Comments on: What changed in the last 17 days?

By: Thwim

Thwim — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:41:36 +0000

So now you're going back on your own argument of moving the party to the centre and cozying up to alfanerd's idea that he has a hidden agenda he hasn't been able to implement during minority parliament?

Harper's claimed a lot of things. Most of them turn out to be untrue. Why do you believe him now?

By: DeNuS

DeNuS — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:36:40 +0000

Somebody please tell Canadians the "actual cost" of "governing" our country.

Bet Harper will never cut that cost.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:51:22 +0000

Dangerous election? No, dangerous is being in Egypt or Libya right now. This government was found to be in contempt of parliament for the first time in the history of the British parliamentary system. That's dangerous. And the way our system works, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons loses confidence in the government, it is up to the citizens to take its responsibility seriously and elect a new government. It's called democracy.

By: @SWSaskOutcast

@SWSaskOutcast — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:49:05 +0000

It's called ABC Abra Ca Dabbra!!

By: Anne Peterson

Anne Peterson — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:11:09 +0000

The Conference Board of Canada says in their annual report that we have sunk to 10th of 17 of western economies. If you don't believe me look it up. Don't know why the press hasn't picked up on this. They seem to be so conservatively biased they don't report things.

By: Leslea

Leslea — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 06:50:47 +0000

The only thing that's changed, is the lies Harper is spewing. Time to nix the worst liars from our political system. No more cons.

By: chet

chet — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 02:41:38 +0000

scf,

you are dealing with people who would try to argue the Earth is flat if it meant an attack on Harper.

Don't bother.

By: chet

chet — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 02:37:20 +0000

Why is the TSX, Dow, or Nasdaq not the "same" after 17 days?

Something's suspicious.

We all know the economy runs on a completely linear predictable plane.

When Nortel was a 120 a share, and that exact same company went down to 90 a share within a couple of weeks,

that must've been some CPC hocus pocus going on there.

By: lgarvin

lgarvin — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 02:34:16 +0000

Yeah, the place where Harper passed a whole bunch of bills he wanted passed by making them matters of confidence? I remember it well.

There's no rube like a reusable rube.

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 01:15:54 +0000

So, they'll be cutting 5% from military spending, for veterans and public spending? For ministry of Indian and northern affairs? And these won't be cuts in services?

Right. Dollars to donuts these savings don't materialize. Program cuts are a given.

By: s_c_f

s_c_f — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 01:05:29 +0000

Look, you are being very disingenuous. Quarterly economic numbers come out every QUARTER. The release of the data happened between the time of the budget and the election campaign.

And it seems as though the conservatives have been working on new policy as well, so if they've decided to change course with their budget plans, what the heck is wrong with that? The budget was defeated so if they want to change direction they can!

By: rufusrastas

rufusrastas — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:41:19 +0000

Something tells me that a majority Conservative government will have the bloated public service experience the recession that we in the private sector have experienced..Smaller government and keep your hands out of my pocket ,now thats change that I can believe in.

By: Patchouli

Patchouli — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 22:06:28 +0000

No he has not. Nor has he in any way tried to compromise with opposition parties. He's had 5 years and I'm well nigh sick of him, his lies, and his muzzled caucus.

By: albertaclipper

albertaclipper — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:53:27 +0000

Why hasn't anyone put a cost to Iggy's book of fairy tales? I read today that it is well over 10 Billion Dollars. One reason I suppose is that he didn't cost the GST deal that he will put in after he becomes prime minister. Or maybe it will be Jack Layton or Gilles Duceppe if he comes in second. What a sight to see. Prime Minister Gilles Duceppe backed up by Jack Layton. And last but not least, Iggy and Zooozana checking through the Toronto airport back home to the USA.

By: Sam Gunsch

Sam Gunsch — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:16:00 +0000

- seems quite a useful question to post
- value re: accountability, transparency and the media doing its job
- seems to me it strengthens democracy
- does not seem partisan

By: J Kuchar

J Kuchar — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:08:24 +0000

I don't believe anything the conservatives say,look at the Senate that is a I'll never load the senate promise that turned out to be a LIE

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:06:51 +0000

Critical thinking win!

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:00:35 +0000

They're courageously doing nothing to cut the deficit, or nothing they're willing to talk about.

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:59:35 +0000

This is my depressed face. The only promises the Tories seem to follow through on are the ones that drive me crazy. The ones I like are forgotten or ignored.

By: LdKitchenersOwn

LdKitchenersOwn — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:51:28 +0000

After all, it was the Liberals and NDP who forced him into deficit in the first place.

Don't tell Harper that, he's got signs all over the country taking credit for all of that spending. I don't think he wants it getting out that the only reason we got out of the recession and are doing so well now is that the opposition parties FORCED HIM to deal with the recession.

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:44:59 +0000

Attrition and hiring/budget freezes is one of the ways they intend to save money without the huge layoffs that happened in the '90's. The target was $4 billion/year but they are still collecting plans from various departments how they will function with less staff/money.

