Dear Tony
I can call you Tony, right? I figure you wouldn't want to be called 'the Honourable Tony Clement' seeing how that sounds so elitist.
Now, you don't know me, but I have been following your career for years. I watched you rise up through the ranks of Mike Harris' cabinet, all the way to Health Minister! Then, well, that all ended with the defeat of that government.
Do you remember when it all started to go downhill? That's right: Walkerton. Premier Harris' response to it was just, well, arrogant. You'd think it wouldn't have mattered. After all, Harris was already well known to be opinionated, defamatory and hard hitting. Somehow, that all changed, and he got out when the going seemed good. It was just a gong show after that.
My point is, you can't always predict when the worms will turn on you. Sometimes the negative narrative just builds, enough people hear it and catch on, and your halo runs out of shine.
Having any deja vu yet?
Monday, a dozen people chased you down at York University. I understand they had to work at it. As they brought their issues forward, I am told you said if we didn't like the government's conduct, we just had to vote you out.
I'd like to talk to you about that.
In a sense, we have voted you out. As I'm sure you know, yours is a minority government. Due to one of the many quirks of our electoral system, you and your pals got to form government despite having less than half of the seats. Most of us didn't vote for your Party, and we got you anyway. This has happened twice.
So, what? Third time's the charm? What if we had another three-hundred million dollar election, and got the same result? Would you, another minority in hand, declare all this 'nonsense' over prorogation done with because you were once again elected?
That doesn't make any sense.
Most of us already haven't voted for you. The majority not voting for your party again isn't necessarily going to solve anything.
What you are supposed to do, Tony, is respect these electoral realities and listen to the people. Your party did run on a platform promising accountability and democratic reform, remember? Our demands for the PM to be more subservient to Parliament should be quite acceptable to you and your fellow Conservative MPs.
So, how about a better answer next time? Something like "I hear your concerns, and will bring them forward to the Prime Minister and caucus?"
Next, there's this offensive business of you calling our nation-wide protests last Saturday a "stunt."
Normally, I'd just demand that our MPs raise issues of concern in the House, but, geez, your boss suddenly and quietly closed it.
Meeting with our MPs doesn't help because they are opposition MPs, and prorogation has effectively shut them up. So our best option is to meet with government MPs.Well, you all don't seem to want to do that. We keep getting in contact with your fellow Conservative MPs with letters and petitions and yet they keep telling the media that their constituents are fine with prorogation.
So, taking it to the streets seems to be the best way of getting your attention. It takes a lot of time and work to do that. We don't get paid for it. We don't get 'future considerations' for it. We do it and then come home to a backlog of work. People (sadly) like you insult us for it, calling us 'elites' and 'chaterrers.' Our Prime Minister largely ignored us.
We're concerned, Tony. We're not stunt persons, we're voters. Concerned citizens. We are due respect and a proper response.
Today, I understand you should be encountering a few more of my fellow chattering Canadians in Saskatoon. I hope you will be cordial towards them, more so than you were to my fellow CAPP members Monday.
We are Canadians. We are voters. We deserve better from you.
As a senior minister of some influence, I hope you'll have a heartfelt recalibration, and will come to provide us with real democratic leadership and representation.
Sincerely,
Mark Francis
Now, you don't know me, but I have been following your career for years. I watched you rise up through the ranks of Mike Harris' cabinet, all the way to Health Minister! Then, well, that all ended with the defeat of that government.
Do you remember when it all started to go downhill? That's right: Walkerton. Premier Harris' response to it was just, well, arrogant. You'd think it wouldn't have mattered. After all, Harris was already well known to be opinionated, defamatory and hard hitting. Somehow, that all changed, and he got out when the going seemed good. It was just a gong show after that.
My point is, you can't always predict when the worms will turn on you. Sometimes the negative narrative just builds, enough people hear it and catch on, and your halo runs out of shine.Having any deja vu yet?
Monday, a dozen people chased you down at York University. I understand they had to work at it. As they brought their issues forward, I am told you said if we didn't like the government's conduct, we just had to vote you out.
I'd like to talk to you about that.
In a sense, we have voted you out. As I'm sure you know, yours is a minority government. Due to one of the many quirks of our electoral system, you and your pals got to form government despite having less than half of the seats. Most of us didn't vote for your Party, and we got you anyway. This has happened twice.
So, what? Third time's the charm? What if we had another three-hundred million dollar election, and got the same result? Would you, another minority in hand, declare all this 'nonsense' over prorogation done with because you were once again elected?
That doesn't make any sense.
Most of us already haven't voted for you. The majority not voting for your party again isn't necessarily going to solve anything.
What you are supposed to do, Tony, is respect these electoral realities and listen to the people. Your party did run on a platform promising accountability and democratic reform, remember? Our demands for the PM to be more subservient to Parliament should be quite acceptable to you and your fellow Conservative MPs.
So, how about a better answer next time? Something like "I hear your concerns, and will bring them forward to the Prime Minister and caucus?"
Next, there's this offensive business of you calling our nation-wide protests last Saturday a "stunt."
Normally, I'd just demand that our MPs raise issues of concern in the House, but, geez, your boss suddenly and quietly closed it.
Meeting with our MPs doesn't help because they are opposition MPs, and prorogation has effectively shut them up. So our best option is to meet with government MPs.Well, you all don't seem to want to do that. We keep getting in contact with your fellow Conservative MPs with letters and petitions and yet they keep telling the media that their constituents are fine with prorogation.
So, taking it to the streets seems to be the best way of getting your attention. It takes a lot of time and work to do that. We don't get paid for it. We don't get 'future considerations' for it. We do it and then come home to a backlog of work. People (sadly) like you insult us for it, calling us 'elites' and 'chaterrers.' Our Prime Minister largely ignored us.
We're concerned, Tony. We're not stunt persons, we're voters. Concerned citizens. We are due respect and a proper response.
Today, I understand you should be encountering a few more of my fellow chattering Canadians in Saskatoon. I hope you will be cordial towards them, more so than you were to my fellow CAPP members Monday.
We are Canadians. We are voters. We deserve better from you.
As a senior minister of some influence, I hope you'll have a heartfelt recalibration, and will come to provide us with real democratic leadership and representation.
Sincerely,
Mark Francis
"If we don't stand up to protect our democracy, we're going to lose it"
Paul Kennedy, former head of RCMP complaints commission, interviewed on Power and Politics, has some startling and depressing things to say. Watch the whole 10 minutes.
Some of his comments:
(It's been widely reported that the new commissioner, Ian McPhail, is a purely politicized appointment. His legal knowledge is in estate law, and his qualifications seem to stem from many years of service to various Conservative parties.)
Commissioners would have more independence if they were beholden to Parliament not the government of the day.
I'm not the only one seeing a pattern emerge of what reforms we need, am I?
Parliamentary supremacy.
Some of his comments:
"I beleive that these commissions that we have are one aspect of the democracy that we have in this country and I have seen a number of steps taken that I think are goign to erode democracy. If there's an inheritance that I want to leave to my children its the democracy that we've had in this country..."He thinks that the commission is just being put to sleep so that it can not embarrass the government. He's very clear in that its a conflict of interest to have the minister appoint the commissioner. He doesn't think that the interim commissioner has the proper background to do the job.
