Wright’s company and Liberals ’share same values’: Mayer
Jennifer Wright may be surprised to learn that her company "Green Shift" shares the same values as the LPC, according to a quote by Liberal spokesman Joseph Mayer in today’s National Post:
Ms. Wright has threatened to take the Liberals to court over their use of the "Green Shift" as the name of their newly-launched socialist wealth-transfer plan , due to the resemblance to her own company’s name, Green Shift. Unfortunately, she can’t actually afford the legal fight.
Mayer dismisses Wright’s concerns with comments such as, the party "does not pose a commercial threat to the firm" and "most importantly, I think we share the same values as the company."
Now that seems to grate on Ms. Wright’s nerves just a wee bit. She maintains:
"We make our bias the environment, not politics. Our clients don’t want to be caught up in some Liberal campaign, or for that matter, any political campaign."
She clearly does not want to be associated with any political party, and this infringement upon the company’s name is causing major headaches for her.
The Globe’s Bill Curry quotes her as saying that "what they’re doing is so blatantly unethical" .
And I think that’s what it all boils down to - ethics and goodwill. Jennifer Wright may not have a solid legal case here, but in the court of public opinion, she may be right.
As pointed out in the Globe article, there is a precedent where John Baird backed down from using a private company’s name out of sheer respect and compassion.
Stephen Taylor himself was asked by the Liberal Party not to infringe on their trademark and he complied immediately.
But the Liberal Goliath has determined to stomp all over this hard-working, green, female David.
Stephane Dion states at the Green Shift that he wants to "create new, well-paying, green jobs."
Too bad he doesn’t seem to care about one existing company with the same name.
* * * *
10 a.m. Update: Jeff Allen has Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi on for the next hour. Andrew will be taking calls about their shifty plan.
Big thanks to reader Barbara for that tip about the Adler interview with Jennifer Wright yesterday. It’s in the vault here. Just click on Tuesday, June 24 at 1 p.m.
* * * *
Evening update: Has anyone attempted to contact Stephane Dion yet to register displeasure with the way Jennifer Wright has been treated? One reader emailed me saying that she just received a form letter back. Anyone else?
I’m wondering now if it wouldn’t be better for anyone with a Liberal MP to speak to them back in their home riding - especially when they’re explaining the Green Shift to constituents. Thoughts?
* * * *
Thursday Update : Have another look at Jennifers’ Green Shift site! Do you see something new? I admire her spunk. I really do.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:48 am
especially since the “plan” amounts to nothing but what Ms Wright seems to detest- green washing
June 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am
The court of public opinion has more weight than dionistas and their claim to be for a better Canada.
The COPO says, the liberals have stomped all over a woman with an environmental company.
Next target for the libs will be mothers who might spank their child, making them criminals.
Liberals have already voted against mothers who want to give birth to their child.
Why are liberals anti woman.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:01 am
As much as liberals like Gayle and RT and Jeff Davidson and Garth and the liberal MSM et al try to spin this as being a benefit to the company and not illegal - the optics of this is what they should be concerned about. After all - there had to be other names they could have picked.
It is more about a David and Goliath syndrome than about whether they CAN do it or not. But that seems to be the Liberal way - doesn’t matter who you hurt in your quest for power.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
did you guys see the cartoon yesterday in the edmonton sun? After building her brand over 10 years, I highly doubt that Ms Wright appreciates a “dummy” series book with her company’s name as the title…with dion holding cash as the graphic.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Once again, we get a very clear picture of the character of Liberals. In their mind, they are the only ones that matter; the only ones that count; the only ones that have a right to an opinion; the only ones who deserve a say in our society. Breach your trademark? Hurt your business? Tough - they are Liberals so shut up and get over it. Now that should be on every Liberal advertisement!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:18 am
yawn. ms. wright would be much happier if jack layton had thought of it first.
“green shift” is a generic term. shame on ms. wright for trying to monopolize a term that will come to define an entire generation for her own benefit.
dion’s green shift has legs. people are listening. it comes as no surprise that the likes of you lot kick and scream when you realize the environment hasn’t been contained by harper like you thought.
guess what? if the libs can move voters from the greens and the ndp, say about 10% combined, if the libs can move bloc support in quebec their way, say a few %, liberal majority.
the fact is, it’s pointless trying to woo the conservative base. climate change isn’t an issue for conservatives. however, as we all know, the majority of canadians don’t and never will vote conservative.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Tori, today’s cartoon is funny too. I wonder if a can of beans will get an extra tax?
Does anyone have a link to yesterday’s? Thanks.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:27 am
“yawn. ms. wright would be much happier if jack layton had thought of it first.
“green shift” is a generic term. shame on ms. wright for trying to monopolize a term that will come to define an entire generation for her own benefit.”
it’s hilarious…you know you have a point when the left *yawn*…
so we’re off the “she should be please with the attention” argument to the “how dare she take the name we want” even though she laid claim to it a good 7 years ago…
somehow, I don’t think it justifies what this is doing to a comapany that is actually DOING something for the environment instead of paying lip service to it.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Is anyone listening to Andrew Teledgi trying to sell the green plan right now? If he wasn’t allowed to say the word ‘uh’, he’d have nothing to say.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:29 am
here you go…
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Cartoon/2008/06/24/5968516.html
June 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am
If the greens and dippers will move their votes it just proves they have no convictions and are only out for getting money from others.
I wonder how gayle and jeffy would feel if the liberals were stealing their ideas, company name, and told them to go to h—.
Dion is against women, regardless of what he says, he has stolen from a woman with a green company and will possibly force her into the poorhouse.
Great way to get the female vote.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Interesting comments here - wondering if the same judgment would be passed in this regard;
Advantage Canada - 2006 Federal Budget
http://www.fin.gc.ca/ec2006/plan/pltoce.html
Advantage Canada - With you all the Way
http://www.advantagecanada.ca/aboutus.htm
or, if you prefer, you could go with another Advantage Canada company, that has since changed there name in 2007. Link to long to post, but if you do a search for Advantage Canada on (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/cipo/trademarks/search) is it the last listing
June 25th, 2008 at 11:32 am
to confirm- you’re talking about A Muse Tutoring, right?
June 25th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Well, I duess you fail to see this womens concern about the Liberal plan being confused with her business. Doing a search for Green Shift produces these results:
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=the+green+shift&form=QBRE
Notice the first search result. It’s the Liberal website and contains this in its text. The following is a link to the Green Shift Incorporated website: http://www.greenshift.ca This site requires the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download.
http://www.thegreenshift.ca · Cached page
Doing a search of advantage Canada gives this result:
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=advantagecanada&FORM=MSNH&mkt=en-ca&setlang=en-CA
Quit comparing apples to oranges in trying to validate the Liberal’s arrogance or the toll it’s taking on this women and her business.
Better yet, show the example where Baird apologized right away for using a name that might have been confusing between the government and a company.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:42 am
from what I gather, A Muse tutoring and Advantage Canada are the same entity.
however, it used to be called advantage canada…according to the website, the new name was copyrighted back in 2005…
from the website:
“Where did our name come from?
Many clients have asked how we have derived our company’s name. Muses, according to Greek legends, were the daughters of the god Zeus (who was the king of all gods). They were believed to give inspiration to all artists, including: philosophers and poets.
Amuse, in modern usage means to brighten or engage. Inspiration, brighten and engage… an unbeatable combination!”
June 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am
If Dion thought his plan had any chance in hell of being bought he`s have his whole front bench out selling it…and guess what….we get a nobody backbenchers. That speaks volumns.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am
if it was copyrighted back in 2005, it would seem that perhaps they decided to change their name all on their own, perhaps even prior to 2006 when the CPC used “Advantage Canada” for their budget.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Sol, that’s right. Iggy is out selling immigration.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a ‘generic term’ as:
- relating to or characteristic of a whole group or class;
- General: being or having a nonproprietary name;
- having no particularly distinctive guality or application.
‘Green Shift’ is a company name and has been used/applied as such for ten years. I am not a lawyer but Ms Wright just may have a case!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I bet the Liberal’s are happy Jeff Allen has lower standards than Craig Oliver and Jane Taber. Should that not be the enviroment critic explaining the plan, rather than a backbencher?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
any bets on who policy not rhetoric is?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Should that not be the enviroment critic explaining the plan, rather than a backbencher?
To be fair, Telegdi is a local MP. However, he was putting me to sleep. Karen Redman may have been a better choice.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
any bets on who policy not rhetoric is?
I give up. Who?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Jennifer Wright will be on Dave Rutherford in a while 11:00 AM Mountain according to the schedule.
http://www.am770chqr.com/index.aspx
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Alberta time I want to clarify.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Woops! That’s 11:30 AM Mountain time. Sorry folks! Be interesting to see what she has to say.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Listening now, and who is missing in this thread and what new name has appeared. Strange.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Thanks, frmgrl!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
mary…
my thoughts exactly
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Lady from the competition bureau on now talking about words being used to sell green. Dave used a term, green washing, being used by many to sell their product even it they are not doing anything.
Existing law on labelling ect, green advertizing must be proven before it is used.
I know I have refused to buy things when the clerk or someone tries to tell me how green it is. I tell them I prefer another color so will not come back to their store.
