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Just the facts please

Posted by Joanne on 11 January 2010, 7:18 am

Susan Delacourt states this morning that Parliament will be prorogued for 60 days, if my math serves me right:

…This is also a longer-than-usual time for Parliament to be prorogued. Most prime ministers since the 1960s have shut down the legislature within days of the new session starting, so that work of committees can carry on and Parliament can be recalled if necessary. The average length of prorogation since 1964 is about 20 days – this current one will stretch to three times that long…

So 20 times 3 is 60, right? I wonder how she arrived at that figure.

[Update:  Perhaps the confusion lies around the issue of how long Parliament is actually sitting.]

[Upperdate:  Hunter and Sandy have finished their awesome truth video!]

Hunter has it down to 17 working days.

On the other hand the whole winter is shot according to Craig Oliver on Sunday’s CTV Question Period!   Mary T quipped that this bodes well for an early spring.

So what is the truth?

But aside from the length of the prorogation, if Canadians don’t like Prime Ministers having that much power then perhaps it is time to take a look at changing the rules. Andrew Heard suggests every prorogation should be approved by a vote in the House of Commons.  I imagine that this would effectively eliminate prorogation in a minority Parliament unless an opposition party would see some benefit in it for themselves.

Whether or not this type of change would require that we open up our Constitution is a matter for those with far greater expertise than myself.

However the Liberal party should bear in mind that this could affect their own chances at being called a  ‘dictatorship’ in the future and govern themselves accordingly.

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Endnote:

The link to Monte Solberg’s column at the end of this post is well worth the read (You can hate him, but PM’s no dictator). Monte seems to agree with some of my own thoughts on the subject in a previous post – (Prorogation will enhance democracy).

Prorogation is necessary to properly reflect in Senate committees what will soon be the new makeup of the Senate itself:

…It’s only a dictatorship in the sense that the democratically elected prime minister is operating within his constitutionally granted powers to take the country in a different direction than his unelected critics would like.

For instance, a big media priority is to get to the bottom of the allegations regarding Taliban prisoners. The government on the other hand believes it’s a waste of time and money and a bizarre witch hunt of the very ministers and bureaucrats who, seeing deficiencies in the old prisoner transfer system, strengthened it. Whatever might have happened in an isolated case, the Conservatives argue that they dramatically improved the inadequate system inherited from the Liberals.

So we have a disagreement about how important this is and the government is content to let Canadians decide in the next election. In the meantime, the government’s priorities include fighting a recession, prosecuting a war and setting sensible environmental policies, and that makes the Senate important.

In order for the soon to be new Conservative majority in the Senate to have control of the committees, the rules say Parliament must prorogue so that the committees can be reconstituted.

Without prorogation, the Liberals would still have a majority of committee seats in the Senate even though they would have fewer seats overall. That would be a terribly anti-democratic situation on at least two levels and should be an outrage to the media if saving democracy was their real concern. That’s a big if, however.

Remember that this is the PM who has given up power to Parliament on vetting Supreme Court nominees and going to war. He has tried mightily to elect the Senate. Calling him a dictator is so embarrassingly over the top that it says more about his critics than it does him…

So let the opposition parties and their media enablers rant on about ‘cover up’ and the old ‘secret agenda’ routine.  When it comes time for the next confidence vote we’ll see how outraged they really are.

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(H/T Alberta Girl)

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Related:

The Star’s Robert Benzies tells us that Dalton McGuinty is considering prorogation but since it is such a political hot potato lately, he is obviously throwing out some trial balloons:

…While the House is set to resume Feb. 16, the Liberals are considering prorogation and returning a few weeks later with a Throne Speech and budget in late March. But they are closely watching the fallout over Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue the House of Commons until March 3 before making any final decision.

So when will we see the ‘Ontarians Against Proroguing Parliament’ Facebook campaign begin?   And don’t tell me Dalton has nothing to hide.

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BIG UPDATE:

Ignatieff would use prorogation – Tim Powers (H/T RCO at BT Forum) – “…His answer leaves you wanting…”

So, what’s new?

