mikedavid00

That's technically not true but ideolgically yes it's true. I'm not one of those people. I feel some people are guily and I don't need a trial. He came here improperly has a refugee, lied, got married to get citizenship - GUILTY! He should be immediately detained and sent back to his home of Syria. I never accused her of cheating welfare. I just said that it's a common practice. It's also something people use to cheat welfare payments. They were in school, not working, had 2 kids, lived in an apt with only his name and his co-workers brothers name on the lease and not his own wife (another trick). I guess we'll never know if they were cheating welfare payments. However, IF I WAS A BETTING MAN.. Yes. Melanie brought up new age womens rights issue for not changing the last name. It's like, Melanie, She's wearning a scarf on her head! lol.. She belongs to a religion which is the most oppresive to women in the world. Around Toronto, you will see stickers around bustops and such 'DIVORCE $300'. Now, we can get int a cozy idealogical discussion about why there is an industry here for quick, low cost divorce. We can discuss social problems, broken homes, abuse. Or, we can get real and I can tell you the real reason why we have a this quick, low cost divorce industry here. Same sort of thing.

I never said that she did that herself. All i'm saying is that's how it's done. How am I supposed to know if she did that? I don't have access to welfare records although I wish I did becuase if poeple are living off public tax dollars, I as a tax payer have the right to know. Well I think that I've proven myself to be right about Arar since the beginning. I hope I exposed him for what he is. I don't know if his wife ever cheated the welfare system, all i'm saying is this is how it's done if you want extra $$$. It's just a common known thing. Did she do it? I guess we'll never know. If I was a betting man though..

Kyoto. Sorry.. couldn't help it.

No I didn't. That's why I didn't bother responding. I said it was a well known trick that is used in the context of another situation. It's also a reason why people stay common law when they have kids. I know 2 couples in montreal that are living common law and doing this. You need to get married to get citizenship, but you don't want your last name to match or you will be considered married when you apply for welfare. People here think that welfarer payments are really small worthless payments. No no no. When you factor in kids and living you can get thousands for doing nohting each day. Immigrants also get a bonus in Ontario to learn english from what I've heard. If you don't have a car you also get a bonus. The SriLanken terrorst who got cuaght here in Toronto wtih one son was collecting $1600 a month. Many people work full jobs and don't get that. We just give it to any foriegn national who shows up here in Canada. This is slowely bankrupting us.

I agree. We pay more tax than for food, mortgage payments, travel, and entertainment combined each month. I don't see where they are going to make cuts when of they spend 83B on Education 103B on Healthcare 164B on Social Services 42B on "Protection of persons and property" 23B on "Transportation and communication" What the hell is this?? And then of course there's the almost 6 Billion dollars on 'Culture' which is outrageous. We truly are a becoming a welfare state. We barely get any services for our taxes and we tie up all our money to welfare, and white collar welfare. The majority of our tax money in Canada goes into other peoples pockets. I guess everyone thinks money grows off trees or something.

I completely agree. I would leave too if I could. I completely agree. We're like what.. the 7th richest country in the world now? I agree. Things used to be different when I was a kid.

How about private sector IT jobs paying around $55,000. Nurses are always in demand, HR is low paying for the most part. If there is a great job shortage, the qualifications to get these jobs will be very low. It is rare to see Level 1 accouting though so that's positive. To be honest, I'm looking at workopolis now and I just don't see where the jobs are. I only got 167 jobs listed for the whole province of Alberta. This is in Contrast to 41 jobs liked in Mississauga ON. A suberb of Toronto. It almost seems to be worse than Toronto to be completely honest. I mean, basic, easy entery level poitions are demaning post secondary education and experience that really isn't needed to for the job. I'm sorry guys and even people here that I mostly agree with, I just don't buy into the Alberata shortage. yes, there are low paying jobs. yes, there are undesireable jobs that no body wants. But there just isn't a real demand for white collar, private sector jobs in AB. You have to filter out the jobs that are always in demand from a real job boom. Time and time again I've been on the website through the last couple of years and I feel to see where these jobs are.

Really? What type of full time, white collar jobs are you offering? I'm waiting.

