Conservative minority or majority.

[Omicron]

The way I look at it, all MPs function like independent MPs. As such, the cabinet ought to be formed by those MPs with the support of the majority of the House, irrespective of their party affiliation. So regardless of party composition in the House, should a number of parties form a majority coalition, then they form the government.

That said, shoudl such a coalition respect the principle of democracy, it would be an open coalition always welcoming all MPs to a Caucus of the House, and not treating those MPs outside of the coalition as an 'opposition' as such.

What do you think of the idea of making these two relatively simple changes to the Senate?

1) After each election, redistribute Senate seats according to the percentage of popular vote, and...

2) Take away the restriction saying the Senate can only block passage of legislation twice but must let it pass after third reading.

If a party with a minority of voters gets a majority of seats, it would still be possible for Senators from the other parties, collectively representing the majority of voters, to form per-act voting coalitions in the Senate to block bad legislation, so it would give the Senate more actual purpose and it would be a big step towards fixing that flaw in the Canadian Parliamentary system enabling a minority to become a dictatorship over the majority of voters if it can get a majority of seats because the others split their vote between too many parties.

Seems to me the only people who'd object would be those specifically *counting* on using that flaw in the Canadian Parliamentary system to form a dictatorship by a minority.

 

[relic]

I've never liked harper,I don't think the man is honest and should not be given a majority. There's just too many things he says that don't add up,then there's the way he acts like the rules don't apply to him.In the upcoming election,he'll get too many votes because too many people take what he says for gospel. There is none so blind as them that will not see.

 

[Tonington]

If the Liberals and NDP form a coalition I swear there will be war in Canada.

Unlikely. Those like yourself who would swear war are in the fringe, most of us will keep going to work and grumble about something else.

 

[Omicron]

If the Liberals and NDP form a coalition I swear there will be war in Canada. Either Quebec will leave (being a bunch of snots no less) or we in Western Canada will state enough is enough. Leave the Socialism and pass over the debt and immigrants to Ontario and the Maritimes!

Aww... can't handle living in a place where the majority rule?

Harper's the only answer, he's not a Nazi (despite your claims) and he just wants electoral reform in favour of Western Canada and Ontario. **** Quebec

No he's not, he's creepy. My first impression was that he looked like a trannie out of drag, what with the shiny face and the glossy lips, but now I feel like I'm looking at an evil clown.

I remember the first I saw Mulroney on TV.

I did not follow politics at the time, so I knew nothing about where he came from or how he got in charge of the PCs, but my first impressions was, "What a schmarmy snake-oil salesmen... I guess the Liberals don't have to worry, because nobody in their right mind is going to vote for *that*."

But people did... although it might have been because they were voting the Libs out, and not so much voting Muloony (my American cousins' nik-name for him... and yes, they do follow Canadian politics because they live in a northern state) in. They used to tell me it must be so embarrasing to have a PM like that, and they were right, but...

Mulooney was a PC, whereas Harper is a Reformer, which means he's willing to be even more extreme about pulling Canada down into the pit of Plutocracy than Muloony was.

Muloony made my stomach ill, but Harper makes my skin crawl.

Normally, if the party I support doesn't get in I just shrug and figure the party that did will govern with some modicum of Canadian moderation, but there's something creepy about Harper's way.

Harper was the guy who would have had Canada in Iraq if he'd had a majority.

 

[Machjo]

What do you think of the idea of making these two relatively simple changes to the Senate?

1) After each election, redistribute Senate seats according to the percentage of popular vote, and...

2) Take away the restriction saying the Senate can only block passage of legislation twice but must let it pass after third reading.

If a party with a minority of voters gets a majority of seats, it would still be possible for Senators from the other parties, collectively representing the majority of voters, to form per-act voting coalitions in the Senate to block bad legislation, so it would give the Senate more actual purpose and it would be a big step towards fixing that flaw in the Canadian Parliamentary system enabling a minority to become a dictatorship over the majority of voters if it can get a majority of seats because the others split their vote between too many parties.

Seems to me the only people who'd object would be those specifically *counting* on using that flaw in the Canadian Parliamentary system to form a dictatorship by a minority.

Scrap the senate.

Scrap the senate.

If we don't recognize parties in the House, then why recognize parties in the Senate?

Just to clarify, I know we recognize parties in the House; I'm just saying we shouldn't. We should just treat each MP as an independent MP.

 

[Omicron]

Scrap the senate.

Why?

The only reason people will think it should be scrapped is because it got de-fanged.

Why not do what Americans did, which is set up a Senate with teeth?

If you don't have something to safety-check the Commons, you can end up with a tyranny, which is exactly what Harper's going for.

If we don't recognize parties in the House, then why recognize parties in the Senate?

Just to clarify, I know we recognize parties in the House; I'm just saying we shouldn't. We should just treat each MP as an independent MP.

You mean like in the US, where elected reps don't have to vote the party line.

 

[jjaycee98]

What did Trudeau do that was immoral?

Dressing up as a Nazi and running around to rural homes and scaring the Heck out of older folks-just for fun.

Marrying Maggie because of the Society "in" it gave him and the Political allies it bought him.

Steeling Western oil for Ontario & Quebec to further his political and monetary ambitions.

Declaring Martial Law for the power trip it gave him instead of just letting the RCMP do their job.

Steeling money from the CPP to create a slush fund in general revenue.

Over spending and creating the first huge deficite the country had, since the 2nd world war.

Really a moral man!

I promise I'll vote conservative, but not until after the deficit is gone.

Just like their campaign promises, and every bit as sincere!

This really baffles me. What campaign promises has Mr. Harper not honoured? The Deficite does not count as he would have had to hand power to the BLOC to avaoid it. The fiasco with Trusts would have broke every Company in the Nation eventually, and the Government and would have been far worse than cutting Taxes for Corporations. Companies cannot survive without keeping a reserve for tough times. Trusts would have made Companies pay every bit of profit out to the Shareholders. Only those who are very greedy and think only of themselves got burned with the reversal.

What else did he promise and not deliver. Lower taxes? Splitting Pensions? A credit for each employed worker? Increased personal Exemptions? A Credit of $2000 for each child under 18 YOA-increasing every year? Fitness Credits for Children. Public Transit Credits for those using it? $100 per month for each child under 6 YOA to use as the Parents see fit towards Child care?

Changing your mind on a matter when more and better information comes to light is not lying. Better than refusing to see the wisdom of the current path pointed out! But some would complain just to be heard. Putting out an estimate of costs only to find the numbers are constantly changing is not misleading the public. Costs vary from morning to night with price of Oil and all the costs that price effects. There are alot of really blind morons about who are led in all directions by those that make the most noise.

 

[Tonington]

This really baffles me. What campaign promises has Mr. Harper not honoured?

