Here we go again?
The opposition day motion tabled on Thursday, raking the government for not cutting personal and corporate taxes, for being complacent while our economy gets less competitive, and for nailing two million income trust investors, may end up in a confidence vote next week. At least, that’s what I heard in the men’s room – source of the best-ever Hill news. If it passes, the election countdown begins again.
In any case, I decided to stand and deliver during the debate. To view my monumental and riveting speech and the gracious reaction it garnered, click here.
113 comments ↓
So this means you guys are going to have to abstain on your own motion?
Dion said ‘canadians don’t want an election this week or the next.’
With that said, you guys can’t even vote for your own motion or force the fall on taxes!!
Life just keeps getting better and better.
It’s like a scratch and sniff back in the old days. I remember, you scratch and sniff the pizza scent, the strawberry scent etc. The more you scratch, the stronger the scent got.
Now applying this to Canadian politics and every move Dion makes is like scratching and sniffing Canada closer and closer to a Conservative Majority Government.
Zorpheous, I gotta hand it to you with tonight’s image. When I loaded up Garth’s website and saw the photo, I burst out laughing. Kind of reminds me of Robert Deniro in the movie “Casino” (can’t find a picture, but did find the glasses). Or maybe this fellow, from a favourite series when I was a wee bit younger than I am these days.
This is Overkill. In and Out, up and down, keep up the hard work, they really have something to hide.
“The Conservative Party of Canada is threatening legal action against the Liberals over language they’ve used to describe an investigation into Tory spending practices.”
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071025/tories_lawsuit_071025/20071025?hub=Politics
Garth would you please expand on that. I don’t understand how an Opposition-day motion can be designated a Confidence vote. Is that not restricted to Government-introduced and controlled bills? Otherwise, the Government can pretty well label anything as a measure of non-confidence, a gross abuse of position and power if you ask me. Definitely transparent, and not in a flattering way.
Rex at the National had a great assessment of the Liberals. If they won’t vote for, or against, why bother showing up?
The longer they delay and stall avoiding an election at all costs, including undergoing the continual embarassment of Harper, the worse it will be for them.
Garth, I particularly liked the assessment by Rex, that by the time the Liberals are finally ready to have an election, the electorate WON’T CARE.
Choosing the criticize the government on issues the NDP doesn’t agree with you on. A clever way to avoid an election and at the same time deflect NDP criticism on Liberals avoiding an election.
If it passes, wouldn’t the election countdown be over, because an election would have to be called the next day.
Dear Garth,
I find it beyond the pale that a Conservative member can stand in his place and with PASSION and RAGE in his voice call YOU a liar on the Income Trust issue given:
1) All you have done to ensure the spotlight keep shining on this issue that has DEVASTATED the retirement savings of sooooooo many Canadians, and
2) His own Leader, Hypocrite Harper, personally sanctioned the retirement savings devastation caused by the taxing of Income Trusts. A SOLEMN 100% I-will-quit-if-I-break-this-guarantee promise which Harper made in order to secure the Prime Minister’s Office in 2006.
Is there no limit to the mendacity of these Harpercrites?!??
Well, it doesn’t look like Harper is going to quit any time soon. So I guess we’ll just have to hand Harper his just reward for his BETRAYAL when the time comes.
I can’t wait for an election.
Let’s make sure there isn’t even a HINT of blue on the electoral map when the dust settles after the upcoming election.
Sincerely,
MB
Garth is clueless. The oppo day motion will not get Con or Bloc or NDP support, and will not pass.
Where did I say I heard this, Clueless? — Garth
I heard Rex Murphy on the National too. He often comes out with these simplistic tirades. Discretion is the better part of valour. But, hey, Rex knew that didn’t he?
Good speech Garth.You spoke with confidence and didn’t let the jackals drown you out.
There was one question a CPC asked that I have wondered about but you managed to answer it well.
Your candor, while necessary, was reassuring.
The opposition motion is somewhat impotent, unless the Dion Liberals can follow it up with a vote of no confidence in the government. It’s all a bunch of hot air, repeating something that most Canadians don’t understand and really don’t care.
When will the Liberals get up and stand on their hind legs and back their hot air rhetoric with real action??
Otherwise you speech was great, now back it up with and election.
Tories rebuked on GST
A poll of top economists finds unanimous opposition to the government’s plan to reduce the goods and services tax. Even the tax-fighting Fraser Institute says Ottawa should have other priorities
TAVIA GRANT—Globe & Mail—Thur. Oct 25
http://www.rbcinvest.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/LAC/20071025/RGST25/Headlines/headdex/headdexBusiness/7/7/59/
Failure to communicate? Damned right!
I would have thought the the first opp day motion would be to reintroduce Bill C30, the ammended Clean Air Act.
Or a motion to end the combat mission in Feb 2009.
Hey Jim! Bubbles called and wants his glasses back.
Diane Finley is also putting in a claim.
Con: the beginning of contentious.
“Monumental” and “riveting”…Garth, you really have to get over yourself. Your past words prove what a hypocrite you are.
Nevertheless, I have wondered today why you are so gung ho for an election when your leader is against it.
The first thing to go in a zealot is the sense of humour. — Garth
Great picture of the idiot Flaherty. Rex Murphy is right…You guys have to stand up and be counted. Take the idiots down and lets get them voted out before they do any more damage.
So Garth, I read your speech in Hansard:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2
It’s true the basic income tax rate rose to 15.5% from 15.0% (Liberal cut it from 16.0% in their last Custer stand in November 2005). However, you forgot to mention that the Conservatives increased personal exemption AND provided a NEW personal tax deductions for employment ($1000) AND a whole host of other NEW personal tax deductions. So, if one was to calculate the net difference between the Liberal plan and the Conservative tax plan, one would find that minimally, the net difference is 0 and for families and seniors, it is actually more beneficial under the Conservative plan.
AND, on top of it there is the Conservative GST reduction.
So Garth, you may be partially correct however, you do an injustice in your spin, as you do not speak to the overall tax advantage under the Conservative’s plan. Pity.
The 2006 General Income tax reference:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1general/menu-e.html
Yeah in a free market the prices are the cheapest. The provinces that regulate gas prices have the highest price. Jim Flrety is a great Canadian and probally the best finance minister the country has ever seen!
As usual, the first posters are con trolls.
Great speech Garth.
Nice speech Garth, but I was kinda wondering about all those green seats surrounding you. Should’nt they have suits in them?
‘morning Garth, another conservative hissy fit, hey?
Just another gambit stolen from the Republicans’ book of dirty tricks. All that phony conservative sanctimony and faux moral outrage is actually a form of social control called Ritual Defamation.
The Income Trust issue is perfect for this sneaky strategy. Conservatives strive to make us feel contempt for the victims so that, over time, it’s extremely hard to resist feeling it when the victims fail to stand up for themselves. And now, they’ve directed their hissy fitting to you, making it increasingly difficult for you to defend the victims — or so they think.
Where are their ethics? Where’s their pride? At least you have some.
-R
Pissing into the wind again Garth ??
By DJ on 10.25.07 11:14 pm
Why bother showing up? Well, many Liberal MPs are not showing up in the House. L
Great Pic!
Bubbles Flaherty and his Trailer Park Policies.
