88% think Harper's decision to suspend Parliament is undemocratic

Worse is that Mr. Harper continues to actively misrepresent the events of the past several weeks and the motives of his opponents. "We only found out [after the economic update] that they've been planning to overturn the results of the election ever since election night," he said. In fact, there is nothing to suggest that the opposition had any prior intention of toppling the government, and the disarray the Liberals quickly fell into suggests the prospect surprised them as much as anyone.

Nor would the opposition have been "overturning the results of the election," as Mr. Harper repeatedly alleged. Although a coalition government may be politically untenable, it would be entirely within the boundaries of parliamentary democracy - not a coup attempt, as the Conservatives continually claim. The Globe and Mail December 17, 2008

Don't panic! Conservatives working on aid to future Conservative Senators.

See ya on January 26!

Panicking in the face of crisis would devastate Canadian economy: Flaherty

General Motors is shutting down every one of its operations in North America for the entire month of January

Harper vows to name 18 new senators

18 Senators X $130,400.00* = $2,347,200.00

*Basic Sessional Indemnity - Senators who occupy certain offices and positions are entitled to additional remuneration in accordance with the Parliament of Canada Act as listed. Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances - Senators

Stephen Harper unites the Liberal Party!

Bravo Steve! You are the best, most successful Conservative PM ever.

At least your staffers/pretend protesters think so!



Liveblogging Bob Rae at the National Press Theatre - Kady O'Malley, Macleans

Rae dropping out of Liberal leadership race - CBC

Conservatives scared into earlier action

Opposition parties force Conservatives to move up budget 2 months earlier


The intent of the Opposition was to help Canadians this winter with an economic stimulus package and they were partially successful.

The Conservatives did not plan to introduce any new measures to stimulate the economy until the next budget is tabled in March 2009. Flaherty says no economic stimulus package to come in economic update Nov 24, 2008

Why scaring the Conservatives into action is a good thing for Canada:

One of the key forecasters that the federal government depends on to crunch its budget numbers says Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's update last week would extend the country's recession and exacerbate the threat of deflation.

In last week's fiscal update, Mr. Flaherty argued that his previous tax cuts are stimulating the Canadian economy by about $31-billion - and that's why he didn't have to take additional measures right away, even though his own forecasts show the economy is set to contract this quarter and the first quarter of next year.

That's faulty math, counters the Centre for Spatial Economics, one of four firms the Department of Finance depends on to provide thorough economic forecasts upon which the government's budget track is based.

"This is a fantasy," said Robert Fairholm, the centre's director of economic forecasting. "Most of the short-term stimulus from these measures have already boosted economic activity, and so will not continue to provide [a] short-term jolt to growth."
Flaherty's plan prolongs the pain, forecaster says - Report alleges minister's math is flawed Heather Scoffield, Dec 4, 2008

Canadians lost 71,000 jobs in November – almost triple expectations – and the unemployment rate crept up to 6.3 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday. That's the biggest month of job losses since the recessionary period of 1982, and puts the unemployment rate at its highest point since November 2006. Canada loses most jobs in 26 years Heather Scoffield, Dec 5, 2008