Sand in the Shorts: Potshots for August 20, 2011

By James Phieffer - also published in the Intelligencer (August 20, 2011)

There are a few matters that ought to be addressed this week, but only one column. So take cover, do-ers of dumb – I'm going to take a few potshots.

• Gerry Fraiberg, a local Liberal lapdog, was kind enough to offer his condemnation of local Progressive Conservative candidate, and former co-worker, Todd Smith's lack of moral backbone for having decided putting food on the table for his family is more important than meeting the needs of local Liberal mouthpieces. His actions are entirely within the letter and spirit of the law.
  Let's consider the amount of free (that is, on the taxpayers' dime) publicity being had by Leona Dombrowsky, and other Liberals, as she flutters about, a scarlet clad, tax-powered, tooth fairy. Here and there she leaves a few million under someone's pillow, bringing smiles to all. And what has this gained our local sugar-mama? A search of the Intelligencer shows her name coming up in 31 stories since Smith threw announced his candidacy. In the same time Smith's name comes up 9 times.
  In fact, the real advantage lays with Dombrowsky and other incumbents, who are on a taxpayer covered holiday, able to campaign 24/7 while their paycheques keep rolling in. I'm sure Smith would like to have that opportunity.
• Apparently certain members of the local left have decided that the best way to deal with issues of poverty and homelessness is to make those in that situation more comfortable. That's the idea put forth in some comments on various articles in the Intell this week. Their first criticism of bringing more development to Belleville is to focus on the need for “social development”. When it came to the Memorial Arena's fate, the suggestion was it become a homeless shelter and soup kitchen, since it's located so near to transit and entertainment, and “there are benches in the square where occupants could congregate”.
  Now I have no problem with making sure there are adequate resources available to help the poor and homeless, but I believe the best goal is the elimination of homelessness and increasing the income of the poor. This won't be accomplished by such ideas. And the idea of Market Square as a hang-out for local panhandlers should give downtown merchants a coronary.
  What downtown needs isn't a Toronto sized shelter, but new, quality, residential development. A highrise apartment or condominium on the site, possibly incorporating much of the Memorial Arena, would bring money to the city, creating quality jobs, and increasing the tax base so as to allow funds for aiding those who are down on their luck.
• Apparently the McGuinty-Dombrowsky government's Samsung deal is proving to be a hard pill to swallow for taxpayers, based on the discussion of the deal in local media across the province. In Belleville, a Samsung spokesperson took the time to write a “neutral” letter to the editor of the Intelligencer to provide us with “facts” on the most most grotesque example of politically motivated corporate welfare in provincial history.
  While the government loans to GM and Chrysler were bigger (combining federal and provincial) there was a concrete return (in the form of jobs) on that investment, not to mention the loans are currently being paid back and the balance became equity in the companies. The Samsung deal represents hoped for jobs from one manufacturer. A more sensible approach would be a reduction in business costs, such as taxes, which can be a hindrance for the creation of jobs and the growth of the small to medium sized enterprises which are the driving force behind current employment growth.
  As far as economic far-sightedness is concerned, this deal shows the Liberals possess none. The government's job isn't to pick the business' that will (hopefully) be the winners. Rather, it's job is to create a healthy business environment, which means jobs for Ontarians.