Letter: Provincial opposition engaging in ‘useless filibustering’

Effective politics, by definition, is the act of making decisions.

That in mind, how can the government go about making any decisions in the midst of stage-stealing theatrics and ballyhoo? Like a bad case of the hiccups, the provincial opposition maintains a somewhat unoriginal stance in their repetitive and melodramatic performance.

I ask you, the taxpayers, are you fooled into thinking that this nonsense represents the kind of political aptitude for which Ontarians dole out their tax dollars?

Premier Kathleen Wynne has the vision and the leadership to create a government that works for the people.

The new Ontario Liberal government recently tabled a bill that would freeze MPP salaries. For the last five years, MPP salaries have been frozen – a wise choice considering some of the bad acting we are witnessing at Queen’s Park.

Not surprisingly, the possibility exists that the bill may not pass due to these needless obstructions frustrating the legislative process by both opposition parties.

If this bill does not pass, the MPP salaries will rise by six per cent. MPPs make roughly $116,550, and a six per cent boost would raise their salaries to above $123,500, almost $7,000.

As a taxpayer myself, I say enough already. I certainly don’t want to spend an extra $7,000 out of my tax dollars to fund the opposition parties’ bad performances. Would you?

As the provincial Liberal candidate for the Nickel Belt riding, I have knocked on many doors and engaged in some great conversations with residents and business owners.

The idea of an election triggered by the opposition parties’ members seeking a pay raise really isn’t at the top of any resident or business owner’s priorities right now.

Everyone is tired of the theatrical performances and saying that this isn’t what they voted for. We need a change.

I would like to call out the opposition members, specifically Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, and ask why are they wasting taxpayers’ money by supporting this useless filibustering?

Remember, if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem. We need strong leadership in Nickel Belt and clearly that is not what the people are witnessing today.

The taxpayers were never asked to fund a drama show at Queen’s Park.

James Tregonning
Nickel Belt provincial Liberal candidate