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Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper chats with reporters during an informal breakfast news conference in Toronto, on Wednesday, Sept 10, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
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CTV's Robert Fife takes notes as Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper chats with reporters during an informal breakfast news conference in Toronto, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
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Military commitment in Afghanistan over by 2011: Harper
Updated Wed. Sep. 10 2008 8:13 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Canada's military commitment in Afghanistan will end in 2011 as scheduled, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said Wednesday.
Harper, speaking to reporters during a sit-down breakfast in Toronto, said 10 years of war is enough.
Last March, Parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion to extend the military mission in Afghanistan to 2011.
"You have to put an end date on these things ... we have to say to the government of Afghanistan that there is an expectation that you are going to be responsible for your own security," Harper said.
Harper said Canadians have no appetite to keep soldiers in the country past the agreed pullout date. He also added that military leaders, although they won't say so publicly, feel that a decade of war is enough.
Still, one analyst warned the announcement could be a ploy to win votes through pledging to end an increasingly unpopular war.
"I think people have to realize that there's an election going on, and there's going to be a lot of promises," said Steven Staples, president of the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute, a public policy think-tank.
"He's likely to say whatever he can to win a majority," he told CTV.ca.
Staples also said that making such a commitment is irresponsible.
That sentiment was echoed by retired Canadian Maj.-Gen. Lew Mackenzie, who said announcing such a deadline publicly gives "too much warning" to the Taliban.
"Personally, I don't like deadlines," he told CTV Newsnet. "I'm not in favour of announcing to anybody other than ... our allies, when we are leaving."
Mackenzie added a 2011 pullout would "leave a very large hole" in Afghanistan, since Canada has played such a large part in the mission.
Although the bulk of the troops will be out by 2011, Harper did say there may be a few Canadian soldiers who stay in the country as advisers.
On Tuesday, the Taliban said they wanted Canada's next prime minister to pull Canadian troops out of Afghanistan.
Harper said Wednesday the Taliban had no influence on his decision.
Carbon tax attack
Later Wednesday, Harper continued his attack on the Liberals' plan to bring in a carbon tax.
In a speech to the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Harper said the tax is a bad idea because it would be permanent and would have a negative economic impact.
Harper added the tax remains unclear and has no clear environmental objective.
Harper said the Liberals have "voted against every single tax reduction measure that this government brought in" in the past two years.
"They have demanded literally tens of billions of dollars in new spending... and they have condemned even the smallest savings we've enacted in government programs," he told the crowd gathered in Vaughan, Ont.
"Now, instead of a thought through plan, they propose to finance this set of ad hoc economic policies by advocating a new, permanent carbon tax."
Pooping puffin
Harper's statement on Afghanistan comes just one day after his diesel tax announcement was overshadowed by a pooping puffin and the resignation of a Tory candidate.
On Tuesday, Harper issued an apology for an animation on a Tory website that showed a puffin pooping on Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.
"It almost blew his message off the page yesterday," CTV's Tom Clark said Wednesday in Toronto.
Meanwhile, a Conservative candidate in Halifax who quit earlier this week after her criminal record became public said she resigned because she wanted to go back to her old job, and not because she was fired.
Rosamond Luke said she pleaded guilty to uttering a threat two years ago, but that this wasn't an issue in her resignation Tuesday.
Instead, Luke said she quit because she wanted to return to her old job helping female immigrants in Nova Scotia.
However, the prime minister's press secretary Kory Teneycke said Luke resigned after the party confronted her about her criminal past.
Hand-picked to run in a riding with no incumbent, the Conservatives announced Luke's candidacy just two days prior.
In a press release Wednesday, the Liberals said the Conservatives Atlantic campaign was in "shambles."
With files from The Canadian Press
Comments are now closed for this story
I find it ironic that Mr. Harper wants to meet with the press this morning. For the man who has been the most secretive Prime Minister in Canadian history and hiding from the media, the media and especially the Canadian public will not buy this sudden make over.
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The military spending under Harper has gone up 45-50% since the Conservatives came to power in 2006.
Harper fails to mention that the Afghan mission will not be over until the END of 2011. The untold Billions could be spent in CANADA over the next 3 years to deal with domestic issues instead...
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Ah really? Anyone bet that if he gets a majority, he will extend it again? I wouldn't be surprised if he is extending it again.
