Immigration Fees

[August1991]

At a stop in Victoria, Martin promised a Liberal government would eliminate the $975 fee over the course of its next mandate.

Harper did not go that far. He said the Tories would immediately cut the fee in half, and then reduce it to $100 over its first mandate at a cost of $500 million.

Harper said he would be willing to eliminate it completely, but only if it proved affordable.

NP

Both Martin and Harper have now promised to cut or eliminate the $1000 immigrant fee. But it costs the Canadian government money to process immigrants so this cut merely means ordinary taxpayers (the rest of us) will have to pay these costs.

If a rich guy in Hong Kong wants to move to Canada, I don't see why I should pay the cost of processing his paper work.

If Harper makes too many compromises like this, he'll turn into Paul Martin.

[The Honest Politician]

If Harper makes too many compromises like this, he'll turn into Paul Martin.

Either he is becoming a Liberal, or he is not showing his true colours.

[daniel]

If Harper makes too many compromises like this, he'll turn into Paul Martin.

Either he is becoming a Liberal, or he is not showing his true colours.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So I'm not the only one whose noticed Harper is turning more liberal than the Liberals. I'm sure the Harper of 1987 would have plenty to say about the policies of today's Harper.

How credible is it that a person can throw away everything he's worked for and valued since 1987 only to make himself appear moderate in the last six months. Either he's turning his back on and alienating his grass-roots support or his core support knows something the rest of the swing voters don't.

[shoop]

Ahhh, the good old hidden agenda nugget. No support for it, just his *core support knows something*.

If there really was a hidden agenda why wouldn't Scott Brison and Belinda Stronach have said something when they crossed the floor?

How credible is it that a person can throw away everything he's worked for and valued since 1987 only to make himself appear moderate in the last six months.  Either he's turning his back on and alienating his grass-roots support or his core support knows something the rest of the swing voters don't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Argus]

If Harper makes too many compromises like this, he'll turn into Paul Martin.

Either he is becoming a Liberal, or he is not showing his true colours.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So I'm not the only one whose noticed Harper is turning more liberal than the Liberals. I'm sure the Harper of 1987 would have plenty to say about the policies of today's Harper.

How credible is it that a person can throw away everything he's worked for and valued since 1987 only to make himself appear moderate in the last six months. Either he's turning his back on and alienating his grass-roots support or his core support knows something the rest of the swing voters don't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dunno, but Paul Martin has certainly thrown away everything he ever worked for and valued in his time as Finance Minister. No one today would accuse him of being a stingy tightwad who doesn't like to spend money. Under his guidance, the increase in the budgets over the past few years have been higher than at any point in the last 50 years, and that includes under Pierre Trudeau.

[tml12]

If Harper makes too many compromises like this, he'll turn into Paul Martin.

Either he is becoming a Liberal, or he is not showing his true colours.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So I'm not the only one whose noticed Harper is turning more liberal than the Liberals. I'm sure the Harper of 1987 would have plenty to say about the policies of today's Harper.

How credible is it that a person can throw away everything he's worked for and valued since 1987 only to make himself appear moderate in the last six months. Either he's turning his back on and alienating his grass-roots support or his core support knows something the rest of the swing voters don't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We must hope he gets his balls back when he (hopefully) gets a majority government.

I understand why he is doing what he is doing but striving to be more like the Liberals is like an alcoholic striving to drink 20 glasses of vodka a day instead of drinking only 15.