I wish they'd just ban negative ads/references to other parties in political ads.

Tell me what you're going to do, don't tell me what the other guys are going to do.

I will make the assumption that you, like many others, have never really considered the macro economic impact of the housing market that we have seen over the last ten years.

The reality is this, if the gov did not fan the RE flames for the last decade, we would likely have experienced an extended period of limited growth or potentially even recession. Finance, real estate, and construction together make up nearly 25% of our GDP... if there was no housing bubble, what would be filling the void?

By "increasing the effectiveness" of the CMHC (40 year + Zero down mortgages) and cutting the overnight lending rate the Gov. made home ownership much more affordable (on a monthly payment basis anyway lol). The banks could now approve mortgages for people they would not have traditionally approved mortgages for as CMHC protects them from any significant financial losses. What did this do? Well obviously it got builders slapping houses/condos together at an alarming rate, this created thousands of jobs, consumed massive amount of raw materials, and supported a huge manufacturing base.

The gov knows that if mortgage rates were to revert to the mean tmw there would be a lot of people in deep shit, luckily Canada can keep rates depressed for many years to come as our debt to GDP ratio is the best of any G7 country which provides a financial insulation of sorts for the country. (Lower debt to GDP means you can borrow at a lower costs, less risk = lower bond yields)

It's not that the Gov doesn't realize what's going on, they facilitated it, and until some other economic segment can pick up the slack, don't expect any serious regulation to come in that would put downward pressure on home prices.

So what's it all mean, right now homebuyers are like "damn I don't make enough money"... if the housing bubble never happened it would probably be more like "damn I don't have a job".

It's a brief and ugly explanation... but it's all there.

Edit: BTW Manic, you know that harperman news about guy getting put on leave is almost a month old now right?

I've voted Green in every election in which I've been eligible but I have a Progressive Canadian Party (the closest successor to the Progressive Conservative Party) candidate running in my riding this time, and if I choose to not vote strategically, they may be my choice.

It would be great to see the return of a party with a center-right stance on economic issues and a center, or even a center-left, stance on social issues. I know that I'm far from alone in holding that opinion.

Yes I know that but not everyone follows politics and I bet a number of people in this thread did not know that. Plus it answers some of PeanutButter's question"
Also, what are the major Harper screw ups?" in a song format

This link, so far, is the most comprehensive list of Conservative party abuses while in power. It's a long read, but worth reviewing prior to voting to determine if these actions are acceptable to you or not:

Harper, Serial Abuser of Power: The Evidence Compiled | The Tyee

Kev

That's what I was hoping for as well, but it doesn't seem like any of the parties are really going to put much effort into this issue.

Just a disclaimer that any party that is in power will abuse power to some extent

We gotta choose the lesser of evils when it comes to politicians

Not going to happen. As much as I love to see it happen. Like some countries foreign foreign investors can only buy real estate in certain area or they can't own at all so local is still able to afford a place. But we won't coz our gov like selling Canada away. Soon we will change to Canada repulic of China.......

not sure if this has been posted here before (not gonna bother searching)

I found this quite useful and interesting.

https://votecompass.cbc.ca/

Just like the last election cons are in hiding again. A number of con candidates have missed debates because harper knows if they speak they will put there foot in there mouth.

and this:

https://www.hilltimes.com/sites/hill...9/brochure.jpg

Star Tory candidate denies fear mongering in B.C. flyer controversy - The Globe and Mail

I wonder how many people in Surrey have died by the hands of ISIS vs the number shot in drug wars.

Granted it's a stupid flyer, but the drug war shootings have not really taken place in South Surrey- White Rock so both points are as irrelevant.

They just had that one incident where the cops shot a "suicidal" person outside the police station.

The yuppies and older fairly-affluent, mostly white residents in her riding are likely much more concerned about 'whacky muslim-extremist invaders' than drug dealers

did everyone already got something in the mail from elections canada?
I've always gotten it in the past and i haven't moved....although usually for municipal and possibly provincial...not sure about federal

Nothing yet but it's an extra long election.

Got my election card today.

wife got hers today but I haven't received mine

harper has changed the law so there will be no election day black out. We will know who has won out east as it happens.

Also if you want to get rid of harper check out Vote Together

got my election card ... they moved my voting location... instead of being at a school 2 blocks away its not at a school 10 blocks away..:rukidding:

So instead of driving 2 blocks, you are going to drive 10 blocks now? :troll:

(Honestly, I swear I've seen some of my neighbours do the driving 2 blocks thing... )

FINALLY no blackout. so retarded in this day and age that we had the blackout for so long.

Definitely won't vote for Harper. He closed the coast guard base in Kits and zero fucks were given in the face of BC voters. Not sure about NDP. But if I vote Liberal, that means I have to vote for that useless bum Hedy Fry. We are better off voting for sideshow bob.

Harpers the Queens jester.
Is Harper really the bad guy here when every political thing in this country is fixed? Sheeple on.

Hedy Fry... good gods, I forgot about her. I won a government award back in 2001 for a stop-motion anti-racism film. Because she was the Secretary of State of Multiculturalism at the time, she was among those who presented it. Even up on stage, you could just see her oozing her useless charm. This was also shortly before she said crosses were being burnt in Prince George by the KKK (never happened).

I so wish we were able to vote for the person in our riding and who we want for PM separately..

A little election music in case anyone is interested:


The full blurb can be found here:

Stealin' All My Dreams : BlueRodeo.com

I have a few questions for the local con but his 4 meet and greats are all during the day when people are working. Guess I am going to have to take some time off work to see him.