A dozen or so Liberals stood in a thin line in the House of Commons Monday night, me among them. The vote was on a bill to implement the federal budget. As such, it was confidence. Our Liberal whip had taken care to lose.
Opposite were 114 Conservative members. They taunted, cat-called and hurled insults across the green aisle, then applauded wildly in mock support as Stephane Dion rose to front his willowed army. Stephen Harper laughed. Jim Flaherty gave that trademark smirk, and John Baird tried to goad Michael Ignatieff. Sitting in front of me, the deputy Liberal leader was imperiously impervious.
As you might imagine, and being human, this is not easy. My colleagues all journey to Ottawa from across the country each week to stand up for their beliefs, not to be told to leave the Chamber. Personally, I made the landmark decision to trade being an Indie for a Lib for one overriding reason – the defeat of an unworthy prime minister. I take my job as an opposition politician seriously. It is to oppose what I cannot support.
On the weekend, I asked you for advice on whether or not this is the time to trigger an election, saying I’d deliver it to Dion. And I did. As did others. Your comments enabled me to be extremely clear and unambiguous.
Mr. Harper has disappointed not only me, but millions of others – from parents without child care spaces to seniors without income trust savings to those who expected income taxes to fall or now fear the effects of a rapidly-cooling economy. He promised an open and ethical government, and yet his team stands accused of cheating on elections, attempted bribery, cabinet incompetence and a breach of national security. And I have seen first-hand a prime minister who treats MPs like batboys and believes voters can be purchased with their own taxes.
His government is worthy of defeat. It was Monday night. It will be later this week, with the next confidence vote. As Dion stands symbolically, facing a cocksure and smug Conservative leader, listening to the caterwauling of the permanent backbench, he bides time, waiting for the perfect shot.
I’m close. Bristling with bullets.
201 comments ↓
“And I have seen first-hand a prime minister who treats MPs like batboys and believes voters can be purchased with their own taxes.”
Why not, it worked for Chretien…
Garth, back before I reached the age of reason, to borrow a Carlin quote, I was an NDPer. Anything and everything Conservative I loathed, along with the Liberals. A bit more seasoned now, I can honestly say your blog is forthwith, transparent, honest and earnest in its attempt to work for your constituents. If there is a tonic for corrupt, unsavory, untrustworthy politicians, it’s your blog. If I ever move to your riding, you have my vote. And keep up with the kick@ss mortgage info – your replies make everyone’s day at the office.
Personally, I hope you guys decide to pull the plug before the summer. People have short political memories…
Austin
Pull it, now! This is a dangerous government with a twisted agenda. Do it before all Ontarians become migrant workers forced into the hellish trade of extracting crude oil from the ancient sands of Alberta.
Garth,
The voters have hearts and minds (except for some Conservatives who park here for partisan reasons).
If M. Dion cannot deliver a downfall of the government soon I will turn my back on the process fron frustration.
I have watched the spectacle every day in QP and have decided to turn away.
I am losing faith that anyone in the House of
Commons has the voter’s back in these turbulent times.
To quote Jerry McGuire ” Help me, help you, help me, Help you.”
I don’t care about CROP or the Ipso Reid polls or even Nik Nanos – M. Dion you could be Obama and still have trouble with Quebec voters because you are a Liberal not because you are a federalist.
I am frustrated, tired of the mocking, tired of the disinformation. I am tired of a Prime Minister who picks winners and losers and believes this is his Canada.
What about our Canada and all Canadians?
I am tired of this Garth as I am sure you are – this is the right time…
Help me, help you. How can I help?
If not now – then when? How bad does it have to get before you will take your plan to the people.
If everything is so bad how can you continue to support this government – I just dont understand how you can continue to keep going this way. If the Liberals dont have the money or people on the ground (or whatever excuse you want to use) – just say so and say the next election will be in Oct 2009 and give yourselves time to get ready, anything has to be better than what you are doing now…
If Dion pulls the trigger this week, he will have to abandon his Green Plan #3 summer tour across Canada … he will have to ’sell’ it directly to all Canadians within a 6 week election campaign. Is he capable of doing that, or will he cave and save the Harper government again and again..??
How many more excuses from Dion must you, Garth, endure before you reach the breaking point for your own political principles?? How much more stalling, indecision, inability to make a decision will Dion subject the Liberal party .. or is he incapable and NOT a leader worthy to follow ..??!!!
Garth … your doubts must be growing and your faith must be cracking in the untenable situation you find yourself. How much longer, Garth .. how much longer ..??!!!
Garth, I’m disappointed but willing to be patient. I just watched the video of Stephane Dion outlining his plan at the Canadian Club in Toronto. The details are sketchy but my interest is highly piqued by the direction intended.
The opposition will have used up their bullets on it soon and then Dion will have a clear path to explain to Canadians what the Liberal vision is. There is no conflict between cap & trade and carbon shift, in my opinion. They can and do reside side-by-side in many jurisdictions around the world.
I wish the election was before summer because I am offended by Harper’s threat to prorogue until the Windbag Fest in the fall. However in other places, I’ve commented on the lack of encouragement for grassroots involvement. I have no doubt that Dion is capable of overcoming this and implementing the Red Ribbon results. I’m prepared to wait if I have to.
But I will continue to check here every day awaiting the election call.
elections aren’t a coin toss
I can’t believe it! I’m finished with the Liberal party and will actively campaign for something else – if your party cannot show up in the house in opposition; how can we trust you in Government? What are you trying to prove – and what are you waiting for? I am finished – goodbye.
Garth, does it hurt using all those bullets on your feet?
Garth…Do us all a favour and get on with taking these clowns down. Don’t give them time to recover, spin new crap and rebuild. If Dion can’t do it ask him to step down. He can’t complain about Harper and at the same time leave him in power. Now is the time for Dion to stand up for Canada. Shoot or get off the pot.
Garth I know you want to go now like most of us who want to see Harpers rear end in the dust but you now have a unique opportunity to control the outcome of the next election.
If the Liberals roll out most of their platform over the summer you have a chance to let the media and public “test drive it” and feel some ownership. Summer is usually slow news time thus reporters will give their complete attention and you will have the opportunity to ensure that the correct message is being sent. You can already see the other parties scrambling to get their own message out just on the announcment that you will be releasing info in the future. Both the press and the pulic are tired of negative campaignng and no matter how loud the Cons. shout, few will listen. Since the Cons. are months away from developing any policy at all, you guys will already have established the next elections agenda and they wll be forced to counter.
You can get the most bang for the buck by letting back benchers and candidates make exclusive announcements for the local media in their ridings and let them break the story nationaly. Even the large number of people who don’t follow the news read the small town newspapers for the local juicy gossip and listen to the local radio stations for the weather. Get these reporters in your pocket and it won’t matter what anyone else does, breaking a national news story will make them your friends for life. You also get to see what the public doesn’t like and have the opportunity to show that you listen and change those parts of your platform that are unpopular or marginalize groups that you may not have considered when you drew it up.
By September you can shift gears to a “bring back our Canada campaign” to undo all the bad legislation passed by Harper. Just imagine what the response will be if you announce that you will uphold the accountability act and follow it by appointing the all party panel for hiring and put EVERY position filled with conservative hacks since the legislation was passed up for competition again!!! This is a pretty good piece of legislation that should reduce some of the cronyism in public service hiring that needs to be implimented.
As far as all the scandels go just keep them simmering without concentrating on them until the election, then every time Harper puts down past Liberal mistakes you can hit back hard.
At this point Garth I see this as an electon for the Liberals to lose rather than struggling to win. As long as your platform is cohessive and social, environmental, fiscal and global plans all fit togeher like a glove then the Conservative shotgun approach to policy which hasn’t changed from their reform days is doomed to fail when they finaly drag it out to match up to the liberal platform which the public is already comfortable with by that time.
Patience is a virtue! Start campaigning now and force the election in the future once the public knows your TRUE platform.
Please, please do it (I know it’s not totally your call, and you’re pushing your hardest, but it’s time NOW).
Yes Garth, you had the opportunity to do just what your constituents wanted tonight but again you capitulated to your leader.
Do you really think Canadians agree with Dion’s tactics. If he has abdicated his responsibility as the official opposition how in the world do you suppose he will be able to convince Canadians he should be prime minister?
The choice is becoming clear. The real opposition is Layton. Canadians will choose either the right or the left. Harper or Layton. Dion has removed himself from the equation.
With Dion refusing to perform opposition duties, promising a new inflationary tax, and unable to speak proper english, it seems he will be leading the troops back to the John Turner era.
Looks like you’ll be going down with this ship just like the Campbell one. You would have been far better off as an indie.
I say wait for the economy to tank and Canada to return to deficit. I think it would destroy Harper’s self-esteem to lose on those issues. I don’t just want to beat the jerk, I want Dion to destroy his arrogance.
Besides, I really think it will take the summer to explain this carbon tax shifting idea to the electorate.
Oh yeah, and you really have your work in cut out for you in Quebec this summer.
A little of topic: I’ve been doing some reading about carbon tax shifts and cap & trade.
The criticism of cap & trade indicates that it is better suited to smaller jurisdictions and specific industries rather than as a national policy.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has projected that the financial effect of compliance through trading within the Kyoto commitment period will be ‘limited’ at between 0.1-1.1% of GDP among trading countries. This compares with an estimate in the Stern report which placed the costs of doing nothing at five to 20 times higher.
So not only does Baird do nothing, he also jeopardizes our economy further by doing nothing! At least the provinces are moving on a model that they can have some control over within their jurisdictions. I look forward to the coming public discourse on the Dion Liberal plan for a carbon shift.
Can we say that Baird’s “do-nothing” plan is shiftless?
Garth, why don’t I see Stephane Dion on the news busting Harper’s chops over Bernier? This story has traction and the only people I see on TV talking tough are Rae and Ignatieff. Seriously, if Dion doesn’t start getting his face on TV, his popularity will go anywhere but up. Stephane Dion is not giving voters any reasons to vote for him, so they won’t, period.
Whether or not it’s time for an election is ultimately Mr. Dion’s decision, but I still think the nervous nellies amongst the Liberals are doing more harm than good by cowering so often. I believe Dion is anything but a coward, and I hope the party will show unity under him. When it’s time, stand united and fight, Canadians are waiting.
Horses, guns and money Garth . Horses,guns and money .
Childish & asinine!!!!
That about sums up my thoughts of what the Stephen Harper government has become.
The once proud Progressive Conservative Party has been hijacked by a group of unruly thugs who deserve the respect of no-one & who deserve the disdain of every man woman & child in this country.
The public needs to open it`s eyes & get up off of their collective butts & do something to show Mr Harper that this type of behaviour from this particular government can no longer be tolerated.
As someone who has been a Progressive Conservative supporter his whole life , these guys embarrass me to no end.
I am not sure how the opposition can tolerate the taunts & garbage that flows in their direction daily.
I realize that they must bide their time unless they run the risk of giving this crew the majority they so much desire & heaven help us if this occurs.
Cudos to Garth & his comrades for displaying tolerance beyond all belief on behalf of all Canadians—-wait for it , your time will come.
Dr Mike Popovich—former life-long Conservative.
At least the Liberals IN the House stood against this “government”. A message was sent. I agree with the last comment: people’s memories ARE short. Let’s get on with it. We’re all ready out here.
You know this is BS. Your leader, Stephane Dion and your colleagues have absolutely NO credibility when you come on our airwaves and in our print to bitch and whine about Stephen Harper and the Conservative government after the real fact that you Liberals have obstained, walked out, or made this mockery of House votes.
You know full well that the ONLY reason that Stephane Dion is waiting for the “right moment” is to allow him the time for him and his buddies to pay off their leadership debts!
You Liberals have used this parliament as your own playpen.
By ordering your Liberal colleagues to abstain, walk out, or not show up for confidence votes, Stephane Dion is laughing at us, the Canadian citizens. You are NOT interested in respecting our democracy. Stephane Dion and the Liberals have taken away the democratic voice of those constituents that they are supposed to represent in House.
A truly shameful display by the Liberals.
I would have respected him more if he choose to allowed his members to have a free vote on confidence votes and let the chips fall where they may.
And another thing, I watched Ralph Goodale squirm during his interview on CPAC. I had a lot of respect for him before (as I believed him not to be a typical Liberal). But, as he tries to spin this BS, I have lost a lot of respect for him. He is basically a typical slimey politician – more interested in his political fortunes than actually representing his constituents.
Stephen Harper laughed
How telling. What a class act, these CONS.
Am I interpreting this correctly? It could either be saying that the government will still be worthy of defeat (obviously) later this week, or will be defeated later this week. Almost Harper-speak.
In the last thread, I submitted a lengthy posting about thoughts that have been accumulating over the past couple of weeks with regards to pending copyright legislation that Jim Prentice is expected to bring forward before Parliament adjourns. Thankfully you didn’t post it (probably too long) because it was a hurried mess (was off to the gym and didn’t take the time to properly edit it). Regardless, this bill could have significant restrictive implications in our digital world and should be crafted carefully rather than just be a rubber-stamp replica of the US DMCA regulations. I hope you devote a thread to it at some time, and take heed to the words of Michael Geist who has been at the vanguard of exposing its flaws.
One last thought and digression with regards to yesterday’s Ontario-Quebec carbon trading announcement, and John Baird’s railing against it because, among other things, he asserted that the provinces should not be crafting their own policy, rather it should be done as a federally coordinated effort. While I think he’s right in that regard, did he not essentially say the opposite just a couple of months ago when BC first announced its plan:
What gives Mr. Baird? At times I think you’ve been on the verge of a breakdown, and these mixed signals don’t help alleviate that impression. Have you cleared this with your boss, or is yet another example of cracks appearing in the Harper control mechanism?
“I’m close. Bristling with bullets.”
Bristling with “blanks” more likely. The LPC will have a great time trying to convince the voters at the next election that they are going to be a competent government. They haven’t been a competent opposition. It is one thing to have the CPC ridiculing you, but to have ALL the other parties heaping scorn…..can you say “Dion down to defeat?” Bring on the next election, not to put PMSH out to pasture, but to put Dion and the Liberal party out of its misery so a real leadership race can take place with a real leader coming out the winner.
For all those who are trigger happy may I remind y’all of the King of the CONS south of border (Dubya) who pulled the most noteworthy early trigger of all in modern history. Over 4,000 dead, 30,000 wounded and an end cost to exceed 3 trillion dollars that has shaken the worlds economy and he is about to cut and run to retirement like many of clones before him to live the good life.
Canadians still believe MP’s voted for a fixed election date and expect them to abide by it. Flaherty smirk may be short lived with the lose of yet another 1,000 jobs in Oshawa …..and there is more bad news coming…
Looks like you’ll be going down with this ship just like the Campbell one. You would have been far better off as an indie.
