Dave_ON

It will make precious little difference anyway. What realistically will they do/say? Gas is one of those commodities that will sell pretty much no matter what they charge for it. We're addicted to oil, and we'll pay what we need to and there's precious little any of us can do about it, including the government. What's Tony going to do? Give them a disapproving look and shake his head derisively? The only way to affect gas prices, is to make it unnecessary, given the expense of the alternatives even in comparison to outrageous prices, it's still cheaper.

Then let us hope that in Flahrety's prudent judgement he discovers it is ludicrous to further lower corporate taxes, and thus lower revenues even more. Keep things as they are, now is not the time to tinker with revenues. I have precious little faith in Flahrety's ability to balance the books without selling crown assets. Ontario is well aware of his fiscal wizardry.

When I filled up in Ontario before I left for IL 2 weeks ago, it was still 1.34 a litre. Not sure what it is now.

The main reason we have such high gas prices here is due to a built in gas tax, which is taxed again by the GST or HST if you're in pretty much any province other than the prairies. The idea, is the gas tax allow us to pay for our federal/provincial highways, rather than having to charge tolls as many States in the US do. 407 ETR, another Jimmy F brainchild, notwithstanding of course.

Oh really? That is good news, if there's one thing I completely agree with the Conservatives on is military spending and arctic interests. Now if they would just abandon the notion that they can do all this spending while simultaneously cutting taxes, we'd be in business.

Exactly, if we're going to hand out party status for a measly 4 MP's what's the difference if it's only 1 MP? (3 is the difference, so as to preempt any smart ass remarks

It was my hope that we'd focus more on our aging naval forces, but this is a good start I suppose. It seems to me however, given the vast amount of coastline in the country, we'd want to put more emphasis on that, then on air power. We need to be prepared to defend our arctic interests and F35's aren't going to be nearly as effective as some decent naval power would be.

I wasn't referring to what the CPC will do, I was more specifically referring to CPC/NDP voter support and how it will firm up, or if it was a one time electoral anomaly. Is the NDP support extremely soft, which it appears it is given some of the MPs that got elected. How firm is the CPC support, again not very, many of the Ontario wins were vote splits between the NDP and the LPC. If one of those parties is no longer a factor in the next election, I would suspect many of the close Ontario calls would go to either the LPC or the NDP. Two possibilities as I see it, the NDP will become the casualties of their own success, having grown too large too quickly, and not really being tooled for official opposition status and all the benefits and pitfalls that come with that. ie. greater media exposure, warts and all. They will then do very poorly in the next election and many votes will revert to the LPC as the only CPC alternative, provided they can actually get their act together by then. Or the NDP will rise to the occasion and be that much stronger in the next election and the LPC will still be relatively ineffectual. I'd be sincerely surprised to see the CPC gain additional support over the next four years, then again they need only maintain their current level and hope that the vote splits continue between the LPC and the CPC. It's funny, many CPC supporters are celebrating, prematurely imnho, the demise of the LPC. The reality is, if that is indeed the case, this means we're back to essentially a two party system, which will only in the long run hurt the CPC as a large block of voters vacillate between the two.

Either way I believe it's at the discretion of parliament not so much a hard and fast rule. I think it's hard to make a case when you have only 4 seats though.

This is an interesting article. The BLOC still wants to be recognized as an official party even though they managed to only get 4 seats. Two of which were by the skin of their teeth. I loved this quote from the embittered BLOC MP. Which is it? They're right or they're mistaken? I hope that Parliament does not choose to recognize them in any official capacity, there is no politically expedient reason to do so and this would all but ensure their demise. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/05/10/bloc-party-status.html

They should let them live in their house, they don't need it now that they're living in Stornaway.

Oh wow really? I hadn't heard that was the case, I haven't lived in NB since 2001, so I guess that has changed just recently. I know a lot of kids were in immersion simply because of the reasons you listed above, it's a huge advantage to be bilingual. The same holds true with government jobs in Ontario as well. When did that happen? I still can't believe they took away french immersion as an option for anglophones.

Actually, NB has had French schools and French immersion since I was in grade school over 25 years ago. Also in English school French is a mandatory course you must take up until grade 10 and is a requirement to graduate. It had nothing to do with NB playing on Quebec and European markets and everything to do with the fact that we were an officially bilingual province, the only one in fact in all of Canada. It also had a lot to do with the fact that a large portion of province speaks French. {quote] Moreless. It's not bad, but the english people of Québec are in a better situation than the french of NB. Despite their percentage is much lower. Compared to other provinces, NB is a respectable example though. I give you that. None of the Acadians I know see that in me. However I heard indeed that some Acadians feel that way. It's strange. I don't think the English people in Quebec, which is officially French are in a better way then the French in NB which is both English and French. The French in New Brunswick have street, signs and all official documentation in their mother tongue. Do the English in Quebec have this? No I've driven through Quebec many times, all signs are in French and French only. One simple question and please answer it honestly. Are all Anglophones the same? Is there no difference that separates individuals from the various English provinces. Because they are English they are all the same? No you are wrong, by your assertion that would mean the Canada, US, UK, South Africa, Australlia, New Zealand, Turks and Caicos, and any myriad of other Common Wealth Nations or former Empire colonies are all one culture because we all speak English. Culture is not defined by language, it is but one factor in the great context. Giving Quebec a veto that no other province has, gives them far more power over the rest of the country. They could veto absolutely anything the felt like, even if had absolutely nothing to do with Quebec. That is the danger of what you seek. This change doesn't affect Quebec but it also doesn't help Quebec VETO! That's not right, no one province should have that much power over the other provinces. That's not a partnership. That's my point, you can no more claim to speak for all the French people in Canada, than I can claim to speak for ToadBrother in BC, Hydraboss in AB, or Bloodyminded in NB. I can speak, for myself only, and Ontario, can speak for Ontario only, which includes Franco-Ontarians.

I agree the Liberals have some soul searching to do, and I find your assessment to be interesting. I guess I hadn't pegged the beginning of the end for the Liberals as far back as 84, but what you say does make sense, I think what was truly the catalyst for this though was the collapse of the PC in 93. Once their arch nemesis was out of the picture they no longer had to try, who was even remotely close to being in a position to replace them? This I believe let further corruption set in which exacerbated their lack of direction and purpose. Consequently as the CPC's march to the centre it is indeed my fear they will suffer the same fate and we'll end up in an endless, one party cycle. It's my belief that our system thrives on having two strong main parties, always ready to step in and replace the current party in power. It keeps both on their toes and as honest as politicians can be. I'm not convinced that the NDP will serve this purpose but perhaps they will. However this is all thread drift. I agree the LPC needs a new vision but I think they need a leader that will stick it out throughout the entire rebuild process, they shouldn't be looking for a leader that will win an election but one that will help them get their feet back on the ground. Sadly I don't know of anyone waiting in the wings capable of this that wants the job. If I had my pick I'd go for Frank McKenna, but he wouldn't touch it with a ten foot poll. Trudeau is an absolute no and I haven't the foggiest why people think he's even remotely a shell of his father. Dominic LeBlanc is their best choice I guess, but I have serious doubts about him also.

A minority that has guaranteed rights and language protections. There are many French immersion schools and all signs and documentation are in English and French. In many ways NB is the only truly Canadian province in Confederation as both languages are treated equally. Many of my Acadian friends feel that Quebecois are condecending towards Acadians, as if they are somehow traitors to French culture. Your answers lead one to believe that Quebec, speaks for all the French in Canada, this is not the case, Quebec speaks for the Quebecois who also happen to be french, nothing more. No other province in confederation would be so arrogant as to claim they speak for all the English. English is not a culture, it's the language that many of us in confederation share, but our cultures are as distinct as the landscape in each of our provinces. Not asking muche?!? A constitutional veto is asking a heck of a lot, why should Quebec hold the reins on the veto? Absolutely not, either every province has a veto or none do. You're not looking to be equal in confederation you're looking to be superior. There you go again, you cannot speak for all French Canadians, nor can you lump all of us English speaking Canadians into one group. We do not have shared values that are distinctly English, Albertans have different values than Ontarians, which are different from Maritimers. You speak only for Quebec, let's be honest and up front about that. You do not speak for the Acadians in the Maritimes, nor do you speak for the French in N Ontario. Further how can the Quebec be considered equal yet have special rights, ie. a constitutional veto? That makes them by definition not Equal to the other members, it subjects the other members to the whims of one.

It never ceases to amaze me how people cannot understand the basic principles of supply/demand and how this does indeed make everything fair. It's only when we introduce outside interference that we run into problems. Bailouts are corporate welfare, but unfortunately they're politically expedient and so we must live with them. Labor is no different than any other commodity, the general availability of it determines it's value. Not everyone has the skills/training of a doctor ergo they do not/cannot make the salary of a doctor. Even within the medical profession a GP does not make the money that a specialist does, as medically speaking a GP's skills are more "common". It's very easy to get ahead, obtain training and skills that make you distinct from the mob, but ensure they're useful and in demand, a BA in English isn't going to cut it. I don't want to hear that not everyone can afford to get training/ear a degree. There are plenty of programs to help out students and I managed to pull myself through university, working several low paying jobs. The opportunities are out there, all you need to do is avail yourself of them.

I was just kidding and really meant no offense, good call on Oktoberfest, being from NB I never really quite understood all the excitement surrounding it. It's not like it's St. Patty's day. Though many Albertans wear cowboy hats year round it seems. or at least they do while they're in the Pearson Airport in TO. I still maintain that there are distinct regional cultural differences, I haven't lived West of Ontario, but even moving from the Maritimes to Ontario it was a huge culture shock. I've traveled extensively in MB and SK, less so in AB and BC, but it's definitely a different feel. There are even distinct differences Between, NB NS and PEI, something a non-maritimer wouldn't pick up on. I guess do you feel that there isn't cultural distinctions? Are those from Ontario the same as westerners? Maybe it's just me, but I can speak from experience that Maritimers are vastly different from Central Canadians. Given the different ethnic groups that settled the various regions I'd say that's nigh on impossible. For instance, as you pointed out there are indeed a lot of German decent individuals in Ontario, but in the North there is heavy French influence, NB has a huge Irish influence as well as Scottish. There's also massive French influence in NB. NS has a similar makeup but ask anyone from Cape Breton where they're from and you won't hear NS, they'll tell you Cape Breton. MB, and the prairies have heavy Ukrainian influence. All these different cultures influenced how their present day cultures took place, all we really have in common is a language. I reject Benz assertion that language is what determines culture, it's a part of it, but it's certainly far from the be all and end all of it. The fact that Quebec is French is not what makes them distinct, it certainly has shaped them, but it is not the only factor. There is far more to culture than language, and it irks me that Fracophones in Quebec are so quick to cry that we don't understand their culture, when they are so quick to lump all anglophones into the same amorphous group.

Ok I get it, you're a CPC mouth piece, but seriously, have you ever even watched FAUX news?

No other province brought us the stampede? I travel quite a bit for my work and I can generally spot which province someone is from. Calgary is always a dead give away. No one in Toronto wears a cowboy hat unless they're attempting to be ironic... or heading to a pride event I suppose. The regions are vastly different from one another on a cultural level. Different attitudes, different priorities and different outlooks on life. Each region really is distinct, I'm from NB originally and it was quite the culture shock when I moved here. Everyone was always in a such a hurry to do everything, everyone was curt or rude, and I found the hospitality to be somewhat lacking. This of course was by Maritime standards, which is comparatively much more laid back, friendly and very accommodating.

And NB is the only province that is officially bilingual and has a relatively small English Majority. It's in the vicinity of 65/35. That's a fairly large minority. My further point is, that Acadians are by far and in large regarded as "less French" then their Quebec friends. I suppose my question to you is this. What reforms do you wish to see? Would said reforms apply solely to Quebec? Should Quebec be treated differently than the rest of the provinces in confederation and if so why?

Depends on the generation My parents grew up with imperial, so I straddle both worlds. My daughter however, who is 12 only knows height/weight in metric. How many Canadians measure the seed limit in MPH, or distance from point A to point B? In short we mostly translate so you 'mericans don't get lost. Come on BC even you can't defend a vastly inferior system of measurement like the Imperial system.

I understand what you are saying but I think the "some people can't afford it" is somewhat of a fallacy. The CPC has excellent fund raising techniques, but their supporters aren't all wealthy oil tycoons. They have many average hard working Canadians supporting them. My mother is a staunch conservative, and while she is certainly not poor, she always put money aside, even when times were tough to give to her church and make a political donation. She always said, something worth believing in is worth paying for. That always stuck with me. Now my problem of course is I've yet to find a party that I feel warrants my financial support, but if I find it, I would certainly pony up the cash. It has been since 2004 that I've made any type of political contribution, with the equal marriage debate put to rest I haven't felt particularly compelled to make a donation. The truth is there are many who can afford to give something to a cause they believe in but do not. I think that subsidizing votes is one of the main factors as to why the BLOC held the balance of power for the better part of 2 decades. Subsidies allowed separatists to drain federal funds for regional interests. The parties are able to garner their own financial support, the NDP has huge union backing, and they certainly champion the poor. The parties will adjust, and you're right their may be fewer options but at the same time, this means the options we have will carry a broader range of support, and therefore have a broader agenda. Many criticized the LPC as having no convictions, this is not true, the problem was they had too many, and they were too broad a party. After all they had to fill part of the void left by the destruction of the PCs. That coupled with the fact that lack of competition allowed corruption to seep in unchecked. This is my fear for the CPC also, they're quick to criticize the liberals out of one side of their mouth and do exactly as they did out of the other.

Do you think so? I'm fairly certain that Mr. Harper and CPC would not allow a free vote on such a contentious matter. A savvy politician and Harper certainly is one, would avoid this like the plague. Same with reopening the gay marriage debate. I'm fairly certain he has enough non-hot button easy win issues to keep him busy. I'm certain he'll come up with a number of additional do nothing electoral reforms like the "four year election law". This I will be interested to see if Mr. Harper abides by if the polls are not particularly favorable 4 years hence, or if he feels he can win another majority earlier will he call a snap election. Ahh the more things change the more they stay the same.

Now would also be a good time to point out they're the last nation standing that still uses the imperial system of measurement. If it was good enough for Jesus it's good enough for me!

I don't disagree the government sets the minimum that can be paid, they have nothing to do whatsoever of what I'm paid over and above the absolute minimum. Agreed there are labor laws but again this does not directly, or even indirectly affect my pay. The exception of course being statutory holidays, and overtime requirements. These, however are still based on my base salary which the government does not directly affect. My specific wage is not governed by anything other than there is a certain skillset that is required, and given the general availability of said skillset, in order to fill the vacancy they must offer a certain minimum level which a savvy job seeker will attempt to negotiate up, and a savvy company will attempt to keep as low as possible. You are correct though, there are various private trade unions, associations, guilds what have you that can cause artificial inflation of the value of a particular skillset. I guess I operate under the assumption that generally all people value the same things, basic needs, food, clothing, a safe and healthy place to live. These are not easy to come by on minimum wage.