madmax

We will just have to live with the fact that I agree with your comment above, but I might add there are alot of ideas from all political parties that make people cringe. The NDP doesn't have a stranglehold on ideas, but they do have good ideas then bad ideas, like any other party. And we will have to agree on this too. You are sounding like a New Democrat whether you know it or not. Not saying you would vote New Democrat, but that your comments are ones heard in general public circles. And much of the general public doesn't vote New Democrat even though the parties they vote for are either not listening or going in a completely opposite direction.

Hmm, strange thing has happened. I haven't been on MLW alot as of late so I am doing some catchup. Seems somehow I have voted on this poll? Very interesting indeed. Never seen this happen before. So, I am going to delete "my" vote and see just what it is I am voting for or against LOL. And if I made this poll it would have been a simple yes or no.

He CERTAINLY DID represent the Conservatives and did so for many terms and would have been caught with COCAINE, SPeeding and DRUNK as an MP if he hadn't lost by a few votes last election. He's your baby and I have ALWAYS said, look it up, this guy needed to wear a bib with his sports jacket. I just read this article again. I have seen hatchet jobs and this isn't one of them. You must have an exposed nerve or something to declare that article a hatchet job. The Conservative party is notorious for its hatchet jobs and attack machines. The SILENCE of the Conservatives on Jaffers activities is silent acceptance of his actions and his sweetheart deal that NO average citizen would ever receive. Unless the Conservatives go after this "Non Representative" of their party, I'd say that the Conservatives are hypocritical and full of it. TIME FOR CRIME unless you are a member of the Conservative Elite. Special treatment for those with power and access to power.

if Jaffer is the addict, whats Guergis?

The problem with the "bash Mr. Canada" thread is that Mr. Canada continues to post syruppy nonsense and comments within the forum. Sometimes a persons asks for it without contributing to the dialog. There are some on MLW that I enjoy bantering with and agreeing or disagreeing and I willl never agree to disagree. Even some biting nasty comments happen but usually they are leveled out as the discussion continues. There is no need to make a comment on the "bash Mr. Canada" thread. this schtick is getting long of tooth. I'll go back to the beginning of this thread and see if there is someway to put the thread back on track from where you began.

The Conservatives are NOT ENDING POLITICAL PARTY WELFARE!!! They are keeping the aspect that supports them the best and generates the most revenue for them. Tax Receiptable donations. People get more back in taxes donating to the Conservative party then they did in Home Renovation tax credits. Infact if you didn't have to pay taxes, you got NO credit on home renovating and creating the job to do it. Many people are just smelling the coffee now as they do their taxes and are ROYALLY RIPPED OFF. If the Conservatives had any balls they would end all tax rebates. But they don't dare. Because that would cripple them. Its the welfare of the Conservative party that is more important. It will be a good sell. But no I am not fooled by their shell game. This is a way to score political points. I doubt they have the courage to remove the 75% rebate. Easier get rid of the $1.95 then it is to walk away from $700.

