Monday, January 21, 2008

Harper: No corporate welfare for auto industry

Finally, a leader of a government that doesn't capitulate to the regional demands for more corporate subsidies. I can't begin to explain how huge this is for our federation. (Hat tip Daifallah)

9 Comments:

At Jan 21, 2008, 7:48:00 PM , Blogger Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Conservative Association said...

I have the greatest respect for a Prime Minister who will tell a Premier to take responsiblity for his own jurisdiction. The former Liberal government started throwing money around to any micro level of spending that would buy them votes. What ever happened to the level of government that is providing the service raising its own taxes?

And is it any wonder that taxes are high in Ontario? $30 million to Ford, $60 million to Ford? They closed that plant for a reason - they were losing massive amounts of money and their bean counters identified that plant as being lowest on the totem pole. Brilliant government policy Mr. McGuinty - invest public funds in private projects that cannot stay in business on their own merits! Oh, I forgot - people at that plant might vote for you for saving their jobs because the rest of Ontario doesn't realize they're paying the salaries.

Truth in taxation, that's what I say.

 
At Jan 21, 2008, 8:48:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent points, phil. And you make a good point about the Prime Minister's agenda. He and the finance minister have done a fantastic job of reforming federalism, and the economy [low taxes], so that provinces have the tools to run their own affairs and be successful.

For far too long, the focus in Ottawa has been to pick winners and losers in business while punishing low income earners and small businesses through high taxes. Now, it is the reverse. Which should bode well for international investors, entrepreneurs as well as keep I little bit more money in taxpayers pockets instead having the government tell them how to spend it.

 
At Jan 24, 2008, 3:32:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What about asking the Automakers to cut their own expenses. I know alot of the production workers are earning well over 30 dollars an hour. And that seems high for unskilled work. I remember taking my domestic car into the dealership when it was broken and it was very new. I was mad but it ended up being a manufactering problem. The technician and I spoke for a long time and he told me that the mechanics often clean up or fix problems from the car plant. He also said that the people who put the car together were paid much more than he is and he took five years of training to become a mechanic compared to little traing for line workers. Maybe the automakers need to reduce the pay so that it reflects their training. That way the auto giants don't have to rely on bail outs by the government.
Phil I agree with your point 100 percent.

 
At Jan 25, 2008, 6:13:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

interesting take.

 
At Jan 28, 2008, 10:44:00 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just look at the editorial page of the Telegraph-Journal for my opinion.

They always seem to know what New Brunswickers and Canadians are saying and thinking. And they don't seem to be shy about talking for all of us.

Now I don't know if they do daily opinion surveys, or if you can stick your finger in the air on Crown Street and become all-knowing; but personally, I don't think the TJ speaks for NB'rs.

I think the Telegraph-Journal speaks for it's ownership and for it's great and good friend, the Liberal Party.

Fot the first time in my life, I have a newspaper where the comment page is a pass by. Boring dreck.

From bigots like Wolfe, to partisan no-minds like Arif, the opinion page of the TJ does a great disservice to New Brunswickers.


The only columnists that don't have a laminated Liberal membership card are Moore( religious- just what the smear Liberals want) and Keenan, who as a columnist is a good lawyer.

The rest are water bearers for the Liberals and the local rich guy. Journalism, a career for the ethics free.

Who speaks for the citizens of New Brunswick? Sadly, no one.

 
At Jan 28, 2008, 11:34:00 PM , Blogger ww said...

Re Ford's losses and the costs of political correctness. Has anyone heard about this boycott?
http://tinyurl.com/2rb8md

All in all, it would be much better if the suits in Dearborn had heeded the late Milton Friedman, who said that “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits.” One hopes for the sake of the company’s shareholders and remaining employees that it’s not to late for Ford to face this reality...

 
At Jan 29, 2008, 1:14:00 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

I have the greatest respect for a Prime Minister who will tell a Premier to take responsiblity for his own jurisdiction.

I'd have a helluva lot more respect for one who also turned over the tax room so the Premier really could take full responsibility for his own jurisdiction. Then we can throw the bums out when we see that taxes are climbing and climbing and climbing to fund this nonsense - the cost isn't spread across the country with federal funding.

As long as the feds collect provincial taxes and just re-distribute funds as they see fit, we're never going to have real accountability at the provincial level and we will always be in danger of targeted corporate welfare without a specific target to blame when it all goes wrong again.

 
At Jan 29, 2008, 2:37:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd have a helluva lot more respect for one who also turned over the tax room so the Premier really could take full responsibility for his own jurisdiction.

Good point, janet. There really is a ways to go before the government meets its rhetoric from the days in opposition.

 
At Jan 29, 2008, 2:42:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hadn't heard anything about this boycott, ww. However, methinks it has a lot to do with global competition and the power of unions over common sense.

Just take a look at the manner in which Japanese carmakers do business.

 

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