I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
The symbolic Crap Code of the Universe has been broken. Harper and Flaherty are Pointer Stars. Harper the BIG DIPPER and Flaherty the LITTLE DIPPER. A line drawn between them points to Polaris or the NORTH STAR.
Conservative MP Peter Van Loan told the House of Commons that the government is trying to resolve the problem.
“We want to ensure everybody’s right to vote is protected,” said Van Loan, the government house leader.
He added that all parties should “enthusiastically support efforts to correct this deficiency.”
Flaherty also said that if the minority government falls before any such correction can be passed, the chief electoral officer is prepared to use “his adaptation power to ensure that no Canadian loses their right to vote.”
At $150,000 and more per MP, and a zillion zivil zervants, you’d think just one responsible person would be able to read these regulations and say…Hmmmm, this is stupid.
Conservative Election scandals have a genesis in how the party was originally set up.
Constituency associations controlled all donations, and then submitted a sum to the national party. When the national party started taking in donations, there was no cross-checking function.
The lack of a cross-checking function across the 310 constituencies allows for a loophole to be exploited – namely, the donation of 1100 dollars 310 times over.
They knew full well of the problem in advance, and did nothing about it.
Expect more election scandal stories over the next few weeks.
Expect more Conservative “AdScam” rhetoric too. As though somehow AdScam excuses Conservative negligence.
1. Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings. They did it by killing all those who opposed them. The Favourite Rule of Bullies through the millenia. Unfortunately, there is always someone Bigger and Badder than they are.
2. Doing a job right the first time gets the job done. Doing the job wrong 14 times gives you job security. Obviously, Harper’s secret plan, and a Primary Rule of Parliament
3. Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines. Finally, an explanation why the weasels survive and the decline in Eagles
4. Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity. A fact the NDP and CPC count on from Canadian voters and its membership
5. A person who smiles in the face of adversity probably has a scapegoat. Another goobernment secret disclosed
6. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether. The First Law and Primary Directive of Governments everywhere
7. Teamwork means never having to take all the blame yourself. Unless you are Caesar Disgustus, then see Rule 5
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away! The REAL Reason we have elections…to avoid paying out those assinine benefits to Losers
9. Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker. Or gets you fired, disgraced, and forever looking for a job
10. Indecision is the key to flexibility. The Second Law of Governments everywhere
11. Aim Low, Reach Your Goals, Avoid Disappointment. Remember, if you solve a problem, that is one less campaign promise you can make
I hope this isn’t the centerpin of the turnaround you’re hoping for, Garth. The press is going to lowball it through the first cycle and snicker while Van Loan does his brat in the cookie jar routine.
Argh. Dion has indicated he’s not going to trigger an election, and now the CPC is using confidence votes to bringing back all the rotten legislation that failed to pass last year. Do I misunderstand the situation?
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that.
Your shameless reputation precedes you.
Your deflection tactics are not working with average Canadians, and I can only assume we are headed towards a Harper majority despite your lame strategy of fear mongering and accusations.
People don’t believe liars, and your support is falling.
have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
C.B, me too & a whole lot more than the million that has been reported.
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that.
John, I agree, The long since eject and rejected Chretien Liberals were all that, and you complain to me about using “Yesterdays News” and here you are bitching about last decades news.
Now, would you like cheese to go with your wine?
Now, Harper has only been in power for less than two years, and he is already collecting an impressive array or broken promises and scandals. Why, I swear he seems hell-bend determined to out do Chretien. It’s very Liberal of him, isn’t it, no?
Argh. Dion has indicated he’s not going to trigger an election, and now the CPC is using confidence votes to bringing back all the rotten legislation that failed to pass last year. Do I misunderstand the situation?
By Nerdbeard on 10.24.07 9:58 am
So far, I don’t think the legislation proposed is bad at all. I do NOT support Mr. Harper and his minions, however, I do like their get tough on crime position.
Which parts of the legislation don’t you like, and why?
The undesired OUTCOME of the finance minister’s ‘moral suasion’ in pursuit of a reduction in prices because of Can $ parity will be:
a) A SHARP DECLINE in the current account balance due to increased tourism by Canadians to the US to partake of the thundering BARGOONS which are NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE in Canada.
b)A sharp decline in RETAIL SALES, without the immediate prospect of achieving EQUILIBRIUM until some time in the distant future.
c)Retail BANKRUPTCIES directly attributable to failed Flaherty policies.
d)Further SIGNIFICANT JOB LOSSES due to Flaherty’s SHUDDERING INCOMPETENCE.
Milton man you are the neg one .Do you realize I live in a aria that is most cons i was totally amazed that Wilkerson a lib won big i was totally amazed you know why not only because of John T because of Stevie Harper most people don’t like bullies you cant trust them I hope soon be election and i would be surprised Harper is done and i sure hope so we need Canada back And i hope he never get majority you be going to Iraq Your health care is going he needs the money for war The cons always run out off money and the lib have to clean up there mess
We know, for example, that he has been an ardent defender of the Kyoto accord. In fact, it was said by party insiders that he even favoured defeating the government’s throne speech over Kyoto..
But he was talked out of it by his caucus, which argued that their party is not ready organizationally or financially to fight an election.
This is not leadership. It is a case of the tail wagging the dog. He says one thing about voting against the Throne Speech, and finally bringing this government down, and then he is swayed by others to go against his better judgment, yielding once again to external pressure in the decisions that he makes. How can we be sure he will do what he says if he can be swayed so easily?
Mr. Layton and his party have systematically opposed the Tories in confidence votes and will continue to do so. But Mr. Harper can control Parliament if only one party supports him or abstains from voting.
What effectively has happened is the gift of a majority government has been given by Mr. Dion’s Liberals to Mr. Harper.
It’s going to be very symbolic to watch NDP and Bloc members rise in the House, willing to put their jobs, their principles, their commitments on the line, and then to watch the official opposition sit it out.
With all of the hot air coming out of Ottawa, it is fitting that Mr. Dion should suggest that Global Warming has been caused by human activity, and is preventable.
The cry of the hour is for leadership that leads, and that will stand up to the other side. Every time Dion abstains from a vote that could have brought an end to the government, his hold is dug only deeper, because it contributes ever increasingly to his image as a weak, indecisive leader who will not take a stand, or step up to the plate when it is really needed.
I am surely that Mr. Dion may apologetic for not bringing the government down by abstaing from the major vote on the Throne Speech. He might even say, on behalf of his caucus, “I’m sorry!”
To which my response would be, “You are indeed! The whole lot of you!”
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away!
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away!
The REAL Reason we have elections…to avoid paying out those assinine benefits to Losers
Bill – Had a sleepless night & am rather brain dead – similar to Flim Flam. Can you please explain? Trust you’re not referring to citizens paying into CPP & OAS for 30-40 yrs.
Don’t give me credit for Miltonman’s wise and true comments. MY point is that Liberals are grasping at straws.
Conservative flaws will not overshadow the problems that surround liberals.
I will bet anyone on this blog that over the next few months people will be talking more about Dion’s weakness and other liberal problems than any Conservative issues.
More than 1 million unable to vote: Elections Canada
Pardon me??? Make that 1 million and 1. Granted my vote means nothing being in brain dead Alberduh, but I demand my right to cast it!!! Thank you Pierre Elliot Trudeau!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many of us believe that it is the duty of the Official Opposition to oppose the government’s agenda, particularly on issues as glaring as Kyoto, and extending our stay in Afghanistan.
Among the most contentious items in the speech is a declaration that Canada will not meet emissions-reduction targets set under the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, and that Canada’s mission in Afghanistan should be extended by two years to 2011.
Dion and many of his advisers were prepared to fight an election over Kyoto, I believe that Garth was among them.
I thought that principles were more important than politics and political expediency.
Stand up for what you believe in! Don’t just sit there! Do something!
It will happen when the moment allows for the best results. — Garth
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
“Yesterday’s” news when necessary, but not necessarily yesterday’s news, I suppose. You guys are just so simple. It’s so simple to cherrypick our favorite axes to grind isn’t it.
I’m curious, HJ MM and JG. Why are you so certain of Garth’s defeat in the next election. I know you don’t like it but the guy is a populist and extremely aggressive in getting out to the voters.
Halton doesn’t even have a Conservative candidate out there canvassing yet (how close can the election be?) and you really believe that they can drop a candidate in at the last minute and expect to win.
Garth put a lot of effort in to take Halton from Gary Carr last time, and I think you are really overestimating yourselves if you think Halton is a ‘slam-dunk’ for the Conservatives.
The other thing to consider about the riding is the thousands and thousands of new voters that have moved from Mississauga and Toronto into Milton. I don’t expect that they are naturally Conservative voters.
Unless the bigshots in Ottawa have a bombshell of a candidate ready to parachute in to the riding, I’m thinking they have already given up on the riding.
I’m still waiting for the notice of the candidate selection meeting.
No one fears Harper…They are simply DISGUSTED by him by Bill Muskoka.
Oh so now youarespeaking for Canadians. Sorry to break it to you Bill but you only speak for yourself. But since youmade the statemnet then perhaps you can explain why Haper is at 55% to be the best PM and Dion is at 28% while may is even lower.
This is the problem with you Consevative bashers, you think you speak for all Canadians while in fact you are only speaking for yourself and Bill you ae one of the worst offenders. But that is your problem not mine..
No one fears Harper…They are simply DISGUSTED by him.
Remember, the people elected MP’s, but the CPC elected Harper as their leader. Re-aim the sights on the proper target.
There are good MP’s in all parties. Unfortunately, the party power brokers manipulate the members to select their puppets of choice.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.24.07 11:47 am
You are such a disingenuous pos, you reek with fear and the accompanying panic because you know Harper is rising in Canada. In any next election, Harper would hand Dion his arse on a platter, and both you, Garth and Dion know that to be the reality.
Polled Canadians have revealed they don’t want your Dion and your Liberals to get their grubby lil’ hands on the levers of government power for the foreseeable future .. so live with that reality.
