Mr. Speaker. We, the Government of Canada, recognize our great nation as a bilingual one, and as such put forth the proposed amendment of the Official Languages Act that will now require all leaders of Federal Parties to be able to pass a written and oral competency test in both French, and in English. As a show of good faith, we propose to publish the test results of the leaders of the Government and the Official Opposition within the next week.

Abolish the gun registry and give Canadians a US style 2nd amendment. To take out the senate would be nice and oh, not to forget, getting rid or a rewrite of the charter. One can only dream.

draw the rats into the open? when all the time they're right before your eyes

The only question is about dion's dog ... what's his/her new name.

I heard that dion is giving classes on eating hot dogs and getting on floats ... he has actually done both of these activities ... expert.

Bilingualism is a direct cause of global warming. How many trees are we killing in order to print English and French on everything? All so that three people east of Quebec can read their cereal box en Francais!

If Dion really cared about the planet he'd push for a unilingual Canada.

Harper's stated intention to limit the feds' involvement in provincial jurisdictions is, I believe, part of his bigger plan to eventually cut or freeze transfers to the provinces (outside of equalization) and use the savings to completely whack the GST (source: Anders, 2007, Harper passim). It also kills the Trudeaupian scam of strong central government.

How this relates to the throne speech? He says he will include some sort of proposal in the throne speech to officially limit what the constitution should be limiting in the first place, federal spending. If the Liberals sign off on that then that represents a pretty big shift in Canadian politics.

If it were me I'd go "This Government will respect the Constitution Act and celebrate diversity by allowing diverse provinces to diversely manage their own friggin' diverse social programs. We recognize the will of Albertans as well as Quebeckers to run their child care and health care programs as they see fit and on their own dime."

Bilingualism is a direct cause of global warming.
Absolutely, Sean.

It starts with all those parents that tick off French Immersion when they register their kids for school. They are no longer able to have their kids to walk to the school down the street but they now have to load them up for delivery. Families that have made the unenlightened choice of not wanting their children to be educated in pigeon French have to load up their kids and drive to schools in the other direction. Road congestion, idling SUV’s, where is Dr. Fruit Fly when we need him?

We the Government of Canada propose an ammendment to the Charter of Rights to include the following Common Law rights: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms for The defense of the Nation and Self; The Right to Hold and Enjoy Property; and, The Right to the Persuit of Happiness.

The question is: why are these rights missing from said Charter?

Initiate a Registered Lifetime Savings Plan (RLSP).

- All employed Canadians would be given an option of contributing up to 10% of their annual AFTER-tax income to a personal RLSP.
- This RLSP would be allowed to be invested in whatever investment vehicle the owner desires; stocks, Canadian, American, or international; mutual funds; GICs; treasury bills; commodities; etc...
- At the termination of one's RLSP, after enough time that the RLSP is considered "mature" (say, 25 years+), any and all money which has accumulated would accrue to the RLSP's owner ENTIRELY TAX FREE.
- Cut all employee and employer CPP contributions down by 40%, or even a greater amount, in one single go, i.e. maximum CPP contributions would drop to about $1140 per year; use some of the budget surplus to support any CPP payout shortfall until present recipients go to their ultimate "reward"; cut down present employee CPP benefits at the age of retirement by an amount which would match the drop in present contributions.

Sounds innocent enough, but here's the kicker; make a minimum contribution (perhaps around 2% of an employee's after-tax income... akin to the reduction in employee contributions to CPP) to a personal RLSP MANDATORY for any workers under the age of 30, NOT matched by employers, of course (they already are compelled to make matching contributions to CPP for each employee). Not only would this engender an awareness in working Canadians of the importance of investment, but it would have the added benefit of making all those left-leaning Liberals and socialist M.P.s in Ottawa go into apoplectic fits of frenzy... and then a great many of the goofs would actually vote for it anyway, just to save their political skins.

"The federal government will immediately begin to reduce subsidies for the CBC, and over the next five years will phase such subsidies out completely."

Personally I will never forgive the CBC for how unfairly they have treated Harper over the last many years. May they rot in hell.

Bilingualism is a direct cause of global warming.

Ergo, Trudeau.

This is all just so "unfair"!

Good ideas, all. I especially like TJ's. But of course the BEST way to force Dion to actually vote down the speech would be for Harper to signal an intention to formally allow some sort of privatized health care. That would just absolutely make Dion's skin crawl.

Whether Harper would dare to head into an election with this as his keynote policy point is another question entirely. But it would most assuredly get him his election.

