Critics slam Harper's post-dated tax break promise
Probably won't kick in until 2015
News1130 Staff Mar 29, 2011 07:13:04 AM
OTTAWA (NEWS1130) - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's promised tax break for two-income families comes with a big catch, it probably won't kick in until 2015.
So, what do you make of this post-dated hitch?
One columnist with the National Post says promising a tax break that is still four years away and hinges on a balanced budget, is like promising your wife an exotic holiday once the household debt is paid.
We asked Vancouverites what they thought of Harper's vow. One man said Harper's tax break is an empty promise that he really has no obligation to uphold. "Is the economy going to go right down the tube? He can't promise that so far in the future, to say that the deficit is going to disappear. It's just impossible to predict."
Another man jokes, "It's not working, I'll be dead in four years. What's the point?"
The Conservatives are dubbing it a "fiscal responsibility," a move that might eventually save 1.8 million Canadian families $1,300.
Meanwhile, Michael Ignatieff is promising a Liberal government would give bursaries to help low-income high school students go to university. Students could qualify for as much as $1,500.
NDP Leader Jack Layton wants to take on growing family debts by capping the interest credit card companies can charge.
Coalition debate rages
There's still plenty of talk over coalitions but this time Stephen Harper is on the defensive. The idea by the Tories was to get the other parties on board so Harper could become Prime Minister by getting the most support in the House of Commons.
"I would not want the Prime Minister to think he can simply fail as a route to another general election. That's not the way our system works," Harper said back in 2004.
His former Chief of Staff says it would not have been a coalition, rather a minority Conservative government. The Opposition says Harper is being hypocritical and some are calling him a liar.
Poll: Political Parties wasting their time
According to the Abacus Data survey up to 90 per cent of Liberals and Conservatives supporters are unlikely to change their mind before Election Day.
Roughly 15 per cent of NDP support could change up before we head to the polls. That also applied to 36 per cent of Tories, 27 per cent of Liberals, 20 per cent of NDPers, and nine per cent of the Bloc. And only eight per cent of Green Party supporters would switch their support.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Corporate tax cuts today. Families in four years, if they're lucky
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5 comments:
"Poll: Political Parties wasting their time
According to the Abacus Data survey up to 90 per cent of Liberals and Conservatives supporters are unlikely to change their mind before Election Day.
Roughly 15 per cent of NDP support could change up before we head to the polls. That also applied to 36 per cent of Tories, 27 per cent of Liberals, 20 per cent of NDPers, and nine per cent of the Bloc. And only eight per cent of Green Party supporters would switch their support."
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These last two statements from the article don't even make sense together.
If 36% of Conservative supporters could change their mind, then that mean only 64% are unlikely to do so, not 90%.
Sounds like the pollster gave five options in their poll - Not at all Likely, Somewhat Unlikely, Neutral, Somewhat Likely, Very Likely. But the article then grouped the results together to arrive at different percentages.
In other words, the news source produced a bogus headline from what is at best a temperature reading.
Harper, IMHO, is the least trustworthy PM.
And yet the Canadian Press say nothing about his failures to make good on his promises. So, how trustworthy is the Press???
All of Harper`s promises in this campaIgn have to be taken with a grain of salt because he has already promised away the bank.
The Planes , Prisons & Corporate tax cuts will spend the cupboard bare , the military spending will keep it that way.
This opens the door wide for the opposition if they cancel the next round of corp tax cuts , limit the spending on new prison`s (& upgrades to 50%) & then develop savings by asking for tenders on the new fighters. The Afghan spending is about to limit itself.
I would also consider a 1 point rise in the GST until we become fiscally balanced.
Now you know why Harper will continue to "harp" on the coalition. He ain`t got nuthin else.
Dr Mike
this family tax makes a lot of sense , and fits with Harpers policies.
Planes- rising deficits and flying planes
Corporate taxes - effective corporate tax is about 9 to 11% and BCE is paying zero
Prison's- this one is perfect , go to jail and come out ready in time for the Harper Family Tax
JIC
And tax cuts are still is Harper's strategy? Are Canadians dumb enough to be bought off with their own money AGAIN?
Canada has a structural deficit, thanks to this faux economist, who flunked out at his first stab at a masters degree, who never worked in a responsible job in his life before becoming mp and later pm.
Harper still has not a clue of what he wants to do with government, except tax breaks. Nearly everything his incompetent ministers touch turns to slime. Canadians invested quite a lot of money over the years to make a fairly responsible, fairly efficient government. And Harper has just been a wrecker, and improved nothing. He doesn't care at all. He's bloated government, and made it work worse for more money. Hurray! What a "ChessMaster".
Quite a record.
Just look to the US, to see where Harper wants to take this country: Unending deficits, corporate kleptocracy, massive inequality, inward looking, regional divisiveness, xenophobic, pointless spending, celebration of ignorance, frenzied patriotism, huge military, fear and strife.
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