Election reform bill an affront to democracy

[hobbyguy]

LOL

The Harper Cons have done a terrible with the economy, and a terrible job of fiscal management.

IF you really understand, then you look at the record.

When the financial crisis hit, commodities continued to boom. Wasn't hard to keep the economy sputtering along with the commodities boom as a strong tailwind.

Yet despite that, economic growth has been anemic, unemployment remains high. Those are the two easy headline numbers.

The long term numbers are very strongly effected by balance of trade, and current account balances. Canada has, under the H Cons, had the longest and deepest run of balance of trade deficits ever. Yup, the H Cons even managed to make the dirty thirties look better. Canada's current account is consistently in defict and not getting better.

That leads us to the next thing, which is a rapidly falling loonie, which is going to make everything more expensive for working class and middle class Canadians. The most recent forecast is for as low as .85, and with no sign of improvenment for at least two years. Harper sycophant Poloz is useless at the BOC, and currency traders started shorting the CAD immediately upon his appointment. For contrast, the pound is appreciating against the CAD quite rapidly under Carney - who I suspect was looking to leave the BOC because of the H Cons.

There are many economists who believe that Canada is poorly placed to take adavantage of the lower to create jobs, as we have lost so much manufacturing capacity under the H Cons. Of course the H Cons didn't care about manufacturing, they only cared about oil. They, despite the issues being raised by the opposition, ignored continuing erosion of our manufacturing capacity, and bungled what miniscule efforts they did make.

It goes on and on with irresponsible and ill advised policies that are detrimental to the average Canadian. TFW's. Spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer money on useless or partisan advertising. More than a billion on unnecessary spying that is now been turned on Canadians. Botched up military procurement, refusing to improve CPP, screwing over veterans, and on and on...

They turned government surplus into government deficit before the crisis hit. They have dramatically increased spending to record levels. They have increased the number of civil servants per capita by 10%. They have transferred taxation away from from foreign corporations to the citizens of Canada. They have skyrocketed our natiuonal debt.

No, these corporatist clowns masquerading as conservatives have not managed the economy well. They have wrecked the government fiscal position, wrecked our balance of trade position, wrecked our current account balance, been unable to bring unemployment down, can't get economic growth happening, have increased economic inequality, decreased economic opportunity and have nothing but empty rhetoric and advertising to stand on.

The MYTH of good economic management by the H Cons is just that, a big lie advertising myth.

These guys couldn't run a popcorn stand.

[twobits]

LOL

The Harper Cons have done a terrible with the economy, and a terrible job of fiscal management.

IF you really understand, then you look at the record.

When the financial crisis hit, commodities continued to boom. Wasn't hard to keep the economy sputtering along with the commodities boom as a strong tailwind.

Yet despite that, economic growth has been anemic, unemployment remains high. Those are the two easy headline numbers.

The long term numbers are very strongly effected by balance of trade, and current account balances. Canada has, under the H Cons, had the longest and deepest run of balance of trade deficits ever. Yup, the H Cons even managed to make the dirty thirties look better. Canada's current account is consistently in defict and not getting better.

That leads us to the next thing, which is a rapidly falling loonie, which is going to make everything more expensive for working class and middle class Canadians. The most recent forecast is for as low as .85, and with no sign of improvenment for at least two years. Harper sycophant Poloz is useless at the BOC, and currency traders started shorting the CAD immediately upon his appointment. For contrast, the pound is appreciating against the CAD quite rapidly under Carney - who I suspect was looking to leave the BOC because of the H Cons.

There are many economists who believe that Canada is poorly placed to take adavantage of the lower to create jobs, as we have lost so much manufacturing capacity under the H Cons. Of course the H Cons didn't care about manufacturing, they only cared about oil. They, despite the issues being raised by the opposition, ignored continuing erosion of our manufacturing capacity, and bungled what miniscule efforts they did make.

It goes on and on with irresponsible and ill advised policies that are detrimental to the average Canadian. TFW's. Spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer money on useless or partisan advertising. More than a billion on unnecessary spying that is now been turned on Canadians. Botched up military procurement, refusing to improve CPP, screwing over veterans, and on and on...

They turned government surplus into government deficit before the crisis hit. They have dramatically increased spending to record levels. They have increased the number of civil servants per capita by 10%. They have transferred taxation away from from foreign corporations to the citizens of Canada. They have skyrocketed our natiuonal debt.

No, these corporatist clowns masquerading as conservatives have not managed the economy well. They have wrecked the government fiscal position, wrecked our balance of trade position, wrecked our current account balance, been unable to bring unemployment down, can't get economic growth happening, have increased economic inequality, decreased economic opportunity and have nothing but empty rhetoric and advertising to stand on.

