Earth Day. A day to inspire awareness about the environment close to home and around the globe. Awareness, however, has turned into opportunity. Nothing wrong with opportunity, but when those participating in the free market enterprise cry foul over the LACK of sales you know some people have forgotten the purpose of 'Earth Day'.

Some retailers have not only noted the downward trend in Earth Day sales, but overall retailer sales as well. A 4% decline say some organizations.

Well how about that ,a day designed to raise awareness about the environment and retailers are shocked that consumption decreased? Let's get this straight, in order to celebrate Earth Day you have to go out and buy things? Become part of the free market enterprise, the capitalist system, the economic engine that spends its time growing through the use of scarce resources?

Earth Day has been twisted into another Hallmark event, however, it seems some people have started to vote with their feet and consume less....Not that consumption is always equated with wrecking the environment. However, it is worth noting that the commercialization of an environmental awareness day leaves me a bit skeptical.

So let me be among the growing crowd to cry foul over the commercialization of Earth Day. If I wanted to buy over packaged Earth Day care kits then I'd just get them from the 24hr Walmart.

Earth Day Major Marketing Event is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog

* Tax cuts for lower and middle-income earners worth C$20bn * C$12bn in infrastructure spending including roads, bridges and clean energy programs over two years * C$1.9bn in tax measures for businesses * Targeted loans and worker training programs

Here's what has been said around the country:

• Top Canadian economists give their view.
• Conservative party's blog perspective.
• Liberals to support with amendments.
• BBC makes their report.
• Greenpeace thinks everything is terrible including the budget.
• At least someone thinks the budget is a good idea.
• Problems with infrastructure money access imminent?

2009 Canadian Budget – A Collection of Views is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog

Forget about Obama v. Mcain. Canada is heading the polls this coming Tuesday and it's shaping up to be a doozy. The reigning Conservative minority government is teetering between majority and official opposition, a pretty big swing. Swing....the swing vote, turns out some key riding in Liberal haven Ontario and tree-hugging BC may have all the say. But here's the interesting thing, the Liberals and the NDP are gaining ground amidst the economic fiasco hitting the US.

How are the Liberals using it to their advantage? Fear. Just like George W (used synonymously with Stephen Harper) the Liberals and NDP parties are pushing the 'sky is falling' syndrome to panicky Canadians touting the all imminent collapse of the financial sector in Canada. Turns out, they're probably very wrong.

World Economic Forum Report Touts Canada's Bank as Safest in World

The Canadian Press is reporting that a World Economic Forum report pits Canada's banking systems as the soundest in the world. A far cry from what the lawyers and fearmongers in the left-wing camps have been saying. I wonder how the recent 'dip' in Conservative support will respond to this latest 'revelation' that confirms their position that the sky isn't falling and the banks won't need a bailout.....

[tags]conservative, liberal, ndp, banks, canadian banks, canada banks, financial sectory[/tags]

Canadians Heading to Polls – Liberals and NDP Wrong about Economy is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe painted a picture Sunday of the future of Quebec City in 2015, transforming it into the capital of a sovereign country that plays an important role in the global community.

Duceppe urged voters to imagine what it may be like to live in his "clear, concrete and ambitious" vision of Quebec City as the only centre of political power in the province.

"Quebec City will be the marriage of the old and new. Quebec City will be on the map, claiming its full rights as the capital of a sovereign country. Not on the Canadian map, but on the world map. That's what I want for Quebec City in 2015." (Too bad he doesn't think of the rest of Quebec especially the poor North.)

Bloc supporters in attendance at the meeting added their voice to the mix, arguing the benefits of seeing Quebec City become the capital of a country could include wireless Internet throughout the city, and a high-speed rail link to New York. (A la Alberta between Calgary and Edmonton.... viable? No, dumb idea here.)

The secretariat for Paris-based UNESCO on cultural diversity would be located in the city, Bloc supporters boasted, while others contended that sovereignty would provide the authority needed to enhance the city as a major maritime port. Duceppe's vision of Quebec City as the capital of a sovereign country hinges on the party winning the next provincial election and then winning another referendum on sovereignty, which the PQ promises to hold as soon as possible should it form a government.

The Bloc lost eight Quebec City-area seats in last January's federal election -- seven to the Conservatives and one to independent Andre Arthur. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's campaign commitment to solve the fiscal imbalance and give Quebec a place in Canada's delegation to UNESCO is credited with helping his party win 10 seats in the province.
Duceppe is prepared to force an election early next year if Harper's government fails to deliver on its promise to correct the so-called fiscal imbalance in the next federal budget.
He wants Ottawa to provide at least $3.9 billion to Quebec this year to make up for what he says are funding shortfalls.

Quebec Wants More Money so They Can Seperate is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog

Here's the latest from CTV. Senator Raymond Lavigne who was sued for using his office staff to cut down trees near his cottage property, wants taypayers to pay for his legal bills.

Lavigne, who continues to sit on the Senate, was also forced to give back $23,500, which he allegedly spent on improper travel expenses. The RCMP is currently investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the cost of Lavigne's legal bills is estimated at almost $90,000. In June, Interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham kicked Lavigne out of the Liberal caucus until any investigations are completed.

Senators already enjoy some of the best parking spots on Parliament Hill, and a mandatory salute from the guards. But some want to use taxpayers' money for more perks.

Liberal Senator Daniel Hays, the Opposition leader, has been granted a larger budget by 19 per cent. He also has a new car with his own driver, and a press secretary.

"Well, the Opposition leader leads 65 members of a caucus ... that have an important job to do. And you need adequate funding to do that," Hays told CTV News.

Other senators are seeking larger budgets as well. Liberal Senator Colin Kenny hopes to secure an increase for all senators' office budgets, from $135,000 to $200,000 a year.

"Well, I'd like us to move up to match the House of Commons," said Kenny, who drives a Jaguar with personalized Senate license plates.

Critics of the Senate already question whether being a senator is actually a full-time job, requiring such high budgets. Liberal Senator Marie-P. Poulin has almost managed to complete her full-time law degree while still sitting in the Senate.

"Well, you know, it's that some people go to the gym, but I go to the university to get the little gray cells in shape," said Poulin.

But so far, the Chamber has sat for just 34 days this year.

"If that pace continues, the number of sitting days will be one of the lowest since 1960," reported CTV's Graham Richardson.

But he added that senators work outside of when the Senate sits, often out of public view.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to shorten the terms served by senators, who currently sit for as many as 45 years. At age 75, they are forced to retire.

Harper wants new appointees to sit for terms of just eight years.

Last month, Senator Jim Munson told Harper that "there are critics who believe you would like nothing better than to fight an election on the backs of the Senate."

Liberal Canadian Senators Abuse Taxpayers is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog

Make sure you check your receipts, especially big ticket items, as you purchase items. The GST cut may save the average Canadian a few hundred dollars a year. And for retailers offering expensive goods, the reduction could mean increased sales.

Meanwhile, some municipalities plan on pocketing the savings themselves, saying it would be too difficult to change signage on tax-included services. Parking meters will likely remain the same.

However, hard liquor may get more expensive The government's maiden budget on May 2 raised excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, saying it was necessary to maintain so-called "sin taxes." Beer and wine are to be taxed on a flat, per liter basis. So, cheap lagers will be taxed the same as expensive imported ales.

But the hard liquor excise tax is based on the retail price per bottle. And because excise taxes are set as a percentage of the federal excise tax, the money becomes a big source of revenue for the provinces. Alberta is the only exception.

The Finance Department detailed the savings in an example on its website:

* Imagine that "Monique" and "Sanjeev" each buy an identical new home priced at $200,000 plus GST in the same subdivision.
* Both buyers are scheduled to take possession of their homes in the fall of 2006.
* Monique signs her agreement of purchase and sale with the builder on May 1, 2006. Sanjeev signs his agreement one week later.
* The 6-per-cent GST rate applies if the agreement of purchase and sale is signed after budget day, which was May 2, 2006.
* Buyers who signed the purchase agreement on or before May 2, and whose GST is based on the 7-per-cent rate will be able to claim a transitional adjustment from the Canada Revenue Agency.
* Therefore, Sanjeev ends up paying a total of $207,680 to the builder -- $200,000 plus $12,000 in GST minus a rebate of $4,320, which is 36 per cent of the GST paid.
* In comparison, Monique pays a total of $208,960 to the builder -- the price of the home plus $14,000 in GST minus the GST housing rebate of $5,040.
* Subsequently, she claims a transitional benefit of $1,280.

Alternatively, consumers can fill out a form called the GST HST 189 form and send it to the Canada Revenue Agency. The form can be found on the agency's website or by calling 1-866-959-7797.

NO MORE GST! July 1st = 6% is a post from: Discuss Economics Blog