Progressive Tory

Me too. Just not sure how to codle.

We need unions and good union jobs. They are already making concessions. They are not a liability to prosperity, but an asset. Good wage earners spend, they pay high income tax rates and do not impose a drain on social services. Pull out all the union jobs and watch our treasury evaporate. This really would create an economic social Darwinism. And no I'm not a Godless Socialist. Just a realist.

As military contracts go south, so does economy Chatham Navistar workers likely not only Canadians bypassed for defence work worth $25B "A little more than two years after the Harper government launched the largest re-equipment program for the military since the Second World War, the country's defence and aerospace firms say they are still waiting for many of the promised economic benefits to come their way. Those concerns are only expected to grow as more multi-billion-dollar military equipment programs wait in the wings as part of government's economic stimulus package." Canadian Auto Workers union lobbies for military contracts "The reactionary character of the CAW's "Buy Canadian" campaign is underscored by its recent appeals to the federal Conservative government to speed up military procurement and ensure that new equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces be built in Canada." Scathing Report Shows Rampant Conservative Sole-Sourcing of Military Contracts "According to CCPA’s report released today, a detailed analysis of the contract history database reveals that almost half – 41 per cent – of the federal contracts awarded through the Department of National Defence in the 2006-07 fiscal year were “non-competitive,” meaning they were doled out without going through the usual tendering process." How can they compete for contracts that are never up for competition?

I couldn't agree more. I've been to a couple of those 'after hours' clinics, and the waiting room is full of people with nothing more wrong than a sniffle. It angers the hell out of me. My usual rule with the flu, is that it's the flu. You only need a doctor if the symptoms are severe or you're running a high temp. I'm not a doctor, but I'm not an idiot either. We take healthcare for granted and it's definitely being abused. I'm one of the lucky ones I guess, when it comes to family doctors. He does take time and respects my dislike of prescription medicines. He now says 'I really think you need this', but only when I really do.

The Canadian made knives (Grumman, I think) are said the be some of the best in the world. More expensive but better quality They now get calls from soldiers complaining because they no longer stand up like they used to, and are constantly having to be replaced. The company tells them that if their name isn't on it, it's not theirs. They look exactly the same and I wonder if the NS knife company would have grounds for a lawsuit. It's their reputation being dragged in the mud. They did publish a disclaimer. Trucks and knives for our military should come from our companies.

How would they do that? Wearing a toque while standing on a twofer? Whether Obama inspired or not, it's just common sense. I hope our government listens.

Again, this has nothing to do with free trade. It is a unique economic stimulus designed to kick start the economy. If that means getting temporary tunnel vision, so be it. It's our money and our debt. Canadian jobs should be the only priority.

We are not changing our import/export contracts. We are only talking about the unique infastructure work to help get the ecomony back on track. This would mean additional spending, that our foreign trade partners had not, until very recently, anticipated. If we are expected to swallow the massive deficit projections, we should at least get a taste of the things we're going into debt for.

I agree. Let's start with the Canadian military. Mass layoffs in Canada because contracts went to Texas. Make the necessary alterations to our factory and keep Canadians employed. It's a no brainer. The military has bought knives from one Nova Scotia company for more than 50 years. To save a few bucks Peter MacKay cancelled the contract and is now buying knock offs from China. Soldiers are complaining that the handles keep falling off. This is unacceptable.

Again, as with the US stimulus package, this is a unique situation. We need immediate action and target those hardest hit. Under normal circumstances, look for bargains. Under these circumstances, look for the Canadians who are suffering.

The goverment is trying to help Canadians with stimulus. It's our tax dollars they're using. The price tag should not be the issue, if it means employment and subsequent tax dollars. This unique stimulus is supposed to be an investment in Canada and Canadians.

They seem to be talking about steel mostly. In Alberta there were layoffs recentlty because the company ran out of orders. We should get them back to work first by placing new orders. I'm sure there are other industries affected.

I don't buy that. (pardon the pun) The trickle down from buying Canadian and keeping Canadians employed helps everyone.

Anyone we know?

"OTTAWA — Two major unions are demanding that governments adopt a “Buy Canadian” policy to save jobs. The Canadian Auto Workers and the United Steel Workers say tax dollars spent on infrastructure projects should go to Canadian workers. The call comes after the federal government lobbied hard against efforts in Washington to attach a “Buy American” policy to a multibillion-dollar bailout program." Should Canada also adopt protectionism for government stimulus? Farming out jobs won't help anyone.

I agree, however, these things rarely just get rubber stamped. There were 317 pages to digest.

Exactly. I think the problem for some people is that how wide the doors are open, depends on other things besides 'safety'. Skin colour, religion, etc.

