High Gear -- for a tricycle

Looks like we are coming into the last critical weeks -- and well not much is happening.

The Liberal's seems to recognise their lead and have McGuinty talking about "Canada" issues. He ventured into the realm of foreign takeovers -- interesting territory -- and over the last couple of days has delivered a couple of good speeches -- good for a person who is about as exciting as dry toast. Though I did take exception to have all those new immigrants into the public school system -- oh yeah the one with funding going to the catholics -- yeah thats right.

Tory -- well why bother, religious school funding, privatise parts of health care, beer and wine in the corner store -- right with you bud.

Hampton -- is he campaigning -- oh yes tax the rich.

Miller -- I know he is not campaigning -- but he could actually speak to the candidates and get some attention for Toronto. Guess not too busy flying from conference to conference -- and talking about raising taxes. Idiot!

Toronto Star -- fundamental and unethical bias

I could not be a reporter or work for the Star -- something about ethics and self respect. I always find it amazing the Star was quick to condemn Black and his newspapers for bias in reporting -- when they really have mastered the the wholer concept. What has me mad today -- the vote liberal bias is so strong it shows itself in every article, the editorials, the just general tone. McGuinty Is struggling -- he should be winning hands down based on the performance of both Tory and Hampton.
However the Star seems to now have decided that McGuinty needs to be elected at all costs -- including if it means they use propaganda and editorial bias in articles.

Earlier in the campaign after the debate the Star sold the front page of the Metro (one of their papers) to the liberals in a very misleading piece of advertising which looked like a real front page -- in which they proclaimed McGuinty the winner -- sleaze journalism. Can't blame the Liberals -- sleaze electioneering is the name of the game.

Equal time: Selection of JohnTory ads also some Green Party ads

Here they are:



Like this one, creative

Selection of Dalton McGuinty ads from Youtube

Here are a brief selection -- lots out there folks.

Dalton should be cleaning the floor with his opponents

John Tory is still struggling with his extension of funding to faith based schools, beer and wine in the corner store and a parallel private health care (paid for at public rates) service. He is getting slagged by his own party members -- questioned unmercifully at PC events as to why he is following this lose-lose strategy. He still has been unable to reach the undecided voters -- his manner is polished -- but lets face it it just ain't working -- whether he want to stick to his principles or not -- the game here is to form a government -- not to be in opposition.



Howard Hampton -- is rolling out nothing new -- had hopes when he started talking about extending dental coverage to children and the $10 minimum wage, I thought we might actually have some new proposals to talk about -- however we have gone back to the old canards of protecting the auto sector, protecting this and that, rolling back this and rolling back that -- the past is a wonderful place to remember -- you tend to forget the imperfections -- however the past is not a place I want to move Ontario forward to.

Dalton what is happening -- you just are not getting the message out. They are handing you this election on a silver platter and the best you can do is talk about a minority government (Harper is at it as well). Smitherman is running around -- well being Smitherman. Where is the campaign? Guess you just need to want it more.

The Debate -- the killer blow

I heard a guy name Guido had some killer blow in the washroom at the debate -- really excellent stuff.

The debate in my opinion plodded on McGuinty being accused of broken promises, McGuinty attacking the former Harris Government and the former NDP government (liked Tory quip on Sir John A), Tory looking very well polished -- not really saying anything (except the broken promise thing), Hampton -- well nice try but really did not seem to even be part of the debate at times.

Now when I call it a debate I am doing so very loosely -- in most cases they did not really answer the questions or debate their answers -- we just went back to broken promises , accusations of negativity, and how terrible previous governments were.

The moderator Steve Paiken did an absolutely terrible job of keeping this anywhere on track -- this needs to be debate -- not a series of quotes for the media.

I am shocked the Toronto Star proclaimed McGuinty the winner based on the fact the other two did not land a killer blow. That unbiased bastion of honest reporting obviously was not in hte washroom with Guido.

In my opinion nobody won -- nor could they have it was not a debate! Guido however .......

Tory -- trying very hard to lose the election

Just after the massive success of his religious school funding program was not endorsed by over 70% of Ontarions in a recent survey, Tory has decided to change his strategy -- he has decided to raise the issue of parallel provision of private healthcare in Ontario as part of his non-election strategy. I think he has another winner.

I think everyone is well aware that these private services are being well provided to all Canadians by our neighbours to the south. Why mess with success? Contrary to public perception it is just not the well heeled, Belinda Stronach comes to mind, that are availing themselves to private healthcare but also the average joe is driving to Buffalo for their knee or hip replacement surgery.

The prices from I understand are reasonable -- fitting on credit cards. The question is why are people doing this considering the enviable state of Canadian Healthcare -- why are people spending their money south of the border -- do they just like the American's so much? More than likely it is the 2 to 3 year process most Canadian must endure to get through the Ontario system -- referrals to specialist who are not taking appointments.

