Yesterday we mused on the possibility of the coalition still being alive, but today rumours are circulating that would preempt any such move in the near future.
According to QMI Agency, sources say that “the Conservative government will ask the governor general to suspend Parliament today, delaying the return of MPs until the beginning of March.”
Meanwhile Prime Minister Harper is expected to fill five new Senate seats in January of 2010 which would give the CPC a “working majority” in the Senate. [Translation by Google]
Prorogation would end the stalling of Liberal-dominated Senate committees that have been responsible for holding up so many Government bills – thereby stopping Liberal Senators from undermining legislation passed by elected representatives in the future.
Personally I don’t see a downside in this strategy and it will begin that long road towards Senate reform.
My only concern is that Iffy might get bored waiting for the keys to 24 Sussex and decide to go home to Harvard.
* * * *
Update: Tories planning new Parliament, to begin March 3 - CTV
Stephen Taylor – The case for prorogation. (Cross-posted at the National Post)
Stephen Harper, renegade in power – John Ivison:
…fury at the unelected Liberal Senate was not faux outrage. Mr. Harper was particularly upset when the Senate amended the government’s consumer protection legislation, which had received unanimous consent in the House of Commons. The Conservatives are set to become the largest party in the Senate with the appointment of five new senators early in the new year, yet the Liberals would still have dominated the committee structure. This would have allowed Grit senators to continue to bog down government legislation for months on end. Instead, prorogation will mean that those committees are reconstituted to more closely reflect the make-up of the Senate. For the first time since he came to power, Mr. Harper will have a plurality in both chambers of Parliament and in the committee rooms...
* * * *
Thursday Update:
Parliament on hold – National Post:
…Far from being undemocratic, the Prime Minister is seeking to eliminate an artificial log jam in the Senate, where unelected Liberals have been deliberately slowing legislation approved by the Commons. Conservatives will soon match Liberals in Senate seats, but Liberals could continue to block legislation by manipulating committees. Once Parliament returns, the committees can be reconfigured and delayed bills reintroduced and swiftly passed without Senate interference…
And in case you missed it, Sandy has reposted a link to the CTV interview with PM Harper.
I don’t see a down-side to this idea either actually Joanne.
Other than the continual whines and drones from the opposition parties AND you’ve got to expect all of the nasty and biased press that will follow, it seems to me that the PM has given the Senate plenty of time to do what’s right for Canada and pass those important pieces of legislation.
It’s pure Liberal gamesmanship at it’s best in the Senate. If Harper goes to the GG with concrete proof of the Liberals gumming up the process then I think he’s right to delay
Parliament, because he can. If the Liberal Coalition of Losers want to whine then force and election and run as the Coalition they are.
The PM is in charge and he can do what he wishes at the moment. After all he’s seeing us through the recession very well.
I did think that perhaps Harper may be floating this today as a trial balloon to see what kind of a reaction the news gets. This still may be the case.
I also wonder whether Harper smells something fishy re: new developments of a coalition of losers, and is going to force their hand….again and flush them out by doing exactly this?
If there’s one thing our nation has learned about Harper he doesn’t back down from making tough decisions.
O/T – Ezra’s column is a must-read today “My Prediction: Michael Ignatieff Will Have a Good 2010″
is very good. You’ll see why when you get there.
lol!! Good stuff at Ezra’s, Richco! Link here.
FYI – I’m off to help my daughter today. Will check back later.
CTV( well, Craig Oliver) is confirming that the PM will ask for prorogation today, and come back in March with a Throne Speech and a Budget. It is of course because “the Government is facing so much heat on the detainee issue, where Canada may have broken international law and even perhaps Canadian law, etc.etc.” I guess if your head is buried so deep in the sand, you can’t hear what “real Canadians” think….
To be honest, I am a little leery of this, as it will certainly be called political opportunism. On the other hand, it’s essentially daring the opposition to take him down, and short of another mid-life crisis from Ignatieff, I don’t think that’s likely to happen. It will really put the emphasis on what’s going on in the Senate when things start up again in March.
If iffy goes home to the USA, will he be missed. He has already said he would not move into the PMs residence. It is not good enough for him. Who would replace him, is Chretain wanting to make a comeback aka PET.