"I haven't got the slightest idea what is on the mind of Stephen Harper... what I do see causes me concern and if it isn't arrested I think we've got problems."
"I am campaigning for is these commissions should be there they should be properly empowered they should have proper financial base and they should have proper effective leadership. Those attributes aren't there... If people lose confidence in the RCMP I think that hurts them as a police force I think it hurts the service that is delivered to Canadians."
"Parties come and go. Leaders come and go. Democracy and the system we have, that's what's important. That's our legacy... If we don't protect those cornerstones, we're in trouble... I think there's potential here if we don't stand up to protect our democracy, we're going to lose it."
(It's been widely reported that the new commissioner, Ian McPhail, is a purely politicized appointment. His legal knowledge is in estate law, and his qualifications seem to stem from many years of service to various Conservative parties.)
Commissioners would have more independence if they were beholden to Parliament not the government of the day.
I'm not the only one seeing a pattern emerge of what reforms we need, am I?
Parliamentary supremacy.
What book should I read next?
Due to Christmas, I have a modest stack of new books to read. I just finished Gutstein's "Not a Conspiracy Theory" which is a great read for those interested in how corporate-sponsored propaganda is (mis)shaping our civilization.I have time to pick another one up. Please, help me select.
The list:
Paxton, Robert O., The Anatomy of Fascism
Hoggan, James, Climate Cover Up
Michaels, David, Doubt is their Product
Monbiot, George, Heat
May, Elizabeth, Losing Confidence
Flanagan, Tom, Harper's Team
Drop me a msg and let me know. Feel free to suggest other reads.
The list:
Paxton, Robert O., The Anatomy of Fascism
Hoggan, James, Climate Cover Up
Michaels, David, Doubt is their Product
Monbiot, George, Heat
May, Elizabeth, Losing Confidence
Flanagan, Tom, Harper's Team
Drop me a msg and let me know. Feel free to suggest other reads.
Tony Clement calls the CAPP protests "Stunts"
A press release from CAPP concerning their meet up with Tony Clement at York University Monday.
TORONTO — When members of Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (CAPP) were set to confront Industry Minister Tony Clement about prorogation at York University today, Mr. Clement had the perfect solution: running away. Unfortunately for him, CAPP caught up.
After a security guard told a dozen sign-carrying CAPP members that Mr. Clement might talk to them after completing his tour at the university, protestors waited in the rain for the Minister to emerge. But as 4 p.m. approached, the student protestors couldn’t “prorogue their classes,” so they went looking for Mr. Clement.
After 25 minutes of rain-soaked patience, Toronto CAPP organizer Walied Khogali found him trying to escape the protestors by taking a back exit. “He was running away from us the way he and the Prime Minister ran away from their responsibilities to Parliament,” said Mr. Khogali.
When Mr. Khogali urged the Minister to return to Parliament, Mr. Clement demurred, replying, “All you have to do is vote us out.” Commenting on CAPP’s 25,000-strong nationwide anti-prorogation rallies last Saturday, Mr. Clement said, “I’m not proud of stunts.”
For photos of the event (showing Tony Clement and Walied Khogali), please see http://twitpic.com/zqvv6 and http://twitpic.com/zqvkp.
Conservative MPs report that they are taking some heat
Robert Fife reports in this broadcast (see around the 8:45 mark) that Conservative MPs are taking "a lot of flak from their constituents... they think MPs are taking a two month holiday... they think the PM has abused his power for partisan reasons by shutting down parliament to avoid questions on the Afghan detainee issue."
Keep it up people!
Keep it up people!
FLASH MOB CALL: TONY CLEMENT @ YORK U 3:00 PM TODAY!
I can't make it so you'd better! Make sure he hears you chatter!
A flash protest has been called for Today!
Encouraging Tony Clement to join other MP's back to Ottawa in working for Canadians.!
All folks are requested to meet at Vari Hall (beside the Student Center) at 2:55 p.m for a 3 p.m. protest at the
Life Sciences Building site (north side of Chemistry Building). That's
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario
NOTE: Nearest parking spots available at Arboretum Parking Garage on Arboretum Lane.
Please bring any signs or materials!
Coyne has the budget all figured out
And he didn't even have to prorogue to do it!
Andrew Coyne: How to cut $20-billion from spending without really trying
Andrew Coyne: How to cut $20-billion from spending without really trying
The banning of Patrick Ross
A few years ago, I started moderating my comments. I did this because people would at times publish defamation here, and, as the blog owner, Canadian libel law holds me responsible for that content.
I also was allowing people to defame me in my own space.
I still do. The difference is, I only publish their comments when I'm ready. No more would some insult or calumny rest on my blog unanswered for hours at a time.
It's a strategy that worked well. Until recently.
A few days ago, Patrick Ross started leaving comments here. I published them. I had to offer rebuttal. My rebuttal was increasingly ignored. Eventually, for my own reasons, I stopped publishing Ross in one of my threads, and dropped a message there explaining why.
Between work, my kids, whom I financially support and, most days of the week, raise alone; and my political activities, which have had me quite busy for the past several weeks (CAPP), it takes effort for me to respond to people here. Frankly, if they are wasting my time, I am going to resent it.
It has become very clear Ross was commenting here to merely demonstrate that he could.
Ross and Canadian Cynic have a dispute, the history of which I am personally well aware of, but not involved in. I will not repeat it here. Still, due to my above mentioned commitments, I was not aware that CC had issued a request for progressives to stop publishing Ross. Those who continue to are subject to an embargo by CC.
Ross has been dropping comments around the progressive blogosphere more than usual lately. He made clear yesterday why: all of us who published him he is claiming to not honour CC's request. Ross has specifically named me as "rejecting" CC's request. This is out of line.
Ross never raised this issue with me, and I was not aware of it. My publishing of Ross' comments should not be construed by him as a lack of support for CC.
It is clear to me that Ross was occupying my valuable time only for the petty reason of defaming CC.
I will not allow myself to be used in this way.
Patrick Ross, you are banned from this blog for disrespect and misrepresentation. I know you are baiting me. I don't care.
I also support CC's call for a general embargo on Ross's expression.
If this sound wrong, it's not. CC, after all, is not preventing Ross from exercising his freedom of expression. Ross can publish all he wants on his blog. CC is not preventing any of us from doing the same. No, CC is just setting editorial restrictions within his own space. We are free to respond in any way we like. The blogosphere does not rise or fall based upon CC's choices and writings.
People need to be aware that in publishing a comment, either directly though moderation, or indirectly, through a open comment policy, that you are responsible for disseminating that person's ideas. This is both a legal and a moral responsibility. Though my comment policy arose out of legal issues, I am all too aware that allowing others to publish propaganda here means that I am disseminating that propaganda as well.
By coincidence, just a few hours ago, I read this passage in "Not a Conspiracy Theory" by Donald Gutstein (great book) pp 309:
Well, we used to have Good Government.We don't anymore.