A former colleague of mine went to Buffalo for knee replacement surgery -- he was a practically disabled but could not get a firm date for a replacement in Ontario -- he voted with his chequebook.

But seriously folks in Canada and especially in Ontario you dare not talk about private delivery of healthcare services -- it is political suicide (lets keep those elephants in the closet where they belong). That way we can continue to extol the virtue of our truly public system, apart from those pieces that are already delivered by private firms, and tell the Americans they are philistines for operating a private healthcare system, while still availing ourselves to it. How Canadian!

In truth I think we can learn alot from places like France, Germany and the Netherlands in public/private delivery of Healthcare -- but we first have to get over the hating the American thing.

Off topic But I have to print this

I just got a chain letter through the email -- looking for like minded individuals to rise up and revolt against the erosion of the Canadian way of life. This thing is pure bigotry, crap and mean spirited -- if this is how Canadians want to live then I should probably move.

That all being said the text in the email did not have a ring of truth to it -- it was far too strong for a politician to have said -- even an Australian one. Text as it turns out are comments from three separate politicians pasted together completely taken out of context and attributed to Australian Prime Minister John Howard. You can see the urban myth take on the text and the context here.

The text is as follows and message (some may be offended or agree with the below -- personally the intent is what bothers me):

Canada Needs A Leader Like This! I support this approach 100%!

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia ." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle."

"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!"

"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."

"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,

'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, Canadian citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

The new campaign....... Just like the old one

The Globe and Mail's Editorial Board took the Liberals to task for rerunning the 2003 campaign in 2007. The premise was the Liberals are still trying to get voters to remember the "bad old days" of the Harris PC government as a strategy to defeat PC's in this election. This they felt was an ineffective strategy and that the Liberals should run on their record instead -- not so sure on that one.

The PC's seem to be responding to the "Harris legacy" approach however -- their campaign signs and literature don't seem to recognize the PC brand but rather the John Tory brand. The campaign literature I have seen again stresses the the John Tory brand. I am not sure that Tory will win based on the "John Tory" instead of the PC party brand -- and if he doesn't he may actually be harming the party in the future -- one man parties tend to fall out of favour pretty quickly and repositioning the brand back to the party might take more than one subsequent election.

There is also this underlying current of what they did in the past was somehow wrong -- whether you agree the policies and directions of the Harris PC's or not they were elected to two majority governments -- with strong mandates. There are still a large number of Ontarion's who agree with the direction taken, maybe not all of them, but with alot of them. I would marginalize them at your own peril.

The hob nailed boot on the back .....

Howard decided that it was time to bring out the old tax the rich and the corporations plank to reduce the tax on middle and lower income brackets. At least this time he calls rich over $150,000 -- last time I think it was $80,000 lost him Oshawa and most of the auto workers.

The ads running on youtube are great -- at least we are seeing some creativity in the non-negative campaigning -- and of course everyone cleared the rights for these.






And I really agree with Dalton -- there is no negative campaigning going on -- yes really -- where was that bottle of scotch, going to have a non drink to go with it.

Its a long way to tipperary, its a long way to go to the sweetest girl I know

So we had the launch -- the emergence of the super hero the McGuinty "Education Premier"; the stumbling John Tory -- always seems to be on his back foot trying to explain what he really means: Howard Hampton the .... well not sure on that one -- really light on details and well he is driving around in a hybrid -- lets call him the hybrid contender; and then there is the Green Party's Frank de Jong -- the abolish the Catholic School Board guy and we are greener than anybody else guy.

Is there a point to this rambling well not really but there has not been much of a point to this election so far -- the Liberals and Tories trying to come up with a wedge issue (Liberals -- preservation of public education, their definition includes Catholic as part of this; the Tories broken promises and leadership of Dalton) the other parties well hate to say it are along for the ride.

The Liberals are starting with the strategic voting approach early to get NDP voters and will probably be backed up by a TV campaign from the Working Families Coalition (AKA Ontario Liberals).

The Tories, well Tory in my opinion is hopeless -- someone needs to work with this man -- drive the message -- don't react to Dalton's.

Howard -- nice man met him a number of times, would I vote for him -- right after hell froze over.

De Jong -- good Dutch name -- got to like that, and yes he should be part of the leadership debate and I have gone green have those really neat new lightbulbs and led lights on my sailboat, however the gas guzzeling SUV I drive probably would entitle me to a good flogging.

Education Minister's riding a beach head riding for education

I sit here with the vision of an armada of boats approaching the Normandy coast -- brave Canadian boys with eyes trained on the beaches, suddenly there is the rattle of gun fire, the whine of mortars .... Don't know who writes Dalton's speeches but this one is a loser -- instead the imagery shifts to the blatant hypocrisy of preserving system that benefits one religion over all others -- not even the protestant system survives -- that changed long ago into the public secular schools we have today -- next time he should raise the imagery of George Orwells Animal Farm -- guess some are more equal than others.

