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.
Showing posts with label nigel wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nigel wright. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Harper meets Homer - D'oh!
It's just as well Prime Minister Harper move in with the Simpson's and give Homer a hand.
D'oh!
Harper now has advised us lowly Canadians from his temporary political hide-out in South America - that he knows why Wright gave Duffy the cash. He says Nigel did it to reimburse taxpayers.
D'oh!
Jeez - how stunned are we - of course that's why Nigel did it.
Harper - the man that Nigel hid the payment from is now going to be perfectly upfront and honest about why he did the deed?
D'oh!
So Nigel hid the news from Harper because?
D'oh!
Nigel could not possibly know that it would damage his confident, his boss, and his friend?
D'oh!
Nigel could not see any problem with gifting a Senator as Chief of Staff for the Prime Minister?
D'oh!
Nigel could not see any problem with gifting him so Mike could repay the taxpayers before the scandal in the Senate worsened?
D'oh!
But we can all breathe a sigh of relief as the Prime Minister knows what was in the head of Nigel - and it was pure.
We can all breathe a sigh of relief because the Prime Minister started talking again - albeit under his restrictions - to the media.
Just as Homer would:
[Meeting the Media] Please don't eat me! I have a Chief of Staff, Cabinet, and Senators. Eat them!
D'oh!
Harper now has advised us lowly Canadians from his temporary political hide-out in South America - that he knows why Wright gave Duffy the cash. He says Nigel did it to reimburse taxpayers.
D'oh!
Jeez - how stunned are we - of course that's why Nigel did it.
Harper - the man that Nigel hid the payment from is now going to be perfectly upfront and honest about why he did the deed?
D'oh!
So Nigel hid the news from Harper because?
D'oh!
Nigel could not possibly know that it would damage his confident, his boss, and his friend?
D'oh!
Nigel could not see any problem with gifting a Senator as Chief of Staff for the Prime Minister?
D'oh!
Nigel could not see any problem with gifting him so Mike could repay the taxpayers before the scandal in the Senate worsened?
D'oh!
But we can all breathe a sigh of relief as the Prime Minister knows what was in the head of Nigel - and it was pure.
We can all breathe a sigh of relief because the Prime Minister started talking again - albeit under his restrictions - to the media.
Just as Homer would:
[Meeting the Media] Please don't eat me! I have a Chief of Staff, Cabinet, and Senators. Eat them!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Power of the People and Twitter being used to Oust Harper
A tremendous social media campaign is happening on Twitter.
The #pmharpermustresign hash tag is exploding and taking Canada Trends by storm.
This has lead to a petition to Oust the Prime Minister. The Petition is PRESS HERE
About 1 Canadian a minute is signing on.
This of course follows the resignations of Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy from the Conservative Caucus of Senate and Nigel Wright as the Chief of Staff of the PMO.
It appears that Canadians may have had enough.
How long before the people of Newfoundland and Labrador do the same to Kathy Dunderdale and Co.?
It certainly has already begun.
The #pmharpermustresign hash tag is exploding and taking Canada Trends by storm.
This has lead to a petition to Oust the Prime Minister. The Petition is PRESS HERE
About 1 Canadian a minute is signing on.
This of course follows the resignations of Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy from the Conservative Caucus of Senate and Nigel Wright as the Chief of Staff of the PMO.
It appears that Canadians may have had enough.
How long before the people of Newfoundland and Labrador do the same to Kathy Dunderdale and Co.?
It certainly has already begun.
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