We give money to separatists to possibly fund separation. Makes no sense to me.
Putting the BQ out of business would take some serious political effort, something our current federalist parties are not willing to do. If there is something the Liberals and PCs could agree on, this would seem to be it. It would pave the way for future majoriities for one of these parties. Yet the fear offending Quebec is greater than the desire for power. Kind of fascinating sometimes.
Well your completely wrong about the above statement because its exactly what Harper and the Cons tried to do.
When Harper introduced the bill to cut the $1.95 per vote subsidy to Federal Political parties it was expected to have the following result.
Slightly cut funding to the Cons but they did not care because they have an effective fundraising machine.
Slightly cut funding to the Libs but at the time Dion was the main Liberal fundraising problem for the Lib's anyway.
A bit bigger cut to the NDP but keep in mind the dippers have a small group of die- hard supporters who will always keep them funded, and of course the unions to fall back on.
The big cut was going to be the BQ. it pretty much would have starved them of funding and would have been the beginning of the end for them.
The BQ is not funded much by donations and instead relies on the Federal Government(taxpayers)for its funding, plus the seperatists get a chuckle out of making the taxpayers of the rest of Canada pay for their efforts at destroying Canada.
It was understood that when the BQ started to fold from lack of funding those Federal votes would have gone to the Libs and the NDP. The Conservatives knew that ex Bloq voters would never jump ship to the Conservative party but it was worthwhile giving the Libs and the Dippers a few more seats to get rid of the BQ Federal seperatists for good .
Quote:CBC
Federal parties currently receive $1.95 for every vote they receive in a federal election, provided they win at least two per cent of the nationwide popular vote. The annual subsidy is used to pay for staff and expenses.
Cutting the subsidies would effectively gut the opposition parties, who are far more dependent on them than the Conservative party.
The Liberals and New Democrats quickly rejected the proposal and launched a series of discussions about forming a potential coalition government if the confidence motion fails to pass and the government is defeated. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent are steering the talks, according to reports.
Unquote;
So the idiot Liberals lead by that dimwit Dion had a shot at just letting the BQ get wiped out by the Cons. In return they would have picked up a bunch of Quebec Federal ridings that would have had to go either Lib Or NDP. But it would have cost them a few funding bucks from the taxpayers that they could have simply replaced by more effective fundraising and seats in more ridings in Quebec.
But no.
They had to go and try to overthrow the elected minority government over the bill.
When, in the long haul, the Conservatives were trying to do the taxpayers and the Liberal Party of Canada a favour.
So Harper freaks out, rolls over and gives up and Federal spending goes right through the roof.
And the BQ gets to laugh their guts out over the whole charade.
And I sure wouldnt hold my breath waiting for one of the Fed political parties to try that again any time soon.
I have lots of problems with Harper.
But the Liberals will wear this one for a long time.
They saved the party thats whole existence is dedicated to the destruction of Canada.
Great move Dion.
Trex