McGoontyland Next Battleground...

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  South Africa: Civil servants strike

  Government employees close schools, hospitals and challenge President Jacob Zuma and ANC.
  

Alternative: Layoffs/Termination? Take Your Pick Sid!

Unions believe court ruling stops Ont. from reopening contracts to fight deficit

November 09, 2009

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberal government has raised the idea of unpaid days off for public sector...

Peace At Queens Park..McGinty In Bed With Unions

Ontario’s Min.of Ed nixes school comparisons
An article in today’s National Post is a must read. Entitled “Wynne deletes web feature comparing schools,” it is written by Dave Bowden and is a real eye opener about who runs the education ministry in the province of Ontario and it is not the taxpayers or, does it seem, even the Minister of Education. It’s all about [...]
Crux of the Matter

You Voted For Change

Ontario now on the dole
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO AND JONATHAN JENKINS, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Ontario is now a province of haves and have-not.

Big bucks in civil service
By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD
Quickly, now. Name an organization that seemingly with no care for its future financial well-being has paid lavish salaries to its executives.

What Is Hampton Talking About.....

Results so far indicate McGinty's Second Career training program is working. At the present rate the advertising industry will get $61,520,000 and this will generate jobs in that industry. You have to wonder why we don't see more people, who are collecting social assistance, applying for this government program?

$4M in ads draws 1,300 to retrain

Queen's Park eases rules, throws more money at Second Career program

By JONATHAN JENKINS, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

It's taken $4 million worth of advertising to get 1,300 people interested in the province's Second Career retraining program.

And that tab was just for a four-week blitz of television, radio, print and Internet ads that ran in July.

A further ad campaign using only the TV spots is now underway, adding to the $4 million already spent.

John Milloy, the minister for training, colleges and universities, said the hefty ad bill was necessary to launch the three-year, $355 million program.

"It was a new program so we started the advertising in July to publicize (it)," Milloy said. "We're updating the numbers all the time. As of today we've got 1,300 people come forward. We'd like to see more."

Second Career kicked off in June and was intended to attract 20,000 applicants over three years.

It was originally intended for laid-off workers in troubled industries, such as manufacturing or forestry, who were willing to take a two-year retraining course.

But despite the chance at getting up to $28,000 in support, few people were taking up the government's offer and just last Friday Milloy moved to ease the requirements.

Workers can now qualify even if they lost their job as long as three years ago, temporary employment no longer disqualifies them and benefits will no longer be capped at $28,000.

"We've got some feedback that there were some changes that would help open up the pathways and remove some of the obstacles," Milloy said.

The original $4 million included the bill for building the Second Career website, which was getting 7,000 visitors a day when the ads were launched in July, officials said.

But critics have charged the entire scheme is a failure that has badly misread the needs of unemployed Ontarians.

"This was a program that was announced with much back-slapping and self-congratulation by the McGuinty government," NDP Leader Howard Hampton said. "It's obviously a flop and the McGuinty government should admit that."

Hampton said the program was far too restrictive as it was originally designed and the changes Milloy made won't make any difference.

"You can spend mega-dollars advertising it, it won't get you a better result because the design was so bad in the first place," Hampton said.

What Are McGinty And Smitherman Afraid Of.......

....possibly more debacles like the school board mess in Toronto. Marin drooling to sink fangs into health ministry

By JONATHAN JENKINS, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

Ontario's pit bull ombudsman wants to sink his teeth into some MUSH.

Municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals -- the so-called MUSH sector of government -- is currently outside of Andre Marin's jurisdictional bite, but he'd love to see that change.

"The area that cries out the most for oversight is hospitals and long-term care," Marin said yesterday.

'WHEELS COMING OFF'

"The ministry of health's position is a little like a baritone mellifluous voice telling you that everything is just on track. We have our own scrutiny, while meanwhile back at the ranch the wheels are coming off the bus."

He said he gets hundreds of complaints each year about hospitals and long-term care facilities alone, which he's barred from looking into.

The $18 billion-a-year health department essentially polices itself.

"Why is it that we in Ontario don't have an independent, investigative capacity to look into issues by our citizens is beyond my ability to comprehend," Marin said. "I think there's a resistance fundamentally here on the part of hospitals."

'FRESH EYES'

While he may not be a medical expert, he said he knows how to analyze and solve problems and would bring "fresh eyes" to the issues.

Both opposition parties backed Marin's call for oversight on MUSH -- especially his keenly stated desire to look into recent hospital deaths from superbug C.difficile -- but the government's response was an emphatic no.

Health Minister George Smitherman said the best people to look at medical issues are medical experts, citing his confidence in the province's doctors and nurses.

