Discussions

Hey Canadians,  
 
We now have the opportunity to change our country's political and economic future by ousting the Harper Government.  
 
Get out and vote!!!!

also up to the Liberals and NDP to put together reasonable election platforms. No stupid hair-brained schemes. Those were the things that turned me off of them on past elections.  
 
I do not vote just because of the party name nor hold any allegiances to any one party. I consider all parties the same during elections, they will say and do anything that might get them elected. And once in, they will do whatever they want.  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2015-08-02 10:14:49

Jack Layton was still alive...he would have spanked all the other candidates.

mightyquinn2 said "Jack Layton was still alive...he would have spanked all the other candidates. "

In his second-last election,Jack promised a $2000.cheque to every adult in Canada,but,alas,he lost again,staying at 16% of the popular vote.  
Be careful what you wish for!

The NDP in power to turn this country around. If they follow in Jack Layton platform canada just might have a fighting chance.

If the NDP in mb is any indication of what they'll do at a national level if ever in power, I'd hate to see the day that happens... I like our current government and for the most part support what they've done. I'll likely be voting for them again.

Not disappointed that there has been an election called but disappointed that it is going to cost as much as it is when talking of public funds going back to reimburse candidates and the parties, five weeks should be long enough for anyone to make up their mind on how they are going to vote. For myself this shows the disconnect between government and real people, sort of hard to say anything bad about anyone when all of them show such disregard to the spending of public monies.

Are our only hope left in this country. I'll be voting for Harper. A little reluctant this time, but still our only hope compared to the other clowns.

of the problems with our elections is that there are too many who vote for a party no matter what. They voted that way of years, their parents voted that way, etc.

He has helped keep Canada in good shape while many countries have faced tough economic times.  
 
It's easy for side-liners to complain and chant slogans like "it's time for change," but the reality is that Harper and his conservatives have done a pretty good job in office. "Change" is not always for the better.  

iKaren said "He has helped keep Canada in good shape while many countries have faced tough economic times.     It's easy for side-liners to complain and chant slogans like "it's time for change," but the reality is that Harper and his conservatives have done a pretty good job in office. "Change" is not always for the better.   "

May be you haven't heard but we are officially in a recession.

the ndp were in power in sask years ago -they closed hospitals . never fixed any hiways,some hiways were turned back to gravel and they put the province 10 years behind . we are still trying to dig out of the mess .

Either vote for a party headed by a priveliged brat who wants to kill our oil industry that is the backbone of our economy..  
 
OR vote for the borderline communists, who want to further tax hardworking Canadians and give it to the unambitious low income/unemployed people.  
 
OR vote for the party who's headed by the lady who went on a drunken rant at a podium about nothing.  
 
Or vote for the party whos tough on crime, cares about our main industry, the only party that supports pipelines, (the other parties I guess prefers oil to be transported by RAIL..ya real environmently friendly transport choice..) And has intervened in major overseas humanitarian crisis( Isis killing and raping thousands of innocents)  
A party that has been doing a great job.  
 
EASY CHOICE.

Yes, a recession is looming, but that doesn't mean the Conservatives caused a recession. I believe Canada would be much worse off were it not for Harper's skilled management of the world economic situation.  
 
My heart is with the NDP, but they just can't manage the back end - somebody has to be fiscally responsible in order to afford the social programs Canadians are so proud of. It's not enough to roll out programs for the underprivileged, elderly, etc., somebody has to pay for these programs. The Conservatives manage our country's finances in such a way that social programs are sustainable. That's why I'm for Harper.

I think someone has been drinking a lot of blue kool-aid lately.  
 
In case you haven't heard, Canada is in a recession. The supposedly "steady economic hand" of Harper has resulted in the poorest economic performance of any Prime Minister in Canada since WWII. The only reason we got through the 2008-09 recession as well as we did is because Harper didn't have time to gut Canadian banking regulations before the downturn. Also, if you recall, the stimulus spending that got us through was because of the opposition parties' insistence, as Harper was planning to "stay the course". Hell, he and Flaherty wouldn't even acknowledge that there WAS a recession until it was almost too late.  
 
As for oil being our big, primary product... how well is that doing now that the price per barrel is in the crapper? Had this so-called "fiscal government" had any sense at all, they wouldn't have sacrificed Canada's manufacturing sector in a vain, useless attempt to remake us as an energy "super power". Ask around to your oil patch buddies and see how well relying on that industry is doing for them...  
 
While I'm on a rant, how do you reconcile the "sound fiscal management" of Harper with his calling an election with the longest campaign period in the last century? Since electoral offices in each riding have to be staffed, and the additional money that parties are allowed to spend has to be matched and refunded, this unnecessary extended election period will cost Canadian taxpayers many millions of dollars more than a regular length election.  
 
If you still believe that Harper is an economic genius, I have some reading for you. Just remember... anyone can have "credentials" just as anyone can have a drivers license - it doesn't mean they necessarily know what they are doing when they get behind the wheel!  
 
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-report-shows-harper-governments-economic-record-to-be-the-worst-in-canadas-post-war-history-519888611.html  
 
Edited by JR, 2015-08-03 01:07:19

iKaren said "Yes, a recession is looming, but that doesn't mean the Conservatives caused a recession. I believe Canada would be much worse off were it not for Harper's skilled management of the world economic situation.     My heart is with the NDP, but they just can't manage the back end - somebody has to be fiscally responsible in order to afford the social programs Canadians are so proud of. It's not enough to roll out programs for the underprivileged, elderly, etc., somebody has to pay for these programs. The Conservatives manage our country's finances in such a way that social programs are sustainable. That's why I'm for Harper. "

The social programs are sustainable under Harper? Perhaps you have not heard about the billions of dollars cut from health care. How about the closing of Veterans Affairs offices leaving some very vulnerable and heroic people out in the cold. Then there are the massive cuts to EI that have left many seasonal workers out in the cold.  
 
You wouldn't care to elaborate on any truly Canadian social programs that have flourished under Harper, would you? I couldn't find any examples.  
 
If you believe that the handing out of billions of dollars to parents of children - ALL parents, including those who are multi-millionaires and don't need the money - is an example of a properly managed social program, then the joke's on you. Those parents also lost their child tax credit at tax time and the benefits that are being paid out are taxable. The average $50k income family will see a whopping $20 per month when all is said and done. Exactly who does that benefit?  

Tell us how you really feel. You seem to have some free time on your hands so can you enlighten us on who we should vote for. Evil dictator? Communist? Drunk terrorist lover? Or substitute drama teacher rich kid ? Who one represents us best. Please tell us

kcm1979 said "Tell us how you really feel. You seem to have some free time on your hands so can you enlighten us on who we should vote for. Evil dictator? Communist? Drunk terrorist lover? Or substitute drama teacher rich kid ? Who one represents us best. Please tell us "

...political views, is the PARTY that you should vote for.  
 
By your comment, it is obvious that you think this is a popularity contest and we should vote for the GUY we like best.  
 
Do your reading and choose wisely.  
 
I am leaning away from Conservative so I will now read the other parties platforms and make an informed decision.  
 
I wont be voting for the GUY I like best or I for sure wouldn't be voting PC.  
 
Marpet

While Harper has done some good for the country, he certainly has a lot of disconnect with the populace.  
 
The Federal NDP and the Provincial NDP are not the same party. However, I look at how well the MB NDP have done for the province and I'm very concerned about what the Federal NDP would do to the country.  
 
I look at Justin and wonder just how much of a chip off the block he is from his father. PET certainly didn't do wonders for western Canada.  
 
If the Green party's biggest black mark is a drunken rant about nothing, maybe they are the best ones?  
 
Or as recycler said, NOTA (none of the above).

Enjoy the free healthcare while you have it! more staff will be taken away and the quality in different ammenities are aleady diminishing. That's not even to mention any other amenities we have around here. Take a look around. The almighty Canadian filler is shipped and spent anywhere but Canada, where it's needed.

Is it willful blindness or lack of knowledge or just unthinking allegiance.  
 
People continue to talk of Harper as a good fiscal manager.  
 
This is the guy who turned a massive surplus into the largest deficit in history.  
 
He cut the GST by two points. This was pure politics. A good fiscal manager would have been able to see that such a move would only prolong and deepen the recession that he denied was happening.  
 
