Budget 2012: Harris redux
Re First step on a long road, Editorial March 28 By what standards do you judge Ontario’s 2012 budget to be “surprisingly balanced,” one that reflects “common sense”? Certainly not if we think of a society based on compassion and dignity for all. It would be more accurate to describe this budget, and its grim repercussions, as “common sense” in the vein of former Premier Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution.
Gone is the promise of poverty reduction, and a commitment to reduce child poverty by 25 per cent by 2014. The budget speech didn’t even mention the poor, other than noting social assistance rates will be frozen. It’s as if the 1.6 million people living in poverty — more than one in 10 — barely exist.
At a time when food prices are rising by 4.6 per cent a year, the social assistance rate freeze amounts to a cut in income. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan also announced that benefits for people on social assistance will be cut by $30 million this year, and over $200 million over three years. Meanwhile low-income parents will be forced to wait another year for a scheduled increase in the child benefit.
Already some 400,000 Ontarians must rely on food bank handouts a few days each month to ward off hunger. Their numbers are sure to rise, leading to greater hardship and humiliation.
Faith groups and others who run foodbanks and emergency meal programs are stretched to the limit trying to meet growing demand. Now they’ll be asked to do even more, somehow. Ontario is launching its own version of The Hunger Games — and it’s anything but a game. The saddest aspect of this tragically unjust situation is that it’s so unnecessary. Yes, Ontario’s deficit is a problem. But there are ways to tackle it that are more fair and truly balanced.
High-income Ontarians, who have benefited the most from our society’s overall affluence and from the tax cuts started during the Harris era, are being asked to contribute very little toward deficit reduction. The government received proposals for fair, feasible tax increases on the wealthy, but it chose to ignore them. Is this the kind of society we want to live in? Murray Macadam, Social Justice & Advocacy Consultant, Anglican Diocese of Toronto Your excellent editorial’s pivotal sentence is, “When times are hard, and governments must impose pain, people who are already in dire circumstances need to be shielded, not targeted for additional sacrifice.” David B. Clemens, Toronto If we sincerely want to create a just, civil and democratic society, we must adopt a more progressive system of taxation. That is also the only way of eradicating poverty. Democracy is more than the right to vote, freedom of speech or rule of law. It is about justice, which includes economic justice. Clarence Mcmullen, Richmond Hill The disadvantaged and the middle class carry too much of the load. We are in a global crisis where we need hope. Leave the little man alone. Mel Starkman, Toronto Politicians should slash their own goldplated pensions along with those of the civil service. Speak out on this people. It is our money they are misusing. Rick Lockman, Orillia Why is it okay to reduce services, pensions, increase taxes and user fees, freeze wages for years and ask senior citizens to pay more for medication when it’s not okay to ask rich individuals and corporations to pay more and take less? The 1 per cent have reaped all the rewards of a growing economy over the last 30 years and then they crashed the economy. But they’re still benefiting while we’re asked to pay for their luxury. Ask them to pay, not seniors, teachers, workers and union workers. Martha Brayley, Toronto Not only are these cuts unjust and mean-spirited, they are foolhardy. It will cost all of us in the future, economically and socially. It is morally wrong to balance the budget by punishing our most vulnerable citizens. Mary Cowper-smith, Toronto If this is a “uniquely Liberal budget” as Duncan said, I’m no longer a Liberal. Angelo Tsarouhas, Belleville The best place to save money is to bring education in this province into the 21st century by amalgamating public and Catholic boards. It is time Ontario. Peter Elliott, Bracebridge Contrary to common belief, when the economy is weak is the best time to help low-income people. Why? When the poor receive money, they spend a higher proportion of it than the rich would do. And when consumers spend more, businesses have an incentive to invest and create new jobs. Low interest rates and tax relief without increased consumer spending have very little effect on business investment. Now is the time to increase spending
“Ontario is launching its own version of The Hunger Games — and it’s anything but a game.” MURRAY MACADAM, ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF TORONTO
on welfare, disability and other programs targeted at low-income people.
D. Rajagopal, (retired) Professor of Economics, Ryerson University, Toronto Dalton Mcguinty said, “we are not prepared to balance this budget on the backs of families in difficult circumstances or on the backs of our children.” But that is exactly what he did.
Naomi Berlyne, Toronto Ontarians deserve a plan for prosperity, not austerity. For that we need more than cuts — we need new ideas.
Sid Ryan, President, OFL If I wanted a Mike Harris-style government I would have voted for Tim Hudak. I expected better from Mcguinty. Andrea Horwath, are you listening?
Gail Mcmichael, Guelph