Canada Signs Free-Trade Deal with Ukraine for no particularly good reason - Polidicks

Source: [URL]http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-ukraine-agree-to-free-trade-deal/article25486492/[/URL] [quote]Canada inks free-trade deal with Ukrainian government Canada has struck a free-trade deal with Ukraine, an accord that represents more of a gesture of solidarity than a commercial breakthrough as beleaguered Kiev struggles with pro-Russian separatists, crippling government debt and an economy expected to shrink by as much as 9 per cent this year. The agreement comes just weeks before a Canadian federal election campaign in which Mr. Harper is expected to advertise his strong support for Ukraine, and his hawkish condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as evidence he has made Canada stand tall on the world stage. ... Ottawa is not keen on Canadians reading the fine print, though, when it comes to the biggest single bundle of aid to Ukraine – [B]the $400-million in low-interest loans the Harper government gave Kiev to help stabilize its economy.[/B] [B]The Canadian government is refusing to make public the actual loan agreements it signed with Ukraine, saying the two countries have agreed to keep secret the full text of the deal. ... [/B][I]“At a time of heightened global economic instability, Prime Minister Harper is committed to expanding our economic and trade relationships to create jobs for Canadian workers,”[/I][/quote] So an ostensibly fiscally conservative government just signed a deal that in all likelyhood only weakens our own economy, largely for the purpose of vote pandering.

Hey, it's great that we're supporting Ukraine and all, but Harper, you publish those fucking terms, you conniving shit. I think King Stevie knows his time in the sun is over and he's just doing whatever he can while he's got it. I fucking hope his time's over, at least. If he's back after the election I'm moving to space because Harper is turning my homeland into something I don't recognize anymore.

Yay! cheap vodka for all Canadians! Boo! Fuck you Harper. [quote]I think King Stevie knows his time in the sun is over and he's just doing whatever he can while he's got it.[/quote] It's normal for outgoing parties to try and push as many things off their alternate agenda as they can before parliament is dissolved for the election. That way once it's inked there's no way the possible next party can dump it.

This is just Harper trying to get the Ukrainian vote plain and simple. Because for anyone not in Canada who's not aware, there are a lot of Ukrainians in Alberta and Saskatchewan which both traditionally go Conservative anyway, but Harper is afraid of losing Alberta.

[quote] The Canadian government [b]is refusing to make public the actual loan agreements it signed with Ukraine[/b], saying the two countries have agreed to keep secret the full text of the deal. [/quote] :sbhj: Yay, transparency. The Canadian taxpayer needs not to know where his taxmoney is going!

What's the problem? Good on Canada for actually supporting Western interests properly.

[quote]The Canadian government is refusing to make public the actual loan agreements it signed with Ukraine, saying the two countries have agreed to keep secret the full text of the deal.[/quote] Wow what is he even thinking

[QUOTE=FlashMarsh;48204816]What's the problem? Good on Canada for actually supporting Western interests properly.[/QUOTE] Did you read the OP? Or my first reply? Or anything past the headline? [QUOTE=THE OP]Ottawa is not keen on Canadians reading the fine print, though, when it comes to the biggest single bundle of aid to Ukraine – the $400-million in low-interest loans the Harper government gave Kiev to help stabilize its economy. The Canadian government is refusing to make public the actual loan agreements it signed with Ukraine, saying the two countries have agreed to keep secret the full text of the deal.[/QUOTE] The Harper Government©®™ is giving Ukraine a $400 million sweetheart deal and nobody's allowed to know the terms. That doesn't represent Western interests properly, and by that I mean every Canadian's. I sure hope Canadians are as sick of Harper as I am. I'd even accept a CPC minority government to make DaCommie1 happy, but not if Harper has a seat in parliament this winter. Fuck Stevie. He's Bush III and he doesn't even have a formal term limit. America, if Harper is reelected, invade and bring us freedom. You have my permission. No bombing Quebec just because, though.

[QUOTE=FlashMarsh;48204816]What's the problem? Good on Canada for actually supporting Western interests properly.[/QUOTE] It's not only that they are spending more and more of our money while the Eastern coast is pretty much in shambles (partly due to being taxed out the ass). But now we have no transparency of what is actually happening with our money.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;48204865]Did you read the OP? Or my first reply? Or anything past the headline? The Harper Government©®™ is giving Ukraine a $400 million sweetheart deal and nobody's allowed to know the terms. That doesn't represent Western interests properly, and by that I mean every Canadian's. I sure hope Canadians are as sick of Harper as I am. I'd even accept a CPC minority government to make DaCommie1 happy, but not if Harper has a seat in parliament this winter. Fuck Stevie. He's Bush III and he doesn't even have a formal term limit. America, if Harper is reelected, invade and bring us freedom. You have my permission. No bombing Quebec just because, though.[/QUOTE] I read the entire thing. These sorts of deals are often done behind closed doors - Not saying they should, but this isn't actually unusual.

Wow what another great example of Harper being a total shitlord for the sake of appearances. Every time I see harper smile I wish I could hit him, if he's re-elected I'm calling vote rigging because I've literally only ever met about two people that support him and don't think he's a horrible leader. I fucking love this country with all my heart but I'll seriously consider travelling somewhere else for the next 5 years if he's in charge again, I can feel my money going out the window every day he's in power at this point [editline]14th July 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=HybridTheroy;48204947]It's not only that they are spending more and more of our money while the Eastern coast is pretty much in shambles (partly due to being taxed out the ass). But now we have no transparency of what is actually happening with our money.[/QUOTE] Don't forget how much the price is going up for Ontario Hydro Seriously imagine how much better we'd all be if we still had that 65 billion dollar surplus

harper's plan is to fuck shit up as bad as he possibly can before we kick him out of office

[QUOTE=flamehead5;48205357] Don't forget how much the price is going up for Ontario Hydro Seriously imagine how much better we'd all be if we still had that 65 billion dollar surplus[/QUOTE] That's Wynnes problem bro.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;48204865] I sure hope Canadians are as sick of Harper as I am. I'd even accept a CPC minority government to make DaCommie1 happy, but not if Harper has a seat in parliament this winter. Fuck Stevie. He's Bush III and he doesn't even have a formal term limit.[/QUOTE] We've got a NDP opposition federally and a majority NDP Alberta. Its only a matter of time.

[QUOTE=Savant231A;48204103]:sbhj: Yay, transparency. The Canadian taxpayer needs not to know where his taxmoney is going![/QUOTE] It's incredibly vexing that these massive economy shaping deals are often kept classified for decades after their passage

[QUOTE=Nikota;48207135]That's Wynnes problem bro.[/QUOTE] Our economy turning to shit because we're so dependant on oil is a cause of the hydro issue. and you should unquote the 65b surplus line because it looks like you think Wynn should be responsible for that too

[QUOTE=masterbateman;48205455]harper's plan is to fuck shit up as bad as he possibly can before we kick him out of office[/QUOTE] This, when the Conservatives got a majority he said we won't recognize Canada when he's done with it. And he's definitely kept that promise.

[QUOTE=elixwhitetail;48204865]Did you read the OP? Or my first reply? Or anything past the headline? The Harper Government©®™ is giving Ukraine a $400 million sweetheart deal and nobody's allowed to know the terms. That doesn't represent Western interests properly, and by that I mean every Canadian's. I sure hope Canadians are as sick of Harper as I am. I'd even accept a CPC minority government to make DaCommie1 happy, but not if Harper has a seat in parliament this winter. Fuck Stevie. He's Bush III and he doesn't even have a formal term limit. America, if Harper is reelected, invade and bring us freedom. You have my permission. No bombing Quebec just because, though.[/QUOTE] Glad to know you're thinking of me. It's likely to be a CPC minority, and if it is Harper needs to resign. If they lose, he will resign. Even if it's a majority, he should resign. People are just sick of him, and his opponents are all too fresh for him to attack them on anything except the idea that Trudeau's "Just not ready. Nice hair though." The other 2 parties have fresh faces, it's time the Tories did the same. They need someone with charisma, someone who can draw voters in, especially because the contrast between a charismatic leader and the current soulless robot would be intriguing and refreshing to disillusioned moderates and extremists alike. Also since it's entirely likely that the US will go Republican next election, do you [i]really[/i] want them invading to get rid of a government that's roughly equivalent to the Democrats? I kind of wish the Libertarians, as crazy as they can be, had a bigger pull, just to keep the Tories on their toes. The conservatives feel safe knowing that since they "united the right," they're the only choice for right-wing and right-of-centre voters. I feel they'd be less shitty if they had some competition.

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;48208977]I feel they'd be less shitty if they had some competition.[/QUOTE] Absolutely this. And the invasion comment was a joke. Unless Harper goes full Ukraine revolution and suspends democracy (highly unlikely), Americans violating sovereignty would create way more problems.