ONTARIO—a case in point Monopolies—government—people

By BRUCE MAGNUSON

T IS doubtful if any capitalist gov-

ernment anywhere is more closely

tied to monopoly interests than is the Tory administration of Ontario. The obverse side of this commitment to big business is its adeptness at eva- sion’ and procrastination when dealing with the public interest.

Rather than facing up to an issue squarely and dealing with it expedi- tiously and efficiently in a democratic manner, Premier Robarts will handle it behind the backs of the legisaltors, if it is in the interests of the aims of the private monopoly manipulators to do so. On the other hand, if it is a mat- ter concerning some policy commit- ment to the public at large, there is always some committee, judicial in- quiry or commission set up to engage in endless study of questians involved.

The most recent example of this ap- proach is to be seen in the bringing back into prominence in the Queen’s Park hierarchy of Frederick M. Cass, PC-MPP for Grenville-Dundas~ since 1955, as Speaker of the First Session of the Twenty-Eighth Legislature. It will be remembered that Mr. Cass re- signed in March, 1964, as the scape- goat for a piece of government legisla- tion that has become well-known in the public mind as the “police state” bill. Premier Robarts at that time led his party in support of a New Democratic Party amendment to delete proposed sections of the bill, and later accepted Mr. Cass’s resignation as Attorney General. Now Mr. Robarts dismisses the whole matter of the “police state” bill, as “a complete phony,” “a real tempest,” created by the press. The Premier claims to have the support for the appointment from leaders of oppo- sition parties, both Mr. Nixon and Mr. MacDonald, and proceeds to state, “Mr. Cass, with the concurrence of the Legislature,” — which incidentally does not meet until February 14, next — “will bring to his new post his im- mense knowledge of parliamentary pro- ceedings, his unquestioned ability and his completely fair approach to all mat- ters which move before him.” Surely, the only fair conclusion one must reach, if the above estimation of Mr. Cass is true, is that Premier Robarts himself ought to have resigned in March, 1964, instead of Mr. Cass.

Another example is the pre-election promise made last August, as bait to the voters based on the Smith Report on Ontario tax policy, to take over the responsibilty for administration of jus- tice which has hitherto been done at the cost of civic tax payers. Instead of calling a special session of the Legis- lature immediately after the election to deal with the housing crisis and tax reform, including the appropriate legis- lation as our party demanded in a tele- gram to the Premier, such legislation will now have to be made retroactive after the matters involved are already dealt with by Orders-in-Council.

It is precisely this bureaucratic and undemocratic way of handling the mat- ter of provincial take-over of magis- trates courts and the Don Jail, which has resulted in a strike by members of the Canadian Union of Public employ- ees. Since no legislation presently on the Statues of Ontario can force these employees to give up their union, the attempt to force them to give up the right to belong to a union of their own choice is both unconstitutional and illegal. Since the principle involved could be applied at some future date to workers in other areas and public

Services, the matter concerns the whole trade union movement. Presently a judge has been appoint- ed to look into the whole area of col- lective bargaining for civil servants. Another judge heads a Royal Commis- sion Inquiry into the whole field of labor-management relations in the province. Another Royal Commission, headed by another judge, is inquiring into Civil Rights. In view of all this,

what is the great rush to prejudge mat-

ters involved? If these studies are to have any meaning, and their outcome is to be properly acted upon by a re- sponsible government and legislature, why not wait this outcome? Or is it simply that these inquiries are mean-

ingless exercises in futility to allay public opinion and fear, while govern- ment proceeds independently of the legislature and public opinion to act behind the scenes as the monopoly es- tablishment dictates? These are surely some questions to ponder, not only for the government, but for members of the legislature, with special responsi- bilities evolving upon the opposition parties, as well as for the general pub- lic. e

Much is presently being said about

regional governments and regional de-

velopment. Two years ago, come next April, Mr. Robarts presented a white paper entitled ‘Design for Development’ towards the end of a dull legislative session.

