Out of the Shadows

Playing Games With Democracy

PattiM — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:39:15 +0000

On Tuesday Parliament passed a motion which would ban the practise of MPs sending ‘10 percenters” into ridings of other MPs. The motion was initiated by the Liberals and solidly opposed by the Conservatives. The final call on the motion will be made by the Board of Internal Economy, the secretive committee charged with controlling the spending on the Hill.

The government’s response to the motion is that they consider it to be ‘non-binding’. Excuse me? Is Parliament supposed to reflect the will of the people or doesn’t it? Who the blazes is paying those clowns than the people?

Parliament has spoken, therefore neither the government nor the internal board of economy should have any option but to comply.

I suspect there are a lot of Canadians like me who would love to see the practise stopped completely. I’m in a riding where the Conservative incumbent sends a constant stream of his junk mail into my mailbox. When I even bother to look at one, it is usually nothing but self-serving drivel. Save the taxpayers millions and outlaw them all. Let the parties pay for their own self-serving drivel.

But I digress, sort of.

The government initially responded to the motion by calling it ‘non-binding’ and they would ignore it. Then they reversed themselves and said they would support it if it applied to all parties but they don’t have a majority on the internal board of economy.

When the question was put to the panel on CTV’s Power Play yesterday, the responses show the level of game playing going on.

Pierre Poilievre from the Conservatives wouldn’t commit one way or the other, he threw in that the Cons (largest users of the 10 percenters) were going to support eliminating subsidies to political parties. When pressed by Tom Clarke if this support would be through the introduction of a bill in the House or how they would do it, the trained parrot that he is just kept repeating the government was supporting the elimination but nothing about how.

Joe Comartin from the NDP (2nd largest user) avoided saying that the NDP would halt the practise. The closest he came was that if the other parties stopped so would they. Was instructions to stop the practise in play? Comartin’s response was only Jack Layton could make that decision and none had been made. They voted for the motion, do they support it or not?

Wayne Easter from the Liberals (least user) stated unequivocally that directions had gone out to stop the practise while noting that there may be some in the system which can’t be pulled back. He said they had contacted the post office and tried to stop any waiting to go out. Apparently they support the motion through action.

So what was the sense of the motion other than grandstanding if some of those who claim to support it immediately start waffling? As for the Board of Internal Economy, this is a body which determines the spending of taxpayers money. Where do they get off at being secretive about their discussions and decisions?

It is no wonder so many are cynical and disconnected from the political process in this country. They’d rather watch hockey least, it is in fact a game and doesn’t masquerade as democratic government.

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How Much Is This Conservative Stall Going to Cost?

PattiM — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:32:09 +0000

Back in December the majority of Parliament ordered the government to produce in their entirety the documents related to the Afghan detainee issue. Harper made clear he was going to defy that order and went so far as to prorogue Parliament in order to try to squash the issue.

He claimed the prorogue was to recalibrate the government’s direction and agenda. Having since seen that ‘recalibration’ via the Throne Speech and the budget, I don’t think anyone really truly believes the government did anything but stall and enjoy the Olympics.

So, parliament returns and in order to further flip the bird at the supremacy of parliament Harper, through his minion Rob Nicholson (Minister of Justice), is stalling by appointing respected jurist Frank Iacobucci to review the documents and rule if the documents are able to be released or not.

Other than Harper demonstrating his continuing disdain and disrespect for Parliament there is no reason for these documents not being released to the Opposition for review behind close doors. MPs of all stripes are required to maintain confidentiality of documents they are privy to as was the Military Commission who was originally charged with investigating this issue and blocked by the government from access to necessary documents in full.

So, from what I see, Harper continues to abuse the powers of his office, disrespect the supremacy of Parliament and behave like he has a right to ignore anyone but himself. I’m disappointed in the Opposition allowing this farce to move forward at a cost of $500-$600 per hour (pay to Mr. Iacobucci).