Google finds this list:

2006 Conservative Platform:
1. Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with
lobbyists.
Government Action: Broken
2. Prohibit nominated candidates or MPs seeking re-election from accepting large
personal gifts.
Government Action: Broken.
3. Ban the use of trust funds to finance candidates’ campaigns.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives subjected trust funds to the limit of
the registered trustee.
4. Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are confirmed through a secret ballot of all
Members of Parliament.
Government Action: Broken.
5. Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for
appointments.
Government Action: Broken. The Harper Conservatives haven't appointed a single
member, despite wasting over $1 million on the promised commission.
6. Prevent ministerial aides and other political appointees receiving favoured treatment
when applying for public service positions
Government Action: Broken.
7. Give the Public Service Integrity Commissioner the power to enforce compliance with
the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.
Government Action: Broken. Conservative appointee Christiane Ouimet didn’t find a
single case of wrongdoing amongst 228 complaints. The Auditor-General concluded
that she did not discharge her duties as Integrity Commissioner.
8. Remove the government’s ability to exempt Crown corporations and other bodies
from the Whistle Blower Act.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives exempted the RCMP and other
security agencies from the Act.
9. Require the prompt public disclosure of information revealed by whistleblowers.
Government Action: Broken.
10. Ensure that whistleblowers have access to the courts and that they are provided with
adequate legal counsel
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives gave the Integrity Commissioner
the option of granting legal assistance.
11. Establish monetary rewards for whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing or save
taxpayers dollars.
Government Action: Broken.
12. Require departments to provide the Parliamentary Budget Officer with the information
it needs to provide accurate analyses to Parliament.
Government Action: Broken.
13. Have the Auditor General audit all federal grant, contribution, and contracting
policies, and a commitment to following all of her recommendations.
Government Action: Broken.
14. Allow citizens, not just politicians, to make complaints to the Ethics Commissioner.
Government Action: Broken.
15. Implement the Information Commissioner’s recommendations for reform of the
Access to Information Act.
Government Action: Broken.
16. Give the Information Commissioner the power to order the release of information.
Government Action: Broken.
17. Expand Acess to Information Legislation to any organization that spends taxpayers’
money.
Government Action: Broken.
18. Subject the exclusion of Cabinet confidences to review by the Information
Commissioner in relation to Access to Information requests.
Government Action: Broken.
19. Oblige public officials to create the records necessary to document their actions and
decisions.
Government Action: Broken.
20. Provide a general public interest override for all exemptions, so that the public
interest is put before the secrecy of the government.
Government Action: Broken.
21. Ensure that all exemptions from the disclosure of government information are justified
only on the basis of the harm or injury that would result from disclosure, not blanket
exemption rules.
Government Action: Broken.
22. Ensure that the disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act cannot be
circumvented by secrecy provisions in other federal acts, while respecting the
confidentiality of national security and the privacy of personal information.
Government Action: Broken. At least 50 provisions in other laws continue to
override the Access to Information regime.
23. Give the Comptroller General the overall authority for the internal audit function in
each government department.
Government Action: Broken. Deputy Ministers remain responsible for their
departmental internal audit functions.
24. When a Minister and deputy Minister disagree about administration of the department
and the Minister chooses to override his deputy, the Minister must provide written
direction to the deputy and alert the Auditor General.
Government Action: Broken.25. Eliminate the capital gains tax when the proceeds are reinvested within six months.
Government Action: Broken.
26. Pay down the national debt by a minimum of $3 billion each year.
Government Action: Broken in Budget 2008.
27. Limit the future growth of federal grant and contribution programs and federal
departments to the rate of inflation plus population growth.
Government Action: Broken.
28. Ensure that regional development agencies are non-politicized
Government Action: Broken. The Board of ACOA is stacked with Conservative
insiders and programs like RInC send far more money to Conservative ridings.
29. Replace CAIS with separate farm income stabilization and disaster relief programs
that are simpler and more responsive.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives simply changed the name of the
program but farmers say it’s no easier to use.
30. Commit to adding an additional $500 million annually to farm support programs.
Government Action: Broken. Although they committed the money early on, overall
support for farm support programs has dropped.
31. Get the $5B in softwood lumber tariffs back.
Government Action: Broken.
32. Guarantee repayment of illegally imposed softwood lumber tariffs through Export
Development Canada.
Government Action: Broken.
33. Extend the two hundred mile limit to the edge of the Continental Shelf, the nose and
tail of the Grand Banks, and the Flemish Cap in the North Atlantic.
Government Action: Broken.34. Create mandatory consecutive sentences (instead of concurrent sentences) for
select multiple violent or sexual offences.
Government Action: Broken.
35. Replace statutory release (the law entitling a prisoner to parole after serving twothirds
of his sentence) with earned parole
Government Action: Broken.
36. Toughen parole provisions once you have been convicted of committing a crime
while on parole, and eliminate parole for life after the third such conviction.
Government Action: Broken.
37. A constitutional amendment to forbid prisoners in federal institutions from voting in
elections.
Government Action: Broken.
38. Ensure federal corrections officers have the tools and training they require to do their
job as peace officers.
Government Action: Broken.
39. Create a joint national task force on security.
Government Action: Broken.
40. Strict monitoring, including tracking place of residence, of high-risk individuals
prohibited from owning firearms.
Government Action: Broken.
41. Tighter restrictions on individuals on bail or parole for firearms offences, including the
use of electronic monitoring.
Government Action: Broken.
42. Crack down on gun smuggling.
Government Action: Broken.
43. Improve safe storage laws for firearms.
Government Action: Broken.44. Require firearms safety training for everyone wishing to acquire and use a firearm.
Government Action: Broken.
45. Eliminating exceptions to firearms prohibition orders following criminal conviction.
Government Action: Broken.
46. Adopt a zero tolerance policy for child pornography, eliminating the so-called
“legitimate purpose” defence.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives only modified the use of the
"legitimate purpose" defence.
47. Prohibit conditional sentences for sex offences committed against children.
Government Action: Broken.
48. Allow judges to impose residency restrictions on where offenders released on peace
bonds can live.
Government Action: Broken.
49. Work with provinces, municipalities, police, and community leaders to ensure at risk
youth reject gang and gun violence.
Government Action: Broken. The government's 2009 Evaluation Report of the Youth
Gang Prevention Fund found that "Canada’s youth gang problem has escalated and
continues to escalate."
50. Support results-oriented, community-based initiatives for addictions treatment,
training, and rehabilitation of those in trouble with the law.
Government Action: Broken.
51. Direct $50 million in funding into community-based, educational, sporting, cultural,
and vocational opportunities for young people at risk.
Government Action: Broken.
52. Make anyone 14 years or older who is charged with serious violent or repeat
offences is automatically subject to adult sentencing provisions.
