They didn't even hide itThe Conservatives have decided to take on Canada's charitable sector, primarily the Environment groups, accusing them of being too political and un-canadian. This is not the first time either, in the past they have gone after women's organizations, religious groups working in Palestine, and HIV/AIDS groups.
In every case they have cut funding, eliminated programs, and attacked the groups integrity. This Time however they have decided to use more muscle. The recently released budget will increase scrutiny of charitable organizations in a blatant attempt to harass the most effective environmental groups. These groups perform several charitable missions, primarily to educate and inform Canadians and governments of the need to protect our environment and the harm industry and development can and or has on our environment.
The tipping point for the Harper Conservative government was the extremely effective job these groups were doing - to the detriment of the Northern Gateway oil sands pipeline, which must travel across BC. As Canadians hear more about the project, the more they become concerned about the potential environmental, social and economic costs.These concerns are just now being heard by everyday Canadians. The government has been focused solely on building the pipeline, no matter what the costs are. This shouldn't surprise us as the Harper Government has made selling our commodities a high priority, especially oil and gas. The government rarely meets with groups concerned about the development of the oil sands, instead they spend their efforts finding ways to assist in their rapid development. The budget lays out a multi-pronged effort to limit, hinder or render useless any resources that could stand in the way of developing our raw resources. They announced they would be cutting the Ministry of Environment, reduced the time and number of environmental reviews, cuts to the department of Fisheries and Oceans, (this is needed to ensure tanker traffic on BC's rugged coast will face less scrutiny and fish farms won't have the feds go after them), and the Department of Natural Resources.Remove governments ability to review and you are more likely to have fewer problems come up when reviews of projects occur. The only people fighting your efforts will be those discredited political environment radicals.There is however one group the feds cannot muzzle and that is the first nations. The Northern Gateway pipeline must cross tens of different first nations territories. To do this the Harper Government is going of have consult meaningfully and address the concerns raised by first nations. "This incredibly stupid move on the part of the Harper government will only serve to expedite the battle in the courtrooms and on the land itself," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs told Canadian Press. He described the situation between B.C. aboriginals and the federal and provincial governments as "volatile."This "pipeline is going to traverse the territories of literally dozens and dozens of First Nations. And all of them have said very clearly that they do not support the Northern Gateway project and that they will do everything that they can to stop this project," added Phillip.“The over-arching theme here is this is a budget for the great pipeline to China,” Megan Leslie said. “This is about pipelines, pipelines, pipelines, and at any cost.” Leslie is the NDP critic for the Environment.“Whether it is going after charities, who might have a different opinion, cutting the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy and cutting Environment Canada and not relying on science and evidence, or whether it’s going after the Environmental Assessment Act and weakening it, that’s what this budget says to me, it’s all about pipelines,” Ms. Leslie said.
The big thing in the budget, its not what you thought...
3.30.2012
OAS changes not Needed.
I will look at the budget over the next few days and offer some views. Today I want to focus on Old Age Security or OAS for short. The Harper government have decided that anyone aged 53 or younger will have to wait until they are 67 instead of 65, to qualify for OAS.
OAS is paid to every Canadian, in the case of well off Canadians the money is partially clawed back. Lower income Canadians also qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). GIS is meant to raise incomes for retired people to a minimum level. To qualify for it, you must also be in receipt of OAS. The conservatives have just raised that age two years, thus also denying Canada's least well off seniors to wait two more years to collect GIS. A double whammy.
Currently OAS and GIS contribute 30% of seniors overall income in Canada. The two programs contribute 70% to those seniors earning $15,000 or less each year. Raising the age is going to require these low income seniors to work longer, save more. The problem is that if your income is already low, or you have a disability you can not save. Most of your income goes to paying for food and shelter.
Many people in their 60's are in poor health or as we all know too well, looking after another person their age or older. This negates their ability to earn the money required to save anything for retirement. Provincial Governments are going to have to pick up some of the slack with social assistance and disability funding, for an additional two years.
