Thursday morning, Stephane Dion addresssed a packed room of media, MPs and supporters on Parliament Hill, firing what seemed to be his first volley in the looming federal election. MPtv was there, and will soon upload the entire speech and the context of the event for you. In the meantime, this is what Dion told a cheering crowd.
My fellow Liberals, the next two weeks are key. When we return to our ridings in the coming days, we have a lot to talk to Canadians about.
I’m counting on you to explain to Canadians why the Conservative budget is wrong for Canada. It fails to meet the priorities of Canadians – but in doing so, it spends an enormous amount of money.
This government is now the biggest spender in Canadian history.
I gave Canada Clarity. Stephen Harper gave Canada Flaherty. And look at the result. Never before has a Canadian government done so little with so much.
This budget is unfair. This budget is shortsighted. This budget is dishonest. And this budget is divisive. This budget is unfair. It does nothing for students. It does nothing for the poor. It does nothing for Aboriginals.
It does nothing for single working mothers trying to make ends meet. Only people that make more than $30,000 per year can benefit from the Conservative child benefit. Canada’s poorest families get nothing from this budget.
Instead, this budget increases the gap between the haves and have-nots.
To quote the Caledon Institute, the worst part of this budget is what it lacks: “No measures to reduce child poverty, no early childhood education or meaningful national child care, no plans to address real infrastructure needs now, no commitment to tackle the abysmal reality of Aboriginal life in Canada, and no housing program.â€
This budget is shortsighted. The government has the responsibility to ask, where do we want Canada to be in ten years, and how do we get there?
In ten years, I want a richer Canada, a fairer Canada, and a greener Canada. To get there, we need to invest in research. We need to invest in education. And we need broad-based tax cuts. This budget does none of that.
Maybe Mr. Harper thinks that the world owes Canada a living. The world economy is becoming tougher and more competitive. The environmental challenges are becoming larger. I want Canada to be on the podium of the sustainable economy. I want to take Canada in the right direction.
Nancy Hughes-Anthony, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said about the budget, “This government promised to make Canada more competitive, and I think they broke that promise today.â€
The Conservatives broke more than one promise on budget day. This budget is dishonest. The Conservatives said they would hold the line on spending. Instead, Jim Flaherty is now the biggest-spending finance minister in Canadian history. He has increased spending by $25 billion over two years – an increase that the Vancouver Board of Trade calls “unsustainable.â€
The Conservatives said they would help middle class Canadians. Instead, they raised income taxes, taking an extra $1.4 billion out of Canadians’ paychecks.
The Conservatives promised not to tax income trusts. Mr. Harper made that promise himself. Then he went back on his word – and a million Canadians paid the price. The Liberal income trust plan would soften the blow, and put back some of the money that was ripped out of Canadians’ savings.
This budget is divisive. Jim Flaherty told the House that fiscal disagreements between the federal government and the provinces are over. He was wrong.
Mr. Harper and Mr. Flaherty wrapped themselves in their promise to fix the so-called fiscal imbalance – then failed to define it, and to put a dollar figure on it. They said the issue was done. The Premiers disagree.
Premier Danny Williams called this budget a betrayal. Premier Lorne Calvert called this budget a betrayal. The premiers of New Brunswick and British Columbia said the same. The Premier of Nova Scotia is taking the federal government to court. So much for the end of bickering.
An unfair budget. A shortsighted budget. A dishonest budget. And a divisive budget. Never has a government done so little with so much. Canadians from every province deserve better than this government.
The voters of Quebec certainly deserve better than this government.
Never before has a Canadian Prime Minister tried to interfere with a provincial election in such a manipulative way.
Mr. Harper said that his policy on the federal spending power would depend on how Quebecers chose to cast their ballots. That language was denounced as blackmail by every party in Quebec, and it certainly didn’t help Premier Jean Charest.
The Prime Minister must now explain, to all Canadians, how and why he wants to further limit the role of the federal government. He must explain which powers, which responsibilities, he wants to take away from the federal government. And he must justify it in terms of the public interest – not in terms of blackmail and electoral manipulations.
Canadians in every province deserve better. I will always say the same thing to all Canadians, in both official languages, in every corner of this country: that we need to work together, for a richer Canada, a fairer Canada, and a greener Canada.
Canadians don’t want another election, and the Liberals don’t want an election. But the Prime Minister seems determined to force an election on Canadians.
Millions of dollars spent on negative ads; boot camp for Conservative candidates; sending a spy to follow me around the country. And now, a budget so discriminatory it must have been written by a pollster.
If the Prime Minister wants to force an election on Canadians, so be it. The Liberal Party is ready. Whereas Stephen Harper tries to pick and choose which Canadians deserve help from their government, we’re ready to fight for every Canadian.
Whereas Stephen Harper practices division and manipulation, we’re ready to offer hope, unity, and ideas for the future. Whereas Stephen Harper plays games with the provinces, we’re ready to offer partnership and respect.
Whereas Stephen Harper focuses only on the next election, we’re ready to offer a vision of success for the next generation. We’re ready to build a richer Canada, a fairer Canada, and a greener Canada – for us, for the next generations, and for the role of Canada in the world.
Macleans magazine, writing about this Conservative budget, says that Canada’s future prosperity remains a cause without a leader. With your help, my fellow Liberals, I will be that leader.
Let me make one more point. I am a very determined person. I will fight this coming election, whenever it may come. And I will fight hard.
Canadians will know who I am and what I stand for. And they will know what Mr. Harper’s regime will do to this country. The smallness of ideology. The meanness of spirit. The inability to understand the enormity of Canada’s future.
Canadians deserve better.
I count on you to bring our message to Canadians. We don’t want an election. But if an election comes, it’s an election we’re going to win.
Thank you.
91 comments ↓
so the problem is – they spent too much, or they spent too little?
I’m sure the Blue Crew will have a field day poking holes in Mr.Dion’s speech especially since most of which he speaks of were deficiencies in the former Liberal government. The lack of productivity started when the Liberals got in. Dion also wants to dump a carbon tax on industry. How does that help competitiveness against American competition? The O’Brien report on equalization was originally commissioned by the Liberals. As usual the glaring OMISSION of facts doesn’t add to Mr. Dion’s credibility. He also doesn’t mention how he is going to PAY for his commitments.
Still waiting for that honest politician to come forward and not hide how they are going to finance their agenda.
Well said, Mr. Dion!!