Our Prime Minister is involved in a propaganda war against those he represents. He has locked the doors of Parliament for purely partisan reasons, and gives us lies to justify it.
There's a long list of Harper's active erosion of our democracy here.
Harper has many syncophants willing to perpetuate these lies. CC understands this better than most. He does not suffer fools, and calls them as he sees them. Mostly, he makes the right calls.
We progressives all too often make the mistake of thinking that we are engaged in some sort of reasoned dialog with people. Truth will prevail! Facts speak for themselves! Conservatives just need more facts, then they'll understand.
Sure, it happens that some come around. But far too many on the right are just ditto-head loyalists repeating lies and laying fog.
I have no cause to aid them in any way.
So I support Canadian Cynic.
The enemy is ruthless, and it's time that we were too. Especially now with our Parliament locked.
We should not be spending time arguing with the Patrick Ross' of this world when we need to be hammering on Parliament's doors.
It is going to get worse, people. It is.
Please watch this piece below, and understand that it is not a polemic. It is simply the truth.
As you watch it, remember that Harper, prior to re-entering politics, fought hard in our courts to remove restrictions on third party advertising during elections.
And stop giving a platform to those who would keep us on our knees.
And please, be afraid. Give yourself leave to be. You need to be.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a much-needed beer.
I also was allowing people to defame me in my own space.
I still do. The difference is, I only publish their comments when I'm ready. No more would some insult or calumny rest on my blog unanswered for hours at a time.
It's a strategy that worked well. Until recently.
A few days ago, Patrick Ross started leaving comments here. I published them. I had to offer rebuttal. My rebuttal was increasingly ignored. Eventually, for my own reasons, I stopped publishing Ross in one of my threads, and dropped a message there explaining why.
It has become very clear Ross was commenting here to merely demonstrate that he could.
Ross and Canadian Cynic have a dispute, the history of which I am personally well aware of, but not involved in. I will not repeat it here. Still, due to my above mentioned commitments, I was not aware that CC had issued a request for progressives to stop publishing Ross. Those who continue to are subject to an embargo by CC.
Ross has been dropping comments around the progressive blogosphere more than usual lately. He made clear yesterday why: all of us who published him he is claiming to not honour CC's request. Ross has specifically named me as "rejecting" CC's request. This is out of line.
Ross never raised this issue with me, and I was not aware of it. My publishing of Ross' comments should not be construed by him as a lack of support for CC.
It is clear to me that Ross was occupying my valuable time only for the petty reason of defaming CC.
I will not allow myself to be used in this way.
Patrick Ross, you are banned from this blog for disrespect and misrepresentation. I know you are baiting me. I don't care.
I also support CC's call for a general embargo on Ross's expression.
If this sound wrong, it's not. CC, after all, is not preventing Ross from exercising his freedom of expression. Ross can publish all he wants on his blog. CC is not preventing any of us from doing the same. No, CC is just setting editorial restrictions within his own space. We are free to respond in any way we like. The blogosphere does not rise or fall based upon CC's choices and writings.
People need to be aware that in publishing a comment, either directly though moderation, or indirectly, through a open comment policy, that you are responsible for disseminating that person's ideas. This is both a legal and a moral responsibility. Though my comment policy arose out of legal issues, I am all too aware that allowing others to publish propaganda here means that I am disseminating that propaganda as well.
By coincidence, just a few hours ago, I read this passage in "Not a Conspiracy Theory" by Donald Gutstein (great book) pp 309:
"...progressives need a common enemy if they are to rally their diverse groupings to a common cause. Historically, the enemies of the left have been poverty, homelessness, inequality, poor health care, racism and sexism. The enemy of the right, in contrast, is the left. Progressives need to make the right -- the radical conservatives -- the enemy... they must engage the enemy, who they consider the source of most injustice."If that sounds harsh, I'm sorry to say that it's not. We are under siege. For generations we have relied on Peace, Order and Good Government. We get the third in exchange for granting the other two.
Well, we used to have Good Government.We don't anymore.
Our Prime Minister is involved in a propaganda war against those he represents. He has locked the doors of Parliament for purely partisan reasons, and gives us lies to justify it.
There's a long list of Harper's active erosion of our democracy here.
Harper has many syncophants willing to perpetuate these lies. CC understands this better than most. He does not suffer fools, and calls them as he sees them. Mostly, he makes the right calls.
We progressives all too often make the mistake of thinking that we are engaged in some sort of reasoned dialog with people. Truth will prevail! Facts speak for themselves! Conservatives just need more facts, then they'll understand.
Sure, it happens that some come around. But far too many on the right are just ditto-head loyalists repeating lies and laying fog.
I have no cause to aid them in any way.
So I support Canadian Cynic.
The enemy is ruthless, and it's time that we were too. Especially now with our Parliament locked.
We should not be spending time arguing with the Patrick Ross' of this world when we need to be hammering on Parliament's doors.
It is going to get worse, people. It is.
Please watch this piece below, and understand that it is not a polemic. It is simply the truth.
As you watch it, remember that Harper, prior to re-entering politics, fought hard in our courts to remove restrictions on third party advertising during elections.
And stop giving a platform to those who would keep us on our knees.
And please, be afraid. Give yourself leave to be. You need to be.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a much-needed beer.
Gee, is Monte a bit biased?
The protest today in Ottawa brought some 3000 protestors.
Former Conservative MP Monte Solberg thinks this invalidates the anti-prorogation movement:
The anti-coalition protest last year in Ottawa also attracted 3,000 protestors.
Solberg was a speaker last year at an anti-coalition rally, and thought they were just all swell.
So, Monte, are you lying about the significance of last year's protest, or this year's?
Former Conservative MP Monte Solberg thinks this invalidates the anti-prorogation movement:
Despite being shamelessley promoted by big newspapers, TV outlets and the opposition parties, a grand total of 3,000 showed up on Parliament Hill to protest the alleged end of democracy in Canada.
The anti-coalition protest last year in Ottawa also attracted 3,000 protestors.
Solberg was a speaker last year at an anti-coalition rally, and thought they were just all swell.
So, Monte, are you lying about the significance of last year's protest, or this year's?
Okay, Harperites, it's your turn
They said we didn't care. Then they said we didn't matter. They said we wouldn't show up.
Well we showed up, alright.
Seven thousand of us took to the streets of Toronto. Thousands more protested Harper's abuse of his prorogation powers all over Canada.
This is not some flash in the pan.
The Harper trolls are busy as usual, trolling the comments sections of the major papers, claiming not enough people showed up. They say that those that showed up are just party hacks.
Talk is cheap. Prove us wrong. Hold pro-Harper rallies. Support his autocratic actions. And beat our numbers.
Until you can do that, you're just blowing smoke.
Well we showed up, alright.
Seven thousand of us took to the streets of Toronto. Thousands more protested Harper's abuse of his prorogation powers all over Canada.
This is not some flash in the pan.
The Harper trolls are busy as usual, trolling the comments sections of the major papers, claiming not enough people showed up. They say that those that showed up are just party hacks.
