fellowtraveller

All the stars and planets are aligning for the separatists, federally and provincially. The provinical economy is much improved from 1995. The Bloc will sweep Quebec in the next federal election. The PQ is very likely to win the next provincial election in 2007, and will hold a referendum soon thereafter. Their policy is not sovereignty association anymore, but separation. There are few federalist leaders remaining at the provincial level in Quebec, credible respected leaders. There is a vacuum of leadership in Ottawa, everybody is yammering away, nobody is listening anywhere. And the cherry on top of the sundae is the separatist wet dream of Gomery, a rallying point for all that is perceived to be wrong with remaining in Canada. Is separation inevitable?

The three thrusts of Trudeau, his guiding policies throughout his political career: -socialism - central control, a strong federal government -bilingualism and biculturalism The introduction of the NEP blends perfectly into all three. Screwing Alberta provided the seed money for all the social programs so beloved by Liberals, affordable or not. It put Alberta in its place, a clear and strong message to the provinces. And it funded Quebec, which about that time had moved from a have to a have-not province. Perfect. Mr Trudeau never disguised his contempt for Western aspirations and the NEP was just the most visible manifestation of that. In truth, he didn't give a stuff about Quebec aspirations either, but had to play the peacemaker because too many seats were at stake there.

Sooner or later, Canada will have to have a true debate on health care, one without girlish shrieks of "privatization" and "Save Medicare". The vast majority of health services are delivered by the private sector right now and always have been. The only two significant areas of public sector domination are in hospital management (and there are increasing numbers of privately run, publicly financed hospitals across Canada), and the concept of public payment for private health care services. For example, virtually all doctors, and their staffs, are private sector. I do not understand why people are objecting to more services provided by private sector. As long as universal access is retained, what's the problem? I hope our society somehow gains the spine to talk rationally about an issue that affects all of us.

"A little bit like buying your vote. There are probably other ways to use the money more appropiately. Most people will not complain about a handout even if it is some of their own money. Nice political move on Klein's part. Martin are you listening?" Why would the Tories feel any need to buy votes? A large majority of Albertans have voted for them for a very long time, through some very tough times too.

"I'll say this much, though: were Svend, say, a straight membe rof the Conservative party, you'd not be hearing a peep from the usual suspects here about his behaviour." Innuendo, intimation of homophobia, and specualtion on the activities both of Conservatives and potential posts from people here vs. Svend Robinson, convicted thief We know where a few posters here will place their X on election day. Apologists can rationalize ...absolutely....anything.

I know exactly what happens, having been on both sides of that desk. As an employer, I assess the labour market, the corporate balance sheet and the value of the employee. As an employee, I do exactly the same thing. Only a mentally retarded employer would 'make an example' of somebody asking for a raise. How idiotic is that concept? Of course, as an employee under Rand and Canadian law, I'd never have the chance to better myself....... Tyranny. That is why I'm self-employed and hope fervently to remain that way.

He stole a ring. he admitted to stealing it. He turned it over and himself in. He pled guilty, and was given a conditional discharge. He was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours of community service, but will not have a criminal record, a sentence the Crown described as "appropriate". Now, if the voters decide that whole business is important enough to make him a bad choice for MP, they can cast their ballots accordingly. And while I may personally not see the wisdom in making a comeback so soon after stepping down, I really don't see what the big frigging deal is. I'll say this much, though: were Svend, say, a straight membe rof the Conservative party, you'd not be hearing a peep from the usual suspects here about his behaviour. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh, so it IS more than 'tempest''teapot'??? Now you have more to say? And you're wrong about criticism of Tory wrongdoings. They just have not had the opportunity to squeeze into the headlines past the near-daily Liberal scandals and now Svend again.

Did Mr. Robinson steal an item of significant value? Why yes, he did. Was he convicted of this crime? Why yes, he was. Will the usual apologists blow off these facts glibly? Why, yes they will.

That is not what happened in the last election, or the one before that, or the one before that...... In any case, I find it reasonable for a party to comment on the facts in front of them, the performance of their opponent. I find it unreasonable to demonize your opponents for things they have not done and have stated they will not do. But that is just me.

