Pebbles Take

Historical Faceoff: Rhinoceros Party or Greens - Who should get into the leaders debate?

2006-12-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

So, the Greens head by Elizabeth 'I hate abortion' May want in the Debate before they get in the House of Commons, and before they get official party status (at some points was two seats, usually 12)

The rational that would allow them in the debate, should allow all leaders of the non-elected parties in the debate. Thats only adding 11 more leaders. The only rational that I hear is that not being in the debate robs them of seats (tell that to Kim Campbell in 1993). That rational can be applied to all the non-represented parties.

I would love to see the battles between the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Canada.

Maybe it is time to have a seperate debate between all the leaders not representing elected parties on national television (if anyone would watch)

Without further ado, the numbers for Rhino's vs Green's

Click for Larger Version

What I see is a Green party that has never topped the ranking of the Rhino party. Both have also never won seats.
In fact, I would give this one to the Rhino's whom have always had a special place in my heart, and were the fourth party at one point.

Pride

Greens - win enough seats that you can ask questions in question period (either two or twelve depending on the rules)

Hareper looses minister over Quebec Motion

2006-11-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Harper cabinet minister quits over Quebec nation motion

Michael Chong. (CPimages/Adrian Wyld)
OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stand on Quebec as a nation appears to have cost him a cabinet minister.
MP Garth Turner and other sources say Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Michael Chong is quitting his post over a government motion that recognizes the Quebecois as a nation within a united Canada.
Chong, who also held the minister of sport portfolio, is expected to hold a news conference later today. CP

Michael Chong was also President of the Privy Council. In a cabinet of 25 members, to loose a senior member is quite serious.

If the Star doesn't endorse Dion Tuesday, then they sent a real mixed message today

2006-11-26T23:03:00.000-08:00

What the next Liberal Leader needs:

Economic prosperity. Canada's economic health requires investing in large cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver that produce much of our wealth. The Liberals must help ensure that cities have a stable revenue stream from federal income and sales taxes to fund mass transit, bridges, roads and other infrastructure.

As well, Ottawa must aggressively grow the "knowledge economy" by investing in research and development, by making it easier for young people to get higher education, and by better exploiting immigrants' skills.

Social justice. Some 5 million Canadians live in poverty. The Liberals must go further than the Tories in boosting the income of the working poor by introducing an earned-income supplement in the form of a monthly cheque or a refundable tax credit and by ensuring all Canadians have equitable access to employment insurance. They should recommit to a national child-care program. And invest in medicare to provide catastrophic drug coverage and to bring down wait times in key areas.

Healthy environment. Ottawa must try to meet its Kyoto targets. That means setting hard greenhouse gas caps on all industrial sectors. Investing in an East-West energy grid to give coal-burning provinces access to cleaner hydro power. Providing incentives to purchase hybrid autos and to make homes energy efficient. And penalizing energy waste.

Given the Harper Conservatives' circumscribed small-government approach, it should not be difficult for the Liberals to define themselves as the party of vision and energy, ready to use the considerable power of government to improve people's lives. The agenda they put forward must challenge Canadians to become not only a more prosperous society, but also a more caring, just and responsible one.

Sounds like they took a Dion press release and put it on their editorial page.

Anti Israel Bigot is Also an anti Quebec Bigot

2006-11-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

Thomas Hubert, our favorite character from this summers antisemitic fiasco is also fiercely anti -Quebecois aswell.

To: Canadian Parliament
We, the undersigned Canadians, oppose recognition of any province as a 'nation,' and call on our elected representatives to work instead for a united, equal Canada.

Sincerely,

34. Thomas Hubert

link

Rumblings of a Big Announcement

2006-11-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Gerard Kennedy Campaign has a blank media release up on their website dated today. I have to think something big is happening tomorrow. Either a big endorsement (my guess would be Ralph Goodale), or a policy announcement. Problably on the nation resolution.

I wonder if Gerard will walk lock step with all other federalist forces on this issue, or vendu the party, and my prefered candidate Stephane Dion.

This announcement is big enough to get Op-Eds in the national and french papers tomorrow (according to my source inside the Queensway).

Hopefully this isn't all fizz, no pop.

MI will provide an easy win for the Conservatives

2006-11-24T01:07:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey Simpson today said

The Conservatives will be quietly delighted if this week's manoeuvrings help Mr. Ignatieff by defusing the internal controversy he ignited, because most outside Quebec, having watched his leadership campaign unfold, have concluded that he would be the easiest Liberal to beat.

It should be obvious in my posting of that remark that I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

Also, else where in the article, Mr. Simpson makes the argument that the Quebecois, and Quebeckers (even if the Hansard recording is Quebecers) do not share the same meaning. Once again, just a few posts ago I made the same argument.

The resolution speaks of Québécois, or French-speaking Quebeckers. Others, like Mr. Charest, speak of Quebec as a nation, and the two ideas are not the same. But the distinction will likely be forgotten.

Link (behind insider edition wall)

Don't let Ignatieff off easy

2006-11-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

We must remember, MI supported Quebec as a nation, not Quebecers.

