A Factual (as possible) Breakdown of Campaign Promises

mentalfloss

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
I can't promise that this is as objective as Colpy's list, but it should do for now.


Crime and Law Enforcement


  • The Conservatives have promised to re-introduce Internet surveillance legislation that did not pass in the previous parlement, as part of an omnibus bill‎. They said they plan to fast track the legislation within 100 days after taking office.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
  • Harper has pledged to scrap the long-gun registry [24]
  • The Conservatives plan to expand the prison system.[citation needed]
  • The Conservative platform includes a promise to consolidate 12 crime bills in to at least one omnibus bill and pass it within 100 days formin a majority government. The bills included within that list would crack down on organized drug crime, end house arrest for violent criminals and establish tougher sentences and mandatory jail time for sexual offences against children.[29]

Economy and Fiscal Policy


  • The Conservatives promise to eliminate the budget deficit by 2013.[30][31]
  • The Liberals initially stated they would balance the budget by 2015, but following the release of their platform did not specify a target date[32]
  • The NDP have promised a balanced budget by 2015.[33]
  • Recession – Many Canadians credit Harper's handling of the economy during the 2007-2010 global financial crisis. Economic analysts counter that Harper's Liberal predecessors' banking regulations and Paul Martin's blocking of proposed bank mergers is what actually sheltered Canada from the worst effects of the recession.[34][35][36]
  • The Conservatives state that their plan to cut corporate taxes from 18 to 15%, will create more jobs.[37] Stephen Harper has stated that an increase in corporate taxes will create job losses across Canada.
  • Jack Layton has stated that currently Canadian jobs are being shipped overseas, and pledged a $4,500 job creation tax credit to all businesses per new hire.[38]
  • Jack Layton has said that small business are creating more jobs and as a result he promised to lower the tax rate for small business from 11% to 9%.
  • Jack Layton pledged to increase the tax rate for lage businesses from 16.5% to 19.5%.[39]
  • The Liberal platform includes policy to increase the corporate tax rate from 16.5% to 18% [40]
  • The Conservatives promise Quebec a $2.2 billion transfer to ease the QST to HST transition.[41]
  • The NDP has promised a gradual doubling of Canada Pension Plan and QPP benefits, in conjunction with the provinces, with an increase in payroll deductions of as much as 2.5 per cent.[42]
  • If BC voters were to reject the HST in the upcoming referendum, the NDP promises to ensure that the penalties to be imposed by Ottawa on the HST agreement will be cancelled.[43][44][45][46]
  • The Conservatives have promised income splitting for tax purposes for families with children once the budget is balanced.[47]

Electoral Reform


  • Conservatives pledge to phase-out the per-vote subsidy over a three-year transition period.[48]
  • Stephen Harper has promised Senate reform although he stated he will not open the constitution to do so. [49]

General


  • Political honesty[50] – government fell on motion of non-confidence after being found in contempt of Parliament.[51]

Throughout the election the various polls have shown the political honesty issue to be low on the list of priorities for voters. Post-media conducted a survey that found health care, the economy, taxes and jobs all more important to Canadians. Further, half of voters identified Harper as the best suited to be Prime Minister followed by Layton with one third support and Ignatieff with less than twenty percent support. On the question of a hidden agenda, Ignatieff is viewed by three times more of those polled to have a hidden agenda than Harper.[52]


  • Possible left-wing coalition: The Conservatives assert that the Liberals will form a coalition with the more left-leaning NDP and Bloc Québécois.

Government Programs


  • Conservatives and Liberals promise $4.2 billion in loan guarantees to support the Lower Churchill River power project.[53]
  • Liberals have promised a "Learning Passport" for high school students seeking post-secondary education.[54]
  • The NDP has planed to reduce the tuition fees by increasing transfer payments to the Provinces.
  • Liberals propose the establishment of an "Immigration Fairness Commissioner" to provide oversight on the entry of immigrants with professional qualifications (doctors, engineers, etc.), and to increase the number of family reunification visas.[55]

Health Care


  • The NDP have pledged to train 1,200 more doctors and 6,000 more nurses.[56][57][58][59][60]
  • Conservatives have promised to continue to increase healthcare transfers to provinces by 6% annually[61]

National Defence and Foreign Policy



Private Sector Regulation


  • Improved internet – both the Liberals and NDP have made statements stating that they will try and improve internet services in Canada, either by removing usage based billing or by improving internet infrastructure, especially in rural communities.[66][67]
  • NDP promises to cap credit-card rates at five percentage points above prime.[68]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_federal_election_2011
 
Last edited:
JLM

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
mentalfloss said:
I can't promise that this is as objective as Colpy's list, but it should do for now.


