Will Stephen Harper resign over the Senate scandal?

[scribblet]

I just hope people see the irony (I guess) that these people could be in real trouble over essentially petty cash. The government wastes millions, and they are on each other like dogs for a couple hundred thousand dollars?

What is really going on with these people?

Power. The opposition wants power at any cost so rather than focus on the economy, the EU trade deal etc. etc. they focus on trying to bring down the gov't. The problem for Mulcair is he won't benefit from this, Trudeau and the Liberals will.

[PIK]

do you actually think it was the Conservative base that provided the last election result?

People are talking his base here , keep up will ya.

[Keepitsimple]

Harb's day is coming, and it will be a lot worse. but at least he resigned.

PIK - I think you knew this but it's worth mentioning it again with a proper cite:

As the rules stand, Mac Harb’s retirement from the Senate this week ensured his lucrative government pension will last as long as he does – even if an RCMP investigation into his alleged spending violations leads to serious charges, a conviction and a prison term.

Senators who are convicted of an indictable offence can be ejected from the Senate and lose their parliamentary pensions. But if they resign before that happens, they are entitled to all of the benefits they have accrued.

The loophole in the rules for the Senate has allowed former Liberal senator Raymond Lavigne to collect an estimated $79,000 annually even as he sits in a cell at the Ottawa-Carleton detention centre serving six months for fraud and breach of trust. Mr. Lavigne quit the Senate immediately after he was convicted in 2011, avoiding the eviction from the Red Chamber that would have cost him his government-funded retirement plan.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/red-chamber-rules-allow-senators-to-keep-pensions-as-long-as-they-resign-before-conviction/article13992768/

Edited October 30, 2013 by Keepitsimple

[Boges]

The moral of the story is only appoint independently wealthy Senators so when they have to be removed for corruption they won't put up a fight.

[bleeding heart]

An argument can be made that no one more viciously protects their "right" to income than those who are already wealthy.

[GostHacked]

The moral of the story is only appoint independently wealthy Senators so when they have to be removed for corruption they won't put up a fight.

Touche!!!

[waldo]

PIK - I think you knew this but it's worth mentioning it again with a proper cite:

sorry, the Harb Channel you are desperate to change to is not available in this coverage area.

[waldo]

People are talking his base here , keep up will ya.

no - your premise was to suggest the Harper Conservative base will not be swayed by this Harper Conservative scandal... that they wouldn't shift to "Thomas or Justin". The question/point you're avoiding was simply one to impress upon you that it wasn't "the base" that provided the last election result. Try to keep up, hey!

[PIK]

PIK - I think you knew this but it's worth mentioning it again with a proper cite:

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/red-chamber-rules-allow-senators-to-keep-pensions-as-long-as-they-resign-before-conviction/article13992768/

My mistake, I forgot about him still getting the pension. Damn.

[cybercoma]

It's good to know that the PIKs, KeepItSimples, and scribblets of the forum don't speak for Canadians generally. The national numbers show what people really think of Harper and his puppet Senators whom he's so desperately trying to back away from.

[Sheogorath_The_Mad]

I don't know that I'd use "Harper" and "Integrity" in the same sentence, unless a word like "lacking" had been placed between the two. No, Harper will not willingly resign.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Sheogorath_The_Mad

[Bryan]

I'm still waiting for an actual scandal.

Me too. Nothing I've seen so far even remotely qualifies as scandalous.

[On Guard for Thee]

It's good to know that the PIKs, KeepItSimples, and scribblets of the forum don't speak for Canadians generally. The national numbers show what people really think of Harper and his puppet Senators whom he's so desperately trying to back away from.

"Desperately" is such an accurate descriptor here, especially if you have watched QP any time since the new session started. Try as he might, Harper couldn't change the channel, so he goes right into the convention with this dark cloud over. If I wasn't busy I'd almost like to go to YYC and listen to his speech on Friday night. I bet he is writing/re-writing it as I type.

[Argus]

I don't know that I'd use "Harper" and "Integrity" in the same sentence, unless a word like "lacking" had been placed between the two. No, Harper will not willingly resign.

I wouldn't use the word 'integrity' with any politician. On the the other hand, on the scale of things, as politicians are reckoned, he's miles ahead of any other PM we've had the last thirty five years.

[Argus]

It's good to know that the PIKs, KeepItSimples, and scribblets of the forum don't speak for Canadians generally. The national numbers show what people really think of Harper and his puppet Senators whom he's so desperately trying to back away from.

Do I care about the senators? Well, kinda. Is it gonna make me change my vote to a different guy who will be just as bad, probably ten times as corrupt, and whose policies will probably half bankrupt us? Uhm, no.

