Blue Like You

Archive for July 21st, 2008

I just had the great privilege of being included in a conference call with John Tory and some of my fellow Blogging Tories. We were each given an opportunity to ask him a question, before his next event with the ‘other’ media.

John Tory seems confident, energized, and ready to assist our province with some great ideas on how to get our economy moving again. Among other suggestions, his proposed solutions involve back-to-basics like lowering taxes, and easing some of the red tape that burdens business and manufacturing right now.

Of course, I couldn’t help thinking that Dalton McGuinty probably doesn’t have much wiggle-room there, since he appears to be so beholden the public sector and their unions.

My question for John involved some feedback from those of you who have been telling me that you blame him for the second Liberal majority and all the ensuing woes. His answer to that was that he has learned from that experience. He will never again bring forward the Faith-Based Funding issue, because he feels that Ontario voters have spoken in that regard. I believe him and I think he is ready to move on.

And remember that back then, Dalton got a free ride. It’s easy to govern in good times. Now life is more challenging.

I’m satisfied that John Tory has some strong economic suggestions to help Ontario move forward.

Dalton McGuinty would do well to pay attention.

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Update : Stephen Taylor, who did an awesome job moderating the conference call, discusses his question here - John Tory takes questions from Blogging Tories.

Wednesday Update - This actually was one of the points John Tory was trying to make during the conference call, ie. that McGuinty should open the books:

…Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, who wants the Liberal government to "open the books and issue an economic statement" this summer, said McGuinty should stop sniping at Harper.

"People want to see their governments working together and they want to see those governments maximizing every effort they can make to help them keep jobs in Ontario," Tory told reporters at Queen’s Park.

"Mr. McGuinty should spend a little more time outlining what he’s going to do on his side – hopefully working with the federal government – and a little less time pointing out the shortcomings of others," he said…

But Dalton rejected that notion.

The Ontario NDP party is now increasing the pressure on Julian Fantino by calling for him to either resign or be fired.

This significantly ups the ante from just a few days ago when Shawn Brant’s lawyer had simply asked for Fantino to be temporarily suspended and that his comments be investigated.

My poll is still active but I may need another one to reflect this new development.

Meanwhile, do you think Julian Fantino should be suspended?

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Update: OPP head defends tactics in defusing 2007 aboriginal protest. (Globe)

Welcome CBC readers! Please vote here! (Even though the poll can’t keep up with the story!). Thanks.

Tuesday Update: Christina Blizzard has a great column in this morning’s Sun - McGuinty is right to back top cop:

…McGuinty must stand by Fantino, or risk provoking a thousand anarchists across the province.

And shame on New Democrat Peter Kormos for calling Fantino, "bellicose," "pugilistic," and "inflammatory."

Someone’s being inflammatory — and it isn’t Fantino.

I’m not always on the top cop’s side. But in this one, his personal intervention in the all-night negotiations saved the province from what could have been a bloodbath.

Suspension? I don’t think so. Give Fantino a medal.

Thank you, Christina. You can cast your vote right here.

In today’s Toronto Sun, Nik Nanos examines the apparent dead heat in which the federal Conservatives and Liberals find themselves forever entrenched (Voters Park It).

Neither party can seem to make significant gains in polling. Nik observes that the only area where the Conservatives have a substantial advantage is that of leadership:

…One advantage Harper does have is the current political narrative on Liberal Leader Stephane Dion. The polls have Dion trailing Harper personally, the Conservatives have been relentless in their attacks and the Green Shift plan has not yet yielded a bounce in the polls…

This all ties in quite nicely with a family BBQ I attended yesterday. The talk turned to politics. I had vowed not to bring it up due to previous family firestorms, but if someone else does, that’s fair game, right?

My husband glared at me when I started pumping a progressive-leaning cousin for his political opinions, but I assured everyone I would keep it civil. My true intention was to try to find out where he stands on various issues and the results were enlightening.

First of all, he stated that he has voted all over the map in previous elections, but is leaning towards the Green Party now, just out of sheer frustration with the others.

He is not impressed with the Conservatives. When I asked him why, he said they don’t seem to have a vision. That is exactly what Nik Nanos is noticing:

…What seems to be missing is the ability to pull those policy threads together into a politically consumable, positive and succinct vision for Canada. Until that emerges, even with the tough election talk, the Conservatives going into an election will be vulnerable. Polling during the last election showed that mistrust of the Liberals propelled the Conservatives into power, but in the next federal election the Conservatives will have a record to defend…

Yes, I know that Harper actually does have an impressive record, but the problem seems to be the inability of the CPC to communicate it. Also, a easily-understood overall vision needs to be developed and explained.

On the other hand, what was Paul Martin’s vision? Or Chretien’s?

When I asked this cousin about the LPC he stated that he would support it if Bob Rae or Michael Ignatieff were the leader, but not Dion.

I was about to ask him his thoughts on the Green Shift, when my husband deftly intervened and changed the subject.

If I were going to give the CPC some advice, I think I would agree with Nik that a vision needs to be communicated and that they should stop acting like an opposition party with amateur websites and the occasional childish outburst from some caucus members.

And the Liberals still need some time to develop the humility of understanding what it means to not be in power and why they’re there not the governing party right now.

Of course I would also suggest that they change leaders, but why would I want to give them free advice?

I do hope these guys are listening though.

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Related: The politics of destruction has run its course (Lawrence Martin). I don’t necessarily agree with everything here but it’s worth a look.

And it seems that the CPC isn’t the only party with communication problems - Libs have ‘information job to do…” - Hill Times.