The following notice was in the Canada Gazette this morning. One might think that Liberals were giving up in, say, Wascana — the riding of Ralph Goodale. Not so, of course. Today’s batch of deregistrations are all part of paperwork shuffle involved in moving from the current 308-riding universe to the new 338-riding universe. Expect the flurry of paperwork to continue for the next few weeks. Continue reading Paperwork makes the world go around: Liberal get set for 338 universe
Category: Politics
The promise Stephen Harper made to voters in 2011 – and broke in 2014
The 2011 Conservative Party of Canada election platform (picture with link above) made a very specific promise to voters who were parents with children under the age of 18. Here is how the Family Tax Cut, as it was called in 2011, was presented to voters: Continue reading The promise Stephen Harper made to voters in 2011 – and broke in 2014
On key terrorism question, Trudeau stands with Harper, RCMP; Mulcair does not
Were last weeks attacks in Quebec and on Parliament Hill acts of terrorism? The government was quick to label them as such. Today, after their first caucus meetings since last Wednesday’s Parliament Hill shooting, both NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau were asked this question. Both had different answers.
Here’s Thomas Mulcair: Continue reading On key terrorism question, Trudeau stands with Harper, RCMP; Mulcair does not
Wab Kinew: "This country is true. This country is strong. This country is free."
Dr. Wabanakwut Kinew – Interim Associate Vice President for Indigenous Relations, University of Winnipeg from Cape Breton University on Vimeo.
Watch this. It’s very good. Wab starts out talking about Cpl Cirillo and Tecumseh (!) but moves on to offer good advice not only to young Canadians but to all Canadians. Continue reading Wab Kinew: "This country is true. This country is strong. This country is free."
In Alberta, the opposition scores direct hits using Access to Information laws
There are four important by-elections underway right now in Alberta. The vote is on Monday. The Premier, the Health Minister, and the Education Minister have their names on ballots in three of the four ridings. Jim Prentice, Stephen Mandel (above, pictured in 2006), and Gordon Dirks, of course, are all members of the longest-ruling-party in Canadian history, the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.
The PCs, though, are in trouble mostly because a lot of Albertans seem disgusted with a sense of entitlement that has grown around the party. Using government aircraft to fly family and friends around. A former premier’s plan to build a multi-million dollar “sky palace” apartment for herself in Edmonton. And so on.
The opposition Wildrose Party are taking full advantage of this “target-rich” environment with some well-timed direct hits using information it received using access-to-information laws. It scored again Wednesday, unveiling the fact that Mandel (above), running for the PCs in Edmonton-Whitemud, expenses $69,000 worth of Edmonton Oilers tickets to taxpayers when he was the mayor of Edmonton. Continue reading In Alberta, the opposition scores direct hits using Access to Information laws
"Nobody's gonna intimidate us" : The NDP experience this morning
This remarkable video, shot by Globe and Mail reporter Josh Wingrove on his iPhone, shows a view of the Hall of Honour, the main hall running north-south from the front door of the Centre Block to the entrance of the Library of Parliament at the north end. Security forces appear to shoot an armed suspect just outside the door of the Library of Parliament.
Mid-way down the Hall of Honour are entrances on either side to Parliament Hill’s two main committee rooms. On the left, or west side, is 237-C – the Commonwealth Room — where, at the exact moment that the shooter was moving down the hall, the prime minister and all his Conservative MPs were meeting.
This is what it looked like inside the Conservative caucus. Those are MPs barricading their door just before the fusillade you see in Wingrove’s video. Continue reading "Nobody's gonna intimidate us" : The NDP experience this morning
Parliament's budget watchdog warns: We're not as rich as we think!
Canada’s Parliamentary Parliamentary Budget Office is warning all political parties that while the federal treasury is about to overflow with billions in surpluses, any major tax cuts or new spending programs could plunge the country back into deficit.
But with political silly season upon us in advance of the 2015 general election, it’s unlikely the three major parties are going to pay much heed to this warning.
The PBO said Tuesday [pdf] federal coffers will spill over with more than $53 billion in surpluses between now and the spring of 2020 but those riches are mostlyf from one-time benefits like the sale of government assets and an economy temporarily growing faster than expected. Continue reading Parliament's budget watchdog warns: We're not as rich as we think!
Left-leaning think tank says right-leaning ones getting a pass on taxman scrutiny
A left-leaning think tank says right-leaning think tanks have not been subjected to the same scrutiny of their political activities as have opponents of the Harper government.
The Broadbent Institute, an Ottawa-based group named in honour of former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, said in a study released Tuesday that its findings support the contention made by some that the Canada Revenue Agency is singling out charities whose work is at odds with the federal Conservatives while those that support the government’s agenda are not.
“We know charities that have been critical of policies of the Harper government are being audited by the Canada Revenue Agency. With mounting evidence suggesting bias in auditing decisions, we need to find out what’s going on here,” Broadbent Institute Executive Director Rick Smith (above) said in a statement.
Continue reading Left-leaning think tank says right-leaning ones getting a pass on taxman scrutiny
Copyright and attack ads: Progressive mayor uses Sona image to attack conservative challenger
Karen Farbridge is the the four-term left-of-centre, progressive mayor for the city of Guelph, the city and federal riding that is ground zero for the robocalls controversy.
Farbridge is facing a stiff challenge from Cam Guthrie who is pitching ideas familiar to small-c conservatives. Continue reading Copyright and attack ads: Progressive mayor uses Sona image to attack conservative challenger
One year until Canada's 42nd general election: Can we get $5 from you?
We’re one year from the 42nd general election in Canada’s history. A new poll from the folks at Ekos Sunday says the Liberals start this 365-day countdown well out in front but that the NDP may be the party to watch.
In any event, all parties are blitzing their volunteers looking for the money they’ll need — the national campaign will need an estimated $22 million alone during the four or five week writ period — and here’s what landed in the inboxes of supporters Sunday:
The Conservatives have a fundraising goal which they are trying to hit Sunday night: Continue reading One year until Canada's 42nd general election: Can we get $5 from you?