All dogs whose names begin with 'K' and end with 'O' shall be sacrificed to provide fur hats to warm the politicians' heads in the House of Commons, in a bid to reduce energy usage by lowering the room temperature of the House by 10 degrees in the midst of the Ottawa winter.

More seriously, Dion's four demands were (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/throne_speech_070926/20070926?hub=QPeriod)
"Dion said the Oct. 16 speech must include Bill C-30 on climate change, make strides on ending poverty and helping families, address international economic concerns and provide clarity on Afghanistan"

Therefore, in the throne speech:
-abandon Kyoto
-do not address poverty and family specifically, but instead cut taxes immensely (income and corporate and one more point off the GST) and devolving spending power to the provinces and restrict federal intervention in provincial jurisdictions
-kill the wheat board and the gun registry
-end the subsidy to the CBC
-reform the senate
-more crime bills
-address measures to affirm sovereignty of the north
-measures to address cross-border issues with the US

Afghanistan has already been addressed by his expert panel, so no need to go there.

"This new parliamentary session will introduce legislation to reward married couples who produce children with increasing amounts of income tax reduction per child, knowing that future generations will bear the fruit of an increased domestic workforce. This will also benefit couples who choose to raise large families by letting them retain the income they earn, regardless of tax bracket. All such tax reductions will be rendered null and void in the event of a no-fault divorce."

It would be fun to watch Dion turn inside-out at that suggestion.

TJ at @ 1:43 AM gets my vote.

"The Government of Canada recognizes that some of the great democracies of the word - such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Russia and France - have elected upper chambers, in which to better represent regional diversity. In this spirit, this government shall begin negotiations with the governments of New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and the Yukon to create provisions for the election of Senators."

Sources: Parliament Website -

Party Standings / Vacancies in the Senate:

Senators by Date of Retirement [a whole shwack in 2009]:

Make supporting the CBC financially an option on year-end tax forms. "Check this box if you would like to support the CBC (you pay an extra X dollars)".

Sources: Parliament Website -

>3w.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E

Party Standings / Vacancies in the Senate:

>3w.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/ps-e.htm

Senators by Date of Retirement [a whole shwack in 2009]:

>3w.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator.asp?sortord=R&Language=E

The Government of Canada shall set aside amounts that would have been transferred to other nations to buy carbon credits and shall use these amounts to provide up to $500 per year of basic dental care to all minors across Canada.

The end to "An Inconvenient Tooth"...

The Government of Canada shall eliminate all taxes and fees that cost more to collect than they bring in in revenue.

The Government of Canada shall work to rationalize taxes and fees that are marginally revenue producing.

The Government of Canada shall recognize that health care is a provincial jurisdiction, and shall reduce federal income tax taxation by an amount equal to an increase in provincial income tax taxation such that the provinces collect their own money for health care and are free from federal interference in this provincial matter.

Ditto on jwkozak91 4:22
A start towards an elected senate (and I am hoping the beginning of a full EEE senate) would set the cat among the pigeons.

As many Canadian businesses,such as Molson's,have been bought by large American Corporations, We the Government will sell the CBC to Fox News, Thus allowing us to cut taxes by a further 5%

Running the next election on the backs of those useless appointed senators is the ticket in my opinion. I heard the Prime Minister promise the senators he would run the election on their backs if they did not co-operate with reasonable reforms - this would be a 'Promise made, promise kept' theme as well as one that would get lots of support. Even leftoids resent the senate!

Gunny99 your suggestion is so true blue it makes my heart sing. If the PM put your words in the throne speech, I would be speechless (with joy).

"The government of Canada applauds the efforts of the United States under the leadership and foresight of George W. Bush to make the world a safer place".

Nah, I can't even say that with a straight face ... but Dion's skin would crawl ... Layton would freak!

"THIS LAND IS OUR LAND - BACK OFF GOVERNMENT"

RANDY HILLIER MPP !!

Randy and The Landowner Faithful celebrate his Victory

Enshrine Property Rights in A New Constitution

http://ruralrevolution.com/website/

McGuinty, David's Dare Ya To PM Harper.
...-

"If Harper really wants to prod Liberals into defeating his minority Tory government, McGuinty challenged him to declare that the government is going to repeal the Kyoto Implementation Act. He predicted such a move would prove deadly to Tory electoral hopes."

"Who's really trapped here? Let them go to the Canadian people (with that)," McGuinty said." ...-

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/007202.html

parliment shall enact no law that does not apply equally to all canadians.