Interesting stuff: first and foremost, i’m glad that Mr.Dion acknowledges the concerns of the Premiers who believe Budget 2007 is a betrayal to NL, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.
Of course, as a Newfoundlander and Labradorian, i’m tired of Mr.Harper and hhow strategy for him is more important tthan the future of this country (as he’s now penalizing the smaller provinces, in favor of Ontario, Quebec and Alberta as an election ploy!)
Indeed, Mr.Dion seems to pay tribute to the issues of Ecofeminism: that is that in order to change our human-nature relationship, we must first change our human-human relationships (hence his three pillars: economic growth, Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability).
Indeed, I thik things are going to get interesting and I hope that if and when Stephanie Dion becomes PM, that he listens to the concerns of ALL 10 provinces and territories, because many people in NL are reluctant to vote for him because the Liberal Party is perceived as being a party that gives more attention to Ontario and Quebec than provinces like NL!
“the lack of productivity started when the Liberals got in”? Someone’s been sleeping for the last 15 years.
Time to wake up and smell the coffee.
It’s a rousing speech and I look forward to seeing him deliver it on video.
Out here in Sask, I can say people are very disappointed, angry, disillusioned at how silent our many Harper MPs are on the budget.
Also, while I am no fan of Calvert, I found it insulting that Harper and Strahl flew out and made a funding annoucement without inviting or even telling Calvert. It was disrespectful and divisive.
Oh well, what do you expect from the likes of Harper?
Unfortunate the windmills are up yet, would have been enough hot air to provide energy for a month, I am not interested in what the other guys did or did not do, I want to know what you are going to do, with details and the projected costs and time frame of each promise and a promise to resign if promises are not kept.
Nice speech.
I especially liked
The Prime Minister must now explain, to all Canadians, how and why he wants to further limit the role of the federal government. He must explain which powers, which responsibilities, he wants to take away from the federal government. And he must justify it in terms of the public interest – not in terms of blackmail and electoral manipulations.
That said, what powers of self-determination would Dion give back to the provinces?
First observation;
Cdns still want a working government not all the bitching whining and complaining such as the majority of this speech. If my children were acting like this I`d send them each to their rooms for an hr time out.
First question;
Why would the Tories want an election? It seems to me the more the Libs drag their feet getting anything done in the HoC the more it moves votes over to the Tories.
Second observation;
To make Canada competitive requires investment in the overall economy not just products globally priced such as commodities of which Ottawa has 0 influence anyway.
“”Canadian Chamber of Commerce said about the budget, “This government promised to make Canada more competitive, and I think they broke that promise today.—
Second question;
Investment creates productivity which dried up 2 years ago. How does Dion plan on restoring investor confidence in Canada to increase productivity?
I like some of what Dion says but… he joined a government which had just cut health care/welfare/etc. by 1/3 (via cuts to transfers to the provinces) as a star candidate. He was in cabinet as Canada fell behind the US in greenhouse gases. He was a Quebec minister during the sponsorship scandal yet did nothing about it that the public is aware of.
Trust Dion? Trust Harper? I can’t see doing either next election. Layton and the NDP appear to be in identity crisis mode (keep seeing a used car salesman whenever I see Layton). I voted Green last time after reading their policies and thinking a lot about it. I suspect I’ll do the same this time (whenever ‘this time’ is).
We need not just thousands but millions of Canadians to vote elsewhere to get serious change. Not just Green but also for oddballs like the Christian Heritage, Communist, Libertarian, and various independants. If 1/2 of the voters could make themselves vote for someone other than the big 3 (big 4 in Quebec) we could force changes to the system.
Sadly, as the old story goes, in Toronto the Liberals could run a donkey and win, while the Conservatives could run a dog in Alberta and win. Until more people think for themselves what you see is what we will continue to get.
Dion supports PM Williams tirade against fairness for the rest of Canada?
Fellow Canadains from all provinces except Newfoundland. Hang on to your wallets. Danny Millions believe we OWE them our allegiance over that of our country. All bow to Newfoundland. Here is a quote from Danny: All heed:
“John F. Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”
I say to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians: “Ask not what we can do for our country, because we have done enough. Let’s ask our country what they can do for us.”
Danny Williams, April 7, 2001
Hi Garth, I like the speech. There are some nice catchy phrases there and some strong, undeniable points. I wonder how the Liberal team will get this message out, though? There’s no doubt you’re up against a formidable opponent who’s increasingly centralized governmental communications and bought political support in key areas of the country.
Frankly, I’d like to see some hard-nosed, rough-around-the-edges and viral approaches to your communications. Something creative, outside-the-box and borderline, rule breaking, you know. I bet there’d be some incredible ideas on how to do this among the regulars on this blog. You could have a contest …
Anyway, as an undecided voter, this next election is going to be very interesting for me. I’m interested to see how much fight the parties have in them. Is Jack Layton going to defend “hard working families” … again. Is Stéphane Dion going to regurgitate everyone else’s complaints? Who’s going to stand up and take it to the Conservatives, Elizabeth May style?
Canada’s worth fighting for.
-R
My gut feeling
Harper is afraid to call an election and I am usually right! Too many blatant broken promises to deal with fresh in the minds of the electorate.
In other news….Tim Peterson, an MPP here in Ontario, is resigning from the Liberal caucus. He will sit as an Independent until the next election. He plans on running as a Conservative in the next election.
I just wish more politicians who ran under one banner and choose to move to another, remained as Independents until they faced the electorate in a vote.
What do you think Garth?
Garth,
I`ll pull a couple of lines from the article, `RCMP officers accuse top ranks of coverup` (link below)
it starts out odd and gets very odd by the end.
“A criminal investigation was launched and then cancelled just two days later by former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli and ordered an internal audit instead.”
“Five months later, the criminal investigation resumed, this time conducted by the Ottawa Police Service. It confirmed serious cases of nepotism and wasteful spending.”
The OPS confirmed serious cases of nepotism and wasteful spending which must have come from the 5 month internal audit. Along comes Sheila Fraser who is without the investigation powers the police hold and likely the same for the internal audit but found millions of dollars in inappropriate charges. They compiled an audit, then a criminal investigation and didn`t notice millions in graft.
“An MP on the committee told CBC News that the Liberals will call for a public inquiry.”
I`m looking forward to finding out why this investigation was mishandled during the internal audit and with the subsequent OPS investigation.
Well done Sheila Fraser
Hot off the press.
