Majority Tory Agenda

[SamStranger]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

[Black Dog]

Any thoughts?

Yes: you're out of your mind.

SSM is simply not an important issue for the majority of Canadians, while abortion is a hot button the Tories would be wise to leave untouched if they want to keep their majority.

As for appointing more Conservative senators and judges, well, I thought the focus was Senate reform and ending judicial activism. Apparently, though, you just want the Conservatives to be the Liberals, albeit with your narrow agenda in mind.

[Hicksey]

Any thoughts?

Yes: you're out of your mind.

SSM is simply not an important issue for the majority of Canadians, while abortion is a hot button the Tories would be wise to leave untouched if they want to keep their majority.

As for appointing more Conservative senators and judges, well, I thought the focus was Senate reform and ending judicial activism. Apparently, though, you just want the Conservatives to be the Liberals, albeit with your narrow agenda in mind.

The focus IS to balance the court, Black Dog.

But like the Liberals, Plan B is always "If you can't beat them, join them."

[Black Dog]

The focus IS to balance the court, Black Dog.

But like the Liberals, Plan B is always "If you can't beat them, join them."

It's pretty clear "balance" always means "biased my way." So why pretend?

[gc1765]

1. Override the charter to take rights away from minorities

2. Tell a woman what she can and can't do with her body (see #1 above)

3. Politicize the courts after criticizing the liberals for doing the same

4. Lower taxes for the rich while increasing taxes for the poor

yeah that's a great idea

[Guest Warwick Green]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

Once right of center governments get in power they realize that to stay in power they need to go after the moderates. Other than number 3 Harper wouldn't do any of these things. It's well known he is pro-abortion and I suspect that even he would have trouble talking about SSM anymore with a straight face. That's a non-issue now with the exception of the religious right. And he isn't going to cut back on social programs.

[fixer1]

I was a little disappointed that Harper did not get a majority last time out, but unless he does something real stupid, he will get a majority next time. Now that might be sooner rather then later as the NDP and Libs will probably one day force the government down. That will be a day for the CPC to rejoice as all they needed to do, to show the people they were not scarey and twisted, was simply govern doing exactly what you said you would do. Even if people disagree with some of the things the CPC do, they will look favourably on them for doing what they say. That is going to double their support next time out and the Lib and NDP will soon find out their time has long gone. Their opposition to things will be what will take them out.

I only fear that some like the starter of this thread may still be looked at as mainstream PC and not part of the fringe.

[betsy]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

I was hoping for a hidden agenda....namely abolishing SSM and anti-abortion. I'm still hoping.

[Hicksey]

The focus IS to balance the court, Black Dog.

But like the Liberals, Plan B is always "If you can't beat them, join them."

It's pretty clear "balance" always means "biased my way." So why pretend?

I would actually be happy with a balanced court. As good as a conservative court sounds at first, I know that a conservative court would be as bad for the country as I think a liberal one is right now. The SCOC I think is a place where partisanship has no place. So, a balanced court is the only way to go.

[geoffrey]

I don't care much for any of any parties' social agenda, they are all childish brats when it comes to that.

I'd love to see a more neo-liberal approach to economics. Spending could be cut in half in this country and only affect a small number of people.

My hidden-agenda would be:

1) Cut all funding to Indians and arrest all that break the law in illegal protests.

2) Cut all funding to long-term unemployed fisherman that refuse to change their ways.

3) Cut all federal spending in areas of provincial responsibility like health, education and social services.

4) Cut the beareaucracy in the military and instead spend that money on real feet on the ground, making a real difference.

5) With all these cuts, cut everyone's taxes by around 75%, creating tax room for provinces to take what they need for their new health/education and social responsibilities.

6) End provincial transfers.

[Riverwind]

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

As in the last election, Harper can only win if he promises not to do anything with these issues. If he makes that promise and then reneges, he will have a huge battle in the senate and will guarantee a conservative loss in the next election.

[geoffrey]

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

As in the last election, Harper can only win if he promises not to do anything with these issues. If he makes that promise and then reneges, he will have a huge battle in the senate and will guarantee a conservative loss in the next election.

Agreed.

Either way, its not about abolishing same-sex marriage. That's silly. The government just simply needs to get the hell out of the marriage game all together. Offer civil beneifts to couples of whatever arrangement and let people call themselves whatever the hell they want to call them.