Take it one step further "old white guy".

In recognition of the fact that it is in Canada's interest to have a discrimination free workplace, all equity and job quotas will be illegal. All business must hire on skills and merit, not race, gender or language.

"As many Canadian businesses,such as Molson's,have been bought by large American Corporations, We the Government will sell the CBC to Fox News, Thus allowing us to cut taxes by a further 5%"

==============================
That's hilarious. It invokes images of certain CBC personalities scurrying for cover, like so many fat juicy ugly beetles under a rock that has just been lifted.

piperpaul @ 4:42, that is a good idea. Eliminate the portion of CBC funding that come from our taxes and let them raise their own funds by providing programming that people actually are willing to pay for. What a novel idea!!!

"Be it resolved that this government considers Dion to be such an unprincipled weeny, willing to save his sorry ass at all costs, that he will even vote in favour of a speech, that calls him an unprincipled weeny."

1) Let's have the government abolish the Human (sic) Rights Commissions, which are lefty-run kangaroo courts using hearsay evidence to charge law abibing Canadians, who are then presumed guilty until they prove their own innoncence.

The rules of evidence are not followed and hearsay evidence against the accused is allowed. It's a given that the "panel" consists of left-wing, political appointees: sometimes only one.

The accuser's expenses are paid for by the taxpayer, while the accused has to try to bail him/herself out on his/her own dime.

(These commissions have often been used to harass Christians: other groups which are altogether discriminatory are let off the hook. In fact, it is often members of these intolerant groups who use the commissions to try to reduce the freedoms of those with whom they disagree.)

Disgusting.

2) Another vote for TJ's CBC proposal and my sentiments exactly re the CBC's execrable treatment of Stephen Harper. Mixing my metaphors, the sooner this left-wing money-guzzler gets its wings trimmed, so much that it'll be walking--slowly: no more flying--the better.

(On this score, could anyone here help me out? I was listening to Jergen Goethe on CBC Radio 2 in my car at about 4:20 p.m. Eastern Standard yesterday. In what he considered a clever little aside, he made a nasty comment about our fine PM. [It sort of trailed off: there, I've done it . . .] I was stunned [well, not really, I guess] and absolutely livid. But do I remember the slur? I had other things on my mind. If anyone can refresh my memory on this, I'd appreciate it.)

I honestly think the goal of the throne speach is to take more moderate stances on issues that voters will agree with, but that those stances will be in direct conflict to what Dion and the Liberals believe ...

Further reduction of the GST by 1% as well as a reduction in personal and corporate income taxes as an example.

This is the perfect time for Harps to toss out the duck gun registry and defuse AG Bryant's rants about banning target handgun permits to cure Jamaican drug gang violence in TO.

Harper will have to act as a defacto opposition party in morOntario to slap down the more ridiculous anti constirurional scheming of Dolton McSlimey and his band of flying evil monkeys.

Whereas the right to freedom of association is necessary in a free society be it resolved that union membership is voluntary from this day forward. Also, it is resolved that unions are forbidden from using member's fees for political purposes. Any monies used for such activities must be raised outside the membership dues via voluntary donations.

dunny99 asks: "The question is: why are these rights missing from said Charter?"

Because you cannot have individual rights to property in a statist collectivist (communist)federal system. The courts would be clogged with peole ibjecting to the amount of state theft of property which occurs on a daily basis here....at the very least the collection methids for income tax would be abolished.

Whay no 2nd amendment....short answer; because collectivist statism under soviet commissariat styled public control (quasi-marshal police power) the state claims a monopoly on the use of armed force..and a monopoly on the morality of justified violence...similar in concept to the collectivist state's claim of a monopoly on the redistribution of national and personal wealth.

"Persuit of happiness"..whew. that's a tough one..why wouldn;t self determination rights be enumerated in the Red Charter? Probably because an individual's "happiness" per se is subject to state approval.

I agree with posters who say we have to retool a real constitution to become a real country instead of the screwed up smug backwater we are...this PET charter is a menifesto for a Jurocracy to create a collectivist martial state by bench decree....and the BNA act is nothing but the decommissioned act of a foreign government which provided a minimalist subservient colonial governing structure.

Time to ignore retarded redski navel gazing and grow up as a nation...it's about freedom and prosperity, not control and entitlement...ether we are a free federal democracy or we are some convoluted vice regal socialist oligarchy mutation with a limited democracy that changes juntas every decade when the 4th estate elite allow it.

