And now for Three Small Outrages:
One: On October 31, 2006, Jim Flaherty shocked a couple of million investors out of their shorts by dumping a 31% tax on income trusts. This was ten months after the Harper Conservatives won office by promising they’d never do such a thing. The reason given: If income trusts were not slapped down then giant companies like Bell would convert to trusts, and Ottawa would be out hundreds of millions in tax dollars.
As a result of that move, Bell was prevented from converting, which would have seen dividends paid to investors, who would have then paid income tax. About $800 million a year. Instead, Bell went shopping for new shareholders, leading to the takeover – about to happen – by the Ontario Teachers pension guys. To pull this off, BCE will be burdened with $32 billion in debt.
So, here’s the outrage: BCE will not be paying any corporate income tax this year or next year or the one after. Not a cent. Jim Flaherty just blew his foot off. Worse, a grossly-indebted company is now struggling, and on Monday laid off 2,500 people. There are thousands more to follow, I’m told.
This is another example of a government that has absolutely no idea of the consequences of its actions. Income trusts. Over-spending. Forty-year mortgages. Bragging the dollar up. And mighty Bell, now a mess of wires and junk bonds.
Two: In the last year that Liberals ran the government, Ottawa burned through $41 million of your money buying advertising. Shocking.
In the first year that Stephen Harper ran the government, Ottawa torched $87 million in taxpayer dollars buying ads. Outrageous.
Is this hypocritical for a bunch of people who spent the last election campaign getting Canadians incensed over money wasted on advertising the ‘Canada’ brand in Quebec – in other words, the sponsorship scandal? Is the country better off today for $87 million shoveled out for TV ads, newspaper spots and billboards telling you what a great job the feds are doing?
By the way, overall federal spending has hit the highest point in history. The surplus is gone. Income taxes have not been reduced, and the latest numbers show Mr. Harper’s team now running a deficit. Maybe we need an ad explaining that.
Three: The illustration above is from a ten percenter circulated by Dave Mackenzie (a Conservative MP for the riding of Oxford, in southwestern Ontario) in the riding of Mark Holland, a Liberal MP out Ajax way, and is supposed to appear as if it’s from Stephen Harper.
The mailer is designed to tell the people of Ajax-Pickering that Holland is not doing his job, and collects his salary under false pretenses because he (like me) abstained from a number of confidence votes which would have forced an election over the last few months. Now, you may or may not agree with our move to deny Harper the election he wanted, at the time he wanted it, but here’s the outrage: Taxpayers’ dollars are being spent sending what is clearly Conservative election literature into an opposition MP’s riding.
This mailer was designed by the Conservative Research Group, mailed under Mackenzie’s postage-free privileges, and printed free of charge for the Conservatives by the House of Commons. In fact, taxpayers are on the hook for an estimated $10 million a year worth of electioneering junk like this, the vast majority of it sent by the richest, best-funded party in Canadian history, which just happens to also form the government.
If you agree this kind of mailing is an abuse of taxpayers’ funds; if you think the Conservatives should not be spending $87 million a year promoting themselves with your money; and if you feel it’s a crime against the national treasury to have Bell – with $17 billion a year in revenues – pay no taxes, then join me.
130 comments ↓
Re. #3: I have been receiving an alarming amount of mailbox spam for ages now and been blogging about it for a while (here). I live in an NDP riding in southern BC and am finding this propaganda deeply insulting and incredibly wasteful. What I have been doing is giving the Cons a piece of my mind by writing a brief, snarky message on the mailer and mailing it in. I have no idea if anyone actually reads this crap once it gets to Ottawa, but it makes me feel like I’ve had my say in a small way.
Thanks for blogging about this; I really appreciate it.
I got my first one of these today and I live a very safe Conservative seat Simcoe Grey
Mine says Canada’s Back on the world stage. I laughed so hard I dropped it into the recycling were it quickly sank out of sight.
If you`ve had enough decades of lies government dysfunction broken promises and corruption join me.
none of the above
Money can’t buy what I have, which is an old conservative vote, that will be voting Liberal in the next federal election!
I find the nasty, schoolyard bullying, sucker-punching, juvenile flier from James Lunney-not-a-doctor! totally offensive and an insult to the intelligence of the constituents in this region of BC.
How can I let this pack of fools know how insulting this is to me but most especially to Stephane Dion? (I’m tempted to send this postage-paid piece of propaganda wrapped around a brick but I know it would just put a further tax burden on everyone, so I won’t.)
If any of you could suggest how I might scratch out the falsehoods on this flier and replace them with truths, that would be helpful.
These guys play dirty. I don’t like them.
Al
By the way, do you notice the little vote line that says ‘check one’ always points to the bottom end of the Harper name on any of these recent and different mail outs?
Directing a vote anyone?
Holland has a big mouth, but is afraid to vote. I am glad he is called out on it.
Cudo’s to the Tories for finally playing hardball. Liberals are masters at ruthless tactics, and the only way the Conservatives have a chance is to play the Liberal game. The Liberals have the advantage with the mainstream media in their corner.
So, you’re OK with political parties getting taxpayer funds to print negative campaign literature? Just so we’re clear. — Garth
Is there any oversight? Someone we can write to, to ask that this use of taxpayers’ money be investigated?
Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons. He controls the budget that’s used to print and oversee these flyers. millip@parl.gc.ca — Garth
I’ll believe the Liberals the day they pay back the millions they stole from the Canadian taxpayer.
By Al on 07.28.08 10:41 pm
These are push polls. They are designed only to secure opinion after they have put an idea in your head.
For me, well I go by action. It’s not what they say it’s what the clowns do that we have to watch.
All parties have the same tools to work with, I’m sure Lib MP’s send out free mailers too.
If you’re that upset then why don’t you introduce a motion or ammendment to reform the free mailer privilege?
Of course that means you would have to show up and vote for the motion or ammendment.
These are controlled by the Board of Internal Economy, an all-party committee which meets in secret, and are not subject to Parliamentary statute. Just because others may also do this (but certainly not to this degree) does not make it right. — Garth
I am getting sleepy.
I have taken down all the pictures of the earlier provincial and federal conservative leadership from various elections and times in the years gone by.
Above my headboard, those old pictures will be replaced by the new liberal leaders with great vision.
I am going to have to arrange for a few more spaces for the liberals than I was able to provide for the conservatives, because there are more bright liberals.
I have ordered wonderful liberal red borders for the pictures.
It will be nicer though waking up to happier faces in the morning.
Hey Ted, it’s spelled Kudos, not cudo’s. Also great to get your refreshing assessment that the mainstream media is in the Liberals corner, never heard that one from Cons before. Same tired old rhetoric from you people. Slither away now Ted.
LIBERALS DECLARE BANKRUPTCY AND DISSOLVE THE PARTY. Of course it will never happen when Elections Canada has their back. Elections Canada has lost all credibility by propping up the Liberal party while attacking the Conservative Party. It is favouritism to extend the deadline for debt repayment beyond the 18 month limit. 18 months is a reasonable time frame. Beyond this time is considered an illegal contribution, unless you Liberal because they are of course entitled to their entitlements.
Sounds like you’re pissed that the elections cops have nailed Mr. Harper’s team for breaking the rules for a general election. I’d be too. — Garth
I notice that the fake ballot on the TITHE-R (10%er) is missing an important leader of some note. Where is the line with Giles Duceppe? that is an insult not by accident, I am sure. If Les Quebecois would get with the program and runs some candidates in prodominently french speaking ridings outside of Quebec (and there are a lot ofd them) that might just shift the balance of power and change the landscape of Canada some more!
Another observation: Re Bell Canada. I was talking to one of the new VOIP providers earlier this month and when I asked if they could provide land line capability in Oshawa, he said call me back in 6 to 8 weeks as we are in negotiations to purchase some of Bell’s infrastructure! That was before the sale was approved and ratified for the BCE shares. This maybe how Ma Dingaling is going to pay off part of this huge buy out debt! That whole issue irks me since the telephone is obviously a public necessity utility and should be owned by a public organization just as it used to be all across the rest of Canada before these meddling monkeys got elected and “sold the farm”! ALA Mikey Hairyass and the 407 sell off!
