I tried to resist the urge to plunge one more dagger into Maxime Bernier, but in the end he made too inviting a target.
The former Minster of Foreign Affairs resigned this week after it was revealed he had left sensitive documents at his former girlfriend’s apartment for 5 weeks. This is about the amount of time since the whole Julie “Biker Babe” Couillard scandal began.
5 weeks and not even a “booty call” to go back and retrieve sensitive documents?
Bernier must have been desperate to avoid Mlle. Couillard and was just too dumb to remember where he left classified government documents.
I am not sure if this is worse for Bernier (whose future political prospects are lower than his former sweetheart’s neckline) or for Stephen Harper for his lack of judgment. Lack of wisdom for not only appointing Mad Max to a position he was clearly unfit for and the Harper Gang’s unwavering support for Bernier and constant denial of events that turned out, in the end, to be all to true.
Now that the truth has been revealed (at least partially) the Cons are telling whoever will listen that the deal is done and it’s time to move on.
Well, good luck with that.
The Opposition, which oversaw the death of a thousand cuts that Bernier endured, is not about to let this one slip away. And they have help. The Conservatives themselves are being the unwitting accomplices to their own failure to make this scandal “go gently into that good night”. Their modus operandi of continual stonewalling throughout the previous month of the Bernier Affair has been changed to embarrassing obstruction by telling the House of Commons they have everything under control and that Foreign Affairs will be performing an internal review.
In other words, like NAFTA-gate, we will investigate ourselves and don’t fall off your chair when you find out we did nothing wrong.
Case closed.
In the end, Maxime Bernier may not been headed to “political purgatory” on his own. It looks like Helena Guergis, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is also about to be shuffled out of her minor cabinet portfolio for her bungling of the Brenda Martin Case (Plus there was the Afghan Detainee mess, where she got caught not ding her homework, and her potential pipelining information to the Taliban of the whereabouts of Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff during their trip to Afghanistan).
The Parliamentary Paris Hilton and the Commons answer to Sam Malone will give the Cons the best looking back bench in recent Commons history
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
WHO WANTS KOOL-AID?
Last week was marked by highs and lows for Stephen Harper’s Chief of Staff.
Ian Brodie, it was reveled, was to leave his position in the Prime Minster’s Office and return to private life. Brodie had been under fire for being the purported leak of “confidential” diplomatic note about the sincerity (or lack thereof) of Hillary Clinton’s commitment to renegotiate NAFTA after she was elected President. It seems both of those are a long way from happening.
Brodie told the tale to a CTV News reporter during the press lock up for this spring’s federal budget. He told them that Clinton had contacted the Canadian officials to say that the whole NAFT thing was just political posturing. When the reporter called Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson, Wilson allegedly said that it was Barack Obama, and not Hillary, that had contacted Canuck government folk to assuage their fears of the potential for reopening the North American Free Trade Agreement. All of this happened right before the Ohio primary (Ohio is very much an anti-NAFTA state) where Obama was pummeled by Clinton by nearly 20 percentage points.
The PMO has been implicated by the opposition as the actual source of the leak. The reason given is that the Conservative Party of Canada is doing some dirty work for American Republicans in trying to discredit Democratic candidates and therefore pave the road a little for John McCain.
In a bid to clear his office of any wrongdoing, or even hints of wrongdoing, Stephen Harper called for an investigation by Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council, into the allegations and just 48 hours after it revelations of Brodie’s departure started to make the rounds on Parliament Hill, Lynch delivered his findings.
Brodie and Wilson were cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Cons then sent out chief thug James Moore to once again chastise the opposition for conjuring up phantom conspiracies and demanding that the opposition apologize. Moore invoked the Clerk’s report and called it irrefutable substantiation of Brodie’s virtuousness. Moore looked a little foolish and his diatribe was way over-the-top when you consider the facts.
The man who investigated Brodie (a Harper employee), and Michael Wilson (a Harper employee) was in fact ANOTHER Harper employee.
This investigation has the distinct odour of “whitewash” of Nixon-ian proportions (How is that for being over-the-top). That the PMO would investigate itself is bad enough, but to have them attempt to make us “drink the kool-aid” and accept as “gospel” the findings of Harper bunkmates is actually quite insulting.
And while there is a possibility the resignation of Brodie followed closely by the release of the report could be purely a coincidence, but if you buy that you must find it strictly coincidental that the sun came up in the East this morning. The exact same place it came up the day before.
What are the odds of that?
Ian Brodie, it was reveled, was to leave his position in the Prime Minster’s Office and return to private life. Brodie had been under fire for being the purported leak of “confidential” diplomatic note about the sincerity (or lack thereof) of Hillary Clinton’s commitment to renegotiate NAFTA after she was elected President. It seems both of those are a long way from happening.
