Hot Takes – Feb 18, 2021

Every Thursday, I join NEWSTALK 1010's Moore in the Morning to take on the issues of the day with a panel of pundits. Here's my take on some of today's topics.

1.     Does Doug Ford need to apologize? Andrea Horwath has the easiest job in Ontario politics. She leads a political party that doesn’t care if she ever wins an election. Which is good, because she’s a three-time loser who’s never come close. Her job is – literally – just opposing everything the government says and does. Which is good, because she complains well – well enough to get under Premier Doug Ford’s skin, as she did yesterday. And, when anyone tries to strike back at her, she can hide behind her gender and call them a misogynist.

I’ve worked with – and for – many strong women, and I’ve worked alongside many female politicians. All of them are more than capable of handling criticism and holding their own in an argument. The idea that anyone who disagrees or criticizes them is a “woman-hater” is ludicrous. In fact, assuming the only objectionable thing about a politician is her gender, is itself misogynist.

2.     Queen’s Park spitefully cuts Baber’s pay. Moving to cut Roman Baber’s salary to $500 per week was a petty, politically stupid move. It ensured he and his motion will get widespread media attention – and many people will listen to what he proposed and say, “Great idea!” This is a win for Baber and a loss for Ford.

Baber’s motion to cut the salaries of provincial politicians was not just a political stunt. He’s 100% right on this one. Provincial politicians and senior public health officials are making decisions to strip Canadians of their rights and their jobs – forcing them into poverty. Yet, not one of these decision-makers has had to suffer the consequences of their decisions. That’s not leadership. Leaders lead by example. Leaders eat last. They step first into hardship and last into comfort. Expecting them to live on the same meagre gruel they’re forcing upon millions of their constituents is not folly. It’s the right thing to do – and Queen’s Park should have done this one year ago.

Those who are unemployed and living on $500 per week – are unemployed and struggling because they were forced into poverty by government. They desperately want to go back to work. If it’s unreasonable to expect government decision-makers to live on $500 per week – then it’s ridiculous to expect millions of the “lesser classes” to do so. We’ve never been “all in this together.” But, we should have been.

3.     Dr. de Villa wants to extend your solitary confinement. Dr. Eileen de Villa is a smart woman. Very well-educated. She has a B.Sc. in psychology and women’s studies. She has a Masters in Public Health Promotion. She has an MD. And, she has an MBA. But, she never practiced medicine after her residency and has little or no experience in the real world.

Like her evil twin, Mayor John Tory, de Villa comes from privilege – graduate of a tony private school – and has never wanted for anything. Neither has ever had to skip a meal or worry about paying rent. Neither has to suffer the consequences of their own decisions. Now, this dynamic duo has decided you should remain in solitary confinement and continue to struggle in poverty. Indefinitely. Why? They have a hunch.

They certainly don’t have data. In fact, no one has valid data from Toronto, because the people Dr. de Villa manages haven’t been able to offer up a valid count in weeks. It’s like they don’t even care.

4.     Scarborough may not get transit, but it may get a new park. Great idea. Too bad the poor people of Scarborough will be stuck in surface-level transit vehicles stranded in traffic and won’t ever have time off to use it. Why not just put buses up there and have them fly along above the traffic jams – faster, even, than subways, perhaps!

5.     Toronto Islanders can inherit homes. This decision serves to further entrench the aristocracy of Toronto’s blessed Blue Bloods – those chosen by God to live cheap on the most attractive (and publicly owned) property in the city. Let the rest of you eat cake.

6.     City golf courses are poorly run. We’ve known this for years. They don’t need to be smaller – you already have to walk or drive through a public park to golf at any of them. This idea to do something – anything – to make the city’s golf courses more fun (and profitable) is an example of what could happen if Toronto partnered with the private sector to inject some innovation into the operations.

7.     Rush Limbaugh dies. Turns out he was human after all. And a very successful showman. The public commentary around his passing provides yet another outstanding opportunity to assess the character of those who comment.