gdp's Comments

Macleans.ca : Money goes in, money goes out

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 20:00:34 +0000

Only the candidates should be allowed tax exemption stats!

Macleans.ca : Parliament will fight

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:00:28 +0000

Why Harper can't walk and Chew gum. [youtube eabExF3M5kM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eabExF3M5kM youtube]

Macleans.ca : Does Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament bother you?

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 20:18:12 +0000

Didn't realize I could embed on here. Part 2/2 Richard Colvin's senate committee testimony on Afstan detainee complicity.[youtube eabExF3M5kM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eabExF3M5kM youtube]

Macleans.ca : Does Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament bother you?

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 20:16:06 +0000

Part 1/2 Richard Colvin senate testimony Afstan Detainee complicity. [youtube nLycAWlnkgU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLycAWlnkgU youtube]

Macleans.ca : Canadian democracy is broken

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:30:03 +0000

The canadian democracy as it currently stands is nothing more than a Tyranny of the Majority for the minority provinces and a Tyranny of the English majority for the french speaking Quebecois. We need an Equal Senate to promote a vision for the nation as opposed to what all of the national parties are promoting now which is a vision for the majority of the population, or Tyranny of the majority pop. Equal to promote a vision for the majority of the Provinces in the federation or a vision for the nation if you will. Unelected so as not to challenge the supremacy of the elected Rep by pop HOC, and Ontario's majority. Appointed by the prov to rep the prov and appease the Premiers and remain non-partisan and out of the purview of the Tyranny of the majority pop national parties. Bilingual (functionally, Culturally) to appease the Quebecois (French speaking minority) in what is otherwise as far as Quebecois are concerned a Tyranny of the Majority English Speaking population. Problem is any national party that advocates equality in the senate for PEI with Ontario will never get a majority and as such it is a catch 22. Consider it has already been tried with Meechlake and Charlo9ttetown accords and failed miserably. So I guess we are doomed to balkanize the HOC instead of the Senate.

Macleans.ca : If Canada’s democracy is indeed broken, as Paul Wells and Andrew Coyne suggest, would mandatory vo

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:34:35 +0000

I would rather go to jail than vote for a national Tyranny of the majority pop party due to our systemically flawed per capita Colonialist democracy.

Macleans.ca : Our democracy: Now broken on demand

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:08:56 +0000

Macleans.ca : The life of the party

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:51:43 +0000

Just another CAT in our systemically flawed Tyranny of the majority (Mouseland) democracy Where the only representation is by population and a vision for the majority of the members of the federation Provinces is sadly lacking in all of the PROXY parties of the Upper Lower canada majority.

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 18:56:17 +0000

And lo, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians led all the rest Cross Examination by Averill Baker The Charter The last line in the poem Abou Ben Adam reads, “And Lo Ben Adam’s name led all the rest.” Amen. Figures were released three weeks ago identifying the provinces that contribute the most to the Canadian economy in exports to foreign countries and lo Newfoundlanders and Labradorians led all the rest – again. But, this time, it’s in spades, as the gamblers say, with the one-eyed-jack-of-diamonds-and-the-devil-close-behind way. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians now contribute more to the Canadian economy per capita than any other Canadians to such a remarkable degree that it makes one feel sympathy toward Canadians from other provinces. Other Canadians who look at these recent figures must feel embarrassed that Newfoundlanders are, in economic terms, contributing so much more than they are to the Canadian economy. Canadians in Ontario and Alberta must feel like they’re on unemployment insurance with Newfoundlanders paying the bill. Quebecers and Maritimers must feel they are on welfare with Newfoundlanders paying the bill. In economic terms each Newfoundlander is now worth four Canadians from other provinces. It’s becoming embarrassing. And what is just as embarrassing is that historically, since 1949, this province, on average, on a per capita basis, has led all other Canadians in contributions to the Canadian economy. Of course, the billion dollars of power that we export indirectly to the United States shows up as Quebec’s power on the official figures. That’s one billion dollars of exports that must be taken from the Quebec column and counted as coming from this province. Oh yeah, says the economist, we lead every other province on a per person basis with just over a half a million people - of course Newfoundlanders and Labradorians lead the rest of Canada. Also we have always exported practically everything we produce - wood, pulp and paper, minerals, fish, and now oil. That is why we have always contributed more to the Canadian economy than any other Canadians on a per capita basis. And that is why some people sometimes suggest that we would have been better off had we not joined Canada or if we were today to separate from Canada. On the economic yardstick this province is in a far better position to separate and print its own money – just like we did prior to joining Canada. The Export Development Corporation in releasing its figures last month claimed that this province is now exporting about $4 billion of crude oil to the United States. It points out that Statistics Canada figures, used by the provincial government, are incorrect. Those incorrect figures, used by provincial governments and Ottawa, show that most of our exports of crude oil are going to other Canadian provinces for refining. The Export Development Corporation claims in their end of July report that in fact most of our crude is being shipped to the United States for refining and not to Canadian refineries. I believe the Export Development Corporation. Together with the power through Quebec, these adjustments are necessary to get to the truth about our exports to foreign nations. Some of our offshore crude and all of Voisey’s Bay nickel are shipped within Canada for processing and cannot be counted in values of exports. Voisey’s Bay nickel and Duck Pond copper and zinc, and iron ore, will lead exports of minerals next year. Where is Duck Pond you might ask? It’s around Trout Pond, which is next to a smaller pond called Goose Pond. The Newfoundland separatist makes a valid point in saying that if we were not a part of Canada all of our exports would be to foreign nations. Then look at the fantastic economic position we would be in. Maybe Major Peter Cashin and Malcolm Hollett were right in 1948. The only thing missing today is the quality of politician we had years ago - from the records of the National Convention and Hansard, quality politicians like Peter Cashin, Malcolm Hollett, Gordon Bradley, Joey Smallwood, James Chaulker, Dr. Jim McGrath, Dr. Fred Rowe, Bill Rowe, Charlie Ballam, C. Max Lane, Ed Roberts, John Crosbie, James McGrath, Clyde Wells, Nathaniel Noel, Bill Marshall, Dr. Noel Murphy, Ambrose Peddle, Jack Pickersgill, Dr. Frecker, Tom Hickey, John Lundrigan, Jim Morgan etc. etc. Yes, today we do have some outstanding politicians, like Danny Williams, but they are like hen’s teeth – they’re hard to find.

