Anyone seen this petition against Rush?

http://www.dccc.org/page/petition/rush

:D

The most famous Zip code I can think of is 90210

Hmm? Had to hesitate for a moment between choosing "Yes, but I hate it" and "No, stop the spending." Eventually chose the latter although I know it's not the most politically expedient choice.

With the collective trillions being poured into the global economy, I can't help but think that another "imbalance" isn't being generated that's going to knock us off our rocker down the road.

oatmeale: read the topic Its not about Rush Limbaugh in fact Who care's this is canada.
Post that stuff to Readers Tips.

I voted "yes, but a I hate it". I will take the tax cut. I do wish that at least one journalist would at least ask a question from a remotely conservative standpoint, ie when did Mr. Harper decide he is not conservative? Will he return to his principles some day?

Monte must be so glad he got out when he did and did not have to justify this thing. As always, he has words of wisdom:

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/monte_solberg/2009/01/28/8171086-sun.html

I dunno, should it?

Of course there is to much spending in this budget, BUT it is definately more well placed than the liebrals would do if they were in charge AND about half as much as would be in a budget composed by the coalition. How do you build a GREEN bridge or highway? Do you use biodegradable materials or Quebec unions to limit the longevity? One would hope that the "culture" monies will not all go to Quebec. Danny Williams is apparently upset that his province can't be on welfare and unemployment while working under the table.

I also voted "Yes but I hate it".

I really wish everyone would temper their condemnation of Harper over this. No one seems to think of the consequences.

I think the probability of getting an election this early after the last one is slim at best (although I think that is the preferred choice). Therefore, the alternative to an un-passable budget, no matter how correctly conservative it might be, is at least 2 and probably 4 years of the Liberals backed by the dips and bloc.

Before ranting about not supporting the party, not voting etc., I would like to see all of the ranters speculate on just what that would bring us. If you want a hint, look at what happened federally when the dips propped up Trudeau, and what happened in Ontario. Not only would we have 4 more years of adscams, gun registry scams, DND scams etc to line some lib friends' pockets, but we'd also see billions flowing into the blocs boondoggles in Quebec and every social program jacko can think up. At the end of the 4 years instead of a 600 billion debt we'd have a 2-3 trillion dollar debt.

So just ask yourself, would you rather a couple of years of compromise, or 4 years of absolute catastrophe.

I voted, yes it basically......

I do not hate it as a whole, Its nice to have some Over-Taxed Relief, However I do feel it could have went farther to get me to spend i feel the basic should be in the 12,000 area. We have been Overtaxed for Years, But who's fault is that anyways. We want our Social Programs & somebody has to pay for them, so you can't have your cake & eat it too.
I agree with the HomeImprove. credit But again i feel it could have been Double, Priced a can of Paint lately..
I have been arguing for years Re: the UI, You should not have to Wait 6wks to get your Money, this is wrong. The Program has not stayed with the cost of living for relief, But we have seen increases to contributions.
The working Hours as the Liberals changed that too, Should be Consistent across the Country and i believe are too high to begin with in many parts of the country.
And as for John McCallum complaining about the Hours & relief this morning on CanadaAM, Well John Your party is the ones that changed the Rules when your party was in Power. Why are you complaining Now, Oh ya forgot Typical Liberal Hypocrite.

bryanr

If I goofed. Kate will tell me.

You into suppressing free speech?

Attacks on Rush are attacks on us.

As Solberg pointed out in his column, this is a political document, one that traditional Liberals would support.

As Flaherty pointed out, this is temporary spending. That's more in line with Keynsean thinking ... a quick injection of state spending, then back off when the real economy bounces back.

Of course, the long-term fix would be to undo the Trudeau-era level of bureaucracy that Mulroney was unable to slash back in good times.

Only a majority Conservative government will get Canada out of the now nearly 40-year legacy of Trudeau.

That will have to wait for another time, but it will happen.

Harper does not need any big vision right now ... all he has to show is he's a good manager while Canada is gettins sideswiped by a situation not of its own making.

The morph from Con to Lib will be complete when we find out the Cons are stealing money.

I voted to stop the spending.

I think, as Monte Solberg pointed out in today's Toronto Sun, that this was a political budget. Its aim was to keep the Conservatives in power and, for the sake of the country, I think this is a wise decision.

As skuleman points out, the consequences of rejecting this budget are far worse than this budget which has primarily put back paying down the debt for five years while we weather this global economic restructuring.

Reject the budget, and even though Layton and Duceppe would scream for a coalition, the likelihood is an election - a dirty one, which might see the CPC returned with as the same minority or the Liberals with a smaller minority. Useless.

And, do we want a Liberal ideology in this time of, not only global but also Canadian, restructuring? The Liberals are Big Government, welfare state centralists. They operate within a style of government that makes all decisions in the Ottawa-Montreal bubble; that considers the 'people' as outside this decision-making zone; that is based around the old model of Ontario-Quebec as Canada.

Ignoring that the actual economic and demographic structure has changed; the West has taken over from Quebec. So, it's not simply about a budget; it's about a basic governing mode. Do we want Big Government, centralist focused around Quebec-Ontario? Or smaller government, decentralized, with decision-making by the provinces; and a Canada that includes the West. And the north.

It takes timem for the political system to acknowledge the realities of economic and demographic change. The Liberals and NDP and Bloc do not recognize this structural change. They operate in the Old Canada of the 1950s.

Something else to note; Notice how Harper is shifting his focus to Ontario rather than Quebec. Quebec has demographically and economically lost its primacy; the primacy it held since the 1960s and which was acknowledged by Trudeau in 1980. This has changed. Harper is acknowledging this, though certainly Quebec isn't. He's shifting the power to the West. And to Ontario. Ontario has been given more House seats - and a focus in this budget. That's for the next election.

It's a neccesary evil at this time.BTW,any of you here getting a tingle up and down your leg waiting for Iggy to speak?

I believe that a substantial income tax cut would be a more immediate stimulus. Yes, gov't would have to do without...for example the $30 million for the parties (paid by taxpayers). But put the money in the hands of people and they will spend as required. In the end, people will still need to goods and services for their daily lives...the more money they see in their pay the more they'll be willing to spend...which may just push businesses to hire more people to meet the demands of their customers. Oh and cut the business and payroll taxes so that business can either invest more money into themselves or hire more employees or both. Furthemore, if the Fed Gov't decides to let go of the socialized medicine model...I'm sure every large city will "grow" full service hospitals within months...after waiting six hours for medical attention for my youngest (and not receiving it--because it was 2AM and we were still waiting)...I know I'd be willing to pay to get the medical service for my kids. Unfortunately, I did not have the choice to take my bleeding child elsewhere because he had the misfortune of getting injured after 7:00 PM and all the private clinics were closed and there is no private "fee for service" hospitals in our city.

