Thursday, October 31, 2013
Fry Harper Fry
Q: Mr Harper, how much of your version of the Senate scandal is true?
A: "Ahhhhhhhh, just about this much!"
Yes I am lying to Canadians but it's OK because they don't care
Well fuck you Stephen Harper.... we do care.... Canadians are an honest people hell bent on doing what is right..... Canadians no longer have faith or trust in your Conservative Neo Nazi Party.
A party without morals, a party who claims to base their morals on Christian beliefs.
Really? Are you fucking serious?
If you Mr. Harper are a Christian then may God strike you dead as you are Satan in disguise.
A: "Ahhhhhhhh, just about this much!"
Yes I am lying to Canadians but it's OK because they don't care
Well fuck you Stephen Harper.... we do care.... Canadians are an honest people hell bent on doing what is right..... Canadians no longer have faith or trust in your Conservative Neo Nazi Party.
A party without morals, a party who claims to base their morals on Christian beliefs.
Really? Are you fucking serious?
If you Mr. Harper are a Christian then may God strike you dead as you are Satan in disguise.
Injured Canadian troops booted from military before qualifying for pension
http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2013/10/29/injured-soldiers-dismissed-without-pension/#.UnET46vD_mK
OTTAWA - Gravely injured troops are being booted from the military before they qualify for a pension, despite assurances to the contrary from the Harper government.
A former reserve combat engineer was let go last Friday on a medical discharge after begging for months to remain until hitting the 10-year mark.
Cpl. David Hawkins is about a year shy of being eligible for an indexed pension, but was released because his post traumatic stress means he is unable to deploy overseas.
Among those also leaving is Cpl. Glen Kirkland. His plea to remain in the army last June was answered by former defence minister Peter MacKay with an a pledge he could stay until September 2015 — and that no members are released until they are ready.
But the offer turned out to be exclusive to Kirkland, who chose within the last few days to leave rather than be given special treatment.
OTTAWA - Gravely injured troops are being booted from the military before they qualify for a pension, despite assurances to the contrary from the Harper government.
A former reserve combat engineer was let go last Friday on a medical discharge after begging for months to remain until hitting the 10-year mark.
Cpl. David Hawkins is about a year shy of being eligible for an indexed pension, but was released because his post traumatic stress means he is unable to deploy overseas.
Among those also leaving is Cpl. Glen Kirkland. His plea to remain in the army last June was answered by former defence minister Peter MacKay with an a pledge he could stay until September 2015 — and that no members are released until they are ready.
But the offer turned out to be exclusive to Kirkland, who chose within the last few days to leave rather than be given special treatment.
YOUR MORNING THOUGHT-where is this going?
One BillionThis is too true to be funny.The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.E. A billion Dollars ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it!Stamp DutyTobacco TaxCorporate Income TaxIncome TaxCouncil TaxUnemployment TaxFishing Licence TaxPetrol/Diesel TaxInheritance Tax(tax on top of tax)Alcohol TaxG.S.T.Property TaxService charge taxesSocial Security TaxVehicle Licence / Registration TaxVehicle Sales TaxWorkers Compensation TaxCarbon Dioxide TaxSTILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?Not one of these taxes existed 60 years ago and our nation was one of themost prosperous in the world.We had absolutely no national debt.We had the largest middle class in the world. Mum stayed home to raise thekids, Dad and teachers were allowed to discipline kids.A criminals life was uncomfortable.Boat people were kids sailing on the harbour.What the hell happened?'Political Correctness', 'Politicians or both?'I hope this goes around Canada and beyond at least 1 BILLION times until weall wake up!
Thanks Bob A
Redskins
The Washington Redskins are changing their name because of all the hatred, violence, and hostility associated with that word.
Thanks Win
From now on they will be known simply as the Redskins.
Thanks Win
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Now’s The Time For All Good Citizens To Come to the Aid Of Their Democracy
In case no one has noticed, Canada’s parliamentary democracy is a tattered rag.
From Canada’s beginning in 1867, Canadian school children received haphazard instruction in the institutions of our system of government.
Provincial school boards fearful of parents alarmed their children were being “politically brainwashed” by “leftist” teachers mostly avoided the topic while the ever-more pervasive mass media continued to bathe successive generations of young Canadians daily in the very different U.S. presidential-congressional universe.
So now, for many Canadians, it’s “Parliament? Snarliament? Who Knows? Who Cares?”
Canada has ended up with the worst of both worlds — a prime minister who over the decades has gathered up U.S. presidential powers but who cannot be stopped by a separate and independent U.S. Congress and is thus free to smash parliamentary democracy and all its institutions at will.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has leaped upon this gaping hole in the public’s grasp of their governmental institutions like a cat on a mouse. Since taking office, he has strode like a bull in a china shop through our enfeebled parliament and confused electorate, overturning virtually every precedent and standard of parliamentary democracy.
He’s made himself into Canada’s King Louis XIV, the Sun King. He summons — and prorogues – parliament whenever it suits his political agenda: ie. whenever he’s in political trouble.
more.....
http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2013/10/28/nows-the-time-for-all-good-citizens-to-come-to-the-aid-of-their-democracy/#.Um5oM6vD_mJ
From Canada’s beginning in 1867, Canadian school children received haphazard instruction in the institutions of our system of government.
Provincial school boards fearful of parents alarmed their children were being “politically brainwashed” by “leftist” teachers mostly avoided the topic while the ever-more pervasive mass media continued to bathe successive generations of young Canadians daily in the very different U.S. presidential-congressional universe.
So now, for many Canadians, it’s “Parliament? Snarliament? Who Knows? Who Cares?”
Canada has ended up with the worst of both worlds — a prime minister who over the decades has gathered up U.S. presidential powers but who cannot be stopped by a separate and independent U.S. Congress and is thus free to smash parliamentary democracy and all its institutions at will.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has leaped upon this gaping hole in the public’s grasp of their governmental institutions like a cat on a mouse. Since taking office, he has strode like a bull in a china shop through our enfeebled parliament and confused electorate, overturning virtually every precedent and standard of parliamentary democracy.
He’s made himself into Canada’s King Louis XIV, the Sun King. He summons — and prorogues – parliament whenever it suits his political agenda: ie. whenever he’s in political trouble.
more.....
http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2013/10/28/nows-the-time-for-all-good-citizens-to-come-to-the-aid-of-their-democracy/#.Um5oM6vD_mJ
Seniors at Tim Horton’s
Thanks Win
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
'We want to get this out of the way,' LeBreton says of suspension motions
Andrea Janus, CTVNews.ca
Published Sunday, October 27, 2013 10:58AM EDT
Published Sunday, October 27, 2013 10:58AM EDT
Sen. Marjory LeBreton says the federal government’s push to suspend three senators from the upper chamber “isn’t rushing the process,” despite accusations it wants to get a politically damaging story out of the headlines before the Conservative convention at the end of the week.
The ongoing Senate expenses scandal heated up last week, after the three senators facing expulsion alleged they were victims of conspiracies, personal vendettas and backroom deals.
The bombshells were dropped as senators debated motions, put forward by Sen. Claude Carignan, to suspend Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau over alleged “gross negligence” related to their expense claims.
The ongoing Senate expenses scandal heated up last week, after the three senators facing expulsion alleged they were victims of conspiracies, personal vendettas and backroom deals.
The bombshells were dropped as senators debated motions, put forward by Sen. Claude Carignan, to suspend Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau over alleged “gross negligence” related to their expense claims.
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/we-want-to-get-this-out-of-the-way-lebreton-says-of-suspension-motions-1.1515465#ixzz2iwAkrlKT This circus" is the creation of Stephen Harper and the Conservative Senate.... they had the opportunity to set up an inquiry however that would have meant exposing their own culpability in the expense fiasco.... now as the truth is slowly leaked and the "shit" is starting to stick they want it to go away... tough luck .... enjoy the CONvention and may "The Farce Be With You"
Martial arts....
I was standing in a bar in Glasgow yesterday and this little Chinese guy comes in, stands next to me and starts drinking a beer.
I said to him, "Do you know any of those martial arts things, like Kung-Fu, Karate or Ju-Jitsu?"
He says "No, why the fruck you ask me dat? Is it coz I Chinee?"
"No", I say, "It's because you're drinking my beer, you little prick."
Thanks Shirley
I said to him, "Do you know any of those martial arts things, like Kung-Fu, Karate or Ju-Jitsu?"
He says "No, why the fruck you ask me dat? Is it coz I Chinee?"
"No", I say, "It's because you're drinking my beer, you little prick."
Thanks Shirley
Bear Quints - once in a lifetime photo-very rare to see
The photographer stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to thrive. As time for hibernation approached, he found still more folks who had seen them and everything remained OK. The photographer stayed away from the bears because he was concerned that they might become
habituated to him, or to people in general, and treat them as approachable friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man and animal.
After Halloween, no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated. This spring, just before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.
habituated to him, or to people in general, and treat them as approachable friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man and animal.
After Halloween, no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated. This spring, just before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.
The photographer saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking another family portrait, a highly improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph.
On 25 April 2008, he achieved his dream.
On 25 April 2008, he achieved his dream.
Thanks Kerry
Jacob the rooster
Trevor the farmer was in the fertilised egg business. He had several hundred young layers (hens), called 'pullets' and eight or ten roosters, whose job was to fertilise the eggs.
The farmer kept records and any rooster that didn't perform went into the soup pot and was replaced.
It took an awful lot of his time so he bought a set of tiny bells and attached them to his roosters.
Each bell had a different tone so Trevor could tell from a distance, which
rooster was performing.
Now he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report simply by listening to the bells.
The farmer's favourite rooster was old Jacob, and a very fine specimen he
was too.
But on this particular morning Trevor noticed that old Jacob's bell hadn't rung at all!
Trevor went to investigate. The other roosters were chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing.
The pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover.
But to farmer Trevor's amazement, Jacob had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.
Trevor was so proud of Jacob, he entered him in the Polokwane Country Fair and Jacob became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result was the judges not only awarded Jacob the No Bell Piece Prize but they also awarded him the Pullet Surprise as well.
Clearly Jacob was a Pulletician in the making: Who else but a Pulletician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.
Do you perhaps know of a Pulletician called Jacob?
The farmer kept records and any rooster that didn't perform went into the soup pot and was replaced.
It took an awful lot of his time so he bought a set of tiny bells and attached them to his roosters.
Each bell had a different tone so Trevor could tell from a distance, which
rooster was performing.
Now he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report simply by listening to the bells.
The farmer's favourite rooster was old Jacob, and a very fine specimen he
was too.
But on this particular morning Trevor noticed that old Jacob's bell hadn't rung at all!
Trevor went to investigate. The other roosters were chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing.
The pullets, hearing the roosters coming, would run for cover.
But to farmer Trevor's amazement, Jacob had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.
Trevor was so proud of Jacob, he entered him in the Polokwane Country Fair and Jacob became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result was the judges not only awarded Jacob the No Bell Piece Prize but they also awarded him the Pullet Surprise as well.
Clearly Jacob was a Pulletician in the making: Who else but a Pulletician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.
Do you perhaps know of a Pulletician called Jacob?
Thanks Heidi
Nothing like a Ford Truck.
...
I bought a new Ford F250 Tri-Flex Fuel Truck
Go figure - it runs on either hydrogen, gasoline, or E85.
However, I had to return to the dealer yesterday
... because I couldn't get the radio to work.
The service technician explained that the radio was voice-activated.
'Nelson,' the technician said to the radio.
The radio replied, 'Ricky or Willie?'
'Willie!' he continued and 'On The Road Again'
came from the speakers.
Then he said, 'Ray Charles!', and in an instant
'Georgia On My Mind' replaced Willie Nelson.
I drove away happy, and for the next few days,
every time I'd say, 'Beethoven,'
I'd get beautiful classical music, and if I said,
'Beatles,' I'd get one of their awesome songs.
Yesterday, some guy ran a red light
and nearly creamed my new truck,
but I swerved in time to avoid him.
I yelled, 'Asshole!'
Immediately the radio responded with,
"Mesdames et messieurs,
la première ministre du Québec -
Pauline Marois"
Thanks Ellen
Monday, October 28, 2013
What the hell has Stephen Harper done to "my Canada"?
When did Canadians in modern times hang people without a fair and just hearing?
It has become painfully apparent that under the dictatorship of Stephen Harper that this lynch mob mentality began in 2006. I, like every other Canadian, am fed up with the Senate scandal and how it has occupied the news however what I am not prepared to do is hang these people without a fair and just investigation into their, and Stephen Harpers, action.
In my mind he has a certain amount of culpability in their failures. The fact he wants this swept away worries me. He and only he could have ended this fiasco when it first began however HE did not want a judicial inquiry.... HE did not want legal scrutiny of HIS appointments.
