak to fill,
good old common sense … which is always to the right of a Liberal government.
The center is to the right of this McGuinty (and REDford) government.
Exactly!
Mike Harris actually fought for equalization, so I’m thinking that for Hudak it might be a non-starter as well.
What rhymes with “positivity”?
Of course; progressitivity, as in Progressitivity Conservative Party.
…-
“Hudak promises more positivity after leadership review
CTV.ca”
Richard Ciano elected as Party prez.
Yes! Now you’re talking.
O/T,but somewhat related..how do you fight the outright partisanship of msm and their hatred of conservatism..and their EXTREME hatred of anything PMSH does/says etc.Even on the call-in shows,they allow any kind of filth to air,if it portrays this Gov’t in a negative light..no matter what kind of lie it is,yet,majority of media will cut off any caller that voices praise.EG: just this morning,I was horrified to hear caller to Mark Sutcliffe on cpac speaking of the trade mission to China (caller was from BC)..he stated,that this was ‘committing treason’ and ‘Harper should be thrown in jail!’ There was very little opposition to this kind of rhetoric..but when your ‘non-partisan’ panel,consists of blatant Harper-haters,Susan Riley,and Lawrence Martin,what do you expect?
Is that the regular panel on Sutcliffe’s CPAC show Sammy? If so I think he’s doing a poor job of being fair and neutral.
Liz,this isn’t the ‘regular’ panel,but it is certainly typical of the hyper-partisan,left-leaning,crap they put out there.
Sammy the callers to Sutcliffe are hand picked
nuff said
fh
Yup..would agree fh,but the odd ‘good’ one smeaks thru!! This happened today,with a caller speaking in support of the death penalty,which led to the most exquisite look of pain on Larry Martin’s face!
I am a rock solid Conservative.
Until Mr. Hudak embraces his inner Mike Harris he will never get my vote.
If this province is to be governed by liberals it may as be Liberals.
Why have Conservatives that will govern as Liberals?
Liz J says…I think it’s a safe bet to say “unions, teachers, nurses etc..” don’t vote PC, certainly not in large numbers.
Liz…a lot of us Conservatives will never vote for a “Progressive” Conservative.
It reminds of us Joe Clark and his ilk.
It pains me to have that weasel Dalton McGuinty as premier.
However, until the PC party in Ontario embraces it’s conservatism they will never get my support, time, money, energy or vote.
Yeah, I’m going to have to see a big change in attitude too. That last election was a disaster.
Sort of like the one before it. Truly is dispiriting.
I would rather have the MSM railing against Mr. Hudak for being too much like Mike Harris. We know they are going to lie and distort anyways.
At least it will remind voters of an effective Conservative.
Who did get back to back majorites.
I agree, and as I said in my post, what have we got to lose?
The unfortunate thing is…what do we have to gain with Mr. Hudak?
Seems like just another “progressive.”
Just listening to Rex Murphy,and caller (a woman) that is driving back in to Fort Mac,for the next 6 months to earn enough EXTRA money required by the Ont.gov’t to simply open a business! She was a terrific voice for how ‘screwed’ Ont is…and the tremendous opportunities in that awful Alta! She used to work in airline industry,moved to Alta,and got trained to drive heavy-haulers in the oilsands.Her wage pretty much tripled,now earning well over $100,000/yr! She spoke of wanting to open a ‘simple’ biz in I think it was Oshawa,and has met nothing but obstacles,it will cost her another $100,000 to pay fees to get up and running! THIS my friends,is your Libs in action.She also mentioned,Alta is looking at eliminating all this crap,and a small biz could be up and running in a few wks.So,all those whiners in the East,complaining about Alta,and all the western prov.doing so well? Shut the hell up…and keep voting Liberal.You get what you deserve..and I do feel sorry for all my Cons.friends stuck in that mess.
Here in Man.we get the horrible ndp,and their Gov’t union trying to shut down an inquiry into how and why a helpless little girl was killed while in Gov’t care.My conclusion,there is only one choice.VOTE Conservative.
Problem is it seems that Alberta is now run by CINOs. Time to clean house out there I think.
At least I now know what CHINOs are thanks to Wilson!
