Toronto Star columnist makes bold claims with no evidence

Frank Stronach is the retired founder of Manga International, and recently became a Toronto Star columnist. His second article for the paper, entitled Canada is over-governed, overtaxed and overregulated, calls for an eventual reduction in taxes by first "reducing the cost of government." 

Though Stronach wants to "institute a program of targeted cuts in government spending", he provides no insight into what the targets should be. Reading his broad claims with no specifics prompted me to write the letter below to the editor of the Toronto Star; they decided not to publish it. 

Re: Canada is over-governed, overtaxed and overregulated, Feb. 1

Frank Stronach makes a bold assertion in his February 1 essay in the Star: "The reduction in government spending could be done without jeopardizing safety, the environment, education or health, by reducing government spending by five to 10 per cent per year over a period of five years."

Given his entire argument hinges on this proposition, I had expected some argument, some example, or some direction to show how tens of billions of dollars can be cut without anyone feeling any pain.

Stronach provides none, and with no such corroboration his entire essay becomes a flight of fancy with no more connection to reality than Harry Potter.