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Harper OKs release of Afghan cost report

MARTIN O'HANLON

The Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 9:30 AM EST 17/09/08

Parliament's budget officer wanted all-party consent to release independent report on true cost of Canada's mission ...Read the full article

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  1. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: 'We must clean up corruption and lift up the veils of secrecy that have allowed it to flourish,' Harper said, promising to 'replace the culture of entitlement with a culture of accountability.'

    Ummm. We're still waiting, Mr. President.
  2. Bobby Dy from Canada writes: He's free to do what he wants but is under strict orders not to release the report. That would be consistent with how this government has dealt with senior bureaucrats who have information that the government would prefer the public didn't learn about.
  3. NikolaTesla -the genius who lit the world from Calgary, Canada writes: Could you also release this report as well Mr. Harper.

    theglobeandmail.com
  4. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Will Harper give release the cost of his environmental plan? No? Yikes, hard to look like a leader when you hide.
  5. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Bobby Dy from Canada writes: He's free to do what he wants but is under strict orders not to release the report.

    =================================================

    Where does it say he is under strict orders not to release the report?

    It says he is merely seeking all party consenus. Any one of the other parties could easily say 'no' as well.

    I would like to see it released - not only to see the true cost of this deployment but to read the indignant comments from Liberal hacks who will ignore the fact that their party is as guilty of keeping Cf in Afghanistan until 2011 as the government is
  6. Loki Peterson from Toronto, Canada writes: Harpo hates transparency. It would expose his lies.
  7. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Maybe Harper should have called for a reduced election campaign while he was breaking his promise of a fixed date election.
    He's running out of running time: release of Couillard's book, the cost of the war in Afghanistan, the economy, deaths from listeriosis, the in and out scandal, the Cadman tape court case...
  8. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Will Harper give release the cost of his environmental plan? No? Yikes, hard to look like a leader when you hide.

    =================================================

    How many times do you need somehting explained to you?

    Based on the number of times posters had to explain security procedures for the PMO and the performance of the TSX due to conditions south of the border and not because of Harper I'm guessing several.

    Once again - cost of government plan - 8B/year at it's peak.
  9. NikolaTesla -the genius who lit the world from Calgary, Canada writes: West Virginian - all parties have agreed to have it released except Harper

    And Harper would have had Canada in Iraq.
  10. gerhard beck from Canada writes: Albino from whereever, the other three parties have already agreed to release the numbers. Harper is the only one waffling.
  11. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: NikolaTesla -the genius who lit the world from Calgary, Canada writes: West Virginian - all parties have agreed to have it released except Harper

    And Harper would have had Canada in Iraq.

    ================================================

    ...not yet agreed it have it released -yes - under strict orders, no.

    Give it up already with the 'Harper would have had us in Iraq'. It's stale, old and irelevant.

    As for 'Harper would have had us in Iraq'...so would Paul Martin if he was PM.

    The fact is neither man was PM and had no influence on whether CF would have been in Iraq, right up there with the fact that Canada was never asked to contribute troops in the first place...this was only milked by Chretien and the LPC sheep continue to lap it up.

    Give it up already with the 'Harper would have had us in Iraq'. It's stale, old and irelevant.
  12. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: West Virginian: I read 'to be announced' in relation to the plan of the CPC.
    Security of Harper? RCMP used to keep journalists away from him?
  13. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes: The import of this report is not so much the bottom line, as the lengths the government has gone to hide the true cost from the tax paying public.
    Shuffling pots of money to hide spending? That's the oldest trick in the crooked politician's play book.
    If the Harperites suppress the Afghanistan report, as I am sure they will, the public must make a negative inference, not just about the report contents, but also about the non-existent openness and accountability of the Harper government.
    The PM treats Canadians like mushrooms. This is our one chance for the next four years to say, we aren't taking it anymore!
  14. Robert Wiseman from Scarborough, ON, Canada writes: It is clear from the article that the other parties have all said they want the report released and that the only holdout is Harper. This is public money we are talking about and we as the ultimate bill payer have a right to know how much this is costing us. It is simple really.
  15. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:
    NikolaTesla -the genius who lit the world from Calgary, Canada writes: Could you also release this report as well Mr. Harper.
    ------------

    The story you quote was June 2007 when oil was at $60 a barrel....Nice try, but Irrelevent now-as oil is involved in everything including plastics transport heating....and before the massive new Carbon tax by the Liberals followed by another massive Cap and Trade TAX shortly after by the Liberal TAX Party of GTA Canada

    And by the way my Liberal friends, can you please explain WHY one of the few times Dion and friends actually VOTED and represented the Canadian people was FOR the EXTENSION of the Afghan war? Where was your outrage then?