~~favill~~

Iggy's "I hold them responsible" right up there with the "I have a (dream) coalition" speech by Taliban Jack Layton.

Oatmeal: I would tell the next guy too, look at the topic before posting, Kate cannnot monitor all its up to us. I apologize if i offended you not intended too.
As for Rush Again Who care's That's the good ol usa & they have more rights & freedoms then we do so dont worry about Rush he has been around the block a few times. Its Canada that you should worry about for free Speach, Just ask Kate & a few others that are being Sued under the Sec. of you cant be critical because you will offend a liberal minded or Minority, So No iam not against free speach, but its Canadians that is being Threatened.
sorry folks thats all on this.

I voted yes to the budget...it would be nice to avoid a big deficit, but that'll happen through loss of revenue anyhow.
Why fault Harper for listening to Canadians? This budget was designed to help as many as possible. Sticking to hard conservative principles would only be cutting his nose off to spite OUR faces.
I don't agree that EI waiting period should be shortened though. Some people use benefits as a "rest" period; why make it easier? Jobs are thin on the ground in parts of the country, but not everywhere. I'd rather that people who can work would at least try to replace a lost job.

Tax and cash credits have to small and incremental to work. If a massive tax credit was provided, a large number of Canadians would put it to credit draw - mortgages, credit cards, car payments etc. While that's good for the credit agencies and banks, it doesn't ensure that the money will flow into commerce, nor is there any guarantee that credit agencies would immediately release it as credit. Amounts have to be of a size the recipient will spend rather than hoard or divert.

You left out one important choice Kate. Namely:

"Yes, but not until the non-stimulus pork and political pet projects are removed."

"The journey to the dark side is complete".

I noticed 1 person voted "No, it isn't enough spending". I wonder if that was Jack Layton?

I'm in the "Yes, but I hate it camp" but I'm not as optimistic about the fortunes of the Conservatives in the long or short run. PMSH will be laughed at for the rest of his career every time he calls himself a conservative. This "compromise" has compromised his public persona. PMSH has been the greatest PM in my lifetime, but I think the writing is on the wall for him. After this budget I don't think he can deliver a majority government. In the long term it would have been politically wiser to stick to his guns in November. I think the real question (politically) will be: Is this the end of the Conservative party as a national party; or, can someone fill Stephan Harper's shoes and salvage the Conservative's reputation?

I voted that it should pass, but I hate it.

It's a hell of a lot better than what a Liberal budget would look like, and a damn sight better than any monstrosity that the coalition would have cobbled together.

But, make no mistake: this is not a conservative budget. And, I'm pretty certain this is a bitter pill for Stephen Harper to swallow.

Yes but I hate it. Would not mind going to another election. I think a 300 million election could get PMSH a majority and the type of budget that Gord Tulk outlined earlier. Maybe. In the meantime, will do a small reno.

*
oh, good gawd... sometimes this stuff just writes itself...

" -- OTTAWA -- Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said his party
is prepared to “swallow hard” and support the Conservative
government..."

*

"I noticed 1 person voted "No, it isn't enough spending". I wonder if that was Jack Layton?"

To the barricades! This poll's been hacked!

Yes but I hate it got my vote, grudgingly. If it keeps that shifty eyed and I mean shifty eyed Iggy from the reins of power, I can live with that.

I am trying to imagine someone like Taliban Jack having a say in the governmental process. It's enough to keep a person up at night, screaming.

Now Ignatieff wants to put government on "probation" with progress reports in March, June and December. Does this guy have a clue how parliament works? We have annual budgets, and from time to time the GOVERNMENT decides to issue economic statements.

This so-called amendment is political garbage on part of Ignatieff (who seems to be the LPC right now). All he is looking for is photo-ops where he can call the government names, and position his party to defeat them, not when good government requires it, but when the LPC is positioned to seize power.

He probably won't, but Harper should call this bufoon's bluff. He should say that there are many mechanisms for parliamentary oversight, that it shouldn't be further bogged down (filibuster, amendments, unelected Senate to name a few that Grits have already tried) with this crap.

Like I said Harper should refuse this demand and put the budget up for vote. Think about it, if Ignatieff refuses to support it, we have election and he goes back to Harvard after solid electoral thrashing (no chance for coalition - hmm, I'm not the same leader who stood in election and want to take over government to implement budget I support - yeah good luck).

If Ignatieff knuckles under, then he looks weaker (quite an non-accomplishment for someone who has no legislative record, who hasn't put forward a SINGLE SUBSTANTIVE POLICY PROPOSAL).

Typical power politics (can't even say policies because they have none) play by Grits, who are totally consumed with prospect of power rather than what this country needs, or, indeed, what the people (not just Liberals) want either.

Mr Harper should reject the professor's call for parliamentary mid-term exams. Let Mr Ignatieff go to the people now if he thinks Mr Harper is too arrogant and callous to govern.

Imagine this pompous empty suit windbag calling down others' fitness to govern. What a laugh.

I really hope Mr Harper calls his bluff.

bryan,

What happens to Rush is very important. He is one of the few critical voices for conservatism left in America. We have almost no one speaking up in Canada not only against the socialist hordes, but against the Conservatives morphing into Liberals before our very eyes.

We have the CHRC's here and in the USA the Democrats are working to bring in the "fairness doctrine". Which is a large talk radio muzzle on any criticism about the Left.

What is happening here is much the same as what is happening there. We are rapidly losing what is left of our freedoms and we are being robbed blind at the highest levels of government and banks by governments and investment bankers, but mostly governments at all levels.

Our freedom to bitch about any issue is at stake here with our "fairness CHRCs" and in the USA starting with Rush and the Democrat Socialist control freaks.

Everything is related now. One issue leads to another and it all amounts to the end of the Western life-style with it's freedom and enterprises.

What Harper is doing to stay in power is no different. I now expect him to continue on his road to hell by putting us in debt for what will be the rest of my life. What's next, Sharia Law for some neighborhoods? More money for Indians to make more drums or carvings.

