ToadBrother Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I picked what I picked because the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives WAS audited, but apparently the Fraser institute was not. Muslim organizations WERE audited, but Catholic and Jewish were not.[/size] It suggests one of the Liberals' first challenges will be in excising the Tory partisans from the civil service. The war on the charities may have come from the top, but the fact was that there were clearly no lack of CRA auditors happy to turn themselves into partisan tools. Quote
Smallc Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 Let's take a province such as PEI which has 4 seats PEI and the territories are hard fits for any system. Apparently, according to ReeferMadness, 7 seats per riding is the best fit. Quote
poochy Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 4. Lets see the proof that income taxes will rise from where they are. I make a little too much to receive the middle class tax break, and i lose income splitting, which will cost me thousands, but hey, im sure someone else needs it more than my two very close to university age children, of course this isnt even to mention how emboldened Wynne will become after this result, so I expect my provincial taxes and just about everything else the government controls to rise. I suppose i could work less hard and be less productive and get a 1.5% tax cut, and still lose thousands. Quote
ToadBrother Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 PEI and the territories are hard fits for any system. Apparently, according to ReeferMadness, 7 seats per riding is the best fit. As I recall, that's what BC's citizens' electoral assembly figured was best overall. And this could be balanced simply by increasing relative ratios in other provinces, so if PEI gets a few more seats, then provinces like Ontario and Quebec get a bump up. But that's only if the Liberals go with STV. If they go with a less proportional system like AV then it's possible they won't have to make any seat changes at all. Quote
Icebound Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 . Now if you are saying cut welfare and instead fund charities who provide types of welfare, well now that might be a good plan. There is the problem, isn't it? You say "cut welfare", but if "welfare" was already sufficient NOW, then there would be no need for charities. Why would we need food banks? There is a big disconnect between the "welfare state, nanny state" thinking, and what is actually going on in the streets and kitchens of poor people. The wealth of the world is trickling UPward, not down, and unless that is reversed, whether through some form of intervention, or some form of restructuring the Free Enterprise economic system, or whatever..... there will be a need for all the charity we can muster. Unless, of course, you want to live in a gated-armed-fortress, surrounded by a riotous hell-hole. ... Quote
Smallc Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I make a little too much to receive the middle class tax break, You get it no matter what you make ($starting at about 44K per year) You pay less tax as an individual until $220K per year, and if you have kids and make less than 150K household per year, get more in child benefits. For almost everyone, that makes up for the loss of income splitting. Quote
hitops Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I make a little too much to receive the middle class tax break, and i lose income splitting, which will cost me thousands, but hey, im sure someone else needs it more than my two very close to university age children, of course this isnt even to mention how emboldened Wynne will become after this result, so I expect my provincial taxes and just about everything else the government controls to rise. I suppose i could work less hard and be less productive and get a 1.5% tax cut, and still lose thousands. I don't know if it is an option for you, but if you could get your workplace to hire you as a consultant instead of an employee and you incorporate, you could pay yourself and your kids in dividends as shareholders and avoid a lot of taxes. Quote
Icebound Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 It suggests one of the Liberals' first challenges will be in excising the Tory partisans from the civil service. The war on the charities may have come from the top, but the fact was that there were clearly no lack of CRA auditors happy to turn themselves into partisan tools. I wouldn't worry too much about the minions below the "Assistant Deputy Minister" level. They were eager to prove themselves as good auditors, they have to keep there performance evaluation up. But direction means everything.. and if the direction changes to "audit broadly and fairly", they will do THAT job eagerly as well. But the top 3 or 4 or half-dozen in each department.... yeah, time to retire. .... Quote
dialamah Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I make a little too much to receive the middle class tax break, and i lose income splitting, which will cost me thousands, but hey, im sure someone else needs it more than my two very close to university age children, Under the old government, I didn't qualify for any tax breaks at all, not even the GST rebate. I'm single, so no income splitting for me - so what do I care if it's gone? Kids are too old for me to get a child benefit cheque. I put some money in the TFSA, but really - the benefit to me is remarkably minimal; raising it to $10,000 is laughable as far as I'm concerned. Harper's tax policies certainly never helped me, and I certainly haven't noticed anyone who has been helped by them thanking me for working so that my taxes could go toward your "thousands" of dollars of tax-break benefits. Under Trudeau, I might save $50 a year on taxes, maybe. I'm still single, so income splitting gone isn't a huge deal. Can still put some money in the TFSA. My kids also don't benefit from the middle-class tax cut, but they will benefit from the higher, non-taxed child benefit. If my grandkids decide to go to university, they'll have lower interest on any loans they take out and they won't have to start repaying it till they're making at least a living wage. of course this isnt even to mention how emboldened Wynne will become after this result, so I expect my provincial taxes and just about everything else the government controls to rise. I suppose i could work less hard and be less productive and get a 1.5% tax cut, and still lose thousands. Isn't it funny how Conservative types are so convinced about how the 'lefties' just want handouts from the government, and yet look at their whining when it looks like their government hand-outs might be a little bit less. Quote
