McGuinty’s Trojan horse budget

Like Stephen Harpers controversial omnibus bill, Ontarios proposed budget legislation is a Trojan horse, one chock full of unexpected surprises.

Under the guise of implementing Finance Minister Dwight Duncans March budget, the Strong Action for Ontario Act would casually whittle away at environmental protection.

More alarmingly, it would appear to give Premier Dalton McGuintys cabinet extraordinary authority to restructure or privatize public institutions such as hospitals and schools without consulting the legislature.

McGuinty and Duncan are furious that the opposition New Democrats, having agreed to the broad strokes of his budget, are balking at this bill a bill that at one swoop would amend or create 69 statutes.

But the real question is why Andrea Horwaths NDP didnt dig their heels in earlier.

So far, most attention has focused on McGuintys threat to call a snap election if his budget bill isnt passed intact.

Given that no party including McGuintys Liberals wants an election, thats a hollow threat.

The more interesting and largely unexamined issue is what happens if the bill is passed.

First, Ontarios budget bill aims to weaken environmental regulations that might interfere with resource activities such as mining and forestry.

It would amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to let cabinet exempt timber companies from their current obligation to prepare management plans every five years. And it would give the cabinet broad authority let such companies ignore cutting limits.

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McGuinty’s Trojan horse budget