By Janice on 06.03.08 12:08 am
So would every other MP…finally you see the light!
fun is reading through the comment sections of the political articles on CBC. eg. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/02/parliament-harper.html
It’s like the more intelligent trolls have realised how pointless and fruitless it is to try and make harpo looks like a kind, happy, thoughtful stand up guy.
and hey whats this..? oh another plant is closing it’s doors!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/02/parliament-harper.html
DISGUSTING!!! On both sides – Libs bowing to the CON’s, the CON’s sneering & taunting & debasing the Libs.
Whatever happened to Democracy: The WILL of the people you have been elected to serve & who pay your salaries? All of you.
Steve & his goons are the MOST devious govt. I have ever seen & they care not one iota for the countries citizens.
I’ve had it!!!!!
Patience..patience..patience. All good things come to those that wait. The Haper/Flaherty conservatives have a long and ever expanding list of things that are going to require a greater in depth explanation in the next election.
The opposition wins ever day by the cosnervatives screwing up, why change that at this point?
Let ‘em ride for now.
By Catherine on 06.03.08 4:50 am
Hi Catherine, I agree with you 100%. Here’s the real problems for the LP, they don’t have the bodies, they don’t have the money and they certainly do not have public support for their leader. THAT is why Dion keeps ordering his MPs to stand down on every confidence vote making them look like fools for publicly lambasting the government only to support them on everything they complained about. Don’t worry about Dion’s leadership debt, Elections Canada is supporting their leader by ‘changing the rules’ so he can have more time to try to gather some money to repay his debt. If it were Mr. Harper or any CPC member, they would be charged under the current law for not repaying the debt on time. So, at least the LP & Dion have E.C. and the CBC in their corner, not that it will do much good in the next election.
These facts, I know will result in the LP rah rah partisans attacking me…but, that’s part of the fun.
Have a good day. L
Good for you Garth, Finally standing up to the Liberal leadership cabal, and insisting on the opportunity to be there to represent your constituents. I had wondered how long it would take for you to assert yourself..
How much longer, Garth .. how much longer ..??!!!
By Harry S on 06.02.08 11:17 pm
Harry you’ve been getting too many of those spam emails regarding ‘enhancement’ it seems to have invaded your mind and taken control of your cognitive functions.
Of course some of us here have the same question ‘How much longer Harry, How much longer..(insert ending of choice here)
I am disappointed that the Liberals did not vote non-confidence in this government. Most intelligent Canadians have no confidence in Harper’s government, and wouldn’t vote for them–especially after their performance (or non-performance) in the past year, and their lack of accountability and transparency over several issues, not the least of which is the breach of security.
Unfortunately, for those of us who wouldn’t vote Conservative now, if they were the last party on the earth, and haven’t decided if they will vote Liberal or not, we aren’t left with very many choices.
This government has got to go, and the Liberals are the only party that can make this happen. Those of us on the fence (Liberal? Green? NDP? none of the above? — especially Conservative)–would like to know why the Liberals aren’t defeating this government. Please put us out of our misery.
Well I’ll believe when I see it Garth, I want to believe, and I will take away from his the hope that we will be having an election soon, even if it is in July (risky gamble to have an election in July)
Steve & his goons are the MOST devious govt. I have ever seen & they care not one iota for the countries citizens.
I’ve had it!!!!!
By penlan on 06.03.08 6:35 am
Hopefully that translates into another vote for the independent candidate in your riding.
Why not, it worked for Chretien…
By Paully on 06.02.08 10:54 pm
Sure did, another confirming post that they are all the same….time to vote independent..
Help me, help you. How can I help?
By Bonnie N BC on 06.02.08 11:10 pm
Bonnie, you can help by supporting the independent candidate in your riding and ridding Ottawa of the party sheeples.
You see today’s headlines and one wonders
- Tory defence strategy runs into trouble
Conservatives have failed to deliver on their promise to reform defence procurement system, critics charge
- GM to slash 1,000 jobs at Oshawa plant
With consumers facing high gas prices, housing collapse and credit crunch, auto-maker curbs production of pickup trucks and SUVs
- BBC – The outgoing American general in charge of Nato forces in Afghanistan for the past 15 months says the war against the Taleban is “under-resourced”.
Gen Dan McNeill was speaking before handing command of Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) to another American, Gen David McKiernan.
- Australia: THE withdrawal of troops from Iraq won’t automatically mean more will be sent to Afghanistan, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says.
The Government had made it clear Australia was already doing more than its share as the largest non-NATO contributor to the International Security Assistance Force, he said.
– Canada’s tourism industry on verge of crisis: report
Updated Mon. Jun. 2 2008 10:45 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A report released Monday says the Canadian tourism industry is on the verge of a crisis.
- Green auto-rebates running over budget
Email story
Print
Choose text size
Report typo or correction
Transport department documents show Ottawa underestimated costs of program
Jun 02, 2008 01:05 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – New documents suggest the federal government underestimated the amount of money it needs for its clean-car rebate program.
Internal estimates from Transport Canada forecasted the federal eco-rebate program would go over budget by at least $37 million – and by as much as $65 million – in its first year alone.
The Conservative government’s 2007 budget earmarked a total of $160 million over two years for the program.
…well, things are just going oh so swell aren’t they? Yup, you’re doing a heckuva a job Stevie.
Harper may be smug but one thing is for sure — he can’t win a majority. The longer he’s in power, the better Dion & his team look. Take a hard look at the Ontario/Quebec cap & trade agreement. It leaves Harper’s environmemntal plan in the dust. Adopt it and win a majority for the Liberals before Harper does.
Long article/speech, but expressing lucidly the concerns I and many others here share regarding our blindly following the Empire’s lead into a dystopian future. Well worth your consideration:
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/86973/?page=entire
Garth, have one of the lawyers sitting as a Liberal MP explain to Dion that silence implies consent.
The Opposition not opposing in important issues once again looks bad on the Opposition. The best shot, of course, would come when the country is on its knees economically. Good for the LPC, but Liberals might remember that the collateral damage will be a lot of hurting Canadians, who might not appreciate having become political cannon fodder.
By all means, prorogue Parliament. It no longer serves any non-partisan purpose anyway. And all members can go home and tell their constituents how splendidly they are doing.
And another thing, I watched Ralph Goodale squirm during his interview on CPAC. I had a lot of respect for him before (as I believed him not to be a typical Liberal). But, as he tries to spin this BS, I have lost a lot of respect for him. He is basically a typical slimey politician – more interested in his political fortunes than actually representing his constituents.
By Catherine on 06.03.08 4:50 am
…really – and Harper isn’t? Have another coffee.
Leasa – why do you fall for the Liberal media bias thing – Harper said so at the beginning of his tenure – so, you think it’s so. Hmmmm…..National Post, CTV, CanWest (who own most smaller papers in BC), Sun Media (who now own most small town papers), Globe and Mail (moving in the Conservative direction as admitted by Jeffrey Simpson). Only one, just ONE Liberal leaning paper – the Star and you think there’s Liberal bias? You’re nuts, and can’t count.
Actually, you may say what you want about Don Newman and CBC – he does make sure time is divided with guests and he asks the ALL tough questions, not like Duffy who no better than a neighbourhood blue-haired lady gossip.
In other words, at least 95% of the media in Canada lean Conservative – so why do you take Harper’s paranoid word for it? dumb, dumb, dumb
Somewhat off topic. What happened to the flat tax which you were pushing a while back? I am 100% in support of that idea and was hoping that you’d be persistently vocal in the hopes that the idea might take hold.
The other off-topic – why doesn’t Dion going nuts on the Bernier affair, as one of your contributors asked. I like to think that Dion has enough class to leave that one alone. The whole issue has taken on a tabloid-esque nature and nobody with any smarts would get involved at this time.
Let us not get excited here. Dion has no hope in hell of winning a competitive election. Nice guy but no charisma as a leader. All the liberals can do is sit on their hands and hope the conservatives and economy go downhill until there is no option but to vote for the liberals in a faint of hope to improve everything.
So for the next year or so until the conservatives have to call an election at the end of their term, don’t expect anything to change.
“If it were Mr. Harper or any CPC member, they would be charged under the current law for not repaying the debt on time.”
By Leasa on 06.03.08 7:12 am
If it had been the CPC leadership contenders that did not repay their debts, Elections Canada would have called the CBC, the liberal party and would have got the RCMP to accompany them as they “raided” their offices.
Wonder how much of an extension they will give to Dion and his rivals.
Once again the Conservative’s show themselves to be slaves to the masters of big business (and not just oil).
$500 fine eyed for illegal file downloads
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=559622&p=1
This headline is misleading, from the article:
“a move that legal experts say could see Canadians sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars if found guilty of infringement.”
Way to accommodate an outdated business model to our current times Harper. I always think that the market has to accommodate new technology and not the other way around. This isn’t to say that I don’t think we need copyright laws, only that they be fair and with the times.
There seems to be something wrong with a law that will turn a majority of citizens into criminals.
In my opinion this could be another issue that the Liberals could be on the right side of while the CPC show themselves to be an extension of the U.S. Republican party.
What is a Liberal?
I still don’t know and I probably never will.
It seems like the Liberals try to play the grey area of every single issues.
This is horseshit policy and will not do anything to help the party.
It’s time the Liberals actually tell Canadians what their policies are.
“I take my job as an opposition politician seriously. It is to oppose what I cannot support.”
posted by Garth Turner on 06.02.08 @ 10:33 pm
So your refusal to oppose the immigration bill, the GST cut, the income trusts, the budget… means you support them.
Your refusal to oppose the Harper government means you support it.
How about this, Garth, until you actually vote, until you actually oppose something, maybe you should quit your whining.
When you quite the taunting. — Garth
“As Dion stands symbolically, facing a cocksure and smug Conservative leader, listening to the caterwauling of the permanent backbench, he bides time, waiting for the perfect shot.”
Seems to me that this IS the time for the perfect shot. The wild turkey is currently staring down the barrel of Mr. Dion’s hunting rifle. If Dion waits too long, he’ll lose his game.
Peeking in. It is very good to see so many new commenters. That says something significant, far more than the partisan regulars. Monitoring, but not expecting much, not now.
Do They Know
Does Jim Prentice know
When he gets up to speak
That the prim minister sits
And stares at his seat.
Does Mr Baird know
That he acts like a clown
And his antics are worn
And wearily run down.
Does PP patuty ever realize
That when he acts like a child.
His actions and comments
Are never beguiled.
Does Bernier know
The secrets of the House
Are to be treated, respected
Not left with his mouse.
Does Ms Cadman know
What her future may hold
If she runs for the Con side
More lies will unfold.
I want to be balanced
And say something inspired.
But it’s beyond my ability -
Their lease has expired.
Make it happen, Garth.
Every time Dion sets aside his principles and beliefs and allows a Conservative motion to pass (this time immigration); all he does is reinforce the notion he is a weak leader. Canadians are asleep right now, but when the election comes; you will face some tough questions about propping up Harper and giving Conservatives a majority government in practice.
As a former Conservative, to indy to Dion shill…you personally should be embarrassed far more than the others on your “dream team”.
By Yannick on 06.03.08 1:10 am
Garth, why don’t I see Stephane Dion on the news busting Harper’s chops over Bernier? This story has traction and the only people I see on TV talking tough are Rae and Ignatieff. Seriously, if Dion doesn’t start getting his face on TV, his popularity will go anywhere but up. Stephane Dion is not giving voters any reasons to vote for him, so they won’t, period.
You noticed this too, Yannick …. and the simple answer is Dion fears being associated with Bernier as just another criminal from Quebec. Well maybe ‘criminal’ may be a tad strong, but the RoC is quick to condemn French Quebecers for their wayward behaviour. IOW, Dion and Bernier will be synonymous with Quebec corruption and conclude they do not want another Liberal prime minister from Quebec. Dion is hiding from Bernier for fear of being contaminated..!!!
Whether or not it’s time for an election is ultimately Mr. Dion’s decision, but I still think the nervous nellies amongst the Liberals are doing more harm than good by cowering so often. I believe Dion is anything but a coward, and I hope the party will show unity under him. When it’s time, stand united and fight, Canadians are waiting.
Have you ever considered that Dion fears an election where he will have to face Canadians full monty and explain in his weird English why they should vote Liberal?? Have you ever considered that the Liberal party don’t want to follow Dion into an election because basically they really don’t want him as their leader??
Poll after poll after poll reveal that Dion has about a 10% popularity rating (90% unpopularity), and this represents an insurmountable barrier to Dion and the Liberal party. How can you promote or even follow somebody who is so roundly rejected by Canadians (and in particular, Quebecers)..???
Poll after poll after poll reveal that Dion has about a 10% popularity rating (90% unpopularity), and this represents an insurmountable barrier to Dion and the Liberal party. How can you promote or even follow somebody who is so roundly rejected by Canadians (and in particular, Quebecers)..???
By Harry S on 06.03.08 10:14 am
Becuase the guy he is running against is dishonest, unaccountable and unethical…
Garth: You seem in such conflict with the Liberal Party that it is time to change Parties again. Possibly the Green Party would welcome you.
What is a Liberal?
I still don’t know and I probably never will.
It seems like the Liberals try to play the grey area of every single issues.
This is horseshit policy and will not do anything to help the party.
It’s time the Liberals actually tell Canadians what their policies are.
By Tom Robinson on 06.03.08 9:42 am
To define a Liberal today would be difficult, I would say Pierre Trudeau was a Liberal but most today, who call themselves Liberals are really social liberals and fiscal conservatives, which we used to know as Progressive Conservatives. Very few in the Liberal party are old time liberals, most are PCs and The CPC is the right wing of the old Reform and Alliance parties except they are hardly fiscally responsible or conservative.
By all means, prorogue Parliament. It no longer serves any non-partisan purpose anyway. And all members can go home and tell their constituents how splendidly they are doing.
By Herb on 06.03.08 8:56 am
It has been that way for many years and another reason to abolish the party system and vote independent!
For all you fine folks on this forum, time to have another look at independent government….
I believe it is quite evident that neither the CPC or the LPC are deserving to serve again as the Government of Canada. Since the other parties have little or no hope of forming a government, I would suggest that the party system in Canada is no longer useful to the electorate and would suggest Canadians on mass demand a new form of Government.
That Government could take the form of a Provincially Appointed Government or an elected Independent Government. I have some rough ideas along that line and would suggest we embark on this route if we care at all to see a democratic government that will respect the wishes and will of the constituents. This is necessary as the two main parties in Canada no longer allow representation from the grassroots. When MPs are flown into ridings to run or told how to vote, this destroys basic democracy.
Try for a moment to put aside your partisan choice (whatever that might be) and look at this objectively.
FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT IN CANADA
Here is the plan…
1. Each Province and/or Territory is allotted one member of parliament based on their percentage of the population of Canada. For example if Alberta has say 18 % of the population, they get 18 seats. (There will be possibly a few more than 100 seats to accommodate those provinces who have .5 % or more or who might have less than 1% of the population)
Each Province or Territory must have at least one seat.
