The Liberals et al, are also pushing for revisions to the EI regulations to allow people to qualify after only 45 days. It is dificult to see how this will lower the deficit. I expect that the Government would like to reign in spending, and only got to where we are now because of the threat from the “coalition”.
$50 billion is a large sum, but it pales in comparison [per capita] with the U.S., which seems to be out of control. The only saving grace is that in the U.S. there are midterm elections which allow the voters to send a message, and, of course, the government can’t fall, because they[sensibly] have fixed terms.

All of the parties spend so much energy & resources attacking each other , it is disgusting. Why can they notjust do the job they are being paid to do run the country in the most efficent manner

This is the sort of message you should have been working on long ago, instead of the useless rant about a measly 5% reduction in MP salaries.

A very strong, hardhitting comment that absolutely needed to be made! Ignatieff should be disgusted with himself using such a stupid, moronic arguement. Their comments on Flahery’s need to resign made me sick!

I live with my son who is 26 and has been unemployed for over 2 years. He has no income, no life and is not entitled to any financial help.

He has been sending 40 resumes a day with no luck. I have to support him on my measly $18.50/hr.

This is why we came to this country 32 years ago? What governmental corruption. He is not entitled to even get a welware, due to the fact he lives with me. What BS.

You are far, far too polite in your commentary on the lunacy that we have called government in this country for the past 40-odd years since Dick Nixon took us off the the gold standard in August 1971. I travel regularly to Nigeria, and see little difference between the corrupt resource-based economy there and our here, where we also have a total lack of accountability on the part of all levels of government.

To date, they have gotten away with it, at the same time selling out our country to outside interests to the point where we even have a “Harvard man” running credibly for prime minister. Ignatieff should not ashamed, he should be gone.

It is a sad situation. If the world knew the real story in Canada, they would be aghast. We are still riding on the coat-tails of Lester Pearson. Since then, leadership has been in poor supply and we have gotten by only because we sit on the front porch while others from down south come through and pay for the resources they extract. And our governments have now created a dysfunctional society of poverty and oppression, enslaving the public. As Mel Hurtig found in 2007, 97% of the private wealth in Canada is held by 5% of the population. Now it is worse. Our banks are a cartel, an olygopoly, and are quietly living off of the wealth of our country while our dumbed-down, dependency governments now run up deficits and mortgage the next generation to the hilt out of their own greed.

This is not a short-term depression. This is a long term problem, and at no level anywhere in the country is anything being done about it. We have become a vassal state, run by gangsters for their foreign masters.

Flaherty’s $50 deficit is only the beginning. By Fall it will be double, or more. The Liberals, such as billionaire Martin and the rest, should not be ashamed, they should be investigated and have their assets seized and returned to the people that they have been robbing for years.

Soon it will be time to rise up. These old age gangsters have no defences to the charges against them. Now is our chance.

It is time for a new age of respect, accountability and the rules of natural justice. These are the core values of our legal system, and indeed of all legal systems in the world, and of all religions as well.

Douglas.

The politcians are so simple minded. There is no way the comics on Airfarce won’t jump on this one. It will probably be titiled the battle between Iggy the piggy and Shame On You.LoL . Seriously though I think that some day we will need to re-arrange the increments in our currency.We have coined the one and two dollar bills. The penny could be extinct in the near future so maybe we will need to bump up to the follar or the tollar what ever we name it. This follar or tollar would have the value of ten dollars. This way here we would only be five billion follars or tollars in debt. P.S. I’ve been hit by the recession too. I think the idleness is making me as crazy as everyone else.

Liberals, NDPs & Bloc Heads have no honest vision how to run the government. They always critize the reigning government, which is right as the oppositions, but in a very, very corrupt way. The thought of forming a “coalition” is just an example of their twisted ideas of how to run a government. God help us if that happened.

Your comment on the ‘coalition’ and their desire to spend billions more than the Conservatives propsed is not only a good reminder - it also shows how ‘insane and inconsistent’ the Liberal party is. They don’t have a clue on what they said a few months ago. Also IF they (LIberals) call for the firing of Flaherty as justified , then Ignatieff, as the leader of the LIberal party that signed the coalition with the Bloc and NDP that proposed to spend billions more than the Conservatives, should be axed as well. Talk about poor quality politicians and lack of thought. I am getting so SICK and tired of the whole thing.

My pitchfork is sharpened and ready. The UK is on the verge of rebellion and Canada will soon follow.

The Liberal party - leaders and followers are corrupt crooks or wannabe crooks who want lots for nothing.

Harper, who was a hero of mine, has lost his way and is actually following the dictates of the ridiculous Iggy and Rae. A Harris is required immediately. Any candidates?

I have to agree with Simon Aster who wrote; “Harper, who was a hero of mine, has lost his way and is actually following the dictates of the ridiculous Iggy and Rae. A Harris is required immediately. Any candidates?”

How about Jason Kenney?

I lived through the depression of the 1930s .I feel verry sad when i think of what we are in for.10 years of hell.a 14 yrs old boy ,just cast out in the world.You soon find out who your friends are.Politicians are no help They have no answers so they fight between themselves.My heart goes out to all those caugt up in this.Since 1945 Trillions of dollars have been added to the value of CANADA .Surely some cooperation can be found in our vast new world of TECHNOLOGY to solve this.Remember I said TRILLIIONS.of new Wealth.Lets Give the unemployed a Break. Doug

You mention “Liberal hypocrisy and the Media”. Nearly all of the comments have been about liberal hypocrisy about which I entirely agree. But nobody seems to be stating anything about the media which is the real problem because about 90% of Canada’s media is indirectly controlled by the Liberal Party of Canada. All broadcasting, radio and tv, is controlled by the lib-left CRTC. How many newspapers and magazines or periodicals have a balanced position, let alone a conservative point of view? The Canadian people are heavily influenced by what they read and see. Why, therefore, would the Liberals want to play the game straight when they know they can get away with all this nonsense? The media simply has no accountability in this country.

