And not laws. If I had to guess how the Harperites will deal with a court ruling against them on the CWB, I would say they are going to ram through their legislation in the Senate, get it royal assent and then argue that they broke no law because the
Continue readingTag: Canadian Wheat Board
the reeves report: UPDATED: Federal Court rules Agriculture Minister violated the Wheat Board charter
Agriculture Minister Gary Ritz on 'Marketing Freedom' Judge Douglas R. Campbell has ruled that Agriculture Minister Gary Ritz violated the Canada Wheat Board charter and the law with regards to making fundamental changes to the structure of the organization and “must be held accountable.” “Had a meaningful consultative process been
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how the Cons are taking away the real choice currently enjoyed by Western grain producers thanks to the Canadians Wheat Board. The data on grain production within the column is drawn from Statistics Canada. And see CBC’s report on the total lack of planning by the Cons in
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 26 saw a rare opportunity for the opposition parties to set the agenda. And as a result, the big issue was one which the Cons prefer to discuss as little as possible – even if it’s far more relevant to more Canadians than most of the Harper government’s
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: On Global Day of Action, Occupy Ottawa flexes underrated muscle
By Obert Madondo Even as the threat of eviction from Confederation Park looms larger, the Occupy Ottawa movement is getting stronger, says Arun Smith. Yesterday, the movement held simultaneous marches before four key Ottawa landmarks: …Read More
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Afternoon Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Thomas Walkom suggests that the systematic eviction of Occupy camps from Canadian cities may only help the movement to evolve from its first form: City administrations in places like Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver are inadvertently handing demonstrators something they desperately need —
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Lock up Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper’s Conservatives like to present themselves as tough on crime, committed to accountable government and respectful of the rule of law. Given their record, we have to ask ourselves, when will we march them off to the nearest penitentiary to begin serving the mandatory minimum sentences they so richly
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Will farmers get it and stop voting Conservative when TPP talks leave the family farm on the ropes?
Would you buy a used dairy farm from this man? Stephen Harper shows his support for Canadian dairy, egg and poultry farmers. Canadian Conservative prime ministers may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: the future of the family farm in Canada, thanks to Conservative policies; former agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 25 saw another day of discussion about the Canadian Wheat Board. But this time, the topic of debate was set on the opposition’s terms, as the proceedings focused on Niki Ashton’s motion calling to allow grain producers to vote for them…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 24, 2011
Monday, October 24 saw another day dedicated largely to discussion on the Canadian Wheat Board – with the Cons simultaneously declaring that there’s nothing to debate and failing to respond to the concerns pointed out repeatedly by the opposition, whil…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Too close to home
Yes, the threat of a slander suit probably had something to do with Gerry Ritz’ desperate retreat after attacking the Canadian Wheat Board. But more important is the significance of Ritz’ allegation based on what his own party has done: if one consider…
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: 7 reasons city slickers should support the Canadian Wheat Board
I received this letter from the Friends of the Canadian Wheat Board. I think it speaks for itself. The Attack on the Canadian Wheat Board: Seven Reasons Non-Farmers Should Care … and Act On October 18th, Prime Minister Harper introduced legislation, Bill C-18, to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board. The majority of farmers oppose the […]
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: The Reformers Remain Out of Step With Canadians
Now that Stephen Harper has his majority, he has been pushing through the Reform Party agenda at lightening speed.If you want to know what that agenda looks like, read anything written on the Reformers from 1987-1999. Stephen Harper drafted their polic…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 20, 2011
The main topic of debate on Thursday, October 20 was the Canadian Wheat Board – with extensive discussion in Parliament of both the Cons’ steps to shut down debate, and the substance of what should happen with the Wheat Board.The Big IssueThe passage o…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Is It Time For a Farmer’s Revolt?
The Canadian Wheat Board has placed a full page ad in newspapers across the country, condemning the Harper government for dismantling the Canadian Wheat Board.He first took up this campaign when he was with the National Citizens Coalition, on behalf of…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 19, 2011
Wednesday, October 19 saw plenty of discussion of the Cons’ legislation to undermine the Canadian Wheat Board – both in the second-reading debate on the bill, and assorted procedural moves surrounding the legislation.The Big IssueNot surprisingly, Pat …
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Video: Winnipeg Save the Canadian Wheat Board Rally
Against the wished of most western farmers, and in defiance of laws that they are sworn to uphold, Stephen Harper and his Conservatives are poised to destroy the Canadian Wheat Board. In truly Orwellian fashion, the Tories describe this as “democracy,” all the while invoking closure on Parliamentary debate and refusing to hold the farmers’ […]
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Stephen Harper’s questionable respect for democracy
When Stephen Harper won a majority government this last May, I wrote that one litmus test for the next four years would be regarding his respect for transparency, parliamentary procedures, and a willingness to engage in the adversarial process that def…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: October 18, 2011
There hasn’t been as much reporting on the Cons’ re-introduction of copyright legislation as there was at some other points when previous incarnations were up for discussion. But Tuesday, October 18 saw second-reading debate in Parliament on the bill -…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Andrew Coyne asks some disturbing questions as to how the federal government is becoming less and less accountable:In other countries, executive power is subject to various checks and balances. Who or …
Continue reading