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But Catholics always vote Liberal, right?

Posted by Joanne on 19 February 2010, 4:37 pm

Will Catholics ever get tired of being taken for granted by the Liberals?  Perhaps that day is coming soon thanks to Mr. Iffy and his politics of division.

CBC’s Neil Morrison points to a recent Catholic Register headline – “Ignatieff urges abortion for world’s poor”.

Catholic Insight claims that “Abortion is not health care”.

And of course Archbishop Collins was not pleased.

Remember back when Stephane Dion naively revealed the Liberal party’s faith strategy to Michael Coren? – He was told to use the word ‘God’ liberally in the interview:

…Within the first 10 minutes of the discussion he made several mentions of God. These weren’t passing phrases or clumsy slang but obvious, absolute references to the entity so fashionably unfashionable in left-wing circles these days. You could have knocked me down with a Gospel tract!

He was, for example, anxious to “reconcile people with God’s environment” and was committed to the planet “given to us by God.” Which is somewhat surprising. The deity is not a popular debating point for Liberal leaders. Actually, the Supreme Being is mentioned by ambitious Liberal politicians about as often as Brian Mulroney’s good points. So I was rude enough to ask Mr. Dion if he was doing this — sounding religious — because he had been told that the station on which my show appears each night, CTS, was faith-based. Frankly, I expected him to deny, obfuscate or simply lie. It says a great deal about the man’s integrity as well as his innocence that he replied on air with a simple, “This is true.” A pause, then, “I have been told that this is important to the people who watch this show.”

Then afterwards he naively allowed another slip:

…After the show, Dion asked about the denominational breakdown of those of our viewers who are Christian. “You see, the Catholics can be relied on to vote Liberal, always, but the Protestants much less so,” he explained...

So the question now is, have Catholics had enough? Are they willing to vote according to their own personal beliefs and convictions rather than by herd mentality?

My sense is that Mr. Iffy and his puppeteer may have crossed the line.

Catholics care about poverty and helping others but not necessarily by using abortion to achieve that end.

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Update

Already lots of great comments and links  including this tip from Maz2 – Ignatieff’s Abortion Push Hurting Liberals’ Catholic Vote: Catholic Leaders (Lifesite)

Filed under Abortion, Iffy, Liberal Party of Donolo, Liberal Party of Toronto, Liberal arrogance, Liberal entitlement, Michael Ignatieff, Stephane Dion.
51 Comments

Poor Mr. Iffy can’t get no respect

Posted by Joanne on 16 February 2010, 12:19 pm

So what’s a guy got to do to become Prime Minister these days, or even get a little face time?

Adrian MacNair asks:

Where is the Ignatieff vision for Canada? Where is the Liberal platform? And perhaps more importantly, where are the Canadians who are going to care about any of this during the Olympics? Let’s face it, the only attention the Liberal leader might get right now is if he joins Olympic protesters and hurls a newspaper box through the window of an RBC.

Well, you can be sure it wouldn’t be the window of a TD bank.

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(PM Harper on around the 1:35 mark)

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Update

Matt Gurney: I’ve lost that loathin’ feeling - Full Comment:

…And now you have Michael Ignatieff, the man who couldn’t manage a breakthrough in the polls if Harper was to literally roam the country with a flame thrower barbecuing cultural events and recent immigrants while shouting, “THIS is my secret agenda, you wimps!” He was going to bring down the government, unless he decided not to, in which case he would demand tough conditions for future support, which he then let slide. Now he doesn’t know what to do, other than to complain that Parliament isn’t in session to show his ineffectiveness…

Filed under Banks, Iffy, Liberal Party of Donolo, Liberal Party of Toronto, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper.
33 Comments

Mr. Iffy proudly plans how to increase the deficit

Posted by Joanne on 8 February 2010, 9:01 am

I’m just going to point out a few recent events  here, and let’s see if you can spot a worrying pattern.

(1) Dalton McGuinty introduces full-day Kindergarten. (And the ETFO loves it!!!)

(2) Michael Ignatieff marvels at Dalton’s sheer courage and audacity to bring such an expensive program in at a time when the economy is in fragile recovery-mode and Ontario is a Have-Not Province.   In fact, he exclaims with unabashed hero-worship:

“When I see a Dalton McGuinty get up in the teeth of a recession, in the teeth of a deficit, and commit to full-day kindergarten, I am proud to be a Liberal,” he told the crowd.

(3) Mr. Iffy announces big National Childcare program – “I’m not going to allow the deficit discussion to shut down discussion in this country about social justice.” Oh my, how very Daltonesque of you!

(4) Expert predicts costs for daycare will rise as a direct result of Full-day kindergarten.

Mmmm….

So is Mr. Iffy taking a page from Dalton’s book? Or worse, is he planning an Ontario bail-out if he becomes PM?