That way, no government is trampling the term marriage... individuals can do whatever. Marriage becomes a term of the people, not the government.

Just as government shouldn't interfer with churches, they shouldn't defend them either.

That's the only fair pragmatic approach to the issue, but of course idealist extremists with bigger agendas on both sides will continue to fight forever over it.

Anti-abortion legislation is such a complex issue I couldn't possibly discuss it here without hijacking the thread. Do we need limits, controls and parental notification... yup. Should I be paying for it... nope. Other than that, there are convincing ethical arguments on both sides and I can't really honestly declare a winner without drawing in my religious beliefs. Something that the average person doesn't realise.

Laws and decisions should be based on ethical decisions, not because my God said so. Personally, I feel abortion is wrong, and these people are definitely on the highway to hell. But I can't prove that, and until someone does, the law is really impossible to uphold other than on religious grounds. And this ain't a theocracy my friend.

[scribblet]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

Skip the first two points and I'm in agreement, I'm certainly hoping for a majority tory gov't, and soon.

I'd rather see an elected senate than appointments, but if that cannot be changed, then more conservative Senators to help balance the Senate.

[margrace]

Doesn't a true democracy say one man one vote. Isn't that how we should go, but that would never hang, the big cities would control everything including Toronto and Montreal. Harper isn't that nuts is he.

[scribblet]

Doesn't a true democracy say one man one vote. Isn't that how we should go, but that would never hang, the big cities would control everything including Toronto and Montreal. Harper isn't that nuts is he.

Something like that, but who says Harper wants to change that, maybe you could clairfy.

[Rovik]

I don't care much for any of any parties' social agenda, they are all childish brats when it comes to that.

I'd love to see a more neo-liberal approach to economics. Spending could be cut in half in this country and only affect a small number of people.

My hidden-agenda would be:

1) Cut all funding to Indians and arrest all that break the law in illegal protests.

2) Cut all funding to long-term unemployed fisherman that refuse to change their ways.

3) Cut all federal spending in areas of provincial responsibility like health, education and social services.

4) Cut the beareaucracy in the military and instead spend that money on real feet on the ground, making a real difference.

5) With all these cuts, cut everyone's taxes by around 75%, creating tax room for provinces to take what they need for their new health/education and social responsibilities.

6) End provincial transfers.

Man, with what your are suggesting, you seem to want a two-tiered Canada, a poor Canada and a rich Canada, a poor Canada where healthcare, education and employment are approaching third-world and a rich Canada wiht the best of everything. Basically, what you are suggesting is a country with regions having different standards of living and if you think about it, only a country in name only.

- I disagree with cutting funding to natives people but to streamline it and have safeguards and checks to prevent the money from being wasted. I do agree that native peoples or anyone one for that matter should be charged if they break the law.

- Obviously you don't know the situation here in Atlantic Canada and sadly have a misconception that many central and western Canadians do that the fishermen are lazy bums that rely on EI for most of the year drinking beer and doing nothing in the meanwhile. Guess what? This is a wrong perception. These fisherpeople live in small communites where the only industry is the fishery. There are no factories, no fast food joints, virtually no retail (other then small corner stores) to work at when the fishery is closed down. These people are hardworkers, and often will do anything to survive when the fishery is closed including growing their own food, doing odd jobs and whatever else they can do. And if you want to stereotype them as people with their hands out then I believe it is a grave injustice. For those who believe this way in Alberta and Ontario, come to Newfoundland and you see that the circumstances are completely different. And to add, lately there has been more government finanical support for the farmers then the fishermen but one doesn't hear about people complaining about the farmers. A double-standard if you ask me.

- You cut federal spending in these areas, then the only provinces that could maintain a decent standard in healthcare, education, etc. would be Alberta, Ontario and BC. Again this would be creating a two-tiered Canada and a Canada I think would have lost its soul.

- I agree, cut the fat out of the military and put the money toward the servicepeople and equipment (as long as the money is geared towards peacekeeping and not offensive operations.)

- If cut 75%. then the social programs that people in this country need would be cut to the bone or even decimated. This is not the spirit of Canada.

