The Wheatsheaf

Recap: Saskatchewan Election 2011

2011-11-08T21:18:00.000-05:00

Watching the twitter feed for #skpoli I was struck by the animosity and venom towards both the NDP and its leader Dwain Lingenfelter. While the partisan in me wants to chalk this up to the over-indulgent no-holds-barred mentality that I have witness Sask. Party/Conservative/Canadian Alliance supporters adopt in the past, I also recognize that when you enter into a team-first mentality no one's supporters are any better. Sport fans know the sensation to inexplicably detest a particular team and their supporters. Political parties are just a different form of sports franchise - supporters are guided more by emotion and loyalty than reason.

Perhaps the most pertinent, the NDP are not responsible for the Roughriders atrocious season just like the Saskatchewan Party was not responsible for the Roughriders 2007 Grey Cup winning season. The Riders and the Sask Party may have legions of fans at the moment, but there was a time when neither was as popular. Plus despite sharing the colour green, and having the ex-player as a candidate the Riders and the Sask Party are not one and the same.

A big problem was that the NDP’s message never caught on. The some-got-left-behind / not-everyone-is-benefitting-from-the-boom message, while accurate, clearly did not resonate with voters. It could be that those who are left behind stayed home. Perhaps it was not clear enough how the NDP stood apart from the Sask Party.

In many ways, the NDP would have been hard pressed to have come up with a message that successively countered the positive sentiment in the province mixed with their past over-reliance of demonizing the Sask Party. The NDP spent ten years denouncing the Sask Party: their message was focused on how the Sask Party would be a return to the Grant Devine years of selling off Crown assets, laying off civil servants, and running the province into ruins. When the Sask Party finally got to power, and Saskatchewan did not go to hell and the NDP's message proved false. After four years in government, the Sask Party is not so scary. It is the NDP that now has to rebrand itself.

One has to point out the irony that the party that was at the frontlines denouncing everything good about Saskatchewan is the one that is credited with providing an improved atmosphere. Saskatchewan had balanced budgets, a booming economy, a rising housing market and had become a have-province under the NDP prior to the Sask Party coming to power. However, when the Sask Party was in opposition you would never have known it. Since coming to power, aside from labour legislation, there is little on the surface to suggest that they are running the province differently then their predecessors.

More then messaging, the biggest problem was the leadership issue. Brad Wall has transformed himself from being an anti-government vein-bulging howler (literally) in opposition, to a bespeckled moderate centrist Premier. My personal experience of Wall, dating from his opposition critic days, was that the latter, i.e. moderate version, is probably truer to himself. Regardless, Saskatchewanians have embraced Premier Brad Wall.

Dwain Lingenfelter has been the centre of derision for many years - even before he left Roy Romanow's Cabinet. The party appeared to select him partly because there was no other serious contenders and partly because he they wanted to believe he would return the party to power. In this the party started believing its own myth of, like the Liberals federally, being Saskatchewan's natural ruling party. Also like the federal Liberals, once out of power they have had a difficult time articulating what they stand for. Throughout the last incarnation of the NPD in power, they relied on the philosophy they were good managers. In politics being a good manager may keep you in power, but it does not topple a government. Voters want something they can embrace, a vision, a leader they can trust. Lingenfelter did not embody these qualities and the party has continued its identity slide. Instead, what the voters saw was a leader that flip-flopped on major policy issues (wheat board, nuclear power), and that was only interested in power. These were the sins that have cost the Liberals federally - being in the centre can bring in supporters who want a safe choice, but the pursuit of power does not give supporters a flag to wrap themselves in.

Credit must also be given to the Saskatchewan Party who successfully transplanting the Conservatives not-a-leader / not-a-Canadian attack on Liberal leaders and transformed it into the he-did-not-come-back-for-you smearing of Lingenfelter. In a province that has so long accepted that its citizens should move to Calgary, it is strange that they would begrudge a leader who did exactly that.

Another message aired over Twitter was the jeering of the “Orange Crush” by-passing Saskatchewan. I do not believe that is a true representation of the election. Voters were faced with two known leaders – both of whom they had made their minds up about long before the Orange wave crashed the federal election. Also, the message behind the Orange Crush was one of change, of hope - a desire for something different and positive. In this election, if either of the two leaders represented this, it was Brad Wall. The province just had the NDP in power for 16 years – in the voters mind the NDP did not represent a new approach but a return to the old.

The final observation on yesterday’s election is that the significant drop in the Liberal vote also hurt the NDP. The NDP has never won an election when the Liberals received below double-digit support. The NDP needs the Liberals (or another centre-right party) to give non-NDP supporters a choice to vote for. At 0.6% of the vote, and the Sask Party at unprecedented levels of support, it is clear where that support went to.

While the 2011 election was as much vindication for the Saskatchewan Party and conservatives in general, it was also a rebuke to the NDP. It is clear the NDP cannot return to business as usual – they have to rediscover themselves.

The silver lining, if there is one, may be that the bigger the target, the easier to hit. But this still means that the NDP is in the wilderness and must find a way to reconnect with voters. Now is an opportune time to trade ideas with the Manitoba NDP: the Manitoba NDP must learn how to stay fresh after a decade in power, while the Saskatchewan NDP could look at Gary Doer’s slow build of the party in opposition. With such a strong mandate, the Saskatchewan Party will really have to screw up to be kicked out of office in 2015 – but this gives the NDP to get out, road test their message and be better prepared to challenge in all ridings in the coming elections.

Essential to the NDPs future direction and renewal will be the leader – and this time around they need a vigorous contest. But before that, they need an interim leader. John Nilson (Regina Lakeview) or Warren McCall (Regine Elphinstone Centre) (should Warren McCall not seek the leadership himself), would both be excellent candidates to focus the caucus and steer the ship until the next leader.

Yesterday is behind us. Time to move forward.

Opportunity Knocks: a return of civility

2011-05-04T13:08:00.001-04:00

The outcome of the 1993 federal election was perhaps one of the most divisive and transformative elections on record. It ushered in an era of mudslinging, contempt, cheap partisan tricks and mistrust. A chapter that may have only been closed with the recent 2011 federal election.

Similar to the recent election, the 1993 election ushered in an unprecedented number of rookie MPs. The 1993 group was not interested in respect for institutions, tradition, decorum, and at times each other – and this is something that, hopefully, the class of 2011 will not repeat. In short, the respect for Parliament and civility towards others died a little bit with the 1993 election, and it is only, perhaps, now that we can right the ship.

In 1993, the three parties which had fought each election in the prevous decades were suddenly challenged by new comers from the West and Quebec. The Bloc Quebecois, formed out of Quebec’s disillusionment with the Meech Lake Accord, and fuelled by the Charlottetown Accord, campaigned on Quebecers dissatisfaction with Ottawa. The Bloc was rewarded with official opposition status. The Reform Party formed on the idea of western alienation (the West Wants In), campaigned on the grassroots notion that Ottawa was filled with lazy MPs, incapable of managing, but receiving generous perks at taxpayers expense. For taking numerous seats from the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP, they were rewarded with third party status. The NDP and PCs both dropped official party status. The NDP has spent the past 18 years rebuilding. The PCs were not so fortunate and they had to be taken over by the Reform/Canadian Alliance.

The 1993 election left Parliament divided between a party that wanted to throw out the old and a party that wanted to break up Canada. While a sudden increase of new MPs poses a challenge to appropriate conduct in Parliament, the Reform and Bloc MPs lacked respect for all the tradition and civility that was embodies in Parliament.

In 2011 we have an opportunity to redress this problem. 100 rookie MPs – many from the NDP and Quebec. Unlike 1993, these people were not elected to break Ottawa, but to set it straight. There is a real opportunity to move away from the circus that plays out in the living rooms of Canadians – a circus of well dressed, mostly white men shouting, mean-spirited partisan attacks – and that is only in Question Period.

Whereas the Bloc and the Reform were new parties with no history in Parliament, the NDP has a long history of being an effective opposition. There is an opportunity to mentor new MPs, show them the ropes and teach appropriate conduct. Being promoted to the Official Opposition for the first time with a much larger caucus, the NDP has several issues that it will have to address (how to mesh as a team, division of resources and hiring of staff, focusing the team as the government-in-waiting – to name a few), and mentoring the new recruits should be a top priority.

I would be remised if I did not point out that Stephen Harper was part of the Reform class of 1993, and the behaviour on the governing Conservative benches may not always meet the standards of professionalism, or even civility. The Conservatives are unlikely to change. This means that there will be four years of unwarranted personal attacks on Jack Layton and NDP MPs. But that does not mean that the NDP cannot rise above.

Canadians responded to Jack Layton and the NDP’s positive message. Now the NDP will have to put that positive image on display in Parliament.

Anthem for the NDP

2011-04-28T13:15:00.000-04:00

Not only has the NDP have the best ads, best candidates, best policies for Canada, they also have the best supporters:

Thank you Geoffrey the Giant.

Okay, okay, thank you very much - Parliament is making cuts

2011-04-19T14:07:00.002-04:00

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting have gone all guerrilla media.

Refusing to take "bugger off" for an answer, the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting tracked down Conservative MP Kelly Block, and Conservative candidate for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, at a Stephen Harper photo opt to ask the daring question "where do you stand on CBC funding"?

This video highlights the narrow-mindedness of the Tories. It pours hot maple syrop on the notion that the Conservatives are governing on behalf of all Canadians. While meeting with organizations that have opposing views may not be a perk for an MP, it is part of their job once elected. The fact that the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting had to ambush Conservative MP Kelly Block during an election to present a petition signed by her constituents speaks volumes. Had she met with them months ago, as they requested, the video would not have been made. Instead she attempts to sidestep the question with "Oh, I am so busy in Ottawa." While attendance records are kept secret, stats compiled by Howtheyvote.ca suggests that she has not been terribly vocal. In fairness, Kelly Block has not been as quiet as many of her Conservative colleagues, but for less chatty than NDP and Liberal MPs.

What is more offencive - even when confronted with her refusal to meet and receive a petition signed by her constituents, she still attempts to give the messenger the run around. Half listening, half wondering when her handler will save her, she ignores his "we have attempted to meet you on your terms" plea by responding that elections are no time to debate issues. Could you imagine Jack Layton, when confronted by a representative of the Taxpayers Federation, saying "I am sorry, but an election is no time to talk about taxes"?

Refusing to meet with voters, avoiding candidate debates, deflect policy questions = Saskatchewan Conservative MPs at work. Speaking on behalf of Saskatchewanians nowhere.

On a related note, the excellent and energetic Regina-based ensemble Library Voices provided the sound track to the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting video. Library Voices are returning to Ottawa as part of the Prairie Scenes exhibition highlighting the talented artists, musicians, filmmakers and performers from the northern flat lands. Whether you were one of the tens catching them at Mavericks or one of the hundreds seeing them at Bluesfest, you know Library Voices means a good time will be had (April 29th - Mavericks). Other performances worth catching:

Alex Rogalski curating the One Take Super 8 - Alex and the Anti-Chamber compadres established this festival in Regina in 1990s and has since expanded the concept to other city. Catch a choice sample of the prairies super 8s.
Mike Rollo an award winning film maker reaches into the archives for Still/Move as part of the From Winnipeg to Saskatoon showing.
A number of wonderful authors will be showcaste in A Place on The Prairies at the enchanting Mayfair Theatre.
As seen on TV, but much funnier live - Tisdale, the land of rape and honey, native Brent Butt is at the NAC.

Election shout outs

2011-04-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

Dammit Janet has uncovered the failed Ottawa Centre Liberals attempt to be cleverly underhanded. Scott Bradley's campaign is misquoting Ottawa Center MP and NDP candidate Paul Dewar in an attempt to portray the NDP as being anti-civil servant. It is pretty amazing that they would attempt to attack Paul on an issue in which he has been out front and centre for the past five years. From supporting PSAC initiatives, to fighting for the (now deceased) National Portrait Gallery, to demanding accountability from the National Capital Commission, Paul has been the federal civil servants best friend. Go check out Dammit Janet's excellent blog post.

Every morning I grab the Globe and Mail to get my blood boiling. If the NDP is lucky enough to be mentioned, it is usually some sort of cheap shot. Headlines like "Layton gets testy when questioned about small rally participation" seems at odd with the report fact that there were over 400 people attending that particular rally. Maybe Harper's staged events where questions are limited to a total of five (and missing the important issues of voters) is more their speed.

When I am satisfied that I have been thoroughly abused by Canada's national newspaper, I go and visit the Jurist. Consistently excellent, regularly updated, and calling BS as it appears - Accidental Deliberations provides a great tell it like it is view point.

NDP: Best Ads on the Block

2011-04-04T21:33:00.000-04:00

Week 2 of #elxn41 is well under way, and the election ads have been rather predictable. The Harper Conservatives have gone negative with their Iggy is an illegal alien ads. The Liberals have rolled out their pouty "I am Michael and I am too a Canadian" commercials. The Greens have attempted to catch attention with their "counter culture" "we are not like the others" ads - or, a remake of the Progressive Conservative ads, circa. 2000.

The NDP continues to be a step above the rest. Simple, humerous, effective:

One question: Why can't the NDP provide the same excellence for english language commercials?

Rock the House: with Charlie Angus and Andrew Cash

2011-03-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

L'etranger rides again. One people in Ottawa, One people for the NDP.

Charlie Angus, the ex-stranger, former grievous angel, the balladeer of the Commons, the advocate of cultural rights.

Andrew Cash, the ex-stranger, former Canadian rocker, writer, activist, NDP Candidate for Davenport.

They reunite this afternoon, Sunday, March 20, at Babylon, 317 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario.

Come down and support two fine Canadians who continue to make a heck of impression in their communities. Come down and show you support in orange.

Fundraising Letter

2011-03-04T08:28:00.001-05:00

Compromise this

2011-02-19T20:57:00.004-05:00

UPDATE: Tax cuts are still a no go for the NDP. In austere times, it is good to see the NDP continue to pursue pragmatic and practical economic policies. See CTV's Question Period for the word right from the leader's mouth: http://www.ctv.ca/qp/index.html?vidId=420943.

It has been said, this country was founded upon compromise. The British North America Act was not the perfect document; it was a reflection of the compromises our founding fathers made to create the Dominion. Never a leader, nor a follower, Canada has sought the middle road ever since.

Under Jack Layton's leadership, the NDP has embraced this course of action. Support for Paul Martin's government in exchange for a multi-billion dollar social package to assist those most in need. Support for Conservatives economic plan in exchange for EI reform. Compromise on Cabinet positions, as Brian Topp points out, so that the Liberals would be willing to enter into a coalition to topple a Conservative government that was ignoring the recession. The NDP has been running on the idea of making Parliament work for the past few years.

The party has shown its willingness to get things done, to push for results that improves the lives of Canadians. But at what cost to its own credibility as a force of progressive change? According to Bill Curry and John Ibbitson of the Globe and Mail (two journalists not known for writing positive comments about the NDP), the party is willing to support the Conservatives next budget if they are willing to meet the following four criteria:

Removing the federal sales tax from home heating bills and restoring the EcoEnergy Retrofit program;
Increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement for low-income seniors;
Expanding the Canada Pension Plan;
Hiring more family doctors.

For their support, the party is willing to support corporate tax cuts. If this is accurate, David Lewis must be turning in his grave.

While the four point budget request is practical, manageable and provide assistance to some Canadians, it is not suggest a greater vision that leaves an NDP mark on the budget. Thanks to the reckless financial management of the Conservatives, we are in a deficit situation where there are few dollars to go around. This is all the more reason why the NDP should be opposed to corporate tax cuts. Canada has spent the past decade plus reducing both corporate and individual taxes. Our corporate tax rate is lower than that of our neighbour and greatest trading partner. Moreover, that very greatest trading partner is showing signs of recovery. Early indicators suggest that Canada's is starting to ship more goods to the U.S. This will improve our U.S.-trade dependent economy.

There is a time and place for tax cuts. Now is not the time. The Canadian economy is currently steady, and set to improve with the southern revival - which suggests that any benefits from new corporate tax cuts will lost. With the improving economic outlook, Canada's revenue for corporate taxes should increase and help to off set our ballooning debt. Such revenue would be valuable in offsetting cuts to social programs to balance the budgets (heck, that revenue would be valuable to pay for all of the jails the Tories want to build). Diminishing tax revenue now would mean that the government would have to look elsewhere to cut in order to balance the budget.

It is not clear what the benefit of new tax cuts would be for corporations. The cynical view is it would help to rationalize the inflated bonuses of corporate management. After so many years of corporate tax cuts, are corporations so hard done by? Would that income not be better used for encouraging more research and development, more job creation, better support for those on EI? Is GM Canada more deserving of a tax break than their workers that they laid off in Oshawa?

With all parties suggesting that they do not necessarily want an election, but only willing to compromise in limited means, the NDP has shown that it has the weakest hand. In this game of chicken, the party willing to compromise on core values will lose.

Bev Oda has to go

2011-02-16T17:16:00.003-05:00

Bev Oda has to go.

It is obvious, is it not?

The picture says it all.

The somber attire. The dark sun glasses shielding her eyes from the grey Ottawa sky. Her hair combed down to cover as much of her face as possible. Either she is attempting to emulate the invisibility of a ninja, or the fearsomeness of a mobster.

Most importantly - she is a smoker. Clearly she is pure evil, and this is why she is evil:

She has no respect for the environment - which actually promotes her credibility in Conservative circles.
She has no care about second hand smoke causing cancer in others - although, in keeping with her Conservative "ideals", health, along with everything else that is not related to Canada's best interest, should be downloaded to the province.
She has no concerns about others - but Conservatives, philosophically, are all about the individual. By individual, we means, oneself - because let's face it - the most important individualistic characteristic is self-interest.

Okay... so Bev Oda is basically a shiny example of Canadian Conservatism and will likely get promoted to Minister of Environment.

Of course, there is many examples from her days as Minisiter of Heritage to her current dismal record as Minister of International Development of why she should be given the golden boot. Some of the more prominent examples include, her $5000 limo ride to the Junos in Halifax, attempting to hold a fundraiser with broadcasters executives just prior to a broadcasting review, to the most recent KAIROs memo fib. And these are just examples that are in the media - Oda has done plenty to ensure that CIDA's global credibility is tarnished.

Stephen Harper has a tendency to show loyalty to Cabinet Ministers and then quietly shuffle them down at the first opportunity. Can you say Bev Oda, Minister of Status of Women? But this begs the question - how bad did Helena Guergis screw up to be kicked out of Cabinet and caucus?

If lying at Committee and blaming senior bureaucrats for her disregard of departmental procedures and policies is not enough to can a Minister, what is?

Pine Riders

2010-11-16T21:15:00.007-05:00

The cat is out of the bag - Saskatchewan MP's are true pine riders. In the wake of the mighty potash decision, it has gone to light that thirteen of Saskatchewan's fourteen Members of the House of Common are sheep. This is amazing considering that Saskatchewan is a grain growing province not known for its livestock.

Luckily this news only appeared in Canada's national newspaper - which nobody reads on the Prairies.

It is rather ironic that we call these individuals "representatives". They sit silently, week after week, following the PMOs strict orders to not embarrass the government by opening their beaks. Maurice Vellacott please sit down.

This is first past the post representation in operation. Saskatchewan has some of the safest Conservative seats filled by some of the dimmest lights. See e.g. David Anderson.

But this is not endemic of Saskatchewan or the Conservatives. Each party has some of their safest seats filled by less than stellar performers (what does Mauril Belanger do with his days?) If Canada had some form of proportional representation, the cream of the crop could rise. Instead, with first past the post, and in a country where local representation is simply an idea, we are held hostage to vote for which ever candidate is forced us (Rod Anders come on down). Unfortunately for Saskatchewan, the Conservatives decided that it was easier to run a group of lackeys who could be counted to stand up and shut up instead of individuals who may provide effective representation. But, effective representation is the NDP's claim and until Saskatchewan provides fairer seat distribution, effective representation means counting sheep.

Latte Jack

2010-11-16T21:02:00.002-05:00

Reading the grains at the bottom of our grande pumpkin spice latter foretells the possibilities - Canada needs more Starbucks. While my consumer preference tends to towards Bridgehead, ThreeHundredEight.com indicates that in order to get some real representation in Saskatchewan requires more Starbucks.

The Cons will want to contrast this with their Tim Horton's lot - i.e. what they deem to be the common person. To break this down, Starbuck's is a place for people to congregate, talk and consume an over priced but tasty beverage. Tim Horton's is a place for to go through the drive through on the side of the highway while listening to opinionated anti-government (but not anti-party that is in government...) talk radio.

Oh, and ThreeHundredEight.com is posting that the NDP is doing well in Quebec.

Death of a party

2010-06-07T16:38:00.002-04:00

The hearty partisans don’t like one another. The ground troops work against each other. The voters believe that the parties are different. But the leadership, i.e. those in the know, does not care.

And the pollsters don’t help either. With Angus raising the question of who would be the most trusted leader, the variable being the type of coalition permitted, only fuels the debate. While it is nice to consider that if an NDPer like Jack Layton was the head of the Liberals he may have a shot at Prime Minister, there is no chance that the Liberals, even united with the NDP, would ever elect an NDPer as their leader. The merger of the centre-left can only mean one thing – the death of the NDP.

