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Harper promises tax break for first-time home-buyers

BRIAN LAGHI

Globe and Mail Update and Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 11:16 AM EST 16/09/08

Re-elected Conservative government would give first-time buyers a tax break worth up to $750 ...Read the full article

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  1. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Yeah, that's what we need. More incentive for first-time homebuyers to plunge themselves into debt and jump into a real estate market they probably should be avoiding. C'mon Steve, enough with the boutique-style tax breaks.
  2. The Spin Should Stop from Canada writes: Next it will be sub-prime mortgages. Just what we need here in Canada.
  3. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Is anyone keeping track of the promises the parties are making so far? Id love to see the results. 80 Billion for this, 4 Billion for that, 200 Million for this, 400 Million for that. I'd much rather vote for a party that doesn't promise the moon when they know they can't deliver it or would never be in a position to have to honour their promises. Some of these guys are right out to lunch with the money they are promising. At least Harper is being realistic. So let's see, Harper announces 80 million to reopen a Ford plant and Layton promises 8 billion to retrain unemployed auto workers. Harper announces a cut of 2 cents/litre on Diesel and Dion promises 900 million to farmers and truckers to offset his Green Tax. Harper offers tad reductions of up to $750 to first time home buyers to offset costs and Dion promises $575 million to make homes greener. Who is the more fiscally responsible????
  4. The Spin Should Stop from Canada writes: @ BM From Barrie, You must of forgot about the 9 billion the CONS promised leading up to the election.
  5. Stephen Dedalus from Canada writes: I just bought my first house a few months ago. I'll vote for whichever party gives me a tax break via time travel.
  6. Stop! Think! from Canada writes: Just great....So tax breaks for home buyers wehn no one is buying or wants to buy...Makes sense to me....As was stated above, just what we need, more people buying houses they can't afford or carry, which just leads to bad news down the road...
  7. F/A josquin from Canada writes:

    Uh huh, and who the heck is buying a house at the moment. What a bald-faced pandering vote-getting ruse.
  8. Blue Magic ...... from mississauga, Canada writes: The Spin Should Stop from Canada writes: @ BM From Barrie, You must of forgot about the 9 billion the CONS promised leading up to the election.
    ----------------------------------------------

    And you should inform youself. That money was from the last budget. But thanks for the talking points.

    Your name should be the spin starts here.

    Anyway another smart pratical policy.
  9. horseless headman from Canada writes: i pay $420k for a house and get a tax-break of $750 for my very own to keep. break out the vienna sausage and cracker, we're gonna party tonight.
  10. Jacob Lost from Canada writes: $750 is a nice little tax break after closing the deal, but if, as people commenting above seem to think, people are going to jump into a $350-500 thousand dollar mortgage without any thought or budgeting because of a $750 tax break then Canada has bigger problems. I think we have to give first time home buyers in Canada a little bigger benefit of the doubt than that.
  11. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: I guess if you can afford a $450k house you must be doing ok. Sounds like all this talk of a recession has affected you.
  12. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Realistically, do you think a first time home buyer is actually going to by a 350-500k house? Some dream world you guys live in.
  13. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    F/A josquin from Canada writes: Uh huh, and who the heck is buying a house at the moment....

    Stop! Think! from Canada writes: Just great....So tax breaks for home buyers wehn no one is buying or wants to buy...
    ------------

    I'll let the REAL experts chime in.

    OTTAWA, August 15, 2008 --New home construction will begin to slow in 2008, but will remain high by historical standards, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) third quarter Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition report.

    Higher mortgage carrying costs will be a catalyst for the small decrease in residential construction to 215,475 units in 2008....

    Certainly looks like 'no one' is buying a new house if you consider
    215,475 families as 'no one'
    .
  14. Cur Mudgeon from Bahamas writes:
    Tax breaks make headlines. You're not supposed to read the story.

    Harper promises tax break for _____ (fill in the blank). Average Canadian to save $4.00 a year etc etc
  15. A Peon in the golden boy's court from land of living skies, Canada writes: Ah yes, the wonderful optics of offering a credit. The vast majority of people are financially illiterate and don’t realize that a potential $5000 credit means only 15% of that amount/the credit amount multiplied by the lowest federal tax rate. Very astute campaign strategies indeed, the Harper team is far from stupid. Last election they put the workers’ tax credit on the table, the children’s health and fitness credit and the child credit – all of which totalled up to sound like people were getting a multi-thousand tax break when they were only getting a multi-thousand dollar tax credit. Pretty ingenious in that it convinces everyone except for people who are tax specialists; pick one hundred random people off the street and ask them the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction and you’ll probably get “You lost me at hello.” Man, I have to hand it to the Tory campaign team, they’re getting very, very smart. I’m still not voting for those supposedly free-market fiscal conservatives though. If they were actually in favour of market liberalization, increasing multilateral free trade, getting corporations off the government teat that is closed/protected Canadian markets for banking, telecoms and other industries (like dairy and poultry) and federal government subsidies I would actually vote for them. And of course almost no one notices the $8.8 billion in spending announcements that were made in the lead up to the election which are going largely to wait for it … Ontario and Quebec. Including such fiscally conservative expenditures as $300 million for Bombardier (which should have tanked over a decade ago or merged with international players to survive and prosper) and $80 million to Ford of Canada to study fuel efficiency. Hmmm, talk about great uses of taxpayer funds. See http://www.taxpayer.ca/main/news.php?news_id=2954
  16. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    I just came back from the States, Port Townsend, Washington State, specifically.
    Beautiful town for what it's worth.
    Came across a real estate guide for the Olympic Peninsula.
    250K will get you a beautiful house in many areas, outside of Seattle of course. 200K will get you something average.
    That's a marked difference compatred to prices on Vancouver Island.
    Beer is 10 bucks for 12. 25 bucks in BC.
    Smokes 6 bucks a pack. 10 bucks in BC.
    Gas is 90 cents a litre. 1.50 in BC.
    Comprehensive health insurance is 800/month for a family of four, compared to 300/month in BC.
    Just an aside, no real point to make.
  17. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Michael Sharp from Victoria feel free to move to the U.S. Good luck with that.
  18. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Welcome back Michael, your fellow Conservatives were getting desperate and wanted to send out a search Party. I noticed that Vern disappeared around the same time and I thought you guys had got together for a few beers and got lost.
  19. Tom Burns from Duncan, Canada writes: Interesting. The majority commenting on this story seem to think that most people buy houses as an investment and time the market for the best deal.

