fellowtraveller

The columnist you are referring to is Lorne Gunter, not Lorne Gunther. He is pretty much the sole centrist columnist found in the Can West empire, the 'balance' against the wide array of Liberal, left columnists and editors.

According to StatsCan, Saskatchewan has a higher proportion of First Nations people than Manitoba, and they have managed to dredge themselves into some semblance of solvency. Manitoba isn't even close. And considering that DIAND spends some $7Billion per year on First Nations affairs, and assuming that those in Manitoba get their share of that - wouldn't that improve manitobas financial position, not make it worse? Nope Bubber, can't blame this one on the Indians. Still left wondering why MB underperforms so badly.

Normie, your nose is growing. You used to frequent another board with the same Liberal-rallying and flagwaving obsessiveness you show here, until that board got tough and banned political posts (Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, Canada Branch). Your modus operandi has not changed, only your location- but much tougher sledding here, non? You'll be gone after the election, as usual.

At the time, I recall that there were 40-50 Canadians, warrant officer or higher, on assignment with US invading troops in Iraq on training assignments, mostly rear echelon jobs. Both countries routinely exchange such officers. Canada also had warships in the Gulf on active duty. But Chretien had it both ways, as always.

Does USPS own Purolator in the USA?

There are lots of interesting models for Senate reform, and this post is one of them. All have fatal flaws though - 1) they would require that the Senate also become an effective part of our democratic process, which means a dimunition of the power of the House of Commons, and more importantly the power of the Prime Ministers Office. 2) it would also mean a dimunition of power for Ontario and Quebec, and an increase in the power of the smaller provinces. Neither will happen in our current model. Good ideas to keep and hand for the housecleaning coming after Quebec leaves though. Somebody start a file.

Doesn't Canada Post own Purolator, as well as run its own internal ExpressPost courier system? The internal system would certainly benefit from the massive infrastructure of Canada Post, facilities and equipment, much of which was paid for by government either directly or indirectly. If so, UPS likely has a case.

I didn't suggest that Maniotba feel shame, but I do wonder why they have made little progress toward economic self-sufficiency. They have mines, minerals, cheap energy, water, forests, excellent agriculture, well educated workforce, good trtansportation networks, central location - what exactly is the problem? Nearly all the provinces have done better economically, with far less to work with, New Brunswwick for example. Lets hear some reasons, not some excuses.... Why hasn't Manitoba made any progress on losing their dependence on others?

Say there, do you know when Harper is next scheduled to eat our babies in public too?

Agreed. And also agreed is that Quebec needs the autonomy to do that from outside Canada, as an independent nation. But you need to be aware that the ROC will not be benevolent in those negotiations. They will also be seeking advanatage, the sentimentality and nostalgia that has benefited Quebec for generations will be completely and utterly gone. Expect hardball, and budget for it. Perhaps this election is setting the stage for constitutional discussions between the ROC after Quebec departs. Won't it be novel to have two parties represented fairly equally across the new Dominion, minus Quebec? Tough way to regenerate and renew, but hey we have to start somewhere. What we're doing now just does not work anymore.

Nope, I'm an English Canadian and I understand all too well what Paul Martin represents, and it isn't me. He has made that very very plain on many occasions. Realistically, at this point it makes no difference if its Liberal or Consrvative is seen by the media or ROC as 'representing Canada', not enough Quebecois are listening and not enough Anglos in the ROC care deeply anymore. When it comes to it, the only real chance to 'stop Quebec' will be at the next provincial election. Nobody in either Party will be dumb enough to make separation a keystone federal election issue.

And to answer this series of "how is it different" questions: Answer: because none of those companies are owned by Paul Martin or his family. That is the difference.

Do you think part of Harpers hidden agenda is to steal my money and give it to his Party? Man, I just hate it when that happens.

Am I the only person who remembers Martin running his leadership campaign against Chretien partially on the basis that he could fix the hateful relationship between Chretien and the US?

You stated the UK had a Constitution. We both know it does not, but you lack the integrity to admit it. Too bad for you, a matter of indifference for me. US constitution Canadian Constitution

Please provide a link to the UK Constitution. If you like, I'll do the same for the Canadian and US versions.

The problem is not specifically between the Saskatoon cops and the First Nations community. It is between Caucasians and the First Nations Community.

Is that deliberately vague, since the UK does not have a Constitution?

I don't undertand how anybody could trust the Liberals on health care. They've had sole custody of the issue for 12 years, and have made a complete mess of it. The country has not even had a full and reasoned debate on the subject yet under their 'leadership'. Truly, a pathetic performance on a critical issue.

The PMO has more than ten people in it.......

This thread reads like a Liberal Party election primer. Let the bedwetting begin .

Which raises the obvious question of: since when is the criminal allowed to determine the extent of the crime, then decide what his penalty will be? And please, the money wasn't 'diverted', it was stolen and remains stolen to this day. Why hasn't the RCMP long long ago seized every financial record in the Quebec and national party filecases, and followed the money? Too late now, the shredders will have done their work. What a sorry and pathetic episode in our history. And it will go basically unpunished.

Doesn't benefit most citizens? Not true. Alberta is enjoying good times for two reasons: some extra dough related to resources, and the reorganization of education and healthcare in the province. You think it is all due to a windfall? Chew on this: Alberta takes in a total of $13 billion in resource revenue, and contributes a net $11 billion to Canada. You better pray that Klein keeps doing what he has been doing. That $11 billion annually helps keeps the country afloat. Exactly. Well said. He has made many mistakes too, but in balance he has done a good job. More importantly and oh so rarely , he has made difficult decisions without cringing, and stayed the course to the essential objective That is what I want from my leaders: tell me what you intend, then get on with it. It is unimaginable that Paul Martin would do this - they've handed out something like $20 billion in the last week, ll plucked from the air or perhaps a bodily orifice. That isn't leadership, that is weakness.

This sounds like an appeal to allow lynch mobs. Has Paul Martin abandoned his position that the USA is to blame for the guns? Why on earth would the PM be involved in a local police/community issue?

If this proposal was offered to Quebec only, and not to all provinces, the Houses of parliament would be burned to the ground with the doors barred to be sure no MPs escaped. I'd be in the front row with my Bic lighter. We are supposed to be a federation of equals, living in peace and helping each other. If we are not, then we are not a federation. In any case, there won't be time to negotiate any Meech lite Accord. If the PQ wins the election, they'll win the referendum and in days will pass an independence document. If the federalists in Quebec have the will and the courage, both questionable at this moment, the only vulnerable opportunity is at the polls in 2007.