Now who would you believe , Hillier or Harper?
Conservative lie of the day.
Tories accused of lying about Afghanistan
10 more years for Afghan security, says Hillier
October 25, 2007
Bill Graveland
Canadian Press
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/272197
By keith phibbs on 10.25.07 9:28 pm
AFGHAN MISSION
TheStar.com | Canada | PM dismisses Hillier’s Afghan assessment
PM dismisses Hillier’s Afghan assessment
Prime Minister’s Office at odds with top soldier’s 10-year time frame to train troops and police
Oct 26, 2007 04:30 AM
Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/270734
I don’t know parliamentary law, but I do know about motions during a board of directors’ meeting. If a motion contains several items, some of which are contentious, the items can be broken down, and voted on individually, if a motion passes to do so. It is unconscionable that MPs are forced to vote on a “bundled” bill that deliberately contains controversial and contentious isses. There should be rules against bundling several ideas, some of them controversial, or a rule that allows MPs to vote on only those items they support. The public isn’t stupid. We understand what is going on. This practice of bundling is manipulative and unethical, in my opinion.
Last night CBC News……………..
-Harper popularity growing nationally.
-Harper popularity growing in Quebec.
-Canadians like Harper’s style.
-Liberal criticisms and Bush-like comparisons becoming lame and weak.
-NDP fast becoming official opposition.
-Liberals becoming irrelevant.
-Acknowledged Harper’s bully tactics but also said Chretien was much, MUCH worse.
…………………………………
I have some advice for Dion.
Tell him and the people around him, including Garth, to stop crying like uncooperative babies.
Show that you are capable and cooperative.
Grow up.
Maybe then will Canadians put-the-plug-in, and stop your draining popularity.
Nice tie.
Rex Murphy, Chantal Hebert, and Allan Whatshisname (Da Pollster) were all beating up in Dion last night. Only Andrew Coyne of the NP made any intelligent comments. What a surprise that was.
I am always amazed how Hebert gets so much credit for being a straight out pro Quebec Seperatist.
Rex Murphy sounded very ’scripted’ to me. Either that, or these old MSM mouthpieces (And I generally enjoy Rex’s comments) simply cannot change their thinkihg to see that Dion is refusing to be suckered by Harper. They are all acting like impatient little sports fans wanting some sort of immature reactive strike.
Thank God, literally, I was given a brain capable of independent thought because otherwise with their ilk there would be no need to think whatsoever.
They are so full of status quo, that to new visions their minds cannot go!
I sat there thinking ‘I can feel some impatience too! Yes, I can hardly wait for when Dion springs his trap, which Harper built, and the CPC are buried in disgrace and done with!’ Then the old maxim of ‘He who laughs last, laughs best!’ will again be remembered.
The media is out to get Dion. I hope it turns on them because Dion is a good and honest man, and I would stand up for him, or anyone else who is, regardless of political affiliation. Perhaps it is they have lost all sense of such qualities, and merely want to tbe entertained?
The MSM is treating descent people like Court Jesters for their own amusement and profit. Perhaps, we the people should return the favour by refusing to buy or watch their self-contrived tripe?
Like the two women jurors at Conrad Black’s trial…They exemplified how intelligent the ‘people’ really are, and how well the jury system can work. They made me proud of them for their objectivity and fairness. Proving, yet again, one or two honest people do make a difference.
Have a nice day
Think Dodge will cut rates Garth?
I would take stock in what William Johnson has to say any day over Rex Murphy who likes to impress with his vocabulary – and his message gets lost in blabber.
In an interview on CPAC, William Johnson, who is a political pundit/journalist who knows his stuff and who wrote the book on Harper said that Harper is using the Reagan model of the 1980’s wherein he cut social programs and cut and cut taxes until there was nothing left for these programs and this will leave the Liberals nothing to work with – sound familiar folks – the trio – Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney – who all left their countries in serious debt.
Johnson also said that Canada is the only democratic country that has coalition governments (minority situations) that believe that the sole purpose of opposition parties is to oppose. In the other countries they try do work together. He said that it is NOT the sole purpose of an opposition party to oppose everything and it seemed like Dion really didn’t do anything wrong.
I think Canadians are too immature to be able to work together with the extreme partisanship now.
Just think, the NDP want proportional representation and yet all they want to do is argue and oppose. Until they grow up and other Canadians it will never work.
I also saw Bill Casey interviewed – he’s seems like such a decent man and a statesman. Just look at Harper’s gang. They don’t even know how to act appropriately. They are baboons.
For a look at a possible Liberal action plan this makes perfect sense to me.
http://www.thestar.com/article/264176
And when you have picked your battle, Garth, we know that you and M. Dion will fight. I want my Canada back!
A hallmark of social Conservative culture is the constant threats to sue on a whim.
Interesting to see the Conservatives abusing the legal system again.
The men’s room is the source of the best Hill news? That explains a lot! Cream is not the only thing that floats to the top.
Cons just don’t get it.
Didn’t Alberta Premier watch what happened to Tory in Ontario? Potent mix for the oil patch..Stemach with a bit of Flaherty. This will be interesting.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=7c375a26-8480-42aa-a19f-a7d3cc501d93&k=13376
I think the CPC should be sued for “frivilous lawsuits” at TAXPAYER expense – they are wasting our money.
They cut out the Court Challenges Program and yet waste OUR money in this silly nonsense.
I think the citizens of Canada should pool their resources and sue the bastards.
Kudos to the Speaker. It’s about time the issue of heckling when someone is trying to speak was addressed effectively.
I was somehow under the impression that it took talent and intelligence to hold the office of a Member of Parliament. Watching the antics makes me think that those who participate in this behaviour are no more talented than I.
Might as well have the Comrade holding a seat, I can heckle with the best of them, and I would work cheaper. (Fiscal responsibility)
Also;
Mr. Harper, please stop smirking. It is not becoming. You come off as if you think yourself superior. You are not that great.
Mr. Dion, please yell more, it’s the only time I can understand you.
Mr. Layton, whenever you speak an image of you in the leaders debate with Paul Martin comes to mind. After making a fool of yourself, you grinned at the camera and looked like Topo Gigo. Sorry, just my honest opinion.
Duceppe presents a distinguished figure. My compliments to his hair dresser. Too bad he isn’t interested in our country.
Gart, fine speech. Now let’s get down to what is going to get done while we are waiting for the next election.
Let’s do everything we can for the environment and stop talking about who didn’t do what. More non action. Let’s start building more wind farms. One is starting to be built just outside of Moncton N.B. that is projected to be completed in just over a year. It will provide power to est. 17,300 homes. (One year est. in government speak = 2 1/2)
Instead of sending people Party oriented literature, how about mail outs addressing the gamut of things that individuals and communities can do to reduce, re-use and re-cycle? How about incentives to re-use and re-cycle instead of charging money to get rid of the toxins? i.e. Issue a chit for poundage delivered to a recycling depot that can be submitted for a tax rebate/deduction. How many communities can pile this stuff up and then offer it to recyclers for the cost of collection? I have recyclers emailing me from all over the world looking for things like old computer memory, container loads of monitors etc. I know a fellow from Rochester N.Y. who has made himself quite wealthy in the business of recycling Aluminum. Mostly beer and pop cans interestingly, but his smelters aren’t fussy.
