Federal Funding of Gay Pride Parade

[Werecar]

All to the contrary, Jesus showed no fear to die for our salvation and commerce is about selling your labor to avoid starvation.

Imaginary men can't die except in imaginary land. I live in the real world.

[normanchateau]

I expect that Ablonczy, being a hold-over from the Manning era, and someone who Manning seemed to have an awful lot of respect for, is precisely the kind of person that Harper would loathe. Harper despises Manning (much as Manning despises a guy he justifiably views as a two-bit hanger-on with the scruples of a one-eyed alley cat), and Ablonczy represents precisely those halcyon days when the main leader of conservatism in this country was a guy with the human touch and who did inspire grudging respect even in his opponents. All Harper musters is contempt, even from half his party, who are currently beholden to him because the whole caucus is like a Mexican standoff.

Of course Harper despises him. Manning fired Harper as Finance critic and replaced him with Herb Grubel, a fiscal conservative who actually worked as an economist. Being a fiscal conservative and an economist, Grubel favoured income tax cuts rather than GST cuts.

Manning also favoured cuts in personal income tax rates. Today, personal income tax rates are no lower than they were in 2005 before big spender Harper became Prime Minister.

Harper has shown contempt for fiscal conservatism while continuing to appease the social conservatives in his party.

[scribblet]

Fortunately, Harper has not appeased the social conservatives in any way, if he had, they wouldn't be so upset to the point where some are considering joining the CHP. I belong to a private conservative list, you can bet that reality does not reflect much of what is said on here by some folks.

Harper does not 'despise' Manning, that's an erroneous assumption not based on anything but wishful thinking and a spurious means of spreading rumours.

All this nonsense about religion etc. is funny - that dog don't hunt anymore LOL

[normanchateau]

"The revelation of $400,000 in funding from the federal Conservatives for the recent Toronto Gay Pride parade, which is notorious for its inclusion of full frontal nudity and public sex acts by homosexuals, came as a shock to most social conservatives in the nation. According to Conservative MP Brad Trost, however, the decision to fund the event also came a shock to most of the Conservative caucus, even those inside the Prime Minister's office.

Speaking to LifeSiteNews.com from his riding office in Saskatoon today, the 36-year-old Conservative said, "The pro-life and the pro-family community should know and understand that the tourism funding money that went to the gay pride parade in Toronto was not government policy, was not supported by - I think it's safe to say by a large majority - of the MPs. This was a very isolated decision."

Trost also hinted that Minister Diane Ablonczy, who was responsible for the funding, lost the file as a consequence of the embarrassment to the Party. Protesting more than once that there was no "official connection," he said, however, "it should be noted that the file has been reassigned to a different Cabinet Minister since that announcement was made." He added, "The whole tourism program and funding for major tourism events is being reviewed."

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09070615.html

[normanchateau]

"For Mr. Harper and his Conservative Party, the vote is an attempt to appease the religious social conservatives who form the core of the support for his minority government without losing moderate voters who want to avoid the issue.

Though the expected vote in Parliament will not decide whether to rescind the gay marriage legislation, but instead whether members wish to reopen the issue for debate, it remains significant for the Christian right and the government.

For leaders of the Christian right, the vote is a chance to get the marriage issue back on the government’s agenda and to get a better sense of where individual politicians, especially newly elected ones, stand. They have adopted that strategy in part because they say that the vote in Parliament will be difficult to win."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/world/am...agewanted=print

[M.Dancer]

"For Mr. Harper and his Conservative Party, the vote is an attempt to appease the religious social conservatives who form the core of the support for his minority government without losing moderate voters who want to avoid the issue.

Though the expected vote in Parliament will not decide whether to rescind the gay marriage legislation, but instead whether members wish to reopen the issue for debate, it remains significant for the Christian right and the government.

For leaders of the Christian right, the vote is a chance to get the marriage issue back on the government’s agenda and to get a better sense of where individual politicians, especially newly elected ones, stand. They have adopted that strategy in part because they say that the vote in Parliament will be difficult to win."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/world/am...agewanted=print

A three year old news item that in effect with hindsight being what it is shows the skill in which Harper outmanouvered the socio-conservatives and kept the party in the middle with a big tent.

Was that your intention?

[normanchateau]

...kept the party in the middle with a big tent.

Apparently you've confused Stephen Harper with Brian Mulroney.

Most Canadians are centrists and social moderates. The Conservatives will never win a majority as long as their leader remains an evangelical social conservative like Stephen Harper.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Apparently you've confused Stephen Harper with Brian Mulroney.

