2018 Ontario Provincial Election Discussion

[SunriseChampion]

People are clearly the problem w/politics!

As one of my best friends always says, if people are involved then you can't expect much (paraphrase). Incidentally, that's the dude currently visiting I told you about.

In all seriousness I'm not sure why political parties through thoughtful commissions, bureaucratic reports or even the odd referenda can't manage to reach consensus on some key issues such they have planning cycles well beyond the next election season.

Selfishness and lust for power and control, obviously.

Credit to them, and shame on Ontario's parties for not aiming higher.

To be fair, this election is depressing. They can't aim higher when they're too busy trying to out-politic each other. The current crop of leading contenders aren't exactly philosopher kings. (Or anywhere near to being either constituent of that term).

 

[Admiral Beez]

Not a chance Doug loses his own riding.

You can’t lose something you don’t possess. Ford has no riding.

As for the riding of Etobicoke North where Ford hopes to win, it’s currently represented by thrice elected Liberal MPP Shafiq Qaadri.

 

[WislaHD]

You can’t lose something you don’t possess. Ford has no riding.

As for the riding of Etobicoke North where Ford hopes to win, it’s currently represented by thrice elected Liberal MPP Shafiq Qaadri.

And on that point, Ford Nation has historically voted Liberal in Provincial and Federal elections.

 

[adma]

And as ONPulse suggests the Libs reclaiming second, Ipsos reaffirms NDP momentum--ah, these dueling polls. (But the PCs remain superglued to the 40th percentile.)

https://globalnews.ca/news/4208537/ontario-election-ndp-liberals-anti-ford/

 

[King of Kensington]

According to the Ipsos poll

Ontario:

PCs 40%
NDP 35%
Liberals 22%

Toronto:

NDP 38%
PCs 34%
Liberals 26%

 

[Admiral Beez]

Toronto:

NDP 38%
PCs 34%
Liberals 26%

Certainly in my riding of Toronto Centre I'd day the NDP is strong. It doesn't help the Libs that the riding has been vacant since last summer when Glen Murray jumped ship.

But, I think UT'rs here better get psychologically prepared for a PC majority.

 

[JWBF]

To be perfectly honest, I don't think any of his gaffes are having much of a negative impact. It's all going relatively smoothly.

Many people are so keen on change that nothing he and his candidates have done has been enough to push away the average voter.

Kind of reminds me of when Rob Ford won - he made plenty of mistakes and there were reports on his true nature, yet people ignored it.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[King of Kensington]

Certainly in my riding of Toronto Centre I'd day the NDP is strong. It doesn't help the Libs that the riding has been vacant since last summer when Glen Murray jumped ship.

The riding is certainly demographically favorable for an NDP pickup in the right circumstances. And this time there's no Glen Murray, and no Rosedale.

 

[King of Kensington]

The NDP seems to have learned from its stupid "screw Toronto" strategy and have a much better campaign here. Reflective of the change in attitude is the attention Jessica Bell is getting in University-Rosedale.

 

[steveintoronto]

The NDP seems to have learned from its stupid "screw Toronto" strategy and have a much better campaign here. Reflective of the change in attitude is the attention Jessica Bell is getting in University-Rosedale.

Jessica Bell is somehow very likeable as well as informed and avid. I can't agree with every one of her viewpoints, but she's measured in response to questions, and would make an excellent Transport Minister. She'd certainly be good for the GTHA.

 

[Admiral Beez]

The riding is certainly demographically favorable for an NDP pickup in the right circumstances. And this time there's no Glen Murray, and no Rosedale.

Yes, but demographically the area can be deceiving. I would guess that a sizable portion of the non-white population are newcomers, and therefore not citizens. As a candidate you only need to pander to those who can elect you.

 

[christiesplits]

Even with the Liberals collapsing, I just can't see the NDP picking up Spadina-Fort York, University-Rosedale and Toronto Centre.

The modern Liberal Party of Trudeau and Wynne speak the language of the upper-middle class, creative, and bourgeois-left-of-centre types. The type of voter in the Annex or Cityplace who supports public transit or gender neutral pronouns, but whose eyes glaze over when the NDP talk about P3s or income inequality. My Dipper friend calls them "Adam Vaughan Liberals."

With the old boundaries the NDP would maybe eek out a win in Trinity-Spadina, but the recent redrawing makes it very difficult.

 

[steveintoronto]

Just watched TorStar's interview with Mike Schreiner, and they asked a Youtube posted request of mine to 'further push Schreiner on the merging of school boards issue'. They did, and it was the last point discussed, as Schreiner had raised it prior, but skirted around the taboo mention of "Catholic".

He did address it directly when pressed the second time, and the panel lit up on the point. This is very ironic, as it isn't a 'Green' issue at all, but a very immediate money saving and problem solving tweak that Ontario is behind the rest of world on. Even the UN holds Ontario in contempt over this, albeit it continues to be a legal quagmire solvable only in the political sphere.

This one point will propel Schreiner and the Greens into the spotlight more. It was a point he wasn't wholly prepared to elaborate on, but it was good as it challenged him to speak in an unrehearsed and frank way, and he handled it very well, considering how wrong it could/can go.

It's the point totally absent of mention from any of the Three Stooges. They daren't touch it. Watch for this to be the 'take away' point that the Star and other media seize on. Is it fair to the 'Green' platform? By no means, it has little to do with it save for pragmatism, but the Greens might now have the issue that they can run with. Schreiner claims this has been their position for a number of years. I'm going to research that.

Addendum:

He's exactly right:

By The Canadian Press
Tues., May 13, 2014

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner says his party would save money by merging all Ontario’s school boards into one single system.

Setting out his party’s platform Tuesday at Queen’s Park, Schreiner identified “jobs, kids and the environment” as the three main priorities.

He says combining the public and Catholic school boards into one single French and English system would save $1.2 to $1.6 billion every year by cutting out duplicated administration, busing and buildings.

He says the school system is long overdue for an overhaul and the move would address human rights concerns and allow more money to be invested in classrooms.
[...]

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...public_catholic_school_boards_in_ontario.html

Not mentioned that I've noticed is the merging of primary and secondary boards as well. Ontario is so incredibly out of date on this issue.

 

[Admiral Beez]

to 'further push Schreiner on the merging of school boards issue'.

I think the ON gov't, whomever they are need to deal with the reasons WHY parents wants a separate school board, and for that matter pursue specialist programs like French Immersion for their kids. IMO, us parents seek these options for our kids because we want to avoid the disruptive students from poorer backgrounds, broken families or with intellectual disabilities and instead wish to surround our kids with like minded, like abled and academically high performing students, teachers and resources.

When my kids were young we seriously considered Catholic school... not because we're ardent RCs, but to get away from those students that are disruptive or counter to our kids' educational success. It's not nice, but it's a tough world out there, and parents will do what they have to. So, if you want to merge the school boards without rebellion, you need to eliminate the reason parents send their kids to the separate boards. Make Ontario public schools top grade, and you can merge without much issue.

 

[Northern Light]

By no means, it has little to do with it save for pragmatism, but the Greens might now have the issue that they can run with. Schreiner claims this has been their position for a number of years. I'm going to research that.

Addendum:

He's exactly right:

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...public_catholic_school_boards_in_ontario.html

Not mentioned that I've noticed is the merging of primary and secondary boards as well. Ontario is so incredibly out of date on this issue.

On the issue of separate schools being merged w/the public system, this goes back over a decade at least to the previous leader of the Greens through several runs.

Its always been a plank of theirs for which I have appreciation.

****

I'm not aware of any Primary/Secondary Boards. Toronto has 4 boards, TDSB (Pubic English), TCDSB (Catholic English), CSC (French Catholic), CSV (Public French).

One, could, of course, argue for the abolition of all boards, as they no longer have taxing power, are largely subordinate to the Ministry of Education.

But I'd happily settle for merging the two systems as a good starting point.

* New Brunswick abolished all school boards some years ago.

I believe Quebec is currently looking this issue.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-jig-is-up-for-canadas-school-boards/article34790863/