This is why I hate conservatives....

If there are "national institutions", as Martin claims, then its best that he be sent to one.

Agreed!

Maybe they could start with the CBC.

What I don't understand is why Harper would be adding to the list of albatrosses by going ahead with the Asper Museum when he is looking at selling stuff to make the government leaner.

WTF is he doing?

buying votes.
By doing both

sell crown corps... get more connie votes.

build and finance this museum... get the votes of those types of people.

Damn commies are taking over.

Deank wrote:fine.. sell it for Fair Market value.. that could at least make sense. but they dont

Case in point... Manfor pulp mill in The Pas.. sold to Repap for $1. included in sale... millions of dollars to enhance and repair the roads.... millions of acres of rights to northern forests... guarentee that they will stay around??? ZERO...

ONE FREAKIN DOLLAR and no job gaurentees or anything.. this at a time when Manfor was making some serious money.

I dont understand, I thought you were talking aout how much you hate Conservatives?

Manfor was sold by the federal conservatives?

Anyhow lets discuss The Sale of a vegetable canning factory in Morden Manitoba, in the 70's. John Buhler bought a canning factory from Some Japanese Investors with $25k down and Financing from a bank. Mr Buhler sold the inventory for $1million and then sold the factory to The NDP government for a huge profit. Mr Buhler made enough money from this to buy FarmKing and launching him into Manitoba Manufacturing Who's Who. The NDP government then sold the Factory to other investors at a loss.

People wonder why Manitoba was so far in Debt in the first place. 2 people Edward Schreyer, Howard Pawley and now add a thrid retard to the mix Gary Doer.

my point is.. every time the Government sells one of its money making ventures its done incorrectly.
(and it was the provincial connies that sold Manfor)

Goverment should never be in bussiness , it aint where they belong .

God wonder how many things I could come up with, well for all parties as most have lost touch with us .

How true old freind .

Should government be in business? I think the grey line is the difference between what is an essential service and what is a business.

For example - MLCC - is that an essential service? To sell liquor? Nope. I can't see any other reason why the government needs to be in this business except to make money for prov. coffers. Of course the privitization will never happen. Why? Because Unionized MLCC staff who make more than any other retail ( alcohol sales is retail) would have a fit. Does the government need to be involved in liqour regulation? Probably a good idea but you can regulate without being involved in sales.

Is Hydro a business vs. essential service? Probably an essential service. But how do you privitize this? I don't think you can, if for no other reason the barriers to entry are insane ( how many comanies want to get into a business where your first expense is building a hydro dam?!) contrast that to the cost of setting up liquor sales.

There are some crown corporations that make sense. There are alot that don't.

Just for the record, I consider St.Norbert the "compton" of Fort Garry area.

Hydro is something that doe's make money so why lose control over our exports,and their profits . Just less dipping into them for political reasons .

We can parallel hydro with oil. Alberta does not see a need to be in the oil business but extracts huge $$$'s from every barrel of oil extracted.

Manitoba could do this with Hydro revenues. That said Hydro might well be the one cash cow that ought not be privatized.

HurtinAlbertan wrote:Just for the record, I consider St.Norbert the "compton" of Fort Garry area.

Nice. This why you visit the sandbox?

Many of the condo's going up in the 'Peg are going up in St. Norbert. It's a nice neighborhood.

is there something wrong with compton?

You are too critical of the government setting up business.
Look at Crocus development- that was a huge success for those that loaned money from the agency!

heh.. no money down.. no payback plan.. yeah good way to borrow money for sure.

That is how I managed to get on Wellington Crescent!
I proposed a way to get someone out of the Northend and for only $250,000 to get into a home on Wellington Crescent.
The government thought it was a good idea to get someone out of the northend, so I got my forgiveable loan!
All I had to do was promise not to return to the Northend, unless I was picking up a hungry hooker!

grumpy old man wrote:We can parallel hydro with oil. Alberta does not see a need to be in the oil business but extracts huge $$$'s from every barrel of oil extracted.

Manitoba could do this with Hydro revenues. That said Hydro might well be the one cash cow that ought not be privatized.

Right. Not only does Hydro make money for the province (ie taxpayers) we also get the best electricity rates in North America.

The feds have suggested selling crown corporations to raise some cash. The Mint is one being touted. The mint makes something like $250 million a year in profit. Why would any sane person get rid of something that profitable? Shot term gain for long term loss. Brilliant.

As I said goverment never were the best business man.

So stubborn regarding Omar Khadr, ignoring the Court rulings. Can you imagine this young, innocent 15 year old?
Shame! And the US concocting false testimony!

Innocent 15 year old....Rosie...you drunk again?

Again? Nah. Still?