He has claimed that we have a balanced budget, and Larry Maguire says the same on his website. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that is untrue. Does Harper not know what a balanced budget is, or is he deliberately misleading voters ?  
 
People talk about his great judgement. Think Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau.  
 
People claim he keeps his promises. Think about his promise that he would not appoint Senators. Think about his 2006 promise that all votes in Parliament, except votes on the budget, would be free votes.  
 
Now let's look at Trudeau and Mulcair. Have either of these leaders turned a massive surplus into a historic deficit ? Have either boasted about a balanced budget when that was untrue ? Have either pledged that they would not appoint Senators and then done so ?  
 
It is unfair to attempt to tar Mulcair with the Manitoba NDP brush, or Trudeau with his father's legacy, unless you are also prepared to attach the Manitoba vote-rigging scandal to Harper.  
 
It is time for change.  
 
 
Edited by standard standard h8r, 2015-08-03 11:46:13

standard standard h8r said "Is it willful blindness or lack of knowledge or just unthinking allegiance.     People continue to talk of Harper as a good fiscal manager.     This is the guy who turned a massive surplus into the largest deficit in history.     He cut the GST by two points. This was pure politics. A good fiscal manager would have been able to see that such a move would only prolong and deepen the recession that he denied was happening.     He has claimed that we have a balanced budget, and Larry Maguire says the same on his website. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that is untrue. Does Harper not know what a balanced budget is, or is he deliberately misleading voters ?     People talk about his great judgement. Think Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau.     People claim he keeps his promises. Think about his promise that he would not appoint Senators. Think about his 2006 promise that all votes in Parliament, except votes on the budget, would be free votes.     Now let's look at Trudeau and Mulcair. Have either of these leaders turned a massive surplus into a historic deficit ? Have either boasted about a balanced budget when that was untrue ? Have either pledged that they would not appoint Senators and then done so ?     It is unfair to attempt to tar Mulcair with the Manitoba NDP brush, or Trudeau with his father's legacy, unless you are also prepared to attach the Manitoba vote-rigging scandal to Harper.     It is time for change.       Edited by standard standard h8r, 2015-08-03 11:46:13"

The above post contains a lot of false info possibly picked up from Canadian liberal media which is on the "I hate Harper" bandwagon.  
Economic downturns are a regular occurence & not caused by Harper.The bailouts were agreed on with the U.S. to prevent a catastrophic economic collapse.  
Reducing the GST came about because the tax brought in far more money than predicted.In fact,Harper's economic policies left Canada in a position envied around the globe.  
Promises by Trudeau & Mulcair are short-sighted & self-serving.They are desperate to gain power.  
Finally,if you dislike tax reductions,history has proven that it does not happen under NDP or Liberal governance.In fact,both parties plan to raise taxes at the beginning of another downturn,which will cause even greater problems due to reduced private investment & job creation.  
But,alas Trudeau thinks the budget will balance itself.

ynot said "    standard standard h8r said "Is it willful blindness or lack of knowledge or just unthinking allegiance.     People continue to talk of Harper as a good fiscal manager.     This is the guy who turned a massive surplus into the largest deficit in history.     He cut the GST by two points. This was pure politics. A good fiscal manager would have been able to see that such a move would only prolong and deepen the recession that he denied was happening.     He has claimed that we have a balanced budget, and Larry Maguire says the same on his website. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that is untrue. Does Harper not know what a balanced budget is, or is he deliberately misleading voters ?     People talk about his great judgement. Think Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau.     People claim he keeps his promises. Think about his promise that he would not appoint Senators. Think about his 2006 promise that all votes in Parliament, except votes on the budget, would be free votes.     Now let's look at Trudeau and Mulcair. Have either of these leaders turned a massive surplus into a historic deficit ? Have either boasted about a balanced budget when that was untrue ? Have either pledged that they would not appoint Senators and then done so ?     It is unfair to attempt to tar Mulcair with the Manitoba NDP brush, or Trudeau with his father's legacy, unless you are also prepared to attach the Manitoba vote-rigging scandal to Harper.     It is time for change.       Edited by standard standard h8r, 2015-08-03 11:46:13" The above post contains a lot of false info possibly picked up from Canadian liberal media which is on the "I hate Harper" bandwagon.   Economic downturns are a regular occurence & not caused by Harper.The bailouts were agreed on with the U.S. to prevent a catastrophic economic collapse.   Reducing the GST came about because the tax brought in far more money than predicted.In fact,Harper's economic policies left Canada in a position envied around the globe.   Promises by Trudeau & Mulcair are short-sighted & self-serving.They are desperate to gain power.   Finally,if you dislike tax reductions,history has proven that it does not happen under NDP or Liberal governance.In fact,both parties plan to raise taxes at the beginning of another downturn,which will cause even greater problems due to reduced private investment & job creation.   But,alas Trudeau thinks the budget will balance itself. "

