Welcome to the “New” Canada. You want proof of how insane our financial system has become? Try this!
In a debate on CTV Monday, the president and managing director of Megantic Asset Management compared Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath’s proposal for a tax hike on the rich to ethnic cleansing.
… and that’s what I think about that.
4 rounds, multiple denial of service attempts causing delays and a lot of people complaining about the rigours of democracy while they voted from the comfort of their homes (or bars, or whatever).
Let’s see what happens next.
OTTAWA — Two NDP MPs who voted to kill the federal gun registry were aware they would be punished for their actions, a party spokesman says.
Jack Harris, the NDP’s justice critic, says Ontario MPs John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer had been warned they would suffer “the consequences” if they broke ranks.
The two went against the NDP’s official position and voted with the government this week during the second reading of the bill to abolish the controversial long-gun registry.
Harris said the two members were sanctioned by acting NDP Leader Nycole Turmel — but he did not elaborate on the nature of the punishment.
Dennis Bevington, the NDP member for the Western Arctic in the Northwest Territories, abstained from voting and Nathan Cullen, who is a candidate for the NDP leadership, left the house before the vote.
The fate of the gun registry is a hot-button issue for the NDP.
It is also an acute example of the challenge the party faces as the official Opposition: reconciling the opinions of its members across the country with its new role as the voice of Quebec in Parliament.
The registry was created in the wake of the 1989 massacre of 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole polytechnique during a rampage by gunman Marc Lepine, who also killed himself.
Many Quebecers consider the registry a monument in memory of the slain women.
On Wednesday, a group representing the Polytechnique victims urged the Quebec government to sue Ottawa to stop it from destroying the registry data.
Quebec has hinted it might take such action unless the federal government turns over the information to let the province keep its own registry. The feds are refusing to turn over the information.
As for the NDP, Turmel did not indicate Wednesday if the party line would be enforced more rigidly when the abolition comes to its final vote.
Instead, she said there is more work to be done in committee and that the party caucus is unanimous in believing the registry’s data should be made available to provinces that want to set up their own registry.
Am I the only one incredibly intrigued as to how one punishes an MP?*
* it’s probably something like a loss in social standing, or blackballing, but still, I don’t think “punished” is a word I would have thought would be applied to MPs!
OTTAWA — The Tories are urging Elections Canada to investigate whether the NDP broke the Elections Act, accusing the official Opposition party of receiving funding from unions.
In a letter sent to chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand, the Conservatives’ lawyer Arthur Hamilton suggests the NDP broke Elections Canada rules for receiving “contributions” from several unions and businesses at the federal party’s summer convention held in Vancouver in the middle of June.
“During this convention, signage prominently displayed at (the event) identified the fact that sponsorships were being provided by both unions and certain incorporated entities,” Hamilton wrote.
Attached to the letter are photos of NDP convention signs used at the three-day event including a “Thank you to our sponsors” with about half a dozen union logos below. They include large national unions such as the United Steelworkers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, CUPE and the United Food and Commercial Workers. Other photos of signage show a fundraising dinnertime reception with small union logos on the bottom corner.
Unions and corporate companies cannot make contributions to political parties, candidates or leadership contenders under Section 404 of the Canada Elections Act, according to the non-partisan agency’s website.
Waiting for more details before commenting.
Thomas Mulcair is flexing his political muscles ahead of a formal entry in the race to lead the NDP, taking a great deal of credit for the party’s historical surge in Quebec four months ago while stating that Jack Layton’s influence helped him tone down his abrasive style.
Speaking at length for the first time since Mr. Layton’s funerals a week ago, Mr. Mulcair emphasized his high-level experience in provincial government and touted a vast network of still-undeclared support in the party. However, he did threaten to abandon the leadership race if the party did not extend the campaign into the spring.
“If and when the time comes, I will have a lot of my caucus colleagues on the stage with me,” the NDP House Leader and MP said of an eventual leadership bid.
In particular, the former Quebec environment minister said he offers the best chance of re-election to the NDP’s 59 MPs in his home province, which are essential to eventually forming a government.
“I’ve got great, great support among the Quebec caucus. I’m thankful for that, but not totally surprised because they know what role I played in helping them all get elected,” Mr. Mulcair said. “They want to make sure they come back so that we can form a government, because that’s our No. 1 purpose.”
Mr. Mulcair said his success in Quebec was part of a close collaboration with Mr. Layton, whose long-time partner, Olivia Chow, is also an NDP MP and could be a power broker in the leadership race.
“Jack named me parliamentary House Leader [last May], and it was quite a compliment for the work that we had done,” Mr. Mulcair said. “Don’t forget that when I signed on with Jack, the communality of purpose was sealed at a supper in his old hometown in Hudson with his wife, Olivia, and my wife, Catherine.”
