Yesterday Mr. Harper spent $4.6 billion. Since Parliament adjourned a week and a half ago, he has spent about $7 billion. You can count on that rising dramatically by the time we’re buying back-to-school iPhones.
As mentioned in yesterday’s posting, the Harper Party has already committed the Government to more than $310 billion in program spending in the fiscal year 2007-8. It is the greatest amount of federal cheque-writing in the history of Canada. Spending is rising at twice the rate of inflation, with program spending in several areas growing by three times that.
The annual federal surplus of about $12 billion which was left for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty last year by the outgoing Liberals will be reduced this year to just a few hundred million. The additional spending Mr. Harper announced yesterday is itself enough to soak up that surplus 15 times over. To find the money for this summer’s spendfest will take either a huge burst of unanticipated economic activity, or more taxation.
One things is for sure, at this rate Mr. Flaherty’s next budget can neither cut the GST another point, or reduce income taxes. In fact, he will be a lucky little minister if the country does not run a modest budgetary deficit. And who the heck knows what his boss will end up committing to during the rest of the summer?
Also a concern is the protracted nature of the new spending. It will, like the $3.1 billion for modernizing our frigates, or the $1.5 billion for biofuels, be doled out over several years. This impacts on the actions of future finance ministers, and pretty much means taxpayers can kiss goodbye any chance of seeing their personal finances improve through lower federal levies.
This is not what many people who voted Conservative on January 23, 2006, expected. Nor it is what they were told. Mr. Harper did not campaign on a higher income tax rate, on spending more money than Liberals ever did before him, on an inflationary budget, or on an about-face on taxing income trusts. And this is why, in Halton at least, I have seen life-long Conservatives, like me, abandoning the prime minister.
This fact was driven home to me last week when I viewed the new executive of the Halton Liberal electoral district association. Counted among the staunch long-time Liberals were seven former execs of the local Conservative association. And they are not all old Progressive Conservatives, but also those who held Canadian Alliance membership cards, and attended the first Conservative policy convention in Montreal as delegates two summers ago.
It’s hard for many Conservatives to see what Mr. Harper is doing to the economy. The seeds of inflation, government overspending, higher interest rates, a too-high dollar and sustained levels of tax will surely yield an unwelcome harvest. And I will leave comment for another day on what he has done to the Reform-Alliance traditions of grassroots democracy, populism, free votes and independence of MPs.
These are tough times for Conservatives. They thought they had a champion. Like me, they discovered a chameleon.
74 comments ↓
Garth: Should we be anticipating a federal election soon after so much spending by the Conservative government?
Looks that way. Are you ready for an election within the next 9 months?
Pffft – unlike you, they won’t be exposed to be chameleons – hey garth it is time you too announced your discovery of breast cancer. Can’t let all the publicity go to that up-staging b@tch that bought a nicer place above Milestones than you. Meow Garth – a little bit sensitive when you’re not the spotlight whore?
That’s the kind of comment sure to win your side a lot of support. — Garth
I too was a supporter of the PC party. Not any more with spending out of control.I believed that CONservative party would be an open, honest and accountable government and much to my dismay, they turned out to be a bunch of power hungry, deceitful liars. I believed Mr. Lyin King Harpo and it not my fault Flaherty. What a mistake. They support big pension and private equity over the average investor trying to scratch out a decent living. Wow, the interests of the foreign private equity players and private Canadian pension plans take priority over the 70% of Canadians that don’t have defined pension plans. In fact foreign private equity no longer has to pay the 15% withholding tax on leveraged buy outs. This idiot of a finance minister sure has stacked the deck against the Canadian investor. Just who does this idiot support. I guess he has the ear of his Wall Street buddies and I am sure when he leaves politics he will have a cozy comfy retirement compliments to the Canadian taxpayer. Don’t forget he will have his income splitting assisting himself in his retirement but remember that 70% of Canadians will be unable to participate. Way to go Harpo and Flaherty. You truly take the cake. What an absolute disgrace. So where is all this money going to come from? Perhaps a nice big fat tax hike, mabye a touch of deficit, maybe a brand new tax placed on the sale of your home. Nothing is beyond these inept self serving liers.
As to the Conservatives raising funds, this in the news today–in effect, spending millions to raise millions–so much for their grass-roots claims.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070706.wfinance06/BNStory/National/home
As I understand it, the money announced for refurbishing the frigates had already been budgeted for and indeed the Liberals had announced previously that they would start this process in 2008 rather than 2010. I have no problem with this project; however, it is misleading to say that this refitting will serve these vessels for decades to come–heck, they were built between 1988 and 1995. A statement like this is like saying refurbishing your computer will keep it going for decades too.
Harper is not spending new money–he is wasting tax-payers dollars flying around the country making announcements for projects that were already planned anyway in an attempt to gain votes. Too bad for him, I think he just pi$$ed off NS voters yesterday.
As to an extra GST cut–did anyone in their right mind ever think that would or could happen? Look at the National debt. Tax cuts? Not as long as Harper is giving preferential treatment to certain groups. Oops, I guess that is what you are advocating too, Garth.
All of the money for this overspending has to come from somewhere…and I think I know from where it will magically appear! The unelected senator in charge of Public Works, Fortier will no doubt ramp up his behind the scenes campaign to sell off government real estate assets at (if needed) fire-sale prices so Harper can play his economic shell game with his puppet finance minister Flaherty. Harper will not raise taxes…he’ll take all of the money from the sale of those government assets under ‘general revenue’ and brag about what an incredible job the Conservatives are doing with taxpayer money. Since the majority of Canadians will have no idea that the Conservatives have been liquidating government assets to pay for this wanton spending it might just work. This financial mismanagement needs to be publicized and the selling of government assets needs to get public attention! Keep doing the great job you’ve been doing keeping the public informed Garth! This Conservative lunacy has to be stopped.
The problem with conservatives is that they believe what they hear, and do not check up on what is actually happening. That’s why Harper and Flaherty feel immune to Truth or Consequences. For them, truth is what seems like a good idea at the time.
Who is the problem? Them or us?
“If you have suffered dreadfully through your own baseness,
Do not ascribe this destiny to the gods;
You have yourselves exalted these men by giving them protection.
And because of this you now have wretched servitude.
