madmax

And that is EXACTLY what they do, and they know full well they are doing it. There isn't even an attempt to pretend there is some sort of cooperation, because, then something would have to go forward, and it is my belief that the governments are quite content with the situation as it is. You are quite right. The people of Caledonia are being ignored. They are also being used as Pawns by all sides involved in the negotiation process.

Keystone has provided a very good and short analysis. I like the 2 point summary. While the comments are on solid ground, it doesn't mean I have to agree with them. 1) The CPC are already running a deficit. Tax cuts could further increase the deficit. I see no value in handing off double digit billion $ deficits for an unknown period. Particularly if you state that the Canadian Spending can't influence the economy to any substantial degree, unlike a US stimulus pkg. Thus, I believe the CPC should get the deficit under control. They have proven weak in the financial governance of this country, and they are heading us deeper into long term deficits. The CPC are going to be handing out money like its candy. And I agree with you, they don't have a clue how to stimulate an economy, because they never realized the economy was in trouble in the first place. 2) My view is the let the US continue to run the Right Wing deficit spending of the Bush era, including there massive stimulus plan, because they will control their borders in the Global economy. When it is time to protect industry and jobs, they can and will do it. The CPC spending will not protect any jobs, or industries, anymore then their tax cuts protect jobs and industry. You need an industrial policy before any of those measures will work. Thus tax cuts or stimulus could work, but only with a plan. Having just read some of the nonsense recently released regarding the budget, I see alot of money being set aside for smoke and mirror programs to pretend they are doing something. We are going to watch Billions of dollars get flushed down the toilet.

I found it interesting that the Conservatives are running radio adds telling the public to tell the opposition to support the Budget. If the Conservatives are telling Canadians that this is their baby, they are going to own it. I do believe he will get blamed for that resulting deficit, but I think he should be blamed for the current deficit as well. I don't think that will happen.

The $1.95 goes to political parties. If you remove this money, that there will still be opposition MPs and shadow cabinets. THere is nothing democratic about spoon feeding tax payers monies to the party that receives the most votes. Your vote counts for the party you vote for. $1.95 isn't going to change that. I have no problem killing that tax break. The $1.95 is not protecting the democratic process. It is a handout to political parties. It is skewed so that the strong parties receive more money then the weaker parties. But all parties have their bellies up to the trough. This fund was required because the LPC had a history of relying on Corporate donations and internal corrupt fundraising scams and direct theft from government coffers. ADSCAM. Knowing that there free ride was over, the LPC needed to change the system yet find another way into the taxpayers pocket. For a party with a 100 year history of governing, they should be able to raise their own funds and campaign. Political Parties must be kept the furtherest away from the public trough.

The Only party to blame for the current $14 Billion deficit is the CPC. The CPC want to run a $40 Billion deficit, that is their choice. If the LPC want to take responsibility for the Budget of the CPC, perhaps they engage in a coalition and share it Seriously, The only reason that Iggy won't state the "acceptable" size of the deficit is because it is traditional LPC tactics to be non committal on every issue and float with the wind. Make no mistake, if Harper doesn't want to run a deficit. he doesn't have to. He can take it to the electorate and say, I don't want to run a deficit. Problem is , Harper is going to run a deficit, because he was running a deficit before the last election and telling the people and media they weren't.

PSW are about the only thing happening.

Molly has it nailed.

That is also a pain in the ass. I have a friend with no record, nothing unusual, but he tried to cross the border when he was 17 and had all his docs and monies needed for his trip to California. They choose not to let him across and he has had declare that he had been turned away ever since that incident. If he declares, it's been about 30% of the time he is arbitrarily denied across. He has working visas etc, and it doesn't matter. Some people are very lucky crossing the border, never being turned back in their lifetime. Others, even the innocent, once fingered seem to have a difficult time from then on. I take it nothing has come up regarding Ayers denial of entry. No firm reason? Weatherman

If the U.S. can do what they want with him, and they want to send him back to Canada... I guess you will have to chose between the U.S. position and your personal opinion.

The insurance companies and the private health care facilities need to make a buck, but wait times have nothing to do with private and public health care. There is nothing to stop a facility from being totally private and for someone to pay directly. Most can't find long term sustainability without a government handout, which is why they want public private partnerships. Then these private enterprises bleed the public purse dry. This is part of the problem with the P3s in Ontario, and why the government is hedging away from them.

Pardons in Canada cost roughly $50. unless you go through a private agency that pretends it can accellorate the process which then could cost you $500. I rode with a friend who at the time was 30 years old, back in the late 80s. We were crossing the border which was regular activity for our employment. After numerous crossings, we had to bring him back to the Canadian side and recross. He had a mischief charge from when he was 18 years old and got to loud at a McDonalds. Those foolish actions cost him his job, 12 years later. But he should have known to get the pardon. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/pardons.shtml

You should be used to "New" Posters, trying to set an agenda without criticism. I don't see the need to be arrogant and elistist to insult you. Most of us insult you without the arrogance Seriously your points are valid, and I think it is wrong for a new poster to just jump all over people because they have reservations about Online voting. I agree.