Zaccardelli says Fraser report messed up, defends internal audit and OPS criminal investigation.
Looks good on the Libs calling for an independent judicial inquiry as it seems a police investigation lacks credibility.
.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/28/rcmp-allegations.html
RCMP officers accuse top ranks of coverup
First of all – boo and bug off to those Conservative party snoops who are reading this blog – just go away somewhere.
Now, it would be silly for Dion to give exact details of his plans – the Tories would steal, move ahead with a suddenly made up one of their that was similar, etc.
(and you know they are watching)
This speech was great. It was very clearly stated and none of it was spin, it was the truth which the Harperites no nothing about. Unfortunately, not enough Canadians take the time to read and become informed. I’m very worried for my wonderful country and where Harper is taking us. Let’s keep in mind that only about a third of voters voted for him. That leaves 2/3 who did not!!!!
A few points to make:
1.The provinces will never be happy no matter how much they get- even if they got every cent they asked for, and then some, they’ll still feel cheated.
2. “The smallness of ideology:” What exactly are the Liberals standing for these days? They don’t stand for very much besides the policy announcements that fade from public memory within days. Perhaps Dion should look to his own party before talking about ideology.
Of course Canadians don’t want another election; we *never* want an election, even when they’re scheduled. But this time around it may be the only way to settle the budget; which has passed first reading.
And just a tip from a voter:
I’m getting a distinctly negative tone from reading his speech. It is good strategy to be on the attack. But be sure you’re also introducing new ideas to the national debate not just critiscising your opponent. Also as a voter, I’m more likely to go vote for the other guy, when confronted with negativity.
-Laura
How often is Dion going to say “unfair”? He’s starting to sound like a whiner. With all the points he made, it looks like he would be spending quite a bit.
It does nothing for students. It does nothing for the poor. It does nothing for Aboriginals.
Actually, I remember hearing that a Student Association was praising the budget. Dion may want to retract that lie, then again he probably won’t since he is a liar. I’m also wondering how much more money does Dion want to give to the Indians and Eskimos? We’re already giving them a lot of money plus no tax. Wish I had that advantage.
If Harper wants to force an election and Dion is prepared, how come only 60 Liberal candidates are nominated?
Seems like a lot of expenses are required to make Canada greener, to address all the infrastructure issues,for a national day care program, to finally solve child poverty, and to improve the aboriginal way of life. And with broad based tax cuts to boot. Can’t wait to see the fiscal smoke and mirrors require dto do this.
Thank you Mr. Dion for mentioning the Income Trust LIE.
Dave
The problem with this which it seems was intended not for the caucus but for the media is that it is a typical blast the other guy speech. It is non specific and uses extreme terminology. It doesn’t matter if it is Dion or any other politician, when they give these king of speechs – I tune out and turn off. It is easier to read then to listen to but basically it increases my distaste for politicians and their ways.
What I think would be ironic and befitting to the majority seeking PC’s.
Yes mates, I’m trying not to be a Scaremonger but wouldn’t it be SCARY if the election were called for October 31st, Halloween Day?
Oh yes, the Liberals would have a treat for the Big Blue Brokeback Promise Machine!
Thanks for making my point so directly.
Mr.Dion is a man of intelligence,integrity and charm . The very antithesis of Herr Harpo .
There is no sugar coating the message for the masses . What you see is what you get. It will be delightful to have the Liberals returned to government as the population is sick of being lied to on a daily basis .
There will be no mid election announcements from the neo-cons of RCMP investigations into,perceived,Liberal wrong doing .
No Jason Kenney lies that cannot be countered with the truth .
The platforms will be night and day .
Seniors will be shown the respect they deserve by adjusting the Income Trusts to allow them to recoup some of their terrible losses .
Tax fairness for all families and singles.
Educational grants that mean something to the student .
A ‘Green’ plan that makes sense financially and morally .
A Foreign Affairs policy based on inclusiveness, not division and suspicion(China).
An exit strategy for Afghanistan so our brightest and best are no longer dying on foreign soil for nothing .
A policy of procurement that is based on need not want .
Yea, I miss the Liberals .
Also as a voter, I’m more likely to go vote for the other guy, when confronted with negativity.
-Laura
By Laura on 03.29.07 12:56 pm
Then you MUST be voting green or independent this up coming election, because I can guarantee you that there will me mud slinging for EVERY side, at ALL times. And putting down the liberals for that? That’s just plain silly. Go back and read the crap that harper spews. THAT is negative. Attack ads before an election is even contemplated? Come on. Get real.
If Dion is such a white knight then why is he and his party tanking lately?
Leger today: “In Canada, Stephen Harper’s party obtains 41% of voting intentions versus 27% for the Liberals, 14% for the NDP, 9% for the Bloc Québécois (36% in Québec) and 6% for the Green Party. This is an important gain for the Conservatives; voting intentions for this party were tied with the Liberals barely three months ago.”
Just asking…
Mr Dion’s unfair comment is in direct corolation with Jim Flaherty’s Tax fairness budget
If you believe a Leger poll I have a nifty tower for sale in Paris. Cheap .
Christ ! Leger . The worst of the worst in polling firms .
Oh,no I am wrong the Strategic Council is far,far worse . A complete and utter joke.
Read some real polls like SES or Decima and then we’ll talk.
I gave Canada Clarity. Stephen Harper gave Canada Flaherty.
And a great sense of humour to boot .
Also as a voter, I’m more likely to go vote for the other guy, when confronted with negativity.
-Laura
By Laura on 03.29.07 12:56 pm
You mean negative like the Conservative attack ads? Can’t get much more negative than that. The conservatives are setting the bar for negativity this election
Who is Dion’s new speechwriter? Did he get back Scott Feschuck who was so good at writing “slogan” for Chretien?
Or, maybe Scott Reid, also a trained propagandist.
This one is an improvement and the style is new so whoever is now putting the words in Dion’s mouth is better than the last guy/girl.
I liked this speech.
I truly hope that in the liberal campaign for the next election, whenever that is… they will stick to the evidence of the lies, corruption, and manipulation that the harper government has done since they have been in power. At the very least it puts both parties on equal footing in terms of these issues, harper can no longer tout his holier than thou line of being above lies, corruption and scandals.
This one is an improvement and the style is new so whoever is now putting the words in Dion’s mouth is better than the last guy/girl.
By Lorraine on 03.29.07 3:45 pm
You dare to talk about propaganda?