Talk is cheap. Prove us wrong. Hold pro-Harper rallies. Support his autocratic actions. And beat our numbers.
Until you can do that, you're just blowing smoke.
Conservative MP Blaine Calkins caught proroguing reality
It can pay to read the local papers. Look what The Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser claims Conservative MP Blaine Calkins said to the County of Wetaskiwin council:
Bald lies. Not one Bill has been defeated in the Senate. Indeed, the Senate has been it's usual self, passing almost everything quickly without much fuss.
If you have to lie to justify a prorogation, that means the prorogation was done to hide from something.
Calkins said there are a majority of Liberal senators in the upper chamber right now, and that allows those senators chair senate committees. He said although Conservative sponsored Bills may make it out of the House of Commons, they are often killed in the senate due to lack of support.
"What has to happen, the only way to change that is to prorogue parliament and start with a new session of parliament. It will allow the Prime Minister and the house leader to negotiate a new format of the committees, which is good news."
Calkins said it is good news for the Conservative government because, with the possibility of appointing more conservative senators, the government's plan for tougher crime legislation and other proposals may find support in the Canada's upper chamber.
Bald lies. Not one Bill has been defeated in the Senate. Indeed, the Senate has been it's usual self, passing almost everything quickly without much fuss.
If you have to lie to justify a prorogation, that means the prorogation was done to hide from something.
Speaker Milliken says he wanted legislative agenda completed
If you think it's unusual for the Speaker of the House to personally comment on the legislative agenda, and on the reasons for proroguing Parliament, you would be right.
Peter Milliken has spoken while far away from Canada, but in the age of the Internets, those little series of tubes can carry news from afar right back home real quick.
Traveling in India, Milliken happened to have a discussion reported in The South Asian Link Newspaper. This is what he had to say:
Clearly, he did not agree with the timing of the proroguing of Parliament. He doesn't see why so much business had to be scrapped. And he hints that the prorogue wasn't done for the right reasons.
As for proroguing Parliament December 30th for the Olympics:
I was surprised to hear Milliken say anything about this. He himself says he really shouldn't be commenting.
Comments?
Peter Milliken has spoken while far away from Canada, but in the age of the Internets, those little series of tubes can carry news from afar right back home real quick.
Traveling in India, Milliken happened to have a discussion reported in The South Asian Link Newspaper. This is what he had to say:
“I am a Speaker and a neutral person. I am not supposed to comment on the second consecutive prorogation. But governments have the right to do it even if it is for the wrong reasons... Personally, I feel that legislative business should be gone through in the scheduled manner."
Clearly, he did not agree with the timing of the proroguing of Parliament. He doesn't see why so much business had to be scrapped. And he hints that the prorogue wasn't done for the right reasons.
As for proroguing Parliament December 30th for the Olympics:
"At times when international conferences are going on and to facilitate the participation of Ministers there, the House can be prorogued for a week or two."
I was surprised to hear Milliken say anything about this. He himself says he really shouldn't be commenting.
Comments?
Harper's recalibrated repeating recalibration; and, more real reasons for the prorogue
When I looked over yesterday's federal cabinet shuffle, this is what I thought: This is a tweak. Every other government has tweaked cabinet without prorogation, why this one?
In case you missed it, that's the latest reason for the prorogation: to do a cabinet shuffle. I knew that would be the latest reason before I learned of it today because the Harper Government has become quite predictable on this point. Any event, no matter how normal in a government's life it is while Parliament sits, is portrayed as justification for prorogation. It's a communications strategy which draws upon most people's general ignorance of the process of governance. It's a strategy to name anything and everything as the cause for prorogation, except for the truth. Eventually, the Harper Government hopes that they'll be some sort of favourable general buzz.
Just remember: Harper prorogued as quietly as possible, without notice. For someone with many alleged good reasons, he certainly tried to hide the deed.
As former Harper Chief of Staff Tom Flanagan pointed out the other week "...the government's talking points really don't have much credibility. Everybody knows that Parliament was prorogued in order to shut down the Afghan inquiry, and the trouble is that the government doesn't want to explain why that was necessary."
I swear, if Harper could justify prorogation using the disaster in Haiti, he would.
Chantal Hebert this morning agrees that prorogation has nothing to do with the cabinet shuffle.
The reasons Harper has given to justify prorogation remain dubious. Indeed, more dark reasons have surfaced. From The Toronto Star:
There's likely enough fodder in those reports for the opposition to splatter bad news about the media for weeks. It would not do to have that going on before an election!
For a long time, it's been speculated that Harper was seeking a Spring election. He was hoping to get a boost from a recession recovery budget, and gain from the patriotic buzz from the Olympics and from the political attention deficit it causes. When he prorogued quietly December 30, it was with the hope that he could have all that without the baggage that comes with Parliament-enforced accountability.
What Harper failed to account for was us.
Harper's tactical prorogation is not going to topple his minority government. But it is highly unlikely that he will dare to call for an election in March knowing that it will shut down Parliament, and subject him to further criticism that he's delaying the country's business, and avoiding Parliament yet again.
It seems likely that Parliament will get down to business in March, pass a budget, and deal with whatever unpleasant news surfaces concerning this government. We will be reminded then by the Harper Government "See? Prorogation didn't matter" I'm sure.
Harper closed Parliament for partisan gain. The fact that he will have failed to make that gain should never be tolerated as a reason to doubt his partisan intent.
And he will fail to gain from this selfish act. He's going to fail because you are going to show up at one of the many rallies this Saturday. Right?
In case you missed it, that's the latest reason for the prorogation: to do a cabinet shuffle. I knew that would be the latest reason before I learned of it today because the Harper Government has become quite predictable on this point. Any event, no matter how normal in a government's life it is while Parliament sits, is portrayed as justification for prorogation. It's a communications strategy which draws upon most people's general ignorance of the process of governance. It's a strategy to name anything and everything as the cause for prorogation, except for the truth. Eventually, the Harper Government hopes that they'll be some sort of favourable general buzz.
Just remember: Harper prorogued as quietly as possible, without notice. For someone with many alleged good reasons, he certainly tried to hide the deed.
As former Harper Chief of Staff Tom Flanagan pointed out the other week "...the government's talking points really don't have much credibility. Everybody knows that Parliament was prorogued in order to shut down the Afghan inquiry, and the trouble is that the government doesn't want to explain why that was necessary."
I swear, if Harper could justify prorogation using the disaster in Haiti, he would.
Chantal Hebert this morning agrees that prorogation has nothing to do with the cabinet shuffle.
As far as recalibrating a government goes, this week's cabinet shuffle does not justify closing Parliament down for most of the winter. It was a pit stop, not a major tune-up.Let's not forget that Harper could have shuffled cabinet at the start of the winter recess, giving affected cabinet ministers time to adjust. Certainly, this is the point Norman Spector makes:
Had that been Mr. Harper’s true motivation, he could have shuffled his cabinet weeks ago. For, as has been widely reported, the Prime Minister sent his ministers updated mandate letters before Christmas. Normally, these letters are given to ministers on the day they assume their new responsibilities.