On November 8, last, Premier Rob- arts told the Annual Meeting of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture about, “. . . agencies to formulate plans, forums in which to discuss plans and bodies to implement plans.” The Premier claimed that ‘Design for Deve- lopment’ had moved ahead rapidly: “We are now deeply involved in a de- tailed analysis of all programs and poli- cies of the departments of the Ontario government as they relate to regional growth. We have commissioned more than 20 specific studies. Out of this

detailed probing will come a respon-

sible and meaningful program that will encourage a more uniform rate of eco- nomic growth in each region of Ont- ario. While the complete regional de- velopment program of the Ontario government will require some months, perhaps years to complete, it is quite clear that the program will deal with

JANUARY 26, 1968—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 6

several basic ‘problems.” There fol- lowed the usual cliches about ‘consoli-

dation,’ ‘restructuring,’ ‘streamlining,’ - and so on, ad infenitum.

The treasury department is being split up into two components, Finance and Economics, and Provincial Reve- nue. The Chief Economist, Ian Mac- donald has been moved from the De- partment of Economics and Develop- ment to become Deputy Provincial Treasurer and to head up the Finance and Economics wing of the Treasury Board. Former Queen’s University Teacher, R. S. Thoman heads up the

Regional Development Branch, which .

has been moved from Randall’s Depart- ment of Economics and Development

to Mr. MacNaughton’s Treasury Board. In fact, it means that the bureaucracy is being consolidated in preparation for implementation of the retrogressive recommendations of the Smith Report on Taxation and to place additional economic burdens on local govern- ments.

A new Policy Planning Division will be on top of government’s fiscal and economic policy, including the imposi- tion of a new tier of regional govern- ment super-imposed on the highly frag- mented structure of local municipal governments in the province. It will see to it that new asssessments and more taxes are levied on property, and that the tax base on consumption and all kinds of services is expanded in every possible direction, along with elimina- tion of any property tax exemptions. The provincial grant on the first $2,000

& uy; AS YOUR PROVINGAL 3 HEALTH MINISTER L

HAVE SET UP A ROYAL CRIS TO STUDY.

ed. : Pare pe WHETHER THERE. Wiepaiacout

TLE) REALLY (COUGHYFATILE) 7

i$ & PROBLEM

e

of taxable assessment will be eaten up many times over by a tripled property assessment. Deputy Treasurer Ian MacDonald and Regional Development Director: Richard S. Thoman will be the team working on this new frontal assault of the local taxpayer and muni- cipal democracy.

In. the meantime it looks as if the Department of Economics and develop- ment will be some kind of industrial and trade liason squad, with Mr. Ran- dall as the Minister of “Industry, Trade and Foreign Affairs.” It is now sug- gested that the government spend some $40,000 to woo business and businessmen from California to Ont- ario. A 21-member delegation, includ- ing Premier Robarts, Economics Minis- ter Randall, his Deputy Minister, S. W. Clarkson; Deputy Provincial Treasurer Ian MacDonald; Oakah Jones, President of the Consumer Gas Co. etc., will leave for Los Angeles, California on January 21. The ostensible purpose is to draw more U.S. industry and business to Ontario, persuade professionals to emigrate here, and to try and sell more Ontario products in California. The re- sults may not be too rewarding in the context of current political and econo- mic developments. But we must agre& that it will be a break to get away from the cold weather for a couple of weeks at the taxpayers expense, and rest up for the new session on Febru- ary 14.

The mission to California has been christened ‘Ontario Unlimited.’ Ontario Trade and Industry Branch of Ran- dall’s department will open a trade office in Los Angeles. Economic poli- cies, especially as they pertain to U.S. investments, will be discussed. Direc- tor of immigration, A. S. Clark will interview professional persons who have shown an interest in Canada, par- ticularly chemical and mechanical en- gineers, computer programers and, phy- sicists. A costly advertising campaign will be developed around the project.

Conferences will be held with cor- poration executives, bankers and civic leaders. Lavish financial incentives and grants will be offered to business and industry through the Ontario Develop- ment Corporation. This will include full use of research facilities available at the Sheridan Park, Ontario’s $11 million government and industry-sup-

_ ported research centre, west of To-

ronto.

With such a program and perspec- tive, U.C. control, Ontario’s econo- my will expand and a greater econo- mic squeeze will be applied to wage and salary earners to subsidize big’ business. Perhaps Mr. Robarts’ vision of tomorrow’s Confederation includes Ontario’s absorbtion of California as compensation for the Alaska panhan- dle, which rightfully ought to belong to British Columbia.

(CouGH) THE

PY THE MEANTINE

HOWEVER, WE ADVISE

yh EYERYONE T0-