Politics in 2017

[jmt18325]

For needed context to the above:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/loans-for-bombardier-a-painless-boost-for-tories/article1057473/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadian-loan-to-help-finance-bombardier-sales-in-south-africa-1425294002

 

[The Bread Guy]

For needed context to the above:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/loans-for-bombardier-a-painless-boost-for-tories/article1057473/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadian-loan-to-help-finance-bombardier-sales-in-south-africa-1425294002

There you go, being all context-y and such  ;D

 

[The Bread Guy]

And here's the info-machine's version to comb through for buzzwords ...

Government of Canada and Bombardier announce significant investment to strengthen leadership in aerospace

Minister Bains announces repayable program contributions for Bombardier to foster Canadian innovation and strengthen the aerospace sector

February 7, 2017 – Dorval, Quebec – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to keeping Canada at the forefront of global leadership in the aerospace sector. The aerospace industry is one of the most innovative industries in Canada, and it provides over 211,000 quality jobs for Canadians and $28 billion annually in GDP to Canada's economy.

That is why, today, the Government of Canada announced that it will provide $372.5 million in repayable contributions to Bombardier Inc. This funding will be provided over four years and will support thousands of good middle-class jobs, strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Bombardier and help to build the aircraft of the future.

Through its collaboration with Bombardier, the Government of Canada is investing in thousands of Canadians and hundreds of suppliers across the country. As the nation's largest aerospace company, Bombardier supports thousands of jobs in design, engineering and manufacturing through its nation-wide supply chain of companies.

This initiative by the Government of Canada will fund research and development for the new Global 7000 business jet and ongoing activities related to the development of the company's C Series aircraft.

The Government of Canada has a long-standing relationship with Bombardier, Canada's biggest private sector investor in research and development activities. These activities strengthen the skills and knowledge of Canadians working in the aerospace sector, and they lead to new manufacturing platforms that position Canadians working in the sector for the jobs of tomorrow. The resulting benefits enable Canada to maintain a competitive position in the global supply chain that forms the aerospace sector.

Quotes

    "This contribution from the Government of Canada will secure the highly skilled, well-paying jobs for middle-class Canadians who work in the aerospace sector. It will also ensure that Canada has a strong, stable and competitive aerospace industry, which is a major driver of economic activity and innovation across the country. Bombardier plays a vital role, both as an anchor employer and an innovation leader. The Government of Canada is proud to invest in research and development activities that secure Canadian jobs, while enabling Bombardier to grow as a globally competitive company for years to come."
    – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

    "We welcome the continuing partnership with the Canadian government. The repayable contributions announced today will help to ensure that Canada remains at the centre of Bombardier's research and development activities, which are focused on developing the most efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly aircraft in the world. While we compete globally, we are proud of our Canadian home, our heritage and our position as one of Canada's leading high-technology manufacturers and employers."
    – Alain Bellemare, CEO, Bombardier Inc.

Quick facts

    Aerospace leads all manufacturing industries in research and development. It accounts for nearly one-third of all research and development activity in Canada's manufacturing sector, which translates to $28 billion of economic activity every year. Canada's aerospace sector employs, directly and indirectly, 211,000 people across the country.
    Aerospace companies are Canada's leading exporters in terms of trade intensity at twice that of the manufacturing average. Close to 80 percent of aerospace manufacturing was exported in 2015.
    The repayable contribution to the Global 7000 jet will be made through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI). This program supports specific research and development activities that help aerospace and defence companies develop new technologies.
    Another portion of this investment will be made through the government's existing contribution agreements with Bombardier. This contribution will support ongoing activities related to the development of the company's C Series aircraft. The C Series is an example of Canadian innovation and clean technology that is the future of the aerospace industry.
    In May 2005, Canada first announced that it would support the C Series with a $350-million repayable contribution.
    On October 11, 2016, the government announced an investment of up to $54 million to support a Bombardier-led consortium under the Technology Demonstration Program. The consortium will develop state-of-the-art electric systems and advanced aerodynamic systems that will make the aircraft of the future more energy efficient, reliable and quiet ...

Attached in case the link doesn't work for you.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Just so we are clear here, for those who love Quebec bashing:

The federal government loan is actually related to development and production of the Global 7000 corporate jets, which are built at the ONTARIO plant of Bombardier near Toronto.

The C-series stands on its own with the Quebec government investment last year and the combined Swissair/Delta/Air Canada sales already in the books.

Also, it is a sheer coincidence that Embraer just filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization. The Embraer complaint relates to the Quebec government investment last year. It just happen to have come out on the same day.

