The music thumped heavily in the Ottawa bar. You could actually feel it more through your feet than with your ears. Hundreds of excited people were packed into a space far too small for them. On a darkened stage a few dozen people sweated, and waited, as the temperature in the place soared off the scale. At the door, beautiful young women gave out little round red pins, with a curious white paw print on them.
What’s that?, I yelled into a nubile ear, trying to be heard above the din as I descended into the throbbing darkness before me.
“It’s for Kyoto,†she said. “The dog.” And, so I knew, I was not in a biker bar gone wild, after all. It was a Liberal event.
Stephane Dion appeared a few minutes later, to thunderous applause, following TV camera guys walking backwards through the impossibly thick crowd. Behind him were MPs and candidates dripping off the small stage, and in the crowd were supporters, workers and an army of those unique, wired, 24/7, no-life, Berry-addicted hormonal junkies called political staff.
The House adjourned Wednesday evening, after all parties reached a deal to put it out of its misery. And so the first session of the 39th Parliament likely comes to an end, since it’s a cinch the Harper Party will prorogue it during the summer break, and start a new session with a fresh agenda and a Throne Speech in the autumn.
But the six months since Christmas, and since Dion became the new Liberal leader, gave the guy plenty of fodder for a speech that had the partisans going wild. Broken promises. Mean spirits. Lousy ministers. Bad policies. Failed budget. When the thumpa music began anew, and Dion’s handlers were trying to get him through the mob and towards a door, there was enough energy in his wake to light the entire Byward Market.
Interesting stuff, political rallies. I’ve seen Mulroney do them, then Campbell, Chretien, Harper and now Dion. The formula’s usually the same, but the success depends entirely on the body language and the magnetism of one person. Dion surprises as much as Harper disappoints. At the end of the day, it is the PhD egghead environmentalist, rather than the career politician, who knows how to turn a room on.
So, we are heading home to our ridings, but this is only a change in venue for a political war which is heating up. The Harper Party did not have a good session. PMSH tried a cabinet shuffle, the biggest-spending budget in history, $12 billion in giveaways, a second green plan and everything else he could possibly think of. Didn’t work. From a high of 40% in the polls, the HP tanked below 30%, and dashed the wisdom of having a Spring election. There is no way now the Cons will risk the polls and – with the support of the separatists – they have a working majority.
But politics is an unpredictable game. When the House resumes, anything could happen. In the few months until then, many issues will smoke. Fire may follow. One I’ve been working on lately is income trusts, and I was happy – as the session ended – to get up in QP and pursue it. I received the usual response, which does nothing but fill me with resolve. This is a story which will not end as so many believed it would, just seventeen months ago.
But then, who could have imagined tonight? I think Stephane needs a Harley.
To view my question and its pathetic response, click here.
176 comments ↓
Non M. Dion, vous ne soufferez aucunement de paranoia, les gens vous haissent vraiment!
Malheureusement il est le politicien le plus détesté de l’histoire du Québec.
Garth,
Stephane Dion deserves all the accollades you have bestowed upon him. I, who am not a Liberal Party member, but appreciate many of the Liberal positions, have an ever deepening respect for this man who, despite being an academic, a prior Minister in the PMO (in an embarassing government), and another French speaking Quebecer, has brought forth an energy, a genuine energy and a level of integrity I have not felt as a human being since John Fitzgerald Kennedy. That has been a very, very long Dry Spell to say the least.
I look at a person’s eyes, their facial expression, listen to their tone of voice, and mannerisms. If their words match all those then they earn my respect, if I find all to be genuine. If they do not, no words, slogans, propaganda on this Earth or in this universe will pursuade me to respect them. Simple as that!
Maybe I have lived too long to be fooled? Maybe I have learned to filter out the BS from the genuine, but that is my way. It is one which I have yet to see fail. Therefore, I trust my intuition and senses, and I, therefore, trust Stephane Dion.
His opponent, the Prime Minister has failed in all the categories mentioned, and no matter what spin he can hire, he will never erase the marks he wrote on his Permanent Record!
Please convey my thoughts to the Honorable Stephane Dion.
Thank you!
Was feeling under the weather and missed tonight’s event, which was incredibly disappointing. As a new member of the Party it would have been nice to meet and greet some of the MPs. Mr. Dion caused me to join the party. His genuine decency and integrity make me proud to have joined the party. A throwback to a Robert Stanfield type man, Canada would be well served no matter what capacity Mr. Dion serves, although I certainly hope it’s as PM someday soon.
Therefore, I trust my intuition and senses, and I, therefore, trust Stephane Dion.
Dion’s popularity is consistently in the 10 – 12% range (which means 88 – 90% unpopularity) in his home province of Quebec!
What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t?
When Stephan Harper first appeared on the scene I attended one of his rallies. People were falling asleep as he was speaking. It was dismal.
Having met Stephane Dion and his wonderful wife Janine Krieber on more than one occasion I am not one bit surprised at the reception given Mr. Dion.I have seen this response at nearly every event he has attended! He is a man of tremendous intellect and integrity and when Canadians find out what real charisma, charm and leadership are all about, we will be addressing him as Prime Minister Stephane Dion!
Another lame response to your valid comments and concerns in Question Period – with the intentional blurring of the facts about income-splitting – no mention of it being goggled and hobbled within an Omnibus bill. I tire of the CPC rhetoric that passes as a response to valid questions from all sides of the House of Commons. I truly, truly hope that the voters of Canada see Van Loan and his ilk for the schoolyard bullies that they seem to be. If schools can have a zero tolerance on bullying, so should the voters. Enough is enough…
BTW Garth – I really enjoy the new, well behaved blogging – ideas, thoughts and comments that may inspire. Most refreshing…
Mr. Dion caused me to join the party. His genuine decency and integrity make me proud to have joined the party. A throwback to a Robert Stanfield type man, Canada would be well served no matter what capacity Mr. Dion serves, although I certainly hope it’s as PM someday soon.
By WDM on 06.20.07
How do you measure Dion’s integrity considering that he was a minister in both the Chretien and Martin governments and was therefore complicit in allowing Canada’s GHG emission to exceed our Kyoto commitments by 35%?
As Minister of Environment from 2004 to 2006 all he could produce is his “Project Green” which he publicly admitted he could not make it a government priority … resulting in Ignatieff saying “We didn’t get it done!”
Dion may be a fine person, but he has failed Canada and Canadians on his record as a minister in Liberal governments ….and that’s a fact!!!
Canadians and particularily Quebecers reject him as their choice for prime minister in several poll … while the Liberal party has two to three times the popularity than Dion !!!
Does anybody seriously think that Dion will be able to reverse his obvious unpopularity in time for the next election?
Been involved in the environment and climate change development process the last several years now and contrary to what the public knows the Liberals with Mr Dion as Minister were just a few weeks away of launching a full scale climate change program complete with targets and cap and trade. I was at the consultation meetings in Calgary as the plan was rolled out but too bad for Canada the Liberals lost the election PMSH cancelled the allocated money and re-profiled it to bus passes and now he has put everything on hold until 2010.
But just for the record there are commercial climate change programs in Canada that could move us a long way toward meeting our Kyoto commitments without hurting the economy. They just need the regulatory regime from the government and the opportunity to make it work.
I know Mr Dion, if he would have had just a few more months would have put us at the front of the climate change issue compared to all the other G8 countries.
At least he understands the issues and knows how it needs to be solved.Dion the consensus builder or Harper the sulking loner…Hmmm – I choose Dion
I too,am so impressed with Mr.Dion that I joined the Liberal Party!The rally I attended was every bit as exciting as the one discribed here.He is going to catch fire,all across Canada,INCLUDING Quebec!
Observer, I really think you must have nightmares about Dion. Give it a rest already. I know it must really drive you crazy that he is becoming more and more popular, but hey you are just going to have to live with it.
Dion is starting to shine and Harper is starting to fade fast.
This could be the last we see of Dion and that was his farewell party .. because he knows the truth as well … he just doesn’t have what it takes to be a real leader.
True renewal of the Liberal party can only begin after Dion steps aside, and you know that too Garth. With Dion, Quebec is lost.
“What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t?”
Observe this Observer: Dion won’t likely give Quebec a wack of money to shut them up. Mutual respect will likely have to be earned and it may take longer and seem slow coming but it will come just as soon as Harper screws Quebec.
Garth
Hard hitting stuff. I have seen the light…..Epiphany is upon me…Dion is all that and a bag og chips…salt and vineger.
Syncro
“Does anybody seriously think that Dion will be able to reverse his obvious unpopularity in time for the next election?”
Yup.
Do you even seriously think? This is your reply under Garth’s post about a rockin Dion love-in?
“Does anybody seriously think that Dion will be able to reverse his obvious unpopularity in time for the next election?”
Yes.
Canadians, by and large, wanted a change and they gave Harper a chance (myself included). He has squandered it. He has acquitted himself no better – and often worse – than the government he replaced.
Try as they might, the Conservatives can’t smear Dion and make it stick. No one is fooled by this – not even NASCAR fans.
Observer:
Clearly you feel threatened by Dion, since you have this over-arching need to slag him…almost pathological really…”I’m really a Liberal but…”…? C’mon…can you be any more obtuse to believe that this tactic will be effective, particularly given the snide drivel that you write when you forget about the facade you are trying to build?
I’m sorry to have to tell you, but you see…nothing of what you say matters one iota. It will never matter. The CPC showed its hand long ago, and Canadians are now fully aware of how insubstantial and how puerile the CPC is. Months of slagging Dion was a mistake, and now any attempt to appear “reasonable” is regarded quite properly with suspicion. The CPC has made Canadians curious about this gentleman that they attack incessantly, and that is the reason Dion will only gain and continue to gain support, just as he did within the Liberal party and just as he will do with the Canadian public. Unfiltered through the media. Unfiltered through blogs. Face-to-face. Person to person. Human being to human being. Magic.
The CPC hijacked the PC party and is a travesty…its foundation was built on lies and deceit and the search for power at any and all costs. From its inception, that fundamental character has continued to reveal itself to Canadians.
Bad soil bears rotten fruit.
The writing is on the wall, and the CPC will be little more than an unfortunate stain on the beautiful fabric of the Canadian psyche.
Bon mots!
Austin
Dion’s popularity is consistently in the 10 – 12% range (which means 88 – 90% unpopularity) in his home province of Quebec!
What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t?
By Observer on 06.20.07 9:59 pm
Observer, you keep harping about Dion’s unpopularity in Quebec. Quebec is but one province waiting to get the money from the budget that they were promised if they supported the NeoCons. If you think that Canadians aren’t aware of that little tidbit, think again. I wouldn’t be at all surprised that once the Bloc’s receive those millions in their greedy little hands, they’ll tell your party where to go.
BTW, Your words,”What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t”?
You tell us Observer as you seem to think you know all the answers.
Ah but Dion got the Clarity Act “done” and that is why his popularity is still low in Quebec.
As for Kyoto, Dion did get the International community to sign the agreement in Dec 2005 and it came into effect February 2006. So for a Minister of the Environment to go from ZERO to a signed international agreement, funding (2005 budget)and programs in place to lower emissions (Project Green)in only 18 months is an incredible feat.
Of course Harper took all of Dion’s programs, renamed them, changed a few dots and t’s and regurgitated them as his very own answer to Kyoto.
How dismal.
Thanks again for your constantly bringing this up in the house and your town hall meetings. The message is getting out. You,d be amazed what an impact you are having in this neck of the woods. Enjoy the summer.
One of the things the Con supporters have failed to realize is the record of the current PM. Mr. Dion in comparison to this PM looks very good. No matter how many time they attempt to bash Mr. Dion, this record will not go away and just as you stated Garth, it only strengthens our resolve, especially in light of the constant bleeting from the one who likes to be the first to post.
Here is just some of that Harper record.
Mr. Harper lied on Income Trusts, not exactly what a leader should be doing. He actually encouraged seniors to put their retirement funds into Trusts before the election and then slammed them on Halloween night with a tax, something he railed against Mr. Goodale for even considering.
Oh well, so Stevie is a liar.
Then of course on day one of his government, he decided to take an unelected person from the Province of Quebec and make him his Public Works Minister, this was not unprecedented but rather amazingly he appointed him to the Senate so that no one from the opposition would have direct access to question him, not only that, but Mr. Harper was the one who campaigned on an elected senate and the first thing he does is appoint one. Then of course, the Emerson affair!
How about his letter to the poor widow who is waiting for veteran’s benefits promising that if he is elected she will get them immediately, of course, she is still waiting. Like all his promises, they were intended only to get votes, and it appears he had no intention of living up to his word.
