TweetWith Alberta’s daily political scene dominated by the loud and partisan voices of the governing Progressive Conservatives and the official opposition Wildrose, it has become easy to miss what is happening in Alberta’s other political parties. Here is a quick look at some news from the other parties represented in the
Continue readingTag: Justin Trudeau
Politics and its Discontents: Is Trudeau’s Poll Lead Such A Good Thing?
The latest polls show the Trudeau-led Liberals leading the Harper Conservatives 36% to 29%, with the NDP at 23%. Coincidentally, this petition from Forest EthicsEthics suggests it is not necessarily an occasion for celebration: WHOSE SIDE IS JUSTIN ON, ANYWAY? Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has been in office just a
Continue readingCalgary Grit: Canada Day Quiz
We all know him as “Justin Trudeau’s father” today, but there was a time when Pierre was just a lowly Justice Minister, needing 4 ballots to win the party’s leadership. Test your political skills with this 10-question quiz about the present – and the past – of Canadian politics. 1.
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Amateur Hour
I’m not sure this should surprise anyone, given the way the PMO has acted recently: The Prime Minister’s Office orchestrated a protest earlier this month at which Conservative party interns mocked Liberal leader Justin Trudeau during an open-air news conference. It is the latest revelation about the lengths to which
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Summer of Discontent
Well I see Stephen Harper is back in Canada after his disastrous performance at the G8 Summit.He was wrong about a Syria agreement. The other leaders did manage to cobble one together.He was wrong about Vladimir Putin. He wasn't the odd man out at the meeting, Harper was.He couldn't get a trade
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: A Little Bit of Moonlight Limelight
There’s a whole bundle of things we need to talk about, so lets get right down to it. Last weekend, a note from a charity rocked Parliament Hill by asking Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau to return $20,000 from a speaking engagement that they said failed to produce results and left
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Scumbags in the Harper PMO Strike Again
Ever since I started blogging I have used the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch to illustrate Stephen Harper's PMO.For nothing else can better portray the mixture of religious fanaticism and political degeneracy that reigns in that hellish place.They have perverted our politics, they have violated our traditions, they are the foulest bullies
Continue readingMontreal Simon: James Moore and the Framing of Justin Trudeau
In the ghastly Orwellian circus that the Cons have turned our Parliament into, it was a wonderful moment.There was James Moore, filling in for Stephen Harper, doing what he has been doing since Great Ugly Leader left for Europe in a hurry.Answering every question by smearing the opposition.Read more »
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On tests of character
Dr. Dawg has rightly pointed out the Cons’ attempt to invent a story based on Tom Mulcair’s audiacity in driving to his own parking spot. (Though we can be assured that members of the limo-propelled Con cabinet will never face precisely that same scenario.) But if there is a story
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Justin Trudeau raises the bar for MPs and Senators
A breath of fresh air in Ottawa In a move that is refreshing, because it shows an MP who is willing to listen to criticism, and to rethink matters in the light of such criticism, Justin Trudeau has announced that he will work with charities to reach some solution satisfactory
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Warning to Tories: It’s not just Trudeau any more … it’s open season on public speakers!
Dave Rodney, the only Conservative MLA for Calgary Lougheed ever to have climbed Mt. Everest twice, or once, for that matter. He is an inspirational speaker. Really. Below: The young Justin Trudeau. Below Mr. Trudeau: The young G. Gordon Liddy and your blogger, also young. Is that 1970s moustache action
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Journalists found guilty of ethical breaches really shouldn’t lecture on journalistic ethics
People who live in glass houses next door to used car lots shouldn’t … Below: Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente, the Globe’s disclaimer. S’cuse me! We ex-journalists are permitted to do whatever we like! And if Prime Minister Thomas Mulcair wants to appoint me to the Senate, I’m taking
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Things you don’t see every day…
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation endorsing a Liberal’s plan? Yup. In this case, it is Justin Trudeau’s proposed expense reforms for MP’s and Senator’s, as well as the unilateral decision starting in the Autumn of Liberals opening up their expenses for public scrutiny: Liberal MPs and senators will be publicly posting
Continue readingA Different Point of View....: Just winning next election not enough for Liberals or NDP
With the next federal election a little more than two years away, it is time we started asking the Liberals and New Democrats what kind of government they will deliver if either one could bounce the Conservatives from power. It would be unwise to underestimate the Conservatives’ devious political smarts,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Day Stephen Harper Was Grilled Like a Criminal
It was without a doubt the best Question Period I have ever watched.The day Stephen Harper was finally forced to answer questions about the Senate scandal. And was roasted like a chicken, or grilled like a criminal.Read more »
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Prime Minister Harper was roasted like a rotisserie chicken
PM Stephen Harper Today’s question period in the House of Commons finally showed onlookers what real question periods are for. The prime minister was appearing for the first time since the Senator Duffy loan was made by his chief of staff. And the opposition leaders asked pointed, clear questions. Mulcair
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Word From The West
We are still in Alberta, having just returned to Edmonton from a trip to Banff and Lake Louise conducted by our son. I suspect that even if we weren’t here, I would have some sympathy for the West’s reaction to the latest utterance from Justin Trudeau. Although I generally don’t
Continue readingCanadian Political Viewpoints: Rethinking the Senate
I’ve had to give this topic a lot of thought, given my past views favouring reform of the Senate over complete abolition. For the longest time, at least from my perspective, it had appeared that corrupt Senators was the abnormality in the Upper Chamber rather than the norm; of course,
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: On Senate Reform
Your latest poll from Forum Research on what should be done with the Senate: “More than one third want to abolish the Senate. An additional 37% called for the Senate to become an elected body. Less than 10% felt it best to leave the Senate as is. The latest results
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Andrew Coyne notes that the Robocon decision finding electoral fraud using the Cons’ voter database fell short of naming names – but recognizes that there’s still a glaring need for further investigation, a sentiment echoed by the Globe and Mail. Tim Harper explains
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