Paul I get from your comments that you have given up on Ontario
Tim Hudak is a good leader and he gets my vote
fh
Something change since the last provincial election? When Mr. Hudak starts to show the strength and character to call out the media I will reconsider.
Conservatives have to quit trying to appease the liberal media.
I haven’t given up on Ontario, just waiting for someone with the core conservative convictions we need to step up.
Mr. Hudak has not shown much so far, unfortunately.
I do remain hopeful for him.
Really have a hard time with the term “Progressive” Conservative.
It seems more regressive. Just like our Liberal governments.
The Left love that word “progressive”, that’s enough for me. We are Conservatives period.
I’m with you Paul.
Joanne says:
February 12, 2012 at 1:07 pm
“Richard Ciano elected as Party prez.”
Wow, great news!! Nick (cfra) had him on his show several weeks ago. He was very impressive. This guy sounds like a winner. He knows what he’s talking about. No BS, just plain old-fashioned straight-shooter. Now add Howard Galganov to the mix and the Conservatives have got it in the bag. The Liberals will not know what hit them!!
To be honest I don’t know much about him (Ciano) except that he might shake things up a bit. And that would be good!
a HUGE clue as to the threat that Ciano is to the Liberals can be found over at WK’s and in how quickly his “oppo.” cherry picks went to work.
Ciano gets Conservatives.
Time to mount the full frontal on McGuinty and the Liberals. I too once thought the PC’s needed to move to the middle, ala Ernie and John. I liked those guys and thought they could make it work. I was wrong.
I’m not as in tune with the behind the scenes politics like some here, that’s why I come here to get my info. From my perspective it seems rather simple.
During the Bill Davis years we had prosperity and Ontario was the engine.
Then came David Peterson with his 27 tax increases over three years, taking more out of Ontarians pocket than any Premier before him. We thought that was bad until that fateful day in Septermber 1990.
For five years we watched as Bob Rae destroyed this province and plunged us into debt and drove business away.
Then Mike Harris saved the day starting in 1995 and opened Ontario for business.
8 wonderful years of prosperity. The Common Sense Revolution was so refreshing and just made so much SENSE.
All those gains made to right the good ship Ontario thrown away over a small amount of time.
There is your narrative, how under Liberal and Ndp governments the province suffers. Under PC governments we prosper.
Ontario is fed up and all the PC’s need to do is show how they will govern, what they will do, how we will improve economically and financially.
Show an ad with Hudak saying “they will tell you we cut this or that” well they’ve lied to you again because here is what truly happened.
Plus do what the Harper team did in 06…pick 5-7 core grassroot policy planks and hammer them constantly. This is what we will do and this is how we will do it.
Stay on message and get the grassroots fully involved.
What do you think?
Sounds good to me. And there is that old ‘pendulum’ adage that assumes self-correction.
At least a trial PC gov’t to restore balance? Why not?
first of all imo Hudak has to talk to the public, whether on tv, radio or whatever; he has to ask them questions: if they have any idea of who what and how did Dalton affected their province; are they aware of ontario’s position ( have or have not) province; its debt, and the GST- do they know that the fed gov lowered the GST to 5% and not still at 7%. He has to ask them if they know anything about the Green Energy-the high taxes etc.
If Hudak ask the public these questions and listen to their responses their knowledge of their own province; get them involved ; open the eyes. Hudak may have to go about it just like what Ralph Klein did, he asked the Albertans flat out ” we have a choice, we can continue with Don Getty’s debt or we can eliminate it but will take years and sacrifice?” We chose to eliminate the debt mind you many Albertans were not pleased so they left the province.
Hudak has to do that or else Ontario will continue to suffer.
Hudak has to be bold outright and to the point on Ontario.
Like Conservatives in the United State, we have to find ways to bypass the Legacy media and get the story out there. Party members will have to actually start talking to people, writing letters to the editor (particularly using forums where they are directly published), doing local call in radio shows and so on. It might even come down to handing out Samizdat on the street corners, but facts and figures that are not manipulated, stories like the lady who can’t get a business open in Ontario and so on need to be put out there.
We also need to start going hand to hand and taking over city councils and any other elected position that is open (school board trustees are important) in order to change the political landscape and culture. This is a project that could take decades, but the end result will be worth it.
Good points all. I agree with you but the Conservatives need to outreach their membership and empower them to do this. How? By putting forward a clear alternative to McGuinty.