The merging of these two parties would be akin to combining the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. Two teams playing the same game with different uniforms who both under shoot the ultimate goal. Combine them into one and you have a powerhouse that could potentially bring the Stanley Cup to Ontario. Kessel paired with Alfredson on the attack, and Gustavasson finally giving both franchises a respected backstopper – How could it fail? Except that it does not guarantee a Stanley Cup run – at least not with anymore certainty than each team has the potential to do on their own. The games would be located in the most populous area, i.e. Toronto, thus leading Ottawa to become the forgotten partner in the team. Moreover, you would risk alienating each franchises base – who love to hate each other. The most likely outcome, Ottawa would be a forgotten partner with only the token game played at Scotiaplace.

Is the hockey analogy that far fetched? The recent history of the Conservative Party suggests that it is not. The brothers in arms of Harper and MacKay bringing together the best of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives. Except that the red Tories were alienated. Respected individuals like Joe Clark were left without a home. And Stockwell Day, who as leader of the Canadian Alliance was so disrespected that it opened the door to the merger, now has more influence in government than MacKay.

Moreover, what values does this government push – pro-military, anti-government, pro-big business, anti-environmental, pro-christian, anti-immigration neo-conservatism that underpinned the Reform/Canadian Alliance party. The only change in that party is its abandonment of populism in favour of the deep pocket donors of the Progressive Conservative establishment. What ever the Progressive Conservatives may have represented at the start of the decade is now dead.

Let’s not forget the important lesson of 2004 when the united Conservatives did not win the election. All those swing riding that had kept the Liberals in power for eleven years did not give the Conservatives a majority. It took the Paul Martin and the Gomery Inquiry to destroy the Liberal government from within – not the united Conservatives. The merger of the Conservative parties assisted in making the Canadian Alliance wing look less extreme and it removed some competition for votes, but it did not bring the Conservatives to power. Month after month of the unveiling of Liberal scandal brought them to power (perhaps mixed with a desire for change after thirteen years of one party rule).

The merger of the NDP and the Liberals would only help the Liberal Party. That and perhaps a select few of the NDP mandarins finally getting a taste of power. As the larger “partner” in the relationship the Liberals would swallow the NDP. The Liberal Party’s raison d’etre is to be Canada’s ruling party. Their principal focus is obtaining power. Uniting with NDP may hasten their return to power, but not guarantee it. They would no longer have to worry about their left flank being exposed in an election, and they can focus on the two party race. However, they have won multi-party races for decades. If they cannot do it now on their own, then there is serious rot in that party.

In recent times there has been a void in the NDP. A party of the left seeking acceptance and power at a time when the pendulum is swinging right. A hard nose belief in government helping people when the message of less government is the accepted wisdom of the day. With acceptance of medicare, EI and other branches of the social welfare net, the party has been relegated to fighting against undermining of those programs instead of pushing new agendas.

But that is not reason enough to role over and die. At its core the NDP holds the belief that given the chance to govern, the party would be fairer and more just en route to creating a better country. As opposition, the party has striven to hold the government, regardless of party, accountable to those who do not have deep pockets, who do no meet with politicians and top government officials, and who do not have access to power.

A merger with the Liberals would not only close the book on NDP history, it would also leave anyone on the front lines of social justice, anyone with a progressive voice, anyone who wants a party to do more than simply me the manager of government without a credible political home.

This and that, here and there

2010-04-13T14:16:00.003-04:00

The lack of inspiration, motivation, and recreation to complete a blog entry with any degree of analytical thought prevents a lengthy post. Rather here is a summary of thoughts on recent topics.

Guergis and Jaffer - the power couple we love to hate:
I am sick of this news story. The salacious gossip has news media drooling, almost to the preclusion of all other stories. For the time being there is much ink wasted on this story. I suspect that there will be more scandalous tidbits that will be revealed in due time, but that will come out through investigative journalism (as we saw with the Toronto Star's piece on Rahim dinner with a questionable financier and busty hookers) or the RCMP investigation and not the up-to-the-minute coverage-of-nothing-much-new. As far as I am concerned, this is in the RCMP hands and they will review it.

So far, this is what has struck me on this tale of woe.
- Harper, unlike past prime ministers, does not generally move to demote a Cabinet Minister at the first whiff of a scandal. For all of his faults, Harper tends to be loyal to his MPs (why else would he select Pierre Poilievre as his Parliamentary Secretary?). Thus his request for Guergis' resignation is a stand out.
- He would have needed a credible source that he trusted to suddenly request her resignation, give her the boot from caucus and bring in the RCMP.
- Whatever the source told him, must related to information that Guergis herself had omitted to inform the Prime Minister and his staff in, likely, any number of opportunities since Jaffer was pulled over and found to be possession of cocaine.
- Her allowing Jaffer to use her driver, her phone and her office all suggest that there may be some form of influence peddling going on that she was associated. At worse this may involve the sharing of Cabinet secrets. At best this shows incredibly poor judgment on her behalf.
- While she was a useful lightening rod for the party, the Status of Women will likely be better served with a new Minister. While her friend may give Guergis praise for the work she has done on getting funding for violence against women, the Women's Secretariat is a mere shadow of itself as the Conservatives have turned their back on the idea of equality and focused on the narrow (although quite serious) topic of abuse.

Good causes and Rod Anders:
When Jack Layton announced that he was suffering from prostate cancer and that he would be stepping back, I questioned what that meant for the energizer bunnie to step back. The cynic in me dreaded the fundraising letter saying "Hi, I am Jack Layton, the Leader of the NDP and I suffer from prostate cancer. Please donate." However, it does not appear that he has slowed down, he does appear to be using his position to bring attention to this disease. Prostate Cancer Canada has given MPs blue scarves and ties and symbolize their solitary with Jack and other individuals suffering from prostate cancer.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation was the Rob Anders still lives and works on Parliament Hill. The man who has been gagged longer than Cheryl Gallant, is apparently allowed to roam freely on Parliament Hill - even when a camera is around.

GG speculation:

During the luncheon put on by the Canadian Club in recognition of friendly ties between Canada and the Netherlands, it was announced that the speaker for the May luncheon, had cancelled without rescheduling. The individual concerned - Rick Hansen.

Could it be that he will have more important things on his plate by then? After all, B.C. has yet to have a Governor General. And who better than Hansen? Except for perhaps Pamela Anderson - whose selection would likely continue to divide Canadians on their support for Harper.

Keynes vs. Hayek

2010-02-16T10:53:00.000-05:00

An Open Letter to Taliban Steve

2010-01-29T15:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Steve (you jerk),

It is with dismay and disgust that I write these words.

I thought you were a leader cut from a different clothe. Your cold steel blue gaze that suggests a disregard for humanity, your tight-scripted signature on the letter promoting Albertan separatism, your campaigning on accountability and transparency while muzzling your own members, the allure of your economist background without ever having practiced what you preached – all this said that you were a man that would lead this nation and to hell with everyone else.

Now I see that you are a fraud. You are nothing more than the NDP in the slow lane. You are simply doing good things for populist reasons.

You were not suppose to care about people! You only cared about taxpayers. Huge government debts simply show how ineffective government is, right? Therefore, taxpayers like me are in the best position to judge how much extra beer and popcorn can be bought with tax savings.

Then you went all NDP on us and promised that our troops would be out of Afghanistan in a determined period. You were in the middle of an election so it was okay to hide your true motives. Then you agreed with the NDP to provide increase Employment Insurance benefits to the self-employed. Okay – this hurt, but it was a small thing and was used just to show how weak the Liberals are on social change. But now you are going to sided with world leaders and negotiate with the Taliban to end the conflict? This is preposterous! How dare you let peace get in the way of a good military stand-off.

I spent the last four years on blogs, twitter, and the commentary sections of the Globe and Mail and the National Post ridiculing “Taliban Jack”. Now you are telling me that Jack Layton was right!!! (See how incredulous I am – I used three exclamation marks!!!)

This having to negotiate to end the conflict is ludicrous. If a drunk at a bar spills his drink on your girl, you punch him out. It is as simple as that. The Taliban are the drunk, the United States is the girl and we are the testosterone filled meat head. You don’t accept an apology, an offer of a free drink, nor do you talk to him and send him on his way. You punch him out.

Instead, you want to talk to the Taliban to solve the problem. I find this ridiculous. For that I will now dub you “Taliban Steve” and see how you like that!

No longer your friend,

Wheatsheaf

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/28/and-you-all-laughed/

http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/28/ahead-of-his-time/

The mens rea of pie

2010-01-29T14:07:00.003-05:00

Like an actor misquoting Shakespeare, Liberal MP Gerry Byrne stumbles through a legislative interpretative dance.

In an interview with radio station VOCM in St. John’s on Tuesday, Mr. Byrne said he thinks what happened should be reviewed under the legal definition of terrorism.

“When someone actually coaches or conducts criminal behaviour to impose a political agenda on each and every other citizen of Canada, that does seem to me to meet the test of a terrorist organization,” said the MP from Newfoundland and Labrador.

“I am calling on the Government of Canada to actually investigate whether or not this organization, PETA, is acting as a terrorist organization under the test that exists under Canadian law.”

Unfortunately there is truth to what he speaks.

When most of us think of terrorists, we imagine foreigners (i.e. people who do not look like us) plotting nefarious, if ill conceived, acts in a foreign land. It is what is portrayed on televisions shows like 24 or in movies like True Lies. Rarely do we have a terrorist who is portrayed like a Timothy McVeigh. It is the unfortunate outcome of profiling.

The truth is that under the terrorism provisions of the Criminal Code, practically anyone could be a terrorist – including the evil pie throwers. “Terrorist activity” is defined, in part, as:

(b) an act or omission, in or outside Canada,

(i) that is committed
(A) in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause, and
(B) in whole or in part with the intention of intimidating the public, or a segment of the public, with regard to its security, including its economic security, or compelling a person, a government or a domestic or an international organization to do or to refrain from doing any act, whether the public or the person, government or organization is inside or outside Canada, and
(ii) that intentionally
(A) causes death or serious bodily harm to a person by the use of violence,
(B) endangers a person’s life,
(C) causes a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or any segment of the public,
(D) causes substantial property damage, whether to public or private property, if causing such damage is likely to result in the conduct or harm referred to in any of clauses (A) to (C), or
(E) causes serious interference with or serious disruption of an essential service, facility or system, whether public or private, other than as a result of advocacy, protest, dissent or stoppage of work that is not intended to result in the conduct or harm referred to in any of clauses (A) to (C),

and includes a conspiracy, attempt or threat to commit any such act or omission, or being an accessory after the fact or counselling in relation to any such act or omission, but, for greater certainty, does not include an act or omission that is committed during an armed conflict and that, at the time and in the place of its commission, is in accordance with customary international law or conventional international law applicable to the conflict, or the activities undertaken by military forces of a state in the exercise of their official duties, to the extent that those activities are governed by other rules of international law.

So, basically, a terrorist act involves a person or group who has a political, religious or ideological objective who intentionally causes death, harm, property damage, risk to public health or safety or interferes with an essential service.

Based on that definition, it is surprising that not more individuals and organizations are not listed on the terrorists lists. Take the PETA pie throwing incident.

· The pie thrower, as supported by PETA who claimed responsibility, supports the ethical treatment of animals, and in particular, is against the killing of seals. Clearly they have a political cause.

· The pie thrower intentionally threw a pie in the face of Minister of Fisheries. Thus we have an actus reus.

· By throwing the pie, the health and safety of the Minister was put in danger. Not to mention, the tofu cream pie probably caused damage to the Minister’s suit thereby requiring some serious dry cleaning bills (i.e. property damage).

· When the pie thrower was escorted out, she started yelling about the killing of seals. Thus, providing evidence of the mens rea.

Let’s set aside the video evidence of a woman, who was not a known journalist, was sitting in the front row, took out a pie, started babbling, and proceeded to approach the Minister and put the pie in her face (wake up ministerial staffers). Clearly there was a lapse of security, judgment and attention.

Thus, based on the definition of terrorist activity, both the pie thrower and PETA should be placed on the terrorist list. That way, their finances and assets can be frozen, and no financial organizations (including casinos), may entered into business with them. As an outlawed group, it would only be a matter of time that PETA would whither because of the starvation from funds. That way they would no longer have the funds to operate tofu cream missiles off the coast of Newfoundland. But that is just crazy talk, eh Gerry:

“The objective here should be to dispel rumours and conspiracy theories,” Gerry Byrne, the Liberal MP for Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte, told The Canadian Press yesterday.

Declining service

2010-01-22T18:20:00.001-05:00

During the Lorne Calvert era, the NDP and Saskatchewan Party engaged in simplistic debates on the merits of crown corporations. Brad Wall used to stand up, get red in the face with veins popping from his neck as if he was about to blow a gasket and shout about the NDP “picking winners and losers”. The NDP’s various responders, whether it be Sonntag, Lautermilch or Calvert himself, always followed the approach that if the private sector could do it better, then the government would not be involved.

In away it was ironic that Wall would issue such voluminous attacks on the Calvert NDP, for if there was ever an NDP administration that supported the private sector this was it. It is not by accident that the most liberal approach to oil and gas development in Canada was ushered in under Calvert’s watch. Perhaps it was the follow out of Spudco in the 1990s, or that the NDP was so fearful of losing that they kowtowed to the cries against nationalization, Calvert’s NDP was not prepared to provide government support to any economic development initiative.

However, Calvert’s NDP did draw the line in the sand in that they continued to support crown corporations that provided a public service. Despite subtle shifts in policy, NDP administrations have long understood that the private sector is not necessarily interested in growing Saskatchewan. For example, not long after SaskOil was privatized and rebranded Wascana Energy, they up and moved their offices to Calgary.

Thus, the NDP continued to support the Saskatchewan Transportation Company. Here was a crown corporation that competed in a competitive industry – an industry that is monopolized by the likes of Greyhound. STC was never profitable. As rural populations shrink, it would never be profitable. STC was often at the centre of debate on whether it should be cut loose, but at the end of the day there was a belief that this was a service that no other would provide.

Brad Wall’s government have taken the opposite approach. STC is a money looser so to hell with rural populations. There decision to cut routes is akin to VIA Rails termination of rail service to places like Regina and Moose Jaw. Now those communities are not services by rail travel, because a region of 250,000 could not support a rail line. Instead you have to go to Duck Mountain to catch the train and Regina has a nice Casino where rail station once stood. Moose Jaw, a city built on rail service, continues its decline. STC’s decline will hurt rural and hard to reach communities.

But what should one expect from a government strapped for cash? When you base your budget on the volatility of resource prices, eventually you will come up short. But it will be the poor people who pay for the Saskatchewan Party’s incompetency. It is not people with money who ride the STC buses. And by “people with money” I mean anyone who has a car. If people have cars, they do not need buses. Unfortunately in a place like Saskatchewan, where so many communities are spread out, not everyone has a car. This just means people who are less fortunate will not have the resources to visit friends, families, and small communities.

STC was never about making money. STC was about servicing communities.

Re Shuffling

2010-01-18T06:52:00.000-05:00

Stephen Harper shuffles his cabinet as often as he shuffles his principles. Because he is stuck with a minority government that prevents him from his goal of controller of Canada, this happens to be pretty often. Well... at least often in the sense that principles are pillars of support that change every few months because of polling numbers or the whim of your closed circle of advisers.

So the word on the mean streets of Ottawa is that there will be a Cabinet shuffle on Tuesday, forced because of Greg Thompson's decision to step down. Or...perhaps that is the other way around... that Thompson was forced to step down. One never to enjoy air travel, he may want find an opportunity that requires less travel...say like the Senate, for example. Luckily there is a Senate seat in New Brunswick that Harper is itching to fill. Moreover, Thompson is one of the last three surviving MPs from the Joe Clark era. Although many PCers long ago forgot they disagreed with the crazy western right wingers and embraced the Conservatives when presented with the option of submission or castration, surely the loss of one of the few remaining leaders of the PCs must be a sign of marginalization of the PC wing.

The other exit that is expected is that Vic Toews will be bumped to the Manitoba bench. This is one of Ottawa's longest living rumours - competing with the three-year duration of James Moore's promotion to cabinet rumour that finally ended in the fall of 2008. Toews has been said to be vying for that post since his days as Justice Minister, which prevented him from appointing himself. Therefore he has been a good soldier by acting as the President of the Treasury Board, at least in title as he avoided the department's business.

Otherwise, it is doubtful that there will be any big changes. At the end of the day, Harper is loyal and only make changes when he feels there is something to gain, not a problem to solve. Therefore, despite much media speculation, Peter Mackay will be hanging tough at Defence. The incompetently competent Lawrence Cannon will stay in place at Foreign Affairs. Stockwell Day, a proven an inept leader, has transformed into an adept manager as Minister of International Trade. Jim Flaherty will stay put - because why would you change Finance Ministers just a month for presenting a budget? Although Bev Oda should be dismissed as Minister of International Cooperation over the fiasco that is Rights and Democracy, it is hard to believe that she has any say in actual appointments. James Moore has quieted the ruckus over cultural avoidance at Heritage, and Jim Prentice has moved portfolios too many times. Besides, he stayed out of trouble in Copenhagen, which was This was no mean feet considering one of his predecessors performances in Bali.

Speaking of Ambrose, she could be the surprise demotion. Having peaked as the attractive MP in opposition, she has been spiraling down towards invisibility ever since. Besides, with a government in a serious deficit situation and rumoured to be downloading responsibility to the provinces (also another reason to keep Flaherty in Finance - he has first hand experience on screwing over other levels of government and getting away with it), Harper will want an Intergovernmental Affairs Minister that can stick-handle the provinces.

The other demotion will likely be Lisa Raitt. Harper has a tendency to remove a Minister only once the heat over their incompetency has died down. Now would be that time for Raitt. Unlike Ambrose who may be out, Raitt will get a less attractive post than her current Natural Resources, but will likely remain at the Cabinet table.

So who will be in and where? Good question. Thank you for asking, but I can only guess.

If Ambrose gets shifted out of Cabinet, Harper needs to elevate a female or risk headlines that the mini-shuffle was about demoting women. What better than but to replace one successful Alberta female politician with another? Thus Diane Ablonczy may be promoted to a safe place like President of the Treasury Board. This elevates Ablonczy's wisdom at the Cabinet table, but puts her in a place where she can do little damage like give out funding to pride parades. Moreover, with rumours of cuts to the civil service abound, a female touch may be considered more sensitive.

The position of Intergovernmental Affairs could go two ways. One option would be to return Mad Max Bernier to Cabinet. This would be a popular francophone in charge of provincial relations. However, with a military base in his riding, Bernier would also be an excellent selection for the position of Veteran Affairs. The other would be to place Raitt in the position, thereby having an individual with management experience in charge of tough provincial negotiations.

House Cleaning

2010-01-17T22:02:00.004-05:00

Happy New Years. May the year be heavy on the clover.

Doing a little house cleaning here at wheatsheafsk.com by tossing out my two bits on perennial topics of interest.

First up: The Polls.

Apparently Canadians do care about prorogation and do not care about Ignatieff. Despite all the wonderful discussion about the Liberals having hit levels not seen since Dion, i.e. last year, come election time Canadians will support Ignatieff and the Liberals. Not support, like let's let these guys govern level support, but more than 26% support. The Liberal Party is the great default. It is that place where one does not have to think about the consequences. The Liberals will waffle on any issue, provide consistent management, and every is secure in the knowledge that no drastic change will occur. They are kind of like Bell Canada in that way - a huge inefficient corporation, that provides steady if not spectacular returns, that has crappy customer service but do manage to have the phone lines operate. Ignatieff fits as leader beautifully as he comes with a trusted intellectual pedigree. Although his deep intellectual writings are a series of personal reflections, this counts for something among everyone who wants to read something without having to think about it. Voters will prefer this intellectual pedigree for a Prime Minister, over, say someone like Jack Layton, who voters would rather go for a beer with.

As the Conservatives have managed the aid to Haiti situation well, this will be feather in their cap to recovery.

The parties that should tread cautious are the two that have benefited in the polls from the prorogation issue. Although the NDP have consistently harped on Harper's lack of respect for government and democracy, there rise to 19% might prove fleeting. There hard work on one issue has made off. Unfortunately for them, they must find the spark of another issue to build the momentum. The Greens have benefited from prorogation for, well as far as I can tell, no reason at all. This has to be worrying for them as it means that there numbers are artificially inflated - people are parking their vote with the Green (and I suspect with the NDP, and perhaps the Liberals) for the sake of the polls in the aftermath of prorogation - this may not be a reflection of what would happen if an election were held today.

Which moves us to the second topic: election speculation.

I am inclined to believe that, despite certain media's fascination with the idea that an election will be this spring, it will not. There is a sentiment that with a positive bounce from the Olympics, mixed with an election style Speech from the Throne and a budget, the Tories will push for an election in March/April. What this situation takes into account is that if the Tories may want an election, they will make it happen. And that is correct. But is it in the Tories interest to force an election?

