- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
Fair dealings, etc:
http://www.nsnews.com/issues07/w031107/033207/news/033207nn1.html
Stéphane Dion visits North Vancouver
Promises end to Afghan combat if he's elected
James Weldon
jweldon@nsnews.com
STEPHANE Dion promises to end the nation's combat mission in Afghanistan at the beginning of 2009 if he gets elected, he said in an interview with the North Shore News.
The new leader of Canada's Liberal party made the comment while visiting North Vancouver Monday. He was in the city as part of a cross-country tour to rally support for his party in advance of a possible spring election. Dion met with the North Shore News after a brief tour of the Lonsdale area.
"The combat mission must have an end, otherwise we are there forever," said Dion. "It's half of our international aid now that's going there."
Stephen Harper, on the other hand, will not commit to ending it, he said.
"The Prime Minister is unable to look you in the eyes and say 'We are out of the combat mission in Kandahar in February 2009. . . .'" said Dion. "We have all the information that they are planning to stay there until 2011 or even (longer). It's a complete mess."
Dion hopes his position on this and other issues will help his party retain the North Shore's two federal ridings when voters go to the polls. Both North Vancouver and the riding encompassing West Vancouver have seen tight races in the past.
Since his nomination, the Liberal leader has seen his party slide in the polls, with the governing Conservatives widening their lead to as much six points, but Dion is confident the local incumbents can hold on.
"I'm . . . optimistic," he said. "I think I have an incredible team of candidates . . . in British Columbia."
For one thing, the Liberals will lead the Conservatives on the environment, said Dion.
The party platform will focus on the creation of a "sustainable economy," he said. A system of carbon trading, industrial regulation and investment in green technology will help Canada profit from fighting the climate crisis.
Many of the environmental policies introduced recently by Harper are actually old Liberal programs cut by the Conservatives when they came to power, said Dion.
"When (Harper) saw the polls, he asked himself: 'What can I do? I have cut all these programs. I will recreate them with new names'," he said. "(That's) what he's doing. It's not a plan."
The Conservative version is generally no match for the Liberal model, added Dion.
"It's pale imitation. Usually less money and less details, and less comprehensive," he said. "People feel behind it there is no conviction in the case of Mr. Harper, (but that) there is a deep conviction in my case."
The Liberals will also outdo their opponents on socio-economic issues, such as their approach to taxation, said Dion.
The Liberal leader will oppose any further reduction in the GST, saying cuts to income tax and business taxes would make much more sense both for lower income earners and for the economy.
"It is not the time to facilitate consumption when so many people are in debt and have no savings," he said. "Better to decrease income tax to help them save money."
But whether or not Dion would defeat the budget on that basis is another matter.
"I will refrain (from) speculating about the budget," he said. "We will assess it together as a caucus when we see it."
Article Ends
Hilighting is mine.
While it seems incredibly obvious to say that it must end, or else it goes on forever (duh!) this is yet another example of the Lieberals trying to have their cake and eat it, too.
Not enough aid...no, it's too much aid...a poor mission fit...whadya mean we started it?
I guess we can look on the bright side, at least the Loyal Opposition elected a fool as a leader. Since the CPC needs to have an opposition in the House, at least they're incompetent.
DF
http://www.nsnews.com/issues07/w031107/033207/news/033207nn1.html
Stéphane Dion visits North Vancouver
Promises end to Afghan combat if he's elected
James Weldon
jweldon@nsnews.com
STEPHANE Dion promises to end the nation's combat mission in Afghanistan at the beginning of 2009 if he gets elected, he said in an interview with the North Shore News.
The new leader of Canada's Liberal party made the comment while visiting North Vancouver Monday. He was in the city as part of a cross-country tour to rally support for his party in advance of a possible spring election. Dion met with the North Shore News after a brief tour of the Lonsdale area.
"The combat mission must have an end, otherwise we are there forever," said Dion. "It's half of our international aid now that's going there."
Stephen Harper, on the other hand, will not commit to ending it, he said.
"The Prime Minister is unable to look you in the eyes and say 'We are out of the combat mission in Kandahar in February 2009. . . .'" said Dion. "We have all the information that they are planning to stay there until 2011 or even (longer). It's a complete mess."
Dion hopes his position on this and other issues will help his party retain the North Shore's two federal ridings when voters go to the polls. Both North Vancouver and the riding encompassing West Vancouver have seen tight races in the past.
Since his nomination, the Liberal leader has seen his party slide in the polls, with the governing Conservatives widening their lead to as much six points, but Dion is confident the local incumbents can hold on.
"I'm . . . optimistic," he said. "I think I have an incredible team of candidates . . . in British Columbia."
For one thing, the Liberals will lead the Conservatives on the environment, said Dion.
The party platform will focus on the creation of a "sustainable economy," he said. A system of carbon trading, industrial regulation and investment in green technology will help Canada profit from fighting the climate crisis.
Many of the environmental policies introduced recently by Harper are actually old Liberal programs cut by the Conservatives when they came to power, said Dion.
"When (Harper) saw the polls, he asked himself: 'What can I do? I have cut all these programs. I will recreate them with new names'," he said. "(That's) what he's doing. It's not a plan."
The Conservative version is generally no match for the Liberal model, added Dion.
"It's pale imitation. Usually less money and less details, and less comprehensive," he said. "People feel behind it there is no conviction in the case of Mr. Harper, (but that) there is a deep conviction in my case."
The Liberals will also outdo their opponents on socio-economic issues, such as their approach to taxation, said Dion.
The Liberal leader will oppose any further reduction in the GST, saying cuts to income tax and business taxes would make much more sense both for lower income earners and for the economy.
"It is not the time to facilitate consumption when so many people are in debt and have no savings," he said. "Better to decrease income tax to help them save money."
But whether or not Dion would defeat the budget on that basis is another matter.
"I will refrain (from) speculating about the budget," he said. "We will assess it together as a caucus when we see it."
Article Ends
Hilighting is mine.
While it seems incredibly obvious to say that it must end, or else it goes on forever (duh!) this is yet another example of the Lieberals trying to have their cake and eat it, too.
Not enough aid...no, it's too much aid...a poor mission fit...whadya mean we started it?
I guess we can look on the bright side, at least the Loyal Opposition elected a fool as a leader. Since the CPC needs to have an opposition in the House, at least they're incompetent.
DF