Phillip Blancher is a writer, web geek and communications professional by trade. He has written for a number of publications in Eastern Ontario and Northern New York State and also was a weekly morning show contributor for two area radio stations. As a resident of South Dundas for the last seven years, this long-time political buff has taken on an appreciation of small-town/rural life while also being a father of four and a soccer coach. Blancher's columns on OurHometown.ca will cover a range of his interests from politics, parenthood, local history and on his favourite NHL team, the Buffalo Sabres. If you have questions or wish to contact Phillip, you can email him at pblancher@ourhometown.ca
May. 15, 2012: Lets call these wage freezes McGuinty wants by the real name for them, another Social Contract. Remember Bob Raes infamous 1993 wage freeze and unpaid Rae Days, to help curb the tide against Ontarios then-record $12.4 billion deficit. Raes plan was a kick in the proverbial groin for Ontarios public sector unions and no one was left who wasnt smarting a little from the pain of those cuts. Front line health care, education, service delivery, you name it; everything and everyone were affected. FULL STORY
May. 1, 2012: We have a pandemic facing municipalities in Eastern Ontario; over-planning. Local governments are as addicted to planning as they are to hiring outside consultants. This over-planning is costing municipalities in wasted money spent and in the constant churn of indecision which keeps the status quo at the forefront. FULL STORY
Apr. 21, 2012: What is wrong with Tim Hudak, or looking at the bigger
picture, what is wrong with the Ontario Progressive Conservative
Party? The Nanos Poll shows that the Liberals led by
Dalton McGuinty are at 35.4% of decided voters. The PC's are at 32.1%
and the Andrea Horwath led NDP are at 26.5% with a margin of error at
4.8%. Telling numbers. FULL STORY
Apr. 17, 2012: The political non-drama is over at Cornwall City Hall
with council selecting the 11th place Gerald Samson as the replacement
for now-resigned councilor Leslie OShaughnessy. Good for council with
following the precinct set by the two previous councils, but knock it
off with the drama. Local media outlets played up the possibilities
that could have happened instead of council choosing the next-in-line,
but really, Cornwall City Council had no other option. Most municipal
vacancies in the last 20 years, except for large cities like Toronto,
Ottawa or Kingston, have been filled with the next-in-line method. FULL STORY
Apr. 10, 2012: Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath named the Price of the Bride this past week for NDP support of Dalton McGuinty's budget. In exchange for the NDP's support, McGuinty must raise taxes on those who make more than $500,000 and then cut the provincial portion of the HST on home heating bills. FULL STORY
Apr. 8, 2012: Pictured here is the Algoma Central ship, Captain Henry Jackman, heading up the St. Lawrence River past Morrisburg on April 4, 2012. FULL STORY
Apr. 3, 2012: One of the more interesting aspects of the Federal Budget last week
was the increase of the personal exceptions on travel to the United
States. More perplexing was Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MP
Guy Lauzon's comments that this was one of the suggestions that came
from our area that had the good fortune of being part of the budget. FULL STORY
Mar. 29, 2012: I for one, am glad that budget season is over.
Federal, provincial, county, city and township. All done for the year.
Much like the Toronto Maple Leafs, something to stick a fork in. Done. FULL STORY
Mar. 27, 2012: In eight years of leadership by Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontarians
have not seen a balanced budget. If you take all of the deficits from
the other nine provinces and three territories in the country, added
them together and then doubled it, Ontario's deficit would still be
higher.
FULL STORY
Mar. 26, 2012: I watched one entire hour of the NDP Leadership Convention this weekend, the most important and the final hour. First let me start with saying that I am really happy with the
results. Seeing someone like Thomas Mulcair win the NDP Leadership
cements in my mind that the NDP "Orange Crush" in Quebec really is/was
a flash in the pan. FULL STORY
Phillip BLANCHER, The View from Dundas Story Archive
