I think it is a very distinct symptom of what is wrong with both Ontario's provincial and Canada's federal political environments in general. The damn crap just keeps floating on top instead of sinking.
I would have more sympathy for your point of view if Ford had purchased the plane for all Ontario government officials, elected and unelected, to use, but I think this was pure vanity. He wants to swan down to the US, showing that he is a player, even though his interventions with the Trumpians have proven to be disastrous or slapstick. Ford rarely travels outside the GTA, preferring to be the "real" mayor of Toronto.
I hope he also flipflops on the Therme spa, speed cameras, and the ridiculous 401 tunnel.
Many, if not most politicians, have a flexible spine unless of course they see themselves as potentates who know far better what is best for their lessers( voters). On the other hand NDP types always are ready to provide the performative howls of outrageous indignation unless they are in office in which instance spending endless sums of tax payer dollars is quite alright.
Speed cameras don’t actually meaningfully change collision statistic according to the last research I saw. They don’t stick to the driver so there’s no real consequence.
I agree with you — this wasn’t a stupid purchase. Unlike most of what Doug Ford suggests, this was a prudent decision. The cancellation — and all of the sunk costs already into it and the “motivated seller” situation — just makes a bad decision all the worse. Ford loves the big, bold projects, yet doesn’t have the discipline, attention and smarts to pull them off (which is good, because most of them are pure foolishness). But like Trump, he brings about so much collateral damage, costs, and distraction with his idiocy that we spend more time focused on the foolish, instead of building something worthwhile.
Haha Good piece, I haven't liked much of what Ford has done the last year including taking my favorite Pinot Noir off the shelves. But yes I too wasnt against the plane. Maybe bad timing with Healthcare, education and economy in a mess. But, he does need it. Maybe a little smaller, but yes Ont is big he needs to get around, not sure why he didnt do this yrs ago, maybe scared of planes like myself.
Apparently he has spineless when it comes to standing up to his friends who want planning decisions that enrich them regardless of merit. Think Science Centre, 413, green belt, and more MZOs than ever before. We are approaching Duplessis levels of corruption with this guy. In Ontario for crying out loud.
I’m sure Doug didn’t really want to leave the shadow of Forest Hill, Rosedale, and The Beaches and venture out to the boonies where hairy armpitted deplorable worker bees live. They might ask him to explain why he gets his policies from Ottawa Liberal Headquarters instead of acting like a real Conservative. The plane was the equivalent of a top hat worn by a newly freed slave overseer in the 1860s to try to impress his both his underlings and the wealthy property owners.
His latest betrayal was a response to the Canadian Sport Shooting Association where he endorsed the Federal Liberal gun confiscation position by refusing to say that people not turning in firearms would not go to jail.
Doug is more TACO than Trump, who at least appears to have kept the private jet Qatar “gave” him. His Devine Orangeness chickens out only when then bond or stock market is about to crash, and not when whoever is his analogous to Mara styles lays a turd.
A spanky little rant far too good to miss the opportunity to comment.
My favourite Ford-Flop is the notorious Greenbelt.
What better way to bury your opponent or predecessor than to build homes during a housing crisis?
Neither Premier Ford nor President Trump are right-of-centre politicians in any meaningful way.
As American journalist Kevin D. Williamson said/wrote of Joe Biden (paraphrased); "I was about to say Joe Biden is like a weathervane, twisting with whatever breeze he encounters. But even a weathervane is moored to something. Joe Biden is a paper bag tumbling down the street."
President Trump is a lifelong JFK Jr. Democrat and Premier Ford is, well, anything you want him to be on that particular day.
It’s depressing that Doug Ford has been around as long as he has
I think it is a very distinct symptom of what is wrong with both Ontario's provincial and Canada's federal political environments in general. The damn crap just keeps floating on top instead of sinking.
I would have more sympathy for your point of view if Ford had purchased the plane for all Ontario government officials, elected and unelected, to use, but I think this was pure vanity. He wants to swan down to the US, showing that he is a player, even though his interventions with the Trumpians have proven to be disastrous or slapstick. Ford rarely travels outside the GTA, preferring to be the "real" mayor of Toronto.
I hope he also flipflops on the Therme spa, speed cameras, and the ridiculous 401 tunnel.
Many, if not most politicians, have a flexible spine unless of course they see themselves as potentates who know far better what is best for their lessers( voters). On the other hand NDP types always are ready to provide the performative howls of outrageous indignation unless they are in office in which instance spending endless sums of tax payer dollars is quite alright.
Ford did get rid of the speed cameras. I was pleased with that decision.
Being one of the people endangered by this decision, I am not.
Speed cameras don’t actually meaningfully change collision statistic according to the last research I saw. They don’t stick to the driver so there’s no real consequence.
I agree with you — this wasn’t a stupid purchase. Unlike most of what Doug Ford suggests, this was a prudent decision. The cancellation — and all of the sunk costs already into it and the “motivated seller” situation — just makes a bad decision all the worse. Ford loves the big, bold projects, yet doesn’t have the discipline, attention and smarts to pull them off (which is good, because most of them are pure foolishness). But like Trump, he brings about so much collateral damage, costs, and distraction with his idiocy that we spend more time focused on the foolish, instead of building something worthwhile.
Haha Good piece, I haven't liked much of what Ford has done the last year including taking my favorite Pinot Noir off the shelves. But yes I too wasnt against the plane. Maybe bad timing with Healthcare, education and economy in a mess. But, he does need it. Maybe a little smaller, but yes Ont is big he needs to get around, not sure why he didnt do this yrs ago, maybe scared of planes like myself.
Apparently he has spineless when it comes to standing up to his friends who want planning decisions that enrich them regardless of merit. Think Science Centre, 413, green belt, and more MZOs than ever before. We are approaching Duplessis levels of corruption with this guy. In Ontario for crying out loud.
I’m sure Doug didn’t really want to leave the shadow of Forest Hill, Rosedale, and The Beaches and venture out to the boonies where hairy armpitted deplorable worker bees live. They might ask him to explain why he gets his policies from Ottawa Liberal Headquarters instead of acting like a real Conservative. The plane was the equivalent of a top hat worn by a newly freed slave overseer in the 1860s to try to impress his both his underlings and the wealthy property owners.
His latest betrayal was a response to the Canadian Sport Shooting Association where he endorsed the Federal Liberal gun confiscation position by refusing to say that people not turning in firearms would not go to jail.
It's a big self-own.
Doug is more TACO than Trump, who at least appears to have kept the private jet Qatar “gave” him. His Devine Orangeness chickens out only when then bond or stock market is about to crash, and not when whoever is his analogous to Mara styles lays a turd.
Canada has long had a surfeit of politicians and a deficit of statesmen. Where is Lester Pearson, now that we need him?
A spanky little rant far too good to miss the opportunity to comment.
My favourite Ford-Flop is the notorious Greenbelt.
What better way to bury your opponent or predecessor than to build homes during a housing crisis?
Neither Premier Ford nor President Trump are right-of-centre politicians in any meaningful way.
As American journalist Kevin D. Williamson said/wrote of Joe Biden (paraphrased); "I was about to say Joe Biden is like a weathervane, twisting with whatever breeze he encounters. But even a weathervane is moored to something. Joe Biden is a paper bag tumbling down the street."
President Trump is a lifelong JFK Jr. Democrat and Premier Ford is, well, anything you want him to be on that particular day.
Great job, Matt.