Each one of you walks with the steps of a fox,
Everyone of you has an empty mind;
For you look to the tongue and words of a wily man,
But see nothing that takes place in actions.â€
(Solon, Athenian lawgiver, circa 600 BCE)
It’s hard for many Conservatives to see what Mr. Harper is doing to the economy. The seeds of inflation, government overspending, higher interest rates, a too-high dollar and sustained levels of tax will surely yield an unwelcome harvest.
I see it as fairly straightforward. Harpo and his cronies will put OUR country in such a total mess, as dubya has done with America, that there will be no choice other than to enable the NAU, in order to combat the EU.
Add to that Mexico, which is nowhere near as financially stable as we are (or used to be) will drag us down to their level.
Inevitably, Washington will be the centre of power where all decisions will be made, whether we like it or not. There are times when this world sucks big time, and this is fast becoming one of them.
Think I’ll go watch The Exorcist – The Version You’ve Never Seen, to cheer myself up and then I can see — again — why the first Jesuit Priest — the main exorcist — was in a mental hosptal for at least a year, if not longer. Anything beats this garbage dump of a goovernment.
Here is something more comical, and closer to the truth. P.S. Don’t tell anyone, but I think it was Ronnie Reagan who sold Iraq their millions of weapons of mass deception!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×1257604
The recent announcement is actually money already spent. They are “old” commitments that I guess were dusted off and made brand new again to try and entice, or should I say, BUY, the votes of the ‘no longer tory’ provinces.
Ahhh the integrity of our new government…. just listen to it speak:
“But let me also assure you, friends, that not all of the money went to this ungrateful NDP government in this province. In fact, for every dollar that went to them, about two or three dollars went to the people of Saskatchewan.”
Not terrible words, but why is our PM PICKING on a provincial government? Is this TRULY how he figures provincial and federal politicians get along? By putting each other down? Isn’t harper supposed to be the bigger man here?
Whatever. I think it’s pathetic.
More evidence, as if it were needed, that Harper and his crew are NOT authentic conservatives.
The great majority of Canadians never trusted Harper or the CPC.Unfortunately due to our antiquated electoral system a minority of voters decided the future of Canada.It hasn’t been very rosy.Canadians,the smart ones,never bought into Harper’s American ideology and Bush worship.Thanks to a minority of voters we are now stuck with this wild spending bunch.They could at least spend a few mils$ on helping less fortunate Canadians instead of playing their GI JOE games which are resulting in many casualties with little sign of any progress.Harper and his bunch will ruin Canada fiscally by putting us into debt.Just like Harris and Co.screwed up Ont.,the CPC is doing the same to Canada.Unfortunately we are stuck with this wild spending bunch for the foreseeable future.Only in Canada you say,what a pity for the rest of us who don’t agree or support what Harper and his sheep are doing to this once great country that stood for fairness and peace.
“Yesterday Mr. Harper spent $4.6 billion. Since Parliament adjourned a week and a half ago, he has spent about $7 billion. You can count on that rising dramatically by the time we’re buying back-to-school iPhones.”
Garth, this statement is somewhat misleading. I believe this money has already been allocated in the 2007 budget – which it did get royal ascent. So this money is not over and above the approved budget.
You do not announce new spending that was approved ten days ago in the last budget. Are you saying my prime minister is a deceiver and a manipulator? Heaven forfend. — Garth
” These are tough times for Conservatives. They thought they had a champion. Like me, they discovered a chameleon”–Garth
As a life long Conservative I had my hopes crushed on Oct 31 & several times since then–I have asked myself many times over , what has changed in my party to cause this to occur.
The two founding groups of the Conservatives have seen all semblance of what they represented to be washed away by the few at the top controlling this new party–it has been enabled by the other CONservative MPs who continue to sit on their hands & do nothing to act as a check on what is occuring–they , like the public they represent , seem to be happy to remain ill-informed on many aspects of the bills placed before the HOC.
Why is it that neither the MPs or the members of the public are expressing outrage at the fact that BCE is about to go private removing over a billion dollars of tax revenue from the public coffers since it was just a few shorts months ago that the same BCE was condemned for looking at becoming an income trust–it makes very little sense that we are willing to accept a billion dollar tax loss by it`s conversion instead of still receiving this huge tax windfall if it were allowed to become an income trust.
It certainly appears that there is indeed no champion at the top or anywhere within the ranks of this so-called Conservative party–I just hope that there may be some still within the elected members who may show the backbone needed to correct a truly dismal situation–if not , then it is up to the public to do what they are not able with the only means we have possible–our vote for someone else in the next election.
Dr Mike P.
Yeah I had a real surprise with the way things have went since that last federal election. I was a strong supporter of the Conservatives and told many people that the Conservatives are the way to vote. Many of them listened to me and voted Conservative because I was such a supporter. Now when the topic of politics comes up I basically start off with an apology. I would have never thought that Harper and his government getting power would be the reason that I looked to another party. They had a golden opportunity…
Reminds me of another conservative PM
Mulroney
Given a bit more time in power Stevie seems destine to repeat his performance.
In my experience he has been the Liberals party best recruiting tool.
Garth I am beginning to wonder if you actually know the difference between commitment and expenditure ( your word is spent). It would appear by your comment quote “Yesterday Mr. Harper spent $4.6 billion…” that you don’t.
Lets take the Ship modernization as an example. He has committed $3.1 billion which will begin in 2010, with the final ship being completed in 2017. Not one cent will come out of Fy2007-2008, 2008 -2009.
Secondly he committed $1.5 billion in the form of incentives over a nine year period to producers of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel which works out to .16 billion per year.
To say he has spent 7 billion in one week is an outright lie and you bloody well know it. Why don’t you be truthful at least and say he committed 7 billion in one week. I know as an old reporter you comments makes good press and it riles up the troops but I still consider it is a lie just the same..
I also note that one of your supporters in a previous blog is pissed because Harper is recommitting the ship upgrade money that was all already previously committed by the former Liberal government and calling it his own.
I sure wish you guys would get your stories straight as you can’t have it both ways.
Finally you complain that the government is spreading the expenditure over several years. Well you of all people should know that big projects like the ship refit can not be accomplished in one year as there is no other way it can be done which has always been the case. For example a number of Martin’s commitments were spread over 10 years or more. The Kelowna accord is just one example. The F18 purchase years ago is another example, The original Leopard Tank purchase is another, The CF5 is another.
Finally you comment about the future GST cut and running a deficit is again speculation to stir upo the troops.