Next, every one with average to above I.Q. knows that if some thing is advertised on TV there has to be something wrong with it so it needs the extra exposure and hype. Isn’t that just the case with our goofoffermunts! Like I need to be inundated with shpiel? to know that Autowahaha is now in a deficit. Just stop the advertising and pay the bills damnit!
Finally, is all of this tithe or 10% er
freebee junk mail not calculated into the next election advertising budget allowances? If not it should be, and just maybe them thar crackerhead concernatives has jist blowed der wads!
The other outrage is that the smile on the Hon. Mr. Harper’s face must clearly have been photoshop’d on. That could not be a sincere, human smile, could it?
Hmmmmm. Save $24 million by canceling BSE testing so the Cons can spend even more money on mass mailing crappola? New Con math propaganda?
Wonder if anyone has tried using one to wipe their arse? In an outhouse not an indoor toilet, the plumbing expense would be huge. The most expensive arse wiper a taxpayer will ever pay.
Sometimes the mailings are sturdy enough to pick up a huge dog poop. Anyone else use theirs in a creative way?? Don’t be shy.
How is it that teacher’s pension isn’t going to be paying any tax on Bell? tia
How many people have lost their jobs in ON? Oh yeah, I’m sure all those who have lost their jobs will love to hear how the Cons have been spending.
Stop whining, grow some gonads and table a non-confidence motion on the first opposition day the HoC reconvenes in September .. then show up to vote … providing that Dion is still the Liberal leader.
You can whine and bitch about all these intricate issues that most Canadians really don’t care about and don’t want to listen to anyway. The next election will be decided on ‘leadership’ perception, and according to all the polls, Harper is beating Dion by two / three to one on leadership qualities.
I think you have a lame horse leader in Dion for the leadership race come the next election. My suggestion is to get rid of him and find somebody Canadians can relate to ….
I’ll believe the Liberals the day they pay back the millions they stole from the Canadian taxpayer.
By Bocanut on 07.28.08 10:50 pm
And I’ll believe Harper is a LEADER when he finally admits he & DimJim screwed Income Trust investers out of 3.5 billion dollars plus the $87. million it’s cost tax payers so far to send those ridiculous 10%’s through the mail. Is that excusable Bocanut? Its your tax money too Dumbo so you too should be very concerned.
And btw, I’ll believe the CONS the day they pay back the $31. billion to the Income Trust Investors.
Cheers
I heard that part of the advertising budget goes to recruitment for RCMP, and Military? Those are 2 professions that are always in need of new recruits, so there is some value on that case. The rest is a pure waste and hopefully it is audited to see if we receive value for our money. But then value for money would need to be defined, then we all would realize we are being officially ripped off. I am considering voting none of the above in the next election as we have no alternative to what we are getting. Crap gets moved around the house, but it still always stinks.
A Liberal 10%er:
Harper’s Conservatives: Paying THEIR Bills With YOUR Money
Garth, can Parliament be prorouged and no throne speech delivered? I heard that since the Conservatives won’t have any sort of new priorities, that there will be no throne speech so no prorouging? I ask as you have a much greater wealth of information regarding Parliament then I. Thanks.
Bob: If Elections Canada has lost all credibility with you Conservative then don’t you think all Conservative candidates should boycott and not seek re-election? That would really show that they have no confidence in Election Canada and its processes.
I don’t know why all those Conservatives who voted no -confidence in Elections Canada–did not immediately resign –after all, how can you claim to have won an election if , as you claim, the Election Officials are biased and not fit to run an election? Seem a bit hypocritical to claim ownership of a seat that was won by self-proclaimed dubious measures????
BCE: A very simple IQ test for Jim Flaherty:
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/07/bce-simple-iq-test-for-jim-flaherty.html
Your understanding of the Real Issues is second to none Garth!
I’ll join you immediately the liberals return the millions of dollars that they redirected during adscam.
Fascinating article at today’s, The Tyee, Law Suit a Tar Sands Stopper?
Digging for billions: Alberta’s oil sands.
Win for Alberta Cree band could clog up oil ambitions.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/sylley2000/jpg_tar-sands.jpg
Picture of Alberta’s tar sands!
——–
That’s something else this Conservative government supports 200%. The oil does not flow east-west, just north-south and our southerly neighbours refine it, but Canada doesn’t which to me makes no sense. Betcha VP, Chaney had a hand in stopping Canada developing hers and Harper went along with the deal.
When I was invited to Ottawa to speak about the income trust issue. I decided that my main point would be that Harper lied about income trusts. I made this my main point due to the fact that this said a lot about his character at the time and I didn’t think that he could be trusted anymore. My intuition has proven correct. So dear readers of the Garth blogosphere what are we going to do about a Leader who lies? Is this what we want for Canada? For your children? Is this a good example of what Canadians want?
Hmm…..maybe Jim Prentice needs to invite Jim Leech to his meeting as well?
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/07/hmmmaybe-jim-prentice-needs-to-invite.html
BCE and how Jack Layton is out of touch with the global labour movement
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/07/bces-massive-layoffs-and-how-jack.html
“So, you’re OK with political parties getting taxpayer funds to print negative campaign literature? Just so we’re clear. — Garth”
Well, Garth,are your Ok with political parties stealing millions from the taxpayers because they can?
Just so we’re crystal clear.
Tory times are hard times.
Re; the Bell buyout.
Is buying a company with borrowed money then saddling it with that debt any different to the junk mortgages in the states that set off the big mess?
Maybe the solution is to pass a law preventing any reduction in a companies workforce after a buyout for 5 years. Restructuring the workforce ok but no reductions. This would make most buyouts a non starter especially if you could not saddle them with any new debts. The only exception would be to buy out a large corporation with the express purpose of breaking it apart and selling the smaller companies, but again no new debt to any surviving businesses.
Most of the gutting of our manufacturing base has come about as a result of these kinds of buyouts not to mention the bulk of corporate taxes owed over the years remaining unpaid because of the loopholes from these transactions.
Finally what does the teachers union know about running a telecommunications company? If they run it like their hockey team and basketball team we will be using smoke signals in the near future!
Garth;
Last week I received one of these beauties although it did say it was from my own MP, so the modus operandi is a little different. Nonetheless the content was insulting so I wrote to the local newspaper. Unfortunately I don’t think my letter will be printed since its a Conservative rag.
Here’s my letter though (and thanks for the opportunity to publish it):
Dear Editor;
On Wednesday last week, I received a menacing-looking flyer from our local MP indicating that Age is No Excuse and reminding me the Conservative Government believes “no one is above the law”. The flyer says, “The Conservative Government supports tougher laws so young punks and thugs will learn to take responsibility for their serious crimes.”
In Saturday’s Toronto Star, in the last of an eight part series on Crime and Punishment, I read there is a consensus among Canadian experts on the front-end reforms needed for safer communities: reduce poverty and school drop-out rates; invest in comprehensive childhood development initiatives; make housing affordable; increase access to health care and rehabilitative programs; and reduce incarceration rates, partly through alternatives to jail, and (then) direct those savings to neighbourhoods with a high number of offenders.”
The Conservative Government of this MP wants Canadians to adopt an American-style justice system where one in a hundred adults are in prison, the highest incarceration rate in the world. The American system of incarceration has not reduced crime rates. Yet, in Canada, we learned from a study of police departments published last week that Canada has the lowest crime rates in over a decade. Criminalizing poverty hasn’t worked in the USA, why would I believe the Conservative Government has the answer when the experts are shouting loudly to do the exact opposite of what they are purporting as a solution?
Seems to me the Conservative Government is trying to sell a bill of goods that is not even of their own invention. Criminalizing the poor, the homeless, the poorly educated, the mentally ill, the unemployed and those addicted to drugs or alcohol is no sound way to solve the problems of our society.
Neither is raising the fear level of the population through menacing flyers (which taxpayers pay for). The experts say, “the new ‘tough on crime’ measure put it squarely in the pay-more-later camp.” We can pay now to solve our problems through solutions that get at the core of the issues or we can pay much more later by criminalizing them.
Seems to me the experts win the point. We can’t afford the Conservative Government’s solution.
By Wandering Coyote on 07.28.08 10:33 pm
Just went to your blog. Nice layout. I see your alma mater is UVic. StockYard Day was claiming an obscure attacment to that ’skool’ in his leadership bid.
