Just another day on the Hill. The first day for four new MPs. Another day closer to an election. Another day of conflict.
Stephane Dion presided over an intense Priorities and Planning Committee meeting all morning on an upper floor of the historic East Block. Coming off a weekend in which he stared down critics in Quebec and endured lousy polling numbers, he was about to welcome two more people into his team who 15 months ago were trying to beat him out as leader. The talk was as blunt as it was constructive. I’d tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you. Or myself.
QP was the zoo you would expect. Libs festing their new members. Cons feasting on Bob Rae. Combative questions rebuffed with non-answers. McCallum pissing off Flaherty. The ususal.
Outside the media had already moved beyond the obvious to the emotional, and was probing Denis Coderre with everything but turkey basters to see if he was upset at losing his job as defence critic. Sadly, he was not. At least, he wasn’t saying so.
Lots of colleagues spent time talking at me today about communications since their ridings have been bombed mercilessly with Tory flyers, and since I look like their best hope for a counterattack (a clear measure of Liberal desperation). Interestingly enough, the media has expressed far more interest than I might have imagined in this direct mail assault, largely because it’s all being waged with taxpayer funds. Lots of them. Eight million bucks.
I also note that the Conservatives have launched a counter-offensive, using guys like this to call me a hypocrite (one of the all-time fav political put-down terms, right up there with flip-flop). How can I possibly criticize the Toies for raping the public treasury and sending out 30,000,000 copies of attack ads to mailboxes across the land, he demands, when Liberals also mail stuff to their constituents? Strangely enough, when I think of Liberal communications versus the Conservative machine, that image of the Chinese guy facing tanks in Tiananmen Square comes to mind.
By the way, my buddy at the Canada Post substation in the middle of Halton sent me an email this afternoon. “This flyer is slated to go out to 29,000 homes tomorrow,” his note said, and along with it he sent a digital picture (below) of the latest Conservative flyer. The interesting point is that under House of Commons rules, the sponsoring MP from next door (Conservative Mike Wallace) is allowed to send only 7,000 of these to cover 10% of my riding. Instead, he sent 29,000. So much for rules. Right, Mr. Wallace?
So much for truth, as well. The new flyer now being sent all over everywhere is aimed at seniors, taking credit for pension-splitting – which Jim Flaherty bitterly resisted when I first proposed it – and ignorning the betrayed promise on income trusts which wiped out an estimated $20 billion in seniors’ savings.
In any case, I understand there is only one salient point to this: Political parties are using public funds to crap on each other, scare people with negative ads and use money intended to inform voters to bamboozle them with partisan half-truths instead. Shame on us all.
Say, did I mention we’re one day closer to an election?
219 comments ↓
Well Turner so much for HOPE. I was wondering how long it would take you to go back to your ranting and lo and behold it was less than 24 hours. By the way Mr. Ewert writes a very insightful article. Bring on the election I dare you
You dare me? What are you, twelve? — Garth
“…wiped out an estimated $20 billion in seniors’ savings”?! Estimated by whom? Did anyone other than seniors buy ITs or is more about them being better “victims”.
By the by the report on the Ralph Goodale flip flop on ITs and the RCMP investigation of the leak came out today. Apparently the Libs had a plan of their own to change the tax treatment of ITs. Once word of it was leaked they backed down. Did Garth Turner know that?
What Opposition Critic position did the member from Halton get in today’s shuffle?
A great example of a Conservative re-write of history. Actually Goodale rebuffed Finance Department pressure to tax income trusts – pressure which Jim Flaherty caved to months later, even after his leader directly promised seniors it would never happen. No amount of your fiction or insults will conceal that. — Garth
“The talk was as blunt as it was constructive. I’d tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you. Or myself.”
Not to worry, I’m sure either Iggy or Bob will take care of that dirty little deed for you….
Oh and by the way Garth, what was this business of you saying that those who don’t vote should “use it or lose it”?
Guess the Libs have lost it, eh?
Bye Garth….
I think someone lost the keys to the cages tonight… — Garth
–
The contempt with which the Conservatives treat legitimate questions from duly-elected opposition members in the parliament of Canada is an insult to all Canadians. We pay their salaries and we have a right to clear answers. It is demeaning to their party when they show premeditated avoidance of having to answer questions over and over again by busying themselves and government employees with searches of historic records to see if they can find a quotation they can pin on an opposition member–one which no longer applies or makes sense, anything to avoid answering the question being asked.
Why doesn’t the Speaker of the House make them answer the questions? I’m really fed up with the Conservative lack of transparency and obfuscation. I’m fed up with the Conservatives–period.
As for the National post guy, he didn’t mention the quantity of 10-percenters being mailed out by the Cons. Anyway, what would you expect of the National Post?
The flyer you show I received last week. I had received two different ones previously. I have a Liberal MP whom I have never voted for in the past.
She sends out three or four “newsletters” a year on good paper and a good print job.
THe crooked cons are sure milking the system to think I received three this year. They sure want an election and will do “anything” to win.
I pray the general public sees through these cons. I find it hard to believe that people are not concerned about the
controller” we have for a PM.
and ignoring the betrayed promise on income trusts which wiped out an estimated $20 billion in seniors’ savings.
Bulls**t. That $20 billion didn’t exist. Or to put it another way it existed at the expense of other taxpayers because of and only because of, preferential tax treatment via a sub prime mortgage type scheme cooked up on Bay St. It was $20 billion these seniors didn’t deserve that went back to it’s rightful owners: ordinary taxpayers. This income trust horse you keep flogging is deservedly DOA.
I didn’t get one of these 10-percenters from Mike Wallace but, as a senior citizen, I would have much rather the 2 per cent GST cut had been used for tax cuts to those most in need and for an honest effort to help everything from manufacturing to home building transition from old technologies to new green ones.
I, like a whole generation of seniors, don’t want to leave catastrophic climate changes to our children and grandchildren but the Conservatives don’t allow facts to get in the way of their ideology and are letting down the future generations with a vengeance.
Their deliberate expenditure of the whole surplus on the debt shows a complete lack of vision and balance.
The only place the Cons really excel is in their ability to spin, smear and outright lie. This may be unfair to some old Progressives but they need not feel included in these remarks. I hope they realize how harmful the neo-cons are to this country.
So seniors lost 20 billion. The rest of the investors who were not seniors lost 15 billion? Now do I have it figured out that 35 billion total was lost in the I.Ts markets? The 35 billion has been thrown around a lot on this website.
“Uh oh, Mr. Turner. You’re being slagged here:”
By Liz on 03.31.08 7:50 pm
———————————–
Response To “Full Comment” Article By John Turley-Ewart Of The National Post
Re: Garth Turner treats Canadians as fools
Posted: March 31, 2008, 8:17 PM
Actually, it is your article here that treats Canadians as fools.
In fact, what Garth Turner was emphasizing was the shear unprecedented volume of these “householders” or “10 percenters” distributed across Canada recently, “stamped” with the names of numerous Conservative MPs, often into completely unrelated ridings across the entire country.
The volume was estimated at 20-30 million pieces in a mere couple of months at an estimated cost of $3 million.
Again, this mass distribution was UNPRECEDENTED and extremely costly to taxpayers.
In no way does Mr. Turner imply that other parties don’t also send out pamphlets or flyers, but it is done in a limited fashion, and not in a coordinated mass marketing “Blitzkrieg”.
Apparently, it seems to be your intention to mislead and treat your readers as fools.
—–
Geeze, I wonder if the response will remain on the website/blog.
These CON trolls are like rabid animals..
FACE IT
YOUR LEADER IS A LIAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9mibZYpVPY
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6765/raidingseniornesteggsrl5.jpg
Garth be careful of your honesty regarding the state of the Liberal Party of Toronto……your following wants to hear you shit all over everything Conservative and Harper…..Get out your pom poms everyone!
I’ve been bombed mercilessly with Tory flyers in Calgary. These outrageous, vicious attack ads are smug and arrogant, scraps of junk, full of lies that make me furious each time one arrives. This is so un-Canadian.. I just can’t explain how betrayed I feel by this horrible man Harper. Each successive flyer the conservatives send gets more abusive of our public trust. This latest proclaims ‘Canada’s back’ with Harper, flag, etc. It’s disgusting propaganda. I think of Hitler every time I see it. If Harper is trying to scare the hell out of me, it’s working.
The Tories ARE raping the public treasury.. 30,000,000 attack ads on OUR DIME! Tories are violating our trust by assuming the uninformed voter will believe their lies. Playing by the rules is the way I like my politicians to act, honouring the trust I put in them. Just last week I mailed a flyer to Garth. Sorry, Garth, you probably are drowning in these pieces of tax-payer-paid garbage, but I remembered your earlier blog. And I trust you. You have fully explained and disclosed the good and the bad in system. You never exploit the public trust. You have always played by the rules.
Tories don’t seem to know that honesty may be boring, but it’s the only way to act, and a heckuva lot better than playing tricks. If Tories reading this don’t understand the difference, I’m not surprised.
Well, well, well. So, the Cons want the flag lowered for a PM, but not for a fallen soldier who literally gave their life for Canada?
Tell you what, instead of lowering the flag should PMSH expire, I say enter a Bill that will bring on a party at the level of Mardi Gras, which is what the lieing POS deserves.
Support our troops? Not Steven Harper. Steve Harper supports war and the military/petroleum complex.
Garth, I can think of few things more worthy of being a confidence vote. Any PM, or party that would denigrate our troops who actually bleed, feel pain, and die for our country, is the ENEMY of Canada. Their so-called leader does does not deserve any recognition other than Hip Hip Hooray! The PM (Pissant Moron) is gone.
There is my vote recommendation for the coming vote.
Ottawa advised not to lower flag for dead soldiers
And who are these jerks on this committee?
Dear Mr Turner
I was reading the Monday 31 March edition of Ottawa Citizen this
evening and found the article about your concern regarding the
ridiculous Conservative mail-outs that have been peppering the
citizens of this country. I am particularly annoyed, as I am in the
riding of the Environment Minister (Baird) and was at a loss as to
whom I should vent to. Thank you for your concern in this matter.
The single sheet flyers in which he asks for responses to his “Yes/
No” questions make me so angry and frustrated, but I couldn’t think
of anyone I could approach regarding this issue.
The Environment Minister, above any other Conservative member, should
be refraining from such advertising and costly practices. The amount
of money being spent on power to print such drivel, not to mention
the paper costs (trees, shipping, fuel) is beyond my comprehension.
I have kept the five mailings that I received via Canada Post but
unfortunately I did not note the date each was received. I have no
idea what I intend to do with them – certainly not waste more money
in sending them, as requested back to Baird with any comment but
stop! If you would like to have them I would be delighted to somehow
get them to you.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my anger and concern in this
matter.
Sincerely
Judy
Beverly Binhammer, 70, a retired nurse living in Etobicoke, Ont. who put her first Liberal sign on her front lawn as a personal protest against Mr. Harper. She describes him with words such as “arrogant” and “devious.
“He plots,” the self-described political junkie says. “I can’t even stand to look at him.” With the right leader, she might consider supporting the Conservatives. But there is no way Mr. Harper is getting her vote.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080328.wgidengildiscussion0329/BNStory/specialComment/home
“One day closer to an election”
Oh my God, we’re going to the polls!!!!! Garth Turner said we’re going to the polls, so we must be going to the polls really soon!!!
This is so exciting!!! It is so exciting I wrote this sentence so I can add more explanation marks!!!
Conservative troll makes disparaging remark about Toronto, video at 11.
Thanks for calling out the Cons on the mail drops. Love the scientific accuracy of their question…of course, it’s all about building their behavioral database.
BTW, Flaherty is clueless as a Finance Minister..
Ralph Goodale was lobbied by former Goldman Sachs employee Mark Carney to kill income trusts.. there was even a Department of Finance memorandum circulating stating that the income trust structure was the main impediment to foreign takeover of Canadian businesses. Bob Nadeau was a recipient.
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2007/06/incriminating-serge-nadeau-sighting.html
So seniors lost 20 billion. The rest of the investors who were not seniors lost 15 billion? Now do I have it figured out that 35 billion total was lost in the I.Ts markets? The 35 billion has been thrown around a lot on this website.
By Marc on 03.31.08 10:38 pm
Marc, the 35 billion dollar loss of equity figure includes among other things, the Canada Pension Plan’s income trust position, a plethora of mutual funds held by average Canadian investors, US investors who brought money into the Canadian financial markets who will probably never return, and people other average Canadians who aren’t yet seniors.
and ignoring the betrayed promise on income trusts which wiped out an estimated $20 billion in seniors’ savings.
Bulls**t. That $20 billion didn’t exist. Or to put it another way it existed at the expense of other taxpayers because of and only because of, preferential tax treatment via a sub prime mortgage type scheme cooked up on Bay St. It was $20 billion these seniors didn’t deserve that went back to it’s rightful owners: ordinary taxpayers. This income trust horse you keep flogging is deservedly DOA.
By Henry on 03.31.08 10:29 pm
The taxes that these seniors would have paid on withdrawal of $20 billion from their retirement accounts doesn’t exist. Just for fun, could you explain how $20 billion went back to tax payers? Do you understand the lost tax revenues from the leveraged buyouts that Mark Carney advantaged with his tax policies?
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1129635339290732544&q=mark+carney&total=57&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
Don’t believe that Mark Carney’s employment with Goldman Sachs’ is not an issue need only read this article.. by the way, Goldman Sachs is making millions in fees from the leverage buyout of BCE, in itself a huge tax leakage. BCE would have been a huge source of tax revenue had it been allowed to become an income trust.
Goldman Sachs Has Gained Too Much Political Power: Matthew Lynn
June 5 (Bloomberg) — Forget “The Da Vinci Code.” If you want to get
to grips with a real conspiracy, take a look at all the Goldman Sachs
Group Inc. staffers taking over important economic positions around the
world.
The U.S. Treasury, the Bank of Italy and the Bank of England have all
recently poached key policy makers from the world’s most profitable
securities firm.
While no one would dispute that New York-based Goldman Sachs is a
money-making machine full of alpha-brains, it isn’t healthy for so many
decision-makers to be drawn from one source.
It is hard to ignore the trend for appointing Goldman employees to big
government-appointed jobs. In the information technology business, they
used say, “No one ever got fired for buying IBM.” In politics right
now, the motto seems to be, “No one ever got fired for hiring Goldman
Sachs.”
U.S. President George W. Bush has just appointed Goldman Sachs Chief
Executive Officer Henry Paulson as his new Treasury secretary, one of
the most powerful economic jobs in the world.
In January, Goldman Sachs Managing Director Mario Draghi became the new
governor of the Bank of Italy. In Britain, David Walton, who was chief
European economist for Goldman in London, last year joined the Bank of
England’s Monetary Policy Committee, which sets U.K. interest rates.* In
Canada, Mark Carney, formerly managing director in Goldman’s Toronto
office, is now a senior official in that country’s Finance Ministry.*
It’s not just economic jobs, either. Gavyn Davies went from Goldman to
become chairman of the British Broadcasting Corp. for a few years. When
someone was needed to run London’s preparations for the 2012 Olympics,
where did they turn? Goldman of course. Paul Deighton, a chief operating
officer at the securities firm, was appointed in December. When
politicians need a job filled, it seems they just shout at their
secretaries: “Get me the Goldman phone directory.”
Goldman Advisers
The traffic goes in other directions as well. Among the firm’s advisers
are three former European Union commissioners: Mario Monti, Peter
Sutherland and Karel van Miert.
“Goldman is plugged into the powers that be in the U.S.,” said Patrick
McGurn, executive vice president at the Rockville, Maryland-based
Institutional Shareholder Services. “There are going to be areas where
the interests of the Treasury Department and the U.S. and Goldman
intersect. On balance, it’s got to be a plus for Goldman, especially
outside the U.S.”
The polite word for that is “network.” The impolite word is “cronyism.”
