thejazz97 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 We should focus on other things as well as the economy. The more the rhetoric is focused on the economy and the budget, the better the chances harper has. The Globe & Mail debate in and of itself is biased as it is focused on the economy. Conservative media doing their part in helping Harper. Talk about other things and Harper's record falls apart. Healthcare, infrastructure, education, democracy, environment, etc. Put a spot light on these things already. What would Trudeau or Mulcair do if Russia decides to invade the Baltic states next? Perhaps Mulcair, but I can't see Trudeau standing up to Putin as Harper has. Not defending Harper btw, just challenging his opponents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kragar Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 My main stay from that is the fact that indeed specific reports DID disappear almost overnight when the price discrepancy between the upstream and downstream product became so very apparent. Harper, the government benefit from this in the form of higher taxes by the by. It's a circular pattern of taxation FYI, most taxes on gas are per liter (excise taxes), not on the dollar spent (sales tax), so tax revenues are more strongly tied to consumption than gas price. This is one reason why gas doesn't come down as much in price when oil gets cheaper. Typically most of the taxes are local and provincial rather than federal, especially in BC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_fuel_taxes_in_Canada From a narrow perspective, government coffers can therefore suffer from improved fuel economy, since cars are using less fuel, and some cars aren't using any. Not sure how it works out up in Canada, but down here in the US, infrastructure suffers as the gas tax is supposed to support road infrastructure. However, I'm right there with you... gas prices not coming down much when oil falls does pisses me off. But the oil companies always seem to have their reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 What would Trudeau or Mulcair do if Russia decides to invade the Baltic states next? Perhaps Mulcair, but I can't see Trudeau standing up to Putin as Harper has. Not defending Harper btw, just challenging his opponents.Why has Harper underfunded the military, let lone the coast guard? [http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/michael-den-tandt-if-the-tories-really-loved-the-military-so-much-it-wouldnt-be-systematically-underfundedhttp://o.canada.com/news/despite-tough-talk-canadian-forces-are-badly-under-funded Harper talks a tough game, but it's just that. Talk. btw, We can't even handle ISIS. What makes you think we can handle Russia? I think what we can literally do is what we've always done: Decide whether or not to follow the US into one of their BS wars, and having a minor impact within. So deciding who should run our country based on this is, no matter who our 'enemy' is at the time, is flawed. Hugor's right. Too many more legit issues not being discussed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 What would Trudeau or Mulcair do if Russia decides to invade the Baltic states next? Perhaps Mulcair, but I can't see Trudeau standing up to Putin as Harper has. Not defending Harper btw, just challenging his opponents. The EXACT same thing harper did. Listen to NATO the UN and their coalition allies. Harper has done less than a wet shart in regards to russia except piss off Putin and amuse him at the same time with his tough talk. What did Russia do immediately after? Flew a destroyer killer over the canadian frigate in the area that Baird was on knowing there's not a damned thing anyone in canada could do about it Trudeau or Mulcair would do the exact same thing Harper has done. What they are told. or barring that, show some leadership and carve their own path Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electro Rock Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'd take Putin for PM over anyone we have running. #RusskiyMir!!! More seriously, if you live in Western Canada and vote for the Ontario and Quebec centric Trudeau or Muclair, you're a useful idiot who deserves to have your job and tax dollars sent out east. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'd take Putin for PM over anyone we have running. #RusskiyMir!!! More seriously, if you live in Western Canada and vote for the Ontario and Quebec centric Trudeau or Muclair, you're a useful idiot who deserves to have your job and tax dollars sent out east. Rather they at least stay in Canada in the 'East' than overseas to China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electro Rock Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Rather they at least stay in Canada in the 'East' than overseas to China. I'd rather jobs went to the Islamic State rather than Quebec or Ontario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 More seriously, if you live in Western Canada and vote for the Ontario and Quebec centric Trudeau or Muclair, you're a useful idiot who deserves to have your job and tax dollars sent out east.Y'know, I'd have actually agreed with you in the past, but then I saw who 'the west' put into power and now I'm like, wtf is this?!? Problem is that 'the west' was actually 'the south' all along. Whoops. Meanwhile, didn't Harper try to form a coalition with the Bloc Québécois? How is he any more 'pro-west' than any of these other parties if he was willing to side with a party who's 'Quebec centric' to a tee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'd rather jobs went to the Islamic State rather than Quebec or Ontario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugor Hill Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 What would Trudeau or Mulcair do if Russia decides to invade the Baltic states next? Perhaps Mulcair, but I can't see Trudeau standing up to Putin as Harper has. Not defending Harper btw, just challenging his opponents. Slap sanctions of course! That's what we always do no matter who the PM is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I think it's fairly obvious. It's people who drink this stuff: Memories....from the corners of my mind... A cartoon to insult every political party - - equality, it’s the Canadian way, eh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 If you actually read the article I posted, "which Nobody will because it's not anti Harper" it shows that the NDP's budget is based on Harpers budget. Tom is also using extremely generous oil price forecast to favour his bottom line. I will go back to one of the first statements I ever made on this thread. All politicians are scum, but at least I know what scum I'm dealing with in Steven Harper. And as for warhippy's ongoing battle against big oil and corporations. How do you know the NDP and Liberals won't be strong armed just as much as the rest of the world? You really think these clowns are going to step on big oil when their budgets are planed off an inflated commodity price? Hahaha Tom can't wait to bow down to big oil. And if you are so worried about corps running this country and stealing money from our pockets, do yourself a favour and take it back by purchasing their publicly traded stock. NDP, Libs, Con, Obama, the pope, aliens are powerless to stop them. As I said a few pages back, the handling of the budget is a big reason I'm leaning more and more toward voting Liberal. Mulcair is trying to appeal to fiscal conservatives and at the same time promises program spending out the ass. The result is nobody trusts him. NDP is dropping. A shame, really. All politicians are scum, but some are scummier than others. Harper's had a permeating detrimental effect on our democracy, and his party continues to skirt the spirit of the system, even if they don't always break the law (only sometimes). Will you be okay with an NDP Harper equivalent as PM? To this end, Trudeau is the only one suggesting cutting back the power of the PMO. Although I do like Mulcair's commitment to abolishing the Senate. Just remember, Conservatives won't win forever. The longer Harper holds power, the worse it'll be when the shoe is on the other foot. We should focus on other things as well as the economy. The more the rhetoric is focused on the economy and the budget, the better the chances harper has. The Globe & Mail debate in and of itself is biased as it is focused on the economy. Conservative media doing their part in helping Harper. Talk about other things and Harper's record falls apart. Healthcare, infrastructure, education, democracy, environment, etc. Put a spot light on these things already. Yep. The economy and the budget are low hanging fruits. All this jibber jabber spent on talking about a couple of billions to balance a budget of nearly 300. Most people don't understand the first thing about the economy or the budget (that's why they think it's analogous to a household income...). In perspective, they're arguing over peanuts. This country has many issues that we need to deal with today. The economy leans to global winds, and the budget is practically balanced with billions left unspent. Time to move on. In my opinion, we need to develop in areas that nations without natural resources are good at. And treat our natural resources as a bonus, only take what's needed, not take as much as we can to support foreign entities. I would love a crown oil company again, and have the fed in charge of resources, instead of provinces. Really dislike the provincialism of Canada. Alas, none of that is changing any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Man, this is corrupt seeming even for the Harper Conservatives. Either nose deep in it or so completely stupid as to not realize how bad this really looks. either way.... http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cabinet-ministers-met-publicly-with-kpmg-while-firm-s-tax-sham-under-cra-probe-1.3234876 Top Conservative cabinet ministers met publicly with senior staff from KPMG's tax division, and one went so far as to promote the firm, even as the Canada Revenue Agency was alleging the company set up an offshore tax "sham" that deceived the government and deprived the treasury of potentially millions of dollars, a CBC News investigation shows. Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Finance Minister Joe Oliver and Prime Minister Stephen Harper all appeared in public with officials from KPMG's tax department in 2014 and 2015 during the period when CRA auditors were continuing an investigation into one of the accounting firm's tax schemes and seeking names of multimillionaire clients. KPMG also sponsored Oliver's 2015 post-budget speech in Vancouver. And in August 2014, KPMG executives registered to lobby the prime minister and his staff. KPMG offshore 'sham' deceived tax authorities, CRA alleges Federal probe of KPMG tax 'sham' stalled in court KPMG tax 'sham' could lead to criminal investigation: experts Tax havens explained: How the rich hide money The CRA has alleged in court documents that the KPMG tax dodge — which involved clients with a minimum of $5 million setting up shell companies in the Isle of Man — was "intended to deceive" authorities. KPMG