Most Canadians are centrists and social moderates. The Conservatives will never win a majority as long as their leader remains an evangelical social conservative like Stephen Harper.

Harper will not survive his next leadership contest, let alone retain a government.

[benny]

Imaginary men can't die except in imaginary land. I live in the real world.

So, your reality is my imagination!

[Werecar]

So, your reality is my imagination!

No, your belief in jesus is no different then a child believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth fairy.

[benny]

No, your belief in jesus is no different then a child believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth fairy.

So your reality is or at least perceives my religious beliefs!

[Werecar]

So your reality is or at least perceives my religious beliefs!

No. My reality listens to your statements of believing in fictitious beings no different then then those that believe in any of the other deities you reject.

[benny]

No. My reality listens to your statements of believing in fictitious beings no different then then those that believe in any of the other deities you reject.

hear my statement: I do not believe what you seem to think.

[Werecar]

hear my statement: I do not believe what you seem to think.

I think you meant to say you don't care. Make no mistake though, your belief in a supernatural deity is no different then any other god delusion. You just compound your error by making ridiculous statements like "my religious message is inclusive while others are exclusionary".

[benny]

I think you meant to say you don't care. Make no mistake though, your belief in a supernatural deity is no different then any other god delusion. You just compound your error by making ridiculous statements like "my religious message is inclusive while others are exclusionary".

Again, I do not believe what you seem to think.

[Werecar]

Again, I do not believe what you seem to think.

Again, you mean to say you don't care. You have no choice but to believe what I'm saying unless you are actually trying that pathetic religious dodge where you delude yourself into believing that us Atheists actually do believe in your god its just that we won't admit it.

[benny]

Again, you mean to say you don't care.

I mean not to say I don't care.

Edited July 14, 2009 by benny

[Dave_ON]

What federal funding does the Stampede get because depending on what it is, I might agree with you. We all have our opinions on what should or should not receive federal funding. Because I may not agree with you on some of them doesn't lead me to make assumptions about your character or apply labels to you.

First of all I wasn't attempting to apply a label though in reality you are quite correct that, that is what WASP is. I didn't mean it to come across as pejorative and I apologize if it did. I think of it as more of a description, like gay. It too can be used in a pejorative sense but it's how I and others would describe an aspect of my being.

Generally, and generalizations aren't always accurate of course, people who are white anglo straight protestants can't understand what it is like to be a minority as they are part of the majority in this country. Thus they have a difficult time understanding why changes need to be made as in general they aren't disenfranchised by the status quo.

Secondly to answer your question, the Stampede receives roughly $2 million in federal funding. Even though I don't personally enjoy the stampede, there are those that do, and I can appreciate the cultural and fiscal contributions it makes to our society. As such I have no problem with this funding, provided that other events, such as Pride are give due consideration also.

[Werecar]

I mean not to say I don't care.

Ah, benoit from CKA. Your buddies miss you.

[benny]

"The director of one of Canada's premier gay and lesbian festivals came to the defence of the Conservative government Wednesday, saying she has received even more stable support since the Tories took power."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/20...ontreal008.html

[Wilber]

First of all I wasn't attempting to apply a label though in reality you are quite correct that, that is what WASP is. I didn't mean it to come across as pejorative and I apologize if it did. I think of it as more of a description, like gay. It too can be used in a pejorative sense but it's how I and others would describe an aspect of my being.

Generally, and generalizations aren't always accurate of course, people who are white anglo straight protestants can't understand what it is like to be a minority as they are part of the majority in this country. Thus they have a difficult time understanding why changes need to be made as in general they aren't disenfranchised by the status quo.

Secondly to answer your question, the Stampede receives roughly $2 million in federal funding. Even though I don't personally enjoy the stampede, there are those that do, and I can appreciate the cultural and fiscal contributions it makes to our society. As such I have no problem with this funding, provided that other events, such as Pride are give due consideration also.

Fair enough, mostly I just think it is a real pitty that we feel we should need such things.

[benny]

Fair enough, mostly I just think it is a real pitty that we feel we should need such things.

What would be a real pity is to feel an aging society should be let to die.

Edited July 14, 2009 by benny

[M.Dancer]

Ah, benoit from CKA. Your buddies miss you.

Is that a mental health centre?

[benny]

Is that a mental health centre?

See:

http://www.canadaka.net/forums/improve-can...acy-t30777.html

[Werecar]

Is that a mental health centre?

As I surmised he is the same guy and making just as many friends here as he did there I might add.