And you accuse Harper of campaigning. You are not doing so bad yourself with blogs like this one and then running all over the country siring up the voters over IT. I gather from your comments that it is OK for you to campaign but it is not Ok for Harper to do so. So lets get real at least and admit that campaigning starts from the day that any minority government Liberal or conservative and to imply it is only Harper as you have in the passed that does it is very arrogant to say the least.
I am beginning to think that in your heart you are still a Conservative but you hate the current leader hence all the negative ink about him and that your membership in the Liberal party is only a membership of convenience so you can get more public money to spend for your own agenda. I feel it would likely only take a new Conservative leader who is to your liking for you to jump back in to the Conservative fold. It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened. I believe it was Art Hanger if it wasn’t him I know it was an Alberta MP who did that very thing.
Perhaps that is why you have been so silent in comments regarding the Liberal agenda. I must admit that you really don’t look like a happy camper sitting there in the Liberal benches during question period or in committee. I guess only time will tell if my feelings are correct.
You bet. And you’re in for one big surprise. — Garth
Mr. Harper et al are apt to find things a bit tight financially if they lose the lawsuit with the Public Service Pension plan, the RCMP and Military and have to reimburse the thirty billion dollars that was removed to pay down the debt of the Federal Government.
I read this morning that Loyala Hearn, NL MP is spending about $44,000 “per hour” trying to get the Newfoundlanders happy again.
This is only the beginning – we have many weeks to go.
Garth: Send some warm Wentworth County Sun Shine East Please! Yea I now your Halton, but it is close by.
Garth I remember like yesterday a clock out in BC Reform Country showing our National Debt rising and those Reformers talking about goverment waste day & night 24/7! Where are they now? Is BC and Alberta really that rich that they do not even have the time to talk restengths anymore because they are soooooooh busy counting their money? I was not at first pleased with Paul Martin paying the debt down but when the results started to show up in the black I felt good as some water was allowed to flow back over the dam.
Yes all parties do it, but as mentioned this spending is off the wall and quite frankly not one person has told me life is better nor can they tell me where the money went in last budget> Other than Quebec.
chameleon? try Rat.
()
I find this letter in the Star quite intersting from Peter Van Loan the Minister of Democratic Reform. SAY WHAT?
Representation better under new formula
Grabbing my arse FAST because his conduct in the HoC has been anything BUT democratic. I guess the next thing will be the Fox guarding the Chicken Coup?
Garth, if by chameleon you mean, a lying 2 faced power hungry, self absorbed, mean spirited man who betrays his supporters then you got that right.
Oh, and on the appointment of William Elliott as Head of the RCMP New RCMP chief must build trust I have to applaud this move by the Harper government. For way too long the Thin Blue Line mentality has plagued the relationship between the public and those we hire and pay to serve us.
It is a very sad day when the reputation of the RCMP is bluntly tarnished, and by the top person, Zacardelli. It is time for direct civilian management, at least for a few years, to be the norm.
Too many times we read about law enforcement covering their own criminla acts. No, the law is the law, and it applies to all equally.
May our finest be returned to the position of being The Finest, and may they all work together with the new Commissioner to make it so.
As to that arrogant Zacardelli, I want to see him stripped of all benefits, and prosecuted. He has discredited one of Canada’s Hallmark institutions by which the world see’s our mettle. I also want to see all the others involved stripped and prosecuted.
I can think of no greater threat to our democracy than a corrupt police force. they, historically, become the hands of the dictators.
We must also provide a public review board of non-partisan citizensto watch the watch dog, as the ties to Stockwell Day and Harper are uncomfortably close.
Time to start busting the box apart and do it right.
Oops! Let me try that link again. Sorry folks.
I find this letter in the Star quite intersting from Peter Van Loan the Minister of Democratic Reform. SAY WHAT?
Representation better under new formula
The situation with the Harper Regime is very easy to understand. Here is my take on this government. My opinions are as follows.
The Income Trust betrayal allowed Harper to orchestrate the sell off of Canadian assets. Canadian business are being sold at fire sale prices to foreign (mostly American) buyers. Flaherty toes the ever shifting party line and whimpers “it’s not my fault”.
Yes it is Jim your fault. You know it, and we know it.
The sell offs put a capital gain into the hands of investors. That will result in windfall number 1 for the Harper regime, taxes collected (one time). No consideration given to the long term consequences though, just a short term pocket full of cash to fund the buying of votes by Harper. Just imagine the capital gains tax that will be collected on the sale of BCE alone! Easy money with which to buy votes.
Then we have the sell off of Canadian assets, buildings belonging to us, the taxpayer being sold off without consultation, without public scrutiny. There’s another pocket full of cash that Harper can use to buy votes. That would be windfall number 2.
Selling off Atomic Energy of Canada will put even more cash into the hands of the vote buying Harper regime. There’s windfall number 3.
Spendiest budget of all time? Sure it is. BUT it allows Harper to buy votes (particularly in Quebec) and that’s all that matters to the tin man.
Is any consideration given to the long term impact of such massive spending? Who is going to foot that bill? Taxpayers, that’s who. Harper doesn’t care though. He just wants to buy votes. The future of Canada is someone else’s problem, not Harpers.
Ironic, isn’t it? Harper and his gang of rats are buying your votes with OUR money!
Dishonest? Undemocratic? Disgraceful?
You bet!
Watch for more betrayals in the near future. RRSP’s taxed, capital gains on home sales…there are dozens of ways that Harper can steal your money to fund his vote buying.
And there is absolutely NOTHING you can do about it but come here and bitch and moan.
That is the saddest fact of all. It’s a done deal as far as I can see.
Sorry Garth. Reality bites.
Van, Van, Van,…. You make this too easy. Garth Sets up nd I can come a long and knock you over with the Clue-by-Four
I also note that one of your supporters in a previous blog is pissed because Harper is recommitting the ship upgrade money that was all already previously committed by the former Liberal government and calling it his own.
I sure wish you guys would get your stories straight as you can’t have it both ways./b>
Let me explain it to you in simple way so that even Harper trained seal like yourself can understand. Harper stood in Halifax the other day and spoke about the Canadian New Government’s commitment to our military and how he was going forth with providing the funding for the frigate refits. The announcement by Harper, made to sound like his government originated the plan to modernize the Halifax-class frigates, belies the fact that the project was given approval to start in April 2005 and is pretty much on track.
