How Odd.

So the Liberal party is Anti-American? Yet The Cons say that Mr.Ignatieff is an American? Just visiting. An American led Anti American party. That doesn't make sense in the real world but who knows what goes on in the tainted mind of a Conservative/Reformer. It can' t be both.

And what is this about the liberal motion damaging our trade relationship with the US? We do trade with China, no? So how do you think this major trading partner will feel about the ridiculous "Monument to the Victims of Communism"? Anyone tally how many have starved to death or died from poor health due to capitalism?

Just asking. Recommend this Post

Senate, courts would keep Tories in check: Harper (2006)

Ah, the good ole days when people thought he spoke the truth. Remember this:

The Tory leader drove home comments he made Tuesday that the Conservatives would be unable to wield absolute power even as a majority, as they would face a series of checks and balances from Liberal-appointed judges and senators.

"We have no alternative but to accept the checks; they're part of our system," Harper told a news conference in Toronto, facing some of the sharpest questioning he has faced recently.

"Judges are named, (and) judges can't be removed by governments except under extraordinary circumstances."

Harper has vowed to end the Liberal practice of "parachuting" political staffers into civil service positions where they can exert influence.

The Conservative leader also said he believes civil servants would welcome a change in government.

"Obviously, the civil service has worked for many decades much more closely with Liberal governments than others," Harper said.

Well, he ignores rulings from the courts and breaks his own laws. Apparently they are for others, not him. If you dare ask the government about accountability it will take you to court to shut you up. He ignores and gets rid of the countries watchdogs. He shut down parliament to end questions about his actions. He now has a majority in the senate. Did I also mention he violates charter rights?

I hope Canadians realize that all the reassurances from 2006 are gone. They were actually never really there. Its just taken 4 years to destroy our system. There is nothing right now acting as any sort of check or balance. By definition, Mr. Harper IS a dictator at the moment.

Dictator definitions:
* a ruler who is unconstrained by law

* authoritarian: a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner;

* a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.

* A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator, without hereditary

It is absolutely imperative that Canadians understand that nothing is stopping this guy anymore. Its time to wise up and do some serious thinking. The next election is key to saving the country as we know it. It may be time to put aside your particular party affiliations and line up behind one party to stop Harper.

I am not saying a majority but at least a strong minority to put Harper where he belongs. On some right wing blow hard talk show host on fox where you can just tune him out for good. We all know that's where he is headed. Why else did he spend our money advertising him self down there lately? Recommend this Post

Where are the new Reform-Conservative Senators?

Could it be Harper knows Canadians are finally watching?

Or is something major going on in the Reform-Conservative Party? Both Flaherty and Flanagan contradicted Harper's excuses for proroguing this week.

Something is going on.

Harper's waited 4 years for this moment. I find it strange the senators seem to be delayed.

Or are they canceled?

I do believe this is the end of Harper. I was apathetic myself about politics but then in 1993, my first vote, I voted Liberal. It was just coincidence that years later I found myself actually agreeing with their policy. I voted Liberal in 1993 purely because it would get rid of the Conservatives, otherwise I would have not voted at all. Harper seems to have created the conditions for this sort of scenario for many people and he will be ousted. Harpers only achievement as Prime Minister will be increasing the voter turnout by giving them a reason to vote.

To vote him out.

PS: Been very busy with new job. My comment section is gone as haloscan is no longer in existence. I will be migrating over to wordpress in the next month or so and comments will return.

Like anyone gives a shit. Recommend this Post

Harper has dinner with 7 Columnists

Except they were American, arranged by George Bush's former spokesthingie Ari Fleischer .

Yes we paid for Harper to dine with American Journalists. Its pretty obvious Harpers got a boner for the USA or the Republican aspects of it anyway. Once he's booted just watch how fast he moves there.

Delacourts got a point here. Why should Harper be allowed to create a majority in the Senate when hes failed to get one from the electorate? Recommend this Post

His reputation precedes him

China lifts ban on Canadian pork with Harper en route

Sounds like they want in on the stimulus spending. Recommend this Post

Balls in Micheal's Court.

I see the Conservatives are maintaining a denial of women to fight for equal pay, a carryover from the poisonous December fiscal update. On top of that the budget completely fails those who have lost jobs and about to lose them.

An extension of five weeks for EI is useless because there is a group of people who decide what you get. I was given only 20 weeks after paying into EI for the past 9 years. So should I expect to now get 25 weeks? Of course not that's up to the group to decide. All they have now is an extension of the max a person can receive when considering their application. Nothing more.

As a Liberal, I cannot support this budget because of the women's pay equity issue. As a recently unemployed person I can no longer support my party if they choose to support this budget for political reasons instead of doing whats right.

Balls in your court Micheal, am I still a Liberal or just a liberal?

Shit or get off the pot. Recommend this Post

What I need in this budget

In the last 12 month period I have lost two jobs. The first position was one which I held for 7 years. After 2006, with a Conservative government, EcoAction funding was slashed. I lost two co-workers immediately, Over the course of the next two years funding continually dwindled to the point that I was notified I would also have to go in order for the organization to stay belly up. To avoid lay-off I managed to get another job and avoided having to apply for Employment Insurance. Failure on the Conservatives part to be truthful and actually do something to head of the worst of the recession resulted in a second job loss.

After 6 weeks I finally was approved for EI for only 20 weeks. A coworker with less hours than I and after only working 6 months received 30 weeks. Make sense? Not to me. After 8 years of paying EI I get diddly squat after 6 weeks of surviving on my own. EI covers my rent and student loans only. Yet I hear Harper is extending benefits to self employed women, a group who don't even qualify. Buying votes again, I see.

I know I will be recalled back to my previous job in March/April but the problem is that the EI program will not get me that far. All gains I have made since graduating will be wiped at that point. I will have exhausted my savings and may have to default on student loans.

What I expect to see from the government is that they treat the program as it should be, not as if it is being administered by Manulife Insurance. I paid in, so pay out. Give me the max coverage or from here on in stop deducting it from payroll. I'll bank it myself. Give an actual 55% of wages and do not cap it. Get rid of the waiting period and stop clawing back money should someone unfortunately luck into a part time service job. I don't want free money, I want to get from point A to point B without losing everything I have. I paid premiums for a reason. Its the least I am owed after the mess the current government has allowed to happen. I don't care about tax cuts because currently I and other unemployed people have NO INCOME!

I expect nothing from the current government, a continuation of what they haven't been doing is no surprise. My expectations fall squarely on Michael Ignatieff. He's talked a great deal about what he wants in the budget but hasn't said exactly what he will do if it doesn't contain what he wants. I expect Mr. Ignatieff to vote it down and go to an election or a coalition. I expect nothing else. This, to me, is a test of his leadership and whether I can support him as a leader of the Liberal Party. This time my party leader's choice will definitely affect my life immediately.

I hope I am not let down but I'm not holding my breath. Recommend this Post

Stick by your plan Mr. Dion

Do not sit on your hands and abstain from voting against the governments confidence motion. The neo-tories do not have the default preferred stance on the Afghan Mission. Neither does the NDP. The population will not support an open ended war nor would they support sheer cowardice. The people of Canada wants a realistic mission that works and accomplishes the goal. Your stance Mr. Dion seems to fit what the population wants. Stick with it even if it brings the government down. The election will not focus only on the mission. There are many other issues such as the economy, the environment, and the unending list of Harpers broken promises and surprise social conservative ones. Not too mention he's made government more unaccountable and even less transparent in direct opposition to what he promised and campaigned on.

Let the writ drop and lets win the next election. We want a Canada thats richer, cleaner and fairer not the broken mess and division we see today, nor the lies on climate change repeated by this government and its cohorts, or the attacks on seniors incomes and tax cuts for the rich.

