fellowtraveller

I don't think Alberta has ever fought any changes to equalization, a reality that is routinely ignored by the press and most citizens. Doesn't fit their preconceptions, I guess.

I'd love to see a Quebec take on Alberta independence. My guess would be it would be a call to arms, an affirmation of brothers being strange bedfellows. In other words, a complete and utter miscalculation and misunderstanding of anything outside the island of Montreal. As usual. The license plates you are least likely to see in the West in the summer are from Quebec. How sad.

Mosque finished with 1.2 million for the last episode which is very good for any Canadian programming. Better than most American programming as well. Hockey Night costs a hell of lot for CBC to buy each year. CBC brings in $200 million in advertising but it has to pay quite a lot of that for the rights. The CBC would do better to let hockey go and do other things with their money. You keep talking about "their money". I think of it as "my money" that they are pissing away.

Don't think so. There is a limit to how much can practically be produced, but we aren't close to that amount yet. Countries like Canada , Australia, USA, France an others grow crops based on market forces or political agendas. They could all produce far more food and/or biofuel feedstck if they so chose. Whatever happened to that Ottawa company that produced biofuels from straw, a food byproduct that has no other commercial purpose?

It will be on the Clean Air Act. Very difficult for the BQ to support the amendments to the bill in committee but vote against the amended bill in Parliament. The conservatives can call an election for as late as June 25th. Avoids a summer election. A five week campaign means that Harper has till mid May to got to Michaelle Jean. There is another issue that is tailormade for the CPC forcing an election: Senate reform, real and comprehensive Senate reform. Here is why: Actual reform will mandate that some provinces: Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes must lose Senate seats in any new configuration - proprep, first past the post, some elected and some appointed, abolishment of the whole thing- doesn't matter how, several provinces will lose power, and a few will gaiin. Duceppe can never accept a dimunition of the lopsided advantage they now enjoy, and Dion will be loath to support anything that weakens his current stranglehold both in the Senate and the power of Ontario in the Senate. Layton can't support anything other than abolition, a longterm NDP platform. But Candians overall either don't care, or want major change. Either way, Harper could get himself fired with little political risk.

I'm not sure why Harper is bothering, unless he wants to get a few more boots into Duceppes ribs before an election. The BQ has taken a truly fearsome hammering in the last 18 months.

You are correct that the best time for Harper to go is now but for the wrong reasons. The only result that would be troublesome for the Tories is a PQ majority, and even that could be spun to Harpers favour. He is the only federal leader (other than Duceppe) who could and would come out with an unequivocal, forceful federalist hardline stance. That is a no-nonsense approach that would be noted in English Canada favourably, and also accepted in much of Quebec. The results in Quebec provincial politics are less important than the situation in the House of Commons right now. Harper is the only one with traction and momentum. He should act now and call an election soon, no matter what happens in Quebec. It will not break his heart or his program to see a minority govt there of any stripe. While your posts are generally interesting, this one is complete nonsense.

The loss of HNIC means we'll have to cough up a couple hundred million more to replace the revenue. It is a small price to pay, really, for such stellar programming as ... well..... somebody must have an example. I thought Little Mosque on the Prairie went into horrific viewer decline after the totally lame first few episodes?

I ascribe to the deep symbolism implict in the mantra of both Vegans and Popeye the Sailor Man: I Yam what I Yam.

This situation kind of reminds me of the Alberta election in the mid-90s where Klein had implemented some deep cuts to the civil service which were received quite well , except of course by the civil servants. The Liberal MLAs had come close in the previous election to ending the Eternal Right to Govern enjoyed by the Tories. The Liberals were reduced to campaigning on " Enjoyed those cuts, did you Joe Taxpayer? WEll vote for us and we'll cut even more!" Now, the Libs and NDP are reduced to shouting "You guys have spent all the money, if we were in power we'd spend even more! (and hoping nobody would notice that would mean the return of operating deficits).

CBC deserved to lose the rights to the Brier/Worlds after totally butchering the contract in the last few years. I think Hockey Night In Canada is up for tender soon, and TSN is going to take a major run at this flagship program. CBC won't be cracking the Top 100 if they lose HNIC. What a tragedy, whereever will they spend their billion dollar subsidy next?

I have to confess some grim satisfaction at watching the Harper Haters getting out-Liberaled.

Kelowna Accord would be a poor choice, guys like Layton would richochet off into some la-la land tangent about the martyrdom of the Noble First Nations that might gain some traction, and deflect the newsbite machine away from Dion. Kyoto would be a better choice for Harper, but I don't think even Dion is so dumb/naive as to not recognize how horribly vulnerable he is on this subject. I still think it will be something scary to some provinces, but visceral for the public- like major Senate Reform. Harper is bound to lose any motion that takes gravy from Ontario and Quebec politicians, but it is a dry, safe topic in the end that won't cost him votes.

"I said Western Manitoba, IMO Winnipeg is more suited to Ontario." The financial position of Manitoba in our federation is most akin to Newfoundland. Since the province has ample natural resources, cheap power and an educated workforce(referring to those who have not left so they can be employed), the only obvious reason remaining for their unending reliance on other provinces largesse boils down to: management. Rather , lack of management.