What's Another $140M Down The Toilet?

Turn auditor loose on auto subsidies

Is Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty throwing good money after bad by subsidizing Ontario's struggling auto sector? McGuinty said yesterday he will be giving more of our money to General Motors, which is now seeking $140 million for a new.. MORE...

Let's Give Dullton A Break On This One.......

.....all governments, at all levels, do it and instead of calling it what it really is, bribery, it is labelled economic stimulus. In Dullton's case there is a multitude of sins we can hammer him.

McGuinty defensive on GM
It looks bad that General Motors keeps cutting jobs after getting $235 million in taxpayers' money to boost Ontario operations, Premier Dalton McGuinty acknowledges

How Stupid Can McGinty Get........

.......I won't be attending any bar-b-ques at his house because I can just picture him squirting lighter fluid into the flames. But why am I surprised....he is a liberal!

McGuinty: I'd Consider Making TTC An Essential Service

Friday April 18, 2008

CityNews.ca Staff

It won't help you come Monday, but there's now at least the possibility that you'll never have to worry about a future TTC strike again. For the very first time, Premier Dalton McGuinty admits he's willing to consider making city transit systems in Ontario an essential service.

It's a major reversal for the Liberal chief, who had commented on Thursday that he had no intention of declaring Toronto's transporter a necessity. But it won't happen without some intervention from City Hall and there's no sign yet that politicians here will make the request.

"If there was some kind of approach made during the course of the next three years by the city of Toronto, representatives of the city of Toronto saying we have decided ourselves that it would be a good thing for us to have our public transit system declared essential, that is something that we at Queen's Park would have to consider," McGuinty muses.

There are already a host of services that are deemed essential in the province, including police and fire services. Having the TTC join them would remove their right to strike, and replace it with an arbitration process that often results in workers being paid more than they receive now.

But it's not going to happen right away, if at all. "The ball is in somebody else's court," McGuinty affirms. "If it's in our court, we'll act responsibly. Torontonians themselves would have to decide that they want something done and they'd have to approach us."

But would the Premier really be willing to make a change if that word came?

"That hasn't happened," he responds. "If the City of Toronto, if they were to approach us with such a request, that is something we would consider."

The admission puts the onus back on city politicians, who have steadfastly been against the idea, though a growing majority of transit users support it.

Still, expect this spring snowball to gain weight as it rolls downhill, with some councillors feeling enough is enough when it comes to dealing with the seeming never-ending threat of a transit strike every three years.

"If we get our way, basically the province would declare the TTC to be an essential service and basically make labour disruptions a thing of the past," assures Councillor Cliff Jenkins.

The opposition parties aren't happy with what some are calling the Premier's meddling, accusing him of getting involved in a sensitive issue just two days before the strike powder keg is set to explode. And they say if McGuinty had the city's best interests at heart, he could have declared the Red Rocket a necessity after the last strike, two years ago.

Still, there was some other positive news for transit riders - McGuinty made it clear the government won't allow a walkout to last long. He recalls previous regimes have ordered a quick end to the walkouts and he's aware the disruption it would cause to Canada's economic engine - so it can't go on for more than a day or two.

Queen's Park could introduce back to work legislation that forces the workers to return and resolves their differences with management through the use of a mediator.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 announced on Thursday a 4pm Sunday deadline for a deal, or a strike would start 12 hours later on Monday morning.

---

What Constitutes An Essential Service?

Some employees - like police, firefighters and hospital workers - can't leave their posts or innocent lives could suffer. But despite what you may think, there are no hard and fast rules about what's considered 'essential' and what isn't. Here are some of the guidelines, according to the Ontario Ministry of Labour:

-There is no single statute in Ontario that defines "essential services" with respect to labour disputes.

-Legislation applying to certain occupations (police, firefighters, and hospital workers) prohibits strikes and lockouts. Collective bargaining disputes affecting these workers that cannot be resolved through negotiations must be referred to compulsory interest arbitration.

-Legislation applying to Crown employees and ambulance workers requires that an essential services agreement be in place before a strike or lockout can begin. Such agreements stipulate the work that must continue to be performed during a work stoppage to ensure that essential services are maintained.

-Other workers in Ontario who fall under the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (including general municipal and transit workers) have the right to strike and can be locked out as long as certain preconditions have been met (i.e., the parties have engaged in conciliation and are in a legal strike position.)

