Dalton Days and Legitimizing Bob Rae 16 years later.

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/mcguinty/article/721403---dalton-days-premier-likes-the-sound-of-that

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In 1993 the people of Ontario choose to intrust Bob Rae with the first NDP government to the west of Sask. ever. Partly out of anger with rival parties, but at the same time, there had to of been some reason as to why Rae was successful. Today Rae is considered a Canadian diplomat and Statesman. He is internationally recognized and respected for his ability to solve foreign affair issues.

Rae had some very interesting ideas, only problem....a recision at the end of the 1980's that dragged into the early 1990's put a unique twist on how and what was to now be implemented by the new NDP government. With a rising deficit and rising costs, Rae choose to go the route of freezing public sector pay and setting certain unpaid leave days aside that those workers would be required to take. Rae was met with a major backlash, his planned "Rae Days" being the core of the animosity in the province. And eventually in 1994 Mike Harris swept to control.

Here we are though 19 years later in similar circumstances. We are just bottoming out a medium level recession. Unemployment is at a high and Ontario is facing a ballooning deficit. The Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty is looking for any and all solutions to the rising government spending and to reign the deficit back into control. Ontarians are making less, yet the Public Sector workers of the province are in there own bubble, making the same as they typically would while others are suffering. The Premier has not begun to suggest that he is highly considering resurrecting the tactics of Rae. McGuinty is now suggesting that a pay freeze is required and unpaid days off are the solution to our money troubles.

If this happens, as it seems it will, in my opinion will totally legitimize Bob Rae and his actions back in the 1990s. You know what i think its time just to let this whole hate for Rae die. The people of Ontario have railed and bitched about Bob Rae for the past 16 years cracking jokes and belittling a Canadian patriot. Even when Rae was premier he was more liberal then NDP so when he joined the liberals it was abundantly clear that he would fall easily into place.

The issues of governing a province are vast and many, and by singling out a single solution that is again now being suggested as legitimate shows its time to let this hate for Rae go. McGuinty knows that we are in major trouble financially and in his mind its only fair to bring the Public Sector inline with the rest of the provincial wages. Thats fine. The reason you see this backlash is because, the backlash is coming from those whose wages are getting cut. If your a public sector employee...look your paid with our taxes, so take a breather and relax, take your days off and do something fun, you deserve a vacation.

We have to control government spending and reign in that deficit. If freezing the wages of those paid with tax dollars is a solution, then CONSIDER IT. The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few, and many Ontario citizens are suffering financially, we must fix this.

With McGuinty considering and more then likely instituting a policy that was fashioned by Bob Rae I can no longer see any reason for anyone to bitch and complain about those Rae Days from the 1990s, it was a long time ago lets move forward. As for McGuinty, trust the man he is an elected official with vast experience and maybe he does know what he's doing.

Its time we move away from the issues of the past and look to the future for solutions of how we can fix the problems. They affect all of us and we must work together to fix them.