There are currently no official candidates in the race, although a number of NDP MPs are mulling their options. In addition, NDP president Brian Topp, who is well known in the union movement and for his work in provincial NDP governments, is also exploring a candidacy.
Mr. Mulcair insisted the party should not opt for a four-month race, because there would be insufficient time to sell memberships in Quebec. Despite the NDP’s record success in the province in the last federal election, only 3 per cent of eligible voters for the party leadership reside there.
“I’ve never shied away from a fight. I don’t even shy away from a fight if somebody wants to tie one arm behind my back,” Mr. Mulcair said. But I’m not going to go into
I must admit, that looking at how often the words “I” and “me” show up in the statements made by Mr. Mulcair. One should probably expect certain amount of ego in a person who wants to lead a party, but really, I’m less interested in how awesome the guy thinks he is, and more in what he is going to do for the NDP and for Canada.
Change the tape, Mulcair!
Canada.com - Funeral Photo gallery - Remembering Jack Layton
Montreal Gazette - Funeral Photo Gallery
The Globe and Mail - Funeral Photo Gallery - The life of Jack Layton Photo Gallery - Jack Layton in Quotes
The National Post - Jack Layton in Repose at City Hall - Jack Layton Loses Battle With Cancer (A series of photographs of Jack in both personal and political settings)
CTV.ca - State Funeral of Jack Layton - Jack Layton’s Lasting Legacy - Remembering Layton
CBC.ca - Jack Layton and Oliva Chow - The Death and Legacy of Jack Layton
iPolitics - Stephen Lewis’s Eulogy
At least 800 people follow Jack Layton’s casket to Roy Thomson Hall
August 20, 2011
Toronto, OntarioDear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.
I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.
I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.
A few additional thoughts:
To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.
To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.
To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.
To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.
To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.
And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.
All my very best,
Jack Layton
(Source: ndp.ca)
Saturday - August 27th
Halifax
Bella Rose Arts Centre
283 Thomas Raddall Drive
Doors 2:00pm, Service 3:00pm–5:00pm
Quebec
La bibliothèque de Charlesbourg
7950 1ère Avenue, Québec
1:00pm
Montreal
Société des arts technologiques (SAT)
1201 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Doors 1:00pm
Beauharnois-Salaberry
Willy’s Pub
1205 Boulevard Monseigneur-Langlois
1:00pm-4:00pm
Winnipeg
Knox United Church
400 Edmonton St
12:30pm
Sasktoon
Ecole Canadienne Francaise de Saskatoon
2410 Woodward Ave
Doors 11:00am, Service 12:00 noon
Regina
Tommy Douglas House
1122 Saskatchewan Drive
Doors 11:00am, Service 12:00 noon
Prince Rupert
Ocean View Pub
950 1st Avenue West
11:00am
Kitimat
CAW Hall
233 Enterprise Ave
11:00am
Terrace
Community Room - Skeena Mall
4741 Lakelse Avenue
11:00am
Smithers
Alpenhorn Pub
1261 Main Street
11:00am
Courtenay
Florence Filberg Conference Hall
411 Anderton Ave
10:30am
Nanaimo
Diana Krall Plaza
90 Commercial St.
11:00am
Victoria
First Metropolitan United Church
932 Balmoral Rd.
10:30am
(Source: ndp.ca)
Jack Layton’s remains were transported in a hearse with police escort along highway 401 to the House of Commons today. For two days Mr Layton will lie in state so Canadians can pay their respects. Visitation begins at 11am eastern for dignitaries and opens for the public between 12:30pm and 8pm. There will be a book of condolences for the public to sign and MPs of all affiliations have opened their constituency offices for the public to sign books and drop off messages. NDP MPs are expected to attend as well as Mr Layton’s wife, Ms Olivia Chow and their children and grandchild.
Thursday will have visitation between 9am and 1:30pm. At 2pm Mr Layton’s casket will be escorted from House of Commons to 15 gun salute and the Dominion Carillonneur will play ‘O Canada’ on the Tower bells.
Mr Layton will return to Toronto where the public can visit him at Toronto City Hall between 9am and 8pm in Friday and 9am and 11am on Saturday.
Saturday’s state funeral will be held at 2pm at Roy Thomson Hall and will be officiated by Rev. Brent Hawkes, whose congregation welcomes LGBT, in a nod to Mr Layton’s support of gay rights.
More than half of the 2630 seats will be for invited guests but Ms Chow has insisted that as much space as possible be reserved for the public. Screens will also be erected in David Pecaut Square and other options are being explored for the overflow of crowds.
(synopsis via Globe and Mail newspaper section A1 and A8, please forgive typos, I am using my phone to post!)
Not just Canadian politics, just all politics with a Canadian slant.
