Mega Media Mania . . . .

Concerned about "Big Media"?

Me too.

Go.

Read.

Tell your friends . . . .

Canada, Mean ? ? ? ?

Yesterday Slate published an excellent piece by Christopher Flavelle summarizing the state of today's Canadian politics. Thanks to our friend IP at Idealistic Pragmatist for pointing us to it. Read the whole article here.

What's the Matter With Canada?

How the world's nicest country turned mean.
By Christopher Flavelle - Friday, Sept. 12, 2008

Last Sunday, news came that Canada—sensible, quiet, some would even say boring Canada—will hold an election on Oct. 14, its third in four years. Those outside the country may wonder what the problem is; in Canada, after all, health care is free, the dollar is strong, same-sex marriage is legal, and the government had the good sense to stay out of Iraq. You might think of Canada as the un-America, where the only debate ought to be whether to spend the country's growing oil wealth on faster snowmobiles, bigger hockey rinks, or Anne Murray box sets.

But beneath the calm exterior, Canada's political system is in turmoil. Since 2004, a succession of unstable minority governments has led to a constant campaign frenzy, brutalizing Canada's once-broad political consensus and producing a series of policies at odds with the country's socially liberal, fiscally conservative identity. Canada is quietly becoming a political basket case, and this latest election may make things even worse.

Just scan the headlines. In June, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned that Canada—for years the only G8 country to post regular budget surpluses—was likely to fall into deficit this year, thanks to a reckless cut to the national sales tax. In February, the government proposed denying funding to films and TV shows whose content it deemed "not in the public interest," sparking cries of censorship from a sector that has historically received public support. In 2007, a member of the governing Conservative Party proposed a bill that would reopen the debate over abortion, a topic that governments both liberal and conservative have avoided for decades.

Please read the whole article. I know, I know, what does a USian writer know about Canadian politics? Read it. You'll see.

And then, those of you that can vote, please do.

Those of us that can't are depending on you . . . .

stevie Can't Be Bothered . . . .

Apparently, King stevie is just too busy pursuing his majority government (Horrors!) to take care of small items like legal proceedings he initiated.


From the Globe and Mail this evening:

Harper seeks delay in hearing over Cadman libel suit


TIM NAUMETZ - The Canadian Press

September 12, 2008 at 5:09 PM EDT

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Stephen Harper wants a judge to put off a hearing in his $3.5-million defamation suit against the Liberal party that is scheduled to be held during the federal election campaign.

Mr. Harper's lawyers filed an “emergency” motion for an adjournment with Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland, court officials said Friday.

It is expected that Richard Dearden, Mr. Harper's lawyer, will argue Mr. Harper's campaign schedule prevents him from paying close attention to the legal details of the lawsuit he filed over an allegation that Conservatives attempted to bribe a terminally ill MP in 2005.

The move came at the same time lawyers for the Liberal party filed their own motion with Judge Hackland asking him to order Mr. Harper to produce documents which Mr. Dearden has failed to provide, despite promises to do so.

Come on, stevie.

You started the petty proceedings.

The least you can do is fulfil what's expected of you.

Jerk . . . .

Protest Photos . . . .

"drf" and I attended the first of probably many more protest rallies in Vancouver today.

The event today was to protest our local provincial government's policies. Led by LINO* gordon campbell, this bunch is one of the more arrogant political organizations I've ever seen - north or south of the 49th parallel.

Signs Distributed by the BC Federation of Labour

The Crowd

More of the Crowd

The Trucks Converging on the City

Some of the 75 Trucks that Participated

Global TV Reporter Interviewing Attendees

The Back of Federal NDP MP Candidate Michael Byers
(Yay, Michael ! ! ! ! )

Vision Vancouver Parks Board Candidate Aaron Jasper

(Yay, Aaron ! ! ! ! )

I actually got to speak with Michael Byers on his way out of the rally and got an update on his progress. Great guy, and needs your support to make it to Ottawa . . . .

*Liberal in Name Only

Michael Byers for Vancouver Centre MP . . . .