And who doesn’t like the idea of a few weeks extra of paid vacation.
- with all the media attention on the attempt to blow up a plane, and the threat there are anywhere from 25-300 others waiting to act-
And the fact those planning these attacks were released from Gitmo-
Will the majority of Canadians really care if some terrorist had a shoe thrown at him, by his own people.
Do the liberals really want these prisoners released, to walk among them.
If the government is suspended for a few weeks, how many lib/ndpers will take overseas flights to holiday, and how many will go to Vancouver for the Olympics.
Any comment from lizzie re the carbon tax in France being ruled unconstitutional and thrown out.
One thing about Stephen Harper is that he’s a strategist who doesn’t make a move unless he’s explored every option and looked at those from every angle. The only way that he would move on something like this is if he’s sure it will be to his advantage.
I’m betting he knows “something” more than what’s being telegraphed today, or moving ahead because of what he and his team know.
I’m pretty sure that if Harper can prove the Senate’s holding things up that the general population will understand him wanting to delay parliament.
The caution I have for the PM’s team is that if the gov’t decides to go this route that they face Canadians and explain in clear terms why and how the Liberals are throwing up roadblocks to some very, VERY good and necessary legislation.
Happy New Year – existing to enjoy what’s left of 2009 – Where the heck did 2009 go?
Joanne, with your new grandson and my new gr/granddaughter, is it too soon for grandmothers to talk arranged marriage.
LOL
Boy, I sure hope you guys are right.
I worry that too many who post here live in the political bubble.
To the ordinary person whose life does not revolve around politics the optics of this action are not exactly impressive.
I, for one, am concerned about how this will turn out.
Brillant move. The PM is Canada’s best chess player.
To be honest, I am a little leery of this, as it will certainly be called political opportunism.
Jad, I hear you but the chattering classes would be criticizing him no matter what. This our best chance to wrest control away from those self-entitled Liberal Senators.
is it too soon for grandmothers to talk arranged marriage.
I’ll ask him. I’ve got him in the sling right now.
..”what is most important in a prospective prime minister is his demonstrated good judgment, his integrity, his wise policies, his broad experience, his willingness to make hard decisions for the common good even if they are unpopular, and his commitment to work to the best of his ability and his energy to lead the country in peace, justice and prosperity. In each of these respects, warts and all, Stephen Harper rates better than any other leader of the federal scene since Pierre Trudeau.”(from Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada by William Johnson)
I agree with jad that this is “daring the opposition to take him down” – we all heard Mr. Ignatieff’s specifically say he’s heard Canadians and they’re not supportive of an election. Does Ignatieff feel lucky and will he assume the PM job by osmosis? The paragraph above should give you the answer to that question.
This is a brilliant move by Harper. That the chattering classes and media will milk it for all it’s worth is a given.
How we(Canadians) deal with it is what’s important. Based on the PM’s long list of accomplishments and his confident leadership style I do believe that Harper would really love to take on the Coalition or another attempt at one because THAT will give us all an alternative to his Harper minority – A HARPER MAJORITY!
The LPOC is as it’s most vulnerable right now.
It’s going to have to be imperative that the PM speaks to Canadians about this and gets the message out that he’s been stranded by the Liberal Senate….which is true. All parties I’m sure had to know that something like this was coming down.
Again – watch the actions and words of Bob Rae in all of this.
…..it could very well be a trial balloon too. We shouldn’t discount that the PM would love to throw the opposition off-balance and back into the arms of the Coalition.
I find it truly amazing how Harper’s got the media worked into a frenzy on just a hint of speculation. Interesting especially that it’s almost exactly a year ago that we were thrown into some turbulence. Are we sure this isn’t Groundhog Day?
“…it’s a shocking insult to democracy” sez Ralph.
a “political scam” sez Libby.
True to form, the usual suspects weigh in with their faux outrage, and over-the-top rhetoric.
Not to worry, as it’s only my iron-clad, never-fail, first rule of politics kicking in:
“No matter what you do, your opponents will spin it as negatively as possible”
Meanwhile, ten days ago, Tom Flanagan, John Tory and Jean Lapierre all told Craig Oliver that prorogation would not hurt Harper. Naturally, I agree with these guys. My main reason being that I have great faith in the Coalition’s collective tin-ear for politics, and expect them to once again over-play a weak hand.
