CTF Turns On Kenny

CTF Alberta Director Scott Hennig is responding after it was learned a Tory fundraising letter from Kenney was sent on the Federal Immigration Minister's MP letterhead. A copy of the letter, intended for Conservative MP John Duncan went instead to NDP MP Linda Duncan. Hennig says the federal ethics commissioner should investigate.

A darn good idea.

Respond, Iggy

Yesterday, we noted that The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is trying to pressure the opposition parties to appoint anti-gun registry MPs to the committee that will consider a bill (C-391) to kill the registry when Parliament resumes in March. They argue that, since a majority in the House passed the bill once, the committees that consider its further progress should reflect this fact. Today, the Winnipeg Free Press has picked up the story, and we learn the CTF position is also that of the Harper Torys.

More importantly, the Free Press has attempted to contact the opposition parties to ask if they are going to play along:

A spokesman for NDP Leader Jack Layton said the NDP has no plans to change their appointee to the committee. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's office did not respond when asked for comment.

I sometimes get the impression that the LPoC brain trust, while paying lip-service to the registry for the benefit of hardcore Liberal supporters (who support it), would really like to see it die quietly in the night so as to be off the table as an election issue in rural Canada. Not responding to this kind of query only exacerbates that impression.

Whereas, I am convinced, fighting C-391 in committee and in the Senate can still kill it. What are the odds that Harper and Co. will go another year without proroguing again, thus resetting the clock on all of their legislation? Given their recent behavior, I would say those odds are pretty high.

(I am also about half-convinced that this is one of those pieces of legislation that the Tories don't really want to ever be signed into law. But that's another post)

Billions Upon Billions

I am not normally a fan of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, but this piece contains s a nice, compact analysis by Adam Taylor of spending promises made by the various parties before and during the election campaign:

Even before the start of the official campaign, the Conservatives had pledged to spend more than $19 billion, according to the CTF, which tracked the party's spending announcements from June 2 through Sept. 6.

Some of that spending is broken down here, and includes $2,000 for the Shag UFO Festival. That in particular doesn't bother me as much as it should I suppose (I am strongly pro-UFO), but keep it in mind when Harper unleashes some fake outrage about other parties' irresponsible campaign promises.

The Liberal Green Shift plan, which has been sold as "revenue neutral," would raise an estimated $15 billion in taxes and yet only return about $9.5 billion in corporate and personal income tax reductions, says Taylor.

I support Green Shift Plan in principle, and a carbon tax as the most efficient means of achieving its goals in practice, but this kind of thing gives credence to the notion that it is all just a tax grab. I really wish the Libs had made it truly 1$ in = 1$ out.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth May's Greens seem to make promises without attaching a price tag, says Taylor.

Something I was unaware of. Now that E. May is in the debates, The Green's don't want to fritter away their new-found credibility, and rolling out completely uncosted promises is a good way to do it. Although: increasing the GST? The NDP obviously aren't the only ones smoking something.

More CTF Advice For Tories: Pull On Your Neck-Ties Until It Hurts!

CFP President John Williamson is advising the federal Tories to privatize Canada Post, even though this will almost certainly drive up postal rates for rural Canadians, who currently constitute the bulk of Tory support. The Western Standard's Matthew Johnston asks:

OK, so under this scenario rural people could possibly pay more for mail, while city folk pay more for...housing, for instance. What’s the problem?

Nothing, Matt, nothing. I hope...nay, I pray...that the Harper Tories make stiffing their base in the name of "free enterprise" a plank in their election platform.

Oh these Libertarian kids...so sweet...so innocent.

PS. That's the way you really win the hearts and minds of Canadians! You hand out bridges! Plus I hear Harper has promised Quebec City a giant statue of Mitsou in a little yellow two-piece, made entirely out a locally manufactured pastry sugar!

Usurped By His Sock Puppet?

David MacLean has stepped down from his position as head of the Saskatchewan wing of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. If you don't remember, this was the guy GPM caught making nasty comments in the guise of moneybags4me and several other sock-puppets. Now the rumour is he is being replaced at the CTF by moneybags4me itself. I hate it when they start talking back.

As you may know, I never employ sock-puppets, except when I am pranking stupid online surveys, in which case I rely on my good buddy Galactus, Eater of Worlds. So far, we get along fine.