From my seat in the House of Commons.
Two weeks from tomorrow the Harper administration will present its Throne Speech. The process is elaborate, with MPs summoned from their seats in the House of Commons by a dude in a nice hat with a big rod. He raps on the Commons door with it a few times, is admitted by the Speaker, and then orders the commoners to the Senate.
Down the hall, MPs cluster around the doors to the red chamber, and strain to hear the speech read by the G-G. At her right hand sits the prime minister. Before her are the Supremes. On their benches to either side are the honourable senators. In the hallway are the actual elected representatives of the people.
How could the symbolism be more perfect?
The Throne speech will be followed by a debate and then a vote. If the vote fails, the government falls. There’s an election.
I’m told this almost never happens. I also hear growing indications opposition MPs, at least Liberals, may not have the desire at this time to bring down Mr. Harper’s regime. My colleague, Bryon Wilfert, whom the media keeps calling a Dion insider, was repeating this to every microphone and camera that came his way over the weekend. I’d say that was not by accident.
Obviously I am not in the inner circle. Hell, even my Siberian doesn’t trust me. I’m quite sure the leader will make up his own mind, and arrive at the correct strategic decision. The next national caucus meeting will be one of the most interesting in ages. If the Bloc Quebecois really isn’t blowing smoke, and withdraws support from the Harper crew, then all eyes will be on the Liberal benches. What will the MPs do?
“The question is as follows…”
Like everyone else, I’ll wait for the speech, read it, and decide. But at the end of the day, it will be about pledges and promises. They may sound good, even grand. Like, “we will never tax your income trusts,’ or, “we will lower your taxes,” or, “we will give families choice in child care,” or “we will not overtax you and run up a surplus,” or “we will be honest and not cheat on the election.” That kind of thing.
“All those opposed will please rise.â€
However, my decision to stand and vote for the fall of the government will be based on actions, not rhetoric. When the clerk calls my name I’ll be thinking about the Arctic ice melting. Of Dave and Loreen losing $109,000 in life savings. Of an undisciplined spending spree. Of muzzled, impotent, unresponsive MPs. Of the shamed ordeal of gay couples. Of slander and sleaze and the politics of negativity. Of broken promises, no apologies. Of opportunity lost – a moment in time when there was a chance to do politics right, and the moment was squandered. John Baird’s feigned bluster. Jim Flaherty’s heckling. Ian Brodie’s threats. Stephen Harper’s taunts as he plays politics with soldiers’ sacrifices. Jay Hill’s smirk. The arrogance of a government that campaigns, when the people want governing.
Yes, the timing may be off. We might not win. I might not win. But if winning is my motivation, rather than standing up against intolerance, incompetence, betrayal and deception, then I serve myself, not the people.
“Mr. Turner, Halton.â€
198 comments ↓
I’m quite sure the leader will make up his own mind, and arrive at the correct strategic decision.-Garth
Of course…since when did a Liberal care about the country over winning power? Thanks for the perfect admittance of guilt Garth….Liberals have and always will only care about winning…..I suspect many Liberals will be sick that day and you will do exactly as your told…
You inspire me. — Garth
Calgary and Edmonton town-hall attendees are counting on you to investigate the use
of depleted uranium in our province and another important matter.
So, without anymore beating around the bush Garth, are you voting against the throne speech or are you going to be whipped by your leader.
Whom do do serve Garth. The constituents or your leader.
We’ll see.
I am sure you will. — Garth
How about …. Instead of your wants , demands , etc. , you represent your constituents….. sorry about the above mangled post .
Garth,
Could you shed some light about youth turnout at your townhall meetings: See these disappointing stats from the 2000 federal election:
http://www.niagara-news.com/v37issues/v37i12/politics.shtml?youthvoting
Might proportional voting bring young voters to the polls? Or is the basic problem deeper and high schools need to mandate civics as a compulsory course.
If the throne speech elicits another federal election, if history repeats itself, the over 58-aged population may heavily influence the results. Harper may disapprove of how they vote! This group could look upon Dion favourably. L0L
Seems to me Garth that you were elected by a majority Conservative-minded voters in Halton.
They may not share your venomous personal opinion of the Harper government.
You, of course, attract the radical fringe of complainers and hatemongerers along with Liberals who miss their power and now think THEIR opinions should now be yours.
Are you really certain that voting against the Conservative government is truly representing the Conservative majority Halton riding?
We’ve all learned a momentous amount in the past 19 months. — Garth
One of those moments again Garth. Which path to take? How agonizing I am sure.
I guess the question is – What price, if any, do you have to pay for the benefits of being affiliated with a mainstream party?
I’m sure your leader and your colleagues recognize and appreciate your individual efforts that have been borne of principle, engagement and service. And perhaps as a result of your individual efforts on behalf of the Liberal Party you will be granted the opportunity to vote as an individual, to vote your conscience, to vote your principles.
You certainly deserve that as far as I am concerned.
But because your individual vote so intimately affects the Liberal Party’s direction as well as the outside world’s view of the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party Leader perhaps your individual efforts and accomplishments are still not enough of a price for the benefits that you have accrued, participating in committees, discussing and debating important Canadian priorities amongst engaged, interested and motivated colleagues, and being a part of the so-called “legitimate” political machinery.
Perhaps all of the significant things you have done for the Liberal Party are not enough of a price Garth.
Perhaps in this case – the vote on the Speech from the Throne – you need to pay a personal price and vote with the direction the Leader sets.
Like I said – It’s one of those moments again – a crossroads – Ay yai yai!?!
I am quite certain you will make what you believe to be the right decision for your constituents as you always endeavour to do Garth.
But let me remind you the last time you voted for something you were personally involved in bringing to Canadians. You remember. And I am quite certain that you recall how the Harper acolytes have been attempting to misconstrue the way you voted ever since (unsuccessfully I might add).
If you (and your leader) do decide to let you vote your conscience (against what the rest of the Liberal Party is doing) I would urge you to use the following line when talking to the media about your decision to not vote with the Liberal Party:
“Since I was originally elected as a Conservative by the good citizens of the Halton riding I have decided to vote WITH Prime Minister Harper to BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT”
Good luck with your decision my friend.
Sincerely,
MB
It would be very interesting to be a fly on the wall, listening to these ultra right-wing dictatorial fascists — on the other hand, I may fall asleep listening to their constant drivel about Iran being a very big, nasty country!
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Cheney_to_address_top_secret_conservative_0928.html
As long as Stephane Dion is your leader, Garth, I don’t believe you will ever have to choose between serving your constituents or serving your leader. When you serve your constituents, you will be serving your leader. Anyone willing to thoughtfully examine Stephane Dion’s record will find it demonstrates his honesty, integrity and commitment to serving Canadians. He will not ask you to betray your constituents. He is far too honourable to do such a thing.
Come back to Calgary any time!! I loved your Town Hall.
Just a suggestion, ask/request/suggest that Mr. Dion and any competent “rightist” debater from the Liberals to engage in an spontaneous debate on issues of environment, economy, security and other significant issues of the day just before the throne speech and before an audience of Liberals of diverse opinions, both right and left, which audience will rate each debater’s performance. If Dion rates low, don’t pull the plug on the government. But if by miracle, he convinces you that he can be a good messenger of the Liberal platform, then vote against the throne.
Mr. Turner, everyone who supports the Liberals and are not paid by the party or who does not owe anything from Dion, will honestly tell you that the Leader is not a good messenger of the party.
Dion is a liability to the party. He is a burden to the Liberals.
Indeed, Harper is more exciting than Dion.
While Dion cannot be faulted for dilly-dallying in selecting representatives for each riding as he plans of being prepared for election in 2009, he has to be condemned for not relaying his personal apprehensions to the party. A person who is sick cannot be cured if he does not admit that he is sick.
Now, Dion is saying after the disastrous by-elections, that election is personality-driven. Hello??????!!!!!!
Are you, Mr. Dion, a neophyte politician? Don’t you know that George W. Bush is the President of USA? Issues may define the voters, but personalities always carry the day in any election.
Let’s hope and pray that the Throne Speech vote will not be another rerun of the crucial Third and Final Reading on the last Budget vote where some 25% of the Liberal MPs simply stayed home.
We are looking for leadership. We are looking for committment. We are looking for MPs who will take a stand, and not wimp out like Marc Garneau.
Former astronaut Marc Garneau confirmed on Sunday that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s ambivalence was one of the main reasons he announced his departure from politics earlier this week.
Widely considered as a star candidate in Quebec, Garneau said during an interview on CTV’s Question Period that Dion’s refusal to endorse two nomination bids — one in Westmount-Ville Marie in May and the other in the riding of Outremont last January — was a major decision for his political departure.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And quitters never win, and winners never quit.
This is not the sort of encouragement that Dion needs right now. He needs candidates and people who will stand up when the going gets tough, and not back off from an election battle.
Having taken responsibility for weak leadership in the Quebec byelections, Dion can now turn that around by acting like a strong leader.
That would do more than anything to break the myth of weak leadership. Otherwise, those who want to bring down this government now will start looking elsewhere, a situation which would only complicate matters more for Dion.
I realize that the decision is not easy, and it is not easy to establish priorities, but certainly a priority of the Dion Party should be to defeat the government rather than to prop it up for another session.
Dion needs sound advice at this time, and it is to be bold, to be strong, and very courageous, and to put actions to words.
Strength, honour and courage!
Unfortunately that trend of youth not voting carried through to the 2004 federal election.
http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=loi&document=report38&dir=rep&lang=e&textonly=false
What will it take to get young people voting again? Jeez, what am I saying, my daughter, whom I spoke to yesterday showed her total ignorance about Ontario’s referendum on proportional voting and expect my grandchild who turned 18 this year was even less informed.
Why don’t these younger people retain an interest in what’s happening in their own country? Are voters so turned off that they no longer regard anything that happens in Parliament as being important? It’s vital their interest be restored or democracy suffers.
Could Australia have the right idea in their paradoxial legislation mandating ‘compulsory voting’ in a democracy? How sad when voters have to be forced to exercise mandates that all citizens should recognize as being important to their future. What a jaded society, western countries have become. People living in other cultures would give their eye teeth to have what we take for granted. Ask the monks that are currently in jail that we fired on what their opinion is of cultures that ignore their right to exercise their ability to voice dissent and agreement.
I’m feeling very discouraged at the moment that both my daughter and granddaughter are so careless.
“But if winning is my motivation, rather than standing up against intolerance, incompetence, betrayal and deception, then I serve myself, not the people.”
What about winning for the people?
So, without anymore beating around the bush Garth, are you voting against the throne speech or are you going to be whipped by your leader.
Whom do do serve Garth. The constituents or your leader.
We’ll see.
I am sure you will. — Garth
By jim on 09.30.07 11:15 pm
I will ask you the same question i asked Harry, what is going to be in the throne speech Jim? Maybe unlike Harry, you might have a grown up response?
Dear Garth, follow your heart and instincts re-the haves and have nots in our country, your a good politician and a great Canadian so Sir I implore you to watch over Albertans from the dangers of what we know about depleted uranium and high temperature waste stations.(A BAD MIX) This is too serious an issue to be passed over and we rely on all Canadian leaders to look out for the safety of all Canadians. Be careful of those Ottawa @#$%ing lobbyist cartels who’s corporate interest don’t have a conscious for human life beyond the greedy goals of profit and riches for there master’s I hope they are not your masters too) IE power lines and Albertan ranchers (Bad Mix), d.u. tainted ammunition suppliers and nuclear power stations that trump all the common sense of using thermal energy…PS please get our troops home, get them home now! We are not invaders as Harper and Bush are trying to mold Canada into…This is not a good image for Canadians to the world. On the local housing issue sir I would be honored to give you a tour of my neighborhood here in Edmonton and introduce you to some of our less fortunate neighbours who live behind our dumpsters each night or in our river valley in makeshift plastic sheet homes. Its a sad state while our energy sector is providing fat steak in the mouths of the few benefactors with hardly enough crumbs to fall towards our fellow Canadians who don’t benefit from the present exploitation of her majesty the Queens energy resources…there I said everything I needed to say, good luck to you sir!
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Canada says his country wants an apology from the NDP for alleging that Canada’s defence staff essentially wrote Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s speech to Parliament last year. (Garth this guy is a puppet for Bush, I support the NDP for saying this and I hope your party will too…
Good morning Mr. Garth, So what are you going to do if Mr. Dion orders you to vote for the Throne Speech? Or, if he votes you to ‘be absent’? You are talking like you want to take a stand, follow your principles and vote against it. If you abstain, call in sick or vote for it all credibility will be lost on your part after this post.
When I read some of your posts, a song I really like comes to mind:
Bad boy, bad boy,
What ya going to do?
When they come for you?
Bad boy, bad boy….
Oh, and you better start carrying a straw, the muck is rising.
Cheers!
Jim, You forgot to ask him how many Liberal MPs will be no shows.
So, without anymore beating around the bush Garth, are you voting against the throne speech or are you going to be whipped by your leader.
Whom do do serve Garth. The constituents or your leader.
We’ll see.
I am sure you will. — Garth
By jim on 09.30.07 11:15 pm
Given the last part of Garth’s sumary of the Harper government, there’s no doubt in my mind how Garth is going to vote.
If he does otherwise, he would have been expelling hot air like the CPC caucus over the past months. But I believe that isn’t Garth.
So without calling a spade a spade, Garth’s told us how he’s going to vote and that would be ……. the motion.
