Bill Casey and Tory Political Brushfires

It is becoming more evident with each passing month that the Tory promises of the last campaign were only made for the crassest political reasons and their "best before" date expired when the votes were counted. The discontent with Conservatives in Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan is only symptomatic of a broader malaise: this government has fallen short of voter expectations. It promised transparency, it delivered opacity. It said it would "never" screw around with income trusts. "Never" came a little more quickly. God bless Bill Casey. He took a principled stand on behalf of his constituents and put his electors ahead of the Party line. Mr Casey is a shining beacon of hope in a sea of partisan hacks and trained seals who care more about their perks, benefits, and keeping on the good side of the PMO than they do about abut the people who elected them.

[updated Sun Jun 10 11:03:46 -0400 2007]

I watch what is happening, and it only convinces me more for the need for electoral reform in Canada. We need to have an electoral system that does away with the concept of "vote splitting", and thus the need to create coalition parties in order to form majority governments. I believe that if kept as separate parties able to form a coalition government the Reform and Progressive Conservative parties work well, but that the coalition party is unable to stay together in the long term. I believe the same is true of the Liberal party which is made up of components that have little in common with each other.

Ontario is proposing the simple MMP system (Mixed Member Proportional) where there are two votes where we have one the same as we have now for the riding representative, plus a separate vote for the party of our choice. This is to me a good compromise between those who want to have a PR system where parties get exactly the seats based on the vote, and those of the opposite view that believe that we should do away with parties entirely and simply vote for local representatives. Those who know nothing about the local candidate can simply vote for the party of their choice, and those who oppose parties can vote for the local representative of their choice, and those who have opinions on both can vote on both parts of the ballot.

While I like this compromise, any system that eradicates the antiquated concept of voting system would be worthwhile.

Note: The more there are regional issues in Nova Scotia, the more I believe the decision of Elizabeth May to run in Central Nova appears to have been far better than what people gave her credit for.

Nic the content of the CBC Radio show The House yesterday was first rate. You quoted Danny Williams' making a distinction between the PROGRESSIVE Conservatives and Reform/Alliance CONSERVATIVES. I think that distinction is critical to the future of Harper's government. Casey and Turner are two PCs who prove the point.

There were many many more equally telling and insightful comments by the other guests on The House yesterday. If people missed it I recommend they visit the show on the CBC.CA website and give it a listen.

Harper's support is eroding here in Alberta too - particularly amongst the Reform/Alliance Conservatives. We Progressive Conservatives left him once the "merger" ( I mean take over) of the two parties occurred. Not because it occurred - but the way it hapened was offensive...mostly thanks to Peter McKay's actions.

Harper is a goose on a slow cook...it is just a matter of time before he is done. He is a divisive force focused on doing what ever it takes for personal political power. He is not a leader that is able to see beyond gaining power to one who is intent on serving society and improving state based good governance.

[updated Sun Jun 10 14:15:39 -0400 2007]

Nick, your analysis is right on the money. The Conservatives will do anything to get that beloved majority (so they can reshape Canada in America's image). Unfortunately for them, they took their relatively safe ground for granted. It's no wonder why there is now talk of a new Reform Party emerging.

Incidentally, I found it very amusing to hear Harper lecture Putin at the G8 on being able to have a thick skin when it came to criticism of the government. Perhaps Bill Casey and Garth Turner would have some interesting comments on this issue!

I think that people are starting to realize what the Torries are doing to this Country, they break promises such as the trust funds, the Atlantic accord, child care and health care. Mr. Harper is two faced and can't be trusted, all he is concerned with is power and control. Mr. McKay was the one who stood in the House and said no one would be turfed from the party, another lie! So far we have had the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour Minister and Security Minister all lie in the House and to the Canadian people. I think it will only get worst because they have run out any new ideas. All they do is rant and rave in the House and everyone has stopped listing to this NEW GOVERNMENT! Thank you.

[updated Sun Jun 10 15:46:37 -0400 2007]

