Two prominent Canadian economists have told the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness that the provincial treasury is forfeiting billions of dollars in tax revenue by failing to adopt policies that could be used to fund sustainable public services.
Speaking to the Commission at its public hearing in Ottawa yesterday, CUPE National economist Toby Sanger said the approach adopted by the McGuinty government on tax polices was misguided and is failing to recoup billions in revenues.
“We don’t need anymore tax cuts,” Sanger told Commission chair Judy Wasylycia-Leis, a former federal MP and chair of the Public Services Foundation of Canada which is conducting the work of the Commission.
“I have three messages to the government,” Sanger continued. “Austerity doesn’t work. Public sector spending is not out of control. And through a system of fair taxation Ontario could reach a balanced budget.
Sanger’s position was similar to that delivered by David McDonald, an independent economist associated with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and a contributor to Progressive Economics Forum.
“Debt is cheap now. It is well within the capacity of the government to cover this debt without attacking public services,” said McDonald.
Marlene Rivier, a psychological associate at the Royal Ottawa Health Group and chair of the Ottawa Health Coalition, asked the question: “Do tax cuts improve the standard of living of Canadians?
“It is evident that for middle and low households the tax cut agenda is actually associated with a reduction in the standard of living and we are seeing an ever widening gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in Canada. Investing in social determinants of health will take tax money. The Nordic countries have demonstrated this.”
Ottawa Centre NDP federal member of parliament and a candidate for his party’s vacant leadership position, Paul Dewar, told Ms Wasylycia-Leis bluntly: “governments are here to serve the needs of the people. That means we must meet the needs of the public through good public services and programs.”
Rod Sheppard, president of the 8,500-member Society of Energy Professionals representing workers at Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power and other employers in the electricity industry, testified that his union favours a review of public services. “We believe it is imperative … however, we reject a narrative in which less government is always better government; a narrative that constructs working people, public servants and the recipients of public services and recipients of public services as the cause of Ontario’s financial woes …”
Elaine MacDonald, a Cornwall city councillor, ended the afternoon hearings with this: “I hope that when Don Drummond hands in his report to Dalton McGuinty, the Premier will say: ‘Thank you for this, Don, and now I’m going to put your report on the backburner. I hope that Dalton thinks twice before he does anything with that report.”
The evening town hall at Carleton University provided the Commission with the opportunity to hear stories from the frontlines of public services.
A staff worker with the Ontario Disability Support Program in Hawkesbury said the provincial government is victimizing clients through a relentless process of cutbacks where resources fail to meet growing needs.
“I’m so proud to be here tonight fighting for the vulnerable people who are victims of provincial cutbacks,” said Mario Dicaire. “How can the province cut its services to some of the most disabled people in our community?”
Said Chrissy Tremblay, president of OPSEU Local 454 representing Children Aid Society workers in Ottawa: “Our mandate is to work for the best interests of the children in our care. How can we do that when we’re fighting against cuts to funding.”
Pauline Kuhlmann, a long-term care worker travelled from Kingston to Ottawa to tell the Commission that her occupational group suffers because “you’ve got CEOs and executive directors pulling down fat six-figure salaries while we are restricted to two breaks a day. How does that improve the level of care we’re able to provide our clients?”
The Commission was also provided with a view from the campuses of Ontario’s community colleges. Benoit Dupuis , president of OPSEU Local 620 representing educators at Cite Collegiale in college, reminded those in attendance that Ontario performs poorly when compared to other jurisdictions. “Since the mid-1990s Ontario has ranked last among all the provinces for the funding of its college system.”
“College underfunding stops educators from fulfilling their mandate for public education. With more than double the number of students and the downsizing in the number of full-time academic personnel, quality education is under attack. As a result colleges are relying more and more on contract teachers. Those contingent workers are treated poorly and this brings about a huge turnover. “
Original Article
Source: Standup Ontario
Speaking to the Commission at its public hearing in Ottawa yesterday, CUPE National economist Toby Sanger said the approach adopted by the McGuinty government on tax polices was misguided and is failing to recoup billions in revenues.
“We don’t need anymore tax cuts,” Sanger told Commission chair Judy Wasylycia-Leis, a former federal MP and chair of the Public Services Foundation of Canada which is conducting the work of the Commission.
“I have three messages to the government,” Sanger continued. “Austerity doesn’t work. Public sector spending is not out of control. And through a system of fair taxation Ontario could reach a balanced budget.
Sanger’s position was similar to that delivered by David McDonald, an independent economist associated with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and a contributor to Progressive Economics Forum.
“Debt is cheap now. It is well within the capacity of the government to cover this debt without attacking public services,” said McDonald.
Marlene Rivier, a psychological associate at the Royal Ottawa Health Group and chair of the Ottawa Health Coalition, asked the question: “Do tax cuts improve the standard of living of Canadians?
“It is evident that for middle and low households the tax cut agenda is actually associated with a reduction in the standard of living and we are seeing an ever widening gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ in Canada. Investing in social determinants of health will take tax money. The Nordic countries have demonstrated this.”
Ottawa Centre NDP federal member of parliament and a candidate for his party’s vacant leadership position, Paul Dewar, told Ms Wasylycia-Leis bluntly: “governments are here to serve the needs of the people. That means we must meet the needs of the public through good public services and programs.”
Rod Sheppard, president of the 8,500-member Society of Energy Professionals representing workers at Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power and other employers in the electricity industry, testified that his union favours a review of public services. “We believe it is imperative … however, we reject a narrative in which less government is always better government; a narrative that constructs working people, public servants and the recipients of public services and recipients of public services as the cause of Ontario’s financial woes …”
Elaine MacDonald, a Cornwall city councillor, ended the afternoon hearings with this: “I hope that when Don Drummond hands in his report to Dalton McGuinty, the Premier will say: ‘Thank you for this, Don, and now I’m going to put your report on the backburner. I hope that Dalton thinks twice before he does anything with that report.”
The evening town hall at Carleton University provided the Commission with the opportunity to hear stories from the frontlines of public services.
A staff worker with the Ontario Disability Support Program in Hawkesbury said the provincial government is victimizing clients through a relentless process of cutbacks where resources fail to meet growing needs.
“I’m so proud to be here tonight fighting for the vulnerable people who are victims of provincial cutbacks,” said Mario Dicaire. “How can the province cut its services to some of the most disabled people in our community?”
Said Chrissy Tremblay, president of OPSEU Local 454 representing Children Aid Society workers in Ottawa: “Our mandate is to work for the best interests of the children in our care. How can we do that when we’re fighting against cuts to funding.”
Pauline Kuhlmann, a long-term care worker travelled from Kingston to Ottawa to tell the Commission that her occupational group suffers because “you’ve got CEOs and executive directors pulling down fat six-figure salaries while we are restricted to two breaks a day. How does that improve the level of care we’re able to provide our clients?”
The Commission was also provided with a view from the campuses of Ontario’s community colleges. Benoit Dupuis , president of OPSEU Local 620 representing educators at Cite Collegiale in college, reminded those in attendance that Ontario performs poorly when compared to other jurisdictions. “Since the mid-1990s Ontario has ranked last among all the provinces for the funding of its college system.”
“College underfunding stops educators from fulfilling their mandate for public education. With more than double the number of students and the downsizing in the number of full-time academic personnel, quality education is under attack. As a result colleges are relying more and more on contract teachers. Those contingent workers are treated poorly and this brings about a huge turnover. “
Original Article
Source: Standup Ontario
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