So I was able to catch the Throne Speech afterall and as promised it was focused and succinct. Gilles Duceppe said that it was vague enough that he could support it. Jack Layton practically beamed since the Conservatives added points on day care spaces, electoral reform and recognition for seniors. They both were consulted with before hand and some of the input made it into the speech.
The Liberals, well they are clearly in full opposition mode. Fair enough, they are the Official Opposition. But for now the battle lines are drawn. The Conservatives can get legislative support on a case-by-case basis from the NDP or the BQ or both.
Most interesting thing of the day was when OL Bill Graham admitted that former Finance Minister Goodale has told him that the Government is flush with cash and there is enough room for both the GST cut and the income tax cut. Maybe that was the source for David Akin and it is not quite true. Or the Liberals were hiding massive
surpluses. I will let you decide that one. But the Liberals want to keep the income tax cut as a means of ensuring that we are competitive globally and our productivity is improved. So they are admitting that Canadians are overtaxed.
I say yes, a GST cut and an income tax cut is in order.
Comments (22)
Seems that Ralphie has changed his tune since the pre-election campaign when he said unequivocally that there wasn’t enough money for the CPC initiatives. I wonder why none of the media has picked this up.
Posted by barb | April 4, 2006 6:55 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 18:55
So they are admitting that Canadians are overtaxed.
Just like have been telling you for months — the Liberals are not a leftist party. They love tax cuts only slightly less than the CPC. So, far from “admitting” anything, they are embrasing their true nature.
Posted by Greg | April 4, 2006 7:07 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 19:07
“embracing” that is.
Posted by Greg | April 4, 2006 7:08 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 19:08
Bring on the double tax cuts.
Giddy up. I don’t care whose idea it is.
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | April 4, 2006 9:20 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 21:20
Ahh yes, the miniscule income tax cut.
Call me when the cut will cover more than the amount of money I spend annually on q-tips.
Posted by Chester | April 4, 2006 10:06 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 22:06
There’s room for both tax cuts and for the Conservatives to be able to fulfill their promises? The public won’t know what hit them.
Posted by Roby | April 4, 2006 10:10 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 22:10
You have dirty ears Chester?
Posted by Greg Staples | April 4, 2006 10:10 PM
Posted on April 4, 2006 22:10
‘Tis a throne speech Brian Mulroney would be proud of ….
Wait a bit, isn’t he a key advisor to Harper?
And didn’t he just about break up the country over his skewed deals with the provinces, trying to reduce the federal power in Canada?
Yup – Bustup Brian rides again.
All those who believe in a strong federal government will now face a fight with Harper trying in surreptitious ways to introduce his stealth agenda of a massive shift of financial and other powers from Canada to the provincial premiers.
This fight is going to be intense. Let’s hope there are leaders in Quebec, the NDP and LPC who will stand up for Canada.
Posted by CuriosityKilledTheCat | April 5, 2006 11:06 AM
Posted on April 5, 2006 11:06
Curiosity. Could you please explain how PM Mulroney “just about broke up the country”? Seems a tad revisionist to me.
PM Mulroney had a deal until Trudeau and his gang sold him out. The same PM Trudeau who created the mess in the first place.
Posted by Greg Staples | April 5, 2006 11:48 AM
Posted on April 5, 2006 11:48
Chester, spare us the “miniscule” arguement. The important element in tax cutting is the trend.
Tax increases are generally never huge either. But after 25 years of them, they add up.
Posted by Dr. Strangelove | April 5, 2006 11:52 AM
Posted on April 5, 2006 11:52
Bustup Brian tried to cement a majority party position for the Tories in Quebec by launching his accords, which would have stripped the central government of power and devolved substantial power to the provinces. The impact of Mulroney’s giveaways to the premiers would have been felt forever, as the chances of having national standards in things such as health care would have been substantially diminished.
Like Harper, Mulroney wanted to tilt power away from Ottawa, and let the premiers have more power. This would mean that a premier such as Mr. FiftyFivePercent Klein would call the shots on health care. Given the tribal politics in Quebec and the monolithic politics in Alberta, the Mulroney giveaways of federal power would have cemented in extraordinary power by the premiers of these provinces over their Canadians living there.
In the process, the genius of the Canadian federal system would have been crippled. Long term pain for short term gain. Just like Harper’s so-called fiscal imbalance and open federalism, which are code words for power devolution to the premiers.
Posted by CuriosityKilledTheCat | April 5, 2006 1:32 PM
Posted on April 5, 2006 13:32
Ahh, I thought you meant Quebec separation. Sorry about that.
Posted by Greg Staples | April 5, 2006 1:43 PM
Posted on April 5, 2006 13:43
Dr. Strangelove,
Ohh, I’m sorry, your right. I should be ever so greatful when, after years of paying tens of thousands of dollars in taxes, I “get back” a couple of hundred bucks.
And you see a trend do you?
It’s that sorta complacency and the “be thankful we’re getting back anything” approach, that has allowed our society to becomed paternalistic and statist.
Right now I pay about 50% of everything I take home in taxes. 50%.
After the tax cut, you know what percentage I’ll pay?
50% (unless you want to round at about the third decimal in).
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