Category Archives: 2011 provincial election

09.03.11
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Practice of double-dipping ‘a crime against our youth’

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Later this month, the board of directors at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital will sit down to determine the next chapter in the Paul Collins saga.

The CEO’s one-year retire/rehire contract expires at the end of the year, and a likely scenario would see the board push for a two- or perhaps three-year extension so Collins can hang around for the hospital expansion/redevelopment.

In a letter to the editor on July 13, Bob McCaig wrote, “I find it morally repugnant that this practice (double-dipping) is so widespread. Our political masters are turning a blind eye to a practice that is forcing young people to either wait idly or leave Ontario while the pigs at the trough gobble up a final helping.”

Following publication of that letter, McCaig was buoyed by the favourable public response and undertook further research into double-dipping and we present his findings, which he warns is “a crime against our youth.”
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08.27.11
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STMHA says policy not self righteous, it’s about playing hockey

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Last week’s letter from Jennifer Swales read here charging rule changes adopted by St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association smack of discrimination prompted a flurry of emotional letters to the editor, phone calls and emails.

In summary, under the new rules, if a child has received a subsidy for house league hockey, they cannot try out or play on a travel team.

“Individuals who made this rule based on ‘financial concerns’ for the parents smack of righteousness and assumptions and we all know what that does,” Swales charged.

In response to her email of Aug. 16, STMHA president Chris Smith offered the following rebuttal.

“Our Board of Directors are not ignorant to the economic landscape of our city, nor are we trying to ostracize any families, however you must understand our economic pressures,” stressed Smith.
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08.20.11
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New minor hockey rule ‘smacks of discrimination’

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Jennifer Swales is hot enough under the collar to melt the ice at the Timken Centre.

In an email to this corner, Swales expressed concerns about rule changes adopted this season by St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association.

Apparently under the new rules, if a child has received a subsidy for hockey they cannot tryout or play on a travel team, advises Swales.

“This rule at the very least smacks of discrimination,” she continues.

“How these families raise the money should have zero bearing on this league. These children work delivering papers, cutting grass, saving birthday money. These families have to qualify for subsidy.”
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08.10.11
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Public-private partnerships (P3) need to be an Ontario election issue

Taken from the OPSEU Diablogue website. Full story also available here.

As the coming Ontario election unfolds, it is unlikely the opposition parties will go after the dozens of public-private partnership (P3) deals signed by the McGuinty government.

The darling of governments of all stripes who want to move debt off-book, P3s have been a costly boondoggle across Canada. At a time when the public is bracing for cuts to public services, the lack of debate over the squandering of billions on such enterprises is sadly missing.

The Maritime Provinces were early adopters of so-called “public-private partnerships” to build and operate public infrastructure.

The Confederation Bridge betweenPrince Edward Island and New Brunswick was one of the first mega projects developed under the model, while Nova Scotia embarked on an ambitious program to privately build and operate public schools.
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08.06.11
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Redefining hospital’s future languishes on wait list

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We’ve badgered the administration at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital for some time now, so it’s interesting to note CEO Paul Collins will make a guest appearance Monday at city council with a presentation on redefining the hospital’s future.

In summary, the vision encompasses new adult mental health programs, a new emergency department that is double the size of the existing area, new surgical suites and centralized ambulatory care housed in Complex Continuing Care.

The redevelopment represents a $106 million investment in St. Thomas and Elgin.

It’s a business case that was presented to the ministry of health in July, 2009, where it has languished ever since. However, it is a project the hospital has advocated for many years and should there be a change in government come October, it could add a whole new dimension to wait times.
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07.16.11
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Transit overhaul may prove uncomfortable not just to riders

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Public transit comes under the scope Monday at city hall and
when council finishes digesting an operational review, the wheels on the bus will turn less frequently.

In a comprehensive report from Edward Soldo, city manager of operations and compliance, council will be asked to endorse a series of recommendations that will radically
alter the transit framework in St.Thomas.

Soldo is calling for the provision of transit services — currently the domain of Aboutown Transportation of London — to be tendered, with a request for proposal (RFP) to be
brought before council in September.
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07.09.11
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Glorious morning sheds light on closed-door council voting

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The June 30 ground-breaking ceremony at the Elgin County Courthouse thrust MPP Steve Peters into the MC spotlight – not unfamiliar territory for the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
It was an opportunity to savour the fruits of nearly three decades of personal lobbying.
“There was a period where I was concerned, but I think today just alleviates any of those concerns. It’s been a long time to get to this point, but it’s very gratifying to see that there’s going to be a future,” he observed.
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06.11.11
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No financial accountability? Then no public funding

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Members of city council will don their referee shirts Monday as the Downtown Development Board and North America Railway Hall of Fame escalate their funding feud.

The jousting dates back to last summer when the DDB, under chairman Mark Cosens, “loaned” NARHF the sum of $10,000.

Now, the DDB wants the sum repaid, however it is being stymied at every turn by NARHF.

Dan Muscat, current DDB chairman, is attempting to obtain records from NARHF to determine the status of the loan.

“This situation is a city council issue as it is the past DDB board (under the leadership of Cosens) that sanctioned the loan,” asserts Muscat, in a letter to council.
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06.07.11
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New site allows Ontarians to define health care issues

The Ontario Health Coalition is using social media to allow Ontarians to define their own health care issues in the coming provincial election.

The new “pledge” web site has been up for less than a day and already comments are flooding in on the three-phase on-line project.

Phase 1 of the project invites Ontarians to visit and share what they believe to be the key health care issues and experiences. Phase 1 takes place through the month of June.

Phase 2 invites Ontarians to return and vote for their priorities from a summary list generated from Phase 1. This will take place in July and August.

Phase 3 the Coalition will ask Ontarians to take a pledge to help make these priorities key health care election issues. Candidates will be able to see how many people in each electoral riding have taken the pledge. If thousands of Ontarians join in, political parties will be compelled to make clear commitments on these issues. This last phase takes place in late August and early September.

“Lip service to health care is not enough,” says Natalie Mehra, Director of the Ontario Health Coalition. “Ontarians need clear commitments on the key issues that matter in our communities.”

Make your priorities known now.