The Canadian Post

Tough on Crime? Hardly.

2009-02-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

Stephen Harper was in Vancouver yesterday, and aside from his announcement of federal funding for a rapid transit line known as the Evergreen Line, there was nothing else that his visit provided that appeared remotely useful to the people of the Lower Mainland.

Metro Vancouver has been gripped by a massive wave of gang violence over the course of the past month, with 18 people having been killed thus far. This bloodbath is showing no signs of slowing down, and what's most shameful is that the Prime Minister chooses to play politics while the bodies are piling up. What is disturbing is that the Prime Minister used an ongoing crisis to try and score some cheap points. Don't believe me? Here are his own words:

The truth of the matter is, those who say that the tougher penalties on perpetrators will not work don’t want them to work because they don’t believe in his kind of approach. We know that we’re going to hear these critics, and we know that we’re going to hear the opposition parrot some of these critics because they all believe in soft-on-crime policies.

What's shocking here is that both the Liberals and the NDP had already indicated their support for the sort of legislation that was being tabled, and after Harper spoke, both parties reiterated their support for the measure, but these so-called "soft-on-crime" parties indicated that they didn't feel that the measures went far enough. I'm inclined to agree.

BC Attorney-General Wally Oppal was in Ottawa to meet with the Justice Minister to suggest some solutions of his own. These proposals would actually do something about the problem. Mr. Oppal pointed out that increased sentencing on its own is meaningless. This isn't a bleeding-heart belief; in this case, it is a simple matter of fact. Our police are not catching these criminals. When they do, they are not getting the evidence needed for the Crown to secure a conviction. If you can't catch someone, or convict them, then sentencing is meaningless. Now, don't get me wrong here. I am not criticizing our police, nor am I criticizing our prosecutors. They are being denied the tools that they need to actually catch these people. For years now, provincial Attorneys-General have been lobbying this Conservative government to change our laws to make things more streamlined. Our wiretap laws are so antiquated that they do not make provision for e-mail, cellular phones, PDA's, etc. Our disclosure laws are now so onerous that police departments have to pull officers off the street to satisfy the requirements of those laws. Those are officers that could be out there keeping us safe, but who have to waste months, and sometimes years, doing paperwork. Something is very wrong here.

Then, of course, there is the utter joke of 2-for-1 sentencing. For those of you who do not know, 2-for-1 is the name given to a sentencing credit system, whereby those who spend pretrial and/or trial in detention are given double credit for time served. If you spend a year in lockup, they'll knock two years off your sentence. Sometimes, that number can go as high as 3 to 4 times the time actually served. Every single one of Canada's provincial Attorneys-General has fought for an end to this travesty, and yet our tough-on-crime Justice Minister isn't interested.

It's time to face reality: the Conservatives don't care about keeping us safe. They care about two things: staying in power, and attacking their opponents. If there is widespread opposition support for a measure, odds are that the Government will do anything they can to kill it, even as people are slaughtered in shopping mall parking lots, in the middle of the street, and all in broad daylight. A Prime Minister who acts with such reckless disregard for public safety has no place holding his office. Canada deserves a Prime Minister who actually cares, and it's high time we had one.

Inauguration Day in America

2009-01-20T23:30:00.000-08:00

As I write this, it's nearly midnight on the West Coast, marking the end (at least for me) of what has been a spectacular day. There is a sense of wonder, when you really consider it, about the transition of power that happens every 4 or 8 years in the United States. The peaceful transition of power is something that has been going on in that country for hundreds of years, and it's become so routine that many of us take it for granted. Yet when you consider it, and look at all of the countries around the world that still are unable to accomplish this feat, it does give one pause to consider the significance of what we witnessed today.

The inauguration today caps off what is practically a Hollywood fairytale. The son of an immigrant from Kenya who met a woman from Kansas. The child of a single mother who remarried and moved overseas, but eventually sent her son home to be raised by grandparents in Hawaii. A young man who wanted to get to know his parents better, but lost them both far too early. This was a man, with a remarkably odd name no less, who rose from obscurity to become the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review, and then quickly rose through the ranks of politics, gave a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, and became a US Senator. It's virtually inconceivable that a freshman Senator, only two years into his term, managed to take on, and ultimately defeat the most powerful family in the Democratic Party politics.

With the Clintons dispatched, defeating John McCain must have seemed to be a far easier task, but Mr. Obama never let up, never rested, and pushed with a singular conviction that is rarely seen. He did what few have been able to do: win the Presidency with his own ideals and convictions intact.

It can safely be said that when they make the movie about the road to this Presidency, they won't need to embellish anything. As rare as it is, we have managed to live an amazing story, and I want to congratulate all my friends in the United States for getting it right this time. As your friends and your neighbours, we wish you well, and we with President Obama every success as he takes on some very difficult challenges.

On another note, I have to laugh at someone today, because it's so much fun. In what will be a moment that will forever haunt US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, he screwed up administering the oath of office. John Roberts, ever the perfectionist, the man who never said or did a thing wrong in his life finally had it all catch up with him in front of the billions of people watching him. He had plenty of time to prepare; all he had to do was memorize 35 words of the Constitution. Mr. Obama managed to do it just fine. Suffice to say: whoops!

Dion Steps Down

2008-12-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion announced his decision to step down as soon as the Liberal Party chooses its new leader. In making his announcement, M. Dion made clear the importance that the Liberal Party enter the upcoming session of Parliament with a new leader who can hit the ground running, instead of a long, drawn-out farewell from now until the scheduled May convention in Vancouver.

Many viewed the poorly produced video address, and the confusion that surrounded it, as the last straw for the rest of the Liberal caucus, which swiftly moved to force Dion out the door. While M. Dion is a good man who has spent much of his life fighting for his country, he was sadly the wrong leader at the wrong time. Taking over the Party at a time when there was no money in the bank, his bookish demeanor and certain quotable sound bytes left him vulnerable to a Conservative onslaught. Having been portrayed as weak, Canadians weren't prepared to give him the reins of power, and held their noses and voted for Harper in the end. Unfortunately, M. Dion will leave his post as only the second elected Liberal Party Leader since Confederation not to become Prime Minister.

The coalition proposal is nothing more than a passing fancy. It provides a valuable tool to keep Stephen Harper in line, and stop him from engaging in a reckless agenda. However, with respect to long-term electoral strategy, it is a bad idea. The coalition forces the Liberal Party even further left, in a country where elections are won and lost in the political centre. The Conservative Party is continuing to tilt towards the right, and at this moment, there is no representation for those in the political centre. At the end of it, it seems that Michael Ignatieff is poised to assume the leadership, holding an overwhelming majority of caucus support. While some in the Party are concerned about Mr. Ignatieff, his political leanings are far more palatable than his only remaining opponent. Mr. Rae, for all his charisma and excellent ideas, is simply the wrong man, in my view. His dogged support for this coalition on a long-term basis threatens to force the Liberal Party to cede the political centre for decades to come. His legacy as Premier of Ontario is an added obstacle to electoral success in Canada's biggest province. Mr. Ignatieff will move the Liberal Party back towards the centre, which is where the Party needs to be if it is to have any chance of forming government again. Current polling, which reflects a double digit lead for Mr. Ignatieff over Mr. Rae further cements the fact that the political centre in Canada is far more prepared to vote for Mr. Ignatieff.

With all of this in mind, the Canadian Post is endorsing Mr. Ignatieff's bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

A Coward and a Bully

2008-12-05T16:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning, Stephen Harper visited the Governor General, and asked her to prorogue Parliament. He did it for no other reason than to prevent the House of Commons from exercising its right to voice its lack of confidence in Mr. Harper and his Government. Let me note off the top that from this point forward, I will not refer to Mr. Harper as the Prime Minister. The reason for this is simple: to be Prime Minister, one must uphold Canadian democracy and hold the confidence of the House of Commons. Mr. Harper can lay claim to neither of those, and as a result, I no longer recognize him as Prime Minister of Canada.

Since being elected in 2006, Mr. Harper has made a career of bullying the opposition with one nasty piece of legislation, daring them at each turn to vote him down. In each case, the opposition relented, and allowed Mr. Harper to pass controversial legislation for fear of forcing an election. This time, the opposition called his bluff, and decided to go for a vote. Mr. Harper, in his wisdom, writhed in agony, and instead of finally allowing Canada's democratically elected Parliament to vote, had the doors slammed shut instead.

I have great respect and affection for the Governor General. I believe that Her Excellency has brought a level of grace and charm to her office that elected officials can only dream of having. With that said, I must respectfully say that her decision to allow Mr. Harper to prorogue Parliament was the wrong one. Yes, it headed off a political mess, but a terrible precedent was set in allowing a Prime Minister to prorogue the House for no reason other than to avoid being fired. I do take solace, however, in the fact that the meeting lasted two and a half hours. These sorts of meeting generally don't last that long, and I can only hope that Her Excellency read Mr. Harper the riot act, expressed a measure of disgust at his tactics, and advised him that if he didn't clean up his act, and ended up falling in January, that she'd allow the coalition to take over.

This was borne out when one looks at Mr. Harper's statement after he emerged from Rideau Hall. I don't think I've ever seen him so chastened and conciliatory. I continue to believe that his statements and actions were not enough. It will take a change of astronomical proportions for Canadians to have much trust in him after this one.

Too Little, Too Late

2008-12-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching the Prime Minister's address tonight, and if anything is clear, it's that he hasn't learned his lesson. Not a moment of contrition, not a moment spent reaching out to the opposition. Not a moment spent acknowledging the fact that the Tories bear some measure of responsibility for this situation.

The address, which was supposed to be about 10 minutes long, was barely 5 minutes in length. In the midst of a massive crisis, the Prime Minister decided that the future of Canada was only worth 5 minutes of his time. This could have been an opportunity to cool things down, to reach out to other MP's, and calm things down. Instead, more attacks, however muted, and no solutions, nor any leadership.

This is simply insufficient for a man who says he can lead us through the current economic crisis. It's insufficient for a man who says that he has the judgment to lead. It's insufficient for a man whose job it is to reach out to others to pass an agenda.

Some Advice for Mr. Harper

2008-12-03T15:16:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Stephen Harper will address the nation in the midst of a political crisis of historic proportions. His instincts will tell him to go on the offensive, to attack the opposition, and to draw as much blood as possible, in the hopes that it will somehow stop his opponents. My simple advice to him: don't do it.

Mr. Harper is fighting for his political life, but there are two words he can say tonight that will save his skin, at least for the time being: I'm sorry. That's right. Mr. Harper needs to stand up and apologize to the Canadian people. He needs to apologize for ignoring the fact that they returned him to power with another minority mandate. He needs to apologize for his constant abuse of power, whereby he has used the machinery of government in a concerted campaign to destroy his opponents. He needs to apologize for using a global crisis to settle scores with unions, women, and the political left.

If Mr. Harper has the guts to stand before the Canadian people, and finally admit that his venomous partisanship was a terrible error in judgment on his part, if he apologizes for it, and promises never to wander down that road again, then he has a chance. If he stands up and finally recognizes that his party does not command a parliamentary majority, and if he commits to consulting with the opposition before introducing matters of confidence, then the Canadian people will be inclined to give him a second chance.

