executioner

Tuesday May 24, 2011

 

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday May 24, 2011 Clement won't rule out program cuts: reports Treasury Board head Tony Clement said he would consider shutting entire programs and shrinking the public service to help produce a balanced budget by 2014-2015, according to reports. Clement was named Treasury Board president on Wednesday, taking over from Stockwell Day, and is tasked with finding savings in other government departments to reduce the deficit, which is projected this year to be $29.6 billion. On Wednesday, Clement acknowledged that a preferred option for saving money would be through attrition, or cutting public service jobs when people leave or retire. But on Thursday, he elaborated, telling the Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen newspapers that cuts could mean entire programs are shuttered. Programs that might have been important 30 years ago may no longer be the best way to spend public money today, he said. Patty Ducharme, the national executive vice-president for the Public Sector Alliance of Canada, the largest public sector union, said she was not surprised by the news. Ever since the government first talked about reducing staff through attrition, public service unions have said such a plan was not possible or practical. "I'm dismayed though, given the fact that what this government has been saying leading up to the election was that there would be job reductions, but those reductions would come through attrition and nothing more than attrition," Ducharme said. "One day into the job and now he's telling the truth. Thanks Tony." Ducharme said she was at a loss as to which government programs might be targeted. (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/clement-won-t-rule-out-program-cuts-reports-1.1036385 Canada, Conservative,Tony Clement, Muskoka, G8, Summit, gazebo, spending, cuts, austerity, executioner, guillotine

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday May 24, 2011

Clement won’t rule out program cuts: reports

Treasury Board head Tony Clement said he would consider shutting entire programs and shrinking the public service to help produce a balanced budget by 2014-2015, according to reports.

Clement was named Treasury Board president on Wednesday, taking over from Stockwell Day, and is tasked with finding savings in other government departments to reduce the deficit, which is projected this year to be $29.6 billion.

On Wednesday, Clement acknowledged that a preferred option for saving money would be through attrition, or cutting public service jobs when people leave or retire.

But on Thursday, he elaborated, telling the Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen newspapers that cuts could mean entire programs are shuttered. Programs that might have been important 30 years ago may no longer be the best way to spend public money today, he said.

Patty Ducharme, the national executive vice-president for the Public Sector Alliance of Canada, the largest public sector union, said she was not surprised by the news. Ever since the government first talked about reducing staff through attrition, public service unions have said such a plan was not possible or practical.

“I’m dismayed though, given the fact that what this government has been saying leading up to the election was that there would be job reductions, but those reductions would come through attrition and nothing more than attrition,” Ducharme said.

“One day into the job and now he’s telling the truth. Thanks Tony.”

Ducharme said she was at a loss as to which government programs might be targeted. (Source: CBC News)

 

Friday February 6, 2004

February 6, 2004

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 6, 2004

Will French schtick choke Cherry?

Don Cherry’s voice is as loud as the garish suits he wears. No surprise there. He’s an outspoken fixture on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.

He’s spent years perfecting the persona he puts out for public consumption. Sure, hockey’s the topic, but when it comes right down to it, Cherry is an entertainer. He’s a personality. He’s loud, he’s brash, he’s opinionated. He’s also a snappy dresser. That’s Cherry’s schtick.

So should he be assessed a penalty — maybe even a game misconduct — for his latest high-schticking incident?

He’s under investigation by the federal official languages commissioner, who’s looking into alleged anti-French remarks Cherry made on air.

Cherry’s choice of words is often inappropriate, sometimes offensive. He plays the buffoon and occasionally goes too far. Even so, we wouldn’t want to see him benched. But we’d have no problem with a firm warning. (CP)