Now all we need is another election to complete the decimation of the defunct Liberal party, so that somebody like Ignatieff can rebuild(purge) the Liberal carcass into something half decent.
That will give you another 4-8 years of bitterness and bile flowing on this fine forum provided by MP Garth – the independent-minded politician from Halton.
I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 8:08 am
C.B. – Know you live in the M’times but not sure where. In N.S. rural addresses must display their ‘civic no’ on their property. Believe it was done when ’911′ came into being. Wouldn’t that suffice as an addy.
Zorpheous
Are you not ‘concerned citizen’ from 1980s RedChina??? You kill me!!!
By wd on 10.24.07 11:10 am
Huh? Sorry you lost me.
I other news, I GOT A NEW TOY TODAY!!!!
muahahahahahahaha
A Bluetooth Wacow 8×6 inch digital tablet, sweet!
My mobile photoshop arsenal,
ASUS Tek A6000 Laptop
Nikon D80 DLSR
Bell Mobility Hi-Speed Cell Card /w unlimited monthly bandwidth
Wacom BlueTooth Graphire Digital Tablet
Adobe Photo Essentials 5.0
Ed, My guess on why Halton has not selected a Conservative candidate is that the Conservatives will leave the spot vacent and then parachute a superstar candidate to try to win the seat. Probably will be a fruitless effort but the Conservatives must know that, that is the only hope they have to unseat Garth.
Reg, thanks for asking. I was alarmed about hearing about the so-called anti-terrorism being resurrected today. I know it was a contentious matter among Liberals, and the reasons for opposing it are not widely understood by voters, so I feel its a near certainty it will pass this time.
I understood it has been amended to address some of the concerns. However, I still have not heard a convincing argument that new powers are justified or required, and the experience we’ve had with the legislation seems to argue strongly that this is power that the government does not need to have, since it has never been used.
At least, not that has been publicly acknowledged. Who knows, maybe there is a secret prison. Would anyone be surprised?
The Conservatives describe their proposal to limit the federal spending power as yet another big token of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s open federalism, but in Quebec, the very province government strategists had in mind when they designed it, it is going over like a lead balloon.
In the week since the throne speech was read in Parliament, Quebec reaction to Harper’s latest overtures has gone from warm to tepid. For the first time since he has come to power, his federal-provincial agenda is getting the cold shoulder.
Thought of the day….
as I was walking past the car dealership owned by my illustrious CPC MP, Mr. VanKesteren, this thought came to mind.
Even with all the Lib scandals, this guy wouldn’t have been elected into the HoC if the incumbent Lib. hadn’t decided to retire.
Now I can here Haltonjohn and Miltonman saying that maybe Mr. Pickard knew the writting was on the wall. Don’t think that would have made any difference.
The point is, the Liberal Guard is changing, from the Leader down. And just like the scandals of previous Con. governments don’t seem to have stuck to Mr. Harper (although he’s trying to make up for it ny creating his own), the scandals of the previous Lib governments won’t stick to Mr. Dion.
We could start with Harper’s leadship style,… Lets see
Autocratic
Authoritative
Imperious
Dictitorial
By Zorpheous on 10.24.07 12:14 pm
That description of Steve is right on and is the reason I didn’t vote for his party and will do my best to support a change of government in the next election.
Could it be that Stephane Dion’s management style is more like Lester Pearson and he won a Nobel Peace prize.
“His conciliatory approach which had proved so successful in diplomacy did not always translate to politics. Pearson’s efforts to accommodate all views were often interpreted as poor leadership and a lack of direction. Nevertheless, his five-year legacy is very impressive: a new flag, the Canada Pension Plan, universal medicare, a new immigration act, a fund for rural economic development, and the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism which led to the foundation of a bilingual civil service. The Centennial celebrations of 1967 awoke Canadians to their great heritage and reflected the optimism that signified the latter years of Pearson’s government. One of his great talents was recognizing ability in his colleagues: three future prime ministers were all members of his 1965 cabinet.”
So, even though the neocons like to broadcast their misperceptions that Stephane Dion is not a leader, they may be quite surprised to see what he will do in his coming four years in office as Canada’s Prime Minister.
The problem here is one of competence. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives voted for this legislation. There are two potential issues involved. NDP MP Charlie Angus indicates that he informed them of the problem but they ignored it. It also reveals how out of touch most of the MPs are with life outside the big cities.
C.B. – Know you live in the M’times but not sure where. In N.S. rural addresses must display their ‘civic no’ on their property. Believe it was done when ‘911′ came into being. Wouldn’t that suffice as an addy.
By KPN on 10.24.07 12:16 pm
What you are say is accurate. The problem for me is not that I don’t have a civic address. The problem is that my photo i.d.’s (driver’s licence and passport do not include the civic address). Access Nova Scotia has used my mailing address rather than the civic address on my driver’s licence.
Elections Canada has no way to determine the number of Canadian’s affected by this problem because they would have the civic address without knowing that this address is not included on provincial photo I.D. I would not have been aware of this problem without checking my photo I.D.s when I heard the story on CTV this morning.
This means that a much larger number of potential voters are affected than the one million or 4.4 per cent that Elections Canada has identified.
How many other Nova Scotians are not aware that their mailing and not their civic address could be on their Driver’s Licence?
“I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.’
Add my name to that list, though it is unclear exactly what constitutes an acceptable address, is a lot and concession sufficient? I don’t know, perhaps Garth can shed some light, this seems to be an example of a minority getting screwed over by our parliamentarians. I wonder where our rural riding MPs were for this one? asleep at their desks?
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
This is an excellent question and I could probably write a book about my concerns.
First of all, you need to understand that I do not believe that Canada needs radical change. That being said, I recognize that we need progressive change to ensure that we provide opportunity to all and that we do not try to prevent people from achieving what is probably best described as “self-realization.”
Stephen Harper has adopted that part of conservative philosophy which supports the concept of hierarchy with the liberal idealization of the invisible hand of the marketplace. That combination has been used in the past to create closed, elitist societies.
This philosophy opposes public ownership, government intervention in the marketplace, egalitarian redistribution, and secular humanism. Each of these elements have major implications for all of us.
Liberal democratic Governments have maintained public ownership of many things. Things like parks, crown lands, public utilities, health care facilities, prisons, courts, the military, and so on. These are now all on the line for privatization. The review panel on our prison system, for example, is led by a person who supports private, profit based prisons. The government is privatizing the policy making process to groups such as the Canadian Council of Chief Executives through the NACC. They are privatizating what were once public buildings.
Government intervention in the marketplace presents a major dilemma for people like Harper. He is committed to “free markets” which have become a politically correct term in the 21st century for markets controlled by large multi-national corporations. As we have learned, these corporations will sometimes put the public at risk in order to maximize profits. Hence we have Harper’s ministers advising the public simply to “beware” when the public has no means to make informed decisions when they are being denied the necessary information by the private sector. My supporting the abandonment of “rules of origin” the government is making buyers less able to “beware” of items based on origin and by allowing more pesticide residue on imports is undermining the public’s trust in the imported food we buy.
While Harper opposes egalitarian redistribution he actually supports non-egalitarian redistribution. This is accomplished by making laws that give the monied classes more power to use the courts to force their will on the public. Tax cuts that benefit the wealthy more than the less so such as cuts to the GST illustrate the non-egalitarian redistribution.
The opposition to secular humanism is a major area of concern. Humanism is a philosophy that stresses “an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.” This is one area in which Harper’s flaws are entirely open to view. A good example is when he participated in a strategy designed to mock the dignity of Mr. Dion during the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne or the attack ads which mock Dion’s awkwardness and poor English language skills. It appears that Harper’s rejection of secular humanism is being used as an excuse for abandoning all humanistic restraint in dealing with opponents.
Hey Zorphenous, is there a chance you can add one on those enlarge arrows on the bottom of right hand corner for ode fokes with tired eyes so we can read it much easier. If not I have my big eye standing by the ready.
Hey Zorphenous, is there a chance you can add one on those enlarge arrows on the bottom of right hand corner for ode fokes with tired eyes so we can read it much easier. If not I have my big eye standing by the ready.
By David Bakody on 10.24.07 2:42 pm
David, I carry large images of my work at my blog,
“MP David Sweet (CPC) asks a contrived question to Mr. Baird regarding how the New Government is protecting natural habitats.”
The government to government questions in QP are absolutely laughable.
Random BackBencher: Mr Speaker, we’re great, I mean we’re really the epitome of all things and are helping Canadians young and old, small and big, rich and poor. WOW Mr Speaker, we’re fantastic. Could Minister X please tell the House just how super-duper we are?
Minister: Thank you Mr. Speaker and I’d like to thank the honourable member for being so super-duper fantastic too. He’s super-duper fantastic work is a big reason we’re all so super-duper. Suffice to say Mr. Speaker we’re working super-duper hard to continue to be fantastic for Canadians.
#67Pecked to Death by Ducks on 10.24.07 at 3:56 pm
Heard on Business News Network:
Yea, they lost $8 Bbbbbillion dollars during the last quarter, but now it’s written off. It’s just a Headline. The Economy is strong.
Ahem, ahhh, please sir, can you add one of those $8 Bbbbillion dollar writedowns to the plus side of my budget ledger? C’mon! It’s only a headline. Please?
In our virtual cartoon world of debt and paper, of Facebook and endless Poker… where RIM is worth as much as Royal Bank, we’ve lost all common sense. That’s ok though, we can all survive on social networking, kool ringtones and bluff.
Yeah, it was hilarious! I especially liked the one where Dion was a weak little ghost that no one could hear. Did you catch Rick Mercer? How many times did he call Dion a failure? What gives? Now, the CBC comedians are also attacking Dion? Now, that is unusual for them to slag any liberal. BTW…because of the bias of that station, I hardly ever watch it. Hubby, tuned it in, glad he did. L
Milton Man (10:17 AM): If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that
Oh yes I can deny that, and do. Most emphatically.
