JPT, JWR, SNC, LPC, BMO, PMO, GMB and DPP

Battle of the Initials

If we put aside the unnecessarily quiet and pretzel gymnastics process to get a Remediation Agreement for SNC Lavalin we can pretty much figure out the mess.

JWR would not overturn the DPP position that SNC would not be invited to achieve a Remediation Agreement?

SNC had a fit?

PMO and JPT sort of expressed their desire to see SNC get an invitation to the RA party.?

JWR did not agree but JPT told her it was her call?

Cabinet shuffle required to get desired result for SNC?

Obvious choice Scott Brison perhaps for more than one reason - gets offered plum position with BMO?

After-all BMO would also be very interested in seeing a favourable deal for SNC?

BMO executive who is also SNC executive makes that happen?

GMB probably facilitated and assisted with strategy on above?

JPT has shuffle to deal with Brison departure and removes JWR from post?

JWR gets enraged at the realization that is was her decision on SNC but not her call on who gets to serve in what capacity in the Cabinet of JPT. (this is real evident in body language at second swearing in)

JPT chooses SNC RA friendly new Justice Minister?

JWR and GMB feel all under control until the Globe and Mail story?

After quick strategy review - standard speaking note was achieved and PMO JPT and GMB confident in solicitor-client privilege will keep JWR quiet?

JWR hears JPT speak for her (I spoke to her 2 times and everything ok) further inflamed by Liberals saying things like "Jody-Centric" "difficult" etc.

JWR quits Cabinet retains counsel. 

GMB and JPT and PMO have new crisis.

Throughout the communications strategy has been horrible.

So JWR wants GMB gone - wants new Cabinet post - wants to be publicly justified?

GMB takes hit - Liberals make-up - nothing to see here returns?

New speaking notes for JPT. He reads out legislative authority of DPP (perhaps he should have done that when the Budget contained the change to the Criminal Code for SNC)?

Controlled committee? Ethics violations have not hurt JPT yet - so probably won't now? 

Will Canadians ever learn the truth? Unlikely 

What happens with SNC  now?

How is it SNC Executive has case thrown out?  Who dropped the ball there?

Will the parliament repeal the RA DPA and do the process more openly and properly? 

Transparency? no 
Truth? no
Punish Corruption? no
somebody leaked something to Globe and Mail right? Who's benefit was that for?
Meanwhile Vice-Admiral Mark Norman charged with breach of trust?Who's benefit was that for?


Speaking truth to power? We'll see if the electorate does that this year. 

 

 







 

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.

De Grasse - victim of Harper PR

As we head into a fall federal election - Canadians are probably facing the most important election ever. The very structure and design of our confederation and democracy is at risk.

The past couple of days have sent red flags flying everywhere.

Stephen Harper is a cunning and manipulative zealot of extreme ideology not suited to Canada. He is also a liar.

What we know as fact:

Harper is not a good judge of character - he has appointed crooks, cons, liars, and extremists,

Harper has inserted Canada in global war games not usual for our country,

Harper is consumed with oil economics and the corporate culture attached to it,

Harper is a liar,

Harper does not believe in our constitution,

Harper has damaged our economic health as a nation,

Harper does not hold First Minister's Conferences,

Harper does not believe in free press,

Harper continually abuses taxpayer dollars by mixing government policy with party promotion,

Harper is a fan of controlled populations,

Harper is an enemy of science and as such puts our country at risk.

This is a short list and does not include one point that I will address now.

Yesterday during the Pan Am Games - Harper and PR cronies did something that can only be seen as disgraceful.

Harper - as we know - likes photo-ops but does not like scrums. His manipulation of the national press is legendary and has been for the most part been successful. There are exceptions as some journalists fight back. This thankfully is picking up as the election looms.

I have watched some of the games - online - and have enjoyed the medal ceremonies where Canadian athletes accept the adoration and accolades of their fellow citizens.

During these ceremonies two people are assigned to do the presentations. One is from the Pan Am association and the other would be local politicians or first nations representatives. One of the two would present the medal and the other present a stuffed mascot.

Arguably the most watched event at any summer games (Olympics, Commonwealth, Pan Am, Nationals and Worlds) is the men's 100 metre sprint. This interest usually translates into mass media coverage and hype.

Canada's Andre De Grasse was the victor in last night's final and also became a casualty of the Harper PR machine.

Instead of the two person presentation team - this event had three. The normal reps and then there was the third wheel. Bal Gosal Minister of State for Sport who was introduced and then presented the mascot to De Grasse only.

It cheapened and politicized the event and attempted to upstage the amazing performance of De Grasse who may well end up being our greatest male sprinter.

It was a typical Harperization - do not miss capitalizing on the success of anybody. Do not miss a prime time photo-op. The only surprising element of this typical Harper PR was that Gosal was not wearing a Conservative Party of Canada shirt or that the gold medal did not have the CPC logo imprinted on it.

It was odd - uncomfortable - clumsy - and manipulative. It was Harper.

STOP before you spend the Universal Child Care Benefit

The Universal Child Care Benefit, blatantly used as political material by the Conservative Party of Canada - may actually have a silver lining.

Before you spend the retroactive cheque - consider how what you spend it on may best benefit your children.

If you use $400 of it to make a political contribution you will get a $300 tax credit. If you donate it to any party other than the CPC - you may very well be making the best investment for your child's future.

If you believe as I do that the CPC is corrupt, deceitful, ethically bankrupt, and a danger to the future of Canada as we used to know it - then that $400 contribution might be the best money you ever spend for the benefit of your children.

Middle class families who find it difficult to find money to help a candidate or party defeat Harper and his cronies - have a unique opportunity to use this CPC taxpayer funded slush fund to do just that.

Just imagine the CPC being inundated with Green Party, NDP, and Liberal ads being funded by the Tories own abuse of taxpayer money.

Imagine getting a T-Shirt saying I used Poilievre's UCCB to defeat the CPC.

You see the $300 tax credit for a $400 contribution may be worth more to you than spending that $400 that you will be taxed on to buy a service or product that you have to pay GST on.

For all those Canadians who believe that Harper must go - consider the above as a real option to create a better future for your child in Canada.

Think before you spend - consider supporting something other than the Conservative Party of Canada. 

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.

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. 

Conservative Deceptive Ads - Placing one Region above another

Trudeau puts one region above another - That's what the Conservative Ad says.

Who said the following?

"There is a dependence in the region that breeds a culture of defeatism"

Oh yeah that's right - Mr. Harper - about Atlantic Canada

He just puts one region under the rest.

On that basis I would think Mr. Harper will vote for Trudeau.

I think the difference is Harper said this when he was the leader of Canada's Opposition. 

So Atlantic Canada lets practice defeatism - Defeat Harper in every Atlantic Canadian seat.

Next up - what did Harper say in his younger political career?