FOLKS, GET READY FOR A LONG RIDE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC!

Like most of you, I am tired of the lockdowns, the restrictions, the ridiculous rules and conflicting advice given to us by government and public health authorities.  The most recent directive to send us all home again on April 8, 2021, similar to how they did on January 12, 2021, has only created an explosion of all the anti-maskers and wannabe stars on social media telling the general public to go about their usual business, not wear a mask, go visit friends and family and attend their stupid protests, and then they point the fingers elsewhere when our numbers keep going up (and ICUs being filled).  I am tired of hearing how more and more vulnerable people are catching this virus, simply because there is a small but vocal contingent of our population that want us all to deny this is really happening.

These people that organize the protests are not disadvantaged people, or even people who have lost their businesses.  Most, if not all, have and always had the resources to promote, publicize and organize around their dangerous and delusional ideas.  They can afford full-page ads in newspapers, fully choreographed "documentaries" that supposedly prove their claims, have money to travel between provinces or even across the border and yes, most of them have the cash to pay legal counsel to defend them if they get caught.  These people are *not* suffering at all, yet they do not care if you are suffering.  When asked about what to do about those who are vulnerable, some of their leaders basically said "let 'em die".  I hear false claims from them that it is just the very frail elderly that are dying of this virus, despite recent reports of people as young as thirteen getting ill.  More and more of them are middle-aged, much like the demographics of the people that have gone to these "protests".

First, these protests are not about anybody's "freedoms". Nothing has been done by our governmental authorities to snatch any our freedoms away or to dispense with our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  These are in fact the very same people that claim that because they cannot go down the street marching against having Muslims (or certain other people) in our community, or to write conspiratorial articles promoting hateful things about vulnerable minorities, that their "freedom" of speech is somehow compromised.  These are also the very same people that believe people with disabilities with high care needs have less rights to live than people like themselves, if a choice ever came down to it.  Many of the people I watched marching in my own community were the same people protesting at our MPs offices telling Syrian refugees to "go home".  When asked why they think that, they actually believe that Muslims will come into our country, outnumber us and force us all to accept sharia law.  Yet these same people are often members of Christian right organizations, whose ideas of a similar theocracy are so salivating to them that their freedoms again are the only ones that are important.  I do not find any difference between a radical Muslim or a radical Christian, as they both promote and push fascism, rejecting (or killing) out groups and promoting in groups.

If one cares to notice, the only churches that are opening against the laws of the pandemic are those specific Christian denominations that typically operate in a cult-like manner, convinced that being able to have a freedom of conscience and to practice their religion means they need to congregate in groups of 3000 inside a building (without masks), when in fact millions of Canadians of less extreme faiths are praying everyday from their homes, watching services on Zoom and reading their books of faith, as well as having online prayer meetings with other members of their community.  Because we are not permitted to crowd into buildings to offer prayers, or attend sporting events, or have large parties, or have happy hours or whatever one's taste may be, means nothing has literally been taken from us.  Nor does this discriminate on anybody's religion. This is a temporary measure and if only people would listen and be patient and stop holding super spreader events, we may be able to get back to all of these activities someday.

Another path to 'normalcy' is the vaccine.  I am pleased to see a high demand for the vaccine in the community and expressed frustrations by many who have tried to sign up for a vaccine online but have failed to secure an appointment.  Further, as soon as the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine lowered its age limit to forty years of age, more people were signing up to clinics to get their vaccines.  Last Friday, my husband and I got our AstraZeneca jab, which resulted in 36 hours of fever and flu like symptoms which readily subsided with rest and Tylenol.  What is important to me is this shows that the vaccine is doing its job.  Almost all of those marching in protest are not only anti-mask, anti-lockdown, but anti-vaccine as well.  A large number of them would not even vaccinate their children against serious childhood diseases, something I believe should be part of something that child welfare experts should be cognizant of, particularly if outbreaks begin to happen.   

Members of this cult call themselves independent thinkers, even though I have yet to hear a single independent thought from any of them.  They say they do not get their news from the mainstream media, but obviously the only other place they would get it is the social media, which is rife with falsehoods and disinformation.  If you do not believe me, ask for their sources, and every single one of them has the same sources on offer.  These "sources", if at all medically trained, are often disgraced from their profession for some reason, or are being investigated.  Others are not real doctors, or they are people on Youtube ascribing themselves with whatever credentials they want people to believe they have.  How does anybody know that the person on Youtube is really that person and that this person indeed has those credentials?  Fakery has been detected way too many times, which is why I completely bypass social media for any of my hard information.  Anybody can start a Youtube channel and say whatever they wish, but this does not make that statement any more true than if I stood on a downtown street with a bullhorn and shouted out particular opinions of my own.  

A good read of their sources, as well as the platform upon which they are published, is a good way to tell whether they have any credibility whatsoever.  Certain platforms are used by the alt-right, where they seem to want to allow any and all expression whatsoever, except of course, when that expression is anything that disagrees with their delusional beliefs and disinformation. I simply stay out of those platforms, where they can all stay as far as I am concerned and become each other's echo chamber. Occasionally, there are people on these forums that become missing and I am aware of some of them, as they actually end up in hospital and die of COVID-19, even though they refuse to talk about it.  Many of them do not believe there is COVID-19, or that people can die of it, so they deny this reality even among their own number.  Many protests have been ascribed as super spreader events, particularly where a particular area is crowded out and people listen to speakers.  With not a mask to be found on any of these people, I am sure within a week or so, some of them will fall ill, maybe a couple might die.  When asked about this reality, they say they do not care if they end up dying of COVID or anything else.  What they fail to understand is that while they might not care if they themselves get sick, but what about the number of people they are making sick?

Second, none of these protesters care about the rights of the real victims of the pandemic.  That is people with disabilities, older people, poor people, ethnic minorities (we already know that!), amongst others.  These people feel invincible.  This reminds me of people in my younger days that used to drink themselves under the table and then try to drive home after, because nothing was going to happen to them ... until it did.  I know many young and middle-aged people who contracted COVID-19, among which a few died.  Roughly half of those that survived remain disabled in some way.  Two are currently seeking disability benefits because they can no longer work.  One of these people used to think exactly like the "freedom marchers" of today, who once believed it would not happen to him, until it did.  Most days, he could not get out bed.  He is always short of breath.  Driving anywhere takes too much energy for him.  Those that go to these protests and so-called freedom walks would know this man, although I cannot say who it is.  They would not care anyways.