What we need is a study to find out why Canadians are so stupid that they go along with just about anything our political leaders propose.

If Harper and all others who laughingly govern us were truly doing their jobs, they would have been better prepared for this down-turn. They would have long ago, insisted on dealing with rust belt factor in the industrial base of Central Canada, income taxes should have been dramatically lowered during the good times when the huge surpluses were being accumulated. And they should have left the income trust alone. They are killing older Canadians with their policies and discouraging young Canadians from aspiring to the private sector for a career. The only good job (no matter how useless) is a government job. That is not how is should be.

We do not have governance we have baby-sitters who rummage through the house when no one is looking to see what they can steal from us.

I voted No. I will not countenance this kind of reckless spending, whether it be done by Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats, or outer space aliens. It is wrong, it is dangerous, it is irresponsible, it will not work, and none of that changes no matter whose name is on the damned thing.

The Conservatives are treading down the road of the Ernie Eves/John Tory PCs in Ontario. Make themselves look just like the Liberals so as not to offend the squishy moderate voters. In the process, they piss off their base to the point that they stay home, and the squishy moderates decide there's no difference between Tories and Liberals, so they just vote Liberal to get the "real thing" instead of the imitation.

I'm finished listening to the excuses of the Conservative party. Excuse after excuse after excuse for why they can't get rid of the gun registry, or the CWB, or reform the CHRA, or stand up to global warming hysteria, or now even just balance the budget! They don't even try to make a conservative case any more! They just keel over, play dead, beg a thousand forgivenesses for ever thinking conservative, and stick us with status quo or even outright Liberal policies.

Such spineless weasels will accomplish nothing even if given their precious majority. They'll just keep keeling over and feed us more excuses. Instead of "We don't have a majority!" it'll be "We don't control the Senate!" or "The Supreme Court is against us!" or some other crap. So I'm finished listening to them. They lost my vote yesterday. I'll sit out the next election outright.

And if that gets me labeled a wannabe socialist, or wannabe Liberal, or some other label thrown at me by Conservative cheerleaders who can't see past the party label, so be it. I can still look myself in the mirror and say I didn't ABANDON MY PRINCIPLES, unlike the fools and charlatans running the Conservative party into the ground.

If the world economy revives sooner than the "experts" predict and if the price of oil rebounds from $40/barrel to a reasonable $75 to $85/barrel (not the $200/barrel predicted by these same "experts") then the deficit being incurred will not be so large as this budget predicts. Hopefully the sheeple will that CO2 from fossil fuels is not the enemy of the planet but rather the "Green/Socialist/Seditionist/Propoganist" lobby is the ememy of all humans. Yes this means you Lizzy May, Taliban Jack, MSM, Gorecle and Suzuki.

I am for one unable to support or vote for CPC or any other party for that matter. This is not longer a question of strategy.The answer is of delusion. The government acts as a feudal ruler: tax cuts for your bread, stimulus for your Olympics (or hokey ring in a small town). The funny thing is that no one believes in divine power of the guy in blue sweater to heal the economy, yet many are still clapping - some mindlessly, some in fear of Layton and thugs alike.
The future is coming and it is coming fast. I though Harper being a conservative and realist could recognize the spectrum of changes that the world is facing. I was wrong. He is spineless creature floating aimlessly and has fallen in love with own small tactical games. He would be great playing office politics at middle management level of some bureaucratic institution.

I think the probability of getting an election this early after the last one is slim at best (although I think that is the preferred choice). Therefore, the alternative to an un-passable budget, no matter how correctly conservative it might be, is at least 2 and probably 4 years of the Liberals backed by the dips and bloc.

Skuleman, if we aren't getting policies that are good for Canada, what's the point of all this?

I don't dislike budget deficits, entitlement programs and massive spending because they smell bad. I dislike them because they behave like a cancer. Deficits lead to inflation, slow economic growth and are really only deferred tax increases. Increasing social safety net entitlements undermines individual and familial responsibility and expands the dependent class. Massive government spending on infrastructure inevitably leads to waste and corruption.

Our grandchildren will be paying for this and we still haven't finished paying for the last round of Trudeau/Mulroney deficits.

I hate these policies because they are bad for the goddam country, not because I like wearing blue.

Well, surprising no one, the "could not afford another election at gunpoint" liberals are going to support the budget.

This nightmare will pass.

People here have to take off their ideological blinkers and see what Canadians and the media are reporting.

This is the headline in the Globe:

"Tories put on probation; coalition declared dead.
To Layton's chagrin, Ignatieff says he is prepared to ‘swallow hard' and support budget so long as Harper releases regular economic status reports"

Ignatieff comes off as being statesmanlike and reasonable. Most Canadians do not want coalition, do not want another election, and WANT OUR LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THE NATION.

Ignatieff shows that he is doing just that. Asking for a "regular economic status report" will not be seen as unreasonable by the man or woman on the street. It might be a cheesy ploy to those who live in the political bubble, but it will sound perfectly reasonable to the regular citizen, and it's not like Harper and the CPC have been wonderful in that regard... frankly they have been embarrassing.

Ignatieff has dissociated himself from the NDP and separatists, and undone much of the damage Dion did.

Ignatieff is playing it smart. Unlike Dion. He is a much more formidable man, and ideological thinking on our part will lead to a Liberal government in less than a year or two. No one here wants that.

I voted, Yes, it basically gets things right.

I don't why conservatives always want to cut taxes and spending. What do they think, they're going to stuff their coffins with money. Or worse leave it to their indoctrinated offspring.

Lori, it ain't about us or them, con or lib, it is about what is best for Canada and the partys be damned.

This budget is nothing but bad news.

I was in the "hold your nose and vote 'yes'" crowd. Of all the possible permutations/combinations this seems to be the least worst. The tax cuts are good.
What I find irritating is the media's and politicians' general use of idiotic loaded terms like "stimulus" etc. Governments can spend but they can no more "stimulate" than one can "stimulate" a horse to go faster by replacing the 90lb jockey with a 250lb linebacker because, after all, the 250lb linebacker can whip the horse harder and thereby "stimulate" it to go faster.
Governments can only tax and spend. The taxes, of necessity, can come only from those productive sectors of the economy which are doing well enough on their own, thank you, give real added value and are therefore the ones with the potential for real, self-sustaining future growth.
Government spending on infrastructure, if it is done wisely, can facilitate current and future economic development by virtue of the infrastructure improvements making commerce more efficient. And governments can defer taxation to, hopefully, more prosperous future economic times. But governments cannot thereby "create" jobs. They can simply plunder them from the productive economic sectors which will suffer the future burden of taxation.
At the end of the day this is the political budget necessary to keep the loons from running the asylum. On that understanding, and in the hope that governments both here and, more importantly in the U.S., will have far less influence on the economy than intended (government economic influence is rarely, if ever beneficial) I'd give this budget a grudging pass.