Thanks Garth, your words are clear and concise. Some will see only Red or Blue, but the bigger picture is also important. For those who do not believe winning is everything, please tell that to the Reform/Alliance, nuff said on that hey.
If I may Garth, everything you have said is in my humble (un-educated opinion) true, but your boss and those who daily check the pluse of our nation and are responsible for all Canadains are tuned on the complete picture. This of course is called team work. There are individuals in each and every riding who like you have grave personal honest concerns. So you must think how best you now can convey your thoughts to your boss, if M. Dion is as many more each day believe him to be growing more confident, he should be able to handle this in the correct manner. I for one will not prejude him on eithier is acceptance or denial of the throne speach. PMSH just might hang himself in more false promises. (hey i think the PM will use the T.S. as a kickoff) Sorry CPC but I and millions of others can not even remember the five promises, but we do remember “Accountabilty” and “Better goverment for Canadains” your “Lost Tory Tour” also sent a clear and concise message……Where’s the Beef Mr PM”
Bon Chance Gartth
LOL – John G – power? Ah, how much of our taxpayer dollars have gone to buy Quebec in Harper’s lust for power?
You are very naive Sir.
Good man Garth, sounds like you will vote against the Throne Speech based on your strong principles and opposition to Stephen Harper as prime minister of Canada.
I hope all other Liberals follow your lead and defeat the government and precipitate a general federal election just before Xmas, because you and all your Liberal colleagues deserve a nice Xmas present.
Keep up the good work, Canadians will support you.
Your an ass hole turner. You will follow dions lead and you know it.
Yes, the timing may be off. We might not win. I might not win. But if winning is my motivation, rather than standing up against intolerance, incompetence, betrayal and deception, then I serve myself, not the people.
Precisely! Garth, if MP’s vote on any other basis, they are simply unworthy of being an MP. It is a decision about the state of Canada, not a political party.
The real test well come on that day, because the majority, YES, the majority, of Canadians want the Harper government obliterated.
His greatest international achievement todate is being a member of The Three Stooges of global climate change
On the home front he has destroyed the lives of many Canadians, who now are too old, and too feeble, to recoup from his lieing fiscal policies.
The MP’s who speak for us should exhibit, by their vote, the outrage we feel towards this meglamaniac moron of a PM, and his party.
It will be the actions of the MP’s that will determine their future with the people, not some columnist, poll, or stupid attack ad.
Pass it on to Stephane Dion, that the vote is not merely for or against the Harper regime, but against the major political parties as well.
Thanks for sharing with us the details as far as you know them.
Too bad we cannot replace Harper with the GG. She has more integrity and intelligence than the entire CPC party members do.
” … my decision to stand and vote for the fall of the government will be based on actions, not rhetoric. ”
that would be truly a historic moment.
Garth, just keep your halo clean and dreadnaught….this to shall pass. Fate keeps on hapening.
“When in that House MP’s divide,
If they’ve a brain and cerebellum too,
They have to leave the brain outside,
And vote just as their leaders tell ‘em to.”
Garth,
Jim, You forgot to ask him how many Liberal MPs will be no shows.
By KPK on 10.01.07 7:33 am
This is a valid point. I will be noting every MP who fails to show, fails to perform their sworn DUTY of voting. They will live in infamy as cowards and unworthy of ever being held as Honourable. I hope the public does the same. No slithering away into the shadows.
I see Leasa and Catherine have taken their silly pills again this morning. When a person is elected in a riding they are to represent the whole riding, not just those that voted for them. Duh.
Their constituents include people from all political stripes. If they only favour those that voted for them (like Conservative do) then they aren’t doing their job.
Seems to me Garth that you were elected by a majority Conservative-minded voters in Halton.
They may not share your venomous personal opinion of the Harper government.
You, of course, attract the radical fringe of complainers and hatemongerers along with Liberals who miss their power and now think THEIR opinions should now be yours.
Are you really certain that voting against the Conservative government is truly representing the Conservative majority Halton riding?
We’ve all learned a momentous amount in the past 19 months. — Garth
By Lorraine on 10.01.07 12:00 am
Seems to you? Are you running some kind of polling agency? Seems to me, that many people on the other than Conservative side may have voted CPC for two main reasons, 1) because of Adscam and the Liberals had violated the voters trust. 2) Mr. Harper promised an open, transparent and accountable government. The second would have been very attractive to the first set of voters, the Liberal miscontents if you like. Now that Mr. Harper has shown he is devious by the way they shuffled the campaign funds, and the way he tried to subvert the democratic process in the committees, and the way he has muzzled his MPs, I think all those former Liberals will vote Liberal once again in Halton. Secondly, there are precious few MPs that have worked as hard as Garth to bring the issues to the people and while you are very partisan, I think that will sit well with many voters in Halton. I am also very partisan, not for the Liberals, but this is the second party in as many elections that has lied their way into power, and I have had enough with both of them, in fact, I think party politics will eventually destroy democracy in Canada. But many voters love liars, and will continue to vote for them, you are probably one of them.
As far as you discerning that Halton is a riding of conservative minded people, I would agree to a point, I believe most conservatives in Halton would be progressive conservatives not CPC conservatives.
Your an ass hole turner. You will follow dions lead and you know it.
By Garthsfanclub on 10.01.07 8:26 am
You wouldn’t be a CPC supporter by chance?
Sadly in line with the tenor set by our troll patrol on this thread, here are excerpts from Susan Riley’s depressing observations on current Canadian politics in to-day’s Ottawa Citizen -
“Was there ever a time when political campaigns focused on competing visions for the country and not on character assassination? Perhaps, but it seems very long ago. …
“There are no competing visions these days, only warring gimmicks. And you don’t reveal them too soon, lest your opponents steal them, or, if your idea backfires, make gains in the polls by denouncing them. …
Politicians “… all hate gimmicks, except for their own. And everywhere you look in politics you find liars, frauds, petty crooks and flinty-eyed bullies. Don’t take my word for it. I’m just passing on what I hear.”
Riley illustrates with specific references to what’s currently happening federally and in Ontario. Worth reading at
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=4e1d94ae-63f5-4e1f-acac-3129c87c1960&p=1
Offered in support of my allegation that it is parties and politicians, and not our current electoral system, that brought us to this state, and that changing the system from direct to mixed/proportional representation will not change the ways of politicians or parties.
If you have wayward children, do you beat, sorry – “reinforce” them – into line, or do you just add more children?
By canuck on 09.30.07 11:37 pm
By Canuck on 10.01.07 2:52 am
I respectively disagree with you that a new, more “proportional” voting system will stimulate the public to get back to the polls. The problem of low voter turnout, as I see it, is more sinister — it is planned.
While the numerous cultural trends of the 20th century fragmented and isolated us socially and separated us from the political process, it is the current political trend of the CPC that brings the most disgraceful attacks on democracy in Canada.
While the general public has not been involved in politics at the public level for a while, now, the precedent set by the CPC of muting MPs, attacking Mr. Dion on a daily basis and suppressing the vote of those whom they believe will vote against them is cause for concern.
Mr. Harper does not believe in democracy. He, like every good Republican, believes in a “political elite,” as described by Judge Richard A. Posner in his book, Law, Pragmatism, and Democracy. Like Mr. Posner, our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, believes in elite, authoritarian rule that sees key decisions being made by a select few. In his mind, the will of the people is secondary to his own righteous authority
Democratic mobilization is the norm when people gain power and influence through a public drawn into movements, associations, debates and political battles. This is why Garth is so important to democracy in Canada. He’s putting the “people” back into politics.
I wish I was exaggerating …
-R
Either way, if the Liberal vote is not whipped it will be years before they ever get my vote. and they better have a damn good reason to vote “Yea” on this one because its obvious Steve is timing the Afghan debate to occur AFTER the Spring budget.
Dear Mr Turner,
I have often really respected the way you have stood up for what is best for your constituents and for this country regardless of what the consequences were to you with regard to party affiliation or otherwise. It is because of this respect that I am writing you today with regard to the upcoming conservative throne speech and the confidence vote that will follow it. I am urging you and your fellow liberal MPs to vote against the throne speech therefore triggering an election this fall. I have recently graduated from university and have been spending a lot of my time reading the news and different announcements by the federal parties and I feel quite strongly that the conservative government is heading in th wrong direction for this country. I feel ashamed that they represent me and my country on the international stage and I can’t stand to see the way they are treating this country. Mr Harper and the conservatives are taking this country backwards and upside down and it needs to stop and it needs to stop now.
as a voter and a proud Canadian citizen I am eager to go to the polls and show the conservative party how wrong they are about what vision Canadians have for this country. But until election time, I have to rely on you and your fellow MPs to deliver that message for me.
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Matthew
Canada Under Seige: Thanks Harper and Flaherty
http://communities.canada.com/financialpost/blogs/francis/archive/2007/10/01/takeovers-income-trust.aspx
Canadian policies are facilitating the buyout of Canada. Canadian energy trusts are bought with 100% financing borrowed from foreign lenders or entities. Interest payments are made from Canadian cash flow which used to be distributed to trust unitholders and taxable.
The interest payments to foreigners are also exempt from the 15% withholding tax. This means that taxable cash flow has become tax-free mortgage payments to buy energy assets.
Abu Dhabi pounced first and in months will be the biggest oil company in the land, financed in this way by taxpayers. To boot, not one share of its oil entity in Canada, TAQA North, can be owned by a Canadian under Abu Dhabi law.
Next on the hit list are: Bonterra Energy Trust (BNE.UN), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), Canetic Energy Trust (CNE.UN), Trilogy Energy Trust (TET.UN), Fairborne Energy Trust (FEL.UN), Arc Energy Trust (AET.UN), PennWest Energy Trust (PWT and just bought Vault), Enerplus (ERF.UN) and Crescent Point (CPG). Jim Cramer mentioned several other takeover targets last week. So did Motley Fool.
Even more enticing, these foreigners may never pay taxes if they grab energy companies’ with large tax pools. These may total up to $8 billion a year in foregone taxes.
“Thus Flaherty has just unleashed C$4 billion to $8 billion per year in tax writeoffs, starting in 2011. Guess who will have to pay more tax to balance that…yes, you and I,” wrote a reader.
Link to this | E-mail this | Digg this | Post to del.icio.us
Published Monday, October 01, 2007 6:02 AM by Diane Francis
Filed under: Income Trust Debacle, Foreign Takeovers, Greed, Canadian Politics, Energy
Your an ass hole turner. You will follow dions lead and you know it.
By Garthsfanclub on 10.01.07 8:26 am
Try spending more time obtaining your GED, because you obviously need it. If not, learn the phrase ‘Do you want fries with that?’
By Rob Wiebe on 10.01.07 9:12 am
Amazing how easily the Sheeple are led, isn’t it? Low voter turnout is due to apathy by Canadians, or interfering with really important events like a hockey game.
To The Hon. Garth Turner:
There is a palpable air of CORROSIVE DISCONTENT afoot in this great country. Your list, trailing, does not include ALL the complaints of the electorate.
More Importantly, it captures the central theme and the root of the CORROSION.
”However, my decision to stand and vote for the fall of the government will be based on actions, not rhetoric. When the clerk calls my name I’ll be thinking about the Arctic ice melting. Of Dave and Loreen losing $109,000 in life savings. Of an undisciplined spending spree. Of muzzled, impotent, unresponsive MPs. Of the shamed ordeal of gay couples. Of slander and sleaze and the politics of negativity. Of broken promises, no apologies. Of opportunity lost – a moment in time when there was a chance to do politics right, and the moment was squandered. John Baird’s feigned bluster. Jim Flaherty’s heckling. Ian Brodie’s threats. Stephen Harper’s taunts as he plays politics with soldiers’ sacrifices. Jay Hill’s smirk. The arrogance of a government that campaigns, when the people want governing.”
If the CPC persist in their juvenile behaviour during QP, they will continue to reap the justified rewards from the electorate. Nobody, in my circle of friends, believes CPC has done anything positive for this country.
Thank you, Mr. Turner.
Boy, the BS from Harper and his bobble-heads never stops:
Outspoken blogger received Tory contract
Opinionated Conservative paid up to $20,000 for consulting work
Glen McGregor, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, October 01, 2007
The Harper government gave a contract for communications consulting on Parliament Hill, worth up to $20,000, to an outspoken Conservative Internet blogger.
Privy Council Office records show Joan Tintor, author of a popular weblog or “blog,” in June received the one-year contract for “communications professional services not elsewhere specified.”
Oops! Seems top CEO’s are DEMANDING Harper act on climate change. So much for that support base. I guess Baird will be writing another incomplete ‘policy’ to cover their pathetic arse?
CEOs call for climate action
OTTAWA–Canada’s top business leaders have endorsed a plan to combat global climate change that calls for government intervention and says businesses, as well as the public, will have to pay a stiff price.
In a report released today, a task force of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, which represents a wide cross-section of business interests, including oil producers, called for a national strategy that produces real reductions in greenhouse gases.
So, without anymore beating around the bush Garth, are you voting against the throne speech or are you going to be whipped by your leader.
Whom do do serve Garth. The constituents or your leader.
We’ll see.
I am sure you will. — Garth
By jim on 09.30.07 11:15 pm
Jim, Garth has already indicated how he’ll vote. He’s voting against the throne speech. Please see below:
However, my decision to stand and vote for the fall of the government will be based on actions, not rhetoric. When the clerk calls my name I’ll be thinking about the Arctic ice melting. Of Dave and Loreen losing $109,000 in life savings….