has been fighting a February 2013 court order to hand over the list of wealthy clients to the CRA for more than two years. Yet in the 31 months since the judicial authorization, neither the federal government nor KPMG has requested a court date for the accounting firm's appeal. A slide that was projected during a speech by Finance Minister Joe Oliver in Vancouver on April 28, 2015, noted that KPMG was a 'proud sponsor' of the event. (CBC) A letter filed in Federal Court on July 20, 2015, written by a KPMG lawyer — stating the letter was "approved in …advance" by lawyers at the Department of Justice on behalf of the minister of national revenue — said that both sides are pursuing "confidential" discussions to try to settle out of court. KPMG lawyers had previously told the court the "lengthy process" was due to the "complexity" of the issues. Appearance of conflict of interest? Duff Conacher, a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa who teaches on ethics in government, said the Tory meetings with KPMG, while it was being pursued by the government, could raise questions of an appearance of a conflict of interest. Conacher said the meetings may lead to speculation about what is happening behind closed doors "because anyone who looks at it from the outside says, 'Hey, wait a second, this case hasn't been pursued aggressively. I wonder why?' " A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office declined to say what was discussed with Harper and his aides, except to say that the meetings with KPMG were part of routine "stakeholder" discussions. The spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether anyone approached the prime minister or his staff to discuss the court case against KPMG. For confidential tips on this story, please email investigations@cbc.ca or call Harvey Cashore at 416-526-4704. "We do not get into details about when and how meetings are scheduled, nor the content of those discussions," the PMO spokesperson said in a statement to CBC News. KPMG won't talk about the meetings either, but insists no one from the firm ever mentioned the court cases to any Conservative minister or the prime minister. ( Finance Minister Joe Oliver, left, was introduced by KPMG's head of tax, Elio Luongo, right, at a meeting of the Vancouver Board of Trade on April 28, 2015. (CBC) The minister told the public audience that the accountants could be consulted when making "complicated" tax files. She also posed for photos with KPMG's Pela and his colleagues. In a statement, Findlay's spokesperson said, "It is not uncommon for the minister to attend events and announcements with stakeholders and leaders of her local community." Findlay's spokesperson also said the minister has never been approached by anyone at KPMG to discuss the court cases. CRA audits and investigations routinely proceed without any involvement from the minister of national revenue, even if they are conducted on her behalf. CBC News has learned Findlay was first informed of the CRA investigation into the KPMG tax scheme more than a year before her speech in Vancouver, after her communications department referred her to a news report about the case. Findlay did not respond to queries from CBC News about whether she informed the Prime Minister's Office or her cabinet colleagues after she learned of the case against KPMG. Conacher, who is also co-founder of Democracy Watch, said the revenue minister was ill-advised to have KPMG join her in public, particularly during a tax probe. "It's improper for a minister to be promoting companies directly like that and specifically naming them." Sponsored Oliver's speech On April 28, one week after the 2015 federal budget, KPMG Canada sponsored a post-budget speech in Vancouver for Oliver. KPMG's head of tax, Elio Luongo, introduced Oliver to the meeting of the Vancouver Board of Trade at Pan Pacific Hotel. Luongo also thanked his firm, KPMG, for sponsoring the finance minister's talk. "Today's event would not have been possible without your support," he said. CBC News reporter Frederic Zalac caught up with Luongo at the event. Luongo declined to answer questions about why KPMG was not handing over the secret client list of wealthy Canadians to the Canada Revenue Agency. A spokesperson for KPMG later said it would be inappropriate for the firm to comment on matters that may be before the courts. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Oliver said the finance minister was not aware of the CRA investigation into KPMG's tax product at the time he made the speech. The Vancouver Board of Trade chooses its own sponsors, the spokesperson said, adding that members of all political parties have given speeches to the board, including Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. 'Inappropriate and unethical' Democracy Watch's Conacher says the government should not have allowed KPMG to sponsor a finance minister's speech, let alone when it was alleged to have set up an offshore scheme to defraud the public treasury. "It's inappropriate and unethical [for the finance minister] to be speaking at privately sponsored events," Conacher said. Federal records show KPMG'S Luongo registered in Ottawa as a lobbyist starting in 2012 to lobby the CRA, the Department of Finance and, later, the Prime Minister's Office on behalf of the accounting firm on topics including taxation. In early 2014, in his position as chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade, Luongo emceed at a public event for Harper. "We want to thank you for your strong leadership and thank you for being with us today," Luongo said. Lobby registry