CanPol: May(?) 2011 Election. Vote today!

[Wezil]

If the poll had shown a Tory uptick I would fully expect you to be in here with an "I told you so".

[Asher]

Fine asher but that is not the impression I have been getting from you.



Tells me that you expected the same response (public anti- Lib coalition and disregarding Harper's earlier flirtation). It did not happen.

If this wasn't what you meant then so be it.

Indeed. My point was they didn't move the needle back then either way, it probably wouldn't now either.

[Wezil]

The needle did move then. Harper up, Libs down.

[notyoueither]

The general sentiment that the Bloc keeps asking for special Quebec-only grants is pure propaganda.

They tend to support national policies that help Quebec, that's it. Most of what is good for us is usually good for Ontario too.

The irony is strong with this one.

-Refusal to advocate a true carbon strategy (following Europe's lead) is a disaster for most of Canada, and especially Quebec (this would greatly increase the value of our hydro power).

[notyoueither]

:cough:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Bloc+Harper+Send+billion+Quebec/4171598/story.html

Bloc to Harper: Send $5 billion to Quebec
By Kevin Dougherty, Postmedia News January 26, 2011 Comments (114)


QUEBEC — The Bloc Quebecois, with 47 seats in the House of Commons, has announced its price for supporting the Conservative minority government's new budget: The BQ wants $5 billion for Quebec, including $2.2 billion to compensate the province for harmonizing its provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax.

With 143 elected members in the 308-seat House of Commons, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government needs the support of at least one of the three opposition parties to remain in power.

Without that backing, the budget would be defeated, triggering a spring election.

The Liberals hold 77 seats, the New Democratic Party 36. There are two independents and three vacancies.

The Bloc is also seeking $1.5 billion more in equalization payments for Quebec, $800 million more for post-secondary education and social programs, $421 million as the federal government's share for dealing with the 1998 ice storm, and $137 million in income stabilization.

Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe insisted at the end of a two-day party caucus meeting in Quebec City, the region where the Harper government holds eight of its 11 Quebec seats, that in asking for $5 billion, the Bloc is "acting in the interests of Quebec."

He noted the Harper government's budget last year sent $10 billion to Ontario; Duceppe said there appears to be a double standard and the Conservative government does not take Quebec's demands seriously.
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

[notyoueither]

An Economist article.

http://www.economist.com/node/15127510

Thanks for the link.

I am detecting a large amount of ideology on both sides of the argument.

Often when the writer grabs for the American example it is to elicit a knee-jerk reaction based on Bull Sh!t. cf, the endless health care debate.

[Fake Boris]

BTW.

Trade surpluses by province (2007):

Alberta ... US$60 billion trade surplus (up 12.4% in 2007, 148% increase since 2003)
Saskatchewan ... $12.1 billion (up 38.5%, 272% increase)
Newfoundland and Labrador … $7.9 billion (up 33.8%, 497% increase)
New Brunswick … $3.5 billion (up 35.6%, 186% increase)
Northwest Territories … $1.7 billion (up 23.7%, 155% increase)
Prince Edward Island … $696.2 million (up 0.1% increase).

Trade deficits by province (2007):

Ontario … US$35.2 billion (up 14.2% in 2007, 233% increase since 2003)
British Columbia … $3.5 billion (up 66%, 425% increase)
Nova Scotia … $1.9 billion (down 8%, 770% increase)
Manitoba … $1.2 billion (down 31.2%, 61% increase)
Quebec … $984.9 million (down 24.7%, 88.3% decrease)
Yukon ... $68.3 million (up 66.2%, 136% increase)
Nanuvut ... $11.2 million trade deficit (up 26.5%, 1731% increase).

Alberta's surplus has only increased since then.

Any guesses why Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and Alberta dominate the top of the surpluses list? Hint: It has nothing to do with a "green economy".

Wow, way to miss the point.

[Fake Boris]

I find it adorable this notion of a "green economy". Tell me what kind of jobs could be created within 5 years to make up for the 2% of Canada's entire GDP that the oil sands alone accounts for?

It's even more adorable that you think the government should be raising taxes (or keeping taxes high) to fund a "green economy". If it was economical to do so, the market would be moving there on its own. It doesn't need govermment funds to exist. How very Quebecois in thought you are. Nothing happens unless the government hands you money, preferably from the other regions of the country who work hard and pay more into confederation.

Life is so easy when you rely on handouts.

Idiot. Major infrastructure shifts require government intervention.

[Fake Boris]

Has anyone asked Harper yet what his plan for growth is when corporate taxes reach 0% ?

[Fake Boris]

NYE: yes I know. Their requests are based on calculations though, not ex nihilo numbers.

[Asher]

Idiot. Major infrastructure shifts require government intervention.

So you are supporting the Tories' efforts to subsidize Newfoundland's Hydro megaproject, then?

I was pretty sure the Bloc was extremely proud that Quebec's "major infrastructure shift" to Hydro took zero money from the government.

It's amazing how you and the Bloc change your tune so many times a day and are incapable of seeing the contradictions.

[Asher]

Wow, way to miss the point.

Please summarize your point. Your point seemed to be

Quebec has the most export-driven economy in Canada

Which is categorically false no matter how you slice it.

[Wezil]

I'd like to interject to say I took the Votecompass survey at CBC.ca (mentioned earlier)

It claims I am closest to the Liberals and furthest from the Greens.

Does it really call everyone a Liberal? Do you have a couple minutes Asher?

[notyoueither]

It called me a Liberal, but then I'm a farily flaming shade of blue.

I think what's telling is the test where answering all in the slightly agree or answering all in the slightly disagree both yield a Liberal result.

[notyoueither]

NYE: yes I know. Their requests are based on calculations though, not ex nihilo numbers.

One can make calculations using BS assumptions. Like claiming more transfer payments when the largest benefactor is already Quebec and there are already major distortions in services resulting from the system as it is.

This business with Newfoulndland and hydro is really unsavoury as well. It's almost like someone wants a 'then get the fvck out!' reaction.