The Governor General should do his job

Let me preface this post by declaring my disgust with the Senate and my support for a full public federal/provincial process to discuss reformation or abolition.

Yesterday - Prime Minister Stephen Harper - demonstrated again his disdain for Canada and the Constitution.

We could argue at this point that Stephen Harper is an element causing disruption to the economy and affairs in Canada.

I ask again - is the Prime Minister under investigation by the RCMP or CSIS?

Many Canadians are sick of the Senate - we have lost confidence in the Upper Chamber as a result of unethical and perhaps criminal behavior of some Senators.

Many Canadians want reform - many want abolition - many want continuity with significant oversight.

Regardless of what we want - there is a process to change the Constitution of our country and it must be followed. I do not care what Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau, and May want - I care that they follow process.

Right now there are 22 vacancies in our Senate. These seats should be filled. They should have already been filled. The fact that Harper refuses to fill them is in direct opposition to our Constitution. The PM is once again snubbing the laws and Constitution of Canada.

The leaders of all political parties can muse about what the Senate should look like, operate like, or even whether or not it should exist - but they cannot pretend to be the decision makers on this issue.

This is paramount to saying the publicized evidence of an individual charged with a crime should be all it takes to find that party guilty. We do not need the courts or criminal justice system - we only need a hand full of people to declare somebody is guilty.

A Vancouver lawyer is in the process of challenging Harper's refusal to appoint Senators - via a court challenge.

I want to know where Governor General David Johnston is. The GG should be filling those seats. He should be taking his duties seriously. The policy of a PM providing advice to the GG on Senate appointments is just that - policy - NOT law.

David Johnston appears to have no problem making the ceremonial events or representing Canada in his capacity - he should have no problem doing his constitutional job.

Until the Constitution of Canada is changed - the Senate exists.

The following clause is not a thought it is law. "When a Vacancy happens in the Senate by Resignation, Death, or otherwise, the Governor General shall by Summons to a fit and qualified Person fill the Vacancy." See HERE

Arguing that there are no set time frames is ridiculous - it is frivolous - it is disingenuous.

The time frame is now - the word is "shall" and the responsibility falls on the Governor General.

Three men and one woman (Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau, May) do not possess the power to thwart the Constitution because they do not like it. They have the power - under process to start a process of change or amendment to the Constitution.

All Opposition parties should be screaming from the rooftops when the Constitution is being violated. Not doing so for political opportunism  makes them no better than Harper - the  man and party they want defeated.

Amending or changing the actual function of the Parliament is very serious and should be treated as such. This is not a political football to be tossed back and forth like children on a playground.

If these men and one woman want the respect of the electorate - respect our constitution.

As for Governor General David Johnston - he is a disgrace. Until he takes his real duties seriously - I cannot support him.

As for the media - once again they demonstrated how easily they fall into Harper's manipulation of the press. Harper proclaimed yesterday - under very weird circumstances - that:

1. He will not appoint Senators and
2. He wants the Senate abolished

Where's the scrum? Where's the oversight?

The man said that his refusal to appoint Senators will force the provinces to come up with a plan for reform. So our Prime Minister states that he will deliberately break the law until others decide to change it. This protest must potentially contravene C-51 - so where is the RCMP? where is CSIS?

Yes Canadians want change - but we want it done lawfully - particularly when it's the legislators who are ignoring it.

We as Canadians cannot jump all over Harper when he breaks some laws but not when he breaks this law.

In this particular case - Harper should be forced to follow law - Mulcair should knock off playing with it - Trudeau needs to explain better - and May - I'm not sure (not enough media coverage)

Governor General Johnston needs to appoint 22 Senators - now.

I'm not sure abolition is best or a Triple E is best. I do know that ignoring the law in an effort to change it - is NOT the role of elected representatives.

Duffy Trial over?

The deal may be made between Crown and Defence in the trial of Senator Mike Duffy.

The only way Stephen Harper is going to eliminate the messiness that is the PMO is to make the Duffy trial go away.

Justice Charles Vaillancourt has allowed a critical Senate Committee report to be entered as evidence.

So if the Senate fights this ruling and is successful - it will be determined that the Defense is being unfairly restricted. 

The trial has adjourned today with witnesses now set to testify tomorrow.

Will tomorrow ever come - and if so will it be a short one?

It appears the raising of the report may work as well for Stephen Harper as it does for Mike Duffy.

This may have been all planned with negotiations just complete. 

Win win for the CPC and buddies and lose lose for the people of Canada.

The trial of Mike Duffy may well be over before we - the people - had a chance to hear witnesses like Nigel Wright.

This is justice right?

Will CBC or CTV or Mulcair or Trudeau step-up?

So the Prime Minister - who attended  the annual Jewish Negav Dinner and fundraiser in Toronto this week - is giddy with talks of freedom and democracy. The 3500 in attendance must have been ignoring the fact that Stephen J Harper is doing more to destroy democracy than all Canadian leaders before him combined.

Our PM is no doubt - excessively partisan - and that may be considered politics as usual - but the rest of his behavior is not. Canada has changed drastically and negatively under his leadership.

He aligns himself with the USA - on issues of crime, punishment, guns, and jails while distancing himself from the USA on matters of progressive peace talks and actions.

If you recognize Canada today - you must not have been watching for the past 50 years.

Stephen Harper has neutered and spayed the country's media. Stephen Harper has ignored and diminished the importance of provinces and territories in our confederation.

No man is an island - with the exception of our Prime Minister. He rules as a king not as a parliamentarian. He serves himself not the people. He does not take the provinces seriously and punishes those who do not fall at his knees.

The most disturbing parts of this entire situation are that politicians representing other parties federally and provincial politicians are letting him away with eroding our democracy and the national media is allowing him to control all communication with Canadians.

We are currently in the middle of an embarrassing perhaps criminal situation with the Senate scandal - and his office is right in the middle of it. While I appreciate the efforts of Tom Mulcair to expose him in the House of Commons - I do not appreciate Harper's ability to keep it contained to that location.

Our Prime Minister dictates where and when the media can have access to him. He dictates who may ask questions of him and how many questions may be asked. He refuses to appear on either national network and answer for himself. He sends other people out to speculate on his thoughts, reasoning, and actions. The national media is promoting rather than deterring his behavior by allowing this to continue.

All members of the House of Commons who are not elected Conservatives should take their seats and say nothing until the Prime Minister agrees to normal media relations and explains himself to Canadians. If the Prime Minister continues to act like a dictator then all members of the HOC should stand outside the chamber and refuse to enter until he does so. This is newsworthy and is not controlled by Harper. The media should refuse to cover any News coming out of the government - particularly out of the Prime Minister's office - until he agrees to resume normal media relations.

So while Power and Politics (CBC) and Power Play (CTV) present themselves as "must see political-affairs program" and "daily marquee political program" respectively - neither have been successful in getting Harper to join them on the program regarding his role in the Duffy affair. The RCMP have taken emails and correspondence from the PMO and the PCO and speculation is abound on the role Harper may have played. The one thing missing is Harper - telling us himself - under media scrutiny - without limitations.

Our two national television networks have a responsibility to bring us the news - all the news - not just what Harper permits. I no longer am interested in "political panels" using ESP to tell us what's in Harper's mind. I am no longer interested in parliamentary secretaries, backbenchers, or even Ministers speaking scripted verse from Stephen's HOC Bible. I am interested in our Members of Parliament and our national media doing their jobs. This madness must stop and Harper must face his bosses - us.  

I am not interested in hearing that Harper will have a migratory bird sanctuary in Israel named after him - nor am I interested in what sports teams he likes - or his woefully lacking musical talent - or that he and his wife like Pandas - we employ him to run the affairs of our country and to report to us on that.

If either Mulcair or Trudeau want the reins - show us what you're made of and restore our democracy.

Media and Harper both failing Canadians

Hockey is entertainment for many - a diversion from day to day responsibilities and woes. It is not - however worthy of the coverage it gets by our national media. Big Corporations make big deals daily - but the hockey rights sale is getting the coverage you'd expect from a story like a comet is going to hit earth.

There are many other interests for people who are not hockey fans or even zealots. There are other sports, there are plays, visual art, and writing/reading, music - to name just a few.

The serious stuff - the management of our country - the development and fostering of province to province relationships and country to province relationships deserves as much real journalistic time.

What happens to Don Cherry's commentary is really not that important in the life scheme of things and whether Rogers or CBC owns exclusive broadcast rights to hockey will not change natural resources policy or sovereignty issues.

For months now the Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau affair has been developing. This is a serious issue. There may be criminal repercussions, the destruction of democracy, the dismantling of the Senate. The complete mess seems to revolve around the PMO.

