Promises, promises
February 12, 2018 - Well, it’s here, election year. Platforms, pontificating and politicians by the passel. What is an innocent vote toting Ontario citizen to do in such times?
First, and this may come as a shock, don’t expect the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. From anyone. Errors, omissions, oversimplifications and generalizations will occur. So, stay skeptical everyone. There is a flood of door-to-door salespeople coming your way, and they are all sure you need their deluxe model and that the other guy/gal’s brand will spoil your carpet.
Second, ask questions. If anyone tells you they are going to create a grand new program, ask them how they are going to pay for it. If someone tells you they are going to reduce your taxes, ask them what services you have to give up to make that happen. If they tell you they can increase your services and lower your taxes, ask them who the losers are, since clearly you are one of the winners. Make them show their math though, don’t just take their word for it.
If anyone tells you that they can increase everyone’s services while lowering everyone’s taxes, stop listening and shut the door. This is a fundamental point that every voter should understand. Taxes are the price we all pay for the services government delivers. What the various parties are offering is simply different blends of fees and services – there is no free ride. Your job is to select what combination strikes your fancy the most. But remember, no matter who wins, they won’t be doing everything they say they will; no one ever does.
But there will be promises, lots of them. Everyone, for example, will promise to support the Ring of Fire – so get specifics. How will they do this? What infrastructure investment are they proposing? Will they use government subsidies and if so, directed at whom? Will they invest in training & skills development? How much, to whom and by when? What makes their plan different than the competition? What evidence do they have that what they propose actually works? Has anyone tried it before elsewhere?
Indigenous peoples will also get a lot of attention. We will hear about reconciliation and partnerships and new beginnings. Your questions should focus on who actually makes the final decisions – are we talking about power sharing or consultation? Who bears the risks and shares the rewards of investment and development? Are we talking one-off arrangements or permanent structures? Where is the money coming from to cover this transition and how much money are we talking about? Will government report on the impact (good and bad) of the money they spend and the rules they create? When and how?
The same applies for other major northern issues: mass transit, poverty, income inequality, economic diversification, resource development, demographic change. All of the parties will say something about each one. Your job will be to dig out their assumptions. If they have a provincial mass transit plan, ask them how the funding model for a Toronto subway applies to an inter-city bus route from Dryden to Sioux Lookout.
For those of you more interested in simple, yes/no style quizzes, here are some short snappers to try on your local doorknockers:
Does the candidate support a standing committee of the Ontario Legislature to consider the Northern Ontario perspective and the unique impacts on Northern Ontario of all provincial legislation?
Will the candidate work to get a regional immigrant nominee program in place for Northern Ontario?
Does the candidate support the creation of a set of “provincial accounts” for Northern Ontario so that we can know as much about Northern Ontario as we currently know about the province as a whole?
For me, my vote will require a yes on all three of these questions – your standards may, of course, be different. The key, however, to a successful election (for you, not for them) is the same as in every major purchasing decision. Know what you want, what you can afford, and don’t get distracted by the oversized pink gorilla on the roof.
Charles Cirtwill is President and CEO of Northern Policy Institute. An independent social and economic think tank based here in Northern Ontario.
Related Research
The content of Northern Policy Institute’s blog is for general information and use. The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Northern Policy Institute, its Board of Directors or its supporters. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of their respective blog posts. Northern Policy Institute will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information, nor will Northern Policy Institute be liable for any detriment caused from the display or use of this information. Any links to other websites do not imply endorsement, nor is Northern Policy Institute responsible for the content of the linked websites.
Northern Policy Institute welcomes your feedback and comments. Please keep comments to under 500 words. Any submission that uses profane, derogatory, hateful, or threatening language will not be posted. Please keep your comments on topic and relevant to the subject matter presented in the blog. If you are presenting a rebuttal or counter-argument, please provide your evidence and sources. Northern Policy Institute reserves the right to deny any comments or feedback submitted to www.northernpolicy.ca that do not adhere to these guidelines.