Some people who actually work for a living, and don’t addle their brains watching CPAC all day have asked if there is video available of my remarks to the House yesterday on income trusts.
Well, my flock, you need only ask once. Here it is.
House talk
April 19th, 2007 | Canadian Politics
75 comments ↓
Your flock is right.
The comments here rarely reflect the mainstream canadian opinion.
I hope you recognize that, Garth.
Well, then, thank God for you. — Garth
The comments here rarely reflect the mainstream canadian opinion.
Considering that mainstream Canadian thinking usually runs along the “Don’t bother me until there is an election”, this could have gone without saying.
I think we all know that the people who show up here, both pro- and anti-, do not reflect mainstream opinion.
Garth Turner’s cable channel confusion…
Garth Turner is a Canadian politician. Quick, someone remind him!
Technorati tags: Garth Turner, Liberal Party, Canada, United States, CSPAN, CPAC…
NEWS FLASH: Garth is human. Screws up. Corrects. (Is that the best you guys can do?). Next… — Garth
Garth…You Rock
Too bad all politicians can’t deliver like you do. Thank You
Just watched the video of you reading in letters on the IT scandal! Thank you for persevering on this file on the behalf of all Canadians, Garth.
I think we all know that the people who show up here, both pro- and anti-, do not reflect mainstream opinion.
By Ed Brooks on 04.19.07 1:26 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more…we all have an agenda of one kind or another…initially I came here to blast both the Libs and Cons….funny how things have changed along the way.
Just watched the video…It was great to see you delivering the voices of the people in parliament. Every Canadian should take pride in this. Parliament is all that keeps Harper from a full dictatorship.
I’d like to see that video too.
On the CAITI site, a headline blurb refers to a speech on income trusts by Paul Szabo which prompted Flaherty to walk out on him. Were you guys ganging up on him- or what happened? Must’ve been a pretty strong speech to make him react like that.
Garth,
good job! I really liked how you’ve ignored those pointless remarks by the cons. Your “sticktoitiveness” was remarkable! Thank you for serving your country honourably!
Thankyou Garth for keeping this issue in the CONservatives face.
They are Liars. Oh sorry. They say one thing and screw their constituents!
Its important to hear also listen to the CONservative catcalls in the background.
Seems Mr.Baird gave http://www.garth.ca a plug today.Might give you a bigger audience.
Great Job Garth! Tell what the people are really saying about Income trusts!!!
Mr Harper and Flaherty are LIARS on the issue of Income trusts. These guys are real amateurs on the economy and the business markets!! –perhaps they should get some advice from Kevin O’leary from BNN (a multimillionaire) . O’leary thinks that this conservative gov’t are bunch of moronic idiots!!!!
Destroying 30 billion of shareholders wealth.
Since Oct 31 — I’m no longer a tory supporter or have any membership with that disgraceful party!
Saw question period today.
Is Harper on medication?
Just watched the video on your time in the house.
Well done, thank you.
People (including politicians) complain and are frustrated that our elected officials do not answer questions put to them in the House of Commons.
Garth, watching the video clip, i noticed that you did not answer any questions put to you by other members, including (what i thought was) a very intelligent questions from the NDP member.
Why? This only contributes to complaints and frustration no matter what subject is being debated.
I am however glad to see that you are bringing the words of canadians into the House of Commons. Whether the people on this blog agree with the IT decision or not – I think more politicians of all political stripes need to bring the views of their constituents, the canadian voting public, to the floor of the House of Commons.
Garth, I like it. Nice job, but what did it actually accomplish? If I didn’t go to your website or watch Cpac, I wouldn’t have heard that or anything else.
It didn’t seem like there were too many people in the House when that was happening.
Does QP do anything to change anything? or is it just lip service?
I’m asking in the most genuine way I can.
Garth,
As stated by Mahatma Gandhi, “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you,then they fight you, then you win.
Almost there, keep going.
Garth,
Just watched the video clip of your criticism of the Conservatives in regards to Income Trusts.Best thing I ever watched happen in that particular building.Well done!!
If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people.
Stephen Harper
“Continental economic and security integration” with the U.S. as well as a “continental energy strategy” that should be broadened “to a range of other natural resources.”
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper.
Good show in the house Garth.
I kind of liked Mike Wallace questions. It showed clearly that these guys just do not get it.