I'd love to renovate my home, but can't afford to. It's good to know that my taxes will help to pay for someone elses home reno.sarc/off

I'd still vote for the budget; the tax cut is not much but it's better than what the lib/ndp would offer.

Dig a little deeper, and the spending isn't that bad. I believe that most of the infrastructure earmarks (which wouldn't be "stimulative", anyway) will never be spent. That is because all funds must be matched by the provincial or municipal authority involved. They don't have the money to match! Monte is right, this is a political document to weather the worldwide Keynsian-Obamian mania, and retain power. Monte is right, though - Harper has to stop floating along, and start crafting a compelling conservative vision to present to the Canadian public. He'll never get a majority based on simply being "competent". And he'll start to bleed away his base if he doesn't offer them something soon.

Could be a lot worse, you know. Harper could have...

1. Run a deficit of 10% of annual GDP.

2. Effectively nationalized part of our financial industry.

3. Greatly expanded regulation over the remainder.

...like some countries that I won't mention but that are directly south of us.

It's not the budget I would recommend, but I can live with it.

Harry,

If you can't renovate your home its because you haven't learned to apply yourself to make the money to do so.

Blaming it on anyone but yourself is called externalizing your problems. Its just an excuse for your own failures.

Re budget - I voted yes, but I'm not thrilled about it. One thing I hate most, is that this will temporize things, and meantime the Liberals will consolidate power under a stronger leader (Ignatieff vs Dion), and then, when the next election comes, the Liberals will be real contenders.

By the way, Layton's recent conduct and comments have been absolutely disgraceful. He is making his party irrelevant. He just called Harper untrustful. Harper is one of the most honest politicians to hold the office of PM.

Disagree flaggman. Harper would have had a majority last time if Quebec didn't crumble due to mistakes on the CPC's part.

We will never see as weak a liberal leader as Dion in our lifetime.

On the other hand.... Harper will never get a majority if he is seen as governed by ideology rather than Canada's best interests.

And of course people here have their idea of what Canada's best interests are, but that idea does not jibe with what most Canadians think their best interests are. Perhaps SDA can mirror or "deliver" the Saskatchewan vote, but it does not deliver or represent the majority of Canada vote.

We have a generation long re-education project to carry out. It would be much easier to do that with Harper or the CPC in power, minority or majority, than the the Libs in power.

Has anyone at all heard a peep out of Ms.May over the Budget, Anyone?
Atlanticjim anything down there out of her?
Its just that it is eerily Quiet not like her at all. There must be something she dont like Or is it that because her Mentor(Dion) has been silent she has taken to silence too.

Neo
Iggy would swallow hard (or soft) if he thought it was good for the lieberal chance to get power back, and of course help promote his inflated puffin ego.

I voted 'No' stop the spending. Personally I do not think the Conservatives should have brought this kind of budget in. This is a deficit that is going to effect the everybody and will take the economy longer to adjust. All they are doing is prolonging the down turn of the markets. 'But' I would rather have the 'Conservatives' bring in the budget than the 'Coalition'.

Lori - interesting comment re the generation long project. I wonder how much of that will be a losing battle. My parents and my brother and I always voted conservative, no matter what. My kids - given what they are hearing at school - might be NDPers or Liberal voters.

I'm wondering if the Conservatives will ever be able to build a majority government, given MSM, University Faculty left leaners, etc.

This is a "mixing water in your wine" budget; but there is not enough water to completely dilute the wine. Or is that whine?

On a positive note it puts a stake in the heart of Kanada Komic Koalition (KKK).

The "Duceppetionists" and the "Laytonistas" are likely crying in their beer and pretzels. "Iggy is a traitor" or some such nonsense...

Given the Cons have 143 seats vs the Libs 77 offset by the Bloc at 49 and NDP at 37 one can do the political calculus pretty easily.

Cons + Libs = 220 seats

Bloc + NDP = 86 seats plus or minus 2 independents

Budget passes, Cons live to fight the more ideological items another day.

Do I like the idea of a 64 Billion deficit? Answer: NO, but given Obama is doing a ~1 trillion dollar deficit deal, if the Canadian dollar rises too fast that would be further deleterious to the Canadian manufacturing sector.
Recall ~85% of our trade is still to the US.

What good things did they do?

Tax breaks for lower and middle income, will generate debt reduction and ultimately more free cash flow by consumers who are hurt by the credit crisis not of their own making. (From a Canadian point of view)

Infrastructure spending is all to the good, as it makes one's economy more efficient in transporting goods and services. IE less brown outs vis a vis power generation, roads, bridges imply better movement of workers, goods and less idle time in traffic. Broadband access is necessary in the more information based economy and provides better long term efficiencies.

You can stamp your feet and say, oh we didn't get everything we wanted but then that might be considered petulant and childish.

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group "True North"

Ian in NS:

Such naivete, coupled with such innocence, surrounded by such ignorance.

Tis a rare thing.

Erik,

The answer is 'no' to conservatives being able to ever build a majority government.

But not for the presumptions you've made; again its externalizing the problem.

Conservatism as an iedolgy has got its head so far up its own ass that failure is gauranteed. Its literally choking on its own odour. To succeed it has to reinvent itself and set itself up for success not failure.

My naivete is gone, bud, evaporated with any pretense that the Conservatives can call themselves prudent fiscal managers of the nation's finances. You have anything constructive to add or do you just want to make more excuses for the Cons?

Hands up those who think very little of this money will ever be spent....with conditions on the province and municipal govt's to chip in, what are the odd???

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. To bring in a conservative budget at this time is a waste of energy as everyone knows it would not pass and never be implemented. I believe PM Harper is trying to walk the fine line for the good of the country whether the country realizes it or not.