MI supported recognizing Quebec as a nation in the constitution, not symbolically in the house.

MI's position is much closer to the original Bloc resolution, than the Conservative motion.

MI - come clean, this isn't a win for you.

The Quebecois are a nation, Quebeckers are not

2006-11-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

The difference between these two is very big for me as an english Canadian. When the word Quebecois is used in an english sentence, it means ethnic francophone to me. It is not translated to Quebecker as the media seems to have done.

Recognizing Quebeckers as a nation is dangerous. It gives the group clearly defined territory, since the group Quebeckers is defined by geography (the province of Quebec). This is not true of the Quebecois, whom as an ethnic group do not have territory in large parts of the province (northen Quecbec).

The motion when put forward, will hopefully be far less ambiguous.

On Afghanistan Kennedy leads, Dion follows

2006-11-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dion's position November 22nd "Look, we are very willing to work with you, to design something that makes sense, because I don't want to risk the life of our soldiers if we are not making progress "

Kennedy's position August 29th "Canada should push NATO to re-evaluate what amounts to a losing strategy in Afghanistan and push Prime Minister Harper to address the shortfall in aid development.

"If NATO fails to change their strategy, Canada should pull out of the war in Afghanistan,"

"The only way Canada can justify staying in Afghanistan is if we can create a mandate for real success. Loss of life lack of progress and no end in sight weigh heavily on our national conscience."

"The only way we can justify staying in Afghanistan is if we can create a mandate for real success. "

Despite being painted as distinct on the Afghanistan file, Dion is just reiterating Gerard Kennedy's thoughts on the issue from 3 months ago.

Will someone square the circle for me?

2006-11-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

How does one who abhors ethnic nationalism embrace the concept of Quebec nationhood?

Also, how much does this quote sound like a sovereigntist?

"But the phrase 'when the conditions are right' is extremely important here. It's not a quibble. No prudent politician wants to lead us into constitutional discussions unless we have common understandings, common will to do what we have to do."

Reckless Polling Twisting Perceptions

2006-11-17T17:53:00.000-08:00

"Given the margin of error, the Decima survey suggests there was little significant difference in the national appeal of the top four leadership contenders."

Enough said.

Link

It seems the Green Party has run out of money

2006-11-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth May's London campaign site, the site using her name is down. Not just down, it seems the provider has not been paid, and at least one of the sites has a URL poacher already on it. Oh well, I guess the Green Party running a 88k campaign is still just the Green Party, not ready for prime time.

More Nation Thoughts

2006-11-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

If recognizing Quebec as a nation in the Constitution has no legal implications, why are people so adement about it?

If it does have legal implications, what are they?

Does this infer groups rights into our individual rights constitution?

If it has torn the party so much, do we really want to subject the country to it?

Are Acadiens a nation?

Newfoundlanders?

PEI'ers?

Will this create two classes of provinces? (those whom at one point were independent from eachother, and ones created from parts of federalized Canada ie Alberta, Saskatchewan vs all others)

If it ain't broke don't fix it?

Why isn't anyone challenging Charest to sign the constitution?

Who is the Greenest Leadership Candidate?

2006-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Most people would likely say Stéphane Dion Dion, or possibly Michael Ignatieff with his carbon tax, but not the prestigious Sun Media Chain.

According to the Edmonton Sun:

"Gerard Kennedy, the greenest, most left-wing of the candidates running for the leadership of the federal Liberals"

It is interesting across the country how view points can be so different.

It was in an article about nuclear power being used to fuel oilsands development.

Now, I have always found it weird that we use a clean fuel gas, to make oil in the oilsands. I think whatever can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and free up gas to sell to people at the same time has to be winnner. Nuclear waste isn't so hard to manage, and is an easier problem to fix the global climate change.

Link to the Sun Article

The Nation Question

2006-11-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

A no brainer.

I know of a community that has a distinct culture. That has defined geographical territory. That currently operates as a quasi autonomous region in its applications of its powers of separateness. This area rebels against the trends of suburbanization in English Canada, and protects and nurtures its artists and cultural figures.

I am talking of course about the Toronto Islands. There are no private vehicles on the Toronto Islands, setting a distinct course in development. There is also no private property ownership, the houses are leased from the state while the belongings remain property of the individual, much like in Soviet Block Countries.

Despite the government controlling the land of the island, residents still fight onwards over continued use of an island airport thrust on them by the continued oppression by the mainlanders. This continual fight is epitomized in the pillaging of the islands by the English Canada power elites whom have placed three yacht clubs and numerous sailing clubs on the Islands.The residents have worked together to defend there interests, and in turn protect their children from indoctrination of the mainlanders by running a communitarian co-op childcare on the island.

Pretty Distinct to me.

Against all the adversity, the community continues to thrive. However, for the community to grow I ask you support the Toronto Island's Womens' Policy Network resolution at the Bienial Convention. The Toronto Islands must be recognized as a nation, to allow the usurpation of various national powers in continuing struggles against the Port Authority and the Province.

How much longer will we leave this unique group without constitutional protection for their way of life, and a constitutional affirmation of their right to self determination?

