David M. Bourgeault
Dear editor:
I, like most residents of Ontario, dislike taxes and would agree that in a perfect world, everyone would be paying his/her share based on their income. However, this is not likely to happen anytime soon.
For the past eight years, we have seen unexpected taxes and all kinds of costs sprung on us, taking more out of our family budgets. We have seen the HST, a health tax, eco taxes, business tax increases, property tax hikes, hydro taxes, income tax hikes, and a lengthened time frame to pay the debt retirement charge with Ontario Hydro.
It took 136 years for 23 premiers of this province to build Ontario’s debt up to 2003. Then from 2003 to 2011, Dalton McGuinty doubled that debt—taking it to an astounding $300 billion. To service that debt, it would be easy to see us spending $10 billion annually.
I couldn’t run my household like that and we shouldn’t be allowing our politicians to do so, either. We cannot afford another four years of Dalton McGuinty and a provincial Liberal government.
I believe there is an opportunity here and one I would like the residents of this riding to avail themselves of. I am hoping that a Conservative government will be elected in this province on Oct. 6 and all indications points to this being a real possibility.
If that were to happen, I would like to see us elect a Conservative here, as well.
I sat at the municipal council table for two terms and during those six years, we never had a member from the north who was onside with the party in power. This meant that issues near and dear to northerners were not met with a sympathetic ear at Queen’s Park.
If we elect a Conservative in this riding, there is a possibility that person could be given a portfolio with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Rod McKay of Kenora is running for the Conservatives in our riding. I have met him and am quite impressed with his knowledge of the north and the issues we face in Northern Ontario. Prior to seeking the PC nomination, Mr. McKay was the manager of the Kenora Forest Products sawmill and a member of Kenora city council.
Yes, I have a PC sign on my lawn—and hope that this riding votes that way.
Howie Hampton was our member for a long time and he did a good job, but he was really only effective at bringing project money to the north when the NDP formed the provincial government. It certainly doesn’t look like the NDP will be forming our next one.
In last week’s letters to the editor section, we had a letter from an American, who lives in South St. Paul, Mn., advising us he wants to vote for Sarah Campbell. He gave his sage advice as he wanted to become more involved in Canadian politics.
Good grief! What next? (I wonder what our neighbours to the south would think if we started writing letters about how they should vote in their next election?)
Signed,
David M. Bourgeault
Fort Frances, Ont.