If Mr. Harper fails yet again, and if he decides, as he has always done, to use this opportunity to escalate this crisis instead of diffusing it, then the Governor General should refuse his expected request to prorogue Parliament, since it would be nothing other than a shameless effort to abuse his executive power to prevent the democratically elected House to render their judgment on whether or not he continues to enjoy their confidence.

What Next For Harper?

2008-11-30T15:14:00.000-08:00

By all indications, Stephen Harper will be defeated on December 8th, unless he takes the extraordinary step of proroguing Parliament to protect himself, though the Governor-General would have the option to refuse the request and fire him, which would set off some interesting constitutional issues. But assuming that the Prime Minister is defeated next week, one has to wonder what his future is, as well as that of his party.

Many close to the negotiations between the three opposition parties indicate that any coalition agreement will require safeguards to ensure that it holds together for a minimum of a year, and possibly two. This means that a Conservative caucus that is already divided over Mr. Harper's scorched-earth tactics will be sitting on the other side of the aisle, on the outside of Government, looking in. And all those Conservative frontbenchers who relied on Stephen Harper for all their big offices, staff, chauffers, and other parliamentary perks, will suddenly be free. All of them will be asking how it was that they were so unceremoniously turfed out. Many will direct their ire at their boss, whose massive miscalculation was the straw that broke the opposition's back, but not the way he had hoped.

Can Stephen Harper last two years on the opposition benches without being removed? It seems unlikely. And let's face it: Canadians have never truly loved, or even liked Mr. Harper. They have supported him because they had nobody else to vote for. The fear and uncertainty card, played so deftly by the Tories thus far, will be buried so deep in the deck that it won't be playable anymore. All of a sudden, Conservative fortunes will wane across the country, as people finally take note of the fact that Liberals are indeed capable of running the country perfectly well. A couple years in Government will swell the coffers of the Liberals, finally narrowing the Conservative Party's massive cash advantage. All this will be bad news for the soon to be former Prime Minister, who will likely be pushed aside, as Conservatives realize that their Leader's venom-filled policy of spending more energy on trying to destroy the opposition than actually governing, cost them everything.

But who will lead them? The Conservative Party is much like Iraq. It is a fake entity, divided into three major factions that have virtually nothing in common. Scott Reid characterized those factions as "Reform Party leftovers, Harris refugees and Red Tory desperates." Not altogether attractive, but reasonably accurate. Just like Iraq, it takes a despot to hold together such disparate factions. Just like what happened in Iraq, Stephen Harper's style of leadership has ensured that there is no heir apparent to the leadership, and nobody in that party is strong enough to hold the Conservative coalition together. Without Mr. Harper, it will be all but impossible to hold those factions together. The Reform element will likely take over the party, splitting the old Harris elements, and forcing Red Tories out altogether. Most of those forced out will likely join the Liberals.

Let's be clear: there is nothing wrong with advocating for the disintegration of the Conservative Party. It may not be pretty, but make no mistake: Stephen Harper's goal was never just to beat us; it is and has always been to destroy us. There's no room to respond with half measures. We must respond in kind, and the collateral damage may well be Mr. Harper's party. If that happens, so be it. There's no reason for that to give us any pause, when our adversaries wouldn't hesitate if the roles were reversed.

A Tale Told by an Idiot

2008-11-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

So last night, a visibly shaken Stephen Harper addressed the national media. Fighting to hang onto his political life, the Prime Minister did what he always does: he blamed the opposition for the mess he got himself into.

The Prime Minister promised Canadians after the election that the Government would act swiftly to introduce an economic update to restore faith in the Canadian economy. Instead, Mr. Harper, who just days before had promised to consult with and work with the opposition, ordered his Finance Minister to pen a Fiscal Update that had no stimulus of any kind, but that was based instead on attacking those who are not too friendly with the Tories: namely women, unions, and any political opposition they can find. That's right, Stephen Harper's foaming at the mouth desire to destroy the Liberal Party means that nothing is too crass, even if we're talking about a major international crisis. Doing the right thing for all Canadians and putting partisanship aside is simply not something that ever enters into the equation for our Prime Minister.

But our MINORITY Prime Minister forgot himself. He forgot that his vanity-exercise election did not give him the parliamentary majority he so dearly wished for. No, he got another minority. Mr. Harper forgot that in a minority parliament, the only votes you get to take for granted are those of your own party. So when the opposition didn't roll over and play dead, Mr. Harper got quite a jolt. All of a sudden, the house of cards was teetering. Imagine the nerve: the opposition was demanding that the government do its job and introduce the stimulus that we were promised. If the government refused to do its job and actually govern, then the opposition decided that someone needed to act like adults, so they committed to setting aside their differences to resolve this economic crisis.

The Prime Minister found himself in a corner, and fumed at the notion of a coalition government. He ranted and raved how this was not proper, how it amounted to hijacking Parliament, and how it was just not fair. I was prepared to defer to him on the notion of a coalition, about which I admit I remain uneasy. But something was nagging at me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Finally, this morning, somebody sent me a link to what it was that had been bothering me. It was a letter, signed by then Leader of the Opposition Stephen Harper, in 2004. Below is the text of the letter:

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

So back then, Mr. Harper had no problems with the Opposition getting a kick at the can. Stephen Harper was happy to defy the electorate which had rejected him, and enter 24 Sussex through the back door. There's a word for that where I come from: hypocrite.

So here's my message for the Tories: you didn't get your majority. You wasted 300 million dollars of taxpayer dollars on an election campaign that was the result of the breach of your own fixed election date law. That election left you with another minority Government. Stop using the machinery of government to settle scores. It is petty, and not befitting of the power with which you were entrusted. Work with the opposition. It's what Canadians told you to do in the last election. Only a third of the country wanted to see this government re-elected, and it's time for you guys to show a bit of humility. Do the people's business, and if you continue to refuse to, then we the people will ask that the Governor-General exercise her prerogative to send you packing without sending us another $300 million bill for your continued stupidity.

So here's what I think of all this: the Prime Minister has been caught with his pants down. He's running around like a complete fool now, pulling his hairplugs out in dismay and disbelief that his ironclad grip on power might be slipping away. He has lied, schemed, and cheated to try and hang on. It's downright Shakespearean, when you think about it. Funny how the bard had a lovely quote that sums up the Prime Minister's PR strategy quite nicely:

...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

2008-11-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

Too bad it's an oncoming freight train. The so-called economic update that we saw come from Minister of Deficits Jim Flaherty today was a pile of garbage. I can't say that I have ever seen a government attempt in such a brazen manner to use an international crisis to subvert Canadian democracy. Who the hell do these people think they are? For that matter, who the hell do they think we are?

So, Flaherty introduced his plan today, which was a call to save Canada's economy by putting $1.75 in the pockets of each and every Canadian. Well, actually, since only half of the electorate voted, it likely works out closer to 85 cents per person. That's right: in times of economic turmoil, what we need right away is to end the system of public financing of our elections that has kept lobbyists out of the system. That's how Jim Flaherty thinks he's going to fix our economy.

Around the world, the leaders of industrialized nations have stood up, said that they understand the mess global finances are in, and have acted swiftly to head off future misery. Apparently Mr. Flaherty, whose term as Minister of Finance has seen Canada's economic growth fall from top spot in the G8 all the way to the bottom of the pack, thinks that we can afford to wait until next year to do something meaningful. What did we get in the meantime? An attack on women's rights, by attempting to thwart pay equity.

Now, many of those who know me are aware of my lack of fondness for public sector unions. While I respect the right to organize and bargain collectively, public sector strikes invariably hold the public hostage. With that said, I was disgusted today when Jim Flaherty announced plans to rip up collective agreements in a manner already deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada. Furthermore, the proposal to strip away the right to strike is a measure so draconian that it's something I'd expect from the Russians or the Chinese, but certainly not from Canada. Precisely what is it that we are becoming?

If the Conservatives truly saw this crisis coming, as they keep saying they did when they trumpet the various bits of bullshit policymaking they claim have softened the blow of this economic downturn, then why did they blow over 300 million dollars on an election that everybody knew would return another minority government? Think for a moment where that money could have gone.

If the Government is a ship, then we're adrift, and it's no wonder. When you have Captain Crunch at the helm, you can't expect much. I am proud today that all three opposition parties stood up today, gave this Prime Minister the proverbial middle finger, and if the Government is defeated, there will be no constitutional crisis. This is a new Parliament, and it deserves a chance to be made to work, whether through a Liberal Minority government, or some sort of more formal coalition. There's no crisis here, other than the crisis of confidence that this Government now faces, a crisis which is one of their own making.

This much should be clear: Stephen Harper hates democracy. He doesn't believe in any sort of political opposition. He doesn't believe in accountability, nor any checks on his power to rule Canada with an iron fist. Various Tory insiders have noted that they're thrilled about the current course of action because they want the Liberal Party of Canada to cease to exist. That says it all: most parties in Government just want a permanent majority. They recognize that political opposition is central to keeping people honest, and keeping ideas fresh. Not the Tories. They seek a one-party state, with no checks on their power. That is what they seek, and they are using an international crisis to do it. It is nothing short of disgusting.

Let's look at the Harper attack on democracy and accountability. Last time around, Harper tried to gag the Auditor-General, wrote a playbook on how to disrupt, stymie, and undermine Parliament, had his MP's walk out of committee sessions to stop potentially embarrassing testimony and votes, killed the Court Challenges Program, and declared war on Elections Canada. During the election campaign, he declared war on artists, dismissing their contributions to our public discourse. Now, he's declaring war on unions, women, and any political opposition that remains. Under Stephen Harper, Canada is turning into a Fascist state, and we are letting it happen.

This Government will fall, whether it happens in the coming days, or if it takes longer. It's not enough to say, as Jack Layton did, that the Opposition will not support this pathetic plan, although that was a good start, as were remarks by Scott Brison, who skewered the Government's inept plan, and Gilles Duceppe, who rightly pointed out that the Government was selling out the country. What is needed now is a proverbial line in the sand, and an ultimatum to the Government: put an end to their war on democracy, or be defeated. Put an end to their war on minorities, or be defeated. Restore fiscal sanity to Ottawa, or be defeated. There can be no ambiguity. Michael Ignatieff was right to note that as Liberals, we are tired of sitting down, so it's time to stand up, be counted, and remind Stephen Harper that barely a third of Canadians voted for his ilk. It's high time that he acted accordingly.

The California Tragedy

2008-11-07T00:35:00.000-08:00

It's a crying shame. November 4th was supposed to be a step forward. It was supposed to be a day that brought people together instead of pushing them apart. It was supposed to be about making the political system work for all Americans, instead of just some of them. For most of the country, this held true, and Barack Obama's victory on Tuesday night was a massive victory for all Americans.

The passage of California's Proposition 8 cast a shadow over that victory. I don't suggest that it casts any sort of pall over President-Elect Obama's victory. What I mean is that this ballot initiative was a black spot on an otherwise incredible night. While there were a few initiatives seeking to limit gay rights, all of which passed in what has to be regarded as a stunning setback to the gay rights movement, the passage of Proposition 8 overshadowed them all. The passage of Proposition 8, if allowed to stand, will set an incredibly dangerous precedent for California, and make no mistake about it: the gay community was on the receiving end of a massive injustice on Tuesday, but the next time, given a few shifts here and there, it could be a racial minority, it could be the disabled, it could be anybody. It could be you.

