How incompetant/crooked were the Chretian/Martin administrations?

[transplant99]

Just SO typical of the most recent reign of boobery in Canadian politics...the Gun Registry that was supposed to be a crime fighting issue to begin with, was proven not to be anything of the such, and then became a boondoggle, was also another breeding ground for deception and lies.

Anyone missing the Libs these days?

OTTAWA (CP) - The former Liberal government cooked the books on the much-maligned gun registry program, ignoring legal advice and hiding the true cost of the registry from Parliament, says the auditor general.

While the 10-year cost of the registry through the end of fiscal 2005 has been pegged at $946 million - just below an earlier $1 billion estimate - government officials went to great lengths to obscure the true annual tally, including spreading the accounting of past spending over the next 15 years.


"It is more than simply a disagreement between accountants," Fraser told a news conference, in reference to 2004 decision that hid almost $22 million in overspending by the Canadian Firearms Centre that year alone

Fraser issued a separate 25-page special report on the registry, in addition to the 137-page main chapter, to detail the way senior government officials from several departments purposely hid the true costs from Parliament - and thus Canadian taxpayers.

No written records of key meetings were kept. And government officials refused to waive their client-solicitor privilege on conversations over the legality of the accounting decisions, denying Fraser key information.

"These officials also stated that legal advice should not determine the correct accounting treatment," says the report.

Just unbeleivable.


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/16052006/...try-costs.html

[Vulcan]

Looks pretty damning for the Liberal government and anyone who is profiteering from this boondoggle.
Can we call this a conspiracy?

[metallicat]

We can call this a Harper majority.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

We can call this a Harper majority.

For some reason I'm beginning to like minority governments.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

We can call this a Harper majority.

I sincerely hope not. Nor do I think it will happen. Ontario will go NDP or Green before they go Conservative. Same with Vancouver and any other major city in Canada not in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I sincerely hope not. Nor do I think it will happen. Ontario will go NDP or Green before they go Conservative. Same with Vancouver and any other major city in Canada not in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

I'm not so sure about that. Harper is quickly establishing himself as a guy that 'gets things done'. Folks like that. Now that he's in there he can take 3-4 years to build himself a lot of support. But he also has to perform virtually mistake free.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I'm not so sure about that. Harper is quickly establishing himself as a guy that 'gets things done'. Folks like that. Now that he's in there he can take 3-4 years to build himself a lot of support. But he also has to perform virtually mistake free.

I think he gets things done because he hasn't tried to pass anything too controversial. So far, with the exception of the accountability act, his ideas have only had to do with economic side of things. If he decides to go after gay marriage, it could ruin him.

[Hack&Lube]

not sure where the gun came from... but it did make the news :cheesygri


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/665832/posts

Heres the news story.

[Flame On]

How incompetent and corrupt were they? Just enough to get the slimmest of minorities for the Cons.
Although I admit to being guiltily (due to my more left-of-center outlook) semi impressed with Harper so far.
Still a long way to go before they ever get a majority.

[DementedReality]

i really dont get where the distaste for Harper comes from. At least we all know his stripes, unlike the Martin and Cretien who are con artists.

I find it funny actually ... in one hand we have a man who says he is this and is that, lumps and all and on the other hand we have men who have lied, cheated, stolen and gladhanded and somehow it is the man who shows his warts that we have no respect for.

oh well ... im glad the stench has been removed from office. whether i agree with Harpers social policies or not, at least he isnt a sheep in wolves clothing.

[Coolsurfer79]

It seems that law enforcement uses the gun registry quite a bit on a daily basis. I think in regards to that it is a very useful tool.

[Cheese]

The only Liberal stench comes from political leaders who are allowed to REMAIN In power forever. IF in fact we changed it to two terms max, typical to the States, I doubt wed be talking about a corrupt person like Chretien.

Regardless, based on comments Im hearing here in my area, I dont think the Cons have changed anyones minds yet...it all depends who the Libs elect as their new leader.

