Lunn defends firing before House committee.
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Fired for doing your job.
You may not know the sting of that, but a growing number of people do. Stephen Harper dumped me for being an MP who tried to speak for principle first and party second. Bill Casey was fired as an MP for speaking for his constituents first, and being a follower second. Michael Chong was outed for putting the concept of Canada ahead of vote pandering to Quebec. Now Stephen Harper has done it again, firing Linda Keen for doing her appointed job of making sure nuclear reactors are safe.
The pattern is unmistakeable. It reminds me of a famous Humphrey Bogart movie, “The Caine Mutiny” in which an insane naval commander abused his power after seeing imaginary threats all around him. He was convinced someone was dipping into his secret cache of strawberries. At first subordinates reacted in fear and subjugation. Then they canned the idiot.
Mr. Harper stunned a lot of people on the floor of the House of Commons some weeks ago by referring to Linda Keen, the esteemed head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Board as “a Liberal.” That, it seemed, was enough to remove her, demean her and ridicule her in Parliament. The issue was the ongoing closure of the Chalk River nuclear plant and the manufacture of medical isotopes. Evidence abounds that the feds mishandled that issue mightily, after knowing about it for months.
Keen ordered Chalk River closed until emergency backup mechanisms – required by law – were operational. The government went to Parliament to overturn that, and opposition parties supported the move after a hastily-held hearing on the floor of the House. But through it all, the woman acted with professionalism and dignity befitting a senior public servant, doing her job with determination and without compromise. Who else would you want looking after the nukes?
Around midnight last night the natural resources minister, Gary Lunn, fired Keen. It came just hours before she was to testify before a panel of MPs today in Ottawa. The fact Mr. Lunn interfered with an independent regulatory body is irrefutable. The motives are base, and appear to be almost entirely political.
Mr. Lunn is the same minister who recently succeeded in having a bunch of his constituents get special treatment from the Canada Revenue Agency, forgiving them of capital gains tax bills the rest of Canadians have to pay. Hardly ministerial behaviour, but in Mr. Harper’s book of imaginary morals, that’s okay.
The prime minister is out of control. Who shall tell him?
160 comments ↓
I hope the committee still keeps its focus today on the government’s handling of this whole issue and not let Lunn deflect the focus on to Keen. The timing of this firing, after the Conservatives were unable to get Lunn to follow Keen and rebut, seems to be to influence the focus of today’s questioning.
Garth….election time. The Conservatives don’t care about nuclear safety in Canada.
We used to have a parliamentary institution whose job it was to control a prime minister in or out of control. It was called the Loyal Opposition.
Yes I agree PMSH is out of control. He is exibiting many of the characteristics of a couple of gentlemen in power in the mid twentieth century whose names started with Adolf and Joseph. Considering what is crashing around their ears right now this issue and the Mulrooney one are the least damaging to the cons. If the opposition is smart and doesn’t get sucked into this strategy they will focus their attack on real issues that matter. The economy, the environment, health care, poverty, the failure of public private partenerships, failure to follow the new government ethics legislation, etc., etc., the list goes on and on. Let the commisions do their jobs for now on both these issues and start hitting hard on everything else. there is an old saying “choose the mountain you want to die on”. You will know when you come to it.
It’s pronounced gnuclear(sic).
“It is imperative that Canadians have full confidence in the executive leadership of important federal institutions such as the CNSC. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that this confidence is maintained. In light of the circumstances surrounding the actions of the President, such confidence was seriously eroded and the Government removed her as President.”
The above excerpt is from the government press release.
We are supposed to have confidence in Harper’s decision? Ms. Keen ran the commission quite nicely for two terms.
This ill-advised decision on Harper’s part should be enough to bring down the government.
Ms. Keen did Canadian a favour – she brought it to our attention that the Chalk River situation has been ignored by government for years. By firing her Harper has just made Canadians more aware of his incompetence.
As for endangering the health of Canadians by cutting off the isotopes there are enough producers world-wide to cover the shortage. They just were not operating at full capacity.
It would seem that Harper wants to get rid of regulatory commissions, or at least this one.
Harper scares me. I sincerely hope one of the opposition parties comes out with clear policies and sticks with them in the event of an election. Canada is in serious trouble with Harper in charge.
Please do whatever you can to get Mr. Dion to force an election. This cannot go on any longer!
Did we expect this of Stephen Harper? Absolutely!!
This latest firing is completely expected. Harper cannot stand anything but complete subservience. Another sad day for a once proud country.
Truthfully, the Liberals are hurting themselves by insulting our intelligence, the same way the Cons do. Let the election come. Your job as the Opposition is keep the government accountable, not to position yourselves to win the next election. This is the same ass-backwards thinking that is plunging M. Dion in the polls. Waiting might be prudent to advisors, but it’s pissing us off.
Natural Resources Committee meeting in progress, with Lunn reading his statement right now. Watch it live on http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvuen%2Dca/
Do you tink it is eeezy to fire people?
At the risk of having a Liberal MP ask questions in committee given to them by a voter… here’s the question that needs to be answerd by Ms. Keen and Mr. Lunn..
Given that the pumps in question did not have the required emergency power for 17 months,
1. When did the CNSC know about the problem and what action did they take?
2. When did AECL know about the problem and what action did they take?
3. When did the Minister know about the problem and what action did he take?
From CTV, the pump problem has been there for 17 months, all under a Conservative government.
Id Ms. Keen did nothing, or the CNSC didn’t find out about the problem until they came to restart the reactor after scheduled maintenance in Nov, then the CNSC failed its oversight mandate, and the firing is justified.
However, the Auditor General states that AECL and their Conservative appointed CEO, who had little knowledge of the nuclear industry, where advised by CNSC about the problem in September. What action did he take (apart from resigning) to restify the problem.
And finally, when did Mr. Lunn know of the problem and why did he allow it to escalate to the point where the reactor was shut down. According to the report, he recieved a copy of the CNSC’s letter to AECL in September.
Maybe its time for a clean slate as it seems some responsibilty for the isotope mess lies with all persons concerned. Ms. Keen is gone, the CEO of AECL has gone (btw, who’s his Conservative appointed successor?) and maybe Mr. Lunn should also be fired.
One things for sure, Mr. management seagull Harper, squakes alot and then dumps, will get his management review come the election.
I’ve seen this before. A subordinate takes issue with management, and gets fired for their pains to do the right thing. Only for the CEO to be fired by the baord few months later for being incompetant.
In this case, Mr. Harper is the CEO, and we, the voter, are the board.
Mr. Harper will be held accountable.
The prime minister is out of control. Who shall tell him? – Garth
All the opposition parties have to do is give Canadians the opportunity. We’ll be more than happy.
So,if you do your job,you get fired.But if you screw around,you get rewarded.What a way to run a country.Harper and co. should be run out of town.
Let the election come. Your job as the Opposition is keep the government accountable, not to position yourselves to win the next election. This is the same ass-backwards thinking that is plunging M. Dion in the polls. Waiting might be prudent to advisors, but it’s pissing us off.
By Deny Trudel on 01.16.08 9:47 am
How true. This is the same thinking Mr. Harper used in opposition. It was never about policy, just about winning.
We’ve seen the mess he’s made.
Its not about winning, its about vision for Canada’s future and sticking with it!
I thought the Liberal Govt. had been warned by the Auditor many years ago about the problems there. They filed the report under garbage, I guess.
Garth,
Thank you for this topic. It is one of the most important you have posted.
Is there are anything HONEST about the CPC? I have yet to see one instance which would indicate their promise of an ‘open and accountable government’ was anything more than another of their LIES!
Disputed election ads would have put Tories over limit: Elections Canada
The federal Conservative party would have exceeded its legal campaign spending limit in the 2006 election had it claimed $1.2 million in radio and TV advertising money the party transferred to Tory candidates, Elections Canada says in Federal Court documents.
The party has been unable to prove that its candidates contracted and paid for the advertising and the ads did not directly promote the candidates themselves, an Elections Canada affidavit says.
Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand was aware the Tory national campaign was close to its authorized limit when he considered whether candidates could legally claim the costs of regional media buys, the affidavit says. The Tories finished the campaign just $270,000 under their $18.3-million limit. and there is more in the article.
Lougheed thrashes PM’s fixed terms plan
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s push for fixed four-year terms for governments fails to consider the dangers of surprise political hot potatoes — or more specifically dog food — former premier Peter Lougheed says.
and Stephane Dion has erred as well. Riding association
The head of a Saskatchewan Liberal party riding association yesterday called for the appointment of Joan Beatty as a candidate to be rescinded. Federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion named Ms. Beatty, the first aboriginal female elected to the Saskatchewan legislature and appointed to Cabinet, to the riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River about two weeks ago. In a letter to Mr. Dion, Marcel Head, chief of Shoal Lake First Nation, called for respect “toward a democratic process.” Mr. Head also appealled to Ms. Beatty to resign her appointment and file nomination papers, “so that due process can prevail.” Constituents will elect a candidate who are committed to the democratic process, he said. “People were not properly consulted about this appointment. We just want proper process to be followed, the nomination process,” he said in an interview last night. “That’s what we’re after, that everyone has their chance to be nominated.”
and for more stories on what many of the papers fail to report go read National Newswatch The aggregator of all Canadian news.
The prime minister is out of control. Who shall tell him? – Garth
All the opposition parties have to do is give Canadians the opportunity. We’ll be more than happy.
By James- Chatham on 01.16.08 10:04 am
Hear! HEAR! I can hardly wait.
Harper has been out of control since day one. Rid Canada of this meglamaniac arse NOW!
Another former Conservative Premier from Alberta criticizes Harper…
No wonder Harper’s popularity is eroding in the west. Guys like Peter Lougheed are listened to in Alberta.
Harper take note. Your days are numbered.
——————-
Former Alta. premier takes shots at Harper
Canwest News Service; Edmonton Journal
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
EDMONTON – A long-serving former Alberta premier fired several verbal shots at Stephen Harper on Tuesday, criticizing the prime minister for proposed term limits for governments, and for not holding televised first ministers meetings.
Peter Lougheed also issued a stern warning about efforts to protect the environment, saying any attempt by Ottawa to impose a carbon tax “would create a constitutional confrontation within the country.”
Lougheed made the comments at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
The Conservative premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985, Lougheed was known for his tough stands on energy and constitutional matters.
He took Harper to task for not holding a yearly televised first ministers conference, a practice that began under former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
So far, Harper has agreed only to a single, closed-door dinner meeting with the premiers.
“I don’t like what’s going on today,” he told an audience of about 150. “It should be a commitment in our country, because we’re a federal system, every year to have an open, televised first ministers conference.”
Lougheed also said he would put Harper’s proposal for eight-year fixed Senate terms, and provincial elections for senators, “way down the list. There’s an element within his party that puts it higher, but it’s way down the list.”
He called efforts to ease global warming potentially divisive.
“I see this issue, particularly with water, emerging more and more significantly in terms of the development of our Alberta oilsands,” he said. “So I foresee a major possible confrontation coming up here with the federal government.”
Edmonton Journal
© CanWest News Service 2008
As my good friend Bush says, when it comes to Nucular, you’re either with us or against us! From now on, any voter who does not vote for Canada’s New Government (which, like the Northern Star, shines with pride), will have their own nucular bomb delivered by express air mail! Enjoy.
Here is the Editorial from our Weekender last Friday regarding Baird’s visit on January 23rd to the Huntsville Legion Hall.
Looking for answers
For years the sound of the global warming war drum has been steadily growing louder as pressure mounts on world leaders and global citizens alike to drastically change the course of the planet before it’s too late.
The message is simple. Cut greenhouse gas emissions and we give the world a fighting chance.
This week, a blue ribbon panel commissioned by the federal Conservatives released a report that says, in no uncertain terms, the government must consider a carbon tax or other form of emissions charge if it has any hope of meeting its own target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this country by 65 per cent by 2050.
Environment minister John Baird was quoted in the national media as saying the government would review the findings of the report, but immediately rejected the suggestion of a carbon tax, saying, “A new tax sounds like a Liberal idea to me.”
Instead, he said the Conservatives’ plan to introduce mandatory reductions for big polluters was “the way to go.”
Thanks for the advice, but we already have our own plan, seems to be Baird’s message.
The Conservatives are patting themselves on the back for planning emissions reductions that include big polluters such as the oil and auto industries, but the way in which total emissions are me~sured under their plan was flagged by the panel as simply allowing pollution to grow based on a ratio of productivity.
Baird’s public response also suggests an idea that sounds a little too Liberal will be rejected by the federal government. That in itself is extremely disheartening. We want to see leadership and action, not partisan politics.
This week in Muskoka, abnormal temperatures caused flooding on dozens of roads and people had to be evacuated from their homes. Some are still without power due to downed trees and damage to power lines and we are being told that the unpredictability of weather patterns will only get worse.
According to information coming out of Environment Canada, climate change in Muskoka will not simply translate into a rise in temperatures. It will include, among other things, more frequent freeze/thaw cycles and more severe storms.