Brodie told the tale to a CTV News reporter during the press lock up for this spring’s federal budget. He told them that Clinton had contacted the Canadian officials to say that the whole NAFT thing was just political posturing. When the reporter called Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson, Wilson allegedly said that it was Barack Obama, and not Hillary, that had contacted Canuck government folk to assuage their fears of the potential for reopening the North American Free Trade Agreement. All of this happened right before the Ohio primary (Ohio is very much an anti-NAFTA state) where Obama was pummeled by Clinton by nearly 20 percentage points.
The PMO has been implicated by the opposition as the actual source of the leak. The reason given is that the Conservative Party of Canada is doing some dirty work for American Republicans in trying to discredit Democratic candidates and therefore pave the road a little for John McCain.
In a bid to clear his office of any wrongdoing, or even hints of wrongdoing, Stephen Harper called for an investigation by Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council, into the allegations and just 48 hours after it revelations of Brodie’s departure started to make the rounds on Parliament Hill, Lynch delivered his findings.
Brodie and Wilson were cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Cons then sent out chief thug James Moore to once again chastise the opposition for conjuring up phantom conspiracies and demanding that the opposition apologize. Moore invoked the Clerk’s report and called it irrefutable substantiation of Brodie’s virtuousness. Moore looked a little foolish and his diatribe was way over-the-top when you consider the facts.
The man who investigated Brodie (a Harper employee), and Michael Wilson (a Harper employee) was in fact ANOTHER Harper employee.
This investigation has the distinct odour of “whitewash” of Nixon-ian proportions (How is that for being over-the-top). That the PMO would investigate itself is bad enough, but to have them attempt to make us “drink the kool-aid” and accept as “gospel” the findings of Harper bunkmates is actually quite insulting.
And while there is a possibility the resignation of Brodie followed closely by the release of the report could be purely a coincidence, but if you buy that you must find it strictly coincidental that the sun came up in the East this morning. The exact same place it came up the day before.
What are the odds of that?
Monday, May 19, 2008
THIS AND THAT
Here are some things that grabbed my attention between pints
JAMES (LESS IS) MOORE
The Conservatives were claiming vindication while the rest of the sane world was still asking question.
The RCMP ruled at the end of last week that there not enough evidence to support laying criminal charges in the Chuck Cadman affair.
For those of you who have forgotten, Canada’s governing party, was accused in a book of offering dying MP Chuck Cadman financial considerations (Stephen Harper’s words, not min) in return for his support in a vote that could have prematurely brought down the Paul Martin government in May 2005.
James Moore, the member of the Harper Gang that took the point in this scandal, claim the Mounties announcement was proof that nothing untoward happened adding that the “Liberals made fabricated accusations” and that Stephen Harper’s defamation lawsuit against the Liberal party of Canada would go forward even if the Liberals apologized.
Don’t hold your breath Jimbo.
The Liberals continued to hammer away at the Cons on the issue, which was actually revealed by Tom Zytaruk in his book “Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story”. Cadman's widow, daughter and son-in-law have all confirmed the claim of the death bed bribe offered by the Cons.
How come the people who actually “fabricated” the story aren’t being sued?
This thing never sees the inside of a courtroom because Stephen Harper would be forced to actually answer questions about his role, unlike question period where he can hide behind Moore.
SPYGATE
The NFL ruled this week that they would not take any further action against the New England Patriots for their pathological cheating during the last 8 seasons. This comes after the league found that there was no evidence to support a Boston Globe claim that the Pats had taped the St. Louis Rams walk through the day before Super Bowl 36.
The Globe printed an retraction and apology
The Patriot and their coach Bill Belichick had been fined a total $750,000 by the league for taping opposing coach’s signals during games. The team also lost a 1st round pick in 2008 and the luster of three Super Bowl wins.
Did they cheat?
Absolutely!
Have they paid a heavy enough price?
Absolutely!
However, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is now demanding an independent investigation into the Patriots' videotaping practices.
It’s good to see that the U.S. is in such great shape that their political leaders can drop everything to investigate pro football to see if a team that has already been punished…needs to be punished more.
MOTHER NATURE IS PISSED
Earthquakes in China, Cyclones in Myanmar and raging wildfires in Alberta. At least she only likes to pick on repressive dictatorships. (Just kidding Wild Rose Country)
MAXIME BERNIER
Enough already.
Would someone please save this man from himself. The self destruct button was pushed by this guy sometime ago. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister is supposed to be the tip of the spear internationally for Canada. He is quickly turning into Britney Spears instead.
Shave your head and call the ambulance “Mad Max” and hopefully you can enjoy your 14th minute fame scandal free.
JAMES (LESS IS) MOORE
The Conservatives were claiming vindication while the rest of the sane world was still asking question.