Government Action: Broken.53. Amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act to include deterrence and denunciation as
mandatory sentencing principles to be considered.
Government Action: Broken.
54. Restore the Canada Ports Police
Government Action: Broken.
55. Name a National Security Commissioner.
Government Action: Broken. Even after the Air India Inquiry recommended it.
56. Create a Canadian Foreign Intelligence Agency.
Government Action: Broken.
57. Make the Canadian Coast Guard as a stand-alone agency.
Government Action: Broken. It remains a Special Operating Agency as the previous
government had made it.
58. Create a National Security Review Committee.
Government Action: Broken.
59. Reopen RCMP border detachments in Québec and the West.
Government Action: Broken.
60. Permit sentencing courts to order deportation following conviction on select offences
and prohibit persons already ordered deported from parole eligibility before
deportation.
Government Action: Broken.
61. Create evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times, starting with
cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging procedures, joint replacements, and sight
restoration are established as soon as possible, as promised in the Health Accord.
Government Action: Broken.
62. Ensure Canadians get regular reports on progress towards meeting these wait-time
targets, as promised in the Health Accord.
Government Action: Broken.63. Increase the numbers of, and expand educational programs for doctors, nurses, and
other health professionals.
Government Action: Broken.
64. Allow patients who can’t be treated within an acceptable amount of time to be treated
in other jurisdictions.
Government Action: Broken.
65. Improve access to natural and complementary health products and supplements.
Government Action: Broken. Bill C-36 reduces access.
66. Introduce a National Disability Act.
Government Action: Broken.
67. Create 125,000 childcare spaces.
Government Action: Broken.
68. Not tax income trusts
Government Action: Broken.
69. Increase the Pension Income Amount to $2,500 in five years.
Government Action: Broken.
70. Remove postsecondary education funding from the Canada Social Transfer and
create an independent Canada Education and Training Transfer.
Government Action: Broken.
71. Spend at least one percent of total federal health funding annually on physical
activity, including amateur sport and programs for school age children.
Government Action: Broken.
72. Allow all cities and communities, including cities with more than 500,000 people, to
use gas tax transfer dollars to build and repair roads and bridges to improve road
safety and fight traffic congestion.
Government Action: Broken.73. Develop a national Road Congestion Index to track progress in reducing road
congestion.
Government Action: Broken.
74. Develop tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing.
Government Action: Broken.
75. Develop a strategy for greenhouse gas emissions in concert with the provinces.
Government Action: Broken.
76. Create a Canadian Agency for Assessment and Recognition of Credentials, to
provide pre-assessment of international credentials and experience.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives created a Foreign Credentials
Referral Office with a much narrower mandate.
77. Accept the targets agreed upon at the recent Meeting of First Ministers and National
Aboriginal Leaders and work to achieving the Kelowna Accord’s targets.
Government Action: Broken.
78. Let aboriginal parents choose the schooling they want for their children, with funding
following the students.
Government Action: Broken.
79. Replace the Indian Act (and related legislation) with a modern legislative framework
which provides for the devolution of full legal and democratic responsibility to
aboriginal Canadians.
Government Action: Broken.
80. Implement the resolution of the House of Commons to acknowledge the historic
inequality of treatment and compensation for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit war
veterans, and provide compensation to them.
Government Action: Broken.81. Support the important contribution the Council of the Federation is making to
strengthening intergovernmental and interprovincial cooperation.
Government Action: Broken. Stephen Harper has still not participated in a single
Council of the Federation meeting.
82. Ensure that all new federal-provincial cost shared programs have an opt out with
compensation option.
Government Action: Broken.
83. Achieve permanent changes to the equalization formula.
Government Action: Broken. The “permanent” changes lasted one year before they
were changed again.
84. Support the Official Languages Act, ensuring that English and French have equality
of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the
Parliament and Government of Canada.
Government Action: Broken. A report from the Commissioner of Official Languages
says the government is not providing the necessary leadership to protect language
rights.
85. Propose an amendment to the Constitution to include the right to own property, as
well as guarantee that no person shall be deprived of their just right without the due
process of law and full, just, and timely compensation.
Government Action: Broken.
86. Ensure that full, just, and timely compensation will be paid to all persons who are
deprived of personal or private property as a result of any federal government
initiative.
Government Action: Broken.
87. Create a national process for choosing elected Senators from each province and
territory.
Government Action: Broken.
88. Make the Senate an effective, independent, and democratically elected body that
equitably represents all regions.
Government Action: Broken.89. Establish fixed election dates every four years, except when a government loses the
confidence of the House.
Government Action: Broken. Stephen Harper broke his own fixed election law in
2008.
90. Make all votes in Parliament, except the budget and main estimates, “free votes” for
ordinary Members of Parliament.
Government Action: Broken.
91. Increase the power of Parliament and parliamentary committees to review the
spending estimates of departments and hold ministers to account.
Government Action: Broken.
92. Ensure that party nomination and leadership races are conducted in a fair,
transparent, and democratic manner.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservative Party continues to trample on local
riding associations such as Calgary West and Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette.
93. Prevent party leaders from appointing candidates without the democratic consent of
local electoral district associations.
Government Action: Broken.
94. Advance Canada’s interests through foreign aid, while at the same time holding
those agencies involved in this area accountable for its distribution and results.
Government Action: Broken. Despite CIDA’s recommendation to continue funding
numerous NGOs the Conservatives cut them without an explanation.
95. Increase spending on Overseas Development Assistance beyond the currently
projected level and move towards the OECD average level.
Government Action: Broken. Once the projected level was achieved they froze the
international assistance envelope.
96. Make Parliament responsible for exercising oversight over the conduct of Canadian
foreign policy.
Government Action: Broken.97. Complete the transformation of military operations and defence administration.
Government Action: Broken.
98. Recruit 13,000 additional regular forces and 10,000 additional reserve forces
personnel.
Government Action: Broken.
99. Reduce defence rank structure overhead, review civilian and military HQ functions,
and increase front-line personnel.
Government Action: Broken. While regular force personnel have increased 9.7%
civilian staff at National Defence have increased 31.9%
100. Treat Canada’s veterans with the respect and honour that they deserve.
Government Action: Broken. From drastically paring down their promise of $3 billion
to veterans exposed to Agent Orange to failing to fix the lump sum payment system
for severally wounded modern day veterans, the Conservatives have let down
veterans both young and old.
101. Explore the possibility of appointing special envoys between Canada and the
United States to chart a course for the future of NAFTA
Government Action: Broken.
102. Reassert Canada’s traditional leadership in negotiating the Free Trade Area of the
Americas.
Government Action: Broken. Canada was barely visible at the Fifth Summit of the
Americas in 2009.