We already know that Prime Minister is not a great judge of character - his appointments speak for themselves - in his office, in his Cabinet, and to the Senate.

Why then - is it impossible for our national media to interview Harper on what's going on? The media have hunted down Mike Duffy and Rob Ford - but do not chase the PM around until he speaks.

Stephen Harper is a liar - he has proven that many times - so as he tries to run from the Senate scandal - he should be tracked down by the media corp and held accountable.

Programs like Power and Politics and Power Play are turning into the rumour mills and guessing game shows as everybody and their mothers are speaking about what Harper knew, thinks, and was involved in. Everybody that is except the man himself.

The national media has been neutered by this Prime Minister - and all without a word of protest. He dictates who can attend a carefully planned and managed news conference - he then dictates who can ask questions and how many they can ask. He no longer attends First Ministers conferences and treats Opposition parties like unelected pests. This PM has done more to erode democracy and interest in it - than any PM before him.

It is time that as much emphasis is placed on getting Harper to answer the media as is wondering what will happen to Cherry and MacLean.

Will OUR MP's protect OUR interests?

Right now all eyes should be focused on our MP's in Ottawa. This is a most important period in federal politics as Prime Minister Harper is on a fly and lie mission.

Yes we need to know about the Senate scandal, corruption, incompetence, and possible illegal activities. We need Harper to be grilled on his judgement in character, his continued lies, and the real deal relative to election fraud and his continued "management" of the media.

So Harper hops on a plane and takes off to do a free trade deal with the European Union (CETA) on the first day of the House of Commons. Yes it's another avoidance of accountability and transparency by our PM - but it may be much worse than that.

The CETA framework - en route to becoming a trade deal - may contain one of the worst concessions ever made by a country. Big Pharma or Brand drug companies have lobbied very hard to extend patent rights in Canada and if they have succeeded the cost to Canadians is unbelievable. If the PM has allowed a three year extension on patents - the number of generic drugs scheduled to make their entrance into our pharmaceutical sector will be significantly delayed.

The provinces who have spent the last three years destroying the generic marketplace and seriously harming our local pharmacies to "save" dollars will have all those "savings" eliminated and still be losing more.

I know it is important that our Opposition MP's probe the Senate fiasco and seek accountability - but it must not be used to avoid discussion of this trade deal. The pharmaceutical piece of this agreement is one negative component but there are others including potential issues for fishermen and farmers.

We must NOT let our MP's be silent - they must be more aggressive on CETA than they plan to be on the Senate mess. If not - they are doing all of us a great disservice and more they will contribute to the gouging of Canadians on prescription drugs.

The fact that Harper is attempting to control media yet again and is running away from the Senate scandal and our parliament in par for the course. He is a liar, cheat, and does not believe in accountability.

Right now our MP's need to earn their salaries and benefits by doing the job we elected them to do. 

MHA Brazil's Oversight - another Red Flag

Tory oversights of which Dave Brazil owns the most recent must cause all people of Newfoundland and Labrador to pause.

In Canada right now we have a Senate mess that has some files referred to the RCMP, Senators repaying hundreds of thousands of dollars, the PM's former Chief of Staff cutting a personal cheque to cover Duffy (a Tory Senator), and hundred's of thousands of tax payer dollars spent to audit the oversights, omissions, falsehoods, half-truths, and possible criminal behavior of some of our Upper Chamber. The House of sober second thought has become the House of drunken spending.

Not too long ago we had Steve Kent apologizing on YouTube for his failure to achieve complete information on the Boy Scouts situation before commenting publicly about what he said were "facts".

Then there is the accidental expropriation of what has been called the entire community of Grand Falls - Windsor under the then Minister now Premier Kathy Dunderdale.

And who can forget the stream of MHA's led away in handcuffs for stealing from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Peter Penashue fiasco still resonates in the Big Land. Oversight - Oversight - Oversight

So now we have Brazil who violated the Member's Code of Conduct apologizing for yet another OVERSIGHT.

So then ask yourself - is it it any way possible that there has been any oversight in this Muskrat Falls deal. Is it in any way possible that serious mistakes have been made and missed? In ten years will we be hearing yet again that it was just an oversight - I apologize.

Lack of an escalation clause in the Upper Churchill agreement was an oversight - how many billions has that cost?

