The legislative sprint for SNC Lavalin

Sometimes it is worthwhile to review a sequence of events.

As it relates to the SNC situation that we find our Country transfixed by - the discussion around the  deluge of lobbying by the company as they sat charged with serious criminal offences - has been somewhat vetted. 

Many have also talked about the fact that changes to the Criminal Code were buried in a Budget Bill. Most seem to find that inappropriate.

Obviously there are continued questions and escalating mistrust which will likely continue to haunt the PMO and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - as long as there are no comments from Jody Wilson-Raybould.

This post however will review a surely impossible sequence of events that lead up to the tabled change to the Criminal Code within the Budget Bill.

Let's make this short. It will add to the call for investigative measures to take place regarding this SNC mess.

You've probably heard by now that Canadians were told that the government was considering Deferred Prosecution Agreements. The spin - partially true - was that the public could have commented on this idea. Let's say the MP's did not do a full court press to constituents on this very important matter. The MSM were not all aflutter with advising Canadians of this very important consultation process.

Putting that aside - the consultation took place between September 25th - December 08 2017.

The report on the consultations found (PRESS HERE) was dated February 22nd 2018. The report is a general summary of what was heard or submitted by participants, a copy of the questions given to participants to answer, and a paragraph at the end of report titles "Next Steps", The following is that paragraph: The Government of Canada will further review the feedback received and assess whether enhancements to the Integrity Regime are warranted to ensure that the Regime continues to achieve its objectives, is efficient in doing so, and addresses new trends and risks in a constantly changing marketplace. Feedback will also be used by the Government of Canada in considering the possibility of introducing a Canadian DPA regime as an additional tool for prosecutors, to be used in appropriate circumstances, to address corporate crime. (emphasis added)

Further the last paragraph reads: While this public consultation has ended, the Government of Canada remains committed to hearing from interested parties regarding both the Integrity Regime and DPAs.

So on February 22nd of 2018 the report for consideration - to be assessed and reviewed - and even to possibly continue to hear from other people was released. It could be reviewed by Canadians and Parliamentarians alike. Let's have a discussion kind of tone.

5 days later there is a Budget Bill presented to the House of Commons that included the changes to the Criminal Code on these matters.

The proposed law was written and presented to Parliament 5 days after the report is released for assessment, review, and even more invited commentary. 

Please take the time to think about that. In 5 short days 3 months of material and findings were reviewed - assessed - and already presented for passage of the Budget Bill.

Any reasonably minded person would conclude the proposed changes to the Criminal Code were already written before the report was released.

Any reasonably minded person knows that Criminal Code changes just don't happen that way or that fast.

The report does not allow Canadians to see who said what - and what exactly was being submitted. 

But lucky for Canadians - SNC Lavalin put its submission on their site.

Have a look at the report referenced above and then the changes to the Criminal Code (PRESS HERE)  and then decide who influenced our law.

Undue influence? Need to get the fix in place for SNC in a timely manner?

Next post will deal with the change in language from Deferred Prosecution Agreements to Remediation Agreements. Funny that when GM Butts resigned - he actually used the term Deferred Prosecution Agreements instead of Remediation Agreements - the latter of which is actually law. 









 

YES NC Trudeau

By now most Canadians are asking what happened between former Justice Minister and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould (JWR), the Prime Minister, the PMO and SNC Lavalin.

After watching and reading many different news stories, commentaries/opinions, social media discourse, legal filings, banking information, global conventions, and documents of the World Bank - I am prepared to put together a maybe.

The following represents my thoughts, speculations, and opinions based on what really seems plausible to me.

Please note that not all the statements below are facts - rather a group of facts and hypothesis based on what we know and don't.

SNC Lavalin is experiencing difficulties primarily do to their self-made legal troubles. I do not believe losing the Canadian marketplace is where they are most worried (easy for government to get around that).

The companies urgent concerns are anywhere where the World Bank is backing developments wherein SNC is likely and able to bid for work.

I believe it's possible that JWR - the former Justice Minister was chosen by Trudeau and strategists for that Cabinet post for 2 reasons.  The first is to enhance and display their branding - indigenous woman holding a top portfolio - the second they estimated that JWR was malleable to execute a saving agreement for SNC Lavalin. I find the first reason insulting as I do not believe it was sincere - just part of a large scale marketing plan and the second was one of the the greatest miscalculations of a person and their integrity, intelligence, and backbone I have ever seen.

SNC Lavalin knew what they needed long ago. They pegged the Liberals for delivery and worked their back-room magic for insurance.

They "lobbied" that is to say they prettied up influence to make an attempt at a legal process to direct their reward.

They did not want - they needed - very desperately for the bribery and fraud allegations and charges to disappear.

They could not suffer an additional blow to their already trashed reputation at the World Bank.

The Liberals did the first thing that was necessary and that was to change the Criminal Code. They did so under a Budget Bill. That was more due to urgency than it was anything else. If it had gone through a proper process - a process expected when one proposes to change the Criminal Code it would likely have been too late for SNC Lavalin.

Once the Budget Bill passed - the rush was on to get SNC Lavalin the fix they needed.

They needed a Remediation Agreement (RA) applied to the company.

No doubt SNC Lavalin went through the motions of "lobbying" while who knows what other methods of communication to get this process moving.

The prosecutor was not budging - so the deed was passed to JWR.

One can guess that this whole compromise deal was raised in Cabinet and probably the majority of Cabinet agreed to the proposed fix for the company. Unlike other Cabinet Posts the Department of Justice and the Attorney General must be independent. It's only proper. It was then no doubt that JWR started to feel the pressure. It may have come from a combined effort applied by Cabinet colleagues and the PMO.

It may have been at this point that JWR started to put it all together and began to wonder what was truly her "role" in the Trudeau administration.