[On Guard for Thee]

Who's the last PM that damn near bankrupt us? That would be John Deifenbaker. Now we have the largest deficit ever under Harper. Physcal responsibility from the CPC? Not according to history.

[Moonlight Graham]

This will probably sink Harper, since I think it's more likely than not that he knew about the 90k cheque. IMO, Harper doesn't defend himself like a person being falsely accused, he defends himself like a person trying desperately to keep his head about water because he screwed up. But I'm fairly sure we'll know the truth eventually, so we'll have to wait and see. No matter what, this drama is really fun to watch!

[Guest Derek L]

2015 is a long way away.

IMO, if the unemployment rate remains low, and especially lower than the US rate, I predict that the CPC, led by Harper, will win another majority. (Much to my chagrin.)

1. As seen in the latest federal and provincial election, in relatively god economic times, Canadians do not want change - they like the status quo.

2. Harper and his entourage have lied and deceived Canadians. "Big deal". This is standard operating procedures since at least 500 years as per Niccolò Machiavelli.

3. On this scandal, Harper and the PMO are guilty of crisis mismanagement. What about all the other crisis’ he managed so well and/or prevented? His "save percentage" is still probably over 90%.

Though we disagree on most issues, from an objective standpoint, you’re right on the mark……..I’ve been saying since the last election, this Government’s fortunes rest on the economy…….When they deliver a surplus that allows for income splitting* in 2015, coupled with other positive economic news that actually effects Canadians, the Harper Government will return with a larger mandate then it currently has……..Of course, redistribution won’t hurt either

*Bush style tax cuts for the ignorant to get worked up over…..not you of course Carepov.

[Guest Derek L]

It all hinges on Nigel Wright's personal story. Fun times.

Nail. Head. Hammer.

Of course once cleared, and if Mr Wright chooses to "go public" with a story that collaborates with the Prime Minister, Mr Wright will then be deemed a “party hack” that “Harper got off”…can’t win for trying.

[On Guard for Thee]

Though we disagree on most issues, from an objective standpoint, you’re right on the mark……..I’ve been saying since the last election, this Government’s fortunes rest on the economy…….When they deliver a surplus that allows for income splitting* in 2015, coupled with other positive economic news that actually effects Canadians, the Harper Government will return with a larger mandate then it currently has……..Of course, redistribution won’t hurt either

*Bush style tax cuts for the ignorant to get worked up over…..not you of course Carepov.

What other crisis did he manage well? I agree it's hard to choose there are so many. And I totally dismiss this retarded idea that because there has been similar things occur in other governments that we should dismiss the current ones. Let's see, if you were in court charged with a crime your defense would be, "well it's not the first time this has been done, so leave me alone"? That's what I hear from this type of "logic"

[carepov]

Though we disagree on most issues, from an objective standpoint, you’re right on the mark……..I’ve been saying since the last election, this Government’s fortunes rest on the economy…….When they deliver a surplus that allows for income splitting* in 2015, coupled with other positive economic news that actually effects Canadians, the Harper Government will return with a larger mandate then it currently has……..Of course, redistribution won’t hurt either

*Bush style tax cuts for the ignorant to get worked up over…..not you of course Carepov.

Income splitting would be such a benefit to me that I would probably put aside all my qualms over Harper and stick a blue sign on my lawn.

Edited October 31, 2013 by carepov

[Guest Derek L]

What other crisis did he manage well? I agree it's hard to choose there are so many. And I totally dismiss this retarded idea that because there has been similar things occur in other governments that we should dismiss the current ones. Let's see, if you were in court charged with a crime your defense would be, "well it's not the first time this has been done, so leave me alone"? That's what I hear from this type of "logic"

Who are you talking to? And why quote my post then divert and degrade into another trajectory?

[Guest Derek L]

Income splitting would be such a benefit to me that I would probably put aside all my qualms over Harper and stick a blue sign on my lawn.

Of course you will, as will a great many other Canadians that have a large discrepancy between the earnings of the adults within the household…….From the “rich fat cats” all the way down to lower income Canadians….. Affording the Beer and Popcorn does mater to Canadians.

[On Guard for Thee]

Income splitting would be such a benefit to me that I would probably put aside all my qualms over Harper and stick a blue sign on my lawn.

Well, take a look at the defecit his party has created before you do anything.

[bleeding heart]

Nail. Head. Hammer.

Of course once cleared, and if Mr Wright chooses to "go public" with a story that collaborates with the Prime Minister

You expect Mr. Wright to publically announce, "The PM was correct, I, Nigel Wright, deceived the Canadian public"? (That is Harper's new claim, as I'm sure you've heard.)

Well, maybe. It's not impossible. I guess we'll see.