Parry Sound-Muskoka Green Party

 
 
Amidst photo opportunities and spin phrases our provincial budget was presented last week to an increasingly disengaged public. No wonder, considering how rare any genuine sense of empowerment has been bestowed upon Ontario’s residents to contribute ideas and solutions. How often did people attend public meetings or forums under the illusion that they were being listened to?
Consider the past year in our Parry Sound-Muskoka riding: health care technicians, nurses and doctors expressed concerns about the deficit reduction strategy; small to medium sized businesses stressed that the amount of “red tape” jeopardizes their bottom line; post-secondary students pleaded to have reduced tuition rates; local farmers outlined the need for increased accessibility to local food production facilities and abattoirs; health promotion professionals demonstrated the hypocrisy of increasing the tax (HST) on activities and services that actually prevent people from being sick; teachers consistently explained how money from standardized testing and related projects would be better spent on reduced class sizes and expanded resources; towns and municipalities strived to bring their budgets in check without having to resort to urban sprawl…

The examples continue, and the budget failed to act upon the feedback of the people. Angst and anger will only remain if the current top-down management leadership style continues. Every budget issue required the government to listen and act upon the experience and guidance found at the grassroots level. By doing so, the public would become entitled to the participatory democracy process and provide the first step towards a platform that can rebuild a prosperous economy, develop sustainable communities and restore the health and well-being of Ontarians.

Matt Richter
Parry Sound-Muskoka
Provincial Green Party Candidate

 


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