Murray Campbell describes the increasing hard-feelings between the federal and Ontario governments in today’s The Globe and Mail. He documents how much things have deteriorated since Ontario could be counted-on to be Ottawa’s best friend; when a strong Ontario meant a strong Canada and both federal and provincial governments recognised the value of mutual co-operation and support.
I seems to have gone way beyond different views on how Ottawa shares revenues with the province. This week’s appearance by the PM at the Hospital for Sick Children to announce a wait-time pilot project without informing the Ontario Premier or Health Minister was not only rude but unprofessional and petty. It’s not just because health care and hospitals are in the provincial jurisdiction, mandating prior consultation with the provincial health ministry, that the health minister and/or premier should have been involved in the announcement. There are tough and difficult negotiations ongoing between the two levels of government on a range of issues from revenue sharing to first nations land claim settlements. “Giving a raspberry” to the party on the other side of the table is no way to smooth the path to a successful conclusion.
Campbell notes that Stockwell Day, as federal public security minister, failed to mention to Ontario public security minister Monte Kwinter, when they met this week, that he would be in Ontario in 48 hours making significant announcement related to the Canada/USA - Ontario/Michigan border. Also, that federal Indian Affairs minister Jim Prentice cancelled a meeting with Ontario aboriginal affairs minister David Ramsay while the latter was in his reception room.
With the examples piling up, it is clear the snubs to Ontario are some accident of oversight in the rush to get back up to speed after the holidays. They bear every indication of a co-ordinated tactic directed from the PMO. And they show just how mean and petty the PM and PMO are with anyone they see as potential opponents.
The so-called average Ontario voter may not get very excited over an occasional snub, but there must be some cumulative risk. It’s not secret that the PM favours the Ontario PC party to win the provincial election in October and is willing to assist John Tory in that regard. But it’s also evident from history that Ontario voters like the Yin and Yang of electing different parties as their federal and provincial governments. If there value in the PM’s snubs or might he just be giving Ontarians a reason to swing back to the federal Liberals.
I seems to have gone way beyond different views on how Ottawa shares revenues with the province. This week’s appearance by the PM at the Hospital for Sick Children to announce a wait-time pilot project without informing the Ontario Premier or Health Minister was not only rude but unprofessional and petty. It’s not just because health care and hospitals are in the provincial jurisdiction, mandating prior consultation with the provincial health ministry, that the health minister and/or premier should have been involved in the announcement. There are tough and difficult negotiations ongoing between the two levels of government on a range of issues from revenue sharing to first nations land claim settlements. “Giving a raspberry” to the party on the other side of the table is no way to smooth the path to a successful conclusion.
Campbell notes that Stockwell Day, as federal public security minister, failed to mention to Ontario public security minister Monte Kwinter, when they met this week, that he would be in Ontario in 48 hours making significant announcement related to the Canada/USA - Ontario/Michigan border. Also, that federal Indian Affairs minister Jim Prentice cancelled a meeting with Ontario aboriginal affairs minister David Ramsay while the latter was in his reception room.
With the examples piling up, it is clear the snubs to Ontario are some accident of oversight in the rush to get back up to speed after the holidays. They bear every indication of a co-ordinated tactic directed from the PMO. And they show just how mean and petty the PM and PMO are with anyone they see as potential opponents.
The so-called average Ontario voter may not get very excited over an occasional snub, but there must be some cumulative risk. It’s not secret that the PM favours the Ontario PC party to win the provincial election in October and is willing to assist John Tory in that regard. But it’s also evident from history that Ontario voters like the Yin and Yang of electing different parties as their federal and provincial governments. If there value in the PM’s snubs or might he just be giving Ontarians a reason to swing back to the federal Liberals.
