Doer steps down

[newflyer]

Doer in recent years has proven to be less of a disaster than when he first took office, but still a disaster.

He has done alot to prop up the unions .. all on the back of the taxpayers. All the while keeping the legislature activities to a minimum.

I would hope that the PCs can get there act together, but I have yet to see evidense that this is the fact at this time. They seem a little resistant to push the NDP on their mismanagement. The taxpayers need someone to look out for there interests, but instead we get a string of mega projects going massively over budget with little acountability. The NDP respersents a failed ideology and the sooner Manitoba leaves it behind the better.

Until a creative entrepeneurial evironment is embraced in Manitoba, instead of being hindered, big goverment and lazy unions will dominate and our potencial will not be met.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

And the record exodus of doctors from Manitoba.

Manitoba is gaining doctors....over 300 more over the last 5 years.

Like how Manitoba still has hallway medicine and 6 month waits for MRI tests despite record federal transfer payments.

Hallway medicine is much less than it used to be...almost non existent at most times. As for the MRI waits....when the NDP came in they were at 32 weeks. The NDP got the wait down to less than 8 weeks b adding 6 more MRIs. Then they gave more people access by allowing all doctors to order MRIs. Now the wait is 19 weeks and they are hiring more people and buying more machines to fix the problem.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Spocket

Truth be told , I agree with this sentiment. I wouldn't really dismiss our natural resources outright though (Hydro could certainly be worth a lot more to us if somebody would actually focus on developing it)

20B in projects over the next decade. 3 new dams, 1 replacement, shunting stations, and private wind development.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by newflyer

The NDP respersents a failed ideology and the sooner Manitoba leaves it behind the better.

Actually, in Canada, it seems t be true conservatism that is failing. This is a centre left country and the Manitoba NDP is a centre left government.....and now Gary Doer has been selected by Stephen Harper to be ambassador to the US.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

Hallway medicine is much less than it used to be...almost non existent at most times. As for the MRI waits....when the NDP came in they were at 32 weeks. The NDP got the wait down to less than 8 weeks b adding 6 more MRIs. Then they gave more people access by allowing all doctors to order MRIs. Now the wait is 19 weeks and they are hiring more people and buying more machines to fix the problem.

We can go back and forth on this until the cows come home...

It is pure folly to compare premiers over different generations. We'd have to ask what economical conditions existed and try to understand how one party would have fared in a similar environment.

We can argue Doer improved health care in Manitoba but it must be in the context of record federal transfers to Manitoba.

What will happen when those dollars begin disappearing? Now that Doer has dropped out, and federal transfers are certain to begin dropping, will whomever takes power be given some latitude?

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

We can argue Doer improved health care in Manitoba but it must be in the context of record federal transfers to Manitoba.

It also have to be put in the context of an economy that was grown by 65%.....and the transfers are a record in today's dollars, not necessarily in real dollars. All provinces are getting record transfers.

[1ajs]

so does this mean wre having an election this fall?

Doer to be next ambassador to the United States
CJOB News Team reporting
8/28/2009

As CJOB told you first this morning, Premier Gary Doer has been named ambassador-designate to the United States.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper named him to Canada's most important diplomatic job one day after Doer announced he would step down as Premier of Manitoba.

Doer is expected to take the position in Washington later this fall.

Michael Wilson has been the ambassador since 2006.

[jmt18325]

No, we have fixed election dates in this province. The next election will be two years from October. A change in premier is not actually that significant in Canadian parliamentary tradition.....he's jsut the person who leads the government side and acts as head of government.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

It also have to be put in the context of an economy that was grown by 65%

This assumes that Doer and Doer alone is responsible for growing the economy. It also ignores the record deficit we now enjoy in Manitoba.

Originally Posted by jmt18325

and the transfers are a record in today's dollars, not necessarily in real dollars.

Go ahead and do the math. In the ten years since Doer assumed power has inflation accounted for the entire difference? Or maybe only a fraction thereof?

