There was a picture in the newspaper the other day of Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa. He was looking so smug and self satisfied as though all was great in the sphere of provincial finances. It seemed to contradict the forecasts that Ontario’s economy is struggling and we are at
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Babel-on-the-Bay: The toils of Tough Tommy.
There was a very telling news clip on the television news the other day of Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair asking a question of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Both speakers had their wall of supporters behind them. Parliament appeared full for Question Period. It was the usual sham. If there is
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Is Chief Blair Mayor Ford’s doppelganger?
That spectre that comes for you as your life flashes before you in death is your doppelganger. It seems totally fitting that the wraith Toronto Mayor Rob Ford should see is Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair. And remember, your doppelganger does not appear as others see you but as you
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: This business of Canada’s Senate.
Surely many Canadians are aware of the Prime Minister repeatedly saying that in any business, people who are reputed to have falsified expense reports would have been fired. We should not rush to agree with him. Mr. Harper is comparing Canada’s Senate to a business and he knows that the
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Has the NDP’s Horwath lost control?
It is one thing to argue with your party leader but it is entirely different to have a profanity-laden screaming match with her in the Ontario Legislature. That was what happened between Hamilton New Democrat Paul Miller and his fellow Hamilton MPP and party leader last Thursday. While New Democrat
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Conservatives constantly challenge change.
At the Halloween convention of the Conservative Party in Calgary, there was often more of interest behind the scenes than at the microphones. One of the most unusual pieces of Conservative literature noted was an attack on proportional representation. It made the unusual claim that “Our country was founded on
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Harper wastes his bully pulpit.
When U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt coined the term ‘bully pulpit,’ he was talking about the White House. He said that it was a pulpit to which people have to listen. Lacking an institution such as the White House, Canadian politicians have to work to chase their pulpits and a bully
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: How green are Premier Wynne’s Green Bonds?
Did you hear about Premier Kathleen Wynne doing another stand-up for the media the other day? It was to promote Green Bonds for transit in Ontario. It could be an interesting talking point if most people already know what a green bond is all about. Just in case there is
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Stephen Harper is counting coup in Calgary.
It is Halloween and the Conservative Party of Canada is gathering in its spiritual home of Calgary to pay obeisance to its liege lord and to drink of the wine of power. The keynote speech will now be Friday evening. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will take the floor sometime after
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Voters hardly deserve our governments.
It is a mindless statement of politics that the voters get the government they deserve. That is such a false statement that it should be declared illegal to even say it. What we most often get across Canada at all levels of government is the government that is the least
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Choosing challengers for Ford’s job.
It is far too early for a morning line forecast on the race for the Toronto mayoralty but the key apparatchiks are in play. While nobody can legally be campaigning until they formally file early next year, there is a lot for the teams to do. The Toronto Star City
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Will Harper weather his winter?
Calgary, at this time of year, already tastes of winter. And as the Conservative Party gathers for its Halloween convention, there is a bite in the air. The real question of the convention is not whether the Prime Minister can handle the chill but what the convention foretells for his
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Ontario, Quebec can do it better together.
Two provinces with the resources are better than one. Two provinces with the ideas are better than one. And two provinces working together can rebuild Canada’s economy to make the country the most dynamic in the world. People have talked about this idea for many years but ignorance and caution
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: A $100,000 dinner not part of democracy.
The other day, Premier Kathleen Wynne defended a $100,000 fund-raising dinner for the Ontario Liberal government. She said that fundraising such as this is all part of democracy. What it is, in fact, is a corruption of democracy and should never be allowed. It is indefensible. The money should be
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Justin Trudeau on the fence.
One of the fun aspects of politics is watching the dance of a politician trying desperately to stay on both sides of an issue. It would have been especially interesting yesterday to watch Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau try to balance himself on the Keystone XL pipeline in front of an
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: A lame duck Harper limps home.
If you have been wondering what Prime Minister Harper is planning for the Conservative Party’s Halloween Convention in Calgary, here is a suggestion. The keynote address is currently scheduled for five pm, Calgary time, on the Saturday. In the East, that means we will miss some of Hockey Night in
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: What is Wynne doing in politics?
Did you see the announcement of Kathleen Wynne’s new super committee to solve all her problems as Premier? If you wait long enough, you too might find yourself on one of her growing lists of committees. The only membership requirement appears to be that you should not be mistaken for
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The Hair hypes his legacy.
Is the door to the Airbus A310 wide enough? Is it high enough? Did that inflated head of perfect hair find an easier way to get on the airplane for the trip back to Canada from Brussels? You could see the glee and the pride when he said at the
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Feeding the Energy Board PAP!
The Enbridge pipeline people have an unfortunate acronym for their public awareness program: PAP. The only problem is that pap is defined in our dictionary as the soft or semi-liquid food for infants or invalids. The word is further defined as undemanding reading matter. And that has been what Enbridge
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Hair and hairdresser having fun in Brussels.
With the Throne Speech a one-day wonder, the Hair had nothing left to do but head for Brussels. The home of the European Union, Brussels today is more than a Mecca for tourists. It is here that the Hair has signed a tentative European trade treaty. Nobody seems to care
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