Third, these anti-maskers belittle people with disabilities.  Like, when did they even start or begin to care about the interests of people with disabilities?  Suddenly we have a large group of people that cannot wear a mask because of a disability?  Yeah, sure.  They are making light of people with real disabilities that are unlikely to even get out of their homes because of the impact of these real disabilities.  I had a couple of people phone our office to ask for representation against a business for refusal of service due to the fact they were not wearing a mask.  It is interesting how they disappeared after I spoke to them about what a case like this would involve, such as having a medically documented disability (that they know they do not have and cannot prove).  There are stories about how some of these anti-maskers are extorting small businesses, which they claim to be fighting for in the midst of this pandemic.

I would really like to see prior proof of this kind of vigorous advocacy by these same people for people with disabilities; for example, to have a livable income, equal access to decently paid employment and affordable housing.  Where were they when these fights were abound?  I do not remember a single one of them at any of these meetings, rallies or media events, when such issues were being explained.  Over the last thirty years of my life, directing many of these organizations (of which none of them were members), attending meetings with government officials, holding public rallies and so forth, not a single one of them were there.  At the beginning of the pandemic, in fact most would not give a toss about people with disabilities by saying they "already" had enough to live on, while each of them, even in a couple, were able to easily get $2,000 a month each to survive for several months while many of their jobs were temporarily lost.  If that is not privilege, I don't know what is.  Their nerve to suddenly claim they have a disability now that prevents them from wearing a mask is just ridiculous if not pathetic.  There are very few people who legitimately cannot wear a mask, so this is why I find it almost impossible to believe anybody that approaches me with such a claim (especially if they drove to where they met me, or seem to walk and talk okay). Among the ones I do know, one can visibly tell they are disabled (e.g. on oxygen, CP, etc.).

Fourth, I want out of this pandemic.  I want to see an end to these lockdowns.  However, just opening everything up and damned the torpedoes, is just going to overload our ICUs and cause many more unnecessary deaths.  It is just unfortunate that some people are too selfish to recognize the limitations of their own bubbles they live in.  I am indeed critical of some parts of the lockdown we are in, as some things are locked down that should not be, while other things remain open that should not be.  It appears that when these lockdowns were ordered, none of the justification for the same came from the Science Table that Ford's government was supposed to listen to.  Instead, he would just try to give police powers they did not even want to stop people and ask them why they were not staying at home, as well as shutting down playgrounds and other outdoor facilities.  When the blowback came hard, Ford disappeared and cried the crocodile tears to the public that he did not mean it that way ... of course, I do not feel sorry for Ford.  He should have done his job right in the first place, to prevent this third wave, as well as not neglected people in long-term care and other congregate settings, as well as people living on very limited disability allowances.  If he had to listen to the number of such people I hear from regularly, who want to seek MAiD (medical assistance in dying), he would have a good reason to cry real tears.  

Instead, he needs to be taken out of this leadership position and have another Cabinet member take over immediately, possibly Christine Elliott.  Politics needs to be taken right out of the pandemic recovery.  Let's do as the Science Table says, and then after that, let the politicians provide the supports to those that need them, such as businesses that were forced to close, individuals losing money because of price gouging that is openly going on during the pandemic for PPE, groceries, transportation, etc.  We also need to get the vaccines into as many arms as possible.  I do believe that once enough people get vaccinated, we will begin to see the lowering of numbers and less people dying, which should be the goal for everybody and our ultimate goal as well, which is to end the lockdowns.

Your thoughts?

The ERA of Fake News, Clickbait and Hyper-Partisanism

Since the present pandemic began, or even a bit preceding this, the idea of Fake News became popular.  This was popular among interests that wanted to get their readers to believe certain lies in the community.  The anti-vaxxers tell unwitting parents that the normal childhood array of vaccines cause autism and indirectly, try to discourage their parents from vaccinating their kids.  The anti-maskers try to lie about the efficacy of mask wearing and how somehow, being required to do so in the midst of a global pandemic, is an infringement of our Charter rights.  The travel requirements posed by our federal government to limit the spread of the variant COVID-19 virus are now aligned with sending people to the gulag.  The reason they had to step up on this was because local resources set out to enforce in-home quarantines were not successful, with roughly half of these cases breaking the quarantine.

Those leading the fight to defeat these restrictions only care about the rights to infect others, to go wherever and whenever one pleases during a pandemic and to life all restrictions at a time, when some restrictions may be necessary.  Every country around the world was affected by the pandemic and they all imposed restrictions, except for some time under Donald Trump who just believed at first that the virus was a hoax, or was like the flu and it would just "go away", as deaths began to mount in that country.  The US did, in fact, become number 1, after all in this pandemic: the most cases, the most deaths, the highest transmission rate.  This was because Trump did not set any public health standards and state initiatives were mixed and as a result of inter-state travel, many of these were not as effective as they could be.  

I consider some of these so-called constitutional rights groups that fight for our so-called rights do not consider democracy and the interests of the community as a whole.  To these people, it is perfectly fine to be forced to live under a bridge because you cannot find a job or are too sick to work in one, and be unable to afford to live somewhere, but their rights are on ... they do not have to wear a mask, at least.  And they can attend their wacky religious cult at its building despite very clear public health orders about indoor gatherings. One of these same groups recently took up the cause of trying to diminish the universality of our Canada Health Act and provincial health services (in BC) by fighting on behalf of a BC doctor and two private clinics.  It did not matter to the proponents of that suit that if they won, that health care in Canada would become further balkanized and people with fewer resources would be de facto denied health care due to being unable to pay or afford to carry the right insurance.  Groups like this also go to places like the US and tell them lies about our health care system.  While it is far from perfect, people do get the help they need and emergencies are dealt with promptly.  Unfortunately, that has not been the message given to people in the US, many of whom see Canada's health care as "socialist" - again, a term they do not know the meaning of, or what exactly they are accepting.

Then came Trump.  I would love to know how he dazzled millions of Americans, including those living in a abject poverty.  How they actually believed that Trump would act in their interests, nobody knows. Under the US' former administration, a health care marketplace was put into place, which was a small beginning, but certainly not the completion of Obama's final plans to make health insurance accessible and affordable to everybody.  Under this plan, more Americans received some type of health coverage than they did before this was put into place.  Along came Trump. He then tried to tear down Obamacare under the guise that this was "socialist" and fascist for requiring people to sign up.  Many people would sign up and have the same coverage under Medicaid if finances were an issue.  Insurance companies were no longer allowed to discriminate on the basis of pre-existing condition.  Trump took this away under the guise that nobody should have to sign up, that this was somehow an infringement of people's rights to sign up for health care.

