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Randall Denley: Doug Ford lets smart policy get overshadowed by unforced errors

He does the right thing to boost Ontario’s stagnant housing industry and increasing new home affordability, but then gets distracted

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford got something big right in the last few weeks, though he’s distracted from his own accomplishment by focusing on pet projects and self-serving new rules.

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Ford has done just the right thing to boost Ontario’s stagnant housing industry and sharply increase new home affordability. His good work was amplified by getting Prime Minister Mark Carney on board.

Randall Denley: Doug Ford lets smart policy get overshadowed by unforced errors Back to video

Ford and Carney’s decision to eliminate the HST on new homes valued up to $1 million will save buyers $130,000. Homes up to $1.5 million will also get a tax break on a sliding scale. The two leaders are also reducing municipal development charges by 50 per cent, although details of how it would work are a bit vague.

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Combined, the two moves would save buyers of new homes up to $200,000, an incentive that’s sure to boost Ontario’s stagnant housing industry and produce more homes. This is a real solution to a significant problem, just the sort of thing people ought to expect from government.

Unfortunately, at a time when voters are looking for more stability in a world of disruption, the premier who has made a career out of being in sync with the mood of Ontarians has also seemed tone deaf. The war in the Middle East, rapidly rising fuel prices and the broader wave of inflation to follow are all bad news for people just trying to lead a normal life and live within their budgets. Many are concerned about the costs of their mortgage renewals.

Given the financial uncertainty and pressures taxpayers face, it hardly seems the time to propose a new convention centre for Toronto, five times as big as the one there now. Ford says the new centre will create “shock and awe.” Taxpayers will more likely be shocked than awed by Ford’s plan, which comes without a business case or an estimated cost.

It’s not like the Ford government has the money for this whimsical project. The province’s projected deficit this year is $13.8 billion, up from $12.3 billion last year.

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Ford has also dug himself into an unnecessary hole with his attempt to impose new restrictions on freedom of information requests that will exclude any communication on personal devices by him, his ministers, or their staff.

Ford has tried to justify the plan as necessary to protect the privacy of citizens he communicates with and even suggested that the rule change is necessary to protect Ontario from being to open to Chinese surveillance. He responded to a well-crafted critique from the information and privacy commissioner by saying her argument was “political.” Ford dismissed criticism from opposition parties by saying he “kicked their asses three times in a row” and was ahead in the polls.

Ford’s plan to give his own government added protection from the public is exactly the wrong thing to do. It creates the impression that he has something to hide. His government has already dragged its heels on releasing emails about its costly fight to eliminate some Toronto bike lanes. The new law would be applied retroactively to cover up whatever they’re hoping to hide.

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People evidently aren’t impressed. A new Abacus Data poll this week shows PC support is at its lowest level in two years, and Abacus reports that Ford’s own popularity is down, though both he and his party are still ahead of the opposition. The poll finds “widespread opposition to proposed changes to freedom of information rules.”

One of Ford’s strengths has been admitting when he’s made a mistake and changing course. It’s time to do that again, instead of arrogantly dismissing opposition MPPs elected by Ontario voters. He’s even lately been picking on the hapless Bonnie Crombie, his Liberal opponent in the last election, saying he’d “send an army” to prevent her from being elected as mayor of Mississauga this fall. It makes him sound like a bully.

The Abacus poll shows that 51 per cent of Ontarians think it’s time for a change of government and an additional 19 per cent think it would be nice.

Fortunately for Ford, he doesn’t have to worry about going to the voters any time soon. His “protect Ontario” election last year insured that there will be no vote required until at least 2029. That’s not an appealing prospect if he doesn’t start spending his time and the public’s money better.

Ontarians are sending Ford a message about how he’s doing his job. The premier would be wise to listen.

randalldenley1@gmail.com

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