Hello Nick,
I absolutely agree that the Harper gov/t has been, and from the start,has defeated its own enhancement of governance...Just on basic principals promised in the electoral platform. Accountability, and transparency, and I would add no credibility. Flip-flopping on important issues promised - rendering Parliament disfunctional - Foreign policy mistakes and on a parallel with the 'bush' administration, that Canadians do not uphold. This last G8-meeting another pretense, and washing Canada's dirty laundry and putting the blame internationally on the former government. Using millions in attack ads against the former gov't, and not upholding promised monies to aid the Natives - land claims that will be held-up in Courts for the next 130 yrs., and the Natives promising to defend their rights next summer. Having Dr. David Suzuki's Foundation audited three times in one year re. the Environment and climate-change. Afghanistan. Not holding to written promises made by the Liberal gov't to the Atlantic Provinces,
and Saskatchewan, and ousting Bill Casey, who voted according to his conscience, even though
he had signed twice, but as he explained, was hoping to make changes in the budget, and Peter G. MacKay ensuring that if anyone voted according to his conscience, that he would NOT
be ousted??? Both the PM and Min. MacKay are travelling, and not heard on this topic. Besides, it was interesting to hear that Mr. Casey had been "locked" in a room in Parliament with Min.Flaherty, the PM, and Min. MacKay, who were trying to dissuade him from voting against the budget??? Bill Casey said that he had to ask to have the door unlocked in order for him to leave the room? Strange???
As for Quebec, recently during the Provincial budget vote, the opposition party (ADQ) mario dumont refused to meet with Premier Jean Charest (L), and without seeing the budget said that he would vote against it, thus, creating another week of crisis in our province!!! mario dumont is a nationalist, and has always voted "separatist"!!! Even our biased pq French media has confronted dumont, and rightly so, for having acted in a (pq) andre boisclair fashion, for which he was ousted from the pq as leader, and dumont is seen as having been arrogant and irresponsible. S.Harper had met twice with mario dumont of the (adq) in Ottawa, before the budget was announced, and that has brought no sympathy to the Harper gov't. We almost had to have another provincial election in Qc over the budget, whereas the odds were that the three
parties would win equal votes. More monies spent to no avail on another disruptive election.
This is what the Harper gov't has been about since his election - a majority gov't, which he will never attain.
S.Harper has kept the Press at bay; a fundamental mistake. Danny Williams (C) is fighting him on principal, rather than issue - "broken promise", just like all the other promises broken. More monies for Africa; the old money hasen't been sent yet for HIV/Aids and assistance. Rather than trying to reach Kyoto targets, S.Harper is putting the blame on past gov't, and keeping this track record, rather than attacking the solutions. His government has been divisive with almost all of the provinces. Rather than answer questions in the "House", he would rather close it earlier, and has no plan. He needs this summer to re-invent himself. His Ministers have been muzzled from the start. The list of disactisfaction goes on and on, and his efforts against others, rather than proper governance, and his bold, arrogant manner at confronting the Opposition, will definately be held against him at the polls. S.Harper had everybody going for another election this year, and he just might get one next Fall, unless he gets back on course with Canadians. As soon as the Liberals strengthen their position, S.Harper can no longer say that his is a new gov't; he will eventually have to face and answer questions in the House, and on the world stage his position on the Environment will be lamentably viewed, and Canada may be on a very low scale at the next G-8 meeting, should more Countries, as should be, become new members. There is a need for 20 Countries at the G-8 summit, and Canada may become much more at the bottom of this echelon, and with 'bush' leaving, his leverage, and that of Canada as a leading Country, may be very deminished.
My crystal ball tells me that should we have, and I hope not, a summer crisis this summer, that all his hopes of staying in power for another year will be lost!

Who is going to vote for such a government???

[updated Sun Jun 10 18:00:04 -0400 2007]

One of the key problems continuing to face the Harper government is that often Harper still acts as he did when he headed the National Citizen's Coalition -- he takes very partisan shots at his opponents that then appear in the media to be as an angry man rather than a leader.

In Europe once again the Harper stand on Canada's record on the environment was placing blame on the previous Liberal government -- the idea of "Canada's New Government" is starting to grate on the nerves of many Canadians, and Harper's team doesn't see it.

Part of the problem is that many in Harper's circle are also offending their conservative base, in the attempt to gain a majority via Quebec. That led to one meeting of a possible break-away group that was held in Kingston.

Harper is trying to replace the Liberal's in Canada's political middle ground, which is being abandoned by Stephane Dion. That is leading to anger with the traditional base of the Conservatives.

If the Liberals were smarter, they would stop their leftward run, stop pretending that they know everything and are the only possible political party that can lead Canada.

Chances are right now the next government will be another minority.

The sad thing for both Harper and Dion is that if they were smarter they could be leading a majority government.

Maybe that is, however best for Canada that they are not.

In a time when we need to move forward, Mr. Harper insists that the real important thing is for us to only look back. We are supposed to be satisfied with him telling us that he isn't the old Liberal government. We get that sir. What we need to know now is who are you and what are you proposing? Give us some serious stuff please sir and not just you shallow five priorities of the past 16 months.

Mr. Harper's also saddled with some mistaken beliefs on climate change. As a denier in those Chrétien/Martin government days he as Leader of the Opposition was much to blame for lack of political will in Parliament to tackle the environmental issues as anyone.

Now coming out of G8 he is reported to be telling us "(Climate Change is) perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity today." I agree with that sentiment. I do not believe he really means it.

Let me think for a moment...do I have a pressing need for Mr. Harper to focus on incremental Senate change or, in his own words, "....perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity today," namely Climate Change. When he gives me that choice for priority attention in Parliament I am supposed to believe this leader has the strength of character and integrity to govern with a majority? Spare me!

We need to get past the pedantic polemic that politicians need charisma. It is not a quality of character or even a talent fit for governing in a complex world. I want leadership with character and compassions and a capacity to govern. I want someone with the intellect, actual and moral, to see all sides of an issue and then use their best judgment in deciding on how and where to lead us. Then I want him to tell us honestly, using the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, as to why he has made such a choice.

I can disagree but I want to be able to do so on a fully informed basis, founded on principle and values. I want to be able to disagree respectfully and not fear my government for any "consequences" of such disagreement. This is after all a free and democratic society, at least on paper.

Now I only feel contempt for Mr. Harper and how he governs. I do not want a politician leading my country who is just out to get my vote at election time and upon "winning" then considers that as permission to mislead, misrepresent, breach my trust, deceive and divide us for then next four years.

That is all I have seen from Mr. Harper for 16 months now. And I have no reason to believe in any real change coming from him. His reported Climate Change conversion is merely an example of his character flaws and draw attention to his insincerity and insouciance. He is past his best before date. We need an election to get rid of this folly and foolishness.

[updated Sun Jun 10 19:37:09 -0400 2007]

Nik with respect . I don't think it will matter what Harper does . He is done like dinner .
He will be extremely lucky to cobble together another minority let alone a majority .
Canadians are fed up to the back teeth with the daily parade of idiocy being perpetrated by this government(?)
It is all over but the cryin' .

[updated Sun Jun 10 19:37:53 -0400 2007]

Hello Nick, and Ken just received your e-mail which I shall read later.

However, all of you, my friends, if you can, tune in to CBC The Fifth Estate, this eve, Sunday,
and listen to the big lie about "Global Warming" vs climate-change caused by humans. Go and
download it if you can, its the biggest lie since the cigarette scandal, and "bush' and our own PM seem to be in cahoots on not respecting the Kyoto targets, which Jean Chretien had said, "was a moral obligation".
Exxon, etc. are paying those scientists to distort the truth about global-warming.
Am rushing so that I can listen to the rest of this hour!
This is also pertinent to our present government's attitude on our Environmental issues, and its worth watching the lies!

Nick after tuning in to CTV question Period this morning it seems that Bill Casey is slated to be returned to the Cons, caucus. He did a right thing as a person , but as he said "I made my point" and beyond that it remains as such.
No one has clearly explained what "the Choice" for NL&L, Nova Sc. and Sask. realy means and if that is explained properly by both camps, this issue will likely fade away.Premier Williams has used this issue for his own political agenda, and that is ,his survival in the province of NL&L as premier. The broken promise aspersion should be taken with a good dose of salt.Listening to Premier Calvert he was quite moderate, and played the usual political game as expected without being precise.
Also we must remember that Conservatives have an uphill battle at any time. Canadians are generally disposed to vote the middle road. The Liberal and NDP rethoric on this issue is just that meaning less words.

I think personally that Mr. Casey voted with integrety and honesty. Those Conservatives who tried to convience Mr. Casey to do otherwise came much to late and close to the vote, The Conservatives again lied to Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia. It seems very underhanded in what the Conservatives do and their continued assult on others who reject components of their Bills or want new focus in Afganistan and Africa are making value added propositions and recommendations and the Conservatives need to listen and be more flexible.

I am disappointed in the Conservatives, Mr. Harper and Mr. MacKay.

I think the political brushfires are a gamble in Atlantic Canada, but not so much in the West. The Western complaints seem to have a common theme of the Conservatives being "not conservative enough." Under such a scenario what are those voters to do? Vote Liberal? Me thinks not.

Hi Nik

I sincerely believe Mr. Casey’s decision to vote against the budget shows the cracks starting to form in this alliance of the right. Mr. Harper’s government is nothing more than a propaganda machine with one objective. Win a majority government.

I am so tired of getting the same answer to every question. “The former government did nothing for the last decade.” “The liberals do not have a leader,” “Canada’s NEW government” “For the first time Canada will present an environment plan”

Does Harper believe Canadians are totally stupid? The conservatives are blocking bill 288 in the senate, they will not bring back bill 30, and then they scream and holler about senate reform, while the planet is getting more and more polluted and temperatures are going up. Harpers response attack adds on Mr. Dion.

