Conservatives Lead by Six Points, NDP up (Nanos Poll Completed June 3rd 2010)

Ho Ho Ho----The only thing that has changed over the last few months is the undecideds have gone up two percentage points. Seems the electorate has not warmed up to any leader or party so what is new there ? I will stick with a small Conservative majority and, who knows, an NDP official opposition. The Liberals are meeting again in Vancouver June 18-20----the BC wing if there are any feathers left----- but I see absolutely no turn around unless there is a caucus revolt within weeks. Not likely. Is there something about wandering in the desert for 40 years ????

[updated Tue Jun 08 04:55:06 -0400 2010]

Two notes: The polling concluded on June 3rd (5 days ago) before the summit spending outrage, and the catalytic "Harper's Folly" fake lake issue really took hold. I suspect a poll concluding to-day would show a considerably greater decrease in Conservative support. Also, the Liberals are in free fall and the NDP is up significantly. I can only recall once (Just before the 2006 election ) when the NDP polled higher than 21%.

Also the top of mind issues, Health care has surpassed the economy, and the environment is quickly catching up to the economy as the issues of most concern to Canadians. Neither issue is a strength for the Conservatives, (though why the economy is, I'll never know).

24% Undecided is a BIG number.

Volatility is the order of the day.

[updated Tue Jun 08 08:29:44 -0400 2010]

While the Conservatives have dipped I suspect most of the dip is as a result of daily media headlines.

The two issues that are really interesting is tht the Libs are going nowhere fast and the NDP has had a surge which I suspect is disaffected Libs. If this trend holds it will not be good for Ignatieff in the next election.

The next polls will be interesting to see how Ignatieff's comments on the coalition play out in the country.

I don't think this is good news for the Libs. In essence Ignatieff by talking about a coalition is suggesting that his party cannot win the next election. With this kind of message those Libs who do not want any part of the NDP will stay home or hold their noses and vote Conservative.

A strong showing for the NDP is good news for the Conservatives. As well Ignatieff by talking about coalition opens the door for the Conservatives who will ask Canadians for a majority by reminding them that if they vote Lib or NDP they could possibly end up with Jack Layton as Finance Minister or even PM.

[updated Tue Jun 08 09:57:08 -0400 2010]

Question of the Day!

What should be done with Liberal MP Judy Surgo?

[updated Tue Jun 08 16:43:45 -0400 2010]

What should be done with Liberal MP Judy Sugro, for having Taxpayers pay the rent of her condo!

Contact me on Twitter if you like! But no horny women I keep getting!

lawson1945 on Twitter

[updated Tue Jun 08 16:50:10 -0400 2010]

How Can I Put This As Accurately As Possible?

I feel like UPCHUCKING after today's vote. Enough said. See you!

[updated Tue Jun 08 21:40:07 -0400 2010]

It does appear that Ignatieff was lying to the Canadian voters when he stated NO coalition.

...

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/blogs/elmer/, June 9th, 2010 by Greg Elmer,

Headline: Liberals registered www.liberaldemocrats.ca website in 2008

It may be just a coincidence, but records on the internet suggest that the Liberal party of Canada registered the www.liberaldemocrats.ca website address (which today redirects to the main Liberal.ca website) in December 2008. “Liberal Democrats” has recently been suggested as a possible name for the merged NDP and Liberal parties.

[updated Wed Jun 09 09:52:22 -0400 2010]

It would appear that there was fire and not smoke as there is now a formal investigation by Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson based on the information received.

So time for the Liberals to jump off the poor Helena Guergis and the bad Harper band wagon and go jump back on the other scandal band wagon that they manufactured.

It is a wonder that they are not breaking legs with all the jmping up and down from their wagons.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ethics-commissioner-launches-guergis-conflict-of-interest-inquiry/article1597491/

Ottawa — The Canadian Press, Published on Wednesday, Jun. 09, 2010 9:25AM EDT,
Last updated on Wednesday, Jun. 09, 2010 9:26AM EDT

...

The federal ethics watchdog will investigate Helena Guergis to determine if the former Conservative cabinet minister breached conflict-of-interest rules for MPs.

Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has completed a preliminary review of Ms. Guergis' activities and is taking the next step of launching an inquiry.

Ms. Guergis' lawyer says the probe concerns a 2009 letter Ms. Guergis sent to Simcoe County officials in Ontario promoting the waste technology products of Wright Tech Systems.

“We have been advised that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner will be inquiring into the recent issues relating to Ms. Guergis and Wright Tech Inc.,” Howard Rubel wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.

[updated Wed Jun 09 10:06:23 -0400 2010]

Liberals are a dead brand any way, they should merge. When they allowed Chretien into the Convention that sent a message to Canadians, with this clown involved again I not voting Liberal!

[updated Wed Jun 09 14:21:10 -0400 2010]

I know this is off topic, but I just have to comment on it

"Futbol" or soccer as N Americans call it. I can never understand why the game where they run with and/or carry 98% of the time they call football. The name is as stupid as the game. whereas the game they kick 98% of the time is called soccer.
All over the world, except North America, it's rightfully called football. And of course it's a religion.

I rate the World Cup more than the Stanley Cup and the Olympics combined, tho, I love them both.

I can understand the experts picking Spain, Brazil, Italy, France and Germany as dominant teams. But true to my nature, I go against the experts and this year I pick Argentina.

[updated Thu Jun 10 16:33:37 -0400 2010]

Letting Conservatives Speak...

Posted at Threehundredeight.com:

Shadow said...

Don't let Quebec separate, it would give Harper a comfortable majority !!

Hmm ...

Could this be why a lot of western Canadians want Quebec kicked out of Canada, where as Liberals are fighting for it to stay ?

Interesting to think about.

12 June, 2010 17:26

And I was worried about those guys being Canada's worst nightmare. What was I thinking?