The RCMP ruled at the end of last week that there not enough evidence to support laying criminal charges in the Chuck Cadman affair.
For those of you who have forgotten, Canada’s governing party, was accused in a book of offering dying MP Chuck Cadman financial considerations (Stephen Harper’s words, not min) in return for his support in a vote that could have prematurely brought down the Paul Martin government in May 2005.
James Moore, the member of the Harper Gang that took the point in this scandal, claim the Mounties announcement was proof that nothing untoward happened adding that the “Liberals made fabricated accusations” and that Stephen Harper’s defamation lawsuit against the Liberal party of Canada would go forward even if the Liberals apologized.
Don’t hold your breath Jimbo.
The Liberals continued to hammer away at the Cons on the issue, which was actually revealed by Tom Zytaruk in his book “Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story”. Cadman's widow, daughter and son-in-law have all confirmed the claim of the death bed bribe offered by the Cons.
How come the people who actually “fabricated” the story aren’t being sued?
This thing never sees the inside of a courtroom because Stephen Harper would be forced to actually answer questions about his role, unlike question period where he can hide behind Moore.
SPYGATE
The NFL ruled this week that they would not take any further action against the New England Patriots for their pathological cheating during the last 8 seasons. This comes after the league found that there was no evidence to support a Boston Globe claim that the Pats had taped the St. Louis Rams walk through the day before Super Bowl 36.
The Globe printed an retraction and apology
The Patriot and their coach Bill Belichick had been fined a total $750,000 by the league for taping opposing coach’s signals during games. The team also lost a 1st round pick in 2008 and the luster of three Super Bowl wins.
Did they cheat?
Absolutely!
Have they paid a heavy enough price?
Absolutely!
However, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is now demanding an independent investigation into the Patriots' videotaping practices.
It’s good to see that the U.S. is in such great shape that their political leaders can drop everything to investigate pro football to see if a team that has already been punished…needs to be punished more.
MOTHER NATURE IS PISSED
Earthquakes in China, Cyclones in Myanmar and raging wildfires in Alberta. At least she only likes to pick on repressive dictatorships. (Just kidding Wild Rose Country)
MAXIME BERNIER
Enough already.
Would someone please save this man from himself. The self destruct button was pushed by this guy sometime ago. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister is supposed to be the tip of the spear internationally for Canada. He is quickly turning into Britney Spears instead.
Shave your head and call the ambulance “Mad Max” and hopefully you can enjoy your 14th minute fame scandal free.
Friday, April 4, 2008
DID SOMEONE SAY REFORM?
I see your true colours, shining through
~Cindy Lauper
Another day, another scandal for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
This time it was Saskatchewan MP Tom Lukiwski who stepped in it.
In a video taped moment captured 16 years ago, Lukiwiski spewed forth a line of garbage that has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Lukiwski was caught saying (knowing full well he was being taped), "Let me put it to you this way -- there's As and Bs. The As are guys like me. The Bs are homosexual faggots with dirt under their fingernails that transmit diseases.''
How the tape became public is as hilarious as Lukiwski’s comments were distasteful.
Saskatchewan provincial New Democrats say they found the tape after they were forced to move into Opposition offices after their defeat in the provinces fall general election. The new Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, was also caught on tape making crude comments about Saskatcewan NDP leader Roy Romanow in a horrible Eastern European accent (Romanow is of Ukrainian descent).
The tape was simply left behind when the new government moved into the executive suite.
Lukiwski walked out of the Commons today to be greeted by a media horde that had gathered and quickly made an apology. He said "I have the utmost respect, I have no prejudice against gay people whatsoever," adding "those comments do not reflect the type of person I am and I'm very, very sorry."
You’ll excuse me if I take his act of contrition with a grain or two of salt.
Lukiwski is on record voting twice against allowing same sex marriage in this country. He told the House of Commons before the first vote in 2005 that “marriage is a religious act” and “what we have here is a situation where we have to determine what is right and reasonable, legally, constitutionally and morally.”
Morally!
It sounds to me (and I don’t believe I am taking a giant leap of faith) that as late as 2005 Mr. Lukiwski questioned the morality of same sex marriage. He also called the actions of the government of the day on the issue of same sex marriage “reprehensible”.
The sad thing is the Conservatives are condoning this type of behaviour. After the tape was made public and Lukiwski gave his obligatory apology, Conservative Government House Leader Peter Van Loan attempted to sweep the whole thing under the rug saying an apology was good enough for him.
I have a message for Mr. Van Loan.
The apology wasn’t meant for you. It was meant for the hundreds of thousands Gay and Lesbian people across this country and they don’t accept it.
Many groups, including Egale Canada, one of the country's largest gay rights lobby groups has asked that Lukiwski resign. They say the reason for Lukiwski’s mea culpa is not because he is genuinely sorry. They feel the only reason he apologized was because he was caught.
As things stand, at the time of this posting, Lukiwski will not only stay in the Commons, but will also retain his title of Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader and will remain in the Conservative caucus.
Coincidentally, on the same day the tape was released, David Ahenakew released a statement saying he was refusing an invitation from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations to return as a Senator in that organization.
You may remember Ahenakew as the Aboriginal leader who told a reporter that Jews were a disease and that Hitler was trying to "clean up the world" when he "fried six million of those guys." He also later apologized saying the utterance did not represent his beliefs and that he was "…caught up in the heat of the moment.” He later blamed the outburst on a mixture of diabetes, alcohol, and a change in medication.
On March 28th the FSIN legislative assembly voted to reinstate Ahenakew. FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph said while the federation strongly condemns the racist comments they think Ahenakew deserves a second chance.
Earlier this week the Saskatchewan government (led by Brad Wall) and the federal Conservative government (of which Lukiwski is a member of) both said they would consider withholding funds from the FSIN if Ahenakew was reinstated by the group. Wall went as far to issue "clear instructions" to his staff to avoid any meetings with the group in which Ahenakew was involved.
I am not defending, and will never defend, Ahenakew’s grotesque statements. I just think the irony is too rich to ignore.
~Cindy Lauper
Another day, another scandal for Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
This time it was Saskatchewan MP Tom Lukiwski who stepped in it.
In a video taped moment captured 16 years ago, Lukiwiski spewed forth a line of garbage that has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Lukiwski was caught saying (knowing full well he was being taped), "Let me put it to you this way -- there's As and Bs. The As are guys like me. The Bs are homosexual faggots with dirt under their fingernails that transmit diseases.''
How the tape became public is as hilarious as Lukiwski’s comments were distasteful.
Saskatchewan provincial New Democrats say they found the tape after they were forced to move into Opposition offices after their defeat in the provinces fall general election. The new Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, was also caught on tape making crude comments about Saskatcewan NDP leader Roy Romanow in a horrible Eastern European accent (Romanow is of Ukrainian descent).
The tape was simply left behind when the new government moved into the executive suite.
Lukiwski walked out of the Commons today to be greeted by a media horde that had gathered and quickly made an apology. He said "I have the utmost respect, I have no prejudice against gay people whatsoever," adding "those comments do not reflect the type of person I am and I'm very, very sorry."
You’ll excuse me if I take his act of contrition with a grain or two of salt.
Lukiwski is on record voting twice against allowing same sex marriage in this country. He told the House of Commons before the first vote in 2005 that “marriage is a religious act” and “what we have here is a situation where we have to determine what is right and reasonable, legally, constitutionally and morally.”
Morally!
It sounds to me (and I don’t believe I am taking a giant leap of faith) that as late as 2005 Mr. Lukiwski questioned the morality of same sex marriage. He also called the actions of the government of the day on the issue of same sex marriage “reprehensible”.
The sad thing is the Conservatives are condoning this type of behaviour. After the tape was made public and Lukiwski gave his obligatory apology, Conservative Government House Leader Peter Van Loan attempted to sweep the whole thing under the rug saying an apology was good enough for him.
I have a message for Mr. Van Loan.
The apology wasn’t meant for you. It was meant for the hundreds of thousands Gay and Lesbian people across this country and they don’t accept it.
Many groups, including Egale Canada, one of the country's largest gay rights lobby groups has asked that Lukiwski resign. They say the reason for Lukiwski’s mea culpa is not because he is genuinely sorry. They feel the only reason he apologized was because he was caught.
As things stand, at the time of this posting, Lukiwski will not only stay in the Commons, but will also retain his title of Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader and will remain in the Conservative caucus.
Coincidentally, on the same day the tape was released, David Ahenakew released a statement saying he was refusing an invitation from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations to return as a Senator in that organization.
You may remember Ahenakew as the Aboriginal leader who told a reporter that Jews were a disease and that Hitler was trying to "clean up the world" when he "fried six million of those guys." He also later apologized saying the utterance did not represent his beliefs and that he was "…caught up in the heat of the moment.” He later blamed the outburst on a mixture of diabetes, alcohol, and a change in medication.
On March 28th the FSIN legislative assembly voted to reinstate Ahenakew. FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph said while the federation strongly condemns the racist comments they think Ahenakew deserves a second chance.
Earlier this week the Saskatchewan government (led by Brad Wall) and the federal Conservative government (of which Lukiwski is a member of) both said they would consider withholding funds from the FSIN if Ahenakew was reinstated by the group. Wall went as far to issue "clear instructions" to his staff to avoid any meetings with the group in which Ahenakew was involved.