Constitutions serve an important purpose in our society. While they lay out a number of ground rules for the operation and structure of government, their most important purpose is the safeguard of minority rights. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and so many more basic fundamental rights exist and are enforceable because they are constitutionally protected. Imagine if Mormons, a very small religious minority, were told they couldn't practice their religion. The Constitution of the United States doesn't explicitly mention Mormons. So far as I know, the Constitution of the State of California doesn't mention them either. If they were prohibited from practising their faith, the Mormon Church would petition the courts to deal with such an injustice, and the courts in California, I am sure, would rule that their rights had been infringed, and demand that their rights be protected. So imagine now that by a 52% vote, the people of California amended their Constitution to say that all Californians are created equal, except for Mormons. Would anybody, for a moment suggest that such a vote would have an ounce of legitimacy? I doubt it very much.

Here's my point: it is a contradiction at the deepest level to create a system that allows courts to protect minorities, but also allows the rights recognized by the courts to be snuffed out of existence based on a simple majority vote. It's not strong enough language just to suggest that this sort of process doesn't make sense. It's worse than that: it represents a fundamental injustice that erodes the very foundation of a constitutional democracy. Some might call this hyperbole, but it's not. Amending a constitution over an issue such as this simply must not be this simple. The process, due to its far-reaching effects, must be an incredibly arduous one. This process was not.

Cleary, I support gay marriage, but my reason for decrying the decision in California isn't based on my political stance on the issue itself. It's based on what the decision means in the greater scope of democracy in California. Lawsuits have been filed, and while I originally doubted they would succeed, I do have a bit more hope that they will. This initiative was not an amendment. An amendment is nothing more than attaching some new tidbit to a constitution. This initiative was a revision. It changed the substance and the meaning of a fundamental pillar of California's Constiution in a profound manner. If the California Supreme Court is interested in justice and equality, as I believe they are, then they will grant immediate injunctive relief to those who have filed suit in the wake of Proposition 8's passage, and eventually throw it out for its illegal and improper passage. The rights of minorities must never be subject to the whims of a simple majority. To bend on that fundamental principle in even the slightest manner is far too dangerous to our democracy to be left unchallenged.

Wake Up, and Wake Up Now

2008-10-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is expected to tender his resignation, at which point the Liberal Party will begin the process to replace him. It should be noted that while I initially believed that this was the only reasonable course of action, I continue to remain unsure of what comes next. Not a single person who ran against Mr. Dion last time is equipped to do a better job than he did with respect to rebuilding the Party and leading it to electoral victory. Not one of them has the ability not just to unite the Party and the country, but more importantly to inspire us. I remain unconvinced that the Party can afford a leadership race when we should be focusing our efforts on raising money to build a warchest to defeat Stephen Harper.

However, regardless of my own opinions, regardless of how well I believe them to be held, Mr. Dion will proceed with his plans on Monday. When he does, the last thing we can afford to do is tell ourselves that with a new leader, all our problems will be solved. They won't. We have a serious problem. In each of the last three elections, we have lost seats in the House of Commons. We have lost support to the Tories. We have lost support to the NDP. We have even lost support to the Greens. Mr. Dion was only leader for one of those three elections. By itself, selecting a new leader will not do anything to change this.

Since the end of the Chrétien era, the backroom of the Liberal Party has forgotten how to win. To quote Austin Power, it has lost its mojo. The very meaning of what it means to be a Liberal has become blurred. We have abdicated our right to define who we are to our political opponents, and they have done a fine job of it. Well, it's time for us to wake up and take control of our own destiny once again.

I am sick and tired. I am sick and tired that the Party that I believe in, the party that I left a promising future within the Conservative Party to join, chooses to lie down and play dead. We all need to wake up, and stand up, because Stephen Harper came along and told us that being a Liberal means that we are soft on crime, soft on defense, soft on economic policy, bad diplomats, bad role-models, and risky. And instead of standing up and saying, "Listen up you right-wing, racist, xenophobic, homophobic, gun-toting, anti-choice, environment-hating liar; we're not going to put up with your crap for another second," we've chosen to hide in a corner and beg our opponents not to hurt us. You want to know why our fundraising numbers are anemic? How on earth can we expect people to give us money when we won't even defend ourselves. We are a parliamentary punching bag right now, and until we stand up, tell the country that enough is enough, and that we are going to stand up for our beliefs, we will never escape our fundraising doldrums, nor will we form government.

Stephen Harper has run one of the most divisive governments in our history. In a minority parliament, he has made a career of pitting neighbourhood against neighbourhood, community against community, region against region, Canadian against Canadian. Our surpluses are turning into deficits before our eyes, we have withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocols, we have abandoned our policy of advocating against capital punishment, and we have stood by while the machinery of government has been used to attack the non-partisan institutions of state. And still, somehow we are still losing seats. Many of us are scratching our heads, because we think that we can get along by just sitting here and waiting for people to "come home."

Enough with the sense of entitlement. Enough with the hope that maybe if people get scared enough of Stephen Harper, they'll vote for us instead. We need to grow a spine, articulate our policies, and get out there and get on offense. That's how we win.

Who The Hell is David Herle?

2008-10-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

If you didn't know the answer to this one, I'll tell you. David Herle is the man who ran Paul Martin's leadership campaign. By the way, that was the last campaign Herle ever won. In his first try running a national campaign, Paul Martin and the Liberal party hemorrhaged enough seats to be reduced to a minority. Somehow, even though Liberals got mauled that election, Herle & Co. thought they had won. So what does Herle do for an encore? Oh, that's right, to remove all doubt about how we did in the 2004 election, Herle helped the Liberals cruise to defeat in 2006.

So why am I blogging about David Herle? Well, Mr. Herle talked to the press after last night's defeat. Herle suggested that Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion ought to be held responsible for last night's "crushing defeat". In Herle's words, "We are now again, virtually irrelevant in Western Canada and have lost the beachhead we had in British Columbia. The problems in Quebec remain widespread and deep. The NDP and Greens are encroaching on the Liberal party's territory from the left." Now, I suppose if anybody is an expert on crushing electoral defeat, it's David Herle. What most people don't recognize is that he's still trying to cover for his own failings when he was running the LPC strategy shop. Herle's failures led to every single evil he identified, except for BC, which was the only place where Liberals picked up seats last time around. Herle missed most of the story, especially part about the massive role that campaign strategists play in the victory or defeat of their candidates.

So here's my point: David Herle needs to shut his mouth and let Stéphane Dion make a decision on his future as leader, by himself. M. Dion did something that Herle never had the guts to do: namely to put himself up for election by members of his own Party, and then his fellow citizens at large. Win or lose, M. Dion has earned the right to take a bit of time to take stock of the past two years, and of course the past few weeks. Calls by people like Mr. Herle, who haven't stood for election to anything, need to take their rightful place on the sidelines, and shut their mouths for the next little while. It's October; the review is in May. There is plenty of time.

Reality Check

2008-10-15T00:34:00.000-07:00

So here it is: Members of the NDP are celebrating tonight. They celebrate because they gained seats, and I suppose they deserve some congratulations. Here's the reality: they have nothing to celebrate, because Stephen Harper has more seats than he came into this election with. That means that the minority of Canadians who believe in moving this country backwards have scored another victory. So here it is: why is it that those of us who are progressive are so stupid? Why haven't we learned from the trials and tribulations faced by the political right during the 1990's? Jean Chrétien won majorities throughout the 1990's in the face of a divided political right. Those majorities led to more rights for women, as well as for a number of minority groups. Canada became a more inclusive place over those years. Now, the Tories are benefiting from the fact that the political right is united while the left is not.

It's time for progressive voices in Canada to stand up to Jack Layton and even more so to Elizabeth May. I haven't done the math (but let me assure you all that I will), but I am willing to bet that in riding after riding across Canada, the Green vote combined with the Liberal vote would have beaten a number of Conservative candidates across Canada. Enough is enough! We have got to stop this nonsense. Let's be real here: there was nearly no daylight between the Green and Liberal platforms on every key issue, so every time someone voted Green instead of Liberal, they split the progressive vote, and handed seats to Conservatives across Canada. We simply cannot do this anymore.

Now, let me be clear: it is no secret that I am a Liberal, and I am not going to sit here and suggest that as Liberals, we aren't accountable for our defeat tonight. We bear a great deal of responsibility for the beating we sustained tonight. Here's the reality: this election wasn't lost tonight, last week, or last month. This election was lost long before Stephen Harper dropped the writ. When Stéphane Dion was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, we all saw Stephen Harper's attack ads. For the first time in Canadian history, an incumbent governing party launched attack ads against another party when there was not even an election campaign. The national strategists in the Liberal party failed to learn from the Swift Boat attacks made against John Kerry. Full of snobbery, they decided that we were better than American voters, smarter than American voters, and they decided that no response was needed to these baseless attacks, because the public would be outraged. For the public to be outraged, the lie had to be exposed, and it wasn't. We made the fundamental error of allowing our opponents to define our Leader instead of defining him ourselves. The moment that happened, the Liberal Party was on the defensive, and you cannot win an election when you are on the defensive. To make matters worse, the Party didn't think about the most basic aspect of selling a vision: branding. Nobody really knew what the Liberal brand was this time, and having spoken to other leading Liberals, these are the basic complaints that were heard.

Let me say that I supported Stéphane Dion's bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. I believe that he would have made an amazing Prime Minister. I'm sad to say that as of tonight, it would appear that M. Dion will become part of a very small group: Liberal leaders who didn't become Prime Minister of Canada. I know that there are voices in the Liberal Party who want M. Dion to stay, and in my heart of hearts, I would love to see him have another shot at beating Mr. Harper. I would love to hope that we can recover from the tactical errors we made. For M. Dion to come out of the upcoming leadership review unscathed, he will need to have a minimum of 75% support when that review comes around. The internecine warfare that will be inflicted on the Party if M. Dion stays on will serve only to deepen the wounds that already exist. I don't doubt that M. Dion could survive a review vote, but it's not enough to survive; he needs a slam dunk that I doubt the Party will give him. I have always been a big fan of Stéphane Dion. I've listened to old Tory slogans, and I have to say this: back in 1996, when Stephen Harper was getting ready to leave politics for a cushy job at a right-wing think tank, it was Stéphane Dion who was actually standing up for Canada. The reality now is that the truth won't matter, because it's just too late. I am a big fan of M. Dion, and I wish he could have been more successful, but he picked a bunch of political losers to run his campaign, and it showed. It's time for a fresh start, for tough questions, and for a campaign team (the strategists, not the candidates) that knows how to throw a punch or two, and bring progressive voters home.

Get Out and Vote!

2008-10-14T12:12:00.001-07:00

We have finally reached the finish line on what has been, in many ways, a rather underwhelming campaign. The Conservatives, for all their talk, have run ridiculously dishonest campaign. They have denied that there are any economic woes, in spite of the fact that the Bank of Canada has been forced to pump 12 billion dollars into the banking sector (by the way, that money could have paid for a national, universal child-care system AND implemented the Kelowna Accord), and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced last week that another 25-billion dollar cash injection would be needed. All this from a government that has said our banking sector is doing just fine. 37 billion dollars doesn't sound like a clean bill of health to me. That's pretty close to the ENTIRE budget of the Government of BC.