    You are as GUILTY as anyone for the blood and money. WHY did the LIberal MP's VOTE for the EXTENSION when they had a chance to stand up for Canada. Cowards!

    Debate that!
  16. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: R. Carriere: So, Harper doesn't want the report released...because?
  17. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    NikolaTesla writes: And Harper would have had Canada in Iraq
    ---------------
    Yea, and Dion campaigned for a hard line separatist in Quebec and was a separatist sypathyzer until about 1990! And your point is? Proof upon request!
    .
  18. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: West Virginian: You speak garbage. The RCMP is there for the security of the PM. Not to act as a buffer between him and the media.
    By the way, why is Harper so afraid of the Canadian electorate? Has he had any appearances that are open to the public?
    Do you think that having the comedian taken away in hand-cuffs was appropriate? It was not part of a skit. She was viewed as a threat.
    President Harper lives in a bubble.
  19. Kyle Gray from United States writes: Catrherine Wilkie, I believe that the RCMP are there to prevent Harper from choking his protestors when they show up.
  20. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Canada writes: Mr. Harper said the budget officer is free to do what he wants, but isn't saying if he will give his consent. LOL So was Ms. Keen and Mr Mayrand.
  21. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Is accosting the PM, simply asking a question from many feet away?
    Should Harper be keeping a report from public scrutiny?
  22. 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 and I'm not so self assured Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up da door 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 has 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 and I'm not so self assured Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up da door 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
  23. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    New Segma poll done for La Presse- 2.5% margin

    CPC: 42%
    LPC: 23%
    NDP: 16%

    Only 58% of Liberals said they would vote Liberal again!

    http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080917/CPELECFED02/80916257/6488/CPACTUALITES

    .
  24. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Ice Anvil, your parodies are amusing, ONCE. We've all seen them now and had a giggle, so can it. Maybe you have something to say that is Germane to the discussion?
  25. ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada writes:
    Release the information Harper. The Canadian public deserves to know how so much of our tax dollars you are wasting on Afghanistan.

    Six months ago, the estimate was that Afghanistan had already cost $7.5 billion over 6 years. That's $3.42 million gone every 24 hours, 365 days a year for 6 years. At this rate, the taxpayer bill is probably well over $8 billion by now.

    Harper's latest 2 year and 10 month extension to 2011, that Canadians have repeatedly indicated they do not want, will probably cost Canadian taxpayers at least another $3.5 billion.

    Harper's most recent spending spree for Afghanistan:

    $36-million to lease 6 Soviet-style helicopters from a commercial company, $292-million to buy 6 used CH-47D Chinooks from the US, $109-million to lease Israeli military drones, $848,350 (US) to Arlington, Va.-based 'Terrorism Research Center', a subsidiary of US-mercenary firm Blackwater International.

    That's almost half a billion dollars right there. And that's just to meet the conditions needed to have his latest extension.

    Harper will try to withhold this information from Canadians so that we can be uninformed voters.
  26. Hairy Wrangellian from Saltspring Island, Canada writes: We have to be so glad that Harper was not PM in 2003, when he wanted Canada to support the US invasion of Iraq. Had that been the case, the cost of the Afghan War would look like peanuts.
  27. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Hi RC. Who the heck is Segma? Their numbers look skewed compared to most other pollsters, particularly the high Con numbers. ( I'll look them up myself, my question was rhetorical)
  28. Johnny Test from Pork Belly, Canada writes: Wow the Conservatives are ahead of the Liberals in Toronto according to the Lapresse poll. Will miracles never cease?
  29. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: So release it. We all know there a cost assicoated with what our Forces are doing in Afghanistan. I for one am proud that Canada is involved and helping to rebuild that country. Both the Liberal and Conservative government have had a hand in incurring these costs. 2001–2002 Initial deployment: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced on October 7 that Canada would contribute forces to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism. August 2003, Operation Athena began March 2004, Canada committed $250 million in aid to Afghanistan, and $5 million to support the 2004 Afghan election.[2] 13 February 2005, Canada doubles the number of troops in Afghanistan by the coming summer, from 600 troops in Kabul to 1200. Spring 2006 - Harper government increase Canada's presence in Afghanistan to 2300 soldiers. Clearly we have played an important role in Afghanistan since the beginning. Naturally their will be a cost associated with it.
  30. Greg Out West from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: 'We must clean up corruption and lift up the veils of secrecy that have allowed it to flourish ---------------------------------------------------------- Catherine, we already did when Canadians through out the corrupt liberals last election. You're one election behind.
  31. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Then release the plan. Why would the Conservatives be worried? The war is expensive and Canadians should know what we have contributed to it.

