Nanos National Poll - Healthcare reclaims top issue of concern over economy

Domestic bread and butter issues will always claim the primary attention of the Canadian electorate. International issues tend to claim short term secondary attention. The Afghanistan War and the current controversy over the treatment of "prisoners" turned over by the Canadian Forces is international and therefore not likely to fly to the top of the "issues list". The creditability of the government doing exactly the same thing to Richard Colvin as a former government did to Allen Cutler, however, is possibly an unanticipated domestic issue that may have legs. Anybody remember Adscam ???? It did colour how one viewed the government.

Healthcare has never lost its importance in what is near and dear to the hearts of Canadians. Possibly this concern is enhanced when we listen to the endless debate about healthcare in the US Congress and think how lucky we are to be Canadian. At least we have a line to stand in even if 40 million Americans do not. The H1N1 flu and the sometimes conflicting / inconsistent information given out by health authorities across the land has further increased our attention for all things "health". As an aside, I wonder if we and our governments are not more victims of ambitious pharmaceutical company bottom lines than victims of the H1N1 bug.

Our economy APPEARS to be gradually improving, our banks appear stable thus this topic ceases to command top spot for domestic issues but this could change should there be a negative hiccup along the way.

As "calm" settles over the land, I can anticipate that other long term issues associated with an ageing population and a shrinking work force such as pensions etc., will move up the domestic interest scale. Hovering, or surpressed in the background right now, is how to deal with the huge federal and provincial deficits which both dip into the same pocket. In regard to this, are our "leaders" not being rather like the ostrich hoping the issue will go away????

A politically wise government will keep all issues in focus. Governments tend to defeat themselves and thus far,,, Harper has avoided asking the opposition to step in, albeit, slimly at times.

[updated Tue Nov 24 05:17:55 EST 2009]

I 'm wondering what the other 31.5% thinks!You all know where I stand. I put environment ahead of everything else. Health and the economy are predicated on that.. I don't dwell on the present . The health and economy of future generations depends on how we deal with the environment.
When I go to my grave I want to rest in peace. I don't want my grandchildren or their grandchildren cursing at by grave site. I would rather have them say, "there lies dear old Bernie. He did his part and encouraged others to do the same".
Health concerns are serious and become more so in the future. Longer living (existing), more unhealthy lifestyle, lower real economy and degraded environment will exacerbate the problem.
The real economy is not getting better. It will be getting worse in the US and that will negatively impact Canada. The so-called 'recovery' is not real. It's based on bubbles, like the the economy before 2008. To keep us at this level we are spending the money of our children and grandchildren. We are undermining their economy. That's another reason why they'll be reluctant to pay our pensions and health care, That plus the fact that there will be fewer of them and they will be making less money.

I could be selfish and and say "why should I care? It won't happen while I'm still here. Let the grandchildren deal with it. " I guess it's because of my upbringing that I can't do that.
I want a clear, peaceful mind when I leave here.

[updated Tue Nov 24 08:59:55 EST 2009]

I guess the best place to start would be with some numbers that can validate from a reliable source.

Sourced Table 3.2 http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget05/bp/bpc3-eng.asp#hst

``Liberals Federal transfers in support of health and other social programs (in billions); 2005 2006 $19,625; 2006 2007 $21,340; 2007 2008 $22,548; 2008 2009 $23,229; 2009 2010 $24,237; 2010 2011 $25,676``

Sourced Table 4.6 http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpc4-eng.asp

``Conservatives Federal transfers in support of health and other social programs (in billions); 2007 2008 $31,346; 2008 2009 $33,325; 2009 2010 $35,100; 2010 2011 $36,855; 2011 2012 $38,715; 2012 2013 $40,680 and 2013 2014 $42,750``

1) One should contrast between what the Liberals actual spending and projected spending on Health care in comparative years with the Conservatives.

In Millions, 2007 2008 $22,548 projected Liberal - 2007 2008 $31,346 actual Conservatives, an increase of $8,798 over the Liberal planned expenditures; 2008 2009 $23,229 projected Liberal - 2008 2009 actual Conservatives $33,325 an increase of $10,096 over the planned expenditures by the Liberals.

2) This clearly shows a trend that the Conservatives have positioned themselves in a stronger position than the Liberals on this file and shows a stronger commitment to health care in Canada, both in planning and expenditures.

3) With the Conservatives committed to directing an additional $7,650 Billion over the next five budgets towards services in Canada, one can reasonably stated that this does represent a substantive investment by the Conservatives.

4) One other point that should be brought forward is the lack of public policy on this file by the Liberals and their failure to declare that the promised and project funding would not be cut in a future Liberal Government.

5) The planned and actual increases in funding by the Conservatives should be contrasted to the cuts made by previous Liberal Governments and the impact that these cuts had in the provinces.

In closing the Conservatives are well positioned on this file going forward and should reap the benefits from the Canadian voter.

[updated Tue Nov 24 11:13:48 EST 2009]

Public Works again, another investigation, is this not where the Sponsorship Scandal started, are Quebec Federal servants involved again. Hired by Jean Chretien, can we never get rid this guy. Liberals will never win with Donolo and Chretien hanging around. Liberals still have not learned a thing. Give me your thoughts!

[updated Wed Nov 25 15:56:10 EST 2009]

Well, I am listening to the testimony now being presented before the committee and I wonder how the Liberals, NDP, the Bloc and their media allies will be able discredit the three individuals now sitting before them.

Mr. Colvin allegations, as they were presented to the committee is now being dismembered as the three accused Canadian Forces individuals go through their opening statements.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out with the CBC and the other media outlets and if they will still find that the security guard at the Canadian embassy in Washington to be as creditable as these three individuals.

They are providing names, dates, places and timelines and this is the very information that Mr. Colvin and his Liberal handlers have stated that he has been advised that he cannot provide because of Conservative pressure and National Security.

These names, dates, places and timelines are something that Mr. Colvin and his Liberal handlers have failed to provide and it is worth noting that the three Canadian Forces are able to provide all this information at this sitting.

[updated Wed Nov 25 16:32:25 EST 2009]

Health care moving up the ladder once again will benefit the liberals and the center left in general. This is a target audience Harper cannot win and the libs would be smart to make sure it stays on top of everyone's concerns.

The libs will have more credibility on that issue as well. As Harper's fiscal credibility slips with the higher deficits and the higher unemployment we are about to witness the Libs will once again enjoy leadership in the polls.

[updated Wed Nov 25 20:31:26 EST 2009]

pollfan writes,

"Why can't harper sustain his poll ratings which are starting to show weakness in various elements of the electorate. Once again he cannot get enough momentum for a majority because Canadians do not trust him or his government. The very recent poll on the Afghan torture makes it clear people do not trust Tories. '

Damn this boy is uneducated.

Update time for elf, sly, pollfan and Bernie, as you most likely do not know there are 24 metric that Ekos uses,

The Conservatives lead the Liberals in 17 and are tied in one, while the Liberals lead the Conservatives in 6 and are tied in 1.

The Liberals lead the Conservatives in the City of Toronto 40.0 over 36.9 and Montreal 27.4 over 16.0, which is no surprise as it is what is left of their core, what is of interest is that Toronto is within the margin of error and is within reach for the Conservatives, so I would suggest that the Conservatives have more upside than the Liberals do in Toronto.

The Liberals lead with under 25 with 24.7 over 21.0 for the Conservatives and once again this is within the margin of error.

The Liberals lead with the University Educated 33.6 over 32.8 for the Conservatives, but that number is within the margin of error and most of their strength in this area resides in Toronto and Montreal, once again no surprises there for the Conservatives and this group is well within their reach.

The Liberals lead 36.9 over 34.7 for the Conservatives, for individuals born outside Canada and as with the other areas this is well within the margin of error and within reach of the Conservatives.

They are tied with French Speaking Canadians at 21.9 each

The only area that the Liberals have large lead and that lead is outside of the margin of error and that is the city of Montreal 27.4% over 16.0%, hardly any cause for the Conservatives to lose any sleep over.

So what does that mean, well the Conservations lead the Liberals in 17 metrics and their lead in the 17 are all well outside the margin of error and although they trail in 5 of the metrics, the 5 in which they trail are all well within the margin of error and represent areas where the Liberals previously had large leads, which the Liberals have seen a steady erosion in.

So Mr. Ignatieff, Mr. Layton and Mr. Duceppe how about bring in a non confidence vote over the Afghanistan detainee transfers and force an unnecessary election.

PS,

The Afghan story would appear to be dying on the vine, even before the testimony of Mr. Mulroney and we can see how well this is playing out with Canadians.

Well it would appear to be playing about as well as the scandals that the Liberals have brought to the attention of the Canadian public, scandals such as H1N1, Chq Gate, stimulus spending, the 10%er and whatever.

[updated Thu Nov 26 11:32:55 EST 2009]

hollinm,

From the CTV and as the CBC likes to say, here is breaking news although the CBC never seems to carry any.

Headline: Federal Tories put Liberals on hot seat over HST,

CTV.ca News Staff, Date: Thu. Nov. 26 2009 10:29 PM ET.

"The Conservative government will introduce legislation requiring Parliament to vote on plans by the Ontario and British Columbia governments to adopt the harmonized sales tax, CTV News has learned."

And

"The Conservatives support the HST and want the legislation passed by the holiday break. "

The Conservatives must have some different polling numbers that show that this will not hurt them in much the same way as they were able to scrape the long gun registry without taking any hits, as contrary to what the media was reporting at the time that the Conservatives would pay a political price for scraping it, which was quickly disproven by a Harris Decima poll.

There are a couple of points from the piece that are a pure political joy to read as it boxes in the Liberals, helps the NDP on the Liberal left flank, forces Mr. Ignatieff to do another Mr. Dion redo.

The Liberals will now be caught in their latest flip and flop on this file as the Provincial Liberals in Ontario need this bill and will be in full court press on the Federal Liberal to move it forward, all within a very short period of time politically and as for the Conservatives, well if the bill is defeated it will not force an election.

This masterful piece of work and is a complete win, win, win, win, win and win again for the Conservatives, as to the Liberals I really do not see an upside on this file now and in closing Mr. Dion (26%) must be looking pretty good, compared to Mr. Ignatieff (23%).

1) If the legislation fails to pass, the provincial governments will be unable to pass the HST.

2) However, the legislation will not be a confidence motion, meaning the government cannot be defeated on the bill.

3) "(The Conservatives) are saying if it is defeated it will not be revisited, meaning the end of the harmonized sales tax in Ontario and British Columbia," CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said on Thursday night.

4) Politically, the move puts the federal Liberals in a difficult position.

5) If they support the bill, they will face criticism on the left from the NDP.

6) Help defeat the bill, and the provincial Liberal governments in B.C. and Ontario, may not help their federal counterparts in the next election.

[updated Fri Nov 27 05:22:07 EST 2009]

I note the current decima poll has the tories once again at 36% and the Libs at 27% as the Tory slide back to reality continues.

[updated Fri Nov 27 07:09:27 EST 2009]

Move over health care the tories are imploding:

1. Afghanistan scandal just warming up, the Tory cover up is getting even more desperate.
2. Public works probe and probable scandal; the panic attack Tories are having is fun to watch.
3. The HST issue that has just boomeranged on Harper by having the bloc suggest they will vote for it thus laying the blame firmly on Tory backs. Iggy is now free to do whatever he wants with the issue.
4. the largest federal deficit ever was unveiled today........ a true scandal if ever there was one and one the libs will have a lot of fun with. .
5. The RCMP watchdog punted...smoke and fire to follow.

I think the libs will do just fine with all this ammo at their disposal.

[updated Sat Nov 28 00:00:51 EST 2009]

Justice Needs A Refresher Course.

They happen to be called Justice Canada. Could have fooled me. Strange, how Minister Nicholson is silent on this one, he who happens to have never been shy to make public pronouncements.

So Defence Minister Peter MacKay (to his credit) has let the cat out of the bag. The generals (retired or otherwise) were fully briefed along with the ambassador thanks to government documents.

These men hold national security clearances. Let me get this straight: we have these curious beings on Parliament Hill, some of whom happen to represent the voters. Has this government deemed our MPs a security risk? Are they not fit to take the due care required in handling sensitive and highly classified government documentation?

In other words, are our MPs not to be trusted? Is their search for the truth to be deliberately hampered?

The Star had this to say:

In some cases, the witnesses were allowed weeks to pore over the mostly email traffic between Afghanistan and Ottawa, which highlighted concerns about the possibility of prisoner abuse.

The Star has learned the generals were briefed by the government before they testified. "They were briefed by Government of Canada lawyers, and it was in fact the morning of their appearance before the committee," said a defence department spokesperson.

The government has said it will release to the committee documents that it is "legally required" to hand over.

Liberal MP Bob Rae (Toronto Centre) said "it's ridiculous" for witnesses to be enlightened, and politicians kept in the dark.

"How can we examine witnesses without seeing the same documents?" Rae said in an interview.

MacKay said later that the justice department, after going through the documents, gave them to the witnesses.

[updated Sat Nov 28 14:09:02 EST 2009]

The Heat Is On...And It's WORKING...

Nice of this Prime Minister to quickly change his tune and suggest that he'll be working toward a "comprehensive agreement" at Copenhagen.

He's quite obviously a big fan of tackling this question under a North American framework and Harper says Obama Administration targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction are in line with the Canadian position.

Boy, has the world got a surprise waiting in Copenhagen. If anyone thinks that the NAF is going to be a serious basis for an overall agreement -- they're dreaming in technicolour. The other leaders will be pushing Obama and Harper hard. Look for plenty of fireworks.

If they pull this one out, no question it would be a coup. But I don't expect that to happen. We'll see how it all shakes out.

[updated Sat Nov 28 15:11:13 EST 2009]

Hey RonaldODowd

Do you recall a conversation we had a while back about how leaks happen and why they might just "occur" because the Conservatives might know something that the Liberals, NDP, Bloc and their media allies did not and what would occur if the documents came out and where the Liberals might end up.

Well this just might have occurred and so I am left to wonder as to whether or not you will go on another R&R or will you stay and play.

1) UPDATED: Colvin memos "now in the public domain"? By Kady O'Malley

So says the Globe and Mail's Christie Blatchford, who, after reading "what appears to be the entire collection of emails Mr. Colvin sent on the subject during the seventeen months he spent in Afghanistan," concludes that "it is Mr. Colvin who has some explaining left to do."

2) E-mail trail only adds to Afghan questions, Published on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 9:00AM EST, Last updated on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 12:40PM EST, Christie Blatchford

From the piece

``Of a five-page e-mail, Mr. Colvin devoted four paragraphs, most of this not blacked out, to the treatment of detainees by Afghan authorities.``

``most of this is not blacked out``

I will direct your attention to this part of the piece, the data was not redacted and this is going to prove to be a problem for Mr. Colvin.

And then to the following

``But that inspection and an earlier one upon which he relied, made in December of 2005 by the International Committee of the Red Cross, were, in the Afghan context, practically sunny about their findings.``

And it just gets better for the Conservatives that is.

"The ICRC rated the Kandahar prison the best of the four it inspected; it was “not that bad” and “not the worst in Afghanistan,” that honour going to the facility in Uruzgan, the Dutch area of control."

Not the Canadians, not Mr. Harper, not Mr. McKay, not the Conservatives but the Dutch area of control.

And in Mr. Colvin`s own words

"Even to Mr. Colvin, the Kandahar prison seemed “to be in reasonably good condition,” inmates got “enough food” and, he said, most were through the courts within 15 days (unlikely, as the courts in Afghanistan were at that time almost non-existent)."

With Mr. Colvin written words now confirming that the transferee "seemed to be in reasonably good condition,” it does now go to his sworn testimony that "all" were tortured, there is a big difference between the two as you might guess.

Wait a minute, you do not guess anymore and either do the Liberals, NDP and Bloc on the committee as you now have his written and spoken testimony to compare his allegations to.

This part is good as he based everything over the year in question on and to quote "only once for a few hours"

"As context for Mr. Colvin's tour in Afghanistan, it should be noted that he arrived at Kandahar Air Field on April 28, 2006, and went several days later to the Provincial Reconstruction Team headquarters on the outskirts of town, where he spent about seven weeks – leaving the compound, as comfortable and safe a place as there is in that country, only once for a few hours.

You can go to the CBC and the Globe and Mail for the balance of the piece and if this turns out to be true, this will not end up as being a very good day to be a Liberal.

[updated Sat Nov 28 20:03:17 EST 2009]

Brusmit,

Why don't you bring me up to speed on the elected Senate, that perennial favourite of all persons Western. Just where does it stand right now?

I'll bet that Senators Brown and Plett are not exactly beating the bushes for this to happen yesterday. What's the latest body count of provincial governments that have been felled by this ambitious assault?

Have you guys reached seven yet? Are you still bothering to try?

Call me crazy but I'm actually interested.

Over to you, Brusmit.

[updated Sat Nov 28 20:45:37 EST 2009]

The cover up and lies continue as they always will until Harper is gone.:

"Rick Hillier, when he was Chief of the Defence Staff, says he kept his political masters fully informed about the harsh conditions of detainees in Afghan prisons, even though Prime Minister Stephen Harper and cabinet ministers claim they were told nothing," reports the Globe and Mail today.

Mr. Hillier wrote about this in his new book, "A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War."

Former Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier knew about the possible abuse and torture of Afghan detainees because he received, and read, reports from former diplomat Richard Colvin, according to MacLean's.

Hillier dutifully passed these reports on to Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay, in the Globe and Mail article, says: "There are hundreds if not thousands of documents, reports, memos, advice that come through all departments. The fact that one report or a series of reports weren't read by a minister or a deputy minister shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone."

There you have it: the Defence Minister doesn't have the time, the patience or ability to read "one report or a series of reports" that Afghan detainees turned over to local authorities risked being tortured.

What else has the Defence Minister missed on the Afghanistan file? Are there other reports from military commanders in Afghanistan that are gathering dust on the Minister's desk?

Peter MacKay should resign as Defence Minister for such profound incompetence.

[updated Sat Nov 28 22:25:34 EST 2009]

Question of the Day?

Do you believe David Mulroney?

[updated Sun Nov 29 00:40:02 EST 2009]

Question For December!

Why are the Liberals always Dreaming of Power!

[updated Sun Nov 29 00:52:16 EST 2009]

to western football fans

I and sorry to inform you that Montreal will win the (Earl) Grey Cup.
Saskatchewan will be lucky to receive a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Montreal 27
Saskatchewan 17

[updated Sun Nov 29 08:12:17 EST 2009]

It seems to me that unless I am totally off the track, one of these days Canadians will wake up to the colossal, quasi-fascist snow job under which the Conservatives under Harper have been burying us ever since they took on the minority government status, and I am referring especially to the last term, beginning with its infamous election campaign, during which Harper “graced us with his many fire place chats but never, ever faced a media or public forum..

What distinguishes indisputably a democracy from a totalitarian government is the public and media accessibility to the leader and responsible government heads of the former and the government propaganda barrage that inundates the public of the latter, as it seals its pontificating status by shutting itself off from media or public scrutiny and debate.

Such is the case with the Harper crowd. NOBODY seems to make an issue of the dangerous precedent that is rapidly being established in the governing circles of this country. The CBC, Press and TV in general mention only casually, as if it were a matter of fact , “Of course Mr. Harper (or This or the other minister) was not available for comments.”

Yet we persist on supporting such a crowd, despite the fact that that crowd has now twice demonstrated that they will go as far as ruining someone’s life career as they did with atomic energy critic and as they are doing now with a hitherto respected and indeed promoted government agent, Mr. Colvin, to maintain their propaganda lies unchallenged. In fact, contrary to the very basic Canadian legal system requirement, the accuse without supplying documents to prove their accusations.

I am old enough to have lived both under Mussolini’s Fascism and subsequently under Tito and his merry crew. The monkey trial those two gentlemen used to set up to crush anyone who dared criticize their actions have little to envy with the present day actions Harper and his goons are perpetrating to save their skins. It is despicable, true enough, but above all it is very, very dangerous. Please, Canadians, Liberal and Conservative alike, DO NOT ALLOW THE COUNTRY TO SLIDE DWN THE PATH OF TOTALITARIANSM.

[updated Sun Nov 29 22:28:11 EST 2009]

Conservatism: It's not an ideology, it's a diagnosis.

[updated Sun Nov 29 23:03:20 EST 2009]

Hey RonaldODowd,

I had written this in reply to pollfan and frankly he was not worth the effort that I put into it, but if you care to have a look and offer up your thoughts on what I had written, I thought we can have a good debate.

In any case, (I will just pull this out of the old rabbit hat and say to the would be rabbit hunter), that for those who fail to understand the past and forever bound to its failures and will never find their future.

Just strip the "factula" partistan retorical out that I put in for pollfan,

The lesson is that the Conservatives Party of Mr. Harper, (which is a different party in case you did not know), learned from the failures of that old disbanded party and in three elections reduced the Liberals from a Majority to a minority and then out of office.

As to the diagnosis, well it would appear that the Conservatives of today, learned from the past and did not repeat the mistakes of the past and now are the future in Canadian political.

As to the other diagnosis, well it would appear that the Liberals of today, have not learned from the past and continue to repeat the mistakes of the past and now are the facing a future in Canadian political outside of power.

(On to the debate on the past,)

Do you want to talk about the past or do you not and if you wish to discuss 1993 are you prepared to defend proportional representation as the Conservatives received 25% of the vote and only two seats (and as an FYI the "Conservative vote" was split by the emergence of the western reform party.)

This allowed the Liberals to split the conservative vote and run up the middle and win seats that they would not have won without the split - please see learning lesson of the past and apply to current Conservative party that is unified and the Liberal, NDP, Green and Bloc splitting the left of center vote allowing Conservatives to win seats that they would not in usual circumstances.

The other part, was that the Liberals under Mr. Jean Chrétien the Liberal party ran on the platform of repealing the GST and NAFTA agreement and would reverse the reduction of Federal Transfers that Mr. Mulroney, had started to put in place to address the structural deficit left by the Mr. Turner and Mr. Trudeau Liberals.

What occurred after the election, well we still have the GST and NAFTA to this date and that would suggest that the Liberals did not keep their word, as to reversing the reduction in Federal Transfers Mr. Martin accelerated it and almost crippled the social and health network across Canada.

[updated Mon Nov 30 08:31:32 EST 2009]

Here is a story from todays Toronto Star that should get the Liberals on this board all happy.

Headline; "Canadians want action on climate, poll findsLarge majority agrees that global warming is 'mankind's defining crisis' that demands response. by-line Steve Rennie, Canadian Press,Published On Mon Nov 30.

From the piece,

"Canadians think climate change is the planet's defining crisis, a new poll suggests."

And

"Nearly two thirds of Canadians agreed while 31 per cent disagreed. A tiny fraction had no opinion."

And

"I think it shows the extent to which not just the environment, but the actual issue of climate change, has ascended up the public agenda to point where it is reminiscent of those other big causes that have shaped a lot of Canadian history," said Rudyard Griffiths, co-organizer of the Munk Debates.

The most obvious question should be, but will not be- who is Munk Debates?

[updated Mon Nov 30 16:50:48 EST 2009]

There has been much made by some of the Liberals on this board as to the actions of the Conservatives regarding the treatment of Mr. Cotler and it would not appear that the statements that he made are in fact not true and that the Conservative may well be correct in their reporting of the Liberals at Durban..

Mr. Coltler is on the public record of saying that the Conservatives made,

"false and cruel characterizations of my party and myself" by saying that the Liberals willingly participated in Durban 1."

Mr. Collier as would appear Mr. Colvin before him, now finds himself in the position of explaining why his sworn testimony does not match what has reported as occurring.

The question as to whether or not the Liberals "willing participated" in Durban1 has come under fire from media sources as they are now reporting the following.

1) "Mr. Cotler himself seems to have been less than impressed with the Canadian government's decision. On his return, he gave a speech in Montreal in which he said he felt that by remaining at the conference until the declaration was adopted by consensus, Canada had made itself party to it, despite subsequent attempts to disassociate itself."

In his own words, "Canada had made itself party to it" far different than what he said in front of the cameras just last week, that his Liberal government was not a party to the Durban1 conference.

Those are Mr. Collier own words as he told the House last week from,

2)"The conference turned into a conference of racism against Israel and the Jews. That is when we stood up, that was when we were asked to remain, and that is what we did. We were praised for having been the party that most condemned anti-Semitism at that Durban 1 conference."

"However, that is not the recollection of Alan Baker, Israel's former ambassador to Canada who was head of the Israeli delegation in Durban."

What is this Ambassador, having issue with what a Liberal has alleged happen, there is starting to be a trend here.

" In an interview from Israel, he said that his government asked Canada, the U.S. and a number of European countries to pull out of Durban but the Canadian delegation was directed by Ottawa to stay."

Directed by Ottawa to stay, not leave and to participate in the most racist conference in recent memory - Will Mr. Cotler, now stand in his place in the house and tell Canadians that what he said in the house does not match the recorded record.

From the National Post; Cotler's version of Durban doesn't wash, by-line, John Ivison, Posted: November 30, 2009, 4:00 PM by NP Editor.

Mr. Ivison makes the following observations in his closing and it would be hard to disagree with facts.

It all suggests that there is some re-writing of history in Mr. Cotler's assertion that Canada stayed in Durban at the request of the Israelis.

The decision to stay seems to have been made before any such request was forthcoming, which validates the claim that the Liberals were "willing participants" in Durban.

It is inconvenient for Mr. Cotler that the Liberal government willingly participated in Durban 1 but it did. And the available evidence suggests it decided to do so long before it received any such request from the Israelis.

[updated Mon Nov 30 20:59:45 EST 2009]

and just when the Liberals thought it could not get any worst.

Headline; Canada crawls out of recession in third quarter, Financial Post, Published: Monday, November 30, 2009.

"Canada's economic recession officially ended in the third quarter of this year, but with a weaker-than-expected increase."

One more Liberal issue being laid to rest by the facts.

[updated Mon Nov 30 21:27:15 EST 2009]

Nice of the provincial tory cousins to be so hypocritical isn't it wich means thye like acting like big brother:

From Big City liberal's blog:

NOW They're Against Harmonization, But then...
QUEEN'S PARK, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - We know that Ontario Conservative Leader Tim Hudak supports the HST; earlier this year he said there was "little sense" in having two separate sales taxes and understood how the HST "can help the economy" (March 24th, 2009 - Don Valley West, Conservative Party Annual Meeting).

And his House Leader Bob Runciman also said "I think our Party is supportive of harmonization" and that the HST is "something we think should occur" (March 24, 2009 - Media Scrum).

Ted Chudleigh (Halton): "Taxing businesses for their input costs is also a negative thing to do in an economy. It would be far better if we could find a way to harmonize the PST with the GST." (October 2, 2008 - Legislative Assembly Hansard)

Norm Sterling (Carleton-Mississippi Mills): "The Ontario government should harmonize its provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax." (April 23, 1992 - Legislative Assembly Hansard)

Okay, so that one is from a long time ago...

Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge): "We have called on you to stimulate our economy by reducing the tax burden on business and new business investments, eliminating capital taxes in Ontario, reducing taxes on small business, and initiating serious negotiations with the federal government on tax reform." (October 22, 2008 - Legislative Assembly Hansard)

Frank Klees (Newmarket-Aurora): "No one can argue with wanting a more simplified tax process I think we all support that." (May 21, 2009 - London Conservative Leadership Debate)

Note that Tin Hudak is willing to let his MPPs pound on desks and generally look silly, but he has stated that he will not repeal the tax if elected. Oh, and lets not forget that the harmonization is a deal between the Provincial Liberals and the Federal Tories. As head desk-pounder Bill Murdoch has already admitted:

Stephen Harper Conservatives are pretending they had nothing to do with the controversial plan to blend the federal and provincial sales tax in Ontario, Tory MPP Bill Murdoch says.

"They can't divorce themselves away from this," Murdoch told Sun Media. "They're part of this whole scheme."

Gee, I wonder how Iggy will deal with that.....ha ha

[updated Tue Dec 01 09:16:35 EST 2009]

Yikes!
Iggy and the Liberals have flip flopped on the HST. They are now going to support the Conservatives on this contentious issus. Will hypocrisy never cease?

[updated Tue Dec 01 13:18:46 EST 2009]

I don't think Canadians need to know the truth. If Harper and MacKay did something wrong it was for the good of Canadians.

Harper should not be questioned abouut this and it should be kept a secret because it is unpatriotic and hurts our soldiers to do so. I think the opposition would be better off to leave this alone and focus on the economy. Harper and MacKay are the only trustworthy and credible politicians in Ottawa and if they say it doesn't need to be looked into, it doesn't. If they say Colvin is not credible they are telling the truth. I also think Hillier is a Liberal which makes his testimony all the more credible.

The only thing I don't like about the HST is that it is dividing Tories. The feds like it and the provincials hate it. Harper is doing a great job and I get so angry when I hear people criticize him for lying. He has to do it sometimes because the public doesn't always know what is good for them. When he gets a majority he will really be able to change Canada into a country more like the US.

[updated Wed Dec 02 02:17:55 EST 2009]

Question of the Day?

Is CPAC becoming irrelevant to Canadians?

[updated Wed Dec 02 15:45:33 EST 2009]

Prime Minister: Put Up Your Dukes!

As a public service, not wanting our number one man to be caught off guard in foreign climes, I thought I would offer our PM a few well chosen words of advice!

If things should suddenly go beyond testy in the various Asian capitals that you're visiting, just think fast and stand ready to get 'em up. Remember, there will be room for practice at your next stop -- while you're at it, how about a quick divert to that island that we dare not name as a sovereign nation. They sure know how to go toe-to-toe in that august chamber...

By all means, get in a few extra rounds there and you should be in top shape for what awaits you in Copenhagen. Watch them hit the roof when Canada once again fails to sign on to any meaningful GHG targets. Remember to use those eyes at the back of your head in the event of incoming paper projectiles.

Know that back home in Canada that we anticipate that you will give as good as you get. In the final analysis, under the least optimistic scenario, it could be a draw. But no one will be the worse for wear -- except for planet Earth...

[updated Wed Dec 02 21:06:46 EST 2009]

There is an interesting opinion piece in the National Post by John Ivison that does go to the heart of what is wrong with the Liberal Party under Mr. Ignatieff guidance as they continue to lurch from one issue to the other.

Who cannot recall, those grand and distinguished words as they rolled off the tongue of Mr. Igatieff, “We're putting this government on probation,”. sourced OTTAWA Globe and Mail Published on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 10:42PM EST

One can only wonder what the Liberals meant all those ten short months ago as one has to wonder as to whom is on probation as this grand plan from the Liberals has gone the way of EI, H1N1and countless other illustrious Liberal strategies

No where it would appear and these are not the actions and words that one would expect from a would be Government in waiting.

John Ivison, National Post Published: Thursday, December 03, 2009

Stimulating debate it isn't

"It is typical of the attention-deficit disorder in the House of Commons that the Official Opposition virtually ignored the government's economic update in Question Period yesterday."

"We may have emerged relatively unscathed from the financial equivalent of the Cuban Missile Crisis but you'd think there might have been some interest from the Liberal party in the fourth glossy economic update to Canadians, since it was their idea in the first place."

"The Liberals did ask a couple of token questions but their hearts weren't in it. John McCallum highlighted the only interesting or new thing about the latest update: Namely, that the Prime Minister gave it to reporters travelling with him to China on the plane while they were over Siberia. "Is this Siberian-style accountability?" he asked, arms akimbo, as if expecting a Letterman style drum roll."

[updated Thu Dec 03 10:03:21 EST 2009]

Canadians are awaking this morning to the "stunning news" that 79,000 jobs have been created and that the employment levels are back at levels not seen since October, 2008.

And the good news continues to bury the Liberals and their illustrious strategie of opposing, If the Liberals had not been opposing this plan then perhaps they could be standing beside the Conservatives and sharing the credit, in stead they find themselves fighting the NDP for third party status on the National stage as their strategie has has misfired again.

Canadians can now see the benefit of the Conservatives Action Plan first hand now and can compare the truth to the distortiona being brought forward by the Liberals and it is becoming clearer that Canadians that the Conservatives have not mishandled the economy.

Jobless rate falls as hiring surges; Michael Babad, Globe and Mail Update
Published on Friday, Dec. 04, 2009 7:09AM EST, Last updated on Friday, Dec. 04, 2009 8:09AM EST.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/jobless-rate-falls-as-hiring-surges/article1388321/

"Canada's economy created a stunning 79,000 jobs in November as the private sector finally began hiring again."

"The bulk of the new jobs came in the services sector, where employment is now back at levels not seen since October, 2008, when the labour market peaked just as the crisis was escalating in the wake of the mid-September collapse of Lehman Brothers. In the goods producing sector, employment is still down sharply from a year ago."

[updated Fri Dec 04 08:26:35 EST 2009]

Speaking about cover ups.

I wonder how Canadians will react to the unravelling story of the uncontested reality of Global warming as it would appear that the creators of Global Warming have been cooking the books to ensure the base numbers used to support their contention that Global warming is real.

