Columns

I would like to start off this week by thanking the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who submitted feedback on the provincial budget, whether by returning my Riding Report survey, sending letters and emails, or by taking part in the Ontario NDP Caucus’ survey.
While I am fully aware that we need to reduce spending, economic recovery does not happen in a vacuum. We need a strategy to create jobs and promote consumer confidence and, unfortunately, the provincial budget as it currently stands fails to do that.

By Walter Wagner
President

By Irene Hanson
RR Hospital Auxiliary

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

By Gary Sliworsky
OMAFRA Rep.

By Al Lowe
Contributor

Is it possible for a government to cut $10 billion in spending and more than 19,000 jobs without affecting the quality of the services delivered to the public?
No.

Sometimes it is necessary to question the thoughts of senior governments. As the federal government seeks to eliminate thousands of jobs from departments across Canada, you must question how decisions were arrived at.
Similarly, in Ontario we have already seen the announcement of Ontario Tourism Information Services closing facilities in the Northwest and at four other locations in Canada. On April 11, the Globe and Mail published a story “Ontario eyes energy sector overhaul”. Why would a municipal government want to sell off its hydro distribution company?

Last week our region’s tourism industry was blindsided by the news that the three provincially funded Tourist Information Centres in our region would close permanently this spring.

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru