There is a poll out today by Forum Poll that actually has the Conservative Party of Canada ahead of the Trudeau Liberals - this despite the unknown entity of Andrew Scheer as the CPC leader.
It shows many Canadians moving back to the Conservatives. After the Stephen Harper debacle - that's not a desirable prospect.
The Trudeau Liberals are defining themselves as ultra-tolerant socially while moving themselves to fiscal conservatives with policies regarding trade deals, pipelines, and big (foreign) corporations. They have also taken a page out of Harper's book - by ignoring their promise to end the First Past the Post system.
This combination will probably fail in the next election if not corrected - quickly.
Canadians on majority are a very tolerant lot and we do live in a multi-cultural country. But there are feelings of angst within the population - and feelings that we are being too tolerant.
Some of this is coming from the diametrically opposed positions of protecting human rights socially - while continuing to deal with Saudi Arabia and other religious states for business purposes.
In Canada our government is not run on a religious platform. In fact Trudeau comes from a perspective that religion is a personal choice and is a freedom.
The story regarding Saudi Arabia funding schools in Canada though presents a real problem. It is a foreign government which is run on the basis that Sunni-Islam is the state religion. Their laws are dictated by religion. When money from that country is being used to expand and run an Islamic private school in Ottawa - people begin to question what the outcome of that may be. Schools in Canada should be funded within Canada.
There are already disputes in Canada regarding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the freedom of religious beliefs. For instance will Sharia Law be allowed in circumstances regarding that faith (marriage, divorce, ans infidelity as an example) and if that will replace in those circumstances Canadian Law. This is true of other religions as well.
Then there are situations like the one witnessed in Quebec where a woman was denied a day in court because she was wearing a Hijab. Although a Superior Court found the Judge erred - the Court would not grant that all cases would end up with the same result.
What of - equality for women? This becomes very complex even on the global level. In all cultures and most religions there is room for complaint regarding the inequality of women.
In Canada - Trudeau has made it a very public cause to ensure that women are equally represented in Parliament and all Canadian institutions - yet at the same time feeling very comfortable with religious leaders/heads of State who do not practice or believe in the same.
For as far back as history takes us - women defined by religions - have not been equal. The cause of equality for women has been and continues to be a struggle. The same is not true of men. Men are not fighting backwards all the time - religion always places them ahead of women in some way or another.
It used to be that Canada had ongoing debates on equalization, transfer payments to provinces, universal healthcare, democratic reform, debts and deficits, indigenous peoples, and the woes of Confederation. Nowadays much of parliament is tied up with the rights of one religious group or another, immigration from Muslim countries, the Hijab, freedom of speech versus what is hate, and how to balance the rights of women versus the cultural rights of women.
On the fiscal side - all is wide open. If it's good for Canadian business - we will deal, trade, and cooperate with countries that continue to execute based on sexual preference, countries that continue to treat women as property, countries that restrict freedom of speech and the press, countries that have and do fund terrorist organizations, and countries that continue to run under a dictatorship.
This is causing Canadians to rethink - this is driving Canadians back to an extreme on the social far-right.
We have just witnessed an insurgence of support for the extreme-right party in Germany and we all know what happened in the USA.
When Capitalist countries are attracted to wealth - and a dictatorship offers them an ability to increase wealth - potential social consequences may not be that attractive.
Canada is a tolerant nation - but now our people are worried that it might become intolerant if religious views and practices of other religious states become too influential in our society.
Pierre Trudeau once said:
‘There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation’
likewise
Religious states have no place in the Parliament of Canada.
The younger Trudeau must deal with this sooner rather than later. If not the next election may already be lost.
The younger Trudeau must focus on real democratic reform, a balanced economic agenda, equalization, healthcare for an aging population, federal/provincial relations, problems with trade deals that put corporations ahead of people, the environment, employment and manufacturing, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, Muskrat Falls, the fishery, Search and Rescue, and Federal jobs and establishing a Crown Corporation in our province.