The wildcard is the Liberals, and with a policy convention in March, lackluster polling, a lack of communication on why they should be counted on to govern, it is unlikely that the Liberals will want an election any time soon. Moreover, it unclear on whether the NDP or Bloc would want to push for one. The Tories would have to have an egregious budget that would prevent all of the opposition parties from supporting it. But then it is again the Tories orchestrating the timing of the election.

That is not to say that there will not be one in 2010 - simply that it will not be in March or April.

I will deal with more immediate predictions, re cabinet shuffles, tomorrow.

Election speculation - Liberal wo

Polling numbers and Liberals rebound

See, we are not the only environmental pariahs

2009-12-07T14:51:00.002-05:00

Seattle - November 30, 1999. What a time to remember. Thousands of activists taking it to the streets. Anarchists in turtle uniforms. That great symbol of American decadence – Starbucks – with its smashed windows. All in the fight against closed door meeting deciding our economic futures. Apparently certain groups did not like the idea of companies suing governments over laws crushing said companies investments. Laws like banning pesticides on lawns. Clearly, not a single ambulance-chasing lawyer was among this group.

At the time it, everyone was caught off guard. Protests and activism was so passé. Little did we know that the styles and trends of the following decade was to be all about retro. But, as this decade draws to a close, the same WTO meetings drew a lot less protest and with much less media coverage. There was not a single story of a Starbucks being damaged.

Maybe, they were conserving the organizational weight for Copenhagen. After all, Greenpeace is always active in keeping activists active. Those crazy we-want-to-save-the-earth do-gooders – don’t they know it is a tradition and our right to pollute?

Smog has been an English tradition for over a hundred years. Heck, the English created the word - brilliantly and cleverly combining the words “smoke” and “fog”. As a proud dominion of the British and now American empires, we are strong supporters of this traditional right to pollute.

Although, not enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, per se, it is an unwritten right. What could be more Canadian that burning fossil fuels to heat our homes and drive our cars?

Had it not been for the extraction of iron and ore, and the raping of the land, we would not have had the resources to build this country. Without these mined resources, there would have been no steel to build the rail roads. Without diesel, there would have been nothing to run the locomotives. Without dynamite, we would not have had been able to clear thousands of kilometres of unsightly trees and rocks. In short, without the destruction of the environment we would have had to no railroad uniting Canada – and therefore, we would have had no Canada at all. This nation is founded upon the destruction of the environment.

If the tough economic times of the past year has taught us anything, it is the fragility of our pensions. Therefore, we should not be so worried about the environment as about creating good solid jobs that will put food on our families tables while we are away working in the oil patch six months of the year. Jobs that strengthen our communities by ensuring our boss’ boss’ boss gets a nice bonus that will pay for their 16 year-old’s new BMW, built in Spartanburg, USA and sold by one of Greater Toronto’s top employers. This is called re-investing in the community.

But Greenpeace knows where it’s at. They may say “stop the oil sands: stop killing the environment and making humans and animals sick.” But what their underlying goal is economic. Take their little banners-on-West-Block escapade that they pulled in Ottawa this morning. Five Greenpeacers got past security, and climbed the scaffolding to unravel anti-Harper and anti-Ignatieff banners. Those banners, appropriately done in French and English, would have cost money, ink and canvas to create. Thereby both employing a printer and using resources. The stunt led a dozen or so police and media trucks idling for several hours, thereby wasting much fuel. And, because of security breach, the Conservatives are sure to increase security by having more cars idling around Parliament Hill manned by more bored parliamentary policy corp. personnel. Greenpeace is doing its part to pull Canada out of a recession.

Not only that, they demonstrated today that Canada is not the pariah that we, as good self-criticizing Canadians, like to believe. Greenpeace targeted multiple countries, thereby indicating that many countries are killing the environment. See Canada ain’t alone. There is a whole group of us that are bad!

Good morning

2009-11-23T09:09:00.005-05:00

I am headed towards a downward spiral. I don't when, or how, or what it will entail, but there is simply too much good news for a Monday morning. The only means to restore balance, is for something to fall a part.

The Riders are off to the Grey Cup! Their decisive victory over Henry Burris et al. have tossed in the rodeo ring with the Alouettes- two team that will meet for the first time in the 97 year history of the Grey Cup. Aside from TSN's penchant for finding the topless guys with man-boobs in the crowd, the fans were amazing as they made Mosaic Stadium an unwelcoming and deafening place for the Stampeders. My prediction, and the only one I will make without jinxing the team (because I, like all sports fans, have that cosmic ability to control the destiny of an entire sports team), is that Riders fans will paint Calgary green!

And then I see this wonderful headline:

Federal NDP making gains at Liberal, Tory expense: Poll

I don't read to much into the crystal ball gazing of pollsters, but it is a nice headline to start the week off. And an Ipsos Reid poll to boot.

And to top that off, Norman Spector, that sage of forgetfulness for the Mulroney era and no friend of the NDP, wrote a warming story entitled Credit the NDP. In it he highlights the English media's tendency to ignore the NDP - including, inexplicably, giving kudos to the Liberals on the Afghanistan issue, and the NDP's principal stance, even when it is not popular. To quote, at length:

The more likely explanation for the discrepancy in the coverage is the longstanding tendency of the media to give short shrift to the NDP — a tendency that is less and less evident in Québec.

The same phenomenon is noticeable in coverage of the prisoner transfer issue, which outside Québec has been taking on an increasingly Grit hue. That’s surprising, in light of the absence from the debate of Mr. Ignatieff who, to put it tenderly, has some ‘issues’ on the issue of torture. It’s also an undeniable fact that it was the Liberals who got us into the Afghanistan war, it was the Liberals who deployed our troops to Kandahar and it was under the Liberals that General Rick Hillier signed the first (and deficient) prisoner transfer agreement.

Let’s be frank: Whether you agree with them or not, the NDP has been consistent in its opposition to the Afghanistan war — even after the 9/11 attacks, when it was not easy to take this position. And it was also noticeable, last week, that the NDP was the first party in Ottawa to call for a public hearing into Mr. Colvin’s allegations — a bandwagon that the other opposition parties quickly jumped on to.

One of the NDP spokespersons, Paul Dewar, radiates sincerity on the issue — as opposed to the faux outrage one normally sees on our television screens coming from Ottawa. And, in Jack Harris, the Dippers appear to have an MP who can match Bob
Rae in competence.

So let’s give credit where credit is due. And, with the NDP riding high in the polls and even outscoring the Liberals in the Hochelaga by-election, isn’t it also time for the media to take the party more seriously and give them a bit more coverage?

There is a tear in my beer because I am crying for you dear

2009-11-11T09:12:00.002-05:00

A lover of beer. For males, what a cliche. But it is more than a passing interest. I will drive hours to experience micro-brew from the factory. I will sample any international brew - but I always return to the local. Once, I had disposible income and placed in stocks of a micro-brewery. This is a beverage for socializing. An equalizer among men. The lowest common denominator, if you will.

With this passion in mind, it is disappointing to learn that the Brewers' Association of Canada has gone political. The Inbovx provide this message from local Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi:

Dear Friends,

Building on the success of the Cocktails and Conversation Martini Party we hosted last year, the Ottawa Centre Provincial Liberal Association is proud to present the 2009 Beer and Wings Reception!

For the low price of $50 ($40 for ABC or youth members) you can enjoy some of the finest chicken wings and beer that Ontario has to offer. Generously co-hosted by the Brewers’ Association of Canada and the Ontario Chicken Farmers’ Association, this is one party NOT to be missed! This will be a great opportunity to network and meet many new people.

Here are the important
details:

Date: Thursday, November 26
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Brewers’ Association of Canada, 100 Queen St, Suite 650

I caution you that tickets will sell out, so please get in touch with us today to purchase your tickets. You can fill out the attached form [...]
See you on the 26th!

Yasir

Yasir Naqvi, MPP

Ottawa Centre

First of all, it is so disappointing that beer is causing socio-political divisions. My ilk is simply not comfortable hobnobbing with the political elite is a decadent* downtown office building. Secondly, how can they use beer and wings against us! And finally, I cannot believe that I missed last years "Cocktails and Conversation Martini Party" - nothing says man of the people like a martini.

* Please note - "decadent" is defined by Ottawa standards. For Regina readers think of the Twin towers. For Toronto readers, think of an office building run by slum lords.

Blame Management

2009-10-28T14:39:00.006-04:00

10 months, 3 chiefs of staff. Michael Ignatieff is following the Mo Johnston play book.

Mo helms Toronto FC in the MLS. Off the field, by all accounts they are a successful team. They have great attendance. Their fans are boisterous and loyal. And, on paper, they have the building blocks of a contender. On the field, they get slammed 5-0 by the last place team, in their final game, when they are fighting for the last play-off spot. So what does Mo do - what he always does - drops the coach. TFC has had four coaches in 3 years, failed to make the play-offs. Loyal fans of TFC are now non-believers. Back in August, with two months to go, only the most blindly faithful fan still believed that TFC might be in the play-offs.

With Liberals down in the polls, no consistently on messaging, candidate fiasco in Quebec, flip-flops on policy and exercising of poor judgment of pushing an election for no reason - Ignatieff is playing musical chairs. Out is Ian Davey. In is Peter Donolo. The official excuse - Ignatieff needs someone with experience. That is the same line that Mo is using with TFC - we need a coach with MLS experience.

May be it is not the coach or the chief-of-staff who should be blamed. All good managers know that a certain amount of self-reflection must be done when things are not going well. Firing your underling only buys you time.

In all fairness to Ignatieff, he inherited someone elses problem. Dion left the party long on policy and short on organization and financing. Ignatieff has attempted the reverse -the Liberals are short on policy, but focusing on fundraising and courting "high quality" people. But the Party cannot be blamed for it's leader flip-flopping on issues, and making bad judgment calls. Don't forget in the only leadership race that Ignatieff participated in (and lost), he did himself in by commenting on the Lebanon crisis at the time and then flip-flopping on it on Quebec television the next day. That is an issue of judgment, and judgment is not something that can be easily taught in a short period of time. Same thing with instinct - trying to go for the jugular when your party is not prepared, you have not done the ground work, you have no policies and voters do not want an election, but Ignatieff decided to push for an election. If his judgment was doing leaps of logic telling him it was a good idea to go, his gut should have told him otherwise. Trusting your instinct cannot be learned over night.

One of the problems that was publicized last month, was that Ignatieff is too reliant on his Toronto-centred circle. They did not understand Quebec. If they cannot understand the province four hours away, then I can guarantee that they do not understand the West either. So how does Iggy respond? The Toronto guy is replaced by the Toronto guy.

Considering that Donolo's father was part of the firm that built the headquarters of National Defence, perhaps the biggest eye-sore in downtown Ottawa, let's hope Peter does not have his father's eye for design.

UPDATE:

Blogging Horse is having similar thoughts, as is Paul Wells, employing a more apt metaphor.

Partisan to the bone

2009-10-27T15:26:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Jane Taber and CTV, Joe Cressy is out of the closet. Yep – he is an environmentalist. I am sure God will spite him for the way he chooses to live his life. With every protest his Marley chain, partially sunk in the boiling tar sands of hell, is getting longer and longer.

There is some debate, about whether you can be partisan and an activist. Let see, a quick blog search suggests Joe works for those environmental heathens, the Polaris Institute, and he sits on the executive of the Ottawa Centre NDP Riding Association. Clearly, the Polaris Institute is some sort of cover for pro-NDP activities. An audit of there books will reveal that this nefarious group is funded by the NDP, possibly out of Jack Layton’s own pocket. After all, a party that fights for the underprivileged clearly has rich backers. And to be as high as 17% in the polls, such a party must have a vast network of think tanks that disseminate their socialist agenda. Socialism died with the USSR - how can the NDP still exist but for the deep pockets of certain benefacters trying to force their social justice views on an unwilling mass?

Clearly, this just shows how underhanded the NDP is. Other parties simply give their staffers a ten-minute break to go and protest. On the other hand, the NDP is transparent and admits to their underhandedness.

Asked Karl Belanger, press secretary to Jack Layton, about suggestions that the NDP was associated with yesterday’s protest. His response.
Ya, that’s right. We organized a protest to interrupt our Leader
during his question. Clearly, it was a socialist plot from the NDP.

Only through partisans eyes is an individual only a partisan hack, and not an individual of various interests.

UPDATE:

Apparently nefarious political ties underlie everything. Or it is simply a red herring. The Conservatives are using the NDP's-directing-mind story as a means to distract from the real story - 6 weeks to Copenhagen, and we a commitments and strategy to move on the issue of climate change.

Correction - Yesterday I incorrectly referred to Cressy being with the Pembina Institute. This is not the case, and I have been slapped around accordingly (see comments). I will donate all proceeds from this blog to those upstanding non-partisan organizations - Navigator (see G&M post linked directly above) and Strategic Council. With Peter Donolo gone back to the Liberals, who will provide non-partisan and objective views on the polling numbers that appear in the Globe?

On the Liberal void

2009-10-01T12:56:00.002-04:00

Operating on the assumption that anything can be defined by generalizations, and media sources, in particular, can be pegged by partisan politics, over the past year I have viewed the Toronto Star as Liberal supporters. Aside from Susan Delacourt’s excellent blog, I have spent more time reading the Wheels section than their columnists (and I don’t own a car). There was a time in the post-2003 era when the Star paid lip service to Jack Layton and the NDP. A local boy poised for a Toronto breakthrough. As the breakthrough became a knock, the Star maintained a limited interest in the party as it poised for a Quebec breakthrough that was not the flood that was promised. More recently the Star has been advocating that Layton has over stayed his welcome.

And why not move on when you have two leadership hopefuls, Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, from Toronto fighting to lead Canada’s natural governing party? Okay, maybe they have not showed the same commitment to local issues as Layton, but they could become Prime Minister. With Ignatieff assuming the mantle it was only a matter of time before those anti-Toronto and, thus, anti-Canadian values, Tories are booted out.

But the Toronto Star has proven that it, as a large media outlet, should not be pigeon-holed. James Travers provides a true service of succinctly addressing the problems with today’s Liberals:

Michael Ignatieff is not the Liberal problem. Liberals are the Liberal problem.
Three times they failed to stare at themselves while looking for a leader.
Three times Liberals opted for expediency over renewal.

The Liberals are waiting for everyone to hate Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. They only have to look south of the border to understand they may be waiting a long time - many Americans hated George W. Bush, but he was still re-elected. There is a certain arrogance amongst Liberal staffers that it is only a matter of time until they return to their natural state of ruling. Today’s non-confidence motion is a perfect example – the Liberals are not ready for an election and they know they will not defeat the government, but they pursue the idea anyways for no better reason but to say “we-are-not-Stephen-Harper”.

But it is not only the assumption that power is but an election away that is the problem. The Liberals don’t stand for anything.

If there's any consistency, it's the raw pragmatism of a big tent party so
sprawling that its canopy covers libertarians, fiscal conservatives and social
democrats. Determined to manage inherent internal conflicts and bury policy
contradictions, the once dominant natural governing party is content to follow
anywhere any leader likely to return Liberals to power.
From a distance,
Ignatieff was easily mistaken for that champion. A cosmopolitan public
intellectual with patrician bloodlines, the writer and professor blended exotic
success with domestic roots.

Under Michael Ignatieff shifting statements to the media has become policy. When forced to answer about concrete policies, Liberals return to notions of balanced budgets (but never say how!), the Kelowna Accord and national child care. As beneficial as these ideas are, for better or worse, the country has moved on. Kelowna, child care and fiscal policies would be different today then in 2004. The situation has changed but the Liberals have not because they have nothing to hang their hats on but “we-are-not-Stephen-Harper”. This absence of a unifying ideology or principles may work when the opposition is non-existent or hated (see e.g. the 1990’s and Mulroney/Campbell circa 1993). But it does not give Canadians a reason to vote Liberal. What it gives is a reason for potential Liberal voters to stay home.

In praise of socialism

2009-09-14T19:25:00.005-04:00

Socialism – how delightful it has re-emerged. Just as politics was starting to look mundane, with political parties arguing over who is more beige, suddenly ideology is back in the mix. Who ever thought politicians lacked principles, boy were you wrong! Why just look at Jack Layton walking into Parliament today with a copy of Socialism for Beginners under his arm. And then in Question Period, there was Gilles Duceppe speaking passionately about separatism while subtly, one could say silently, thanking his good graces for having a federal pension.

The summer break has treated everyone well and has ushered in a whole new tone. Why, just last June, Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper were at each others' throats arguing over something as innocuous as a “blue ribbon panel on EI reform”. Today, Michael was praising Stephen for his “new found love of socialism” for introducing improvements to EI. Clearly, Michael was so moved that Stephen had listened to him.

I have to confess a certain cynicism leading to today. There I was waiting for another commentary by Preston Manning lamenting the absence of democracy by conjuring up memories the 1988 Reform Party platform for more grass, more roots and more politicians working for the voters. Although, Preston is too diplomatic to say, but his commentaries have made clear his disappointment that not only has Stephen abandoned democracy, but that Stephen has quashed the very platform he was so instrumental in creating two decades ago. Looking forward to Preston nauseating inner voice, you can imagine my delight when Stephen showed that he has been listening, that he has been consulting with voters all summers. He heard the call. The call said “Make Parliament Work!”. Stephen delivered.

Hindsight is 20/20 but I should have seen it coming weeks ago. The rain finally left Ottawa sparkling, the humidity evaporate - one could say that the air around Parliament had cleared. There was Jack Layton walking up Parliament Hill to meet with Stephen Harper, and behind him stood scores, at least three, Liberals all dress in their golf shirts and Mexx suits and red blouses with signs of encouragement. Of course the media got it all wrong (don't they always?), and reported that these were protesters, but have you ever seen such a finely tailored group of protesters?

Perhaps in this new atmosphere of co-cooperativeness, the decorum, pomp and respect will return to Parliament. Poor Peter Milliken has had to work so hard to teach Members how to behave. Now, the Members can work on their wit and the elegance of the speak, instead of their scowls and non-profane retorts.

Such praise for socialism must be the invisible hand of J.S. Woodsworth at work.

Because government has no business supporting the culture of the nation

2009-09-09T21:58:00.003-04:00

Big government spending, big government bailout to poorly run corporations and big tax cuts - the impact had to be felt somewhere eventually. The Conservatives showed exactly what their priorities are, or at least where the priority is not. Culture.

This is a war on culture. Last year it was the slashing by the departments of Heritage and Foreign Affairs of arts programs that promoted Canada globally. Six months ago, the Conservatives crushed the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography because they wanted underground committee rooms. Just last week, Harper's right-wing brethren, Gordon Campbell, took the axe to the B.C. arts community. Today, the Conservative government put the nail in the coffin of the National Portrait Gallery.

According to this government, only government records should be saved for prosperity. Although, that will likely be down graded once the government decides to tackle that burdensome deficit they created. After all, archives and libraries are only high on government lists when it comes time to cut funding.

It is a shame that the former Liberal government had to dilly-dally so much that the $11 million was squandered on the renovation of the former U.S. embassy. Had the renovations continued, or if you added in the money the Harper government wasted shopping around the idea of decentralized national cultural properties, we would have a national portrait gallery by now.

But art is for the rich, not for the nation.

This government has its priorities. It is not culture. It is not the economy. It is getting tough on that declining crime rate.

Apparently the Liberals cannot do better...

2009-09-02T13:32:00.004-04:00

September 1, 2009 - Michael Ignatieff's speech - Liberal Caucus: We can do better :

Stephen Harper doesn’t get it. We do.
For more than a century, we’ve built our prosperity on our natural resources. But if we’re to prosper in the next century, we have to turn our resources into products and technologies the whole world wants to buy.
We can’t get there unless we have the vision and ambition to build a competitive, compassionate future for Canada.We can’t get there unless we open up new markets for Canadian exports in countries like China and India.
We can’t get there with Stephen Harper.
Stephen Harper has been prime minister for four years, and he’s never visited China. We’ll be there next week. After that, we’ll plan a trip to India.

September 2, 2009 - Ignatieff scuttles China visit:

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is cancelling a week-long trip to China
due to his self-declared threat of a fall federal election, The Canadian Press
has learned.

It's bad but...

2009-09-02T10:17:00.003-04:00

Stephen Harper, I am not a fan. Michael Ignatieff, I once was. His treaties on ethnic nationalism was written in a in simple style that made it easy for any student to read. But since he made the jump to politics, he has failed to impress that he can be more than a critic.

Take his rally-the-troops speech to the Liberal caucus:

But we have a secret weapon: Stephen Harper’s own record. The worst unemployment record in two decades; The worst deficit in our history; And last quarter, the worst performing economy in the G7.
Stephen Harper didn’t see a recession coming last fall. Now he’s missing something bigger: what we’re going through is more than a recession—it’s a fundamental restructuring of the global economy.
Stephen Harper doesn’t get that.
He doesn’t get that Canada’s in a race—that we’ve got to position our country to compete in the twenty-first century. We’ve got to make Canada a world leader again, and we’ve got to do it now.

Yes, Stephen Harper is bad. A majority of Canadians did not vote for the Conservatives less than 11-months ago. In that last election the opposition parties were banging the boards shouting that a recession was coming and Stephen Harper did not care. But more people voted for the Conservatives than any other party.

The Conservatives introduced a do-nothing “fiscal update” clearly failing to see the harsh economic environment. The Liberals were given the chance to form government and they walked.