    Harper and the Conservqatives have a 10 point lead over the Liberals and Harper can afford to lose a few points of his lead this early in the race. Once the debates come and people see HArper and Dion side by side I expect the Conservative lead to jump by another 7 or 8 points. The debates are goingto be a train wreck for Dion.

    So release the Afghan war costs.
  32. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Hey ImaCANADIAN! Don't forget the Liberal's cancellation of the original helicopter deal at a cost of 4.8 billion.
  33. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: West Virginian: Geri Hall complied to the need of the CPC to be pre-registered before attending a Harper event.
    She asked a question, and was accosted?
    That's uber paranoia.
  34. Still Learning at 78 from Canada writes: We have no right to see this cost if Control Freak Harper thinks it is not to his advantage.
  35. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Greg out West: You realize that was a Harper quote from the last election.
    Man. In and out. Firings at midnight. Manual of Dirty tricks. The Cadman tape. Agricultural policy not given to opposition. The list is breathless....
  36. Hairy Wrangellian from Saltspring Island, Canada writes: B M from Barrie: And don't forget the $189 million to send the old Leopard tanks to Afghanistan, the ones that couldn't be used in the summertime. Well done Gordon!
  37. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada

    Sounds a little high, but the margin is lower than most others. Wonder when a survey will come out showing the NDP in second place where the deserve to be.

    Here is the direct link:

    http://www.cyberpresse.ca/assets/pdf/CP2067917.PDF
    .
  38. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Very very interesting reading. I dare all Liberal supporters to read this and comment. http://sen.parl.gc.ca/dtkachuk/speech_03_05_13.html
  39. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Ah, how nice. I thought I was hearing our morning doves. But, no, the dulcet coos of R. Carriere to J. Kenneth. 'Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.'
  40. Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes: Segma Recherche (UniMarketing) specializes in the study, survey and strategy of direct marketing. Founded in 1996, Segma Recherche (UniMarketing) has 12 years of solid experience in the realisation of quantitative and qualitative research studies. It conducts public opinion polls for all Groupe Gesca media properties, including La Presse (Montreal), Le Soleil (Quebec), Le Droit (Ottawa), etc. Segma Recherche operates two call centres, located in Saguenay and Montreal (UniMarketel and KlienTel), whose primary mandates are for the Quebec, Canadian and American markets.
  41. Phil Gardner from Canada writes:
    It's way past due the time that the Harper Conservatives came clean and tell the Canadian people the TRUE COST of this very expensive and disappointing war effort. Billions of dollars have been spent and too many young Canadian lives lost, and for what result ?
  42. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Hi RC, I had a look already. I still think the Con sresults are skewed but the trends are similar to other polls. As far as when the dippers will pass the Libs: depends on when the inevitable panic sets in.
  43. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: West Virginian: Geri Hall complied to the need of the CPC to be pre-registered before attending a Harper event.
    She asked a question, and was accosted?
    That's uber paranoia.

    ==============================================

    No - it's standard operating procedure for the PMO that anyone who accosts the PM is detained as a security threat.
  44. HARPER 178 SEATS, NDP 58, LIBS 42 BLOC 28 GREEN 2 from Canada writes: when a goverment starves the military for 12 years when cutbacks in the billion old equipment that i would not want my kid in planes that are 40 years old combate clothing the wrong color when you gut the military it will cost billions to get it up and running again. the world is not getting safer out there.we need to be like isreal. there must be manditary military traing from 18-20 we must train all our kids there must serve 2 years in the military. this will give them a sence of duty and a sence of pride in there country with a country as large as ours with such a small number of people we must all be trained to protect our land this will require more equipment and maby we can strat building our own equipment instead of relying on others to build it for us .but we must be trained or we will risk loosing our canada. remember we have the oil,gas and that is what the world wants and we must be preparred to keep it .we have a neighbour up north that keeps on testing our military almost weekly to see how far they can get into canadas air space do you think they do this by accident
  45. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Ah, how nice. I thought I was hearing our morning doves. But, no, the dulcet coos of R. Carriere to J. Kenneth. 'Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.'

