From My Bottom Step

Dalton, How About Some Fairness?

Are McGuinty Liberals really much different than Harris Tories?

LTC Knows the Fare Hike is Bad

From staff report #13 in the 2008/09/03 LTC agenda:

The issues and challenges…of the 2009 operating budget…are…similar to those faced in the early 1990’s… In response to the issues of the early to mid 1990’s, London Transit raised fares, cut both on-road and support services… Accordingly, the combined effect…

36% decline in ridership
44% decline in rides per capita
…
And this also: “…the extent of the increase is expected to result in a loss of 131,700 trips, which…is considered a reasonably acceptable loss… Continue Reading

Nutritious Food Basket – 2008

From this year’s Nutritious Food Basket report by the Middlesex-London Health Unit:
Each year the Nutritious Food Basket is reported in Middlesex-London, it is evident that there is a discrepancy between the cost of food and the income that individuals and families receiving Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income support… What has been demonstrated consistently since 1997 is the amount provided by social assistance for Basic Needs and Shelter Allowance is never sufficient to allow for other regular expenses such as food… Social assistance has not been indexed to compete with the cost of living. As a result, individuals and families on social assistance have actually been receiving less funding over the years, comparatively speaking… There is ongoing evidence that improvements such as increases in income for OW and ODSP recipients and increased minimum wages are required… Continue Reading

NDP Pay Pledge

Kerry Gillespie correctly writes that “The NDP have long cried foul over the wage hike Liberal and Progressive Conservatives MPPs voted for just before Christmas” (”Hampton vows $10 wage, MPP pay cut”; Toronto Star; 2007/09/13). He tells us that Hampton has “vowed” to “immediately” raise the minimum wage to $10 “if elected” and then “index it to inflation.”
To … Continue Reading

Social Assistance Rates Act

“Based on some proposals on social assistance reform, that had come out in 1988, but had never been acted upon by the Ontario government…poverty lawyer Craig Foye recently finalized draft legislation for the creation of a social assistance rates review panel… Last week, in a symbolic yet important move, McMeekin…” [editor's note: Ted McMeekin is Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Aldershot MPP] “…introduced the Ontario Social Assistance Rates Act 2007 as a private member’s bill, … Continue Reading

London Transportation – My Public Response to Paul Berton

Hold onto your hats… this is a long post…
Mr. Berton,

To begin with, a note of appreciation for today’s “Back transit plan before it’s too late” editorial. Public transit is hugely important towards safe and healthy cities, and as I’ve written to you before and despite all of City Hall’s posturing, sadly ignored (as evidenced by per-capita mode share stats). Had it not been for significant transfer payments … Continue Reading

Political Salaries

 ”I am entitled to my entitlements.”- David DingwallIn today’s paper (”Politicians entitled to their entitlements?”; Victoria Stirling (London); LFP ”Letters”; 2006/10/07), a local citizen muses aloud about the financial gulf between politicians and many of the rest of us.
I have long suggested that the salaries of politicians at all levels of government should be directly tied to the minimum wage, or to what those who are on welfare … Continue Reading