She started to smell a rat and felt that she must do what was expected or she would end up under a political bus.

At that time she probably did want reassurance from the man who had praised her so highly and made a very compelling public case for equality in the Cabinet. Surely this man - who had embraced her and praised her skills and intelligence would provide some assurance that making - what she felt was the right decision - would be welcome by this Prime Minister.

Whatever happened at the meeting and the tone of which words were spoken will only be known when JWR speaks.

Trudeau however had his answer and it was not what he or SNC wanted to hear. No deal!

It could have been real tidy, a Minister that played her role - for the sake of saving Quebec enterprise. Gazetted by Minister JWR and in the event of a backlash (spin did not work on the SNC file) she could have been sacrificed while the rest stayed "clean". No deal!

That presented a unique and difficult situation for the Liberals and their buddies. Now what?

Well if he hauled her out of the portfolio it may very well be seen as pandering to SNC and firing her for not doing what they expected she would.

BMO and other banks and their investment divisions certainly are affected  by the potential outcomes of a potential SNC Lavalin failure or takeover.

This part is a bit trickier because I have mixed thoughts on whether Scott Brison knew or not - regarding a needed Cabinet Shuffle. BMO might have offered him what is a very lucrative and prestigious position at a time when Brison may have wanted a change for more than one reason. They all might have played him like a fiddle or he might have taken one for the larger corporate/political team (so to speak) as the cushion he landed on was quite soft.

Trudeau said it perfectly today - if Brison had not resigned JWR would have remained and still be the Minister of Justice and AG. Reread above - yes we can assume that just throwing her out on her own without another reason for a shuffle would have been too obvious.

Regardless of why Brison took the leap - he did and this gave the PM an opportunity to shuffle. The shuffle was ridiculous and clearly a demotion for JWR. That is part of the Liberal's incompetent attempt at covering.

The PM then appointed a person who could certainly be seen to enjoy towing the line and getting done what JWR would not.

The new Minister and AG did a poor job of playing it coy and generally delivered an amateur attempt at being a master "politician" - at a time when the Liberals needed one most.

JWR stayed in Cabinet and probably learned that SNC would be taken care of - so to speak.

Between that and the mixed, confused, and inconsistent messaging attempts of Trudeau and his overrated cast of cohorts - JWR decided it was time to pull out.

One thing remains if Trudeau can be taken at his word - being she would have remained as Minister of Justice had Brison not resigned - then certainly we can assume that the decisions she made re: SNC would be continued and would have been acceptable (not). This is what makes the whole thing ridiculous, unbelievable, and and likely the reason the Liberals may be defeated.

Then again - I am of the belief that SNC will be saved at the cost of losing government if necessary. All those who deliver would certainly expect to land as softly as let's say Scott Brison.

As Trudeau likes to say we are working for the middle class and those trying to join the middle class - just like his loyal backbench is working hard to join the Cabinet.

They might just want to pause and really think about what their actual role is.

Everything you have read above makes coincidence unlikely but political/corporate collusion more than likely.

One last note - remember this:
On December 17, 1997, Canada signed the Convention on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD Convention). In 1998 Parliament passed the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (CFPOA) to implement Canada’s obligations under the OECD Convention into Canadian law.
The OECD Convention aims to stop the flow of bribes and to remove bribery as a non-tariff barrier to trade, producing a level playing field in international business.  The OECD Convention came into force on February 15, 1999, following Canada’s ratification. To date, 44 states have ratified the OECD Convention, including the 36 member states of the OECD and eight non-member states: Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Russia and South Africa.
In June 2013 Parliament amended the CFPOA to increase the maximum penalty for convicted individuals, to create a new books and records offence and to expand jurisdiction based on nationality.  In addition, the 2013 amendment stated that at a later date the Government would eliminate the exception for facilitation payments. Facilitation payments are those made to foreign public officials to secure or expedite the performance of acts of a routine nature that are within the scope of the official's duties. The repeal came into force on October 31, 2017 and such payments are now included under the foreign bribery offences listed in the CFPOA.


and now in 2018 The Trudeau government did this:
In September 2018, a Remediation Agreement (RA) regime came into force through the creation of a new Part (Part XXII.1) of the Criminal Code. An RA is a new tool available for use by prosecutorial authorities – at their discretion, in the public interest and in appropriate circumstances – to address corporate criminal wrongdoing. It is an agreement, between an organization accused of committing a listed offence and a prosecutor, to stay any proceedings related to that offence, if the organization complies with the terms of the agreement.


Perhaps it's time the World Bank amended its position to ignore such weakening of commitment to cleaning up the global market by not recognizing such RA's.  

and there is this last little bit: (emphasis added for easier read)


The Honourable Kevin G. Lynch, P.C., O.C., PH. D, LL.D
Vice-Chair, BMO Financial Group
The Honourable Kevin Lynch has been Vice Chairman of BMO Financial Group since 2010. Prior to that, he was a distinguished former public servant with 33 years of service with the Government of Canada, serving as Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Industry, as well as Executive Director for Canada at the International Monetary Fund.
Kevin is Chancellor of the University of King’s College, a senior Fellow of Massey College and the past Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo. He chairs the Board of SNC Lavalin and is a director of CN Railway and CNOOC Ltd (China National Overseas Oil Company). As well, Kevin is a Trustee of the Killam Trusts and a Director of Communitech, the Governor General’s Rideau Hall Foundation and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Previously, Kevin served on the boards of the Ditchley Foundation of Canada (Chair), the Accounting Standards Oversight Council (ASOC), the Ontario Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, the Gairdner Foundation, the Perimeter Institute, the Bank of Canada, Empire (Sobeys), Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), BMO China and the Cape Breton Development Corporation.

Come on now.... Really?  Yes Canada they really do believe we are stupid.... but they also underestimated Jody Wilson-Raybould...

