RESP's - going to be tax deductible?

[capricorn]

Why does the Liberal party back a motion that will put us into deficit? That's not sound fiscal policy. That's just playing politics.

I would add two other reasons. They simply don't know any better or they don't care about the country's financial viability. Or all of the above.

[Wild Bill]

I would add two other reasons. They simply don't know any better or they don't care about the country's financial viability. Or all of the above.

If you pushed them about it I'm sure you'd find that while they do indeed care about the country's finances they take it for granted that the harm will not be that bad.

You have to remember that most Liberals are heart and not head people. They run on faith. They have faith that they are the natural governing party and that they can fix anything! If McTeague's Bill pushed us into a unplanned deficit that's not a big problem if you have Liberal faith. The country has had deficits before. To them the country is better off paying that price to have Liberals back in power!

Ask them if they care however and their eyes will fill with tears over love for Canada! They just have a different sense of how things are connected.

[jdobbin]

I'm for any and all tax reductions for as many taxpayers as possible, provided the treasury can afford it.

We still had a multi-billion surplus according to Flaherty. It seemed it was enough to pay for his expensive train in his riding.

[jdobbin]

I would add two other reasons. They simply don't know any better or they don't care about the country's financial viability. Or all of the above.

We certainly know that Flaherty doesn't care about finances because he has never met one of commitments to hold spending down to what was promised in the Tory election platform.

[jdobbin]

The country has had deficits before.

Yes, we saw those deficits with the Tories in power. Flaherty didn't know what he was doing in Ontario and he still doesn't know what he is doing. Of course though, he has hundreds of millions ready for his train in his riding.

[capricorn]

If you pushed them about it I'm sure you'd find that while they do indeed care about the country's finances they take it for granted that the harm will not be that bad.

Well it does show optimism on their part and that on its own is not a bad thing.

You have to remember that most Liberals are heart and not head people. They run on faith.

As a prior Liberal supporter I can attest to that.

They have faith that they are the natural governing party and that they can fix anything!

This is where faith and the new reality clash. I think the Liberals are in denial that the Conservatives toppled them in 2006 and they're like fish out of water.

Ask them if they care however and their eyes will fill with tears over love for Canada!

Patriotism is a wonderful thing but crocodile tears will give you away every time.

[daniel]

Yes, we saw those deficits with the Tories in power. Flaherty didn't know what he was doing in Ontario and he still doesn't know what he is doing. Of course though, he has hundreds of millions ready for his train in his riding.

Remember when the Ontario PCs were campaigning on a balanced budget? Then the Fraser Institute discovered Flaherty actually left a $7billion deficit.

Since the Tories have squandered the $20billion surplus they inherited from the Liberals to only a mere $2billion, I wouldn't be surprised if Flaherty is actually hiding a deficit. His blatant use of the term "back to Liberal deficit" he has been using in the past year is trying to shift the Tory deficit as if it were the Liberals creation.

[capricorn]

Since the Tories have squandered the $20billion surplus they inherited from the Liberals to only a mere $2billion,

Oh, isn't it terrible. Returning money to the taxpayer because the Liberals over-taxed them. The nerve. Tsk, tsk.

I wouldn't be surprised if Flaherty is actually hiding a deficit.

We'll never know in the short term since the Liberals are doing everything in their power to keep the Conservatives in the driver's seat.

His blatant use of the term "back to Liberal deficit" he has been using in the past year is trying to shift the Tory deficit as if it were the Liberals creation.

All's fair in love and politics. The Conservatives learned well from the Liberals.

[jdobbin]

The Conservatives learned well from the Liberals.

True. And they said there were going to do politics differently.

[daniel]

Ha ha, Conservatives potentially hiding a deficit and he's ok with it. So much for accountability.

[Wilber]

Since the Tories have squandered the $20billion surplus they inherited from the Liberals to only a mere $2billion, I wouldn't be surprised if Flaherty is actually hiding a deficit. His blatant use of the term "back to Liberal deficit" he has been using in the past year is trying to shift the Tory deficit as if it were the Liberals creation.

Putting 22B toward debt reduction over the past two years is squandering? It was the Liberals creation. Consecutive deficits started with the Trudeau governments of the mid seventies.

[jdobbin]

Putting 22B toward debt reduction over the past two years is squandering? It was the Liberals creation. Consecutive deficits started with the Trudeau governments of the mid seventies.

And ended by the Liberals. Now, the Tories with their drunken sailors spending could us back there.

[capricorn]

And ended by the Liberals. Now, the Tories with their drunken sailors spending could us back there.

Could being the operative word. Now the Liberals are compounding the problem by bringing in a motion that more than likely would usurp the fiscal plan put forward by the budget thereby guaranteeing a deficit. Why aren't the Liberals working for the financial viability of the country instead of playing partisan games? I would have more respect for the Liberal party if they toppled the Conservatives and fought an election on the issues.

[daniel]

Heaven help we shouldn't allow educating our children get us into a deficit, that job is reserved for the military.

[Riverwind]

Heaven help we shouldn't allow educating our children get us into a deficit, that job is reserved for the military.

If education is a priority then the money should be spent on direct scholarships or grants. Tax give-a-ways to the wealthy make no sense.

