The guy I'm really looking for, wink, is Mr. Bribe, wink, wink
I'm really not a big fan of tax cuts so Ralph's budget economic update doesn't have me exceedingly thrilled. I also find it odd that Harper's 18 billion dollar tax cut package was attacked as a recipe for deficit last campaign and now Goodale is ready to dish out 30 billion in tax breaks.
That said, this is definitely a budget that will appeal to a lot of voters out there and it gives the Liberals some substance to campaign on. It's also very good news for the NDP who will be able to play up the "Liberals and Conservatives: different logo, same party" angle.
UPDATE: The tax proposals contain a retroactive tax cut for 2005. Very clever indeed. Now the Liberals can go around saying that forcing the early election will cost each and every Canadian 325$. Say what you want about them, but when it comes to winning elections, no one does it better than the big red machine.
Oh, and just so I don't sound completely negative, there is 2.75 billion for post-secondary education and 3.5 billion for job training in the package which I think is money well spent. I'm still not big on the tax cuts though...
That said, this is definitely a budget that will appeal to a lot of voters out there and it gives the Liberals some substance to campaign on. It's also very good news for the NDP who will be able to play up the "Liberals and Conservatives: different logo, same party" angle.
UPDATE: The tax proposals contain a retroactive tax cut for 2005. Very clever indeed. Now the Liberals can go around saying that forcing the early election will cost each and every Canadian 325$. Say what you want about them, but when it comes to winning elections, no one does it better than the big red machine.
Oh, and just so I don't sound completely negative, there is 2.75 billion for post-secondary education and 3.5 billion for job training in the package which I think is money well spent. I'm still not big on the tax cuts though...
posted by calgarygrit at
4:35 p.m.
25 Comments:
More back-loaded budgetting I see.
By
Andrew, at 5:19 p.m.
I think Harper's plan involved immediate tax cuts in one year along with $10 billion in military spending. Quite different as far as affordability is concerned.
By
Jason Cherniak, at 5:25 p.m.
Yeah, I'm not a fan either. But when you are in the minority, facing an uncertain election, you have to do the painful things. It'd be nice if we can get back to a majority so we can actually do things right instead of having to compromise with the lefties and the wingnuts.
On a slightly unrelated matter, I'm watching Goodale try to talk and Rona Ambrose, who I get down on my hands and knees and prey every day will be defeated in the next election, asks him a question and then keeps interrupting him. I hope they show that on the news because it just shows you how ignorant the CPCers are.
By
Hishighness, at 5:32 p.m.
ya he does
By
Anonymous, at 5:49 p.m.
Guys
You gotta give Goodale credit, no one can say that no politician is looking for bribes. Every politician wants to bribe all voters. Goodale's package makes things better for me...hey good policy on his side. I like it I'll vote for him, his done a lot of good stuff for Regina, and I love it
By
Anonymous, at 6:00 p.m.
It's been a very interesting day, to say in the least, and I enjoyed seeing Martin brush off the NDP compromise proposal as "non-confidence lite" and the subsequent NDP squabbles about how the Liberals don't want to meet the compromise. Here's a free piece of advice for the Dippers: those who enjoy the luxury of operating from a position of strength (which, as the government, the Liberals do regardless of the minority situation) don't have to compromise to meet your needs, and it's not immoral or "arrogant" or indicative of a "culture of entitlement" to behave as they see fit.
Let's not forget something here: it's the government's job to ensure its own continuity, pass legislation to that effect, and govern according to its mandate. That's what the Liberals are doing, some may misinterpret that as "Paul Martin will do anything to stay in power," but the government is doing its job.
By
RGM, at 6:12 p.m.
Kevin; Err...yeah 30 billion. A 30 million dollar tax cut wouldn't be that impressive, to put it mildly.
Richard; Yeah, even though I think the January election is a reasonable compromise, I think Martin did a good job selling his position today.
By
calgarygrit, at 6:24 p.m.
Hishighness wrote: "Yeah, I'm not a fan either. But when you are in the minority, facing an uncertain election, you have to do the painful things. It'd be nice if we can get back to a majority so we can actually do things right instead of having to compromise with the lefties and the wingnuts."
Um, which lefties and wingnuts were behind today's budget. Last time I checked the NDP wasn't dealing with the Libs anymore.
This budget is all Liberal.
