madmax

Business Albertans No. 1 in personal bankruptcy Number of new cases for May up 34 per cent nationwide--but 86 per cent here Alberta is leading the way nationwide for personal bankruptcies. Albertans continue to file for personal bankruptcy at an alarming rate as the recession affects their ability to pay their bills. Alberta was the only province to record an increase in total insolvencies in May. His company's own numbers show bankruptcy spikes in Fort McMurray and Peace Country, which have been hit by the oilpatch slowdown. The rate of increase in bankruptcies will go down slightly over the coming months, but will still be much higher than historical numbers, Alam said. Business bankruptcies mostly involve smaller operations such as subcontractors, he said. Banks are reluctant to foreclose on larger corporations because they won't get as much money for them. They prefer to keep them afloat until economic conditions improve, he added. Regardless, some people would suggest that the commenter earlier who is self employed will be out of work courtesy of Dr. Summeroff.... LOL If you have ever ran a small business, you would understand that in tough economic times, they like workers are last on the list and often get the shaft from larger corporations. Non payments or bankruptcy protection for the big corps... usually put the self employed or small business owner into financial hardships, loss of work, and or bankruptcy...

Dream on....

Going to Britain is leaving the country.... and he has returned. I believe that was mentioned, and Harper gave him a good John Kerry unforced Error. how can you ask for a 2nd stimulus package when you voted against the first LOL.... Perhaps I am not really impressed with these leaders to date. However, I do know the NDP did have an EI Reform Bill on the table that passed 2nd reading and was supported by the Liberals in the house and the BQ but not the CPC. The Liberals then turtled on the legislation and Ignatieff challenged the CPC mono 0 mono and Harper made him cave. Don't challenge and election when you can't back it up. Don't say your working to help the unemployed, when all you have done is stopped any progress in EI reform. I don't mind you suggesting I am full of crap... but I got nothing on Ignatieff.

Well, not being aware and forgetting are two different things, but it was apparent they were long of tooth. Gotta say, I tried to pay attention to the last campaign, and they (NDP) put me to sleep. Thats better.... LOL

I think its simple... the HST will help screw over more Condo Owners.... Not Pepsi or Coke.... where, if I wanted one or the other with my affordable meal, I'd pay no tax... but, yes HST, thanks for taking a few more pennies out of my pocket. But Condos baby... the Liberals are going big time.

Why should this Farmer be any different then the Land Developers who line up at the trough.... IF its good enough for Jane Stewarts connections to the developers, and its good enough for developers connected to the Ontario Liberals... then.. hey why not toss a farmer a bone on the way to the Lottery. IIRC other developers have appreciated some protestors on their land, hoping for a buyout... especially now with some things going down the drink. Fleming and McHale are goofs, with a just handful of idiots behaving like tails after aquiring his 15 minutes of fame. They are a non story.f

I predict you need to address the Increased Stimulus Package that Ignatief is describing, and how it is different from Jack Laytons call for more stimulus spending in the final month of Parliment? And if this was a problem, why didn't Ignatieff address it during his "Report Card". Look... he got back in the country and he needs to claim the CPC are apathetic to EI reform. He went to the stampede, some BBQs some riding meetings, nice fancy dinners, left the country, and comes back and dares to suggest the CPC are apathetic about EI reform. Funny guy. However..... He is suggesting that we spend more money..... As far as I am concerned, Harper just flushed some money down the toilet to help his GM pals, all with Ignatieffs golden report card. Where is Ignatieff going to tell the Conservatives to build the next hockey rink?

Ouch...

Well, I think he was looking for a better defence of the federal LPC rather then a limited offensive on the Provincial NDP in Sask. However, yes, teh Provincial NDP in Sask kicked butt, but were finally given the boot after many years of cleaning up the embarrassing mess left by the Conservatives. So bad was the Mess the Conservatives couldn't use their name anymore because they smelled worse then Pig Shit. However, in order to topple those Horrific Socialist Hordes and their balanced budgets and maintanence of public enterprises, the Liberal joined up and huffed and puffed and finally blew a house down... LOL. And the end run is that yes the tired NDP were replaced during a good economic period while their manufacturing sector was growing and others were diminishing. And today... following SASK Party Budgets... the NDP appear to say, its the kind of budget they would bring forth. So... Iggys back in the country... eh.

That sounds reasonable, because little else in the article does.

and to what purpose, as Unions were defanged by governments long ago....

