Pit bulls, greenbelt top Ontario agenda

Canada -- Two controversial pieces of legislation, a ban on pit bulls and protecting a swath of green space from development, top the Liberal government's agenda as the Ontario legislature resumes sitting Tuesday.

The government, however, will be facing renewed opposition both outside and inside the house.

Contract talks with the province's doctors are dragging on and rumblings from nurses, teachers and labour leaders are all growing louder.

It's rare for the legislature to sit in February, but Premier Dalton McGuinty said his 16-month-old government feels it's necessary.

"We've got a lot of work to do," McGuinty said. "We're anxious to get at it."

As an example, McGuinty highlighted his proposed "green belt" legislation which would protect a swath of land stretching from east of Toronto to Niagara Falls.

The preserved land mass will be larger than Prince Edward Island, he enthused.

Developers and farmers don't share that enthusiasm. They say the plan lacks a scientific basis, will hurt farm values and stifle economic growth in a key area of southern Ontario.

While the proposed pit-bull ban appears to have wider public support, vocal dog owners and veterinarians have denounced the legislation. They say it's a misguided attempt that will do little to stop dog attacks and will only see well behaved pets put to death.

Government House Leader Dwight Duncan said the criticism comes as no surprise.

"It may appear that we're taking flak because we did the relatively interesting thing of sending legislation like this out to public hearings," said Duncan. "We fully expected the response that we're getting."

Rookie Conservative Leader John Tory said the Liberals have been "going out of their way to pick fights with key constituencies on a continuing basis."

He said his Opposition party will use the new legislative session to tackle the government over the "chaos" in the health-care system.

"Hospitals are closing programs, nurses are being laid off, doctors are in fights with the government, nothing is going right," said Tory. "We're going to be spending a lot of our time talking about the incompetence that has led to (those problems)."

Tory, who is set to embark on a policy-development process ahead of the next provincial election in 2{ years, said voters have lost faith in McGuinty.

"He's utterly lacking in credibility," he said. "People feel misled by the Liberal party and by Mr. McGuinty. There's a lack of trust."

A poll released on the weekend gives some credence to Tory's views that many Ontarians have not forgotten McGuinty's broken promises, including a pledge against raising taxes.

New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton said the government is flailing about and its recent attacks on Ottawa over equalization payments are an attempt at deflecting unwelcome attention.

"Instead of tackling the issues that matter to the people, I expect we'll see more politics of diversion," he said.

Like Tory, Hampton said he would be pressing the government on health care, saying "patients are paying the price for Dalton McGuinty's failed policies."

He warned that stiff fee hikes are in store for post-secondary students.

Both leaders said the McGuinty government has done nothing to help farmers in dire straits, with Tory going as far as to say the Liberals have "given the back of the hand" to rural Ontario.

For now, Tory will continue to direct his caucus from the legislature sidelines. He is still waiting for McGuinty to call a byelection now that former Conservative premier and party leader Ernie Eves has resigned.

McGuinty said he won't delay doing so, and he is expected to call a vote within a month or two.

 

As you can see from this our Government doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Everything they are doing is something the public doesn't want , like the opposition said they are picking fights.

The walk went well today with about 50 people to show up! I will try and post picture from a friend of mine !!!