Originally Posted by jmt18325

All provinces are getting record transfers.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Some provinces don't even get transfers (the have provinces, like Alberta and now Saskatchewan and Newfoundland)...

I'll go on to say so what? How happy would you be if suddenly every neighbour was on welfare? How about pride? Wouldn't it be great to show the world you are trying to get off welfare rather than brag about how much more you're getting today?

Personally I find it incredibly embarrassing that Manitoba receives ever-greater welfare cheques every year while increasing deficits at the same time.

How does that make you feel?

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

It also ignores the record deficit we now enjoy in Manitoba.

We don't have a deficit.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Some provinces don't even get transfers (the have provinces, like Alberta and now Saskatchewan and Newfoundland)...

No, you're wrong, wrong, wrong. All provinces get transfers. They don't all get equalization.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

Personally I find it incredibly embarrassing that Manitoba receives ever-greater welfare cheques every year while increasing deficits at the same time.

Manitoba receives equalization, a Constitutionally mandated program that benefits all Canadians. we aren't all blessed with giant resource deposits....and that's now what creates the line between have and have not.

[grumpy old man]

And???

So you aren't embarrassed to receive welfare payments? You don't want to get off the dole? Then you will want to keep voting for the NDP. They will ensure Manitoba keeps receiving our "Constitutionally mandated" welfare payments.

What happens to Manitoba when the feds say we can't afford to keep giving you more welfare payments and it gets reduced, like what is sure to happen in 2010?

Frankly, I'm not sure I get your point.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by grumpy old man

So you aren't embarrassed to receive welfare payments? You don't want to get off the dole?

How? What do you propose? Do you think that the NDP just sits there, happy that we get equalization? IF it was as easy as you seem to imply we'd be off equalization already. Until then, I'm not ashamed to receive money from a constitutionally mandated program.

[rypinion]

I'd much rather be in Alberta with their $7 billion deficit. They obviously know how to govern out there. Who would want a diversified, steady as she goes economy? It's not exciting at all. It's much more exciting when you put all of your marbles into one or two baskets.

[vid]

Time to replace his government with *Party I Support*! Then Manitoba will be perfect!

Equally surprising is his appointment as the country's representative in the US by Stephen Harper. Totally didn't see either coming.

[wayward_prince]

Doer should fit in well with the hypocritical socialists down south. Doer was one of those lefties who opposed free trade with the USA but screamed bloody murder when America talked about protectionism.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by rypinion

I'd much rather be in Alberta with their $7 billion deficit. They obviously know how to govern out there. Who would want a diversified, steady as she goes economy? It's not exciting at all. It's much more exciting when you put all of your marbles into one or two baskets.

An apples to apples comparison to be sure.

Do you suppose this diversified, steady as she goes economy happened in the last ten years? Any idea how much of Manitoba's economy is fueled by public spending? Any idea how much of Manitoba's budget is provided for by other Canadians? Any idea how massive Manitoba's deficit is?

Hold on to your biting sarcasm. You may need it pay the rent.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

How? What do you propose? Do you think that the NDP just sits there, happy that we get equalization? IF it was as easy as you seem to imply we'd be off equalization already. Until then, I'm not ashamed to receive money from a constitutionally mandated program.

I'm afeared I can't debate this logic.

But yes, I do believe they are sitting there happy as a lark lapping up incredible gobs of somebody else's hard earned taxes and at the same time going deeper into debt. Yes I do. I can't believe someone would profess to not being embarrassed about that.

Too many in the province feel entitled and sit on welfare generation after generation. That mentality I guess is what feeds Doer. And so Manitoba sucks at the federal teat.

That really sucks.

[jmt18325]

I still don't see your plan (or anyone's for that matter) o suddenly generate $2B more in revenue.

[grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

I still don't see your plan (or anyone's for that matter) o suddenly generate $2B more in revenue.

Don't deflect now. Let's stay on task.