Conservatives To Slash Federal Funding of Political Parties [Update-CPC backs down] - Page 16 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FanIn80 · 11-28-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I agree, the Tories better put something in the economic stimulus another party can support and quick. They need to rebuild their coalition government.

JiriHrdina · 11-28-2008, 03:57 PM

According to Mike Duffy the NDP have backed off on their demands to have the Finance Minister - but want the Industry portfolio instead. And apparently the corporate tax cuts are on the table - obviously the NDP would do away with them. Finally it was also noted that the Bloc would demand a great deal of money ear-marked specifically for Quebec to co-operate.

A mess.

FanIn80 · 11-28-2008, 03:59 PM

This can't even be serious.

What an insane pile of slap-in-the-face to all Canadians.

peter12 · 11-28-2008, 04:00 PM

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I can't believe this is happening.

CaptainCrunch · 11-28-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

According to Mike Duffy the NDP have backed off on their demands to have the Finance Minister - but want the Industry portfolio instead. And apparently the corporate tax cuts are on the table - obviously the NDP would do away with them. Finally it was also noted that the Bloc would demand a great deal of money ear-marked specifically for Quebec to co-operate.

A mess.

I wouldn't want the NDP to have anything to do with infastructure, money, the military, or anything. Give them arts and health with a hard budget and thats it. But to give them any kind of say in the financial workings of this country is stupid.

CaptainCrunch · 11-28-2008, 04:03 PM

At least the one cool thing for all of us is that we're going to witness the first constitutional crisis since Meech Lake. Ratings for reality shows will plummet and they'll die.

This might be a good way to reform the entertainment industry.

Resolute 14 · 11-28-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikaris

Based on the current facts, that is simply not true. The Liberals are suggesting a coalition government based on the lack of an economic stimulus plan. If the Liberals were smart, they should just wait now since the "budget item" in question has been removed out of the confidence vote.

Current facts? C'mon ikaris. Do you honestly think that we'd be hearing about a coalition government right now if it wasn't for the fact that the opposition was about to lose it's access to our wallets? Where was this talk a month ago? Where was it immediately after the election?

Facts are facts, and the facts are the opposition parties joined to fight for their own bank accounts, not for Canada.

As far as the NDP controlling Canadian finances goes, that would be the surest way to collapse this coalition if it were to come to pass. The first socialist policy they would try to enact that would harm this country's economy (and it wouldn't take long) would destroy the coalition.

You can be damn sure that the Bloc wouldn't stand for anything that harms Quebec's economy, while the Liberals would have to oppose NDP thinking or risk completely destroying themselves.

Three parties with wildly different aims trying to maintain power against a unified opposition just waiting to pounce. They won their little battle in pressuring the government to allow them to continue feeding at the trough. If they take it any farther, they stand to lose the war.

ikaris · 11-28-2008, 04:05 PM

Seriously though what could the Liberals really oppose here? Flaherty even said that they are prepared to offer a stimulus package if the current measures do not work. This is pretty much political suicide if they go through with this.

peter12 · 11-28-2008, 04:06 PM

Agreed. I guess this is history, but it comes at such an awful time. Goddamn all politicians and their grotesque opportunism. Canadians mean absolutely zero in this political struggle

ikaris · 11-28-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Current facts? C'mon ikaris. Do you honestly think that we'd be hearing about a coalition government right now if it wasn't for the fact that the opposition was about to lose it's access to our wallets? Where was this talk a month ago? Where was it immediately after the election?

I agree with your points on the likeliness of a coalition to fail because of the differing viewpoints, but this coalition talk has nothing to do anymore with the original financing issue because the Conservatives have already said that they are removing that portion of their mini-budget.

Obviously the coalition talk was started by this attempt by the Conservatives to remove the public funding for the political parties, but it should be a mute point now. The fact that it seems that it isn't yet troubles me deeply.

Resolute 14 · 11-28-2008, 04:11 PM

It should trouble all Canadians deeply.

CaptainCrunch · 11-28-2008, 04:14 PM

All this talk from the Libs and NDP makes me feel that they already have the Bloc on board for the non confidence vote.

I wonder how many billions of dollars will be flowing into Quebec from Alberta and Sask to accomplish this?

peter12 · 11-28-2008, 04:16 PM

This is essentially an anti-Western Canada coalition. Why are we not more angry?

Phaneuf3 · 11-28-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

This is essentially an anti-Western Canada coalition. Why are we not more angry?

I can only speak for myself but I'm more scared than angry at this point. The anger will come when some of these fears actually happen.

Until then, business as usual.

Double_Dion · 11-28-2008, 04:29 PM

Separate!

peter12 · 11-28-2008, 04:36 PM

Harper steps in and cancels opposition day. Temporarily derailing the crisis.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/fed-govt.html

Resolute 14 · 11-28-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

This is essentially an anti-Western Canada coalition. Why are we not more angry?

Because it is par for the course?

I think I'd be more angry about it if I didn't think it was going to end up as a disaster that would put the Conservatives back in power within a year, but with a majority.

habernac · 11-28-2008, 04:38 PM

from the above link:

"While we have been working on the economy, the Opposition has been working on a backroom deal to overturn the results of the last election without seeking the consent of voters. They want to take power, not earn it," Harper said.

"The Liberals campaigned against a coalition with the NDP, saying NDP policies were bad for the economy. And now they want to form a coalition saying that this will strengthen the economy," Harper said.

calculoso · 11-28-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

Harper's biggest error so far is that he "reigned in the surplus" just as the boom was coming to an end.

Hindsight is 20/20

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

I suggest you take a look at their spending record...

Although some of the areas where spending increased were very much needed, you won't get much argument from me on this point.

SebC · 11-28-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculoso

Hindsight is 20/20

How much hindsight do you need to figure out the boom won't last forever?

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

This is essentially an anti-Western Canada coalition. Why are we not more angry?

Make no mistake, Alberta is getting screwed by the federal government regardless of who we vote for. Look no further than the increases the Conservatives have made to equalisation. Harper's quest for a majority depends on spreading Alberta's wealth to the other provinces. Thing is, Alberta is so solidly conservative that he knows he can do it and we'll still vote for him anyways. The path to political influence is not to get the rest of Canada to vote for a party based in Calgary, but to become swing voters who hold the critical votes in the middle.