Harper hands off to MacKay

As a political junkie and an active citizen - I always like to review the term/s of any Prime Minister or Premier.

Usually there are good and bad policies in all governments regardless of stripe. Then again - usually in Canada the mainstream parties Progressive Conservative, Liberal, or New Democrat are just left or right of center. They are not right or left wing zealots attempting to change the very soul of the Country.

Then came Stephen Harper - one half of a deceitful duo - with Peter MacKay. These two politicians were supposed to "unite the right". In truth - it was the Reforms effort to mask itself enough and form government and for Peter MacKay it was a lazy and selfish way to bring his Progressive Conservatives back from near extinction.

For PC's like David Orchard and Joe Clark the merger represented the greatest act of treachery in the party's history.

The right wing extremist Harper and the self-centered MacKay had no problem moving on - each with their own agenda. Harper is not a stupid man and understood immediately that he was smarter than the lazy selfish MacKay. As long as Harper kept MacKay happy - Harper could keep the ideologically fractured caucus in check.

Satisfying Peter meant just that - satisfying Peter. He could have the portfolios he desired, the travel he desired, and the prominence he desired. Little by little Harper changed our Country - right under the nose of MacKay who give in little by little on ideology if it meant progressive improvement for himself.

MacKay did not care if the Country was being stripped of democratic principles, stripped of judicial values, stripped of its Constitution as long as he - Peter MacKay - was upwardly mobile. Mackay became more and more arrogant - more and more aloof - more and more deceitful.

The Harper era was - I believe - based on an agreement. That is to say - he and his political partner - set rules for each other and more importantly time-frames. I have no doubt that the merger of the parties came with an opportunity for both to lead it.

The red-carpet send off for MacKay by the Prime Minister was unprecedented and quite unusual. The political love-in was scripted by both and in my opinion written a decade earlier. All of this was pulled off because an ever weakening media answered the call. Sure MacKay leaving was a story - but that news was not important enough for live coverage of every word.

Shifting away from the extreme right will be the reason to elect MacKay sometime in late 2016 or early 2017 - it will be determined as "necessary" to lure the public back with moderate social policy.

Peter in the meanwhile will be a free agent - but very accessible to an adoring press. He's already begun playing them like a fiddle.

Harper did considerable damage to the "free" press - they became the propaganda delivery team - trained like a circus animal - through continued punish and learn exercises. The odd journalist that delivered news had to do so very carefully or with the blessing of a boss through commentary.

There were media rules and deals that we the public did not see during the election - we seen the result but not backroom agreements.

Have you ever watched a flock of hungry starlings upon the discovery of food? If not - all you had to do was watch our national media question the hours old Cabinet - to envision what the starlings are like.

As many of you know - I - as one citizen - insist on freedom of the press. I am unforgiving as a voter to a leader or MP who demands full control of media. I did not expect or need particulars about what the Ministers were going to do in their new portfolios on day one. I would expect them to tell me their priorities and any urgent and immediate changes within a week or two. The "Hill" reporters were savages on Wednesday - they even giggled  - (watch the video) if there is one. Justin Trudeau said they were important and should be able to ask tough questions - and as if Trudeau was Pavlov - he rang a bell.

For the past five years at least - they were obedient - if they complained it must have been at a virtual kitchen table - we never heard it.

They have become so irrelevant that when Trudeau opened the access and advised them they were important again - they fed like piranha.

Let me be clear dear media - before you increase your dislike of me - you demonstrated it again in spades when you "interviewed" Ms. Ambrose. You were respectful of the rules Harper put in place for you.

Without considerable determination of journalists - the next couple of years will be high-energy focus on keeping Trudeau "accountable" while allowing MacKay and Ambrose to play by Harper media rules. Peter will become the heir apparent and will demand of the media - respect and boundaries that will be set by him.

The media continues to let Harper off the accountability hook and unless this changes - Trudeau's commitment to revitalize the CBC will only mean a license for journalists to investigate and report on Liberals - while letting MacKay and the CPC go unchecked into the next election.

Ready - set - go....

Is Pierre Poilievre being monitored?

The most obvious example of how blatantly corrupt the Harper government is was on full social media display the past few days.

The Universal Child Care benefit - touted as everything short of the savior of mankind (which it is not) - is being used by the Harper government as a major election plank.

Pierre Poilievre Harper's choice for Minister of Employment and Social Development has taken propaganda, deception, and unethical to a whole new level. 

This born again Harperite preaches from the Conservative Party Pulpit wearing a CPC Cassock and expects that thinking Canadians will accept his version of the Harper bible.

In a completely abused Twitter account Poilievre spams the Canadian Twitter-sphere with garbage like: "One more sleep until Christmas in July for Moms and Dads!"

This Minister should be removed from his portfolio and made to apologize to Canadians for ignoring/breaking Treasury Board rules. This extremist should be monitored to insure this zealot is not dangerous to the social well being of Canada. He is knowingly and deliberately ignoring established guidelines and is a Minister of the Crown.

I have no idea - as a Canadian - how far this fellow will go to promote the CPC doctrine - which in and of itself is concerning.

The fellow who once said - "But I can’t accept a union representing public servants working for the government of Canada which forcefully takes money out of the pockets of Canada’s public servants to support parties that want to break up the country. How can it be in the interests of public servants to support the breakup of Canada? - has no problem using government money (our tax dollars) to support a political party.

The fellow who used the term "tar baby" and used foul language in a committee meeting and made unparliamentary gestures - continues to believe he is not out of control.

The fellow who despite his vocal concern on national security did not believe rules applied to him and "got impatient waiting at a Parliament Hill checkpoint and pressed a button to open the security gate and drove his car through without being identified and without having his vehicle inspected."