The MYTH of good economic management by the H Cons is just that, a big lie advertising myth.

These guys couldn't run a popcorn stand.

Do you actually believe your own babble. The loonie hasn't made this drop because of a new finance minister. Do you think it has anything to do with the US Fed announcing bond purchases with end sooner rather than later and US interest rates will be rising sooner AND higher than previously estimated. High school economics isn't cutting it for you when you can ignore this huge news and link the loonies fall to the appointment of a new finance minister.
And the Canadian dollar at 85 cents is just about what it's value should be. It is a reflection of the cost of doing business in Canada and the sad productivity numbers our manufacturers compared to even the workforce south of us. Go read the case study on Electro Motive and you might gain some clue as to why Canadian manufacturing has declined. It has little to nothing to do with gov't policy and everything to do entitled employee's and poor productivity. I have serious doubts you managed any business as claimed because the drivel you have just presented points more to you being the one with the business acumen for that popcorn stand.
Oh, and by the way, watch what happens to the trade balance with a lower loonie. What was artificial, temporarily, was a loonie at par or even close to the US dollar.

[GrooveTunes]

It has little to nothing to do with gov't policy and everything to do entitled employee's and poor productivity

Totally wrong again.

How Canada’s Best Managed companies are tackling the productivity gap
It’s all about investing in new technology, equipment and training


By John Hughes


Canada’s dismal productivity performance has confounded our governments and businesses for over a generation.

Despite 30 years of government policy reform and incentives, the best marginal effective tax rates on capital in the G7 and R&D tax support that is among the highest in the OECD, Canadian productivity growth continues to lag. Today, a Canadian hour of work produces $13 less than in the U.S. — and $29 less than in Norway. Canadian businesses continue to underinvest in machinery, equipment, and information and communications technology.

But why? For several years, Deloitte has searched for the reasons behind Canada’s stubborn productivity gap.

Our latest research suggests that firms’ attitudes and perceptions play a significant role. More than one in three companies are overconfident: they believe their productivity investments are keeping pace, but they’re wrong. They’re actually investing less. A smaller proportion of Canadian firms — we call them satisfied firms — know they’re investing less than their peers, and they’re okay with that.

New technologies may enable new ways of working. A new observation may lead to an improvement that no one had previously considered.

However, there are many Canadian firms that “get it.” These dynamic companies are optimistic, innovative risk takers. They stay on top of their competitive environment and make a point of investing more than their peers to improve their productivity.

And we’ve met many of them over the years through our Best Managed program.

Best Managed companies understand how to become more productive
These companies understand that improving productivity is about finding and embracing new ways of working in order to generate more value out of each hour worked. Improving productivity is about challenging and streamlining processes and practices (tweet this). It’s about making smart — and sometimes sizeable — investments in new technology, equipment and training.

In our recent book, Power of the Best, Peter Brown and I look at what sets Canada’s Best Managed companies apart from their peers. In one chapter, we explore how some of these companies have achieved higher productivity — and improved their competitiveness as a result.

One of the stories we share in the book involves a countertop manufacturer that achieved a significant productivity boost by rethinking its processes and investing in technology.

For years, this firm followed standard industry practice. Installers would measure the space for the countertop and create a cardboard template for the countertop. Once a week, these templates would be driven from the sales offices to one of their two manufacturing plants. There, the templates would be digitized and a slab cut. Turnaround time? Ten days at best.

The company realized that it was measuring twice to cut once and wasting time and fuel transporting cardboard. It was obvious that the cardboard templates had to go, but the company went further than that. They digitized the entire process and made a significant investment in mobile technology to directly link their installers to their workshops.

The result? Greater precision and higher productivity. By replacing cardboard templates with on-site digital measurements and connecting installers and plants directly, the company cut opportunities for error in half and reduced turnaround times significantly. Overall, the company reported a 33%-50% productivity improvement as a result of these changes.

Stay informed — and invest
It’s easy for companies to stick with the processes they’ve always known. But while they worked yesterday and may work today, there’s no guarantee they’ll work tomorrow.

Instead, companies should benchmark their processes, practices and performance against others in their industry, and constantly look for ways to improve. New technologies may enable new ways of working. A new observation may lead to an improvement that no one had previously considered.

Canadian companies can’t afford to be too cautious, too comfortable or too complacent. If we’re going to maintain our standard of living over the years to come, it’s essential that we improve our productivity by improving how we work. Leaders like Canada’s Best Managed companies offer an example of how to do that — and how to succeed in today’s incredibly complex, competitive world.

