Author Topic: Ontario Government of Doug Ford  (Read 12977 times)

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Offline TimG

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #150 on: September 19, 2018, 06:20:45 pm »
The point is, the system worked for DoFo. His jumping to use the notwithstanding clause was completely unnecessary. The judiciary does curb the excesses of some of its members. Thanks to the superior court, he will not go down as the first Ontario Premier to use the notwithstanding clause, particularly for such a stupid reason. At least not yet. He should take the lesson to heart and be grateful.
I am very happy with how this played out. Perhaps this debacle will lead to judges being more careful about twisting the charter way beyond its original intent because using the notwithstanding clause is no longer 'unthinkable'.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2018, 07:05:53 pm by TimG »
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #151 on: September 19, 2018, 06:30:56 pm »
Here's what the judges on the new ruling said:

Quote
"Unquestionably, Ontario's announcement of its intention to introduce Bill 5 disrupted the campaigns that were already underway. However, Bill 5 does not limit or restrict any message the candidates wish to convey to voters," the ruling said.

"While the change brought about by Bill 5 is undoubtedly frustrating for candidates who started campaigning in May 2018, we are not persuaded that their frustration amounts to a substantial interference with their freedom of expression," it continued.

"Candidates had a reasonable expectation that they would be operating under a 47-ward platform … However, neither that platform nor that expectation was constitutionally guaranteed. Unfairness alone does not establish a charter breach."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-court-toronto-council-1.4829250

I was originally against Doug on this, but now I realize the original ruling was arguing what Ford was doing was against the charter because it violated the council candidate's and the voters' "freedom of expression" as stated above.  This makes little sense, so now I agree with the new ruling. 

The original judge said it violated voters' freedom of expression because their representation with the city would be cut in half.  But that makes no sense, because that argument means that at no time ever can anyone cut the # of seats on any city council, which government obviously has a right to do.  Why would 25 seats be violation but 42 seats wouldn't?   What difference would it make if Doug cut the seats now during an election or a year from now?  And how would it violate voter rights of "expression"?  contituents can still voice their concerns to their 25 city res.  Ontario and the fed gov has 25 ridings in Toronto so what's the difference?  Ok it might be harder because they're dealing with more people, but to say it violates their "freedom of expression" is a huge stretch.  It makes no sense.  Doug isn't trying to muzzle Toronto voters.
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #152 on: September 19, 2018, 07:31:25 pm »

The original judge said it violated voters' freedom of expression because their representation with the city would be cut in half.  But that makes no sense, because that argument means that at no time ever can anyone cut the # of seats on any city council, which government obviously has a right to do.  Why would 25 seats be violation but 42 seats wouldn't?   

You'd have to read the ruling.  There's obviously a qualitative factor here, as well as the rights of those who registered to run.  But let's move on...

Offline SirJohn

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #153 on: September 23, 2018, 12:14:35 pm »
And goodbye Green energy act.

It is a challenge to give a comprehensive account of its many follies. A saga that started in 2009 under then Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty, received a full and smothering embrace by his successor, Kathleen Wynne, that subsidized at dizzying multiples the electricity provided by the most inefficient sources, put the small towns and outlying cities of the province under a green iron fist, stimulated both the construction of gas plants and their subsequent abrupt election-inspired cancellation, produced power it had to give away or pay other jurisdictions to take, castrated small businesses, burdened the most impoverished of the province with a choice between power and bread, and then precipitated the greatest slaughter of the Liberal Party of Ontario in modern-day history, cannot be encompassed in a column.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-the-green-energy-act-is-dead-let-that-be-a-warning-to-green-politicians
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #154 on: September 24, 2018, 08:28:43 pm »
PC Finance Minister says the decifit inherited by Kathleen Wynne is actually 15 billion dollars, instead of 6.7 billion claimed by Wynne:

Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative government is warning that sacrifices will have to be made after Finance Minister Vic Fedeli announced that a review of the province’s finances has found that the deficit has more than doubled to $15-billion this year.

