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Post by WHA on Mar 14, 2011 23:28:55 GMT -5
Thia clown is in the same class as Bettman!
Ignatieff says his Libs would consider financial funding for Quebec City arena By: Martin Ouellet, The Canadian Press
Michael Ignatieff used a visit to Quebec City to mock the reluctance of the federal government to spend money on a proposed sports arena in the provincial capital.
The Liberal leader wouldn't commit himself to any dollar figure for the arena, which is now having its estimated $400 million cost split evenly between the provincial and Quebec City municipal governments.
Ignatieff took a subtle dig at the Conservatives, who kept putting off a final decision on arena funding by saying they were waiting for a more detailed business plan.
The government announced, in the end, that said would not contribute to the actual arena but could help fund the infrastructure that surrounded it.
"I'm in Opposition, I never received a business plan," Ignatieff said in French.
"There are several possibilities and I am open to all possibilities. What I can tell you is that I'm not there to make the sidewalks."
Ignatieff is fighting an uphill political battle in the provincial capital region, where his party trails the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservatives and the NDP.
But he prepared his sales pitch for Quebec votes in the next election, casting his party as the only alternative for people who want to get rid of the Conservatives.
On the arena issue, for example, the only party that could deliver federal cash would be the Liberals.
"During the election, there will be an alternative: the Conservatives who say no, the NDP which can do nothing, the Bloc which cannot deliver and a Liberal party that can deliver the goods," he said during a news conference.
Possible arena funding wasn't the only promise Ignatieff made during his visit, which came as election speculation swirled around a possible federal government defeat in the coming weeks.
He also said a federal government led by him would settle the contentious fight over sales-tax harmonization — a move which Quebec says should bring it $2.2 billion.
Ignatieff noted Ottawa has concluded deals with Ontario and British Columbia since 2009 but not with Quebec.
"It's a question of political will," he said. "For me, it's a question of fairness.
"What was given to British Columbia and Ontario, should be given to Quebec. That's my position and of the Liberal Party of Canada. I tell you, if the harmonization issue is not resolved before the next election, I guarantee you that once elected prime minister, I will settle it."
Responding to a question from a local businessman, Ignatieff also reiterated his support for a high-speed train in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. Like the original national railway over a century ago, he said, a high-speed modern line would bolster Canadian unity.
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Post by donmaximo on Mar 15, 2011 19:26:39 GMT -5
Clown, eh. Hmmmm.
Is name calling and negative attacks all conservatives can bring to political discourse?
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Post by canadiensfan on Mar 15, 2011 19:33:42 GMT -5
He just saying this in an attempt to drum up support for the Libs in QC. They are dead last there in the polls, so anything that'll get him votes there, he'll probably do. If he were to actually do this however, he'd be opening a whole can of worms with places like Halifax and Hamilton and Regina chiming in for more money...
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Post by The Winning Pegs on Mar 15, 2011 19:38:56 GMT -5
He just saying this in an attempt to drum up support for the Libs in QC. They are dead last there in the polls, so anything that'll get him votes there, he'll probably do. If he were to actually do this however, he'd be opening a whole can of worms with places like Halifax and Hamilton and Regina chiming in for more money... this i dont really think hell do this
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Post by CravenMoorhead on Mar 15, 2011 20:29:12 GMT -5
Clown, eh. Hmmmm. Is name calling and negative attacks all conservatives can bring to political discourse? That's tame in comparison to this local pro-NDP blog. bigphart.blogspot.com/
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Post by matrix on Mar 15, 2011 20:47:08 GMT -5
Libs would consider financial funding for Quebec ... ------------------------------------------------------------------ We don't care...
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Post by selanne405 on Mar 15, 2011 22:11:49 GMT -5
I actually got to hear Iggy speak about a year ago at U of M. The jist of his whole speach was, the economy is in the dumps because of Harper, any crime problems are because of Harper, you stubbed your toe because of Harper, people are poor because of Harper, your cat is missing because of Harper and if you cant get laid its because of Harper. In case you dont get the point any problem in Canada is because of Harper.
Thus this is really nothing more than an attempt to earn votes in Quebec.
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Post by mrconfusion87 on Mar 15, 2011 23:30:12 GMT -5
I actually got to hear Iggy speak about a year ago at U of M. The jist of his whole speach was, the economy is in the dumps because of Harper, any crime problems are because of Harper, you stubbed your toe because of Harper, people are poor because of Harper, your cat is missing because of Harper and if you cant get laid its because of Harper. In case you dont get the point any problem in Canada is because of Harper. Thus this is really nothing more than an attempt to earn votes in Quebec. Sounds like US-style political flame wars are becoming in vogue in Canada, if it has not yet!
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Post by selanne405 on Mar 15, 2011 23:45:22 GMT -5
I actually got to hear Iggy speak about a year ago at U of M. The jist of his whole speach was, the economy is in the dumps because of Harper, any crime problems are because of Harper, you stubbed your toe because of Harper, people are poor because of Harper, your cat is missing because of Harper and if you cant get laid its because of Harper. In case you dont get the point any problem in Canada is because of Harper. Thus this is really nothing more than an attempt to earn votes in Quebec. Sounds like US-style political flame wars are becoming in vogue in Canada, if it has not yet! Basically, Iggy is starting to get desperate now though.