Should your company be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed companies? Visit bestmanagedcompanies.ca to learn more about the program, our criteria and the application process.



0 Comments
John Hughes is National Leader for Canada’s Best Managed Companies and Growth Enterprises.

- See more at: http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_CA/ca/i ... ZPiJp.dpuf

[hobbyguy]

Twobits,

IF you took the time to actually look at the numbers (google is your friend) then you would see through the myths of H Con fiscal and economic management.

When Harper and his gang took over, government expenditures totalled $150 billion per year (and that was an election year budget). This year's budget expenditures? $250 billion +. Do the math, That's almost 7% increase in expenditures per year for the H Cons. A number that far outstrips inflation, far outstrips economic growth, far outstrips population growth. "Fiscally conservative" my foot!

By comparison, the Chretien/Martin governments started with $125 billion in expenditues, and left with $150 billion in government expenditures. That works out to about 2.5% per year average. In line with economic growth, inflation, and population growth. That looks more like fiscal responsibility.

And do look at Canada's national debt. Chretien/Martin reduced it. The H Cons have run it right back up and beyond, and have put a whole bunch more (like F35s) on the "credit" card that doesn't show up yet.

If you can conclude that the H Cons are doing a good job from those two easily checked sets of numbers - well...I can't help you.

The other numbers regarding our balance of trade numbers etc. are easily checked as well. The position of the big Wall St. currency traders regarding Poloz is also easily checked. It is fact that they started shorting the CAD immediately upon his appointment.

But then, maybe facts are just too inconvenient...

[c2c]

‘The Conservative government’s Fair Elections Act threatens Canada’s global reputation as a “guardian of democracy and human rights,” a group of international researchers says.’

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... e17561354/

‘The scholars identify a few key categories of objections to the bill in their letter.

They warn it “significantly diminishes the effectiveness of Elections Canada” by limiting the Chief Electoral Officer’s power to speak publicly, shifting the enforcement arm of the agency to another department and placing limits on what the investigator, the Commissioner of Canada Elections, can say publicly. They also criticize the bill because it would not give Elections Canada the power to compel testimony, which it has sought.

In a second objection, the scholars aim at the elimination of vouching, and the voter information card as a form of corroborating ID, saying it “diminishes the ability of citizens to vote.” Prof. Norris dismissed the Conservatives’ contention that both are too open to fraud. “Basically, electoral fraud is an urban myth. It’s not a real thing, by and large. There are some problems, but it’s not a widespread problem,” she said.

Third, the scholars warn the bill would expand “the role of money” in elections by allowing parties to exempt fundraising activities from campaign spending, raising certain donation limits, not requiring parties to document their expenses and “increasing the influence of personal wealth” by allowing people to donate more to their own campaigns.

Finally, they say the Fair Elections Act would add “partisan bias” to the electoral process by allowing parties to recommend poll supervisors, among other changes.’

[Midnite]

Well can anybody defend this bill on its own merits? Employing deflection to blame the NDP is illogical to say the least,
As long they have followers that will vote for them regardless of their actions why do they have to cheat?
Do ethics mean nothing?
It appears to me the governing party was embarrassed by their own actions and are blaming the messenger.

[GrooveTunes]

[steven lloyd]

When we look at the political compass that divides ideology into quadrants we see economic views separated along the horizontal line from left to right and authoritative views separated along a vertical line from libertarian up to totalitarian. It is noted that we find Harper well situated far in the upper right hand corner as a right-wing totalitarian. This should come as no surprise to anyone (not blinded by partisanship) concerned by the underhanded tactics being employed by this moralistic authoritarian to reshape the state of political affairs in Canada over the last few years – not the bumbling embarrassment of his friend, Rob Ford, but still a sad representation of the values Canada used to represent. While there was some reason to afford the man as a politician some respect while leading a minority government, those reasons no longer exist. We can see where Harper's pockets are lined. This politician would and has granted more freedoms and liberties to corporations (Canadian and otherwise) than to the Canadian citizens who elected him to power. Sheeple – modern government’s greatest creation.

[hobbyguy]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/elections-act-changes-could-put-right-to-vote-at-risk-kingsley-says-1.2585400

"Abolishing the process of vouching, which lets voters without identification prove their identity, "would directly affect the constitutional right to vote," without justification, Kingsley told a committee of MPs."