There have been two schools of thought since before confederation. The Free Traders and the Closed Economy protectionists. The Free traders and globalists dominated from the 1500s till the mid 1800s in Canada. We were a resource economy then. In the mid 1800s the move to create more then a resource economy was forming. The Conservatives were the leaders of this movement. It made no Economic sense on a global scale. But by 1867 the visions of the National Policy took root. Always opposed by the Liberals in their desire for Free trade and reciprocity with the US. The National Policy worked, regardless of its inherant flaws. It does affect global economy equality. So, yes, we no longer shipped our timber, steel, furs, and fish to foreign countries for processing, but did it here. And back then the Global trade was no less important then it is today. People that think otherwise pay no heed to history or the travels of Marco Polo and the caravans of the past let alone the present. The CCF, NDP and Social Credit, the Progressives, Farmers parties etc, all supported the Origins and policies of the Conservative National policy. It worked, it created jobs and national and local economies. IT built railnetworks when the private sector couldn't or wouldn't because it made no shortterm economic sense. Same goes for Canals etc. The desire to move goods remained and remains, but it included FINISHED goods, not just resources. Corporations ALWAYS opposed this as little has changed from the past. All monies generated came from outside of Canada in most industry, while a few like the McCains, the Harris's and some others were Canadian with Canadian funds, this wasn't normally the case. IT was British and American Old money. Corporations then as now, wanted to source resources from Canada and fabricate in other countries. In the years between 1984 and 1988 Brian Mulroney had an ephiphany. Or more importantly, the people who worked on the Free Trade deal structure (developed in the 70s under trudeau and some guy name JOHN TURNER) on the business side, got Mulroneys ear and he went with them. That switch changed the nature of the Canadian Economy, just as did Sir John A MacDonalds National Policy. The LIberal ability to continue with Free Trade Expansion occured with NAFTA and now continues with the Harper Conservatives with Trade deals with Columbia, Peru, South Korea, etc. Great we can get an electric toaster for $2, and I can get a new pair of Levis Jeans every two months for under $20. But the Jeans wear out fast, and the toaster barely lasts a year. We no longer have Bauer Canadian Owned, and no longer is anything made in Canada. THings that would be unheard of since the late 50s, LEAD PAINT ON STICKS!!!! is back courtesy of Bauer China. But labour costs are lower, standards are lower, and consumers at Walmart and all other department stores have no idea how many people died trying to make a widget for $.50 less. In the meantime, short of quality shortcomings, if a product is sound, it does NOT sell for less in Canada. THat is driven by demand. As more people lose their steady employment that demand drops and perhaps those working may get a better deal. But then the supply will be cut to raise the price. That is basic manufacturing 101. Certain aspects of the NDP fiscal policy are very sound. Based on Decades of sound management in PRovincial Governments. Usually driven by pressures to provide services, remain fiscally responsible and keep jobs. Other provinces of other political stripes have also done the same. Federally, this is not a new argument. The Desire of Global trade without tariffs etc has been ongoing for over hundreds of years. Wars have been fought over tariffs as countries try to protect their local and national interests. Global trade is in the interest of corporations. It works in theory. Of course, tearing up your peach and pear trees in a region that grows them and sold them locally and internationally, because a canning plant can be operated in Turkey cheaper, means we receive a different quality of product and different origin of peaches and pears. And we lose the canning jobs and the farmers move onto to.... another crop of course. Notice the numbers getting convicted of growing pot... The GST is a mechanism to aid free trade. The tax revenue has to come from the consumer because the corporations are relocating. Giving corporate tax cuts to Banks, (which are not subject to free trade and operate under protection laws) is wrong. They are protected and they should be paying taxes on those record billions in profits. Resource based corporations Cannot MOVE. They should be paying their fair share of taxes, since they have shut down Canadian Production. They still make huge profits on the hewing and extractions. If the "National Party" was still around, or the Canada Action Party had any teeth, these parties represented a similar view on trade and taxation. Today, there is NO difference between Liberal and Conservative in regards to taxation and trade. People accept the GST. IT killed retail for about 2 to 3 years. The HST won't have the same immediate effect. It will impact hard over the longterm because of the items that are being taxed are necessities that previously weren't subject to such brutal government policy. Taxes are a fact of life. Revenues are required. Its just a matter of WHO is going to pay. It's us.

Maybe you have a point. Somehow I paid for your birth. Truly a service you didn't need. And your schooling, and you post secondary. That's called corporate taxes. It means corporations take a stake in the community and community services. Otherwise the corporations have few ties to the country. Its get in and get out. But you undermine your argument for corporate funding below. Public monies come from taxation. Private monies come from donations. Partnerships result in private sector taking huge profits at the expense of the tax payers. Such as the 407ETR, P3 Hospitals, and Private Auto Insurance which is a cash cow where people are forced to pay. No, its the end of a fairy tale!!! A myth that is supported by bean counters in the Liberal Party and some global neoliberal economists who have been running the show for the last 15 years. Lower taxes have SFA to do with job creation. 500,000 jobs were lost in Ontario and the corporate execs laugh on their blackberries while they enjoy the goodtimes while others suffer. Tax savings that we give to US corporations are TAXED in the US. Each dollar we don't tax for to support our roads and infrastructure that corporations benefit from the most, is sent down to the US to pay for their roads etc. Tax savings in Canada for corporations are spent in India and China and SOuth Korea and other asian countries to relocate our jobs their. Tax Savings for BANKS do not create jobs. While their is a school of thought that believe this nonsense and it has become mainstream, it isn't backed up by facts on the ground. Only by manipulators of stats. A corporate tax freeze that will lower the federal deficit is fiscally responsible. LOL.Do you live in a bubble? With some the lowest taxation rates, we are losing hundreds of thousands of jobs. It aint the taxes. Its because I can get a CNC operator, an Engineer, and accountant all for under $2500 a month in Asian Countries including India, where the level of skilled people is high. What creates jobs is INVESTMENT!!! No tax cuts are tied to investments. Investments in technology and equipment are done overseas. New technologies in Canada and new equipment is sent offshore. Its part of my job to source people for overseas work. You appear twice your age.. The GST and its bigger tax cousin the HST are Conservative gifts to Canadian Consumers so your corporations can pay less in taxes and erm.... "hire more people" Enjoy your tax burden. Its good for you.