2. Within each Provincial caucus, the members slated to be in the cabinet will be voted in by the elected members.
3. Each Province and Territory will have one member in Cabinet, the four largest Provinces in population two. (Total 16 members)
4. The Prime Minister will be elected by the 16 members of Cabinet and approved by the Parliament as a whole.
5. Funding for elections will be provided by the federal government and will be limited to the minimal amount necessary. (the amount to be determined by Elections Canada)
No individual or corporate donations will be accepted, the penalty for accepting them will be dismissal from Parliament and a by election will be held in that riding within 60 days.
6. Recall from cabinet can be effected by a vote of 75% of Parliament.
7. Recall from Parliament can be effected by a 60% participation in the form of a petition of the MPs riding.
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.03.08 10:01 am
Peeking in. It is very good to see so many new commenters. That says something significant, far more than the partisan regulars. Monitoring, but not expecting much, not now.
………………………………..
Right on, Bill … why even my bastard son by my second mistress is now posting on the forum … go figure ..!!!!
As for the many new commenter, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were only a handful of neuro-psycho-whackos using different monikers as dictated by their schizoid state of madness … mostly Liberals too …
Please do NOT rush to an election unless you can be certain of a win.
The very worst thing that could happen to Canada would be for the Harper dictators and liars to win a majority.
Our country would never survive a Harper majority. He is bent on destroying everything that is good about Canada through lies, bullying, and pandering to big business.
Please Mr. Dion, wait until you can take this sleazy PM out for good.
Some interesting comments indeed!!
Just one point—why would anyone force an election unless it is absolutely clear that they can win it.
Dion has internal poll numbers—he will know when the time is right.
To force an election just to “do it” & give Harper another mandate would be criminal–as a life-long Conservative , I fear for the country if this occurs–this guy & his crew do not represent the ideals of the old Progressive Conservative standard in any way , shape , or form.
As I see it , Mr Dion must present the country with a clear , concise policy statement ASAP & build his support—minimal negativity with positive policies shaped to look after the citizens of this country—policies that would enhance the economy , the environment & our foreign missions.
By standing separate from the likes of Harper & Jack Layton , Mr Dion can make his own mark & show us how much a leader he can be.
Mr Dion`s presentation to Municipalities the other day was excellent—-more of this is what we need.
Dr Mike Popovich–former-life-long Conservative.
PS–Forevergreen2000—I am with you on the flat tax—our tax system is a disaster & is need of a major overhaul.
First step is to get rid of Jim Flaherty—he still thinks that RRSPs are tax exempt & not tax deferred.
Harry can you please explain how this can be possible—I have asked you before but there is never a reply—maybe because anyone with any reason in their noggins would not agree with Flaherty on this one.
Hopefully that translates into another vote for the independent candidate in your riding.
By wjp on 06.03.08 8:03 am
Yes, wjp…I was a liberal but have considered myself an independent for approx. the last 8 or 9 months. I intend to vote for the candidate I feel best represents the true NEEDS of the people.
Garth,
It is going to take some serious Stand Up for Dion to regain any Cred at this point. I have nothing more to say. Just going to watch what happens. All I can say is had better be monumentally good and SOON!
I personally don’t give a damn about any ‘party’ I care about Canada and the people. Parties are the Lazyman’s way of deciding how to vote. They are merely Groupies looking for a hero/heroine, not the good of the people or our future.
Oh, and BTW, the costs of ‘getting elected’ is an atrocity to very principles of democracy. Every candidate should get equal funding, 30 days to make their speil, and then we vote. That means we, the people, will fund the election, our election. No more corporate or contributions. Let Elections Canada run the show as an independent public trust organization, without the interferrence of Parliament, and especially any party leader.
The licensed media will be required to provide the forum and include ALL candidates who have properly registered. That means the Greens will be in the debates. That, and only that, will be true democracy. Not this Bullshit game the Yanks play of money rules over principles and platforms.
I, having run for public office, will tell you this. I would NEVER put myself in debt like so many have, and that includes Dion and Iggy, just to gamble that the people will support me. That is foolishness driven by pure egomania.
The entire system is broken. Ontario had the chance to change it, but the lazy MSM went against MPP, as did the party power brokers. Yet, the movement has not DIED!
Have a nice day Garth, you are one of the Good Guys.
Well , Bob Rae is the only one to date who has paid down his debt. (Welcome to the new Liberal-NDP party.)
Current outstanding debts :
Michael Ignatieff about $160,000
Martha Hall Findlay about $200,000
Ken Dryden about $385,000
Scott Brison about $80,000
Gerard Kennedy about $300,000
Kennedy is embroiled in a controversy over Shamba – a charitable foundation contributing to his fund.
Stephane Dion about $600,000 … and he wasn’t even one of the frontrunners during the entire leadership campaign.
The bottom line is that, in 18 months since the leadership campaign, Dion has raised about 25% of what he spent. At this rate, we’d be halfway to the 2013 election before he gets this paid off (and he likely won’t be Liberal leader by then.)
So, the “enthusiastic”.. “energetic”..”exciting” leader of Canada’s Natural Ruling Party has only managed to raise 25% of his leadership debt in a year and a half … talk about incompetent …!!!
IMHO, it points to nothing less than an internal vote of non-confidence in his leadership at the party grassroots level … rank-and-file Liberals are deciding they have better things to do with their money than contribute to hapless Dion.
Dion spent $1.2 million and has retired about $600,000 in debt in 18 months. Not bad. BTW, he’s been busy with a day job. — Garth
Becuase the guy he is running against is dishonest, unaccountable and unethical…
By wjp on 06.03.08 10:20 am
Are you saying the reason Dion performs so poorly is Harper’s fault?
There MUST be a summer election, to not do so is going to do some serious damage to voters confidence; the Liberals will have no credibility left. Pull the plug NOW while the Cons constant corruption is fresh in the mind.
Oh and this is funny.
IS MULRONEY TRYING TO TORPEDO HARPER?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 07:45 AM
Spotted by Norman, natch:
–Buried deep in this article, an interesting fact:
The VP of Corporate Affairs for Quebecor and former Brian Mulroney spokesman, Luc Lavoie, was present during Paul Larocque’s interview with Julie Couillard on TVA last week.
Kinsella of course.
OT: Important natural health information:
A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his
Sunday sermon.
Four worms were placed into four separate jars.
The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.
The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.
The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.
The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.
At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following
results:
The first worm in alcohol – Dead.
The second worm in cigarette smoke – Dead
Third worm in chocolate syrup – Dead
Fourth worm in good clean soil – Alive.
So the Minister asked the congregation –
What can you learn from this demonstration?
Maxine was sitting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said,
‘As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won’t have worms!’
That pretty much ended the service….
Dion is rarely front and centre establishing the story-line against Harper. Either he isn’t doing it, doesn’t have an effective media strategy to make it heard or has become irrelevant to the media.
Based on the track record of the clown Cons, there is merit in thinking there are other worse scandals brewing and it is wise to bide your time.
OTOH, the buffoons can’t continue screwing up indefinitely. They must be learning from these blunders and are due for a good stretch (or at least one free from colossal mistakes which will make them look decent by comparison.)
The Con war chest is still a lot more daunting than what the Libs have. It becomes a question of what type of explosive scandal can offset that difference in funds.
It must be something that everyone can get their head around. Nothing too complicated involving policy or numbers that don’t interest the average slob.
If the bizarre imitation of Bush and his neo-Cons by Harper and his minions is anything to go by, then something to fit the bill is just around the corner.
All that self-righteous hatred of homosexuals usually indicates there is at least a few repressed self-loathers in the bunch.
I’ll bet at least a few of the wackos are up to some illegal nastiness as a way to deal with all those bottled up feelings of dominance/subservience /power/self-hate.
It just takes someone in the media with the guts to cross the line regarding the long held tradition of not messing with private lives of politicians to bring the hypocrisy to light.
Or one of the internet independents who wants to make a name for him/herself.
This poll is on CFRA website this morning:
http://www.cfra.com/listen/default.asp
On Sunday, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion told the Federation of Cdn Municipalities the Liberals would vote against Bill C-50. On Monday the Liberal benches were empty as the House of Commons approved the immigration reforms in Bill C-50 by a vote of 114-83. Liberal MPs explained they will overturn the reforms if they win the next election.
This guy wants to be PM?! What a joke! ……. 90.5%
Dion is doing just fine. He cannot allow the Conservatives to bait him into forcing an election before he is ready ….. 8.58%
Other.. 0.81%
Total Votes: 978 (Canadians have spoken)
Any party that puts political strategy ahead of the good for the country and Canadians, will not get my vote. Hopefully there will be a good independant in our riding to vote for as I am running out of options.
By bonnie l on 06.03.08 11:26 am
OK, here’s one to go with your’s. LOL
*** Funeral Sermon
As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave side service in a new cemetery for a derelict man with no family or friends. He had died while traveling through the area. The funeral was to be held way back in a new country cemetery.
This man would be the first to be laid to rest at this new cemetery. As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost. Being the typical man, I didn’t stop for directions. But I finally arrived an hour late.
I saw a crew and a backhoe, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. The workmen working on the grave were eating lunch. I apologized to the workers (who looked puzzled) for my tardiness, I stepped to the side of the open grave, to find the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them long, but having a prayer service was the proper thing to do.
As the workers gathered around, still eating their lunch, I poured out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say “Amen, Praise the Lord and Glory.” I was feeling good that they were enjoying my sermon.
I preached, and I preached, like I’d never preached before. I began from Genesis and went pretty much all the way through to Revelation. I preached for two hours and 45 minutes. It was a long and lengthy service. I closed in prayer and it was finished. The workers thanked me as I left the grave.
As I was walking to my car, I felt that I had done my duty and I would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in spite of my tardiness.
As I was opening the door to my car and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, “I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I ain’t never seen anything like that before. “
Well Garth, seems you still arn’t listening and neither is that wimp of a Liberal leader called Dion. You and your Liberal credibility quotient has just about hit ZERO.
I see the b–ches of Eastwick Catherine.Leasa,Janice have returned to track another pile of shit through this site .
Grow a brain girls .
Dion is waiting until Harpo becomes trapped by his own stupidity by refusing to answer committee questions in the Bernier affair .
Canadians are waiting anxiously to vote the all idiot party into oblivion .
What you three know of politics could fit inside a very small thimble .
Keep it up as I ROTFLMAO at everyone of your hyper partisan posts .
Too funny. Too stupid .
By wjp on 06.03.08 8:06 am
Well, that would be complicated. I already have an independent who was a Liberal who is in hot water with Elections Canada. He has no chance of winning the seat.
This is a demographic riding nightmare. You have West Vancouver one of the most affluent places in BC. Then you have Howe Sound which includes Whistler being West Van’s playground. Squamish – forestry which is traditional NDP.
Then you come to my home the Sunshine Coast. This is where the Green Party of BC started. However, Gibsons and Powell River have pulp and paper plants so they are NDP fodder. But over the last 5 years Gibsons and Sechelt have become a retiree magnet.
So we have a split vote riding between the affluent and the middle class.
Unless one votes strategically the Conservative candidate will win because of West Vancouver and the NDP peeling off votes from union workers.
The behaviour of the 114 kids on the other side of the floor should come as no surprise.
When an individual or in this case, the entire CPC party and their trolls do not reach their developmental milestones at the expected times, they are considered to be developmentally delayed.
However, if someone in the party is slightly or only temporarily lagging behind, then that individual gets to be the leader and he, in this case, is the only member of the party who gets to own his opinions.
Usually, though, Canadian citizens are the first to notice that their gov’t is not progressing at the same rate as other gov’ts.
but without intervention and treatment, the time will come when the rest of the world will notice the same and unfortunately that time has arrived.
The party’s disorders have been revealed to the world press as our consummate international fool that he is, Harpie and his kindergarten klan with lollipops in hand have made Canada the laughing stock of the world.
In the meantime, as we plan for their ultimate intervention and treatment, they will taunt us like children and we will tolerate them like adults .
Are you saying the reason Dion performs so poorly is Harper’s fault?
By Janice on 06.03.08 11:18 am
No, what I am saying is that they are all the same and the party system in Canada is not longer representing their constituents and the leaders call all the shots. Secondly, I am also saying that Harper campaigned on being honest, transparent, ethical and accountable and he said he would be different from those theiving Liberals…as I see it, he is worse! Should I run the list again?
From: The Niagara Falls Review
Editorial & Opinion
Home News Editorial & Opinion …
Harper is trying to rewrite history
STEPHEN HARPER, was quoted in the Niagara Falls Review as saying, “We are Conservatives because we love this country. We founded this federation. We created it. We’re proud of our country’s past. And we believe in its future.”
The idea that those holding his beliefs founded and created Canada needs to be challenged.
Had the Fathers of Confederation held these views there would have been no empowerment of the Senate and House of Commons to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of Canada as a whole; no power to disallow or reserve provincial legislation; no primacy of central over provincial law in shared jurisdictions; nor the power to declare a work within a province to be for the general advantage of Canada.
Stephen Harper is trying to rewrite history. For years he has been putting forward without evasion or equivocation a vision that is antipathetical to the Constitution the Fathers of Confederation created.
He proposes that spending by the Government of Canada be limited, disallowance and declaratory powers be foresworn, jurisdictions presently shared become wholly provincial, that the Senate be elected to represent the provinces, and that Supreme Court and Bank of Canada appointments be made by provincial legislatures.
The Canada that was brought into being in 1867 was the antithesis of what Stephen Harper would have our nation become: A federation of autonomous provinces sharing a common economic space, with the Government of Canada co-ordinating important areas of economic regulations and representing Canada in international trader negotiations, defence and foreign affairs for them.
…well put. Hey, Harper’s not a real conservative – he’s a reformist/neo-con.
He now where comes close to the historical Conservatives he professes to be – talk about twist and lie about history.
Bonnie said: “I am frustrated, tired of the mocking, tired of the disinformation — tired of a Prime Minister who picks winners and losers and believes this is his Canada. What about our Canada and all Canadians? I am tired of this, Garth, as I am sure you are – this is the right time… Help me, help you. How can I help?
BY BONNIE N BC ON 06.02.08 11:10 PM
Bonnie,
I feel the same way. I come here to read wise words, learn and compare notes.
But in the meantime, the Disinformation Campaigning of this ugly government has changed people. Everyone I know is upset with Harper.
And now for me, here yesterday one troll twisted my words then smeared me, then answered KPN’s question to me, and then he further smeared me again with ugly lies, as had his aliases in the earlier blog. This is frustrating for a 53 year old.
Tactics. I’m tired of it all. Their twisted words and hate show me that our country has changed.
I could put up with Harper if Dion ‘absolutely’ knows why he should wait.. I’ve been very, very patient. What’s going on?
