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If you're going to stick it to poor kids, talk it up!
Mar. 31, 2006. 06:53 AM
LINWOOD BARCLAY

If Dalton McGuinty is going to keep sticking it to poor kids, why wasn't he
talking it up during the provincial by-elections? Isn't this the sort of
thing that's going to score you points in certain circles? Sometimes I
don't think this government has the slightest idea how to go about
promoting its achievements.

As you may have heard, the province brought in a new budget recently, and
found enough money to give every mass transit user in this province his or
her very own subway car or streetcar.

This is expected to be a major shot in the arm for the decorating business,
as people accessorize these cars to put their own, individualized stamp on
them. Not some stupid little dog with a bobbing head for the back window.
We're talking drapes, coffee tables, that kind of thing. Remember that Ikea
commercial?

Still to be decided is whether commuters will be able to get personalized
plates for their transit vehicles.

What wasn't played up as much in the budget announcements, however, was the
decision to keep clawing back what's known as the national child benefit
supplement, which is worth about $1,450 a year, per kid, to poor families.
Ottawa sends it out, then Ontario grabs it back because it thinks it's not
getting enough money from the feds. Sort of like if your uncle gave your
sister a new doll for her birthday, and you stole it from her because all
he got you was a lousy pair of socks.

The provincial government employs thousands to hide out in bushes, then
when a Canada Post carrier arrives with the cheque from Ottawa for a poor
kid, they jump out, reach into the mailbox and snatch it away before
anyone's the wiser. (Except in Huntsville, of course, where the letter
carrier hangs on to it himself.)

Why Dalton, and his finance minister Dwight Duncan, didn't draw attention
to this fact is anyone's guess.

Politicians, particularly politicians in this province, should know by now
that the general public does not take kindly to catering to special
interest groups. And if ever there was a special interest group, it's poor
kids. Among the things they, and their poor parents, are especially
interested in are having a roof over their heads, and eating.

McGuinty certainly shouldn't feel pressured, just because he promised
during the last provincial election campaign to eliminate the clawback, to
honour his commitment to poor kids. The Premier can break as many promises
as he wants, because not long after he took office, he broke that biggie
about no new tax increases. Breaking that one, well, that was a bit like
jumping into a pool of freezing cold water. Once you're in, and you're used
to it, it's not that big a deal to stay there for awhile.

The thing is, if you're going to be mean and not tell anybody, what's the
point? Were the Liberals not paying attention through the Mike Harris
years? Being mean, and being proud of it, plays well. And if you're going
to be mean to a specific group, you could do a lot worse than poor kids.
What are they going to do? Call their lawyer?

Maybe, if he reads this, the Premier will come to his senses and let
Ontarians know what he's up to. But I have to say, if he's going to keep
sticking it to poor kids, clawing back a federal supplement isn't very
sexy. I mean, how do you turn something like that into a decent photo-op?
Maybe, and this is just an idea, he could intercept some kid on his way to
school and take his lunch money. I think that's something a photographer
could work with.


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