Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[YYC in LAX]

According to the Calgary Herald, the Calgary Centre riding is a lot closer than 308 has been showing. Not sure how reliable the poll is, but it'll sure be one to watch Monday night.

A new poll by Mainstreet for Postmedia shows Liberal Kent Hehr with 38 per cent support among decided and leading voters while incumbent Conservative Joan Crockatt comes in at 37 per cent, within the survey’s margin of error.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-liberals-poll

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

According to the Calgary Herald, the Calgary Centre riding is a lot closer than 308 has been showing. Not sure how reliable the poll is, but it'll sure be one to watch Monday night.



http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-liberals-poll

Let's hope a good portion of those surveyed NDP and Green supporters vote with their brains and not with their hearts.

Also, FWIW, Mainstream tends to have a slight Conservative lean in their methodology relative to other pollsters. Either way, though, Calgary Centre will likely go down to the wire.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by rubecube

This sort of sums up my feelings on Mulcair's NDP. In an election where people would have seriously considered a progressive alternative, they instead opted for classic brokerage policies. Whether you agree with progressive policies or not, they have played a pivotal role in developing the welfare state, and I think most of us agree that we're better off with strong labour laws and a public health care system. Honestly, the legacy of Mulcair's NDP will be that they finally gave up any remaining resistance to neoliberalism in Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/comme...ddle-cole.html

Totally agree. Harper was never really in control of this election. Hewas going to always get between 30-35% of the vote. Less then the 40% he got in 2011 to get his only majority government.

The question was how the other 65% would be split and would it split equally enough to keep Harper in power.

Harper is consistent and runs on one message. The economy is key, we will always run a balanced budget, keep taxes low and not waste money. However he could not control what happens to the 65% who hate him.

Within that 65%, this election changed the day Mulcair also declared a balanced budget.

"We will tax the rich, not raise taxes on the poor, have national $15/day daycare, scrap income splitting, move old age back to 65 etc...but still balance the budget in our first year in power"

Trudeau jumped up and said "You will balance the budget?. That's BS! And why do we need to handcuff Canadians because of a number on a piece of paper. Our roads and transit are crap. We need to invest in that and if it's a 10 billion dollar deficit, who cares?"

Mulcair had no argument for that, how do you even argue that? How does a left wing party argue against a centrist party who just went more left wing then you!

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

According to the Calgary Herald, the Calgary Centre riding is a lot closer than 308 has been showing. Not sure how reliable the poll is, but it'll sure be one to watch Monday night.



http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...-liberals-poll

That's the first riding level poll that he's actually been leading. Previous two had Crockett well ahead. Personally, I have a hard time believing that he's not winning comfortably.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Totally agree. Harper was never really in control of this election. Hewas going to always get between 30-35% of the vote. Less then the 40% he got in 2011 to get his only majority government.

The question was how the other 65% would be split and would it split equally enough to keep Harper in power.

Harper is consistent and runs on one message. The economy is key, we will always run a balanced budget, keep taxes low and not waste money. However he could not control what happens to the 65% who hate him.

Within that 65%, this election changed the day Mulcair also declared a balanced budget.

"We will tax the rich, not raise taxes on the poor, have national $15/day daycare, scrap income splitting, move old age back to 65 etc...but still balance the budget in our first year in power"

Trudeau jumped up and said "You will balance the budget?. That's BS! And why do we need to handcuff Canadians because of a number on a piece of paper. Our roads and transit are crap. We need to invest in that and if it's a 10 billion dollar deficit, who cares?"

Mulcair had no argument for that, how do you even argue that? How does a left wing party argue against a centrist party who just went more left wing then you!

But that's what the NDP have become and it's consistent with who Mulcair is and what his politics are. The NDP have some progressive policies but they're not a progressive party anymore. They're centre-left, neoliberal populists, and they've been inching towards the center ever since the Layton days. The Liberals actually ran to the left of them in 2011, too.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

National debt has increased by $150 billion under Harper so I'm not sure what you're getting at here.

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Well that was all necessary spending though, everything the Liberals would like to spend money on is a complete waste.

How would you have planned spending to recover from the world economic collapse of 2008 instead?

