Putting Hudak's Policies In Easy To Explain Sound Bytes

One of the most fundamental issues facing politicians is being able to easily explain their policies in a way that is easily understandable by the audience, and do so in a quick sound byte that will work in the media. Case in point, Tim Hudak's plans to both lower the deficit and business taxes at the same time, and add 1 million jobs to the economy. Cutting taxes and lowering the deficit can confuse voters, as they see a reduction in the tax rate as a reduction in revenues.

 So here is how I explain it to people. Let's say Ontario has 100 businesses paying $1 in taxes each year for tax revenues of $100. Lowering the tax rate 25% brings in 50 more businesses to the province, with each business paying .75 cents in taxes, meaning tax revenues of  $112.50.

 Now factor in each business employs 10 people, paying $1 a year in taxes as well. This gives employee tax revenues of $1000 under the old business tax rate. Under the 25% reduced tax rate you now have 500 more employees paying that $1 a year in tax, resulting in employee tax revenues of $1500. So you've gone from $1100 in tax revenues to $1612.50. And that doesn't factor in the boost to the economy by increased spending via consumer demand for products and services.

 Keeping it simple gets the message across.

Hudak Hitting His Stride, Needs To Hammer Home Electricity Costs

 
I've gotta say, I'm feeling better about Tim Hudak everyday. On CTV with Robert Fife today followed up by CP24 where he discussed his transit plan, this is a guy who looks confident, especially in his policies. And while his focus on jobs is a good one, especially among younger voters, in many ridings skyrocketing electricity costs are the first thing out of most peoples mouths. And where I feel the McGuinty/Wynne Liberals are most vulnerable.

 The fact is most Ontario voters, who are furious their electricity bills have risen over 40% don't realize that they are in fact paying millions more to have the U.S. take our excess capacity yearly. That's a pretty big albatross for Wynne to carry around her neck. She keeps bragging how wonderful her energy plan is, willingly ignoring the damage inflicted on the economy, business, jobs, and most importantly the low-income and retired seniors, many of whom have had to cut their spending on essentials like food to keep the lights on.

 So here are what I think are the key points both Hudal and all PC candidates should be putting front and center.

1. Your electricity bill has risen in excess of 40%, and re-electing Kathleen Wynne will get you another 43% increase.

2. The taxpayers of Ontario have paid millions for the U.S. states and other provinces to take excess electricity from us, while at the same time have we been crushed with a 43% increase on our own bills.

3. Despite a cut in electricity output at OPG, there has been an increase in managers? Most are on the Sunshine List making in excess of $100,000 plus bonuses.

4. McGuinty/Wynne have allowed electricity providers like Veridian to add on new service charges like the delivery fee, and further allowed increases to those fees.

5. McGuinty/Wynne have tried to mitigate the political damage to themselves by having electricity providers like Veridian switch from 3-month billing to 2-month billing cycles. In my case I was paying roughly $200 every 3 months in 1996. I now pay $225 every 2 months, while at the same time I'm using less electricity.

6.McGuinty/Wynne also have repeatedly tried to cover themselves with questionable statements. For example when Wynne talks about the increased cost of electricity under the McGuinty/Wynne Liberals, she tends to just talk about the actual percentage increase per kwh, never including the increased service fees and charges imposed under Liberal rule.

7. And most importantly, Hudak needs to make it obvious to everyone he will put a moratorium on any further expansion of Wynnemills and FIT tariffs. He also needs to bring home the connection of those connected with the McGuinty/Wynne Liberals who are raping millions, if not billions at the expense of the average Ontarian.

 So keep it up Tim. Keep hammering that job plan, which I think is a winner. Just make sure to give electricity costs the major issue of this election, something which is pretty indefensible for Wynne to sweep away.

Today's Strategy Advice To Make Tim Hudak Premier of Ontario

 First off, Tim Hudak deserves credit. he has improved every day so far on the campaign trail and shows his conviction by announcing public sector job cuts, something he knows the opposition will use to attack him. And for some reason Kathleen Wynne seems more focused on Stephen Harper than Hudak or NDP leader Andrea Horwath. Of course anyone even remotely aware of politics knows this is meant as nothing more than deflection from her record as Premier of Ontario and the horrendous financial situation this province finds itself in after 11 years of her Liberal party in power.