Mr Harper thinks leadership is being an asshole but we can show him its bringing great policies, consensus building and co-operation that makes a leader. All things he has failed on, especially with the lost opportunity to bridge partisan divides and work together to hammer out a future for the Afghanistan Mission. Instead he builds his firewall, keeps with his unwanted open ended war and then makes it a confidence vote. All this for a view that barely 1/3 of Canadians feel is appropriate. He's like a child sulking in the corner. Some leader.

Please do take your ball and go home. Recommend this Post

Does Newfoundland & Labrador actually want a referendum to separate?

There is a online poll (very unreliable) at The Telegram Currently (2:30pm EST) the poll is showing 55% in favour of one with 42% against the idea, 3% undecided. The paper isn't really left or right politically and I don't recognize any freeping. Could there be something to this?

Obviously , regardless of the accuracy, there is a problem brewing.

Is this what Harper meant by we are more united than we have been in 40 Years?

If so, please stop Steve your view of being united is obviously flawed.

What a flake. I am embarrassed he represents me globally. Recommend this Post

The Man Who Sold the World

Thought this was appropriate following Harper's lowest common factor negotiation skills.




Not a fan of Bowie? Here's Nirvana's take.

Recommend this Post

Taxpayers are paying for the Harper-Williams Duel

Yes you read correctly!

Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans are paying for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's battle with Ottawa! Its not the PC party of NL fighting, its the government.

Don't laugh mainlanders, you guys and gals (including me) are paying for Harpers return punch! He's fighting back as the Government of Canada not as the CPC. People from NL are paying to fight themselves! Who said the Conservatives couldn't be fun!

And who said Harper never had cash to spend on Newfoundland and Labrador? He's making the ad firms in the province richer! Where have we heard that before? Too bad yet again the taxpayers don't get a break.

Oh, and also, our Conservative Government has increased the size of our Government by 14% ! Are there even any real tories in the Conservative Party anymore? Harper's not only behaving like a Liberal but also like the NDP would if they could ever form a federal government.

Yeah. Right. Recommend this Post

Clear reason why our Government cannot be trusted with defence and foreign policy

Canadians Stand With You
Wall Street Journal | 3/28/03 | Stephen Harper, Stockwell Day

Today, the world is at war. A coalition of countries under the leadership of the U.K. and the U.S. is leading a military intervention to disarm Saddam Hussein. Yet Prime Minister Jean Chretien has left Canada outside this multilateral coalition of nations.

This is a serious mistake. For the first time in history, the Canadian government has not stood beside its key British and American allies in their time of need. The Canadian Alliance -- the official opposition in parliament -- supports the American and British position because we share their concerns, their worries about the future if Iraq is left unattended to, and their fundamental vision of civilization and human values. Disarming Iraq is necessary for the long-term security of the world, and for the collective interests of our key historic allies and therefore manifestly in the national interest of Canada. Make no mistake, as our allies work to end the reign of Saddam and the brutality and aggression that are the foundations of his regime, Canada's largest opposition party, the Canadian Alliance will not be neutral. In our hearts and minds, we will be with our allies and friends. And Canadians will be overwhelmingly with us.

But we will not be with the Canadian government.

Modern Canada was forged in large part by war -- not because it was easy but because it was right. In the great wars of the last century -- against authoritarianism, fascism, and communism -- Canada did not merely stand with the Americans, more often than not we led the way. We did so for freedom, for democracy, for civilization itself. These values continue to be embodied in our allies and their leaders, and scorned by the forces of evil, including Saddam Hussein and the perpetrators of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. That is why we will stand -- and I believe most Canadians will stand with us -- for these higher values which shaped our past, and which we will need in an uncertain future.

Messrs. Harper and Day are the leader and shadow foreign minister, respectively, of the Canadian Alliance.

