24 sussex

[jdobbin]

We can also discuss the future of a historic building and the PM's residence regardless of their party or ignore the problem and make stupid partisan statements.

Actually, it is Harper who seems to be ignoring the problem as he says he won't be leaving for renovations.

The stupidity appears to be his since he has the Auditor General and all of the Opposition saying renovation should occur. If he is re-elected, this is going to be his position again? It may very well be that he eventually leaves only to have another leader, possibly a Liberal move into the house.

I say refurbish it, you don't trash an important part of our history because of a bottom line.

But you yourself questioned the sprinklers.

Personally, I have no idea what report the Auditor signed off on but if she gave the go ahead, it should be good for most people. If she says $10 million, I expect her people poured over it. I thought it seemed steep compared to rebuildng. I think most Canadians would have a hard time identifying the house in a picture compared to 10 Downing or the Whitehouse.

Still, as I said, if the Auditor says so, it seems a bit foolish to resist going ahead with things.

[jdobbin]

Dunno, but then I often ask that question about many posters and posts.

I believe Harper's decision on staying in 24 Sussex is about politics. My comment was he was leaving it to the next prime minister and the joke on him is it might be Dion. Harper decided to make the decision political despite clear non-partisan support from the Auditor. All Opposition parties accepted the report and supported the renovations.

The Auditor is one of the most respected positions in government. I think the PM should have a good reason why he wants to delay renovations because at first glance it looks like another political angle that he is playing. At the very least, he should set a timetable for it before the cost estimates become meaningless.

Edited May 7, 2008 by jdobbin

[BubberMiley]

What a tremendous addition to the discussion. First poster guilty of a partisan and pointless attempt at highjacking the thread a second time, survey says ... you guessed it

Please don't highjack this thread to become another one of your obsessive tirades against Dobbin. Get over him already.

[White Doors]

I agree. gut it. Do it right and have it last for 50 years. otherwise, pick a new PM residence to build and find a good architect to do a nice one.

I'm more of a traditionalist on most things, but old is not always better than new, just because it's old.

They built ugly buildings in the 1800's too.

I work in Saint John NB and people are up in arms about tearing down buildings. That's good, but not the gaudy, decrepit one's. The ones that never had any architectual value at all? Why keep them for the sake of keeping them?

Change is good and a mix and new and old makes for the most pleasing landscape in my opinion.

[Michael Bluth]

I agree. gut it. Do it right and have it last for 50 years. otherwise, pick a new PM residence to build and find a good architect to do a nice one

I think it's worth the money to build a new residence for the PM.

Please don't highjack this thread to become another one of your obsessive tirades against Dobbin. Get over him already.

Very constructive addition BM. Did you add anything of value at all to the thread?

Four posters took offence to the partisan highjack attempt. Why was I singled out for your attack?

When you become a mod please feel free to tell me how to behave...

Edited May 7, 2008 by Michael Bluth

[WarBicycle]

It's an historical building and should be fully restored regardless of the expense.

Edited May 7, 2008 by WarBicycle

[jbg]

How many here live in a house with sprinklers? On the inside I mean.

In my neck of the woods, if people live on the third floor of a wood-frame house the house must be fitted with sprinklers. Of course, I do not live in Canada.

[jbg]

I agree. gut it. Do it right and have it last for 50 years. otherwise, pick a new PM residence to build and find a good architect to do a nice one.

I'm more of a traditionalist on most things, but old is not always better than new, just because it's old.

They built ugly buildings in the 1800's too.

We rebuilt our White House after you fellas burned it down somewhere between 1812 and 1814.

[WarBicycle]

We torched the place on the 24th of August, 1814 Aug. 24, a great day for another national holiday.

Edited May 7, 2008 by WarBicycle

[Keepitsimple]

Harper should move out now to let work begin so that Dion has a refurbished residence at 24 Sussex ready when he becomes prime minister.

Too funny. Dobbin...people just don't understand your humour. Give him a break guys - he was only kidding!.......er, right?

[White Doors]

We rebuilt our White House after you fellas burned it down somewhere between 1812 and 1814.

Sorry, but early Canadians did not do that, that was the red coats - despite the Molson Canadian commercials, which, unfortunately, is where the majority of Canadians seem to get their history from..

[jdobbin]

Too funny. Dobbin...people just don't understand your humour. Give him a break guys - he was only kidding!.......er, right?

It had been meant as a funny remark. I figured most people would cotton on how Harper had been kind enough to let Stornoway renovations to take place just in time for Dion to occupy that house. The least Harper could do was the same for 24 Sussex.

Quite honestly, I don't know why Harper is leaving the renovation job to the next Parliament. He hasn't even indicated whether the work will proceed then. It isn't often that you get support from the Auditor and the Opposition on something like this. It seems like a political angle. I wonder how long the prices quoted for the auditor will remain in place.

