Ernie Eves Acknowledges Roles

Premiere recognizes contribution of immigrants and megacity to Ontario developments

Premier Ernie Eves acknowledges the Italian-Canadian community's great contribution not only to Ontario development but also to his party's victory in the two latest elections; in spite of this, he does not commit to expand the role of Italian-Canadian members in his party or in an eventual new Tory cabinet. In an interview, Eves remembered the late Al Palladini, former Minister of Economic Development of Ontario, "Tina Molinari's excellent job," and also the "seven candidates running in this election of Italian background," but he made no promise of strengthening this Italian-Canadian platoon in case of another PC victory.
Currently, the Eves cabinet includes only one Italian-Canadian: Tina Molinari, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Also regarding municipalities, Eves did not undertake any new financing. He remembered instead that his programme would give new powers to local governments enabling them to increase revenues: "They will be able to increase tax revenues from the hotel industry, from gas, or from municipal parking lots." This clearly amounts to a tax increase, but Eves hastened to add: "Municipalities must ask their voters for permission to do so, just like we do at the Provincial level. Taxpayers must always be protected."
The Premier mentioned that "[the Province] already did something for the municipalities, in collaboration with the Feds, by approving large sums earmarked for public transport."
As for Toronto in particular, Eves acknowledged the role of the megacity in the development of the Province of Ontario and of Canada as a whole, and renewed his commitment for "the development of the lakefront"; however, once again he offered no details on what such a pledge will entail from the financial point of view.
Premier Eves continued by underscoring what a future Tory cabinet would do about immigration. Asked why his party had listed the reform of immigration within the plans against crime, he replied: "Actually, the reform is included in a section entitled 'Communities and Safe Communities', since this sector is directly connected to "our communities and the places where we live." Eves repeated that Toronto and Ontario are the most culturally diverse city and Province in the world," and pledged "to defend this diversity, a huge asset for our Province."
Eves also remembered the Ukrainian origins of some of his ancestors and the contribution of immigrants to the development of this country, "but we should not forget that our system also allows some terrorists and criminals to sneak in. Some people manage to return after deportation. This must change."
Eves would like to follow the example offered by Quebec, in order to improve co-ordination of the incoming flow of skilled workers and to obtain more Federal money: "Quebec," he said, "sends out envoys all over the world, interviewing potential immigrants that would satisfy the demands of their Province's job market." What's more, "for every immigrant settling in Ontario Ottawa gives us $756; Quebec gets $3,050. And Ontario is the final destination of 60 percent of all newcomers to Canada."
Eves says that a few weeks ago he spoke of this plan with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, "who raised no objections."
Finally, our interview touched upon the SARS epidemic and the blackout. Our Province was hit hard; in addition to the loss of lives, they almost brought our economy to its knees. How could it happen? What did we learn from this? Can we avoid a repeat in the future?
"Normally," replied Eves, "a premier must cope with many ordinary problems. However, unexpected, exceptional problems like those you mentioned leave their mark." The premier declared that he would very much like "to rule out any new SARS case," but admitted that scientists and experts tell us otherwise. "People can reach the other side of the globe in 12 hours, so we must constantly stay alert."
Eves did not miss the opportunity to criticize what he called an "unjust" treatment that Ontario would suffer at the hands of the federal government, remarking that our Province sends Ottawa over $16 billion more than it receives from the Feds. "This situation can be accepted in normal conditions, but when events like the SARS epidemic and the blackout generate crises we would expect Ontario residents to be treated at least equally to those of other Provinces." Eves wants Ottawa to pay 90 percent of the damages suffered by the Province, like it did with Québec's ice storm and Manitoba's floods.
In closing, the premier dismissed the polls that say his party is on the rise: "The only poll that counts," he declared, "is taken on election day, October 2."

Publication Date: 2003-09-14
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3150