Next his Defence Minister has lied at least three times, we are aware of, in the House of Commons. Twice on the detainees, and once on the funeral of soldiers file. Mr. Harper supports Mr. O’Connor, and why not, one liar supporting another, seems reasonable. Mr. Harper, in supporting Mr. O’Connor however, lays the blame on General Hillier, which is a shame, because here is a good, honest and capable leader of our troops. But Mr. Harper is more interested in campaigning than supporting our troops. It wouldn’t look good if he fired his lying and incompetent Defence Minister, therefore, let’s crap on the troops.
Mr. Harper, before the last election, promised an open, honest, accountable and transparent government. The above already proves he was lying there.
But not only does Mr. Harper muzzles his MPs, and now we are getting a sense why (most of them are incompetent), but he also hides from the free press. His Finance Minister cannot release the information regarding income trusts, with the exception of 18 pages of black out propaganda. His Foreign Minister is now being questioned regarding a file that his department said never existed and now has been released, blacked out of course. One of his MPs inadvertently and conveniently forgot to declare an $8000 gift.
The Atlantic Accord has been another incident where the Prime Minister promised one thing to get elected, then changed it after and supplied two options to the provinces, blackmailing them into acceptance of less than was promised prior to the election. The fact that Bill Casey has studied the plan and deemed it a betrayal to the people of Nova Scotia and has put his political career on the line and the fact that three premiers feel the same way about the promise prior to the election and the resulting budget that changed the accord in their opinion leaves one with the distinct impression the Prime Minister misled or outright lied. The idea that everyone is out of step but Harper is a bit far fetched especially in light of all the other lies taking place within the CPC.
The now infamous quote from Foreign Affairs Minister MacKay:
“We will not throw a member out of caucus for voting his conscience,†MacKay said. “There will be no whipping, flipping, hiring or firing on budget votes as we saw with the Liberal government.â€
This was said in the House with the Prime Minister present, two week prior to Bill Casey’s vote on the budget. Mr. MacKay’s explanation “ I never thought Bill would vote against the budget.†This excuses the blatant lie?
Why didn’t Mr. MacKay retract his infamous statement the day after he made it? It was all part of their constant campaigning in the House to make the Liberals look bad by comparison. In other words, we don’t muzzle our MPs on matters of conscious, you do! The foremost priority of this government is to bash Liberals in the House of Commons, governing second.
Stockwell Day, upholding the tough on crime promise of the Conservatives tells the Canadian public that a ban on handguns would only lead to higher gun crimes as evidenced in the U.K. The only problem is her lied, gun crimes went down in the U.K. 16% in 2006 from the previous year. Seems like Mr. Day must have a reason for misleading the Canadian public, could it be that the gun lobby got to him?
And of course, there is the manual of the CPC, instructing their committees chairs in the House of Commons on how to destroy the democratic process. Things like interviewing witnesses in advance and if what they have to say can be construed as unfavourable to the government, then there are specific steps one can take to obstruct or shut down the committee.
These are just a few of the things that are happening under the so called leadership of Mr. Harper, I would suggest maybe Mr. Lord might be a better choice for the CPC. Certainly Stephen Harper is not a leader or if he is one, certainly not the kind of leader he promised. The facts were bear out a leader without integrity. In fact, not the kind of leader Canada deserves. So being critical of the other party leaders could be a shade hypocritical by those who claim Mr. Harper is a leader. Personally I think Mr. Harper is an embarrassment to Canada and Canadians. His comment to the Leader of the Opposition regarding his lack of military service and therefore was unqualified to make judgment on the lies of the Defence Minister showed the absolute lack of class and unworthiness of this Prime Minister.
His comments in the house are less than Prime Ministerial. Harper accused Liberal MP Marlene Jennings of putting her spouse on the Immigration and Refugee Board and Lucienne Robillard, a former Immigration Minister of installing her husband as well. Deliberately trying to mislead the Canadian public and defame what he perceives the enemy.
In fact, Robillard’s ex-husband, Jacques Lasalle, was appointed to the board in 1990 when Brian Mulroney was prime minister, and Jennings’ husband, Luciano del Negro, joined the board in 1996, before his wife was first elected to the Commons in 1997.
Harper’s communications director, Sandra Buckler, was quoted as saying: “The former Liberal government never reimbursed Canadian taxpayers when they used the Challenger (government jet) for non-government business.”
In fact, Liberals produced reams of cancelled cheques and receipts from former prime minister Paul Martin, reimbursing the federal treasury.
Who can forget the attempted smear campaign against Liberal Bains?
This is the Prime Minister of Canada. How shameful!
I have voted in every election since I became eligible to do so over 30 years ago–I have believed in the ideals of the Progressive Conservative party & continue to do so.
I , like many other PCs supporters , was fooled in the last election into believing the New Conservative party Of Canada held these same ideals–this was a huge mistake.
The Conservative leadership has been a huge disappointment to me–they have financially mismanaged our country from creating huge government , to near deficit spending ( & with Mr Flaherty you never know–Ontario for example ) , to the debacle on the income trust file.
I , Like Mr Turner , have had to look for an alternative to MR Harper & his upper management –Mr Dion & the people he has assembled around himself , have given us another choice–a choice that hopefully will give us abandoned PCs some hope for the future.
Dr Michael Popovich.
Watching the question period videos of Mr Turner & his questions to Mr Flaherty on the income trust file never cease to amaze me–is not MR Turner an elected member of parliament who has the right to ask questions on behalf of his constuents & other concerned Canadian citizens?
I find it a slap in the face , to all of us who have concerns , that the Finance Minister will not answer these directly–we have sent these very real questions to Mr Turner so that he may ask them on our behalf–we have done this from all across this country because our own MPs fail to meet our need for help–the need for the truth requires an answer.
Would it be so hard to give investors , such as myself , the actual facts behind the trust decision –it would be so simple for the government to put this to rest–if the evidence holds up to scrutiny , then the issue is resolved–if not , rework it until it is.
It is certainly a concern that no evidence has been forthecoming–it can only lead to one conclusion in the minds of all of us , that none exists or the finance department would have put us out of our misery long ago.
To Observer : before you go off on us greedy old fart investors who were not diversified enough & hand us your usual line of Conservative talking notes , feel free to supply us with evidence that trusts were a detriment to Canadian capital martkets & that there was indeed any truth to the rumor of tax leakage–we will be waiting!!!!
Dr Mike P.
Observer: please take your negative thoughts elsewhere!
Dion does not have to “increase his popularity” Harper has done that for him. In Quebec, Dion is a federalist.. That is the reason for lower numbers.
Well, that was as predictable as this morning’s sunrise. Observer is probably popping antacids like a four year old devours candy. Three comments…all to attack Stephane Dion.
He repeatedly, and obsessively asks this question:
What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t?
By Observer on 06.20.07 9:59 pm
and it deserves this answer:
Those in Quebec who do not like Stephane Dion do so because he was once a Separatist, and then when he matured, became a Federalist. Simple as that.
Stephane Dion understands that he, and Quebec are part of Canada. Observer and his so-called supporters do not!
End of story, and hopefully his incessant comments attempting to get others to agree with him.
I think when people have in their mind the difference between the two leaders, Mr. Dion and Mr. Harper, the majority of Canadians, come election time, will choose the obvious man of integrity over the one who lies, uses deceit, and deliberately falsifies information for public consumption. That choice for leader will be Stephane Dion. Of course, at election time, one marks the X beside the local candidate and that will have some bearing as well. The party voters will mark the X beside the candidate that represents the party regardless of which party affiliation, the independent thinkers will vote for the best local candidate. There will be a swing vote that clearly went to the CPC in the last election, not so much because they wanted Harper, but rather to punish the Liberals, and that vote will no doubt return the Liberals in the next one, most of those voters having been clearly disappointed with the Harper government, saddened by his lies, his bullying tactics and his lack of integrity as the Prime Minister. If he hadn’t made such a big thing about openness, accountability and integrity in the last election, he may have survived another election but clearly he has been the exact opposite of what he claimed to be. In a sense it is really unfortunate, because he had a chance to “stand up for Canada†instead he let Canada and Canadians down.
Observer,
Dion will be our “RERO”
Harper will be your “REAR-O”
Heck, even when Layton goes to rallies he gets thunderous applause. Does this mean he’ll become PM? And like Dion’s rallies, they’re attended by partisan party members and volunteers.
At least we are free now of QP for the summer! Parliament adjourned yesterday. The nation is now safe for a few months.
As for you asking questions in the HoC Turner,
DELETED
You have posted eight comments in nine minutes. Try to concentrate your thoughts. You’ll enjoy life more. — Garth
Observer – I suggest you “observe” history. Quebec didn’t like Trudeau, Chretien or Dion. The first two became PM’s in spite of it.
Speaking of IT’s – I caught a little of the senate committee hearings on the issue this morning. What I found interesting and pathetic was watching Terry Stratton, Conservative partisan Senator playing with his blackberry while a witness was being asked questions and providing some interesting answers – he wasn’t even interestd in the responses or a solution – he and LeBreton are Harper’s shills. Also David Angus, Conservative Senator, as usual, came out like a smug attack dog. More interesting was one credibel witness saying that a consultation and non-partisan discussing needs to take place. He said consultation was in process during the Liberal regime but was ended because of the election. He said “no consultation or discussion had been held by the current government”. He said there is a solution out there and it has to be dealt with.
Observer – there really is no need for your comments – they are all repetitive and we get your message. You don’t like him, don’t vote for him. It’s a simple as that. You are offering nothing to the discussion.
Garth – about income splitting for seniors, what age group are you talking about? Do you have to be 65?
Dion’s popularity is consistently in the 10 – 12% range (which means 88 – 90% unpopularity) in his home province of Quebec!
Uh-huh…and that assumes that 100% of Canadians are informed and paying attention.
Is that an example of faulty logic? Do you think?
Observer,
we are honoured! Obviously the CPC has detailed the high-priced help to dog us. Bilinge yet!
PJW – I liked your 7:38 post.
For me the next election will focus on the platforms, and also trust.
One of the big reasons I didn’t vote for Mr. Harper was I disagreed with the 1% cut to GST. I disagreed with not taxing income trusts and I disagreed with the $100 a month daycare “solution”. In other words, I disagreed with a large part of his platform. The other reason, I simply didn’t like the guy…I didn’t vote Liberal, because, like most Canadians, I was upset with the scandals…and I have been a PC supporter my entire voting life (I’m only 35)
So, I went on-line and researched, and actually voted Green last election, becuase their platform, everything from the enviroment, to taxation to education appealed to me, and made sense.
Next election will be a toss up now for me. I will wait to see the platforms, but Mr. Harper has shown to me that I can’t trust his word. Even if he issues a platform that appeals to me, what part will he honour, and what parts won’t he?
Now before I get slagged or get the response “Liberals promised to scrap the GST, yadda, yadda, yadda…” Mr. Dion has the benefit of not having broken his word on election promises…yet.
So for me, the next election (which I hope is sooner rather than later) will be between the Greens again, and the Liberals, depending on their platforms.
I will say Mr. Dion has been more impressive lately, after a very weak start.
What is it that the people of Quebec know about Dion that you don’t?
By Observer on 06.20.07 9:59 pm
Observer – What an oxy moron for a name! Take off the rose coloured glasses and take a good look at the real world around you.
Dion is unpopular in his home province because he is an unwavering defender of Canada in Quebec, with a backbone of steel on the issue. Refreshing change from our current PM who talks out of one side of his mouth in french to Quebec, and out the other side of his mouth in english to the rest of us.
Mr Dion learned his lessons well from the greatest of our PMs – Trudeau. The lesoon was never, never, EVER play footsie with the seperatists – NEVER! You poke them in the eye, you kick them in the butt, and you slap them around every day of the week.
Oh by the way, PET was unpopular in Quebec as well, the only support he ever got was just about every seat in Quebec in every election.
The people of Quebec are politically intelligent, they recognise intelligence , logic, passion and leadership when they see it – Dont’ fret, Stephane Dion will be OK in Quebec.
If I were you I would be more worried about Steve in atlantic Canada and oh yeah Quebec and oh-oh Ontario and ooh Saskatchewan. Oh jeez, I forgot add Alberta and oops B.C. to the list.
Next election, 75 seats for Big Steve – You heard it here first, and quite frankly, Im being generous Im scrathing my heads trying to figure out where he will get the 75.
M. Observer,
Les Canadiens veulent quelqu’un qui peut faire confiance. On veut quelqu’un dont la vision du Canada inclut chacun. Les Canadiens veulent un leader qui croit à l’equitabilité, à la liberté, à l’égalité, à la responsabilité, à l’intégrité et à la sécurité.
Personne à moins que vous s’en câlice que Stéphane Dion vient du Québec.