And last but not least Bill 29 - The oversight Bill. Because we can't see things means Cabinet gets a future pass to claim oversight. 

Sorry - there are too many red flags to proceed with this deal on Muskrat Falls.

Peter Penashue provides Proof PM Lies

Stephen Harper is a liar. The question therefore is how often does he lie?

Second Stephen Harper is a poor judge of character. The question therefore is how many other rogue partisans have been appointed?

Lastly Stephen Harper is either corrupt or incompetent. The question therefore is how much will Canada lose and Canadians suffer before we determine which it is?

Newfoundland and Labrador just completed a Federal byelection. The election was precipitated by the resignation of Federal Cabinet Minister, Peter Penashue. He resigned due to significant election financing irregularities. These irregularities violated the law. They were serious infractions and had the potential of skewing voting results.

Mr. Harper addressing his caucus today said - in part:

Our Federal Accountability Act, the toughest accountability legislation in the history of this country, forever changed the way business is done in Ottawa. We have strengthened the powers of the Auditor General, toughened the office of the Ethics Commissioner, reformed political party financing, dramatically tightened lobbying rules and beefed up auditing and accountability within government departments.

Canada now has one of the most accountable and transparent systems of governance in the entire world and this is something Canadians are rightly proud of.

It is also something, colleagues, that we can never take for granted because, as I said, in fact as I said in the room across the Hall in the fall of 2005 when we first pledged to bring in the Federal Accountability Act, I said this: “No government will be perfect because none of us are perfect. We cannot dream a system so perfect that no one will have to be good.”

Therefore, just as we continue to toughen rules, we must also uphold a culture of accountability. And I know that the people in this room have. We have reduced our budgets and travel as a government. We are the caucus that finally bit the bullet and reformed the MP pension plan so that we will pay our fair share.

And I know that, like me and my family, you are scrupulous about paying expenses of a personal nature yourselves.

But, that said, let me repeat something else I said in that same speech in 2005 — and let me be very blunt about it.

Anyone – anyone who wants to use public office for their own benefit should make other plans or, better yet, leave this room. (emphasis added)

_________________________________

He had every opportunity to do that with disgraced Cabinet Minister Peter Penashue. Peter Penashue was handily defeated by Liberal Opponent - now MP - Yvonne Jones. After Penashue resigned, Harper continued to hold Penashue out as "the best MP that Labrador has ever had". Minister Peter MacKay visited the riding and informed voters that Peter Penashue was guaranteed a Cabinet post if he was re-elected.

Making the above all the more disgusting was Penashue's comments after his loss: "In my view Labrador lost".

So just a month has passed and Harper wants us to believe that he is disgusted with some members of the Senate and people in his own office.

Proof positive - Stephen Harper is a liar.

The Prime Minister wants Canadians and his caucus to forget all this and get back to more important business. After refusing to take questions from the media (accountability) - he dashed to catch a flight to Peru. Before boarding the place - he turned - smiled - and waved.

And Peter - well he has unknowingly provided proof that the Prime Minister lies. Either he was lying about Penashue or he was lying about his commitment to Canadians. 

Take them by the scruff of their political necks and heave em out!

Somehow the Ottawa painted picture of Newfoundland and Labrador fishermen and stamps has become obscured by graffiti depicting overstuffed Senators with stamps and EI Referees doling money to the Conservatives.

My oh my and the right-wing fundamentalist Harper Cabinet would have Canadians believe that ordinary citizens are trying to bilk (Obtain or withhold money by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud) Employment Insurance funds. There us some irony here, don't you think?

Take them by the scruff of their kiss-the-baby political necks and heave em out - is probably the best advice after a Victoria Day weekend filled with anything but Royal Protocol.

The Queen herself is being usurped as Senators and Senior Staff of the PMO flaunt their entitlements of riches whether the receiver or the giver.

Today comes word from the Canadian Press and CBC that many Chairpersons of the Board of Referees who adjudicate EI appeals are giving political contributions to the Conservatives both before and after their plum patronage appointment.

Now what chance does an unemployed have to successfully appeal a rejection by the EI crowd? How do we know if what plays into their demonstrated partisan and arbitrary minds when some poor soul seeks to collect a legal entitlement? How could we know? The perception of potential conflict is there - that's why there are rules.

Now Harper claims he wants to tighten up on EI claims and apparently quota's are attached to the catch. So what should an ordinary oilskin believe?