records also show that KPMG executives met with Harper, his chief of staff Ray Novak and two other PMO staffers on Aug. 13, 2014, to discuss "economic development, taxation, finance." KPMG's spokesperson said no one from the firm ever mentioned the case of MNR v KPMG to the prime minister or his staff. KPMG's full statement: Consistent with professional standards, KPMG is committed to treating our clients' private financial affairs as confidential. Therefore we cannot disclose, respond to, or discuss any specific client matters. In addition, with respect to the CBC's questions relating to tax matters dating back to 1999, aspects of this are currently before the courts and accordingly it is inappropriate for us to comment. Any suggestion of an improper relationship between KPMG leaders and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) are patently false. KPMG representatives, along with many other business, government and community leaders periodically participate in public events and group meetings with government officials, including the PMO. We have never met privately with the PM or PMO to discuss any specific client‐related matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Interesting read on the formation and rise of the The Reform Party of Canada, which of course became the CPC later on.https://era.library.ualberta.ca/public/view/item/uuid:6f4fa581-f6ed-4ad8-bdd1-42801d99fa11/ (download top-right) - breaks down the reasoning and timeline of the neoconservative movement in BC and Alberta, and how it was parallel to the one in the US. - preached a tie between religious fundamentalism and free market enterprise - the anglo-Albertans were the 'true' Canadians - movement dominated largely by the American oil sector - preached a divide between eastern and western Canada, while handing the real power to the US, in particular to the US oil sector - our economy is controlled by the US and always will be - outlines the xenophobic bordering on racist, anti-poor, anti-nationalist, anti-multiculturalist, anti-bilingual policies put forth to this day - larger goal is total privatization of all public services, including health and education, and total wealth inequality. - allowed to rise via populism; The fear of eastern Canada, the fall of the Progressive Conservatives. - all party leaders of the neocon movement are essentially hated after they're done with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Interesting read on the formation and rise of the The Reform Party of Canada, which of course became the CPC later on.https://era.library.ualberta.ca/public/view/item/uuid:6f4fa581-f6ed-4ad8-bdd1-42801d99fa11/ (download top-right) - breaks down the reasoning and timeline of the neoconservative movement in BC and Alberta, and how it was parallel to the one in the US. - preached a tie between religious fundamentalism and free market enterprise - the anglo-Albertans were the 'true' Canadians - movement dominated largely by the American oil sector - preached a divide between eastern and western Canada, while handing the real power to the US, in particular to the US oil sector - our economy is controlled by the US and always will be - outlines the xenophobic bordering on racist, anti-poor, anti-nationalist, anti-multiculturalist, anti-bilingual policies put forth to this day - larger goal is total privatization of all public services, including health and education, and total wealth inequality. - allowed to rise via populism; The fear of eastern Canada, the fall of the Progressive Conservatives. - all party leaders of the neocon movement are essentially hated after they're done with. And this crap is exactly why i turned my back on the Conservatives after MacKay and Manning handed the reigns over to Harper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Why "Anyone but Harper"? Here is a short list of the 70 item list written by David Beers of The Tyee. * Stephen Harper Found in Contempt of Parliament For refusing to disclose information on the costing of programs to Parliament, which Parliament was entitled to receive, the Harper government became the first in Canadian history to be found in contempt of Parliament. This alone is a big deal. Even the Speaker of the House found it indefensible. * Against Court Order, Refusal to Share Budget Info Even though it lost a court case and was ordered to comply, the Harper government nevertheless still refused to share 170 times reasons and impacts for cuts with Canada's independent budget watchdog, mocking Parliament's right to control the public purse. * Conservative Cabinet Staffers Granted Immunity from Testimony A PMO edict absolved, or claimed to absolve, political staffers from ever having to testify before parliamentary committees. * Conservatives Falsify Reports and Documents Among documents deliberately altered in the writing or the quoting by the government: CIDA document by Bev Oda's office on Kairos; the Senate Committee Report on the Duffy affair; a report by former auditor general Sheila Fraser on financial management. * Repeated Duplicity in Afghan Detainees Controversy Among the abuses: Parliament was misled and denied documents. An inquiry was shut down. CPC MPs attempted to discredit diplomat Richard Colvin whose testimony diverted from the government's line of denial. * Repeated Duplicity on Costing of F-35 Fighter Jets An auditor general's report revealed serial deceptive practices used by the Conservatives in misleading both the public and especially Parliament on the projected cost of the fighter jets. Additionally, after the government agreed to review the purchase, perhaps