Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Hon. Jim Flaherty, March 2007 – “I would hope that cities – and I include Toronto here – … would reflect on their own budget exercises and try to be prudent in their budgeting and budget within their means,”
CFRA, August 2009 – “Federal Government stimulus cash is being used to bring Bill Clinton to the Central[sic] National Exhibition in Toronto.”
er… That would be the CANADIAN National exhibition.
Friggin’ local radio station cannot even get that one right.
Miller 1, Flatularty 0.
Get me out of this place.
Looks like the Conservatives are taking courting Liberal voters in Toronto to new heights. Why else would they pay big bucks to bring one of Liberaldom’s great heroes,Slick Willy to Canada?
Clinton must have a hot chick or two in town – he’s here every other month or so.
BTW,
Doggie, doggie
(If you’re of the same vintage as me and were at the Ex in your childhood, you’ll know what I’m referring to).
But who is actually approving the funding? Is the gov just providing funding to the CNE or are they actually supplying the cash to bring the big adulterer to the centre of the universe? 3mil?
Awful lot of money for a lot of hot air.
What the hell are they doing funding the CNE in the first place?
I suppose it’s special pleading to say that the Feds gave the money to the province, while it’s the province that’s squandering the money. But that lets the CPC off the hook for adding so much to our debt in the first place.
We don’t *really* have a (small c) conservative party in this country. They only make a gesture in that direction sometimes.
Life long CIBC customer here – until they sponsored Wee Willy to bullshi!! in Kelowna a couple of years ago. Am now a RBC customer.
The locals advised head office as to why and to date …. crickets.
Flaherty tried to drum up trade with China. No time for him.
Clinton is a sleazebag who bribes North Koreans. No time for him.
David Miller is useless. No time for him.
Federal stimulas cash went to the Calgary Stampede -8th item down:
http://calgarystampede.com/about/news/
Stimulas cash to the CNE is the same kind of thing. It is to stimulate tourist dollars.
Having BJ Clinton come to the CNE is a slick way to get American Democrats to cross the border and spend $US in Canada.
Clinton must have a hot chick or two in town – he’s here every other month or so.
~Mississauga Matt
Belinda Stronach?
3mil?
Awful lot of money for a lot of hot air.
~Rick Rae
Security for an ex-U.S. President may be expensive.
Time for Reform revival.
The University of Saskatchewan alumni yesterday sent out an email advertising Clinton speaking in Regina on Sept. 8. We could get special alumni rates. I responded by asking to be taken off their mailing list and to never contact me for donations.
Slick Willy to speak in the “Big Stink” at the EX.
A hundred and fifty thousand a pop, so they say. American!
Canadian MSM journos will be slobbering and tingling like CNN’s Chris Mathews.
And where will be, Belinda?
Hey guys, don’t forget, in a minority situation a government is not able to govern the way it would like to. Furthermore, a number of CPC MPs are still from the “progressive” wing and also I am sure the bureaucrats have reminded the government who actually runs the government.
What the hell are they doing funding the CNE in the first place?
Same thing they’re doing funding all sorts of crap,
from rec room renos to plough jockeys cradle to grave.
Money is no object for borrow and spend Conservatives.
hat should read CNBC’s Chris mathews.
Its not the Government that invited & Hired Clinton that was the CNE Exec’s,The government gave the funds. Clinton makes an average of 175k per speaking engagement
However i do agree with Kate What the hell are they funding the CNE for anyways when CNE typically shows a profit, although this year maybe the exception.
Note also that this same fund helps the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal Just for Laughs Festival.
As noted – the Conservative Government did NOT, repeat, NOT pay for or invite Clinton to the CNE. It funds the CNE, just like it funds many, many tourist attractions in all of Canada.
The CNE executive used that money to ask Clinton to speak. The federal government had nothing to do with it.
I think facts are neat and it’s useful to use them from time to time.
Ken: “Hey guys, don’t forget, in a minority situation a government is not able to govern the way it would like to. Furthermore, a number of CPC MPs are still from the “progressive” wing and also I am sure the bureaucrats have reminded the government who actually runs the government.”
Speaking of special pleading ….
Nobody had a gun to the CPC’s head to spend
“stimulus” dollars in the amount that they did. The CPC could have spent much, much less and simply dared the opposition to bring them down so that an election could have been fought over *principle* (though I suspect the Liberals would have turned chicken anyway).
And as I’ve said on here several times before: the minority situation gives the CPC zero excuse for spending to the level that it spent even *before* the coalition formed last fall. The country doesn’t have a tax problem, it has a spending problem.
“The country doesn’t have a tax problem, it has a spending problem.”
The winner is!!!!
ET – if the government borrows money to stimulate the economy during a time of deficits, there had better be a goddamned bridge standing when they’re finished.
This type of “stimulus” spending is just pork, it creates nothing, it serves no infrastructure purpose.
