Jerry J. Fortin

If we are corporate citizens lets just hope we are shareholders as well. As a matter of fact Oleg you make an excellent point, one I need to think about for a little while. You may have created a light bulb moment for me.

All true. However all allowed under the current system.

I don't know him at all, but I understand him. I don't like him at all, but I respect him. I don't agree with much of what he says or does, but I do know why he does these things. Harper is no fool. He is doing what he needs to do to attain the power and control that he desires. Sadly, it is working and many can't seem to understand the how and why that it does work. Harper is using human nature against the humans.

The Liberals need more than single digit support. They need everything that is not right of centre to win and dislodge Harper. Iggy knows that, and that is why he hasn't made a move because he has no desire to lose. Iggy has issues with a coalition, but he knows there is no other way. The thing will have to work itself out, but do not discount the idea of a coalition just yet. Iggy will either figure it out or become the second Liberal leader never to become Prime Minister.

The story is far from over. That was merely the prologue! What we are reading now is only the preface of the new novel being written as we speak by Harper and his Conservative government. We are getting a glimpse of things to come, but only just that because Harper has been very close with his poker hand. This latest move isn't as much bluff as it appears. Harper has a hole card, or he would not ante up let alone offer to call. What that card is may be a mystery to some, but I think that it is safe to say that at least Harper thinks its worth a try. Harper is going to bet on the economy. He rode out that bad stuff, and that leaves him in the drivers seat headed into the good times. Thats where this is going. The winter games, the inquiries, and a whole plethora of other variables are removed from the equation as long as Parliament does not sit. He gets to rule in the absence of opposition, the pesky media and any time frames or other diversions from implementing his grand strategy to gain a majority. The opposition is left with nowhere to go, according to Harpers plan. Harper knows that the public isn't keen on an election, but he will call the election if the opposition doesn't. He will provoke the opposition into calling the election in tiny little steps, one at a time. He will sit tight and watch to see what happens and only be seen in the news to correct the errors made by both the media and opposing politicians. He will attempt to look presidential, calm and poised. He will swat the flies as they try to swarm around him. That will be the end of the preface portion of the novel, the real story will begin when Harper thinks the last fly has been killed and his distractions are over.

Harper represents the reality of the unite the right scenario. He is no fool, but many of those that oppose him are. The obvious answer to Harper is a unite the left scenario. For all of his huff and bluff, Harper is all about the realization of political power in Canada. He has done an about face on very nearly everything he has ever stood for in the quest for power. All of the things he says the opposition is doing wrong, he had already done in their position. He should be easy pickings for an astute bunch of politicians in the opposition ranks. Yet he has eluded them for a number of months and at least one set of opposition leaders. This proves that he has some political skills, enough to let him remain where he is. To return to my point, a unite the left scenario is what represents a no lose situation for the opposition should they be wise enough to partake in the operation. The worst case scenario is that they lose the election and that Harper retains a minority position once again. That being the case Harper would come under internal fire. The best case scenario is that they win and in that case Harper would likely be fired by his own party. There is simply nothing to lose when uniting the left. Give the citizens a clear choice Harper or not. I think the answer to that question would be not. Yet the only way to do that is by running a campaign of a united left, running only against Conservatives and not each other. They should all keep those seats they already have, and contest only the Conservative seats. All the united left needs to do is put the number two candidate on the ticket against Harpers Conservative candidate in that riding and have all opposition guys in that riding get behind the guy that came in second to help them get in first and displace the Conservative. Done deal. When you add up all opposition votes they will usually out number the Conservative votes and that applies just about everywhere in the nation outside of Alberta.

The fact that these things are getting out probably does not mean good news for Harper. He doesn't need bad press right now.

CBC News It seems that the process has begun of ending the PC dynasty in Alberta.

Lets take a poll...I am not stoned and don't like him.

Why people seem surprised at patronage appointments escapes me. What else can you expect from this form of government? People always try to help out their friends, thats human nature. It is one of the reasons I would like to see major changes. Until that change does occur, all I can say is that we are getting what we want from our government because our government knows no better and nothing better is expected from them.