In many ways, the desire to hire Goldman people is completely
understandable. In recent years, Goldman has proved itself a formidable
organization. Its profits are strong. It constantly reinvents itself. It
has talent in abundance. Plenty of former Goldman staffers have done
well in government. Robert Rubin, the Treasury secretary to U.S.
President Bill Clinton was probably the most spectacular example.
Four Issues
Still, there are four issues that are worth thinking about.
First, it is starting to look like a bandwagon. Politicians will appoint
a Goldman employee because they know the decision will get them great
press. Some of the firm’s success will rub off on them. Yet just as
International Business Machines Corp. wasn’t always the right choice for
your technology department, Goldman isn’t necessarily the best source of
candidates for a government job. The risk is that better talent is
overlooked.
Next, Goldman Sachs managers are likely to have a world view dominated
by trends in financial markets. In the last decade, that might well have
been right. The economy was grappling with globalization and market
liberalization. Yet the next 10 years may be a period in which asset-
and commodity-price inflation are the main focus. That would require
policy makers who weren’t groomed on a trading floor — and you won’t
find them at Goldman.
Set of Preconceptions
Third, *the concentration of power is starting to look unhealthy. *A
clan of former senior Goldman staffers is now in a position to help
steer the dollar, the euro and the pound. There needn’t be anything
sinister about that — though financial conspiracy theorists could have
a field day with some of the connections. The issue is that they are
likely to have a uniform set of preconceptions and prejudices. In any
area of endeavor, it is healthy to have a wide diversity of views.
Global monetary policy is no exception.
Lastly, there may be the *potential for conflicts of interest*. For
example, policy makers might need to think whether oil speculation has
to be brought under control. And Goldman is a participant in that trade.
Would a former Goldman manager hammer one of his old firm’s most
profitable lines of business? And would they form an objective view on
whether hedge and buyout funds are amassing too much influence? Maybe not.
Damage to Reputation
Goldman may not benefit from the recent appointments. Rubin presided
over an era of exceptional economic strength, but Paulson won’t be so
lucky with the U.S.’s record budget and current-account deficits. Draghi
will have to deal with an Italian economy still in a shambles, and
Walton is helping set interest rates after the U.K. boom has passed.
If the Goldman staffers mess up, the reputation of the firm they came
from may be damaged.
Politicians should call a moratorium. At the very least, the next time
they have a big job to fill they could consider candidates from Morgan
Stanley or UBS AG. Or perhaps someone who isn’t an investment banker at all.
(Matthew Lynn is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are
his own.)
To contact the writer of this column: Matthew Lynn in London at
matthewlynn@bloomberg.net .
I imagine those Conservative mailers with one page, lots of pictures and a yes/no response were composed with their supporters in mind. Those who can’t read, like lots of pictures and can’t compose an opinion on their own. Duh–
Dastardly Conservatives for papering the nation with pre-election literature … but what are the consequences of these mass mailings as they affect the Liberal party decision whether to have an election now or later ???
I would think that many Liberal MPs are scared sh!tless about a snap election, while others are demanding getting back to power asap … and these mailings are upsetting the ‘election now’ crowd in caucus ..!!
Real bummer for the Liberal party, I would imagine ….
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/science/01patc.html?8dpc=&_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
Flaherty’s Form Of Income Splitting Will Only Benefit 15% Of Seniors, Himself Included
Flaherty would like to be seen as the friend of ordinary Canadians. Unfortunately he is not. He is a friend of special interests, including his own.
When he announced that retired people would be able to take advantage of income splitting, he left 85% of them out in the cold.
How? By saying that only seniors who were members of defined pension plans could participate in this tax break. Unfortunately, a mere 15% of Canadians belong to this kind of pension plan. As for the others, they are out of luck.
Not Jim though. He is a member of not one but two gold-plated pension plans. The one he’ll get from the Ontario government AND the one he’ll get from the federal government. No wonder he’s concerned about those future tax breaks.
As for the rest of us, what breaks do we get Jim?
Brent Fullard
Related:
Jimhadhischance.ca
Jim Flaherty would like to be seen as the friend of ordinary Canadians. Unfortunately he is not. He is a friend of special interests, including his own.
When he announced that retired people would be able to take advantage of income splitting, he left 85% of them out in the cold.
How? By saying that only seniors who were members of defined pension plans could participate in this tax break. Unfortunately, a mere 15% of Canadians belong to this kind of pension plan. As for the others, they are out of luck.
Not Jim though. He is a member of not one but two gold-plated pension plans. The one he’ll get from the Ontario government AND the one he’ll get from the federal government. No wonder he’s concerned about those future tax breaks.
As for the rest of us, what breaks do we get Jim?
Related:
Jimhadhischance.ca
“fiction or insults”?
Why would the Finance Dept. be pushing for changes in the way ITs are taxed unless there’s an issue of concern?
“inasults”
I take that to mean you getting pased over for a top slot in the Liberal caucus again. Either you were given a position entitling you to represent the Official Opposition, and speak to issues, or you weren’t. Not an insult, just reality.
So seniors lost 20 billion. The rest of the investors who were not seniors lost 15 billion? Now do I have it figured out that 35 billion total was lost in the I.Ts markets? The 35 billion has been thrown around a lot on this website.
Geoffrey L has it bang on, not to mention because of the lies of HARPO and FLATULENCE, some of these trusts were bought out by pension funds, which by the way are exempt from the tax, and multi nationals that do not pay any taxes for the next few years. Canadian tax payers lost future revenue from this fiasco, not to mention also the lack of faith that international investors now have for our financial system. There is an American couple setting up a law suit under NAFTA that will be interesting to see. Yes there were about 2.5 million investors, the ones I have talked to are the best PR for a lying deceitful bunch of a** holes that caused allot of financial hardships for those who do not have a company pension. One person you can ask is the defeated /Reform CONservative out in Vancouver. She blamed her defeat on those who lost money from their income trusts. These will be the people who will come out and vote against these bu**shitters. By the way if the Canada Pension plan lost money in their trust investments…so did you…Ralph Klein said it best about Harpo…in the end all a politician has is his word… That said it best.
This income trust horse you keep flogging is deservedly DOA.
By Henry on 03.31.08 10:29 pm
As is your brain function .
.Get out your pom poms everyone!
By John G on 03.31.08 10:41 pm
Gee, you look swell in that thong .
Marc, the 35 billion dollar loss of equity figure includes among other things, the Canada Pension Plan’s income trust position, a plethora of mutual funds held by average Canadian investors, US investors who brought money into the Canadian financial markets who will probably never return, and people other average Canadians who aren’t yet seniors.
Marc needs a pop up picture book .
So…
Several experts on the issue of how the flag issue should be handled advise that the flag not be lowered and, somehow or other, this is a Con plot?
It strikes me that there’s lots of historical precedence to determine how the matter should be handled, entirely beyond whatever the government of the day would like.
Umm… not to dispute your general point here (with which I agree completely), but as far as I know the number of households in Halton Region (same as Halton Riding?) is kicking around 160,000 right now, which means they would be allowed about 16,000 flyers.
Certainly not 29,000, but where are you getting your 7,000 number from? Or is that just from this one postal substation?
Please clarify before someone else hammers on this.
That is just one postal substation, of course. There are 60,000 households in total in Halton. — Garth
“One day closer to an election” – a nothing statement.
Either get on with forcing an election or quit talking about it! Frankly, it’s getting a bit stale.
The paper might not be too far off the mark with this report, but the Brits should also take care of their own first. Things aren’t that great in Limeyland.
http://tinyurl.com/38m9lx
*******************************************
In keeping with the link I posted earlier (about Saudi Arabia now readying their citizens for a nuke attack from someone), Israel is also having an internal drill the week of April 6 for their folks.
Israel is among the top ten holders of nukes in the world, so why all this sudden preparation by countries?
Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt certainly won’t attack, as there is no reason for them to.
What about a set-up to (supposedly) fool the rest of the world? I wouldn’t put anything past these goddamned neo-cons — they won’t stop at anything until they control the black gold there.
As Russia has clearly said that an attack on Iran is the same as an attack on itself, China will also back Russia, it seems that this Tibet violence is a ploy to divert TV viewers’ focus away from what is really going on.
http://tinyurl.com/26esxd
Go, Garth!
Hit them upside the head with the Manual of Allowances and Services!
Harper’s And Flaherty’s F-I-B (Fabrication-Incompetence-Betrayal)
Unprecedented $35 Billion Loss And Injury Sustained By Ordinary Average
Canadians
As A Direct Result Of The Conservative Government’s Actions
W.R.T. Income Trusts On October 31, 2006
—————————————-
Treachery And Treason By Numbers:
As Measured By The S&P/TSX Income Trust Index
Date Index Value Approx Market Value
—————– ———— ———————–
Oct 31, 2006 164.86 $200.0 Billion
Nov 14, 2006 135.51 $164.4 Billion
Value Loss 29.35 $ 35.6 Billion
Percentage Loss 17.8% 17.8%
IT For Income Trusts
———————-
Remember, Remember
The 1st Of November
The Conservative’s Income Trust Treason And Plot
I Know Of No Reason
Why The Income Trust Treason
Should Ever Be Forgot
The are no limits to the Cons’ vindictiveness and pettiness. For the sake of your mate at Canada Post, don’t give away enough info so that these creeps can target him. I’m being completely serious.
“By the way, my buddy at the Canada Post substation in the middle of Halton sent me an email this afternoon. “This flyer is slated to go out to 29,000 homes tomorrow,” his note said, and along with it he sent a digital picture (below) of the latest Conservative flyer. ”
Is this legal. That an employee of Canada Post uses other party’s mail for his own personal political agenda? If this piece of mail was not delivered to his own personal address, I don’t believe that he should have “scanned” or “photocopied” it. And I don’t think you, as a parliamentarian should be encouraging this type of behaviour.
No, let’s allow other, unprincipled Parliamentarians to screw the taxpayer and break the rules. And let’s punish the diligent Canada Post employee, too. Good plan, Catty. — Garth
Bulls**t. That $20 billion didn’t exist. Or to put it another way it existed at the expense of other taxpayers because of and only because of, preferential tax treatment via a sub prime mortgage type scheme cooked up on Bay St. It was $20 billion these seniors didn’t deserve that went back to it’s rightful owners: ordinary taxpayers. This income trust horse you keep flogging is deservedly DOA.
BY HENRY ON 03.31.08 10:29 PM
This is the type of ill-informed comment that really frosts my butt–if this is typical of the Conservative mentality , we are in big trouble.
Seniors & Canadians in general invested in a legal vehicle sanctioned by government–this was not some half-baked scheme out some third world country.
We invested , we made money & we payed taxes at a far higher rate than if these same entities were set-up as corporations (average corporate rate from Rev Can figures is at 6.2%–average personal tax rate much higher)–we were paying to the tax coffers amounts far in excess of what the gov`t gained when these entities were corporations prior to their conversion to the trust structure.
Most of us invested in larger amounts once we were given an absolute promise by Mr Harper & his Conservatives that they would “NEVER TAX INCOME TRUSTS”.
Our only mistake was believing the promise.
The income trust market is down just under 36 billion dollars at present.
Your tax revenue is down just under 1.4 billion dollars at present & the only reason it is not worse is because of the credit crisis which has taken any new buy-outs off the table.
Canada pension is down just under 300 million dollars because of trust losses.
So no one should listen to guys like Henry–unless they get their facts straight , they do not deserve a forum on this blog.
We will see once election time rolls around if this issue is a dead horse–all of us can`t wait to rise from the dead & correct a wrong that did not need to occur.
Dr Mike Popovich—former life-long Conservative.
(one of the all-time fav political put-down terms, right up there with flip-flop).
One could always say things like retreat, chucking ones previously stated positions, or even exodus from principles. I especially like the latter.
But…I’m with you on the Tank Man.
Speaking of rules, (7,000 to 29,000).
Firstly, no-one with any amount of experience would ever accuse government of not having their very own creative mathematics program. i.e. departmental budgets, tendering, expense accounts, funds available to Independents as opposed to Party members etc.
Secondly, for the Citizen. If you are now considering civil disobedience, say like not complying with Revenue Canada’s rules, take a bit of advice. Don’t try this at home.
By Platty on 03.31.08 10:05 pm
Another of your many fans?
I had a quick gander at this fans blogsite and discovered the oxymoron of the day. I’ll let you figure it out.
On said site, the latest post contains a youtube clip of someone speaking, calling themselves Officer Clark. Here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un_PjRXV5l8
Rules Rules Rules. What ya gonna do??
This is so exciting!!! It is so exciting I wrote this sentence so I can add more explanation marks!!!
By John Frain on 03.31.08 10:51 pm
That was really quite good!!!!
What’s up today? Did Peter Van Loan hire a ghost writer for you guys??
God knows he could use one. His material is so stale it deserves a monument. One that says, “Rest In Peace”.
And when said flyer arrives from Dave Van K., it will be returned, annotated as usual,
1. GST cut, doesn’t do anything for seniors unless they spend money. BTW what about the rest of us?
2. Seniors allowance and GIS increase, I should hope these things are indexed otherwise seniors loose purchasing power.
3. Income splitting: Wasn’t that the idea of one Garth Turner, the same guy booted from the CPC and now Liberal member for Halton. We all know Flaherty was opposed to the idea. Revisonist history again!
Hope the dealership’s still doing well, you’ll need it!
I have been noticing from those posting that the ridings that are receiving the 10 percenters recently are not just close opposition held ridings but also Conservative ridings. Given the Conservative strategy, could this suggest that internal polling is showing those Conservative MPs are having problems maintaining support?
By John L on 03.31.08 10:01 pm
Think about what really happened:
The Finance Department decided that the tax treatment of distribution of profits as income from ITs was getting a better deal than the distribution through dividends.
The Libs came up with one solution: they changed the dividend markup rules, effectively lowering taxes on dividends; and total taxes paid on business profits.
The Cons came up with another solution, the increased taxes on ITs, increasing total taxes on profits generated by IT businesses.
Go figure, Flaherty, the guy who says Ontario should lower business taxes, actually increased them, after Goodale lowered them!
Well we all know Flaherty can’t even add up!
For those who need proof of the CPP Income Trust Losses, Taxes Lost Due to Income Trust takeovers and Overall Income Trust Losses as of March 21, 2008 please download the following spreadsheets.
http://upload2.net/page/download/8ePEJI9igOwr9HL/XLQ+CPP+Trust+Holdings+as+of+Mar+31+2007+updated+032108.xls.html
http://upload2.net/page/download/Sm517sQxpwLjcv7/IT+Takeouts+and+Distn+Lost+based+on+Oct+31+closings+%28022808%29.xls.html
http://upload2.net/page/download/NNnLRkvZv5bFzr5/IT+Total+Update+032108+vs+103106.xls.html
So Catherine is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it?
I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?
By the way, my buddy at the Canada Post substation in the middle of Halton sent me an email this afternoon. “This flyer is slated to go out to 29,000 homes tomorrow,”
Wow! Does he also give you a running itinerary of mail that will be delivered to Conservative members in your riding? His job is to deliver the mail, not steal mail before it is slated for delivery, scan it and leak it to you. I wonder if a Conservative member receives second notices on bills…does he tell you that also? I guess Canada Post cannot be trusted.
If this was done to a Liberal flyer, you can bet that you and the LP would be screaming bloody murder!
Your friend should be fired for this.
Leasa
As another poster has so well stated it: “So Catherine (or Leasa, her alter-ego) is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it? I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?” — Garth
I’ve been away for a couple of days and have been catching up by reading past blogs, so my apologies for responding to a post on a previous blog. I just have to get this off my chest.
The brain washed/dead bought and paid for by the Cons Goldilocks, aka Leasa, is spouting her usual thoughtless drivel and life goes on. My oh my, don’t we live in interesting times!!!
Keep up the good work Garth…you are doing just fine…good on you.
By Michael on 03.31.08 11:01 am
Goldilocks and the three bears come to mind, because they are hard to “bear” . We know who they are, so I won’t bother naming them. These trolls are just doing their job, I guess. “An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion. Recently, the word troll is also frequently used as a synonym for flamebait, even though the two words have distinct meanings.”