Up to a year ago my sentiments were pretty much the same as yours, though I might have been a bit critical of you for going to easy on the Liberals. They were my least favourite party and Jean Chretien my least favourite politician, both by wide margins. I’ll share a joke with you I used to love telling at the expense of the Grits, which I expect you will enjoy retelling, although I now find it needs a major rewrite. I was disgusted at the Shawinigate affair, something I felt should have seen Chretien criminally prosecuted. I was appalled at the billion-dollar fiasco the gun control legislation became. And I was outraged at the revelations of the Gomery Enquiry, and delighted to see the miscreants outed and gleeful at the political cost it imposed on the Liberals.
My contribution:
Good: Mr. [insert name of your favourite columnist/commentator] wins a prize for a column in which he suggests “Liberal” has become synonymous with “criminal”.
Bad: He gets sued for defamation . . …
UGLY: … by the criminals!
Well, as bad as the Liberals and Chretien were, the Tories and Mr. Harper with all their lies about the Tax Fairness Plan are several orders of magnitude worse. Roughly like comparing a hangnail (the Liberals) to a brain tumor (the Tories). The total effect of all the Liberal sins was less than $2 billion total, something less than $100 per person and evenly distributed so no individual was seriously hurt. Plus, some of it has been recovered. By contrast, the Tories with their single Tax Unfairness Plan have destroyed $35 billion of Canadians’ savings. They have reduced monthly incomes by several million dollars by creating an environment where the trusts cannot sustain the distributions they had been making. And far from preventing $500 million in annual tax leakage as Flaherty has claimed, the situation they have created has already set us up for $2 billion annually, an amount that will only get worse if this act stays in effect. And sadly the losses are concentrated and have a truly devastating effect on a subset of individual investors, many of them seniors, many of them Conservative supporters whose only fault was to trust Mr. Harper and the Tories to keep their promise.
WAY OFF TOPIC for this blog, but if anyone wishes to see Jim Flahertys responce to my email (6 months ago)in regards to how their government has help with tax relief for families contact me at kafer@shaw.ca I just recieved a responce today.
#72Pecked to Death by Ducks on 10.24.07 at 4:30 pm
Canadian Government Waste – $125 Bbbbillion in last 15 years
That’s ok though, it’s only a Headline.
Another headline..The Governator has to issue 7 Billion in bonds, and that was to shore up the budget before the fires.
Unfortunately, someone has to be convinced to buy this debt, with higher interest rates which will push up the municipal bond rates to compete. At the same time Wall Street and home buyers are screaming for lower rates.
I’m thinking, it’s a good thing that Canada is immune and that Mr. Dodge gets all that overnight repo money back each morning. He wouldn’t be musing about granting longer term liquidity loans, would he? Hmmmm?
Lastly, I get the feeling that our society will never pay the Piper. They’ll grant him free airmiles and Facebook accounts instead. going forward:-)
Most, if not all high profile financial analyst agree that the Conservatives had no choice but to pull the plug on I.T.
Our nation was about to explode with corporations in transition to I.T. status.
This could not be tolerated.
Just like other major and controversial issues, only the Conservatives have had the guts to make tough changes.
Remember the GST and Free Trade.
In retrospect, the liberals know it had to be done and they know it.
Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth
“Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth”
Ignoring the spelling mistake (Spellcheck isn’t that expensive), the nasty tone of your reply reflects poorly on you. Almost reminds me of…BULLY behaviour.
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
This is an excellent question and I could probably write a book about my concerns.
[.......]
It appears that Harper’s rejection of secular humanism is being used as an excuse for abandoning all humanistic restraint in dealing with opponents.
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 2:36 pm
Thank for that tome on ‘secular humanism’, which is just a buzzword for ‘state socialism’, so please just admit that you are a democratic socialist who believes that the best form of government for Canada is a minority Liberal government with the NDP holding the balance of power.
You realize that Jack Layton has just held a NDP war council in preparation for a next election, and their objective will be to decimate the Liberals on the left while the Conservatives attack them from the right. NDP Layton seems to accept the inevitability of a majority Conservative government after any next election, and he intends to emerge as the Official Opposition Party.
What will you do now that the NDP has conceded a majority government to the Conservatives, and the Liberals fear voting no confidence in the current Parliament??
Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth
By Milton man on 10.24.07 4:40 pm
No, wrong again, Garth !!
The IT issue will have little to no bearing on how most Canadians will vote in any next election. It is a bogus issue, and anything you do to revive it will be met with rejection.
If all major Canadian corporations had converted to ITs, the Canadian government would be faced with recovering corporate taxes from individual taxpayers. This would be an untenable situation, and you know that too.
All you are doing in your deceptive way is to mislead Canadians from the real facts. Flaherty and Harper made a brave and necessary decision as leaders of Canada, and you cannot cope with that because you are in a leaderless, gutless political party. Prepare to meet thy doom, soon.
Most, if not all high profile financial analyst agree that the Conservatives had no choice but to pull the plug on I.T.
Not true
The only analysis I’m aware of that agrees with the Conservatives is that of the Dept. of Finance that claimed there was $500million being lost annually by enterprises operating as income trusts instead of corporations. The assumptions they make and the logic they apply to them to arrive at that $500 million estimate have been kept confidential, but enough is known about how it is structured to challenge their conclusions. They assume that no tax is collected from pensions and RRIF’s, which, as any pensioner who files an income tax return will soon tell you, is ridiculous. Meanwhile there are several studies that contradict the department’s analysis. These studies are publicly available, completely transparent, and in my opinion have not been credibly challenged. Generally they conclude that the government actually collects more taxes when a business operates as a trust than as a corporation. Here are two of them:
By BMO economist Gordon Tait. http://www.caiti.info/resources/inconvenient_truth_about_trusts.pdf
By Price Waterhouse http://www.caiti.info/resources/Income_trust_Dec_2006_discussion_paper.pdf
Can you refer me to any comparable analyses in support of the Conservative position?
Our nation was about to explode with corporations in transition to I.T. status.
Very unlikely. And even if true, was it worth the destruction of $35 billion of savings and the loss of $2billion in annual tax revenue to prevent it by destroying the IT sector? The Federal Government demonstrated it had the power to prevent bank mergers without resorting to such draconian legislation. Why couldn’t it do the same with Income Trusts?
This could not be tolerated.
Yeah, we sure don’t want anymore enterprises like Trinidad Drilling which, in 5 years after converting to a trust increased its rig count from 20 to 135, its distributions from $.03 to $.115 per unit, and the income tax generated by about 4000%. Much better we should have more enterprises like Hollinger that enrich the likes of Conrad Black and William Radler at the expense of the other shareholders and Revenue Canada.
You really need to reconsider your position on this issue.
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
By Harry S on 10.24.07 10:21 am
For what it’s worth, none of us here in the Okanagan Valley have a deep fear of PMSH.
What I, and most people thoroughly dislike is that Harper, Flaherty, Baird, et al are nothing more than bare-faced liars who would happily improve and better their own lives at regular folks’ expense.
Until the silent majority of Canadians — those who lost a substantial chunk of their retirement income due to the I.T. flip-flop — are prepared to do something about it, i.e. get off their butts and VOTE them out for good, instead of verbally complaining about the system in general, the status quo will remain in effect, and none of us want that.
We only vote for the Greens now as the other parties are way too corrupt; however, Dion shows a great deal of moderation and open-mindedness as compared to Mulroney, Chretien and others who have passed by the wayside.
Another PM from Quebec? Sure! Most of us here want that, because Dion is someone we could TRUST! A lot of people know the reasons why we are all so pissed off at CRAP that we are switching our votes to Liberal, just to get rid of these scumbags.
As Canadians, we deserve a hell of a lot better than what we’ve got now.
Secular humanism rejects religion and seeks to find ethical and moral values through human experience and intelligence. In other words, it rejects religious fundamentalism and seeks self-realization through reason.
What you are referring to is something quite different: the drive for power. There is a difference between “ethical” principles (either secular or religious) and “ideological” principles. Both extremes of the ideological spectrum live by ideological principles rather than ethical principles hence “the ends” are seen as “justifying the means.”
It is this reality that leads to political corruption and turns the ethical individual away from politics. It is this kind of scheming to gain power, rather than seeking to do what is right for the country and the Canadian people, that has turned people like myself away from the traditional parties.
I have no problem with democratic socialism or liberal democracy. The central concept here is democracy and it means much more to me than the ability to make a mark beside the name of some candidate chosen by an undemocratic process once every so many years.
Do I trust Jack Layton any more than Stephen Harper? If I was a secular humanist and relied on my experience and reason, at this point I would say “no.” My reason would tell me that it is no more ethical for the NDP to try to destroy the Liberals than it was for the Liberals to try to destroy the Progressive Conservative Party.
But that is politics and that is why politicians are rated so low from both an secular humanist and religious perspective.
The IT issue will have little to no bearing on how most Canadians will vote in any next election. It is a bogus issue, and anything you do to revive it will be met with rejection.
A government act that was supposed to save $500million/year and ends up costing $2 billion/year will have no bearing on how people vote? Is a “bogus” issue? If that’s true I have a hard time imagining what would be a real issue that most Canadians would pay attention to.
If all major Canadian corporations had converted to ITs, the Canadian government would be faced with recovering corporate taxes from individual taxpayers.
Technically that may well be true, but so what? I wouldn’t care if the government collected more taxes from me because it would mean I was getting more income. The best evidence is that the government would actually collect more taxes in total if corporations did convert to income trusts.
All you are doing in your deceptive way is to mislead Canadians from the real facts.
Please enlighten me, what are the germane real facts about which Garth is misleading Canadians?
Flaherty and Harper made a brave and necessary decision as leaders of Canada
A tough and painful decision made on the basis of a valid analysis would be brave and necessary.
A tough and painful decision made on the basis of an invalid or defective analysis would be reckless and foolhardy.
