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Mike F · 01-15-2006, 07:55 PM

We all know that we need to vote Conservative to return honesty to Parliament, right?

Well, in the wake of the revelation that the Conservative promise to give a $500 tax break to parents enrolling their kids in sports would only actually be $80 comes this revelation:

The Liberals came out attacking the Conservative platform as fiscally irresponsible:

The Liberals are also arguing that Harper's plan to redress the so-called fiscal imbalance between the federal and provincial governments could bring the deficit to between $23.4 billion and $53.4 billion over the next five years.

Goodale, in a telephone interview with CTV.ca, contends that Harper has not tried to address how this agenda would be funded.

"That question Mr. Harper has not yet even attempted to answer, and that will have a huge bearing on the bottom line," he said. "Otherwise he is leading the premiers down the garden path, implying there is a solution but knowing privately that he can't afford that solution."

The Conservatives shot back with their usual response that this is just more fearmongering:

"This is a blatant attempt to scare people again," Monte Solberg, the Tory finance critic said Sunday. "I saw their numbers, and they're ridiculous."

Shortly after the Liberals released their statement Sunday, the Conservatives issued a letter of their own from the Conference Board of Canada, insisting their program is properly costed out.

The statement contends the party platform is fully affordable in each year from 2005 through to 2011.

"In summary, we found that the Conservative Party's economic platform is affordable in each fiscal year from 2005-2006 through 2010-2011," Paul Darby, the board's deputy chief economist is quoted as saying.

Well it turns out that the economist is now washing his hands of the Conservative agenda because they decided not to include everything when they sent it to him:

A prominent economist commissioned by the Conservatives to assess the financial soundness of their election platform says major items were omitted from the version he was given.

. . . . Mr. Darby says the version of the platform he was given to vet didn't include a Conservative health-care guarantee which states patients will be transported to another jurisdiction if they can't get timely care at home.

It also omitted a Tory platform promise to redress the so-called “fiscal imbalance” between Ottawa and the provinces.

Mr. Darby wouldn't comment on whether the timely health-care guarantee would bear a significant cost.

“Talk to Harper,” he said. “It is not in the platform I received from them.”

01-15-2006, 07:55 PM	#1
Mike F Franchise Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Djibouti Exp:	More Conservative "Honesty" on Display We all know that we need to vote Conservative to return honesty to Parliament, right? Well, in the wake of the revelation that the Conservative promise to give a $500 tax break to parents enrolling their kids in sports would only actually be $80 comes this revelation: The Liberals came out attacking the Conservative platform as fiscally irresponsible: The Liberals are also arguing that Harper's plan to redress the so-called fiscal imbalance between the federal and provincial governments could bring the deficit to between $23.4 billion and $53.4 billion over the next five years. Goodale, in a telephone interview with CTV.ca, contends that Harper has not tried to address how this agenda would be funded. "That question Mr. Harper has not yet even attempted to answer, and that will have a huge bearing on the bottom line," he said. "Otherwise he is leading the premiers down the garden path, implying there is a solution but knowing privately that he can't afford that solution." The Conservatives shot back with their usual response that this is just more fearmongering: "This is a blatant attempt to scare people again," Monte Solberg, the Tory finance critic said Sunday. "I saw their numbers, and they're ridiculous." Shortly after the Liberals released their statement Sunday, the Conservatives issued a letter of their own from the Conference Board of Canada, insisting their program is properly costed out. The statement contends the party platform is fully affordable in each year from 2005 through to 2011. "In summary, we found that the Conservative Party's economic platform is affordable in each fiscal year from 2005-2006 through 2010-2011," Paul Darby, the board's deputy chief economist is quoted as saying. Well it turns out that the economist is now washing his hands of the Conservative agenda because they decided not to include everything when they sent it to him: A prominent economist commissioned by the Conservatives to assess the financial soundness of their election platform says major items were omitted from the version he was given. . . . . Mr. Darby says the version of the platform he was given to vet didn't include a Conservative health-care guarantee which states patients will be transported to another jurisdiction if they can't get timely care at home. It also omitted a Tory platform promise to redress the so-called “fiscal imbalance” between Ottawa and the provinces. Mr. Darby wouldn't comment on whether the timely health-care guarantee would bear a significant cost. “Talk to Harper,” he said. “It is not in the platform I received from them.”