The issue is not whether to tax or not to tax income funds but rather that we were lied. Many 50 plussers, seniores and investors voted for these cons and now are out of a lot of money.
Wow, good job Garth on bringing the words of Canadians on income trusts into the HofC (by reading out their letters). But ya, I was surprised that when the NDP asked you a question, you just went on reading the letter without answering his question: isn’t that part of what annoys you about the CPC (the fact that instead of answering a question, they read out quotes? Now mind you, yours was letters from Canadians, and theirs were comments made on your blog taken out of context.)
But ya, amazing how no MP is allowed to accuse another of lying (Even when they do) just because it’s ‘politically incorrect’: instead, you end up having to use euphenisms and substitute words.
On other note, the Random-Burin-St.George’s Liberal NL MP Bill Matthews accused PMSH of lying to the people of NL about the new equalization formula and breaking his election promise. The result? He temporarily got kicked out of the house!
What is our democracy coming to that you can’t call an orange, an orange, but rather an apple?
Jay Hill is beginning to look really ridiculous – I mean, really – glares and smug smirks.
What is he – Harper’s goon squad leader?
He’s look so dumb.
So one must ask, why is the government clamping down on the retirement savings of seniors and investors?
But it gets worse. Instead of immediately moving to assure markets that income trusts are here to stay, the Liberals are justifying their actions in the coldest political terms. As one government member was quoted in the media as saying about income trust investors, “They have no constituency. They don’t count politically.”
That kind of arrogance cannot go unanswered. There is just no justification for what amounts to a Liberal government attack on investors, and especially on seniors.
The government continues to overtax Canadians and run multi-billion dollar surpluses, yet their first instinct is to attack an investment vehicle that can make the difference between bare survival and a dignified retirement for millions of Canadians.
The government claims that income trusts enjoy an unfair tax advantage over corporate dividends. If they believe this, then the answer is not to shut down a valuable investment vehicle, but to cut the double taxation of dividends. In short, level the playing field and let the market decide between income trusts and dividend-paying companies.
Words of Stephen Harper National Post Oct 26, 2005
With regards to Income Trust policies, our friend Jim Flaherty, and his increasingly left leaning boss:
There are two types of liars in politics:
- Ones that have the enviable ability to understand the complex minefield of politics and can masterfully twist the truth to achieve a result beneficial to the majority of Canadians and,
One’s that are not so blessed with intellect. Who rely on a false perception that hanging around at local hockey rinks and Tim Horton donut shops listening to “regular Canadians” makes them qualified to manage the finances of a G7 economy.
We are unfortunately blessed with the latter. The net result are a couple of donut shop liars who can only claim to have mastered the art of manuevering themselves and their fellow Canadians into every mound of dog shit they can find.
Flaherty and Harper make a wonderful sequel to Gilligan and the Skipper as they sail their government along it’s 3-hour tour.
Not only did these two characters openly lie to their voters about Income Trust policy and their disdain for supporting Corporate Welfare bums in Quebec, they actually acted upon the incomplete tax studies and Grant policies compiled by their Quebec Liberal predecessors. They have driven the Good Ship Canada and it’s crew into the current storm.
I have been a conservative voter all my life under the belief that conservative policies generally supported free markets and reduced goverment intervention. Now I am shocked to see that the “Skipper and his little buddy” have become market interventionists, poor liars, a detriment to prosperity.
This next election will be like the old Rolling Stones song says: “I’ve got to scrape the shit right off my shoes”
Sorry Jim , Sorry Steve – I hope your 3 hour tour comes to an end as fast as possible.
Maybe someone can correct me, I don’t completely understand IT as I don’t own any. Isn’t the 25 or 30 Billion that keeps getting tossed out here a loss on equity if you sell? Doesn’t the income that is being paid out monthly or quarterly still being paid? Does it automatically decrease with the price of the trust? If it does, isn’t the value on paper of the trust during a certain month a moot point as the purpose of these trusts appears to be ongoing cash flow.
Thanks,
Kerry
initially I came here to blast both the Libs and Cons….funny how things have changed along the way. – PJW.
I will blast any political party that messes up. It just happens that the “New Government” seemes to be messing up more than any previous one that I can remember. I only go back to 1988, then it The Iron LAdy and Mr. Major, not to mention the Harold (Wilson) and Ted (Heath) show!
BTW – Garth, maybe the Deputy Speaker would have given you a little more leaway if you had addressed him as “Mr. Speaker!”