[updated Sun Jun 13 17:48:20 -0400 2010]

So what are Lawrence Cannon and Jason Kenny going to do about this:

The Need For Due Diligence Office And What are you doing about this MP

With the Vancouver Province reporting that foreigners namely Mainland Chinese acquiring residential luxury properties in Vancouver which received many negative comments that the comments had to be shut down and the story removed.

The Municipal Act must be changed to allow the emergence of a Due Diligence Office at the grass roots level for all municipalities in Metro Vancouver but mainly to control undesirables coming into both Richmond and Vancouver Residential Properties.

The Due Diligence Office will be set up by the City Manager with the Mayor and City Councillors being held accountable a long with other City Staff.

Those Foreigners or in this case Mainland Chinese must make application to the Due Diligence Office to make application to purchase properties and not purchase before they gone through this Due Diligence process, the Real Estate Agent will also be held accountable to this Due Diligence Office.

Once the application has been submitted, the potential purchaser will be invited to answer tough question about how their wealth was accumulated in the first place, the final approvals will come from the RCMP, VPD and CISC.

Proceeds from Crimes is not just limited to those living in Canada but those wishing to come to Canada.

What is the Canadian government going to do about the families of Lui Luk and Associates, Corrupted Hong Kong Police that invested proceeds of crime in Vancouver (Shaughnessy and West Vancouver) and Toronto, also gaining illegal entry into Canada via Canadian Embassy in Hong Kong, Canada has been harboring these individuals for years!

Conservative – Reformer
Liberal BC, but leaning toward the BC Conservative Party if the Liberals do not improve in areas like this!

[updated Mon Jun 14 00:00:20 -0400 2010]

Dear Dumb Dumbs,

It may have escaped you but it's high time that you firmly push the old man into the wall.

Cough up now, or face the drastic consequences. That's how it should go -- unless, of course, he knows ahead of the time that you simply don't really have the balls to do it...

[updated Tue Jun 15 10:37:59 -0400 2010]

Who Will Be The Prized Chumps Come Thursday?

Care to take a bit of a guess?

For my part, I think I can hazard a prediction but I prefer to watch the parties determine that once again for themselves...

[updated Tue Jun 15 11:07:49 -0400 2010]

No Question About It -- I'm With Jack.

It's called Negotation 101 and it's elementary. All three parties are to blame on this for having been hoodwinked by this Prime Minister. Quite obviously, you go into negotiations with a pre-arranged common front that is unbreakable. (This one reminds me of the Gang of Eight, but I digress...)

Then once that's achieved, you hammer this Prime Minister to a pulp until his government caves. That's not even remotely what we have here: this PM has decoupled the Bloc and the Liberals from the NDP. Temporary tactical victory.

The opposition has won on access but lost the war on public release. Point One: who gets to choose the notable jurists? Is it a common decision of the three parties? Or is it the prerogative of the Harper government?

Point Two: we have to protect national security -- no question about it -- but that can't be left to solely a panel of judges and ex-judges. The only agreement that can stick is where the aforementioned panel is also composed of ordinary MPs from each of the four parties.

Put another way: the decision on public release is based on a voting formula that directly implicates both jurists and MPs. Anything short of that is bound to be a sop to the government.

Let's face it. Jack is bang on. Harper will get a quiet summer. MPs will get months and months of interesting if not frustrating viewing and this Prime Minister will get his way as the legal panel gives the government the benefit of the doubt on national security and most everything never gets to see the light of day. Harper couldn't have orchestrated it any better -- even alone. This is a big win for the government and a big setback for the rest of us as far as government accountability is concerned.

[updated Tue Jun 15 14:39:27 -0400 2010]

Jack,

You should ask for and accept Libby Davies resignation as House Leader.

At present, her position cannot be described as anything else other than untenable.

[updated Tue Jun 15 23:03:17 -0400 2010]

MPs should be focusing their attention on heading off indexed pensions rather than pardons, what a disgusting place this Parliament has turned out to be. We need a completely new system of government in Canada.

[updated Thu Jun 17 01:13:47 -0400 2010]

Something Tells Me Jim Travers Has Something Against This Government.

Personally, I can't think why. After all, WE elected these MPs to the House -- twice already:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/stephenharper/article/825809--travers-changing-canada-one-backward-step-at-a-time

[updated Sat Jun 19 21:27:16 -0400 2010]

The Lesson We Liberals Find So Hard To Learn.

In the words of the Ethics and Access to Information Committee Chair, as reported by The Gazette:

"Liberal MP Paul Szabo said the committee has also had trouble getting requested documents from the Prime Minister's Office and from Paradis' office.

``Now we are getting stonewalled again,'' said Szabo, who chairs the committee.

--------------

Expect exactly the same on the Afghan document file. Our distinguished jurists will likely see to precisely that. After all, national security is national security...

[updated Sat Jun 19 21:41:32 -0400 2010]

Sorry Nik, But I'm Stuck With Ekos!

Now let me see if I've got this right...Ekos puts the Conservatives at a severely tarnished 30.5%. Now, you're talking!

Liberals, on the other hand, come in at a less than dazzling 26.3% with good old uncle Jack hugging third at 17.4% (Greens: 12.3%, Bloc: 10.5%) . Must have something to do with the fact that Liberals are not social democrats -- and social democrats are hardly Liberals.

Mind you, that plain and obvious fact continues to escape many of the enlightened minds across the political spectrum, but as usual, I tiresomely digress!

Why not start by stating the obvious: without a head-wind manufactured on the phony premise of an imminent coalition, Conservative have and will continue to go nowhere in the polls. They are quite literally hanging on by their blue fingernails.

For Liberals, what is painfully evident is somehow indecipherable. Voters are looking for a credible reason -- some might call it an excuse -- to vote Liberal. Far from it, Michael has not become the new TB man. As much as the Canadian people respect the office and by extension, the occupant hailing from 24 Sussex Drive, they are still willing to give this Liberal leader the benefit of the doubt. Hence, Liberals four points behind what could only charitably be called the "front-runner".