Let’s keep up the pressure on Afghanistan and getting other countries to take over the combat role.
Let’s clean up the House. If MP’s act like Children, make them stand in the corner.
Let’s get going on that Energy Grid and policies that unify the Provinces re: Energy. Just don’t call it NEP.
Let’s do something meaningful for youth at risk. Work in conjunction with the Provinces to assure adequate funding in the schools and implement intensive help classes and programs other than more police, more courts, more enforcement.
How about some policies to encourage people to become less dependent on just about everything? Encourage people to purchase small acreages and try to revitalizes rural communities. You never know, it might just dispense of some of the fear and help them find their heart again.
Let us lead
Just look at Harper’s gang. They don’t even know how to act appropriately. They are baboons.
By slg on 10.26.07 9:00 am
Please, be kind to our hairy friends.
Baboons have a social awareness and structure for the good of all the community members. Harperites do not.
As to Rex’s comments! I think he was filled with Rexus Obnoxious last night.
What was that quote… Bring them down on our terms, not theirs? I’m surprised to find just now that my hopes for an election haven’t completely died after all. Stupid hopes.
I thought a motion never meant much, certainly not as much as defeating a budget bill. As a result, I think the GG should not give the Cons an election should such a motion passed. After all, if he so insisted on having elections every 4 years, maybe it’s time he respects the law he introduced.
As for all you cons out here, I’ll repeat what I asked of you very recently: I DARE you to explicitly support all following points:
1. You see no harm in telling Canadians you won’t tax ITs and then tax them suddenly.
2. You see no harm in firing Bill Casey when Mackay said very well that no one was going to be sacked for voting against the budget with their conscience.
3. You see no harm in promising to create many child care spaces yet nothing has been done.
4. You see no harm in PVL taking a small yellow sheet and uttering the same words every time Garth asks a question.
5. You agreed with Harper when he said GHGs was just a socialist scheme, and then finally acknowledged climate change as real in the TS, and therefore you support a complete policy reversal.
6. You truly believe that the govt is doing everything it can to curb GHGs when no limits whatsoever take effect for YEARS.
That was quite a speech you gave Garth. Very passionate debate. Oh, btw, where were the libs? There isn’t one other lib in the house. Guess thats why you didn’t get an applause.
We are paying MPs to be in the house to represent the constituent and the libs don’t even bother to show up. How arrogant can you get. Its not like they have something else to do. Its not like they have to make ministerial or government decisions, they aint in government.
So Garth, the least your comrades can do is show up in the house. Sleep if you must but be there.
I predict that liberal fortunes will plummet in the next two weeks.
An all out liberal political disaster is on the horizon.
Tick,,tick,,tick,,
Cheers.
A link that describes the above mentioned wind farm.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/10/12/nb-wind-farm.html?ref=rss
Garth, in your speech you said during the campaign you told people not to worry about economy, interest rates, pensions and such.
Did you mention Kyoto? Did you tell the people that a conservative government would not support Kyoto and would bring in their own made in Canada environmental bill. Did you tell them that? Thats what the conservative platform was.
Hey Garth, you got caught in your speech, eh? Voted in favour of taxing income trusts, eh? Not even an abstention. You voted in favour!
You are something. Not sure what, but something.
As detailed a few times on this blog, I voted in favour of the motion to enact pension-spliting, of which I was the leading advocate in Parliament. I voted against the budget implementation bills, since the beneficial effects of pension-splitting were destroyed by the Harper government’s reckless decision to tax income trusts. — Garth
If any of you have not already signed the petition in support of the people of Burma (Myanmar), and wish to do so, here is a link. Please forward it to anyone you think may be interested.
http://avaaz.org/en/burma_hope_lives/6.php
Here are some other links that are informative.
Voices from within Burma:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7058610.stm
and
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/-/world/east-asia/myanmar-burma/
and
http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/Interview/01-Oct-2007.html
A bloggers entry from one of the links above.
citizen:
1
To stop the military junta’s cruelty in Burma take away their financial support by boycotting the companies still doing business with the Burmese government. Companies like Total SA, Chevron, Daewoo and any travel companies operating tours there. The government spends half it’s budget on the military and it gets it’s money from these companies. Stop buying from these companies, they are immoral in their conduct and have a duty to the human rights in the countries they deal with which they do not uphold.
Check out:-
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html for a full list of the companies involved
Garth, I really don’t understand the picture. It is funny because of the funny glasses? Is that it? My son used to have a pair of googly eyed glasses, he thought it hilarious when he was six. I’m not even sure what you want the topic of this thread to be.
On a more positive note, I caught a glimpse of our GG Jean in a one on one interview on CTV. My goodness, she is beautiful isn’t she? I was impressed with her during the Throne Speech, but until you see her up close and personal in such an interview, you really don’t appreciate her. Her character and the way she holds herself are to be admired. I think she has turned out to be a very fine GG. Leasa
Here’s another link about the Harper threat to sue over the ‘in-and-out’ scam:
http://tinyurl.com/2cjzj3
The ONLY reason for threatening legal action is to shut down the opposition’s questions about it. Once a matter goes before the courts, it cannot be raised in the House. Now there’s ‘open and accountable’ gov. I seem to recall they tried this once before.
When are Canadians going to wake up!
By Captain George on 10.26.07 9:27 am
Maybe if Albertas oil and gas stocks fall far enough, Gazprom will buy them, cash up front of coarse, nationalize them, and we can all learn Russian, after all, Russia have been dealing the Americans out all over.
By Jim on 10.26.07 9:55 am
Jim wonders,
“Oh, BTW, where were the libs? There isn’t one other lib in the house.”
Jim, The other liberals were at a local prison having a bake sale, The others were at a local tween cheer-leading competition.
I predict that liberal fortunes will plummet in the next two weeks.
An all out liberal political disaster is on the horizon.
Tick,,tick,,tick,,
Cheers.
By Milton man on 10.26.07 10:01 am
Hey Milty, were not the one that said Garth’s Fifteen minutes was up? That he would all but be forget in six months? That the Liberals would toss out as well? I seem to remember these great predictions of yours and other,… oh like a year ago or so.
Hey look, there’s Garth Turner, still going strong and getting stronger. Must suck to wrong all the time, but then again it sucks to be you.
What is wrong with this conservative government?It is bad enough to deny global warming but this is simply idiotic.
Electric car maker charges Ottawa blocking its sale in Canada
Last Updated: Friday, October 26, 2007 | 8:15 AM ET
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/26/electriccar-zenn.html
By Milton man on 10.26.07 8:53 am
By Milton man on 10.26.07 10:01 am
Everybody seems to like to cherrypick their favorite information and predict doom for the other side. It’s kind of funny, really.
So, Milton Man, I’ll do one for you. On the At Issue Panel that others are quoting from last night, there was also a comment about the Quebec response to the Throne Speech. There was an ‘uptick’ initially, and then a trend back down as Quebeckers digested the Afghanistan message.
So, it continues to be a coy little dance between the Liberals and Conservatives to see which ones the voters hate the least.
