After a week of traveling Ontario with the Finance Committee for Ontario’s Pre-Budget Consultations, I’ve finally arrived home. Prior to securing my co-op placement at the Legislative Assembly, my knowledge of politics consisted of a 5-page essay on “what is Democracy?” in Intro to Political Science 101. Slowly, I am beginning to comprehend our Canadian political system along with the history and tradition behind it. For example, “Pre-budget Consultation” may be a foreign concept to some, however when fully explained the idea gains life and becomes something one is able to make sense of. The Pre-Budget Consultations are meetings held in various locations around Ontario for any organization or individual to make an appearance before a set of MPP’s (who form the committee), and suggests their views as well as specific recommendations for Ontario’s economy.
After attending these meetings, I can safely say I am now able to check “politician” off my list of careers to not consider. As fortunate as I was to have the opportunity to travel around Ontario for these public hearings, listening to organization after organization argue their case as to why they deserved or required additional funding became overly aggravating. Allow me to further explain myself.
Every organization from the Association of Ontario Neurologists to Dealfblind Associations and Health Coalitions to Voices Against Poverty each made 15-minute presentations voicing their concerns. Initially, after hearing the first presenter, I was inspired by the work they do and convinced I would be satisfied knowing my tax dollars would be going to a good cause if the recommendations presented by this organization were to be implemented. Unfortunately, almost every single organization presented a strong case leaving me open to question “who deserves help most?”
As a politician, I’ve learned that your constituency elects you because people have faith that you will make the right decisions on their behalf. But who is to determine what the “right” decision entails. We are all aware that Tobacco is an extremely harmful drug with irreversible effects, however does this invalidate the fact that thousands of farmers in Northern Ontario are able to feed their families and put a roof over their heads because of this product. Even organizations such as the Tobacco Industry bring controversy to the table regarding funding.
In a recent 2010 report entitled People Without Jobs, Jobs Without People the future of Ontario’s labour market is thoroughly analyzed and projected numbers and percentages of labour shortages in Ontario are presented. After numerous organizations made references to this report, I took it upon myself to look further into what it discusses. According to the report, the vast proportion of our population is currently in their prime working years (15 to 64 years in age), however this year, 2011; the average baby boomer will reach the age of normal retirement1. By late 2011, the projected growth assumption yields a deficit of 40,000 workers and rises to 800,000 by 20261. In order to maintain our Canadian economy it is becoming increasingly essential to find a new labour workforce to fulfill this gap. The report suggests two key areas for growth, which I find particularly important and will further address.
The first of which is the under-represented labour force of people with disabilities. The report states that “using 2006 census data, the participation rate for persons with disabilities between the ages of 15-64 was only 54.9%. For all other Ontarians it was 77.3%, a difference of 22.4%1.” It is obvious that there is room for growth here. A large portion of this problem relates to the fact that the current ODSP program is in fact counter productive as it punishes those who are disabled and want to work by taking 50% of their profits. I could expand further on this, but it could quite possibly be a blog topic of its own.
The second area of growth relates to the increasing demand for skilled labour. With a high school drop out rate of 68% we have a large proportion of youth who will remain unemployed or fill unskilled jobs1. A substantial proportion of these youth come from lower socio-economic families. Relating back to the Pre-Budget consultations, organizations such as 25 in 5: Network for Poverty Reduction and Put Food in The Budget have stated that without food, kids don’t learn. Tracing back to the question of “who deserves it most”, my own analysis of this relates to the necessity required for all human beings: food. Sure hydro cuts and tax credits do wonders for those organizations who are looking to keep their bank accounts full, but I think what is more important is keeping stomachs full. Without food no one learns, and when no one learns, no one works.
By helping to provide food to those who cannot afford it, we are not only helping that specific individual, but I’ve learned through this report that it will actually help to stimulate our Canadian economy.
In addition to this report, some other great resources I’ve looked into this past week are listed below for anyone interested.
putfoodinthebudget.ca
à This site has created a campaign where supporters are encouraged to write a Valentine to Dwight Duncan, the Finance Minister, stating what food means to them. When this organization presented in Ottawa they had a large Valentine for us to bring back to Queens Park for him!
25in5.ca
ensembleunderstands.com
Enjoy!
1 http://www.workforcecoalition.ca/downloads/people-without-jobs-jobs-without-people-final.pdf
This blog excites me! Because I could see myself doing this type of work, the elections part of a politician doesn't excite me but the work they do fascinates me. Its important for people to understand the budget consultation process to understand that real focus goes into where money is allocated and how hard it is to make these decisions. I think its always easier like you mentioned to dismiss areas like tobacco as bad but tobacco has a face and it starts with the people who farm it and are in an industry that they were trained in and have worked hard in and in many cases are now struggling in. It really looks like we are seeing beyond the surface in this blog just like we will be doing this summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting about your job! I enjoyed it!
-Sebastien :)