Où est la preuve que M. Dion est la viande morte, comme vous dites? Montrez-la moi et on peut continuer de parler.
Salut,
-R
As I was walking to work this morning, having 10 minutes or so to ponder things after logging in and reflecting on this issue, I was wondering what is it about Dion that Quebeckers do not like? A very good and close friend of mine from Levis had told me with the last election that he voted Liberal out of a sense of anything but the CPCs for his riding.
He was not happy with what Chretien did but the way he saw things, it was better to deal with those crooks than someone he did not know or trust. A sentiment that my mother held as she voted for Ms Chamberlain in Guelph. There was something about the party lead by Harper that she did not like or trust. Again, her reason was the same, yes with Chretien things were corrupt but things got done.
This now leads me to Dion and why he isn’t liked. My same friend told me his feelings of Dion recently enough after the Liberal convention. To put it simply, he doesn’t like Dion because of what is seen as his arrogance. Granted this is not a trait that I would be too impressed with as a politlcal party leader but unfortunately I also suffer from the same thing as well. If Dion is to be seen as being arrogant, I believe it is in his education and intellect. Something I have personally suffered from at an early age. I think also from Quebec’s perspective he had changed from being one of the province’s beloved intelligent sons to the rogue child that started to call the separtist movement for what it was, an exercise in futility and idealism.
All I can think of now is how long can Dion maintain the integrity he is exuding? If he becomes PM, will he black out documents like that of the Income Trusts? Will a more reconciliatory and consultive feel on major decisions be made when it involves the economy? I believe these are issues that must be addressed and given to the public for reassurance.
Mr. Observer, I have a quick moment so I would like to follow up on my philosophical rant above with a political observation.
As long as Canada’s men and women are in Afghanistan defending the warlords who run its booming heroin industry, Mr. Harper has no chance in Québec, Canada’s most anti-war province.
How will Mr. Harper hide his war fetishism from discerning Québeckers?
-R
I too, am so impressed with Mr. Dion,Ijoined the Liberal Party!The rally I attended was every bit as exciting as discribed here!He is going to catch fire,all across Canada,INCLUDING Quebec!
Dion is a federalist and as such has a low rating in Quebec on a personal basis. This is no big deal and can be expected. He has also earned the grudging respect of people in his home province regardless of whether they like his stance on federalism. Dion has shown himself to be a tough, ‘get it done’ guy. Just look at the Clarity Act and his ability to get an agreement on the environmental summit he chaired. As far as popularity goes many Conservative voters held their noses and voted for Harper in the last election…they very well may not in the next one. The polls have consistently shown the Conservatives loosing popularity, even in the province of Quebec. The latest Decima has the BQ at 38, the Liberals at 23 and the Conservatives at 16 in Quebec. SES (the only poll that really matters anyway since they are the most accurate by a country mile over their competitors) has the BQ at 35, the Liberals at 27 and the Conservatives at 17 in Quebec.
And all this bashing of Dion on his envirnonmental record and the infamous quote from Ignatieff. Any one who cares to be informed on the issue will know that the main reason why Canada’s emissions outstripped the US was due to one major factor: the Alberta oil sands. Until we insist on better environmental technology in the oil sector we will continue to fall short of our international obligations. Dion introduced a host of measures to address the environment just prior to the last election. Were they enough? Hindsight says no. As a country we need to do more. But what exactly did Harper do? Cancelled everything that Dion introduced then put out the lamest excuse for an environmental policy imaginable…then let Ambrose be his sacraficial lamb for policies that everyone knows only come from him. I call that gutless. Then, he re-introduces many of Dion’s programs under new names and with less budget allocated to them. And people can this leadership? Nothing could be further from the truth. On a personal basis I have nothing against Dion and I am beginning to warm up to him….he would not have been my choice as leader of the Liberal party. He is showing himself to be a man of quiet and effective resolve, great intellect, and societal-oriented purpose. Qualities that Canada needs in a leader since they are so obviously lacking with the pretender we now have in Ottawa.
Moving on…
I’m kind of wondering why more MP’s aren’t holding town hall meetings in their ridings over the next 4 weeks.
Isn’t the point of a long summer break to get out there and to talk to people.
Garth has pretty much run himself ragged — working in parliament, doing MPTV, and THEN moderating all the BS, reading his email (poor little crackberry), and then plus, on top of all that, dealing with his constituents problems (and there are many!).
I mean…just what the hell are some of these other parliamentarians (in particular, Conservatives) doing all day long?
I hope that you’ll take a few weeks at reduced capacity.
Don’t burn out on us.
There’s an interesting evolution in law currently being exercised in Ontario echoing the premise of the film “Minority Report”.
The police can seize your property, in this case your car, even though you have not been convicted or even charged with a crime. They can seize and destroy your car if they have a tip that you may use the car for street racing.
Ontario furious about fast-moving vehicles
What’s most interesting is the comments of G&M posters in reaction to this who still assume that the “presumption of innocence until proven guilty” still holds.
This follows closely on another case where a large amount of cash was seized from someone suspected of, but not charged, with running a grow-op.
Now, I’m certainly against street-racing and illegal grow-ops, but I see this as an alarming, huge change in our justice system. Are any of you concerned about this trend? Mr. Tuner, is it worthy of comment?
Où est la preuve que M. Dion est la viande morte, comme vous dites? Montrez-la moi et on peut continuer de parler.
By Rob W on 06.21.07
Lisez et étudiez ceci:
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T230.pdf
Merci ….
Does anybody seriously think that Dion will be able to reverse his obvious unpopularity in time for the next election?
By Observer on 06.20.07 10:42 pm
I don’t see why not, Mr. Harper has been very good at sliding down the popularity scale inspite of massive giveaways. The guys si inept he can’t even buy votes!
Dion may be a fine person, but he has failed Canada and Canadians on his record as a minister in Liberal governments ….and that’s a fact!!!
By Observer on 06.20.07 10:42 pm
You are mixed up Рit is belief (on your part) not a fact. Stick that in Google and translate it. Vous ̻tes mal orient̩.
“Les Canadiens veulent quelqu’un qui peut faire confiance. On veut quelqu’un dont la vision du Canada inclut chacun. Les Canadiens veulent un leader qui croit à l’equitabilité, à la liberté, à l’égalité, à la responsabilité, à l’intégrité et à la sécurité.
Personne à moins que vous s’en câlice que Stéphane Dion vient du Québec.
Où est la preuve que M. Dion est la viande morte, comme vous dites? Montrez-la moi et on peut continuer de parler.”
Oui Rob, je suis d’accord avec vous. Observer,me dire pourquoi Stephane Dion est impopulaire dans Québec?
Merci Beaucoup
By Charles on 06.21.07 10:37 am
Regarding the modified street racers. They are simply, clearly, and categorically ILLEGAL and, therefore, can and should be removed from the street immediately. We have emission control laws here in Ontario. All vehicles must be certified in accordances with Canadian law, that is why there are those stickers attached to each vehicle. Modifying the emissions systems and is a criminal offense.
My opinion is, and shall remain, if you want to have a street racer, then keep it at a race track, because street racing is illegal and dangerous to the public.
Those who sell or perform such modifications are equally guilty prima facia.
All the rhetoric about rights becomes moot when the rights of the public at large are disregarded.
We can simply start with the emissions issues.
I totally support the Ontario AG’s position.
Oh, and yes, I grew through my twenties during the Muscle Car period, and had one as well. We NEVER raced in traffic, in residential areas, or anywhere that would present an imminent hazard to others. If we had a drag race it was in a safe location away from others, or at the local drag strip. The current generation does not seem to possess the same common sense we did. There should be proper tracks for such activities, but this lot of macho brained morons simply seem to be clueless about reality.
I am quite curious why? Is it due to movies, TV, games, the education system, or just learned behaviour from getting away with anything they can? We did have one thing they lack in many instances…a father in the home who we feared far more than the police. There were no deals with Dad. Consequences were a sure thing.
BANK THE EMBERS …. D-D-D-DON’T FORGET!
A costly broken promise—Income trust victims
Garth Turner—Burlington Post—Wed, June 20 2007
http://www.burlingtonpost.com/opinions/article/101051
FIVE OF US were on the high points surrounding the seniors’ centre while you were making your presentation.
Fortunately, for anyone who might have been willing to attempt a disruption, they DID NOT SHOW UP!
http://www.iapm.ca/newsmanager/articlefiles/405-Bullshit.gif
Now, I’m certainly against street-racing and illegal grow-ops, but I see this as an alarming, huge change in our justice system. Are any of you concerned about this trend? Mr. Tuner, is it worthy of comment?
By Charles on 06.21.07 10:37 am
I don’t have the actual terminology in front of me, but the Harper government just made changes to the crime of Street Racing, I believe it is now a serious criminal federal offence. Or is this still being held up by the Liberal senate?? Not sure on that.
I think part of the message with the CPC NASCAR idea is to show where racing belongs, not on our highways but in a controlled venue. Good idea, eh? Especially in view of the recent death caused by street racing. L
Observer,
If you’re going to post links to polls, at least post an updated one. Your poll is from April. Here’s another form the same company taken in May.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T234.pdf
True Con style, Observer – twist and distort the facts.
I’m quite sure PMSH numbers are even bleaker today.
Its going to be funny watching Harper defend himself for a couple months when there’s no one around for him to pick a fight with.
Aren’t throne speeches subject to confidence motions?
Looks like the Cons have been caught trying to hide torture allegations by blacking them out under the access to information act…might want to check on the committee hearings on CPAC…they were there in 2003,4,5, then the blackouts began on 06?
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.20.07 9:30 pm
you are comparing Dion to JFK! Two completely different leagues…help us all…
CPC LEGACY LEFT BEHIND
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070621.wenergy0621/GIStory/
By Happy Leasa on 06.21.07 11:15 am
Great idea…take it to the track folks…
Cities and communities need to sponsor more “take it to the track” days, they have been wildely popular in the past..
Bill M and Happy Leasa, thanks for your reply. From the lack of response to this yesterday I was starting to think that Garth was changing all my posts to a white font. It is a bit off topic, yet gets to the heart of how our Canada is changing.
The law being applied is Ontario’s Civil Remedies Act
“Civil asset forfeiture focuses solely on the connection between property and unlawful activity and is not dependant on any criminal charges or convictions.”
(from above link)
In the past, “unlawful activity” would require criminal charges which would have to proven in a court of law. This is a huge change in attitude. As with all measures like this, you know that it will not just end with the current limited applications.
BC Poll results. The usual Globe and Mail spin.
“We’re still ahead, and that’s all that matters,” said former B.C. MP John Reynolds, who is expected to have a senior role in national campaign strategy in the next federal election.
BUT
In March, the Tories were at 40 per cent support.
ALSO
“It’s tough to get your message across, especially with the way the House of Commons is running right now,” Mr. Reynolds said.
“It’s all nasty, yelling and screaming,” he said.
FROM WHO? THE HARPER PARTY for the most part…
AND
Mr. Reynolds said he expected Environment Minister John Baird would be travelling across Canada this summer trying to sell the Tory green policies.
GOOD LUCK IN BC BAIRD. THIS IS DAVID SUZUKI COUNTRY.
Say goodbye to a few seats in BC as well as Saskatchewan, NS and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Looks like the Big Budget spending spree didn’t buy much eh?
Afghanistan, green policies costing Tories points, poll says
IAN BAILEY
June 21, 2007
VANCOUVER — Federal Tory policies on the environment and Afghanistan have cost the party support in British Columbia, although the Conservatives are ahead of their political competition among decided voters, a new poll suggests.
“We’re still ahead, and that’s all that matters,” said former B.C. MP John Reynolds, who is expected to have a senior role in national campaign strategy in the next federal election.
The Tories have 33 per cent support compared with 29 per cent for the NDP and 28 per cent for the Liberals, according to the survey of 852 B.C. adults conducted by Mustel Group Market Research, and released yesterday.
Liberal support has been stable since the last Mustel survey, conducted in March, but NDP support appears to have increased nine points. In March, the Tories were at 40 per cent support.
Pollster Evi Mustel suggested that public concerns about the environment and Canada’s participation in combat in Afghanistan are hurting the Tories.
Forty-seven per cent of voters surveyed disapprove of the party’s green policies, up four points from March.
And 52 per cent disapprove of the federal government’s Afghanistan policies, which is up from 45 per cent in March.
Mr. Reynolds said he expected Environment Minister John Baird would be travelling across Canada this summer trying to sell the Tory green policies, and that Prime Minister Stephen Harper would also be making the case for his government during visits to British Columbia.
“It’s tough to get your message across, especially with the way the House of Commons is running right now,” Mr. Reynolds said.
“It’s all nasty, yelling and screaming,” he said.
