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Sept 21 - Sept 28,2003 |
Ernie Eves Acknowledges Roles
Premiere recognizes contribution of immigrants and megacity to Ontario developments
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2003-09-14
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."
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