A tough and painful decision made for reasons other than the ones stated would be deceitful.
I’m voting for reckless and foolhardy, but I’m not ruling out deceitful
Yeah, it was hilarious! I especially liked the one where Dion was a weak little ghost that no one could hear. Did you catch Rick Mercer? How many times did he call Dion a failure? What gives? Now, the CBC comedians are also attacking Dion? Now, that is unusual for them to slag any liberal. BTW…because of the bias of that station, I hardly ever watch it. Hubby, tuned it in, glad he did. L
By Leasa on 10.24.07 4:01 pm
No the best part was calling Harper a dick.
The whole country knows that. Very funny indeed.
“Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they.”
Garth,
Months ago I posted on this blog, the name of a prominent financial advisor that said the Conservative actions were the only options available. This individual is not partisan. He and his group moved tens of thousands of investors away from IT’s long before the $hit hit the fan.
He said that responsible financial planners should have seen the writing on the wall and advised their clients accordingly.
You Sir, never allowed those comments to be posted on this blog as it would interfere with your doom and gloom tactic.
I highly doubt that, since the comments of pro-Harper folks like Diane Urquhart have been posted here previously. But, knock yourself out and do it again. It will not change the reality that this was a rash decision which has resulted in a huge tax loss for Ottawa, the selling off of Canadian assets, and the destruction by Conservatives of private property, namely retirement savings. There is no good story here. — Garth
As Canadians, we deserve a hell of a lot better than what we’ve got now.
By Charles Oxley on 10.24.07 6:24 pm
Will you be prepared for a Canada with a Harper Conservative majority government because that is in your future ?
As for you’re concerns, you seem to ignore the corruption that was endemic in the Liberal party for over a decade. How easily you forgive Dion and the Liberals, and yet the people of Quebec utterly despise Dion because they only know him too well .. like you claim to know Harper.
You are in a minority and you should just accept the change that is occurring in Canada. People have no confidence in Dion’s leadership, neither within the Liberal party nor by Canadians.
Address you concerns to that basic problem and not your obscure concerns over IT, election financing, broken promises, and whatever other insignificant thing you and your Liberals find to waste your time.
I see your Dion fetish is still festering. You need professional help. — Garth
You are in a minority and you should just accept the change that is occurring in Canada. People have no confidence in Dion’s leadership, neither within the Liberal party nor by Canadians.
By Harry S on 10.24.07 9:27 pm
Excellent response! Harry S., you have now managed to completely out-fox yourself by your illogical arguments!
By all means keep attacking Dion — that keeps CRAP’s focus away from the reality of what people now have to live with — a substantial drop in the value of their hard-earned pension plans, which gives the Libs plenty of free ammunition for an election.
You have now managed to hand the Libs a majority — thanks very much for the opportunity, and way to go!
Harry S. –Harper will never see a majority without the votes of women and seniors. Women find him creepy, seniors don’t like to be lied to and bilked by their Prime Minister.
And I daresay John Baird wont like him much tomorrow after Harper told John to stay home while he made the announcement in northern Ontario about the Lake Superior marine reserve.
John was all set to go and Steve decided at the last minute that he should get the glory.
Just like Steve–announce a Liberal initiative (the marine reserve is a Liberal idea)–and stay in the shadows and deny responsibility when a flip-flop is announced.
Poor John–upstaged again.
Judy Harper has an effective majority as long as the Liberals abstain from voting. The Liberals should really abstain from the house as they might as well have today.
This is the sixth time you have made essentially the same post tonight. It’s still lame. Go to bed. — Garth
No, Harry is not a stalker. However, I could be…I am obsessed with Dion. I admit it. He’s one strange little guy, and from the time he became leader I have been totally amused and delighted. You know how some people become obsessed with U.F.O’s? For me, Dion is my alien. I’m watching closely for signs of antennae…I’ve got my tin foil hat on the ready just in case. So, yes, I am a Dion watcher, more fun than the ‘Wheel’. I’m still wondering who said he’s a hero? I also wonder when those truly in power at the LP headquarters will instruct Dion to close his eyes, click his heels and say “I want to go home, I want to go home.” Stay tuned, stay alert…Over and out…Leasa
Hey Zorphy….do you supply a picture of yourself on your site? If so, could you please provide an url? We’d all like to inspect it for perfection…obviously since you feel you have a right to comment about someone’s weight, you must be pretty buff right? Leasa
Hey Zorphy….do you supply a picture of yourself on your site? If so, could you please provide an url? We’d all like to inspect it for perfection…obviously since you feel you have a right to comment about someone’s weight, you must be pretty buff right? Leasa
By Leasa on 10.25.07 11:07 am
Certainly, always willing to accommodate a fan. Just go to,…
99 comments ↓
Zorph –
Still promoting yesterdays news ??
I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
Holy Crap, the truth is in the metaphor!
The symbolic Crap Code of the Universe has been broken. Harper and Flaherty are Pointer Stars. Harper the BIG DIPPER and Flaherty the LITTLE DIPPER. A line drawn between them points to Polaris or the NORTH STAR.
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM
Zorph -
Still promoting yesterdays news ??
By Haltonjohn on 10.24.07 8:08 am
Nope, just additions to yesterdays expanding CPC scandals. Kind of like Harper’s expanding waist line
Still promoting yesterdays news ??
If the investigation is ongoing, how could it be considered yesterday’s news?
Maybe, you would like it to be yesterday’s news.
Oh my Zorpheous – Halton John’s jealous cause he hasn’t got your talent.
When people make comments like he does -it means you are too close to the truth.
Keep up the good work.
Forrest Gump in Action.
http://communities.canada.com/financialpost/blogs/francis/archive/2007/10/24/canada-s-jim-flaherty-the-forrest-gump-of-finance-ministers.aspx
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 8:08 am
Conservative MP Peter Van Loan told the House of Commons that the government is trying to resolve the problem.
“We want to ensure everybody’s right to vote is protected,” said Van Loan, the government house leader.
He added that all parties should “enthusiastically support efforts to correct this deficiency.”
Flaherty also said that if the minority government falls before any such correction can be passed, the chief electoral officer is prepared to use “his adaptation power to ensure that no Canadian loses their right to vote.”
Spin away c.b…..Well done Peter!
P.O. Box address doesn’t allow you to vote?
There’s going to be a lot of P.O’d Canadians.
At $150,000 and more per MP, and a zillion zivil zervants, you’d think just one responsible person would be able to read these regulations and say…Hmmmm, this is stupid.
Conservative Election scandals have a genesis in how the party was originally set up.
Constituency associations controlled all donations, and then submitted a sum to the national party. When the national party started taking in donations, there was no cross-checking function.
The lack of a cross-checking function across the 310 constituencies allows for a loophole to be exploited – namely, the donation of 1100 dollars 310 times over.
They knew full well of the problem in advance, and did nothing about it.
Expect more election scandal stories over the next few weeks.
Expect more Conservative “AdScam” rhetoric too. As though somehow AdScam excuses Conservative negligence.
Thoughts for today
1. Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings. They did it by killing all those who opposed them. The Favourite Rule of Bullies through the millenia. Unfortunately, there is always someone Bigger and Badder than they are.
2. Doing a job right the first time gets the job done. Doing the job wrong 14 times gives you job security. Obviously, Harper’s secret plan, and a Primary Rule of Parliament
3. Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.
Finally, an explanation why the weasels survive and the decline in Eagles
4. Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.
A fact the NDP and CPC count on from Canadian voters and its membership
5. A person who smiles in the face of adversity probably has a scapegoat.
Another goobernment secret disclosed
6. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether.
The First Law and Primary Directive of Governments everywhere
7. Teamwork means never having to take all the blame yourself.
Unless you are Caesar Disgustus, then see Rule 5
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away!
The REAL Reason we have elections…to avoid paying out those assinine benefits to Losers
9. Go the extra mile. It makes your boss look like an incompetent slacker. Or gets you fired, disgraced, and forever looking for a job
10. Indecision is the key to flexibility. The Second Law of Governments everywhere
11. Aim Low, Reach Your Goals, Avoid Disappointment.
Remember, if you solve a problem, that is one less campaign promise you can make
I hope this isn’t the centerpin of the turnaround you’re hoping for, Garth. The press is going to lowball it through the first cycle and snicker while Van Loan does his brat in the cookie jar routine.
Argh. Dion has indicated he’s not going to trigger an election, and now the CPC is using confidence votes to bringing back all the rotten legislation that failed to pass last year. Do I misunderstand the situation?
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that.
Your shameless reputation precedes you.
Your deflection tactics are not working with average Canadians, and I can only assume we are headed towards a Harper majority despite your lame strategy of fear mongering and accusations.
People don’t believe liars, and your support is falling.
Cheers.
Name one lie Stephane Dion has uttered. — Garth
have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
C.B, me too & a whole lot more than the million that has been reported.
And you are still obsessed. This has me worried. Unhealthy. — Garth
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
Shouldn’t you be singing the praises of Stephane Dion as he strives to be the next prime minister?
Fear is negative .. praise is positive ..!!
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that.
John, I agree, The long since eject and rejected Chretien Liberals were all that, and you complain to me about using “Yesterdays News” and here you are bitching about last decades news.
Now, would you like cheese to go with your wine?
Now, Harper has only been in power for less than two years, and he is already collecting an impressive array or broken promises and scandals. Why, I swear he seems hell-bend determined to out do Chretien. It’s very Liberal of him, isn’t it, no?
Harry S: “Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?”
Just a guess on my part, but how about
Because he’s an incompetent egomaniac who will flush the country down the toilet.
Again, just a guess on my part.
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 8:08 am
Hi C. B., I posted on this a while ago.
Name one lie Stephane Dion has uttered. — Garth
If I listed them Garth, would you post them? Leasa
Flaherty is scapegoating.
I think that Scapegoating works really well in high unemployment areas.
I don’t think that it works particularly well amongst Canadians with a higher level of education.
Retailers, muslims and homosexuals today. Who are they going after next?
