Conservatives Introduce

[jdobbin]

Is there no Liberal program they won't re-introduce?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...22?hub=Politics

The new program was created with little fanfare in Monday's budget, having received a $30-million annual allotment but no mention in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's budget speech.

The government said cultural groups have been in desperate need of financial help since Paul Martin eliminated the sponsorship program on his first day as prime minister.

Is this another slush fund for Quebec?

[geoffrey]

Yup, another $1 per Canadian to Quebec. When will it end?

[jdobbin]

Yup, another $1 per Canadian to Quebec. When will it end?

People can say what they want about Paul Martin. He had the good sense to shut down the program. It's a can of worms.

[Canadian Blue]

What's the point of bringing it back, really the Conservatives should have kept that program in the grave.

[jdobbin]

What's the point of bringing it back, really the Conservatives should have kept that program in the grave.

I don't understand it myself. Surely Flaherty could have left this item off the budget.

[Canadian Blue]

I don't see how bringing back the sponsorship program even makes sense politically. Considering the history behind it.

[geoffrey]

I don't see how bringing back the sponsorship program even makes sense politically.

Sure it does. There is no further right party for the sane to go to, and it buys votes in Quebec. Why not? Why not just throw all of Canada's money into Quebec. Right now, it'd get you a majority.

Screw the West, we'll take the rest (and the West because they have no where to go)... Harper style?

[blueblood]

I don't see how bringing back the sponsorship program even makes sense politically.

Sure it does. There is no further right party for the sane to go to, and it buys votes in Quebec. Why not? Why not just throw all of Canada's money into Quebec. Right now, it'd get you a majority.

Screw the West, we'll take the rest (and the West because they have no where to go)... Harper style?

Is there a chance Reform II could come about?

[geoffrey]

Is there a chance Reform II could come about?

Reform II will not be so open to Eastern Canadian involvement. There is a possibility, but it's ugly and could mean the end of things for Canada. Either way, we need to elect Alberta focused candidates here to protect our interests... the Calgary PM certainly isn't doing anything Chretien or Martin wouldn't do.

It's more in our favour and interests to have a strong Reform party opposing the Liberals than our guys in the PMO. The spending record shows that. It's even more in our interest to just stop dealing with Canada, it's a very bad deal for Albertans.

[Michael Bluth]

Is there a chance Reform II could come about?

No there isn't.

Western anger at the Sponsorship Program wasn't with it's legitimate aims.

It was with *at least* $1.14 Million illegally being diverted to Liberal operatives in Québec.

The Conservatives are bullet proof on this one. If the anybody tries to go after them on it they have another chance to bring up the corruption of the Liberals.