Dear sir:
When I first immigrated to Canada, I was surprised how few government services were available to the people. On the other hand, I found the inhabitants of Rainy River District were neighbourly and tried to help in every way possible.
During the next few years, governments did bring in universal Old Age Pensions, improved the unemployment insurance, and finally shamed by Tommy Douglas’ Saskatchewan government, universal health insurance.
Most of us are now protected against unforeseen illness and other disasters.
In Ontario under Premier Robarts, the education was improved, particularly for the disabled and retarded. His government guaranteed loans for higher education. He also improved the welfare payments for the indigents, and tried to improve the housing of the old and the poor.
By the end of his term, the government was as compassionate as its people. These improvements cost money and taxes were increased. Much of our taxes goes to pay for our excellent health system.
Private insurance in the U.S. charges more for health insurance alone than most of us pay in taxes.
In Ontario, our present government has cut the welfare rates, and now threatens to withdraw welfare unless the recipient conforms to the new regulations. These new rules will force the poorest people on the street.
Our present Ontario government has shown a hatred of the poor, of teachers, and its civil servants.
Cutting the Ministry of Environment by a third, and closing their laboratories, probably caused seven deaths and 2,300 illnesses in Walkerton. Privatizing the maintenance of Highway 17 helped to kill 17 people between the Manitoba boundary and Wawa during the winter ’99-’00.
The cuts to hospital staff have forced many of our doctors and nurses to leave for better paid jobs in the U.S. And I wonder how many of our graduating high schoolers will even consider training as teachers after the way our government has treated them.
Ontario Hydro has been splintered so each section can be sold to private investors. In Alberta and California, private electronic companies charge double the price of the public-owned companies.
We wonder if Ontario also will sell other 400 series roads to balance the books and make the new owners richer.
Thank you,
Ron Helliar
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