Canada heads to the polls

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^^ Haha...looks like someone is gonna be gettin some!

Basstrap said:
don't be so quick to say that a majority of Canadians voted for him, unless 39% is a majority. I think that 60% of the country should be able to hold this guy to account.
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I agree, however we are still stuck with him and his policies for the next four years. I take solace in the fact that if he is as power-hungry as some sources suggest him to be, he won't do anything so radical that may cost him a re-election in the future.

Also, major props to the NDP and Layton! :hi5:
 
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Conservatives won a majority of seats in Parliament for the first time, giving him a mandate to fund corporate and personal income tax cuts with curbs on spending.
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Let the cutting begin !!

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Starve granny !!

End cancer research !!

Hurt poor women and jeopardize their health !!

Literally take the school lunch from the hands of little kids !!

Slash funding for cowboy poet festivals !!

Give all the tax breaks to Big Oil and The Rich !!

Whoooo !!
 
He should be careful. Extreme cuts like what some are forecasting would certainly lead to a NDP government in 4 years.
 
that's awfully ambitious, why not choose a couple and double down?
feed granny to the polar bears
end socialized medicine
 
Maybe I wouldn't miss every cut in government spending, but others would.
Some have talked about cuts to women's shelters, for example. That would not directly impact me, but it would effect many vulnerable people out there, and for those minorities affected, I think a majority should come to their defense.
 
It really depends on where they cut. I'm not in favour of cutting for cutting sake, but if they do a proper review and determine that money is being spent needlessly in certain areas, I don't see a problem with streamlining the funding better. Services may even be improved.

But services like women's shelters are essential and should not be cut entirely.
 
Government streamlining is necessary, no question. There are severe inefficiencies in the federal government. What will be interesting to see is how they actually go about this. I doubt that they can find $11B through attrition only, so programs will certainly be cut. It'll be a very delicate task.
 
So, no steady stream of Canadian refugees escaping tyrannical conservative rule spotted here in Indiana yet.

But maybe they're seeking sanctuary in Vermont.
 
Just found out now - wow! That was so quick - he was just at the press conf about a mos ago discussing his health. A true fighter to the end. :hug:
 
.
August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton
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It's a sad day in Canada. A shame we will never see what Jack could have done for us. He was arguably the hardest working, nicest, most considerate, most friendly/social and overall best politician of the 21st Century. It's very sad that we have to lose him because he was a one of a kind person. It's amazing he could do so much for Canadians while he still struggled with his health. Overall a great person, we will all miss him.
 
Explorer10 said:
It's a sad day in Canada. A shame we will never see what Jack could have done for us. He was arguably the hardest working, nicest, most considerate, most friendly/social and overall best politician of the 21st Century. It's very sad that we have to lose him because he was a one of a kind person. It's amazing he could do so much for Canadians while he still struggled with his health. Overall a great person, we will all miss him.
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:up::up:

I just read that songwriter Jerry Leiber also passed away today. Along with writing classics such as "Hound Dog" and "Yakety Yak," he also wrote this one: Ben E. King - Stand by me - YouTube

I like what my friend said this morning following the news: "Suggestion: If you are upset about the loss of Jack Layton, this might be the right time to consider how you might work towards his vision of what our community and our country can be."

No matter what political ideology you currently subscribe to in Canada, those are words worth repeating.
 
I didn't agree with his politics but to his credit he had real convictions and tried to stay consistent to them. It was a shock this morning. It's a real reminder that we have know idea how much time we have left. At least he was with his family.
 
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