I know in some rural areas of my riding it is a 20 minute drive to the polling booth. There are places that exist that are much closer but the government makes some strange choices some years. That said, when living rural, it is a given that many activities are going to be 5 minutes or more away, and voting is no different.

Just to clarify. I agree with this statement and I was wondering if you are for or against Public Funding of Political Parties. I would hope you would be against it. If voting isn't a government service, you have created another level of logic against the public funding of political parties. Would this be a reasonable assumption???

Ditto.

Considering the US has been tight lipped on this information, knowing full well they were sitting on this accusation of 6 years is more reflective on the weakness of the statement. The US wasn't willing to provide this information to Stockwell Day when he requested such information. Garbage in, Garbage out.

Both sides of the border have been very strict on criminal records since 2001. People with criminal records should know in this day and age to get a pardon. What I am not aware of is if this person had a pardon and was still denied access to Canada.

Let me check... ah, I found your ballot.... LPC [ ] CPC [ ] NDP [ ] GP [ ] CHP [ ] BQ [ ] AAP [ ] LPC/NPD coalition with support of the Bloc [X] Nope you didn't miss it at all

Public Monies to support Political Parties will always favour the government. I see no reason to give the Governing party more money from the coffers of the taxpayer. No one is suggesting a change to the current restrictions on who can contribute or limits on how much. Just a simple, let the money that we raise in taxes, go to the services that governments are to provide. Political parties provide NO services.

If your candidate doesn't win, your vote counts. If your candidate wins, your vote counts. Neither of those outcomes should determine the right of political parties to use Tax Payer money.

The Federal Government is missing in action. It is the only government with the power to resolve the legitimacy of the SIx Nations land claims. No amount of policing is going to change historical facts or the Constitution. The Federal Government is quite content to ignore the people of Caledonia, and Six Nations. Chuck Strahl and Dianne Finley have hidden from the people of Caledonia. The fact that an independent could grab 4,000 votes almost exclusively in Caledonia, demonstrates the failure of the Federal MP and Indian Affairs Minister.

Certainly, but I was replying to a poster who suggested that someone who has never taught, would not last 1 hour. I find it interesting that in a forum about welfare, I am hear teachers complain about their jobs.

Teaching is a cushy job and don't kid yourself that it isn't. Going into a workforce outside of teaching is a rare occurence. Leaving the workforce to go into teaching is not a rare occurence. There is good reason for that.Excellent pay, benefits, pension and job security. Few hours, many holidays, paid sickdays and benefits. I have walked into a classroom and taught for one period, as you suggested, I didn't have 30 teenages, I had 24. It was a piece of cake, and a very enjoyable experience. I did this last September. And Economics isn't the most exciting topic to cover. I would love to join my relatives who teach for a living. And while each class varies and some can get under their skin, or some students, they wouldn't trade it for anything. They enjoy the good life and know it. I am in full agreement Actually many people are going to do just that, who have never seen Welfare before, let alone EI. However, since many people 30% of the workforce never qualify for EI, they are the first to go on Welfare in a downturn of the economy. Those on Welfare in Ontario are forced to work and then have their cheques clawed back. My problem is the contracts the Government have with the Temp Agencies who receive $18.75 to $20.15 to send a Welfare recipeint to a workplace where they receive minimum wage. The Temp Agencies have no incentive to have the targeted individual on welfare get hired, and usually yank out the employee prior to the companies ability to hire. This is standard fare for many contracts, and keeps the person out of fulltime employment. Unfortuneately many agencies now control up to 70% of the labour market and it is difficult to impossible to receive employment directly. So, the Agencies that get on "the list" to provide employment to welfare recipients actually make more money then the employee and are a large benefactor of Welfare. Many University grads go on welfare during their first few years in the labour market. And that is my point with teachers.....

This particular affair belongs to the Federal Government.

The only real way one is able to participate in this discussion is to be affected by the turmoil of events. The Failure of our Federal Government.... Dianne Finley who could be the largest MIA in Caledonia signed a petition to blame the OPP for doing a bad job of handling the Caledonia land claim. She seems to overlook the fact that no Indian Affairs Minister has the courage to set foot in Caledonia, let alone meet with a delegation at Six Nations. While I understand you need to control this forum, I can assure you that these discussions are light, compared to the real events, and the real levels of Racism, and the real levels of abandonment that the People of Caledonia and Six nations feel regarding the Provincial and Federal Governments. It is easier to attack each other while the government watches from afar, then it is to get government to have action at the table. Expect no changes anytime soon. Considering the levels of attacks on other forums and websites, MLW is still the most moderate forum, where something remotely resembling a discussion can take place. The Irony being, the MP and MPPs go out of their way to avoid discussions, along with the Ministers responsible for handling the mess.