-1=e^ipi Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 so if PEI gets a few more seats, then provinces like Ontario and Quebec get a bump up. PEI is already grossly overrepresented and you want them to have even more representation? That is insane. Quote
ToadBrother Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I'm curious about some other Tory policies, in particular the fixed election dates. I think this long election, while it didn't do what the Tories hoped, demonstrated just how worthless such a law is. The Constitution sets a Parliament's maximum term at five years, and Confederation got along quite nicely with that for the overwhelming majority of its history. Heck, even for Harper, this was the first time this populist piece of nothingness was even used, and as I say, he still tried to find a way to game it. Another area that will need repair, I think, is the rebuilding of Elections Canada. The Tories' shameless emasculation should be reversed. Quote
ToadBrother Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 PEI is already grossly overrepresented and you want them to have even more representation? That is insane. Did you not read the entire post? Quote
hitops Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) There is the problem, isn't it? You say "cut welfare", but if "welfare" was already sufficient NOW, then there would be no need for charities. Why would we need food banks? There is a big disconnect between the "welfare state, nanny state" thinking, and what is actually going on in the streets and kitchens of poor people. The wealth of the world is trickling UPward, not down, and unless that is reversed, whether through some form of intervention, or some form of restructuring the Free Enterprise economic system, or whatever..... there will be a need for all the charity we can muster. Unless, of course, you want to live in a gated-armed-fortress, surrounded by a riotous hell-hole. ... There is no reason to redistribute wealth just for the sake of redistributing it. If done, it should be because standards of living are declining. But they aren't. Worldwide (remember life exists outside of Canada/US), standards of living are dramatically improved over the last 30-40 years. The middle class has exploded in tons of Asian and even some Africans countries. This is not a bad thing. And because companies are global and their reach is to a global middle class, obviously the very top execs are going to earn far more because their products reach far more people. It is the same reason Lebron James will make far more money today with a global audience (in adjusted dollars), than Jordan ever did with primarily just an American/Canadian one. The idea that things are harder today is a myth. Our consumption as measured (both here and in the US) is way up compared to our parents generation. Our standards and expectations are higher. It is not that we make less, but that the things we want and need are more expensive. They are rendered ever more expensive by more regulations than our parents had, and high expectation of our own lifestyles. Cars have to safer, building things more closely verified to code, etc, all of which makes it more expensive. If we consumed less, and held the same expectations as our parents did about lifestyle and work-life situations, we would be just as well off as they were. But we want it all. They had no cell phone, we need the $700 iphone, new every few years, with $100/month plan. Oh, and don't forget one for each family member. They had 3 channels, we need 500 and netflix. They had no internet, we desperately need 100mbps to our home, the library is so far away!. They bought whatever was at superstore on sale, we need special organic, cage-free, fair trade etc at three times the cost. They drank the office brew, we need Starbucks every day (or 3). They had lino, we need granite and tile and soft-close and backsplashes and brick exterior and heated garages. They had a place to get to work from, we need the 'right' neighborhood. They drove the old buick, we need a new diesel jetta or a prius......with upgrades.....and on payments of course. Oh and a Vespa. They went to work when needed, we need 'me' time. They bought education they could use, we buy education to help 'find ourselves'. Edited October 20, 2015 by hitops Quote
ToadBrother Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 But we want it all. They had no cell phone, we need the $700 iphone, new every few years, with $100/month plan. Oh, and don't forget one for each family member. They had 3 channels, we need 500 and netflix. They had no internet, we desperately need 100mbps to our home, the library is so far away!. They bought whatever was at superstore on sale, we need special organic, cage-free, fair trade etc at three times the cost. They drank the office brew, we need Starbucks every day (or 3). They had lino, we need granite and tile and soft-close and backsplashes and brick exterior and heated garages. They had a place to get to work from, we need the 'right' neighborhood. They drove the old buick, we need a new diesel jetta or a prius......with upgrades.....and on payments of course. Oh and a Vespa. They went to work when needed, we need 'me' time. They bought education they could use, we buy education to help 'find ourselves'. How dare people have aspirations. Your post reads like a Pravda piece attacking the evil American capitalist pig dogs. Quote
-1=e^ipi Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 Did you not read the entire post? So are you instead saying that you want to increase the number of seats by 75%? You realize that will mean we would have nearly 600 seats, right? That's higher costs of government and we can't fit that many people in the house of commons. Quote
Smallc Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 Under the old government, I didn't qualify for any tax breaks at all, You did benefit from the basic personal exemption being increased by 8% more than inflation though. Quote
Wilber Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 How dare people have aspirations. Your post reads like a Pravda piece attacking the evil American capitalist pig dogs. Everyone has aspirations, getting them on credit isn't meeting them, it's only renting them. Being able to pay cash for what you want is meeting them. That takes time and discipline. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