We need leaders with civil integrity, national passion and a love for freedom to lead us there...judging by the quality of leadership and the political climate we will be wallowing in self doubt and low self-respect as a nation for decades to come.

Whereas the united nations may have seemed like a good idea once, it has degenerated into an organization that Canada is ashamed to have helped found. It is therefore the wish of Canada, to disassociate itself with the founding of such a racist and evil group. From here-in, Pearson international airport, named after one of the United Nations architects, shall be known as Mulroney International airport. This also recognizes the leader, solely responsible for the slaying of the deficit through the implementation of the GST and the implementation of free trade agreement, that has made Canada so prosperous. He is also the only Prime minister to have has any positive impact on the environment, having been voted Canada's greenest prime minister.

"As the CBC is a taxpayer funded voice of the left and there is no corresponding taxpayer funded voice of the right, this Government will reduce the funding to the CBC by 50% and pay this money to Kate McMillan of smalldeadanimals.com, who has become a voice of the right with equal viewership to the CBC."

"We will leave small paper bags filled with unmarked Canadian currency in random Italian restaurants throughout Montreal and Toronto for advertising executives who wish to switch allegiances from the Liberals to the Conservatives. The monies will be offset by cuts to French Immersion programs in English Kanaduh."

I have a few favorites:

Amend the Charter of Rights to say the following: "Every Canadian has the right to own and maintain property."

Amend the Constitution in the following ways: "The Canadian Senate should be composed of 100 members elected by the public in their respective provinces to four year terms. One half of the body would be elected every four years by proportionate representation."

"5 Senators would be allocated per province. 1 for each of the territories. The other 52 Senators will be allocated based on population to the provinces."

In regards to defense, the Tories should do the following: Expand the size of the Canadian Forces to 100000 personnel. Purchase 2 light aircraft carriers and escorts. Buy NEW submarines. Buy more C-17's and aerial refueling tankers. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY RECREATE THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND NAVY.

Cut federal spending in the areas of provincial jurisdiction as defined by the Constitution. Use these revenues to pay for the new defense goodies, tax cuts, and debt reduction.

Anyone notice that this poll is not being shown at all on ctv.ca, when i first saw it here i reconized the ctv signature so i went there, Where is it, I found it after i watched Duffy Live this morning.
And another part Not shown is that PM Harpers popularity is at 67% not 60% as Duffy reported, He did correct himself but they did not show it. When the neck & neck poll was displayed it lasted on the net for days.

"old white guy" and "kingstonlad", your both on the right track with the discrimination angle, but you forgot one area, that being, discrimination based on wealth and income! ie income taxes! go flat tax!

brianr:"Anyone notice that this poll is not being shown at all on ctv.ca, "

Maybe but I saw it get the gears from the Newman crowd on CBC...good gawd these people are such obvious schills for Trudeaupia...they had nothing but negative analogies to this rise in the polls...the number one loop-tape talking point was "Harper is a bully" treating poor Dion like this...and the Canadian people don't want an election...and the high Tory poll numbers are "temprorary"...ferkissake give the disingenuous spew a rest...we really are not that stupid Don...what's the age demographic for Newman's show now 15-18???

Newman regular, Strawhead Delacourt sure looked like she got a bee sting on the butt with the poll results. It's all down to that Harper mean streak don't ya know. Treating poor Bill Casey so badly when he merely voted against the budget of his own Party! Geez, what's in some heads for brains?

Kill the CWB.

"Tory Steven Fletcher (Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia) said while poll numbers can go up and down he's pleased with the support the party is receiving in Manitoba.

"I guess I'll buy the Free Press (today)," Fletcher said."

Manitoba's feeling Blue

Harper's Tories gaining ground across Canada ---and especially here, poll shows [...]

STEPHEN Harper's Conservatives have increased their political lead in Manitoba and are well positioned for gains within the province if an election is triggered this fall, a Free Press/Probe poll shows. [...]

"The Harper Conservatives are on fire here [in Manitoba]," Probe president Scott MacKay said.

"You can see clearly the Tories are up. And the Conservative lead does include Winnipeg." [...]

Martin-NDP socialist says:

"I guess we'll have to remind people if you re-elect the Tories the Canadian Wheat Board will go down," he said." ...-
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/4057099p-4661592c.html
Kill the CWB.