AND>>>>>>>

Ontario's magic corn
Food shortages, questionable benefits downplayed as Dr. McGuinty hits the gas pedal on ethanol
Thank heavens we have scientific experts like Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to advise us on really complicated stuff like global warming and its related issues.
Full Column

The Ultimate Oxymoron When It Comes To McGinty

Using the word "battle" to describe any confrontation involving the McGinty government is ludicrous. They have caved into the indians, the teachers, civil servant unions, etc........

Battle looms on public jobs

Tory wants cuts, Hampton wants fewer bosses. McGuinty isn't budging

More

Once Again McGinty Rains On Comrade Miller's Parade

Comrade Miller got elected twice based on promises he made that would depend on his relationship with McGinty and Martin and it is obvious that neither wanted to get in bed with him and things don't seem to be changing.....No Plan B Miller

It Just Goes On And On And On........For Your Protection I Offer

POINT OF VIEW: Tolls and taxes won't fix gridlock

Updated: 58 minutes ago

Since road tolls and higher gasoline taxes are coming to the Greater Toronto Area, imposed by provincial and municipal governments claiming they want to reduce gridlock, some words of warning for our politicians.

Full Point of View

Controlling School Board Salaries, Expenses, Etc.

Wasn't this part of the Harris agenda on education reform?

Having their fill - on taxpayers' dime Some Catholic school board trustees bill for meals while others don't

By KEVIN CONNOR, SUN MEDIA

Some Toronto District Catholic School Board trustees are fatter cats than others when it comes to feeding at the public trough.

While a few trustees don't expense any restaurant bills, others submit thousands of dollars worth -- at a time when the board faces a deficit.

Full story

Just Like Statuatory Holidays

We hear of complaints, which are usually well justified, of abuse of seniors in nursing homes at least once a year and the liberals in Queens Park will issue a statement on their action plan.....how many years has Dullton been in power at Queens Park?

Human rights complaint filed over seniors left in old diapers

The Ontario Federation of Labour is filing a formal complaint with the province's Human Rights Commission on behalf of nursing home residents forced to sit or lie for hours at a time in urine-soaked diapers. MORE...

The Candy Store Is Not Open In Ottawa

And at Queen's Park you have to have keys to the back door (Giving Comrade Miller additional taxing powers) therefore municipalities should refuse to accept responsibility for social services that are the responsibility of the province and the feds.

Still No Money For Cities As P.M. And Premier Meet
Thursday November 8, 2007
CityNews.ca Staff

Say it ain't so! Mississauga with the highest taxes in the GTA? After years of boasting no real increases, the citizens of McCallionville woke up Thursday to the stunning news that they were facing a 5 per cent hike in levies to keep their town afloat.

If that sounds suspiciously like the dilemma Toronto finds itself in, that's no coincidence. Mayors Hazel McCallion and David Miller put the blame on two places - Queen's Park and especially the federal government - for not sharing the wealth.

So you can imagine the reaction when both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Finance Minister Jim Flaherty came to town Thursday and promptly got inundated with questions about their alleged failures in supporting municipalities.

It's not a real surprise that the major mayors are pointing the finger at Ottawa. The feds are swimming in cash - a $14 billion surplus - but they're not inviting big cities like Toronto into the pool. Instead, Flaherty chose to reduce income taxes and the GST in his economic statement last month. But critics charge there was nary a dime for cities.

The Fin. Min. doesn't agree. "[We've committed] $33 billion over 7 years," he defends. "This is unprecedented. Once it's leveraged with the private sector, with municipalities, with the province, we'll be over $100 billion in infrastructure investment in Canada over the course of the next seven years."

In an afternoon speech in Toronto, the P.M. was equally adamant that the financial seas are all sailing along smoothly. "The fundamentals of the economy are as solid as the Canadian Shield," he proclaims.

That didn't sit well with Premier Dalton McGuinty. Even though Queen's Park is also hoarding a $2 billion surplus of its own - with not a lot coming to cities - he's also blaming Ottawa for the plight of the economic engines of the country. In a face-to-face meeting with Harper on Thursday, McGuinty openly asked his counterpart for the cash.

How did that go over? "I think it would be fair to say he was not receptive to that approach," the Liberal boss notes dryly.

But there's reason to hope Harper may change his mind if - or more likely when - an election is finally triggered. The federal Tories have failed to win a single seat in the 416 since 1988. And if Harper hopes to get his long desired majority, he's going to need the support of the very cities who feel he's ignoring them now.

This Is Newsworthy?

Abuse of sick time is not a new phenomena....workers seem to have the false impression they they have "earned" sick time so that they have a right to use is for non-medical absences. Actually they get sick time due to union negotiations......