Wilson has supplied a link to Macleans on the same topic at Beyond the Commons.  Comments are great.

Filed under Afghanistan, Canadian Government, Canadian Parliament, Federal politics, Hypocrisy, MSM bias, Media Watch, Senate reform, Support our troops, democracy.
126 Comments

It’s all about Lizzie Me

Posted by Joanne on 3 July 2009, 3:07 pm

First we had Ignatieff.me and then IRuby.

Now it’s ElectMe. Well, at least the initials match.

(And they call Stephen Harper ‘arrogant’.)

I figured I’d start a new thread because everyone seems to be talking about it anyway.


Filed under Federal politics, Lizzy May.
24 Comments

$400,000 to Pride

Posted by Joanne on 29 June 2009, 8:53 am

Stimulate this!

(NSFW – Only for family festivals)

H/T Maz2.

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Related: Politics getting in way of Pride – Jonathan Naymark, National Post

A few gems here – Gay parade cleanup upsets striking workers – National Post:

…but the strike meant the city had to use a team of nearly 100 non-union city staff and a “handful” of private contract workers instead, said city spokesman Rob Andrusevich.

This plan didn’t sit well with union members, who stood on Yonge Street and blocked the approximately one dozen private contractors the city hired to pick up and load sections of moveable metal fence from along the parade route.

“We’re trying to slow them down from doing our job,” said picket captain Ben DeSousa…

So, why not just do it yourselves?

…Not to be outdone, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Toronto Centre MP Bob Rae walked the parade route alongside a Liberal float, from which a drag queen in a lime green dress swivelled her hips.

Her?

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Welcome SDA readers!!! Kate wants photos of Iggy and Rae.

Here are a couple of Iggy for ya, Kate! (Numbers 10 & 13)

Gee, I don’t know about you, but his outfit seems a bit dull to me. Do you think he’s feeling comfortable? Looks a bit overdressed too.

Iggy coming out

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Police should charge naughty parade participants, reverend urges - Sault Star:

…But police have in the past charged participants for nudity –only to have charges dropped because it was successfully argued the suspects were wearing shoes…

Those must have been some high boots!

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Evening Update:

Obligatory gay pride post – Eric at Diogenes Borealis.

While some people take the summer off… -  Alberta Ardvark.

Liberals need more time to refill Ignatieff’s tank – Chantel Hebert (H/T Frmgrl)  (Very interesting choice of photo accompanying that headline)

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Tuesday Update: No special treatment for Pride: Mayor – National Post

And an excellent letter in today’s Post – Not Proud:

Re: Politics Getting in the Way of Pride, Jonathan Naymark, June 26.

As a young Zionist and proud Israeli, witnessing Palestinian campaigners at Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade carrying signs reading “Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism” and “Out with Israeli apartheid” made me feel personally attacked and discriminated against. The Palestinian display did not indicate any support for the gay and lesbian community. Rather, they used the parade as a political platform to discriminate against another people. Their intolerance towards Israel — the only country in the Middle East where one can be open about his or her sexuality — had no place in a parade that encourages acceptance of people from all walks of life.

Lavi Zemer, Toronto.

Raphael has a thought-provoking post up on the topic of public nudity in the Pride Parade – What Is The Purpose Of A “Gay Pride” Parade?

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Enjoying the family festival

“Const. Wendy Drummond said there is no blind eye and all laws will be enforced.” – Toronto Sun

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too.

Filed under Federal politics, Michael Ignatieff, Two-tiered justice, Your tax-dollars.
86 Comments

Hot: David Akin

Posted by Joanne on 27 June 2009, 7:52 am

For setting the record straight regarding a glaring error in Jane Taber’s column in the Globe.

Bloggers are pilloried for less.

(H/T National Newswatch)

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Update: SDA’s on it.

Filed under Federal politics, MSM, Media Watch.
45 Comments

What would it accomplish?