In two weeks the environment minister comes to Huntsville for a town hall meeting alongside Tony Clement.
We hope he comes up with a better answer to climate change, takes the report his government commissioned in earnest and drops the party rhetoric.
Just another example of Steve’s way or the highway. Could this have anything to do with Steve’s plans to sell nuclear systems worldwide?? Would Ms. Keen or any other appointed watchdog have vetoed his plans? Is this why he wants to do away with the CNSC completely??
Someone please save us from this vision-less, profit at-all-cost P.M.
Truthfully, the Liberals are hurting themselves by insulting our intelligence, the same way the Cons do. Let the election come. Your job as the Opposition is keep the government accountable, not to position yourselves to win the next election. This is the same ass-backwards thinking that is plunging M. Dion in the polls. Waiting might be prudent to advisors, but it’s pissing us off.
By Deny Trudel on 01.16.08 9:47 am
Man, you said it for me as well. Welcome to the blog. Please come often.
I think there is a bigger meltdown happening, and that is the patience of the Canadian public with all the parties and their BS rhetoric while failing to govern this great country properly.
The prime minister is out of control. Who shall tell him?
The people of Canada by tossing Harper & his useless goons out on their ears ASAP. Bring on the election. The sooner the better.
Cheers
I would hope this is brought up in QP as soon as the HoC resumes sitting. Lunn needs to be removed for his outright incompetence on this issue. Throwing others in front of the bus for his own horrid mismanagement
I totally agree with Keen if only because nuclear meltdowns and bombs were the boogieman of my childhood. Now we’ve heard that the safety equipment was to protect the reactor from quake damage and since the restart there has been two quakes of 3.3 and 3.6 respectively.
The cons are reckless and are putting our lives in danger.
By Stevie Harper on 01.16.08 10:50 am
(LOL-Good one)
Okay Stevie, here is our reply–PLUCK YEW!
BTW, watch out for the Patriot Missiles that are ready to defend Canada.
Dr. Dawg has some interesting comment son this matter, and cites several other blogs run by Conswervatives.
Dawg
‘s Blog
I love his pic for the topic! Nucular
A little humour break. Police: Indiana man accidentally shoots himself during store robbery
I say the police should thamk him for saving their ammo! LOL
It continues to amaze me how the CPC and Harper continue to try to be drama queens to cover up their incompetence. The issue of medical isotopes was a complete sham designed to achieve politically what they could not do legally (dump Keen). And it was unfortunate that the Liberals (Ignatieff was in charge at the time, was he not?) fell for this argument hook, line, and sinker.
What is just and what is truth wins out. Here’s hoping that this, yet another debacle, gets good airplay and the kind of treatment it should get by the media, displaying yet again to Canadians what kind of hacks the CPC is full of…
Austin
So far the questioning of Mr. Lunn has not focused on the issue.
Mr. Lunn has been able to deflect by saying the actions after Dec 3 of the government were correct. Given the bill was passed, its hard to argue against.
But the issue is how did we get to the position of Dec 3. Why did AECL not fulfill its licence obligations?
What did the Minister know?
Or is the Minister saying because AECL were disputing the licence regulation with CNSC, they could ignore the CNSC?
That would be BS. As anyone who knows anything about licence obligations, when the regulator finds a problem, they prescribe a course of action to bring the licencee back into compliance.
To not follow that course of action would mean the licence is revoked.
In this case, the reactor gets shut down.
Concentrate on the events that led to the shut down, not what Harper and Lunn did to get it restarted.
Welcome to the good ship Titanic.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080114/counsel_poll_080114/20080114?hub=Politics
If anything, I commend you for going down with the ship and your captain.
This is old news. Try to keep up. — Garth
I do not have a web link for the following.
NCC and the rise of Stephen Harper
In 1985-86, Stephen Harper was a young economics student at the University of Calgary. There he met a number of political scientists and economists such as Robert Mansell, and later Tom Flanagan, who was a close advisor during Harper’s most recent leadership bid.
In the late 1980s, the U of C group was at the heart of the fledgling Reform Party. Harper was a founding member and in many ways the intellectual driver of Reform’s more ideologically conservative positioning by virtue of his place at the centre of the platform process. Years later, referring back to Harper’s role as one of the chief architects of the Reform Party’s platform, NCC president David Somerville boasted that Reform “cribbed probably two-thirds of our policy book” Harper himself said “The agenda of the NCC was a guide to me as the founding policy director of Reform.”
When Harper ran for office in the early ‘90s, the NCC boosted his successful bid to become Reform MP for Calgary West. Trevor Harrison, in his in-depth study of the Reform Party, says the NCC spending in the 1993 election “almost certainly had the effect of lending support to the Reform candidate Stephen Harper, a staunch member of the NCC.”
In the 1993 election, the NCC allocated at least $50,000 to attack ads directed against Harper’s former boss Conservative Party MP Jim Hawkes , the incumbent in Calgary West. At issue was Hawkes’ support for a so-called “gag law,” that limited donations to $1,000 for individuals or groups to support or oppose political parties or candidates during federal elections.
“We argue that money doesn’t buy votes. The NCC believes that it’s the message that matters, not how much is spent on communicating it,” according to Somerville.
A few years after these remarks, The Hamilton Spectator reported that Somerville said the NCC was “the force that stole thousands of votes away from the Liberal[s]” after the “organization spent $20,000 waging an anti-Copps campaign” .
NCC expenditures cannot be verified, as the NCC never releases its donor list, donation amounts, or the amounts they spend. Similarly, Harper has yet to release his complete donor lists for both his 2002 and 2004 leadership campaigns. After the 2002 leadership race, Harper released a partial list of donors, but it reported less than 1% of all the contributors to his campaign.
“…there’s absolutely no reason why people who want to help out and express their political views… should have to reveal their names and addresses to the Prime Minister.”
Ultimately, Harper’s opponent, Hawkes, was defeated in 1993, a result the NCC attributes to its successful advertising efforts:
“If you want to ask did our message get through to voters and was it identified by them as an issue, you would have to say yes,” said Somerville.
As MP, Harper pushed the Reform agenda that he has stated closely mirrored that of the NCC. As a guest speaker to the NCC’s Colin M. Brown Memorial Dinner at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario on May 24, 1994, Harper cited the achievements of the Reform Party and the NCC since he had addressed the same gathering five years previous:
“What has happened in the past five years? Let me start with the positive side… Universality has been severely reduced: it is virtually dead as a concept in most areas of public policy. The family allowance program has been eliminated and unemployment insurance has been seriously cut back…”
Harper’s vision is best stated in his own words, who as a Reform MP in 1994, told an NCC meeting that both the NCC and the Reform Party could claim credit for the rightward shift in Canadian politics:
“[T]he breakdown of the consensus that once governed the country is a significant advance…. These achievements are due in part to the Reform Party of Canada and in part to groups like the National Citizens’ Coalition. I think that we have some reason to be hopeful when you look at those things over the past five years.”
On June 14, 1996, Harper used his allocated time in the House of Commons to celebrate the NCC’s successful court challenge to attempt to limit third party spending. He told the House of Commons “we can thank the National Citizens’ Coalition for what is indeed a great victory for freedom in Canada.”
Harper continued to use his position as MP to advance policy goals highlighted by the NCC. The July 1995 issue of NCC’s Overview quoted extensively from Harper’s speech in the House on MP pensions and commented “Reform MP Stephen Harper (Calgary West) has been a leading and vocal opponent of the gold-plated MP pension plans ever since the NCC made it an issue.”
Some other positions he took in the House that reflected NCC policy include:
• claiming that “market-based or conservative solutions” should be applied to the delivery of postal services in Canada, so that rural services would no longer be subsidized;
• describing the demonstrations and other actions taken in opposition to the Harris government in Ontario as “general thuggery;”
• denouncing efforts to reform election spending rules as “gag” laws;
• calling for smaller government, particularly in the area of social programs;
“Our position generally has been to recognize the need for reduction in the areas of federal transfers and specifically in the area of welfare.”
• demanding an elected Senate;
“We believe the Senate should be elected… it should have full veto powers over legislation and it should be equal. It should have equal representation from every province.”
• denouncing social programs;
“Recently, the Ministry of Finance released a document that showed our unemployment insurance program to be one of the most generous in the world. This can create serious disincentives to upgrade skills, to work and to move to find work.”
• reducing provincial transfer payments;
“…equalization payments should be reduced by about 10 per cent.”
But after only four years in office, on January 14, 1997, Harper decided to take an executive role with the NCC. At the news conference announcing his new position with the NCC, Harper was asked why he would give up the influence he had as “a prominent member of the political party” for a job at the NCC? Harper responded by saying:
“Partisan politics is a difficult endeavor and frankly I’m looking forward to being in a position where I can speak much more independently than I’m able to do as a member of Parliament, I’m looking for an opportunity where I’m not bound by a party line.”
Upon taking the position with NCC, Harper stated clearly he had ties with the NCC and it was influential during his tenure as MP.
“I have been an active supporter of the National Citizens’ Coalition for a number of years. This has never been a secret, I’m a strong supporter of the things that it stands for – political and economic freedoms,” he said. “I think I’ve been a spokesperson for those kinds of things during my time in Parliament.”
In 1997, Harper described in more detail the interconnected relationship between himself, the NCC, and the Reform Party:
“At the news conference which announced my appointment as vice-president of The National Citizens’ Coalition, I was asked whether the NCC was really just a branch of The Reform Party. This is a curious question. For 30 years now the NCC has been active in political debate. The Reform Party has been in existence for only the last 10 of those years. It would have been more logical to ask if the Reform Party were a branch of the NCC!…The agenda of the NCC was a guide to me as the founding policy director of Reform…Elected officials are constrained by the need for popularity every four to five years. The average one is consumed by the monthly opinion polls. The really bad ones worry about the approval of every group coming through their offices looking for a handout. Working with you in the NCC provides me with an opportunity to do much more – to fight for basic conservative values of free markets and free elections, whether fashionable at that moment or not…The battle for political and economic freedom will have its victories and its setbacks, as it has in the past. It will never end…and we shall never surrender.”
When reporter Susan Delacourt asked Reform leader Preston Manning for his response to Harper’s appointment, Manning emphasized the interdependence of Reform and the NCC. According to Delacourt:
“Mr. Manning said the new job is a good one for Mr. Harper and the choice of a Reformer will only further cement the close ties between the advocacy group and Reform. He pointed out that many of the coalition’s campaigns – whether deficit reduction, pensions or privatization – have fit well with Reform’s platforms.
Just as the Reform Party lost an MP to the NCC, it picked up a former NCC employee to run in his seat. Rob Anders, who headed up the NCC’s project “Canadians against forced Unionism,” was selected by the Reform Party to replace Harper as the candidate in Calgary West. (Prior to being hired by the NCC, Anders was active in the Reform Party club on the University of Calgary’s campus. Anders worked on the NCC anti-union project, set up according to Somerville to “expose and oppose Canada’s oppression labor laws” from 1994 until November 1996.) He won Harper’s Calgary West riding for the Reform Party in February 1997.
During the 1997 election, Harper’s NCC continued to launch and fund anti-Liberal campaigns in support of Reform Party Leader Preston Manning. The Waterloo Region Record reported:
“In its $200,000 campaign dubbed Operation Pork Chop the NCC has targeted 20 Liberal MPs…”
As president of NCC, Harper challenged the third-party ad spending limits using the financing of the NCC. Harper won an injunction against the use of the limits in the 2000 election campaign. However, the Supreme Court later struck down the injunction.
During his time at NCC, Harper strongly promoted the NCC agenda, including its bedrock issue, privatizing health care:
“GLORIA MACARENKO: Stephen Harper, what do you think of a parallel private health care system in Canada?
STEPHEN HARPER / V.P, NATIONAL CITIZENS’ COALITION: “Well I think it would be a good idea. I think we’re headed in that direction anyway. We’re alone among O.E.C.D countries in deciding that we’ll have a two-tier system but our second tier will be outside the country where only the very rich and powerful can access it and will be of absolutely no benefit to the Canadian health care system. So I think this has been the wrong way to go. And clearly we’re moving in another direction.””
With respect to child poverty, Harper said:
“These proposals included cries for billions of new money for social assistance in the name of “child poverty” and for more business subsidies in the name of “cultural identity”. In both cases I was sought out as a rare public figure to oppose such projects.”
Concerning bilingualism:
“After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn’t mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It’s a dogma which one is supposed to accept without question. … [M]ake no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it is less bilingual today than it has ever been…As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions.”
On federal-provincial relations:
“If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away… This is one more reason why Westerners, but Albertans in particular, need to think hard about their future in this country. After sober reflection, Albertans should decide that it is time to seek a new relationship with Canada. …Having hit a wall, the next logical step is not to bang our heads against it. It is to take the bricks and begin building another home – a stronger and much more autonomous Alberta. It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become “maitres chez nous” .
And to clarify Harper later added:
“It is imperative to take the initiative, to build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government can encroach upon legitimate provincial jurisdiction.”