I don’t know how Goldilocks finds the time to post on here so frequently when she has a large, incorporated business to run, and has to keep her eye on all of her employees to ensure that they are “doing their job” or else. It is rather pointless to debate with Goldilocks as it is not her intention to have honest deBATE—it is her intention to **it, as in “BAIT”. I have given up on taking the bait.
Garth is to be commended for allowing Goldilocks and the three (or more) bear-trolls to consistently insult him or put down his point of view. They see something wrong with people like Garth changing their point of view based on new information or a substantial change in a party they once believed in. These trolls will not be swayed by truth, nor will they respect the opinions of others when they differ from theirs. They ignore substantive responses to their diatribes and “canned” messages, and move on to the next “talking point”.
There are times I tell myself that it is a waste of time reading this blog because of the CRAP you have to wade through first, but there are those of you who do have something of value to contribute, and it is those enlightened posts that keep me coming back. I don’t always agree with what is posted (and for the trolls—I am not a Liberal) and I don’t expect others to agree with me, but I defend Garth’s position to allow different points of view–even when he is being attacked.
It would just be a better blog if the paid and/or volunteer CON trolls would take some time off once in awhile. However, having said that, it is posts made by these trolls that have convinced me to vote ABC.
I was able to watch a bit of QP yesterday, and was impressed with Bob Rae. Hopefully he will raise the level of debate. I saw at least two Conservative MPs reading their “talking points”. Did Baird think he was being clever when he slipped in that old quote from Bob? A quote that had nothing to do with the question he was asked?
If more people watched QP, more people would vote ABC. They show up for their job, but they aren’t doing their job–they are supposed to represent all Canadians, and they aren’t.
Sorry this is so long, but hey! I haven’t posted in 3 days, so I’m making up for it now.
THis is no April Fools Day joke. Unfortunately it is the truth about the nasty neocons and their hypocrisy.
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/04/01/5157921-sun.html
Tory flyers ‘crossed the line’
Tue, April 1, 2008
Taxpayers money pays for the mailings called ‘poop-o-grams
By CHIP MARTIN, SUN MEDIA
They’re being called attack ads, political propaganda or “Tory poop-o-grams” — and they’re turning up in mailboxes in London and across the country.
Millions of taxpayer dollars are paying for the postal political partisanship one observer has labelled “sneaky and masterful.”
Homes in London West, which the federal Conservatives have apparently targeted as winnable from the Liberals, have had as many as five of the flyers.
The black-and-white pamphlets target issues such as Conservative plans to end house arrest for offenders, the reduction of the GST, reduced taxes and the new $1,200 child care tax benefit.
All tout Conservative plans and dismiss Liberal ideas, and many contain unflattering photos of a shrugging Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.
Readers are urged to show support for Tory policies and return the flyer, postage-free, to Edmonton-Spruce Grove Tory MP Rona Ambrose.
“That’s garbage,” fumes London West Liberal MP Sue Barnes. “I think they have crossed the line.”
She said her office has fielded about 60 complaints about the partisan pamphlets.
“I certainly think they have angered constituents in my riding,” she said. Barnes said she received two of them in her mailbox at home.
When he visited Barnes last week, Nova Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brison said the flyers are turning up across the country.
“They are taking tax dollars to do this,” he said.
The flyers originate from the central communications branch of the Conservatives. Such mailings are normally intended to help MPs stay in touch with constituents, he said.
“They are not designed for that kind of propaganda.”
Ed Holder, the Conservative nominee in the next election in London West, said he knows nothing about the flyers.
Told of their contents, Holder said he sees no difference from recent “Keeping in Touch” newsletters Barnes mails to her constituents.
The February edition, for instance, blasted the Tories for “economically unsound tax cuts . . . politically driven boutique tax credits” and “laissez faire ideology that leaves everything to the markets.”
Garth Turner minces no words about the blitz of Conservative mailings.
“Tory poop-o-grams,” is how the Liberal MP for Halton, a former Conservative, describes them. “It’s an attack ad. It is pre-writ advertising. It is sneaky and masterful.”
Turner noted under Commons rules, MPs can send mail for free to 10 per cent of their households at any one time. But they can do so several times a week.
“This is probably a stupid abuse of the system the House of Commons should do away with.”
Turner noted all parties take advantage of the mailings. In 2007, the Conservatives racked up $3.2 million in House of Commons printing, the Liberals $1.92 million worth and the New Democrats $1.43 million.
I imagine those Conservative mailers with one page, lots of pictures and a yes/no response were composed with their supporters in mind. Those who can’t read, like lots of pictures and can’t compose an opinion on their own. Duh–
By Judy on 03.31.08 11:32 pm
The type of question that appears on this flyer is what is referred to by professional pollers as a ‘closed-ended question’. In other words, the subject is railroaded into responding in the manner that is predetermined. These kind of questions are useful in closing sales of used cars and multi-level marketing ponzi schemes and also in cutting off open opinions. Useful in interrogation as well.
*****
Closed-ended questions limit respondents’ answers to the survey. The participants are allowed to choose from either a pre-existing set of dichotomous answers, such as yes/no, true/false, or multiple choice with an option for “other” to be filled in, or ranking scale response options.
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/survey/com4a2a.cfm
*****
Closed-ended questions decrease the subject’s options in answering. In addition, they make the subject passive during the interaction, because he or she is forced to answer questions from the writer’s perspective. Overusing closed-ended questions may lead to an air of interrogation and impersonality, which displays a negative attitude toward the subject. In addition, overuse of closed-ended questions my limit the data obtained and result in an inaccurate assessment.
Hello Garth,
Not that it should surprise anyone, but Dion’s ratings are dismal. Why?? Afghanistan. Should have never wavered, why did he?
Catty Cathy, Li’l Leasa,
may we consider your respective 4:30 and 8:06 AM comments your net contribution to this blog to-day?
See you tomorrow, Girls.
Closed-ended questions decrease the subject’s options in answering. In addition, they make the subject passive during the interaction, because he or she is forced to answer questions from the writer’s perspective. Overusing closed-ended questions may lead to an air of interrogation and impersonality, which displays a negative attitude toward the subject. In addition, overuse of closed-ended questions my limit the data obtained and result in an inaccurate assessment.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 8:20 am
Right on, Geoffrey. Intelligent people will have picked up on that and filed them into the blue box, where they belong.
—————————
Not that it should surprise anyone, but Dion’s ratings are dismal. Why?? Afghanistan. Should have never wavered, why did he? By Peter on 04.01.08 8:21 am
While I am surprised about Dion’s ratings, I do wish the Liberals had not wavered on Afghanistan. However, it was the Conservative Party who pushed for an extension. Let’s not forget that.
For those who need proof of the income trust losses and tax losses due to income trust takeovers as of March 21, 2008 please download the following spreadsheets:
CPP Income Trust Losses ($273,801,000) http://tiny.cc/kUI6L
Taxes Lost Due to Income Trust Takeovers ( the annual taxes are lost on $1,370,677,000 of distributions)
http://tiny.cc/063Bt
Overall Income Trust Losses ($35,738,336,000)
http://tiny.cc/q1YeM
Catherine, Leasa – guess what. The Canada Post employee is also a “taxpayer” and it must be horrible to see his taxpayer money being thrown away like this.
Why can’t they put all their Yes/No questions on “one” sheet of paper? Save money and save some trees might seem like a good idea.
Ya, Yes/No and nothing for comment or a different view or even a suggestio – black or white.
I think citizens should save these mailings and get together to challenge the misleading “lies” in them and the cost – could it be done in court by citizens?
Garth, the Speaker needs to get some control in the House. Rae said it has changed so much from 26 years ago – he said it’s hard to hear – the din of noise is to bad and very different from years ago.
Waiting for Henry to respond.. Harper’s cat got your tongue?
Come on…
Gee, the Income Trust Halloween Treat party that Harper and Flagherty had just isn’t going away.
I was reading about how Ex-Commissioner Zackie got involved. He seems like a vendictive and dirty fighter. No wonder the Harper Gang like him and stood beside him as long as they could.
I wonder if he regrets any of his actions; especially the action to destroy Ralph Goodales good reputation?
As another poster has so well stated it: “So Catherine (or Leasa, her alter-ego) is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it? I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?” — Garth
Oh Garth…that is thin. First of all you know from my IP I am not Catherine. If your friend suspected ‘wrong-doing’ why did he send it to you and not call the authorities? Canada Post was paid to deliver on a certain day. If they thought it was ‘wrong’ did they express this to anyone? It is not up to this worker to decide, to be judge and jury, forgo the legal system and send it to Garth the executioner. Last I heard that’s not how our judicial system works. Have the rules changed? If he would leak the flyers to you, does he leak private mailings to Conservative members as well? The ‘wrong-doing’ is clear here and it’s not with the CPC. You should have thought about that before you blew the whistle on your source.
Leasa
We are all waiting for Henry to respond to the trust investors facts.
Maybe he is still in shock that we have arisen from the dead.
Dr mike—former Conservative.
Waiting for Henry to respond.. Harper’s cat got your tongue?
Come on…
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 8:42 am
Henry is waiting for his “talking points”. If he doesn’t come up with a good response, he will ignore you IF he is a troll. Facts often get in the way of people’s opinions.
———–
Garth, the Speaker needs to get some control in the House. Rae said it has changed so much from 26 years ago – he said it’s hard to hear – the din of noise is to bad and very different from years ago.By slg on 04.01.08 8:42 am
I agree, SLG. If an MP’s comments are being drowned out by hecklers (regardless of party affiliation) they should sit down until the “order, order” from the Speaker of the House silences the hecklers. I’ve seen Dion do that, and it is classy. That’s how you deal with children.
If an MP does not try to answer the question put to him/her, they should be called on it by the Speaker.
I think the troll mentality has infected QP when MPs respond with controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages …. with the intention of baiting others into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion. (example–Baird’s response to an MP about the environment, by quoting an off-topic past statement from Rae)
As another poster has so well stated it: “So Catherine (or Leasa, her alter-ego) is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it? I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?” — Garth
By Leasa on 04.01.08 8:06 am
This begs the question. Why do you post under two names? Seems a tad disingenuous to me and calls into question your credibilty on everything you have said in the past, re farming, etc. A cogent close argued counterpoint is always worth listening to but I think now everyone should just dismiss your posts for the scurious lies they and their writer really are.
So Catherine is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it?
I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?
By Judy on 04.01.08 8:05 am
Judy,
Good point. As us usual when Catherine strays away from reciting the the party line and tries to think for herself she gets in trouble.
Obviously she is one of those that Leasa identifies as “not eloquent”.
Harper’s desperate attempt to blunt the trauma of his income trust betrayal
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/04/harpers-desperate-attempt-to-blunt.html
Pat G wrote:
The contempt with which the Conservatives treat legitimate questions from duly-elected opposition members in the parliament of Canada is an insult to all Canadians. We pay their salaries and we have a right to clear answers. It is demeaning to their party when they show premeditated avoidance of having to answer questions over and over again by busying themselves and government employees with searches of historic records to see if they can find a quotation they can pin on an opposition member–one which no longer applies or makes sense, anything to avoid answering the question being asked.
I agree with you Pat, however there are just as many disengenuous questions that are prefaced by a wild accusation or slur. Disgust needs to be levelled against all of them. There are some exceptions on both sides. If you don’t acknowledge or see this than there is nothing more I can say to you.
Leasa – or whoever you are – report it to the authorities – ah, like the Gov of Canada are the authorities – like hell Harper would deal with it appropriately and you can bet the guy would lose his job. DUH!
Hey, is there still such a thing as citizen’s arrest? Let’s arrest Harper…LOL
By Lana on 04.01.08 9:01 am
Lots of folks here will echo the opinion by Lana stated here. The role of the Speaker has become strictly symbolic – unless there is a MAJOR infringement of the Rules.
Granted, the session is well named “Question Period”, as it sure as hell is NOT “Answer Period”!!
For the first time in months, I watched yesterday to see the entrance of the new Libs. Interesting they were given questions while the sole new-neoCon was kept silent. I guess it takes time to train, indoctrinate and brain wash new Cons.
QP has become a joke. If the Speaker will not enforce the rules of decorum in the House, perhaps it is time for the “Opposition” to better demonstrate proper conduct.
Let the CPC clowns be the only ones on the news who demonstrate complete lack of respect for a Member trying to speak. It would be refreshing to see the calamity only coming from the gooberment side.
Please, opposition parties, you are not demonstrating LEADERSHIP by lowering yourselves to the level of the CPC. By contributing to the horse pucks flying around the HoC, you look as much the horse’s patoot as they do.
Maybe it is fun to act like a 12-year-old-CPC-troll in the HoC, but we, the electorate, are getting tired of the petulant behaviour.
Grow up!
Congrats to Bob Rae, QP should be a bit more interesting now that charismatic Bob is in the front lines. I have a feeling that the Cons won’ get away with not answering questions and they will need some new lines pretty quick.
Maybe the Cons could hire Zacckie, he seems to be quite bored these days. Zacckie must have been a nasty RCMP…Good thing Tasers weren’t legal in his younger days.
Hear that? That’s surely the sound of any right-thinking Essex County Conservative ripping up their party membership card
Vote of confidence
Gord Henderson, Windsor Star
Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Windsor glommed onto the good news from Ford like a capsized boater snatching at a dangling lifeline just a few terrifying moments before being swept over the brink of a thundering waterfall.
Were we happy to learn that Ford, with $17 million in support from the province, will make a $170-million investment in its mothballed Essex Engine Plant, creating 300 jobs for laid-off workers? “Happy” doesn’t begin to describe the giddy, over-the-moon sense of relief that comes with learning Windsor’s chain of misery has at last been broken.
No doubt the usual suspects, the carping, crepe-hanging voices of doom who revel in Windsor’s ongoing misery, will dismiss the announcement as no big deal, just a speed bump on a dying city’s road to oblivion.
But you and I know it was something vastly different. When there hadn’t been more than a sliver of positive news in the better part of two years, when it seemed every week brought another body blow to our industrial base, doubt and fear begun gnawing at our vitals. We started to envision the worst. Flint. Buffalo. Rust-bucket wastelands. Optimism crumbled. Exit strategies loomed.
And then there was Monday. The vote of confidence Ford delivered in the packed lobby of its sprawling engine plant, where acres of empty parking lots speak volumes, was exactly what Windsor needed. Sure. The announcement could have been bigger and better, and would have been if the Stephen Harper government could get its ideological thumb out of its behind.
But there’s no understating the importance of what Ford, the CAW, especially Local 200, and the province achieved here. When a struggling car company, worst-hit of the Big Three, sees reason to invest $170 million in a new generation engine here, when it could have gone to low-cost, high-incentive locales, that tells the world Windsor is still open for business and still an industrial force to be reckoned with.
UNION SHOWS COURAGE
The real heroes of this story are the pragmatic leaders of Local 200, beginning with president Mike Vince, and their common-sense members who last June voted overwhelmingly for a labour agreement that slashes job classifications and permits outsourcing of janitorial, shipping and other non-core functions.
It took guts to abandon hard-won rules that had been in place for ages. But the union, to its everlasting credit, recognized there’s little point in having a rock-solid collective agreement with no members. Some would call it death-bed repentance. I see it as an often castigated organization demonstrating canny survival instincts.
The Stephen Harper regime, and I never thought I would say this, could learn a lot from the CAW about being able to abandon hardline stances and shift ground quickly when necessary.
Hear that? That’s surely the sound of any right-thinking Essex County Conservative ripping up their party membership card (God pity poor Jeff Watson) after seeing this region hung out to dry by Harper and his vicious little pit bull, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
There were optimistic sound bites at the press conference about Sandra Pupatello, Ontario’s economic development minister, continuing to pursue a second-phase engine plant agreement with her federal counterpart, Industry Minister Jim Prentice.
Some might buy that. But CAW president Buzz Hargrove sees little or no hope of bringing the feds onside. Hargrove told me he pleaded repeatedly with Flaherty to come on board but ran into a brick wall from an ideologically driven regime whose mantra is that it won’t pick winners and losers.