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Out of Afghanistan by 2011?
Here we go again, Mr Harper buying votes. You will only if the USA tells you that you can Mr. Harper. Are we going to have a titbit every day till the election? How charming. I believe your platform was written in the last two years of lies and deception on the Canadian people. Move over Mr Harper.
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| You got my vote Mr Harper |
Mr. Harper has promised to end our participation in Afghanistan in 2011.
This is good news.
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Military will end in 2011??
I don't believe it.
If Harper get a majority... we'll will still be there.
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Naturally, like the last election he gives a date to pull them out and will extend the mission when he gets in, like last time.
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I can only hope that there is another minority government. Harper would have invaded Iraq if he had a clear win the last time. His flip flop on income trusts cost most of my life savings and I think he is one of the worst leaders we have ever had. Oh he could save a few bucks on mapping the Artic Ocean floor if George W would let him Xerox the American map.
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Only makes sense for Harper to say this now at a time of the election. It's only a temporary fix since he wants votes and once it's over it's back to the same old thing.
It doesn't matter who you vote for it's history repeating itself when it comes to politics. Promises are made for convience and are a temporary fix.
In the end ALL citizens will have to pay higher taxes if programs are promised in the election. How else are they going to pay for them?
It's not rocket science people!
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Middle of an election campaign and the media focuses on puffin poop. Who cares?
When the military leaves Afghanistan, they should know that Canada is profoundly grateful for their commitment and sacrifice. Again and again, the Canadian military has performed to the highest standards in impossible situations. Thank you.
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The military out in 2011?
Sounds peachy. Is it reality, not likely.
Is it a pipe dream. Definitely.
How can the PM pull the troops out by 2011 as voted in last year when there will still be fighting? A commitment has been made to not only the country of Afghanistan but to the countries of the Allied forces. I doubt that when it comes to 2011 that the Americans, Dutch, French etc will allow it to happen. So far the brunt of the fighting in the South has been Canada. Who is going to step into our shoes?
I think this is one promise that should have been left off the plate. I would hate to see this one be pulled out from under the troops and families in Canada.
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A vote for Harper is a vote for evil.
Before Harper came into power, only four soldiers' lives had been lost, and I'm sure we all remember those circumstances.. Since Harper came into office we've lost over 90 soldiers! The Liberals may have put them there but Harper let them die. How many more will we lose before 2011? Just a little something to think about, when we remember how many times that man made a direct promise and broke it with no liablity to himself or his own dear family. As a wife of a soldier, I will not vote for a man who has told me on numerous occassions that my opinion does not count and flatly refuses to discuss such matters that my husband's life depends on.
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No more boots on the ground by 2011?
...Did Harper get intimidated by the Taliban? What happened to the anti “cut and run” crowd?
What will be the rationale for all of those Canadian soldier fatalities and casualties between now and 2011?
Get Harper back in and we will follow the Americans into Iran in 2011!
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"Canada's military commitment in Afghanistan will end in 2011, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said Wednesday."
I do not believe him for one second should he receive a majority.
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I have serious reservations about Harper's sincerity in ending our military commitment in A-stan in 2011.
True, that is what we have agreed to, so like any contract the commitment is to the end of the term. The term can be extended, however.
I don't hear a clear and unambiguous statement about refusing to extend our commitment under a new or renegotiated 'contract'.
This is smoke and mirrors, people. Is Harper just saying to the Taliban that they can wait a few more years before resuming their tyranny? Who is this message for, anyway?
I don't trust Harper, and never did, even before he reneged on his Reform/Alliance deal with the PCs when he stole their name and their brand. He is an unprincipled opportunist and this statement about ending our military involvement will be revised and reissued to confirm future involvement if Harper is re-elected.
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When will people stop calling Harper's party 'Conservative'? They are not CONSERVATIVE at all They are just a bunch of Reformers. GET IT RIGHT EVERYBODY!.
Also, I wonder once people gie him a majority (hopefully not) if he will change his party name to Reform Party.
Hmmm?
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Mr. Harper just can't win on this board! What do you people want????
1. In 2004 the Liberals ran ads with a GUN pointed at the audience and mocked Stephen Harper. Voters ate it up.
Now, a Conservative staffer puts out a webpage to get a few laughs from young voters (and to hopefully encourage them to actually vote this time) and you pile it on.
