Blue Like You

Archive for September 30th, 2008

So are you happy, Mr. Rae?  Did that make your day?

Owen Lippert resigns.

Now can we please get back to somewhat more important issues, like the economy for example?

Check out the comments from the Star link. Looks like folks are fed up with ‘Gotcha’ politics.  Why do you suppose this came out now? - It was a 2003 speech!

Grow up, people! Save it for Question Period when Parliament begins.

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Update: More from the Post - Tory staffer resigns after admitting to plagiarizing 2003 speech.

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And here’s some real news that MSM should be focusing on:

Star - Duncan sounds Ontario economic warning.

VOLVO CLOSING - 104.9 the Beach.

Leaders ask for full hour on economy in debate - CTV.

Jim Coyle - Industrial jobs gone forever, McGuinty concedes:

…"There are parts of this economy which I am absolutely convinced are not coming back,” McGuinty told reporters.

When asked what parts, he said: "There’s no doubt that there’s some of our traditional manufacturing is being challenged.”

The premier said it was time for a great deal of humility. But he sounded positively chastened.

He said Ontario manufacturers, sheltering behind the low Canadian dollar, "hid from global economic realities” longer than did the U.S.

"We didn’t make the necessary productivity gains that we should have made. We weren’t necessarily as innovative as we could have been and should have been…’

Do I actually detect a tone of responsibility and partial ownership of this mess? Maybe there’s hope for Dalton yet.

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Wednesday Update : Plagiarism charge is a low blow - L. Ian MacDonald.:

…So the big story in the campaign yesterday was whether Harper, as leader of a party that no longer exists, plagiarized a speech five and half years ago from a leader who is no longer in office.

And Bob Rae, who has spent more than a decade rebuilding his own reputation after his disastrous term as premier of Ontario, spent a morning trying to destroy the reputation of someone who has never treated him as anything other than an honourable opponent …

Saskatoon journalist Wayne Eyre has some suggestions for Stephen Harper in today’s National Post. Some of his ideas are similar to those found on my Election Issue Wish List.

One of those items is overreaching power of Canada’s various Human Rights Commissions, for which Eyre proposes a solution:

-Join (Liberal) MP Keith Martin’s initiative to kill Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act — the one that deals with speech that’s "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt." Section 13 is custom-made for Islamist, and other, anti-free-speechers who — with no hit on their own wallet — can, and do, launch capricious and malicious suits against others.

Mr. Harper had it right in 1999, when he publicly opined that "Human Rights Commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society… It is, in fact, totalitarianism. I find this very scary stuff."

Of course, in today’s politically-correct world, this is a very delicate area. And throwing your support to an idea espoused by a member of a rival political party may not seem like a great idea during an election. However, I would certainly love to see more discussion on the topic of Section 13. (Are you listening, Steve Paikin?)

(Lots of background on this topic at ezralevant.com)

Eyre also seems to share my concerns about two-tier justice in Canada - especially Ontario. His suggestion of sending in the army to deal with native road blockades may seem a bit heavy-handed, but I would think there is a lot of support for this idea out there (Hello, Caledonia?). Unfortunately, it is another politically-incorrect concept and therefore not likely to be part of any party’s election platform.

Even though it’s not on my list, I like Eyre’s idea of improving the decorum in the House of Commons.  It is an embarrassment to the country that our elected members of Parliament are allowed to act in such a juvenile fashion (my apologies to Canadian children).

Finally, on the topic of consumer food safety which was on my list and not Eyre’s, I would like to suggest that the Prime Minister explain to Canadians exactly how his government plans to protect Canadians from any kind of tainted food products. This is of vital importance to Canadians. We rely on Government standards to protect us from dangerous imported and domestic products.

Concern about food safety is a major ‘gut’ issue.

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Afternoon Update: Well, it looks like the Liberals and MSM are getting totally desperate - Liberals accuse Harper of plagiarizing 2003 speech on Iraq - CBC (which must be gloating right now)

When it comes to plagiarism, the Liberals are experts - Steve Janke.

Liberals try to bushwhack Harper with Plagiarism claim - Neil Hrab. (Post)