I do appreciate your optimism, but it is far more likely that we'll have an election driven by Liberal fearmongering on healthcare- with Klein, Harper and their running mate - Satan - as the whipping boys. Business as usual, in other words.

anybody know about our money?

Doubt it. Interesting to note that in the two provinces that have NDP governments -Saskatchewan and Manitoba - do not have proprep initiatives underway. Also interesting that a search of NDP official websites shows that these 2 NDP governed are the only two NDP p[rovincial and federal official party sites that DO NOT have proprep as policy. In both provinces, both NDP governments would likely lose their majorities if proprep were implemented. One can only come to one conclusion: they are unprincipled, power hungry swine. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Kind of like every other majority government, eh? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, no. The BC government is actively looking into other forms of governance, it is not NDP, and they are a majority.. Other governments don't have the charade of pretending to support proportional representation except where it isn't convenient to them. Only the NDP have that 'honour'.

Who brought the action before the Court then?

I agree with much of the OP, except for the scale of the sponsorship scandal. It is a significant event in the eyes of many Canadians. It seems impossible that a couple of hundred million dollars just ambled out the govt acounts and some of it somehow stumbled into Liberal accounts with no political direction. Dingwall is significant too, and not for the expense thing. I believe that many Canadians, including me, wondeer why supposedly businesslike agencies, like the Mint, are always run by Liberal Party hacks with no experience in business? I'm also not so sure that any government can heal the deep discontent that too many citizens are feeling with the federation. Why bother with a little timeout until the Natural Rulers get their house in order? Are we simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? We need to make major changes to our model of governance, this one no longer serves too many.

How long until Svend plays the 'I'm a persecuted gay person' card?

What a dumb analogy. Any group of individuals, and any union, is perfectly capable and free to establish a collective bargaining unit, then determine terms and conditons of employment for all the workers, on virtually any worksite in Canada. An individual entering the very same worksite the next day is denied tyhose exact same rights and priveleges, and cannot negotiate anything with their employer. They are bound by somebodys elses relationship with that employer. That is tyranny of the majority.

Very well said. And now, today, who will speak for Canada - and who will listen?

Doubt it. Interesting to note that in the two provinces that have NDP governments -Saskatchewan and Manitoba - do not have proprep initiatives underway. Also interesting that a search of NDP official websites shows that these 2 NDP governed are the only two NDP p[rovincial and federal official party sites that DO NOT have proprep as policy. In both provinces, both NDP governments would likely lose their majorities if proprep were implemented. One can only come to one conclusion: they are unprincipled, power hungry swine.

He is demonstrably and unquestionably both a thief and a criminal. The question is: is this an advantage or disadvantage for serving in the Commons?

Under long established Canadian law (from the early fifties at least, and the ruling is named after a judge whose name I have forgotten), you are NOT obliged to join a union in your workplace. However, you are obliged to pay all the union dues and levies exactly as if you were a member. And they call it democracy.......the tyranny of the majority. For those capable and willing to negotiate their own terms and conditions of employment - go somewhere else-won't happen in Canada.

On second thought, perhaps the utter corruption of the Liberals is not the problem. They are only doing what comes naturally to them. Perhaps the problem is that our system of governance allows such disasters, like the crisis that is unfolding in front of us. Who will speak for Canada?

This is a long argument based on a false premise. Harper may not be the solution, but he is certainly and most definitely not the problem. The problem is the utter corruption of the Liberal party.

to place $700,000 in trust to repay taxpayers for money stolen by the Party from Canadian taxpayers? As I recall, this promise was made repeatedly by Scott Brison in the House on the day of the non-confidence vote before Parliament recessed in June. The Opposition hammered away that day on this topic much of the day of the vote. Does anybody know? Has any money been repaid to us by the Liberal Party of Canada? Is the money being held in trust and by whom?

As a taxpayer. it is comforting to know for certain which politicians are criminals, instead of just wondering and assuming .

The Clarity Act is meaningless in Quebec, they will ignore it and rightfully so. If I was Quebecois, I'd be sorely tempted to vote PQ and certainly would vote Bloc. The country is quickly becoming redundant, we're already picking over the bones since everybody is hoarding whatever flesh they can salvage.