“Government, now that the House is adjourned for the summer, will get out and do the selling job on the good programs they have got.”
The Tories have 18 of the province’s 36 seats. The NDP hold 10 and the Liberals have eight.
Mike Witherly, a strategist for the federal Liberal party in B.C., said he took solace that the level of Liberal support held up in the face of Tory attack ads against Leader Stéphane Dion.
“Despite their best efforts, they really can’t move the dial,” Mr. Witherly said.
“It’s like we had round one and they threw everything they have got and they got nowhere. If I were a Conservative strategist, I’d be saying, ‘What can we possibly do to move our numbers?’ ”
Mr. Dion does not have any imminent plans to visit the province.
From Ottawa, NDP spokesman Brad Lavigne said he was pleased with NDP support levels, although “the competition in B.C. is incredibly tight.”
He said the party was targeting seats across the province and that Leader Jack Layton would visit B.C. frequently to make the case for support.
“There’s a joke that Jack Layton gets to visit B.C. more than the B.C. MPs,” he said.
The Mustel poll, part of a regular overview of federal party standings, was conducted from May 31 to June 11. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.4 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.
Observer,
If you’re going to post links to polls, at least post an updated one. Your poll is from April. Here’s another form the same company taken in May.
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-S07-T234.pdf
True Con style, Observer – twist and distort the facts.
I’m quite sure PMSH numbers are even bleaker today.
By Gord on 06.21.07
Excellent poll, Gord … and this again illustrates that Dion’s popularity badly lags that of the Liberal party itself.
My SES poll specifically isolated Dion, Harper, and the other leaders …. and Dion is no better than Layton in popularity, which means that Dion is a dud … and that’s NOT twisting or distorting the facts.
Of particular concern to Liberals must be Dion’s abysmal standing in his home province of Quebec, and this is backed up by other leadership polls. Dion is only favoured by 10-12% of Quebec voters where he is well known.
In the RoC, Dion is not well known but what will he do to endear himself to English Canadians who may not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec because enough is enough??
The Liberal party is 2 to 3 times more popular than Dion in polling, and once all Canadians get a good gander at Dion in leadership debates, I suggest that he will tank badly … for obvious reasons.
In the Liberal leadership convention, Ignatieff was the frontrunner based on party grassroots support and caucus support … where Ignatieff was more popular in Quebec at the grassroots level than Dion. Then after the first vote, the delegates started sliding towards Dion for some mysterious reason. What did the Liberal delegates know about Ignatieff that the majority of Liberal grassroots members at the riding level didn’t know? Why did the Liberal delegates select an obviously weak leader in Dion and reject all the other candidates from outside of Quebec?? Canadians will want to know.
Again .. my SES poll is about individual leadership, while your SES poll is about party popularity, and Dion is obviously holding down the popularity of the Liberal party based on these two legitimate polls.
M. Dion appears to be the focus of so much of the CPC’s ire these days. They fear him. Why? He shows them up. Period. He appears congenial, accessible, sensible and likeable. Everything the CPC is not. Dion simply looks better than Harper. Period. He smiles like he means it, not like his laxative just kicked in.
Yes, in comparison with the bloated, bullying bombast of the CPC’s, Dion looks good.
Now for the other shoe…
Dion will HAVE to set a MUCH higher standard. His broom will have to sweep both wide and closely. He will be under MUCH CLOSER scrutiny than Harper. Two reasons: he has to clean up the mess Harper would leave behind, AND, he has to KEEP his government lean, clean and (dare I say it?) green. That will be a much tougher job than simply winning the next election. Is M. Dion up to it?
His talk is impressive. So was Harper’s at first. Harper’s walk became a drunkard’s stumble. Dion will have a tougher time, because he must not simply look good compared with Harper, but look good, compared with ANYONE ELSE. If he is NOT our Lincoln or Churchill, he will not last. In politics, you don’t have to be a 10 to be a winner. You can be a 3 if everybody else around you is a 2.
Dion NEEDS to be a 10.
My name is Alex Thomas. Think about it. I have.
I think Stephane needs a Harley.
With respect G,don’t you mean a Honda cruiser ?
LOL
By Observer on 06.21.07 11:48 am
We have heard this 100 times from you so let me give you mine again so you can digest it…
Mr. Harper lied on Income Trusts, not exactly what a leader should be doing. He actually encouraged seniors to put their retirement funds into Trusts before the election and then slammed them on Halloween night with a tax, something he railed against Mr. Goodale for even considering.
Oh well, so Stevie is a liar.
Then of course on day one of his government, he decided to take an unelected person from the Province of Quebec and make him his Public Works Minister, this was not unprecedented but rather amazingly he appointed him to the Senate so that no one from the opposition would have direct access to question him, not only that, but Mr. Harper was the one who campaigned on an elected senate and the first thing he does is appoint one. Then of course, the Emerson affair!
How about his letter to the poor widow who is waiting for veteran’s benefits promising that if he is elected she will get them immediately, of course, she is still waiting. Like all his promises, they were intended only to get votes, and it appears he had no intention of living up to his word.
Next his Defence Minister has lied at least three times, we are aware of, in the House of Commons. Twice on the detainees, and once on the funeral of soldiers file. Mr. Harper supports Mr. O’Connor, and why not, one liar supporting another, seems reasonable. Mr. Harper, in supporting Mr. O’Connor however, lays the blame on General Hillier, which is a shame, because here is a good, honest and capable leader of our troops. But Mr. Harper is more interested in campaigning than supporting our troops. It wouldn’t look good if he fired his lying and incompetent Defence Minister, therefore, let’s crap on the troops.
Mr. Harper, before the last election, promised an open, honest, accountable and transparent government. The above already proves he was lying there.
But not only does Mr. Harper muzzles his MPs, and now we are getting a sense why (most of them are incompetent), but he also hides from the free press. His Finance Minister cannot release the information regarding income trusts, with the exception of 18 pages of black out propaganda. His Foreign Minister is now being questioned regarding a file that his department said never existed and now has been released, blacked out of course. One of his MPs inadvertently and conveniently forgot to declare an $8000 gift.
The Atlantic Accord has been another incident where the Prime Minister promised one thing to get elected, then changed it after and supplied two options to the provinces, blackmailing them into acceptance of less than was promised prior to the election. The fact that Bill Casey has studied the plan and deemed it a betrayal to the people of Nova Scotia and has put his political career on the line and the fact that three premiers feel the same way about the promise prior to the election and the resulting budget that changed the accord in their opinion leaves one with the distinct impression the Prime Minister misled or outright lied. The idea that everyone is out of step but Harper is a bit far fetched especially in light of all the other lies taking place within the CPC.
The now infamous quote from Foreign Affairs Minister MacKay:
“We will not throw a member out of caucus for voting his conscience,†MacKay said. “There will be no whipping, flipping, hiring or firing on budget votes as we saw with the Liberal government.â€
This was said in the House with the Prime Minister present, two week prior to Bill Casey’s vote on the budget. Mr. MacKay’s explanation “ I never thought Bill would vote against the budget.†This excuses the blatant lie?
Why didn’t Mr. MacKay retract his infamous statement the day after he made it? It was all part of their constant campaigning in the House to make the Liberals look bad by comparison. In other words, we don’t muzzle our MPs on matters of conscious, you do! The foremost priority of this government is to bash Liberals in the House of Commons, governing second.
Stockwell Day, upholding the tough on crime promise of the Conservatives tells the Canadian public that a ban on handguns would only lead to higher gun crimes as evidenced in the U.K. The only problem is her lied, gun crimes went down in the U.K. 16% in 2006 from the previous year. Seems like Mr. Day must have a reason for misleading the Canadian public, could it be that the gun lobby got to him?
And of course, there is the manual of the CPC, instructing their committees chairs in the House of Commons on how to destroy the democratic process. Things like interviewing witnesses in advance and if what they have to say can be construed as unfavourable to the government, then there are specific steps one can take to obstruct or shut down the committee.
These are just a few of the things that are happening under the so called leadership of Mr. Harper, I would suggest maybe Mr. Lord might be a better choice for the CPC. Certainly Stephen Harper is not a leader or if he is one, certainly not the kind of leader he promised. The facts were bear out a leader without integrity. In fact, not the kind of leader Canada deserves. So being critical of the other party leaders could be a shade hypocritical by those who claim Mr. Harper is a leader. Personally I think Mr. Harper is an embarrassment to Canada and Canadians. His comment to the Leader of the Opposition regarding his lack of military service and therefore was unqualified to make judgment on the lies of the Defence Minister showed the absolute lack of class and unworthiness of this Prime Minister.
His comments in the house are less than Prime Ministerial. Harper accused Liberal MP Marlene Jennings of putting her spouse on the Immigration and Refugee Board and Lucienne Robillard, a former Immigration Minister of installing her husband as well. Deliberately trying to mislead the Canadian public and defame what he perceives the enemy.
In fact, Robillard’s ex-husband, Jacques Lasalle, was appointed to the board in 1990 when Brian Mulroney was prime minister, and Jennings’ husband, Luciano del Negro, joined the board in 1996, before his wife was first elected to the Commons in 1997.
Harper’s communications director, Sandra Buckler, was quoted as saying: “The former Liberal government never reimbursed Canadian taxpayers when they used the Challenger (government jet) for non-government business.”
In fact, Liberals produced reams of cancelled cheques and receipts from former prime minister Paul Martin, reimbursing the federal treasury.
Who can forget the attempted smear campaign against Liberal Bains?
This is the Prime Minister of Canada. How shameful!
Charles…
The police can seize your property, in this case your car, even though you have not been convicted or even charged with a crime.
The modified racer IS illegal, thus it is a crime to have it. Problem solved.
Having said that, simply change the penalties for causing death in such a wreckless manner. Charge them with murder and provide them with the same sentence if convicted.
What a pack of paranoid lieberal supporters. Remove your “rose coloured glasses” and smell the “roses”. I hate to rain on your parade but Dion is a loser and that is a fact. For those that want to know why, listen up. He doesn’t appeal to the majority of the Canadian electorate and never will, due to many factors, one of which is his inability to speak English and being from the Province of Quebec. Over the past several weeks in QP, every question asked by a lieberal member, had the phrase “about telling the truth”. They didn’t have the guts to tell the Conservative member he/she was a liar. Actually it was very amusing trying to figure out how they would get that phrase into their question. This was one of their tactics which they thought would get some attention. Imagine a liberal telling anyone to tell the truth. Get real and tell the truth to the Canadian people and stop trying to convince yourself that Dion is a leader. Your dreams will go down the drain on election night whenever that may be. You all know there is lots of dissension within the lieberal party. If you all believe Dion will do so well please tell me why they are having a terrible time raising money for their cause? That is a good indication that Dion is not being received as well as you believe he is. He is a “goner” and the liberals will remain in the wilderness where they belong for several years to come. At the end of this Summer Dion will be no better received than he is right now. I hope he enjoys his burgers on the BBQ tour because they don’t taste very good when you have knives sticking out of your back.
Dion in Quebec: “No Mr Dion, it’s not a delusion, people really do hate you!”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/DION_SC.jpg
I rest my case ……
By pjw on 06.21.07 12:25 pm
How many times are you going to post your ‘book’? Honestly, who’s got that kind of time? I finally read it, and every one of your ‘points’ can be explained or disputed. But, that would be like whistling in the wind and who has that kind of free time? L
BREAKING NEWS !!!!
Harper set to call by-elections early?
Source writes National Newswatch to say: Taken by the sudden resignations from the House by both Bill Graham and Jim Petersen, senior Tory officials have decided to call these by-elections very early (mid-July).
Senior (CPC) strategists hope that the early introduction two prominent and former leadership contenders – Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findley – into the House will agitate already-present divisions within the Liberal leadership ranks.
Officials believe a three-way split between Dion, Ignatieff, and Rae would be highly beneficial for Conservative fortunes.
This would be an interesting test of Dion’s leadership internally within the Liberal party.
Martha H-F is a loyal Dionista, while Rae and Iggy will be fighting it out between the Left and the Right within the Liberal Big Tent. Meanwhile Dion could just sit back and watch them duke it out and letting the winner deliver Ontario to him .. while he tanks in Quebec.
Since Garth is still a self-admitted red tory who is fiscally conservative, I would imagine he would side with Ignatieff .. or has Garth hitched his political wagon to Dion’s star only?
ONLY CONSTANT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS CHANGE.
Same with politics. We are going to believe Harper and Baird on Climate change? Cool down.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/comment/story.html?id=597d0677-2a05-47b4-b34f-b84068db11f4
Oui Observer, c’est vrai, le sondage que vous m’avez montré indique que M. Dion n’est pas populaire au Québec.
