The Sun chain has shown their gay-baiting
ways once again, this time putting the NDP’s associate queer issues critic Dany
Morin in their crosshairs. The report was that Morin felt that the government
needs a ministerial-level queer representative, like how there’s a minister for
Status of Women. Not surprisingly, Rob Anders was not a fan of this plan, nor were the Alberta ministers impressed by Morin’s characterisation of the province’s human rights record. Morin says that he never gave an interview to the Sun, and that his comments were
taken from a radio interview he gave in French, saying that considering the
government didn’t know who to put up to speak when he asked about hate crimes
against queer people that they should have someone who can answer those
questions. Fair enough. But…
Sun gay-baiting aside, there are still a
couple of problems with Morin’s comments as they stand. Asking for a designated
spokesperson for queer issues may end up being more trouble than it is worth,
as it can ghettoise those issues, fobbed off onto some lowly minister of state
who can recite trite talking points rather than being given the attention of a
full minister in a portfolio. In the case cited about hate crimes, the Minister
of Justice or the Minister for Public Safety should have answered that question.
That they couldn’t was telling – and Morin was doing his
job as the critic in bringing that to light. But isn’t there a ministerial
position for Status of Women, one might ask? Yes, but there is also a department called Status
of Women Canada. There is not a department called LGBT Canada, or however long
the eventual acronym would become. End of story. I would also like to note the impolitic
nature of Morin’s comments regarding human rights in Alberta versus Quebec. As
a Quebec MP, he should be keenly aware of the dangers of making blanket
statements about a province without a raft of statistics to back it up. One can
chalk this up to inexperience, but Morin should take it as a warning about
making such a blunder in the future.
Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin added her
voice in support of the Canadian Bar Association, who previously called out
Jason Kenney’s criticism of federal judges who are not toeing the government
line on immigration cases. I think that she too can expect a sarcastic and
dismissive letter within a few days. McLachlin also spoke about the need for better access to legal services in Canada, while the Bar Association has shown
it’s no fan of the government’s “tough on crime” agenda.
Quebec NDP MPs have refused to answer a
questionnaire from the Toronto Star
about previous political party memberships and whether they considered
themselves federalists, sovereigntists, or if they preferred another
description. They’re also whining to Quebec media that English Canadian media
are conducting a witch-hunt. Seriously? Do we need to place a call to the
Minister of State for Poor Little Bunny?
A senior military official told the Commons
defence committee on Friday that pulling out of Libya now would a “calamity” as
they are currently allowing humanitarian aid to get through, and keeping
Gadhafi’s forces from rearming. Meanwhile, we have extended sanctions on
Syria.
Government officials are looking to study
the true cost of killing the Canadian Wheat Board – not that the Conservatives
will actually listen to anything they say since they are determined to kill it
regardless.
Both Bob Rae and Nycole Turmel were at
Montreal’s Pride Parade this past weekend. Rae, by the way, says that the
Liberals face a “particular challenge” when it comes to rebuilding in Quebec,
but hopes that the near elimination of the Bloc means that the province’s
electorate will move on from that chapter in the province’s political history.
And here is a debate I took part in over
the Twitter Machine this weekend regarding MPs, accountability, and the use/abuse of Private
Members’ Bills. (Hint: I think MPs spend too much time on useless PMBs and
almost no time on their actual jobs of holding the government to account).
