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Donald Trump’s influence on the Canadian economy is going to last for the next four years.
The tariff threat has driven most of the talk in the provincial election at the expense of the issues of healthcare, education, affordable rents/housing and high food costs.
In this election, the most significant questions to be asked: Are you any better off after seven years of a Doug Ford government? After seven years, is there a reduction or even an improvement in the problems facing Ontario? After seven years, it would be fair to expect some improvements.
I am looking for progress, not perfection. It seems that the Ford government is on autopilot. Whenever a representative of the Ford government is asked about a problem (education, healthcare, long-term care), their only answer is that they are spending more taxpayer money than last year.
Am I wrong to feel that there has been minimal improvement on the shortage of family doctors? It seems that there are more homeless people than there were seven years ago.
The shortage of affordable rentals/homes has gotten worse. The use of food banks is at its highest levels ever. Nurses, personal care workers and teachers are leaving their professions due to underfunding and poor working conditions. Community colleges are cutting programs and closing some campuses due to chronic underfunding of post-secondary education. The tragedy of a poisoned illicit drug supply is killing seven people in Ontario every day, yet the Ford government plans to make it more difficult for drug users to get the help that they need.
Maybe some of the other readers of OrilliaMatters can remember something the Progressive Conservatives have done to make life more livable. (Please, do not count the $200 government refund cheque of my tax dollars or the easier access to alcohol in corner stores.)
As for Doug Ford being the best representative for Ontario in the tariff discussions, I have my doubts. Almost immediately on hearing of Trump’s tariffs, Mr. Ford offered to abandon Mexico in favour of a Canada-U.S.A. deal. Trump loves to divide and conquer — Mr. Ford gave that away without Trump asking.
As was recently revealed, Mr. Ford was glad that Donald Trump won the U.S. election. Ford’s values seem more aligned with Trump than the people of Ontario. Our premier may be quite willing to give up our progressive values as a concession to get a deal (like public healthcare). I question whether he is the best person to be the premier of Ontario in any negotiations.
Yes, the threat of tariffs has the potential to damage the Canadian economy, but when voting, judge Doug Ford on his seven-year record, not on the fear of tariffs.
David Howell
Orillia