2. The left continues to say we need to pull out of Afghanistan no matter what. The Prime Minister compromises, then relents and says "fine, we will be out in 2011". Are you happy now? No, you pile it on again about George Bush and the usual talking points.
You people just like to take pot shots rather than discuss policy.
As an actual informed voter that spends his time reviewing the parties I shake my head. Inintelligent Canadian voters really get on my nerves.
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Why is it that the conservatives get upset when they are referred to as the reform/alliance party (which they are). The mulroney conservatives have long left the party. But yet they see fit to paint Dion with the scandal brush. The one I am referring to is the one around the ad campaign in Quebec. This is now old history and some of the organizers of it are even doing jail time. It has nothing to do with Dion.
Also Sugar Coating Harper smacks to me of a great deal of hypocrisy. If you judge him on his recent record as a prime minister, the first word that comes to mind is certainly not integrity. The word bully might be more appropriate.
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Poopin' Puffin' or not...Stephen Harper is our #1 Prime Minister. MAJORITY...MAJORITY...MAJORITY...MAJORITY! I back all of his choices so far. It keeps on getting better. He has been keeping a good track record and following through with most of his promises. Whine now while you can anti-cons because you'll have less say come October 15th. MAJORITY...MAJORITY...MAJORITY...
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| Roger - Leadership Counts |
To: Craig in Calgary
BANG ON. This anti "anything right of Liberal" smear campaign is disgusting. For years the liberals have demanded we get out of the war THEY put us in and now that a date has been announced - now somehow its a bad thing??? We are intimidated by the Taliban?? Geesh.. I guess if Harper announced we would stay until 2015 that there would be silence from the left????
I just hope that Canadians in general can see past the smears and lies about Harper and the Progressive Conservative Party and see that he delivers what he promises. Cut GST... DONE... Solve the lingering soft wood lumber scandal that the Liberals couldn't solve...DONE.. etc etc.
And all the time the only thing the left can do is try to bully the Canadian public into believing that Harper is evil? How disgusting and sad.
There seems to be only one legitimate party running in this election - and I hope everyone with an IQ higher than 10 can see that.
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To Craig in Calgary, For the Prime Minister who was arguing that the opposition parties wanted to cut and run from Afghanistan, he sure has changed his tune. As I've stated before, it is time that our troops come home now instead of participating in a war that we can not win. The Prime Minister is flip flopping on this issue. He may changed his mind after the election.
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Ed Samson - if a trucking company does not pass their tax savings on to you then it is YOU who has to take action, not the politicians... they have done their part to reduce the tax.
For that matter, do you REALLY think any business that benefits from the Green Shaft will pass that savings on to you?
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Partisan politics don't work anymore. It shouldn't be about parties winning and losing, it should be about the issues. If it were the issues, then the Canadian people would be the winners.
All parties have good and bad ideas. I dream of the day when politicians finally do what they're supposed to do: represent their constituents, not their parties.
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Harper's Afhganistan pull-out comments are not news. Reporters on the campaign trail would be well served by reading the Afghanistan resolution introduced by Conservatives earlier this year, which clearly indicates Canadians will be out of Kandahar by Dec. 2011. Let's try to get beyond the simple "message of the day" offerings of the various campaigns.
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Please = Dion is an Academic Elitist like Barack Obama. Too soft to deal with the likes of Iran, North Korea, the Taliban and others.
And those of you throwing stones at Harper and the Conservatives, do you realy expect us to forget the sponsorship scandal and other covert spending by the former liberal Gov't???? Clean up your mess before you start attacking others...
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"Intelligent Canadian voters really get on my nerves."
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Personally, I hope the Conservatives and the Liberals split the vote completely evenly so Harper and Dion can share an office as co-PM's.
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In the unlikely event that Conservatives won a majority government, probably a year or so from now we would hear that "circumstances have changed on the ground" in Afghanistan, requiring a longer deployment. Harper's word isn't worth much on this.
It's hard to believe that no senior Conservative discovered the Conservative party web site before the media did. The Tories would be screaming bloody murder if anyone visually smeared Harper, yet it never occurred to anyone at the Conservative fear factory that people would be offended by this kind of grade-three insult to the leader of the opposition. Professional organizations have a content approval process for their web sites; a failure of leadership to allow this to be released. It's not credible that Mr. Control-Everything Harper wasn't aware of what was one his web site. And the puffin is still there, to remind people about the juvenile joke they made, so it's pretty clear that Harper knew about and approved it. Voters should expect crap from the former Conservative Reform Alliance Party.