Garth, you know what you could do is to get Dion to do some round-table discussions with some stakeholders on key isues.
Like the environment, get some of oil tycoons and environmentalists together and have Dion make his case to both. It’s no doubt a dangerous medium to debate with industry/activists but when your policies are defensible and you’re willing to have an honest, respectful conversation — it could pay significant dividends in terms of voter trust.
Three topics that Dion could handle would be the environment, trade with the US and policing/civil rights.
Lorraine,
“This one is an improvement and the style is new so whoever is now putting the words in Dion’s mouth is better than the last guy/girl.”
Perhaps the newbie’s name is Stephane Dion? He can easily write his own speeches…recall his performance in Milton with Garth. Right from the hip and right on the mark with open honesty!
That is what a leader does..responds. A leader does not point fingers at others and merely say ‘They didn’t get it done?’
A leader says what the issues are and when HE or SHE will get it done!
Stephane Dion is a LEADER!
Very uninspiring…
SJ,
Let us remember that we only vote for the candaidate of our choice in OUR riding, and unless one lives in Garth’s or Stephane Dion’s riding we are not able to vote for them.
Therefore, i shall vote for the Green candidate in my riding.
Besides, I love to cook, and one must stir the pot regularly to prevent it from becoming burned and ruined. We definitely need to stir the pot in Ottawa!
Today one of the issues pressed by the Liberals was passage of Bill C-16 relating to fixed election dates.
When will they get it done? remains my question? Why? because then they have to work together with a monority government, the best form we can hope for with FPTP as our elctoral system. Limited power, and hold their noses to the grindstone.
Very uninspiring…
By Adam on 03.29.07 5:12 pm
So are you .
Very uninspiring…
By Adam on 03.29.07 5:12 pm
Well Adam, maybe you’d better listen to it again. This time with an open mind. Intelligent people are always willing do that.
Bill – Muskoka
As usual, right on the money. I also enjoyed SD’s pep talk and warmed to his style and wit. It is great to see someone actually talking to the group instead of reading the teleprompters like a robot. Know of whom I speak? M. Dion is such an interesting fellow and I feel it won’t be much longer before the Man on the Street warms to him and his ideas. I really think he’s leading our country in the right direction.
This is an excellent speech! Clear, logical, inspiring and motivating. Once again Canada will become the envy of the world for having such leader. Right now, whenever I’m oversea, I’m so ashamed of the prime-minister we have now.
Jackie Chan:
New Angus Reid Poll
Cons 39%, Libs 22%
Steve
Dion has a lot more style than Harper. He would not stoop to american style attack ads. This guy is known for his integrity and work ethic.
I think we will see a very different party under the leadership of Mr. Dion and I for one am putting my trust in him. His polices are very much the same as the Green Party & as far as I’m concerned, a vote for him is a vote for all Canadians. He is a true Canadian & we need to hear him out. He deserves a chance to show Canada how effective he could be with our support. As much as I hate to say this, a vote for any other party is a vote for Mr. Harper and that’s scary.
He is being dishonest & will say & do anything too buy votes and that’s terrible. A typical con artist comes to mind. If we remain under his leadership for too long especially with a majority vote, we will not recognize the Canada we built & love.
A consolidation of the 2 parties (Liberal & Greens) would be an excellent idea. Two parties sharing most of the same values, Social Justice, Participation in Democracy, Non Violence (soldiers being involved in a peacekeeping mission rather than war), respect for Diversity.(you said it Garth when Mr. Dion said, “why don’t we have more of these town meetings†when he attended the Summit in Halton) We know that he takes the time to talk to the people when they raise questions to him. We know that people who will & have taken the time to hear him have nothing respect for him.
In rebuttal of some of the posts on this thread,
Seems like a lot of expenses are required to make Canada greener, to address all the infrastructure issues for a national day care program, to finally solve child poverty, and to improve the aboriginal way of life. And with broad based tax cuts to boot. Can’t wait to see the fiscal smoke and mirrors require to do this.
By Bill M on 03.29.07 1:21 pm
Bill, Do you agree that these expenses would be money well spent?
Sean P Hogan said; Actually, I remember hearing that a Student Association was praising the budget. Dion may want to retract that lie, then again he probably won’t since he is a liar. I’m also wondering how much more money does Dion want to give to the Indians and Eskimos? We’re already giving them a lot of money plus no tax. Wish I had that advantage.
What a bigot you are. The Indians and Eskimo’s you refer to are Canadians just like you and I. They deserve respect just like you & I. You also said; How often is Dion going to say “It isn’t fairâ€. My answer to you would be, as often as it takes to remind the public about the leadership of PPSH and please keep in mind that he is the opposition.
Laura, all Provinces have a right to demand fair equalization funds. After all, they all pay Federal Tax.
Jackie has now made me a committed Conservative voter UNLESS Harper’s green plan turns out to be really bad. Thanks Jackie for helping me make up my mind.
By KPK on 03.29.07 11:05 am
KPK; If a blogger can change your mind so easily like you said, I think you were already a committed PCP.
Patricia Landry: your post saying to bad the narrow minded Tories can’t think for themselves makes me believe that there are some people who have common sense. Good Post.
Sorry Steve but your hero and his cons are on the way down yet again. Thats two polls now over the last few days showing that imaginary majority remains just that, Imaginary.
http://tinyurl.com/ywrnls
http://tinyurl.com/2heuzj
Garth:
I can not speak for all, but I have asked many people in Tim’s to name two things in the budget that was good for them. Not one person could, nor could they come up with any item that was good for the country. They did however say Quebec did well! Where’s the Beef?
“What a bigot you are. The Indians and Eskimo’s you refer to are Canadians just like you and I.” By Irene on 03.29.07 6:46 pm
Irene, If you are going to call someone out it helps to call the people you speak of properly. “Indians” are known as First Nations or Aboriginals. “Eskimos” are known as Inuit. Regards
And now this:
I am pleased to let you know that we are closer to getting the
legislation we need to get cleaner air and greenhouse gas reductions.
Under the leadership of the NDP, I am proud to say that all parties
worked together and will soon present Parliament with real environmental
legislation. For more information, please visit:
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5091.
Some were skeptical that we could make the special C-30 Committee work.
Others were irresponsible to suggest that we shouldn’t even try to make
the committee work. The bottom line is that we listened to everyday
Canadians who expect their elected representatives to work and achieve
results for them.
