9.21.2010
Liberal whip better prove Stephen Taylor wrong
I mentioned in the post below that I am getting a little tired of Liberals telling the NDP what to do, from on high. Big City Liberal saw this tweet a little bit ago. I found it as well and if Stephen Taylor is right, Ignateiff will be looking for a new job tomorrow after the gun bill vote.
Jack Layton and the NDP have gone out and got the votes needed. I really, really am pulling for the Liberal Whip success. I hope the Whip has a good nights rest.
Motion to kill Bill C-391
I am watching the debate of a motion before the House of Commons to kill Bill C-391. The first speaker to the motion today was Liberal MP Mark Holland. Holland goes on at length providing all the good things about keeping the registry and then with a suppressed grin, he feels the pain of women across the land because the NDP failed to do the same as the Liberals, and work towards a common position -- "get that consensus, don't have some of your MPs vote the other way." When it comes time to vote tomorrow, do the right thing."
I would just say to the Liberals, they had the ability 120 times in this house to do the right thing and vote against the Harper Government. To hear him tonight, when he already knows that there are enough votes to kill the bill, is a bit too much.
update: 6:53pm
Hoeppner goes on to say the Bill doesn't cost 4 million dollars but likely as much as 100 million dollars. She of course is using a number pulled out from under a rock by the the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. She closes by calling on NDP members and the Member from the Yukon to do the right thing.
Maria Mourani of the BLOC goes on about the Conservatives dumping the guy in charge because he did not speak french days before he was to speak the the registry's success in Edmonton this year. I think that is one of the first times the Bloc have defended a unilingual federal agency head.
update: 7:03
Joe Comartin speaking now. One of the reason the bill will be defeated tomorrow is due to the government's accusations against the police. Because the government has buried reports and or delayed their release.
update: 7:08
Comartin says after the bill is defeated tomorrow, its time to make amendments to the registry.
I would just say to the Liberals, they had the ability 120 times in this house to do the right thing and vote against the Harper Government. To hear him tonight, when he already knows that there are enough votes to kill the bill, is a bit too much.
update: 6:53pm
Hoeppner goes on to say the Bill doesn't cost 4 million dollars but likely as much as 100 million dollars. She of course is using a number pulled out from under a rock by the the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. She closes by calling on NDP members and the Member from the Yukon to do the right thing.
Maria Mourani of the BLOC goes on about the Conservatives dumping the guy in charge because he did not speak french days before he was to speak the the registry's success in Edmonton this year. I think that is one of the first times the Bloc have defended a unilingual federal agency head.
update: 7:03
Joe Comartin speaking now. One of the reason the bill will be defeated tomorrow is due to the government's accusations against the police. Because the government has buried reports and or delayed their release.
update: 7:08
Comartin says after the bill is defeated tomorrow, its time to make amendments to the registry.
Some In the Conservatives like to bully
From news wire here
Monday was LaVar Payne’s day to shine. You may have never heard of the Conservative backbencher from Medicine Hat, Alta. — but if you tuned into question period, you likely heard him. Payne, a first-term MP elected in 2008, carried on a running stream of abuse from the back row Monday, the cupped hand at the side of his mouth helping project his nasal whine into the farthest reaches of the Commons.
“Is that from American, professor?” he taunted Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “You signed on to that as an American, professor!”
When Jack Layton rose for a question, Payne lit into him — “You never co-operate, Jack!” — causing the NDP leader to break stride and offer an aside. Layton dryly noted that the new focus on decorum “is working out well on the government side.”
Harper outspends Liberals AGain!
The Conservative government spent 130 million dollars getting its message to Canadians. That is a record by a federal government. Now, you can cut them a little slack, 24 million was spent on the H1N1 health issue. Where I get a little annoyed is all that money spent on telling us how they were stimulating the economy.
I know, you can say all governments do this. And yes the previous Liberal Government spent a whopping 111 million dollars on advertising in 2006. Still that is not an excuse today for the Harper Conservatives. They kinda ran on the idea that this stuff would not happen.
Now I initially thought that part of the cost of the the governments huge media spending would include money for all those signs doting the country these days. After some thought and a few tweets, I am guessing the signs are not included.
So the actual "media" presence bought by the Harper government has to include signs. I mean how many of these signs have you seen while out for a drive Sunday. The country is full of them.
So how much did we spend on signs? Has the PMO finished counting them yet?
Is there no end to the Harper ability to say one thing and do another?
I know, you can say all governments do this. And yes the previous Liberal Government spent a whopping 111 million dollars on advertising in 2006. Still that is not an excuse today for the Harper Conservatives. They kinda ran on the idea that this stuff would not happen.
