CBC Comments Section is Nothing but a Harper Bash Fest

[Smallc]

Did you not watch the crowd at the olympics. Looks like shared culture to me. And not a penny from the gov't. As for good TV, look for investors and try and get a show to fly in the states. The only gov't support should come in the form of tax breaks. Cancon, and tax dollars screw over Canadians.

Not a penny from the Governments? The Olympics? You know, you need to get over this idea that everything comes down to money it doesn't. Besides, those crowds at the olympics were just an example of the fake Canadian patriotism that you don't like.

If CTVGlobemedia can't compete with the big boys down in the US, let them fail, and let the US networks come into Canada, they have local stations as well.

You have got to be kidding. You would be Ok with losing all 3 of our national broadcasters? This is the Canadian market, there's a reason there's restrictions on who can buy into it. Everything Canadian would be completely drowned out. I don't watch local news, I only watch national news, and the American stations aren't going to care about that.

As lucky as Quebec and Ontario too.

They don't have oil. Oil is like free money. It turned poor Newfoundland and Labrador into a have province in about 10 seconds flat.

[blueblood]

Not a penny from the Governments? The Olympics? You know, you need to get over this idea that everything comes down to money it doesn't. Besides, those crowds at the olympics were just an example of the fake Canadian patriotism that you don't like.

Ah, but free "fake" Canadian patriotism nonetheless. The Americans should collect royalties from the copying of American style patriotism

You have got to be kidding. You would be Ok with losing all 3 of our national broadcasters? This is the Canadian market, there's a reason there's restrictions on who can buy into it. Everything Canadian would be completely drowned out. I don't watch local news, I only watch national news, and the American stations aren't going to care about that

Yes I would be OK with that. So what if everything Canadian gets drowned out, you say that like it's a bad thing. The American stations broadcasting in Canada will show some national news because a 30 million person TV market is nothing to sneeze at.

They don't have oil. Oil is like free money. It turned poor Newfoundland and Labrador into a have province in about 10 seconds flat.

So does having navigable waterways, deepwater ports, hydroelectricity, large population, and very close proximity to the US. That makes you a have province in about 5 seconds flat. Unless your Quebec, and think that a socialist, isolationist economy is the way to go.

[Smallc]

Ah, but free "fake" Canadian patriotism nonetheless. The Americans should collect royalties from the copying of American style patriotism

Sorry, but our patriotism is our own.

Yes I would be OK with that. So what if everything Canadian gets drowned out, you say that like it's a bad thing.

That's not a bad thing? Do you not care for this country in any capacity?

The American stations broadcasting in Canada will show some national news because a 30 million person TV market is nothing to sneeze at.

Oh good, we can lose all of our own companies. No need for Canada to do anything anymore.

So does having navigable waterways, deepwater ports, hydroelectricity, large population, and very close proximity to the US. That makes you a have province in about 5 seconds flat. Unless your Quebec, and think that a socialist, isolationist economy is the way to go.

None of that is worth as much as oil is right now.

[blueblood]

Sorry, but our patriotism is our own.

The only difference b/w canadian flag wavers and american flag wavers is the amount of red, the lack of blue, and the use of the maple leaf instead of the stars and stripes.

That's not a bad thing? Do you not care for this country in any capacity?

I care about not lighting money on fire, which unfortunately government propping up the Canadian media is doing.

Oh good, we can lose all of our own companies. No need for Canada to do anything anymore.

No, we lose the crappy companies. Canadian companies do well in our own little niches, energy being one.

None of that is worth as much as oil is right now.

But a minute ago you were bragging about how vibrant and prosperous Ontario and Quebec were and that they should be the envy of the country. Oil is irrelevant, it's management of resources. I wonder what's more valuable to BC, it's oil deposits or the massive port in Vancouver...

[Smallc]

The only difference b/w canadian flag wavers and american flag wavers is the amount of red, the lack of blue, and the use of the maple leaf instead of the stars and stripes.

No, there is a very important difference. The ones waving red white and blue flags love America for there own reasons. The ones waving the maple leaf love Canada, because they feel that they are truly blessed to live here, and they are very proud of this countries accomplishments.

I care about not lighting money on fire, which unfortunately government propping up the Canadian media is doing.

I didn't say that the government was propping up Canadian media, but Canadian media often does need assistance because our market is small, and even though we are now exporting programs to the US and other markets, that is often done with some government assistance. Government can be a useful partner in growing Canadian industry.

No, we lose the crappy companies. Canadian companies do well in our own little niches, energy being one.

Energy isn't everything. There are many other things we do well, including auto manufacturing which you seem to think is dead. We also have massive engineering firms and a certain 3rd largest aircraft manufacturer in the world that at one point needed help and wouldn't be around if you got your way most of the time.

