To my understanding, the base salary of an MPP in Ontario is $116,000, more if they are in cabinet or on a committee.
Presently, MPP’s receive 10% of their salary each year which goes into a locked-in retirement account (LIRA).
So, with a base salary of $116,000, which is paid for with taxpayer money, an additional $11,600 of taxpayer money goes into a LIRA for the MPP.
I was not able to put aside $11,600, or anywhere near 10%, of my after-tax income into a retirement plan this year. Of the people that I know, they were not able to do this either.
I was reading the Drummond Report, but did not see the elimination of the LIRA for MPP’s as one of the cost-cutting measures.
It would seem that anything involving the financial security of MPP’s is not considered being worthy of elimination.
The first thing the Government of Ontario needs to start reducing is their own wages and benefits.
Please take a moment to forward this message onto others, your MPP, and especially the Premier of Ontario.
You can contact Jeff Yurek, the MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London at http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=7174
You can contact the Premier of Ontario at https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx
Joe Caverly
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
St. Thomas Police Services ‘Adequacy Standards’
On page 3 of the St. Thomas Police Service - Needs Assessment & Concept Plan Project Status Report, it says;
“Staffing growth is anticipated to be substantially higher than the population growth – an ongoing increase in the police-to-population ratio is consistent with national and international trends over the past few decades. Many factors have contributed to this, including the ‘Adequacy Standards’ included in the Police Services Act.”
Who has created these ‘Adequacy Standards’ included in the Police Services Act, in which the number of staff in Police Services increases the police-to-population ratio?
Well, according to (http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/police_serv/about/about.html) it is the Ontario Government.
Perhaps St. Thomas should consider downsizing the staff in its Police Services, so that the present building will continue to be adequate for Police Services needs. This will minimize the cost to the taxpayer, helping to alleviate the tax burden from those in our community who have to make due with what they have, as the result of job losses and little or no wage increases.
“Staffing growth is anticipated to be substantially higher than the population growth – an ongoing increase in the police-to-population ratio is consistent with national and international trends over the past few decades. Many factors have contributed to this, including the ‘Adequacy Standards’ included in the Police Services Act.”
Who has created these ‘Adequacy Standards’ included in the Police Services Act, in which the number of staff in Police Services increases the police-to-population ratio?
Well, according to (http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/police_serv/about/about.html) it is the Ontario Government.
Perhaps St. Thomas should consider downsizing the staff in its Police Services, so that the present building will continue to be adequate for Police Services needs. This will minimize the cost to the taxpayer, helping to alleviate the tax burden from those in our community who have to make due with what they have, as the result of job losses and little or no wage increases.
Friday, February 3, 2012
St. Thomas Police Services should get a lottery license
Just as the St. Thomas Elgin-General Hospital has a foundation to raise money to help our hospital (http://www.granddraw.ca), so too should the St. Thomas Police Services, to help cover the $19 million cost of a new building for themselves. That way, those who can give more may do so, helping to alleviate the tax burden from those in our community who have to make due with what they have, as the result of job losses and little or no wage increases.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
15 Minutes or it's free
At the St. Thomas Transit Open House at City Hall on August 11, one of my recommendations was to give an incentive to transit riders by making a rule where if the bus is 15 minutes (or more) late for their stop, the ride is free.
Today, I had to take St. Thomas Transit for my journey to and from the St. Thomas Elgin-General Hospital.
The odds were quite good that the bus would be at least 15 minutes late, due to the detour on First Ave., and the detour on Fifth Ave.
Alas, had their been a "15 minutes or it's free" rule in effect today, I would not have received a free ride, for the bus was only 14 minutes late. Yes, I timed it.
14 minutes behind schedule is not a good thing, but considering the detours the Hospital bus had to make, it was understandable.
If my suggestion were to be implemented, just how many free rides would St. Thomas Transit have to give out?
Well, let's see. St. Thomas Transit operates from Monday to Saturday, which is six days a week. That's 312 days per year (I know, some are holidays, but this is just a rough estimate).
If St. Thomas Transit were to have a 99% on-time schedule, it would only be behind schedule for a total of 3.12 days per year.
Buses break down, accidents happen, which would probably account for about 3.12 days per year.
As St. Thomas Transit now has an extra bus available, if a bus on route were to have a break down or accident, that spare bus could be dispatched to the transfer point to keep the buses on schedule.
It will be interesting to see what is presented before Council in regards to the future of St. Thomas Transit. I am looking forward to continued improvements for St. Thomas Transit.
Joe
Today, I had to take St. Thomas Transit for my journey to and from the St. Thomas Elgin-General Hospital.