Don’t force an election, says Liberal MP
Canadian Press
I referenced this in my posting. That story was published three days ago. — Garth
This is a valid point. I will be noting every MP who fails to show, fails to perform their sworn DUTY of voting. They will live in infamy as cowards and unworthy of ever being held as Honourable. I hope the public does the same. No slithering away into the shadows. – BILL-MUSKOKA
Exactly. Any MP who calls in sick to avoid a vote is not worthy of public office.
After some 50 years of voting Liberal I will be extremely disappointed if all Liberal MP’s are not present for the Throne Speech vote – I’ll never again cast my ballot for a Liberal candidate.
Of course…since when did a Liberal care about the country over winning power? Thanks for the perfect admittance of guilt Garth….Liberals have and always will only care about winning…..I suspect many Liberals will be sick that day and you will do exactly as your told…
[...]
By John G on 09.30.07 11:10 pm
Oh my! John, are you saying the Conservative/Reform/Alliance Party never wanted to win power?!? Well in that case it should have stayed that way!
Now now, let’s not lie to ourselves … Tom Flanagan made it very clear that the Cons have to trick the population into getting the Cons in power and then after they get a majority, they can do whatever they want without checks and balances! If there were MMP, I don’t think the party succeeding Day’s wetsuit party and Manning’s Alberta party would be doing anything in its power to get votes, and instead might actually suggest new and positive ideas.
As for blame, I put it all on Harper. He didn’t have to prorogue parliament. He just did it to make it seem as though it was entirely on the opposition to decide when to end the honeymoon. Had the other parties not acted like clowns in the last year, maybe the Cons & Libs wouldn’t be in a statistical dead-heat in polls, and perhaps Harper would have thought twice about calling this silly confidence vote.
“As long as Stephane Dion is your leader, Garth, I don’t believe you will ever have to choose between serving your constituents or serving your leader. When you serve your constituents, you will be serving your leader. Anyone willing to thoughtfully examine Stephane Dion’s record will find it demonstrates his honesty, integrity and commitment to serving Canadians. He will not ask you to betray your constituents. He is far too honourable to do such a thing.”
Well said, Ida. I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks for the look inside the process, Garth. You know all us bloggers out here will be holding our respective breath for the next few days waiting and wondering, but we know you and Mr. Dion will do the best for Canada.
Garth,
If, during QP, the same attitude prevails on Harper’s side, why not simply get up, walk out, and negate him totally?
Are there HoC rules against such an act?
Treat him like the obnoxious little child he is. Time out, and sitting all alone!
It’s funny to me how lefties whine about low voter turnout. As if a higher turnout would help them over their opponents.
The fact of the matter is that voter turnout has virtually no impact on the election results.
Many studies have been done proving this.
For example here’s one from Ireland. It shows that a 100% turnout would result in no change in the election results.
Legislating madatory voting is wrong. If people take their democratic duty for granted. It’s no longer democratic freedom if you’re forced to do something you don’t want.
http://www.epop06.com/papers/TurnouteffectsIE_8Sep.pdf
What can we infer from this exercise about the impact of potentially higher turnout at Irish elections? The short answer is – not much. In line with studies on US Congressional and Presidential elections, the main finding is that the fortunes of the Irish political parties would remain virtually unaffected by universal turnout.
Funny how the word ‘Duty’ regarding voting is taken as ‘optional’ by so many citizens!
Actually, I find it pathetic and insulting.
After some 50 years of voting Liberal I will be extremely disappointed if all Liberal MP’s are not present for the Throne Speech vote – I’ll never again cast my ballot for a Liberal candidate.
By Ann from BC on 10.01.07 10:24 am
I see abstaining in a different way. This is falling right into Harpers hands. Why give him exactly what he wants. Harper has done a good job over the last year prior to the Quebec by-election, of sticking his own foot in his mouth. Only since the those same by-elections, and with the help of his media frindly press pundits, Hello Duff, has he been on a bit of a roll. Nope, I say don’t let the Government fall. It looks like the economy has just about peaked and things are ready to go down hill as is the United States for Steve and company over the next year or so.
Thank you Jim…thank you Steve.
http://communities.canada.com/financialpost/blogs/francis/archive/2007/10/01/takeovers-income-trust.aspx
Hi Garth, If you could clarify for me,
The CP article says that Bryon Wilfert sees ” no benefit to the Party in going to the polls now”.
Garth do you see any benefit to “CANADIANS” to go to the polls now?
That was the substance of my posting. I say yes. — Garth
We’re with you on that, Garth. The Liberal Party of Canada needs a unified, integrated voice to clearly say one thing. Your position shows one of leadership.
“So, without anymore beating around the bush Garth, are you voting against the throne speech or are you going to be whipped by your leader.
Whom do do serve Garth. The constituents or your leader.
We’ll see.
I am sure you will. — Garth
By jim on 09.30.07 11:15 pm
I will ask you the same question i asked Harry, what is going to be in the throne speech Jim? Maybe unlike Harry, you might have a grown up response?
By pjw on 10.01.07 6:33 am”
I have no idea what’s in the throne speech. Nor will I be casting a vote on it.
Garth however will be casting a vote. And based on his blog he isn’t interested in the content of the speech but on past performance of the government.
So here’s the situation, pjw, if the bloc doesn’t support the speech the only way Harper can survive it is if the libs support it.
Knowing what we know about the recent Quebec elections and about liberal finances, they may be reluctant to defeat the government. Dion, though talking tough in the past, now seems to be wavering. If he decides to support the government the question is pretty straight forward.
How is Garth going to vote?
He in good conscience can’t support the government and he will be removed from the liberal party if he goes against the leader on confidence votes.
So the question we are all eagerly waiting for from this man of such self pronounced integrity and honour, how will he vote?
Amazing how easily the Sheeple are led, isn’t it? Low voter turnout is due to apathy by Canadians, or interfering with really important events like a hockey game.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.01.07 9:38 am
Agreed with the 1st point, and would like to add to the 2nd point…
A lot of voters, regardless of which party they support, are simply fed up of voting and then getting screwed by the gov’t in power.
Over the last few elections, it seems they are only willing to talk about issues at election time, promise scads of money to everyone and their pet projects, and once in power, end up no different than the part they replaced.
In other words, people feel their vote really doesn’t make a damned bit of difference in the long run.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.01.07 9:56 am
Bill, you weren’t paying attention! You missed the best one at the bottom of the page!
It’s John Tory’s epitaph,
“Pecked to Death by Shithawks”…
http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/video/261699
Garth- the truism is this: No matter how you or any MP votes you will not, and cannot possibly represent the views of all of your constituents.
Of your 120,000 or so residents in the Halton riding there is a diversity of political opinion – Halton Conservatives, Halton Liberals, Halton Greens, Halton Communists, Halton NDP, Halton Marxists, etc.
You make quite a mockery of this when you think that YOU and only YOU and only YOUR PERSONAL OPINION on how to vote is “representing your constituents”.
No matter what any MP does or how they vote on any issue will be accused of “not listening to their constituents” – those who agree with you will think you are doing something brave and honourable and good. Those who disagree with you will brand you as a self serving schmuck who does not represent Halton properly.
This political conundrum at all levels of government is the same. PM Harper will NEVER please everybody. NO PM ever could.
By the way your latest anti Conservative rant really lost credibility when you blame the melting polar ice cap on the Conservatives.
Show me where I attribute blame. — Garth
Hello from the East, G&M headlines shows a worried man who has just Flip Flop Flipped in Ontario. I could say he is a Tory, but that would not be correct in all respects. Not sure he is a PC, or one of new breed of Reformers, as was Mike Harris. In any rate not sure this good news for either part. Once upon a time Ontario se up the country by having the direct opposite on the hill and in TO but times have changed, perhaps Ontarians see all levels of to-days Conservatives as Reformers. Garth has shown millions in this country, what a lot hard work can do when one man puts a lot of truth on the table. I will once again remind others not one sitting MP of CPC stood on a stage and challenged him, even PMSH and his speach writers or hair dresser. But I diagress, the Throne Speech is just that a speech plain and simple,”Man will believe what you do not what you say” so perhaps PMSH who reads this Blog daily better put forward a plan to correct the errors of his past attempt to govern rather than 18 months of playing the bloame game. Canadians deserve better. Politics is the art of compromise, not “Dictatorship” via neo conservatisum policies.
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.01.07 9:56 am
Today’s announcement by the CCCE is right on cue.
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives represents the military/ industrial/ financial complex that is pushing us towards the North American Union under the guise of the SPP. Their demand that the government do something about the environment is a pre-emptive strike to ensure long term “business as usual” under the creation of a North American energy and emissions regime that includes carbon trading with Mexico. I have mentioned this in numerous previous comments and it appears that my predictions have been correct.
Mr. Harper will take their recommendations — guaranteed.
-R
So the question we are all eagerly waiting for from this man of such self pronounced integrity and honour, how will he vote?
By Jim on 10.01.07 11:16 am
Good answer Jim, I have a house to sell you, I like you to sign on the dotted line please, no need to read the contract, it going for $30,000 in Burlington. Oh, the stipulation in one of the clauses say I can buy it back for $5000 within the year but never mind that. It is the function of the opposition to point out the failures of the sitting government, just as Mr. Harper used to do and continues to do. He is not quite sure he is leader the government or opposition as yet or he is practicing for his new job which was his former job, not sure yet what he is doing other than subverting the democratic process. I am curious why you need to know at the presnt time when the vote is less than a month away, would it be to try to use it in some way to discredit Mr. Turner? I am willing to wait and see how he votes, why can’t you?
How will the Canadian problem of the $40 Billion frozen market for non-bank asset-backed commercial paper be resolved? Hopefully, not out of the wallets of the Retired or the taxpayer.
Look at an April incident involving the Caisse Populaire de Shippagan in a $31.5 Million government bailout. (60 million to Credit Union Industry) The tax payers were left holding the bag and then told that it was actually beneficial to them. Not a whimper was heard from the meek taxpayers here on Garth’s Blog.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2007/03/27/nb-burkebailout.html
In 2005 New Brunswick Members of New Brunswick credit unions and caisses populaires have unlimited protection for their deposits. Unlimited! – How do they pay for that? How does that compare to your Bank deposits or your Money Market Funds?
“Show me where I attribute blame. — Garth”
“However, my decision to stand and vote for the fall of the government will be based on actions, not rhetoric. When the clerk calls my name I’ll be thinking about the Arctic ice melting. Of Dave and Loreen losing $109,000 in life savings. Of an undisciplined spending spree. Of muzzled, impotent, unresponsive MPs. Of the shamed ordeal of gay couples. Of slander and sleaze and the politics of negativity. Of broken promises, no apologies. Of opportunity lost – a moment in time when there was a chance to do politics right, and the moment was squandered. John Baird’s feigned bluster. Jim Flaherty’s heckling. Ian Brodie’s threats. Stephen Harper’s taunts as he plays politics with soldiers’ sacrifices. Jay Hill’s smirk. The arrogance of a government that campaigns, when the people want governing.”
Garth, are you for real? This paragraph is not attributing blame?
So are you are saying the Harper government has had nothing to do with the points you mention in your blog?
You are one for the ages.
Of course there is nothing there attributing blame for Arctic melt, but as I said, I will think of this – and the government’s abject failure to address it – as I vote. You Cons are such refreshing literalists. — Garth
The fact of the matter is that voter turnout has virtually no impact on the election results.
By Reid on 10.01.07 10:31 am
Perhaps Reid, but voter turnout has a direct impact on income distribution and progressives, or “lefties,” know this.
Progressives know that in countries where voter turnout is high, income is distributed more fairly. When voter turnout falls, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, as the saying goes.
Increasing voter participation has an impact on improving outcomes for everyone, including you. This is why progessives care about getting people out to vote. And why conservatives strategically suppress voter turnout.
You can take that to the bank.
-R
Read this, if you don’t believe me:
The Economic Effects of Democratic Participation.
Good morning all. I see the paid trolls are back again in full force. They are either very young or have nothing but dead cells in their brains. I think the best solution is to completely ignore them all. We are waisting our time talking to trained zombies.
These attacks on Mr. Dion shows how worried & scared the PM & his side kicks are of Dion. I sincerely hope Mr. Dion will do the right think & bring this government down. Canadians are demanding it. I know I am & I’m very sure there are millions like me who feel the same. The people have seen enough of this dictorial government & want a chance to say either that’s enough or we agree with his politics. Those that have been deceived & hurt the most (trust me, there’s a lot) want that chance to vote against Stephen Harper in a big way. Don’t hold them back.
There are a lot of MP’s out their in Harper land who have every right to worry about keeping their seats. Mr. Harper knows that & so do they. That’s what the PM is most worried about. Thanks to Garth for enlightning them through his TH tour. So PLEASE Mr. Dion, do the right thing for the people of Canada & let them speak in the process of an election.
Just remember, those who attack others for speaking the truth merely prove they are liars.
Regards, Irene
Garth do you see any benefit to “CANADIANS†to go to the polls now?
That was the substance of my posting. I say yes. — Garth
By PHIL ROMANENKO on 10.01.07 11:03 am
Garth
Isn`t it true that Cdns are worse off after an election and have been consecutively for decades?