I've watched this video from the Ellen show three times this morning, and it still makes me laugh. What an adorable lady, with a great outlook on life. 88 years old and still shaking things up. Hope you enjoy it. I love Jesus But I Drink a Little

You say 'tomato', I say 'What the hell are you talking about?' He played it to a Tee. Accepts the budget to stop the drama and allow government to start to act on the crisis, but puts Harper on Probation Says that while the budget has some good points, much of it is fundamentally flawed. Doesn't matter what Harper or his supporters think. Canadians agree with the Big Ig and the minutes are ticking away for 'Man of the Hour', Harper. They'll all come around Cause the man of the hour is taking his final bow G'bye for now.

He did not mean that the budget as written wasn't working, just that it needs to be more flexible, because this economic crisis has little precedence. It is proving to be unpredictable, and the recent announcement of 129,000 jobs lost in month, means that we might have to rethink some of the initiatives. Reporters love to pick up key words or statements and then imprison them in their stories. I read the entire debate and all Opposition members were saying the same thing. If there's one thing we've learned recently, we need to be prepared for anything. The biggest criticism during the debate was that Harper and Flaherty are out making conflicting statements. They need to get their act together and their stories straight. Canadians want reassurance, not confusion.

Naturally, I don't want to bring 4 billion people here. I said "I just feel a little more comfortable knowing that there are some safeguards in place." I can be compassionate but also realistic. Many of our ancestors came here not just for the opportunities, but to flee oppressive governments, poverty or religous discrimination. I did an extensive study of my family history, and my two favourite stories are: 1. The first Irish emigrant of the family was a freedom fighter in 'Northern Ireland'. I have an old newspaper clipping dated 1833 that tells the story of him and two friends who destroyed an outhouse and fled to avoid imprisonment. I wondered why they became wanted men for knocking over a toilet, until I learned that the 'outhouse' was actually a munitions shack. One of his descendants became the first fisheries minister for New Brunswick, and one of his accomplices sat in Canada's first Parliament. He voted against confederation. By today's standards they would be considered terrrorists. 2. My 15th Great grandfather sought refuge in the 17th century, because he was a wanted man for 'stealing' firewood from a nobleman's estate. With him, was a parish priest, who was just as cold. There are at least two sides to every story. We need to be cautious, but not inhumane.

He tells us what he thinks we want to hear and then does the exact opposite. But if at least appearing to be pragmatic can result in a good photo op... he's your guy.

Somebody needs to apologize for Bush. Many people have since changed their opinion of the Iraq War; even Colin Powell, one of the people I've long admired. A heightened sense of patriotism after 9/11 and strong desire to make someone pay, corrupted reason. Now most of those duped are just pissed off.

I don't agree, at least not in Ignatieff's case. When I read his resume, I admit that I was impressed. Harvard PhD, teaching at Ivy League schools, etc. But what we have to remember, and I keep going back to, is that in order to teach at schools like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard; being smart is not enough. You have to be able to inspire. Many graduates of those schools become future leaders; not just political leaders, but leaders in industry, finance, etc. A professor cannot just put notes on the board and expect his students to memorize them. He has to challenge them, constantly. I've read some of his lectures. He starts out with a profound statement that will provoke discussion and thought, and then follows with ...but, but... and gives an alternative viewpoint. He now has a debate. When I picked up his first book, I thought what am I doing? I'm obviously over my head here. However, I was pleasantly surprised. His riding is clear, concise and provocative. I have scanned down his list of books, and for some just the titles have left me light headed, but those he wrote for the academics. However, his journals as a war correspondent, are written for everyone. He doesn't go for the shock value, though will discuss the destruction and inhumanities. Instead, he speaks to the people, and how the war affects them. It's like every stage of his life helped to pave the path he has chosen. As a teenager, when his father was a Canadian Diplomat, he met Tito and had an inside look at the Communist dictator's life. Years later, covering the war in the former Yugoslavia, he saw what happens when a regime is toppled and it's people left to fend for themselves. You pick up on his sorrow, without him having to say that it makes him sad. But then when the reader is feeling overwhelmed with grief, he adds his 'but, but'... "when you finally cross the last Serbian checkpoint and turn on the radio, and find an aria from Puccini playing, and look out your window and see the wet fields in the rain, you find yourself uncoiling like a tightly wound spring, absurdly surprised to discover that a world of innocent beauty still exists." (sob) As Prime Minister he will use all of his life's experiences to not only inspire us, but positively represent Canada to the rest of the world. We can be very proud. If the best the Conservatives can come up with is that he's 'arrogant', or in Stockwell Day's mathematical theory, that 4 + 5 = 30; I think he'll have a very good chance of doing that.

He was leader of the Opposition, very much a position in our government. However, when Chretien made his decision, Harper published letters in US newspapers and went on US talk shows, claiming to belong to the 'silent majority' who wanted to join the War. In a different time and different place, these would have been treasonable offences.