Recently sent a utility salesman off my property when he said one benefit of changing companies was they were green & sent two bills, power and gas, on the same stmt, to save paper. He then tried to show me a sample bill, and I told this 20 something kid I was capable of telling the gas and power amounts from the bill. And, how much is it costing the company to send idiots like you around the province to sell this stupid plan, and how are you travelling, by walking or car. Well, he walked up and down the block, did that count.
I wonder if Dion ever considered that his green shaft would have to overcome so many problems, to put in place. The competition bureau re proof of green claims, the WTO and GATT re implementing new tariffs, trademark/copyright problems, guess he was right, it is not easy to make priorities.
Jennifer is up next.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Listening now. Thanks Mary T.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
So please fill me in - who am I?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
“any bets on who policy not rhetoric is?”
I know, but I’ll let others try and figure it out. Really easy. Mary gave a good clue about who is missing. Here’s a better clue. It’s a post pnr left on the cabinet shuffle.
“Let the spin begin……”
June 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
PNR, this is a blog, not 20 questions or a game of I spy with my little keyboard.
Until you tell us, we will contintue to blame someone else. You know what we think of someone stealing anothers identity.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Wow. The Liberals haven’t even responded to Jennifer Wright yet. She has a call in to Stephane Dion.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Rutherford: “It sounds like a Bill Clinton thing - What do you mean by ‘the’?”
lol! I hope this interview ends up in their archive.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I may be a bitch at times, but I can honestly say I have never taken on another identity other than tori/torian…
June 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Jennifer is putting a request out there for a pro bono lawyer.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I’ve emailed Jennifer wishing to donate to her legal fund
June 25th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
paul…
as soon as I saw that “let the spin begin”, I was very suspect.
also, at TT’s, she wrote,
“Oh, and don’t forget that little old senate thing - particularly meaningful in light of the fact he appointed Fortier, and then put him in a senior cabinet position even though Fortier does not sit in the House and therefore does not have to be, you know, accountable…”
June 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Dion was also a shooting star, considering Chretains wife liked him and told JC to put him in cabinet, along with P.P. and Tobin, without benefit of being elected. Fortunately, the man PMSH appointed to the senate is capable and intelligent and one can understand him in english or french.
And again the cbc/ctv people showed their disdain for PMSH, and their lost chance for a senate seat or future GG, with their biased hatred of the ELECTED GOVERNMENT, THE CONSERVATIVES, just so craig can get that message, liberals not the government.
Those facial expressions are really priceless and tell us what they really think.
Lets start electing anchors for cbc/ctv.
June 25th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Really have no clue what y’all are talking about. First time I have ever been on this site.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
The Court Challenge Program has been re-introduced and it is supposed to be a leaner verssion. Could Jennifer take advantage of it, or how about going to that bastion of liberal rights, the HRC. Being accused of having the same values as liberals could be considered damaging to your reputation.
Lizzie Mae just blasted the PM for not putting more women in cabinet, and if he had, she would complain about all the Calgary partisanship.
I was very impressed with Jennifer this a.m., I missed her on Adler.
Regardless of the lib spin, the optics of liberals deliberatly picking on a woman involved in an environmental company and possibly forcing her into the poorhouse shows liberals are anti women, not PMSH.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I think you guys are mistaken about Policy not Rhetoric.
First time I have ever been on this site.
I believe you. They’re just a bit paranoid since our usual Liberal cheerleader does not seem to have made an appearance today.
In any case, welcome.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Sorry Joanne, but I’m not buying it. The first comment on the cabinet post tells a lot.
“Congrats on the promotion M. Fortier - you certainly are a shooting star, especially for an unelected and unaccountable senator!
Let the spin begin……”
A quick look at her regular hang outs shows similar comments re:Fortier.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Sorry Joanne, but I’m not buying it. The first comment on the cabinet post tells a lot.
PnR is not Gayle, Paul. Check out comments in the next post. (Unless Gayle just went for a sex change.)
June 25th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
“PnR is not Gayle, Paul. Check out comments in the next post. (Unless Gayle just went for a sex change.)”
If she did I hope she had it done in Ontario. It’s covered by OHIP. :0)
June 25th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
It’s covered by OHIP.
lol!! Paul, send me an email when you can. Thanks.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
K. Just did.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
A Liberal wouldn’t know ethics if it slapped them in the face.
Actually, it has, and they’re still running business as usual.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
A shift is necessary toward lifestyles less geared to environmental damaging consumption patterns.
Quotation of Maurice Strong
We may get to the point where the only way of saving the world will be for industrial civilization to collapse.
Maurice Strong
All helped along by Dion’s “Green Shift”.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
[...] is that another example of the same values that the Liberal party shares with Jennifer Wright’s Green [...]