caesar

Playful; Where did you get those figures; I just read one scathing report of Trudeau that put it at 128 Billion. He brought in many social programs and dealt effectively with the FLQ crisis. Mulroney's shorter term in office; quickly tripled that figure. And for what. A lopsided Free Trade agreement that allows the USA more control of our resources. The GST that is a nightmare and an accountants get rich sheme. Not only does it put more money in government pockets; most companies pay dearly for the accounting of this ridiculous tax. Taxing at the manufacturing level; that was in place before was easier and less aggravating. Harper and his mentor Mulroney would again run theat debt up while dropping any social nets for Canadians. For what? Building any army to support the USA in its path to destruction.

We were in trouble. thanks to Mulroney. Martin has brought that debt down tremendously. Harper wanted to increase that debt again. The GST was not brought in to clear up Trudeau excesses; the Conservatives under Mulroney did a great job or putting us in debt.; they made no attempt to pay off any deficit. There was a tax previously at the manufacturing level. The gst just made items pay the gst many times before they reach the consumer and made accountants rich.

Playful;the information I am getting is that most of the money went to meat packing plants (many American owned) Yes, I do think any large business should be insured or have a contingency plan to take into consideration disasters within the industry. I feel the same way about these large factory farms. The only ones who need government compensation are those family farmers who cannot handle this type of disaster. They are small businesses that are more a lifestyle than a business and just make a liveable income. I support those businesses because I would not want to see these farms taken over by more of these "factory farms" which are not treating the animals with the respect they deserve.

the bigt; you are an ingnorant twerp. The USA had no just cause for invading Iraq which was disarming. It took the focus off the war on the real terrorists. The USA has no right to ignore Geneva convention holding prisoner in Cuba. The USA has no right to torture prisoners. Yes, at this time; I would prefer Cuba. Fortunately, the American people and courts are realizing where Bush has taken them. It is too late now to avoid the Iraq issue: but it is the American's problem not ours. They destroyed the county"s infrastructure and brought terrorists into that country. The made the mess; they can pay for cleaning up the mess. The young soldiers who risk and lost their lives have my respect and sympathy; they are doing what is ordered of them. Bush was willing to allow some of these young soldiers to take the rap for torturing the prisoners. It will prove to be coming on orders all the way back to the White house. Creating any industry in your province or mine foul mouth bigt is a company's job and the Province to attract the companies there. It is not what our federal government is for. DUH. You sound like a spoilt brat; I want my share wah wah.

BRO: Right wing Provincial Liberals; same ilk and ideas as Harper's not Federal Liberals; completely different. Harper planned on spending enormous sums on a military designed to back Bush and co in their ill advised aggressive campaigns. Harper had ideas of privatization of Health care. Harper thinks spending beyond control is ok. Mulroney gave us the GST; He brought in the Free Trade agreement tilted in favour of the USA and all sorts of hanky panky.

Oh but we are having a gun problem in the lower mainland. We are having many shootings and drive by shooting. Most guns are probably coming in illegally from the USA. Having legal guns registered would make it easier to identify and confiscate illegal guns. Since our Premier, in his wisdom, decided it was a good idea to have some bars allowed to stay open until 4 am; there seems to be a shooting every week. We don't want to wait until it IS a bigger problem. People would think twice before buying a gun for dubious reasons if they knew it must be registered. Of course, protestors increase the cost; tieing up legislation and implementation. We do not want to grow into a country were there are common cases of someone going into a place of employment and shooting up the place. Nor do we want distraught teens to be able to get their hands on guns. Nor do we want incidences of young children picking these guns up and accidently killing someone. Why the resistance to register ypour gun if you have nothing to hide.

Of course, it should have been done. I suspect the cost overruns may have been caused by those who protest the registry. Sometimes protestors can be a pain in the butt and slow down and complicate issues; costing us money. Why the problem with registering guns; we register our cars. Anyone who has a legitimate reason to own a gun has nothing to worry about. This will allow the quick seizure and signal a background check if an unregistered gun is found.