Stephen Harper and Stephen Harper alone decided to stack the Senate and in his rush to destroy the Upper House he appointed bodies, some competent, many not capable of doing a budget. It may have served his purpose at the time but his inactions have come back to haunt him.
He has seized control of Canada's National police, the RCMP, through his puppet Bob Paulson. The citizenry of the country are spied on by a number of unscrupulous agencies who monitor social media sites as well as numerous blogs.
If Stephen Harper really believes these people committed a crime then charge them and let the cards fall where they will ..... but stop calling for their lynching without due process.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It would be two more years before Simple Plan's Mandela Day
message would be realized, but it was well worth the wait. Mr. Mandela's name is
now synonymous with racial struggles, though his 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, came at
a hefty price.
Harper's Northern Foundation and the Roots of Reform
It has become painfully apparent that under the dictatorship of Stephen Harper that this lynch mob mentality began in 2006. I, like every other Canadian, am fed up with the Senate scandal and how it has occupied the news however what I am not prepared to do is hang these people without a fair and just investigation into their, and Stephen Harpers, action.
In my mind he has a certain amount of culpability in their failures. The fact he wants this swept away worries me. He and only he could have ended this fiasco when it first began however HE did not want a judicial inquiry.... HE did not want legal scrutiny of HIS appointments.
Stephen Harper and Stephen Harper alone decided to stack the Senate and in his rush to destroy the Upper House he appointed bodies, some competent, many not capable of doing a budget. It may have served his purpose at the time but his inactions have come back to haunt him.
He has seized control of Canada's National police, the RCMP, through his puppet Bob Paulson. The citizenry of the country are spied on by a number of unscrupulous agencies who monitor social media sites as well as numerous blogs.
If Stephen Harper really believes these people committed a crime then charge them and let the cards fall where they will ..... but stop calling for their lynching without due process.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
History of the
Conservative Party of Canada which emerged from the Social Credit Party of
William Aberhart, not the Tory Party of Sir John A MacDonald
Stephen Harper and the group he was a founding member of:
The Northern Foundation. One of it's initial goals was to fight against
the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, the end of Apartheid and our
government's economic sanctions imposed on the white South African government.
Harper's Northern Foundation and the Roots of Reform
"‘The Northern Foundation was established in 1989, originally as a pro-South Africa group . . . lists among the founding members of the Foundation both William Gairdner and Stephen Harper ... " (1)
"... the Northern Foundation was the creation of a number of generally extreme right-wing conservatives, including Anne Hartmann (a director of REAL Women), Geoffrey Wasteneys (A long-standing member of the Alliance for the Preservation of English in Canada), George Potter (also a member of the Alliance for the Preservation of English in Canada), author Peter Brimelow, Link Byfield (son of Ted Byfield and himself publisher/president of Alberta Report), and Stephen Harper." (2)http://harpercrusade.blogspot.ca/2010/05/stephen-harper-northern-foundation-and.html
Don Martin: Risky times for Stephen Harper
Don Martin, Power Play Host
Published Friday, October 25, 2013 5:50PM EDT
Published Friday, October 25, 2013 5:50PM EDT
I don’t usually unleash a knee-slapping howl of laughter listening to Stephen Harper.
But I had to guffaw after the prime minister delivered this straight-faced verdict on Sen. Mike Duffy on Thursday.
“It is clearly inappropriate to try and collect travel expenses when one is living at a residence he or she has had for many, many years,” he told the Commons.
Seriously prime minister? You didn’t know Mike Duffy lived in Ottawa and was a let’s-pretend Prince Edward Islander when you appointed him? You never peered over your office balcony to see him hosting a politics show in the foyer of the House of Commons?
Willful blindness goes to the heart of the unfairness which bothers so many senators. The Prime Minister’s Office knew Duffy was pureblood Ottawa. They endorsed his collection of housing subsidies for a P.E.I. cottage. They didn’t object until it was a media story. And then they picked up pitchforks to drive him from office along with Senators Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau.
Deliberate ignorance explains a prime minister in the dark about the Nigel Wright payoff while at least a dozen of his staff hatch the scheme. But it cannot explain away the PMO’s blessing for Duffy’s housing subsidies.
Thus we have a government proudly promoting law, order and victims’ rights now practicing retroactive persecution without representation and harsh sentencing without appeal. In the cradle of democracy, an injustice is flourishing.
