Latest news with #PCParty
National Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Randall Denley: Ontario's 'historic' spending under Ford sure isn't producing results
Article content The Ontario government's finances are a paradox. The PC government regularly boasts about 'historic' levels of spending, but faces constant complaints about underfunding, especially from the health-care, education and post-secondary sectors. Article content What's the real picture? Article content Article content In fact, budget figures show that revenue and spending have increased dramatically since Premier Doug Ford was first elected. In 2019–20, his first full-year budget, total government revenue was $156.1 billion. This year, it's projected to be $219.9 billion, a 41 per cent increase. Spending has gone up by about the same percentage, from $164.8 billion in 2019–20 to a projected $232.5 billion this year. Article content With such a large spending increase, it's hard to believe that anything could be underfunded, but discouragingly, that is the case. Article content Article content Ontario's per capita spending on health care is second lowest in the country. Per-student funding for Ontario universities is the lowest in Canada. The province does a bit better on public education, with the sixth highest per-student funding nationally. Article content Those are disappointing numbers. One would expect more from the country's biggest province. Article content It's not like the Ford government is restraining spending to balance the books. Far from it. That first Ford budget had a $9-billion deficit and the current one projects a deficit of $14.6 billion. Article content A new report card on this year's budget gives Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy a grade of D- for his performance on the critical issues of debt, debt interest payments, spending increases and tax relief. Article content The Canadian Taxpayers Federation report notes that Bethlenfalvy's latest budget increases debt by $22 billion, and says that by the end of the budget year, debt will have reached $461 billion. That's about $28,472 per person, the second highest in the country. Net interest payments will cost Ontarians just over $1,000 per person this year, the fourth highest in the country. Spending is up 7.9 per cent, third highest among provinces. Article content Article content The only moderately bright note in the taxpayers' report card was tax relief, where the Ford government finally made permanent a longstanding 5.7 cent per litre gas tax cut. Article content Article content Unfortunately, that cut is not typical of the Ford government's performance on taxes. Promises made in 2018 to cut corporate taxes and personal income taxes remain unfulfilled. Ontario's combined federal/provincial top marginal tax rate of 53.53 per cent is the third highest of any jurisdiction in Canada or the U.S. Article content Here, at least, there is some reassuring news. The health, education and post-secondary sectors have all benefited substantially from the increased tax take. In 2019–20, health spending was $63.7 billion. In 2025–26, it is projected to be $91.1 billion. Comparing the same two time periods, education has gone from $30.2 billion to $41 billion and post-secondary spending will rise from $10.5 billion to $13 billion.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
PC leader accuses Manitoba premier of dragging feet on Spruce Woods byelection
Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan says Premier Wab Kinew is dragging his feet on calling a byelection in Spruce Woods, which has been without an MLA since March. The southwestern Manitoba constituency has had no representation since former PC MLA Grant Jackson resigned on March 24 to run in April's federal election. Jackson is now the Conservative MP for Brandon-Souris, and the PCs have nominated party volunteer Colleen Robbins to run in a Spruce Woods byelection that must be held by Sept. 24. In a letter to Kinew on Tuesday, Khan requested the premier call this byelection as soon as possible. "Summer is an important time in rural constituencies full of fairs, festivals and events, and whomever should be elected to represent Spruce Woods deserves this opportunity to engage with their constituents," Khan wrote. Khan said Kinew made relatively quick byelection calls following the resignation of PC MLA Heather Stefanson in Tuxedo and the death of NDP MLA Nello Altomare in Transcona. The Tuxedo byelection, which was won by the NDP's Carla Compton, was held 43 days after Stefanson resigned, while the Transcona byelection, which Shannon Corbett won for the NDP, was held within 63 days of Altomare's death, Khan noted. "It's clear … [Kinew] thought he had a chance to win Tuxedo, so he called it early. He thought he had a chance of winning Transcona, so he called it early. Now, this is going to be more than 120 days," Khan said in an interview. The Opposition leader accused the premier of holding off on making the call because Spruce Woods is a conservative constituency, where the NDP is unlikely to be competitive. No party other than the PCs has won the southwestern Manitoba constituency since it was created in 2011. Former MLAs Jackson and Cliff Cullen won more than 60 per cent of the vote in the constituency in each of the four provincial elections held over the past 14 years. "It's clear that Kinew is avoiding it. He doesn't want to call it," Khan said. "He wants to drag it on as long as possible, which is not fair to the Manitobans in any constituency." Ryan Stelter, a spokesperson for Kinew, said in a statement the Spruce Woods byelection "will be called in due course according to the normal timeline." That means ensuring a vote takes place before the six-month deadline for a Spruce Woods byelection, he said, which makes Sept. 24 the latest possible date for the byelection. The NDP has not declared a nominee for Spruce Woods. The Liberal Party has nominated educator Stephen Reid as its candidate. PC nominee Robbins has been endorsed by former MLA Jackson.