Now Garth took the other track to expose Harpers Bullshit, because Harper made it sound like this brand new, never before announce spending that would bennifit the shipyards on the east coast. You see, Garth told a lie to expose the truth and I told the truth about Harper’s lie, but we also need a useful idiot-tool to take the bait. So thank you for your help in the cause Van-Idiot-Tool,… we’ll just refer to you as VIT from now on.
(oh, and just so you don’t bitch and moan about not supporting my claims with facts)
http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/dgmepm/pmofelex/schedule_e.asp
Definition Phase:
April 2005 – March 2008
The Definition Phase involves the precise determination through detailed study and analysis of the resources required to achieve project aims. It finalizes the requirements and produces the substantive cost estimate.
During the FELEX Definition Phase, the HALIFAX Class Design Authority remains with the Directorate of Maritime Ship Support and thus will identify the preferred option and substantive cost for each of the Engineering Changes (ECs) – this also includes the FELEX Capability Components, Sustainment and Derived Requirement ECs. It is intended that the FELEX Project will leverage the contracted Design Agent for the HALIFAX Class to first set up the necessary control programs and then to conduct the design integration studies to ensure that the HALIFAX Class remain a fully integrated weapons system. In addition, the Design Agent will identify any unique/specific engineering changes required to address integration requirements.
Implementation Phase:
April 2008 – March 2017
Upon approval, this phase is the execution of the Project Management Plan. Equipment and material for planned Engineering Changes is procured and the mid-life refits of the HALIFAX Class ships are implemented.
The first refit is expected to begin in April 2010 and an Invitation to Tender is expected to be released sometime in 2009.
The final refit is expected to complete in 2017.
Garth, if by chameleon you mean, a lying 2 faced power hungry, self absorbed, mean spirited man who betrays his supporters then you got that right.
By Ian on 07.07.07 9:36 am
chameleon? try Rat.
By just one vote on 07.07.07 9:19 am
I see you trolls are at it again. Ian, please re-read your comments & realize how dumb you sound. It appears that you are describing yourself to a tee. As for you just one vote, are you Ian’s partner? Do you honestly think your helping Harper with those childish remarks? If you want to be taken seriously, you both need to start using that gray matter in your heads.
On second thought, does your parents know what your doing?
Looks like calling the people of Saskatchewan ‘ungrateful’ isnt working out so well. Hmmmm. What to do Mr. Harper?
It seems that wherever you go you alienate, except in Quebec of course. Do you feel the love? Quebecers love you like they love Mulroney.
………………………………….
Calvert and Harper call each other out
James Wood
Saskatchewan News Network
Saturday, July 07, 2007
REGINA — Saskatchewan’s premier says Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s harsh words towards his NDP government are simply aimed at distracting from his broken promise over equalization.
At a Conservative fundraiser in Kenaston Thursday, Harper blasted the provincial government, saying it had nothing to do with Saskatchewan’s current prosperity and describing it as “ungrateful” in its complaints about the federal budget.
“I think that is a very, very strange description,” Lorne Calvert said in a telephone interview from Churchill, Man., during a stopover from his return from the completed Western Premiers Conference in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
“When someone makes a promise and then breaks that promise it’s not a matter of gratitude or ingratitude. It’s a matter of saying what’s right and what’s wrong. And the prime minister knows that the choice they have made here in terms of the people of Saskatchewan is wrong and he’ll do anything to deflect from that.”
The two governments have been at loggerheads over equalization.
The province had wanted the Conservative government to live up to its promise to pull non-renewable resource revenues from the formula of the equalization funding program, which would have meant an estimated $800 million in federal money for the province annually.
In the budget, the Conservatives offered provinces an option for non-renewable resource revenue not to be counted but also unexpectedly included a cap, meaning Saskatchewan is receiving $227 million this year and nothing next year.
The province plans to launch a constitutional challenge on equalization in the fall.
Despite the rhetoric between each side, Calvert said the province can still work with Harper’s government, pointing to biofuels as an area where they are basically in agreement.
That was also a key issue for Saskatchewan at the western premiers meeting and Calvert said he was pleased to emerge with support from the provincial leaders “to develop strategies to implement E85 highways on the Trans-Canada Highway and the Yellowhead,” according to the final communique.
Calvert said that while there are wrinkles to iron out in establishing highways lined with service stations that would offer fuel for E85 vehicles — vehicles that can take a fuel blend of up to 85-per-cent ethanol — he hopes to see the infrastructure in place in six months to a year.
“I don’t see major hurdles. We’re going to have the ethanol capacity. It’s a matter of retooling, putting some appropriate tanks in appropriate locations and determining the demand, the early demand,” he said.
“It’s not a rocket science concept.”
Saskatchewan will host the next western premiers meeting in May of 2008 and Calvert said he was also happy that there was agreement that the main topic will be sustainable rural and aboriginal communities.
CanWest News Service
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
…something to force Duceppe’s hand…
Just a quick question about the BCE deal–does anyone besides me believe that the deal to sell BCE could have been in the works well prior to the trust decision of Oct 31??
If we look at who benefits the most from this sale , it sure is not the shareholder–he is forced to sell his assets & as a result is required to fork over bags of capital gains tax & his quarterly dividend income is gone– the government certainly comes out on top with a one time tax haul–the teachers pension plan who holds large number of shares benefit since they do not pay tax on their capital gains & they will own the bulk of the new shares within itself where monies can be generated tax free for some time–the execs at BCE were maybe the biggest winners of all with their premium dollars soon to arrive once the deal is completed.
All it took was the announcement that BCE was about to become a trust to set this into motion–the government took swift action saying they had a need to protect the public from corporate tax greed & the rest is history.
It appears that the biggest losers were the holders of trust units–all we did was invest in Canada & hope to generate a nice return to sustain us in our old age.
We can certainly see that the government has no desire to make public their evidence of tax leakage–any revelation would lead to the collapse of their house of cards.
I know I may sound like a conspiracy theorist–all that the government has to do to get rid of guys like me , is to release their so-called evidence for tax leakage , & we will all go away if it is found to have any basis in truth.
Dr Mike P.
Looks like calling the people of Saskatchewan ‘ungrateful’ isnt working out so well. Hmmmm. What to do Mr. Harper?