People don’t believe liars, and your support is falling.
Cheers.
By Milton man on 10.24.07 10:17 am
Well all the mud thrown at Mulroney doesn’t seem to have done the conservatives any harm.
So what’s your point apart from making unsubstantiated troll comments?
Argh. Dion has indicated he’s not going to trigger an election, and now the CPC is using confidence votes to bringing back all the rotten legislation that failed to pass last year. Do I misunderstand the situation?
By Nerdbeard on 10.24.07 9:58 am
So far, I don’t think the legislation proposed is bad at all. I do NOT support Mr. Harper and his minions, however, I do like their get tough on crime position.
Which parts of the legislation don’t you like, and why?
Zorpheous
Are you not ‘concerned citizen’ from 1980s RedChina??? You kill me!!!
‘Tough on crime’ is exactly what it looks like, meaningless words meant to fearmonger an hapless population…sad really.
The undesired OUTCOME of the finance minister’s ‘moral suasion’ in pursuit of a reduction in prices because of Can $ parity will be:
a) A SHARP DECLINE in the current account balance due to increased tourism by Canadians to the US to partake of the thundering BARGOONS which are NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE in Canada.
b)A sharp decline in RETAIL SALES, without the immediate prospect of achieving EQUILIBRIUM until some time in the distant future.
c)Retail BANKRUPTCIES directly attributable to failed Flaherty policies.
d)Further SIGNIFICANT JOB LOSSES due to Flaherty’s SHUDDERING INCOMPETENCE.
…More to come, when anecdotal available.
Milton man you are the neg one .Do you realize I live in a aria that is most cons i was totally amazed that Wilkerson a lib won big i was totally amazed you know why not only because of John T because of Stevie Harper most people don’t like bullies you cant trust them I hope soon be election and i would be surprised Harper is done and i sure hope so we need Canada back And i hope he never get majority you be going to Iraq Your health care is going he needs the money for war The cons always run out off money and the lib have to clean up there mess
“Shouldn’t you be singing the praises of Stephane Dion as he strives to be the next prime minister?
“Fear is negative .. praise is positive ..!!” –By Harry S on 10.24.07 10:21 am
Harry S, your words are so true. Yet some of us are finding it difficult to sing the praises of Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.
We know, for example, that he has been an ardent defender of the Kyoto accord. In fact, it was said by party insiders that he even favoured defeating the government’s throne speech over Kyoto..
But he was talked out of it by his caucus, which argued that their party is not ready organizationally or financially to fight an election.
This is not leadership. It is a case of the tail wagging the dog. He says one thing about voting against the Throne Speech, and finally bringing this government down, and then he is swayed by others to go against his better judgment, yielding once again to external pressure in the decisions that he makes. How can we be sure he will do what he says if he can be swayed so easily?
Mr. Layton and his party have systematically opposed the Tories in confidence votes and will continue to do so. But Mr. Harper can control Parliament if only one party supports him or abstains from voting.
What effectively has happened is the gift of a majority government has been given by Mr. Dion’s Liberals to Mr. Harper.
It’s going to be very symbolic to watch NDP and Bloc members rise in the House, willing to put their jobs, their principles, their commitments on the line, and then to watch the official opposition sit it out.
With all of the hot air coming out of Ottawa, it is fitting that Mr. Dion should suggest that Global Warming has been caused by human activity, and is preventable.
The cry of the hour is for leadership that leads, and that will stand up to the other side. Every time Dion abstains from a vote that could have brought an end to the government, his hold is dug only deeper, because it contributes ever increasingly to his image as a weak, indecisive leader who will not take a stand, or step up to the plate when it is really needed.
I am surely that Mr. Dion may apologetic for not bringing the government down by abstaing from the major vote on the Throne Speech. He might even say, on behalf of his caucus, “I’m sorry!”
To which my response would be, “You are indeed! The whole lot of you!”
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away!
8. Hang in there, retirement is only 30 years away!
The REAL Reason we have elections…to avoid paying out those assinine benefits to Losers
Bill – Had a sleepless night & am rather brain dead – similar to Flim Flam. Can you please explain? Trust you’re not referring to citizens paying into CPP & OAS for 30-40 yrs.
Flaherty blusters, but offers no relief for consumers
Don Martin , CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=fd1ca0c0-e6e5-4885-a6cc-07557c5f6a8b&k=3695
The shape of things to come:
http://blog.news-record.com/staff/melskitchen/blockhead.jpg
Zorph –
Don’t give me credit for Miltonman’s wise and true comments. MY point is that Liberals are grasping at straws.
Conservative flaws will not overshadow the problems that surround liberals.
I will bet anyone on this blog that over the next few months people will be talking more about Dion’s weakness and other liberal problems than any Conservative issues.
Bet’s anyone ??
More than 1 million unable to vote: Elections Canada
Pardon me??? Make that 1 million and 1. Granted my vote means nothing being in brain dead Alberduh, but I demand my right to cast it!!! Thank you Pierre Elliot Trudeau!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many of us believe that it is the duty of the Official Opposition to oppose the government’s agenda, particularly on issues as glaring as Kyoto, and extending our stay in Afghanistan.
Among the most contentious items in the speech is a declaration that Canada will not meet emissions-reduction targets set under the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, and that Canada’s mission in Afghanistan should be extended by two years to 2011.
Dion and many of his advisers were prepared to fight an election over Kyoto, I believe that Garth was among them.
I thought that principles were more important than politics and political expediency.
Stand up for what you believe in! Don’t just sit there! Do something!
It will happen when the moment allows for the best results. — Garth
So far, it seems like the Con$ “cleaning materials” are closer to using spray paint to cover graffiti than actual soap…
Which parts of the legislation don’t you like, and why?
By Reg on 10.24.07 11:09 am
Jennifer Ditchburn does a good job of explaining what is going on on that particular file.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/268240
No one fears Harper…They are simply DISGUSTED by him.
Remember, the people elected MP’s, but the CPC elected Harper as their leader. Re-aim the sights on the proper target.
There are good MP’s in all parties. Unfortunately, the party power brokers manipulate the members to select their puppets of choice.
Liberal scandals, greed, corruption, incompetence, self serving, and pompous behavior are all liberal traits. Not Conservative.
“Yesterday’s” news when necessary, but not necessarily yesterday’s news, I suppose. You guys are just so simple. It’s so simple to cherrypick our favorite axes to grind isn’t it.
I think something is going to surface within the next 4 weeks that will shine an uncomfortable spotlight on the Conservatives.
The Conservatives right now are far too cocky for their position, and that type of attitude leads to judgment errors.
Name one lie Stephane Dion has uttered. — Garth
IN the summer of 2006 Dion stated thathe couldn’t meet the Kyoto targets. In 2007 he ststed he could if he was elected.
Now one of those statements is a lie. Which one is it?
I’m curious, HJ MM and JG. Why are you so certain of Garth’s defeat in the next election. I know you don’t like it but the guy is a populist and extremely aggressive in getting out to the voters.
Halton doesn’t even have a Conservative candidate out there canvassing yet (how close can the election be?) and you really believe that they can drop a candidate in at the last minute and expect to win.
Garth put a lot of effort in to take Halton from Gary Carr last time, and I think you are really overestimating yourselves if you think Halton is a ‘slam-dunk’ for the Conservatives.
The other thing to consider about the riding is the thousands and thousands of new voters that have moved from Mississauga and Toronto into Milton. I don’t expect that they are naturally Conservative voters.
Unless the bigshots in Ottawa have a bombshell of a candidate ready to parachute in to the riding, I’m thinking they have already given up on the riding.
I’m still waiting for the notice of the candidate selection meeting.
No one fears Harper…They are simply DISGUSTED by him by Bill Muskoka.
Oh so now youarespeaking for Canadians. Sorry to break it to you Bill but you only speak for yourself. But since youmade the statemnet then perhaps you can explain why Haper is at 55% to be the best PM and Dion is at 28% while may is even lower.
This is the problem with you Consevative bashers, you think you speak for all Canadians while in fact you are only speaking for yourself and Bill you ae one of the worst offenders. But that is your problem not mine..
Don’t give me credit for Miltonman’s wise and true comments. MY point is that Liberals are grasping at straws.
Conservative flaws will not overshadow the problems that surround liberals.
By Haltonjohn on 10.24.07 11:33 am
Hey don’t worry John, I’ll do my VERY VERY BESTEST to HIGHLIGHT Harper flaws.
We could start with Harper’s leadship style,… Lets see
Autocratic
Authoritative
Imperious
Dictitorial
Yup, everything I look for in Leader. It was these exact reason why I NEVER VOTED FOR THE CHRETIEN LIBERALS.
No one fears Harper…They are simply DISGUSTED by him.
Remember, the people elected MP’s, but the CPC elected Harper as their leader. Re-aim the sights on the proper target.
There are good MP’s in all parties. Unfortunately, the party power brokers manipulate the members to select their puppets of choice.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.24.07 11:47 am
You are such a disingenuous pos, you reek with fear and the accompanying panic because you know Harper is rising in Canada. In any next election, Harper would hand Dion his arse on a platter, and both you, Garth and Dion know that to be the reality.
Polled Canadians have revealed they don’t want your Dion and your Liberals to get their grubby lil’ hands on the levers of government power for the foreseeable future .. so live with that reality.
Now all we need is another election to complete the decimation of the defunct Liberal party, so that somebody like Ignatieff can rebuild(purge) the Liberal carcass into something half decent.
That will give you another 4-8 years of bitterness and bile flowing on this fine forum provided by MP Garth – the independent-minded politician from Halton.
I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 8:08 am
C.B. – Know you live in the M’times but not sure where. In N.S. rural addresses must display their ‘civic no’ on their property. Believe it was done when ’911′ came into being. Wouldn’t that suffice as an addy.
Zorpheous
Are you not ‘concerned citizen’ from 1980s RedChina??? You kill me!!!
By wd on 10.24.07 11:10 am
Huh? Sorry you lost me.