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Mar 16, 2011 11:30:41 GMT -5
'Deliver the goods' . . . as if.
How about taking tax dollars for much needed services while trying to pare down a rampant fed deficit and vote buying via a rink for QC?
This posture might win votes in Quebec City but it may cost M-iggy votes across the rest of Canada.
Then he has the gall to attack the government on the F35 to replace the aging F18 fleet?? And buy what the Eurofighter or some Chinese variant? How quaint! Our allies will surely be impressed with M-iggy running the show.
Pick your bloddy battles before they pick you M-iggy!
Chris
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Post by canadiensfan on Mar 16, 2011 11:36:50 GMT -5
Iggy might not exactly be stellar, but he's a hell of a lot better than Steve-O...
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Post by selanne405 on Mar 16, 2011 12:17:20 GMT -5
Iggy might not exactly be stellar, but he's a hell of a lot better than Steve-O... Im not a huge fan of Stephen Harper but as a politician he kicks Iggy's Go Jets Go simply because Harper has been in the game way longer. Iggy simply isnt cut out to be a politician, he doesnt know how to play dirty like harper does.
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Post by WJG on Mar 16, 2011 12:52:37 GMT -5
It's a smart ploy because they can secure votes in Alberta (Oilers need a new arena) and Quebec (QC needs a new arena).
However, I think it's a huge risk to run with that as a platform.
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Post by selanne405 on Mar 16, 2011 13:14:45 GMT -5
It's a smart ploy because they can secure votes in Alberta (Oilers need a new arena) and Quebec (QC needs a new arena). However, I think it's a huge risk to run with that as a platform. tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=358258QUEBEC -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Quebec City and vigorously defended his decision not to fund a new hockey arena. After playing coy for months, the prime minister emphatically came out Wednesday against arena funding. Harper called it the right thing to do -- and said most Canadians agree that funding professional sports venues is a bad idea. The prime minister said his government would instead fund new infrastructure in Quebec City, including a $50 million expansion of the local airport. There were no representatives from the municipal or provincial government at Wednesday's airport announcement. Harper's trip was designed to turn the page on a bruising debate and neutralize what has been a sensitive political subject. Quebec City is strategically important to his Conservatives and the popular local mayor has been fuming against the governing party. Mayor Regis Labeaume has accused the Tories of undermining the project, dragging out a decision for months while their local MPs raised hopes by wearing vintage Quebec Nordiques jerseys to a photo op. But the prime minister argued his case Wednesday, saying residents should still vote for his party despite the arena decision. "We looked at all the precedents. The federal government simply does not and has not historically been a significant funder of sports stadiums," Harper told a news conference at the airport. "There is not a desire to change that across the country. In fact, there is a lot of opposition to it. "So, look, I understand people are disappointed with the decision. But I think we have a pretty good record here to run on. This city has never had the kind of influence and the kind of attention it's had from the federal government since it's had this Conservative team." That message is designed to blunt what will surely be the Bloc Quebecois' theme during the campaign: that Harper's Quebec City MPs are powerless, having failed to deliver on the high-profile issue. But Harper says that in a period of increasing budgetary restraint, there is little desire across the land for taxpayers' money going to pro sports facilities. He said the Conservative caucus discussed the issue extensively and agrees with the final decision, and so do most Canadians. And he expressed hope that Quebec City, with its centre-right political leanings, will come to agree with him, too. Harper noted that Quebecers are the most-taxed people in North America and he said they want their federal dollars spent wisely. "We will not spend taxpayers' money on a professional sports arena or stadium in Quebec City. And we will not participate in such projects in Regina, Halifax, Edmonton, or my hometown, Calgary," he said.
"You either fund them all -- or you don't fund any. We aren't financing the one here, and the same treatment will be applied equally across the country. . .
"There will be no double-standard." The prime minister's toughened tone comes just days after his government made it clear that -- despite months of anticipation -- it would not get involved in the local arena project. It also comes after Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff mused over the weekend that his party might still fund the arena. With his rhetorical shift Wednesday, the prime minister appeared to be trying to unburden himself of the arena debate and leave his opponent Ignatieff to deal with it. Bolded section sums this whole thing up,if Harper (or in some paralell univese ignatieff) funded this arena every city would be expecting the same thing, heck Chipman and Thomson would be in the right mind to ask for a refund for the money they had to spend on their arena. Again Im not a huge Harper fan but he is right on this, when you look at the whole scenario the blame kinda fauls on those MP's they brought this to Harper publicly, not the other way around. But sadly its politics.
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Post by canadiensfan on Mar 16, 2011 13:17:49 GMT -5
Yeah, it would open up a big ol' can of worms and no one would want to deal with that, no matter what their political affiliation is...
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Post by traften on Mar 31, 2011 19:52:40 GMT -5
I for one would be Phucking piissed off if the government spent one dime one an arena in Quebec. They have way too much government money as it is....
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Post by jetsnnordiquesfan on Mar 31, 2011 20:33:48 GMT -5
Wasn't it confirmed a few weeks ago that they won't spend any money in it anyway?
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