That means Michael will do well to promote a Liberal stirring across the land this summer as he travels hither and yon. Much will depend on the quality of the platform offered, but a golden opportunity is in the offing -- assuming that he has the courage to finally make it happen.

But his will not be the final word: Jack and Gilles will also have to reach the mind-numbing conclusion that almost five years of Stephen Harper and his minions is quite enough, thank you very much.

Ours will be a two-pronged strategy: just getting in front of the voters has been by far the hardest part, up until this point. Who would have thought it? But again, I digress in my usual somewhat tedious fashion!

Once we are on the trail, the rest will inevitably take care of itself provided that the leader has clearly drawn his mark in the sand prior to an election and explained to Canadians why we can do much better than the incumbent government and more importantly, why their trust and confidence should be placed in him personally.

We need to discover who Michael Ignatieff is. We need to hear it from his own lips. Up until this point, we haven't even been formally introduced during these past two years. Michael has a narrative to tell -- time to take the summer and start delivering it.

Thankfully, Conservative "definition" seems to be finally waning. Poor Dion was not as fortunate...how about us putting a truly Liberal imprint on the man -- not to mention the party.

Works for me.

[updated Sun Jun 20 20:20:50 -0400 2010]

Involuntary Humility.

Zachary,

You know I had a few ideas for Michaëlle Jean as second act. Unfortunately, this Prime Minister seems to have been faster at cementing his idea than yours truly. As painful as it is, I must confess it's been exceedingly well played and I'm nothing other than, flat-footed...

However, please spare me the pleasure of reminding us all once again how we are playing checkers while the so-called great strategist continues as master of the chessboard. Much obliged!

[updated Mon Jun 21 23:16:01 -0400 2010]

Ronald,

At a time when the Liberals and their leader are expressing their embrassment about Canada and their shame at being Canadians, this is what the world has to say and interesting enough there is no coverage in CBC.

....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-g20/news/the-world-would-love-to-be-canadian/article1612707/

Joe Friesen, From Tuesday's Globe and Mail, Published on Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2010 3:10AM EDT, Last updated on Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2010 10:02AM EDT

Headline: The world would love to be Canadian

....

More than half of people around the world say they would abandon their homelands and move to Canada if they could.

Given the choice, 53 per cent of adults in the world's 24 leading economies said they would immigrate to Canada, according to an international survey commissioned by the Historica-Dominion Institute in partnership with the Munk School of Global Affairs and the Aurea Foundation.

[updated Tue Jun 22 10:10:58 -0400 2010]

The Liberals have released a policy platform after 5 years and what is the media saying about the next great leap forward proposed by the Liberals after their grand convention of Toronto and Montreal old men.

Well it would appear to be much to do about nothing, which is the new Liberal theme.

...

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Shouldn+Liberal+plan+bolder/3159873/story.html

John Ivison, National Post · Wednesday, Jun. 16, 2010

Headline: Shouldn't the Liberal plan be bolder?

...

1) Michael Ignatieff unwrapped the Liberal party's foreign policy platform yesterday -- a mix of practical, new ideas aimed at improving Canada's standing in the world. Unfortunately for Liberals, the practical ideas are not new and the new ideas are not practical.

2) Canada in the World: A Global Networks Strategy sounds fresh--at least for anyone who hasn't read the Canadian International Council's recently released Open Canada: A Global Positioning Strategy for a Networked Age.

3) But the idea of promoting Canada's interests overseas using transportation executives who provide rolling stock to China, doctors working for Medecins Sans Frontieres and acrobats from Cirque du Soleil, as the Liberal plan envisages, smacks of gimmickry.

4) "This cherry-picks through the groves of recent and not-so-recent foreign policy commissions and reports," said Fen Osler Hampson, director of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. "The real question [on global networks] is: What is it you're going to do? It just sounds like they're grasping for a bumper sticker."

5) The new strategy makes a list of commitments, with the typical moral righteousness that always accompanies Liberal foreign policy proposals.

[updated Tue Jun 22 10:20:32 -0400 2010]

It would appear that Ekos is the only polling company that is showing any major slippage in the Conservatives numbers - one could consider that strange, however Ekos is the polling company that the CBC uses and there is that close arrangement that Graves would appear to have with the Liberals.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-support-holds-despite-scandal-ridden-session-poll/article1613585/

Joan Bryden, Ottawa — The Canadian Press, Published on Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2010 3:14PM EDT, Last updated on Tuesday, Jun. 22, 2010 3:27PM EDT

Headline: Tory support holds despite scandal-ridden session: poll

Conservatives have 7-point lead over Liberals, still well short of a majority

...

Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have sustained little lasting damage from an unproductive, acrimonious and scandal-plagued parliamentary session, a new poll suggests.

The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey indicates the Tories emerged from the session with 34 per cent support — a solid seven-point lead over the Liberals.

The NDP were at 17 per cent nationally and the Greens at 10 per cent.

While the Tories were still well short of the support level they'd need to win a majority, the poll suggests they've rebounded from a precipitous slide that followed Prime Minister Harper's unpopular decision late last year to suspend Parliament until early March.

As the session sputtered to a close last week, the Tories were leading in every region of the country, except Quebec, where the Bloc Québécois strengthened its grip on the province, the poll indicates.

And the Tories opened up a double-digit lead over the Liberals among male voters (38 per cent to 25 per cent) and even pulled slightly ahead among women (29 to 28 per cent).

[updated Tue Jun 22 18:06:30 -0400 2010]

My, No Wonder All Those Social Conservatives Are Smiling!

Just my luck -- you know me. Got a hankering to let my fingers do the walking to see if I could get the skinny on whom this Prime Minister intends to bestow the honour of "next" Governor General.

Lo and behold, my delicate inquiries have been met with a total wall of silence...makes me wonder if a shipment of chastity belts has been sent out to most prominent Conservatives! Trust me, they are in no mood to give it up.