I think you are in danger of being just a little too overconfident in the fortunes of the Conservative Party. There are enough issues smoldering in the background that could still burn their little fingers…
You may like to think that the Liberals are struggling, but you have to remember, voters in Canada don’t so much elect a new government as they dump an old one. IE, generally we have a penchant for hanging on to a government until they really piss us off.
You Conservatives need to worry more about not angering the electorate, than worrying about the state of the Liberal Party.
“At least, that’s what I heard in the men’s room – source of the best-ever Hill news. If it passes, the election countdown begins again.” –Garth.
So the men’s locker room is a usually reliable source, perhaps even more reliable than any indication where Stephane stands on this?
The tail is surely wagging the dog. However, this men’s room talk is only to keep the rumour mill going, and once again, holding out a false hope of an imminent election, only to be disappointed one more time.
It reminds me of the boy who yelled “Fire!” so many times as a false alarm that when a real fire did come, nobody believed him any more.
There is a real vacuum of trust here, and these rumours are no longer taken seriously by an ever growing number.
Incidentally,
Nice speech Garth. I thought the two responses from the Conservative side were pretty weak.
If they really want to take you on, they should really stick to the big guns.
waitnowigetit… I think. It could only become a confidence issue if that’s what Harper wants, right? So the idea is that Harper might make a Liberal motion a confidence issue in a further attempt to force the Liberals to force an election. Am I warm yet?
I think that the problems around the Conservatives and Elections Canada are much, much more serious than most people expect.
That said, I think the Cons are short on vision.
The media is out to get Dion. I hope it turns on them because Dion is a good and honest man, and I would stand up for him, or anyone else who is, regardless of political affiliation. Perhaps it is they have lost all sense of such qualities, and merely want to tbe entertained?
The MSM is treating descent people like Court Jesters for their own amusement and profit. Perhaps, we the people should return the favour by refusing to buy or watch their self-contrived tripe?
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.26.07 8:58 am
Right on, Bill, the MSM is really ripping into Dion and his cadaver is still warm. Now we hear the CBC slagging Dion, and that’s puzzling. Perhaps the CBC has decided Dion is the wrong horse to ride, so they are abandoning him as a matter of survival. I suspect the CBC will now be boosting Bob Rae as the next Liberal leader based on their recent programming, but that’s only my opinion.
Here is a piece titled “Remains of the day” from maclean’s Paul Wells that sums up the MSM’s view of Dion and the Liberal party. It’s quite discouraging but insightful.
http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dip&pid=75554&tid=75554&eid=43&so=1&ps=0&sb=1
I have been reading the recaps of the HoC QP on the Macleans website. It is very interesting and gives a nice recap of the days events.
Seems the Liberals are starting to find their stride and confidence, while the reformers, aka CPC, are starting to get flustered and tired.
What is wrong with this conservative government?It is bad enough to deny global warming but this is simply idiotic.
Electric car maker charges Ottawa blocking its sale in Canada
Last Updated: Friday, October 26, 2007 | 8:15 AM ET
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/26/electriccar-zenn.html
They’re trying to figure out how to recoup the projected loss gasoline taxes.
On a more positive note, I caught a glimpse of our GG Jean in a one on one interview on CTV. My goodness, she is beautiful isn’t she? I was impressed with her during the Throne Speech, but until you see her up close and personal in such an interview, you really don’t appreciate her. Her character and the way she holds herself are to be admired. I think she has turned out to be a very fine GG. Leasa
By Leasa on 10.26.07 10:26 am
Her beauty is only outdone by her penchant for spending our tax money.
By keith phibbs on 10.26.07 10:59 am
Thanks for the informative post. Sooo much better than “Everyone likes ‘is own brrrand”. Quote from Austin Powers character, Faat Baastard.
Methinks you have just struck a blow for addressing the grave problem of lack of insight on the part of Politicians and Gov. Departments. Talk talk talk!
When afforded opportunities to actually do something, well this is what happens.
Why? And it’s in Quebec too! You would think the Fed would be jumping at the chance to hold these guys up as calendar boys. Like they did with Bombardier. No matter what the cost…Like Bombardier.
Garth is clueless. The oppo day motion will not get Con or Bloc or NDP support, and will not pass.
Where did I say I heard this, Clueless? — Garth
By Clueless on 10.25.07 11:52 pm
So, someone named Clueless states upfront that Garth is Clueless. Fair enough. Then Garth responds to Clueless. So, if Clueless and Garth are the same person, and Garth responds, does this mean that Garth has now taken to talking to himself?
Leasa – the CPC people show up just to fill a seat. They don’t have to work or think – they do what they’re told and are there for the photo-op of looking like a party – fill the seats folks and smile for the camera.
Dear Readers,
I too saw Rex Murphy’s ‘Whipped Abstention’ piece last night and remembered this morning that Rex likes to play the devil’s advocate. So here is the email I sent to Rex a few minutes ago.
___________________________________
Thank you so much Rex for playing the Devil’s Advocate.
In this case the Devil being the Mainstream Media PUNDITS who are hell-bent on DEMONIZING everything Dion, and who’s OPINIONS get passed off as being News.
I’m thanking you Rex because it gives me the opportunity to highlight what I have observed to be the two-faced nature of Stephen Harper:
1. Promise one thing in writing on Income Trusts, and do exactly the opposite.
2. Promise not to touch the Atlantic Accords, and weasel a work-around that nullifies the Atlantic Accords.
3. State publicly that he doesn’t want an election, and do everything in his power to precipitate an election.
I have only one qualm with the third because ALL political parties think that their way is the best way and should, at every moment, seek to secure a majority government so that they can implement what THEY THINK is best for Canadians.
The one qualm is that Stephen Harper’s public statements are two-faced – SAY he doesn’t want an election, yet DO everything to precipitate an election.
As for the first two, the Income Trust reversal and the Atlantic Accords nullification, they definitely tell us something about Stephen Harper and what a solemn promise means to him…NOTHING.
During this minority Parliament we have seen, every day, the benevolent side of Stephen Harper, and it is my opinion that if we want to continue to see ONLY the benevolent side we Canadians should NEVER let him get anywhere near a majority.
EVER.
Sincerely,
MB
P.S. If Abstaining means nothing then why is it an option Rex?
ANSWER: Because it DOES mean something, namely, we’re here (not sick or hiding) and we neither support nor reject the government’s motion.
Perhaps the Bloc should use Abstentions more often.
_______________________________
interesting – Leasa thinks our GG is wonderful and I totally agree. Problem is, Harper does’t like her and has been cold towards and doesn’t bother to meet with her on a regular basis like all other PM’s in history have.
Harper sure is a jerk!
Forgot to say – Leasa are you draft? Did you not take in the colour of the glasses as in “looking through rose coloured glasses”? Does everything have to be pointed out to you?
Sigh…
Garth, this is the second post in a row that you did not slam the Prime Minister. Are you feeling ok or do you just have writers block?
In an interview on CPAC, William Johnson, who is a political pundit/journalist who knows his stuff and who wrote the book on Harper said that Harper is using the Reagan model of the 1980’s wherein he cut social programs and cut and cut taxes until there was nothing left for these programs and this will leave the Liberals nothing to work with – sound familiar folks – the trio – Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney – who all left their countries in serious debt.