MAIS
Autre que le fait que je ne crois plus les sondages, j’arguerais du fait que le nombre reflète les sentiments des séparatistes et pas du « Quebecker moyen ». Généralement, le « Quebecker moyen » veut que quelqu’un s’oppose à la menace séparatiste au Canada. M. Dion a montré qu’il s’oppose à lui.
à M. Harper?
-R
Whooee! PJW, yer on the money a hunnert percent’s worth. That’s a dang long yammerin’ comment you posted up but I’m right alongside you on every point.
I sed it before an’ I’m sayin’ it again. Harper is a separatist.
He’s aimed at dividing Canada and making it appear that confederation is unworkable. When you look at Harper’s actions through separatist lenses, he’s doin’ everything he oughta.
An’ who’s he got proppin’ him up? The other separatists.
Harper’s anglin’ fer the break-up of Canada and his ascension to the throne in the oil sheikhdom formerly known as Alberta.
JimBobby
Senior (CPC) strategists hope that the early introduction two prominent and former leadership contenders – Bob Rae and Martha Hall Findley – into the House will agitate already-present divisions within the Liberal leadership ranks.
ABSOLUTE NONSENSE AND PUR CONJECTURE
By pjw on 06.21.07 12:25 pm
How many times are you going to post your ‘book’? Honestly, who’s got that kind of time? I finally read it, and every one of your ‘points’ can be explained or disputed. But, that would be like whistling in the wind and who has that kind of free time? L
By Happy Leasa on 06.21.07 12:58 pm
As many times as Observer and others try to bash Mr. Dion…
Since Garth is still a self-admitted red tory who is fiscally conservative, I would imagine he would side with Ignatieff .. or has Garth hitched his political wagon to Dion’s star only?
By Observer on 06.21.07 1:08 pm
It is important to remind you that Garth has never been considered a “red” Tory except by right wing extremists.
I find that there is considerable confusion about what constitutes a “red” Tory. A theo-con would defind a “red” Tory much differently from a neo-con. It is only from the theo-con perspective that either Garth or Ignatieff would be seen as a “red” Tory.
you are comparing Dion to JFK! Two completely different leagues…help us all…
By Adam on 06.21.07 11:33 am
And you base your opinion on what? I base mine on actually having lived under the JFK reign in the States. I stand by my statement unwavering.
I hope he enjoys his burgers on the BBQ tour because they don’t taste very good when you have knives sticking out of your back.
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.21.07 12:36 pm
The only knives are coming from the Cons and they must be very afraid! No one spends the time you folks do bashing someone unless they are scared to death of him. Why would you bother otherwise…I am just here to provide some balance….that’s why my litany of lies runs as often as it does!
Stephane Dion
Now read ALL the article!
Reg, if having the modified car is illegal, then why isn’t the owner charged in a court of law and then prosecuted if found guilty? That’s the way things used to work in Canada.
Are there exact criteria set out that brands a modified car as “illegal” or is up to the police officer’s discretion?
It seems like we are allowing our entire judicial system to be bypassed.
For those who do NOT speak French, and may be curious what has been said use AltaVista Babel Fish translator
The translation may not be exact due to dialectical differences between Quebec French and Parisian French, but it will be close enough to reveal what is being said.
For instance…Rob’s response in French:
Oui Observer, c’est vrai, le sondage que vous m’avez montré indique que M. Dion n’est pas populaire au Québec.
MAIS
Autre que le fait que je ne crois plus les sondages, j’arguerais du fait que le nombre reflète les sentiments des séparatistes et pas du « Quebecker moyen ». Généralement, le « Quebecker moyen » veut que quelqu’un s’oppose à la menace séparatiste au Canada. M. Dion a montré qu’il s’oppose à lui.
à M. Harper?
translates to:
Yes Observer, it is true, the survey that you showed me indicates that Mr. Dion is not popular in Quebec. BUT Other that the fact that I do not believe any more the surveys, I would allege that the number reflects the feelings of the separatists and not of the “average Quebecker”. Generally, the “average Quebecker” wants that somebody opposes the separatist threat in Canada. Mr. Dion showed that it is opposed to him. Ã Mr. Harper?
Obviously, Observer has recognized his posts are not of real interest to anyone in English! Nice try at subtrefuge, but no cigar…as is usual!
Okay, you told us your turn on, now here’s my recent turn off:
Open letter to Tony Clement:
Dear Mr. Clement,
Having been a die-hard card carrying Conservative all my life I couldn’t believe what I heard you say in the HoC on Wednesday. When you were asked about dangerous imported goods (the Colgate toothpaste poison was mentioned), I could not believe what you said!
“Buyer Beware.†“You get what you pay for.†You went on to say that we have inspection processes in place and the people are responsible for what they buy. Are you within your right mind these days? It is your job to protect all Canadians from hazards such as these. What about seniors who can’t read the fine print? What about immigrants who can’t read English or French? What about the many people who can’t read? We the people are just supposed to ‘know’ that a type-o means the product is counterfeit and may kill us?
We do not have adequate inspection procedures in place and you know it. Only 1% of imported food is inspected and the process is so slow even then that the results are only in time for the funerals of the victims.
How is it that Health Canada has not warned Canadians about the benzene in California lettuce? Why do we allow trace chemicals on and in our food that Canadian farmers are banned from using? We are the only country that allows this. Why is it, that if I, a Canadian Farmer is ever caught using any of these same chemicals in or on my produce that I will suffer dire consequences and yet we encourage through the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger the Canadian people to consume these same chemicals?
After the wheat gluten fiasco we should have cut China off immediately of importing food products.
Why is it Tony that Canadians don’t even have the right to know where their food originates from? Labels that say ‘prepared for XXX Company Canada’ aren’t good enough. Why don’t they have to put the origin of the contents on the label? You say ‘buyers beware’, yet we the buyers are not even told where it was grown. How can we make an educated choice?
As a Canadian grower, I have to have 100% traceability of my product. Why is it, that when imported product is actually killing people, they can’t trace it? I have to prove my farm is safe and clean. Who inspects the conditions under which imported product was grown?
Why through trade agreements does Canada promote slave labour? In China, African countries and Asian countries there are no social nets like Employment Insurance or welfare. Therefore, the people have to work long hours under horrendous conditions or simply starve. That is akin to slave labour. These deals do not elevate the health and safety of the people of these countries. In fact it only makes it worse. The wealth goes to the corrupt regimes and in turn they actually need the people to work longer and harder to fill the extra market required. Do you think working 12 or more hours for a belly full of rice is good enough?
We may get what we pay for Tony, but we aren’t getting what we deserve. I have never been this angry with a fellow Conservative, and that makes a sad day for me.
By Rob W on 06.21.07 1:29 pm
Ainsi vous croyez que 90% de toutes les Québecois sont des séparatistes… et seulement 10% sont des fédéralistes ?
BREAKING NEWS !!!!
Harper set to call by-elections early?
Source writes National Newswatch to say:
By Observer on 06.21.07 1:08 pm
Un-named sources from a blog, some credible news source. How much of this crap do you have to swallow before you reguratate it back up on Garth’s site?
They didn’t have the guts to tell the Conservative member he/she was a liar.
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.21.07 12:36 pm
My understanding is that Parlimentary rules don’t allow them to do this directly.
Just was watching a replay of the committee hearings on the freedom of information…very interesting that reports on the abuse of human beings around the world and in particular Afghanistan for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 had references to torture allegations. The 2005 report, which comes out in early 2006 has blacked out references to torture and the 2006 report also has blacked out references to torture according to the Globe & Mail Apr 21/2007. Now what could have changed between the 2004 report released early 2005 and the 2005 report released in early 2006. Oh I know, there was a change of government in Canada!
“You have posted eight comments in nine minutes. Try to concentrate your thoughts. You’ll enjoy life more.” — Garth
By Sean P. Hogan on 06.21.07 8:18 am
With the most respect Garth. You should be providing as well as your town hall meetings some Garthaholic Anonymous time. Personally I find your blog to be very interesting and think you and your writing skills are responsible for my addiction to your blog. I am sure I am not alone but might be the first to admit that I am a Garthaholic myself. Regards
Austin says “Observer: Clearly you feel threatened by Dion, since you have this over-arching need to slag him…”
Garth – is that why you have this over-arching need to slag Stephen Harper?
Atlantic Canada’s culture of defeat will be hard to overcome as long as Atlantic Canada is actually physically trailing the rest of the country.
Stephen Harper
If Harper and Layton announced that neither the CPC or the NDP would run candidates in Toronto Centre to allow Elizabeth May to run unopposed and get elected to the House …
would Stephane Dion have Bob Rae stand aside as well?
I like Dion. I wanted Kennedy to win the leadership but Dion is doing a superb job so far. Good choice, I think.
By Angry Canadian on 06.21.07 2:01 pm
Excellent post..thanks…the farmers of our country don’t get enough credit for all they do for our communities and partisan politics aside, they deserve more, especially small family farms.
Obviously, Observer has recognized his posts are not of real interest to anyone in English! Nice try at subtrefuge, but no cigar…as is usual!
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.21.07 1:56 pm
I’m posting in Welsh from now on until they provide posts in both official languages.
That’ll teach ‘em .
Obviously, Observer has recognized his posts are not of real interest to anyone in English! Nice try at subtrefuge, but no cigar…as is usual!
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.21.07 1:56 pm
I’m posting in Welsh until they provide posts in both official languages .
That’ll show ‘em .
Asen twll ! Arsylwi .
If Harper and Layton announced that neither the CPC or the NDP would run candidates in Toronto Centre to allow Elizabeth May to run unopposed and get elected to the House …
would Stephane Dion have Bob Rae stand aside as well?
By just wondering on 06.21.07 3:03 pm
Not necessary, she is going to win MacKay’s old riding, not thanks for the offer!
“Buyer Beware.†“You get what you pay for.†You went on to say that we have inspection processes in place and the people are responsible for what they buy
By Angry Canadian on 06.21.07 2:01 pm
When I was in the U.S. last month a U.S. Republican made the point causing major concerns among American consumers. This is another example of the new Conservatives following the ideology of the Bush Administration.
In order to integrate our economies we have to adopt the same philosophy as the US Administration of the day.
It is also an excellent example of extreme right wing thinking where the law of the jungle reigns in the marketplace.
My understanding is that Parlimentary rules don’t allow them to do this directly.
By Tim N on 06.21.07 2:19 pm
You are right Tim, you cannot call a member dishoenst even when they are, that’s why the PM deliberately lied about the husbands of Jennings and Robitaille, he knew he could safely lie when all the time he knew the facts.
Bill…thanks for that translator, I sure need it…oh BTW…you know you are getting old when you talk about JFK and they think you are talking about Gerrard Kennedy! LMAO…
Angry Canadian, your open letter to the Health Minister is right on the mark.
The “Buyer Beware” remark about the toothpaste riled me also. Now I have to check every single item that I purchase for my family? If Health Canada and Customs Canada and their extensive staff have been outsourced to be replaced by the individual consumer, then why are taxpayers still paying them?
Atlantic Canada’s culture of defeat will be hard to overcome as long as Atlantic Canada is actually physically trailing the rest of the country.
Stephen Harper
By pjw on 06.21.07 2:42 pm
If Harper actually believed this then his actions with regard to the Atlantic Accord is designed to reinforce a “culture of defeat.”
The question is why does Stephen Harper have such a spite against Atlantic Canadians?
The poll by Decima Research, provided exclusively to The Canadian Press, placed Liberal support at 32 per cent, the Conservatives at 29 and the NDP at 18. The Bloc Quebecois and Green party were tied nationally at nine per cent.
The telephone survey of just more than 1,000 Canadians was conducted from last Thursday until Monday.
Two days before the latest poll began, Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey was booted from the Conservative caucus for voting against a budget provision he says breaks a government promise on offshore oil revenues.
Because of small regional sample sizes, Decima averages results over three weeks of polling. The latest averages suggest the Liberals were six percentage points ahead of the Tories in Atlantic Canada — 37-31 — with the NDP at 20 per cent and the Greens at nine.
The poll also put the Liberals ahead in Ontario, 39-33, and had the Bloc rebounding in Quebec to 38 per cent, followed by the Liberals at 23 and the Conservatives at 16 per cent.
Decima CEO Bruce Anderson says the rolling averages suggest the Conservatives have lost ground in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, with Liberals getting most of the benefits.
Two thirds felt that “the level of hostility” among politicians was escalating and had become unproductive. And among those respondents, Harper was held responsible by an almost 2-1 margin over any other party leader in the Commons.
Keep dreaming neo-rightist supporters .
Your guy is a ‘Dead Man Walking’ right over the cliff and into the abyss .