The NDP successfully had a series of comprehensive changes to Bill C-30,
the Clean Air Act, passed that will re-commit Canada to its Kyoto
obligations and make Canada’s air cleaner for ordinary Canadians and
their families. The NDP amendments include:
- Short, medium and long-term greenhouse gas targets
- Earlier deadline for regulating the industrial sector
- A hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions from big polluters
- Leading and mandatory standards for smog-producing “air contaminants”
- Leading vehicle fuel efficiency standards
- A cap and trade carbon market
- Protection for government authority to regulate air pollutants &
greenhouse gases
- Effective provincial equivalency rule
- Authority to designate “significant areas” for environmental
protection
- Commitment to have programs reviewed annually
- A building retrofit fund
We are taking this victory one step at a time and will use all of our
resources to get C-30 passed in Parliament. These important achievements
prove minority parliaments can work to make a difference in the lives of
everyday Canadians. In 2005, the NDP successfully re-wrote an appalling
Liberal budget that re-invested $4.6 billion in people instead of giving
corporations generous tax cuts. We want to continue getting positive
results for you and your family. I hope I can count on your support to
send more NDP MPs to Ottawa to ensure even more gets done.
Again, I appreciate your concern for the air we breathe and the
environment we live in. Feel free to pass along this email to any who
may be interested. All the best.
Sincerely,
Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada’s New Democrats
I’d like to see the neos try and take credit for the act now .
Marc:
Correction it was Sean P.Hogan that referred to FN’s as Indians and Inuit,Dene as Eskimos .
You owe Irene an apology .
She was merely responding to his bigoted,racist comment .
Irene, If you are going to call someone out it helps to call the people you speak of properly. “Indians†are known as First Nations or Aboriginals. “Eskimos†are known as Inuit. Regards
By Marc on 03.29.07 7:06 pm
Mark, Oops, I guess I didn’t make myself clear. I know that they are First Nations, Aboriginals & Inuits. I was merely repeating Seans words to show where the bigotery was. looking at it your way, I can see how one can phrase their words and make it look altogether different then intended. SORRY. I was defending my people.
Regards to you too.
Bill-Muskoka
What is the house specialty ?
It was a good speech I’m looking forward to seeing Dion come out of his shell, we still need to see the details
Time is Harpers enemy and Dion’s friend hence Harpers push to force an election.
Accountablity is rapidily becoming his big problem, its one thing to make a promise however stupid it was and being unable to deliver but it is quite another not to even try or to do the exact opposite.
Just ask Danny Williams or Income Trusts Investors, this guys aren’t going to forget, even if you don’t agree with these guys you can see Harper doubled crossed them and that doesn’t play well with the public.
They are going to make sure no one forgets.
Sure didn’t have any trouble understanding Dion’s English today!
Concise, clear, humourous–great job!
BTW: Isn’t the Cons tax on gas guzzlers a form of “carbon tax”?
I guess it’s okay to impose a carbon tax on the consumer as long as the billion dollar corporations are exempt???
Federal ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro is stepping down from his high-level post, although it’s not immediately clear why.
A spokesperson gave no reason Thursday for Shapiro’s decision to resign.
The move comes a year after Prime Minister Stephen Harper refused to co-operate with an investigation by Shapiro into whether ethics rules were broken when Harper wooed Liberal David Emerson to join the Conservatives and become minister of international trade.
Shapiro concluded in the end that no rules were broken.
Shapiro also rejected a request to investigate former prime minister Paul Martin’s role in persuading Belinda Stronach to cross the floor and join the Liberal ranks.
Hmmmmm!
Judy, I do not think you will find my people to disagree with you concerning Mr.Dion’s second language ability when it “canned” meaning a prepared speech with teleprompter, or practiced. I have no problem conceding that the man is very intelligent. I just fear what Mr. Layton, Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Harper will do to him in an English language debate in the fury of the moment. I am sure you watch CPAC the same as most of us Junkies in the room, and have seen the same problem as I have.
JCLH,
“What is the house specialty ?”
Well, that depends on the day.
Some days it may be a nice Vietnamese veggie stew.
Some days it may be a very hardy beef stew, with all Canadian products, lovingly seared to perfection, properly slow cooked, with lots of sustenance that Canadians love. what one would expect in a work camp of miners or lumberjacks.
Other days it could be a pot of surperb chili with beans and lots of good ingredients…just enough fire to make your day, but never rude.
Then on those good days, when a little celebration is in order perhaps some nice thick AAA Alberta Beef (You know O hate to even mention the ‘A’ word, but they grow great Bull out there for sure, er, steers) steak, cooked medium rare for my taste, or a juicy Prime Rib Roast (again medium rare) with Yorkshire Pudding made my way in a well seasoned cast iron skillet, no little muffin tins here.
Or if we are really happy some fantastic Altlantic Province lobster, grilled Artic Char, fresh caught Northern Pike.
Maybe what Canada needs is some good old hominy Grits? Man, they are perfect for breakfast with fresh baked biscuits, sausage gravy, and coffee that slaps you awake! But I can’t find them here. Have to import them from the States because Canadians simply have not had them, unless they have travelled to the Southern U.S..
Kind of like asking an American how they like Poutine? They think that is our Prime Minister’s name, or did back when Rick Mercer was still doing ‘Talking To Americans’ during the first Bush election campaign. Bush said ‘I personally know Prime Minister Poutine!’ I bet he did..really! LMAO!
But the key remains…all great cooking requires attention and constant monitoring to deliver the perfect meal. Let something sit too long unattended and you have garbage.
Now when it comes to time…some things like chili and stew need to set at least overnight or a couple of days and get to mingle with each other…then the very best comes out. Maybe there is a lesson there for Parliament? Maybe not?
Jackie,
It`s an interesting post on Bill C-30, the Clean Air Act.
You wrote;
“I’d like to see the neos try and take credit for the act now.”
I`m don`t have the exact numbers with respect to Kyoto targets, especially Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Kyoto Protocol which seems to be the obligation Ottawa has to meet under BILL-C288;
An Act to ensure Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.
Even if Bill C-30 were still in effect and not superceded by Bill C-288 Jack seems to have taken a departure from the Kyoto obligations which makes his contribution to BILL C-30 as worthless as Bill C-30.
Unless the plan meets the requirements of BILL C-288 I don`t see why the Tories would want to take credit for it.
Explain please.