Apparently, he walked past it, while headed somewhere else … which was just before destiny turned him into a short shoreman. Don’t ever argue with him … He and Elliot are prone to tasering their perceived enemies.
The Liberals have the advantage with the mainstream media in their corner.
By Ted on 07.28.08 10:44 pm
————————————–
You are either misinformed or purposely spreading misinformation.
————
During the 2006 election campaign, David Asper appeared publicly several times to endorse the Conservatives.
Aspers and Harper, A Toried Love
Ties that bind CanWest to the Conservatives.
During the 2006 election campaign, David Asper appeared publicly several times to endorse the Conservatives.
Leonard Asper is the son of the late Izzy Asper, founder of CanWest Global. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian media company, CanWest Global Communications Corp.
Concentration of power
Canwest is often cited as an example of how the ownership of Canadian media has become concentrated in the hands of a few individuals and large corporations.
A Far-Right Bias in Media?
Canadians have overwhelmingly suspected and complained of a strong right-wing media bias in our country.
But their concerns have in many ways been confirmed with the presence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a party celebrating CanWest Global’s expansion, led by CEO Leonard Asper. They are now the country’s largest media company, and are even launching their own news wire service to compete with Canadian Press.
Lawrence Martin said in the Globe and Mail,
Their continued ascendancy is a major blow — tilt the message and you gradually tilt the mind — to the left and to moderates. The Aspers make no bones about their conservative bias.
David Beers of The Tyee explains how the Aspers forced their papers to publish editorials from their headquarters, and fired journalists that disagreed with their positions.
Research has shown again and again that “those election issues covered prominently in the news media tend to be perceived by the public as the most important election issues. Items buried tend not to make it on the agenda for public discussion.” Edge says the message is clear: “While the media can not tell us what to think, they are very influential in telling us what to think about. The way these stories are covered not only tell us what to think about, but how we think about it.”
A Dangerous Threat
The company, now run by Izzy’s son, poses such a threat to Canadian society that some have written entire books on it. Marc Edge is the author of Asper Nation: Canada’s Most Dangerous Media Company.
Beers asks,
But even if CanWest owns dozens of newspaper across the nation along with Global TV and other television stations reaching 94 per cent of all Canadians, and even if CEO Leonard Asper has said he aims to make his company one of the top five media companies on the planet, how much torque can the Aspers really put on our democratic process?
Enough, it seems. What’s really scary is how these perspectives may change the fabric of Canada itself. Martin says,
You alter the character of a country by changing how it sees itself. You can change how it sees itself by changing the character of its media. Led by the Aspers, the character of Canadian media is changing.
Modern history has seen fascism, communism, brutal dictatorships, and liberal democracies. What exactly would we call a political system that is run by the media?
The 20th c. had the mafia and the mob. The 21st c. might just have the mobosphere, unless the public and politicians are alerted to this potential threat.
Carney, harpo and dimdumb almost have what they want — harpo made the statement that “. . . you won’t even recognize Canada by the time I’m finished with it . . .”
Figure he was right — this country is now an economic quicksand, and it’s going nowhere but down fast.
bimbojimbo whacked IT investors — make no mistake, he KNEW what was going to happen, then carried it out.
It would have made no difference at all if Dion and others had bought CRAP down — there would have been another election, another minority govt. — possibly CRAP again — so it would have been a waste of money, much like CRAP is spending on these dumbass flyers.
So the Libs. were right to hold off, gain momentum and get back in the hot seat.
As long as this country doesn’t go down the funnymennalist route again, because politics, economics and religion cannot ever be mixed.
That’s what Canada has now, and it’s deteriorating rapidly.
****************************************
By reading the first para. or two, it is easy to understand how desperate Germany was for a leader; then, how Hitler took them to the top, only to lose it all again. Comment courtesy wrh.com.
“A reader who listened to today’s radio show sent this in. It explains how Hitler revived Germany’s economy, and why he was so hated by international banking interests.”
http://tinyurl.com/599h5
****************************************
Merrill Lynchpin gets a US$3.4 bln. shot in the arm; last week it was already exiting stage left, so how long will this bandaid last?
http://tinyurl.com/6747bn
Is this a typo? If it is ,let me correct it.
——————–
I’ll believe the Liberals the day they pay back the millions they stole from the Canadian taxpayer.
By Bocanut on 07.28.08 10:50 pm
CORRECTION
I’ll believe the Conservatives the day they pay back the BILLIONS(Yes! That,s BILLIONS.Harpers 35 Billion dollar Income Trust Scandal)) they stole from the Canadian taxpayer.
———————————
No need to thank me Bocanut. Just being helpfull. We all make mistakes.
I got my first one of these today and I live a very safe Conservative seat Simcoe Grey
Mine says Canada’s Back on the world stage. I laughed so hard I dropped it into the recycling were it quickly sank out of sight.
By Stephen Smith on 07.28.08 10:35 pm
Helena Guergis is your MP according to the ParleyMent archives. If beauty is your watchword, she do be a looker. If, on t’other hand, you were expecting her to represent you or provide assistance by virtue of your being a Canadian, juss forgeddabout it.
From Brenda Martin: a timeline
February 2006 – Brenda Martin jailed in Mexico on Internet fraud charges.
Nov. 19, 2007 – Toronto Liberal MP Dan McTeague announces meeting with Mexican ambassador to discuss Martin’s case.
Feb. 5, 2008 – Martin’s supporters say the Secretary of State to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Helena Guergis, won’t talk with her. Guergis attended a cocktail party hosted by ex-pat Canadians instead.
I expect, if the people of Simcoe Grey are informed as to what she really does, they’ll seriously reconsider their vote.
Note: McTeague made the visit while he was Liberal critic for foreign affairs. It is noteworthy there was no apparent action by the Harper government until after TWO VISITS BY McTeague, and a psychotherapist declared Martin ’suicidal.’
Garth…It’s truly pathetic that the press in Canada can’t seem to connect the dots. The Income Trust Betrayal based on mythical tax leakage, the 18 blacked out pages of evidence, the LBO of BCE and the job losses. All this was unnecessary and only happened because Flaherty is incompetent and did not perform due diligence before dropping the axe on Income Trusts. And Harper allowed it to happen rather than keep his promise. It does not take a rocket scientist to follow this story yet the press just continue to give Harper and Flaherty a free pass on their incompetence.
Truly Pathetic.
The taxpayer-funded direct mailing “survey” campaign, unprecedented billions in budget blow-out, and “re-branding” of Canadian federal politics all make me violently ill.
We have been mailing ours back with an X by Dion, telling them it’s from an Income Trust Family……
This gang is worse than anything we have had before. All they can do is spend our money and blame others. These types of mailouts to other ridings should end. To those complaining about a bias in the press, look no further than your own party for biases. The famous moving meeting of a few months ago for example, trying to pick and choose which newspaper will be able to report on it. And while you are at it, go blog at a blogsite of a conservative member. Oooops forgot they aren’t allowed to have one, that is why Garth is a member of the Liberal party now.
#1 – will Stephane Dion reverse the Income Trust decision? Have heard anything yet from you or Stephane Dion.
#2 – if you are implying that Stephen Harper is doing the same thing as under Liberals when it comes to ad spending – then say so.
Government have always used ads to promote new programs or policies and they should. New and existing stuff that people need to know about? UCCB; passport rules; health stuffs; environmental stuffs; celebrations – i.e. Canada Day; etc.
#3 – if you don’t like the rules, then show up, propose an amendment and vote! You Libs don’t even show up to vote on your own opposition motions – roughly 25% of Lib MPs on average are MIAs on own motions and 90% of Lib MPs are MIAs on government votes.
“Why vote Liberal when Liberals won’t vote for you”
I smell a campaign slogan that’s going to be hard to counter. This will be a great voice-over for an ad showing few Liberals in the House during these and many other votes. Add to that the NDP will also be pounding on the lack of Liberal action over the past session and I think it’s gonna be fun campaign, whenever it starts. (Right after Dion a) ceases being “coy”, and b) figures out that he can’t bring down the government by himself. The next election is going to be F-U-N. Bring it on baby, bring it on!!!
My post :
As an old time Progressive Conservative the term “outrage” hardly describes my feelings today about the Harper/Flaherty “new” Conservatives.