[Montgomery Burns]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

1. This should be put to a vote by the public like they did in the USA. And like the results in the US, gay marriage will be rejected by the public. There is a reason why the Libs rammed that legislation through; they know darn well that the public would reject it. Even true blue states like Oregon (57-43%) and California (62-38%) rejected this attempt to destroy the 2000 year definition of marriage, this institution being the bedrock of society. It is the noisy radical left and their allies in the MSM who push for gay marriage, because gay unions is just not good enough for them. And if you disagree, you are instantly labelled a homophobe. I think the Canadian public is tired of guys getting fined $1500 for whispering "he's a fifi" to a 3rd party, tired of preachers getting hauled in front of Human Rights Commissions for preaching church doctrine, and tired of teachers getting suspended from their jobs for writing (on their own time) letters to the editor supporting the traditional definition of marriage.

2. There should be an abortion law in Canada. They even have that in Europe. I'm not in favor of an outright ban on abortion, but it is deeply shameful and injuman that Canadians murder 100,000 innocent babies every year - at taxpayer expense yet! Fetal viability usually begins after 23 weeks of gestation. Even in ultra-liberal Sweden, women must seek permission to have an abortion after 18 weeks, and even Hillary Clinton has said that abortion is an evil to be avoided.

3. Absolutely. It was outrageous that the MSM started whining when Harper said that the Supreme Court was full of liberals. In MSM-land, they aren't liberal; they're normal.

4. Yes yes yes.

I'm estatic the left is out of power. What a change in 100 days!

- Harper and MacKay visit our troops and show their support for our brave warriors in the fight against Islamonazism. Both Chretien and Martin were too gutless to do this. Indeed, Martin called Normandy "Norway" twice during a ceremony for our veterans. Bonus points to Harper for making the left foam at the mouth when he secretly visited our troops (BushHarper!!)

- Rona Ambrose is ending the bogus economy-killing Kyoto Protocol and is hinting Canada will join the likes of the US and Australia in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP-6). Under AP-6 the USA's record on greenhouse gas emissions is half that of Canada's under Kyoto. Additionally, she has halted funding to the tons of phony enviromental groups who have been leeching off us taxpayers.

- No institutionalizing of our pre-school children.

- Gordon O’Connor, who was actually a military man for 30 years, announces a boost in spending of $5.3 billion over five years. There needs to be more spent in this area and that will come when the CPC wins a majority.

- Stockwell Day lays the smackdown on the Tamil Tigers terrorist group and puts them on the banned list in Canada.

- Peter MacKay stops funding to the displaced Arabs, now led by terrorist group Hamas. Also, Canada recently voted against the constant bogus UN Chapter IV (non-binding) resolutions against the democratic state of Israel; bogus resolutions which seem to be trotted out on a weekly basis by the totalitarian-loving morally bankrupt UN.

- $4 billion pumped into our economy as the softwood lumber dispute was quickly settled.

- Our terrible relationship with the US has been healed and Harper & Co are welcome to the White House. Chretien and Martin couldn't even get their foot in the door of the WH, and were lucky if they could even get a return phone call from Bush.

Soon Canada will become, once again, a major player on the world stage. No longer will Canadians be embarrassed when half the delegates at world conventions vacate the premises to go to the hotel bar - when our PM speaks.

I'm feeling proud to be Canadian again.

[SamStranger]

I am a grassroot, home grown 100% Conservative, and while everyone else trembles at the sound of a Majority Tory Government, I jump in joy!

Here are some things Prime Minister Harper should (or hopefully will) do when he wins a majority.

1. Abolish Same Sex Marriage

2. Bring Anti-Abortion Leglislation forward

3. Apoint more Conservative Senators and Judges

4. Shrink Government Spending and Lower Taxes Dramitically

5. Change the Canadian Flag Colours to Blue and White (lol, just kidding )

Its a Liberals Night Mare and a New Democrats Suicide Solution but thank God that the Right is in!

Any thoughts?

1. This should be put to a vote by the public like they did in the USA. And like the results in the US, gay marriage will be rejected by the public. There is a reason why the Libs rammed that legislation through; they know darn well that the public would reject it. Even true blue states like Oregon (57-43%) and California (62-38%) rejected this attempt to destroy the 2000 year definition of marriage, this institution being the bedrock of society. It is the noisy radical left and their allies in the MSM who push for gay marriage, because gay unions is just not good enough for them. And if you disagree, you are instantly labelled a homophobe. I think the Canadian public is tired of guys getting fined $1500 for whispering "he's a fifi" to a 3rd party, tired of preachers getting hauled in front of Human Rights Commissions for preaching church doctrine, and tired of teachers getting suspended from their jobs for writing (on their own time) letters to the editor supporting the traditional definition of marriage.

