Politics in Ontario goes south

It will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to cancel already signed power plant projects in Ontario. Ontario is now forced to pay cancellation fees and the costs for moving the power plants to another location and constructing them there. The current premier resigned and then adjourned (prorogued) Parliament just a few days before a hearing was to start an investigation into the power plant cancellation issue.

There have been some good initiatives from Ontario's government: Green Energy, limiting urban sprawl, all day kindergarten, labor peace for most of his mandate, a bailout of the auto companies etc., however they have now been overshadowed by Ontario's fiscal situation, labor issues, E-health over spending and now the power plant costs. Just one year ago the premier won a minority government The power plant issue investigation should move forward to find the truth.

When did it become so popular to prorogue government? Most of us had never even heard of this until about 10 years ago when it was started by Mr. Harper and now is happening all the time, with two levels of government. Proroguing Parliament or the Legislature should have strict guidelines. 75% of MP's (or MLA's) should vote in favor of it, and it should have to be approved by either the Governor General (for federal) or the Lt. Governor (for provincial). It should not be used because "you can't get your way". It should only be permissible to prorogue for a maximum of one week. After one week, then back to work, and session had better go one week longer. After all, politicians are paid - very generously - to be working for us, not taking extra vacation. If they don't go back to work in a week, then call an election.

Ontario is facing a debt crisis. Jobs are disappearing. The province is crumbling and the premier shuts down the legislature when we need it most. How can anyone support these politicians? Hugo Chavez won re-election with 55% of the votes cast and the Western press calls him a dictator. McGuinty and Harper with twenty points less dismiss the elected assembly and our "pundits" declare that he 'had little choice. I think our "free press" needs to be called on this bias. The refusal of party leaders to work together to solve the problems facing those they represent displays for all of us to see their interest is not to govern well but to have absolute power and control over us for as long as they possibly can.

The pay freeze is a good example. Its important for Ontario to be fiscally conservative in an era of $16 billion deficits. All three leaders in a minority government situation are equally responsible to see that happen. This is a fundamental flaw in the parliamentary processes of Canada; that a party leader can be a Premier or Prime Minister indefinitely. A Prime Minister or Premier who rules more than two terms does not necessarily mean that they were an effective leader - it indicates that they "appeared to be better" than their opposition.

Next election choose Wisely chose independent candidates who may respond to your influence.