When they first came to power I was willing to ignore things like the David Emerson flip–I even ignored some of their severe right wing religious views–I explained it to myself as Harper`s way of implementing a new vision for this country & since the Conservatives did it , it must be ok.
Wrong!!
My eyes were blown wide-open when while watching TV on Oct 31st 2006 , Mr Flaherty popped onto the TV screen & delivered a knock-out blow to the investment portfolios of many Canadians who had believed the Conservative promise not to tax income trusts–many of us did not own a single trust unit until the Conservatives were placed into power & we assumed it was safe to invest in these issues.
Since this time trust investors have been vilified as incompetent coupon clipping old farts with money to burn.
Unfortunately , the only thing burned was the savings of the people who could least afford it–seniors & small investors.
This is an “outrage” that needs to be rectified.
My hat is off to Garth for championing the cause & plight of these folks who were needlessly harmed by a callous gov`t who has only a majority on it`s mind–certainly not the well-being of it`s citizens.
Dr Mike Popovich–former life-long Conservative.
Garth,
when you were a con, did you ever complain about the “Liberal media biais?”
thanks
There is no media bias, only politicins incapable of communicating. — Garth
What is required is a comprehensive report to study the BCE tax leakage
pre and post BCE takeover versus BCE as an income trust.
The Canadian General Accoutants Assos. (CGA ) should forget about their claim that income trusts are not being productive and not having money to invest in their businesses.
AP.UN
AET.UN
CPG.UN
CLC.UN
BA.UN
GLH.UN
PBF.UN
and others are all great success stories when compared too any business metric. Yes should some companies become trusts …No …but heck the evolution of Nortel was a mess when compared to any business metric.
Canadian small cap companies require efficient access to capital, and Canadian investors are willing to provide this capital for a monthly cost.
Talking to HR recruiters, income trust companies have recruited more
certified accountants, MBA grads, and Operational management professionals then previous, because they had access to efficient capital to attract
business expertice.
Yes, Mr Flaherty , Mr Harper and the CGA …. I am still waiting for these tax leakage reports that you claim !!!
ALCAN, BCE , INCO are gone and so are their tax dollars.
How ironic and funny, that the existing trusts today are paying taxable distributions !!
JC
By Ted on 07.28.08 10:44 pm
The answer to Ted is very clear…the other parties should spend 50 million on 10%er each all with anti-tory ads on them…that would make Ted extremely happy…
By Liblooking on 07.29.08 5:44 am
I suppose the Libs could run any one or all of the following:
STEPHEN HARPER ADMITTED ON TAPE he was aware of a financial offer to Cadman.
STEPHEN HARPER ADMITTED THE CPC used the “IN & OUT SCHEME” in their campaign financing. The investigator for Elections Canada denied claims by the CPC that other parties did it in 2004 & 2006.
STEPHEN HARPER’S chief of staff, most likely under instructions from Harper, tried to INTERFERE in another country’s election process, commonly known now as NAFTAGATE. I am sure Sen. Obama will not forget this trespass.
STEPHEN HARPER tried to SMEAR Liberal MP Bains in the House of Commons. (The character of HARPER exposed, like the smear against Martin as favouring child pornography and Liberals supporting the Taliban)
STEPHEN HARPER 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)
STEPHEN HARPER 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..)
STEPHEN HARPER MUZZLES HIS MINISTERS and only allows them to talk in public after the content has been cleared with the PMO. Now he wants to muzzle all government offices by having them clear everything with the PMO before releasing information. Then he scraped the Co-ordination of Access to Information Requests to deny access to Canadians to millions of pages of once secret documents.
STEPHEN HARPER BROKE HIS WORD on the Atlantic Accord.
STEPHEN HARPER 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
I find it disgusting that these CONs use taxpayer’s money to peddle their propaganda. Are there ideas not saleable on their own merit? I guess not. Do they actually think Canadians want or need to have their own money spent to tell them what to think? It’s so, well, Republican. But aren’t the Republicans the ones who taught them how to refine their propaganda technique, leaving no stone unturned, no avenue by which to deliver it unexploited. Frank Luntz comes to mind. And they do this because they think they can get away with it.
A few other instances of this kind of abuse of funds come to mind such as:
$650.000 paid to former Parti Quebecois cabinet minister Paille to conduct a study of Liberal polling practices.
$31,000,000 spent on research in the year before the above mentioned study. One example of the kind of thing the CONs wanted to know was the level of voter support for the death penalty.
$500,000 over 5 years to a military think tank, the Conference of Defence Associations whose key goals were to include the need “to consider the problems of National Defence” and “to support government efforts in placing these problems before the public.”
$650,000 for an ad campaign that boasts about a one-cent cut to the GST.
$60,000 for an ad campaign targeted to ethnic media outlets designed to sell proposed changes to the immigration system before it became law.
How much public money was spent on:
Steven Harper’s hairdresser and psychic
The image consultant hired to prepare Gary Lunn to appear before the committee to explain the government’s position on the firing of Linda Keen. How many times have image consultants been hired at taxpayers expense that we haven’t found out about yet?
Steven Harper’s ridiculous “Gallery of ME”
Countless grandiose photo-ops which often included the practice of flying in people to use as props.
Using Hill Staffers to hand out anti-Dion oil blob literature.
What about the things they tried to get away with but were caught like trying to steal $700.000 from taxpayers with the In and Out scheme.
What about the abuses of public money we haven’t even found out about yet?
I sincerely hope someone in the Liberal Party has been assigned the task of tracking this stuff. I would like to know what it all adds up to, the big and the small, so maybe it can be packaged in an attractive ten second soud byte, CON style, and used in an election campaign. And before you Kool-Aid addled trolls start with the Sponsership mantra, this is WORSE. It’s a calculated scam orchestrated at the top level and if we were to find out how much money they siphoned off for their continuous campaigning, I think the amount would be staggering.
By Liblooking on 07.29.08 5:44 am
Or how about:
HAVE YOU BEEN CONNED BY A CON LATELY?
(with a picture of Harper with his cowboy hat)
and under his photo:
INCOME TRUSTS
CADSCAM
ELECTION CANADA “IN & OUT SCHEME”
NAFTAGATE….AND MUCH MORE….
Someone within the last two weeks posted a numbered Harper Index. Unfortunately, I can’t locate it now. I would appreciate it if the index could be reposted as I would like to print it out. TIA
– i.e. Canada Day
By Catherine on 07.29.08 4:40 am
That one, in particular astounded me! All newspapers are packed to the gunnels with info regarding gatherings, venues, fireworks, etc., visitations by significant persons, such as THE Batman from the Vatican.
The very fact that certain MP’s, like Mikey Wallace would use a 10%-er to inform his consitutents merely suggests he thinks his voters all suffer from Alzheimer’s. Hell, on another occasion, when New Canadians were taking their oath, the local media was totally blocked from the event because Flim-Flam Dim-Jim Flaherty was presenting a budget that day. Mikey, of course, is nothing less than a fat-faced unprincipled liar, like the rest.
EEEWWWW … What’s on July 1st?
Your lot couldn’t run a coin-operated C.R.A.P.per!
“In the first year that Stephen Harper ran the government, Ottawa torched $87 million in taxpayer dollars buying ads. Outrageous.”
Garth, or anyone, can you tell me where I could locate this information on the GoC website? TIA
The internal government report has not been released, but the Globe got a copy. — Garth
Once again not one new Conservative has any problem with their party abusing taxpayers money for purely party purposes. I find it quite amusing to see new Conservatives once again justify by pointing at the adscam issue.
Hi Garth, thanks for reminding us of the continual stream of transgressions by Harpo and his cronies. Any Canadian with even a couple of live brain cells should be able to recognize these actions as those coming from an desperate, vicious party that does not deserve to stay in power.
There is no media bias, only politicins incapable of communicating. — Garth
By Tom S on 07.29.08 6:47 am
Huh? Garth! I’ll bet you are glad you are not Pinocchio! You’d be one ugly dude. ha ha ~ Leasa
Show me bias. — Garth
I have taken down all the pictures of the earlier provincial and federal conservative leadership from various elections and times in the years gone by.
Above my headboard, those old pictures will be replaced by the new liberal leaders with great vision.
