Opening Statement



Friday 23 May 2014

Teachers Ontario Election Study Guide: Some Notes!

My blog acronym guide is Here! 

Under construction ... Time to DIY [Do It Yourself]! Here are some useful links to follow the June 12 Ontario election. I will add some comments, and you can too, using the Comments link at the bottom of my blog. Much more coming!


PARTY PLATFORMS

In the value free sense the PC Million Jobs Plan has been readily available and easy to access for some time now. Not that it makes sense, or has much depth, but as far as a political party campaign goes Timbo is way ahead of the pack and has nailed this one down but good. You can download the party platform @ OPC!

We hear about the OLP platform and read about it, so where is it?  I looked everywhere on line but couldn't find an actual party platform document. So I phoned party headquarters to give them royal shit and ask for a direct link. Was told the budget is their election platform!?! Since then you can see the slide show + downloads on their official site + try to figure it out yourself. Good luck @ OLP!

The NDP has finally released an election platform! Rather thin, but you can download it @ NDP!

ANALYSIS: A comprehensive, easily accessible, easy to follow party platform has usually been the focus of a good election campaign. It seems to be falling by the wayside to piecemeal daily media announcements and staged events. My teacher marks? I'm considering form here, not content:

"A" for the PC's for learning from last time. I don't like it but well done!

Revised "D+" grade for the OLP. It's there I guess .... all over the place ..... and within the spring budget. Suppose we are supposed to go connect the dots ourselves. As if .... On Saturday it was finally formalized into a belated "Plan for Ontario" campaign [Zzzzzz], a mixed grab bag of sorts based on the the budget. When I called the OLP Media Centre last week for this article the staffer who returned my call wasn't aware of any platform present or forthcoming, outside of "look at the budget" so go figure.... A comprehensive focused party platform has not been the OLP's forte since "Time for a Change" in 2003. This year is more of the same ..... [see Wynne blog] .....

"D-" for the NDP. Late, slim, and a last minute affair following a quick toss of the election dice. Can't see that being a good idea myself ..... definitely a crap shoot! Good luck! [See Horwath blog]



THE POLLS



Today's ThreeHundredEight aggregate poll has averaged out the numbers somewhat as they continue to drastically whiplash back and forth between the PC's and the OLP. The PC's are still projected to win. The incredible variance between the polling firm [Ipsos/ Eckos/ Forum etc] results continues. That seriously seems to highlight an incredulous bias or maybe its just poor surveying techniques, which have not changed with the times? Anyways, you can continue to follow the ongoing + ever changing analysis @ 308! 

Perplexed? The Ontario Election Prediction Project has a very good batting average with some great commentary on each riding, often by insiders and others on the ground in each riding across the province. Seats swing, and the numbers will firm up the closer we get to election day. It's easy to use with the province divided into regions and ridings, each with a link you can click on to read more. IMHO, its the best punditry around: a great fix for political junkies  @ Glass Ball! 

So far the Ontario Election Prediction Project has predicted 32 seats for the PC's/, 27 for the OLP/ and 16 for the NDP/, with 32 seats too close to call! 



DEBATES

"Make show!" as the club goers in Hamburg Germany use to call out to the fledging Beatles during their salad days! For better or worse a good TV debate performance can possibly make or break a campaign for a candidate or moreover the party leader. Especially when it is televised. Most folks will tune in and become cognisant,  rather belatedly, of the election race. Then maybe decide whether or not to vote and how. Local town hall debates can be a good chance to carefully scrutinize your local candidates up close and in action. The PC's were not too keen on these in 2011. Probably because their platform doesn't hold up very well under close examination. See @ All form! No content!