In Defence of Income Trusts

2006-11-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

Corporations and trusts do not own themselves. They are owned by people, either in this country or outside. Even if a corporation is owned by another, eventually down the line they are owned by someone.

This someone pays income tax on their income. If this person owns a business that is not incorporated, a sole-proprietorship, the entire profit of the business is counted as personal income. It is not taxed at the corporate level. It is taxed as personal income.

When an individual owned a trust unit, it entitled them to a payout of their portion of profit every quarter, or year depending. The trust, could not keep cash on hand besides the amount needed to keep operating. Since 100% of the profit is given directly to the investors, there is no reason to tax the corporation, it would just decrease the amount given to the investors.

When the profit returns to investors, they have to pay taxes on it. When the profits went outside the country they were subject to a withholding tax similar to the rate individual investors pay at home.

This avoids the problem economists describe as double taxation, when profits are taxed at the corporate level and individual level. Double taxation requires an overall higher tax rate (combined) to capture the same amount of money as single taxation, and results in some dead weight loss (really bad).

So if people were still paying taxes on the corporate earnings, why was action taken? The totally symbolic reason that the tax balance would shift more towards individuals and away from corporations.(economists know this measure is pointless, since all taxes are borne by individuals) This measure would then be used by labour, and likely the NDP to attack the government on giving corporate fat cats tax relief while raising the burden on individuals. (which is false, but the perception is there)

This government public relations move led to a loss of almost $20 billion dollars. Bad economics (Harper should know better), bad optics (promise made, promise kept?) and in the end bad strategy (pissing off seniors and the oil patch, their base)

If the conservatives believe this, I wonder what they have been smoking?

2006-11-03T23:44:00.000-08:00

Question Authority? Conservatives? If you question authority their way of course - by not supporting equal marriage, by not registering your guns, and by breaking promises?

You too can be a free thinking conservative, as long as your pay tribute to Rob Anders and Jason Kenney. If you challenge an incumbent, in a democratic nomination meeting, that is just wrong, too much free thinking for conservatives, in a democracy no less.

Who has the richest donors?

2006-11-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

So I looked over the Leadership candidate contribution reports for the last quarter, and there is much to be garnered. The order of donations received, is in almost direct relation to DEM results, with the order being:

Michael Ignatieff
Robert Rae
Gerard Kennedy
StÈphane Dion
Scott Brison
Joseph Volpe
Ken Dryden
Martha Hall Findlay
Carolyn Bennett
Hedy Fry
Maurizio Bevilaqua

But who is most dependent on large donors? Bob Rae comes in a close second to Joe Volpe, with close to 85% of support coming in amounts more the $1000. Gerard Kennedy and Micheal Ignatieff come in the high 60s, with Stephane Dion at 50%.

It is Gerard Kennedy who wins on both fronts for highest average donation above and below $1000. (if you ignore Joe Volpe in the above $1000 amount.)

So why does this matter? Donations limits will likely be substantially decreased in the near future.

The picture is a link to itself, if you can't read it well on this page.

The Nation Question

2006-10-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Are we willing to divide the Liberal Party to win ten more seats in Quebec?

I hope not, it will only need to ruin of the party and the country.

Is Gerard Kennedy the only adult left in the race?

2006-10-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

I must say, the reactions of many camps, to the actions of their leaders on Saturday is quite distressing.

Arguments have went such as this: Ignatieff isn't attacking Gerard therefore Ignatieff is courting Gerard. Ignatieff and Gerard won't add up to more than 50% on the first ballot therefore Rae will win. (Ignoring the fact that Rae plus Dion won't be more than 50% either, and that Gerard and Dion still can win)

This backroom analysis, inside baseball, is not healthy for the party to play out in the open. Our harsh personal attacks now, stick in the media, and are preserved for posterity on the internet.

When it comes time to deal on the convention floor, deal by all means. Fight by all means, yell, scream, laugh, cry.

Calling someone on their record directly, and giving them a chance to respond is not a personal attack. Not giving them a chance to respond, while mischaracterizing their record is a personal attack.

NO Policy During Leadership!

2006-10-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

There should be no official policy resolutions during leadership. They will inevitably end up being used as devices to fight between camps of the leadership contenders on the policy floor. We see this today with this: Federal Liberals' Quebec wing passes motion calling Quebec a nation

I believe leadership is a time for leaders. We do not need to fight out our policy wars with fratricide type battles between leaders' camps.

It is safe to assume, that since our leadership candidates have put forth concrete policy proposals, that upon election of a leader that their proposals have the defacto consent of the majority of party members, replacing the policies passed mere days before.

So what role does policy play during a leadership campaign except being a pissing contest between camps? None.

The national executive should have delayed the policy portion of the biennial a year, while keeping the constitutional portion at leadership for renewal purposes.

You have to see it to believe it

2006-10-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Steven Harper kills Andre Boisclair using some memorable movie lines- (in french)

This is just, the most hilarious thing I have ever seen!

Call for drop outs

2006-10-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today, I am calling for everyone but Ignatieff, Rae, and Dion to drop out.

