I'm Worried About Jim Flaherty

The Minister of Finance up on Parliament Hill seems a tad confused these days. It seems he still thinks he works at Queen's Park. How else to explain his pre-occupation with a provincial budget as his own budget is under intense scrutiny up on the hill? I guess he's trying to fill the leadership void the Tories are facing at Queen's Park. You know what leadership is to me John Tory? Letting your former leadership rival who's no longer in your caucus do your job for you. That's leadership. Oh and Mr. Flaherty which of the following factors is hurting manufacturing in Ontario today the most?

1. The downturn in the US economy
2. The consistent and steady decline of the Big Three auto manufacturers
3. The infrastructure deficit which afflicts Toronto and other major cities
4. The rise of newly industrialized economies such as China
   
5. Corporate tax rates which are a smidge higher than some other jurisdictions
6. Aliens

If you said number five or six, you need your head examined. Tax cuts are not a panacea Mr. Flaherty. Ontario is a competitive jurisdiction. That's why companies like Toyota are building manufacturing plants here. However, no matter how competitive the taxes, in bad economic times people don't tend to open factories.