"For example; "In recognition of the constitutional right of provinces to control their resources, along with the critical need to secure reliable sources of energy for Canadians, the Government of Canada will exempt oil sands development from federal environmental and regulatory oversight.""

LOL! That in itself would be enough to drive the Fiberals to stage their own version of the Jonestown Massacre.

shawn - great comment on the unions!! Exactly- the right of free association, which means that one can refuse union membership.

Actually, I refused union membership in Quebec, but, they still legally, took my dues. Therefore, this refusal has to mean more than empty rhetoric; if an individual refuses membership, they don't have to pay dues.
The problem with that, is that any new agreement made by management and the faculty, would exclude you. So, rather than allowing an individual to refuse to be a member, I'd rather get rid of unions completely.

Great comments also on the Senate. And the CBC, and the CWB. And the gun registry. And Human Rights Commissions. And, get rid of bilingualism. Get rid of the Charter's privileging of multiculturalism. And, get property rights in the constitution.

The new MSM description of Harper, is 'bully'. They seem to have dropped the 'hidden agenda' as it's become an empty metaphor. Incredible, how they simply can't bear to say anything positive about him. The mean-spirited and malicious and partisan nature of our MSM is quite something.

Wow! This could be called 'Sleepless in SDA-land"!

Totally agree with sf@3:17am.
And as a reluctant 'union payer' (I do not call myself a member because I did not choose to belong)I also agree with shawn @9:24 even tho I don't see Dion getting invoved in that since he probably has no clue about unions.
Check out the "Working Families Coalition" who presented many ads praising McGuinty during our recent provincial election. Their funding was traced to the teachers and other unions.
This is going to be fun watching the Libs and Dion squirm....again.

Good point Shawn on the unions. I was just typing that as my first point when I got a phone call. Always one of my pet peeves with the heavy public unions both provincial and federal.

My second request would be to pay each Native currently on a reserve a fixed sum of money say a $100k and eliminate the Bureau of Indian Affairs. No further payments of any kind to reserves.

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3679

Ipsos-Reid commentary on their result.

The CTV graphic looks good, but check out the 2 graphic breakdowns on ipsos's site :)

I noticed CTV did not report the poll on the 11pm news BUT spent minimum 6 minutes praising the Goracle, ending with the cheering squad begging him to run for prez.
What does the 'C' in CTV stand for???

ET, you make an interesting point about from moving from "hidden agenda" to "bully." Anyway, here's a thought - let's respect the BNA and Constitution Act, where provincial juristictions are spelled out - health, education for instance. End the usurpation of provincial powers by the federal government. Federal input should be simply consultative, not giant bureaucracies and duplication. Dept of Finance is one of the most powerful ministries yet has very few staff comparatively.

I would caution Mr Harper to be careful not to "jump the shark" on this. My advice - govern, govern, govern. Act like you are in an election campaign, except you get to enact your promises immediately. Go with you program Mr Harper and let the opposition bluster, cry, whatever.

IMHO, if Dion goes ahead with his plan to have backbenchers abstain from Throne Speech vote, he will be severely criticized as basically agreeing that he is unelectable. Interesting times ahead indeed; can't wait for gnashing of teeth of opposition right up to point vote passes.

1. The right to keep arms of all kinds (particularly firearms).

2. The right to own property trumps all government powers of expropriation.

3. Castle doctrine. As in, a man's home is his castle.

4. My personal favorite, across the board tax cut. Biiiig tax cut.

If Dion still won't budge, we can start going with things like term limits for MPs, elected Senate, no government money for lobbyists, repeal the Canada Health Act, dissolve the Ministry of Indian Affairs, no more equalization payments, revive the Avro Arrow for the pure hell of it, triple the military budget, fire every Liberal appointee in the entire government, and maybe even buy some freakin' helicopters.

Put it all in the throne speech and then start a mega 24/7 parliament session, confidence vote on every single bill. Get 'er DONE!

Man, they should be paying me a consultant's fee for this stuff.

All great suggestions here, especially gutting the funding to CBC. I'd love to see them run a "beg-a-thon" with the dollars barely coming in.

Please add strong language affirming economic and cultural ties to the USA and promoting continued robust trade across the longest undefened border.

I'd love to flush out all the anti-american snobs currently in line at the Peace bridge to by stuff at Target!

oops! Mt bad.

That is undefended border!

Phantom:

One thing I'm expecting is a HUGE income tax cut as a cornerstone of the throne speech and an emphasis that individuals know best how to spend their hard-earned dollars.