Through out the winter and spring, the Liberals hummed and hawed, and eventually supported the budget that created that large deficit they are now complaining about. The Conservatives gave large hand outs to some large corporations with no guarantee on their return. Other corporations they were willing let die. Then the Conservatives gave up on economic stimulus, and focused on crime and punishment bills. Meanwhile the unemployment rate soared. The Liberals allowed it all to pass. When the Liberals finally decided to stand tough for the unemployed, they agreed to a blue-ribbon panel to discuss EI that would meet throughout the summer.

Throughout all of this, both parties remain mired in the polls.

Stephen Harper’s record is not a secret. The Liberals record of passivity is perhaps a little less well known.

Allan Blakeney has often preached that if a great policy does not pass muster with the public than it is not a good policy. This applies to the bad record of the Conservatives. Despite this government’s desire to prove government does not work, the Conservatives have not raised the ire of Canadians. At least, not enough to piss off enough voters.

By the same token, no opposition party has galvanized the imagination of Canadians to the point that the Conservatives may be defeated. Standing up against the Conservatives for what happens south of the border is not the call to arms that will galvanize Canadians:

Right now, while Americans are fighting for a public health care system, Stephen Harper has refused to utter a word in defence of our own.
Liberals proudly support public health care in this country—and, unlike the Conservatives, we’re not afraid to defend it.

Oh – and on a side note – all those cuts to the welfare state and downloading to the provinces in Paul Martin’s 1995 budget which was part of the huge healthcare problems of the late 1990s to this decade – that is not exactly defending healthcare.

As much as I want to see Stephen Harper out, I also want a government that works.

A matter of opinion...

2009-09-01T17:52:00.006-04:00

Hibernation

2009-08-28T10:35:00.003-04:00

Waking from my mid-summer slumber.
Had work to do; ticks to flick;
Ceremonies to attend; and days to number.
Must still make the vow, lyrics beyond the classic.

All is fair and well, not fairwell.
Stay tuned, irregular broadcasts will resume.
There is much that we still don't like
(and some we like, while others drive cadillacs).
Rock the casbah

Lost and delayed

2009-08-06T10:58:00.004-04:00

As many of my sporadic readers may recall, I have a beef with the way Air Canada and Westjet treat Saskatchewan, and in particular Regina. My complaints have included: the exorbitant rates during peak travel season (nearly a thousand dollars to fly at Christmas), the fact that it is the same price to fly an extra two hours to Vancouver and cheaper to fly to England (despite extra security fees), that the only direct flights to / from Toronto and Ottawa happen to be at six a.m., and it is now impossible not to get a flight that does not go through Calgary or Edmonton - an hour in the opposite direction.

With the Premiers being in Regina, the indefatigable Julie Van Dusen has noted over at Political Bytes, that the Premiers have suffered from a poor travelling experience - both flight delays and lost luggage. That is the great thing about this country - no matter what your status in society is, you still get the same crappy treatment!

On a positive note, I would like to report that a few weeks back my luggage returned to Regina at the same time as I did (likely on the same flight as well). Considering that, more often than not, I leave the Regina International Airport (really does not take much to call yourself "international" these days...) without my luggage, I took this is as a sign of improvement. Perhaps it was just my luck that was improving.

Absenteeism

2009-07-31T07:54:00.000-04:00

Where did Michael go?
We searched east and west
We searched high and low
Where does Michael rest?
We just don’t know.

And do we really care?

NO!

The end of July. Mid-way through summer. Abdelrazik repatriated, but Cons push for more alleged terrorists. White collar crime is ever present, and the Cons give in to corporate greed. The big story remains: Where is Iggy?

For the gossip-gossipy politicos, the only thing that tops election timing prediction is Ignatieff’s whereabouts. Does anyone really believe that what Iggy does with his summer months will make or break the Liberals election potential?

In his first six months as leader, he has yet to prove that he has vision, that he has interests for the country that stretch beyond his own personal aspirations. He has been reactionary, allowing the Conservatives to set the agenda while the Liberals avoid taking stands. One month without Iggy sound like a blessing for everyone including him.

Would putting Iggy on the BBQ circuit make a difference? There are certainly those who feel that summer is the time to grab local headlines and energize the grassroots. But the Liberals are not a party of the grassroots. They view themselves as the party of governance for Canada, not the party of the common citizen. Those claims are left for the Conservatives and the NDP.

Moreover, some leaders are not meant to be commoners. Dion did the BBQ circuit, but he was aloof and could not close the deal with potential voters. If Iggy is as arrogant in person as he comes across in interviews, he may face the same fate.

Canadians want a leader that inspires confidence – in whom they can believe has the intelligence and judgment to make the appropriate decisions. Grabbing a beer is not high on the list of attributes for leaders. Here is where Iggy excels –remaining the distant intellectual may actually help him. But he has to show that he offers sound judgment and not merely reactionary politicking. He has to do more than say yay or nay to potential elections.

Dear Jane, Bill, et al.

2009-07-30T11:42:00.002-04:00

Dear Jane, Bill, et al.

Thank you for keeping me abreast of the whereabouts of Michael Ignatieff. The Globe and Mail’s story on the speech he gave in England changed my life. I am not exaggerating. I was unaware that opposition M.P.s were ever allowed to leave the country on anything short of an official junket – especially in the middle of summertime. Suddenly, being the Leader of Opposition looks like a pretty good position, I intend to apply for it should it ever come open (come on, going to England in July and calling it work – sweet!).

Also, thank you for your continuing election speculation. Without your continuous speculation, I would likely believe that Canadians don’t want an election. With a four party race and the two leaders tied, I would be liable to believe that no party would be willing to pull the plug. However, your hard hitting analytical coverage – with all the polling, poll commentary, graphing of polls, and tracking of polls, etc – has shown me how interested the parties are in having an election. Especially Mr. Ignatieff – as leader of a party that does not support losers, who knew he was so anxious to put his job on the line after just six months?

You must have a team of crack researchers, because it is truly breath taking how much ink can be spilled on election speculation. Although, I could use a bit more coverage on Harper's motivations for an election. You would think that someone up on the Hill would want to try to work together - especially considering the success that Merkel has had in bidding her time in a coalition with socialists that will likely take her to majority territory in September. However, you keep telling me that he is a super smart economist - so he must have an economic model worked out that will lead him to his covetted majority.

However, all this insightful reporting on non-elections cause me concern – what will you do when we have a majority government? I guess in many ways you have been lucky that there has only been minor news stories, such as a Canadian being denied passage to Canada, our intelligence service abusing peoples rights, the government introducing tons of crime bills that will not reduce crime, or the government giving huge amounts of money to bad boy corporations – because obviously GM knows better than the Conservatives about how to spend tax payers money (and much better than Nortel and those other hi-fi cry babies).

Finally, if you do see Paul Wells in the Press Gallery (he is the guy with the big head) – thank him for me. I am sorry to say that I was ready to leave you, until he showed me how far you have come since Phil saw fit to give Eddy the boot (and after Eddy had done so much for the paper – like create the Globe and Mails own font!). On the surface, your political coverage looks exactly the same, but since reading Paul, I now know to look deeper.

Keep up the good work!

Library Voices

2009-07-17T10:14:00.005-04:00

WM: Wheatsheaf, where you at?
WS: I just left the Gardiner Dam. That place is frickin’ hilarious. You coast along the prairie landscape, you come to a bend in the road and suddenly there is a body of water, a dam and farm land on the otherside. No dropoff into a tiny river – just flat farm land. It is like no dam I have every seen.
WM: Do you know Library Voices?
WS: You mean like talking in library voices?
WM: No the band. They are a modest ten-piece with Estevan links. They are playing at O’Hanlon’s.
WS: Skip the fireworks and I am in.

And so commenced my love affair with Library Voices. The show that night blew me away. (check the photo from the show – the Wheatsheaf is somewhere back but don’t look too hard).

The show was loud, boisterous, energetic with sweet sweet harmonies. It was a wholly uplifting experience. I rushed the stage and bought their CD, which I promptly left in Ma Wheatsheaf’s automobile on the way out of Regina.

So I downloaded Hunting Ghosts (& Other Collected Shorts) off ITunes. The EP is a good effort. It captures the wonderful harmony of the guys and gals. The sound of the sticks hitting the hi-hats is clear and crisp. The guitar jumps in and over, while there is a hint of amusement captured in the voices.

This outing would have been better had they capture the live feel. I cannot say how good of a show they put on at O’Hanlon’s. All instruments were flowing in and out in unison, while the singers generated excited and enthusiasm. Think Arcade Fire meets Architecture in Helsinki. But on the Hunting Ghosts, it feels like the band members recorded their parts in separate rooms, leaving the songs as a collection of parts of the sum.

The band is great. Hunting Ghost is solid and definitely belongs on your IPod. For a mere $3.99 on ITunes it is huge bargain and well worth the listen. This band is only going to get better.

Encore: Library Voices plays at the Ottawa Bluesfest tonight at 7pm on the Subway stage (opening for another Wheatsheaf favourite – Paolo Nutini). Go out and sing along. Be dazzled by these guys and gals. Hope to see you there.

Sarah Palin: Still Runnin'

2009-07-16T14:21:00.004-04:00

The Wheatsheaf had the opportunity to sit down talk with the now former governor of Alaska and talk to her about running.

Wheatsheaf: Honestly, did McCain’s people screw you over? Remember, I ask this on behalf of runners everywhere and not for any partisan reasons or to smear your good character.

SP: A great frustration I had during the campaign was when the McCain staff wouldn't carve out time for me to go for a run. The days never went as well if I couldn't get out there and sweat.

Wheatsheaf: How do you really feel about chocolate caramel ice cream bars after a long hot run?

SP: I knew my thighs were going to just throb and my lungs were going to burn, and that's what I crave.

Wheatsheaf: I have heard that you have a thing for Moose?

SP: On the routes I run in Wasilla and Anchorage, I see moose all the time. I've just learned to leave them alone.

Wheatsheaf: I hate to ask this, but since your life in now completely public and my readers want to know: your husband gave you sexy lingerie last Christmas, have you ever worn them?

SP: I've never worn them. I get spooked once in awhile when I'm running a trail and I hear a rustling in the woods, but it just makes me run faster and get the heck out of there.

Wheatsheaf: Intelligent design or Evolution?

SP: I see God's hand all over this place. As I get out there and run, I see the most beautiful signs of this evolutionary process that has created the mountains and the glacial retreats that have left the valleys and the rivers

Wheatsheaf: You pretty much prefer to be alone?

SP: I do, I do.

Wheatsheaf: John McCain completed after the November vote that you although you agreed to run with him, but then you single handily undermined him – how do you respond to this allegation?

SP: If I do a race with friends, they know I'm not going to run alongside them, but it's fun to start and finish together.

Wheatsheaf: Is your eldest son a big sissy boy?

SP: But the most precious experience I've had running was a few summers ago when I was training for a marathon and my son Track—and I named him Track for running—would drive out in front of me and plant water bottles along the route. I felt so spoiled, like the queen of the running world to have a kid who was all cool with his pickup truck, dropping off water for me on my long runs. And he'd put a note on the bottles, saying, "Love you, Mom" and "Run hard, Mom."

Wheatsheaf: I will take that as a yes. Do you think it is because you gave him a really lame name?

SP: I do, I do.

Wheatsheaf: Did running give you appropriate experience to be governor of a state?

SP: Looking back, I'm really thankful for all my less-than-pleasant running experiences because I learned through each one, and I can put it all to good use being the CEO of a state full of diverse views and personalities and issues.

Wheatsheaf: Was John McCain too old to be President?.

SP: I used to joke around with John McCain during the campaign about coming jogging with me. And once I asked him what his favorite exercise was, and he said, 'I go wading.' Wading. He lives on a creek in Arizona, so he goes wading. That cracked me up.

Wheatsheaf: Have you yet read the briefing materials on Russia?

SP: I have not because I usually sneak out to go running, or if someone offers I usually shoot straight with them and say, "I gotta go run by myself, I'm sorry."

Wheatsheaf: If you had to leave Alaska, what would you want to do?

SP: Alaska would be hard to give up because it is such a part of who I am. So much of my life revolves around the great outdoors that that would be kind of tough. But on the other hand, I think of being in D.C. and in a position to promote physical fitness and the benefits of making good decisions healthwise and being an example to others, and I know that could do some good for our country.

Wheatsheaf: Your opponents, including some in the Republican party, have called you a frigid cow – how do you respond?

SP: I'm always running about 10 degrees colder than everyone around me; I'm always cranking up the heat. I think because we do have so many cold days here, it's such a luxury and a pleasure to go somewhere warm. I think you guys who get a lot of warm weather take it for granted and you shouldn't. I thought that was a great part of the campaign—we'd be out there at events or up there on stage just sweatin' like pigs, and I loved it.

Wheatsheaf: My mistake, you are a sweaty pig and not a frigid cow. You always struck me as being twenty-five years behind the times.

SP: I have a nice routine: I kick off my runs with the old Van Halen and AC/DC, then I get into my country music, then I always wrap it up with a couple of mellow Amy Grant songs.

Wheatsheaf: Could you beat the president?

SP: I betcha I'd have more endurance. My one claim to fame in my own little internal running circle is a sub-four marathon. It wasn't necessarily a good running time, but it proves I have the endurance within me to at least gut it out and that is something. If you ever talk to my old coaches, they'd tell you, too. What I lacked in physical strength or skill I made up for in determination and endurance. So if it were a long race that required a lot of endurance, I'd win.
______________________________________________________

All answers are excerpts from an interview with Sarah-with-an-H Palin in Runners World. Aside from a few amusing phrases, she comes out pretty good in the interview. She may not be knowledgable about international affairs, the economy or public policy in general, but she is great at talking about herself.

2009-06-26T15:33:00.003-04:00

Maybe it is just that Berlusconi makes Clinton and Mitterand together look prudish, but one has to envy Lawrence Canon being in Italy so close to the action. With a few loosely connected salicious rumours strung together into a series of questions, this could be an interesting news conference. Canon has a hard enough time answering questions on issues that he ought to know. Imagine what his response be to "Minister Canon, is it true that your partook in the customary orgy after meeting with Prime Minister Berlusconi?"

And now for ...

Tough Love

2009-06-24T16:52:00.001-04:00

Gerald Caplan’s cynicism on the current state of politics seeps through today's Globe and Mail. There is much truth to what he writes.

The government did almost nothing constructive and the Official Opposition offered almost no alternatives, with many media reporting their most fatuous spins at face value. Poor Canada.

But they saved the NDP from itself. Jack Layton had boxed himself into the tightest of corners, going nowhere fast. He and a few self-loving communication types who now seem to run the NDP, with nary a piece of substance to be found, are sighing sighs of relief. The NDP is in no better shape to fight a campaign that the Liberals, and everyone knows it. But both parties routinely assert the opposite.

The leader has reshuffled the front office, but the new efficiency has yet to be proven. The leader stepped into his role with his panniers filled with new ideas and a desire to get things done. His book “Speaking Out” reflects his inspiration and thoughtful ideas. Nowadays, he comes across as a talking bobble head, repetitively trying lines on you. When speaking to him, it is clear that the thoughtful policy mind, the part of him that is still passionate about environmental innovation, is still there. That part is masked behind the TV Layton.

This past session was the time for new ideas, especially on the economy. The Conservative government spent the last month introducing and debating crime and punishment bills while the recession continued to rage on. It is clear that they are devoid of policy ideas, aside from seriously flawed mandatory sentencing and victim of terrorism right to sue bills. The Liberals, following the Green Shift fiasco, are too scared to introduce new policies and are relying on a single idea changing the eligibility requirements for EI. The NDP is traditionally viewed as weak on economics. Now is the time to start shifting that view. The common view that opposition parties are their to criticize out of fear the governing parties will steal the good ideas should not apply to the NDP. We are a fourth place party that constantly fights the criticism of redundancy. Now is the time for new ideas. We promoted the green car policy in the last elections, and then the government turns around and gives billions in loans to the auto manufacturers (loans that will likely never be repaid). Perhaps there was an opportunity missed somewhere in there?

That is not to say that NDP MP’s have not been working their butt’s off. For example, on the last day that the House sat, the Conservative government reversed their stance on Abousfian Abdelrazik, having been converted to the idea of Canadian citizens having rights, and decided that reform of the much maligned NCC was needed. Ottawa Centre NDP MP has been working tirelessly on both matters (see here for praise of Paul’s work on the Abdelrazik, and check out the House of Common’s website to see the similarities between Paul’s private members bills and what the government is proposing on the NCC). As Caplan noted on in an earlier piece,

Luckily, Paul Dewar carried the ball, repeatedly embarrassing though not shaking
an intransigent Harper government. At this low moment in our political life, Dewar reminds us what public affairs should be all about.

Although, the NDP take the brunt of Caplan’s tough love, the media does not go unscathed:

Alas, given the stunted the level of both politics and most reporting in this country, we are, I fear, doomed to return to the same old, same old from the very moment the House returns. Instead of asking how we can fix our country, the only question will be when either of the two big parties thinks it has a momentary advantage worth forcing an election.

Although the NDP is responsible for its own direction, the media’s interest in 15 second sound bites, tabloid tales, and election fever encourages politicians to push theatre over substance. Was it really a news story when Layton said that with the coalition dead he would refocus on making Parliament? Had that not been a news story, would Iggy have contemplated a confidence vote to test the NDP’s resolve? Was it even a story that Canadians cared to read that Iggy, after a weekend’s consideration and two meetings with Harper, decided not to push the election issue? We are caught in a spin cycle where matters of substance barely get covered (quick: what were there main issues debated in Committee regarding mandatory sentencing?) and election speculation is all the rage. It is an easy front page story for the Liberals to suggest that they may bring down the government – whether or not people actually believe them.

On being underpaid

2009-06-22T14:38:00.004-04:00

It was never that I lacked the courage to do it. If I trained, I too could have held a tape recorder behind my bosses back for minutes - SEVERAL minutes in fact. And I am just as good about talking about "my Minister" over drinks after work as the next hack.

I just wanted something a bit more rewarding. You know that feel good feeling that you have when you actually accomplish something with your day. Of course, rewarding work is also the sort of job that does not pay well. Thus, I am an underpaid lawyer. Woo is me. Please cry for me Canada.

Why didn't I take the $120,000 a year and a false sense of self-importance? I am such an idiot.

NOTE: The NDP are the only party with a unionized staff. This means that they are the only staffers on the hill that maintain some semblance of job security. This also means that no staffer gets paid 120,000 of tax payers dollars as all staffers get a respectable wage. Other parties may pay certain individuals $120,000, but that means someone else only gets paid $25,000 (that is the junior - mentor relationship that the article talks about during the Chretien / Martin years.

Three Cheers for Paul!

2009-06-19T16:20:00.004-04:00

I have been tormented about what to write on the Abousfian Abdelrazik affair. Here was a man so obviously wronged by his country, that the only words I could think of to describe my sentiments were unpublishable. For your country to abandon you is perhaps one of the most hurt insults to be handed.

With the Conservative Government finally attempting to rectify this sad situation that they had helped to propogate, it is time to move into a new direction. Liberal MP Glen Pearson does a nice bit reaching across the aisle with his pen in describing his experience with the matter:

But the one person who stuck on this file and deserves full praise for the
victory yesterday was the NDP’s Paul Dewar. Simply put, I found him
indefatigable in the cause of justice for Abdelrazik. And I speak from personal
experience, as we both sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Against all
odds, Dewar exhausted every parliamentarian option, time after time, not just in
an attempt to exonerate an innocent citizen, but to prove that the Canadian
parliament could be relevant in such a case. I watched as the government members
of the committee fought him vociferously. But he worked the system - very
well. In key votes on the case, the three opposition parties worked together and
won by one vote each time, Paul’s example being the key cause. I witnessed the
discouragement on his face every time as the government refused to abide by the
will of the committee on this. I would even text him on his Blackberry during
committee in an attempt to keep him assured. The hardest day came only
three weeks ago, when the Foreign Affairs Minister pointed his finger in anger
at Dewar over the issue, in a manner that was beneath the conduct of someone in
such an exalted position.

Four very important things happened yesterday. Above all, a innocent
exile is coming home to his family. Second, the opposition members weren’t so
much a coalition as a combined group of individuals who believe in human rights,
defending the ultimate rule of law over unprovable suspicion. Third, Parliament
worked yesterday in a way that surprised all of us and ultimately prevailed. And
finally, one man who believed in the system achieved his own freedom. A very
able parliamentarian who had been plagued by rancor and repeated defeats proved
to all of us, and himself, that a public servant dedicated to our freedoms can
be shining light that leads us into a better future. Well done Paul. I
love this kind of politics and you deserve the kind of summer reserved for
champions.

It is a nice way to end the Parliamentary session by paying compliments for the hard work of your fellow colleagues. Well done Glen.

Odd Job Bob

2009-06-19T13:31:00.003-04:00

Flipping through the weekly Ontario Reports - a tree killing, questionably useful publication forced upon all Ontario lawyers - there displayed was a page long add for Bob Rae. Not an add for the Honourable Bob Rae M.P., but an add for the mediation and arbitration services of the Honourable Bob Rae P.C., Q.C.

