Coalition... of convenience?

[The_Squid]

Assuming fiscal conservatives would vote for the CPC is a stretch given the fiscal record of this government.

If there was a coalition, that would spell the end of CPC governance until that coalition broke down somehow...

[waldo]

Here is some of your social justice people at work and these people could be future leaders, I am glad I will be dead by then.

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2014/03/03/ottawa-students-tried-to-segregate-whites-from-non-whites/

apparently, you don't know what social conservatism is

[waldo]

I note social conservatism was very front-and-center at the recent Manning conference... perhaps you might be inclined to start a thread on it and extoll its virtues - yes?

PIK, let me help you out here. For example, try these... all prominent at the recent Manning Conservativepalooza!

- the abortion abolitionists

- the life campaigners

- the evangelicals

- the marriage traditionalists

.

[Smallc]

Assuming fiscal conservatives would vote for the CPC is a stretch given the fiscal record of this government.

You mean better than what the other parties wanted to do given the circumstances?

[The_Squid]

You mean better than what the other parties wanted to do given the circumstances?

No, not exactly what I meant...

Here is a good run-down of this government's fiscal incompetence:

Harper also remarked 2014 “is likely to present some good opportunities for our country.” The last time he said that was immediately after the 2008 financial crisis.

Not be outdone, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty was musing aloud the other day about the need for higher interest rates and a lower loonie. The last time I looked Flaherty was the finance minister and Steven Poloz was the governor of the Bank of Canada.

Why is Flaherty meddling in monetary policy, which is clearly outside of his mandate, especially since Poloz has publicly stated the economy is too fragile right now to raise interest rates?

Besides, Flaherty has his hands full trying to balance the budget after seven consecutive deficits (following 10 consecutive balanced budgets from the Chretien-Martin era). Of course, you’d never know it the way Flaherty was bloviating other day.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Let’s start with Friday’s national job numbers, the worst since the 2009 recession. Unemployment rose unexpectedly from a five-year low of 6.9 per cent to 7.2 per cent, which was above the U.S. jobless rate for the first time since 2008. The economy is seeing weaker job growth, a rising trade deficit and sluggish capital investement. The diving loonie, while good for exporters and manufacturers, is symptomatic of Canada’s weakening economic outlook.

------------------------------------------------------------

For starters, the Harper government has added $176.4 billion to Canada’s debt. In fact, nearly one quarter of Canada’s accumulated debt was amassed on Stephen Harper’s watch and all of that since 2008.

http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Johnstone+Stephen+Harper+fiscal+record/9374086/story.html

Like Harper's mentor, Brian Mulroney, he has created a financial mess that another government will have to come in and clean up.

Edited March 5, 2014 by The_Squid

[Smallc]

Not exactly, but sure, why not.

[Bryan]

Assuming fiscal conservatives would vote for the CPC is a stretch given the fiscal record of this government.

When was the last time any other government ever lead our country to a better fiscal position than the US during a recession? When things are bad in the US, they're usually far worse here, but we sailed through most of that at the top of the G7. During tough fiscal times, other governments gave us policies that resulted in higher taxes, higher interest rates, higher unemployment, and more inflation. Fiscally, we've got it VERY good compared to what both the Liberals and the NDP were proposing.

[On Guard for Thee]

When was the last time any other government ever lead our country to a better fiscal position than the US during a recession? When things are bad in the US, they're usually far worse here, but we sailed through most of that at the top of the G7. During tough fiscal times, other governments gave us policies that resulted in higher taxes, higher interest rates, higher unemployment, and more inflation. Fiscally, we've got it VERY good compared to what both the Liberals and the NDP were proposing.

Biggest deficits in history. And not much to show for it. Have you seen an F35 lately?

[Bryan]

Biggest deficits in history. And not much to show for it. Have you seen an F35 lately?

Not even close to the biggest. Trudeau's deficits were substantially higher.

What there was, was done at the insistence of the opposition in a minority parliament. The other options are the people who complained that the CPC were not spending ENOUGH. In the meantime, once they got their majority, the CPC has erased that deficit in record time, while LOWERING taxes, and INCREASING finding for healthcare -- polar opposite of how the LPC did their budget slashing.

And significantly more to show for it. A 44% increase in the net worth of the middle class, significantly lower taxes, and one of the strongest economies in the world.

[On Guard for Thee]

And of course you do recall they were handed a surplus from the Martin Liberals?

[Boges]

And of course you do recall they were handed a surplus from the Martin Liberals?

While the Martin Liberals had a surplus so did the Harris Conservatives.

Interestingly the Federal budget as pretty much been balanced while in Ontario the Liberals are still mired in a deficit they say they can't even tackle until 2017 at the earliest.

[The_Squid]

Not even close to the biggest. Trudeau's deficits were substantially higher.

What there was, was done at the insistence of the opposition in a minority parliament. The other options are the people who complained that the CPC were not spending ENOUGH. In the meantime, once they got their majority, the CPC has erased that deficit in record time, while LOWERING taxes, and INCREASING finding for healthcare -- polar opposite of how the LPC did their budget slashing.

And significantly more to show for it. A 44% increase in the net worth of the middle class, significantly lower taxes, and one of the strongest economies in the world.

2009 had the largest deficit in Canada's history, $13billion more than Then next highest in 93, Mulroney's last budget before the Liberals took over. What they were when calculated in today's dollars, I'm not too sure. Maybe someone can dig that up. But don't try and claim Harper was some sort of fiscal conservative. That narrative is way out the window!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/ottawa-posted-largest-deficit-ever-last-year-104843689.html

[Boges]

2009 had the largest deficit in Canada's history, $13billion more than Then next highest in 93, Mulroney's last budget before the Liberals took over. What they were when calculated in today's dollars, I'm not too sure. Maybe someone can dig that up. But don't try and claim Harper was some sort of fiscal conservative. That narrative is way out the window!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/ottawa-posted-largest-deficit-ever-last-year-104843689.html

Do you really believe that Harper wanted to run up huge debt like that?

Both sides are sucking and blowing here. Was the Canadian Action Plan a good thing? Because it's what kept the Iggy led Liberals from forming a coalition with the Bloc and NDP. That's why the debt was created, it was stimulus spending.

Also Obama gets credit for turning America around with Stimulus spending even though the States are hopelessly in debt. How much Harper doesn't get any credit whatsoever for getting the country through the recession and still being able to balance to books?

[Smallc]

In constant dollars 2009 was definitely not the largest deficit ever.

[The_Squid]

In constant dollars 2009 was definitely not the largest deficit ever.

Do you have a cite for that?

[Smallc]

Can't find it right now but it's there.

[Smallc]

http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/

There.

[bleeding heart]

I'm a little ambivalent. Harper's not exactly my guy, but in this, I don't think he's batting way below average.

[bush_cheney2004]

In constant dollars 2009 was definitely not the largest deficit ever.

Certainly not, as the claim didn't pass the smell test. Hard to find inflation adjusted deficits, but it looks like 1984 may have been the peak.

http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/debt.html

[The_Squid]

http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/canada-deficit/

There.

Thanks... a Trudeau deficit was largest, followed by a Harper deficit.... He is a fiscal conservative in the same mold as Trudeau.... good to know!

[bleeding heart]

For some people, those are the ultimate fighting words.

[Smallc]

No one would have ran a smaller deficit (at least from the choices available).