 

[Rifleman62]

It's not Quebec bashing, it is taxpayer bashing the Liberal government for again, and again giving money to a privately owned company with no return. Please provide details of the loan repayments to Canada.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

You shouldn't make this about the Liberal's, Rifleman.

Count how much money was given as subsidies or as "loans" to privately owned industries in the Maritimes or Ontario by the Conservatives, both under Harper and other past Conservative PM's. It's a political game played by all - who have been in power - and only really decried strongly by those who know they will never form a government.  :nod:

The only ones who probably have some valid beef are the Western provinces, at least from the time that the incredibly generous and large subsidies, special tax cut, loans and other incentives to the development of the tar sands were stopped because the industry was now profitable (and then conveniently forgotten by the industry who tried to re-write history by claiming to have done it all by itself  )

 

[Rifleman62]

Yes you are correct as far as I know. Your posts are knowledgeable and I enjoy your point of view.

 

[jmt18325]

The C-series stands on its own with the Quebec government investment last year and the combined Swissair/Delta/Air Canada sales already in the books..

Total nitpick - it's Swiss International Airlines, or just Swiss.  Swissair is no more.

 

[Old Sweat]

According to this story from The Hill Times reproduced under the Fair Dealings provisions of the Copyright Act, the Liberals and Conservatives are tied in a poll conducted in early February. Now, one poll 15 months into a mandate is hardly conclusive, but it bears watching.

Liberals and Conservatives tied in nationwide poll, Grits still strong in Central Canada, but losing younger voters
The survey taken in early February puts each party at 34 per cent public support.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals have lost their edge over the Conservative Party of interim Leader Rona Ambrose, a new poll indicates, though the governing party is holding strong in Central Canada.

By PETER MAZEREEUW
PUBLISHED : Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 2:00 PM

The federal Liberal and Conservative parties would each win the votes of one-third of Canadians if an election were held now, according to a poll taken at the beginning of February.

A year and four months after taking power, the Liberals have lost about one-third of the voters who supported them in the October 2015 election, according to the poll conducted by Campaign Research, the Toronto polling firm at which Nick Kouvalis, Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch’s former campaign manager, serves as a principal. Richard Ciano, another firm principal, is a supporter and volunteer for Ms. Leitch’s campaign.

Another poll released Feb. 7 by Nanos Research gave the Liberals a five-and-a-half point lead over the Conservatives, who registered a 12-month high at 32.5 per cent support. The Nanos poll was based on a four-week rolling average of responses, while the Campaign Research poll surveyed voters between Feb. 3 and Feb. 6. It asked respondents which party they were most likely to vote for if a federal election were held tomorrow, or if they hadn’t made up their mind, which party they were leaning toward.

The virtual tie between the two biggest parties in Parliament likely has more to do with poor Liberal performance than strong Conservative performance, said Campaign Research CEO Eli Yufest.

 
Mr. Yufest pointed to negative attention the Liberals garnered in recent weeks over Mr. Trudeau’s vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island, a broken promise to change Canada’s electoral system, political fundraisers with wealthy businesspeople, and comments about phasing out Canada’s oilsands as likely contributors to the Liberal decline.

“There’s no doubt that they’re battling some strong headwinds,” said Mr. Yufest.

The NDP took 16 per cent support overall, with the Greens and Bloc Québécois tied at six per cent each.

Liberals holding strong in Central Canada; losing young voters
The Campaign Research poll shows the Liberals have lost any edge they may have had among young voters; those under the age of 35 were one percentage point more likely to say they would vote Conservative if an election were held now (34 versus 33 per cent support). The Liberals had a three percentage point edge in support from Canadians aged 35 to 44 and among those 65 and over (34 versus 31 per cent, and 38 versus 35 per cent, respectively), while other age categories were either even or one point stronger for the Conservatives.
 
The Liberals held an edge among female respondents, 36 per cent of whom indicated they would support the Liberal Party right now, versus 33 per cent for the Conservatives and 17 per cent for the NDP. In contrast, more men supported the Conservatives, at 35 per cent, than the Liberals, at 32 per cent, or any other party.

The Liberals had healthy leads among respondents from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario, while the Conservatives had large leads among respondents from the Prairies, British Columbia, and Alberta.

Liberal defectors evenly split

Sixty-eight per cent of those who said they voted Liberal in the 2015 election indicated they would do so again if another election were held now, according to the poll. About 12 per cent of them said they would now vote Conservative, and 11 per cent NDP.