even open it up to competitive bidding, the committee chosen by the Harper Government reported (18 months later) that the review will recommend buying the same plane, on the same terms — without competition. * CPC Minister Lies, Blames Statistics Canada for Killing Long Form Census Under fire for Conservatives killing the long form census, Industry Minister Tony Clement falsely stated that StatsCan backed the idea and assured the voluntary substitute would yield valid statistical data. Neither was true, outraged StatsCan sources confirmed, such that the head of StatsCan publicly refuted the lies about his statements and support, stepping down in protest as well. * Conservative MP Lies to Parliament, Later Admits He Lied to Parliament As opposition members claimed the Harper government was out to rig election rules in its favour, Conservative MP Brad Butt rose in the House of Commons to say why the bill was needed -- all the voter fraud he had personally witnessed in Nova Scotia. Weeks later he rose again to say his statements had been entirely false. Delivering his strained apology, he failed to explain why he lied in the first place. * Conservative House Leader Admits to Mockery of Question Period Criticized far and wide for farcical answers in question period, Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to Harper, made a tearful apology for abuse of the democratic process. * Harper Maligns the Supreme Court Chief Justice The Prime Minister took the unprecedented step of alleging inappropriate conduct by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. Facts undermined the credibility of the PM's position. * Conservatives Engage in Abuse of Process with Omnibus Bills Harper's party pushed legislation through Parliament via omnibus bills, the scale of which Parliament had never seen. Such bills are widely condemned as an abuse of the democratic process, because they blend and bury so many controversial laws within one dense package. Harper himself once railed against them, and his born again love for them made his own MPs queasy. Referencing such bills, former auditor general Sheila Fraser said that "Parliament has become so undermined that it is almost unable to do the job that people expect of it." * Harperites Deliberately Sabotage, Stymie Committee System Conservatives used tactics such as barring witnesses, closure, time limitations, and in camera sessions to an extent rarely, if ever, witnessed in Canada. In their early days in power, top Conservatives prepared a handbook instructing committee chairpersons how to obstruct proceedings. * Harper's Own CPC MPs Protest Muzzling In a caucus known for his tight discipline, in 2014 some members finally rose up to contest being censored at question period by the Prime Minister's Office. Former Conservative backbencher Brent Rathgeber turned independent and published a book, Irresponsible Government, decrying anti-democratic practices. * Conservative Bill Back-Dates Bill To Before Bill Was Enacted to Protect Mounties from Potential Criminal Charges Against Access To Information Violation To protect the RCMP's acceding to demands from the PMO to illegally destroy records early, the government made an old bill come retroactively into force before it had actually been passed by Parliament. * Harper Minister Caught in Advertising Scam with Public Funds The Globe and Mail revealed that Harper's chosen Minister for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilievre commissioned a team of public servants for overtime work on a Sunday to film him glad-handing constituents. The vanity video on the taxpayer dime was to promote the government's benefits for families. * Access to Information System Impeded Many new roadblocks have been put up by the Harper Conservatives. Former Information Commissioner Robert Marleau concluded that having obtained absolute power, the prime minister "has absolutely abused that power to the maximum." * The Silencing of the Public Service The PMO took an unprecedented step in instituting a system wherein the bureaucracy has all its communications vetted by the political nerve centre. The policy contribution role of the public service is significantly reduced. Complaints from insiders allege that the Privy Council office has become increasingly politicized. * Loyalty Oaths Imposed on Public Servants Archivists and librarians were made to swear strict oaths of allegiance and were hit with restrictions on freedom of speech that editorialists of the right and left described as chilling, as they are not being applied to the crown or the nation, but to the party and politicians in power, and are expected to apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. * Harper Government Sued by Justice Department Whistleblower Time and again the Harper government propose bills that end up being shot down by the courts, prompting critics to say such legislation is more about making political statements than lasting policy. The wasted efforts bothered senior justice department lawyer Edgar Schmidt so much he finally sued the government for breaking the law by inadequately evaluating whether proposed bills violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He was promptly suspended without pay. * Conservatives Block Accreditation for Opposition MPs In another example of partisanship taken to new heights, the PMO blocked opposition members from being accredited for international environment conferences and from visiting military bases. * Clampdown on Freedom of Speech of Diplomatic Corps Ottawa's diplomats must get all communications approved from Conservative political