There's going to be a huge surplus and with an economy running at near full employment, the best social program, worthless wealth transfer programs can now be scrapped.

Let the big-givernment opposition run AGAINST tax cuts and see how far it get them.

Much talk about bilingualism and CO2. But ALL WRONG.

The increased CO2 has produced an increase in bilingualism; this has a positive feedback term as we all know that it takes 50% more breaths to say the same thing in French, thus a 50% increase in CO2, therefore more French, more CO2.

Oh NO!! We are all going to die of CO2 poisoning in an incoherent babble of Francais! Runs around in circles waving les bras dans l'air.

Unions: In case you don't know this, in Vancouver the outside workers are evidently all employed in the private sector while they "strike" and are making more money than before the strike. How's that for a bad incentive structure.

Public sector unions: No right to strike, pay and benefits set in accordance with average gains in the private sector on an annualized basis. Just as government bonds have lower yields than corporates due to their lower risk, public sector remuneration should be set slightly below that of the riskier private sector.

There should never be a union in a monopoly government service provider.

Back on topic, I'd like to hear:

The Government therefore will implement a universal day care program, which will provide care and support to all Canadian citizens and refugee claimants, irrespective of race, religion, age or gender.

Be it resolved that all public sector unions, and their management, refer labour disputes to binding arbitration, without need for strike.

It used to be that way until Mike Pearson needed to win an election and gave civil service right to strike, which they didn't have before.

Like returning provincial powers to premiers, just putting things back the way they were intended in the first place before Louis St Laurent left office (I know the fifties were such a bad time, what with communities helping each other out, with compassion from other than government programs, with people acutally having high regard for politicians).

I'm looking forward to the next few months, politically. Especially seeing lala citroen boil alive in front of everyones eyes. And the entrenchment of property rights. And the Ecubed senate.
maybe mcguilty will trump it all and star in mcpsycho V

Let's allow families to file joint income returns.

Oh, and grant human rights to the unborn.

That should do it.

These are all fantastic suggestions. I join the rest of you in your joy at the current situation that the opposition (particularly, the Bloc and the Liberals) finds itself in.

I'd like to see formal restrictions on federal spending power; Tax cuts; greater tax breaks to families, and couples who choose to start families, in particular; Extension of the Afghan mission.

In all, I would like to see an end to all programs, bureaucracies, etc. that represent the myth that Canadian values are tied to bloated, expensive, inefficient government programs. So, basically, the CBC, CWB, Canada Health Act, Gun Registry...the list goes on, and on, and on.

Things NOT to spend the money on...
1. Lieberal-style Ad Campaigns
2. A Long ***Knife*** Registry
3. More Free Drugs for Addicts
4. David Suzuki / Al Gore
5. Liberal-friendly NGO's / friends
6. A National Identity Card system (like the UK)
7. Anything with the word Trudeau on it
8. Jack Layton's return fare from Kabul
9. Media misinformation outlets
10. Changing Stephane's name to Celine, so that all the Liberals can sing from the same songbook...

A little insight and reality into Dion's simplistic "my corporate tax cut is bigger than Harper's corporate tax cut" : This is a good read:

http://www.jameslaxer.com/2007/10/stephane-dion-champion-of-corporate-tax.html

Throne speech suggestions to box in Dion:

1) Any MP who misses 2 confidence votes without a verified medical alibi will forfeit their seat, salary, benefits and pension. The seat will be reassigned at the pleasure of the PM.

2) Toronto will henceforth be known as "Harpertown".

3) "Neuter Kyoto" bumperstickers mandatory on all government vehicles.

4) Preston Manning to replace the Queen on the loonie. Tom Flanagan on the fiver.

piperpaul @ 4:42, that is a good idea.

Leave the option as "Yes" by default to ensure that people making the choice have actually decided to do so. OMG! This would never work!

Lorraine:

James Laxer? Waffle NDPer?

The payoff came near the bottom when he used the term ‘progessive' Canadians.

We all know what that means, don't we? Like the secular progressives in the US, who are NDP wannabes and are hijacking the Democratic Party.

It's the moral relativist, anything goes, if it feels good do it crowd.

Gotta admit, that philosophy of no personal responsibility seemed attractive in my younger day.

Thankfully I've matured.

I agree with spicydoc that MP's should not be allowed to miss work any more than joe citizen.

Ryan: You'd need 3 carriers; one for each coast ("coast-to-coast-to-coast" makes me want to throw up in anger) and one in refit/maintenance.