One would think this was one of this government's Afghanistan war secrets. In any event, I doubt even the Almighty could pry this one loose.

Let the betting begin for the GG Sweepstakes! Any takers? I must admit that I'm clueless but one thing is definitely for sure -- as soon as Her Majesty and the Duke hit Canada, this Prime Minister will finally let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

Will he outdo Martin with his earth shattering pick? Will this PM really make news with a groundbreaking appointment? Guess all I can do is wait and see, like everyone else...

[updated Tue Jun 22 18:52:16 -0400 2010]

What is wrong with the Liberals presentation regarding the costs for the G8 and G20, well if one is to take Page at his word, it would appear to be everything and it would appear once again that the Liberals and their media friends are determined to continue to misrepersent the G8 and G20 by misinformation and disinformation.

...

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/06/24/don-martin-page-report-paints-a-summit-budget-that-doesnt-look-so-bad/

Headline: Don Martin: Page report paints a summit budget that doesn’t look so bad

...

Mr. Page is not the slightest bit shy about confronting controversy. His report should be taken as the best-available interpretation.

But he does praise the government for disclosing the ballpark costs — something Mr. Page had extreme difficulty in getting from other summit hosts in his quest for detailed comparisons.

For Liberals and others (yup, I’m guilty, too) who surfed the Internet and found plenty of stories saying the security tab for Pittsburgh’s G20 last year was just $18-million, Mr. Page smacks us down by pointing out that was only overtime costs and visiting forces. The bill for intelligence agencies and secret service was not included.

The way Mr. Page sees it, the tab is being driven into lunar orbit by Canada’s wide security net, which adds transportation and housing costs to the bottom line

[updated Thu Jun 24 09:00:37 -0400 2010]

Fadden must be given the Order of Canada, the only one in Canada to tell the truth like it is, there needs to be a full Public Inquiry of Chinese Politicians, Civil Servants, Government Employee's and Municipal Councils and Staff.

Hu Jintao go home to China your not welcomed here and we do not like gutless individuals that do not face the public. Harper must slammed for this, Harper just lost his chance for a majority on this issue. Fadden must be given the Order of Canada.

[updated Fri Jun 25 00:40:52 -0400 2010]

Afghanistan: Get The Hell Out Of There ASAP!

I'm tired of seeing brave Canadians coming home in coffins -- yeah, yeah, the combat role is about to end. That I suppose is going to make things hunky-dory. Please. Last time I checked, an IED wasn't great at sparing Canadians who happened not to be on a "combat" mission...

How many more deaths is it going to take before our collective leadership, across two parties wise up? We are at 154 DEAD Canadians. High time to leave the Afghans to their own devices, if other NATO countries are either unable or more likely, unwilling to take over the job.

We should be moving the security front to the home perimeter -- beef up CSIS, RCMP, CBSA and every other department, agency and organization instrumental in keeping Canadians safe, both at home and abroad.

Afghanistan has been from the very start MISSION HOPELESS. Just ask all the previous foreign "invaders". No one has ever bested the Afghans and quite frankly, NATO could potentially stay another twenty years and we would still be mired in a futile effort of needless death and destruction.

Bring our people home!

[updated Sat Jun 26 21:17:44 -0400 2010]

PMO Statement On Anarchist Damage In Toronto.

Hopefully, this Prime Minister speaks for the vast majority of Canadians.

The PM's words certainly speak for this Canadian. I understand why the police held back -- nothing quite like choosing the lesser of two equally bad options.

[updated Sat Jun 26 23:16:01 -0400 2010]

Another Liberal talking point hits the skids for the Liberals.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-g20/opinion/kudos-in-order-as-pm-shepherds-g20-to-surprising-consensus/article1620986/

John Ibbitson, Toronto — From Monday's Globe and Mail, Published on Sunday, Jun. 27, 2010 10:44PM EDT, Last updated on Monday, Jun. 28, 2010 11:33AM

...

Kudos in order as PM shepherds G20 to surprising consensus

Stephen Harper guides leaders of world's largest and most influential economies to an accord that surprised even the leaders themselves

“Honestly, this is more than I expected,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged. The major economies have agreed to act in concert to cut their deficits in half by 2013, and then to stabilize or reduce their debts as a percentage of GDP by 2016.

The most that had originally been expected from the weekend was some kind of process toward a hoped-for agreement in Seoul this November. Instead, we have that agreement.

This is a signal achievement for the Prime Minister, who set those targets and lobbied hard for other nations to embrace them.

[updated Mon Jun 28 12:43:56 -0400 2010]

From the man who never seems to be able to take a position and hold it longer than a momment and the man is making Mr. Dithers look like a man of firm and quick decisions.

Ignteiff record to date, Yes, No, Yes, No, Maybe, No, No, No, Yes, Yes, Maybe and now , he appears to be saying, Yes and No and maybe all at the same time.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ignatieff-to-meet-british-coalition-partner-nick-clegg/article1620783/

Bill Curry

Toronto — From Monday's Globe and Mail, Published on Sunday, Jun. 27, 2010 7:57PM EDT, Last updated on Monday, Jun. 28, 2010 2:13AM EDT

...

Ignatieff to meet British coalition partner Nick Clegg

Subject of two parties joining forces may come up, Liberal Leader says, on an ‘anecdotal’ level

[updated Mon Jun 28 12:54:35 -0400 2010]

Just For the Record...

I think the recent media speculation that this Prime Minister is planning to manoeuver his government into a fall election is just that -- a crock.

No one has been more cautious on the electoral front than the PM. He is no more scared of a Fraser-inspired audit of the Economic Action Plan than is he afraid of the boogeyman.

Put another way, if the opposition wants an election this autumn, they will have to do the work themselves to get there.

[updated Mon Jun 28 16:22:02 -0400 2010]

Least we forget, who was in power in 2001 and what did the media have to say then.

...

The Quebec City protests of 2001 were about 10 times the size of the protests at Toronto’s G20 Summit this past weekend.