    ===============================================

    ...and the difference btween this and your constant 'baaaahhhhhing' as you type out the same pre-scripted talking points over and over again is...?
  46. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Hairy Wrangellian from Saltspring Island you are absolutely correct. Send our forces into battle with antiquated equipment that the Liberals refuse to replace. For years the stranglehold the Liberal government had on Canada's military saw a drop in recruiting, lack of spare parts for equipemnt repair (aircraft,tanks, ships) and then Chretien send them into battle. Harper only spent what should have been spent in the previous 10 years. The Chretien government provided Canada's DART team with an annual operating budget of 250k. The Liberals spend more than that on sandwhiches for lunch.
  47. True North from Canada writes: LET'S SEE IT!

    Harper's last election promise was 'transparency in government' and breaking an election promise in the middle of an election would be as bad as, well, breaking your own laws.

    How 'independent' is this Parliamentary Officer if, even though he doesn't need Harper's approval to release this report, he needs Harper's approval to release the report?

    HARPER CANNOT BE TRUSTED
  48. Dwayne Allan from Canada writes: Of course Harper will approve of the release of this report. He's just waiting for the case of whiteout to be delivered first.
  49. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Catherine, just because a lot of those on the left have no further interest in the Liberal cult of Dion-etics, is no reason to think we have any more love for the Harperites.

    The Liberals have become accustomed to getting support from the centre left Dippers whenever they invoke the boogieman, and are strangely indignant when the support they feel entitled to doesn't materialize.

    Maybe if the Liberals had ever kept the promises they made in Red Books 1, 2 and 3, they might have been able to pull it off again.

    Maybe if the Liberals had the cojones to oppose the extension of the mission to Afghanistan....
  50. Tories Lie Again and Again from Ottawa, Canada writes: When Harper Changed s. 56(1) of the Canada Election Act to include a Fixed Election date beginning October 2009, he should have also included a clause that the books should be fully audited disclosed and Signed off by the PM on the Day the Election is Called.

    Harper has lied about Fixed Election dates... Why should we believe that the financial books are in order, especially when Flim Flam Jim Flaherty has proven his ineptitude when he was Ontario's Finance minister.

    These Cons have a habit of saying the books are in good order and when brought under scrutiny the government coffers are a basket case.

    So... Full Disclosure of the Cost of Afghanistan is important to make a balanced decision at the ballot box.
  51. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: To accost: to approach and speak to often in a challenging or aggressive way.
    What Geri Hall said: 'I love you,' she shouted as guards handcuffed her and whisked her out of the room. 'I want to love you.'

    Huh?
  52. Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes:

    Legacy of Waste during Chrétien-Martin Years
    May 13, 2003

    Hon. David Tkachuk:

    …We watched as the Liberals assumed power, promising to review the free trade agreement, cancel the GST, cancel the Toronto airport agreement and cancel the helicopter purchase. Those four promises drove the Liberal Party to victory. Those four promises were the vehicles of attack for alleged corruption, alleged bad economic policy, alleged bad transportation policy and alleged bad defence policy, as enunciated by the Progressive Conservative government. A change in these policies was what would make life better for the Canadian people….
  53. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: J. Kenneth Yurchuk: Follow your leader.
  54. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Way too much Acid Catherine...way too much acid!!!!!
  55. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Dwayne Allan from Canada writes: Of course Harper will approve of the release of this report. He's just waiting for the case of whiteout to be delivered first.

