[OnTheIce]

bootlegga bootlegga:

2Cdo 2Cdo:

Liberals should be praising Harper for this, just like they did when Chretein and company did. But we know they will condemn him, forgetting that they praised the same action in the past.

You're partly right and partly wrong.

Yes, Chretien did this too, but there are two very key differences.

Chretien got into office with a $30+ billion deficit and was FORCED to do this. I doubt Chretien would have cut any social program if he hadn't had to. The military sure, but that's a different point altogether.

The other is that Harper promised during the last election that he wouldn't cut health spending when pressed during the debate and my the media.

So Curtman is also correct, he kept his promise not to cut health care this year, but may cut it in the coming years. My guess is if the economy doesn't turn around, it will see cuts.

So Chretien was FORCED to cut health care, but Harper isn't?

The deficit has to be corrected. Regardless whether it was the bag left by that turd Mulroney or the recession, this needs to be corrected.

Harper has to maintain increases at 6% annually (until 2014) while Provinces like Ontario, are taking 3% off that and using it elsewhere.

Ontario received a 6% increase in health transfer payments yet only increased their own health spending by 3%.

How can Provinces like Ontario cry about this when they aren't even taking the increase they're receiving?

[bootlegga]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

bootlegga bootlegga:

2Cdo 2Cdo:

Liberals should be praising Harper for this, just like they did when Chretein and company did. But we know they will condemn him, forgetting that they praised the same action in the past.

You're partly right and partly wrong.

Yes, Chretien did this too, but there are two very key differences.

Chretien got into office with a $30+ billion deficit and was FORCED to do this. I doubt Chretien would have cut any social program if he hadn't had to. The military sure, but that's a different point altogether.

The other is that Harper promised during the last election that he wouldn't cut health spending when pressed during the debate and my the media.

So Curtman is also correct, he kept his promise not to cut health care this year, but may cut it in the coming years. My guess is if the economy doesn't turn around, it will see cuts.

So Chretien was FORCED to cut health care, but Harper isn't?

The deficit has to be corrected. Regardless whether it was the bag left by that turd Mulroney or the recession, this needs to be corrected.

Harper has to maintain increases at 6% annually (until 2014) while Provinces like Ontario, are taking 3% off that and using it elsewhere.

Ontario received a 6% increase in health transfer payments yet only increased their own health spending by 3%.

How can Provinces like Ontario cry about this when they aren't even taking the increase they're receiving?

No, Harper likely will be forced to do so too - the difference is he inherited a $14 BILLION surplus from the Liberals, unlike Chretien who inherited a $30+ BILLION deficit.

Now, while he might still have gone into deficit, the deficit would be far smaller had he not eliminated in his first couple years in office. Apparently everyone in the world except for our supposed 'economist' PM could see the storm clouds on the horizon.

Then what did he do after the bubble burst - and while the US was mired in recession - he passed MORE tax cuts for corporations made a bad situation worse.

Frankly, he's done everything in his power to make a mess of our country's economics. Yes, there's nothing he can do about commoidty prices, global financial fraud and everything else going on, but he is in part responsible for our deficit being as large as it is.

The thing is that conservatives like you give him a pass on all of this.

I'll agree the deficit is not entirely his fault, but a fair-sized part definitely is.

[OnTheIce]

bootlegga bootlegga:

No, Harper likely will be forced to do so too - the difference is he inherited a $14 BILLION surplus from the Liberals, unlike Chretien who inherited a $30+ BILLION deficit.

And Chretien didn't face a World-wide economic recession where every Nation was borrowing money to pump stimulus money to get the economy going again.

bootlegga bootlegga:

Now, while he might still have gone into deficit, the deficit would be far smaller had he not eliminated in his first couple years in office. Apparently everyone in the world except for our supposed 'economist' PM could see the storm clouds on the horizon.

What did he eliminate in his first few years in office that would have lowered the deficit? I hope you're not referring to the surplus money.

In regards to our government not pressing the panic button at the hint of a recession is clear....the minute you start mentioning that, people stop spending and start preparing for the recession.

bootlegga bootlegga:

Then what did he do after the bubble burst - and while the US was mired in recession - he passed MORE tax cuts for corporations made a bad situation worse.

Frankly, he's done everything in his power to make a mess of our country's economics. Yes, there's nothing he can do about commoidty prices, global financial fraud and everything else going on, but he is in part responsible for our deficit being as large as it is.

Then how to you explain our lowering unemployment rate the the fact that Canada was in much better shape coming out of the recession than just about anyone else?

bootlegga bootlegga:

The thing is that conservatives like you give him a pass on all of this.

I'll agree the deficit is not entirely his fault, but a fair-sized part definitely is.

I don't blame people, regardless of their political stripes for situations that are out of their control. Quibbling over a few billion dollars in tax cuts during a massive recession is small-minded thinking while ignoring the big picture.

[martin14]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Frankly, he's done everything in his power to make a mess of our country's economics. Yes, there's nothing he can do about commoidty prices, global financial fraud and everything else going on, but he is in part responsible for our deficit being as large as it is.

It's been said before, obviously to no avail.

Poke your head over the hedge and have a look around the neighbors;
we have been doing fairly well by comparison.

[Regina]

Curtman Curtman:

Regina Regina:

That WAS a bullshit header.

Not really..

Did you read the actual link smart guy?

[Curtman]

Regina Regina:

Curtman Curtman:

Regina Regina:

That WAS a bullshit header.

Not really..

Did you read the actual link smart guy?

You found the ":Premiers" to be objectionable?

[andyt]

Don't see what was wrong with Curt's headline:
Federal health cuts would drain $36B from provincial coffers, premiers warn

http://www.canada.com/health/Federal+he ... story.html

[Curtman]

andyt andyt:

Don't see what was wrong with Curt's headline:
Federal health cuts would drain $36B from provincial coffers, premiers warn

http://www.canada.com/health/Federal+he ... story.html

It wasn't my headline at all. I'm just wondering whats the fuss with it.

[Regina]

Curtman Curtman:

You found the ":Premiers" to be objectionable?

You find the same header?

[Curtman]

Regina Regina:

Curtman Curtman:

You found the ":Premiers" to be objectionable?

You find the same header?

If that's what the problem is, then that's all I wanted to know. OTI blamed him for spinning the title. I don't see how you can say it's spin by saying who said the cuts would happen.

Seems a bit silly, that's all. Not my call though, so do what you will.

[Regina]

This was the original header. You see anything like it in the actual story?

"Ottawa cutting health funding by $36B over 10 years: Premiers"

[Regina]

I called bullshit and you said "Not really"

[RUEZ]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Love the slant Beaver put on this one, changing the title to suit his views.

"Ottawa cutting health funding by $36B over 10 years: Premiers"

How fast would you lefties be foaming at the mouth if one of us evil CPC people did that?

Only partisan cocks change headlines to suit their agendas.

[RUEZ]

bootlegga bootlegga:

No, Harper likely will be forced to do so too - the difference is he inherited a $14 BILLION surplus from the Liberals, unlike Chretien who inherited a $30+ BILLION deficit.

Sure, and then the world got bitch slapped with a recession. How does that figure into your equation?

[Curtman]

Regina Regina:

This was the original header. You see anything like it in the actual story?

"Ottawa cutting health funding by $36B over 10 years: Premiers"

Yes, the exact same title without the ": Premiers".