Wages haven`t kept pace with inflation. Productivity not on par globally. Years of job losses in central Canada with no end in sight. Youth crime keeps climbing. Child poverty keeps climbing. Number of smog days still increasing. Health care keeps declining. Education stumble bumbling along. Taxes are still too high. GST, the working persons, poor, and unemployed tax still in place. Infrastructure deteriorating. Western separation on the rise. Fishing industry snagged on the bottom. Forests are not getting in the way of seeing the trees. More single parents on welfare than ever before. More Cdns are closer to bankruptcy than ever before. Cdns are the highest per capita GHG emitters globally. 700 years of rule of law ended with the last 50 years of law of rule with the Charter ending Cdns rights and freedoms. Fewer Cdns engaged in federal politics.
You know for a fact that an election won`t change anything and if you think Jay Hill’s smirk warrants a national election that smirk just changed to laughter.
btw the smirk is well deserved as the Liberals were warned a decade ago by Mr. Hill of the impending explosion in youth crime and the Liberals blew it off. Still are and it`s still climbing.
If there`s any benefit to Cdns it will be a Liberal minority that will push the west to separate.
On second thought, go for it.
The blogisphere is full of speculation fom various quarters about what the voting public thinks, feels and wants from the Liberals. Personally, this voter want Harper gone, gone, gone. And I’ve got voter fatigue big time having voted in the last year 3 times already for Prov and municipal elections but I’d hop, skip and jump to the polls in a heartbeat for even the slimmest chance of putting a nail in Harper’s cofffin. I wish you could hold a country-wide “virtual” townhall, online streaming, get email questions and live audience questions and let him Liberals see first hand what the PEOPLE really want, before Dion makes up his mind based on the advice of people who are either running scared or just woefully out of touch with reality and the electorate. Guerrilla politics is the wave of the future.
Irene writes “Just remember, those who attack others for speaking the truth merely prove they are liars.”
on this blog. ironic.
If there`s any benefit to Cdns it will be a Liberal minority that will push the west to separate.
On second thought, go for it.
By rope for change on 10.01.07 11:48 am
Anyone who doesn’t want to belong to the country of Canada, I say go for it as well!
By Rob Wiebe on 10.01.07 11:24 am
You may be right, but time will tell. When their wallets start getting affected by the consumers, and world markets (especially the military arms manfacturers) then they will standup and take the lead.
I think they are reading the handwriting on the wall right now. Is says “You have been noted, and are not regarded with respect.’
By Greg on 10.01.07 11:23 am
ROFLMAO! What a great name for those little beasties. Note also how all of them are going ‘Mine! Mine! Mine!’…the policians I mean.
Especially those who see the trough promising to be filled by John Tory, aka, religious schools. Oops, seems the public rose up and has been screaming NO! Non! Nyet!
Thanks, what a classic.
In other words, people feel their vote really doesn’t make a damned bit of difference in the long run.
By Reg on 10.01.07 11:20 am
Agreed, but that is why people need to break the cycle, like I did last election, and will for the foreseeable future, provided I see results promised. I voted, and will vote Green.
People have a choice, but pay more attention to punishment than progress. It is time for progress, and the only ones who have a platform that gives it is the Green Party.
Anyway, it is Monday! LOL
Tory to soften religious school funding stance
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071001/candidate_quits_071001/20071001?hub=TopStories
Finally we have a party leader who is willing to WAVER on an issue, which yesterday was on his list of UNWAVERING PRINCIPLES. I will NOT BE ATTENDING ANY OF HIS SERMONS DELIVERED FROM THE CHURCH OF VARIABLE PRE-FECTIONS!
Hey, no problem. First get a law degree while here illegally, then run for MP. Only in Canada you say…pity.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2007/09/hijacker_says_hes_changed_shou.html
Of course there is nothing there attributing blame for Arctic melt, but as I said, I will think of this – and the government’s abject failure to address it – as I vote. You Cons are such refreshing literalists. — Garth
By Jim on 10.01.07 11:34 am
What a short memory you have. Tell me, what did the Libs actually do to address this? You Libs have such short memories, thankfully, Canadians don’t.
Don’t recall the Arctic melt on the evening news then. Do you? Regardless, it’s time we all did the right thing, and Mr. Harper is not. — Garth
Re: comments by PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.01.07 12:49 pm
Our governments are supposed to represent the people not individual agendas. It is unfortunate that Tory did not consult his own supporters before he decided to make the separate school issue a central part of his campaign.
What I find refreshing is party supporters, including candidates, who are willing to take a stand against the leader even in the midst of an election campaign. To me that shows a real commitment to democracy and not this “my way or the door way” attitude that permeates federal politics. There is no doubt that it was his own supporters that pressured Tory to change his stance on the issue. It looks like compromise is still alive in Ontario provincial politics and I see that as a good thing. It provides evidence that the Ontario Progressive Conservatives are not a party full of, to borrow a term I have seen here, “sheeples.”
A good bunker shot will be needed to right the score!
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/story.html?id=2cdc973c-aca2-4bf6-8e48-3afab1214fef&p=1
These attacks on Mr. Dion shows how worried & scared the PM & his side kicks are of Dion. I sincerely hope Mr. Dion will do the right think & bring this government down. Canadians are demanding it. – IRENE
Irene;
Do you really believe this?
Do you really believe that the PM is worried and scared about Mr. Dion? I don’t!
I believe that Mr. Dion has some leadership issues that he must address.
I believe that Mr. Harper Has some issues of his own that he must address.
I believe that another election will bring another minority governement.
An election will do nobody any good at the moment.
Some scientists are now considering that the breakup of the arctic ice MAY have more to do with the increased SALT percentages and lack of fresh water flowing into the arctic seas than external global temperatures.
Saltier ice is less stable. As we all know we put salt on roads to MELT the ice.
The antarctic is not experiencing the same thing – in fact their ice pack is growing.
So, Garth, no matter what your special interest groups and carbon market money hungry activists say the science is NOT definitive on what is causing this.
That the climate changes is a given. It is a reality that is part of human history for thousands and thousands of years. That MAN is causing it or can change the natural cycles of the earth is debatable.
My preference will be for those who focus on ADAPTING to changing climate realities – just like our forefathers did. After all, those Vikings who grew grapes to make wine in Greenland some 1000 years ago or so must have been pretty dismayed with the global cooling that eventually covered their lush fertile farmlands with ice.
Vikings? That’s a new defence even for you Conservative climate change deniers. I am sure the drought-challenged farmers, hurricane victims and displaced northern hunters will feel better now. Thanks, Lorraine! — Garth
Hi Garth, Do you think the quota for female Liberals that Stephane Dion is hoping for is fair. Our Provincial NDPs are going with a quota system that seems highly unfair and potentially discriminatory. While the idea on paper might seem wise and admirable it should be left up to grass roots riding associations who they want to have representing the party from their riding.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/columnists/story.html?id=6a142740-8116-4553-baa9-4ab45a6dccce
sorry for the unprofessional link as I am trying to work my head around how Bill-Muskoka and alike can get nice neat ones.
There is no quota. — Garth
Don’t recall the Arctic melt on the evening news then. Do you? Regardless, it’s time we all did the right thing, and Mr. Harper is not. — Garth
By Sean P. Hogan on 10.01.07 1:11 pm
Assigning blame while not acknowledging that neither party did anything is useless and partisan.
You would know about that. — Garth
Garth,given all your retoric the past days,months when the time comes to vote you will fall in line with your leader Mr.Dion.You wouldn’t have the courage to vote otherwise!!!!!!
Regardless, it’s time we all did the right thing, and Mr. Harper is not. — Garth
By Sean P. Hogan on 10.01.07 1:11 pm
Who has and what was it?
Anyone who doesn’t want to belong to the country of Canada, I say go for it as well!
By pjw on 10.01.07 12:09 pm
It`s not Canada the west has a problem with, it`s our elected federal government but either way the east has left us no option. Continue with a deteriorating Cdn society or separate and lead the way.
btw when I suggested to one of my children the only option in treating the problem was to split I asked her what should be done with the name, Canada. She suggested we should split it as well. We become Cana and the east gets Da.
If your looking for a female politician that is hands down more honest, more intelligent, more trustworthy more equality driven and fair the west recruit her.
What was it about fielding 33% female candidates in an election if it wasn’t a quota? Was it his wish?
It is a goal, and one with merit. No? — Garth
There is no quota. — Garth
I think within the Liberal party it is more properly called “aspirational targets”.
It’s called an objective. — Garth
It looks like compromise is still alive in Ontario provincial politics and I see that as a good thing. It provides evidence that the Ontario Progressive Conservatives are not a party full of, to borrow a term I have seen here, “sheeples.â€
By C. B. Innes on 10.01.07 1:17 pm
I find it inexcusable that Tory would put together a policy position without consulting all party members.
In my opinion, that’s very bad judgment.
I have no intention of voting for him anyway. Here in Burlington we’re getting nothing but ‘lockstep’ newspaper
columns from Joyce Savoline indicating her full support for his previous position of full faith-based funding.
She has fallen, lockstep, behind Chudleigh who is the epitome of a do-nothing bimbot. She is also responsible for many serious misrepresentations regarding the Harris years.
By C. B. Innes on 10.01.07 1:17 pm
There is no doubt that it was his own supporters that pressured Tory to change his stance on the issue. It looks like compromise is still alive in Ontario provincial politics and I see that as a good thing.
Call me a cynic, but I’d suggest this poll result, published Saturday, was probably the main factor in Tory’s flip-flop. A hail mary pass.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1297daad-acc3-4192-bf6c-d08bcfae3359
By rope for change on 10.01.07 1:33 pm
Glad you and your daughter are speaking for all in the West, if they are all like you, it won’t be soon enough but I suspect there are some reasonable people out West and you speak for the majority of two!
For sure Mr. Dions’ goal is with merit. As long as it does not require parachuting candidates into ridings based on gender.
Finally we have a party leader who is willing to WAVER on an issue, which yesterday was on his list of UNWAVERING PRINCIPLES. I will NOT BE ATTENDING ANY OF HIS SERMONS DELIVERED FROM THE CHURCH OF VARIABLE PRE-FECTIONS!
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.01.07 12:49 pm
Political party leader and priciples ought not be spoken in the same sentence. Only votes count, when he finally realized that is was a bad call on his part, he began the backstoke, they all do this, unfortunately he has proven he is no different than all the rest, so why would we vote for him? First displaying lack of judgment, and then flip flopping because his bad judgment is unpopular. Give me a break!
Party politics are for the those who cannot think for themselves!
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/13/22437/993
not really new at all.
Vikings? That’s a new defence even for you Conservative climate change deniers. I am sure the drought-challenged farmers, hurricane victims and displaced northern hunters will feel better now. Thanks, Lorraine! — Garth
Garth;
Show me one article that proves this “theory” beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Do you remember huricane Hazel? Do you remember the 1930s dust bowl drought?
Maybe you should keep an open mind? I don’t see a lot of that lately.
Are you saying there is no evidence of climate change, no human contribution to it, no reason for corrective action? — Garth
First displaying lack of judgment, and then flip flopping because his bad judgment is unpopular.
Give me a break!
Party politics are for the those who cannot think for themselves!
By pjw on 10.01.07 1:53 pm
Your points are well made. What I can’t understand is why Tory, having reversed himself, feels he will now attract votes. His position in his own riding is now a shambles. The education minister is highly competent. I expect to see Tory defeated … and Frank Klees to step forward in his ususal one-
off leadership bid. He does it every time … Then Tory will attempt to run federally. Maybe he can engage the services of Tom Long or Laschinger to help him advance his arguments. Either way, I see him as a perpetual runner-up in any contest, either provincially or federally. There seems to be an element of panic and bad judgment about the man.
sorry for the unprofessional link as I am trying to work my head around how Bill-Muskoka and alike can get nice neat ones.
By Marc on 10.01.07 1:25 pm
Marc, it is very simple HTML. Do a Google, read how it is done. There are two parts to links.
1. The url address
2. The Title for the address.
Left and right arrows encase them (sorry I cannot show you because the blog interprets them as code)
The url is encased inside regular parentheses, and remember all commands must end with the beginning command preceded by a backslash.
Here is a link to study it. Select the ‘Here’s the Cool Part’ and you can see exactly how to write an HTML link.
HTML Made Easy
Here is what it looks like (Hopefully) (HTML Made Easy)
You can also create them using your browser’s composer function.
Marc,
The attempt to show you failed, as I suspected it would. Just follow the link and read. Good luck!
Glad you and your daughter are speaking for all in the West, if they are all like you, it won’t be soon enough but I suspect there are some reasonable people out West and you speak for the majority of two!
By pjw on 10.01.07 1:48 pm
lol, I don`t speak for my daughter, only myself. If you want to know how others feel check the polls.
As far as `it won`t be soon enough`, you`re so right. The citizen of Cana didn`t screw this country up, it`s people living in Da that did so I agree, it won`t be soon enough.
Remember, I`m pulling for you Liberals so get out there and at least get a minority even if another Tory minority should be enough.
I found a tree,
got rope?
Do you really believe that the PM is worried and scared about Mr. Dion? I don’t!
I believe that Mr. Dion has some leadership issues that he must address.
I believe that Mr. Harper Has some issues of his own that he must address.
I believe that another election will bring another minority governement.
An election will do nobody any good at the moment.
By Graeme Edge on 10.01.07 1:22 pm
Yes, I really do believe Harper is running scared of Mr. Dion. Why else would he keep attacking him if he didn’t think Mr. Dion would be a thorn in his side? Harpers attack ads that cost a million or more on two separate occasions should be prove enough for anyone. Why else would he even waste his time & money to portray him incompetent if Mr. Dion didn’t scare him? It appears to me that Harper IS afraid that when too many people get to know more about Dion & his vision of Canada, he would be toast.
