What Harper gov’t accomplished in 16 months!

[nbguyca]

Sorry to tarnish your golden boy, but the fact is he isn't perfect.

I never said he was perfect.

But he's a hell of a lot better than all the options were in 2006. He's a lot better than all of the options out there now.

Pretty sad state of affairs isn't it.

[sharkman]

Steve's "other" accomplishments which are on his agenda if he manages to gain a majority...

1. Stephen Harper does not respect the Supreme Court of Canada, and undermines the Canadian Charter of Freedom and Rights in a biased manner. Harper will change the Supreme Court system to his liking if elected.

Canadians for Equal Marriage - Is Harper saying gays and lesbains have no human rights under the Charter?

Toronto Star - Harper unveils plan to change judiciary

Politics Canada Webpage - Harper agenda includes changes to Supreme Court

2. Warnings from handful Conservative Party members about Harper's unknown agenda due the merge of the left wings gave no time for internal policy debate and Harper's ambivalent, intolerance and discriminating attitudes on hot-button social policies (such as same-sex marriage).

CTV News - Ex-Tory MP warns of party's 'unknown agenda'

Globe and Mail - Ex-Alliance official warns on social agenda

3. $11 billions of deficit will be resulted from Conservative proposed budgets.

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Can they pay for what they say?

4. 22 Canadian mayors are warning voters that a Conservative victory in the upcoming election would mean big trouble for the country's municipalities. The group of mayors described the Conservatives as "the barbarians are at the gate".

CTV News - Mayors warn against Conservative victory

CTV News - Metis leaders slam Harper, endorse Martin

5. Regressive approach towards minorities (women's rights, and First nations rights)

CBC News - Women's rights at stake if Harper wins: Morgentaler

CTV News - Metis leaders slam Harper, endorse Martin

6. Homophobic and hostile attitudes towards gay and lesbian Canadians. (Larry Spenser, Cheryl Gallant, Frank Luellau, Conservative MPs)

Canwest News Service - Tories will tweak hate-crime law

Globe and Mail - How far would he go to stop gay marriage?

7. Harper's Conservative Party of Canada is not the same as the Conservative Party of Sir. John A. MacDonald at all. Harper's Conservative Party is really just the old Canadian Alliance becomes larger. Harper has a secret plan to fight the social order from the left.

CanWest News Service - Harper essay warned of sliding social order, need to fight left

8. Non-supportive of Canada heritage of bilingualism.(Scott Reid, Conservative MP)

CBC News - Conservative language critic resigns

9. Return of death penalty to Canada (Tom Jackson, Conservative MP)

10. Increased involvement in warfare and military spending, which is not a Canadian peacemaker value. (Stephen Harper, Conservative Leader).

http://bp1.blogger.com/_wAK2AbRU4ds/Rmq7zC...ow_bush_GIF.gif

Ah, a soothsayer, tell me who's going to win the Stanley cup next year while you're at it!

[Michael Bluth]

I never said he was perfect.

But he's a hell of a lot better than all the options were in 2006. He's a lot better than all of the options out there now.

Pretty sad state of affairs isn't it.

Thaings haven't really changed. It's been about 19 years (1988?) since there were two or three credible options for leaders at the Federal level.

Mulroney-Turner-Broadent.

Chretien won three straight with no real credible leader opposing him.

Martin won in 2004 almost by default.

2006 was the first time since Mulroney a centre-right candidate has been actually viable.

[Figleaf]

I agree with Sharkman. On military spending, isn't it about time Canada stopped relying on the US for its defence? This reliance has gone on for too long and does nothing to assert our sovereignty as an independent nation.

I agree. That's why I believe Canada must urgently pursue its own nuclear deterent capability. We should have three or four top-of-the line stealth subs armed with ICBMs on regular deployment, just in case anyone gets the idea we look like too much of a pushover.

[sharkman]

Chretien did much worse with the purchase of helicopters to replace the Sea Kings. First he cancelled the contract signed under Mulroney, then was promply sued by the military manufacturer. Almost a decade went by, with Sea Kings dropping with alarming frequency. Then when Chretien finally was pressured into doing something about it, they manipulated the bidding process so that the favoured French design would win the bid. This was because the best copter out there would have been the one Mulroney had chosen, and Chretien was too proud or stubborn to realize it.

You won't hear me defending Chretien on the helicopter deal.

However, if you are championing Mulroney as defender of the Armed Forces, most experts will say he failed to deliver. Ask today's military who sold the heavy lift helicopters to the Dutch.

I am not championing Mulroney, that is a strawman. Chretien does make him look good in this issue, however.

[jdobbin]

I am not championing Mulroney, that is a strawman. Chretien does make him look good in this issue, however.

And I was not championing Chretien. Strawman.

[sharkman]

Please indicate where I claimed you were championing Chretien. Why would you point that out when no one claimed you were?

[jdobbin]

Please indicate where I claimed you were championing Chretien. Why would you point that out when no one claimed you were?

You always refer to Chretien when responding to my posts. I wasn't the one bringing him up. However, when you are defending Tory policies, you always say" "But the Liberals under Chretien did this..."

[sharkman]

I agree. That's why I believe Canada must urgently pursue its own nuclear deterent capability. We should have three or four top-of-the line stealth subs armed with ICBMs on regular deployment, just in case anyone gets the idea we look like too much of a pushover.

Hey, the left seems pretty okay with Iran pursuing nukes, they should be happier still with Canada doing it since we live next door to the Bushmeister.