Monte Solberg suggests it wouldn’t take much to twist Dalton’s arm on this one (H/T Liz J):

…Sure the provinces will roll over if the Liberals throw enough money at them. They certainly did last time. But the government doesn’t have any money, except what it squeezes from taxpayers who can’t afford to pay more. And still there’s that deficit that could choke a horse.

But let’s say for argument’s sake that we agree to spend billions to box up little Timmy and mail him off every morning to the Gradgrind Educational Institution.

How then do we afford Iggy’s other important social justice imperative — providing a year’s worth of Employment Insurance benefits for only eight weeks of work? Geez I guess Iggy’s view is that you enter state care when you’re eight months old, and you never really leave it…

What a team.

Dalton and Mr. Iffy —>  Looking after Ontarians and Big Public Unions on the backs of taxpayers and their offspring from wealthier provinces.

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Related (Dalton spending more of your money)

Policy on the fly – Toronto Star (!!!):

…Asked yesterday about the pension issue, Premier Dalton McGuinty said: “The decision that we’ve made, with respect to people at Nortel, I think is fair.” Maybe so. But one is left to wonder what will happen to workers who do not happen to live in a riding facing a byelection and whose pension plans are underfunded…

Magic money just a McGuinty trick – Randall Denley:

When it comes to byelections, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is like a genie. Each of his magic candidates gets to make one wish and the premier grants it. It used to be three wishes, but these are hard times…

Filed under Dalton McGuinty, Iffy, Lemmings love taxes, Liberal Party of Donolo, Liberal arrogance, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, Nanny State, Only one tax-payer, Ontario government, Ours to Recover, Socialism, Voter cynicism, Your tax-dollars.
41 Comments

Democracy vs. Sycophancy

Posted by Joanne on 27 January 2010, 7:43 am

Who or what do you think of when you read the following words?

-  Prorogue

- ‘handing down of tablets’

- “one-man rule”

-  talking points

- ‘top-down, centralized administration of power’

These are some of the phrases used in an excellent article this morning regarding a well-known Canadian political leader.

No, not Stephen Harper.  Jim Coyle is referring to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Ontario Liberal backbenchers are understandably upset by policies like the HST and that sweetheart Samsung deal that are presented as authoritarian decisions which they are ordered to sell to constituents.

Whatever happened to the notion of representative democracy where we sent a member to government to voice our needs and concerns?  Now it’s all the other way. We the people seem to have no say any more.  The people we send to Queen’s Park do not seem to be concerned with our best interests. They’re worried about being allowed to stay in caucus.  For that privilege they are forced to perform like trained seals.

Dalton McGuinty has been given a majority (twice) by the Ontario electorate and he is using that power like a dictator.

But it’s not just Dalton that’s the problem – its the system and the willingness of our elected representatives to allow themselves to become political eunuchs.  Coyle explains:

…It’s astonishing how MPPs armed with the most powerful authority – election by their peers as their community’s representative – become so complicit in their own diminishment, curtsying to unelected backroomers, the premier’s aides choreographing even House proceedings from a place in the shadows behind the Speaker.

Too often, MPPs speak as they’re told, vote as they’re ordered. Too often, they willingly participate in the cultish veneration of the leader, then complain when he acts like a god. Too often, they are the voice of the premier’s office in their ridings, rather than the other way around.

In the Ontario Legislature as it currently operates, no amount of compelling argument seems able to change any mind. A premier who has described himself as impatient uses closure to rush through complex legislation. Only under duress are public hearings granted, and those are usually a sham.

In opposition, all parties speak pieties about the sanctity of the process. In government, they do their utmost to limit scrutiny and hasten execution of the boss man’s will. Mike Harris tried to do it with an iron fist. Dalton McGuinty has done better with nice manners and an aw-shucks air…

No wonder we harbour such cynicism and disdain for politicians.

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Related:

Harper should call Liberals’ bluff – Christina Blizzard:

…All of which puts Premier Dalton McGuinty in a curious position.

He would, I suspect, love to prorogue. This session has dragged on far too long.

It’s customary at this point in a mandate to prorogue and come back with a throne speech. It’s a way to change channels — and set out your government’s agenda in the run-up to an election.

I suspect McGuinty fears if he prorogues, he will simply underscore that prorogation is a perfectly legitimate tool used by all parliaments…

I don’t understand McGuinty’s hesitation here. He’s a Liberal! They’re entitled to prorogue. Only the Conservatives are not.

Filed under Arrogance, Dalton McGuinty, HST, Lemmings love Fiberals, Lemmings love taxes, Liberal entitlement, Ontario government, Ours to Recover, Stephen Harper, Voter cynicism, Your tax-dollars, democracy.
71 Comments

What’s Dalton’s game with Samsung?

Posted by Joanne on 21 January 2010, 8:03 pm

I won’t even pretend to understand all the ins and outs of this single-sourced deal with Samsung but my spidey sense tells me this is just another questionable decision by Dalton McGuinty that is going to cost us poor taxpayers big bucks one way or another.