2008 Conservative Platform:
103. Reducing Taxes on Diesel Fuels.
Government Action: Broken.
104. Restricting Unfair Text Messaging Charges.
Government Action: Broken.
105. Ensure that any regulation of natural health products balances the protection of
Canadians' health and safety with the freedom to choose alternative products.
Government Action: Broken.
106. Allow families where one spouse is not working full-time in order to care for one or
more family members with disabilities – whether children or adults – to split their
income between spouses for tax purposes.
Government Action: Broken.
107. Fully index the $100 per month Universal Child Care Benefit to inflation. This will
ensure that the value of the benefit does not erode over time.
Government Action: Broken.
108. Ensure that Aboriginals have the opportunity to fully participate in Canada's
economy and society.
Government Action: Broken.
109. Work with the private sector and small business organizations to identify
inefficiencies and make permanent a formal process of measuring, reporting and
reducing the burden on businesses.
Government Action: Broken. The Red Tape Reduction Commission announced in
January 2011 has yet to produce meaningful results.
110. The government has already established two new funds – the $900-million
Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative and the $250-million Automotive
Innovation Fund. These funds emphasize leading-edge technology and innovation to
ensure that Canada remains a world leader in these industries. Unlike previous
governments, a Harper Government will ensure that taxpayers' investments are
repaid.
Government Action: Broken.111. Committed to implementing the reforms contained in the 2008 Budget to reduce
the immigration processing backlog and to expedite applications from people with the
skills and professions most in demand in Canada.
Government Action: Broken. The immigration processing backlog has increased by
145,000 under the Conservatives.
112. Modernize the administration of our fisheries to ensure greater focus on
conservation and using administrative sanctions, rather than court proceedings, to
deal with violations.
Government Action: Broken. The new Fisheries Act died when Stephen Harper
called an early election in 2008 – the bill has not been re-introduced.
113. Work with Western Canadian grain farmers to ensure that the results of the barley
plebiscite are respected and that they are given the freedom to choose whether to
sell grain on the open market or through the Canadian Wheat Board.
Government Action: Broken.
114. Reaffirming the Ban on the Bulk Transfer of Water.
Government Action: Broken.
115. Make biofuels and renewable energy a key part of our environmental and energy
strategy.
Government Action: Broken. Canada lags other countries, like the Unites-States, in
renewable energy investments.
116. Assert Canada's rights over our Arctic waters, including the Northwest Passage
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives released yet another “Arctic
strategy” in 2010 while failing to fulfill their past promises for the North. They
continue to insult the people of the North with more empty promises and rhetoric.
117. Reforming or Abolishing the Senate.
Government Action: Broken. Stephen Harper broke his pledge to only appoint
elected Senators, instead he appointed 38 Senators - all Conservatives - just since
the last election.118. Continue to reform appointments to federal agencies, boards, commissions and
Crown corporations.
Government Action: Broken. After riding into town on the white horse of
accountability, Stephen Harper continued appointing Conservative insiders to the
Senate, courts, and government boards and agencies – bringing the total to nearly
400 partisan appointees since the 2008 election.
119. Ensure that appointees to federal agencies, boards, commissions and Crown
corporations reflect the diversity of Canada in language, gender, region, age and
ethnicity.
Government Action: Broken. Figures show that when the Conservatives took over in
2006, the percentage of women appointed to Governor-in-Council positions began to
drop. While the figure was about 37 percent from 2002 to December 2005, it
dropped to 32.5 percent from February 2006 to May 2010.
120. Appoint members to the Public Appointments Commission.
Government Action: Broken. The Harper Conservatives haven't appointed a single
member, despite wasting over $1 million on the promised commission.
121. Ending Insider Loans to Political Candidates.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives tabled Bill C-19 in March 2010 but
never moved forward.
122. Respecting the Provinces and Territories, Establishing a Charter of Open
Federalism.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives have quietly dropped any talk of a
Charter of Open Federalism.
123. Limiting the Federal Spending Power.
Government Action: Broken.
124. Create a new, refundable tax credit on up to $500 of eligible fees for children under
16 who participate in eligible arts or cultural activities, such as music lessons, drama
or art classes.
Government Action: Broken.
125. Enhance the Children's Fitness Tax Credit by making it refundable.
Government Action: Broken.126. Committed to a Canada First Defence Strategy that will provide predictable growth
for Canada's defence budget, increase the size of our forces to 70,000 regular and
30,000 reserves.
Government Action: Broken.
127. Ensure that we acquire the ships, aircraft, vehicles and other equipment our Forces
need in a manner that ensures our troops have the best possible equipment and that
taxpayers' dollars are prudently spent.
Government Action: Broken. After promising an open and transparent competition to
replace Canada’s CF-18s, the Conservatives flip-flopped and announced that
Canada would purchase 65 F-35s without holding a competition – costing taxpayers
at least $21 billion.
128. Leverage these dramatic increases in defence procurement to ensure that new
high technology jobs are created in Canada through a combination of buying
Canadian-made defence equipment and securing high-value industrial benefits when
equipment is purchased abroad.
Government Action: Broken.
129. A re-elected Conservative Government led by Stephen Harper will continue to
improve the lives of Canada's veterans.
Government Action: Broken. From drastically paring down their promise of $3 billion
to veterans exposed to Agent Orange to failing to fix the lump sum payment system
for severally wounded modern day veterans, the Conservatives have let down
veterans both young and old.
130. Increase funeral and burial assistance rates for veterans to bring the rates for
veterans in line with those of active duty Canadian Forces and RCMP officers.
Government Action: Broken.
131. Make the promotion of Canada's democratic values on the world stage a major
focus of our foreign policy. We will establish a new, non-partisan democracy
promotion agency that will help emerging democracies build democratic institutions
and support peaceful democratic change in repressive countries.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservatives failed to create the new agency.132. Implement our Turning the Corner action plan to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas
emissions in absolute terms by 20 per cent over 2006 levels by 2020.
Government Action: Broken. From Copenhagen to Cancun, the Conservatives
consistently block progress on climate change.
133. Work with the provinces and territories and our NAFTA trading partners in the
United States and Mexico, at both the national and state levels, to develop and
implement a North America-wide cap and trade system for greenhouse gases and air
pollution, with implementation to occur between 2012 and 2015.
Government Action: Broken. The Environment Commissioner issued a damning
report on the Conservatives’ total abdication of responsibility when it comes to
adapting to the harmful effects of climate change.
134. Proceed with an impartial third party investigation of the recent listeriosis outbreak.
Government Action: Broken. Despite assurances from the PMO that Sheila
Weatherill’s listeriosis report would be released unedited and without interference,
key alterations were made to her findings, including the elimination of her finding that
the crisis was “preventable.”
135. Continue to take creative measures to tackle major lung, heart and neurological
diseases.
Government Action: Broken.
136. Work toward bringing an end to discriminatory life insurance practices.
Government Action: Broken.
137. Take additional steps to ensure that Canada's communities and hospitals have
more doctors and nurses where they are most needed.
Government Action: Broken.
138. Extend the benefit of the existing Children's Fitness Tax Credit and the new
Children's Art Tax Credit to lower income families that pay little or no income tax by
making both credits fully refundable.
Government Action: Broken.139. Replace the automatic release of prisoners after serving two-thirds of their
sentence with earned parole for behaviour and rehabilitation in prison.
Government Action: Broken. The legislation was killed by prorogation and still hasn’t
been implemented.
140. Amend the Criminal Code to make sure that serious crimes, including serious
property offences, are not eligible for house arrest.
Government Action: Broken. The legislation was killed by prorogation and still hasn’t
been implemented.
141. Allow Canadians who have been affected by terrorism to sue the sponsors of
terrorist organizations, including to recover funds from states that are designated as
sponsors of terrorism.
Government Action: Broken. The legislation was killed by prorogation and still hasn’t
been implemented.
142. Continue efforts to change Canada's drug laws to ensure that serious drug crimes,
such as trafficking and running large cannabis grow operations or crystal
methamphetamine labs, face mandatory prison sentences.
Government Action: Broken.
143. Amend the Criminal Code to make the pregnancy of a woman an aggravating
factor in sentencing if a woman is assaulted or killed.
Government Action: Broken.
144. A Conservative Government will not initiate or support any legislation to regulate
abortion.
Government Action: Broken. The Conservative government further isolated Canada
from the rest of the developed world and breaking with 25 years of Canadian tradition
through its refusal to include the full range of family planning options in its maternal
and infant health initiative.
145. Abolish conditional sentences and introduce mandatory prison sentences for
impaired driving causing bodily harm or death.
Government Action: Broken. Legislation to this effect was introduced in 2007 and
passed the House committee but never advanced by the government.