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 18:55:30 +0000

What you conveniently or ignorantly omit to mention is that this isn't about equalization this is a breaking of a bilateral agreement between two provinces in this federation and their federal government. An agreement that corrected a contravention of the constitution which states provinces own, control, and are to be the primary beneficiaries of their own non-renewable resources. Otherwise Upper/Lower canada own, control, and are the primary beneficiaries of NL's non-renewable resources to the tune of 66% and NL get's 1.5%. Hence my pointing out canada is nothing short of Per Capita Colonialism. Democratic Discrimination by all of the national PROXY parties of the Upper/Lower canada majority against the minority provinces. Tyranny of the majority by all of the national PROXY parties of the Upper/Lower canada majority. The Supreme Court of Canada basically said that the 'only' reason the off-shore could be considered to be owned by Canada is because of third-party international law. The court actually said that the status of these resources is very much in the hands of NL. They demonstrated their meaning by saying, and I paraphrase, 'not-with-standing international laws, NL brought those resources into Canada, and NL can take them back out'. So in response to this the Atlantic Accord compromise was reached. In that deal the rest of Canada gets to suck the teat of yet more of our resources. Harper has twice unilaterally violated that compromise agreement in order to suck a little more out of NL's share. Talk about bumming off the poor!

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 14:36:48 +0000

Liberal, or Conservative whatever it doesn't matter what national party you elect MP's to they are all the same when you belong to a minority prov in this phoney federation. All of the national parties have to work within the same tyranny of the majority system where in order to win power you need to be on the good side of the majority and the majority in this confederation live in Ontario and Quebec. 66% to be exact and further to that some 50%of the canadian population live in the urban cities none of which count from our province. You must be delusional if you think any national party will go to bat for 1.5% of the population and that includes the MP's you elect to those same national parties. Sure we don't even comprise the margin of error in the polls which is usually 3%. It isn't the national parties we need to change as we have seen it is the political system of Democratic Discrimination against the minority provinces by all of the national parties in favor of vote buying in the majority provinces. You could be playing this game till the cows come home of electing one or the other national proxy parties for ON/QU and expecting a different result it is time to stop the insanity. These are all symptoms the real root cause of our place in confederation is our lack of equality. If you really want to send a message to the confederation and have your elected MP's stand up for you tell them to cross the floor and stand up as Newfoundland and Labrador First MP's. As for defeating the budget it can only be done with the Liberals or in the Senate that is assuming Iggy doesn't tell the Liberal senators to pass it Like Dion did. So much for sober second thought. The senate is nothing but an extension of the systemically flawed HOC Per Capita Colonialism. EQUALITY OR EXIT!

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 14:32:39 +0000

The Supreme Court of Canada basically said that the 'only' reason the off-shore could be considered to be owned by Canada is because of third-party international law. The court actually said that the status of these resources is very much in the hands of NL. They demonstrated their meaning by saying, and I paraphrase, 'not-with-standing international laws, NL brought those resources into Canada, and NL can take them back out'. So in response to this the Atlantic Accord compromise was reached. In that deal the rest of Canada gets to suck the teat of yet more of our resources. Harper has twice unilaterally violated that compromise agreement in order to suck a little more out of NL's share. Talk about bumming off the poor!