The GST was proposed by the Conservative government in 1989. That was prior to any recession. The GST came into effect in 1991. One of the first Provincial governments to embrace it was the Conservative government of Grant Devine to harmonize it. The GST has nothing to do with recessions, but more to do with the idealogy that consumers and endusers should pay. Absolutely NOT!!! This is the Conservative tax that is reinforced by each successive conservative government. The Liberals also believe in this method of taxation. It's intent was NEVER to be rescinded. The only Party with a 20 year track record of being against the GST/HST is the NDP. Nothing has changed. Just like the LPC/CPC and BQ all supported the expansion of hte HST and provided the Over $7BIllION in spending to the Provinces in order to ensure its success. That is a MASSIVE COMMITTMENT TO A TAX!!! A government in HUGE DEBT is SPENDING $7Billion to SUPPORT THIS TAX!. Its tax revenue. You can put it against the debt, the deficit, to tax cuts for corporations, and to services. IF you read carefully the Economic Action plan you will see that decreasing government revenues in the forms of tax cuts for corporations is to be balanced off by increased taxes elsewhere. However, short of pie in the sky predictions, we are going to have this massive Mulroney style of deficits for at least a decade. The Conservatives have spent monies like drunken sailors on many pet projects, few of which are actually economic stimulus packages, but make for great photo opps and gets an active base to help campaign for their next election campaign. This government has not shown fiscal competence since taking power in 2006. Regardless, government is about who pays and what the monies are spent on. The intent is to get the general public to pay and have special pet projects and freebies to aid in globalization. These are the beliefs of the Liberals and Conservatives. When cuts are spoken, it is rarely to the projects of the wealthy, but often, if the Liberals are an example, to HealthCare, reductions in transfers and the military. The war in Afghanistan is VERY EXPENSIVE!!! Shall we cut that monies needed to pay down the debt? This government is in record deficit territory and because they are Conservative, no one is calling them on it. Perfect spin and teflon protection. If you did hear him say this you will have to accept the credibility of the source. 1) Trudeaus government spent like drunken sailors.2) Mulroneys Government spent like drunken sailors. 3) Harpers government spent like drunken sailors. 4) Chretians government cut services that we required but continued to spend on the money people while balancing the books on the backs of the Province and the Government services that we pay taxes for. 5) We need government services. To think not is delusional. Don't worry, there is less desire to immigrate to this country. Few are interested in joining the unemployment lines as the jobs are being transfered to their countries of origin. I am seeing a trend where many immigrants of 20 to 30 years are going back home, not to retire but to work. Including Americans who are also Immigrants!!! Come on!!! Figure it out. You want cuts to services!!! You vote Conservative!!! You are getting everything you asked for. Your taxes will continue to go up until you find yourself in elite circles. If you are going to remain middle class or upper middle class prepare to take it on the chin. It's what you support!!! What truly worries me is not your posts but pinning down your age. You were in highschool in 89? During the movement that started to cut services and raise taxes to pay down the debt!!! The move to Free trade, low skilled jobs and open markets for cheaper produced consumer good sold at the same market rates. Of course we are slipping. But you attack what is actually good for you. Its truly sad to read your posts. I have alway thought you were a 60 year old retired person. It doesn't seem to me like you have lived. No wonder you are bitter. You will not find satisfaction by constantly drooling over the Conservative party. The GST is here to stay. The HST is even worse if you are a middle lower class consumer. Conservative and Liberal Economists argue its good medicine for us. Enjoy your Buckleys.

The OLG is pushing hard and there is a movement to privatize it and the LCBO. Yes it is much like the Harris Idea.

No they are not stupid. Nor are they thick. Nor are they wrong. Like Dentists. Wow that's great. And to get me to buy into this is like pulling me wanting to pull my own teeth out.

This is great news for South Korea

Just pull your hair out and it will all be over... How's that fairy tale character that slept for 7 years? Was that Rip Van Winkle? If i just lay down and get up 7 years later, everything will be ok. Unfortuneately, we all know that we have been dealing with Pinochio and his nose is still growing.

She's really to thin. Great Promoter. And she's crazy like fox. Levant appears like a goofball or someone who wants to bring the Fox News Comedyshow mainstream. Its traditional shock tacits that are used by the best in the business like Howard Stern. Boy she makes me laugh. People enjoy being entertained. She knows her scthick. Anyone trying to have serious debate over this is suffering with fools.