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military.....Harper's doing it for politics! Ya, he won't tax income trusts either, or break the Atlantic Accords, or call an election until October 2009 either.
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This policy clarification and shift from Harper merely brings him in line (once again) with the Liberal Policy on Afghanistan.
The Conservatives and Liberals both agreed to go into Afghanistan, both agreed to extend the mission, and both agree the country should be out in 2011. It's responsible government on both parties parties. The NDP/Bloc are offside on this issue, both wanting to bring home the troops now. We have commitments to uphold.
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Put your hands back in your pocket. How can anyone say that a reduction of the diesel tax is not significant, or that the reduction of the GST by 2% made no difference to Canadians. Most of the products in our stores get there by ship, rail and truck all of which use Diesel. If you have ever visited a farm you will realize that our food is dependant on the farmer using diesel. This reduction may not put money in your pocket but it will help thousands of Canadians(farmers, truckers, and business). Would you still bash Mr. Harper if he had increased the GST and the Diesel tax? Wake up people and think about what you're saying. And as for someone saying Mr. Harper is responsible for the deaths of our soldiers,please don't disgrace our Military. They put their lives on the line so you have freedom to spew this type of nonsense.
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How can anyone believe anything Harper says? He broke his promise on Income Trusts, the Atlantic Accord and his own Election Timing Law. Harper will say or do anything for power and then betray his supporters after the election. He has proven this over and over again.
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All of you people are just eating up their lies because i know when a person is not going to keep their word...i've seen it before on my reserve...i know everything about what is happening and what is not going to happen.....it's even going to get harder for the natives in canada because most of the natives have to pay taxes... and another thing is that Stephen Harper and Stéphane Dion are acting like a bunch of little children...like that puffin thingy and so on......i should be the prime minister instead...
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The Liberals had their easy victories when the conservatives were divided between the Progressive Conservatives and the Reform.
Now that the Reform has taken over and gotten rid of the Progressive element of that party, it is the left that is divided.
The Conservatives are clearly different than everyone else. Hopefully, that will not lead to a 38 or 40% popular vote, which could be enough for a majority. I do not want to listen to Harper saying that Canadians voted for the destructive changes he will make, if it ends up that 60% voted against him.
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Parliament voted to pull out in 2011. This is OLD NEWS. However, just the fact Harper is using our soldiers as an election gimic gives me grave doubt. If it suits his purposes and If he gets a majority, Harper will likely extend the war beyond 2011.
An internal DND report calculates the cost to Canadians of this war alone over $1 BILLION a year. That doesn't even begin to calculate the loss of life and limbs of our young Canadians. From 2002-2006 while the Liberals were in power only 8 Canadians lost their lives in Afghanistan - a more peacekeeping role. From 2006 to 2008 while Harper was in power 89 young Canadian lives lost - a more military fighting force. Something changed as a result of Harper's policies after he took power and control over Canada's military. The debate is not over on this one.
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Regard Dion child care promise. I don't trust Liberals promises for even a second. I have a grandaughter 13 years old that never receive a peny from Liberals Child Care when they where in power for 13 years. While few provinces were receiving full childcare benefits. Liberal promise for the 13 years the other Canadian children would get it too. After being in power for 13 years they never receive a penny, that was not fair. All parents pay the same taxes. Stephane Dion made his commitment to scrap the Universal Child Care Benefit when he was asked if he would cancel the Tory daycare plan. "DION ANSWER". WAS "YES" I strongly believe Dion has a hidden agenda. He Flip-Flups in all his policies. Who can trust Dion? I WON'T!!!
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HaHa.It's amazing what silly things get people really upset.We really need to learn to chuckle at some things.Silly ad tasteless can also be quite funny.
More and more I get the feeling that to many voters choose a political party to support at some point in their lives.Then,come heck or high water,they defend and promote that party to their dying day.It reminds me of an expression about human nature.
"If you like someone,everything they do will be OK with you.If you don't like them,nothing they do will please you.