The fiasco with Trusts would have broke every Company in the Nation eventually, and the Government and would have been far worse than cutting Taxes for Corporations. Companies cannot survive without keeping a reserve for tough times. Trusts would have made Companies pay every bit of profit out to the Shareholders. Only those who are very greedy and think only of themselves got burned with the reversal.

And Harper as an economist, knew all of that. Yet he still promised those people who depended on the income from these trusts to buy groceries that he would not impose any new taxes on them.

Then he turned around after being elected, and said, "Oh, on second thought maybe that's not a good idea. Thanks for your votes though!"

 

[Trex]

So I guess then its possible to kill any thread at will?
Just blast a thousand assumed "cut n paste" issues

Why then debate?

How about this?

Did I win ?

Or maybe just gag a server( or a thinker)?

1 Pre-election spending: $22.2 billion, according to Canadian Taxpayers Federation.


2 Pre-election tax relief: $30 billion -- about $323 per taxpayer; up from May budget total of only $16/year.

3 Attack ads. Smearing Stephen Harper. And our soldiers. Approved by Paul Martin himself. In Canada.

4 "Soldiers" ad pulled in English but French version continues in Quebec. Several Liberals say the ad is appalling.

5 TV journalist Mike Duffy accuses Liberal strategist John Duffy of trying to intimidate him into not discussing the ad.

6 Jan. 9: Martin suddenly vows, mid-debate, to scrap the feds' ability to use the "notwithstanding" clause in Charter cases. Even senior Liberals are shocked.

7 Conservatives accused of planning to "take away a woman's right to choose," despite promises to the contrary.

8 Grits charge Conservatives won't keep promises. Hmm.

9 Courting Toronto votes in the wake of record gun murders, Martin promises to ban handguns -- which have effectively been banned since 1937.

10 Also promises to ban weapons in outer space.

11 PM pledges mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes, despite Justice Minister's assertions they don't work.

12 Promises "heroes" fund for injured firefighters and rescuers -- an idea 57 Grits earlier voted against.

13 Spokesman Scott Reid declares parents would only blow the Tories' child care subsidy on "beer and popcorn."

14 Ontario VP Mike Klander resigns over blog comparing NDP's Olivia Chow to a dog and blasting Jack Layton.

15 Industry Minister David Emerson says NDP Leader Layton has a "boiled dog's head smile."

16 Oakville riding association president quits after telling anti-gun-registry voter to take her "gun-loving ass back to the U.S."

17 Martin blasts Conservative plan to cut GST; in 1993, he co-wrote Red Book promising to get rid of it.

18 Ex-Harvard prof and would-be leader Michael Ignatieff's nomination engineered over protest in Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

19 33% of voters believe Liberals have a "hidden agenda," as opposed to Conservatives (25%), according to Ipsos-Reid.

20 Chinese head tax: Liberals refused to apologize; PM suddenly offers "personal regret" on Chinese-language TV.

21 Separatism: Martin calls this a "referendum election."

22 80% of Quebecers dislike Martin (Strategic Counsel poll).

23 Martin vows to fight Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe on "every street corner" but later refuses to debate one-on-one.

24 Martin criticizes U.S. on Kyoto at climate conference -- even though Canada's emissions record is worse than theirs.

25 When U.S. ambassador points this out, Martin declares he won't be "dictated" to and will "stand up for Canada."

26 Martin stages photo- op with ex-U.S.-prez Bill Clinton.

MINORITY MADNESS, SPRING FEVER 2005: 27-37

27 April: Martin pleaded on TV to be allowed to govern until 30 days after Justice John Gomery's final report on AdScam.

28 Grits then announced $23 billion in pre-pre-election spending.

29 May: Opposition days suspended so they can't call non-confidence vote.

30 NDP deal: Backroom deal to buy NDP support forced budget changes -- adding another $4.6 billion in spending.

31 Martin reversed sensible stand on U.S. missile defence.

32 Aid to Darfur boosted in bid to buy support of Independent MP David Kilgour.

33 Promised Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty $5.75 billion to fix "fiscal imbalance" over five years.

34 May 10: Grits lost vote 153-150 calling for them to resign, but refused to do so.

35 Secret health deal proposed to NDP; Layton rejects it.

36 May 17: Belinda Stronach wooed into Liberal caucus -- and cabinet -- just in time to win non-confidence vote.

37 Post-Belinda, Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal revealed tape recordings of PMO staffer Tim Murphy and Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh discussing possible incentives if he crossed the floor. Grits said tapes were doctored.

PAUL MARTIN'S LEGACY -- MR. DITHERS TAKES THE HELM: 38-63

38 Worked with loyal team for more than a decade to take over party from Jean Chretien.

39 Only rival left for leadership was Sheila Copps.

40 Put his company, Canada Steamship Lines, in a "blind trust" that wasn't. As PM, was allowed to transfer ownership to his sons, keeping it in the family.

41 Registered several CSL ships under foreign flags to avoid Canadian taxes.

42 Used U2 singer Bono for his star power; left him "mystified" and "crushed" by failing to deliver on world poverty.

43 Extended term of big-spending Gov.-Gen. Adrienne Clarkson; appointed Michaelle Jean without thoroughly checking out her past association with separatists.

44 Promised to "fix health care for a generation" with $41-billion deal with the provinces in 2004. Some fix!

45 Made separate side deal with Quebec on health care, calling it "asymmetrical federalism."

46 Agreed on "wait times strategy" with provinces in 2004. Still waiting for it to be implemented.

47 Personal doctor runs a private clinic.

48 Promised to change the way Supreme Court judges were appointed -- but only allowed MPs to question Justice Minister about them, after the fact.

49 Promised to diminish Western alienation or "I will have failed."

50 Slow to return from vacation after the South Asian tsunami, and dithered on sending Disaster Assistance Response Team.

51 February 2005: The Economist magazine immortalized "Mr. Dithers" nickname for his "faltering leadership."

52 May 2005: 63% told Strategic Counsel poll Martin was most dishonest party leader; 61% felt he was most likely to lie.

53 Sent controversial same-sex marriage bill to Supreme Court; didn't insist on a ruling on traditional marriage.

54 Invoked closure to ram same-sex bill into law June 28; cabinet members not allowed to vote their conscience.

55 Gave $2.2 billion in gas tax revenues to public transit, but none of it to repair crumbling roads.

56 Cut capital gains tax on charitable donations of securities to 50% in 1997, refused to eliminate it.

57 2004: Feds shamed over plan to send 70 bureaucrats to 60th anniversary D-Day event -- but only 60 veterans.

58 Tolerated Carolyn Parrish ("Damn Americans -- I hate those bastards") in caucus until she dissed him personally.

59 Blamed America for Canada's gun problem.

60 Before becoming PM, opposed the Clarity Act.

61 Ditto same-sex marriage.

62 And the Kyoto accord.

63 Also leaned toward joining the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

MARTIN'S TURNCOAT MINISTERS: 64-67

Each of these converts to Paul Martin's Liberal team just happened to score a cabinet post:

64 Belinda Stronach (ex-Conservative leadership contender) -- in charge of Human Resources and, yes, ethics reform.

65 Scott Brison (ex-PC leadership hopeful) -- Public Works.

66 Ujjal Dosanjh (ex-NDP B.C. premier) -- Health.

67 Jean Lapierre (co-founder of Bloc Quebecois) -- Quebec lieutenant and Transportation.

LAST ELECTION, JUNE 2004, MAJORITY TO MINORITY: 68-75

68 Pre-election spending: $8 billion for everything from health care to highways.

69 Martin shut down Commons AdScam committee, announced Gomery inquiry -- then promptly called the election before it could start.

70 Attack ads against Conservatives accused them of wanting to recriminalize abortion, send troops to Iraq, and govern like Brian Mulroney and Mike Harris.

71 Accused Harper of plotting with Alberta's Ralph Klein to destroy medicare.

72 Called Conservative forecast of $50-billion surplus over five years a "black hole"; Grit surpluses now exceed that.

73 PM's handpicked Winnipeg candidate Glen Murray lost to quadriplegic Conservative Steven Fletcher.

74 Mid-campaign, Martin promised Newfoundland premier Danny Williams an oil and gas revenue deal; then reneged post-election until Williams went ballistic.

75 Ministers Judy Sgro and John McCallum dispatched to heckle Harper at events.

Promises, Promises -- Grit Moments in Dithering: 76-85

76 1993: Red Book promised an independent ethics commisioner reporting to Parliament. Not implemented until 2004.

77 1993: Promised national daycare program: Signed first deals with provinces to begin implementing it in 2005.

78 1993: Promised to boost immigration levels to 300,000 per year: Announced the same target twice last fall -- despite a current 700,000-person backlog.

79 1993: Promised to reform Young Offenders Act. Youth Criminal Justice Act finally took effect in 2003, and is even worse.

80 1993: Promised national pharmacare program. No action.

81 Ditto for their 1993 promise of national home care.

82 1994: Justice minister Allan Rock promised national sex offender registry: Finally established in 2004, but had to be amended in 2005 to include Karla Homolka. Ditto for national DNA databank -- finally passed before this election.

83 1995: Martin imposed 1.5c/litre "deficit-fighting" tax on gasoline. Deficit was eliminated in 1997, but tax is still there. Now Grits justify it as part of the gas tax "deal" for cities.

84 1999: Justice minister Anne McLellan told the Commons: "The government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage or of legislating same-sex marriages."

85 20 years after Air India bombing, after years of resisting calls for an inquiry, Grits announced a limited one before this election.

Patronage, Piggery and 'Entitlements': 86-98

86 Martin appointed Francis Fox, who worked in his PMO and on his leadership, to the Senate.

87 Also Dennis Dawson, another staunch Martin backer.

88 And James Cowan, his leadership head in Nova Scotia.

89 Ditto Liberal fundraiser Rod Zimmer.

90 And Art Eggleton, who stepped aside in 2004 for Martin protege Ken Dryden.

91 October: Feds refused to cut gas taxes, but raised MPs' and staff travel allowances 4.6c/km due to high gas prices.

92 2001: MPs gave themselves pay raies of 20% -- retroactive to January. Cabinet ministers got 22%; PM Jean Chretien 42% -- boosting his pension 82%!

93 Among Chretien's many patronage appointments: Former PMO spokesman Jim Munson to the Senate.

94 Same for former chief of staff Percy Downe.

95 And longtime adviser David Smith.

96 PMO crony Jean Pelletier went to head VIA Rail (from which Martin has now fired him twice over AdScam).

97 Andre Ouellett got Canada Post, where he once cashed over $300,000 in expenses with no receipts (fired by Martin).

98 David Dingwall got the Mint; was fired over expenses but is fighting for severance: "I'm entitled to my entitlements."

INTEGRITY -- FAMOUS GRIT WORDS: 99-103

99 "The government will restore the public's faith and trust in the integrity and good management of government."

-- Martin government's first throne speech, Feb. 2004

100 "We are going to condemn to history the practice and the politics of cronyism ... No longer will the culture in Ottawa be one of entitlement."

-- Martin speech, March 2004

101 "Perhaps there was a few million dollars that might have been stolen in the process; it is possible."

-- Jean Chretien, 2002, defending the sponsorship program

102 "Cynicism about public institutions, governments, politicians, and the political process is at an all-time high ... Honesty and integrity in our political institutions must be restored."