We've heard some other lies, some innocent, and some malicious. I keep hearing Tories say that this parliament was the longest minority parliament in Canadian history. It wasn't. One of Pearson's minorities lasted longer, and depending on how you crunch the numbers, so did one of Mackenzie King's, but then again, anything a Liberal does simply doesn't count to the Tories. This is hardly a big deal, other than the fact that is shows that even on minor issues, the Tories are happy to look Canadians in the eye and lie to them.

The Tory smear campaign over the Liberal Green Shift plan represents yet another example where they are on the wrong side of the issue, so they have lied, obfuscated, and attacked. They have portrayed the Green Shift plan as risky, and a tax grab, in spite of the fact that economist after economist, including Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, have come out in favour of plans that follow the same overall framework. The Green Shift is not the mother of all tax hikes, as the Tories have suggested. It is, in fact, the mother of all tax cuts. Furthermore, Canadians won't be hit at the pump by this plan: gasoline is specifically exempted, since the Government already collects an excise tax on gasoline. That didn't stop Stephen Harper from lying about it.

Jack Layton is no better. I don't advocate a 2-party system in Canada, but there is a reality. Jack Layton is not going to become Prime Minister tonight. His votes killed the last Liberal government. His MP's threw around accusations about improprieties on the part of Liberals that they knew were untrue, but used for political gain. They can say what they want, but in the last election, the difference between a re-elected Liberal minority, and the Tory minority we got was decided by fewer than 15,000 votes in a handful of key ridings. The NDP swing vote in those ridings handed each of those seats to the Tories, putting Stephen Harper in power, killing Canada's commitment to a cleaner environment, social justice, healthcare for all, women's rights, the Kelowna Accord, national universal childcare, and a long list of other important social issues.

Here's the reality (and I'm going to brace myself for a deluge of angry comments): Jack Layton is not going to be Prime Minister, or at the very least, not this time around. The only person within striking distance of Stephen Harper is Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion. If you are a progressive Canadian who wants a fairer, safer, greener Canada, there's only one way to accomplish that, and it starts with getting rid of Stephen Harper. In the 1990's the political right was divided, and Canadians ended up with a series of Liberal governments. Fortunately for mainstream Canada, that's where our values were anyhow. This time, the left is divded, and an extreme minority is being forced upon us because we are splitting our votes. The way to defeat the Conservatives is for progressive voters to unite behind Liberal candidates. It may not be politically correct to say this, but it's the cold, hard reality. A vote for Jack Layton is a vote for Stephen Harper.

If you want change this election, if you want to see the truth triumph over lies, hope triumph over fear, if you want a government that governs not just for the next poll and the next election, but for generations to come, if you want a government that believes in uniting us, and not dividing us, then the choice is clear: vote Liberal.

What's Happening to John McCain

2008-09-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

In the past week, we have witnessed the start of what is likely to become a full-blown implosion of John McCain's presidential campaign. The media has begun its revolt against the McCain campaign's refusal to allow Sarah Palin to answer media questions, as if they believe that since she is a woman, she can't handle the pressure. If they truly believed, as they continually suggest, that Gov. Palin is ready to take on global challenges, then she should be able to handle the media. Since September 15th, when the economy finally buckled under all the pressure it has faced, the same day that Sen. McCain said that "the fundamentals of the economy are strong", the GOP campaign has lost anywhere between 4 and 7 percentage points in the national polls, depending on who you ask. His convention bounce is gone, and his running mate's popularity numbers are falling steadily.

Today, Senator McCain announced the suspension of his presidential campaign, ostensibly to turn his full attention to the ongoing market and housing crisis. Sorry Johnny, but all I can say is that your excuse is a load of bullshit. A lot of people will fault me for shrugging him off, and accuse me of being partisan. But look at the reality. This crisis broke a week ago, and for all of last week, Senator McCain tried his best to make partisan hay out of it. Even many of his Republican supporters found his actions to be more than a bit crass. Moving on from last week, Senator McCain and his running mate have spent the first half of this week chatting up world leaders to bolster Gov. Palin's foreign policy credentials. Now, on the eve of the first debate, McCain is asking for an extension. He has had a week and a half to wake up to this one, but he chose to wait until the last minute.

I certainly hope that his request for an extension is denied. The timing of his announcement, given how much time he has had to make it, smacks of nothing less than pure political opportunism, and he ought to be exposed for it.

Ritz Redux

2008-09-19T14:26:00.002-07:00

This update is a short one. Contrary to what Mr. Harper would like to see, the public isn't going to sit down and shut up over the disgraceful comments made by Gerry Ritz. It's telling that when, last month, Minister Ritz was told that another person had died from the listeria outbreak, the very first words out of his mouth were not condolences, concern for the family, or worries about the safety of the food supply that he's responsible for. No, the first thing Mr. Ritz said was "Please tell me it's [Liberal Agriculture Critic] Wayne Easter." It's one thing to do your job, and then crack some bad jokes to blow off some steam. I've been in positions of responsibility before, and I've done that, and so do a lot of people, politicians included. I'm not suggesting for a moment that we fire them all. But when that dark humor comes first, when it comes before concern, when it comes before doing your job, it reveals how seriously you take you job, and Gerry Ritz doesn't take his seriously at all.

Now, a family member of one of the victims of this terrible tragedy has come forward. He very rightly expressed his outrage at Mr. Ritz's conduct, and I'm quite sure he's not alone in those sentiments. The union representing CFIA scientists has also weighed in, calling for his ouster. They say that he has "repeatedly disappointed" them in his handling of the crisis. Well, to the members of that union, let me tell them that they're not alone. Mr. Ritz has disappointed and disgusted all of us in the way that he has handled this crisis. His repeated efforts to undermine the CFIA have severely hampered its ability to keep our food supply safe, and worse still, Mr. Ritz still won't change course. How many more people will have to die before something is done?

How Stupid Does Harper Think You Are?

2008-09-19T14:26:00.001-07:00

I'll tell you how stupid he thinks you are: he thinks you're a blithering idiot with a very short memory. How do I know that he thinks this? Well, let's look at Mr. Harper's latest attack line: that the Liberals will drive the country into deficit. First of all, that's impossible, because by all accounts, Mr. Harper has already put us there. First quarter fiscal statements for this budgetary year confirm that. Now, perhaps things will rally and we might squeak through this year in decent shape, but it's been a long time since that was even a concern at all.

Let me remind Stephen Harper of a thing or two: it was the hard work of a LIBERAL Government that wiped out Brian Mulroney's massive deficits. It was a LIBERAL government that took the heat, but did it because it was right, and it was Tories who whined and griped about it back then. Oh, and while that heavy lifting was going on, Stéphane Dion was at the Cabinet table, helping to make those tough decisions.

One of the first things Stephen Harper did when he came to power was to roll back the tax cuts on people in the lowest income brackets, while at the same time giving out massive handouts to all kinds of corporate entities, as well as the oil and gas industry, which is making a killing and doesn't need a subsidy from me. We are in the middle of an era that will see a massive transfer of wealth within Canada, where those at the very top will be awash in cash, while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. The slash and burn policies of Mr. Harper and Mr. Flaherty have pushed us into another age of deficits, handing off more debt to our children, and their children, to pay for.

So let me remind the Prime Minister of something: Liberals won't put this country into a deficit; Liberals will bring this country back out of the fiscal hole dug for us by Mr. Harper. This Prime Minister is no more capable of managing the economy than McCain-Bush, and it's about time that Canadians woke up, saw the writing on the wall, and realized that. Stephen Harper thinks that you're too dumb to figure it out though. He thinks you're too big an idiot to see through the wool he's pulled over your eyes. It's time to prove him wrong.

Fire Gerry Ritz

2008-09-18T10:50:00.001-07:00

What the hell is wrong with Stephen Harper? Does he just not give a damn? How fucking arrogant is this asshole? His Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, apparently doesn't take his job very seriously. The Department of Agriculture is also responsible for Agri-foods, and is the department that oversees the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. For anybody who hasn't noticed, a Listeria outbreak has swept through Canada, due to tainted meats from a Maple Leaf Foods facility. In the midst of this mess, we have Conservatives preaching the ludicrous idea that the best course of action is less Government supervision. For a government so big on law and order, they have to be smoking something pretty potent to make that position seem even remotely logical, and I'm pretty sure that whatever it is, it's not legal.

In the middle of this outbreak, while the body count has been rising, Gerry Ritz, the Minister who bears responsibility for this pathetic failure on the part of Government to protect the public, decided that doing nothing was just not an option. So, he cracked a joke and said that this whole situation was a death by a thousand cuts. Then he corrected himself and said "cold cuts." People are DYING, and Mr. Ritz's course of action was to crack a joke? The only joke here is the fact that he was appointed in the first place.

It begs a question though: what is going on with Stephen Harper's leadership? Let's look at his Cabinet choices: David Emerson, defector, and second biggest asshole in Canada (a very close second to the Prime Minister). Then we have Josee Verner, who on a trip to Mexico, in the middle of the Brenda Martin mess, decided to skip out on visiting this wrongfully imprisoned Canadian citizen who was on suicide watch, so that she could attend a party. Maxime Bernier, the man whose girlfriend had ties to the mafia and biker gangs, and placed her on a list that would have entitled her, should she have asked, to receive a diplomatic passport. Oh, and let's not forget that apparently the RCMP raised red flags about her, but nobody in the government gave a damn, because M. Bernier was Harper's golden boy in Quebec. We had Gordon O'Connor, the defense lobbyist who didn't understand that the job of the Minister of Defense is to run the Department, not to be a General, and interfering in command decisions. Joining the club now is Gerry Ritz. Is the Tory bench so lacking in depth that Harper can't fire these idiots and hire people who aren't national embarrassments? There should have been no question here: Gerry Ritz should have tendered his resignation, and if he wasn't going to, the Prime Minister should have demanded it. The fact that he didn't proves one thing: that Stephen Harper doesn't care about the victims of this outbreak. He has proved it by trying to further weaken the CFIA in spite of this catastrophe. He has further proved it by refusing to fire the point man for this disaster, even after that Minister made callous jokes before some of the dead have even been buried. Shameful.

What the Hell is Going On?

2008-09-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

So, being a student of the basics of campaigning, and seeing where Stephen Harper is in the polls, I had this entire campaign figured out. At the start of the campaign, the Opposition parties, led by the Liberals, would begin a relentless attack on Stephen Harper's record of lies, broken promises, and scare tactics. They'd say that his record was shameful, that he was destroying our economy, pushing us into deficit, handing out massive giveaways to the people at the top, while giving nothing to those lower on the ladder. It would all get laid out there, in a multimedia attack campaign that would occupy the first third or so of the campaign. After all, the only way to debate an incumbent on equal terms is to pull him down into the mud with you. It may not be pretty, and I'm fully aware that Canadians SAY that sort of thing doesn't work with them, but study after study has proven the precise opposite. Negative advertising works, and it works well.