The fellow who suggested that aboriginals need to learn the value of hard work more than they need financial compensation - should probably apply that thought to himself.

The fellow who when talking about the Fair Elections Act (a complete fiasco) claimed the Chief Electoral Officer wanted "more power, a bigger budget and less accountability." - when Marc Mayrand dared criticize the Act.

It is time that Canadians from coast to coast to coast removed from office - through the election process - this Minister and many more of the CPC zealots.

On another note - the NDP and LPC should remember that the majority of Canadians do not want Harper or the Conservatives re-elected - therefore they should do everything to insure that does not happen. Focusing on their own political lot versus focusing on defeating the CPC is self-serving - not nation-serving.

The Conservatives believe that the collective intelligence of the Canadian public can be mitigated by sending out this Minister who acts like the head cheerleader of a dictator. Listening to him - one wonders if there will be only one name on ballots this fall.

Lastly - while the national media made an attempt to counter the propaganda of the CPC on the Universal Child Care benefit bribe - they continue to fall short on holding Stephen Harper to account. The PM continues to successfully manipulate journalists by avoiding scrums and open interviews.

The national media continues to be a source for parliamentary secretaries to chant CPC propaganda - while hoping to convince Canadians that such rubbish is news.

Is this Minister being monitored?

Stephen Harper and Seamus O'Regan

The latest gutless action by our Prime Minister and his party comes in the form of an anti-Seamus O'Regan ad. This is an extension of the Trudeau ads attacking perceived lack of experience.

The Not Ready ad uses a clip from an open interview with an NTV reporter who was covering a political event of O'Regan's.

Harper and the CPC continue to utilize clips of open arena (scrum like) comments or replies to questions by Trudeau and now O'Regan.

This is juvenile - misleading - and therefore just like Stephen Harper.

You see Harper will not do scrums - he hides. Harper will not face an open media on our soil - he hides. Harper will do the photo-op but runs from media questions after - he hides.

Harper's message to Canadians is: I won't be caught making mistakes or even lying - because I know how to hide and I won't scrum. Harper is informing us that he's ready because he will not be scrutinized by the media. Harper is ready because his appearances are produced, choreographed, staged, and restrictive. Harper is ready because he lines up visible minorities behind his photo-op's but will not be scrummed on important issues such as immigration and multiculturalism.

The series of advertisements should be a reminder to us all - the people the CPC are mocking - are only guilty of being accessible. Open appearances allow the voter to see the candidate good and bad. No open appearances mean they are afraid - unwilling to be open and accountable - and essentially undemocratic.

Any one of us could produce an ad which shows a police line-up of Harper appointees. Then perhaps we could segue to a court setting where Minister MacKay is complaining to judges - then finally fade to a debt and deficit chart of Conservative economics.

I am surprised that national media are not asking the Prime Minister for a scrum on his ads.

These ads should serve to do nothing more than remind Canadians that Harper will not answer to the people through open media access.

As for making fun of things done and said in the past - Harper should be the last one seeking to revisit history.

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?

Canada's National Media - News or Propaganda?

I would like to scrum the national media. I would like to ask questions about their coverage of "news" and of their editorial decisions. I would like to grill the assignment editors and get reasons for their choices.

Yesterday I watched a Harper orchestrated media fest and watched our Prime Minister do what he does best - direct our national media outlets as he sees fit. The fact that our media complies is another issue and one that should concern all Canadians.

The federal election is in October and the Conservative Party Script is unfolding.

Yesterday morning many of us were alerted - on Twitter - that Peter MacKay was "resigning". This set the stage for the all-day puppy like behavior of our national "journalists".

Next we were told that the RCMP had released the remainder (18 seconds) of the video left by the deceased Parliament Hill shooter. This too began a Pavlovian like fear conditioning of the voting public. The timing of the release begs questions that were not forthcoming.

Today Canada's media stopped being journalistic and became part of the Conservative Party of Canada narrative.

The media - for a brief second - mused that the 18 second video release was not much more than what had already been released. Regardless of that assessment - the media then spent half the nation's daily media time to talk about ISIS, terror, war, and national defence.

With regard to the MacKay story - Canada's national media spent an entire day predicting, chasing, and musing on the announcement that the CPC co-founder and PC defector was not going to run again. This of course became frenzied once it was determined that the Prime Minister was going to attend the "announcement".

Oh good I thought - finally the media would trap the Prime Minister in Nova Scotia and scrum him. That hope was quickly dashed when I recognized the choreography unfolding. Harper spoke first - then MacKay - then a tea - and finally Peter MacKay gave a scrum. Prime Minister Harper - once again - used the media for free campaign advertising. You see the PM began and ended with CPC talking points on the government's "accomplishments" - without one second for the media to question him on those statements. That is not news. That is propaganda.

Peter MacKay is not running again because he "loves his family more". As a senior Cabinet Minister and long time MP a News Release was warranted and could be noted by the media. What we got however was a soap opera of the entire MacKay family - probably best kept for a thank-you party for his dedicated volunteers - in private.

We are without a fully functioning fourth estate - making the fifth estate more important now than ever before.

It is now suggested by noted academics that bloggers, social media, and non-mainstream forums are the fifth estate. READ MORE HERE

It is time that our national media refuse to cover photo-ops and prepared self-serving events of the Prime Minister until he opens himself up to proper media scrutiny. It is time that we challenged our mainstream national media. We have the social media tools and technology and we must use these to protect our democracy.

We must have the courage to challenge our media and hold them to account as we would our politicians. There is no doubt there are some in the mainstream media that can be as vindictive and petty as the worst of our hyper-partisan elected officials. Some spend more time attacking the general public on social media than they spend keeping our MP's honest. There are journalists in our country who maintain professional standards and understand the important role they play in our society. Ironically - many of them have turned to blogs and use of social media to free themselves of outside or inside (management/executive) influence.

Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs all enable the citizens of Canada to communicate with one another and share opinions, information, and ideas - with relative ease. We can now utilize more resources to get the news of the day and different spins of it.

With these relatively new communications tools - people are seeing the mainstream media in a new light. The national news broadcasters, national papers, and news magazines are seen as one source of news not the only source. Breaking news often comes from citizen reporter and often provides evidence in the case of criminal activity.

Political events have changed as live tweeting occurs during the affair. What a politician says one day can be replayed at a moments notice. Budget documents - legislation - the Hansard and talk shows - all easily accessible.

Some journalists have embraced this new communications era. They supplement and improve their own material with information from social media. Sadly others dismiss bloggers, tweeters and citizen reporters. They actually spend work time attempting to marginalize people - ironically the same people they want to support their work.

So yesterday was a banner day for mainstream media. Mackay's announcement that he was not going to seek election again was given coverage usually reserved for a second coming. Just to pump the CPC a little more - they threw in 18 seconds of video that added nothing substantial to what we citizens have already seen regarding the Parliament Hill shooting.

Yesterday was Stephen Harper's day - orchestrated and directed. We were subjected to hours of propaganda and free CPC advertising.

Paid political pundits and "journalists" going on about Peter MacKay and his love of family. I would hope that all our politicians have such love and that all politicians do not find it necessary to bail on public service when they have a family.

When my children were young - I spent a period of time working full-time - raising two wonderful children (now wonderful adults) and on the side spending 30-40 hours a week for 2 years trying to stop the privatization of hydro. I am not alone - there are parents out there doing the same thing everyday - some having to work three jobs to support their families. We have thousands of volunteers giving of themselves while raising children and earning income.

The media should know that a cardiologist putting in 80 hour weeks so others may live to be with their families - retire without a word - let alone a Prime Ministerial visit and speaking engagement.

As for Peter's body of work - well after they dispensed with his political pedigree (the history of Elmer) they spoke ad nauseam about his portfolios and importance in the political history of Canada. The fathers of Confederation had nothing on Steve and Pete. MacKay's body of work has for the most part been a failure. I cannot speak to the benefits received directly by his district - but looking at his national contribution he has been a failure.

1. The first order of his business was to be slimy - how did he win the PC leadership? What did he swear not to do?

2. Pesky helicopters.

3. Questionable comments about women - (judges, lawyers, past girlfriend).

4. Extreme right-wing "family" values. Marriage, Right to die, or how about a woman's right to choose which political party she'd like to support?

5. Complete dismissal or ignorance of our Constitution.

6.   “far-fetched hypothetical scenario” he says while condemning the Supreme Court of Canada (arrogant much?)

7. "life cycles" of F-35's fiasco.

8. Harper's lieutenant (wow) there's a plus

The mainstream media did a complete disservice to the public yesterday and once again showed how fearful or supportive they are of Harper. The Prime Minister who ducks debates, ducks scrums, ducks first Minister's conferences, and ducks real democracy - pulled the strings of our national media yet again.

Hill Journalists PR for PM

I have for some time been commenting on the National media and their coverage of Prime Minister Harper.

Clearly there are problems - the PM will not allow scrums, will not hold unfettered news conferences, and dictates who can ask a question and how many questions may be asked.

More recently the behavior of Harper has gotten worse as he ducks and hides from open media scrutiny of the whole Senate scandal - more particularly the Mike Duffy affair.

The highly paid and educated journalists on the Hill have been reduced to news interns chasing the PM around to photo-ops. When not doing that these otherwise skilled professionals are gathering groups of people together in panels to see if anybody else might know what Harper is thinking, doing, or involved in.

Yesterday took the cake - reaching new heights - (no pun intended) as the PM sat in the front of Canada's version of Air Force One - while the media was herded to the back. The Prime Minister was his usual self stating no questions were to be asked or answered - but allowed them a little visit to the front to see his guests, former Prime Ministers Mulroney and Chretien.

It was almost pathetic to watch the media scramble and excitement as the former PM's joined them in the back of the plane for some chit-chat.

What a disgrace - and what a pathetic sight. Journalists have allowed their integrity and professionalism to be damaged because Stephen Harper won't talk to them.

There is only one answer to this and that is that all media on the Hill STOP covering Harper. Ignore the News Releases from the PMO and do not attend his photo-ops. Cut him off and instead spend your time covering the Opposition parties, leaders, and MP's. Let the Opposition do all the speculation without an Harperionette inputting talking points.

And one more thing - when Stephen and Laureen stop at the top of the boarding stairs and wave - please show us a reverse angle so we can see who they are waving at.

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!

News keeps getting Worse! Muskrat Exports?

Below please find an excerpt from a recent Globe and Mail article: Should we continue to ignore this?

This “over my dead body” attitude from a former engineer and environmentalist made Natural Resource Minister is emblematic of what former Parti Québécois premier Bouchard refers to as the “new religion” of Quebec. In a province where the gas industry’s first and often tactless developments have divided the population, gas wells – and even hydroelectric dams – have come to symbolize man’s self-destructive appetite for energy, at the expense of land, water and air.

It is a fine debate. Yet for all its sociological, environmental and economic considerations, it is somewhat vain. The valve on Quebec’s gas industry is shut for a foreseeable future that extends well beyond the current ban on gas exploration – which will last until environmental studies are completed, by 2014. Blame it on the shale gas boom in the United States. Blame it on the low gas prices that have ensued.

And the consequences of these depressed prices are felt not only by the province’s nascent gas industry, which had already drilled before the ban some 30 wells in Quebec in the hopes of creating a 5,000- to 19,000-job industry.