Hargrove said that’s pretty strange, given its massive investments in companies like hugely profitable tire maker Michelin in Nova Scotia and Pratt & Whitney, the Montreal aircraft engine manufacturer.
“I’ve got no optimism at all that they’re going to come around,” said Hargrove. He described the federal handling of the Ford file as the worst government bungling of an investment opportunity in his lifetime. “I’ve never seen anything so incompetent as this.”
Hargrove suspects the feds will keep the door open a crack, allowing hope to linger until they get through the election expected as early as this fall.
The tragedy, said Hargrove, is that a much bigger and better announcement, involving a lot more money and as many as 600 jobs, could have been made before the end of 2007 if the feds hadn’t been so obstinate. “What a difference it would have made in the morale of this city around Christmas,” said the CAW boss.
But good news, even downsized, is still welcome news. And we’ll happily accept it.
ghenderson@thestar.canwest.com
© The Windsor Star 2008
Too funny – from a report “Commons” by Aaron Wherry at Mcleans:
The Scene. Bob Rae walked in, Stéphane Dion on his right arm, Liberal caucus chair Anthony Rota on his left. All sides rose to applaud, though the NDP members looked as if someone had just passed gas in their proximity.
…you folks should read it – he gives a daily report and you get a picture of what you don’t see on camera.
Garth, so WHO can we complaint to for the CON’s violating the rules and wasting taxpayers dollars on all this printing/postage/environmental damage from the ‘10 percenters’ that demonstrate the Conservatives can’t do basic math?
We’ve done the letters to the editors and complain to the idiots like Dean Allision who doesn’t have a clue apparently! We want to take it further. Ethics committee, Auditor General????
MP’s don’t even know what they are sending.
Mar 25, 2008, 04:37
Lethbridge Herald
Canadians who live in hotly contested ridings — the kind that don’t vote generation after generation for one particular party — are probably accustomed to regular and often unwelcome partisan mail dropping on their doorsteps. One suspects few voters in Alberta receive such mail because most ridings here are safe seats for the federal and provincial Conservatives who can afford to take voters here for granted.
It’s a very different story in southern Ontario, and other political hotspots, where the federal Liberals and Conservatives are clawing to gain or retain seats that could well be the difference between one minority government or a majority.
For Mike Dwyer, who lives in Newmarket, Ont., it’s not just the extra junk mail that offends him. It’s that he and every other taxpayer in Canada helped pay for the production and delivery of the attack ads he received, courtesy of Lethbridge MP Rick Casson. Casson’s not alone in this. Complaints about similar attack ads, masquerading as government communications, have been popping up in newspapers and online chats for the past few weeks from other MPs in other ridings.
The folks of Newmarket have a Liberal MP at the moment — Belinda Stronach, no less — but the seat is in play because she had already said she won’t run for re-election as she returns to her career in the private sector and the family’s auto parts empire.
Other seats that are up for grabs have also been reporting boxes of the same mailouts, bearing a return address for a Conservative MP from outside the riding and all taking a shot at Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and his policies on child care and the GST.
At one point in February, the Conservatives admitted they made a mistake by sending out “free” mail without the name of a sponsoring MP on the flyers, prompting a House of Commons spokeswoman to suggest an education on free government mail was in order.
To address this oversight, the mailouts now have a sponsoring MP’s name and address attached, even if those MPs had no hand in crafting or approving of the message being sent under their names. Casson admitted he hadn’t even seen the flyer that wound up at Dwyer’s house.
Casson defended the attack ads with the lamest excuse of all — everybody else does it. That’s hardly the response southern Albertans would expect from this long-time MP who rightfully has earned a reputation as a principled public servant.
The mail is sent postage free in keeping with the Canada Post Corporation Act. Members of the House of Commons are entitled to free postage as part of their “franking privileges,” meant to ensure they can keep in touch with their constituents.
Fair enough. MPs should be able to reach out to constituents on a regular basis about issues and policy.
But the mail some Canadians have been receiving has a distinctive election feel to it. They look like ads ripped from a campaign, even though there is no election in the offing right now.
In fact, these ads were designed and sent out by the Conservative party’s research group — a piece of the party’s machinery, not government’s.
And the ads were sent by MPs to non-constituents because those MPs pooled their distribution resources to send to up to 10 per cent of the households in other ridings. A party spokesman quoted in the Ottawa Citizen referred to the practice as the “10-percenter regrouping.”
Whatever it’s called it smacks of an abuse of taxpayers’ money. The flyers aren’t enlightening Canadians to the work of government. They’re aiming to portray an opposition party in an unfavourable, even inaccurate light.
The feds should close this “regrouping” hole in franking privileges to make purely partisan, campaign-style messaging off limits. If party’s want to play that game, as Casson called it, they should do so on the party’s dime, not taxpayers’.
Given his penchant for vote rigging, was Stephen Harper behind the Zaccardelli scheme?
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/04/given-his-penchant-for-vote-rigging-was.html
The news is grim for Dion, who is suffering through his worst month since taking the helm of the Liberal party in December 2006. His approval rating stands at 11 per cent, down 6 points since February.
And for the first time, more than half of Canadians – 57 per cent – disapprove of his performance, the numbers show.
Reid said voter dissatisfaction with Dion appears to be reaching levels rarely seen in Canada.
Excerpt from an article in today’s Toronto Star on Dion’s leadership, referencing the latest Angus Reid poll: “I can’t recall a time when an opposition leader had a disapproval rating as high and an approval rating as low”….
Hahahaha!
Now Garthie, old boy, will you stick with this sinking ship? Or will you, as many of your constituents predict, move to support another leading Liberal figure? Maybe Comrade Rae? Or, perhaps Rae’s old friend and absent-from-Canada-for-most-of-his-adult-life Iggy? Will you jump ship to another party – maybe the Greens? Or, have your recent statements alluding to the fact that the Greens have zero chance of gaining a seat limit your relationship with the crunchy tree huggers?
I hear the music playing….it’s time for musical chairs. Where will Garth end up? Where will Garth sit…..
Do tell us, Garth.
I live by only one rule: Do the right thing. — Garth
By Stephen Smith on 04.01.08 9:03 am
Garth has intentionally misled you. I do not post under any other name, I am not Catherine. He knows it is illegal to steal mail from the post office and he is angry that I pointed that out. He wouldn’t like it if this was done to him or the Liberals. It is a federal offence to steal mail. I ask again, if a CPC member in his riding gets second notice on a bill or mail that he feels Garth might be interested in, does he also call Garth to tell him?
Garth, you purposely gave the posters here the idea that I am also Catherine. I expect if you are at all honest you will clarify that.
Leasa
Oh, Cath. You are such a tease. — Garth
The news is grim for Dion, who is suffering through his worst month since taking the helm of the Liberal party in December 2006. His approval rating stands at 11 per cent, down 6 points since February.
And for the first time, more than half of Canadians – 57 per cent – disapprove of his performance, the numbers show.
Reid said voter dissatisfaction with Dion appears to be reaching levels rarely seen in Canada.
Excerpt from an article in today’s Toronto Star on Dion’s leadership, referencing the latest Angus Reid poll: “I can’t recall a time when an opposition leader had a disapproval rating as high and an approval rating as low”….
Hahahaha!
By Oscar…..
I believe that Mr. Harper numbers might head the same way if we could get this information to the voters…
STEPHEN HARPER…
HE LIED TO INVESTORS ON INCOME TRUSTS.
(Hurting seniors near or on retirement as they don’t have the time frame to recuperate their losses)
ADMITTED ON TAPE he was aware of a financial offer to Cadman. (looks very much like vote buying)
His chief of staff, most likely under instructions from Harper, tried to INTERFERE in another country’s election process.
(Probably doing a favour for his idol Bushie)
He tried to SMEAR Liberal MP Bains in the House of Commons.
(The character of Stevie exposed, like the smear against Martin as favouring child pornography and Liberals supporting the Taliban)
He ran on having an ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, then immediately appointed an unaccountable minister.
(Hiding Michael Fortier in the Senate, the same senate he opposed as unelected, then appointed Fortier)
HE SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DIFFERENT from the dishonest Liberal government, they are the same if not worse.
(too many scandals to get them on one post, Baird, Day etc. etc..)
He MUZZLES HIS MINISTERS and only allows them to talk in public after the content has been cleared with the PMO.
He BROKE HIS WORD on the Atlantic Accord.
He SENDS HIS SMALL MINDED FINANCE MINISTER out to pick a fight with Ontario, the same finance minister that left Ontario with a $5.6 billion deficit and claimed it was balanced.
(Now we will have another problem with small minded Jim, if the
federal finances slip into deficit, will we know?)
TAKING AWAY ONTARIO’S representation based on population.
(Obviously the CPC is not interested in Ontario voters)
Remember that poor MILITARY WIDOW in the Maritimes that Harper promised she would get her pension, did she ever get it?
Poor Stevie Harper…seems to be a DISHONEST & UNETHICAL leader!
Is Henry a Borg? Yes or no?
http://cache.kotaku.com/images/2006/07/borg-big.jpg
Closed-ended questions limit respondents’ answers to the survey. The participants are allowed to choose from either a pre-existing set of dichotomous answers, such as yes/no, true/false, or multiple choice with an option for “other” to be filled in, or ranking scale response options.
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/research/survey/com4a2a.cfm
*****
Closed-ended questions decrease the subject’s options in answering. In addition, they make the subject passive during the interaction, because he or she is forced to answer questions from the writer’s perspective. Overusing closed-ended questions may lead to an air of interrogation and impersonality, which displays a negative attitude toward the subject. In addition, overuse of closed-ended questions my limit the data obtained and result in an inaccurate assessment.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 8:20 am
GL – Have you noticed too how on-line polls in the msm use similar tactics. Unless I totally agree with a question posed that has a yes/no answer, I don’t offer an opinion. I’ve never been polled by a political party, but have been on current issues. After many questions, the bias in the pollsters questions was obvious and I said I would not respond to any more questions and gave my reasons. I hope the responses are then not included in the poll results, but I’m not sure. We have call display, receive lots of calls from area codes, that are either telemarketers or, I assume, pollsters. We don’t have family/friends living in those area codes. I do not answer the phone.
BTW, I also note that on stories in the G&M and Toronto Star (more left leaning papers) the first responders who put down the authors are cons – as on Garth’s blog. They are so filled with hate of the Liberals, and so obvious, its laughable. The NDP, under Mulclair, is also laughable. Resembles more and more a Van Loon or Pollivere. another The NDP know they’ll never form a fed govt, yet would rather attack the Liberals, on CBC, than the cons. Amazes me a bit that the hosts don’t allude to this fat. Guess they & the pundits have to walk a fine line tho. I once voted for them, & the cons (the real ones), but never again.
By dj on 04.01.08 9:31 am
Answer: You call the RCMP. Not steal mail and send it to a political opponent of the party. That, my friend is a federal offence and very dangerous to the privacy of every CPC member in Garth’s riding. Leasa
Now how about we do this, we all write to the government, and them them to put a stop to the wasting of taxpayers money for campaigning or updating or whatever you would like to call it, by simply banning the use of the 10% ers.
They may post anything they would like to say on their party’s websites. I am sure it wouldn’t take an IT genius long to be able to write a program where you put in your postal code and that brings you immediately to the site where your MP can post his or her updates, and since the party’s would be paying for it and not the taxpayers, they can camapign 24/7….or sorry lost my mind for a moment there, the parties are already doing that in the House of Commons!
Garth, the Speaker needs to get some control in the House. Rae said it has changed so much from 26 years ago – he said it’s hard to hear – the din of noise is to bad and very different from years ago.
By slg on 04.01.08 8:42 am
SLG – I’ve written the speaker twice. First time was told the Speaker’s office doesn’t respond to an email with an email. I rec’d a letter, which was a standard response although I had asked that if I was going to receive a standard (for lack of a better word) not to bother. Early last month, I sent another email to him, but a more accusatory one (perhaps not the right word) noting his total lack of fulfilling his role as Speaker of the House. Rec’d another email from his Secretary (?) stating again he would send me a written response. Yet to receive one. The lack of parliamentary decorum, especially those of govt. members, of not only responding to questions, but totally evading the questions, while attacking any opposition members, has escalated beyond comparison to previous govts, IMHO. Our parliamentary system has become a total farce. I believe their are some good MP’s who actually want to represent their constituents, but must pledge alligance (totally wrong sp? I’m sure). This is most evident amongst the neocons who are only allowed to read from their ‘talking point’ strategists.
Sometime last year,after watching Helena Guergis answer a question in the HofC I asked if there was any reason to have this person in that position.
Finally someone else is asking.
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=1eae4438-2420-4de2-b53c-3571f602b347
I agree with a previous poster there should be an Answer Period with serious consequences for not responding with an intelligent answer.
Another question being asked this morning is where is Gerard Kennedy?
http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Columnist/article/407783
And it appears you didn’t excape either Garth.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/03/31/john-turley-ewart-garth-turner-treats-canadians-as-fools.aspx
And Ken Dryden is obviously sick of the his current game and is returning to the one he loves.Maybe he sees the Leafs winning a Stanley Cup quicker than the Liberals winning an election in it’s current state of affairs.
One day closer to an election indeed.
Maybe you should the posting and comments here before you waste our time repeating things. Just a suggestion. — Garth
How to tell a neo-Con!
They love RULES.
They love to write RULES.
They firmly believe that their RULES should apply to everyone…except themselves.
This concludes the lesson for today!
By Leasa on 04.01.08 9:57 am
If you are that concerned Leasa, I would suggest you call the R.C.M.P and report this “federal offence”.
Why can’t they put all their Yes/No questions on “one” sheet of paper? Save money and save some trees might seem like a good idea.
By slg on 04.01.08 8:42 am
Its simple really. What they want is for people to get used to the idea of saying “Yes, the CPC are on the right track” so that when an election eventually comes, and people haven’t a clue who the CPC candidate is, or what the candidate stands for, the voter will be say “Yes” on more time and vote CPC.
However, the flip side is that as many voters will get used to saying “No.” But its no to the CPC only and these votes will be split.
So this has nothing to do with the individual issue on the mailer, but everything to do with selling the non-conservative CPC brand.
Given his penchant for vote rigging, was Stephen Harper behind the Zaccardelli scheme?
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/04/given-his-penchant-for-vote-rigging-was.html
By Brent Fullard on 04.01.08 9:42 am
Brent,
Thank you for the posting.
Further to this, Mike Duffy commented yesterday that the polls shifted some fourteen points in the CPC’s favour immediately after the investigation was announced. It is obvious that Harper could not have won without Zachardelli’s meddling.
It would appear that Harper knew that Zachardelli was in trouble regarding his pension fund handling. He may have treacherously interfered with the election by promising Zachardelli protection in return for his meddling in the election.
This would explain why Harper was in touch with Zachardelli immediately after the election when he was unavailable to almost ever body else. It would also explain why Harper and Stockwell Day went to great lengths to protect Zachardelli when his actions were under fire in the HoC. It might have worked , too, if Zachardelli hadn’t self destructed by contradicting his own testimony.
If true, wouldn’t this be tantamount to treason? In another time, in another place I wonder what Harper’s fate might have been? No doubt, something horrific.
This may be the biggest scandal yet.
Is Henry a Borg? Yes or no?
http://cache.kotaku.com/images/2006/07/borg-big.jpg
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 9:54 am
I dunno, but rumor has the pic below is Harry’s Mama.. Apparently she couldn’t stand him either, such is why he lives in Toronto and is trying to assimilate all them immiegrants.
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~soules/medi402/walker/queen.GIF
Actually Mr. Wallace’s flyer is fairly good for a change, while he takes a shot at the opposition, he does actually highlight some things they have done. The question is ridiculous, as there is no option….it’s like do you still beat your wife? The thing I would strongly object to however, is the compliments of Mike Wallace….I would suggest it is compliments of the taxpayers of Canada
To John L
We’re more interested in posting facts rather than your delusional guess to what might have happened.