[capricorn]

Heaven help we shouldn't allow educating our children get us into a deficit, that job is reserved for the military.

Daniel, I would love RESP contributions to be tax deductible, as are RRSP contributions. I want more tax breaks for Canadians. The thing is the treasury cannot afford to bring in all these tax incentives in at one time, regardless of who is in government. Once again, if the government's budget is so unpalatable to the Liberals, why do they work to keep them in power?

If the Liberals had not decimated our military during their 13 years in power, we wouldn't be stuck today with the enormous expense of equipping the military to do their job professionally. And yes, fighting a war and providing aid is expensive and the taxpayer pays the price. But remember, the Liberals have not and will not bring down the government on the Afghanistan war. They are complicit and you cannot exonerate them on this count.

[jdobbin]

Could being the operative word. Now the Liberals are compounding the problem by bringing in a motion that more than likely would usurp the fiscal plan put forward by the budget thereby guaranteeing a deficit. Why aren't the Liberals working for the financial viability of the country instead of playing partisan games? I would have more respect for the Liberal party if they toppled the Conservatives and fought an election on the issues.

We already know one month last year sent us into deficit. The Tory spending has breezed past all its marks. There is no guarantee of deficit except that which the Tories keep promising.

[jdobbin]

Daniel, I would love RESP contributions to be tax deductible, as are RRSP contributions. I want more tax breaks for Canadians. The thing is the treasury cannot afford to bring in all these tax incentives in at one time, regardless of who is in government. Once again, if the government's budget is so unpalatable to the Liberals, why do they work to keep them in power?

If the Liberals had not decimated our military during their 13 years in power, we wouldn't be stuck today with the enormous expense of equipping the military to do their job professionally. And yes, fighting a war and providing aid is expensive and the taxpayer pays the price. But remember, the Liberals have not and will not bring down the government on the Afghanistan war. They are complicit and you cannot exonerate them on this count.

The Tories aren't off the hook on the military. Mulroney sold the helicopters that are being used by the Dutch now.

Every government department was cut back in the 1990s to end the deficit.

Now, the Tories spend and spend and spend and will put Canada into deficit before its over. They create the TFSAa instead of the promised capital gains tax decrease. They eliminate the income trusts for the more expensive income splitting and the raised the income tax to support their GST cut. They get it wrong every time.

[capricorn]

There is no guarantee of deficit except that which the Tories keep promising.

Wrong. If the Liberals' motion on RESPs is adopted, it will be the Liberals and the other opposition parties responsible for causing a deficit. We're not there yet. The Liberals think the week before Easter is the wrong time to bring the government down. They will not show up for a non-confidence vote this week. All show, no substance.

[jdobbin]

Wrong. If the Liberals' motion on RESPs is adopted, it will be the Liberals and the other opposition parties responsible for causing a deficit. We're not there yet. The Liberals think the week before Easter is the wrong time to bring the government down. They will not show up for a non-confidence vote this week. All show, no substance.

Wrong. Tory spending is what is out of control.

The Liberals certainly won't want to bring the government down before they win by-elections on Monday. However, an election is coming and the polls show that the Tories are no where near a majority. In fact, Ipsos says that were it not for Alberta, the Tories would be in a lot of trouble.

[capricorn]

The Liberals certainly won't want to bring the government down before they win by-elections on Monday.

Then we have Mother's Day, then we have Father's Day, then we have Canada Day.... Nope, can't call an election 'cause Canadians don't want an election, especially when a holiday is in sight.

[jdobbin]

Then we have Mother's Day, then we have Father's Day, then we have Canada Day.... Nope, can't call an election 'cause Canadians don't want an election, especially when a holiday is in sight.

Canadians didn't want an election last time according to the polls. It doesn't mean they won't vote if there is one.

The Liberals will defeat the goevrnment when they think they have the best chance of winning and election. I personally don't think they will win but I don't think the Tories will win a majority either. It probably means then end of Dion depending on how close it is. It definitely means that people will in the Tory party will have to look beyond Harper if they ever want to win a majority. The problem is that there isn't anyone really to take over.

[Wilber]

The Liberals will defeat the goevrnment when they think they have the best chance of winning and election. I personally don't think they will win but I don't think the Tories will win a majority either. It probably means then end of Dion depending on how close it is. It definitely means that people will in the Tory party will have to look beyond Harper if they ever want to win a majority. The problem is that there isn't anyone really to take over.

So Parliament shuts down basically till the fall. All legislation goes into the dumpster and the taxpayer is on the hook for 300 million to pay for an election no one wants. Brilliant.

[jdobbin]

So Parliament shuts down basically till the fall. All legislation goes into the dumpster and the taxpayer is on the hook for 300 million to pay for an election no one wants. Brilliant.

Harper didn't care that no one wanted an election when he brought Harper down. Were you angry then too?

[Wilber]

Harper didn't care that no one wanted an election when he brought Harper down. Were you angry then too?

Wasn't particularly happy about it but Canadians did want a change, that is why we wound up with a different government. If the reason we are looking at an election is because it is the only way the Liberals can think of to get rid of Dion as leader, I am really not impressed with that.