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Liberals' spending is unsustainable If you're anything like me, your New Year's resolutions are more honoured in the breach than the observance. My annual commitment to myself, to eat a little less and exercise a little more, is usually forgotten by Groundhog Day. Still, most of us realize a little restraint, mixed with a bit of discipline, goes a long way, especially when it comes to money matters. Many household budgets are stretched to the limit in December, and when the bills come due in the New Year, reality sets in. The money we borrowed must be paid back. We have to live within our means. And it's no different for government. The money that the government borrows, if it spends more on programs than it takes in from taxes, is known as a deficit. This year, the McGuinty Liberal government anticipates its total expenses will be $113.7 billion. The high taxes and fees you pay to the Province won't be enough to pay for this year's planned spending. So, the government intends to borrow $24.7 billion to pay its bills. This deficit, of course, is added to the total provincial debt. That outstanding debt, many years in the making, now stands at $213.2 billion. The Liberals say it's no big deal; 7 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Ted Arnott they say that governments around the world are running big deficits, and we need to stimulate the economy. The problem is that during their six years in office, the Liberals have shown no spending restraint whatsoever. A billion dollars spent on the eHealth debacle is the worst example, but there are many others. It's not that they weren't warned. Shortly after their election to government in late 2003, I initiated a Private Member's Resolution, calling on the government to commit itself to a longterm debt repayment plan. The logic behind it was simple. In good years, you should pay down debt, so that you're in a stronger position when the rainy day comes, as it inevitably will. Every single Liberal MPP present voted against my resolution. They had come into government to spend, and saving was not part of their repertoire. We in Wellington-Halton Hills know that today's deficits are tomorrow's taxes. And we know that the government's inability to manage the province's finances means that our children and grandchildren will pay dearly. These gargantuan numbers are hard to visualize, but remember this one: the provincial government is currently borrowing more than $2 million an hour, every hour, 24 hours a day, every single day. You don't need to be an accountant to understand this is completely unsustainable. The longer the government waits to produce an honest, credible plan to balance the provincial books, the greater the risk to our economic recovery-and, indeed, to our children's economic future. ··· My wife Lisa and I were glad to see everyone who attended our New Year's social on Jan. 10. And don't forget our free family skate Jan. 31 at the Acton Arena, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Even if you don't skate, come and enjoy a hot chocolate with us. ··· I welcome your comments and can be reached toll-free at 1-800-265-2366. My website is www.tedarnottmpp.com --Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills Testing, testing.... The property at 50 Market St. had geothermal bore test equipment onsite recently as tests were done to see if the geology is suitable for a geothermal system to be installed in the new library renovations. The test hole was approximately 300 feet deep to test the composition of the soil and the subsoil under it. Photo by Ted Brown ARE YOU STILL SUFFERING? Our specialists are here to guide you back to PAIN FREE living in our State-of-the-Art facility. Are you suffering from: recurring headaches pinched nerves back/neck pain numbness of arms, legs, hands neck stiffness dizziness or loss of balance Our facility is specifically designed for the diagnosis & treatment of motor vehicle injuries. Call Today 905-873-1871 Life Chiropractic and Whiplash Injury Centre 80 Guelph St. Georgetown,Ontario www.lifechiro.info Nike Half Marathon and Marathon Clinic Starts Wednesday January 27th at 6pm. Clinic will run for 16 weeks. curves.com The clinic includes a technical running shirt, training schedule, weekly group runs, 10% store discount and 5 information sessions. [ 39 Main St. S. Downtown Georgetown TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD 1 MILLION WOMEN STRONGER CURVES.COM/STRONGERTOGETHER ] 905-877-3201 72 Main Street South Georgetown, ON L7G 3G3 GEORGETOWN 905·702·0418 374 Queen St. Acton, ON ACTON 519·853·0502 Offer based on first visit enrollment, minimum 12 mo. c.d./e.f.t program. New members only. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only at participating locations through 2/27/10. © 2010 Curves International, Inc.