Afghanistan Vote and the Issue Environment (Video Blog Post)

I think that the fact the Conservatives/Liberals came to an accommodation is good.

Unfortunately because of the over the top rhetoric of Dion since becoming leader he and his party appear to have done a flip flop. His original position was out by 2009, combat to end by 2009, then out with honour and then it was moving the troops around to other areas of Afghanistan and then it was rotation. Bottom line is we are there until 2011 which is what Harper wanted.

Having Manley put forward recommendations put Dion in a real bind and with Ignatieff and Rae arguing that the party will look like cowards Dion acquiesed.

Bottom line is we have a Canadian position and that is good for our men and women who believe in the mission.

I think we are heading into an election in May or June. The media is now criticizing the Liberals for abstaining/sitting on their hands. They are being made a laughing stock by the pundits and people like Rick Mercer. So regardless of the shape the party is in and the fact the leader is perceived to be weak they have no choice.

The Liberals will flip flop and not support the final votes on the budget which will trigger the election.

[updated Fri Mar 14 21:16:00 EDT 2008]

The national issues graphic is revealing: Health Care and the "Environment" (whatever that is, but you can be sure it's expensive) are provincial jurisdictions. The "National Press Gallery" (a joke) would never suggest that the provinces are not good fiscal managers, but would rather rail on heartless right wingers in the federal government. If the Liberals were in power the provinces would be in the wrong.

We have a NATO commitment to the Alliance, Canadians should never place ourselves in a position to let our Alliance partners down. The extension of the mission today does that but places our allies on notice that we will leave if we are let down.

The House of Commons should be focussed on how our country can compete in the global economy by debating what taxes to cut, what labour laws need changing, are our environmental regulations in line with reality and not knee jerk, are safety regulations getting out of line and costing jobs, are insurance and liability issues hampering industry and forcing jobs off shore, does litigation by enviros and labour cause the above and how to offset or mitigate with fairness, but most importantly legislate so the we do not shut the store down.

The litigators are funded by ignorant people who think they are saving the environment through donations to the enviro.org of the day who then use the money to lobby targeted politicians who depend upon the ignorant to get elected by promising to shut the store down and another by big labour who refuses to work because of conditions or rates are not good enough.

Yes , there are lots they can do............. if "Made in Canada" is going to survive,

[updated Fri Mar 14 21:42:15 EDT 2008]

Harper has manoeuvred Dion, or should I say, pointed Dion to the corner again. Got to hand it to Harper as he surely knows how to handle the malleable Liberal leadership. Harper is skillfully setting the agenda issues.

Afghanistan is not a settled issue---far from it. Afghanistan will be in continuous and open contention and in 2010 the whole issue will be on the boil again. Hopefully, at that date, there will be new, decisive and principled Liberal leadership.

Healthcare has never lost its prominance in the eyes of the electorate however, the "fixes" promised by the Conservatives in the last election---example hospital wait times----have not been addressed properly as yet. The healthcare issues appear to be on the Conservative "back burner". A Taliban offensive costing Canadian lives during an election would change the perceptions of the electorate quickly.

Obviously, the coming election will be for the Conservatives to lose and, at this date, that does not appear likely. Awkward issues, however, unplanned as they may be, have the habit of popping up at the most unfortunate moments and, in a tight election, that would be critical.

Hey, Nik, had you asked me about issues for the coming election I would have added spiralling fuel prices and the immoral federal and provincial percantage taxes taking their "windfall" bite from every penny increase. Should be a flat tax on fuel.

[updated Fri Mar 14 22:33:26 EDT 2008]

It's hard to know where the Liberals stand on anything because they seem to be standing everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Their so-called principles on Afghanistan, the budget, health care, the environment, seem to evaporate before the only principle that is real to them: "We can't win an election on this issue." Every time the Liberals fail to live up to their previously-stated position, and take a stand against the government, they look weaker and weaker. As a result, more voters turn to the Conservatives, but only because they can see where the Conservatives stand. Trying to figure out where the Liberals stand on anything is like trying to nail jello to the wall.

[updated Fri Mar 14 22:50:27 EDT 2008]

Hello Nik,

This is the interview that I recently mentioned on this blog that you had on CTV.

An enternte was finessed because until 2011, however, we have not yet heard the end of this debate...Already the costs have doubled, the casualties are mounting, and we still do not have the 1,000 boots recommended by the Manley Report. It had to come to this, because we have soldiers out there, who are giving their utmost, and on our behalf, and for a Democratic process for women and children. However, the three priorities recommended will have to be fulfilled, or all might come to a standstill.

