Ouellet, Irving LNG Tax Deal, Harper, Auto Parts, Equalization, Grow-op Real Estate

We're owed truth about Ouellet audit Diane Francis, Financial Post, June 9, 2005

The Paul Martin Liberals continue to play games to protect former Canada Post CEO Andre Ouellet, who finally resigned in August, months after charges of cronyism and mismanagement at the Crown corporation came to light.

[. . . . ] Mr. Ouellet's entire tenure should be audited, and the minister in charge of the tax department should not be the same as the minister responsible for Canada Post.

There are other problems as well.

Mr. Ouellet was appointed chairman of Canada Post in 1996 by his pal, former prime minister Jean Chretien, at a salary of $160,000 compared with the $20,000 for his predecessor. He pushed out his CEO in 1999 so as to give himself the job -- at $400,000, the highest salary in Ottawa's civil service. There are rumours he also doubled his pension benefits, along with that of his cronies. Is this true? [. . . . ]

The Irving Oil tax act scandal Terence Corcoran, Financial Post, Jun. 9, 05

[. . . . ] Bill 70, an act to comply with the request of the City of Saint John on taxation of the LNG terminal.

The bill is, quite literally, the Irving Oil tax break. It wipes several clauses of existing law out of existence and makes a specific and exclusive exception for the Irving LNG terminal. [. . . . ]

One of the lost tax principles here is that taxes, tax increases and tax cuts should apply to all industries equally. Tax preferences on a company by company basis are distorting and unfair, if only because they pass the tax burden over to companies not receiving the benefit. Special concessions create utter confusion over the tax base and the nature of tax revenue. Even worse, perhaps, are the backroom-deal cutting and ugly political games that inevitably follow a system that gives politicians power to swing deals on a company by company basis. Looking deep into somebody's eyes doesn't rate as a guide to public policy. [. . . . ]

Copying the feds' in the "asymmetrical" aspect . . . The individual and small businesses on the losing side might not like it but the Liberals win every time they do it so it must be a winning formula. Just let the idea sink in for a bit; you'll come to like it . . . won't you? Or have you already moved to the cottage and you'll learn more later?





He'd "rather be robbed blind by the Liberals than vote for Harper"

Ontarians put Liberals first, tape dirt and all John Ivison, National Post, Jun. 9, 05. I think this is one of Ivison's better columns.

This suspicion is backed by another Decima poll that shows more people believed the Liberal explanation of the Grewal affair than the version offered by the Conservative MP. That impression has been shaped by the nation's public broadcaster and other Liberal apologists who have concentrated on poking holes in Grewal's admittedly threadbare story, while apparently forgetting that the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Tim Murphy, and the Health Minister, Ujjal Dosanjh, are implicated in borderline illegal vote-buying activities.

Official Ottawa has been compliant in burying the story under a rug. The claim by Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro that he has no mandate to rule on Murphy's role is merely the latest example of his tendency to duck behind the nearest parapet when the shrapnel starts flying. You might have thought the nominally independent commissioner would be motivated to take an interest. Lest we forget, Murphy can be heard on the tapes saying: "To get the Ethics Commissioner to give an interim report or something to take the cloud off. That would be helpful." Of course, it's possible the entire passage was doctored by Grewal -- the King of Dub. Possible but as likely as the Prime Minister admitting Murphy might have strayed a smidgen beyond the bounds of acceptable behaviour. [. . . . ]

. . . . But Harper's moral absolutism offers a marked contrast to Martin's relativism and an alternative to "politics as usual" in this country. What is truly scary would be a willingness to ignore blatant cheating by the Liberals in a referendum and two general elections -- transgressions compounded by an apparent attempt by the Wire Brush and his henchmen to buy success in last month's budget vote. [. . . . ]

Parts makers see silver lining in GM downsizing -- 'Could be an opportunity for us,' APMA says Chris Vander Doelen, CanWest, Jun. 9, 05

WINDSOR - The sweeping job cuts and production cutbacks announced by General Motors Corp. this week could actually be a boon to Canadian parts makers, their industry association says.

If GM sheds some of its parts production, as it has promised Wall Street it will do to cut its losses, members of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association will be standing by to pick up part of the work.

[. . . . ] GM told shareholders it would cut 25,000 jobs, one million units of production and close an unspecified number of plants. [. . . . ]

Scrap equalization payments Herbert Grubel, Financial Post, Jun. 9, 05

[. . . . ] The extra taxation in the have-provinces punishes economic success and slows growth. The subsidies in the have-not provinces have slowed needed adjustments, reduced the growth in productivity, created a culture of dependence and caused excessive un- and underemployment, with all the social ills accompanying it. [. . . . ]

Penalties -- Trading Up

Frustrated residents of upscale B.C. neighbourhood fight back against grow-ops Elaine O'Connor, CanWest, Jun. 9, 05

[. . . . They are] "organizing a petition to urge city council to increase penalties for grow-ops. ". . . . "the commercial [growers] . . . . buy their own property and it's a way to launder their money at the same time."

The more money they make, the more upscale the property they can buy, I suppose. Now, the lads in the boonies are somewhat handicapped in that, chances are, they already live in a fixer-upper. Then, they have to earn the first few hundred thousand to get into the going-upscale agri-business. Life is so unfair, even in the a natural products line.




Never the Twain Shall Meet

COMMUNICATION
Female... The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.
Male... Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.

COMMITMENT
Female.... A desire to get married and raise a family.
Male...... Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one

ENTERTAINMENT
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book.
Male...... Anything that can be done while drinking beer.

REMOTE CONTROL
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
Male... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every five minutes


Thanks, JK, and have a good week-end.

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