And they were more violent, too — featuring not only tear gas, but also frequent use of rubber bullets and water cannon. Some protestors even got through the security perimeter — which never happened in Toronto.

At one point in Quebec City, there was so much tear gas in the air that the official summit delegates couldn’t even leave their building.

All of this violence was rightly denounced. And yet, somehow, the country didn’t descend into hand-wringing about how Quebec City’s image had been irreparably damaged in the eyes of the world.

There was no talk of the historic city receiving a “black eye” on the world stage. The city simply cleaned itself up and got on with things. Within a day or two, it was back to the usual business of provincial governance and tourism.

Here in Toronto, on the other hand, we are in the midst of a spasm of civic mortification.

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/06/28/jonathan-kay-toronto-city-of-wimps/#ixzz0sCAlc89b

[updated Mon Jun 28 19:59:33 -0400 2010]

Update and this speaks volumes to the Character of Ignatieff and his principles.

...

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/rodriguez-06-28-2010

By HARRIS MACLEOD, Published June 28, 2010

...

Grit MP Rodriguez should resign as party's culture critic, say critics

Quebec Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez, who recently pleaded not guilty to one charge of refusing to comply with a police order for allegedly not blowing into a Breathalyzer properly, should step aside as his party's critic for Canadian heritage and do a better job of showing that he takes the matter seriously if he wants to salvage his political career, say political observers.

[updated Mon Jun 28 20:25:53 -0400 2010]

So, the Liberals and their coalition partners are planning and conspiring to put Conservative staffers in jail, and all without the benefit of a Trial, Judge, or a Jury

One has to wonder how the civil rights activists and amnesty International will react to the Liberal / Coaltion show trials resulting with the detention of Canadians without due process and how the Liberals will defend this attack on those individuals rights as defined by the consitution.

...

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/accesstoinfo-06-28-2010

By KRISTEN SHANE, Published June 28, 2010

Political staffers who refused to testify could face jail time

A fight over Afghan detainee documents threatened to break down Parliament last session and the issue of access to information is likely to rear its ugly head again this fall as one of two committees faced with the unprecedented non-appearance of political staffers as witnesses is set to report the issue to the House.

[updated Mon Jun 28 20:36:53 -0400 2010]

So, the Liberals and their coalition partners are planning and conspiring to put Conservative staffers in jail, and all without the benefit of a Trial, Judge, or a Jury

One has to wonder how the civil rights activists and amnesty International will react to the Liberal show trials with the detention of Canadians without due process.

...

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/accesstoinfo-06-28-2010

By KRISTEN SHANE, Published June 28, 2010

Political staffers who refused to testify could face jail time

A fight over Afghan detainee documents threatened to break down Parliament last session and the issue of access to information is likely to rear its ugly head again this fall as one of two committees faced with the unprecedented non-appearance of political staffers as witnesses is set to report the issue to the House.

[updated Mon Jun 28 20:37:16 -0400 2010]

Jane Taber - Shrinking Minority - Well it will continue to shrink for all Parties if they do not pick up on this:

Due Diligence Office

With the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Sun reporting that foreigners namely Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China are acquiring or wanting to buy residential luxury properties in Metro Vancouver!

I have since just my mind where the Due Diligence Office must located, the Due Diligence Office must be sent up in the Vancouver Immigration Office where in my opinion a panel must have Immigration Officer, CSIS officer, Crime Intelligence Officer of the RCMP, and one Citizen (must not be of the same ethnic group as the applicant) selected a random on any particular day, if the Citizen agrees. This Panel must unanimous before any Certificate of Approval is given to purchase property, these properties must not be left vacant for any period of time.

The purpose is to check backgrounds for any potential Political and Industrial Espionage

Those Foreigners or in this case Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China must make application to the Due Diligence Office to make application to purchase properties and cannot purchase any properties before they have gone through this Due Diligence process, the Real Estate Agent will also be held accountable to this Due Diligence Office.

Once the application has been submitted, the potential purchaser will be invited (cannot refuse invitation) to answer tough question about how their wealth was accumulated , political views and any connections to the Communist government in China all in one of two Official languages the final approvals will come from this newly created Due Dilingence Office Panel.

Proceeds from Crimes is not just limited to those living in Canada but those wishing to come to Canada.

What is the Canadian government,and RCMP going to do about the families of Lui Luk and Associates, Corrupted Hong Kong Police that invested proceeds of crime in Vancouver (Shaughnessy and West Vancouver) and Toronto, also gaining illegal entry into Canada via Canadian Embassy in Hong Kong, Canada has been harboring these individuals for years!

Penner Vancouver Sun from WHOM did you get the idea Canadians want these wealthy Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China coming into Metro Vancouver in the first place, Visible Minorities do not make decisions on who comes into Canada, it is not a god given right, the Majority of Canadians will make that decision and if any current government is not doing what the majority wants then we will bring in a government at all 3 levels that will. Did you bother to ask this Wong in this story if he was licensed to be a Immigration Consultant, I suggest you follow up!

Conservative – Reformer
Liberal BC, but leaning toward the BC Conservative Party if the Liberals do not improve in areas like this!

[updated Mon Jun 28 22:10:14 -0400 2010]

The more things change the more they stay the same - for the Liberals that is..

...

http://www.visioncritical.com/2010/06/economic-confidence-slips-for-the-first-time-this-year-in-canada/

...

Political Leadership

In order of most trusted to least trusted to handle the economy, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney leads with 49 per cent, followed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper with 38 per cent, and Liberal and Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff with 26 per cent.

The Conservative Party is still preferred over the Liberals to rein in national debt (34% to 24%), end the recession (36% to 21%), create jobs (31% to 29%), and control inflation (36% to 21%). However, around four-in-ten Canadians consistently say that neither of the two main parties is apt to handle these issues.

