Canada becoming a libertarian paradise?

[Hatman 🍁]

Canada truly is an amazing country. Nice weather, free healthcare, a socialist party, and American culture and language! What's not to like?

Stephen Harper, the Conservatives, Alberta, Langley-Abbotsford, certain parts of all provinces except Newfoundland (and maybe PEI and Nova Scotia), and OCTranspo.

All of which are improvements on Dick Cheney, the Republicans, the South, etc.

Obviously you have not used OC Transpo!

haha, actually, I don't know what Gael's problem with them is. Sure, they're not the best bus service in the world, but give them a break. I understand he was frustrated with the delays of the number 2 bus, but didn't the split the route up? Did that not help?

Oh well, downtown is the best place to be. I only take the bus to see my lady friend in South Keys, since everything else is in walking/biking distance

Splitting the 2 only worsened the problem, ironically enough.

Really? how so?

I took the 2 or the 12 or whatever the eastern one is called now last month, and the buses were on time, iirc. Of course, it was a Saturday morning, so they weren't delayed by rush hour. Of course, if rush hour is the problem, one can't really fault OC Transpo.

[Fritz]

MaxQue: any chance of a Quebec secession?  Or is that movement completely dead?

[MaxQue]

MaxQue: any chance of a Quebec secession?  Or is that movement completely dead?

The movement is still living, but nothing will happen before a few years. A party opposed to secession control the province and the majority of Quebecers are opposed to secession.

[Hash]

MaxQue: any chance of a Quebec secession?  Or is that movement completely dead?

The movement is still living, but nothing will happen before a few years. A party opposed to secession control the province and the majority of Quebecers are opposed to secession.

A large majority of Quebecois, in fact.

While the PQ will probably win the next election barring any magical Liberal recovery, it won't be with over 50% of the vote (obviously) and it won't be a vote for independence. More of a vote against an incompetent crappy Liberal government.

[Bono]

• Govt spending in Canada was 53% of GDP in 92, now it's 39%.  The US dropped all the way to 33% by 2000 and is 38% now.   Next year we pass them.
  
• In 1994 Canada's debt was 70% of GDP, now it's 32%.  We were down to 33% in 2001, but we'll make it to 60% next year and will likely top 80% by the time Obama's 2nd term is up.
  
• Canada has had a surplus for ten years in a row.  The idea of a surplus is absurd in the US.
  
• Pension plans are fixed and funded in Canada, discussing it by politicians is off limits in the US.
  
• Only 41% of govt in Canada is controlled at the Federal level, it's 62% in the US and always growing.
  
• Canada's corporate tax rate has been traditionally higher than the US's, not no mo'.  by 2012 it will be HALF what we have and individual tax rates are really close right now, will be even closer when Bush's tax cuts for the rich expire next year and if Obama adds any more (likely) theres will be lower than ours.
  

Mostly from here.

Sure they aren't as free when it comes to guns, but that's a wash because they are more free with pot and whores.  Is it time to start looking for work in Alberta?

This is mostly right, but federal income tax rates in Canada have already been lower in Canada than in the US for a long while--the top rate in Canada is 29%. The thing is, the top US rate kicks in at a much higher income than in Canada, so the average Canadian probably ends up paying the same or more. Not to mention that since most government spending in Canada is done by the provinces, provincial income tax rates can become high too, though Alberta has a 10% flat tax. Also, they don't have farm subsidies, which should teach a lesson to all the people who argue American agriculture would collapse without them.

Also, LOL at the people criticizing Harper for running a budget deficit this year, as if any other G7 country will have a surplus. If he'd cut spending to balance the budget, you'd be allover him for doing that.

Just a note than those numbers are false now. Conservative party has spend all the sulplus. Next budget is in a deficit 50 billions.

Most of the libertarian direction was given by the Liberal Party who was in power from 1993 to 2006. Polls say than they will win next election.

Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch. As a matter of fact the last poll shows the conservatives ahead, though I don't think it's from a very good firm. The point is though, as there is no general election on the horizon, it's a bit soon to be saying the liberals will win the next general election is it not? A lot of water will run under the bridge until that.

[minionofmidas]

Of course, if rush hour is the problem, one can't really fault OC Transpo.

Oughtn't a public transport company be able to foresee a recurrent problem like rush hours? Not to mention maybe build a streetcar or underground line instead?