Centerpiece

2) My point is that it's the Asylum/Border system that is the problem. It was not designed to account for illegal crossers and there was never an issue at legal border crossings because of the safe third country agreement. This government will not even admit that there is a serious issue on several levels.. As for the "scale", again - that is limited to the Asylum process. The scale of formal immigration is a political decision. Too much, too little or just right - The Three Bears........but it is unrelated to the Asylum process even though the Liberals would like to muddy the waters to tar their opponents.

Here's an interesting breakdown of professions within Party affiliation. Liberals by far have the most lawyers....... have a bit of fun with it...... Link: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/election-analysis-most-common-occupations-for-candidates-in-each-party-1.2602533

Not quite. He promised deficits of no more that $10B and a balanced budget by the end of his first term.

No - I don't think it is. A significant number - maybe a majority of Canadians (I don't know the real number) are politically or personally engaged enough to have an ideological choice that puts them with the Conservatives, Liberals, or NDP. That leaves the remainder - still a large number - who can be swayed to some degree. Unfortunately, more and more of that remainder seem to have the default mentality of "what can the government do for me?". That puts them at odds with the Conservative vision of smaller, more efficient government. I don't see that changing anytime soon. That's why splitting the vote on the Left is as important as ever. Another Conservative Party - one even more dedicated to smaller government is not going to help. All that said, I think there is opportunity for Scheer to steal back Blue Liberals - those Conservative voters who drifted to LIberal-land through Trudeau's promise of a balanced budget - and those fiscally responsible Liberals who should be outraged at Trudeau's deficits and debts. Add to that the Liberal ideological shift to the Left and that might shake loose disaffected Liberals. There is/should be a lot of Buyer's Remorse out there. If Scheer can make inroads in Quebec - and Ontario comes back into the fold, anything can happen. Lots of potential drama out there.

You're doing OK - but it's critical that we define the problem as an Asylum problem. Immigration - people who want and plan to come to Canada and follow the process for acceptance - is fairly well controlled with a points system that accepts those that have a fighting chance for making a contribution to Canada. There's room for argument on some of the components - like elderly family re-unification but all in all, it has worked reasonably well. It's vital that the "national dialogue" focus and remain on Asylum seekers at our borders - that's the problem that Canadians see - as it is in Europe and even the US. Liberals want the conversation to encompass immigration so they can paint any opposition as the bad guys - racists. They need that manufactured conflict to divert attention from their incompetence. We needed to get out in front of it and so far, we've failed miserably.

Definition of "crisis": 1) A time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger 2) A time when a difficult or important decision must be made If the illegal border crossings are not a crisis, what is? It's not about compassion, it's not about racism - it's not even about money. It's about competently managing our borders and reserving capacity - or increasing it - for those devastated souls who truly seek asylum and want to come to Canada. We need to do our share but the days of the Federal Government dumping refugees on Provinces after one year must end. There needs to be a coordinated, longer term program to help integrate true refugee families. And there needs to be an accelerated screening/evaluation process that leads to speedy acceptance or removal. It's called a strategy - followed by a plan - followed by operational competence. Times have changed - we need our government to change with them. Link: https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canadas-backlogged-asylum-system-is-not-sustainable-immigration-minister-says-in-leaked-letter

This should shore up their Chinese ethnic vote, especially in BC where they'll face a tougher fight than last time. Look for more ethnic pandering in the lead-up to the election - and any criticism will be met with cries of intolerance and racism.

Not really surprising to those who pay attention and can actually think for themselves. That said, it clearly demonstrates the need to adjust integration education - both before arriving in Canada, and afterwards as these culturally biased prospective Canadians find their way in a more inclusive and tolerant society. Trudeau may believe that Canada has no core identity and no mainstream - which in itself is nonsense - but whatever identity Canadians think define us are far removed from these intolerent countries.

That's all been covered endlessly through a separate topic.