    =============================================

    Naw - I bet he perfers a black marker. :-)
  56. Myles Leach from Canada writes: Transparency and Accountability. Release the report.
  57. Armins copy of Swank from Canada writes: Release it. It'll just the CPC more ammo to go after the cowards in teh Liberal party that sent us to A-stan yet won't support the military once they are there.
  58. Skeptical Realist from Canada writes: The HOC voted in the majority to extend this mission to 2011. Given this, the cost of fullfilling our obligations should not be a political issue in an election campaign. We commited ourselves as a nation, and we must commit the nation to fully support the citizens that have been sent there. I for one do not want this issue politicized during a violently partisan, dirty and rancourous election.
  59. okanagan pakman from Canada writes: I am not a conservative but the cost of doing business in Afghanistan is not relevant here...yes wars cost money...wars cost prescious lives..but the mission in afghanistan is a good one...I wonder how the world would be if the Taliban still held control of the country and Osama had a place to run his training camps?
  60. Trillian Rand from Canada writes: The report details the spending of public moneys. The question that must be asked is: should any politician, even the prime minister, be able to stifle such reports?

    This question goes to the basic privileges that we allow our elected officials to have. An easy solution would be to demand that the House pass effective legislation that would compel regular public reporting of all government expenditures, whether during an election or not.

    There may be reasons why a government department, or a so-called independent body, might want to suppress what should be public information, but it is hard to imagine one that would serve the public's interest. Certainly, as is evident in this situation, there are needs to serve political interest, but only partisan zeal can support such decisions.

    It is time we began taking back what is ours. Politicians are supposed to serve us, not themselves, a concept that seems to have been long forgotten. It should not be up to politicians to tell us what they will do. We should tell them. They are our managers, not our rulers, but our disinterest has led them to believe otherwise. It is time for a reality check. If we don't demand our rights, we soon won't have them. And we will have no one to blame but ourselves.
  61. Derek Holtom from Swan River, Canada writes: Sad to see $$$ becoming a factor in the work Canada is doing in Afghanistan, and the rabid partisans itching to use it as an excuse to attack the government - something no one apparently saw fit to do while the Liberals were in power and in charge of this mission.
    I feel bad for our men and women over there right now. What they must think of people back home politicizing the work they are doing. Especially the zeal many on here are showing.
  62. Myles Leach from Canada writes: Shouldn't the people of Canada be concerned that the RCMP is being used by the PMO to bully reporters and the public on the campaign trail? This isn't a police state,.....is it?
  63. rick from river city from Canada writes: Transparency in government doesn't mean that you open the doors to all information all the time, never has. If the opposition parties had their way the government bureaucracy would open all departments to all information requests, especially during an election. There is a well-founded reason for channels to be followed before information is released, always has been, and the fact there is an election in progress doesn't change that one iota. There is still a country to be run. It's easy for opposition leaders to use the election to push for information to be released before it has been properly vetted and checked. When the information is released it will hopefully demonstrate that the government has ensured our troops have the resources necessary to do the job we ask of them. But the costs could be $10 and that would be a scandal to the silly Wilkies of the world. That's why her party is in opposition and will remain there.
  64. okanagan pakman from Canada writes: ice-anvil...GET A job!
  65. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: To accost: to approach and speak to often in a challenging or aggressive way.
    What Geri Hall said: 'I love you,' she shouted as guards handcuffed her and whisked her out of the room. 'I want to love you.'

    ==============================================

    'often in a challenging way' - 'often' - in other words not always.

    Hall's approach to the PM was not known - and therefore the security detachment has to regard it as a threat until proven otherwise.

    Keep it up Wilkie - with your blaming of Harper for an increase in gas prices because of a storm, with your blaming of Harper for the peformance of the TSX in relation to events not happening in Canada, and with your blaming of Harper and Flaherty yesterday as the reason a first time home owner couldn't get a mortgage - you're well on your way to making the G&M standard idiots - Sty and The Centrist look like intellects.

    I'm sure they appreciate the change in status.
  66. Chester Mere from near calgary, Canada writes: No problem, Steve. Just release the figures, call it foregn aid and trumpet that you've exceeded the aid goals that many of your detractors want to see increased anyway. Too late for that? I've wanted peacekeeping to be counted as foreign aid for years. This is a UN sanctioned mission.
  67. Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes:
    IceAnvil: UPDATE: this 2008 NOT 1968 and you've NEVER ridden a 'Helter Skelter' in your entire boring life!

