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Andrea Horwath's NDP believe everything is fine and dandy in the province of Ontario.  Every cost-cutting measure the Ford government has brought forth thus far has been followed by a predictable NDP press release and hysterical rhetoric at Queen's Park denouncing the "callous" move.

In spite of the news the provincial deficit is actually closer to $15 billion — $8 billion more than the Wynne Liberals' lie to the public — Horwath's NDP don't seem to think any belt-tightening is in order.

According to Horwath's NDP, endless University campus expansion must continue, even if entrance standards are lowered and there's an oversupply of useless university degrees in the jobs market.  Non-repayable grants to keep the pyramid scheme going ever-skyward are also essential, according to the NDP, even though there are already interest-free-while-in-school loans available.  How a province spending $12 billion annually on interest payments for the $350 billion debt behemoth has the extra cash kicking around to gift hundreds of thousands of students — academic merit not factored in — free tuition, while making others pay in full, is a conundrum the NDP have never properly explained, nor have the media pressed them on it.

The same thing happened earlier this year when Ford killed the basic income pilot project, a luxury program a debt-addled province had no business pursuing.

When Minister of Health Christine Elliott finally begins to reduce wasteful spending in the healthcare sector the same game of hyperbolic outrage from the NDP will play out.  Unless the NDP offer some legitimate alternatives to reduce spending no one should care to listen to what they have to say.

The NDP have never really taken math or finances all that seriously.  Just look at how they're condemning the Ford government making teachers take a math proficiency test.  Teachers don't seem to be very competent in teaching their students basic math skills, but the NDP are concerned more about protecting teachers from any accountability than whether or not those same teachers can impart the knowledge children need to succeed and discern what's a numbers scam.

Sure, the opposition's job is to reflexively oppose everything a government puts forward, but when you disagree with every move made by the government (and calling the premier a dictator less than hundred days into his mandate), no matter how reasonable and logical, the electorate will begin to rightfully tune you out.

A sober, honest look at the numbers is not in the NDP's interests, though, sadly.  Easier for them to promise voters a utopian fantasy than admit the harsh reality and admit tough decisions must be made.  According to the No Debt Problem party, the province could afford to rebuy all of Hydro One.  Not only that, but our government has the means to finance expanding free health care, schooling and basic income for all!

In a province crippled by mountainous debt, no responsible journalist should give the current Ontario NDP much attention, nor credibility, until they grow up and present fiscally feasible alternatives.  Unfortunately, many in the press seem to think the NDP are the adults in the room and will undoubtedly team up with the No Debt Problem Party in decrying any cuts put forth by Ford's PCs.

Andrea "…keep our foot on the neck of Doug Ford and kick him the hell out of office…" Horwath and her ilk need to be held accountable for their extremist antics.  If the Conservatives continue to hammer home the point that the deficit and debt are out of control, adult Ontarians taught basic math proficiency will, God willingly, listen to them and not be seduced by the pie-in-the-sky promises of the numerically illiterate or dishonest.

Photo Credit: Ottawa Citizen

 

Written by Graeme C. Gordon

The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.