Well how about this little scunchion from the CP article

The government appointed John Buddy Wiens of Morden, Man., as a chairman of the EI referees board for the Winnipeg district in April 2008. Elections Canada records show Wiens made three donations — totalling $1,500 — to the Portage-Lisgar Conservative riding association in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

'You got me'

In a telephone interview, Wiens confirmed he made the donations, but said no one told him it was against the rules. He said he did not recall reading the section of the EI referees boards' handbook about political activities.
"No, I'm sorry. You got me," Wiens said. "I'm totally by surprise."

Rodney Balkwill of Brandon, Man., was named a chairman of the EI referees board in February 2009. Elections Canada records show Balkwill made a single donation of $250 to the 2011 election campaign of Conservative MP Merv Tweed.
It was Tweed's idea that he sit on the board, Balkwill said.

_________________________________

If you look at the mandate - a key phrase is obvious:

The Employment Insurance Boards of Referees (EIBR) function as a first-level, independent, administrative tribunal mandated to provide fair and impartial quasi-judicial hearings of appeals of Employment Insurance decisions. (emphasis added)

_________________________________

Donations to politicians both before and after appointments really squeezes the sticky filaments out of the quasi-judicial cucumber and leaves it more vulnerable to prey of the partisan.

And so the Harper Accountability Act continues as the three ring circus reaches new popularity. The addition of clowns, pigs, high-wire performances, and jugglers really seems to have caught the attention of the people. Everybody is just holding their breath for the next one to jump into the pool from about 50 metres up.

If Wallin, Duffy, or Wright had spent a week fishing the North Atlantic in a sea - I'd say they worked hard for their entitlements. But these pontificating buffoons should crawl back to the private sector and peddle their acts there. They should be joined by the Prime Minister - where his corporate buddies may hire him - but unlikely to really let him near projections.

Right now there should be an independent review of the "independent reviews" that were done for hard-working Canadians who were denied Employment Insurance.

Tony Clement - Tough in Crime - High on Van Halen?

The Conservatives might be TOUGH on crime - but you too can be forgiven.

Tony Clement will not only pardon/forgive you but he will travel to Toronto and pay to see you - IF - you can perform like Eddie Van Halen. Particularly if you give him a guitar lesson.

Listen Minister Clement - tough on drugs? - tough on drugs?

You travelled to Toronto to see Van Halen. You adore them - almost hero worship at least guitar hero worship.

Why not keep all those young drug offenders out of jail - and start a rock band or two. You could even become a groupie.

You Sir are a hypocrite - and you will unnecessarily ruin the lives of some who make mistakes - while worshipping a fellow linked with heavy drug use from meth to cocaine.

Below please find a series of tweets by Mr. Tony Clement CPC - I wonder if he can put this much effort into restoring the democracy - he and his government seem bent on destroying.

Tony Clement ‏ @TonyclementCPC

@_scottreid @JonathanRose That Eddie guitar solo was Vantastic! #VanHalen

In reply to Scott Reid

17 Mar Tony Clement ‏ @TonyclementCPC

Thx Eddie, for the guitar lesson! RT @scottreid @JonathanRose @TonyclementCPC Hot for Teacher now. SOOOOOOO Good

Tony Clement ‏ @TonyclementCPC

Diamond Dave, Eddie & the boys are in the house! #VanHalen show just started & the ACC is rockin out...

Tony Clement ‏ @TonyclementCPC  

This might get loud: en route to Toronto for the #VanHalen show on St Paddy's night...

Doyle to Senate - A player in Harper's Lie Book

Norm Doyle is a nice guy. That is the general consensus of most who know him.

He did in fact do a very honourable thing when he donated a pension to charity. It was also very open and accountable in that where the money went was publicized to his constituents on a regular basis.

Norm was - I believe - a good constituency representative and made himself available. It was my experience that he also was above pure partisan zealotry as I am aware that he assisted people who were not openly conservative.

This is why - unlike with Loyola Hearn - I was shocked and saddened when Doyle sided with Harper - against the better interests of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Norm Doyle - at the end of his political career - chose his party and his leader instead of his province and her people. For this reason - I am not supportive of Mr. Doyle's appointment to the Senate. It is now my assumption that his votes in the Senate will be partisan and can be predicted to be against Newfoundland and Labrador when Harper wants it.

