It's with schadenfreude-like delight that I watch Toronto progressives squeal in abject terror as Doug Fords cashes in his 'pound of flesh' by trimming down the number of seats on Toronto city council by almost half, signalling that there's a new sheriff in town and that he isn't their friend.For those about to lose their jobs, the councillors and their staff and supporters it's seen as vicious political payback meant to punish the city that largely opposed Ford and the Conservatives who won the election despite Toronto's opposition.
The liberal media has gone apeshit;
Doug Ford must aspire to do more than just break things- Ottawa Citizen-Jul. 31, 2018
Where are the grown-ups in Ford's cabinet?- Toronto Star-Aug. 1, 2018
Doug Ford Is Bullying Toronto Because He Couldn't Get Elected ...- HuffPost Canada-Jul. 30, 2018
Doug Ford spits in the face of Toronto- Toronto Star-Jul. 27, 2018
Ford's Tories using taxpayer dollars to produce 'lookalike news' videos ... -Toronto Star-Jul. 31, 2018
The insufferable liberal media based in the golden horseshoe is having a hard time coming to terms with the new government, the cacophonic moaning and groaning, music to Doug Ford's ears and like the anti-Trump media in the USA, 'denial' isn't just a river in Egypt!
“There isn’t too many people that I know that wouldn’t want to trade in a bunch of politicians for $25 million,” Ford said.
Ha! Ha!
With one-liners like from the combative Ford, it doesn't augur well for the snowflakes as Ford is set to undo the liberal agenda that they so cherish.
But what does all this have to do with Quebec where the upcoming provincial election is looming?
Like the Ontario Liberals under Kathleen Wynne, the ruling Quebec Liberal government seems to have run out of steam and a cranky electorate seems ready to toss them out of power with the only viable alternative, being the conservative CAQ.
It is somewhat surprising because Premier Denis Couillard has done an excellent job returning the province to budgetary surplus, a feat that few thought possible. Over the last few decades, debt has been the Achilles' heel of Quebec politics and paradoxically as the burden of the taxpayer debt-load increased, support for sovereignty decreased.
Somewhere along the line, the Quebec electorate realized it needed Canada to finance its entitlements and it became the most important factor in the contributing to the loss of support for independence.
But after decades of running up the debt, to the point where every Montreal resident owes approximately $44,000 in combined city, provincial and federal debt, the Liberal government finally tackled the thorny issue of debt reduction, much to its credit.
But alas, most voters have little understanding of high finance, nor do they particularly care and with many drowning in their own personal debt-Hell, making the monthly minimum on their VISA bill is as much fiscal responsibility they can tolerate.
At any rate, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and his Liberal caucus seem to be going down without much of a fight. Many party stalwarts, especially cabinet ministers are announcing that they will not run in the next election, preferring to cash in their pension and safeguard their separation bonus which is no longer payable should the member resign while serving as an active member of the National Assembly. This bonus can add up to over $100 thousand, so it's quite a risk to get elected, and then be relegated to the opposition benches, with the commensurate salary cut.
Coulliard missed a golden opportunity to make political hay by taking on the unionized SAQ employees who went on strike to protest their meagre $25 an hour salary base salary. Facing down the union and allowing a strike to go on, or better still declaring a lock-out would have enjoyed massive public support, but as I said, the fight seems to be gone.
Previously Couillard bravely faced down powerful public servants by actually lowering pension benefits, a gutsy and dangerous move that could have exploded in social unrest. He and his government are a pale shadow of what they once were.
And so the CAQ is on its way to forming a majority government by default, much like Doug Ford's Conservatives who gained power because of the Ontario public was just plain sick of Kathleen Wynne.
But in its haste to be done with Couillard are Quebecers really mindful of where they are headed?
With Doug Ford Ontarians knew what they were getting, he never made any bones about his conservative values and his intention to slash and burn government spending.
