“Let them eat cake” is a remark attributed to Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the Revolution. “Let them drink beer” may become equally (in)famous as Doug Ford’s slogan.
What is it about Ontario Conservative Premiers and their obsession with beer? Doug Ford’s predecessor, Mike Harris, was strongly criticized 20 years ago for attempting to justify eliminating a food allowance for pregnant mothers on the grounds that they might spend the money on beer. Now we have Ford rejecting a “cash grab from the hardworking people of Ontario,” by eliminating an impending November 1st tax increase that would have added a cent a can to the price of beer. Let’s consider the financial implications of this tax grab from which Ford saved Ontario’s hardworking people. If we assume that each one drinks five bottles of beer a day (which would seem a substantial intake) the tax would have added 35 cents a week or $1.50 a month. As a point of comparison, the food allowance for pregnant mothers that Harris eliminated was $37 a month, or $54 a month now when adjusted for inflation. So, while pregnant mothers could do without $54 a month lest they squander it on beer, a cost increase of $1.50 a month would apparently be a barrier to beer for today’s hardworking people.
“Let them eat cake” is a remark attributed to Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the Revolution. “Let them drink beer” may become equally (in)famous as Doug Ford’s slogan.
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AuthorC. Richard Tindal, Ph.D is a retired Professor of Government. He taught for 30 years at St. Lawrence College, Kingston and was an occasional Visiting Professor at Queen's University. He has also written and consulted extensively about government. Archives
October 2023
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