2. There should be an abortion law in Canada. They even have that in Europe. I'm not in favor of an outright ban on abortion, but it is deeply shameful and injuman that Canadians murder 100,000 innocent babies every year - at taxpayer expense yet! Fetal viability usually begins after 23 weeks of gestation. Even in ultra-liberal Sweden, women must seek permission to have an abortion after 18 weeks, and even Hillary Clinton has said that abortion is an evil to be avoided.

3. Absolutely. It was outrageous that the MSM started whining when Harper said that the Supreme Court was full of liberals. In MSM-land, they aren't liberal; they're normal.

4. Yes yes yes.

I'm estatic the left is out of power. What a change in 100 days!

- Harper and MacKay visit our troops and show their support for our brave warriors in the fight against Islamonazism. Both Chretien and Martin were too gutless to do this. Indeed, Martin called Normandy "Norway" twice during a ceremony for our veterans. Bonus points to Harper for making the left foam at the mouth when he secretly visited our troops (BushHarper!!)

- Rona Ambrose is ending the bogus economy-killing Kyoto Protocol and is hinting Canada will join the likes of the US and Australia in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP-6). Under AP-6 the USA's record on greenhouse gas emissions is half that of Canada's under Kyoto. Additionally, she has halted funding to the tons of phony enviromental groups who have been leeching off us taxpayers.

- No institutionalizing of our pre-school children.

- Gordon O’Connor, who was actually a military man for 30 years, announces a boost in spending of $5.3 billion over five years. There needs to be more spent in this area and that will come when the CPC wins a majority.

- Stockwell Day lays the smackdown on the Tamil Tigers terrorist group and puts them on the banned list in Canada.

- Peter MacKay stops funding to the displaced Arabs, now led by terrorist group Hamas. Also, Canada recently voted against the constant bogus UN Chapter IV (non-binding) resolutions against the democratic state of Israel; bogus resolutions which seem to be trotted out on a weekly basis by the totalitarian-loving morally bankrupt UN.

- $4 billion pumped into our economy as the softwood lumber dispute was quickly settled.

- Our terrible relationship with the US has been healed and Harper & Co are welcome to the White House. Chretien and Martin couldn't even get their foot in the door of the WH, and were lucky if they could even get a return phone call from Bush.

Soon Canada will become, once again, a major player on the world stage. No longer will Canadians be embarrassed when half the delegates at world conventions vacate the premises to go to the hotel bar - when our PM speaks.

I'm feeling proud to be Canadian again.

Couldnt have said it better myself!

[Michael Hardner]

You two seem to be true believers, which might actually be a good thing. The CPC thus far has moved S-L-O-W-L-Y and cautiously enough to not worry the mainstream Ontarian such as myself. But if you're happy with it, then all the better.

Don't look for radical changes like CBC privatisation, abortion legislation, referenda on SSM, or even major tax cuts anytime soon. Do look for more overtures to Quebec, legislation on the environment, money for cities such as Toronto.

Again, as long as you are happy with this I'm sure the rest of us can be too.

[geoffrey]

Man, with what your are suggesting, you seem to want a two-tiered Canada, a poor Canada and a rich Canada, a poor Canada where healthcare, education and employment are approaching third-world and a rich Canada wiht the best of everything. Basically, what you are suggesting is a country with regions having different standards of living and if you think about it, only a country in name only.

That's all Canada is right now. I view it as a seperate couple where one of the partners is hard working paying the bills of the other, while they just sit around and do nothing. There is too much regionalism, too many divergant opinions on issues for Canada to be more than name with common defense and free inter-provincial trade.

- I disagree with cutting funding to natives people but to streamline it and have safeguards and checks to prevent the money from being wasted. I do agree that native peoples or anyone one for that matter should be charged if they break the law.

Why do they deserve more than anyone else? Remove their status, remove their reserves. It's time we moved on to the 21st century.