Regarding protection of human rights:
“Human rights commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society…It is in fact totalitarianism. I find this is very scary stuff.”
On partisan politics:
“You join a political party if you want to work for a politician; you join the NCC if you want the politician to work for you…The press could have gone one better though. They could have quoted me directly. I have been consistent and unequivocal for a long time now – I have zero interest in leading this new entity or any existing party…I like my job as President of the National Citizens’ Coalition. I think it’s important to have an organization dedicated to the NCC’s principles and not subject to the pressures of partisan politics. Before the NCC, I spent over 10 years of my life pursuing those principles in partisan politics, including a number of years as the first policy officer of the Reform Party. While I don’t regret that at all, I have no desire to do it over again. In fact, there is almost nothing I would rather do less.”
In 2002, Harper stepped down from the NCC and was elected as a Canadian Alliance MP, becoming leader of the party. At that time, Harper was vaunted as being the NCC voice in Ottawa.
According to a statement by Colin T. Brown, the son of the NCC founder, in light of Harper’s election:
“It’s a proud day for all the NCC’s 40,000 supporters. Stephen’s convincing victory ensures that all Canadians who believe in the NCC’s values of more freedom and less government will now have a champion in Ottawa.”
Harper justified his return to politics to Report Magazine by saying:
“I’ve been involved in the Reform Party and the National Citizens Coalition, fighting for the things the Alliance stands for or is supposed to stand for. What I’m offering is new leadership that is prepared to move this party forward, prepared to focus on policies and principles, not on cutting a deal with Joe Clark.”
On November 21, 2002 – months after he returned to politics – then Canadian Alliance leader Harper earned the NCC Colin M. Brown Freedom Medal that honours individuals who make outstanding contributions to the advancement and defence of political and economic freedom.
“NCC Chairman Colin T. Brown said that Stephen Harper was a natural choice for this honour because he epitomizes what the award is all about. ‘Stephen, whether as a Reform MP, or NCC president, or Canadian Alliance leader, has consistently, energetically and articulately defended and promoted this country’s economic and political freedoms,’ said Brown.”
Over the next two years Harper supported the unite-the-right movement and in 2003 the Canadian Alliance and PCs merged to form the new Conservative Party. Harper was elected leader of this new party in March 2004.
As the Hamilton Spectator reports, according to former Tory leader Joe Clark:
“… no amount of Liberal weakness can be overcome by a Conservative Party that is less a merger than a takeover of the old national party by the hard line regional Alliance. In Clark’s view, Canadians may be disenchanted with the Liberals, but they’ll be downright frightened by the alternative.”
This is going to cost us SO much money.
You get what you vote for.
James,
If you read the correspondence posted on the CNSC site, you will see the answers to your three questions. I would recommend that you get a copy of the material before it is taken down by order of the PMSH party.
Minister Lunn’s letter
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/newsroom/issues/corr_letter_min_cnsc.pdf
CNSC response
http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/newsroom/issues/corr_letter_cnsc_min.pdf
Why didn’t they have the committee meeting on this prior to terminating Ms. Keen – that would be the appropriate thing to do AND who fires people at 10 o’clock in the evening, in the dark? Something smells really bad here.
If Harper won’t do the right thing and fire Lunn, Canadians have only one way to handle this – fire the whole damn CPC party. Enough is enough is enough.
Bill Muskoka – can we count on you to ask really pertinent questions of Baird and request a NON-RHETORICAL NON-PARTISAN response. Would be worth to see his face if you did.
SLG,
In answer to your question “who fires people at 10 o’clock in the evening, in the dark?”, the answer is cowards and bullies.
Bill Muskoka – can we count on you to ask really pertinent questions of Baird and request a NON-RHETORICAL NON-PARTISAN response. Would be worth to see his face if you did.
By slg on 01.16.08 12:23 pm
Were I planning to be there…ABSOLUTELY! Knowing Baird, and the Harper goobernment’s addiction to not ever answering a question, I see no reason to waste my time, fuel, or life attending this fund raising sham. The local papers will be there, and they WILL ask some tough questions.
Besides, it is the Official Opposition’s responsibility to hold this goobernment accountable, and I am waiting to see that happen.
By Kevin on 01.16.08 12:11 pm
Good advice, Kevin.
The point was to get Mr. Lunn to answer the question directly.
Now Ms. Keen is no longer comissioner, we’ll have to wait for the law suit as to him explaining why she was fired. Then she will be free to tell her side of how we ended up with the mess.
This time Harper and his band of incompetents really shot themselves in the foot with a 12 gauge shotgun. This firing of Keen in the dark of the night after 10 PM is going to create so much bad media and be on the talk shows for a long time to come now. Bad, bad move on Harpers part.
…patience of the Canadian public…
Many posters here clearly wear their hearts on their sleeves. A lot of it is wishful thinking. I don’t imagine, by and large that the “Canadian public” are paying that much attention.
Harper’s personal popularity remains high. I believe that this is superficial. Without examining too closely what he is actually doing, he appears to be decisive and in command. He is, what we are lead to believe a strong leader. This is clearly enough for many Canadians and explains why his popularity is so high.
The weakness, though, is that Harper’s personal popularity has not rubbed off on the Conservative Party. In two years of government, there has not been much shift in party preference. Unless Harper can run in all 300+ ridings as the candidate, its hard to see how the Conservatives have any chance to achieve a majority government.
Indeed, they have significant problems. They don’t appear to care about alienating Ontario and Newfoundland, or anyone else for that matter. In recent developments, they have made a strategic decision to discount the Charest government in Quebec. It is hard to see where they will find additional ridings that are winnable, short of the gerrymandering that they are considering.
I haven’t seen it mentioned on the blog yet, but to me the whole methodology of the Conservative leadership appears to be based on manic-depressive paranoia. They have gagged every MP and Cabinet Minister short of a very few, and keep everyone on a very short list. Their motto appears to be “Trust No-One”.
They lash out at everything and appear to be at war with everybody.
Right now, the only thing that the Conservative’s have in their favour appears to be the perceived weak leadership in the Liberal Party.
They have certainly provided a lot of ‘ammunition’ to the Liberals for an eventual election, it remains to be seen if the Liberals can exploit it.
One of the hot topics has been the election date. We believe that the Conservatives tried as hard as they could to force an election for December, and that now they are retrenching and trying to avoid one. Do you suppose the Central Command for the party wishes they hadn’t passed the bill to set a fixed election date? Short of that, it is the Opposition that controls the timing of the next election.
For this government, it is about the only thing that they can’t control, and it must be driving them nuts…
The challenge is whether they can get to truth to stand up by itself on the this one. After that short of public spanking this one is all downhill to the ballotbox.
Opposition tracks the tab. WE hold our government to account.
Hope everyone is enjoying Mr. Harper’s particular variation of McCarthyism.
Dividing your population by labels is how the Nazi’s got their way in case no one knew. There is no limit to Harper’s tactics or where they come from.
We are supposed to have confidence in Harper’s decision? Ms. Keen ran the commission quite nicely for two terms.
She did? In 2002 the A.G. audit said otherwise. The party in power, hid the report which has just recently been released. They were warned then.
So, in 2007, Parliament actually voted no confidence in this woman and over-road her decision to shut it down. I think a few thousand Cancer patients are happy with that vote.
She & the Liberals KNEW all this in 2002. The report was hiden from public view and the view of the oppositon of the day.
All considering, I think the government handled this fire bomb that was lobbed at them from NON-Action of the Liberals quite well. Thank you. Leasa
RE:By Mary on 01.16.08 10:13 am
I thought the Liberal Govt. had been warned by the Auditor many years ago about the problems there. They filed the report under garbage, I guess.
————————————–
I object to you using the moniker that I have always used. This has happened before. Typical though – theft and deceit by a CONtrol.
I will use mary 1 from here on in.
There are just so many “critical” moments where the citizens of Canada needed to be protected from the agendas of this fascist dictatorship that spreads its disease all over the place. The strength of the Canadian citizens resolve, to rid ourselves of this scourge, should not be under estimated.
Leasa,
Do you know the distinction between the AECL and the CNSC?
There was no medical crisis. That was a bald-faced lie. But makes for good copy, eh?
Austin
Nice to see the PMSH Party trolls are spouting forth the spin doctor’s line.
For the record, Leasa, a search of the Auditor General’s site produces a few references to the CNSC. The 2002 “report” you reference is in fact a report of the 2000 audit (tabled in 2002). At the time of the audit, Ms Keen was not President of the CNSC (that came in Jan 2001) and she only joined the Commission in Nov 2000.
In 2005, the Auditor general released a follow-up to its 2000 audit. This states that Overall, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has made satisfactory progress in response to our recommendations from our December 2000 audit of power reactor regulation.
Also, it would serve you well to actually find out the facts behind the situation last year. Neither Ms Keen nor the CNSC ordered the Chalk River facility to close down. AECL closed the reactor down for routine maintenance and extended that closure when it (AECL) discovered that its was not in compliance with the operating license.
U.S. defence chief’s comments anger allies
The Dutch Defence Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador for an explanation of a Los Angeles Times article that said Gates complained about soldiers from Canada, Britain and the Netherlands not knowing how to fight a guerrilla insurgency.
Seems Robert Gates has a mouth, but very little brain controlling it?
Bring our troops HOME!
By T-Roy on 01.16.08 12:45 pm
You noticed too I see!
The Libs voted to restart Chalk River so why the outrage now? I suppose it is hard to set priorities and the peer pressure was too much to handle and they follow the crowd.
Considering that Gary Lunn knew of the crisis coming with isotope shortages back in September with a Shiela Fraser audit telling him so, as well as a Burns resignation, and that this same Gary Lunn lied to the entire house of commons by telling every MP of the house that he didn’t know of the seriousness until early December….
And then scapegoats Linda Keen for it, along with Harper…
Folks, we have a clear case of short man syndrome and will Lunn be around with Harper at the Helm? Oh yeah!!
http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=0067
Emilie’s post above cannot be overlooked, long as it is. The NCC is simply the largest U.S. multinational lobby organization in Canada. To put it into perspective, $200 million was spent in the courts to defeat gun registration legislation in Canada. $180 million was spent by the NRA, a U.S. gun lobby organization. This kind of money was spent over 10 years and was part of the 1.8 billion dollar gun registry expense by the government to run it over 10 years, back in the day. A further $550 million was spent on CPIC upgrades for the RCMP, paring real administration defenses down to 1.1 billion or $110 mil a year (which I still thought was high pesonally), but thats neither here nor there. My point is that a lobby organization spent $180 million just to get Canadians to use hand guns.
What kind of money has the NCC spent to further their interests to expand their market share into Canada’s economic sectors?
Folks… its in the billions over 4 decades and Harper led this organization for 5 years until taking over leadership of the CON party.
Now you tell me why we have a PM that is clearly the biggest corporate lobbyist we’ve ever known in any position of government? Even uglier was what kind of lobbyist organization it is, and what its goals are, as U.S. foreign policy has remained unchanged for 50 years and do I need to spell out what that is? Its about market share and the NCC agenda is clear for all to see on their website (outside of the propaganda) The media has been silent on this since the start and thats where it gets ugly. Can West and CTV are major supporters of the Conservative party with fundraisings becoming eerily close to scandal on its own.
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2004/n08no02a.htm
The link above gives a better idea of what I’m saying, except for the reality that its much more than Canadian corps that are involved here. In the 70′s, the NCC had directors representing more than 77 billion in market caps, mostly oil and insurance corporations from the U.S.. at the time and at the time, 77 billion was alot of money. Their campaigns then were to destroy the Liberal NEP program to encourage U.S. foreign investment/ economic takover of Canada’s oil sector.
The result today with NCC’s media campaigning then for U.S. oil lobbyist’s ended with the success, with the U.S. owning 85% plus, of Canada’s oil sector stripping Canadians of 100′s of billions in lost Canadian corporate profit potential and government taxation.
Dear readers, there is no organization that is more dangerous to the economic sovereignty and federation of Canada than the NCC to date. Its time to connect the dots. If Harper sounds like he speaks on behalf of GWB and corporate america, its because he does.
Like I say, not hard to connect the dots.
So, what alternate, backup system has now been put in place to supply the isotopes which are of such prime importance to the health of Canadians?
By Leasa on 01.16.08 12:51 pm
As much as I don’t like Harper-Lunn etc etc.Leasa post smacks the previous Liberal government a good one.
Can’t wait to see what happens when Dion asks for lunn’s resignation on this one.
(Memo to Dion: There’s nothing much that irks public servants more than politicians blowing self-righteous hypocrisy on serious issues such as nuclear safety.)
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2008/01/11/4767089.php
Hi,
I’m fairly disgusted with Harper, under the guise of Parliamentary Privilege, running around and smearing civil servants.
Especially one that was doing their job.
Say what you want Leasa, but the fact remains that Harper is exhibiting a pattern of behaviour that I, as a patriotic Canadian, find disturbing and disgusting.
