Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Ontario Liberal leadership: Austerity for the foreseeable future, warns Wynne

Austerity measures must continue for years after the Ontario government balances the books in 2017, warns one of the front-runners to succeed Premier Dalton McGuinty.

MPP Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West) said Wednesday that she would restrict overall spending increases to one percentage point below gross domestic product growth until things improve to pre-recessionary levels.

“There has to be fiscal prudence even when the deficit is eliminated,” said Wynne, 59, who unveiled her economic plans on the eve of Thursday’s forum for Ontario Liberal leadership candidates at the Canadian Club.

She emphasized she would stick to McGuinty and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s timetable of getting Ontario back in the black by 2017-18. This year’s deficit is $14.4 billion.

“A Wynne government will also return Ontario to prerecession debt-to-GDP levels, reduce barriers to job creation, and promote investment particularly for small business.”

The seven hopefuls vying for McGuinty’s job will be at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel at noon for a debate moderated by Steve Paikin, host of TVOntario’s The Agenda.

While Saturday’s first public all-candidates’ forum was a drearily polite affair, Wynne said she expected Paikin, the moderator of federal and provincial election debates, to keep their feet to the fire.

“People need to hear us articulate (our) differences,” she said.

Asked if she would include all six rivals in her cabinet if she wins the Jan. 25-27 delegated convention, Wynne said: “I’m not having those conversations at this point in time.”

“Two of the candidates don’t even have a seat,” she said, referring to former Parkdale-High Park MP and MPP Gerard Kennedy, 52, and Sandra Pupatello, 50, who represented Windsor West until stepping down before the Oct. 6, 2011 election.

Also in the running are MPPs Eric Hoskins, 52, (St. Paul’s), Glen Murray, 55, (Toronto Centre), Charles Sousa, 54, (Mississauga South), and Harinder Takhar, 61, (Mississauga-Erindale).

All seven candidates have served in a McGuinty cabinet.

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Robert Benzie 

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