Quebec's Provincial Debt Soars to $122.4 Billion

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Or an unemployed room mate.

I keep telling the that he needs to get a job and start paying some rent, and helping out with the bills and food, but he keeps spending his money on Playstation II, porn and strip clubs. And he keeps asking me for loans so then spends that money on a throw rug and candles for his room.

I'd like to kick him out, but he keeps bringing these hot girls over.

But I swear to god, I don't think we're even speaking the same language here.

Yeah, that's really annoying. I hope you didn't lend him too much money.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Or an unemployed room mate.

I keep telling the that he needs to get a job and start paying some rent, and helping out with the bills and food, but he keeps spending his money on Playstation II, porn and strip clubs. And he keeps asking me for loans so then spends that money on a throw rug and candles for his room.

I'd like to kick him out, but he keeps bringing these hot girls over.

But I swear to god, I don't think we're even speaking the same language here.

That is such a great analogy I'm starting to doubt if it actually is one. Or just an accurate portrait of your life.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Or an unemployed room mate.

I keep telling the that he needs to get a job and start paying some rent, and helping out with the bills and food, but he keeps spending his money on Playstation II, porn and strip clubs. And he keeps asking me for loans so then spends that money on a throw rug and candles for his room.

I'd like to kick him out, but he keeps bringing these hot girls over.

But I swear to god, I don't think we're even speaking the same language here.

You're way off base here CC.

I'd support a broke rommate if he brought hot girls over. No questions.

The roommate you have makes you re-label all your food, speaks in tongues, tapes a border around "his" couch, and yells at you through the wall saying that you're not respecting his rights to be an individual.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

That is such a great analogy I'm starting to doubt if it actually is one. Or just an accurate portrait of your life.

I don't believe in room mates

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Actually, separatists have generally deluded themselves into thinking that if they split from Canada, their financial headaches will instantly disapear. These people have fooled themselves into thinking that they put more money into Canada than they get back.

That, and they think that if they do separate, they will not be taking on any of Canada's federal debt.

I'm actually OK with that, as long as we get all their skilled labour, and they don't come back asking for anything else down the road when their economy tanks.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Yeah, that's really annoying. I hope you didn't lend him too much money.

Oh....I'd say about $122 Billion.....give or take a buck or two here and there.

Locke.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Locke

I rounded up, so kill me for it....lol.

Locke.

can't let this one go, next thing you'd have Leaf fans saying the won the cup in 1970

slippery slope

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Actually, separatists have generally deluded themselves into thinking that if they split from Canada, their financial headaches will instantly disapear. These people have fooled themselves into thinking that they put more money into Canada than they get back.

.

Certainly I was told that with a straight face more than once by very well educated students when I lived in Montreal

heck I"m probably more sympathetic to Quebec than 98% of the people on this board, but still when those guys started to referring to us Albertans as leeches on the country and its economy I was a little perplexed. clearly they must be learning that from someone

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by looooob

Certainly I was told that with a straight face more than once by very well educated students when I lived in Montreal

heck I"m probably more sympathetic to Quebec than 98% of the people on this board, but still when those guys started to referring to us Albertans as leeches on the country and its economy I was a little perplexed. clearly they must be learning that from someone

Maybe they believe that 'cultural' contributions count for something econmmically. I'd love to see the Quebec government payoff an interchange with tickets to 'Just for Laughs'! Something tells me the mafia demands cash for their construction projects.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Maybe they believe that 'cultural' contributions count for something econmmically. I'd love to see the Quebec government payoff an interchange with tickets to 'Just for Laughs'! Something tells me the mafia demands cash for their construction projects.

Yeah, but then you could put the outcome in "gags", and sell it to every airline in existence.

Mafia guy comes for money,
government guy can't pay,
mafia guy pulls out gun,
governement guy pulls out Just for Lauhs tickets,
guy gets shot!

GOTCHA!!!

ahhhhhhh those silly french and their funny hidden camera show.....