Nothing you say can possibly change my perception of Harper.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/01/ottawa_fires_nuclear_safety_co.html
Gary Lunn lied to the entire government when he stated that he wasn’t are of the isotope shortage created by a plant shutdown until Dec. 3rd of last year.
Folks, he knew well beforehand that there was a shortage of isotopes brewing and he lied to our elected representatives about it.
The firing of Linda Keen is nothing more than a scapegoat to cover ineptitude. Not sure how anyone with common sense can look at this without coming up with the same conclusion.
By Pecked to Death by Ducks on 01.16.08 2:17 pm
The minister has told AECL and CNSC to inform him and the Minister of Health when there is going to be a supply problem.
Then he can go to the “Almighty Harper” who will perform miracles and isotopes will appear.
Or in other words …. nothing except to ensure he knows to CHA! (That’s CYA in the third person.)
http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2008/01/will_the_bush_administration_l.php
One of many insightful articles from the above site. Some piercing thoughts in this article – what kind of government does one want under these conditions in light of what has happened since our last federal election.
Recent isotope halt sparks new ideas for federal government
http://www.whitecourtstar.com/News/368757.html
After the recent breaking news of the nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ontario, being shut-down, officials in the federal government are said to be scrambling.
President of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, and Albertan, Preston Manning recently released a report entitled “It isn’t rocket science”, outlining his view on the importance of having science knowledge and leadership within our federal government.
“Because science and technology is such a huge driver of the economy and [responsible] for shaping the knowledge of the economy, I do feel it’s time that we had a separate science and technology ministry,” he explained.
“Atomic Energy is a crown corporation, and although I think it has a great deal of scientific expertise, I don’t think its communications expertise matches its scientific expertise.”
Manning said that he feels the fault of the nuclear reactor shutting down lies with both the government and Atomic Energy of Canada.
“I think part of the fault lies with AECL and then partly with the fact that the government has a multitude of scientific interest and has difficulties figuring out which ones to support and which ones not to,” he said***
***Hint, Hint, Hint … If it’s ”fobbed off” through privatization, so much the better.
In Manning’s view, the practice of using natural gas for oil extraction is SERIOUSLY WASTEFUL as well.
This whole issue is a political farce that will die out soon because the Liberals allowed the AECL to become incompetant over 13 years of government inattention and underfunding.
So they won’t press too hard other than the usual indignation.If they had balls,they would take the heat for their inaction and go after the Cons for their incompetance in managing (or not managing) the AECL.The Cons have been around long enough now to be accountable.
So as citizens and taxpayers,we’re stuck with an entity that can’t design a new reactor nor can figure out after 6 years what the design flaws are and an old reactor that needs massive monetary infusions to be safe and continue to produce isotopes.
What a mess.
Where Harper belongs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVAKYsHo5-s&feature=related
This whole issue appears to comes down to the government trying to shirk its responsibility by pressuring a regulatory agency to violate its mandate. That would mean that if there were problems the regulatory body would be responsible and not the government.
The decision to restart a reactor in violation of its regulations is a political decision. The proper procedure is for the government to take the responsibility by bringing the issue to Parliament. That means that if there is a problem, the government is accountable not the regulatory agency.
Linda Keen was correct in refusing to shoulder the responsibility that belonged to government.
Firing her appears to be an attempt to intimidate public servants into taking the responsibility for policy decisions that belong to government.
This is just one of a series of ploys used by this government to remove their responsibility for decision making to outside agencies.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080116.wdion0116/BNStory/National
Dion has a point. When asked why secretary of state of foreign affairs and international trade, Helena Guergis leaked sensitive information about Dions visit in Afghanistan, the Conservative MP said “I guessed”. How can an interforeign affairs minister not know the whereabouts of Dion in Afghanistan? Its her job to know. My point? She’s either incompetent or she lied about it.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/01/ottawa_fires_nuclear_safety_co.html
Are we to believe that Gary Lunn, an active minister seeking the sale of AECL to U.S. corporate bids wouldn’t know what AECL does including its market share in radioactive isotopes in the world?
Are we to believe that Gary Lunn wasn’t made aware of the consequences of a chalk river shut down in November producing an isotope shortage for the medical industry? Are we to actally swallow the story Gary Lunn has given us in parliment in parliment that the first he was made aware of the shortage was Dec. 3rd? How can Gary Lunn not have known what chalk rivers market share of radioactive isotopes were concerning worlds supply, or what impact a shutdown would have on isotope supply, when he actively seeked out the privatization of AECL?
Gary Lunn is either inept, or he lied about not knowing what a chalk river plant shutdown would do and scapegoated Linda Keen by firing her.
Even in the wake of ineptitude and lies… anyone with common sense must surely ask… what is the role of the CEO at AECL? Is it to manage the production and safety of chalk river… or is it to insure that the world gets an adequate supply of radioactive isotopes for cancer patients? Where is it written that radioactive isotope supply needs exceeds a CEO’s safety and production concerns at Chalk River? Folks… were not the only ones producing this stuff. Its not to any CEO to risk the public health and safety of the half a million residents around chalk river for such a short term shortage that could have been avoided, if Gary Lunn would have simply done his job. Instead, he lied and to fire her the night before an inquest… Mcguinty is on cue to call it a Republican tactic we haven’t seen in Canadian politics. That folks, is shameful.
So, what alternate, backup system has now been put in place to supply the isotopes which are of such prime importance to the health of Canadians?
By Pecked to Death by Ducks on 01.16.08 2:17 pm
They probably are ‘studying the matter.’ That is what government does best…study, but never act.
The U.S. is absent from the list of medical isotope producers as well. They are too busy using their reactors to make nuclear weapons to be bothered with such mundane things as something that SAVES lives!
Go figure, eh?
Mr Turner
I failed to see the comparison between your, and Bill Casey’s firing.
I have read several blogs posted. I think some of these people should read some of the news stories. The Law firm of Blaikie Heenam has weighed in on behalf of AECL. It clearly states that the CNSC failed to follow their own guidelines. This person Keen has been relieved of her duties and rightly so. These people have to answer to someone and it appears to me to be nothing shy of game playing. The problem got resolved through the over riding her authority by parliament. If it was not the right decision then how come all the parties voted for it. The isotopes were badly in need and they were being denied by Ms Keen. Give me a break. There is no back up system as these isotopes have a very limited shelf life. This was a crisis that has been going on since 2002 so I fail to see how the conservatives and liberals can feel good about this situation. They are both at fault so lets call a spade for what it is.
The most important issue is that the isotopes are now being produced. steps are being taken to fix the ongoing problem with AECL power plant. all of parliament has shown that they lack confidence in the leadership of Ms Keen as they over rode her power. With this happening how can anyone hope to continue to serve a government. The proper decision was made now lets get the problem fixed.
For the background go to Canada’s Nuke Lady, with background from Dec. 20th. Check out her nuclear posts since then as well.
http://politicsnpoetry.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/manufactured-nuclear-crisis-and-harperian-lies/
There was no medical crisis. That was a bald-faced lie. But makes for good copy, eh?
Austin
By Austin So on 01.16.08 1:24 pm
Tell that to the patients that had their diagnostic tests and treatments cancelled!
The question is who caused the crisis?
AECL didn’t meet their licence requirements. CNSC advised them but it was AECL decided to keep the reactor closed.
It also appears that the Conservative appointed CEO of AECL resigned because the Minister did not act when advised there was a problem.
The minister stated funding was not an issue. So why weren’t the problems fixed?
He also stated that CNSC are the arbitrators of any safety concerns. That means if they say there’s a problem, there’s a problem. So why and to whom did the minister consult and was told that re-opening the plant without fixing the issue was safe?
He also stated the reator was now in compliance with its licence. Did the legislation ammend the licence, in which case he’s correct; or meerly suspend portions of it so the reactor could open, in which case its in compliance of the legistlation but not of its licence.
The hole for the New Government is getting deeper by the minute, and they just keep digging themselves deeper.
The government lost confidence in Ms. Keen to forfill her position, Canadians have lost confidence in this Government.
What I cannot figure out, is the blindness of the neoCON supporters. Sure, the Libs placed patronage appointees, but at least they were somewhat discrete. These Harperite clowns are almost BRUTAL in their actions, yet, their supporters seem to think it is o.k. For a party that campaigned for transparency, and stopping the rot in Ottawa, they have demonstrated they are hypocrites.
There must be a lot of HATE in the Reform/Alliance/BlocAlberta/CPC camp blinding these folks about the reality of the mis-government their “representatives” have created.
Some CON supporters here seem to be caring people, and their comments indicate some concern for Canada. Yet, these are still shouting the party line, and cannot see what stuff like this does to the long-term viability of our country, its economy, and the future for our next generations.
You do not screw with nuclear safety. REMEMBER CHERNOBLE!!! Actually, you do not screw with ANY safety or environmental issue without endangering the future of our country.
Is it REALLY that important to have your “party”(?) in POWER that as long as it is CPC doing the mis-justice?
I am definitely not “pro-Liberal”, but as an informed voter, I have become definitely “anti-CPC/anti-Harper”.
I WANT MY CANADA BACK. WE MUST UNITE. WE MUST GET THE REAL STORY OUT TO VOTERS AND LET THEM DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
Only then, can we be sure these Bozo’s out of office. (and sorry, Bozo the Clown, for the implied insult! At least you made me laugh sometimes…)
Oh, and in closing, we need the Opposition to raise the issues, and even if the CONs refuse to answer, keep asking the questions. Stop trying to raise scandal for “easy” cheap political points. There is more than enough mis-management and REAL ISSUES to be addressed to sink this gooberment.
D Halfkenny: No where in your last posting do you place any responsibility for this situation on the shoulders of the minister responsible–G. Lunn.
He claim he was in the dark about the situation—I would think that nuclear power and its upkeep and maintenance would be on the top of his priority list.
He has proven to be inept at his file.
Mr. Harper fires inept employees so I assume that Mr. Lunn should be fired also.
Leasa: Are you saying that Gary Lunn in early 2006 as minister responsible for over-seeing the nuclear file did not avail himself of the information available from both the AECL and the CNSC on the on-going problems there?
I would think this file would be at the top of his list.
H e is negligent. He is way behind on his files. What else doesn’t he know about our natural resources and who is controlling them??
And to say this was “lobbed” at the Cons is a lie.
Mr. Lunn should be on top of his files.
He has not been keeping up.
And what does Mr. Harper do to those he believes cannot keep up?
[...] Meltdown – The Turner Report [...]
The problem with Ontario!http://noonehastodie.blogspot.com/2008/01/tools-of-eugenics-fluoride.html
Whatever, we need a major change in politics in Canada. If the Liberals cannot join together for the good of Canada and bring down this pissant goobernment then they are just as bad a the Harper clan of micreants.
Personally, I think all the parties are to focused on power and not on what this wonderful country actually needs.
I would like to see the Centrists truly join together and form a new party that is in balance with all our Canadian values…and I mean all of them.
We are a highly diverse nation and we need real leadership that can work together to form a consensus based on the best of all the ideas, not play politics day in and day out.
I have lost respect for all of the parties at this point.
In fact, I think we need to go with the NWT method of NO PARTY affilliation, just run as independents. There is far too much money in play, and no accountability back to the people. Make every MP be accountable to their riding and that means regular Town Hall meetings with an open forum. That is what real democracy is supposed to be.
Oh, and no more unqualified jerks made Ministers of things they know nothing about.
I have seen CPC defenders repeatedly cite the “isotope shortage placing thousands of Canadian lives at risk” and the Parliament voted no-confidence in Keen” pieces of spin for a while now, the problem with them is that the former has not been backed up with hard evidence (much like the Income Trust tax leakage defence has not been backed up with hard evidence) and the latter is a total fabrication of what happened in Parliament. Specifically, that the Parliament was asked to overrule the regulator’s requirement to place nuclear OPERATING safety (which means it is NOT the safety/health of Canadians needing isotopes that she is responsible for but solely the safe and healthy working environment in the operating of nuclear reactors, period) ahead of the claimed severe isotope shortage that supposedly endangered the lives of thousands of Canadians.
That is NOT a decision the CNSC regulator is supposed to make since it is solely the operating safety that is her and the Commission’s responsibility, it is one only the legislators (IOW Parliament) can make by doing exactly what they did. To claim that the fact the Parliament overrode Keen means it was a vote of non-confidence in Keen and a de facto assessment of her being incompetent/unfit to hold the position she did demonstrates either an appalling lack of understanding of the basic issues involved here or it demonstrates an appalling inability to place reality/facts ahead of partisan/ideological beliefs either through ignorance or worse deception. Either way though it speaks volumes as to what comes first for those making the arguments in question, namely party before country/rule of law.