- Obviously you don't know the situation here in Atlantic Canada and sadly have a misconception that many central and western Canadians do that the fishermen are lazy bums that rely on EI for most of the year drinking beer and doing nothing in the meanwhile. Guess what? This is a wrong perception. These fisherpeople live in small communites where the only industry is the fishery. There are no factories, no fast food joints, virtually no retail (other then small corner stores) to work at when the fishery is closed down. These people are hardworkers, and often will do anything to survive when the fishery is closed including growing their own food, doing odd jobs and whatever else they can do. And if you want to stereotype them as people with their hands out then I believe it is a grave injustice. For those who believe this way in Alberta and Ontario, come to Newfoundland and you see that the circumstances are completely different. And to add, lately there has been more government finanical support for the farmers then the fishermen but one doesn't hear about people complaining about the farmers. A double-standard if you ask me.

I complain about the farmers too equally, you'll find plenty of evidence of that in many of my posts. Here the deal, if there is no work, you have to move somewhere that is. This is more evidence that Canada is not a country. Why aren't all unemployed Maritimers moving west to high paying jobs? Because they don't see it as their responsibility, they don't see it as Canada. Instead they waste away on welfare for the rest of their lives in fishing villages.

Again, lets move on to the 21st century and leave these ridiculous dogma's behind. Unemployment is completely by choice today in Canada, and there is no reason for it other than pure complacency.

- You cut federal spending in these areas, then the only provinces that could maintain a decent standard in healthcare, education, etc. would be Alberta, Ontario and BC. Again this would be creating a two-tiered Canada and a Canada I think would have lost its soul.

Wrong again. It's transfers that make have-not provinces poor. What motivation does Newfoundland or PEI have to fix their problems when Alberta will just pick up their bill anyways? Cut transfer payments, and yup, there would be a few years of suffering, but afterwards these provinces would smarten up and make sound choices about their economies instead of their current government's welfarist policies that condone the culture of defeat.

- I agree, cut the fat out of the military and put the money toward the servicepeople and equipment (as long as the money is geared towards peacekeeping and not offensive operations.)

I say as long as the money is spent towards issues related to our security, whether thats offensive or peacekeeping.

- If cut 75%. then the social programs that people in this country need would be cut to the bone or even decimated. This is not the spirit of Canada.

Not at all. Like I said, cut federal taxes by 75%, that leaves 75% for provinces to raise taxes as they see fit. Health care, social programs and education should not have federal involvement, they are purely provincial jurisdiction. Provinces should raise their own revenues to deal with this but instead most of the money goes to Ottawa.

[Rovik]

Man, with what your are suggesting, you seem to want a two-tiered Canada, a poor Canada and a rich Canada, a poor Canada where healthcare, education and employment are approaching third-world and a rich Canada wiht the best of everything. Basically, what you are suggesting is a country with regions having different standards of living and if you think about it, only a country in name only.

That's all Canada is right now. I view it as a seperate couple where one of the partners is hard working paying the bills of the other, while they just sit around and do nothing. There is too much regionalism, too many divergant opinions on issues for Canada to be more than name with common defense and free inter-provincial trade.

- I disagree with cutting funding to natives people but to streamline it and have safeguards and checks to prevent the money from being wasted. I do agree that native peoples or anyone one for that matter should be charged if they break the law.

Why do they deserve more than anyone else? Remove their status, remove their reserves. It's time we moved on to the 21st century.

- Obviously you don't know the situation here in Atlantic Canada and sadly have a misconception that many central and western Canadians do that the fishermen are lazy bums that rely on EI for most of the year drinking beer and doing nothing in the meanwhile. Guess what? This is a wrong perception. These fisherpeople live in small communites where the only industry is the fishery. There are no factories, no fast food joints, virtually no retail (other then small corner stores) to work at when the fishery is closed down. These people are hardworkers, and often will do anything to survive when the fishery is closed including growing their own food, doing odd jobs and whatever else they can do. And if you want to stereotype them as people with their hands out then I believe it is a grave injustice. For those who believe this way in Alberta and Ontario, come to Newfoundland and you see that the circumstances are completely different. And to add, lately there has been more government finanical support for the farmers then the fishermen but one doesn't hear about people complaining about the farmers. A double-standard if you ask me.