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They missed out on that warmongering episode but with Iran just on the horizon, I think Canadians should be wary about giving this government a majority. There is also the fact that nothing can stop a majority government from joining a war, and Harper & Co still believe in what the US is doing in Iraq.

Well there are other reasons also, such as Day's possibe law breaking, Harpers penchant for appointments, stacking committees, broken promises, etc., etc., etc.. Recommend this Post

Is This What Canada Stands For Now?

Text from Ad (click image to view larger)

Over three years ago, The Honourable Stephen Harper, then leader of the Opposition, made a promise to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

He promised: "We will remove non-renewable natural resource revenues from the equalization formula".

He also sent the people of Newfoundland and Labrador a pamphlet in the mail.

He said, "There is no greater fraud than a promise not kept." he said, "No small print. No excuses, No caps."

He said it as boldly as you see it here. That's what he said. That was his promise.

On the 19th of March 2007, in his second budget, The Right Honourable Stephen harper, Prime Minister, broke that promise.

It was a promise that he made in the pamphlet. He stood on two election platforms and said it to our faces. He wrote it in letters over and over again. It was a simple, unequivocal promise.

And he broke it.

"There is no greater fraud than a promise not kept"
-Gaelic Proverb

Which leaves us with a simple, unequivocal question.

Where does that leave us? Not just us, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, but us - we - the people of Canada?

Because if we can't accept at face value the promise of our prime Minister, then who can?

Can the people of the Atlantic provinces? Or Saskatchewan? Or, yes, even the peoples of British Columbia and Alberta? Because all of you have had promises made to you of one sort or another and all of you should now be asking what those promises are worth.

A promise made should be a promise kept. And as Mr. Harper pointed out, there is no greater fraud than a promise not kept.

And when our Prime Minister won't keep a promise as simple as the one he made to us, it's not just the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that lose.

We all Lose.

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Thought it would be interesting if everyone saw this who does not buy newspapers. Recommend this Post

Baird's lobbyist lawyer also represents Harper and Poilievre

And on top of that he was representing Harper while registered to lobby the PMO. Now the lawyer, Manny Montenegrino, is lobbying the PMO and representing the PM, Baird, and Poilievre due to his penchant to mouth of lies about the Liberal Party (he claimed there are extremists in the Liberal party).

What kind of sordid mess is this? How many conflicts of interest are there in this situation? I dunno, maybe something like if you screw over my chef I will do something on your two issues dealing with sport fishing. Maybe if you clear Poilievre's name there is something in it for you? As well, from yesterday, Baird's lawyer, the same Manny Montenegrino, is lobbying the environment department, the very department his client is the minister of.

Isn't this what the accountability act was supposed to stop? The cozy relationship enjoyed by lobbyists and the PMO was the reason cited by Harper with regard to criticisms of the former Liberal government for the creation of the Accountabilty act. The very act they are currently acting in spirit of even before it passes.

Instead we have an orgy occurring where everyone gets a go with a lawyer named Manny Montenegrino. This government has achieved the same level of dubiousness they associated with the liberals in just 1 year that took the liberals 13 years to get. Who in their right mind wants more of this? Can you imagine the goings on if Harper got his majority? Recommend this Post

Common Points of Fascism. Seen these lately?

The following fourteen common points of fascism were derived from comparisons of the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet.

These points also highlight potential problems not only in the US but to an extent, Canada as well. The methods by which George Bush came to power, garnered support and his clinging to power has great similarities to methods used by fascists. Stephen Harper himself is guilty of a lot if not all of the following as well. An interesting book called American Fascists was recently released which examines the growing problem in the US with the Christian Right and fascism. Blogger The Sir Robert Bond Papers has a post on a story appearing in an American periodical about liberating Canada from the shackles of liberalism which is public enemy number one to these fascists. The view that Canada is something they need to control to ensure their own "destiny" is quite terrifying and not different than Hitler steamrolling into Germany's neighbours. The group of people tied to Harpers electoral success are the breathern of these same people musing on liberating Canada.

It is obvious to most that Stephen Harper is using George Bush's play book. Stephen Harper is not a leader. He's a follower and a puppet.

Take a look at the list and ask yourself where I have I seen or heard these things lately? It becomes pretty obvious that trouble is brewing and it’s not that far away.

1) Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2) Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights: Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3) Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause: The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4) Supremacy of the Military: Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5) Rampant Sexism: The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

6) Controlled Mass Media: Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Deriding MSM is another method especially when it is portrayed as sympathetic to liberals, socialists, or intellectuals.

7) Obsession with National Security: Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8) Religion and Government are Intertwined: Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9) Corporate Power is Protected: The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10) Labour Power is Suppressed: Because the organizing power of labour is the only real threat to a fascist government, labour unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11) Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12) Obsession with Crime and Punishment: Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13) Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14) Fraudulent Elections: Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. Recommend this Post

The truth about the CPC and Mr. Arar. Setting the Record Straight.

So Mr. Harper has decided to make the apology to Mr. Arar a partisan issue. He's blaming the previous government for his detainment and subsequent torture. That is strange. I clearly remember something different coming from one of his faces just 4 years ago.

When Mr. Arar was first detained in 2002, the Conservatives didn’t hesitate to convict Mr. Arar and criticize the previous Liberal government’s attempts to Free him.

During discussion about Mr. Arar in the House of Commons on November 18, 2002, Stephen Harper, then leader of the Canadian Alliance Party, accused then Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham of participating “in high-level consultations to defend a suspected terrorist" when Mr. Graham demanded the release of Mr. Arar.

Mr. Harper was later quoted as saying that the Liberal government "has been hitting the snooze button on security matters," implying that the Liberal government should have arrested Mr. Arar instead of the U.S. government.

During the very same Question Period, Diane Ablonczy, Member of Parliament for Calgary--Nose Hill, stated: "Arar was given dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship by the government. It did not pick up on his terrorist links and the U.S. had to clue it in. How is it that the U.S. could uncover this man's background so quickly when the government's screening system failed to find his al-Qaeda links?"

Then, on November 19, 2002, Stockwell Day, also then member of the Canadian Alliance, said in reference to the detention of Mr. Arar: "There is a lack of vigilance in the country on terrorism.” He also called for a Parliamentary inquiry to determine why the Liberals were defending a man suspected of links to al-Qaeda when U.S. officials were accusing him of terrorism charges. (“PM Demands release of Ottawa man,” Ottawa Citizen, July 29, 2003.)

So, lets get our facts straight shall we.

Awfully tough crow to chew on hey Harper, Day, and Ablonczy? Stop propogating your lies. Everyone knows better and they are getting sick of it. Recommend this Post

Comparison of cancelled Liberal Programs to Rebranded Conservative Ones

Keep in mind that the Liberal policies were cancelled because the Conservative Government said they were ineffective without doing an audit. Here's the comparison.

On Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007, the Conservatives announced Research and Development for Clean Air Research.

Conservative Program
$230 Million

Cancelled Liberal Program
$200 Million

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On Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, the Conservative will announce funding for Renewable Energy Projects.

Conservative Program (Eco Energy Renewable Power Initiative)
$300 Million over 4 Years for Renewable Energy Projects - 4,000 KwH energy

Cancelled Liberal Program
$300 Million over 5 Years for Renewable Energy Projects - 4,500 KwH energy

This represents energy for 1.5 million homes.

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On Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, the Conservatives will announce a revamped Energuide under a new name.

Conservative Program
Energuide relaunch under new name (without the final audit which ensures it was done properly)

Liberal Program (announced in 2005 budget)
continued and enhanced Energuide.

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So...

Exactly how ineffective were the Liberal Programs again?

I don't see really any difference, except nothing was in place for a year.

A year lost.

Can you see much difference? If so, I 'd like to hear about it.

Looks to me that they stole Mr. Dion's ideas. Recommend this Post