 Now we all know how hard it is to win an election with promises of spending and employment cuts to the public sector. And Liberals are always quick to bring up Mike Harris to demonize Hudak. The thing is Harris record as premier is head and shoulders better than McGuinty/Wynne. So with Wynne bringing PM Harper into the election and resurrecting the Harris years, even though he hasn't been in power for 13 years, it's urgent for Hudak to get Ontario voters to accept the fact cuts are needed, and tough love now pays off with rewards down the road. But how?

 The answer? Former Liberal PM Jean Chretien and former federal finance minister Paul Martin. While most Conservative voters hold both Chretien and Martin in high disdain, the fact is their record on cutting spending and laying off thousands of federal public sector workers to balance the budget is grudgingly admired. So here is what Hudak needs to do. Whenever asked about cuts, point out Chretien and Martin are widely praised for the way the slayed the federal deficit. And whenever doing so point out the reason it has become necessary to do the same thing in Ontario is a direct result of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. Did you catch that? Like I've stated before, always mention McGuinty and Wynne in the same sentence.

 This strategy serves a few purposes. If Wynne wants to attack the cuts proposed by Hudak, then she needs to explain why they were acceptable federally, particularly because Ontario took the brunt of $30 billion in transfer payment cuts by Chretien/Martin. Does Wynne dare question Chretien and Martins fiscal record? Will she diss the federal Liberal Party of current leader Justin Trudeau.? I doubt it. It also blunts the attacks on the Harris years. Hudak can rightly point out Ontario found itself in a similar disastrous fiscal cliff in 1995 when Bob Rae left an $11 billion deficit. He can also point out McGuinty/Wynne now have the province in an even deeper financial abyss, caused by out of control spending, out of control public sector hiring, and the huge loss to Ontario's manufacturing sectordue  to Liberal policies inncluding electricity costs and big increases in fees and more government bureaucracy.

 This strategy is just my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong. But conjuring up the two supposed iconic Liberal figures always mentioned as great fiscal managers seems to be a great way to make the necessary cuts palpable to more Ontario voters.

 Comments always welcome here or via email: paulsblues45@hotmail.com

Global News Does Staged Surprise Kathleen Wynne Interview?

(HT FHL previous post) The first few days of the Ontario election campaign have seen PC leader Tim Hudak face tough questions and stories about campaign stop flubs. Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne's campaign stops have received glowing remarks from the media. Upon watching Wynne's photo-ops I can't help but get the impression those supposed off-the-cuff questions from the media might have been scripted with Wynne knowing what questions are coming before even being asked. Of course Wynne and the media most undoubtedly deny this.

 Which brings us to Global News reporter Alan Carter "intruding on Wynne's morning jog". Listen to the questions and Wynne's answers. Sure seems planned and rehearsed to me.. Now before we get to that let's look at the most obvious issue first. Wynne, as premier, has a security detail with her. You can usually see them trailing behind whenever she's shown doing her morning jog. They are nowhere to be found, the first indication this was a planned video.The video starts with the reporter looking down the path at Wynne coming over the bridge and up the path. Take a close look. Wynne's to the left of her partner. Yet at the 6 second mark, Wynne suddenly manages to jog directly in front of her campaign bus, just feet from the road and is on the right side of her partner. And then at the 12 second mark Wynne miraculously reappears on the path just feet from Carter, again to the left of her partner, and some distance from the road.. And that campaign bus is nowhere to be seen.So you can see how special Kathleen Wynne is. She just made a bus disappear in under 4 seconds. Even Houdini couldn't pull that off.Those are some pretty special running shoes. Funny that!

Also, at the 1:20 mark, you see camera angles change. Listen to the audio closely. It's not fluid. Sounds like it's skipped or been edited. And does it not seem rather odd how deserted that park is/?Few joggers, no dog walkers? And Carter is intruding on Wynne's jog, yet we have multi-camera angles? Another thing interesting is at the 1:30 mark you see a row of cameras on tripods. I thought this was supposed to be some spontaneous interview.. Supposedly Carter is surprising Wynne, yet there is a row of cameras set up? And that camera angle showing Wynne running towards it. Just lucky placement I guess eh? If you look closely you will also see the guy on the bike at the 5 second mark. He's not there when Wynne jogs past her bus, yet reappears near the end of the video.