The cons are running scared. Harper is coming to the realization that he will never get a majority.He could promise every Canadian a million bucks and a twinkie, and he would still max out at 38 %.Now they will get really desparate and scary.
Garth – When calling your few fans “my flock”, does that meen that you are aware that their brains are as big as a bird brains. Liberal idiots do have small brains you know. I just did not think they were that small.
I AM LIBERAL TO THE CORE. I DONT CARE IF KOYOTO KILLS US. I WANT KOYOTO. I LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN NOTHING GOT DONE. HELL WITH OUR MILITARY. FREE CRIMINALS. LETS MISMANAGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. DAM THAT HARPER. I CANT STAND WATCHING HIM FIX THINGS. I JUST NAMED MY DOG GARTHY. COME BOY…….
NDP submits formal request for answers on Harper’s stylist
JENNIFER DITCHBURN
Canadian Press
OTTAWA — The prime minister who made lifting “the veil of secrecy†on government operations a top priority is now being compelled through Parliament to answer questions about his personal image adviser.
The NDP submitted a formal request through Parliament on Thursday to determine how much public money Stephen Harper spends on the assistant, after the Prime Minister’s Office ignored requests for details.
The government has acknowledged only that the former CBC makeup artist is paid with taxpayer money.
A government official justified the refusal to provide more details by saying accountability is meant to prevent people from stealing, and was not intended to apply to staffing issues.
Garth, How and why do Harper/Baird and (last year) Ambrose say one thing and do another ? We know is violently opposed to Kyoto and ordered Ambrose to sabotage Kyoto at two meetings. One or two , or maybe more, did not agree and are gone. My way or the Highway.
Now Baird has trapped (or lassoed)an economust from one of the major banks. What would an economist have to gain from going along with the game, knowing full well, that the program is false.
Do they have some kind of hold on this hapless guy ?
This is for Kerry:
The Debacle with the IT decision from the Torie goverment is this:
1) Many Investors bought IT shares on the premise that the goverment would not tax this asset class. Having boken this promise last October, the value the shares dropped considerably, reducing investor equity who bought these units a higher price. Therefore – selling is painful.
2) Although you’re statement that payout’s should remain intact after the “broken promise” may have some merit, the reality is more complex. The flight of capital from this asset class has forced trusts to collapse, merge, and / or reduce payouts.
The disappearance of this asset class from this decision will ultimately result lost tax revenue.
Kerry B:
“Isn’t the 25 or 30 Billion that keeps getting tossed out here a loss on equity if you sell? Doesn’t the income that is being paid out monthly or quarterly still being paid?”
The market valuation of this type of investment where there is going to be a 31% tax starting four years from now, the present value of that investment will going down.
I.e. an investment now yielding 10% now and previously assumed to continue to the future will be cut to reflect its new yield when the 31% tax kicks in.
http://tinyurl.com/3xge65
Winningest party in history .
Just finished watching the whole speech…well done, especially doing a Harper on Mr. Hill, that being not rising to his question and continuing your train of thought!
Maybe instead of using the “L” word, you can look up all the various defintions. You may have missed a few.
Only in the HoC must you call a spade an implement for digging holes!
I had some difficulty connecting – but I think I have it now.
My question to Garth was regarding the Town Hall Meetings – are they arranged by Garth and his staff or are they co- ordinted with his Riding Associaton?
Way of topic but be patient I’ll Make the point.
Anti-Castro militant Luis Posada Carriles, an aging ex-CIA operative suspected in a decades-old Cuban airliner bombing, was released from U.S. custody Thursday and flew to Miami as he awaits trial on immigration fraud charges
Posada is wanted in Cuba and Venezuela, where he is accused of plotting the 1976 bombing of a Cuban jetliner that killed 73 people.
The point is.The US has declared war on terror.Canadian troops are there helping.This guy is a prime suspect in blowing up a jetliner.Something’s wrong with this scenario.
In addition this guys name has been mentioned by Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez as part of a CIA plot to assassinate him.I know conspiracy theory.Then again.
Garth, the Flock wants to head back to the Barn and vote for some new shepherds.
Why could Baird tell us what the Liberal/NDP Kyoto targets would cost us in lost jobs and high energy prices,but he could not tell us what the Con plan would cost us?
Seems he has spent a lot of time and money on disparaging the opposition plan, but no time on costing out his own?