The big 3 leaders debate will be televised June 3 just over a week before the June 12 election day. More details and a link to send in your questions is @ Global News

There will be a Northern Ontario debate on May 26. Hudak will not attend, ostensibly because it will not be a "comprehensive discussion". My ass! Quite frankly it's quite the opposite! The kindergarten level economic planks of his Million Jobs platform won't hold up under any weighty discussion. [See above]. Anyway, he has little chance of gaining seats up north whereas the NDP have a good hold and the OLP are in continuing deep doo doo. Better he let them slug it out. The perceived performance of the other party leaders could possibly split votes in other ridings elsewhere across the province, if voters even watch or hear the debate. The PC's then come down the middle for a quite common PC default win. Yup! Add up the combined OLP + NDP seats and popular vote. If they were one party we wouldn't even be having these ongoing neo con PC nightmares each election time. More details of the debate @ Northern Debate!?

Analysis: 'Nuff said!

PS: Stay tuned for teacher union affiliates endorsements! This should be real interesting!!! Kindly help by forwarding any links to share! 



COMMENTS?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

ETFO's plan is to target 27 Liberals and 27 NDP candidates based upon the results of the 2011 election. ETFO provincial seems to believe you can walk on both sides of a street without it hurting...I guess on June 12th we will see how much pain it can cause. And they want to keep "this plan" secret.

23 May 2014 12:46

Kulture Kult Ink said...

I am reposting the above from our Hudak Majority teacher free speech open forum discussion. Kindly post related blogs here.

Has ETFO provincial or any of the local units [ETT?] released anything official yet? OSSTF? OECTA?

Anonymous said...

In a memo sent today, London ETFO has suggested we support NDP candidates in our area. Who to vote for: The Bill 115, gas plant fiasco, ornge, ehealth Liberals, Timmy the knife Hudak (PC), or the no platform NDP. Pick your poison. Whomever wins will not be giving us anything. What is scarier for me is the quiet calm coming from OECTA, OSSTF, and ETFO. Where is the kicking and screaming about getting back what has been stolen. There seems to be a great push from our union about what is best for students. Our unions are supposed to be there to promote what's best for us teachers. That's where our money should be used. The union leaders do not have a finger on the pulse about what is going on in schools. There needs to be fat cut. I know that will mean less dues for union central but let's be honest, there is too much waste in schools.

Anonymous said...

An ETFO member, Jennifer French, is running for the NDP in Oshawa against the conservative incumbent...this has been close a close contest in the past. It would be nice if the federations could work on this one together and send a message!

Anonymous said...

What are OECTA OSSTF and ETFO doing this election to protect their members? Why are we paying these bloated leaders and union bureaucracies if they do nothing to advocate for their members? We should hire the TEAMSTERS as their replacements or UNIFOR?

Anonymous said...

I think our OECTA leaders are doing a great job advocating for the members. What exactly are the TEAMSTERS and UNIFOR doing to advocate for their members in this election??? Complaining about "bloated leaders and union bureacracies .... [doing] nothing" makes you sound like Tim Whodat.

Anonymous said...

ETFO's focus this year has been on helping students, preaching the inclusion (LGBT) and helping the less fortunate. That's wonderful but my dues are supposed to be used to make my middle class life at least stay at the middle class level. There has been no push back to regain my lost sick days, gratuity, pay etc. Isn't that where my dues are supposed to go. No disrespect to the downtrodden or marginalized but how does a society progress without at least keeping the status quo. Sam: where are you with comments and strategies that help teachers. Here in London, ETFO teachers are being asked to vote NDP. OECTA teachers are being asked to vote Liberal. The big bad wolf (HUDAK) may just sneak in.

Anonymous said...

The poison pen letter that was sent by the supposed NDP "stalwarts" last weekend (now known as the Gang of 34) denouncing Horwath's leadership included the name of an ETFO staff officer. So what does that say about who really is running the unions...

Anonymous said...

How are OECTA leaders advocating for their members? Getting back sick day banks? Please explain how OECTA provincial leaders are doing a great job advocating for their members?

Anonymous said...

I'm still waiting to see "the great job " OECTA leaders are doing. Can we say sheep. How could one ever vote Liberal so soon after the Bill 115 knifing? Head in sand maybe.

Anonymous said...

That great job comment was filed by an OECTA leader? LOL.

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