I am not defending, and will never defend, Ahenakew’s grotesque statements. I just think the irony is too rich to ignore.
Monday, March 31, 2008
CHERRY BOMB
I tuned into the Hockey night in Canada Saturday night catch the end of the Leafs-Habs game and catch the beginning of the Flames-Oilers. What I got instead was another ill-informed invective by Canada’s leading narrow-minded neo-con Don Cherry.
When I turned the TV on, after observing Earth Hour, David Suzuki, introducing himself as “Don Cherry’s favourite left-wing kook” was on asking Canadians to make the symbolic gesture of turning out our lights for one hour. He said you could keep on your TV tonight and watch the game. (The message was played too late for everyone east of Mountain Daylight Time Zone.)
Cherry retorted by saying that Suzuki lives in Vancouver and that he should come to Toronto saying “we are dying of cold, and he’s talking warming trend.”
This is not the first time that Cherry has flexed his scientific muscle.
Just before Christmas this past year, Hockey Night in Canada ran an interview with Boston Bruins Defenceman Andrew Ference. Ference spoke about how he initiated an environmental program for the Bruins and had recruited other players and teams into going carbon neutral for their yearly travel in something called the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge. The NHL emissions average is 10 tons per player per season.
Cherry’s reaction to the interview?
He called it “sickening” adding "it's Hockey Night in Canada. And we're talking about saving the world and all that stuff.”
“Let's talk about hockey."
Good idea Don. You should stick to hockey because when it comes to environmental issues, I am going to go with the left-wing kook with the PhD instead of the high school drop out right wing nut. While most of the scientific community has stated that global warming is not only a reality but it is primarily man made, none of that matters because an obtuse former hockey player, doesn’t believe it.
Cherry in the volumes of scientific data I am sure he has to back up his opinion, must have missed the part about global warming (or climate change) that talks about extreme weather and that global warming doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature will be warmer everyday day then the day before. Global warming is also about the unusual weather patterns developing around the world which lead to extreme weather events.
In fact there is growing evidence that the continuing global warming trend could trigger the next ice age and soon.
But, enough about the truth.
Grapes like to “Cherry-pick” when it comes to talking about non-hockey issues.
In other words, no one but him is allowed to have an opinion.
Cherry has spoken at length about religion, fallen police officers, firefighters, members of the military. His rabid pro war stance and his insistence that Canada should be in Iraq with the Americans are just some of the other non-hockey topics that Cherry has discussed.
Ference shouldn’t feel bad. He is in good company. Past targets of Coach’s Corner are Europeans, Asian, Aboriginal and French Canadians and of course, players who wear visors. (You can now add environmentalists to the list). And who could forget the “socialist, left wing, pinko, commies” that make up the media in Canada.
I am not saying that Cherry can’t talk about his support for the troops or other noble causes, but while he states Canadian troops are fighting in Afghanistan for our freedom, he wants to place limits on who is entitled to that freedom and will bully, insult and suppress any dissent.
My advice to Don Cherry on how to avoid such conflicts.
Stuff a puck in it!
It's Hockey Night in Canada. Let's talk about hockey.
When I turned the TV on, after observing Earth Hour, David Suzuki, introducing himself as “Don Cherry’s favourite left-wing kook” was on asking Canadians to make the symbolic gesture of turning out our lights for one hour. He said you could keep on your TV tonight and watch the game. (The message was played too late for everyone east of Mountain Daylight Time Zone.)
Cherry retorted by saying that Suzuki lives in Vancouver and that he should come to Toronto saying “we are dying of cold, and he’s talking warming trend.”
This is not the first time that Cherry has flexed his scientific muscle.
Just before Christmas this past year, Hockey Night in Canada ran an interview with Boston Bruins Defenceman Andrew Ference. Ference spoke about how he initiated an environmental program for the Bruins and had recruited other players and teams into going carbon neutral for their yearly travel in something called the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge. The NHL emissions average is 10 tons per player per season.
Cherry’s reaction to the interview?
He called it “sickening” adding "it's Hockey Night in Canada. And we're talking about saving the world and all that stuff.”
“Let's talk about hockey."
Good idea Don. You should stick to hockey because when it comes to environmental issues, I am going to go with the left-wing kook with the PhD instead of the high school drop out right wing nut. While most of the scientific community has stated that global warming is not only a reality but it is primarily man made, none of that matters because an obtuse former hockey player, doesn’t believe it.
Cherry in the volumes of scientific data I am sure he has to back up his opinion, must have missed the part about global warming (or climate change) that talks about extreme weather and that global warming doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature will be warmer everyday day then the day before. Global warming is also about the unusual weather patterns developing around the world which lead to extreme weather events.