Sorry. I do not listen to any kind of CBC polling. Especially from "Environics Research Group" I easily see through their agenda. Yes. that cite you gave says: "While this does come from Strategic Counsel so it should be taken with a rather large grain of salt," It's still not an election issue for poeple to really care about when they are about to lose their jobs and living hand to mouth.

Our gov't would like us to believe that everything is rosey and fine when it's not. The govt's first function is to instill confidence in it's people. The facts are, things are not fine. I've discussed many times Canada's Healthcare crisis, but there is another crisis that I don't discuss much which is our underemployment and job crisis. This is a more complex issue that I don't have the alll the answers to. However, I would like to spread awareness that we are steadily losing full time jobs. In 1989, you could watch TV and see massive lineups outside HRDC offices. With the advent of the Internet, these lineups have been eliminated and job seeking is more efficient these days. The visuals of a job crisis are not there. MEDIA SPIN AND HYPE StatsCan is a slanted political organization that hides the specifics of its polling and data analasyst methods. It releases info the media which it will then report. They will always put out spins that we have increased numbers of jobs and a skilled labour shortage. Here's some examples. Underemployment HYPE: "The vast majority of Canadian workers were satisfied with their jobs in 2002, but about 1 in 12 (around 1.3 million) were not, according to a new study." -stats can. TRUTH: "Seventy-six per cent of Canadian respondents said they feel stress in their daily lives frequently or sometimes. Canadians were most likely to name their jobs, 32 per cent, or their finances, 28 per cent, as the most important causes of that stress." - Decima Survey poll released today. Skilled Shortages HYPE: "Of 277 private companies polled, 62 percent responded that a shortage of skilled workers is slowing their growth. In Alberta, 31.5 percent of the companies polled said they "strongly agree" that labor shortages are slowing their growth, followed by 24.4 percent in British Columbia." - PricewaterhouseCoopers. TRUTH: "Employment is up in Alberta, but interestingly 9 out of 10 new jobs are part time." - Canadian Labor Congress report on Dec. 1. Overall employment HYPE: "In November, the Canadian economy added 22,400 jobs, which was ahead of expectations for a gain of 10,000. The job gain, coupled with the unusual surge of 50,500 jobs in October, showed the Canadian labor market remains healthy" - stats can media spin TRUTH: "Across Canada, the total number of full-time jobs declined by 18,100 between October and November. This decline was masked by a large increase in part-time employment. - Canadian Labor Congress report on Dec. 1. Solution We need to stop taxing business all together. We need a made in Canada solution. We need more small business, agressive loan programs.. we don't need franchises from the US creating this part time employment. "The unemployment numbers – Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey reports that in November 2006 the unemployment rate rose to 6.3% from 6.2% the previous month, because newcomers to the job market did not find work." And yes, we desperatly, desperately need to stop letting huge amounts of people into Canada with when there's no jobs for them to support there families, let alone ourselves.

A street pole was conducted by News talk 1010 this morning from the common people on the streets of Liberal-stronghold, Toronto this morning. People were asked if they fealt the environement was their most important issue. Everyon asked said that it wasn't their most important issue for them. They said they were more concerned with the economy and social services. It's always important to differentiate between us on the forums, and the common person struggling to live. Also, a new poll suggests that Canadians would like to vote for Senate. http://www.cfrb.com/node/455422 "A Decima Research survey, made available exclusively to Broadcast News, says 64 per cent of respondents liked the idea of being able to choose senators for future vacancies in the upper chamber. And 72 per cent supported limiting senators to eight year terms. With a spring election possible and Harper's Tories in somewhat of a slump, Senate reform appears to be a winner across the country. The poll of 1,017 Canadians is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times in 20."

I agree. Also, when you say 'dippers' do you mean south asians? All my old co-op student friends from BC would them 'dippers' or 'dips'

Not true. I'm paying more tax, not less. So the federal gov't have increased your taxes?

I agree. We need hospital corporations coming into Canada and healtch insurance companies. We need new hosptials built desperately.

