5 Years In
We're inevitably going to see a slew of "5 year anniversary" articles later this month...after all, there's only so many election speculation columns one can write before they become insufferable, not just to the reader but to the columnist writing them.
To get a jump on this, the Liberals have released their recap of the Harper years, focusing on the rising cost of living, and how it's impacting Canadians.
On the whole, I like the document's direction - even though the question up front is about Canada, the pamphlet focuses on the concerns of individual Canadians, rather than the health of a country as a whole. Which makes sense, because Canada as a whole is looking pretty good these days (minus our third period meltdown against the Russians of course) - but a lot of individual Canadians are still struggling.
And politics is all about individuals. The Conservatives figured that out a long time ago, which is why we see home reno and child sports tax credits, rather than programs to improve productivity and cut greenhouse gases.
It's encouraging to see the Liberals keying in on that same idea.
posted by calgarygrit at
1:01 p.m.
10 Comments:
"encouraging" is one way of putting it, though it seems to me that's what has been off-putting about the Conservatives.
I.e. Let's cut the GST because it's a visible tax, even though it makes more sense to cut income taxes.
i.e. "Who cares about the Census", only elites do and who cares about them..
I worry that by getting attached to the same ideas, means we won't have any effective policies for the next few years, which
will have an impact and catch up with us eventually.
By
Anonymous, at 1:40 p.m.
I think if he is going to put out 8 pages telling us all that is wrong, he needs to have 8 pages (not 2) telling us what and how he is going to change things.
The fundamental problem he has is that Harper is so good at scaremongering, any ideas the Liberals put forward are instant targets to be demonized, instead of debated.
By
Martin, at 2:03 p.m.
Both are good points above.
Halfkiwi - I do think it's possible to have policies that directly impact the individual that are still "good" policies. In a sense, the home reno tax credit served its purpose, and there are certainly incentives you could offer Canadians to encourage good behaviour.
Martin - Agreed. We need to see more from the Liberals. Iggy's Family Care plan was a good start, but I'm hoping for more meat in the months ahead.
By
calgarygrit, at 2:15 p.m.
Your team is running out of Gas. In 2008 voters rewarded or punished the Liberals?
Ignatieff is asking us to punish the Conservatives for the Global recession?
I am impressed how many groups the Liberals are throwing overboard.
Manufacturers are onside and have stated 100k new hires?
Airline Aviation Industry: Air Canada to Defence Industry manufacturers high paying jobs over F 35 to UAE.
The Auto bailout, Unions praise CPC?
Are Liberals really going to try to attack truth in sentencing that has Royal Assent and overcrowding in prisons on the campaign trail?
The issues on the Hill won't play out in the ballot box.
Did the AG give praise to the Gov't-civil servants for EAP?
The question will backfire because only one party is able to afford to publicize their track record and counter the rhetoric.
Canada has weathered the Global recession the best than any other developed economy.
Ontario Finance Minister is bragging about the economy and the recovery.
Talking down the country, our international standing did not work for John Turner against Mulroney.
This looks like another Hail Mary Pass to quell the revolt inside the party or distract from the 4th quarter fundraising numbers.
By
CanadianSense, at 5:24 p.m.
This campaign misses the point UNLESS it demonstrates how the Liberals would have been (and will be) any different.
That's really the point - it's one thing the NDP has gotten right. Since Trudeau there's essentially been no difference between Liberal and Conservative policies (and ethics).
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Robert Vollman, at 8:39 p.m.
The cost of living. Great reminder to all Canadians about how the Conservatives have reduced their tax burden, while the Liberals grouse about the tax cuts and promise to spend, spend, spend, spend, spend!
Unless it's Conservatives spending, then that's really, really bad. Liberals would have spent less, but much, much more.
By
Anonymous, at 3:13 a.m.
So why have the liberals supported all those issues for the past 5 yrs, must mean liberals support the PM and his govt. Having a few of his caucus hide behind curtains or get the I wont vote flu means iggy/dion supported our PM and his agenda.
If the govt was so bad, why didn't the coalition defeat it. Imagine the coalition allowing the govt to do all that damage to Canadians, shame on them.
By
maryT, at 11:12 a.m.
"the Liberals have released their recap of the Harper years, focusing on the rising cost of living"
The Liberals are concerned about the rising cost of living, but they're opposed to the GST cut and corporate tax cuts-even though they voted for them?
That's the best Liberals can do after five years?
Looks like another five years of Harper.
By
nuna d. above, at 1:22 p.m.
"Canada has weathered the Global recession the best than any other developed economy".
Perhaps. But I take issue with the characterization of Canada as necessarily a "developed" economy.
Given the high percentage of our economy devoted to resource extraction, with relatively little secondary or tertiarty processing of those resources, given the fact that, amongst the G8 countries anyway, Canadians "enjoy" the highest level of foreign control, if not ownership, of strategic industries...and resources...given that we don't have the population base to foster new markets but are export dependent
How is it possible for anyone to realistically posit that Canada has a "developed" economy? What we are is a resource rich colony, and it has ever been thus. First the French, the English, then the U.S., and I'm willing to bet China and India are our next colonial "masters".
By
Party of One, at 8:43 p.m.
Feel free to complain Canada exports resources like Hydro from QC.
Don't forget to add in that Liberals felt Canada did not deserve the UN seat and Canada could learn something from China's Human rights record.
You guys crack me up. That 36 day campaign will clear things up those by elections record of 14% with Ignatieff.
By
CanadianSense, at 9:32 p.m.
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