That hasn’t happened to any great extent yet and needs to. We have to win back our support base before we outreach. There are many grass root members who have been talking for years to deaf party ears.
”..Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak called for immediate action to rein in government spending, and called on Dalton McGuinty to release economist Don Drummond’s full report examing Ontario’s public service delivery as soon as he receives it…”
So is McGuinty going to make Drummonds report public?
He has a minority, can’t the Opps mandate that he does?
Oh, I see this report from yesterday
‘Don Drummond, Chair of the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, will release his report this week with some 400 recommendations on how the government could wrestle down the $16 billion deficit. ‘
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/10/ontario-doctors-can-help-fix-the-system
Yeah from what I’ve heard the reporters will be in a lockup similar to a budget release. Lots of drama.
Bet the Drummond Report has the same effect on McGuinty as when Paul Martin called the Gomery Inquiry…… here’s hoping!
Apparently Drummond has been told by the gov’t to leave town immediately after he delivers his report. Why? So, he’s not around to respond to media questions when McGuinty reads the report and does his “don’t worry, be happy” routine, or tells us that it’s time we have to swallow some medicine to pay back what he did for our schools and hospitals?
Should be turmoil central at Queen’s Park IF McGuinty listens to advice.
The all-day Kindergarten will be a doozie.
Maybe if he got his mind off windmills/solar/green he’d have a dime to spare, however he’s holding onto that sinking boat for dear life, willing to take us all down with it.
All in all, we can’t win in this mess, we lost when McGuinty won a third mandate and a defacto majority.
The puzzling question is why? Its not as if he is embarrassed about changing his mind under new circumstances. The world outside Ont. has pretty well moved on from “renewable energy” sources, as a solution to WGW. His friends in the wind companies could go into some other form of business. The frightening thing is that McGuinty may actually believe the hype for renewables. Hopefully Drummond will have something to say on this, more likely Moodys.
The PCs need to do some serious soul searching. For starters, the “Progressive” absolutley has to be ditched. It is even less relevant now, that it ever was.
The current fiscal realities mean that the ONE taxpayer (who can barely afford the many social programs we now have at all levels of government), is going to recoil at any talk of new social programs.
“Socially progressive and fiscally conservative” is not only oxy-moronic, it is unaffordable gobbledygook. Who the heck gets inspired by that kind of talk, other than Libs and Dippers ?
Hudak may be a nice guy, and the best politician the PCs have, but he still looks to me like he mainly wants to take over as captain of the Titanic, so that HE, instead of McGuinty, can be the one who hires the guys that rearrange the deck chairs.
Either he, or somebody else, has to go to the front of the boat, and start shouting: ICEBERG AHEAD, and then rallying the conservative troops to do something about it.
That’s the trouble with the PC brand, trying to do what Liberals do, all things to all people with the silly “socially progressive and fiscally Conservative” shtick. It cannot work.
It’s SOS time in Ontario.
Don’t worry Liz, help is on the way … from Alberta, naturally.
The Flanagan-crafted campaign, executed by the great communicator Danielle Smith, will blaze the path to renewal and victory for provincial conservative parties everywhere.
the icebergs are surrounding us and the problem is McGuinty not NOT Hudak
fh
Newly elected PMSH took the same battering from within when he didn’t win in 2004, and it continues even today in some quarters.
For sure Hudak can’t win without his ground troop’s support.
We all had to swallow pretty hard with some of the ‘incrementalism’ and stands (Quebec is a Nation, fiscal imbalance) PMSH took.
We wanted more/less, and faster/slower!
Look how long it took Ontario to get on board with PMSH, 7 years.
The Drummond Report will give the Hudak Team at least 3 really good planks to build on.
Jerry Agar at Newstalk 1010 had Tim Hudak on early this morning. Jerry set the stage very well for Hudak to turn a corner and come out swinging to begin to show us that he’s changing his style and his ways.
So what do you think happened?
When asked about the Drummond report and potential recommendations it may contain like the nixing of full-day K, Hudak dodged the question….more than once. He came close when he suggested that his caucus were still considering that but as for standing up and taking a position on that specific issue…..crickets chirped. Hudak tried to re-direct Agar to talk about Hudaks talking point about a freeze on public sector wages, but Agar grew impatient with Hudak’s non-answers. Very disappointing.