 What's written here is my own opinion of that video. I don't think it's much of a leap to say this thing was staged. If it wasn't, can someone explain that magical campaign bus or the fact Wynne can be running on two different paths at the same time. Should this "reporting" county as an election expense. Perhaps it's time to call Scooby Doo.

UPDATE: I've sent Global an email asking for an explanation on why parts of this video were staged. Here is my email sent : "In a news report featuring reporter Alan Carter supposedly surprising Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne jogging, it is quite obvious part of this video was staged, particularly the part showing Wynne jogging by her campaign bus. Does Global News feel this is ethical reporting? If so can the leaders of the PC Party and NDP expect to be accomodated in the same way. THe fact this was done makes me question the entire video, and whether it was in fact something coordinated in unison between Global and Kathleen Wynne."

Kathleen Wynne And Dalton McGuinty's College Of Trades Cash Grab

 Check out those guys in the pictures. That's Courtney, Riad, and Victor. All are licensed technicians here in the province of Ontario, and good ones at that. All three work long and hard hours to support their families with housing, food, and life's necessities. And all three are perfect examples of the McGuinty/Wynne College of Trades tax grab

 Let's start with Courtney first. Courtney renewed his license back in May 2011. The cost was $60 for three years. The College of Trades issued card shows an expiry date of May, 2014. So you would think that Courtney would not be subjected to the McGuinty/Wynne tax increase until May 2014, right? Wrong. Not that long ago, Courtney received a letter stating he owed $120 to remain licensed with the College of Trades. Now Courtney knows his current certificate does not expire until May/2014. He carries the card in his wallet, as do almost all trades persons with certification. So Courtney's not really impressed with the fact that he was paying $60 for three years has abruptly changed to $120 for one year. Think about that. An increase from $60 to $360 for a three year period. But it gets worse. Courtney gets a letter telling him his license is suspended because he didn't send in the $120, even though the card issued to him shows his license is valid for 5 more months. So now they want $130 to reinstate his license, plus the $120 for the year for renewal. Yep, Wynne thinks this guy should fork over $250 to reinstate his license, which according to the government issued card is still valid. Brilliant, right?

 Next, let's get to Riad. He's the youngest of the 3. Riad worked hard throughout his apprenticeship and became certified last year after writing his final test. That test carried a price of over $100. Riad passed the test, and paid his $60 for his trade certification. That $60 was to cover the following three year period. So what happens? Riad gets an invoice in the mail demanding the $120 to keep his license valid just months after paying the $60. Like Courtney, his card shows an expiry date, only his is 2016.

 And finally Vic. I fine hard working family man with young children at home. Like Courtney and Riad, Vic had paid his $60 to keep his certification for the following three year period, and just months after received the invoice demanding the new fee of $120. Now to put this in perspective, imagine going down to the Ministry of Transport and plunking down the money for your license plate sticker renewal, which by the way has risen around 40% under McGuinty/Wynne's government. So you've paid your renewal fee and think you are good to go. A month down the road, the MOT sends you and invoice demanding payment for the new fee, which has doubled while only covering you for 33% of the renewal time your previous sticker did. Failure to pay the new amount, even though your receipt shows you paid up until the following year, will result in your license being suspended.

 Pretty outrageous right? And not something the McGuinty/Wynne government could get away with. So why is it acceptable to screw trades people? And why, oh why, does the cost suddenly need to rise from $60 for three years to $360 for three years? Could it be that the provinces finances, which appear to be in very dire straights are actually far worse than Wynne is telling us? There's a new rumor circulating in political circles regarding Wynne's proposed Ontario retirement plan. That rumor is the province faces another credit rating downgrade, which would be damaging to McGuinty/Wynne's Liberals re-election chances.

 Whether discussing the College of Trades ridiculous increase in fees, or Ontarios proposed retirement plan, there is a distinct bad odour, and it's only going to get worse. 