I applaud Mr Casey’s decision and I only wish that more PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES had that moral courage.

We need to limit the damage this government is doing to our great country and get rid of Harper and his liked minded friends as soon as possible

I think the current prime minister is one of the biggest liars to ever hold the office. Unfortunately he's just not very good at it. He can't help himself. When the premier of Nova Scotia says the PM is going back on his word he really means "he's a liar". When Bill Casey, one of the most respected members of the House of Commons, says Harper broke a signed agreement, he really means "he's a really big liar". Everybody in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland knows it and they are waiting with keen anticipation for the next election. There won't be many Tory MP's left standing because none of them have Bill Casey's courage, heart or guts. Now Harper wants the offended provinces to sue him in court so he can waste millions more federal and provincial dollars and drag this out for years? Beneath the spin, what he's saying to himself is: " Yes, you got me. I'm a serial liar but I can't admit it. Let's get this off the public agenda so we can refuse comment because it's before the courts." Stephen Harper is not a leader. He's just a petulant bully who brooks no criticism and leads his caucus by fear and intimidation.

I think it is morally wrong to punish an MP for looking out for the best interests of his constituents; all votes in the House of Commons should be free votes..

Well, Nik, are you surprised at the course of Canadian politics ?---I bet you are not--Ho Ho. I applaud the stand of Casey but I am equally sure it is a political stand---no more, no less! ! ! ---I believe Nova Scotia gave birth to the phrase "blacktop politics" so politicians from that neck of the woods are no neophytes to the political process.

Yes, I believe Harper, in a shakey minority position, has to "demand" unquestioning support therefore, he had no choice regarding kicking Casey out of caucus or facing further revolt-----Harper must have complete thought control. In my opinion, Casey's choice to go his way rather than Harper's way is symptomatic of growing unspoken dissention within the Conservative ranks. --Danny Williams' bombast is just semantics for his political purpose.---Should Harper fail to gain a majority in the coming election, the Conservative long swords will be out and Harper would be wise to resign on election night as did Martin. ----Harper has very carefully avoided allowing any Conservative to share the lime light with him or to come into public prominance in any way----interesting ! ! !

You further suggest Harper has set off a few bush fires in his attempt to "buy" political support in Quebec and Ontario and ignore those natural resources promises to Saskatchewan and the Maritimes.--I agree.--Harper did what was NOT EXPECTED of him especially as he painted himself as so politically righteous and worthy of sitting on the right hand of God after those devilish Liberals.---Seems that Harper has done exactly the same as the governments before him when loudly proclaiming he would not.---Would one suggest this action was practical or just a little hypocritical ??? I believe Harper's future will be a good example of cummulative political error. ---No politician is all white nor all black but Harper appears to be getting a little greyer every day and he is doing it very well ALL BY HIMSELF. Harper is a one man show.

Nik,

As an easterner have a homemade take on this.

Bill Casey is rumoured to be angling for Rodney MacDonald's job as Premier - MacDonald's performance so far has not been stellar. So I take Casey's crisis of faith with a few grains of salt - good theatre. I had never heard much of him before this, and certainly it has put him front and center in the eyes of the provincial electorate - but have no idea how deep the man really is - know loyalty is not one of his strong suits. My own view - I wouldn't vote for him as Premier as don't like the way he's doing as much damage as possible to the Tory party right now - he's fouling the Federal Tory nest to feather his own Provincial Tory nest, in my opinion.

Danny Williams is popular in Newfoundland - I find him bullying, often nasty - ever the man for the quick sound bite - I know he's a smart man, quick on the riposte - and hey if it works on the homefront what more can you ask. As far as a man you can actually trust or rely upon, he wouldn't be my first choice - Danny is for Danny, staying in office - I think he has no interest or even the vision to see Newfoundland and Labrador as a part of Canada - nor does he care for the fortunes of Canadians as a whole.

I think it is cynical and 'too quick to judge' to say that Harper's sole objective is to get a majority government. Anyone who takes the trouble to read a few books about the PM
will see that he has thought about Canada as a nation for many years, not just the past 18 months or so - his views are reasoned, sound and have at their heart the interests of all Canadians.

The Canadian political 'right' was splintered after the Mulrooney years - such that they could not form any defence against the 'red tide' of Liberal rule. It took grief, acrimony, and a lot of finagling to come up with the New Conservative party - an uneasy mixture of Reform and Progressive Conservative - but it got done. When Harper speaks of the 'new' Conservative party I don't think he's referring to his length of time in office - but to this new party, the Conservatives, made up of two quite different entities. There hasn't been much time yet to see how it will fare - but I hope Canadians give it the opportunity to coalesce, to grow, into a positive political force in our country.

