For a guy who thinks bombast beats brains, Ontario premier Doug Ford flinched recently. He was facing the prospect of a general strike of both public and private sector unions in Ontario. He had done the unforgiveable. He had denied a union the right to strike.
Mr. Ford did not seem to understand what he had done that was different. You would have thought someone on his staff would have advised him. When people, who are not allowed to strike, reach an impasse in bargaining, they are typically allowed impartial mediation to resolve the wage or benefits matter under discussion.
I’m beginning to wonder about the entire crew at Queen’s Park being in the dark.
You would think that at least the attorney general would know something about customary practices. I guess he doesn’t remember that one. Regretfully, my member of the legislature happens to be the attorney general. That guy doesn’t even seem to know enough to throw a bone to his riding occasionally. I have no idea what he might have done for Barrie over the past four years.
But to be fair, I was pleased to see Doug Ford keep one of his promises the other day. He was announcing more work beginning on the Bradford Bypass. This connection between highways 400 and 404 might be looked down on by the environmentalists south of Bradford but it can save those of us north of Bradford a lot of time. We used to have to drive through the Town of Newmarket to get to highway 404 from the 400 and visa-versa.
Of course, when electrified, the GO Trains in Ontario will also save time. I would be delighted if the electric trains would get me to Toronto faster. Toronto has an excellent transit service, so I hardly need a car in Toronto.
But, in balance, Doug Ford is still the schmuck whose younger brother trained him in politics. It was in municipal politics. The four years that Doug Ford served as councillor on Toronto Council taught him that the developer is the politician’s best friend. If the developers want highways, give them highways. If the developers want our Greenbelt, give them Greenbelt. Doug was a good student.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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