I other news, I GOT A NEW TOY TODAY!!!!
muahahahahahahaha
A Bluetooth Wacow 8×6 inch digital tablet, sweet!
My mobile photoshop arsenal,
ASUS Tek A6000 Laptop
Nikon D80 DLSR
Bell Mobility Hi-Speed Cell Card /w unlimited monthly bandwidth
Wacom BlueTooth Graphire Digital Tablet
Adobe Photo Essentials 5.0
By Zorpheous on 10.24.07 12:21 pm
Why didn’t you mention the other LEAD ITEM which is now part of your “KIT?”
http://www.globalaircraft.org/photos/planephotos/rq-1_1.jpg
By Ed Brooks on 10.24.07 12:05 pm
Ed, My guess on why Halton has not selected a Conservative candidate is that the Conservatives will leave the spot vacent and then parachute a superstar candidate to try to win the seat. Probably will be a fruitless effort but the Conservatives must know that, that is the only hope they have to unseat Garth.
By ann d on 10.24.07 11:23 am.
Hmmmmmm, OK Ann, whatever you say.
Reg, thanks for asking. I was alarmed about hearing about the so-called anti-terrorism being resurrected today. I know it was a contentious matter among Liberals, and the reasons for opposing it are not widely understood by voters, so I feel its a near certainty it will pass this time.
I understood it has been amended to address some of the concerns. However, I still have not heard a convincing argument that new powers are justified or required, and the experience we’ve had with the legislation seems to argue strongly that this is power that the government does not need to have, since it has never been used.
At least, not that has been publicly acknowledged. Who knows, maybe there is a secret prison. Would anyone be surprised?
On another, more cheerful, note here are a couple of sites that are FINALLY spinning the Cons and not in a favourable light.
http://www.thestar.com/article/269341
http://www.thestar.com/article/269891
Then I asked my 20ish year old con MP what Canada has for an international monetary reserve, he was not permitted to answer, any help please.
Chantel Hebert wrote today:
Oct 24, 2007 04:30 AM
Chantal Hébert
Ottawa
The Conservatives describe their proposal to limit the federal spending power as yet another big token of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s open federalism, but in Quebec, the very province government strategists had in mind when they designed it, it is going over like a lead balloon.
In the week since the throne speech was read in Parliament, Quebec reaction to Harper’s latest overtures has gone from warm to tepid. For the first time since he has come to power, his federal-provincial agenda is getting the cold shoulder.
Thought of the day….
as I was walking past the car dealership owned by my illustrious CPC MP, Mr. VanKesteren, this thought came to mind.
Even with all the Lib scandals, this guy wouldn’t have been elected into the HoC if the incumbent Lib. hadn’t decided to retire.
Now I can here Haltonjohn and Miltonman saying that maybe Mr. Pickard knew the writting was on the wall. Don’t think that would have made any difference.
The point is, the Liberal Guard is changing, from the Leader down. And just like the scandals of previous Con. governments don’t seem to have stuck to Mr. Harper (although he’s trying to make up for it ny creating his own), the scandals of the previous Lib governments won’t stick to Mr. Dion.
Oh, boy, are you Cons in trouble!
We could start with Harper’s leadship style,… Lets see
Autocratic
Authoritative
Imperious
Dictitorial
By Zorpheous on 10.24.07 12:14 pm
That description of Steve is right on and is the reason I didn’t vote for his party and will do my best to support a change of government in the next election.
Could it be that Stephane Dion’s management style is more like Lester Pearson and he won a Nobel Peace prize.
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/primeministers/h4-3356-e.html Excerpt.
“His conciliatory approach which had proved so successful in diplomacy did not always translate to politics. Pearson’s efforts to accommodate all views were often interpreted as poor leadership and a lack of direction. Nevertheless, his five-year legacy is very impressive: a new flag, the Canada Pension Plan, universal medicare, a new immigration act, a fund for rural economic development, and the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism which led to the foundation of a bilingual civil service. The Centennial celebrations of 1967 awoke Canadians to their great heritage and reflected the optimism that signified the latter years of Pearson’s government. One of his great talents was recognizing ability in his colleagues: three future prime ministers were all members of his 1965 cabinet.”
So, even though the neocons like to broadcast their misperceptions that Stephane Dion is not a leader, they may be quite surprised to see what he will do in his coming four years in office as Canada’s Prime Minister.
Why didn’t you mention the other LEAD ITEM which is now part of your “KIT?â€
http://www.globalaircraft.org/photos/planephotos/rq-1_1.jpg
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.24.07 12:36 pm
Oh thanks Petrobitch, let the cat out of the bag, next thing you will be blabbing about my Harper Harpoon Missiles next,…
John G on 10.24.07 9:15 am
The problem here is one of competence. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives voted for this legislation. There are two potential issues involved. NDP MP Charlie Angus indicates that he informed them of the problem but they ignored it. It also reveals how out of touch most of the MPs are with life outside the big cities.
C.B. – Know you live in the M’times but not sure where. In N.S. rural addresses must display their ‘civic no’ on their property. Believe it was done when ‘911′ came into being. Wouldn’t that suffice as an addy.
By KPN on 10.24.07 12:16 pm
What you are say is accurate. The problem for me is not that I don’t have a civic address. The problem is that my photo i.d.’s (driver’s licence and passport do not include the civic address). Access Nova Scotia has used my mailing address rather than the civic address on my driver’s licence.
Elections Canada has no way to determine the number of Canadian’s affected by this problem because they would have the civic address without knowing that this address is not included on provincial photo I.D. I would not have been aware of this problem without checking my photo I.D.s when I heard the story on CTV this morning.
This means that a much larger number of potential voters are affected than the one million or 4.4 per cent that Elections Canada has identified.
How many other Nova Scotians are not aware that their mailing and not their civic address could be on their Driver’s Licence?
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed support for the idea of rotating troops amongst Afghan regions.”
- CTV
Isn’t that what Mr. Dion has been asking for come Feb 2009. Another Liberal idea reused by the PM.
For the full story:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071024/nato_afghanistan_071024/20071024?hub=TopStories
“I have just learned that Parliament passed a law that requires a person to have a street address on their photo identification in order to be permitted to vote. I have just been disenfranchised along with millions of other Canadians who live in rural Canada.’
Add my name to that list, though it is unclear exactly what constitutes an acceptable address, is a lot and concession sufficient? I don’t know, perhaps Garth can shed some light, this seems to be an example of a minority getting screwed over by our parliamentarians. I wonder where our rural riding MPs were for this one? asleep at their desks?
Zorph –
Still promoting yesterdays news ??
By Haltonjohn on 10.24.07 8:08 am
And the world knows you’re still reading it John>
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
This is an excellent question and I could probably write a book about my concerns.
First of all, you need to understand that I do not believe that Canada needs radical change. That being said, I recognize that we need progressive change to ensure that we provide opportunity to all and that we do not try to prevent people from achieving what is probably best described as “self-realization.”
Stephen Harper has adopted that part of conservative philosophy which supports the concept of hierarchy with the liberal idealization of the invisible hand of the marketplace. That combination has been used in the past to create closed, elitist societies.
This philosophy opposes public ownership, government intervention in the marketplace, egalitarian redistribution, and secular humanism. Each of these elements have major implications for all of us.
Liberal democratic Governments have maintained public ownership of many things. Things like parks, crown lands, public utilities, health care facilities, prisons, courts, the military, and so on. These are now all on the line for privatization. The review panel on our prison system, for example, is led by a person who supports private, profit based prisons. The government is privatizing the policy making process to groups such as the Canadian Council of Chief Executives through the NACC. They are privatizating what were once public buildings.
Government intervention in the marketplace presents a major dilemma for people like Harper. He is committed to “free markets” which have become a politically correct term in the 21st century for markets controlled by large multi-national corporations. As we have learned, these corporations will sometimes put the public at risk in order to maximize profits. Hence we have Harper’s ministers advising the public simply to “beware” when the public has no means to make informed decisions when they are being denied the necessary information by the private sector. My supporting the abandonment of “rules of origin” the government is making buyers less able to “beware” of items based on origin and by allowing more pesticide residue on imports is undermining the public’s trust in the imported food we buy.
While Harper opposes egalitarian redistribution he actually supports non-egalitarian redistribution. This is accomplished by making laws that give the monied classes more power to use the courts to force their will on the public. Tax cuts that benefit the wealthy more than the less so such as cuts to the GST illustrate the non-egalitarian redistribution.
The opposition to secular humanism is a major area of concern. Humanism is a philosophy that stresses “an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.” This is one area in which Harper’s flaws are entirely open to view. A good example is when he participated in a strategy designed to mock the dignity of Mr. Dion during the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne or the attack ads which mock Dion’s awkwardness and poor English language skills. It appears that Harper’s rejection of secular humanism is being used as an excuse for abandoning all humanistic restraint in dealing with opponents.
Hey Zorphenous, is there a chance you can add one on those enlarge arrows on the bottom of right hand corner for ode fokes with tired eyes so we can read it much easier. If not I have my big eye standing by the ready.
From This Hour has 22 Minutes
Description of Harper:
D ictatorial
I gnorant
C onservative
K nowitall
They used some other terms but it is the Acronymn that matters!
Hey Zorphenous, is there a chance you can add one on those enlarge arrows on the bottom of right hand corner for ode fokes with tired eyes so we can read it much easier. If not I have my big eye standing by the ready.
By David Bakody on 10.24.07 2:42 pm
David, I carry large images of my work at my blog,
http://thewingnuterer.blogspot.com/
If you go there, you will find all my work and if you click on the image a 1024 by 768 version of the work will load.
Many of the other bloggers that carry my work use a 400 by 300 size to fit their blogging template.
I am also in the process of loading back up a bunch of old photoshops I have done and that are still relevant.
MP David Sweet (CPC) asks a contrived question to Mr. Baird regarding how the New Government is protecting natural habitats.
