Top court says Ottawa broke law in financing EI

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

The Supreme Court of Canada says that Ottawa illegally collected employment insurance contributions for three years under the former Liberal government

The court, though, rejected union claims that Ottawa diverted money from deliberately-over-inflated EI surpluses to balance the federal budget and fund programs.

In a 7-0 decision, the court ruled EI premiums were inappropriately collected between 2002, 2003, and 2005. That's when the Liberal cabinet set EI rates directly without the authorization from Parliament and the employment insurance commission, a violation of the principle of no taxation without representation.

I suspected as much.

I had no problem with the earlier surpluses going to the federal coffers but when rates were deliberately set high while benefits were cut, I thought the government was acting inappropriately. Now, it seems it was more that inappropriate, it was illegal.

[Oleg Bach]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

I suspected as much.

I had no problem with the earlier surpluses going to the federal coffers but when rates were deliberately set high while benefits were cut, I thought the government was acting inappropriately. Now, it seems it was more that inappropriate, it was illegal.

"Inappropriately" - that's very kind of you. The definition of fraud is to take something though deception - and I would say that someone lied and someone profited - as for the supreme court. Paper Tiger...impressive building and very nice robes and I just love the picture of the Justice MInister and the diesel girl registrar - beautiful jewels on their fingers and absolute self emportance printed on their faces - they are useless - If a judge is not allowed to judge - then they are not judges - and if they are not allowed to convict..then - they are useless.

[Topaz]

I think when they get a certain amount into the EI that they should cut back on the preniums. Why can`t they make it voluntary, You pay into you get back when needed and if you don`t pay into, you don`t get it. I think alot more Canadians would rather save themselves for the rainy day. Under the Conservative they had 54 Billion to play with and sent 2 BIl to the new EI fund, took 30 BIL to the debt and were did the 22 Bil go? Am I wrong with the numbers cause i heard one of the Cons say before the election they paid 30 Bil down.

[madmax]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

I suspected as much.

I had no problem with the earlier surpluses going to the federal coffers but when rates were deliberately set high while benefits were cut, I thought the government was acting inappropriately. Now, it seems it was more that inappropriate, it was illegal.

Why do you say... Ottawa when it was the Paul Martin Liberal Government?

[Alta4ever]

I think when they get a certain amount into the EI that they should cut back on the preniums. Why can`t they make it voluntary, You pay into you get back when needed and if you don`t pay into, you don`t get it. I think alot more Canadians would rather save themselves for the rainy day. Under the Conservative they had 54 Billion to play with and sent 2 BIl to the new EI fund, took 30 BIL to the debt and were did the 22 Bil go? Am I wrong with the numbers cause i heard one of the Cons say before the election they paid 30 Bil down.

Topaz the 54 billion was long gone before the tories got into office. It was nothing but a number in a leger the amountof money in was never their as it had always been taken into the general revenue account.

[Smallc]

I just heard a couple of weeks ago that there is $51B in the EI account.

[Alta4ever]

I just heard a couple of weeks ago that there is $51B in the EI account.

Really how could that be when the EI account was just created. Before EI went into general revenue.

[cybercoma]

When can I expect my cheque?

[Smallc]

Really how could that be when the EI account was just created. Before EI went into general revenue.

I have no idea. It is something that was said on one of the many news programs that I watch. They wanted the government to do something with the money that was there.

[madmax]

When can I expect my cheque?

[madmax]

I have no idea. It is something that was said on one of the many news programs that I watch. They wanted the government to do something with the money that was there.

They did do something with the money. They Spent it. Never going to see it again. The CPC run deficits.

[Mr.Canada]

They did do something with the money. They Spent it. Never going to see it again. The CPC run deficits.

The LPC or the coalition will not? Is this your position?

[madmax]

Is this your position?

The CPC spent the surplus EI money and they run deficits. Is that do difficult for you to grasp. Currently the CPC is fixed upon avoiding their own parliment and lining up some juicy patronage appointments for their friends.

[Mr.Canada]

The CPC spent the surplus EI money and they run deficits. Is that do difficult for you to grasp. Currently the CPC is fixed upon avoiding their own parliment and lining up some juicy patronage appointments for their friends.

What did the Tories spend that surplus on?