“First of all – boo and bug off to those Conservative party snoops who are reading this blog – just go away somewhere.
Now, it would be silly for Dion to give exact details of his plans – the Tories would steal, move ahead with a suddenly made up one of their that was similar, etc.
(and you know they are watching)
By slg on 03.29.07 12:49 pm”
So you want all non-Liberal Canadian citizen to what? just disappear? For years the Liberals ruled Canada and were we any better off? Did our jobs stay in Canada or did they get off-shored to China and India? Did a coupled have a real choice (lower taxes) to have 1 parent stay home to raise their children? Did the Liberals restore all the funding to provincial transfers? Remember there was 25 BILLION dollars stripped out of the health care transfers!!! Did the 3 level paper shuffling bureaucracy lessen?
For a university professor, Mr. Dion, that his party did not do anything good for Canada! Heck, Mr. Martin, as finance minister kept the PC’s GST (a cash cow of more than 30 BILLION $) and NAFTA! Mr. Martin borrowed Preston Manning’s deficit reduction plan, apparently took the 30 BILLION out of the Public Service pension, and cut 25 BILLION of out Health Care transfer payments to balance 42 BILLION deficit. Now, that’s good accounting. Not!
Great eats Bill .
At the moment I am experimenting with baking muffins and Canadian Maple cookies.
Have a great fondness for buffalo steak and wild salmon with fiddle heads .
Also love a good paella .
All good Canadian eats .
I am experimenting at the moment with tropical fruit muffins and variations on Maple cookies.Yum !
Have a killer recipe for a bread pudding made with croissant and white chocolate and Maple syrup .
Love Canadian ingredients .
Sixty reasons not to vote for Stephen Harper.
1. Smearing MP Nav Bains’ father-in-law as being a potential terrorist, in the House of Commons.
2. Heritage Minister Bev Oda spending $5,000 on Halifax limos to arrive in style at the Juno awards.
3. Harper’s broken promise on high gas prices, saying “get used to it†after being elected.
4. Refusing to lower Canadian flags to honour our fallen military heroes.
5. Pushing recognition of “the Quebecois as a nation†through Parliament in order to win seats in that province.
6. Stacking the judiciary with pro-Conservative judges.
7. David Emerson
8. Security Minister Stockwell Day denying a former MP was bought off to secure a seat in Parliament.
9. Canceling the Kelowna Accord, cutting off talks with first nations’ leaders and refusing to deal with the Caledonia crisis.
10. Fudging the costs of government jets used by Stephen Harper and his ministers after blasting Liberals for the same thing.
11. Promising investors a break on capital gains taxes and then abandoning it after being elected.
12. Dredging up anti-gay sentiments by forcing another vote in Parliament on same-sex marriage.
13. John Baird’s partisanship.
14. Parliamentary secretary Pierre Poilievre’s hand gestures in Parliament and F-word comments in committee.
15. Refusing to allow media coverage of the return home of our Afghan war dead, without consulting the families.
16. Broken promise on providing a health care waiting time guarantee.
17. Spending more money in a single year than any other government in Canadian history, stoking inflation and threatening higher interest rates.
18. Broken promise on taxing income trusts.
19. Deporting hardworking, tax-paying resident Portuguese drywallers.
20. Conservative MP Colin Mayes writing a column saying journalists who disagree with Harper should be jailed.
21. Doing nothing about climate change or the environment for more than a year, and until forced to by the polls.
22. Making a former lobbyist for military arms dealers the minister of defence, in charge of $15 billion in spending.
23. Orchestrating a secret dirty tricks campaign against Bob Rae inside the Liberal leadership convention.
24. Preaching Senate reform, then appointing Michael Fortier to the Senate so he could be made an unelected cabinet minister.
25. Spending $150,000 per weapon to arm border guards.
26. Rona Ambrose, as environment minister, firing a government scientist for writing a book on global warming.
27. Stacking a stem cell research advisory committee with pro-life Conservatives.
28. Muzzling Conservative MPs and banning them from unauthorized media interviews.
29. Saying opposition MPs have “more passion for Taliban prisoners†than they do for Canadian soldiers.
30. Trying to dismantle the Canada Wheat Board and sacking its president.
31. Attempts to block access of the Parliamentary Press Gallery to the prime minister and cabinet. Secret timing of cabinet meetings.
32. Refusing to apologize for wiping out $25 billion in private savings with one tax measure, a great deal of it belonging to seniors.
33. Supporting Calgary Conservative MP Rob Anders’ bogus nomination process, later overturned by the courts.
34. Trying to buy the 2007 Quebec election with a 34% increase in transfer payments.
35. Refusal to even consider honouring the Kyoto Accord, or come up with a credible alternative, until forced to by Parliament.
36. Appointing Liberal MP Wajid Khan as a mid-east advisor to write a public report for Harper, then refusing to release it after he defected.
37. Claiming the Air India inquiry depended on anti-terrorism act amendments that opposition MPs opposed, when lawyers said it did not.
38. Blacking out pages on reasons for taxing income trusts when released under freedom of information.
39. Broken promise to cut the GST by a second point.
40. Raising personal income tax rate for the lowest bracket to help pay for record government spending.
41. Vowing to dismantle gun registry after fatal shooting in Montreal with registered weapons.
42. Cabinet minister Peter Van Loan botching the electoral reform commission hearings.
43. Cutting the Energuide program for low-income homeowners and replacing it with a new one for higher-income homeowners.
44. Kicking out Garth Turner.
45. Firing Conservative Senators Hugh Segal and Michael Meighan from committee work for independent thinking.
46. Threatening Conservative MPs with loss of party status if they talked about funding cuts that affect their constituents.
47. Constant campaigning, rather than governing.
48. Not a single new child care space after promising 125,000 would be created in first Conservative mandate.
49. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty spending $400 on a pair of skates while bringing in budget for “working families.â€
50. Promising a lean government, then bloating the cabinet by six more people, with cars and drivers.
51. Snubbing two of the world’s fastest-growing economies and most promising trading partners, China and India.
52. Not allowing Conservative MPs to debate government policies in caucus.
53. Cutting funding to literacy programs, then sending Laureen Harper to a literacy event.
54. Attacking Stephane Dion as “not as leader†in a massive TV ad campaign two weeks after he is elected leader.
55. Breaking promises to provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan, over transfer payments, while showering Quebec.