By slg on 10.26.07 9:00 am
I didn’t catch that on CBC, but I would like to know exactly which “social programs” you think Harper will cut.
Didn’t Harper expand social programs with the baby bonus? Which social programs has Harper cut, unless you consider the govt support of special interest groups as social programs..??
Rather than posting such fearmongering tripe, I think you should be specific in your charges.
Below you will find an email I recieved from James Flahrety. My email asked what his government was doing to help my family, this was the responce:
(I did remove the very beginning of this email as I don’t want my personal info on this Blog)
Canada’s New Government believes that Canadians pay too much tax. That is why we have proposed and implemented tax relief measures that will leave significantly more money in the pockets of Canadians. We have provided – through Budget 2007, the Tax Fairness Plan, and Budget 2006 – a total of nearly $38 billion of tax relief benefiting hard-working Canadians, for the 2006-07 to 2008-09 fiscal years.
Budget 2007 proposed several measures to help Canadian families by introducing a new Working Families Tax Plan. These measures include:
· A new $2,000 Child Tax Credit that will provide parents with up to $310 in tax relief for each child under 18. More than 3 million Canadian families will benefit from this credit, and 90 percent of those families will receive the maximum amount of relief.
· Increases to the tax credits for taxpayers with a low-income spouse, and for single earners who support dependants such as a child or an elderly parent. Budget 2007 increases the amount on which these credits are based to the same level as the Basic Personal Amount – which is $8,929 in 2007. This measure will provide up to $209 of tax relief per year.
· Enhancements to Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) to make them more responsive to changing needs of education today, and to encourage parents to save. Budget 2007 eliminates the $4,000 limit on annual contributions, increases the lifetime contribution limit to $50,000 from $42,000, raises the maximum annual Canada Education Savings Grant amount to $500 from $400 (and to $1,000 from $800 if there is unused grant room from low contributions made in previous years), and improves access to RESP assistance for part-time post-secondary students.
· An increase in the age limit – to 71 from 69 – for converting retirement savings into a Registered Retirement Income Fund to strengthen incentives for older Canadians to continue to work.
Other tax relief measures for individuals and families introduced in Budget 2007 include:
· A Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) that will help more people get over the “welfare wallâ€. The WITB will make work more attractive and rewarding for more than 1.2 million low-income Canadians by providing a benefit of up to $1,000 for working families and $500 for individuals.
· An increase in the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption for farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen, and small business owners from $500,000 to $750,000.
· An increase in the share of meal expenses that long-haul truck drivers can deduct from 50 percent to 80 percent.
· Extending the Public Transit Tax Credit introduced in Budget 2006 to include electronic fare cards and weekly passes when used on an ongoing basis.
Budget 2007 also enacts the Tax Fairness Plan announced October 31, 2006. This plan will provide Canadian seniors with more than $1 billion in additional tax savings per year and help them keep more of their retirement savings. Specifically, it includes a $1,000 increase in the Age Credit amount – to $5,066 for 2006 – and the introduction of pension income splitting.
We also recognize that parents of children with severe disabilities face financial hardships. Based on the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities, we will establish a new Registered Disability Savings Plan program to help families ensure the financial security of a person with a severe disability, when parents are no longer able to provide support.
The tax relief announced in Budget 2007 builds on the relief delivered in Budget 2006, which includes the reduction in the Goods and Services Tax rate to 6 percent from 7 percent. This is a benefit for all Canadians. Budget 2006 also introduced the $1,000 Canada Employment Credit, increased the Basic Personal Amount, doubled the Pension Income Credit, permanently reduced the lowest personal income tax rate, and introduced several targeted tax relief measures for families with children, pensioners, students, tradespeople, and Canadians who regularly use public transit.
Our Government is committed to providing additional tax relief for individuals to improve the rewards from working, saving, and investing. This commitment is supported by the Tax-Back Guarantee – our plan to use the interest savings from national debt repayments to reduce personal income taxes.
Thank you for communicating your concerns.
Sincerely,
James M. Flaherty
Further to the last comment about the initial uptick from the throne speech, Allen Greg mentioned a new poll coming out next week showing a drop for the conservatives.
I attribute it to the usual. When they start to do good, they get cocky and in his natural style Harper becomes a bully and gloats and brags. Most humans hate such behavior. They are their own worst nightmare.
I am enjoying the spectacle though of these people making asses of themselves while fighting a supposed weak leader, yet their numbers never improve, nor does the liberals worsen.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071025/hillier_PMO_071026/20071026?hub=TopStories
So Gen Hillier, the man on the ground tells us like it is, 10 years to build the Afghan Army. Mr. Harper says do it in 4.
Can you say management seagull (Mr. Harper). But the PM says Canada should stay until the mission is complete. So what happens after 2009, that for parliament to decide according to the PM. But he says 2011. And what then….
The only reasonable policy is to be a part of NATO and as part of NATO do our fair share. That also means the PM has to tell the rest of NATO to do theirs, for the next 10 years.
Hopefully, the Manley panel will listen to Gen Hillier. Its obvious the PM doesn’t listen to anyone with differing opinion.
You Conservatives need to worry more about not angering the electorate, than worrying about the state of the Liberal Party. – ED BROOKS
Conservatives leading in the polls (i.e. in 40% territory).
Stephan Harper in the most popular leader of a federal party in Canada.
If it were to happen, most Canadians are confortable with a Conservative majority government.
Liberals have a problem seeing when their party is in trouble. They almost can’t believe that they aren’t governing Canada anymore. Rather than proposing their own options, they attack everyone else as being evil or un-Canadian.
I have no doubt that Liberals will govern Canada again. However, it will be several years (a decade) from now.
Seems the Liberals are starting to find their stride and confidence, while the reformers, aka CPC, are starting to get flustered and tired. – REG
Yeah… Right…
What is wrong with this conservative government?It is bad enough to deny global warming but this is simply idiotic.
Electric car maker charges Ottawa blocking its sale in Canada
Last Updated: Friday, October 26, 2007 | 8:15 AM ET
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/26/electriccar-zenn.html
By keith phibbs on 10.26.07 10:59 am
Probably Keith because it migh cut into the profits of big oil companies. Harper’s proposed environment policies have disgraced Canada in the eyes of the world – except, of course, Australia and the US is doing everything to emulate.. Harpie is proof that evolution can go in the reverse.
By slg on 10.26.07 12:15 pm
Are you beginning to have a thing for me? Nice. Anyway, I do not recall any PM gushing over the GG. Where do you get the idea or who has given you the idea that the PM hates her? That is ridiculous at best. Mr. Harper believes in our Monarchy and has never inferred different. Besides, why would it matter to me who Mr. Harper personally dislikes or likes? That’s just crazy thinking.
In the beginning, our GG Jean did have problems with her French citizenship, and did the right thing and chucked it so she could clearly stand up for Canada. She also denounced separatists. She conformed, we should thank her and quit our bitching.
I think you’ll find that this GG spends a lot less money than the former. She’s done a heck of a good job, represents us well and we should be pleased. I am.
Leasa
By Jay on 10.26.07 12:57 pm
Hi Jay, I did a quick search and could not find any reference to which you speak. Allen Greg said that where, when? All were outdated. Perhaps I’m not using a good search word(s). It appears his polls often contradict with others, so we will not really know how the parties are standing until a few others come out. I’m not sure which polling company is the most reliable, so I think it fair to say, an average of a few is better for sure. Don’t you?