I would love to see Harper & Dion in a public debate. The country would love to see him in a public debate. Let him debate in his native language & see how well he would do. All we hear from the Cons is about how bad Dion speaks English. One could say the same about Harper’s French. Being bilingual in Canada is very important for a PM & hearing Harper speak French in a debate wouldn’t score many points for him either.
As for an election at this time, I will agree with you that it will probably bring another minority government but come what may, whether we have to keep conniving Harper or an unknown Mr. Dion, at least Canadians will have had a chance to make their voices heard. And that my friend is why I think it will do a lot of good to hold an election at this time. Not this moment as you mentioned but SOON.
Are you saying there is no evidence of climate change, no human contribution to it, no reason for corrective action? — Garth
Of course there is evidence of climate change, Garth. Thousands and thousands and thousands of years of historic records of droughts and hurricanes and floods and monsoons and tornados and good times and bad times for pretty well as long as man has been able to keep records and even longer when scientists study the earth.
Historians will tell you that “climate change” (the weather) was the most important thing to ancient man too. They tried to “appease the weather gods” in many ways – rain dances, worshipping various entities to pray for good weather.
Sun Gods, wind gods, moon gods, earth gods, etc. ….formed the basis of most ancient religions.
Humans don’t like bad weather. Humans don’t like “climate change” if it affects them negatively. Now we have become so smart we think we can control this? That we CAUSED this?
If we CONTRIBUTE to it then let’s clean up our act. For example – the theory that the arctic ice is too salty and rots more easily because there is a reduced flow of fresh water could truly be of our doing.
We dam fresh water rivers, divert too much fresh water and pollute our fresh water lakes and rivers.
There may be hundreds, even thousands, of ways man contributes to degradation of our water, air and earth.
But, for the Kyotoites when the only tool you have is a hammer ( carbon dioxide) the whole world looks like a nail. (Kyoto and buying carbon credits.
Are you saying there is no evidence of climate change, no human contribution to it, no reason for corrective action? — Garth
No, that’s not what I’m saying.
We need to tackle the smog problem in Southern Ontario.
However, other issues such as global warming have been overstated for political reasons (i.e. I am NOT saying that this is not a problem; however, it’s not a critical as stated). It’s the “hot” topic at the moment.
With all the talk and concern about this issue, the fact is that the Liberals did nothing about this issue for 13 years. The Conservatives have done nothing as well.
Show me one article that proves this “theory†beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Do you remember huricane Hazel? Do you remember the 1930s dust bowl drought?
Maybe you should keep an open mind? I don’t see a lot of that lately.
Are you saying there is no evidence of climate change, no human contribution to it, no reason for corrective action? — Garth
By Graeme Edge on 10.01.07 1:55 pm
Notice Garth made no attempt to answer your questions? He tries to deflect and that’s about it.
By pjw on 10.01.07 8:58 am
That whole piece was about as succinct and detailed as I have seen EVER on this blog. I would encourage others to develop a sense of how much we value Mr.Turner’s contribution to our political life.
Seach 8:58 am
Thanks
The problem of low voter turnout, as I see it, is more sinister — it is planned.
I really don’t see anything sinister…
Frankly, it comes down to voter apathy. It does not matter much who is in power, nothing much ever changes. Conservatives steer a little to the right, Liberals steer a little to the left. To the average apolitical Canadian voter, it really doesn’t matter who is in power.
On top of that, add the fact that no government feels that it is important to keep election promises once they are in power.
As a matter of fact, the only time there is interest in voting, is when the people become pissed off with the existing party in power. We don’t vote FOR a party, we vote AGAINST one.
I agree that Tory should never have adopted such a controversial policy without it being adopted by the party. It may be the polls which had the effect but I do know that a great deal of pressure was coming from inside the party.
As a Progressive Conservative my level of trust in Tory would have been severely challenged on this and other issues. He has been a disappointment just as Dion has been a disappointment so far for the federal Liberals.
The question I have is whether McGuinty represents a different level of honesty and integrity? Has he always followed through on his campaign promises or on his policies? If you look at things from outside the partisan fold neither Tory nor McGuinty are very impressive.
The Too-Late John Tory has to converse with the Jump-To John Tory … Result:
Those would-be Queen’s Park back-benchers, probably some of them quite capable, have to wait ’til the next go-round. He’d better be apologizing to them for his intemperate and silly policy position. Murdoch, Runciman and 14 other would-be Legislative Assembly candidates.
Given the widespread opposition to giving Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Christian and other religious schools the same funding as the public and Catholic systems, Tory backtracked on putting the issue to an MPPs’ free vote.
“MPPs will be allowed a free vote, so they are at liberty to vote their conscience and represent the wishes of their constituent,” he said.
You gotta read this from CIBC. lol, this comes after they found out they were up to their eyeballs in US subprime mortgages.
http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/01102007/2/biz-finance-room-exotic-mortgages-canada-despite-u-s-meltdown.html
“”-Passing along the risk is not as common in Canada, with less than 20 per cent of mortgages turned into debt products, or notes such as asset-backed commercial paper, a procedure also known as “securitization;”"
ABCP needs a $40b bailout already. Absolutely the height of ludicrous to say `were ok`, it`s just the UK several European countries and the US that are having mortgage problems.
If you bite on that then you also believe the next federal election will make things better.
Seems reality is a cheque not even the largest bank (CitiCorp) can cash! Credit crisis strikes Citi, UBS
Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have seen this coming, but oh no, not the all powerful banks. No, they have been existing off of paper wealth and money transfers, cooking the books of reality, and ‘hedge’ markets, robbing Peter to pay Paul for several decades now.
Who suffers? The usual…their employees being laid off. I hope they all have sub-prime mortages too, because that will add to the collapse of this insane BS economic system. Where are the layoffs of the top CEO’s and their minions of BS? They deserve a parachute, nor golden, but more about WWII issue. A tad moth eaten and worn…strings not too solid anymore either.
Back to the subject at hand…
The best reason for voting against the Throne Speech may just be this:
Why something called the spending power matters
By BOB RAE
When Stephen Harper was president of the National Citizens Coalition, he signed a manifesto known as the “firewall” letter: Keep the federal government out of Alberta, and let the province run its own affairs.
Whether firewalls or watertight compartments – that the federal government and the provinces live in their own worlds and never the twain shall meet – Canada’s leaders have been engaged for generations in an ongoing discussion about who does what.
What’s different today is that, for the first time in our history, we have a prime minister and a cabinet talking openly about giving up the game for the federal government.
While a lot of people in Alberta and Quebec are no doubt squealing with glee, the rest of us might want to seriously consider bringing these bastards down IMMEDIATELY before they end up Balkanizing the whole country.
Listen to Bob.
As a matter of fact, the only time there is interest in voting, is when the people become pissed off with the existing party in power. We don’t vote FOR a party, we vote AGAINST one.
That’s the only thing a voter can do given the ancient electoral system we use. Muskoka-Bill, you may as well vote liberal for now. What matters is that you vote for MMP in the ontario referendum, so next time around your green vote actually counts.
Rumours are that Dion will just allow a ‘free vote’ on the Throne Speech and let the chips fall where they may .. all in the spirit of congeniality and openness that exists within the Liberal party.
We know that Garth has indicated he will vote against the Budget and PM Harper on principle, and now all that remains is how will the rest of the Liberal party vote.
I suspect most Liberals will support the Harper Throne Speech and thus avoid a snap Fall election, because there are no clear issues at least according to Wilfert.
Garth, will you be canvassing other Liberal MPs to vote against Harper and the Throne Speech based on the position you have taken on your weblog ??
Their job is to represent their constituents. I am sure they will do so. — Garth
The real weapon of mass destruction.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CBF1FC8A-CB8F-47B0-B808-B2FD0437CE85.htm
I’m like most I think. I’m for an election simply because I believe Harper has all the wrong ideas and we can waste another minute while he gets up to speed. You can teach an old dogs new tricks but it takes a long time and the dog is always backsliding so it’s never ending chore.
Better we get someone in who actually believes that Climate change is a threat and fighting it is an opportunity, that the market doesn’t solve anything because it doesn’t volunarily do anything that doesnt’ save it money, and that carring for your fellow citizens, through medicare, etc, is actually more productive than the alternative.
How are their no clear issues?
We have a government that believes that everything can be solved by cutting taxes.
That’s like the bibical solution for everything being stoning it to death.
To a hammer, every problem is a nail but that’s just not reality.
Garth;
Show me one article that proves this “theory†beyond a shadow of a doubt.
By Graeme Edge on 10.01.07 1:55 pm
Graeme,
If there was an article or paper that could “proves the theory od GW/GCC beyond a shadow of a doubt” it would not be a theory any more, it would be fact, or what we call a “Scientific Law”, such as Thermodynamics or Newton’s Laws of Motion (ps, Newtons’s laws of motion are only valid within a certain frame of reference, once you exceed that reference frame they fail)
More on Dave Marshall’s Parliament Hill Remembrance of the Halloween Massacre on October 31st, 2007
A summary of how Flaherty is causing the tax leakage he vowed to stop.
Canada Under Seige: Thanks Harper and Flaherty
So PLEASE Mr. Dion, do the right thing for the people of Canada & let them speak in the process of an election.
Just remember, those who attack others for speaking the truth merely prove they are liars.
Regards, Irene
By irene on 10.01.07 11:44 am
I agree with you Irene. Please let’s have an election this fall. I am tired of the constant whining by our “honourable” men and women. Many of them have forgotten that we, the tax payers, don’t give a rats ass about their political aspirations and “duty to become the PM” and certainly don’t care about their partisan games.
Many have forgotten that no matter what ideology a Canadian has, we are all Canadians and NOT one single party represents all (100%) of that Canadian’s ideology.
Surprise, suprise! The conservative party that advocates putting people in jail for having small amounts of marijuana under fund the RCMP
The hypocrisy of this conservative government is breathtaking in what it counts and what it does not! Lipservice, the term is a disservice to the broad scope of what is involved in maintaining security for our borders and beyond.
Throwing people in jail for possessing small amount of marijuana solves nothing but the cost of housing potential felons impacts many of Canada’s economic resources. Do we need to build more prisons or a more reasonable approach to the reality of physical and psychological addictions?
Do our troops need to be in Afghanistan where drug lords are part of the Afghanistan parliament or might it be reasonable to license poppy fields for these drugs that are needed for the legal suppression of pain medication? That kills several birds with one stone…allows poor people to grow poppies that alleviate their poverty while providing legal drugs to reduce pain and cutting off the flow of funds for drug lords that profit from illegal sales.
—–
Well-written article in today’s Globe and Mail:
Arcadian fantasies, targetitis and Canada’s green future
This week, Stephen Harper pushed world leaders to set new greenhouse-gas targets. But, as Globe political columnist Jeffrey Simpson and his co-authors write in their book, Canada has a troubling environmental legacy – and every new plan demands a ’smell test’ to tell energy politics from effective energy policy
Eight-point checklist:
1. If targets are proposed, but the politicians setting them do not detail how they will be reached, assume failure.
2. If, after advancing a target, politicians propose policies that lack a regulatory or financial constraint on greenhouse- gas emissions, assume failure.
3. If politicians insist that behavioural change by individuals alone will solve the climate-change problem, assume failure.
4. If politicians talk only about exciting, enticing actions – renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage – but say nothing about economic policies to force these actions, assume failure.
5. If politicians complain about jurisdictional constraints, assume failure.
6. If politicians crisscross the country or their province handing out subsidies and offering photo opportunities of themselves in front of wind turbines, research laboratories, or corn fields, assume failure.
7. If politicians make a big deal for ideological or other reasons about ruling out all forms of greenhouse-gas taxes, and don’t substitute for those tax policies ones that rely on market-oriented regulations such as emissions caps with tradable permits, assume failure.
8. If politicians insist that Canada can meet its Kyoto commitment, offer the benefit of the doubt that they are not lying, just being disingenuous.
By Transcanada on 10.01.07 4:15 pm
More evidence of the unholy alliance of CAITI and Garth Turner’s blog, and the apparent willingness of both to use senior’s stories to further their own political agendas while providing incomplete information.
Is Transcanada really Brent Fullard?
How about the unholy alliance of this blog and you? You have equal access to it. — Garth
Back on topic. Why we don`t need an election, text follows C+P
btw, there is no excuse to let this continue so share the blame
http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/01102007/6/finance-quebec-introduces-carbon-tax-canada-ceos-urge.html
TORONTO (Reuters) – The province of Quebec slapped the country’s first carbon tax on energy firms on Monday, as Canadian business leaders urged “environmental taxation” to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.
Since 1990, greenhouse-gas emissions in Canada, a net exporter of energy, have risen more than in any other leading industrialized country, data submitted by the Group of Eight rich nations to the U.N.’s Climate Change Secretariat shows.
Quebec has pledged to meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Canada has signed on to the agreement, which calls for a 6-percent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2012, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that target is impossible to achieve.
————————
Today I received a BC gov. questionnaire on choices for a greener future. BC also announced some tough goals on emission targets but no details on how this would be accomplished. I`m quite sure the BC gov will adopt what the public suggests via greener choices which could be quite different from what Quebec is doing.
There is some consensus the California will succeed environmentally but lose economically.
Personally I think all the polluters will leave California while a younger greener generation of companies will want to move there.
Is this the scenario that Quebec has rolled out? Chase out the polluters and bring in the green or are they at risk of the economic consequences.
