salesman

Wednesday August 21, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 21, 2019

Ford government unveils revised cuts to funding for municipalities

May 23, 2019

Local taxpayers will feel the pinch of higher costs for new daycare spaces and public health programs under funding changes from Premier Doug Ford’s government, critics say, with Mayor John Tory warning of “significant” impacts on Toronto’s finances.

The province unveiled its revised plan Monday, just three months after backing down on retroactive and controversial cuts to public health, daycare and ambulance services in the face of stiff criticism from Tory and other leaders after municipal budgets were set for the year.

“We recognize our government moved quickly when we came into office,” Ford told about 2,000 delegates at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa. “But we’ve listened to you.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath suggested Ford’s listening skills have not improved.

“This morning, Doug Ford confirmed that the countdown to devastating cuts is on,” she said in a statement. “He’s slashing things like public health and child care, things that keep families safe and healthy, and throwing the problems his cuts will create at the feet of municipal councils.”

The changes take effect in January, including a move first announced in the provincial government’s spring budget to make municipalities pay 20 per cent of the cost of new daycare spaces — which had been fully funded by the province.

Carolyn Ferns with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care said the change will be challenging for municipalities that agreed to expand child care in their communities on the understanding that Queen’s Park would pick up the full cost.

“It’s going to create a chill for any municipality thinking about expanding child care,” Ferns said. “If suddenly they can be on the hook for more of the cost — and with all the other budget pressures they are facing under this government — they are just not going to do it.” (Toronto Star) 

 

Saturday August 29, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday August 29, 2015 Justin Trudeau alters election equation with deficit-spending gamble Justin Trudeau has just broken this election campaign wide open. His Liberals have chucked the balanced-budget pledge, at least in the short term, to promise economic growth instead. And now Mr. Trudeau gets to offer a different economic policy. It makes the Liberals the interventionist party, the only party willing to tell voters theyÕd spend substantially more in the short term in a bid to get a slow economy rolling. ItÕs in part an effort to outflank NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, who wonÕt make those kinds of promises. Many Canadians want a more interventionist approach: A Nanos Research poll released Wednesday found 54 per cent say they support a new round of deficit spending to boost the economy. But it is a big gamble with a charged political symbol, the deficit. Mr. Trudeau is walking right into Conservative Leader Stephen HarperÕs accusation that heÕd increase the national debt. Still, the economy is the issue, and the Liberal Leader has altered the election equation. Until now, all parties had accepted they were constrained by more or less the same shackles: balanced budgets, and roughly the same tax rates, give or take a small shift of the burden toward one group or another. That meant big money wasnÕt available. Parties could shift a few billion dollars around, and then claim their child benefits or child care or tax breaks were the best plan. But one major option Ð using the federal treasury in a bid to boost economic growth Ð was more or less off the table. It takes billions and billions to have any real hope of nudging growth in an economy the size of CanadaÕs. Now, Mr. Trudeau has thrown off the restraints and said heÕll run deficits of up to $10-billion a year for three years in order to allow for a multibillion-dollar increase in spending on infrastructure, raising it from $5.1-billion t

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 29, 2015

Justin Trudeau alters election equation with deficit-spending gamble

Justin Trudeau has just broken this election campaign wide open. His Liberals have chucked the balanced-budget pledge, at least in the short term, to promise economic growth instead. And now Mr. Trudeau gets to offer a different economic policy.

2009

It makes the Liberals the interventionist party, the only party willing to tell voters they’d spend substantially more in the short term in a bid to get a slow economy rolling.

2008

It’s in part an effort to outflank NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, who won’t make those kinds of promises. Many Canadians want a more interventionist approach: A Nanos Research poll released Wednesday found 54 per cent say they support a new round of deficit spending to boost the economy.

But it is a big gamble with a charged political symbol, the deficit. Mr. Trudeau is walking right into Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s accusation that he’d increase the national debt. Still, the economy is the issue, and the Liberal Leader has altered the election equation.

June 5, 1997 Canada, Deficit, debt, whale, fish, fishing, Liberal, Jean Chretien, Paul Martin, economy

1997

Until now, all parties had accepted they were constrained by more or less the same shackles: balanced budgets, and roughly the same tax rates, give or take a small shift of the burden toward one group or another.

That meant big money wasn’t available. Parties could shift a few billion dollars around, and then claim their child benefits or child care or tax breaks were the best plan. But one major option – using the federal treasury in a bid to boost economic growth – was more or less off the table. It takes billions and billions to have any real hope of nudging growth in an economy the size of Canada’s.

Justin Trump | Available at the MacKaycartoons Boutique Cartoon by Graeme MacKay. A one-time print license has been extended to Redbubble.com. Unauthorized use is prohibited. All kinds of stickers, greeting cards, postcards, framed prints and t-shirts displaying the illustrations of Graeme MacKay are available for purchase through Redbubble via http://www.redbubble.com/people/mackaycartoons Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump, Election, Canada, Canadian, politics, hair A one-time print license has been extended to Redbubble.com. Unauthorized use is prohibited. All kinds of stickers, greeting cards, postcards, framed prints and t-shirts displaying the illustrations of Graeme MacKay are available for purchase through Redbubble via http://www.redbubble.com/people/mackaycartoons

Now, Mr. Trudeau has thrown off the restraints and said he’ll run deficits of up to $10-billion a year for three years in order to allow for a multibillion-dollar increase in spending on infrastructure, raising it from $5.1-billion to $10.2-billion next year. He’s gone where no other leader will go. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

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July 13, 2010

L E T T E R to the E D I T O R
I thought it was quite rich, comparing Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s tour with old time hucksters.

Over the last four and half years, the people of Canada have been given promises and assurances by the current Prime Minister before each election.

January 2006 “Vote for me…I won’t tax income trusts.” Within eight months of being sworn in, the Conservative government reversed its course and taxed income trusts.

September 2008 “Vote for me..the only way there will be a deficit is if a Liberal government is elected.” Within two months of being sworn in, the Conservatives were predicting a deficit.

“Vote for me..if you want a transparent and accountable government.” Twice within a short period of time, the Prime Minister has prorogued parliament and avoided answering to the majority demand of the House of Commons to provide information on Afghanistan. Two months after an “agreement” was made between all parties, not a single credible document has been handed over.

I agree we should be wary of hucksters. We have been living with a snake oil salesman for the last four years.

N. Houston, Dundas