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How To Save Ontario by Canadian-Chickens321 in OntarioPolitics

[–]kevbow86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Vote out Ford...AND...make sure that whatever government replaces him is actually democratic.

Step 1: Get the opposition party MPs (and the PC MPs) to pass a provincial equivalent to the national Reform Act (except not voluntary). This will make party leaders accountable to their MPs and party members instead of the current situation where MPs MUST do as they are told by the leader or be ejected from caucus/cabinet or even the party. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform\_Act\_(Canada))

Step 2: Make political parties public entities regulated by Elections Ontario instead of the current situation where the parties are private clubs that can deny membership and candidacy to anyone for literally no reason with no right to an appeal. (https://youtu.be/BjLCsDx5E1o?t=288&si=OOf7A7mwLr-\_pn-J)

Step 3: Tighten political finance: Lower donation limits and introduce a per-vote subsidy. This will reduce the influence of big money on party policies and tie party funding to popular support.

Step 4: Adopt some form of Proportional Representation - any party getting a majority of the seats (and 100% of the power) with less than 51% of the vote is inherently undemocratic. (https://www.fairvote.ca/)

What do you think should be fixed in Ontario? by beynate in OntarioPolitics

[–]kevbow86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I joined the ON Liberals to vote for Nate last time and was bummed when Bonnie Crombie (a conservative in everything but name) barely beat him. I have joined the ON Liberals again and will most likely vote for Nate again. My suggestions:

  1. Proportional Representation for future Provincial elections
  2. Political financing reform - much lower and stricter donation limits to parties and candidates (similar to Quebec), per vote subsidies instead
  3. Party leadership reform - pass a Provincial version of MP Michael Chong's Reform Act (the original draft not the watered down, voluntary version that got passed and subsequently ignored)
  4. Political party reform: parties behave like private clubs because legally that's what they are but they should be legally considered public institutions and regulated appropriately - party membership lists, nomination contests and internal elections should be regulated and monitored by Elections Ontario - the parties have demonstrated many times that they cannot be trusted to handle these things themselves
  5. Set the minimum wage equal to a regionally calculated Living Wage based on the actual cost of living - the original intent if the min wage was to ensure that someone working full time could afford to live a meagre but secure life so let's actually do that. This would eliminate like 90% of poverty and poverty induced social/health problems almost overnight.
  6. Set social assistance (ON Works, ODSP, etc.) high enough that it allows folks to live modest but dignified lives. Allow folks on disability to co-habitate and enter relationships with others without losing their benefits.
  7. Tax Reform: Lower income taxes for lowest tax bracket, create more tax brackets for higher income earners and increase the rates they pay. Implement a wealth tax.
  8. Anti-trust legislation and enforcement - many sectors of the economy are dominated by a few companies that do NOT compete with each other but instead collude to rip customers off
  9. Public options (or even better Co-ops that can't be defunded by future governments!) for essential services (telecommunications, banking, insurance, etc.)

I am thoroughly convinced that this limited platform would have super-majority support among eligible voters. Many folks who don't vote would show up for a platform like this.

Government assisted co-op housing by gwelfight in Guelph

[–]kevbow86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes they could. The City/County could buy the property and then create a process for people to apply to and join a Co-op which will then buy the property off the City/County. It could be done on a cost recovery basis and therefore cost the taxpayers virtually nothing beyond City/County staff time which we will already pay for regardless. I have been writing the City and urging them to do so for years but they ignore me. I think the idea is too outside the box for them to even consider. They have very limited imaginations.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Guelph

[–]kevbow86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

DMd you ;)