“Get thee glass eyes; and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see the things thou dost not.” William Shakespeare , from King Lear Act IV, Scene 6: the old King to Gloucester in the countryside outside Dover.
Very apt!

Give your head a shake.
The left wing press in Canada asking the Liberals NDP and Block to speak the truth about what they were proposing to spend had the Coalition gone forth.
When pigs fly or hell freezes over.
The Canadian press is no different than the US press FAR LEFT, the US press elected Obama nad the Canadain press will elect Ignatief. In Canada The Toronto Star and the CBC lead the parade in the US the New York times and NBC
Obama is Trudeau on steroids he is ruining the country I expect Ignatief wiil do much the same.
JM

Regressive economic policies of our dysfunctional Federal government are creating Third World living conditions for all Canadian communities with rampant poverty that is leading to multiple social problems.

Current events create future trends. Sustainability requires the intervention of our governments at all levels, and these governments alone have the responsibility of acting proactively, with foresight and without procrastination to protect the commons. However, as we are all witnessing now, most Canadian governments do not have the vision, courage or proactive leadership to look into the future and to implement common sense policies that will provide for the welfare of present and future generations. Canadian politicians and government bureaucrats have, for long time, used the public treasury as a slush fund in the way they promise more than they can deliver, and deliver more than they can afford on unnecessary bureaucracy, expensive non-essential luxury and unsustainable social programs. Defying our will they are wasting our money on inefficient car manufacturers that are already doomed for bankruptcy rather than help the unemployed and their struggling families weather these times. Also, politicians coercively abuse their power and authority to line their pockets with excessive salary, pension and severance entitlements, perversely support their political party activities with expensive advertising campaigns with hopes to sway public opinion, or achieve their political (often hidden) agendas. For those who haven’t read the latest news headlines, the heads of the Canada Pension Plan are slated to take home millions in bonus payouts this year, even as the fund struggles and the economy slips deeper into recession.

Large coercive political and economic institutions are anathema and must be held directly accountable for their irresponsibility, intentional obscurity and dishonesty; they continue to betray the public trust. Their deplorable actions create the financial black holes that implant negative entropy that accelerates the deterioration of our society and hinders every effort in preparation for a sustainable future. We are propelling ourselves into a future of not so uncharted territory where we should reasonably foresee fierce competition for food and shelter to become the vicissitudes that we ought to be prepared to face. As we devolve, we can expect a chasm of economic and political order on a scale that will leave the unprepared in various modes of desperation for the basic elements necessary for the sustenance of healthful life. Government policies that are not owned by the people will not sustain themselves as governments change. History illustrates how governments abuse authority and marginalize people who dare assert their human rights for freedom and justice. Central governments, unwilling to relinquish their potency to control and manage, could resort to authoritarian rule servicing legalized thugs, police and military to indiscriminately incriminate, confiscate, expropriate, and incarcerate any person or groups who present challenge or opposition. Fear will become the principle instrument of domination, and only the true patriots - defenders of equity, equality, freedom and justice for all - will muster the courageous to fight oppression.

This is why it is imperative that we, the commons, make sure that we utilize our collective powers of free will to ensure that politicians adopt, and adhere to, a system of governance that has citizen primacy as its basic tenet; one that recognizes that all humans are created equal and have natural and unalienable rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, security of the person and his private property, together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.

It is the responsibility of Canadians everywhere to be vigilant and stand on guard against unconstitutional laws backed by the will of an entrenched government that has decided on a course of action and has at its disposal the significant resources of unwitting taxpayers. Canadian decision makers have squandered much of their moral authority, leaving Canadians realizing with little hope that their present governments will change egocentric trends. For those politicians who continue to ignore Canadians’ grumbling over the shackles that deprive self-respecting individuals of their dignity, take heed. Truculence is particularly strong among workers and housewives, professional and small businessmen. The fires of freedom are stoked by the will to be free and the revolutionary tinderbox is nearing full and needs only leadership to ignite it.

I am so sick of the attach ad the conservative govenment is airing in regard to Iggy and his years teaching in U.S.A.. I am sure he was interested in running for government in the U.S.A. BUT, it did not happen because he has Canadian citizenship along with U.S.A. Perhaps if we had the same standards he would not be in the position of running for Prime Minister of Canada. Am I correct has he dual citizenship, and if so, does he qualify to be the prime minister of Canada. More importantly do we want him to be our Prime Minister.

do you think it is worth 1.4 million for each job saved in the auto industry

The media is tough on Mr. Harper. yet Mr. Harper seems to be doing his work as best he can with all the back stabbing. I do believe however they realize Mr. Harper is doing a better job than any one else at this time. The Liberals never had anyone stabbing them in the back like they are doing to Mr. Harper. But I do think one day that will backfire and Mr. Harper will come out the winner. He is tied between two wannabees making it almost impossible to work to the advantage of our country. But the west is routing for him.

The Liberal government, has always been for big business. When you look at Gordon Campbell, it becomes abundantly clear, he is assisting big business. The HST, is one good example. Campbell, says, the HST will enable the big companies to pass on their savings to the consumer. Not on your nelly will that ever happen. Campbell is probably looking for a huge kick back from those companies. Campbell and Harper, are working together. People don’t call the HST Harper’s Sales Tax for nothing. Campbell is very busy, hacking and cutting services as fast as he can. His actions will be the template for the rest of the provinces to follow. The corruption in Canada, has gone out of control, past redemption. Corruption, is what kills country’s and Canada is far down the list of the most corrupt country’s. How disgraceful is that?