http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/blancher/ 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. http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0027.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0027.phpLet’s call these wage freezes McGuinty wants by the real name for them, another “Social Contract”. Remember Bob Rae’s infamous 1993 wage freeze and unpaid “Rae Days”, to help curb the tide against Ontario’s then-record $12.4 billion deficit. Rae’s plan was a kick in the proverbial groin for Ontario’s public sector unions and no one was left who wasn’t smarting a little from the pain of those cuts. Front line health care, education, service delivery, you name it; everything and everyone were affected. Tue, 15 May 2012 06:58:54 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0026.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0026.phpWe 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. Wed, 02 May 2012 00:36:49 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0025.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0025.phpWhat is wrong with Tim Hudak, or looking at the bigger picture, what is wrong with the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party? Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:17:09 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0024.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0024.phpThe 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 O’Shaughnessy. 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. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:44:34 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0023.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0023.phpOntario 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. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:51:15 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/lifestyle/HS0240.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/lifestyle/HS0240.phpPictured here is the Algoma Central ship, Captain Henry Jackman, heading up the St. Lawrence River past Morrisburg on April 4, 2012. Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:44:04 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0022.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0022.phpOne 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. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:14:26 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0021.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0021.phpI 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. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:08:27 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0020.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0020.phpIn 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. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:37:49 -0500http://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0019.phphttp://www.ourhometown.ca/opinion/PB0019.phpI 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. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:41:26 -0500