Being at home today, I've had the (mis)opportunity to see Mr Puffin on CPAC and I must say that this dude is merely a wolf in sheep's clothing. The man's quest for the throne of power is obvious as is his contention that Canada is a Liberal nation and it is time to return the Lieberals to their rightful place at the top of the heap.

Way up at the top, ET talked about decentralized government. I believe that may be Harper's principal goal as Prime Minister.
He's been gradually taking fiscal power away from the Federal Government.
This budget actually goes indirectly toward that objective. Three or five years from now the Feds will control even less revenue for foisting "national" programs on the country where the program in question intrudes on the constitutions provincial responsibilities.

After the Dippers propped up Trudeau, didn't we get 8 years of easy Conservative victories?

Harper needs to call Ignatieff's bluff. Now is the time to take the Liberals out. The alternative is a passed budget, followed by constant uncertainty of photo-op, sound byte "updates."

If Mr Ignatieff is unhappy with government conduct (and his words, if they are to be believed, say that clearly), then he needs to vote against budget and jettison this stupid idea of another level of navel gazing.

This is a time for action. Let Canadians speak on this budget. Please, Mr Harper, state budget will be put to vote as is, given no substantive amnendment proposals (navel gazing does not count).

Call Ignatieff on his bluff; who knows, he may actually present some policy ideas. That is not likely though, given the man hasn't won anything he wasn't parachuted into, who couldn't even beat Stephane Dion, despite being the next heir apparent philosopher king Liberal PM.

Frankly, I've had enough of the whining of the opposition, and many of these posters. Offer some alternatives, or stop bitching. Do any of you know, for instance, that over half the budget deficit is due to drop in tax revenues?

Frankly I'm sick of this pure laine ideological crap about what conservatism is, or should be. Most of you have no idea what that is, and true small-c conservative supporters could fit in a phone booth. There is no national consensus for your viewpoints.

Face it (ie-grow up) - Liberals aren't liberals, Conservatives aren't conservative and NDP surely aren't democratic. This should be self-evident.

The gov't is on probation?.What a farce. To put someone on probation you must be able to control that person in some way. The dippers have stomped their tiny pink feet and declared the coupalation dead,leaving the option of an election. Do Iggy and the rest of the natural governing party want to try their hand at an election from their current position? I hope so.Bring it on.

I find Ignatieff's arrogance - well, there's only one word for it; it's disgusting.

The arrogance of this individual, who has never been in an executive position, never had to come up with a budget, gone only to places where his rule was pre-determined and secure - the arrogance of him declaring that the Conservative government is 'On Probation'.

Who the heck does he think he is? Ahh, we know. He's the Sovereign. And we are his minions, under his Stern Gaze and he will require constant updates on our performance in running His House.

After all, he's told us that we are, by natural law, His. The Liberals are the Natural Governing Party and He is Its King. And we are his peasants. And our government that we elected isn't ours. It's his.

Our government isn't answerable to us. It's answerable to Ignatieff. The Sovereign.

Why the hell would I do a home reno for a 15% rebate from the feds when I can at least 25% off from an underground economy company for cash and no GST and any PST.

And that is available all the time with no time limit. Also, the rebate is instant. I don't need to apply for anything. Another spin off is that my any increase in my home value doesn't get registered so my property tax is unaffected.

So much for that part of the stimulus scam.

ET: Iggy of course will get to 'road test' that theory at the next election; which he can trigger at the next vote.

But then some 'election roads' also contain some road hazards as the last Liberal leader recently discovered.

As to the "Natural Governing Party" that is the party selected by voters, when they aren't being lied to through stolen federal dollars like "Adscam".

If anyone is 'on probation', they Liberals are decidedly still in the voters 'doghouse'.

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group "True North"

This type of crap has been tried again and again & has failed every time. It will only prolong the agony. It's another scam to endear Big Bro' to the public. I say they stick it where the sun don't shine.

Best Whaaaa of the week goes too...

"we have a new coalition now on parliment hill, It's a coalition between Mr.Harper & Mr. Ignatieff"
Jack Layton
ctv.ca jan27.09

"Mr Ignatieff has made his choice, he has decided not to support the coalition and the positive change that it would have brought"
"Instead he has formed a relationship with Mr Harper and this could last for a very long time"
jack layton

"Another spin off is that my any increase in my home value doesn't get registered so my property tax is unaffected"

And John - that statement shows just how stupid you are.

Do you really believe that a municipality doesn't know what you have done. You do know that you will be found out during a general reassessment and then you face fines for not taking out permits.

That statement is a ludicrious as those who think that if they don't put doors in their basement rooms or attach their deck to their house, it doesn't affect their assessment.

Urban myths John, urban myths.

But good luck to you on that.

Oh and in case you don't think I know what I am talking about - my background is in property assessment.

Harper should say to Ignatieff, "Of course we will provide updates, we always have, and those who are familiar the functioning of a Canadian parliament would know that."

Kelly McParland has a comprehensive list of stimulus gems in today’s National Post.

Some of my personal favourites include $25 million for snowmobile and ATV trails, and $100 million for a new federal sponsorship program for “marquee festivals and events”.

I am, however, deeply disappointed that there is no money for the recreational ice-fishing community!

http://tinyurl.com/b7nxed

One positive of all this is the end of the strutting, puffed-up performance of Mussolini Jr., who only yesterday was snapping that the GG would have no alternative but to appoint the coalition as the government, following a budget defeat. I think he can see his Cabinet seat gone forever. Also of greatly diminished importance must be Ellie May. Yesterday the CBC stuck a microphone in her face to get a reaction to the budget. This woman has never been elected to any public office, has no members of her party in Parliament, and has no background in complex monetary-fiscal policies. Still the MSM insist on treating her as a major player. Why?

Jim Stanford praising Harper is actually worth many billions.

Liberals accuse Harper and Conservatives of corruption. First HOC Question Period of new Harper government. This meme was played for 2 years(ably stimulated by , well...you know who). For political reasons, don't ya know. Millions lost their naivete.

Harper uses Economic Statement to explain how his $31 billion dollars in tax cuts, beginning in 2009, are an even bigger stimulus than the Favoured One's from down Southy.Imagine what that should have done to your average journalist's leg. Alas, neither tingles nor Name-Dropping could save Mr. Harper from a country wide, Liberal blast from the past. STIMULATE! It's MSMnanimous! If we can't have Obama we want money!
And millions of Canadians shake their head, see the Usual Suspects( not a one that supports Harper or the Conservative Party) doing the usual thing, and know the die is cast.

