New SES Research Poll - Likely Impact of Federal Budget on Harper and Charest in Quebec

Nik, I could not agree more with your analysis.

Personally I do not give a dam what happens in Quebec, as long as Dion (Goofy) does not become Prime Minister of Canada.

[updated Mon Mar 19 14:12:57 -0400 2007]

Nik, as I have said before, Harper is a good tactician and he is just doing what any party in power does, that is, take the planks out of the opposition's platform and buy the electorate's vote with their own money. Just politics. The budget impact on Quebec likely is as you suggest and I am not that aware of the ins and outs of Quebec politics to make a valid comment but I am concerned for all provinces in my country, Canada. Nationally I am concerned that hospital wait times have not been addressed as yet by the Conservatives----we have to see what IS in the budget this afternoon----and I wonder how Harper is going to "pass off" this mess in Afghanistan and the loss of Canadian lives.

As usually nothing has changed Quebec gets more than their fair share, BC get as usual screwed again by a Ontarion finance minister, a gutless Minister who could not stand up to the Banks.

The supposed fiscal imbalance "fix" is an interesting and possibly dangerous strategy. The Premier of Sask has already charged the Harper govt with buying votes in Quebec with Western petroleum royalties before the budget was formally announced and the reality of the announcement is perhaps worse than expectations in this light. With the promised equal treatment in any attempt to fix the fiscal imbalance violated, the Conservative government appears to be counting on their Western support to remain stable despite a transfer to Quebec that would have been a red flag before a bull to Western voters if a Liberal government had proposed it.

Perhaps they are banking on the smoke and mirrors of their do nothing environmental policy to balance western dissatisfaction.

Let's see... the Liberals were decimated in the 2006 election because of the Sponsorship Scandal and the perceived use of federal funds to impact the results of the referendum. But somehow Harper's use of federal funds to impact the results of the 2007 provincial election is a good thing from a Quebecer's perspective. Hmmmmm... methinks Mr. Charest and Mr. Harper are in for a rude surprise in the upcoming provincial and federal elections!

Hi Nik,
There is a lot of truth to what you are saying, however, what do you want Qc. federalists
to do? We vote for the only party who wants to keep us within Confederation...We
don't get too many options out here. You vote "yes" or "no"...
If Harper had really been that great of a strategist, he would have attacked the fiscal
imbalance for all, and not been seen going for a Spring election himself.
His budget is going to defeat him, and possibly Jean Charest, because he's thrown
monies at the economy, and re-announcing programs instituted by the Liberals with
less money! It's public relations for his own election...The Partnership fund again will
get half the money. No income splitting. Not enough for middle class and lower income
earners. After inflation, spending more than the Liberals. No sense of priorities.
Programs with no tax cuts. $800,000million instead of $1.2billion with the Liberals,
for Qc. Boisclair deciding for an election with the 'bloc'??? Child-care only $310.per/yr/
per child under 18 yrs. They are throwing out monies without a system. ex. child-care.
He should have developed programs that meet the needs of families. Everybody gets
a little something, a few crumbs. Phil Fontaine of First Nations could not believe that
the $5billion that the Liberals had put aside for them, was not there. This is viewed as
a blemish on Canada; the plight of our Natives, who are living in 3rd world poverty.
Another issue which was not addressed.
Unless this budget is really well explained honestly to Quebecers, M. Charest doesn't
necessarity stand to gain by it, and because of his dual strategy, S. Harper will have
self-defeated his own election gain. Since the 'bloc' is not truthful, they will accept this
budget, but, hopefully within the next two days, the Liberals and NDP might convince
S.Harper to make big changes, and re-address a budget whereby not all goes down to
paying the debt, and reconsider important programs which he should have introduced.
You just don't throw out money...If a province mis-manages, there is nothing left in the
coffers for an unforeseen event, and as someone analyst pointed-out, too bad, just cut
your spending! The Harper gov't has more surplusus, but for how long will it last? The
US economy is not that hot, and this could eventually boomarang on us. There is only
$300,000.left in the coffers until the next fiscal year starts next month.
To answer your question Nik, no this budget got too hyped-up, and will not help promote
Jean Charest, unless all parties make serous adjustments, and then the 'bloc' would
look really bad, and so would boisclair of the pq for having gone along with it. I see this
as our next hope for victory.
bloss

Time for the Reform Party to resurface in the West, we are still not in, Quebec gets far to much of the federal pie! Every dam time and its a have not Province, bull shit, Stole money in the Sponsorship program, a cbc reporter as the head of the armed forces what a joke, this country is screwed up. BC must charge a surtax on easterners who move here, a retirement tax on property.

I never going east of the Rocky Mountains in this Country, I will spend my money down I-5 so none of these Easterner Retails get a dime out me. Fed up with Quebec, I will check the labels to see where the products are from, if it says Made in Quebec I'm not buying, just like if it says Made in China (Communist Republic of China) never forget that.