Quebec does not need to be appeased at all. They need to be treated with respect and invited to help the commonwealth of all Canadians to their mutual benefit.

First of all, foreign investment is a term for all forms of investment other than domestic. In real terms most of the investment in Alberta is American, but not all. China is as free to invest here as any other nation and my point was that all investment other than domestic is actually problematic for us. There was a time when we had no other choice, but times have changed. In a very real sense we no longer have the option to continue to sit back and watch others develop our land to their profit and our detriment. It s time to act, and start doing what needs to be done for our own sake. This is not to say foreign investment is bad, it is to say that it would be more beneficial for us to do it ourselves.

On the basis that the present system as it stands is costing a fortune, 200 million dollars plus per election, which we will have basically yearly because of the perennial minority governments. I would also suggest that the lack of recall legislation prevents the people from tossing bad representatives. I would argue that fixed election dates would prevent governments from manipulating the system to their advantage at public expense. I would declare that a lack of term limits to office create career bureaucrats, self serving little hogs stuck in the public trough at public expense. But before any of those things were said I would begin by suggesting to the public that this system of ours is no longer able to serve the needs of the people. This nation has changed since it was created. We now face numerous economic and political issues that demand a much greater focus on public administration than the current system allows. We don't need lawyers in charge of farming and we don't need businessmen in charge of social programs. We need to gather the best minds in the nation and have them manage the programs and services that the people desire using the greatest knowledge and most fundamental experience in order to provide the best service delivery systems we can. The nation needs clear and focused leadership dedicated to the needs of the people instead of the whims of partisan affiliation. That leadership needs to to be free from the dictates of party policies and be able to work with all representatives for the best interests of all citizens. The cabinet of the nations leader should be made up of the best qualified individuals for the jobs that need to get done. The business of the people, that is to say the business of the day should understood to be a tactical situation and the actual operation of a nation should be understood to be a strategic situation. These are two different concepts and they need to be understood by citizens and acted upon by our government. The nations leader should be understood to be serving the long term interests of the people with a method of forward planning and be responsible for the actual operation of government. The tactical or day to day form of government is the purview of the people through their elected representatives. There are hundreds of reasons to change....what reasons are there to remain in the past knowing that we could do better>

What? Actually I understood that within our system, the partisan factions elect a leader for each of themselves, and the public elects representatives. The greatest number of representatives by partisan faction then is invited to form a government by the Governor General. The elected representatives themselves do not and never have elected a leader, only a speaker for the House of Commons.

I really do favour a republic.

I would be all for that! Let the elected representatives to the House of Commons themselves elect a leader! That would be brilliant, and I would support that 100 percent. Unfortunately that is not what we have.

The provinces need to stand on their own, each and every one of them. If you are serious about debt and deficit at the federal level that is the way to go. Yes you would drive that debt and deficit down to the provinces, who would drive it down to the cities, but what choice is there? We need to figure out how to handle our own affairs, and to do that properly we need responsibility and accountability.

I wish this nation would wake up and smell the napalm. We are at war, our soldiers lives are at risk. This damned government needs to grow a pair and institute a tax to cover the expense, period. No ifs ands or buts, just get the money to protect our soldiers and fund their efforts. Its past time to worry about the damned cost! What price can we put on the lives of those that stand to defend us, they are priceless! This penny pinching , budget crap is what stands between us and a successful mission. We sent them there with the intent to do some good. So why do we hamstring them in the process? Its disgusting and we need to do something about it.

The north is a literal treasure trove of resources.

One can only hope. That would be a worthwhile investment in infrastructure.

We don't need a GG. We could use an independently elected PM though.

Alberta has room for foreign investment. We have somehow lost the desire to do for ourselves.

We need to avoid the use of such crap, because there is nothing that comes close to the harsh reality of those extremist scum.

GREAT ! Now for the big question does anybody believe that the truth had been heard on this matter?

Harper reminds me of one of our former Premiers in Alberta, King Ralph. Ralph was an absolute dork but he was a skilled politician, one able to dance through rain drops without getting wet. AT LEAST FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF HIS PARTISAN FOLLOWERS.