Trump would carry on promising everybody that he would create "great health care" that would be good for all Americans, yet there was not a single step done in that direction.  He lied to everybody, yet his supporters believed him, as many of them lost coverage they might have had under Obamacare.  He campaigned against Hillary Clinton when she ran for the presidency as his opponent, citing some ambiguous scandals or crimes she allegedly committed.  He would hold rallies where his supporters would yell "Hillary for prison 2016".  If there was such evidence, would you not think that she would be charged with some type of crime and tried for it?  Even Martha Stewart and Conrad Black were tried and convicted for offences that were less than that alleged for Clinton.  Of course, when nothing like this is pursued, this is obviously hyperbole.

Then combine this with the social media.  The social media is the worst place to obtain accurate information about anything, even political or community events.  Everybody has an opinion, but nobody has the facts.  The concept of privilege becomes more visible online, as people feel more free to attack minorities, low income people, refugees, among others.  They are safely ensconced behind their computer screens, not paying attention to the impact of their words, nor do they care.  Again, there is a reckless regard for the truth, as well as an unwillingness on the part of the dominant participant to see beyond their own privilege.  In speaking about minorities, etc., those posting or commenting know a "friend of a friend".  This is not factual, nor is this statistical, even if the story about the "friend of a friend" has some truth in it.  However, repeating the story about the "friend of a friend" on social media leads to others with equally privileged lens helps to spread lies and stereotypes about "the other".  This creates one type of "othering" on the Internet.

Another type of "othering" is the social acceptance of division.  On PBS, I watched an episode before the US election, where neighbours in a duplex were supporting different Presidential candidates.  On supported Biden; the other supported Trump.  The Trump supporters only watched Fox News, were suspicious of new ethnic communities joining their neighbourhood and were against entitlement programs, never mind the fact one of them was receiving some type of state disability after being off work for almost a year.  The Biden supporters watched CNN, were not concerned about new people in the neighbourhood and felt that during the pandemic, more support should be given to individuals who had lost their employment.  Even the whole concept of wearing a mask became a political issue, with Biden supporters wearing one, Trump supporters not.  

Online, Trump supporters often used hyperbole to describe their opponents.  Instead of addressing the specific comments their opponents made, they would refer to their opponents as "liberals", "communists", "socialists", etc., of course, not even knowing what the real meaning of these words are.  To me, this is a poor admission that they had lost the argument, although they would never see themselves as losing the argument.  These arguments are usually baseless and not based on firm information; if links or "evidence" is involved, fake news outlets often get cited, or references to somebody's blog or a recent news story is used.  When complicated arguments about the pandemic and what should be done about it are produced, rarely do we see peer reviewed research to back either side of the argument.  If somebody does produce peer reviewed research, they are told it is biased because some organization for "vaccine choice" does not agree with it.  I do not know what this does to further anybody's knowledge of the subject matter.

There are even more "news stories" published on social media from fake news sources than anywhere else.  Just google whatever you want and you will find fake news on at least some of the sources that come up.  I personally do not find it productive to follow a leader like Trump, Scheer, O'Toole or anybody, for that matter, if I do not know or care about their policies.  Policy is what I follow, not politics or partisanship.  Unfortunately, Trump has seemed to attract a number of adherents to cult-like thinking and for some, dangerous conspiracy theories.  I heard them before.  The Second Coming of Christ.  Okay, if the end is near, why are you telling everybody?  Why are you still working?  Why do you even bother to shop for groceries or clothing or whatever?  Why do you even bother to try to convince others of your beliefs?  If this was true, you would just wait to get raptured, because, obviously, this is what you think is going to happen.  You don't need to dress up for it, feed yourself before the rapture or earn money, because the Lord is supposed to take care of all of that ... so just go. Trying to spend all your time on the Internet convincing others the end is near, particularly those that are critical thinkers, is a waste of time.

Other conspiracy types tend to unknowingly side with the "alt-right".  Free-dumb is mistakenly taken for "freedom".  The alt-right have come up with all sorts of terms to describe the "other".  One I get a particular kick out of is "antifa".  I never met anybody who considers themselves part of "antifa", nor is there any such organization.  When you ask one of the alt-right people where one can find the nearest "chapter" of "antifa", and who its president, secretary, treasurer and so on, are, they are baffled.  They have no idea what you are talking about, but then again, you are not the one who is making up words that do not make sense.  Yes, over the summer there was a blast of protests by a movement called "Black Lives Matter".  This was not a violent movement.  In discussing this online, one guy said that Black Lives Matter burned down cities, and when you asked them to name one city they burned down, they cannot do so.  There is always some people that join certain protests to cause trouble, who are actually not even part of the protest.  

During the G20 in 2010, a group of people known as the Black Bloc, were solely responsible for a considerable amount of damage to police cars, buildings, etc., while the main protesters tried to steer away from them.  I do not know if somebody like the Black Bloc came into the couple of protests that did arise in problems with the Black Lives Matter but, violence and destruction in that movement was minimal when you consider this movement erupted all over the world, in many major cities and included people of all races, genders and ages.  Nevertheless, at many of the US protests for these groups, police officers bearing riot gear were ready for them and in some communities, white vans drove by, stopped and picked up some of them to take them somewhere (and in watching the videos, one cannot tell what they did to deserve this.

Nevertheless, when former President Donald Trump and his brethren decided to bring his supporters to the Capitol and encourage them to be strong and take back the election that he kept claiming was "stolen from them", ten to fifteen thousand of them proceeded to the Capitol to carry out acts of destruction, violence and even citing angry words like "Hang Mike Pence".  Some of them had intent to potentially kidnap some of the legislators and push them out.  They were trying to prevent the inevitable from happening, which was the certification of the election results in favour of Joe Biden.  At least five people died that day and several days later, one of the Capitol Police Officers committed suicide.  Unfortunately, members of the alt-right had nothing to say about the destruction, violence and civil disobedience this day brought.  A few tried to blame it on "antifa", whoever they are.