In fact there is growing evidence that the continuing global warming trend could trigger the next ice age and soon.
But, enough about the truth.
Grapes like to “Cherry-pick” when it comes to talking about non-hockey issues.
In other words, no one but him is allowed to have an opinion.
Cherry has spoken at length about religion, fallen police officers, firefighters, members of the military. His rabid pro war stance and his insistence that Canada should be in Iraq with the Americans are just some of the other non-hockey topics that Cherry has discussed.
Ference shouldn’t feel bad. He is in good company. Past targets of Coach’s Corner are Europeans, Asian, Aboriginal and French Canadians and of course, players who wear visors. (You can now add environmentalists to the list). And who could forget the “socialist, left wing, pinko, commies” that make up the media in Canada.
I am not saying that Cherry can’t talk about his support for the troops or other noble causes, but while he states Canadian troops are fighting in Afghanistan for our freedom, he wants to place limits on who is entitled to that freedom and will bully, insult and suppress any dissent.
My advice to Don Cherry on how to avoid such conflicts.
Stuff a puck in it!
It's Hockey Night in Canada. Let's talk about hockey.
Friday, March 28, 2008
WHERE TO START
This has been another one of those weeks where way too much happened to whittle down this edition of the Real Deal with Don MacNeil, so I have decided to fall back on a old concept (that’s code for crutch) and write about all of them in something I like to call the “Piecemeal with Don MacNeil.”
My Favourite Martin
While Canadian citizen Brenda Martin languished in a Mexican jail for two years, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Helena Guergis, claims she has been doing all she can to secure Martin’s release.
This week it was shown just how much the “Parliamentary Paris Hilton” has been doing (or not) for Martin.
While the Ontario woman has been sitting in jail for a couple years without charge, Guergis came without 20 kilometres of the prison Martin has been held in. But alas, Helena got sidetracked by a cocktail party and never made a promised appointed with the incarcerated Canadian.
Due to her lack of success, and a long held notion that she is in over her head, Guergis has since been taken off the case.
Brenda Martin probably hasn’t noticed the difference.
China Syndrome
Talk has begun about boycotting this summer Olympic games in Beijing. The problem is that none of the talk seems to be coming from the people that matter.
The heads of state.
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK will be there. French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he wants to hear from other European leaders before he makes a decision. Poland and the Czech Republic have said their political leaders will boycott the Opening Ceremony, but I am not sure what that will accomplish. I have watched an Olympic event of two and as I recall most of the attention is on the field, not the stands.
Canada has said nothing and, maybe not coincidentally, the United States has not issued a position on the subject.
Over 100 dead in Tibet, 700 more in prison and most of country under martial law, says that Canada shouldn’t participate.
I recall something American high jumper Dwight Stones said in support of the boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980:
“There's something about somebody having a party in their front yard and beating up somebody in their back yard that just doesn't wash with me.”
Roy’s Up
The one of the most publicized acts of parental induced violence since the heyday of the Barker Gang, Québec Remparts goalie Jonathan Roy, the son of hockey hall-of-famer Patrick Roy skated the length of the ice in a Major Junior Hockey League playoff game with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and attacked, without any provocation, Sag’s netminder Bobby Nadeau.
For his part Roy, Jr. was suspended for 7 games by the QMJHL. Roy, Sr., who is also the coach and owner of the Québec Remparts, was suspended for 5. Part of St. Patrick’s punishment may have because he may have gestured to his son to skate the length of the ice and pummel Nadeau, who wanted no part of the scrap and did nothing but cover up.
This might not be the end of this as the police are investigating the incident.
I am not a fan of fighting in hockey. There are those who say fighting is a part of the game, but some of those same people say hockey needs to clamp down on “stickwork”.
That makes no sense.
Stickwork (slashing, hooking, cross checking, etc...) will get you a two minute penalty. Fighting gets you five minutes in the penalty box. Even the game doesn’t think its part of the game.
Also, there is a legal doctrine by the name of 'volenti non fit injuria’. It is a latin term that means "to a willing person, no injury is done". It’s the legal equivalent of “you mess with the bull, you get the horn”.
There is no way Nadeau could be considered a willing person.
Unwanted Advice
The Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, made history by telling a Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, on the eve of a provincial budget, what he expects the province to do with it’s money.
Duncan replied by doing almost nothing Flaherty had asked him to do.
This has been a game of political chicken as most observers feel that this is the Harper government’s strategy to lay the blame for a forecast economic downturn on Dalton McGuinty and Liberal government of Ontario.
The fiscal three ring circus was just the latest chapter in a long running feud between the federal government and the province of Ontario. A feud that had Flaherty, an Ontario MP, calling his home province “the last place in Canada to start a business” which led Duncan to muse that it was time for Flaherty to “stop this partisan nonsense and start acting like a real finance minister.”
