Editorial: A Buckley’s budget

March 14, 2019 Editor Opinion

Budget season is not over. The federal budget will be tabled next week, and the provincial budget is due April 11th. As Canadians are going to the polls this fall, the federal budget will be an election budget with few, if any, cuts expected. More concerning is the planned Ontario budget. In the first year of a four-year mandate, the Ford government was elected based on a platform of change. The Premier espoused a budget-conscience platform promising to find efficiencies where ever he could.

There are many priorities that the province will have to juggle in this budget process. Since its election, the Ford government has consulted a great deal with the public on a number of issues. Coming to grips with a multi-billion dollar structural deficit is no easy feat. That said, wholesale and arbitrary slashing of services can be as damaging as any looming deficit.
Thus far, the government’s announcements have amounted to re-announcing previous government funding, photo-op gimmicks for cheap beer, or disastrous realignments of programs like the Ontario Autism Program. That said, there are a few priorities The Leader would like to see tackled in the upcoming budget.

First, there needs to be a stable and long-term funding plan for our health care and education systems. Both have been living on a year-by-year basis, which does not provide the stability needed for long-term planning. How can a school board or hospital plan for five years down the road, when funding can disappear at the whim of the government of the day?

Second, cuts need to be made in a way that won’t affect the quality of the services already provided to people by the government. That boils down to erasing duplicate management rather than slashing front-line services.

Lastly, any changes, cuts or otherwise, need to be communicated truthfully to the people of Ontario. We’re not idiots. Talk plainly and frankly. Lay out what the issues are with a specific service, and where the changes could be made. We may not like all the news, but being given the full picture, without political spin, can only lead to understanding the issues. We may not like the taste of Buckley’s medicine: that doesn’t mean we don’t understand it is supposed to help.

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Opinion

Impressions

March 27, 2013 Editor Opinion

 

First impressions really do matter. Ask anyone. And flubbed first impressions can come back to haunt you. Forever.

In my extreme youth, I decided to travel to an all inclusive resort in Jamaica for a vacation. By myself. What a great opportunity to meet new friends, especially, the agent told me, since most of the resort visitors would be German tourists! First morning, first day, I approached the crowded pool ready to make that crucial entrance. Didn’t notice the sign which said “slippery when wet.” Rolled head over heels down a shallow flight of stairs, in my bathing suit, and flopped (unhurt), butt in the air, to the cement, before dozens of suddenly quiet German guests. I impressed. Oh yes.

“Tragic” first impressions can even happen to one’s nearest and dearest.

My parents and their friends, Wes and Marian, attended a party hosted by a dignified and formal couple they barely knew. As they were saying good night, Wes, prodded to compliment the hosts, floundered around, then finally loudly announced, “All kidding aside, cheese sandwiches do make a real good cheap lunch.”

They were not invited back.

Two weeks later, the four attended yet another party. My parents had been at this home once before, (and apparently my father hadn’t found the occasion memorable).  This was different. As he vigorously shook the hostess’ hand, he said, with deep conviction, “Gee, I really had a good time, this time.”

They were not invited back.

Of course, no first impression could be as traumatic as that of my friend’s friend, a woman who had been seriously dating a certain young man and had finally been invited home to meet his parents. Dressed in her best, wearing a pair of high, high heels, she nervously made small talk with the parents, while standing at the top of the stairs in their split level. 

She turned, promptly caught one of those heels, tripped, and then rolled violently down the steps  –  landing directly on top of the family’s beloved chihuahua.

They did not get married.

Just to prove that lightning can strike twice where first impressions are concerned, two years ago I went to the Dominican, this time travelling with friends. 

First day, very first public appearance, I wandered (in that inevitable bathing suit) among the lounge chairs and guests, looking for the place by the pool_where my group had set up. 

Missed noticing the “slippery when wet” sign. Again.

Shortly thereafter, found myself, with my ‘better side’ in the air, face down and sprawled before holidaying strangers. 

A large man in a tight t-shirt  reading “Beer’s my Bud,”  actually helped me up, then genially remarked to the crowd, “Wow, that usually doesn’t happen to me until late afternoon, after lots of brewskis.”

Another grand first impression. Sigh.

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