Ontarians want more spending with a deficit

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Stunt
In a new poll done by ses-research, Ontarians want to use an unexpected 1 billion dollars in revenues on MORE government spending. That's right, 56% of respondents want increased spending, 24% on deficit reduction, 17% on tax cuts.

This is just nutty considering the Liberal government is running low in the polls because they raised taxes.

Just let that sink in for a second, they want taxes to stay the same, they want increased spending and don't care that the province posted over a $6 billion deficit....

I swear, Canadians are too liberal for their own good. BUT...get this, also in the survey is a poll asking people if they support private investment in the following areas.

Heathcare - 61% support , 32% oppose
Schools - 58% support , 34% oppose
Roads - 54% support , 37% oppose
Transit - 54% support , 33% oppose
Water and Sewage - 52% support , 36% oppose

Can somebody please explain this mindset...Am I the only one shaking my head on this?

Agree that it doesn't make a lot of sense, but probably for different reasons. To keep Tax Rates the same, is not crazy. To increase ependitures, is not crazy. However, to increase expenditures thus not eliminating or even expanding the Deficit is crazy. First things first! Eliminate the Deficit and get into a Surplus. Once that is acheived, Lower Taxes and Increase Spending while maintaining a Surplus. It's not that difficult to do, the Feds have been doing it for 7ish years now and Paying down the Debt as well.

The downside to doing it that way is that to begin with you need to go through a period of "suffering"(quoted since it's not as bad as the word implies ). Increasing Taxes(if doable) and Decreasing Expenditures(always an option) is the best way to get to a Balnced Budget.

IMO, Ontario is way behind the rest of the country(possibly some exceptions) and needs to catch up. From the Feds to most Provincial Governments, Surplusses or sonn to be realized Surplusses are the trend. That said, due to the favourable Fiscal situation in much of the country and due to the size of Ontario's Economy, running Deficits in Ontario probably isn't as bad in the grand scheme as it would be if this were 10 years ago. However, if all governments were to reach Surplus, Canada's Economic situation would be in a word, awesome.

How has the Provincial Government in Ontario been fiscally? Don't hear much about the Ontario government(unless Mike Harris is in charge ) in British Columbia.

 

[Stunt]

6+billion deficit for FY2004, ~3 to 1 billion deficit outlook for 2005-2007.
Harris and Eves had Surpluses. The large deficit was from the government subsidizing of elec prices when privatizing electricity producers. Although Conservatives said they had a plan to get out of deficit before the end of the year, but the deficit was definately inherited.

Liberals were voted in on a spending platform unfortunately.

 

[imported_Aelius]

Problem is the 2 tier government spending. They spend a significant $ on contracts as opposed to hiring employees full time. It costs more for contracts yet it gets passed off as a significant spending reduction. Yeah they are reducing spending on full time staff and giving tons more cash to companies. In many cases these companies have family in the government.

Corruption sucks. So does missleading the public.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Stunt
6+billion deficit for FY2004, ~3 to 1 billion deficit outlook for 2005-2007.
Harris and Eves had Surpluses. The large deficit was from the government subsidizing of elec prices when privatizing electricity producers. Although Conservatives said they had a plan to get out of deficit before the end of the year, but the deficit was definately inherited.

Liberals were voted in on a spending platform unfortunately.

Harris and Eves 'balanced' the budget by holding a fire-sale on most assets owned by the province. Even without the one-time costs of SARS and the blackout, they were not on a sustainable spending path of any sort.