Dalton McGuinty And Kathleen Wynne

Kathleen Wynne has an Achilles heel. It's Dalton McGuinty. So tarnished is McGuinty's reputation in Ontario Wynne won't even mention his name, instead using terms like my predecessor or the former premier. So what do you do when you are in competition with someone with said Achilles heel? You exploit it. You focus on that weakness and exploit it for everything you can get out of it.

 Which brings me to Tim Hudak. Whenever Tim speaks, he should always say Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne together. McGuinty is damaged goods. He's managed to accomplish something I never thought possible. Many Ontario voters view him as a worse premier then Bob Rae. And that's no easy thing to accomplish.

 As Wynne tries repeatedly to distance herself from McGuinty, laughable at best due to the fact she served in the upper cabinet under his command. Hudak needs to tie her even closer, especially in the eyes of voters. You want the perfect attack ad? A close up of Dalton McGuinty's face, with text listing the numerous scandals and their costs to taxpayers. Then with McGuinty's shadow in the background, you show that unforgettable moment from the Liberal convention.

 You know, the one where Wynne boasts about carrying on McGuinty's legacy, followed by her cheers of Dalton, Dalton, Dalton. End it with the caption McGuinty/Wynne, same old story. McGuinty's gone, but far from forgotten for the despicable state the province of Ontario now finds itself in.

 And by the way, Hudak and the war room might want to point out changing leaders isn't an escape for scandals and incompetence. Kim Campbell paid the price for Mulroney's scandals, Paul Martin paid the price for Jean Chretien's scandals. And every NDP leader in Ontario has paid the price for Bob Rae's abysmal failure as Ontario premier. Send Kathleen Wynne and the Ontario Liberal Party a message. Elect Tim Hudak!

Talking Points For Tim Hudak

Tim, I saw your opening phto-op at Metalworks, and I gotta say, I wasn't impressed. You looked ill-prepared for questions you should be able to give a decisive answer to within seconds. Given the past Ontario elections, which both you and John Tory should have won and fumbled, I'd like to take this opportunity to give you some of what I consider valuable talking points to use throughout the campaign.

#1. When asked about the Ontario Music Fund, you should have answered that voting against the budget does not mean you are against everything in the budget.

#2. You should have and need to point out the provincial legislature functions differently than the federal parliament. Because of that voting against the budget is the most effective way and pretty much only way of defeating the Wynne Liberals in a minority situation.

#3.  Kathleen Wynne is blaming the federal government for the provinces financial woes, which we all know are self-inflicted. You need to be able to rhyme off multiple examples of waste and excess funding.

#4 Wynne wants to make the election about the Ontario Pension Plan. Point out that Dalton McGuinty brought in the Health Tax Levy, at a cost of $2.5 billion, and then put that money in general reserves. Despite that levy Ontario's debt has more than doubled. Wynne has already stated the pension deductions would be used for transit and infrastructure, and given her dismal record on boondoggles this will be just one more.

#5 You need to connect with seniors. No other age group shares the rage and worries of out of control electricity. Here's what I would do. Have an example of an average seniors electricity bill from 2003 and what that bill now costs in 2014. And don't just include the increase in kwh pricing. Point out the delivery charge and all other user fees added under the Liberals.

#6 Ignore Andrea Horwath. This election is all about you and the Liberals. NDP voters might vote Liberal, but most will not vote PC. Those swing voters, the PC-Liberal swing voters are what this election is really about.

#7 Rather than pick a fight with labor groups, point out that if your party ran the province in a fiscally responsible way, then their would be room for pay and benefit increases whenever collective bargaining arose.

#8 Last, and most important, do not be afraid to mention Mike Harris name. Point out the incredible job growth under Harris. Mention turning Bob Rare's $11 billion deficit into surplus. Blunt the phony attacks about health care cuts by reciting the exact increase year by year under Harris.There are many Conservatives in this province who long for the Harris era. And with Wynne afraid to even mention McGuinty's name, please challenge her anytime she makes that ridiculous claim that this government has only been in power 1 year. SHE IS DALTON MCGUINTY'S LEGACY!