2011 Canadian Election Thread

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'm not sure if this is still the case, but back in 2004 Microsoft had cash reserves of $60 billion. As of their Jan/10 shareholder report, Apple had nearly $40 billion in cash and short-term investments.

Its incredibly common. Its the same as people "wanting to run government as a business" and "having no debt".....most corporations have borrowed funds though. I just assume that people who think that way have never looked at a balance sheet for a company though.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Ouch? I was 5 years old when she was Prime Minister. What do I care?

I wasn't born when Pearson was Prime Minister. What do I care?

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

I've always wondered what people think corporations do with a tax cut when they allege that 'corporate tax cuts don't work'.

Almost all major corporations in Canada are publically owned, and as such shareholders will not put up with simply stockpiling cash because it's an insane waste of money. Extra cash is either distributed to shareholders (IE: pension funds, retirement funds, everyday investors) or reinvested into equipment, new projects, or more staff.

Which corporations simply hold onto extra revenue?

I am trying really hard to think of a company that has lots of cash on hand, hmmm.



http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/AAPL

http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...iting_for.html

[Azure]

I recall reading somewhere a while back that companies in the US are sitting on billions in cash that they're not investing.

I would imagine Canada has the same issue, although obviously not as high.

Key is to figure out a way to get those companies to invest that money. That is how you drive job creation and economic growth.

At this point you don't raise the corporate tax. You don't raise any tax, unless we're talking about closing loopholes and increasing the tax on the insanely rich. But other than that you leave things be until we're back in the swing of things. And then you sit down and like Slava said, figure out whether or not an extra 2% on the corporate tax rate will be beneficial if we invest that money into infrastructure, health care, education and other things.

But the corporate tax rate is just one thing. There are a variety of other things that must be considered if we're trying to increase the incentive for companies to invest their money here in Canada.

Our trade pact with the rest of the world is one. Harper, from what I've read was making a strong effort to sign numerous free trade agreements. I think this is VERY important, and one of the biggest reasons I want the Conservatives to continue being in power.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Slava

Thats a good point.

Actually one of the things that I dislike about the Liberal platform is proliferation of tax credits. It would be better to just say here's the tax rate for everyone and leave it alone. Instead all of these tax credits are almost worthless ($85/year when you do the math sort of things) that are hard to remove in the future and accomplish almost nothing aside from getting the support of the group that gets to use the credit.

You can't remove them down the road because you'll have the other parties saying "what are you against ABC group for?" That being said they are plainly inefficient; allowing someone to claim $500 and giving them 17% of that figure is just adding to the ever increasing amount of stuff you need to file your taxes. They could have the same impact if they were to increase the basic exemption (although it would be for everyone, not only that special segment) or just cut the tax rate by that miniscule 0.0025% (or whatever it actually works out to.

Anyway....that and a few other issues goes along way to explaining why I'm still undecided here.

This is far from exclusively the domain of the Liberals, but I agree with you. Also, tax credits return more money to people in higher income brackets - usually the people who need them the least.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by SebC

This is far from exclusively the domain of the Liberals, but I agree with you. Also, tax credits return more money to people in higher income brackets - usually the people who need them the least.

Everyone get the same % on tax cuts. Rich or poor we all get 15% on any tax credit. (Fitness, personal exemption etc..)

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Mccree

Everyone get the same % on tax cuts. Rich or poor we all get 15% on any tax credit. (Fitness, personal exemption etc..)

Right, as far as non-refundable tax credits go. This is not the case for the dividend tax credit and reundable credits though.

[Slava]

Well there are threats to democracy and then there are these allegations. Sounds like something that would happen in another country: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/lo...of-g-wednesday

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well there are threats to democracy and then there are these allegations. Sounds like something that would happen in another country: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/lo...of-g-wednesday

I'd love to hear why there was partisan election material present at the polling station. This is a pretty slanted write up, they make very little mention of what was actually contained in the complaint.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I'd love to hear why there was partisan election material present at the polling station. This is a pretty slanted write up, they make very little mention of what was actually contained in the complaint.

Ya, I was wondering what the complaint was as well...but a guy trying to grab a ballot box is questionable in any event.

[burn_this_city]

http://guelphmercury.blogs.com/files...il-14-2011.pdf

[burn_this_city]

- Unsanctioned polling station.
- Partisan Material in direct proximity to "polling station".

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well there are threats to democracy and then there are these allegations. Sounds like something that would happen in another country: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/lo...of-g-wednesday

Nice touch with the drama there...

[evman150]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Nice touch with the drama there...

Is he wrong?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by evman150

Is he wrong?

Yeah, because from the sounds of things, that polling station was in violation of the Canada Elections Act.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Yeah, because from the sounds of things, that polling station was in violation of the Canada Elections Act.

I think it was the whole "tried to grab the ballot box" part that sounded like it was a story from some other country.

That doesn't sound odd to you?

If the polling station was in violation of the Canada Elections Act, that's not something for one guy to decide and try mess up the whole thing.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I think it was the whole "tried to grab the ballot box" part that sounded like it was a story from some other country.

That doesn't sound odd to you?

If the polling station was in violation of the Canada Elections Act, that's not something for one guy to decide and try mess up the whole thing.

Okay, if that was his point, then I agree. There are idiots everywhere and this guy made a scene when he likely did not have to. I took it as him meaning that the government was trying to squash voters' right to vote. My mistake.

[Nage Waza]

Was he trying to grab the box or read the numbers on it? If he was trying and not successful at grabbing the box, was someone else holding the box away from him? The whole thing sounds messed up.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Yeah, because from the sounds of things, that polling station was in violation of the Canada Elections Act.

I should probably take the "Polling Station" sign off my bedroom door then. Don't wanna get in trouble with the Feds.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well there are threats to democracy and then there are these allegations. Sounds like something that would happen in another country: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/lo...of-g-wednesday

Agreed. The operation of an unsanctioned polling station that violates election law in numerous ways certainly is something that you'd expect only in another country... or, well, Quebec.