I complain about the farmers too equally, you'll find plenty of evidence of that in many of my posts. Here the deal, if there is no work, you have to move somewhere that is. This is more evidence that Canada is not a country. Why aren't all unemployed Maritimers moving west to high paying jobs? Because they don't see it as their responsibility, they don't see it as Canada. Instead they waste away on welfare for the rest of their lives in fishing villages.

Again, lets move on to the 21st century and leave these ridiculous dogma's behind. Unemployment is completely by choice today in Canada, and there is no reason for it other than pure complacency.

- You cut federal spending in these areas, then the only provinces that could maintain a decent standard in healthcare, education, etc. would be Alberta, Ontario and BC. Again this would be creating a two-tiered Canada and a Canada I think would have lost its soul.

Wrong again. It's transfers that make have-not provinces poor. What motivation does Newfoundland or PEI have to fix their problems when Alberta will just pick up their bill anyways? Cut transfer payments, and yup, there would be a few years of suffering, but afterwards these provinces would smarten up and make sound choices about their economies instead of their current government's welfarist policies that condone the culture of defeat.

- I agree, cut the fat out of the military and put the money toward the servicepeople and equipment (as long as the money is geared towards peacekeeping and not offensive operations.)

I say as long as the money is spent towards issues related to our security, whether thats offensive or peacekeeping.

- If cut 75%. then the social programs that people in this country need would be cut to the bone or even decimated. This is not the spirit of Canada.

Not at all. Like I said, cut federal taxes by 75%, that leaves 75% for provinces to raise taxes as they see fit. Health care, social programs and education should not have federal involvement, they are purely provincial jurisdiction. Provinces should raise their own revenues to deal with this but instead most of the money goes to Ottawa.

You keep on mentioning the 21st century; I wouldn't want to leave in the mean-spirited 21st century that you presribe to. You claim that there is too much regionalism, but I believe your means of reasoning will increase regionalism not diffuse it. Without the equalization transfers to the poorer provinces, how will they be able to provide services to their people and at the same time maintain their infrastructure (roads, bridges and the like.) They could cut spending on some serivices, but they can only go so far before cutting to the bone; they could raise taxes but that would be detrimental to their people.

The richer provinces such as Alberta (oil) don't need to raise their taxes because of the huge royalties they collect from either oil or taxes from a large manufacturing sector (due to close proximity to the US border.) Newfoundland and to a lesser extent, Nova Scotia, are collecting oil and gas royalties (though not in the league as Alberta and the oil companies don't seem to want to give the same sweetheart deal to Atlantic Canada as they did to Alberta) but its only a start. At the same time, the fishery and the forestry sectors in the Atlantic provinces are in dire straits. So the Atlantic provices, in a effort to bring business to the area, provide huge tax incentives, breaks and holidays to business. For example, there have been a lot of telemarketing firms setting up shop in the region, but the wages are relatively low and jobs are stressful. And the act of giving businesses tax breaks and hoildays has often backfired. Often in the past, once the tax holiday period ends, many of these businesses up and leave or go out of business. So yes, the Atlantic provinces have indeed tried to attract business but often have been burned in the process, with the taxpayers bearing the blunt. And yes, the Atlantic provinces have been trying to fix their economic provinces with a mixed bag of success and failure and the transfer payments do not promote a welfare state or a culture of defeat but a relative parity with the rest of Canada in regards to health, education and social programs.

There were indeed injustices done to the Natives. They were forced into reservations, and were decimated by disease and alcoholism. In Newfoundland, the entire Beothuck people were wiped out and all that is left of them is relics. In addtition, like it or not, Canada signed treaties with many of the Native peoples and can't just cancel them out of hand. That being said, they shouldn't be given a blank check either. There should be checks and balances to prevent corruption.

There are indeed a high amount of Newfoundlanders and Maritimers (Newfoundland is not part of the Maritimes by the way,) going out west for jobs. Sure it is said that Fort McMurray has the second biggest Newfoundlanders population behind St. John's. Many of these are young Newfoundlanders and the result is a brain drain from Mewfoundland and a decreasing population in Newfoundland which means a smaller tax base. Newfoundland companies can't match the salaries that are offered by Alberta companies and the government, to avoid nurses, teachers and other public workers leaving for higher paying jobs in places like Alberta and Newfoundland, have to offer higher wages then they might ordinarily. This is paid for by the taxpayers by either increasing taxes or services or not been able to offer tax cuts to pay for the increased wages. I believe that an individual who leaves to work in a richer province like Alberta should for about two years, pay have their provinical taxes half and half with Alberat and the poorer provicen they left. It's not like Alberta needs the extra cash.