To Brian Wilson
You spelled Ewart’s name wrong . It’s John Turkey Inward
To Henry
You just simply don’t know S!!T
To the rest of the CRAPpers who can’t wait to post blah blah blah, Thanks for making this April fools day a special one and don’t worry we’ll still consider you to be FOOLS every day of the year.
Ron p
I do not post under any other name
By Leasa on 04.01.08 9:53 am
You lie.
Best April Fools Post on the net.
http://queer-liberal.blogspot.com/2008/04/chantal-hbert-launches-new-book-dtester.html
Maybe you should the posting and comments here before you waste our time repeating things. Just a suggestion. — Garth.
Jeeez Garth,you’re the last person who should be commenting on time wasted and repeating things.
I would suggest Question Period as one of the best examples of time wasted repeatedly.
And I would further suggest sitting on your butts during key votes that impact Canadians lives is not only repetitive, but disgraceful and insulting to those who voted and kept the faith in all things Liberal.If this is the best you people can do for those who cry out for change,then give back your newly acquired $4000 plus raise.Just another suggestion.
By Leasa on 04.01.08 9:57 am
Question: was the piece of mail in question actually addressed to a specific person? NO!
So your accusation that this could be a serious breach of privacy for CPC members is without foundation.
Now, if the piece of mail did have an actual persons name and address on it, that would be a different matter.
Holy, is this Leasa ever sound mad. I just read a couple of her threads. She should get a life or a man; whatevewr comes first, to calm her down a bit.
Did she happen to have anything to do with the Zacckie affair in trying to destroy Ralph Goodales Reputation? Wouldn’t doubt it; she just don’t get it.
The man who’s ass our PM is so willing to kiss has provided us with many memories. So on this April fools day , sit back and enjoy a laugh or two, or three, or geeez there’s so many.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgPY1adc0A
Ron p
Just google Bush fool video
Good Day Garth. Well constructed questions yesterday I thought.The more pointed and focused they are the more Mr. Flaherty struggles.It didn’t sound like he put two coherent sentences together.Some ‘answers’.Mr. Baird…Ms. Guergis…wha?I saw and heard Mr. Clement shout across “WE’RE STILL HERE,WE’RE STILL HERE!” –NUMBERED Mr.C.–your days there are concluding so please stop embarassing your offices. It appears to me Harry has conceded that DION will run as our LEADER. MY HOPE is that gathering enough facts/info/truth/insight from all contributors here (and Cat&Leasa) he will make an INFORMED CHOICE for LPC. Come on Harry,natural governing party and all that.It’s the CANADIAN thing to do! Knowledge is power-power to the people! Speaking of which,your link,Geoffrey L. to Matthewlynn@bloomberg.net has some startling,fascinating content.The Blackwater of Finance.Does this correlate with “THE SHOCK DOCTRINE”? I heard an interview with the author on Democracynow.org. also a follow-up with A.Greenspan…I believe we are seeing the orchestrations of,well,many others’ on this site express it much better than I.Thankyou Geoffrey for the info. Cons cannot control the flow of the facts. Nor can their skewed propaganda stand up to the light of day or common logic,never-mind the queasy feeling I get when I hear them CONNING US. Someone said it best the other day- “say it ‘REFOOOOORRRRMM’ the way Preston says it”! That was my laugh for the day! Good points Dr.Mike makes…EDUCATE-AGITATE-FIGHTBACK…
As Jay noted on the CAITI blog: Harper and Zaccardelli did seem kind of buddy-buddy back in 2006
http://thestar.blogs.com/notebook/2006/01/as_deniro_said_.html
As DeNiro said in Wag the Dog, “it’s a pageant”….
The election is over, but Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s image makers — and specifically the advance team that worked on his campaign — are evidently still keeping their eagle eyes out for high-quality photo ops.
And so it was that the prime minister-designate trundled over to RCMP headquarters for a grip-and-grin with Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli. The two met on the front steps — cue the snappy salute from Zaccardelli — and went inside for a 45-minute meeting away from the cameras.
The assembled hacks were herded into a nearby building to cool their heels.
Then, as the two were about to emerge, uniformed RCMP communications staff (ably assisted by soon-to-be PMO officials) lined up a campaign-perfect assortment of officers from various police departments — women, visible minorities, young men, not-so-young men — on the steps and then told them where to stand and how to act as the various media photographers and camera folks were marshalled into position.
After exchanging stilted small talk, the pair moved down the steps and across a lane to a statue of James Farquharson MacLeod, the third commissioner of the Northwest Mounted Police.
Harper looked on studiously as Zaccardelli filled him in on the history behind the statue and camera shutters snapped.
With a perfunctory “that’s all guys, thanks” from Harper’s handlers, Zaccardelli walked the incoming PM a few steps back to his limo — as reporters threw a couple of questions at the pair, which were batted away — and watched as the car quickly pulled away.
Staged? Tut, tut, such a cynical, subjective term. We prefer to describe it as elegantly choreographed
Oh, Cath. You are such a tease. — Garth
I know it is April Fool’s day, but really Garth, why would you lie like that? I thought you were different. You claim ‘that you only do what is right’, how is lying like this right? I guess you’ve now completed Liberal 101.
By James- Chatham on 04.01.08 11:14 am
James I am not a lawyer or in enforcement. However, whether it has private addresses or not, I thought that all mail within the possession of Canada Post was the property of Canada Post. These flyers were designated to be delivered to private mail boxes. I am very sure that if any laws have been broken, I don’t need to call anyone as that will be looked after. I think it is also a good thing that if any large companies or small for that matter pay Canada Post to deliver flyers think twice about release dates. They may find them posted on Garth’s blog. I’m also wondering Garth…do you have friends at Bell Canada looking for wrong-doing on your behalf?
Leasa
Sent my GST flyer back with a note “Against the cut. Does little to help those who need it and drains the government coffers of much needed revenue. But you don’t need a Master in Economics from the University of Calgary to know that”
Just heard on the CBC that The Royal Canadian Air Farce will be cancelled next season.
If that is not an April Fool’s joke, sign me up for the Revolution.
Without the RCAF (and 22 Minutes), Canadian politics would be continuous Question Period without redeeming social merit.
By Leasa on 04.01.08 11:57 am
You may well be right about the Federal offense of tampering with the “Queen’s Mail”…but the issue I took with your original post was, “..and very dangerous to the privacy of every CPC member in Garth’s riding. Leasa,” being totally without foundation.
The mail was not addressed. It could have been going to a CPC member, a Lib member, an NDP member, a Green member, a Rhino member, maybe even a “monster raving loonie” (do you have those?) member or even someone who doesn’t give a damn about political parties and isn’t a member of any! So where was the specific danger to CPC members?
As for them being posted on Garth’s blog, I’m sure there are enough preople commenting here that could scan and e-mail them to Garth, they’d end up here anyway. Heck, the CPC are probably daft enough to send them out via the postal stations that serve Garth office and home addresses, he’d get them anyway!
One of Harper’s statements in QP yesterday.
“We are getting the system reformed so that immigrants are treated fairly and get to this country as quickly as they do in our competing countries that are letting in immigrants a lot more quickly than we are. We need them. That is what we are doing,” said Harper.
The immigrants getting in most quickly are those who cross the Mexico-US border under cover of darkness.And as things continue to get worse in the US I’m sure more will cross into Canada as they did recently in Windsor.
Mrs. Finley’s answer on how this would affect Quebec with it’s certain percentage who must speak French was too evasive and needs not only more substance but more clarification.
good one, wdm.
scathing,just scathing.
Tories to ignore vote on lowering flag for Afghan deaths
Oh, so Harper is a gutless coward as well as a liar. Who the Hell does he think he is? BRING THIS POS DOWN NOW!
Enough of this pissant Bush stooge whose afraid the people will know about the body count? COWARD!
By linda on 04.01.08 11:33 am
I take inspiration from Abbie Hoffman, Timothy Leary, Hunter S. Thompson, Spalding Gray, and Ken Kesey all of whom I met and are now dead.
Leasa, the postal worker in question lives in the riding and delivers there therefore he was simply sending Garth a copy of the flyer he was to receive as unaddressed junk mail in his own mailbox.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 1:01 pm
Let us never forget Frank Zappa’s brilliant statement ‘We are a nation of laws…randomly enforced!’
Interesting how if a citizen break a ‘rule’ they face prosecution, but if an MP, or PM breaks a rule they only face a very brief news blurp!
I believe that when facts are revealed re: neo-con manouervering w/regard to Mr.Cadman,Goodale,Zachardelli-the names FLANAGAN,FINDLEY,REYNOLDS,BRODIE-should become very familiar to us,the electorate. We ALL have a RIGHT to know the truth about these individuals and their actions,up to and including HARPER. Nice job they did in Windsor…BTW…also,another citizen dumped by CONS (who died and made Mr.Day god of who re-enters or serves a sentence here?) Is Marc Emery another Con discard?If you can’t be manipulated,conned,jerry-mandered or silenced by those in power-GREAT!TELL PEOPLE! Our principles will trump their closed-door,closed-minded policies and tactics EVERY DAY! See ya cons…wouldn’t EVER wanna be ya!!!
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 12:58 pm
Oh, so Harper is a gutless coward as well as a liar. Who the Hell does he think he is? BRING THIS POS DOWN NOW!
Enough of this pissant Bush stooge whose afraid the people will know about the body count? COWARD!
……………………………….
Go back to the USA and campaign for your Obama-saviour … and stay there if this is how you speak about the Prime Minister of Canada and the Canadian nation and people.
http://tinyurl.com/2bfx6h
What’s in Steve Harpers Wallet . Why his baby pic of course .
It’s junk mail, plain and simple. Unasked for and unappreciated. Pure crap. Waste of paper. The quality is so poor it cannot even be used as litter pan liner. Can’t trust it enough for a bird cage liner. Utter garbage.
Why the Harper Conservatives think I or my neighbours want their unsolicited waste delivered to our houses is a mystery.
You want it, Leasa? Post your addy and by golly postal workers will deliver the tonnes of garbage poop-ograms personally to you.
Holy, is this Leasa ever sound mad. I just read a couple of her threads. She should get a life or a man; whatevewr comes first, to calm her down a bit.
Did she happen to have anything to do with the Zacckie affair in trying to destroy Ralph Goodales Reputation? Wouldn’t doubt it; she just don’t get it.
By Sandy Canchuk on 04.01.08 11:19 am
Sandy,
You must be relatively new to this blog or perhaps you simply ignored many of Leasa’s postings . Maybe you missed my posting in response to another of Leasa’s rants, toward the end of January. If so, to give you a little more background, please see the following. Hope this helps to clear things up.
Leasa,
Your response is dripping with hypocrisy. Odd that you should refer to hate, especially after you made it clear from your diatribe of 03.27.07 7:47pm., that you hate anything and everything liberal going back decades and having little, if anything, to do with the present situation. From a later posting you attempt to use the tainted blood scandal as justification for your hatred. It is indeed regrettable that you lost a dear friend, apparently due to tainted blood, and for that you have my sincere condolences. Yet from your recent postings you indicated hatred for Trudeau, as well, and he predates the tainted blood scandal. Your hatred must run really deep. Otherwise how could you imply that Trudeau was a Nazi? Is there no limit to the depths that you will sink? You, Leasa, owe the Trudeau family an apology.
You said, “When I insult it is a response in kind. Otherwise I don’t go there.” Nothing could be further from the truth. When a lady referred to Harper as a dictator (In the broad sense, an opinion shared by many) you called her “Shit for brains” and told her to “get stuffed”. Since she did not insult you personally that was hardly a “response in kind”.
Your track record for “treating people with respect”, especially women with differing political views, leaves a lot to be desired. You won’t win over the women’s vote that way.
Your “warm wishes” would be appreciated if they were not pretentious and insincere and sometimes dripping with sarcasm.
To give you some idea of where I am coming from, I was brought up to respect and admire people who were genuine and to be wary of those who were not. Of you, Leasa, I am wary. Further, I have never heard any of the many very fine people I have had the pleasure to know, friends , relatives and colleagues, alike, claim that they were “nice” or that they didn’t hate anyone. They didn’t have to. Over the years I learned to be wary of those who did make such claims, especially if they made them repeatedly. I don’t know of anyone who gained respect simply by begging for it.
Finally, if you regard criticism as insulting that is your problem. If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
Have a good day.
I take inspiration from Abbie Hoffman, Timothy Leary, Hunter S. Thompson, Spalding Gray, and Ken Kesey all of whom I met and are now dead.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 1:01 pm
The list keeps getting longer the older we get .
Harper is most definitely a Liar, and he works very very hard for big biz through the best vehicle ever imagined, the Canadian Government. Hey this is about capitalism, don’t you all get that yet?
Just received a flyer in the mail. Very expensive glossy, multi-coloured. It is from the Canadian Forces, postage paid should you want more information. I live in a 4-plex with one mail box. Since there is a very unstable young male, with anger management issues, unemployed and somewhat abusive, I am taking them all and throwing them in the recycling. Wouldn’t want him to become anymore misguided than he already is.
When it comes to the Income Trust, while I had no problems with it being taxed ala anything else, the key issue is trust. The CPC’s said they wouldn’t tax it and they did despite having bigger surpluses than expected.
At one time I voted PC/Reform/Alliance but now I’m voting Green instead. Liberals lost my trust long ago and I’ve yet to see any reason to trust them with my vote. NDP? Too left wing, not enough trust in market forces. CPC I thought could be counted on to act on their beliefs but are acting Bush like in a very bad way (spend tons, cut taxes, get us in debt).
I think it is also a good thing that if any large companies or small for that matter pay Canada Post to deliver flyers think twice about release dates. They may find them posted on Garth’s blog. I’m also wondering Garth…do you have friends at Bell Canada looking for wrong-doing on your behalf?
Leasa
By Leasa on 04.01.08 11:57 am
Leasa,
Once again, Leasa, you are grasping at straws. You appear to be getting desperate.
Is this another part of your mission(or conspiracy) to have Garth’s log shut down?
This would appear to be suspiciously Stalinist.
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 12:58 pm
I think whether one likes the Prime Minister or not, the leader of our country should be shown more respect then to be called a piece of shit.
The NDP has a motion that sounds like something you would support. What about your Liberal colleges?
Geoffrey L. I take inspiration from those people as well.Thankyou for saying what needs to be heard…
Go back to the USA and campaign for your Obama-saviour … and stay there if this is how you speak about the Prime Minister of Canada and the Canadian nation and people.
By Harry S on 04.01.08 1:23 pm
I wish Tom Flanagan would go back to the USA and stop trying to advise the Harpercons on how to takeover Canada and sell us all down the river.
MR. TURNER,
WHAT, NO COMMENT ON DIDDLING DION’S DILEMA ? WHY AREN’T RIDING YOUR WHITE STALLION. OR BLACK (JAPANESE) HONDA OR YOUR HARLEY, OR WHATEVER, IN HIS DEFENCE? LOOKS LIKE HE COULD USE SUPPORT EVEN FROM YOU.
When it comes to the Income Trust, while I had no problems with it being taxed ala anything else, the key issue is trust. The CPC’s said they wouldn’t tax it and they did despite having bigger surpluses than expected.
By John_N on 04.01.08 1:48 pm
You would probably have big problems with trusts being taxed if you knew that this has resulted in the opposite outcome from what the CONs protrayed: Loss of current tax revenue, loss of future tax revenue, loss of retirement savings, loss of trust in the Canadian government, loss of trust in the Canadian financial markets, loss of respect for MPs, loss of Canadian companies to foreign sovereign and private wealth funds, loss of faith in the entire system.
Molly,
perhaps a stint in the CF would be just what your misguided young man needs, if you could persuade the Forces to accept that challenge.
By Marc on 04.01.08 2:22 pm
I think whether one likes the Prime Minister or not, the leader of our country should be shown more respect then to be called a piece of shit.
…………………………..
