Health care not a priority for the Ontario Tories, Dalton McGuinty says (Conservatives-Health-)
Source: The Canadian Press
May 25, 2011 10:49

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TORONTO – Premier Dalton McGuinty is taking aim at the Progressive Conservatives’ latest campaign promises, saying health care has never been one of their priorities.

McGuinty says he’s intrigued by Leader Tim Hudak’s pledge to boost spending on health care by $6.1 billion over four years if he becomes premier after the fall election, since he’s never once asked the premier a health-care question in the Legislature.

He says Ontarians should look at the Tories’ record on health care if they really want to know where they stand.

McGuinty also says he doesn’t see how Hudak plans to rustle up the $12 billion dollars needed to fund both his health and energy promises.

He adds he’s pleased Hudak now says he’ll keep the HST and health premium if elected since it shows how important those initiatives are.

That’s especially true, McGuinty adds, given that Hudak has railed against both of those policies for years.

INDEX: HEALTH ONTARIO POLITICS

 

Comments (8)

The win last night was the best thing that has happened to the country since – well, since Vancouver hosted the Olympics (there’s a trend developing here…).  In honour of the Canucks’ wonderful victory, I am asking you to settle a debate that my kids and I have all the time – namely, which Canucks logo is best?

This one, designed by North Vancouver artist Joe Borovich, which was the Canuck logo from 1970 to 1980?

Or the current one, which debuted in 1997 and which showed a Haida-style orca in full flight (and may have been associated with the team’s parent company, Orca Bay).

I won’t indicate which one I prefer.  And I refuse to include the horrible “flying V” logo used from 1985 to 1997. It was an abomination.

Vote, proud residents of Canuckistan! Which Canucks logo to you like best?  I guarantee the team is waiting to hear from us!

Comments (49)

If Alf Apps wants to do something, do the exact opposite. You can’t go wrong.

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I saw the original Planet of the Apes movies about a billion times.  I watched the TV show religiously.  I own all sorts of Apes swag, including original Planet of the Apes bubblegum cards in super-duper mint condition.

The update featuring Canadian Estella Warren (now in a spot of trouble) wasn’t all that great.  So that’s why I, and my fellow Ape-aholoics, are totally stoked by this trailer for Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Fortunately, the world will now end only after it comes out. Good thing.

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In fact, if you aren’t a Liberal, you should read him, too.

Our former Daisy colleague has some very wise words for you to ponder, and debate.  They can be found right here.

 

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Since I am the only person in this newspaper — and, possibly, the world — who has been a member of a punk rock band while simultaneously advising a prime minister, my editors believe I am uniquely qualified to columnize about the latest controversy to batter the sterling reputation of the Harper Government.

“You’re in that ridiculous punk band which has a name we can’t even publish in our family-friendly newspaper,” said my editors, wearing Sun standard-issue sleeveless tops and six-inch pumps. “And you were a willing accomplice to the socialistic, secular humanist tyranny of the Chretien dynasty.

So we order you to write about this evil Vancouver punk band that has upset poor James Moore. Failure will result in being subjected to continuous exposure to Theo Caldwell interviews of Jeb Bush.”

Aye aye, said I. One opinion column coming up.

Comments (34)

The bombshell came on Wednesday around noon, right after Prime Minister Stephen Harper had finished taking questions from reporters.

The media were already cranky. Earlier, they had plucked names out of a hat to determine who among them would be offered up to ask a few questions of the PM in his first post-cabinet shuffle press conference. Typically, Harper’s staff ignored the media list, and came up with one of their own.

But that wasn’t the bombshell, or even remotely surprising — in Harper’s Ottawa, that kind of stuff is standard operating procedure. No, the bombshell came after Harper and his minions had scurried out of the line of fire: “Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed three defeated Conservative candidates to the Senate,” The Canadian Press reported in a news bulletin, as jaws dropped across Parliament Hill (and the country). The Sun’s top guy on the Hill, David Akin, immediately tweeted: “Harper puts Larry Smith, Fabian Manning back in Senate. Also appoints Josee Verner.”

Comments (66)

It’s all well and fine for Progressive Conservative boss Tim Hudak to promise, if elected premier on Oct. 6, removal of the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax (HST) from hydro and heating bills.

Hudak would also remove the debt retirement charge from home hydro bills, if elected.

The question is, where will Hudak get the $1.2 billion in lost HST revenues?

And how will the $14.8 billion in hydro debt be paid off?

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It’s worth a read. I disagree that the interim leader should be permitted to use that advantage (staff, money, profile) to turn around and run for the full-time post. But, otherwise, not a bad read:

“We need to settle on a strong interim leader so that the Liberal party can focus its considerable talents and energies on a more crucial task: genuine renewal that will allow us to engage and grow our membership, revamp our party structures and modernize our fund-raising mechanisms. To lead the process, the party should elect co-chairs drawn from both the Liberal caucus and party members -with a mandate to dig deep and consult widely. Ultimately, the group should report to the council of presidents, which is the broadest and most representative grassroots institution within the party.“

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