Which polling company do you think is most accurate? Or do you think we should ignore polls and make up our own minds? Do you think that polls should be allowed during election campaigns?
The following link seems to suggest that his polls are not very good:
http://defend-canada.blogspot.com/2006/12/allan-gregg-says-liberals-are-up-in-his.html
Hopefully, the Manley panel will listen to Gen Hillier. Its obvious the PM doesn’t listen to anyone with differing opinion.
By James- Chatham
Well I obviously do not believe that Harper will listen to anything the Manley panel has to say or recommend either. It will be swept away in a deep locked up file where no one can see due to national security. What a farce.
Already Van Loan is using that panel as an excuse to avoid answering any questions on the Afghanistan mission just as predicted. But hey we Canadians are dumb and will never tie those kinds of moves together eh!
I want my money back Bubbles!!!!!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071026/taxes_surplus_071026/20071026?hub=TopStories
I am enjoying the spectacle though of these people making asses of themselves while fighting a supposed weak leader, yet their numbers never improve, nor does the liberals worsen.
By Jay on 10.26.07 12:57 pm
I agree Jay. The longer the house sits and the more question periods that we go through the more Canadians as well as the media (hey Duffy you listening) will see what a amateur bunch of children we have minding the country right now. That includes you to Layton. I was a NDP supporter all my life until Layton and the likes of Pat Martin and Judy Wasylycia-Leis started supporting Harper that they are lost causes.
Thank you for communicating your concerns.
Sincerely,
James M. Flaherty
By T. Brown on 10.26.07 12:36 pm
Funny, but my taxes increased last year while I had the same deductions, including being able to deduct medical expenses. In addition, my diversified investments lost ground based on my latest quarterly report.
Re pension income splitting. I know Garth pushed for this but it does nothing for I and my DH. He’s 9 years younger than I and doubt I’ll be around when he retires.
Re Transit passes – sounds good but if a city can’t provide adequate and timely bus service, people will continue to use their cars. Why not provide more tax dollars for infrasture.
Good go on and on, but have not the time now.
R
Anyway don’t you all find it very ODD that Canada has been training Afghans for 5 years already, add another 4 and we get to 9! How long does it take anyway to train police/military?
CRAP have spent $6.5 Billion in Afghanistan first 5 months of this year!
Keep them poppies growin’.
Well I obviously do not believe that Harper will listen to anything the Manley panel has to say or recommend either.
By Randy on 10.26.07 2:44 pm
You’re probably right…but if he doesn’t listen to his own hand picked panel of “experts”, he’s going to look even more foolish than he already does.
The nicest thing about coming here is dependability. We will be away this weekend, and I just know that when we return Sunday night I can come here, and VOILA! Same comments and same results.
I bet there will not be anything different when we return.
At least there is one stable thing left in this world.
BTW,. Gas was $0.913 this morning. NICE!
By KPN on 10.26.07 2:24 pm
Yes, Garth should promote an investigation the Industry Canada bureaucrat that is playing games with Zenn Manufacturing on their electric vehicle.
CBC did a segment on it last night, and this clown is the epitomy of a bureaucrat disturbed from his coffee break and water cooler chat.
Here is a CRAP Stand Up for Canada.
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/
Liz – you were out of line with the crack at Diane Finley. She has a bona fide eye condition. Would you make the same crack about somebody in a wheelchair?
Vote Green for Income Trusts if no other party takes a rightful stand!
http://www.greenparty.ca/en/node/3031
By Leasa on 10.26.07 2:42 pm
I wouldn’t expect you would find it yet. Allan Greg hinted at a poll that will be released next week during the At Issue panel discussion.
It hasn’t been released yet.
By Lex Luthor on 10.26.07 1:55 pm
Graeme,
Perhaps the nuances escape you. I believe that Canadians don’t change the government because they like the opposition party. They do it because they hate the government party (more).
IE Turner lost to Mulroney because the people were angry with the Liberals. Mulroney lost to Chretien because the people were really really angry with Mulroney. Martin lost to Harper because the people were finally pissed off with the Martin/Chretien Liberals.
All I’m saying is it doesn’t matter so much what shape the Liberals are in, if the electorate is angry, or can be made to be angry.
Elections in Canada aren’t so much won by one party as they are lost by another party.
Right now, the pluses in favour of the government are that the economy is strong, unemployment is low, and the dollar kicks ass (which most seem to believe is a good thing).
On the negative side of the ledger, we are losing good jobs in the manufacturing sector, and there are some smoldering issues that the Conservatives better be keeping a close watch on: Afghanistan, Income Trusts, and Election spending, to name a few.
Considering the above, don’t you find it kind of surprising that the Conservatives aren’t more popular?
CRAP have spent $6.5 Billion in Afghanistan first 5 months of this year!
ABy Captain George on 10.26.07 3:03 pm
Yep, you got that right, Captain George, and there’s more, too.
This profligate spending clearly exemplifies one of the major conservative contradictions — Conservatives oppose “big” government, yet they support “big” defence, “big” privatization, “big” deficits and “big” corporate welfare.
The irony in it all is that while ramping up the spending on Afghanistan, Stephen Harper has decreased, and will continue to decrease, spending on human services that are designed to improve the outcomes and provide opportunities to many less fortunate Canadians, e.g. the national childcare program, aboriginal programs, skills and literacy training, social policy research, law reform commission of Canada, court challenges program, funding for the status of women of Canada, etc..
Just how much more will conservatives cut out of Canada so we can join the USA when they attack Iran?
-R
“Where did I say I heard this, Clueless? — Garth”
Ahh.
But, two oppo days on tap next week. Harper desperately wants something. Anything.
Maybe the NDP will bring in a no-confidence motion, he thinks, or something that will allow him to claim the urgent need for a new mandate.
But will Dion-le-Poulet oblige?
The only reasonable policy is to be a part of NATO and as part of NATO do our fair share. That also means the PM has to tell the rest of NATO to do theirs, for the next 10 years.
By James- Chatham on 10.26.07 1:05 pm
Canada has done more than it’s fair share since 1914.Other than the U.K. and this time,the Dutch,The NATO countries don’t pull their weight when it comes to NATO or U.N peacekeeoing missions.
If those Bozos can’t send troops to the South to help with or releive the heavy lifting that Canadians are doing,then that is our real excuse to exit.We should also consider getting out of NATO.The organization has outlived it’s usefullness and is just an excuse to support the Belgian economy!
KPN, Single income family supporting 6 people and my husbands taxes went up also but his income did not. Our refund was about $1000.00 less this year than last, so I don’t get it either. I was just passing on the email for people to see what the Conservatives are says and hoping it will allow people to double check their taxes from last year to see if they actually got more money back, because we sure didn’t.
Bill-Muskoka our gas has been going down for serveral weeks, we are now at $0.86 (Fraser Valley, BC)
Bill-Muskoka our gas has been going down for serveral weeks, we are now at $0.86 (Fraser Valley, BC)
By T. Brown on 10.26.07 4:44 pm
Ours has too…a penny a day at most. We saw that for one day here, about three months ago when a little old fashioned Gas War broke out…in fact, if I recall correctly, it dropped to $0.789 and the pumps were lined up like mad!