Your not adding anything to the race, you are in fact subtraction by addition.

Snap!

2006-09-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

All you Kennedy people! Dion Owned you! Owned!

Discuss

Ego

2006-09-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ignatieff: Front-runner confident the Liberal crown is his

"I'm going to win this [leadership] race" - Iggy

Despite their ego, at least they see the cards falls as they are:

They estimate that Rae will probably come in third, behind Gerard Kennedy and just ahead of Stephane Dion, registering support in the mid- to high teens. [Ignatieff coming in first naturally]

Fry Withdraws ... yawn

2006-09-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

It is unfortunate Hedy Fry did not withdraw before September 15th, all of her declared support will have to run as independents, and not be passed to 'Bob'.

This is assuming Hedy has any more than marginal declared support (people had predicted her coming into convention with less than 50 votes) after a poll conducted in Ontario and Quebec indicated zero support for her.

Not a single respondent chose Fry.
"There were over 3,000 opportunities for people to pick her (as first, second or third choice)," said Graves.
"She literally got zero. I have never seen that in over 20 years of polling."

I remember when she started the race and predicted she could raise easily one million dollars.
During the summer, her campaign so lacked organization, and funding that she tagged along on Dion's three day tour of the provinces interior. Her home province was not organized enough to support her coming out.

The late withdrawl is symbolic of all the problems in Hedy Fry's campaign. The only thing I am disappointed with is her going to Rae.

I wonder if this is another one of Rae's I will sell memberships in the ridings of other candidates, (as was rumoured with Maurizio Bevilacqua and C.B.) as to pressure them to come with me to not face the embarassment of not being able to control their own riding.

With all the time Fry spent with Dion this summer, I would think she would have went to that side.

[link]

The Status Quo is the Way to Go

2006-09-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

"It is an illusion to believe that constitutional reform, and the recognition of Quebec as a nation, could ensure a federalist victory if there were another referendum on sovereignty. "

"Only someone who doesn't know much about Canada's contemporary political history could entertain the idea of walking into such a swamp."

These two lines, open and close respectively an insightful article from Lysiane Gagnon [Link Reopening a constitutional can of worm] which unfortunately is behind the subscriber wall.

I can only hope that the nation can avoid another divisive constitutional round.

Constitutional Tar Baby

2006-09-24T02:10:00.000-07:00

Probably the funniest column line I have seen in the race so far, comes from a former editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail and The Gazette who is also an Order of Canada member.

Put in brackets to amplify his disdain, Norman Webster has this to say:

(Ignatieff, back home after three decades abroad, also wants us to go back to grappling with the constitutional tar baby. Aargh.) [emphasis added] [link]

This had me wondering, what is a tar baby, and after a little research found :
The more that Bre'r Rabbit fought the Tar-Baby, trying to get free, the more stuck he got. {source}

Funny aside, it is interesting to see the perspective from across the country. From Norman's view, the race is a four way between Ignatieff, Dion, Dryden and Rae. He mentions Kennedy as a possible fifth contender, but does not explore his biography/campaign as he does the other 'contenders'.

At least the race isn't just between Ignatieff and Rae anymore, as it has been portrayed as of late. Goes to show what a little polling with a completely false methodology can do for you [and by you I mean Dryden].

What a little money can do to a campaign

2006-09-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

So, I am reading the Saturday Globe today (props to the Rae article, even though I don't like their rose coloured glasses in relation to his inelectability in Ontario) sipping some earl grey tea with lemon, relaxing into the Style section when my phone rings.

The caller id has a 877 number. I ask myself, charities don't usually call on Saturdays, furnance cleaning places names always show up, so who is it?

After a moment of contemplating not answering, I pick up. I hear at the other end of the line, the monotone methodicalness of

"Hello, its Micheal Ignatieff!" (exclamation added, he sounded less than thrilled to be making calls.)

For a moment my political senses flutter, is it actually him? Is he trying to find the last undeclared members of the parties executive the weekend before delegate selection?

Then I hear him say in french [obviously translated by me into english] "press 1 to hear this message in French"

What? I think to myself? Does his campaign not have volunteers? How dare he use a recorded message and a Demon Dialer (albeit a high end one with the touch-tone options).

The content of the message was pretty blah, get out and vote, including the gem:

"In the next election, the Liberal party needs to speak with a strong united, progressive voice. With your support, we can make this happen. "

Progressive? Maybe. Leading to a united liberal party? I laugh at that second assertion. Ignatieff is more devisive than Volpe (everyone would be united against Volpe!) for reasons I am sure everyone acknowledges by now.

So what does the demon dialer represent? Money. How many people recieved these calls? I don't know. I do know that I and many other people respond much better to actual calls from actual people (usually volunteers) during municipal, provincial, and federal elections. I have known alot of candidates that have used auto dialers at their peril.

The lack of respect, and the contempt for voters autodialing represents is something that should be taken into account by all campaign managers. Hopefully other campaigns do not following this candidates lead in using this deplorable practice.