Hey Observer, after the cons lose government, you simply will not have anything to occupy your time as you wont be able to waste it trying to tell us how wonderful Big Steve is.
But don’t worry you can come and wash my car and walk my dog as I am quite sure you have the political aptitude to that.
On second thought – No you can’t walk my dog.
Remember this poll???
……………………..
Dion not Canadians’ choice for PM, poll says
Liberal Leader was most unpopular in Quebec, fared better in Ontario
JANE TABER – G & M – June 13, 2007
A majority of Canadians do not want to see Stéphane Dion become Prime Minister, according to a new national public opinion poll.
The poll conducted by The Strategic Counsel for The Globe and Mail/CTV shows the Liberal Leader is not catching on across Canada, especially in his home province of Quebec, six months after he was elected at a party convention in Montreal.
Fifty-two per cent of Canadians say they don’t want Mr. Dion to become prime minister, compared with only 20 per cent who do. Twenty-eight per cent had no opinion.
In Quebec, 58 per cent of those surveyed said they did not want Mr. Dion to lead the country, compared with 18 per cent who do. Twenty-three per cent had no opinion.The picture is slightly better in Ontario, with 23 per cent of those polled saying that they would want him as prime minister, compared with 48 per cent who say they don’t. Twenty-nine per cent had no opinion.In the West, 17 per cent of those surveyed said they would want to see Mr. Dion as prime minister, compared with 53 per cent who said they wouldn’t. Thirty per cent had no opinion.
The Strategic Counsel poll of 1,000 Canadians, surveyed between June 8-11, has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070613.POLL13/TPStory/National
Since Garth is still a self-admitted red tory who is fiscally conservative …….
By Observer on 06.21.07 1:08 pm
………….
It is important to remind you that Garth has never been considered a “red†Tory except by right wing extremists.
I find that there is considerable confusion about what constitutes a “red†Tory. A theo-con would defind a “red†Tory much differently from a neo-con. It is only from the theo-con perspective that either Garth or Ignatieff would be seen as a “red†Tory.
By C. B. Innes on 06.21.07 1:37 pm
I based my definition on Garth’s own admission several weeks ago … and I couldn’t find the exact wording he used, but I thought he declared himself a “red tory” … perhaps he said “progressive tory” within the Liberal party.
If I have erred in my recollection then I apologize to Garth and the forum. Perhaps Garth can rescue me and clarify his leanings once and for all.
As a resident of Toronto-Center, I would like the ability to choose between the candidates in question at the earliest possible convinience.
I’m not so happy that Rae never faced a primary (if he’s such a star, why can’t he run?), but that said, I wouldn’t mind having Rae as a representative.
I’d also entertain voting for May as well, if she were to run.
Ranking at the bottom of my choices:
The NDP, following the Toronto Decal Debacle, proving that the NDP is completely out of touch with moderate Centrists.
The Conservatives, on the basis of broken promises and regressive social, tax, environmental, and urban policies.
This one’s for Windy Bill:
From The Star
Alberta’s population is growing so quickly that it constantly needs more physicians and nurses but so far, it has managed to keep up with the demand.
Through a new supernumerary nurse category that gives nurses the experience they need to get full-time jobs, Capital Health has improved its nurse retention rate from 50 to 75 per cent. Its nurse population is growing by 35 per cent a year, compared to a national average of 1 per cent.
And Alberta is recruiting physicians as fast as its explosive growth. It has dramatically increased the size of its medical school and under a new agreement with the medical association brought in a new retention benefit that will recognize physicians for the number of years they have practiced in Alberta.
“This has become a magnet for physicians of every kind,” said Buick. A combination of high pay rates, specialized research positions and the new primary care networks has led the province to a 20 per cent increase in physicians in the last five
Dell
…and again from The Star:
The new system has also virtually eliminated the physician shortage in Alberta. If a patient doesn’t have a family doctor, the primary care network will find him one.
“There is no such thing as not having a family doctor,” said Buick. “It’s not that hard. It didn’t take that big a change.”
Enjoy Windy Bill, I know how much you value the truth.
Dell
You have posted eight comments in nine minutes. Try to concentrate your thoughts. You’ll enjoy life more. — Garth
Referring to Sean P. Hogan
Garth tsk tsk my friend. How bout this PJW blogger. Oh wait a minute he is on your side of the fence.
I couldn’t care less what the political stripe is. Anyone who bombards liek that gets cut off. — Sheriff
Randy wrote
>Dion is starting to shine and Harper is starting to >fade fast.
ROFL. Yeah right. I guess that is why Dion is so high in the polls.
Irene wrote.
>You keep harping about Dion’s unpopularity in >Quebec. Quebec is but one province waiting to >get the money from the budget that they were >promised if they supported the NeoCons.
Dion isn’t that popular in the other provinces either. The reason for that is that he just doesn’t look prime ministerial but rather he looks exactly like what he is. An academic. Of course Harper isn’t much better but poll after poll indicates that Harper is considered to be a far more prime ministerial than Dion.
It is nothing against Dion personally but that is the reality.
Non Observer, je crois que 90% des Québécois qui ont participé dans le sondage étaient des séparatistes …
Une difference, à mon côté.
-R
Garth -
I agree with you. Dion is a total egghead. He is rather
DELETED
Angry Canadian says –
“Having been a die-hard card carrying Conservative all my life, blaw blaw”.
Sure Angry, I can smell a liberal lie from a mile away. You never were, what you claim. It’s a very transparent lie.
Comparaing Dion to JFK is like comparing an apple to a prune. I will let you guess who is the prune. But I will give you a hint. It isn’t JFK.
Isn’t it about time to start seriously presenting the Liberals as a welcoming home for Progressive Conservatives who are upset at their party of reasoned civility being hijacked?
My understanding is that Parlimentary rules don’t allow them to do this directly.
By Tim N on 06.21.07 2:19 pm
You are right Tim, you cannot call a member dishoenst even when they are, that’s why the PM deliberately lied about the husbands of Jennings and Robitaille, he knew he could safely lie when all the time he knew the facts.
By pjw on 06.21.07 3:28 pm
Mr. Speaker. I said the honorable member was a liar it is true and I am sorry for it. The honorable member member may place the punctuation where he pleases.
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan – British dramatist and former MP – on being asked to apologize for calling a fellow MP a liar.
Perhaps what we really need are more folks like Mr. Sheridan.
I keep saying he needs to spike his hair and get an earring but nobody seems to take it seriously.
Isn’t it about time to start seriously presenting the Liberals as a welcoming home for Progressive Conservatives who are upset at their party of reasoned civility being hijacked?
By Jim on 06.21.07 5:05 pm
Since the days of Martin as Finance Minister, the Liberal party has been conservative on the fiscal front.
Fifty-two per cent of Canadians say they don’t want Mr. Dion to become prime minister, compared with only 20 per cent who do. Twenty-eight per cent had no opinion.
By Observer on 06.21.07 4:02 pmThank you for finally providing some backup for your often outrageous claims. I noted that even in Quebec, the numbers were nothing close to what you were quoting earlier.
Yes, these numbers are nothing to write home about, but they’re not as bad as they might seem. However, it’s probably worth noting that in the last election, 63.7% of Canadians – in the only poll that matters – didn’t want Stephen Harper to be prime minister, either.
Garth tsk tsk my friend. How bout this PJW blogger. Oh wait a minute he is on your side of the fence.
I couldn’t care less what the political stripe is. Anyone who bombards like that gets cut off. — Sheriff
By Steve(Coveralls) on 06.21.07 4:30 pm
Yes I am going to vote for Garth again, but I am not a Liberal sorry! I would vote for him if he was any colour but blue, there I draw the line…they have been a terrible disappointment.
By C. B. Innes on 06.21.07 3:28 pm
Actually this has been an ongoing problem for decades, but it is getting worse with every single free trade deal we sign and much more dangerous. I was hoping upon hope that the Conservative government would actually look out for the health and safety of all Canadians and the welfare of farmers at home. Now, I’m wondering if I need a new home in which to hang my hat. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Tony utter such arrogant flippant words. I feel gob-smacked. L
By just wondering on 06.21.07 3:03 pm
Not necessary, she is going to win MacKay’s old riding, not thanks for the offer!
By pjw on 06.21.07 3:24 pm
I hope he enjoys his burgers on the BBQ tour because they don’t taste very good when you have knives sticking out of your back.
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.21.07 12:36 pm
The only knives are coming from the Cons and they must be very afraid! No one spends the time you folks do bashing someone unless they are scared to death of him. Why would you bother otherwise…I am just here to provide some balance….that’s why my litany of lies runs as often as it does!
By pjw on 06.21.07 1:40 pm
You have a come back for everything don’t you? You are just here to show balance, who do you think you are kidding. Looks like you are trying to be the one with the most posts or a blog cop. It is very apparent that if one has a different view than you do then you pick them apart. Now publish your book again, any fool can do that. Now here is balance for you. Dion is not a leader. Lizzy May is going to win in MacKay’s riding. The only thing she might hang on to is her deposit. Check your temperature, you have to be running a fever or you don’t know the Maritimes. Which one is it? Neither Dion or May are leaders.
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.21.07 6:05 pm
Bad day?
Hey Observer, after the cons lose government, you simply will not have anything to occupy your time as you wont be able to waste it trying to tell us how wonderful Big Steve is.
But don’t worry you can come and wash my car and walk my dog as I am quite sure you have the political aptitude to that.
On second thought – No you can’t walk my dog.
By Big L Man on 06.21.07 3:49 pm
Sorry but he won’t be available for another six years. Your dog and car will both be very old by then. ROFLMAO
Isn’t it about time to start seriously presenting the Liberals as a welcoming home for Progressive Conservatives who are upset at their party of reasoned civility being hijacked?
By Jim on 06.21.07 5:05 pm
Really? Have you purused the Quebec newspapers lately? It seems that it is fasionable in Quebec to depict the jewish people as fanatics and money hungry people. As you “progressive” want to fashion yourselves on Quebec models, you may to consider your role models. Quebec has no problem marginalizing its own residents.
Look up some their main street press and their cartoons – i.e. “la communaute juive courtise Dupmont” and “mario dumont courtise par la communaute juive”.
The only “leadership” attributes Harper displays that Dion doesn’t are strictly high school.
For all you Liberal religious fanatics out there I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but the average Canadian still thinks you are a thief and won’t vote for you until you publically clean up the mess. Garth maybe it’s time for you to retire and take Dion with you. You’re both way to tarred with corruption. I think it’s time to vote Green and send these idiots a message. Second choice is Tory. Should tell you something if you are smart enough to listen and learn.
Hey, Dumb F., what corruption are you hanging on me? Proof would be nice. — Garth
I’m posting in Welsh from now on until they provide posts in both official languages.
That’ll teach ‘em .
By Hunter Mars on 06.21.07 3:11 pm
And I shall take ancient Celtic, no make that Dutch!
De waarnemer is een totaal afval van neurale verbindingen. Zijn hersenen konden het best als appertife bij een lijst van Brie en limburgher kaas dienen.
There, etu Brutus!
Austin says “Observer: Clearly you feel threatened by Dion, since you have this over-arching need to slag him…â€
Garth – is that why you have this over-arching need to slag Stephen Harper?
By halton voter on 06.21.07 2:41 pm
Oh no. Garth and the rest of Canada has DAMN good reason to dislike harper…. greatly.
On the other hand oblivious has NO reason to dislike Dion. So his over-obsession with Dion seems more like fear for what he will become.
Oblivious fools no one here. Although his posts get oh so tiresome. It’s like listening to an old broken record.
You have a come back for everything don’t you? You are just here to show balance, who do you think you are kidding. Looks like you are trying to be the one with the most posts or a blog cop. It is very apparent that if one has a different view than you do then you pick them apart. Now publish your book again, any fool can do that. Now here is balance for you. Dion is not a leader. Lizzy May is going to win in MacKay’s riding. The only thing she might hang on to is her deposit. Check your temperature, you have to be running a fever or you don’t know the Maritimes. Which one is it? Neither Dion or May are leaders.
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.21.07 6:05 pm
So let me get this straight. You comment, and expect no one to answer you because your words are those of god? Get over it kiddo, your not THAT special. PJW responds because he speaks the truth, and likes to shut people like you down.
If you don’t like it or can’t handle it, then stop posting. It’s that simple.
It’s like listening to an old broken record.
By SJ on 06.21.07 8:12 pm
Actually, I was thinking more like a worn out 8-Track tape. Records were easy to get rid of, just WHACK them over your knee, and toss them in the trash.
But 8-tracks? Oh, no, those you have to spend time unravelling, yard after yard of meaningless cellophane!
