More good news on the "state" of Ontario

[Waftrudnir]

Exrtemely good article. Read it carefully, note various points. Then ask yourself if you don't see all the problems highlighted, be they the regional issues, special interest or as Dan O noted above, how and why the public is becoming apathetic.

http://economics.about.com/cs/issues...hareurlbuttons

who would have thought that you are a women's right activist LOL

on a more serious note, I'm really concerned with the outcome of this election - no, I am not referring to what candidate/party won or lost.
it became evident that a special interest groups (in particular the journalists' union) was able to get a majority of seats for "their" straw-man who was elected (due to tremendous media representation, something other candidates did not/parties could not afford) by 27% of Canadians!

[JBen]

who would have thought that you are a women's right activist LOL

on a more serious note, I'm really concerned with the outcome of this election - no, I am not referring to what candidate/party won or lost.
it became evident that a special interest groups (in particular the journalists' union) was able to get a majority of seats for "their" straw-man who was elected (due to tremendous media representation, something other candidates did not/parties could not afford) by 27% of Canadians!

Lol!
will say while not a feminist I am an advocate, and there is work to be done there.

And yep.
I know I know, something I and some others have been ridiculed, called names for and more. Sad to see it becoming even more blatantly obvious.

That could be viewed as good. It will finally get more people seeing it, understanding the insidious nature of the problem. Its getting to the point for me anyways, I wont feel a lot of sympathy at the backlash. They are bringing it on themselves.

It could be a bad sign. They are becoming "bolder". I don't mean it a conspiracy way amongst them all to take over the world. But simply, its going on unchecked, anyone who dares say boo is shouted down, intimidated etc, etc. Name me a politician with the backbone and the few who have said just a little have been destroyed.And now they are more confident to "get their way"

its a serious threat to "democracy the chief elections officer has said some things but still not enough". I know some here like G who I like, don't like to hear that and cant see it, but just look at what has been going on here in Ont since around post harris or Bob Rae.

[mosquito]

Gas plants, eHealth, smart meters, ORNG, now over $7million in "help" (with no receipts) to Unions so they can campaign for the Federal Liberals.... and let's not forget our electricity rates are going up Nov. 1 ... again.

Ontarians paying billions extra for electricity, auditor general finds

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ontar...k&_gsc=6npAMhX

Most residential and small business ratepayers pay time-of-use pricing, enabled by a $2-billion smart-meter program that has so far spent double its projected cost and has not led to the government's electricity conservation goals being met, Lysyk wrote.

[trimmer21]

How does everyone feel about the latest Liberal trial balloon being floated by allowing municipalities to charge an additional 2% land transfer tax to all real estate transactions in the rest of Ontario? That will certainly boost real estate sales,won't it?

[JBen]

Would be nice if we keep post to 2-3 threads.
Aside from the obvious tax grab, which for the most will really affect residents of the GTA (lol, the irony...lets see how much that gets them to react...) given the average house price is over 400k (highest rates).

OREA also spoke of other potential downsides with respect to lost business and spin off benefits.
More $ lost to taxes= less money for home renos, movers, painters, appliances etc, etc. All things people (buyers) typically spend money on with every home purchase. So more lost to taxes and less for the economy and spin offs. They (OREA) say/suggest allowing Toronto to do it back in 2008 cost about I think they quoted 50,000 jobs (inflated Im sure, but after 7yrs during tough times..who knows)

Theres a school of thought that says land transfer taxes, sales commissions get built into the price. For example.
Seller pays the sales commission
Buyer pays the land transfer tax.

So the price that a home trades hands at is increased/priced to account for that. In theory whats known as effecieint markets. Sellers know they will lose 5% and buyers know they will lose 2% (soon to be 4%). My guess is while marginal it will certainly crimp home sales, and if anything maybe slightly downward pressure on prices.

Which is outrageously ironic given most peons without pensions rely on their home equity for their "nest eggs". So going forward, every slave will lose thousands, tens of thousands eveyr time they buy a house, from their retirement fund.

