There is a saying that, in many cases is a mere platitude: “Time heals all wounds.” Often said to the bereaved, it is meant to impart that there are better days ahead; things will get better. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Take, for example the destruction wrought
Continue readingTag: Mike Harris
Politics and its Discontents: The Mike Harris Abomination
Those who live in Ontario and are of a certain age will remember the disaster that was the Mike Harris premiership. Yet despite all the damage he did to this province, (and continues to do as the Chair of Chartwell which, by the way, is rewarding its investors handsomely
Continue readingScripturient: Whatever happened to conservatives?
It’s hard to believe these days, but in many nations, conservative political parties were once actually the defenders of the nation’s interests, of the greater good, of the public, and of the state. They weren’t always the corporate shills, protectors of billionaires, privatizing libertarians, lobbyist puppets, Talibangelist lapdogs*, and racists
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Is Doug Ford Even Worse Than Mike Harris?
I didn't live in Toronto when Mike Harris and his Cons ruled Ontario from 1995 to 2002.But I heard about the damage him and his "Common Sense Revolution" did to the province, and how it took a decade to recover. And how many poor and vulnerable people never did, because they
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Smooth Move, Mike
In 1998 the Ontario government of then premier, Mike Harris, sold the 407 highway to for $3.1 billion to a Spanish-led consortium that included – wait for it – SNC-Lavalin. The Ontario government had built the 407 for around $1.5 billion but Mike needed to get the books in order
Continue readingMichal Rozworski: How Doug Ford won and how to challenge him
Last Thursday was a dark day in Ontario as the Conservative Party led by businessman-bully-bullshitter Doug Ford won a majority in the provincial election. Two guests assess the factors behind the Ford’s win and the chances for building an effective opposition to the coming right-wing agenda for Canada’s most populous
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Doug Ford and the Enema of My Enemies
Well he's now officially the leader, or the Boss of Bosses, of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.After complaining about "serious irregularities" poor old Christine Elliott has hurriedly surrendered.“After completing my review, I am confident in the results. I extend my congratulations to Doug Ford on a hard-fought campaign.” And
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Merry Christmas to all! Santa is bringing presents for everyone this holiday, regardless of political orientation
PHOTOS: Merry Christmas! Your blogger with a man who can penetrate North American air defences with ease. Russian President Vladimir Putin may not appear exactly as illustrated. (Joke.) Below: Political strategist Stephen Carter with the same blogger; Alberta pollster Janet Brown; Conservative strategist Alan Hallman, who is now associated with
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Stephen Harper and The Canada Revenue Agency: The Unholy Alliance Continues
I have written many times about the unholy partnership between Stephen Harper and the Canada Revenue Agency that takes the form of an auditing witch hunt of those charities that in any way offer criticism of Dear Leader’s policies. The latest news offers further proof that official avowals of impartiality
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper: The Political Predator and the E.I. Scam
It was the PMO's Picture of the Week. Stephen Harper receiving a report on the situation in Ukraine from the brutish former Premier of Ontario Mike Harris.In his never-ending pursuit of the ethnic vote.Even though, sadly for him, the only ones who covered the event were his PMO flunkies.Because even the
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Tim Hudak, the GOP and Voter Suppression
I posted recently about an Ontario conservative scheme to suppress the vote in the upcoming provincial election. A Party calling themselves None of the Above could be traced back to Mike Harris. Recently it was also discovered that several Ontario households received letters from the PC Party with incorrect information,
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: None of the Above and Latinos for Reform
During the 2010 U.S. mid-term election campaign, a group of “discontents” emerged, calling themselves Latinos for Reform. President Obama had secured most of the Latino vote in 2008, so the group’s message was that Obama had let them down. Given the Republican’s anti-immigration policies, LFR knew that voting GOP
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Beware of Those Bearing Pledges. They Might Just Have to Honour Them
Men should pledge themselves to nothing; for reflection makes a liar of their resolution. Sophocles Pledges are nothing new for politicians. Some are broad in scope, like FDR’s pledge to a New Deal for Americans, or President Obama’s pledge to not raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Tim Hudak Wants to be Like Mitch Daniels. No Wonder. He’s Another Mike Harris
Indiana- Louise Cohoon was at home when her 80-year-old mother called in a panic from Terre Haute: The $97 monthly Medicaid payment she relied on to supplement her $600-a-month income had been cut without warning by a private company that had taken over the state’s welfare system. (1) Hold that
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Should Hudak Be Running on an Anti-Union Platform Before he Has His Hands on the Public Purse?
In 1999, Mike Harris ran in Ontario on an anti-union platform, promising to get tough with union bosses. The backlash was immediate, but Harris wasn’t worried. He had a secret weapon. Deceit. In the run-up to the election he had pulled out all the stops, beginning with advertising at the
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Disgraceful Adventures of the Con Regime
As I've mentioned recently, I can't be sure whether Stephen Harper is now in a state of total denial, or totally broken by scandal, or just totally insane.But either way it's deeply disturbing, and one does have to question whether he's fit to remain in office. For there he was in
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Common Sense Revolution Redux ( A.K.A. Tiny Tim Roars)
H/t Theo Moudakis If you have resided in Ontario for some years, and were of a certain age when Ontario’s Common Sense Revolution was conducted by Mike ‘The Knife’ Harris, you will recall it was a time of great upheaval that, contrary to the mythologizing that the right-wing so much
Continue readingTrashy's World: Tim Hudak is sooooo out of touch!
Of course he is out of touch. It’s Tim Hudak that we’re talking about here, folks. That’s not a big surprise. But what is a surprise isthe extent of his disconnect. His “1 million jobs”, *ahem* “plan” is perhaps the most ill-thought out set of proposals I have ever seen
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Advice to progressives: Don’t airbrush Jim Flaherty’s record out of sympathy for his family
The late Jim Flaherty tries on the traditional new shoes just before delivering his 2012 federal budget. Below, some of Mr. Flaherty’s friends and colleagues: former Ontario premier Mike Harris, in whose government he also served; Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Decent people naturally feel sympathy with
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Shining you on: Alison Redford calls for a little selective sunshine on civil service salaries
The scene in February 2014: CBC investigative journalist Charles Rusnell pores through a list of senior Alberta civil service salaries as horrified deputy ministers and university professors look on. Actual Alberta public employees may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Associate Minister of Accountability, Transparency and Transformation Don Scott, left,
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