Had the shuffle taken place before Christmas, the new ministers would have had roughly the same amount of time to prepare as they will now have. Outgoing ministers would have been spared some useless work over the holidays. And the Conservative government – and the Prime Minister – may have still been flying high in the polls.
The reasons Harper has given to justify prorogation remain dubious. Indeed, more dark reasons have surfaced. From The Toronto Star:
Beyond the investigation into how Canadian Forces oversaw the transfer and treatment of detainees in the Afghanistan war, there are three other important government accountability situations not mentioned in any media coverage so far that the federal Conservatives are avoiding through the arbitrary proroguing of Parliament by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, all of which would likely have been reported on in February.
First, the ethics commissioner is investigating and will rule on whether the handing out of Conservative party-labelled government spending cheques by several cabinet ministers and MPs was legal under federal ethics rules.
Second, the ethics commissioner, the commissioner of lobbying and Elections Canada are investigating and will rule on fundraising events by a Conservative cabinet minister and parliamentary secretary that involved lobbyists and that raise serious questions about violations of the ethics rules.
And third, the auditor general would likely release a report or two on government spending practices by various departments and agencies.
So while the parliamentary budget officer has pledged to continue to release his reports (a power he would lose if he was made into a full officer of Parliament), the officers of Parliament listed above cannot issue their rulings and reports to Parliament in February because Harper shut it down.
If the Prime Minister's speech from the throne when Parliament opens is actually an election platform, and the Conservatives' proposed budget their spending plan, and he then immediately calls a snap election, none of these key government accountability reports and rulings will see the light of day until after the election.
There's likely enough fodder in those reports for the opposition to splatter bad news about the media for weeks. It would not do to have that going on before an election!
For a long time, it's been speculated that Harper was seeking a Spring election. He was hoping to get a boost from a recession recovery budget, and gain from the patriotic buzz from the Olympics and from the political attention deficit it causes. When he prorogued quietly December 30, it was with the hope that he could have all that without the baggage that comes with Parliament-enforced accountability.
What Harper failed to account for was us.
Harper's tactical prorogation is not going to topple his minority government. But it is highly unlikely that he will dare to call for an election in March knowing that it will shut down Parliament, and subject him to further criticism that he's delaying the country's business, and avoiding Parliament yet again.
It seems likely that Parliament will get down to business in March, pass a budget, and deal with whatever unpleasant news surfaces concerning this government. We will be reminded then by the Harper Government "See? Prorogation didn't matter" I'm sure.
Harper closed Parliament for partisan gain. The fact that he will have failed to make that gain should never be tolerated as a reason to doubt his partisan intent.
And he will fail to gain from this selfish act. He's going to fail because you are going to show up at one of the many rallies this Saturday. Right?
Harper's in Toronto Today! Protest planned
From Citizens for Democracy:
Stephen Harper is in Toronto on Wednesday. Let him know how you feel about prorogation. Join the picket.
Stephen Harper will be in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon to attend a roundtable meeting with the C.D. Howe Institute. Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto) will be there to meet him, and to let him know how we feel about prorogation. We invite you to join us! Don't let Harper get away with shutting down Parliament.
Picket against prorogation
Wednesday, January 20
Meet at 2:00pm (SHARP)
In front of C.D. Howe Institute
67 Yonge Street (on the sidewalk)
Downtown Toronto
TTC: King
Bring banners, placards or homemade signs. We'll bring information leaflets. Spread the word. See you there!
For more information, e-mail noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com.
Don't forget this Saturday's city-wide rally and march: Saturday, January 23 at 1:00pm at Yonge-Dundas Square. The Toronto rally is organized by Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto), a grassroots, non-partisan movement of ordinary Canadians that emerged in response to Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament. All are welcome to join us.
http://noprorogue.ca/ | noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com | http://twitter.com/ NoProrogueTO/
Don't forget this Saturday's city-wide rally and march: Saturday, January 23 at 1:00pm at Yonge-Dundas Square. The Toronto rally is organized by Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto), a grassroots, non-partisan movement of ordinary Canadians that emerged in response to Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament. All are welcome to join us.
http://noprorogue.ca/ | noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com | http://twitter.com/ NoProrogueTO/
Chris Tindal running for Toronto City Council, Ward 27
Blogger and former Green Party candidate and Chris Tindal has announced he is running for Toronto City Council in Ward 27 (pdf).
Tindal has previously run federally in Toronto-Centre (pdf), coming in third behind Bob Rae and the NDP candidate (who eeked out a last-minute 2nd place finish just a few dozen votes ahead of Tindal).
Tindal is strong advocate for democratic reform and local politics. He has lived in the ward for years.
Tindal is a hard-working optimist, who would bring a different perspective to the laggard Toronto council.
Sadly, its not my ward. If it were, he'd have my vote by far.
Good luck, Chris.
Tindal has previously run federally in Toronto-Centre (pdf), coming in third behind Bob Rae and the NDP candidate (who eeked out a last-minute 2nd place finish just a few dozen votes ahead of Tindal).
Tindal is strong advocate for democratic reform and local politics. He has lived in the ward for years.
Tindal is a hard-working optimist, who would bring a different perspective to the laggard Toronto council.
Sadly, its not my ward. If it were, he'd have my vote by far.
Good luck, Chris.
Conservative Arrogance 12
"[The Charlottown Accord] included distinct society status for Quebec and some other changes, including some that would just horrify you, putting universal Medicare in our constitution, and feminist rights, and a whole bunch of other things." -- Stephen Harper, speech to The Council for National Policy, Montreal, 1997.
Conservative win on the In and Out front
The Conservatives have a win on the In and Out 'scandal.'
I haven't time to read the ruling, but it appears, sadly, that it is now legal for a central campaign to eat up a local campaign's remaining spending limit.
I don't care that this is a win for the Conservatives. I care that this is a lose for local democracy.
Many local campaigns are going to be subject to pressure from central campaigns to hand over a (large) portion of their spending limits, an coercive event which can significantly limit grassroots initiatives. People will point out that the local campaign does not have to agree, but, give me a break. Defy the central party, and bad things happen. I've seen whole riding executives wiped out by central party trickery.
I know that political parties will strive to not shoot their own feet by further limiting the spending of ridings they believe they can win, but local riding associations often have a very different idea of what can be won and what is worth spending money on.
For those of us who believe that riding associations should be the political organs which legitimize political parties, this is just an other yoke around the neck of democracy.
The last thing Canada needs is even more centralized campaigning. People need to hear local voices more, and the sound of self-interested proroguing PMs less.
===
Update:
Kady is tweeting:
===
More update:
And... it still isn't good for local democracy. The Conservatives may still be in trouble with some of their case, but local democracy is still more inder the thumb of central control as a result of this ruling. Accidental Deliberations has the take.
I haven't time to read the ruling, but it appears, sadly, that it is now legal for a central campaign to eat up a local campaign's remaining spending limit.
I don't care that this is a win for the Conservatives. I care that this is a lose for local democracy.