hitops Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 How dare people have aspirations. Your post reads like a Pravda piece attacking the evil American capitalist pig dogs. The problem isn't capitalism, it is just lack of perspective. People on the other side of the world aspire to the basics, and it is arrogant to us to assume we are entitled to the job and lifestyle simply because we are here. When they work harder and longer and for less than us, it is not hard to figure out why the jobs go there. And they are rising. The world is not falling apart just because we feel sad that right here, right now we wanted to new car and new renos and now we have trouble making the payments. For most of the world, life is much improved. Quote
Evening Star Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 a green party voter in such a riding is unlikely to get any representation. Given that they have ~5% public support, unless these multi-riding districts consist of 20 ridings, the green party is unlikely to get fair representation. Actually, the premise of STV is that no one's vote is wasted. If there is not enough Green Party support for a Green candidate to win a seat, those voters' second preferences would be counted. Quote
Evening Star Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 To me the most interesting thing about this election is that Quebec voted Liberal for the first time since 1980: since then, they have always either voted for separatists (BQ) or for a party (Mulroney's PCs, Layton's NDP) that offered some kind of asymmetrical federalism and Constitutional reform. They chose to go with the ultra-federalist party of the Clarity Act this time, even when both of the other options were available to them, and they have a Liberal provincial government no less. This has to be some kind of low point for Quebec nationalism in the last 50 years or so. Quote
dre Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I'm curious about some other Tory policies, in particular the fixed election dates. I think this long election, while it didn't do what the Tories hoped, demonstrated just how worthless such a law is. The Constitution sets a Parliament's maximum term at five years, and Confederation got along quite nicely with that for the overwhelming majority of its history. Heck, even for Harper, this was the first time this populist piece of nothingness was even used, and as I say, he still tried to find a way to game it. Another area that will need repair, I think, is the rebuilding of Elections Canada. The Tories' shameless emasculation should be reversed. Kinda funny though... If the campaign had been half as long the liberals would have lost or gotten a minority. The long campaign allowed time for all this strategic voting and for the "please just not more convervatism!" voters to coalesce behind the liberals. So in a way the CPC screwed themselves. In any case we really need to avoid longer campaigns. In a good political system elections are quick, cheap, and boring. Quote I question things because I am human. And call no one my father who's no closer than a stranger
Icebound Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) There is no reason to redistribute wealth just for the sake of redistributing it. If done, it should be because standards of living are declining. ... ... snip ... But we want it all. They had no cell phone, we need the $700 iphone, new every few years, with $100/month plan. Oh, and don't forget one for each family member. They had 3 channels, we need 500 and netflix. They had no internet, we desperately need 100mbps to our home, the library is so far away!. They bought whatever was at superstore on sale, we need special organic, cage-free, fair trade etc at three times the cost. They drank the office brew, we need Starbucks every day (or 3). They had lino, we need granite and tile and soft-close and backsplashes and brick exterior and heated garages. They had a place to get to work from, we need the 'right' neighborhood. They drove the old buick, we need a new diesel jetta or a prius......with upgrades.....and on payments of course. Oh and a Vespa. They went to work when needed, we need 'me' time. They bought education they could use, we buy education to help 'find ourselves'. W-e-e-l-l-l,,,,, I don't look at "Redistributing wealth" as the real goal of any government. I have a long and complex reply running around in my head, but its not making it to the keyboard right now. I will say THIS, however. 1. We have painted ourselves into a corner with the sort of economy that we operate under. If we did not have the big houses, the fancy backsplashes, the huge cars.... our economy would be crap 2. As the population increases, becomes more dense, more mobile, the need for greater and more reliable infrastructure increases.... whether material. such as roads and railways, or regulatory, such as food and drug safety. The COST ... the INCREASED cost ... for all this is going to go up and somebody is going to have to pay for it. So whether your "taxes" go up ... or your private enterprise "user fees" go up, the difference is going to be the same .... Y o u w i l l p a y m o r e So the only remaining question is.... will "you" (and every other individual) be paying a fair share? Edited October 20, 2015 by Icebound Quote
TimG Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 In any case we really need to avoid longer campaigns. In a good political system elections are quick, cheap, and boring.I disagree. Longer campaigns provide more time for people to consider the issues. The fact that people change their mind is a sign that the longer campaigns matter. If the result ended up matching the initial polls you would have a point. Quote
TimG Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 2. As the population increases, becomes more dense, more mobile, the need for greater and more reliable infrastructure increases.... whether material. such as roads and railways, or regulatory, such as food and drug safety. The COST ... the INCREASED cost ...The per capita cost should go down as density increases. If it is going up then it is a failure of the government funding models. Quote
Bonam Posted October 20, 2015 Report Posted October 20, 2015 I'm looking forward to all the people on this forum protesting that 61% of votes were against the Liberals and yet they got a majority! Only 26% of eligible voters voted for the Liberals! 74% of eligible voters did not vote for the Liberals. I await these protestations from all those who made the exact same points about the previous Conservative majority.... ... ... ... ... <crickets> Quote
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