McGuinty Libs attack Hudak, but BACKFIRES HUGE!

Are you kidding me? In an desperate attempt to turn the tables and attack Tim Hudak over the HST, the Ontario Liberals have completely shot themselves in the foot!

In a Press Release entitled "Tim Hudak: HST Here to Stay", they attempted an "GOTCHA!" attack, when Tim Hudak admitted publicly that the Ontario Tories, should they win the next election, will be unable to repeal the HST.

Did you catch that? He didn't say "UNWILLING"... he said "UNABLE". Why is that? Because when the McGuinty Liberals made the switch to the HST, they enshrined within the legislation various clauses that prevent any future government for making any changes to the HST whatsoever for the first number of years. Translation? When the McGuinty Liberals screwed up their implementation of the HST, they ENSURED that Ontarians would be screwed for years to come, and that no one could immediately fix the underlying problems with the HST itself.

As a result, the Hudak Tories won't be able to repeal it, or even reduce the rate, right away. Instead, they're going to have to look for other ways to help Ontario families deal with a horribly implemented tax increase that is hurting their every day lives. While Tim had indeed committed to trying to "stop the HST in it's tracks", as the Liberal Press Release also reports, it was the McGuinty Liberals to used their majority to ram the HST through.

So here we have the Liberals, in what can only be described as total desperation, attempting to attack Tim Hudak for, wait for it... TELLING THE TRUTH. Which, of course, makes perfect sense, if you're a Liberal... BECAUSE TO LIBERALS, TELLING THE TRUTH TO THE VOTERS IS CRIME THAT MUST BE PUNISHED.

Now there's something you don't see everyday... the Liberals are issuing Press Releases on behalf of Tim Hudak, informing the public that Hudak is being honest with Ontarians? Not only that, they're helping to remind the voting public that it's their own Party who screwed the province with the HST.

Okay, it's official... NOW I HAVE seen everything!

Did the McGuinty Government quietly restore teacher's union right to strike?

I'm asking a serious question, because I can't make out what exactly they've done here in a small sub-section of the recently passed Bill 212, the "Good Government Act, 2009". Any guidance by any of you legal-beagles would be appreciated.

Anyway, I was looking over the text of Bill 212, in the context of the changes related to the Municipal Elections Act. Anyway, while looking over the text, I found this section that intrigued me... and I'm not entirely sure of what it means, or of what potential consequences there are for parents here in Ontario.

Bill 212 - Good Government Act, 2009

SCHEDULE 20 - MINISTRY OF LABOUR

Repeals and Revocation
5. (1) The following are repealed:

1. Back to School Act, 1998 .

2. Back to School Act (Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board), 2000 .

3. Back to School Act (Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board), 2002 .

4. Back to School Act (Toronto and Windsor), 2001 .

5. Back to School (Toronto Catholic Elementary) and Education and Provincial Schools Negotiations Amendment Act, 2003 .

6. City of Toronto Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2002 .

7. Sections 3, 7, 8 and 9 of the Fairness for Parents and Employees Act (Teachers' Withdrawal of Services), 1997 .

5. (2) Ontario Regulation 13/98 (Application Deadline), made under the Fairness for Parents and Employees Act (Teachers' Withdrawal of Services), 1997, is revoked.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but those are pretty much ALL the Acts invoked to deal with the striking unions during the Harris era, right?

Now I know that Omnibus bills like Bill 212 are passed on a regular basis, in order to help expedite the clean up and streamlining of existing legislation. But I'm somewhat curious as to why the McGuinty government has gone and done this now... and what are the consequences of repealing these Acts now. Aren't we heading into a period of labour negotiations with these groups fairly soon?

Here's my theory... the Teachers Unions know that they've got a sweet deal under McGuinty's Liberals, and they don't want to harm them in the polls right now and put that sweet deal at risk. At the same time, the McGuinty Liberals know they've also got a sweet deal with the Teachers Unions, and they don't want to put that at risk either. So, I'm sure there's a little "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" stuff going on in the background, and there won't be any labour unrest with them this year, and the government will give in to the union's significantly reduced demands pretty much without question... though it will still be a deal that's far to rich in these tough economic times, mind you.

Therefore, it's my opinion that these moves (which assumes I'm reading it correctly, which I'll admit may well be off) aren't for this current set of negotiations, but for the next set... WHICH WILL OCCUR AFTER THE 2011 ONTARIO ELECTION.

You know, THAT 2011 Election... THE ONE THE LIBERALS FEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE. Call me cynical, but I'm betting that this is a "Let's screw Tim Hudak post-2011, just in case he wins" move by the McGuinty Liberals.

As I said, this is all assuming that I've interpreted the removal of these other Acts correctly... and assuming that they're still in force, thereby limiting the Teacher's ability to strike. Again, a more learned person's perspective on this would be appreciated, but I just wanted to throw it out there so that SOMEONE who can figure it out will give it a look. Please tell me if I've got it all wrong... I'd actually be relieved to know that.