operatives. Under Harper, the country's ambassadors are hardly heard from any more. In a recent speech, former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis said our political culture under the Conservatives has descended into "a nadir of indignity." * Marine Science Libraries Decimated The Harper government's downsizing of federal libraries included sudden closing of seven world famous Department of Fisheries and Oceans archives. A leaked memo revealed the destruction and consolidation would save less than half a million dollars. Scientist patrons of the libraries, who witnessed chaotic chucking of rare literature, called it a "book burning" with no logical purpose other than to restrict environmental information. The Harper government claimed vital works would be digitally preserved, but never provided a plan or cost for doing so, nor any proof it had happened. No scientists interviewed by The Tyee believed digitizing would or could replace what was lost. * Harper Government Denies Khadr Basic Rights Defying court rulings, the Conservative government refused to accord Omar Khadr basic rights such as access to media. Editorialists of right and left persuasion described the move as unbefitting a democratic government. * Illegitimate Prorogation of Parliament, Twice Prorogations are a legitimate procedure that can be abused depending on motivations. The Harper government provoked 60 protests across Canada and beyond its borders in 2010 after shutting the legislature's doors to escape condemnation on the Afghan detainees' file. It was the second prorogation in a year's period. * Undue Interference with Independent Agencies Command and control system was extended to meddling in bodies like National Energy Board and CRTC whose arms-length autonomy is significantly reduced. A special target was the Parliamentary Budget Office, which was hit with condemnations and budget cuts for its critical reports. * Billions Borrowed without Parliament's Permission The auditor general sounded alarms about the "prodigious" growth and size of federal borrowing. Those billions in "non-budgetary" spending used to get Parliament's oversight, but no more. The finance minister can borrow what he wants without Parliament's permission. Why? A loophole buried in a 2007 Harper omnibus bill. * Lapdogs Appointed as Watchdogs The most controversial was the case of former Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet. Her office reviewed more than 200 whistleblowing cases. Disciplinary action followed on none of them. Ouimet's own angry staffers blew the whistle on their boss. The auditor general foundOuimet intimidated her employees, took "retaliatory action" against them and may have breached their privacy, all part of the Harper appointee's "gross mismanagement." Ouimet was paid more than $500,000 to leave her post. * The 'Harper Government' Labelling Deception Public servants were told to use "Harper Government" instead of "Government of Canada" in publicity releases. The Conservatives denied it was happening -- until internal memos revealed by the Canadian Press revealed the denial to be without basis. * Conservatives Place Party Logos on Government of Canada Cheques Once "caught red-handed," they backed off. The federal ethics commissioner, adopting the exasperated tone of an adult lecturing a child, noted: "Public spending announcements are government activities, not partisan political activities, and it is not appropriate to brand them with partisan or personal identifiers." * Record Amounts of Partisan Political Advertising, on the Public Purse Several media reports told how the Conservatives used taxpayer money for partisan political advertising in record quantity, costing the public treasury $750 million since Harper became PM. In one instance, the Tories spent lavishly on ads for the promotion of a jobs grant program that had yet to be made public or presented to parliament or the provinces. Even more nakedly partisan, a mailed blast, charged to the taxpayers, targeting Justin Trudeau. * Government Muzzles Science Community Top scientists came under such heavy monitoring by the Conservatives that they staged "Death of Evidence" protests for being denied freedom of speech. The Conservatives sent out chaperones or "media minders" to track Environment Canada scientists and report on them. * Like Never Before, Limits Placed on Media Access Journalists have been hard-pressed to recall another time when controls put on them were so tight. At the Conservatives' 2013 Calgary convention, reporters wrote of being harassed and penned in at every turn by the PMO's command and control system. In his book Killing The Messenger, journalist Mark Bourrie charts the many examples of new limits on freedom of speech introduced in the Harper era. * Harper's Team Tries to Ban Journalist for Asking Question Veteran TV cameraman Dave Ellis covered a Harper speech about oil to a business audience. Though media had been instructed no questions allowed, Ellis posed one about charges laid against a Conservative MP. The PMO tried to punish Ellis and his network by kicking him off covering Harper's trip to Malaysia. After media hue and cry, Harper backed down and Ellis went. * Suppression of Research In the gun registration debate, incriminating research and documents such as a Firearms Report were deliberately withheld from the public. While ramping up their prison building, Conservatives suppressed related research and studies contradicting their political priorities. * Protesters Put under Blanket Surveillance According to a leaked memo, as part of its command and control approach, the