The answer brings to mind the follow:
Preserve nature….
pickle a gopher!
Zorph,
Should we also assume that your daddy is better then our daddy.
Your weird.
MP David Sweet (CPC) asks a contrived question …
By James- Chatham on 10.24.07 3:03 pm
David Sweet is a member of the pseudo-religious ‘promise keepers,’ much like the church of the universe, Raellians, Morons from Bountiful, papal Duncio Hogan et tous les autres, qui créent un faux avant. En un mot, faux!
“MP David Sweet (CPC) asks a contrived question to Mr. Baird regarding how the New Government is protecting natural habitats.”
The government to government questions in QP are absolutely laughable.
Random BackBencher: Mr Speaker, we’re great, I mean we’re really the epitome of all things and are helping Canadians young and old, small and big, rich and poor. WOW Mr Speaker, we’re fantastic. Could Minister X please tell the House just how super-duper we are?
Minister: Thank you Mr. Speaker and I’d like to thank the honourable member for being so super-duper fantastic too. He’s super-duper fantastic work is a big reason we’re all so super-duper. Suffice to say Mr. Speaker we’re working super-duper hard to continue to be fantastic for Canadians.
Heard on Business News Network:
Yea, they lost $8 Bbbbbillion dollars during the last quarter, but now it’s written off. It’s just a Headline. The Economy is strong.
Ahem, ahhh, please sir, can you add one of those $8 Bbbbillion dollar writedowns to the plus side of my budget ledger? C’mon! It’s only a headline. Please?
In our virtual cartoon world of debt and paper, of Facebook and endless Poker… where RIM is worth as much as Royal Bank, we’ve lost all common sense. That’s ok though, we can all survive on social networking, kool ringtones and bluff.
By dj on 10.24.07 2:51 pm
Yeah, it was hilarious! I especially liked the one where Dion was a weak little ghost that no one could hear. Did you catch Rick Mercer? How many times did he call Dion a failure? What gives? Now, the CBC comedians are also attacking Dion? Now, that is unusual for them to slag any liberal. BTW…because of the bias of that station, I hardly ever watch it. Hubby, tuned it in, glad he did. L
Milton Man (10:17 AM):
If you were to do a poll, and ask Canadians what political party is the least trustworthy. The liberals would get by far the most votes.
You cannot deny that
Oh yes I can deny that, and do. Most emphatically.
Up to a year ago my sentiments were pretty much the same as yours, though I might have been a bit critical of you for going to easy on the Liberals. They were my least favourite party and Jean Chretien my least favourite politician, both by wide margins. I’ll share a joke with you I used to love telling at the expense of the Grits, which I expect you will enjoy retelling, although I now find it needs a major rewrite. I was disgusted at the Shawinigate affair, something I felt should have seen Chretien criminally prosecuted. I was appalled at the billion-dollar fiasco the gun control legislation became. And I was outraged at the revelations of the Gomery Enquiry, and delighted to see the miscreants outed and gleeful at the political cost it imposed on the Liberals.
The joke I promised you? Okay, if you’re not familiar with the “Good, Bad, and Ugly” genre check these out first.
http://www.thehumorarchives.com/joke/The_good_the_bad__the_ugly
My contribution:
Good: Mr. [insert name of your favourite columnist/commentator] wins a prize for a column in which he suggests “Liberal” has become synonymous with “criminal”.
Bad: He gets sued for defamation . . …
UGLY: … by the criminals!
Well, as bad as the Liberals and Chretien were, the Tories and Mr. Harper with all their lies about the Tax Fairness Plan are several orders of magnitude worse. Roughly like comparing a hangnail (the Liberals) to a brain tumor (the Tories). The total effect of all the Liberal sins was less than $2 billion total, something less than $100 per person and evenly distributed so no individual was seriously hurt. Plus, some of it has been recovered. By contrast, the Tories with their single Tax Unfairness Plan have destroyed $35 billion of Canadians’ savings. They have reduced monthly incomes by several million dollars by creating an environment where the trusts cannot sustain the distributions they had been making. And far from preventing $500 million in annual tax leakage as Flaherty has claimed, the situation they have created has already set us up for $2 billion annually, an amount that will only get worse if this act stays in effect. And sadly the losses are concentrated and have a truly devastating effect on a subset of individual investors, many of them seniors, many of them Conservative supporters whose only fault was to trust Mr. Harper and the Tories to keep their promise.
Regards,
EhBC
WAY OFF TOPIC for this blog, but if anyone wishes to see Jim Flahertys responce to my email (6 months ago)in regards to how their government has help with tax relief for families contact me at kafer@shaw.ca I just recieved a responce today.
Zorpheous……thanks.
Canadian Government Waste – $125 Bbbbillion in last 15 years
That’s ok though, it’s only a Headline.
Another headline..The Governator has to issue 7 Billion in bonds, and that was to shore up the budget before the fires.
Unfortunately, someone has to be convinced to buy this debt, with higher interest rates which will push up the municipal bond rates to compete. At the same time Wall Street and home buyers are screaming for lower rates.
I’m thinking, it’s a good thing that Canada is immune
and that Mr. Dodge gets all that overnight repo money back each morning. He wouldn’t be musing about granting longer term liquidity loans, would he? Hmmmm?
Lastly, I get the feeling that our society will never pay the Piper. They’ll grant him free airmiles and Facebook accounts instead.
going forward:-)
Zorph,
Should we also assume that your daddy is better then our daddy.
Your weird.
By Milton man on 10.24.07 3:08 pm
No idea Milty, never met your Father.
I’m weird? Maybe, but I’m saving up to be eccentric one day.
Zorpheous……thanks.
By David Bakody on 10.24.07 4:26 pm
No problem, enjoy.
EHBC -
Most, if not all high profile financial analyst agree that the Conservatives had no choice but to pull the plug on I.T.
Our nation was about to explode with corporations in transition to I.T. status.
This could not be tolerated.
Just like other major and controversial issues, only the Conservatives have had the guts to make tough changes.
Remember the GST and Free Trade.
In retrospect, the liberals know it had to be done and they know it.
Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth
I was just checking the weather forecast -
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/canada_e.html
Notice the big Conservative Ad at the top of this page!
Well, here’s a news story about some official bigotry in rural Quebec:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071024/que_hearings_071024/20071024?hub=Canada
Hey, are these the same people Stevie Harpo is targeting for assimilation into CONism?
By Milton man on 10.24.07 4:40 pm
Get your head out of the sand. The PM made a promise and broke it.
“Our nation was about to explode with corporations in transition to I.T. status.
This could not be tolerated.”
Why could it not be tolerated? And don’t give me the crap about tax leakage, which has not been substatiated.
However, with all the IT’s that have been bought by offshore private investors, that so called leak has turned into a full blown flood!
So that makes the PM and Mr. Flaherty not only liars but fools as well.
Muskoka,
thanks for your 9:20 AM. I needed that to-day.
Garth–re:this comment.
“Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth”
Ignoring the spelling mistake (Spellcheck isn’t that expensive), the nasty tone of your reply reflects poorly on you. Almost reminds me of…BULLY behaviour.
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
This is an excellent question and I could probably write a book about my concerns.
[.......]
It appears that Harper’s rejection of secular humanism is being used as an excuse for abandoning all humanistic restraint in dealing with opponents.
By C. B. Innes on 10.24.07 2:36 pm
Thank for that tome on ‘secular humanism’, which is just a buzzword for ‘state socialism’, so please just admit that you are a democratic socialist who believes that the best form of government for Canada is a minority Liberal government with the NDP holding the balance of power.
You realize that Jack Layton has just held a NDP war council in preparation for a next election, and their objective will be to decimate the Liberals on the left while the Conservatives attack them from the right. NDP Layton seems to accept the inevitability of a majority Conservative government after any next election, and he intends to emerge as the Official Opposition Party.
What will you do now that the NDP has conceded a majority government to the Conservatives, and the Liberals fear voting no confidence in the current Parliament??
Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they. — Garth
By Milton man on 10.24.07 4:40 pm
No, wrong again, Garth !!
The IT issue will have little to no bearing on how most Canadians will vote in any next election. It is a bogus issue, and anything you do to revive it will be met with rejection.
If all major Canadian corporations had converted to ITs, the Canadian government would be faced with recovering corporate taxes from individual taxpayers. This would be an untenable situation, and you know that too.
All you are doing in your deceptive way is to mislead Canadians from the real facts. Flaherty and Harper made a brave and necessary decision as leaders of Canada, and you cannot cope with that because you are in a leaderless, gutless political party. Prepare to meet thy doom, soon.
If the CPC believed they were in the wrong they wouldn’t be going to court to fight it where all their “dirty” laundry would be exposed.
Milton Man (10.24.07 4:40 pm):
Most, if not all high profile financial analyst agree that the Conservatives had no choice but to pull the plug on I.T.
Not true
The only analysis I’m aware of that agrees with the Conservatives is that of the Dept. of Finance that claimed there was $500million being lost annually by enterprises operating as income trusts instead of corporations. The assumptions they make and the logic they apply to them to arrive at that $500 million estimate have been kept confidential, but enough is known about how it is structured to challenge their conclusions. They assume that no tax is collected from pensions and RRIF’s, which, as any pensioner who files an income tax return will soon tell you, is ridiculous. Meanwhile there are several studies that contradict the department’s analysis. These studies are publicly available, completely transparent, and in my opinion have not been credibly challenged. Generally they conclude that the government actually collects more taxes when a business operates as a trust than as a corporation. Here are two of them:
By BMO economist Gordon Tait.
http://www.caiti.info/resources/inconvenient_truth_about_trusts.pdf
By Price Waterhouse
http://www.caiti.info/resources/Income_trust_Dec_2006_discussion_paper.pdf
Can you refer me to any comparable analyses in support of the Conservative position?
Our nation was about to explode with corporations in transition to I.T. status.