Imagine my surprise when I saw virtually NO television ad buys from the Liberals. All of a sudden, I'm seeing polls suggesting that the LPC could be reduced to as few as four seats in BC. In the darkest hours of the sponsorship fiasco, the Liberals managed to increase their seat count in BC, but things look far worse now. Finally, the other night, I saw what appeared to be a ray of light. The ad talked about Harper's so-called strong leadership, and then pointed out how under that strong leadership, people were out of work, kids were living in poverty, and we were destroying the environment. "Finally," I thought to myself, "the Liberals have woken up and have realized that it's time to start throwing some punches." Imagine my surprise then when Jack Layton popped on screen at the end of the ad preaching his vision.

I know that the Liberal Party is short on funds. I know that they have to pick their battles. But here's the reality: not getting out there and hitting Stephen Harper will be the biggest mistake they make. It's not enough to take a few potshots at him in Leader's Tour events. It's time for some serious national ad buys to brand this Prime Minister for what he is. It's time for the Liberal party to start throwing some punches instead of just taking them all the time. If that doesn't happen, the Liberal Party could end up in Third Party status in a Harper majority. You can't undo a majority government.

Sarah Palin is a liar (she should meet David Emerson)

2008-09-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've been seething about Sarah Palin since the moment she was named by John McCain as his running mate. Well, maybe not since that exact moment. As I recall, when I flipped to CNN that fateful Friday morning and heard the news, I believe my initial reaction was "who the fuck is she?" But I digress, although it is important to note that until John McCain plucked this woman from relative obscurity as the Governor of the third-smallest state (by population) in the union, almost nobody had heard of her.

Sarah Palin has touted herself as a maverick. She's not. A maverick breaks with popular opinion to do what's right. Sarah Palin has a history of doing one thing, and then reversing herself anytime it was politically expedient to do so. And just in case that's not enough, she throws in a bit of historical revisionism to make her pitiful record look better than it really is. In almost every speech we've heard, Sarah Palin goes on about how she was against the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" (for those of you who don't know about this, the Bridge to Nowhere was a much derided project linking Ketchikan with a small neighbouring island that's home to the local airport, and very few people. It was sponsored through a pork-barrel earmark by powerful Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens, now the subject of a number of corruption charges). Anyhow, as it happens, when Sarah Palin was running for Governor of Alaska, she supported that Bridge to Nowhere. She oversaw the beginning of construction on roads to feed that very bridge. Then, public opinion changed, and so she followed up by canceling the project, seemingly in defense of taxpayer money, right? Well, that might have made sense, other than the fact that she didn't return a single dime.

Oh yes, that's right. The next story we hear about is the luxury jet purchased by her predecessor. In her speech, Palin notes that she put the jet on eBay, and John McCain went so far as to say that she did that, and sold it for a profit. Well, as it happens, Palin did put the jet on eBay, at which point nobody bought it. The Alaska Legislature went ahead and hired a broker to sell the jet, which the state purchased for 2.7 million dollars. The jet sold for 2.1 million dollars, not to mention the fees paid out to the broker, and an additional 50 thousand dollar bill thanks to unexpected maintenance issues. So she didn't sell that jet for a profit. In fact, she failed to sell it at all. Good job there Sarah.

Of course, we move on to Gov. Palin's teenage daughter Bristol. I agree with Barack Obama, and every other politician who says that Bristol Palin's pregnancy is a family matter that is off limits. I'm not going to ridicule her for not practicing her mother's abstinence-only policies. I'm not going to ridicule her for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Bristol Palin, after all, is not responsible for her mother's stupid policy stances. But I am going to hold Sarah Palin to account, because she noted that Bristol Palin had done the right thing. She said that her oldest daughter had chosen to keep the baby, certainly a laudable decision. But here's the thing: that was a choice that she allowed her daughter to make, all the while running on a campaign platform promising to take that same choice away from every other American woman should she ever be in a position to do so. Like I said, I won't ridicule Bristol Palin. I will, however, ridicule her mother's blatant hypocrisy.

Those who know Sarah Palin have consistently said that she is not a gracious person. Anybody who disagrees with her becomes public enemy number one. Said one former colleague "she takes it personally." Remind you of anyone? Perhaps the current "uniter, not a divider" President. This is precisely the LAST thing that America, and the rest of the world needs right now. Sarah Palin needs to be honest about her pitiful record, and stop relying on her not-quite-good-enough-to-be-Miss Alaska looks to get her places.

Bullshit

2008-09-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

Today, a consortium of the major media networks decided to exclude Elizabeth May from the Leader's debates, seemingly because even though the Greens finally have an MP, three party leaders threw a hissy fit. That's right: Stephen Harper said it just wasn't fair. Apparently that's the "strong leadership" that we're all better off with. What a pile of crap. And evidently the Prime Minister wasn't alone in proving this pathetic lack of leadership. Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe threatened not to attend if Ms. May were permitted to join in. This sounds like some sort of playground spat at an elementary school. These people are supposed to be trying to earn our votes, and prove that they are worthy of our trust. Instead, Stephen Harper, Jack Layton, and Gilles Duceppe have stomped their feet and bullied the networks into depriving the Canadian people of a fair choice this election. This combination of immaturity and arrogance is not befitting of anybody seeking political power.

Shame on the networks, and on the Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois for their extortion tactics. What a bunch of bullshit. Time to grow up, gentlemen.

Bush-McCain: Northern Edition?

2008-09-08T10:59:00.001-07:00

In this election, the economy is shaping up to be a major issue. Given our proximity to the United States, their economic woes have affected us, but it would hardly be accurate to suggest that our economic situation is entirely the result of theirs. In fact, in many ways, our situation is worse. A CBC story published today confirms this. Canada's economic growth, a model for the industrialized world just a few short years ago, is in the toilet thanks to Stephen Harper's ridiculous economic policies. OECD number indicate that our expected growth for the year has fallen to 0.8 percent, second worst in the G7 only to Italy. This is a drop from the 3.1 percent rate left to Harper by the previous Liberal government.

In spite of this, and in spite of the fact that more and more Canadians are having to try and do more with less, Harper is now dishing the same line as John McCain and George W. Bush. He's telling us that our fundamentals are strong, and that in these risky times, he's the one best suited to manage this economy. Numbers don't lie, even though he does. The past couple years of his Government are proof that he is the LAST person to be managing this economy. Look at what Jim Flaherty did to Ontario. Look at what they have already done in relatively good economic times. Are these truly the people that we want managing our economy as things appear to be worsening? Even if M. Dion is a "risky choice" as Mr. Harper likes to put it, I would sooner roll the dice on him than take a sure disaster with Mr. Harper continuing to mismanage this economy.

An Election Based on a Broken Promise

2008-09-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

The first day of the campaign is now over, and it's worthwhile to take a moment to reflect on where we are at the start of this campaign, as well as how we got here. For a Prime Minister who ran on a platform of honesty and trust, there is much to be ashamed of. Let's turn back the clock for a moment. Opposition Leader Stephen Harper promised, in the wake of Belinda Stronach's defection, never to romance an MP to cross the aisle. He promised that any Senate appointment made would be the result of an election to fill the position. He promised to be accountable. That was Opposition Leader Stephen Harper. Prime Minister Harper, on his very first day in office, broke all three of those promises. He lured David Emerson across the floor by waving a Cabinet post at him. He appointed Michael Fortier to the Senate, without election or consultation, and gave him a Cabinet position. Mr. Fortier was named Minister of Public Works, a massive department responsible for a great deal of Government spending, and by virtue of his position in the Senate, there was no accountability.

I bring up Mr. Fortier for a very specific reason. When the Prime Minister appointed Mr. Fortier to the Senate, it was made clear that the appointment was made because Mr. Fortier just couldn't be bothered to run in that election. We were promised that at the time of this election, Mr. Fortier would step down, and stand for election to the House of Commons. Now it is true that Mr. Fortier is a candidate in this election. He is the Conservative candidate for Vaudreuil-Soulanges. However, Mr. Fortier has not resigned his Senate seat. Indeed, the Senate website lists his retirement date as January 10, 2037. The only message that can be taken from this is that if Mr. Fortier loses this election, which is highly likely, given that it is a strong Bloc Quebecois seat, he will continue to sit as a Senator, unelected and unaccountable. Mr. Fortier should do the right thing, and resign his Senate seat at once, and he should go a step further and promise that if he loses, he will accept defeat and move on.

But back to broken promises, let's have a look at Stephen Harper's record. He promised to eliminate the GST entirely if the cost of gasoline crept above 85 cents per litre. Promise broken. On income trusts, the platform that the Conservatives ran on said that "A Conservative government will...stop the Liberal attack on retirement savings and preserve income trusts by not imposing any new taxes on them." Promise broken...on a dark, dark Tuesday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty broke that promise, and wiped billions of dollars in retirement savings out of existence. The list goes on and on and on.

This brings us to where we are now. On Sunday morning, the Prime Minister visited Governor-General Michaelle Jean, and dissolved Parliament, with an election to be held October 14th. The broken promise here is quite obvious. Stephen Harper passed fixed election date law, promising the Canadian people that the next election would be held next year. When the bill passed, the Prime Minister said "Fixed election dates prevent government from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage. They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody." Harper went on to say that "fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage." Promise broken. Riding high in the polls, the Prime Minister cooked up a lame excuse, while Parliament was not even sitting, to suggest that it was not functional, and plunged the country into its third election in a four year period.

The Prime Minister made one more promise. He said that he would not go negative on other party leaders, even though he said he fully expected them to go negative on him. Time will tell how long it takes before he breaks that promise.

UPDATE: At the time of publishing this article, Mr. Fortier had not yet resigned. As of this morning however, he finally resigned his Senate seat, although he certainly waited until the very last moment to do so, given that this election was the worst kept secret in the country. I continue to wonder why Mr. Fortier did not avail himself of the numerous by-election opportunities that he had over the past session, but that aside, assuming he loses, I hope he takes it with grace.

David Emerson is Still an Asshole (and a liar)

2008-09-07T16:39:00.000-07:00

So, a few days ago, we the people heard from David Emerson. Yes, that's right. David Emerson who ran in Vancouver-Kingsway as a Liberal, and then crossed the floor to Stephen "I don't romance MP's to cross the aisle" Harper, after being bribed with a Cabinet post. The very same David Emerson to whom I referred as an asshole at the time. David Emerson, as you will all remember, swore up and down that he would not resign and run in a by-election, but that his constituents would have an opportunity to pass judgment on his record come the next election. Strangely enough though, while everybody else was filing their nomination papers, Mr. Emerson was not. Then we heard the other day that three Tory Cabinet Ministers would not be running for re-election. Their names? Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn (actually a nice guy, and retiring after a long career), Human Resources Minister Monte Solberg (kind of competent), and, of course, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson (asshole). So here's a challenge to Stephen Harper. Emerson promised his constituents their chance to judge his asshole-ish ways. So, put his name on the ballot anyhow. Let the people pass their judgment on this monument to hubris, and see what happens. If he's as popular as he seems to think he is, then maybe we're all in for a surprise.

Election 2008

2008-09-07T12:12:00.001-07:00

So the Prime Minister has asked the Governor General to dissolve a Parliament that he said was dysfunctional. If it was as dysfunctional as he claims, he might want to examine his own party first and foremost. After all, when the Opposition offered to fast-track the bulk of his crime legislation, it was the Prime Minister and his Conservative lapdogs who said no, and then tried to blame the opposition for it. It is this Prime Minister who has run the most secretive and unaccountable government, second only to the White House since George W. Bush moved in. Let's face it, this is the Government that actually wrote a handbook on how to obstruct the business of Parliament, so I'm not entirely sure how an election will change anything, unless the Canadian people wake up and get rid of all the Tories who have run roughshod over Parliament since day one.