[...] again expressing frustration at this strategy, but it is apparent from observation (ie. seeing the title at Garth Turner’s blogposts) that the Liberals feel they are only going to get one shot at [...]
lets help Dion clear his debt and boost the liberal coffers, to let them know we want an election now.
It is the oppositions distinct duty to hold out a light to those floundering in the dark shadow of the government(?)
Disillusionment is becoming palpable .
Dion needs to do something,anything NOW.
These cretins have had a free rein for far too long .
Every time we have the noose around their neck they manage to wiggle free .
I grow weary of waiting for the opportunity to cast my ducat .
WJP,
don’t know you, Pilgrim, but the message is familiar.
Are you the positively, definitely last name change of our old friend Sucks/Rope/Fiddles/Burns/Buddy?
When you first cropped up, I thought that he had made a convert, but the language of the message is too darn close.
All opposition parties have excoriated the Conservatives for the immigration changes, but the Liberals continued their months-long practice of abstaining on key votes.
The Liberals were taunted and laughed at by their opponents as only a handful of their members showed up for a set of 114-83 votes that took the legislation one step closer to becoming law.
And Dion’s response;
But Liberal Leader Stephane Dion noted that the political gift of Bernier’s resignation would never have happened if, several weeks ago, he’d brought down the government as some in his party urged him to do.
“So maybe sometimes it’s good to expose what kind of government Canadians have today,” Dion said.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080602/confidence_votes_080602/20080602?hub=Politics
Huh? Bernier and associates are more important? Having a minister resign trumps trying to provide a better gov’t? In all likelihood, the story would have broken regardless as it would have been damaging during an election campaign as well. Likely more so.
This guy gives new meaning to the word unintelligible, and if this is considered strategy, that word must have a new definition too.
I had to look around a bit to find an article on this. I guess liberals’ not showing up for votes isn’t big news anymore. Maybe it’s just that the liberals aren’t news. When talk first started about the NDP being the official opposition, I thought it was amusing. Not so much anymore.
One more thing, the Greens aren’t so much stealing your votes, as you are losing them. The Greens are fishing while the liberals cut bait.
How can I help?
BY BONNIE N BC ON 06.02.08 11:10 PM
..you can help by supporting the indep..BY WJP
.
Bonnie,
My husband and I are going to go to our first Liberal event ever, a fundraiser (Calgary, liberals are rare here!)
It is not like us to head out to something like this, but we have had it with Harper and all these thugs, like the ones here who smear on his behalf. I need to do something. This is a start for us.
Use your instincts.
lets help Dion clear his debt and boost the liberal coffers – let them know we want an election now
BY NIXA ON 06.03.08 12:21 PM
Just did – hubby and I bought tickets to the liberal dinner – 50 bucks seemed pretty reasonable
BY WILLIAM DAHL 06.02.08 11:38 PM
William,
That is a good post. I’m going to copy that and hope that if more time is needed, the liberals will be doing exactly as you suggest. Great ideas. I feel better already.
IF? Ah, like ‘IF a frog had wings it wouldn’t bump its arse on the ground when it hops!’
IF I win the BIG Lottery I will BUY a seat in the HoC?
IF Jesus comes we won’t have to worry about anything?
IF we had a functional government the economy would actually pick up?
IF we had any real leadership more interested in Canadian’s first instead of their political own well being, we would all be able to smile again?
IF, yes IF, anyone will do anything akin to acting like they give a DAMN about the people, we will ‘probably’ support their candidate IF we believe them.
That takes CREDIBILITY!, and NO PARTY has any at this time, except to partisan morons. The same immature mentality that pervades Groupies everywhere.
Dion spent $1.2 million and has retired about $600,000 in debt in 18 months. Not bad. BTW, he’s been busy with a day job. — Garth
You are kidding right Garth? He went in knowing how long he would under Election Canada laws to pay off this debt or he would be found in violation and charged like any other politician…oops, seems E.C. has a little bias there, looks like they are going to change those rules for the leader of the Liberal party. Are you saying Bob Rae and all other candidates for leaderships don’t have day jobs? L
By Catherine on 06.03.08 4:50 am
By ordering your Liberal colleagues to abstain, walk out, or not show up for confidence votes, Stephane Dion is laughing at us, the Canadian citizens. You are NOT interested in respecting our democracy. Stephane Dion and the Liberals have taken away the democratic voice of those constituents that they are supposed to represent in House.
A truly shameful display by the Liberals.
…………………………………………………………..
Catherine … what Dion is doing to the once-proud Liberal party is even more egregious than what Liberals accuse PM Harper of doing to his MPs..!!!
They say that Harper is muzzling his MPs, and Garth is telling us of his travails within the Conservative caucus … but what Dion is doing to the Liberal MPs and Liberal party is even more objectionable …. because he is destroying democracy within the Liberal ranks by forcing them to abstain …!!!
The Liberal party under Dion’s failed leadership is unworthy to govern Canada .. and they reveal that every time they abstain from voting. They no longer have any political principles other than a never-ending lust for power. Liberals have sunk to the lowest depths imaginable and now even staunch Liberal supporters are questioning themselves about this Dion debacle.
Canadian officer dies in Afghanistan
4 Canadian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan
________________________________________
Meanwhile…
- Karzai says Western forces bungled war on Taliban
- SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH AFGHAN PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI
‘I Wish I Had the Taliban as My Soldiers’
Here we go again. The Harpy trolls out in full force claiming they know everything & have been let down one more time. Who would {not} of guessed that could happen.
By Catherine on 06.03.08 4:50 am Who doesn’t wouldn’t recognize TRUTH or FICTION if her life depended on it, wears the brand of never answering questions. And she thinks the Liberals have no credibility?
By Leasa on 06.03.08 7:12 am The good girl , bad girl fake {coping from the good cop, bad cop} theory. She thinks she knows everything but you guessed it, DOESN’T.
And then of course one can’t dismiss Janice on 06.03.08 12:08 am The in- between broad who just keeps posting whatever comes to her head to take distraction from Catty & Leasa.
Yep! The three faces of Eve or should I say Harpy?
And then of course Harry, the resident psycho who suffers from illusions most of the time, gets paid overtime for all the posts he makes on this site. He must be tuned in 24/7.
And then we have By David – Ontario on 06.02.08 11:24 pm who claims to be a Liberal. Here’s his quote!
I can’t believe it! I’m finished with the Liberal party and will actively campaign for something else – if your party cannot show up in the house in opposition; how can we trust you in Government? What are you trying to prove – and what are you waiting for? I am finished – goodbye.
Be honest David, you probably have never been involved with any party to begin with so maybe you should just buzz off.
How about By Ex-Lib Looking For A Home on 06.03.08 5:50 am
That’s probably BS too Ex-Lib. Try going across the border to Bush’s camp. I’m sure he will welcome you with open arms.
There is no question in my mind that we need to rid Canada of this dictatorial government & sooner than later would be my wish but I’m sure there are a lot of things happening that we don’t know about about so lets try & be patient & let Mr. Dion choose the perfect time. With all the bad publicity the Reform/ CONS are experiencing right now with more yet to come, maybe he wants to play their game a little longer so we can watch their sleazy, devious regime self destruct. The time when this government will be crushed for good.
We do have to face the fact that there is still a very small chance that dropping the writ right now could see Harper win a minority again & I for one would hate to see that happen & have to put up with another possible 4 year term of the Reform Party. We need to have patience. Garth needs to have patience.That & the fact that having the NDP campaigning against the Liberals & supporting the CONS is also a bit of a problem that has to be dealt with right now. I know a lot of you will be of a different opinion but I for one would like to see them crushed at the same time as booting the Reform/ Cons out. Having seen how the NDP almost put BC in bankruptcy by driving away businesses south of the border 4 years ago, they have proven to be just as devious & corrupt as this so called conservative government. If you want my opinion, they have been in cahoots with this CON government from day 1. Lets quiting playing armchair politics & let the ones in the know deal with what has to happen before they take them down.
Regards,
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.03.08 11:49 am
LOL!
Hi Garth, the next confidence vote, the whole liberal party should stand up in the house, even it Dion does not want you to, the whole gang that want an election, what can Dion do really,??
You will defeat the idiots, and we will have an election.
I cannot understand Buzz Hargrove. When the big three caved so easily to union demands it was obvious that something was brewing. Was Hargrove so out-of-touch that he was not aware of the storm clouds? As I see it this is just the tip of a huge iceberg ready to topple over.
For too long Canada and Ontario has supported an industry that was failing to modernize and meet the needs of the consumer. The depended too much on marketing hype driven by the concept of “build them and they will come.” They failed to learn the lesson of the 1980s because they depended too much on government policy to keep them viable without adapting to inevitable market changes.
IMHO, it points to nothing less than an internal vote of non-confidence in his leadership at the party grassroots level … rank-and-file Liberals are deciding they have better things to do with their money than contribute to hapless Dion.
Dion spent $1.2 million and has retired about $600,000 in debt in 18 months. Not bad. BTW, he’s been busy with a day job. — Garth
By Harry S on 06.03.08 11:10 am
Fortunately, like myself, you are not a grassroots, card carrying member of the Liberal party. As such, when speaking of how they feel or think, your opinion counts for naught!
By Janice on 06.03.08 9:44 am
“So your refusal to oppose the immigration bill, the GST cut, the income trusts, the budget… means you support them.”
This sounds so much like “you’re either with us or with duh terra’rists” claptrap that George Dubya spouts that I swear I hear the twang and see the smirk that accompanies it.
Anyone with more than one functioning neuron knows that Stevie is playing a “dare you” kindergarten game. He’s DESPERATE to get the opposition parties to oppose him so he can call an election before any more Con slime oozes out of the cracks, causing him to slip and fall.
Just look what we’ve found out so far with this waiting game, as Garth mentioned in his entry at the top of this thread – bribing sick MP’s, a Foreign Affairs minister of little brain and even less ethical sense who can’t even keep his DOMESTIC affairs in any kind of adult order, finance ministers who preside over economic meltdown while protesting that everything is just fine, and, of course, we still don’t know where Stevie’s campaign funding came from.
Stevie’s champions are falling like stones – Howard in Australia swept out with the tide, Bush limping along still trying to start a war in Iran, his entire administration indictable for war crimes under every law except the ones they made up recently.
We need someone with vision and some kind of moral sense before this lovely country of ours goes down the drain. Stevie and his cohorts are neo-Con republican clones. They are not PC’s. They are like nothing I have ever seen before. The pod people are in our midst.
Gather all the ammo you need, Garth and the Libs, but hold your fire until the see their squinty little bloodshot eyes. The HarpoCons may self-destruct if they keep on their present course and the intrepid journalists and others keep telling us what they’ve found out about them.
Meanwhile, I’m still holding my breath. I hope I don’t turn purple and keel over before something happens.
And to all those Harper supporters out there – the kind of Canada that most Canadians support (the 60-something percent who didn’t vote neo-Con) also allows you room to live and breathe. The kind of Canada you and the Harpo’s support has no room for anyone but you, and a 100% Harpo Canada is toxic to children and other living things. (Just like war – I had to get that in.)
When you first cropped up, I thought that he had made a convert, but the language of the message is too darn close.
By Herb on 06.03.08 12:35 pm
No sorry herb, I am not Buddy but I do agree with his idea of an appointed federal government, right after an independent one. The notion that one is going to vote for the same old parties for change in non-sensical…and borders on insanity…what does it take for one to realize they are all the same?
The Liberal party under Dion’s failed leadership is unworthy to govern Canada .. and they reveal that every time they abstain from voting. They no longer have any political principles other than a never-ending lust for power. Liberals have sunk to the lowest depths imaginable and now even staunch Liberal supporters are questioning themselves about this Dion debacle.
By Harry S on 06.03.08 1:01 pm
Wrong once again Harry, it is the party system that is destroying democracy! That goes for any party that tells its’ MPs how to vote, and appoints candidates to run in a riding. Both the CPC and the Liberals do the same thing. The only difference is that Harper ran on this honest, ethic, accountable BS, that has been anything but!
The only salvation for the voter in Canada is an independent government!
#84 – Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary – rest in peace.
—–
Canadian officer killed in Afghanistan
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/436170
Capt. Richard (Steve) Leary, Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, became the country’s 84th military death in Afghanistan.
Unless one votes strategically the Conservative candidate will win because of West Vancouver and the NDP peeling off votes from union workers.
By Bonnie N BC on 06.03.08 12:00 pm
Well I guess it all boils down to what kind of Canada one wants, if you are willing to have the leader of any party tell MPs how to vote, then go for it. Personally I find that rather offensive and see no representation for the grassroots. But like I say, it is your decision and I respect your right to vote as you please.
look, I like your blog and am able to read between the lines to get as much truth as I can but come on. The right time to pull an election is “when we can win”, it has nothing to do with what’s right and wrong or anything. It has everything to do with getting yourself and your friends in power. Once that happens it will be the same old, same old. $20 says that you’ll vote yourselves a raise. Another $20 says you’ll squander money and either no one will pay for the mistake or ONE person will take the fall for everyone. I don’t know how many more sure bets I can make before I have to claim it on my taxes.
I say everyone vote libertarian and reduce the house of commons to a handful of highly-paid do-nothings instead of the hundreds it is now.
Stephen Harper laughed
How telling. What a class act, these CONS.
BY MAGGIE ON 06.03.08 5:26 AM
Why shouldn’t Harper laugh. It is Dion and the Liberals who are making a fool of themselves They deserve to be laughed at.
Dion keeps saying he is waiting for the right moment. He appears to be bordering on the cowardly because he knows he like hasn’t a snowball chance in hell in winning the election. His numbers are still sinking in Quebec. He is becoming worse then Mr Dithers himself. He is making the Official Opposition a farce.
Garth it is time for Dion to go. Get rid of him and get someone else who has the guts to defeat the Government. The Liberal brand is being ruined by Dion delay tactics.
This says a lot about Dion who appears more interested in his own skin then the Canadian population. It is either that or the Conservative government is not as bad and evil as the Liberals and even Garth have led us to believe. How else can you evaluate Dion’s actions the last 12 months ?
By Irene on 06.03.08 1:17 pm
There is no question in my mind that we need to rid Canada of this dictatorial government & sooner than later would be my wish but I’m sure there are a lot of things happening that we don’t know about about so lets try & be patient & let Mr. Dion choose the perfect time.
………………………………..
Irene … I’m surprised you don’t recognized Dion’s muzzling of Liberal MPs when he forces them to abstain on confidence votes. Surely this is a much greater insult to democracy than any of you fantasies about a “dictatorial government”.
If it is such a “dictatorial government” why is it that Dion is avoiding an immediate election … is it because Canadians are comfortable with their new Conservative government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.. and 10% Dion knows he and his Liberals will get wiped out in an election …??!!!