With all the talk of stevie harper calling an election soon, it's time to come clean on who Your's Truly is supporting.

Hedy Fry, Liberal, is a fine MP for the community, but we need a stronger, clearer voice in Parliament to combat harper's destruction of the Canada we moved to. That candidate is Michael Byers of the NDP.

This is his website, and today's post by Michael summarizes the urgency of the situation. If you haven't read it, his book "Intent for a Nation: What is Canada For?" is an excellent read.

Please consider supporting Michael Byers if you are in the riding.

Although we aren't able to vote yet with our Permanent Resident status, we will be volunteering on the campaign and hope to see you there . . . .

Soap Star stevie . . . .

Our illustrious(?) Prime Minister appears to be taunting the illustrious(?) Leader of the Liberal Party into an early election.

From today's Globe and Mail:

Harper mulling whether to call election
THE CANADIAN PRESS August 19, 2008

HAMILTON, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will spend the “next few weeks” contemplating whether to call an election.

Mr. Harper, in Hamilton for a health-care funding announcement, said Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is balking at toppling the minority Conservatives because he's worried about the polls.

_______________


Mr. Harper said he will spend the next few weeks analyzing the situation and determining whether the Tories can have a productive fall session of Parliament.

_______________


"The next election has not been scheduled until October of 2009 and — who knows? — Mr. Dion may wish to wait longer than that," Mr. Harper said at a barbecue to kick off a two-day swing through Southern Ontario.

"I have to say this has really become quite a soap opera."

Well now, stevie.

Even though you obviously have the wardrobe for one, we can't quite call this situation a soap opera, can we?

At least in a soap opera, the viewers (public) can vote with their pocket book and switch your dog-and-pony show off.

With you in the PM's office, you pretty much have carte blanche to single-handedly destroy Canada's image around the world and annihilate our values.

Even All My Children doesn't have that much power . . . .

Immigration Policy, Dion & Confidence . . . .

As a "newbie" Canadian I am finding it more and more difficult to understand the Opposition's role in federal government.

From todays Globe and Mail:

Dion blasts Tories' immigration proposals

GLORIA GALLOWAY - April 1, 2008

OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion blasted the Conservative government yesterday over proposed immigration changes that he says will tell many hopeful immigrants they simply “need not apply.”

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper taunted the Liberals for panning legislation they will ultimately have to support if they want to stave off an election. And he said his government is merely trying to deal with a massive backlog of potential immigrants who wait years to fill necessary jobs.

“It is unfair to immigrants, unfair to Canada,” Mr. Harper said. “That is why it is a confidence measure. That is why it is a part of the budget and we appreciate the support of the Liberals to that goal.”

Mr. Dion does not dispute the fact that he and his party may, once again, find themselves backing away from a fight rather than taking on Mr. Harper in an election campaign.

Instead, he said, the Liberals could allow the measures to pass and then try to undo them if they eventually regain office.

“Each time that we vote against something without triggering an election, it's a marker,” he said. “That means that when we will be the government with the help of Canadians, we'll change these bad policies by much better policies.” (Emphasis mine - Ed.)

Personally, a "marker" doesn't seem to change the status quo. Isn't it about time the Liberals actually performed like an opposition party and joined with the Bloc and NDP to bring down the Tory government? What am I missing here?

(While we're on the topic of Canadian politics: What's with the parties arbitrarily appointing someone to run for office in a riding even if they don't reside there? I can't quite grasp that practise, either. But I digress . . . . )

Statistics available on Immigration Canada's own website show that 50 per cent of all applications from skilled workers are processed within 36 months. In the Americas, 80 per cent of all applications from hopeful immigrants are processed in a little over two years.

Other government statistics show that the queues are concentrated in a small number of places. Someone who currently applies to immigrate to Canada from New Delhi will wait 12.8 years. In Manila, the wait is 11.9 years, and in Bogota the wait is 16.5 years.

But those processing times are far above average.

Someone applying to permanently enter Canada from Warsaw or Buffalo, for instance, will have to wait just 1.8 years.

As someone who recently gained Permanent Resident status I find it intriguing that Dion and Company may use this topic to lay down a "marker".