Now I initially thought that part of the cost of the the governments huge media spending would include money for all those signs doting the country these days. After some thought and a few tweets, I am guessing the signs are not included.
So the actual "media" presence bought by the Harper government has to include signs. I mean how many of these signs have you seen while out for a drive Sunday. The country is full of them.
So how much did we spend on signs? Has the PMO finished counting them yet?
Is there no end to the Harper ability to say one thing and do another?
Bloggers Meet-up with Senator McCoy
Progressive Bloggers headed to Ottawa, September 18, 2010 for a BBQ hosted by Senator Elaine McCoy. McCoy is one of only two Progressive Conservatives left in the Senate. The afternoon was a very entertaining and involved a wide number of topics.
Kady O'Malley, CBC reporter from the hill dropped by as did queer blogger from Xtra, Dale Smith. And of course there was Jeff Jedras, who often shares his opinions in the National Post and then opposite the NP we had Karl Knox of Montreal's New Media and Politics and CJLO Radio.
Many more there, but then I'm not sure of posting the links here. Check out photos courtesy of The Equivocator.ca and QUOI Media.
Thank you to Senator McCoy and her staff for hosting us. It was well worth the trip to Ottawa.
Kady O'Malley, CBC reporter from the hill dropped by as did queer blogger from Xtra, Dale Smith. And of course there was Jeff Jedras, who often shares his opinions in the National Post and then opposite the NP we had Karl Knox of Montreal's New Media and Politics and CJLO Radio.
Many more there, but then I'm not sure of posting the links here. Check out photos courtesy of The Equivocator.ca and QUOI Media.
Thank you to Senator McCoy and her staff for hosting us. It was well worth the trip to Ottawa.
9.16.2010
Ouch, that stick got me in the eye Mr. Baird
John Baird has just delivered a sharp stick to the eye to those five million Canadians who call the GTA and Toronto home. Elitists he has called the leaders of the NDP and Liberals. He might want to reconsider after all Harper and Ignateiff were born and raised here, Jack was born and raised in Montreal.
In fact outside of Harper and Ignatieff, most people that live here today were born somewhere else. People like me. I can take the jokes about being in the centre of the known universe, and even I joke about the hapless Leafs. Those are all in the area of fair play. But to call people elitists because they live in Toronto is another attempt to create an urban/rural wedge. Its politics of division. Its where you go when you run out of solid argument.
Baird's attack comes after it appears the Conservatives are not going to succeed in "Scrapping the Long Gun Registry". Lets blame the loss on those people in Toronto. Watch the conservatives fundraising account start to swell. I have news for Baird, the next election will not be about guns, it will be about health care and the economy. Too bad you can't blame Toronto for that Mr. Baird.
In fact outside of Harper and Ignatieff, most people that live here today were born somewhere else. People like me. I can take the jokes about being in the centre of the known universe, and even I joke about the hapless Leafs. Those are all in the area of fair play. But to call people elitists because they live in Toronto is another attempt to create an urban/rural wedge. Its politics of division. Its where you go when you run out of solid argument.
Baird's attack comes after it appears the Conservatives are not going to succeed in "Scrapping the Long Gun Registry". Lets blame the loss on those people in Toronto. Watch the conservatives fundraising account start to swell. I have news for Baird, the next election will not be about guns, it will be about health care and the economy. Too bad you can't blame Toronto for that Mr. Baird.
Jack be Quick
When you try to out smart someone in politics you better be on your game. That is what Michael Ignatieff tried to do on the gun registry. He threw the ball to Jack Layton and stood back demanding Layton and the NDP show their commitment to Canada's gun laws.
Its a little like the all adage in politics, never ask a question of an opponent that you don't know the answer too.
Andrew Coyne said it best in a tweet: "Layton's handling of this has been adroit. 2nd time in a year Grits thought they had him boxed in, and didn't."
Jack Layton did not take the easy route to addressing the issue. He took the democratic route. He did not demand his caucus fall into line. Instead Layton addressed the issues that rural, northern and aboriginal Canadians have with the registry.
Today we the results of that work as yet another NDP MP switched sides bringing to five MPs, that have switched sides and will now vote to save the registry so that it can be amended. In the coming days I am expecting more NDP MPs to do the same. Common sense prevails, talk and action have lead to a solution.
The NDP solution will be put before Parliament, giving all MPs another chance to end the divisive and mean spirited debate over our gun laws. Have a look here at the NDP proposals.
You may also want to read this well written report on the GUN Registry battle
Liberals falter, NDP triumph on gun registry
Big H/T to Accidental Deliberations
Its a little like the all adage in politics, never ask a question of an opponent that you don't know the answer too.