That`s what I like about taxing the polluter but note that a province could attract industry simply by not doing anything. Isn`t government there to help, to solve problems, to organize and construct a better future. I wonder what excuses are in vogue today for doing nothing. I`ll bet `we`re waiting for decision from the feds as the environment is their responsibility. Meanwhile provinces are moving ahead on their own with any coordination from the feds and no incentive to coordinate themselves.
What`s Ontario going to do, join in with a different program, accept polluters while they wait for the feds incentives to show up? This is pure bull shit and all you partisan bitchers and complainers do nothing but support this continued lunacy in attempting to justify the status quo by saying we need to keep, or change, political Parties that govern Canada. That is absurd bull shit, Canada is fast becoming the biggest social disaster of all the industrialized nation after just claiming the prise of the fastest growing GHG emitters since 1990. There is no up side to the economy, we hit the high and are now coming off. We need more than a change in political parties, we need a government and electing one over the other isn`t going to make a licks worth of difference. History people, look back over the last few decades.
We have no federal government and a provincially nominated federal government would have the incentive to coordinate provincial efforts, exactly what a federal government should, could and would do if it were nominated.
Bryon was a weenie when we worked together in municipal government with the FCM and I see he is still a weenie today. The office may of changed but not the man.
There is only one choice in this vote, defeat the government.
Jennifer thank for the post, here on the East Coast it is about $6.50 most of time for seniors. Cool hey? I loved 3:10 to Yuma and have suggested “Shake Hands with the Devil” for those who still think that the death of the innocent is not for real and realize dead is forever! But I do digress, I too like Bob Rae, he speaks with a high degree of thought and process held by few others in governments. Bob Rae like Bill Clinton is a Rhodes Scholar and has held office, albeit at different levels but still has seasoned with the flow of the tide on the world stage. Jennifer many others have spoken of Stephen’s unknown quest to separate in area’s of personal interest. Mr. Harper’s constant bombardment of our Senate is not by accident, it has meaning. Power! Look South to see the power a Senator has and the price they will pay to get it. . Power is the key, and it can move mountains. Elected means nothing when power backs the candidate. I do not however believe we should jump to the polling booths on PMSH terms. Iraq, is now the (51st state) Colin Powell said: “Mr. President, you break it you own it”. Saddam knew this as many educated people, like Bob Rae know it takes a 100 years to build a county, and no country was ever a Nation while under foreign rule. What has this all to do with PMSH, quite simple, he is a neo conservative, and a fan and supporter of Republican Party having cut his teeth on their policies.
We now truly live in the best of times and the worst of times, so much good can be done when we put our efforts into helping the poor the weak and the innocent, but so much destruction can take place when Democracy by force is imposed on such people, providing huge profits for the rich, the powerful and the elite. Can we stop them now that has their plan in action around the world, I do not know. History will write the outcome as it did for other leaders who attained power for personal reasons. The next installment, of $190,000,000,000, will flow to powerful people as the world picks up the check…. Follow the money!
Best of times, worst of times……..
How about the unholy alliance of this blog and you? You have equal access to it. — Garth
Have you ever promoted any other special interest group outside of CAITI in your blogs?
Have you ever provided the same level of access to other special interest groups to speak at your town hall meetings?
Here’s Brent’s partial schedule:
Accomplishments for the week of July 2, 2007
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meetings in Whitby Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of June 18, 2007
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meetings in Waterloo Ontario
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meeting: in Essex Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of June 11, 2007
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meeting: Thursday, June 14, Burlington, Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of June 4, 2007
Attended Garth Turner/Heather Carter Town Hall Meeting Fenwick, Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of May 28, 2007
Attended Garth Turner/Suzanne Van Bommel Town Hall Meeting:
Wednesday, May 30 “ Elgin-Middlesex-London, Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of May 21, 2007
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meetings:
Wednesday, May 23 – Queensville, Ontario
Thursday, May 24 “ Cambridge, Ontario
Accomplishments for the week of April 23, 2007
Attended Garth Turner Town Hall Meeting In Milton, Apr 26, 7:30 pm at the Boyne Community Centre
http://www.caiti.info/initiatives_caiti_to_do_list.php
So, is TransCanada Brent Fullard?
(copy saved in case it gets lost)
I am on the side of hapless and helpless income trust investors deceived by this government, and will always regret I stood beside Stephen Harper when he solemnly promised seniors in my riding that his government would never injure them. He lied. My presence beside him implicated me. I now have a duty to assist these people, and I will not let them down. You certainly will not get in my way. — Garth
More evidence of the unholy alliance of CAITI and Garth Turner’s blog
By Old enough to remember
—————————
There is nothing unholy about the truth!
Get used to being uncomfortable about supporting the Lyin’ Steve Old Man…
And no I am not Brent Fullard.
You have equal access to it. — Garth
I suspect that you are being dishonest here… Since O.E. is an informed and intelligent dissenter, I assume you reject an inordinate number of his comments, just as you do to mine.
Is Mr. Fullard again hiding his identity behind another persona?
Suspect all you want. You two malcontents only get the hook when you are more prickish and useless than usual. — Garth
I found a tree,
got rope?
By rope for change on 10.01.07 2:26 pm
Polls look good for separation I must admit, last time the WIP ran 52 candidates they got less than 1% of the vote…How many seats did the Alberta Independence Party win in the 2004 election…Rope you are a joke!
You two malcontents only get the hook when you are more prickish and useless than usual
LOL – What you really mean, and we both know it, is that we get the hook when you can’t think of a clever retort. Getting a comment rejected is the most reliable indicator of it’s accuracy.
I believe the best course of action is for Dion to arrive in the HOC with ALL members of his caucus, and vote down this truly lousy government. If they do, I absolutely believe the Liberals will do much better in the election than some people think.
To me, this is the best course of action.
Suspect all you want. You two malcontents only get the hook when you are more prickish and useless than usual. — Garth
Maybe, therefore, you should change the name from “Garth Turner unedited” to “Garth Turner unedited*”
* provided you are not “more prickish and useless than usual” as I, “populist”, decides.
(copy saved)
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. (copy saved) — Garth
Hope our troops are ready for Iran, much talk about a U.S. attacks in the news today.
By Ed Brooks on 10.01.07 2:49 pm
When I said “sinister,” I was referring to the conservative’s efforts towards voter suppression. It is well known that in the USA, the Republicans engage in voter suppression during and between elections and I would argue that Mr. Harper has started down this path, as well, disproportionately suppressing the votes of the elderly, poor and minorities who overwhelmingly vote for a progressive.
e.g., recall that under the guise of preventing “voter fraud,†Mr. Harper recently railed against Mr. Mayrand’s decision to allow “veiled voters.” Voter fraud is not a problem in Canada as non-citizens voting, for example, is extremely rare.
So why the opposition?
-R
Mr Garth TurnerMP, and anyone else,
Stand with the Burmese Protesters.
Sign the petition.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/t.php?cl=21208784
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. (copy saved) — Garth
Good one.
But as you know, in politics, the door is often a revolving one. What goes around, comes around.
Btw, I don’t for one minute suggest your intentions wrt the seniors are not of the highest standards and well intentioned. I question the means.
Acquit, Acquit, Acquit!
Hep. C scandal.
All three doctors acquitted today! Only in Canada. In the U.S., England, Germany, France, Japan…people went to jail over this. Only in Canada can you be a part of mass killing for profit or hate and not do a minute in jail. Reminds me of Air India. What, one person served a couple of months. ONLY IN THIS SCREWED UP COUNTRY. Save us from the loony left!
The way the judge spoke you’d think these doctors were angels sent from heaven. Screw the victims! Our own Paul Martin sat on the B.O.D. in the company that sold this blood to our Canadian hospitals, even after they had a test for Hep. C. In 1986, Paul resigned from this board, hence the former Liberal government refused to even think of compensating the victims pre 1986. Can’t have Min. of Fin. implicated can we?
If that judge turns around and award these ‘blessed’ doctors court costs and legal fees on the backs of these poor dying people…I will simply throw up.
R.I.P. Sue.
Leasa
e.g., recall that under the guise of preventing “voter fraud,†Mr. Harper recently railed against Mr. Mayrand’s decision to allow “veiled voters.†Voter fraud is not a problem in Canada as non-citizens voting, for example, is extremely rare.
So why the opposition?
-R
By Rob Wiebe on 10.01.07 5:07 pm
Why don’t you ask the citizens of Edmonton Centre about voter fraud. Interesting how once the “irregularities” in the voter list got sorted out there Landslide Annie lost her seat.
By Reid on 10.01.07 5:18 pm
Absolutely Reid, stacking voter lists is a common tactic, too, but I would not call it voter suppression. I would call it “voter fraud” and place it on the list along with hacking voting machines, changing votes, etc.
Good point, though
-R
If that judge turns around and award these ‘blessed’ doctors court costs and legal fees on the backs of these poor dying people…I will simply throw up.
R.I.P. Sue. Leasa
By Leasa on 10.01.07 5:16 pm
I have every symapthy for the victims of the blood scandal. Thats what it was. And they need to be compensated, all of them.
But that doesn’t mean anyone accused of a crime in this affair is guilty. Maybe they are, maybe they’re not. But, in this country its up to the prosecution to prove their guilt.
Obviously the judge concluded, based on the evidence provided, this was not the case. We don’t have guilty not proven (Scotland) and from what I understand this would not have been applicable anyway.
Flawed as it is, thats our legal system.
We try not to go on witch hunts, we don’t have lynch mobs, and justice is not a case of someone is suffering so someoneelse must be to blame, so lets find someone and bring down a guilty verdict. (Its happened in the past as we’ve seen, and hopefully won’t in the future.)
So who should pay the court costs for these “innocent” doctors?
What matters is that you vote for MMP in the ontario referendum, so next time around your green vote actually counts.
By Tobias Kaiser on 10.01.07 3:43 pm
Agreed on MMP. I, however am voting Green, and the vote does count for the next election in funding, and percentage of the vote. That is what people miss.
I cannot, and will not, in good faith and honesty vote for any of the three major party candidates, because they are THE PROBLEM! If we had Garth, that would be a different scenario, but we do not!
I would rather stand for principles, than be part of a winning team of losers.
WOW…I have to say that I am impressed with Stephane Dion’s office!
I sent Stephane an email late yesterday evening to his parliament hill email address with some suggestions on how Liberal MPs could position themselves in a more positive way with their constituents. Before 5 pm today I received a personal reply from one of his staffers thanking me for my email, and noting some of the ideas in my email which showed that someone at least took the time to read it before responding to me.
Compared to some of the horror stories posted in your weblog about how constituents have been treated by their Conservative MPs (like the MP who refused to take a letter to Harper on behalf on constituents because it would ‘hurt’ his standing in the party)….this fast and personalized response by Dion’s office is indeed refreshing.
Garth, I can see why you have been impressed with Dion. His office is no doubt a reflection of the man. Responsive. Personal. Caring.
The only other time that I received a quick response from anyone in Federal politics was when Tony Valerie was our MP (unfortunately we are suffering with the neoCon Allison at the moment).
Keep up the great work Garth. You are an inspiration to everyday Canadians. Regardless of what other members do with the throne speech, my guess is you will stand by your convictions and vote against it.
Don Newman–Politics
Don Valley Riding
John Tory 37%
Kathleen Wynne 52%
Compass Polling Information
General Population Opposed FBS 67%
PC Core Opposed 52%
MPP, Potential MPP Opposed 25%
I believe Tory sensed [too late] that his proposal for FBS was entirely divisive and he saw the only way out as to effectively disavow it. In that way, he hoped to move it from the political realm. I believe Tory knows ‘he’s gone’ and he hoped to further salvage a partial turnaround for incumbents and potential MPP’s.
Total disaster all ’round.
Looks like I hit a nerve Old Enough and Larry G. Fantastic!
Here are some more facts to digest.
Explain to us how selling a Canadian Trust to a foreign buyer who will pay no Canadian Taxes, and which Canadians cannot own will benefit Canadians.
All brought to you by an incompetent Finance Minister who is out of his depth.
Primewest Energy Trust -Bought for Nothing Down & No Income Taxes
Who will make up the tax shortfall that Trust Investors used to contribute to the Feds?
Looks like this tax leakage was caused by Jim himself…
You CONboys are A)out of your depth on this issue and B)the flailing you are doing means the issue isn’t dead yet, or you would ignore it.
Great news for me. Bad news for you.
And I’m still not Brent Fullard.
And I’m not Brent Fullard.
But i sure wish i had the capabilities of this man. I take my hat off to Brent Fullard . He is a true inspiration. He can,t be thanked enough!
By Transcanada on 10.01.07 6:21 pm
And I’m still not Brent Fullard.
Well, all I can say is good for you.
You seem to quote the CAITI site quite often, your latest post being no exception.
So, can you advise us if you are one of these founding members, and who specifically they are?
It appears to me that they have a vested interest in continuing to receive exceptional fees from IPOs for new ITs. Have your Ponzi schemes been shut down? Any objective analysis of PimeWestEnergy Trust suggest it was not sutainable under an IT structure.
Please elaborate.
CAITI Founding Members
(Those who became members prior to CAITI’s launch on January 15, 2007)
Four Individuals (with an average age of 62 years)
Coalition of Canadian Energy Trusts
Sentry Select Capital Corp.
CI Investments
Dynamic Funds
Acuity Funds Ltd.
Citadel Group of Funds
Brompton Funds
Gluskin Sheff + Associates
Borden Ladner Gervais
Lawrence Asset Management Inc.
Canadian Energy Infrastructure Group
And I’m still not Brent Fullard.