[Wilber]

Seems to me that while there is no good time to be doing something like this, the time to move out would be between governments regardless of who wins the next election. No doubt it will take time to find and set up some acceptable alternate digs for the period the reno's will take.

[Michael Bluth]

It had been meant as a funny remark. I figured most people would cotton on how Harper had been kind enough to let Stornoway renovations to take place just in time for Dion to occupy that house. The least Harper could do was the same for 24 Sussex.

If you were trying to be humourous, why follow up with your 'right' to be partisan?

This is a political forum. We can be as partisan as we want to be.

I could have said that the next place Harper could end up living might be the big house. heh

Seems like retrospective arse-covering when the vast majority of posters expressing an opinion looked down upon your actions. Or maybe I'm just trying to be funny!

[jdobbin]

Please don't highjack this thread to become another one of your obsessive tirades against Dobbin. Get over him already.

Yeesh, I have no problem being labelled partisan for what I thought would be humerous jibe.

However, my post was about 24 Sussex which is hardly a hijack.

Harper has given no indication of why he won't be moving. It is hard to see it as anything but political.

[jdobbin]

Seems to me that while there is no good time to be doing something like this, the time to move out would be between governments regardless of who wins the next election. No doubt it will take time to find and set up some acceptable alternate digs for the period the reno's will take.

All well and good but we haven't even heard this as a possibility by Harper. If the renovations don't happen till 2009, will the cost estimates still hold? Harper should at least set a timetable.

[BubberMiley]

Or maybe I'm just trying to be funny!

I always thought it was just an act.

[Wilber]

All well and good but we haven't even heard this as a possibility by Harper. If the renovations don't happen till 2009, will the cost estimates still hold? Harper should at least set a timetable.

Dion is the one who is in position to determine when next election will occur, perhaps he should set a timetable.

[Michael Bluth]

Dion is the one who is in position to determine when next election will occur, perhaps he should set a timetable.

He's had a multitude of opportunities to do so.

Perhaps he could call an election on the cost of renovating the residency?

[jdobbin]

Dion is the one who is in position to determine when next election will occur, perhaps he should set a timetable.

Harper has the same right. He can simply declare that he has lost the confidence of Parliament and go the Governor-General. It doesn't even require a vote. It never did.

The reason neither has is because they are in the same position they were when the 2006 election results came in: A Tory minority government.

[Michael Bluth]

Dion is the one who is in position to determine when next election will occur, perhaps he should set a timetable.

The leaders of the other three parties in Parliament have stated their preference. The NDP and Bloc want an election ASAP. Harper made a promise for fixed election dates and he is keeping it. He promised a fixed election date. He has set it for October 19, 2009.

Dion is willing to bluster about how terrible the policies of the Conservatives are. Yet when push comes to shove, the Dion and his cheerleaders bend over and accede to whatever the Conservatives want. Why would the Conservatives force an early election when Dion is allowing them to govern as if they had a majority?

[Wilber]

Harper has the same right. He can simply declare that he has lost the confidence of Parliament and go the Governor-General. It doesn't even require a vote. It never did.

The reason neither has is because they are in the same position they were when the 2006 election results came in: A Tory minority government.

Legally yes but you know he has committed his government to fixed election dates. Something a Liberal leader has never had the balls to commit themselves to. For Harper to do so would mean breaking a promise. Dion has no such problem.

[jdobbin]

Legally yes but you know he has committed his government to fixed election dates. Something a Liberal leader has never had the balls to commit themselves to. For Harper to do so would mean breaking a promise. Dion has no such problem.

The Opposition is under no obligation to give up their right of no confidence under the legislation to support fixed election dates. In fact the law explicitly ensures that right.

As for Harper himself, he was musing not just as few weeks ago about going to the Governor General about having an election about the committee slowness. He backed away after some negative polls.

As for Harper and promises: income trusts.

In regards to fixed election dates, I agree with Eugene Forsey when he said the system would be a mistake for Canada. We did had fixed election dates where the election would have to take place. Now, we have removed the governing party's ability to choose to go the polls to seek a mandate before that time. It ignores changes in who is the prime minister, in terms of changing coalitions and in terms of fairness where the Opposition can bring down the government when they think it is to their advantage but not when the government thinks it is to their advantage.

Edited May 8, 2008 by jdobbin

[Wilber]

The Opposition is under no obligation to give up their right of no confidence under the legislation to support fixed election dates. In fact the law explicitly ensures that right.

As for Harper himself, he was musing not just as few weeks ago about going to the Governor General about having an election about the committee slowness. He backed away after some negative polls.

As for Harper and promises: income trusts.

Never said the opposition had some obligation, as a matter of fact I don't believe they should. If they did there would be no difference between a majority and a minority. Speculate all you want but so far, Harper has kept this one.

[jdobbin]

Never said the opposition had some obligation, as a matter of fact I don't believe they should. If they did there would be no difference between a majority and a minority. Speculate all you want but so far, Harper has kept this one.

Only because the polls show he would likely repeat where he is right now.