Retirement planning has spawned lively debate with his students, political science and York University School of Public Policy and Administration Professor Thomas Klassen said in the Newmarket Era May 2. He is a proponent of starting sooner rather than later. “The reality for a lot of people, however, is paying for kids, houses, cars,” he said. “The difficult dilemma is that you have to take care today versus 20 to 30 years in the future.” There isn’t a magical dollar amount people should save for their golden years and long-term care, Klassen said. Each person’s situation and goals are different. The universal truth we can all rely on is that we’ll all age. As such, individuals are best advised to consider financial tactics to prop them up in their old age. Read full story.
TTC, GO Transit & TAVIS among winners in Ontario budget
The Ontario budget unveiled Thursday by the minority Liberals includes money for the TTC, GO Transit, Massey Hall and Toronto Police’s anti-violence unit TAVIS. As much as $416 million will go towards the TTC’s new streetcar fleet and $870 million for the extension of the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line to York University and into Vaughan, reported CityNews Toronto May 2. Read full story.
Election watch: If Ontario goes to the polls this spring, these are the ridings to keep an eye on
The Perth-Wellington riding, which borders the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound area, could be affected by the wind turbine issue that led to conservative success in this area. “Wind turbines have been an issue and will continue to an issue for southwestern Ontario,” said Robert Drummond, professor emeritus at York University, in Global News May 2. “It cost [the Liberals] in the last election and that might not change.” Read full story.
University of Victoria crowd hears about silent election issues
What isn’t being discussed in the run-up to May 14? A panel of political academics and former and present politicians addressed that question Tuesday at the University of Victoria in front of about 150 people, reported Victoria News May 2. “This has been an election of abstractions – who can manage the economy, create jobs, growth, lower taxes and debts. They mean something to some voters, but a great many people don’t connect with them,” said former UVic political scientist Dennis Pilon, now at York University in Toronto. Read full story.