Conservatives have approved a system wherein all advocates, protesters and demonstrations can be monitoredby authorities. The Government Operations Centre has requested federal departments to assist it in compiling a comprehensive inventory of protesters. Security specialists have called it a breach of Canadians' Charter of Rights. Conservatives have moved to give CSIS even more powers than the spy agency wants. * Rights and Democracy, Other Groups, Dismantled In a show of brute force, the Montreal-based group Rights and Democracy was pole-axed for its alleged political leanings and eventually disbanded. Organizations like the church group Kairoswere de-budgeted or dismantled for political leanings. Nuclear Safety Commission head Linda Keen was dumped. Among the complaints cited by the PM was that in her distant past, she had some Liberal ties. * Harper Government Spied on Aboriginal Critic, 'Retaliated' Aboriginal child welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock was spied on by the Harper government, and when she arrived for a meeting with other First Nations leaders at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs only she was barred entry. Finding Blackstock had been "retaliated" against by a ministry official, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal awarded her $20,000 for pain and suffering. * Revenue Canada Targeted to Attack Charities Not all charities, just the ones that don't seem adequately aligned with the Harper brand. Enough to include many environmental, aid, human rights and free speech charities that banded together to push back against what looks like a politically motivated witch hunt. * Conservatives Use Unheard of Tactic to Force through Anti-Union Bill Conservative senators went to the unprecedented extent of overruling their own Speaker. What could be so important to break Senate rules? A bill pushed by Harper that is almost certainly unconstitutional for its privacy invading measures forced onto unions, unlike other groups. Latest in a steady stream of Conservative attacks on organized labour in Canada. * Harper Smears Liberal Sikh MP, Insinuating Tie to Terrorism When Liberals opposed a 2007 Conservative plan to extend anti-terror legislation, Stephen Harper singled out Grit MP Navdeep Bains, seeming to suggest that Bains' party was motivated by a desire to protect Bains' father-in-law, Darshan Singh Saini. A recent news story had claimed Singh Saini was on a list of witnesses sought by the RCMP for its Air India investigation, but provided no proof he was involved. In the House, Liberals erupted with outrage and Bains asked, in vain, that Harper apologize. * Veterans' Advocates Smeared Medical files of Sean Bruyea, a strong advocate for veterans' rights, were leaked in a case that privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart described as "alarming." Veterans Affairs Canada ombudsman Pat Stogran was dumped after criticizing the government. * Conservative Convicted on Robocalls Scam Tory operative Michael Sona was given jail time for his role in the robocalls scam. The judge indicated more than one person was likely involved. In another court judgment in a case brought by the Council of Canadians, the ruling said the robocalls operation was widespread, not just limited to the Guelph riding. Donald Segretti who did dirty tricks for the Nixon White House told a Canadian reporter his skullduggery didn't go so low as to run schemes sending voters to the wrong polling stations. * Harper's Ex-Parliamentary Secretary Jailed for Breaking Election Law Dean Del Maestro was one of Harper's favourites. As his parliamentary secretary, the PM frequently used him as an attack dog to allege misdeeds by opposition members. Del Maestro was given a jail sentence in June for his own election spending violations, which is to say, cheating. * 'Reprehensible' Dirty Tricks Campaign against Irwin Cotler Conservative Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer ruled his party's own tactics in running a surreptitious misinformation campaign in the riding of the highly respected MP were "reprehensible." * Election Violations Prompt Resignation of Cabinet Member Peter Penashue, another Harper Conservative was compelled to step down over election spending violations. * Harper's Office Deploys Interns for Dirty Tricks In one instance that brought on allegations of Nixonian tactics, junior PMO staffers in the guise of normal citizens were sent out to disrupt a Justin Trudeau speech. * Citizens Ejected from Conservative Rallies Tory operatives hauled out citizens from a Harper rally in the 2011 campaign because they had marginal ties to other parties. A spokesperson for the PM was compelled to apologize. Problem fixed this time around: Only fully vetted Harper supporters will be allowed, by invite only, to attend the PM's campaign stops. If they have a ticket. * Conservatives Make Campaign Event Attendees Sign Gag Order Not only have Harper's campaign handlers made his campaign events by invite only, they are forcing anyone let in to sign an agreement not to transmit any description of the event or any images from it. * Conservatives Unfix Their Own Fixed Date Election Law In 2008, Harper pulled the plug on his own government, violating his own new law, which stipulated elections every four years. * Guilty Plea on In and Out Affair The Conservative Party and its fundraising arm pled guilty to some Elections Act charges stemming from their exceeding spending limits in the 2006 campaign. The investigation cost taxpayers over $2 million. * CPC Elections Bill Strips Power from Elections Canada