So why are we doing all this? The Parliamentary Budget Officer suggests that there is no looming funding crisis for OAS. Currently this money amounts to 2.36% of the GDP. It is forecast to grow to 3.14% of GDP by 2030 and fall off sharply after that. Additionally, we should also realize these benefits pay back 25% in taxes by those that receive them.
So the questions is, why is the Conservative Government doing this?
OAS is paid to every Canadian, in the case of well off Canadians the money is partially clawed back. Lower income Canadians also qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). GIS is meant to raise incomes for retired people to a minimum level. To qualify for it, you must also be in receipt of OAS. The conservatives have just raised that age two years, thus also denying Canada's least well off seniors to wait two more years to collect GIS. A double whammy.
Currently OAS and GIS contribute 30% of seniors overall income in Canada. The two programs contribute 70% to those seniors earning $15,000 or less each year. Raising the age is going to require these low income seniors to work longer, save more. The problem is that if your income is already low, or you have a disability you can not save. Most of your income goes to paying for food and shelter.
Many people in their 60's are in poor health or as we all know too well, looking after another person their age or older. This negates their ability to earn the money required to save anything for retirement. Provincial Governments are going to have to pick up some of the slack with social assistance and disability funding, for an additional two years.
So why are we doing all this? The Parliamentary Budget Officer suggests that there is no looming funding crisis for OAS. Currently this money amounts to 2.36% of the GDP. It is forecast to grow to 3.14% of GDP by 2030 and fall off sharply after that. Additionally, we should also realize these benefits pay back 25% in taxes by those that receive them.
So the questions is, why is the Conservative Government doing this?
3.27.2012
Who said that?
A last look at Toronto-Danforth by-election.
"The Liberal Party sees a very, very good opportunity in Toronto-Danforth, and the effort there will be to have a vigorously contested nomination. I think a lot of people have been surprised at the stature gap that the NDP has created by nominating such a low-key and frankly uninspiring candidate."Who said that?
George Smitherman, former Deputy Premier, after the NDP nominated Craig Scott, a well respected human rights advocate and Law Professor.
3.25.2012
Okay, We have Mulcair
After a long seven months, the NDP have a new leader. Thomas Mulcair survived four ballots, gaining ground on each successive ballot. In they end he won with 57% to 43% for runner up Brian Topp.
Now the NDP will see the return to full strength in the House of Commons. A front bench to rival any in opposition in more than a generation.
With the likes of leadership candidates Niki Ashton, Nathan Cullen, Peggy Nash, and Paul Dewar joining Charlie Angus, Marie-Claude Morin, Yvon Godin, Hoang Mai, Jack Harris, Robert Chisholm, Irene Mathyssen, Megan Leslie, Jasbir Sandhu, Peter Stoffer, Françoise Boivin, Pat Martin, Olivia Chow, Joe Comartin, Peter Julian and Libby Davies the NDP has the pieces to effectively challenge the Harper Government.
Think about that team for a minute. In almost every instance, its would not be hard to imagine them replacing the current Conservative government Ministers. Now add to that team a leader who is well informed, who commands attention, who is a formidable debater and lets face it, who is the one guy the Harper Government was hoping would not win the NDP leadership.
Thomas Mulcair has been an effective leader in Quebec for years, he has been one of the oppositions best critics since his election to the House in 2007.
I have mentioned only a few reasons why you can expect a very dynamic and challenging official opposition in the days ahead. It's unfortunate that Harper will not be in the House of Commons Monday, Mulcair's first day in the house as Official Opposition Leader.
The NDP are now at full strength. The opposition Jack Layton imagined is now in place.
See also:
 |
| Mulcair after being elected leader |
With the likes of leadership candidates Niki Ashton, Nathan Cullen, Peggy Nash, and Paul Dewar joining Charlie Angus, Marie-Claude Morin, Yvon Godin, Hoang Mai, Jack Harris, Robert Chisholm, Irene Mathyssen, Megan Leslie, Jasbir Sandhu, Peter Stoffer, Françoise Boivin, Pat Martin, Olivia Chow, Joe Comartin, Peter Julian and Libby Davies the NDP has the pieces to effectively challenge the Harper Government.