Micheal Ignatieff did not sound excited and engaged on the recording, and I think it was because he knew this was bad strategy, and an illadvised thing to do.

Rutherford to Shake up the Queensway

2006-09-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ottawa gets first taste of Dave Rutherford on television, and I am not impressed:
CTV's Question Period: Media panel on gun control

Dave Rutherford addition to the Ottawa scene seems to be the begining of the end of quasi-intelligent political coverage in this country. The balance that Rutherford seems to make is between Stockwell day style conservatives, and Stephen Harper type conservatives - not much of a balance at all. It is a disgrace he shares the surname of one of Alberta's great Liberal premiers.

This is a coup for the Harper government, to have a show [Mike Duffy Live] which influences the opinion makers of this country subverted by a die hard supporter from Alberta is disturbing.

A quote from Rutherford:
" I have biases like everyone else and I don't hide them. I think my listeners want to know where I come from on an issue. This doesn't mean I shut down debate, far from it; I love a chance to hear other opinions. I'm not going to agree with them all, but that's what this kind of radio is all about."

I just hope Mike Duffy recovers before Rutherford gets a toehold on the program.

Endorsing Dion

2006-09-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

Looking into the leadership candidates, I have done lots of soul searching and research to find a candidate that is right for me. I started with reading Straight from the Heart, to help inspire me, and to help me narrow down what is needed in a leader.

Moving on, I did initially start reading a couple of Ignatieff's books, but before finishing them I concluded he did not have the experience necessary to be party leader. I hope to finish them on my drive to Montreal.

I discounted Rae, as Rae has the burden of too much bad political history along with not counteracting them by running for the Liberals in the four elections since he was premier.

Hall Findley has never held elected office (besides positions of importance of the sports club near her cottage). However, having run in a contested riding, and having lost puts her with more experience than Ignatieff, in my opinion, while her dealings with the party structure in dealing with the Belinda switch gives her experience in the 'guts' of the party. In hindsight it is too bad Belinda switched, and H-F didn't win a seat in the last election. It also reflects badly that a riding couldn't be found for her to run in last time. Hopefully she will be around next time.

Kennedy, while I like, I still do not believe he is ready. Coming from provincial politics, a few years as intergovernmental affairs, industry, or the treasurey board president would make him a shoe-in next time (if he kept up his french lessons)

Brison suffers from the same problem as Kennedy - youth. Hopefully Brison will get more cabinet experience and be cured of his foot in mouth diesease.

Bennet would be wonderful for party president.

Fry is running to secure a place in history, and to garuentee her a spot in cabinet when BC caucus is growing by leaps and bounds providing many alternative candidates for appointments.

Dryden if he could light up a room in english and french, he'd be near the top of my list.

Volpe - I had to look at a list of candidates to even remember he was running - I have never considered him as an acceptable choice

And we get to Dion. For Dion, I began searching, and came across these letters, here, here, and here. Along with hearing a speech about the three pillars (which I am happy to say has been expanded and refined alot since I heard it back in February), along with views on federalism, social justice, international development, women in politics, early learning and other matters, I am very confident that Stephane Dion is the right man, at the right time to lead our party back into power, and to lead Canada into a more prosperous future.

Red Ribbon - Analysis

2006-08-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

After reading the report, I am glad to say it is very well done, very well thought out, and takes into consideration concerns that were raised.

Elements that will be controversial that are in the report:
(I am not counting the massive executive management structure changeover to be that controversial)

National membership standardization and centralization

Some people still believe that having variable membership fees per riding is a good thing (the Ontario $1 ridings)
Some PTAs will still want to maintain odd membership rules (like lifetime members)

Placing how to certify commission clubs into the main party constitution

Might make it difficult for small clubs in unfriendly regions
disenfranchising legitimate groups which bring value to the party
Protects somewhat against Paper Clubs
Could lead to paper clubs being certified whom were not certified this time around (for solely meeting the membership requirement)

Modifying the automatic number of spots seniors get - and not in the right direction (according to seniors).

Seniors wake up early and head off to pass policies while everyone else is sleeping off the night before. This might not pass.

Modifying how Aboriginal delegates are elected - to a standard amount per riding.

While all the spots might not be taken, increasing the number of spots beyond the proportional based on percentage of population might be seen as to unduly increase the influence of Aboriginal delegates - whom can always stand as a normal delegate. Some will see this increase of influence as a good thing others not so much.

Leadership Election Modification - No conclusion, but an alternative is proposed. Will be a controversial issue no matter what

I like the convention system myself - but separating Leadership and Biennial would make for a cheaper trip

Leadership Review Votes - making them better, and more streamlined is good.

However modifying the review capacity on sitting PMs could let the Party stagnate.

All the other changes are good, and actually upon reflection will lead to a much stronger, functional and hopefully winning party.

Ignatieff wants to raise Gas, Electricity, and heating costs while destroying Canada's industrial economy

2006-08-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

What Ignatieff's environmental policy actually means:

Raising gasoline taxes, heating oil taxes, coal taxes, and other fuel taxes. How will a campaign be run on the Liberals wanting to raise gasoline prices, electricity prices, heating prices?

