Good evening,

Below is the text of Jim Flaherty's Canadian Federal Budget for 2009. I don't approve of the deficit, that's for sure. The world got into trouble by spending money they don't have - a deficit won't necessarily make things better. Flaherty's justification that we'll still have the lowest debt load of all the G7 countries doesn't make it right.

For example, suppose you have seven factories spewing all sorts of toxic chemicals into the water, poisoning the fish and contaminating the drinking water. One of the factory owners says, "Yes, we're poisoning the fish we eat and the water we drink, but at least we're not doing it as much as the other six factories." Technically, it is better than the other factories, but that still doesn't make it right - you shouldn't be doing it at all. Now, keep in mind I'm not an economist - I'm an engineer. A good engineer makes the best out of the resources that are available, and having to go in debt means using resources that aren't available. Clearly, this doesn't sit well with me.

Despite that, I do think there is a lot of good stuff in there. If we've got to take Canada further into debt (yikes - I really hate to make that concession), at least there are some good projects that will come out of it.

Here it is - the text of the Budget 2009 speech: Read More...

I think it's pretty clear that I'm not a Conservative supporter, so who do I support?  I really liked the Green platform - they are NOT a one trick pony contrary to popular belief.  I think Elizabeth May is a very charismatic woman and is not afraid to do what's best for her country.  Therefore I voted Liberal.  (Cue needle scratching on a record player sound.)  Huh?  Well, I really really really wanted to vote Green, but I couldn't in my riding.  Sure, there was a Green candidate in my riding, but last election Rod Bruinooge, the Conservative MP and candidate in my riding of Winnipeg South, beat out the Liberals by only 111 votes.  Yikes, that's close!  So, while I wanted to vote Green, voting Liberal was the best chance to take away that blue seat.  Unfortunately, as it turned out, Bruinooge ended up beating the Liberal candidate by 5,835 votes this time around.  I should have voted Green to lend my support, but hindsight is of course 20/20.  My reasons for voting Liberal were sound.  Sorry David Cosby!  Sorry Elizabeth May!  Better luck next time!

Okay, it's been a few days and I've calmed down a lot after the election, but I did want to get this out so here goes.  But first, I must take this opportunity to bash Harper one more time.    Stephen Harper has announced a six point plan for the economy.  That's all well and good; why did he announce it the DAY AFTER THE ELECTION?!?!?!?  That guy really makes me uneasy.  I agree with the conspiracy theorists that say that Harper has some kind of nasty radical plan that he's keeping quiet until he can unleash it on us.  But alas, that is not the point of today's pos Read More...

It's finally over.  After five weeks of campaigning, the Canadian federal election has come to pass.  What has changed?  Nothing!  It was a huge waste of time and money, and everybody knew this going in.  The only good that could have come out of this election (and I really really really hoped it would) was if Elizabeth May (the leader of the Green Party) had won her seat in Central Nova.  It would have been great to have her voice in Parliament!  She struggled with a language barrier in the French debate, but really shone in the English debate. Read More...