The Liberals were essential in bringing the Afghan issue to a climax, but most Canadians do not really know the details. The Kharzai gov/t, police are corrupt, from what I hear, and it is even proposed to have talks with the taliban, who are also a part of the Kharzi gov/t.

No, unless there is scrutiny and good reporting, half of our Canadian citizens disagree on this issue...There will be more debates and if there is a plan of action, we shall constantly have to supervise that all goes accordingly.

Personally I see that health-care, Education, jobs, the environment, repairing our infrastructures should all be priorities. That we should scrutinize the events in Afghanistan, and ensure that we are truly making a difference.

Dan McTeag's RESP Private Citizen's Bill for Education would be something that I would hold strongly in an election promise being a Liberal. This is something that voters will really relish, and help their kids compete in the future global market.

The $5k Bill that the conservatives introduced for Savings, tax free is still not clear if the Provinces are going to tax on this account? I did not hear Jim Flaherty warn against this!

On Human Rights, and Canadian citizens' safety outside our Country; a government that will help when in trouble. Not transfering our detained prisoners outside this Country for torture. Canada is against the death penalty, however, the present gov/t seems to want to change this. How many persons who have been tried, and erroniously, and served prison time, and having been totally innocent?

Bill Miliken stated, I believe today, that the tone had to change! This is a dysfunctional Parliament. Since the Cadman Affair, and I agree with Joe Comartin of the NDP, should no longer be referred to as such, because the late Mr. Cadman had been totally honourable, but should be called the alledged Conservative Election Affair, without mentioning the principal interloper. I noticed that the PM when there this week, looked like a lamb...Someone must have advised him to tone down?

I foresee a Spring election, after the break, and a revival of the Liberal party. This gov/t is not answering to the electorate, and the Grits are going to have a field day asking questions, and we shall see the downfall of the present gov/t.

The Schreiber-Mulroney Affair not settled, almost muffled. The Conservative election Affair, the vote on the Wheat Board, the Economy, and further job losses, and the price of petrol on the rise next summer, will trigger an election.

The Grits have plenty of meat on the plate, and should feel confident that it is time to put the bait, and pull the plug!

[updated Fri Mar 14 23:42:15 EDT 2008]

The truth of the matter is that Stephane Dion has become the puppet master and has Mr Harper dancing to his tune.When the fullness of the time comes,the puppet will fall.

William Ritching,

Ontario

[updated Sat Mar 15 00:41:34 EDT 2008]

The problem with Liberals and Conservatives on this issue is bunk!!! Way back in the late 90's the Liberals committed our troops to this so called war. Like it or not, as voting Canadians we must support our troops and our Governments logic and decissions on this situation. Without Canada involved their and handling the brunt of the fighting, those poor people who have been forced to grow drugs, degrade their women and female children due to the almighty dollar and the ancient belief that Allah is supporting this, is completely wrong and will pay. If the Liberals were still in power with even a minority government, the situation would not change. Thanks to the Torys, we now have more money inducing new recruits into our Military and policing in Canada, politicising the war and our motives and our beliefs in Demoracy and Freedoms we enjoy from our dead soldiers from WW1 and WW2, is a slap in the face of all new and born into Canada and generational Canadians abroad. Get it together and stop the Politics, Jack Layton should resign for his lack of true Leadership for the NDP on false and ill advised correspondence on this war. Sorry for jumping on this topic, but due to constraints on space, this is somewhat a non-partisan opinion on this topic. Nic you rule and I love your Polls. Keep em coming!!
Robert Robins, Ontario

[updated Sat Mar 15 03:19:55 EDT 2008]

As I recall it was he Liberal government that put us in the war zone. If Dion doesn't want our troops there he could have brought the government down on the issue.

Dion's real problem is that the electorate see him as a weak leader who will never be Prime Minister of Canada due to his own performance in the House of Commons.

No doubt the electorate are in no mood for an election but if there was one Harper would be re-elected because he has what it takes to lead and shows that leadership in the House.

[updated Sat Mar 15 11:16:03 EDT 2008]

While it may be true that Canadians feel that the Afganistan issue is at 7.5% on their rating of concerns,it still remains as key issue in an election campaign.According the the polls,the majority of Canadians want our forces out of there as soon as possible.So this becomes a strong "Swing" issue that could come into play in a close election.