Another example of Harper playing "fast and loose" with the constitution? He got thumped on the Nadon decision. He got thumped on the legal chicanery to allow the Nadon appointment. The decisions around the Nadon appointment indicate that he is going to get thumped on the plan to abolish the senate. He got thumped on trying to retroactively change probation laws. He is getting thumped on mandatory minimum sentencing laws. He got thumped on changing the laws regarding refugee rights. He is losing on assisted suicide rulings. He lost on prostitution. He lost on In-site.

Much to Harper's chagrin, 5 of the 9 supreme court justices who are ruling against him were appointed by? Yup, Harper. If justices that he thought reflected what he wanted won't rule is in favour, that seems to indicate that Harper and his crew are either cluelessly incompetent or just don't give a rat's about the constitution.

I think it is both. Harper wants to change the constitution so he can really be emporer Harper, and he only appoints sycophants like Skippy Poilievre to cabinet - bypassing competency for "yousa boss" people.

The referenced article also contains the key to the battle with elections Canada.

"He also said the bill ignores multiple requests by Elections Canada to have federal parties provide more documentation to back up their expenses, some of which are reimbursed with taxpayer funds"

"Kingsley said Parliament should also look at giving Elections Canada the ability to ask a court to compel testimony during its investigations, another measure the election agency has requested in the past."

The H Cons have a big advantage in that their donors are generally wealthier than those of the other parties. That gives them a money advantage, and if they can't mess with the rules to maximize that advantage, they lose a political advantage. It is noteworthy that virtually ALL of the election shenanigans trace back to the H Cons. The last thing the H Cons want is an Elections Canada that can actually do its job - that would bring them down very very quickly.

This whole thing is about "if you can't beat em, cheat em". Complete disregard for democracy. Complete disregard for the constitution.

[hobbyguy]

This whole Unfair Elections Act is really looking stinky. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/amend-election-reform-bill-or-kill-it-harry-neufeld-says-1.2588450

"Harry Neufeld, the author of the report often cited by government officials to support its proposed changes to Canadian election laws, says the government has to amend its election reform bill or kill it."

"To me, it appears like they're trying to tilt the playing field in one direction," Neufeld said of C-23.

Asked in which direction, he replied, "Their direction."

"Neufeld told the committee that he never linked vouching to voter fraud, although he agrees the election system has to be modernized."

"Although Neufeld said Poilievre is "selectively" reading his report, in question period, Poilievre said he "accurately and in context" quotes Neufeld's report. "

I think I'll believe Mr. Neufeld rather that Skippy Poilievre. Skippy is too busy kissing up to his boss to actually read and comprehend anything.

[steven lloyd]

The actions of the state taken against the least worthy of its citizens
will eventually determine the pattern of its actions towards all its citizens (Cory, J.A.)

• from the Stephen Harper Manifesto

[c2c]

“Former auditor general says Tories' election bill 'attack on our democracy'
……
Fraser is equally blunt about the fishy smell she believes is emanating from the so-called Fair Elections Act.

She said it appears to be motivated by a desire to rein in Elections Canada, which has been a thorn in the side of the Conservatives.

The independent agency nailed the Conservative party for the illegal in-and-out scheme used to exceed its spending limit in the 2006 election, exposed illegal over-spending by former cabinet minister Peter Penashue, has charged Harper's one-time parliamentary secretary Dean Del Mastro with filing a false campaign return and failing to report campaign expenses, and is still investigating complaints about robocalls that misdirected primarily non-Conservative voters to the wrong polling stations in the 2011 election.”

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/former-a ... z2xqJGRYaz

I am wondering why the Harper Government is still pursuing Bill C-23?

The Harper Government calls it ‘The Fair Elections Act’. Bill C-23 clarifies what ‘fair elections’ means to the Harper Government.

Experts are saying Bill C-23 is neither fair nor democratic.

Focus back to the ‘in-and-out scheme’ and ‘the robocall scandal’. The Harper Government fought tooth and nail against allegations of cheating in the previous elections because in their view, they were not cheating.

It is surprising to me that the Harper Government, in pursuing ‘The Fair Elections Act’, would so blatantly highlight their warped views about fairness and democracy to Canadians.

[Atomoa]

I am wondering why the Harper Government is still pursuing Bill C-23?

Sheila Fraser answers your question for you.

Among other things, the proposed legislation would disenfranchise thousands of voters, undercut the independence of the chief electoral watchdog, impede investigations into wrongdoing, give a financial advantage to rich, established parties and undermine Canadians' faith in the electoral system, she said.