With this election, Canadians have an opportunity to open the windows of this country and let in some fresh air. To do this, however, they will have to take the opportunity to inform themselves beyond the soundbytes and attack ads that will undoubtedly be hurled about by all the political parties. They might need to try and understand that Stéphane Dion is not the wimp that he's been made out to be. After all, this is the man who told the separatists to get bent. That said, his political strategy has been severely lacking to the point of being pathetic, and if he doesn't learn how to throw a punch at the Prime Minister, this election will be a disaster.

A Quick Update

2008-09-06T00:17:00.001-07:00

So the Conservative Party of Canada, awash with cash as an incumbent government tends to be (just look at how much money the Grits had to spend when they were in power) have put out these fluff ads, because anything they spend now doesn't count as election spending. The new ads are so cheesy that they're truly enough to make anybody's stomach turn more than a bit. The ads feature Stephen Harper sitting in a room at the Prime Minister's summer home at Harrington Lake, talking about warm fuzzies like family and our veterans, as if to say that he and his ilk are the only ones who value them.

I know what the Tories are doing. Let's face it, a large chunk of the country looks at Stephen Harper and realizes that he is even less charismatic than his cardboard cutouts. They put out these ads to make Canadians think that he's just a regular guy, like anybody else. He spends time with his kids, plays the piano, honours our veterans, and as a result Canada is, in the eyes of the Tories, just better off with him in charge.

Frankly, Harper could use an image makeover, but it'll take more than a few ads. The reality is that if Stephen Harper wants to cultivate a more human image with the Canadian people, he should try to actually act like a human being, show some compassion, and stop being such an arrogant idiot. This is the man who took such pleasure in blasting the Liberals for being arrogant. At least they (until Paul Martin) had won majority governments. Harper is twice as arrogant, with half the accomplishments. If he really wants Canadians to start trusting him, maybe he should try something new, like being trustworthy. More to come.

We're Back

2008-09-05T13:14:00.001-07:00

After a long hiatus, the Canadian Post is back, and not a moment too soon. In recent weeks and months, the Harper Government has continued its cold-hearted campaign of trampling over the rights of Canadians, and breaking promises and laws wherever it has seen fit. A Government that was elected on a promise to end dishonesty and corruption in Ottawa has instead broken Canada's campaign financing laws, attempted to bribe a dying MP to bring down Paul Martin's minority Government, attacked the ethics of the 80 percent of Canadian doctors who approve Insite, the safe injection site in Vancouver, broken promise after promise, broken its own policy on accountability and transparency with respect to appointments to the Supreme Court of Canada, and this Sunday is expected to break its own fixed election date legislation.

Never in Canada's history have we seen a Government launch an attack on the impartial institutions of state that the Conservatives have under Stephen Harper. This is the first time that I can remember that a Government has actually had the moxie to try and smear Elections Canada, which has been the gold standard in terms of impartiality for Canadians. But calling out the Prime Minister for what basically amounts to electoral fraud was too much for him. Just as happens to anybody else that criticizes Canada's naked emperor, Elections Canada is now receiving the full force of Harper's vengeance. It doesn't stop there though. Sheila Fraser, Canada's auditor-general is a target as well. Yes, remember her? She's the one who Harper heaped praise on for blowing the whistle on the sponsorship scandal. As an officer of Parliament, she doesn't take orders from political figures. She does her job, and goes where the numbers and evidence lead her. Stephen Harper went after her too. He and his thugs tried to force her to vet all of her public comments through the PMO. She kindly told him where to go and how to get there, and for good reason. She doesn't work for him. Sheila Fraser is an officer of Parliament. She works for us, and thankfully, she told him to go to hell, and then called him on it publicly. The list goes on and on, and Canadians still seem willing to tolerate this crap.

Elements in this Government still think that the jury is out on matters such as evolution and climate change. On minority rights, reproductive rights, and gay rights, they favour turning back the clock. At every turn we have seen how out of touch this Government has been, and if it weren't for the fact that they are in a minority situation, they would have transformed our laws to a point where we would not recognize this country.

This weekend, an election will be called, and Conservatives across the country will look you in the eye and lie to you in a blatant attempt to dupe you into voting for them. They will attempt to suppress the voices of those who disagree with them, including the Green Party of Canada. For those whose voices they can't suppress, they will launch an all-out campaign of distortion, because it is the only way to hide from Canadians just how out of touch they are. Throughout the upcoming campaign, this publication will hold their propaganda to the harsh light of the truth.

The New Conservative Mantra

2006-02-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

A day has gone by since Canada was shocked by Stephen Harper's utter abandonment of principle in the naming of his Cabinet. The funny thing is, things haven't gotten better; they've actually gotten worse.

To begin with, we heard more about the David Emerson file. It turns out that none other than John Reynolds was dispatched by Mr. Harper to kickstart the negotiations. That's right, John Reynolds, the paragon of Tory virtue. If my sarcasm isn't carrying through the text, go have a look at his expense account to see just how much the man respects taxpayers. So now, we know that for two weeks, Mr. Emerson sat on this information. He made his decision without talking to his riding association. He made it without talking to the electorate. He made it without talking to anyone in his Party. Apparently Mr. Emerson has failed to grasp a fundamental concept of public life, so I have a message for him. "Mr. Emerson, you are not in the private sector anymore. YOUR DECISIONS ARE NOT ABOUT YOU." In failing to talk to anyone aside from those who promised to enrich him, Mr. Emerson contributed to what's wrong with democracy. Democracy isn't about telling the electorate what's best for them. It's about respecting the will of those who vote for you. Mr. Emerson has forgotten that, and I, as someone who believed in Mr. Emerson, feel betrayed. Judging by the media commentary I've seen yesterday and today, I'm not alone.

Continuing in the hypocrisy that seems to abound now that the Tories are in power, we heard today from John Cummins, who welcomed Mr. Emerson to the Conservative Party, and to Cabinet. Now, I can understand that not all Conservatives support by-elections for defectors, and to be honest, in most cirumstances, I don't either. But Mr. Cummins does. Or at least, he did. When Belinda Stronach defected, Mr. Cummins was one of the strongest supporters of legislation that would require defectors to resign their seats and stand in a by-election. Apparently this "principled" stand was anything but.

We also heard from the unelected Minister that Stephen Harper promised never to name, who will take a Senate seat that was supposed to be elected. He was asked why he didn't run in the election. His response? "I didn't run in the election because I didn't want to run in the election." Well, isn't that nice? I didn't run in the election either. Can I get a Cabinet post and a Senate seat too? This is worse than Amateur Night.

In any case, the topic of this column is The New Conservative Mantra. Well, I've finally figured it out. "Politics before principles." Stephen Harper was right: he is changing Ottawa. Too bad he didn't tell us just how before Election Day.

A Stench is Rising

2006-02-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today's column was meant to be a look at expectations for Stephen Harper and his new Cabinet. It was meant to talk a bit about the traditions, and the pomp that surround the swearing in of a new Government. Indeed, a change of Government is always a momentous occasion in Canadian politics. Sadly, the Cabinet that was revealed to Canadians today was nothing short of a disaster. It's difficult to decide where to begin, so I'll just pick at random, and try to follow a logical path as I wade through this mire.

So, we begin in the middle. Ontario elected a large crop of Tory MP's. Stephen Harper decided that the best way to represent Ontarians at the Cabinet table was to pick a crop of losers and hated politicians. We have Jim Flaherty, probably one of the most hated men in Ontario, a man whose slash-and-burn fiscal policy earned him universal disdain throughout much of the country. He now becomes Canada's new Minister of Finance. Tony Clement, the former Ontario Minister of Health, under whom healthcare wait times ballooned in Ontario, now becomes the Minister charged with reducing said wait times. Nevermind that his mismanagement also created a mess in Ontario during the infamous SARS oubreak in 2003. The man is a nice guy, but a perennial loser. The man is unable to run even a rudimentary political operation. His electoral success has always relied on the coattails of others; his leadership campaign demonstrated so clearly what happens to him when there are no coattails to ride. Indeed, to my knowledge, his riding was the only one in the country that was so close that it went to an automatic recount. Rounding out the Ontario bunch is John Baird, who as a Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament hurled insults at a woman who was protesting at the Assembly to draw attention to the plight of her disabled child. He oversaw reckless changes to Ontario's welfare programs that led to countless welfare recipients being cut from the rolls, without any sort of job training whatsoever. His tendency to sign wasteful contracts was criticized repeatedly by Ontario's Auditor-General. He paid Accenture Consulting an average of over $200 per hour to do work that his Ministry had been doing for $51 per hour. He spent $55 million dollars to find a way to save $66 million. And this man, who wasted money in such a cavalier manner, was rewarded for his fiscal prudence by Stephen Harper, who named him President of the Treasury Board. Waste and mismanagement indeed.

Moving on from Ontario, to neighbouring Manitoba, we find Vic Toews, who becomes Canada's new Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. The man whose job it is to uphold the Constitution, and to defend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has a shameful record of opposing minority rights across the board. He has worked with extremist right-wing groups like Focus on the Family, criticized what he calls "the secular press", voted against bill C-250, which would have included sexual orientation in hate crimes legislation, and opposes abortion. He has also advocated for rather liberal (small-l) use of the notwithstanding clause, to impose his own narrow world view down the throats of all Canadians.

Peter MacKay, a man I can only refer to as a sleaze, a liar (remember PC Leadership?), and a wuss (Belinda Stronach), is now Canada's pointman on the world stage. A Minister of Foreign Affairs is someone who ought to command respect, a statesmanlike figure. Stephen Harper has insulted Canadians by sending a poodle off to the world stage to speak for us. It is simply not in Canada's best interests to be represented by a spineless wimp. As a respected Middle Power, Canada needs a Foreign Minister who can be trusted. Instead, we've gotten a man best known for his massive lies.

Stockwell Day becomes the new Minister of Public Safety. The man who arrived to his first Press Conference clad in a wetsuit and riding a jet-ski is the man whose job it will be to ensure the security of all Canadians. That's right, the man who couldn't hold his own caucus together is now expected to do much more than that for this country. Never mind the fact that this guy thinks that the world is about 6,000 years old and that humans and dinosaurs walked the earth together. This man is probably the least efficient person in the entire Tory caucus, and is the most out of touch with the realities of the world we live in, but he's now the guy who needs to prepare us for emergencies, and respond to them when they happen. Suddenly, I don't feel so safe anymore.

Now, many will remember that Stephen Harper pledged to change things in Ottawa. He made two commitments that he broke in one fell swoop this morning. Mr. Harper swore up and down that he would never appoint an unelected individual to Cabinet, and he promised not to appoint Senators for political purposes. Apparently, Canadians didn't read the fine print, which said that this offer could be changed or thrown out without notice. Michael Fortier was named Minister of Public Works. His job basically entails overseeing all Government spending. Buildings, staff, day-to-day operations. A massive Ministry, prone to scandal, with a huge budget. In Question Period, questions to the Minister of Public Works tend to be quite colourful. Well, so much for accountability. Mr. Fortier is not an MP. Mr. Harper plans on appointing him to the Senate. So much for an election. So much for integrity. Since Senators aren't even allowed to set foot in the Commons, Mr. Fortier won't have to face Question Period, or worry about accountability. What a great tone for the new Government. Here's another Harper quote: "Promise made, promise broken."