Beyond the existence of a deficit, there are no strong parallels between Canada’s financial circumstances in the 1990s and the situation today. The 1990s marked the end of a long series of deficits that pushed the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio to 71%. By contrast, the debt-to-GDP ratio in 2009 was 34%. The state of today’s economy is much more robust: Canada has climbed out of the global recession and is creating jobs. However, this recovery contributed in large measure to a $53.8 billion deficit. Among its first steps to address the deficit, the government has proposed freezing departmental operating budgets. Doing so could quite possibly lead to future reductions in the public service.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublic…

By: simon

simon — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:40:17 +0000

Deficit ^ NOT !!!!!!!!!!

there that was easy!!

By: Prove It

Prove It — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:40:09 +0000

er, that would be 2010/11 for the latest yr

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:39:24 +0000

No, I'm saying I want surpluses. We just racked up a huge amount of debt, in large part due to some fiscal recklessness. I'd like to see a few years of $20 billion surpluses. You don't get there by indulgent tax cuts the minute you're in a balance position.

By: Prove It

Prove It — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:37:43 +0000

says who? It only came down faster than the TD bank thought, with TD & Finance now being on the same page AS Page for the latest year – $40B for 09/10; and the rest is all smoke and mirrors, with Page saying they'll be overspending by at least $5-B more each year than they claim, unless they make some actual cuts, which they've yet to announce.

By: Just Joe

Just Joe — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:33:12 +0000

Just get back from the space station Rocketman?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:33:10 +0000

Oh yeah, that whole democracy thing is sooooo dangerous! And unnecessary!

By: Andrew (not PorC)

Andrew (not PorC) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:32:38 +0000

It's not enough to eliminate the deficit. I want surpluses, and no one intends to do it. It's like maxing out your credit card when you go through a rough patch, then making the minimum payments when you're back on your feet, choosing to increase consumption rather than repay debt. The next time you hit a rough patch, you'll need to max out another card. It's shamefully self-indulgent.

By: OriginalEmily1

OriginalEmily1 — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:31:31 +0000

As in the US, and everywhere else….it's a 'jobless recovery'

By: s_c_f

s_c_f — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:21:18 +0000

True. But I prefer tax cuts that are beneficial to all.

I do agree with you though, that I would trust the Conservatives to lower taxes more than any other party.

And with respect to Andrew's (not PorC) comments, he was saying that he would like to see the deficit eliminated before new spending or more tax cuts, and in fact the income splitting proposal is something they are proposing after a balanced budget or surplus has been achieved.

By: J.D. Lees

J.D. Lees — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:08:44 +0000

New election means Harper is free to propose a new program. With a majority, he'll be able to get move faster on eliminating the deficit. After all, it was the Liberals and NDP who forced him into deficit in the first place. Give Harper a majority and then judge him. He's earned the chance to govern without the opposition threatening to bring him down every other week.

By: DPT

DPT — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:04:05 +0000

Page hasn't been entirely accurate acurate either. So far the deficit has come down faster than he ever allowed for.

By: Thwim

Thwim — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:01:41 +0000

Spending decreases every year *because* of the 2.2 billion in the first two years.

By: DPT

DPT — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:59:11 +0000

net loss of 1500 jobs. not so bad especially with the increase n full time vs. part time.

By: practical mom

practical mom — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:55:44 +0000

Well I think the rest of the deficit was to do with reduced income, corporate and personal taxes, as well as increased costs, EI. I can buy that.

What I find strange is that the stimulus has ended, the jobs are back and the Canadian economy is the envy of the world. But much of the deficit is still there and will be for some time.

By: saskboy

saskboy — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:55:30 +0000

And the reason I mentioned cell phones in cars is because it's a hot button issue with people. If you talk about it, someone has an opinion. This is what the Conservatives and other big parties do to keep their voters interested, even if policy doesn't make sense or is contradictory. This is where the Greens are falling short, they aren't hitting hot button issues that strike up conversations like this – because talking about unpopular stances is risky and often leads to lying.

By: David_Nicholson

David_Nicholson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:54:46 +0000

"Well, the Conservatives have not proposed tax cuts in their platform,"

I believe they have included as part of their platform: income-splitting, doubling contribution room to TFSA, tax credit for volunteer fire fighters, tax credit for children's art programs. Most of their campaign promises so far have revolved around lowering taxes.

By: DPT

DPT — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:53:47 +0000

yes, largely due to the minority parliament. You know, the place where the opposition has more votes and can defeat legislation?

By: jonatwitan

jonatwitan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:43:01 +0000

Political calculations.

By: jonatwitan

jonatwitan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:42:40 +0000

I'm glad you think so. I am quick to defend Harper against those who think he is a dictator out to destroy democracy and the country while he is at it, but of course I don't agree with everything he says or proposes. So I disagree with his crime and punishment model, but I also disagree that he is contemptuous of parliament, while I obviously recognize his government was technically found to be in contempt of parliament.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:41:24 +0000

It's like being trapped in one of those revolving doors.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:37:44 +0000

This is a positive sign.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:36:37 +0000

But he's had five years and he's just getting around to it now?

By: craigola

craigola — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:32:34 +0000

Their agenda doesn't have to be hidden, does it?

By: s_c_f

s_c_f — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:30:21 +0000

Well, the Conservatives have not proposed tax cuts in their platform, and they are proposing reduced spending (based on today's headlines). As far as I know, no other party is proposing tax cuts either. The Liberal party is proposing increased corporate taxes to match their increased spending.

I can't agree with you more that I'd like to see the deficit eliminated ASAP.