This contempt charge is not criminal. It is procedural.
Its closest, but still poor, analogy is a contempt of court charge... 50 bucks and sit down and be quiet.

This is trumped up by partisan politics. Previous Liberal governments did much more with impunity because they held the majority. Normally this sort of theatrics wouldn't see light of day.

Debate on the G &M.

Most Corporations in Canada are small mom and pop operations just trying to feed their kids. They get to pay taxes twice. Once at 18% and again at whatever their income tax rate might be. People seem to assume corporations automatically = huge multi-nationals worth billions. We do have a few in Canada however. And more thinking of moving here if the rates go down.

Iggy beating this drum is bad timing given 60 min last night. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7360932n&tag=related;photovideo

Debate on the G &M.

Do the math? Well, Mr. Harper's budgets do anticipate our economy will grow. Hence our tax revenues will be better. But most people are not calculating the tar-sand production and its direct contribution to Canada's bottom line. The pipe lines still have not been built. Pipelines that will run for 100 years. Canada will be more like the Gulf Emirates than most of us can imagine. The difference being a significantly better distribution of wealth through our social programs. The 30 billion dollar jets start being delivered in 2018, with Cash on Delivery. They will keep coming until 2025. 30 billion even that inflated estimate by the liberal appointed budget officer, over 7 years is handle-able.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-unveils-income-splitting-plan-ignatieff-blasts-five-year-delay/article1959804/comments/

Globe and Mail 1000+ submissions.

5 elections in 10 years...

Canada has spent 900 million on elections it wouldn't have if we hadn't descended into successive minorities.  Any positive outcomes from a minority are long stale.  We need a majority.  The BQ is the spoiler, but it still can be done if everyone wakes up and smells the coffee.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-unveils-income-splitting-plan-ignatieff-blasts-five-year-delay/article1959804/comments/

A Facebook Debate:

Owen Abrey I don't buy the parliamentary democracy spin employed by the opposition parties. No other PM has survived in Minority position than Mr. Harper. Minority governments don't tend to survive long. Mr Harper, to his credit, has used every lever of our democracy to survive. You have to admit his moves have been brilliant. Not necessarily popular but necessary anyhow. So we only have 5 elections in the past decade not 6. All of the levers he used were laid down in Parliamentary legislation that was duly voted on by Parliament and the Senate. To say it is undemocratic is foolishness.a few seconds ago ·

F-35 controversy again.

The F-35 has a radar profile of a baseball at the speed of sound."

The Super Hornets are nice planes without a doubt.  But they would die without seeing what was attacking them.  Missiles are launched from 10s of miles away.  A steal jet gets them off while still being off the radar.  No radar, no missile launch.

The $ figure for the purchase of the f-35 is almost the same as the DIFFERENCE  between the budget Office ESTIMATE of the deficit 2010, and what the ACTUAL deficit.  We saved about that much last year.
The Budget Office predictions have been somewhat bizarre of late, almost partisan-if not thoroughly pessimistic.

Canada sent 6 planes to the Libya mission. 6.  Pathetic.  Why only 6?  Was the the number available to fly?  The rest in the shop?

Canada isn't paying 6.9 Billion to 30 billion up front.  We don't start paying until 2018, and pay only on delivery.  It might be 2025 before we get all 65 planes.

Canadian companies are going to earn 12 billion + supplying parts for 3,000 planes.  While the Budget Office was large on its cost estimates, it didn't allow for the tax revenues Canada will earn from its aeronautics sector.

Countries who are feet-dragging today will be clamoring tomorrow.

On the opening night of the Libya engagement, B2 Stealth bombers flew with impunity against enemy radar installations--quickly taking them out.  That is the advantage of stealth.  Previously unavailable to Nato and its allies, we now have an opportunity to acquire the technology.  Canadians war-gaming with the US, our f-18s against f-22s (stealth) were completely wiped out without seeing it coming.
10 years ago our pilot's skills would assure this would never happen.  Today is bad, tomorrow will be worse.