Elections should be about real issues,real solutions,and real global circumstances.And voters should know that policies that work at one point in history may not work well at another time.
Sadly,Canada no longer has a party in the political centre,which,I think is where most Canadians like to be.In this election we are left to choose between a Conservative party some think is to conservative,and a Liberal party that many think is to socialist.
My hope is that Liberals lose big time,and finally return to the political centre.Leave the socialism for the NDP.
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People, I don't really think the Puffin is the point in this article. As a Canadian Soldier who has fought in close quarters battles with the enemy in Afghanistan and continues to stand ready to fight, I believe 10 years of war is enough. Harper has said what we are not aloud to say publicly. Many of us has used up a lot of our luck over the past ten years. I have safeguarded "in case of death" letters and videos from friends and agreed to take care of their wives and kids if anything happens. Sometimes it does. I am pround to fight for my country and proud to fight for a prime minster who cries when he sees the famlies of a dead Canadian Soldier. Soldiers lives aren't cheap. I cry too.
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I served seven good years in the Forces.
Under Stephen Haper they would have been lousy years.
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to My Two cents:
As a bilingual Canadian I am sick of people making comments about Dion's English when Harper speaks French (as we say in French 'like a Spanish cow'). This country is bilingual and that is a GOOD thing, get over it or move to the States (oh wait, you might have to learn Spanish though).
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Harper can't help the fact that he is not a "people person".
Not everyone is comfortable in a more intimate social context and they are reserved even with family.
The guy really looks uncomfortable in ads and pictures that try to portray him as "warm and fuzzy".
I saw a photo op of him holding a baby boy on a campaign stop and he looks positively freaked out.
If I was him, I would have my people abandon this charade and focus on my real strengths.
Whether you agree with his policies or not, you can't deny he is a powerful and decisive man.
More efforts should be made to refine his agressiveness and curb his tendency to run a one man show. He should surround himself with competent people who he is not afraid to allow to speak.
This would impress me more than attempting to portray him as brimming with qualities he does not really possess.
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Mr. Harper did not react to the Taliban, he reacted to a poll showing that 60% of Canadians want the troops out by 2011. He thinks he just pulled off a major political coup, but we know that he can change his mind if he is re-elected. He changed his mind on an election every four years so "politicians can no longer call an election for political gain". Do not be fooled!
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I opened this to read the article about Canadian Troops in Afghanistan, and instead found more diatribe about the puffin and Elizabeth May.
Who cares about this joke? Move on...
As for Elizabeth May, not only do I feel she has no right to be in the debate...I don't believe she should be a leader of a party with aspirations of being Prime Minister when she was born in the USA!!!!!!
There should be a law saying that only a Canadian BORN citizen can be leader of a political party that might become Prime Minister
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Imagine that. A Prime Minister who wants Canada to cut and run with its tail tucked between its legs. He obviously is on the side of the Taliban and doesn't support our troops. The Taliban are murdering scumbags and talking about ending the mission emboldens the enemy and endangers the troops.
What a bunch of baloney all of these catch phrases were and are! These tiresome slogans and retorts been hugely popular in recent years but they're strangely absent in this thread.
It's good that Harper has promised this though, it's at the very least a small step in the right direction. Now if he proposes a ceasefire and tries to get all the factions together at the bargaining table over there in Afghanistan something sensible might come of this mission yet...
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"2011 'end date' for Afghanistan mission"?
This is a currently newsworthy revelation in what sense? Anybody?
Parliament voted for and passed this back on March 13, 2008, almost a full six months ago!
So Canadians that don't live under a rock have been aware of this since that time, yet every pile of fawning, biased media have to trundle it out today, like a fresh new banner headline, which it IS NOT. "Oh that Harper is such a leader. Look he's restating old news like it's new news and just so decisively". CRAP!
Was the chatty little breakfast schmooze with Steve such a stunning change of pace for you NEWS types that you completely forgot to load some credible questions and a healthy dose of skepticism into your brains? Or should we the voting viewers just assume that you will shrill everything that trickles from Harper's tongue like it is some kind of irrefutable revelation, regardless of its age, misplaced context, or general moldiness, ignore any other Parties PR (or release their quotes and bits in the middle of the night so they are off the page by 6am) and help him get shoehorned back into power, then carp and whine about how secretive and silent he is again, after the fact? Pretty obvious and pathetic. You, the media should grow a spine and look again at your various CAB and RTNDA mandates and think about living up to them. Or just come right out and shriek a headline that you love Harper and his gang and want them re-elected and that any other parties stuff just doesn't matter.
