We have a traitor in our midst - Harper

[mikemac]

quote from mikemac

That is nonsense August1991. Starting in 1855, while Canada was under British control, free trade was implemented between the colonies of British North America and the United States under the Reciprocity Treaty. In 1866, a year before Canadian Confederation, the United States Congress voted to cancel the treaty. Every Prime Minister since Confederation had said that Canada can not have reciprocity (free trade) with the US because of the difference in the economy of scale between the countries. Every Prime Minister up to Mulroney.

quote from CANADIEN

You're sure? From the Canadian Encyclopedia article on Sir Wilfrid Laurier

After 1908, despite his desire to correct certain abuses arising from the far-reaching changes in society, Laurier focused his attention primarily on 2 bills which, in the final analysis, resulted in his defeat (...). The second bill concerned reciprocity with the US, the old Liberal dream of 1891. Brought to the Commons early in 1911, it provided for the free trade of several natural products and reduced duty for an imposing number of Canadian manufactured products entering the US. Despite the attractions of the plan, it raised the ire of Canadian industrialists and provided a target for the Conservative Party under R.L. BORDEN, who accused the Liberals of disloyalty toward England and of leading the country towards political annexation. To settle the issue the prime minister called a general election and, on 21 September 1911, suffered a bitter defeat.

Okay CANADIEN I stand corrected. Laurier did try to attempt reciprocity with the US for several natural products and a number of manufactured products. But I was correcting August1991 who said that "Laurier also signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Americans." Which is not correct. Laurier "suffered a bitter defeat" on account of the reciprocity bill he was putting forward. Thanks for pointing that out CANADIEN. I remember back when the country was so upset that Mulroney's majority was planning on forcing us into a free trade agreement with the US many commentators repeatedly said "Every Prime Minister since Confederation had said that Canada can not have reciprocity with the US". I remember hearing it a lot. Back then Mulroney was known around here as Backdoor Brian because he entered the city hall threw the backdoor without facing an angry crowd out front.

Actually today Harper could also be accused of "leading the country towards political annexation".

[mikemac]

mikemac-- project democracy shows the candidate from the last election that had the best chance of defeating the Conservatives. The same thing might not be true today. We're wading into uncharted territory with the NDP polling above 30%. Project Democracy is going to do more harm than good. Vote for the party that represents YOU, not against the party that doesn't.

See my post titled "Toronto Star endorses the NDP" cybercoma.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showtopic=18787

Actually there hasn't been a party that represents what I consider good government for me for quite some time so I have been holding my nose and voting against the worst. The way I see this election a vote for Jack Layton now is a vote to preserve Canadian sovereignty.

Edited May 1, 2011 by mikemac