Torys rack up $29 Billion Surplus

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Wonder what they'll be doing with this. Amazing people who pay for their health care still can't get the health care they need. Our country seems to be lagging behind others.

Gov'ts racked up a collective $29B surplus last year

OTTAWA (CP) - Statistics Canada says governments at all levels racked up a collective surplus of $29 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, a billion more than in 2006.

It's only the second time in 20 years that the combined surplus - covering federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments and the Canada and Quebec pension plans - has been that high

The governments together collected $603 billion and spent $575 billion.

About 72 per cent of the spending went to health, education, social services and debt charges.

Education spending rose 10.2 per cent to $90 billion last year, the largest annual percentage increase among the four components, while health spending was up 7.9 per cent to $107 billion.

However, the report says health spending jumped 39 per cent over the last five years, the highest increase among the four.

The link

Cheers.

[princelh]

Money to throw around this fall, when the next election is expected. Goodbye Dion. Belinda is already auditioning for the job. Her breast cancer story will just allow her to look like a fighter. Most people would try to keep it private, but her publicist is giving the expicit details to the press. It may indeed work, but she's as much a lightweight as Dion. Harper will pile drive anyone they currently have to throw at him.

[franko]

Dreaming again, are we, prince? Another minority government on the way, followed by another one in four years.

Yup, the only way there'll be a fal eelction is if the Tories engineer one, and it'll be pretty obvioius. More points for the opposition.

Harper's window passed.

[CentreHice]

princelh said:

Money to throw around this fall, when the next election is expected. Goodbye Dion. Belinda is already auditioning for the job. Her breast cancer story will just allow her to look like a fighter. Most people would try to keep it private, but her publicist is giving the expicit details to the press. It may indeed work, but she's as much a lightweight as Dion. Harper will pile drive anyone they currently have to throw at him.

Conservatives good, Liberals bad.

I thought Stronach had already announced she was leaving politics and returning to Magna.

And franko, I think most Canadians feel nothing but contempt for mid-term "engineered" elections....trumped-up issues, inflated promises, character-assassination....all for an opportunistic grab for total power at a ridiculous, unnecessary cost to the voters.

Sometimes, they backfire (David Peterson)....and I'm glad they do.

[franko]

CH -- I agree with you regarding the engineered mid-term elections -- which is (1) why we haven't had an election this spring (Harper knews that the general public would jump on him for one [he also knew that he didn't 't poll high enough to do anything and may have even lost seats]) and (2) same for a fall eelction.

Add to the fact aht he passed a law saying that the government couldn't call for one on a whim and that one has been slated for October 2009 means another year of petty squabbling.

[Deleted]

Maybe we should give communism a try.

[duster]

Good idea. All people are created equal. Some are more equal than others.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

duster said:

Good idea. All people are created equal. Some are more equal than others.

So we've been led to believe.

Seriously, guys, $29 billion in surplus could do quite a bit. I hope I'm not alone in my belief, but I've always thought there was enough money to properly fund those areas that required it; health care, education, etc, if it were managed properly. However, I'm also convinced (as of the last Grit government) that we're not always privy as to where our monies are being routed to. I think ADSCAM is only the tip of the iceberg.

The money is there and yet our social programs are suffering. Can't wait for the next time these nincompoops give themselves raises.

Cheers.

[franko]

mattdhf said:

Maybe we should give communism a try.

Can I be the czar of the commune?

[princelh]

Dion will be the stupid one, when the Tories back him into a corner over the war. Him and the NDP will pull the trip wire and be punished harshly by the Canadian public. Harper will wrap himself in the Canadian Flag and use the patriotism card to gain a resounding triumph. The Liberals will fall to 50 seats and convene another leadership race, where Madam Stronach will reappear and wrestle the reigns away from another know-nothing Liberal with no ethics.

[franko]

princelh said:

Dion will be the stupid one, when the Tories back him into a corner over the war. Him and the NDP will pull the trip wire and be punished harshly by the Canadian public. Harper will wrap himself in the Canadian Flag and use the patriotism card to gain a resounding triumph.