Our new Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and incoming President of the Privy Council is a man named Michael Chong. "Michael who," you ask? My thoughts exactly. The man in charge of the Privy Council has no legal expertise, nor any real Government experience at all. The man whose job it is to be the link between the Government of Canada and the provinces has had an undistinguished career that has all but been restricted to Ontario. Then again, he was the NHLPA's information officer. That has to count for something, I'm just not sure what.

Now, there's one name that I haven't mentioned, and that's mostly because I had to consume half a bottle of Gravol to overcome the nausea that this particular person's name brings. But first, here's some more quotes from Mr. Harper and his friends, in reference to defectors. "We don't go out of our way to romance MPs to get them to cross the floor. We are trying to create a principled party..., and obviously we're fairly cautious about encouraging party jumping, because that's the kind of thing that generates cynicism. And frankly, when someone jumps once, you're not sure you can trust them the next time, so I would always handle that with an extraordinary degree of caution." One can only recall that when Belinda Stronach crossed the floor, in principled opposition to Stephen Harper's policies, she was accused of political prostitution, among other things. Countless Tories called for her to resign and stand in a by-election. Apparently those standards only apply to those who leave the Tories, and not those who join. Today, Canadians were shocked to see that a man who just two weeks ago was elected as a Liberal, left his Party, before Parliament had even been convened, before the Government had even been sworn in, to become a Conservative Minister. This is a man who, on election night, sang the praises of Paul Martin, a man who his new boss has described as tired and corrupt. Apparently Mr. Emerson is the only person here who fits that description. The man who spent a campaign demonizing Stephen Harper looked much more fondly upon him when there was a patronage plum to be had. He didn't even have the honour and dignity to inform Mr. Martin, or interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham. Well, at the risk of my own future, let me say this: David Emerson is an asshole. He represents the worst filth in politics, and he is a threat to the very fibre of democracy. If he has an ounce of decency in him, he'll resign his seat immediately, and stand in a by-election. No doubt the voters of Vancouver-Kingsway, who thought they were electing a Liberal, feel angry and betrayed.

This Cabinet represents the worst of the Conservative Party. The few voices of integrity and moderation were given roles that can be considered marginal at best. Turncoats, extremists, and liars now hold the most powerful positions in Canada's halls of power. Canadians from coast to coast will watch the news tonight, and feel sick to their stomachs when they realize precisely what kind of monster they have elected. Here's the most ironic twist of them all: Robert Nicholson was named Minister of Democratic Reform. He was sworn in immediately before Mr. Emerson. Well, there's his first project. In the meantime, there will be a particularly heavy stench hanging over Ottawa, as this sham of a Government takes power.

Election Night in Canada

2006-01-24T01:25:00.000-08:00

Well, the tallies are in, and the dust is beginning to settle. Many of those politically involved have not slept in a few days. Indeed, the dying days of a campaign are filled with stress, no matter what the polls say.

What Canadians said tonight, however, marks one of the most confusing outcomes I've ever seen. They elected a Harper minority; that much we can all agree on. They also elected a massive Liberal Opposition, not to mention a sizeable Bloc contingent and an enlarged NDP caucus. What it means though, is that Canadians made Stephen Harper Prime Minister, and then put in place an opposition that will likely prevent him from delivering on almost all of his promises. It certainly creates an interesting situation for him.

For Liberals, tonight was bittersweet. A campaign that had some people forecasting the Liberals being reduced to 60 seats didn't turn out all that badly. However, the Grits have to admit that the past few years were not kind to Canada's natural governing party. They went from a healthy majority to a minority, and now into Opposition. Paul Martin announced his retirement from politics, and will likely be remembered in only a slightly more favourable light than John Turner. Indeed, Martin had so much going for him. He was Canada's greatest Minister of Finance. His battle against the deficit is his greatest legacy to Canadians, who have the privilege of being part of a country with a vibrant culture, a strong social safety net, and being in the only country in the G8 with a solid record of budget surpluses.

Mr. Martin, however, decided to follow his principles. Some would say that sacrifice is a lonely path, and Paul Martin did sacrifice himself, to an extent. He fought long and hard to clear the name of the Liberal Party, which was dogged by scandals, and new ones, engineered though they were, popped up at inopportune times during the election campaign. Blow after blow landed on Mr. Martin, and in the end, it was impossible to defend against them all. So, Mr. Martin will walk off into the sunset of Canadian political history. If the right people write the books, Mr. Martin will be remembered as the man who made Canada the prosperous country that it is, as the man who fought to restore honesty and integrity to government in Canada, as the man who stood on principle for equal rights for all Canadians, regardless of his own personal convictions. His time in office might not have been long, and he failed to win a majority, but years from now, Mr. Martin's impact will still be felt by Canadians. Kim Campbell got it right when she said that Mr. Martin retired from politics with dignity and grace.

Mr. Harper has done better than he expected in Quebec, but aside from that, his campaign still failed to produce the results he had expected. Indeed, with his showing in Quebec, if the rest of his campaign had managed to produce, he would have won a majority. He did not. He will be faced by a Paliament that is incredibly hostile. His saving grace is that Canadians are election weary, and his opponents, just like him, are completely broke. Mr. Harper will be unable to implement his more controversial social and economic changes, and we will have to see how he manages it. The NDP will make things even more painful for him than they did for the Liberals. The Bloc is ideologically further left than the NDP, and let's face it, the Liberals aren't so fond of Mr. Harper either. If I were Stephen Harper, I wouldn't wish this mess on my worst enemy, and when the euphoria settles, and the new keys to 24 Sussex stop looking so shiny and pretty, Stephen Harper will still be stuck with a mess on his hands. I don't envy him one bit.

The Ad Game

2005-12-09T02:36:00.000-08:00

Well, the major parties have unveiled their TV ads over the past week or so, and I've finally gotten around to watching them. I have to say that for the most part, I was left uninspired, and unimpressed, so here's my colour commentary.

I started off looking at the ads put out by the political party that left me by the wayside: the Conservative Party of Canada. Now, if you're one of the millions of Canadians who think that Stephen Harper is stiff, impersonal, overly academic, and flat out not real, then the CPC ads will do plenty to reinforce that viewpoint. All we get out of their English language ads is a fake TV news interview on a ridiculous set, complete with a clearly fake interviewer and contrived video questions from "ordinary" Canadians. I wonder what they got paid for their "questions." The CPC's French language ads fared a bit better in my mind, attempting to paint the Tories as an alternative to the Liberals and the Bloc. However, any goodwill generated will be lost on most people in Quebec after they see the end of the ad, which is the bit about who authorized the ad. What got me was the way they worded it, and their effort to note that their advertising was paid for with "l'argent propre," or "clean money." I have never seen such a cheap and insulting use of negative advertising. It proves flat out that the Tories aren't interested in being positive and proactive. They are relying on being so negative as to give voters nowhere to turn but to Stephen Harper's warm embrace. Perhaps, once the man gets a pulse, he might be a bit more appealing. In the meantime, keep looking.

On to the NDP. Their "TV" ads have yet to hit the airwaves, but instead are on NDP Online TV, which is to say, a short page on their website. The ads are simple, which can be a good thing. They feature NDP Leader Jack Layton (I still think that the mustache makes him look like a used car salesman), talking about the Liberals. Again, we see political advertising devoid of any vision, and devoted to spin and half-truths about the past, instead of vision for the future. The ads seem to be a bit dark as well, but clearly the NDP didn't spend much money making the ads, so I doubt they spent much on post-production either. In any case, for a party that seems to think so little of the Liberals, it's really quite remarkable how long Jack Layton's NDP voted with, stood up for, and defended said Liberals. I guess we're supposed to forget about that.

Now, on to the Liberal ads. There are 3 ads out so far. The first one I actually have to give top marks to. It's brilliant in its simplicity. The ad features snippets from various newspapers touting the accomplishments of Paul Martin's minority government. We see figures on job creation, the economy, softwood lumber, etc. The choice of music evokes the right feelings, and the short, but simple voiceover at the end drives the message home. In political terms, it's classic sunshine and puppydogs. The next two ads are basically the same ad, with a different cast. We see a bunch of Liberals talking about why they plan on voting Liberal this election. It's a little cheesy, and a bit contrived, but still head and shoulders above what we've seen from the other parties.

So, here's my advice. To the Liberal ad crew, well, you guys don't need my advice, so I'll move on. To the NDP: check your lighting levels, and don't forget who you worked with to get what you wanted for the last 17 months. To Stephen Harper: fire your publicity people...again. It'll give you a chance to break in that revolving door in the CPC Leader's Office. In any case, after you fire said crew, hire some people who can give you an image makeover so that your ads are warmer than winter in Medicine Hat.

Odd Job Jack

2005-12-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well, Jack Layton has opened his mouth, and Canadians wish he'd just have kept it shut. I'm referring, of course, to his electoral reform package. What a joke. Every single proposal Mr. Layton has made undermines political accountability, and takes representation further away from the people. I simply don't understand how stupid Odd Job Jack thinks we are, if he expects us to actually buy his BS.

Let's look at what he's proposed. First, the introduction of PR to the House of Commons. Well, isn't that nice. Assuming that take some logical conclusions from his remarks, we're looking, most likely, at a Mixed Member Proportional system. Either the Commons gets bigger to maintain current riding sizes, while allowing the PR reps to get their seats, or ridings become even bigger than they really are, causing major hardship to those in rural ridings who may already live a day's drive from their MP. Beyond that, the creation of this system creates MPs who are only accountable to their own Party's leadership. Who do the PEOPLE get to hold accountable when one of those MPs screws something up? What's stopping those MPs from abusing the public trust when they don't have to answer directly to the people? "Trust me," says Jack. Right.

Then the next proposal: forcing MPs who change political affiliation to stand in a by-election. At first glance, it's not a bad idea. But the fact of the matter is that in our system, we vote for people, not parties. It is the political establishment that has twisted and perverted the system to further partisan interests, that has made us forget about this. One of the worst culprits in the matter is the NDP, which has a long history of refusing to allow its MPs to represent their constituents, that censors what they say, and that forces them to follow the party line, right down to the letter. We saw that Jack Layton put partisanship ahead of Canadians when he brought down this Parliament, so I guess it should come as no surpise that he's willing to ignore the Constitutionally guaranteed Freedom of Association that was so dearly fought for. This latest development marks one of the darkest chapters in Canadian political history, where three out of the four officially recognized parties have announced their intent to put the Constitution through the shredder. Anyone who believes in the promise of Canada should be incredibly alarmed.

The NDP Credibility Gap

2005-12-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Well, what a weekend it has been, and, what a week it's shaping up to be. You may have noticed that the Canadian Post did not put out any articles over the weekend. I'll keep an eye on happenings, and if things happen, I will put out posts on weekends as well. As it happens, watching paint dry in my apartment was pretty much the most exciting thing happening.