Exhibitions and tourism are traditionally supported by _discretionary spending_ of citizens. They are _supposed_ to feel a financial hit during an economic downturn. These ebbs and flows should be part of their business model, not an excuse for government cash.
The country doesn’t have a tax problem, it has a spending problem.
~MJ
The country has both a tax problem and a spending problem, because the country, like most western nations, is in a recession.
OZ: “The country has both a tax problem and a spending problem, because the country, like most western nations, is in a recession.”
Let me be clear(er): the country doesn’t have a tax problem in the sense that it already takes in plenty enough taxes to do the things it *needs* to do (a big understatement). It just spends too much money. The Liberals did it, and the Conservatives are doing it.
If, when they took office, the CPC had restricted their increase in spending to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth, it would have been able to reduce taxes enormously (much more than it did), or pay down scores of billions more on the debt than it did, or some of both (a lot more than it actually did), and still remain near a balanced budget through the current recession. And above all, it would have been executing a conservative agenda and inching the country to the right.
I don’t like saying this, but it’s true: the CPC heeded the call of porkulus.
Globe and Mail has a poll up asking if you would spend $50 to hear Bill speak. Gee isn’t going too well.
Geez Louise as soon as the garbage strike is over they bring in more trash.
Lets also remember that the Federal govt no matter what stripe has been funding/subsidizing Festivals & community events for years,
But like i stated before The federal govt distributes the funds to the applicant the applicant does what it wants with the funds, Now does the applicant have to report how they are going to spend the fund when applying? And does this reflect on the decision, This I do not know.
So did the CNE explain to the govt what & how the funds would be spent? And also as i said before I agree with Kate on her point Why are they(feds) funding the CNE anyways when they typically show a profit & for that matter how many times have the govts given monies to the CNE.
If, when they took office, the CPC had restricted their increase in spending to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth
~MJ
So you’re against properly equipping the CF then?
You’re against buying the new C-5 transports?
How long do you think the CPC would have stayed in power if they didn’t ante up for all those stimulas projects, especially the CAW?
Last question, 2 parts:
1) Do you think the Liberals or a Liberal/Bloc/NDP coalition would spend less
and
2) How much less do you imagine they’d spend?
Kate I do not often disagree with your slant and for that reason enjoy as well as make your site a daily mandatory stop. In this particular case I think you are over reaching and agree with ET’s outline. It’s tourism stimulus and unlike direct “Gay Pride” spending was not targeted to Bill Clinton’s appearance specifically but rather filtered down to the CNE executive. To get all bent because in their “sic” wisdom they choose to spend it in the fashion they propose is not a valid point against CPC’s overall tourism efforts.
bverwey
“What the hell are they doing funding the CNE in the first place?”
Same reason they funded the Calgary Stampede. Vote-buying pork. Of course, I’m sure that works better in Toronto.
Basically, we have government which reflects the values (and lack thereof) of the voters. Moral corruption of the elected is a reflection of the general public.
There is no shame in society when anything goes. Shame is what keeps you from misbehaving. It used to be far more effective than even the law. This “moral suasion” no longer works.
Why are they funding the CNE? It could be under Multiculturalism, Toronto is the Multicultural Capital of Canada. It is called “CANADIAN National Exhibition, that probably garners a few bucks.
mj
You’re being misleading. Sure the CPC budgeted for a 35 billion dollar deficit, but you fail to mention that the Conservative government, prior to the deficit budget, paid 35 billion down on the debt. That conservative move by the CPC helped put Canada in a strong position going into the recession.
After it’s all said and done, it’s a net debt of 15 billion considering the deficit is 50 billion, not the 35 billion budgeted for. That 15 billion is small potatoes considering to the price of stimulus for other G8 countries, and considering the CPC was pressured domestically and internationally to deficit spend.
You also fail to mention the preemptive stimulus initiated by the Conservatives reducing taxes on many levels before the recession. Yup, not very conservative at all.
According to the column, Miller called the budget a step backwards, Who is he to talk when he raises taxes year after year, and runs a deficit.
I call his policies dumb, stupid and idiotic. Not to mention the smelly strike.
Another thing that just P*****me off is the slant on the article’s headline Which began the topic on here & elsewhere.
The good ol Tarantaaa papers twisted & turned this into a Conservative sponsored event and made it a issue, Just go and read the comments at the G&M article, All bashing the PM & conservatives.
How many time’s do we have to see these twisted headlines Geezzzzezzz if they are not making up the story they are twisting it And why?
One reason to get the Theiving Hypocrytes back in power.
So end result mission accomplished create the induendo slant the conservatives “Army in your streets”
*
this is the same guy who diddled the whitehouse intern with a cigar
and then lied about it under oath, right?
who wouldn’t fork over 175,000 taxpayer dollars to hear his
words of wisdom?
*
On a related note friends who have been RV’ing in the west this year say they are seeing a fraction of the US visitors they have seen in the past, at the same venues. Combination recession and passport requirements? Seems to be having a large effect.
who wouldn’t fork over 175,000 taxpayer dollars to hear his
words of wisdom?