 
The Conservatives have managed to hold onto 86 per cent of those who voted for them in the last election, but the NDP was even worse off than the Liberals, with only 65 per cent of respondents indicating they would still vote NDP. The New Democrats bled the most support to the Liberals, at 15 per cent. Green voters were even less likely to still vote Green, with only 47 per cent indicating support for the party now, and 17 per cent suggesting support for the Liberals. The Bloc held 80 per cent of its prior support.

The Campaign Research poll also included some conflicting results about how Canadians view Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. More Canadians (46 per cent) disapprove of the job Mr. Trudeau is doing as prime minister than approve (39 per cent), while the opposite is true for interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose—36 per cent approve, 29 per cent disapprove, 35 per cent don’t know—and interim NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, at 41 per cent approval versus 33 per cent disapproval, while 27 percent don’t know.

However, Mr. Trudeau trounced his rivals when voters were asked who would make the best prime minister of Canada, winning 31 per cent support versus 14 for Ms. Ambrose, and 11 for Mr. Mulcair. Twenty-two per cent indicated none of the current party leaders would make the best prime minister.

Mr. Yufest said he attributed that contrast to the fact that many Canadians know Ms. Ambrose and Mr. Mulcair are interim leaders, and unlikely to be prime minister anytime soon.

The automated telephone poll sampled 1,457 Canadian voters, was weighted to be representative of Canada’s population, and has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20, according to Campaign Research. Subsets such as gender, age, and region, have higher margins of error.

 

[Remius]

I honestly believe that if Rona Ambrose were to run she would give the Prime Minister a run for his money.  Possibly leaving him or her in a minority situation.  Unfortunately the current leadership gong show for the CPC will likely give them a leader that will not be able to do what I think she can.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

It's not Quebec bashing, it is taxpayer bashing the Liberal government for again, and again giving money to a privately owned company with no return. Please provide details of the loan repayments to Canada.

I've posted a couple of times about this before, you can search if interested.You're all discussing the news story. That's what they want. You have to go down deeper.

You have take a pretty good look at Power Corporation. The names of the players and their extensive holdings world wide where Canada has large monetary interests.

Bombardier is grey. They'll say it isn't part of PC but both have many, if not most, of the same people in the key positions.

Both the liberals and the conservatives recieve largesse from both PC and BB. Look at how many of our politicians have, or do, work for both corps. The cross marriages within are like alliances in a small kingdom. A kingdom that controls almost all  of our insurance companies large interests in financial institutions, natural resources and such more. In Canada and out. Lke China, where we have great partnerships negotiated by our politicians who work(ed) for PCBB, who got the overseas contracts.

Look at it like a triangle. One side Power Corp, one Bombardier and the third the GoC. All three support each other equally and financially and are simply moving the money a round. Our tax money, that they invest, use for projects, whatever. They don't pay back the loans. Taxpayers are just another revenue stream.

Edit for spellng

 

[Good2Golf]

:goodpost:

...and Bombardier is the shorter/smaller side of that triangle. 

Power Corp. is capitalized at almost half a trillion dollars and manages and administers over two trillion dollars (that's $2,000,000,000,000+!)...its annual revenues alone are more than twice Canada's defence budget. 

If one were to look up "influence" in the Canadian version of Websters Dictionary, the definition would say, "See Power Corporation Canada."  :nod:

Regards
G2G

 

[a_majoor]

Evidently people might not like the man, but are interested in results. Remember the Brexit, rise of the Front National, AfD and other nationalist parties and the election of Donald Trump were ultimately powered by the disconnect between the political, bureaucratic, media and academic class and he taxpayers, not to mention the dismal disconnect between the rhetoric of the politicians and their enablers and results on the ground. Could Canada see a "Trumpening"? The conditions are aligning in the direction:

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/canadians-deeply-dislike-trump-but-prefer-him-to-trudeau-on-economy-security-poll

Canadians deeply dislike Trump, but prefer him to Trudeau on economy, security: poll
David Akin | February 8, 2017 | Last Updated: Feb 9 9:36 AM ET
More from David Akin | @davidakin

Trump’s overall approval rating among Canadian voters peaked at 28 per cent during the 10 days that Mainstreet polled, while 52 per cent of Canadians gave Trudeau a thumbs up for the job he is doing.

National Post wiresTrump’s overall approval rating among Canadian voters peaked at 28 per cent during the 10 days that Mainstreet polled, while 52 per cent of Canadians gave Trudeau a thumbs up for the job he is doing.