I guess the Cons aren’t willing to suffer short term pain for long term gains.
I think his doomsday prophecy is supposed to scare us enough that any Con plan, no matter how weak, is better than annihilation. Or even worse, a recession.
To Kerry:
Yes – you are correct technically: The 25 or 30 Billion that keeps getting tossed out here is in fact a loss on equity if you sell an IT.
But let me put it to you this way: What if you just bought a house, and then the value of your property drops by 30% a few months later because the government decides to place a garbage dump at the end of you street without any notification. Technically, you would lose money only when you sell your newly purchased home. And it’s possible that it eventually will reach the value of your original purchase price again. And add on the fact that the unexpected loss in equity is accompanied by an increasing threat to the value of your remaining investment as time goes by .
That’s loss is perceived, but their is a reality beind it . And that’s what makes this government so hard to swallow. They are too expensive to keep around.
Dear Garth, I am wondering why MPs are wasting so much time trying to stop ATM fees when they have shown no concern over high taxes in Canada.
I would like to see MP debating about high taxes in Canada, instead of $1.50 ATM fee.
A member of the NDP has brought in a legislation to stop bank from charging $1.50. I would like to see a similar bill to stop the govt from imposing high taxes on hardworking canadians while running surpluses.
Judy, here is my problem with this. I have no doubt that these numbers are the worst case scenario, when was the last time you saw any Federal Govt program not result in the worst case scenario, therefore logic dictates these numbers are more then likely accurate if not under inflated by the time the bureaucratic get involved it will be worst. Remember the gun registry, I am sure when they cost it out they actually believe with the registration fees coming in it would only cost 2 million to implement, how did that one work out.I will as always though reserve my sarcastic judgment until the the other parties present their own costings out of the program to reach the 2012 targets.
Jack Layton brought up the ATM fee issue. Jim Flaherty stole it from Jack to try and divert headlines from his Income Trust fiasco. Watch this New Government closely…when they get bad press they immediately issue a news release to divert attention.
The heat has been on regarding BCE and other corporate buy outs so today Harper diverts with a Senate Reform announcement. Once you understand his game it becomes tiresome.
Anyone hear John Reynolds today on Duffy. He was justifying the 100 new/old/ tanks by saying that they may come in handy depending on what happens in Iraq and Iran!!! Is he foretelling Harpers plans for our military? We all know Harper would have had us in the quagmire that is Iraq-is Reynolds in deep doo-doo for letting this comment slip?
“Garth – When calling your few fans ‘my flock’, does that meen that you are aware that their brains are as big as a bird brains.”
I think it means that they are the sheep, and Garth is the Shepherd.
In a democracy, the “flock” are supposed to boss the shepherd, but these sheep follow the shepherd obediently. They know the shepherd’s voice, and a stranger they will not follow.
Hi Garth,
You are our hero, thank you so much for your yesterday’s speech in the parliament, we need MP like you to speak for us, thank you again.
Regards
George
Garth, that thunderous sound you hear from the direction of Etobicoke is
the noise of me applauding your efforts in the H of C.
Absolutely AWESOME !!!!!!!!!
A pity that so many of the misguided minions of Flarper’s were too
cowardly to appear and witness your brilliant and compelling reading of
the various letters illustrating the effects of their incompetence.
I salute you…
Michael
Tobin Smith has written something that I believe he uses as advertising for his newsletter, but he makes a great point…. The Canadian government has lost it’s collective mind and US investors are going to benefit by the buying out of Income Trusts by US Equity.
http://www.stockhouse.com/bullboards/proviewmessage.asp?no=14698864&t=0&all=0&top=1&TableID=0&exchange=
“Garth, that thunderous sound you hear from the direction of Etobicoke is
the noise of me applauding your efforts in the H of C.”
It was a pity that it sounded like only one or at the most two fellow Liberal MPs applauded Garth’s efforts at the very beginning in the H of C, and the very end, with no applause whatever in between. Pity!
“Maybe instead of using the ‘L’ word, you can look up all the various definitions. You may have missed a few.”
Pity that what is allowed every day on this blog with impunity, in calling PMSH a Liar, was not allowed by the honourable Speaker. He was only enforcing the rules of the House, of course, which he said that Garth knew very well. Pity!
“It was great to see you delivering the voices of the people in parliament.”
I am sure that many fans of MPTV found it somewhat distractive, however, to see the pages with these precious comments on them angrily thrown to the floor.