Sunday night marked a rather interesting development as far as politics goes. Svend Robinson, who lives in and has represented Burnaby-Douglas for decades, retired from politics a year and a half ago after he was caught stealing a $60,000 ring. He admitted that he was imbalanced, and retired from politics. It was the right thing to do. I do not begrudge Mr. Robinson for his medical condition. Mental illness is a very serious matter, and far too often, we stigmatize people who suffer from various mental conditions. However, it is worth noting that public life is incredibly stressful, and those who are not of sound mind are probably better off in a less stressful environment. Mr. Robinson had a spotty track record in Parliament, and while I do believe he served the people of Burnaby-Douglas well, I believe his positions on a number of issues were irresponsible and outright reckless.

Now, just 18 months later, Mr. Robinson has decided to attempt a return to the House of Commons. Well, I'm sorry, but if Mr. Robinson wants to run, he should try and get himself nominated in his own riding. The last thing the people of Vancouver Centre need is a nutjob politician who doesn't even enjoy the total support of his own leader. Svend Robinson proved himself to be a loose cannon in Parliament for over 2 decades. He's been on and off of the NDP frontbench more times than I can keep track off. But, if the NDP is so short on talent that it has to resort to shipping in a carpet-bagging radical, then that surely says something about the dead end that they have reached under the dubious leadership of Jack Layton, who would be more at home selling used cars than sitting in the Commons. Now, let me be frank here. I was one of Hedy Fry's most outspoken critics last time around, but, perhaps I owe her an apology. I made much of her remarks about phantom cross burnings in Prince George. But not long after she made her remarks, RCMP raided a home in BC's interior, and found KKK paraphernalia, as well as a cache of explosives that could have been used for the most horrific of purposes. While she may not score and A in geography, Dr. Fry did British Columbians a valuable service by shining a spotlight on the scourge of racism that still exists in BC, and across Canada. She is to be commended for that, as well as for her commitment in representing what is likely one of the most diverse ridings in the country.

Dr. Fry has now represented this riding for over a decade. That the NDP can't find a serious candidate who knows this riding is an insult to the people of the area. Yes, Svend Robinson is a gay man, and yes, Vancouver Centre is home to the largest gay population in the Vancouver, but I believe that the LGBT community is smarter than the NDP thinks they are, and they will vote for a person who has stood up for them since 1993.

Moving on from Vancouver Centre, Jack Layton has also exposed himself as a man who put his own political gain ahead of the well-being of Canada as a whole. He brought down this minority Parliament, because he claimed that the Liberals refused to take a stand against private healthcare. Now that the damage has been done, and Canadians have been forced into an election that they never wanted in the first place, Mr. Layton has come out and said that he believes that private healthcare is a reality in Canada, and that's just how things are going to be. Well, if Mr. Layton truly believes that, then why on earth did he vote to bring down this Parliament in the heinous manner that he did? The answer is simple. As a charter member of the Axis of Ego, he was required to. Just like Stephen Harper and Gilles Duceppe, he just wasn't satisfied with holding Parliament hostage, and he gave in to his desire to pull the trigger. Well, Canadians will pass judgement on him on January 23rd, and he's in for an unpleasant surprise.

Dial H for Hypocrisy

2005-12-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well. It seems that Stephen Harper has discovered a couple of documents that his advisors have been trying to hide from him: The Canada Health Act, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Well, isn't that nice. A person who has been advocating for more private heathcare in Canada is suddenly Tommy Douglas, Jr. Somehow, I find that just a little bit hard to believe. Mr. Harper simply has no credibility on the issue, especially when he represents a party that has been quietly advocating for a massive expansion of private, for-profit healthcare in Canada.

Now, we hear from Mr. Harper that he has a plan. He's going to protect the public system. He's going to reduce wait-list times. Stephen Harper is the saviour of public healthcare in Canada! Stephen Harper is the saviour of public healthcare in Canada?? Somehow, that rings just a little bit hollow for me. Maybe it's because countless First Minister's conferences have only just begun to make a dent in the issue. Maybe because what few glimpses of his plan we have seen appear to have been written on the back of a napkin while he sipped on a de-alcoholised beer. It's an insult to Canadians for Mr. Harper to politicize public healthcare in the manner that he has, with absolutely no plan to back it up.

But it gets even better. The hypocrisy has only just begun. Mr. Harper made the follwing remark, explaning why his plan is so amazing: "the only way that government can preserve the principles of the Canada Health Act and respect requirements of the Charter of Rights." Respect for the Charter of Rights, Mr. Harper? What about the judgements of 7 provincial appellate courts, and one territorial appellate court? What about the words of the Supreme Court of Canada? I'm speaking, of course, about same-sex marriage. The Courts are the guardians of our Charter, and they have spoken, from coast to coast, with one voice, in defence of Canadian values of tolerance, equality, and compassion. Mr. Harper seems more than happy to ignore the requirements of the Charter on same-sex marriage, but he's more than happy to wave our Constitution when it comes to health care. Well, Mr. Harper, stop hiding behind Parliament, and stop throwing mud at our judiciary. Make up your mind, once and for all, and tell us, flat out, whether we can trust you to defend the Charter, even if it hurts politically. In the mean time, shut your mouth, and stop insulting our intelligence.

Fuzzy Math and Voodoo Economics: a Tory Staple

2005-12-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Once again, Stephen Harper has taken a stand on an issue, and once again, he's come out on the wrong side of things. For a long time, Tories have said that while they don't particularly like the GST, that it's a relatively fair tax, and I can understand where that logic comes from. Now, Stephen Harper is dumping all over a tax created by one of his closest advisors, Brian Mulroney. Instead of pledging to reduce personal income taxes, which would be a huge help to middle and lower income families, Mr. Harper has chosen to pledge to knock one percentage point off the GST, and another after the next election. I doubt that low income people will see any benefit from this; they will save a penny here and there, but watch for Canada's Grinch to claw it back by cutting their GST rebate cheques. In reality, the people who will benefit the most from Harper's tax plan are the wealthiest in Canada, and frankly, they don't need the help right now. People who spend the most will save the most with this tax cut, and a family of 4, living paycheque to paycheque, are not going to go out and buy a new washing machine because they'll save a five dollars thanks to Mr. Harper's "generosity". No, the people who will benefit most from this joke of a tax plan are the people who have money to burn.

Now, Paul Martin has introduced a plan that delivers tax relief to the people who actually need it. We've seen prudent fiscal management in this country for a decade now, with the deficit being eliminated, and with years of balanced budgets and debt reduction. We have seen the Liberals announce plans to correct the imbalance in the EI system so that it is revenue neutral, and we are now seeing a responsible program of tax relief that will direct real, substantial tax relief to the people who need it the most. Getting substantial tax relief to those in the lower tax brackets creates a noticeable and meaningful difference in their paycheques, something anyone living from paycheque to paycheque desperately needs. Kudos to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for continuing in the path of fiscal prudence.

The Hidden Agenda

2005-11-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

In his very first Q&A with reporters this campaign, Stephen Harper has already proven to Canadians why they should be afraid of him. That's a new record for a man who has less charisma than his own cardboard cutout. But, in all seriousness, what the media seemed to gloss over was quite likely the most alarming comment made during the election, and the fact that it's been ignored is worse than disturbing. Now, we all know that Mr. Harper's position on same-sex marriage is that it's bad, and that Parliament was stupid to pass C-38. So it's no surprise that he's promising to try to repeal it.

What is surprising is what Mr. Harper went on to say. Most people have been led to believe that Mr. Harper is in full support of some sort of institution of civil unions or domestic partnerships, "marriage-lite", if you will. What the media all but ignored was that Harper said he'd be perfectly willing to deny even that reduced recognition. He'd be willing to rip up the Charter of Rights and Freedoms if it was the will of Parliament. Now, individual rights are individual rights, whether they be gay rights, abortion rights, minority rights, etc. If Mr. Harper said that he'd be willing to make abortion illegal if Parliament went along with it, there would be a national outcry. And judging by some of the personalities in his Party, all it will take is one decision to establish a beachhead to destroy our Charter, one right at a time. So, Demand Better, Stand up for Canada, and vote for a Liberal. It's the only way to stop this country from turning into the United States of Canada under George W. Harper.

Deceit, Deception, Dishonesty

2005-11-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Three words that quite nicely encapsulate Stephen Harper's campaign to be President of the United States of Canada. Today, we've heard from the leaders of all the major parties, but I want to focus my attention on Mr. Harper today. We heard from him today the first reasonable thing he's said, ever: that this campaign won't just be negative, but instead it'll focus on the Conservative vision for Canada. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was the high point of Harper's campaign, because we finally heard his vision: dismantling public health care, rolling back minority rights, and "saving" our economy with George W. Bush style tax cuts. Well, here's a thought: over the last 12 years, it's been a Liberal government that's turned around a failing economy. It's been a Liberal government that's slayed the deficit. It's been a Liberal government that's made new investments in healthcare, child care, and social services that are important to Canada. It's been a Liberal government that has kept Canada together in spite of the best efforts of Quebec separatists.

But on to the D-words. No sooner than did Stephen Harper talk about presenting a vision for Canada than did he turn around and start whining about the sponsorship program. Justice Gomery made it very clear that Paul Martin did not know about the abuse of a legitimate program by a few corrupt individuals. In fact, it is Paul Martin who made the Liberal Party pay back every dime of taxpayer money that it received through the program. It is Paul Martin who went to court to recover the rest of the money that was misappropriated by unscrupulous bureaucrats. The fact that Stephen Harper continues to lie about Mr. Justice Gomery's findings is nothing short of disgusting. He has chosen to judge the entire Liberal Party based on the actions of a few individuals. If Mr. Harper can't campaign with honesty, then how can Canadians expect him to govern with integrity? Well, I have another D-word for Mr. Harper: disgusted.

Extra! Extra!

2005-11-28T16:15:00.000-08:00

Read all about it! Tonight, the opposition united to bring down Paul Martin's minority government, and forced Canadians into an election during a time when Canadians, regardless of cultural or religious affiliation, take time to be with their families, and reflect on the year that has been. If what Tory House Leader Jay Hill had to say is any indication, peace on earth and good will towards men (and women), will instead be replaced by partisan bickering and mudslinging. Stephen Harper and his clan of right-wing zealots formed their own Axis of Ego with the separatists and the NDP to delay tax relief for hard-working Canadians, to put off important spending to improve the living conditions for Canada's First Nations, and to delay improvements to our health care system. That's right, folks, according to the opposition, sending Canadians into an election that they have said they don't want is more important than doing the people's work. Now, instead of carollers knocking on our doors, holiday dinners will interrupted by campaign workers burying us in an avalanche of election pamphlets.

Now, we've also heard that Stephen Harper, a man who hid behind Parliamentary Privilege to avoid a libel lawsuit last week, is now contemplating suing the Liberal Party for 40 million dollars that he says the Gomery Inquiry cannot account for. Mr. Harper ought to quit writing his own report, and read the one that Mr. Justice Gomery wrote. The money is accounted for, and the Government is suing those who received it, in order to get it back. If Mr. Harper has to turn his back on the truth to get people to vote for him, then perhaps that is the more telling about how little integrity he has. Politicians have been known to cast facts in a light that benefits them best, but Mr. Harper has chosen to cross the line, over and over again. He has ignored facts, he has ignored the will of the Canadian people, and in my opinion, lacks the integrity required to hold the keys to 24 Sussex.