wellandboy

The argument agianst social conservative is weak at best. First, actually dealing with many Conservatives, the picture painted of bible thumping anti-abortionists, simply doesn't exist in any substantial way. My experience is "average" Canadians. Besides when we look around we see the politically correct, mainly from the left who demonstrate far less tolerence. I term this the tyranny of the morally indignant, whose mission is to transform good manners, politeness and grace into meaningless drivel. Sorry, it's early, it's cold, I rant...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm getting this stuff in my riding all the time. "Hidden agenda" still slides off Liberals tongues like butter. I simply say Conservatives enjoy popcorn; which we buy with our hard earned dollars. The preferred brand is "Smart Food". PS-Sorry, I don't know the availability of this cheddar flavour popcorn is available outside Ontario.

We'll see lot's of these stories up to the election. The key is not to take the bait.

I have a feeling that you aren't the only CPC supporter who opposes permanent criminal records for possession of a few joints. But alas, that's the position of your leader and he said so in British Columbia of all places. On a per capita basis, I can't imagine any part of North America with more users or more people wanting it legalized, never mind decriminalized. As far as driving under the influence goes, Australia already has in place a simple and effective saliva test for the detection of even small trace quantities of marijuana. Such a system should be in place in Canada even if we don't decriminalize or legalize it since impaired driving is hazardous to everyone, not just the impaired driver. Although I personally favour legalization, I don't think it would pass in a plebiscite. But I suspect decriminalization would. Here are some stats on how Canadians feel about the issue: http://frankdiscussion.netfirms.com/info_statistics.html <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think this is an issue that given time will change. It's pretty low on most Canadians radar.

A hypothetical question. If decriminalization were to come to a national plebiscite, do you think the majority of Canadians would vote yea or nay? I am a CPC supporter and personally think a criminal record for a few joints is too high a price to pay, but think 30 grams is too much allowance to be legalized. Also, I have serious concerns about how to deal with issues such as driving under the influence of pot. Again, my personal opinion is if you drink don't drive and the same goes for pot. It seems to me to be a huge waste of resources busting people for a couple of joints, yet having worked as a volunteer in a detox centre my experience has shown the more unpleasant aspects of subtance abuse including pot.

This is actually a decent debate in recent memory on an important issue. The institutionalization of daycare by the government is a scary prospect however. Norman bringing decriminalization of pot into this discussion is just ...well ...sad.

I happenned to be listening to CBC Radio Toronto late yesterday afternoon when I heard a remarkable interview with Canadian Mulsim writer Raheel Raza who has just released a book "Not My Jihad" (another story). Just prior to the interview the CBC radio host was blathering on about the "Holiday Season" in perfect CBC political correctness. When Ms. Raza started the interview she immediately chastised the host for his use of politically correct teminology stating that this is Christmas and that in Canada that is an appropriate greeting. She stated being politically correct is DIPLOMATIC DISHONESTY. The poor CBC Radio host to say the least was taken aback by this statement. The point is those that are easily offended and champions of political correctness steal from the majority in order placate the minority. It does need to be said that respect and dignity must be shown to all regardless of religious, racial, sexual preference or ethnicity. Political correctness will not accomplish that.

The 200 million is the cost of democracy; which we were going to get anyway if Paul Martin was to keep his promise of calling an election 30 days after Gomery. What should be considered an absolute waste of money is the Gomery Report itself, that at $80 million is exessive. An extension of the Auditor General's purview as well as keeping this a purely criminal investigation by the RCMP, OPP and Surete du Quebec would have yielded results at far less expense. Ironically, for all the Liberals protestations about this election, it actually favours them financially. With the writ bridging two years corporate donations with their 75% write-off can be made in both '05 and '06. The NDP and Conservative base is more heavily supported by individual donations. The current Liberal spin about the cost of this election is just that- spin. They have had no problem in wasting billions, ADscam, Gomery, HRDC, Gun Registry when it's in their interest. When it comes to the fundamentals of democracy, however, it's suddenly wasteful from their perspective. Ridiculous.

Belinda and Joe Volpe and John Maloney my local MP. I had a meeting with the latter on a local issue. Never received a response until I wrote him a follow-up letter. His suggestion was that I should consider hiring a lawyer. Three months wait on a routine question that if I wanted to jump through the bureaucratic hoops I could have of obtained from Transport Canada myself. Shameful.

I just had a conversation with a friend of mine who's by his admission ethnic Italian and a life long Liberal. He's so disgusted with Liberal corruption, that he is voting Conservative for the first time in 50 years. Have the pollsters got it wrong? Is there an a deeply seeded discontent in the minds of Canadians that will emerge only at the polling stations?

The interesting part of this article is the last paragragh; which compares Canada's Conservatives to those in other countries: "Contrary to the Sun’s paranoia surrounding religious conservatism in politics, law professor and expatriate James Allan pointed out earlier this month that Canada’s Tories are nowhere near as conservative in policy as conservative counterparts throughout the world. “Take today's Tories and Stephen Harper out of Canada and plunk them in New Zealand and they would be to the left of Helen Clark's Labour government,” he said, as reported by the National Post." Another feeble attempt to paint the CPC as ultra right wing religious fanatics that has failed. As the CPC are calmly unveiling policy, the Liberals poorly prepared are once again going into attack mode. If the CPC sticks to this strategy up to Christmas the Liberals will be rabid. The Liberal initiated negative campaigning will begin in earnest as Canada goes into the holidays. This is getting interesting. Very interesting.

Kenneth Starr??? I don't know what Kenneth Starr has to do with this proposition in Canada. I'm certain the liberals won't think it's such a bad idea when they're sitting in opposition.

The present system is weak and ineffective. The means of appointing investigators and the reporting structure requires further study. It will fascinating how the dismissive the Liberals are of this idea and how useless the media is in pursuing it with them. The Liberals inaction in tightening up investigations into questionable ethics and practices would suggest that if they can skate through Adscam and this election then it's business as usual. I don't thimk Canadians are prepared to accept that.

That is an important policy statement, when you consider how the Liberals investigate themselves. They will try to flaunt Gomery, but Adscam should have been a criminal investigation first and foremost. Having a properly funded, independent group to perform this function is a step in the right direction.

Harper's statement was hardly classless and actually understates the corruption in the Liberal Party, particularily in Quebec. The misdeeds were criminal and were organized, in fact highly organized. It's that simple. We'll let Canadians decide.

Took the 96 Mazda beater in last week 172000 on the clock and it passed with flying colours. A much newer Chevy 01 or or 02 with far less miles failed. The Mazda has been very well maintained and driven reasonably. Go figure.

Headline:Welland Tribune, November 17,2005: Francophones Continue Fight Over Registry Office Relocation Here's an anecdote about bilingualism in this country. In Welland Ont., population 48.000, approx. 12.1% are of French descent with a much smaller portion of unilingual francopones within the community. Last year the Ontario Government closed the Welland Land Registry Office consolidating this function in St. Catherines 20 Km. north as a cost saving measure. French services are provided . The Welland French community immediately initiated a court challenge under the French Language Services Act stating that the closure violated their rights as Welland is a designated community under the FLSA. The Ontario Divisional Court ruled against the challenge and now the case has gone to appeal. The closure of this office has inconvenienced about 115,000 people in the Southern Niagara tier, Port Colborne, Wainfleet, Welland and Fort Erie who happen to be mostly anglophones. The bigger issue is we have poorer service and no parking in two official languages in St. Catherines. The Court challenge of course doesn't take that into consideration it simply wants French sevices in Welland restored. We now have a country that has evolved into bilingual morass of stupidity, where reason or being reasonable has no place.

Eureka, That would effectively end Canada as a nation.It would change Canada, but Canada would still be here, perhaps not in a fashion that you agree with. Still can't resist the temptation to insult and belittle those who don't agree with you, can you? Present your case and drop the personal attacks. I respect your passion on Canadian issues, but the effectiveness disappears, when you piss people off.

Eureka, Under the Conservatives Provincial power will be increased. This began ironically under the Chretien government and more appropriately under Finance Minister Paul Martin when they downloaded responsilibities to the provinces. What they did specifically is increase their responsibility without the appropriate authority. The Canada Health Act is a perfect example, whereby the provinces were forced to do the same with less. As the the problem developed with ever increasing costs the Feds waved the Canada Health Act, threatening to stop funding if the particular province didn't play within the narrow definition of the Act. This stifled all attempts to find creative solutions to the ever deepening crisis. As I stated in an earlier post the present government forbids discussion to examine alternative solutions to this problem. This as an Ontarian this is an unacceptable situation. By the way the very Liberal McGinty government makes me pay a Healthcare Tax based on my income; which I don't necessarily have a problem with but has in fact slyly created a two tier system. Briefly, with regards to Social programs, I personally support them provided they offer value for money. Reading the last 10 years of the Auditor Generals Reports the blundering incompetence repeats itself and only when their feet are held to fire do they react. I do not live in a dream world as you rudely suggest. I have a small business as a tradesperson, do volunteer work, am deeply committed to my community and my country.

Dr. Pangloss? Ouch I don't have to go back too far and read your posts because the mantra is the same. Liberals- good, Conservatives- bad (evil) As for debate, I can and will debate but every argument you present is based upon castastrophe and dire consequences. The premise that Canada will suddenly implode because of a non-Liberal government is ridiculous. This fear mongering is is how the Liberal Party does business and this is how Liberals highjack real debate. Canada was presented with these so-called imminent castrophe scenerios regarding GST and Free Trade. Wasn't so bad after all because we still have both. Now it's a challenge to Trudeau's notion of Federalism and we will suddenly become semi-autonomous states. Health care isn't debated because if you open your mouth you are assailed with the fact that you want to turn Canada's system into an American style system, not possibly some of the very successful European models. Just read our Minister of Health's quotes in the last six months. When all else fails there's personal attacks. Dr. Pangloss indeed.

Eureka, The sky will not fall, Canada is not a decent country it is a great country, if I measure current Canadian mores I cannot accept a Liberal Government whose behaviour is criminal, we are a country made up of 9 provinces, the Territories and Quebec a semi-autonomous state, social programs that are ineptly conceived & administered (thank you Madame Auditor General), a strong economy based on policies implimented by the Mulroney Gov't., vowed to be removed in 1993 by Chretien, but never did because they were good policies, a country now lead by Mr. Martin the biggest tax evader in Canada's history who is supposedly the new defender of all that is Canadian, it goes on and on. Friday morning I will take some time off work to go to the Cenotaph in Welland, Ontario and pay my respects to those who died for Canada and humbly acknowledge those surviving veterans for their selflessness and sacrifice. It's on those aged faces I see one more reason this country is great. They witnessed first hand what is truly evil. No matter how much you people want to turn up the rhetoric, the greatness of this country is not in it's leaders, but in it's citizens. We can disagree on politics but Canada will be okay because of Canadians.

Shoop it may well beyond the rules of the forum but it's realy beyond the rules of decency. The moral indignation and extreme statements I hear continually from these so called Liberals makes me ill. It proves that their belief that only Liberals are able to run this country and they are right and everybody else is wrong leads to bad government and worse, scandal. These people won't apologize for their statements because in their smug way they actually believe they hold the high moral ground. The Liberal Party of Canada cannot and will not purge the ADscammers in any meaningful way for this exact reason. It's why they need to sit on the other side of Parliament for four years. The sky will not fall in with a Conservative government and Canada will still be here. The only difference is somebody other than them will be making decisions. That's unacceptable to them so the ends will always justify the means.

Eureka, Actually there is no justification for considering Conservative policy or for that matter any mainstream political party policy evil. It simply doesn't exist in this country. However, if I subscribe to your argument for a moment, let's look at a contemporary issue to see if evil applies. Canada has a crisis on aborginal reserves concerning housing, unsafe drinking water and sewage treatment. The Federal Government has known for years about the conditions and done little or nothing to correct the situation until the recent mess in Northern Ontario. By your definition the woeful neglect of this group of people is evil, whether by incompetence, stupidity or perhaps racism. A two term majority Chretien government demonstrated little concern for aboriginals while babies became sick and died. By my definition, this sad and unfortunate situation isn't evil, but horrible government. Making this forthcoming election about good and evil is just wrong. This is not Germany in 1932, but Canada in 2005. We as Canadians, regardless of our political stripes are fundamentally too decent to allow evil to rule us. Evil has no place in the political rhetoric in this country today by any definition or standard.