Backing away from enforcing the original motion for fear of Harper pulling the plug and calling an election is no excuse to allow Harper to continue to do as he pleases. Power is conferred and the Opposition continues to confer power to Harper that is not his to have.

Is no one smart enough in the Opposition ranks to come up with a counter proposal to an election and enough political will to unite against this usurper of power? There is little wonder why the polls have us languishing around in a virtual deadlock between the parties.

The country hungers for alternatives. When is someone going to deliver them?

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Law & Order? — Maybe

PattiM — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:41:21 +0000

The optics on the Rahmm Jaffer decision yesterday is just plain bad.

A former Conservative federal member of parliament, married to a current Conservative Cabinet minister is charged last fall with impaired driving and possession of cocaine. He comes before a judge who was appointed by the current federal Finance Minister when he was the provincial Attorney General. He gets off with what amounts to a slap on the wrist by pleading guilty to a dangerous driving charge and receiving a $500 fine.

The Crown gave no explanation for the deal they struck other than saying they had no reasonable chance of conviction. For just about any other, average Canadian, blowing over on the breathalyser would result in a conviction. These days even blowing .05 results in an immediate license suspension which doesn’t even get you a day in court.

As for the cocaine possession charge, if he wasn’t in the possession of cocaine then why didn’t the Crown just exonerate him and admit the police’s error? Maybe because that would be just out and out lying instead of just deception.

Yes, I know, he was convicted in provincial court and all those elected officials involved directly or indirectly are all federal types. If you believe that feds don’t get favours from officials at other levels of government, have I got some smoke and mirrors you need to buy.

The last time I looked, drug possession is a federal crime. Yes, feds as in those ‘law and order’ Conservatives who would jail someone for possessing one marijuana plant but can let a provincial Crown drop a cocaine possession charge.

Not being a drug user myself, I’m prone to get this wrong but is cocaine not considered a harder drug than pot? OH, just for citizens who don’t have the right connections and deep pockets.

The Conservatives don’t have a corner on situations smelling really bad.. doesn’t make it okay when they do though.

So, did Jaffer get political relief or is he just a poor misunderstood fellow?

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Where Is the Recalibration?

PattiM — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:15:19 +0000

Well, I’ve read through the Throne Speech which was delivered yesterday. I’ve read some of the commentary which has appeared this morning in reaction to it. For the most part, they are echoing my thoughts as I read through the speech, where exactly is the recalibration? There was very little real focus or meat.

I had the sense that the speech came about from a brainstorming session around the Cabinet table on how many buttons could they find to press in a bid to make Canadians believe this government has a real sense of need and direction. The point form results was then handed over to speech writers to form into what was delivered yesterday.

I know the devil is in the details and Throne Speeches are not where one would expect to see details. Some will emerge today as the Budget is delivered. For the most part, speech repeated previous announcements and claims from the government.

Public Wage Freezes

It does say there will be a freeze on not only public service budgets but the wages of the Cabinet, Senators and MPs. That is really sharing in the hardship that 1.5million Canadians are going through, not to mention the millions of Canadians who find themselves under-employed as the result of jobs lost through business failures and jobs moved offshore.

If the government really wants to show some belt tightening, they should be looking at some cuts to their $100,000 plus salaries and pensions. Struggling Canadians just don’t relate to a freeze on incomes which are already higher than they can expect to see.

Foreign Investment & Free Trade

The speech says it will be opening the door to more foreign investment in the telecom and mining industries. Canadians have already watched many of our Canadian firms being gobbled up by foreign interests under this government’s watch. When the doors are thrown open for foreign interests to sweep in, the dangers of Canadian jobs going offshore rise proportionally.

We need to be likewise wary of free trade agreements the government is overseeing. There has already been alarm raised in some quarters that the agreement being negotiated with the European Union could see some areas of our public service forced into privatization in order to conform to the terms of the agreement.

That is not safeguarding Canadian sovereignty. The Conservatives can wave the flag all they want, protecting our right to make Canadian choices puts the proof in the pudding.