The “undemocratic” Harper will have the last laugh, when he introduces legislation to elect Senators to eight year terms. I can’t wait to see how the three stooges spin that move.
CBC reporting it is a done deal, House to reconvene Mar 3 with new Speech from the Throne and new budget.
Time to get some spin in to counter the attacks re PMSH has killed all his bills.
No he hasn’t, the liberal senate has refused to pass those bill, and probably wouldn’t have passed them before March 3.
We need to get the facts out as to how long those bills have been in the Senate, how they have been watered down to nothing, and blame iffy for not controlling his senators and telling them to quit playing games.
Will the opposition MPs show up and try to get into the House on the original day the recess ended (Coyne) in order to score points.
What will be the top story today, the Olympic Hockey team or prorouging Parliament. Those poor anchors, decisions, decisions. And after watching how they determine what will and wont be covered it will be interesting.
Yes, it looks like a done deal alright.
And yes we’ll no doubt hear all kinds of ranting and screaming from the usual suspects.
There will be a PR hit for sure. But thinking sort term is for losers. Frankly I see no problem with this move. Will have a couple of weeks of the Liberals and there friends in the media saying the sky is falling, then it will die down.
Then when parliment comes back in March, the government can set the agenda and have a majority in the senate. All leading into summer and the G-8 and G-20. The government is just maping out the next year.
Now I am just going to enjoy the faux outrage of the Harper Haters…
Lori – Where you not saying Harper was done a few months ago?
Yer AGW ticket, please, to the asinine MSM Headline: “New Parliament”.
“New Parliament shut down
By THE CANADIAN PRESS”
…-
“A Cold and Snowy January (2010 ) in Store
A big chill across the northern and eastern half of country will lead to plummeting temperatures over the next few days.
Arctic air will push from Canada into the northern Plains by Thursday,
(Excerpt) Read more at accuweather.com”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417774/posts
When was the House supposed to reconvene anyways? And, how much work could be done during the Olympics when many MP’s are involved and would not be sitting anyways?
Or, is that what the Opposition was hoping- to spring a non-confidence vote while Conservatives and the PM were fulfilling their Olympic duties in Vancouver?
Never underestimate the belly of the snake.
BTW- Ralph Goodale was tracked down for comment in Phoenix, Arizona.
But, where oh where is the cosmopolitan world traveller, Michael Ignatieff? Don’t you think a guy who wants to lead this country just might have taken this chance to explore and vacation here in the winter like many, many real Canadians do.
If you want to see outright nostril-flaring rage at the Cons Gov’t,watch cbc’s Carole McNeil questioning Dmitri Soudas on the prorogation…she is squinting in an attempt to control her revulsion,spitting mad,as she makes allegation it is to ‘shut down’ the detainee thing!It is so blatant..you can feel her HATE!
….and on the other hand,listen to Adler! He lead off the show,with a delightful assessment of what a loser Iggy is,and the latest Nanos poll.He likened the Iggy/PMSH battle to Team Canada playing Latvia (Can beat Latvia 16-0). refers to Iggy as “PM of Latvia”…also points out that us regular Tim Horton regular Joes,don’t give a rats as* about detainees,Copenhagen etc.You GOTTA hear Adler today!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think proroguing Parliament will go down well with the chattering class, which is in a position to influence public opinion, whether we like it or not.
Remember that there’s anger out there about job losses on the one hand versus the perception of CEOs and other people in high places (read politicians) receiving more than generous and largely undeserved bonuses and/or perks – like a prolonged holiday.
When the talk show hosts, who hardly ever let anyone that dares disagree with them get a word in edgewise, start ranting and raving on this, they’ll probably portray it as the government getting an undeserved holiday while the rest of us mortals head back to our daily grind. Green may be the colour adopted by the environuts, but the greener green of envy can be truly toxic.