It is also important to note the logical inconsistency in the action taken late last night by the government to fire Keen from the President’s spot on the Commission yet leave her as a board member. If she is so incompetent there are grounds to fire her as the President because she placed the lives of Canadians at risk then she has no business being on the board at all. By leaving her on the board they are saying she is so incompetent she placed Canadian lives at risk but that it is fine to have her as a board member despite that, even though it was enough to fire her from running the Commission. That makes no logical sense whatsoever. If you have sufficient grounds to fire for cause in the one circumstance then it follows you have it for both, so the fact they did it this way makes it look like setting her up to be scapegoated, AND making it no longer possible for her to testify today after Minister Lunn thereby leaving his testimony unchallenged.
Bottom line is that what this government has done is equivalent to a government getting an AG report that is politically damaging, telling the AG to revise it to make it no longer a political embarrassment, and then firing her because she refused to do so because she is supposed to be at arms-length from the government of the day in her operations. What makes this really offensive though is that this is not about theft of taxpayer dollars or poor spending patterns, we are talking about the safety of those living anywhere near this nuclear reactor because not all the required safety protocols were followed by the Crown Corporation (AECL) for which the Minister DOES have direct oversight of, unlike the CNSC. I would rate that as an even more serious breech of the arms-length rules than the hypothetical of the AG I used, and yet only the regulator is being made to wear any responsibility for this mess, this despite the fact that in this country there is a principle called ministerial accountability.
This is something exceptionally serious, and I would add a good test to tell the true blue Kool-Aid drinkers from the rational Conservatives, because only hard core partisans and of course those totally ignorant of how our governing structures actually work could find anything defensible in what the Harper government has done here, let alone consider the explanations they provide as anything remotely resembling credible and acceptable. When a government will lie about nuclear safety to protect its image I think it has shown total contempt for the safety of the citizens of this country and has shown itself to be entirely unsuited to be a sitting government. Besides, if they are willing to go this far in a minority where thy cannot just rewrite the arms length legislation to suit themselves and still act as if it doesn’t matter it should frighten anyone that cares about good government what would happen if this government was ever given a majority.
Firing Keen for “lack of leadership” solely because she followed the regulations by which she is bound, because she refused to allow a Minister to improperly order her to break the law she is charged with enforcing and demanding that the Minister and government to follow the rule of law instead is a truly Orwellian way to look at leadership by this government.
BTW, there seems to be a lot of pointing to the word health within the controlling legislation, but what I am not seeing is precedents/definitions set within it to show that it means the health issues in terms of operating nuclear reactors or whether it is the larger health issue as in supply of isotopes. I keep seeing defenders of the government’s actions claiming he acted within the law and appropriately, what I do not see them pointing to though is the hard evidence within the legislation controlling both the CNSC specifically and the power of Ministers over arms-length regulators more generally, nor do I see it being cited from the government. This included btw during Lunn’s testimony earlier today to being asked for those specifics by MPs. If this is so clear cut in terms of his authority why then has the government totally failed to cite the specific authority instead of talking in more general terms about “decisive leadership” and how the situation was so critical it should have been obvious to the CNSC that they had the authority Lunn is claiming. If this is so clear cut and easy to determine then it should be equally easy to cite the specific controlling elements of the enabling legislation to back it up with, yet we don’t see it being provided. That should tell anyone not blinded by partisanship that something is really wrong with the arguments/defences of this government on this file.
“I failed to see the comparison between your, and Bill Casey’s firing.” – D. Halfkenny
Uh… it was the Conservative party that was behind it? That they were once MP’s sitting on the same side of the fence and still talk to each other from time to time in the commons? Statements like this mystify me. I can go on…
“The isotopes were badly in need and they were being denied by Ms Keen. Give me a break.”
Truly, is Ms Keen responsible for supply and demand behavior in the markets? Is the CEO of AECL responsible for the worlds adequate supply of isotopes? She’s responsible for production and safety at Chalk
River, nothing more. Clearly, this commentor should ask what the minister of trade is responsible for.
“There is no back up system as these isotopes have a very limited shelf life. This was a crisis that has been going on since 2002 so I fail to see how the conservatives and liberals can feel good about this situation. They are both at fault so lets call a spade for what it is.”
Are both parties at fault? Really?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/health/isotopes.html
Other reactors were to come online and decommission Chalk River’s 47 year old reactor, but have faced delays. The issue here was to keep production going until then. Clearly, this Conservative government “didn’t get it done”.
Does this poster know with certainty, the medical isotope market world wide and its producers? This information is in the media and the markets. How could our Federal Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn not have known this information?
“The most important issue is that the isotopes are now being produced.”
Actually, no, its not the most important issue. The most important issue is that this plant has been operating without a backup in case of a quake or natural disaster up until a few days ago.
“Steps are being taken to fix the ongoing problem with AECL power plant.”
Not like they should have, that’s for sure.
“All of parliament has shown that they lack confidence in the leadership of Ms Keen as they over rode her power.”
This statement is false, if not an outright lie. The commentor claims to be familiar with the issue, and then comes up with this. The vote was taken past midnight in the commons without clear facts by MP’s with a gun to their heads scenario that people will die without these isotopes. What would you do under the circumstances? Someone correct me if I’m wrong that this was a late night vote with sketchy information to base it on and no time to find out the risks to delaying such a choice.
“With this happening how can anyone hope to continue to serve a government. The proper decision was made now lets get the problem fixed.”
Another wacked out statement. Lets breed apathy into government confidence to govern, and then commend government for taking the right action. I’m sorry, whoever you are, but I’ve got to shake my head at what you post.
James, “postponed” does not equate to “cancelled”.
There are a *lot* of non-critical uses of Technitium 99 (which the Chalk River was the major supplier of) to monitor blood and urine flow within a body, as well as diagnostic for non-life threatening diseases (diabetes for instance). There would have been sufficient amounts and of course it would have jacked up the price, but cause death? Sorry. No.
Perhaps this sounds callous. Sorry. But I don’t believe in manufactured crises. To make it like leaving Chalk closed so that it could meet the appropriate safety standards would endanger the lives of Canadians…that is just emotional fear mongering. And this was done entirely for political gain. The government could have just as easily expedited funding for the appropriate equipment to fast-track the re-opening of the facility.
But I agree. Blame rests with Lunn. Full stop. Blame lies with the appointed head of the AECL. Full stop. This could have been prevented, but it languished.
The reaction of the CPC has been pathetic. There complete unwillingness to take responsibility as the government is appalling.
They are liars. They are cowards. They are immature. And they are have not one iota of foresight (witness the oncoming economic downturn and the wonderful loss in tax revenue).
Austin
An awful lot of effort at trying to miss the point going on.
1) Lunn saying he’s wasn’t aware of the ramifications of the shutdown until the third is an admission he didn’t read the AG report with sufficient comprehension.
2) Keen reports to Lunn takes but takes direction ONLY from the Governer in Council. Lunn and Clement overstepped the authority of their offices by ordering Keen to “employ all means”.
3) Overruling a subordinate is not proof of wrongdoing.
4) Our government of the day’s reading of “health and safety of persons” in the Nuclear Safety act is dead wrong and will probably be fed to the firm representing Keen’s interns during the trial just so they can cut their teeth.
5) Speaking of trials, Keen skipped out. That tells me she’s chosen to protect the office and is acting in the public’s interest by ponying up now instead of letting these clowns dig us in any deeper.
This is going to cost a bundle and I don’t blame her.
By Scotian on 01.16.08 4:07 pm
Great comment and on all marks.
Mr Garth TurnerMP,
for anyone that mist it yesterday.
Worth watching, CBC’s, Rick Mercer’s: Rant, on Canada’s Nuclear power.
http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/#623964939
I think we need more nuclear power to help stop global climate change and deal with peak-oil.
More on CANDU power
http://www.aecl.ca/
http://www.cna.ca/
Toyota announced it’s coming out with a Lithium-ion battery-equipped plug-in hybread by 2010.
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/08/0114.html
GHG free power will be needed to recharge these plug-in car batteries.
More clean and safe CANDU power, for when the wind isn’t blowing and the and sun is down, is needed to help keep the lights on, the plug-in cars charged, and make hydrogen for fuel cell. CANDU is up to the job now!
This sounds interesting. This comming Sat show on CBC radio at 12:10 – 1pm.
http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/
This Week on Quirks & Quarks: Mistakes Were Made – but not by Me.
We humans are really good at fooling ourselves. Unfortunately, this is not always a particularly helpful skill, especially when we’re fooling ourselves about our own mistakes. In a new book, Mistakes Were Made (but not by me), two psychologists look at the often destructive psychological mechanisms we use to justify our errors, defend our bad decisions, and reject good information in favor of bad – and why our brains would do this to us.
Some More links to think about.
The Lying US Government 6min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAoh6pKFBXw&feature=related
Your Mind is Controlled 4min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PE7VHDLnYw&NR=1\
mind control your thoughts are not your own 8min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zyIG89piI&NR=1
2 Minutes Hate – Week of 9/3/08 4min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5SbWHQ0uZg&feature=related
A How To: Handling Thoughtcriminals 5min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylo56JFy3U&NR=1
The problem with Ontario!http://noonehastodie.blogspot.com/2008/01/tools-of-eugenics-fluoride.html
By wd on 01.16.08 4:01 pm
No…really…we had to pack our own water from Quebec when camping…kids wouldn’t/couldn’t drink Ontario tap water…couldn’t get past the stench!
Just a quick clarification, Brain. Ms Keen was the president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, not Atomic Energy Canada Limited.
From the CNSC website: The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment, and to respect Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The CNSC’s mandate does not include regulating for economic objectives.
From the AECL website: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a leading-edge nuclear technology and services company providing services to utilities worldwide. Over 4,800 highly skilled employees enthusiastically deliver a range of nuclear services: from R&D support, construction management, design and engineering to Workersspecialized technology, waste management and decommissioning in support of CANDU reactor products.
By Bill-Muskoka on 01.16.08 4:07 pm
I agree with you. This political chess match is not really doing much for our country, other then wasting our tax dollars by paying M.P. to do lip service for their party. The party should be paying for this political advertising. When the writ is dropped, I will look to see if there are any really stand out candidates in our riding. If not my vote will be going to an independant most likely, unless there is a Marijuana party candidate running as I think their candidate will at least be able to lead us better then any of the main party bums we have had before. At least I won’t have expectations to be let down.
ALAN FREEMAN—Globe & Mail—Wed Dec 19 2007
OTTAWA — The former chairman of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. lashed out Tuesday at attempts to blame him for the Chalk River nuclear reactor controversy, calling the Harper government’s handling of his resignation “a clumsy piece of political opportunism.”
Michael Burns told The Globe and Mail he submitted his resignation as chair of the Crown corporation on Nov. 29, before the medical isotope crisis stemming from the Chalk River shutdown became public. His departure was announced last Friday with no explanation, but was soon linked by a key cabinet minister to the Chalk River situation.
“I was quite taken aback two weeks later when I heard my resignation had been accepted by the Prime Minister in the midst of the crisis,” Mr. Burns said.
Health Minister Tony Clement has since connected leadership changes at AECL, including the replacement of Mr. Burns, a Vancouver energy executive and onetime Tory fundraiser, as well as the appointment of a new CEO, with the need to give the organization better management.
•Isotope fiasco sparks blame game
The most important issue is that the isotopes are now being produced. steps are being taken to fix the ongoing problem with AECL power plant. all of parliament has shown that they lack confidence in the leadership of Ms Keen as they over rode her power. With this happening how can anyone hope to continue to serve a government. The proper decision was made now lets get the problem fixed.
By D Halfkenny on 01.16.08 3:15 pm
Yes, the most important job was to get the supply of isotopes restored, and as was made perfectly clear by all opposition parties in the committee hearing, passing the legislation did not mean the opposition parties had lost faith in Ms. Keen.
Now we have to find out whose negligence led us to the position that the supply of isotopes was cut off and legislation was required.
So who closed down the reactor for longer than scheduled and caused the isotope shortage? That would be AECL and the CPC appointed CEO, not Ms. Keen.
How long had the problem existed before it came to the crunch? At least 17 months.
Who was the government during those 17 months and who, in particular, was the Minister?
Well that would be the CPC and Minister Lunn. Not the Liberals, not the CNSC.
Did the former CEO of AECL advise the minister of the problems and did the minister act?
That would be yes, in September before the crisis hit, and no causing the CEO to resign due to the minister’s inaction.
Is the picture becoming clearer?
Far more pressing in my mind is Keen’s wrongful dismissal and Lunn’s blatant political interference leading up to it.
Mr. Garth,
I totally gave up on the cons, when will we see an electioin with you running as PM?
The removal of Ms Keen by Mr Lunn and PMSH reflects the lack of respect for the Canadian people by this government. Is this the “vison of Canada” that we Canadians are to be proud of? WE need a strong vision that is well explained to us so that we can decide, not one person based upon likes and dislikes or policical partisanship. Will someone please come forward to lead our country and make it great once more. Tell us what you stand for, show us policies, talk to us about what you see for our future. We deserve this.
Far more pressing in my mind is Keen’s wrongful dismissal and Lunn’s blatant political interference leading up to it.
By Brian Dondo on 01.16.08 5:11 pm
You have a point.