Remember what the judge said in the Robocalls case : all paths lead back to the Conservative Party Database where only a few people had passwords. The judge said The Conservatives employed "tench warfare" in obstructing and fighting the investigation. Nobody from the CPC cooperated. 80+% of ridings across Canada received fraudulent phone calls trying to misdirect Liberal, Green and NDP voters to the wrong polling station. This started days before the election actually had begun.

This new bill does not give Elections Canada any power to compel people to testify.

If this bill was really about "fair elections", that would be #1 on the list since the last election over 80% of the country was involved in voter fraud. Confirmed. We have lots of CPC MP's making up stories about "voter fraud" but nobody seems to want to talk about the elephant in the room - the real fraud that actually occurred but "tench warfare" was used to prevent Elections Canada from finding out the guilty parties.

Even after the author of the report the government is using to justify the bill has said "stop! you are twisting my words"...have a listen to the governments response.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Politics/ ... 45/?page=2

...the most infuriating interview you'll ever watch. Here is a Canadian - a MP - lying and seeking to strip Canadians of their democratic right to vote...because he is a blinded "win at all costs" Conservative, cut from the Harper cloth. The Anti-Canadian. His country is his political party.

No hidden agenda? Har Har. They are still standing beside this bill.

[logicalview]

Remember what the judge said in the Robocalls case : all paths lead back to the Conservative Party Database where only a few people had passwords. The judge said The Conservatives employed "tench warfare" in obstructing and fighting the investigation. Nobody from the CPC cooperated. 80+% of ridings across Canada received fraudulent phone calls trying to misdirect Liberal, Green and NDP voters to the wrong polling station. This started days before the election actually had begun.

I don't see anywhere the judge saying that "80%" of ridings across Canada received fraudulent phone calls, but I did find him saying this:

Mosley wrote in the decision that the scale of the fraud has to be kept in perspective.

"The number and location of the complaints received by Elections Canada from across Canada indicates that the voter suppression effort was geographically widespread but, apart from Guelph, thinly scattered," he wrote.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal ... -1.1331781

This new bill does not give Elections Canada any power to compel people to testify.

Yawn. Who cares.

If this bill was really about "fair elections", that would be #1 on the list since the last election over 80% of the country was involved in voter fraud. Confirmed.

While the calls were thinly scattered across the country, saying "over 80%" of the country was "involved" in voter fraud is in and of itself a fraudulent representation of the actual events. 80% of the country was not involved. It just so happened that a few calls were made to a lot of ridings.

What is sad here from my perspective is the fact that the Conservatives were going to win this election anyway, and whoever did this robo-calling and false direction thing didn't need to do it. All that this "scandal" is doing is providing the nuts and loons in the NDP and Green party an excuse for why they lost, again, and is also providing them with an excuse as to why they don't need to change their horrible and misguided policies to appeal to more voters; instead they can blame "the system" or some idiotic conspiracy theory. You guys were going to lose anyway, because you suck. Just face that fact, change what you are doing, and try to run electable candidates next time.

Also - if you are mislead by a phone call from finding your voting polling station, that really doesn't say much for the intelligence of the NDP and Green voters. Of course, I never say much for their intelligence so what can you do.

[Atomoa]

On Election Day, May 2, 2011, reports of voter suppression, mostly centered on the riding of Guelph, led to the discovery that a computer in the Guelph Conservative campaign office had possibly been used to make the calls.While the Elections Canada investigation initially focused on calls sent into Guelph amidst nationwide complaints, the investigation expanded to complaints in other ridings across the country. Court documents filed in mid-August 2012 by the Commissioner of Elections Canada indicated that the elections watchdog had received reports of fraudulent or misleading calls in 247 of Canada's 308 ridings, recorded in all ten provinces and at least one territory

247/308 = 80.1%

The calls started 2 days before the election.

Now, who could have organized a Canada wide campaign of non-conservative voter suppression that was a only possible with access to the Conservative databank?

Why did the Conservatives use "trench warfare" instead of working with elections Canada to clear their name? Especially if they are so worried about "voter fraud" and "fair elections"? The guilty party is still out there.

Why is every non-partisan group and expert steeped in election law saying this act is only about clipping Elections Canada's testicles and making it easy(ier) to cheat and suppress those voters who most likely will not vote Conservative?

"

"I am satisfied that [it] has been established that misleading calls about the locations of polling stations were made to electors in ridings across the country, including the subject ridings, and that the purpose of those calls was to suppress the votes of electors who had indicated their voting preference in response to earlier voter identification calls,"

The CPC make up lies about voter card fraud in Parliament, the actual fraud that occurred is denied, obstructed, not dealt with and the new proposed law does nothing to address the fraud that actually occurred, and in fact makes it easier for it to occur next time.