Union shops have been the most automated and productive and every goddamn study ever made demonstrates that fact. However, Union employees get bigger piece of the pie. Every Study shows that as well. Corporations do not like to share. Any company in Canada since NAFTA has been lean and mean, union or not, and attrition has been the norm, as it always has been throughout history. However, while some form of employment decreases a new form increases. That also hasn't changed. The changes today are that these lean mean shops with competitive workforces, and technological backgrounds can easily be transplanted to overseas production. Its an unstoppable fact as long as their are open trade agreements. Regardless, other technologies that have come into play in the last 15 years, in which workforces/places have changed so much, the structure to create a union and achieve some kind of benefit, do not exist or are difficult to create. Thus many within the huge computer industry experienced boom and bust of the 90s... however, this decade has allowed for all computer driven operations and technological operations to be done from offshore, including the service industries. HR managements positions etc can all be farmed out. North American companies have their entire HR run from Central America. This isn't about a Union or non union thing... however. I'd say that unions are far behind in recruiting, or organizing the new workplace. Other then that... an non union shop suffers the same global pressures as a union shop. Automated shops particularly non union have suffered huge losses in employment in Canada. The reason... THEIR AUTOMATED... and thus EASY to relocate to areas where the workforce their is an unskilled workforce able to carve out a living on 60cents to $2 per hour. Considering all the places I see that are non union that are relocating to 3rd world countries, the only thing I can tell that is different, is the level to which they are being screwed over by their employer as they close the doors. I see some stereotypical observations... but considering the hundreds of places and the hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs.... alot more has to do with the price of offshore labour, the deregulated energy market which drove up costs, and the dependance on a low dollar, unlike the 60s where Canadas, Highly skilled workforce and strong manufacturing background lured companies to the region and the higher dollar was not an issue.

They can use their cell phones... let them eat cake. Elections must be held during Tim Hortons roll up the rim to win contests.

Shut up.....

It may be so... but I have read the thread, and I agree with WildBill about the content of the posts. There are a number of people on MLW that make personal accusations, but even then I know those people can back up many of their arguments outside of the personal attacks. However, when the sentences get down to simply slurs and personal attacks, there is no room left for discussion and the thread becomes useless. Fact is, this woman has done more to demonstrate the weakness of the US system, rather then its strengths and the same is true about the Canadian System. The more she speaks, her target audience in the US, starts listening to how the Canadian System works, and the more they want Public Medicare. Its cheaper, and is universal. That said... Argus is one for personal attacks but has laid out some of the better arguments for CDN healthcare, and that is coming from someone on the Right. The poster in question would be wise to do the same and provide stronger arguments and less pot shots.

Some people miss a good witch burning.

You get a discount on your bicycle as a 2nd vehicle?

I thought you could answer that... actually I was hoping you could answer that. .... but I will suggest when unemployment goes down and the employment numbers aren't skewed by part time jobs, then the economy is stronger. Good query.... any takers? Are jobs leading or laggin indicators?

Banks and Large Corporations including Automotive got the handouts they were looking for and with few strings attached. This was about giving the corporations what they wanted and no jobs or employment for the average joe. It is good for the companies, the corps get money to reinvest offshore and in Mexico, and the investment machines help along the way, also courtesy of our friendly corporate governments. However.. to sell this scam... Harper and company are handing out doles of cash in CPC ridings they intend to hold. This handout to the Cities gives them municipal cover for all those elaborate projects like hockey rinks, roads, and other goodies. Don't worry, the Bill for the Taxpayer is on its way. The MPs may be there for the Erasable cheque ceremonies but they aren't going to show the face when its time to pay the piper. Also, part of those bailouts were the bailouts to corporations already making a large fortune in profits by giving them large tax cuts. Clearly our government doesn't need the revenue because they steal from EI contributions.. oh wait... that moneys already spent and people need it. Well, never mind... its time to go golfing while all the lazy people collect EI. The Economies getting better.

Lets see a quarter come in with growth. It hasn't happened. We've had 3 bad quarters and quite frankly, things were pretty shitty before those 3 bad quarters. There is some priming and spinning going on to try to force out a good quarter, and send out a good message in order to achieve that. However, my straw poll conducted over the past couple hours has people looking at me in disbelief for even asking the question. Its hard to be optimistic when 20% of the retail and industrial operations have ceased to exist and aren't coming back in any form. Only a dipshit in a business suit would say its getting better but theres no jobs to be had. He's got a job... LOL, I'd like to see them walk him out the door tell him but business is getting better. When the jobs come, I can guarrantee you it will get better.

I am ready to adopt your changes to the central bank....

We have had majority and minority governments. Canada has not had periods of political instability in parliment. Infact, while there has been alot of whining and complaining, and posturing, the minority government has been stable. The fact that Harper called an early election had little to do with minority parliment as he had 100% support from the Liberal Party on all bills of confidence and after his attempt for a majority has received 100% support from the Liberal Party on all bills of confidence. Something like 79 times in a row. The goal of parliment is to get the majority in the house. The CPC have been able to do that for 3.5 years. IIRC Jean Chretian while holding a MAJORITY government called an EARLY election ......

Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney Smoke another joint

Sure, governments need money without responsibility. There is a sucker born every minute. Look at Plineys example... What a sham.

The CPC and LPC are deadlocked within the margins of error, no one has the lead. The NDP have held their traditional ground within the margin of error. There is no downward trend. However, what has happened is the LPC have rebounded from the Dion Debacle and then stall completely, putting them a hair lower then their tradition levels of support, but nothing to be concerned about in the offseason. The CPC can't get a leg up, because Harper can't get his foot out of his mouth.