Public servants increasing sick time

Disability claims by federal public servants are at an all-time high, with women bearing a disproportionate share of the burden, according to government figures presented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

MORE

Congratulations To The Liberals

You won the election but at the expense of citizens of Ontario.......

McGuinty was up to the job
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN
By leading the Liberals to their second straight majority government last night, Dalton McGuinty becomes one of the most successful premiers in Ontario's history.

Full Column

Liberal win will cost Toronto
With the new taxing powers firmly in place, McGuinty is free to wash his hands of our city
By SUE-ANN LEVY
Mayor David Miller claimed on the eve of yesterday's disappointing Ontario election he'd inserted himself -- that is Toronto's downloading woes -- "in very effective ways" in the provincial campaign.

Full Column

Dalton's locked in to a big spending spree
By JAMES WALLACE
Dalton McGuinty won the election last night but lost all his excuses.

Full Column

Typical Of McGinty

McGuinty a no-show

He's either a wimp or just smart! Either way, while the other provincial leaders turned up on the John Oakley Show on AM 640 yesterday morning, Premier Dalton McGuinty was noticeably absent. I was disappointed because I had a number of questions for him.. MORE...

Getting Screwed Twice

Once by Comrade McGinty and once by Comrade Miller and as bad that is the worst is that the people that supplied the Vaseline to these two incompotents appear likely to buy another truckload........

Dalton opened the cookie jar for the mayor

By SUE-ANN LEVY

As if it were yesterday, I still recall that day nearly two years ago when Premier Dalton McGuinty bestowed on Toronto the powers of a "mature, responsible government."

Flanked by adoring Liberal supporters and David Miller's enthusiastic team -- with a view of the city's downtown behind him -- McGuinty said he expected the City of Toronto Act (COTA) would force the mayor and council to do their very best. In other words, they would not use their new powers to tax people to death.

"I am very confident they will do what is necessary to grow this city in the best possible way," he said at the time.

I couldn't help but laugh that day as I listened to the premier deliver yet another nose stretcher in what had become a string of broken election promises.

Still, talk about famous last words.

Months before the draft act was introduced, leaders from 15 brand-name business groups formed a coalition to try to convince the provincial Liberals what the city was really after were "broad permissive" powers to licence, regulate and impose all kinds of new tax levies.

Their pleas fell on deaf ears. Yet they couldn't have better predicted how our tax-and-spend mayor and his merry band of socialists would use their new powers.

More

If We Get A Good Price For The Province Will It Lower My Taxes

Ontario Government Up For Sale to Wealthy Because Liberals Broke Promise to Democratize Donations

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

OTTAWA - Today, Democracy Watch lamented the fact that, no matter what party wins the Ontario election, wealthy interests will have been able to use too large donations to buy influence with the provincial government. Democracy Watch criticized the Ontario Liberals for breaking their 2003 election promise to democratize Ontario’s political donations system.

"By breaking their 2003 election promise to democratize Ontario’s political donations system, Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals have allowed wealthy interests to have undue influence over the next provincial government through too large and secret donations," said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch and Chairperson of the nation-wide Money in Politics Coalition.

The Ontario Liberals’ November 18, 2004 news release that echoed the 2003 election promise can be found on the website of the so-called Ontario Democratic Renewal Secretariat and it states:

"The Premier also announced that a citizens' jury will be asked to make recommendations to the government regarding changes in how provincial political parties and election campaigns are financed. 'It's not enough for our decisions to be beyond the influence of political contributions,' the Premier said. 'They must be perceived to be beyond the influence of political contributions.'"

Premier McGuinty never set up the citizen jury, and the only change the Liberals made to the donations system was to require donations to parties (only) to be disclosed within 10 days.

The problems with Ontario’s political donations system are clear, and it would have taken little time for a citizen jury process to develop proposals to correct its many undemocratic flaws, as follows:

• donations limits are too high at $8,400 annually to parties (doubling to $16,800 during election years) and a combined total of $5,600 annually to each parties’ riding associations or election candidates -- limits must be lowered to $1,100 annually from individuals (as the federal government has in the so-called "Federal Accountability Act");
• donations from corporations, unions and other non-voting organizations must be banned (as the federal, Quebec and Manitoba governments have);
• all donations (whether used for campaigns or not) must be disclosed regularly and before voting day by all types of candidates, riding associations and parties, including the identity of each donor and their employer and major organizational affiliations (to prevent funnelling of donations);
• loans and volunteer labour must be limited and disclosed as donations are;
• spending limits must be set for nomination and party leadership races, and for interest groups, parties, ridings and candidates for 6 months before election day, and;
• public funding based on votes won during elections should be provided to parties, with a formula to ensure this funding is shared with riding associations.