Unlike many people, I don't think the media hacks who cover politics in this country are part of a shadowy Con conspiracy. I just think many of them are not too bright, they live in the inbred village of Ottawa, where reality rarely intrudes, and little is BIG. They know
Continue readingTag: stephen harper
Accidental Deliberations: Convenient
In case we needed any more confirmation that the Cons won’t even pretend to be honest about what they’ve done until after they’re done having to answer for it, this nicely fits the pattern. So who thinks we can afford to let any of the rest of the Cons keep
Continue readingdaveberta.ca - Alberta politics blog: nathan cullen aims to unite progressives in calgary-centre.
TweetSkeena-Bulkley Valley New Democrat Member of Parliament Nathan Cullen is jumping into Calgary’s Stampede celebrations next week to host a workshop on uniting progressives in advance of the inevitable by-election in Calgary-Centre. On July 11, Mr. Cullen will co-host a workshop with Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MLA Rachel Notley with the goal
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: What Republican Texas Said About Harper’s Crime Bill C-10
In this video, the CBC News reported from Texas where even tough-on-crime Republicans told Canada not to follow America’s failed path of mandatory sentences and massive prison expansion, which cost them billions and drove crime rates up. The report warned about the consequences of this un-Canadian and vindictive criminal justice
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Harper’s Crime Bill C-10: Breaking Down The Cost
The Harper government’s flagship tough on crime omnibus legislation will cost Canadian taxpayers at least $15-billion to implement. Bill C-10 is a suite of crime legislation that will radically stir the Canadian justice system away from the preventive and restorative measures which have proven to be more humane, effective and
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Julian Fantino and the Mediocrity of the Cons
I will never forget the look on Julian Fantino's face, the day he first took the loyalty oath to Stephen Harper, and became a Con cabinet minister. He looked stunned, as if he still couldn't believe it. The Great Fantino, the Crime Busting Crusader, the copo de tutti, had
Continue readingAlberta Diary: The coda to Oda was writ bright with orange juice
Bev Oda, foreground, enjoys a celebratory dinner at the Savoy, her orange juice just visible under her right arm. Departing Canadian politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Ms. Oda in happier times; Ms. Oda has a last cigarette before barking out the order to the firing squad. Bev
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Wanted: “Radicals” Against Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline
Are you a Canadian radical? Are you ready to Harper and Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline? If your answer to both questions is YES, this call to action from radicals4ourcoast.ca is yours to answer: “Does fighting to keep our Pacific coast oil-spill-free make you a “radical”? That’s what Stephen Harper’s
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Speaking Truth to Power in Harperland
I think this cartoon in the Toronto Star neatly sums up what Stephen Harper did on Parliament Hill the other day. Turn a celebration of Canada, into a shameless and grotesque celebration of HIMSELF. Declaring outrageously that his Con regime was "caring and compassionate." Wading into a select crowd of
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: Bev Oda’s Sweet Double Resignation
GOOD RIDDANCE! The minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has resigned from both Stephen Harper’s cabinet and her elected position as Conservative MP for the Ontario riding of Durham. The controversy-plagued Oda announced her resignation this morning without giving a clear explanation. No doubt, the resignation is a
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Roy Romanow comments on Medicare as a major part of Canada’s identity: The achievement of universal health care took a long, acrimonious and protracted road. It is no surprise to me that Saskatchewan was at the forefront of this journey. The province’s
Continue readingbastard.logic: Has Centralization of Power to the PMO Put Canadian Democracy on Life Support?
Don Lenihan has a must-read column up today, on how centralization of power to the Prime Minister’s office over the past several decades has atrophied the connection Canadians — especially youth — had with our government, and what he believes this could mean for Canada’s system of democracy: In the early 1970s,
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Videos: National Stop Harper Day in Winnipeg
July 1, 2012: National Stop Harper Day in Winnipeg. Photo: Paul S. Graham Traditionally a day of celebration, Canada Day 2012 became National Stop Harper Day for Canadians in 12 cities because of the regressive policies of the Harper government, most notably Bill C-38. In Winnipeg, citizens held a Funeral
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Risky theories… Dangerous economic experiments…. Can we afford Harper’s Conservatives?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper… (Creepy Voice): “Dangerous experiments and risky economic theories. Can we afford these Conservatives much longer?” Below: Leo de Bever and a youthful Paul Krugman. The Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and its Alberta branch plant known as the Wildrose Party continue to push risky
Continue readingConservative war on ideas and the great leap backwards
#cpc #bcpoli #pmsharper #ndp #cdnpoli For those who think that American style ultra-stupid conservative politics would never come to Canada, brace yourself – its on its way. And I’m not just talking about Sun News network, dubbed as ‘Fox North’ by its critics – even if they do come close
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: In Quebec City, A Protester Confronts Stephen Harper
The CBC News reports that a lone protester interrupted a speech by Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he addressed an international conference on the French language in Quebec City today. The protester “began shouting and approaching the stage” before he was “grabbed by two security guards and hustled out of
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On open channels
Fern Hill is frustrated at how political reporters have tried to make a non-story out of the #denounceharper hashtag which trended globally yesterday as Twitter users took the opportunity to discuss what Canadians actually want for Canada Day. And I can certainly understand the concern at normally well-connected reporters choosing
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your Monday reading. – Mia Rabson writes that patronage and secrecy are thriving under the Harper Cons, even after they’ve lost any excuse about other parties’ ability to stop their plans: But when the federal appointments process has no transparency, any time someone with political ties as
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Conada Day Horror Show
I tuned into the Canada Day show on Parliament Hill today just as they were playing God Save The Queen. And just in time to see Great Patriotic Leader proclaim that we should all be happy and proud to be Canadians. In his remarks, Harper told the crowd that Canadians
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: The Problem with #DenounceHarper: It’s about getting even
There are some major problems with the #DenounceHarper hashtag on twitter. It has been trending on twitter for the last day or so and, for all intents and purposes, it has been quite a silly affair. First of all, there have been complaints surrounding Mr. Harper’s Conservatives only winning 39%
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