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/ctv-news-channel/power-play-with-don-martin/don-martin-risky-times-for-stephen-harper-1.1513908#ixzz2ipVTH3o0
But I had to guffaw after the prime minister delivered this straight-faced verdict on Sen. Mike Duffy on Thursday.
“It is clearly inappropriate to try and collect travel expenses when one is living at a residence he or she has had for many, many years,” he told the Commons.
Seriously prime minister? You didn’t know Mike Duffy lived in Ottawa and was a let’s-pretend Prince Edward Islander when you appointed him? You never peered over your office balcony to see him hosting a politics show in the foyer of the House of Commons?
Willful blindness goes to the heart of the unfairness which bothers so many senators. The Prime Minister’s Office knew Duffy was pureblood Ottawa. They endorsed his collection of housing subsidies for a P.E.I. cottage. They didn’t object until it was a media story. And then they picked up pitchforks to drive him from office along with Senators Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau.
Deliberate ignorance explains a prime minister in the dark about the Nigel Wright payoff while at least a dozen of his staff hatch the scheme. But it cannot explain away the PMO’s blessing for Duffy’s housing subsidies.
Thus we have a government proudly promoting law, order and victims’ rights now practicing retroactive persecution without representation and harsh sentencing without appeal. In the cradle of democracy, an injustice is flourishing.
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/ctv-news-channel/power-play-with-don-martin/don-martin-risky-times-for-stephen-harper-1.1513908#ixzz2ipVTH3o0
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Bob Hope' Home
This is fabulous and very well done. After you scroll down through the pictures of Bob Hope's home watch the tap dance at the end. Its really a great dance -
Bob Hope' Home!
Thanks Kerry
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson: Garden Party
Pat, Pauline, Harry and I attended the performance of Gunnar and Matthew celebrating their father Ricky Nelsons career. What a fabulous experience.
Friday, October 25, 2013
How F#@%ing stupid is the Canadian public?
Pretty F#@%ing stupid. As Alberta is ordering Canadian Natural Resources to locate 4 pipeline leaks, using taxpayer dollars I might add, armchair bozo's are sitting back watching a group of overpaid hockey players. At the same time our corrupt Federal government needed extra vacation time so our inept Slime Minister could promote his new book on hockey.
Priorities, Priorities, Priorities...... WAKE UP CANADA
Province orders Canadian Natural Resources to find source of bitumen leaks
EDMONTON - An oilsands company has been ordered to test for groundwater contamination as bitumen continues to leak through cracks in the earth’s surface near Cold Lake, in eastern Alberta.
The province has also ordered Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. to find the root cause of the four bitumen leaks, and to clean up the surface of the land at its Primrose oil and gas development.
The enforcement order was issued late Monday evening, nearly one month after the government issued an unprecedented environmental protection order that forced the company to partially drain the unnamed, 53-hectare lake contaminated by one of the leaks.
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development spokeswoman Jessica Potter said that draining is now underway, and Monday’s order is designed to support an ongoing investigation by the Alberta Energy Regulator.
“As far as we’re concerned, it is immediate action to be taken,” Potter said. “The expectation is that it’s cleaned up, we know what the (environmental) impacts are, we remediate those impacts, and we know what happened.”
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/energy-resources/Province+orders+Canadian+Natural+Resources/9064021/story.html?cid=dlvr.it-twitter-edmontonjournal&__lsa=ecd0-30a0
Yes! I am angry.... It is your greed and indifference that is costing me money and destroying our lakes, rivers and air so what are you going to do about it? ..... Sweet F#@K All ...... in typical Canadian fashion you will sit back down in your recliner and berate me rather than do anything constructive.
The stereotypical indifferent Canadian looks down on First Nations people for standing up against the abuses of our government and corporations but are proud to reap the benefits of their actions.
Somebody has to care.
Priorities, Priorities, Priorities...... WAKE UP CANADA
Province orders Canadian Natural Resources to find source of bitumen leaks
EDMONTON - An oilsands company has been ordered to test for groundwater contamination as bitumen continues to leak through cracks in the earth’s surface near Cold Lake, in eastern Alberta.
The province has also ordered Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. to find the root cause of the four bitumen leaks, and to clean up the surface of the land at its Primrose oil and gas development.
The enforcement order was issued late Monday evening, nearly one month after the government issued an unprecedented environmental protection order that forced the company to partially drain the unnamed, 53-hectare lake contaminated by one of the leaks.
