I am starting to think that Ontario Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Marie Bountrogianni is the new nemesis on the Equalization battle.
I told you before that she ‘wasn’t going to sit idly by and watch Ontario become a have-not province’ as a result of a bad Equalization deal.
Now, she says this:
“There are more poor people in Toronto than in all the Maritime provinces combined”
I won’t comment on this much as I think the spirit is self-evident but if she is somehow inferring that Toronto is poorer (is that a word?) than the Maritimes…..
Hmmm.
Anyway, she continues:
“We’re proud to continue paying” the $5 billion Ontario pays in annually [to Equalization] but she wants to get back some of the $23 billion less than it sends Ottawa in taxes.
Gracious of her. Keep your $5b – we’ll take back our $23b.
The fun continues.