I sure as hell there’s better to come from Tim because another 3 years of non-answers isn’t going to win him the Premier’s Office.
I would be that Mike Harris would have had an answer for Agar.
Actually, it was mentioned in a few earlier posts that teachers didn’t vote conservative. When Harris won his back-to-back majorities individual teachers did vote for him. Not their unions however. There were many teachers who didn’t listen to their unions and went with Harris then.
”..Drummond report and ‘potential’ recommendations …”
Hudak is smart not to answer hypothetical questions that can come back and bite you.
I didn’t catch it as having anything to do with “smart” wilson. Hudak wasn’t prepared to answer a question based on an issue that’s been discussed and re-discussed and opined on by both oppositions since it was leaked from Drummond’s report last week.
Hudak’s caucus is split on the issue and Hudak himself once said he’d do away with full-day K and then flipped just before the campaign to say he wouldn’t.
Agar gave him opportunity to clarify. He didn’t. Callers after the interview were encouraged as I was at first when Agar started with Hudak but it was downhill from there.
good article
http://netnewsledger.com/2012/02/11/tim-hudak-something-has-gone-wrong-in-ontario/
fh
Now THAT’S the Tim Hudak I remember! This should have been the speech he launched his last campaign with. What would make this even better is if Tim gave us something more specific in terms of how he’d be a clear alternative.
Tim Hudak does not wish to give the “milk” away
he wants to gain the whole “cow”
Tim Hudak wants to win the next election
we need to stand firmly beside him there are enough kicking him from behind
let us refrain from joining the the pack
you can lend your ideas privately to the Hudak team also your criticisms
fh
he has to give his support base a reason to continue to stand with him fh.
“just because he’s the leader” isn’t good enough.
how about we give the support base some credit too? Because seriously there needs to be indication to that base that he’s listened and acted on their feedback.
I’m a card carrying, donating member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
I do not belong or donate to the ‘Progressive Conservative’ party of Ontario.
If I wanted more progressivism than what’s already been shoved down Ontario’s throat, I’ll vote for the real one….Pinochio himself.
Hudak..the same as America’s McCain. Always reaching across the aisle, stepping on conservatism to do it.
Well, welcome to the debate. We’re not holding anything back here today it seems.
Lot’s of good comments! I hope some people are listening.
I too dislike the “progressive” reminds me of Joe Clark who was a Progressive Liberal.
He did all he could to push the Conservative movement off the track IMO
Then sits on the sidelines whinging and criticizing. Shameful, selfish behavior.
As Conservatives we need to speak up, tell our MP’s And our PM what is important to us and our families.
We do not need to give the Media Party any ammunition. Listening Helena?
Our party right or wrong, if right to be kept right, if wrong to be made right.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+10%3A2-3&version=NIV
Too often in this Canada of ours the Media Party and the spluttering third place failed, had his day, temporary leader Bob Rae gets his pasty mug on the TV.
So we need to pick the 6 or 7 winning policies and hammer them home.
Thank you Pickering Tory!
Week after week of silly “crisis calamity” remember the Census?
There have been some very good points made here by our Blue Like You Family.
As individuals we must get involved at the grassroots level, I prefer to call it Tory Bedrock.
We can and will build on that!
As for all day daycare by a starting salary 0f 50 G + teacher I saw a article the other day that pointed out the deficit financing involved with this means the tykes who are enrolled in this IMO idiotic program.
Well folks this is just indoctrination, vote buying on a grand scale, the toddlers will still be paying for this when they are my age (63).
if Hudak’s support base wishes to kick him in public then I am sorry but that is not support
the lamestream media kick him every day
we can let him know by e mail
or phone or letter
if you cannot support then don’t
fh
Agreed fh, it’s not the way to win elections either.
“if Hudak’s support base wishes to kick him in public then I am sorry but that is not support”
Sorry fh, you have it backwards.
You want the base to be more supportive of Hudak? How about Hudak actually supporting the base?
You want Marquise of Queensbury gentlemen rules while we’re fighting socialists who wouldn’t know civility if they tripped over it?
Conservatives are in a bloody knife fight with the progressives. We don’t want Tim to reach across the aisle to progressives, we want him to put their whole ideology into the dustbin of history.