The very worst thing that could happen to Canada would be for the Harper dictators and liars to win a majority. By ben
First of all Harper is not a dictator. If he was then you should be accusing Dion with the same thing because he won’t even allow all his Mp’s to vote which is far worse then anything harper has ever done.
Secondly, give the Canadian voters some credit. There will not be a majority government for any party in the next election. You just have to look at the polls to see that for yourself. No party will get a majority with a low to mid 30%.
The notion that one is going to vote for the same old parties for change in non-sensical…and borders on insanity…what does it take for one to realize they are all the same?
By wjp on 06.03.08 1:38 pm
Insanity being defined as ‘repeating the same act and expecting different results!’
At least after this evening we will no longer have to listen to Hillary trying to convince the world she is the leader of the Democratic race. Like the sign says “Life is a Bitch! Don’t elect One!” No more ’sniper fire’ only she hears either!
Now, about the B-tches of Eastwick. Just wait until they turn on Steve. Nicholson will be SMILING like Johnny,and ‘Shining’ like beacon!
Have fun pissing into the partisan wind. There is OUR country at stake while you do.
And I have seen first-hand a prime minister who treats MPs like batboys and believes voters can be purchased with their own taxes. By Garth
Well Dion is no different. He doesn’t allow his MPs to vote the way they want and should. He also is trying to buy votes with his so called neutral carbon tax plan. If Dion is like this in opposition I suspect he would be a lot worse if he ever became PM..
Weird. The average temp. this time of year is around 25C; today’s high is 18C, and will hover around 15C for the next few days. Maybe time to call in Mr. & Mrs. Sasquatch, as they control our thermometer.
It’s good to live in B.C.; there is B.C., the Rockies and TROC; TROC is only one province!
****************************************
Bill C-51 has reared its’ ugly head again. Someone wrote to the KDC today, and I will quote some of the letter (parts in parens are mine only):
“. . . This bill proposes significant changes to the current Food and Drug Act that will affect most Cdns.
“They (govt.) intend to bypass elected officials and vote in bureaucratic laws from other countries (NWO), without our consent. They intend to remove 70% of natural health products presently available, in our health stores and make them only available by prescription.
“The new enforced powers would allow inspectors to:
Enter private property without a warrant; take your property at their discretion; dispose of your property at will; seize your bank accounts; charge owners shipping and storage charges for seized property; store your property indefinitely, and not reimburse you for your losses.
“If you disobey these new regulations, you can be fined up to $5 mln., and / or two years in jail.
“Bill C-51 is designed to bankrupt and silence the people.
“This is reminiscent of what took place in Nazi Germany during the Hitler regime (early ’30s and on), where the laws of the land were (quietly) changed (with no public notification at all).
“If the health foods are removed from the counters, you can expect the cost of prescriptions to increase dramatically (same as US). The markup on some of our prescription drugs today is absolutely unconscionable.
“Is it any wonder the phmarceuticals are raking in billion of dollars, year after year, and they still wish to deny senior citizens living on fixed incomes the privilege of buying reasonably priced health foods they so desperately need for survival. (Remember the IT betrayal? This further reduces investors’ incomes, while lining the pockets of the ultra-rich, both in and out of govt.).
Further,
“Federal Health Minister Tony Clement is an all-powerful prohibitionist pharmaceutical mogul who owns 25 per cent equity of Prudential Chem Inc., a Toronto manufacturer of pharmaceutical chemicals. If this is not a blatant conflict of interest, then I don’t know what is.
“Clement has breached the public’s trust and should be removed as MoH immediately. . . .
“It’s time to act now, and take the federal govt. to task over this most discriminating issue.”
Etc., etc.
Sometime back, didn’t harpo say something to the effect of, “you won’t recognize Canada by the time I’m finished with it”, or words to that effect? What to do?
Well, the first thing is to stall C-51 until as long as possible, preferably election time.
When called, blitz all media with all CRAP’s distortions, lies and deceptions, and let folk decide for themselves if they want to live in a tightly-controlled dictatorship.
If C-51 goes through, Canada will be the 51st state, Mexico the 52nd; I understand (not sure) dubya’s family has plenty of land in Paraguay, or in S. America somewhere to escape to.
Gold, oil, other commodities, etc., have not gone up in price; the US greenback is making lots of noise about nothing, because there is nothing to back it up.
One of the main reasons that dubya invaded Iraq was because Sadaam was on the verge of dumping the dooar and switching to the Euro.
Those beyond dubya didn’t want that — it would have drained their profits.
Now Iran has completed what Sadaam couldn’t, as they, along with several other countries have ditched the greenback for the Euro or Ruble.
The oven this world is, is getting warmer by the day; soon it will be broiling.
Weird. The average temp. this time of year is around 25C; today’s high is 18C, and will hover around 15C for the next few days. Maybe time to call in Mr. & Mrs. Sasquatch, as they control our thermometer.
By Charles Oxley on 06.03.08 2:44 pm
Where’s all that global warming when you need it?
BY DUBE ON 06.03.08 5:40 AM
Good observation by Dube!
In February both Baird and Lunn declared that each province is free to chart its own course on tackling emissions.
And then yesterday Baird is railing that provinces should not be crafting their own policy, rather it should be done as a federally coordinated effort.
Flip. Flop. Or is it “Con-fuffle Strategy” so they can conveniently point back to one.. or the other at will?
Seems the Old Ancient (yes, they were Persia and have been at civilization for millenia) wisdom still prevails, at least in some countries. Think about this statement.
Iran’s Khamenei labels Bush ‘mad’
Khamenei said that the erratic behaviour of Bush is rooted in the failures in Afghanistan and Iraq and urged countries to resist bullying.
With regards to accusations by the US and its allies that Iran is attempting to manufacture a nuclear weapon, Khamenei said that possessing such arsenal would be “useless”.
“No wise nation is interested in making a nuclear weapon,” since it is not
logical and cannot be used.
“Iran is after the peaceful use of nuclear energy and we will strongly pursue and reach it despite the envy of our enemies.”
US nuclear agreements
Khamenei said that the US was leading opposition against Iran’s nuclear programme while signing nuclear agreements with “less advanced countries” which would results in their dependency on the US.
He did not elaborate, but the United States has concluded bilateral nuclear co-operation deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
If it is such a “dictatorial government” why is it that Dion is avoiding an immediate election … is it because Canadians are comfortable with their new Conservative government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.. and 10% Dion knows he and his Liberals will get wiped out in an election …??!!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 2:29 pm
It is quite obvious to anyone with an open mind that Canadians in general are not satisfied with the CPC government, otherwise their polling numbers would be much higher. I would suggest Canadians are generally disgusted with the whole lot of them in Ottawa which bodes well for an independent government.
So…will Elections Canada break their own law and help the Liberal leader and his former contenders????
435.38 (1) The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of a leadership contestant or his or her financial agent, may authorize
(a) the extension of a period provided in subsection 435.3(4) or 435.35(3); or
(b) the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or updated document referred to in subsection 435.35(1).
(2) An application may be made (a) under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 435.3(4) or 435.35(3), as the case may be; and
(b) under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
(a) the illness of the applicant;
(b) the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the financial agent or a predecessor;
(c) the absence, death, illness or misconduct of a clerk or an officer of the financial agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
(d) inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
Too funny. Too stupid .
By Men With Hats on 06.03.08 11:51 am
You call your opponents childish names – which mean NOTHING in the big scheme of things. It only shows how void of class you are.
In the meantime Stephane Dion’s lack of inaction shows us the type of leader he truly is. He yaps and yaps but has no principles, no stance on anything, and is man of NO actions.
I say everyone vote libertarian and reduce the house of commons to a handful of highly-paid do-nothings instead of the hundreds it is now.
By Dan on 06.03.08 1:53 pm
Dan & others – I’m naive I guess, but can you and others expplain how our parliament would work if most voted ABC, or just voted for Rhino, Marijhuana (sp?) communist, etc. Wouldn’t someone have a majority? If so, what would happen if say the Rhino party had more voted. Would all the rest of the PM’s vote down every piece of legislation they didn’t agree with and another election (confidence vote) occur. Is this something similar to what has happened to Italy?
Could someone please explain? I admit to not being to savy.
By Charles Oxley on 06.03.08 2:44 pm
Be careful now, because mental giants think that global warming only affects their tiny little area.
The term’global’ is wayyyyyyy beyond their comprehension level. pretty much like they veiw the rest of scocity…’If it ain’t in my yard it don’t exist!’
It has been that way for many years and another reason to abolish the party system and vote independent!
By wjp on 06.03.08 10:29 am
..watching too much Lou Dobbs, obviously. Lou Dobbs, the republican that is so ashamed of G Dubya and his republicans right now he’s pretending to be an independant.
By Charles Oxley on 06.03.08 2:44 pm
Please forgive the horrid spelling errors in my last comment. Too many irons in the fire, and commenting is a low priority.
Should have read “The term ‘global’ is wayyyyyyy beyond their comprehension level. Pretty much like they view the rest of society…’If it ain’t in my yard it don’t exist!’ “
I can not understand how 308,separate and distinct ideologies will mend what is wrong with our now dysfunctional Parliament .
Three hundred voices all clamoring for different things .
Each with the idea and dead certainty they and they alone are right .
Seems like a recipe for disaster to me .
Herding cats is nigh impossible herding humans is much harder .
We had a glorious day here in N.S. Nary a cloud, 22C. A bit of wind around 3 PM. Went out around 10 AM to garden and, finally called it quits at 3 PM. Sit on my bottom/ knees or standing up dead heading tulips, shrubs and those killer roses. My arms look like I’ve been through a blackberry hedge. My back feels like its been through an old fashioned 50’s wringer washer. But, the various & numerous songs of the birds were music to my ears. And, the sounds of the hummers are like a great Grand Marnier after dinner with friends.
Janice wrote:
“Where’s all that global warming when you need it?”
Oh, Janice, you’re so clever. Maybe you should get a job as the fashionable other half of a local news show. I understand they really have a handle on the lighter side of the major issues of the day.
In the meantime you might pick up George Monbiot’s “Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning” or Fred Pearce’s “When the Rivers Run Dry” and give yourself a bit of an education on what is really happening as we speak. The latter book has me very upset, as it offers little or no hope of averting a global catastrophe in food production. And today the UN wants a 50% increase in food production – ain’t going to happen.
Regards
Where’s all that global warming when you need it?
By Janice on 06.03.08 3:05 pm
Try to keep up…
http://www.unep.org/Themes/climatechange/
BY DUBE ON 06.03.08 5:40 AM
Good observation by Dube!
In February both Baird and Lunn declared that each province is free to chart its own course on tackling emissions.
And then yesterday Baird is railing that provinces should not be crafting their own policy, rather it should be done as a federally coordinated effort.
Flip. Flop. Or is it “Con-fuffle Strategy” so they can conveniently point back to one.. or the other at will?
By barb the proof-reader
on 06.03.08 3:14 pm
Barb & Dube – I laughted when Biry Baird was on Don Newman last eve presenting a 1 page, presumably a Memorandum of Understanding, and Birdy held up a binder, saying look this is all the Quebec & Ont govt have & we’ve got a 1 inch binder. My immediate reaction was yeah, a 1 inch binder filled will nothing but blank pages. For the neocons its all about appearances, but no content.
Where’s all that global warming when you need it?
By Janice on 06.03.08 3:05 pm
Keep yapping Janice . You produce enough carbon dioxide for ten average humans .
My arms look like I’ve been through a blackberry hedge.
By kpn on 06.03.08 4:06 pm
Is that because of the rose thorns or the black flies? I tried planting some of my vegetable garden this afternoon and after half an hour my arms were so swolen from fly bites that I gave in.
Should have read “The term ‘global’ is wayyyyyyy beyond their comprehension level. Pretty much like they view the rest of society…’If it ain’t in my yard it don’t exist!’ “
By Bill-Muskoka on 06.03.08 4:01 pm
Hear ! Hear !
Try to keep up…
http://www.unep.org/Themes/climatechange/
By Lana on 06.03.08 4:10 pm
Maybe you should read all the literature.
http://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?id=393
And, the sounds of the hummers are like a great Grand Marnier after dinner with friends.
By kpn on 06.03.08 4:06 pm
Glad you are happy KPN . Your posts always make me smile as your love of nature comes shining through .
Bad enough that every time I turn on question period ,I’m nauseated whenever I have to listen to gasbag Vanmoose.To add insult to injury I come on this blog and sure enough the same neocon crap hits my eyes.Why can’t the Harper lovers-there’s too many to mention here,stick to your own party’s website and amuse yourself by sharing each other’s crappy and venomous verbal diarreah.The CPC represents a minority of Canadians.Maybe by continuing to blog here,you’ll convince the rest of the population to vote for anybody but the New Reform Party of Canada.The CPC has embarassed Canada enough.Hey Flaherty,I see your buddy GM is out to screw another 2500 workers in your district.According to Harper and Co.,everything is honky dorey in Canada.What figures are you looking at.You are a party of and for big business who doesn’t give a crap about Canadians.Garth it’s time to throw these lying hypocrites out.
In February both Baird and Lunn declared that each province is free to chart its own course on tackling emissions.
And then yesterday Baird is railing that provinces should not be crafting their own policy, rather it should be done as a federally coordinated effort.
Flip. Flop. Or is it “Con-fuffle Strategy” so they can conveniently point back to one.. or the other at will?
By barb the proof-reader
on 06.03.08 3:14 pm
The contradictions that arise as the new Conservatives try to follow the Harper ideology are becoming quite evident. I read this piece on Joe Hueglin’s Daily Digest. I wonder if it explains why these contradictions are cropping up. As I see it the Harper government is having difficulties with the contradictions between ideology and political strategy.
From the Daily Digest
Joe and I have disagreed on the Issue of where Stephen Harper is trying to take this country. Joe sees his direction as towards a Balkanization of the country with a weak federal government and strong quasi-independent provinces.
I see Harper’s direction as promoting a highly centralized federal government with absolute coercive power, surrounded by weak but independent provinces, and held together by the economic elite through a common market system. In other words, it is a state that functions based on a specific version of free market economic ideology.
The highly centralized federal government would focus on the coercive powers of the state such as criminal law, military “hard” power, and those policy areas that grease the wheels of commerce. It would include a gradual minimization of all financial transfers.
Provinces, in this new kind of federation, would have limited economic control. They would be sovereign in those aspects of government which provides for social policy but with limited means. Their input in the federal sphere would be restricted to non-financial influence such as the selection of Senators and members of the courts.
Harper’s concentration on the idea of returning Canada to a loose federation of decentralized political units is a political strategy. His objective is less government but with effective power concentrated in a highly centralized and powerful federal authority.
