Norm Puttick
NORM PUTTICK/Straight Talk
Two headlines in same Toronto newspaper tell the story of what politics has degraded itself to at Queens Park in Ontario and the Presidential election in the United States.
The headline for Ontario quotes Progressive Conservative party leader Tim Hudak.
“Big government has had its day, Hudak says.”
To my glee the article starts: “Tory leader promises ‘straight talk’.”
I would ask “straight talk?”
Your not listening Tim.
Your riding is in one of the most wasteful regions politically in Ontario with “big government.”
Why not start there to lower taxpayer costs Tim?
You do not have to be Premier to implement – just do some “straight talk” to McGuinty and Horwath.
You are quoted by the Toronto Star as follows: “Hudak said Ontarians deserve some “straight talk” about a bloated bureaucracy and tax system that are throttling the province’s economy.”
He continued: “But we need to be very clear-eyed about where those jobs and tax revenues are going to come from – and thats from a growing, leading private-sector economy.”
I challenge you to start in Niagara Region, to reduce number of elected politicians.
Combine water and sewer services into a water board for a easy $100 million in savings; one fire chief for the region; one transit system in the region and cut eight economic development offices to one.
An easy $200 million in savings down here in Niagara, Tim.
Leave the social services alone.
And the “bloated bureaucracy,” until you get rid of the “bloated” elected councillors and MPPs in Ontario.
They are the problem in slow economic growth with their “blurry eyed” parochial interference in stated policies at all levels of government.
You also call for – but are not sure if – hundreds or thousands of civil servants to lose their jobs. Tim no matter who is the Premier they will have a Minister of Municipal Affairs.
If your serious about reducing cost to taxpayers get an all-party motion to ask for the consultant studies on the shelf at Regional Headquarters proving Niagara Region is “big government” and wasteful of tax dollars.
Anything less would suggest hypocrisy.
Rep. Paul Ryan is the running mate of presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. He has been found out to have requested the same handouts from government he criticizes. The very stimulus and federal grants Ryan and Romney want to cut from the U.S. Federal budget.
One headline states: “Ryan sought federal cash for constituents.”
Hypocrisy, I would say.
The Mike Harris doctrine in Ontario is a recipe for disaster – again – with a right-wing slash and burn agenda.
What we do require at Queens Park is straight talk. Bring it on and get rid of the excess elected officials and agencies in Ontario, Tim.
Finally, Tim, you talk about cutting the civil service, but do not say a word about your pal Prime Minister Harper adding thirty more MPs in Ottawa.
Tim until you settle on cutting the elected officials in Niagara Region and implement one city I would say you are just all talk and no substance.
I close with a quote about Paul Ryan.
“A review of 8,900 pages of correspondence of Ryan’s office and the Federal government showed for 12 years as a member of congress Ryan has sought from the Federal government money and benefits that in some cases represent the kinds of largesse and specific programs he is now campaigning against.”
No matter what side of the border, Tim, a right-winger is a right-winger, would you not say?
All talk for the corporate tax cuts and to hell with everyone else.
Tim, I simply do not believe you know what “straight talk” means until you commit to cutting the “largesse” out of municipal government in Niagara.
One Comment on "STRAIGHT TALK: Right-wingers like Tim Hudak don’t know the meaning of ‘straight talk’"
have you every seen a coRnservative gov. do anything but look after their rich buddies?
best thing they had going for them in recent years is michael obnoxious, or whatever the hell his name is,
harper should thank him for being liberal leader, now hudak,.. has the 15 watt light bulb,.. [maguinty]
going for him