A program which attack industry, and could lead to the shut down of industrial production throughout Canada?

A policy plank that advances the federal government into natural resources (a provincial jurisdiction) - re carbon sequestration

Pointless Purchasing of Internation Emissions Credits which do not reflect actual reductions in GHGs.

These policies are really symbolic of how little Ignatieff knows about Canada's history with similar initiatives. He hasn't learned the lessons of: Joe Clarks gas tax, the Cape Breton Coal Mines, the NEP and the consensus about buying foreign emissions credits.

PTAs - True Grass Roots

2006-08-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

PTAs have gotten a bad rap lately. We were beat with a party that doesn't have them. Some see them as little fiefdoms which accomplish little. Some see them as threats to their fiefdoms.

PTAs keep the parties organization close to the grass roots, and give a training ground for the national executive. They keep attuned to issues on the ground, and lay the ground work for national initiatives.

PTAs also allow for small scale experimentation on electoral strategy, and election management. (See Team BC initiatives in last two elections)

PTAs help to distribute the administrative load of the party, and help to provide oversight to the operations of riding associations.

So what do we do to streamline the operation of the party?

My solution: trim the fat at the national executive level. We don't need to eliminate any elected positions on the national executive (perhaps besides seniors commission president, they are already over represented). The national executive should consider including other members on a need basis only. This would limit the national executive meetings to maybe 30/40 members a totally managable runner compared to 70- 100 today.

First Attack on Iggy from across the Floor

2006-08-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

The prime minister also took a thinly veiled swipe at the candidates for the Liberal leadership - especially front-runner Michael Ignatieff - attempting to paint them as out-of-touch with ordinary people.
"I understand that not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a rich family, to attend private schools, or to live an international lifestyle," he said.

This is just the start. Iggy is VERY OPEN TO ATTACK! He is the Tory dream candidate (even more than Volpe)

Volpe has only one angle to attack (sleaze), Iggy has an entire series of attack ads waiting to happen.

[Link]

Iggy's Uncaring 'Humanitarianism'

2006-08-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

"'This is the kind of dirty war you're in when you have to do this and I'm not losing sleep about that[Qana].'" - Ignatieff

If this is what he taught at Harvard - no wonder the states is pushing civil liberty boundaries at home, and causing deaths of countless civilians abroad.

Iggy isn't ready. Too bad he didn't come back in '97 or 2000 and have some political sense in him.

Update 2/8/6:
A very possible quote from Ignatieff on the Israeli Armed Campaign:

"I was for the war before I was against it"[1]

Sounds a bit familliar, much like another Massachusetts democrat we know. I have to say, that that is what Ignatieff is. I wonder how long a Swift Boat type group forms, and what it will be called?

Conservative largesse hits again

2006-07-30T22:52:00.000-07:00

The Conservatives spent $9 thousand dollars on an untendered contract to design the cover of the Federal Accountability Act. The contract to Acart Communications for cover design concepts was $9,048 to be exact.

I have an idea for a cover, how about the standard cover that has been used for years, a white cover with the title of the act.

But it is interesting to see where the Canada's new government logo came from, since it is featured so prominently on http://conservative.ca/

Yes, money from the accountability act has provided a resource to the Conservative Party. I shouldn't be surprised.

Thanks but no thanks McKenna

2006-07-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

Frank - the last thing we need is another coronation, not that I think that if you jump in after labour day that will happen. Hopefully this trial balloon gets shot down like the many other attempts to tempt him back into the race. No need to embarrass yourself, unless Ignatieff leaves for some health reasons {shoshana} . The article is right however, that

"Mr. Ignatieff, on the other hand, doesn't have one [an organization]. He is not the one who has created the organization: the organization has created him. They can drop him like a stone if he's not perceived to be a winning candidate any longer. "

But we don't need or want Frank to come back. We don't need a savior.

And I personally am very comfortable with Graham leading us into a snap election if one is called. I am not sure where the journalist found the 'strategists' but they seem like very crazy people. Almost Martin Kool-aid drinkers type people. The very people whom had been pushing McKenna to run.

The Hill Times Article.

What NOT to do as a PTA President

2006-07-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Talk to the Toronto Star at length about how the Leadership race and I quote

"I gotta tell you, there's very little interest out here, apart from a few diehard Liberals."

- In a province where the Liberal membership has tripled over the course of the race? That sounds pretty exciting to me.

{LINK} to the TorStar Story

Dinning is Dimming According to Tories

2006-07-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

One of my regular correspondents is a friend that moved to Alberta and converted to Torydom, our conversation was about a new issue in the Tory leadership race. Here, Here and most importantly here is some background on this.

Lexis Background on Dinning and Martin

2006-07-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

"Premier Ralph Klein said former provincial treasurer Jim Dinning is probably embarrassed that his private message calling for Paul Martin to replace Prime Minister Jean Chretien has become public.

But Klein's not sure whether it will damage Dinning's chances if he makes a run at Alberta's Conservative leadership one day.