As times goes on, we are realizing this intrusion was planned ahead of time.  Somebody let these people in to the Capitol buildings and directed them down the rabbit warren of offices so they knew where particular people worked, such as Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the House), Chuck Schumer (now Majority Leader of the Senate) and Mike Pence (former Vice-President).  There were only four hundred police officers on duty for the Capitol that day, while that force is two thousand five hundred strong.  Other police forces were called in for backup, but it took several hours for them to arrive.  It was as if this was planned and orchestrated to maximize the amount of damage this crowd can do.  Among this crowd were members of the Proud Boys, Soldiers of Odin, local militias and Q Anon.  People were witnessed wearing t-shirts showing the words "Six Million was Not Enough" and "Camp Auschwitz".  All of them were white, mostly male although some females were involved as well.

For months, Trump and his gang spread the lie that he actually won the election and the somehow, there was massive fraud in the election process.  There were no less than sixty-two lawsuits filed and presented at various levels of court, including the Trump friendly Supreme Court of the US.  None of them would hear the case because the lawyers, interested in maintaining their law licenses, admitted they did not have any evidence of "massive fraud".  After this, Trump began to contact and effectively threaten state election officials, many of whom were Republican.  They refused to budge, citing that the election process was fair and secure.  He fired his top officials who also told him the same thing.  One such election official, from Georgia, recorded a telephone call made by Trump in an attempt to get him to change the votes.  If this was not clear tampering with an election, what would be?

Some people from Q Anon, a major conspiracy theory group, actually believed that Trump would come back, arrest Biden and then take power again and when this did not happen, they were upset.  I swear that if Trump offered cyanide laden Kool Aid to his followers, most would have happily taken it.  From the minute Trump was running for election, I saw through him and warned others about him.  I was called all sorts of names, which I will not repeat here.  Many of my fellow Canadians are unfortunately stuck in the Trump swamp as well.  Over the years, I lost a few good friends of mine who were once progressive, believed in universal health care and better support for people living on the street, living in poverty and so forth, who got swept up with the Trump virus.  I have nothing to say to them anymore.  I do not want a similar leader here in Canada.

These same people write posts about Trudeau committing treason and admitting known "terrorists" into Canada and so forth.  I ask if they would prefer the CONS that would simply strip us all of universal health care, have to pay out of pocket, remove all safety nets including worker's comp, ODSP and CPP, and none of them seem to care.  They either believe it would not happen to them, or these Conservative leaders were much like the ones heading from Mulroney and backwards who kept social programs as a sacred trust.  These "new" Conservatives are nothing like the older ones.  The "new" ones are usually millionaires, having been born that way and have no idea what it is like to have to pay rent, pay bills or to actually look for a job.  Many have not held any real jobs.  

Justin Trudeau could have been like that (as he was a trust fund baby too), but he chose to work: he taught school, which is a licensed profession.  This is more than what can be said for the majority of our Conservative leaders.  I do not see how any of them would have any understanding or knowledge whatsoever how their policies impact or do not impact on the rest of us.  Under Harper, I tracked how much more money ordinary people around me kept in their pockets as a result of his policies.  After reviewing their tax returns (as a group) and their weekly pay stubs, most actually paid MORE in taxes than prior to Harper's government.  I knew a few that did pay less in taxes, but they earned well over $120,000 a year.  The reason people paid more is because the wealthier set paid less.  Even Doug Ford was trounced upon by Moody's and Dominion Bond Rating Services for not bringing in enough revenue (because he chose to blow billions of dollars at the outset to cut taxes for his wealthy clique).

Yet, many people continue to rant on about how they have proof the end times is near.  They refer to the "Great Re-Set" and Agenda 21, which I read and shows absolutely nothing about what they are saying.  Maybe this pandemic might be an opportunity for some government leaders to re-think how they manage the economy, but I really do not think this is going to happen.  Throughout the pandemic, only outfits like Amazon, WalMart and other big companies made big bucks, while small businesses closed or lost money.  Small businesses need the help, not big oil and gas, or Amazon or anybody else.  The larger companies have access to credit, hold assets that can be leveraged and so forth, while most small businesses do not have that advantage.  Yet it is small business that does the most hiring.  Exactly what does any government, or even supporters of the conservative agenda (which is to subsidize Big Oil and Gas, tax breaks for the wealthy) think is going to happen when 50% of small businesses collapse?

I do not consider myself a left or right political analyst.  I write about what I observe.  I fully support the free market.  Unfortunately, what we had was not the free market, but an oligopoly.  We are becoming more and more like the US, where social class is starting to look like a caste system.  Even my friends that make over $120,000 a year under paid less taxes under Harper have recently expressed concerns about this themselves.  Others I know are willing to pay a little bit more taxes if it meant that we still had a strong health care system, a solid social safety net and help for the homeless.  In the midst of this pandemic, people are losing their homes, their families and their infrastructure.  What we need is a proper discussion as to how to get from here to clear and leave the conspiracy theories and fake news behind.

Your thoughts? 

OPEN LETTER TO DOUG FORD: COVID-19 AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

You are disappointing me.

You are disappointing a whole lot of other people in Ontario.  Not only disappointing, but you are also endangering even more people in Ontario through your actions or rather, lack of actions taken to protect people who are homeless, on OW, ODSP or very low income, from the virus.  In effect, this also hurts others who have to be outdoors.  This is exactly how community spread started, Mr. Ford, because many people have no choice but to be out in the community.

Your message to everybody is to stay home if they can.  Work from home, if they can.  Only go out for absolutely essential trips.  Registered.  Yet, you are talking out of both sides of your mouth, Premier Ford.

On one hand, the well heeled can go home, use their nicely decorated spare rooms to operate their computer and take phone calls redirected from their workplace and thus, protect themselves and in effect, others from this COVID-19 virus.  We see it on TV.  We talk about this online.  This is not real, Premier Ford.

None of these people obviously live with hoarders, where there is no room to spare.  Program funding to assist such persons was cut under your government.  Nobody can work or even live at home under these conditions.  None of the people you are addressing are holed up in a rooming house with addicts, crack dealers and vermin of all kinds.  Kind of difficult to get anything done at "home" in one of those places.  None of these people we are seeing live in homeless shelters.  Tell them to self-isolate all you want, but they don't have the space.

None of these people who you think can "work from home" live in over-crowded conditions either where they have to spend their meagre social assistance cheques to live with three or four other people in the same position, or who couch surf at the home of a friend.  It must be nice, Mr. Ford, to have a room of your own - to work from home.

People on OW and ODSP never received enough to live on.  Many of them are barely alive, suffering from all sorts of malnourishment and fatigue, despite just a few months ago, you contemplated getting more of them to go straight to work.  Straight to jobs that do not exist.  Especially now, that COVID-19 struck the community.  Many or most of these people are immune compromised, not only because of any disability but because they have not eaten well in years.  Food bank food does not enhance people's health.