Saw your Bush remark, you're not American are you? I thought you were a Canuck.

[Figleaf]

I agree. That's why I believe Canada must urgently pursue its own nuclear deterent capability. We should have three or four top-of-the line stealth subs armed with ICBMs on regular deployment, just in case anyone gets the idea we look like too much of a pushover.

Hey, the left seems pretty okay with Iran pursuing nukes, they should be happier still with Canada doing it since we live next door to the Bushmeister.

Well, I can't speak for the left, but you do raise another point about why Canada should have nukes ... it looks like every tinpot craphole in the world will soon have them.

Saw your Bush remark, you're not American are you? I thought you were a Canuck.

I'm lucky enough to be both.

[M.Dancer]

I am not a PC supporter but I do think this minority has been passable.

Passed the Federal Accountability Act; ------Public Relations' -0

Introduced legislation to crack down on street racing;---------Public Relations -0

Introduced the Universal Child Care Program;---------Bad Concept -1

Extended the Afghanistan mission;--------bold move +1

Established a formal role for Quebec at UNESCO; Public relations iffy mark -0

Instituted tax fairness, as well as income splitting for seniors; +1

Reduced the GST by 1%; Punlic relations -0

Increased democratic reform and expanded voting opportunities; +1

Improved marine security; +1

Improved border security; +1

Passed the 2007 budget — which; Restored the fiscal balance, Jury still out -0

Gave tax relief to low income working families, +1

Allotted funds for more debt reduction, +1

Provided a working tax benefit, +1

Added a registered disability saving plan, +1

Allotted funds for the environment, Jury still out -0

Alloted more funds for health care; and -0

Alloted more funds for farmers. -0

Introduced a workable environment Green Plan; -1

Redressed the Chinese head tax; -0

Redressed the Hep C compensation; +1

Reduced the landing fee for new immigrants; -1

Introduced the Sidney Tar Pond initiative; 0

Centralized the cancer register; +1

Expanded the Pacific Gateway; -0

Negotiated the softwood lumber treaty with the U.S; and +1

Increased funding and resources to the military. +1

But it isn't all rosy. The have bungled the altlantic accord, the optics for afghanistan and possibly have wasted money by buying biollions of dollars of military equipemnt without a tender.

[Topaz]

Probably by saying "sue me" he'll have the budget voted against and we'll be in an election by the fall!!

[Michael Bluth]

Probably by saying "sue me" he'll have the budget voted against and we'll be in an election by the fall!!

So if the opposition forces an election over the budget it is because Harper stood up to the bullies in Atlantic Canada?

[geoffrey]

I don't know why we are praising tax cuts. Canadians pay more to the Federal government then ever before.

It's results over rhetoric. I want to pay less, give me a party that'll do that.

[BC_chick]

So if the opposition forces an election over the budget it is because Harper stood up to the bullies in Atlantic Canada?

Or because he broke a promise he made to Atlantic Canada. Depends on who you ask I suppose.

[geoffrey]

Or because he broke a promise he made to Atlantic Canada. Depends on who you ask I suppose.

I still don't understand this claim.

[BC_chick]

Or because he broke a promise he made to Atlantic Canada. Depends on who you ask I suppose.

I still don't understand this claim.

We agreed to disagree on this remember. I was trying to be bipartisan there. Let me have my moment please.

[geoffrey]

We agreed to disagree on this remember. I was trying to be bipartisan there. Let me have my moment please.

Fine. Probably shouldn't hijack the thread too much.

[Michael Bluth]

We agreed to disagree on this remember. I was trying to be bipartisan there. Let me have my moment please.

You were trying to be partisan. Yes, we get it.

[jdobbin]

I am not a PC supporter but I do think this minority has been passable.

But it isn't all rosy. The have bungled the altlantic accord, the optics for afghanistan and possibly have wasted money by buying biollions of dollars of military equipemnt without a tender.

The perception in the Martimes that the accord was broken isn't something that Harper will be able to brush off. Right now, the Tories are making out that the entire eastern seaboard are wrong and if they want to get ahead, go to Alberta and stop crying.

Afghanistan is another issue that won't go away. The Netherlands might leave after August. It is going to be harder and harder to stay with fewer and fewer allies.

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

But while Canada has committed its troops to remain in the ravaged country until February 2009, the Netherlands' mission ends this August.

Harper said he hoped the Netherlands would renew its commitment to Afghanistan.

"I obviously will not pressure the prime minister in public, but just to say that we have valued tremendously the cooperation with the Netherlands in southern Afghanistan," Harper told reporters.

[geoffrey]

Right now, the Tories are making out that the entire eastern seaboard are wrong and if they want to get ahead, go to Alberta and stop crying.

It might not look pretty in the media. But it's correct.

[BC_chick]

You were trying to be partisan. Yes, we get it.

You should try it some time Michael. It's quite invigorating!

[Michael Bluth]

You were trying to be partisan. Yes, we get it.

You should try it some time Michael. It's quite invigorating!

And I thought I was being partisan...

partisan - of, pertaining to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.: partisan politics.

I guess I get me invigorated a lot on these here boards.

[jdobbin]

It might not look pretty in the media. But it's correct.

If Harper honoured the accord, they might not have to move.

Just how many people all at once do you want in Alberta? Hundreds of thousands immediately? Millions?

[geoffrey]

Just how many people all at once do you want in Alberta? Hundreds of thousands immediately? Millions?

They aren't ALL unemployed.