Should be quite interesting to follow this one to the end result.

Let's see if concrete actions match the political rhetoric . . . .

Dissension in the Ranks ? ? ? ?

This news is just devastating too bad, isn't it?

From CTV today:

Accord dispute creates dissent in Harper cabinet

Updated Mon. Jun. 11 2007 10:10 PM ET - CTV.ca News Staff

CTV News has learned a weekend letter on the Atlantic Accord dispute has left Prime Minister Stephen Harper facing a major cabinet split.

Sources say that Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay feels blindsided by the letter to the editor published Saturday that inflamed matters.

Insiders say that Sandra Buckler, the prime minister's communications director, instructed MacKay to sign the letter, which rejected any side deals with Nova Scotia.

MacKay, a Nova Scotia MP and the senior minister for Atlantic Canada, refused, say sources. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty signed the letter.


And later in the article this scenario:


Liberal senators, who hold a majority, say they might even take up MacDonald's call to defeat the budget.

"If Mr. Harper wants this budget, Mr. Harper is going to have to change this budget," said Liberal Sen. Terry Mercer of Nova Scotia.

Having the Senate vote down the budget would be a vote of non-confidence in the government and an election could result.

"It would be totally irresponsible and it would be unprecedented for the unelected Senate to defeat a budget bill," said Conservative Sen. Marjory LeBreton, the party's house leader.

As we're not experts on the Canadian political process, does this possibility have any validity?

If so, what an intriguing idea . . . .

Shopping Spree, stevie ? ? ? ?

I'm guessing stevie won't be doing any wardrobe shopping at Harry Rosen's in BC anytime soon . . . .

Cross Dressing Tories . . . .

The Libs have new ads that are pretty clever. Check 'em out here.



Hey, if it helps to get harperco out, I'm for it . . . .

steve and Danny In a Bit of a Snit . . . .

From CBC.ca today:

N.L. premier casts Harper as wily deceiver
'Steve' is no buddy of mine, furious premier says
Last Updated: Friday, April 27, 2007 | 7:29 PM NT - CBC News

Calling the prime minister "Steve," a furious Danny Williams lashed out at Stephen Harper Friday as an untrustworthy chameleon trying to pull the wool over Canadians' eyes.

During a scrum with reporters, Williams referred to Harper as "Steve," eschewing a more formal — if not respectful — reference.

"His buddy [U.S. President] George Bush calls him Steve, so, you know, I can call him Steve. I'm not a buddy of his," Williams told reporters.

"By the same token, I have to basically treat him with the same disdain that he's treating [residents of Newfoundland and Labrador]."

Don't get between these two. Sounds like they may be scratchin' each other's eyes out or pullin' hair soon . . . .

bush and shrub redeux . . . .

It fit into my "busy" schedule today to catch most of CPAC's broadcast of "Question Period" in the House of Commons.

While listening I began
comparing the
relationship between
bush and his
Attorney General
al gonzales with that
of harper and his
Defence Minister
david o'connor.


Opposition members and leaders spent most of the time asking shrub to demand his defense minister's resignation or fire him. Even in light of the apparent prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, shrub showed no desire to do that . . . Not unlike bush's spirited defense of his attorney general yesterday.

Can you say "state of denial" ?

The shrub is growing into a fine replica of the bush . . . .

Justin's a Future Daddy . . .

What perfect timing! A new baby to round out the picture perfect political family.


We wish them well . . . .

Martha Gets a Chance (Finally!) . . . .

We watched the Liberal's Leadership race last year with interest . . . One of the more impressive candidates was Martha Hall Findlay. It appears she pretty much "got the shaft" from the Liberal party, re: belinda stronach . . . .

This news today from CBC News:

Veteran Liberal MP Peterson retires, clearing way for Hall Findlay

Last Updated: Thursday, March 8, 2007 | 12:32 PM ET

CBC News

Veteran Liberal MP and former trade minister Jim Peterson announced Thursday he will not seek re-election in his Toronto riding, paving the way for former Liberal leadership candidate Martha Hall Findlay to run.

The riding of Willowdale is considered safe as Peterson, first elected in 1980, has held it for all but four of the past 26 years. In the last election, he won the riding by 14,000 votes.

From 1997 to 2002, Peterson was a secretary of state for international financial institutions. A year later, then prime minister Paul Martin appointed him the international trade minister.

Hall Findlay is expected to be given the Liberal nomination for the riding. Hall Findlay, who finished last of eight candidates in the leadership convention in December, threw her support behind Stéphane Dion, the eventual winner.

In 2004, Hall Findlay ran in the Toronto area riding of Newmarket-Aurora, but lost to then-Tory Belinda Stronach. She later won that riding's Liberal nomination again but stepped aside after Stronach joined the Liberals in May of 2005.

Hall Findlay was one of three contenders in the Liberal leadership race who were not sitting MPs.

The other two have also announced their intentions to run for a federal seat.

On Wednesday, Bob Rae said he hopes to run in the riding of Toronto Centre after Liberal MP Bill Graham announced he would not seek re-election.

Meanwhile, Gerard Kennedy has announced his intention to seek the nomination in Toronto's Parkdale-High Park, currently held by the NDP's Peggy Nash.

Listening to her in the previous debates, the Libs could do a lot worse. She deserves a place at their policy table . . . .

stevie Gets Thumped . . . .

Today's vote in the House of Commons is not what mr. harper was hoping for, I'll wager . . . .

Future Prime Minister vs. Current Prime Minister . . . . Who Knows?

Justin Trudeau will seek the federal Liberal party nomination in Montreal's Papineau riding, according to Radio-Canada.

The eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, the late Liberal prime minister, will attempt to jump into politics in a riding currently held by Bloc Québécois MP Vivian Barbot.

(Dave Chidley/ Canadian Press)

The riding was once a Liberal stronghold, where former foreign affairs minister Pierre Pettigrew was elected three times.

Oh, and BTW, as of this posting the current PM during Question Period is still refusing to apologize for or retract yesterday's comments about the Liberal MP from Ontario and the 1985 Air India bombing.

It appears "shrub" has learned well from "bush" about how to ignore rational thought and ignite his opponents . . . .

How Appropriate . . . .

Man with squirt gun warned outside Harper event

Updated Fri. Jan. 19 2007 7:18 PM ET

Canadian Press

METCHOSIN, B.C. -- A young man waving a penis-shaped squirt gun was warned Friday not to enter a building where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was about to speak.

A plainclothes member of Harper's security detail was overheard telling the youth it would not be advisable for him to enter the building with the squirt gun.

The red-faced youth walked away from the building followed by several friends.

Harper was at Pearson College, located about 25 kilometres west of Victoria, to announce his government's $1.5 billion renewable energy initiative.

It is not known if the young male was a student at Pearson College.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

No comment . . . .

Spring Election: Is It a Good or Bad Thing? . . . .

We are seeing quite a few articles on this topic the past couple of days.

Is a spring election a good or bad thing in your opinion?

Buoyant Grit poll numbers could banish spring election threat

Darrell Bricker

For CanWest News Service

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Is the Dion bounce for real? The answer is "yes." At least out of the gate. Why? Because just as Stephane Dion was the ideal compromise candidate for delegates at the Liberal leadership convention, this first week as Liberal leader, he's the ideal compromise candidate for the pockets of voters in Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Atlantic Canada that will decide the next election.

This week's Ipsos-Reid poll for CanWest News and Global National illustrates this point. Dion's victory has re-constituted a centre/left coalition that comprises the traditional Liberal core, plus disaffected New Democrats. This is the coalition that Jean Chretien rode to three majority victories in 1993, 1997 and 2000 -- and the demise of this coalition pushed a struggling Paul Martin into a minority government in 2004.

The immediate desire of the traditional Liberal coalition to embrace Dion puts proof to the point that Stephen Harper and the Tories weren't so much elected back in January, as the Liberals were defeated. Without a strong anti-Liberal issue like the sponsorship scandal at work, one wonders how successful the Tories will be in an election against a cleansed and re-energized Liberal party.

The major issue that Harper needs to confront in the run-up to the next election is that his party and leadership divide the electorate. Against a candidate who unites the Liberal coalition, this is a bad place to be.

How divided are Canadians on Harper? The percentage that has a positive impression of both Dion and Harper is roughly equal, but the group that has a negative impression of Harper is 17 points larger than the group that has a negative impression of Dion. Voters that have the most negative impression of Harper are urban dwellers, university grads and women. In fact, half of Canada's female voters say they have a negative impression of Harper. That's quite a head start to give to an opponent.

Importantly for Dion, Jack Layton's leadership is also divisive. While Layton does much better with voters than his party, he still has personal negatives that are 10 points higher than Dion's.

The big question about Dion has been about his ability to win seats in Quebec. This poll's results are somewhat ambiguous on this point. While Dion's leadership has pushed the Grits back to at least Chretien levels (30 per cent), this growth has come at the expense of neither the Tories nor the Bloc. It's mostly been at the expense of the NDP and the Greens. One has to wonder how real the Liberal gains in Quebec are given that these two groups are among the least likely to cast a ballot in a federal election.

So, where does this leave Canadian politics, and what does it mean for election timing? First, it means that the Liberals under Dion are definitely back in the hunt, and that Paul Martin did the right thing when he resigned after the last election. Second, it means that, unless Dion and the Liberals see a major dip in support, a spring election is off. Why? Because, given their current prospects, the NDP and Bloc are unlikely to agree to bring the government down. And, the Tories will not want to trigger an election until their numbers improve -- and that's going to take some time.

Darrell Bricker is president and COO of Ipsos Reid Public Affairs.

© CanWest News Service 2006

We can see "Pros" and "Cons" both for having a spring election, and not having a spring election. Please give your views as we are definitely "newbies" at the Canadian politics thing . . . .

Stephane is Sounding Good So Far . . . .

If Stephane Dion keeps this up, he is sounding better and better . . . .

From today's CanWest News Service:

Mr. Dion has stressed that a large political divide exists between his party and the Conservatives, whom he portrays as pursuing a right- wing ideology similar to the Bush administration in the U. S.

“ The fact that they never saw a tax cut they don’t want to make — this is a very Republican approach … We need to believe in government and I feel that they do not believe in the government,” said Mr. Dion.

He denied that he is preaching “ anti- Americanism,” saying the U. S. is an ally of Canada, but “ not a model.”

That last statement is great. It appears Stephane could be a very good result of the Liberal leadership convention free for all . . . .

As Expected, But Sweet Nonetheless . . . .

MPs defeat motion to reopen same-sex marriage debate

Motion tabled by Tories falls 175-123

Last Updated: Thursday, December 7, 2006 | 4:53 PM ET

CBC News

A motion to reopen the same-sex marriage debate was easily defeated in Parliament on Thursday, as expected.

MPs voted 175-123 against the controversial motion tabled by the ruling Conservatives.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks with the media in the House of Commons in Ottawa Thursday after the government failed to pass a motion to reopen same-sex marriage legislation.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

The motion had asked the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.

The Liberal and Conservative parties allowed their members to vote freely, and there were some surprises.

Twelve Tories broke from party lines and voted against the motion. They included cabinet ministers Peter MacKay, David Emerson, John Baird, Jim Prentice, Lawrence Cannon and Josée Verner.

Most Liberals also gave the motion the thumbs down. Among them were Joe Comuzzi, who gave up his cabinet post in 2005 so he could vote against a same-sex marriage bill proposed by the Liberal government.

All Bloc Québécois and NDP members present voted against Thursday's motion, as directed to by their party leaders.

The vote should put an end to parliamentary wrangling about same-sex marriage, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper had said a free vote — promised during January's general election campaign — would settle the matter.

A 'hollow' motion, Liberals criticize

Same-sex marriage became legal in Canada last year, when the Liberal government passed Bill C-38 in response to a series of court rulings that said gays had the right to marry.

The bill passed 158-133.

Maybe the US will one day follow suit . . . .