By
Anonymous, at 6:25 p.m.
Budget! Ralph said this was an update not a budget folks.
And if the govts job is to keep governing it is the oppositions job to keep opposing. In a minority parliament that means forcing an election after the governing party has been found resposible for electoral fraud in consecutive elections.
If someone were to actually vote for these crooks again it shows what a sorry state of affairs our country is in.
But as all good liberals say: people are entitled to their entitlements!
By
Anonymous, at 6:39 p.m.
QUOTE: "Here's a free piece of advice for the Dippers: those who enjoy the luxury of operating from a position of strength (which, as the government, the Liberals do regardless of the minority situation) don't have to compromise to meet your needs, and it's not immoral or "arrogant" or indicative of a "culture of entitlement" to behave as they see fit."
Man I hope the Liberals use this line on the campaign trail. Over an over.
David Dingwall couldn't have said it better himself.
By
Anonymous, at 8:54 p.m.
HisHighness,
You may want to learn how to spell simple words like "pray" before accusing any group of being ignorant.
I may not be a fan of the Harper Tories, but Rona Ambrose is one of the most intelligent and affable MPs in parliament. She garners respect across party lines.
I'd suggest praying for more incompetent MPs to lose their seats, like Stockwell Day (dreaming is free), Jean Lapierre, Ujjal Dosanjh, etc.
As for getting back to a majority, no amount of prayer is likely to bring that. Junior and Lapierre have scorched the Liberals' chances of making significant gains in Quebec for years to come.
It makes me all warm and fuzzy as a Canadian to think that we'll be condemned to minority governments until:
a) Quebec seperates.
b) We rid ourselves of Martin or Harper or both.
Matt
By
Anonymous, at 9:17 p.m.
Um, Chris, better re-check the new releases and reports from last year's election. The Conservatives were criticized for their tax cuts by the NDP; the Liberals criticized them for "American style" tax cuts, i.e. huge tax cuts that benefit the richest at the expense of a balanced budget. The CPC tax cut plan of 2004 together with their spending promises (far bigger than the Libs) were ludicrous and economically dangerous for the country.
The Liberals have always had tax cuts as part of their plan and they have implemented tax cuts in the past.
TB
Cerberus
By
Ted Betts, at 11:35 p.m.
i.e. huge tax cuts that benefit the richest
I wasn't aware that people with incomes between $35,000 and $70,000 qualified as "the richest."
The CPC tax cut plan of 2004 together with their spending promises (far bigger than the Libs) were ludicrous and economically dangerous for the country.
The Conservative tax cuts plus spending were within the Conservative predictions for future surpluses, but greater than the Liberals' predictions. It all hinges on whose predictions are more accurate.
Who's doing the best so far? Well, for the 2003-04 fiscal year, the Liberals predicted a $1.9 billion surplus, while the Conservatives predicted $5.7 billion. The real number? $9.1 billion.
By
Anonymous, at 1:02 a.m.
I did some digging on fin.gc.ca and found the figures for the 2004-05 fiscal year.
2004-05 Revenue / Expenses (in billions)
Liberal prediction: 195.8 / 158.1
Tory prediction: 187.2 / 142.5 (*)
Actual numbers: 198.2 / 162.7
(*) From their 2004 election platform
The Conservatives would have taken $3.7 billion for spending increases in 2004-05 (this would be added to their above expense prediction; their tax cuts wouldn't have started until 2005-06). This means that the Liberals spent $16.5 billion more in 04-05 than the Tories would have ($162.7 - (142.5 + 3.7) = $16.5). Who's the reckless spender again?
Unfortunately, we can't really compare the Liberal and Conservative revenue estimates, since the Liberal ones are from February 2005, while the Conservatives' are from May 2004. (We can still note that the Conservatives' can't be considered "ludicrously high" by any stretch of the imagination.) Does anyone know where I could find what revenues the Liberals were predicting for 2004-05 during the 2004 election?
By
Anonymous, at 2:03 a.m.
Re: Anonymous,
It's got nothing to do with Dingwall, and everything to do with realpolitik
By
RGM, at 7:34 a.m.
Goodale's economic status update actually reminds me why I'm still Liberal despite Gomery and dithering. When it comes to policy, they just get the right balance between spending and investment and planning.