The federal government has announced a number of measures to assist people who suddenly lost their jobs, are losing revenues from their businesses and so forth, as well as workers who lost a significant portion of their income.  These programs have been developed quickly and put into people's accounts; when gaps were found, the feds stepped in to try to remedy them quickly.  The feds did not disqualify anybody from benefiting from their programs if they relied on provincial programs, such as OW or ODSP.  They opened the door to federal and provincial cooperation; the province of BC responded by increasing their version of OW and ODSP by a few hundred dollars a month and by exempting federal support.  They are also assisting with rent payments, among other supports.

When it came down to you announcing how Ontario was going to respond to the challenges of COVID-19, you failed to take this opportunity to improve the lives of many people whose very lives have been made significantly more difficult under this pandemic.  Your only answer to these people is to stay at home and give hundreds of millions of dollars to charities that really don't do much to improve the lot of these people anyways.  You are telling people to stay home, while at the same time telling these same people, immune-compromised people, to go line up outside of food banks to get three days worth of six month old, mouldy food.  Would it not be better to put more money in the pockets of these people so they can buy their own groceries and get them delivered?  Was this not one of your election promises?

There are also a minority of people on OW or ODSP that may qualify for the federal supports.  This is less than 75,000 people.  To qualify for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (or CERB), all somebody needs to show is they earned at least $5,000 last year or within the prior 12 months and are currently out of work or not receiving self-employment income.  This is currently under review as some people had their hours severely cut, but they are not out of work entirely.

ODSP's response is to tell those that ask that this is EI and they will deduct this dollar for dollar from their ODSP supports.  This is very harmful, especially when a spouse or other family member is the one that has been working and supplementing the family income so they can both eat and live under a roof month after month, but now they are unemployed, they have to choose. Was it not you just a few months ago suggesting that people should try to work when they can?  So they did.  Now what?

Guess what?  These people are not going to stay home!  They are going to find work under the table and will take the virus with them, or take the virus from wherever they go and come home with it ... thus spoiling your campaign to 'flatten the curve'.  Why do you ask?  If you had to choose between the possibility of getting sick or having to live without food every month until the end of this pandemic, what will YOUR choice be?  I don't know about you, Premier Ford, but I have been told informally by people who:

1. are informally working with older people, driving them around to appointments or to get groceries and doing yard work for them (as a way to get money in their pockets to help feed themselves, albeit putting their elder clients at risk);
2. opening up informal home cleaning and renovations businesses, operating off their cell phone, to do small jobs for people (because they need food and other necessities because their income  went down and their housing costs are still the same); and 
3. getting into their old cars and driving for "Speedy", an illegal version of Uber type transportation services and not taking precautions with who they take and protecting themselves and others.

I know many of these people, Premier Ford.  Many were laid off from their usual jobs they had before the pandemic and now they are being told if they applied for CERB, they will lose their ODSP or have an overpayment that might take a year or two to pay off.

Talk to your public health folks, Premier Ford, and ask what the impact of having 10% of the social assistance caseload be forced to get out of their houses to work anyways, pandemic or no pandemic, because they CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY HOME.

Over 130 organizations quickly sent you a letter to tell you not to leave OW and ODSP recipients behind!  They told you to raise social assistance rates so they can purchase their own groceries and not have to rely on food banks.  They told you to allow the small minority of people on OW or ODSP (or their spouses) to get and keep their federal benefits, including EI and CERB, during this pandemic.  These benefits are no less important during this pandemic than other benefits you currently exempt as income from OW and ODSP such as legal settlements, pain and suffering, residential schools, mercury water fund, etc.

A very long list follows of all income exempted under ODSP's directive 5.1:

Income Exemptions

• Earnings exemptions (See Directive 5.3 Deductions From Employment and Training Income);
• Earnings of dependent children;
• Earnings or payments under a training program of recipients, spouses and dependent adults attending secondary school full-time(See Directive 5.3 Deductions From Employment and Training Income);
• Training allowance and cash reimbursements of child care and transportation for individuals who reside in a prescribed First Nation community and who are participating in an employment training opportunity for up to 12 months. (See Directive 5.3 Deductions From Employment and Training Income);
• Earnings of persons attending post-secondary school (See Directive 5.18 Exemption of Earnings of Post-Secondary Students);
• The portion of a payment from the sale of an asset, used to purchase a principal residence, an asset necessary for health and welfare, an exempt asset, or an asset that does not result in the recipient exceeding the prescribed asset limit;
• Interest earned on liquid assets up to the prescribed asset limits, e.g. $40,000 for a single recipient;
• An amount up to $10,000 in a 12 month period per member of the benefit unit, in the form of gifts or voluntary payments for any purpose from any source; (this includes monies from trusts, life insurance policies, honorariums and windfalls). Casual gifts of insignificant value, e.g. basic clothing, meals, occasional food purchases are also exempt.
  • Honorariums are generally payments made to individuals to recognize services provided, where payment is not required. For example, a person may volunteer or be asked to participate on a committee and may receive an honorarium. In these cases, honorariums are considered voluntary payments and may be included in the $10,000 exemption for voluntary payments.
  • Honorariums paid in a way that is similar to a salary, to fulfill an obligation to compensate the recipient for services provided, are treated as employment income, and not as voluntary payments under ODSP. In these cases, the usual earnings exemptions apply.
• Payments from any source in the form of gifts or voluntary payments used for disability-related items and services or for education and training incurred because of the disability of a member of the benefit unit.
• There is no limit on the value of these contributions, provided they will not be reimbursed from other sources. For this provision to apply it is not required that the intent of the voluntary payment is for the purchase of these types of items/expenses only that is used for these purposes.
• Gifts or voluntary payments that will be applied to the purchase of a principal residence, an exempt vehicle, or that will be applied to the first and last month’s rent necessary to secure accommodation. (See Directive 5.8 Gifts and Voluntary Payments for more detailed information regarding treatment of gifts.)
• RDSP related exemptions:
  • gifts or voluntary contributions made to RDSPs by family members and other third parties;
  • interest earned on and re-invested in an RDSP;
  • the federal Canada Disability Savings Grants and Canada Disability Savings Bonds; and
  • all withdrawals from an RDSP for any purpose.
• Refundable tax credits including the:
  • Canada Child Tax Benefit
  • Canada Child Benefit
  • Ontario Children’s Activity Tax Credit
  • Ontario Trillium Benefit Payment;
• Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) payments;
• Payments from the Ontario Child Care Supplement for Working Families (OCCSWF);
• Payments from the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB);
• Payments from the Canada Pension Plan Orphan Benefit (also known as surviving child benefit;
• Payments from the Quebec Pension Plan Orphan Pension;
• Payments made under the Canada Pension Plan Disabled Contributors Child Benefit;
• Payments made under the Quebec Pension Plan Disabled Person’s Child Benefit;
• Payments from other jurisdictions that are equivalent to the CPP Orphan Benefit or QPP Orphan Pension or the CPP Disabled Contributors Child benefit or QPP Disabled Person’s Child Benefit.
• Child support (Effective January 1, 2017). Please see Directive 5.15 Spousal and Child Support for more detailed information;
• Payments received under subsection 147(14) of the Worker's Compensation Act, known as B165 payments;
• Payments received for property damage and temporary living expenses through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) other than payments for loss of income;
• Payments (cash and in-kind) received by evacuees of the Kashechewan First Nation between October 2005 and September 2006, from a municipality or a Tribal Council made on behalf of the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada);
• Insurance payments made for temporary living expenses and to replace or repair lost/damaged exempt assets or assets within allowable asset limits but not payments for loss of income;
• Mortgage payments paid by disability insurance purchased by an applicant/recipient on a mortgage for his/her principal residence;
• A forgivable loan under the First Nation, Intuit, Métis Urban and Rural (FIMUR) Housing home Ownership Assistance Program.
• A forgivable loan or a grant under the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) that provides assistance to on-reserve low-income homeowners to bring their homes up to safety and health standards, or improve energy efficiency.
• A forgivable loan or grant under Ontario Renovates that provides assistance to low-income homeowners to bring their homes up to safety and health standards, improve energy, efficiency and/or increase accessibility of the home through modifications and adaptations; and, create a new affordable rental unit within an existing single family home;
• Payments made under the Investment in affordable Housing (IAH) - operating components that exceed the maximum shelter allowance up to the actual shelter costs;
• Payments made under the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) payments for:
  • rent deposits;
  • establishing a new principal residence;
  • maintaining the health and welfare of a member of the benefit unit in her or her current residence;
  • arrears relating to shelter costs; or other housing and homelessness-related services, items or costs approved by the Director of Ontario Works.
• Payments made under CHPI for personal needs made to domiciliary hostel residents up to the amount equivalent to the ODSP amount issued for personal needs to recipients residing in a long-term care home.
• Financial grants, items or services that are issued for energy-conservation in homes through Conservation and Demand Management Programs offered by local Electricity Distribution Companies;
• Financial grants, items or services that are issued for energy-conservation in homes through Demand Side Management programs offered by local Natural Gas Distributors;
• Benefits in the form of a cheque or voucher received through the Water Filter Fun. program;
• All direct financial assistance received from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program;
• Funds received from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development or Canada Student Financial Assistance for education costs such as books, tuition, instructional supplies, transportation costs, child care and compulsory fees;
• Funds received from the Ministry Advanced Education and Skills Development under the Second Career program for education costs.
• A bursary received by a full-time student enrolled in a secondary school under 8(1)18 of the Education Act;
• The Dr. Albert Rose Bursary to assist public housing tenants attending post-secondary school;
• Payments from an RESP, intended and used for education costs, received by a recipient or any other member of a benefit unit as well as gifts and voluntary payments into an RESP in addition to the $10,000 gift and voluntary payment exemption. See Directive 5.11 Post-Secondary Education;
• Proceeds from a court judgement or legal settlement or an award from a statutory tribunal (such as compensation resulting from being a victim of an automobile accident, sexual assault or violent crime) received as damages or compensation for pain and suffering, due to injury to or the death of a member of the benefit unit. See Directive 4.6 Compensation Awards;
• Compensation received as settlement for a claim of abuse sustained at an Indian Residential School, other than compensation for loss of income;
• Pre-judgement interest awarded as compensation for the delay in receiving damages for pain and suffering as a result of injury to or death of a member of the benefit unit, See Directive 4.6 Compensation Awards;
• Independent Living Allowance payments from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board received annually by severely impaired workers;
• A full income exemption applies to the total amount of a compensation award for the following:
  • awards for pain and suffering as a result of an injury to or the death of a member of the benefit unit;
  • expenses actually or reasonably incurred or to be incurred as a result of injury to or death of a member of the benefit unit;
  • loss of care, guidance and companionship due to an injury to or the death of a family member under the Family Law Act;
  • non-economic loss under section 46 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 or section 42 of the Workers’ Compensation Act.
• Interest earned on the capital of an inheritance retained in trust up to the allowable limit of $100,000.

In my view, federal benefits are being paid through CRA, not the EI Fund and are considered emergency in nature, much like many other legal settlements and other funds and class actions, etc.  The purpose of this federal benefit is to keep people indoors and not venturing out.  Denying people enough funds to support themselves while "sheltering in place" will only result in many people going out and risking it by working under the table.

I intend to spread this letter wide and far.  I intend to send this to public health officials, because they understand much more than you do that putting low income people into this position will help spread the virus and thus, defeat any attempts of your otherwise strong leadership in trying to flatten the curve.

I also intend to find out after this pandemic is over exactly who got sick and who died.  This might open yet another can of worms about whose lives are valued in Ontario, while others are not so valued.  There was even talk that if it became a choice as to who gets access to ventilators that poor folks and people with disabilities will be likely denied.

Just tell us what you mean, Premier Ford.  If you want us all to stay at home to help flatten the curve, then make sure all of "the people" can afford to do so.

LIFE IN THE TIME OF CORONA (Sequel to "Love in the Time of Cholera")

Last Friday afternoon, I felt that my life has slipped into becoming a Stephen King novel.

My City has shut down and my province's courts, tribunals and many other public services have also shut down.  I received a phone call from our local library to inform me that a weekly course that I have been taking has been postponed until after the pandemic.  Other monthly meetings I usually have were also cancelled by email by the organizers as a case of "abundant caution".

On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this novel corona virus a pandemic.  There is not so much panic in the streets, as there may be in other circumstances, but it seems to be panic in the grocery stores.  In particular, people are buying up huge hoards of toilet paper, which is puzzling, as this virus is not supposed to cause diarrhea.  Empty shelves, panic buying and re-selling on Kijiji has become a thing.  People are coughing all over their adversaries, saying they have the corona virus, now called COVID-19, as it is a specific corona virus.

