Premier Doug Ford's Ontario

[PinkLucy]

How is it fake news? @tiffer24 quoted "increasing by as much as 11%". And Ford promised major reform, which hasn't happened. So #accuratenews

 

[W. K. Lis]

Auto insurance rates in Ontario are increasing by as much as 11 per cent this year, despite promises from the Ford government to reduce premiums.

Radio-Canada has learned that the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario has given the green light to increases in automobile insurance premiums for some 20 insurance companies in the province, with some insurers approved to increases rates by just over 11 per cent and others by around 10 per cent.

The Ford government promised major reform of the auto insurance system back in April of 2019 when its first budget was tabled.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/auto-insurance-ontario-1.5458360

From link...
FSRA is established as a self-funded Crown corporation with a Board of Directors consisting of members who are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance. The Authority is accountable, through the Minister, to the Ontario Legislature.

 

[W. K. Lis]

How to improve the funding for education, public transit, and healthcare?


Unpacking Canada’s Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Their size, impacts and why they must go

From link.`

Oil, gas and coal are multi-billion-dollar industries, yet every year fossil fuel companies get billions in tax breaks and handouts that increase their profits even further. In a world that’s shifting to clean energy, Canada could get left behind if these subsidies don’t change. Fossil fuel subsidies also work against other climate change actions, incentivizing the very pollution we’re trying to stop. Canada committed to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies 10 years ago—but even after a decade there are still large subsidies to fossil fuel production. Taxes and subsidies are a complicated topic, so we created this website to explain federal and provincial subsidies in Canada. We’ll cut through the jargon, so you can understand what’s really happening, debate it, and propose solutions for Canadians and Canada’s economy.

A subsidy is a financial benefit that the government gives, usually to a specific business, group or industry. There are debates about the difference between “subsidy” and the broader term “support,” but that’s a pretty good plain English definition. (It’s also roughly how the World Trade Organization defines the term.) This financial benefit can be a direct handout of cash or a tax break. Either way, it’s more money in the pocket of whoever receives the subsidy. Fossil fuel subsidies go to fossil fuel producers or consumers—whether it’s for extracting oil, shipping gas through a pipeline or burning fossil fuels for energy.

It’s difficult to know, because federal and provincial governments haven’t come clean about how much they really spend on fossil fuel subsidies. From what we do know, it’s in the billions of dollars. That includes measures like special tax deductions and direct cash that governments hand to fossil fuel companies. You can find a list of some of the largest subsidies below. Examples of federal subsidies include tax breaks like flow-through shares, which incentivize oil, gas and mining exploration, and research and development support programs, like those provided by Natural Resources Canada. Examples of provincial subsidies include crown royalty reductions in Alberta valued at an average of CAD 1.16 billion and deep drilling and infrastructure credits in British Columbia valued at an average of CAD 247 million from 2015 to 2018.

What do fossil fuel subsidies cost me?

Canada’s subsidies represent a lot of money. Let’s put it in perspective.

• They would pay for education for nearly 235,000 students (Canada’s average annual spending per student is $12,791).
• It would offer job training for 300,000 workers (Canada Job Grants provide up to $10,000 to help workers gain the right skills).
• It would pay for annual health care costs for 470,000 people (Canada spends $6,383 per person on health care each year)

Wouldn’t you rather this money be spent on issues that matter to Canadians?

So subsidies are expensive and they cost me money. Is that why they are a problem?

Yes, but it gets worse. Fossil fuel subsidies also undo the other climate change actions that Canada is taking. For example, the federal government recently introduced carbon pricing across Canada. By making carbon pollution more expensive, carbon pricing encourages us to pollute less. Just like Canada’s past success in stopping acid rain, putting a price on carbon pollution is a key part of the global fight against climate change. But through money and tax breaks, fossil fuel subsidies increase the same pollution that we’re trying to lower. Rather than making pollution expensive, they make it cheaper. This is like raising taxes on cigarettes to discourage smoking, while also giving tobacco companies tax breaks so they can make more cigarettes and profits. To make matters worse, fossil fuel subsidies disadvantage clean energy because they make it cheaper to produce or burn fossil energy. If even a small portion of subsidy savings were swapped to support renewable energy or energy efficiency, we could make a faster shift to an economically stable, climate-safe future. That sounds like a pretty good alternative compared to getting locked into dangerous climate change and unhealthy pollution!

Is the government doing anything about this?

In short: a lot of talk, and some action, but not yet enough. At the provincial level, there have been very few efforts to reform subsidies. At the federal level, Canada committed to phase out “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies way back in 2009, as part of the G20. Later, they said they’d phase them out by 2025. Canada still hasn’t taken the necessary steps to live up to these promises. The good news is that the federal government changed some of its tax policies over the past few years, which lowered some of the subsidies that fossil fuel companies can claim. They also pledged to phase out coal power by 2030. With 2025 right around the corner, we still have a lot of work to do—and fast. As part of its G20 commitment, the federal government is doing what’s called a “peer review” with Argentina. Through this process, Canada is evaluating “inefficient” federal fossil fuel subsidies. To inform the peer review, they even opened a public consultation on Canada’s non-tax subsidies. But overall, the process isn’t entirely clear, and we don’t know which subsidies will or won’t be considered “inefficient,” or even which subsidies will be reviewed. IISD is following the peer review process and will keep our readers updated as it progresses.