The Fathers of Confederation did not hold the identical views of what the new country should be. Joe is correct in saying that Sir John A. Macdonald had a vastly different view of Canada than Stephen Harper. Macdonald, as did Sir Charles Tupper, wanted a legislative union in which there would be no independent provinces. They were pragmatic politicians that realized they could never get the Lower Canadian delegates to agree to such a plan and were willing to compromise.
Harper’s view represents a radical realignment of Confederation and his version comes into direct conflict with the provinces. Here are three examples of how this realignment creates new levels of conflict between the federal power and the provinces.
The first example is the way the federal government is trying to pressure Ontario to cut corporate taxes. Flaherty has made two attempts to interfere in Ontario provincial politics: he has made a statement intended to discourage investors from investing in Ontario, and he has directly pressured Ontario to cut corporate taxes. Both of these are a direct interference by the federal government into areas of provincial concern but which under the realignment Harper supports would be federal.
The second example is the strings attached to federal infrastructure programs: federal funding contingent upon private sector participation. These strings are intended to push provinces into privatizing former public spaces through private public partnerships. They are designed to give private companies more power within the provinces and to privatize infrastructure such as highways, water and sewer systems, and port facilities. These transfer power from provincial governments to the private sector
The third, and most recent, example is the pressure placed on British Columbia to treat drug addiction as a criminal matter rather than a health issue. The appeal of the B.C. Supreme Court decision that places safe injections center under health care rather than the criminal code and the federal government’s decision to challenge the decision is the type of issue that will help define which takes priority.
Each issue illustrates Harper’s vision for Canada. It is a Canada with a powerful, highly centralized and focused federal government using its power to enforce a “free market” ideology on the provinces, empowering the private sector and as a result the most powerful economic players, and narrowing the options for most provinces by minimizing financial transfers.
..watching too much Lou Dobbs, obviously. Lou Dobbs, the republican that is so ashamed of G Dubya and his republicans right now he’s pretending to be an independant.
By slg on 06.03.08 3:58 pm
You may think as you please but I have been beating this drum for over two years now…I suppose you are going to support the party system because you are so pleased with the results!
In the meantime Stephane Dion’s lack of inaction shows us the type of leader he truly is. He yaps and yaps but has no principles, no stance on anything, and is man of NO actions.
By Catherine on 06.03.08 3:46 pm
Listen B o B, you think Harper has principles…LMAO…he is as dishonest as you can get…
By wjp on 06.03.08 1:42 pm
The only salvation for the voter in Canada is an independent government!
………………………………….
Why don’t you just admit that your fantasy about an “independent government” is only code for “unite the Left” …. because you, Oxley, Billy-M, others are so desperate knowing that Dion is depressing the Liberal party, you are now grasping at any straw, any twig, any string … to find some small solace in your desperation …LOL
Amazingly, I support the merging of the Liberals and NDP, but that will mean the NDP will have to accommodate all the privileged rich capitalist interests that pull the strings within the Liberal party, like those to whom Dion is indebted for his leadership campaign expenses .. and they ain’t your wholesome Canadians … but we know the NDP are just a bunch of political whores anyway …!!!
If the Liberals and NDP were to merge, do you think our MP Garth would return to the Tory fold .. him being a self-declared ‘fiscal conservative’…??!!!
I’d imagine Turner’s “landmark decision to trade being an Indie for being a Lib” has far more to do with funding his election campaign than defeating the Torie. Candidates running for a party have far more access to cash than those running as an Indie. Garth is all about Garth.
Ha, ha. I left $30,000 in the Halton Con bank account and inherited a Lib bank account with three Ritz crackers in it. You are quite the source of political knowledge. — Garth
Garth …. in today’s HoCs proceedings after Question Period, there was a vote on:
Concurrence in Committee Reports — Iraq War Resisters
Yeas — 137 (Liberals, NDP, BQ)
Nays — 110 (Conservative)
When the CPAC camera scanned the Liberal benches, they were full but I couldn’t spot you sitting behind Ignatieff. Were you there for that vote .. along with all the eager Liberal MPs showing up to save the Iraq war resisters mostly from the US (and most likely good Liberal voters too)..??!!!
How did you vote on that issue, and how does it affect the interests of your Halton constituents. It seems odd that most of the Liberal MPs showed up for this vote, yet they are unable to vote on the Budget & Immigration Bill .. misguided priorities maybe ..??!!!
Hi Janice, Catherine, Leasa & the rest of you neocons. You’re really getting antsy. Is it because even your con media is pointing out all the scandals that your saviours have comitted. Or could it be that Stevie’s, & the con poll numbers are the same as when Stevie was elected. And, by the way, you gals/guys are reaching for the stars.
This is off topic but still a most imoportant one.
Harper has to act quickly on this General Motors situation in Oshawa.
No politics, just reasoned evidenced based facts,a plan of action, and measurable results.
If the plant has to go why not give more notice before this happens. Oshawa needs time to adjust their local economy even though it will not be the same for a long time. GM is sure not the “General” my dad worked for.
Flaherty’s riding is almost on top of this GM plant.
Send in ‘the fixer’ Jim Prentice to see if he can sort this out or at least soften the terrible blow to the autoworker and their families.
Thank you Barb 12:55
All I did was reverse what the Cons. are doing to show how the Liberals can easily set the agenda for the next election and keep Harper on the defemsive. By mindlessly attacking the opposition all the time it is apparent the Cons. have no plan of their own except the core reform ideals. When reform first came out I was impressed until I realized that like the NDP outside of a few pet ideas they had no real plan for running the country. It sure shows today!!
If the liberals let people kick the tires on their platform over the summer then come fall going on attack and forcing Harper to defend every stupid piece of legislation he passed the last couple of years would actually have some positve effect because people already know there is a alternative. The best part is that the scandels can be kept simmering and only used to counter every time the cons. trot out the old lines about how bad the liberals were when in power.
As I said if they play it right and they have a solid cohessive platform the next election is the Librals to lose if they screw it up. The title Garth used was one shot and that is all they will get.
“If it were Mr. Harper or any CPC member, they would be charged under the current law for not repaying the debt on time.”
By Leasa on 06.03.08 7:12 am
If it had been the CPC leadership contenders that did not repay their debts, Elections Canada would have called the CBC, the liberal party and would have got the RCMP to accompany them as they “raided” their offices.
Wonder how much of an extension they will give to Dion and his rivals.
By Janice on 06.03.08 9:36 am
Ladies, please .
Read the rules concerning the debt and repayment instead of just regurgitating what you read on MY CAMPAIGN.
You are wrong on all accounts.
Nice try though.
I see Harry is stroking his poll(s) again. It is to laugh that Harry walks around accusing people of having blinders on when he himself wears heavy duty set and an accompanying set of rose coloured glasses.
In one breath Harry screams about the Liberals lust for power and the the very next breath scream about Liberal avoiding an election. That’s one very funny kind of lust.
I think Harry is actual terrified of an election, because all reliable polling data (on the riding level) shows that the CPC would only get 128 seats (maximum) and Liberals would get 108.
Harry can spout off about Liberal Party Brand power all he wants, yet in the end Harper is still unable to deliver a majority government.
Let the Conservative Government rot and decompose in the summer heat, let the people of Canada breath the summer smoggy air, let Canadians feel the economic down turn and in the heat of the fall, and the smog of September and October Canadians will be asking
1) Why is out economy tanking? Where is the surplus?
2) Where is our federal plan to combat environmental problems? Where is the money to get the job done?
Then stab the Conservative Government in the heart and take them down, we may even get a few Green MP into Ottawa this time around, and hopefully those Green seats will come at the cost of CPC seats (sweat justice that would be)
Gotta wedgie ‘tween my ears . . . ooohhh . . . . . aaahhhhh . . . feeling as if I’m evolving into a sexual mannequin . . . where’s that punishing slave driver hare-brained hairy when I need her?
Overwhelming urge to be lashed with a thousand wet noodles . . . oohhhhh . . . that’s SSSooooo good . . . . thanx hairy, I needed that!
You are useful for something after all!
****************************************
Where’s all that global warming when you need it?
By Janice on 06.03.08 3:05 pm
Don’t know.
Don’t drive anymore, so I don’t contribute any wotchamaycallits; I do fart, so one balances out the other; don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t do drugs, none of the stuff I used to, so I can’t help you.
My question to you is:
Have you contacted Clement to find out why CRAP is pushing so hard to get C-51 through?
Why does CRAP want to screw OAPs further, by putting a lot of them in the poorhouse, when it isn’t necessary?
After all you, I and plenty of others are headed toward CPP, OAS, GIS, etc. Garth’s book re: the coming retirement boondoggle in 2015 and beyond makes one well aware of that.
As Clement owns 25 per cent of Prudential Chem Inc., he — and most of CRAP — stand to gain substantially if it goes through.
Ball is in your court — answer at your earliest convenience.
****************************************
Bill-Muskoka, 4:01: Agreed — CRAP is the blind leading the blind, while they bamboozle the masses with their BS (until the election), so let the seagulls pick their carcasses after all is said and done!
****************************************
All women should live so long as to be this kind of old lady!
Toward the end of Sunday service, the Minister asked, ‘How many of you have forgiven your enemies?’
80% held up their hands.
The Minister then repeated his question.
All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.
‘Mrs. Neely?’; ‘Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?’
I don’t have any,’ she replied, smiling sweetly.
‘Mrs. Neely, that is very unusual. How old are you?’
‘Ninety-eight.’ she replied.
‘Oh, Mrs. Neely, would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the world?’
The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said:
‘I outlived the bitches.’
Flaherty’s riding is almost on top of this GM plant.
Send in ‘the fixer’ Jim Prentice to see if he can sort this out or at least soften the terrible blow to the autoworker and their families.
By Johnny on 06.03.08 5:23 pm
Johnny,
The GM Plant closing is primarily a provincial matter. While GM was given $453 Million (Provincial & Federal funds)in incentives, there were strings attached. I suggest you research those strings.
As to Flaherty’s riding. Well, golly gee…what a shame for the Master of Sham!
Why don’t you just admit that your fantasy about an “independent government” is only code for “unite the Left” …. because you, Oxley, Billy-M, others are so desperate knowing that Dion is depressing the Liberal party, you are now grasping at any straw, any twig, any string … to find some small solace in your desperation …LOL
Amazingly, I support the merging of the Liberals and NDP, but that will mean the NDP will have to accommodate all the privileged rich capitalist interests that pull the strings within the Liberal party, like those to whom Dion is indebted for his leadership campaign expenses .. and they ain’t your wholesome Canadians … but we know the NDP are just a bunch of political whores anyway …!!!
If the Liberals and NDP were to merge, do you think our MP Garth would return to the Tory fold .. him being a self-declared ‘fiscal conservative’…??!!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 4:52 pm
Obviously you small terrorist mind can’t work around the word “Independent”, let me help you, independents do not answer to anyone but their constituents, they do not have a party boss to tell them how to vote and think. The fact that a few people have seen a blinding glimpse of the obvious would be totally foreign to you because you are one of the sheeple!
If the Liberals and NDP were to merge, do you think our MP Garth would return to the Tory fold .. him being a self-declared ‘fiscal conservative’…??!!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 4:52 pm
Also wrong again Harry, the Liberals are more fiscally conservative than the CPC…please try to stay with the program!
Good afternoon,
Garth, do you know if the Liberal Party is prepared to prevent the passage of the Canadian DMCA, which might be introduced, tomorrow?
One quote says it all:
“Canada may be considering a ‘three strikes’ policy which could see users’ internet access privileges revoked for file sharing violations.”
Letting this bill pass could be a deal breaker for your party. I know it is for me.
Best,
-R
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2985/125/
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=559622
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/15996
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080602/1052111290.shtml
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/12/1744209
http://tinyurl.com/6ebj2g
By Johnny on 06.03.08 5:23 pm
Harper has to act quickly on this General Motors situation in Oshawa.
No politics, just reasoned evidenced based facts,a plan of action, and measurable results.
If the plant has to go why not give more notice before this happens. Oshawa needs time to adjust their local economy even though it will not be the same for a long time.
Send in Jim Prentice to see if he can sort this out or at least soften the terrible blow to the autoworker and their families.
……………………………………………………
I don’t think so, Johnny …. all those highly paid GM workers are on their own because the product they are building cannot be sold all because of ‘global warming’ according to Suzuki, May, Kyoto-UN.
These GM workers had very high paying jobs with fantastic fringe benefits, and it must be painful for them to lose it all. Since their leader Buzz Hargrove is a Liberal party member/insider, perhaps they are asking the wrong people for help. Do you think a Dion Liberal government will subsidize these GM jobs in factories that are producing nothing??
Maybe the CAW should negotiate down their wages if you want all other Canadians to kick in to save these GM jobs. Do you think the CAW should offer to accept a 50% wage cut to help GM compete building pickup trucks??
In reality, the GM workers are being used as political cannon fodder by the CAW attacking the Harper Conservative government, because they know their jobs cannot be saved nohow .. and you know that too so stop suggesting that Harper should ‘act quickly’, because that only exposes your devious political opportunism..!!
Hi Janice, Catherine, Leasa & the rest of you neocons. You’re really getting antsy. Is it because even your con media is pointing out all the scandals that your saviour & his dumb lap dogs have committed, e.g. Bernier. Or could it be that most of the polls have the cons at the same numbers as they were in ‘06. You just didn’t get it done. Stevie campaigned on transparancy, accountability & his govt., in lib & con papers is said to be the most secretive and less accountable govt. in Cdn history.
The girl who silenced the World at the United Nations for 5 minutes
A Cdn girl of 14 or 15 from Vancouver. Very impressive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0
Maybe you should read all the literature.
http://www.friendsofscience.org/index.php?id=393
By Janice on 06.03.08 4:27 pm
Sounds like the fundalmentalist preacher picking the scripture that fits his/her point! Meanwhile “sitz im lebem” is forgotten!
By Zorpheous on 06.03.08 5:31 pm
Whoa, easy there big boy .. I don’t want to see you burst an artery over your grim and desperate angst..!!!
Confidentially, Dion will have to take down the Harper government this or next week, or else his window of opportunity will have vanished until 2009 … either in February or October ‘09 .. and can you imagine the anger of Canadians if Dion precipitates an election in the dead of winter and preaching ‘global warming’ and his Green Plan #3 ..??!!!
Also, if Parliament is prorogued until October ‘08, and Dion tries to defeat the government then, it will mean a Xmas week election date !!! … I don’t think so …LOL
Perhaps we should all accept that the next election will be October 19, 2009 … and the only outstanding question is: Will Dion be able to survive as Liberal leader and force the Liberal MPs to abstain for another 15 months ..??!!!!
Capt. Richard Leary, Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, became the country’s 84th military death in Afghanistan.
At the going down of the Sun,
And in the Morning,
We shall remember Them.
This is off topic but still a most imoportant one.
Harper has to act quickly on this General Motors situation in Oshawa.
By Johnny on 06.03.08 5:23 pm
What exactly should Harper do?