"Politics of fear" is one of those shallow come-backs from the Left - and especially our rudderless Liberal Party led by Captain Clarabell. Canadians are not "afraid". There is no "fear". There are only very real - and very immediate concerns about this government's uncaring and mismanaged refugee policies. Sorry to be so negative but Trudeau and his government have been such an utter disappointment to those who care about Canada that we're running out of descriptors.

So why did he promise it? As I said - to win over NDP voters. Modest deficits with balanced budgets to woo Centrist Conservatives. Get rid of Harper's "embarrassing" emission targets to win Green voters. Promise First Nations everything to win their vote. All lies. Suckers all.

Not a plot - just frustrating bureaucracy. Here in Ontario, we have an extra level of "oversight" called the SIU. Note how the shootings in Fredericton were handled without an SIU equivalent - a lot of information in a short period of time and continued dialog between the Police/RCMP and the public. The Ontario police can't fully disclose their investigation - and in fact, they may be a bit hamstrung in doing it - until such time as the SIU completes its investigation of the police for possible charges against officers. Even that part is frustratingly puzzling. It was reported that Hussain killed himself - and nothing has been said to the contrary. That said, why is the SIU involved except in a very nominal and speedy way? Care to offer an opinion? Link to SIU News Release: https://www.siu.on.ca/en/news_template.php?nrid=4092

As I said previously- when you examine Bernier's comments in the context of Trudeau's clear, stated belief that Canada "has no core identity....no mainstream", they make perfect sense. Add to that Trudeau's Orwellian open-borders policy and what you have is a government that attaches no value to being Canadian.

Bernier's comments carry a lot more weight when juxtaposed on Trudeau's belief that Canada has "no core identity.....no mainstream". Put that together with "extreme" diversity - and what is there to build on for new Canadians? Throw in the Liberal government's Orwellian open borders policy and you have a recipe for eventual disaster. Our core identity is rooted in history - a history that more and more, is left untaught in our schools - except for "apologies" that encourage us to feel guilty of the thriving democracy that we have built. This government has taken the pride out of being Canadian - the glory of our history - as mundane as humble Canadians make it - the pride of doing most things right. I want my Canada back!

Don't dismiss the fact that this may be a somewhat planned good guy/bad guy act between Scheer and Bernier. It's a good way to raise a concern that many Canadians agree with and others who might be enlightened by the debate - in spite of the one-sided as the CBC and The Star make it. It plays well in Quebec where the Tories are trying to make inroads - and other than the whining from the usual suspects, I don't see much of a down side - including the CBC-led "leadership" issue. When the dust settles, Scheer will have stuck to his narrative of focusing on what unites us as opposed to the differences that divide us. I suspect there is a growing silent majority(?) that is very unsettled with the Liberals' Orwellian open-borders policy.

It's a shame that we can't have honest discussions about issues like this. There is no doubt that many Canadians share the same concerns that Bernier tried to express. As Europe has found out, accepting Middle East migration has different challenges than welcoming those from other parts of the world. Manchester is a great example. Coming from non-democratic religion dominated governments with an animosity, if not hatred for the West - how can one NOT understand that we have to acknowledge those challenges - including screening to help families understand what they are getting into - and to develop long-term plans to help them integrate........not just one year of Federal money and then dump them on the provinces. Too bad we're not allowed to talk about it......because people like me are.....well....we're red-neck racists.

The first demand would be to build a wall.........

In your puzzling bias, I don't think you even realize what you're saying. Your "speculation" gives a pretty good motive - and one that is contained to people he knows. I suspect that your speculation has a good chance of being accurate. Faisal Hussain marched up and down the street and randomly (possibly/probably) shot and killed people. No motive has been put forward - other than terrorism which may or may not have had a mental illness catalyst. You permit yourself to propagate your White Guy/Misogyny but are all afluster when others follow the equally possible thread of terrorism. I don't expect you to see the dichotomy - but there it is.

Don't need one. Lots of information coming out - very transparent......and keep in mind - this perpetrator was actually shot by the police but it hasn't slowed down the information. Still waiting on more about Faisal...... Link: https://nationalpost.com/news/newsalert-matthew-vincent-raymond-48-charged-in-fredericton-shooting-2?video_autoplay=true

A wise man once asked me..."How many insignificants does it take to make a significant". Similarly, how many "kerfuffles" does it take to make a KA-BOOM?

Seems pretty simple. The SIU mandate is to investigate police officers who are involved in any shootings of civilians. If Hussain took his own life with his own gun, that should be pretty easy to prove - and the case would be over for the SIU. If he didn't, that would necessitate a fuller inquiry. Simple question to ask and answer. Is it any wonder we're left scratching our heads?

The problem is that we haven't defined what poverty really means. It means not having a roof over your head,, no clothing or no food. No Canadian who seeks to avoid these things should ever have to endure them. Instead of working from the bottom up - looking after the most vulnerable in our country - we have allowed "welfare" to morph into a form of income normalization - at the expense of those same "most vulnerable". Not having a full cable package is not poverty. Not having a car is not poverty. Not having a second phone is not poverty. Having to work a second job is not poverty. Is it any wonder the term "poverty industry" is gaining acceptance?

It wasn't just the tweet. That was the final straw. Gerald Butts/Trudeau's sanctimonious, virtuous ramblings have been embarrassing Canada on the world stage for some time. That's why Canada's allies have not stepped up with any support. We made our own bed - and now we have to sleep in it. It doesn't help that our shallow Prime Minister is unable to develop any personal relationships with Western leaders. So no - Canada is alone on this one - thanks to a completely incompetent, moralistic, naive, arrogant federal government. Politically biased? Not so much. Disgusted with how this government represents Canada? Absolutely! Ashamed and embarrassed of our "leader". That too. If Marc Garneau had been chosen leader, he would not have had Gerald Butts pulling the strings - and we would see a completely different approach to governing.

Could be that the worst part of what the Trudeau gang has brought upon Canada is the eventual departure of 18,000 Saudi university students - they will be transferred to the US, Australia and others. Not only does it take significant funding from universities - but it wastes an opportunity to indoctrinate Saudi youth to Canadian democracy - and take that back home. That should be all part of the longer term plan to help the Kingdom turn the ship around.

I'll eventually get to the Trudeau government with a point - but some background first. Saudi Arabia is a very complex case - but over the past year, with the new Crown Prince - Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) at the helm - the Kingdom has been making clear signs and policies that this new leader is indeed trying to move Saudi Arabia to a more moderate Islam. Complex - because changing history and culture in a Wahibi dominated country is like trying to turn around the Queen Mary. And remember - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Iran is a Saudi enemy. Iran's radical theocracy is a sponsor of terrorism - hence Saudi's involvement in Lebanon (Hezbollah) and Yemen. Diplomacy is tricky because one has to put water in their wine to accept the small steps (big ones for the Kingdom) that are being made by MBS. One could fill up our board with past criticisms of Saudi Arabia - but we should be cautiously hopeful that MBS will continue with reforms - slow though they may be. Power and Politics had a couple of interesting commentators who indicated that the $15 billion Lav deal was not really that important to the Kingdom. It was meant to be the start of a trading relationship that the Saudis were willing to build with Canada. Because of some negative press on the Lavs, the Liberals dropped much of the building of that relationship and put the Saudis on the back burner. The Saudis felt betrayed and Freeland's tweet was the last straw. The Trudeau government has ruined just about every relationship they have been asked to manage - most of the TPP partners but especially Japan, India of course, Belgium, China - and now Saudi Arabia. They have little or no Foreign Affairs strategies and quite frankly, our allies have shown little interest in dialogueing with our shallow Prime Minister. That's probably why allies have not shown any support for Canada's virtuous ramblings. The relationship looks unsalvageable - but a silver lining might be that it's a good opportunity to re-engage on the Canada East Pipeline Link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-arabia-a-year-of-change-with-a-new-crown-prince/