Dear Editor
I read the article “Huron-Bruce MPP explains thinking on 9 a.m. drinking”. To no one’s surprise this announcement seems to be a marquee item for both Thompson and Walker, who appeared in the same photo.
Drinking by 9 a.m., buck a beer, changing license plates are all “bait and switch” games used by governments hoping/planning on the populace looking away from the real damage being perpetrated. While the shiny baubles are getting the attention, education, healthcare, the environment and public services too numerous to mention are ravaged. Ravaged, not for the good of anyone other than the corporate leadership holding the collective leashes of the current Ontario government.
For me, the most notable MPP Thompson quote in the article is “I feel we are catching up in Ontario. We are evolving away from the nanny state that was thrust on us over the last 15 years”. “Nanny State” - what a “dog whistle” statement. Regulations, statutes, socially responsible programs, environmental stewardship and all the things that provide for an inclusive and compassionate society are not a “Nanny State”. They are simply the antithesis of today’s Ontario Progressive Conservatives (OPC) and are fair game in the OPC propaganda war.
The OPC of today is a party of profound ideologues without a shred of decency or concern for society or for their own history. Until the repugnant Mike Harris Conservatives, the OPC could be found to be part of progress (not always voluntarily, but at least they could be convinced). They were in government when cornerstone pieces of legislation such the Occupational Health and Safety Act were enacted. The OPC of today sees this statute and its regulations as a so-called barrier to competitiveness. Wonder how it will all go when, as these regulations that have saved lives for decades, are diminished by Doug Ford and his caucus and workplace injuries and, tragically, workplace illness and even death escalate in numbers.
Tell Thompson, Walker, Ford and the rest of the OPC caucus that we are not falling for the “bait and switch” and that they will be held accountable for their actions.
Dave Trumble, VP, Grey Bruce Labour Council