Many local campaigns are going to be subject to pressure from central campaigns to hand over a (large) portion of their spending limits, an coercive event which can significantly limit grassroots initiatives. People will point out that the local campaign does not have to agree, but, give me a break. Defy the central party, and bad things happen. I've seen whole riding executives wiped out by central party trickery.
I know that political parties will strive to not shoot their own feet by further limiting the spending of ridings they believe they can win, but local riding associations often have a very different idea of what can be won and what is worth spending money on.
For those of us who believe that riding associations should be the political organs which legitimize political parties, this is just an other yoke around the neck of democracy.
The last thing Canada needs is even more centralized campaigning. People need to hear local voices more, and the sound of self-interested proroguing PMs less.
===
Update:
Kady is tweeting:
"have you read the full decision? it's a little less sweeping than i thought."I''ll try to read it later. Let's hope.
"it's basically 'unless and until someone is charged and convicted under the elections act, here's what has to happen'"
===
More update:
And... it still isn't good for local democracy. The Conservatives may still be in trouble with some of their case, but local democracy is still more inder the thumb of central control as a result of this ruling. Accidental Deliberations has the take.
Conservative Arrogance 11
"Some people point out that there is a small element of clergy in the NDP. Yes, this is true. But these are clergy who, while very committed to the church, believe that it made a historic error in adopting Christian theology." -- Stephen Harper, speech to The Council for National Policy, Montreal, 1997.
My poster run for democracy; Now it's your turn
Supporting the No Prorogue cause, I hit the streets and taped up some 120 posters in Toronto from Bloor West and Christie nearly to Dundas West and Bloor (Crossways). I would have kept going, but I ran out of tape.
I made my own poster (see it below), and printed a few hundred on 81/2" X 11" coloured paper. I used a bright yellow. It stands out a bit more than the usual black on white bill. Between printing and tape, I blew through $40.
Taping was hard. Everything's wet. Largely, I used other people's posters for a stable surface. I wasn't mean about it -- I stuck mostly to covering weight loss flyers. LOL. Initially, I was a bit shy. I've rarely looked favourably on these posters people stick everywhere, and though I've always agreed that political expression is an acceptable reason to do this, I suspect not everyone thinks so. Well, no one said anything. Police drove by. Pedestrians walked by. No complaints.
I papered every lighted intersection and crosswalk (right over the crosswalk button), plus a few locations which seemed to have high foot traffic, namely outside of subway stations, and in front of large buildings.
I noticed quite a few 'No Prorogue' posters up in places, so I moved along. No point working to cover what's been done.
I found it to an uplifting experience. Instead of complaining and intelectualizing, I was actually doing something. I reccommend it for everyone.
Actually, I'm asking. Everyone who can possibly help with this needs to.
Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto) has sent around a plea for help. I'll let them end this blog post:
I made my own poster (see it below), and printed a few hundred on 81/2" X 11" coloured paper. I used a bright yellow. It stands out a bit more than the usual black on white bill. Between printing and tape, I blew through $40.
Taping was hard. Everything's wet. Largely, I used other people's posters for a stable surface. I wasn't mean about it -- I stuck mostly to covering weight loss flyers. LOL. Initially, I was a bit shy. I've rarely looked favourably on these posters people stick everywhere, and though I've always agreed that political expression is an acceptable reason to do this, I suspect not everyone thinks so. Well, no one said anything. Police drove by. Pedestrians walked by. No complaints.I papered every lighted intersection and crosswalk (right over the crosswalk button), plus a few locations which seemed to have high foot traffic, namely outside of subway stations, and in front of large buildings.
I noticed quite a few 'No Prorogue' posters up in places, so I moved along. No point working to cover what's been done.
I found it to an uplifting experience. Instead of complaining and intelectualizing, I was actually doing something. I reccommend it for everyone.
Actually, I'm asking. Everyone who can possibly help with this needs to.
Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto) has sent around a plea for help. I'll let them end this blog post:
We need your help!
Promote the rally for January 23.
NO to prorogation! YES to democracy!
Canadians against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto) has organized a rally and march for Saturday, January 23 at 1:00pm at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. And we urgently need your help to promote it. Here's how you can help spread the word:
Download promotional materials.
Everything is available online - posters, leaflets, stickers, petitions, Facebook profile pics, etc.: http://groups.google.com/group/capp-outreach/files. Let us know where you can distribute them.
Provide free photocopying or printing.
Do you have access to a photocopier or heavy-duty printer? Can you do any free photocopying or printing (no amount is too small or too large)? Also let us know if your workplace, community group, local library, trade union or student union, place of worship, etc. can be a pick-up location for printed materials. If yes, email noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com to let us know your address and dates/times when materials may be picked up.
Join us for city-wide poster runs.
On the following dates/times, meet us at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Suite 207, 2nd floor to pick up posters and postering materials (paste, staplers and/or tape) and to spread out across Toronto to put up posters everywhere we can. Bring your friends!
- Wednesday, January 13 at 6:00pm
- Sunday, January 17 at 4:00pm
- Wednesday, January 20 at 6:00pm
Put up posters/distribute leaflets on your own time.
All printed materials are available at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Suite 207, 2nd floor, seven days a week from 8:00am to 10:00pm. Distribute materials on busy street corners, at TTC entrances/exits, and in large apartment buildings. Just let us know where you've distributed materials so we know what parts of Toronto have been covered. Email noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com.
Donate funds.
Canadians against Proroguing Parliament (Toronto) is a grassroots, non-partisan movement of ordinary Canadians. We urgently need your financial support to build and organize an effective rally that engages the public and gets its message across to MPs. Donate online at http://noprorogue.ca/. Look for the "Donate Now" box. Cheques and/or money orders should be made payable to "Shilo Davis" or "Justin Arjoon" (CAPP in memo area) and mailed to CAPP Toronto, 67 Griffiths Drive, Ajax ON L1T 3J8.
Attend upcoming organizing meetings.
We need as many volunteers as possible to promote the rally ahead of time, and to support the rally itself on January 23. If you'd like to volunteer, please join us. We meet on Fridays (January 15 and 22) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on the University of Toronto downtown campus. For exact location, email noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com. All are welcome!
Promote the event online.
Feel free to forward this email to family, friends, co-workers and/or anyone who cares about democracy in Canada. You can also join our Facebook group, where this movement got started: http://bit.ly/findusonfacebook. Or follow us on Twitter to get regular updates on your cell phone or online: http://twitter.com/NoProrogueTO.
Thank you in advance for whatever support you can offer. We look forward to seeing you on January 23, if not sooner!
For more information, email noproroguetoronto AT gmail.com.
Conservative Arrogance 10
"In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance." -- Stephen Harper, speech to The Council for National Policy, Montreal, 1997.
Conservative Arrogance 9
"Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it." -- Stephen Harper, speech to The Council for National Policy, Montreal, 1997.
Neil Peart bangs out Hockey Night in Canada Theme
Rush's drummer extraordinaire has recorded a version of the Hockey Night in Canada theme.
It's cool, and I'm a big Rush fan, but I think the original is still best.
It's cool, and I'm a big Rush fan, but I think the original is still best.