Here’s a link to the latest Nanos poll, taken December 10 – 13. Not much comfort here for Mr. Ignatieff. Take a look at his leadership numbers which have been on a slide since April.
http://www.nanosresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-W09-T408E.pdf
I don’t know, I have mixed feelings about this. I personally think the optics don’t look great but on the other hand, I believe it’s necessary to reboot to reset the Senate committees in particular.
One last thot Jo..we need ‘who’s gonna be the next Senators pool’ put up!!
Positions open are: 2 from Ont…Ret.Gen Lew McKenzie,???Mike Harris
1 from Que….i pick L.Ian McDonald for this one!
1 from Nfld….hmmm,Rex Murphy just to pi** off the cbc/Mansbridge/Newman
1 from NB…..not sure who..will sleep on this one.
Anyway,lets have some fun with this,and see how many lefty heads we can make explode with our suggestions.
We all know how the usual subjects, Ralphie Goodale et al, will rant and wail in feigned concern and horror at shutting down parliament when all they really care about is having their latest gotcha game committee ended. It’s their behaviour that contributed to this action as much as anything else, they are not a constructive Opposition. No PM can govern with such silly beggar behaviour.
One would think the Liberals would concentrate on cleaning up their own act during this time off, getting some kind of unity going within the outfit.
BLY nation, use this info to nullify the whining Liberals;
via David Akin blog;
Jean Chretien prorogued Parliament four times during his time as Prime Minister: February 5, 1996; September 18, 1999; September 16, 2002; and November 12, 2003.
On each occasion, the Liberals killed their own legislation. Several bills ended up dying over and over again due to Liberals proroguing Parliament or calling early elections.
September 16, 2002 – After a summer of Liberal in-fighting and Jean Chretien being forced to announce his planned retirement date in August, Chretien prorogued Parliament, killing legislation so that he could unveil his legacy agenda.
According [to] Eddie Goldenberg, Chretien decided to have a Throne Speech just to test the will of the Martinite forces who were trying to push him out early: Chretien was happy. “I like that. It is exactly what we just discussed. Prepare me a statement. But just one more thing,” said the old fox. “I want a Throne Speech in the fall. The government will stand or fall on it. If they want to vote against me on it, then it is the one case in which I will run again.” (Eddie Goldenberg, The Way it Works, p. 380)
November 12, 2003 – Jean Chretien announced that Parliament was prorogued on the eve of the Liberal leadership convention (so Chretien and Martin didn’t have to sit together in the House of Commons and face a dispute over who was Prime Minister). Martin did not become Prime Minister until December 12, 2003 and Parliament did not resume until February 2, 2004 – almost four months later
The current session has lasted as long as many comparable sessions under the Liberals, and longer than several of the sessions under Jean Chretien and Paul Martin.
**And to all of Blue Like You’ers and especially Joanne for providing this forum;
Have Very Happy, Healthy, Safe and Prosperous New Year**
I can’t wait to get back to work after the holiday’s.
It will be amusing to hear the angst of my lefty co-workers.
I can just hear it.. ‘but this ain’t fair, we had inertia, with this soldier abuse thingee…’
Has anyone seen the PM today, go to the GGs home.
Is he even in Ottawa.
So far I have read or heard via cbc that it is a done deal.
The PM phoned the GG and told him of his intentions and she agreed-
CTV says new parliament on March 3rd, MSM says new parliament prorogued.
My prediction is that the House will resume sitting and Harper will tend to business. First the senate committees will be restruck to minimize damage if the Coalition wins an election. Second a budget will be presented with the removal of Federal funding for political parties but with election goodies for all Canadians. The budget will fail to pass . The election will be held immediately before Bloc pensions are vested. Iggy will step down for personal reasons and Justin will lead the coalition. The game is on.
It would be interesting to have a man in the street interview, with the question-when did the detainee thingy happen, who was the PM when all these rules were written.
-Goodale venting again from AZ, despotic is a word he uses.
Any guarantee that the senate would pass any of those bills before March 3-2010. Didn’t think so.
And to think all this will happen, new speech, budget, vote on the budget-before iffy has his thinkers conference.
Who knows, there might be an election before he can think with his thinkers.
Any news on fundraising for the libs.
Re senators, if Rex was appointed, what a pair he and Duffy would make. Wonder if the cbc would diss him like ctv did with Duffy.