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Lets stick to the point people.
You have it in bold terms, the Afghan mission is over in 2011 as promised by the PM.
Now to you left-wing detractors you have one less barb to hurl at the PM. The "warmonger" thing is tired and it no longer sticks.
Time to "puff up" something else.
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More bold face lies from Harper... come past 2011 get ready to send your kids to die in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan let alone Afghanistan if McCain wins the US election and Harper wins the Canadian one. Of course this does not apply to their own rich kids. McCain and Palin are war mongers hiding their intent and Harper is not much more than the US's lap dog.
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You know what? When you are the boss you take the responsibility for all those working below you. This childish, bar-room analogy is directly on Harper's shoulders or else he is not in control of his campaign organization. Which is it? He is the man who controlled his party and cabinet ministers with an iron fist for the past two years. Is he now losing his grip? I don't believe it. He is shielding himself by deflecting blame on those below him. Typical.
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I for one am VERY disappointed in our elected representatives (all parties). If my child, when going to school, acted like our parliamentarians, I would expect them to be disciplined. Our members of Parliament (provincial also) behave like a 5 year old. BOO HOO he said something I didn't like, heckle, heckle.
The only party that demonstrated interest in a pension injustice to the Canadian Military was Peter Stoffer of the NDP. He put a bill forward and when I asked my MP, who is Conservative, if he would vote YES on it, he said sure. When checking the votes he voted NO. To me the NDP is the ONLY HONEST party in our parliament. They do what the say they will with no sudden turn arounds. I have NEVER voted NDP before BUT I sure am this time.
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Harper has an established pattern of lying in order to advance his political interests. A 2011 pullout is a stark contrast from his previous position. Perhaps, the Opposition should accuse Harper of being a "Taliban-loving unpatriot" but then again, he's already used that line to label them. Harper has no integrity or credibility.
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I'm actually suprised the automaton cries when he meets the families of soldiers killed in action; when it fact, that should be a given. As a leader, you should feel shame and regret for seeing your men die on a mission. The fact that we had to be told that the PM shows some sort of emotion shows how little emotion he actually has.
Also, Parliament had already decided that the Afghanistan mission would last until 2011, so why is the media rehashing old news? I'm dissapointed in the media simply being complacent and reading out press releases and talking points from the various campaigns. It's a shame we don't have a reporter like the late Tim Russert, who would try to get to the bottom of a story, regardless of political stripe.
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People might wonder why S. Harper is secretive. Well, all I can say is that with the way the media twists contorts and exagerates everything and is obviously biased, who can blame him. Also the puffin story, is the most childish, thing I have heard.I think that S. Harper is smart enough to know he is not going to get votes by having a puffin poo on his S Dion's head. Good grief!
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What our soldiers are doing there is important they are making the country safer and putting a dent in the taliban attacks. Yes I agree that our soldiers should pull out, but not all at once without setting up anyone else to maintain what we have already done. Finally we have gotten support from the french soldiers, but what needs to be done is set up security using the people of Afghanistan not associated with the Taliban.
As for the comment that Canadians would be in Iraq now had harper been in power. Well if im not mistaken the liberals wanted to send our soldiers in and Bush said thanks but no thanks. We do have canadians there none the less, some canadians joined the US army because they wanted to fight in Iraq, we have planes there, we have peace keepers there. For those of you who think our country will be better in the hands of the Liberals or even NDP take time to think. Taxes will go up, Dion has hinted this in the past, money will not go to reducing our debt, it will sit in the pocketsof Liberals and their friends. Now the NDP, Layton wants to talk with the taliban instead of fight. yeh thats going to work.
I love how quickly people forget so many of the broken promises of the Liberals and jump on what Harper has done or hasn't done. Lets not forget most things that he has tried to do he has been stopped by Layton and Dion. Hense the reason for the Election, What's the point of Harper staying as PM when his government gets road blocked with everything they try to do. Harper is not perfect, but he is the best we have right now.
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| Hide the real numbers ... |
The war in Afghanistan has already cost the Canadian people $25 billion!!! (No wonder we can't help the manufacturing sector) What you want to dispute my numbers?