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 14:19:37 +0000

Let’s put this in perspective for the rest of Canada, at $1.5 billion, that’s about $3,000 worth of extra debt every man, woman and child in Newfoundland and Labrador will have thrust on their back by Stephen Harper and his vindictive government — on top of the highest per capita provincial debt in the country. The rest of Canada seems to see this as a bit of a side show, but if they were taking the hit would they be crying foul? You bet they would. If a hit of $3,000 each was taken by the other province, let’s see what the calculations would show. For Ontario the figure $36.48 billion flows from the 2006 census and the 3k each for Harper. Quebec takes a $22.64 billion hypothetical swipe from the feds. British Columbia would see $12.34 billion extracted from its budget. Alberta, the prime minister’s home province, would feel the $9.87 billion pinch. A $3.45 billion swat at Manitoba wouldn’t go over well. Saskatchewan would find a $2.90 billion addition to its debt painful. Nova Scotia would likely balk at the $2.74 billion hit. New Brunswick’s share of $2.20 billion would definitely hurt. Prince Edward Island’s $3,000 per capita adds up to .41 billion. Add in the swipe at the Territories and the federal treasury stands to swell by about $95 billion. Would that cause a stir? It would sure wipe out the deficit.

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 07:09:53 +0000

Why then was it necessary to give NS a side deal to compenmsate fro loses to their non-renewable resource revenues under the Atlantic Accord? Let’s put this in perspective for the rest of Canada, at $1.5 billion, that’s about $3,000 worth of extra debt every man, woman and child in Newfoundland and Labrador will have thrust on their back by Stephen Harper and his vindictive government — on top of the highest per capita provincial debt in the country. The rest of Canada seems to see this as a bit of a side show, but if they were taking the hit would they be crying foul? You bet they would. If a hit of $3,000 each was taken by the other province, let’s see what the calculations would show. For Ontario the figure $36.48 billion flows from the 2006 census and the 3k each for Harper. Quebec takes a $22.64 billion hypothetical swipe from the feds. British Columbia would see $12.34 billion extracted from its budget. Alberta, the prime minister’s home province, would feel the $9.87 billion pinch. A $3.45 billion swat at Manitoba wouldn’t go over well. Saskatchewan would find a $2.90 billion addition to its debt painful. Nova Scotia would likely balk at the $2.74 billion hit. New Brunswick’s share of $2.20 billion would definitely hurt. Prince Edward Island’s $3,000 per capita adds up to .41 billion. Add in the swipe at the Territories and the federal treasury stands to swell by about $95 billion. Would that cause a stir? It would sure wipe out the deficit.

Angry in the Great White North : Mike Duffy and the Senate Problem

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 05:58:59 +0000

Under the Atlantic Accord NL was supposed to be the principal beneficiary of the resources on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland when the Accord was signed in 1985 by the Mulroney-Peckford governments. Mulroney oxymoronically said that he was not afraid to inflict prosperty on NL. During the Chretien government, the primary beneficiary was clearly Ottawa. Martin, the then finance minister took over top job and was likely embarrassed by his government's unashamed rip off of the intent of the Atlantic Accord. During a preelection visit, he agreed to a one time payment of 2 billion dollars to make amends. The Liberals tried to weasel out of the commitment. Williams had a fit, flags down, etc. One disturbing comment made by an Ottawa minion at that time was NL will pay (for this acrimony). In the new budget, Ontario gets $1 billion and NL looses $1.6 billion. It is a puzzle to me how the feds can unabashedly change these agreements/accords. What became of the principle 'a contract is a contract' a la Churchill Falls. Incidentally, the equalization payments beginning in January 2009: Ontario - $347 million Quebec - $8.35 billion Manitoba - $2.1 billion New Brunswick - $1.69 billion Nova Scotia - $1.57 billion P.E.I. - $340 million NL - $O. Newfoundland and Labrador Energy plan. NLEP. EQUALITY OR EXIT!

Angry in the Great White North : Budget Vote Fallout: Piteous cheering from a rotten borough

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:07:50 +0000

Angry in the Great White North : Budget Vote Fallout: Piteous cheering from a rotten borough

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 02:18:15 +0000

The Canadian confederation is a sham. It is nothing more than. Tyranny of the majority, Per Capita Colonialism, Democratic Discrimination by all of the national proxy parties of the majority ON/QU against the minority, Reverse robin hood. Steal from the poor minority and give to the vote rich majority. And those are the nice terms. Don't give us your crap about feed us please on a per capita basis NL'ians have contributed four times as much as the next nearest province.

Angry in the Great White North : Michael Ignatieff is already wounded, even if he reins in his MPs

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 02:14:13 +0000

Angry in the Great White North : Michael Ignatieff caves to Danny Williams

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 02:09:22 +0000