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rob Lantz confirms he won't run for permanent leadership of P.E.I. Progressive Conservatives
Premier Rob Lantz says he won't seek the permanent leadership of P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative Party, after previously saying people had been asking him to run for the position. The news came in a social media post Wednesday afternoon. "After much consideration, the best decision for Islanders and the PC Party is to continue my role as interim leader until the party selects a new permanent leader," the message said. "Until that time, I am dedicated to continuing to serve as premier." His office later confirmed to CBC News that the post was real and that Lantz will not run for the leadership. Lantz became P.E.I.'s premier on Feb. 21 as he took over the interim leadership of the party in the wake of Dennis King's sudden resignation from both roles in February. King went on to accept a federal appointment as Canada's ambassador to Ireland. Lantz had initially said he wasn't interested in the job permanently, telling CBC News: "I may very much enjoy doing this job and regret that I don't put myself forward for that permanent leadership." He released a statement in late May saying he would no longer rule out doing just that. "Many Islanders have approached me about reconsidering my stance on running for the leadership of the PC Party," he said in the statement. "I owe it to those who have been encouraging me to have a conversation with them and hear what they have to say — and that's what I am doing right now." WATCH | As P.E.I. PCs work on leadership convention plan, Premier Rob Lantz says he's being urged to run: The latest message, on Wednesday, seems to indicate that Lantz has made up his mind for good. "I appreciate the support from those who encouraged me to reconsider my original position," it said. Until a new leader is chosen, it added, "The province needs someone focused on the day-to-day job of governing, with a seat at the national table, delivering on the priorities of Islanders, and I am committed to doing just that." Montague-Kilmuir MLA Cory Deagle and Stratford lawyer Mark Ledwell have announced leadership bids, and the party's president, Sydney Gallant, has said a party search committee is actively recruiting candidates. No date has been announced for the leadership convention. That's partly because two byelections must be called by August at the latest in districts formerly held by King (Brackley-Hunter River) and former education and early years minister Natalie Jameson (Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park). The provincial Liberals are also without a permanent leader, with MLA Hal Perry holding the job on an interim basis. That party's leadership convention is scheduled for Oct. 4. P.E.I.'s Green Party chose a permanent leader this past weekend, with Borden-Kinkora MLA Matt MacFarlane receiving 507 votes to clinch the job. Former Green Party MLA Hannah Bell was the only other candidate, earning 147 votes. The New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island, which does not hold any seats in the legislature, is led by Michelle Neil.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rob Lantz confirms he won't run for permanent leadership of P.E.I. Progressive Conservatives
Premier Rob Lantz says he won't seek the permanent leadership of P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative Party, after previously saying people had been asking him to run for the position. The news came in a social media post Wednesday afternoon. "After much consideration, the best decision for Islanders and the PC Party is to continue my role as interim leader until the party selects a new permanent leader," the message said. "Until that time, I am dedicated to continuing to serve as premier." His office later confirmed to CBC News that the post was real and that Lantz will not run for the leadership. Lantz became P.E.I.'s premier on Feb. 21 as he took over the interim leadership of the party in the wake of Dennis King's sudden resignation from both roles in February. King went on to accept a federal appointment as Canada's ambassador to Ireland. Lantz had initially said he wasn't interested in the job permanently, telling CBC News: "I may very much enjoy doing this job and regret that I don't put myself forward for that permanent leadership." He released a statement in late May saying he would no longer rule out doing just that. "Many Islanders have approached me about reconsidering my stance on running for the leadership of the PC Party," he said in the statement. "I owe it to those who have been encouraging me to have a conversation with them and hear what they have to say — and that's what I am doing right now." WATCH | As P.E.I. PCs work on leadership convention plan, Premier Rob Lantz says he's being urged to run: The latest message, on Wednesday, seems to indicate that Lantz has made up his mind for good. "I appreciate the support from those who encouraged me to reconsider my original position," it said. Until a new leader is chosen, it added, "The province needs someone focused on the day-to-day job of governing, with a seat at the national table, delivering on the priorities of Islanders, and I am committed to doing just that." Montague-Kilmuir MLA Cory Deagle and Stratford lawyer Mark Ledwell have announced leadership bids, and the party's president, Sydney Gallant, has said a party search committee is actively recruiting candidates. No date has been announced for the leadership convention. That's partly because two byelections must be called by August at the latest in districts formerly held by King (Brackley-Hunter River) and former education and early years minister Natalie Jameson (Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park). The provincial Liberals are also without a permanent leader, with MLA Hal Perry holding the job on an interim basis. That party's leadership convention is scheduled for Oct. 4. P.E.I.'s Green Party chose a permanent leader this past weekend, with Borden-Kinkora MLA Matt MacFarlane receiving 507 votes to clinch the job. Former Green Party MLA Hannah Bell was the only other candidate, earning 147 votes. The New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island, which does not hold any seats in the legislature, is led by Michelle Neil.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SNOBELEN: Reflecting on the Common Sense Revolution three decades later
On June 8, a gaggle of old warriors will mark a rare collision of common sense and courage. It will be a quiet event, but 30 years ago, this unlikely team set the world (or at least Ontario) on fire. It was election day on June 8, 1995, in Ontario. I spent the day watching my sister Kathie run an amazing get-out-the-vote effort that capped six weeks of campaigning with friends and neighbours. It felt good to know that, regardless of the outcome, we had collectively worked our butts off. There was nothing left in the tank. But the outcome was not certain. At the start of that election, Lyn McLeod and the Liberals had a comfortable, double-digit lead in the polls. The taste of a 1990 defeat for the PC Party (and this rookie candidate) lingered as the hours dripped away. Some campaigns are riskier than others. In 1995, Mike Harris and a young campaign team broke all the rules with a bold, detailed election platform called the Common Sense Revolution, released a full year before election day. On election day, voters would determine if that strategy was incredibly brave or simply naive. Turns out it was brave. But the courage didn't end on June 8. A few weeks later, Premier Mike Harris presented his caucus with a stark appraisal of the economic conditions facing Ontario. The facts were simple — in the year since the Common Sense Revolution platform was released, the economy of Ontario had declined, eroding the foundation of the plan. I remember a sinking feeling that this was the moment when all the hard work over five years would begin to crumble. No plan survives first contact, and predictably, the Harris government would soften bold intentions in the face of reality. What happened next set the tone for the Harris government. Having laid out the harsh realities, Harris told his caucus that the plan would have to adapt. We would need to be bolder and move faster. Harris was unreasonable. Which is why, 30 years later, he remains my benchmark for courageous leadership. Much has been written about the Harris government. A good bit of it is nonsense that became an urban myth. But, by any account, Harris impacted Ontario in meaningful ways and altered the future of the province. One of the young revolutionaries, Alister Campbell, recently edited a collection of well-researched opinions on the long-term impact of the Harris government's policies and initiatives. The book, The Harris Legacy: Reflections On A Transformational Premier, should be required reading for anyone wishing to do the impossible. I don't spend much time looking back. Life doesn't move in that direction. But anniversaries have a way of prompting a backward glance. Thirty years on, it is remarkable how many of the issues left hanging at the end of the Harris government remain not only unresolved, but also unaddressed. These are recurring problems that governments either ignore or disguise. School boards continue to be quaint relics of the single schoolroom past, forever impeding the evolution of education. Conservation authorities, a watershed management structure invented 70 years ago, continue to impede, not inform, wise land management. Red tape grows exponentially every time it is cut. Three decades later, several things seem obvious. First, the job is never done. Second, the intersection of courage and common sense is both extremely rare and amazingly powerful. And, finally, 30 years is too long to wait for another revolution.
