Canadian Election: It's On

[Ben Kenobi]

Since when is creating more bureaucracy and more politicians a good thing?

We are already paying through the nose for these politicians. We might as well put them to work.

Besides, like any good NDPer, why don't you support a larger bureaucracy alongside those higher taxes? Big can be beautiful.

[notyoueither]

Re: Reality Check

Originally posted by Flinx
The Conservative's platform is 89 billion over 5 years in new spending and tax cuts.

Where is that 89 billion from?

[notyoueither]

You got me on the basic premise though. I only counted the Libs health spending for 9 billion. Twas getting late and I wanted to stir things up. Been alltogether too polite around here lately.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Tingkai

Them commies in the Alberta government.
Federal corporate tax rate
In Canada: 24.1%
In the US: 32.7%
See:
http://www.alberta-canada.com/economy/taxes.cfm

You neglect to mention that corporate tax rates have been falling in general throughout the indutrialised world (except for the US) for the past several years, that the provincial rates in some provinces would drive that rate above the sited US rates even today after significant cuts to the federal rate, and that even Kerry is talking about cutting US corporate tax rates after the US has long been standing still on this issue.

Into this mix, you site one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in Canada, and suggest that everything would be hunky-dory if we started jacking tax rates while everyone else we compete against is lowering theirs.

How do you spell capital flight? 'N-D-P'

[Ben Kenobi]

a) Canadian business taxes are now lower than the US on average; and
b) The additional costs of doing business in Canada are lower (eg health insurance premiums for employees, security costs, etc).

We also have to look at the marginal effect. Some businesses might leave, but the overal benefits might still increase. It's just like if a business increases the price for its products. The number of products sold might drop, but the profit might increase.

That's part of the reason that Canada does so poorly. You also need to consider the fact that we are more inefficient than the US. Our workers are not as productive, ergo, it costs more to do business in Canada.

One thing about the high taxes is that they discourage increases in productivity and competitiveness. Why work hard when half your cash goes to the government?

[notyoueither]

Uhmmm, our corporate taxes have only been lower than the US for a year or two, or still aren't depending on which provinces you compare with which states.

Can you think of why the Canbuck might be trending up lately? Could it be that capital is coming here or staying here? Naww, no way!

[Flinx]

Originally posted by Method
this is my riding. I don't like Martin, but Harper and the conservatives, now that's even worse. The thing is, the liberals are more of the lesser of two evils. I don't see the NDP as having even a slim chance here.
Judging by 2000's results and what's been going on as of late, I'd say this place could end up being a good contest.

Good contest?! The Conservatives are more than likely to win that riding.

[notyoueither]

A good contest is where the Conservatives have no hope of winning?

[joncha]

nice troll, nye

The key word is contest.

[notyoueither]

Likely to win is not a good contest, especially where the incumbant is a Liberal? How do you figure 'likely to win' in a specific riding against an incumbant, anyway?

I'd call that a contest, given the unpredictability of the percentage of combined Alliance-Tory votes. It ain't gonna be 100%. Not to mention that this election is the most volatile since '93.

Where's the troll?

[joncha]

The Conservative is likely to win that riding in a walk.

A contest implies a close race.

[notyoueither]

He says likely. You say likely. The fact remains that there is a Liberal incumbant and the battle for Ontario is far from over.

[notyoueither]

In other words, I'll listen to the guy that lives there. It is a contest.

[joncha]

A Liberal incumbent that won by a grand total of 45 votes over the Alliance candidate in the last election.

I'd put money on a conservative cakewalk this time out.

[Ben Kenobi]

Regarding the election prediction project.. It's an interesting riding by riding portrait, but I think that it muddles things more than they ever made clear.