I am going to have to arrange for a few more spaces for the liberals than I was able to provide for the conservatives, because there are more bright liberals.
I have ordered wonderful liberal red borders for the pictures.
It will be nicer though waking up to happier faces in the morning.
By AToryNoMore on 07.28.08 11:05 pm
From the above comment it would appear that you need a good night’s sleep. In the morning you might see that your brain had stopped functioning on a rational level!!!!
If you agree this kind of mailing is an abuse of taxpayers’ funds; if you think the Conservatives should not be spending $87 million a year promoting themselves with your money; and if you feel it’s a crime against the national treasury to have Bell – with $17 billion a year in revenues – pay no taxes, then join me. – Garth.
Agreed on all three points, with the exception of not agreeing with abstaining on confidence votes.
But Garth, as you, Mr. Dion and the rest of the opposition are well aware, writting to your Con. MP (mine’s VanKesteren) is like talking to a brick wall and goes nowhere. They are puppets with Harper and the PMO pulling the strings.
No, Garth, the only piece of writting that will give these guy’s the message is that little “x” we put on the voting paper.
As soon as parliament is back, you guy’s had better be ready to bring this incompetant government down.
If not, then Mr. Dion and the rest of the Libs will also deserve that title, incompetant at being the official opposition.
Its the oppositions job to prevent government from doing the three things you list. You had the chance and failed to do so, for political reasons. That is not acceptable. Next session do your job and send Harper et al the message they can’t ignore!
My eyes were blown wide-open when while watching TV on Oct 31st 2006 , Mr Flaherty popped onto the TV screen & delivered a knock-out blow to the investment portfolios of many Canadians who had believed the Conservative promise not to tax income trusts–many of us did not own a single trust unit until the Conservatives were placed into power & we assumed it was safe to invest in these issues.
Dr Mike Popovich–former life-long Conservative.
By Dr Mike from Rodney on 07.29.08 5:50 am
I W-W-W-W-W-W-WON’T FORGET DR. MIKE
‘Cos STEVIE SAID; “D-D-D-D-DON’T FORGET!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9mibZYpVPY
The show-stopper was when I attended a Mikey Wallace Forum in Burlington, July 10 this year, when he had Marjorie de leBretagne, a Mulroney appointee, by his side. He told a poor old senior bastard, “You had your chance,” when the old guy kept pursuing income trusts and various other misleading statements they both made. Press coverage, which was entirely negative, did not appear in the local newspaper until July 25 … buried between ads for hide-a-bed and cotton doilies.
[...] the PMO has put his name to this ad, whether he was willing or not). Garth Turner points out this ad that’s been mailed out to voters in Liberal MP Mark Holland’s riding of Ajax-Pickering, [...]
I think the CON trolls better check their facts before getting all fired up. Many, and I say “many” of the Conservative MP’s got extensions on their loans. So, no bias at all. FACT!
Unfortunately, my husband threw out a whole bunch of the flyers not realizing I was keeping them – to make my case to the local newspaper, but I have been keeping them for a few months now and they are sure adding up. I remember when we had a Liberal MP and a person wrote to the editor about wasting our taxpayer money – the Liberal MP sent out a couple of parliamentary updates -why isn’t this person complaing to the editor now? Hmmm…..
Once again it appears the truth has cranked many Reformers hiding beneath the skirts of the Conservatives.
I too respond to Harper’s 10%ers with a request that he send me a cheque for the $8500. he cost me in lost income trust investment as a result of his lies. I also suggest to him that he pay for his own crappy advertising. I also invite him to call me. So far only silence.
The only question I have is ‘Who wrote the laws to allow this fiasco?’
If it is illegal, then where is our law enforcement be it Electons Canada orthe RCMP?
Have we achieved Frank Zappa status by becoming a ‘nation of laws, randomly enforced’?
Seems simple to me, it is either legal or illegal for the CPC to be using taxpayer dollars to promote their own agenda, or it is NOT!
Why should WE have to be fighting this issue? Have we no legal system functioning to do this task?
Who is RESPONSIBLE for the obersight of this? The Auditor general? Attorney General? Elections Canada? Let them Get It DONE! That is what WE pay TAXES for, so we do not have to piss around with such matters in our own busy lives.
“Why vote Liberal when Liberals won’t vote for you”
By Liblooking on 07.29.08 5:44 am
MAKE IT THE Central FocusPLEASE!
Because Canadians enjoy anyone who attempts to treat them as being brain-dead … and resorts to cheap jingoism. Eves tried it … by claiming McGuinty ‘was not up to the job.’ BTW, where are Harris, Eves and the hallowed inner circle today?
Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons. He controls the budget that’s used to print and oversee these flyers. millip@parl.gc.ca — Garth
No wonder nothing has been done. Milliken could be named Milktoast IMO!
Seems to me the Conservative Government is trying to sell a bill of goods that is not even of their own invention. Criminalizing the poor, the homeless, the poorly educated, the mentally ill, the unemployed and those addicted to drugs or alcohol is no sound way to solve the problems of our society.
Neither is raising the fear level of the population through menacing flyers (which taxpayers pay for). The experts say, “the new ‘tough on crime’ measure put it squarely in the pay-more-later camp.” We can pay now to solve our problems through solutions that get at the core of the issues or we can pay much more later by criminalizing them.
Seems to me the experts win the point. We can’t afford the Conservative Government’s solution.
By Deb Prothero on 07.29.08 12:57 am
Excellent post, Deb. I have been following the Toronto Star series on this issue, and they should get an award for this type of indepth journalism.
There is a disproportionate percentage of incarcerated human beings with learning disabilities and low literacy levels, as well as a disturbingly high number of aboriginal people in jails.
A more enlightened approach to these issues is needed, but I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime.
Now they want to add to the number of people in jails, by criminalizing people in possession of small amounts of marijuana. Next, it will be people who buy cigarettes (which are still legal and a high source of tax revenue for the government) from the reserves.
I wish governments would be as tough on poverty as they are on the type of crimes that do not hurt other people.
I’m all for incarcerating criminals who hurt people, especially children, but where is the crime in growing or smoking your own pot?
“In the first year that Stephen Harper ran the government, Ottawa torched $87 million in taxpayer dollars buying ads. Outrageous.” – Garth
When is the Auditor General going to report on this? She likes to ensure we get value for money and as this has no value to the Canadian public, her report should make Harper’s ears burn!
Canada’s economic picture darkening: economist
Updated Tue. Jul. 29 2008 8:30 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Recent rounds of job cuts by major corporations suggest it’s Canada’s turn to experience some economic pain, a prominent economist said Tuesday.
http://tinyurl.com/5ssvzc
Re my last post about the $87 million spent by the con govt. I hadn’t checked the G&M and some other blogs. Hope this news gets into some of the Quebec papers.
And btw, I’ll believe the CONS the day they pay back the $31. billion to the Income Trust Investors.
Cheers
By Irene on 07.28.08 11:27 pm
Plus – when trying to bash Liberals by investigating polling costs – it was found that Conservatives “doubled” the cost of polling – over $31 million
Plus – $87 million ad expenses
Plus -$650,000 for GST cut stickers
Plus – makeup lady – we haven’t been allowed to know that expense yet.
…shall we go on?
Re my last post about the $87 million spent by the con govt. I hadn’t checked the G&M and some other blogs. Hope this news gets into some of the Quebec papers.
By kpn on 07.29.08 8:51 am
..hey, send a copy to each of the Quebec papers or even Duceppe
This morning the G&M printed an article calling Flaherty “trust investors’ best friend”.
I kid you not.
Look for it in the Report on Business.
I read the comments after reading the article, and the very first comment correctly stated that:
Harpers Income Trust Betrayal staged the BCE buy out and the hollowing out of Canada by foreigners.
The commenter stated that Harpers Income Trust Betrayal is causing massive tax leakage.
The commenter pointed out that The G&M is misleading people by saying that Teachers Pension Fund bought BCE.
Teachers only bought 1/3.
TWO THIRDS of Bell Canada is now American Owned.
That’s your telecommunications company, controlled by Americans folks.
And it could not have happened with out Harpers Income Trust Betrayal.
The commenter also stated correctly that the Deficit that the Harper government has ushered in is a result of TAX LEAKAGE caused by Harpers Income Trust Betrayal.
