Harper pulls an Allison Redford gives EU leaders 300,000$ flight

[G Huxley]

As he courts them over the recent free trade agreement, which Germany has showed cold feat over concerns of sovereignty and environmental integrity. (Something Harper cares nothing about). This recently followed Harper making a massive possibly unconstitutional free trade agreement with China, which allows Chinese companies to grab what's left of our resources that haven't already been acquired by foreign companies.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/harper-gives-eu-leaders-free-plane-ride-cbc-report-pegs-tab-at-over-300-000-1.1396622

[Keepitsimple]

......and your point is?

[Topaz]

I do believe the China agreement is also for 30 years and they are allowed to sued Canadians companies , if China feels they are not being treated right. As far as the flight goes, Harper should pay for out of his own pocket since it was HIS idea, hoping that Germany won't back out, was his way of buying an agreement, which may show down the road not so good for Canada after all.

[Smallc]

I don't see the big deal.

[PIK]

So we just should go with one one of the other 2 and tax the shit out of everything.

[Argus]

This is an idiotic comparison. Redford used planes for her own benefit. This is clearly a proper business use of the aircraft. Trying to tie in the chine free trade deal, for which there is already an ongoing topic thread, is pointless.

There is no story here.

[cybercoma]

It doesn't matter whether it was proper use or not. It matters how the public perceives it. The public isn't going to give a crap about this.

[The_Squid]

Redford used her plane for personal reasons and lied to other MLAs about how much room was left, made up fake passenger lists and took her family on vacations.

I don't see an issue with these flight expenses by Harper. It was nothing like the Redford issue as there was no personal gain from the PM. It seems to be done in the country's interests.

If you want to debate free trade, then debate free trade. This topic is just partisan complaining.

[hitops]

As he courts them over the recent free trade agreement, which Germany has showed cold feat over concerns of sovereignty and environmental integrity. (Something Harper cares nothing about). This recently followed Harper making a massive possibly unconstitutional free trade agreement with China, which allows Chinese companies to grab what's left of our resources that haven't already been acquired by foreign companies.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/harper-gives-eu-leaders-free-plane-ride-cbc-report-pegs-tab-at-over-300-000-1.1396622

This statement seem to have no connection to your title of this thread.

Further, there is zero similarity between Redford's actions and Harper's, for the reasons mentioned by The_Squid.

[Keepitsimple]

Nice to see that even posters who are not fans of Harper - recognize someone who is wasting our time.

[PIK]

Always looking for a scandal.

[cybercoma]

Always looking for a scandal.

Well, when you tell Veterans to piss off, that they're not your problem, then you turn around and blow nearly half a million dollars on a fake photo op with foreign leaders, it's a bit of a slap in the face to the people who've served this country.

[On Guard for Thee]

As he courts them over the recent free trade agreement, which Germany has showed cold feat over concerns of sovereignty and environmental integrity. (Something Harper cares nothing about). This recently followed Harper making a massive possibly unconstitutional free trade agreement with China, which allows Chinese companies to grab what's left of our resources that haven't already been acquired by foreign companies.

http://www.timescolonist.com/life/harper-gives-eu-leaders-free-plane-ride-cbc-report-pegs-tab-at-over-300-000-1.1396622

It's all a bit spooky actually. Harper has ratified this FIPA thing which is quite scary. Of course he snuch that one in under the wire before parliament reconvened. Now we have this EU thing, still not ratified, even though we have popped champagne corks twice over two phony ceremonies, and now we even have a 350k bill to fly the EU guys home.

[PIK]

Well, when you tell Veterans to piss off, that they're not your problem, then you turn around and blow nearly half a million dollars on a fake photo op with foreign leaders, it's a bit of a slap in the face to the people who've served this country.

Show me a government recently that has shown respect for the military like harper has. Always be problems.

[The_Squid]

Well, when you tell Veterans to piss off, that they're not your problem, then you turn around and blow nearly half a million dollars on a fake photo op with foreign leaders, it's a bit of a slap in the face to the people who've served this country.

We can argue priorities... this gov't's priorities are seriously flawed. And they pay lip service to issues such as veterans affairs... but they still need to spend money on things like travel and meetings.. that's why I don't think that this is an issue.

I didn't say that this was money well spent.... only that it was nothing like Redford's use of jets.

[PIK]

I would like to know how much chretien spent taking his buddies to china on all those trade trips that really produced nothing.

[The_Squid]

Show me a government recently that has shown respect for the military like harper has. Always be problems.

Harper has decreased spending on the military, botched a bunch of purchases and insulted veterans. Bagpipes and parades may equal respect to you.... but good government policy is my measuring stick, as well as actually implementing stated policy.

I may not agree with increased military spending, but when it's promised and the opposite actually happens, that's not good governance. It's dishonest and slimy. It's vote buying from people like yourself who like the parades and nice words, but don't actually pay attention to the reality of the situation.

Six years ago, the prime minister pledged the military would receive a “stable and predictable” two per cent funding increase, starting in 2011.

The escalator, as it’s known, amounts to about $350 million per year and continues to be delivered, but it’s been more than offset by reductions elsewhere in the defence budget.

Canada will spend about one per cent of its gross domestic product on the military this year, down from 1.3 per cent in 2009.

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

All branches of the military tightened their belts and combined headquarters, but the big savings have come in the area of readiness, where there have been fewer flying hours, more simulator time for pilots and an army that’s been parking trucks and conserving training ammunition.

University of Ottawa defence expert Phillippe Lagasse said the army has been hit particularly hard.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1235611-analysis-is-the-harper-government-really-spending-more-on-military

[The_Squid]

I would like to know how much chretien spent taking his buddies to china on all those trade trips that really produced nothing.

So it was bad for Chretien to do it, but you like it when Harper does it....

[Bryan]

Harper has decreased spending on the military,

$3 Billion per year more than when he took office is a decrease?

[The_Squid]

$3 Billion per year more than when he took office is a decrease?

As a percentage of GDP (which is how Harper promised spending), yes.

And in recent years, spending has decreased.

Another factor that doesn’t get mentioned is that over the last decade, even when the government was pumping more money into the military, National Defence has not been able to spend all of its budget allocation.

Since 2006, National Defence has been forced to return $9.6 billion to the federal treasury, according to a July 2013 analysis by the parliamentary budget office.

[On Guard for Thee]

Granted this thing was not quite as blatantly dishonest as Redfords thing but it's irritating because it's just Harper grandstanding yet again and a total waste of tax dollars. They haven't even signed the friggin deal yet and here's our bozo out popping corks and racking up a 340+k bill. I just have to shake my head.

[Topaz]

Yeah, 22 countries have to sign this agreement, so it may take years before it's signed. As far as the fuel bill, it wouldn't surprise me if its more than 300,000. and therefore, since its for business, let the business sector pay for it. Some businesses like the dairy, will probably lose money when the agreement does become final. We all have to remember, when it comes to Summits, the Tories are bad planners and over spenders.

[The_Squid]

Yeah, 22 countries have to sign this agreement, so it may take years before it's signed. As far as the fuel bill, it wouldn't surprise me if its more than 300,000. and therefore, since its for business, let the business sector pay for it. Some businesses like the dairy, will probably lose money when the agreement does become final. We all have to remember, when it comes to Summits, the Tories are bad planners and over spenders.

It is a very bad idea to start letting vested interests pay for government business.

If government has an interest in this, it should pay for flights. You may not agree about the necessity, but having Suncor paying for the PM's trips is a very bad idea.

[Bob Macadoo]

It is a very bad idea to start letting vested interests pay for government business.

If government has an interest in this, it should pay for flights. You may not agree about the necessity, but having Suncor paying for the PM's trips is a very bad idea.

Wasn't paying for Harper....for EU leaders. Next it was to have a photo-op in TO......work was done and could've made commercials home like how they got there. Why couldn't Suncor used their Lear out of Pearson since the party was for them?

You're all right its not like Redford's disgrace, more like McKay's fishing trip pick-up.....much better.

[Smallc]

Sorry but there's nothing scandalous about this.