You are closer to the supply there, which considering provincial taxes, may explain the differentail?
I still recall when it was $0.445 in edmonton, and $0.719 in Yellowknife, back about 1998. LOL
Heck, I remember when it was $0.10 USD a gallon U.S. as a young lad. I thought it was horid paying $0.25 a gallon in the late 1960’s. LOL
Then the BIG CRISIS came in 1975, and ‘Oh Whoa is me!’ Guess what? Not a damn thing has been done to resolve the same problem by reducing consumption. Oh yeah, they found Athabasca in alberta, and still want to destroy Alaska’s wilderness. The Saudi’s, who gave America the 0/11 pilots, are still Big Buddies with Bush and hi Big Oil friends, like Cheney.
They still are forcing people to commute to work (let’s creat more Urban Sprawl, eh?), fuel efficiency has improved somewhat, but overall, governments have sat on the hands and DONE NOTHING!
I watched a program the other night on the Solar Power Generation in the American Desert that can power Las Vegas, except no federal funding anymore, thanks to the Conservative Rethuglicans.
They, of course, can waste $200+ BILLION on war in Iraq, and now Bush wants another $42 Billion to blow up things with.
The inmates are definitely running the asylum!
One good bit of news, at least to me Sobara quites cabinet
This is McSquinty’s little Muskoka screwing FinMin. Good riddance.
If it were to happen, most Canadians are confortable with a Conservative majority government.
By Lex Luthor on 10.26.07 1:55 pm
On what do you base this conclusion?
The only recent poll I have been able to find on this issue is Ipsos Reid. In that poll only 34 per cent of DECIDED voters would be comfortable with a Conservative majority.
The media have manipulated the data in such a way as to create the preception you are now “spinning.” If you like I could explain how that “trick” is accomplished.
After all said and done, there is much more said than done.
What I want are the actions. Body languague (such as standing or sitting in a crucial vote) speak louder than words.
If, as Hillier says, we have already trained 3 battalions of Afghani soldiers, why can’t the newly trained soldiers act as new trainers? Wouldn’t that accelerate the training of more battalions?
If, as Hilliers states, the Canadian soldiers find the new AFghan soldiers to be as competent as Canadian soldiers, than surely Hillier should be able to hand over some of the training to AFghans????
Ottawa Man re: my crack about Diane Finley. I have noticed that Ms Finley sports many different kinds of eyewear, and thought perhaps she might like the ones pictured.
I would say the same thing about someone who had a love for different sorts of wheelchairs, and it is a fond hope of mine that all wheelchair-bound people have choice in chairs and are able to have top of the line chairs and scooters if they wish.
That said, it sounds to me like you’re just mad because it was a pretty good crack.
‘
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.26.07 5:55 pm
Bill, I have a question for you. During the last provincial campaign did you get the weird feeling that we all live a vast waste land outside the province of Toronto? Seems every speech on T.V. from every leader what like this:
Toronto, Toronto, Toronto, we must give to Toronto, then Toronto, Toronto Toronto…the citizens of Toronto need…Toronto, Toronto and finally there’s Toronto.
I sure hope that locally in the Federal campaign we do not have the same bull puckey. Leasa
I sure hope that locally in the Federal campaign we do not have the same bull puckey. Leasa
By Leasa on 10.26.07 9:23 pm
LOL, I can’t see things changing much federally: it will be Quebec, Quebec, we must give to Quebec then Quebec, Quebec, Quebec…the nation of Quebec need…Quebec, Quebec, and finally there’s Quebec.
A fine example to illustrate the above is the result of the June 2004 election. On the heels of the Sponsorship Scandal, it was taken as a given that the Liberals were going down to a resounding defeat. I remember the media were boldly asserting that the country was going to be bathed in a sea of blue, Liberal ridings would be flipping in large swaths, the consequence being pretty much the polar opposite of what happened to the PCs after Mulroney. Harper was so confident that he spent his entire last week campaigning solely within Alberta, finishing off with a train ride home from Edmonton to Calgary, and wrapping it up with that “Old familiar cry, ‘The West Wants In’ “, recalling his Reform roots. In the meantime, Martin was racing around from coast to coast like a madman, dipping his feet in the sea at each shore. The symbolism was not lost on the voter: the regionalist versus the nationalist. And as they say, the rest is history. The Prime Ministership proved too much for Martin; I think his erratic behaviour and questionable judgment was a consequence of all the stressors collapsing in around him, putting him on the precipice of a near public nervous breakdown. During the next election, the media was not nearly so cocky, exercising much caution in its predictions; Martin was a flake, Harper lead a near-perfect campaign and took the prize.
It appears to me that the media has already forgotten this not-so-distant history, and is again putting too much faith in its own predictive faculties. Dion may seem a bit nerdish, but he is not a dislikeable fellow; Harper, on the other hand, certainly has moments where to put it bluntly, he is an unattractive ass. Ditto for several key members of his caucus. And contrary to the “Not A Leader” mantra, ask anyone who has worked under both styles of leadership, Dion’s and Harper’s, which they prefer, which they find more stifling, and which is more creative. I’ve been there, I know what my preference is.
So far Dion is not demonstrating an inability to handle the pressures. The outcome of the next election may not be so clear cut as those fomenting for it seem to think. More than anything else, including a change in government, I would like to see the know-it-all media pundits served a heaping helping of humble pie with all the trimmings, one of such chastising proportions that it lodges in the Adam’s apple and goes down ever so slowly. Who knows, I may get my wish.
Apparently Finley has a fairly serious condition that makes her very sensitive to light. Should we make a point of picking on those with medical conditions? Yee Haw!
A victim defamed as a “pervert” will be identified with the worst images of perversion, including child molestation and rape.
The above is a statement from the treatus on “Ritual defamation”
Sure defines a statement a few days ago by “Halton John” about us needing to protect our daughters from Liberals.
Is this the start of a campaign?????
The dirty tricks already???
Bill-Muskoka our gas has been going down for serveral weeks, we are now at $0.86 (Fraser Valley, BC)
By T. Brown on 10.26.07 4:44 pm
$1.290 in the South Okanogan. Probably higher in the North Okanogan. Usually 2 or 3 cents higher. Can anyone tell me why there is such a difference from the Frazer Valley to the Okanogan?
Oh well, I guess I’ll have to continue making that trip acoss the border to fill my gas tank.
I sure hope that locally in the Federal campaign we do not have the same bull puckey. Leasa
By Leasa on 10.26.07 9:23 pm
Good point Leasa. Imagine how the rest of the country feels on a day to day basis. Ontario this, Quebec that, Alberta Alberta Alberta. Hell, it took Danny Williams to show them “How to get it done”
Such a bad man that Danny! Mr. Harper doesn’t like him very much I hear.
Seems the only time the rest of us garner attention is when it is in conjunction with breaking some deal that was made to gain our paltry few seats at election time.
Then there’s that gun control paranoia. If that isn’t all about Toronto and Southern Ontario as a whole, then the Comrade has lost his last few bullets.
It’s not my fault that these people can’t decide who gets the last toaster strudel without fighting over it and calling the cops. So why should I be criminalized for having a gun?