Under Harper, annual surplus/deficit:
2006 13.8B surplus
2007 9.6B surplus
2008 5.8B deficit
2009 55.6B deficit
2010 33.3B deficit
2011 26.2B deficit
2012 25.9B deficit
2013 18.9B deficit
2014 1.9B surplus

One can suggest the annual deficit should have been dropped faster/earlier, but let's not forget the infamous proroguing of parliament resulted from the opposition not supporting the budget because of spending cuts in the budget and kind of 'ruined' the 2011 budget. Since 2012, and again - some will say these fiscal deficits should have been cut sooner, they have followed their 2011 election platform of budget projections to eliminate the debt.

Im not sure that now is the time to dive back in debt.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would love to see a breakdown of the deficits he had. For example, how much of it was due to investment, revenue set backs from the economic collapse, stimulus injections, Afghanistan missions and/or tax cuts.

Deficits and surpluses are really hard to measure without getting into detail. Most of the talk during the economic down turn was how Canada weathered the storm better than most because of policies already implements before Harper. So where did the deficits actually come from?

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would love to see a breakdown of the deficits he had. For example, how much of it was due to investment, revenue set backs from the economic collapse, stimulus injections, Afghanistan missions and/or tax cuts.

Deficits and surpluses are really hard to measure without getting into detail. Most of the talk during the economic down turn was how Canada weathered the storm better than most because of policies already implements before Harper. So where did the deficits actually come from?

IIRC, many of the Harper deficits would have been balanced/surplus budgets if he had left the GST at 7% like every economist in the country advised him to do.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

IIRC, many of the Harper deficits would have been balanced/surplus budgets if he had left the GST at 7% like every economist in the country advised him to do.

But what would he have campaigned on in 2008?

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

How would you have planned spending to recover from the world economic collapse of 2008 instead?

Under Harper, annual surplus/deficit:
2006 13.8B surplus
2007 9.6B surplus
2008 5.8B deficit
2009 55.6B deficit
2010 33.3B deficit
2011 26.2B deficit
2012 25.9B deficit
2013 18.9B deficit
2014 1.9B surplus

One can suggest the annual deficit should have been dropped faster/earlier, but let's not forget the infamous proroguing of parliament resulted from the opposition not supporting the budget because of spending cuts in the budget and kind of 'ruined' the 2011 budget. Since 2012, and again - some will say these fiscal deficits should have been cut sooner, they have followed their 2011 election platform of budget projections to eliminate the debt.

Im not sure that now is the time to dive back in debt.

Honest question...Are you happy with what we have to show for deficit spending?

I feel like even though there were deficits run we don't have much to show for it, and I feel like a lot of important areas were cut back rather than increased.

The "well the Conservatives HAD to run deficits because of the world economic collapse" argument is all well and good, but for all the deficit spending I feel like we should have more to show for it.

To use your example about Trudeau and the credit card, I feel like the Conservatives maxed theirs out on a couple utility bills and then a bender in Vegas.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Honest question...Are you happy with what we have to show for deficit spending?

I feel like even though there were deficits run we don't have much to show for it, and I feel like a lot of important areas were cut back rather than increased.

The "well the Conservatives HAD to run deficits because of the world economic collapse" argument is all well and good, but for all the deficit spending I feel like we should have more to show for it.

To use your example about Trudeau and the credit card, I feel like the Conservatives maxed theirs out on a couple utility bills and then a bender in Vegas.

I laughed at the bolded.

On the other, I have no idea to be honest. Here were initiatives in the 2009 Budget, the 55B deficit "Economic Action Plan", just copy/pasted from wikipedia. It's a long laundry list. There's a lot of infrastructure spending in there - but I have no idea where/what it was spent on, and I didn't look beyond that year.