You said my post contains "a lot of false info". I would think that to most folks, "a lot" means more than three.  
 
Please identify more than three pieces of false information. By this I mean things that are actually false, not just things you personally disagree with.  
 
The Certified General Accountants Association of Canada examined the GST cut and concluded that this was not good tax policy. I don't think I would regard them as "liberal media". Would you ?  
 
http://www.cga-canada.org/en-ca/ResearchReports/ca_rep_2008-03_gst.pdf

For those who hate Justin Trudeau just because of who his father was, and believe that the apple does not fall far from the tree, just remember that Pierre ran one of the most fiscally sound governments in Canadian history. He was certainly a much better economist that Mr. "Trickle-Down" Harper.  
 
@kcm1979:  
 
As for who to vote for... that's a loaded question. The problem with this country is its "first past the post" electoral system which favours a two-party election. With so many good options available, I'd love to be able to vote for just a preferred candidate no matter what his party affiliation. The problem with this approach is that I am afraid of "wasting" my vote because of our electoral system. This means that I have to vote strategically - if I don't believe that the Harper Government can properly manage the economy of this country (and they can't), I have to vote for the candidate most likely to defeat the Harper bobble-head that is running in Brandon-Souris. In this case, it would probably be the Liberal candidate - and I haven't even bothered to find out who that is yet. So, you see, voting my conscience would be nice, but our antiquated electoral system won't let me do that because it will just hand Harper another term to continue the Americanization and corporate takeover of Canada. I have to hold my nose and vote for a party that has the best chance of taking over and live with the results.  

Trevor B said "of the problems with our elections is that there are too many who vote for a party no matter what. They voted that way of years, their parents voted that way, etc. "

Nailed it !!!

standard standard h8r said "Is it willful blindness or lack of knowledge or just unthinking allegiance.     People continue to talk of Harper as a good fiscal manager.     This is the guy who turned a massive surplus into the largest deficit in history.     He cut the GST by two points. This was pure politics. A good fiscal manager would have been able to see that such a move would only prolong and deepen the recession that he denied was happening.     He has claimed that we have a balanced budget, and Larry Maguire says the same on his website. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that is untrue. Does Harper not know what a balanced budget is, or is he deliberately misleading voters ?     People talk about his great judgement. Think Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau.     People claim he keeps his promises. Think about his promise that he would not appoint Senators. Think about his 2006 promise that all votes in Parliament, except votes on the budget, would be free votes.     Now let's look at Trudeau and Mulcair. Have either of these leaders turned a massive surplus into a historic deficit ? Have either boasted about a balanced budget when that was untrue ? Have either pledged that they would not appoint Senators and then done so ?     It is unfair to attempt to tar Mulcair with the Manitoba NDP brush, or Trudeau with his father's legacy, unless you are also prepared to attach the Manitoba vote-rigging scandal to Harper.     It is time for change.       Edited by standard standard h8r, 2015-08-03 11:46:13"

could you not enjoy spending 2% less on your purchases??  

mightyquinn2 said "The NDP in power to turn this country around. If they follow in Jack Layton platform canada just might have a fighting chance. "

Because the NDP have done such a wonderful job in Manitoba?

You asked how "could you not enjoy spending 2% less on your purchases??  
 
I enjoy a bargain as much as anyone.  
 
But this is about more than just me. This is also about the fiscal health of our country. That GST cut prolonged the time the government was in a deficit, meaning that our federal debt grew. We, and our children, will have to repay that debt. It looks like short term gain for long term pain to me.  
 
