Alice has taken a thorough look at the 2011 Q4 fund-raising totals in the NDP’s leadership race and mused that fund-raising may serve as a proxy for first-ballot support. But I’ll follow up on a couple of points. Let’s start with a couple of reasons to take yesterday’s numbers with
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Oily in Canada, eh?
Franke James, the artist who was blacklisted by the HarperCons, lives in Joe Oliver’s riding. She was excited to learn that he is open to meeting with environmental groups. So, she’s issued a public letter, taking him up on his offer and requesting a meeting with him. Today in the
Continue readingRandom Ranting Raving and Ratings: Getting it Wrong and Limiting Debate on Pensions
The first day of Parliament 2012 and the Conservatives are already strangling debate. As we have seen in previous years the Conservative MPs unable to speak for themselves got up and repeated the same old talking points… this time on Pooled Pensions. Watching the debate I could picture… ..
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
The NDP’s leadership campaign has been relatively quiet in the day-plus since Sunday’s debate as the resumption of Parliament offered other fodder for political discussion. But let’s follow up on the debate and what has happened since then. – Aaron Wherry live-blogged the debate, then rounded up debate reactions so
Continue readingHow’s That Finger in the Eye Taste, Harper
I expect I’m likely going to be eaten alive by this post. I’ll pass you the dipping sauce for ease of consumption Brad Trost, the Conservatiave MP from Saskatchewan, has made himself out to be a martyr for democracy. His leader and Prime Minister Stephen Harper has stated repeatedly that he will
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Does Stephen Harper Support Coalitions?
If coalitions are undemocratic and a threat to Canada, why hasn’t this strong stable Conservative majority government done anything to make sure they don’t ravage our nation? Simple, Stephen Harper supports coalitions. Just over three years ago Stephen Harper and members of his party said coalitions were a threat to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Parliament in Review: November 25, 2011
Friday, November 25 saw the House of Commons debate two NDP ideas: one to allow for meaningful debate and consideration of legislation in Parliament, the other to give effect to a principle the Cons are looking to punt to a committee in the apparent hope that it’ll never surface again.
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Jonathan Scott: A Progressive & Responsible Party
During and since the Ottawa convention, there has been a lot of soul searching about what it means to be a Liberal. I realise I keep returning to this question. What is the soul of the Liberal Party? And how will the Party fulfill the goals of its soul? It’s
Continue readingMy, Ahem, OFFICIAL Official Endorsement for #NDPLDR
Well, that time has come. After watching the debates in Halifax tonight, going over the platforms and consulting various tweeps and others within the NDP I made my decision. For the 2012 Leadership Convention of the NDP, to be held March 24th, I will be voting for Member of Parliament
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Halifax NDP Federal Leader Debate January 29th Analysis
The following is various reactions and analysis of the Halifax NDP Federal Leader debate on January 27th. Previous NDP debate commentary: Dec 4th Ottawa Debate | January 18th Toronto Debate part 1 | January 18th Toronto Debate part 2 (Issues and Themes). The third English language debate largely followed the themes and
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Candidate Rankings – January 29, 2012
With one exception, the NDP’s Halifax leadership debate looks largely to have largely reinforced the previous positions of its leadership candidates. But there could be plenty more changes in store if a few developments from the debate hold up in the weeks to come. 1. Thomas Mulcair (1) As the
Continue readingRandom Ranting Raving and Ratings: Harper Conservatives – Cutting off Old-Age Security
The Harper Conservatives are making a move to cut off Old-Age Security. Their internal communications are framing Old-Age Security as a burden on ordinary Canadians. I don’t see many Canadians complaining that a small portion of their tax money goes into ensuring that low-income seniors… ..
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
In the lead-up to tomorrow’s official debate in Halifax, the end of this week saw plenty of developments in the NDP leadership race – including both the familiar combination of endorsements, videos and policy releases from the campaigns themselves, and an increase in outside reporting that took coverage in a
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Lloyd Snelgrove’s Dinner with Danielle: far-right desperation or another Wildrose exodus?
Phone camera photo? Former Stelmach right-hand man Lloyd Snelgrove spotted with Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith in Calgary brewpub! Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below, the real Mr. Snelgrove (caught without his trademark goatee) and the real Ms. Smith. With election fever gripping the province and the far-right
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On responsible management
Tobi Cohen’s report on fund-raising in the NDP’s leadership race ends up serving largely as an analysis of Nathan Cullen’s position and fund-raising to date due to his willingness to provide a donor list before it’s required. (Which nicely signals the value of working with media on that type of
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Evening Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Andrew Jackson notes that the IMF is telling countries in Canada’s position to hold off on gratuitous austerity. And Trish Hennessy wonders why so many Canadians seem to have forgotten what happened last time budget-slashing was in vogue. – Meanwhile, Erin documents
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Following up on this morning’s roundup, I comment here on how the NDP’s group of leadership candidates includes loads of possibilities to take up Jack Layton’s mantle of negotiation and cooperation. As a brief bit of further reading, it was Dan Gardner who asked whether Stephen Harper had ever engaged
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2012 Roundup
Yes, Alice comes as close as one can to distilling the entire NDP leadership race into a single post. But there’s still plenty going on as the field becomes official – so let’s take a look at what’s new over the past couple of days. – Niki Ashton released a
Continue readingFar and Wide: Red Wave Envelops Canada
Well not quite, but since the name of the game in the short term is perceived viability, Liberals will take the recent spate of polling. Three polls out, all offer similar trends, Liberals will a slight uptick, NDP down, reinforcing recent narratives. Perhaps of biggest concern to the NDP, CROP
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On consistent distortions
Of course, we shouldn’t be spending too much time watching polls four years away from the next federal election campaign in the first place. But is it really too much to suggest that an eight point drop for the governing party and a near-total lack of movement get reflected in
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