The comment made at the G&M was not offensive in any way what so ever, and was spot on in respect to the observations made.
The Globe and Mail chose to delete the comment from it’s comment page.
As was posted afterwards, it appears that the Globe and Mail can not be trusted any more than Harper can.
Much as I hate Harper Garth they are RIGHT.
You are a hypocrit(ter) to whine about the state of Canada’s economy etc, when there were NUMEROUS opportunities to VOTE down the Tories.
Yeah Harper lied on IT but you guys allowed the legislation to pass, yeah they crapped on immigrants but you guys allowed the legislation to pass..and on and on and on.
YOU and the Liberals are just as guilty as Harper, maybe even more so because you allowed them to get away with it!
They will be defeated when they can be replaced. Any other strategy is pointless. Surely you can agree with this goal. — Garth
Garth,
Just tried sending you an email to garth@garth.ca and got an error message? Any info?
Thanks
The Cons picked me up overnight and I am now in a detention centre in Fort Mac. — Garth
CPC’s new slogan: 10%ers, brought to you by Canaduh’s Gnu Goobermint[TM]
(hopefully 10% will be CPC’s vote result, soon!)
Garth, would it not be possible to pass legislation to force (retroactive) disclosure on the amount spent on 10%ers? I’m thinking that could clear the air a bit!
“Is there any oversight? Someone we can write to, to ask that this use of taxpayers’ money be investigated?
Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons. He controls the budget that’s used to print and oversee these flyers. millip@parl.gc.ca — Garth
By catherine on 07.28.08 10:48 pm ”
And here is Milliken’s reply when we complained…
“April 17, 2008
Thank you for your email of April 1, 2008 concerning the use of franking privileges by Mr. Dean Allison, M.P. for Niagara West – Glanbrook.
The nature of your concerns relates to the use of the mailing privileges provided to Members of Parliament. Section 35 of the Canada Post Corporation Act states that mail sent by or addressed to a Member of the House of Commons may be transmitted free of postage within Canada. Neither the Act nor the applicable Regulations contain restrictions as to the content of the material mailed out or the frequency of the mailings by Members. Therefore, the House has no authority to control the use of the franking privilegs in this Act.
By-laws 101 and 102 issued by the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons under the Parliament of Canada Act provide that the public and official business and partisan matters are considered to form part of a Member’s parliamentary functions and that funds, goods, services and premises are provided to Members of the House to carry out these functions.
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and I trust that this information has addressed your concerns.
Yours truly,
Peter Milliken, M.P.”
So there you have it! What you do with it is up to you.
Want a copy Garth?
Real Action.
Real Results.
Real DEFICITS!!!
Is Your “Keep-Safe” Money Really Protected from Credit-Market Chaos?
Sharon A. Daniels 07-28-08
Why it’s almost like Flaherty!
“The ongoing credit-crunch continues to shake-up financial markets in unexpected and frightening ways. It’s hard to keep up with the fast-growing list of financial sector casualties. Just take a look at the fallout so far this year …
Bear Stearns: This, century-old, brokerage firm was on the verge of collapse in March when the Federal Reserve arranged a last-minute fire sale to JP Morgan to prevent bankruptcy.
IndyMac Bank: One of America’s largest mortgage lenders DID collapse just weeks ago, stranding some 10,000 depositors WITHOUT FDIC coverage. This could prove to be the most expensive bank failure in U.S. history costing taxpayers between $4 and $8 billion!
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Fannie and Freddie are Government Sponsored Enterprises, so you’d think they’d be run conservatively, right? Wrong! Fannie Mae is fighting to stay in business on life-support from the U.S. Treasury. Meanwhile, Freddie Mac is already insolvent under fair value accounting rules!
Landmines are going off left and right in the financial sector, leaving unprepared investors in one of the most precarious situations since at least the last bear market and perhaps since the Great Depression.
In this devastating climate you should understand that it’s not the return ON your money you should be concerned about … it’s the return OF your money that’s most important.”
http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/Issues.aspx?NewsletterEntryId=2025
Why would you vote for the C.R.A.P./S.H.I.T.’s, when they didn’t vote for you when they gave senior investors royal ’screwing[ings]‘ without either ‘foreplay[ings]‘ or ‘kiss[ings]‘ without advance notice, on Income Trusts.
These are controlled by the Board of Internal Economy, an all-party committee which meets in secret, and are not subject to Parliamentary statute. Just because others may also do this (but certainly not to this degree) does not make it right. — Garth
Garth, it is hard to criticize the Cons on this one i think. Yes, we need some changes, but until that time the only credible criticism would be if they went over the limits or did something against the rules. I don’t think that the content is necessarily against any rules….yet. Like you say, everyone does it, so why doesn’t Dion make an announcement indicating a solution to the problem in a very SIMPLE way, admitting that all parties do it. He needs to play in the same league as Harper and start making announcements about clear policy differences every few days. Hell, have an announcement saying that Libs will protect a woman’s right to choose no matter what…. let’s step it up guys!
PS. Garth, on April 1, 2008 I sent you a copy of the same complaint that was sent to Milliken. The portion of his response below could basically be summed up as “screw you, taxpayers” imo!
“By-laws 101 and 102 issued by the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons under the Parliament of Canada Act provide that the public and official business and partisan matters are considered to form part of a Member’s parliamentary functions and that funds, goods, services and premises are provided to Members of the House to carry out these functions.”
Just wanted to save people the trouble of writing to Milliken cause that is the response they’re gonna get.
Next suggestion Garth? (an election perhaps so you can change the rules)
The Cons picked me up overnight and I am now in a detention centre in Fort Mac[Sludge] — Garth
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.29.08 9:19 am
I’m sure The Hon Garth can swim … The question is; Do he have a full wetsuit with appropriate breathing apparatus?
…He can go sliding in the goo too!
The Cons picked me up overnight and I am now in a detention centre in Fort Mac. — Garth
Shall I call in the Marines? JTF2? At least you haven’t been ‘reditioned’ yet to Gitmo! Yet being the key tense! LOL
Although, considering Fort Mac, you are now in dire harm’s way. If your skin starts to peel, flake, or otherwise change, you experience a burning sensation in your respiratory tract, or eyes. Seek medical help immediately. Remember what happened to the 500 ducks!
I suggest that if you are interested in what is happening to Canadian politics to read Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope, especially the first couple of chapters. While he is writing specifically about U.S. politics it provides excellent insight to the transformation of North American politics in the past few decates and is relevant to the situation in Canada.
By dj on 07.29.08 9:31 am
Sounds to me like Milktoast Milliken just pulled a Sgt. Schultz on all of us?
Yeah Harper lied on IT but you guys allowed the legislation to pass, yeah they crapped on immigrants but you guys allowed the legislation to pass..and on and on and on.
YOU and the Liberals are just as guilty as Harper, maybe even more so because you allowed them to get away with it!
They will be defeated when they can be replaced. Any other strategy is pointless. Surely you can agree with this goal. — Garth
By dj on 07.29.08 9:17 am
<b?Back to the DIPPER WOODPILE, you! Judy Watch-your-valise-valise, DIPPER airport security, Winnipeg North, was instrumental in Flaherty’s passing of the income trust dump. And Tom Mulcair was positively photo-op when he was interviewing Art Carney’s son Mark before the committee. Mulcair was unconditionally opposed to permitting income trusts to continue … Despite the DIPPER’S proclamation on their webpage respecting the dignity of seniors. You are a pedlar of Major Horse[poop]ings.
Email problem resolved. Duh! My bad!
“There is no media bias, only politicians incapable of communicating. — Garth”
Maybe the Liberal party can teach Dion how to communicate clearly in English?
You embody what is wrong with politics. — Garth
So dear readers of the Garth blogosphere what are we going to do about a Leader who lies?
By Geoffrey L. on 07.29.08 12:01 am
We must up our donations to the party so that we can advertise his lies over and over and over again until every Canadian can recognize his quotes.
Example, who said
“Read my lips, no new taxes”
Advertising the truth works for Canadians.
Someone within the last two weeks posted a numbered Harper Index. Unfortunately, I can’t locate it now. I would appreciate it if the index could be reposted as I would like to print it out. TIA
By kpn on 07.29.08 7:51 am
http://www.harperindex.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?Show=Cat1
Be Pragmatic: Vote Liberal
I respectfully urge all income trust investors who were betrayed by Harper, Flaherty & their CON ilk to be pragmatic when voting in the next federal election.