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development spokeswoman Jessica Potter said that draining is now underway, and Monday’s order is designed to support an ongoing investigation by the Alberta Energy Regulator.
“As far as we’re concerned, it is immediate action to be taken,” Potter said. “The expectation is that it’s cleaned up, we know what the (environmental) impacts are, we remediate those impacts, and we know what happened.”
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/energy-resources/Province+orders+Canadian+Natural+Resources/9064021/story.html?cid=dlvr.it-twitter-edmontonjournal&__lsa=ecd0-30a0
Yes! I am angry.... It is your greed and indifference that is costing me money and destroying our lakes, rivers and air so what are you going to do about it? ..... Sweet F#@K All ...... in typical Canadian fashion you will sit back down in your recliner and berate me rather than do anything constructive.
The stereotypical indifferent Canadian looks down on First Nations people for standing up against the abuses of our government and corporations but are proud to reap the benefits of their actions.
Somebody has to care.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
In Harper's own words:
"At worst, he personally ordered it done and chose the people who executed the plan. At the very least, he fostered an attitude within the ... party [...], chose the managers of the people who committed these crimes and completely and utterly failed to exercise any oversight, supervision or leadership.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter where [his] actions or lack of them fall on that scale. He is the leader and a leader is responsible for the actions of the people he leads. If he had a right or honorable bone in his body, he’d admit that and resign immediately."
- Stephen Harper, during the Gomery investigation
In the end, it doesn’t really matter where [his] actions or lack of them fall on that scale. He is the leader and a leader is responsible for the actions of the people he leads. If he had a right or honorable bone in his body, he’d admit that and resign immediately."
- Stephen Harper, during the Gomery investigation
MR. HARPER HIGHLIGHTS HIS OWN FISCAL INCOMPETENCE
Somewhere in the 7,123 words in last week's Throne Speech -- surely the longest and most incoherent in living memory -- Stephen Harper had some odd things to say about Canada's finances.
First, in a bit of extreme fiction, he claimed to have prepared the country to wi...thstand the recession which began in late 2008. That certainly should have been the case, but wasn't.
What Mr. Harper inherited from his Liberal predecessors in 2006 was a decade of balanced budgets, annual surpluses of 13-billion per year, declining debt, declining taxes, strong economic growth exceeding 3% annually, 3.5-million net new jobs, and the most robust fiscal situation in the western world.
But in less than three years, he squandered it.
He overspent by three-times the rate of inflation. He eliminated all the contingency reserves and prudence factors that had been built into federal budget-making to protect against adverse events. He sent the surplus up in smoke and put Canada back into deficit again BEFORE (not because of) any recession.
In fact, despite all the looming evidence of collapsing markets in the United States and the onset of American bank failures, Mr. Harper kept denying that a recession in Canada was even likely. He said troubles in other countries would be a good thing because we'd have "good buying opportunities". Such an attitude was either incredibly naive or deliberately dishonest. Either way, he left Canadians unprepared and vulnerable.
And then in late 2008, after the recession hit, Mr. Harper's response was again ridiculous. With the economy shrinking, he had no plan for new investments in jobs and growth. Until relentless public opinion forced him to reverse himself, he argued for more federal austerity, and predicted a string of six balanced budgets. It was a total fairy-tale and completely wrong.
Now, after six Harper deficits and $169-billion in new Conservative debt, he says he will set a "bold" debt-to-GDP target of 25% by the year 2021 (down from about 34% today), and he pledges to impose a federal "balanced budget" law.
Take that debt target with a grain of salt, because Mr. Harper made that same commitment six years ago. He was supposed to hit 25% by 2012. And he failed. In another flight of fancy, he also promised to eliminate Canada's total "net debt" by 2021. He's just not credible.
And as for a balanced budget law, remember this -- in the past 17 years, the only federal politician to create deficits is Stephen Harper himself. Proposing a new law to make deficits "illegal" is a massive admission of Conservative failure and wrongdoing since 2006. He's conceding he cannot be trusted.
Looking to the years immediately ahead, Mr. Harper's rhetoric is once again all about austerity. He thinks he can hack-and-slash his way to prosperity. And again, he's wrong. What Canada needs most -- alongside strong, competent, honest governance -- is a concrete plan for greater sustained economic growth, focused on the middle class.