The current CF-18s are carrier-capable, unless I'm mistaken.

The only thing news such as this will accomplish is to wake Canadians into the reality of what the words majority government and Harper mean.

From Garth Turner

-->My name’s Garth Turner, and as a former lifelong Conservative, I know Stephen Harper better than most people. Like Tom Flanagan, I know where he’s headed.

Flanagan has been Mr. Harper’s main strategist for years, and his new book – which I’ve just finished – should be required reading for all Canadians worried about honesty and truth in government.

It confirms a concept called ‘incremental Conservativism’ – a plan for a right-wing government to hoodwink voters by making popular, moderate promises and then, once in majority, to unleash a pure, hardcore fundamentalist agenda.

Why would Tom Flanagan admit this in print? Because he’s telling Mr. Harper’s social conservative supporters to be patient, to lie in the weeds, and wait for unsuspecting Canadians to give this minority government a majority mandate.

My opposition to this agenda that the majority of my constituents do not want is what drove me from the Conservative caucus. I joined Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party to stand up for the agenda of tolerance and moderation and ethics in Ottawa. And now we need you.

All Canadians need to be told what the stakes are in the next election.

But on the off chance the cons happen to get a majority, it will be the last time that party will ever get elected.

Hey alby..Loser Turner even made Taber's "NOT Hot" list for that garbage..gotta be bad for Jane to throw down on a good Lib like Garth...weasel!

My two cents: collapse all taxpayer funded, public sector pensions as one other item in a long list, already mentioned above.

I would like to see PMSH offer nothing but good government and when the Libs, NDs and Bloc bring the Conservatives down the Conservatives will have all the ammo compared to the empty mags of the opposition.

PiperPaul at October 13, 2007 9:49 PM / Ryan at October 13, 2007 10:24 AM

What exactly do you imagine that we need these aircraft carriers for that coastal patrol aircraft and land based aircraft can't do. Other than to waste tax dollars that is?

and Ryan what is so significant about the number 100,000? You must have a reason for picking this particular number. Why not 90,000 or 110,000?

PiperPaul, just why would we want to use the F-18s on carriers? These are getting a bit to old for throwing onto carrier decks, don’t you think? Let's face it the CF-18 is now older than the CF-101, CF-104 and the CF-5 that the F-18s replaced. Do you remember the Conservatives of the late seventies screaming how our ageing fighters needed replacing? Today the CF-18 pilots wouldn't stand a chance against the newer fighters of the US or Russia.
So why isn't Harper seeking to replace the F-18s now? Yes Harper keeps saying we need to protect our sovereignty, but who is it exactly are we protecting our sovereignty from? It seems it's the Americans are the greatest threat, as they have proven by openly sailing warships through Canadian arctic waters without bothering to give us advanced notice.
Without effective fighter aircraft our coasts are open to whoever wants to violate our waters on all coasts. So why isn't Harper looking for new fighters? Maybe he doesn’t want to offend the nation that is the greatest threat to Canada, the United States?

A look back www.pugwashgroup.ca/events/documents/2006/2006.02.22-Griffiths.article.htm
So what happened to those icebreakers? I guess S.H. just doesn't want to anger George.

Lorraine: I see why you linked to that particular column, because Laxer is correct that the Liberals aren't going to win any votes by moving to the right.

The article caught me off-guard though, because I wasn't familiar with James Laxer, I thought he was a conservative. Anyway, that was an interesting read. Laxer sounds like he's butt-hurt because Layton is trying to position the NDP to actually...you know...win elections sometime in the future.

Sean at October 13, 2007 12:54 AM

Bwhahahahaha!

Lorraine: I see why you linked to that particular column, because Laxer is correct that the Liberals aren't going to win any votes by moving to the right.

The article caught me off-guard though, because I wasn't familiar with James Laxer, I thought he was a conservative. Anyway, that was an interesting read. Laxer sounds like he's butt-hurt because Layton is trying to position the NDP to actually...you know...win elections sometime in the future.

albatros39a said @ 10:24 PM "...a plan for a right-wing government to hoodwink voters by making popular, moderate promises and then, once in majority, to unleash a pure, hardcore fundamentalist agenda."

Let us, for arguments sake, grant that this is true. So? If the electorate does not like the results, another "Kim Campbell" episode will occur and the Libs will be back in power again for a long time. You got a problem with that?

Or do you think Harper's going to do a "PM for life" on us?

My, my...what passes for thinking on the sinister end of the politic spectrum is truly amazing.

