Tories poured cash into rich West: Taxpayers' report

[jdobbin]

I don't know. One thing is certain; it won't end under a Liberal government.

I'd say nothing will be off the table if the deficit continues to play a part.

My preference and the one many are leaning to is an expanded infrastructure program from the municipal level but with a particular focus on interprovincial highways and international highways.

Which you continue to support - although, of course, you hate that money is going to westerners.

Since I am westerner, I can say that Harper has spent pretty freely in Manitoba. The NDP's Premier Doer appears to have Harper under his spell. Seriously. The relationship between the two leaders is one of the smoothest at the federal/provincial level and Harper accordingly rewards it with spending.

My criticism is that a lot of the spending is haphazard and doesn't serve a national public policy role. A lot of the spending is political. Flagpoles and murals should generally be done at the community or municipal level.

I would no sooner tolerate wasteful spending if it was in Quebec or Manitoba but if it helps you to accuse me of not wanting federal spending in the west, by all means have at it.

I don't believe Western Diversification is the best way to spend federal dollars in the west. Harper once believed in that idea.

The Liberal Party has ruled with the aid of a divide and conquer policy for decades, setting region against region, ethnic group against ethnic group, language against language. The Liberals created the national unity crisis, and continue to perpetuate it for their own political ends. Now they're trying to expand it, feeding the flames of resentment towards the West on the part of spoiled, sullen liberals from central Canada who are angry at not being in power.

Since the Liberals appear to be reaching out to the west at every turn at the moment, this argument seems a little muted.

Harper attacked Quebcer's with his namecalling and belligerence and now he is paying a price for it.

If Quebec ever does separate it will be because of the Liberal Party

If Alberta or some other western province does separate one day it will be because of the Liberal Party.

None of the will happen. And it will be because of the Liberal party.

Edited April 26, 2009 by jdobbin

[Hydraboss]

None of the will happen. And it will be because of the Liberal party.

As long as central Canada holds the west ransom with it's own money, it will not happen. Unless people out here finally hit the breaking point and say "enough". The federal Liberals in power will help to move things in that direction.

[normanchateau]

The Tories could have done a whole lot better if they had ended Western Diversification and simply used the money for tax decreases or an actual national investment program such as highways.

Harper has been Prime Minister for more than three years. Our personal income tax rates now are exactly what they were in 2005. Sounds like he learned nothing from Preston Manning other than to join Manning's Evangelical

Christian & Missionary Alliance church.