Harper has a minority. Almost all intelligent Canadians(just in case, Ian) understand this very, repeat very, important in the scheme of things.

Harper committed Canada to the G20's agreed upon 2% of GDP stimulus. Millions applaud a politician keeping his word.

Harper and the Conservative Party have the support of some of the National Post and the Sun, Don Cherry and Conservative Party members, unlike the Opposition which can reliably count on the support of the Star,G+M,and pretty well every other newspaper; all the TV stations, particularly and most vociferously , the people's CBC; all the Unions including the huge Public Service and Teacher's; gaggles of letter writing, lawyers, Judges and Professors(sadly I never saw IaninNS's refutation letters) ; and of course, the 225 pages of Organizations that know how to spend your money better than you do. Millions of Canadians realize that sometimes he has to compromise. Heh.

Due to above, Harper has explained many times to Conservatives(some even heard) that change will be slow(too easy), incremental, and around the edges. He even explained how he would have to govern just like the Liberals, until the slow learners(too easy) caught up. Millions understood that a minority, 2 years and a possible Depression don't make Ayn Rand a pop star.

Canada has the lowest debt to GDP of the G20 and is generally acknowledged to be in better shape than others to handle a deficit in pursuing a worldwide stimulus that has been agreed upon worldwide(did I mention it's a worldwide agreement?) to handle what has generally been acknowledged as a once in a century financial crisis. Millions understand this.

As Monte notes:

"The middle class tax relief is a healing balm for those of us who feel bruised by this spender bender. By reducing taxes Prime Minister Stephen Harper also wisely ensures the Liberals can't credibly make big spending promises in a future election campaign.

This budget isn't a conservative document so much as it's a political document; a document that will give the Conservative government the room necessary to craft a compelling conservative vision for the future."

I also think it's smart politics to let the Liberals share the recession. Nothing like a nice Liberal stimulus budget to hide the deficit you were going to have by yourself.

Now, if I had more time, I could probably think of a whole bunch of more reasons why this was a good budget that Ian in NS misses due to his extreme youthiness.

However, denying the Liberals a return to power is certainly more than good enough for me. And always will be.

Yes, Martin is quite a piece of work. He speaks about coalitions, about who can't trusted, about "what Canadians want."

Yeah, Jack 14% of them. This guy is easily the most incompetent federal party leader in at least a generation. He has simultaneously managed to fail become leader of the opposition, and turn NDP voters into Conservative supporters.

Jack, your application for the job of PM (or any executive position) has been clearly rejected by the electorate. Why his party keeps this loser clown around is beyond me.

Harper just handed the next election to Ignatieff. I know I won't be voting for the lying s.o.b.

Cool, more pandering Quebec in the budget too. What trash. This was way over-the-top. A deficit was expected, and the libs need to be placated. So placate the libs, but don't spend like you're Jack Layton. Totally unnecessary and completely disgusting.

John @2:45. (Wake up time) Without permits for any electrical, plumbing or Gas fitting projects Good luck with your insurance company paying up if something goes wrong with your house (fire or flood).

I see the dreaded "I've had enough and will never vote for Harper" syndrome is back. I swear the Liberal War Room minions can all be easily identified by their short memories, repetitiveness, and constant crayon stains on their fingers.

The Gazette reports that the "Quebec arts community" is not satisfied with their share of the budget booty.

Apparently "a total of $530 million for arts, culture and heritage, including $276 million in new money" is not enough tax-payer funded pork to feed their gaping maws.

They may have a point. After all, $530 million is only about half of the annual tax-payer subsidy the CBC scarfs down every single year.

Why not just put every wannabe artist that can't sell their wares on their own merits on the permanent government payroll, complete with travel and expense accounts?

Not only would it provide badly needed "stimulus" for this permanent victim group, it would also buy badly needed votes for the Conservative Party in Quebec.

http://tinyurl.com/b7lojz

Danny Williams is crying over the budget. Oh boo hoo Danny, after one shits the bed, one must sleep in it.

RE: "We will never see as weak a liberal leader as Dion in our lifetime."

True but the election was four on one, not counting the media. And PMSH still won.

yes but don't like it.

It's the best we could hope for with a minority.

If it also smacks Danny Williams and the welfare deadbeats in NFLD, all the better.

1/3 of the deficit is collapse in revenue, 1/3 tax cuts and the other third is the objectionable part. But it's 1/3. It would be 95% of a much bigger number if the commie coalition was writing it.

I guess the Liberal War Room must be doing all the voting in this poll, right bud? Small-c fiscal conservatives have been betrayed by Harper. I wish we could have the Reform party back. If I'd wanted a Liberal budget I would have voted for the twerps. It's unbelievable to me that the Conservatives have completely turned their backs on sound government finance. The historical record is clear. Government stimulus spending during a recession doesn't work, and will just make the situation worse.

Harper should take no sh*t from the Liberals or anyone else. Stick to his guns. No further alterations to the budget. Then if Iggy wants to take him down, so be it. Let the Liberals "wear" the financial shit*y end of the stick. Whoever governs through this will go down. Even Kiss ella gloats about that. So let them have it. Conservatism is completely off the rails anyway, if not dead. Time to regroup.

As far as I'm aware, whenever governments enact tax cuts, it invariably leads to MORE money flowing into government coffers, than before the cuts.
This happens pretty much every time.
This economic reality seems to be beyond the grasp of most people.
This fact generally makes the left and the far left's heads explode.

sounder

Sticking to your guns hasn't worked out too well for the federal NDP or the Alberta liberals.

To do ANYTHING you must be in power. If the ONLY thing you have accomplished at the end of it is to slow spending in relation to the other guys, that's at least something.

Someone above noted that Mulroney came after the NDP supported Trudeau. Well, yes, but look at the incredible amount of damage the scumsucking weasels did before Mulroney went part way to cleaning it up. That one will take GENERATIONS to fix - if ever.

I get the frustration of looking down at a huge deficit but look to the rest of the world. We're still doing OK.

As far as I'm aware, whenever governments enact tax cuts, it invariably leads to MORE money flowing into government coffers, than before the cuts.
This happens pretty much every time.
This economic reality seems to be beyond the grasp of most people.
This fact generally makes the left and the far left's heads explode.

Any budgets that makes Danny Williams, Jack Layton, and arts groups from Quebec unhappy can't be all bad.

"Probation"
WTF.
How the hell does the party of adscaming Librano$ stand up and say that word without being shouted down as thieves and grifters?

Belisarius

Facts schmacts, that's what I say!

Lori - as my mom used to say "Be careful or I'll give you something to really cry about".

Those groups you mentioned would never be happy.

I'm sure they have their "shocked and outraged" press releases are ready to go months in advance.

One time - I'd like to see a "you're not going to vote for us anyways, and we can't see how this is good for the country - so - just watch us"

"By their deeds you shall know them".

Congrats Paul Harper! I think you even made Jack Layton blush.

When I voted Conservative, I didn't realize I was voting for Trudeau's Liberals.

Put this budget (and my 'leader') out of their political misery.

Dear Taliban Jack- No coup for you, you scum sucking son of a bit*h.

Dear Iggy Puffin- You arrogant ass, talk to me when you've actually done something useful except live elsewhere for thirty years, then try to dictate to me what Canada should be. F*ck you.

Dear Prime Minister Harper- I admire you for your unwaivering support for Israel but am disappointed with this spending frenzy. It shows weakness to me. Never, ever, give in to liberals or commies. They will not return the favor and would never vote for you no matter what you do. See Quebec.

OK. So the budget stinks, but isn't it ever so gratifying to witness the end of the coalition and, simultaneously, that of Jack Layton's political aspirations? This insufferable clown will never be Prime Minister. He will never hold a cabinet post. He will never be a part of a governing party. How sweet it is!

However, we can rest assured that Layton will continue to indulge in his fantasy that any positive steps as a result of the budget will be due to pressure from the NDP.

Next logical step .... turf Layton as leader of the NDP. Of course, he'll still hang around at the public trough but, at least, we won't have to put up with his constant snivelling.

We're getting screwed-over in Sask. Only 120M for infrac. Two reasons for this - we have provincial bucks - lots of them - earmarked for insfrac and - we have 12 of 13 MP's already Conservative/ This allows PMSH to spend more where there are more votes. That is why the gov't is doling out bucks the way they want rather than on a per capita to the municipalities which is the way it should be.

I have supported the Cons faithfully for the last many years but they are really starting to piss me off. Maybe its time for Sask to send the PM a message.

Voted No. Its a disaster in the making. Harper just gave the Liberals a Paul Martin Budget. Enjoy the power Mr. Harper, because it aint gonna last. You sold out your principles, with your political base. What a legacy to leave. I guess Albertans are just dirt now, under your feet. You have become Entitled.

The budget seems perfect to me, you spend money that you don't actually have, to fix problems that don't actually exist.

Michelle Malkin calls the US stimulus package the Generational Theft Act of 2009 and this budget should be called that as well. BTW, every R House member voted "no" on theirs today; I hope the R Senators have as much sense.

Voted No. Its a disaster in the making. Harper just gave the Liberals a Paul Martin Budget. Enjoy the power Mr. Harper, because it aint gonna last. You sold out your principles, with your political base. What a legacy to leave. I guess Albertans are just dirt now, under your feet. You have become Entitled.

Maybe Jack's idea to get Power through a coalitin is Still a possiblity.

How about if the BLOC and NDP, who have more seats than the Liberals - join up to become one voting unit - sign some kind of coalition agreement and Jack would get to move into Stoneaway as the new Leader of the Opposition.

This could happen - no?

On Adler show, John Baird admitted they don't know what they are doing regarding the future, yet they think they make the best decisions.

Notice to Libertarian Party: my membership form is in the mail.

It is laughable to say the budget has tax cuts for anyone when it increases the national debt by an order of magnitude and we will all be generations paying it off. This type of buy now, let the next generation worry about paying for it approach to fiscal management is what got us a huge deficit in the first place. Here I was thinking we were finally making a little progress getting spending under control and making some inroads into the national debt ... and in one fell swoop all past progress is wiped away and we are deeper than ever in debt and bad old spendthrift habits have taken hold again. That the Conservatives did this to keep hold on power is frankly a big disappointment and relegates them in my mind to the (low) ranks of the other purely opportunist parties. Its all about power, not principles.

To borrow from Ezra ... Fire. Them. All.

Lorraine,that is brilliant.Jack would go for it because of his ego issues,and Gilles would have a marionette that speaks the language of the french gimme crowd.Iggy would end up crying into his zinfadel with steffi. I like it.I like it a lot.

Anybody else find it quite funny that there are all kinds of NDP/Liberal types posting all over the Blogging Tories saying how disgusted they are with Harper bringing in such a non-conservative budget and so they are not going to donate to them or vote for them ever ever ever again.

Then they go back to LibLogs and quote themselves to show that Conservatives are now infighting and divided.

Do you think Warren Kinsella and Scott Reid came up with this little stratgegy?

Everybody here should scroll up and read Bud's post again. The PM has been reading "Whiskey and Gunpowder" - this is an American recession, not a Canadian recession. The Americans are to be pitied at this time in their history but never forget, as Kate has posted here, a 2% win is not a landslide.

Things are unraveling very fast for the 'new' Prez down there. Methinks he must have sprung onto American soil from the Puffin/Liberano pest hole in Eastern Canada - do Puffin's migrate? Of course they do; we have one of those flea bitten 'foul' who just flew 'the coup' FROM USA, broadcasting all over the airwaves in the form of a Canadian Politician, looking for holes in a non existing head (Canada)!! The foul birdiekins does not know that Canada is the name of this nation, not the national bird or a person living here.

We have an intelligent, wise Prime Minister who can bring Canada through the turbulence brewing south of the border. Back up our Prime Minister folks - the 'alternative' is Guilles Duceppe. I voted "yes' but I hate it'. IMO, we should just ride this one out - the wind is at our back and the sun is shining on our faces.

Chinese Conservatives outraged at Kinsella

In news likely to make headlines on blogs only, we have learned that the Chinese Canadian Conservative Association is demanding that federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff fire Warren Kinsella for what they allege are some racially insensitive remarks about Chinese food.

In a recent blog posting Kinsella likened the meat found in Chinese cuisine to cat meat:

"Back in the Big Owe for a couple weeks, so what better way to kick things off than with some BBQ cat and rice at the Yang Sheng, hangout of our youth? Yay!

Kinsella repeated the offensive comment in a video posting on his website.

From David Aikin's Blog - Heh.

I too am outraged. My son is engaged to a Chinese girl and their food and culture is amazing and equisite. Talk about Kinsella and sterotypical bigotry.

Precisely, Jema54.

The 1.2 Trillion over ten years will keep American workers sweating from the brow for some time; to grease the wheels, for sub-prime geniuses train wreck of the financial sector.

For us Canuckle-heads it is only a three to five year trek.

But then the Dems created this sub-prime monster; so it is sweet justice, that they have to clean up the "Nightmare from Wall Street". I am sure they will pay themselves handsomely.

And of course the total mortgages that are bad are some $250 Billion so somewhere there is some padding of accounts going on.

If I were an American taxpayer, I would seriously consider a Boston style 'tea party' and ream out the dummies responsible.

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group "True North"

I voted "agin it".

But, unfortunately, Harper doesn't control the country with a minority.

Even with a majority, there are still countless liberal establishment lackies to make it difficult to do anything they do not like.

Listen up Conservative friends; this isn't about parliament; this is about establishment.

The establishment must be overthrown before parliament can be again meaningful.

right now Id be adding two line items to the budget.

the liberals have to pay back the adscam money they took immediately.

Danny Whine for Wine Williams has to drink a great big cup of shut the fuk up.

rob c - 4:09
I don't think the you hire a politician to do reno.s. These guys are tradesmen, not some dufus that happened to stumble along to do plumbing or electrical work. If it's done to code, what's the problem?

I can show you stuff in my house that was presumably inspected but sure as h*ll didn't meet code.

This is the just the Coalition budget we in Ottawa wanted - more government jobs.

We might be a little late for work though as that darned transit strike is still on.

Luckily the Liberals intervened in that too today and we should see some back to work legislation soon. Thank God for the Coalition.

The recession will be over within the year and Harper will never spend all the bailout money. RBC predicts that economic recovery in Canada will begin this summer because companies are very drawn down on inventories and the low fuel price has acted like the biggest tax cut in Canadian history.

I think Harper's budget was designed solely for political purposes because Canada is fiscally far better off than most other countries. However, people expect government handouts in recessionary times.

Look at the bright side. Harper didn't include money for condoms and STD clinincs!

As others have pointed out, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the CPC are between a rock and a hard place. If they're going to continue as the government, they have to compromise -- and A LOT, unfortunately, because of the asshats they have to contend with in the Opposition parties.

I blame more than any others, the Troika of Twits for their deep-pocket demands of the government -- as though it's the government's mandate to pay for every "working" family's union dues, daycare, lottery tickets, holidays ... did I leave anything out? Of course, the government's essentially underwritten all of Jack and Olivia's lifestyle, so why not everyone elses'?

The CPC has to stay in power if there's ANY hope for Canada to turn the 40-year Trudopey-an dystopia around. It would be a disaster for the Liberals or the Coalition [sic] to take the reins of power in Canada, so the CPC had to plug its nose, swallow hard, and present a budget with which the Opposition parties couldn't find fault -- though, of course they would, WHATEVER had been in the budget.

What a lousy position to be in. It stinks: for the CPC and for the Canadian taxpayer -- but it beats the heck out of the possibility of Canada's being governed [sic] by Count Iggy or the Cowardly Coalition of The Iggster, The Laydown, and The Blockhead.

Now THAT would be Hellish. At least certain bedlam, which would have been the result of the a term of the Twits, has been averted.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper did what he had to do. I'm sure he's not very happy with the budget, but what was he to do with the Crappy Coalition breathing down his neck?

Until the CPC can wrest a majority government from the Troika of Twits, they're stuck with some pretty drastic compromises just to stay in power -- and their staying in power sure beats the certain bedlam which would have been the alternative.

Well I voted "No enough spending" as well. I have read all of the posts and am moved by some argugments that seem to suggest it's all for the bigger picture. I did read Monty's views on the situation and it has helped. I can grasp that and will "park" my remorse for the time being. To those "Corpsites" monitoring F**k you.

The best laught out of this was this morning. I was driving into work and I heard the "Corpse" radio interview with Danny WhaWha Williams, in response to the budget, announce that "the last thing I wanted to do was to critisize PMSH" Just about pissed my pants. As others have said, if it has got Danny, Taliban Jack and "its all arts all of the time" Gilles crowd anoid it's got my vote.

uues wrote: "Danny Williams is apparently upset that his province can't be on welfare and unemployment while working under the table."

LOL. Nailed THAT shyster! I will never again stand up for Newfoundland/Labrador seal hunting. Let them sell China-made plastic souvenirs of seals stuffing themselves on fish, and galloping mooses running over cars.

As for the budget, I voted "Yes, but I hate it" although the tax reduction will be welcome.

I'm for smaller federal government and greater community responsibility.

Just was listening to Ignatieff on the CBC. He's set himself up pretty well. He says if he doesn't like what he hears from the quarterly reports - the government will lose his support.

It's a win/win for the Liberal party - just keep on following the polls until they are favourable, and then when the quarterly report comes in, say "This government is not doing enough for the disadvantaged; the unemployed, those who have fallen through the cracks of Harper's cruel system, etc etc"

The people nod, say yes, bad and evil CPC, thank heaven we have this articulate politician to save us before Justin Trudeau comes of political age, and la voilà, a liberal government for the next 20 years.

I see that that the Conservatives have given the worst possible numbers as far as the deficit is concerned ... the libs and NDP want to see more exposure.

I see tax cuts.

I see provinces (and the citizens of those provinces) that want to invest in their own infracstructure, a mechanisn to do so.

I see breaks for small business ... the backbone of our economy.

I see opporutinous previously unavailable for the self-employed, like training, that have been funded by them, but not available to them.

It's not even close to perfect (in my myopic view) but, since I understand this is a global problem ... I want my government to do the best for Canadians ... like me.

The Conservatives are betting on Canada, I don't mind backing that bet.

The budget seems perfect to me, you spend money that you don't actually have, to fix problems that don't actually exist.
Posted by: Peter O'Donnell at January 28, 2009 7:00 PM

The perfect comment.

Hasn't anyone noticed how scary the Igg looks? He would be perfect for the role Vincent Price used to play in that old comedy series called "The House of Horrors". Hey, "The House of Horrors" better describes that old, Gothic building in Ottawa where all the thieves go to meet sometimes; The House of Commons.