Posted by Joanne on 13 June 2009, 8:00 am

Election speculation appears to be ramping up again.

Unfortunately that is the constant reality of a minority government. We’ll never be in a stable time where the Government of the day will be able to focus solely on the needs of the country until we get a majority government.

And as I mentioned at Biff’s place, that’s not likely to happen for the foreseeable future.

If the opposition parties did indeed force an election by bringing down the government next Friday, then the most optimistic scenario for the Liberals would be a feeble minority Government.

And what would that accomplish for the Canadian taxpayer? Just a needless amount of their hard-earned, precious dollars being squandered in an unnecessary election to get the self-proclaimed Natural Governing Party back into power, and the fact that already slow processes in Ottawa would grind to a virtual halt as the bureaucrats put down their tools waiting for the results.

And then we would be back to square one or worse as a new government attempts to get up to speed in all the various files.

Now is not the time for an election, but try to tell that to the hot heads in Ottawa.

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Update: H/T to Wilson in comments for this one – PM praying for an election – Norman Spector.

Good article, but I have a problem with this paragraph:

…In a head-to-head match up with Mr. Ignatieff, Mr. Harper’s best bet would be to campaign on economic issues. Once the economy improves, issues on which Mr. Ignatieff is stronger will come to the fore…

And what the #@$% would those issues be, Mr. Spector???

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Want an election with that burger? – Nigel Hannaford, Calgary Herald

Filed under Election fever, Federal politics, Too many Fools on the Hill.
64 Comments

Iggy ‘On Probation’ with his own caucus

Posted by Joanne on 12 June 2009, 8:29 am

The more I reread Paul Wells’ column from yesterday (Off Probation), the more impressed I am with his razor-sharp insight. There are some nuances that I didn’t immediately pick up on.

But upon rereading and assessing the contents with current information, it seems that Michael Ignatieff is actually the one with the proverbial car in the ditch.

Back when the newly appointed Liberal Leader said he’d put PM Harper On Probation, Iggy inadvertently boxed himself into a very sticky situation as Paul Wells so eloquently illustrates:

…Now here’s the thing about probation. It is a daily state of binary possibility: Pass-fail. If I’m the opposition leader and I have Put The Government On Probation, then every day I do not announce the government’s failure is an endorsement…

Do you see Iggy’s problem based on the current situation? If he joins the Bloc and the NDP in bringing down the government, he will have to deal with the wrath of Canadian voters who would see through the opportunism and likely punish him soundly in an election.

If he backs off and supports the Government in the next money vote (which is by nature a confidence vote) then he will once again lose face with the hawks in his caucus and will also be the target of ridicule from the NDP and Bloc.

What he can’t do is simply arrange to have his caucus develop the Parliamentary flu, which might have been a face-saving tactic. He took that option away when he put the Harper Government ‘On Probation.’ Now as Wells points out, it’s a yes-no, either-or decision. No sitting on your hands or slinking out by the back door.

No wonder Iggy’s terms were so gleefully accepted when the deal was originally proposed.

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Update:

Stephen Taylor just put up an excellent post listing 10 reasons why the Liberals may want to think twice about forcing an election on the economy – Liberals: election now, before the economy gets better. (I love #9.)

David Akin wonders which opposition leader will blink first – The Liberal endgame on the election staredown.

And I’m usually reluctant to provide a link to Red Tory but I may just break my own rule this one time – Ignatieff: A Paper Tiger (H/T Wilson)

Evening Update:

Many thanks to JDot (and Mary T)  for Niel Cavuto’s interview with PM Stephen Harper.

Wow!  PMSH rocks!

Saturday Update: Slagging Harper wrong move – Michael Den Tandt

Filed under Canadian economy, Federal Election, Federal politics, Harper smartest PM ever, Iggo Waffles, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff.
102 Comments

Of ‘scandals’, accountability and media hype

Posted by Joanne on 11 June 2009, 8:34 am

This will likely be my last post on the lost binders/tapes fiasco, unless something else of extreme significance arises.