The premier was responding to a new story that Dinning wrote a note calling for Martin, the federal finance minister, to replace Chretien. The note accompanied a $25,000 donation by TransAlta Corp. to Martin's unofficial leadership campaign. Dinning is TransAlta's executive vice-president for sustainable development and external relations.

The note insisted it was time for Chretien to step down and be replaced as prime minister by Martin. "It was urging the replacement of Chretien with Martin -- soon," a Liberal insider said.

Dinning confirmed Tuesday that he wrote the note, but suggested it is TransAlta that wants Martin to replace Chretien.

"Remember, it is TransAlta Corp. that you're talking about, and I am an officer of TransAlta Corp.," he said. "By the very definition of TransAlta making a contribution to the Paul Martin campaign, we were expressing a preference."

Dinning has often been touted as a possible successor to Klein.

On Wednesday, Klein was reluctant to say that Dinning would be embarrassed because he aspires to become involved in provincial politics again. "I can't speak for Jim Dinning, but Jim is sort of a political junkie.

"One assumes that's not his personal donation, it's a donation on the part of TransAlta."

Martin, Klein said, is probably one of the most popular federal ministers in Alberta. But he said he would not vote for the Liberals, even with Martin as leader.

Dinning could not be reached for comment Wednesday."

"TORONTO - A note calling for Paul Martin to replace Jean Chretien that accompanied a controversial $25,000 donation to Martin's leadership campaign was written by one of Alberta's most prominent Conservatives, former provincial finance minister Jim Dinning, the Globe and Mail reported today.

Dinning, who was a key figure in Ralph Klein's Tory government and is touted as his potential successor, had not previously been identified as a backer of efforts to replace the prime minister with Martin, the finance minister.

The $25,000 donation to a trust for Martin's leadership campaign, as yet unofficial, came from TransAlta Corp., an energy distribution company where Dinning is executive vice-president for sustainable development and external affairs.

It was accompanied by a note that insisted it was time for Chretien to go and be replaced as prime minister by Martin. "It was urging the replacement of Chretien with Martin -- soon," a Liberal insider said.

Government sources told the Globe on Tuesday that Dinning wrote and signed the note to fundraiser Jim Palmer.

Dinning confirmed that Tuesday, but suggested that it is TransAlta that wants Martin to replace Chretien.

"Remember, it is TransAlta Corp. that you're talking about, and I am an officer of TransAlta Corp.," he said. "By the very definition of TransAlta making a contribution to the Paul Martin campaign, and chose to do so."

Dinning was treasurer in the Klein government from 1992 to 1997, when it acted dramatically to eliminate the province's deficit.

The hefty donation caused opposition politicians last month to allege Martin had a conflict of interest because Palmer collected it. At the time, Palmer was also being paid to advise the Finance Department on taxation of the resource sector.

One of his law partners, Daryl Fridhandler, who is also a Liberal fundraiser, called this week for a vote to dump Chretien in a leadership review at next February's Liberal convention.

Calgary-based TransAlta, which has assets of $7.8 billion and reported net earnings of $277.7 million in 2001, is a large energy producer and distributor that operates coal, gas, diesel and hydro power plants.

Credit: The Canadian Globe and Mail"

Thanks Lexis Nexis!

The Mi Rumours

2006-07-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

"Canada should never be quiet when a democratic state is attacked by terrorists." - but a leadership candidate that has a good chance of being Prime Minister should be quiet? Link

There are also a bunch of rumours floating around, that MI is MiA due to health problems that may interfere with his ability to stay in the race. Rumours in SB's comment section

In any event, the lack of a general statement from MI, shows that his lack of electoral political experience. Hopefully he starts learning fast.

Voters, expect elected leaders to have opinions on world events that are well formulated to represent the electors on the international scene. That these opinions count for (usually) squat doesn't matter.

Now, I would link to this, or credit it, but it was by an anon comment:

Mi Community
http://michaelignatieff.ca/MiCommunity/forums/thread/2959.aspx
"Attention Ignatieff people. There is a rumor floating around some Liberal blogs that Ignatieff will be dropping out of the race and this explains his lack of comment on what is happening in the Middle East. If this is not true, this is certainly something Ignatieff and company will want to quash.:

Calgary Grit
http://calgarygrit.blogspot.com/
"This is a man who has studied the Middle East for decades and is certainly well aware of the situation there; I'm sure he could have formulated a well reasoned statement in a limited amount of time. "

TDH Strategies
http://www.tdhstrategies.com/home.html
"Blind support is never productive, and from my point of view, Michael needs to weigh in with his depth of knowledge and perspective immediately. "

Mi Community 2
http://michaelignatieff.ca/MiCommunity/forums/thread/2862.aspx
"Lebanon: Ignatieff zzzzzzzzz"

Red Tory
http://redtory.blogspot.com/2006/07/silence-of-lame.html
"As someone who has ostensibly “endorsed” Ignatieff, I cannot tell you how profoundly disappointed I am by his lack of response whatsoever on this issue."

Behiond the Headlines
http://hamilton-bth.blogspot.com/2006/07/ignatieffs-missing-in-action.html
"Ignatieff has positioned himself as the foreign affairs expert in this race. He's published widely on international relations and war and yet, we've heard nothing from him yet. If we are to consistently place him amongst the "front runners" in this race, shouldn't he act like it? "

Paper Dynamite Online
http://dynamiteonline.blogspot.com/2006/07/is-michael-ignatieff-pulling-out-of.html
"Michael Ignatieff's reluctance to comment on the Israel/Lebanon crisis makes perfect sense if he is the candidate rumoured to be pulling out of the leadership race, due to health reasons. "

Stop Harper
http://stoppingharper.blogspot.com/
"imspartacus said...
Inside info or a fertile imagination? I believe people will be surprised and a little shocked at the latest development -- one of the frontrunners is dropping out next week due to 'health reasons' and will throw his support behind the former minister from Quebec."

Shoshana B
http://shoshanab.blogspot.com/
"If Ignatieff and his team don't come out with a statement in the next 24 hours, he has got to be out of this leadership race. "

Taking the Big Red Machine in for a Tune Up Part I

2006-07-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

How do we turn ourselves back into an Election Winning Machine?

As a party we have come to the conclusion - a seventy member executive is unable to be as nimble as we want it to be. We must ask ourselves, how do we want to fix it?

A significant problem can be the executives themselves, all wishing to control the levers of power. This would hamstring the executive from forming more nimble sub-committees with defined mandates. Having the executive make significant operational decisions is also misguided, and the executive could be overburdened with decisions.

An option to solve this problem, would be to turn the current executive positions into a board of directors, which provides direction to a much smaller executive, which implements the decisions of the board and takes care of the day to day operation of the party.

Many people have brought up ideas of a council of presidents (of all the ridings). I believe this isn't a good idea, and would be pretty useless, what would it do?.

It would however be useful to train riding presidents in party operations, how to help win seats, and other things. It would more be a weekend workshop for presidents, either by province region, or maybe national.

In my next post I will talk about the future for PTAs.

Make mine a Rae and Ginger on the rocks please!

2006-07-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Bob is is certainly a polarizing figure in Canadian politics. In 1995 labour and the right ganged up on him to elect the Harris government.

The Canadian Auto Workers, the Ontario division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union turned on the provincial NDP and in turn Rae.

I remembered a quote from Mike Bliss, which I looked up on Lexis Nexis from the 1995 campaign

"No one is more horrified at this thought than today's rigid defenders of the status quo, the New Democrats. Irony of ironies: In the desperate three-way fights taking place in ridings across the province, every vote the NDP siphons away from the faltering Liberals helps make a Tory victory, and a turn to the right in our government, more likely.
In more ways than one, Bob Rae is Mike Harris' best weapon."

In some ridings across the country this is true federally today. So, Rae finally realized the error of his Dipper ways, and it only took him ten years to do it.

I also decided to look up some classic Rae while I was on Lexis today.

Rae on debt:

`The debt and deficit are like a lot of other things, but they aren't the things to worry about,'' Rae fielding calls to the CBC's Radio Noon talk show.
``You've got to worry about jobs, you've got to worry about health and services, and I think we have to ask ourselves whether it's right to leave an awful lot of people entirely on their own to face a very uncertain world.''
Rae, who campaigned yesterday in Mississauga, Toronto and Hamilton, was asked on the phone-in show if Ontario's debt and deficit is ``really just hype?''
``I think there is too much of pushing various panic buttons[on the debt], and I don't think that's helpful, I don't think that's right,'' Rae said.
Lower interest rates would reduce the interest charges on provincial debt, Rae said, and allow the province to climb out of debt sooner and use the savings more productively.

So, we have a Premier, whom was interventionist enough to ask for interest rates to be adjusted for political reasons, and whom was not concerned about the debt.
A person whoes ideas of successful governance was completly different from the Chretien
/Martin financial frameworks, whom attacked that framework while in government.

And now we are supposed to buy that he has learned his lesson, while he had four elections to get elected as a Liberal MP in support of the Liberal vision and he didn't take them? When he was asked every election since he was defeated as Ontario Premier to serve in a safe seat, and likely offered a cabinet post for his efforts by the leader and didn't follow through?

Rae, whom attacked Lyn McLeod and Mike Harris for having a``a lovers' quarrel'' during the 1995 election debate, is still an enigma to me. Too bad he didn't prove himself a liberal by runnig against Layton in the last election. I can't support someone with so little depth in the party, and such a poor record as Ontario Premier.

New to this blog thing

2006-07-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hi! I am pretty new to this blog thing, so forgive me if I screw up royally. Having some help setting this site up on LibBlogs would be great!

I was inspired by the articles in the Star and Globe this week about blogs, and have decided to get involved, and provide a different view (and hopefully more seasoned perspective) than people with less depth in the party.

That being said, I am a table officer with one of the parties PTAs (can you guess who I am?), and in my day supported John Turner for leadership (hopefully I have learned some lessons since then).

It would be really helpful for people to ask questions, or suggest topics to write on, or ask for a response to a piece on their blog.