GM is a poorly run company with an over priced, inferior product. Any losses to GM will be taken up with Honda, Mazda, et al.
GM was sinking long before Harper came on the scene. Now when reality hits its somehow the governments responsibility to fix it.
No, let the market get rid of poor performers and let the good ones succeed.
If it is such a “dictatorial government” why is it that Dion is avoiding an immediate election … is it because Canadians are comfortable with their new Conservative government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.. and 10% Dion knows he and his Liberals will get wiped out in an election …??!!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 2:29 pm
No, No, No Harry! Gave your head a shake. Mr. Dion is one smart cookie. He knows that by giving Harpoon & his court jesters just a little more rope, they will self-distruct all by themselves.
BTW Harry, where do you get your poll numbers from? Do you stay up all night(when your not posting here) making up the numbers? Just wondered.
Cheers,
In reality, the GM workers are being used as political cannon fodder by the CAW attacking the Harper Conservative government, because they know their jobs cannot be saved nohow .. and you know that too so stop suggesting that Harper should ‘act quickly’, because that only exposes your devious political opportunism..!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 5:46 pm
If they can claim the credit for the Ford expansion, I am sure they can do the same for GM…
What is wrong with you guys….pull the plug.
Garth
Off topic but I have given my advice on defeating the government.
Air quality getting worse in oilsands region: report
Hanneke Brooymans, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, June 02, 2008
EDMONTON – Air pollutants that are going down in most parts of Alberta are zooming upwards in the province’s oilsands region, according to recent government reports.
The worst of the pollutants, a poisonous gas called hydrogen sulphide, shows the most troublesome trend. Peak hydrogen sulphide concentrations have increased in the oilsands area by 30 to 175 per cent since 1999, says an Alberta Environment report. The compound has even occasionally exceeded the air quality guideline set by the government. Meanwhile, in most urban areas, these concentrations are declining.
Alberta Liberal environment critic David Swann said he’s not surprised air quality is deteriorating.
This is why we need a forward thinking plan other than the Conservative super energy plan.
This is an absolute traversidy of simple logic over greed.
From castanet.net at 11 am PST — no doubt that CRAP will be overjoyed by this, along with the 11,000 and more lumber jobs gone for good.
One cause — HIGH LOONIE. Keep in mind dimdumjim’s “a strong dollar is good”, etc. Well, it working fer sure!
More jobs lost in Penticton
by Dean Unger
Another major employer is closing in the Okanagan. The Excell Services call centre in Penticton is closing its doors after seven years of service.
The closure will mark the third call centre closure in the Okanagan, following Sitel and Marusa, putting hundreds of people looking for another job.
“We regret the need to close the Penticton Centre,“ says Excell spokesperson Amy Wolfcale. “However the demands of our businesses in North America are requiring us to centralize our operations in areas with a much larger pool of potential staff members than Penticton can offer.”
The company says it plans to offer approximately 200 affected employees help in trying to secure other employment (fat chance).
Critics say the high Canadian dollar is also to blame.
At one point the company employed over 600 people, and put millions of dollars into the local economy.
The U.S. based company will close its doors in October (just in time for Xmas).
By kpn on 06.03.08 5:47 pm
Hi KPN, no I’m not regurgitating anything from a CPC perspective. If you read what I wrote you will see I’ve pasted the actual law governing Elections Canada. The only question that remains is; will E.C. skirt their own laws to support the LPC? Are they partisan? That, my dear, has nothing to do with the CPC. Leasa
Thanks for the link Markus. That article very much covered the sentiment of my missing post from yesterday. I’m glad at least a couple others here are paying attention (I include Rob Wiebe in this, as I note that he too has mentioned the Copyright Act in a few posts).
Wow KPN, did your “mine is bigger than yours” post ever give me an instant flash-back to another time when Baird relied on props to somehow support his point (Conservatives and their props: even people are fair-game, reduced to the level of 2-dimensional backdrop).
The date was November 2000, and one John Baird, Provincial Social Services Minister under the Mike Harris “compassionate-conservative, hand-up-instead-of-hand-out, [
enter favourite slogan here]” government, holds a press conference, luridly holds up a fistful of hypodermic needles, and declares that those “who refuse treatment or who won’t take tests on request will lose their benefits“. This was in reference to new dignity-excoriating mandatory drug testing provisions that broad-brush cast welfare recipients as lowlife scum who either concede to testing or starve. Another fine moment in the annals of forging Conservative policy.Loved it!! Van Loan got caught telling lies about campaign debt repayments.
Goodale called him on it by reading the act itself where candidates only have to file their repayment schedules.
And they can take as long as necessary to repay.
Van Loan looked a little red-faced–had no comeback for Ralph.
Looked good on Van Loan–isn’t he a lawyer?? Doesn’t he read the whole document before quoting its intent?
What a jerk.
Gentleman seems to have good pedigree. Quote:
“Soros himself is no stranger to market speculation, having made a profit of around $1bn in 1992 betting that the UK government would be unable to keep sterling within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.”
http://tinyurl.com/3efnpk
****************************************
To boot, sales of SPAM contine to rise as food prices have gone through the roof.
Tinned meat is in vogue again — SPAM is no longer the domain of MPFC!
As I said in a post a couple of days ago, the time to defeat the government is now. I now have to add that the Carbon idea had better be good, damn good. And understandable by the average person on the street.
By Harry S on 06.03.08 5:46 pm
What a hateful person you are.
Have you ever been loved ?
By keith phibbs on 06.03.08 5:28 pm
Thanks keith! I was pretty sure Leasa and Janice were blowing smoke about debt repayment, and I was right! They’re just parroting PP LePew Pollievre, read about it here:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080603/national/dion_debt_tories
Nice try but no cigar.
Further to what Garth posted several days ago — a 3 bdrm., 1 bath home on a 40′ x 140′ lot selling for six hundred and fifty US dollars — this reinforces that some places are down, while others, such as Boston are holding steady . . .
http://tinyurl.com/6bxwkv
****************************************
. . . and in The Hamptons . . .
http://tinyurl.com/3v6ca6
The ultra right-wing nutcase yahoos are sure enjoying their day in the sun!
BY WILLIAM DAHL 06.02.08 11:38 PM
and WILLIAM DAHL 06.03.08 5:26 PM
William,
Your first post from last evening at 11:38 is quite thorough, with perfect logic. It’s very constructive. I hope Garth reads it. Have you emailed it directly to him or the Liberal Party? Detailed and timing included!
“By September shift gears to a “bring back our Canada campaign” to undo all the bad legislation passed by Harper. Imagine what the response will be announcing that you will uphold the accountability act – followed by appointing all party panel for hiring and put EVERY position filled with cons – hacks since the legislation was passed up for competition again!!!
Anyway, bravo, I do hope your ideas are heard.
~Barb
up to save the Iraq war resisters mostly from the US (and most likely good Liberal voters too)..??!!!
By Harry S on 06.03.08 5:01 pm
Harry, think before you shoot…. you have to be a Canadian Citizen to vote!
Harry, think before you shoot…. you have to be a Canadian Citizen to vote!
By James- Chatham on 06.03.08 7:42 pm
Harry the terrorist, thinking before speaking is an oxymoron…
GM was sinking long before Harper came on the scene. Now when reality hits its somehow the governments responsibility to fix it.
No, let the market get rid of poor performers and let the good ones succeed.
By Janice on 06.03.08 6:03 pm
Are you in favour or against reciprocal trades with India, China nad Japan as it relates to automobile companies?
My arms look like I’ve been through a blackberry hedge
By kpn on 06.03.08 4:06 pm
I tried planting some of my vegetable garden this afternoon
BY C. B. INNES ON 06.03.08 4:25 PM
C. B.,
It rained all day in Calgary 10C – no planting today
So I booked a trip to Niagara with my big sis in St. Thomas
KPN,
Sounds like a wonderful day, with birds, gardens..
I am watching your video. Very, very moving..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0
BY KPN ON 06.03.08 5:47 PM
Thanks for that.
~Barb
I don’t think so, Johnny …. all those highly paid GM workers are on their own because the product they are building cannot be sold all because of ‘global warming’ according to Suzuki, May, Kyoto-UN.
By Harry S on 06.03.08 5:46 pm
To quote Mr. Bumble in “Oliver!” … ” Too much meat, Ma’am!”
Harry, you’re really having a bad day. Kyoto, Suzuki (David, although the auto manufacturer might), May, global warming or any other cockamamy reason you can think of, have nothing to do with the Oshawa truck plant closing.
The product they make are the extended cab. trucks. Gas guzzlers to be sure, and with the cost of gas increasing, nobody wants them.
Add to that the main market is the US, which has been hit by the mortgage crisis and credit squeeze… the market for these beasts has dried up.
Note they are also closing a plant that makes the giant Suburban and Tahoe’s. They are also looking a selling Hummer. Don’t know which company in its right mind would by it as the demand for the product is next to none existant! Did you know the #1 complain about the Hummer from the owners is the mileage, or lack thereof? Duh!
While I can understand GM’s decision, I do have to wonder why they announced it two week after signing a contract with the CAW. Surely, they must have known, GM management that is, that the plant was on the block. Either that or they are managing by the seat of their pants with absolutely no future vision for the company. The latter has been seen previously from their statements a few years back that big gas guzzlers were the vehicles Noth Americans wanted.
Either way, governments, that have provided subsidies to GM, must demand those subsidies be repaid.
Garth, I’ve never voted any party other than Liberal, provincially and federally since I’ve been old enough to vote(for 30 years). I’ve volunteered in the last 4 federal and 2 provincial elections. I’m on the executive of my Liberal riding. This is the first time I’ve ever contemplated not voting in an election but if Dion does not bring this government down before the summer I will very likely not vote. I am so, so, so sick of this that I haven’t even been watching politics or reading the paper lately. I don’t care what the polls say or what his advisers say, he HAS to bring down Harper and leave it to the people of Canada to decide if they want to regain our badly damaged reputation and fix the mess Harper’s created the past 2 plus years. Conservative supporters will NEVER change and he is pissing off a lot of Liberal supporters and possibly turning them away because he is allowing this terrible, incompetent bunch of arrogant, bullies to ruin Canada.
Each issue illustrates Harper’s vision for Canada. It is a Canada with a powerful, highly centralized and focused federal government using its power to enforce a “free market” ideology on the provinces, empowering the private sector and as a result the most powerful economic players, and narrowing the options for most provinces by minimizing financial transfers.
By C. B. Innes on 06.03.08 4:40 pm
Either way that you look at it, if what you or Joe surmise comes true then I would infer that Harper would be well on his way to selling us out.
First on the list of commercializing a public entity would be our health care and that would be a huge loss to Canadians.
And as we speak, Big Pharma is doing it’s best to capture the rest of the untapped drug market with Bill C51 and I continue to be active against that bill.
On a bigger scale, all Canadians better stand on guard because the powers that be in the US want Western Canada in a big way and believe me, they couldn’t give a damn about the rest of the country . You don’t have oil and water.
Harper has in no way convinced me that he will serve the citizens by putting our priorities before those of the corp elite.
I agree when you say that they are a party of contradictions but somehow I get the impression that they know what they want and we aren’t in those plans.
Hope you have all your ducks in a row.
[by kpn on 06.03.08 5:47 pm - - Hi KPN - - I’ve pasted the actual law governing Elections Canada - - only question that remains is will E.C. skirt their own laws to support the LPC? Are they partisan?]
BY LEASA ON 06.03.08 6:44 PM
~Hi Leasa, I don’t know if Bonnie is around, but I recall a post of hers telling us how highly regarded Elections Canada is around the world, and if you could only know how well run and respected they are, etc., etc. I wish I could find her post, but she made it pretty clear that E.C. is about as non-partisan as you could get, and from what I’ve heard over time, I tend to believe that.
Did you see the video in her earlier post called, “The girl who silenced the world..” anyway, from the mouths of children, we should all take the 5 minutes to see it.
I’d imagine the optics of closing 3 U.S. plants and not touching Canada would be enough in itself to push the decision for GM. Shuttering 3 U.S. plants and shipping Canadian-built trucks to the U.S. market would raise a lot of controversy in the U.S.
Read it and weep folks, this is what the Liberals are upholding. Election please.
Redefining the word “humane.”
Submitted by pale on June 3, 2008 – 3:11pm.
Omar Khadr. The only western prisoner in Guantanamo. The only one whose Government is too gutless, and complicit with the Bush war crimes administration, to get him out of there. The Conservatives say they have assurances that Mr Khadr is being treated “humanely”.
In one untouched passage, Mr. Khadr recalls how, at age 16, he was used as a mop after he’d been cuffed in various contorted positions for at least an hour, and urinated on himself and the floor.
“Military police poured pine oil on the floor and on me. And then, with me lying on my stomach with my hands and feet cuffed together behind me, the military police dragged me back and forth through the mixture of urine and pine oil on the floor.”
Wow, thats some example for the Bush admins definition of humane the Cons are accepting unthinkingly.
Of course Mr Khadr could be lying. I mean, hes one of them skeery brown people. Sins of the father and all’o'that biblical bullshit……
It emerged last week that one of Mr. Khadr’s main interrogators at the Bagram centre had been involved in the interrogation of another detainee who died there less than five months after the Canadians arrival.
The interrogator — identified as Sgt. Joshua Claus of military intelligence – was later charged along with 14 other U.S. soldiers at Bagram with prisoner abuse, and after pleading guilty to maltreatment and assault, he was sentenced to five months in jail in 2006.
You think that Sgt Claus, was being nice? (Now that is a bizarre name for such a monster eh?) I would say not, but since the Cons seem to have such a different idea, we really need to discuss what this new Conservative definition of “humane” is.
Withholding medical treatment, is not humane. This has been documented in other accounts from Guantanamo.
Officials also list Mr. Khadr’s myriad health problems: He has no vision in his left eye and his right eye is deteriorating because of shrapnel embedded in the eye’s membrane. He still has shrapnel in his right shoulder, and it causes the metal detectors at the prison camp to go off.
A conviction by Bush’s cruel court like construct is pretty much inevitable. The Judges will be replaced until they do as they are told. Evidence will be withheld because it clearly shows there is little to no validity to the trumped up charges. Omar Khadr has been beaten, tortured and left without medical care for some very horrendous injuries. And according to this Government, that is Humane.
There are opinions that say that this minority government won’t act because of some grudge against the family of Omar Khadr. I am not one to believe that we are always the same as our families. I know my own background, and except for a rather dark sense of humour and a penchant for butter laden foods, I am not like them.
We all have the ability to change and to become our own people, with our own strengths and morals.
Omar Khadr is “salvageable” and a “good kid,” but a prolonged detention at Guantanamo Bay could turn the Canadian into a radical, say the U.S. soldiers who guard him.
His guards describe him as a “likable, funny and intelligent young man,” according to documents from Foreign Affairs, which also state the 21-year-old hopes Canada will get him out of the U.S.-run detention centre in Cuba.
Like I have said, they have no intention that Omar Khadr will ever see release. So they really won’t care about the above statement.
But, just for a moment, let’s consider Steve and his Neocon cronies are correct: If we are solely the product of where we come from, what does that say about the parents of those so willing to ignore the plight of Omar Khadr? What was their definition of “humane?”
Good thing that society doesn’t think that way.
It just maybe our US friends are thinking that its time to take home the companies with the high paying jobs, as in the example of GM Oshawa.
The Americans need to do what they can to defend their economy.
Interesting to see how our governments will deal with that one.
We have somewhat closed borders with the Americans, changing trade agreements, so now just where do our defence agreements stand now?
These kinds of things are the true test of governments.
As I said earlier this should not be a political matter nor turned into one.
The contradictions that arise as the new Conservatives try to follow the Harper ideology are becoming quite evident — strings are intended to push provinces into — private public partnerships — designed to give private companies more power within the provinces and to privatize infrastructure such as highways, water and sewer systems, and port facilities. These transfer power from provincial governments to the private sector
BY C. B. INNES 06.03.08 4:40 PM
Interesting clip C. B. and of course, this is the classic Harper plan, always working toward this, as made clear by studying his formative years and the men and strategists he has worked with over all this time out here in Calgary. Everyone here knows it, I can’t figure out why it’s such a mystery to people elsewhere. You can find it all in black and white.
Too bad Harper doesn’t wake up or admit the jury is in. Privatization is the problem, and definitely not the solution. Globalization even worse. Yet they forge ahead. It’s as if they are stuck in a time warp of old, and really bad ideas. Their reasons can only be speculated on, but whatever they intend, no one can see any good come of privatization, at least not for the majority of the people.
One can only conclude if they are not stupid or naive, then the agenda has an unsavory taste and not in the best interests of joe canada, middle class, or anyone who has seen the affects and lack of concern for people.. by corporations. That’s why all the negativity. It all just doesn’t smell good in the face of new facts, and the obvious.. that big business ultimately is not a good citizen, and big business doesn’t care about citizens the way real public citizens do. And they don’t behave well.
Thanks for posting that, seems like good insight.
Irene … I’m surprised you don’t recognized Dion’s muzzling of Liberal MPs when he forces them to abstain on confidence votes. Surely this is a much greater insult to democracy than any of you fantasies about a “dictatorial government”.
By Harry S on 06.03.08 2:29 pm
The wannabe shock jock strikes again by lecturing Irene on what constitutes an insult.
The little self-proclaimed ratsh*t citizen can take credit for the greatest insult of all and to this day he cowardly hides behind his aka and bottle of vodka.
“provisions that broad-brush cast welfare recipients as lowlife scum who either concede to testing or starve. Another fine moment in the annals of forging Conservative policy.
BY DUBE ON 06.03.08 6:49 PM”
And Dube, it’s amazing, their utter contempt for those less fortunate.
Your comment immediately reminded too of Harper explaining to the scary CNP that “Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it”
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/
Leasa and Janice parroting Pollievre, and spouting untruths regarding leadership debt repayment. Read this:
Scores of Conservatives haven’t repaid their election debts!
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080603/national/dion_debt_tories
By Markus D. on 06.03.08 9:37 am
By Dube on 06.03.08 6:47 pm
Completely agree, gentlemen. Michael Geist is reporting that the Canadian Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) may be introduced, tomorrow.
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2989/125/
Numerous Web media are reporting on this possibility, too. And apparently, Canada is also considering a “three strikes, you’re off the Internet policy.”
I truly hope the Liberal Party stands up on this file. It’s my deal breaker, and perhaps that of many other Canadians, as well.
-R
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2915/125/
http://www.p2pnet.net/story/15836
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/12/1744209
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080602/1052111290.shtml
http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=121&csid2=844&fid1=31451
..will result in the LP rah rah partisans attacking me…but, that’s part of the fun
BY LEASA ON 06.03.08 7:12 AM
Hi Leasa,
I don’t see it that way. There are jerks on all sides, and they can have each other. When I see an interesting comment or surprising new information, etc., or good humour I want to acknowledge that. But when we see mean-spirited attacks.. if we tallied who’s doing what… IMO the deliberateness of the attacks from the con trolls far outweigh..
Mr. Harper, studied, does not have a ‘good’ agenda. The big picture tells all.
Mr. Dion doesn’t do that phony ‘putting himself wherever the spotlight is shining’ like Harper does.. and for that reason, Canadians don’t know Dion yet. I’ve asked my best friends.. Calgary Conservatives all, and they are all disturbed by Harper.
There’s a hearty wall of disdain for Harper, so if you delight in dancing on that wall, that’s not some Lib being partisan…. that is a Canadian Citizen being mad as hell. Don’t you think so?
Baird showed the same ‘efficiency’ when placed in charge of Treasury Board and instructed to start cutting. Aside from his attacks on one of the checks-and-balances of democracy, removal of the Court Challenges program, he also cut funding to palliative care research. Given the unfortunate circumstances of those affected, I guess the prospective votes from that sector were seen as limited.
NDP – just as devious & corrupt as – conservative government – in cahoots with CON government from day one – Lets quiting playing armchair politics – let the ones in the know deal with what has to happen – before they take them down
BY IRENE ON 06.03.08 1:17 PM
Great post, I agree 100% (& your summary was fun)
I had been patience until this week, so I needed a little push back to patience, and the great comments today have done that.
Thanks.
By Patricia on 06.03.08 8:02 pm
This is the first time I’ve ever contemplated not voting in an election but if Dion does not bring this government down before the summer I will very likely not vote. I am so, so, so sick of this that I haven’t even been watching politics or reading the paper lately. I don’t care what the polls say or what his advisers say, he HAS to bring down Harper and leave it to the people of Canada to decide …
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Wow, Patricia, …. let me explain the logistic situation that Dion and the Liberals face concerning an election.
Dion will have to take down the Harper government this or next week, or else his window of opportunity will have vanished until 2009 … either in February or October ‘09 .. and can you imagine the anger of Canadians if Dion precipitates an election in the dead of winter and preaching ‘global warming’ and his Green Plan #3 ..??!!!
If Parliament is prorogued until October ‘08, and Dion tries to defeat the government then, it will mean a pre-Xmas election date !!! … I don’t think so …!!!
Perhaps we should all accept that the next election will be October 19, 2009 as mandated … and the only outstanding question is: Will Dion be able to survive as Liberal leader and force the Liberal MPs to abstain for another 15 months ..??!!!!
I’m sorry to have to explain this to you, but you had better be prepared for another 15 months of Harper Conservative government, and if Dion is forced to support it by abstention, you should just think of it as a Conservative-Liberal coalition government. Who know … maybe by October 2009, Dion’s personal popularity may have doubled from 10% to 20%.
Garth I’ve always respected you and your convictions (and I own all your books) but IMHO your party under your leader is basically unelectable. Say what you want about the current government (and you certainly have), a compelling case for electing the Liberals has just not resonated with Canadians. So Canadians, risk-averse that we are (and absent some catastrophe), will likely choose the devil we know over the one we don’t. Most people, I think, will concede that life has been far from terrible under the current government.
The Liberals have had many opportunities over the last two+ years to bring down the government and force an election and have chosen not to do so. Canadians HAVE been paying attention and what we see is a weak-kneed leader full of indignant puffery and little else. Nice guy, inclusive, obviously intelligent, but his message isn’t hitting home for whatever reason. Meanwhile, your party sits on its hands and doesn’t even fulfill its role as Official Opposition.
So go on and continue to assert an election will be called any minute now. Those of us who are actually paying attention know better.
the prospective votes from that sector were seen as limited
BY DUBE ON 06.03.08 9:56 PM
Ouch..but true, no doubt THEY DO look at it that way
Liberals say no election this summer</b?
Tue Jun 3, 2008
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian politicians and voters can relax this summer, as the main opposition Liberal Party plans to prevent a federal election.
The minority Conservative government, elected in January 2006, can in theory fall at any time, but the Liberals have kept them in power and made it clear on Tuesday they would continue to do so for the next few months at least.
“I would prefer to not be in a situation where Canadians would not have to vote in the middle of July. I don’t think they would appreciate that,” Liberal leader Stephane Dion told reporters.
If the government were to fall now, it would mean an election on July 14. The House is scheduled to adjourn on June 20 until September 15, making late October the earliest possibility for an election after the summer break.
Dion on Monday said he was more inclined to force an election than he was some months ago, but the Liberals have been hesitant to go up against a better-organized and richer Conservative Party, especially as they trail in the polls.
If the Conservatives are not brought down, the next election will be in October 2009.
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Sounds like the fat lady is singing, Garth … and her name is Stephanie … so keep yer lawn signs in yer garage, Garth because you most likely won’t need them until 2009 …!!!
BTW … would you prefer an election in February ‘09 or October ‘09 …???!!!!
Irene … I’m surprised you don’t recognized Dion’s muzzling of Liberal MPs when he forces them to abstain on confidence votes. Surely this is a much greater insult to democracy than any of you fantasies about a “dictatorial government”.
By Harry S on 06.03.08 2:29 pm
Harry, you just don’t get it do you? I wouldn’t be running Mr. Dion down if I were you. He actually discusses his strategy with all is caucus before any vote is taken. Every one is given a chance to voice their opinion as to whether they agree or disagree with his plan. Can you say with all honesty that Harpy does the same in his caucus? I think not.
That really rubs you the wrong way hey Harry? Aren’t you just a little bit envious? Be truthful now.
In all honesty, Mr. Dion has a lot more going for him than Harpy & his entire caucus & that’s a given. I suspect a lot more brains as well. I am really surprised that you have never noticed how your doctorial leader has absolutely no trust in any of his MP’s as to their ability in answering questions asked by the Media or the probable fact that he tells all his MP’s what & what not to not say if confronted by the media or else. Or that he cuts & runs when the going gets tough. I’m surprised that his MP’s are still supporting him considering his total dis-trust in them. Are you one of them Harry?
BTW Harry, you didn’t answer my question as to where you get your polls from. Are you by any chance taking instructions from “The Man” on how not to answer questions? Never mind Harry. I will be out of town for the next 3 weeks visiting with my ailing mother in Manitoba so I will probably miss your response anyway.
Regards,
By Johnny on 06.03.08 5:23 pm
You would think that you Liberal greenies would be rejoicing that big trucks and hummers are passe and should no longer be manufactured! And think that if Stephane Dion’s Carbon Tax was ever implemented – it will probably kill more manufacturing jobs in Ontario. Of course, the jobs will move to China, where Liberal’s Maurice Strong is pulling all the Liberal strings.
[
I posted this one around 9:00 PM last night but it did not appear. If the earlier one eventually does show up, please excuse the duplication.]I particularly like how the “Friends of Science” have tailored their information by employing only an 18 year snapshot to base their conclusions on. If you’ve ever done trend analysis, you will recognize the lack of merit in that trick. Within a long term trend, one will often find smaller cycles that cause variation within the immediate vicinity of a particular point along the trend, otherwise our seasonal temperature changes would be as smooth as a sine wave, and you’d put the Farmer’s Almanac to shame by how accurately you could predict a temperature on any given date. More data=better conclusions.
So here we have the “Friends Of Science” snapshot:
http://www.friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/FOS%20Essay/GlobalTroposphereTemperaturesAverage.jpg
And here we have the longer 120 year trend, produced by the US National Climatic Data Center, as listed on the Environmental Protection Agency website:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/550d4b46b29f68a6852568660081f938/85256d7a00686a5a85256bfe0057a2be/Body/0.154A!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif
Like the first one, there’s lots of ups and downs in that latter one too. But the overall trend is upward.
I guess the US counterpart to Minister Baird should have put a tighter clamp on the EPA, as was done here to Environment Canada, insisting that all information first be vetted by the Executive Branch’s PMO-equivalent before being released to the public.
Catty,
you’ve only mentioned Maurice Strong. When are you moving up the rest of the Unholy Trinity that neandercons blame for all evil, Trudeau and Michael Moore?
KPN – not sure if you’ll end up reading this but what I meant was to vote Libertarian for their platform, not throw away your vote on a fringe party. The Libertarian platform is all about less government, their views are more extreme than I would like and would never want them to have the majority but if they had a few seats I think it would help the country stay in check. They are all about reducing the size and influence of the government. Google them and read up, it’s quite informative.
By Catherine on 06.04.08 4:03 am
Your anonimity only gets you so far. Caution to those that make wreckless claims.
After watching the press conference with the Union Brothers yesterday, I noted that it is about building the new HYBRID. Where the FIRST one was put together. In the leading plant in the company. They are challenging GM to try to remove one part of that vehicle from their plant. To build in Mexico. Or Korea or China. They have many valid, well-expressed points on which to rest their case. You GO Brothers and Sisters. I for one, am with you.
to Harry, Please don’t patronize me Harry as you do with so many on this blog. I have a right to express my opinion to Garth without your “explanations”!!! I would be more than happy to vote in July if it means getting rid of this incompetent government. Your comments are not necessary nor are they appreciated.
By Janice on 06.03.08 4:27 pm
Re Where’s global warming…? and Friends of Science.
Friends of Science have about the same concern for truth in science as pedophiles have concern for the welfare of children.
The Libertarian platform is all about less government, their views are more extreme than I would like and would never want them to have the majority but if they had a few seats I think it would help the country stay in check. They are all about reducing the size and influence of the government. Google them and read up, it’s quite informative.
By Dan on 06.04.08 8:07 am ,
Remember that libertarianism is a believe in what is called the “democracy of the marketplace” in which power is removed from the voter to the most powerful private enterprises.
We already have many libertarians in various political parties as their are left wing libertarians and right wing libertarians (e.g. Maxime Bernier). Stephen Harper is close to libertarian in his economic views.
In my opinion, we need to reform the system to give the electorate more influence and power, not less.
Given the ongoing disasters in the U.S. financial market; savings and loans, Enron, Tyco and others, the current subprime meltdown I’d love to see someone make a case that the “marketplace” should be given unfettered freedom to work. To me the scandal is how the various mechanisms meant to impose a little control have been steamrolled. Who will ultimately be held responsible for the hundreds of billions, at a minimum, that has evaporated?
By Patricia on 06.04.08 10:16 am
to Harry, Please don’t patronize me Harry as you do with so many on this blog. I have a right to express my opinion to Garth without your “explanations”!!! I would be more than happy to vote in July if it means getting rid of this incompetent government. Your comments are not necessary nor are they appreciated.
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Well please accept my apology for ‘patronizing’ you if that’s what you feel about my posting to you.
How would you feel if the next federal election were held on the mandated October 19, 2009 ..??
Would that be unpalatable for you, or would you accept that in a democratic fashion??