German Chancellor/ & Europe told off by Canadian Finance Minister

[Dance the older]

Source

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Ottawa Wednesday for two days of meetings with Prime Minister Stephen Harper largely focused on the global economy, but she'll be leaving without a Canadian commitment to contribute to a Eurozone bailout fund.

Harper government maintained Wednesday that Euro-zone countries still haven't done enough to contain the economic crisis, with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty saying that "they need to do much more."

"Not only should the European countries take overwhelming concerted action to take control of the situation, but also that European countries themselves have more than adequate resources to do so," Flaherty told reporters in Ottawa.

Do you believe Europe has the means to bail itself out, but is looking for easy handouts from a Country that has worked hard during a recession to remain financially stable in these hard times??

[Aymer de Valence]

Merkel's neo-weltpolitik policy is well under way it seems. This time instead of land, it is about economic domination. Good thing the Canadians put her in her rightful place; European nations should follow Britain's (and now Canada's) example of opposing this madness.

[justicar5]

Merkel's neo-weltpolitik policy is well under way it seems. This time instead of land, it is about economic domination. Good thing the Canadians put her in her rightful place; European nations should follow Britain's (and now Canada's) example of opposing this madness.

except that was exactly the opposite of what he said.

Not only should the European countries take overwhelming concerted action to take control of the situation, but also that European countries themselves have more than adequate resources to do so," Flaherty told reporters in Ottawa.

He said Europe should act now and bail itself out.

[Stavroforos]

Down Canada, down.

Good boy.

[Aymer de Valence]

except that was exactly the opposite of what he said.

He didn't give into her demands, like she would have wanted (or even expected). Germany sees itself as a superpower. They are wrong, for the third time...

[justicar5]

He didn't give into her demands, like she would have wanted (or even expected). Germany sees itself as a superpower. They are wrong, for the third time...

Indeed, he said that the European Union didn't need canadas help to bail out the Euro and should get on with it. Which is correct. Federalised Europe here we come! (Thank God finally rid of the FPTP system and our choice of centre right, right or really really right parties,. roll on Melenchon for USE president!) PR will finally give us a democratic system and the parties of Europe will finally give us some choices apart from flavours of Neo-Liberalism

[Jagdpanzer]

...Germany sees itself as a superpower.

No, they don't. They view themselves as too big for Europe and too small for the world. Germany is too big to play primus interpares in Europe and too small to be the boss.

[Éorl]

Germany sees itself as a superpower.

I don't. I see ourselves as a country that never ever had a whole political and economical elite, well - how shall I put it without alluding to splatter-movies... - removed .

I guess we should remedy that flaw...

[Foreign Fruitcake]

I don't. I see ourselves as a country that never ever had a whole political and economical elite, well - how shall I put it without alluding to splatter-movies... - removed .

I guess we should remedy that flaw...

Germany had the best of everything at one time, and entirely at the wrong time it would seem.

[Mangalore]

He didn't give into her demands, like she would have wanted (or even expected). Germany sees itself as a superpower. They are wrong, for the third time...

Do you even hear yourself talking? What gives you the idea that her visiting a prime minister implies she expected to get what she wanted? She has the card of him needing help with a trade treaty, he has the card of her needing IMF funds for the bailout. He squeezed on the later, I don't even know if she would see any gain in obstructing the trade treaty.

And germany's behaviour is not one of a superpower. Ask the US. Her politicians are constantly complaining how germany is not using her power with hard choices at all.

[SonOfOdin]

Germany sees itself as a superpower. They are wrong, for the third time...

If Germany sees itself as a superpower, why the hell would they be asking Canada for help?
Without question Germany and France are the Eurozone's two major powers though. No discussion.

[Basil II the B.S]

Good job Canada. It's about goddamn time we in Europe wake up and accept that being nice to everybody is not going to grant that everybody is going to be nice to us back when we need them.

[Dance the older]

Good job Canada. It's about goddamn time we in Europe wake up and accept that being nice to everybody is not going to grant that everybody is going to be nice to us back when we need them.

This continual asking for assistance during their recession has been going a while. I think they should accept that Canada isn't going to bail them out. And in an earlier comment by Flaherty from a few months or so ago? He stated that Europe gave the US the cold shoulder during their recession a few years ago, so Canada feels its a double standard to help Europe. Why? When they don't help others lol. Its sensible.

[Aymer de Valence]

Her politicians are constantly complaining how germany is not using her power with hard choices at all.

Because smaller European nations are so willing! They don't need to!

What gives you the idea that her visiting a prime minister implies she expected to get what she wanted?

She isn't used to the word no. Maybe she didn't get what she wanted today, but next time she goes, she will. If not, then the time after that. That's how these Eurocrats work don't they? If at first you don't succeed, just ask the question again.

[Mangalore]

...
She isn't used to the word no. Maybe she didn't get what she wanted today, but next time she goes, she will. If not, then the time after that. That's how these Eurocrats work don't they? If at first you don't succeed, just ask the question again.

In what fantasyland do you live? You do know she is German chancellor aka cannot be an Eurocrat since she is head of a large European country? That dictates her "sluggish" response to the crisis as she is concerned about Germany first. Second, she hears "no" all the time. Merkel's impressive survival trait is to accept "nos" and switch her own position instead of trying to hold difficult positions against opposition. She is a pretty good power gamer in that power goes over what she wants aka she wants to have the power.

And the notion that germany or Europe for that matter somehow clings to a deal with Canada is ridiculous. Yes, support would be nice but none expects a country like Canada to bail out Europe in a significant manner. It's at best about brokering deals between the IMF, EU and ECB so IMF won't go awol on them.

[Thorn777]

In what fantasyland do you live?

Somewhere in Britain, where Daily Mail is the choice of reading, UKIP makes sense, and people wish away their dirty grey reality away by thinking about red uniforms and former grandeur.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

I don't think government leaders should have such a big role in the EU. There should be a seperate representative, either elected or appointed by the legislature. I know that would complicate cabinet discussions though...

[Abendstern]

That dictates her "sluggish" response to the crisis as she is concerned about Germany first.

No, she is concerned about maintaining her position first as you have already realized. Which explains why she is doing such a horrible job at everything else.

Merkel's impressive survival trait is to ... switch her own position instead of trying to hold difficult positions against opposition.

Oh, so being a spineless opportunist is in fact showing impressive survival skills! I doubt that she is unique in that regard, so not really impressive but all too common among her kind. But hey, if more Germans think like you then Germany clearly deserves every bit it gets right now and in the near future. Kind of fair at least.

She is a pretty good power gamer in that power goes over what she wants aka she wants to have the power.

No, riding the wave and doing whatever others want to be done instead of making decisions on one's own is not being powerful at all. In fact its the exact opposite.

[Lazzeer]

Well, he's right I guess. Europe does have the means, we just lack the political will.

[Sphere]

As of 12:04 EST the yield on a German 10 year bond was 1.528
AS of 12:00 EST the yield on a US 10 year T-bond was 1.80
As of 11:55 EST the yield on a Canadian 10 year note was 1.958

Why is Germany going around begging countries with higher borrowing costs for money?