Canada vs. Other Countries

Overall, Canadians think the national economy is in better shape than many other industrialized economies. Many Canadians say the situation is better than the United States’ (75%), the United Kingdom’s (54%), France’s (52%), Germany’s (39%), Japan’s (36%), and Australia’s (26%). The only exception is China, with 33 per cent of respondents saying Canada’s situation is worse than theirs.

[updated Tue Jun 29 08:04:54 -0400 2010]

The Big Canada Day Announcement?

I don't know about you but I'm inclined to think that this Prime Minister will break the news on Canada Day -- after it, it would be fitting for us to find out who the new Governor General is while the Queen is on Parliament Hill.

For those of you who are really keen on solving the mystery, you might want to keep a sharp eye out at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in the coming days (wink!).

[updated Tue Jun 29 11:05:56 -0400 2010]

Here we go again, as federal Liberal candidate in Chatham-Kent, Ont., has been charged with forcible confinement, assault and four counts of uttering threats.

Will Ignatieff do the right thing this time as he has had two chances to do the right thing and turf sitting Liberals and has failed to do so.

...

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/06/29/chatham-kent-councillor-charged-pickard-100629.html

Last Updated: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 | 1:47 PM ET CBC News.

Ont. politician accused of assault, confinement

[updated Tue Jun 29 17:41:42 -0400 2010]

And yet again a Liberal talking point hits the skids,

...

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/830030--no-arrests-made-under-g20-rule-change-ontario-says?bn=1

Tanya Talaga and Robert Benzie Queen’s Park Bureau, Published On Tue Jun 29 2010

...

No arrests made under G20 rule change, Ontario says

“The actions of police outside the fence to search and detain falls under the Criminal Code and common law. If the arrest is contested a ruling on whether the search and or arrest is decided by the courts,” she said.

“So there’s nothing that occurred in Toronto (last) weekend with regard to the actions of police, that pertained to the regulation,” said Blondeau.

“There was not one arrest pursuant to the PWPA (Public Works Protection Act) – all arrests occurred under the Criminal Code of Canada.”

As first revealed by the Star last Friday, the Public Works Protection Act, a little-known law that dates back to 1939 and the dawn of World War II, was secretly amended by McGuinty’s cabinet by an order-in-council on June 2.

[updated Tue Jun 29 17:48:43 -0400 2010]

Another Liberal/NDP/Bloc/Coalition talking point is hitting the skids as the Liberal media will now be faced with having to support what they are reporting as the Police would appear to able to discredit these reports.

...

http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/29/toronto-police-seize-machetes-saws-hot-sauce-from-g20-protestesr/

G20: Toronto Police seize machetes, sledgehammers, hot sauce from protesters

Ashley Hutcheson for National Post, Kenyon Wallace June 29, 2010 – 11:05 am

...

He also defended the treatment of prisoners at the centre and revealed that all prisoners were videotaped while they were detained.

“If they [prisoners] want to make allegations, we’re quite prepared to defend ourselves,” Mr. Blair said, noting police have “excellent video records” of officers’ conduct.

[updated Tue Jun 29 17:53:08 -0400 2010]

Conservatives minority is shrinking because of stupid G20 problem, I do not give a dam what this Civil Head of the Toronto Police Board has to say, this is a Federal problem with Policing right across Canada, we need a full public enquiry into this mess, this is a Canada problem not just a Toronto problem, does Toronto have a thinking problem in their local and municipal governments, your "communication problems" are not our problem so get on with this Enquiry

We should send Ronald Odowd in as the Silver Bullet he is close to the action, are you up to it Ronald?

[updated Thu Jul 01 19:10:24 -0400 2010]

What do you thik of my idea:

With the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Sun reporting that foreigners namely Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China are acquiring or wanting to buy residential luxury properties in Metro Vancouver!

I have since just my mind where the Due Diligence Office must located, the Due Diligence Office must be sent up in the Vancouver Immigration Office where in my opinion a panel must have Immigration Officer, CSIS officer, Crime Intelligence Officer of the RCMP, Commercial Crime Officer of the RCMP and one Citizen (must not be of the same ethnic group as the applicant) selected a random on any particular day, if the Citizen agrees. This Panel must unanimous before any Certificate of Approval is given to purchase property, these properties must not be left vacant for any period of time.

The purpose is to check backgrounds for any potential Political and Industrial Espionage

Those Foreigners or in this case Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China must make application to the Due Diligence Office to make application to purchase properties and cannot purchase any properties before they have gone through this Due Diligence process, the Real Estate Agent will also be held accountable to this Due Diligence Office.

Once the application has been submitted, the potential purchaser will be invited (cannot refuse invitation) to answer tough question about how their wealth was accumulated , political views and any connections to the Communist government in China all in one of two Official languages the final approvals will come from this newly created Due Dilingence Office Panel.

Proceeds from Crimes is not just limited to those living in Canada but those wishing to come to Canada.

What is the Canadian government,and RCMP going to do about the families of Lui Luk and Associates, Corrupted Hong Kong Police that invested proceeds of crime in Vancouver (Shaughnessy and West Vancouver) and Toronto, also gaining illegal entry into Canada via Canadian Embassy in Hong Kong, Canada has been harboring these individuals for years!

Penner Vancouver Sun from WHOM did you get the idea Canadians want these wealthy Mainland Chinese from the Communist Republic of China coming into Metro Vancouver in the first place, Visible Minorities do not make decisions on who comes into Canada, it is not a god given right, the Majority of Canadians will make that decision and if any current government is not doing what the majority wants then we will bring in a government at all 3 levels that will. Did you bother to ask this Wong in this story if he was licensed to be a Immigration Consultant, I suggest you follow up!

Conservative – Reformer
Liberal BC, but leaning toward the BC Conservative Party if the Liberals do not improve in areas like this!

[updated Thu Jul 01 19:13:20 -0400 2010]

How many of you know what the Blendinburger Group is and why did Gordon Campbell attend the conference on behalf of British Columbia, the spelling of this group may not be correct. What do they want to accomplish. Are they a group of wealthy Jewish families in Germany and the Rothschild's in New York City, what do you know about them, is this about world dominance and one world government. Did Campbell sell the farm?