What`s that, it is not Global warming anymore! What is it called now? You are telling me it is called, climate change now! , When did they change it? Oh, when they could not sell Global warming, makes sense.

So I wonder how Canadians will start to react to climate change as the climate-gate story gains more and more traction in the media and whether or not they will continue to consider it as a "real" issue facing Canadians, particularly if the story proves to be true that various groups manufactured data to support their hypostasis.

The other question is what the Liberals will do now as they had hooked their wagon to the "science" on Kyoto and Global Warming and Climate warming and through their media friends and sell interest groups having been attacking the Conservatives as "Climate Deniers" for their public policy.

It would appear that "the deniers" had it right and the Liberal were "the liars" on this file and the Liberals now will be faced with being "the deniers" on what they said or will they try to cover that up.

This should be interesting considering the amount of Liberals comments out there to deny! Of course one has to consider the fact that the suppliers or manufactures of the data have very conveniently lost it all, which should make the issue easier to deny.

[updated Fri Dec 04 08:53:50 EST 2009]

The good news just keeps piling up for the Liberals, people not dying from H1N1, EI, 79,000 new Jobs, with Two-thirds of respondents thinking Canada should not seek free trade agreements with countries that have dubious human rights records and now this.

Don Martin: Michaelle Jean enters the home stretch

How galling these must be to the Natural Governing party to have the shoe on the other foot on and to be forced to wear yet another shoe that is several sizes too small for their previously big foot.

The Conservatives have had to wear that other shoe, even though they were Government for years now and the Liberals are faced with the prospect that they will lose control of the GG, the Senate as they have lost the Government and that will only leave their friends in the media and the activists judges to move their agenda forward.

"She made the right call, so nobody frets it now. But had she sided with the Liberal coalition, she would have triggered a full-blown Constitutional crisis over why a ceremonial prime ministerial designate could sanction a mutiny by opposition parties."

"Ceremonially she seems to have done a good job, and I think she rightly avoided what could have been a god-awful disaster for the whole country by not becoming the patsy of the coalitionists a year ago. That in itself, recognizing the limits of her office, was a major achievement," historian Michael Bliss told me."

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/12/03/don-martin-michaelle-jean-enters-the-home-stretch.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage#ixzz0YjHueNV4

[updated Fri Dec 04 09:16:45 EST 2009]

How do the Numbers from a recent poll add up for the most recent Liberal environment strategies?

Well if you look at the numbers, it would appear that the Liberal strategies to tag the Greening of the world and Canada as a ballot issue have not caught with Canadians.

Effect of the Conservative Party’s Environment record: 22% more likely to vote CPC, 44% no effect and 34% less likely to vote CPC this is interesting, as only 35% to 37% are considering voting Conservative. .

So 66% of Canadians consider that the Conservatives handling of this file is Ok.

Effect of Canada’s environmental, Record on its reputation abroad: 37% no effect, 23% positive effect and 40% negative effect; are considering voting Conservative.

So 60% of Canadians consider that the Conservatives handling of this file does not affect our reputation, interesting as only 35% to 37% are considering voting Conservative.

Most important election issue: , 31% economic issues, 27% social issues, 18% climate change and the environment 18% fiscal issues .

I wonder how Canadians will start to react to climate change as the climate-gate story gains more and more traction in the media and whether or not they will continue to consider it as a "real" issue facing Canadians.

The question as I now see it, is whether or not Canadians will move off that 18% number, particularly if the story proves to be true and that various groups have been using manufactured data to support their hypostasis and if true will this move Canadians will move off that 18% number and if so by how much.

[updated Fri Dec 04 09:47:39 EST 2009]

The Best Headlines In Canada To Date:

"Canada (Canadians) Doesn't Need Lectures From China (Chinese) Thanks - National Post

With this new wealth which should be shared by all, Should the new min wage be increased to $18 per hour (in BC experts agreed on $17.50 per hour) with mandatory tipping fixed at no less than $5 cdn at all restaurants)

Your tell me and about your province!

Why was the Globle and Mail slow to respond and did not come up with this Headline first, why because the G&M and Vancouver Sun are soft on China and appease the Chinese in their local areas, which is not good for all Canadians. You have to tell it like it is!

[updated Fri Dec 04 15:13:09 EST 2009]

Number One Headline In Canada For Years - It should get an Award

Message to China and the Chinese:

Canada (Canadians) Doesn't Need Lectures From China (Chinese) - National Post

Why could those at the Vancouver Sun, Globe and Mail, Richmond News not come up with headline, maybe their people are not smart enough!

[updated Fri Dec 04 22:40:31 EST 2009]

I G N A T I E F F.

That's how you spell victory in the next federal election. Michael may be low in the polls now but that will change as surely as night follows day. As I've said before, Michael needs to go through a grueling baptism of fire as part of the seasoning process. I'd rather have him sorely tested now than have him flailing in disarray, unable to take decisions like at least one of his predecessors.

Michael has the right stuff and will prove it soon enough. Liberals have to remember where I'm coming from -- the Conservative Party of Canada. I know how that mindset works. I've lived it and have countless scars to prove it.

From the day Paul Martin resigned as leader, Stephen Harper has dreamed of nothing else but a Bob Rae leadership. Don't get me wrong -- I like, respect and admire the man. Rae is a person of integrity who has put the party ahead of his own leadership ambitions.

Everyone in the Liberal Party and particularly in caucus knows that the Conservatives continue to poll furiously on a potential Harper-Rae match up. It doesn't take a genius to know how that shakes out -- the numbers put Harper over the top allowing him to achieve his long sought after Conservative MAJORITY.