Only the Liberal Party has a much more compassionate and fair income trust policy, with a reasonable chance of turfing this CON cadre of crooks.
Additionally, why not help the cause and put “your money where your mouth is” by making a donation to the Liberal Party Of Canada.
A $100 donation, for example, will only cost $25, after a federal political contribution tax credit of $75.
Please see the donation webpage at:
https://www.liberal.ca/donate_e.aspx
Example, who said
“Read my lips, no new taxes”
Advertising the truth works for Canadians.
By Ron p on 07.29.08 10:59 am
George Herbert Walker Bush! In his mind, and that of Washington Speak, he did not lie. There were no ‘new’ taxes he just raised existing ones.
This is known as the Potomac Two-Step. A dance Harper has mastered as well. Someone stop the music please!
You embody what is wrong with politics. — Garth
By
Bocanut on 07.29.08 10:43 amYes, it does!
You embody what is wrong with politics. — Garth
That still doesn’t change the fact that Dion does not communicate well in English. He tries, but still manages to embarrass us.
He does not embarrass me. And, how’s your French? — Garth
Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons. He controls the budget that’s used to print and oversee these flyers. millip@parl.gc.ca — Garth
To what party does Milliken, who is controlling the budget, belong?
He acts as an independent and sits in no caucus. — Garth
Just because others may also do this (but certainly not to this degree) does not make it right. — Garth
So, why didn’t you mention that in your blog – that Liberals, Conservatives, Greens, NDPers do it. Funny how your blog makes it sound like Harper’s is the only government to abuse the public purse. Adscam, anybody? Dingwall, anybody? Golf balls? Radwanski – whose 250M income tax debt was forgiven by Chrétien’s government. Not just the Harper government, Garth.
Well, Deb, Dr. Spock was an “expert” on child-raising and look at his own children and how they turned out. Experts have their place but back in the “bad” old days, we could send our children to school and have them come home alive. We had lots of poverty in the old days and it drove people to work harder and smarter, not commit crimes. Ask anybody who came from immigrant parents back then. All the “expert” advice in the world will not be as effective as swift and definite punishment. Period. If that makes me “American” so be it.
New York money woes to bring spending cuts
NEW YORK (AP) — The economic downturn and slumping real estate market have left the city facing a $2.3 billion budget shortfall in the next fiscal year and even larger deficits in subsequent years, the mayor warned…………………………………
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in his own report released Monday that Wall Street, which drives the city’s economy, lost a record $11.7 billion in 2007 and another $22.4 billion in the first quarter of 2008.
He said the city expects Wall Street to cut 25,000 jobs from its recent peak of 188,000 jobs in September 2007, a 13.4 percent decline………..
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/29/new.york.budget.ap/index.html
Flim Flam says we Canadians are not going to feel any of this!! Still lying.
This is known as the Potomac Two-Step. A dance Harper has mastered as well. Someone stop the music please!
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.29.08 11:34 am
Hey Bill, I’m still trying to picture Harper dancing to a two step.
*DOES NOT COMPUTE*
Simply Red recorded a song some 25 years ago and the lyrics are just as applicable now as they were back in the 80.s.
The song of course was:
“Money’s too tight to Mention”
Good news. Global trade negotiations collapse
Ah, I smile as we watch the WTO’s Globalism unravel before our very eyes. Our safety is far more important than some arsehole’s mega-profits.
Hey Bill, I’m still trying to picture Harper dancing to a two step.
*DOES NOT COMPUTE*
By Ron p on 07.29.08 1:04 pm
Ron, perhaps I can help you visulaize such? Harper will take two steps to the right, always circling further to the right, until he completes the circuit back to the Reform/Alliance position he started from.
Watch closely! Occassionally he will deliberately step on the down trodden in his path.
Pretty good dance to the Eagles ‘Dirty Laundry’ and the chorus ‘Kick ‘em when their up. Kick when their down.’
By C. B. Innes on 07.29.08 8:05 am
References to adscam are the only rebuttal to Conservative abuses of our tax dollars.
By virtue of the negative attacks on Liberal practices, as opposed to a single solitary posting of positive support, I have to infer that Conservative supporters are willing to hold their noses and support anything the Conservatives are willing to do.
You know, the end justifies the means.
It’s a damn shame, really. I had hoped that Conservatives had more integrity, and that their supporters (which used to include me) had more honour.
I don’t care who is doing it; it stinks that we are being bribed and extorted with our own money. A pox on all their houses.
We had lots of poverty in the old days and it drove people to work harder and smarter, not commit crimes. Ask anybody who came from immigrant parents back then. All the “expert” advice in the world will not be as effective as swift and definite punishment. Period. If that makes me “American” so be it.
By heartofnathaniel on 07.29.08 12:11 pm
It is too bad that history is not an important subject in our schools. If you studied history you would understand how inaccurate the above statement really is.
In fact, it reflects a belief that there is no relation between “hard work” and criminal behaviour or maybe criminal behaviour that includes hard work tends to be acceptable in some quarters.
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.29.08 11:34 am
I am assuming that you live in Ontario. I believe that Dalton also said he would impose no new tax increases. Technically, he was truthful – he didn’t increase any existing tax but he did add a new one but refused to call it a tax until he was forced so to do. And then, didn’t even direct this new “non-tax” to the health care system. Let’s see, is Dalton a Conservative? Hmmm, let me think. Um, no, he’s a LIBERAL. But, of course, Liberals never lie but Conservatives always lie. Yup – thank God for an Ontario Liberal government which tosses dollars at GM to enable them to close a huge plant and then blame Harper for it.
That still doesn’t change the fact that Dion does not communicate well in English. He tries, but still manages to embarrass us.
He does not embarrass me. And, how’s your French? — Garth
By ST on 07.29.08 11:59 am
Calice du tabernacle … ÊTES-VOUS UN TETE MERDE?
That still doesn’t change the fact that Dion does not communicate well in English. He tries, but still manages to embarrass us.
He does not embarrass me. And, how’s your French? — Garth
By ST on 07.29.08 11:59 am
He doesn’t embarras me either.
But take someone like Maxime Bernier (please) now there’s in bare ass ment if there ever was.
GM to enable them to close a huge plant and then blame Harper for it.
By heartofnathaniel on 07.29.08 1:33 pm
So, brainofaspaniel,have you figured out how Trudeau caused the world wide recession as you so astutely claimed in yesterday’s post?
Give it up, you’ve been exposed.
Nobody here will buy what you say so go home to your blogging sTories.
Re: Jim Flaherty, et al, ClownOlogists, similar to proctologists, as in [censored]
Just to make myself feel like I’m doing my democratic duty, I’m going to take the last 3 of the Con 10% flyers which have arrived in the last week……… in to my local newspaper office, to see if someone from the editorial dept. will meet with me.
This is the home of The Honourable ConGuergis.
I’m simply going to print off some of today’s discussion from Garth’s blog + take in the 3 flyers and tell them I think this advertising is immoral and illegal.
And ask what are they going to do about it?
Then it will be off my chest.
—anyone else under the Guergis jackboot should take the 10% flyers into their local newspaper and lodge a similar complaint.
Pretty good dance to the Eagles ‘Dirty Laundry’ and the chorus ‘Kick ‘em when their up. Kick when their down.’
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.29.08 1:14 pm
Hide your albums if he ever gets his majority reform gov’t.
That still doesn’t change the fact that Dion does not communicate well in English. He tries, but still manages to embarrass us.
More Tory bigotry I see – shame on you.
CONS and NDP always yapping about the Liberals not showing up to vote. I,d be cranky to if in order to get another term in office the only way to do so was to have an election as soon as possible because the wheels are falling off and Harpers CON Government will be exposed for who they really are–LIARS and CROOKS. Good for Dion.His advisors had enough foresight to give Harper enough rope to hang themselves. Short term pain for long term gain. Patience and looking at the long term fundamentals is what wise managers do and Dion exibits this leadership.
On the topic of not showing up to vote, let,s look at this in a realistic way. The only vote that matters is at the polling booth. I assure you that myself any many Canadians are sick and tired of this fraudulent excuse for a Government Harper has given us. The jig is up. Stay tuned for the vote that really counts.