Liberal and PC fiscal platforms

I have spent some time looking at both the PC and Liberal fiscal platform -- guess what they pretty similar apart from the pledge to eliminate the health tax over a three year period. The revenue projections are similar the planned expenditures are similar -- the concentration of monies to envelopes are similar --except for the health tax thing -- the pledge to fund religious schools and the Tories pledge to find efficiencies.

I personally think the Tories if elected (which I doubt) will stall the elimination of the Health tax draw it out over a few more years to protect their revenue base. It really is not as hot an issue as the politicians think -- it is a construct of the political camps and the media in their need to create issues around the election. To further my point if it had been such a strong voter driven issue -- you really think the Liberals would be saying they cannot afford to get rid of it -- and it needs to stay -- on the eve of an election.

The Toronto Star Editorial board has obviously renewed its Liberal Party Membership based on their September 10 editorial. Their tacit support of the Liberal Fiscal plan is without basis -- not saying the PC one is any better -- the Toronto Star should leave the electioneering to the politicians -- but then it wouldn't be the Toronto Star. Their analysis is a typical slippery slope argument where by challenging one part of the plan the whole world goes to hell in a handbasket.

It does remind me of the time I was in the lock up and had a rather candid conversation with the Toronto Star staff that was there at the time -- (s)he said (s)he had very little freedom in what they wrote, rather (s)he was given the message and then told to fill in the facts to meet the message. I did ask her/him what happens if the facts don't match the message -- well then you don't report the facts. But I digress.

On the issue of efficiencies -- it can easily be done -- without the world coming to an end. Been there done that -- seen where the bodies or in this case money is buried. Cricket anyone?

Leaders equally Toxic

Well what more is there to say on this one. I mean equally toxic -- well maybe literally and figuratively?

Creationism in the schools

Ok that does it, I really do think Ontario needs a wholly secular funded school system -- right now. Yes that does mean we stop funding the separate school board.

Why you ask?

Mr Tory was asked the question whether he thought this would be allowed to be taught in a publically funded school system he said yes, well maybe sort of kind of. The liberals were quick to pounce on this until it was pointed out it is taught in the Ontario Roman Catholic schools (publicly funded), not as part of the curriculum however -- but as part of "religious eduction". Somehow this makes it better -- guess under a religious school -- the religious part should be taken less seriously -- because it of course it is religion, who believes that stuff anyway?

Ontario's NDP

Reading the Tor Star they had an article by Urqhart on the NDP and it did strike a cord with me -- the basic hypothesis was that the NDP although not poised to form a government will influence the direction of the government. I as a former provincial bureaucrat well understand that message -- having worked under all three of the parties -- I can honestly say that they are pretty much of a muchness when they get into power -- self interest does tend to reign.

That all being said the NDP does tend to have some real gems in their policy platform -- they actually consult with real people -- as compared to the Tories and the Liberals who tend to talk to the same 5 or 6 people and their pollsters and roll it out to their party faithful as the publics latest greatest needs and wants.

As a bureaucrat we routinely borrowed recycled from the NDP platform, added the correct wording made some vague reference to consistency with the Government platform and helped them to make it their own.

The NDP in power is a scary thing -- not because of their platform -- but because they are just not able to make decisions -- everything is done by consensus and takes far too much time -- I actually had to consult with a sowing circle (yes like knitting) out of some small town in Ontario when looking at ag stabilization programs. Very nice people but they had absolutely no idea what they were there for.

The NDP the official supplier of some good policy -- and damn good at it too. Now take this with a grain of salt as some of their ideas were just plain wacky -- take this lets just freeze everything in Ontario back in 2003. Howard needs some better advice.

New holiday -- February

A new stat holiday -- brilliant -- disagree with February -- too damn cold -- but from an election strategy who could disagree -- time off with the Family -- can I have some apple pie too?

Prudent -- what in the name of all that is%^&$# is that for a strategy

John Tory presented a prudent election campaign -- what is prudent -- is that showing leadership with health care, education, falling competitiveness, an auto sector that is going the way of the buggy whip manufacturers league. Just not sexy, and not the leadership that Ontario needs --maybe that is what he is peddling -- dependable leadership -- Tory(ies) need to repackage it to more than just that -- it should be aspirational leadership -- over the top and visionary. It should be driving the province to a better and more successful future -- it should be big and with cahonas!

McGuinty is rolling out the goodies -- not a day has passed in the last two months that we have not had an announcement for more money for this that or the other thing -- very little policy -- nothing new, just money. To the Liberals credit the voters are buying it -- they recognise the strategy is divisive -- pitting group against group in their struggle to get as much $$ as possible -- but it works. Boy does it work.

I have it on good authority the Tories are going to go negative -- looking for the Achilles heel -- nasty personal attacks on individual senior Ministers -- I also hear the Liberal are not worried -- they know they can sacrifice a few for the greater good -- all the while doling out the goodies and keeping their core team intact.

Boy is this going to be fun.