gc1765

I don't know much about Quebec politics, but I thought the ADQ was supposed to be a (small-c) conservative party. You'd think he'd be in favour of tax cuts?

I'm not focusing on anything other than the substance of the posts. I welcomed back an old poster, in a friendly manner (someone who I enjoy debating with), and it snowballed from there. I didn't realize it would become such an issue.

Why is this a bad thing? I imagine it will increase slightly, but I doubt everyone is going to be smoking up. I doubt it will be used more often than alcohol.

Naahh, I could tell by the use of *this*, use of smilies (for a newbie who joined after smilies were gone), unwaivering support for the CPC, general writing style etc...

I don't know? But I know Ricki's posts when I see them. Why, is he denying he changed his name?

Come on Ricki, don't tell me you decide which stories are important or not based on how frequently the media reports them. P.S. Welcome back to the forum. For a while there I thought you were banned, but it's good to have you back.

Depends. The Liberals say that the documents contain the following statement from Jim Hart: ""My resignation was contingent upon this negotiation". Interestingly, Jim Hart does not deny what he said. Assuming that the Liberals are not conspiring with Jim Hart to bring down the Conservatives, it seems pretty clear that his resignation was a dependent on (i.e. induced by) the compensation, in which case they broke the law.

Even that doesn't account for the increased spending. And how do you feel about Quebec getting the lion's share?

Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Don't you think there should be an investigation? I mean, if he's innocent, don't you want his name cleared?

If provinces want to get rid of the fiscal imbalance, this is the way to do it. Stop spending money on things that are provincial jurisdiction, and let the provinces raise their own taxes. If Conservative supporters want more funding for the military (or more for provinces) I imagine they want the Conservatives to make cuts in other places. I don't know, just a guess. I'm also guessing they don't like the string of billion dollar spending announcements recently, but hey, I could be wrong. For all the complaining that conservatives do about spending, they don't seem to mind the fact that the Conservatives are spending even more than the Liberals (albeit in slightly different areas).

Huh? I said GDP went up 2.8%, spending went up 8%. 8% is higher than 2.8% therefore spending is increasing faster than GDP, therefore spending as a percentage of GDP is increasing.

I suppose I'd have to see the documents first. If this much is true: "My resignation was contingent upon this negotiation," he allegedly wrote.... ...then it is clear that he broke the law.

GDP is up 2.8% from last year: Link Spending was up 8% from 2005 to 2006 and another 6% expected for 2007, according to Andrew Coyne: Link This is from the National Post (link above): "At various points in its 477 pages, the budget declares itself to be “historic.” It is that. With this budget -- including another 6% increase in spending, on top of last year’s 8% blowout -- Jim Flaherty officially becomes the biggest spending finance minister in the history of Canada. It’s true. The $200-billion in program spending Mr. Flaherty has budgeted for this year works out to about $5,800 for every man, woman and child in Canada. Even adjusting for inflation and increases in population, that’s more than Paul Martin spent in his frantic last hours. It is more than the Mulroney government spent in its last days. It is more than the Trudeau government spent in the depths of the early 1980s recession. All of these past benchmarks of out-of-control spending must now be retired. Jim Flaherty has outdone them all."

If those documents do indeed prove that he broke the law, then yes.

Ok...let me rephrase my question: How do you feel about the fact that this "new" government is spending more, as a percentage of GDP, than the previous Liberal government?

How do you feel about the fact that this "new" government is spending more than any other government in Canadian history?

Thanks for your opinions, very informative (as you can see I dont' know much about Quebec politics)

It started out as a really bad night for Charest, but turned out to be decent

They're out to get me Good for paranoid conspiracy theorists

August, I'm curious, do you think most quebecers who voted for the ADQ voted for the ADQ or against the Liberals?

CBC calls it for the Liberals ...too bad he might not win his own seat...

It's going back and forth between Liberals and ADQ

Wow, according to CBC, the ADQ is leading. I know it's been said before, but this looks like a close one...

How much do the tories pay you to clutter this forum with whinging that any criticism of Steve is 'bashing'? Is it just me, or does this poster seem *familiar*?

Most people in Canada vote for the party/leader. A vote for the Conservatives is basically a vote for Harper, a vote for any other party is a vote against Harper.