My current reflections on the subject are that Lisa Raitt is guilty of feeling overconfident in Jasmine MacDonnell’s organizational abilities – and I’m not sure what else beyond that.

The most damaging part of this story was the ‘sexy’ reference to the high media profile given to issues such as isotopes and cancer. And certainly the media proved that very point over the last several days. But several media sources, opposition politicians, and strategists were obviously very successful in skewing the meaning and intention of her words in a private conversation with someone whom she thought she could trust.

Should the PM now accept her resignation? I doubt it. Another Minister would have to start from scratch picking up the file and that would only further delay solutions to vital issues.

Politically, it’s hard to say what the eventual fallout will be but I have no doubt the opposition war rooms are busy at this very moment collecting interviews with cancer victims for future attack ads.

Perception is reality in politics.  Truth isn’t always allowed to surface.

And we are all diminished because of it.

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Related:

Last night TVO had an excellent segment regarding scandals and political accountability on Steve Paiken’ s The Agenda. Various pundits and columnists compared the Raitt controversy to other ‘scandals’ such as the eHealth brouhaha which just seems to be getting worse by the day.  The panel discussed whether or not the respective Ministers should step down and just what it means to accept ‘responsibility’ for mistakes occurring under their watch.

TVO should have the segment archived for internet viewing soon. I highly recommend taking the time to watch it.

For anyone becoming weary of the bias and ‘gotcha’ politics in most of Canadian network broadcasting, The Agenda is a refreshing change and Paiken is about as fair and  non-partisan as they come.

Also related: Where exactly is your Ontario Health Tax going??? Ontario residents wait twice as long as recommended for urgent cancer surgery (Globe)

Also at LFP - Cancer wait times still too long: watchdog

Reality Check Time: The barriers to Isotopia – Terence Corcoran, National Post:

…NDP Leader Jack Layton and the Liberals’ Michael Ignatieff stand in Parliament claiming to be concerned about the plight of cancer patients and others denied nuclear medical procedures because of an isotope shortage. The main reason for the shortage, while technically due to the shutdown of AECL’s Chalk River facility, is the massive trail of government regulation that follows ever inch of an isotope’s long run from production into the blood systems of patients.

Radioactive isotopes, injected into the bloodstream, can be detected by scanners that can map disease. But like everything else in health care these days, a string of bureaucrats and politicians control the delivery systems. The global isotope market, especially the North American branch of it, is a tangled mess of health-care regulations, drug-approval bottlenecks, price controls and politically driven decision making.

Basic economics will tell you that all of the above will, at one time or another, produce a distorted market that will stumble, collapse and fail to deliver product to market when people want product…

Evening Update: Please check out Sandy’s excellent post – The resurgence of “Yellow Press” in Canada.

Lorrie Goldstein’s column is worth checking out – It’s about decency, minister.

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Friday Update: An ambitious politician? The horror! – John Robson, Ottawa Citizen:

…In perhaps his most famous passage, Adam Smith said: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.”

And the same is true of politicians, if we are smart.

Some people honestly think politics is less grubby than private enterprise. Stephen Leacock satirized one utopian socialist for depicting office-holders as “sagacious and paternal … free from the interest of self and the play of the baser passions” who “work … as work the angels”. But, Leacock snapped, “let me ask in the name of sanity where are such officials to be found?”

Not, clearly, in our Parliament.

In a classic piece of standardized outrage over the Raitt affair, Michael Ignatieff snarled, “The cheapest politics here is to call a crisis a career opportunity.” As if he did not treat every Conservative misdeed, real or imagined, as both a massive crisis and a stepping stone toward 24 Sussex. I certainly hope he and his inner circle are aware of what they are doing, and honest about it in private. Cluelessness is not a desirable quality in a politician. Or in a citizen…

Raitt: Words ‘taken out of context’ – Christina Spencer, Sun.

And my dear S.M. from C.H. – You are so yesterday’s news.

Filed under Federal politics, MSM bias, Ontario Politics, scandals.
118 Comments
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