And if what you suggests comes to past, regarding people leaving the poorer provinces for the richer ones, then you might as well designate the whole of Atlantic Canada a National park because there would be hardly anyone left. You got to understand; people in the outports have nice homes, many are in their 40s and above with no education (the fishery is the only thing they have ever known) and you are asking them to leave their nice homes and work in a labourer type of job, living in a dingy apartment (we all know how expensive houses can be in Alberta and Ontario) and leaving their family behind. Sure that would be a huge step backwards in their lives and too expect them to do this almost borders on heartless. And by the way, there are not many wasting their lives on welfare. What happens for most is that they work for 14-20 weeks until the fishery ends, then they are on EI until the fishery begins again.

It's easy for you too say that provinces should raise their revenues to pay for healthcare and social programs if you live in Alberta. But if you live in a province with a decreasing population, (therefore a decreased tax base) and a province that doesn't rake in a lot of money from a large manufacturing sector or royalties from oil (though I admit, in Newfoundland we are finally getting some breaks due to the oil and the Atlantic Accord,) then its hard to raise the revenues without Federal help.

It's funny, I've often heard Westerners complain about Central Canada ignoring them but at the same time many pro-Conservative Westerners think they have the blanket-wide solution for Canada that many here in Atlantic Canada believe will not work here and in fact, be very problematic and devastating for the region.

[geoffrey]

Rovik,

I'd be interested in hearing what your plan would be to make Atlantic Canada prosperous. I'm afraid that government spending and welfare hasn't changed anything.

How can you make unemployment in your region on par with the national average?

How can you raise the standard of living and attract education people to the region?

You mention oil companies and this is an industry I'm involved with (what a suprise eh?). The reason that we wouldn't want to develop Atlantic Canada is prohibitive wage levels, rampant unionisation and massive taxes. If you adapted more market solutions, oil companies would flock there. Where there is oil, you'll find an interested oil company. It's the same reason why Saskatchewan is poor and Alberta is rich. Do you actually believe that the oil and gas end at the border? Saskatchewan has an anti-business environment, so businesses don't go there.

Atlantic Canada, if business taxes were lowered, minimum wage reduced and labour laws relaxed, would be a very attractive area to gas investment. Firstly, there is alot there. Secondly, there is a shortage in the American North East, and last time I checked, that's not far away.

So the only reason that you don't have oil and gas is that the government doesn't want it. Write your MLA or MPP or what you call them there.

I feel bad that we have to kick these people off the welfare rolls and into the workforce elsewhere, but that is where we are at. You surely don't believe that we should support these people just sitting on their docks waiting for the cod to come back.

Welfare destroys dignity, I want to give these people dignity again.

So we are left with two options. Export unemployed people to the West, or fix the economic problems right now. No government is willing to fix the economic problems (Lord's made a good attempt, didn't go far enough), so we are left with the exportation.

Atlantic Canada has potential, you guys need a Ralph Klein type politican that isn't afraid of making massive cuts, having the province bleed nearly to death in the first 5 years. It was this suffering from all Alberta's while the province balanced its books and sparked its economic that makes us among the richest 2 regions in the world.

It takes pain for gain, you can't have massive welfare programs and high taxes and expect real change.

About the Indians, I don't feel guilty for my ancestors actions on the Native portfolio, that's rather silly. Racism is rampant when white people are stigmatised as those that destroyed the Indians. I have no responsibility for actions other than my own, my businesses' and those of my directly elected representatives. I don't feel I should pay for mistakes made by random individuals before I was born.

[Rovik]

Rovik,

I'd be interested in hearing what your plan would be to make Atlantic Canada prosperous. I'm afraid that government spending and welfare hasn't changed anything.

Actually, the last few years, especially in Newfoundland, we have seen some turnabout in the local economy. Newfoundland has been seen higher percentile growths then most of the other provinces mainly due to oil. There is also potential in the Inco Nickel mine in Voisey's Bay, and a possible Lower Churchill hydro development as well as a mini-boom at the iron ore mines in Western Labrador. The problem is in rural Newfoundland which relies on the fishery and forestry (to a lesser extent.) Government spending has helped jumpstart (and quite sucessfully) tourism and aquaculture but these minor industries can't provide employment for all unemployed fisherpeople. This is where EI and social assistance come into play; mainly with the older people who are short of retirement by 10-15 years and are also uneducated. Most younger people have either gone out west or moved to the St. John's area. Therefore govt. spending has helped.