The odds were quite good that the bus would be at least 15 minutes late, due to the detour on First Ave., and the detour on Fifth Ave.
Alas, had their been a "15 minutes or it's free" rule in effect today, I would not have received a free ride, for the bus was only 14 minutes late. Yes, I timed it.
14 minutes behind schedule is not a good thing, but considering the detours the Hospital bus had to make, it was understandable.
If my suggestion were to be implemented, just how many free rides would St. Thomas Transit have to give out?
Well, let's see. St. Thomas Transit operates from Monday to Saturday, which is six days a week. That's 312 days per year (I know, some are holidays, but this is just a rough estimate).
If St. Thomas Transit were to have a 99% on-time schedule, it would only be behind schedule for a total of 3.12 days per year.
Buses break down, accidents happen, which would probably account for about 3.12 days per year.
As St. Thomas Transit now has an extra bus available, if a bus on route were to have a break down or accident, that spare bus could be dispatched to the transfer point to keep the buses on schedule.
It will be interesting to see what is presented before Council in regards to the future of St. Thomas Transit. I am looking forward to continued improvements for St. Thomas Transit.
Joe
Friday, August 12, 2011
Transit Open House
I went to the Transit Open House at City Hall last evening (Thursday), where I discussed some issues with Mr. Edward Soldo, Manager of Operations and Compliance, Environmental Services.
I was very disappointed that a certain councilor, and other City staff, were so loud and obnoxious that Mr. Soldo, myself, and another transit rider, had to go out into the hall, just so that we could hear each other talk.
I left the meeting feeling positive about the future of St. Thomas Transit, although the painfully slow, bureaucratic process is very frustrating.
Joe
I was very disappointed that a certain councilor, and other City staff, were so loud and obnoxious that Mr. Soldo, myself, and another transit rider, had to go out into the hall, just so that we could hear each other talk.
I left the meeting feeling positive about the future of St. Thomas Transit, although the painfully slow, bureaucratic process is very frustrating.
Joe
First Ave. Railway Bridge
I took this video this evening of the First Ave. Railway Bridge, or the last parts of it, coming down.
The rails that brought prosperity to St. Thomas are gone, with not much of a trace of that prosperity remaining these days.
Joe
Monday, July 18, 2011
Changes To St. Thomas Public Transit
Raising the cost of a monthly bus pass to $65.00 will not pay the bills.
The City of St. Thomas obviously believes in charity. Either that, or they do not want a Public Transit System.
Costs continue to rise for the fuel, maintenance, registration and wages to operate this city’s Public Transit System.
Now, how can the cost of these increases be covered by increasing the monthly bus pass by only $5.00?
According to the CAA, the cost to operate a vehicle in Ontario is approx. $10,000 a year, depending on the vehicle you own, which translates to approx. $833 per month.
It costs about $115 a month just for insurance on your vehicle.
Thus, $65.00 a month for a bus pass is inappropriate. Realistically, an adult bus pass should be at least $90.00 per month. Individual cash fares should also increase to at least $3.75, and tickets to $3.00.
As a cost-cutting measure, eliminate Para-Transit. Since Para-Transit riders are now taking the Public Transit Buses, why do we even need the Para-Transit system any more?
Can everyone afford these increased fares? No, not everyone can afford these fare increases, but the bills have to be paid, and they will come out of our taxes regardless.
Many people can no longer afford to operate two vehicles. Asking a person for $90.00 per month for a reliable Public Transit System is still a bargain.
The City of St. Thomas obviously believes in charity. Either that, or they do not want a Public Transit System.
Costs continue to rise for the fuel, maintenance, registration and wages to operate this city’s Public Transit System.
Now, how can the cost of these increases be covered by increasing the monthly bus pass by only $5.00?
According to the CAA, the cost to operate a vehicle in Ontario is approx. $10,000 a year, depending on the vehicle you own, which translates to approx. $833 per month.
It costs about $115 a month just for insurance on your vehicle.
Thus, $65.00 a month for a bus pass is inappropriate. Realistically, an adult bus pass should be at least $90.00 per month. Individual cash fares should also increase to at least $3.75, and tickets to $3.00.
As a cost-cutting measure, eliminate Para-Transit. Since Para-Transit riders are now taking the Public Transit Buses, why do we even need the Para-Transit system any more?
Can everyone afford these increased fares? No, not everyone can afford these fare increases, but the bills have to be paid, and they will come out of our taxes regardless.
Many people can no longer afford to operate two vehicles. Asking a person for $90.00 per month for a reliable Public Transit System is still a bargain.
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