Two possibilities arise from Bob Rae's renewed interested in schlocking his services to the legal community: (1) he needs the money; (2) he needs the diversion.

Considering that as a Member of Parliament he is racking in $157,731.00 per year, one can assume that it is not for want of money. On the other hand, he did previously work for a Bay Street firm and perhaps this meager MP's salary is not enough for his post-NDP lifestyle. In all fairness, there is not big money in the run of the mill mediation and arbitration. However, if he decides to go towards international arbitration, he could really supplement his MP salary.

But, it just might be that with the appointment of his old friend Iggy as Leader of the Liberal Party, Bob is less interested in sticking around Parliament. This is a man who has spent his life serving for the betterment of his community, province and country. Moreover, unless Iggy gets hit by a truck, the sense of manifest destiny that propelled Rae towards the Prime Ministership has come been crushed.

$14.6 million or a promise to meet

2009-06-17T14:54:00.004-04:00

From the ediotrial desk of the NDP:

What can you get to prop up a government?
Wed 17 Jun 2009
New Democrats delivered billions, Ignatieff delivers talk

OTTAWA – After long hours at the negotiating table, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff walked away with nothing of substance in exchange for his continued support of the Harper government and its failed policies.
“When I sat down with Paul Martin in 2005 and avoided an election by negotiating a new budget, I delivered for Canadians,” said New Democrat leader Jack Layton. “New Democrats got $4.6 billion in new investments in housing, education and transit. Today, Michael Ignatieff got a working group in exchange for his ongoing support of Stephen Harper.” In 2005, New Democrats turned corporate tax breaks of $4.6 billion into $1.6 billion for affordable housing, $1.5 billion for post-secondary education, $900 million for transit, $500 million for foreign aid and $100 million for pension protection.
In 2009, Michael Ignatieff could only manage a “blue ribbon panel” on Employment Insurance with limited scope that won’t report until September. “This working-group talk-fest is cold comfort to the 1.5 million unemployed Canadians dealing with a deeply flawed EI system. Ignatieff did nothing to fix EI, nothing to create jobs, nothing to stimulate the economy.”
“How did the Official Opposition fail Canadians so badly? Did Michael Ignatieff get
steamrolled or does he just agree with Harper’s policies?

14.6 million versus a promise of working group.

Chantal Hebert has looked into the emptiness of Ignatieff's stance:

All Michael Ignatieff has really wanted since Monday is a fig leaf to
justify his continued support of the minority Conservative government.
That minimalist quest is the only possible rationale for the absence of clarity of
his original position, a feature whose main (and only) merit has been to give
the Liberal leader the latitude to clutch at whatever straw may come his way,
courtesy of the Prime Minister.

Months after the NDP and the Bloc raised the EI issue, the Liberals have attempted to take it over as their own. It has now become the only issue that the Liberals seem willing to take a stand on.

As NDPers, there is no problem with the Liberals stealing our good ideas. We are used. We are just disgusted when they steal the idea and do nothing with it.

E-Day in NS

2009-06-09T10:01:00.004-04:00

Hate to count the chicks before they hatch. There are enough examples of the polls being wrong. But the excitement bubbles with the possibilities.

Either way today will be historic - either it will be an historic NDP victory or it will be a historically bad day for pollsters.

Here is an interesting twist on the burger poll - the Resort Options.

UPDATE:

A historic result - in all the rights ways.

Link in

2009-06-07T21:04:00.003-04:00

An impressive contest. An exciting convention. Quite the finish. Link is in.

Lingenfelter won with 55% on the second ballot, defeating Ryan Meili by 45%. The two represented very different routes. Link ran on pragmatic appeal, promising a return to power and a steady as she goes policy of waffling to business and waffling to the government interests as the period may call. Meili ran on renewal. Through youthful vigour he sought to reconnect with people.

Yens Pedersen also played the youth card and surprisingly, at least to me, triumphed over Deb Higgins. Higgins, who has been an effective cabinet minister and a community MLA, ran an ineffective campaign. Slightly slow to get the campaign going, she never seem to gain the traction needed to mount a serious challenge.

An ovation for all candidates. The race went from a near coronation to a serious debate on diverging ideas.

The fact that a youthful leader like Ryan Meili can rise to the occasion and claim 45% of the vote shows both the division in the party and the talent that lies within. The fact that some MLAs went, particularly the younger ones, went to Meili on the second demonstrates that Lingenfelter must reach out and listen to this call for renewal. Moving forward the party must reconnect with its electoral base, listen to rural Saskatchewan, heed the warnings of environmentalists.

Power will come. But the party is only as strong as those that support it.

The way forward: Sask NDP 2009

2009-06-02T08:17:00.002-04:00

June 6.

Regina.

One person will be hoisted up to lead the Saskatchewan NDP.

But where will that leader take us? To government because we are not on the right? Perhaps a step to the left to become reacquainted with the ideals that formed the party? Or perhaps, to the people of Saskatchewan?

The question of the leadership race: What does it mean to be a New Democrat in Saskatchewan?

Since 1944, the NDP has been in power 47 of the past 65 years (or, since Saskatchewan became a province, 47 out of 104 years). From Douglas to Blakeney, Romanow to Calvert, the NDP has carved out a niche as the pragmatic left - managerial democratic socialists. It is an umbrella held together by their support of crown corporations, medi-care and memories of Saint Tommy. As government, the NDP has consistently applied a patient approach to the management of resources and the expansion of the welfare state. They have maintained an eye on the finances and a hovering foot over the brake peddle on social programs. Only when the finances permitted did social change get the green light.

But years in government has also taken it's toll on the party. The idealists have often taken a back seat to the economic stewards - perhaps more so under Romanow and Calvert then under previous NDP administrations. The NDP has been successful because it has carved out the centre, thereby crippling the Saskatchewan Liberals. But it has compromised its progressive values in the process. The Saskatchewan NDP has been characterized as the Saskatchewan version of the federal Liberals - a party that pursues power by being flexible with its views - although perhaps a little less smug. The Saskatchewan NDP has proven adaptable, changing with the times, while consistently being solid managers. On the eve of a rare leadership convention, it is time for Saskatchewan NDPers to ponder where they want their party to go. Broadly speaking, is it a party in pursuit of power or does it want to risk being in opposition a little longer while espousing social democratic values?

The answer to this question will set the path for answering a number of other issues facing the party. For example, how does the NDP reconnect with people in rural areas now that their convenient excuse that international trade agreements tied their hands has worn thin. How do you deal with poverty, particularly in first nations communities, in a free market economy? Is Nuclear really the clean energy that the industry wants us to believe that it is? How do you take the riches of from resources to diversify the economy?

The Jurist has not a marvelous job of describing what the leadership candidates stand for and I will not repeat that here. Obviously, the leader selected this coming weekend will pave the route that the Saskatchewan NDP will take, but will that route answer the question of what it means to be a Saskatchewan New Democrat?

The routes are as follows:

All for power - Dwain "Iggy" Lingenfelter. After encouraging business away from Saskatchewan for the better part of this decade, Dwain has returned to fulfill his destiny. His policies are safe, and his experience long. His campaign is that he can defeat Brad Wall. This small print is that power is more important the party.

Progressive foot soldiers - Ryan "Netty" Meili. Ryan has been a breath of fresh air. He has occupied the same space that Netty Wiebe did in 2001 as the progressive outsider. His campaign has been the most innovative (at least from a virtual stand point), and he has been the only candidate with clear and well thought out policies. He marks a return to roots.

Happy Middle - Deb Higgins. Her heart is in the right place. Her campaign focused. Deb is the link between Dwain and Ryan. She maybe short on policy debate, but she is to the point. I have a lot of time for Deb. The party would do well by electing her.

The Lawyer as outsider - Yens Pedersen. Unfortunately, I cannot at much about this candidate.

On Liberal Party Policy

2009-05-22T07:49:00.001-04:00

The Liberals are pondering, planning and plodding their policy platform. This is not news – this is what all political parties do in preparation for elections. The platform will be continually revised until the day that it is released – and, often, parts of that platform may be revised after its release, right up to election day.

Theses days, what constitutes as a policy platform is a set of statements. These are not detailed policies that provide background to the issue, a solution, the impact of the solution and how the party, if elected, will implement the solution. Parties don’t care about policy. Parties simply want a short statement that says they stand for something. Parties don’t want to be restricted to something that may become politically unfeasible to complete. Moreover, the underlying theory of a political platform is that it should not be a target. The more detail, the more confusing it can become for a general reader, the better an opponent can twist your words.

The Liberals know this as well as anyone. One of their sins of 2008 was to release the Green Shift – a policy with a variety of tax cuts and credits that affected everyone in different ways. Without going into its merits, the Green Shift represented a bold shift in political policy making. Here, an opposition party released a complex policy document just before the slow summer months of summer when no election was on the horizon – thereby ensuring months of discourse on the Green Shift. To their misfortune, the Liberals at the time were an unpopular party, with an unpopular leader, who were still trying to figure out how to run an operation on a miserly opposition party budget, as well as having an ineffective communication strategy to promote the policy. Thus, the Conservatives took the initiative and defined the policy for the Liberals and made it the target of the 2008 election.

The Liberals are too scared to put out policies. They, like all parties, will release a platform come election time. Don’t count on it before hand.

That said, the Globe and Mail is making a big deal that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff had dinner at his official residence with former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, TD Bank Financial Group CEO Ed Clark, former Deputy Minister of Finance Scott Clark and University of Quebec economist Pierre Fortin.

These are individuals that Liberals refer to as “stakeholders”. They are not meeting with interest groups, members of the community, or average Canadian voters. Stakeholders are esteemed members of their respective elite group, and who are sought to undemocratically represent the interests of other Canadians.

According to the Globe:

Liberal Party Leader Michael Ignatieff has quietly reached out to an economic brain trust that includes former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge as his party begins developing a new platform that sources say would serve as an eventual trigger to bringing down the Conservatives.

[…]
The session with the economists was a brainstorming meeting where Mr. Ignatieff's ideas for revamping Employment Insurance benefits were discussed, as well as notions on how Mr. Ignatieff should further stimulate the economy if he becomes prime minister.

This is an exercise of ensuring that you have some heavy hitters in your corner. This is not the making of a party platform. Moreover, revamping Employment Insurance is the only issue Michael Ignatieff has taken a stance on – after both the NDP and the Bloc raised the very issue for months beforehand. But the Liberals idea of revamping EI is not a true policy in the sense of the Green Shift. Revamping EI, for the Liberals, is a numbers game. It is a single issue focused exclusively on lowering the number of days needed to be eligible for EI.

Despite Ignatieff’s reputation of being a big thinker, don’t expect any big policies to come from the Liberals anytime soon.They have accepted their role in opposition as being one of criticism. They are not interested in proposing ideas, they only intend to reject Conservative ideas (although, they do have a history of voting with the Conservatives).

By the by:The Globe's website has been revamped but not the reporting. They continue to give a free pass to Michael Ignatieff. The sleeker lines, bolder headings and increased use of coloured font is perhaps a slight improvement. However, a change of font is not the sort of change that I am looking for in this once esteemed publication.

Globe and Mail: time for real change?

2009-05-22T06:20:00.001-04:00

Since Edward Greenspon became the editor-in-chief in 2002, the Globe and Mail - both the paper and its electronic version - has been through numerous redesigns. The clear direction that Greenspon has presented over the past seven years has been visual aesthetic over substance.

Formerly, the Globe and Mail was the top paper in Canada for in depth news coverage, for in depth analysis. It had columnists with both wit and understanding the issues at play in Canada.

Perhaps in an effort to compete with the National Post, Greenspon deemed it necessary to focus on the more human, the more gossipy side of journalism. In came more photos, the anonymous sources, greater reporting on the personalities in Ottawa as opposed to the impact that they have in federal politics. In came the crime beat and the human interest stories. Most of all, in came the redesigns.

It feels like once a year Edward Greenspon is making a big announcement about how this historic paper is being re-imagine. It has received its own font. It has gone from two sections to several sections and shrunk action. And now, the website is redesigned (again).

After so many redesigns, perhaps it is time to ask if it is the look of the Globe and Mail that needs to be changed or its substance?

UPDATE:

Senor Wells' column deals with the problems with the Globe set out above and the parting with Greenspon over here.

Another sign that the auto industry is behind the times

2009-05-21T22:51:00.003-04:00

After the hullabaloo in January when auto executives arrived in Washington in their private jets and were turned away from public money, it seemed like the auto manufacturers were getting. Sure the Big 3 still tried to blame the unions, but it was pretty obvious to any driver that it was the poor management that ruined the auto manufacturers. Consumers wanted smaller, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly cars, but the Big 3 simply gave us more commercials of SUVs and pick-ups.

The second time the auto execs came begging for public money, they appeared ready to listen. If they revamped their car line and attempted to mean the interests of consumers, may be they could survive - maybe even compete. However, these pictures from the recent Detroit and Seoul auto shows clearly demonstrate that the auto industry is made up of regressive individuals.

Maybe using sexy young ladies to sell shiny new toys is not the message that the auto industry wants to be sending in the 21st century.

We care a lot... nevermind

2009-05-18T22:36:00.004-04:00

I yearn for the rebellion of ideas. To see the passion of people in physical terms. I miss the crying out of a community shouting "we care", or perhaps I only dreamed of it.

The Tamil war is over, burned by the very government whose repression they tried to escape. It was perhaps the only outcome for a quarter-century old violent struggle where neither side was interested in playing by the "fair" rules of war.

What was Canada's response? Silent diplomacy and annoyed commuters.

The Tamil's started their protest on Parliament Hill. They pleaded with the government to intervene and seek a peaceful end to the slaughter. They pleaded with the very party that wanted the Tiger's listed as a terrorist organization when in opposition. Poor Ottawa white-collar workers simply had to be patient as they were delayed in traffic for an extra 15 each morning. It is the price they pay for living in the nation's capital.

Then the Tamil's protested in Toronto. They first took the Gardiner, then the greens of Queen's Park. "Sorry for the trouble, please understand our struggle", they told commuters. A slight delay in their day to bring awareness to those slain. Again, commuters reacted with impatience, frustration and a lack of understanding. How dare these people get in the way, when work, Starbuck's and Goodlife are just blocks away.

No wonder people don't vote. If they can't be bothered to show respect for those who die in far off lands, why would they care who runs the government. After all, government is a bureaucracy and not an instrument of change. Politics is a game of arrogance and smugness between similar parties of varying relevance. Gossip over policy. Leader is a title without meaning.

Life is about my comfort and security. It is best if you just let me be. So goes the sentiment in the community, for society has embraced complacency.

Imperialism died with Versailles. Fascism died with Hitler. Communism died before Stalin, but socialist autocracy continued to paralyze millions. Internationalism grew to hold states accountable, but failed to account for nationalism. Nation-states let individualism rule the day. This history of the twentieth-century is just to say that we are now ruled by complacency.

Although this post is on the problems in our society, John Allemang eloquently captures the symptoms in this case scenario:

Those Tamil folks have gone too far -
How dare they try to block my car

And aim to make me contemplate

Their bloody war? I'm running late,

And don't have time to spare a thought

For conflict in some foreign spot

Where true Canucks would never go,

And we can't tell who's friend or foe.

Some wars are just too far away.

Afghanistan's become okay

For reasons I won't try to state,

Since, like I said, I'm running late,

But, on the whole, these Third World types

Should not distract us with their gripes

About their second cousin's fate -

Just shut up when you immigrate.

Canadians believe in peace,

But why the heck won't the police

Arrest these folks and clear a path

For those of us who don't feel wrath?

Your foreign war will never end,

So be like me, my Tamil friend -

The moment that you cease to care,

The world will start to seem more fair.

Jack goes to Washington

2009-05-14T19:11:00.002-04:00

The U.S. is hot these days. They are the place to be, the place to emulate.

For those who ever wondered what good celebrities do in backing a cause (e.g. can Bono really save Africa?) - the answer is in. Star power over substance any day, any day, any day.

NDP Leader Jack Layton is headed to Washington to try lending Barack Obama
a hand in his fight for health-care reform.
[...]
Mr. Layton will tout the merits of universal health care during a three-day
trip in June, where he'll deliver a public speech and meet with Democrats in the
White House, in Congress and at party headquarters.

Health care, everywhere. That would be ideal. But I am feeling cynical these days. Thus, I look at this as mere ploy on the NDP's part to show Canadians that Michael Ignatieff is not the only leader within an in to the White House.

That said, Jack will show Canadians that you don't have to be an elitist arrogant Harvard professor to have a photo op with the folks down in Washington.

Apparently good looks only get you so far...

2009-05-06T17:39:00.003-04:00

From the Globe:

Embattled Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla has stepped down from her post as the
Liberal Party's youth and multiculturalism critic over allegations she
mistreated foreign caregivers and paid them under the table.
[...]
Toronto Star report quoted two caregivers saying they were mistreated while they worked at Ms. Dhalla's Mississauga home, taking care of her mother.
The two came to Canada under the federal government's Live-in Caregiver Program, but said their work was mainly household chores for the family, including shovelling
snow and cleaning the Dhalla family's chiropractic clinics.
One, Magdalene Gordo, compared the post to slavery. Another, Richelyn Tongson, said Ms. Dhalla kept her passport and other documents for weeks.
Ms. Dhalla denied mistreating the care-givers. She did not attend the Commons on Tuesday.

Feel free to leave comments on whether the government sponsored Filipino nanny program provides good jobs and two year residency in Canada for desperate workers, or just provides really cheap labour to young families...

Death of a museum

2009-05-05T22:03:00.004-04:00

Keykode took me to the museum.
He said it was one of his favourites.
Huh, I thought...this is the capital.
This is the land of national monuments.

When my glasses were donned,
That place beside the Castle,
Drew me in with its charm.

This was not a place for Gauguin.
Nor Van Gogh, Michelangelo or Rodin.
This was not a place for conventional work.
This was something different.

Something different because of the attitude.
The photographs challenged.
They posed while playing with you.
This was not a place of stodgy art.
This is place for photography.

I cannot help but feel that this attempt is futile.
The Conservatives have denounced art.
The M.P.s have stated their need for space.
A committee room shall takes its place.

Sign the petition. Save the Contemporary Photography Museum.

...

New free trade agreement! ... with Iceland?

2009-04-29T18:41:00.004-04:00

Canada has completed its first free trade agreement in years, and it only took three+ years to go from completion of negotiations to ratifications.

This is the Government of Canada in action!

And to be fair - I mean the Conservative party, because this one cannot be blamed on the web-ruled-bureaucracy. Once this trade agreement was negotiated, the Conservative government had to take time to decide whether it was politically palpable. After all, there were more pressing issues like negotiating a free trade agreement with human right violating countries like Columbia. Then the Conservative government had to introduce bills and watch them die on the order table.

Just raises the question - if this was not a priority of the Conservative government, why pass it now? The economic powerhouses of Iceland, Liechtenstein Norway and Switzerland are not banging on out door demanding more trade. In fact Iceland went from economic heartthrob to see its currency go in free fall, mass unemployment, and forcing the government to nationalize its top three banks.

Another way of putting it is - what is the motivation of the Conservative government in signing this agreement? The Conservatives love trade agreements, especially when there is political motivation (Hi Colombia). It is a little troubling to think that Liechtenstein is a strategic country of interest for Canada.

Ought to be a tweet

2009-04-28T21:39:00.001-04:00

I heard that the Sask NDP is having a leadership race... who knew.

More to come...

The Old Flag, the Old Policy, the Old Leader

2009-04-20T14:29:00.003-04:00

Perhaps the leader has changed, being old in comparison to his predecessor, but the policy remains the same - absent yourself for democracy!

Has Parliament ever heard a more rousing line than “Question Period is over! Last one to Darcy McGee’s pays.” Not to Liberal ears.

According to the Ottawa Citizen, the Liberals are absent the most, and the Liberals vote with the Conservatives 79% of the time.

A year ago, when the Dion Liberals were famously sitting down for democracy, they voted with the Conservatives 60% of the time. Fast forward a year, and the Liberals have a shinny new leader who is not sure what he or the party stands for, but clearly they stand for whatever the Conservatives stand for.

When Ignatieff said, his MPs were "tired of sitting down. Is that clear?", who knew he meant that they were too tired to even think for themselves?

Some of the votes on which the Liberals supported the government were little
more than parliamentary housekeeping, but they also helped the Tories defeat
Bloc Québécois and NDP amendments to the budget, quashed proposed changes to
trade laws and backed a bill on the transport of dangerous goods, among others.

Once again, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe received the leadership attendance awards – only missing two of 47 votes.

As always, the real opposition comes from the NDP.

Liberal, Tory - same old story

Two legs good, four legs better

2009-04-16T07:04:00.001-04:00

Stephen Harper has been reading the bible again. Surprisingly, it is one of the lefty democrats bibles - Animal Farm. So much so that he has memorized the Seven Commandments (or at least the first set of seven commandments):

Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are created equal.

It has been clear that Harper has his priorities screwed up. From Day 1 he promoted the adoption of poor little kitties. Yet these days you do not see him advocating for people to help the poor unemployed manufacture workers.

He even sends one of his favourite ministers to attend the Humane Society gala with his wife.

