Views from the Shore of Lake Superior

Kenny and citizenship booklet

thomaswjoseph — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:21:53 +0000

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/offside-calls-on-jason-kenney/article1499402/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/immigration-minister-pulled-gay-rights-from-citizenship-guide-documents-show/article1486935/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/scott-brison-decries-conservative-revisionist-history-of-canada/article1488354/

Filed under: Uncategorized

Budget battles

thomaswjoseph — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:16:08 +0000

Given the tendency to paint Canada’s financial situation in ‘rosy’ terms, here is another challenge to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s recent budget statement.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/jim-flahertys-plan-comes-up-10-billion-short-budget-watchdog-says/article1497678/

A side comment about Flaherty’s and Harper’s claims to be working hard to reduce expenditures, does it not seem a little unseemly for Flaherty to spend over $3500 to use a government jet to fly to London, Ontario, for a photo op in a Tim Horton’s donut shop????

Are there no Timmy’s in Ottawa?

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: budget, Flaherty, Kevin Page, photo ops, rosy predictions, Tim Horton's

Subterfuge on the Ottawa

thomaswjoseph — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:21:56 +0000

An excellent description of what is happening by stealth.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/how-will-afghan-detainee-documents-be-judged/article1494610/

Filed under: Uncategorized

Government’s financial dilemma

thomaswjoseph — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:07:23 +0000

A good laying out of the options facing governments seeking to “balance the books”.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/we-cant-fix-the-public-sector-in-one-budget/article1488640/

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/776444–h-eacute-bert-budget-reflects-tories-vision

Filed under: Uncategorized

Harper’s 2010 budget

thomaswjoseph — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:30:44 +0000

Today’s Jeffrey Simpson article in the Globe and Mail exposes the hypocrisy that surrounds Conservative economic policy and practices.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/budget-will-expose-absurdity-of-recalibration/article1487344/

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: budget, Harperites, hypocrisy

On track or in denial?

thomaswjoseph — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 22:42:02 +0000

Stephen Harper and Jim Flaherty continue to claim Canada is/will not have a ‘structural deficit’ coming out of the recent recession and massive stimulus budget of last Jan. 27, 2009.

Economists and the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Kevin Page, again are challenging that “rosy” assessment (remember the “rosy” economic forecast November 27, 2008 – the one that sparked a coalition challenge to the Harper government).

While Conservatives love to tout Harper as an “economist” who can best manage the economy, a closer look at the economic decisions made by the Harper Government – reduction of the GST from 7% down to 5% (politically popular but economically troublesome), increased program spending by 25%, that infamous Nov. 27, 2008, economic statement, and others) and one is left with a different assessment of Harper’s economic acumen.

And just how does Harper plan to achieve his ‘rosy’ assessment without cutting programs or raising taxes???? Few if any economist and other observers believe it is possible.

Is this all a front based again on political considerations…there might be an election so continue to paint a ‘rosy’ picture?????

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: budget, Flaherty, Harper, Kevin Page, program cuts, taxes

A magnificent ‘Superior’ experience

thomaswjoseph — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:59:03 +0000

Rarely does the lake freeze over and

remain clear…yesterday was one

of those exceptions. Magnificent!!!!

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: Lake Superior moment, mirror ice

Deja vu Nov. 27, 2008?

thomaswjoseph — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:21:42 +0000

While everyone else is predicting either having to raise taxes or cutting programs, Flaherty and Harper are sticking to their story of doing neither. See the following articles.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/flaherty-dismisses-deficit-speculation/article1432906/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/shrinking-labour-force-high-spending-low-taxes-bode-ill-for-budgets-report/article1430575/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/fiscal-math-tax-hikes-to-balance-the-budget/article1431298/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-deficit-is-structural/article1429079/

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: eliminating the deficit, financial denial, Flaherty, taxes

It has come to this has it?

thomaswjoseph — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:45:14 +0000

The following articles capture the sad and sorry state of Canadian politics. The cynicism of Stephen Harper and the Conservatives is dismaying to say the least. No one expects politicians and governments to be angels, but the level of cynical behaviour and pronouncements unleashed by the government and its spokespersons and the fact that few seem to care is very disheartening.

Some will say “disheartening to opponents and a few anti-conservative political commentators”, but surely there is a wider spectrum of the Canadian public that is taking note of the government’s moves and appalled by them.

Conservatives claim “the public isn’t interested in old news” but surely the public isn’t that oblivious to what is happening. Parliament itself is being sidelined!!!

The following articles capture this well.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/proroguing-parliament-a-travesty-yet-clever/article1415391/

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/743955

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744458–travers-harper-happy-to-play-games-with-parliament

Hopefully the opposition can find the means to put this government and PM’s feet to the fire!!!!

Happy New Year!!

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: Carol Goar, Conservatives, Harper, Jim Travers, John Ibbetson

Harper’s environment policy? AWOL!!!

thomaswjoseph — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:15:01 +0000

Jeffrey Simpson captures it all in this article…but why are Canadians so blase about it?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/canada-has-long-shadowed-the-us-on-climate-change/article1408023/

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged: climate change, Copenhagen, Harper environment policy, Simpson