The NDP motion read as follows:That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: (a) ban the use and export of asbestos; (b) support international efforts to add chrysotile asbestos to the list of hazardous chemical products under the Rotterdam…
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Accidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: September 29, 2011
As Parliament heads into a week off, let’s get caught up on what happened in the last couple of weeks before its break – starting with a day that focused on the NDP’s choice of opposition day motions.The Big IssueWhile the Cons have spent nearly all of…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: An Avaaz Asbestos Petition To Premier Charest
Canada’s ongoing and unconscionable export of asbestos to developing countries continues to be a source of moral outrage to millions, not just in Canada but throughout much of the world. I have written many posts on the subject, always recognizing tha…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: September 27, 2011
Tuesday in Parliament saw another day taken up largely with discussion of the Cons’ omnibus dumb-on-crime bill. But the tables were turned on them repeatedly, as several efforts by the NDP to reach unanimous agreement on the parts of the bill which are…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week.- This blog’s current tagline highlights the importance of asking cui bono? when it comes to public policy choices. On that front, points for chutzpah to Baljit Chadha, who actually has the gall to argue that a…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What is Mesothelioma? A Question I Am Sure The Harpur Government Well Knows The Answer To
Think of Stephen Harper and his minions when you watch this video. He and his government are directly responsible for cases of this dread disease in developing countries such as India.Please sign this petition urging Prime Minister Harper to stop threa…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Reminder to My MP
I am a great believer in holding our politicians to account. Even though they may prove to be ultimately meaningless gestures, letters to our elected representatives at the very least remind them that their opposition is not simply going to give up an…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Lest We Forget Those Who Die For Canada’s Economy
Although the following video was made to protect B.C. workers, perhaps it could be included as a warning to all the unprotected workers who are exposed to the asbestos that Stephen Harper refuses to stop exporting to countries such as India, insisting …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: My New Anti-Asbestos T-Shirt
Obsessed and outraged as I am over the Harper government’s ongoing sowing of death and disease through the export of asbestos to countries such as India, and inspired by the example of Michaela Keyserlingk in her efforts to promote a ban, despite the C…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading.
– The Cons are once again getting noticed in the world – this time thanks to Serge Schemann pointing out their callous treatment of asbestos widow Michaela Keyserlingk in the New York Times:
This summer, to Mrs. …
Politics and its Discontents: Asbestos and Politics – The Plight Of Dr. Kellie Leitch
The other day I posted my response to my M.P. on the Canadian export of asbestos, questioning how a man such as he, committed to Christian principles, can really consider himself doing God’s work by condemning to suffering and death those working unsaf…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: So much left to learn
250 doctors and public health professionals think they can persuade Con MP Kellie Leitch to value ethics and health over political instructions. Which raises the question: after five years of Harper government, how is it that 250 doctors and public hea…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Is This a ‘Goodbye Charlie Brown’ Moment?
Those with long enough memories will recall a famous confrontation that took place in 1986 between Brian Mulroney, then just nine months into his mandate, and Solange Denis, a senior citizen defiant in her resolve to hold the Prime Minister to account….
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Who NOT to bully
We’re going to continue where we left off yesterday on the theme of Conservative bullying. Yesterday it was Madame Supreme Court Justice Beverly Mclachlan who made it clear she wasn’t impressed by Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney’s attempt to bully the judiciary into being cowed into ruling for Harper’s policies. Today, the Conservatives are figuring out that perhaps trying to threaten and bully a widow isn’t such a great idea.
This lady and her cause against Canada exporting asbestos (which killed her husband) was wallowing in obscurity until the Conservative Party decided to try and bully her into taking down a party logo she was using on her […]
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Asbestos Wars – My Respone To The Position Of My Conservative MP
Given Canada’s unconscionable ongoing export of death (i.e., asbestos) and given that it is back in the media spotlight thanks to the brave efforts of Michaela Keyserlingk, about whom I wrote a brief posting yesterday, now seems a propitious moment to …
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Asbestos – Part 2
I suspect you have to be of a certain age to appreciate the allusive wit of Graeme McKay’s editorial cartoon in today’s Spectator. Enjoy!Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Curse of Canada’s Asbestos Exports
While I have written previously about Canada’s ongoing indefensible export of death, also known as asbestos, a story in today’s Star puts this abominable practice back into the public consciousness.Entitled Tories tussle with asbestos widow over use of…
Continue readingImpolitical: Conservatives pursue asbestos widow
My, Conservatives should be so proud of themselves: “Tories tussle with asbestos widow over use of party logo in ad campaign.” There is no other party quite like them in Canada today. Check out the picture accompanying the report. The federal Conservat…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Burning question
Since declaring themselves enemies of Amnesty International apparently wasn’t enough villainy for one week, the Harper Cons have also decided to pick a fight with an asbestos widow. Can National Kick a Puppy Day be far behind?
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: June 22, 2011
The second-last day of debates in this spring’s session dealt mostly with Bruce Hyer’s motion on small business. But lest anybody think there would be agreement on the details of an issue where every party supported the motion itself (resulting in a ra…
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