Wouldn,t it be interesting if the U.S.A. have their election at the same time as us. How about a scenario of Obama and Dion winning. (A good match i would think.) McCain and Harper.(Pea,s in a pod.) Obama and Harper.(they,d curdle) Interesting times are coming. I hope we don,t curdle.
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As an old time Progressive Conservative the term “outrage” hardly describes my feelings today about the Harper/Flaherty “new” Conservatives.
Dr Mike Popovich–former life-long Conservative.
Well said Doc. Your explanation about Harper and the income trusts is a carbon copy of my own fate. With people such as yourself i,ve got great confidence we,ll bring these rascals down in the next election. The vote that counts. Thanks for your persistence in this matter. Your a good man.
He acts as an independent and sits in no caucus. — Garth
He is a Liberal and if he wasn’t voted as the speaker next time around he would return to the Liberal caucus.
If you agree this kind of mailing is an abuse of taxpayers’ funds; ……
By Garth.
How can it be an abuse Garth if they are doing it in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the current policies? If you feel so strongly about it then why don’t you put forward a private members bill to curtail such use? I suspect you are really using this as a tool to stir up the troops.
Do you approve of this use of public funds? — Garth
Show me bias. — Garth
You are not serious. Have you watched the CBC lately? Or the Tor-Star? Hello? I know, you are on vacation now, right?
Speaking of Bias, I see your man got an extension from Election’s Canada…Dec. 31st 2009. Wow! They really like him. Perhaps they’ll even take up a collection for him. Leasa
How can it be an abuse Garth if they are doing it in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the current policies? If you feel so strongly about it then why don’t you put forward a private members bill to curtail such use? I suspect you are really using this as a tool to stir up the troops.
Do you approve of this use of public funds? — Garth
By Van on 07.29.08 4:31 pm
The problem is that the Parliamentary parties set the rules in their perceived self-interest. It would not be surprising if any politician favoured a system that gave them an unfair advantage over others because that is the way the system works even although some of us find this unacceptable.
The problem that I have is that the new Conservatives that were constantly complaining about the Liberals abusing that advantage are now totally accepting of this kind of abuse by their own party. They are the real hypocrits.
When political parties are able to use unlimited and unstricted amounts of our money for their private purposes it is an abuse of power. They make the rules and the laws hence we have no protection from that kind of abuse. The reason we have no protection is that collectively we continually vote for the same abusers. It is like an abused spouse who continues to go back, time after time, to the same abusive spouse based on the promise they have changed!!!!
Hide your albums if he ever gets his majority reform gov’t.
By Ron p on 07.29.08 2:36 pm
Like Dude, I am totally Digital now…All CD’s. LOL
He acts as an independent and sits in no caucus. — Garth
He is a Liberal and if he wasn’t voted as the speaker next time around he would return to the Liberal caucus.
By Van on 07.29.08 4:25 pm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Van, if you were really up to date, you would know that it is currently thought that The Honorable Peter Milliken will not run in the next election. He has as much as said so in the House during some of his exasperations with the level of debate, innuendo, and frivolous Points of Order/Privilege. He has performed admirably in the rancorous atmosphere created by Harper, et al. His departure will be a serious loss of knowledge, judgment, and decorum needed and so currently lacking. How many previous Speakers of the House have ever returned to caucus, or would you care?
How can it be an abuse Garth if they are doing it in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the current policies? If you feel so strongly about it then why don’t you put forward a private members bill to curtail such use? I suspect you are really using this as a tool to stir up the troops.
Do you approve of this use of public funds? — Garth
By Van on 07.29.08 4:31 pm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For the record, I DO NOT! Not even if the privilege was not being abused. This is both an uncontrolled use of tax money, and a make work project for Canada Post. There should be no free lunch. If my Member has something to say to me that is worth saying, he should have to pay his own freight. All good truckers know enough to leave the cheap freight on the dock!
wish i could make it but a very busy time of year for me.Keep up the good work Garth you give me hope…….something i might add has never happened before to this taxpayer!
Got a mailer, aka, flyer, from Dion today. Not bad. Not bad at all! No test, no boxes to check. Just information.
Global national had an interesting segment tonight on how Canadians are not feeling apathetic about politics, they are just plain FED UP with the attacks, and childish behaviour. Interestingly, Elizabeth May was included in the Party Leaders, and featured as the interviewee.
Oh, if only we had a Barack Obama with a real vision. What a change would occur.
There is a lesson in there for some to learn me thinks?
Another LBO Of A Canadian Income Trust
Fording Canadian Coal Trust To Be Bought By Teck Cominco
Brenda Bouw, THE CANADIAN PRESS
July 29, 2008 (EDIT)
VANCOUVER – Teck Cominco Ltd. pulled the trigger on a deal to buy the assets of Fording Canadian Coal Trust for about US$14 billion.
Tuesday’s bid is for US$12.4 billion in cash and shares worth about C$1.5 billion.
Don Lindsay, president and CEO of Teck Cominco said the structure of the deal is key because of the tax advantages, and the fact the company already owns 20 per cent of Fording.
Teck expects to reap more than US$3 billion in tax benefits from the transaction based on established rules covering the acquisition of Canadian resource properties. It will fund the cash portion largely from a US$9.8-billion loan facility it has arranged with a syndicate of banks.
The deal follows what Fording described as an extensive review of strategic alternatives, particularly in light of the need to address our income trust structure before 2011.
“There is no media bias, only politicins incapable of communicating. — Garth”
CBC’s Krista Erickson is a fine example of no media bias.
“You embody what is wrong with politics. — Garth”
I believe that the Shawinigate Strangler holds that honour.
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Like Dude, I am totally Digital now…All CD’s. LOL
By Bill-Muskoka on 07.29.08 5:31 pm
My wife and I would love to sit down with you and have a couple of pops someday.
C’mon, you must have some vinyl from the days when music changed the world.
Nice chatting with you.
C’mon, you must have some vinyl from the days when music changed the world.
Nice chatting with you.
By Ron p on 07.29.08 9:52 pm
LOL Still have a turntable, but all the vinyl is ‘Already Gone.’ In fact we just got rid of the last of them last week. It took a few years, but the new digital is warm and full of sound. I have been around sound since a young teen. I have no desire to go back. been there, done that gig.
Regardless, it would be great to share some memories. Perhaps some day that will be possible. Cheers!
Just sitting here here with my wife listening and watching The Eagle’s Farewell Tour 1 on DVD from Melbourne. Phenomenol recording.
Got to get the Fleetwood Mac DVD one of these days. Had the VHS tape and it was great, but wore out as they always did.
Also have to get the Eagle’s ‘Hell Freezes Over’ DVD…another classic performance.
Used to spin the vinyl’s and tape on radio, but love the perfect cues of CD’s.
I’ve just received about 30 of these silly con ads in our mail boxes in the past three weeks. How can I send them back? I probably have about 100 of them.
Geez, you’d think the cons could afford better than this? The flyers look like junk and are very unprofessionally prepared. Looks like mass gaffe advertising for some illegal scam.
I’ve just received about 30 of these silly con ads in our mail boxes in the past three weeks. How can I send them back? I probably have about 100 of them.
Geez, you’d think the cons could afford better than this? The flyers look like junk and are very unprofessionally prepared. Looks like mass gaffe advertising for some illegal scam.
By Sandy Canchuk on 07.30.08 12:04 am
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Sandy, I see what you mean. I just received 2 today. They are obviously just photocopies of an original that was in some color, probably blue, and are the usual PMO hype. The one says:
AGE IS NO EXCUSE
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW
THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT IS CLEANING UP THE YOUTH-CRIME MESS.
Well why did they draft and pass the Tackling Violent Crime Act but leave the Young “Re-Offenders” Act intact? That one trumps the TVC and until it is amended or replaced, much of the TVC is wasted. They also have not yet broken ground on building of the needed new prisons to house the extra prisoners this TVC will create! Great planing, great thinking, triple bunking in the pedophiles wing, I suppose? Are we to expect more prison riots shortly? Then we will have to call the Army back from “Ganistan” to quell and control the prisons! PPCLI will then stand for Prisoner Piss Control Legionaires Inc.