Lybia Dilemmas

Alethia
Predicaments: I can appreciate how it may be difficult for some to relate accordingly to this debate. To do so, really looks for persons who are old enough to remember Khadafi the terrorist. To have friends or family who died on that airliner explosion. To recall the rantings of that madman who vowed to destroy the west. Khadafi has been on a short leash ever since, the world forestalling its judgment largely because he has hidden behind Lybia's national skirts. Applauding the revolutionary movement of late, the west became committed. To back off, to allow the slaughter of the poorly armed previously peaceful demonstrators, would in effect unleash Khadafi to bring international terrorism to new levels. We could not go backwards, even if we wanted to.

The Canadian Voter

Quandaries: 1) Will Canadians vote largely because of economic management? 2) Will Canadians agree the Conservatives are anti-democratic and untrustworthy?

I think most Canadians are in camp #1, for a few reasons: Holding position #2 requires a fair amount of reading to come to an objective conclusion. I don't mean this with disrespect, but will the busy, working-to-survive Canadians take the time to do that research? No, I think if they vote at all they will vote from the gut & vote for economic stability.

The matter is compounded by the Canadian response to Libya. Canada is fighting for the fledgling democracy movement. How does that square with being undemocratic? Canada's response was the death-nell for that hope. Watching the TV, or vids on the internet will show Canada fighting for democracy. Reading through commons debate just doesn't cut it.  Voting from the gut is more easily founded in what one sees rather than what one hears/reads.

The angst: Canadians on the one hand will be swayed by the 6 planes (gah! 6 what a pathetic resposne!) that we sent. But the alternative would be that in reading up on the commons debate, one is left to conclude the matter at best is smoke and mirrors from opposition dominated committees.

The inane disconnect between Canada's deficit spending and history.

Sometimes we are too quick to forget. The fall of 2008 thru 2009 was disastrous on a global scale. All parties were demanding a deficit spending response. 50B was a number all parties agreed to--for the Libs, PQ and NDP, they were dubious because they thought it too little. The 50B was a starting point. In retrospect it worked as it should have. If Canada's deficit were equal per capita to the US stimulus, the deficit wouldn't be 50B, it would be 300B.
But hey it isn't fair comparing Harper's decisions with President Obama. So go look at Brittain.

On Prisons

It is a well-known fact the use of Marijuana heightens anxiety with continued use. I suppose this is exacerbated by the chronic fear of being busted. I think it should be legalized. However, it is almost humorous to read the neurosis in comments about this being a prelude to rounding up all the pot smokers and putting them in these new jails.

The issue is that Canadians are sick and tired of criminals being released from jail because of the fact we have no more space. My pot smoking friends, think of that pedophile that just moved in next door. He is out for good behavior.

In the earliest days of conservative government under Harper, it seemed political pundits were extolling the merits of a minority government, since the government was required to cooperate with the opposition.  Additionally, a minority made sure that the government behaved itself and sought moreso to have the approval of the country via inter-party cooperation., since at any time they could be dragged into another election.

We saw this when the government changed its position on deficit spending in the face of world wide collapse.  The opposition demanded it.  The government agreed to go along with them.  Canada took on a 50+Billion dollar deficit to fund direct stimulus. Another issue was Canada's military withdrawal in Afghanistan. The vote in the house was respected by the government, and only when the Liberals became vociferous about it, we stay, -- a compromise plan was made where we would leave military/police trainers.  This was the quintessential example of cooperation in the house.
Because the conservatives formed the government, over the course of half a decade, they  were able to shift the partisan balance in the Senate.  The Senate previously was a lever the Liberals could use to stall legislation, because of all the senators who were appointed by them for decades prior.  Now that they have lost control of the Senate, the opposition have reverted to ruling Canada from the committee. Since all parties are represented in committee, in proportion to their seats in the house, the government is never able to move legislation through the committees.  They are at the behest of the opposition.

These facts bring to an end the effectiveness of minority government in Canada--because government cannot function in the face of  partisan obstructionism on this level.  Legislation is routinely passed in the house and senate, but tied up in committee.  How is that serving democracy?  Parties voting for something when in the public eye, but nixing the same legislation in private.

Mr Day Retires

Mr Day is well loved in his Okanagan riding.  Not because of his party or political affiliation so much as he works very hard for his constituency.