There is not a lot known about this COVID-19, even as I try to research it online.  All I know is this has become an invisible enemy that nobody seems to know how to fight.  Today, Premier Doug Ford declared a State of Emergency in our Province.  This means that movement of people and goods now comes under the order and control of authorities, as opposed to the free market.  Most governments are now trying to damage the economy and people's lifestyles as minimally as possible, as completely closing off commerce would be impossible and would result in shortages of food, supplies and so forth.  We also know the economy must continue to function at some level or things will crash.

On Saturday night, I knew that soon bars, pubs and other premises would soon be shut down, so we went to our favourite neighbourhood bar, played some pool and enjoyed libations of the hour.  This virus is ensuring that most of us will not be able to get together to do that type of thing in awhile.  That is okay, as I had that opportunity to get this out of my system before today's announcement.  Ontario's Medical Office of Health, David Williams, has hinted that there has been some "community spread" of this virus, which means that the chances of anybody in our population of catching it has substantially increased.  Prior to this, the pandemic was largely affecting those who have traveled and those who live and/or work closely together.

Some companies are allowing or requiring their staff to work from home, when possible.  Others are operating at skeletal staff, or like us, they are operating in an amended way to still ensure service is available, while attempting to function more online as we go.  I would love to work from home, but I am not even set up for that.  If we have to close up shop, Trudeau is offering a package apparently to help people and small business endure this crisis financially.  On Friday, I posted our response and reassurance on our website as to how we are dealing with pandemic.  People are calling, some are okay to come in, most are not, which is okay as we set up a service by telephone/Zoom protocol.

I am hoping to rest for a bit during this pandemic, but I don't want to lose money.  Most of us are losing money.  There is a special forum set up for legal professionals online to discuss how to respond to this thing, how to still make money and where to seek help if we lose money.  People are once again coming together.  It is interesting how people come together when it is a crisis, but in 'normal times, everybody is at each other as cut throats.  Prior to this virus taking front seat, the talk of our profession was the slowness of the Landlord and Tenant Board (and other tribunals) due to a lack of new adjudicators to have hearings, etc.  Now, things are ground to a halt.  There are not even any evictions allowed during this crisis ... (and we in the profession can see how this can be abused).

I am fearing the upcoming trip to the grocery store this Saturday.  All the restaurants have shut down (although some are offering take out or delivery) and I am unsure where I am going to shop.  I am also unsure if there will be enough stock of the things I usually need to purchase.  A couple of friends online are petrified if public transit and taxi service shuts down.  I would be too, as I don't have another way to travel.  Given my tongue in cheek attempt at humour, the Internet has a very substantial supply of entertainment for people quarantined or who are self-isolated and need to feel a little cheered up.  One wonders what happens to people, but I do know that things are going exactly like Stephen King anticipated in his books.

The news media is having a hard time transmitting correct information about this virus.  People are worried about catching it and dying, or somebody else catching it and dying.  However, given my usual intellectual approach to research and common sense, I can say the following:

1.  Only a small percentage of people are at risk for serious illness.  Most are over 70 or those who have other health issues that compromise their immunity.

2.  Community spread is the tipping point for calling a state of emergency.  This is when the risk for an average person substantially goes up, as it is no longer just those who travel or those close to them.

3.  A pandemic is getting worse when its doubling rates get closer and closer together.  This is the curve public health officials are speaking of.  The isolation, the closings, etc. are an attempt to increase the periods of time between doubling and to reduce the doubling effect altogether.  A pandemic is known to get better when the number of new cases decreases substantially over time.

4.  Even though the vast majority of people impacted by this virus will only have mild symptoms, not enough about this is known as to how it is spread and who can develop serious illness.  Without a vaccine like there is for flu seasons, there is little anybody can do to otherwise to protect those who are vulnerable from getting ill.

5. Some people view this kind of thing as the end of the world.  I lived through several of these kinds of things:  the October Crisis, stagflation, several recessions, the Cold War, September 11th, SARS, the 2008 Crash, among other events until now.  The world has not ended and we are all going to be just fine.

6. This doesn't mean there is not a lot we can learn from these things.  Unfortunately, the human race tends to be persistently ignorant and panic tends to be drawn from us when these things happen.  We also tend to keep our eyes glued to screens as we watch these things happen.  I remember when September 11th happened, people everywhere were watching the news all day long, even in places where television is not normally watched.  That was creepy.   

7. It takes time for our politicians and public officials to properly respond to these events.  Many may be dismayed at the closures, the economic shutdowns and the isolation, but if you look at how Italy, Iran, China, etc. are doing, you should be glad we are taking these steps now.  Those other countries only started recently, after far too many died.

8. Our government probably has to spend a ton of money now to ensure there are preparations for a spike in the use of our health care facilities, as well as assistance to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic.  Many are not able to afford time out of work without pay and businesses that are losing money either due to isolation or reductions in business are concerned about staying alive.

9.  The amazing thing now is that unlike prior to the pandemic, it seems like Doug Ford and his like Premiers across Canada are now finding value in working with the federal government.  Both levels of government are now attempting to ensure protection in their respective areas for our citizens.  I hope this cooperative federalism continues after the pandemic is resolved.

10. At this time, nobody know when this pandemic will let up, or whether a warmer climate will kill the virus.  For myself, I am probably amazed but not surprised by the reaction of humans to this very pandemic.

Your thoughts?  Share your experiences?

DEAR PREMIER FORD ... ONTARIO CANNOT AFFORD YOU!

On the weekend of February 21 - 22, 2020, you stood cocooned with your supporters in the Scotiabank Convention Centre for a "policy convention" inviting your supporters and other select individuals.  Media were specifically disallowed from the convention, nor were any observers from other political parties, as is the norm in actual democratic countries.  You spoke from your throne like you still speak for "the people".  Again, I ask you, "What people?"

In the meantime, thousands and thousands of "the people" gathered en masse outside in the cold February winter to give you a message that your policies are not working for the people of Ontario.  Education workers walked out en masse.  Health care workers are getting laid off en masse, right after you promised us you would stop 'hallway medicine".  Many small business owners were also in that crowd, as they are bright enough to know that when our government attacks people at the bottom, their businesses will soon pay for it.  I noticed in the past several months several business closures in my region, particularly those sensitive to local economic fluctuations.  Ontario "open for business", my ass!