These Politicians and Public Servants from Quebec are always holding Canadians for Ransom, we have to clean house of this Federal Service in Ottawa. The same as they hold Harper ransom for Votes.

Most Quebecers (not counting most of the anglophone minority) would rather not have all of this financial to and fro with Ottawa. Every time it comes up it provokes outrageous anti-Quebec hatred over there, as well as a fair degree of bitterness and distaste over here. It would be easier if all the provinces did their own 'federal' taxation and then sent some of it to Ottawa instead of us always sending all of it to Ottawa and then getting some of it back, which makes it look like the rest of Canada is giving us something which is entirely false. Furthermore the central government then tries to use this as a reason to patronisingly demand that Quebecers be grateful to Canada. Both angles just poison the sentiment here in Quebec. The worst is when the tax money is then misappropriated (like in the sponsorship scandal) to interfere with democratic procedures here in Quebec, and then we who are suffering from this corrupt misuse of our funds to deny our democratic voice are blamed for it !? Talk about adding insult to injury. And then these transfers seem like bribes or hush money after the violations. Anglo-Canadians seem to have no idea how angry the whole sordid business has made us. I really think everyone would be happier if we just separated, hopefully amicably, due to our irreconcilable differences. How can a partnership function when one partner is unwilling?? Why does one partner want to hold on to the unwilling partner at all costs? But separation or no, why can't we at least all just do our own accounting and not interfere in others' elections and budgets, and not waste money on the corrupt 'uncle toms' who are as much reviled here in Quebec as they are in the rest of Canada.

This is a terrible budget and I want all Public Servants from the Province of Quebec fired, they are the reason for this terrible budget. High Ranking Quebec Officials in the Public Service must be fired and replaced by qualified individauls from other Provinces. These bilingual individuals have always been Parasites on the Public Purse for their Employment, bring back the Reform Party and time for British Columbia to head south. British Columbia has been screwed by Ottawa since 1867.

Harper loves being prime minister so much that he bought off the bloc with $'s for Quebec.
Sad for Quebec and nothing for BC. Canada deserves better than this.

Hello Nik,
I disagree and so far the budget has not been seen as an intervention in provincial
elections...Quite the contrary, all parties want to take credit for it. They want the money
and run! Only Premier Charest is looking ahead, and saying that there is more work
that needs to be done. Tonight, during an interview on rdi - radio-canada, bernard de rome,
was attacking him, rather than interviewing him, and to J. Charest's credit, did not let
him get away with it...Charest is a very strong Leader, and debator, but never comes on
too strong. Charest is really smart, and sees the future in a global economy, and global
world. He knows that we need immigration out here, and he's already out front! Charest
is more of a visionary, and I like that! The separatists always have their 'blinkers' on!!!
This Federal budget is not going to get even a minority for the next Harper gov't; quite the
opposite. He wasn't true to his own conservative ideological views, and his right-wing base is not pleased,
by what is seen as a Liberal budget. We all know that it was a political budget. We are
not going to see Harper call for a Spring election. The 'bloc' is last to even want one.
They are just a big impediment in the "House" for this whole Country.
I shall tell you that Jean Charest is also made of Prime-minesterial stuff! but I don't want
to go there!
Cheers,
bloss
bloss

Budget 2007

Canadians have found bilingual Public Servants/Officials in the Finance Department from the Province of Quebec guilty of designing their own personal Tax Cuts in this money transfer to Quebec, Far to much money for Quebec. Those working in Finance Department must be held accountable.

Hello Nik,
I do not have time to answer the e-mails this eve...
However, the pequistes and adq and 'bloc' are virtually turning our elections into a circus...
The adq has been discounted and have worried those who are making the calculations
of dumont's budget figures, and his old revived duplessy era vision, which would retard
our province from striving in a global world. Fortunately the Press is paying attention,
and perhaps will invoke the fear into those who would want change for the sake of
change. dumont is harper's man and has a one man agenda!
Harper's below-the belt attacks in the "house" today, have even the Press worried,
and to finish, if I may, on his budget, here is an exert from yesterday's Gazette:

Quote" Fedral Budget: by Allan Allnutt, Publisher:Tories strive to make everyone happy -

It's not an election budget that federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty provided yesterday -
it's a non-election budget. Combine a fat surplus with a minority government, and the
result is a cornucopia that opposition parties will vote against only at their peril.
He goes on to say that with a surplus, you can please all of the people, at least one time.

And this is what it is - We may have a few more years of surplusus, but the picture
could change radically, and I believe that people mostly want stability and security.

If Jean Charest wasen't in this perverse separation dillemma, I believe that he may
have been able to react differently. Rejecting a bad budget that does not include all
Canadians, and does not divulge all of the angles for big corporations, and giving
a lot of taxes (small amounts for all), and not building on strong institutions, and
real programs for all, is catastrophic for the future of the needs of the people of this Country.