Marc .. it must be obvious to all on this fine forum that Bill-M is a neuro-psycho-whacko nutcase, and he has gone over the cliff since he realizes his Liberals are going to lose the next election big time as are the Democrats in the US.
Now he is treating us to what is typical American sour grapes and nastiness .. and perhaps he will soon show up in his ‘Pyotr’ alter ego.
What is disconcerting is that Garth allows that American draft-dodging nutbar to post on this Canadian forum.
As opposed to you? — Garth
I wish Tom Flanagan would go back to the USA and stop trying to advise the Harpercons on how to takeover Canada and sell us all down the river.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 2:31 pm
…………………………………
Fair enough Geoff .. and here is his wikipedia reference:
Thomas Eugene Flanagan is an Americo-Canadian writer and professor of political science at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He is the only son of an Irish-American family from Illinois, and he attended the University of Notre Dame, Indiana as an undergraduate.
Born in the United States, Flanagan first moved to Canada after completing a Ph.D at Duke University to take up a post at the University of Calgary.
Flanagan is part of a group known as the Calgary School and a senior fellow of the free-market think tank, the Fraser Institute.
………………….
Perhaps you should be a bit more specific about your fears instead of just smearing somebody who has devoted his academic career and life to Canada.
To John_N: Rather than voting for a party, you should consider meeting all the candidates in your riding vote for the one who in your own opinion is the best person to represent you. I think you would be less disappointed than voting for a party.
By Geoffrey L. on 04.01.08 2:31 pm
Excellent reply, replying with an equal argument is very effective. Something we all should do when faced with closed minds and thoughts.
By Marc on 04.01.08 2:22 pm
When he earns it…he will get it. Sorry, but I am no good at worshiping liars, cheats, and POS’, no matter what his assumed title. He is still a MINORITY government PM. Canada did NOT vote him King! They didn’t even vote for him as PM.
The office deserves respect, but the person in it has to earn that respect.
Just like the BOOING Bush got last night at the opener baseball game.
Gord…the obsession continues. If you want to get angry with me because Mr. Trudeau road his bike around Quebec in full Nazi attire…go nuts. I don’t care.
***********
For the rest…it may be perfectly legal to take these flyers out of Canada Post before there delivery date. My perspective, and frankly I did find this shocking, is that if I were to take anything out of a mailbox, even flyers, I could be charged. I was under the impression that this is a serious matter. So, if it is legal and an ethical thing to do…I submit.
As for Garth lying about me being Catherine, I’m still trying to figure out where that gets him and why. Guess I’ll never know. Maybe he’s into head games.
Game on. Leasa
Hmmm I see ‘Mr. I know what all Canadians think’ is upset. Too bad.
Let’s take OUR Canada back from the Bush Stooge!
What Opposition Critic position did the member from Halton get in today’s shuffle?
A great example of a Conservative re-write of history. Actually Goodale rebuffed Finance Department pressure to tax income trusts – pressure which Jim Flaherty caved to months later, even after his leader directly promised seniors it would never happen. No amount of your fiction or insults will conceal that. — Garth
By John L on 03.31.08 10:01 pm
That’s a new low…blame the public servants…
I think whether one likes the Prime Minister or not, the leader of our country should be shown more respect then to be called a piece of shit.
By Marc on 04.01.08 2:22 pm
So you respect someone who continues to LIE TO and DECEIVE the citizens of this country whom he is supposedly working for???!!!! You sir have a twisted set of moral guidelines.
Hapy to see Calgary is catching up with Burlington, Ontario!
Mayor warns of soaring taxes
Property owners told to brace for hikes above 5%
Kim Guttormson, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008
That’s a new low…blame the public servants…
By Adam on 04.01.08 3:42 pm
Are Flaherty & Harper public servants?
Sure had me fooled!
I think whether one likes the Prime Minister or not, the leader of our country should be shown more respect then to be called a piece of shit.
By Marc on 04.01.08 2:22 pm
So you respect someone who continues to LIE TO and DECEIVE the citizens of this country whom he is supposedly working for???!!!! You sir have a twisted set of moral guidelines.
By Reefer Sutherland from the Big Smoke on 04.01.08 3:53 pm
I think the Office of Prime Minister deserves some respect, not the man holding the position, they have to earn it. This one unfortunately has lied and deceived the Canadian public, therefore I have little for him, but the Office, I still do even though the democratic process has been stolen from the Canadian people by at least the last four PMs….
Don’t we just love it when the Death Star Trolls come here blathering their mental diarhea?
Those flyers are just right for their mental level. Nice pretty pictures at a lower level than my five year old grandson makes in kindergarten class.
I specially love seeing certain metal retards show up, as ifon cue…Oh, wiat, their supervisor at the Death Star told them to do it. I almost forgot, they have no mind or will of their own. They want the rest of us to join them, but darn, we know better.
I also note, not one of these patriotic Canadians (read that Harper supporters and the Hell with Canada) have a thing to say about the lowering of the flag for our CF members who are KILLED in combat.
COWARDS!
Ottawa panel wants to stop lowering flag for Vimy Ridge, police, women and workers
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?????? Have we unknowingly surrendered the duties of MP’s to nameless ‘panels? Under the Harper goobernment that is exactly what has happened. Take back OUR CANADA! Fire Caesar Disgustus, aka Steve ASAP, and that means real soon!
By Harry S on 04.01.08 2:59 pm
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY
Stephane Dion feels proud to lead the Liberal Party of Canada. A Party that built the national social safety net we today take for granted.
Liberals created public pensions for our seniors.
Liberals created our national health care system.
Liberals created employment insurance for our unemployed.
Liberals created child benefit programs for our families.
Liberals were the first to talk about making work pay and using the tax system to help Canadians get over the welfare wall.
Stephane Dion will be calling on Canadians to support the Liberal Party’s 30-50 Plan, to join in common cause with us as we embark on a war on poverty never seen before in Canada’s history.
We will win this war not by keeping people dependent but by helping them become self-sufficient.
We will champion the dignity of work. We will champion families.
We will work with the provinces, we will work with communities, we will work with the Learning Enrichment Foundation and other similar organizations.
We will be the best partner that you ever had.
We will work with all Canadians and because of that we will succeed. And we will have a richer Canada, a Greener Canada, and a fairer Canada for ourselves, our children and generations to come.
Stephane Dion is a leader. He is our Lester Pearson of 2008 and onward.
By Marc on 04.01.08 2:22 pm
Gee thanks Marc for helping me understand what Harper really is.
And I thought POS was “Point Of Sale”…
Your understanding of Harper is commendable!
Leasa “These flyers were designated to be delivered to private mail boxes”
And the postie took the one intended for his mailbox. Capiche?
“I think it is also a good thing that if any large companies or small for that matter pay Canada Post to deliver flyers think twice about release dates.”
Duh, you don’t put things in the mail before their intended release date. Once in the mail there is no way CP can hold back deliver and it goes into the public domain!
Grow up Leasa.
Ken:
Did you hear QP to-day? Of course the questions are being asked of the Conservatives and I honestly believe, from my observations, that they are the worst when it comes to not answering questions and prefixing their non-answers with slurs and smears.
I recognize partisanship when I hear it and I see through strategies of all the parties pretty well. I’ve been exposing myself to it for quite a number of years.
I see a through this neo-conservative government because I read a lot and there isn’t much on TV or radio that is more important to me than what happens to this country. Of course I want this government out of power and the sooner the better because the longer they are in, the more damage they are doing and most people don’t even know what’s happening.
Bob Rae is gaining popularity as each day slips by. Garth, your chance is slipping. what are you waiting for? At this point, you will be the winner.
I am waiting to peak. — Garth
To John_N: Rather than voting for a party, you should consider meeting all the candidates in your riding vote for the one who in your own opinion is the best person to represent you. I think you would be less disappointed than voting for a party.
By Loraine Lamontagne on 04.01.08 3:17 pm
That would be great in a democracy but when they get to Ottawa they are told how to vote so in effect when you cast your ballot, you are voting for the four or five people in the PMO who will tell everyone else how to think and vote!
And I thought POS was “Point Of Sale”…
By maybe Rhino? on 04.01.08 4:25 pm
“Oh, so Harper is a gutless coward as well as a liar. Who the Hell does he think he is? BRING THIS POS DOWN NOW!”
So in this context you thought POS meant point of sale? I think you need more help then I could ever provide, but gald to help in anyway.
The BIG question rises!
NDP to table non-confidence vote against Tories
That being answered by the NDP Mulcair took dead aim at the Liberals as he unveiled the motion, arguing that the Conservatives and NDP both have clear, opposing views on the best fiscal policy for Canada.
“On the Liberal side, I challenge anyone to tell me what they stand for,” Mulcair told a news conference.
“In fact, I can tell you that they stand for nothing.”
That is a very excellent question at this point.
What do the Liberals stand for? Power? Opportunity? Canada? Canadians?
I think we are all wondering if they have become the Official Opportunity or are they the Official Opposition?
Enough of Harper and his ‘Moving forward to become the 51st State of the U.S.A.!’
And I thought POS was “Point Of Sale”…
Your understanding of Harper is commendable!
By maybe Rhino? on 04.01.08 4:25 pm
Oh, MR, I think Marc wants a fanciful decorum for the PM. As soon as we get one, there will be.
Now, as to POS meaning Point of Sale’ that, too, is pretty accurate, whereas, Harper is selling Canada off like there is a fire sale. Yes, there will be a Fire Sale very soon…as in Harper, You’re FIRED!
Have no fear Super Dion is coming to the rescue. I am sure Garth is pumped after seeing the Stars poll published today.
Garth,, Any truth to the old rumor that the bad boy always has to sit beside the party whip, kind of like the unruly student has to sit near the teacher.LMAO,, Sorry, I could not help myself, besides it might be good to inject a little humor in here today, Say hello to the whip for me, I actually believe she is pretty normal for a politician.
Leasa wrote : “My perspective, and frankly I did find this shocking, is that if I were to take anything out of a mailbox, even flyers, I could be charged”. Leasa – the Canada Post employee did not take anything out of anybody’s mailbox by scanning a piece of junk mail and putting it back with the rest of them. You lack perspective and common sense. Your hatred makes you blind.
…so sweet is the Liberal implosion. I just sit back and watch it happen. It’s enjoyable to see Dion go down in flames.
http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dip&pid=113362&tid=113362&eid=43&so=1&ps=0&sb=1
Paul Wells certainly has a gift for the turn of phrase. Not sure who, of the cast of characters in that last paragraph, are part of the “dark matter” within the realm of elementary particles. Kennedy for a role that may be felt but physically not seen, or Ambrose for her political association and inability to be measured. No doubt will be a good demonstration of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle in action.
When examining the characteristics of the fundamental particles, I’d have to conclude that Kennedy is a gluon and Ambrose an electroweak boson, a lepton, or its neutrino cousin:
♦ – “Gluon: The carrier particle of the strong interactions. Although gluons are massless, they are never observed in detectors. The first evidence for gluons came from annihilations of electrons and positrons.”
♦ – “Boson: A particle that has integer intrinsic angular momentum (spin). There are three weak gauge bosons: W+, W?, and Z0; these mediate the weak interaction.”
♦ – “Leptons: A fundamental fermion that does not participate in strong interactions.”
♦ – “Neutrino: A lepton with no electric charge. Neutrinos participate only in weak and gravitational interactions and are therefore very difficult to detect. There are three known types of neutrinos, all of which are very light and could possibly have zero mass.“
By Bill-Muskoka on 03.31.08 10:44 pm
A few things to add. I have been trying my best to make the case for consideration of our Military people for some time. Responsible utilization with an eye to the short and long term. I think the article is quite telling, and speaks to prevailing attitude both short and long term. Simply put, it is indicative of whom they feel is to be respected and honoured and who isn’t particularly important.
Would it be an over reaction to say that this article displays the sentiment that Military personnel who fall in the line of duty, remain to this day, just so much cannon fodder?
As for the efforts of Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi, I wonder if he might have been more effective voting against the extension of the current involvement in Afghanistan? If he had chosen to do that, I would feel more comfortable in thinking that he was genuine in his sentiments.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
I remember the first time I heard these words. My Grandfather, a Veteran of Gallipoli said them to me when I was 9 years old. I could only see the imagery then. I know more now.
I know that in a small rural cemetery in New Brunswick there is a granite marker about 12 inches by 6 inches that bears this inscription. Gunner, 8th Battery RCA, 1914 to 1964.
I know that a Veteran of Gallipoli lies beside him, far from his home in England, and there is no marker to remember that travesty.
As for lowering the flag, maybe the cost is prohibitive. Perhaps they could call for Volunteers. It’s what the parties that run this country do, when they need people who believe in Honour to deal with situations they create with words, but prefer not to deal with personally.
On CTV NewsNet, they are continually repeating the broadcast:
“More bad news for Liberal leader Stephane Dion in a recent poll”
… and that is going to register on all Canadians…!!!
Coincidentally, Garth has said nothing about Dion’s leadership for quite a while … wonder why …??!!!
I also note, not one of these patriotic Canadians (read that Harper supporters and the Hell with Canada) have a thing to say about the lowering of the flag for our CF members who are KILLED in combat.
COWARDS!
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 4:05 pm
I agree, Bill. Obviously, they don’t want to draw attention to the number of soldiers dying in wars most of us don’t support. I think this topic is a bit more relevant than some “postie” sharing a household “occupant” flyer. Typical tactic–talk about something irrelevant so the really important issues get lost in the shuffle.
It is ridiculous that a committee has to look at when the flag can be lowered and when it can’t. What do we pay the MPs for? Of course the flag should be lowered when a soldier is killed. And it should be lowered on Remembrance Day for those who have been killed in the past. I’m against wars, but I support acknowledging the sacrifices of men and women who are killed in combat.
The American news made a big deal about the number of American soldiers who have died in Iraq (was it 4,000?). What about the number of innocent Iraq men, women and children who have died? What is that number, and why is that not worthy of news?
So Catherine is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it?
I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?
By Judy on 04.01.08 8:05 am
Judy, state what law was broken than this Canada Post employee was exposing.
If you can’t, then you owe an apology to us. But, we know, you Liberals, just love to throw false accusations out because you are desperate!
As another poster has so well stated it: “So Catherine (or Leasa, her alter-ego) is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it? I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?” — Garth
By Leasa on 04.01.08 8:06 am
Garth is getting desperate. What a shame that a person, who calls himself an honourable member, can actually write such crap. Boy, maybe the Liberal support is worse than we thought, as the Liberal desperation has become so obvious. Pity.
Nice comment, but I didn’t write it. — Garth
Game on. Leasa
By Leasa on 04.01.08 3:39 pm
Game on, Leasa? Is this the foul-mouthed street fighter speaking?
Still obsessed with Trudeau, are you? Nowhere in the references you describe was I able to find any mention that Trudeau “loved” Hitler. Just as Harper crossed the line and entrenched himself as Canada’s dirtiest politician ever, when he accused Paul Martin of supporting child pornography, you crossed the line when you dishonestly claimed that Trudeau ‘Loved’ Hitler.
Both of you are scurrilous and reprehensible.
Further, just as Harper compounded the offense when he refused to apologize to Martin, you compounded the offense by refusing to apologize to the Trudeau family. You, like your glorious leader, come across as as repugnant.
You should be ashamed of yourself. But then, as you have demonstrated repeatedly on this blog, you have no shame.
Your “nice person” pretense is wearing thin.
For those who have never heard Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes speak of junk mail, this is a refresher.
****************************************
Dontcha just luv this guy!
Tips for Handling Telearketers
Three Little Words That Work!
(1) The three little words are: ‘Hold On, Please…’
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.
Then when you eventually hear the phone company’s ‘beep-beep-beep’ tone, you know it’s time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.
These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.
This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a ‘real’ sales person to call back and get someone at home.
What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system.
Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!
(3) Junk Mail Help: When you get ‘ads’ enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these ‘ads’ with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.
When you get those ‘pre-approved’ letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.
Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 41 cents postage ‘IF’ and when they receive them back.
It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight.
In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.
An Andy Rooney idea. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank (they need it now).