But it's not on Stephen Harper's agenda. In every year since 2010, economic growth in Canada has been slower than the year before. No Prime Minister has done worse since the dismal days of R.B. Bennett.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Canada Consumer Sentiment Falls Third Week on Job Outlook
The Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index fell for a third consecutive week as optimism over job security deteriorated.
The measure of the economic mood of Canadians fell to 58.0 in the seven days through Oct. 18, from 58.5 the previous week. The reading for job security dropped to 66.6 from 68.4.
Employment has grown by 113,100 positions through September, the slowest pace since 2001 outside of the last recession, as manufacturers and governments fire workers to cut costs. Discouraged young people dropped out of the labor market faster than new jobs were created in September, reducing the participation rate to the lowest in more than a decade.
“Sentiment declined primarily due to rising concerns about the domestic labor market which reflects the slower pace of overall economic activity,” said Joseph Brusuelas, senior economist at Bloomberg LP in New York. “Disenchantment with the labor market, especially among younger people that are exiting the workforce due to lack of opportunity, is likely to become a rising policy concern as Canada heads into 2014.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-21/canada-consumer-sentiment-falls-third-week-on-job-outlook.html
The measure of the economic mood of Canadians fell to 58.0 in the seven days through Oct. 18, from 58.5 the previous week. The reading for job security dropped to 66.6 from 68.4.
Employment has grown by 113,100 positions through September, the slowest pace since 2001 outside of the last recession, as manufacturers and governments fire workers to cut costs. Discouraged young people dropped out of the labor market faster than new jobs were created in September, reducing the participation rate to the lowest in more than a decade.
“Sentiment declined primarily due to rising concerns about the domestic labor market which reflects the slower pace of overall economic activity,” said Joseph Brusuelas, senior economist at Bloomberg LP in New York. “Disenchantment with the labor market, especially among younger people that are exiting the workforce due to lack of opportunity, is likely to become a rising policy concern as Canada heads into 2014.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-21/canada-consumer-sentiment-falls-third-week-on-job-outlook.html
EATING IN THE UK IN THE FIFTIES
Pasta had not been heard of; we had noodles occasionally. Curry was a surname. A takeaway was a mathematical problem. A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower.
Bananas and oranges only appeared at Christmas time.
All crisps were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not.
A Chinese chippy was a foreign carpenter.
Rice was a milk pudding, and never, ever part of our dinner.
A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.
Brown bread was something only poor people ate.
Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking
Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.
Coffee was Camp, and came in a bottle.
Cubed sugar was regarded as posh. Only Heinz made beans.
Fish didn't have fingers in those days. Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi.
None of us had ever heard of yoghurt, but buttermilk yes.
Healthy food consisted of anything edible.
People who didn't peel potatoes were regarded as lazy.
Indian restaurants were only found in India. Cooking outside was called camping. Seaweed was not a recognized food. "Kebab" was not even a word never mind a food.
Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold.
Prunes were medicinal.
Surprisingly muesli (oat) was readily available, it was called cattle feed and corn was fed to the pigs.
Pineapples came in chunks in a tin; we had only ever seen a picture of a real one.
Water came out of the tap, if someone had suggested bottling it and
charging more than petrol for it, they would have become a laughing stock.
The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties .. was elbows.
Thanks Heidi
Bananas and oranges only appeared at Christmas time.
All crisps were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not.
A Chinese chippy was a foreign carpenter.
Rice was a milk pudding, and never, ever part of our dinner.
A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.
Brown bread was something only poor people ate.
Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking
Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.
Coffee was Camp, and came in a bottle.
Cubed sugar was regarded as posh. Only Heinz made beans.
Fish didn't have fingers in those days. Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi.
None of us had ever heard of yoghurt, but buttermilk yes.
Healthy food consisted of anything edible.
People who didn't peel potatoes were regarded as lazy.
Indian restaurants were only found in India. Cooking outside was called camping. Seaweed was not a recognized food. "Kebab" was not even a word never mind a food.
Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold.
Prunes were medicinal.
Surprisingly muesli (oat) was readily available, it was called cattle feed and corn was fed to the pigs.
Pineapples came in chunks in a tin; we had only ever seen a picture of a real one.
Water came out of the tap, if someone had suggested bottling it and
charging more than petrol for it, they would have become a laughing stock.
The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties .. was elbows.
We were grateful to the Almighty for the food we got when we got it!
There was no choice but to eat what was put before us or go hungry even if one didn't like mother's cooking.
Thanks Heidi
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