SpankyMcFarland

Please tell us more. We do have the names of a few of these people and some of them were not spring chickens. For example, this man was thirty, yes - thirty years in the agency. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kpmg-canada-revenue-agency-jeff-sadrian-1.3526618 You do realize how awful it looks at ANY age when the cats go to work for the mice?

So what are the facts about taxes? What matters is total tax take, not just income tax. Wealth and income are imperfectly connected as well. Seriously wealthy people have all sorts of interesting and no doubt COMPLETELY LEGAL ways of lobbying MPs and the CRA to reduce their contribution.

Too funny: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kpmg-canada-revenue-agency-tax-industry-receptions-1.3536946 Why can't average criminals hold events like this and invite the RCMP? It's discrimination, so it is. Where's that lawyer's number?

The news does not get better: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kpmg-canada-revenue-agency-receptions-conferences-1.3540285

It sounds like sensible legislation, a cautious start in a new area. More radical proposals might not have gained enough support from MPs to make it through Parliament. Let's see how we do with this first.

As Senfeld put it, you end up just cheering uniforms because the wearers change so often.

I am surprised this kind of thing does not happen more often. In the heat of battle it must be tempting to reach for more resources. Not the worst of crimes by any means.

In my naive book, fans are the heart of a team. Players, coaches, owners come and go but it is the fans who build the culture and mythology. Winning matters to fans while profit matters only in as much as it facilitates winning. Some NA franchise owners seem to have lost sight of this.

This sort of thing makes a joke of the tax process: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/accounting-firms-recruited-cra-justice-staff-1.3526762

Purely hypothetical scenario. You're a fifty year old high flyer at CRA interested in fattening up the pension pot. What better way to impress potential future employers at ABCD accountancy firm (and for them to justify their enormous fees to client Mr. Moneybags) than to convey some intelligence on a big case? If a judge went to work for the Bandidos, every relevant case in his career would be reviewed. The revolving door has to stop before public trust is gone completely.

It's one industry where I desire no CanCon at all. If foreigners can do it better, let them in pronto. We need more competition, not less. Some of the high price may be down to geography but a cosy local oligopoly ain't helping matters. BTW why does arch capitalist Terence Corcoran so vociferously defend the appalling status quo?

OK one more because the points are reasonable and brief. I am not going to defend North America. We have always been self-righteous hypocrites on these issues in the British tradition as South Africans found out decades ago. However, you seem to be assuming the US does not get criticized now which it does and, while the US is guilty of many crimes in the recent past, fortunately for Canada creeping annexation of neighbouring territory is no longer on that list. Furthermore, I haven't heard a US President complaining about minority voters coming out in droves for his opponent in quite a while and when did a US govt minister last talk about minority voters like Bennett does? Israel does get too much criticism. I would say there is a combination of factors at work - it's a comfortable place for journalists to visit for a start - but its status as a special ally of America is part of it. Prejudice may play a role but it's not the whole story. What South Africans found was that as soon as the US reformed on ethnic discrimination it demanded higher standards of other countries as well. Israel does have problems with its ethnic minority - Arabs tell us so. It is not unique in that regard but the country is ill-served by denying the truth.

Which their minions write.

Revenue seem to adopt a profit-oriented approach to this kind of thing which has become the other side of tax avoidance, i.e. if the target can be easily intimidated, go after him but avoid the big fish - too many legal bills. Equity doesn't enter the picture and thus respect for the system slowly dies. Offshore accounts are not illegal in themselves but are a risk factor for illegal activity of many sorts. Notice how often they are described as 'completely', 'entirely' or 'perfectly' legal. An activity above suspicion would not attract so many adjectives.

I'm not exactly a spokesman for Hamas, having already pointed out that worse things happen elsewhere. What Europeans got away with in the past in North America and elsewhere is no longer acceptable. That's tough on Israel and, yes, hypocritical but that's how it is. If Israel takes more of the West Bank without the people, we are going to notice and say something. My prediction for 2026: Israel's de facto border will have moved a long way eastward. Let's see what happens. That's my last comment on this matter here. The tenor of the debate is just too shrill - mad, really.

Far worse things DO happen in other countries, but they are not part of the Western club. Israel has an especially privileged relationship with the US and a higher level of scrutiny comes with that.

The GST was such a bad idea it was immediately abandoned by the Liberals and is now just a distant memory for all of us.

I do hope we stop with this childish misnaming of legislation that became so prominent under Harper. Call a bill what it is and leave sales to the MPs.

Mulroney got a lot done e.g. GST, FTA, a free vote on capital punishment and principled opposition to Apartheid. Unfortunately, his legacy was marred by brown envelopes and yet I'd give him a good grade overall. He left the country in better shape. The debt did rise rapidly under him despite Michael Wilson's efforts but that was a problem largely created by his predecessors. Since Mulroney came to power, there has been a broad consensus on national debt issues in Canada that I hope we maintain. Are you taking notes, JT?

Open and accountable? You have GOT to be kidding. In temperament, he was paranoid, secretive and controlling, completely opposed to the Reform agenda. Fiscal management wasn't bad but I would have to give Chretien and Martin higher marks there. They stopped the rot and put the banks on the right track.

Seattle is a civilized spot. I first visited it properly a few weeks ago, having driven through it on the way to Olympia many years previously. There's a good atmosphere, friendly and informal despite the many great companies that are from here. Even the hobos are fairly well behaved. Pike Market is something to behold and the surrounding mountains, islands, sea and lakes are extraordinary. The powers that be need to do something about the waterfront to get the traffic out of there but otherwise I have no complaints. Great beer too.

The Guardian has been an excellent source of info on the Panama Papers. Here is one column on Britain's need for reform: http://www.theguardian.com/news/commentisfree/2016/apr/06/britain-tainted-cash-panama-papers

So what would be reasonable expectations? The play-offs next year? A Stanley Cup within five?

Ever notice how doubles tennis players talk to each other so often after points? This is more about morale than strategy. If you are playing with somebody who is genuinely supporting you in every shot, it makes a big difference. Ballesteros and Olazabal were exemplary in that regard. I imagine playing with Mickelson must be a pain. You could imagine him criticizing your play afterwards. In alternate stroke, there may be particular strengths or weaknesses you'll want to factor in e.g. if your partner has a poor bunker record, you'll play safe on the greens.

So what's the verdict on the Leafs this year? I hate that new logo. And I will leave the hockey to others.