56. Politicizing the police and the military.
57. Linking a vote on pension income-splitting for seniors to taxing income trusts.
58. Cutting funding to women’s programs only to restore it after staff was fired.
59. Accusing those concerned with human rights of being soft on crime, soft on terror and bashing police.
60. Forcing an early election in 2007, breaking a legislated promise to have the next vote in 2009.
Good Speech!
Suggest to Mr. Williams he ask all the Newfoundlanders in Alberta to take one day off without pay. The Alberta economy would take a hit of millions. Someone has to tell Mr. Harper the big resource in ALL of Canada including the small provinces is people, Canadians.
Repect should be equally divided out from the big guy in Ottawa, not dished out carefully to those who might vote for him.
This is a PRIME Minister?
So you want all non-Liberal Canadian citizen to what? just disappear?
Yea, would you please .
JCLH,
Fiddleheads…YUM!
Now, we have a looming problem! There is a descimation of the bee colonies occurring in North America…both the U.S. and Canada with losses of 90% being reported.
No bees…no pollination…no pollination…kiss 25% of our food supply bye bye!
So, we can start looking for non-pollinated food sources like mushrooms, then the Magick kind to ease the pain…then the lethal kind to end the pain. Nature is so good I think…everything we need.
But we do not need to take care of it because we have Dominion over it all. That’s what they say. That’s what they do. That’s what again?
Buy Mason Jars and can like Hell will freeze over…because it might in some areas. Oh well, just a late night rant after watching the CNC National.
We both know that the neo-cpns will solve all the problems because they Will get it done…won’t they? LOL
BTW, seems Baird is having another pissy fit tonight because the Opposition has revised the Clean Air Act to actually make it work. What will ‘they’ do?
I am not sure, but if Garth has been carrying some of the comments here to the HoC, and it seems either he has, or ‘they’ are reading the comments, the comments are having an effect. Call it Methadone for Kool-Aide drinkers.
Hey you two, stop discussing your secret recipes on this blog, the evil trolls will steal them, capitalize by turning them into a profitable business and say it was their idea.
For a university professor, Mr. Dion, that his party did not do anything good for Canada! Heck, Mr. Martin, as finance minister kept the PC’s GST (a cash cow of more than 30 BILLION $) and NAFTA! Mr. Martin borrowed Preston Manning’s deficit reduction plan, apparently took the 30 BILLION out of the Public Service pension, and cut 25 BILLION of out Health Care transfer payments to balance 42 BILLION deficit. Now, that’s good accounting. Not!
By Catherine on 03.29.07 10:12 pm
Ah, Preston Manning, thats Stephen Harpers old party isin’t it?. Well the Reform Party sort of merged with the Alliance party under Stockwell Day, didn’t they? Why? Then along came Stephen Harper as the new leader who couldn’t get past the west with his polices so he ganged up with a handful of Progressive Conservatives and called it “The New Conservative Party of Canada” Let me remind you that those of us who lived in the west got to know Stephen Harper and the Alliance Party first hand & we didn’t like what they stood for then & still don’t.
By the way, if you & your buddies are here to change ones mind on who to vote for, just forget it. Won’t work. It only makes one more determined then ever to see the Alliance Party slitter right out of sight.
The good ship Dion is going down down down. This muddled mess of a speech is uninspiring and scattershot in more ways than I care to outline right now. Spent too much here, didn’t spend enough there, paid too much for not enough, oh except for these areas here where you didn’t spend anything. All a bunch of nitpicky crap in my opinion.
I’ve been observing federal politics long enough to know that:
a) there has never been a perfect federal budget that everyone loves
b) no matter what the ruling government does in a budget, it will be opposed in some way by every other party, and
c) what else would you expect? The Opposition party’s purpose in the House of Commons is to OPPOSE. So what else is new?
So, is Flaherty’s budget perfect? Did he actually rewrite history and come up with a document (more like a 455 page cinder block) worthy of the annals of history? Hell no! Was it a terrible document? No again. Some of what Dion said, I actually agree with (uninspiring yawn-fest that it was), but please, the rhetoric is a bit nauseating. Then again, he’s the Opposition Leader (and will be for a long time). His job is to oppose.
Dion gave a great speech. He was at his funniest and most self-deprecating when he talked about how Harper sent a spy to follow him around the country. He’s got a dry wit and a homey style that many people are attracted to. Canadians need to see more of Mr. Dion; it’ll do us good.
Phhhhtttt on the Dion and English language kerfuffle. Mr. Dion speaks English quite clearly, perhaps a little formally, but hey (insert Canadian head tilt here). Honestly, have you listened to Maxime Bernier much? He speaks English like he has marbles in his mouth, and adds and subtracts s’s at the worst times, nevermind the h’s!
Quote of the day
From Stephane Dion’s speech to caucus this morning:
I gave Canada Clarity. Stephen Harper gave Canada Flaherty.
—————————————
Thank you Mr. Dion for mentioning the Income Trust LIE.
———————————-
as for smiling jack layton and the ndp.—they will be the biggest losers.they,ve lost their way. always spouting off about being for the little guy when in reality they represent special interest groups.
I’ll bring the libations and do the clean up if you guys do the cooking.
I know better than to mess with the chefs:)
BTW: Isn’t the Cons tax on gas guzzlers a form of “carbon tax�
I guess it’s okay to impose a carbon tax on the consumer as long as the billion dollar corporations are exempt???
By Judy on 03.29.07 8:35 pm
Yeah, those bad, bad corps. You know the ones that employ Canadians.
But, Judy, as ex-teacher (probably a public school) doesn’t have a bleeping clue those people, who were employed by those bad, bad corps paid taxes so she can be employed as a teacher.
WHAT THE PC’s STAND FOR:
1) Tax (blacked out) Plan. (blacked out)
2) Toughness Against Crime. (blacked out)
3) The Environment and carbon credits (blacked out)
4) Supporting the Province of (blacked out) with (blacked out) money.
5) Deficit and Debt Reduction Plan. (blacked out)
Get a Rope,
“Hey you two, stop discussing your secret recipes on this blog, the evil trolls will steal them, capitalize by turning them into a profitable business and say it was their idea.”
AHA! Not without the ‘Secret Ingredient’…Many can imitate, but there is only one Genuine recipe! LOL
Hey, Georgine said she will provide the libations and do the cleanup. I think we have the crew to do a Garth Turner Fest, eh? Now that’s cookin’!!!
We could even be nice and bring some Blue Kool-Aide for the neo’s who come.