OTTAWA — Despite deep overall disapproval of U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadians prefer Trump’s approach to managing the economy and national security over the approach of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a poll taken on the eve of Trump’s inauguration.

The poll from Mainstreet Research, provided exclusively to the National Post, is the latest survey to show that a significant majority of Canadians have a dim view of Trump.

But it is the first poll that compares Trump to Trudeau across a range of personal characteristics and policy areas.

Trudeau easily tops Trump among Canadian voters when it come to perceptions of intelligence, compassion, honesty and several other measures.

But on economic policy, 53 per cent of Canadians approve of what Trump is doing versus 43 per cent of Canadians who approve of what Trudeau is doing. Trudeau’s “disapproval” rating on economic policy is 41 per cent while Trump’s disapproval on this issue is just 22 per cent.

Canadians surveyed by Mainstreet gave Trump 51-per-cent approval and 39-per-cent disapproval on the U.S. president’s approach to national security. Trudeau, by contrast had the approval of just 39 per cent of Canadians and the disapproval of 37 per cent.

Related
Canadians not so ‘exceptional’ when it comes to immigration and refugee views, new study finds
Stephen Gordon: Whatever Trump metes out, Canada will have to stomach
Michael Den Tand: Trudeau ’s fine line on Trump has roots in Mulroney-Reagan diplomacy
“For now, we could say Trump’s weaknesses are accentuating Trudeau’s strengths, but the tables could turn and it’s possible success for Trump in economic policy could create a negative contrast for Trudeau in Canada,” said Quito Maggi, Mainstreet’s president.

But on the three other policy areas Mainstreet asked about, it was all Trudeau. On immigration policy, health care policy, and his approach to foreign affairs, Trudeau’s approval rating was more than twice Trump’s approvals on the same issues.

On immigration, for example, just 17 per cent of Canadians approve of what Trump is doing versus 56 per cent approving of Trudeau’s approach.

Mainstreet Research, Jan 18-20, 2017. Survey of 1,500 Canadian voters by landline and cell phone. MoE +/- 2.53
Mainstreet Research, Jan 18-20, 2017. Survey of 1,500 Canadian voters by landline and cell phone. MoE +/- 2.53
Mainstreet’s poll was in the field before Trump issued his executive order temporarily halting all refugee arrivals in the U.S. and banning other immigration from a handful of Muslim-majority countries.

For its survey, Mainstreet contacted 500 Canadians per day from Jan. 18 to Jan. 29. To track overall approval ratings, it used a rolling 1,500-person sample through that period. To gauge opinions on Trump versus Trudeau, it used results from the 1,500 people surveyed from Jan. 18-20.

The poll was conducted via random-digit dialling to landline and mobile phones. The pollster says its results are accurate to within 2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

During the 10-day survey period, Trump’s overall approval rating among Canadian voters peaked at 28 per cent and bottomed out, on Jan. 29, at 15 per cent.

Trump’s net approval rating on Jan. 29 was -69 per cent.

Trudeau’s net approval rating was +8 per cent, with 52 per cent of Canadians giving him a thumbs up for the job he is doing and 44 per cent giving him a thumbs down.

For now, we could say Trump’s weaknesses are accentuating Trudeau’s strengths, but the tables could turn.
Mainstreet also put seven descriptions of personal character before survey respondents, asking how many might be applied to each leader.

Trump did not best Trudeau on any single characteristic but came close on “strong,” an adjective 48 per cent of Canadians would use about Trump but an adjective 52 per cent surveyed would use about Trudeau.

Just 13 per cent would describe Trump as ‘compassionate’ while 65 per cent would describe Trudeau that way. Trudeau also scored high as “inspirational” (63 per cent).

Trump’s lowest rating came on the ‘compassionate’ scale but it wasn’t much better when Canadians were asked if they agree Trump was ‘honest.’.  Just 16 per cent of Canadians surveyed would use that word about Trump while 58 per cent called Trudeau honest.

• Email: dakin@postmedia.com | Twitter: davidakin

 

[Lightguns]

Driving into Oromocto this morning (slowly I might add) and along the highway was; 1, 2, 3, and more rigs flatbedding a turretless LAV and a LAV with a turret with a soft recoil 105mm by the looks of the muzzle brake.  Total 15 trucks went by so loaded.  Guess we are filling our contract with the Wahhabis!

 

[Loachman]

One of the comments, regarding the first photograph in the article: "Is that a plant that he is laughing with?? A meeting of intellects, perhaps??"

