Ontario residents flood provincial website with budget ideas

Ontarians can help craft Finance Minister Charles Sousa’s upcoming budget by making submissions to a new government website.

Thestar.com
Feb. 18, 2015
By Robert Benzie


Tax marijuana to bankroll health care, eliminate public funding for Catholic schools, toll more highways, take guns away from police officers, stop salting the roads, and end bilingualism.

Those are among the scores of suggestions Ontarians have given Finance Minister Charles Sousa on a new government website designed to help him craft next month’s budget.

Saddled with a $12.5-billion deficit, Sousa is eager to hear ways to increase revenues and reduce spending so he launched the “Budget Talks” site last week.

“It’s the first time we’ve done it,” said the treasurer, who is also convening province-wide prebudget hearings.

“People have their ideas. I’m open to ideas. A good idea is a good idea - I don’t care where it comes from,” he said Wednesday.

In the run-up to last June’s election, the Liberals launched a similar online suggestion box - known as “Common Ground” - but few proposals made the platform.

Still, the government is seeking feedback on how to prioritize spending and operate more efficiently to “create a better province.”

So far, there have been 20,000 page views - and numerous submissions.

“SensibleMotorist” said scrapping front licence plates in Ontario is prudent.

“The front licence plate negatively affects the efficiency of the vehicle by interrupting the aerodynamics at the primary contact of the vehicle. It also reduces airflow to the air intake and radiator, causing the vehicle to run hotter, waste more fuel, and reduces power.”

“Harrychong” recommends taking away firearms from police officers because “all they do is create aggressiveness and unnecessary deaths.”

In a proposal that actually is on the government’s radar, “freemarketbeer” urges Sousa to end the private Beer Store monopoly.

“The Beer Store is a disgrace. It’s anti-competitive, anti-consumer, and anti-small business. Allow beer in corner stores. Control the sale through the LCBO. Profit.”

On the subject of sin taxes, “snowbird888” says Sousa should impose tobacco-like levies on e-cigarettes.

While it is beyond the purview of the province - because it would necessitate Criminal Code of Canada changes - “zsl” suggests the government “legalize marijuana.”

“Tax it. Fund healthcare.”

Speaking of narcotics, “snowbird888” also suggests “randomized drug tests for persons on welfare.”

“If they are positive, they have to enrol in a treatment program to have their funds reinstated.”

“Zsl,” meanwhile, added that tolling Hwy. 401 would help pay for Premier Kathleen Wynne’s proposed 10-year, $15-billion transit and road-building program for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

“The 401 is a joke. People avoid the 407 because it’s tolled. Toll both, and use the revenues to expand the subway system in Toronto.”

One of the most discussed subjects on the website is the always contentious proposal to eliminate full public funding for Catholic schools.

“De-funding Catholic education would be a SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL SAVINGS to the province in its efforts of balancing the books and reducing/eliminating our debt,” writes “skip79.”

“Pulling the plug on Catholic education has been long overdue and, at this point, it has become fiscally necessary to do it.”

Some feel scrapping French-language services is the way to go.

“All documents, courts, and legislature should be only in English. If the population demands it be in another language, offer that for that one specific area,” writes “lexluthor.”

“Why spend so much money for a small minority?”

In that intolerant vein, another person wants to make “foreigners start from scratch when getting an Ontario driver’s licence.”

“There are many bad drivers in Ontario, not to be racist, but most of them are foreign,” writes “TheBoogerBurgler,” who also says “with the exception of classic cars, beaters (15 years or older) should not be allowed on the 400-series highways as they will lack the acceleration, breaking (sic) requirements and stability for a modern freeway.”

Less controversially, “Ken123” says “eliminate BlackBerries for government employees.”

“Where appropriate offer a ‘bring-your-own-device’ policy and cover a portion of a personal plan with a reasonable cap.”

“Accountability” posits that eliminating the education ministry would save a fortune.

“The Ontario Ministry of Education employs many individuals to write policies for which there is no requirement that the school boards in Ontario ever implement.”

“Spirit” proposes “stop salting the roads” in a wintery province.

“You are killing the Great Lakes, and making every small lake in northern Ontario brackish. It has already killed off most of the frogs and salamanders. If we can not live with nature we are doomed because we are nature, not above it.”

Perhaps the most logical post comes from “Jmccoll,” who says the government just needs “get spending under control.”

“STOP SPENDING $ WE DON’T HAVE.”