If you didn’t get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back!
If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn’t on anything you send them.
You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 41 cents.
The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them.
Let’s let them know what it’s like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they’re paying for it…Twice!
Let’s help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that’s why they need to increase postage costs again You get the idea!
If enough people follow these tips, it will work — I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.
THIS JUST MIGHT BE ONE E-MAIL THAT YOU WILL WANT TO FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS.
By Greg on 04.01.08 6:04 pm
I would love to see the Harper government experience a Chesty Puller as the Chinese did. He was the commanding officer at Chosin Reservoir in Korea. There the Marines were surrounded by three Chinese Divisions. Chesty told his troops ‘They’re on our left, on our right, in front of us, and behind us. Now the bastards can’t get away!’
Harper thinks himself a warrior class? Ha! That Lard Ass couldn’t even shoot a rifle to the target. Just look at his Secondary School photo. The look of the Big Bully! Well, I have seen so many of them fall flat on their arrogant faces, crying in the dirt.
Got to head out to a meeting. Later tonight.
Harry S.: CTV Newsnet is a Conservative leaning company. They are the same news source that reported that only 2 Liberal M.P.’s were introduced into Parliament on Monday when we all know it was 3.
So Harry, once again, use your critical reading and thinking skills when quoting sources.
By Lana on 04.01.08 6:31 pm
Look up Goebbels propaganda at wikipedia. There is the answer as to body counts and purpose. Yes, 4,000 American troops have DIED in IRAQ. Yesterday, Condoliar Rice acted shocked ‘That it has not worked out as we planned’, but she ignores that they knew the outcome, and Cheney stated it, at the beginning. LIARS and HYPOCRITES!
Maybe they will make a movie like ‘Sex, Lies, and Video Tapes’?
Gotta
By Harry S on 04.01.08 6:27 pm
What about the 430,000 new immigrants? Stormfronter? How do you stand such betrayal?
Blut und Ehre!
“There are times I tell myself that it is a waste of time reading this blog because of the CRAP you have to wade through first”
By Lana on 04.01.08 8:15 am
These trolls keep score of responses to their comments – points are based on the ‘flame’ level and word count. Every time someone responds to them or mentions them in a comment, they score points.
The only way to deal with trolls is to ignore them completely, no exceptions.
By doing so, you will expose the other trolls – the ones who do respond with agreement or praise.
By Brent Fullard on 04.01.08 11:42 am
Thank you SO much for that link.
Ever since the Zachardelli leak to the NDP I’ve searched the web for a reference to that story with no luck – I was beginning to think I had imagined it. There were other news reports at the time, and a good number of comments about the symbolism of it.
Inside the Queensway
Kady O’Malley blogs about life on Parliament Hill.
“… therefore, this House has lost confidence in the government.”
These self-serving ‘confidence’ motions will do nothing to increase NDP seats in the next election. When Liberals who, in good faith, took Layton up on his sanctimonious appeal to ‘lend’ him their votes, along with disenchanted NDP voters repay him for his hypocracy, Layton and his party will be nothing but an afterthought in the HoC. There won’t be any RCMP ‘leak’ to an NDP MP next time to skew the results.
What does it say about a party when they would rather duke it out for Official Opposition status with the only party that can conceivably send Harper packing…
Looks as if Google may be joining up with Big Brother, by providing the means for govt.’s to snoop on their people. Swell.
http://tinyurl.com/27j3xx
Note to Lana at 6:31 pm — a few days back, I read on rense.com that there are approx. 100,000 (thereabouts) dead; that figure will never be seen on any msm outlet.
Dion’s personal unpopularity is now taking hold on the entire Liberal party and depressing them below their core support according to the latest Toronto Sun-Angus Reid poll.
Dion is an outright disaster for the Liberal party, and Liberal MPs and executive must be fully aware of Dion’s abject failure.
Liberals are between a rock, a hard place and October 2009 … and they must either replace Dion quickly with Rae or Ignatieff .. or go into a disasterous election situation where they have insufficient funds, a failed leader in Dion and no hope of winning.
What can the Liberals do in their political conundrum .. besides abstaining ad infinitum ..??!!!
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 4:05 pm
By Lana on 04.01.08 6:31 pm
……………………………….
Such anti-Conservative necro-politics just reveals what despicable people we have on this fine forum. They try to use the dead to advance their political agendas .. Cadman .. drowned sealers .. Canadian soldiers … !!!
What a bunch of sickos … !!!!
Yeah, I got three flyers in my mailbox; Leaza, what’s your address? I’ll send mine to you as well. I can’t even recycle these flyers as they are post card material. I have fish, birds, a cat and a dog, in my family home; I can’t think of anyway to reuse these posters.
Leaza, what’s your address please? You are more than welcome to have them.
By Greg on 04.01.08 6:04 pm
Hi Greg, I listened to a representative from the Legion. He is a war vet and he said the Legion and war vets in general are against the flag being lowered for every member who dies. He said it should only be lowered on November 11th and they feel if the flag is lowered too often it will lose it’s significance and respect. It wasn’t lowered for each individual WW2 vet and it should not be lowered for individuals today either. If the vets don’t want it, why would we push this change on them? Leasa
The “committee” on the flag matter is made up of folks who have expertise on what is/isn’t an appropriate means on using the flag, and other symbols.
I do understand that they’re nowhere nearly as qualified as politicians hoping to score political points, however. Keep in mind that the whole “lowering the flag” thing is a very recent idea. You may want to do a little research on the matter.
The US forces have been stretched to their limit with Iraq and Af’stan, despite call-ups from the National Guard, others, etc.
Now they are making noises on Iran, so where are they going to get extra soldiers from? What about Canada, or Mexico? Hell, I suppose anyone will do!
http://tinyurl.com/2adyab
By Loraine Lamontagne on 04.01.08 5:48 pm
HA HA HA Now you are saying he scanned it at work and put it back with the rest of them? You were there? LOL By the way, when I start calling Mr. Dion a piece of shit as Liberal supporters do on this board to the Prime Minister of Canada, then you can accuse me of ‘hate’. I have never witnessed hate as it spews forth from Liberals after losing an election. They are blinded by it, live it, breath it and wallow in it. This blog is living proof of it.
Leasa
By Harry S on 04.01.08 6:27 pm
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY
Stephane Dion feels proud to lead the Liberal Party of Canada. A Party that built the national social safety net we today take for granted.
Liberals created public pensions for our seniors.
Liberals created our national health care system.
Liberals created employment insurance for our unemployed.
Liberals created child benefit programs for our families.
Liberals were the first to talk about making work pay and using the tax system to help Canadians get over the welfare wall.
Stephane Dion will be calling on Canadians to support the Liberal Party’s 30-50 Plan, to join in common cause with us as we embark on a war on poverty never seen before in Canada’s history.
We will win this war not by keeping people dependent but by helping them become self-sufficient.
We will champion the dignity of work. We will champion families.
We will work with the provinces, we will work with communities, we will work with the Learning Enrichment Foundation and other similar organizations.
We will be the best partner that you ever had.
We will work with all Canadians and because of that we will succeed. And we will have a richer Canada, a Greener Canada, and a fairer Canada for ourselves, our children and generations to come.
Stephane Dion is a leader. He is our Lester Pearson of 2008 and onward.
Dion’s personal unpopularity is now taking hold on the entire Liberal party and depressing them below their core support according to the latest Toronto Sun-Angus Reid poll.
Dion is an outright disaster for the Liberal party, and Liberal MPs and executive must be fully aware of Dion’s abject failure.
Liberals are between a rock, a hard place and October 2009 … and they must either replace Dion quickly with Rae or Ignatieff .. or go into a disasterous election situation where they have insufficient funds, a failed leader in Dion and no hope of winning.
What can the Liberals do in their political conundrum .. besides abstaining ad infinitum ..??!!!
By Harry S on 04.01.08 7:09 pm
And to think…all this and the best your man can do is a tie at best….
the reason….
STEPHEN HARPER…
HE LIED TO INVESTORS ON INCOME TRUSTS.
(Hurting seniors near or on retirement as they don’t have the time frame to recuperate their losses)
ADMITTED ON TAPE he was aware of a financial offer to Cadman. (looks very much like vote buying)
His chief of staff, most likely under instructions from Harper, tried to INTERFERE in another country’s election process.
(Probably doing a favour for his idol Bushie)
He tried to SMEAR Liberal MP Bains in the House of Commons.
(The character of Stevie exposed, like the smear against Martin as favouring child pornography and Liberals supporting the Taliban)
He ran on having an ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, then immediately appointed an unaccountable minister.
(Hiding Michael Fortier in the Senate, the same senate he opposed as unelected, then appointed Fortier)
HE SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DIFFERENT from the dishonest Liberal government, they are the same if not worse.
(too many scandals to get them on one post, Baird, Day etc. etc..)
He MUZZLES HIS MINISTERS and only allows them to talk in public after the content has been cleared with the PMO.
He BROKE HIS WORD on the Atlantic Accord.
He SENDS HIS SMALL MINDED FINANCE MINISTER out to pick a fight with Ontario, the same finance minister that left Ontario with a $5.6 billion deficit and claimed it was balanced.
(Now we will have another problem with small minded Jim, if the
federal finances slip into deficit, will we know?)
TAKING AWAY ONTARIO’S representation based on population.
(Obviously the CPC is not interested in Ontario voters)
Remember that poor MILITARY WIDOW in the Maritimes that Harper promised she would get her pension, did she ever get it?
Poor Stevie Harper…seems to be a DISHONEST & UNETHICAL leader!
This is definitely the most entertaining thread in a while.
Harry: the pot called….
By Leasa on 04.01.08 7:31 pm
Hi Leasa,
What say you?
I know that in a small rural cemetery in New Brunswick there is a granite marker about 12 inches by 6 inches that bears this inscription. Gunner, 8th Battery RCA, 1914 to 1964.
I know that a Veteran of Gallipoli lies beside him, far from his home in England, and there is no marker to remember that travesty.
As for lowering the flag, maybe the cost is prohibitive. Perhaps they could call for Volunteers. It’s what the parties that run this country do, when they need people who believe in Honour to deal with situations they create with words, but prefer not to deal with personally.
AHH!!!! Harry S We’d Rather Keep Bill Muskoka and send You South .Bill is MORE CANADIAN than You and the HArperCONS will ever Be.Let’s take a Vote. Who’s For Keeping Bill and Deporting Harry S.
I Vote for Keeping Bill.
We are still carrying on about these mailings by MP’s.
Why has someone not put a stop to it. It would save the environment and a lot of money that could be better spent on say affordable housing.
As for the flyer in the post. I read it and do not feel that it is an attack ad. It does contain some very valuable information for seniors.
I noted domeone mention the flap over the flying of our National Flag. There is a set of rules for the the flying of flags and banners.
I agree with the Legion’s position the flag should only be half-masted for veterans on November 11 each year. In addition, the Legion and Police Association both agree with the report that has been completed.
If the flag was half-masted every time a Head of State, Senator, MP, MPP, Members of the Privy Council, and when we lose a Soldier in combat or through an accident. Then add on the RCMP and Police who fall in the line of duty.
Then add the recent case at sea of the seal hunter. Where does one stop.
The flag would be at half – masted in more cases than flying full staff. This would prove to be demoralizing.
I disagree with the Liberals on this issue.
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 5:36 pm
SMILE!1 Ya got it dude!
Perhaps to calm the waters, in the future, you should refer to that particular individual as a “POC” as in “Piece of CRAP” i.e. Conservative Reform Alliance Party. Which just happens to be a _______!!!
Have a good one.
From another Zappa fan… Hot Rats!
By Loraine Lamontagne on 04.01.08 5:48 pm
HA HA HA Now you are saying he scanned it at work and put it back with the rest of them? You were there? LOL By the way, when I start calling Mr. Dion a piece of shit as Liberal supporters do on this board to the Prime Minister of Canada, then you can accuse me of ‘hate’. I have never witnessed hate as it spews forth from Liberals after losing an election. They are blinded by it, live it, breath it and wallow in it. This blog is living proof of it.
Leasa
By Leasa on 04.01.08 7:38 pm
Leasa,
Now you remind me of Lady MacBeth. You are unraveling before our very eyes.
Without realizing it you have just put your own hatred clearly on display.
Leasa,
Sweetums, get a grip. Liberals full of hate after losing an election? How about you neo-Republicans after winning one? You’re still sore about the fact that that victory was only limited and will not last forever. That is what you are blinded by, live for, breathe, wallow in, and provide living proof of on this blog.
As you well know hate, being an emotional issue, has nothing to do with it. It’s simply posturing, politics, a means to the end of attaining or retaining power – like your trolling here.
Isn’t this eerily similar to what Garth wrote of in his 2015 book?
http://tinyurl.com/2frdas
I’m of two minds on this issue. On one hand – the hand that in this case is holding more sway in the balance of things, from my perspective – I think the veterans’ wishes should have more weight in the final decision on this matter. On the other hand, there are grieving families and citizens who want some means to personally and nationally show respect for the fallen.
In the same way that the significance of say a birthday, religious holiday, etc. would be diminished if one celebrated it any odd day from one year to the next, on a whim to satisfy a need for instant gratification in those instances, I can understand how the significance and sacredness of November 11 might too be diminished by marking the sacrifices with the one-reserved means, every time they occur.
Swirling around all this is that times have changed, and what may have been impractical during the World Wars – the flag would likely have been in a permanent state of half-mast given the frequency of casualities – may no longer apply in the types of wars now being fought, and the means by which they are fought. Death is not as frequent. While this could amount to “decision by committee” and hence be impractical by its inconsistence and logistics, perhaps the immediate families could be given final say, much the way they are consulted for media attendance at repatriation. Or some other means of marking the deaths on the Hill or at the National Cenotaph be established, like a monument whose flame is only lit on those occasions.
And here is a revealing sample of a neo-Republican ploy to score electoral points:
“Self-Loathing of the Day. Wajid Khan rose during members’ statements to lament the Liberal record on immigration. ‘It is the Liberals who allowed the backlog to balloon from 50,000 to 800,000 applications and for 13 long years they did nothing.’ Khan was, of course, one of those Liberals, elected as a Grit in 2004 and 2006 before crossing over to the Conservatives.”
- Aaron Wherry, to-day’s “The Commons” http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dis&eid=62
By Charles Oxley on 04.01.08 7:08 pm
Charles, I tried to check out rense.com and it wouldn’t load. I checked wikipedia and found this statement. “The Rense.com web page access is now restricted (as of 12/2007) from some users by the Websense firewall, which blocks the site under the categories “racism” and “hate.”
Do you know what a websense firewall is?
Well in case anyone cares from a serving soldier who has been on mulitple oversea missions including the sandbox twice and I have buried friends, and I must emphasis I do not speak for all of us. Today on the base I asked at least 12 fellow soldiers what they thought and to a person they said Remembrance Day is the Day the Flag on the Peace Tower comes down.
I remind all people in this debate that when a soldier returns home, The flag is lowered on all bases the day of the arrival, it remains lowered on his base to the day of the funeral, and again all bases in his element again lower their flags the day of the funeral. I also hasten must remind you that most public buildings around the base and in the hometown of the deceased soldier, also lower their flags. I feel this is adequate as do my comrades.
If you want to truly honor us, then continue or start to attend community remembrances on Nov 11 and applaud and cheer loudly as the veterans march proudly past for they and all of our fallen comrades are truly irreplaceable gifts to our excellent country.
Waiting for Henry to respond.. Harper’s cat got your tongue?
Come on…By Geoffrey L.
Henry is waiting for his “talking points”. Lana
This is the type of ill-informed comment that really frosts my butt–if this is typical of the Conservative mentality , we are in big trouble.-Dr, Mike from Rodney
Sorry, folks, but I just got home from working 12 Hours in the salt mine….literally…the same mine where I travel 3000 feet underground every working day, and work my arse off, where I have been doing so for the last 30 years. Talking points?? Please. I would get a sex change before I would ever mark an X for a Conservative.
