David Merner (left) and Alberta Liberal Party president Todd Van Vliet (right.) “It’s funny, I thought I would be running as a pro-business, pro-environment West-coast Liberal but it looks like I’ve become the ‘cooperation candidate.‘” That was former LPC(BC) President David Merner’s reaction when I told him that I had
Continue readingTag: Liberal Party of Canada
CalgaryLiberal: Should JT Run?
So this one Quebec MP, who is a capable politician in his own right, who has spoken at hundreds of Liberal fundraisers over the years, has national branding from his father, and has, over the last while, began to finally eke out his own brand, has said no to running
Continue readingThe Equivocator: The Liberal Party: A Substantial Heritage, a Future of Substance (Co-written with Theresa Lubowitz)
Theresa Lubowitz on the Death of Substantive Policy Canada is teetering dangerously close to the death of substantive policy as we know it, with the rise of a populist Conservative Government, a populist NDP Official Opposition, and a struggling Liberal Party so afraid of irrelevancy it has spent the last
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Toronto Pride with the Queer Liberals
“There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” – Pierre Trudeau While at university I made appoint of watching the Toronto Pride Parade a a member of the crowd. This year, thanks to my friends in the Queer Liberals, I was able to participate in
Continue readingThe Equivocator: In Defense of “Second Tier” Candidates
On July 4th Bob Hepburn wrote this silly article: “Warning to Liberals: Beware delusional no-hope leadership candidates.” I would like to defend these so-called “no-hope” candidates. The next Liberal leader is unlikely to be elected Prime Minister in 2015. We must have a 2 election strategy. The Liberal Party cannot
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Elections Canada Out To Sabotage Etobicoke Centre By-election
There’s no better way to characterize the agency’s role in the high-stakes Etobicoke Centre by-election appeal heard by the Supreme Court of Canada earlier this week. The “independent” and “non-partisan” agency responsible for conducting federal elections and referendums in Canada is unequivocally siding with Ted Opitz, the Conservative MP who
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 readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Liberal Party Petition: No More Omnibus Bills, Harper
The just-concluded Parliamentary session witnessed “serious abuses of power by the Harper Conservatives” through the use of two omnibus bills “that are radically changing Canada”: crime Bill C-10 and Budget Bill C-38. Please Go HERE to sign and share the Liberal Party of Canada’s petition against this abuse of power by
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: TVO’s The Agenda: The New McCarthyism
There is no worse cancer in a free society than the thuggish impulse to equate dissent as disloyalty… The greatest patriot is the person with the courage to be the lone voice in the crowd crying out that the Emperor has no clothes. The test of our society’s democratic nature
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: TVO’s The Agenda: The New McCarthyism
There is no worse cancer in a free society than the thuggish impulse to equate dissent as disloyalty… The greatest patriot is the person with the courage to be the lone voice in the crowd crying out that the Emperor has no clothes. The test of our society’s democratic nature
Continue readingcenterandleft: Conservative Transparancy Now Scientifically Proven to be a Joke
51st place isn’t necessarily always a bad thing. The 51st wealthiest person in the world, or the 51st smartest are blessed to be so lucky. It’s a placement they can be proud of. When your country is ranked 51st on any list, it is unlikely to be a source of
Continue readingsomecanuckchick dot com: Fixed Election Date #FAIL
WTF does not even begin to convey my complete and utter shock and disgust… Today, in the House of Commons, during Question Period, the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada asked the Prime Minister about Canada’s fixed election date (known as #elxn42 to the #cdnpoli Twitterati), the legislation
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Harper v. Canada: Stephen Harper Addresses Right Wing U.S. Think Tank
Understanding the Canadian prime minister’s war against our democratic institutions, freedoms and legitimate dissent Editor’s Note: In June 1997, Stephen Harper addressed a Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy (CNP), a right-wing U.S. think tank. His speech unequivocally foreshadowed his ongoing war against Canadian democracy. Harper described Canada
Continue readingsomecanuckchick dot com: Facts versus Fodder
FACT: “We [he and wife Arlene] made a pact. I’m doing this interim job and that’s the job I’m doing.” — Bob Rae FACT: “I also have no qualms about saying this is a limited term that I’ve accepted and I look forward to working within that term.” — Bob
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Harpo Hate Monster and the Liberals
Oh. Mein.Cabaret. It's showtime in Harperland. The Cons are screening their latest attack ad. And this time the Harpo hate monster is going after the NDP !!! But wait what's this? Despite the creepy Halloween theme, the critics are panning it. Not because it's clearly a product of Stephen Harper's
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Joseph Uranowski and Liam Nichols Endorse Parker Mackay for Riding Director of the Ontario Young Liberals
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Parker on the 2012 provincial election campaign. As founding members of the Whitby-Oshawa Young Liberals, we have worked closely together over the last number of months to build a strong Young Liberal club in Whitby-Oshawa. Parker is a fantastic choice for Riding Director.
Continue readingThe Equivocator: 5 Questions: Omar Alghabra
Omar Alghabra was the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Erindale from 2006–2008. He ran again in 2011 and parliament is a worse place without him in it. Omar is a strong progressive voice and his positive attitude is infectious. He was nice enough to answers my questions: 1. Why are you
Continue readingThe Equivocator: 5 Questions: Shane Mackenzie
Shane Mackenzie is the OYL United candidate for Policy Director. His proficiency at online communications and social media brought him to my attention shortly after the last federal election. Shane is incredibly hard-working, funny and sincere. He was kind enough to answer my questions: 1. Why are you a Liberal?
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