Think about that team for a minute. In almost every instance, its would not be hard to imagine them replacing the current Conservative government Ministers. Now add to that team a leader who is well informed, who commands attention, who is a formidable debater and lets face it, who is the one guy the Harper Government was hoping would not win the NDP leadership.
 |
| Thomas Mulcair |
I have mentioned only a few reasons why you can expect a very dynamic and challenging official opposition in the days ahead. It's unfortunate that Harper will not be in the House of Commons Monday, Mulcair's first day in the house as Official Opposition Leader.
The NDP are now at full strength. The opposition Jack Layton imagined is now in place.
See also:
Everybody is overreacting - Peace Order and Good Government (Pogge)
Thomas Mulcair Is The Leader Of The New Democratic Party Of Canada And I Support Him Completely! - Left Dog
Can Mulcair fight the good fight? - Cathie From Canada
Thomas Mulcair and the Road to Victory Montreal Simon
Stephen Lautens' Parking Space: It's In The Fine Print
Check out this posting from Stephen Lautens. It's another not so fine point to investigate in the robocon scandal. I found it very interesting and I suspect you will too.
Stephen Lautens' Parking Space: It's In The Fine Print: Toronto's Globe and Mail published a story March 23rd full of interesting Robocall nuggets in their ongoing investigation. It included som...
Stephen Lautens' Parking Space: It's In The Fine Print: Toronto's Globe and Mail published a story March 23rd full of interesting Robocall nuggets in their ongoing investigation. It included som...
3.24.2012
voting extended.
balloting has been extended by 30 minutes. the system for voting is getting a work out. It only took me less than 5 minutes in line to vote. it is noisy in the convention hall. Peggy Nash team seems to be showing the most excitement. Cullen's team is doing a good job of trying to catch up noise wise.
Being here is exciting. Not being fed the talking head stuff on TV is somewhat liberating. time to walk about and check out the floor again... back after the second ballot.
Being here is exciting. Not being fed the talking head stuff on TV is somewhat liberating. time to walk about and check out the floor again... back after the second ballot.
first ballot
the first ballot is out. dewar has dropped out. now we wait. mulcair has the most votes, 30%. that is no where near where he needed to be to end this day early. its round two coming. where will dewar go? i suspect he will go to nash if anyone
It will be Nash or Mulcair
Judging by the hospitality suites last night Peggy Nash drew the most attention. That is not a big surprise, it is however an indication of her support growing. She has a great deal of second and third ballot support. Peggy also has a huge phone bank in Toronto and in Vancouver that kicked in high gear yesterday, calling voters that have been identified as second or third ballot voters. Peggy looks to me to have the best organization on the ground at this moment and very inspired supporters.
This convention is unlike any other yet many of the same rules apply. We will see leaders drop out of the race and support other candidates. The difference is that they have less access to the voters. In the old days you could swing a deal and get your message out quickly and efficently. It was contained inside the walls of the convention hall. Voters can expect many calls, emails and face book and twitter messages as the various camps attempt to reach everyone.
As I said above though, the game changer moments will still happen, people at home watching on TV or the internet will experiance much of floor movement. I expect we will see Topp and Dewar dropping out after third ballot if it goes that far.
If Mulcair is close to 40% on the first ballot, we are going to have a very lively time of it early on. This will force Topp and Dewar to act. They will see that only Nash can stand a chance at that point. If Mulcair has less than 30% on that first ballot we are in for a long day.
This convention is unlike any other yet many of the same rules apply. We will see leaders drop out of the race and support other candidates. The difference is that they have less access to the voters. In the old days you could swing a deal and get your message out quickly and efficently. It was contained inside the walls of the convention hall. Voters can expect many calls, emails and face book and twitter messages as the various camps attempt to reach everyone.
As I said above though, the game changer moments will still happen, people at home watching on TV or the internet will experiance much of floor movement. I expect we will see Topp and Dewar dropping out after third ballot if it goes that far.
If Mulcair is close to 40% on the first ballot, we are going to have a very lively time of it early on. This will force Topp and Dewar to act. They will see that only Nash can stand a chance at that point. If Mulcair has less than 30% on that first ballot we are in for a long day.
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