NDP's cynical vows

by William Watson - from the Financial Post

Most of us didn't pay much attention to the NDP platform when it came out, on the then-reasonable assumption the party wasn't going anywhere near power, so the platform didn't really matter -which also seems to be the assumption the party itself made in writing it. But now that millions of non-readers are about to vote NDP, it's time to check out what, apart from smiling broadly, the party actually stands for.

The NDP platform, which is 26 pages long, contains 19 pictures of Jack Layton and 12 pages of text. Even so, those 12 pages list 146 bullets' worth of policy, with another 59 sub-bullets, for a grand total of 205 policy promises. The platform's title is Giving Your Family a Break: Practical First Steps. If there are 205 "first steps," how many second, third and fourth steps will there be?

The centrepiece of the platform is to raise the corporate tax rate from the 15% it's scheduled to hit next year to 19.5% and to use the resulting revenues to finance 66 of the "first steps" for which a separate three-page budget document provides cost estimates. The NDP must assume either that the almost one-third increase in the corporate rate won't affect employment and economic growth or that the benefits of expanded programs will offset the cost in jobs and output. Many critics of the Conservatives, including Prof. Henry Mintzberg of McGill University, argue corporate taxes don't have significant economic effects.

It's therefore very interesting that one of the costed NDP policy initiatives is to spend $1-billion a year cutting the tax rate for small businesses from 11% to 9%. When you're introducing 205 policy initiatives in just 12 pages of text, you don't get to spend a lot of time describing each one. About the cut in the small business rate, the platform says merely that it is "to support a sector of our economy that creates nearly half of all new jobs in Canada."

But wait a second. If small business creates less than half the new jobs in Canada, who creates the rest? Governments are responsible for some, though only to the extent they can find tax revenues to finance them. But nonsmall business, that is, big business, does much of the rest.

This promise appears in a section of the platform entitled "Reward the job creators." Strictly speaking, the platform doesn't say tax cuts will encourage small businesses to create new jobs. Maybe we just want to reward them for the good work already done -though $1-billion a year just to say thanks does seem excessive when we're in deep deficit. In fact, the strong implication is that cutting these businesses' taxes will cause them to hire more people.

But if cutting business taxes leads to more investment and jobs, doesn't that mean raising business taxes leads to less investment and fewer jobs? So why encourage small business investment and jobs at the expense of big business investment and jobs? Why have the government take a position in this way on which businesses create the next jobs? Read more...

NDP's cynical vows

Playing 'Telephone'

Remember the kid's game called 'telephone', where you sat in a circle, and a message was passed around from person to person, and the fun was in seeing how the message had changed from the beginning to the end?  Well, I had the chance to see a game of that play out today, when I saw this article by Colin MacKay, a member of the Intelligencer Writers Group:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2748415

Councillors promise to make election entertaining
Posted By COLIN MACKAY


     Unlike Baymount, it looks like the municipal election will be able to deliver a horse race on Oct. 25.
     A lot of jockeying will take place over the next few weeks particularly among those running for councillor in the Belleville Ward. Five challengers are running against the incumbents for the six seats in the Belleville ward.
     The newcomers face an uphill challenge because for the most part the incumbents have done an admirable job of moving the City of Belleville forward.
     Decisions made by this council have been good ones. Applying for and receiving money for infrastructure projects has benefited the city. Working toward eliminating red tape for businesses has begun.
     Still, the next council will face a number of key issues. Voters need to know where each potential councillor stands with regard to a new police station, fire station, a new arena for the Belleville Bulls and how they propose to revitalize downtown.
     It is early in the race but all potential councillors, incumbents included, have been speaking a lot without saying anything of substance.
     Voters have not heard one candidate speak directly about any of the above mentioned issues.
     Voters need to know which potential councillor will support a new police station as well as those who are opposed.
     Voters need to know which potential councillor believes that Belleville simply can not afford a new arena for the Bulls.
     Which councillor supports building a new fire station?
     Revitalizing downtown seems to be on every potential councillor's mind yet voters have heard little about how to go about it. Is parking an issue? Should new novelty or artsy shops be given tax breaks? How are you going to change perceptions of those that fear going downtown?
     The incumbents all have reasonable track records and name recognition from four years on council and in the news. Other candidates may make wonderful councillors if given the chance but its tough to break through.
     The challenger's perspectives can be whittled down to a few issues.
     Richard Beare would like Belleville to grow in industry, commercial and residential areas to keep taxes lower. Richard Courneyea understands Belleville's strengths and weaknesses from a global business perspective. Jodie Jenkins wants sustained growth and to be a youthful addition to council. Stanley Jones wants to make sure taxes do not rise. James Pheiffer wants spending to be watched, have QHC dismantled and add a university campus to Belleville.[emphasis added]
     Voters need to find out specifically what all this means and how it might be accomplished.
     The incumbents are running on their track records and stating they feel they have done well but there is more left to do. But voters still have not heard where they specifically stand on some major issues.
     All candidates are just out of the starting gate and rounding the first bend toward a possible seat in council. Nearing the finish line, voters will want to know specifically where they stand on major issues.


Colin MacKay is a longtime resident of Belleville and a member of the Intelligencer Writers Group.


     My response (added to the comments section on the Intell's website, and shown below for your convenience)) will hopefully clarify the matter, as what was included in this article was not a clear representation of my platform (posted here earlier):


As I told Mr McVicar when he talked to me for his article, I have not stated that my goal is to dismantle Quinte Health Care - my goal is to see the organization start providing the kind of service our city needs, which it currently does not. If necessary, I will push for it's dismantling - but that, in light of the inevitable costs involved, should be the last option. For a view of my full platform, (with more specifics to come, naturally), I would suggest Mr. McKay see my full platform at 

http://jamesphieffer4be​lleville.blogspot.​com/
or on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com​/#!/group.php?gid=​156794827667948

I hope that will clarify the matter some. As to the other issues mentioned, I am considering the issues - all of them important - and will make concrete statements soon. 


And my name is spelled Phieffer - not Pheiffer, as the Intell seems to have taken to...