I remember Hudak as being able to take political criticism. Has he changed in that respect fh? Please do let us know.
This is a discussion forum last I checked and it’s exactly where Hudak’s team and Mr. Ciano need to tune in to for ideas. It’s part of a crack leadership team.
I understand what you’re saying but support needs to be earned, even within party rank & file.
Off topic, but;
http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/article/670051–trudeau-s-boxing-bout-a-big-risk
I think the time is ripe for Hudak to make a frank pitch to metropolitan Ont. on the economics of wind power. Metros seem fine with spending millions on wind turbines which generate surplus electricity at 13, 5 cents kwh and dumping it in the US for 3.8 cents. This story from CTV outlines how we pay US customers to take the excess power. Any business operating like this would not be around long.
The real problem with this story is that the go-to-guy for comment is NDP Peter Tabuns, who draws precisely the wrong conclusion, that further spending on nuclear facilities is not warranted. OK the PCs were busy with the convention, but someone in the research office surely could contact CTV for a rebutal. This cure by NDP is worse than the disease.
http://ontario-wind-resistance.org/2012/02/11/mild-winter-forces-ontario-to-divert-power-at-a-huge-loss/
We need new a logo on Ontario car license plates: ONTAR-I-OWE is my contribution. Anyone else?
Good one Liz!
Doowleb do you want the opposition to know all your moves so they can adopt them and call them theirs?
I don’t let us work for a good solid platform
fh
Let the opposition know?
sigh
I’ve yet to attend any Conservative meeting of any kind that didn’t have a leftist sitting in the front row.
So there we have it, straight from the gift horse’s mouth, Ontario Finance Minister says they will not go with Drummond on canceling all day kindergarten, so babysitting service at everyone’s expense stays.
What gets me about the reasons for sending toddlers to school so early, “socializing” being one of the first and it’s a crock IMO. We only have our kids under our roofs for about 18 years to watch them grow and become responsible adults with our guidance. They are our kids,our responsibility, not wards of the state with state propaganda instilled from under age four through to secondary school. They need time to grow up at their own pace in the early years.
I don’t believe for one minute ANYTHING that comes out of the mouths of McGuinty’s government. They’ve not given Ontarians any reason to do so thus far. I’m not going to start now.
I’m betting that they’ll tweek the program quietly….if they haven’t already done so. They’re going to have to get the money to pay for it from somewhere….where will that be do you suppose?
They’ll take it from anywhere but green energy, McGuinty’s folly at our expense.
Link here regarding the kindergarten announcement.
Frankly I don’t blame Tim Hudak for avoiding this issue on Jerry Agar this morning. There isn’t an election going on so why should he commit himself before the full report comes out and the Liberals make their corresponding decisions?
I agree, with no election any time soon we can give Tim the luxury of taking his time rather making hasty comments for the Liberals to divert attention away from themselves.
He can’t object to something he’s in favour of that he once wasn’t in favour of after all:-)
I believe his caucus is split on this one. The PCs on one side, the Conservatives on the other.
I would say it’s a done deal at this point. Parents are counting on it. Hard to take a goody away. Efficiencies and savings will have to be found elsewhere.
Ontario residents may as well get used to paying more and getting less for our tax dollars to pay for the SNAFU regime at Queen’s Park. We get to listen to tough talk from Spanky Duncan as if it’s all our fault when he should be delivering his scold to a large mirror.
Hold onto your hat’s, those windmills coming to a field near you will be after them.
I still can’t believe what I’m reading and hearing. I won’t vote for Tim Hudak if he isn’t this or that. No wonder the Conservatives lost and Dalton is back wrecking this province. I would vote Conservative no matter who the leader was just to have the team back in power. It’s the team, not just one man and they have to govern for all the people.
I would vote PC too. The only thing I wouldn’t do is volunteer if they still don’t get the message. But let’s give it some time.
but the PCs won Huron-Bruce Ruth. We DID vote for Hudak. We won this riding didn’t we?
What are Hudak’s plans to help us move forward in a riding where he won?
Lowell Green now speaking about the McGuinty government driving the province into the economic ground at http://www.cfra.com
We better brace for the worst in Ontario, McGuinty doesn’t seem to be taking his mess seriously as the leader of a province on a debt/death watch.