Sorry those won't be released until after the election date of course! I wonder why ...
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OK-This is getting too Dangerous let's establish A Puffin registry or an outright ban on Poopin Puffins , It's the Liberal Thing to do.
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To Middilay:
The Reform party didn't originate in B.C. but in my home province Alberta and the current conservatives are far different from Preston Manning's reformers. Jean Chretien only kept Canada from joing the Iraq war because he was frightened of Quebec public opinion. In order to mitigate that decision he got us into the Afghan conflict and you can see where that is leading.
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2011...
I'll believe it when i see it.
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| chris in lethbridge alberta |
why are people blaming the Prime Minister for the increased deaths in the Canadian Forces stationed in Afgahanistan? It's not the current Prime Minister who placed us there. Yes it was the Liberal party while in power that committed Canada to the war effort. And yes we did start out in more of a peacekeeping role. But let us not forget how we ended up in the southern, most dangerous region of the country. Was it not Paul Martin and his lack of urgency in the type of mission we were willing to do that got us where we are. He had the chance to commit us to the more peaceful north region. But due to his dithering all that was left was the dangerous southern region...
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Mr. Harper has promised:
- that all members of Cabinet would be elected MPs
- an open and transparent government
- no financial mismanagement in election spending
- no frivolous government advertising
- a team approach to governing
- foreign affairs decisions made in Ottawa and not Washington
- to protect Canadians if they run into difficulty in foreign countries
- to follow the spirit, as well as the exact letter, of the law
- and now... no military in Afghanistan after 2011
I'm voting Conservative... NOT!!
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Stephen Harper is a very good decision maker. He is a horrid leader, because he follows in the Mike Harris tradition of telling everyone in his party what they think. The only people he listens to are the nonelected backroom advisors and coaches.
Dion is actually working at leading a team. Input comes from many sources. Most of them elected MPs. Policies are developed and perhaps altered to accommodate citizen suggestions.
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Red X,
Being a proud Canadian and a current serving member of our Forces, I am extremely impressed with our Government for getting us the equipment we need. This is long overdue and enables us to do our job and be safe. As far as overspending on the Military, The last time I checked my Pay guide, I too was paying TAXES....
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It's so stupid and poorly thought out to set a fixed timetable in Afghanistan. It truly is like trying to fit a square peg in a round whole. But, that's what he has to do to appease the uncritical, faddish hippie public. You all nauseate me.
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Wow, that is good news about Harper bringing our boys home in 2011, except for one thing... I don't believe him.
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Ange,
get your facts straight. The Canadian Government never offered to join the U.S. in the War in Iraq. Typical Conservative B.S. Make up a lie, report it as fact and then insult anyone who calls you on it. It worries me that people like you have a vote.
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He never said Canada's commitment to Afghanistan would be over by the end of 2011.
If you read the article and listen to his speech, he said something quite different.
What he actually said was our role there would be over by the end of 2011 AS WE KNOW IT.
Not the same thing at all.
All he has to do is move them to a different part of the country and he still can say that our role in Afghanistan is over as we see it.
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Why is it that everyone seems to think that you can decide when a war is over? You can't just tell the evil doers to go home and stop being violent murders. Well I guess our "do as I say not as I do policy" as Canadians is back in full force.
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When I read all these combative comments, I ask myself, 'Who will stand up for Canada?' Not the socialists, not the marxists, and not it appears, many of these commentators. I am a proud Canadian, and can't forget what my father and grandfather fought in two wars for. It's high time Canadians were taught more about our history and the hardships of our forefathers. If I didn't know better, I'd think they were trying out for the next Michael Moore movie.
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Harper promised to get rid of the long-gun registry. He didn't. Harper promised to continue income trusts. He didn't. Harper promised to continue the deal with Newfoundland Labradour. He didn't. Harper promises to keep his promises this time. He won't.
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Military commitment in Afghanistan over by 2011: Harper...
until he gets elected with a majority, then god knows how long little Bush will keep us there.
Harper is a liar and can't be trusted.
Anything But Conservative.
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The US will never let Afganistan end or Iraq and Iran --- and Canada will be there to clean up someone else's mess as always.