Andrew Coyne said it best in a tweet: "Layton's handling of this has been adroit. 2nd time in a year Grits thought they had him boxed in, and didn't."
Jack Layton did not take the easy route to addressing the issue. He took the democratic route. He did not demand his caucus fall into line. Instead Layton addressed the issues that rural, northern and aboriginal Canadians have with the registry.
Today we the results of that work as yet another NDP MP switched sides bringing to five MPs, that have switched sides and will now vote to save the registry so that it can be amended. In the coming days I am expecting more NDP MPs to do the same. Common sense prevails, talk and action have lead to a solution.
The NDP solution will be put before Parliament, giving all MPs another chance to end the divisive and mean spirited debate over our gun laws. Have a look here at the NDP proposals.
You may also want to read this well written report on the GUN Registry battle
Liberals falter, NDP triumph on gun registry
Big H/T to Accidental Deliberations
9.15.2010
Did the Conservatives get what they wanted?
We have handed Harper an election issue for rural Canada. They may not hype it much but they will use the Gun Registry to to keep their base going and to attack the NDP in those rural areas. The matter was very close and I am sure Harper was getting worried. Not to say he wouldn't have been okay with the Registry falling, its just easier to reel in the voters if you have the right bait on the hook.
Harper of course is not the first Prime Minister to catch onto this. Jean Chretien was a master at this. He managed to promise a national child care plan for three elections and never delivered it. Paul Martin learned this as well. He held out that same national childcare plan, he even negotiated with some provinces. For good measure, he made a deal with Aboriginal folks in Kelowna.
All Paul Martin had to do after that was put it all in a budget or government bill. That would all be in place today if he had. The problem was that Martin wanted an election and going into an election, you need to have some bait. The NDP and BLOC of course supported the Childcare plan and the Kelowna Accord, so what could he do to cause an election.
Martin inserted big tax cuts for business in the budget. He knew that the NDP would not support it. The poison pill worked and the Martin government set out on the election trail with what they thought was pretty good bait. The Childcare plan and the Kelowna Accord would be dangled before the voters. If only the NDP had held the net a little longer,Martin would have introduced them. I need more LIB MPs he said and NDP voters need to support the Libs this time.
It didn't work for Martin as we all know.
The bright spot here is that it may not work for the Conservatives this time out. They have held out this bait for many elections. If the Gun Registry survives on September 22 and the NDP or Liberal bill to modify the legislation passes, enough rural, northern and aboriginal voters animosity toward the registry may well cool down.
Now we wait for the next election, likely next spring after a "rosy" budget picture is presented. We will hear all about the need for a national childcare plan and an end to making gun owners criminals.
ps
Harper could have accomplished his goals of ending the registry a while ago. He could have jammed it into a budget bill, (thanks Kady) when the Libs voted more than 120 times on confidence motions. Do you really think Harper wanted to see the Gun Registry gone before an election?
Harper of course is not the first Prime Minister to catch onto this. Jean Chretien was a master at this. He managed to promise a national child care plan for three elections and never delivered it. Paul Martin learned this as well. He held out that same national childcare plan, he even negotiated with some provinces. For good measure, he made a deal with Aboriginal folks in Kelowna.
All Paul Martin had to do after that was put it all in a budget or government bill. That would all be in place today if he had. The problem was that Martin wanted an election and going into an election, you need to have some bait. The NDP and BLOC of course supported the Childcare plan and the Kelowna Accord, so what could he do to cause an election.
Martin inserted big tax cuts for business in the budget. He knew that the NDP would not support it. The poison pill worked and the Martin government set out on the election trail with what they thought was pretty good bait. The Childcare plan and the Kelowna Accord would be dangled before the voters. If only the NDP had held the net a little longer,Martin would have introduced them. I need more LIB MPs he said and NDP voters need to support the Libs this time.
It didn't work for Martin as we all know.
The bright spot here is that it may not work for the Conservatives this time out. They have held out this bait for many elections. If the Gun Registry survives on September 22 and the NDP or Liberal bill to modify the legislation passes, enough rural, northern and aboriginal voters animosity toward the registry may well cool down.
Now we wait for the next election, likely next spring after a "rosy" budget picture is presented. We will hear all about the need for a national childcare plan and an end to making gun owners criminals.
ps
Harper could have accomplished his goals of ending the registry a while ago. He could have jammed it into a budget bill, (thanks Kady) when the Libs voted more than 120 times on confidence motions. Do you really think Harper wanted to see the Gun Registry gone before an election?
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