But what is an income trust? When Pizza Pizza converted to an income trust, did they come up with a better business plan, a secret sauce, a wonderful new dough recipe? No, what they (and their “investors”) came up with was a Bay Street scheme that gave them preferential tax treatment, nothing more, nothing less. That is the only value in an income trust. And what is preferential tax treatment? It means I have to pay more so that YOU can pay less. Income trusts, income splitting, RESPs, RRSPs, TFSAs, they’re all robbing Peter to pay Paul schemes that stick it to average taxpayers. It’s got to stop!!! Turner and Flaherty are peas from the same pod. They’re both trying to buy votes with other peoples money by pandering to special interests.
Francis Russell in the Winnipeg Free Press has an illuminating column on how this crap plays out here:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4144975p-4735513c.html
“According to 2005 tax returns, there were 134,000 Canadians whose total income exceeded $245,000 that year — one half of one per cent of all tax filers. Yet that tiny, privileged slice of society claimed 44 per cent of all capital gains. Those rich Canadians were allowed, legally, to hide $7.3 billion in capital gains (or about $55,000 each.)”Two-thirds of all capital gains savings are claimed by those making over $200,000. In contrast, the 22 million Canadians with total income below $100,000 were allowed to hide capital gains averaging $24.79 per person.”
The long stock market boom more than doubled the cost of the 50 per cent capital gains tax exemption to the federal treasury. It spiked from $2.3 billion to $5 billion annually. If that had happened to a social program, critics would be attacking Ottawa for out of control spending, Stanford says.
Marc Lee, senior economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, says the TFSA, like the RRSP and the RESP, are “essentially an upper-income tax cut in disguise.” His article on the Progressive Economics Forum website points out that most middle-income families have little in savings and only those with incomes over $200,000 can avail themselves of the full amount of the RRSP deduction. Further, average savings for families are down from $7,000 a few years ago to just $1,000 last year, with the average family $80,000 in debt.
Once the election is called the Cons can no longer waste taxpayers money on these nasty flyer’s (I hope the Auditor Generals takes a good loo at this scandal).
Most of the people voting come awake during an election when every party is followed and reported by the media.
Don’t forget Liberals: This time no Adscam, Gomery, Goodale?Income Trusts !!!
Leasa/Catherine wrote: ‘He knows it is illegal to steal mail from the post office and he is angry that I pointed that out.”
Ha, Ha, Ha, so you were there and saw someone stealing mail from the post office? Or was it another of your alter egos – Sybil?
Harper is a litterer.
To RM, Sue, and KH,
Very good comments.
The fact remains, Canada engaged for a 6 (9? Too late to recall at the moment) month mission in ‘Ghan. It is now FIVE YEARS!
This is OUR Viet Nam folks, and if we fail to remember each and every one of our Troops who has fallen, then the goobernment (The Harper/Bush ‘Mission Accomplished Bozos) will keep on with this senseless venture.
This Vet says ENOUGH!. Make each death count as a reminder that we are engaged in an unwinnable war. Not because we have failed, but because the Afghanis have failed. Freedom is not a right, it is earned by Standing Up for one’s country and self.
Does anyone else find in interesting that the people in Tibet are willing to DIE for their freedom, but the Afghan people want to play their national game of ‘convenient alliances’, the most gruesome form of chess ever developed?
Here is how Buzkashi is played, as are their politics.
Wanna play? Join UP!
Good Night!
Oh, and I meant to add…Game Day indeed!
By Leasa on 04.01.08 3:39 pm
Didn’t your CRAPPER PMO tell you about IPS addresses?
Keep Bill! Fire Steve. Hire Danny. He should at least have his own show! I just saw the rerun of 22…he nails it.Saw your question today Garth,but I’m still stuck on Nathans’ question to Mr. (Mugabe,scorched earth!)Baird. Not sure I heard it correctly but Mr.B. ‘refused to dignify it w/response’. One of Mr. Moores’ standard answers about the vote-buying affair is “the Liberals keep changing their story.” ‘Scuse? Whose story is at question here? The P.M.s? Flanagan,Finley,Brodie or Reynolds(non-)story? These are questions about something as serious as High Crime and Treason. And see how they play with words? Someone mentioned earlier a poll from CTV,that makes cons happy,and said it would affect all Canadians’ feelings toward Mr. Dion! Funny. Most Canadians don’t form their opinions,Oprah-style, from Mike Duffy. Do they? One last thing; BRENT FULLARD I appreciate your opinion. I understand the outrage. People NEED to know. We will never,of course,have all the answers to all the questions but in the good fight for them enough will be known.To do what?That’s up to you and me people! Have a great Wednesday,Garth. p.s. my laugh today was Aaron Wherrys’ observation that “Polievre is a fifteen year old version of Stephen Harper.”*smack*!
No, let’s allow other, unprincipled Parliamentarians to screw the taxpayer and break the rules. And let’s punish the diligent Canada Post employee, too. Good plan, Catty. — Garth
Anything to protect the flock…
If flock = taxpayers, exactly. — Garth
Harper thinks himself a warrior class? Ha! That Lard Ass couldn’t even shoot a rifle to the target. Just look at his Secondary School photo. The look of the Big Bully! Well, I have seen so many of them fall flat on their arrogant faces, crying in the dirt.
Got to head out to a meeting. Later tonight.
By Bill-Muskoka on 04.01.08 6:54 pm
“lard ass”? Getting desperate, are we, Billy Bob?
As another poster has so well stated it: “So Catherine (or Leasa, her alter-ego) is now advocating that a Canada Post employee who suspects wrongdoing should shut up about it? I guess this is the whistle-blower protection that the Reform/Alliance party has been advocating?” — Garth
By Leasa on 04.01.08 8:06 am
Garth is getting desperate. What a shame that a person, who calls himself an honourable member, can actually write such crap. Boy, maybe the Liberal support is worse than we thought, as the Liberal desperation has become so obvious. Pity.
Nice comment, but I didn’t write it. — Garth
By Catherine on 04.01.08 6:48 pm
You’re saying that the comment with a “- Garth” – see By Leasa on 04.01.08 8:06 am comment was not yours? Then who has writing on your behalf?
Bulls**t. That $20 billion didn’t exist. Or to put it another way it existed at the expense of other taxpayers because of and only because of, preferential tax treatment via a sub prime mortgage type scheme cooked up on Bay St. It was $20 billion these seniors didn’t deserve that went back to it’s rightful owners: ordinary taxpayers. This income trust horse you keep flogging is deservedly DOA.
By Henry on 03.31.08 10:29 pm
By Henry on 04.01.08 11:05 pm
Okay fine Henry, you are using NDP talking points. What income trusts did was lower the cost of capital for mature companies that have high cash flow so that they can pass on that cash flow to anyone who invests in them, including people like you, average Canadians who work in salt mines. I imagine you won’t work in a salt mine forever Henry, so that when you retire, you could theoretically could have created an income for yourself above whatever your pension may or may not be.
By David Halfkenny on 04.01.08 8:34 pm
You disagree with the Liberals on this issue David? I would suggest you go back and read your posts, you don’t seem to agree with anything they do. Would you be a closet CPC member clothed in Liberal robes?
What income trusts did was lower the cost of capital for mature companies…
Nonsense. They just bestowed preferential tax treatment on “investors” at the expense of other taxpayers. What you want, Geoffrey, is a free ride on someone else’s dime. If fair taxation policies are NDP talking points, so be it.
By Catherine on 04.02.08 4:51 am
Good morning Catherine, According to what Garth has insinuated twice on this thread I am now talking to myself.
As a result of this lie that Garth has told, I am the one now being called a liar and attacked for having two identities. If I can’t post under my real name as always without being called a liar for it, I’d rather not post at all.
I can no longer use my real name on this board, therefore I will no longer participate in any way. I didn’t expect Garth would lie like that, but I guess I needed to learn that he is no better than any of the rest. It would have been better if he were honest and simply banned my IP or told me to leave, but I guess he found it more fun to simply discredit me.
Goodbye all!
Leasa
TO PJW 02.04.08
If this is a Liberal blog then we should be prepared to discuss our short comings instead of just bashing conservatives all the time.
Liberals have several problems and you cannot address the major issues until the party is prepared to clean up its act.
So is it not more important to point out Liberal positions that are just plain stupid or just criticize conservatives all the time. If you have noted by the polls no one is listening and they will contiue to ignore the Liberal party unless we come up with some policies that are acceptable.
Henry
“Nonsense. They just bestowed preferential tax treatment on “investors” at the expense of other taxpayers. What you want, Geoffrey, is a free ride on someone else’s dime. If fair taxation policies are NDP talking points, so be it.”
What is the preferential tax treatment you refer to?
No law firm in Canada pays taxes. No accounting firm in Canada pays taxes.
The partners in those firms pay taxes. Is this the preferential tax treatment that you refer to?
Nonsense. They just bestowed preferential tax treatment on “investors” at the expense of other taxpayers. What you want, Geoffrey, is a free ride on someone else’s dime. If fair taxation policies are NDP talking points, so be it.
By Henry on 04.02.08 6:21 am
Henry, I really don’t think that you understand how income trusts are taxed. It is important to understand that the income trust structure only leveled the playing field for individuals such as yourself to own a security that distributes income over say the Government of Canada Pension Plan or Abu Dhabi owning them as a leveraged buyout. I really don’t think that you understand this. I will try and explain it to you as best as I can, because you really should know.
By Henry
“They just bestowed preferential tax treatment on “investors” at the expense of other taxpayers.”
What is this preferential tax treatment that you refer to?
Law firms in Canada do not pay taxes. Accounting firms in Canada do not pay taxes. The partners of these firms pay taxes.
Is this the preferential tax treatment you are referring to?
But what is an income trust? When Pizza Pizza converted to an income trust, did they come up with a better business plan, a secret sauce, a wonderful new dough recipe? No, what they (and their “investors”) came up with was a Bay Street scheme that gave them preferential tax treatment, nothing more, nothing less. That is the only value in an income trust. And what is preferential tax treatment? It means I have to pay more so that YOU can pay less. Income trusts, income splitting, RESPs, RRSPs, TFSAs, they’re all robbing Peter to pay Paul schemes that stick it to average taxpayers. It’s got to stop!!! Turner and Flaherty are peas from the same pod. They’re both trying to buy votes with other peoples money by pandering to special interests.
****
Henry, an income trust is structure that allows average Canadians to receive monthly distributions that aren’t ‘double taxed’. You just have to look at who was behind their destruction to understand what they were about: Mark Carney, former Goldman Sachs employee and many members of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Gee, they sound like advocates for the us average Canadians don’t they. You obviously don’t understand the value of income trusts because you likely don’t have an RRSP account and you are likely not near to retirement nor retired, and you likely have a pension plan that you will rely on for retirement income. When you say “It means I have to pay more so that YOU can pay less” you are wrong. What are you paying more for and what are we paying less for? I really don’t think you know what you are talking about.
By Leasa on 04.01.08 7:31 pm
By Greg on 04.01.08 8:15 pm
Ok Leasa, so you are not going to answer. Alright, then I will add some thoughts about your post. I see that Dube has said most of what I would have, but there is one other very large consideration. That of the Publics awareness.
Many people don’t keep up with the news, and youngsters, as a whole, don’t bother with it. A flag flying at half mast is a visual thing, and it catches people’s eye and makes them wonder why? Even school children will ask why? This can lead to people seeking more knowledge and quite possibly a better understanding of facts surrounding war, present and past. Education is good, yes?
Is it not in the Country’s best interest to have informed Citizens rather than those who decide on an issue based on little knowledge, or simply don’t have a viewpoint because they know nothing of the issue?
I would think that the answer to that question depends on who you are and what interest you have. As example, I don’t think the CPC party prefers to have the flag flown at half mast because it is a constant reminder of the facts of war. I also have little confidence that if the Liberal party were in power, that they would want this either.
I made a comment recently about government treating the people like mushrooms. Keep them in the dark and hose them regularly. I think they prefer this. An informed public can be a real pain. Just look at these pesky bloggers and the stuff they keep coming up with.
Er, Leasa, that reads like the typical troll flameout that one sees here periodically – you know, when a troll has done his/her partisan bit and, moving on to other pastures, gives Garth a final blast. (See Halton John/Milton Man, for instance.)
By Leasa on 04.02.08 7:23 am
Good bye Leasa! I will miss your comments on this forumn.
By Catherine on 04.02.08 4:51 am
Good morning Catherine, According to what Garth has insinuated twice on this thread I am now talking to myself.
As a result of this lie that Garth has told, I am the one now being called a liar and attacked for having two identities. If I can’t post under my real name as always without being called a liar for it, I’d rather not post at all.
I can no longer use my real name on this board, therefore I will no longer participate in any way. I didn’t expect Garth would lie like that, but I guess I needed to learn that he is no better than any of the rest. It would have been better if he were honest and simply banned my IP or told me to leave, but I guess he found it more fun to simply discredit me.
Goodbye all!
Leasa
By Leasa on 04.02.08 7:23 am
Good riddance . AngryCanadian,Happy Leasa and the multiple personalities that reside in your cranium .
You will not be missed . Loser !
Goodbye all!
Leasa
By Leasa on 04.02.08 7:23 am
If Garth were wrong, why would you leave?
By Leasa on 04.02.08 7:23 am
If Garth were wrong, why would you leave?
By Geoffrey L. on 04.02.08 3:17 pm
Garth is correct . Her MPD is
horrendous .
She cannot even remember what names she has posted under .
You owe Garth an apology Angycanadian, Happy Leasa et cetera .
So Garth has shown his true self with this little stunt. It just confirms, that these type of politicians are the ones destroying our democracies by making people cynical of anything that these types of politicians say or do. Pity.
Garth truly belongs with his hapless new Liberal Party of Canada.
While I’m confused about this Leasa/Catharine business (I thought the comment referred to Leasa and Catharine being so similar–hence “alter-ego”), I won’t miss her ultra-partisan posts, or condescension.
However, when people can post under various names, and Leasa has and admitted it in the past, what stops her from still commenting, but changing her name? Others have done it.
If she really was Catharine, which I doubt, then we won’t be hearing from Catharine again. Time will tell!
Now, if we can just figure out how to encourage Harry S. to leave, the tone of this blog will be vastly improved.
Leasa,
I for one would rather not have you go since it narrows the spectrum of the dialogue that goes on here. I say this despite my reservations on your objectivity, where you occasionally refuse to acknowledge that there is something wrong with an action of your party (for example, you were the only Ontario-based Conservative poster here who did not find fault with Bill C-22).
Now if there are some here who believe that you and Catherine are one-in-the-same, barring incontrovertible proof like postings from the same IP address, I for one do not believe it – your styles of dialogue are different.
On the other hand, you cannot claim that you have never posted under a different handle. I’ve had a conversation directly with you on the Angry Canadian handle that you’ve used, and you replied that you were angry at Tony Clement or some such thing at the time that you were using it. There has been at least one other that you’ve used, the name of which I cannot remember, but for which you stated that you were just experimenting or fooling around. There have also been some variants on “Leasa” posted, like “Lisa” I believe, however I cannot say whether or not those are attributable to you – I never asked at the time.
Now if your complaint is one against being accused of being Catherine, then your complaint is valid, but if it is against never using another name here, then you are being disingenuous and would lend credence to Herb’s posting below:
(By the way, the one whom I miss, simply for comic relief she brought, was that of “Charley” who left in a huff when Garth was ousted from the Conservatives and this board was opened up to a wider spectrum of posters who were not of Charley’s world-view).
So Garth has shown his true self with this little stunt. It just confirms, that these type of politicians are the ones destroying our democracies by making people cynical of anything that these types of politicians say or do. Pity.
Garth truly belongs with his hapless new Liberal Party of Canada.
By Catherine on 04.02.08 5:54 pm
What the heck does this even mean?! You forgot to say heck!
I genuinely believe that BobRae will be the next Liberal leader post-Dion .. and the only question is whether it will be sooner or later.
My advice to BobRae: “Be kind to pigeons …!”
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