~neo
It’s an exhibition.
Think of it more like paying to see a really expensive circus freak.
Oz at 4:11: You’re (1) not reading my post carefully and (2) changing the subject.
(1) Here’s what I said: the govt. “already takes in plenty enough taxes to do the things it *needs* to do” — and that includes equipping the military, which is one of the things it *needs* to do.
(2) What the hell do those two questions have to do with the point I made? Just because the opposition parties are worse doesn’t mean that the CPC has behaved well!
Indiana Homez: If you’re satisfied with this govt. and believe it’s truly conservative, good for you. I’m not. As far as my being misleading, read my post again. I acknowledged that the CPC paid off debt and did reduce taxes. What I said is that they could have done so much more. All they had to do was control their spending, instead of letting it flow only a fraction less than the shortlived, spendthrift Martin govt. did before it. But they didn’t.
And I’ll repeat the greatest lost opportunity in all this: this conservative agenda would have moved the country to the right. Instead, polls are where they’ve been for a few years, with neither party having much prospect (at the present time) of forming a majority govt.
When conservatives fail to assess and criticize a conservative party in govt., and make excuses for it, they act like liberals.
“Globe and Mail has a poll up asking if you would spend $50 to hear Bill speak. Gee isn’t going too well.”
Sadly I cannot vote in their poll is there is no “I wouldn’t cross the street to piss on him if he was on fire” option.
Pork and more pork and pork flu …..
…-
“Pandemic plan help offered to businesses
CBC.ca – 2 hours ago
Offering customers hand sanitizer is one step stores could take to help reduce the spread of swine flu.
The federal government has awarded a $926000 contract to help small and medium-sized businesses respond to the swine flu …”
Apparently it’s about “enrichment”:
CNE General Manager David Bednar had this to say about the President’s scheduled appearance: “His vision for the world is very much alive in Canada’s cultural mosaic. As individuals and as a society, Canadians recognize that the interdependence of our communities is vital to living an enriched and rewarding life.”
Feel better now?
The solution is simple, in order to keep this from happening now and in the future, we must immediately axe all “arts and culture” spending.
Federal funding has always been directed to the CNE, as is the case with many other exhibitions, folk-fests etc. This summer Prairieland Park (Saskatoon Ex) received more federal money.
As a U Of S alumni I received the same mailing for President Clinton’s speech in Regina and will certainly attend, having saw him in Calgary; it is wellworth the time as he is an excellent speaker, with salient, trenchant points.
Sounds like a good idea,perhaps Bill can sing and dance as well. He needs to get out more and away from his charming wife.
When conservatives publicly criticize a conservative party in a minority govt situation, they act like they want liberals to get elected in their stead.
Feel free to e-mail your MP, MJ, or why don’t you start a new Reform Party?
They only wandered in the wilderness for 15 years before getting to, basically, where we are today.
Salient and trenchant points, T?
Cool!
Does he take questions afterward?
Like, if I asked him how he thinks fellatio is not sex, he would explain to me how he didn’t have, “Sex with that women.”
No, Oz. They need to remember they have a job to do beyond getting re-elected, and that if they continue down this path, a lot of conservatives will simply not show up at the polls, having no one left to support.
What needs to happen with all these schemes is very simple. Reduce Federal taxes and give the Provinces more room to increase them, where necessary. If the Provinces want to give their cities money for Bill Clinton’s “vision” thingee then we’ll fight our local Provincial election on that waste.
If we in Toronto want to fund Gay Pride Day/Week/Year then we can decide how much of our taxes we want to pay for that and who gets to ride on the float.
But when taxpayer funds go to Ottawa, they take their skim and then send some of it back to us; everyone gets the impression we are always using “other peoples money”. It’s not. It’s OUR money, there’s only one taxpayer and too many levels of government grabbing or money.
No, Oz. They need to remember they have a job to do beyond getting re-elected, and that if they continue down this path, a lot of conservatives will simply not show up at the polls, having no one left to support.
~Kate
Right you are, Kate.
I’m thinking, though, that after seeing that particular exercise in behaviour modification south of the border by the Republicans, the non-support strategy, that there could be an object lesson in there somewhere that could be learned from.
MJ
I’m not saying don’t criticize the CPC, criticism is good and so is conservatism, I’m simply saying your statement is misleading. I’ve demonstrated a few examples of fiscal conservatism, but not enough for you; fair enough, it’s a subjective premise. I’ll just say that perhaps our end games are the same. I just prefer to “matriculate” the ball down the field instead of the low percentage hail-Mary pass; which, is exactly what pushing our policy agenda too fast is, in this political climate.
If you want to talk about moving towards conservatism, the shortcut IMO is western separation.
I decide quite some time ago that I wouldn’t be getting out of my chair on election day, seeing as there’s no one to vote for.