    Strangely enough, most Canadians still buy real estate because they need a place to live. I work in the financial services industry and I know that there are still many first time buyers who will buy when they can because of need.

    Since 1976 I've bought 5 houses due to moves, transfers & changes in family size. There's not one of those times that an additional $750 would not have been a godsend.
  20. Pro Canadian from Canada writes: C'mon people, read the article!! The tax break is for FIRST -TIME home buyers. If you have any sense at all, now IS the time to be buying your first home. It is a buyer's market for certain, and there are some real bargains out there. First time home buyers are coming from the rental market or right out of Mom and Dad's place, not from an existing home. And A PEON hit the nail on the head, it's a tax CREDIT, which at it's maximum will only translate into 750 dollars less of tax owed. It's not a refund.
  21. Stan L from Canada writes: According to the Canadian Real estate Association (from an article in the Financial post dated August 29th) Resale home sales dropped by 12.2% YOY in July – and housing inventory is starting to balloon and prices beginning to deflate. Dropoff in resale housing is one of the largest declines seen in past 25 years.......ecouraging young naive buyers to 'jump in' is not a good idea.....and UP TP $750 is hardly any kind of protection against a mortage you can't afford to have int he first place. Ill advised, many of the young first time buyers are living beyond their means with mortages they can ill-afford ....this behaviour needs to change and thankfully we have what we have in place to avoid the disaster that is happening in the US....but it doesn't change the fact that we exhibit the same irresponsible behaviour with resepcts to purchasing.
  22. Joe Citizen from Everytown, Canada writes: THE FACTS .... JUST THE FACTS .... AND NOTHIN' BUT THE FACTS

    1. Change in Productivity While in Office

    Diefendaker 9.7%
    Pearson 18.6%
    Trudeau(1) 30.4%
    Clark 0.4%
    Trudeau(2) 11.8%
    Mulroney 6.4%
    Chretien 18.3%
    Martin 4.1%
    Harper -0.6%

    Source: CCPA calculations from Statistics Canada quarterly data.
  23. Non Partisan I AM Canadian from Canada writes: I like the idea; as I am aiming at my first home purchase over the next year. (I am piling up credits, RRSPS, grants, and other incentives)

    I am LIKING the real estate aid, as it can become a BIG bonus for me.

    However; is this a promise that is true?

    Guess we'll find out hu?
  24. Lum Barstrain from Cons used fraudulent in-and-out tricks to cheat on election spending., Canada writes: Blue Magic ...... from mississauga, Canada writes: ... another smart pratical policy.

    ----------------------------------------------------

    Actually, PRATical policies are exactly what I would expect from the band of gits, berks, prats, twits, and nimrods comprising the Harper caucus.
  25. true conservative from Canada writes: Joe Citizen - productivity isn't an instant reaction. It takes time for change to occur to kick in. So the Chief and Pearson were good fiscal managers - Trudeau reaped the benefit of that. Then Trudeau loused it up and Mulroney got the fall-out. Mulroney brought in the GST which lead to the extra revenue that allowed Chretien and Martin to provide the budget surpluses that made Canada an attractive investment. But now the US is in a recession and Canada is getting fall-out from that. Or did you think Harper secretly caused the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the States?
  26. Duane Carruthers from Montreal, Canada writes: That's why I said, avoid this GUY. Harper, just want to make another house bubl in Canada. Like his fellow Bush did in US.
  27. Mr. Achinghead from Canada writes: It's funny how this Conservative gov't will declare things like Ontario is not a good place to invest because of taxes. Yet manages to remain silent when it comes to the economic realities of Quebec.
  28. Jose Montano from Mississauga, Canada writes: My wife and I will be moving into our FIRST home this November, so if the Conservatives are elected, and IF they make good on this promise, then the credit will be a welcome one. Any rebate/credit/discount/whatever is welcome!

    This, however, does not sway me to one side or the other in the election...there are plenty of other issues on the table.

