Stephen Harper: Tory Convention in Calgary

[Ainin]

As for 2013 Libya would make a better trading partner. (Sorry Americans your economy sucks right now.)

Ha ha ha h... I hope you aren't serious. Because that's just ridiculous.

[NorthEast Alliance]

I understand you would think I am shallow, I just think it was the wrong move because America was and still is are biggest trading partner and when old Trudeua was off in Cuba or the USSR that Americans were not thrilled.

Pierre Trudeau recognized that relying almost entirely on the US for trade was a terrible idea, and it is thanks to him that Canada began pursuing diverse trading relationships. Can you imagine how much worse our economy would be right now if we were still almost exclusively hitched to the Americans?

Dangerous in the fact that both parties borrow and borrow and spend and spend. The NDP destroyed the Yukon were my father lived for most of his life by high spending and taxation. Pretty soon they just throw their hands in the air and say, " Well the money has run out, elites in Ottawa give us more money!"

You realize that the political situations in provinces and territories are very different, right? Like how the territories have very little autonomy when compared to provinces, and rely largely on funding from the federal government to provide services to a large geographic area with very few citizens.

1. I get relying on one nation is bad but pissing off your main ally and wanting to trade with CUBA? The SOVIET UNION? It was the cold war and being "best friends" with far left dictators is not a good idea.

2. I get that but still the NDP played role in wrecking the economy. Same in BC to.

[Oneracon]

Maybe because Nixon is and was an honest person [Nixon fanboy sorry]

You are missing the point. If we rely on one nation for trade, it would bring us down (hey, that's what is happening now, whoops) sure USSR, Cuba, and the PRC aren't 100% reliable for trade, but it made more diversity for the Canadian foreign market.

"I am not a crook!"

Harper is doing that right now with the EU and well China. But back in the Cold War era trade with our southern friends was vital.

No it was not "vital". If Trudeau had not made it clear back then that we weren't going to rely solely on the United States for trade, we would still be entirely dependent on the US economy and these trade agreements with the EU and China wouldn't exist.

[Greater Istanistan]

Maybe because Nixon is and was an honest person [Nixon fanboy sorry]

You are missing the point. If we rely on one nation for trade, it would bring us down (hey, that's what is happening now, whoops) sure USSR, Cuba, and the PRC aren't 100% reliable for trade, but it made more diversity for the Canadian foreign market.

"I am not a crook!"

Harper is doing that right now with the EU and well China. But back in the Cold War era trade with our southern friends was vital. As for 2013 Libya would make a better trading partner. (Sorry Americans your economy sucks right now.)

Free trade is not always good trade. It'll hurt local industries, and we don't have much to export to Europe. It might help a couple business owners, but really Europe doesn't need our goods. We don't need theirs.

This is just because Harper wants a deal before the Americans and a couple votes.

Last I checked (Globe and Mail), this would cost the Ontario cheese ministry 8.7 billion or so.

Funny thing - that's about 8x the size of the Gas Plant thing.

[Geilinor]

Dude. That is why he 'slept' with leftist dictators. It was so we don't have to rely on the big ole lumbering... thing to the south of us.

Yes because the Soviet Union and Cuba were reliable trading partners right? Fidel made Nixon look like an honest person.

Trading partners, yes. Political partners, no, which is why Trudeau never tried to do that.

[Seitonjin]

Pierre Trudeau recognized that relying almost entirely on the US for trade was a terrible idea, and it is thanks to him that Canada began pursuing diverse trading relationships. Can you imagine how much worse our economy would be right now if we were still almost exclusively hitched to the Americans?



You realize that the political situations in provinces and territories are very different, right? Like how the territories have very little autonomy when compared to provinces, and rely largely on funding from the federal government to provide services to a large geographic area with very few citizens.

1. I get relying on one nation is bad but pissing off your main ally and wanting to trade with CUBA? The SOVIET UNION? It was the cold war and being "best friends" with far left dictators is not a good idea.

2. I get that but still the NDP played role in wrecking the economy. Same in BC to.

1. They weren't pissed off. Trudeau held his ground.

2. Still better than Liberals for the time being.

[Geilinor]

As for 2013 Libya would make a better trading partner. (Sorry Americans your economy sucks right now.)

Ha ha ha h... I hope you aren't serious. Because that's just ridiculous.

I can't believe he doesn't understand how screwed the economies of countries that have recently experienced civil wars are.

[Seitonjin]

Ha ha ha h... I hope you aren't serious. Because that's just ridiculous.

I can't believe he doesn't understand how screwed the economies of countries that have recently experienced civil wars are.

He supports zee Tories

duh /smacked and thrown down a well

[Ainin]

Ha ha ha h... I hope you aren't serious. Because that's just ridiculous.

I can't believe he doesn't understand how screwed the economies of countries that have recently experienced civil wars are.

Even at its peak, Libya has never surpassed the US in economic terms.

[Seitonjin]

I can't believe he doesn't understand how screwed the economies of countries that have recently experienced civil wars are.

Even at its peak, Libya has never surpassed the US in economic terms.

They did end up surpassing Saudi Arabia for like, a year I think.

