NDP can see the road ahead and it leads to the Government benches

I wish I were in Vancouver for the NDP's convention.  Too bad I have too work at a regular job!  The next best thing to being in Vancouver is the internet and my cell phone with a plan including free long distance. 


The mood is exciting.  The mood is heading forward.  The mood is about what could be possible in just four more years.  The NDP plan to go for it.  No one will be laughing next election when Jack Layton says he is running to be Prime Minister.  


I know many in the media and my good friends in the Liberal party want to keep telling the NDP they have won nothing, Harper has all the cards. In one sense they are right. Harper can do as he wishes over the next four years.  


What these reporters and Liberals miss or are trying to avoid looking at is the way the NDP's message and Jack Layton are connecting with Canadians.  This last election saw the NDP's hard work in Quebec pay off with a JACKpot. We all know that people wanted a change in that province.  We all know that Quebec generally tends to be a little more progressive than other parts of Canada. 


The NDP's success in Quebec had some luck for sure, but as the old saying goes, you have to be good to be lucky.  Layton made Quebec a priority when he became leader.  You have all heard about his efforts to recruit candidates. What you haven't heard is about the ground work that went into the NDP's positions on issues of importance specifically to Quebecois voters.   


The election of  the immensely popular Thomas Mulcair allowed the NDP positions to be heard over the din emanating out of the BLOC.  Finally we had someone in the province who could command attention from media.  Once the media started listening, the people of the province heard what the NDP was doing.


That success may have come sooner and in larger numbers than we expected.  The results mean we will now have to move quickly to solidify our gains and find the remaining seventy seats to form the next government. We have a good new base to start from, we finished first in Quebec and second in every region and territory in the country. We finished second in over one hundred ridings. 


The NDP's success outside of Quebec was impressive.  Part of that success has to be attributed to a new and improved data base that the provincial arms of the party have been using for a couple elections and federal party support on the ground with the deployment of  paid party staff.  Local ridings were better funded, better prepared and much more effective in getting the vote out and donations collected.


The last election saw the NDP win the support of more women than any other party.  Young people supported the NDP in larger numbers than any other party.  Two areas the NDP has been focusing on a lot are new immigrants and seniors.  Traditionally these groups have voted for Conservatives and Liberals.  This last election saw the Conservatives win a majority based on their support from these groups.  Jason Kenny is often quoted these days saying he would be at all these ethnic events and nary a Liberal in sight.  I suspect he will see a lot of the NDP sitting at the table with him over the next four years.


The NDP's focus on seniors in the election could soon pay off.  Every low income senior in this country owes a debt of gratitude to David Lewis and the NDP who forced the Trudeau government to dramatically increase Old Age Pensions. That however was 38 years ago.  Medicare was 50 years ago.  Unemployment Insurance is even older.  The NDP also won concessions from the Liberals to build social housing in the 70's.  Millions of Canadians have benefited from this.  Of course social housing fell apart in Canada when the Liberals stopped funding it in 1995.


The NDP has not been as effective as it has needed to be for a while now.  That changed with the last minority government and of course this last election.  Finally we have a platform to be heard.  That is a win for me, even if the Media say its a loss.  


How do we spend our lottery winnings? Brad Lavigne, NDP director pointed to the way forward last night in his report to the NDP convention.  First is to work to elect NDP provincial governments in BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Elect more provincial representation in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and PEI.  


The goal is not out of reach.  The NDP provincially is showing more strength in all regions of Canada.  We have already began a huge effort to build infrastructure in Quebec. Fundraising efforts are meeting expectations and the bar has been raised to match that of the Conservatives within four years.  With more NDP provincial governments and more money, it will be harder for the usual red scare to resonate with voters.  People will see, right across this country, that an NDP government will be their government.


So with all the continuing infrastructural work going on, the NDP is also the government in waiting. That means going after Harper and his Conservative gang, stalling his agenda when they can, raising public pressure when he bulls ahead anyway.  The NDP can see the road ahead and it leads to the Government benches.

Who responds to queer issues in the Harper Government?

The NDP caught the federal Conservative government off guard yesterday.  They did not know who should answer the question put to them by NDP MP Dany Morin (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord)

M. Dany Morin (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, NPD): 
Monsieur le Président, les dernières statistiques démontrent une augmentation de 18 p. 100 des crimes haineux contre la communauté gaie et lesbienne. Alors que la plupart des autres crimes haineux sont principalement perpétrés contre la propriété, plus de la moitié de ceux commis contre les gais et lesbiennes impliquent de la violence. C'est inacceptable.

Quelles mesures le gouvernement entend-il prendre pour combattre l'augmentation des crimes haineux contre les gais et lesbiennes?

L'hon. Peter Van Loan (leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes, PCC):

Monsieur le Président, le bilan du gouvernement est éloquent. Nous croyons fermement qu'il faut protéger les droits de tous les Canadiens, indépendamment de leur milieu ou de leurs origines. Le gouvernement a toujours la même la position.

M. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, NPD):

Monsieur le Président, il est triste et injuste de constater que les Canadiens trans ne sont toujours pas protégés contre les crimes haineux ou contre la discrimination aux termes de la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne.

Au cours de la dernière session, la Chambre a adopté une mesure législative visant à offrir cette protection, une mesure législative qu'a appuyée le ministre de la Justice.

C'est une question d'égalité pour des Canadiens qui sont nos frères, nos soeurs, nos filles, nos fils, nos voisins et nos amis. Le gouvernement agira-t-il maintenant pour protéger les droits et la sécurité des Canadiens trans?

L'hon. Peter Van Loan (leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes, PCC):

Monsieur le Président, je le répète, l'engagement du gouvernement à l'égard de l'égalité de tous les Canadiens reste aussi ferme que par le passé. Notre position n'a pas changée et ne changera pas.
Quelles mesures le gouvernement entend-il prendre pour combattre l'augmentation des crimes haineux contre les gais et lesbiennes?

L'hon. Peter Van Loan (leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes, PCC): 
Monsieur le Président, le bilan du gouvernement est éloquent. Nous croyons fermement qu'il faut protéger les droits de tous les Canadiens, indépendamment de leur milieu ou de leurs origines. Le gouvernement a toujours la même la position.

M. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, NPD): 
Monsieur le Président, il est triste et injuste de constater que les Canadiens trans ne sont toujours pas protégés contre les crimes haineux ou contre la discrimination aux termes de la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne.
Au cours de la dernière session, la Chambre a adopté une mesure législative visant à offrir cette protection, une mesure législative qu'a appuyée le ministre de la Justice.

C'est une question d'égalité pour des Canadiens qui sont nos frères, nos soeurs, nos filles, nos fils, nos voisins et nos amis. Le gouvernement agira-t-il maintenant pour protéger les droits et la sécurité des Canadiens trans? 

L'hon. Peter Van Loan (leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes, PCC): 
Monsieur le Président, je le répète, l'engagement du gouvernement à l'égard de l'égalité de tous les Canadiens reste aussi ferme que par le passé. Notre position n'a pas changée et ne changera pas.

The government's response was mind bloggingly inept.  This is a weak link for the Conservatives.  The NDP are strong on this issue and like Asbestos, have the high ground again!

Here is the english:

Mr. Dany Morin (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, NDP): 

Mr. Speaker, the latest statistics show an increase of 18% in hate crimes against the gay and lesbian community. While most other hate crimes are committed mainly against property, over half of those committed against gays and lesbians involve violence. This is unacceptable.
What measures does the government intend to take to combat the increase in hate crimes against gays and lesbians?

Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): 

Mr. Speaker, our government's track record is clear. We believe strongly in protecting the rights of all Canadians regardless of their background, regardless of their roots. That continues to be the position of our government.

Mr. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, sadly and unjustly, transgender Canadians are still not protected against hate crimes nor are they protected against discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Code.

In its last session, this House passed legislation to provide those protections, legislation that was supported by the Minister of Justice.

This is a question of equality for Canadians who are our brothers and sisters, our daughters, our sons, our neighbours and our friends. Will this government act now to protect the rights and safety of transgender Canadians?

Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, as I already indicated to this House, the commitment of this government to the equality of all Canadians remains as firm as it has always been. That continues to be our position and will be in the future.

Starbucks, Triple Venti Non justice topped with Blatant Homophobia

I came across this post tonight while I avoided the Vancouver Canucks Boston tea party.  I like Starbucks and the anti - big corporist in me always chastises me as I cross the threshold of one of their many many stores.  I admit I love their cofeee and their efforts for a better world one cannot miss when you enter.

My usual Starbucks is on Church Street in Toronto. I have my doubts anything like the situation you are about to read about could happen here.  I mean its in the heart of what is left of the gay village in Toronto. That said not all Starbucks are in places that have to be nice to queer employees or clientèle.

I have printed off the open letter linked to below.  I am going to deliver copies of it to every Starbucks I go into over the next month, until something is done. I hope you can find time to at least write Starbucks or tell their staff about this on your next visit.  This should be easy to resolve. I don't think of Starbucks as homophobic in general, yet it appears some of the staff are.   No boycott needed, just a little interaction with your barista.

Here is an excerpt and link to the letter....

"Yesterday when I walked into your  Centereach, Long Island  location  I saw one of the most brazen and unapologetic displays of homophobia I have ever witnessed in my entire life.  What was most concerning about it was it was perpetuated by not one, not two but THREE of your employees and it was directed towards a fourth employee.  I don’t know this man, but I know his name is Jeffrey because the woman (who seemed to be in charge of this circus)  loudly scolded, spoke to in a condescending manner, humiliated, and then let go.  In the middle of your store. Two feet away from my table.   Then when Jeffrey, who was visibly shaken went to the bathroom to collect him self, the women at the table went on a long, ranting homophobic rant that lasted about five minutes. This rant transpired two feet away from my table where I sat with my daughter. A three year old child, with two mothers. I have never, in my entire life seem such a gross and unapologetic display of ignorance and intolerance. The most horrific aspect of it was that it was by someone that your corporation put into a position of power.  I have never, ever in ANY context seen ANYTHING so unprofessional in my entire life.  I was horrified that my daughter was exposed to that."