-- 1993 Red Book, co-written by Paul Martin

103 "Screw the Red Book. Don't tell me what's in the Red Book. I wrote the goddamned thing. And I know that it's a lot of crap."

-- Martin as quoted in the 1996 book Double Vision: The Inside Story of the Liberals in Power

MINISTERIAL AND MP MISDEEDS: 104-125

104 Joe Volpe expensed $138 for a "pizza dinner for two."

105 Pierre Pettigrew took his chauffeur on $10,000 worth of trips, even though he didn't need him to drive.

106 Judy Sgro said the ethics commissioner "vindicated" her in the foreign strippers scandal, when he found her in "clear violation" of parts of the conflict-of- interest code.

107 Ralph Goodale said in 2004 the surplus would be $1.9 billion -- it turned out to be $9.1 billion.

108 Don Boudria spent a weekend at the luxury ski chalet of Quebec advertising honcho Claude Boulay.

109 So did Denis Coderre.

110, 111, 112, 113, 114: Allan Rock, Claudette Brashaw, David Anderson, Jane Stewart and Bob Thibault all accepted free fishing trips and/or flights from the wealthy Irving family of New Brunswick.

115 Hedy Fry falsely claimed racists in Prince George, B.C. were "burning crosses on lawns."

116 Herb Dhaliwal called U.S. President George Bush a failed statesman.

117 Lawrence MacAulay lobbied the RCMP and Corrections Canada to fund training at a college his brother headed.

118 Art Eggleton lost his post as defence minister for giving a contract to an ex-girlfriend.

119 Scarborough MP Tom Wappel refused to help an 81-year-old blind war vet because he didn't vote for him.

120 John Manley proposed subsidizing Canadian NHL teams up to $3.5 million each; scrapped the idea two days later.

121 Andy Scott was overheard on a plane saying he would have to "cover" for Chretien at the 1998 APEC inquiry.

122 Sheila Copps' Heritage department spent $15 million on "free" Canadian flags for all.

123 Copps kept her promise to resign when the Grits failed to scrap the GST -- and was promptly re-elected.

124 Michel Dupuy attended a 1995 dinner with Liberal lobbyists and others who ended up receiving federal grants.

125 Jag Bhaduria was expelled from caucus over revelations that he falsified his background and wrote threatening letters.

ADSCAM, THE MOTHER OF ALL SCANDALS: 126-137

Justice John Gomery's November report is reason alone not to vote Liberal. Here's just a tiny taste of why:

126 Gomery inquiry testimony drove separatist support to highest level in a decade.

127 Gomery summed up AdScam: "A story of greed, venality and misconduct" featuring "a complex web of financial transactions among Public Works ... Crown corporations and communication agencies, involving kickbacks and illegal contributions to (the Liberal) party."

128 Gomery on the Liberal party (Quebec wing): "The (party) as an institution cannot escape responsibility for the misconduct of its officers and representatives."

129 Jean Chretien openly taunted the judge by bringing golf balls to the inquiry, saying they weren't "small-town cheap."

130 Martin led cheers in caucus for Chretien the next day.

131 The forensic accountants who exposed the Enron scandal said even they couldn't tell where all the AdScam cash went.

132 Among the things sponsorship money paid for: 1,200 golf balls bearing Chretien's signature;

133 $46,300 worth of maple-leaf neckties;

134 Montreal Grand Prix tickets for senior Grits;

135 $100,000 worth of Christmas decorations;

136 A TV series airing in China.

137 A $16,000 plaque and flag in a store in Chretien's riding.

Speaking of Scandals: 138-158

138 Gun registry: Supposed to cost $2 million, now at nearly $2 billion (even AG can't fathom it), with gun crimes rising.

139 Income trusts: Suspicious trading before Ralph Goodale's Nov. 23 announcement now under RCMP investigation.

140 Option Canada: Secret 1995 unity fund now being probed by RCMP.

141 HRDC boondoggle: $1 billion blown on dubious job-creation projects (including a fountain in Shawinigan).

142 Helicopters: Cancelling contract to replace aging Sea Kings in 1993 cost $500 million and put troops at risk. New contract finally issued in July 2005.

143 Submarines: $750 million to buy used British subs that leak and, in one case, caught fire, killing one submariner.

144 Home heating rebate: Finance minister Martin doled out $1 billion in pre-2000-election cheques to people who didn't need them, including 7,500 who were dead.

145 Shawinigate: Chretien lied about intervening to secure a federal business loan for an associate in his riding. Later said such interventions were "the normal operation."

146 Francois Beaudoin: Raided, intimidated by Liberal operatives and forced from his federal bank job after questioning the loan to Chretien's Shawinigan associate. Judge Andre Denis later called it "an unspeakable injustice."

147 Hepatitis C: Liberals, under Chretien's orders, voted in 1998 against compensating excluded victims of tainted blood scandal; changed their tune in 2004 -- no money has flowed yet.

148 Airbus: Feds apologized in 1997 and paid $2 million to former PM Brian Mulroney for false kickback allegations.

149 Challenger jets: Chretien made secret, rushed, untendered $100-million deal to buy two from Bombardier in 2002.

150 Somalia inquiry: Grits shut it down prematurely in 1997.

151 Agent Orange: Feds dithered on compensating soldiers exposed to the toxic Vietnam-era chemical in Gagetown, N.B.

152 Zahra Kazemi: Canadian's murder covered up in Iran; Canada's response was weak.

153 Bill Sampson: Canadian wrongly imprisoned and tortured in Saudi Arabia for 3 years; Canada's response was weak.

154 Maher Arar: Canadian wrongly imprisoned in Syria for a year; Canada's response was weak (inquiry is now pending).

155 Tobacco suit: $1-billion civil suit in the U.S. against a Canadian tobacco giant for allegedly evading billions in taxes by smuggling cigarettes was thrown out. Cost: $17 million.

156 Air security fee: Imposed excessive $24/round trip tax in 2001, raking in $1 million/day (since cut to $14/round trip).

157Ads: AG Sheila Fraser said on top of AdScam, some $800 million in ad contracts since 2000 were questionable.

158 Canada "wordmark": Feds paid ad firms $1 million to "develop" it; later conceded it's existed since 1965.

OVERALL LIBERAL RECORD 159-183

159 Increased spending 37% since 2000; 55.8% since eliminating the deficit in 1997, says Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

160 Increased federal staff 10% since 1999, the CTF says.

161 Tax Freedom Day in 1993: June 6. Last year: June 26, according to Fraser Institute.

162 Average family income increase since 1993: 37%. Average increase in that family's taxes: 50%, according to CTF.

163 Spending predicted (in November) to rise 25% by 2010.

164 In past two budgets, stashed $9 billion in untouchable "foundations" -- AG warned of lack of accountability.

165 1998: Martin, as finance minister, reduced EI premiums 15c/$100 but hiked CPP premiums 30c/$100, costing taxpayers $59 a year.