The firing of Ms. Keen and the timing are just a continuation of this governments attempts to place blame on anyone but themselves, and not to be accountable to anyone.
I think the committee was not tough enough on Mr. Lunn, especially as his actions meant Ms. Keen would/could not testify.
“Mr. Kuperman, however, said the move was unnecessary because Belgian and Dutch reactors could have fulfilled the world’s medical isotope demand.
“That decision can only be made out of ignorance or because you think money is more important than safety,” Mr. Kuperman said.
From A National Post article Scott Cressman, CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, December 21, 2007
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=190952
WASHINGTON, Jan 16–In an unusual public criticism, US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he believes NATO forces currently deployed in southern Afghanistan do not know how to combat a guerrilla insurgency.
We are either war mongers or peace mongers, can’t be both! This is how one wins a war, pay attention RMC grads. KILL everybody NOW and steal their land, one simply can follow the Isralie norm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Marc on 01.16.08 4:33 pm
I still plan to support the Green candidate, unless we4 have a very strong and credible Liberal run against Two-Tier Tony Clement here.
While I truly like both our Federal and Provincial Green candidates, I am no fan of Frank de Jong the Ontario Green leader. Elizabeth May would have my vote in a heartbeat.
It is somewhat sad that we lost Andy Mitchell, who was our Liberal MP for 12 years, but he flat burned out and I could tell. He is truly a fine gentleman and did a super job representing us. He has since left politics last I heard.
In the provincial election we had a very nice woman running as the Liberal candidate, but she was like too many of the party types spouting off and defending McSquinty. I do not vote for party lapdogs, I vote for people who will represent our riding’s needs and interests.
Funny thing, I insist they have an independent mind and do more listening than talking. We, last I checked, are still the BOSS! Some are happy to be TOLD what to think and what to do. I am not in that group now, nor have I ever been.
one simply can follow the Isralie norm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When they join the human race I will spell their name wright.
Well, isn’t this just peachy keen (no pun intended) – Robert Fife said tonight on Mike Duffy Live that Lunn was flown in for the Committee hearing and flew out right away after – BUT here’s the goody – they hired an “image consultant” to help Lunn deal with the committee meeting today.
Yes, they hired an image consultant to get Lunn ready for this – how much did this cost taxpayers?
I want my money back.
HEAR! HEAR! For Dion!
Dion accuses cabinet minister of security breach, calls for resignation
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has called for the resignation of a Tory cabinet minister, claiming she endangered his life by announcing his plan to visit a provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar.
Speaking to reporters in Quebec, Dion said Helena Guergis, secretary of state of foreign affairs and international trade, made a serious breach of security in a statement she released to the media about his trip with Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff.
Dion, who just returned from Afghanistan, also wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, demanding she be removed from her post.
“In publicly revealing in advance the itinerary of the delegation in Afghanistan, Ms. Guergis violated the news blackout put in place for our protection, jeopardizing the security of the Afghan and Canadian military and civilian officials who welcomed and accompanied us during our trip,” Dion wrote.
Stephen Harper practices bulldozer democracy: Conservatives fire president of nuclear safety agency
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/01/stephen-harper-practices-bulldozer.html
More joyfilled economic news from the Dark Lord’s Empire:
U.S. inflation last year hit 17-year high
Overall consumer prices rose 4.1 per cent last year, a jump from 2006′s 2.5 per cent.
I bet Jim Dim will have some spectacular comment as soon as Harper gets the message from Bush on what to say?
the vindictive Harper through his incompetent proxy Lunn has fired Linda Keen
By wd on 01.16.08 8:02 am
Awhile back, I mentioned that Dion and the Libs would not have much to do, other than bring out a half-dozen or so positive platforms on which they would base their election strategies — no more than that.
Harper would end up being his own worst enemy, that he (and CRAP) would shoot themselves royally in their feet and ultimately, trip over and then destroy themselves.
After all is said and done, the lady in question is now free and clear to go to ALL media and spill the beans about what truly happens behind the scenes. There is no one who can stop her, as she is free of gov’t interference.
The less Dion and other Libs’ say, the further ahead they are — in the public eye.
It looks damn good on Harper. May he and his collective group of grunts enjoy their lives in the hell they have created for themselves.
Linda Keen was overruled by the entire House of Commons for the sake of Canadians’ health. She should have been fired! It was the right thing to do.
Why did the Liberal Government not act on the 2002 Auditor Generals Report which outined serious conflicts and disagreements between the Regulator and the AECL. Should Herb Dhaliwell be called before the NR Committee?
Parliament did what was not in Keens power to do. You don’t fire every clerk that goes to a signature to approve a refund.
Every time our government of the day uses this sorry excuse it’ll cost us money in court.
patience. Wait until they’ve at least had the CNSC’s understanding of its authority as circumscribed by the Act and how that reflects in their guidelines spelled out to them.
When they’re good, its bad luck to work ahead of a bureaucrat.
Linda Keen was overruled by the entire House of Commons for the sake of Canadians’ health. She should have been fired! It was the right thing to do.
By MjH on 01.16.08 6:27 pm
The House of Commons did not over rule Linda Keen. Linda Keen made a decision based on her mandate and that was to put nuclear safety first.
The House of Commons made a political decision and that was to put the production of medical isotopes before health and safety concerns. She did what should be expected of her given her mandate and the House of Commons operated on the basis of their mandate.
Most Canadians, except the new Conservatives it seems, understand the concept of the separation of powers. It is central to a well functioning governmental system to have checks and balances.
Firing Linda Keen was not only the wrong thing to do, it was stupid.
By C. B. Innes on 01.16.08 3:12 pm
On this issue, C.B., you and I are of like minds, exactly. I agree 100% with your posting. Today I heard an excerpt from Lunn’s testimony at the Committee Meeting in which he asked “Where was the contingency plan?” and I had to wonder: ‘Is he talking to himself?’ As the Minister in charge of this portfolio, and given the warnings issued as early as September, where indeed was the plan? His plan? There is certainly more than enough capacity worldwide to cover the shortfall and then some (250 percent of actual requirement in fact).
I repeat the following table from the previous thread. The last 3 columns list the average amount of isotopes supplied to the world, the maximum amount that could be supplied, and the difference which represents excess capacity. When the NRU reactor is down, almost all of the shortfall could be made up by just 1 reactor, the one in South Africa (which incidentally is the one often used by private clinics here). Add to that a reactor from either the Netherlands or Belgium, and the entire “shortfall” disappears. All it takes is a few more dollars to cover the premium for non-domestic sourcing – and a contingency plan:
======= ============ ============ === === ====
Reactor Country Distributor Ave Max Diff
======= ============ ============ === === ====
NRU Canada MDS_Nordion 40 80 40
HFR Netherlands Mallinckrodt 20 30 10
IRE 10 20 10
BR2 Belgium Mallinckrodt 5 15 10
IRE 4 20 16
OSIRIS France IRE 3 20 17
FRJ_2 Germany IRE 3 10 7
SAFARI South Africa NTP 10 45 35
OTHER *** 5 10 5
======= ============ ============ === === ====
TOTAL 100 250 150
======= ============ ============ === === ====
SOURCE: http://www.princeton.edu/~globsec/publications/pdf/Mo99_Kahn_&_vH_S&GS06.pdf
Funny that the CPC government purports to be such a Law-and-Order advocate, but its actions reveals anything but. A contempt and lack of respect for the Rule of Law. The process as described in your post subscribes to such rule, however the Conservative actions can only be described as subscribing to Frontier Justice.
A suggestion for Harper et al. Last year, Canadian Author Yann Martel of Life of Pi fame was sending a book a week to Harper to read ( http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca/ ). I think this year he should add this book, with a CC to Lunn:
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
http://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-Were-Made-But-Not/dp/0151010986
There was no medical crisis. That was a bald-faced lie. But makes for good copy, eh?
Austin
So Austin I guess according to you everyone was lying. The press was lying, the news channels were lying, the medical experts in the cancer field were lying. Sorry Austin to burst your bubble but I would think the cancer patients and the public as a whole would believe at the very least the medical experts over you.
MJH-you’re dead wrong.Linda Keen’s job is to concentrate on safety,not public health,revenue and Canada’s image.So she was within her mandate.Perhaps she could have issued a temporary reprieve to the AECL,but history tells us that AECL can’t meet any committments,so she didn’t.
That’s where parliament came in and overrode her decision claiming that the public good outweighed the remote chance of a reactor problem.So the process worked.
Firing Keen was a signal that Purvez Harper won’t stand for people doing their jobs if it conflicts with his re- election campaign.
Lunn totally blew it in being up to speed on the AECL file and handling this issue.He should be gone.
Bill,
Dion’s remarks about revealing the itinerary is at the very least greatly exaggerated. She made reference to an RT and that was about it. There was no time table, dates or even specific locations mentioned.
What I find more disturbing is what Dion actually said about Nato should be going in to Pakistan while at the same time saying we should end our combat mission in Afghanistan. What the hell is this man doing. It not Ok to fight in Afghanistan but we should fight in Pakistan in areas where even the Pakistani Army fears to go. The Liberals talk about the supposed hidden agenda of Harper. What the hell is Dion’s hidden agenda concerning our troops?
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=242249
By Bill-Muskoka on 01.16.08 6:05 pm
This will be funny to watch if it goes any further. What is he whinning about? She did not say when or which RTC he would visit. All politicians visiting Afghanistan visit at least one. Is there anyone who would think different? I see in today’s news, Mr. Dion wants us to invade Pakistan. Is this guy for real? Pull out of Afghanistan and invade Pakistan? Pakistan has a super organized major military and you don’t ‘just invade’ it. I know Pakistan is a problem, but sending troops in without first trying to get Pakistan to cooperate is calling for major bloodshed, none the likes we have ever seen before. So, in Afghanistan he wants unarmed CND soldiers, but he wants them to invade Pakistan?
Domonic the liberal spokesperson on Duffy said “what I THINK Mr. Dion meant was…” He thinks. Doesn’t know. Something this important and the spokesperson ‘thinks’.
Somebody put a leash on Dion before he really does some serious damage!
L
Scotian, you probably already know and have seen this, but I list it here for the benefit of those who haven’t. It’s the regulations that governs the relationship between bodies such as CNSC and the Government of Canada and how such subordinate-yet-arms-length bodies should be permitted to speak truth to power without retribution. This does not imply that the Government has to accept the advice (which the vote in Parliament attests to), only that the body should be able to exercise its mandate and voice its objections without fear of retaliation. Lunn should have stopped with that vote, but I suspect that Harper, based on his year-end and subsequent comments, had other things in mind. (Funny that he should lose confidence in the regulator because I pretty much had the same thoughts about him).
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=InformationResources&Sub=Publications&doc=mog/chap3_e.htm
How come no one has mentioned something far more important about Mr Dions speech today.
He wants to remove the troops from the fighting in Afghanistan and invade Pakistan. This is a tribal area dominated by the Taliban. This is what we should be discussing not his safety.
Please provide a reference for Dion wanting to invade Pakistan. — Garth
FINAL COMMENT ON AECL AND CNSC
I read and listen to all the news on CTV and CBC. On reading some of the comments about this mess appears that several of the people posting have far more information than what is available to most people.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives have their hands all over this file. The only parties that are clean are the NDP and the Bloc.
To listen to several of the individuals it is the Conservatives fault as it took place within the past 17 months. This has been going on since 2002 long before the conservatives took government.
There is a theory being toted that Ms Keen kept this under wraps to make the government look bad. If this is true it makes sense of what harper was alluded to in the house.
My advice is for people to listen to the news and read the newsprint before forming an opinion.
CTV and CBC both reported Dion wanting to send fighting troops into Pakistan to stop insurgents. Watch the news tomorrow and see Steve Dion backpeddle.
Dion never mentioned potential military intervention, rather diplomatic. CBC has reported exactly that. Suggest you clean your ears. — Garth
Garth: Are you erasing comments you don’t agree with?? Shame.
What comment? — Garth
Paul Martin never fired anyone.
The NYT has also reported that there was not an isotope shortage. There was, however, a financial implication for MDS-Nordion, which has since been sold.
Please provide a reference for Dion wanting to invade Pakistan. — Garth
“We are going to have to discuss that very actively if they (the Pakistanis) are not able to deal with it on their own. We could consider that option with the NATO forces in order to help Pakistan help us pacify Afghanistan,” said Mr. Dion in Quebec City, commenting after his two-day trip to Afghanistan last weekend. “As long as we don’t solve the problem in Pakistan, I don’t see how we can solve it in Afghanistan.”
The Liberal leader explained that Afghan officials told him they know where the extremist strongholds are in Pakistan. But he said the Afghans don’t take action.
“One day, we are going to have to act because our soldiers are cleaning out some areas, but in fact very often they are only clean in principle. The insurgents go take refuge in Pakistan and they are going to come back (to Afghanistan) at the earliest opportunity. This could last very long if we don’t tackle the problems that often originate from Pakistan,” Mr. Dion said.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=242249
Apparently the original comments were made in French.