After Flaherty’s unsolicited advice was delivered, Duncan delivered his own economic blue print and then delivered what may be eventually seen as the knockout blow.
Following the budget recitation at Queen’s Park, Dwight Duncan suggested that Flaherty is taking on the role of unofficial leader of the provincial Opposition. It was a jab at Flaherty and more importantly, a jab at John Tory. The actual leader of the opposition (despite the fact he still have a spot in the legislature).
Was it Tory, who has suffered collateral damage as a result of this “uncivil war”, who asked the Harper Gang to dial it down a notch or was it that the federal Conservative strategy has not worked in Ontario and is also not playing well in the rest of the country. Politicians, and ordinary voters, from coast-to-coast have started to wonder, “If the Conservatives will do it to them, will they do it to us, too?”
In the end, Stephen Harper may have blinked, and yesterday sent a $706-million olive branch to Ontario for community development programs, public transit projects and to recruit more police across the province.
…and the beat goes on.
My Favourite Martin
While Canadian citizen Brenda Martin languished in a Mexican jail for two years, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Helena Guergis, claims she has been doing all she can to secure Martin’s release.
This week it was shown just how much the “Parliamentary Paris Hilton” has been doing (or not) for Martin.
While the Ontario woman has been sitting in jail for a couple years without charge, Guergis came without 20 kilometres of the prison Martin has been held in. But alas, Helena got sidetracked by a cocktail party and never made a promised appointed with the incarcerated Canadian.
Due to her lack of success, and a long held notion that she is in over her head, Guergis has since been taken off the case.
Brenda Martin probably hasn’t noticed the difference.
China Syndrome
Talk has begun about boycotting this summer Olympic games in Beijing. The problem is that none of the talk seems to be coming from the people that matter.
The heads of state.
Yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK will be there. French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he wants to hear from other European leaders before he makes a decision. Poland and the Czech Republic have said their political leaders will boycott the Opening Ceremony, but I am not sure what that will accomplish. I have watched an Olympic event of two and as I recall most of the attention is on the field, not the stands.
Canada has said nothing and, maybe not coincidentally, the United States has not issued a position on the subject.
Over 100 dead in Tibet, 700 more in prison and most of country under martial law, says that Canada shouldn’t participate.
I recall something American high jumper Dwight Stones said in support of the boycott of the Moscow Olympics in 1980:
“There's something about somebody having a party in their front yard and beating up somebody in their back yard that just doesn't wash with me.”
Roy’s Up
The one of the most publicized acts of parental induced violence since the heyday of the Barker Gang, Québec Remparts goalie Jonathan Roy, the son of hockey hall-of-famer Patrick Roy skated the length of the ice in a Major Junior Hockey League playoff game with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and attacked, without any provocation, Sag’s netminder Bobby Nadeau.
For his part Roy, Jr. was suspended for 7 games by the QMJHL. Roy, Sr., who is also the coach and owner of the Québec Remparts, was suspended for 5. Part of St. Patrick’s punishment may have because he may have gestured to his son to skate the length of the ice and pummel Nadeau, who wanted no part of the scrap and did nothing but cover up.
This might not be the end of this as the police are investigating the incident.
I am not a fan of fighting in hockey. There are those who say fighting is a part of the game, but some of those same people say hockey needs to clamp down on “stickwork”.
That makes no sense.
Stickwork (slashing, hooking, cross checking, etc...) will get you a two minute penalty. Fighting gets you five minutes in the penalty box. Even the game doesn’t think its part of the game.
Also, there is a legal doctrine by the name of 'volenti non fit injuria’. It is a latin term that means "to a willing person, no injury is done". It’s the legal equivalent of “you mess with the bull, you get the horn”.
There is no way Nadeau could be considered a willing person.
Unwanted Advice
The Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, made history by telling a Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, on the eve of a provincial budget, what he expects the province to do with it’s money.
Duncan replied by doing almost nothing Flaherty had asked him to do.
This has been a game of political chicken as most observers feel that this is the Harper government’s strategy to lay the blame for a forecast economic downturn on Dalton McGuinty and Liberal government of Ontario.
The fiscal three ring circus was just the latest chapter in a long running feud between the federal government and the province of Ontario. A feud that had Flaherty, an Ontario MP, calling his home province “the last place in Canada to start a business” which led Duncan to muse that it was time for Flaherty to “stop this partisan nonsense and start acting like a real finance minister.”
After Flaherty’s unsolicited advice was delivered, Duncan delivered his own economic blue print and then delivered what may be eventually seen as the knockout blow.