Have to wonder how what’s left of have provinces are going to enjoy bailing out arrogant Liberal have-not provinces like Ontario and Quebec?
Just got this e-mail from the new ON PC President.
Our Party has a lot of work ahead of us, starting with a training programme available to all members, and a jumpstart of the policy process to get us ready for an election as soon as this fall.
Your contribution is critical. I encourage you to get involved in your riding association, to call us or email us with your ideas, and to be a part of building a great Party that will be strong and united behind Tim Hudak for the next election.
Thank you,
Richard Ciano,
President, Ontario PC Party
Time for all of us, me included, to stop complaining about Hudak and pull behind the entire PC team. I will write about that soon. As Ruth says, it will no longer be helpful to complain about this or that, particularly if there is going to be an election soon. Yes, I know that kind of threat is a good fundraiser strategy, but I suspect there will be an election, sooner rather than later given how bad Ontario is faring.
I heard someone say on a TV show yesterday, I can’t remember where, that if McGuinty cancelled all the corporate tax cuts, there would be enough money to pay off the annual deficit. What they didn’t say is that when they do that they put small businesses out of business and all the jobs that go with it. Talk about tunnel vision!
You’re assuming Sandy that we haven’t been working with our riding associations and haven’t already attended a Ciano-developed training session.
Many of us have. Actually, we did our part in our riding and the PCs won. Where exactly does that leave us in Hudak’s plan? It’s all very unclear.
Having a discussion here and being disappointed with Hudak is all fair game in politics.
Hudak’s a big-boy and a politician who will in time I’m sure listen to member and supporter feedback.
Give everyone here some credit for being honest and speaking up because usually Conservatives can take it, and move on.
Hopefully a Hudak plan and strategy will be one that binds us all in support, but that remains to be seen.
“Time for all of us, me included, to stop complaining about Hudak and pull behind the entire PC team”, amen to that Sandy!
and since the PC party is really in debt, it’s also time for us all to send a little bit to help them out to be able to fight the next election, whenever it comes.
sorry Ruth but I supported the party with my local donations and it paid off locally. Too many in our riding are barely existing and in my community any money we have over the next while is going to help the victims of the Tornado.
As it is our local charities are hurting badly because the requests for money just can’t be met.
Even at the best of times there was never a time when I’d donate money to the party without getting something in return….like policies I can get behind or a great leadership team.
That team needs time to develop right now – I get that, but
the constant quest for cash is just now doable in McGuinty’s Ontario. Who has money these days?
That’s just another part of the equation, McGuinty has us taxed almost out of existence, added to which we have huge utility bills and ever increasing property taxes, meaning a great many of us can’t afford to donate money to our political party of choice at any level.
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Richco Sandy is not assuming anything she and we should continue our work Sandy is trying to encourage us to not lose heart
Please all let us stress McGuinty’s faults and work with the Hudak team to win the election when it is called
do not be afraid to make suggestions as these can be very helpful
Sandy has a list of former Premier Mike Harris hard work we must avoid being swayed by the MSM
to the side that is against the PC party
Stop the Hudak bashing by being ready with some McGuinty bashing
fh
fh – no one is “Hudak bashing” as you put it. And by the way, if you’ve failed to notice, we managed to work hard and elect a Conservative candidate in my riding. Work and support is not lost on us here. What happened to the rest of the ridings? We’re plenty encouraged here for the moment, but much more is needed.
Wonderful that Sandy’s got a Harris experience. So do many others who don’t talk about it much but were just as committed and with Harris every step of the way.
Have you signed up for one of Ciano’s member training sessions yet fh? I’ve been to two of them when he did the same federally. I’ve also accompanied a candidate to Candidate College and managed a campaign office.
The assumption that work wasn’t done and the all we’ve done is criticize is a wrong one.
By Hudak’s own admission he must do better. It may be too soon to tell but I sure know, that as a member, contributor and supporter the years that Hudak and co. need to start filling in the blanks.
Oh, and by the way, you likely missed my posts through this past summer when I was calling for exactly the same thing.
Yes, I know all about supporting a candidate well. We did so effectively in my riding, largely because we learned not to rely on help from HQ. Ask me about waiting for weeks for returned phone calls asking for clarification and help for riding related issues.