Conservative Arrogance 8
"...let me also give you an insult... it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians." -- Stephen Harper, speech to The Council for National Policy, Montreal, 1997.
Driving the porcelain bus right over Harper
Blogger Driving the Porcelin Bus has an exhaustive 'must bookmark' list of news stories chronicling Harper's many arrogant abuses of his powers and influence.
Go. Read. Retain. Spread it around.
Go. Read. Retain. Spread it around.
Shelly Glover: It just has to be plausible
So, Shelly Glover, Conservative MP, doesn't know who Tom Flanagan is? The outspoken professor from the Calgary School? You know, Harper's former chief of staff? Really?
C'mon! Of course she does!
If you haven't seen it, check out the clip:
Host Evan Solomon clearly can't believe what he's hearing.
Neither did I.
The other day, Flanagan appeared on the show and pronounced that Harper's excuses for prorogation were obviously false and childish. To have such a famous Conservative partisan denounce Harper's false reasons for prorogation made for a short-term shockwave that Harper wanted to rebut.
It's gotta be a deliberate attempt to play to the audience. She lied about not knowing who Flanagan is in order to accentuate that what he says is just one man's opinion, and that he is not on the inside any more and doesn't speak with inside knowledge. It's the most blatant route to take to de-emphasize the strength of his opinion.
Solomon's audience is somewhat narrowcasted to people like... us. So we know better.
I suspect if Flanagan is ever asked he'd say something like "Well, I've never heard of her either."
If asked if he thought she was telling the truth, I suppose Flanagan might say something like "It doesn't have to be true. It just has to be plausible." LOL!
Minor spectacles like this confirm that Harper and the Conservatives continue to burn bridges. With some luck, the next bridge they burn after crossing over will be similar to a certain one in Alaska.
C'mon! Of course she does!
If you haven't seen it, check out the clip:
Host Evan Solomon clearly can't believe what he's hearing.
Neither did I.
The other day, Flanagan appeared on the show and pronounced that Harper's excuses for prorogation were obviously false and childish. To have such a famous Conservative partisan denounce Harper's false reasons for prorogation made for a short-term shockwave that Harper wanted to rebut.
It's gotta be a deliberate attempt to play to the audience. She lied about not knowing who Flanagan is in order to accentuate that what he says is just one man's opinion, and that he is not on the inside any more and doesn't speak with inside knowledge. It's the most blatant route to take to de-emphasize the strength of his opinion.
Solomon's audience is somewhat narrowcasted to people like... us. So we know better.
I suspect if Flanagan is ever asked he'd say something like "Well, I've never heard of her either."
If asked if he thought she was telling the truth, I suppose Flanagan might say something like "It doesn't have to be true. It just has to be plausible." LOL!
Minor spectacles like this confirm that Harper and the Conservatives continue to burn bridges. With some luck, the next bridge they burn after crossing over will be similar to a certain one in Alaska.
Conservative Arrogance 7
According to Google, the partisan phrase "The Harper Government" is used over 11,000 times on our main government website (GC.CA) as of January, 2010.
Feel free to use this, or to make your own!
Feel free to use this, or to make your own!
Bunch of white guys looking (sort-of) busy
What's with that ultra-thin, very unwrinkled file folder in front of Rob Nicholson? Damn! he looked right into the camera while nervously shuffling around. No royal jelly there.
We have evidence here of the coming Conservative fiscal austerity: They can't afford a chair for Peter Van Loan! Is he responsible for getting the coffee? He's reminding me of Sergeant Schultz here. "I know nuthing...." He stands there for only 15 seconds, and looks incredibly useless the entire time.
Truth is, they can't have Van Loan sit beside Harper because he'd appear higher in the hierarchy than he is. Harper gets one entire side of the table. Alpha male stuff.
In another great example of Harper bringing us government transparency, we can see Peter Mackay's undershirt through his translucent shirt. I guess I should call that 'government translucency.'
Well, I guess we should be thankful for this. Clearly, we have no need of Parliament as long as The Harper Government can continue to supply us with 15 second soundless clips of white guys doing something.
Conservative Arrogance 6
"...the government's talking points really don't have much credibility. Everyone knows that the Parliament was prorogued in order to shut down the Afghan inquiry." -- Prof. Tom Flanagan, former Harper mentor, CBC Power Panel Jan 11, 2010.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
"To ask the Governor General to prorogue Parliament." -- Linda McQuaig
Conservative Arrogance 5
Conservative Arrogance 4
According to Minister Tony Clement, Canadians don't care about the sad state of our democracy, and support Stephen Harper running away from Parliament. Clement claims the rest of us who do care are just 'elites.' Yup, he's dragged that old canard out.
Arrogance is clearly this government's theme. Please, everyone, push that narrative.
Arrogance is clearly this government's theme. Please, everyone, push that narrative.
This is the Harper Narrative: Arrogance
I thought this myself, and Bruce Anderson agrees: The frame that hangs on Harper is that he's arrogant. Say it often. Say it loud.
Take this image, or make your own, and add a tagline to it. Then blog it, Tweet it, FB it.
Just do it.
Take this image, or make your own, and add a tagline to it. Then blog it, Tweet it, FB it.
Just do it.
Another way to promote NoProrogue.ca
On NoProrogue.ca: Cynical about Parliament? There’s worse…
My first post on NoProgogue.ca is up:
Cynical about Parliament? There’s worse…
Becoming a contributor there is easy! Just sign up here, and write a post. Though the post has to be approved by an admin (a good idea), it didn't take long for mine to make it up.
Having done that, make the circuit with the post. Point your blog to it, Twitter it and post it to various Facebook groups.
We need NoProgogue.ca to have the highest Google rank for keywords like 'prorogue.'
Though Facebook groups are great for organizing, they are not as publicly accessible as a general Internet domain like NoProgogue.ca. We all need to link to it, and contribute.
Cynical about Parliament? There’s worse…
Becoming a contributor there is easy! Just sign up here, and write a post. Though the post has to be approved by an admin (a good idea), it didn't take long for mine to make it up.
Having done that, make the circuit with the post. Point your blog to it, Twitter it and post it to various Facebook groups.
We need NoProgogue.ca to have the highest Google rank for keywords like 'prorogue.'
Though Facebook groups are great for organizing, they are not as publicly accessible as a general Internet domain like NoProgogue.ca. We all need to link to it, and contribute.
NoProrogue.ca website is up!
Colin Carmichael of Colin's Blog has started NoProrogue.ca, a WordPress blog dedicated to helping organize protesting Harper's locking of the Parliament doors.
This will help to perpetuate the issue outside of Facebook.There is a static page tracking Rallies and other events, and a blog.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO LINK TO NOPROROGUE.CA TO PUSH UP ITS GOOGLE RANKING!
Keeping this issue alive requires that we all keep discussing it, and perpetuate the content widely as possible. Ideally, no Canadian should go a day without hearing about Harper's arrogance, and of the coming protests.