They also hurt the venerable Hydro-Québec, the state-owned electricity producer that has seen its export revenues since 2008 melt even as it is pumping more electricity into the northeastern U.S., its main export market. Gas-powered thermal electricity plants are heating up Hydro-Québec’s competition.

The price of natural gas has rebounded in recent months after it cratered in April under $2 (U.S.) per million British thermal units (BTU). As gas prices rise while the mercury falls on the eve of the winter heating season, it now trades close to $3.50 per million BTU in New York. However, Quebec’s gas industry estimated in earlier public hearings that the price of gas needs to trade between $5 and $6 for it to cover its production and delivery costs.

Even if gas-powered plants replace coal plants, even if diesel trucks are converted to gas, it will likely take a decade before the increased demand allows the price of natural gas to rebound significantly – it spiked at close to $9 in 2008. Quebec’s main gas distributor, Gaz Métro, expects prices to hover around $5 for the next 10 years. Jean-Thomas Bernard, guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa’s faculty of economics and an energy expert, thinks the depressed prices could even last 15 years.
This presents a headache for Hydro-Québec, which is already swarming with electricity surpluses as the recession weighs on industrial demand, especially from the pulp and paper mills that are in the midst of a structural downturn. And the problem will only be made worse as the state-owned electricity producer brings new capacity into service.

The complex project Eastmain-1-A-Sarcelle-Rupert, which includes the construction of two plants, four dams and the diversion of the Rupert River in the James Bay region, will add 8.7 terawatt-hours of electricity production. The Romaine hydroelectric complex in the Côte-Nord region will add another eight TWh on average a year.

Hydro-Québec‘s electricity exports have steadily gone up since 2007 to 26.8 TWh from 19.6 TWh. Yet as electricity prices have fallen while the Canadian dollar has shot up, the revenues the state producer collects from these out-of-province sales have gone down – although they slightly rebounded in 2011. The trend has continued in the first quarter of 2012: The year-over-year exports shortfall accounts for Hydro-Québec’s 28 per cent drop in revenue and 18 per cent reduction in profit.
And with any fall in Hydro-Québec’s profits comes a reduction to the dividend it pays the government, as 75 per cent of its profit are funnelled to Quebec.

To paraphrase the title of an acclaimed Louis Bélanger film, Quebec is suffering a severe case of “Gaz Bar Blues.”

So as Western Canadian energy producers are lamenting the surge in U.S. shale gas and oil production, which are threatening their exports south of the border, this time around, they will find a sympathetic ear in Quebec.

RIM - Time for Stock Innovation

Okay - I do like my Blackberry and PlayBook. I like the fact that this is a Canadian Company.

You have fallen on hard times - time for some more innovation.

How about you offer shares with the sale of your products.

Buy a Playbook for $200 get 20 shares. Let us in - let average Canadians in on the action.

People buying your products now are afraid - it's risky - are you going to be there in a month.

For the risk - offer shares.

Market your innovation, your history, and your maple leaf.

Surely the shareholders that remain would go for something that has a real chance of recovering value.

You want a chance to show your stuff again - you need time - you need shareholders.

Come on Research in Motion - get mobile - and share a Cinderella story with fellow Canadians. Go from Province to Province and meet with people. Do the BBQ circuit. Time for the Nerds to let loose and seek support from those of us who use your technology and support it.

The Race to Save Canada from its CEO

It's hard to tell just how much damage Harper can do over the next three years.

After the federal election - May of 2011 - Harper said the following: “One thing I’ve learned in this business is that surprises are generally not well-received by the public, and so we intend to move forward with what Canadians understand about us and I think what they’re more and more comfortable with”.


Read and reread the quote.

Our Prime Minister is an educated man and he understands fully the statements he makes.

I would like a few English professors to interpret this quote.

What it means to me is Harper believes he is an all powerful CEO of a privately held major corporation.

What it means to me is Harper does not understand he is running a country.

What it means to me is that the shareholders of the company he believes he runs are not Canadian.

What it means to me is that Harper believes "voters" understood him and his ilk.

What it means to me is that Harper fully plans to make us comfortable with his agenda.

What it means to me is that Canada will not be recognizable when he's finished.

What it means to me is that - the Race is On to Save Canada - and it had better happen before too many policies are virtually irreversible.

What is particularly scary about Harper is that not one Progressive within Conservative rank and file MP's has crossed the floor.

He was raised as an adult by ideology that is foreign to most Canadians and his role is to deliver this country up to particular global entities. 

Liberal and NDP members in the Commons had better do more than posturing.

Canadians had better do more than gasp.

Our PM lies with ease, deceives at his pleasure, and rules through intimidation.

Our laws mean nothing to him and he believes he is entitled to secrecy whenever he chooses.

He is not a man of science but is rather a man of ideological zealotry. Canada did not suit his beliefs - so he will change it.

Hi is a very dangerous person and he happens to be the Prime Minister.

WANTED - a few Tories - to play Monopoly - Do Not Pass GO

As RoboMonopoly (Canadian Edition) reaches new heights of corruption - Canada is looking for a few token Tories to do what nobody else can - stand up for democracy.

Of the PC's that remain in Parliament - surely there must be a dozen or so willing to leave Park Place and walk to Marvin Gardens. If the dice keep rolling the way they have over the past week - I expect to see "go directly to jail" do not pass go. I expect the Chance Cards are causing significant sweaty stress to some CON-servatives right now and they might be better off if they missed a turn.

The Free Space may not be an option if evidence keeps coming in the way it is.

I don't recall an option of military intervention in the game - although Peter MacKay is not beyond making up his own rules. The sense of entitlement he feels is either a direct result of Elmer's arrogance or a new found relief of power to compensate for his traitorous acts to his former - now defunct - party.

You can't hide Peter and you are inextricably hitched to the Harper hat.