When all people can get are low-wage, part-time jobs, they are not going to be spending their money at local restaurants, clothing shops, gaming shops, the pool hall, the dry-cleaner, the bookstores or the pub.  They will certainly be getting less haircuts, manicures and probably will be re-using some of their old accessories.  Many of these people are also paying 35, 45, 60, 70 percent or more of their monthly income on housing alone.  These people cannot "go shopping", Mr. Ford as they have no money to shop with!  Did you know that we have a housing crisis, Mr. Ford?  I presume not because you are well housed and pampered, probably assuming everybody else in Ontario is living the same charmed life that you do.  Every summer, your family has put on Fordfest and invited all your well-to-do supporters to gather for free beer and burgers at your mother's backyard, while using security to keep out "the people" that do not benefit from your policies.

Somebody ordered security to chase the media out of your policy convention that cold February day.  Why was this done, Mr. Ford?  What were you afraid of?  Do the people of Ontario not have a right to know what cuts you are planning next for them?  I don't know why you don't resign, Mr. Ford, because so far your government has been one unmitigated disaster after another.  Hallway medicine is up, mental health supports have been cut with longer wait lists, housing lists are longer and rents are way up, where even middle class families cannot afford decent housing.  When it touches the middle class, can you at least act then, Mr. Ford?  Or do we have to wait until it hits you, your family and your wealthy friends first, before any of us other minions get relief?

Even your attempt at making one dollar beer failed, as well as your attempt at changing the colour and makeup of Ontario's license plates.  Sometimes, Mr. Ford, it is better just to leave enough alone.  We don't need partisan coloured plates anyways.  Or was this all one big distraction from what you are really planning to do to Ontarians?  What further cuts do you have in mind?  What other services normally delivered by public services will now be handed over for profit to your friends, donors and lobbyists?  It is so easy to get your friends to do things, so when your own policies fall flat, you can always point to the private company you gave the work to and blame them, right?  It is so easy to cut, cut and then cut some more, but not so easy to actually lead a diverse democracy such as the one we have here in Ontario.

How about your major pilot project your government is testing in three parts of Ontario to help get unemployed and social assistance recipients into jobs?  Your Minister complained that what was being done now is not working.  Well, let me suggest that this pilot project is nothing new and will not work either.  It has been tried before many times and failed every time - yes, every time!  One wonders what your party's connections are with the successful applicants who were picked to run these programs.  What were your promises to these companies, Mr. Ford? Your government claims less than 1% of people leave the social assistance rolls for a job?  Perhaps, you should be looking at some of those 800 rules that your government has chosen to keep and add to as the source of the problem, as opposed to the work of employment services agencies.  

These rules discourage people from working too much.  Perhaps, you should try these same 800 rules on your corporate friends first to see if they find it to be an "incentive".  Call it a pilot project, Mr. Ford.  See which billionaire squawks first about not being able to invest when anything they receive is clawed back after the first $200 they get every month.  Is your goal only to get people off assistance and into low-paid, precarious work?  That is NOT going to keep them off the rolls ... they will be right back on assistance within a month.  Count on it!  This is what happened in Australia.

"Pay for success" has been tried here even in Ontario under ODSP employment supports and has been discontinued because it was not working: not working for the recipient, not working for the provider, not working for ODSP.  Why is that?  Did you bother to ask?  It is because the only incentive that providers have so they can keep their lights on is to push people into the first available jobs out there, whether that job is only for a day, a week, a month, part-time or full-time or contract or temporary?  This certainly will not result in matching the needs of employers for qualified workers with the needs of job seekers with qualifications.

Should the system change?  Of course, it should!  But it should be changed to the better, so that people are not just continuing to scramble to survive, as opposed to bettering themselves.  You tossed THAT pilot project aside, which was working for nominal period it was allowed to run for.  People involved with the basic income were attending school, getting better jobs, starting businesses, etc.  Is this not what you want people to do?  However, that all stopped with the cessation of that pilot project and people were thrown back to the 800 rules.  Your proposal is only going to push more people into the scramble for survival, for which many unfortunately will fail (e.g. die).  Further, in order for a system like you are proposing to work, there has to be an abundance of well-paid jobs for every level of ability and qualification.  People will get off and stay off assistance if they got one of those jobs, but even you (and all of your Ministers that have worked on this file) cannot even tell us where these jobs are going to come from!  Further, many people are on ODSP because they cannot work.  Most of the others have significant limits on what they can do.   

Are employers going to magically overnight develop an enlightened attitude and want to hire persons with a range of disabilities, accommodate them and pay them well?  If that is the case, then I want you to give ME and anybody else who wants one a job that pays at least $80,000 a year and does not discriminate against us.  You may say you can't do that, so how do you expect your friends with literally no ties to the selected communities and an interest only in profit (through the private pilots) to do the same?  My experience is that employers will not hire anybody they have to accommodate in any way.  Are you going to ask people already on ODSP to participate in this circus, which I can tell you right now will give you the same results (with less than 1% leaving the rolls).  Remember what they say about the definition of insanity.  You can try the same concept over and over again and expect different results.  How much money do you expect to waste on this project before your government would have to call it quits, like you did with the license plates, the education cuts, etc.?

I can already tell you people in my part of Ontario are not getting any more money in their pockets than they had before you got elected, yet they are spending more and more out of their pockets on everything, ranging from government services, to health care (due to cuts) and auto insurance (another behemoth you promised to reduce, but is actually going up 10%).  I know I can't afford you.  Neither can the man I spoke to on the bus on the way home tonight.  This man is a trained auto mechanic, but he can't find a job anywhere.  After being forced to live on Ontario Works for many years with many spells of homelessness in between, he was finally put onto ODSP, where he is just a tad better off, but not by much.  Most of my friends can't afford you either.  I have a friend who just got her PHd and she is not working either.

I am asking you to wake up to the reality of the province you want to lead.  That means talking to "the people", not just those who are bamboozled by your bullshit.  Talk to people who are experts in policy, program design, economics, health care and other things, as well as people with lived experience being kicked around and attacked by governments over the generations.  If you want to find out what you need to do to help people get off social assistance, talk to somebody on social assistance.  If you want to find out what is wrong with health care, talk to people who use the health care system on a regular basis.  If you want to find out what children with autism need, talk to their families, as well as adults living on the spectrum.  When consultation and inclusion is lost on our government, our very essence of democracy is thrown out the window.

** For my readers, please copy this and send to as many of your friends, media sources, social media sites, MPPs and others, over the next few weeks of budget talk and follow-up **