Also, when a question was asked and ignored, only to have more comments read into the record, it was really difficult to follow the trend of thought as to what was being said anymore, and how it had flowed together with the previous train of thought.
If we all want the government to take our questions seriously, surely we must set a good example.
Even the NDP Member for Sault Ste. Marie who asked a very reasonable and non-provocative question was ignored.
We are going to have to work with the NDP to defeat the government.
This does not give one the impression of one willing to engage and to reason with others. In fact, it seem to flow more out of emotion than reason.
Next time these things can be kept in mind.
Jack Layton brought up the ATM fee issue. Jim Flaherty stole it from Jack to try and divert headlines from his Income Trust fiasco. Watch this New Government closely…when they get bad press they immediately issue a news release to divert attention.
Learned at the knee of the Republican party.
When 200,soldiers lost their lives in Lebanon in a suicide bombing
Ronald Raygun ( Reagan ) invaded Granada to save a few American students who needed rescuing from all that beer,sun and sand .
Republicans are past masters at creating news for public consumption and change the lead head line to take the heat off.
Little surprise the neo-cons are using the same reprehensible tactics .
Ian,
The appointment of an ‘elected’ senator is hardly a diversion. Yesterday a liberal senator (from alberta – never understood where they found one of those) announced he was resigning this summer. Harper just announced his replacement would be a senator-in waiting, elected by Albertans. Harper maybe one powerful man, but I doubt he could influence a liberal senator to resign just so he can appoint a senator to divert attention from anything.
Ed the Hun
“Continental economic and security integration†with the U.S. as well as a “continental energy strategy†that should be broadened “to a range of other natural resources.â€
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper.
PJW…this would be your North American Union he’s talking about.
Now for this week we have:
1. The tanks for Afstan or other places
2. The mission in Aftsan-the timeline
3. The Halloween Massacre, IT lies
4. Softwood lumber, again
5. Kyoto, not, again!
6. The budget-still!
7. The budget-equalization
8. SH’s “elected’ appointed senator-Senate Reform Ploy
9. MacKay’s screw-ups.
10.Bairds mouth oh hell, all the rest’s mouths too. too many to bother writing them all down.
No wonder Harpo has red spots, it’s stress!! Red stress spots!! but his gal can cover them up I’m sure, mostly.
Oh Garth, Forgive me..
Bravo! Bravo! you were wonderful tonight!
And they really hated it. All they could come up with was the same old tired lined revised a little bit. You handled it fanstatically.
Bravo!!
G
With regards to ATM fees and Layton’s Brain fart: This is what will result when our meddling government stick their noses into private business pratices again.
If Banks are ordered to remove service fees from ATM machine transactions, the machines will simply disappear because they would not longer be profitable. And Canadians will be forced access their money by lining up at bank counters like in the old days.
Why can’t we Canadians be treated like adults and make our own decisions on whether we want to use the ATM services or not. After all, the choice is 100% our own and the convenience is wonderful.
Instead, let’s get rid of all these layers of government that cost us all a lot more, and offer less and less in the way of service. They could learn a great deal from running a business like a bank.
And once again, Flaherty took a stupid idea from the NDP, relied on the economic experience he has acquired at local Tim Horton’s, and is continuing his destructive rampage across the Canadian business landscape.
Bring on the next election…….please.
CPC (Controlled Political Collapse)
I smell disaster with the THREE AMIGOS bracing us for an apocalyptic future. Harpito, Flaherito and Bairdo have come to shotgun hill. Bairdo predicts recession and loss of 250,000 jobs supporting Kyoto and cannot fully support his argument with facts. Oh, of course, a Chief Economist of a Bank gave him a report that was leaked. I will bet that same report had a blacked out section showing job losses even higher because of Canadian Businesses being sold out to foreign interests because of the insane Corporate Tax policies. The Captain remembers another leading economist of a Canadian Bank with his dire prediction for 2006 where he predicted that because of 20 plus Hurricanes expected to ravage the Gulf of Mexico, he predicted oil shooting into the triple digit range and North American economies faltering. Well, that sent a chill through my Rum and Coke. November came, there were no disasters in the gulf and new predictions cast forward.