For Harper, the poor can eat cake but heaven forbid that Lucky goes without steak. After all, Lucky is oh-so-much cuter than a fifty year old balding male.

Thus, it was not a surprise that the federal government announced that they will give $1.8 million to the Ottawa Humane Society. In hard economic times if the government returning to deficit spending, what else could help the economy then helping animals? The Humane Society does excellent work, but is this really our government's priority?

What is more surprising is that the Ontario Liberals are kicking in an additional $500,ooo. Wow - Liberals, Tories - same old story.

Kumar ditches Harold for the West Wing

2009-04-07T18:32:00.003-04:00

Hollywood star Kal Penn has swapped television's "House" for the White
House. The 31-year-old actor, who made his mark as the pot-smoking Kumar in the
"Harold and Kumar" feature film comedies, will become associate director in the
White House office of public liaison, Entertainment Weekly reported on
Monday.

Could Premier Wall be the next Never Was?

2009-04-06T13:22:00.006-04:00

Don Martin is touting Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall as a potential Stephen Harper successor. Could Brad Wall really be the Next-Great-Never-Was on the national scene? Just like former New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord? Lord, you may remember, was the bilingual and articulate young premier who many speculated could save the Conservatives from themselves and make them palatable to Canadian voters. After, two terms, New Brunswick voters saw through his smiling demeanor and booted him in favour of a less popular leader.

There is a compelling case. Brad Wall is a hardcore partisan leader, who is bright enough not let his ideology, and the wing nutters in his party, stand in the way of electoral gains. He is charming and articulate (although for those who remember his pre-leadership days, he could easily blow a gasket on command during Question Period). Wall is from outside of Alberta (although these days, there is only an imaginary border to distinguish the two). Moreover, because Stephen Harper insists on controlling his caucus, including speaking on their behalf, it will be impossible for anyone within the federal Conservative to campaign behind the Leader's back.

However, this speculation from the conservative commentator could just be part of his desire to see the Prime Minister exit. But honestly, does anyone really believe that a noted control freak like Stephen Harper would be interested in leaving the highest position in the land without a fight? He might be willing to be more willing to speak with the international media than the national media, but that is likely to with the fact that he has nothing to lose and much to gain from international game. The international media will not challenge his policies, and may take note of his positive rally behind Canada message. Plus, positive international attention will play well at home, without Harper having to deal with the national media. A man who, just four years ago, would have considered anyone in his caucus to have vacationed in Hawaii to have international experience is that the sort to want to make a jump on to the international scene. Stephen Harper will remain the leader of the Conservative Party until it is pried from his hands.

Not in my own words: Collenette to bang her head in the OC (again)

2009-04-05T22:22:00.002-04:00

By the time 2008 Liberal candidate Penny Collenette announces her intention to seek the Liberal nomination in this riding again, it will have been the worst kept secret in town. Collenette ran 2nd to two-term NDP M.P. Paul Dewar.

Collenette should consider running in a riding where she has a chance of winning.

Here's a better option. Rather than she beat her head against a wall in Ottawa Centre, why not run for mayor?

More consumer tax good for Saskatchewan: Flaherty

2009-03-31T11:44:00.002-04:00

David Akin is reporting that our "esteemed" Minister of Financial Wisdom, is proposing that a harmonized tax system would be good for Saskatchewan. Flaherty recently won praise for persuading his Ontario Liberal nemesis and favourite kicking-boy, that having everyday Joe's and Jane's pay more taxes while businesses pay less is sound economic policy. After all, it is corporations that need handouts in these hard economic times, and consumers don't mind paying taxes on more items.

Minimum wage sucks

2009-03-27T13:12:00.005-04:00

Who would have thought, but maybe Howard stepped down too soon... After a passionate plea by the former NDP leader that the minimum wage should be raised to $10 because people cannot live adequately off $8 an hour, the Ontario Liberals capitulated and brought in a moderated minimum wage hike. Now they want to turn back time and stop the minimum wage hike. That makes sense. Get laid off from the auto factory, go work in the Tim Horton's and you can't afford to pay the bills. Trying turn an economy around on the backs of the lowest paid is not the way to go.

Minimum Wage (LP Version) - They Might Be Giants

UPDATE:

It is good to have a wimp in the Leg - Ontario backs down

On Probation: Why the Liberals don’t understand criminal policy

2009-03-25T09:28:00.000-04:00

The Liberals have put the Conservatives on probation.

They have even created a website to say so.

The Conservatives deliver an economic update during a financial crisis that only attacks opposition parties and minority groups, and the Liberals called for a do-over. The Conservative introduce a budget with billions in spending, no focus, snubbing the R&D sector, no accountability, and the Liberals rally behind it. The Conservatives demand passage of a $3 billion dollar fund with no mention of how the money will be allocated, and the Liberals fast-track it. The Conservatives call to end pay-equity compensation, and the Liberals stand behind them. The Conservatives want to re-write tendering policies so that their cronies benefit the most from the large deficit budget, and the Liberals don’t blink.

The Liberals behaviour is akin to a repeat-offender stealing bread from the poor to take to a dinner party in Calgary’s Upper Mount Royal district, and nobody raises a concern about this.

If this is probation, then crime clearly pays.

Where is the restitution and the deterrence?

Where is the rehabilitation of the criminal?

Where is the punishment that fits the crime?

Probation implies that the offender will be monitored and that the offender will be offered counselling – all towards the goal that the offender will not re-offend. Despite their rhetoric, the Liberals are not monitoring the Conservatives. They are giving them a free-pass to offend.

The Wordsmith or the Singer

2009-03-24T21:33:00.002-04:00

The lasses of Nightwood have posted the interesting question: in the art of crafting a song, what is more important - the lyrics or the singer?

There are songs that hold themselves together regardless of what is being sang. Did anyone care the Killers debut album was just a bunch of cliches strung into a song? On the other hand, where are they now? Whereas Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen may not have the smooth silky voice, but their songs are a testament to their craft. The fact that some of Cohen's songs have been more popular sung by other chanteuse speaks volume to the quality of his abilities.

To me lyrics are incredibly important, but many songs may stand on the music alone. Bad lyrics will turn people away.

As to my answers, I went with John K. Sampson of the Weakerthans for poetic lines with presence, and Joe Strummer for the political.
For singers, I said Neko Case (how can you not love her), the singer for Belle & Sebastian and Betty Bonifassi of Beast. However, I could have added others. It was a tough call for both categories.

Go over to Nightwood, answer the question.

Big head

2009-03-21T12:40:00.003-04:00

Passing by the magazine rack in the local grocer, I cannot help but notice this cover. His head is huge. Maybe it is the scrawny torso perched on toothpick legs, or maybe black really is slimming, but that head sure looks huge in comparison to the body.

That is all folks. Carry on...

Conservatives instructing students to be unethical

2009-03-20T08:41:00.002-04:00

A conservative campaign manager has been caught on tape instructing students to set up "shell organizations" and "front groups" on campus. Aaron Wudrick, the campaign manager for Peter Braid the MP who brought the long time Liberal riding of Kitchener-Waterloo into Stephen Harper's fold, only regrets using the words "shell organizations" and "front groups" because it makes it sound fraudulant.

Setting up fake student organizations that then gain group funding through the allocation of student fees and voting rights is a fraudulent and unethical practice. The purpose is to circumvent a transparent and democratic system in order to diminish the influence of any group that is not ideologically in sync with the Cons.

CBC Ottawa was reporting this morning that Carleton University Students Union has identified several groups, including the Star Trek group and Star Wars Appreciation group and several others, who have been set up by the same individuals with links to the Conservatives.

Quick thoughts on the Saskatchewan Budget

2009-03-18T17:40:00.002-04:00

Just a few quick thoughts on the Saskatchewan Budget 2009-2010:

- In a tough economic climate, this is a moderate budget. That is a good thing. If one is to follow Naomi Klein's shock doctrine, the current recession could open the door to hammer home harmful policies. The Saskatchewan Party decided to avoid real changes - which is likely a good thing.

- On the positive side, we have a balanced budget with $414.5 million surplus forecasted, no dipping into the raining day fund, debt reduction, increased spending, and some job creation initiatives for apprenticing, aboriginals and police officers.

- On the down side:

- the budget numbers are based on $48.75 US$/barrel oil and US$556/KCl
tonne potash. That is rather optimistic. The oil particularly, as I
have not seen (although I have not been looking for) forecasts that suggest that
oil will be near $50 in 2009. If potash is going to do so well, why does the Saskatchewan Potash Corporation see the need to layoff 940?
- there is increased spending. The positive is that the government is
not screaming the sky is falling and cutting government spending, thereby
creating further instability. The downside is the spending increases are
by 12%. In hard economic times, the government could show some restraint -
especially as there is no single initiative that this budget can point as really
pushing change.
- where are the jobs coming from? The budget predicts 10,000 new jobs
in the province. Considering that the Saskatchewan Party only wants to
hire 30 new police officers (at 1.6 million?), and that one of the big
spending items was infrastructure - that must be a lot of highway construction jobs. It is not clear
where the government is predicting job growth.
- this budget lacks a cohesive vision. Like the federal budget, the
Saskatchewan Party gave a little here and there, but did not demonstrate any
concrete direction. Something substantive behind why the province will
weather the economic downturn better would provide some clarification.
Right now it seems like the Saskatchewan Party government is hoping that the
free-market will put a bubble over Saskatchewan.

- Education property tax - this was in the Saskatchewan Party platform and an item rural residents have long complained about. It is not so much as a surprise that the government finally acted on this, but the timing has to be questioned. Is the middle of an economic downturn really the time to cut taxes? Especially when those tax cuts will affect school boards and the government more than it will benefit the average citizen?

Re: Thank you for sueing

2009-03-11T14:15:00.005-04:00

Dear Parliamentarians and assorted associates,

In these troubling economic times, I would like to take the time to say thank you for your efforts in keeping lawyers employed.

From the attempts to sue each other, both federally, provincially and municipally, to public inquiries, to electoral wranglings, you continue to provide us lawyers with litigation cases and increased billable hours. Your uncertainty about how to manage a minority government and whether or not to topple, simply gives us lawyers more opportunities to advise clients on how the instability you cause will affect their interests.

Because of your adversarial behaviour towards one another, lawyers are not in need of a stimulus package – you provide us with enough work already. You may not be good at running a country, but you are good for us.

Once again, thank you and please keep the work flowing our way.

Sincerely,

John Doe, Senior Executive Counsel
Lawyers of Canada United

----------------------------------------------------------
This is the required disclaimer at the bottom of every lawyer’s correspondence that says everything that is written above is complete and utter rubbish, and the writer (me) cannot be held liable for any of its content. If you are in receipt of this message by mistake, please read and pass along.

Oh Johnny boy

2009-03-08T07:54:00.001-04:00

It is a little scary to agree with that person that you are in perpetual opposition. Not a nutter who you can listen to, laugh at and move on. Small Dead Animals is so easy to dismiss because reason is not a factor. But when the adversary actually speaks with intelligence and reason, but oh so wrong on the issues - agreement is frightening. That is where I sit now ... here it comes.... I agree with Rick Anderson (that hurt).

The brain on the right (a position that Stephen Harper can only self-profess to in the way that Michael Jackson is the self-professed king of pop) is bang on in his description of John Tory:

John Tory is a heck of a nice guy. Smart, thoughtful, decent, straight-ahead.

Unfortunately, these qualities - superb in the real world - do not entirely constitute the optimal tool-set for the shambles contemporary society has made of public life.

The infotainment side of politics now seems an environment most friendly to a cheesy self-promoting egocentric me-firstism. You know, the sorts of character qualities you would definitely not choose in a spouse, pal or business partner.

For some reason they are attributes thought to be important to successful public leadership. Don't ask me why.

And he gets a nice little dig at Harper there too!

Despite his character flaws that make him unsuitable as a politician, but not in other walks of life, Tory's demise is unfortunate for all Ontarians. Tory was not a red-neck, he was an authoritarian ruler (at least not from this vantage point from Queen's Park), he was a dogmatic idealist, a religious zealot or hardcore libertarian. He reminded people that there was a red tory side to the Progressive Conservatives.

His failure means that the party will have to turn to some with some of the characteristics mentioned above. In other words, the door is open for Mike Harris Jr. Already the top name being bandied about - Tim Hudak - fits that bold. Not quite as mean, more personable, but idealist, anti-government, pro-free market, anything for electoral success and then change the face of politics. John Tory's loss has just lowered the civil discourse in the province.

Soccer Saturday

2009-03-07T15:09:00.003-05:00

It has been an exciting week in Canadian Soccer... and that is without any reference to Toronto FC.

First off, after having an amazing 55,000 plus attendance in Montreal just over a week ago, the Montreal Impact allowed two goals in injury time while sojourning in Mexico - and thus allowing Santos Laguna to advance to the next round while freeing the Impact to concentrate on the coming season. It is a shame not to see the Impact, the only Canadian team remaining in the CONCAF club champions move on. Despite the loss, it was excellent to see the Impact go as far as they did and it was incredibly impressive to see the sort of excitement that they were able to generate.

Staying the sun belt, Miami has pulled out the expansion for an MLS team due to "adverse economic conditions". In the middle of huge economic recession, as exemplified with February's 600,000+ joib losses in the U.S., you cannot help but think that a 40 million expansion fee is a little steep to create a new franchise. Unfortunately, Barcelona was a major backer of the Miami which would have allowed good opportunities for young MLS talent to step into the premier soccer leagues. Moreover, Barca with there anti-corporate yet major league status may have provided some interesting ideas at the MLS board table.

Miami's exit bodes well for Vancouver and Ottawa. Vancouver Whitecap's are already an established team, with the promise of a new stadium and a contract to play at BC Place. Ottawa with a rich owner trying to add value to his property out past Ottawa. As Canada's resident soccer pundit has repeated stated - an MLS team in Kanata at an expansion price of 40 million plus the cost of a new stadium simply does not make sense.

Meanwhile, the CFL has granted the Ottawa ownership hopefuls a six-month extension on trying to land a deal for a new stadium at Lansdowne Park. Lansdowne is beautifully located on the banks of the Rideau Canal, a central point for pedestrian and vehicle commuters. I.e. a perfect location for a football and / or a soccer team. Of course, both the CFL and MLS wannabees want public money to finance their stadiums. And now you have Ottawa's bumbling mayor musing about a stadium in Lebreton Flats on the Ottawa River (not a terrible idea, but currently not on the table).

As much as I would love to have the CFL return to Ottawa, this is likely not the time. There is the obvious economic situation (although Ottawa tends to be a bit of a bubble). More importantly, the CFL ownership group is interested in residential development on that wonderful piece of property - the CFL team is secondary, and only an add on so that the city is encouraged to accept their Lansdowne redevelopment plan. The way the city moves, I suspect that six-months won't make a difference. There will discussions, more discussions and stalling until finally nothing happens. Such is life in Ottawa from the municipal stand point.

First impressions and missed opportunities

2009-02-27T10:27:00.002-05:00

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is looking to June as his first chance to
defeat the Harper government over its handling of the economic crisis, according
to his finance critic.

Actually, the first opportunity was back on January 29th when the Liberals could have shot down the budget instead of agreeing to support it with an insignificant and irrelevant amendment to demand quarterly updates.

Fair enough, in January we were still grappling with what to do with the economic situation. Only the month before, our government accepted the terminology of "recession" and "deficit spending". Then they presented us with a budget that spend everywhere and nowhere and gave to indication of what will happen tomorrow. But Ignatieff was clear that that was good enough for him - why wrestle the decision making controls from the Conservatives, when you can sit back and criticize and vote for the Conservatives?

John McCallum said in an interview yesterday that "it's certainly possible"
the minority government could be defeated in a non-confidence vote in June if
the Harper Tories have not, by that time, made the case that their $40-billion
stimulus package is working and the economy is not going "into the tank."

Of course - because what was not clear in January will be clear in June. You spread $40-billion around and the government will be able to point to some signs of benefit. If not, what are the Liberals going to say? "We made a mistake in supporting the budget, and the Conservatives made a mistake in introducing the budget. Therefore, vote Liberal and we will make better mistakes than the Conservatives!"

Sorry McCallum. Your party already hitched its wagon to the Conservatives. You can puff out your chest as much as you want, but nobody believes you will defeat the Conservatives on a budget update that you voted for.

On priorities

2009-02-25T16:18:00.003-05:00

Government bail out for poorly run private corporations manufacturing products that consumers don't want and hit hard by the current economic troubles - no problem.

Government bail out for a public agency that delivers a valued public service and hit hard by the current economic troubles - no way.

On self-interest

2009-02-20T12:33:00.002-05:00

The National Post wants Michael Ignatieff to put his money where is mouth is – by ending the Canadian Wheat Board’s right to market barley. If he is truly interested in winning over support in the West, the argument goes, then the Liberals have to adopt the neo-conservative values of Stephen Harper. The Wheat Board is an excellent place to start because nobody in Liberal friendly Ontario would care. After all, the only reason the Liberals support the Wheat Board is because of Ralph Goodale.

But, if the Liberals would start promoting the demise of the Wheat Board, it is the demise of what little support they already have that they will have to worry about. Those who want to be left to the whims of the barley market are generally those who live near the U.S. border and in Alberta – these areas are not Liberal friendly. There are areas where there Conservatives can run their dog and win. Reversing their stance on the Wheat Board will not help the Liberals in the West.

The National Post could have argued for improved infrastructure to get crops to market, greater support for the energy market or dealing with crime could help Liberal issues. Instead the National Post chose the Canadian Wheat Board – an institution that they are ideologically against. It is also an institution that their readers are ideologically against, and thus an easy target for them. Attacking the Wheat Board helps to sell papers in Calgary. Thus, what the National Post wants is the Liberals to adopt their views, as they don’t care whether the Liberals get more votes in the West.

More on the Western Strategy

2009-02-18T12:06:00.002-05:00

Rob Silver, the Globe and Mail's residential Liberal apologist, defends the almighty Iggy's sudden awakening to that fact that people live between Toronto and Vancouver against the musings of Don Martin. His "insights" were too good to stay silent about, so here is a quick response.

First off, a weekend trip out West does not mean that "Michael Ignatieff is spending so much time wooing Western Canada." At best it is a start, but more realistically it was two days facing a Prairie winter.

Secondly, Silver states "surely it is a false dichotomy to suggest that Ignatieff can focus on either Ontario or the West, but is incapable of doing both." Sure, parties can focus on more than one region - heck that is essential in a federal brokerage party system. The NDP did this very well in the last election where they threw much weight into Quebec, a perennial weak spot for the party, while focusing on B.C., Edmonton, Ontario and the Atlantic Coast. The question here, is this merely a decoy strategy during non-election periods that will be absent come the election? It is one thing to play lip-service when there are no results to be had, it is another thing to put the effort in on game day. The NDP aggressively courted Quebec between elections, and then stepped it up several notches when the election arrived. When the Liberals are forced to decide where there they put their limited resources behind a push on the Prairies or in Ontario, my money is for Ontario.

Finally, Silver writes:

If Ignatieff can get even 100,000 additional votes in Alberta and
Saskatchewan next campaign, it likely won't translate into a single additional
seat. But it would represent almost $1-million over four years in additional
public subsidy for the Liberal Party.

Clearly he learned nothing from 2004. In that election, Paul Martin's plea to support the Liberals over Stephen Harper only helped to increase the number of Conservative seats on out West. Many races come down to Conservative-NDP races. When the Liberals take votes away from the NDP, it all but guarantees Conservative wins. The best strategy to win the best is weaken your main opponent. The Conservatives understand that "my enemy's enemy is my friend" and thus go light on the NDP in eastern and central Canada. The Liberals need to adopt the same strategy in the West. As mentioned in the previous post, there are historical and systematic trends that will keep the Liberals in the shallows out West. However, to adopt this strategy, the Liberals need to decide whether they are interested in the money for votes or in weaking the Conservatives electorally.

The West wants in…to the Liberals?

2009-02-18T07:30:00.001-05:00

The defender of war…err…human rights, is now championing the West. The Liberals were wrong, oil was good all along. For the past 30 years, “from the National Energy Policy to the Green Shift, we did not get the West,” Ignatieff told a Liberal rally in Regina.

News flash to Ignatieff, the Liberals have ignored the West for way more than 30 years. The lack of Liberals from the Prairies to the Coast is the results of seeds sown so long ago. It was dissatisfaction with the Liberals that created a three-party democracy. First came the Progressives as a protest to Ottawa not listening. The Progressives made way for the Socreds and the CCF/NDP. There is a reason why most Conservative Prime Ministers, from Bennett to Diefenbaker, from Clark to Campbell, and now Harper, have come from the West. Whereas the Liberals can only point to John Turner, the Golden Boy who was never elected Prime Minister and who had the second shortest stay as the head honcho.

What Ignatieff and the Liberals don’t understand is that the West wants in, but in on the West’s terms. The West is certainly not any better off under Stephen Harper who had held the West Wants In banner high in the 1990s as they were under Paul Martin (a lengthy essay should be written on how the West is in fact worse off). However, the West likes Stephen Harper because he understands their desires. To simplify, the West wants money and less government. The Liberals offer cash with strings attached. At times, like with the Green Shift, the Liberals have offered strings attached without the cash. Admittedly, the Green Shift came from the same guy that used to go to Alberta and lecture them about how western alienation was a concept and not a reality.