[updated Sun Mar 16 01:21:29 EDT 2008]

I will be as clear and precise as I can. I will never support a Canadian political party that is favour of having a military operation in Afghanistan. We have a military for defense; to protect us if we are being attacked or to help protect a small or weaker country from a larger or more powerful one. Neither situation exists in Afghanistan. If a situation exists within a country whereby a poweful group is attacking a weaker group within a country then we rely on a revised United Nations. Where all nations decide what to do excpt that country that has a visited interest. i.e. if that situation existed in Tibet and all (or a majority) nations decided to intervene then Canada might go to iif certain conditions were met. China (having a vested interest) would not be allowed to take part. Remember I said a revised UN. One of the first revisions would be NO VETO.
Can you imagine what good could be done with $7 billion..and just one human life is worth far more that $7 billion not to mention 80.
If Harper or Dion really cared about Canadian citizens they would not be sending them to their deaths .There can be no justification for it and I for one will never believe them when they say they respect another life no matter what feeble excuses they give to justify their actions. I have heard every stupid excuse imaginable from military types and politicians and pundits and commentators. Not one of them holds water. They cannot stand up to rational thought processes.
I will not vote for the Conservatives or the Liberals; just for this one reason alone.

As for other issue! the environment is next, with health, education, justice ,social services and infrastructure. All those things that give every citizen regardless of anything else a decent standard of living.

[updated Sun Mar 16 09:46:22 EDT 2008]

Hi Nik

Afghanistan will not be an issue in the upcoming elections, although I wish the heck our troops were out of there.
The Pakistan situation is worrisome; there are changes on the political scene there and it is going away from the traditional American support. This political development does not bode well for our troops.

Your poles indicate that the two highest priorities for Canadians are Health Care and the environment. The liberals hold the high road on both those issues.
On the environment:
The previous government did not, as Michael Ignatieff said at the leadership convention in Montreal, “We did not get it done”
The conservatives have been using this line to convince Canadians that the liberals did nothing on this file yet since taking power the conservatives have done everything conceivable to down play the importance of climate change, from ridiculing the scientists to distorting history.
It is true the “liberals did not get it done” on the environment file but they sure got it started, before the tag team of Ambrose, Baird and Harper brought it to a screeching halt.

Health care

Paul Martins’ government invested heavily in the health care system $41 billion. The conservatives have done nothing and promised less.

One point you made during the interview, you say the conservatives are better at managing the economy? I do not understand where you get the reasoning or supporting material for this. It was after all the liberals that balanced the budget in 1993, and it will be the liberals that do it again after the conservatives leave office in 2008.

[updated Sun Mar 16 10:41:11 EDT 2008]

Good question Nik. But since when has the House of Commons actually focussed on issues recently? I see the Conservatives focussing on their agenda to gradually phase out abortion and phase in the death penalty. (You can't kill a fetus but an adult is fair game) I see the Liberals attempting to dance around long enough to actually increase in the polls and force an election. I see the NDP attempting to distance itself from the other two enough to attempt to have a shot at opposition or government. (If that happens there's no need to worry about global warming. Hell will have frozen over.) And I see the Bloc continuing their perpetual game of silly-bugger. It'd be nice if our politicians actually debated an issue -- any issue -- without all the dancing around they seem so prone to these days. Sorry for this. I love politics. But this group of yahoos is getting my goat. (Actually my pig and cow too)

[updated Sun Mar 16 17:41:43 EDT 2008]

I think Afghanistan is a sub-current issue. It may not be top of mind, but when a conversation turns to politics it always comes up. I have found Canadians uneasy about the open endedness of our committment. Folks are definitely in support of the CF and wish them well, but they sense cynicism on the part of both the Liberals and Conservatives, and feel that both parties are putting politics ahead of the welfare of Canadian soldiers. This is actually sticking to the Liberals more than the Conservatives. People I have talked to feel that Dion might have opposed the extension of the mission, but was afraid of an election,

In short the feeling is the Liberals are prepared to see the sacrifice of Canadian lives and treasure in order to save their electoral skins.

I also hear a lot of folks being somewhat derisive about how the Liberals are propping up the Conservatives on other issues. Some have srarted referring to the Lib/ Con coalition of Convenience as giving Canada a bad case of the CLAP (Conservative Liberal Alliance Party)

[updated Tue Mar 18 08:43:39 EDT 2008]