Derek 2.0

That’s a rather pointed question, I’ll give it a go (as a biased Tory voter): 1. The Tories/Harper will continue to reduce taxes/Government revenue, returning to Canadians their own money…..which is good of course, but will also make it harder for other parties to promise lavish spending programs without raising taxes or going into deficit (Or as rumored with the Liberals, robbing the CPP piggybank) 2. The Tories/Harper will continue to reduce the size of Government, i.e. spending the money that they do take from me better. 3. The Tories/Harper are less likely to promise some new lavish taxpayer funded social program…….also minding the money they take from me 4. The Tories/Harper won’t try and take my guns away on the promise to appease apart of their supporters baseless fears…… 5. On the international stage, Prime Minister Harper is respected by our Allies that mater and disliked by all the rest……which suits me fine. 6. The Tories/Harper are the most likely to continue to sign free trade agreements with other nations, which I feel are good for Canadians overall 7. The Tories will continue to strengthen laws (other than terror laws as you mentioned), further reducing crime across Canada. 8. The Tories/Harper are not beholden to Quebec or the East Coast, instead focusing on “productive Canada” West of the Ottawa river 9. The Tories/Harper are actually attempting to both secure and develop Northern Canada, which in my view is an untapped resources oblivious to most Canadians, and in turn historically received little political attention. 10.The Tories/Harper have done overall a good job in power (in my opinion) and I don’t see a reason why they won’t continue to do so……..oh and they’ll continue to lower taxes…….

It’s just a furtherance of other smart munitions…….with that, the size of the required firearm (.50 calibre) and the laser range finder/designator will make it a near two person platform….despite the CNN video showing current personal small arms……….. It will give a two man Special Forces teams (like the ones currently in Iraq) the ability to use a far less “explosive” option then is currently available i.e. Smart bombs or smart artillery/mortar rounds….

Lollypop lane indeed…………

This is very true, you’ll find the Governments of the United States, United Kingdom and Australia are able to reach a far broader consensus with National Defense topics…..that’s not to say partisan politics doesn’t rear its head, but far less then what is seen in Canada. Case in point the F-35, which has had consensus amongst the various Governments (Republicans/Democrats, Labour/Tories and Liberals/Labour/Liberals) that have been in power in those nations…….versus the LPC that supported it before they opposed it when they were out of power, and now, despite it actually about to enter squadron service (and the list of future operators growing), the Liberals have painted themselves into a corner of their own making (like they did with the EH-101)…………The end result, the Canadian Forces suffer and the taxpayer doesn’t save any money in the long run………. And here we are today with the current operation in Iraq and the Government’s transparency ………stark difference between the Chrétien Government’s covering up of the actions of Canadian Forces in Medak…..

On economic matters certainly, granted, there are those that might understand the process but are unable to invest……but discussing the actual mechanics behind commodities investing, one could argue it’s a results based topic………Would you trust your investment portfolio with someone that claims the sky is falling and the end is nigh?

For sure, the difference, intelligent people make more money (in cases such as this) because they buy futures, not hysteria......

It sure will, and those that don't buy into the sky is falling meme will make money.......

I wouldn’t get my knickers in a knot until the price of .50 caliber anti material rifles ($10000-20000 per), long range optics ($1500+) and laser designators ($250000+) comes down……..I can’t imagine what the price of ammo will be though, currently a standard .50 BMG round is about $8 a shot………

I hope you do........FYI, oil climbed to and closed at $48.24 a barrel yesterday I trust you'll admit at that point, that you bought into the media induced hysteria.........

Why would I admit I was wrong if I wasn't? The only thing I said wrong was that the MFG sector has been growing for several years, but as confirmed by the article, the sector has seen weighted growth since 2009......far longer then even I expected. So you're getting hysterical over a one month, 1.9% reduction, which is counter to trending over the last ~5 years, likewise expected growth within the sector due to the devalued Cdn dollar........as your link stated, nothing more than a "blip", or as stated, a reflection of the slowing O&G industry...... You can see all you like, that is how the Canadian economy works as historic and will work into the future......... Likewise, the cited worldwide one million barrel surplus (~1.40% supply/demand) in oil will be reduced and the price will rebound.....Slowed Canadian production has already reduced said surplus by 10% alone, likewise a 1/10th of 1% annual usage increase, totaling ~500k bbl, will be realized in North America with "summer driving season".......that in itself cuts the surplus of oil in half.......which of course doesn't take into account further slowed North American production, (eventual) slowed OPEC production and/or increased usage worldwide........ That is why, in my educated opinion, oil will rebound to ~$80-90 per bbl by this Summer......and is why people that actually understand oil futures are buying now and the per barrel price has actually increased this week........people that don't understand the oil and gas sector either cry the sky is falling and stay poor or (like the majority) enjoy the reduced expense of filling their cars and spend the savings elsewhere in the economy....... I'll make one more prediction though, by the April release of the budget, oil will be somewhere between $50-60 per bbl........

Yet here you state: Which you've been proven wrong........and no, I never stated industries related to the O&G sectors wouldn't see a reduction.........as confirmed in the linked articles: Domestic industries that heavily supply the oil and gas industries......and as stated in the article you quoted (likewise OGFT) the MFG industry has seen growth as a weighted average over the last several years, and is expected to receive further growth with the devalued Cdn dollar.....likewise growth in the real estate and tourism/entertainment sectors...... The sky is hardly falling as you suggest

Did you read the entire link? But hey, thanks for confirming my point........

Related to industries that produce products for the oil sector..........

Ahhhh no, the MFG decline is attributed to industries related to oil, hence a decline of 1.9% in November..... With real estate, a lower Canadian dollar ripens foreign investment in the larger Canadian cities that make-up the majority of the Canadian market......... A lower Canadian dollar is good for MFG and real estate..........

Its not (as said already, only those industries related to oil and gas), Canadian manufacturing overall has been growing for over two years based on US growth.......a weakened Canadian dollar is good for Canadian manufacturing, likewise all other exports.

I do all to well........a lower Canadian dollar is better for the larger Canadian manufacturing sector, which makes up a far greater percent of Canadian GDP....

A decline related to the oil and gas sector........as already noted.

Sure, and what percent of Canada's GDP does the oil and gas industry make-up again? Inversely, what effect does a lower Canadian dollar make on the manufacturing sector as a whole?

Does Real Estate and manufacturing not make up a greater percent of our GDP?

Good, a report stating declines in the oil and gas industry........that of course was never in question. Well done.

By all means explain.........

The Oil sector is big in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver? And the manufacturing sector was helped by a strong Canadian dollar?

I do quite well.......I'm not the one claiming a sector representing 8% of our economy represents all our economic eggs placed in a single basket

What report?

Riiiiiight.......So by that reasoning, Canada is putting even more eggs in the real estate and manufacturing basket, since both sectors comprise a larger percentage of our GDP...