Following the budget recitation at Queen’s Park, Dwight Duncan suggested that Flaherty is taking on the role of unofficial leader of the provincial Opposition. It was a jab at Flaherty and more importantly, a jab at John Tory. The actual leader of the opposition (despite the fact he still have a spot in the legislature).
Was it Tory, who has suffered collateral damage as a result of this “uncivil war”, who asked the Harper Gang to dial it down a notch or was it that the federal Conservative strategy has not worked in Ontario and is also not playing well in the rest of the country. Politicians, and ordinary voters, from coast-to-coast have started to wonder, “If the Conservatives will do it to them, will they do it to us, too?”
In the end, Stephen Harper may have blinked, and yesterday sent a $706-million olive branch to Ontario for community development programs, public transit projects and to recruit more police across the province.
…and the beat goes on.
Monday, March 17, 2008
KILL THE DEATH PENALTY
A funny thing happened on the way to the gallows. Something almost miraculous occurred this past week in the Canadian House of Commons.
Former Liberal Justice Minster Irwin Cotler put forward a motion upholding the standard that the federal government "should stand consistently against the death penalty, as a matter of principle, both in Canada and around the world."
The motion was Cotler’s response to the Conservative government’s stance on capital punishment. They not only refused to support a United Nations resolution which calls for a global moratorium on the death penalty, the government of Canada, has said it won’t protect Canadians abroad who face the death penalty in other countries.
NDP MP Pat Martin, in a moment of clarity between politically fuelled Liberal bashing rants, voted with the official opposition and added, "if you supported that motion, you stood against the government's current practice, not seeking clemency for Canadians sentenced to death abroad."
The expected retort from the Conservative benches was…expected, but lo and behold, instead of a bang, the Conservatives let the motion pass with a whimper. In fact, the vast majority of Conservative MP’s, including some senior cabinet ministers, actually supported it. 96 Conservatives voted in favour while only 17 did not. 13 Conservative MP’s did not cast a vote, including Stephen Harper.
Cotler, while introducing his motion in the Commons made particular mention of Ronald Allen Smith. The Alberta man has been on death row in Montana since 1982. He is the only Canadian citizen sitting on death row in the U.S.
The Conservative government has stated they would break with long-standing Canadian policy and refuse to seek clemency on behalf of Smith. Last fall the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a release which said Canada will no longer “seek clemency in cases in democratic countries, like the United States, where there has been a fair trial.”
Public Safety Minster Stockwell Day affirmed that stance after the vote last week saying the government will consider capital punishment cases abroad for convicted Canadians on a "case-by-case basis."
Getting back to what Irwin Cotler’s motion that the federal government "should stand consistently against the death penalty, as a matter of principle, both in Canada and around the world." And what Pat Martin said, that "if you supported that motion, you stood against the government's current practice, not seeking clemency for Canadians sentenced to death abroad."
Ironically, Stockwell Day was one of those Conservatives that supported the motion.
Former Liberal Justice Minster Irwin Cotler put forward a motion upholding the standard that the federal government "should stand consistently against the death penalty, as a matter of principle, both in Canada and around the world."
The motion was Cotler’s response to the Conservative government’s stance on capital punishment. They not only refused to support a United Nations resolution which calls for a global moratorium on the death penalty, the government of Canada, has said it won’t protect Canadians abroad who face the death penalty in other countries.
NDP MP Pat Martin, in a moment of clarity between politically fuelled Liberal bashing rants, voted with the official opposition and added, "if you supported that motion, you stood against the government's current practice, not seeking clemency for Canadians sentenced to death abroad."
The expected retort from the Conservative benches was…expected, but lo and behold, instead of a bang, the Conservatives let the motion pass with a whimper. In fact, the vast majority of Conservative MP’s, including some senior cabinet ministers, actually supported it. 96 Conservatives voted in favour while only 17 did not. 13 Conservative MP’s did not cast a vote, including Stephen Harper.
Cotler, while introducing his motion in the Commons made particular mention of Ronald Allen Smith. The Alberta man has been on death row in Montana since 1982. He is the only Canadian citizen sitting on death row in the U.S.
The Conservative government has stated they would break with long-standing Canadian policy and refuse to seek clemency on behalf of Smith. Last fall the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a release which said Canada will no longer “seek clemency in cases in democratic countries, like the United States, where there has been a fair trial.”
Public Safety Minster Stockwell Day affirmed that stance after the vote last week saying the government will consider capital punishment cases abroad for convicted Canadians on a "case-by-case basis."
Getting back to what Irwin Cotler’s motion that the federal government "should stand consistently against the death penalty, as a matter of principle, both in Canada and around the world." And what Pat Martin said, that "if you supported that motion, you stood against the government's current practice, not seeking clemency for Canadians sentenced to death abroad."
Ironically, Stockwell Day was one of those Conservatives that supported the motion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