[updated Thu Jul 01 19:18:02 -0400 2010]

You know what? I'm glad Harper is the PM right now.

Who else could bring both former right-wing parties together into what is known as the conservative party, then manage only to win a minority government despite the liberal's embarrassing sponsorship scandal. Admittedly, Harper had a easy start with a weak opposition facing him in parliement, but after this G20 debacle..... His new problem isn't really with the opposition parties, because we all know that their collective weakness is simply indefensible. "The liberals are still trying to find themselves, while the NDP keeps steadily creeping towards the center by slowly leaving the left behind in order to try to become the official opposition in parliement." Harper's true growing problem is with a whole generation of canadians who were quietly sitting on the fence, simply content with being politically apathetic. However, after the last prorogation followed by the unconstitutional redaction of documents in order to avoid accountability and transparancy around the afghan detainee affair, young people actually started to talk politics. The conservatives gave us the needed imperative for us to reach out to each other on facebook and we even managed to protest out in the freezing cold. Again, I have to admit that they were only our first steps and many could qualify them as being wobbly at best, but we were proud of them nonetheless. Now, Harper will have to deal with the consequences of picking Toronto, at the last minute, in order to host the G20. Spending over 1 billion dollars on security for a private event while most other countries are seriously talking about fiscal austerity is one thing, but civil rights abuses and the largest single mass police detention operation in canadian history? Harper happened to be a better uniter of young progressive canadian voters than all of the opposition parties combined could ever dream together.

Happy Canada day!

[updated Thu Jul 01 22:59:20 -0400 2010]

Ronald,

Where is the high road here as this practice is very symbolic of the current practices of the Liberal party and their supporters to make allegations without providing a means to support what they allege.

...

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Protests+continue+over+police+actions/3225023/story.html

...

The Toronto Police Service says it has yet to hear any “specific allegations” of officer misconduct during the G20 protests, despite a number of calls from rights groups for a public inquiry.

“Quite frankly, I haven’t seen any specific formal allegation,” Toronto Police Staff Supt. Jeff McGuire said Friday.

“We’ll stand by the things that we did that we felt were appropriate and if there is misconduct identified, it will be dealt with.”

Toronto Police have launched an internal review of their own actions during the summit protests, a process Chief Bill Blair has said will ensure “accountability . . . for every single officer who is deployed on our streets.”

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Protests+continue+over+police+actions/3225023/story.html#ixzz0sXbY1GDT

...

Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, says her organization has received close to 100 complaints alleging police misconduct — including harassment, assault and wrongful imprisonment — and is considering a joint lawsuit against many of the police forces involved.

“Ideally, we would hope the federal government would offer a compensation package to not only people wrongfully detained, but also business owners who had their property damaged, so that there would be no need for lawsuits,”

...

[updated Fri Jul 02 11:58:41 -0400 2010]

What is the position of the man of many opinions and few decisions? and why is he taking that position today and when will he change that position.

...

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Ignatieff+slick+proposal/3188483/story.html

...

But a policy that's inconsistently applied and based on unsubstantiated fears is bad policy.

The Liberals are moving to shut down northern B.C. tanker traffic because it's a popular move in a time of short-term environmental anxiety.

If nothing else, they should consider the financial windfall. Enbridge figures this project would generate $36-billion in tax revenue for Ottawa over 30 years.

...

Liberal ban plan unveiled because, in Mr. Ignatieff's view, "We just think it's not safe."

How strange that Vancouver, with its crowded shipping lanes and narrower port entrance, will be allowed to remain in the tanker business while the wider, deeper and presumably safer facility at Kitimat is too risky to endorse.

Tankers have been shipping in petroleum products to Kitimat and tankering out of Vancouver for 50 years without incident and the existing southern pipeline owners have plans to double their pipeline shipments to the West Coast, ultimately reaching a daily volume at least seven times the Gulf of Mexico leak.

...

Enbridge is equally confused at Mr. Ignatieff's language, which vows to ''formalize" a West Coast ban against tanker traffic. Nothing of the sort exists in any Cabinet or government

...

While oil tankers now prowl Canada's east and west coasts and roll up the St. Lawrence River to Montreal without the public giving it a second thought, Mr. Ignatieff's plan would banish tankers from a safer port in northern B.C. and kill much-needed jobs and investment in the region.

Mr. Ignatieff's vow, should he ever become prime minister, singles out for a ban one vital link -- between the oil sands and China's voracious energy thirst -- that would give the oil sands a competitive alternative to an America that views the resource as dirty energy to be priced at a discount.

The Northern Gateway proposal, a 1,200-kilometre, $5.5-billion pipeline linking Edmonton to the West Coast by 2016, would send 525,000 barrels a day to markets like China, which has an ownership stake in the oil sands.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Ignatieff+slick+proposal/3188483/story.html#ixzz0sXvDxn8f

[updated Fri Jul 02 13:16:55 -0400 2010]

How do Canadians feel about the riots in Toronto and it does put the comments made blackacdian made regarding how progressive the marchers were into prespective.

...

"Harper happened to be a better uniter of young progressive canadian voters than all of the opposition parties combined could ever dream together."

...

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/07/02/poll-finds-g20-protesters-blew-it-big-time/

http://www.visioncritical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2010.07.01_Summits_CAN.pdf

...

So what did they achieve? According to Angus Reid they disgusted the vast majority of the people they were trying to woo:

Respondents were asked about their feelings about the demonstrations that took place in Toronto during the G20 summit.

Two-thirds of Canadians (69%) are disgusted, 59% are ashamed, 57% are angry, and 54% are sad.

In Toronto, the proportion of respondents who reported negative feelings was higher (Disgust 81%, Anger 74%, Sadness 65%, Shame 61%).

Good job activists! Way to seize an opportunity and make it yours!

