A
afransen TO
Guest
Let's say the economy stagnated for ten years. Over those ten years, the debt could grow by $350 - $500 billion and we'd be no worse off than we were in 1993.
|
|
|
U
unimaginative2
Guest
Canada built up massive debt during the wars. In 1918, the country was virtually bankrupt. After 1945, we were saved by unprecedented economic growth.
I think it's crazy to reduce our taxes any more than we already have. We're pretty much at or below the OECD average, and we have massive problems in areas like infrastructure and education. The British drop ten billion pounds at a time on London transit projects. Continental Europe is criss-crossed by expressways and are building more all the time. Switzerland is building two tunnels comparable in length to the Channel Tunnel. Spain is building thousands of kilometres of high-speed rail and hundreds of kilometres of subway. Even the Americans have completed the immense Interstate highway system and are building some significant transit projects. This is leaving aside the explosive infrastructure growth in places like China. In Canada, we don't even have a single expressway that crosses the country, and our major cities have built less than 20km of subway in the last quarter century. We still dump raw sewage into the ocean! It's crazy to me that we think that we have enough money sloshing around for massive tax cuts.
A small statistic in terms of education is the Ontario funding formula for a high school student of about $4,000. Compare that to a Detroit public school (not known to be among the best) which receives in excess of US$7,000 per student.
A
Abeja de Almirante
Guest
You want a multi-lane, divided expressway across the country? For what? Beyond transport trucks, there is not sufficient trans-national traffic for this.
U
unimaginative2
Guest
Not everything in the world needs to be ruled by assessments of whether capacity is absolutely needed this year. Better infrastructure creates growth. This is bad when it comes to suburban sprawl, but good when it comes to trade tying the country together. The Americans (and Europeans) have built a network that allows access to all parts of their country. The Americans have five transcontinental expressways. There's nothing wrong with Canada having one rather than forcing our travellers down into the States.
A
Abeja de Almirante
Guest
I've driven the TransCanada Highway from Charlottetown to Halifax to Thunder Bay and to the west as far as Calgary. It seemed like a good road to me, though very seldom used in rural northern Ontario beyond trucks.
A
andreapalladio
Guest
The Trans Canada Highway doesn't go to Halifax.
U
unimaginative2
Guest
What's your point? Trucks are vehicles which cause congestion too.
A
Abeja de Almirante
Guest
Not in the middle of no where, which is what most of the trans-national expressway that was proposed here would comprise of.
U
unimaginative2
Guest
Anyway, my whole point is that it isn't just about congestion. We need a divided highway to have travel times that are competitive with the United States Interstate highways further south. Moreover, it's rather unsafe driving on two-lane highways filled with trucks. Passing attempts can be quite hazardous.
S
scarberiankhatru
Guest
I seem to remember Admiral Beez contemplating a move to New Brunswick...well, the transcontinental highway infrastructure out there still sucks in a few places and the Quebec-Halifax corridor is hardly "the middle of nowhere."
A
Abeja de Almirante
Guest
I didn't know that, thx. Does it touch Nova Scotia at all?
I agree, two lane highways are not safe for cars and trucks. I was only suggesting that the proposed expressway across Canada would in many areas be quite empty. I drove to Thunder Bay from Toronto last November and saw very very cars or trucks at all, certainly not sufficient numbers to justify an express way. Now, what I think would be cool would be high speed rail, separate from the CN/CP lines, akin to electric bullet trains. If I could get from Toronto to Winnipeg by rail in four-six hours, now that would be interesting.
S
Suicidal Gingerbread Man
Guest
Yes. The red line.
U
unimaginative2
Guest
Winnipeg is over 2,000 kilometres away. It would be definitely interesting if you found a train that could do that in four to six hours.
A
andreapalladio
Guest
On that train all graphite and glitter
Under sea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by '76 we'll be A-OK.
Under sea by rail
Ninety minutes from New York to Paris
Well by '76 we'll be A-OK.
S
scarberiankhatru
Guest
"Winnipeg is over 2,000 kilometres away. It would be definitely interesting if you found a train that could do that in four to six hours."
Up next would be Great Circle Railways, Halifax to Vancouver in 7 hours, via Churchill and Coppermine, of course. Complimentary overhead parka storage, but no meals will be served.
Up next would be Great Circle Railways, Halifax to Vancouver in 7 hours, via Churchill and Coppermine, of course. Complimentary overhead parka storage, but no meals will be served.