What is needed is a good old fashioned pot luck gettogether where everyone sets aside all the angst and eats. Maybe some Crow ala Asphalt could be arranged.
I still have the Official Roadkill Cafe Menu somewhere.
Catherine: Side-stepping again?? Just like the Cons–don’t like what they hear so they change the subject.
What about it? Is the gas-guzzler tax not a carbon tax on consumers??
And public servants pay taxes too. I guess you are just as annoyed at police, firefighters et al. who are paid public employees and yet dare to question the Cons policies?? Or is it just teachers that annoy you??
[...] post by Carbon Credits News by Carbon Credit News Posted by [...]
High Bill :
Yes, the situation with our bee population is totally frightening .
Bees, via pollination, are responsible for 15 to 30 percent of the food U.S. consumers eat. But in the last 50 years the domesticated honeybee population—which most farmers depend on for pollination—has declined by about 50 percent, scientists say.
Unless actions are taken to slow the decline of domesticated honeybees and augment their populations with wild bees, many fruits and vegetables may disappear from the food supply, said Claire Kremen, a conservation biologist at Princeton University in New Jersey.
Can you say ‘Silent Spring ‘ .
The longer time goes on the more I believe that Rachel Carson is correct .
Another rung on the ladder of life removed .
But a Conservative organizer from Toronto told The Globe now is as good a time as any, because Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is currently “on his knees” as the result of a scathing ad campaign attacking the leader and Liberal infighting over whether he is the right person for the job.
On his knees ? Well a man can do a lot of damage from that position .
Wishful thinking does not trans;ate into fact .
A majority of Canadians hate this US styled attack on a great man and intellectual .
Go ahead,call the stupid election,you will lose BIG TIME .
“Quebecers are very politically sophisticated and we can tell the difference between what’s at stake at the provincial level and what’s at stake at the federal level,” Dion said, repeatedly using “we” when he talked of Quebec, to underline the difference between himself and the Alberta MP who is prime minister.
But there aren’t many Conservatives saying they share Charest’s pain at going from majority to minority rule in Monday night’s vote. That’s because the Tories also have been more quietly suggesting that the ADQ, with leader Mario Dumont, is an ideological and organizational ally as well.
Dumont, however, doesn’t appear to agree. “I hope that’s not how I’m perceived. That would be a mistake.”
Truth is ,is that Dumont’s supporters are vastly different from those who would vote for an ultra-right wing ideology .
Provincial politics is an entirely different game than national politics with different stakes .
Once again the Harpo brain trust is getting it wring .
Bring on an election .
[...] post by Carbon Credits News by Carbon Credit News Posted by [...]
Irene, keep the insults down and I’ll read your comments, because I stopped at that point. Thanks.
And to anyone else, Indians is not an insult, my wife is part Indian and she calls herself that. Look at the government departments and quasi-departments, they use the word Indian as well. Stop trying to be like big brother.
I find it very humourous that “progressives” throw out bigot and racist but never back it up with what was bigotted or what was racist. They certainly love to throw labels but never back it up with actual facts. So much for the supposed “tolerance” by “progressives”. Wonder what they’re progressing towards????
Hogan the correct term for your wife is mixed race . Not Indian or Squaw or anything else.
Technically she is not an Indigenous person .
We refer to native and native culture as being First Nations or of First Nations descent . The correct term for all indigenous persons .
Irene rightly called you out on Eskimos as they are Inuit and Dene .
For somone who professes to have intimate knowledge of our indigenous culture you fall far short .
And if you have to be told that is racist well so be it. You are a racist .
JCLH,
“Hogan the correct term for your wife is mixed race .”
That would correctly be Mete, Jackie!
In the NWT there are Dene (improperly called Indians which are actually from India), Inuit (who people incorrectly call Eskimos), and Mete which are mixed race of Aboriginals and mostly French, but also English.
In the Dene there are the Cree, North Slavey, South Slavey, Chippewa, and a myriad of others comprising the First nations, together with the Inuit and Mete.
The Mete are shunned somewhat because they are mixed race. They are also the best business people in the First Nations.
There are thirteen Official Languages spoken in the NWT!
Jackie Chan’s Left Hand, it sounds like you need a little training in “political correctness” yourself.
“First Nations” or “First Nations descent” does NOT, I repeat, NOT refer to “all indigenous persons.”
The Inuit are indigenous persons, but don’t ever call them “First Nations” in their presence. The Inuit are the original peoples of the North, but they most definitely do not call themselves “First Nations.”
And Sean Hogan is quite right that some First Nations don’t mind at all being called “Indian.”
Others will say that they are not Indian, because they are not from India, and that they are not Aboriginal, because they are not from Australia. They are Anishinabe.
There are also some Inuit who are proud to be called Eskimo, because they are proud to be “eaters of raw meat.”
You have to know the tribe you are talking about, and their region and individual preference to know what terms some find offensive while others do not. It all depends on who you are talking to, but don’t ever, ever confuse Indigenous people like the Inuit with First Nations.
That is completely and politically incorrect and unacceptable.
There are basically three indigenous groups in Canada–Inuit, First Nations and Metis.
Nike,
Oops…Thanks I misspelled Metis in my post above. It is most assuredly Metis…Guess multi-tasking dinner, blogging, and TV is too much on a Friday!. LOL
You are quite correct about which tribe (Band) one is talking about BTW.
Bill :
I thought Metis were mixed French with indigenous people and like you said some English ..
Inuit do NOT call themselves Eskimos .
Eskimos are pies and made of ice cream .
I don’t need any training at all. Thankyou .
Indian has definitely become a racist term / word .
JCLH,
In Alaska they do call themselves Eskimos actually. Another error by Ottawa in not buying it from Russia and letting to U.S. do so. GRrrrrrrrrrrrr!
JCLH,
Aboriginal is commonly used in the NWT as is ‘indigenous people’. The difference being that true aboriginals were literally originally from an area, like in Australia.
Indigenous means basically the same thing, but leans more towards people who have lived in an area a long time. We know by DNA that many so-called aboriginals migrated from Asia across the Bering Strait to North America.
People get overly PC on such issues IMHO.
Indian is not a racist term. It might be to those people who wish to control others’ speech but to everyone else, its just a word. Look at the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada, then look at who works there. You’ll find that many Indians do in fact work there. Do they believe that they are working under a racist banner? No, of course not. Again, stop the big brother stuff.