Ed Stelmach Government Still Big Spenders

Yesterday Finance Minister Ted Morton tabled the 2010 budget in the Alberta Legislature. With the economy suffering, a record deficit, the PC's plummeting in the polls, you would have thought Premier Ed and company would have seen the light and gotten their act together. Not so!

The big spending continues. Yes there were some cuts but they should have been deeper and more broad and there should have been tax cuts too. It has been the case before when a government cuts spending and cuts taxes together the economy prospers. Yes, our most vulnerable should be supported. Sadly too many people want their entitlements but at the same time complain that the government is spending too much. Go figure!

There was no real plan to get us out the dark hole as the author of this column in the Calgary Herald states.

The tabling of Tuesday's provincial budget was surprising on a number of fronts.

It had been rumoured to be a slash-and-burn budget -- one that was meant to demonstrate the government's commitment to fiscal responsibility, but the opposite turned out to be the case.

Instead, a budget with a $4.7-billion deficit was tabled, representing a six per cent increase over last year's plan and one that was devoid of anything interesting, innovative or visionary.

Some were quick to question why it was even put forward in the first place -- before the impact of the competitiveness review could be factored into the numbers presented Tuesday

I don't think this budget is going to change Eddy's situation. Stop being so progressive! Stop the spending and cut taxes!

Budget highlights here.

Did The PM Set Mr. Iffy Up?

In my going through my daily blog reading, I came across an interesting perspective from a fellow blogger about Mr. Iffy bringing up the abortion issue as a priority for PM Harper's initiative to help the survival rate among women and children in the third world. I thought it was rather interesting viewpoint.

"When Harper proposed the initiative, the political and cynical side of me was thinking, “Harper is setting Iggy up to ensure Iggy doesn’t attract back the Catholic vote“. And sure enough, Iggy took the bait. And now he has earned the rebuke of the Archbishop of Toronto. Whatever the Liberal Party establishment may think of the Catholic Church, it’s not good politics to upset the constituency you are trying to win back to secure electoral victory."(h/t SoCon or Bust)

Are the Green Police Coming?

I know, I know it's supposed to be a light hearted Superbowl ad. It's supposed to be funny but could it be a little glimpse into our future if the global warming extremists have their way? The ad is a little eerie to me.



Governments at all levels want to impose all kinds of environmental rules on us, could the Green Police be coming to a community near you? Could this really be? The Green Police?
They already have them in the UK and New York City. Something to think about. What say you?

IRuby To Run for Toronto Mayor?

Will IRuby run for mayor of Toronto? I guess some want her to. Should she?

"Could Brampton Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla run for mayor of Toronto?

The former beauty queen and Bollywood actress wasn't returning our call asking if she has entertained the idea, but those who know Dhalla say she has been getting requests to throw her hat in the ring.

While the field for Toronto's next mayor is crowded, the Brampton-Springdale politico would provide a strong, female candidate who would jazz up the race that so far has been filled with white, male front-runners.

"That's certainly a new spin on the election trail, it certainly comes out of left field," a surprised Ryerson University professor Myer Siemiatycki said Friday. "You'd have to think that this is a long-shot prospect."

Siemiatycki said Dhalla would face a few major hurdles, including the fact she doesn't live in Toronto and her "Nannygate" incident last year, when relatives were publicly accused of mistreating foreign domestic workers, a claim Dhalla denied.

To be eligible to run, Dhalla would have to move to Toronto or own or rent property within the city.

But despite her challenges, Siemiatycki said Dhalla's entry would make it a "much more interesting contest."

With the fact municipal elections have notoriously low voter turnouts, it could be anyone's race, Siemiatycki said. The next mayor could win with just 30% of the 30% of the city's population that bothers to vote, he said." (h/t) Toronto Sun

Update: IRuby has confirmed she will not run for Toronto Mayor.
Ruby Twitter

Who the Torched MP's Office?

Yesterday someone tried to burn down Mississauga-Erindale Conservative MP Bob Deckert's constituency office. It has been deemed an arson by the police. Damages are estimated at around $5million.

Who could have done such a thing? Security cameras caught the image of someone with a canister and what looks like a barbecue lighter.



If this is person who set the fire, he's a sick, demented individual who I hope is caught and has the book thrown at him. Only someone filled with hate would attempt something so horrible. Thank God no one got seriously injured.

Update:



Police have ID the man and has issued a warrant out for his arrest. His name is Mikhail Khavkine,aged 42. I hope they catch this creep and he's put behind bars for a very long time.