Very unlikely. And even if true, was it worth the destruction of $35 billion of savings and the loss of $2billion in annual tax revenue to prevent it by destroying the IT sector? The Federal Government demonstrated it had the power to prevent bank mergers without resorting to such draconian legislation. Why couldn’t it do the same with Income Trusts?
This could not be tolerated.
Yeah, we sure don’t want anymore enterprises like Trinidad Drilling which, in 5 years after converting to a trust increased its rig count from 20 to 135, its distributions from $.03 to $.115 per unit, and the income tax generated by about 4000%. Much better we should have more enterprises like Hollinger that enrich the likes of Conrad Black and William Radler at the expense of the other shareholders and Revenue Canada.
You really need to reconsider your position on this issue.
Regards
EhBC
thanks for your 9:20 AM. I needed that to-day.
By Herb on 10.24.07 5:32 pm
You are most welcome Herb.
Why do so many on this fine forum have such a deep fear of Prime Minister Stephen Harper?
By Harry S on 10.24.07 10:21 am
For what it’s worth, none of us here in the Okanagan Valley have a deep fear of PMSH.
What I, and most people thoroughly dislike is that Harper, Flaherty, Baird, et al are nothing more than bare-faced liars who would happily improve and better their own lives at regular folks’ expense.
Until the silent majority of Canadians — those who lost a substantial chunk of their retirement income due to the I.T. flip-flop — are prepared to do something about it, i.e. get off their butts and VOTE them out for good, instead of verbally complaining about the system in general, the status quo will remain in effect, and none of us want that.
We only vote for the Greens now as the other parties are way too corrupt; however, Dion shows a great deal of moderation and open-mindedness as compared to Mulroney, Chretien and others who have passed by the wayside.
Another PM from Quebec? Sure! Most of us here want that, because Dion is someone we could TRUST! A lot of people know the reasons why we are all so pissed off at CRAP that we are switching our votes to Liberal, just to get rid of these scumbags.
As Canadians, we deserve a hell of a lot better than what we’ve got now.
Harry S on 10.24.07 5:47 pm,
You really are funny!!!!
Secular humanism rejects religion and seeks to find ethical and moral values through human experience and intelligence. In other words, it rejects religious fundamentalism and seeks self-realization through reason.
What you are referring to is something quite different: the drive for power. There is a difference between “ethical” principles (either secular or religious) and “ideological” principles. Both extremes of the ideological spectrum live by ideological principles rather than ethical principles hence “the ends” are seen as “justifying the means.”
It is this reality that leads to political corruption and turns the ethical individual away from politics. It is this kind of scheming to gain power, rather than seeking to do what is right for the country and the Canadian people, that has turned people like myself away from the traditional parties.
I have no problem with democratic socialism or liberal democracy. The central concept here is democracy and it means much more to me than the ability to make a mark beside the name of some candidate chosen by an undemocratic process once every so many years.
Do I trust Jack Layton any more than Stephen Harper? If I was a secular humanist and relied on my experience and reason, at this point I would say “no.” My reason would tell me that it is no more ethical for the NDP to try to destroy the Liberals than it was for the Liberals to try to destroy the Progressive Conservative Party.
But that is politics and that is why politicians are rated so low from both an secular humanist and religious perspective.
Harry S (10.24.07 6:00 PM):
The IT issue will have little to no bearing on how most Canadians will vote in any next election. It is a bogus issue, and anything you do to revive it will be met with rejection.
A government act that was supposed to save $500million/year and ends up costing $2 billion/year will have no bearing on how people vote? Is a “bogus” issue? If that’s true I have a hard time imagining what would be a real issue that most Canadians would pay attention to.
If all major Canadian corporations had converted to ITs, the Canadian government would be faced with recovering corporate taxes from individual taxpayers.
Technically that may well be true, but so what? I wouldn’t care if the government collected more taxes from me because it would mean I was getting more income. The best evidence is that the government would actually collect more taxes in total if corporations did convert to income trusts.
All you are doing in your deceptive way is to mislead Canadians from the real facts.
Please enlighten me, what are the germane real facts about which Garth is misleading Canadians?
Flaherty and Harper made a brave and necessary decision as leaders of Canada
A tough and painful decision made on the basis of a valid analysis would be brave and necessary.
A tough and painful decision made on the basis of an invalid or defective analysis would be reckless and foolhardy.
A tough and painful decision made for reasons other than the ones stated would be deceitful.
I’m voting for reckless and foolhardy, but I’m not ruling out deceitful
Regards
EhBC
Yeah, it was hilarious! I especially liked the one where Dion was a weak little ghost that no one could hear. Did you catch Rick Mercer? How many times did he call Dion a failure? What gives? Now, the CBC comedians are also attacking Dion? Now, that is unusual for them to slag any liberal. BTW…because of the bias of that station, I hardly ever watch it. Hubby, tuned it in, glad he did. L
By Leasa on 10.24.07 4:01 pm
No the best part was calling Harper a dick.
The whole country knows that. Very funny indeed.
Nasty Garth says –
“Your ignorance on this issue is stunning, and completed expected. Income trust investors will never forget the betrayal of Mr. Harper or the sycophantic reaction of bots like you. Nor should they.”
Garth,
Months ago I posted on this blog, the name of a prominent financial advisor that said the Conservative actions were the only options available. This individual is not partisan. He and his group moved tens of thousands of investors away from IT’s long before the $hit hit the fan.
He said that responsible financial planners should have seen the writing on the wall and advised their clients accordingly.
You Sir, never allowed those comments to be posted on this blog as it would interfere with your doom and gloom tactic.
I highly doubt that, since the comments of pro-Harper folks like Diane Urquhart have been posted here previously. But, knock yourself out and do it again. It will not change the reality that this was a rash decision which has resulted in a huge tax loss for Ottawa, the selling off of Canadian assets, and the destruction by Conservatives of private property, namely retirement savings. There is no good story here. — Garth
As Canadians, we deserve a hell of a lot better than what we’ve got now.
By Charles Oxley on 10.24.07 6:24 pm
Will you be prepared for a Canada with a Harper Conservative majority government because that is in your future ?
As for you’re concerns, you seem to ignore the corruption that was endemic in the Liberal party for over a decade. How easily you forgive Dion and the Liberals, and yet the people of Quebec utterly despise Dion because they only know him too well .. like you claim to know Harper.
You are in a minority and you should just accept the change that is occurring in Canada. People have no confidence in Dion’s leadership, neither within the Liberal party nor by Canadians.
Address you concerns to that basic problem and not your obscure concerns over IT, election financing, broken promises, and whatever other insignificant thing you and your Liberals find to waste your time.
I see your Dion fetish is still festering. You need professional help. — Garth
You are in a minority and you should just accept the change that is occurring in Canada. People have no confidence in Dion’s leadership, neither within the Liberal party nor by Canadians.
By Harry S on 10.24.07 9:27 pm
Excellent response! Harry S., you have now managed to completely out-fox yourself by your illogical arguments!
By all means keep attacking Dion — that keeps CRAP’s focus away from the reality of what people now have to live with — a substantial drop in the value of their hard-earned pension plans, which gives the Libs plenty of free ammunition for an election.
You have now managed to hand the Libs a majority — thanks very much for the opportunity, and way to go!
Harry S. –Harper will never see a majority without the votes of women and seniors. Women find him creepy, seniors don’t like to be lied to and bilked by their Prime Minister.
And I daresay John Baird wont like him much tomorrow after Harper told John to stay home while he made the announcement in northern Ontario about the Lake Superior marine reserve.
John was all set to go and Steve decided at the last minute that he should get the glory.
Just like Steve–announce a Liberal initiative (the marine reserve is a Liberal idea)–and stay in the shadows and deny responsibility when a flip-flop is announced.
Poor John–upstaged again.
By Judy on 10.24.07 11:09 pm
Judy Harper has an effective majority as long as the Liberals abstain from voting. The Liberals should really abstain from the house as they might as well have today.
This is the sixth time you have made essentially the same post tonight. It’s still lame. Go to bed. — Garth
I see your Dion fetish is still festering. You need professional help. — Garth
By Harry S on 10.24.07 9:27 pm
————————————–
What ?? It’s not allowed to mention Stephane Dion on this forum; only Harper as most of the Liberal supporters blather about incessantly?
Hey, forum Liberals, I dare you not to mention Harper for a week and only praise Dion for his great leadership and political acumen.
Betcha can’t .. LOL
You have written about Dion eleven times today. Are you a stalker? — Garth
Zorph,
Should we also assume that your daddy is better then our daddy.
Your weird.
By Milton man on 10.24.07 3:08 pm
The least the PMO could do for it’s minions is give them a spell checker. Geez.
you a stalker? — Garth
By Harry S on 10.24.07 11:31 pm
No, Harry is not a stalker. However, I could be…I am obsessed with Dion. I admit it. He’s one strange little guy, and from the time he became leader I have been totally amused and delighted. You know how some people become obsessed with U.F.O’s? For me, Dion is my alien. I’m watching closely for signs of antennae…I’ve got my tin foil hat on the ready just in case. So, yes, I am a Dion watcher, more fun than the ‘Wheel’. I’m still wondering who said he’s a hero? I also wonder when those truly in power at the LP headquarters will instruct Dion to close his eyes, click his heels and say “I want to go home, I want to go home.” Stay tuned, stay alert…Over and out…Leasa
Kind of like Harper’s expanding waist line
By Zorpheous on 10.24.07 8:43 am
Hey Zorphy….do you supply a picture of yourself on your site? If so, could you please provide an url? We’d all like to inspect it for perfection…obviously since you feel you have a right to comment about someone’s weight, you must be pretty buff right? Leasa
Hey Zorphy….do you supply a picture of yourself on your site? If so, could you please provide an url? We’d all like to inspect it for perfection…obviously since you feel you have a right to comment about someone’s weight, you must be pretty buff right? Leasa
By Leasa on 10.25.07 11:07 am
Certainly, always willing to accommodate a fan. Just go to,…
http://thewinguterer.blogspot.com/
Notice the perfect form.