[madmax]

What did the Tories spend that surplus on?

Yes, How did the CPC blow the money for EI?

[Mr.Canada]

Yes, How did the CPC blow the money for EI?

Madmax, you made the statement so please qualify it.

[Alta4ever]

Madmax, you made the statement so please qualify it.

From what I understand the money was gone long ago during the days of Chretien, it was a matter of legers showing that their should be this amount sitting idle in the countries general revenues.

[Keepitsimple]

Although our leftist media never admit it, our deficit fighter Liberals - come hell or high water.....eliminated the deficit on the backs of ordinary Canadians through over-charging EI contributions and slashing transfer payments to the provinces. That affected healthcare and education for years across Canada. It matters little whether the action was warranted - if Conservatives had done the same thing, they would have been villified for being mean-spirited....but Liberals are super-hero deficit slayers. Incredible.

[Topaz]

Topaz the 54 billion was long gone before the tories got into office. It was nothing but a number in a leger the amountof money in was never their as it had always been taken into the general revenue account.

Yes you're right about the general revenue, I remember now O'connor saying that the either the military equipment came out of the GR or the cost of the war was coming out of the GR ans I was surprised to hear that because I thought it would all come out of defense budget.

[Alta4ever]

if Conservatives had done the same thing, they would have been villified for being mean-spirited....but Liberals are super-hero deficit slayers. Incredible.

Isn't the media interesting in this country, they are the 4th unelected opposition party.

[August1991]

I don't care what this zany Supreme Court says. EI deductions are a tax. The government pays EI to people entitled by the rules. EI deductions go into "general government revenue" and EI payments come out of "general government revenue".

Earmarks? In Canada, the cabinet (despite what teh Supreme Court says) is free to define them.

----

This challenge and Court decision are the result of Gilles Duceppe (CSN) and his attempts to get more money from the federal government. That's it, that's all. With such a mindset, Québec will never be independant.

Pathetic.

Edited December 12, 2008 by August1991

[jdobbin]

Why do you say... Ottawa when it was the Paul Martin Liberal Government?

Because the government today under Harper also fought the case in court because they thought it lawful. That is why I saw Ottawa. If the Tories didn't believe in it, they would have reimbursed the amount.

Edited December 12, 2008 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

Although our leftist media never admit it, our deficit fighter Liberals - come hell or high water.....eliminated the deficit on the backs of ordinary Canadians through over-charging EI contributions and slashing transfer payments to the provinces. That affected healthcare and education for years across Canada. It matters little whether the action was warranted - if Conservatives had done the same thing, they would have been villified for being mean-spirited....but Liberals are super-hero deficit slayers. Incredible.

Yup. That's how they did it. And the Tories defended the EI case all the way to the Supreme Court.

Now, we have Tories about to head Canada back into deficit. And what are they considering doing? Another GST cut.

Edited December 12, 2008 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

Earmarks? In Canada, the cabinet (despite what teh Supreme Court says) is free to define them.

I think that is what the Court said. They said the first years were legal, the rest were not because it was taxation without representation. Martin should have done it through Parliament.

[madmax]

Isn't the media interesting in this country, they are the 4th unelected opposition party.

Oh, I have heard plenty. The Media are a bunch of Liberal or Conservative kiss asses depending on who holds power.

However, papers like the Sun, back the Conservatives. And Papers like the Post back the Conservatives.

The Globe chooses business over bullshit, which makes some Conservatives unhappy campers if their policies aren't fiscally responsible and they want the public to believe they are.

THe Toronto Star has a strong tendency to be ALL LIBERAL ALL THE TIME.

The CBC isn't pro Conservative, but gives the Conservatives lots of air time, and lobb ball questions.

CTV is pro Conservative, but makes room for the Liberals, and did everyone a favour showing us that Dion was incompetent.

So, don't give me this fourth opposition party crap. The media is pretty damn weak and compliant when dealing with government. MSM lots its balls to go after government along time ago. So any attacks today may only be weak partisan driven attacks like that of the SUN

I don't believe the NDP has media support in any paper in any province, or on any network.

Shed another tear for the poor CPC Sounds as rediculous as Elizabeth May who said the media worked against them. The whoppers just keep on coming.