I wonder if Bairdo gets his numbers from this guy as well. I watched Bairdo on the Mike Duffy show last night talking about the plan and numbers which you can coin this phrase “Will be out in a few weeks, we’re working on it” . His answers regarding the environment made me cringe but not as much as his lime green tie that was hanging out of his buttoned suit. Doesn’t he have one of them tax free grooming consultants?
Kyoto wont cost us a penny. Even if it does I dont care. In fact I dont care if it cost us everything. We should go back to way things were hundreds of years ago. I want to build a small cabin far away and trap for food and clothes. I think Dion feels the same. He is so green now. I am so happy. He is strong and he is also green. This makes Dion strong green.
Larry, please, please tell me that your post was tongue-in-cheek.
Kyoto wont cost us a penny. Even if it does I dont care. In fact I dont care if it cost us everything. We should go back to way things were hundreds of years ago. I want to build a small cabin far away and trap for food and clothes. I think Dion feels the same. He is so green now. I am so happy. He is strong and he is also green. This makes Dion strong green.
By Larry on 04.20.07 9:05 am
Is that part of your essay in your grade 4 class Larry? Sorry but you get a – C. Keep working on it though & try again later. Maybe you’ll do better in grade 5.
For all of the theatrics, truth be told, it was obvious that Garth had few supporters in the House of Commons. It was very much a one-man effort, and appeared to go over like a lead balloon.
Garth was talking, but who was listening, including honourable members from ALL sides of the House.
The performance appeared to be tailored for TV, rather thana for the immediate audience in the House of Commons. As a result, it appeared to be missing something, and the viewers got the distinct impression that the words were not connecting, or receiving an enthusiastic response.
It might have been better to tape this speech before an enthusiastic group of supporters, in which case Garth could have read ALL of the comments, and taken the 2-3 hours that he needed.
Unfortunately with 301 members in the House of Commons, there have to be rules which will somewhat restrict how much time can be given to any one members.
I noted that the Speaker even seemed to remove his impartiality by remarking that he was not surprized that Garth’s time limit was not extended.
All of these antiques, only to be rebuffed, gave every evidence of buffoonery with high entertainment value, but to be treated lightly in what should have been a very serious topic.
I realize that the audience could have been more respectful, but then Garth added to the buffoonery himself by requesting an additional 2-3 hours, something which he and everyone knew would be a request that would not be taken seriously.
Consequently, it appeared to go over like a lead balloon. It was an attempt to stir the waters at the moment, but then everything went back to what it was before, and nothing was changed.
To effect change, we have to connect with people at a heart level, and come across as one to be taken seriously. I prepared that the victims of the I T could have had their interests defended in a better and more productive way.
Just my 2 cents worth. A good day to one and all.
A thoughtful comment from somebody who watches too much TV. You work with the forum you have, my friend. You make the most of the tools at hand. You keep fighting however you can. No apologies from this MP. — Garth
Check out this report by Don Martin:
Flawed report on Kayoto catastrople mere political grandstanding.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/index.html
I think that someone should follow Baird with a Pooper Scooper.
Ed the Hun…The headline in the Globe and mail said Harper could make an elected senate a confidence issue…that is what I was referring to. He gets the debate started on another issue to deflect heat…he does it all the time.
Hi Garth
Great work yesterday in the house I am glad we have someone to stand up for the seniors.Harper and Flaherty are a discrace to Canada and what we stand for.We need to get them out before Canada is destroyed. Lets get Mr Dion out front and centre and go after these blood sucking Conservites.
Keep up the good work.
Don from Hanover.
“When Ralph Goodale tried to tax Income Trusts … don’t forget, don’t forget this …they showed us where they stood. They showed us about their attitudes towards raiding seniors hard earned assets and a Conservative government will never allow either of these parties to get away with that” Stephen Harper on Global TV, December 02, 2005
It’s the government’s obligation to look really to the third parties to get the support to govern.
Words of Stephen Harper
The Primeminister is a Fashion Plate!This gives Stephen Harpers FLIP FLOPS a whole new meaning! FASHION TIP…FLIP FLOPS GO NICELY WITH A SUN HAT!
“When Ralph Goodale tried to tax Income Trusts … don’t forget, don’t forget this …they showed us where they stood. They showed us about their attitudes towards raiding seniors hard earned assets and a Conservative government will never allow either of these parties to get away with that†Stephen Harper on Global TV, December 02, 2005
By PJW on 04.20.07 2:13 pm
Now this is concrete proof of Harper lying. This demonstrates that Harper flip-flopped on this issue, bigtime. Now, at the same time, since the Liberals wanted to do the same thing, doesn’t that make them just as bad? I mean, is Ralph Goodale opposing this now? If so, doesn’t that make him a hypocrite too? Thank you PJW for posting this.