In his first major address as the custodian of Ontario’s finances, Mr. Fedeli told a business crowd in downtown Toronto on Friday that because of significant accounting changes and an overly optimistic budget forecast from the outgoing Liberal government, the deficit has more than doubled from the anticipated $6.7-billion shortfall.

“The truth may not be much fun, but at least you know it’s the truth,” he said in a speech to the Economic Club of Canada. “The task ahead is not an easy one. The hole is deep and it will require everyone to make sacrifices without exception.”

The revised figure came from a commission of inquiry struck only weeks after the government took office and headed by former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell.

Most of the increased deficit comes from a change long demanded by Ontario’s Auditor-General about how the province accounts for public pension plans and a program to reduce hydro rates. Mr. Fedeli said the Liberals feuded with Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk and, as a way of artificially lowering the deficit, wouldn’t properly account for the pension and hydro expenses. Accounting for both on the government’s balance sheet added more than $5-billion to the annual shortfall and will continue to do so.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-deficit-at-15-billion-this-year-pcs-say-not-67-billion/
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Offline ?Impact

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #155 on: September 24, 2018, 08:58:55 pm »
PC Finance Minister says the decifit inherited by Kathleen Wynne is...
Who to believe?

The liberals: $6.7 billion
The auditor general: $11.4 billion
The progressive conservatives: $15 billion
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #156 on: September 24, 2018, 09:12:09 pm »
Who to believe?

The liberals: $6.7 billion
The auditor general: $11.4 billion
The progressive conservatives: $15 billion

Split the difference, go with AG.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley
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Offline cybercoma

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #157 on: September 25, 2018, 08:47:14 am »
Who to believe?

The liberals: $6.7 billion
The auditor general: $11.4 billion
The progressive conservatives: $15 billion
If only there were some sort of generally accepted accounting principles to standardize these calculations…..

Offline SirJohn

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #158 on: September 25, 2018, 12:03:37 pm »
Who to believe?

The liberals: $6.7 billion
The auditor general: $11.4 billion
The progressive conservatives: $15 billion

The AG was basing hers mainly on two issues. The Tories did a wider assessment, and more recent one. I would believe them conditionally on the AG not disagreeing with them.
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline ?Impact

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #159 on: September 25, 2018, 12:50:11 pm »
The AG was basing hers mainly on two issues. The Tories did a wider assessment, and more recent one. I would believe them conditionally on the AG not disagreeing with them.

The Tories are just setting the bar for their record high deficits to come.

Offline Omni

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #160 on: September 25, 2018, 12:57:39 pm »
Oh but think just how much revenue they will collect from the "buck a beer" brilliance.

Offline SirJohn

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #161 on: September 25, 2018, 03:51:20 pm »
The Tories are just setting the bar for their record high deficits to come.

I think you're confusing them with the McGuinty Liberals.
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #162 on: September 25, 2018, 04:05:02 pm »
The AG was basing hers mainly on two issues. The Tories did a wider assessment, and more recent one. I would believe them conditionally on the AG not disagreeing with them.

I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of this government's mouth.  They literally have created a fake news "channel" called "Ontario News Now" to control 100% of their message.  Propaganda:  https://twitter.com/OntarioNewsNow?lang=en
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline SirJohn

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #163 on: September 25, 2018, 04:24:50 pm »
I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of this government's mouth.  They literally have created a fake news "channel" called "Ontario News Now" to control 100% of their message.  Propaganda:  https://twitter.com/OntarioNewsNow?lang=en

So? You think they'd have had a chance of getting any kind of press coverage like Trudeau gets?
"When liberals insist that only fascists will defend borders then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't do." David Frum

Offline Omni

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Re: Ontario Government of Doug Ford
« Reply #164 on: September 25, 2018, 04:30:38 pm »
I think most people saw all the news coverage of the Ford Bros. they needed when Rob was running around stoned/drunk.