Some of the key items in the Economic Action Plan budget were:[4]
$12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding for roads, bridges, broadband internet access, electronic health records, laboratories and border crossings across the country.
$20 billion in personal income tax relief
$7.8 billion to build quality housing, stimulate construction and enhance energy efficiency.
Increasing the basic personal amount that all Canadians can earn without paying federal income tax.
Raising the upper limit of the two lowest personal income tax brackets by 7.5 per cent so that Canadians can earn more at lower tax rates.
Increasing the amount that low- and middle-income families can earn before their federal child benefits are phased out.
Investing $580 million to effectively double the tax relief provided by the Working Income Tax Benefit.
Providing tax savings of up to $150 a year for seniors by increasing the Age Credit amount by $1,000.
The temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit of up to $1,350 for eligible home renovations and alterations.
An increase to the Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit to $25,000 from $20,000 to help Canadians buy a first home.
A new First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit that will provide up to $750 in tax relief when purchasing a first home.
$300 million over two years to the ecoENERGY Retrofit program.
$1 billion over two years for renovation and energy retrofits to social housing.
$400 million over two years to build housing for low-income seniors.
$75 million over two years to build social housing for persons with disabilities.
$200 million over two years to support social housing in the North.
$2 billion over two years in low-cost loans to municipalities to improve housing-related infrastructure.
$1 billion over five years for a green infrastructure fund.
Up to $500 million over the next two years to accelerate infrastructure projects in small communities.
$1 billion over two years to expedite new "ready-to-go" provincial, territorial and municipal projects.
$4 billion over two years to restore aging infrastructure.
$500 million over two years to Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) to build and renew community recreational facilities.
$2 billion for repair, maintenance and construction of post-secondary institutions.
$750 million to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support leading-edge research infrastructure.
$50 million to the Institute for Quantum Computing for a new research facility.
$250 million over two years for deferred maintenance at federal laboratories.
$500 million to Canada Health Infoway for electronic health records.
$225 million over three years to extend broadband coverage to unserved communities.
$407 million for improvements to Via Rail service.
$72 million over five years to improve railway safety.
$130 million to Parks Canada for Trans-Canada Highway twinning.
$150 million for visitor improvements and upgrades to Parks Canada.
$212 million to renew the Champlain Bridge in Montreal.
$57 million for the renewal of other key federal bridges across Canada.
$80 million over three years to expand and modernize border service facilities.
$217 million for core commercial fishing harbours across Canada.
$323 million over two years to restore federal buildings.
$87 million over two years for key Arctic research facilities.
$20 million in each of two years to improve the accessibility of federally owned buildings for persons with disabilities.
$296 million to enhance air passenger security.
$1 billion for clean energy research, development and demonstration projects.
$110 million over three years for space robotics research and development.
$81 million over two years to accelerate the cleanup of federal contaminated sites.
$1 billion for green infrastructure projects.
$1 billion over two years for renovation and energy retrofits to social housing.
$300 million over two years to the ecoENERGY Retrofit program.
$1 billion for clean energy research, development and demonstration projects.
$87 million over two years for key Arctic research facilities.
$245 million over two years for the cleanup of federal contaminated sites.
$10 million to improve government environmental reporting.
A 14-week extension of work-sharing agreements to a one-year maximum.
$50 million over two years to cover severance pay owed to eligible employees of bankrupt companies.
A five-week extension to all regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for two years.
Continued low EI premium rates of $1.73 for 2009 and 2010, providing relief of $4.5 billion over two years.
$500 million to extend EI benefits for workers in longer-term training.
$1.5 billion over two years for EI and non-EI training programs.
$55 million over two years for youth employment.
$60 million over three years for the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
$40 million a year to launch the $2,000 Apprenticeship Completion Grant.
$87.5 million over three years to expand the Canada Graduate Scholarships program.
$50 million for the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.[5]
An additional $50 billion for the Insured Mortgage Purchase Program, increasing its size to $125 billion.
$13 billion to increase the lending of Crown corporations, of which $5 billion will be delivered through the new Business Credit Availability Program.
$12 billion for a Canadian Secured Credit Facility to support financing of vehicles and equipment.
An increase in the loan limit for small businesses under the Canada Small Business Financing Program.
A two-year, 100-per-cent capital cost allowance (CCA) rate for investment in computers.
A two-year extension of the temporary 50-per-cent straight-line accelerated CCA rate to investment in manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment undertaken in 2010 and 2011.
Over $440 million in savings for Canadian industry over the next five years by eliminating tariffs on a range of machinery and equipment.
$170 million over two years to support innovation and marketing for the forestry sector.
$500 million over five years to facilitate new agricultural initiatives.
$50 million over three years to strengthen slaughterhouse capacity.
$175 million to buy new coast guard vessels and refurbish aging vessels.
Over $335 million over two years for cultural and arts programs, including television, print media, museums, libraries and local theatres.
$40 million over two years for tourism marketing activities.
$50 million per year for marquee festivals and other tourist events.
An increase to $500,000 in the amount of small business income eligible for the reduced federal tax rate of 11 per cent.
$30 million over two years for the Canada Business Network.
$200 million over two years to support industrial research for small and medium-size businesses.
More than $1 billion over five years for a Southern Ontario development agency to support economic development in Southern and Eastern Ontario.
$1 billion over two years for a Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) to lessen the impact of economic adjustment.
$50 million for a new regional agency, and economic development in the North.
A one-year extension of the temporary 15-per-cent mineral exploration tax credit.
$515 million over two years to accelerate "ready-to-go" First Nations projects in three priority areas: schools, water, and critical community services.
$400 million over two years for social housing for First Nations on reserves.
$100 million over three years in the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership.
$75 million in a two-year Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund.
$305 million over two years to improve health outcomes for First Nations and Inuit people.
$20 million over two years to improve child and family services on reserves.