These types of problems should be handled regionally. That’s what Provincial governments are for. How about dealing with it like they do emissions testing? Use the same boundaries and enact the gun legislation from there south. Then they can merrily do whatever they want to gun offenders.
Seems more reasonable to me than penalizing the whole country and costing us a billion dollars and rising. (Estimated cost 2 million) Everyone knows it hasn’t worked anyway. Just another Liberal boondoggle that results in more civil servants and more self proliferation.
Lastly, if the CPC government had kept their promise to do away with this registry, their standing would have been much higher in this old man’s eyes. As I understand it, it wasn’t gutted because the CPC didn’t have a majority. At least that was the reason given. Well, they want to act as if they have a majority now, so what’s stopping them??
By Leasa on 10.26.07 9:23 pm
Yeppers! Pretty much. It is the Centre of the Known Universe you know? NOT!
What I find amusing, nay more disgusting, is that while I abhor the Albertan rants and whining about the East, I likewise understand why, because the CoTKU, unlike the rest of Ontarians, earn that attitude.
What Albertan’s do not realize is that we who live in rural Ontario dislike the Citiots even more than they do. We actually have to put up with their rude, crude, ‘materialism is God’ behaviour every day.
The most joy I have had the past few weeks is watching the tally go up and up on the number of vehicle’s seized and the driver’s licenses suspended under Ontario’s new anti-speeding/dangerous driving law. Last count was over 853 as I recall.
They drag their drugs, crime, and attitude up here, causing our OPP to take on burden after burden.
To use an old saying ‘They are not nice people’ in too many cases.
Oh, and I am very happy to see Sobara resign. We get bad government it seems no matter what party forms it.
“Can anyone tell me why there is such a difference from the Frazer Valley to the Okanogan?”
I will give it a try. The reason the gas is higher is that people are buying gas at those prices, and the gas stations will continue to sell it at those prices if people will continue to buy it at those prices. Fair enough in my opinion.
Oh, and I am very happy to see Sobara resign. We get bad government it seems no matter what party forms it.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.27.07 9:44 am
I agree. Talk about shady characters. However, his resignation tells me to be wary. I heard McGimpy is getting ready to have the province take over public transit in the Province of Toronto. Watch yer wallet there Pilgrim!
Even our MSM, ever tried to get a weather report for anything not in a major city? They briefly cover cities like London, but man, they practically count the rain drops that may fall on Toronto! Like Global has this thing where you are supposed to go on-line to get the weather ‘for you’, with your postal code. I guess ‘for you’ doesn’t mean me. News; you get what’s happened in Toronto for almost all of it, then they cover ‘other news’ if they have time. Toronto, Toronto, Toronto.
God help us all if we ever go ‘rep by pop’. Leasa
By Leasa on 10.27.07 2:52 pm
Go to; http://www.theweathernetwork.com/
It will give you up to date forecasts and long range for even small communities.
Now you didn’t answer my question re: the gun registry. How come?
By Greg on 10.27.07 4:09 pm
I’m sorry Greg. I am a very busy person, and I honestly don’t remember the question. I haven’t followed the gun registry file too closely as of late.
Yes I know about the weather network. Accuracy is key for me. I often have to follow the radar coming up from Ohio to know what’s going to hit us and when. I was just talking about MSM and their lack of service to anyone outside of the Province of Toronto. L
Garth, GREAT JOB! You just keep JABBING away at those clowns. Once in awhile I think .. “Oh, Garth is just ..” and I get a bit disheartened .. and then you deliver the punch and I feel ENERGIZED once again. Don’t give up. IMHO, you are getting better and better and more relaxed in your delivery which helps the rest of us not WORRY quite so much.
I thought I would give my unofficial report on thinking going on in the GTA as I hear it from those who actually CARE about Canadian politics no matter what their USUAL party affiliation:
1. OUT OF AFGHANISTAN. This is across the board. And not just becuz people know that I am a what they perceive as a peacenik: I just don’t like the corporatocracy running things – thoses tippy top people with their JACKALS. Everyone I speak with feels/thinks the same. People do not want Canada fighting Isreali or US wars for them.
2. They LIKE Stephane Dion. FACT. They think people vote too much on “chin appeal” factors and would like to see a SANE person leading Canada. To HELL with the MSM, which is only into infotainment.
3. Despite what they see as a sellouts in Martin and Chretien, they think ANYTHING that isn’t Harper would get them OUT TO VOTE. I think some would be digging into their POCKETS as well were the plan to their liking.
4. Young people are very concerned about climate change and want SOLUTIONS.
Forget fighting about Kyoto and get ON WITH IT . it’s our job to do it and role model taking tough bulls by the horn. They just MIGHT work for the Libs IF they knew they’d DO something about it. Make the plan appealing to the MONEY people and you have a win/win as he suggests – and I don’t like either Al Gore nor Walmart.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/128
5. People LIKE You; you’ve been in their HOMES via TV so you are like family. They are paying attention to what you are doing. They are much concerned with what YOU do, then worrying about the Libs being in Parliamentary seats or no. They KNOW the election is coming and have decided to WAIT. Don’t let anyone kid you on this. I wuz soopreezed quite frankly, but this is SO – they are willing to wait and not just stay away from the polls, as they don’t want The Harper CONtrolling anything.
Now my take on a few of the comments posted on this forum:
Garth, this is the second post in a row that you did not slam the Prime Minister. Are you feeling ok or do you just have writers block?
Yes, is it TRUE? Do you have writer’s block and if so, have you been reading enough Peanuts/Snoopy cartoons to overcome it? I need a daily does of literate anti-Harper remarks as it IS a dark and stormy night …
If, as Hillier says, we have already trained 3 battalions of Afghani soldiers, why can’t the newly trained soldiers act as new trainers?
Because their “handlers” are busy growing POPPIES for the world market. This is a new role for CANADIANS and Hillier figures it will take 10 years to learn how to do it. But first we must get them all addicted to speed .. last week the ptb were busy spraying the Afghan fields AND Canadian troops with PLASTIC PELLETS, as if that wasn’t as crazy as spraying with HERBICIDES (toxic) while paying MILLIONS to subvert tribal chiefs to be pro the coalition. Time to get out of the hell hole.
Toronto, Toronto and finally there’s Toronto. I sure hope that locally in the Federal campaign we do not have the same bull puckey.
Ah, BUT! This IS an issue. Toronto is two things foremost, the economic engine of Canada (it sure as shit is not Calgary, which if we develop the tar sands is going to have a right effect on Canada’s clean water supply which they don’t want YOU to know). Toronto has the University population which can get people right on some of these issues as well, truth do tell. And it is ALSO the window of Canada to the WORLD .. both the markets who come here (and they aren’t “just” gas and oil, btw) AND visitors who come to EXPERIENCE Canada. This place needs a good housecleaning so that we can be PROUD of this place. The fact it IS being discussed is a great sign that no on is brain dead or without Canadian PRIDE.
As last things: This electric car should be sold in CANADA. Why is it REALLY not so?? (scratching head)
And when is the truth about low level radiation going to come out? and why is Canada allowing du into Canada via soldiers and dumping spent uranium in Ontario??