Now, I’m wondering if I need a new home in which to hang my hat. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Tony utter such arrogant flippant words. I feel gob-smacked. L
By Angry Canadian on 06.21.07 5:44 pm
I agree with you that the problem is getting worse and will continue to get worse while the main focus of our political and economic elite is globalization (global corporatism).
Many Canadians are beginning to understand the dangers of globalizing food and other forms of production. People are looking for Canadian products especially in food. Even large chains such as Sobeys and Loblaws are starting to react to the demand for Canadian food. Unfortunately, one of the major elements of North American integration is the elimination of all rules of origin so that the consumer will be even less able to make informed choices.
When I was in the west this year I could not buy fruit from the Okanagan Valley except from local farmers. Even the large fruit stands did not have local produce and instead had cherries and apricots (in season in the Okanagan at the time) imported from California.
The whole focus of our government is on globalization no matter how inefficient and dangerous it may be to the health of both civil society and our economy.
Right wing ideology promotes the “right” of the global corporation to control the marketplace in its own self-interest.
De waarnemer is een totaal afval van neurale verbindingen. Zijn hersenen konden het best als appertife bij een lijst van Brie en limburgher kaas dienen.
There, etu Brutus!
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.21.07 7:57 pm
ROTFLMAO
Dion isn’t that popular in the other provinces either. The reason for that is that he just doesn’t look prime ministerial but rather he looks exactly like what he is. An academic. Of course Harper isn’t much better but poll after poll indicates that Harper is considered to be a far more prime ministerial than Dion.
It is nothing against Dion personally but that is the reality.
By van on 06.21.07 4:41 pm
Well Van, I beg to differ with your opinion on Mr. Dion. Mr. Dion is an honest, caring,intelligent and gentle man and would be very capable of being the next Prime Minister.
And Van, in case you don’t know it, this is the kind of man Canadians want to be their leader. Just wait until they get to know him. You said it yourself, “An Academic” That means he’s got a lot more smarts than those blind yahoo’s who are currently blundering & lying their way ruining our great country.
As for polls, the only ones that count are on election day.
Right wing ideology promotes the “right†of the global corporation to control the marketplace in its own self-interest.
By C. B. Innes on 06.21.07 9:04 pm
Simply read John Ralston Saul’s book ‘The Collapse of Globalism and the re-invention of the world’ and you, too, shall know the desperation they are dealing with to keep their dream alive, when reality has already told them that they have imminently FAILED!
I would have liked to have been there! Perhaps I’ll get a chance to see him in person this summer out west.
I will say the same thing I have said in other blogs: Stephane Dion is a genuinely nice guy. He’s honest, hardworking, hokey, and here to stay: the 4H’s of what Canada needs and wants in a leader.
Dion gets things done with the iron fist in the velvet glove as opposed to ham-fisted Harper and his divisive tactics.
Stephane Dion will become Canada’s next great Prime Minister. It might take a while, but as I said before, Dion is hardworking and unlikely to give up on what he knows Canadians want, and need to have accomplished to be again truly great in the eyes of Canada and the world.
Dion’s rising star scares the uber-cons’ agenda, and for that I am truly grateful.
Thanks, Garth, for keeping on putting the issues the government is afraid to show Canadians out there!
BTW, am I allowed to send some $ specifically to Dion AND still support my local MP?
Angry Canadian, you may just have crystalised CNG’s modus operendi: Caveat Emptor, Let the Buyer Beware.
The commercial Harper Party conservatives are making sure that there is no safeguard that the ordinary Canadian can count on. Not in our food, not in our foreign affairs, not in our lives. It’s all about looking after your own; and the rest… well, too bad.
Harper Party = Buyer Beware!
you don’t like it or can’t handle it, then stop posting. It’s that simple.
By SJ on 06.21.07 8:12 pm
My, my another country heard from. Aren’t we a righteous little thing!!! You are now a blog cop, well you know what whistle you can blow and its not a train whistle. LMAO
Garth, do you have an opinion on Tony’s comments in the House?
Angry Canadian:
Great post. I was unaware of the issues you’ve raised about food safety.
I guess the “buyer beware” label applies to all of the voters like me who voted CONservative.
What an absolute shameful response.
By the way, thanks for the clean food.
Dion is a loser. Plain and simple.
You have posted eight comments in nine minutes. Try to concentrate your thoughts. You’ll enjoy life more. — Garth
By Sean P. Hogan on 06.21.07 8:18 am
Why did you delete my post? I posted nothing insulting or with any insults or rude words. The reason I posted that many times is that people were responding to me. You know this and yet you still try to ridicule me for posting. Why didn’t you delete Jackie Chan’s post accusing people of being Nazi like? Come on Turner, try to appear to be balanced just once.
Garth tsk tsk my friend. How bout this PJW blogger. Oh wait a minute he is on your side of the fence.
I couldn’t care less what the political stripe is. Anyone who bombards liek that gets cut off. — Sheriff
By Steve(Coveralls) on 06.21.07 4:30 pm
Get this guy, so, I’m bombarding your site now? If you count my posts for one day, you will see many others with a higher count. You know this already though. That’s the thing I can’t fathom.
Steve, you’re right, it is because I disagree with him that he targets me. I guess he expects me to space out my posts and I guess he expects me not to respond to others who address me.
So Garth, I’ve counted 20 posts by Bill on the 21st. I posted 9 and you deleted one of them that contained no insults. And you tell Steve there’s no bias. Hah!
By SJ on 06.21.07 8:12 pm
My, my another country heard from. Aren’t we a righteous little thing!!! You are now a blog cop, well you know what whistle you can blow and its not a train whistle. LMAO
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.22.07 4:39 am
Beware of too sublime a sense…
Dion is a loser. Plain and simple.
By Andrew on 06.22.07 9:29 am
Dion won the Liberal leadership after a 12 month campaign … where Ignatieff emerged as the frontrunner with 30% support from the grassroots Liberals, while Rae came in second with 19% grassroots support. Dion had only 17% grassroots supports and both Ignatieff and Rae had more support from Liberal Quebec grassroots party members than did Dion.
After the first vote reflecting the grassroots support, the convention became a “brokered” affair, where votes were negotiated and traded. Suddenly, Dion emerged from third place and then won the whole thing, leaving Iggy behind in his dust by a vote of 55% to 45%.
Dion may have won the Liberal battle, but will he win the Canadian election war?? I doubt it, and so do most of the disappointed grassroots Liberals.
I tend to suggest getting ahold of a copy of JK Galbraith’s “The New Industrial State” if you want to get a handle on what keeps them having at it anyways.
Its still as pertinent as it ever was.
Dion is a loser. Plain and simple.
By Andrew on 06.22.07 9:29 am
Check your mirror Andy and you will see a life long loser staring back at you .
We are all full up with DIon bashers .
Beat it !
You know this and yet you still try to ridicule me for posting. Why didn’t you delete Jackie Chan’s post accusing people of being Nazi like? Come on Turner, try to appear to be balanced just once.
By Sean P. Hogan on 06.22.07 9:49 am
Hmmmm! More high decibel whining from the King of sour grapes .
You got deleted because you post tripe.
You’re lucky Garth even allows you space on this Blog .
http://tinyurl.com/38e4a3
Yea, Allan Gregg called himself 1,000 times and these are the results .
ROTFLMAO .
You are transparent .
Who can forget the attempted smear campaign against Liberal Bains?
This is the Prime Minister of Canada. How shameful!
By pjw on 06.21.07 12:25 pm
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!!!
Once again, Thank You pjw,
Geo
you don’t like it or can’t handle it, then stop posting. It’s that simple.
By SJ on 06.21.07 8:12 pm
My, my another country heard from. Aren’t we a righteous little thing!!! You are now a blog cop, well you know what whistle you can blow and its not a train whistle. LMAO
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.22.07 4:39 am
Again, you people are kidding right? Did I use any profane words? Did I tell you to buzz off? Did you even read the entire post?
You know you do a fantastic job of out of context replying. I think you are no mere shadow dweller. You my non-friend, have connections deeper than you share with us all.
In any event, my post was logical and simple. And it still stands. If you can’t take the heat kiddo, get outta the kitchen.
Is that to insulting, or can you not just agree and keep things civil and IN CONTEXT?
Dion may have won the Liberal battle, but will he win the Canadian election war?? I doubt it, and so do most of the disappointed grassroots Liberals.
By Observer on 06.22.07 10:34 am
I will give you this, if Dion runs against Bernard Lord, it might be a contest, but if it is Harper, Dion will crush the Almighty liar!
http://tinyurl.com/38e4a3
Yea, Allan Gregg called himself 1,000 times and these are the results .
ROTFLMAO .
You are transparent .
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.22.07
The G & M are anti-Dion and pro-Ignatieff .. otherwise they wouldn’t have published a poll that was unfavourable to their Liberal party.
Dion’s days are numbered now, because the Ignatieff Liberals are not going to save Dion’s arse by turning over the Liberal Ontario strongholds to Dion who can’t even carry Quebec where he is despised.
Ontarians do not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec .. believe it.
Ontarians do not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec .. believe it.
By Observer on 06.22.07 1:08 pm
I don’t . Keep
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Hmmmm! More high decibel whining from the King of sour grapes .
You got deleted because you post tripe.
You’re lucky Garth even allows you space on this Blog .
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.22.07 11:49 am
Yeah right
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I don’t want another PM from Quebec either but I don’t want any PM pandering to them either like Harper did. But it was interesting to see the divide among the Libs though.
Its still as pertinent as it ever was.
By Brian Dondo on 06.22.07 10:49 am
Okay, I will check it out, although I may have read it a while back.
Have a good weekend. We are off to get demolished by the grandsons again! LOL
http://tinyurl.com/38e4a3
Yea, Allan Gregg called himself 1,000 times and these are the results .
ROTFLMAO .
You are transparent .
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.22.07
The G & M are anti-Dion and pro-Ignatieff .. otherwise they wouldn’t have published a poll that was unfavourable to their Liberal party.
Dion’s days are numbered now, because the Ignatieff Liberals are not going to save Dion’s arse by turning over the Liberal Ontario strongholds to Dion who can’t even carry Quebec where he is despised.
Ontarians do not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec .. believe it.
By Observer on 06.22.07 1:08 pm
Fear is a strong emotion Oblivious. Don’t let it overtake you.
How about something new for a change eh? Something POSITIVE perhaps? Your negativity brings this whole board down.
I think many would agree with me.
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SJ, that’s nothing, try reading every
DELETED
I don’t want another PM from Quebec either but I don’t want any PM pandering to them either like Harper did. But it was interesting to see the divide among the Libs though.
By Sean P. Hogan on 06.22.07 2:23 pm
So how do you expect Harper can achieve a majority government without Quebec MPs? Do you believe that it’s sufficient to sweep Alberta and then proclaim to the rest of Canada that is the way to nirvana … and that Quebec or Ontario should not be pandered ?
If Harper hadn’t capped equalization payments to NL and NS, he would have lost all possibility of winning in Quebec and Ontario too. The Maritimes will never elect many CPC MPs, and the West is about tapped out for increases.
The only way Harper can win a majority is to improve CPC standings in Quebec and Ontario, and if that rankles you then start another party or vote Liberal. Go ahead and punish Harper ..that should make old Reform types happy.
When western Reform Conservatives tell us that they are “not pleased”, that only reveals their refusal to accept the reality of Canadian politics. If they are not patient with Harper and refuse to accept that there is a price to be paid for a majority government then they must accept a minority Conservative government or worse.
When western Reform Conservatives tell us that they are “not pleasedâ€, that only reveals their refusal to accept the reality of Canadian politics. If they are not patient with Harper and refuse to accept that there is a price to be paid for a majority government then they must accept a minority Conservative government or worse.
By Observer on 06.22.07 3:40 pm
Oh oh, it looks like Mr. Observer is waivering here…or worse….you mean like a Liberal government? LMAO
So,before we head out for the weekend, I thought I would SHOW you where Harper and his Goon Squad get their training from:
Congressman: Cheney challenges classified oversight
CIA documents show how it broke law
And we worry about al qaeda training camps thousands of miles away, eh? HA!
Enjoy the weekend!
Oh oh, it looks like Mr. Observer is waivering here…or worse….you mean like a Liberal government? LMAO
By pjw on 06.22.07 3:53 pm
Wavering he is indeed! Makes my weekend! LMAO!
Jerks in all parties who can’t stay the course. Dippers have their one-issue neoDeviates who will strategically vote Liberal to save their predilictions.
Liberals have their unfinished ongoing leadership contest because Dion is a total flop in Quebec .. and you can be certain that the Ignatieff Liberals will not deliver Ontario to Dion on a platter when he can’t even win in Quebec.