Still no clip of the PM doing this, like the last time they showed him standing in the rain over and over.
Not one conservative has been interviewed so far.
Now they are bringing up the firing of Linda Keane. Marc should have stayed in outer space, that seems to be where he is getting his thoughts from.
Bruce – your post and Akin’s stuff is pure GOLD!!
Gabby – those “chattering classes” are having less and less of an effect on Canadians. This is proving itself out nicely by the sheer numbers flocking to the blogs and political websites to get their information rather than from the useful idiots who try to spin against the tide.
Big media are in big trouble because they’re relating less to the average Canadian.
Didn’t Dalton McGuinty recently delay the house from sitting in Ontario?
Smart “Harper” move. Checkmate.
You do realize of course that what this does is forces Parliament to vote on the budget and recovery plan in March? How many of the Opposition who criticized the government for not having a plan of recovery will vote down a recovery plan and budget that mirrors getting tough on spending. This is going to be a hoot!
Also: Order of Canada announced today AND the Canadian Men’s Hockey team!!!
What’s not to like and get excited about in Canada.
Sammy, Lew McKenzie is top pick for me. I’d say John Nunziata would be a good one to p*ss off the Liberals, Rex would be another, he’d get the same treatment as Duffy from his cohorts in the MSM but I’m sure he could handle that.
One for New Brunswick would be Bernard Lord.
Personally I would like to see Parliament porogue for about a year maybe 18 months. Its not like the kids in the sandbox are doing anything important anyway. Just a bunch of sand throwing and hair pulling. If and when they decide to play nice they can come back. Until then Ralfie looks good in Arizona maybe he should just stay there.
Stephen Taylor’s blog is a MUST READ folks. Keep it handy in the next few days. That and Akin’s offering.
How the heck are we supposed to relax into a New Year now???
Just to add to what David Akin reported, this is from the Library of Parliament
26th Parliament Trudeau 1963/12/21,1965/4/3
27th Parliament Trudeau 1967/5/8
28th Parliament Trudeau 1969/10/22,1970/10/7,1972/2/16
29th Parliament Trudeau 1974/2/26
30th Parliament Trudeau 1976/10/12,1977/10/17,1978/10/10,1983/11/30
33rd Parliament Mulroney1986/8/28
34th Parliament 1989/2/28,1991/5/12
35th Parliament Chretien1996/2/2
36th Parliament 1999/9/18
37th Parliament 2002/9/16,2003/11/12
39th Parliament Harper 2007/9/14
40th Parliament 2008/12/4
NNW, Geddes-is parliament shut down, no comment from the PM or the GG.
What if this is all a trial balloon, to see what the reaction would be. All we have so far is a stmt by Dimitri that a phone call was made between the PM and GG. An invitation to tea perhaps, or an invite to a New Year party, or the Order of Canada, or the members of the Olympic Hockey Team.
When asked what they talked about he said, those conversations are private.
Mary T, The PMO has issued a statement:
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the second and final phase of Canada’s Economic Action plan will be launched following the Olympic Games with a new Throne Speech on March 3 and a federal Budget on March 4.
“Our priority in the new session of Parliament will continue to be rapid and effective implementation of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to benefit communities, workers and businesses,” the Prime Minister said. “At the same time, we are already looking ahead to future challenges. These include restoring a balanced budget once our economy is fully recovered and building a strong foundation for our economic future.”
There would be no need for a Throne speech unless Parliament had been prorogued.
Pierre Trudeau prorogued Parliament to, but according to Liberals that’s OK, what else did Pierre and his henchmen do?
Steal from Canadian taxpayers?
I wonder how many old guard Libs held shares in Petrofina before Petro Canada, under Maurice Strong, with the guidance of Trudeau paid over $100 a share when they were worth less than $20?
Wouldn’t it be nice to unseal that deal that has been hidden from Canadians as a state secret for so long?
“Pierre’s father owned a chain of gas stations in Quebec which he sold to Petro Fina prior to WWII. As payment, Pierre’s dad got a lot of shares in Petro Fina. This sale made Pierre Trudeau heir to a sizeable fortune. Pierre’s dad died leaving his fortune to his wife.