[White Doors]

And it has been hacked numerous times and it's just coincidence that home robberies for gun collections has skyrocketed?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cheese

The only Liberal stench comes from political leaders who are allowed to REMAIN In power forever. IF in fact we changed it to two terms max, typical to the States, I doubt wed be talking about a corrupt person like Chretien.

I don't think term limits work. I would worry that in the waning of the tenure, there would be likelyhood of the departing leader looking for ways to 'feather his own nest', and unless that leader is stupid there isn't anything anyone could do. Additionally, if the leader does a good job, and is still doing a good job, why precisely would you want to bar them from continuing to do a good job?

I agree that Cretien stayed way too long, but I don't think the solution is as easy as term limits. This would probably make a good thread of it's own...

And back on topic, I can't recall the auditor general ever not issuing scathing reports, for any gov't. That is a good thing, keep whom ever it ruling culpable for their actions. The degree of condemnation changes, but there is always condemnation.

A year from now we will hear reports of something the Conservatives have done. I'm sure it won't be anywhere near as bad as the gun registry, but there will be something. There always is.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I sincerely hope not. Nor do I think it will happen. Ontario will go NDP or Green before they go Conservative. Same with Vancouver and any other major city in Canada not in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

More then half the MPs from the city of Ottawa are Conservative.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think he gets things done because he hasn't tried to pass anything too controversial. So far, with the exception of the accountability act, his ideas have only had to do with economic side of things. If he decides to go after gay marriage, it could ruin him.

"only had to do with the economic side of things"

I think that alone is an interesting look at government in Canada. That and international issues is all they should be doing.

The softwood thing is a great example. Plenty of criticism of the pact, and I'm sure much of it is deserved, but he got it done and got it done fast. We can worry about the 20 cents lost on the dollar or focus on the fact that the 80 cents came home to roost. The other guys had it go on for years with an industry slowing dying as a result. Heck ... it took Martin 60 days to even call Bush on the thing after the world body ruled in Canada's favour.

I like a lot of what Harper has done but not all (don't get the Emerson thing from day one ... that was ballsy, a little too stringent with media, and the Afghan bodies thing was a mess).

However, move the damn country forward. Have a plan and use it. You won't always be wrong but it's a lot easier to respect a leader that does something than avoiding doing anything at all costs.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by Bingo

"only had to do with the economic side of things"

I think that alone is an interesting look at government in Canada. That and international issues is all they should be doing.

The softwood thing is a great example. Plenty of criticism of the pact, and I'm sure much of it is deserved, but he got it done and got it done fast. We can worry about the 20 cents lost on the dollar or focus on the fact that the 80 cents came home to roost. The other guys had it go on for years with an industry slowing dying as a result. Heck ... it took Martin 60 days to even call Bush on the thing after the world body ruled in Canada's favour.

I like a lot of what Harper has done but not all (don't get the Emerson thing from day one ... that was ballsy, a little too stringent with media, and the Afghan bodies thing was a mess).

However, move the damn country forward. Have a plan and use it. You won't always be wrong but it's a lot easier to respect a leader that does something than avoiding doing anything at all costs.

Ya but you get they idea that this guy is a leader don'cha? The guy actually makes a decision without consulting the GTA or GVA to see if it it is worthwhile.

Lets try to forget about the baby pick up Balck Helicopters shall we?

[Bingo]

For sure that's what I'm saying.

He's not perfect, but he is moving the country forward. I'd rather see action I don't agree with than knowing tax payer dollars are paying the salries for 100s of people trying to avoid doing something.

Harper gets a checkmark from me so far.

[Scorponok]

In terms of the gay marriage thing, I'm sure Harper's own personal convictions stand as being against it, but at least he is willing to give Canadians a chance to vote on the issue (Thru their MPs) instead of shove it down the throats of Canadians (no pun intended) who may not view it as legitimate marriage.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think he gets things done because he hasn't tried to pass anything too controversial. So far, with the exception of the accountability act, his ideas have only had to do with economic side of things. If he decides to go after gay marriage, it could ruin him.

Only economic things... Haha that's cute.