Crime and Law Enforcement


  • The Conservatives have promised to re-introduce Internet surveillance legislation that did not pass in the previous parlement, as part of an omnibus bill‎. They said they plan to fast track the legislation within 100 days after taking office.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
  • Harper has pledged to scrap the long-gun registry [24]
  • The Conservatives plan to expand the prison system.[citation needed]
  • The Conservative platform includes a promise to consolidate 12 crime bills in to at least one omnibus bill and pass it within 100 days formin a majority government. The bills included within that list would crack down on organized drug crime, end house arrest for violent criminals and establish tougher sentences and mandatory jail time for sexual offences against children.[29]
Economy and Fiscal Policy


  • The Conservatives promise to eliminate the budget deficit by 2013.[30][31]
  • The Liberals initially stated they would balance the budget by 2015, but following the release of their platform did not specify a target date[32]
  • The NDP have promised a balanced budget by 2015.[33]
  • Recession – Many Canadians credit Harper's handling of the economy during the 2007-2010 global financial crisis. Economic analysts counter that Harper's Liberal predecessors' banking regulations and Paul Martin's blocking of proposed bank mergers is what actually sheltered Canada from the worst effects of the recession.[34][35][36]
  • The Conservatives state that their plan to cut corporate taxes from 18 to 15%, will create more jobs.[37] Stephen Harper has stated that an increase in corporate taxes will create job losses across Canada.
  • Jack Layton has stated that currently Canadian jobs are being shipped overseas, and pledged a $4,500 job creation tax credit to all businesses per new hire.[38]
  • Jack Layton has said that small business are creating more jobs and as a result he promised to lower the tax rate for small business from 11% to 9%.
  • Jack Layton pledged to increase the tax rate for lage businesses from 16.5% to 19.5%.[39]
  • The Liberal platform includes policy to increase the corporate tax rate from 16.5% to 18% [40]
  • The Conservatives promise Quebec a $2.2 billion transfer to ease the QST to HST transition.[41]
  • The NDP has promised a gradual doubling of Canada Pension Plan and QPP benefits, in conjunction with the provinces, with an increase in payroll deductions of as much as 2.5 per cent.[42]
  • If BC voters were to reject the HST in the upcoming referendum, the NDP promises to ensure that the penalties to be imposed by Ottawa on the HST agreement will be cancelled.[43][44][45][46]
  • The Conservatives have promised income splitting for tax purposes for families with children once the budget is balanced.[47]
Electoral reform


  • Conservatives pledge to phase-out the per-vote subsidy over a three-year transition period.[48]
  • Stephen Harper has promised Senate reform although he stated he will not open the constitution to do so. [49]
General


  • Political honesty[50] – government fell on motion of non-confidence after being found in contempt of Parliament.[51]

Throughout the election the various polls have shown the political honesty issue to be low on the list of priorities for voters. Post-media conducted a survey that found health care, the economy, taxes and jobs all more important to Canadians. Further, half of voters identified Harper as the best suited to be Prime Minister followed by Layton with one third support and Ignatieff with less than twenty percent support. On the question of a hidden agenda, Ignatieff is viewed by three times more of those polled to have a hidden agenda than Harper.[52]


  • Possible left-wing coalition: The Conservatives assert that the Liberals will form a coalition with the more left-leaning NDP and Bloc Québécois.
Government programs


  • Conservatives and Liberals promise $4.2 billion in loan guarantees to support the Lower Churchill River power project.[53]
  • Liberals have promised a "Learning Passport" for high school students seeking post-secondary education.[54]
  • The NDP has planed to reduce the tuition fees by increasing transfer payments to the Provinces.
  • Liberals propose the establishment of an "Immigration Fairness Commissioner" to provide oversight on the entry of immigrants with professional qualifications (doctors, engineers, etc.), and to increase the number of family reunification visas.[55]
Health Care

  • The NDP have pledged to train 1,200 more doctors and 6,000 more nurses.[56][57][58][59][60]
  • Conservatives have promised to continue to increase healthcare transfers to provinces by 6% annually[61]

National Defence and Foreign Policy


Private Sector Regulation


  • Improved internet – both the Liberals and NDP have made statements stating that they will try and improve internet services in Canada, either by removing usage based billing or by improving internet infrastructure, especially in rural communities.[66][67]
  • NDP promises to cap credit-card rates at five percentage points above prime.[68]
Canadian federal election, 2011 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...