There are a few scandals brewing in the Harper camp, just take the lack of security
of our airports, which I had already mentioned, and we had better believe it.
Those four missing prisoners, do not only entail that they may have been killed, tortured,
but the other side of the issue not being mentioned, is that what if they escaped, and
were really a security risk??? That's what is concerning to M. Dion...

The adq is being discredited, and so is Harper for his remarks in the "House" today
about the Liberals caring more about the taliban, than the soldiers....A really cheap
shot, and the more Mr. Harper does it, the more worried he looks about his own
leadership!

It's shameful that just for change we would want to choose the adq, when dumont
can never win, and that the pq should have the advantage because we are discrediting
our own Premier, who with Harper might have united us all, once and for all.

I think that the Press is starting to get this message, and let us hope that they will
start to see the light that playing politics, could have us all in a dire Constitutional
dilemma once again.

Unless we start paying attention to foreign policy, and really paying attention at what
has happened in the US by the 'bush' administration, we could find this Country in
a position that we might want to repudiate.
In case you are interested, if I were to vote in the US, I would vote for (D) Bill Richardson,
Governor of N.Mexico. He has a lot of experience in the Middle East, and foreign policy!
Cheers,
Bloss

"

Continual whinning by Blossom in Quebec does not change the truth, Quebec is NOT a have not Province, IT IS A GET TO MUCH OF THE FEDERAL PIE, year after year after year after year after year. It is never ending, yet they still continue to whine whine whine just like old goofy (Dion)

Nik,
As of today, I stopped listening, but I would still like to give my assesment. Although the
polls would indicate that the Conservatives are on the rise; his plan has back-fired, and
so has Mr. Charest's. Looking back on S.Harper's promises (R.Ambrose) re a green
plan, was never delivered...Income trusts infuriated a lot of investors. (that will be settled
at the polls. When J.Charest announced an election 6 days after the budget, that's when
I became leary..S..Harper has the strategies, and the promises are always enticing, until
they are unveiled. J. Charest's campaign was a blunder, and when he announced the tax
cuts too quickly, probably regreted it, because the monies should have gone to better
use for all; and then S. Harper who came on strong about open Federalism
was seen as intrusive, but I personally liked this move. He should have been able to predict the consequences of this...unless
he can really hold it against the pq if they get more seats. This should give added concerns
to the voters.
(Personally I was really happy to hear this, which may seem a bit
uncouth, but one can't have it all after all). Besides this could have shown J.Charest's
rebuttle to be as a strong prov.leader, and may have been part of the plan, because it
was just too obvious a move...The pq leader's picture is removed,from posters, and should the party
win, he shall be replaced. If the adq wins, no party, the figures have all duped his credibility,
but people wan't change, and dumont has promised that he will realize his goals within
a period of 9 mths. But will he deliver the baby? If not, S.Harper will have to find a pretext for
his next election which the other parties do not want....With an alleged scandal,
which may be re-investigated, not delivering on Kyoto - Afghanistan will be the next big
issue, no one at this time can foresee what will happen. I believe that voter unpredictability
will be more prevailing in future elections. I had already posted my vision
of the results, and this eve Craig Oliver of CTV predicted the same...min.Liberal,
adq in second. Unless the pq manages to center in between, the two parties, this will
be the scenario next Monday. Obviously not the one that I had hoped for. But with time,
this whole Country, including Qc, may realize that they are getting more changes than
they bargained for. And this is what I am hoping for. As for the lion's share in Qc., some
should remember that they had needier days in the past. Who knows, J. Charest may
come-up with a new strategy at the last minute...nothing is impossible, and we did
see this happening re. the new rules at the polls today. Who knows? There will always
be that unknown factor!
bloss

This budget just makes you want to throw up when you considered the attitude of Quebecers in Quebec they always on the TAKE, face the facts Niks, the truth is right in front of you. Can you not see the Forest for the Trees!

Liberal BC member

Where do you go to get a Application to seperate from Canada, Wonder how the Election will go in Quebec. No matter who is Priemer the rest of Canada will lose. Does the Bloc take application for speration, British Columbia wants to APPLY NOW.

Hello Nik,
Would like to thank you for the use of your blog, which is great, because we do get
to sound-off, and perhaps even relate to each in all Provinces...I see it as great public
relations, and discussions that promote better relations amongst all of us, who would
never get to communicate, and see how much we all have in common in this great
Country of ours, Canada.

I would like to wish you, and all of our friends on this blog a "Happy Easter", and a great
holiday week-end.

PS: Ken Chapman, I have been trying to get on your web-site, to no avail...I am now
subscribed on different webbs, but have yet to reach yours. Perhaps you could help
me to find it? Thanks.
bloss