I completely agree. She had to go to the news and media to discuss the plan better. She just isn't seasoned enough as a politician to this. Rae would have done an amzing job. If you ever heard him on the radio or media you'd see he's a true master. If anyone is reading this, look at Bob Rae vs. Ignatieff vs. Dion in this clip. Near the end, watch Rae at 5:00 min in. Look at the master touch a Canadian emotional cord for all Canadian voters like only Rae is able to do. Look at the master at wrok: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQOLVa3_BEk I'm so glad Bob Rae didnn't win. I think he could have swung close ridings over to him. Liberals already have the city so they need to focus on the swing ridings that I think Rae could have pulled off. Keep in mind his policy would have not been on the enviornment and Quebec. It would have been more nationistic based and a threat against undecided/soft voters. Even top political pundits were saying that Harper didn't want to run against Rae. Everyone was backing Rae, insiders at the convention didn't want him winning. I'm glad that happened.

Yeah true. I think people will see through the smoke because nothing much has changed to the common voter except now families get a $100 a month and have 1% less tax. Nobody is against that. Dion apposes both. Either way, they just don't have inner city support yet. I do feel that they can pick up seats if you look at how close some of the ridings were last election. I'll say again, the polls though are very troubling showing that Dion is in a position for a minority gov't. Of couse, I don't give credance to much to those polls.

Yes they get more cancer and gain wait when they come here like the rest of us.. I don't see the relevance behind that. bUT DO THEY LERAN TO RED AND RITE? Hey I was at the top of my English class

And more jobs. Corporations are here to benefit the people, not for a cash grab for the gov't.

I finally got my quote: "Mr. Harper also took a moment to address recent controversial remarks from British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has said immigrants have a duty to integrate into British society. Mr. Harper said that the Canadian approach has led to the country being recognized as a model for the world. “We haven't attempted historically to impose cultural norms on newcomers,” he said. “The irony is we don't have policies of enforced integration and the integration is better.” Hehehe.. the good ol' Liberal "we're a model for the world" spin. He's either retarded, or he's trying his best not to jepordize votes. I think the latter.

Quebecers are heavy swing voters true. But they will always want to vote in their 'own'. The Liberal party is in all intensive purposes a Quebec/Immigrant party. The CPC is still seen as an outside party. Although I feel CPC is more of an National party. I feel they represent all regions these days.. except maybe the east coast. I remember back when the NDP really used to almost be the east coast party.

You'd probably want to add the interior of BC and significant parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan to that power base of the Conservatives. I agree. And some of those ridings were pretty close. I was looking at BC also. To be honest, it almost seems that 20% of all Liberal seats can swing to Conservative. Some have no chance though. Some races were extrememly close within a couple of thousand. I would consider those new victories for the CPC. I dount they'll actually lose seats. The Libs will definatly lose some to CPC for sure. But I do think they may gain some Bloc and NDP to even out their loss. It will be so close to to Harper getting a majority.. i just can't say for sure.

That gap is pretty big though.. but not huge heheh..