In the 1970′s the Arabs jacked up the price of oil and the Canadian government under Pierre Trudeau decided it needed a national “toy” oil company, i.e. Petro Canada. The boys in Ottawa decided they needed a chain of gas stations in their “toy” oil company. Petro Fina owned a chain of gas stations in eastern Canada. The stock was trading at about 10 bucks. The government began negotiations with Petro Fina and its stock rose and rose and rose. Finally, the government closed the Petro Fina deal, got the chain of gas stations, paid Petro Fina big dollars and our government got more debt.
Mrs. Trudeau got rich on the shares she held and Pierre was very happy to see his Momma get rich because he was the heir of her estate. A number of years later, Momma died and Pierre got rich too.
The documents concerning the sale were sealed for fifty years as state secret.
Pierre Trudeau, our CBC created national hero, was a crook.”
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2392335&plckOnPage=2&plckItemsPerPage=20&plckSort=TimeStampAscending#pluck_comments_list#ixzz0bDdX5CQN
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Richco and Lorraine, exactly my take on Prime Minister Harper’s latest move, which I think is a brilliant tactic.
Parliament was to reconvene on January 25, so we’re talking just over a month’s prorogation — at a time when the Prime Minister and many of his Ministers will be expected to be present at the Olympic Games. While the cat’s away, the mice will play, and WHAT mice!! (How about when the elephant’s away the crocodiles will mount the river banks?)
Richco: “I also wonder whether Harper smells something fishy re: new developments of a coalition of losers, and is going to force their hand…”
That was the FIRST thought that came to my mind. I’m sure he knows a whole lot more than any of us do and had wind of a lot of hanky-panky being planned by the Librano$, Dippers, and Blockheads while he and his government members were out of town at the Olympics.
Now, the Liberal$, NDPers, and Bloc members can enjoy their winter holiday AND the Olympics: what a bonus for them!
Whatever fallout there is in the Canadian public, PMSH is willing to deal with it because, as I suspect he knows — at least he’s gambling — it’s probably not going to be that serious, except for the whining and whingeing of the Opposition and their lapdogs in the media.
I’ve decided to prorogue my job, skipping the next two months (with pay, of course!), and come back to work refreshed. My boss may disagree, though.
Richco at 4:59 pm, I don’t share your optimism re: “those “chattering classes” are having less and less of an effect on Canadians.”
Those who visit blogs on a regular basis may get some information and mostly like-minded opinions, but large numbers of Canadians still get their “information” from snippets of newspaper headlines and 15-second newsclips.
The necessity for prorogation is being “reported” on my local TV newscast as the PM wanting to stop the work of committees – primarily the one on Afghan detainees. That is the impression many people watching that newscast will be left with. There was no clip of Dimitri Soudas explaining why, no list of similar prorogations by previous PMs, no David Akin backgrounder from the PMO.
Sorry, I still think it’s a risky and poorly explained move. But then, I tend to be a risk-averse person.
======
Sammy put forward L. Ian Macdonald’s name as a possible candidate for the Senate. I agree. He would be a very knowledgeable and articulate addition. However, two other possible candidates have been put forward in this Le Devoir article: http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/280255/le-pc-majoritaire-au-senat-des-janvier
Former judge Andrée Ruffo and victims’ rights advocate Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu.
Very sad news tonight – Four soldiers and a Canadian journalist killed in Afghanistan.
Hey Moebius, how many days are there from January 25th to March 3rd?
Why is it that the only Liberal MP that the media can apparently get hold of to comment on this is Ralph Goodale – from Arizona ! I know Ignatieff was at an undisclosed location outside of the country, but did none of the others stay in Canada for the holidays ?
Jad, maybe Ralph wasn’t invited to the secret thinkers conference that all other lib mps are at. LOL
You mean all that ethics committee are out of Canada also.
Iffy is following O and waiting a few days to make a stmt.
Guess the opposition can’t be too upset of the extended holiday of 26 working days.
Kevin Newman didn’t mention it until 15 minutes into his news program.
It wasn’t the top story on local ctv either.
There has to be a reason the PM did this, and it is not the faux scandal re the detainee.
