It was greatly anticipated, widely commented on, had our attention for a few days, and then receded back into the ether as quickly as it arrived. I’m speaking about something you haven’t heard of, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services. What you might remember is the Drummond Report. It brought us an important point of view on what needs to be done in Ontario to keep it financially sustainable and prosper
ous. It is comprehensive, provocative, somewhat fearless and timely.
Although clearly prescribed by the Liberals (don’t recommend privatization of health care or education and don’t recommend tax increases), its most important characteristic is that it is not a politically self-serving document.
It was an unusual “can do” document that didn’t just outline the problems, it ventured all sorts of solutions.
That said, if you want an indication of how political all of this is going to be look no further than a rather minor suggestion that one of the casinos in Niagara Falls be closed down for efficiency reasons along with the idea that a casino in Toronto might make money for the government. The Leader of the Opposition said he would have nothing to do with “vacuuming more money out of the wallets of Ontario families” in Toronto but wouldn’t countenance the closing of one of two near his riding. Not a promising start.
The report makes it clear cost-cutting isn’t enough. The commission says all the sensible things you need to do to improve both service and effectiveness by resetting priorities (what we do) and getting serious about establishing metrics to measure how well we do what we do.
The question for Ontario is not just debt; it is economic relevance. Ontario used to think it was Canada. Now, it is just Ontario in a world defined by Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan which means it is not much different than Greece, which is locked in a currency that has no relevance to its size or economic capability.
The problems are complex. Cut expenditures while reinventing our economy but don’t raise taxes, and get things done while operating a minority government where there is little consensus and less goodwill.
The first opportunity has been missed. Ontarians do not understand how serious our problems are, in spite of the fact it is clearly outlined in the document. This is the government's brief.
It was struck this time last year for four reasons: A) to delay any serious debate on the economy until after the provincial election; B) to get new ideas; C) to make Ontarians aware of the seriousness of our problems from a creditable non-political source; D) and to create political cover for unpopular decisions that need to be taken.
The commission has delivered. The government is wavering. We can only hope they find its footing.
For Northern Ontario, the usual problems exist. Great change is in the air. We have a resource economy, not a faltering manufacturing economy. We have different needs and priorities whether it is energy, taxation, trade, immigration, governance or even applying different efficiency metrics in an unpopulated region of the province.
It is not clear, even with the prestigious appointment of Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux to the task force, that our influence will carry on to policy-making. I recommend, somewhat plaintively, that our municipal leaders and MPPs come together to discuss these matters immediately and that they leave their politics at the door.
We have passed an economic tipping point. We are on the good ship “Ontaranic.” We can keep dancing in the ballroom oblivious to our sinking ship or we can get out the lifeboats and head for a prosperous shore.
Time is wasting.