The bottom line is what they say, plan or pledge has very little to do with anything.
 
mentalfloss

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
JLM said:
The bottom line is what they say, plan or pledge has very little to do with anything.
Click to expand...

Well if that means that they will be doing the complete opposite then I might vote conservative this time around.
 
petros

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
118,621
14,563
113
Low Earth Orbit
If it's what they want, like more prisons it will happen. If it is something you want, forget you even dreamed of the possibility.
 
Last edited:
mentalfloss

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
lol

For some reason, I think "forget you even dreamed of the possibility" is going to stick with me for a while.
 
JLM

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
mentalfloss said:
Well if that means that they will be doing the complete opposite then I might vote conservative this time around.
Click to expand...

That's the problem you can't even make that prediction. They will probably do 5-10% of what they say, plan or pledge, but which 5-10% is it? :lol:
 
petros

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
118,621
14,563
113
Low Earth Orbit
When it comes to govt I'm always pessimistic. If more were like me we'd have a govt that was scared ****less of the voters like they should be.
 
Y

YukonJack

Time Out
Dec 26, 2008
7,026
73
48
Winnipeg
petros said:
When it comes to govt I'm always pessimistic. If more were like me we'd have a govt that was scared ****less of the voters like they should be.
Click to expand...

As Thomas Jefferson said (I paraphrase): When the people are afraid of the Government, it is Tyranny. When the government is afraid of the people it is Democracy.

Or as Ronald Reagan said (again paraphrased): The most terrifying words in English are: We are from the government and we are here to help.
 
cranky

cranky

Time Out
Apr 17, 2011
1,312
0
36
mentalfloss said:
I can't promise that this is as objective as Colpy's list, but it should do for now.


Crime and Law Enforcement


  • The Conservatives have promised to re-introduce Internet surveillance legislation that did not pass in the previous parlement, as part of an omnibus bill‎. They said they plan to fast track the legislation within 100 days after taking office.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
  • Harper has pledged to scrap the long-gun registry [24]
  • The Conservatives plan to expand the prison system.[citation needed]
  • The Conservative platform includes a promise to consolidate 12 crime bills in to at least one omnibus bill and pass it within 100 days formin a majority government. The bills included within that list would crack down on organized drug crime, end house arrest for violent criminals and establish tougher sentences and mandatory jail time for sexual offences against children.[29]
Economy and Fiscal Policy


  • The Conservatives promise to eliminate the budget deficit by 2013.[30][31]
  • The Liberals initially stated they would balance the budget by 2015, but following the release of their platform did not specify a target date[32]
  • The NDP have promised a balanced budget by 2015.[33]
  • Recession – Many Canadians credit Harper's handling of the economy during the 2007-2010 global financial crisis. Economic analysts counter that Harper's Liberal predecessors' banking regulations and Paul Martin's blocking of proposed bank mergers is what actually sheltered Canada from the worst effects of the recession.[34][35][36]
  • The Conservatives state that their plan to cut corporate taxes from 18 to 15%, will create more jobs.[37] Stephen Harper has stated that an increase in corporate taxes will create job losses across Canada.
  • Jack Layton has stated that currently Canadian jobs are being shipped overseas, and pledged a $4,500 job creation tax credit to all businesses per new hire.[38]
  • Jack Layton has said that small business are creating more jobs and as a result he promised to lower the tax rate for small business from 11% to 9%.
  • Jack Layton pledged to increase the tax rate for lage businesses from 16.5% to 19.5%.[39]
  • The Liberal platform includes policy to increase the corporate tax rate from 16.5% to 18% [40]
  • The Conservatives promise Quebec a $2.2 billion transfer to ease the QST to HST transition.[41]
  • The NDP has promised a gradual doubling of Canada Pension Plan and QPP benefits, in conjunction with the provinces, with an increase in payroll deductions of as much as 2.5 per cent.[42]
  • If BC voters were to reject the HST in the upcoming referendum, the NDP promises to ensure that the penalties to be imposed by Ottawa on the HST agreement will be cancelled.[43][44][45][46]
  • The Conservatives have promised income splitting for tax purposes for families with children once the budget is balanced.[47]
Electoral Reform


