Premier Doug Ford's Ontario

[steveintoronto]

As was mentioned here somewhere before, if you pay a dollar for a beer, it will taste like beer made for a dollar.

I wonder if they have 'buck an appendectomy' in their quiver.

Ouch! Your statement is facetious, but not far-fetched. It's so contrary to true conservative values to dumb-down the acuity of the professions. But this is a regime that detests anything better than they are.

Nothing spells quality like a plain yellow and black label and a name like "Beer".

To call that "beer" (and I'm only an occasional beer drinker, but loved Stella when in Europe) is to call Cheez-Whiz "cheese". It's swill, not beer. (You couldn't sell it as "beer" in nations where beer originated)

I don’t think large businesses are really part of Ford’s base. Large businesses are generally more aligned with contemporary Liberal philosophy than Conservative populism. Conservative populists Like Ford openly attack big business.

Nothing puts a perspective on this as well as the following (and true Conservatives are as horrified with Ford as socialists are)

Cancellation of German-owned Ontario wind project prompts warning from Berlin

SHAWN MCCARTHY GLOBAL ENERGY REPORTER
OTTAWA
PUBLISHED JULY 23, 2018 UPDATED JULY 24, 2018
72 COMMENTS

[...]
Ontario’s move to cancel the contract of a German-owned wind energy project represents a black mark for the province in the eyes of foreign investors, Berlin’s ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, warned Monday.

The German government and multinational companies have taken note of Premier Doug Ford’s decision to pull the plug on wpd AG’s White Pines wind project in Prince Edward County, as well as the bill now before the legislature that will allow the province to set limits on what compensation is provided, Ms. Sparwasser said in a telephone interview.

“Obviously, every incoming government has the right to change policy direction,” she said. “But to have a unilateral cancellation pushed through by law that way is unsettling for the company, but is also something that will unsettle other potential investors."

The ambassador’s warning was echoed by John Manley, president of the Business Council of Canada, which represents chief executive officers of the country’s largest firms.

In a letter to Premier Ford dated Monday, Mr. Manley urged the provincial government to reconsider the cancellation, saying it is sending the wrong signal as the premier declares the province “open for business.”

[...]“In your dealings with renewable power developers, we urge you to consider carefully the potential lasting negative effects that arbitrary actions can have on investor confidence,” Mr. Manley wrote. “Among Ontario’s strengths are its reputation for fair dealing and respect for the rule of law. Many of the business leaders I represent are concerned that this hard-earned reputation is at risk.”

[...]Ms. Sparwasser said German companies have been significant investors in Canada, with 70 per cent of that activity occurring in Ontario. Ontario has always had a very very strong reputation for being very trustworthy, for being a good place you can do business," she said. “So we appeal to the Ontario government to rethink this because not only German investors, but other investors will look at what’s happening in the White Pines case.”
[...]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/bus...ed-ontario-wind-project-prompts-warning-from/

But take special note of this dissenting opinion:

[...]
“It should always be seen as risky to enter into 20-year contracts with any government that has a four-year mandate," he said in an e-mail on Monday. "It is always legitimate for a new government with a different agenda to change the policies of its predecessor. If it were not so, a government could control policy long after its democratic mandate was over by making long-term contracts on all sorts of things.”

Which implies far more than intended.

What corporation in their right mind would invest in Ontario's future in a deal with the present Cons? Bear in mind that investment is protected in many jurisdictions under various agreements and statutes. But not Ontario. "Open for Business?" Who with? The Mob?

 

[narduch]

I don’t think large businesses are really part of Ford’s base. Large businesses are generally more aligned with contemporary Liberal philosophy than Conservative populism. Conservative populists Like Ford openly attack big business.

On a previous discussion point one thing I don’t get about Ontario’s fiscal picture is that while we are being fed that Ontario spends the least per capital on services, Ontario also has one of the highest top marginal tax rates. People with high incomes contrary to popular opinion pay the largest chunk of taxes. So my question is if both of those assertions are correct who is paying less tax in Ontario to create the fiscal shortfall? How can we both be spending less and taking in more revenue from the prime revenue generating group?

Well we know that he has support from large developers. The Ontario Proud donor list is telling

 

[Videodrome]

Paul G.
@Paul__G__

Some of @samoosterhoff's constituents met him at his town hall meeting at a Legion Hall in Grimsby. But when the #Handmaids came out in numbers protesting his anti-abortion stance, he called the cops on them! So much for peaceful protest! #onpoli #HandmaidsLocal #ProChoiceBecause

https://www.thestar.com/politics/pr...a&utm_campaign=&utm_campaign_id=&utm_content=

He called the cops on people dressed as handmaids...

 

[adma]

I don’t think large businesses are really part of Ford’s base. Large businesses are generally more aligned with contemporary Liberal philosophy than Conservative populism. Conservative populists Like Ford openly attack big business.

It's sort of like the difference between architectural firms and design/build operations. (And a lot of Ford's developer fundraiser base would rather move the needle on behalf of the latter. We've come a long, sad away from the teams responsible for developments like Don Mills et al)

 

[zang]

I don’t think large businesses are really part of Ford’s base. Large businesses are generally more aligned with contemporary Liberal philosophy than Conservative populism. Conservative populists Like Ford openly attack big business.

Ford attacks big business in public in the abstract, but panders to them in the specific in legislation.

On a previous discussion point one thing I don’t get about Ontario’s fiscal picture is that while we are being fed that Ontario spends the least per capital on services, Ontario also has one of the highest top marginal tax rates. People with high incomes contrary to popular opinion pay the largest chunk of taxes. So my question is if both of those assertions are correct who is paying less tax in Ontario to create the fiscal shortfall? How can we both be spending less and taking in more revenue from the prime revenue generating group?

Marginal Tax Rate is different than the Effective Tax Rate and far more than many "job creators" actually pay after deductions get factored in. Regardless, my point was about business. Ontario produces over ¼ of the entirety of Canada's GDP, but corporations have fought to push the burden of funding the government onto the people (where 60 years ago it was equally funded by the people and business). Now, the people fund the government by 3.5x more than business. There's no reason, when we're the economic powerhouse of the country, that our business shouldn't be paying their fair share.

The high cost of low corporate taxes

Canada's biggest corporations are using complex techniques and tax loopholes to pay far less than the official corporate tax rate. A Toronto Star-Corporate Knights #investigation

projects.thestar.com

 

[Northern Light]

On a previous discussion point one thing I don’t get about Ontario’s fiscal picture is that while we are being fed that Ontario spends the least per capital on services, Ontario also has one of the highest top marginal tax rates.

Where did you get this information? Its wrong!

https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/ca/pdf/2018/01/federal-and-provincial-income-tax-rates-and-brackets-for-2018.pdf

The top marginal tax rate in Ontario is 13.16%

The following provinces have higher rates, BC, Alberta, Sask, Quebec, Nfld, NS, PEI and NB

If you want to add the surtax (which is fair) the numbers will be higher.

But try plugging in $200,000 in annual income here: https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/...al-income-tax-rates-and-brackets-for-2018.pdf

Ontario still comes in below Quebec, every Atlantic province and Manitoba for mean income tax on that amount. (which more accurately reflects what is paid than using the marginal rate)

Keep in mind, Ontario has the lowest entry level tax bracket at 5.05%

***

As noted elsewhere we also have a lower sales tax than 5 other provinces by 2 points.

I don't happen to support higher income tax rates; what I do support is eliminating is eliminating lower rates for capital gains, virtually every tax shelter and deduction.

Then splitting the savings three ways, roughly 1/3 fiscal balance (eliminating the deficit), 1/3 to raising the basic tax-free exemption, and 1/3 to new/enhanced government programs.

I also support raising taxes on business to slightly below the historic norms, in Ontario that would be 13% on business of all sizes and types, with no accelerated capital cost allowance, no r&d credits, etc.

That money could be used to eliminate one unproductive tax on business which is the education tax, then a small portion to further raise the basic personal amount, and the balance to support new/enhanced government programs.

 

[jje1000]

Coming in from continued cuts to Stem Cell and AI research on top of widespread cuts nearly everywhere, I strongly think the Conservatives are frontloading the big cuts in the first part of their mandate. Any significant cuts past the second year of the mandate would likely be too much for the voter base to stomach (especially coming off of recent polls showing the Conservatives trailing the NDP).

I think they're banking on voter amnesia closer to the election- expect endless news about a reduced deficit and a slew of pre-election goodie announcement to sway voters back.

 

[Admiral Beez]

He called the cops on people dressed as handmaids...

I always think how ridiculous it is that folks dress up as fictional characters to protest. Is there not anything from our actual history these protestors could find inspiring? Perhaps they’ll dress as Ewoks at the next be kind to animals protest?

 

[Videodrome]

The Handmaids have become the default symbol for women's rights

 

[PinkLucy]

There's a reason they dress up as Handmaids. It's making a very definite statement. Fiction is starting to become too close to reality.

 

[Thinker]

I always think how ridiculous it is that folks dress up as fictional characters to protest. Is there not anything from our actual history these protestors could find inspiring? Perhaps they’ll dress as Ewoks at the next be kind to animals protest?

It's a protest and stating that women are not anyone's property nor should a man have a say in what women can do with their bodies or forced to give birth to an unwanted child. Men have the same rights, the difference being no woman has ever demanded so otherwise. Have you read the book or watched the Handmaids series? Sam is still a snot nosed child and needs to grow up and the police needs to have a talk with him. Perhaps he should hire his own guards, I am sure his church could afford him the luxury.

 

[tiffer24]

Most Ford supporters have no idea who she is, but you can still get that Margaret Atwood book at the li-berry...

 

[Videodrome]

[B]Joe Cressy[/B]‏Verified account @[B]joe_cressy[/B] 3h3 hours ago
More
Breaking new Environics poll: 83% of Ontarians and 56% of PC voters oppose Doug Ford’s cuts to public health. In a word, the poll is simply devastating for the government.

They sure did burn bridges fast.

 

[tiffer24]

Will Doug force the city of Toronto into another expensive line-by-line audit, like 2014?

Premier Doug Ford is set to announce an unspecified measure concerning municipalities as they continue to decry cuts to public health units, subsidized childcare and tourism promotion.

Ford will speak to the chambers of commerce from Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa on Tuesday afternoon about “next steps forward to support our municipal partners,” according to the Premier’s Office.

Tory said any demand that Toronto undergo another detailed audit, similar to one performed in 2014 to find new savings, would be viewed as a “stunt.”

“If all the province says they’re going to do is give us some money for a line by line audit, which we already do, without any willingness to discuss the way we will save money or when these cuts will take effect, I would view it more as a public relations stunt.”

https://www.cp24.com/news/ford-to-a...al-partners-amid-backlash-over-cuts-1.4430823

 

[steveintoronto]

They sure did burn bridges fast.

"For The People". Which ones?