Alberta and Quebec are made for each other. They both try to play the same game and whine about the other doing it. No sympathy for separatist rhetoric. Alberta drinks from the same koolaid as they serve in Quebec. It is all about what's in it for themselves and screw anybody else who doesn't like it. Actually kind of fun and entertaining when they do it to each other. P.S. I always find it amusing that Albertans and Quebecers constantly talk about how they get shafted by 'the rest of Canada' and how Ottawa is always out to screw them. And of course, that Ottawa government is 'jammed' down their throats. But of course, no one ever mentions that all of the Prime Ministers going back to the 1960's have been from either Alberta or Quebec (exception was Kim Campbell for a day or two). Funny how that works. What a load of crap. "Albertans" may bitch about many things, but the Alberta government has eternally and officially been a supporter of all things Canadian, including massive equalization payments. Guys like Klein and Stelmach have been nothing but cooperative while the province keeps the boat afloat, and the vast majority of Albertans feel the same way. If they didn't , we'd have told you to stuff it long ago.

The longer Harper waits, the more likely he will be rocked with some random scandal..... On the other hand, could the Bloc and Liberals get much weaker than they look now? May election.

I wouldn't want either Manitoba or Sakatchewan in any Western State. Manitoba in particular are worse money sucking, sense-of-entitlement leeches than Quebec or the Maritimes.

I think it may be.....why not? Duceppe has been played for a fool at least a couple of times by Harper recently. Quebecers have undoubtedly noticed this. Harper has been passing the gravy to Quebec nonstop. They will have also noticed this.... Layton is, well...nowhere, as usual. His ten minutes of fame happened with Martin. Dion is never going to excite anybody, including hardcore Liberals. There are persistent rumours that the Liberals already know they have made a mistake in his selection. The Quebec election will either go to Charest agan (perfect for Harper) or be a weak minority. Either would suit him. The budget, despite all the whining here and elsewhere, has something for everybody. I think Harper will first get this budget through, then wait until the Quebec election is over and then fabricate a non confidence vote to bring down his government. He'll pick something juicy like wholesale Senate change, or Afghanistan to force himself out. Then he will win a majority.

How much will this cost me, as a non-Atlantic taxpayer? Please be frank.

Look at drops in levels of support historically. The NDP are setting themselves up as a true alternative to the Liberals as a centre-left party in Canada. The NDP are really, really between a rock and a hard place then...... If they try to set themselves up as Liberal-Lite, the Libs will counter with a persuasive campaign saying" If centre/left is where you feel most comfy, why not vote for us, a Party that has a chance of governing?". I don't think Jack has anything glib to say in response. Turning to the center is a very dangerous strategy for the NDP. On the other hand, it is a very productive strategy for the Conservatives.

There are a couple of issues that harper could force an election on....obviously a contentious budget is an example. If I were him though, I'd table a sweeping Senate reform bill including Constitutional change, immediately after the budget passes.. There are a few levels this could work in his favour....

It will be interesting to see if Martin gets drummed out of the NDP for voicing his opinions a la Bev Desjarlais. I'll have to scoot over to Babble to see if this has raised a ruckus.

Or is Pat Martin auditioning for Jack Laytons job already? You'd have to think that Layton has lost his grip on the party if Martin gets away with this kind of public speculation. The last person to speak frankly about her beliefs was MP Bev Desjarlais, and she was dumped. Or perhaps Martin is angling for Stephane Dions job? "THE federal New Democratic Party could face the end of its 46-year existence if it doesn't make significant gains in the next election, one of the party's members of Parliament from Manitoba is warning. Pat Martin, MP for the riding of Winnipeg Centre, said recently his party must lift itself out of low poll numbers and replace weak messages with bold in the federal election many observers predict will come this year. Otherwise, Martin added, party faithful could be forced to admit the NDP may never be anything more than a political fringe player and fold its tent for good. " some candid moments here

Wow, what a horrific 18 months this has been for the PQ, and for the BQ. Their joint and separate prospects were very very sweet back then. The federal government was a complete shambles, ineffective and corrupt. Adscam made Quebecers look like crooked buffoons. Charest was in full retreat and predicted to finish last in any provincial election. Now.....none of that is happening. Quebec voters are certainly the most pragmatic bunch in the country, they vote to keep their bread buttered, and buttered well. Perhaps they are recognizing that the gravy does not dwell in the house of the PQ/BQ any longer.

From Jdobbins link: I think he will too, and I reckon Dion and Layton have overplayed their hand on this file. The Liberals simply cannot succesfully cannot run on their environmental record, and Dion himself is vulnerable on it personally. Budget, tabling of an environmental bill, lose a confidence vote, election. The Tories will bodyslam Dion and the Libs relentlessly on their lack of performance on Kyoto, and people will pay attention if and only if the Tories have a replacement strategy - which they will by election time. I had predicted no spring election too, but I may be wrong on that. I don't agree, and predict that the Tory campaign is going to highlight Mr Dions longtime presence in Chretien and Martins Cabinets throughtout Adscam, from start to finish the only constant left is - Dion. This is another area where Dion and the Liberals are jointly and personally vulnerable. I also have the intuition that the Tories have an election -ready Adscam bombshell or two tucked in their armoury. The campaign will get ugly early and stay that way. In the end, the Liberals are going to wish they had stuck with a campaign veteran like Rae, rather than the baggage-laden 'safe' guy- Dion.