With respect to Harper's Lie Book - this Prime Minister guaranteed he would bring Canada into an elected Senate. He was harping on it for years if not over a decade. I heard some excuses from Steve - that Opposition MP's were delaying it etc. The PM has no problem shoving other legislation through - despite the pounding fists in the House of Commons. He now has a majority - and he could have pushed through a Bill to deal with an unelected, unaccountable, and inequitable Upper Chamber.

This would not suit Steve - so he will hang on to his power base and appoint Conservatives until he is blue in the face. Once he gets the Senate where he wants it - a massive Conservative majority - he might then revive his holier that thou attitude and advise Canadians that we need to move toward an elected body.

Stephen Harper is a liar. He has harmed our province to the tune of tens of billions of dollars and he will continue to do so. Premier Dunderdale has chosen to hold his hand and for pennies on the dollar agree to be his champion here at home.

For these reasons and others - I hoped that Doyle would have declined when the dirtied hand reached out to welcome him in.

What a Tragic Day for Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and Democracy

Where do I start?

There is no doubt that Stephen Harper is a liar. There is also no doubt that he is a right wing fundamentalist. He also heads up a party that ignores election laws and rewards people who lie - with a Cabinet post.

The real problem and concern is that he is also very shrewd - he will use his intelligence not for the common good but for his own advancement and that of his secret corporate buddies.

Today as Newfoundland and Labrador witnesses the appointment of Peter Penashue to Cabinet - we should be celebrating this historic move - instead we have to ponder how cynical this actually is.

Without questioning at all the sincerity of Mr. Penashue - I absolutely am sickened by what this means for our future. I am able to hypothesize why Harper has made the move - but I am yet unable to determine if Penashue will fall for it.

Peter Penashue is now the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs - and as such may be the individual that delivers the loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill development to the province. As an Innu leader - Harper can claim that he not only gave our government what it wanted but it was done through an aboriginal person. This development - possibly the largest giveaway in our history - should be stopped not financed. Harper for his part will use Penashue to deliver cheap - green - reliable power to other provinces of importance to him. This is great news for Nova Scotia, Ontario, and perhaps other Maritime provinces or New England States - but it is devastating to us. What a clever lad our Prime Minister is - how deceptive, vindictive, and sarcastic he is.

Meanwhile back at the ranch - that Stephen Harper's surreptitious mind lives on - he has once again appointed Fabian Manning to the Senate joined by other failed Conservative candidates. Another absolute slap in the face to the people of our province who chose again NOT to elect him. Remember Harper - promising to deliver an elected Senate? Not only has he continued to renege on this - he appoints people the people have said no to.

Then the kicker - Harper finished his News Conference on the Cabinet appointments - then passes on the information on the Senate appointments and does not stick around to answer questions about it. John Baird the newly minted Minister of Foreign Affairs - also refused questions on this absolute contempt of the Canadian people.
 
For political desert - if your stomach is not already upset - Bev Oda returns to Cabinet!

For the 22% of the voting public that elected this mess - well done. For the over 70% who did not - shame on those who did not vote and the remainder of us should simply work very hard to make sure the next four years does not destroy our country and ensure this type of administration is never elected again.

Cheers to Peter MacKay - your sly and manipulative manner has surely paid off.

Political Pigs at the Trough and Bacon in the Senate - goodbye Maple Syrup

Stephen Harper - stated he was going to move toward an elected Senate. He - being different than PM's before him would bring democracy to bear on the Upper Chamber.

What do Canadians think of the Senate - my guess is not much - and as of late disgusted.

Harper has yet to fulfill another of his election fibs (lies).

Harper used to have a real antagonistic relationship with the unelected Senate - that is when the majority of them were Liberal appointees. Nowadays no such urgency. The Senate now has a majority of Conservatives which pleases Harper and assists in moving forward quickly his "legislative" agenda.

What did Harper do when becoming Prime Minister? As quickly as he could he "appointed" to the Senate Michael Fortier and then right on to his Cabinet as Public Works Minister. This was to accommodate the city of Montreal - which had not elected a Conservative.

We do remember right when an entire province Newfoundland and Labrador did not elect a Conservative - did we get somebody appointed to Cabinet from outside caucus? NO! We got Peter MacKay.

So this Reformer - Stephen Harper - the man who wants/ed an elected Senate did a fine job appointing Conservatives to the Chamber regardless of his "strongly held" fundamental beliefs.