It seems that wherever you go you alienate, except in Quebec of course. Do you feel the love? Quebecers love you like they love Mulroney.
By Transcanada on 07.07.07 11:54 am
Actually, Quebecers hate Harper as much as the other 65%% of Canadians BUT they do love the money being showered on them. Didn’t Duceppe say before the budget vote that it was their money & they will take it? Proves that he & Harper have no regards for the rest of Canada. Pretty ironic isin’t it when our PM is funding a party that wants to break away from Canada?
It’s hard for many Conservatives to see what Mr. Harper is doing to the economy. The seeds of inflation, government overspending, higher interest rates, a too-high dollar and sustained levels of tax will surely yield an unwelcome harvest.
———————————–
If i,m not mistaken i recall sometime ago a financial person stating that for every 1/4 point of interest rate increase it equates to approximately an added 55 dollars in monthly payments for mortgage payments.
On july 10 the bank of canada is expected to increase rates 1/4 point and the possibility of two more increases of 1/4 point each before 2008.
If this scenario is true it doesn,t bode well for cash straped homeowners struggling to make monthly payments.
As i say, this may be b.s. Am curious if it is or not!
OH MY GAWD! How dare a member of a Conservative Government say such a dreadful, horrible, inescapable thing as Oil a factor in Iraq conflict, says Australian defence minister
The impact is shown perfectly in this excellent portrayal.
Garth
As Zorpheus points out $3.1 billion of the money you refer to was already committed by the former Liberal Government. I’d hope you’re not suggesting the Cons renege on a Liberal committment to the military?!
Garth
You still haven’t identified how the Libs would resolve/fund the many issues you identified, well, yesterday. Followup is good.
By don bool on 07.07.07 1:50 pm
Don,
Here, use this Mortgage Rate Calculator from RBC.
I get about $25 monthly increase on a $200,000 mortgage initially at 4.50% and increasing to 4.75% for a term of 25 years. The increase all depends on the amount and the term of course. Gotta love Compounded Interest like HIV, eh?
I think that’s being a bit harsh on Gilles. He won a battle he’s been fighting for years. Where he wants to take it from there is another question.
If the summer looks like loot and and plunder its probably because Harper is counting on Gilles having nothing to define himself with in the fall. What he doesn’t know and what Iggy would treat as the common wisdom is that Napoleon’s influence on how governments are run wasn’t a total waste.
Harper hasn’t won a gammit yet.
Afghanistan (pdf) is becoming a natural victim of its own public administration. That’s not something Harper would understand but I’m sure Duccepe could be prompted to comment on it.
and yes, the extension of the mission should be an active issue right now. That, IMO, is by Harper’s own precident.
In May of ‘06 Harper stood in Parliament and unilaterally committed Canada to a one year extension irrespective of the Commons vote because nine month’s notice wasn’t enough time. That’s a 21 month window. By Harper’s own reckoning our decision is 3 months late already.
Great News! The economy is booming!
From Stats Can: “During the second quarter of 2007, average hourly wages rose by an estimated 3.2 percent from the same three-month period last year, while the Consumer Price Index increased by 2.2 percent.â€
Also, “Job creation was double what the market had anticipated, the unemployment rate remains at a historic low and salaries are skyrocketing,†analyst Marc Levesque of TD Securities told AFP.â€
Dell
Looks like spending $44,000/hr to buy Newfie votes with their own money isn’t working too well either. Too bad for the Harper Party…
Danny Williams polling numbers soar and Harper spends.
The Newfies understand what Harper never will. The Oil and Gar Revenues are a shot to get the province on it’s feet once and for all. Kind of like Alberta was able to do over the past 40 years as resource revenues grew.
Harper would rather have the provinces under his heel where he is in control.
It appears Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are as ‘ungrateful’ as Saskatchewan is not to be content with the chickenfeed while the bulk of revenues go to Ottawa.
//////////////////////////////////////
The Rock’s mortal challenge
By REX MURPHY
Commentator with The National and host of CBC Radio’s Cross-Country Checkup
Saturday, July 7, 2007 – Page A17
The main story out of Newfoundland is the sharp, hard and ugly quarrel between Premier Danny Williams and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The quarrel centres on the Atlantic Accord and how it is or is not affected by the new equalization formula in the most recent budget. But the reason the quarrel is sharp, hard and ugly turns on the tone that Mr. Williams has taken toward Mr. Harper.
At home, the tussle is playing extremely well, if the polls are anything to go by – and in the absence of any other brand of measurement, the polls will have to do. The last time I checked, the local Liberal opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador was standing at 12 per cent, and the NDP just this side of rigor mortis at 6 per cent. Throw in a per cent or two of undecideds just for colour and that leaves Danny Williams somewhere in poll paradise between 78 per cent and 82 per cent. (Joey Smallwood in his early prime would have wept with arrogant joy over those numbers, and he remains the platinum bar against which all successive Newfoundland premiers must measure themselves.)
Having said all that, I don’t wish to parse the headline-dominating quarrel itself. Rather, I’d like to point an arrow at a far greater question than the Atlantic Accord and its putative benefits, and at a dilemma facing Newfoundland that makes the accord and the Williams-Harper feud look like a passing sideshow.
It is 15 years this week since John Crosbie made the fatal announcement of what was then called the “cod moratorium,” the decision taken by the federal authorities to close down the historic Newfoundland fishery. It was the first time since there was a Newfoundland that fishermen were forbidden to go in their boats and drop a line or set a trap.
It was called a moratorium – which indicates a halt or a suspension – and was originally intended “merely” for two to five years. But it is still, effectively, in force and, from the day of its announcement to the present minute, it has wrought root damage to Newfoundland and, most emphatically and tragically, to the cultural and definitional essence of Newfoundland – its historic coastal outports.
First, let me review the numbers that were immediately affected. On that one day, 32,000 fishermen were stopped from fishing, from their livelihood.
Now allow me to project a fanciful comparison, proportionate to population, of a similar devastation hitting Ontario. Rounding the numbers for ease of digestion, it would be as if, on a single day in Ontario, 600,000 people were thrown out of work. The loss of more than half a million jobs would bludgeon the confidence of even prosperous Ontario. Imagine, then, what the cod moratorium did to a province more fragile by far, and not prosperous to begin with.