    For the record, the home is $450K, and yes we are able to afford it....:P
  29. Clark Kellog from Calgary, Canada writes: To even buy a house now is near impossible due to tightning of credit from the banks. Banks are still gunshy over the American crisis that unless you have excellent credit rating and can afford to buy two houses they will show you the door. With prices of housing dropping in the short run, why would someone buy an overpriced house to begin with? I get a credit of $750 on my taxes but have to pay $300K for a $250K house. What school did Harper get his economic degree in? And he was a TA???
  30. Derek Holtom from Swan River, Canada writes: Union protesters. 'nuff said
  31. Howard Young from Canada writes: A $450M home purchase is not a big deal with a husband and wife who both earning a decent income. The real question is how big is your mortgage and how long have you amortized the payments.
  32. Not the Alliance from In my opinion, The Harper Gov't is totally Incompetent, but excel at whining that it's ALWAYS somebody else's fault., Canada writes: Ice Anvil - are you planning on posting this under every story?

    BTW, I like the picture of Harper with a Hardhat - he looks even MORE like Greg Stilson that way. Kind of redundant though, as his hair could probably crack a 2x4.
  33. Steve I'm Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: I note that this morning, CBC was wondering where Rob Anders, the Calgary West MP is hiding out. Thanks to my intercepted emails, you G&M readers are aware that Harper sent him on a vacation to Mexico to cool his heels. The CBC also stated that he was 'working the phones' during the last election. This was from poolside. What was not revealed was that CSIS was directed to monitor him and all his calls has a 30 second delay. No, those pauses weren't a sign that he was thinking. He never does that.
  34. Wakeup Call from Edmonton, Canada writes: Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh dear.
    I thought the article was sound, and some day I hope to afford to get the tax break. I hope Mr. Leitch has gone to the job bank to find a good paying job, but he may need to move where there is sustainable employment.
  35. Bob Fugger from Victoria, BC, Canada writes: The Spin Should Stop from Canada writes: Next it will be sub-prime mortgages. Just what we need here in Canada.

    ----------------------------

    In fact, the Conservative government is eliminating the options of 0% down and 40 year amortization mortgages as of October 15th. So try getting informed before your shoot your mouth off.
  36. Randal Oulton from Toronto, Canada writes: I feel sorry for Dave Leitch. But I'd rather give him money -- free, outright, and no strings attached -- to go back to school than give it to subsidize a business, especially a fading one.
  37. Steve I'm Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: Its been obvious for over 5 years, to those intelligent enough to understand the economic situation, that Bush and his incompetent minions have run the US into the ground. The events of the past few days may convert a further handful but the Republicans have a permanent hold on the racists, fearful gun nuts, fundamentalist imbeciles and anti abortion scum.

    Why any intelligent Canadian would vote for Bush's, Canadian 'bum buddy' Harper, is beyond me.

    45% of Americans fall into the above catagories but I thought we had a better education system here. Have the Sun newspapers really rotted so many minds?
  38. D K from ifoney, Canada writes: This is a hit back at the mayor of toronto david miller. David miller ran for the ndp and lost and now runs Canada's largest city where can tax everything in site (typical NDP'er). People who now buy a home in Toronto pay twice the land transfer tax.

    This is a good day for those who want to buy a home Toronto (if you can afford it). Most likely if you can, then you're income is probably too high to make you qualify for this tax cut.
  39. Wakeup Call from Edmonton, Canada writes: Steve - You are right you are not a redneck, in case you didn't know it is a derogatory term for a FARMER. You are so stupid and vile, you could not possibly be able to grow food.
  40. Steve I'm Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: B M from Barrie, Canada writes: 'Michael Sharp from Victoria feel free to move to the U.S. Good luck with that.'

    I go to the states regularly. When there, I buy real beer (yes they do make some good ones) The price isn't that different from Canada. I can also get a shack for $75K in Shelby. Goog luck getting a job that pays more thn $3 an hour though. About what Sharp and his analysis is worth, IMHO.
  41. The Spin Should Stop from Canada writes: @ Bob Fugger from Victoria writes In fact, the Conservative government is eliminating the options of 0% down and 40 year amortization mortgages as of October 15th.

    Yes your right, that was another failed CON policy. But i'm sure they won't admit that.
  42. The Majordomo of Baie Comeau from Canada writes: I believe Harper. He keeps all his promises.
  43. Fred Draper from Kingston, Canada writes: Not the Alliance writes: BTW, I like the picture of Harper with a Hardhat - he looks even MORE like Greg Stillson that way.
    ____________________________________________________

    Greg Stillson? Greg Stillson? Do you mean the Greg Stillson in the Dead Zone? 'Mr. Vice-President, Mr. Secretary, the missiles are flyin', Hallejulah, Hallejulah, My destiny...' That Greg Stillson?

    Greg Stillson owes me money.
  44. muriel z from Canada writes: WHAT A HOOT. With the price of real estate in Canada, and the slow economy, the housing market is way down.

    Plus if you don't have a job..... A tax break? we don't have the 'no down payment' mortgages here, Thank God.