But a minute ago you were bragging about how vibrant and prosperous Ontario and Quebec were and that they should be the envy of the country. Oil is irrelevant, it's management of resources. I wonder what's more valuable to BC, it's oil deposits or the massive port in Vancouver...

I never really said Quebec was doing well, they were doing ok, and they will continue to do ok. Ontario was doing well, and will do well again. I still can't believe you think that oil has nothing to do with it.

Here's the thing, there are very few thousands of dollars in per capita terms that separate BC, Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Economic activity isn't everything in the equalization formula....oh, and for BC, it's natural gas, and Vancouver...but it's not so much about the port in Vancouver as it is about Vancouver itself. It's the same thing for Toronto in Ontario and Montreal in Quebec. I'll figure it out and get back to you.

Anyway, the point of all this is that Canadian news and culture would still be important, even in the absence of the CBC.

[Smallc]

So in 2008, expenditure based per capita GDP:

Quebec: 38,981

Ontario: 45,441

Britishc: 45,158

Manitob: 42,150

So, BC and Ontario have the same size of economy per capita. Alberta is up around 80K per person. Saskatchewan and N+L are up around 60K per person. They all have one thing in common - oil - and as much as you try to deny it, that is the deciding factor. Notice that Quebec is lower than all the rest, but yet gets less equalization per capita than Manitoba. Numbers can sometimes be misleading.

[blueblood]

No, there is a very important difference. The ones waving red white and blue flags love America for there own reasons. The ones waving the maple leaf love Canada, because they feel that they are truly blessed to live here, and they are very proud of this countries accomplishments.

Tell that to BC2004, he and others "love" the US the same way you "love" Canada, that argument is a wash.

I didn't say that the government was propping up Canadian media, but Canadian media often does need assistance because our market is small, and even though we are now exporting programs to the US and other markets, that is often done with some government assistance. Government can be a useful partner in growing Canadian industry.

The CRTC and Cancon prop it up. Those cost money and a lot of it. Not only that, they forcibly keep other media out, thus screwing over Canadians. Think of the cell phone industry.

Energy isn't everything. There are many other things we do well, including auto manufacturing which you seem to think is dead. We also have massive engineering firms and a certain 3rd largest aircraft manufacturer in the world that at one point needed help and wouldn't be around if you got your way most of the time.

Energy is our most profitable resource that Canada has in spades. It's a waste of labour to fart around with manufacturing when there is far more money to be made in the energy game. The only time the gov't should be getting in with businesses is if they already have sales and need capital investment (same lines as a venture capitalist - getting a return on investment, not throwing money away)

I never really said Quebec was doing well, they were doing ok, and they will continue to do ok. Ontario was doing well, and will do well again. I still can't believe you think that oil has nothing to do with it.

Ontario was doing "well" without oil, why can't Quebec?

Here's the thing, there are very few thousands of dollars in per capita terms that separate BC, Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Economic activity isn't everything in the equalization formula....oh, and for BC, it's natural gas, and Vancouver...but it's not so much about the port in Vancouver as it is about Vancouver itself. It's the same thing for Toronto in Ontario and Montreal in Quebec. I'll figure it out and get back to you.

That port makes a kings ransom and you know it. It's the catalyst that drives Vancouver and allows its spinoff industries.

Anyway, the point of all this is that Canadian news and culture would still be important, even in the absence of the CBC.

Yes, either BellGlobemedia, Global, or possibly ABC,NBC,CBS with a mapleleaf attached to them.

[Smallc]

Tell that to BC2004, he and others "love" the US the same way you "love" Canada, that argument is a wash.

And that's the difference. Our patriotism is directed at Canada because of the way we feel, not because of any copy cat syndrome.

Energy is our most profitable resource that Canada has in spades. It's a waste of labour to fart around with manufacturing when there is far more money to be made in the energy game. The only time the gov't should be getting in with businesses is if they already have sales and need capital investment (same lines as a venture capitalist - getting a return on investment, not throwing money away)

Energy isn't everything. You can't make energy everywhere.

Ontario was doing "well" without oil, why can't Quebec?

Different situation, different language for one thing.

Yes, either BellGlobemedia, Global, or possibly ABC,NBC,CBS with a mapleleaf attached to them.

Yeah, we'll stick with our own thanks.

[bush_cheney2004]

And that's the difference. Our patriotism is directed at Canada because of the way we feel, not because of any copy cat syndrome.

Really? So we can forget about all those smarmy comparisons to Americans and cut to chase:

Would you die for Canadian "values"?

[M.Dancer]

Would you die for Canadian "values"?

I would rather live for them...but hey, if I take the King's shilling...

[fellowtraveller]

The Saskatchewan people promote their culture very proudly, no need of government assistance

Saskatchewan managed to maintain their culture by exporting so many people to Alberta, which reduced social costs, which meant they did not need quite so much in equalization payments.

Don't you love the symmetry?