Your scolding is misplaced of those here who express their opinions.
last sentence should be
Stop the Hudak bashing by the MSM by being ready with some well earned (by McGuinty) bashing
I am sure we are all unhappy about some of the McGuinty broken promises and the huge debit the have not state of our beautiful Province of Ontario now known as
Ontar-i-owe
fh
Richco, your bitterness is understandable given the disaster that has happened to your community. We all understand that. But, what we also understand is that we have to get rid of Dalton McGuinty and the only way we can do that is to move forward.
I am told that the conservative wing of the party won on the weekend. Amen to that.
Yes I think the election of Richard Ciano for president was a positive move.
Good editorial in today’s Record BTW – Time to Hear Hudak’s Vision.
it’s part of it Sandy. You know all of the rest of it from my perspective. It’s not bitterness. I write very directly – that’s my style. Frustration is more like it and that happened way before the tornado tore my community apart.
I hear you, believe me I do. In my riding the Conservatives won the election. Hard work was done and given the circumstances and the promises McGuinty made to our community, they love the guy here because he’s got the money that we need now.
See what I mean? It’s all local and those of us who supported and donated to that Conservative win here need to know more about how they’ll be able to help us AND work toward another campaign.
I know Tim from a long time ago. He was a HUGE supporter of the organization I founded and directed that was education based. I just sent him a copy of my book too. He’s a good guy for sure. I can get behind him again next time just like the last time, but it’s going to take more than that.
Here is precisely what Simeon Drakich wrote in his comment at Cotm:
I attended the AGM where the consensus was for strong conservative values to be the true alternative to Dalton.
Richard Ciano’s victory signaled the war upon the party members and their elected candidates is over.
Hopefully Nick Kouvalis will be directing the next campaign as Mark Spiro did a horrid job.
So, the war within the party really is over. I feel really upbeat for a change. Yes … for a change! A Hudak conservative gov’t for a change!
I should have read this before I responded to the rest.
I’m a big fan of Ciano’s – he runs great training sessions.
We need only look to the LPC if we need a reminder of what happens when a party is divided.
Apparently Professor Andrew Cohen thinks we’ve sold our soul to China.Wonder if he felt that way when the Chretien Liberals and their pals beat a path to that place? We buy from China so it makes sense to sell to them, getting money back, it’s called trade, the professor should be able to figure that out.
by the way “Happy Valentines Day” to you all:-)
Ontario PC ideas. This is just a start. Exactly what all of us having been calling for.
http://www.ontariopc.com/ideas/
Happy Valentines Day Jo and everyone may we all have a great day
fh
this says much of what I was trying to convey
http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/02/14/ontario-pcs-much-needed-truth-telling
In the end for my community to get what it needs we’re stuck on having to depend on McGuinty because he’s in government. I can support Hudak all I want at the moment but it’s moot. We have a new Conservative MPP who is getting a bit more (not much) ink and media attention but reality tells me that in opposition she’s just one person.
“But what they did this weekend – making it clear that it’s safe to speak out and constructively criticize – definitely paves the way for that to successfully happen.
Once they stake out their territory – and all signs point to more fiscally conservative territory – they can resume the campaign against Premier Dad, the Tax Man, or whatever other moniker McGuinty’s fiscally reckless ways will warrant him come the next election.”
See….Hudak understands that constructive criticism isn’t “bashing”. We’re adults and we all should.
Well I agree that right now is the time for frank discussion as long as we’re all moving towards the same goal. But hopefully we can do it in a respectful way. I see great hope with the new president. I think he will get the party back on track.
Oh yes he will Joanne.
Just to give you another example of how weird things are here, I’ve had long time and very loyal Conservative members in my community tell me in no uncertain terms that we (meaning our town, it’s council, organizations, individuals) can’t ruffle the McGuinty gov’t's feathers by criticizing them in any way. Fear is driving that sentiment. Fear that because it is McGuinty in power and not anyone else that what happens to our town is in his hands. Not anyone else’s.
Yet we elected a Conservative MPP. It’s a tough call and frustrating beyond belief because as the Ontario Conservatives are off and running, working hard for that next election, the reality to me is something else indeed. Also respect goes both ways.
So what we get with the Drummond Report is deja-vu all over again in Ontario…..the pendulum swings.