The Fair Elections Act also makes it harder for Canadians to vote as more ID is required. Nationwide protests in which more than 400 academics took part forced Pierre Poilievre to withdraw some measures in the bill because of their alleged anti-democratic bent. * Harper Minister Smears Head of Elections Canada In a bid to impugn his integrity, Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre accused the Elections Canada CEO Marc Mayrand of being a power monger and wearing a team jersey. * Copyright Grab for Attack Ads CTV News found out Conservatives aimed to rewrite copyright law to let political parties grab any media content and use it for free in their ads. The impact, warned CTV's Don Martin, "will be to cast a chill on every broadcast appearance" by MPs, commentators and reporters, who "must now be aware their views could end up featured in a political attack ad." By asserting "unlimited access to the airwaves for propaganda purposes," Martin said, the Harper government "could be seen as flirting with fascism." * Conservatives Use Terrorists' Propaganda in Attack Ad Immediately After Making That Illegal Harper's party created a political ad incorporating music and horrifying images of doomed captives pulled straight from the Islamic State's own promotional video. The target: Justin Trudeau, whose views on the risks and rewards of bombing ISIS differ from Harper's. This immediately after making it illegal to spread terrorists' propaganda even incidentally or accidentally. * Canada Is The Only UN Member To Reject Landmark Indigenous Rights Document CPC aboriginal affairs deputy minister Colleen Swords represented Ottawa at the United Nations assembly in New York, where Canada was the only nation to object to a non-legally binding UN outcome document which promotes indigenous peoples' legal and political standing and participation in their various home countries. This after UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples found in the UN's 2014 report that Canada's relationship as a nation with its indigenous peoples continues to be an antagonistic rather than cooperative one. * Prime Minister's Office Charged in Court By Information Commissioner Canadian Press submitted Access to Information request identified 28 pages of documents available, according to the Privy Council Office, but the PMO refused to allow access to 27 of the 28 pages, despite being legally obliged. The case has gone to federal court. * Conservative Party's Lawyers Declare No Responsibility Between Government And Combat Veterans. In response to a lawsuit by Canadian combat veterans over the new Veterns Charter, wherein the veterans stated "The social covenant is this promise that our country, Canada, has promised service people they will be protected when they get maimed and their families will be looked after if they are killed," the federal government responded that "At no time in Canada's history has any alleged 'social contract' or 'social covenant' having the attributes pleaded by the plaintiffs been given effect in any statute, regulation or as a constitutional principle written or unwritten." That the government has no obligation to care for wounded combat veterans. The lawsuit has been put on pause during the election, and will resume afterward. * Department of Foreign Affairs Instructed To Meet Quota Of Terror The Prime Minister's Office instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs in April of 2015, with an election looming, to ensure a minimum of three Terrorism Warning media releases each week. The bureaucrats of the Department declined to meet the "odd" demand for a quota, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Yeah. Cons need a shake-up up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 So many embellishments and dramatics in that last Warhippy copypasta. Oh no a journalist was reprimanded because he asked questions when he knew the event he attended was a no-questions event. Suppression! If these embellishments are really what people are peddling as to why Harper is so bad, they make him seem not so bad at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejazz97 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 So many embellishments and dramatics in that last Warhippy copypasta. Oh no a journalist was reprimanded because he asked questions when he knew the event he attended was a no-questions event. Suppression! If these embellishments are really what people are peddling as to why Harper is so bad, they make him seem not so bad at all. Yeah, I don't get why people are complaining about that, but this one's straight-up terrible: * Department of Foreign Affairs Instructed To Meet Quota Of Terror The Prime Minister's Office instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs in April of 2015, with an election looming, to ensure a minimum of three Terrorism Warning media releases each week. The bureaucrats of the Department declined to meet the "odd" demand for a quota, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugor Hill Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 So many embellishments and dramatics in that last Warhippy copypasta. Oh no a journalist was reprimanded because he asked questions when he knew the event he attended was a no-questions event. Suppression! If these embellishments are really what people are peddling as to why Harper is so bad, they make him seem not so bad at all. I guess what Mr. Ambien is trying to say is that there are 69 solid reasons to get rid of Harper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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