By Transcanada on 10.01.07 6:21 pm
Great research. As you know I lost a large packet. Talking to those ‘others’ is like talking to Raeallians … They’ve cloned themselves … but have only managed the first-stage lyrics to Hello Stevie.
Garth has stated in a previous blog way back some months ago that votes such as budget and throne speeches are always whipped votes.
Garth like a good Liberal that he is will vote as he is told or he will suddenly get sick and will not vote or he could even sit on his hands and abstain. In any event he will vote or do as he is told to do by his leader and his party whip.
In any event the end result is that the Conservative Government will not be defeated and there will be no election this fall. Too bad because I was looking so forward to one.
“While a lot of people in Alberta and Quebec are no doubt squealing with glee, the rest of us might want to seriously consider bringing these bastards down IMMEDIATELY before they end up Balkanizing the whole country.”
By Jennifer Smith on 10.01.07 3:14 pm
I wrote a few articles about Ontario taking the biggest economic hit when the results of slipping it to American companies with a devalued dollar would catch up. Some others items that are worth mention. In 2000 how international investors are putting Canada farther down the list, the`ve all left as of 2002. The lack of reinvestment by Cdn companies that choose off shore tax havens to retooling. Now that you Ontario oh ohs are starting to wake up to the fact, your calling us bastards because we forewarned you.
The `reform` or else still stands and stands proudly.
So who should pay the court costs for these “innocent†doctors?
By James- Chatham on 10.01.07 5:55 pm
Apparently they are going after the hemophiliac society. Three of the victims in this case died prior to this judgement. I have resolved myself to the fact that no one will be held to account. I hate to sound partisan on such a topic, but at least Mr. Harper stepped in and compensated the pre-’86 victims, er…what is left of them that is. (sigh) L
By Tom on 10.01.07 6:06 pm
I do have gotten a reply back from my e-mails to Liberal members, always with a Thank You! even when I sent one to which I disagreed, I received a note why they felt that way and still thanked me for my thoughts……good staffing and team work I might say, and due to the fact they came so quickly would leave me to believe Stephane Dion had faith in his team….and that spells “Leadership”. When people are told what to say and who they can talk to,it is called “Dictatorship”
Garth, What’s your take on MMP? Considering it (the vote) is less than 10 days away now, I’d be interested in hearing your POV.
Not a perfect reform, but a reform nonetheless. I’ll be voting in favour. — Garth
Why Steve is a liar and doesn’t deserve to be PM.
Stephen Harper’s Broken Promises
http://trustbreaker.freehostia.com/
If this Con ever wins a majority we’re all screwed for years to come. Just like we were after Lyin Brian.
This isn’t the Monty Python version. The Pythons wrote far funnier sketches!
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/ATHEISM/inquisition.html
What a shock! Corruption in Alberta. Who would have thought?
Alberta losing billions on energy royalties: auditor general
The government itself has identified roughly $1 billion per year in royalties that were owed by energy companies but were never collected, Dunn said, adding that the principles of transparency and accountability have not been followed when it comes to oil and gas royalties.
WHAT? principles of transparency and accountability have not been followed
And to think that is where the Father of such statements hails from, the Mighty Steve! Looks like his CRAP people CRAP on everyone, regardless.
By Emilie on 10.01.07 7:23 pm
Now we have ‘Deceivin’ Steven’ What a surprise, eh?
Putin is supposed to go at the end of his second term; apparently he may have changed his mind.
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Putin_to_run_for_Russian_parliament_10012007.html
Jennifer:
“While a lot of people in Alberta and Quebec are no doubt squealing with glee, the rest of us might want to seriously consider bringing these bastards down IMMEDIATELY before they end up Balkanizing the whole country.
Listen to Bob.
By Jennifer Smith on 10.01.07 3:14 pm”
Jennifer you should have a read of the Canadian constitution. The country was setup with the idea of jurisdictional divisions.
You may want to question if the ‘centralist’ concepts that have become so paramount in federal politics has lead to the near destruction of Canada (the last referendum).
I don’t want a say in how Ontario runs its affairs. We’d like the same consideration back.
Ed the Hun
“Trancanada” sez Looks like I hit a nerve Old Enough and Larry G. Fantastic!
Glad you’re enjoying your moment of attention. Sadly, the only interest I had was the suggestion that Mr. Fullard was pretending to be someone else again… Since you claim to be “not him” I guess we are done. As far as your “issue” goes; I heard all your arguments nine months ago. Certainly you have a legitimate beef but… I think you’re losing your audience. At least this portion of it.
CAITI Founding Members
(Those who became members prior to CAITI’s launch on January 15, 2007)
Four Individuals (with an average age of 62 years)
I see more than 4 here. Better get those trifocals checked Old Enough.
CAITI Founding Members.
Lots of folks there ‘plus 1820 who wish to remain anonymous’.
1) So, explain to us how selling a Canadian Trust to a foreign buyer who will pay no Canadian Taxes, and which Canadians cannot own will benefit Canadians taxpayers.
2) If you can, please elaborate why you think selling Canadian assets to foreign interests is a good idea.
3) Also, explain which Trusts are under investigation for being ‘ponzi schemes’…
but at least Mr. Harper stepped in and compensated the pre-’86 victims, er…what is left of them that is. (sigh) L
By Leasa on 10.01.07 7:06 pm
I will agree the Libs. messed up on this one!
Bill,
I haven’t spoken to you in some time, but please at least be accurate. It isn’t about ‘corruption’ in the Alberta government and royalty issues.
It about how much should the Alberta government demand from the oil/gas sector to be fair to Albertans and the industry (to allow it to prosper and grow).
That debate continues and there will be an announcement within a month or so (I believe).
My guess is that total royalties will increase in the $1.0 Billion region.
Be prepared. The price of gas will be going up!
Ed the Hun
Denying climate change.What is wrong with you cons?.Is the earth flat and only 10000 years old as well?
Also good site Emilie
Why Steve is a liar and doesn’t deserve to be PM.
Stephen Harper’s Broken Promises
http://trustbreaker.freehostia.com/
If this Con ever wins a majority we’re all screwed for years to come. Just like we were after Lyin Brian.
By Emilie on 10.01.07 7:23 pm
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.01.07 7:48 pm
And to think that is where the Father of such statements hails from, the Mighty Steve! Looks like his CRAP people CRAP on everyone, regardless.
Bill, again your ignorance of Alberta politics overwhelms.
Nice try.
“Notice Garth made no attempt to answer your questions? He tries to deflect and that’s about it.
By Sean P. Hogan on 10.01.07 2:44 pm”
Garth does not answer questions. He avoids them by calling people Harperites or cons or whatever name or smart remark he can come up with. That is the quality of liberal MPs. No answers, just empty rhetoric, blaming, fearmongering. Nothing new.
Force an election, our children can`t wait.
2 degree riddle
New study claims child abuse increasing rapidly in Ontario.
On a per capita basis both BC and Quebec collect the most child support, over 80% while Ontario was collecting less than 50% but still had far fewer youth problems. Over the last few years Ontario has made a big push on collections even stating the willingness to have a child support `swat team`.
The graphs show a correlation between the sole custody rate, child support collected and the amount of youth problems, more=more.
I`ve always stated that child support bankrupts fathers to the point they can`t be fathers. There are now about 2 million fatherless children in Canada. I would say `no fathers, no investment` but ya just wouldn`t get it.
Note that all child support paid for single parents on welfare is kept by the province to `replenish` welfare funds.
Welfare is a publicly funded program, to single out one group to pay an astronomical amount of this direct tax is unconstitutional. The cost are supposed to be the burden of all Cdns based on their income.
Ontario seems to like the idea of putting as much strain as possible on future generations as ballooning youth crime rates, and now the rapidly rising child abuse shows.
Quite the riddle as to why. Any 2 degree fans have the answer?
And you ask why the west wants out of this lunacy.
Canadian
Incidence Study
of Reported Child
Abuse and Neglect
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cissr-ecirc/pdf/cmic_e.pdf
page 20
40% of investigated families were
female-parent families (discussed in
chapter 7 of the CIS Final Report).
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cm-vee/csca-ecve/pdf/childabuse_final_e.pdf
page 51
30% of physical abuse victims
were living in lone female-parent
families (see Table 7-1).
page 52
42% of cases of substantiated
neglect involved lone female-parent
families
I do have gotten a reply back from my e-mails to Liberal members, always with a Thank You! even when I sent one to which I disagreed, I received a note why they felt that way and still thanked me for my thoughts…
By David Bakody on 10.01.07 7:18 pm
I can say that I have never received a response from a Liberal MP including the Liberal MP in my own riding. The only MPs that I have ever received a response from is two NDP MPs, a PC MP, and two independents (including Garth when he was an independent). I also received a response to an e-mail to Elizabeth May.
By Transcanada on 10.01.07 8:07 pm
(Those who became members prior to CAITI’s launch on January 15, 2007)
Four Individuals (with an average age of 62 years)
I see more than 4 here. Better get those trifocals checked Old Enough.
CAITI Founding Members.
Lots of folks there ‘plus 1820 who wish to remain anonymous’.
Hey TC, if you don’t know the basic difference betwen founding members (Jan 15th, 2007) and the subsequent ones that they recruited to do their bidding (Individuals who became members before January 31, 2007 – the title of the link you provided) then I see no prospects of further discussion.
But I’m sure the original 11 really do appreciate your continuing efforts.
Really! Just ask them.
Geez, $6 BILLION, Slide-Slide Away
Alberta’s Auditor General Fred Dunn. (Tim Smith/Special to the Sun)
Albertans were shortchanged by as much as $2-billion annually over the last three years because the government failed to act on its own energy department’s royalty recommendations, the auditor general has reported.
That’s despite both former premier Ralph Klein and former Energy Minister Greg Melchin claiming at the time that studies showed Alberta’s share was fair.
In fact, it was anything but.
In a scathing annual report, auditor general Fred Dunn said a 2004 internal department review identified changes to the royalty and energy revenue structures that could net taxpayers another $1-2 billion annually from royalties.
What somebody DONE TOL’ SOMEBODY ELSE WERE NOT THE TRUTH.
AN’ DAT’S DA TRUTH.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/10/01/4541622.html
Probably a $BILLION … No, that was the softwood lumber agreement … Alberta Heritage Fund just lost $5 Billion … Nobody wants to chase it up.
Where’s the control mechanism out there?
By Old enough to remember on 10.01.07 8:54 pm
Why you are so pleased about what happened those who were scammed by the government on income trusts? Traditionally Conservatives, including new Conservatives, encouraged people to invest in order to look after themselves and not depend on government. This scam contradicts that principle.
Was this an intentional scam or was there some other agenda? If so, what else can seniors and small investors expect in the future? Investors have told me they have no idea what to do with their money anymore.
What is going to happen when the public reaches the point that they perceive the entire public and private sector has become systemically corrupt?
I can say that I have never received a response from a Liberal MP including the Liberal MP in my own riding. The only MPs that I have ever received a response from is two NDP MPs, a PC MP, and two independents (including Garth when he was an independent). I also received a response to an e-mail to Elizabeth May.
By C. B. Innes on 10.01.07 8:36 pm
I’ve received responses to all my emails
including one I sent to Dawn Black NDP about whether our sons and daughters were being adequately looked after in Afghanistan … and when they returned home … particularly those who were suffering battle fatigue. [very high %] They all answered fully … with Dawn Black apologizing for a week’s delay in answering. I call that a direct response by any definition.
ONE IMPORTANT THING: If ANYBODY EVER TRIES TO ”SCRIMP” ON TREATMENT OF OUR PEOPLE, THEY’RE GOING TO FACE ONE HELLUVA BACKLASH.
U.S. defence companies to show their goods at embassy trade show
Romeo St. Martin
Politics Watch ® News Services
October 1, 2007, updated 5:00 p.m.
http://www.politicswatch.com/defence-october1-2007.htm
http://www.politicswatch.com/defence-october1-2007.htm
Outspoken blogger received Tory contract
Opinionated Conservative paid up to $20,000 for consulting work
Glen McGregor, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Monday, October 01, 2007
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0eaa136e-6faf-4245-ac4a-6fd84cf8f174
By Ed the Hun on 10.01.07 8:13 pm
By Old enough to remember on 10.01.07 8:20 pm
Don’t tell me, tell the people who wrote the report..Their words, not mine. So sorry!
And when the clerk calls your name Garth, I too will be thinking of broken promises, one very close to home for my family, personally. When the time comes, we both know what to do. You are an honourable man.
THE POST BY MICHAEL 10.01.07 5.01PM IS NOT BY THE MICHAEL WHO USUALLY POSTS HERE.MY LAST POST WAS 10.01.07 8.39AM EITHER WE HAVE A NEW MICHAEL OR SOMEBODY IS PLAYING NASTY GAMES.
SIGNED: MICHAEL…… WHO HAS BEEN POSTING SINCE GARTH WAS AN INDEPENDENT
By Bill-Muskoka on 10.01.07 9:29 pm
Sorry, I should have elaborated.
Ralph Klein’s gov’t (for good or bad) had little time for the Reform / Alliance or even the Stephen Harper Conservative party (he was probably happier to bash a Liberal one), so it would be unfair to link them together.
The audit covered principally Klein’s govt – so his gov’t has to wear it.
By C. B. Innes on 10.01.07 9:12 pm
Why you are so pleased about what happened those who were scammed by the government on income trusts?
As Herb Gray would say: “I reject the premise of your question.”
I don’t agree it was a “scam” by the gov’t.