I wouldn't say the Liberals bring anyone 'new' into the mix. I'll go on record saying that he'll definately be priminster of Canada before my lifes over. The late Liberals have been for the most part, a do nothing gov't. They do not deliver on their ideologies. They talk the talk, but never walk the walk. However, some people prefered this. I liked the fact that the Liberals did nothing these last 13 years when you compare Mulrouny and Trudeau. I do not feel that Dion will 'do nothing' though. That's what upsets me when I imagine these people getting in power. Canada votes from regions within provinces. Liberals already have the big cities so we won't discuss those. Also, Harper doesn't have a hope in hell for getting those. The outlying portions of the GTA are CPC which I feel are a make or break ridings. Belinda won Newmarket for last time around by a failry small margin. She could lose this seat if people turn sour on Dion. Places like Niagra are also swing. So you have to ask yourself if these swing ridings have a reason to move away from Harpers fairly stellar performance. The answer is they won't. Why? Becuase that's just how Canadians vote. They don't vote for idealisms or even the personality of candidate, they just vote against other parties. This is factual more or less. These ridings once voted Liberal and they aren't coming back until harper royally screws something up. They have swung to CPC. But they can also swing back to Liberal. Dion's idealisms won't do this. Neither will fresh faces, and Bob Rae CERTAINLY won't help the situation. The interesting question is this: can Harper penetrate the city vote. He is pandering to the Chinese quite a bit so I'm not sure if that will play out or not in his favor. As you can see, the gaps are just too wide in some of those seats. The immigrants shift would have to huge. Like sheep all supporting Harper. However, there are some realistic seats that can swing and are close in number. Bolded Blue Means Possible CPC defeat. Richmond Hill: Liberal Bryon Wilfert 27,906 Conservative Joe Di Paola 16,515 Scarborough Centre Liberal John Cannis 23,332 Conservative Roxanne James 11,522 Bramalea—Gore—Malton Liberal Gurbax Malhi 25,349 Conservative John Sprovieri 16,310 Brampton—Springdale Liberal Ruby Dhalla 22,294 Conservative Sam Hundal 14,492 Brampton West Liberal Colleen Beaumier 27,988 Conservative Bal Gosal 20,345 Don Valley East Liberal Yasmin Ratansi 23,441 Conservative Eugene McDermott 12,661 Don Valley West Liberal John Godfrey 28,709 Conservative John Carmichael 17,908 Eglinton—Lawrence Liberal Joe Volpe 26,044 Conservative Peter Coy 14,897 Etobicoke Centre Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj 29,509 Conservative Axel Kuhn 18,702 Etobicoke—Lakeshore Liberal Michael Ignatieff 24,337 Conservative John Capobianco 19,613 Etobicoke North Liberal Roy Cullen 22,195 Conservative Amanjit Khroad 8,049 Mississauga—Brampton South Liberal Navdeep Bains 27,409 Conservative Arnjeet Sangha 15,556 Mississauga East—Cooksville Liberal Guarnieri, Albina 23,530 Conservative DeFaria, Carl 14,326 Mississauga—Erindale Liberal Omar Alghabra 26,852 Conservative Bob Dechert 23,524 Mississauga South Liberal Paul Szabo 22,975 Conservative Green, Phil 20,827 Mississauga—Streetsville Liberal Khan, Wajid 23,913 Conservative Gill, Raminder 18,121 Newmarket—Auro Liberal Belinda Stronach 27,176 Conservative Lois Brown 22,371 Oakville Liberal Bonnie Brown 25,892 Conservative Terence Young 25,148 York Centre Liberal Ken Dryden 22,439 Conservative Michael Mostyn 12,758 York South—Weston Liberal Alan Tonks 22,871 New Democratic Party Paul Ferreira 8,525 York West Liberal Judy Sgro 17,903 Conservative Parm Gill 6,244

I agree. But it was the formation of two 'groups' two nations that created Canada. I was hoping you would ask. And this is why I disagree with Multiculturalism. It says they have the right to protect and maintain their culture which is their language. Anglo's have threatened that over the years. Supposeldy a while back only the white collar jobs were going to anglo's and the French were being treated as second class. So they faught back.. or stood up to this. They used 'language' as a way to garuntee they would get jobs by changing the status quo. From what I here, Harper was around at that time and very very very apposed to this. I agree. I'm from Ottawa and know first hand how it's like to loose job after job just because I cannot speak french. It was very upsetting. That's why I came to Toronto. Only to find that job after job also requires French. Ask Trudeau. We have a lot of nations in Canada refusing to assimilate. Canada doens't believe in assimlation. Or Trudeau didn't.. same thing. I can understand Quebec's frustration with anglo's all over Montreal. I agree Quebec has the right to protect their language. But not assimilating has caused a complete mess politically and holds back our country from moving fwd and getting things done. Immigration - ties back to Quebec Multiculturalism - ties back to Quebec Canada as a group of minoroties - ties back to Quebec. Jobs based off language in Canada - ties back to Quebec. Canadian politicians - ties back to Quebec. At this point I'd be happy if they would just seperate from Canada so we can move on and create our own policies and work gov't jobs without language being an issue. This saturday I'll be spending Christmas holidy in a Bloc riding in Montreal. I love the French people, I don't like their leaders, politics, and what they have done to Canada as a whole.

No I don't. I find joy in proving myself right, which I have a history of doing here on this forum. I wish I lived in your province. It seems that you guys enjoy a happy, normal existance over there with a functioning economy and natural growth.