    Please tell me Harper is NOT going to come up with a similar scheme.
  45. horseless headman from Canada writes: his ice anvil - your writing reminds me of bush/harper; no rhyme nor reason. please continue with your efforts.
    whenever i see words piled up like that i'll know it's you.
    piling up the words, piling up the words, there is no rhyme nor reason, your a great big pile of turds.
    rhymes.
  46. horseless headman from Canada writes: steve i'm not an alberta redneck, but i live in the suburbs with that beautiful young woman of mine and i have 3 cars and 2 garages and it don't snow here all the time but we have nice summers some time -
    you go to the states? like montana? sounds exciting. ever drive over to saskatchewan? please tell us about it. not too wordy, just something short and snappy. thanks.
  47. jack sprat from Canada writes: Just another 'sounds good' promise. He wants people to buy houses? It will help construction industry? Why, there are plenty of houses for sale right now.

    Why on earth would anyone belkieve a guy who just YESTERDAY said the economy was 'solid' and ONE DAY LATER says the economy has 'problems'.

    What is he talking about. A one day flip flop. He knows nothing.
  48. A.J. Maynard from Canada writes: Muriel, i beg to differ, we don't officially have 100% financing here but we do in practice. This is how it works.
    A person goes to a mortgage broker and is lent the down payment (usually from a private source) which is then deposited in their account. The broker then presents the mortgage application to various financial institutions and poof you have an approved mortgage.
    This has been going on for years, I used to sell real estate and have seen this practice over and over again.
  49. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: True Conservative, Harper did cause the sub-prime fiasco. He and his buddies in the Bilderberg Group manufactured the sub-prime crisis, just like they pulled off the 9/11 inside job. All in keeping with the neocons' plans for a New World Order. It's all over the Internet man. Where have you been? :)
  50. Citizen Kane from GTA, Canada writes: How long will this promise last?
  51. jack sprat from Canada writes: The economy is solid, the economy has problems, the economy is solid, the economy has problems.

    The new Mr. Dithers. Make up your mind harper.

    More flip flop from harper:

    'Between June 2 and September 6, Stephen Harper's Conservative government spent or promised to spend $19,233,543,503.00, according to a 19-page, detailed report produced by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

    Now try to reconcile (that's an accounting term, I believe) the amount above with a statement from Stephen Harper, in response to dire forecasts regarding the US economy.

    'Obviously this is a time that requires prudence...this is not
    the time for wild experiments in new taxes or grand spending schemes,' he said.
    This is not the time for .... grand spending schemes. '

    can someone please advise Harper to stick to a story, any story but stick with it.

    How can anyone trust him?
  52. jack sprat from Canada writes: harper allowed 0 down/40 year mortgages for the same reason, so people could own homes. That is backfiring drastically.

    Now a new scheme. he just keeps throwing excrement at the walls and hopes some will stick.
  53. Doug Dewan from Canada writes: $750 tax break! give me a break - how will that help anyone at the time of buying a home, when they won't see the break for up to a year later when they do their taxes? This certainly wouldn't be any incentive what so ever in me buying a house - I doubt people are holding back buying a home over $750 when the house is 300 or 400 thousand! This is like the child care credit or the sports creidt....no one really realises the credit until tax time. At that point if you couldn't afford it then you wouldn't have done it anyways. Harpers child care plan is a joke - it doesn't even cover diapers for 1 week let alone the day care cost! My friends with children told me that when the child care payment was introduced all that happened was the day care upped their monthly charges by $100....the daycares make more money - the families end up with squat! Thanks Harper!
  54. Skeptical Realist from Canada writes: Wow, Harper tries to do something sensible to help out first time home buyers and the socialist nut bars are all over him like s@#t on a stick. I think this is a logical and helpful plan. Given that we have no mortgage loan crisis in Canada (due to strict government banking regulations), and solid banking institutions, we will weather this 'global' market correction far better than others (Canada's top economists are out today in force stressing this). The socialist 'sky is falling' rhetoric on this board about the markets, and trying to blame Harper is starting to wear thin. I hope that markets bottomed today, because I bought back in about an hour ago.
  55. S. Morris from Ottawa, Canada writes: Ice Anvil --- Absolutely great stuff!! As quoted from the article in question: 'Mr. Leitch said well-paid manufacturing jobs are being lost to Ottawa's failure to stem the tide of imported cars and other products. Guys like him wind up working at Tim Hortons, he said.' Well Mr. Leitch, et al, it is only because the CAW's long standing extortion of the Canadian Auto Industry that you are facing this dilemma. The Honda workers in Alliston, ON are doing just fine so I'm told. As are the Toyota workers in Cambridge, ON thank you very much, Oh yeah, they aren't 'protected' by the mighty big bully that is the CAW. How does an automaton warrant $35.00 or more dollars per hour, not to mention a very lucrative pension? It is the CAW and it's American founder/counter part the UAW that is responsible for the demise of the Big Three North American auto makers. I do not want my government to stem the tide of imported car and other products to effectively subsidize your wages. By the way Honda and Toyota are huge employers in their own right. The blame for your demise - and I can sympathize with you as I wish no one to loose their livelihood but the blame isn't with the government here - it rests solely with the Big Three and the CAW.
  56. Jake Richardson from Montreal, Canada writes: aren't bad mortgages what led to the financial meltdown in the states???
  57. Ian St. John from Canada writes: Still trying to buy your vote with your money.. and selecting big noise issues that will actually have little impact on his surpluses. http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt02a.htm (Federal Revenues) http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/econ03.htm ( 2004-2007) http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=gdps01a.htm&sortact=1&sortf=3 ( 2008 first quarter) Avoiding issues of PPP and the change in $US/$CAN by using percentage and all figures in ($CAN millions ) Year Federal revenue Gross Domestic Product 2004: 199,398 1,290,906 2006: 224,746 1,450,490 2008 250,782 1,576,068 Federal Revenues vs GDP 2004: 15.446% 2006: 15.494% 2008: 15.912% Excluding the 2007 anomaly ( probably due to the spike in $CAN/$US) the progression of taxation has been steadily upward despite the fact that most of us are struggling with the economic slowdown. No wonder they are still rolling in money.. but how are they still fooling the public????
  58. Tom Richards from Canada writes: Mr Sharp;
    Comprehensive health insurance is 800/month for a family of four, compared to 300/month in BC.
    Here are the BC rates:
    $54 for one person
    $96 for a family of two
    $108 for a family of three or more.

    Port Townsend:
    Homes for Sale: 123 Median Price $336,500 With an avergae of 336K I don't think 250K will buy you much.
    Based on FBI crime data, Port Townsend is not one of the safest communities in America.
    Whopee cheaper beer, we can get 24 for $24 in Ontario. It's better than Schlitz.
    Cheaper smokes, go for it.

    Get your facts straight, then leave our country............
  59. Ian St. John from Canada writes: Still trying to buy your vote with your money.. and selecting big noise issues that will actually have little impact on his surpluses. http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt02a.htm (Federal Revenues) http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/econ03.htm ( 2004-2007) http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=gdps01a.htm&sortact=1&sortf=3 ( 2008 first quarter) Avoiding issues of PPP and the change in $US/$CAN by using percentage and all figures in ($CAN millions ) Year Federal revenue Gross Domestic Product 2004: 199,398 1,290,906 2006: 224,746 1,450,490 2008 250,782 1,576,068 Federal Revenues vs GDP 2004: 15.446% 2006: 15.494% 2008: 15.912% Excluding the 2007 anomaly ( probably due to the spike in $CAN/$US) the progression of taxation has been steadily upward despite the fact that most of us are struggling with the economic slowdown. No wonder they are still rolling in money.. but how are they still fooling the public????
  60. horseless headman from Canada writes: s. morris - how much do you make per hour? you work nights?
    how much do you think a worker in an auto plant should make? i've never worked on an assembly line, not even a plant.
    i never get my groin in a clench worrying about what some stiff makes an hour.
    i know lawyers are vastly overpaid as well as those who have made it in show biz. you could really get yourself into a lather thinking about that, s. morris.
    just by disagreeing with you i get a free card to some socialist party? i'm not of that persuasion and you can keep your crummy card.
    whatever you make, you're overpaid.
  61. T N from Canada writes: Doug, your friends with children? So you don't have any children in daycare? So your spouting off why? I have two kids and the plan works great for me. ALL my friends with kids under 6 are loving the plan. And isn't this the same plan Dion now wants to double?!
  62. horseless headman from Canada writes: t n from canada - are you really happy with the plan, and all your friends are deleriously happy with this crappy little plan? that's why you're so happy with harper? sure doesn't cost harper and his bunch anything to keep the faithful happy.
    another word for harperite? sheep.
    without the skepticism.
  63. His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes:

    I'm a loser
    I'm a loser
    And I'm not what I appear to be

    Of all da votes I have won or have lost
    der is one plan that I should just have tossed
    It was a plan in a million, my friend
    I should have known I'd feel 'green' in da end

    I'm a loser
    And I lost someone who's near to me
    I'm a loser
    And I'm not what I appear to be

    Although I laugh and I talk like a clown
    Beneath dis mask I am wearing a frown
    My tears are falling like rain from da sky
    Is it for 'Jean' or myself dat I cry

    I'm a loser
    And I lost someone who's near to me
    I'm a loser
    And I'm not what I appear to be

    What have I done to deserve such a fate
    I realize I leaned left far too late
    And so it's true, pride comes before a fall
    I'm telling you so dat you won't lose all

    I'm a loser
    And I lost someone who's near to me
    I'm a loser
    And I'm not what I appear to be
  64. Ken Walter from Canada writes: Just like the 1c i saved on my Tims with GST cut. Give more to the rich is the Cons policy. This trickle down economics does not work. Has not worked in the states with has a much larger proprtion of rich it certainly wont work here.
  65. B C from Canada writes: Average house price in Vancouver is about 750k, albeit dropping fast. That 0.1 percent credit sure will help families in the west. (not)

    If Harper was *really* a conservative he would just simplify the tax system and lower rates.
  66. rick from river city from Canada writes: Dion is determined to save the world. Harper is deteermined to help young Canadian families. Perspective, focus, action. Three words foreign to Dion in either language.
  67. Darrin Duell from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Steve I'm Not an Alberta Redneck from Calgary, Canada writes: B M from Barrie, Canada writes: 'Michael Sharp from Victoria feel free to move to the U.S. Good luck with that.'

    I go to the states regularly. When there, I buy real beer (yes they do make some good ones) The price isn't that different from Canada. I can also get a shack for $75K in Shelby. Goog luck getting a job that pays more thn $3 an hour though. About what Sharp and his analysis is worth, IMHO.

    ----------------------------------------------------
    Shelby Montana are you kidding... no comparison Washington is a beautiful state, if you are going to compare Montana with Washington at least use Kalispel. There is a place in Grand Rapids ND called the liquor barn, the place is huge and guess why- 80% of its business comes from Canuks.. imagine that so much for your beer theory..

    Mr. Richards and co.. and why the heck should we move to the states, Canada is OUR country I think I'll stick around and make it better.. why don't you folks leave, move to Scandanavia and live your socialist dream.. and we can get on cleaning up after your GOD Trudeau and his buddy Chretien polarized the country then handed it of to special interests
  68. S. Morris from Ottawa`, Canada writes: Headless Horseman: First of all - Whoa there horse!! I don't understand your point in that diatribe of a response to my post. First of all you missed the point of my comments. I was not slamming the hourly wage of an auto worker I was using the $35.00 per hour wage and pension as an indication of how the CAW (and it's predecessor here in Canada the UAW) extorted the Big Three automakers here in North America. Mr. Leitch was blaming the Government for failure in steming the import of cars and other products into Canada. Well Honda and Toyota both make cars here in Canada at thier plants in Alliston and Cambridge respectively. They are not CAW plants and to the best of my knowledge they are humming along quite nicely without layoffs and/or plant closures. A the while their employees earn a very respectable wage of $20.00 plus an hour. So is the fact that GM is closing plants indicative of government failure, or reducing costs? You tell me. Furthermore I have worked in plants (two) many years ago and decided that it was not my cup of tea, too repetative and mundane, so I sought employment elsewhere and in a different line of work. As for your disagreeing with me, you get a card to some socialist party - I don't know where that comes from or how you got there. As I wasn't giving away any cards or even suggestiing it. Perhaps there is more to your choice of a handle in this forum - "Headless" that meets the eye. Your blatant accusation, "...that whatever you, your overpaid." Just further proves to me your ignorance and intolerance of opinions expressed here that you do not agree with or understand. Time to get a "head."
  69. T N from Canada writes: Sorry horseless, my wife and I worked our A$$e$ off to get where we are. We don't make a lot of money, and we don't expect handouts. We take care of ourselves. Perhaps you should get off your A$$ and do the same. If Harper wants to give us $2400 a year of our own money back to make our own decisions, I'm all for it.
  70. j wilson from vancouver, Canada writes: Darrin Duell, so the polarization in Canada started with Trudeau?

    Time for you to revisit the organizing of the PQ, or, WWII, or the Riel Rebellion, or the Plains of Abraham, or the expulsion of the Acadians....

    I think the Manitoba School Systems have pretty good outcomes, so you may want look in here (stage direction: open palms over heart) for the source of your historical limitations.
  71. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: A J Maynard, your post of 12.35 pm is probably correct. However this does not compare with the sub prime mtges in the USA. In Canada you still had to qualify on Income basis and Crdit worthiness whereas in the USA those were ignored. Sure some people will always cheat to get what they want and may well lose their homes. However the problem is not wide spread as south of the border.
  72. j wilson from vancouver, Canada writes:

    TN exactly.

    These arent tax breaks, theyre rebates for social engineering. Not buying a house? Not squeezing out a pup? not buying a new fridge? Then you can't have your money back.

    I expect this nanny garbage from the NDP, not from the conservatives.
  73. His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes:

    This happened once before,
    When I came to your door,
    No reply.
    They said that you vote 'Blue',
    But I saw you peep trou your window,
    I saw da light, I saw da light,
    I know dat you saw me,
    'cause I looked up to see your face.

    I tried to telephone,
    They said dat you're not home,
    Dat's a lie,
    'cause I know where you've been,
    I saw you walk in your door,
    I nearly died, I nearly died,
    'cause you walked hand in hand
    Wit another 'Stephen' in my place.

    If I were you I'd realize dat I
    Would screw you less den any Liberal guy,
    And I'd forgive da lies dat I
    Told before when you gave me no reply.

    I've tried to telephone,
    They said dat you're not home,
    Dat's a lie,
    'cause I know where you've been,
    I saw you walk in your door,
    I nearly died, I nearly died,
    'cause you walked hand in hand
    With another 'Stephen' in my place.

    No reply.
    No reply.
  74. A Canadian Patriot from Toronto, Canada writes: So is the tax break up to $750 or $5000. Why can't the Globe make it clear?
  75. r b from Calgary, Canada writes: As pointed out by countless Liberals, the problem with tax cuts and rebates is that they are all so meaningless:

    Dropping the GST from 7% to 5%? Meaningless, better to have left it as is.

    Relief on small business taxes? Meaningless, better to leave those taxes as is.

    Modest assistance to new home buyers? Meaningless, too small to matter.

    Tax free savings accounts? Meaningless, besides you must have savings to make it matter.

    Addition of new Carbon Tax to make it all better?
    Now you're talking some sense!
  76. Mike T. Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes: Tom Richards? Your quote: Port Townsend: Homes for Sale: 123 Median Price $336,500 With an avergae of 336K I don't think 250K will buy you much. Based on FBI crime data, Port Townsend is not one of the safest communities in America. Whopee cheaper beer, we can get 24 for $24 in Ontario. It's better than Schlitz. Cheaper smokes, go for it. Get your facts straight, then leave our country............ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You're right on the BC rates for health care. The American I talked to was gebuinely envious of our sytem. The real estate I was looking at did not include Port Townsend per se, which is a swishy lil US tourist town. 330K will still buy you some nice property, curiously looking back at Victoria. I don't know about crime, but there were no meth-heads to be seen anywhere. 24 beer in BC costs $48, Ontario sounds good. Your "leave the country" remark is uncalled for. I'm Canadian. I'm staying. I saw no real difference in the quality of life for US citizens compared to us. It then begs the question. Where are all my tax dollars going to? If there is no apparent difference why do we pay so much more in taxes?
  77. Mike T. Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    Tom Richards?

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    You're right on the BC rates for health care.
    The American I talked to was gebuinely envious of our sytem.

    The real estate I was looking at did not include Port Townsend per se, which is a swishy lil US tourist town.
    330K will still buy you some nice property, curiously looking back at Victoria.
    I don't know about crime, but there were no meth-heads to be seen anywhere.
    24 beer in BC costs $48, Ontario sounds good.

    Your "leave the country" remark is uncalled for.
    I'm Canadian.
    I'm staying.
    I saw no real difference in the quality of life for US citizens compared to us.

    It then begs the question.
    Where are all my tax dollars going to?

    If there is no apparent difference why do we pay so much more in taxes?
  78. His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes: Elp, I need somebody, Elp, not just anybody, Elp, you know I need someone, elp. When I was younger back in 'universitay', I never needed anybody's elp in any way. But now dese days are gone I'm not so self assured, Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up da doors. Elp me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being 'round. Elp me get my Green Plan off da ground, Won't you please, please Elp me? And now my life has changed in oh so many ways, Liberal voter support just vanished in da haze. But every now and den I feel so insecure, I know dat I would screw you less dan Liberal guys before. Elp me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being 'round. Elp me, get my Green Plan off da ground, Won't you please, please elp me. When I was younger back in 'universitay', I never needed anybody's elp in any way. But now dese days are gone I'm not so self assured, Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up da doors. Elp me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being round. Elp me, get my Green Plan off da ground, Won't you please, please elp me, elp me, elp me, ew.
  79. Mike Smith from Toronto, Canada writes: It's too bad that the cost of gas will continue to rise if Mad Hatter (Harper) is elected. Basically, the increase in energy costs will trump all supposed tax cuts and rebates that this guys is supposedly offering. Just thinking forward another 4 years into the future if this guy is elected, and I can clearly see gasoline being at least $2.50 a liter (If there's a hurricane make that $3.50).

    I'd rather see a comprehensive plan to deal with the economic crisis in North America and a plan to secure our energy future with modern clean technology rather than see this country go in the wrong direction. What I mean by wrong direction is by following an extreme right-wing ideological buffoon.

    By the way Mr. Harper, here's a tip. Next time you might want to keep your science advisor. Here in the modern world we value empirical science.

    In case you didn't notice, the entire northern polar ice cap is about to disappear completely.

    The cost of climate change to canadians and North America will be billions! And you do nothing still. What's that? Oh. You only listen to George Bush and you don't believe in science.

    I guess all 2500 of the peer-reviewed scientists at the IPCC are all wrong and making it up?

    I think you'd be better off going to the United States and joining the republican party.

    Make big polluters pay!
  80. May Loo from Calgary, Canada writes: First, this is one of the incentives given to American house buyers which started the whole sub-prime mortgage mess in the first place.

    Second, it's nice to see that the right-wing is capable of handing out the money to buy votes just like they often accuse the Liberals of doing. It reminds of ex-premier Ralph Klein doing the same thing before provincial elections here in Alberta.
  81. Skeptical Realist from Canada writes: Mike - Sorry bud, your chicken little speech is not working on me. You have been listening to the Goreical haven't you? The world is not coming to an end.
  82. Jonathan T from Milton, Canada writes: How about offering paid maternity leave to university and college students. Also, how about improving the distance education programs at universities so they cater to stay-at-home mothers. Afterall it seems like most women graduate university, work for about three years and then take five years off. Wouldn't it be nice if at least it was an option to do both at the same time? That way there wouldn't be the requirement to get behind in your career, not complete university, or have to put your child in day-care? It would be good for the economy as it would increase productivity and reduce the time away from work later in life. It would be good for children. It would be good for mom's looking to advance their life on both education, career and family all at the same time.

    More opportunities need to be made to twenty-something mothers. It is no wonder women are putting off having children.
  83. Kublah Khan from Canada writes: Will there ever be an end to this attempted vote buying! Why doesn't Stephen simply stand on the corner and give out $100. bills if you promise to vote for him?
  84. r b from Calgary, Canada writes: Very simple KK - because Layton and Dion are already standing on that corner giving out $1000's
  85. Ian St. John from Canada writes: "r b from Calgary, Canada writes: As pointed out by countless Liberals, the problem with tax cuts and rebates is that they are all so meaningless:"

    True. Proof can be had by looking at Federal tax revenues vs GDP.

    http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt02a.htm (Federal Revenues)
    http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/econ03.htm ( 2004-2007)
    http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=gdps01a.htm&sortact=1&sortf=3 ( 2008 first quarter)

    Federal Revenues vs GDP

    2004: 15.446%
    2006: 15.494%
    2008: 15.912%

    While making big announcements to buy votes, Harper is actually adding to the tax burden. This is unlike the Liberals who are proposing a 'revenue neutral' adjustment to reduce demand for oil and thus price under market forces.
  86. Cana Dian from Toronto, Canada writes: How about some tax breaks for those of us who scrimped and saved to pay off our modest homes? I'm tired of killing myself at work to earn a mediocre income that's taxed to death for supporting people who want to live at a higher quality of life than what they can afford (or want to work for).

    Selfish? Yes, I am certainly getting that way. But then we do have a socialist government, or not? Looks like we honest labourers must now swallow our pride and try to get some welfare money too ... always the middle-class that gets hit, I may as well move to China or Cuba.
  87. John Hinkley from Canada writes: QUOTE FROM ARTICLE: "“Hey, Harper! Come on out and face us!&8221; yelled a man into a scratchy megaphone. &8220;Don't worry about it, Harper! You'll be on the unemployment line soon enough!&8221;

    Dave Leitch, a 12-year worker at General Motors supplier Kitchener Frame Ltd., will be out of a job Friday &8212; the day his son turns seven months old."

    Not to belittle Dave Leitch, but I would like to know if he is/was a member of a union making an above average wage and other benefits at General Motors supplier Kitchener Frame Ltd.

    If so has he considered that perhaps the constant pressure by the union to get him that high wage had something to do with making that plant less competitive than others and, as a result, ultimately the GM cars using their products as well.

    One way or another it all ties together and the circle turns 360 degrees.
  88. Joshua Gardiner from creston, New Zealand writes: not a great idea. as a future first time home owner myself, i think seven fifty is low enough to be insulting and high enough to appear like vote buying. no reason to vote for this guy, i mean c'mon.
  89. Jonathan T from Milton, Canada writes: ..."Mr. Harper belatedly said he feels for those who've lost their jobs, but said government can't “throw money” at outmoded industries. Instead, the Conservatives have invested in new technologies and training that spearhead the future, he said." Since when is a 3 billion dollar automotive plant an outdated technology? Do I need to remind you that it was the rising dollar that hurt Ontario manufacturing, not outdated technologies. So what is your plan Mr. Harper for Ontario manufacturing? Corporate tax cuts usually don't help businesses that aren't profiting. Alas tax cuts are the easy way out but they don't really benefit the economy. They really only benefit business that is making way too much money (insurance, oil, banks)! So what you are going to give up and throw in the towel? Oh no wait you gave $100 million to an automotive plant in Windsor. That was your plan for Ontario. Oh right to build V8's wasn't it. Right. I can't wait to grab the latest Honda Civic with a V8 engine in it! V8's certainly are the future. They are big and bad. I love new technology. Do they by any chance use Premium Harper-brand Tarsand gas? Mr. Harper. Start paying attention to Ontario and stop wasting money. We need hybrid technology in Ontario. Heck we get all the nickel from Sudbury, why not try making the batteries here from scratch as well. Perhaps we can use the latest environmentally friendly technology to produce them, thus making hybrids an even more environmentally friendly technology. Now there is an idea that will get the automotive workers back to work. It will increase the tax base. Now you have the idea, go and approve the grants and go meet with Toyota and Honda in Japan.
  90. muriel z from Canada writes: Mr Maynard;
    I don't know where you sold real estate, but when I gave my daughter $10.000 to top up a down payment of 20% of the price, of a modest home, and with both she and her husband in secure well paid jobs, I was required to provide the bank with a a statement that the money was a gift not a loan, before they would OK the mortgage.
    But perhaps you knew how to get around the rules.

    Anyway we have seen what buying a home you can't afford has done to those poor folk in the U.S
  91. Mary Ellen Kaye from Brantford, Canada writes: We need policies that reduce, reuse and recycle the building stock of our country...including residential property. We need to encourage people who refurbish, rewire, remove lead plumbing and remove old furnaces from existing buildings. I'm sick of these efforts of politicians to buy election donations from the development industry by promising tax incentives for new homes. New homes pave farmland, pave nature areas and increase urban sprawl. Next thing you know it not only are our cars and computers imported but so is our food. The same developer and workers who make a new homes could easily refurbish existing homes. Aren't you sick of driving past the vacant and boarded up buildings in our cities on the way to the "new" looking malls built on farmland? It's time for a change. It's time for the development industry to switch it's style. It's time for them to focus on redeveloping the greyfields of our cities. It's time for them to help update the infrastructure of residential homes in older parts of our cities. New homebuyers searching for that "spacious home in the country" need to be aware of the "bait and switch" tactics that the development industry often pulls. They use the words ravine, meadow, orchard or woods in the title of their