Just wondering . . . are your from Alberta? No? Then where in the world do you get that idea? Harpre's only hope is that Afghanistan takes a back seat somewhere. Patriotism doesn't win elections, and most certainly won't win this one. The war] conflict doesn't play wel in Quebec or in 416-905 where a number of seats are to be won (or lost). Atlantic Canada? Not the greatest of Harper fans right now either -- and if he does try to make a comeback there the Liberals are ready with "he lied last time, why buy his lies this time?" (Liberal liesa re forgiven; Conservative ones are not).

The Liberals will fall to 50 seats

This is not the Conservative Party of Brian Mulroney . . . this is the disgraced Liberal Party of Jean Chretien/Paul Martin . . . and anti-Liberal memories are short [see: Canadian history]

[Cranky]

Gee, I wonder where this windfall came from. Could it be....could it be....HIGHER OIL PRICES?

It's amazing how easily some of you want to spend MY portion of the excessive tax fleecing. Could I please pay less taxes and you guys can donate YOUR money to whatever cause you like.


As for Harper....

I wanted Igniatiff. I can't possibly vote for Dion because I think that he is a spit and polished version of Chretien. Chretien had ""the little guy from Shawiniggan" and Dion has "the little eco saviour from Quebec city". Pffft.....

[Disgruntled70sHab]

franko said:

Patriotism doesn't win elections, and most certainly won't win this one.

I was involved in a political debate with a traditional Liberal (family lines) who tried to tell me that the average Canadian is very careful with their vote ... well, that's the opening I needed actually. The average Canadian really doesn't have a smick about issues and only wants to be told what they want to hear.

The war] conflict doesn't play wel in Quebec or in 416-905 where a number of seats are to be won (or lost). Atlantic Canada? Not the greatest of Harper fans right now either -- and if he does try to make a comeback there the Liberals are ready with "he lied last time, why buy his lies this time?" (Liberal liesa re forgiven; Conservative ones are not).

You had it right the first time, Franko. It's a war. The problem is that the nation isn't suffering because of it. Excluding military families, life goes on as normal with no personal sacrifices for John Q. Canadian. It's really hard to see that we are a nation at war.

As for Tory popularity, you're right about Harper. I don't mind a minority government but I'd had to see him with a majority.

However, if an election is called I think we'll probably see another minority government. Yet, the fact is, neither the Grits nor the NDP can afford to bring the government down right now. Both parties are leaderless. The Torys won't call one as the average Canadian doesn't want one so soon; call one now and Harper's minority just gets that much smaller. The Block? They can't bring down the government because they'll need help doing it. But they won't be able to rely on the NDP nor the Liberals to help them out right now.

The Liberals will fall to 50 seats

This is not the Conservative Party of Brian Mulroney . . . this is the disgraced Liberal Party of Jean Chretien/Paul Martin . . . and anti-Liberal memories are short [see: Canadian history]
[/quote]
Absolutely ... first, thank the Chretien/Martin feud for leaving their party in shambles. Secondly, you're right in that, the voters of Ontario have extremely short memories. I still can't believe people will vote for a party that was caught robbing them blind.

In keeping with the thread, I think Harper is in the driver's seat with this surplus. The opposition parties can denounce but that's all they can do. I'm hoping health care, education and the military get the nod.

Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

habsaddict said:

Gee, I wonder where this windfall came from. Could it be....could it be....HIGHER OIL PRICES?

It's amazing how easily some of you want to spend MY portion of the excessive tax fleecing. Could I please pay less taxes and you guys can donate YOUR money to whatever cause you like.

Agreed on both counts. If the Torys keep going the way they are, it won't matter how much people contribute to their RRSPs. Everyone will be getting less on their returns and more people will be paying back.

As for Harper....

I wanted Igniatiff. I can't possibly vote for Dion because I think that he is a spit and polished version of Chretien. Chretien had ""the little guy from Shawiniggan" and Dion has "the little eco saviour from Quebec city". Pffft.....

Well, at least it's not Stockwell Day or Preston Manning. But, as I was saying to Franko, I wouldn't trust Harper with a majority government.

$29 billion man ... what would you do with it?

Cheers.