What the West wants is good grass roots individuals who will stand-up for the little guy. That is why voters can shift from the NDP to the Conservatives in the course of an election. By standing for the little guy, they are standing against the big evil corporate authority, whether that be Bay Street, the CAW, the manufacturers or the federal government. The Liberals have always represented the interests of business, industry and government. That is why they are known as Canada’s “natural governing party”, which is also why Westerners view the Liberals as the ruling elite.

Thus, to summarize: the Liberals = ruling elite; the West = protest.

The Liberals may be able to win a few more seats in the West, but they are a long way away from winning the trust and confidence of Westerners. Until they do, the Conservatives have a free ride in much of that land.

Go West Iggy, Go West

2009-02-17T22:04:00.002-05:00

Top Ten Albums of 2008:

2009-02-16T13:07:00.005-05:00

A little late on the best of in 2008. This has been building in head if not on the computer. I had been waiting on new name. After much delay, it is time to get on.

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes – All I can say is “finally something new in 2008!”. The year seemed to stroll along with more of the same, new bands came and went and sounded remarkably like 2006. It was a year when a new Coldplay album was something to look forward to. And then I found Fleet Foxes. They jingle and chime – they are a beautiful blend of folk and rock that much deservedly found their way on to many best of 2008 lists.
e.g. Pitchfork - No. 1; Rollingstone - No. 11 - ahead of Guns and Roses

2. Corb Lund – Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! - When you cut your teeth in a punk band like the Smalls and your backing band is called “the Hurtin’ Albertans” – how can you go wrong? Technically, this equestrian themed album was a 2007 release, but with the liberal Wheatsheaf rules of a late year release mixed with it only falling into my lap in 2008, it passes. Just to tell you how good this CD is – I hate country music but I love this CD.

3. Kaiser Chiefs – Off With Their Heads – This is the third album in four years for these Leeds brats and they remain is fun and catchy as ever. The lead single “Never Miss a Beat” could be the slogan for the Kaiser Chiefs. Their debut CD “Employment” had an amazing anthemic beat. Their sophomore release “Your Truly, Angry Mob” showed a much more mature song writing. This CD recaptures the best parts of their first two efforts. Perhaps it is the input of Mark Ronson, the DJ/Producer of the day (a la Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse fame) that has kept this CD short and sweet. Plus, you gotta love a band that uses Winehouse’s producer and creates a song that goes “You might as well admit it you are addicted to drugs”. Unlike their compatriots, Bloc Party, which burst onto the scene at the same time, the Kaiser Chiefs never get old.

4. Dirty Pretty Things – Romance at Short Notice – At first I thought I may have erred in purchasing this CD. But like all good CDs it grew. It became a constant through 2008. Every time I put it on, someone would ask “who is this” in appreciation. The band that held the promise of less drugged Libertines succeeded in creating exploring the rawer side of pop. Unfortunately the CD also marked the demise of the band, and Carl Barat and gang decided that this was as far as they could take the project. Time may tell them that this was a mistake.

5. Sam Roberts – Love at the End of the World - This is the follow up album that “We Were Born in Flames” deserved. Roberts is back with his best and most consistent effort. The opening base line of the lead off track lets the listener know that is album is ready to rock. Songs like “Them Kids” and “Detroit ’67” let you know that this is

6. Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue – This band proves that the Montreal indie scene continues to pump out new and exciting acts. The album is folksy and explosive, melodic and raucous. Just try to listen to the lead off track “Bye Bye Bye” without joyously singing along to the chorus.

7. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs - Like many mainstream indie lovers, I was excited about the release of this album. It did not fail to disappoint, but it was weak on the excitement. Perhaps my expectations were too high following the marvelous Plans and Transatlanticism albums. That said - Narrow Stairs is marvelous. The melancholy lyrics of Ben Gibbard, the building rhythms, the type production by guitarist Chris Walla leads to another solid effort. The plodding bass intro that last four minutes for "I Will Possess Your Heart" is perfect reflection of how this album embraces.

8. The Long Blondes – On 2008 Ladytron failed to live up to expectations, thereby passing the torch for another female britpop techno act to pick it up. The Long Blondes leapt to catch that falling torch, and although they may not have raised it they did keep it from extinguishing. More guitar than techno of Ladytron, the Long Blondes have produced danceable music. "Guilt" and "Here Comes the Serious Bits" will get the body moving.

9. The Wombats – The Wombats Proudly Present..A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation - a promising debut. My main complaint about 2008 was the absence of anything new and inspiring (aside from the Fleet Foxes). The Wombats took the long borrowed sound of britpop and turned it up a notch, making it danceable. Despite following in love with "Let's Dance to Joy Division" in 2007, it has remained a favourite in to 2009. It is just one of those songs that gets into your head on you do not want it to leave. Other songs like "Kill the Director" and "Lost in the Post" maintain a theme of heartbreak and disappointment set to a beat that you cannot help but shake your bootie to. The album arrived in North America in 2008, and thus qualifies as such. I look forward to these Liverpudlians sophomore release.

10. Matt Costa – Unfamiliar Faces – He came into my living, he touched iPod. I just cannot get him out of my head. I bounded down the street singing “Mr. Pitiful”, “Lilacs” and “Vienna”. His lyrics were fun but they seemed to understand me. And then one day everything just stopped. Suddenly he seemed generic. What was on its way to becoming my favourite album of the year in June was collecting dust by September.

Honourable mentions in 2008:

Maybe Smith – Animals and Architects - A great consistent album from 2007. Check out my earlier review

Billy Bragg – Mr. Love and Justice – The title suggests what the artist is all about – the hopeless romantic and the activist politico. The lead off single “I keep Faith” is typical Billy brooding over the struggle to stand ones ground in the face of turmoil. “O Freedom” is a powerful song centered on extraordinary rendition. He does not stretch for new ground, but would anyone want him to at this stage of his career? But the CD is solid, with wonderful lyrics, plus Billy and the Blokes have never sounded better on CD. If they could capture the energy of their live shows, it would be a truly momentous CD. At the end of the day, it is Billy Bragg CD and he remains a classic act.

We Are Scientists – Brain Thrust Mastery –catchy pop hooks from a New York indie band. The CD is a compilation of up-tempo pop-rock with amusing lyrics like “I realize that I am naturally inclined just to let you down” from “Let’s See It” It is good for now.

R.E.M. – Acceleration – Return of form – Yeah, I actually bought it. It was a struggle because does one really need another R.E.M. album? Had the band not made enough money off me over the years? Acceleration was well worth it and marked a return to form for the band. The band has not sounded this good since Bill Berry put down his drum sticks.

Paolo Nutini – His debut album was released in 2006 but I only discovered in 2008 and I fell for him in a big way. Think skinny white Scottish lad doing Marvin Gaye – how can it be bad?

Flogging Molly – Celtic Punk without an edge. Think of Drop Kick Murphys, only with a singer you can understand

Custom Domain

2009-02-15T22:34:00.003-05:00

The URL, she is a changin'. I splurged the big ten to remove my name. The reason was professional. Although my name was never displayed in neon lights, it was primarily attached through the URL. The anonymous blog I never liked, as a blogger is only as good as his/hers credibility. With nearly two years of writings archived, my work speaks for itself. I am not anonymous but I don't want to be silent. With work in a conservative town having the potential to interfere with blogging, it was time to change.

Long live www.wheatsheafsk.com.

Please update your link accordingly.

The Wheatsheaf

P.S. - huge thanks to Nitecruzr who helped end a month long battle of trying to get things turned over.

Former Conservative PMs

2009-02-11T13:10:00.004-05:00

The Former Conservative Prime Ministers have congregated together select the Next Great Prime Minister (Canadian edition - similar to the U.K. edition but not has interesting and made a tenth of the budget). Clark, Mulroney, Campbell and Martin bring nearly 12 years of PM experience to the table. Of course, Mr. Mulroney was responsible for 3/4 of that duration. Really these four Conservative leaders probably have as much experience losing elections as they do winning elections. Considering the lack of the enthusiasm among potential contestents, perhaps the most notable achievement of this contest is that it gathers these four Conservative leaders together. It is a photo op reminiscent of the late sixities photo including Pearson, Trudeau, Turner and Chretien - a gathering of four Liberal leaders.

Calvert leaving politics

2009-02-10T21:35:00.004-05:00

As expected, Lorne Calvert is not sticking around the Saskatchewan Legislature once his successor as leader of the NDP is elected. He will be moving on to be principle of St. Andrew College, affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan.

The Wheatsheaf wishes Mr. Calvert well in his new endeavours.

Calvert came to the leadership of the NDP at quite an interesting time in its history. After eight years in power with little opposition, the NDP were surprised in the 1999 election by the upstart Saskatchewan Party. The NDP had failed to take account of the discontent among the rural communities over low grain prices, loss of the Crow's Rate and disappearing rail roads, and the returning of highways to gravel roads. Moreover, their education plank central to their election platform providing education for first-year university students took the wind out of the party. Suddenly the mighty reign of Premier Romanow was teetering, and he announced his departure a year later.

For the first time in decades there was no natural successor to the NDP leader. Into this void stepped Lorne Calvert. He represented a change to Romanow style of management. Whereas Romanow's management style was tight and top down, Calvert's was conciliatory. At first, this approach was loved as backbenchers finally had a voice. But later end people viewed this as indecision. As a staffer, one of the big changes was that MLAs including Calvert would lunch in the Saskatchewan Legislature dining room. There was many a noon where I found myself sitting beside a Cabinet Minister or a Premier. Perhaps most remarkably, Calvert would ask for peoples opinion. At such times I am sure that Lorne had his mind made up, but it was nice to be asked what the Premier should do. It went a long way in fostering the support of those who worked closely with him.

After a few years in the wilderness where the NDP acted as solid managers if nothing else, it seemed as if Calvert hit his stride in the last few years. In the last year of his Premiership the NDP started to have vision again and started to show the confidence that driven the party through most of the 1990s. This continued on in to opposition where Calvert was passionate and well reasoned in his attacks on the Saskatchewan Party's attack on civil servants, unions, and their lack of visions for Saskatchewan economy. Considering that he only seemed to have found his legs in the last few years, he may be remembered best for his excellent work in opposition as for his time as Premier.

All in all, the best to him and his family. He has definitely earned this career change.

Waving in unity

2009-02-10T21:06:00.003-05:00

I am a nodder.

I run down the canal and nod at the runners passing. It is a short greeting. But it is more than that. It is a show of unity. It says "Yes! We are in this together. We may not be real athletes, but we are better than those just staying inside." Or something to that effect...

Truth is the greeting between runners is a recognition of community. It is a symbol that everyone who heads out to pound the pavement has similar interests, has similar commitments, and is in it together. It has nothing to do with size, experience, speed or fitness. It is a simple encouragement for being out running.

Sometimes I wave.

But Ottawa is not a wavers city. I miss my lunch time runs around Wascana Lake. Heading out from the Y down to the park, along Albert Street, in front of the Saskatchewan Legislature over to Broad Street and back to the Y was an uplifting experience. Almost everyone in Regina waved - the person not waving was the except. When I ran in Toronto along the lakeshore, runners waved. In Ottawa, the person waving is the exception.

I remember one middle-aged male in a purple track suit who ran religiously around Wascana Lake in Regina. Everyday he waved and smiled, and I always thought what an odd duck he was, in part for his purple track suit and in part for his smiling waving demeanor. Now I miss see him. But the memory of his enthusiastic waving drives me to wave at all runners in Ottawa.

In Ottawa, most runners do not run back. Those that look like experienced runners and those also running in miserable weather are most likely to return the wave or the nod (of course, there is often a correlation between those who are experience are also the ones out in bad weather). I can only suspect that those who see me nodding or waving thing that I am an odd individual. At times I entertain thoughts that maybe I should not wave at young females running solo as they make take as an advancing gester. However, because Ottawa is such a lousy city for waving, but a great city for running, I feel it is my mission to lead by example and educate people on the runners wave.

The recent Runners World discusses this very issue. The author's musings on the psychological reasoning behind why runners wave or not wave is amusing, but in my opinion missing the point. It is not a personal matter to wave or not, it is a show of strength - a show of community and unity in running. Here are the author's observations on when a fellow is most likely / least likely to wave:

It's all about timing. The earlier in the running day, the more likely people will return waves. Waving likeliness declines through lunch and seems to increase again before dark but never reaches its early morning highs. When I count the percentage of waves on a morning run across the East River and into Manhattan, for instance, I can get well into the 90th percentile, as opposed to the afternoon, when I might not get any waves-or, if I do, they're not what you might call positive.

Groups wave. That is, if they see you, which is not entirely likely if a group is talking. I see considerable group-waving on weekend mornings, and I believe it has to do with the good vibe that people feel early on a weekend, when their wave says "Hello" but also says, "Isn't this great that we are up early while the rest of the bums are sleeping their lives away?" Note: The fact that people in groups are more likely to wave than individuals could have to do with me-a possibly psychotic, notebook-toting, 45-year-old bald guy waving like a clown-appearing threatening to individuals.

Personal electronics are personal. Wave value, which can be defined as the enthusiasm with which a runner waves, increases when a runner with headphones waves-often a semi-startled wave, accompanied by a kind of raucous smile, and a too loudly shouted (presumably on account of headphone volume) "Hey!" Last week, I nodded and said a quiet hello to a guy with earbuds that I did not notice until after I had nodded. He smiled and shouted so loud that if I were 40 years older, I might have had a heart attack.

Age matters. Older runners are more likely to wave than younger ones. Which ought to say something to younger runners about how priorities change as our running lives go on. There's an old-timer I see, a guy in his late 60s, who keeps a pace that makes me jealous, and he always gives me a nod. To me, a runner holding out hope that I'll still be on the road well into my later years, that nod feels more like an inspiring salute.

Waving is weather sensitive. There is an inverse relationship, since waving is more likely in bad weather than in good. Naturally, this depends on a lot of things, such as visibility issues. But I have found that if you are running in, say, pouring rain, and you wave to someone as you pass them, they may even comment on the weather, often in a slightly facetious but friendly way. Some common responses are: "Beautiful day, huh?" and "What were we thinking?" and "Can you believe we're out here?" You don't get that kind of commentary if you are a nonwaver.

On Bravado

2009-02-09T22:50:00.004-05:00

Honestly, he is just a saint who is misunderstood.

He headed an organization that represented urban aboriginals. However, it was never clear who these urban aboriginals were and how they differed from on reserve aboriginals that are represented by the Assembly of First Nations. Sure, perhaps the Congress of Aboriginal Persons drew attention to a governance issue with the AFN, like whether on reserve Chiefs are representative of the growing number of aboriginals living off reserves. But sucking up to Stephen Harper, and assisting in the destruction of the hard work of the various aboriginal groups by killing the Kelowna Accord may not be the best way of fighting for the little guy.

Of course, driving a Porsche SUV is not a little guy move either. But to defend that purchase by stating:

"I do drive a Porsche but it's a second-hand model," Mr. Brazeau said. "And what's even more important is that this vehicle was purchased before I even got the phone call from the Prime Minister to sit in the Senate. And so I'm glad I have this opportunity to set the record straight, because it was misleading in terms of what was reported with that."

Right - a second hand Porsche bought at a time that you were working on behalf of a marginalized group makes all the difference.

Of course, drinking on the job is bad, but it is okay to endorse the offenders behaviour by moving them to the Senate with you.

Oh and the sexual harassment - no report means no problem, let's move on.

Of course these things are only issues because you are such a hero of the little guy that you were bringing accountability and transparency to your organization that paid you a handsome salary. It is perfectly reasonable that that salary had to come from various government grants because

"we have to pick from different programs to be able to cover our salaries, so if I dedicate, for example, 30 per cent of my time on the health-related issues, well, there's a component in that health budget to be able to cover my salary."

Yeah, that's accountability alright...

I suspect that Patrick Brazeau will be another fine representative of the chamber of sober second thought that we will hear about for all the wrong reasons.

Sask bucking the trend... as usual

2009-02-06T14:39:00.004-05:00

Economically speaking, Saskatchewan has a tendency to follow its own path. When times are good in Canada they are mediocre in Saskatchewan. When times are bad in Canada, they are slightly better in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan does not have a tendency to reach roaring highs, but in recent decades they have generally weathered the lows fairly well.

That trends continues. Employment is done in Canada, but up in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan was the only province to not have an increased unemployment rate month over month.

However, in those positive numbers were signs that hard times are knocking on Saskatchewan's door. The employment increase was a result of increased part-time jobs while there was a decrease of full time jobs. Such trends generally occur when employers start cutting back on full time employees, to whom they would have to pay full salary and full benefit, and replace them with parti-timers.

With the government boasting of the largest income tax cut in the province's history (funny, that was the NDPs line a few years back...), their pledge to spend more, the fact that there is a smaller pool of fully-employed taxpayers and, perhaps most importantly, the cost of oil that has fallen quicker and steeper than anyone would have predicted means that there will be less in the government coffers this year.

Any bets on where the government will start cutting in order to tighten its belt?

My guess is that they will cut the social welfare programs in a terribly/ideological reasoned attempt to off load drains on the government accounts. On the other hand, if there was ever a time for the government to aim a wrecking ball to the civil service and to re-organize it under a Saskatchewan Party visions, now would be it...

By the by - why does Saskatchewan never figure into national job reporting stories? Saskatchewan was the only place with positive job numbers - is that not worth a mentions?

No Wiebe, but nice to have the anti-establishment in the race

2009-02-05T14:37:00.003-05:00

Ryan Meili has entered the race to be the next premier of Saskatchewan... or at least the next leader of Saskatchewan.

What do I know about this guy? Nothing, I am simply excited that we have a race and not a coronation.

What does this mean for the Saskatchewan NDP leadership race? Likely not much, but it gives me an opportunity to post on what has become a race when it was looking like a coronation for a while.

In 2000, Netty Wiebe was the outsider who came from activist rooms to shake up the race. From her time with the National Farmers Union, Wiebe had established much credibility in the lead-up to the race and she was able to galvanize that support in a true bid for leadership. Meili ... an activist... youthful ... doctor - but likely not a contender. Hopefully he is using this race as a platform to get his name out there for a shot at glory that is somewhere closer than the moon (unlike Scott Banda, the Saskatoon lawyer that disappeared after the last leadership race).

Meili's entry does present an opportunity to get new people engaged in the party, which is something the party dreadfully needs. His entry may also be a boon to Deb Higgins. Working on the assumption that Higgins will be on the progressive side of Lingenfelter, and that Meili's supporters are the type that like the underdogs, then they may be enticed to swing their support towards Higgins on later ballots. Of course, this is working on the assumption that there is more than one ballot and that Meili garners enough support that can actually be of assistance to Higgins (i.e. not the Martha Hall Findley type of support).

Ryan - welcome to the race.

The end is upon us!

2009-01-30T13:57:00.004-05:00

51 days and the end of the Ottawa transit strike is done. Bus service will resume.

As a walker, I have only been mildly inconvenienced by the strike. The largest difference will be that I will hopefully be able to find a VRTUcar that is available to take to the Gatineaus now that people can use public transport again.

Observing the strike has been like participating in a federal election. There was a constant bombardment of stories on the strike – most featuring reaction by Joe Public on the street. There were polls. There were government leaders out in front (Mayor O’Brien). There were government leaders back-peddling and disappearing from view (Mayor O’Brien). There was infighting (Clive Doucet calling for the City to accept arbitration). There was a feisty but not always articulate opposition (the Union).

Most notably, there was public sentiment that seesawed between anti-union, pro-self interest to frustrated with City management (also the occasional pro-bus driver voice). One day everyone is up in arms about the greedy bus drivers who are inconveniencing everyone. The next day Ottawans are decrying the City’s poor planning that left low-income and disabled persons with no means of getting around.

What stood out during the strike was how little the general seemed to comprehend a strike. The purpose of a strike is for the workers to withhold their labour to force employers to negotiate with them. The internet and call-in shows were filled with comments about how the bus drivers are inconveniencing the general public. The flipside is that it is an inconvenience for bus drivers to be out of work and without a paycheck. Not to mention that the public’s outrage only helps to put pressure on the City to negotiate. My favourite comment was from a woman on CBC who complained about how selfish the bus drivers were to be demanding more money in a recession. The main issue was about scheduling and seniority – the union had been willing to accept the City’s offer on wages. Also, the drivers were not being paid during the strike, so it is a bit of stretch to be saying they are selfish when they are not making any money. There were also many comments about why doesn’t the city just run a few lines. Well that would be using scab workers and it would relieve the pressure on the employer to come back to the bargaining table. People also complained about picketing – once again this is a means to inconvenience people and place pressure on the employer to come to the table. It is legal and it is an inconvenience.

A huge thank you goes out to Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar for his immeasurable assistant in resolving this matter. Paul has been working behind the scenes for the last month trying to get the parties to talk. In the end, it was the threat of being legislated back to work that brought the parties to an agreement. Without the NDP’s support for back to work legislation, nothing would have been passed. Paul was instrumental in working with Rona Ambrose office in having something that his pro-union brethren could accept. Once that was done, the City was forced to come back to the table with a reasonable offer.