There's much talk of the split in the Liberal party between the 'old liners' and the newcomers - a much larger split was merged in the formation of the new Conservative party.

In my mind the the diversities that form the Conservative party will with time and seasoning unite in idealogy and become strong. Right now it's in its infancy - there's a split here too, between not the 'old' and the 'new' but still the same Liberal party, but between the 'established party line of generations' and the 'naive intellectuals' if you like, of the Conservative party. Not a bad basis for the New Conservative Party.

So ends my sermon for the night.

Using cloture to ram the budget through the house is like killing a fly with a sledge hammer.
It shows how desperate the government is to get the dispute off the front burner and get the bill passed even if it means doing so with the help of the separatists. The Bloc cares about the Maritimes about as much as Harper does, which apparently is very damn little. Canada is a federation. The provinces have their rights and responsibilities too. Harper is not their boss, lord, or master. But he'd rather confront Atlantic Canada than admit his own blunders. This is not leadership; It's ham-fisted thuggery and an affront to Parliament.

Casey's move is purely a self interested one. The problems with this budget have been there for months. Why is it now that Casey and Macdonald are taking a stand?

It's now because the public polls are against them and they want to save thier political hides. Yes, they are finally doing the right thing but not for the right reasons. I would rather get the boot from the party that from the people.

Hopefully the other two Nova Scotia MPs in the gov't and the three nfld MPs in gov't realize they were elected to serve the people not themselves.

As far as I know the Budget has been passed regardless of what Casey has to say!

There are two great editorials on the topic of the Atlantic provinces in today's National Post by Andrew Coyne and John Ivison. If the facts are correct (and I am sure I will be challenged if I am), Harper's lies not with the equalization formula itself but rather how he has handled the complaints about it from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

But then isn't that always the concern that we keep hearing about this government? -- not that the policies and decisions are necessarily bad, but that a power-paranoid PMO handles them in a way that alienates people and gives off "bully vibes."

If indeed the Atlantic provinces have the choice to maintain the old formula (the Atlantic Accord formula) or the new formula (which provides more money in the short-term but has a cap that will prevent Atlantic Canada provinces from receiving equalization money from richer provinces if their per-capita income reaches that of Ontario or Alberta), then it would seem the premiers demands are unrealistic. To quote Coyne "The want the best of three worlds: To have their cake, eat it, and spin it above their heads."

For the sake of this government, I hope it gets a little better about communicating the merits of its various hardline positions. Maybe then we'd have fewer crises.

I don't know Mr. Casey that well but I believe him. He demostrated the integrity that I would like to see in all politicians. A politicians should dispense with his own beliefs or wishes and vote according to the wishes of the majority of his constituents. I don't believe Casey has any desire to be premier of N.S. unlike someone's suggestion.
I think Casey's dismissal was wrong, and both Harper and McKay professed that, too, just a very short time ago. Can anyone change their mind as fast as a politician?
As for the budget vote, it was a foregone conclusion anyway. Harper won the battle but not the war and the battle was costly. He increased the dissent in his own ranks, lowered respect for both himself and his government, and made it impossible to receive the majority he so badly craves, at least for the near term.

The Number One problem to day is not Casey, Harper but the dysfunctional Liberals that we have in the Senate, mainly from the Province of Quebec, Quebec has received triple what they should receive and still their economy cannot perform, if must be the people that are in this Society. If there is one Province that should be going to court it should be the Province of BC, for 140th year since joining Confederation BC has received nothing.

No one problem in Canada to day along with the Senate is not the Politicians but the dummies we have working in the Civil Service, like this Privacy Commission, who the hell does she think she is this dyfunctional female. PSAC should be abolished along with the Senate, when someone has the guts to do it. Harper we are waiting for you to act. I can hear the whinning in Ontario and Quebec already.

I think the Conservative Party’s tribulations are based on making too many key promises they couldn’t fulfill. Then they got the proverbial whiff of absolute power and principle became even more expendable. That’s why the desperate push for a quick election was requisite …. to get a majority before Canadians caught onto their subterfuge. The party poohbahs are masters of their own fate.

I’m sure most people enter public life for altruistic reasons. I question why some turn into mendacious, manipulative machinators.

The Conservatives promised to be different and most Canadians believed them. They shouldn’t have broken that promise.

They should have heeded Sir Walter Scott, Scottish author & novelist (1771-1832) who said:

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive."