Critics attack Harper's spending 'madness'

[Catchme]

OTTAWA -- The Harper government is facing accusations that it's engaging in the same end-of-fiscal-year "March madness" spending that it stridently attacked while in opposition.

"When it comes to spending at the last minute, the Harper government has torn another page from the old government's playbook, and what's maddening about it is that this is a playbook that the Conservatives in opposition routinely criticized," said John Williamson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

"It's February madness now."

In opposition, the Tories and their predecessor parties railed against Liberal governments that opened up the coffers near the end of the fiscal year for last-minute, politically sensitive spending announced outside the budget.

"Does the word hypocrisy leap to mind? I think it probably does,"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National

[geoffrey]

It's a public service issue. All government contractors know the best time to pitch is year end, they all have budgets to spend and if they aren't spent, they'll get cut the next year.

[Saturn]

It's a public service issue. All government contractors know the best time to pitch is year end, they all have budgets to spend and if they aren't spent, they'll get cut the next year.

OTTAWA -- The Harper government is facing accusations that it's engaging in the same end-of-fiscal-year "March madness" spending that it stridently attacked while in opposition.

Yesterday, the Conservatives dipped into Ottawa's current budget surplus for $1.5-billion in new environmental spending, including a big slice for Quebec, a key battleground, and where the federalist Charest government is expected to call an election shortly.

Sure sounds like a public service issue. The guys at the passport office decided on it.

[geoffrey]

OTTAWA -- The Harper government is facing accusations that it's engaging in the same end-of-fiscal-year "March madness" spending that it stridently attacked while in opposition.

Yesterday, the Conservatives dipped into Ottawa's current budget surplus for $1.5-billion in new environmental spending, including a big slice for Quebec, a key battleground, and where the federalist Charest government is expected to call an election shortly.

Sure sounds like a public service issue. The guys at the passport office decided on it.

Ya, I agree with you there. The CPC should stop spending on the environment, right?

[Fortunata]

It's election spending and they'll keep on spending until an election is called. Oh my, is it ... could it be ... same as the Liberals did and were roundly criticized for? OH MY! And they call themselves our NEW government?

[jdobbin]

OTTAWA -- The Harper government is facing accusations that it's engaging in the same end-of-fiscal-year "March madness" spending that it stridently attacked while in opposition.

"When it comes to spending at the last minute, the Harper government has torn another page from the old government's playbook, and what's maddening about it is that this is a playbook that the Conservatives in opposition routinely criticized," said John Williamson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

"It's February madness now."

In opposition, the Tories and their predecessor parties railed against Liberal governments that opened up the coffers near the end of the fiscal year for last-minute, politically sensitive spending announced outside the budget.

"Does the word hypocrisy leap to mind? I think it probably does,"

I was hoping the Tories would keep the spending increases below 5% this year. It looks like they will be way over that. I found it intolerable when the Liberals spent above what was forecast.

[Saturn]

I was hoping the Tories would keep the spending increases below 5% this year. It looks like they will be way over that. I found it intolerable when the Liberals spent above what was forecast.

The Liberals always underestimated revenues and despite the "March craze" they ended up paying down the debt by $10+ billion every year. With the Conservatives and Flarherty, it's more likely that they'll overestimate revenues and run the risk of paying down the debt by nothing or running a deficit. They still have great traction from Martin's work but give them a few years and they'll get there.

[Who's Doing What?]

"Does the word hypocrisy leap to mind?

The word hasn't left my mind since Emerson.

So what have we learned so far?

Minority Conservative Govt. is no different than a Liberal Govt.

Which begs the question, which Harper is the real Harper?

The one who called Canada a welfare state and seemed to idolize the right wing policies of the Republican Party of the USA, or the Liberalized, free spending, environment loving Harper that is now in office?

Would the real Mr. Harper please stand up?

[jdobbin]

The Liberals always underestimated revenues and despite the "March craze" they ended up paying down the debt by $10+ billion every year. With the Conservatives and Flarherty, it's more likely that they'll overestimate revenues and run the risk of paying down the debt by nothing or running a deficit. They still have great traction from Martin's work but give them a few years and they'll get there.

I agree they reduced debt. I give them full credit for reducing costs and ending the deficit.

However, one of the things people became cynical about was the over the top spending when a huge surplus resulted at the end of the year.

[Saturn]

I agree they reduced debt. I give them full credit for reducing costs and ending the deficit.

However, one of the things people became cynical about was the over the top spending when a huge surplus resulted at the end of the year.

That's why you have to overspend all year round. If you wait till March, people get cynical. So, Harper started in December.