    Stop living in the past; it was not as good as you remember or think it was!
  68. J. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Derek, I hold the Liberals and Conservatives EQUALLY responsible for the A'stan debacle. While I am extremely concerned about the cost in treasure, I am much more concerned about the cost in blood.
  69. Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes:
    IceAnvil: UPDATE: this 2008 NOT 1968 and you've NEVER ridden a 'Helter Skelter' in your entire boring life!

    Stop living in the past; it was not as good as you remember or think it was!
  70. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: No he should not. At least not until the election is over..The majority of Canadians are well aware that the cost's are very very high ,in the BILLION'S This is nothing more than a political ploy. Canadians have concerns over the costings of many Government programs,policies,procedures and Institutions such as the Senate, that also run in the Billions and frankly there is a time and place for scrutiny of these costs and other government expenditures and IT'S NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A ELECTION CAMPAIGN!.The auditor general is very qualified with the staffing to look into such matters.which she does on a annual basis and PUBLICLICLY REPORTS HER FINDINGS.Must we remind ourselves that the majority of members in the house EXTENDED Canada's military partisipation in Afganistan, till 2011,That is going to cost a lot of money. and most Canadian are are were aware of that a long time ago.
  71. c rob from Halifax, Canada writes: Trillian Rand from Canada

    As always, thank you. You are one of the few posts I bother to read anymore. I'll stand on guard for thee any day. Cross your fingers and pray that I will always get that chance. These are dark days, but it's nice to see that people like you still keep the candle lit.
    cheers
  72. Trillian Rand from Canada writes: c rob from Halifax:

    Thank you.
  73. Armins copy of Swank from Canada writes: c rob from Halifax, Canada writes: Trillian Rand from Canada

    As always, thank you. You are one of the few posts I bother to read anymore. I'll stand on guard for thee any day. Cross your fingers and pray that I will always get that chance. These are dark days, but it's nice to see that people like you still keep the candle lit.
    cheers

    _______________
    Get a room.
  74. Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes:

    It was Chairman Mao and Comrade Chretien who had Red Books wasn't it?

    As Chairman Mao wrote in HIS Red Book: True political change comes from the barrel of a gun.

    Be careful Libertards!
  75. Shane Jordan from Winnipeg, Canada writes: West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada - We are way off topic here, but can you name me one party leader (Lib, PC, Reform, CPC, Bloc, NDP) that a This Hour cast member hasn't 'acosted' in exactly the same manner in any election since the early 90's?

    It's a running joke, all parlimentarians know about as do their security details. First time the police has ever intervened, and if Harper's detail didn't know after 2 decades of the same gag who the actor was and what she was doing I'll eat my tv remote.
  76. Counterspinner tells the truth from Canada writes: If Cretien was in power, he would not release the report. So, why should Harper? Come on, neolibs, we can't have two sets of rules.....
  77. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Shane Jordan from Winnipeg, Canada writes: West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada - We are way off topic here, but can you name me one party leader (Lib, PC, Reform, CPC, Bloc, NDP) that a This Hour cast member hasn't 'acosted' in exactly the same manner in any election since the early 90's?

    It's a running joke, all parlimentarians know about as do their security details. First time the police has ever intervened, and if Harper's detail didn't know after 2 decades of the same gag who the actor was and what she was doing I'll eat my tv remote.

    ===============================================

    http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/498442

    http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9008418.html

    'In an interview after the excitement, Ms. Hall called the plan to crash Mr. Harper’s media event a spur-of-the-moment operation. After loosely sketching out a plan Thursday night, they didn’t know if they would even get their three-person team into the hotel meeting room.'

    Ketchup, salt & pepper, or plain? :-)
  78. c rob from Canada writes: Armins copy of Swank from Canada

    Shut up and grow up.
  79. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: 'Harper OKs release of Afghan cost report'

    New G&M headline. There ya go folks. Now cue that feigned Liberal indignation...
  80. His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it a LieBeral majority government who committed our troops to Afghanistan and then, without a declaration of war being debated in Parliament, changed our troops' mandate from that of 'peace keepers' to actively engaging the Taliban insurgents?

    Man you Lieberals are such hypocrites.
  81. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: So release it. We all know there a cost assicoated with what our Forces are doing in Afghanistan. I for one am proud that Canada is involved and helping to rebuild that country. Both the Liberal and Conservative government have had a hand in incurring these costs. 2001–2002 Initial deployment: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced on October 7 that Canada would contribute forces to the international force being formed to conduct a campaign against terrorism. August 2003, Operation Athena began March 2004, Canada committed $250 million in aid to Afghanistan, and $5 million to support the 2004 Afghan election.[2] 13 February 2005, Canada doubles the number of troops in Afghanistan by the coming summer, from 600 troops in Kabul to 1200. Spring 2006 - Harper government increase Canada's presence in Afghanistan to 2300 soldiers. Clearly we have played an important role in Afghanistan since the beginning. Naturally their will be a cost associated with it.
  82. Liberals are OK ............. If you cook em long enough from Canada writes:
    Cathy Wilkie - my my aren't you full of hatred. Conservatives, homosexuals, The RCMP.... the list goes on and on.

    Your hypocrisy is without bounds.

    You make blatant bigoted remarks and then you run and hide only to emerge spewing bile.

    How cowardly of you.

    You're like a bad remake of The Exorcist.

    Fortunately you and your ilk will be exorcised on Oct. 14th.

    While your spewing baseless accusations, perhaps you'd care to explain your contempt for homosexuals.

    Allow me to once again remind you what you stated in a previous blog.

    'Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Lukiwski has declared how the A team and B team mentality pervades the fears of some.
    Many post here.'

    Not 20 minutes later you posted

    'Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Larry Murphy: We know your team. You're a Baird booster.'

    Please explain your homophobic, bigoted remarks and your continued hypocritical tendency to criticize others while exhibiting exactly the traits you criticize.
  83. Fungal Fred from Canada writes: Harper ... 'would ban the use of flavours and additives, like bubble gum and cotton candy flavouring.' That's it? That's his big announcement for today? Dion wants to put $600 million into universities. Layton wants to put $1.5 billion (???) into childcare in year 1 (???) and Harper? He wants to ban flavouring in bubble gum? WTF with this guy? And tobacco advertising on the internet? I don't think I've ever seen a tobacco ad on the internet. What's that all about? Has Harper run out of things to say already?
  84. Stan L from Canada writes: Fungal Fred from Canada writes: Harper ... 'would ban the use of flavours and additives, like bubble gum and cotton candy flavouring.' That's it? That's his big announcement for today?

    Sad but true....not only that he already announced this month ago and it is a straw dog issue even when it made news back then....how desparate for ideas are they? Maybe Haper SHOULD have waited until they had their policy meeting that was scheduled in October.
  85. True North from Canada writes: Harper said his government would ban the use of flavours and additives, like bubble gum and cotton candy flavouring.

    --------

    HAHAHAHAHA - Harper bans kid's candy!!! Now THAT is very mean!
  86. Linda Dial from Calgary, Canada writes: 'Hi There! I'm Steven Harper and my election platform policy is simple: I want a majority. I'm from Alberta and I like majorities, the bigger the better. I don't like opposition. It is annoying and hurtful. It cramps my style and makes me dysfunctional because I can't get my way. Which is always right because Le Canada, C'est Moi! My French is so great too that I can out-Quebec the Quebecers. I am so smart! I know that Quebecers don't like fighting for Canada in an overseas location. So I said we will pulll out in 2011 on Jan. 2 at 6AM. So guess who is voting for moi!! Moi! Moi! Moi! Always remember! Le Canada, C'est Moi! I will strip down to my cashmere sweater to fight for your paycheque!'
  87. Shane Jordan from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Sorry you've never seen the show before Albino (it's been going down hill for years so no need to start now) but the cast of This Hour has been pulling off these 'last minute' stunts for so long that no one could credibly say the RC's didn't know who they were and what they were doing. Sorry, I just can't swallow it :-)
  88. West Virginian Albino Mexican from Canada writes: Shane Jordan from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Sorry you've never seen the show before Albino (it's been going down hill for years so no need to start now) but the cast of This Hour has been pulling off these 'last minute' stunts for so long that no one could credibly say the RC's didn't know who they were and what they were doing. Sorry, I just can't swallow it :-) ================================================= I'm only quoting Hall's exact words Shane - I wasn't there. Tell ya what - I'll split the remote with ya and we'll call it a draw. Pass the salt.
  89. Fake Name from Canada writes: ' Cheeky Weatherman from Ottawa, Canada writes: As Chairman Mao wrote in HIS Red Book: True political change comes from the barrel of a gun. Be careful Libertards! ' That sounds like a threat. So now opposing the conservatives merits a bullet? Get a f***ing life, politics isn't THAT important.
  90. June from Western Canada from Canada writes: I remember the best speech in the HOC by PC Elsie Wayne, berating the Liberals for committing troops without even the proper boots...wrong colored uniforms....dysfunctional arms and having to be ferried to Afganistan by US planes. Who bought the submarines that needed how many $ of retrofit and do they operate now? What did the Liberals do in 13 years to upgrade any of our basic necessities for security and operation of our armed forces...ships, helicopters, planes, tanks? we were obsolete and no one cared ...no one was asked...no one debated the advisability of sending our young men and women into a dangerous area unprepared. Liberals, wear that one...you squandered the huge surpluses, without keeping up infrastructures, replacing aging equipment or paying down the huge debt. Reversing the spend and enjoy budgets of a decade cannot be done in 3 years............$1 million scammed from the Defense budget by a beaucrat...how much more, we don't know?
  91. Trillian Rand from Canada writes: Good to see Mr Harper has agreed to allow the release of the report. Now that all the parties have had a few days to read it and organize their reactions we should expect more spin, spin, spin. I wonder which of them will be the first to recommend changes to the way these reports are handled? Just kidding, the present system serves them all to well.
  92. His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes:

    Why is it that all you hypocritic LieBerals haven't answered my question? Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it a LieBeral majority government who committed our troops to Afghanistan and then, without a declaration of war being debated in Parliament, changed our troops' mandate from that of 'peace keepers' to a 'combat mission' requiring them to actively engage Taliban insurgents? Funny how when our troops were mere peace keepers, not a single solitary Canadian soldier was killed. Now you're all frothing at the mouth asking what your LieBeral war in Afghanistan is costing.

    Man you Lieberals are such hypocrites.
  93. Hairy Wrangellian from Saltspring Island, Canada writes: B M from Barrie: Sure, send them into battle with good equipment, don't blow $189 million on shipping tanks that can't be used all the way to Afghanistan. And then of course we can debate the utility of tanks in fighting an insurgency war - if the real intention of the tanks was to prevent IED casualties, there are better ways.
  94. Jesse Winger from Calgary SW, Canada writes: His Ice Anvil from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Why is it that all you hypocritic LieBerals haven't answered my question?'

    HIA from TO: In cheery spirits, I see!

    Well, Harper has committed Canada to cut and run from A'stan in 2011. No Liberal asked him to do that. Get it? :)
  95. Tom Robinson from Kitchener, Canada writes: 'Why is it that all you hypocritic LieBerals haven't answered my question?'

    I'm sure the name calling will encourage people to answer.
  96. Conservative for lower taxes, cheaper gas, less government from Canada writes: I suspect the cost is high. The Liberals sent our Army into Afghanistan with 18 hours notice and with old and worn out equipment. This equpment all needed to be replaced.
  97. Richard Roskell from Naramata, Canada writes: The true cost of Canada's war in Afghanistan is important information for voters. I applaud all parties for agreeing to release the report.

    Now, sit down and take a deep breath. According to this story, the report will also include 'future costs'. So in addition to the immediate costs of waging the war, the report should also mention the costs to care for and rehabilitate injured soldiers, increased pension and disability costs, and replacements for all the equipment being ground down by the harsh environment in Afghanistan. Not to mention the myriad hidden costs that you and I don't get to know about.

    Against what I expect will be a very large number- much larger than what people have been led to believe- only the Conservatives have committed to removing Canadian Forces by a specific date.

    BTW, I don't vote for the CPC.
  98. Unrepentant Outdoorsman from Dominican Republic writes: Question to Linda Dial and Catherine Wilkie: Are either of you really women? Really? I would expect the so called enlightened feminists such as yourselves would be in support of the Afghan Compact, especially considering the persecution and torture and denial of basic human rights women and girls had in that country. You are literate enough to have been aware of this level of suffering, are you not? So, here's my question: are you in support of basic human rights for women, regardless of which country they live in, or are you supportive of keeping the female population under oppressive rule? If you support the former, then you can consider yourselves hypocrites for expressing a dissenting voice against this mission, as the Taliban and it's rulers would not have allowed for any change to the condition of female rights under any circumstance. So Linda and Catherine, a lot of readers will be quite interested in how you will res