If you look at the economic and social policies of the Liberal Party over the last 60 years, you will see a lot of left and right, policy seemingly all over the map, no doubt about it. The last decade has seen more of the same: SSM here, balanced budget there, expanded healthcare transfer payments here, tax cuts there, national early learning and child care plan here, debt reduction there. A little bit of the so-called right, a little bit of the so-called left, and not often in terribly big extremes. Sometimes they go it wrong - OK, maybe a lot of times - but generally it's been a balance of moderated left and right, tossed together with a dash of pragmatism and responding to the desires of Canadians.
I'd argue this is not too far off the spectrum from where ordinary Canadians sit. After all, your average Canadian doesn't see themselves in such left-right dichotomies; only the pundits and bloggers do. Most of us just want some sound policy and pragmatism.
In the short-term, the Prime Minister's plan frees up cash for ordinary Canadians when they need and want it to pay for higher debt burdens and higher gas prices. In the medium-term, it puts money into our future, allowing young minds to grow and blossom at our higher learning centres which will drive innovation and productivity.
In the long-term, it pays down the debt and reduces our annual toilet flush of money toward interest payments. To date, we've saved over $60 billion in interest as a result of the Liberal payments on the debt. Now, Goodale is setting a new target for lowering the country's debt load, saying the new benchmark would put the ratio of debt to gross domestic product at 1970s levels and lower servicing costs. The Liberals intend to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio to 20 percent by 2020. It is no hyperbole to say that that is truly astounding. The only G8 country to be paying down debt and the Conservatives are critical of this, and you seem to be too!
OK, there are my thoughts. Rant and "spin" over. I won't take up more of CG's space on this: more of my thoughts on this over here.
Cheers.
TB
Cerberus
By
Ted Betts, at 10:32 a.m.
Please stop over taxing me and all other Canadians to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Please...I can't take it anymore
By
Anonymous, at 10:33 a.m.
Last month Mr Goodale shot his mouth off about double taxing certain mutual funds, causing my retirement fund to drop in value by some $15,000. This month he says if I re-elect him, I get a $325 bribe. I have two words for Ralphie, and it's not Merry Christmas.
By
Anonymous, at 2:07 p.m.
re: Mr. Joe Green's post
huh?
we all saw the testimony and we received the first report that indicated that the Liberal party was rife with corruption.
Liberal MP's won with the aid of dirty money.
But the thin scope of the finely crafted Gomery inquiry (meant from the get go to shift all blame onto Jean Chretien and his inner circle) found that Mr. Martin conviently didn't know anything...
Oh yeah, OJ is innocent and Michael Jackson doesn't like young boys either.
btw....think Junior's hands are clean then do a quick google for "Earnscliffe, Paul Martin, Canada Steamship and scandal." you'll get some hits...
By
NorthBayTrapper, at 2:20 p.m.
Gag.
Bunch of useless twits applauding the latest deception perpetrated on the Canadian public.
Anyone who votes for the Liberals deserve the results.
There will come a time when this house of cards comes tumbling down. The Liberals will continue to lie, steal, cheat and bumble around.
enough
By
Anonymous, at 3:43 p.m.
Anonymous said
"Please stop over taxing me and all other Canadians to the tune of billions of dollars every year. Please...I can't take it anymore
"
I don't know wether to laugh, cry or roll my eyes at this comment.
Please tell me more about your suffering. Why can't you take it anymore? Are your kids going hungry? Are you unable to make morgage payments? Are you having difficulty making ends meet because you are overtaxed?
By
Anonymous, at 6:16 p.m.
Is it true the only reason you don't favour tax cuts is because you don't make enough to pay taxes?
By
Anonymous, at 10:31 p.m.
www1013
true religion jeans
pandora
coach outlet online
mbt shoes
coach factory outlet
coach handbags
moncler outlet
nba jerseys
adidas superstar
true religion jeans
By
Unknown, at 10:31 p.m.
goyard
adidas gazelle sale
michael kors outlet online
air max 2019
jordans
lebron 16
balenciaga sneakers
yeezy boost 350 v2
yeezy boost 350
adidas store
By
zzyytt, at 12:33 a.m.
zzzzz2018.11.20fitflops clearance
michael kors outlet
ugg boots
jordans
champion sportswear
pandora charms
ugg outlet
coach outlet online
off white clothing
canada goose outlet
By
5689, at 9:58 p.m.
Post a Comment
<< Home