If a young couple today (soon) moves out to the burbs and incurs say an additional $10,000 in tax. Then in 10 years time buys a step up house to accomadate their growing family...-15,000 ADDITIONAL and then say they move a third time when they downsize...-$15,000.
$40,000 ripped from their retirement fund/plan.
lol

Oh the irony

If for any reason they move more times over the span of 40 years (Career/job change etc,etc,).....

[mosquito]

How does everyone feel about the latest Liberal trial balloon being floated by allowing municipalities to charge an additional 2% land transfer tax to all real estate transactions in the rest of Ontario? That will certainly boost real estate sales,won't it?

Get ready: Realtors say Liberals to extend land transfer tax powers across Ontario

http://business.financialpost.com/pe...d-transfer-tax
Buyers in Toronto purchasing a $1 million home get slapped with a $32,200 tax to transfer property, $15,725 of which is the city of Toronto’s portion.

[Dythbringer]

How does everyone feel about the latest Liberal trial balloon being floated by allowing municipalities to charge an additional 2% land transfer tax to all real estate transactions in the rest of Ontario? That will certainly boost real estate sales,won't it?

It's all about the revenue tools. Robin Hood policy. Home owners are rich people so they can afford an extra 2% on their house purchase. This should really go over well in Toronto (average home price is $996 770 so you will pay an additional $19 935.40 if it is implemented).

I guess it is ok. Trudeau was elected and has promised to increase CPP contributions therefore Wynne's promise of scrapping the ORPP will happen.

Oh wait, no it won't:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle27002202/

So it looks like the ORPP will be implemented regardless of which federal government was elected and the electorate was lied to AGAIN by the Ontario government. Even better because Trudeau has promised to help implement the ORPP, it won't need an independent, 3rd party overseer to help with it. Since the 3rd party isn't needed, apparently the plan will be more efficient and less expensive. Does anyone believe anything this government says at this point? Asking this government to safe guard the public purse is like asking a fox to guard the chicken coop.

Dyth

[JBen]

RE JT and Ms Wynne
CPP and ORPP.

Brilliant move on his handlers and strategist part. He keeps his distance. If (when) the holes start appearing and or it blows up. The Federal Liberals can rightfully say "Not our fault". In the mean time they can be sold as white knights. Win/win/wynne

Interesting little hypocrisy with ORPP.
CPP....everyone pays into it.
ORPP...Only those without DBPs...worded differently....Don't worry Public Servants..you wont be getting taxed extra and if anyone thinks 2% is chump change....by all means take 2% of your gross these days with exploding hydro, taxes.....and.... we don't want to piss you off and if it blows up you wont feel it, and if you die before retirement your kids still get your survivor benefits and more.

If CPP runs into trouble.....everyone gets pissed, everyone loses and there would be heck to pay.

Now, if Ms Wynne really wanted to help everyone out, especially those struggling who don't have enogh saved and cant save........everyone would pay into it. Of coarse there are a lot of Public Servants who might not have supported it then.

I wonder how the Unions would feel if they had to pony up like everyone else but didn't receive any benefit (not unlike their Pensions) how it would fly. And is isn't funny how the govt isn't contributing a penny either, nope just Johny Q and the employers.

The Feds hands are clean.

Main point being.
Her main supporters risk nothing. If she really wanted to help people who are struggling and at risk and at risk of becoming very dependent on Govt assisatance down the road just to have a modicum of "life"...you know retire with respect?

.....She or they would seed it with pennies from everyone.

[bushman]

I haven't believed a word out her horse face even before she became premier. Obviously I'm in a minority position here as there seems to be many who do believe her. If she was pinochio we could have cut thousands of cords of wood and saved thousands of acres of trees in.

[Oddmott]

I haven't believed a word out her horse face even before she became premier. Obviously I'm in a minority position here as there seems to be many who do believe her. If she was pinochio we could have cut thousands of cords of wood and saved thousands of acres of trees in.

Someone needs to photoshop that, stat!

WYNNOCHIO!