  • Conservatives pledge to phase-out the per-vote subsidy over a three-year transition period.[48]
  • Stephen Harper has promised Senate reform although he stated he will not open the constitution to do so. [49]
General


  • Political honesty[50] – government fell on motion of non-confidence after being found in contempt of Parliament.[51]

Throughout the election the various polls have shown the political honesty issue to be low on the list of priorities for voters. Post-media conducted a survey that found health care, the economy, taxes and jobs all more important to Canadians. Further, half of voters identified Harper as the best suited to be Prime Minister followed by Layton with one third support and Ignatieff with less than twenty percent support. On the question of a hidden agenda, Ignatieff is viewed by three times more of those polled to have a hidden agenda than Harper.[52]


  • Possible left-wing coalition: The Conservatives assert that the Liberals will form a coalition with the more left-leaning NDP and Bloc Québécois.
Government Programs


  • Conservatives and Liberals promise $4.2 billion in loan guarantees to support the Lower Churchill River power project.[53]
  • Liberals have promised a "Learning Passport" for high school students seeking post-secondary education.[54]
  • The NDP has planed to reduce the tuition fees by increasing transfer payments to the Provinces.
  • Liberals propose the establishment of an "Immigration Fairness Commissioner" to provide oversight on the entry of immigrants with professional qualifications (doctors, engineers, etc.), and to increase the number of family reunification visas.[55]
Health Care


  • The NDP have pledged to train 1,200 more doctors and 6,000 more nurses.[56][57][58][59][60]
  • Conservatives have promised to continue to increase healthcare transfers to provinces by 6% annually[61]

National Defence and Foreign Policy


Private Sector Regulation


  • Improved internet – both the Liberals and NDP have made statements stating that they will try and improve internet services in Canada, either by removing usage based billing or by improving internet infrastructure, especially in rural communities.[66][67]
  • NDP promises to cap credit-card rates at five percentage points above prime.[68]
Canadian federal election, 2011 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...

how is it possible that the conservative plan to cut corporate taxes from 18 down

yet the Liberals plan to raise corporate taxes up to 18 percent?
 
cranky

cranky

Time Out
Apr 17, 2011
1,312
0
36
mentalfloss said:
What are you trying to say?
Click to expand...

if you look at the words used to describe corporate taxes, their statements suggest that one or both of them do not know what the current tax rate is. ie The conservative can not be promising to cut rates from a starting point of 18%, while the liberals promise to raise rates from 16% up to 18%.


WTF?!?!!? either they are currently at 16 or 18 but these jokers cant seem to agree on which on it is.

mentalfloss said:
I can't promise that this is as objective as Colpy's list, but it should do for now.




  • The Conservatives state that their plan to cut corporate taxes from 18 to 15%, will create more jobs.[37] Stephen Harper has stated that an increase in corporate taxes will create job losses across Canada.
and
  • The Liberal platform includes policy to increase the corporate tax rate from 16.5% to 18% [40]
Click to expand...
which one is it?
 
cranky

cranky

Time Out
Apr 17, 2011
1,312
0
36
mentalfloss said:
Well, I'll be damned.
Click to expand...

in the english debate, Harper said "Lets be clear...." :)

seriously, I think Harper attempted to correct everyone by stating that there are no tax cuts for anyone in the budget that was shot down by the opposition. He said that the conservative plan is to leave the tax rates where they sit, and don't move them.

Go to the youtube videos, it's one of Harper's very first comments to the first citizen's question that asked about the Harper gov cutting taxes.
 
petros

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
118,621
14,563
113
Low Earth Orbit
YukonJack said:
As Thomas Jefferson said (I paraphrase): When the people are afraid of the Government, it is Tyranny. When the government is afraid of the people it is Democracy.

Or as Ronald Reagan said (again paraphrased): The most terrifying words in English are: We are from the government and we are here to help.
Click to expand...
Is our govt afraid of us?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom