mowich

I firmly believe that a Conservative government will finally be place on January 24.

I think you might have a better handle on that actually as you live there. What do your friends and neighbors say? Could it be that historically Quebec and Ontario have always held the power and the pull and are simply terrified of giving it up? Or is it that anyone living in downtown Toronto or Montreal have absolutely no conception of how us Westerners think? They listen to the Eastern based media who rarely if ever shine a decent light on the West, and that is all they know, or care to. Or maybe they simply like crooks and liars.

Voting for the Conservative party best represents my ideals. Negative it may be but the liberal party does need to be taught a lesson just as the Mulroney Conservatives needed one. However are things to change if we don't stand up as people and say ENOUGH. Sad to say but true, a vote for anyone other than a Conservative candidate is a vote for the liberals. Sad to say because I also happen to like the Green Party platform and would in other circumstances give my vote to them as I think they deserve a voice government.

Where do you get these jokes they are absolutely hilarious. I like the moral of this one.

I could also say the if the CPC wanted to appear more mainstream, they could try to froce out some of their members who are further right-wing than most, especially the Fascists and the Neo-Cons. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> :angry: Name me just one Rovik, just one. Come on take your pick give me the name of a "Fascist" in the Conservative party and I will personally make it my new mission in life to hunt him/her down and find out about their fascist beliefs. What the hell is a "Neo-Con?"

Don't know what they would do. I know what I would do if I were them. First, I would introduce legislation to greatly expand the role of the Auditor General, to increase her budget and give her power to examine the books of every government department or agency, or any other organization the government gives money to. Then I would request audits of the Business Development Bank, CIDA, and those foundation trusts where Martin stashed billions of dollars. You would have no difficulty getting any of this through the House. Next, I would put in place a new system of appointments to high offices through non-partisan boards, especially judges and groups with judicial power, like parole boards and immigration panels. Again, this would easily sail through the Commons and be very popular. I would have my health minster lead a high profile team to Europe to examine health care systems there. This is to get Canadians out of their habit of thinking it's our way or the American way. Then I would move slowly to introduce some of the private sector health financing as seen in Europe. The Bloc would probably support this as Quebecers are in favour, and have a lot of private health care clinics already which the BQ has defended. I would announce new money and new equipment for the military - immediately, not five years down the road as the Liberals have done. I would announce the re-introduction of the Canada Ports Police to combat organized crime at our ports, new money for the RCMP and Border Security specifically to fight gun smuggling, sales and posession. I would then introduce stringent new laws with mandatory minimum sentences for smuggling, and illegal selling, buying, posession and use of firearms. Again, this would probably pass, since the other parties would not want to be seen as being soft on firearm violence. Depending on the mood of the country, on polls, on the party's standings, they might also want to test the waters of the notwithstanding clause by introducing legislation to smooth expelling foreign criminals from Canada. It now takes years, with all the various expensive appeals, and it would take the notwithstanding clause to allow them to just boot these criminals out. I think most Canadians would support that, and the opposition probably wouldn't want to vote down the government on the subject of defending foreign criminals rights to stay here. It's important, I think, to be seen as racking up victories early, so Canadians see the new government as working and doing things they want done. This makes it much more difficult for the Libs to decide to bring it down early. And the longer he's in power the more comfortable Canadians will be with Harper. People fear the unknown, after all. Their first budget should contain a small tax cut. They should not go overboard on this. They'll need extra money for the military, security, and other programs they want to impliment. They can cut billions from the present budget which go in pork barrel schemes through the various "regional development" agencies, but I wouldn't go overboard on budget cutting in the first budget. Canadians are afraid of a slash and burn government, and since a minority likely wouldn't last they need to reassure them. Also, don't cut anything the opposition can oppose and potray themselves as saving social services from the evil tories. I would announce a major initiative to study a new relationship between the federal govenrment and natives. The present one doesnt' work and has never worked. Think outside the box. Yes, this would eventually be very controversial, but such a study would take at least a couple of years to report, so all that will be seen is the Tories looking for answers, looking for new ways, for change. And Canadians would approve. Similar initiatives could be announced. The major task of the government should be to survive long enough for Canadians to grow comfortable with them, while being seen to be doing positive things. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (quote] YOU GO ARGUS!!!! Why aren't you running in this election our party could use you especially as you have so many good sound ideas for better government? I agree with you on all policies. I can only hope the Conservatives have someone monitoring these forums for policy ideas just like yours. Well done.

When will people wake up and realize It Is Not the business of any government to create jobs! That is done by the private sector without which we wouldn't have the money to spend on social programs. And why would anyone want to "preserve Health Care" the way it is currenlty run. Social Infrastructure? You want more governmnet intervention in your life??? Slim chance is still a chance and we Conservatives will run with it.

While we're engaged in full scale hyperbole, I'd like to ask why on earth anyone would want a Conservative lead theocracy in our once free land?!?! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Full scale hyperbole?????? Wake up! They are common theives. They belong in jail. I want a Conservative Majority in order to see morality, accountability and fiscal stability in our federal government.

Oh puhlease leave the Constitution alone. Read what you will into the mention of God and his religious affiliation, I have a copy of the Constitution and I can't find a reference to his being a Christian. As has been stated numerous times in these postings we have the freedom to choose how we worship, where and of what. No more need be done except maybe a little tolerance on all our parts.

Yes but do we want the courts making laws that govern our rights. Shouldn't it be the work of the federal government to do so? Just asking.

Well maybe they should. The right to vote comes with the challenge to be informed. Every source of information available should be used to inform our opinions and our vote. “Many (if not most) voters do not use the Internet for information and for them, "blogs" (if they know the term at all) have a vaguely unsavory allure. Not reliable.” Says who? You? Then have the balls to say so. Blah, blah, blah, the liberals will go on the attack, what they are a pack of wolves? The media has been trying to “dig up dirt” on Stephen Harper for years and the best they can do is to tell us they don’t think he has a pretty face. Let the liberals howl for all the good that it will do them. Will they tell us why they think it would be “too risky now” not on your life, they don’t know how to answer questions that get to the point. Canada does not need “saving” thank you very much. A liberal government would be the very worst choice if a united Canada were your choice. Quebec would only be the first of the provinces to say enough is enough, I’m outta here.

Stephen Harper’s stand on gay marriage to is to call for a free vote. You don’t trust individuals what are you a collective? The government given the first opportunity would be sitting right next to you now telling you what to do, when, for how long and with no reason why. And your point is? And being able to get the care you need NOW is a bad thing? You go Stephen and thank the Goddess for Mr. Manning. Sheesh following the various machinations of your mind is well boggling to mine. He opposes public funded day care, good. However he sees the need for families to have access to same and proposes to give them the money to do so. Good. Handguns are already regulated, enough said. Bullshit, a cut in the GST will directly effect someone such as myself, hardly a Fat Cat, just a struggling individual. Canada is a Welfare state; government intervention in our lives is at an all time high. Where do you think our tax dollars go? They are used to create public sector jobs dedicated to poking their way into every aspect of our lives. Yet for all that we are a welfare state we lack the funds for decent health care, education, children go hungry and still we are asked for more money. Until governments are administered in the same way as private corporations, until they are held accountable for the funds they disperse, until they set budgets with set guidelines for spending, until they are run with moral and fiscal responsibility we will remain a welfare state.

Jack Layton is a fine man as I'm sure are all NDP candidates, no matter that they are all completely deluded. The NDP party is based on Marxist doctrine and we saw just how well that worked in the Soviet Union. Under an NDP government we would be regulated to death, cared for from cradle to grave and dependent on the government for every aspect of our lives. They do not understand that it is not the business of the government to create jobs it is the business of the private sector. They would create jobs by increasing the number of people in the public service, government jobs, union jobs, paid sick leave and vacation, fat pensions and so on. They would need these people to administer all the departments they would create to regulate our lives. One of the reasons our health care system is in such bad shape is due directly to the huge amount of money spent for its administration. The few dollars left are hardly enough to fund new hospitals, better equipment and staff. Successful private corporations that create jobs, pay taxes (to fund health care) and contribute to the GNP are held accountable by their shareholders. If they don't make money for the company and thus the shareholders they are soon out of business. Governments under any party are held accountable only at election time, if even then. They are free to use our tax dollars any way they choose, hence the Quebec AD Scam scandle and the use of our money to fund the liberal campaign. An NDP government following its totally socialist policies, held unaccountable for their term would bankrupt the country. We will never see an NDP government in this country, thank the Goddess, there are far too many people who are willing and ready to stand on their own two feet and make their way in this world with the least government intervention possible. They are self-reliant individuals not afraid to take risks. Willing to try and fail and try again. They do not belong to the current culture of government dependency. They are the people who contribute the most to the creation of wealth in this country. And wealth creates jobs, real jobs not government make work projects. Jobs that allow people to pay taxes to fund the various social programs. Jobs where people are free to be all they can, excel as best they can unhindered by the constraints imposed by unions. Jobs wherein they are held accountable for their work. These are the people who still hold the reins of power in our country, and we are better off for them.

Hi Betsy; This is what I believe. Yes we have a big surplus and knowing the liberals they have once again lied to us about the true numbers. They have consistenly done so since the Chretien era. One of the reasons we have a surplus is addressed in your question about taxes. We are one of the highest taxed nations in the world both personally and corporately. And yes it is about time we got a tax break especially in light of the fact that the liberals are running their campaign on tax dollars stolen during the Quebec Ad-Scam and never paid back. Liberals tend to dodge any questions on the matter. I believe our Health care system is in such a mess is due to the enormous bureaucracy that administers it, both provincially and federally. I believe that a system of both private and public health care, administered by one department and funded as it is now by our contributions to the various provincial health care plans, would finally provide us with affordable, accessible health care. In closing please remember how many times the liberals have promised millions and never produced them. They are infamous for their broken promises. The NDP would have us in a deficit position before you could blink your eye they are all about big bureaucracies. The Conservative party is also promising millions but from what I see their plans are fiscally viable, well thought out and probably would eliminate alot of the duplication we now see in government. Just my opinions but I hope they give you food for thought. Happy New Year

After years of running with the old liberal line about Stephen Harper being the devil and yet more years of trying their best to dig up any dirt, sorry none there, I guess all they have left is his looks. Pretty pathetic when you think about it. At least it proves they have nothing else to 'harp' on. The man is decent, moral and intelligent which is much more than can be said for the liberal leader.

Progressive (adjective) of, relating to, or characterized by progress. Progress (noun) to move forward, to proceed; to develop to a higher, better or more advanced stage

Let's see now Natural Resources, Education, Health, Immigration to name a few. The exclusive right to tax for same. Many of the problems besetting the Federal government are due to their continuing hold on the powers that should rightly reside with the provincial governments. A federal government free of these concerns could dedicate itself to issues of international importance such as rebuilding our military.

Hey what ever happened to free speech, a cornerstone of this country you say you love. We don't "hate" Canada we simply see it as a defunct union due to the imperialist attitudes of the East. Canada is still a country where people of many political persuasions have the right and freedom to express their views, at least it was last time I looked.

Quote [How many seperatist movements have you guys got out there? It's no wonder the Liberals don't take Western seperation seriously. Divide and be conquered, lads. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We are already divided and conquered. Divided by the invisible line that exists in the mind of the Ontario power brokers which sits squarely on the border with Manitoba. We are conquered by the short sighted policy makers of Liberal and former Conservative governments. Quite frankly we will keep starting parties until we find one that suits the needs of all the provinces from Manitoba to British Columbia and Yukon.

Radical it may be but heartfelt just the same. Fifty-six years of promises given and promises broken, of industries and companies and headquarters being assigned to Quebec and Ontario. I have lived in the West all my life and know all too well the treatment we get from the Federal government. Which brings me to the only solution I see possible for a united Canada. The devolution of federal power. It is time that the provinces took back the portfolios that were ceded during the first world war.

Western Alienation is a fact to many of us. The idea of the separation of our provinces from the ROC brings smiles to our faces. The best thing that could happen to such a movement would be the election of a Liberal government.