166 1999: AG found EI surplus excessive.

167 1996: Spent $1 billion getting Atlantic provinces to "harmonize" GST and PST.

168 2000-2005: Fiscal surplus forecasts understimated by a total of $35.3 billion.

169 Promised to decriminalize marijuana, satisfied no one.

170 Encouraged Corrections Canada to release inmates as early as possible -- prisons boss said goal was 50% release rate.

171 1996: Brought in conditional (house arrest) sentences for violent crime, including homicide.

172 1997: Tightened notorious "faint-hope clause" that lets murderers appply for parole after just 15 years -- but only to exclude serial killers, and only those who kill after 1997.

173 2005: Established $3.7-million pilot project to set up tattoo parlours in prisons.

174 1994-97: Refugee backlog doubled.

175 1997: Wasted more than $300 million a year paying social benefits to backlogged refugee claimants, AG found.

176 1998: Lost track of 4,613 refugee claimants up to August.

177 2003: Lost track of 36,000 immigrants ordered deported, AG found.

178 2002: Senate Committee on National Security and Defence said Armed Forces were so overstretched they should step down from all peacekeeping operations for two years.

179 2005: Same committee found Canada not equipped to handle a major disaster.

180 1997: Low-paid soldiers resorted to using food banks.

181 2001: Troops sent to Afghanistan in forest-green uniforms.

182 Ottawa too secretive, Information Commissioner reported.

183 10 years after the 1995 Quebec referendum, 48% of Quebecers told Strategic Counsel pollsters they would vote "Yes" to separation again; 47% said "No."

JEAN CHRETIEN'S LEGACY -- 'A PROOF IS A PROOF' 184-199

184 1993: Kept campaign promise to cancel Pearson airport privatization deal. Estimated cost of cancellation: $1 billion.

185 1993: Broke campaign promise to get rid of GST.

186 1993: Embraced NAFTA, 27 days after winning election promising to fight it.

187 1995: Almost lost the country in Quebec referendum.

188 1995: Created sponsorship program in response.

189 1996: Throttled a demonstrator at Flag Day event.

190 1996: Claimed he had regular chats with a homeless man.

191 1998: Joked about RCMP pepper-spraying demonstrators at APEC summit in B.C.: "Pepper, I put it on my plate."

192 1998: Called 64c dollar "good for exporters."

193 2001: Did nothing for 25 Canadians killed in 9/11, delayed visiting attack site. 194 Blamed U.S. "greed" for terrorism.

195 2002: Staffer Francie Ducros called George Bush a "moron."

196 2002: Responded when asked what kind of proof he'd need to join the invasion of Iraq: "A proof is a proof and when you have a good proof it's because it's proven."

197 2002: Refused to join Iraq war, or to confirm Canada had 31 soldiers serving there with U.S. and British forces.

198 2002: Announced his retirement -- for 2004!

199 Refused to declare Ontario SARS crisis a disaster; offered paltry aid.

2000 ELECTION -- CHRETIEN'S LAST LAUGH: 200-207

200 Pre-election spending: $2.248 billion in week before vote called, according to Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

201 Premature election ended shortest majority mandate in 90 years (three years) -- cost $200 million.

202 Lifted Canadian Alliance platform promise: $100 billion in tax cuts.

203 $100 billion tax cut really $55.4 billion when other things like CPP increases are factored in, CTF calculated.

204 22 RCMP investigations ongoing into Grit grant and loan programs, including four in Chretien's riding alone.

205 Elinor Caplan, immigration minister, told voters supporters of the Alliance were racists and Holocaust deniers.

206 Alliance accused of supporting "two-tier" health care.

207 Chretien openly talked about quitting post- election.

1997 ELECTION -- LIBERAL MAJORITY SHRINKS: 208-210

208 Pre-election spending: $8 billion.

209 Vote called despite Manitoba flood crisis.

210 35% of voters said June 2 election call was premature.

WHERE CANADA STANDS NOW: 211-218

211 Economy: 12th among industrialized nations, according to Conference Board of Canada (down from 3rd in 2003).

212 Competitiveness: 14th, according to World Economic Forum (down from 4th in 1997).

213 Health care: 30th in efficiency, according to World Health Organization.

214 Ethics: 14th, says Transparency International, due to "marked increase" in corruption (down from 5th).

215 Military spending: 153rd out of 192 countries, based on percentage of GDP; 14th in per-capita spending.

216 Peacekeeping: 36th, according to UN.

217 Personal income tax burden: Highest in G-8, says OECD.

218 Marginal tax rates: Second only to China, says C.D. Howe Institute.

The above ( and I mean every single bit of it, including my post ) is flat lame, if not pathetic.
Cut"n "paste.
Cut "n' paste.

Do the bigest" cut n paste's'"s win?

It's a forum.

We all know(I assume) on a forum that links to direct claims are appreciated.

But cut"n " paste wonders?

How about just the link?

 

[Taxx]

I can't speak for others, but the conservative party policy is to look at polls, but don't make changes based on them. I don't put much merit in them ethier.

However, My opinion is that the upcoming election will change almost nothing. I think that the Liberals will lose some seats to the NDP and the conservatives will pick up a few, if any. Chance of conservative majority? Sure. But my prediction is that it will be another minority.

 

[Machjo]

Why?

The only reason people will think it should be scrapped is because it got de-fanged.

Why not do what Americans did, which is set up a Senate with teeth?

If you don't have something to safety-check the Commons, you can end up with a tyranny, which is exactly what Harper's going for.



You mean like in the US, where elected reps don't have to vote the party line.

That would be a start. Remove party names from ballots and that would likely raise voter turnout too. Honestly, last election that was one of the reasons I had handed in a blank ballot, since had I checked a box I felt I'd have been giving the impression I was supporting the party and not the candidate. That was not the only reason, but it certainly nudged me in that direction and was still a contributing factor.

 

[Tonington]

How about just the link?

How about you leave the moderating to the moderators? The question was incredulous. You post how you like. I rarely cut and paste anything, without comment, which I did address a point the poster made directly after giving them a list to chew on.

 

[Unforgiven]

No more questions please.

 

[CDNBear]

Why does Trudeau, not only get a pass, but exulted ton hero status, for thumbing his, er, ummm, giving the finger to Canada's fifth estate, and people. Making comments like "Watch me". Dressing like the proverbial beige shirts and marching through Montreal, actually espousing Nazi rhetoric.

While Harper gets railed for simply brushing off the media and hecklers?