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/john-ivison-trudeau-was-always-a-joke-to-the-right-he-should-worry-now-the-lefts-joined-in-the-laughter

John Ivison: Trudeau was always a joke to the right; he should worry now the left's joined in the laughter

John Ivison | February 10, 2017 | Last Updated: Feb 12 6:03 PM ET

The biggest issue facing indigenous youth is the lack of sheds to store their canoes, says Romeo Saganash, the Cree NDP member of parliament for the Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou. He has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for a National Canoe and Paddle Program to be included in the next budget.

It turns out that satire did not die when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, as Tom Lehrer maintained. The great explosion of burlesque sparked by the election of Donald Trump appears to be seeping across the border - and the joke is on our prime minister.

In the letter, also posted on Facebook, Saganash says he was convinced about the efficacy of this great national endeavour by comments the prime minister made recently, quoting Trudeau as saying he had spoken with chiefs who told him they needed youth centres and TVs for their young people.

"And when a chief says that to me, I pretty much know they haven't actually talked to their young people because most young people I've talked to want a place to store their canoes and paddles, so they can connect back out on the land," Saganash's letter quotes Trudeau as saying.

Writes Saganash, "Who am I to argue with your recent comments that you know what is best for indigenous youth facing so many critical issues including a suicide epidemic?" The Cree MP then offers to paddle across the country to tell First Nations not to worry about the impact of projects like the Kinder Morgan pipeline that the Liberals have given the green light.

The right has long lampooned Trudeau for being too stupid, too callow, too entitled to be a successful prime minister. But Saganash's attack is much more devastating because it comes from the left, it mocks his arrogance, and it questions his principles.

Saganash writes, with dripping sarcasm, that he understands there may not be enough money for the federal government to meet its legal and moral obligation to indigenous youth. Despite Trudeau's rhetoric that his primary relationship is with aboriginal Canadians, and the money committed in the last budget, the charge is clear - this prime minister is a promise-breaker who cannot be trusted to keep his word.
This loss of faith in Trudeau by voters on the left was also evident during this week's visit to Iqaluit, where he was approached by a woman who asked him why he had killed his campaign promise on electoral reform.

"Proportional representation in any form would be bad for Canada," he replied, to the consternation of the woman who said she "very respectfully" disagreed.

That de facto defence of the status quo strikes a very different tone than the one the prime minister adopted right up until he decided to be flexible in the application of his commitment to reform. Anyone remember him saying, "We can have an electoral system that does a better job of reflecting the voices of Canadians from coast to coast to coast?"

On the plane on the way back from witnessing the Conservatives lose the last election, I wrote a column suggesting elation would inevitably give way to letdown. In those heady times, when the mood in many quarters was a triumphant mix of VE Day and the moon landing, it seemed scarcely possible. But finite resources and realpolitik mean that many on the left now hold our prime minister in the same contemptuous light as those on the right. That is evident in the opinion polls, where the NDP is gradually edging up from their doldrums by a point or two per month.

With his open-necked shirt and sleeves rolled up, unplugged and seated, as he tackles another interminable townhall, the prime minister comes across as a man of good intentions. Sadly for him, he is now being judged on results, not intentions.

These are strange, heady days. As the American wit Will Rogers said long before the advent of Donald Trump, people are now treating their comedians seriously and their politicians as a joke.

 

[Loachman]

Bombard's Body Language: Trump and Justin Trudeau Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOvsfo0YRH4

 

[a_majoor]

One of the comments, regarding the first photograph in the article: "Is that a plant that he is laughing with?? A meeting of intellects, perhaps??"

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/john-ivison-trudeau-was-always-a-joke-to-the-right-he-should-worry-now-the-lefts-joined-in-the-laughter

John Ivison: Trudeau was always a joke to the right; he should worry now the left's joined in the laughter

John Ivison | February 10, 2017 | Last Updated: Feb 12 6:03 PM ET

Of course what is sad is it took so long people to see what was in front of them all along......

 

[jmt18325]

Not many people thought that Trudeau was a joke in Washington the other day.  Not many people will think he's a joke in Europe tomorrow (tonight).  The far left and right?  Maybe. 

 

[jollyjacktar]

If what I was reading was a good indicator of the PM's visit to Washington, most folks didn't know or care that he was there and as a matter of fact couldn't even remember his name.  If that isn't a giggle of jokiness, I don't know what might be.  We're not earth shaking in a global sense despite what we might imagine...

 

[mariomike]

He seemed to make a favourable impression with at least one individual. 
https://www.theguardian.com/media/shortcuts/2017/feb/15/pictures-of-swooning-ivanka-trump-and-justin-trudeau-go-viral