Michael Ignatieff? Scurrilous
How low can a politician go? Even in Canada, it would seem, pretty low. It is interesting that a former academic sees no inherent problem in promising private sports enterprise a bundle of taxpayer funding, as a down payment on future votes. While an trained economist, despite his enthusiastic love of organized sport, understands quite well that public money does not equate with private enterprise, the former enabling the latter to acquire greater wealth.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision on behalf of the federal government that, despite the entitled-feeling expectations of the mayor of Quebec City, it would be indefensible for $400,000 to be handed over to help in the building of a sport arena in the hopes of enticing a major league hockey team to once again take up residence in the city was the right and the commendable one. Private enterprise, feeling generous, could take up the slack. The city and the province could do likewise.
There is no value for money ill spent for the Canadian taxpayer in ponying up funding for municipal arenas that are meant for organized sport, and not for active use by those living in the municipality, as a public arena. The National Hockey League, which pays exorbitant salaries to its players and which is a guaranteed money-making machine, can fund its own arenas. In any event, it is dubious whether such an arena would successfully result in a franchise.
There is Michael Ignatieff, stumping for a new election, and informing Quebecers that they needn't waste their votes on the Conservatives. Upon whom they cannot rely to dance to their constant demands for greater transfer payments and extraordinary additional federal grants and payments. Punish the Conservatives for denying the arena money, he urges voters. Vote for the Liberals.
For the Liberal Party of Canada, under Michael Ignatieff would be only too pleased to hand over tax funding for a sporty new NHL arena. Scruples there are none; wild political ambition there is aplenty. The Quebec City arena would be assured of a go-ahead, the federal government would be generously prepared to fund the construction of a new Quebec City arena. Vote Liberal.
This is what many might consider to be scurrilous behaviour. No surprise there.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision on behalf of the federal government that, despite the entitled-feeling expectations of the mayor of Quebec City, it would be indefensible for $400,000 to be handed over to help in the building of a sport arena in the hopes of enticing a major league hockey team to once again take up residence in the city was the right and the commendable one. Private enterprise, feeling generous, could take up the slack. The city and the province could do likewise.
There is no value for money ill spent for the Canadian taxpayer in ponying up funding for municipal arenas that are meant for organized sport, and not for active use by those living in the municipality, as a public arena. The National Hockey League, which pays exorbitant salaries to its players and which is a guaranteed money-making machine, can fund its own arenas. In any event, it is dubious whether such an arena would successfully result in a franchise.
There is Michael Ignatieff, stumping for a new election, and informing Quebecers that they needn't waste their votes on the Conservatives. Upon whom they cannot rely to dance to their constant demands for greater transfer payments and extraordinary additional federal grants and payments. Punish the Conservatives for denying the arena money, he urges voters. Vote for the Liberals.
For the Liberal Party of Canada, under Michael Ignatieff would be only too pleased to hand over tax funding for a sporty new NHL arena. Scruples there are none; wild political ambition there is aplenty. The Quebec City arena would be assured of a go-ahead, the federal government would be generously prepared to fund the construction of a new Quebec City arena. Vote Liberal.
This is what many might consider to be scurrilous behaviour. No surprise there.
posted by Pieface | 6:38 PM
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