Job Discussion Forums

[Cshannon]

[Nagoyaguy]

Hi Shannon;

Thank you for injecting the United States into the discussion. Totally irrelevant, but not surprising.

As to the extreme or hidden agenda, you are wrong in saying that only

[Guy Courchesne]

[Cshannon]

[Nagoyaguy]

Being pro American and "cozying up" are totally different kettles of fish. You are implying that Harper will somehow subvert Canada into an underpopulated version of Jesusland North. That is not the case. Harper is nakedly patriotic and very much in favour of Canadian sovereignty. We can play cut-and-paste the quote all you want, it won't prove more than who has the better Google skills.

In any case, Canada is better off with a good relationship with the USA. All Martin's posturing and fake bluster was embarrassing. For better or worse, we depend on the US for our economy, security, and protection.

As for Quebec separating, yes it is my dream that they do so. WIthout federal support, they are fucked. I used to live in Ottawa, so I have spent a fair amount of time in and around La Belle Province. Tey are playing a very clever game with the rest of Canada. Making threats and waiting for TROC to react and throw them another fish. It has worked so far, too. Look at how equalization payments work, how much federal money is poured in.

Personally, I think Quebec should separate if they want to. Like a bad marriage, it is better to end it quickly instead of dragging along for years and years. I guess, in the final analysis, though, they dont have the stones to do it. Quebec is more than welcome to stay in Canada as an equal partner to the other provinces. But as soon as one group starts getting special treatment, others will want the same thing. It is a dangerous precedent in the long run, and bad for the health of the country.

If an Alberta Separatist Party were to grow and get representation in Parliament, my opinion of them would be the same as that of the Bloc. A bunch of scum. I wouldn't ban them, but I wouldn't kiss their collective ass either. The whole sponsorship thing was an embarrassment from so many angles. The idea that the federal government has to buy support is insane. The benefits of being part of Canada are many and obvious.

Thank you for retracting your slur against Albertans, Shannon.

[Guy Courchesne]

Speaking of Alberta, with so many steer, one can smell the bs as far as NFLD...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/01/27/alberta-health060127.html

[Nagoyaguy]

Hey Guy;

Sorry I didn't return your greeting earlier. Too busy firing off the old vitriol cannon. Old Ralph is a cagey one, that's for sure. He's been drifting more and more left the past few years, though. I think he is trying to cement his legacy out west as one of the Great Premiers.

In any case, at least he has put Alberta in an enviable position. No debt, no deficit, no sales tax, and a 16 Billion dollar trust fund for future generations. At the same time, funding for education and social programs is rising by 5% to 10% a year.

I personally have no problem with Canada adopting a freer, more inclusive health care system. Kind of like in Sweden, where private clinics operate alongside the national system.

As for Quebec, the whole thing is a sham. It became obvious when "separatists" suddenly morphed into "sovereignists". Christ, do you want your own country or not? If you do, then get off your collective asses and MAKE one. The last 10 plus years have seen an explosion of small nations. Places from Slovenia to Slovakia to Lithuania are all making a go of it. WHy not Quebec? They are too used to suckling away at the teat of Big Momma Ottawa to wean themselves. All that is left is the THREAT of separation.

L8R

[seanmcginty]

My father is from Quebec and my mother is from Alberta, so I guess you could say I'm a child of both extremes. I'm from Ottawa myself.

Given that a lot of my family lives in rural Quebec I'm generally not sympathetic to bigoted rhetoric made against Quebecers, but at the same time I can't stand the seperatists. They really are playing the rest of Canada like a fiddle, and I have to agree that Quebec would be totally screwed if it tried to break away from Canada. MIND YOU the rest of Canada would also be royally screwed if that were to happen, so I think it would be in the best interests of everyone to just accept that Quebec is always going to be "special" and just work towards trying to keep the country together with that in mind.

[Guy Courchesne]

Alberta can thank the high price of oil for their economic glories...if NFLD ever gets control of theirs, maybe they'll be calling the shots, eh?

Nice to see another Bytown Boy posting in here...McGinty. Surely not misspelled from McGuinty?

A divorce in the family helps no one. I think that if you haven't been to Quebec or aren't a French Canadian, it's hard to understand what the fuss is all about. The idea of separation or being separate is far from new...Montcalm and Wolfe fought one of the first battles and it won't ever end. Quebeckers themselves are divided on the issue(s), but, if you look closely, the most hardcore separatists are from the backwoods...just like the most hardcore intolerance on the Great Plains tends to be rural.