I believe that the GST cut was a political decision, much more than an economic decision. A tax reduction in exchange for greater debt does not seem like much of a bargain.

Anyone in support of Harper is against science. Harper has flipped the enlightenment on its head. Borden implemented legislation that made evidence and science necessary for the creation of public policies. Here in the 21st century, Harper's been muzzling and firing scientists, cutting scientific programs, and closing scientific institutions. He's been intentionally weakening Canada's scientific community so that there is no evidence to prove him wrong.  
 
We need science to keep an eye on industry and to protect the health of Canadians and the environment. Had the government listened to scientists, the fishing stock in the Atlantic wouldn't have been over-fished and Atlantic Canada would still have fishing jobs. The government was warned and given a limit to prevent complete depletion, the government decided to go way over the limit and the rest is history.  
 
The Experimental Lakes Area in Northern Ontario made discoveries of global importance, such as the discovery that phosphorous (in soap and laundry detergent in the 70s) causes lakes to be overrun with bluegreen algae which depletes the oxygen in water which kills aquatic life; ELA discovered the cause of acid rain, which lead to a joint agreement between the USA and Canada to reduce pollution. ELA has been doing important research on the impact climate change will have on fresh water lakes. The discoveries of ELA were, of course sound the alarm for Harper's toxic energy super power plan founded on oil exports in a world quickly turning to greener solutions to energy, so he cut funding for ELA (a mere 2 million a year, roughly the cost of four Economic Action Plan ads during an NHL game). It operates today because the Ontario government and a Winnipeg based NGO picked up the federal government's slack. This was a world class scientific program and the rest of the world benefited from its discoveries.  
 
Harper also severed Canada's high arctic lab, PEARL, the only labs in the world studying the atmosphere in the high arctic. Now the whole world is in the dark.  
 
Canada needs science to make sound policies. Harper thinks he can manufacture facts and that that's good enough. I'm not telling you who to vote for, but please, before you vote, dig deeper: read books, read recent history. Harper will go down as the worst prime minister Canada has ever had. And I pity the next one to take his place.

standard standard h8r said "Is it willful blindness or lack of knowledge or just unthinking allegiance.     People continue to talk of Harper as a good fiscal manager.     This is the guy who turned a massive surplus into the largest deficit in history.     He cut the GST by two points. This was pure politics. A good fiscal manager would have been able to see that such a move would only prolong and deepen the recession that he denied was happening.     He has claimed that we have a balanced budget, and Larry Maguire says the same on his website. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that is untrue. Does Harper not know what a balanced budget is, or is he deliberately misleading voters ?     People talk about his great judgement. Think Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau.     People claim he keeps his promises. Think about his promise that he would not appoint Senators. Think about his 2006 promise that all votes in Parliament, except votes on the budget, would be free votes.     Now let's look at Trudeau and Mulcair. Have either of these leaders turned a massive surplus into a historic deficit ? Have either boasted about a balanced budget when that was untrue ? Have either pledged that they would not appoint Senators and then done so ?     It is unfair to attempt to tar Mulcair with the Manitoba NDP brush, or Trudeau with his father's legacy, unless you are also prepared to attach the Manitoba vote-rigging scandal to Harper.     It is time for change.       Edited by standard standard h8r, 2015-08-03 11:46:13"

the gst cut was a promise made and done. The Liberals some years back promised to scrap it. Epic fail? No it was just not a wise move but I failed to hear a apology.  
 
Harpers GST cut was and still is a wise move. It let tax room for provinces.  
 
Deficit. In 2008 the world went to hell in a hand basket. In Canada every opposition leader said spend spend spend. No matter who was leading the country we would have spent more than we took in.  
 
In fact I think the other opposition would not only spent more but raised taxes at the wrong time. Trudeau senior continually spent more than the country took in.  
 
He flipped flopped on price and wage controls. If inflation was a issue then he Would have been turfed. If you go back re budgets etc in history Trudeau senior started it.  
 
Who cares though. Justin is not his Dad.  
 
As a undecided I will watch listen and  
learn.  
 
Change for the sake of change is wrong.