Does anyone else think that this CTV news story, reads like an opinion piece?
OTTAWA -- Perhaps the most significant act of the Harper government is being conducted so slowly, steadily, and silently that it has raised barely a whisper of public debate.
After three Conservative budgets, the Government of Canada has been made financially incapable of offering costly new social programs or significant tax cuts for the foreseeable future.
Remember the national day-care plan the Liberals talked about when the country was awash in $13-billion annual surpluses? Or the Kelowna treaty to deal with aboriginal poverty?
Those surpluses are now almost gone.
I'm not debating anything said here. In fact, if the Conservatives have tried to make it hard for future governments to massively ramp up social spending in the future, then good on them. The tone of this story just strikes me as politically charged.
It's certainly an interesting point to ponder. Then again, one should never underestimate the ability of the Liberals to promise new taxes (or abolishing existing ones a la the GST) then turn around and do the exact opposite.
Furthermore, one should not overestimate the will of the Canadian people to hold them accountable when they do.
The National Day care program or the Kelowna treaty proposed by the former Paul Martin government or any other costly new social program introduced by the Liberals inadvertently means an increase in my taxes. With the $62 billion in new spending promised by Stephane Dion, the $13 billion surplus would have been gone anyway and most certainly my taxes would have gone up, so I am happy with Stephen Harper’s government allowing me to keep more of my pay cheque in my pocket.
The article is factually inaccurate:
"The Tories actually boosted spending dramatically in their first two budgets, often on conservative-friendly measures like tax credits for families"
A tax credit, or cut. Cannot. Under any circumstances whatsoever. Be referred to as "spending". "dramatic" or otherwise.
It is factually inaccurate. To describe a tax cut. As spending. Is false. In any context. Not even Jim Stamford. Would pull that crap. No other country's media. Would attept such deceit.
Besides. The bulk of Conservative tax cuts. Such as GST cut. Benefit the poor most. This is the mathematical. Reality.
We're in la-la land here folks. We have evidence that the Canadian Press publishes factually inaccurate information. Good for you for catching this Mike.
Ah - but it does conjure up fears to those who fear "Scary Harper" about what he would do if he had a majority.
Let's see - Faux Scandals don't seem to work so the MSM fall back on the old "What would happen to Canada if he ever got a Majority".
I say we are heading to an election - too many little signs everywhere.
Besides - they have to have an election before the details of Schwinigate become public.
Taxpayer:
I couldn't agree more. And I think I have the cure for such execrable nonsense.
The article is very correct in its statement that the Conservatives have increased spending. Canada's fiscal health has improved steadily since 1993, allowing successive budgets to not only cut taxes but also increase spending.
For this reason, every budget for the last few years at least has set a new record for government spending. At the same time, Paul Martin set the record for the largest cut ever to personal income taxes.
For those who differ, please look at the bottom line of the budget. You will find it is about 3% larger than last year's budget.
A point of order here. The Tories most certainly have outspent the Martin Liberals in their first two years with an overall increase in spending of 14.5%. So, in this respect, the article is correct. The tax cuts are not considered spending, it is measured in government expenditures on registered programs.
James and Raphael, read Mike's final paragraph:
"I'm not debating anything said here. In fact, if the Conservatives have tried to make it hard for future governments to massively ramp up social spending in the future, then good on them. The tone of this story just strikes me as politically charged."
It's a question of tone. What hard news piece needs to start with the word 'perhaps'? I agree with Mike, it does read like an opinion piece. The facts are accurate, but if that article isn't designed to make timid Canadians fear a scary tory hidden agenda, I don't know what is.
"...so slowly, steadily, and silently that it has raised barely a whisper of public debate." Ooooh! Scary!
The line between news and opinion is, it seems to me, blurred. It probably always has been and I'm not convinced that there ever was a golden age of journalism.
Some level of bias is inevitable in journalism. There is systemic bias based on the target market of the media company, there is individual bias that affects even the best journalists' efforts, there is a tendency to report the sensational at the expense of the mundane and there is the ebb and flow of the political centre of gravity.
As consumers of news we bring our own bias and sensitivities to the table. Readers of the Toronto Star may well feel the National Post is biased -- and it is. Readers of the National Post may well feel the Toronto Star is biased -- and it is.
I think the wording of extract here is a pretty modest example but an example non the less.
Kevin, I guess the example stands out so strongly for me, because CTV is generally good at being balanced in the political coverage. In fact, they are the only major news outlet that has extensive political coverage outside the blogosphere.
CTV is generally good at being balanced in the political coverage.
Well, this report was filed by someone at CP. I don't know about bias, but just to be sure...find out the name of the CP reporter and post the results of his 6 year-old daughter's last report card, in which she got, scandalously, a check-minus for finger-painting.
*
"mike says... The tone of this story just strikes me as politically charged."
uh, mike... it's ctv.
*
*
"perpetually trolling ti-guy says... blah, blah, blah, look at me"
"Note that throughout it all, Canadian Cynic himself chose to keep a very low profile. His uber-trolling proxy and alter-ego Ti-Guy, with whom you are all likely familiar, made up for all that... making a full 20 percent of all 51 (at last count) comments on one of the posts. They were all, apart from 2 invitations to fellatio, name calling of a particularly childish nature."
found a new home, huh ti-guy?
*
Hello, nice site look this:
detecting a fake tag heuer watch
http://ekymi.info/replica-watches/replica-ernst-benz-watches.php
http://ekymi.info/replica-watches/louis-vuitton-perpetual-replica-watch.php
http://ekymi.info/replica-watches/how-to-spot-a-fake-rolex-datejust-watch.php
replica watches patek philippe
fight replica watches
watches replica brietling
longines replica watch
http://ekymi.info/replica-watches/imitation-replica-watch.php
ferrari replica watch
End ^) See you