The Conservative party had snakes like Brison, Belinda, others who fled to the Liberals on the pretext that they could not accept the party discipline necessary to fend off the Liberal MSM and opposition parties tearing away at their minority government. Then we have those “faithful” CA Conservatives who think that Quebec and Ontario should just flip over to the Conservative party without question. They gently complain about “pandering” to Quebec as if all they want is a minority government.
As it stands now, the Liberals under Dion are an electoral flop because Canadians will refuse to elect another Liberal prime minister from Quebec even in Quebec. If Canadians want a majority government, their only choice is the Conservatives, and if they don’t there will be unstable government and frequent elections.
Canadians will get what they deserve .. and those Liberals on this fine forum can continue to delude to avoid reality.
Seems you are deluding enough for all of us. — Garth
As it stands now, the Liberals under Dion are an electoral flop because Canadians will refuse to elect another Liberal prime minister from Quebec even in Quebec. If Canadians want a majority government, their only choice is the Conservatives, and if they don’t there will be unstable government and frequent elections.
By Observer….
Here are some reasons why the CPC will be decimated in the next election…
Mr. Harper lied on Income Trusts, not exactly what a leader should be doing. He actually encouraged seniors to put their retirement funds into Trusts before the election and then slammed them on Halloween night with a tax, something he railed against Mr. Goodale for even considering.
Oh well, so Stevie is a liar.
Then of course on day one of his government, he decided to take an unelected person from the Province of Quebec and make him his Public Works Minister, this was not unprecedented but rather amazingly he appointed him to the Senate so that no one from the opposition would have direct access to question him, not only that, but Mr. Harper was the one who campaigned on an elected senate and the first thing he does is appoint one. Then of course, the Emerson affair!
How about his letter to the poor widow who is waiting for veteran’s benefits promising that if he is elected she will get them immediately, of course, she is still waiting. Like all his promises, they were intended only to get votes, and it appears he had no intention of living up to his word.
Next his Defence Minister has lied at least three times, we are aware of, in the House of Commons. Twice on the detainees, and once on the funeral of soldiers file. Mr. Harper supports Mr. O’Connor, and why not, one liar supporting another, seems reasonable. Mr. Harper, in supporting Mr. O’Connor however, lays the blame on General Hillier, which is a shame, because here is a good, honest and capable leader of our troops. But Mr. Harper is more interested in campaigning than supporting our troops. It wouldn’t look good if he fired his lying and incompetent Defence Minister, therefore, let’s crap on the troops.
Mr. Harper, before the last election, promised an open, honest, accountable and transparent government. The above already proves he was lying there.
But not only does Mr. Harper muzzles his MPs, and now we are getting a sense why (most of them are incompetent), but he also hides from the free press. His Finance Minister cannot release the information regarding income trusts, with the exception of 18 pages of black out propaganda. His Foreign Minister is now being questioned regarding a file that his department said never existed and now has been released, blacked out of course. One of his MPs inadvertently and conveniently forgot to declare an $8000 gift.
The Atlantic Accord has been another incident where the Prime Minister promised one thing to get elected, then changed it after and supplied two options to the provinces, blackmailing them into acceptance of less than was promised prior to the election. The fact that Bill Casey has studied the plan and deemed it a betrayal to the people of Nova Scotia and has put his political career on the line and the fact that three premiers feel the same way about the promise prior to the election and the resulting budget that changed the accord in their opinion leaves one with the distinct impression the Prime Minister misled or outright lied. The idea that everyone is out of step but Harper is a bit far fetched especially in light of all the other lies taking place within the CPC.
The now infamous quote from Foreign Affairs Minister MacKay:
“We will not throw a member out of caucus for voting his conscience,†MacKay said. “There will be no whipping, flipping, hiring or firing on budget votes as we saw with the Liberal government.â€
This was said in the House with the Prime Minister present, two week prior to Bill Casey’s vote on the budget. Mr. MacKay’s explanation “ I never thought Bill would vote against the budget.†This excuses the blatant lie?
Why didn’t Mr. MacKay retract his infamous statement the day after he made it? It was all part of their constant campaigning in the House to make the Liberals look bad by comparison. In other words, we don’t muzzle our MPs on matters of conscious, you do! The foremost priority of this government is to bash Liberals in the House of Commons, governing second.
Stockwell Day, upholding the tough on crime promise of the Conservatives tells the Canadian public that a ban on handguns would only lead to higher gun crimes as evidenced in the U.K. The only problem is her lied, gun crimes went down in the U.K. 16% in 2006 from the previous year. Seems like Mr. Day must have a reason for misleading the Canadian public, could it be that the gun lobby got to him?
And of course, there is the manual of the CPC, instructing their committees chairs in the House of Commons on how to destroy the democratic process. Things like interviewing witnesses in advance and if what they have to say can be construed as unfavourable to the government, then there are specific steps one can take to obstruct or shut down the committee.
These are just a few of the things that are happening under the so called leadership of Mr. Harper, I would suggest maybe Mr. Lord might be a better choice for the CPC. Certainly Stephen Harper is not a leader or if he is one, certainly not the kind of leader he promised. The facts were bear out a leader without integrity. In fact, not the kind of leader Canada deserves. So being critical of the other party leaders could be a shade hypocritical by those who claim Mr. Harper is a leader. Personally I think Mr. Harper is an embarrassment to Canada and Canadians. His comment to the Leader of the Opposition regarding his lack of military service and therefore was unqualified to make judgment on the lies of the Defence Minister showed the absolute lack of class and unworthiness of this Prime Minister.
His comments in the house are less than Prime Ministerial. Harper accused Liberal MP Marlene Jennings of putting her spouse on the Immigration and Refugee Board and Lucienne Robillard, a former Immigration Minister of installing her husband as well. Deliberately trying to mislead the Canadian public and defame what he perceives the enemy.
In fact, Robillard’s ex-husband, Jacques Lasalle, was appointed to the board in 1990 when Brian Mulroney was prime minister, and Jennings’ husband, Luciano del Negro, joined the board in 1996, before his wife was first elected to the Commons in 1997.
Harper’s communications director, Sandra Buckler, was quoted as saying: “The former Liberal government never reimbursed Canadian taxpayers when they used the Challenger (government jet) for non-government business.”
In fact, Liberals produced reams of cancelled cheques and receipts from former prime minister Paul Martin, reimbursing the federal treasury.
Who can forget the attempted smear campaign against Liberal Bains?
This is the Prime Minister of Canada. How shameful!
Canadians will get what they deserve .. and those Liberals on this fine forum can continue to delude to avoid reality.
Seems you are deluding enough for all of us. — Garth
By Observer on 06.22.07 6:09 pm
………………..
Why thank you Garth … btw, the issue of your brand of politics arose back in this topic thread of the forum, and Innes was also confused with my definition of you.
Are you a:
a) Red Tory,
b) progressive conservative,
c) conservatative Liberal,
d) outright Liberal,
e) None of the above.
You did tell us what your political stripping was about 6 weeks ago, and I forgot which and labelled you a “red tory”, to which Innes objected.
Thanks ….
You did tell us what your political stripping was about 6 weeks ago, and I forgot which and labelled you a “red toryâ€, to which Innes objected.
Thanks ….
By Observer on 06.22.07 7:22 pm
If you must label . Try Progressive Conservative Liberal .
Satisfied ?
If you must label . Try Progressive Conservative Liberal .
Satisfied ?
By Helfarch Mawrth on 06.22.07 7:44 pm
Sounds “belinda-ish” to me … if not outright contradictory … !!!
Progressive Conservative Liberal = Regressive Liberal Conservative
Will be interesting to see the comments about Comuzzi joining the Conservative Party. What say you Dion admirers?
Will be interesting to see the comments about Comuzzi joining the Conservative Party. What say you Dion admirers?
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.23.07 7:53 am
If that what he chooses to do, be my guest.
C.B Innes -When I was in the west this year I could not buy fruit from the Okanagan Valley except from local farmers. Even the large fruit stands did not have local produce and instead had cherries and apricots (in season in the Okanagan at the time) imported from California.
Good post but you must of meant last year or prior to 2 weeks ago. I live in the Okanogan Valley, Southern most point & the cheeries have only ripened in the last week & are now being picked. Apricots will probably be another couple of weeks before they are ready. The first ripen fruit which is cheeries starts in Osoyoos followed by Oliver about a week later & so on down the line etc. to Vernon. Also, most orchards have their own fruit stands & when their fruit comes on line, they do not import any forign fruit that is ready in BC. Would make for bad business. Maybe you were in the Frazer Valley though because they grow mostly vegetables. Once BC fruit becames available, they would probably be buying only BC fruit to sell.
Sorry Garth if I got off topic but just needed to clarify this.
Sorry, it was last year.
You are incorrect about at least one and maybe two of the large fruit stands in the valley.
We drove down the road a few kilometers and stopped at a small farm stand where we were able to purchase local cherries and apricots (a bit damaged by a hail storm but delicious anyway). He were also able to buy local cherries at the tourist bureau. Other than that everywhere we stopped in BC and other parts of the west were selling only California cherries. We were disappointed. In order to get Canadian grown fresh strawberries we had to pick our own at a u-pick in Alberta.
The farmer whose stand we visited was considering selling his operation and moving because he was having so much trouble marketing his produce. In fact, he told us that some establishments were importing U.S. or Mexican produce and labeling them as Canadian grown although I saw no evidence of that because I could not find anything even labeled Canadian.
The farmer whose stand we visited was considering selling his operation and moving because he was having so much trouble marketing his produce. In fact, he told us that some establishments were importing U.S. or Mexican produce and labeling them as Canadian grown although I saw no evidence of that because I could not find anything even labeled Canadian.
By C. B. Innes on 06.23.07 1:53 pm
That farmer was correct when he said some establishments were labeling them as Canadian Grown. My son – in – laws cousin who has his own orchard & also is a fruit broker received a call from a store he supplies wanting to know why the fruit he had received were boxed BC fruit when it clearly wasn’t. It was too early for BC fruit.
You see, Robert always identifies on his boxes whose fruit this is so each farmer can be paid & these clearly were not marked. Turns out that it was US fruit packed in BC boxes. That shipment was pulled from the grocery store before it even hit the shelves. The seller did not get paid for those fruit.
Another example was 2 years ago on June 3 or 4th when I was visiting family in Calgary, the large fruit stand which I can’t remember the name, I think called The Cross Roads, was open for business with large advertisements in block letters, BC CHEERIES. Robert also supplies this fruit market with all the cherries he grows & buys from local farmers also labeled.
Well I live in the south Okanogan and a couple of days prior to going to Calgary, those cherries were still bulking & very green. Clearly false advertisement by the seller to sell fruit. ANY cherries coming on line prior from mid to late June are NOT BC cherries. Fruit stands in this area do open before the local fruit is ready selling honey, jams, etc. & yes, probably California fruit labeled as such but when the BC fruit comes on line, they only sell their own. On the other hand, grocery stores will sell local & Mexican fruit or US even when our fruit is on line.
Will be interesting to see the comments about Comuzzi joining the Conservative Party. What say you Dion admirers?
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.23.07 7:53 am
No loss. Zero sum gain for the neo-rightists .
You can have ‘im .
Will be interesting to see the comments about Comuzzi joining the Conservative Party. What say you Dion admirers?
By THE SHADOW KNOWS on 06.23.07 7:53 am
Good luck Mr. Comuzzi. Hope you are happier with your new party.
SJ, that’s nothing, try reading every
DELETED
By Sean P. Hogan on 06.22.07 3:21 pm
There we go again. Garth is deleting my posts and they contain no insults whatsoever. But ole Jackie can compare people to Nazis and that’s allowed. Amazing. Thanks Garth for being so unpartisan.
So how do you expect Harper can achieve a majority government without Quebec MPs? Do you believe that it’s sufficient to sweep Alberta and then proclaim to the rest of Canada that is the way to nirvana … and that Quebec or Ontario should not be pandered?
I think he does need to win both Ontario and some of Quebec. But he risks losing his base when he becomes unprincipled by pandering to Quebec. He fell into the separatist trap by coming up with that motion. All he had to do was state that Quebec is a province within a united Canada. When you stand up to the separatists, you gain more than by pandering to them.
As for voting in another party or perhaps Liberal. I will never vote Liberal, and neither NDP. But if the CHP were to run a candidate in my riding, I would give them serious consideration.
As for the Atlantic Accord, I had previously noted that Harper was doing this to gain in other areas of the country while losing a small number in the Maritimes. Its a calculated risk. But here’s the thing, he should have been upfront from the beginning. I don’t approve of someone going against their word, even when I agree with the final decision. If you can’t be upfront, what else would you do?
Let’s say that the CPC do get their majority and then let’s say that they keep their current course. What do you say then to those who were told to wait for a majority to see the real conservative plan?