Jack Layton’s news today was certainly upsetting. However, if anyone can fight an uphill battle it’s him. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, sir.
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Accidental Deliberations: Layton Announcement Roundup
Not much to add on this end to the news that Jack Layton is taking a temporary leave of absence to deal with a new form of cancer. But let’s note a few of the pieces which stand out in the day’s coverage. – The CP reviewed the outpouring of best wishes…
Continue readingTrashy's World: Gotta love those who read and comment in the T.O. Sun…
Be sure to not eat anything before reading this that you don’t want to see again in a few minutes.
I can’t believe that I’m of the same species as these scum.
Yeah, scum. pond scum. The scum you scrape off rotting deli meat. I’m…
CuriosityCat: The Cat favours Thomas Mulcair to replace Jack Layton
Thomas MulcairLayton is stepping down as leader of the NDP to fight a new cancer attack, and a temporary leader will be selected by the party, and might only serve until mid-September if Layton returns fit enough to take up the reins again.The Cat re…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: First things first
Meanwhile, for those wondering what the NDP has been up to in its first summer as Official Opposition, the Hill Times has part of the answer:(W)ith so many new and young MPs, the question begs asking about whether or not this year’s summer caucus meeti…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Compare and contrast
One party’s response to a limited amount of Parliamentary resources:“New Democrat MPs were responsible for 56 per cent of all private members’ motions, and 59 per cent of all private members’ bills. Compared to other parties, that’s four times …
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Is Social Assistance a “Poverty Pariah?”
An article in the current edition of NOW Magazine looks at social assistance in Ontario. The article is aptly entitled “Poverty Pariah,” in light of how apparently unpopular Ontario’s welfare system has become over the past 20 years. As can be seen at the National Council of Welfare’s Interactive Welfare Incomes Map, a single adult […]
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On primary purposes
Yes, it’s striking enough that multiple parties’ MPs went out of their way to destroy information about constituent requests to make it harder for new NDP MPs to do their job. But it’s particularly worth comparing the Cons’ treatment of constituents’ p…
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: Canada prepares to de-register Norway masscre weapon
Preparing to massacre his fellow Norwegians, Anders Berhing Breivik found it impossible to illegally acquire a machine gun.Having failed in that effort, he purchased a Ruger Mini-14 which he described as “the most “army like” rifle allowed in Norway, a…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: The debate begins
Earlier this week, Gary Mason asked whether there would be any serious debate over the CETA. In case there were any doubt, Robert Chisholm provides the answer:These deals can create jobs or ship them overseas. They can foster growth that supports our s…
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Let’s give the Tea Party credit
Americans were plunged into the financial meltdown a few years ago, brought on by the excess and readily available credit that the US has been living on for several decades. And many Americans have now had their wings clipped, and have been stripped of…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Unclear on the concept
Quick, try to make sense of this passage from Postmedia’s coverage of the Cons’ plans to reintroduce gun registry legislation this fall:In October 2010, the bill was killed by an opposition motion, which passed by a slim margin of 153-151. The motion w…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading…- While I agree with Murray Dobbin’s latest to a point, I’d think it’s worth clarifying exactly what kind of fight we can and should expect from the NDP over the next four years. To the extent one consid…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On value debates
Yes, Bruce Anderson’s latest has already been duly mocked. But it’s particularly worth contrasting Anderson’s claim that no party should date to criticize the Cons as overly right-wing against what Canadians themselves actually want done from a policy …
Continue readingCowboys for Social Responsibility: More NDP hypocrisy on guns
When guns are killing people in foreign places, the NDP has a clear position, Canada should do whatever we can to stop it.When they’re killing vulnerable women and children in Canada, not so much.
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Maybe We Should Have Gone in 2009
I’ve been thinking aloud recently about whether or not the Liberal Party would have been put into a better position post-election if said election was held during the fall of 2009, rather than the spring of 2011.You of course remember what that was, ri…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Armine Yalnizyan follows up on the Conference Board of Canada’s recognition that growing inequality is a serious problem for Canada by noting the similar observations around the globe:There is a growing awarene…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Evening Links
Assorted content to end your day.- Charlie Angus is leading the charge against the Cons’ plan to ram through lawful access legislation, labeling it as warrantless snooping and spying on Canadians. We’ll have to see how far Angus can get in swaying publ…
Continue readingThibodeau v Air Canada
The Federal Court decision in Thibodeau v Air Canada is here. But you can get a sense of the outcome via just about any major national media outlet this afternoon.As Canadian Press reported:”Air Canada must pay $12,000 and apologize to an Ottawa coupl…
Continue readingOn the Ontario NDP’s 2011 platform.
Okay. The Ontario NDP’s platform. The Plan for Affordable Change (warning: PDF). Jeez, focus-group that name much? I’m splitting this into the four areas that the ONDP did in the platform, for ease of reference.1. Making life affordableYou mean it’s no…
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