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The war wouldn't take 10 years long to finish unless ALL of our Allies pulled up their socks at the very beginning of the war. So far its only the Americans, Canadians, British and to some extent the Germans. I think a war is much like a fire, the longer you let it burn, the more damage it will cause, the more spread out it becomes. If countries in NATO intend on being members, they should be forced to commit more troops or have their membership revoked. It is completely unfair that we have to fight the war when we know we could get help elsewhere. It's wishful thinking to be out of Afghanistan in 2011 without leaving the country still in chaos.
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So UNTRUE!!!
All countries under NATO have a committment towards NATO, and it will be next to impossible to pull out without conditions.
What will happen if Afghan people still need the help? Do you mean we don't care about Afghan people after 2011? No more Afgan liberation ?? All the lives lost so far for no reason ??
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If the military gets out of Afghanistan in 2011 then you better stop the Turban Terrorist influx into Canada before it bites you in the rear. There are Terrorist Cells working hard in Canada financing the Jahad with our money and the war for them won't be over until we are all dead. I realize there are people that have their heads in the sand and don't believe this but when it starts we won't be in any position to stop it because we have given them protection from our laws which protect their actions.
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Ending the mission in 2011 will make the deaths of 97 soldiers and one diplomat in Afghanistan meaningless, as the country will just slip back into an anarchy/terrorist haven. Think of tribal northeast Pakistan, except spread over an entire country. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither can Afghanistan become a prosperous country in a paltry 5 years.
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What a waste of lives, money and time! This "War" in Afghanistan has been a complete sham from the start.
History has proven time and time and time again that foreign invaders will fail.
If we as a society spent our money on housing, education and healthcare instead of weapons and warfare, we would find the global peace we seek .
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Yeah Right.
This coming from the mouth of the same person who originaly said our next election would be Oct 09.
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The crazy thing about war is that if someone doesn't do something who will???? Does anybody like war??? Of course they don't, but I take my hat off to all the brave soldiers.
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Nice to see that Harper only says what he thinks we want to hear. First he pushes to keep the troops there, now he wants to bring them home. I just hope come election day that everyone can see the CONS for what they really are and bring them down.
Bring back the daycare subsidy spaces and funding that we were supposed to get in the first place and axe the universal daycare $100.00 that only benefits those that sit on their lazy rear ends on welfare.
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Quite a number of people here seem to feel the PM is a war monger. Just who was it that sent the troops into combat in the first place? Oh yes, the great Jean Chretien.
This gets stale. If we weren't there the left would criticize us for not defending women and children.
Lead follow or get out of the way. At least Harper leads.
Oh yes, the U.S. tells us what to do. It's too stupid to respond to. Seems slick Billy Clinton and Jean Chretien can play a few holes of golf with no objection but two Conservatives speak on the phone and the whole nation is going to hell.
Methinks too many people are afraid of Orwellian 1984.
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| Layton (not Jack) in Moncton |
Harper has broken so many promises that this one will be no different. I'm with Danny Williams - the man can't be trusted. Income Trusts, Atlantic Accord... He's going to reduce the tax on diesel by two cents a litre. Why? The savings would not be passed along because once those savings are broken down on a per product basis, they would be fractions of a cent. It's a ploy, an easy to keep promise that actually helps no one. Since about ninety percent of us don't drive diesel vehicles we won't see any savings. What a joke. And as for getting out of Afghanistan on schedule, you can add it to the list of broken promises. The Harper government has commissioned more surveys and polls than any government in memory. They will use that information to say whatever they need to for a majority and then do whatever they want. They've shown that already in a minority. Wake up Canada, think. Just think.
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Hey Lynne,
People on welfare would have that 100.00 deducted from their monthly cheque.It does however help mothers that want to stay home. There are several on my block.But I guess wanting to stay home for your kids is a bad thing .I worked and took care of my own children with my own money. You should do the same.The world does not owe you a living. The government (through the taxpayers)does not owe you free daycare.
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The Jihad has been going on for a long time. Placing a timetable on this issue is pure fantasy.
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Stephen Harper has been true to all his campaign promises in 2006 and I am confident he will keep his word if he wins the election. As for the military spending he is equiping our soldiers with modern safe and reliable equipment. Canada's armed forces were in bad shape in terms of capabilities under the Liberals. I support our troops and believe they should have top of the line equipment to protect our country and putting their lives at risk.
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