What does he know of the coalitions plans for February. Were there any opposition days scheduled for then.
The Traitors of the Left.
This is Liberal Iffy’s Separatist Coalition.
The Muslim Taliban Fifth Column in Canada:
Taliban Jack LaytoNDP’s commissar speaks in unison with Liberal Iffy’s commissar.
The role of the MSM as spoken by Liberal Rae:
“if the reporters come, then you have a meeting.”
Firstly, Taliban Jack NDP’s commissar Paul Dewar:
“Both the NDP and the Liberals said they may well hold informal public hearings in the new year on Afghanistan, whether or not the government is in session.
“It’s a real option,” said New Democrat foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar.”
Next, Liberal Iffy’s commissar, Bob Rae:
““We can hold our own hearings,” said Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae.
“Basically people can meet and if those meetings are held in public, if the reporters come, then you have a meeting.”
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/30/12302776-sun.html
O/T: Joanne, I don’t know if you want to touch this. It’s one of Howard Galganov’s editorials. Wow, this one is wide-ranging, explosive and controversial to say the least. Although I may not agree with everything he says, the reality is that much of what he says is right on the money. At least, we can say he is not one of those politically correct individuals.
http://www.galganov.com/editorials.asp?id=1189
Alberta Can Save Canada By Leaving.
“The last vestige of Conservatism in Canada is in the Wild Rose Country of Alberta, where people expect to work for what they get, and still understand that government is in place to serve the people instead of the people serving the government.
During the Copenhagen Climate-Change Con Job Convention, Quebec’s leader (Premier) Jean Charest belittled Alberta before the entire world for being a major contributor to so-called ‘planet warming’ Carbon Gasses.
Strange isn’t it, how a beggar Premier can’t wait to travel abroad to humiliate the Province that pays for that Province’s everything? I Guess Charest took a page out of Obama’s book on how to screw-over your own.
Alberta is an extraordinarily wealthy and generous Province that is on a resurgence to true Conservative values, where there will be little to no ‘truck’ with an ethnocentric bankrupt Province whose minority position in Canada calls the shots.”
“To hear more about what happens when the majority allows itself to be succumbed by the TYRANNY of the minority, please listen to my 20-Minute audio editorial by clicking on the Microphone Icon at the top of this Page.”
Joanne – that tragic loss of our good men and woman in Afghanistan should be first and foremost on our minds this evening.
I saw that Bob Rae was “available” to speak on this for the LPOC on CTV – handy but what could he say? Kind of puts the BS into perspective doesn’t it?
It wouldn’t suit Bob Rae’s agenda, his great concern for the Taliban detainees, to comment on the deaths of four more of our soldiers and a young journalist at the hands of these same creatures. One would think this latest loss would give them all pause for thought. Apparently not. They’re talking about continuing on with their gotcha committee even though parliament isn’t sitting. Looks like this is the real reason Ralphie was spouting off against prorogation from his vacation spot in Arizona, their latest gotcha game has been called. They really believe it’s a political winner for them showing how out of touch with the Canadian people they are.
It’s treacherous skulduggery to insinuate our Forces and our government are guilty of war crimes, it’s taking politics to it’s lowest ebb. What really defines treason any more?
For the Liberals and their friends in the media to get their noses out of joint over the prorogation of Parliament is a bit rich. Isn’t it traditional for there to be a new session of Parliament, including a new Throne Speech, approximately every year? Certainly the Liberals in power didn’t hesitate to regularly prorogue Parliament. Come to think of it, that certainly happens in the provinces, including those where and when the NDP and Separatists form government.
Bob Rae and co. are despicable. They seem not to understand that Canada is at war with a bunch of barbarians.
Of course, the problem is that leftards don’t believe that anyone is an enemy except someone on the right side of the political spectrum.
In their multi-culti daze, they cannot conceive of living as though they have enemies because, hey, we’re all equal!, we’re all wonderful! EXCEPT, of course, c/Conservatives.
So, who’s in their cross-hairs? Our duly-elected Prime Minister and his government. OUR GOVERNMENT IS THEIR ENEMY. These guys are traitors. Isn’t there a law dealing with traitorous scumbags? How come they’re not being charged?