I read that earlier, of course. Where did he say anything about invading Pakistan militarily? The Liberal defence critic, who was with him, made it clear the reference was to diplomatic efforts. Do you have something more? — Garth
What a great picture for the Campaign!!!
Doesn’t the Honorable Gary Lunn look exactly like a hyper-uber-active Nu-clee-R fuel cell rod?
James, “postponed” does not equate to “cancelled”.
By Austin So on 01.16.08 4:14 pm
You’re correct, they are not.
But here’s a true story. Have you ever recieved a phone call stating your mother has an appointment for a diagnostic procedure, three days after she died?
I have. ;-(
So don’t give me any crap about procedures only being postponed.
By Van on 01.16.08 7:22 pm
Obviously, you have never been ‘in country’ in combat? I have, and if some attention seeking shit did that to me, and I was injured, I would personally hunt the SOB down. Payback is a real bitch Bud!
Any further comments regarding this issue need to be prefaced by your disclosure of experience dealing with such treasonous situations?
Clear Troll?
Amazing! You call a demotion a “firing”……oh well, it plays well with the left wing nutbars on this blog I suppose…….
Mr Turner
This was discussed in length on “duffy” CTV. MP Leblanc tried to put some spin on it and now I just listen to CBC (Mansbridge) and he reported exactly the same as CTV. However, they stated that MP Codere has put out a new statement to clarify what Mr Dion really said and meant.
I do not have a post however, I have been following this since early evening ehen it was first reported. Apparently, Mr Dion stated that NATO should go into Pakistan. I think it is Mr Dion who has to explain this away.
Believe me no country wants to go there.
Garth:
Dion in news reports has stated he would support NATO military intervention in Pakistan to stop insurgents from using Pakistan as a resting place outside Afghanistan. He states that it is useless to keep fighting in Afghanistan unless Pakistan can be delt with. No mention of diplomcatic efforts. Hard to believe ? Yes. But pay attention.
He did not say anything about a military intervention. — Garth
He wants to remove the troops from the fighting in Afghanistan and invade Pakistan. This is a tribal area dominated by the Taliban. This is what we should be discussing not his safety.
Please provide a reference for Dion wanting to invade Pakistan. — Garth
By D Halfkenny on 01.16.08 8:02 pm
I don’t care if you served in the forces or that you are obviously an elderly man. That doesn’t give you the right to make false accusations against anyone. Quit making allegations by putting words in Mr. Dions mouth that he never said.
You also said, My advice is for people to listen to the news and read the newsprint before forming an opinion.
By D Halfkenny on 01.16.08 8:24 pm
I think you’d better follow your own advice Dave. BTW, I am more likely to believe Homer Simpson than you, Harper & clones & the media all put together.
Cheers
give me a break. Money was not a barrier to getting the NRU back up and running. That means the shutdown was not the result of a lack of funding. AECL signed off on work that wasn’t actually up to spec. Keen is NOT a babysitter.
don’t worry. If Keen hasn’t lost all interest in serving the public (I wouldn’t blame her) this will all come out in court anyways.
Dear Garth,
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Linda Keen the head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Board, and NOT the head of the Canadain Cancer Care Board?
Why the heck would someone who is paid top dollar to be 100% concerned with Nuclear Safety even think about Cancer Diagnostic slowdowns???
I wish Ms. Keen could sue Lunn and Harper directly rather than sue us taxpayers because of these paranoid bums.
Aren’t directors of boards personally liable for stuff in their purview like wrongful firings?
Hmmmmm…
Sincerely,
MB
Where did he say anything about invading Pakistan militarily? The Liberal defence critic, who was with him, made it clear the reference was to diplomatic efforts. Do you have something more? — Garth
“We could consider that option with the NATO forces in order to help Pakistan help us pacify Afghanistan”
Certainly there are different spins that can be put on some of the word but the reference here to “NATO forces” is not consistent with diplomatic options.
Generally we don’t use the term “forces” to refer to diplomats. You would have to assume that there is translation or some other linguistic problem to draw the conclusion that some form of military action is not what was on his mind.
I take it that you have nothing more to go on than we do.
It is unfortunate that the Liberal defence critic is forced to engage in damage control on this issue at the same time as Peter MacKay is heavily engaged in damage control over the U.S. Defence Secretary’s criticism of the efforts of our troops in Southern Afghanistan.
“This could last very long if we don’t tackle the problems that often originate from Pakistan,” Mr. Dion said.
What else could he have meant? Diplomacy has been tried for a very long time to address this situation. What did Dion mean when he made these statements? What other NATO involvement would he have referred to that they are not doing now. The only thing NATO hasn’t done is invade militarily Pakistan. Either Dion didn’t mean we should invade which shows he doesn’t have a clue as to what has been going on…or he meant exactly how it sounded…invade Pakistan militarily. I know Dion’s office went on damage control and trying desperately to spin it, but even Dominic said “I THINK what Mr. Dion meant was…”
So, what did Dion mean? It must be something no one has tried until now…which is a military action. Unless he didn’t know that.
So, Garth you are defending Mr. Dion on this…please tell us Dion’s plan for Pakistan if it isn’t military action.
Leasa
I used to have a good paying, blue collar trade, but the stroke I had in Sept. 2000 took care of that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/us/16ohio.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
CPC defenders repeatedly cite the “isotope shortage placing thousands of Canadian lives at risk” and the Parliament voted no-confidence in Keen” pieces of spin for a while now, the problem with them is that the former has not been backed up with hard evidence (much like the Income Trust tax leakage defence has not been backed up with hard evidence)
Reminds me of the Iraq Information Minister. LOLOLOL
http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/
“There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!”
“My feelings – as usual – we will slaughter them all”
“Our initial assessment is that they will all die”
“I blame Al-Jazeera – they are marketing for the Americans!”
“God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis.”
“They’re coming to surrender or be burned in their tanks.”
“No I am not scared, and neither should you be!”
“Be assured. Baghdad is safe, protected”
“Who are in control, they are not in control of anything – they don’t even control themselves!”
“We are not afraid of the Americans. Allah has condemned them. They are stupid. They are stupid” (dramatic pause) “and they are condemned.”
“The Americans, they always depend on a method what I call … stupid, silly. All I ask is check yourself. Do not in fact repeat their lies.”
“I can say, and I am responsible for what I am saying, that they have
started to commit suicide under the walls of Baghdad. We
will encourage them to commit more suicides quickly.”
“I can assure you that those villains will recognize, will discover in appropriate time in the future how stupid they are and how they are pretending things which have never taken place.”
“We have destroyed 2 tanks, fighter planes, 2 helicopters and their shovels – We have driven them back.”
“The authority of the civil defense … issued a warning to the civilian population not to pick up any of those pencils because they are booby traps,” he said, adding that the British and American forces were “immoral mercenaries” and “war criminals” for such behavior.
“I am not talking about the American people and the British people,” he said. “I am talking about those mercenaries. … They have started throwing those pencils, but they are not pencils, they are booby traps to kill the children.”
“We have them surrounded in their tanks”
Thanks for the correction, Brian. Inciteful posts, Brian, C.B. Innes, Bill, Irene, James and others… I’m most definitely more informed due to your contributions as well as others.
Catch you on the next one
I’m wondering how Linda Keen’s replacement, Michael Binder, is feeling today. There he was, happy as can be managing spectrum, and now he finds himself in a job where the lines of communication are half-duplex one-way and anything but ‘open’. Hope he can come up to speed quickly on the management of nuclear facility safety systems.
Oh and from that link, the following quote:
But I was confident in the executive leadership of important institutions like CNSC, save one: the PMO.
Bill Muskoka, I understand where you are coming from regarding voting for the candidate, but truly, every vote for the Greens or NDP will be one vote closer to a Harper majority.
I was impressed with Jamie McGarvey when I heard him speak last fall. He has experience and truly cares about the riding, unlike parachute Tony. I hope people will get to know him and support him.
Isodope Man: Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/01/isodope-man-able-to-leap-tall-buildings.html
Money quotes on the meltdown from a CPC-friendly source, the Ottawa Citizen:
“Mr. Lunn is evidently desperate to avoid responsibility for a mess that he should have known enough to avert. Was he totally ignorant of the ongoing dispute between the AECL and the CNSC? His last-minute firing of Ms. Keen is a sign of panic — and a bad sign for a government that promised a new age of accountability on Parliament Hill.” Editorial, p. A12
(http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=e1f8ce22-8f08-4956-8136-6a37e830f2c2)
“Canadians can only hope that those directly involved remember at some point that it’s about nuclear safety and medical isotopes. Not them. – Deirdre McMurdy, “Startling appointment exposes political ties within ties”, p. A3 (http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=b9d0b1c5-89e2-4485-9218-6b9be431e1a4&p=1)
The intentional timing of the firing of Ms. Keen is a continuation of a pattern used by this government. Many ‘announcements’ are made late on Friday afternoons, after MPs (if the House is sitting) are gone for the day, if not the weekend – and some on the eve of long weekends. I call attention to the ‘new’ Heritage Ministry protocol re: lowering of the Flag on the Peace Tower in May 2006. The new policy that allows for lowering the Flag upon the death of an MP, past or present, or persons deemed worthy by the PMO – was done after working hours on the Friday before the May 24th holiday weekend – when no one was paying attention – hopefully. A month before, four fine Canadian soldiers were killed on April 22, 2006 and not only would the government NOT lower the flag, they did their best to defeat motion after motion by the Opposition members to even have a moment of silence in the HoC. How insulting to the memories of these fine soldiers – two of which whom provided protection to PMSH and were photographed with him in Afghanistan only one month before. The PM always has the discretion to honour a person with the lowering of the Flag on the Peace Tower – i.e. death of former US president Gerald Ford – but not for Canadian soldiers fighting for Canada and providing close protection. I have strayed a bit off topic – but as the mother of a soldier who served a full year in Afghanistan – I find this policy to be unconsionable. And it was a policy change done with little or no fanfare – after working hours on the Friday of a holiday weekend. So the timing of the firing Linda Keen was intentional and has all of the earmarks of bully tactics, again.
Leasa: What exactly have we done to prevent the Pakistani dictator from facilitating the flow of Taliban fighters across its border into Afghanistan?
We call him an ally??
We say he is doing his part to fight terrorism?
Canadian troops will forever be in combat mode until Mushareff the military dictator is ousted–but of course, while Bush and the Republicans continue to prop him up due to Pakistans “strategic geography”, Canadas New Government will never censor Mushareff.
Stop the flow of $$$$$ to Pakistan for a start.
Leasa Dion’s office went on damage control because once again, one of the Conservatives best liars, Peter McKay was on T.V trying to convince anyone that would listen that Dion said we should invade Pakistan. Of course the faithful sheep such as yourself just slurped it all up from McKay. I think the average Canadian voter is long over believing anything that comes out of the mouths of this Harper Government.
I hope people will get to know him and support him.
By maggie on 01.17.08 6:11 am
Chances are pretty high I will based on how things are going. I truly believe in the Green platform of a sustainable economy, but I also believe in having a functional government, not a dictatorship by some wacko neo-con like Harper, aka, Caesar Disgustus.
OUSTED REGULATOR JUST DOING HER JOB.
Interestion article in the Toronto Star this morning. Goes to show you how political that whole Lunn affair is.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/294886
Cheers
Ruh Roh Garth:
“At the time, Liberal MP Ralph Goodale was responsible for overseeing AECL as minister of natural resources”
“Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr. Goodale said he declined to comment on the issue “for the simple reason that this goes back 10 years,” the spokesman said. “He doesn’t remember.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080117.wnukesreport17/BNStory/National/home
~Glass houses…pot, kettle, black. Oops.
By Emilie on 01.17.08 1:31 am
LMAO! I have long thought that the venerable former Iraqi Minister of Disinformation, MSS, was hired by the Harper PMO!
Personally my favorite was ‘We will roast their stomachs!’
Seems the ‘plan’ is to create new jobs by burdening families with never ending expense increases.
Corporations seldom have real retirement plans; the good jobs are sent overseas, and you either are management or a burger flipper/sales associate at minimum wage with no real benefits?
This all goes back to the outofdate management theories William Deming tried to get American business to adopt. They refused to rid themselves of the top heavy management pyramid. Japan took his advice. Who won?
Here are Deming’s 14 points and things to avoid:
Deming’s 14 points
Deming offered fourteen key principles for management for transforming business effectiveness. In summary:
1. Create constancy of purpose toward improvement of a product and service with a plan to become competitive and stay in business. Decide to whom top management is responsible.
2. Adopt the new philosophy. We are in a new economic age. We can no longer live with commonly accepted levels of delays, mistakes, defective materials, and defective workmanship.
3. Cease dependence on mass inspection. Require, instead, statistical evidence that quality is built in. (prevent defects instead of detect defects.)
4. End of the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag. Instead, depend on meaningful measures of quality along with price. Eliminate suppliers that cannot qualify with statistical evidence of quality.