Ian,
Then you must be referring to the bill that will be tabled and NOT the appointment of the elected senator. If that is what you meant then I agree. But note that Harper can make any vote a confidence one. He doesn’t have to wait for a special bill.
Ed the Hun
As well, I don’t read the globe and mail or the star or the national post. I get my information at the library. The globe and mail is Canada’s national toronto paper, and I have no use for it out here (I save a tree by not reading the tripe that our national papers report. I’d sooner save the tree).
Ed the Hun
We just watched your presentation in the House re income trusts. Thank you!
My husband and I have been retired for 10 years and relied on the income from trusts to supplement our pensions. We have now seen our savings eroded by at least 20%. Like most people of our generation, we worked hard all our lives, lived frugally, raised our children and sent them to university, never went on the vacation to Hawaii or such, and now, in our last hurrah, are penalized by taxes and ill thought out government plans. We certainly feel betrayed by the Conservative government.
Watched you yesterday on cpac
well done
its hard not to call them liars when that is exactly what they are.
Nice to hear stuff from real Canadians.
Senator Jim Munson read one of my letters in the Senate slamming the cons for their betrayal of senior regarding income trusts.
Thanks garth
Peter and Martha
Mr. Garth Turner
I have had the opportunity to listen to your comments in the House of Commons. Thank you for standing up for the income trust investors that got lied to by Mr. Harper and Flaherty and the rest of the PC party. Notice, I use the word lie and I will not retract the statement. You cannot retract a statement when it is in fact true. I like so many others have lost a lot of my retirement savings together with my future income. I have absolutely no way to recover the losses. I listen to the rhetoric coming from the smug conservative mouths and it makes me sick. I cannot wait for the next election because I as a former PC voter want to see the smug looks wiped right off their lying faces.
Bruce Benson
Calgary Alberta
Dear Mr. Turner;
I want to applaud you in particular and the rest of the Liberal party for
your efforts to change the so called “Taxation Fairness” related to the Income
Trust havoc.
The Liberal ppoposal is by far much superior and makes a lot more sense to
me than the present distructive proposal by the Conservatives and I fully
support your efforts and your policy.My heartfelt thanks to you and your
associates.
I am aware of your Town Hall meetings this weekend and wish I could attend
to support your policy regarding Income Trusts,but
I am too far away so I want to send my support via this email.
Thanks again.
Sincerely M. Parker
Garth, just watched your performance the other day in the House in support of escalating efforts to mitigate the horrendous damage done to Income Trusts by the Halloween Massacre.
Masterful! That you stayed on topic despite Member attempts to diffuse your message was absolutely appropriate.
Most Canadians have not even begun to clue into the serious and unwarranted economic damage perpetrated on this unique and valuable business model and their trusting investors.
Corporations may or may not pay taxes on profits, depending upon just how many of the miriad of shelters with which they may avail themselves. On the other hand, individual income trust investors (as opposed to Institutional) paid their taxes on profits come hell or high water, either directly for a given year when they did their tax return, or later when drawing upon registered plans. But the taxes got paid!
IMHO the Finance Minister convinced the PM that reversal of the Income Trust promise represented an opportunity for oneupmanship over the Liberals by ending the dialogue and eliminating the political pitfalls once and for all. This would demonstrate qualities of daring and leadership which they perceived Canadians craved, and would reward.
That a relatively small and insignificant constituency such as the Income Trust sector and associated investors would pay a price was of no consequence. Frankly, I believe they seriously miscalculated just how massive that price would be.
They then sent out their disciples to further poison the waters. Income Trusts and their Investors were greedy; they were careless; they were stupid; they were too trusting since politicians lie all the time to get into power. And the grand-daddy of them all…they were going to lose their money anyway, since Income Trusts were unsustainable as viable investment vehicles.
Well Garth. In December I seriously doubted that you could or even would attempt to influence the public discourse surrounding this blatent Betrayal of Trust. I am no longer of that view and applaud you.
Keep up the good work.
I just saw it now posted. You were fantastic. Heads up. I do believe ,this income trust disaster will guarentee the Liberals more seats in the commons next election.
But you were just great.
David Alon