And pigs can fly. Private Health Clinics are allowed. Quite frankly Private Health Clinics CANNOT sustain themselves without government monies. So, short of cosmetic clinics which have no shortage of people taking risks the standard fare of clinics all want to be part of the public system but charge private rates, extra users fees and other practices in order to make a healthy profit. If that was a viable option, the private clinics would have been sustaining themselves for the last 50 years. LOL!!! You cannot reduce the number of people in need of a service by creating a private clinic nor does it increase the number of service providers. There is only so much money. What you could succesfully do is limit the ability of those with less finances ability to receive a service, or move them to an even longer waiting list. We have private clinics and with user fees and quite frankly, these suckers pay a membership fee and feel priviledged to sit in a separate waiting room. And yes, then the little girl waiting with her mom for 2 hours gets to wait another 30 minutes as my U.S. boss runs in for a 30 minute examination after coming back from a business lunch with heartburn. Tums for the tummy anyone? No worries, the Private coverage paid for that and the public system took a back seat. Seriously. SmallC has a point. It is all the same money.

How about a 2 for 1 deal Conservative style. We send over Emery and Jaffer.

The SILENCE from the Conservatives is Deafening. No sooner then Jaffer gets off with a kiss and a handshake, the Conservatives return to their hypocritical tough on crime lies to the public. They went silent for a bit, then to counter the spin of how Jaffer got off so lightly they went on the attack, just like the political cowards they are. No doubt there is two tier justice and the Conservatives want to keep it that way. Hard Core penalties for the poor and a nod and a wink to their pals and people of higher stature. No person gets off like Jaffer. And in lessor cases, the Conservatives would bust a vocal chord in order to make their point. I have to wonder why they don't use their boy as the poster child for tough on crime. We all saw this coming. No one ever believed he would be treated equal. Just disgusting. Anyone willing to be his Wife, that other Conservative Tough on Crime MP hasn't had a little dusting too? NO way she didn't know.

I still receive between 1 to 3 Conservative Flyers per week. Have always hated the waste and the Conservatives are the party of wasteful spending. It seems that they are happy to use government monies to pay for these flyers. Seems they don't feel the same way about a tax return.

Life is good when you travel in elite circles. Two tier justice for our elites. “I’m wearing my lenses as a defence lawyer and thinking, ‘Boy, it would be great if I could get my client a deal like that,’” Mr. Comartin told The Globe about the controversial plea bargain. Mr. Comartin says, for example, that the only time he can remember a breathalyzer charge being dropped was when “I had a very clear defence the machine was not working properly.”

You'll say anything to coddle your own and stick it to others.

:angry:

What you have read are Toronto Sun Distortions of the truth. Not unusual. 1) German Siemans was inline with a proposal. 2) Bombarier was inline with a proposal. 3) Tram was inline with a proposal. 4) Moscow and many others supported the work being done in Ontario. (GOOD FOR THEM) 5) Siemans drops out without bidding because they were wasting their time and knew that based on the technical requirements would not be able to submit a competitive bid vs Bombardier. 6) Tram was a small company and wasn't expected to be able to meet the requirements. 7) The reason the COSTS DOUBLED to the city is that the Federal Government Purposely choose not to support the city of Toronto need for these subway cars. Thus the costs DOUBLED only to the City of Toronto. Shame on the Feds for punishing Toronto when they actually could have helped and likely made a breakthrough with some goodwill. But if you really want to get messed up with facts, the Toronto Sun is perfect as it always takes a story and skews it with a political stance. 8) The Tender is from Bombardier not a Union. However, I knew you would source or attempt to source the articles. I know you not to make stuff up and what you are referring to, I have also read and couldn't find those same articles. I know what you are talking about. And while I also agree that there are articles out there somewhere supporting your position, I didn't believe those articles had any proof, but I couldn't remember. In a nutshell, FYI, I was prepared to eat some crow on this and it is possible that you can source those references. But I will leave it with the facts as I know them. Moving on..... Nortel gets pension moneys that were protected bylaw. Thank the Ontario Liberals for waffling for over 1 year on their own obligations. Shame!!! But its a by election Opportunist move to offer something that was designed to protect those whos pensions were in jeapardy. If the government paid enough attention, they should be making certain that Nortel has the funds to pay that pension and quite frankly, it is likely that they do have the monies and the government would be on the hook for NOTHING!!!

I was with you until this part. This is the best decision for Toronto and for Ontario and for the people. I would be interested in seeing you prove that streetcars can be purchased for 1/2 the cost that Toronto is paying. This is more like a bitter pill for you and a stereotype. I am certain you would rather not see the work go to Hamilton SteelCar either. But hey that's another 1000 workers/welders that can get on the dole in Hamilton. Perhaps you wanted the work to be done in Georgia or SC or Texas or Kentucky. Yeah, thats better. Lets not have any spending in Sudbury. That's just stupid. Pissing money away to purchase offshore to save a nickel costs us a fortune. 1/2 price.... If you can Prove that the cost is TWICE as much. I will defer the argument to you.