[Oneracon]

I get relying on one nation is bad but pissing off your main ally and wanting to trade with CUBA? The SOVIET UNION?

The USSR had large scale industrial facilities, and good relationships with Cuba gave Canada a foot in the door to affairs in the Caribbean.

It was the cold war and being "best friends" with far left dictators is not a good idea.

No, that is precisely why it was a good idea. Trudeau's actions showed that we were going to make our own decisions regarding international relations, and have resulted in Canada now having an incredibly positive and productive relationship with Cuba.

Cuba is Canada's largest market in the Caribbean and Central America region (bilateral trade of over $1 billion annually) and Canadian companies have significant interests in the Cuban agriculture, mining, oil/gas, and tourism industries.

[Greater Istanistan]

Never had an economy like the US. But who needs an economy when you have SWAG?

[Geilinor]

Pierre Trudeau recognized that relying almost entirely on the US for trade was a terrible idea, and it is thanks to him that Canada began pursuing diverse trading relationships. Can you imagine how much worse our economy would be right now if we were still almost exclusively hitched to the Americans?



You realize that the political situations in provinces and territories are very different, right? Like how the territories have very little autonomy when compared to provinces, and rely largely on funding from the federal government to provide services to a large geographic area with very few citizens.

wanting to trade with CUBA? The SOVIET UNION?

The US traded with the Soviet Union too, just not that much. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_trade_of_the_Soviet_Union#United_States

[NorthEast Alliance]

The Libya and US comparsion was obviously an exaggeration on my part. I am just saying the USA has much more to offer than some other countries.

[Rex Lucian]

Yeah, right. He's as reactionary as a Canadian politician gets.

Not even close.

The Senate is a waste of money.

[Geilinor]

wanting to trade with CUBA? The SOVIET UNION?

The US traded with the Soviet Union too, just not that much. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_trade_of_the_Soviet_Union#United_States

NorthEast Alliance, would you consider addressing this, by any chance? Even the US traded with the Soviets.

[NorthEast Alliance]

The US traded with the Soviet Union too, just not that much. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_trade_of_the_Soviet_Union#United_States

NorthEast Alliance, would you consider addressing this, by any chance? Even the US traded with the Soviets.

Like I said many trade partners are a good thing, I am just saying side lining your greatest ally is foolish and unwise.

[Geilinor]

NorthEast Alliance, would you consider addressing this, by any chance? Even the US traded with the Soviets.

I am just saying side lining your greatest ally is foolish and unwise.

It turned out fine for Canada.

[Rex Lucian]

"I am not a crook!"

Harper is doing that right now with the EU and well China. But back in the Cold War era trade with our southern friends was vital.

No it was not "vital". If Trudeau had not made it clear back then that we weren't going to rely solely on the United States for trade, we would still be entirely dependent on the US economy and these trade agreements with the EU and China wouldn't exist.

I couldn't believe what I read once from some American, "The government of the US owns the Canadian armed forces" and some Canadians think we need the US for war and protection, they aren't the only country here and they act like Canada isn't here as well, even though they fought with the British to take Canada from the French and French really just wanted New Foundland's fishing rights.

[NorthEast Alliance]

I am just saying side lining your greatest ally is foolish and unwise.

It turned out fine for Canada.

Yeah after all the prime ministers after Trudeua had to fix diplomatic relations with the USA. Diverse trade is obviously good but he hated the USA because of his fixation with radical leftism and that diplomatically was a mistake, even his own party thought he was mistaken. He was brash and arragont, an edgy guy who thought he was cool because Yoko Ono said he was a good leader.

[The rebellious states of broken femuris]

despite what the nation I have created may suggest I am actually fairly left wing. I'm not much of a fan of the conservatives in any country. that being said. has a Canadian I really don't think anyone else can run the country.

[Transmaria]

What I love is that no amount of angrily typing about Harper over the Internet will change the fact that the people the Liberals and NDP appeal to don't vote. On election day they'll smoke some dope and order a pizza.

The system works.

[Geilinor]

No it was not "vital". If Trudeau had not made it clear back then that we weren't going to rely solely on the United States for trade, we would still be entirely dependent on the US economy and these trade agreements with the EU and China wouldn't exist.

I couldn't believe what I read once from some American, "The government of the US owns the Canadian armed forces" and some Canadians think we need the US for war and protection, they aren't the only country here and they act like Canada isn't here as well, even though they fought with the British to take Canada from the French and French really just wanted New Foundland's fishing rights.

What?

[Geilinor]

What I love is that no amount of angrily typing about Harper over the Internet will change the fact that the people the Liberals and NDP appeal to don't vote. On election day they'll smoke some dope and order a pizza.

The system works.

Because clearly the Liberals and the NDP are the pot addicts...

[The United Colonies of Earth]

With any luck, Canada just needs two ideological wars, a baby boom, economic serendipity and a load of other fun things to drive it down America's dark, totalitarian, self-destructive path.
I am an American Liberal. Thus I, in full sarcasm, declare:

Go Stephen Harper and Canadian Conservatives 2013!!!!!