NAFTA Ruling on Softwood Lumber

[dferguson]

You seem to be paying them quite well so you must need them. I would venture to say that you get as many who have less education and who are also "go-getters" as you say,who will do well in your booming economy.

[dferguson]

What do you mean by "well brainwashed sheeple"?

[dferguson]

cowman the smart kids now are taking a trade vs spending four years in University and hoping to find a job when they graduate. A friend of mine was dismayed to learn that her nephew was going to become an power engineer in a gas plant. She thought it was not nearly as elite a position as if he had a degree from U of A or UBC or some other hoity toity place !!!

I said, look the kid up in a few years, he is getting paid big bucks to learn on the job. Nothing against the students that attend university but there are many out in the oil patch and in forestry occupations at this time that are getting ahead fast !!!

Cowman we do need educated professionals, no where near enough medical doctors in this country and we all know that there won't be any large animal vets pretty soon if we don't encourage more young people to go that route vs doctoring cats and dogs, so education is necessary. Lord knows we need accountants to fill out our CAIS forms !!!

[dferguson]

Cowman; since you decline to elaborate on your terminology as I requested I can only assume you were drunk or otherwise incapacitated when you wrote it. That's OK. Happens to everyone now and again. If you think you would be better off as an american, that's easily accomplished, as I am sure you are aware. Just slide on south. I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms. You're their kind of people!

[dferguson]

But I forgot!! In another post you refer to Montana as "the dogpatch of the united states." Then go on to say that Montana and Alberta have a lot in common. Where you going with this?

[cowman]

dferguson: Sorry to disappoint you but I am a tea totaller and can't drink alcohol.
Sheeple? Sheep-people? People who are followers and can't think for themselves? Need the government and CBC to do their thinking for them?
Why in the world would I want to leave my home and move to the USA? I have roots here on both sides of my family that predate this province. My people were the pioneers who built this country. Bought and paid for this land in blood sweat and tears!
Somehow I seem to have offended you by my opinion of how the government spends my money? Sorry if I don't fit into your version of what a good little Canadian should be.

[dferguson]

Cowman; thanks for the definition. What makes you think that people in Nova Scotia can't think for themselves? Please note that we have a Conservative government here as you do. As for CBC I am of the opinion that their programming has improved tremendously since they have all gone on strike. I guess what I would really like to hear from you is the reason for your animosity toward the Atlantic Provinces, which you seem to throw in with central Canada.

[dferguson]

now cowman, don't you tick off the maritimers because I am going down there next year on a vacation and I want to be welcome !!! I don't care what cowman says I think that the maritimers are the salt of the earth and so I should, my mother was from NS !!

[cowman]

Well where did I ever rip the Maritimes? In fact where did I ever rip farmers anywhere?
In one thread you tell me to look beyond Toronto/Montreal/Ottawa...I hate to tell you this but they are the problem?
In 2004 Alberta collected $8.4 billion dollars in royalties on oil and gas. In 2004 they sent Ottawa $9.3 billion in "transfer payments"! In other words all our oil and gas revenues plus another $900,000 went to Ottawa!
The golden triangle rules Canada but they can't do it without the compliance of the rest of the country. The Maritimes are on the gravy train just like Quebec. I don't blame them for voting the way they do, they are just taking care of their best interests? However as an Albertan I believe the people of Alberta should get a share of their own assetts instead of giving it away?
There are a lot of people working in the oil patch from the Maritimes...a lot of young people. It is amazing the way they change when they get out here and realize they can make something of themselves without relying on the government. Very few of them will ever go back.

[madcow]

cowman,I've got relatives and friends in Ft. McMurray.My uncle went out there when syncrude was just a gopher hole,he transferred there from the Gulf Oil refinery in Point Tupper ,Cape Breton,he was a mechanical engineer,educated at Mount Allison N.B. and NSIT, N.S..He was senior vice president at Syncrude when he retired and his son has followed the exact same steps as his father with the exception of not working for gulf in Point Tupper.My Uncle is retired back here now, along with a lot of the crew that went out there at that time. My cousin intends to retire back here as well.They don't all become sheeple Albertan's.
Emerald 1 ,your welcome in the Maritimes and I know for a fact that dferguson and I would both be glad to set and chat over a cup of tea.What part of N.S. are you headed for ?I can post an email address to get in touch directly. cowman you come along too,a good drink of maritime rum might loosen ya up a bit,remember ,,,we're all in this together.....