With the end of the strike two things remain to be done. One is that City Management has to take a good look at itself and ask the hard questions of why they failed to prevent the labour dispute in the first place, why they failed to develop a plan for it. I suspect a few heads may roll. Second, it is time for reconciliation. Both sides need to reach out to the public and make amends.
But, before moving on to the reconciliation, here is one last parting shot at the jerk who posted the sign in the window. Here is guy who runs a store in downtown Ottawa (i.e. still easily accessible without bus’ running), and he is rudely complaining about the bus drivers being selfish. There are two sides in this negotiation, and I would not be blaming the guy who is willing to go nearly two months without a paycheck just to get his voice heard. Glad he has a large supply of lube for himself now.

More on planning yesterday

2009-01-22T15:23:00.004-05:00

Catching up on the other details on the new Metrolink long overdue plan to extend rail service from Pearson International Airport to downtown Toronto. Apparently the planned route is originally announced in 2003 and it is to be called Blue 22 – owing to the fact that the trip will take 22 minutes.

Pearson to Union Station – 22 minutes? I am starting to see the efficiency in taking a taxi. This has the making of being a high-traffic corridor. Is there any reason this should not be a high-speed train route? This is the centre of a major city. Like most major cities, Toronto deserves quick and easy access between its main transportation hubs. Schiphol is located between Haarlam and Amsterdam, but a train takes less than 22 minutes to get to Central Station in Amsterdam.

Moreover, why is this an above ground route in the first place? Looking at the map, would it not be a better use of space to create a railway / subway linking between Kipling and Pearson (see added red line) instead of a winding rail?
Moving on from basic urban planning complaints, it is unfortunate to find out that despite the near billion dollars of public investment this will be a privately-owned route. Didn’t McGuinty rail against public-private partnerships of the Harris era? Public transit that is publicly funded should be just that – public. There are tones of reasons why a link between Pearson and downtown Toronto is sound public policy (less vehicle travel, less pollution, ease of travel, less expenditure – all sorts of good things for business and tourism), it should not therefore be a requirement that this service needs to be run for profit by a private corporation.

Never too late to start planning for yesterday today

2009-01-21T18:45:00.005-05:00

In this era of public infrastructure largesse, Ontario is finally heeding the demands of travellers who for years have been frustrated by lack of affordable transport options between downtown Toronto and Pearson International Airport.

Interesting timing on the announcement that Ontario will build a transit link between downtown and the airport once an environmental assessment has been completed (i.e. the link will be ready by 2050). Today, the Globe is reporting that the vexation federal Conservative who likes to cause the small man of Confederation so much trouble may be doing more pork barrelling by approving an international airport in Pickering. Pickering…really? Is that a top priority of Canada - to make Pickering its palace of pollution (with the nuclear plant and major highway)?

Yesterday, the Tories partook in more patronage by dishing a plum job with Toronto’s Port Authority to someone whose most notable accomplishment was that he was president of his univeristy alumni association. This is part of the Tories effort to stack the board with anti-Miller, pro-Porter associates.

Porter has so far proved to have a successful business model: it listens to consumers. Porter has responded two basic demands of travelers: service and downtown accessibility. The service issue just shows how far Air Canada and Westjet have fallen off the mark. The downtown accessibility issue would not have been an issue had their been a plan for a transit link when the Pearson Airport was first conceived.

Now, Premier McGuinty appears to making up for lost time now that he is forced to by the advent of an airport in Pickering that no one but the federal Finance Minister wants and by new additions to the Toronto Port Authority board who support increased pollution in urban areas.

UPDATE:

Letter to Baird from Chow re: patronage appointments.

Things that make you wonder...

2009-01-21T17:32:00.007-05:00

What is Canada doing promoting nuclear technology in India? After all, is India not one of the few states (along with Pakistan and North Korea) that has snubbed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? Was it not that very India that used Canada's own Candu reactors to help facilitate its nuclear program?

More here:

Minister Day Promotes Canadian Nuclear Technology in India

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, concluded very successful meetings in New Delhi with senior Indian ministers, during which he highlighted the strengths of the Canadian nuclear industry. Discussions were held with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal.
“Canadian companies are well positioned to capitalize on opportunities and to work cooperatively with Indian counterparts to meet the needs of India’s civilian nuclear market,” said Minister Day. “I was encouraged by the very positive response I received from the ministers with whom I met, and they made it clear that India welcomes the strong involvement of Canadian nuclear companies in this expanding market. During my meetings, I expressed Canada’s interest in finalizing a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement as soon as possible. Such an agreement would open up the civil nuclear market in India to Canadian companies while assuring the peaceful uses of Canadian supplied goods and technology.”
[...]

The end of good times in Saskatchewan...

2009-01-12T20:55:00.004-05:00

One has to take pity on Brad Wall. For years he tirelessly screamed over the heads of the legislative clerks to the government benches that Saskatchewan was doomed, that Crown corporations would sweep private enterprise away with a broom – indeed, the future was gloom while in Alberta there was a boom. His vein popped from his neck and voice went hoarse until finally he could no longer deny that Saskatchewan was in full bloom.

Then an idea occurred to Brad Wall. He switched gears and rested his pipes. He sought out those poor and subsidized farmers to unite, in order to defeat the bureaucratic minded urbanites. Then he sang the praise of Saskatchewan with all his might. “The socialists are dead and gone and Saskatchewan has seen the market economy light.” But the economy went south and the capitalists took fright, and the Premier must conceal that the future may not be so bright.

So he conjures up a show and hire speech writers to quote from the left, the right and anyone else in the know who can predict that the future may not blow:

Given the recent global economic turmoil, I've been making good use of a quote from the Canadian economist John Kenneth Galbraith.

He said economic forecasting existed to make astrology look respectable.

Economics never came easy for Brad Wall. That is why his only business venture died. It is also why he did not learn from Galbraith’s mentor who said that in a recession a government must plan and spend. Instead, he trumps cuts to debt and taxes as policy in place of actual growth and investment. Saskatchewan is resourced based – prone to whims of the market. Saskatchewan must plan to diversify less Brad Wall desire to place all the people on unemployment.

Leadership Canada pays for

2009-01-08T15:05:00.004-05:00

Exactly what Canada needs - more cars on the road and more individual debt. The Conservatives are true leaders on environmental and economic issues.

PS - The Wheatsheaf will return to irregularly scheduled blogging shortly. The start of the year is always frustrating time at work when the clocked in hours reset to zero.

Ghosts and Gravel Roads one of the best films in 2008

2008-12-16T21:53:00.004-05:00

The Toronto International Film Festival Group announced their best films of 2008 and a prairie boy who made a short about the Prairies has been the list.

Mike Rollo's wonderful short film, Ghosts and Gravel Roads, documenting the ghost towns on the Prairies has made the list. A well deserved placing.

Mike Rollo = Prairie boy done good.

Blogging Industry to call for billion dollar stimulus

2008-12-12T11:41:00.004-05:00

Canada's blogging sector is calling on Ottawa to create a multi-billion dollar infrastructure stimulus package to kick-start the creative-economy and create meaningful distractions for Canada’s growing number of unemployed.

Thursday morning, the Canadian Union of Bloggers and Slackers (CUBS) – an industry group representing about 333,000 bloggers – announced they were lobbying the federal government to create an infrastructure stimulus fund that mirrors the $50 (U.S.) plan laid out by the incoming administration of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama.

“Our view is that ... the government's legitimate role in this cycle we're in is to try and offset the downturn through expenditures,” CUBS president Buckdog said in an interview.

“The government will have to go into deficit to do this, but the government is already in a deficit position. We are in a credit crisis. We are not in a wage and price crisis like the early 80s. There is no way around it – all governments have to spend their way out of this mess.”

But President Buckdog was quick to point out that it is not a bailout. Rather, the government should take this opportunity to invest in new industries.

“I can understand some of this will be seen as a bailout, but I like to see it more as buffering a transition,” he said.

“Canadians traditionally think of infrastructure as roads and highways. But if we get more people blogging than we don’t need to upgrade roads and highways. If we improve our technological infrastructure, we can get people sitting on their couches at home who will increase their technological know-how. In a period of increased unemployed this will have the benefit of getting peoples minds off their unfortunate situation. Blogging is part of knowledge industry and it will teach people new skills like sitting for long hours and writing good and stuff like that too.

“Moreover, blogging has been documented to empower people by giving them an inflated sense of self,” he noted in a follow-up email. “Bloggers suddenly become very opinionated and aggressive when they are behind a computer. So, even if they can’t writ gud and they have no income, they feel like what they have to say matters.

“Similarly, when looking at the money spent, we also have to take into consideration the benefits in the work place as well. With this economic down turn and all the layoffs, workers are stressed. What better way to relieve stress than blogging at work? Blogging workers are happy workers, and happy workers are productive workers.

“We should not under estimate the financial savings that this hand-out will lead to. With more people sitting idle, life expectancy is sure to decrease leading to huge saving in health care.”

Earlier this week, Mr. Obama announced an ambitious government spending planned to help rescue the flagging American economy, even if it means pushing the nation further into debt.

"We've got to provide a blood infusion to the patient right now to make sure that the patient is stabilized," Mr. Obama said on NBC's Meet the Press over the weekend. "And that means that we can't worry short term about the deficit. We've got to make sure that the economic stimulus plan is large enough to get the economy moving."

President Buckdog’s message resonated with many bloggers. Blogging Horse noted that the NDP is the only party standing up for poor marginalized bloggers.

However, not all bloggers were onside with the idea of government funding for bloggers. Angry in the Great White North stated that the government should not be subsidizing the slackers who are mostly unsupportive of the good work that Stephen Harper has been doing. “Why should the Government of Canada pay people who speak against it? They may as well fund a Court Challenges program and subsidize rich latte drinking lawyers.”

The cool kids over at Lawiscool were quick to retort that lawyers are also a vital and productive part of the economy who also deserve a government hand out.

Spreading the gift of democracy

2008-12-11T17:39:00.001-05:00

Wow...a coronation...

2008-12-09T13:19:00.003-05:00

It is amazing that a man who passionately advocated for democracy yesterday, prompts the coronation today.

On the other hand, Rae would have looked like the rogue Liberal on the fringes if he continued to fight - and that is no way to win a leadership race.

Félicitation au Québec Solitaire

2008-12-09T07:54:00.001-05:00

Pour la première foi, la partie qui était conçu comme une partie féministe, gauche et écologiste, a élu sa premier MNA. Amir Khadir était élu en Mercier. Sa porte-parole, Françoise David était proche en Gouin.

For the record...

2008-12-03T21:49:00.006-05:00

Jack for PM.

The recap of the evening. Harper said nothing new. His economic plan is very similar to the one that Dion announced during the Leaders Debate, and which Harper slammed. Remember, the Step One: sit back and have fun;
Step Two: consult with those who knew;
Step Three: sucks to be a retiree;
Step Four: let's talk some more?

I know that we Liberals, NDPers, Bloc and Green are trying to be on the same side, but Dion did not sound Prime Ministerial. It was bad optics to send out a video taped speech. He may have been excused from giving that speech off the cuff in the foyer of the House. For one thing, why did look like he had just run off a tanning bed? And, where was the forceful enunciation? A simple:

'Canada was created by consultation and co-operation. Our Founding Fathers had to put aside there differences to create this great country. We are doing that today. But there is one party standing in the way and that is Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.'

would do. In short - short sentences, focused sentences, no smiling and a forceful delivery. Similar rules of speech delivery appropriate for an occasion like this.

Jack was bang on message. He spoke directly to the point. More importantly, he assumed the appropriate tone. Too bad nobody saw him because the Liberals were so slow in getting their video tape out.

Also, for the record... I am hoping that the Governor General exercises her constitutional powers and does not agree to prorogue government. Off to read a little Eugene Forsey...

To Cabinet we go, but where for the NDP?

2008-12-02T07:26:00.003-05:00

Welcome to democratic coalition building – an exercise not seen in Canada since the Meech Lake / Charlottetown Accord debacle, and certainly never seen before in the current form. Should this agreement between the Liberals and the NDP to enter into a coalition with the support of the Bloc it will be truly historical. If the Prime Minister lives to rule another day, then the agreement is nothing more than an example of the parties willingness to work together.

For the NDP this is a huge risk that stands to alienate some of the their base while potentially making the party seem indistinguishable to others. There are many things to be critical of the NDP for entering into a coalition with the Liberals, but that is another post for another day.

For today, the amusement rests with pondering what portfolios may receive. There are various reports that today’s agreement will lead to a government that consists of 24 ministers and the Prime Minister. Dion will save himself from being the second Liberal leader to never to be Prime Minister. 18 cabinet positions will go to the Liberals, and 6 to the NDP – i.e. 25% of Cabinet. On top of that the NDP will not receive a Deputy PM position nor the Finance portfolio.

Considering that the NDP has half the seats that the Liberals have (37 to 77 seats), it seems like the NDP is getting the short end of the stick with only 6 portfolios and no second in command chair. By the sounds of it the Liberals had to be massaged into taking this unprecedented gift that Flaherty handed down. The Liberals do have more experience in government, but the NDP could have held out for 8 seats.

With the PM and Finance posts out of play, the NDP still has a lot to work with. The dominant issue of the day is the economy, and for the NDP to make a stamp on government they will need at least one of the main economic portfolios. Without Finance this leaves only Industry and Treasury Board (obviously, I have removed National Revenue from consideration). There are several employment negotiations coming forward (as the Conservatives had neglected their duty as an employer to negotiate), and negotiating with unions in tough times would put the NDP in a tough position. This is something the Saskatchewan and Manitoba NDP governments can speak to with experience. Any negotiation that leaves one side raw will simply give the unions ammunition against the NDP in the next election. The NDP continues to be the party that represents union interests and they can ill afford to piss them off. Moreover, the Treasury Board is only significant in Ottawa – where Paul Dewar already does an excellent job in representing Ottawa Centre. Thus, by elimination the NDP should get Industry.

An examination of NDP MP bios shows a real strength on the social policy side. The NDP ranks are filled with people who have been community and environmental activists, social workers, artists, union organizers and local politicians (maybe it is good thing that they will not get Finance…). Thus, the NDP should get some high profile portfolios on the social policy side. Potential portfolios include: HRSDC, Health, Heritage, Labour; Citizenship and Immigration, and Environment. HRSDC is the obvious choice for the NDP. It administers an array of social programs from [Un]Employment Insurance to social housing. They are programs that touch people’s lives, but are administered by a department considered big, bulky, and rudderless. It is a department where leadership and vision could go along way. Moreover, should the NDP want to bring in universal childcare, they would do so through HRSDC. Health is another strong area that the NDP would excel at. As the first party to bring in universal medicare, the NDP is long associated with solid health management. Health is an area that regularly tops voters top issues. However, it is also an area that when it is working well, it is forgotten about. Heritage and Citizenship and Immigration are both interesting portfolios in the second tier. Labour is a junior position that would be a natural fit for the NDP, but it brings little in the way of profile. The NDP has the policies and the people to take on Environment, but taking over a file that has been squandered for years at a time when the economy is slowing and belts will need to be tighten would be an almost guaranteed loser for the party. Thus, ideally the NDP will pick up HRSDC and Health.

The NDP needs to show depth beyond its social policy base and it needs to pick up at least one or two from the international and security portfolios. This includes: Justice, Veteran Affairs, National Defence, International Trade, Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Public Safety.

If the Liberals are smart, they will keep a hold of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Rae or Ignatieff would be obvious choices as Minister of Foreign Affairs. For the NDP, the position brings great profile, but it is a portfolio where the Minister is constantly out of the country and constantly has to follow the Prime Minister’s lead. In short, it provides little opportunity to shine as a separate entity from the Liberal brand. As for International Trade, it is simply a position where the business community will bulk at the idea of an NDP minister. Personally, I think it would be incredibly interesting to see what direction an NDP Minister would take International Trade. For example, would we continue to pursue a free trade deal with Columbia and other Latin American countries, or would we see a thawing of relations with China? Would human rights be tied to trade relations, as the Liberals have paid lip service to in the past? Would a renegotiated NAFTA lead to actual change?

International Cooperation is perfectly suited for a party that believes is assisting people in need. However, it is a junior position that will not be rewarded in tough economic times. Despite how much the NDP may want to be a leader on the world stage in terms of helping out impoverished areas, this will take a backseat for the time being as the economy remains soured at home. National Defence would cause serious problems with the NDP because of their stated position on Afghanistan. However, Public Security poses an interesting opportunity to right some of the wrongs we have seen in recent years (Arar, Khadr, Zacardelli, etc). The NDP could bring a civil rights lens to this file. Justice would be a non-threatening bet for the NDP, although it is unclear what impact they would have at that position (decriminalizing marijuana perhaps?).

As for the remaining portfolios, Transportation holds much promise for the NDP. Generally, this is an administrative portfolio that falls by the way side. But this also means that it is a portfolio that, with a capable Minister, could be fertile ground in an economic downturn. If the government is looking at spending projects that create jobs, then they may want to consider projects like light-rail in Ottawa and other metropolises, fast-tracking the Asia Pacific gateway, or creating a high-speed rail corridor between Windsor and Quebec City or Calgary to Edmonton.

Indian and Northern Affairs may have some appeal for the NDP. As provincial governments, the NDP has done a commendable (although certainly not perfect) job of working with aboriginals. Issues that affect aboriginals on a daily basis, such as clean water, social housing, substance abuse and economic development could all benefit the NDP touch. Plus, the NDP certainly has plenty of MPs who represent constituencies with large aboriginal populations. The downside is that INAC is a portfolio that is notoriously slow for getting things down. People can see some files last their entire careers without coming to a resolution.

Taking charge of the Public Works portfolio would ensure that it does not fall back into the tainted hands of the Liberals. With the NDP in charge, it would also mean that the government does not launch into to absurd fire sales where the purchaser rents the building back to the government. Given the NDPs commitment to transparency and fairness would benefit the governments procurement practices. The downside is that Public Works is primarily a management portfolio that permits few opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.

With Agriculture and Agri-food in the NDP’s hands would ensure that the Canadian Wheat Board is not disbanded. Unfortunately, the NDP does not have many MPs from agricultural constituencies, nor do they have much credibility on the issues.

That leaves Natural Resources and Fisheries and Oceans – neither of which would give the NDP the opportunity to truly shine and make a difference in the lives of Canadians.

To sum up, here is my best guess at what portfolios the NDP may end up with:
- HRSDC
- Industry
- Health
- Transportation
- International Co-operation
- Public Safety (somewhat of a long shot)

Update:
For which NDP MPs may be in Cabinet, please go to the Jurist here and here. I will add my two bits to his excellent review in the near future.

Coalition Rally: December 4th at noon

2008-12-01T23:56:00.002-05:00

Make Parliament Work:

Rally for a coalition government

Where:: Parliament Hill
When:: December 4, noon
More info:: 613.560.5457
Rallies also planned for:: Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, St. John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, Moncton

Have you ever noticed that...

2008-12-01T22:53:00.003-05:00

...suddenly the Bloc is no longer the Bloc. They are separatists.

As for the NDP - they are socialists.

Is this the best name calling the Conservatives can come up with?

It is clear that Harper needs a better team around him. Now would be the time for him to look like a statesmen. Referring to your opponents as extremists, especially when these extremists are the ones that the Conservatives would have to win over to save their skin, is not helpful.

Other thoughts that came to mind while watching Mike Duffy Live:
- John Baird can actually use a reasonable tone of voice;
- Duffy keeps referring to having to educate New York about who Jack Layton is. Jack was on CNN not too long ago, and New Yorkers probably know as much about Jack as they do about Stephen, Stephane, and Gilles. Moreover - does it matter?
- Both Baird and Conservative strategist Nordstrum keep referring to the stock market as a symbol that the coalition is unwanted. First off, the stock market does not vote. Moreover, the stock market is not representative of all Canadians. Second, any decline in the stock market as it relates to politics is a result of the Conservatives blowing. The market is likely reacting to the uncertainty created because of the Conservatives willingness to play partisan games at a time when the economy is heading south.

A.D.L

2008-11-30T13:32:00.004-05:00

So the Saskatchewan NDP leadership has been... well lacking any excitement. Dwain Lingenfelter continues to be the only declared candidate as more potentials walk away. Dwain is a charismatic individual who loved Saskatchewan so much that he left it to join a large oil corporation and attempted to encourage other Saskatchewan workers to join him in booming Alberta. Now he is back in Saskatchewan to save the day and the party. He may be the only candidate, but there are many NDPers who would be happy to have another option. For example, a news item making the rounds this week is the Facebook group Any but Lingenfelter.

Okay, all disaffected Saskatchewan NDPers are longing for renewed faith in the party leadership. We want a commitment to party renewal, to reaching out to new voters and a sense that the party actually listens to members. We don't want the federal Liberal Party operating under the Saskatchewan NDP brand. There needs to be a renewal of the party, policy and principle. But, having a Facebook group saying "Anti-Links of the world unite" is not the best option. A Facebook group is merely a public advertisement of dissatisfaction. It does nothing to actually encourage an alternative to Link. You might as well take out an add in the Prairie Dog saying "I don't like Link" signed Anon. There is work to be done towards positive change in the NDP, and this negative announcement does nothing to renew the party.