The Liberals spent a few hundred million dollars on key people to keep the whole thing quiet. The benefit? 10 years of one the best-performing economies in the world and stability on the Quebec front. Imagine if Cretch and Martin had ignored Quebec in 95 or worse, taken a hardline. What would have been the economic cost of not just a breakup, but of the decade or more of turmoil? Far more than the pocket change they spent.

Funny...no one complains if we hand millions to the Palestinians, or to Afghanistan to keep a lid on things, but hey, give some coin to a half-brother and all hell breaks lose.

[lupin71]

Just so nobody misunderstands what I'm about to say I want to point out I am from Vancouver, and NO I did not vote for the conservatives.

As dangerous as it is I will assume most of the Liberal supporters who bought into the scare tactics used by Martin and co., and have posted their disdain for harper and the conservatives before the party has even been sworn in, are from the centre of the universe.

I am happy the conservatives won a minority decision. Change is good. To have voted the Liberals back in would have applauded their disgusting waste of taxpayer money and forgiven the Gomery scandal, income trust scandal, the useless and overpriced gun registry, and lets not forget the HRDC Billion dollar boondoggle. Plus countless other examples auditor General Sheila Fraser alluded to.

For those who believe Harper would have sent troops to Iraq, I agree with you. But it's a moot point. We're not going. If the cons. tried, they wouldn't get the support, which is why a minority government is good in this situation. But for those who believe Chretien didn't send troops to Iraq because he believed it was the right decision... GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE! He didn't send them for two reasons. The military probably told him they didn't have the resources, and to send them would only further highlight the disasterous condition our troops are in with lack of equipment and funding. Yes we have the liberals to thank for this. And secondly, had Clinton been in the white house Chretien would have sent our troops to Iraq. Since when is following someone blindly just because you're smitten with them a characteristic of a leader?

This whole east-west divide in Canada does unfortunately exist. The newspaper headlines here in the west were "the west is in". I believe that thinking is detrimental to the country. Yes we have regional differences to contend with. But for someone living in the east to feel just because we have a prime minister from the west means they're going to get screwed isn't a fair assessment. If anything this political situation Canada finds itself in is a perfect opportunity for Harper to bridge the gap. For all Canadians sake let's hope he recognizes it and acts on it.

I have lived in many other parts of the country. I believe regionalizing yourself is silly. No matter where you live in this great nation we are canadians and it's important to recognize that and to watch our leaders closely. To take part in the political process whether through forums or voting or running for office is what's important. I congratulate everyone on here for discussing the election and for inspiring me to become involved, even at the expense of insulting some and alienating others. Now who wants to buy some AMWAY!!!

Just for fun and my own opinion...

The three worst politicians in Canadian History.
1. Brian Mulroney - g.s.t., free trade -- any doubters read On The Take by Stevie Cameron. The secret Mulroney tapes offer some interesting insight into the man as well.

2. Jean Chretien -- lied to Canadians about getting rid of the g.s.t., most of the liberal scandals happened under his watch, couldn�t lead himself out of a paper bag on a rainy day, mean spirited and lead out of spite.

3. Glen Clark (ex-B.C. Premier) because he's an idiot.

[chirp]

lupin71,

Where is the centre of the universe? I might go there on my next holiday. Please don't give the usual answer...

[lupin71]

[chirp]

lupin71,

~sigh~

That is where I thought you were referring to... I am not from there but I have never met anyone from there that considers their town to be the centre of the universe. I did once read though a 1/3 of Canada's population lives within 80km of "the centre of the universe" - maybe they got the title based on sheer numbers?

BTW, I am also pleased with the minority Conservative government (see my earlier post). I think we have different reasons for that though.

Chirp

[lupin71]

[some waygug-in]

The three worst politicians in Canadian History.
1. Brian Mulroney - g.s.t., free trade -- any doubters read On The Take by Stevie Cameron. The secret Mulroney tapes offer some interesting insight into the man as well.

2. Jean Chretien -- lied to Canadians about getting rid of the g.s.t., most of the liberal scandals happened under his watch, couldn�t lead himself out of a paper bag on a rainy day, mean spirited and lead out of spite.

3. Glen Clark (ex-B.C. Premier) because he's an idiot.



***************

You missed one:

Grant Devine --- Mulrooney's little hatchet man back in Scratcherbush.
Ran the province broke, sold off everything of value, gave mountains of cash to his friends and left the province with such a debt it will take 60 years to pay it off. Then as he was turfed out of office, he had the audacity to say "we made a difference".