Remember a few months ago when, to great public fanfare, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced in its budget that it would be giving consumers a break on their energy bills, by (somehow) eliminating the province’s portion of the HST …
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Accidental Deliberations: Parliament In Review: June 15, 2011
Yes, the spring session of Parliament has come to an end. But with much less news popping up on the political scene, I’ll take the opportunity to take a look back at the days I didn’t get to through my Parliament in Review posts – starting with Wednesd…
Continue readingImpolitical: Horwath gaffe watch
So, the Ontario election campaign is getting a little more interesting of late. This quote by NDP leader Andrea Horwath really deserves a second look: “I’m putting a party back in the party,” Horwath, 48, said Sunday, one day after raising eyebro…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material to end your weekend.- Brian Topp points out the biggest difference between the Parliamentary reaction to the Harper Cons’ attack on Canada Post workers and previous overreaches by the Con government: Before May 2, there would hav…
Continue readingThey Call Me "Mr. Sinister": Sunday Thoughts
Well the filibuster is finished and the Conservatives have gotten their way. There is nothing new in that. It is something we will have to face over the next few years. If this government wants to do something, it will do it. Still, the opposition did …
Continue readingBlunt Objects: Have the NDP Fallen Into a Trap?
Tom Mulcair and Jack Layton – Protecting Canadian UnionsIt’s possible Jack Layton doesn’t know Admiral Ackbar, but one wonders whether the two should meet.The longer the NDP filibuster continues on, the more I feel that they’ve fallen into a highly cle…
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: A Message to Every Alberta Liberal: End the Writing off of People
I was reading one comment made over on Calgarygrit’s blog made by a fellow by the name of “Frank” I felt this sinking, sickening feeling. Every single time I hear someone saying we shouldn’t attempt to bring in a group of people…
Continue readingcmkl: Did the NDP fall into a trap?
I suppose the doyens of public opinion research will tell us the answers soon enough, but I’m wondering if, as Bob Rae claims, the NDP fell into a Tory-set trap by embarking on this filibuster.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On learning experiences
Let’s close this blog’s discussion of #vancon2011 with one last post, this time dealing with the NDP’s constitutional preamble – which figured to be the convention’s main topic of interest until it was deferred for further consultation.There’s no doubt…
Continue readingkirbycairo: A Few Lugubrious Thoughts for Friday Afternoon. . . .
– I would like to thank and congratulate the NDP caucus for their opposition to the back to work legislation concerning the Postal Workers. It is an important, if symbolic, gesture of solidarity which reminds us that there is someone opposing the corpo…
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: The Great Canadian Standoff
The NDP are filibustering, presenting their 20 minute speeches, delaying the vote on the back to work legislation, that would force postal workers back on the job, for less money than originally offered.I don’t know if Lisa Raitt finds union busting as…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On maturing processes
Let’s take a look at a couple of final issues from #vancon2011, starting with the series of machinations around resolutions ruling out merger or non-compete agreements with the Liberals.As I noted at the time, the convention planners gave a prominent p…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Underestimated
Others have already noted how refreshing it is to have an Official Opposition which is willing to take a stand on issues of substance. But it’s also worth highlighting another important factor in the NDP’s strategy for this week.One of the main blind s…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading.- Paul Wells is pleased to have received some response about how the Cons claim to be saving money. But it’s worth taking a close look at the substance of that response, and particularly highlighting that one of …
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Riding the wave
A couple of weeks ago, I pointed out that the NDP’s level of Canada-wide support is in line with other parties who have been seen as national contenders for government, in direct contrast to the Canadian Alliance at the point when it saw a merger as ne…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.- Adam Radwanski points out how Stephen Harper’s continuing Senate embarrassment figures to play into the NDP’s hands:If Mr. Harper was looking to signal once and for all that he’s abandoned his populi…
Continue readingDriving The Porcelain Bus: Harper’s plans for the Senate will create a showdown against the provinces.
Senate showdown looms – thestar.comOn one side, there will be the Conservative government. On the other side will be the opposition parties (or, at least the NDP) and the provinces – many of which would like to abolish the Senate altogether (as the NDP…
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Guest Blog: Micah Goldberg on Senate Reform
In America, the Book, Samantha Bee half-jokingly wrote that Canadians were too polite to cause a fuss over our redundant Senate. Seemingly, the times have changed. Senate reform has recently become a fairly hot topic in Canada, especially since our … Continue reading →
Continue readingDriving The Porcelain Bus: New Davenport NDP MP Andrew Cash fighting for justice for Toronto business owners affected by the G20
Ottawa agrees to review G20 claims from Toronto business owners – thestar.comExcerpt:NDP MP Andrew Cash (Davenport) accused the government of trying to bury businesses in paperwork hoping they will “just quietly go away.”“Toronto businesses insid…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On institutionalization
Following up on my earlier post, there was one massive piece of news from #vancon2011 on the capacity development front in the unveiling of the Broadbent Institute. But while it’s hard to see any circumstances where the creation of a new think tank bui…
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