“Gotta do something about those infernal refugees!” Some of Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP’s supporters get together for an evening of poker and political talk. Below: Riley Climenhaga. I recently received the following disturbing communication via email from someone named R.R. Climenhaga under the heading “Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP.”
Continue readingTag: Canadian Politics
Alberta Diary: Unsuccessful at the polls, Alberta market fundamentalists want the courts to impose two-tier health care
What heath care for the rest of us will look like if the market fundamentalist right’s battle for insurance companies’ “rights” ever succeeds. Below: Private health-care advocate John Carpay; Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne; Alberta Liberal Health Critic David Swann. Not satisfied with their failure in the Alberta provincial election,
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The perfect time for Canada to invest in itself is now
Despite stubbornly high unemployment, tepid economic growth, and a large current account deficit, Canada enjoys one macroeconomic indicator that many crisis hit European governments would dearly love: insanely low borrowing costs on its debt. Investors inside and outside Canada recognize that Canada is a monetary safe haven and, desperate to
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Fighting fire with fire
You may have heard that the NDP has released it’s own “pre-election ad” going after Stephen Harper, though I understand this is so far again an internet-only ad, as was the Conservatives ad that targeted Mulcair earlier this year: Some critics I’ve seen (mostly media types) complain this is an
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Politics ain’t beanbag: Stephen Harper is attacking the most vulnerable Canadians
Politics ain’t beanbag, people, and it’s not NERF ball either. But Liberal leaders Michael Ignatieff and Stephane Dion both played it that way, so it was easy for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Reform Party bullyboys to walk all over them. As for Paul Martin, that guy’s own Liberal
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: NDP leadership election campaign debt
The NDP leadership campaign sparked considerable interest among Canadians and saw NDP membership soar, rising over 50% in six months to 128,351 on election day. Many of these first time members, such as myself, may well be interested in the NDP but may not be long term loyalists. After the campaign,
Continue readingwmtc: "dissenting doctors do canada proud" as harper and kenney follow a familiar pattern
The fightback over the Interim Federal Health Program (health coverage for refugees) is being noticed. So is the typical pattern of propaganda staged by the Harper GovernmentTM when it wants to kill another piece of what makes Canada a decent country. First, Janet Bagnall in the Montreal Gazette nails the
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Even a half-hearted race for LPC leader is preferable to a coronation
Chantal Hebert’s column in the Toronto Star on Justin Trudeau says that he is the frontrunner for Liberal Party leader, even as he is still not officially a candidate. It makes the point that many Liberals are putting their leadership aspirations on hold until he declares finally one way or
Continue readingAlberta Diary: She’s no Charles Tupper: Alison Redford has been Alberta premier too long to be prime minister
A youngish Charles Tupper at his desk. “I knew Charles Tupper and Alison Redford is no Charles Tupper” – and a good thing for her, too! Below: Sir Charles as prime minister; Frank McKenna; Robert Stanfield in the photo that put paid to his political career. Alison Redford has been
Continue readingeaves.ca: Reviewing Access to Information Legislation
Just got informed – via the CivicAccess mailing list – that Canada’s Access to Information Commissioner is planning to review Canada’s Access to Information legislation (full story here at the Vancouver Sun). This is great news. Canada has long trumpeted its Access to Information Legislation as world leading. This was
Continue readingwmtc: canadian health care professionals continue to speak out for refugee health care
The chorus of health care professionals publicly opposing the Harper Government’s cuts to refugee health care services is growing stronger and louder. Every major health care professional association is speaking out against the Harper-Kenney regime’s attack on refugees. The Harper government may be prepared to call every Canadian doctor, nurse,
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Zach Armstrong: Step Up, Step Aside
I recently attended the Ontario Liberal Party’s Provincial Council in Sudbury. It was great to see so many dedicated Liberals working together in Northern Ontario, but one moment was particularly inspiring. During a session about youth in politics, Kathleen Wynne (Minister of Municipal & Aboriginal Affairs) provided some insights from
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Micah Goldberg: Trudeau Leadership Needs Big Ideas
Politics is more about timing than it is skill. Being the right person in the right place at the right time is more conducive to political success than being the wisest, best-educated or most prudent individual in the world. With Bob Rae’s decision to respect his oath not to seek
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Justin Trudeau is a Serious Candidate for a Serious Party
I agree with Andrew Coyne that the Liberal Party of Canada needs to be the party of bold policy ideas and that on some issues we need to be to the left of the NDP/to the right of the Conservatives. However, I strongly disagree with Mr. Coyne’s assertion that “a party
Continue readingVijaySappani.com 2012-07-06 16:31:14
Call from ICCC Mentoring Program 2012 The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of the 4th round of its mentorship program. This three-month long program was launched in May 2010. The main objectives of this program are to connect internationally trained Indo-Canadian newcomers with successful Indo-Canadian
Continue readingPressing Politics: The NL Big Picture: NDP Tops Tories in New Poll, Liberals Showing Signs of Return
It has certainly been an interesting couple of days. On Wednesday I published a blog which argued that for the first time in post-confederation NL history, the upcoming provincial election in 2015 would be wide open race between three parties. … Continue reading →
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Umm.. this is ministerial accountability, Globe and Mail?
There was an editorial in the Globe and Mail yesterday, saying basically while it was overdue, Bev Oda deciding to leave as a Minister was a sgin that Harper holds his Ministers accountable for their actions. That raised a few eyebrows; my friend Impolitical listed several ministers whose ministerial indiscretions
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: An early test of the Harper record – thanks to Bev Oda.
In brief, my position on Bev Oda is that in my view, resigning her Cabinet position and as an MP is probably one of the few things Bev Oda did correctly in her eight year tenure at Parliament Hill. It was long overdue. In a more general sense, it will
Continue readingAlberta Diary: The coda to Oda was writ bright with orange juice
Bev Oda, foreground, enjoys a celebratory dinner at the Savoy, her orange juice just visible under her right arm. Departing Canadian politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Ms. Oda in happier times; Ms. Oda has a last cigarette before barking out the order to the firing squad. Bev
Continue readingDented Blue Mercedes: Guest Post – East Hastings: A Love Story
This guest post comes to us from Natalie Reed, who blogs at Freethought Blogs’ Sincerely, Natalie Reed. A Vancouverite and ex-pat from Nova Scotia, she writes on several subjects, including but not limited to trans, queer and feminist issues… with deep insights, like this article on urban gentrification, and support
Continue reading