Well it's been quite a while since I've written. I've pretty much taken my ball and run home since the last election. It's mostly been work etc that's taken my time.
Nevertheless, Stephane Dion's wife supposedly went on a bit of a tirade today. Everyone has the right to their opinion. She has some good points because I've always contended that Dion was done in by his own party. The most unencouraging thing about the whole affair though is that the party is airing its dirty laundry. There's bickering for the Tories to see, for the NDP to see, for the Bloc to see, for the Media to see, and most importantly for the people to see.
It's funny being in a party -- you have to make compromises as an individual and as sects within the party because they party will never fully represent all of your views. I'm not a Liberal party insider with the accompanying knowledge, and the difficulty of being in opposition usually brings about similar discontent. This then begs the question, how much are the members of the Liberal party really willing to compromise? They weren't really willing to do so with Dion, and now there are obvious dissensions with Ignatieff as leader. Where Ignatieff has surpassed Dion is that he replaced his inner circle to try and correct the course. Time isn't always that much available in politics, but are the party powers willing to compromise enough to allow the party to correct itself because increasingly it's becoming self evident that the party needs time to strengthen itself. After all, there were 13 years of Liberal rule. This was mostly because of a helluva PM, but the other guys were also in a similar position to the one the Liberals are in now. Do the liberals really need 13 years for the message to sink in?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Flag Folly
This whole mess over the Gov't of Ontario ordering flags from China is a bit ridiculous. People are criticizing the government for ordering cheaper flags that save taxpayer money from a different country. Boo hoo. I bet these same people also complain when their taxes go up, and when the government goes into deficits. Keep it consistent people! As a taxpayer, I have no issues with the government seeking ways to save money. Furthermore, it's bit silly for Canadians whose economy is so dependent on international trade to call foul when one of their governments does an international transaction. The bottom line is that if the local companies were competitive enough, they would get the contracts. If they want these contracts, make themselves more attractive. Not only will they likely get a contract from the local government, but they might also get some of the business these similar Chinese companies are getting. What's next, a buy Canadian clause?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Back and more mediocre than ever!
Since the election, I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus. My spirit was kind of broken by a good man’s misfortune, and life was just a bit busier overall. Nevertheless, I have been keeping touch with the goings on north of the 417.
What has been on my mind lately is the senate appointments. Not because I think Harper’s appointments are questionable (which they are), but just because it brought the debate on triple E senate back into the spotlight. Well, triple E is probably the best prescription in theory, given that we live in a democratic society. However, I think people need to calm down a little about the whole thing. First of all, to actually make an amendment with any real staying power it would have to be done via the Constitution. I don’t know any pundit or political scientist who thinks it’s a good idea to open up a Constitutional debate – at least not given the recent context. This is especially true because we don’t really have any super strong national party to champion this or any issue across the whole country. This would make the whole thing messy and destructive.
Then if the senate were equal, it probably wouldn’t be agreed to by the smaller provinces. And I think rightfully so for them. The senate isn’t proportional. Just like the US where it gives states an equal voice, the senate in Canada gives regions an equal voice. For sure that can be tweaked, but I’m not sure if there’s an agreement that can be forged to everyone’s pleasing.
The other factor is political will, and I don’t mean from ideological politicos. I mean from the voters. I don’t think people care about the senate enough to think about triple E senate before they go to bed frankly. Yes, that’s not usually a good excuse, but this isn’t a matter of equity or human rights. It’s a matter of political systems, and people can carry on just fine with the current one. Right Stephen? If they really object, then there’s also the case that making a change now wouldn’t really be the will of the entire people. We’ve seen declining voter turnouts, surveys showing that Canadians don’t even understand our political system, and more than likely many people can’t even name their MP. People can barely muster the time to vote on one election, what add another round into the mix? Given the political IQ of the country, and the fact that this is a precarious debate in a time when there are far more important things to worry about, I think leaving the senate the way it is might be ok for the immediate and medium term. Besides, the current incarnation got Mike Duffy off TV didn’t it?
oh yea.. bonne annee
What has been on my mind lately is the senate appointments. Not because I think Harper’s appointments are questionable (which they are), but just because it brought the debate on triple E senate back into the spotlight. Well, triple E is probably the best prescription in theory, given that we live in a democratic society. However, I think people need to calm down a little about the whole thing. First of all, to actually make an amendment with any real staying power it would have to be done via the Constitution. I don’t know any pundit or political scientist who thinks it’s a good idea to open up a Constitutional debate – at least not given the recent context. This is especially true because we don’t really have any super strong national party to champion this or any issue across the whole country. This would make the whole thing messy and destructive.
Then if the senate were equal, it probably wouldn’t be agreed to by the smaller provinces. And I think rightfully so for them. The senate isn’t proportional. Just like the US where it gives states an equal voice, the senate in Canada gives regions an equal voice. For sure that can be tweaked, but I’m not sure if there’s an agreement that can be forged to everyone’s pleasing.
The other factor is political will, and I don’t mean from ideological politicos. I mean from the voters. I don’t think people care about the senate enough to think about triple E senate before they go to bed frankly. Yes, that’s not usually a good excuse, but this isn’t a matter of equity or human rights. It’s a matter of political systems, and people can carry on just fine with the current one. Right Stephen? If they really object, then there’s also the case that making a change now wouldn’t really be the will of the entire people. We’ve seen declining voter turnouts, surveys showing that Canadians don’t even understand our political system, and more than likely many people can’t even name their MP. People can barely muster the time to vote on one election, what add another round into the mix? Given the political IQ of the country, and the fact that this is a precarious debate in a time when there are far more important things to worry about, I think leaving the senate the way it is might be ok for the immediate and medium term. Besides, the current incarnation got Mike Duffy off TV didn’t it?
oh yea.. bonne annee
Monday, December 22, 2008
Mike Duffy Live.. until 75
But he doesn't really have to show up that often. Get it - it's a Senate joke. Excuse me while I adjust my glasses.