If you can explain convincingly how it was, I’d be happy to discuss further, if you take into consideration the many points I have raised in the past on this issue (ITs).
And if I’m not mistaken, isn’t a conservative principle also to be responsible for your own actions?
Gee Jim & Sean: If you are not getting the answers you want, why do you keep hanging around?
Perhaps you can find another M.P. to give you the answers that will make you happy.
I bet if you e-mailed your questions to all the Con M.P.’s you would get back the identical answers ( all taken from their pre-written, pre-approved scripts)
I know, because every time I ask a policy question of my Con M.P., I always receive a non-answer that skirts the issue.
Or, treat this blog as Question Period. You get to ask questions-but you don’t necessarily always receive an answer.
ONE IMPORTANT THING: If ANYBODY EVER TRIES TO â€SCRIMP†ON TREATMENT OF OUR PEOPLE, THEY’RE GOING TO FACE ONE HELLUVA BACKLASH.
By PYOTR PETROBITCH on 10.01.07 9:16 pm
This should be the mantra of all Canadians. When the time is right, I’ll let you know about a few situations, that are most definitely ‘not right’. As the Mom of a CF member, I thank you for your forthright belief and support for all CF members. Thank you.
Top spot on election issues, the economy.
Couldn`t help but notice the Cdn version of the news that came out almost 7 hrs after the full story was released in the US.
You be the judge, is the Cdn media telling the truth? Reality is a nasty business.
***Cdn version***
http://ca.news.finance.yahoo.com/s/02102007/6/finance-global-stocks-hit-record-eye-end-credit-woes.html
Global stocks hit record, eye end to credit woes
Mon Oct 1, 11:56 PM
Citigroup helped drive the Dow Jones industrial average to a record high on Monday after its chief executive said that third-quarter profit would drop 60 percent but the financial services company would “return to a normal earnings environment in the fourth quarter.”
***US version***
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071001/bank_losses.html?.v=3
Citigroup, UBS Warn of Loan Losses
Monday October 1, 4:51 pm ET
With the housing market continuing to deteriorate and the credit markets tighter than usual, he said banks could be facing a systemic debt problem.
Citigroup’s nearly $6 billion in charges and writedowns “could help put problems behind it,” wrote Deutsche Bank analyst Mike Mayo, while Lehman Brothers analysts wrote that they wonder “if this move helps flush out the negative factors plaguing financials.”
However, S&P lowered a long-term credit rating on UBS. And many analysts noted the overall banking industry’s recovery relies on steady improvement in the credit markets.
By C. B. Innes on 10.01.07 9:12 pm
Why you are so pleased about what happened those who were scammed by the government on income trusts?
As Herb Gray would say: “I reject the premise of your question.â€
I don’t agree it was a “scam†by the gov’t.
If you can explain convincingly how it was, I’d be happy to discuss further, if you take into consideration the many points I have raised in the past on this issue (ITs).
And if I’m not mistaken, isn’t a conservative principle also to be responsible for your own actions?
By Old enough to remember on 10.01.07 10:18 pm
———————————-
I can explain convincingly how it is with this INCOME TRUST issue.
Let,s not forget who the main culprit is. No one does anything in Harpers cabinet without express permission from the main instigator of this tax on trusts. Harper set us up and played us for suckers to get our votes.(cannon fodder) Flaherty is a puppet of this liar and deceiver Harper. Knowing Harper I wouldn,t be suprissed if his next move is to repace Flaherty with someone like Emerson. Their like common criminals. They,ll turn on themselves for any political gain. Don,t put anything past Harper. He,s capable of anything! Nice to have a psychopath for a Prime Minister!
Ms. Tintor
OK you Cons! FESS UP ! Which one of you is Ms. Tintor?
And from Europe, the reason the markets are up, they think the news is so bad the feds will drop interest rates. Which again raises the question, will more cheap money put enough cash in consumers pockets to avoid a recession?
Short term gain, long term pain? Place your bets.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKL0257831820071002?rpc=44
European Factors–Stocks set to join global equities bounce
Tue Oct 2, 2007 1:17am EDT
Investors are also preparing for two policy decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England on Thursday against a backdrop of stubbornly high short-term lending rates.
Garth does not answer questions. He avoids them by calling people Harperites or cons or whatever name or smart remark he can come up with. That is the quality of liberal MPs. No answers, just empty rhetoric, blaming, fearmongering. Nothing new.
By jim on 10.01.07 8:33 pm
Of course all conservative MPs are very forthcoming, especially with the dirty trick books supplied by the PMO for committees in parliament. Lots of original thought there!
As a Canadian I will be completely po’d if Harper’s manipulations and cowardly proroguing of a duly-elected government causes any political parties to deny the will of Canadians for NO ELECTION and the will of Canadians to have Harper continue to govern, for good or ill, until he has screwed up so badly that the majority of Canadians call for his head, or we reach the set election date of October 2009.
The people will be made fools of by Harper’s machinations if we fall for them.
Harper is desperate to take the heat off himself for decisions he’s made in the past (income trusts, Afghanistan extension “debate,” missing detainees and DND coverup of same, the Harper Handbook to undermine government).
Harper wants a so-called new mandate before the new scandals of: DND covering up number of Canadians wounded comes to light, before his court appearance, before the Elections Canada Con-Ad investigations conclude, and likely several more scandals that are yet to be revealed.
Bringing down Harper now will give him a pass on all these egregious decisions he’s made. I say, let Harper govern! As best he can. Don’t be manipulated into giving Harper an exit strategy on a platter!
Marc Garneau says he wasn’t part of Dion’s vision.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070930/garneau_quebec_070930/20070930?hub=Politics
Gee Jim & Sean: If you are not getting the answers you want, why do you keep hanging around?
Perhaps you can find another M.P. to give you the answers that will make you happy.
I bet if you e-mailed your questions to all the Con M.P.’s you would get back the identical answers ( all taken from their pre-written, pre-approved scripts)
I know, because every time I ask a policy question of my Con M.P., I always receive a non-answer that skirts the issue.
Or, treat this blog as Question Period. You get to ask questions-but you don’t necessarily always receive an answer.
By Judy on 10.01.07 10:39 pm
Judy, not getting answers is an example of politicians ignoring the people. I find it strange that you think that this is better than getting a party-line type answer. I would say at least the party-line answer tells me something. It tells me that the MP doesn’t stray from the party-line. The politician that ignores questions is actually worse than the party-line politician.
What it all boils down to…if the Liberals do not vote the throne speech down, it means they support the government. Even if they call in sick or abstain, it means they agree. It will signal to all Canadians that Mr. Harper is doing a great job. Even the Liberals couldn’t disagree enough to vote no confidence. ha ha ha
The Liberal Party opposition is big enough, old enough, experienced enough, and strong enough to weather this storm in the best interest of the vast majority of Canadians who DO NOT WANT AN ELECTION!
Unlike the Harper Party, the Bloc and NDP, the Liberals will do what is best for Canada, and that is giving Harper enough rope to hang himself.
Let Harper’s chickens come home to roost!
Take the high road: Oppose the Throne Speech from the front bench, and keep the backbench home!
When Stephen Harper wants something so badly he can taste it you just know he does not have Canada’s interest at heart.
What it all boils down to…if the Liberals do not vote the throne speech down, it means they support the government. Even if they call in sick or abstain, it means they agree. It will signal to all Canadians that Mr. Harper is doing a great job. Even the Liberals couldn’t disagree enough to vote no confidence. ha ha ha
By Leasa on 10.02.07 9:56 am
I wouldn’t go that far, I would agree if they don’t vote non confidence (depending what is in the throne speech) that is a tacit support for the government. As far as Harper doing a good job, I don’t think you will find many Liberals who would agree with that. But quite frankly I don’t think it matters, I don’t see a great deal of difference in the way those two parties operate. I am hoping we might move on to another way of governing, this present way doesn’t work well.
News update on the #1 election issue.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071002/pending_home_sales.html?.v=9
WASHINGTON (AP) — An index that forecasts near-term home sales fell in August to a record low as would-be homebuyers had difficulty getting mortgages. Economists said the housing market’s woes show no sign of improving soon.
From yesterday
Top spot on election issues, the economy.
Couldn`t help but notice the Cdn version of the news that came out almost 7 hrs after the full story was released in the US.
You be the judge, is the Cdn media telling the truth? Reality is a nasty business.
***Cdn version***
Global stocks hit record, eye end to credit woes
Mon Oct 1, 11:56 PM
Citigroup helped drive the Dow Jones industrial average to a record high on Monday after its chief executive said that third-quarter profit would drop 60 percent but the financial services company would “return to a normal earnings environment in the fourth quarter.â€
***US version***
Citigroup, UBS Warn of Loan Losses
Monday October 1, 4:51 pm ET
With the housing market continuing to deteriorate and the credit markets tighter than usual, he said banks could be facing a systemic debt problem.
..but please at least be accurate. It isn’t about ‘corruption’ in the Alberta government and royalty issues.
Ed the Hun
Are you ignoring the news and the auditor’s report? What about all those personal charges to government credit cards?
Bad use of credit
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/10/02/4542607-sun.html
It’s called stealing, Ed
I am hoping we might move on to another way of governing, this present way doesn’t work well.
By pjw on 10.02.07 11:05 am
Most westerners feel the same way. Perhaps a nominated federal government?
I see abstaining in a different way. This is falling right into Harpers hands. Why give him exactly what he wants. Harper has done a good job over the last year prior to the Quebec by-election, of sticking his own foot in his mouth. Only since the those same by-elections, and with the help of his media frindly press pundits, Hello Duff, has he been on a bit of a roll. Nope, I say don’t let the Government fall. It looks like the economy has just about peaked and things are ready to go down hill as is the United States for Steve and company over the next year or so.
By Randy on 10.01.07 10:38 am
I’m just one of those unsophisticated Canadian voters who believes that the party I support must stand or fall on it’s principles. That’s why I feel that regardless of current internal and external petty swiping at the leader, it’s now time for the Liberal Party to give Canadians an opportunity to decide for themselves if they really want to abandon what Canada has stood for at home and abroad to the self-serving interests of the Harper party. It should be up to the voters, not the politicians to decide if we’ll get the kind of government we deserve before Harper can do any more damage.
Emilie,
Fair enough regarding the credit card thing. But regarding the royalty thing, not corruption.
Ed the Hun
The Liberal Party opposition is big enough, old enough, experienced enough, and strong enough to weather this storm in the best interest of the vast majority of Canadians who DO NOT WANT AN ELECTION!
By Liz on 10.02.07 10:55 am
Do you not realize Liz that there is internal fighting among several factions of the Liberal Party? These different factions will never come together under Dion’s leadership for the betterment of their party, they are just to fractured. I would love to see an election this Fall and hoping there will be one.
Re: comments by THE SHADOW KNOWS on 10.02.07 1:41 pm
One can say the same thing about the Conservatives but it is easier to keep the problems under wraps when a government is in power. A good example is what happened with the Liberals during the period of the Chretien government.
When a party is not in power a struggle for supremacy always takes place. Under every new leader has to deal with it in his own way. It happened to Harper just as it is happening to Dion. Eventually the dissidents will leave or be pushed into the margins of the party (e.g. Deborah Gray, Belinda Stronach to name the most prominent but there were many others, especially former PCs and Reformers that have left or been marginalized).
So far Harper has been able to keep his problems under wraps but should he lose the next election I don’t see how he can control the party to the same extent. Those that have been marginalized will use the first opportunity to renew the struggle for control of the party.
So far Harper has been able to keep his problems under wraps but should he lose the next election I don’t see how he can control the party to the same extent. Those that have been marginalized will use the first opportunity to renew the struggle for control of the party.
By C. B. Innes on 10.02.07 2:41 pm
I agree with you, it happens all the time but more so for those in opposition. I appreciate your posts C.B. Innis. I find them very insightful.
Carol is gone just one week after Dion stated very clearly that he supports him and will remain in his position and nos Dion is distancing himself from this man. What a flip flop.
Another nail in Dion’s coffin, perhaps?
Carol is gone just one week after Dion stated very clearly that he supports him and will remain in his position and nos Dion is distancing himself from this man. What a flip flop.
Another nail in Dion’s coffin, perhaps?
By Van on 10.02.07 5:05 pm
Gone? Where? Still there in another position, isn’t he? Just a shuffle in staffing, reassignments, etc. Happens all the time.
Didn’t your Steve keep on firing his communication directors until he found someone as nasty as himself? Not to mention Steve did 3 shuffles. Was Steve flip-flopping?
The issue that bothers me most is how all the major political parties cater to Quebec. I understand that this was a strategy to get a Quebecer into the position and into other influential positions in the leaders office.
If Canada is going to remain united politicians are going to have to discover the rest of Canada really does count. The perceived unpopularity of Dion in Quebec will be used over and over to gain special concessions for Quebec Liberals in order to “rebuilt the party in Quebec.”
The irony is that the more the parties pay special service to Quebec, the more tempting it is to corrupt the Quebec wing.
One hardly even needs to read between the lines anymore.
Looks like some nice “little fine-tuning” of the buying out of Canada going on. We’ll soon see who stands up for Canadians in this great battle for CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY and DEMOCRACY.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=as7quJ34iGJI&refer=canada
AND
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aKCFY80xQnio&refer=canada
CB Innes wrote>
>The issue that bothers me most is how all >the major political parties cater to >Quebec.
Me as well. However,they do so because they know full well that without Quebec they will never form the government which is the objective of every party leader and party. Sad but true.