geoffrey

I find that much more reasonable than paying to go to Regina with no allowance, no salary, nothing. Alot of people have mortgages and things to pay. Being a responsible homeowner essientially disqualifies you from RCMP service.

Agreed ob&c. No need to pay more here when Americans are willing to sell to us for less. Canadian companies will adapt, or go out of business, as they should.

So, essientially, the lazy entitled stereotype of a government work is... exactly true?

If you commit a crime knowing that the death penalty is an option, why should I have any sympathy? People are stupid. They know when you kill someone in the US or say China, you may face death. Too bad. Let me tell you a little secret. Don't murder people in death penalty jurisdictions and you won't be killed!!!

In that case, I'm sure Harper would be allowed to appoint a majority of CPC Senators.

The dollar, in Canada isn't a policy. What does it matter if we are in or out?

No. Ownership encourages stewardship. Tradegy of the commons, the NW passage is an environmental disaster many magnitudes greater than Exxon Valdez waiting to happen.

What the hell? Care to elaborate or do you think I should believe you just because you say so?

Funny how you and I Bluth agree on our favourite Liberal candidate, despite being very conservative and Kennedy being to the left. The man has ideas and vision, something that no other candidate has. If I'm looking for huge economic innovation, I see two potential winners in the PM chair. Mr. Maxime Bernier and Mr. Gerard Kennedy.

Do you actually think we in Alberta would ever accept a sales tax? Hah! PST is a no go here. Not happening.

Does Dion have control over his Senators to push the issue through? It just takes one day of hold ups to give Harper a legit excuse. He just is looking for an excuse. I'm unconvinced Dion has the power to tell his Senators no, don't give him that excuse.

I'm much more worried about Dion or his aides making stupid and insulting remarks. What was it now? "If I hire more French, I'll have to hire more Chinese?" The CPC warmacht is disciplined, it's arguably the slickest, best run political machine in North America, maybe surpassing the Republicans. They have money, they have marketing talent and grassroot support. It's a winner. I won't vote for Harper next election because I don't agree with the manner in which he has increased spending and the reach of the government. But I admire the CPC for their organziation and amazing political machine that will surely bring home a majority against a shattered and leaderless Liberal party.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're opening the constitution. What is Harper thinking? Oh wait. I know. This will never pass the Senate and it gives Harper an excuse to call an election (Liberals refusing to hear the voices of Canadians... sounds SOOOO good). Brilliant move Steveo, brilliant move.

Maybe because Canada's position is shakey at best and the US would hate to see the same thinking applied to other waters.

Right. And that shows that this is a provincial issue, not a Federal one. States average 6-7%... provinces 10-18%. Some jurisdictions (Alberta, BC and depending on what your doing Quebec) are competitive. Some (Newfoundland, New Brunswick) are not. That said, Newfoundland, the highest taxed jurisdiction in Canada (~40.1%) just comes in slightly worse off than the lowest taxed jurisdiction in the US (Kansas at 39%). Alberta at 32% is way below anything in the US, at least 7%, sometimes as high as 12%. So ya. This is a provincial issue now. Once the Canadian rate is at 15% (at 15%, Alberta will have a 15-20 point advantage over anywhere in the US), the provinces can no longer complain. We will have the most competitive regime in the OECD all things factored in.

Nor without the GST.

Quebec has no veto. It will take more than that. I think you'll see opposition from the Maritimes as well.

Absolutely. Europeans though use European made police cars and Asians use Asian made police cars. So really, I'm willing to wager that's simply protectionism. You can customize more American vehicles because that's a business segement they've targeted in North America. Said, it's not the most lucrative area. Custom orders of a few dozen cars don't have the same economies of scale of selling 25,000 Honda Civics. The big 3 won't maintain any of their market share selling police cars.

The low dollar is surely an intentional policy to deal with trade deficits. It shows that a large trade deficit can be maintained, but it may eventually impact consumer goods and how great of a life Americans can have,

There would be little preventing BC from dealing freely with Alberta whether BC remained in Canada or otherwise. Alberta joining NAFTA would actually be comparable to the current trade agreement between the two provinces. It's rather sad when Alberta would be able to trade more freely with Saskatchewan or Ontario outside of Canada then within it.

Asians aren't going to buy low end GM cars. Canadians don't even anymore. There is actually no real reason to buy domestic anymore. Japanese provide better value and Euros provide better performance/luxury. So for whatever your looking for, there is a much better non-domestic solution to your needs. Why would I spend a comparable amount on a Cobalt rather than buy a Corrolla? Why would I buy a base model Cadillac for the same price as a reasonably equiped BMW? This shows rather clearly in sales numbers. The only possible reason to buy American is pickup trucks. Even then, Toyota is cutting into that market with the Tundra and Tacoma... in my opinion the best two trucks on the market.

Yes and no Michael. One of the big developments was Europe trading with OPEC in Euro's rather than Greenbacks. Unfortunately that play is currently working against them, but it was a big move none the less. Never the less, it may be decades before we see the quoted price of crude in Euros or anything like that. The US is still a growing force, where as many European economies are stagnant or declining. The innovators of Europe (Ireland, Austria) aren't exactly large enough to have a major effect on the overall picture. Lacklustre performance in France is a big drag, and Germany/Italy haven't been a real force in some time. The big economies of Eurozone aren't that hot.

The US rate is 35% and the Canadian rate is currently 22.1% and moving to 15%. Where are you getting this 3% number?

The Euro is safe in the same ways that a mutual fund is safer than a stock (ugly analogy). The Euro is representive of the economic policies of many nations with very different economies and industries. It's a bigger basket of goods if you wish. Poor economic policies in the US can negatively impact the greenback, but poor economic policies in one Euro country won't have as large an effect. Diversified political risk. Remember as well that American exporters are benefiting like our's once did. This is generally viewed as a positive.

Look at the provinces then. Alberta and BC have the only competitive tax rates when compared to US jurisdictions, Alberta is actually the 3rd cheapest tax jurisdiction in North America. Let the provinces make that choice. If the Federal government wants to cut rates, that's great, but the Federal rate is already lower than the US. The US rate is 35% for most businesses, before State taxes. After State/Provincial taxes, Canada is more costly than the US. Hmm. Flaherty's proposal moves us to the 3rd lowest Federal tax system in the OECD, only Switzerland and Ireland are lower (and they dont' really compete with us in any industry... Ireland's rate is also report lower than it really is because of the effects of copyright tax law and other weird things they've got going on over there). Provinces have to take the intitive to reduce taxes to levels competitive with their counterparts in the US. Even Alberta's rate is too high, and it's the lowest in Canada. http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,2340,en_...1_37427,00.html http://www.alberta-canada.com/economy/posi...porateTaxes.cfm 100% Agreed.