Ted Chudleigh Blog

A report out today by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade suggests a worse case scenario of 517,000 job losses in Ontario if the auto industry collapses.

We are unlikely to see a worst case, but we’ve never seen a worse one. There is no getting around it, significant job losses will occur if the auto industry is not helped.

Economic doom and gloom is the order of the day – and for good reason – many Ontarians are going to struggle for a while. However, the North American auto industry still sells many hundreds of thousands of vehicles each year. Despite problems among the Big Three, and they are legion, there are plenty of people who love North American made cars and trucks.

The auto industry isn’t going to disappear, but it might disappear from Canada without our participation. If government bridge loans can help it change significantly and emerge leaner, more efficient, and better managed, then thousands of Ontario jobs will be saved.

There are other good reasons to help the auto industry, not the least of which is the cascading affect that deep cuts to the industry will have on our economy. However, any help from the government must come with strings unpleasant enough to discourage the entire economy from coming cap in hand for money as this deep recession cycles through our economy. The taxpayers need to know that they will benefit from a strengthened industry at the end of the process, and avoid a rather unpleasant future.

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Well, the McGuinty Liberals have backed down on their proposal to limit the number of young people in a car driven by a teenager.

On the surface it seems they showed reasonableness not often displayed by government and bowed to the pressure of thousands of northern and rural teens in particular. These young people cannot rely on public transit to get around their communities.

However, most governments carefully vet proposed legislation prior to proposing it, thereby making their proposals reasonable before the public hears them. The McGuinty Liberals approach government in the opposite way – first proposing something and then having it pointed out to them that their proposals have more holes than a pasta strainer.

In the end their legislation makes bad law where only a well organized resistance is able to force changes and it reflects loud and well funded special interests.

The Liberals have created an industry in legislatively banning things – from pit bulls which cannot be definitively identified, to unpasteurized cheeses which have been consumed safely for centuries. Now they are big on banning youths under 14 from riding as passengers on motorcycles.

It’s the nanny state run wild, where the government in its zeal to protect citizens from the bogeyman, becomes the bogeyman.

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Nov12, 2008

Fiscal prudence is something that governments should practice even in a booming economy. However, when times are tough it is imperative. Unfortunately the McGuinty Liberal government has two strikes against them on this issue, being neither prudent in good times or now, as the economic storm approaches.

Premier McGuinty should freeze public service hiring. Under his watch public sector employment is up 20 per cent and labour costs are up an astounding 59 per cent. Currently there are 154 jobs posted on the Ontario Public Service website with half those jobs paying $80,000 or more.

Of course specific front line jobs would be exempt but a freeze on hiring and salaries, a cut to administration costs, travel costs, and advertising would go a long way to reduce costs and help avoid a deficit.

Without the implementation of those basic spending constraints the McGuinty Liberals are demonstrating they aren’t even trying. That, when they should be trying hard to protect your tax dollars and Ontario’s fiscal health.

November 7, 2008

This is about par for the course with the McGuinty Liberal government. Committee hearings to allow taxpayers an opportunity to express concerns about the Liberals’ Fall Economic Outlook legislation were held the day after the filing deadline for any proposed changes.

The hearings were for show.

In addition the Liberal’s allowed less than 90 minutes for public input.

It’s not like there aren’t serious issues in the bill which allows new government spending, lessens requirements of Minister’s availability during Question Period and reduces the frequency of property assessment notifications to once every four years.

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Sometimes you just have to shake your head. Yesterday the McGuinty Liberals voted against a proposal to call an inquiry into Ontario’s bail system.

The idea was introduced by PC house leader Bob Runciman in the wake of a string of murders allegedly committed by people out on bail.

The flood of stories of this kind is tragic. Ontarians should be protected on their own streets. The justice system isn’t doing enough to protect the public. The Liberals refuse to acknowledge that anyone other than themselves can have a good idea, and that such ideas should be acted upon.

Sadly, they are not in the least bit shamed by their action. However, more Ontarians will be caught in the cross fire of violent crime committed by people who shouldn’t be at liberty to roam our streets.

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The Oakville Beaver came out with their endorsement of Conservative
Party of Canada candidates Terrence Young in Oakville and Lisa Raitt in
Halton in the upcoming federal election. They had kind words for both
CPC candidates but were not supportive of the Liberals.
Their reasoning was damning.
The Beaver said, “Our distrust is based on history. Liberals, both
federally and provincially, are well known for promising one thing on
the campaign and delivering another when elected to office.
Those with long memories will remember their opposition to
wage-and-price controls in the 1970s. Others will remember their
opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the
GST. All policies the Liberals opposed in elections, but supported once
in office.
Sorry, we have been betrayed too many times by previous Liberal regimes
to trust them.”
Ouch.
They weren’t any kinder to Garth Tuner, the Liberal candidate in Halton.
According to the Beaver, “In the 2006 federal election he ran
successfully for the Conservative Party by bashing the Liberal Party.
Two years later, he speaks glowingly of the Liberal Party and reserves
his venomous attacks for his Conservative opponent and her party’s
leader.
Frankly, it sounds like Turner will say anything to get himself
elected.”
Now that’s going to leave a mark.
Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday. Good people gave their lives so you
would have that opportunity. Show that you value their sacrifice.

I had the chance to speak to CHCH News. Yesterday, Halton reporter Lisa
Hefner did a story suggesting Halton Region will withhold building
permits until the Provincial Government ponies up the cash to get the
Oakville and Milton hospital projects on the fast track.
They’ll make their decision at the end of the month.
Apparently Regional Councillors are concerned that our population in
Halton is rising much faster than our local health care infrastructure
can handle and they want to pressure the McGuinty Liberals into moving
ahead. The Liberals have delayed the Oakville project by at least a year
and the Milton project is slated to begin after Oakville, so it is
effectively delayed as well.
The petition and letter campaign is having an impact. I have been
pushing this issue at Queen’s Park and it appears its beginning to get
some traction.

It’s not entirely comforting - however, after months of touting our
economic troubles as a major concern, only to have Premier McGuinty
ignore me - it’s nice to see the economy has grabbed everyone’s
attention.

Unfortunately, the attention it has grabbed, as concerns about the US
financial crisis grow, is in addition to the concerns I have been
speaking about. Certainly the US crisis could affect Ontario as the US
demand for manufactured goods is reduced. However, our banks are solid
and apparently only lightly affected by problems south of the border.

It is the solutions the US adopts that might further affect Ontario’s
economy. There is talk of significant interest rate and tax reductions
for business. This will force businesses and the jobs they provide
south. No matter what transpires Ontario’s business climate is competing
with everyone else and must remain competitive.

And that competitiveness is something the McGuinty Liberals don’t seem
to want to acknowledge or tackle. Their options are disappearing as time
goes by. I’m looking for a change in direction from them in the fall
economic statement on Oct 22nd.