Law & Order Platform

Once again, the government is touting their so called law and order platform. A platform sledge hammered into Parliament as supposedly necessary and urgent. Those same bills that died on the order table when Harper closed Parliament for almost three months in order to recalibrate are once again being trotted out.

While I agree with the premise of some of the measures, like keeping violent convicts in jail for life, I note the government has been very coy about the added financial burden on the taxpayer of the increased prison population. The speech claims this is the will of the Canadian people. Really? I must have missed that referendum.

Increasing the prison population doesn’t decrease crime. Our neighbours to the south have learned that already. Increased prison populations, at a time when crime rates are dropping, only serves to incubate increased crime later on as non-violent offenders learn to graduate to violent offenders. Who is going to be building and running the additional prisons these bills will necessitate?

Democratic Reform

The speech references the government’s continued intent to ‘reform’ the Senate but no references to democratic reform a little closer to home, like curbing the powers of the Prime Minister. Those powers have been subject to abuse for many years but none have escalated the abuse to the point Harper has.

Canadians are becoming more aware of this democratic defict and will increasingly demanding change. Which politician is going to have the guts to curb his own power or potential power in the name of democracy and accountability?

Have you read the speech? How do you view it?

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Own The Podium Controversy — Chill Out

PattiM — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:37:49 +0000

Five years ago Canada; as in the Canadian Olympic Committee, sports federations and the government took a pretty bold and overdue move. They put together a group known as “Own the Podium” with the goal to provide the training, support and technology to our top athletes with the stated goal of topping the medal count at the 2010 Olympics.

I was rather amused at the premise that Canada would own the podium in 2010 when we have taken far too long to pour the resources into our sports programs from which our Olympian’s emerge. Other countries, like the United States, Russia and China have made no bones about pouring millions into the development of their elite athletes. Why shouldn’t Canada?

Some criticize the goal of owning the podium as arrogance on Canada’s part, as setting unrealistic goals, putting to much pressure on our athletes etc. Chill out people. The fact is if you don’t set the bar as high as you dare to reach, you will never reach the goal. There is nothing unrealistic about the goals the program sets, Canadian athletes throughout the history of the games have turned in amazing performances, there is no reason why they shouldn’t receive the support of the nation they so proudly represent.

As for pressure on the athletes, I don’t believe anyone or anything can put as much pressure on the athletes as they do on themselves. They do what they do because they are driven to be the best at what they do. When our young skater breaks down in tears at a press conference after turning in a fourth place finish she is perceiving that she’s let her country down because she believes she let herself down. She’s beating herself up and how many of us haven’t done the same for a lot less?

When Chris Del Bosco could have settled for a bronze he saw his opportunity to strike for silver and made the move. It cost him the bronze but he wouldn’t have been satisfied knowing he could have taken the chance and finished higher. No one yelled at him to make the move, he pushed himself because that is who he is.

If striving to be the best and being backed up by your country, the country you will represent, is arrogance, then let’s wear that with pride. We join a lot of other countries with the same aspirations. They might not have been bold enough to give their program the name “Own the Podium” but they are doing exactly the same.

Canada has hosted two previous Olympic games and failed to capture even one gold. These games, so far, we’ve captured six and appear to be on track for a few more before the games end. I call that a success. What I call even more of a success, is watching the spectators and their unabashed pride in their country and their athletes. That doesn’t even take into account the millions who are watching from across the country.

The 2010 Olympic Games need to be remembered as the first games after Canada finally started providing the money and resources our athletes have deserved for many generations. The federal and provincial governments need to set a base of funding that will rise in response to corporate Canada stepping up to the plate with funds to continue the program. There should be no question about the funding being reduced, the only question should be, how high can Canada take it to support our young athletes?

They are among the Canadians who inspire our next and future generations to strive to be the best. When that happens, all Canadians win.

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Last Canadian WW1 Veteran Dies

PattiM — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:20:28 +0000

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

John Henry Foster Babcock (age 109) — World War 1 — Feb. 18, 2010

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Normally, the header on this post would be the whole post and would be reserved for those Canadians who have died in service to Canada. A post like the above remains at the top of my blog for ten days after their death. I’m adding it to this post in honour of the passing of John Henry Foster Babcock, the last known Canadian to have served in WW1.

Babcock didn’t make it into service in the trenches of Europe, he was only 15 when he signed up. He managed to get himself as far as England before being rounded up into the Young Soldiers Battalion to wait his coming of age. Had WW1 gone on as long as Canada’s current engagement in Afghanistan, he would have seen service. He called himself a ‘tin soldier’ because he didn’t see action but the point is he joined up with the intent of doing so and that matters.

Babcock was born north of Kingston, Ontario. The Kingston-Whig Standard has written an excellent article on his life and times. I watched a special about him last fall and found myself engaged and admiring of his sharp mind and quick wit. Babcock earned his high school diploma at the age of 95 and at the end of the special he was musing whether he was going to tackle college or university in the coming year. As nature would have it, it appears he’ll have to decide in eternity what he’s pursuing next.

World War 1 was a turning point in Canadian history. At the beginning of the war the total number in our armed forces was 4,000 including all the brass. By the end of the war, over 600,000 Canadians would have joined up and served. We were a young nation then with little sense of national pride, it came into being during those long hard years of WW1. Canadians served throughout Europe, often taking on the really tough battles against the Germans, like Vimy Ridge & Passchendaele, and bringing them to victory.

Babcock may have moved to the United States where he spent most of his life but in typical Canadian fashion he declined Canada’s offer to provide a state funeral for him to mark the passing of the faces of World War 1. It is believed there are now only three WW1 veterans known to remain in the world: American, Frank Buckles, 109; British born Australian, Claude Choules, 108; and British female veteran, Florence Beatrice Green, 108.

It is not yet known how Canada will mark the passing of the faces of the WW1 era.

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Not Enough French? Give Me A Break.

PattiM — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:45:06 +0000

So James Moore, the federal Heritage Minister, doesn’t think there was enough french at the opening of the Olympics on Friday evening. Leaves me wondering what opening ceremonies he was watching, I had a belly full of french and I was watching it on NBC. I can’t say I was particularly impressed to be watching an event taking place in a very definitely english speaking province and hearing every statement said first in french and then in english.

Yes, I know, we are a bilingual country and the IOC rules require both french and english. I could have been a lot more tolerant of a shifting back and forth on which language was first but french consistently had the first usage and then Moore whines there wasn’t enough french? That strikes me as pandering more towards Quebec votes than anything else.

Quebec Premier Charest complained at a news conference there wasn’t enough french used. He was reported to have said “that while the opening was “magnificent,” and that there were more mandarin speakers in British Columbia than francophones everybody would have liked to have had more french in the opening ceremony.” Really? Maybe in Quebec, the only french speaking province in the country.

Moore, Charest — get over yourselves. While french has official language status in the country, the average anglophone no more appreciates french being shoved down their throat than a francophone appreciates english. Ooh right, I forget, in Quebec, they don’t have to have english shoved down their throats because french is their only official language.

I certainly hope Moore’s British Columbia based constituents remember his pandering to Quebec interests during Vancouver’s time to shine on the world stage. I bet they would appreciate his defense of the french language so much they’d send him to work in the real world instead of in Ottawa.

UPDATE: Interesting article, on the official investigation being launched into the amount of French at the Olympic games, written by Brian Lilley, a journalist in Ottawa and his experiences with language ‘balance’ in Quebec. Pots shouldn’t call kettles black Mr Moore, Mr Charest etc. There is no balance in political pandering for votes from 22% of the population.

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We Will Remember Him

PattiM — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:10:42 +0000

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Cpl Joshua Caleb Baker — Afghanistan February 12, 2010

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

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Out of the Shadows

Playing Games With Democracy

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