Some Liberals prefer to put their heads in the sand and forget that the Rae government was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. No wonder this Prime Minister is salivating at the prospect of Liberal disarray and a potential Rae leadership. Harper thinks that Liberals are quite frankly, stupid enough, to play into his hands.

We all know that the Bob Rae of yesteryear is not the Bob Rae of today. Like all of us, the man has grown both personally and politically. Unfortunately for him, the perception in Ontario puts him right up there with Mike Harris. That is the political reality.

If Canadians are to take our party seriously as an alternative government, we can't afford the prospect of changing leaders like we change our shirts -- or red ties. We need stability, loyalty and cohesion.

We all remember the poison that circulated in the bad old days: Turner vs. Trudeau, Chrétien vs. Turner, Martin vs. Chrétien (and that was when we were in government...). We have to avoid going down that road once again or as sure as I'm breathing Liberals will be rudely awakened on election night only to discover that this PM is on his way to a five-year majority mandate.

Liberals remember, you read it here first. And yes, I won't be shy to say I told you so.

[updated Sun Dec 06 08:54:11 EST 2009]

Question

Why is the Chinese Community in Canada not being held accountable for not raising Human Rights ( Abusers & Issues) by and against China?

This question is to your,Chinese Canadians Chinese Politicians in Canada, Permanent Residents, Immigrants and Chinese Business!

It is Chinese Business that imports cheap and poor quality products into Canada not Mainstream Canadians.

Better have these Answers before re Elections or Election time at all levels of government.

I know why you leave it up to the Caucasian mainstream Canadian to the dirty work, but when they raise these questions your only response is either racism, hate speech's! But you sit there doing nothing.

But receiving the benefits of Canada

Free health care
Police Protection
the list is on going.
The economy in BC or Canada has never been as good as it was before 1986.
You have never lived up to your responsibilities of hiring Canadians which does not include your own family members.
In short you have failed Canada and your own kind or ethnic group in China and Hong Kong
Is it because your gutless?

[updated Sun Dec 06 20:11:09 EST 2009]

Copenhagen.

What will be the end result?

a) hard targets for GHG reductions;

b) continued focus on aspirational targets;

c) complete paralysis -- with not even baby steps coming from the following nations: the United States, China, India, and Canada.

My money is on C.

[updated Sun Dec 06 21:10:33 EST 2009]

x-bear,

Speaking about walking around with pink glasses, I was not going to point this out to you but the link that you provided me is the one that I provided you and that the data that you have chosen is from 2005 and the Liberals were in power at that time.

So the example that you are using to discredit the Conservatives for the mishandling of that file was infact done by the Liberals, you really should be more careful about what you chose as your source as it will be vetted.

And as in all the other examples, you are the nail to my hammer and you have been judge and have beeen found to be wanting once again.

By the way, the piece was called: Budget 2005: Delivering on Commitments.Ottawa, February 23, 2005, 2005-014

Which they never did,

[updated Tue Dec 08 09:04:41 EST 2009]

Why is the Chinese Community in Canada not being held accountable for not speaking up against China's Human Rights Abuses?

[updated Tue Dec 08 16:18:20 EST 2009]

What does bear have to say to this.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 2:53 PM, Layton making gains in Quebec: poll

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/layton-making-gains-in-quebec-poll/article1393040/

"NDP Leader Jack Layton is on the way up in Quebec, while Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is still going down, according to a new poll. "

bear`s good old Liberal papa bear is having more big big troubles in Quebec it would seem.

"Overall, Mr. Duceppe is the most trusted party leader in Quebec, at 31.1-per cent. However, his rating has dropped 2.3 points since October,"

"while Mr. Layton’s trust rating, at 21.8-per cent, was up by 3.6 points over the last two months."

" Mr. Harper came in third at 20.3-per cent (down 2.7 points)"

" while Mr. Ignatieff was far behind in fourth place, at 9.3-per cent (down 2.8 points). "

The conservatives are not expected to do well in Quebec, but Mr. Ignatieff has hung his all his hopes on the "liberal revival" in Quebec, but it would appear that it is turning into a "Liberal "die-vivial"l

[updated Tue Dec 08 18:53:51 EST 2009]

As many of you are probably aware Im not interested in Polls but issues, For those that do not know I only care about issues, this is an issues that has a national impact and immigration policies. This is copy of a e-mail I sent to the Premier of BC,Mayor & Councillors of the City of Vancouver:

More Problems To Come For Police Cheif of Vancouver

Concerned Citizens of Metro Vancouver are still waiting for report from the VDP of how many arrests they have made of restaurant owners who sold and comsumers who purchased and were eating Illegal Abalone (Eniviromental and Wildlife isse) in these restaurants, the distributors are not the only ones that should be charged and sentenced ( which has happened already) This is no different than drugs.

We still have copies from BCLC website in PDF format that list of names of retailers that stole winning from their customers. We will not allow any one or any group in the Canadian society to get away from prosecutions again.

It is know fact that when Stephen Harper went to China, he put pressure on his Chinese community members MP's to speak up about Human Rights Violations n China.

We expect the same to be applied to Chinese community members who are MLA's under the Gordon Campbell government Liberals to do the same as Harper and the same for Mayor Robertson's Chinese community members Councillors when visitors arrive from China for the 2010 games to bring this discussion up at all times regardless of the venue or gala event. (No Excuses)

Message to Jerry Kang we do not have to accept your threats in return e-mails for bringing concerns up in the Chinese community and any members of this group, if you have mental problems see a doctor.

As of now we considering forming a mainstream activist group to counter the Chinese Canadian group in Toronto if we do not see China Human Rights Violations being brought up by this group.

[updated Fri Dec 18 17:51:03 EST 2009]