[Army Guy]

politics I just don't get it, All the other parties were crying even threatening the harper government because of thier enviroment policies , shit most Canadians agreed something needed to be done, it was our new number one concern of all Canadians...the Harper government changed thier direction on thier enviroment policies because of this...and now that they have dumped 1.5 bil...into those new policies, they are critised for thier spending habits...good call..

Lets make up our minds here...you want changes to our enviroment, but your not willing to put any money into it...or is it you just have to bitch and whine about everything the cons do, good or bad...

As for the liberals paying down the dept, at what cost to other depts or instutions such as defense, health care, or giving monies to the provinces....paying down the debt is good, but not at slashing other programs that we need day to day..It's not something that should be looked upon as a great liberal victory, or accomplishment, but an example of how not to mange our countries finances.

[White Doors]

The Liberals always underestimated revenues and despite the "March craze" they ended up paying down the debt by $10+ billion every year. With the Conservatives and Flarherty, it's more likely that they'll overestimate revenues and run the risk of paying down the debt by nothing or running a deficit. They still have great traction from Martin's work but give them a few years and they'll get there.

Uh... Didn't Flaherty pay 13 Billion to the debt last year? Yeah, that's what i thought..

[Catchme]

"Does the word hypocrisy leap to mind?

The word hasn't left my mind since Emerson.

So what have we learned so far?

Minority Conservative Govt. is no different than a Liberal Govt.

Which begs the question, which Harper is the real Harper?

The one who called Canada a welfare state and seemed to idolize the right wing policies of the Republican Party of the USA, or the Liberalized, free spending, environment loving Harper that is now in office?

Would the real Mr. Harper please stand up?

He just did yesterday.

His admission he was stacking the judiciary with neo-cons, and his statement that the CPC would NOT cap emissions, or follow the Oppositions Bill for the environment say it ALL. The real Harper and the CPC stood up, and now it is time for them to be gone from office.

[southerncomfort]

Sheez, kinda funny that the Liberal sqawk about not enforcing kyoto but when does spend money they squawk out of the other side of their mouths.

[Catchme]

It is all about hypocrisy, it seems some are failing to see Harper's hyprocrisy.

[geoffrey]

It is all about hypocrisy, it seems some are failing to see Harper's hyprocrisy.

Lesser of the four evils being the party leaders. No one is a bigger hypocrit or incompetent leader than Dion (we can't make Kyoto, we can make it, we can't make it, we can make it... go senate reform - my senators don't listen to me)... Layton is a hypocrit for 'standing up for (fill in the blank)' while propping up the government. Duceppe had his party vote to recongize Quebec WITHIN Canada.

Spending on the environment when it's obviously in the interests of Canadian's isn't quit on the same level.

[Army Guy]

Poser:

It is all about hypocrisy, it seems some are failing to see Harper's hyprocrisy.

Yes i can see clearly now.... my tin hat has fallen off, just to remind us again, what did the liberals do to meet any enviromental issues in thier 12 years of governance...how much was even spent on eviromental issues during the liberal reign of power....and some how the cons are hyprocrits ....where is my tin hat again....

[daniel]

...what did the liberals do to meet any enviromental issues in thier 12 years of governance...

Per the insistance of the right-wing community including the Reform/Canadian Alliance/ Conservative Party and their scaremongering that Canada will become a 3rd world nation, the Liberals brought the budget into surplus territory.

Any discussion or effort for environmentalism was criticized by Manning, Klein, Harper and their gang with catch phrases such as "made-in-Canada Solution".

The biggest achievement was in-fact done by Dion in only one night. On December 3, 2006 he single-handedly converted Harper into an environmental Prime Minister despite his opinions of the past 20years.

[Army Guy]

daniel:

Per the insistance of the right-wing community including the Reform/Canadian Alliance/ Conservative Party and their scaremongering that Canada will become a 3rd world nation, the Liberals brought the budget into surplus territory.

Yes, the liberals did post record surpluses, but at what cost and to which depts, not to mention the taxpayers.

Any discussion or effort for environmentalism was criticized by Manning, Klein, Harper and their gang with catch phrases such as "made-in-Canada Solution".

So that is the excuse, they were criticized so they did not move on any enviroment issues. funny you mention that as the cons are being critized and have just put 1.5 bil towards the enviroment...

The biggest achievement was in-fact done by Dion in only one night. On December 3, 2006 he single-handedly converted Harper into an environmental Prime Minister despite his opinions of the past 20years.

And the fact that harper is the head of a minority government had nothing to do with that, or the fact polls show that Canadians want more focus on enviroment. or are you convinced that dion is that good.