But there was more. Most of those left idle onshore filled the hundreds and hundreds of coastal communities, some with truly small or negligible populations, others in what we call “big” towns – like Trepassey or Twillingate – that may reach from 3,000 to 20,000 souls. These outports and towns around the erratic and sinuous coast of Newfoundland are, in every sense that counts, Newfoundland.
It is the outport towns and villages that, over the generations, have marked the cultural, economic, social and unique linguistic and artistic life of my province. The outports have inflected and structured the particular, rich and extremely vibrant manner of living that denotes Newfoundland, and that – as every fresh visitor will testify – is tangible, welcoming and singular.
If places have “souls,” and I believe they do, then the soul of Newfoundland is diffused through the history and practice of outport life, centred on the ocean and the fishery, conditioned by the interdependence among outport residents that living cut off from much of the rest of the world naturally imposed. They were hard places, most of them, isolated, exposed and scant. But, over the generations they exerted a tremendous force on the character of those tenacious families that called them home, and crafted an ethos of self-reliance and – if I may dare to say it – something like joy in those who faced their challenges and struggled on.
Here, then, is the real issue of Newfoundland today. After 15 years of the moratorium, with the exception of the highly localized boom of the oil business in and immediately adjacent to St. John’s, the outports are – effectively – dead.
Thus, the very idea of Newfoundland is under mortal challenge as it has never been since Cabot made landfall.
Boy Dell is gullible. What about the job losses in manufacturing? Why isn’t Harper helping manufacturing? Inflation is hurting the manufacturers big time. New jobs – would they be the ones in Alberta? That doesn’t help the other provinces.
Harper’s comments is Sask was his way of interfering in provincial elections. Sask is having an election soon and he wants to influence Sask to vote Conservative – he did the same thing to Dalton McGuinty – snubs McGuinty and goes to a fundraiser for John Tory and announces Tory as Ontario’s next premier. He did the same interfering in Quebec. A PM is not supposed to interfere in provincial politics – this is totally inappropriate for a PM. Harper does not know his place. I find it disgusting.
Ya, the Conservatives have money, but please, they don’t spend it. Harper has been campaigning since Jan/06 on “taxpayer” money. He’s spending our taxpayer money like a kid who’s been given daddy’s credit card.
God help Canada.
Sorry Zorpheous yoyu are not as smart as you think you are. But since you seem to think you then you can look in your crystal perhaps you tell me how much money is going to be actually spent for the ship refit in FY 2007/2008 that Harper just announced. You even told us that tenders will be called in 2009 which means nothing will be spent. the actual expenditure will not commence un till 2008/2009 but more likely 2009/2010. Like I said it is a commitment until such time that the money is actually spent. Even the budget itself is a commitments but are generally refereed to as estimates. The actual expenditures don’t happen until after. I thought a smart person like yourself would know that but apparently not.
I don’t why you went on a rant about Harper using previous Liberal commttment because that is what I said. Did I say he didn’t do it. No I didn’t but what I said you guys should get your act togeather because you can’t have it two ways. On one hand Harper is being slamed for changing a previous Liberal committment and calling it his own the on the other hand he is being slammed for “spending 3.1 billion. You can slam him rightly for one but not for both and if it is the second scenario as Garth has done then why didn’t the Liberal supporters slam Martin for doing the same thing in the for first place. Like I said before you can’t have it both ways. It must one or the other so make up your mind one way or other.
Finally my argument with Garth is use if the term expenditures when he should have been using the term commitment. But I know why he used the term “spent” like I said before it makes good copy and stirs up the troops. So he as obtain his primary objective.
You also seem to forget that the Liberal Government of the day stole many Reform ideas and I believe the PM of the Day was Chretien. So I wouldn’t start calling the kettle black my friend because it just might bite you in the ass one day.
Garth wrote
>You bet. And you’re in for one big >surprise.
Garth,Sorry to burst your bubble and since you are all over the map and a political animal, nothing you do would or would do in the future would surprise me. You could even pull a Stronach and run for either or better yet both party’s leadership and that wouldn’t surprise me either.
John L,
As Zorpheus points out $3.1 billion of the money you refer to was already committed by the former Liberal Government. I’d hope you’re not suggesting the Cons renege on a Liberal committment to the military?!
So you admit Harper tried to take credit for a Liberal Party Program.
You still haven’t identified how the Libs would resolve/fund the many issues you identified, well, yesterday. Followup is good.
Why John the same way Harper is planning to pay for all his spending,… Dion will sell Canada off to the American piece by piece,… I know you will not complain about that since you haven’t complained at all about Harper doing it.
But this really begs the question doesn’t it,… if the books are balanced and the economy is doing so well,… why is Harper selling off our Canadian Assests to the American? Maybe you or VIT (Van-Idiot-Tool) can answer that one for Mr. Harpo.
Dell,
Have you eny concept of what and how inflation works? Any at all?
Get ready for a series of steady bank rate increases people,… of course if you have no debt, you have much less to worry about.
A better strategy is to simply ignore the trolls, as I’ll do after this post.
Dell quoted.
Also, “Job creation was double what the market had anticipated, the unemployment rate remains at a historic low and salaries are skyrocketing,†analyst Marc Levesque of TD Securities told AFP.â€
This won’t make the Liberal supporters happy as they keep trying to convince themselves that Harper is actually destroying the economy. All you have to do is read some of their posts on this blog.
If you listened to them you would think inflation was at 10% and the interest rate is at 18%- 22% like it was in the 80’s. But the reality is that we are no where near this and according to all the experts we won’t be either in the future. The fact is that the economy is hot and B of C Governor will increase the interest rate likely by 1/4% and maybe up to a 1/2% in the future at the most to slow it down and stop the upward trend of the cdn dollar. Even with that increase our interest rate would still be low.
Manufactuting is being hit hard by the high dollar, that comes with the territory of having a booming export driven economy. Fortunately, there are plenty of jobs to be had in other sectors….and within 6 months to a year those dislocated workers will find a new home in another industry. Manufacturing is booming out west.
Dell
We’ve got a trade balance to chew up first but I suspect by the time that’s gone we’ll be addicting to what’s left of our exports (read: oil), stagflation will set in and the gutting begins.
Commodities up, Greenback down. Just thinking out loud, but one measure that COULD have been considered to ease the pain when the darkness hits would have been to flush the banks with T-Bill buyouts (ie accelerate paying off the debt) to keep the margins low, but that’s another point of return that is little more than history.