5. Find Problems. It is a management’s job to work continually on the system (design, incoming materials, composition of material, maintenance, improvement of machine, training, supervision, retraining)
6. Institute modern methods of training on the job
7. The responsibility of the foreman must be to change from sheer numbers to quality… [which] will automatically improve productivity. Management must prepare to take immediate action on reports from the foremen concerning barriers such as inherent defects, machines not maintained, poor tools, and fuzzy operational definitions.
8. Drive out fear, so that everyone may work effectively for the company.
9. Break down barriers between departments. People in research, design, sales and production must work as a team to foresee problems of production that may be encountered with various materials and specifications.
10. Eliminate numerical goals, posters, slogans for the workforce, asking for new levels of productivity without providing methods.
11. Eliminate work standards that prescribe numerical quotas.
12. Remove barriers that stand between the hourly worker and his right of pride of workmanship.
13. Institute a vigorous program of education and retraining.
14. Create a structure in top management that will push every day on the above 13pts.
[edit] Seven Deadly Diseases
The Seven Deadly Diseases:
1. Lack of constancy of purpose.
2. Emphasis on short-term profits.
3. Evaluation by performance, merit rating, or annual review of performance.
4. Mobility of management.
5. Running a company on visible figures alone.
6. Excessive medical costs.
7. Excessive costs of warranty, fueled by lawyers who work for contingency fees.
A Lesser Category of Obstacles:
1. Neglecting long-range planning.
2. Relying on technology to solve problems.
3. Seeking examples to follow rather than developing solutions.
4. Excuses, such as “Our problems are different.”
Seems government could learn a lot from reading these and applying them as well?
I’ve been too angry to comment till now. Lunn has lied and lied and lied and now we must wait to see if the lies will be uncovered in such a way that matters. That it helps reveal the rot from top to bottom on the Con organization. I don’t want to call it a government as it broken it’s vow to the people of Canada over and over again.
The reason C-38 was passed in the house in that history making session, was that Lunn and Harper lied on so many levels, and Lunn continues to lie. Yes we are a big deal in the isotope game but we are not the only game. If people would read “papers” from the EU and else where they would know that. CBC, CTV, Canned waste etc, are not the only games in town.
Did anyone read Ms. Keen 35 or was 38 pg letter in response to Lunn’s 5 pager on why he should not fire her? In it she explains where she had either contacted other “reactors” or had instructed AECL to, because the NRU was going to be shut down a while.
Lunn has also misrepresented the argument between CNSC and AESL, saying that this cooling pump has been argued about for months and months already. Not true. It was only found during routine mantinence.
In 2000 the NRU was supposed to be decommissioned, shut off, shut down, used no more because it’s life span had safely been done, finished. It was over. But because Maple 1 and 2 where still not up and running (if ever) AECL worked a deal with CNSC to bring NRU to modern safety standards.
Close to 100 items were determined to be required and licences written and time tables set up and everyone knew what they had to do. In 2001 Linda Keen took over and everything was going fine until someone at AECL, we don’t know who, decided they did not want to install this coolant pump. (Lunn jumps in here to tell everyone how safe the system is, taking credit so to speak for a system that has “worked perfectly for 50 years”!)
A side note: On November 29th ; Minister Lunn also announced that, as part of its commitment to good governance, the Government of Canada will conduct a full review of the structure of Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL).
“It is time to consider whether the existing structure of AECL is appropriate in a changing marketplace,” added Minister Lunn. “This review will give us the information we need to make the right decisions for AECL and the right decisions for Canadians.”
The review of AECL will be led by Natural Resources Canada, with the support of the Department of Finance and full collaboration of AECL, and with the assistance of outside expertise.
http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=364719
Wee Lunn and Bernier made the announcement in Ottawa on a Thursday, probably after hours. I missed it. I don’t remember much conversation anyway. I think Steve actually signed the thing the next day or the next week… very quietly.
Other than radioisotopes there are lots of good things to be done with radioactive material such as uses for oil exploration. And Steve has a bug in his hair spray since Australia about reusable uranium. And then of course there are the rumours about selling AECL to General Electric, which owns almost everything out there and who is on the board of most everything nuclear, or nu-cu-leer for the republicans in the crowd.
Hell, I don’t think I’ve hit on all the lies but I’m sick of Lunn and Steve. And now I hear Petey’s string has been pulled and he’s talking again. Sheesh. And we are supposed to believe him?
I am so tired of these clowns, these dangerous clowns. Make them go away Garth, please. Very soon.
Geo
Opps, I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear. The announcement that Lunn and Bernier were making was that our sell out gov was joining Global Nuclear Energy Partnership at the behest of the Chimpster.
The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced today that Canada has accepted an invitation to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)
GNEP is an international partnership that promotes a safer, more secure and cleaner world through the responsible development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
“As the world’s largest producer of uranium and a country taking steps to tackle climate change through the development of clean energy technology, Canada’s responsibility is to help shape the safe and secure development of nuclear energy worldwide,” said Minister Lunn.
GNEP will focus on enhanced safeguards, and cooperative research in developing advanced technologies.
“Canada is recognized for its commitment to safety and non-proliferation,” said Minister Bernier. “By joining this partnership, we are making sure Canada can continue to be an effective advocate for those ideals.”
…
http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=364719
Sorry, I’m very tired,
Geo
Loved the Iranian Disinformation Minister. I miss him (sort of) we should have an honourary one each week. Best bs line of the week. I’ve not been posting but I’ve been reading everything. Leasa, give your head a shake….again, girl. G
not a dictatorship by some wacko neo-con like Harper, aka, Caesar Disgustus.
Bill listening to May’s rants yesterday she is the one who is off the wall and you comment about Harper just shows your ignorance.
Harper has been out of control since day one. Rid Canada of this meglamaniac arse NOW! by Bill.
Bill, you are a twit of the first order. I am getting sick and tired of jerks like you continuiusly calling our PM every name in the book that not only is an insult to many but also an insult ot the office itself. Stop letting your bleeding heart get in the way of any rational thinking.
The liberals could have done it all fall, they didn’t, the liberal say they will do it in Feb. We will see. I say bring it on now and Harper will most likely have a minority once again. Then what the hell are you going to say? The NDP and Greens are becoming fringe parties and haven’t a hope in hell of ever forming the government in my lifetime. So come on Garth bring down the government and we will in deed who will pay the piper. I will also state that if Harper loses he will be gone and if Dion loses he will be gone even sooner. So once again bring the election on and so we can get on with our lives.
I just listened to an interview on CBC radio a few minutes ago. An executive of a large Canadian Hospital (I forget which one – Victoria maybe???) was bothered by this whole story and started to speak up about it. He claims that there was no such thing as an isotope shortage as there are many alternatives to this method.
I believe him. I think this whole spiel was more about the fact that AECL is up for bids and that the isotope production is one of its crucial element – THE sales factor.
Firing a responsible Person for doing the right thing is the most spineless thing I could imagine. I sure hope this story is gonna come back and haunt this Lunn guy for the rest of his life. Yes, I feel strongly about that.
Bill, you are a twit of the first order. I am getting sick and tired of jerks like you continuiusly calling our PM every name in the book that not only is an insult to many but also an insult ot the office itself. Stop letting your bleeding heart get in the way of any rational thinking.
By Van on 01.17.08 5:39 pm
When your butt buddy starts respecting the office of our Prime Minister then he will get respect. I could not care less if you are fed up with anything. It will continue until Canada is rid you Harper and your ilk.
Good evening all. It just occured to me what bothered me so much about the picture of Un-honerable Gary Lunn Garth used in his post. Lunn reminds me of weird Baird in full bully mode spitting & spewing pointing his finger to make a point even he dosen’t know about. Maybe that’s what was going on when Lunn went missing for the past month. He was practicing.
Am I being catty? probably but darn it, I’m so pi**ed off with the tatics of Harpers cult government & his blind followers that If I’m going to rant, might as well be right here, right now.
Good Night
CONCERNS ARISE OVER NUCLEAR SAFETY.
http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/294889
Wow. Cheers
Are flaring nostrils, agitated and constipated look with wagging finger, the standard appearance from any member of the Conservatives when they have to answer questions in parliament?
“My answer is not logical. In fact, too convoluted for you to understand but better stand down or I kill you with my looks if not my breath!”
Bwahahahaha!
It will continue until Canada is rid you Harper and your ilk.
By Bill-Muskoka on 01.17.08 9:03 pm
Is this a threat? I knew you would be one of those that want to send everyone, who doesn’t lick your boots, to those special “re-education” camps. Thank you for finally showing your true inner self.
Thanks for the heads-up on this Tobias. I found these audio links to what I believe you must be referring to. The first is the original interview with Cheryl Gallant (of ) , and others, the second contains the feedback received, including the doctor to whom you refer. The overwhelming concensus from listeners is against the government on this one:
http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/asithappens_20080116_4456.mp3
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/20080117-aih-1.wmv
Irene, if I might, I’d like to list a quote from your link:
I’ve waited long enough. I’m very disappointed that nobody in the opposition has had the acumen to speak openly to the pending administrative crisis this fiasco has created. Its an unstoppable monster that doesn’t require a genius to know is there. Its not nuclear safety.
When your butt buddy starts respecting the office of our Prime Minister then he will get respect. I could not care less if you are fed up with anything. It will continue until Canada is rid you Harper and your ilk.
By Bill-Muskoka on 01.17.08 9:03 pm
Butt buddy? Care to elaborate on that Bill? Are you suggesting Van & Mr. Harper are gay? As in gay sex? Butt buddy…obviously meant as an insult, so you are using a homosexual term of reference for an insult? Do you accuse all people who tick you off of having gay male sex? It would suggest that you do no like gay people and use gay-sex references as an insult. Please explain.
Leasa
By Catherine on 01.18.08 4:19 am
BITE ME you little Death Star troll. Does Steve know your posting without his permission. Mindless little twit that you always are.
When your butt buddy starts respecting the office of our Prime Minister then he will get respect. I could not care less if you are fed up with anything. It will continue until Canada is rid you Harper and your ilk.
By Bill-Muskoka on 01.17.08 9:03 pm
Butt buddy? Care to elaborate on that Bill? Are you suggesting Van & Mr. Harper are gay? As in gay sex? Butt buddy…obviously meant as an insult, so you are using a homosexual term of reference for an insult? Do you accuse all people who tick you off of having gay male sex? It would suggest that you do no like gay people and use gay-sex references as an insult. Please explain.
Leasa
By Leasa on 01.18.08 8:20 am
Leasa, Leasa, Leasa,
You, of all people, have the audacity to criticize someone ELSE for being insulting. You, with your track record of not only being insulting, but offensive to the point of being vicious, especially to other women (if in fact you are a woman, is their REALLY a Leasa behind the name?).
This despite your “nice person” make over image that you have worked at so hard at these past few weeks. Your emotional appeal at year end regarding all your hardships was touching.
And of course your tribute regarding the tragic death of the N.B. Basket ball players stood to further emphasize that you “really are a nice person”. It sounded remarkably like something off the floor of the House of Commons where it would have been gratefully and properly appreciated. ( Something we would expect from a member of parliament. Exactly who are you, REALLY?).
We can only conclude that the tribute was for the benefit of the regular readers of this blog and was intended only to further polish your “nice person” make over image.
Now the “nice person” make over has gone by the boards with your desperate, stubborn and angry defense of Helena Guergis’ treachery, complete with insults. The real Leasa emerged once again.
As for being insulting and offensive to the point of being vicious, your calling a lady “shit for brains” and telling her to “get stuffed” is a case in point, if not one of your defining moments. Your feeble excuses, explanations and protests regarding this do not wash. I have heard the expression “get stuffed” used many time over the years, but never in a cordial fashion and never directed to a woman. But, even worse, to see it used against a woman BY ANOTHER WOMAN is sickening, even horrifying. Your weak attempt to pass it off as a thanksgiving greeting is laughable. If it stood by itself you MIGHT have been able to argue that it was indeed a thanksgiving greeting, if a little bizarre. But in the context of a message, which you had clearly established as hostile, it was obvious that the intent was to offend. Your double-entendre escape route simply doesn’t work.
It is unlikely that anyone whose daughter has been raped would take your remarks lightly.
@ Dube on 01.18.08 5:45 am
YES! Your second link posted is exactly what I’ve been listening to!
@ Everybody,
just so you dont get bored listening: fast forward to 8:50 to get to the point.
With the firing of Keen, our government of the day has made it crystal clear to the public service that proper application of existing directive as defined by Parliament is not sufficient.
By Lunn’s explanation, Ms Keen was fired because the law she was expected to respect was temporarily suspended. She wasn’t, as is claimed, “overruled”. Parliament CHANGED the rules beyond her authority.
The press’ wishful thinking about leaks and brown envelopes is only a small part of this developing story. The sum of uncertainties introduced by Cabinet’s actions ensures the public administration will, through no fault of its own, grind to a halt in effort to accomodate current decisions to future arbitrary change.
This is NOT the same old, same old.