"I joined Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party to stand up for the agenda of tolerance and moderation and ethics in Ottawa." Garth Turner

Give me a bloody break!

I think some kind of resolution that all USA-bashers like Albatross, Farley Mowatt (is he still living?), Maude Barlow and the Council of Communists, all heads of Unions and the rest of the smug, "we're kinder and gentler than them, and we don't carry guns" crowd, be forced to go live near the Israel/Lebanon border, instead of the safe haven of Toronto.

Actually, now that I think about it, the Israel/Lebanon border may be safer, and definitely more interesting....

Lorraine: I see why you linked to that particular column, because Laxer is correct that the Liberals aren't going to win any votes by moving to the right.

The article caught me off-guard though, because I wasn't familiar with James Laxer, I thought he was a conservative. Anyway, that was an interesting read. Laxer sounds like he's butt-hurt because Layton is trying to position the NDP to actually...you know...win elections sometime in the future.

"The federal government passes a law which allows us to retroactively prosecute people who -- while in an esteemed position of trust in society like university professors -- had sex with 15-year old male prostitutes."

Bill Graham said: "That is unfair".

When I said Canada needs two aircraft carriers, I suggesting Canada needs two small carriers along the lines of those owned by Spain and Italy and under construction for Australia and South Korea. They carry around 10 VSTOL fighter aircraft and 15-20 helicopters.

This will give Canada a small ability to project power in conflicts, and these vessels would serve as excellent platforms/command ships during disaster relief operations. Base one on each coast and have one at sea usually or ready to go to sea within a few days.

These things could be used in the Arctic in ice free waters since they would definitely give Canada a presence.

It's not just the winning, it's the tearing apart.

Trudeaupia must die in such a way that it can never raise its ugly head again.

The best suggestion so far on this thread is what Phantom said:

"confidence vote on every single bill."

Okanagan...I get your point but saying 'safe haven of Toronto' needs to be clarified. I know you meant in relation to living in Israel, but have you read the murder stats on that city lately?
The 'Ban the knife' crowd is gathering as we speak.
Or not...city folks need their knives, and know how to use them responsibly.

Bluetech,

Exactly...Toronto politicians refuse to acknowledge the huge ethnically based violence problems, and there will be more to come as the city evolves into more and more ethnic ghettos.

Muslim only neighbourhood up in Vaughan? Give me a break.

BINGO!!! SF...you hit the nail on the head. I would start giving money to the conservatives again if Harper did this.

More seriously, Dion's four demands were (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/throne_speech_070926/20070926?hub=QPeriod)
"Dion said the Oct. 16 speech must include Bill C-30 on climate change, make strides on ending poverty and helping families, address international economic concerns and provide clarity on Afghanistan"

Therefore, in the throne speech:
-abandon Kyoto
-do not address poverty and family specifically, but instead cut taxes immensely (income and corporate and one more point off the GST) and devolving spending power to the provinces and restrict federal intervention in provincial jurisdictions
-kill the wheat board and the gun registry
-end the subsidy to the CBC
-reform the senate
-more crime bills
-address measures to affirm sovereignty of the north
-measures to address cross-border issues with the US

And I would add increase provincial autonomy as Harper has already alluded to.

Only two of the many options above would meet the criterion necessary - that is they would truly smoke out the LP and the other opposition parties to vote against them or actually let meaningful change happen, while not sabotaging the carefully constructed moderate path to a majority mandate that SH has constucted thusfar.

Things like kyoto and tax cuts Dion can dodge by having the back benchers call in sick and nothing of consequence will actually have happened.

Destroying the CBC, terminating the Indian Act etc., while all things of great merit, would also bring about the trouncing of the CP at the polls in Ont and/or Quebec.

The two items that might be substantive enough to be designated worthy of a confidence vote would be the termination of the Wheat Board and a re-introduction of the election of senators bill - this time with more teeth and the express tone at its introduction that the the senate will not be a allowed to sabotage its passing reading in that house.

The Wheat Board termination would bring with it the delicious uncovering of yet more scandalous liberal doings and pork.

The CP has to tread carefully here so as not to avoid the label of being a bully. Pulling the wings off of liberal flies might be a pleasant diversion, but it looks cruel and juvenile to many of those who witness it.

And why not this whole global warming is based on junk science and pure speculation as well as computer simulations and our senate refused to ratifi the kyoto treaty we dont need the treaty its a lie and afruad and turn us over to the control of liberal big goverment leftists