Let the good times roll! The economy is booming, and our high flying Canadian Dollar is making us richer. From the Montreal Gazette:
“… another big positive trumps the other impacts. It’s our savings on imported goods, which flows both to business and consumers.
Although economist Douglas Porter at BMO Capital Markets recently pointed out that prices haven’t come down nearly as much as you’d expect on many items, Cross notes that import prices have still dropped in every year since 2003.
Even if the total decline is only about one-third of the 33 per cent you’d see if every cent of the dollar’s rise had been passed on to Canadians, it still boosts the buying power of consumers and the many firms buying imported equipment and industrial supplies. Finally, this drop in prices holds down inflation, a key reason why Canada has been slower than the U.S. to raise interest rates. That in turn helps explain why sales of items like autos and new homes have been able to remain strong”
Dell
You do not announce new spending that was approved ten days ago in the last budget. Are you saying my prime minister is a deceiver and a manipulator? Heaven forfend. — Garth
Garth, can you please point to where he said that this was “NEW” money. You, of all people should know, that one must first allocate the monies in a budget for tentative programs. Once, the budget is approved, then one can officially announce these programs.
Garth, I know politicians and their menions love to spin and spin and spin, but, please let’s be at least honest about the processes. I know it may be hard for the politicos, as we saw that your leader and his mentor would announce new programs before actually getting the monies approved by Parliament – like the Kelowna Accord. The 5 Billion announced in the dieing days of the 21st parliament, Mr. Martin announced this new money, knowing full well that Parliament was going to fall.
And they wonder why people don’t hold politicians in high esteem.
“Just a quick question about the BCE deal–does anyone besides me believe that the deal to sell BCE could have been in the works well prior to the trust decision of Oct 31??”
By Mike from Rodney
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’ve been wondering about this myself, as the way things have been progressing, it makes sense.
I don’t believe Harper and Flahurty are bright enough to come up with this themselves though. Their action plan would have been given to them by their corporate bosses like Sabia, D’Allesandro, Gwynn Morgan from Encana, etc. I’m sure Harper and Flahurty will find themselves in very big paying cushy jobs with their friends when they are done with politics after the next election. Well, Harper anyway.
It is true that inflation has been fairly steady, but some here mentioned that salaries have increased 3.2% over the same quarter as compared to last year, considering that a inflation has three major components, energy, materials and labour and we are seeing higher energy and now a minimum 3.2% increase in wages and material prices are greatly effect by the components of energy and wages, we are going to see inflationary rates that will soon be over 5%. If you don’t think 5% inflation is a problem, guess again.
Right now, out west they have a labour shortage and it is now an employee market.
Dell and VIT, if you guys seriously don’t think these are issues to worry about, fine, take on some more personal debt, fuel that local economy of yours,… Me, I’m staying debt free and sacking cash away.
Every factor you guys have listed are key triggers for higher inflation and higher interest rates and with an increasing stronger dollar added on top of that you can bet dollars to donuts that BoC will be doing a series quarter point increases for the next year.
I must confess I get a kick out of watching supporters of the party Laissez-Faire taking vicarious bows for a heated economy while their leaders are setting spending records on a daily basis.
A series of quarter point increase? Isn’t that what they’re suppose to do in a hot economy? Calgary’s one of the hottest houseing markets in the country, and it’s already cooled off..so it won’t take much for the Bank Of Cananda to slow things down a bit. My parents would have given their eye teeth to have had a mortgage at 5.5% or 6.5%.
Dell
Dell
Jobs created = jobs lost.
Unemployment remains unchanged at 6.1%.
No net gain.
Soaring dollar, yet consumer goods prices in Canada are still 26% higher than American prices. Why?
“You are not doing so bad yourself with blogs like this one and then running all over the country siring up the voters over IT.”
By Van on 07.07.07 6:39 am
So Van, you agree with the theft of billions of dollars of Canadian’s savings and the rape and pillage of BCE causing billions of dollars of lost tax dollars year or year forever?
You call this “s(t)iring up the voters over IT.” I rather thought that is was INFORMING people of the incompetance of Flaherty and the DISHONESTY of Harper.
DUH!
How about this for the theme of the next election campaign folks?
It’s the LIES Stupid!
Simple, can be grasped by all, and deals with the key issue…being able to trust those we elect.
Just like the couple who think the other is being true when they say ‘I love you!’…in reality it is like the old Hee Haw Song ‘You met another and Pfzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt you were gone!
sound familiar? The US spimmeisters were using the same song and dance about their economy around two years ago. You can hear the knock that particular engine has developed since then from here.
Harper represents the very worst of fiscal mismanagement.
If he produces even one cent of debt, I think there ought to be protests from everybody.
Not one red cent of debt from this Federal Government. Ever, ever again. Ever.
Garth, how much can the gov’t of Canada expect to save from the high dollar (ie goods the gov’t purchases for foreign nations)? Will the high dollar make those C-17 Globemasters any cheaper?
Thanks!
More fundamental to that was whether the contract is quoted in US or CDN dollars.
Randy wrote
>You call this “s(t)iring up the voters >over IT.†I rather thought that is was >INFORMING people of the incompetance of >Flaherty and the DISHONESTY of Harper.
Unlike you Randy I am a realist. Harper is no more dishonest than any PM that came before him bare none. So Harper changed his mind over the IT promise. Big deal. Every PM that I can remember since the late 50’s has changed their campaign promise and lied.I mean every PM both Liberal and Conservative PM has lied. Whats is so different about Harper. I suspect it is because he is a Conservative PM.
It is unfortunate that people lost money on IT. However it is my understanding this loss that people talk about would apply if all the investors cashed in all their IT investment and would gain this “paper loss’ over the time period of 10 years.
Finally, it is a fact that a party leader can make promises on the campaign trail but circumstances have changed so that they are required to reverse their previous promises. Like it or not that is the reality of politics and both the Liberals and Conservatives have done it in the past and will continue to do it in the future. All I can say is live with it because it ain’t going to change..
Are trying to tell that Garth is not trying to use the IT decision for political reasons and is trying to discredit the Conservatives? Garth is a politician for God’s sake and that is what they do for a living and by that I mean try to discredit the other party. It is all about trying to get back in government. Open your eyes my friend because you seem to have them closed at the moment.
