Thursday, September 24, 2009

Government Inaction?

OTTAWA–Liberal research suggests only 12 per cent of the $4 billion set aside for immediate job-creating infrastructure projects has actually flowed so far – a far cry from the Harper government's claim that 80 per cent of its economic stimulus plan is being implemented.

[...]

Liberals were able to directly contact people involved in 946 of those projects. Of those, he said they found construction has actually started on only 224 projects.

Extrapolating those results over the other projects they weren't able to contact, Kennedy said they concluded that only 12 per cent of the $4 billion fund has flowed.

As I wrote yesterday, there are all sorts of legitimate reasons that projects might be delayed. It takes time to spend money, after all. But of course lying about how much of the money has been spent is a different thing entirely.


And I don't understand the government's reasoning here:

The average Conservative riding got 13 times as much money as the average opposition riding in British Columbia, 2.7 times as much in Quebec. In Ontario, Conservative ridings got 11 per cent more than opposition ridings.

After all, in a minority government situation, this necessarily means that most of the money is going to under 50% of the ridings, and furthermore, going to ridings the Tories already have locked up.
Aren't you supposed to bribe the people who wouldn't otherwise vote for you?

13 comments:

CanadianSense said...

I am not clear in the wisdom of this attack.

Are those projects unworthy of funding?

The Accountability Act "red tape" is not a factor?

The last time a Government failed to practice due diligence we got Adscam.

The government will make mistakes and they will be found making mistakes.

Do you have specific complaints on specific funding projects?

The speed?

Those deals required negotiation between 3 levels of government.

Are you looking for the fountain or hotel in the PMO riding example?

I don't understand why you are attacking the negotiated deals between the provinces,cities with the Federal government.

Can you give me some more detail.

Thanks

Robert G. Harvie, Q.C. said...

Well.. maybe, and I'm just spit-balling here, maybe those who support the Conservatives tend to just be better business people and have been able to meet the expectations of the stimulus process quicker and better.

Can you say "David Miller's ham-fisted effort to buy streetcars with stimulus funding?"

Ti-Guy said...

maybe those who support the Conservatives tend to just be better business people and have been able to meet the expectations of the stimulus process quicker and better.

You really need to shut your fat, ugly face. Sorry, but you're working my last nerve.

I'm so sick and tired of arguably complex analysis being dismissed with this kind of arrogance, especially when it's completely pointless.

What do you expect to achieve with this "spit-balling?"

Robert G. Harvie, Q.C. said...

Ok. TiGuy. How 'bout this specific example of Liberal stimulus-style spending policy?

Jean Chretien handing Digby Wharf plus $3 million to Ralston MacDonnell for One ($1.00) Dollar?

And at just what point will you evern offer something up in your hateful spittle which is, oh, constructive, beyond weak attempts at witty attacks on other posters.

Who the fuck are you? Why should anyone give the first flying fuck about anything you write. You offer nothing but complaint and criticism.

Your world must truly be bleak and sad.

CanadianSense said...

Ti-Guy,

sounds like you need to talk to a professional regarding your last nerve.

Take a few days off, adopt a cat, call some friends and don't forget to breath.

Canada will not be destroyed if the CPC or Liberals win.

Best of luck getting some help.

Ti-Guy said...

Who the fuck are you?

Just someone who's never had much patience for, or seen much value in, the pontifications of uninformed blowhards (who should know better, I might add) who bring nothing to a discussion except their bafflingly unjustified self-regard.

What part of this didn't you understand:

"I'm so sick and tired of arguably complex analysis being dismissed with this kind of arrogance, especially when it's completely pointless."

If you're going to insult people who read this blog by insisting this issue can be explained by the essential superiority of Conservatives, it's incumbent upon you to back up that claim with some kind of evidence.

But more importantly, I don't even see the point. Why come to a Liberal blog to say such a thing?

Ti-Guy said...

CanaadianSense...you appear to be new this blog. Notwithstanding my outburst at Rob (who's been cruising for a bruising for quite some time), I'm actually enjoying myself.

bigcitylib said...

Roblaw, this is the more likely explanation:

http://citynews.video.citytv.com/video/41728545001/PM-Responds-To-Allegations-That-Stimulus-Money-Was-Misused/

Or maybe its something like this.

Gayle said...

Gerard Kennedy has gone futher, pointing out much of the stimulus money has gone to ridings who do not need it, instead of ridings who have higher unemployment.

One wonders what the point of a stimulus is if not to get people working.

TG - I am quite certain CS is not new to this blog. S/he is simply posting under a new name. Reminds me very much of biff.

Ti-Guy said...

S/he is simply posting under a new name. Reminds me very much of biff.

No he's not Biff. I can detect Biff now by punctuation alone.

I think CanadianSense is here in good faith.

Gayle said...

I guess that depends on what you mean by good faith. :)

Either way I won't lose any sleep over it.

By the way, I love this response:

"If you're going to insult people who read this blog by insisting this issue can be explained by the essential superiority of Conservatives, it's incumbent upon you to back up that claim with some kind of evidence."

You are too good for the internet.

A Eliz. said...

Ad scam Came wowhere close to what this scam has ... 50-60 Billion dollars ....and all in the governmet know about this one!

CanadianSense said...

Blowback or unintented consequences.

Canadians would be upset if the Liberals showed the stimulus was being mismanaged.

I don't understand the Big City Park in Burlington is a good example of that case.

You have the Mayor now praising EAP and extolling the province and the CPC who are helping the city with many projects in his city.

I don't understand the optics of that PR stunt and send a small number of Liberal staffers. MP to protest the Tim Horton return with a climate change no show from Harper in the UN.

The advisors are making mistakes making non issues into a serious problem.

Canadians are turning off, the polls are reflecting "Faux" outrage.