[Cube Inmate]

Meanwhile, Alberta sits around with a Heritage Fund valued at about $5,000 per person.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by looooob

can't let this one go, next thing you'd have Leaf fans saying the won the cup in 1970

slippery slope

Touché Sir! We Can't Have That!

Locke.

[J pold]

That’s a lot of poutine

[Locke]

I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown of how they spent all this Chedda. Does the Government's books have to be externally Audited?

Locke.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'd be interested in seeing a breakdown of how they spent all this Chedda. Does the Government's books have to be externally Audited?

Locke.

When you say the word 'audited', that means that an accounting firm has evaluated the books and determined that the disclosure of monetary figures are presented fairly and serves not necessarily a check on whether or not the priorities for that money were set prudently. The electorate is responsible for that.

With that in mind how does the public keep governments honest about financial matters when they themselves have racked up historically high levels of consumer debt (a lot of it being the worst kind: Credit Card debt)?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

When you say the word 'audited', that means that an accounting firm has evaluated the books and determined that the disclosure of monetary figures are presented fairly and serves not necessarily a check on whether or not the priorities for that money were set prudently. The electorate is responsible for that.

With that in mind how does the public keep governments honest about financial matters when they themselves have racked up historically high levels of consumer debt (a lot of it being the worst kind: Credit Card debt)?

I understand the standard line of fair representation..... , more than I let on usually, but I was actually referring to a thorough audit. Like the kind you get when you cheat on your taxes.....


Just to see how much money is spent where. Very similar to the story that came out of the US many years ago, when an indipendant firm audited military spending and the infamous $20 000 toilet seat on an aircraft carrier fiasco came about.

From someone who sifts through financial statements fairly regularly I think it would be interesting.

Locke.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Locke

I understand the standard line of fair representation..... , more than I let on usually, but I was actually referring to a thorough audit. Like the kind you get when you cheat on your taxes.....


Just to see how much money is spent where. Very similar to the story that came out of the US many years ago, when an indipendant firm audited military spending and the infamous $20 000 toilet seat on an aircraft carrier fiasco came about.

From someone who sifts through financial statements fairly regularly I think it would be interesting.

Locke.

I do believe they are required by law to disclose and externally audit their books to the extent that you mention. However I think that another one of those laws in Quebec alows them to keep these things from being published in English. I'm sure that with Quebec being Quebec there is euphemism line items used to describe many blunders in the spirit of the $20,000 toilet seat and the famous King of the Hill $900 army haricut. Heck Alberta has it's share of government excess too.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I do believe they are required by law to disclose and externally audit their books to the extent that you mention. However I think that another one of those laws in Quebec alows them to keep these things from being published in English. I'm sure that with Quebec being Quebec there is euphemism line items used to describe many blunders in the spirit of the $20,000 toilet seat and the famous King of the Hill $900 army haricut. Heck Alberta has it's share of government excess too.

Thats fine, I'm fluent in French.

In all fairness, that was a fine haircut, but an ordinary toilet seat.

All governements are subject to excess, but some are more justifiable than others. Accountability helps stem this from becoming unreasonable.

Locke.

[MarchHare]

However I think that another one of those laws in Quebec alows them to keep these things from being published in English.

Why should it be published in English? French is the only official language of Quebec, so there's no need for them to publish documents in both English and French. Likewise, the Alberta government isn't required to publish anything in French either. The only bilingual province in the country where all documents must be available in both languages is New Brunswick.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Why should it be published in English? French is the only official language of Quebec, so there's no need for them to publish documents in both English and French. Likewise, the Alberta government isn't required to publish anything in French either. The only bilingual province in the country where all documents must be available in both languages is New Brunswick.

I wasn't desputing the reasons why nor arguing that it should be published in English, but merely stating that there isn't likely to be an English version. Thus despite my professional finance and accounting knowledge my unilingual backgound would prevent me from intrepreting the various nuances of Quebec's finances. Times like these make me wish I learned multiple languages!