[FlameOn]

Lynton Crosby has abandoned ship and left the CPC campaign.

The Conservative campaigner had previously helped the Australian conservative victories by using wedge issues with voters. In that election it was a wedge issue created from Afghan refugees

Crosby helped then-Australian PM John Howard win re-election by having him claim that Afghan asylum seekers were throwing their children into the sea, using emotional blackmail to enter the country via boats.

In this election, it's been reported that he was responsible for the Niqab wedge issue. Apparently that strategy has failed and he's leaving the campaign.

http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015...iling-campaign

[edslunch]

Joke of an endorsement from the Globe and Mail: Conservatives deserve to win but Harper should resign immediately. How they manage to separate Harper and the party in their minds is mind boggling/bottling.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle26842506/

[Drak]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Joke of an endorsement from the Globe and Mail: Conservatives deserve to win but Harper should resign immediately. How they manage to separate Harper and the party in their minds is mind boggling/bottling.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle26842506/

Fire the boss because he's bad for our image, but run the company in the same fashion.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Lynton Crosby has abandoned ship and left the CPC campaign.

The Conservative campaigner had previously helped the Australian conservative victories by using wedge issues with voters. In that election it was a wedge issue created from Afghan refugees



In this election, it's been reported that he was responsible for the Niqab wedge issue. Apparently that strategy has failed and he's leaving the campaign.

http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015...iling-campaign

Well, that article was pretty much just speculation.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Joke of an endorsement from the Globe and Mail: Conservatives deserve to win but Harper should resign immediately. How they manage to separate Harper and the party in their minds is mind boggling/bottling.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle26842506/

This is a great piece - pretty much describes exactly how I feel.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Looooooooooooooooooool

[Slava]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Joke of an endorsement from the Globe and Mail: Conservatives deserve to win but Harper should resign immediately. How they manage to separate Harper and the party in their minds is mind boggling/bottling.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle26842506/

Do newspaper endorsements really care much weight these days? I know that the journalists care, but I wonder if the average voter is swayed by these things. In Alberta a few months ago they certainly didn't seem to be.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Joke of an endorsement from the Globe and Mail: Conservatives deserve to win but Harper should resign immediately. How they manage to separate Harper and the party in their minds is mind boggling/bottling.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle26842506/

Good lord. Pretty much "When you take out all of the terrible things the Conservatives have done while in power, they've actually done a great job!"

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Slava

Do newspaper endorsements really care much weight these days? I know that the journalists care, but I wonder if the average voter is swayed by these things. In Alberta a few months ago they certainly didn't seem to be.

Obviously not but it's still a pretty laughable endorsement. Do they think there's even the slightest chance Harper will resign if they win again? Can they really actually separate the party from the leader who has ruled the party very tightly for the last 10 years, and who is by far the biggest reason for the current direction of the party? It's almost like they're trolling for attention.