What should Canada do?

To start, the federal and provincial governments should stop introducing new subsidies for fossil fuel companies. We also shouldn’t be extending the lifespan of any existing subsidies that are scheduled to expire. Second, governments should be up front with Canadians about how much money they spend on fossil fuel subsidies each year. Third, Canada should announce when it will end existing fossil fuel subsidies, to keep our G20 promise.

 

[SunriseChampion]

^hahahaaa.....but mah jooooobs

Adapt or die....I though that was the motto of life on this planet.

 

[Jasmine18]

Think it's time to put a public option for auto insurance.

You cant force people to buy insurance and then make it unaffordable.

Also its deeply shameful that the highest insurance rates are mostly against the poor and minority areas which makes things worse.

 

[tiffer24]

NEW: @TorontoStar poll by @campaignre:

@OntarioPCParty 30% (40.5% in the 2018 election)
@OntLiberal 30% (19.6%)
@OntarioNDP 26% (33.6%)
@OntarioGreens 11% (4.6%)

Premier Doug Ford’s approval is -32%. (It was -50%.)

https://www.thestar.com/politics/pr...-parties-splits-three-ways-poll-suggests.html

 

[Northern Light]

NEW: @TorontoStar poll by @campaignre:

@OntarioPCParty 30% (40.5% in the 2018 election)
@OntLiberal 30% (19.6%)
@OntarioNDP 26% (33.6%)
@OntarioGreens 11% (4.6%)

Premier Doug Ford’s approval is -32%. (It was -50%.)

https://www.thestar.com/politics/pr...-parties-splits-three-ways-poll-suggests.html

This is the contrast that interests me, from the same article linked above:

Take a look at that! The presumptive leader of the Liberals name lowers the party's standing by 11 points.

?

 

[Jasmine18]

This is the contrast that interests me, from the same article linked above:

View attachment 230593
View attachment 230594

Take a look at that! The presumptive leader of the Liberals name lowers the party's standing by 11 points.

?

Well its like how Liberals were far more popular then the Conservatives federally but Trudeau personal baggage turned off 1+ million liberal voters from 2015.

 

[SunriseChampion]

Think it's time to put a public option for auto insurance.

Sure, I guess.

You cant force people to buy insurance and then make it unaffordable.

That's just a simple mechanism of demand causing inflation.

Also its deeply shameful that the highest insurance rates are mostly against the poor and minority areas which makes things worse.

They aren't higher because the people are poor or minorities.

 

[Jasmine18]

Sure, I guess.



That's just a simple mechanism of demand causing inflation.



They aren't higher because the people are poor or minorities.

Well what ever the reason having something forced for people to buy becoming expensive to people who can least afford it is regressive.

 

[AlbertC]

Ford government losing support in ongoing war with teachers, poll suggests

Colin D'Mello Queen's Park Bureau Chief and Videojournalist, CTV News Toronto

Published Wednesday, February 12, 2020 6:25AM EST

Ford government losing support in ongoing war with teachers, poll suggests

Ontario's Progressive Conservative party is losing support in PC-held ridings, according to a new poll which suggests the government’s ongoing war with the education unions could jeopardize some MPPs' chances of re-election.

toronto.ctvnews.ca

 

[W. K. Lis]

About those day care cheques to parents when the schools are on strike.

Are they taxable? Do they have to pay income tax next year? Is there a tax withholding on them (don't think so)?

 

[W. K. Lis]

If Doug Ford wasn't wasting our time by continuing to degrade our education system, maybe they'll be actually helping our students.

Only the large school bus driver is required to have a seat belt. Same as in Ontario.

From link.

The Northern Local Schools bus struck a 1996 Ford Mustang, whose driver failed to stop at a red light at an intersection in Perry County on Dec. 19, according to KRON 4.

Danny Hupp, 74, the driver, remained calm throughout the ordeal and told the students to get out through the windows and the emergency exit if they could.

Eight students and Hupp were taken to Licking Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the news outlet reported.

The driver of the Mustang, Joseph Thornton, 42, who was driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash, was taken to Mount Carmel East Hospital with serious injuries, police said.

Would Doug spend money to install and use seat belts on school buses? No, it cost money, so we can't. Saving money is more important than children or safety, for Doug.

 

[lenaitch]

Would Doug spend money to install and use seat belts on school buses? No, it cost money, so we can't. Saving money is more important than children or safety, for Doug.

I don't think he could if he wanted to unless federal vehicle standards are changed.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I don't think he could if he wanted to unless federal vehicle standards are changed.

From link.

...This is one of the reasons we allow provinces, territories and school bus operators to decide whether to install seat belts. They are ultimately responsible for school bus operations...

...School bus operators, provinces and territories manage seat belt use on school buses...

Provinces and territories, and school bus operators, must cover the cost of installing seat belts without reducing the number of school buses in operation. School buses are the safest way to get students to and from school. A shortage of school buses means children are more at risk on our roads.