Democracy is about what people want - what they want their country to be - priorities regarding social programs and economic development - advancing human rights - and positively reinforcing democratic principles and enhancing them. It is not about the promotion of any religion, the contortions required to being seen as tolerant (we are tolerant), the hypocritical business dealings with countries that are not democratic and do not protect basic human rights, the attraction of bloodsucking multinational companies at all costs and not about the personal agendas of politicians.
The fact that any scientific poll puts Andrew Scheer and the CPC close - let alone ahead of the Liberals is something that should open some Parliamentarian eyes. Please reflect and do not place us right back with Stephen Harper and his buddies.
Showing posts with label elizabeth may. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elizabeth may. Show all posts
Monday, September 25, 2017
Saturday, July 25, 2015
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.
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.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
DFO destroying Fisheries Science Documents
So where are we on this bit of news? Please read below a News Release by The Green Party of Canada.
Have we lost any research from our waters?
Is Minister Keith Hutchings all over this?
The dismantling of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans library system has taken a dramatic turn, with thousands of valuable books and scientific documents, some dating back to the 19th century, being sent to the dumpster over the past week.
The Green Party of Canada today voiced its condemnation of this reckless destruction of scientific resources. “Consistent with their policy of muzzling scientists, the Conservatives have now moved on to trashing libraries,” said Elizabeth May, Green Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “This administration seems to be deliberately undermining our ability to make good policy decisions by limiting access to scientific evidence.”
Some 40,000 documents from the now-defunct Eric Marshall Aquatic Research Library at the University of Manitoba are currently being relocated to a federal library in the Green Leader’s own riding. “Some of the library’s materials won’t be destroyed, but it is impossible to say just how much we’ve lost,” said May.
“This is the latest in the methodical destruction of fisheries and marine ecosystem intellectual resources,” said Janice Harvey, Fisheries Critic for the Green Party. “The same thing happened last year at the St. Andrews Biological Station, the oldest federal research facility in Canada.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility with thousands of scientific documents, The St. Andrews Biological Station lost its ecotoxicology unit, whose scientists were at the forefront of research into the ecosystem effects of toxic chemicals used in the farmed salmon industry in the Bay of Fundy.
To date, the Harper administration has already shut down or consolidated an additional twelve library systems, serving departments ranging from Natural Resources to Parks Canada.
Have we lost any research from our waters?
Is Minister Keith Hutchings all over this?
Green Party condemns destruction of world-renowned Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries
The dismantling of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans library system has taken a dramatic turn, with thousands of valuable books and scientific documents, some dating back to the 19th century, being sent to the dumpster over the past week.
The Green Party of Canada today voiced its condemnation of this reckless destruction of scientific resources. “Consistent with their policy of muzzling scientists, the Conservatives have now moved on to trashing libraries,” said Elizabeth May, Green Leader and MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands. “This administration seems to be deliberately undermining our ability to make good policy decisions by limiting access to scientific evidence.”
Some 40,000 documents from the now-defunct Eric Marshall Aquatic Research Library at the University of Manitoba are currently being relocated to a federal library in the Green Leader’s own riding. “Some of the library’s materials won’t be destroyed, but it is impossible to say just how much we’ve lost,” said May.
“This is the latest in the methodical destruction of fisheries and marine ecosystem intellectual resources,” said Janice Harvey, Fisheries Critic for the Green Party. “The same thing happened last year at the St. Andrews Biological Station, the oldest federal research facility in Canada.”
In addition to a state-of-the-art library facility with thousands of scientific documents, The St. Andrews Biological Station lost its ecotoxicology unit, whose scientists were at the forefront of research into the ecosystem effects of toxic chemicals used in the farmed salmon industry in the Bay of Fundy.
To date, the Harper administration has already shut down or consolidated an additional twelve library systems, serving departments ranging from Natural Resources to Parks Canada.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Evan Solomon - Power & Propaganda - Co-A-Li-Tion
Power & Politics with Evan Solomon today - has confirmed for me that a name change is in order. Power & Propaganda as I will now refer to it - proved what Sue's Blog alluded to in an earlier post is true. Conservative candidates must line up to have a crack at being able to spew the "official" Harper message - over and over on a program that allows such rubbish.
Solomon had no control over the Conservative talking head Pierre Poilievre - who lied through omission over and over - while the NDP Robert Chisholm and Liberal Christine Innes did not have equal time.
First of all - the issue of coalition was concocted by Stephen Harper and was pursued by the media not the public. Mansbridge raised the issue again when interviewing Ignatieff. Next the CBC re fabricated the issue which is not being driven by the people of Canada.
The Conservative was once again - as is always the case with Solomon - permitted to avoid questions and continue to lie about what Ignatieff said. He further lied when he stated what was in the minds of Duceppe, Ignatieff, and Layton.
Solomon referred to getting the most seats in an election. He appears to have a difficult time understanding the obvious.
If Canada gives party A 4 seats party B 3 seats Party C 2 seats and party D 1 seat what does that mean?
It means that party A can attempt to form a government representing 40% of the public ideology but must however address the 60% with another ideology. If Party A can convince either Party B or C individually to go along with a modified or cooperative combination of ideology then Party A can have 70% or 60% respectively of the parliament. That then would give them a way to operate like a majority.
If Party A can convince party's C and D to support a cooperative platform then Party A could sit with 70% of the parliament and thereby Canadians support.
If Party A acts like its 40% is a majority and ignores the wishes of 60% of the country then Party A will have failed to get majority support and would fall.
Then Party B would get a chance to try to make 30% become a majority by working cooperatively with parties C and D or even Party A.
So if Stephen Harper wants to remain in power if he receives a minority - he has to stop his contempt of the Canadian people and our democracy and find common ground. If this man cannot achieve this after so many years trying - he should do the honourable thing and resign. Perhaps this is the point Canada - Harper is intolerant of our democracy and therefore threatens to use our own system to frighten us.
Harper has spent more time manipulating the media and message regarding a coalition than ever spent on convincing Canadians that his party is the best party for the people.
If Evan Solomon cannot control Conservatives who come to his show day after day and say the same things including lies - day after day - then perhaps there should be a critical review of the program.
Ty to fellow twitter David for some info...
Solomon had no control over the Conservative talking head Pierre Poilievre - who lied through omission over and over - while the NDP Robert Chisholm and Liberal Christine Innes did not have equal time.
First of all - the issue of coalition was concocted by Stephen Harper and was pursued by the media not the public. Mansbridge raised the issue again when interviewing Ignatieff. Next the CBC re fabricated the issue which is not being driven by the people of Canada.
The Conservative was once again - as is always the case with Solomon - permitted to avoid questions and continue to lie about what Ignatieff said. He further lied when he stated what was in the minds of Duceppe, Ignatieff, and Layton.
Solomon referred to getting the most seats in an election. He appears to have a difficult time understanding the obvious.
If Canada gives party A 4 seats party B 3 seats Party C 2 seats and party D 1 seat what does that mean?
It means that party A can attempt to form a government representing 40% of the public ideology but must however address the 60% with another ideology. If Party A can convince either Party B or C individually to go along with a modified or cooperative combination of ideology then Party A can have 70% or 60% respectively of the parliament. That then would give them a way to operate like a majority.
If Party A can convince party's C and D to support a cooperative platform then Party A could sit with 70% of the parliament and thereby Canadians support.
If Party A acts like its 40% is a majority and ignores the wishes of 60% of the country then Party A will have failed to get majority support and would fall.
Then Party B would get a chance to try to make 30% become a majority by working cooperatively with parties C and D or even Party A.
So if Stephen Harper wants to remain in power if he receives a minority - he has to stop his contempt of the Canadian people and our democracy and find common ground. If this man cannot achieve this after so many years trying - he should do the honourable thing and resign. Perhaps this is the point Canada - Harper is intolerant of our democracy and therefore threatens to use our own system to frighten us.
Harper has spent more time manipulating the media and message regarding a coalition than ever spent on convincing Canadians that his party is the best party for the people.
If Evan Solomon cannot control Conservatives who come to his show day after day and say the same things including lies - day after day - then perhaps there should be a critical review of the program.
Ty to fellow twitter David for some info...
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