If all these lies and deceit is not enough - Senators are running around the country kissing babies, rubbing elbows, and running Conservative candidates' campaigns. Does this sound right to you? Does this sound like a party or a potential Prime Minister that wants to have the Senate answerable to voters? Maybe we misunderstood him - as apparently is often the case - maybe what he meant was Senators should get involved in electing Conservatives to the House of Commons. Perhaps now he means we can call a Conservative riding headquarters and ask to speak to the Senator who is helping the Conservative candidate out. Maybe that's what he meant by "answerable to the voter".

As I watched Preston Manning the other night answer a reporters question about being proud of where the Conservatives are today - I was reminded that a few reformers sat at a table and planned to get a Reform government in by 2000. Manning added they were just 12 years late. The archival clips shown were of those reformers Manning and Harper saying the Progressive Conservative Party had to go. Then I am reminded of political wimps like Peter MacKay and Loyola Hearn that accommodated that destruction.

Don't be fooled by the Newfoundland and Labrador PC faces that show up at your door looking for a vote. These people have become members of a party that was built on extreme right-wing philosophies and are only shrouding that until they get a majority. Then the likes of Fabian Manning, Jerry Byrne, John Ottenheimer, and Loyola Sullivan will have to sit and take the absolute extremism a Progressive Conservative does not support the likes of which has never been seen in our Province.

These Pigs at the Trough are learning to say and do anything to get elected - and then learn to shut-up as reformers alter this country to something between a police-state and a Bush party.

The ABC campaign must be stronger than before and more aggressive. Just today I was reading an announcement for an upcoming debate - being sponsored by a community services group. It read that 4 parties were participating - Liberal - NDP - Progressive Conservative - and the Green Party. It also listed Loyola Sullivan as a Progressive Conservative. A wolf in sheeps clothing.

Well Newfoundland and Labrador if you elect these opportunistic - ideologically void - pigs at the trough - they won't hesitate to sell us out and tell us we have an attitude of defeatism if we complain.

Fabian in Bewillderdale Land - down the rabbit hole - the Sequel

Fabian Manning was quoted in a VOCM news story as saying the 2008 election was a strange one, and that he feels the tides have reversed. Manning like Alice before him has apparently fallen down a rabbit hole and is now surrounded by anthropomorphic creatures (the PC MHA`s).

Fabs is terming the 2008 election as a strange one. Strange?

Newfoundland and Labrador and particularly the voters of the Avalon district need to help Fabian find his way back out of the rabbit hole and return him home to the Senate.

What Manning terms as strange - is to most of us very clear and usual. Fabian Manning participated in, supported, and applauded the move by his leader Stephen Harper to; lie to our province and her people and as a result remove 10 billion dollars right from the hands of our children and their children. This is not strange Fabian it is betrayal, cowardice, self-serving, and most of all unacceptable.

When you were down the rabbit hole the first time the anthropomorphic figures (the PC Caucus) were bashing you, campaigning against you and belittling you for sitting next to Harper as he took a hammer to our province and enjoyed the punishment he was delivering.

Somehow - having been thrown out of the rabbit hole back to reality - you landed in the Senate and at least had the ability to bribe us with our own money instead of continuing to take. Now like a buffalo off our cliffs you have fallen right back down the hole - only this time the same anthropomorphic creatures (the PC Caucus) are greeting you with open arms, campaigning for you, and singing your praises.

The provincial Tories have now joined your ranks and have become betrayers, benedicts, and puppets of Harper. They have placed their arms around you and said welcome back to the hole and it is really hard for us to know who the Mad Hatter is. Is it Danny - unpredictable, nervous twitch of the shoulder, perhaps suffering from mercury poisoning forming from the flooding of land for hydro? That is what happened to the Hatters right? Or perhaps it is Harper at the tea party with Sarah Palin as the Queen.

The tides are turned says Fabian. What tides - what is he talking about? A turn in the yellow brick road? Fabian and his new found anthropomorphic creatures (the PC Caucus) - should all be returned to reality by throwing their sorry arses out of office to find their way beyond that yellow brick road.

What Fabian is hoping for is that we all believe in Fairy Tales and that we all live in the rabbit hole.

If Danny Williams ever had one ounce of passion for Newfoundland and Labrador - then he will come out and expose this hypocrisy and turn in these betrayers of our province - including the Cabinet Ministers he mentored.