Van: The problem with your argument is that you seem to think that Harper’s lies are O.K. And do you really believe that Harper, the economist and Flaherty, the finance minister did not know or did not anticipate the fall-out of their flip-flop on the income trust policy?
Surely any forward thinking economist who promised not to tax income trusts (wonder how many votes that garnered him) would have known at the time that in fact he would be reversing his stance as soon as he was elected???
Van:
I actually had to sit here for 5 minutes re-reading you post as I was completely set back. I mean I was trying to figure out if you were kidding or not.
So, the essence of your argument is that lying, cheating and theft is OK because well everybody does it. Great I’ll remember that next time I talk to my children about morals. Don’t worry kids—lie and cheat all you want. Heck everybody does it. You don’t mind if they steal your wallet do you Van? I mean your good with stealing and all that.
And the circumstances changed do you know. Well, no I don’t. What circumstances changed? Can I look at your data to see what you saw to justify the change? Well sure if you can look behind blacked out pages. OK I’m good with that. You too eh Van?
Lying is lying. Incompetence is incompetence. I voted for Harper not because he was Conservative or Liberal or anything else. I thought the man had developed some moral stugots to take the country in a positive direction from what I thought were the morally bankrupt Liberals. Little did I know I was trading a punk for a gangster (an incompetent one at that).
And just so we’re clear. I don’t know Garth Turner from Adam. But from what I’ve read and seen so far he is the most engaged MP I know of. But if he and the Liberals are lying about ITs then I’d give them as much hell as the CONservatives just before I gave up voting.
Re: comments By Bill-Muskoka on 07.07.07 9:42 am
I totally disagree with your position on this. How can the appointment of a former political bagman be a positive move? How can that restore trust either on behalf of the public or the rank and file of the force?
It is evident from your comments that you have an extremely low opinion of the members of the RCMP. Even with that bias it is hard to understand why someone who usually takes moderate positions would take this position. What personal experience has resulted in your prejudice?
Judy Judy Judy, Yes Harper and the Finance Minister likely knew what was going to happen and did. But the decision had to be made even as hard as it was. If I am not mistaken but the Liberals were also considering doing the a very similar thing. Financial experts outside of government agreed that it had to be done and was the correct thing to do.
AS far as Harper lying. My point is that he is no different than any other PM before him. The second point and the more important one I make is that things can be different once you get into office and circumstances have changed or are different then you thought during the campaign which dictate you to make a decision that you wouldn’t have made otherwise. ie not change the IT.
And this Judy is what I think happened with the IT decision.
Finally If you or anyone else truly believes that Harper and the Finance Minister purposely made this decision to go out of his way to hurt investors then I would say you have a very serious problem that requires professional help.
Randy wrote.
>And the circumstances changed do you >know. Well, no I don’t. What >circumstances changed?
The changed circumstances was about the number of big companies that were applying or going to switch over to IT’s. I believe the one that broke the camels back so to speak was Telus’s attempt which was denied to refused.
Randy wrote.
>And the circumstances changed do you >know. Well, no I don’t. What >circumstances changed?
The changed circumstances was about the number of big companies that were applying or going to switch over to IT’s and the Government felt is was getting out of hand. I believe the one that broke the camels back so to speak was Telus which was denied I believe.
Oh yes I never said you know Garth Turner.
It is evident from your comments that you have an extremely low opinion of the members of the RCMP. Even with that bias it is hard to understand why someone who usually takes moderate positions would take this position. What personal experience has resulted in your prejudice?
By C. B. Innes on 07.10.07 8:15 am
Au contrare! I have the highest regard for, and respect of the RCMP. I am deeply saddened that a few higherups have tarnished its prestigious reputation.
Knowing how such organizations are structured I also accept the fact that when the cream has gone sour, then new cream must be brought in to replace it. Like bacteria the defining boundaries cannot be determined…all gets the contamination, the answer is pasteurization.
I truly set aside the politics of the assignment and look at the benefit of having someone who is a qualified manager take the reins to bring them back to higher ground.
I know from personal experience how great the RCMP is at the public level. My respect could not be greater. Those who serve deserve leadership that is uncorrupt and untarnished. They feel the same if you read what has been said.
Remember this warning, which another contributor also mentioned: The Neo -Conservatives in power do not believe in government holding anything they consider to be an extra i.e. 407 Hwy. in Ont., and Flaherty was the Finance Min. here. They use this money for their own philosophical goals…like making promises to the electorate. So I am suspicious of their sales of government buildings, Cda.’s atomic energy agency or whatever. The main goal is to have a majority in power and to keep telling people who don’t have time to read enough that they are doing a great job for Cdns. People believe that the Lib. programs which have been re-packaged and re-named are indeed CPC initiatives too. Don’t let these people get away with this.
BTW. the Neo-Cons also believed in giving money to private diagnostic companies so they could speed up diagnostic services. However, when the Co. found they could not make their target 23% profit in smaller locations, they either closed the facility, asked the small municipal gov’t. and/or doctors to subsidize them. Under these Neo-Cons., the $9,000,000. infusion of cash helped the Co.’s bottom line and probably their stock value. After all this, this Co. sold to a much bigger Co. and I don’t know what exactly happened to our $9,000,000. This has been well-reported on in Ont. Is this right?
I know from personal experience how great the RCMP is at the public level. My respect could not be greater. Those who serve deserve leadership that is uncorrupt and untarnished. They feel the same if you read what has been said.
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.11.07 8:12 am
The problem is that politicizing the upper eschelons of the force is what caused the problems in the first place. How do you know that this individual “uncorrupt and untarnished.”
From what I can discover he was in a position to have contributed to the problems that arose in the first place. Those problems began with the politization of the force under Trudeau and that process has escalated under subsequent administrations.
The upper levels of the bureaucracy see their role as protecting the government. That is the culture the new commissioner comes from. Added to that is his partisan political leanings. It will not be surprising if we see mass resignations from a force that is currently under staffed and an even greater crisis.
The selection of an outsider with no police experience is seen an overall insult to policemen and women in general.
“The changed circumstances was about the number of big companies that were applying or going to switch over to IT’s.”
By Van on 07.10.07 7:53 pm
Which meant more tax dollars for the government. So, you’re saying that the government didn’t want to collect more taxes but lose billions by not allowing IT conversions to go forward.
So, you agree then that Flaherty is losing billions every year because “something had to be done” and you’re good with that.
Great logic Spock.