I Know Starbucks is Not an Anti-Gay, Homophobic Company (by Policy)…. BUT…

First Nations Education

I came across an article posted by my fab faerie brother Issac on Facebook.  The article was on the Residential Schools.

My Great Grandmother, Gertrude Pinchbeck suffered under this colonial imprisonment.  That is what it was.  Take kids away from their parents and everything they know, stuff them into stark spartan buildings and beat the Indian out of them.

Gertrude was the oldest of 14 children.  She was sent to the residential school near Williams Lake BC for a couple of years, until the priest decided that she was needed at home to help her mother look after the all the kids. My Gramma would tell me some of the stuff that happened, mostly involving the time after she returned home.  One of her most vivid memories was the twice annual visit of the Priest every fall and spring.  He would demand there be another baby by spring. Gramma's parents delivered.  It was a Catholic breeding farm.

They were all expected to attend church on Sunday.  There were few good excuses for not showing up, the best being you were in jail or deathly ill.  Gramma said she would have to steal money from her parents in order to put it in the collection plate at church.  The priest expected it and he or his collectors watched and noted those that did not contribute.  She was deathly afraid of what would happen if she had nothing to put into the collection plate.

The church ruled over their whole lives. The Indian Agent usually worked to keep Indians from getting ahead  and enforced the law of the land and church with all too much vigour and glee. Gramma's parents would try to hide some of the kids when the summer was over, to prevent them being sent away too school.  It never worked.

Our treatment of First Nations people has been horrific.  These people are still paying the price of this cultural genocide generations later and so are Canadians.

We have had many opportunities to turn it around and have failed miserably.  Look today at the conditions on Indian reserves.  Why is it we can't deliver fresh water to most of them? Why do they have so few or inadequate schools? Why are so many in jail? Why did so many of them make up the numbers of the Missing Women atrocity in Vancouver?

Schools and education are a key too turning it around.  Charlie Angus has been leading that fight for several years in Parliament.  Listen to him on CTV's Question Period as he sees the chance to make some progress on education.

Asbestos - Harper's Shame

Canada is one of the world's biggest exporters of Asbestos, even though its is severely limited in its use here at home due to health concerns.  We are in some dubious company in trying to keep asbestos off the world's banned list - Russia, Iran, Zimbabwe. 


Chrysotile asbestos is the fancy new marketing name for Asbestos. Just as the tar sands get referred to as Oil sands, the Harper Government is trying to disguise the damaging product.  


During the federal election the NDP  came out solidly opposed to the export of Asbestos. They did it even though the Quebec government endorses its export.  Harper visited the riding and said his party would continue to support asbestos mining and its export as long as other countries were willing to buy it.  Where does most of this asbestos go?  To the third world and countries like India.  


How much value is there to this product to Canada? Ninety million dollars annually according to CBC.  That is a drop in the bucket nationally.  We would hardly miss the money.  


CBC has discovered that the Harper Conservative government has not only been supportive of the industry, they have done so despite the advice of Health Canada.  Now that's a Canada that's here for who? Certainly not for me or you, or the poor folks that will be using this product.


The Liberals can't be jumping too high here.  They in government supported the industry for many years as well, for purely political reasons. Now with those reasons gone, the Liberals are on board to ban the export of this substance.  Welcome to the party!


Finally this whole thing kinda makes me laugh when I hear the Quebec provincial government get on their high horse to chastise Alberta for the tar sands.  We all know what would be happening if those Tar Sands were in "La belle province".

On The Hill - Twitter List

Canadian Federal Political resources on Twitter: Looking for hashtag or twitter account for an MP, check out this page here compiled by David Akin.  You can find it on his blog, On the Hill.  The list includes organizations, media, political parties and other influential folks in Canadian politics.

Can't find a twitter account: check out On the Hill.

Yes, the NDP can get things done....

‘We can get things done’, Joe Comartin justice critic, for the NDP


That's the way to do stuff.  Comartin is a lawyer and has been on this issue for a while.  The issue is mega trials, involving 10, 15, 20 or more accused, usually bikers, or organized crime folks.   He has managed to get this issue resolved because of his tenacity and working with the government.


Likely the first bill to pass after the budget will be this one, and won't that play well in Quebec where many of these trials have been occurring.  A good beginning for the new Official Opposition or should I say Official Proposition.


Yes, the NDP can get things done....

Globe and Mail : ‘We can get things done’: Tories, NDP team up on mega-trial bill

Steven and Bruce

Today I am here.  The title of this sounds a little like some cheap gay porn.  It's not, Steven and Bruce both enjoyed a smart cocktail and would have enjoyed the others company.

Steven's passing nine years ago seems a little harder on me this year, likely because of my good friend Bruce whose life ended in December seven months ago.  Not much more I can add right now, just thought I had to share it or I would burst.  You can find my recent thoughts on Bruce here.