[updated Fri Jul 02 17:37:56 -0400 2010]

To my Nanos Buddies give me a critic on this:

High Food Costs In BC and Canada

Not just the HST is to blame for High Food Costs in BC and other parts of Canada, when Canada changed from Imperial Measures to Metric ( a stupid system that was put in to appease the French Canadian and the French), all quantities, sizing and volumes became smaller, but the pricing did not go down to match the Metric Sizing, from there the pricing continued to increase year after year until now July 2,2010 and Canadians got screwed as usual.

Now as our dollar became closer to Par with the US dollar, Canadians go to Costco in Bellingham Washington for example, Canadians get far better Value for their Canadian dollar in the USA than they do in Canada. Why because the US Measurement gives us larger sizing, bigger volumes and bigger bang for our buck.

Where do we find these stupid people in our governments and Civil Service, Do you know?

This is why we need a Full Public Enquiry in High Food Costs in Canada, if Food Costs were correct, the HST would not be a problem to most people.

Who is to blame who else those working and politicking in the Federal government!

I know Gordon Campbell knows the difference because he shops at Costco!

[updated Fri Jul 02 20:12:33 -0400 2010]

From Threehundredeight.com.

On Renewing The Federation.

Ronald O'Dowd said...

Shadow,

With respect, you are dead wrong. Let's start on a theoretical plane: is it normal for a nation-state to have a constitution that has neither been assented to -- much less accepted by one of its constituent parts? I say no.

Can you cite any other nation where this is the case? I can't off hand think of any. Remember, the CA 1982 was IMPOSED on us without our government's consent.

I'm certainly not saying that the federal government, other provinces and territories have to bend to each and every whim of the Government of Quebec. Yes, we have our grocery list, les revendications traditionnelles du Québec, but like everything else, they are subject to the give-and-take dynamic of federal-provincial negotiation.

I'm not looking for gimme Quebec while the other provinces and territories get nothing. Far from it, this is a strange beast this Canada -- in some areas, we need much more decentralization with Ottawa getting the hell out of a number of jurisdictions -- while conversely, in economic areas, such as the national securities regulator, we need increased centralization.

We need for Canada to be a win-win for the feds, provinces and territories. But the idea that Canada can remain static forever just because 9 out of 10 provinces and 3 territories "like it the way it is" is unacceptable.

I'm for solving problems -- not ignoring them. That's why I have so much admiration for Brian Mulroney -- for the guts he showed (while ruining his health) in trying to make Canada whole again. A true statesman and leader on this file. Too bad his successors are nothing more than poor substitutes who prefer pitiful and shameful excuses to long overdue action.

Leaders lead. They don't follow. They bring the Canadian people along by showing them why and how the federation requires renewal, not just for Quebec but for all of us. Again, let the timid and inadequate mouth platitudes about unripe fruit while they get out of the way so the rest of us can build a better Canada.

I'm for getting this done, once and for all. Too bad most of the rest of the country would prefer to to and fro for another fifty to one hundred years, or until Quebec finally leaves Confederation, whichever comes first.

Call me peculiar but I prefer accommodation to conflict. I'm for finding common ground rather than resorting to force. I like the idea of working out our differences rather than resorting to arms.

The great thing about this country is that we don't make political decisions based on our short and curlies. Perhaps that explains why we have avoided a civil war when most other nations have not.

Kind of puts things in perspective in the event of a Yes win, doesn't it.
03 July, 2010 12:39

[updated Sat Jul 03 12:43:58 -0400 2010]

Time For Richard Fadden To Think...Again.

I want to begin by stating that CSIS Director Richard Fadden has made an outstanding contribution to Canada in the various posts he's held across the public service. Canada is very lucky to have this Director on the job. That being said, I have to say that I was left dumbfounded yesterday when both the Chair and members of the Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security offered Fadden an "out" and he declined to take it.

Fadden has to realize that careless broad brush painting in public is the antithesis of the normally skilled manner used to convey appropriate messages to Canadians relating to intelligence matters. The Director has elected to circle the wagons and go on the defensive, even after having expressed regret on multiple occasions for his comments.

If Fadden can't see how his remarks have placed a multitude of individual Canadians along with cultural communities unwittingly under the microscope, then someone will have to intervene in this matter to show Fadden the light.

Intelligence is a world where normally government operates at arms length. In fact, government prefers it that way -- the intelligence dividend can often come in the form of being in the clear, of precisely not knowing what CSIS is up to.

But in this instance, a glaring exception should be made to the normal course of events. This can't -- and won't -- be put right until a full and formal apology is delivered directly from the lips of the CSIS Director.

[updated Tue Jul 06 21:23:25 -0400 2010]

And You Thought This Prime Minister's Sport Was Hockey!

Hate to disappoint you, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hidden talents in a sport not well known to many Canadians. It's called D-O-D-G-E-B-A-L-L and nowhere are his skills more self-evident than in the matter of the possible repatriation of Omar Khadr.

This Prime Minister's thinking is plain for all to see -- use Khadr's pending trial in Cuba as a fig leaf and excuse to do precisely nothing as it relates to Charter violations of his human rights.

This comes in the wake of a Federal Court ruling giving the Harper government seven days to come up with a remedy to counter the Charter violations. Quite obviously, the Conservative government has absolutely no intention of making an extradition request. In layperson's language, it's known as deliberately boxing yourself in thereby leaving this government with no other alternative but to appeal the decision.

And so the saga continues, tarnishing this country's human rights reputation as it plays out for all the world to see...Conservatives said they do would do things "DIFFERENTLY". Certainly can't argue with that.

[updated Tue Jul 06 21:57:59 -0400 2010]

Nik has to keep his topics up to date and current: Anyways are you for the Long of It or the Short of it, Cenus Form (It is usually the Chinese that complain, they do not want you to know who is in their household like a illegal immigrant)

Fraser Institute is a Liberal Think Tank!

[updated Fri Jul 16 20:26:45 -0400 2010]