Let them eat Cake says Fabian Manning - OR crumbs

APATHY IN POLITICS - FABIAN SUPPORTS EQUALIZATION CHANGES and  LIES COSTING US BILLIONS

 

 

    

 

    

WHAT IS HIS PUNISHMENT - A SENATE SEAT AND THE ADORATION OF NEWFOUNDLANDERS AND LABRADORIANS. 

   WHAT IS A COD AFTER A SEAL FEAST? GUTLESS

Full story in today's Telegram

the Liar

Last night I was watching the Mansbridge interview with the Prime Minister. At times I just sat there - saddened by the fact that this leader of the country I am stuck in - is likely not telling me the truth.

I listened to what Stephen Harper was saying and all I could see was the same expression of (sincerity) he had displayed to me in person as he explained to me the importance of removing the non-renewable resource revenues from the equalization equation. While Harper has always been described by most as "stiff" or "contrived" or even "robotic" - he has of late shown us another "image" the rocker. One can be sure or at least I can be sure - that all I am seeing is an image.

I cannot restate this often enough - outside of him promising the Premier and thereby us as a population that he would make these changes - he looked directly one on one at me and explained the following:

I am an economist from western Canada - I know that Canada has not worked for some provinces as it has worked for others and I recognize that the formula for equalization is inequitable. More particularly and as an economist - it is absolutely essential for provinces that are developing non-renewable resources - to have the ability to keep that revenue so that when the resource is depleted - the revenues derived from it could be used to develop infrastructure which then may be used to diversify and build the economy.In this way the province - after having lost the temporary and significant revenues from oil - would not slip back to the position they were in prior to these revenues.

I did ask him about Quebec as I knew that province would scream foul if somehow other provinces reliant on significant non-renewable revenues would get the edge on them - a renewable resource based economy (including those lovely revenues from our Upper Churchill).

He responded by saying he understood that political quandary - but that would not change his fundamental belief that removing these non-renewable oil revenues was the correct thing to do. He added that there were other ways to satisfy Quebec on their concerns. He ended by assuring me as one citizen - that this promise would be fulfilled.

The rest as they say is history - and regrettably a piece that has cost us and more particularly our children 10 billion dollars. Now he would like a majority - and Peter then asked him about this. He said things like "I do not see myself doing this or that" or in some instances said he would not do this or would do that. Mr. Harper you are a liar and I must not take any chances that you turn this country into a mini-me USA.

Then Mansbridge brought up the Senate reform to him and the fact that he had appointed many unelected Senators.If you recall that is something else that Harper promised to improve our democracy and make it more accountable to people. In either case Harper explained that now that he had filled the Upper Chamber with Conservatives - he could look at getting Conservative policies through. Not only is our Prime Minister a liar - he now believes that the people are fools.

What do I expect from Harper? I expect he will lie in the next election campaign in the same way he has done in the past. What do I expect Canadians will do? I expect they will continue to distrust him just enough to deny him a majority.

Oh George!!!

Anything to get noticed...

Listen George Baker - saying that it would have been foolish for Danny to show up at the Senate hearings and that those who criticize him for that are foolish is an example of your ignorance and one of the reasons Newfoundland and Labrador is not taken seriously in your chambers.

Tell me George did you tell Lorne Calvert he was foolish to appear before the Senate?

Then George says you cannot amend something which is not there to begin with. Well George there are additional amendments added on all the time in the legislature but you and Crosbie wanted to be cute and you want to be accepted by Williams.

Guess that's why we have no fishery right George?
And no custodial management right George?
Newfoundland and Labrador has flourished under your leadership right George?
Any chance you can take Tom Rideout up with you?
He has had tremendous success since frist being elected in the 1970's.

Do you think the Premier can speak for himself?
Why did the Senate invite the Premier George?
Stop making excuses for the Premier George and trust me when I say that getting what we already had before the election back is appropriate legally and otherwise but it by no means represents what we want and what Harper promised. Show some guts George - you are safe in the chamber. Settle for this? You are kidding right?

Nova Scotia is well represented by Newfoundlanders and Labradorian politicians and Senators - what about us?

Your new buddy Crosbie - any chance the two of you can do something about the fishery that has left the province's rural areas destitute?

When you have the opportunity to address thousands of Canadians via CPAC and the the subsequent news reports and repeat broadcasts you take it - right George?

You have neutered yourself and your chamber by saying the Premier - when invited to appear - did not.