Win at all costs - win at all costs - and our lying Prime Minister for his part could convince himself that this is acceptable - as Canadians need him right now.

Once again I state that Stephen Harper is a liar and he also happens to be our Prime Minister. He displays no concern when he is caught lying, no concern when a member of his caucus lies, and absolutely shows no respect for the Elections Act.

If a few Tories felt really Canadian - at this moment - and took a stroll across the Board - our country could avoid the absolute dismantling of our values, our democratic system, and our economy.

If they do not Canadians will have to abandon online communications, cellular technology, and hide from our military. Make no mistake about it Harper is a right-wing extremist who will lie to get what he and his ilk require - in this case that means rendering Canada redundant. 

So it's your turn now - before you roll the dice again - decide if you are up to a trade. Trade the blue properties for red, orange, or green and you could help save us from the most deceptive zealot ever to have graced the House of Commons.

Harper's Police State - Your Canada

The warnings about this right wing zealot went unheeded by Canadians during the last election. The media did their part by allowing this deceptive operative (aka our Prime Minister) to only answer a limited number of questions per-day (prescribed by Harper).

Harper - flanked by weak Progressive Conservatives like Peter MacKay - is free to change the face of Canada. When Justin Trudeau actually showed some guts and took Harper on - the media or what they have become - focused on the dissimilarity of Justin to Pierre Elliott. How about what the young MP was talking about?

Trudeau knows that Canada is heading to a place the majority of us do not want to go. The small minority of right wing fundamentalists must not be allowed to destroy our country. Jim Flaherty our current Minister of Finance will continue with the Common Sense Revolution until he is permanently removed from any position of power. The comparison of Ontario to Greece - from an economic perspective - is not something that happened under the current Ontario administration. The mess in Ontario was started by Flaherty when a provincial Minister. Flaherty has a country under his feet because previous administrations regulated banking and our economic system in a manner that protected it. Flaherty will destroy it.

Let's fully understand the danger we are facing.

1. Spying on Canadians by a police force the PM seems to want to control.
2. In total contrast to number 1 where the PM says the government should have such controls - the same man eliminates the gun registry so as NOT to control law fearing Canadians.
3. Use the armed forces personnel to do searches on political opponents.
4. Control the media through a fundamental shift of access.
5. Election spending laws - who cares? PM does not!
6. Robotic calls forging the identity of the Elections Office
7. Eliminate public funding for elections to diminish opposition chances at election.
8. Lying to parliament.
9. Preparing to dismantle universal health care.
10. Taking money from Seniors.

This is a short list of the regime we have democratically elected.

Let me predict that if this PM feels there is any possibility that his chances of re-election are slim - he may very well proceed in making changes to the elections laws.

Young Justin Trudeau - sounded a real alarm and I expect the NDP, Liberal, and Green Parties to fight this government with everything they have. If they are not up to it - move over and let the young MP's do what is necessary to save this country.

It's no longer funny to be living in a Harper State.

If you can Drink and Drive - Harper wants YOU - How to get Harper's Respect

If one wants to get Stephen Harper's attention, respect, and support do three things:

Drink and Drive, increase taxes for ordinary Canadians and be at your lowest political popularity .

For all the anti-crime, longer prison sentences, and making criminals pay - Stephen Harper apparently will have no problem appointing a convicted drunk driver to the lofty post of High Commissioner to Britain.

Media reports today suggest that Harper is ready to announce the Gordon Campbell position.

Mug Shots Hawaii 

At two times the legal alcohol limit in Hawaii - former BC Premier Gordon Campbell - looks happily under the influence in his mug shots.

So if that qualification for such a title is not enough - add the fact that when the Premier resigned - he did so after he mislead the people on his party's plans relative to the previous election on HST. His popularity plummeted among the voting public.

Well done - so I guess Harper believes in rehabilitation - and if they complete a program - they too can become a foreign official.

For instance perhaps all those rioters in BC could follow the path of Campbell and rise to the top of society in just a few short years. 

And best of all - because Harper is appointing a former Liberal - the convict appointment will be non-partisan.


So for those families who have had their lives changed forever by a drunk driver - what do you think?

For Stephen Harper - breaking the law, misleading the electorate, or just lying are great attributes for high posts.

From Bonavista to Vancouver Island - There is a difference!

As our song goes "from Bonavista to Vancouver Island - this land belongs to you and me"...

From the start of the Stanley Cup final series - there was a difference. Although Michael Ryder is a Canadian - he is not the great Sidney - so Canada's team became the Canucks and not the Pittsburgh Penguins. If the Pens were in the final and Crosby was playing the massive broadcast attention would have plunked itself down in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Michael Ryder is a tremendous talent in his profession - but he's from Newfoundland and Labrador - that's the province that most national broadcasters like to skip when they do a coast to coast commentary starting with the phrase, "from Nova Scotia to British Columbia". As such the CBC - CTV and most Canadian news agencies focused on Vancouver and not the real hockey fans in a real hockey town like Bonavista, NL.

We all awoke this morning to see our national image virtually destroyed by the city that hosts "Canada's Team".  Unfortunately that image was not countered with images of beautiful Bonavista NL, scenic, peaceful, and genuinely excited about their boy Michael Ryder doing Canada proud as he participated in this athletic test of excellence .

What a missed opportunity - Canada could have showcased an absolutely jaw-dropping coastline and natural vistas untouched by over-population and urbanization and a community that epitomizes "hockeyville" not "crimeville". They could have told a story about a young man from a small town - that beat all the odds by making the NHL cut.

The CBC and CTV could have camped out in Bonavista and the only pepper spray their reporters would have suffered would have been a few sprinkles of the spice drifting from a shaker being used by a livyer while barbecuing. They would have been adopted by 3000 or so people who would ensure they were well fed on lobsters, mussels, and crab while listening to stories dating back to 1497 when John Cabot made landfall at this historic site. With a population that is about 10% of Cole Harbour which itself is considered small when compared to a Vancouver - Bonavista is extremely proud of Michael Ryder.

Perhaps some damage control is still possible for Canada - if our media focuses on Ryder bringing the cup home to Bonavista - Newfoundland and Labrador. We can showcase the beautiful places and people of Canada - minus the looting, arson, rioting. Perhaps a whale will sing in the foreground of an iceberg dwarfing all around it.

In Bonavista Newfoundland and Labrador - you might see a salt and pepper hat, salt spray from the mighty Atlantic, or a riot - which defined here means a great old time of dancing, local music, and feasting on fresh seafood.

Congratulations to Michael Ryder and Bonavista - who last night did Canada proud.

Instead of mobs of gangsers running around drunk carrying stolen manikins - Bonavista celebrated with kids running around carrying Stanley Cups of tinfoil in their Boston Jerseys bearing Ryder's #73.

If the media of this country wants to show the real hockey spirit of Canada - load themselves on a plane and come on down to Bonavista. I am sure the images they capture will cure the hangover of embarrassment they are suffering from Vancouver.

Photo From the Telegram

 

Majestic Icebergs Bonavista

The beautiful whales Bonavista

Bonavista is built upon sedimentary deposits of the Precambrian Age (600 million years ago). On the road between Lance Cove and Bonavista you'll find one of nature's carvings - the Dungeon. It is a circular opening in the cliff with two seaward-side channels where the sea roars through. It is approximately 300 feet across and 15 metres deep. Tidal action has created a natural beach. You can swim or go through the channels in a small punt. Many people explore the bottom and sides of the Dungeon, climbing its high cliffs looking for plentiful iron pyrite (fools' gold) embedded in the rocks.

 

 

 

You want something to celebrate Canada? Hats off to Bonavista - now Micheal bring the Stanley Cup home. Congratulations to Betty Fitzgerald, Mayor of Bonavista, who did not have to resort to tweeting apologies. They were happy in Bonavista regardless of the outcome.

Harper's first Scary Quote after the Election: As Canada Erodes

Below is a quote by Stephen Harper in a Globe and Mail article today.
Read it very carefully and remember it as Canada devolves to become unrecognizable.
 
“One thing I’ve learned in this business is that surprises are generally not well-received by the public, and so we intend to move forward with what Canadians understand about us and I think what they’re more and more comfortable with” 

So what do we understand about them - and what does he think we are becoming more and more comfortable with? Notice we are Canadians - they are them - and somehow we are more and more comfortable with something we understand about them "us". 

Has the Canadian media become part of Conservative Election Campaign?

To the reader:

Please take the time to read this and then sit back and think about it for a while. Let me know what you think.

Sue

From the gate - Stephen Harper while not taking questions as he exited the Governor General's residence claimed the opposition parties were attempting to form a coalition.

He controlled that message from day one. This was a carefully crafted PR move by somebody and Harper played his role perfectly.

Election called - first message - unquestioned - they want a coalition.

Then came a week of:

The coalition wanted an election - Canadians did not.

The coalition have a plan to take over power - Canadians do not want a coalition.

The coalition will... and so on.

The media for their part - despite any evidence of the foregoing - reported and re-reported that the coalition was the election issue.

Harper played the media like a fiddle - all the while blocking open access to them and limiting questions and controlling the physical environment.

The media like a part of the Harper team - chased Ignatieff here and there and would not allow any questions but those on the coalition. Then Harper "suggested" to the media that they need to get a commitment from Ignatieff that he would not form a coalition. They almost dutifully tracked Ignatieff and asked and asked until - Ignatieff - exhausted from the inability to get to any other subject - mistakenly - promised no coalition.

All the while Harper skirted the real question - on why he was limiting questions and controlling the media - which they have since capitulated and now follow his rules. This did not help the voters or our democracy. It was - in my opinion - one of the greatest media blunders of recent memory.

Next we had Harper segue into the economy - he would say it would not be good for our economy if we had a coalition - it would damage our progress he would add. So then he had the media reporting that Harper's concern was now all about the economy. Throughout this dog and pony show - the public were not treated to a question posse by the media - wherein Harper should have been asked about his problem with democracy and why he felt that Canadians should not be allowed to choose their own democracy - including the possibility of a coalition.

Now the real duping might finally be revealed to our investigative journalists. Harper wanted a commitment in the media from Ignatieff - to not form a coalition - for two reasons. The first is to ensure that if he formed another minority - he would hold on to the job of Prime Minister (or be able to state to Canadians that Ignatieff lied if a coalition were formed) and second to do what the party started today. The Conservative candidates now have the media reporting that even if Ignatieff did not want a coalition - they might vote down the budget and then the Governor General might ask Ignatieff if they might be able to form a coalition.

Where is Stephen Harper in all these games? Unavailable to the media!

Now the coup de grace has arrived as Harper above all people complained that the Liberal ads have him misquoted. This man - a proven liar - a cheat - in contempt is complaining about a quote on universal health care. Now the media has yet another shift in coverage - essentially accommodating Stephen Harper.

Tomorrow it is Quebec and how if a majority is not achieved - Gilles Duceppe will be in a position to move the separatist agenda forward into another vote on sovereignty.

If the media is at all interested in constructive criticism - they might want to consider how they have been used as part of a Harper re-election campaign and begin the process of returning to independent journalists giving Canadians the information they need to make their own minds up.

To the handlers of Michael Ignatieff and to Ignatieff himself - talk to Canadians about our issues and continue addressing problems of contempt, lies, cheating, right-wing fanaticism, and one scary Harper who gets up every day plotting to get and keep power.