But the CAQ has cleverly toned down the conservative rhetoric and has decided to keep their collective mouths shut on policy in order to just let the Quebec Liberals sink on their own.
It's going to be quite a shock to Quebec progressives and centrists when once in power the 'vrai nature' of the CAQ emerges.
Like the Ontario Liberals under Kathleen Wynne, the ruling Quebec Liberal government seems to have run out of steam and a cranky electorate seems ready to toss them out of power with the only viable alternative, being the conservative CAQ.
It is somewhat surprising because Premier Denis Couillard has done an excellent job returning the province to budgetary surplus, a feat that few thought possible. Over the last few decades, debt has been the Achilles' heel of Quebec politics and paradoxically as the burden of the taxpayer debt-load increased, support for sovereignty decreased.Somewhere along the line, the Quebec electorate realized it needed Canada to finance its entitlements and it became the most important factor in the contributing to the loss of support for independence.
But after decades of running up the debt, to the point where every Montreal resident owes approximately $44,000 in combined city, provincial and federal debt, the Liberal government finally tackled the thorny issue of debt reduction, much to its credit.
But alas, most voters have little understanding of high finance, nor do they particularly care and with many drowning in their own personal debt-Hell, making the monthly minimum on their VISA bill is as much fiscal responsibility they can tolerate.
At any rate, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and his Liberal caucus seem to be going down without much of a fight. Many party stalwarts, especially cabinet ministers are announcing that they will not run in the next election, preferring to cash in their pension and safeguard their separation bonus which is no longer payable should the member resign while serving as an active member of the National Assembly. This bonus can add up to over $100 thousand, so it's quite a risk to get elected, and then be relegated to the opposition benches, with the commensurate salary cut.
Coulliard missed a golden opportunity to make political hay by taking on the unionized SAQ employees who went on strike to protest their meagre $25 an hour salary base salary. Facing down the union and allowing a strike to go on, or better still declaring a lock-out would have enjoyed massive public support, but as I said, the fight seems to be gone.
Previously Couillard bravely faced down powerful public servants by actually lowering pension benefits, a gutsy and dangerous move that could have exploded in social unrest. He and his government are a pale shadow of what they once were.
And so the CAQ is on its way to forming a majority government by default, much like Doug Ford's Conservatives who gained power because of the Ontario public was just plain sick of Kathleen Wynne.
But in its haste to be done with Couillard are Quebecers really mindful of where they are headed?
With Doug Ford Ontarians knew what they were getting, he never made any bones about his conservative values and his intention to slash and burn government spending.
But the CAQ has cleverly toned down the conservative rhetoric and has decided to keep their collective mouths shut on policy in order to just let the Quebec Liberals sink on their own.
It's going to be quite a shock to Quebec progressives and centrists when once in power the 'vrai nature' of the CAQ emerges.
The Liberals, the Parti Quebecois and Quebec Solidaire all, more or less, share the philosophy of big government spending.
The CAQ is pro-business and believes firmly in less government spending and less government regulation.
The hallmark of Quebec governance over the last fifty years has been more and more regulation, massive spending and government interference in all aspects of Quebec life.
And so, with the CAQ, voters should be careful for what one wishes for. There are not that many real conservative-mind voters in Quebec who share the CAQ philosophy and so the change will be quite a shock to the system.
I don't know exactly what the agenda will be, but one thing for sure, the SAQ and its union is headed for privatization under the CAQ. They are an obvious target for a government intent on showing their conservative credentials.
And just like in Ontario, for the entitled, payback's a bitch!
I usually understand your thought processes and have often agreed with you. This article is some mishmash lost on me.
ReplyDeleteI usually understand your thought processes and have often agreed with you. This article is some mishmash lost on me.
ReplyDeleteThe budgetary surplus comes out only in an election year.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sauga here: Maybe with some luck, these CAQers will get Quebec's fiscal house "in order" (when pigs could fly) and finally leave the rest of us the hell alone.
ReplyDelete