I am fairly sure that BC will be returning to the NDP next election. We may even have a lady Premier; that would be a breath of fresh air. Campbell is pretty tricky; He will be spending money now; trying to buy votes and hope people forget . Then when the NDP get in; they passed legislation that then the budget must be balancedthat year on. hmmmm The Campbell government has sold off our assets to foreign companies and yet still added greatly to our deficit. Everything went up : medical premiums/ PST/copayment for prescriptions for seniors/ fishing licenses/ driver's licenses/ cigarettes/ liquor (finally). Unions were dismantled; people laid off while doctors, nurses and management got big raises in our hospitals. Wait times for surgery increased. Private health care is here; ;pay or suffer for months while your condition deteriorates. Liberal cabinet member Hawkins did get quick speedy diagnosis and treatment (publicly funded) while regular patients must wait.

Campbell tried the tear bit and lies about how much he drank and that it had never happened before. He, cost the taxpayers lots of extra money as he suddenly needed a 3 or 4 man police escort to drive him everywhere. Hmm I wonder if he still needs them now that he has his driver's license returned. Don't forget the one ministerial aide that was suspended after the raid on the legislature whom we are still paying. Where are our answers to that disgrace.At least, the other one, we are not still paying. How about the Doug Walls fiasco. Millions of dollars wasted there on a man already under question for hanky panky in a car dealership. Cousin of Mrs. Campbell. stinks.l

Falling Leaf;Q, it will be the Americans who will protect Canada ,their sons that are lost at that time, so I would like to see a little more respect given to the USA. Anyone who thinks different is a fool. It is the American government with it unwise action in invading a disarming country (Iraq) instead of staying the course on the REAL terrorist group in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Their good friend whose scientists sold nuclear technologies and parts to rogue nations). It is the American governments torturing prisoners and holding other illegally; ignoring Geneva Conventions that have added fuel to the fire in the terrorist movement. It is the American governments consistent protection of Israel when that country ignores international law that help terrorism to grow. I am not respectful nor grateful for that governments very unwise actions. It has made all of North America a target for these terrorist groups. Favoritism for Israel instead of fair play to both sides.

Alliance; your fanatic right wing nonsense will get you nowhere. Your nasty little remarks are unwelcome. Your Conservatives only garnered around 29% of the votes; many votes that you would not have gotten had some Liberals not gotten so arrogant; much of the anti government voters; they usually don't even know or understand the issues. By the way Fanatic; I am NOT left; I am not right; I am right in the center with a left tinge. OK This right wing western Conservatives seems to have been borne from Alberta greed. Now that Alberta is a wealthy province; they don't want to share. I still remember a few years back; to solve their wish to reduce welfare rolls; they handed welfare recipients a one way bus ticket to BC. Pawning off their responsibilities on others. Your greedy, selfish Conservative party would be willing to sell your soul to the devil (G W Bush) for the almighty dollar. We more rounded citizens consider things other than money.

The Federal money provided to help those affected by BSE should have been for the family farmers. Instead it went to corporations; meat packing plants. The big boys who should be expected to be able to cover their own butts in case of a disaster in the industry walked away with all the loot. Very little went to the family farmer who generally just makes a basic living.

Maple; we have no restricition on French signs in BC. We just happen to have a very diversified province where the French language ranks way down the list of percentage that speaks French as a first language. We have governmental notices that come in a large variety of languages that is indicative of the people living here in BC. It is NOT discrimination; it is just common good sense to reach the people who do live here. English as a first language is no longer a majority here in the lower mainland.

The Liberals are the closest to center which is why they keep getting elected. They are right of the NDP but left of the Conservatives. Our BC "Liberals" are as right as Harper's Conservatives.

Excuses, this is the most corrupt scandal ridden BC Government yet. We haven't even been given the facts on the first two aides charged and the raid on the legislature. Then there is Doug Walls. Who is doing the checks on these people? They should all be fired.

You presume, too much, Bro. Actually the NDP put in the daycare; Liberals cut the funding. We keep paying for these swings from one government to the next. I support no party. I only vote for whichever one seems to be going in the best direction at the time. There are many issues; no one party has everything I like; none have everything wrong, either. The Conservatives are not in favour of daycare, either. I agree with them on one point. Not enough to vote for. However, I do believe that the Liberals are much better at controlling spending. I don't want my grandchildren to be paying our bills. Despite the money that went astray; our debt load has been decreased. The NDP has many great ideas; the problem is how much can we afford. I am for bringing in most of these programs in steps that we can afford. The Federal government should not be in the daycare field. That should be a Provincial choice; an add on of education for those who can afford the programs

Give me a break Bro. The Liberals have the lowest spending planned. Paul Martin has been a very good money manager as finance Minister. He paid off a lot of the debt that Mulroney ran up. Hopefully, daycare will get shelved. Why should taxpayers foot the bill for looking after working parent's children. Let's get Health Care back working adequately. That everyone needs and uses. We have government daycare here in BC. As soon as Campbell cut the subsidies; the place emptied out and has plenty of vacancies. Mind you, one legal secretary brought her 3 kids to work claiming she couldn't afford daycare. Legal secretaries make around $30 per hour here in BC Why am I subsidizing her daycare???? I would prefer parents are encouraged to have one paren stay home and raise their own kids; at least until kindergarden. I am tired of the nagging about the missing money. It will be accounted for. It is not like this is that unusual in government contract; the Liberals are not the only party that lines their own pockets; if it is true. The government should have little trouble passing any legislation. They may not have a majority but they do have a large minority with no other party close to their numbers. Any party that brings on a vote of non confidence better pick their decision carefully. You prevent improvement to health care or other causes supported by the public; they will ensure the Liberals a majority at the next election.

You had your say; it just didn't agree with the majority. Live with it. We are not crying in our beer here in BC. You are not looking for your piece of the pie; you want the whole pie or at least choose how to divy it out. We want to be Canadians not American wannabees. Harper wanted to suck up to the USA. I think we should look for more diversified trading partners. Putting all ones eggs in the same basket is looking for trouble. Joining with the USA while they are off course would be very bad timing and stupid. Canada still is respected internationally; the USA has down graded their own reputation by arrogantly ignoring International Laws; when it come to their own actions; torturing, degrading prisons; holding them illegally. Invading a country against the wishes of the majority of the Security Council of the UN. Harper hinted of dismantling our health care system; something most Canadians are proud of and want to fix not to destroy. Yes, it will take more than money. It will take doctors and patients taking responsibility for using the health care system responsibly. People need to stop running to the doctor with minor ailments that they can remedy themselves. You don't have to run to the doctor every time you get a cold or the flu.

Sorry Mapleleaf; I do not celebrate paying taxes. I pay them kicking and screaming and complaining. But, I do pay them. Perhaps if there were more openess and public scrutiny available for exactly how our money is being spent; we would all be more willing to pay our share. I resent patronage appointments; I would want my money being used to appoint the best man for the jobtaking his qualifications into consideration not his party loyalty. Whenever there is a change in governments; these people are replaced leaving with large severance packages and pensions. One in BC was pensioned off without serving one day in her office. Then there are the "fired" politicians ; they leave; taking with them generous severance packages and outrageous pensions. I would believe more money is wasted this way than in corruption. How much money do they spend on cost analysis of projects that never are really under cnsideration. That is one of my beefs with Martin. He said he was going to do away with patronage appointments; then started handing them out like candy; especially to old MPs loyal to Chretien; to have them go away without a fuss. I do not like either Martin or Harper hand picking candidates in any riding. I was very pleased when the displaced Conservative candidate, Chuck Cadman, won his riding as an independent with a huge lead. His replacement was brought about by a surge in ethnic members to pick their own ethnic candidates. For ten dollars ; anyone can be signed up as a party member (including a few cats and dogs) with no knowledge or understanding of the political party; to allow an ethnic person to get the right to run for that party. It is getting very prevalent here in Greater Vancouver, especially the Surrey area. Complain and you are called racist.

Why do you think that people who buy using cash are most honest. Buying with a debit card or credit card leaves a paper trail; cash sales may not be recorded. If people do not want their purchases scrutinized; they would pay cash. Cash sales are often done for the shopkeeper and/or customer to avoid paying taxes.

Western separation is dumb and is just sour grapes because they didn't get the conservatives ("Our Western Party") elected. Perhaps part of the reason the Conservatives don't get elected is because their vision is more regionalized instead of for the good of the whole country. BC usually votes one way provincially and another way provincially. The Liberals may have got more votes here in if it were not the disenchantment of the people with our "Liberal" BC government. A Liberal government that closely resembles the Harper Conservatives. Canadians did not like to say that we do not want to seek too close of ties with the USA at this time. We would like the economic benefits for many industires but we do not like the way we have been treated by the USA in trade issues since GW Bush has been in office. Many of us do not want our morals corrupted by the dubious actions of the USA government invading Iraq and its disdain for International agreements such as the Geneva Conventions. The USA wants this agreement to protect its citizens but does not feel compelled to give others the same respect. I get tired of being labelled "anti- American" when I do not have any ill feeling to the general American people; my distrust is their present government.