I thought it took a lot to hang in there despite the political wringer.
He is a hero because of that in my mind.

A politician can say aliens created life on the planet, if they demonstrate the kind of integrity Stock did for us--any day of the week.  I see parliament diminished somewhat with his retirement.

Contempt of Parliament? Media seems to think we are too stupid to be able to read...

Odd, that the Toronto Sun and the rest of the media in Canada cannot read.

Actually there is no contempt of Parliament. Could there be at some point, theoretically it is possible. But in point of fact, the matter is referred to committee. If your readers read carefully, they possibly might be able to strain that fact from your spin.

To expose the truth, the matter is going to committee, no doubt stacked by opposition MPs. Of course that partisan fact won't change or modify the truth of the matter at all... (sic). After the decision/rendering of the committee, the matter goes back to the speaker and a final battering in parliament. It is more likely an election will be called before that happens. When the writ is dropped...

Partisan Spin.

Canadians have been fed so much spin, its a wonder they know what to believe. Those of us who are partisan, will choose our respective sides and buy into the appropriate spin. Few of us will actually know the truth of the matter.

It is understandable that Brittan calls a minority parliament a hung parliament. For Mr. Harper to survive so long shepherding successive minorities is more than a matter for Guinness. It is walking on water. It is a wonder Canada has been able to advance at all under such a conflicted battlefield.

With the Conservatives at 40% on the latest polls, maybe Canada can finally get a majority government. We have needed one for too long

Canadian Political Summaries and Opionion from the National Post:

6. Minority governments usually fail far earlier than this one. Instead of 18 months, this government still stands. That they used what seemed to be every lever available to them to maintain power, is more of a service to Canada than a disservice. They have given it a heroic stand. They have gone all out. If other parties at other times had been as savvy, perhaps they could have survived longer than 6 months.

The most significant thing you missed Kelly, is to note the process of power shift. The most significant power shift that the government has achieved is the shift in the senate. Since the power to appoint senators rests with the government even though it is a minority. It is true a majority government has fewer headaches than a minority. The key obstruction in parliament right now is the parliamentary committees. In a majority, the majority party maintains the majority in committee. That makes it futile for opposition parties to thwart the legislation passed in the house and senate. That means that opposition parties can't get away with the behavior they have today, and committees functioned as they were designed to do--on the assumption of a Majority Government.

Today however, an opposition party need only absence themselves from a vote in the house on camera, then or mangle the legislation or delay it in committee until the next throne speech effectively killing it. There is nothing MPs of the house can do about it. And, because it happens in the warrens and back rooms of parliament rather than on the floor of the house, Canadians are largely oblivious to it

Election Speculation with Numbers:

Your Dreaming Dave.  The greatest peril for the Liberals in BC, is a cavalier culture of entitlement.  Interesting that the Provincial Liberals and Federal Liberals are so much alike.

BC is like the rest of Canada.  The only question is: Do you want to see your MP in government or opposition?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/from-pre-writ-polls-to-election-day-history-is-not-on-ignatieffs-side/article1922972/comments/

Corporate income tax assumptions.

Too often, reporters and the churn that read them overlook a fundamental flaw in their assumptions visa vis Corporations.  Most Corporations are mom and pop shops fixing our cars, raking our leaves, washing our windows, cleaning our toilets, welding our pipelines, growing our food, discovering new medicines, manning our restaurants, and so on.  The failed assumption is that "corporations" are big international things like banks and mining companies, grocery chains, and Canadian Tire.  Businesses like Banks and oil companies should have their heat held to the fire perhaps.  But Corporate taxes mean if I take a profit, make 60,000.00 per year, that money is taxed twice: once at 17% and once at almost 50% with provincial income taxes included.

About Libya and the political unrest sweeping the muslim world.

The thing that bothers me, is that if we are encouraging democracy how is it a few thousand protesters are deemed enough to vote for millions of others in the country?  As much as change may be needed, are the countries of the world giving ear to hooliganism?  It is good to see youth with such energy and optimism--surely old corroded regimes long past their prime need renewal.  But will the future political systems that arise from protests be toppled so easily?