How can you make unemployment in your region on par with the national average?

How can you raise the standard of living and attract education people to the region?

I can't see any quick solution to make the region on par with the national average (though the unemployment rate has been dropping the last few years.) Problem is that we can't attract large factories to the region (due to distance from the US markets and the cost of shipping) and the fact that companies often ask for too much such as tax breaks, incentives and holidays (and like I said before, Newfoundland has been burned in the past by such companies, who often leave after the tax advantages time period finish.)

Standard of living is still pretty good because of the equalization payments. Perhaps the main problem is in healthcare, where we have a hard time attracting doctors because they can get better salaries elsewhere. It's hard to compete against Alberta or the States in this manner.

You mention oil companies and this is an industry I'm involved with (what a suprise eh?). The reason that we wouldn't want to develop Atlantic Canada is prohibitive wage levels, rampant unionisation and massive taxes. If you adapted more market solutions, oil companies would flock there. Where there is oil, you'll find an interested oil company. It's the same reason why Saskatchewan is poor and Alberta is rich. Do you actually believe that the oil and gas end at the border? Saskatchewan has an anti-business environment, so businesses don't go there.

Recently, the Newfoundland govt. and a consortium of oil companies could not come up with a deal regarding a new oil development (Hebron.) The govt. believes that the province did not get that great a deal(s) with Hibernia and White Rose and feels that the oil companies could offer a better deal with Hebron. The oil companies wanted tax incentives and breaks that would very much negatively impact any returns for the province. And let's face it, the oil companies are making loads of profit, in the billions of dollars and yet they weren't willing to offer the province a fair deal. Newfoundland has been burned by the Upper Churchill deal and many now believe, the deal with Inco and will not just take any deal just for some short term gains by creating a few jobs, while on a whole the population doesn't benefit from their own province's resources. Let's face, the oil companies only care about their making money for their shareholders and don't care much about the people of the province.

Atlantic Canada, if business taxes were lowered, minimum wage reduced and labour laws relaxed, would be a very attractive area to gas investment. Firstly, there is alot there. Secondly, there is a shortage in the American North East, and last time I checked, that's not far away.

Well the Conservative government has talked about lowering business taxes (especially small business) if it could do so without adversely impacting on the bottom line (social programs, public workers' salaries, etc.) Second, the minimum wages here are already amongst the lowest in Canada and could be called slave wages because it's near next to impossible to survive on them and you suggest lowering them???

So the only reason that you don't have oil and gas is that the government doesn't want it. Write your MLA or MPP or what you call them there.

Untrue, there is already oil and gas and the reason there isn't more is because the oil companies are not willing to give a fair deal. In fact, the longer the govt. holds out, the better because we all know that the demand of oil is not going to go away. It's a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

I feel bad that we have to kick these people off the welfare rolls and into the workforce elsewhere, but that is where we are at. You surely don't believe that we should support these people just sitting on their docks waiting for the cod to come back.

You seem to imply that most of these unemployed people are on welfare when in fact most are on EI (with few been on welfare.) And when these people are working 14-20 weeks in the fishery, they are paying into EI, therefore they are entitled to receive EI when they require it

Welfare destroys dignity, I want to give these people dignity again.

What you suggest is not dignity, it's misery. And to suggest that people should work at a lower minimum wage is heartless in the extreme.

So we are left with two options. Export unemployed people to the West, or fix the economic problems right now. No government is willing to fix the economic problems (Lord's made a good attempt, didn't go far enough), so we are left with the exportation.

So now unemployed people are like commodities to be exported.

Atlantic Canada has potential, you guys need a Ralph Klein type politican that isn't afraid of making massive cuts, having the province bleed nearly to death in the first 5 years. It was this suffering from all Alberta's while the province balanced its books and sparked its economic that makes us among the richest 2 regions in the world.

We currently have a very strong-willed premier in Danny Williams who will fight tooth and nail for the province. And where would Alberta be without the oil reserves? Would it be in as good a shape?