What I do NOT understand is going after the doctors and leaving those mega-money-wasting school boards untouched. Nonsense.
Actually, the changes to full-day Kindergarten were exactly what the Society for Quality Education, and the folks who contributed to that discussion at COTM recommended almost to a tee.
http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/article/671634–sweeping-reforms-would-put-health-care-under-knife
Call me cynical but I still believe this was all engineered by both McLiar and Drummond.
The economist gives his advice on how much needs to be cut knowing that the premier is not going to adopt all of those recommendations and, as a result, instead of having McLiar’s 7 or 10 or even 12% compared to the 3.9% spending cuts brought in by Harris, whom he so viciously attacked from the opposition benches, he will compare his cuts to the 16% recommended by Drummond.
This will also establish a narrative for the Consensus Media to run with. Instead of emphasizing how the cuts are double or even tripple that of Harris’, they too will compare it to Drummond’s recommendations, joining with McLiar in saying “things could be worse, the cuts could’ve been deeper, you know!”
How many archived clips of McLiar from his days as opposition leader will we see the broadcast arm of the Consensus Media run on air, exposing his hypocrisy? None, I bet. But funny how they’ll do that to Harper, when they feel a position he currently holds can be contradicted by a position he has held in the past… Just a few weeks ago, the CBC’s Terry Mildew did such a thing by narrating one of his reports with “That’s what Harper says now, but look what he said then” and then running a clip of a dark-haired Harper in opposition during QP with, what Terry alleges, is a contradiction… can’t remember what the issue was, just that Terry used one of his reporting templates that he frequently uses.
Anyway, just watch how the media play this one — again, not comparing McGuinty’s cuts to Harris’ but instead comparing them to those recommended by Drummond which some reporters have already labeled as “draconian” (reasonable, I feel) while McGuinty’s chosen path is one of they will describe as “balance and moderate” by relative comparison.
Just to add, many in the public will fall for this… unfortunately.
It’s the same thing that happens when politicians want to give themselves a generous raise knowing that there will be a public backlash. If there goal is 10% then propose 20% or even 25%. Then when the backlash follows, “drop” the proposed raise to 10% at which point you still get the public angry but you have them saying, “we’re not happy but at least it’s not 20 or 25%”.
What McGuinty and drummond are employing here, IMO, is a form of the “Door-In-The-Face” strategy (or technique), which is better described from the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfT6spm6vE
Have a 16% cut floated to the public, absorb the anger that results, then come in with 10 or 12% instead, which was your real target anyway. Again, cynical, yes, but that’s what I believe is going on here. One thing McGuinty fears most is having his cuts compared to Harris’… he’d rather have them compared to Drummond’s instead, the guy whom he just happened to handpick.
Very insightful Jon! You could have something there.
Have you ever considered starting a blog?
I just realized I posted in the wrong thread, that there was a newer one instead. Having said that, it’s probably too cynical. I’m just saying that I wouldn’t put anything past anybody, really. And I haven’t heard many of the media comparing the coming cuts (even if they aren’t as big as Drummond recommends) to those brought in by Harris — a narrative that both the premier and the media want to avoid. After all, it’s not just the current premier who attacked those cuts by Harris, it was the media too… both would be hard pressed to explain how the coming cuts can be rationalized with both on record as having unfairly attacked Harris.
Well you picked the right thread as far as topics is concerned.
I’ll going to try to get a new post up before my g/s arrives shortly.
I also think this is a team Liberal deal with Drummond and McGuinty.
What did the unelected Drummond’s services cost us?
For seniors, the grim reaper cometh, they’re going to up drug charges and talk to their doctors mid life about end of life care. In other words don’t linger in hospital beds, give permission to be bumped off.
Yes it looks as if seniors will be expendable – like unwanted babies.
It will be an end-of-life abortion.
BTW did anyone hear Drummond say anything about Green Energy?
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Look, Hudak says he needs to do better. Well, he plainly ran the campaign along the same lines as Tory and Eves before him. Ontario will pay the piper billions over his learning curve. This isn’t about Hudak, it’s about Ontario having a conservative option. The Conservatives in Alberta are about to be taught what I’m talking about by the Wild Rose Party. Hudak had better start leading instead of learning or… ‘The Trillium Party’ has a nice ring to it.