Colin has publicly requested help keeping the site updated. To that end, you an join up as a contributor (I have -- I don't know Colin, but this is a good idea, and there's no time to waste). Otherwise, keep an eye on the blog, and repost and link to it. Remember, not everyone is on Facebook, and those not on it may like it that way. Some of us (*cough*) also can't access Facebook from work
This is a dream issue for us progressives. It links Harper's Achilles heal of arrogance with our love of democracy and accountability.
NoProrogue.ca can also be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/noprorogue.
This will help to perpetuate the issue outside of Facebook.There is a static page tracking Rallies and other events, and a blog.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO LINK TO NOPROROGUE.CA TO PUSH UP ITS GOOGLE RANKING!
Keeping this issue alive requires that we all keep discussing it, and perpetuate the content widely as possible. Ideally, no Canadian should go a day without hearing about Harper's arrogance, and of the coming protests.
Colin has publicly requested help keeping the site updated. To that end, you an join up as a contributor (I have -- I don't know Colin, but this is a good idea, and there's no time to waste). Otherwise, keep an eye on the blog, and repost and link to it. Remember, not everyone is on Facebook, and those not on it may like it that way. Some of us (*cough*) also can't access Facebook from work
This is a dream issue for us progressives. It links Harper's Achilles heal of arrogance with our love of democracy and accountability.
NoProrogue.ca can also be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/noprorogue.
Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament reaches 100,000 members!
The Facebook group at the organizing center of the anti-prorogation movement just rolled over 100,000 members at 1:42 A.M.
Yes, I watched it tick over.
If you haven't joined, please do.
If you aren't on Facebook, where have you been?
Yes, I watched it tick over.
If you haven't joined, please do.
If you aren't on Facebook, where have you been?
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party continues to piggyback on our tax dollars
By chance, I noticed that a recent press release on the Conservative Party website is identical to one published on the Government of Canada's Office of the Prime Minister's site.
Conservative website: 2010: An international year for Canada
Government website: 2010: An international year for Canada
Both claim copyright, and neither attribute the other.
The government website requires in materials reproduced that "...The Office of the Prime Minister be identified as the source department."
The Conservative website has a boilerplate copyright notice.
So, who wrote the release? The government or the Conservative Party?
Somehow, I doubt the Conservatives are subsidizing the government. More likely it's the other way around.
Perhaps this issue can be raised in the House? Oh, right... prorogued...
Conservative website: 2010: An international year for Canada
Government website: 2010: An international year for Canada
Both claim copyright, and neither attribute the other.
The government website requires in materials reproduced that "...The Office of the Prime Minister be identified as the source department."
The Conservative website has a boilerplate copyright notice.
So, who wrote the release? The government or the Conservative Party?
Somehow, I doubt the Conservatives are subsidizing the government. More likely it's the other way around.
Perhaps this issue can be raised in the House? Oh, right... prorogued...
There Wente yet another one: NGO funding
The Globe's Margaret Wente never lets facts and reason get in the way of a good contrarian argument.
Why are NGOs receiving government funding for what may be argued to be political activities? asks Margaret Wente. It should be stopped, she argues.
I look forward to Wente someday arguing the same for right-wing propaganda mill The Fraser Institute's tax-deductible and tax-exempt status. Any day now...
She raises the Kairos funding issue, accepting without question federal Conservative Minister Kenney's false assertions that Kairos was overly partisan, anti-semitic and not deserving of funding.
Advocacy should be left to private money, I suppose is Wente's end argument. Given the excesses of private advocacy, I think taxpayers should foot some of the bill to counter the propaganda numerous corporations, private 'institutes', governments and corporate media push. What excesses? You know, those corporations spending millions on PR campaigns and lobbyists arguing that smoking doesn't cause cancer, that it isn't addictive, that Global Warming isn't real, that neo-liberal economic policy is always right, global violence is a necessity which just happens to be great for the war hardware business...
And doesn't it ring false when someone like Kenney decries public money spent on alleged political advocacy when his government is spending tens of millions of our money on partisan advertising?
Why are NGOs receiving government funding for what may be argued to be political activities? asks Margaret Wente. It should be stopped, she argues.
I look forward to Wente someday arguing the same for right-wing propaganda mill The Fraser Institute's tax-deductible and tax-exempt status. Any day now...
She raises the Kairos funding issue, accepting without question federal Conservative Minister Kenney's false assertions that Kairos was overly partisan, anti-semitic and not deserving of funding.
Advocacy should be left to private money, I suppose is Wente's end argument. Given the excesses of private advocacy, I think taxpayers should foot some of the bill to counter the propaganda numerous corporations, private 'institutes', governments and corporate media push. What excesses? You know, those corporations spending millions on PR campaigns and lobbyists arguing that smoking doesn't cause cancer, that it isn't addictive, that Global Warming isn't real, that neo-liberal economic policy is always right, global violence is a necessity which just happens to be great for the war hardware business...
And doesn't it ring false when someone like Kenney decries public money spent on alleged political advocacy when his government is spending tens of millions of our money on partisan advertising?
How to argue with a pro-prorogation conservative
Tell them to shut up. Tell them their opinion does not matter.
When they complain and get all holier-than-thou, interupt them, and declare them prorogued.
When they complain and get all holier-than-thou, interupt them, and declare them prorogued.
Delacourt: Harper can't get a majority, but he can appoint one?
Susan Delacourt raises two some points in her blog post this morning, concerning Harper's desire to reform the Senate. The one that sticks out for me is why should Harper be able to appoint a majority in the Senate when he can't get one in the Commons?
Sure it's constitutional, so this is a moral argument. Given that Harper wants to reform the Senate it is worth pushing that any reform should make sure that the PM, especially one presiding over a minority parliament, should have far less power over the Senate.
Sure it's constitutional, so this is a moral argument. Given that Harper wants to reform the Senate it is worth pushing that any reform should make sure that the PM, especially one presiding over a minority parliament, should have far less power over the Senate.
Release the detainee documents!
So Harper thinks that Canadians are not concerned about the Afghan detainee torture scandal?
Well, Harper, if it's not important, release the detainee documents as ordered by the Parliament you locked up and prove it!
Well, Harper, if it's not important, release the detainee documents as ordered by the Parliament you locked up and prove it!
Planning for one metre sea rise not enough?
BC Premier Gordon Campbell is seeking a consultant to determine a "sea level rise and extreme water level sensitivity index" for the province based upon an estimated sea level rise of one metre by 2100. (See Public Eye and The Hook).
More recent studies, detailed at Climate Progress, are suggesting that planning for a two metre rise by 2100 may be wiser:
More recent studies, detailed at Climate Progress, are suggesting that planning for a two metre rise by 2100 may be wiser:
- Sea levels may rise 3 times faster than IPCC estimated, could hit 6 feet by 2100
- High Water: Greenland ice sheet melting faster than expected and could raise East Coast sea levels an extra 20 inches by 2100 — to more than 6 feet.
- West Antarctic ice sheet collapse even more catastrophic for U.S. coasts
- Nature sea level rise shocker: Coral fossils suggest “catastrophic increase of more than 5 centimetres per year over a 50-year stretch is possible.” Lead author warns, “This could happen again.”
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