Anyway.
This is from an article written after Dion did less than famously in the last election.
http://www.thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2008/10/28/Dion/
"And the press, with the Aspers' National Post and Mike Duffy's Countdown on CTV leading the pack, gave Harper and the Conservatives nearly unlimited access to their audiences to disseminate the Conservative message, as The Tyee reported in March 2007."
Fast forward to 22/12/2008 and we have this: Duffy, Wallin, Greene among 18 new Senators
And to all you con-trolls who are going to come and say the Libs appointed 2 journalists as GG. True - but GG's have very little above a ceremonial role as evidenced by this month's goings on (she had no legitimacy to do otherwise). This means they can keep their supposed neutrality throughout and after their journalistic careers. In Duffy's case, someone who likely applied for such a post or at least did some serious unofficial lobbying can't have been that neutral to begin with if he's so quick to jump on the CPC bandwagon just two months after the election.
But I guess only the losers complain.
Anyway.
This is from an article written after Dion did less than famously in the last election.
http://www.thetyee.ca/Mediacheck/2008/10/28/Dion/
"And the press, with the Aspers' National Post and Mike Duffy's Countdown on CTV leading the pack, gave Harper and the Conservatives nearly unlimited access to their audiences to disseminate the Conservative message, as The Tyee reported in March 2007."
Fast forward to 22/12/2008 and we have this: Duffy, Wallin, Greene among 18 new Senators
And to all you con-trolls who are going to come and say the Libs appointed 2 journalists as GG. True - but GG's have very little above a ceremonial role as evidenced by this month's goings on (she had no legitimacy to do otherwise). This means they can keep their supposed neutrality throughout and after their journalistic careers. In Duffy's case, someone who likely applied for such a post or at least did some serious unofficial lobbying can't have been that neutral to begin with if he's so quick to jump on the CPC bandwagon just two months after the election.
But I guess only the losers complain.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Memo to the Liberals
Don't blink!
Harper has bought time because he thinks all of the self interest manifest in the Liberal party will cause this coalition to self destruct. Well to all and their egos, put your self interest aside for a moment.
Leave Dion as leader, install a credible finance minister.. clearly the Libs have a lot more to choose from than the CPC. Continue with the leadership race on the side. Negotiate a set term with the other opposition parties that gives enough time post leadership, and let that new leader will fight the election.
This man called Harper is trying to destroy your party and hurt the country in the process. Let's look at the bigger picture.
Harper has bought time because he thinks all of the self interest manifest in the Liberal party will cause this coalition to self destruct. Well to all and their egos, put your self interest aside for a moment.
Leave Dion as leader, install a credible finance minister.. clearly the Libs have a lot more to choose from than the CPC. Continue with the leadership race on the side. Negotiate a set term with the other opposition parties that gives enough time post leadership, and let that new leader will fight the election.
This man called Harper is trying to destroy your party and hurt the country in the process. Let's look at the bigger picture.
Friday, November 28, 2008
The fundamentals..
I believe it was our dear PM who in the last election said the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Correction: they were strong before you mismanaged the elements you control, and now you're destroying peace order and good government.
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper put away his friendly sweater vest and, in an epic mistake that might only be resolved if his Conservative government does an uncharacteristic retreat, pulled on his brass knuckles in an ugly bid to inflict knockout blows on his political rivals."
But where's the win for Harper in this beyond appeasing a loyal Conservative base that may be unimpressed by his oncoming mega deficit?
While the merits of political funding might be worth a debate during calm prosperous times, it has no place on an agenda that should now be devoted to important decisions.
That impressive review is from Stevie H.'s hometown paper.
So much for national interest:
Harper and his Conservative government bared their partisan teeth with a measure that is designed to undermine the opposition parties, particularly the Liberals.
Harper and the Conservatives, it appears, would rather play politics than tackle the tough assignment of saving jobs and whole industries.
That's from Harper's former hometown paper.
And let's not forget how we got here:
Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page told MPs Thursday that Canada's deficit next year could be as high as $13 billion and that Conservative government decisions to cut the GST and raise government spending are to blame, not global economic events.
And that's from the Ottawa paper - you know, that place that Stevie H is putting in a big mess.
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper put away his friendly sweater vest and, in an epic mistake that might only be resolved if his Conservative government does an uncharacteristic retreat, pulled on his brass knuckles in an ugly bid to inflict knockout blows on his political rivals."
But where's the win for Harper in this beyond appeasing a loyal Conservative base that may be unimpressed by his oncoming mega deficit?
While the merits of political funding might be worth a debate during calm prosperous times, it has no place on an agenda that should now be devoted to important decisions.
That impressive review is from Stevie H.'s hometown paper.
So much for national interest:
Harper and his Conservative government bared their partisan teeth with a measure that is designed to undermine the opposition parties, particularly the Liberals.
Harper and the Conservatives, it appears, would rather play politics than tackle the tough assignment of saving jobs and whole industries.
That's from Harper's former hometown paper.
And let's not forget how we got here:
Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page told MPs Thursday that Canada's deficit next year could be as high as $13 billion and that Conservative government decisions to cut the GST and raise government spending are to blame, not global economic events.
And that's from the Ottawa paper - you know, that place that Stevie H is putting in a big mess.
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