PC Leader Tim Hudak feels that this should be vetted by the provincial auditor general. He warns that the Samsung  ’sweetheart deal’ will cost taxpayers $330k per job.

Adam Radnwanski tells us it’s likely about wanting to pull one over on gullible Ontario residents the messaging.

I don’t know about you but I just don’t need anyone else picking my pocket and Dalton is the worst culprit!

Thoughts?

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Related

Ottawa warns provinces will be cutting back, too – Ottawa Citizen

Quebec says it’s ahead of the curve - Globe:

Quebec is emerging from the recession in far better shape than most economies, says Premier Jean Charest, adding that he can avoid slashing government programs and elude major tax increases yet still achieve a balanced budget in four years…

Oh good. So what about those equalization payments, Jean?

‘Dalton Days’ still in mix for Ontario public unions – Ottawa Citizen

Win for Ontario in Samsung deal – Ontario Liberal Party Press Release Toronto Star editorial

First we had two-tier policing and now it’s a two-tier energy market:

…The generous deal announced Thursday has drawn fire from solar and wind proponents, who complain the province has undermined a once equitable marketplace.

“This throws the whole sector into turmoil,” said David Butters, president of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario. “Now we’ve got two classes of people: Samsung, and those who are left behind.”

Ah yes. The folks in Caledonia know how you feel.

More Ontario companies feeling as if they’ve been thrown under the bus by Dalton Quixote:    Samsung deal upsets homegrown competitors – Star:

…[President of Pro-Power and Energy Ltd. Jeff] Andrews is clearly frustrated. “We are the Ontario story. I know that sounds cocky, but we are. Our technology was developed and proven here in Ontario by Ontario residents. The patents were established here in Ontario.”

McGuinty justified the deal Thursday as a way to accelerate Ontario’s green economy, by drawing an “anchor tenant” that can stimulate jobs and exports much more quickly. The alternative, he said, is to “hope” our industry of smaller players will grow over time while the province misses out on export opportunities to a U.S. green-energy market ready to explode.

Ian MacLellan, vice-chairman of solar-cell manufacturer Arise Technologies Corp. in Waterloo, said that kind of thinking doesn’t work in the long run. “If you took that approach looking back 30 years to Silicon Valley, they would have funded Xerox and not talked to Steve Jobs.”

Dalton’s big green gamble – Toronto Sun:

...But as energy consultant Tom Adams cautioned, even where green energy manufacturing has succeeded in countries like Denmark, it still has to be heavily subsidized.

“The idea that we’re going to repeat the Danish success by following the same model here assumes that electricity consumers are prepared to put up with this kind of (subsidy) craziness for the long term, and I don’t see it,” Adams told The Canadian Press. “This idea that there’s going to be 50,000 green jobs is just a crazy fantasy that has no bearing whatsoever in reality.”

But Dalton just keeps on tilting at windmills – at our expense.

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Update

Please join the FUddle Duddle Dalton McGuinty Facebook Group!   —->  FUDM-11

McGuinty Liberals fear green-deal backlash – Star

Deal turns Ontario into Third World province - Randall Denley:

…Dalton loves the deal because it makes it look like he’s doing something. If other foreign companies want to line up to take Ontarians’ dollars, our premier is “all ears,” he says. No doubt, but it’s what’s between the ears that’s the problem.

Don’t protect us from our cash: Goldstein – Lorrie Goldstein

Persichilli: Dalton McGuinty’s shuffle is missing a few key cards – Star

Terence Corcoran:  Ontario puts $10B in the wind – Post:

…The Samsung agreement will also squeeze out other wind and solar power producers from the market, thus eliminating competition and fairness from a power market already grotesquely distorted by the Green Energy Act and the Feed-in Tariff scheme. So not only will the McGuinty energy regime plunder cash from electricity consumers, it will compound the economic mess by squeezing other energy producers.

That’s green energy in action: subsidies, distortion, trade battles, fake job creation and back-room political deals.

A messy deal for clean energy – The Record:

…So, Samsung will be paid the feed-in tariff rate for so-called green energy of 13.5 cents a kilowatt hour for its wind power and 44.3 cents a kilowatt hour for the solar power it generates. Those numbers are far in excess of the current market price of 3.31 cents a kilowatt hour for electricity and will add billions of dollars to the province’s energy bills in the coming decades even though Samsung will produce only 4 per cent of Ontario’s electricity.

But there’s more: Over the 25-year-life of this deal, Samsung gets $437 million in special incentive payments in addition to the feed-in tariff. That hasn’t been offered to anyone else and will cost every electricity customer in Ontario an extra $1.60 a year on his or her bill. When you add it all up, Samsung is guaranteed about $25 billion from Ontario hydro consumers over the life of this deal.

If the costs of this agreement are scary, the process that produced it was shameful: There was no public tendering for the production of clean electrical energy. There was no call for bids from Ontario’s renewable energy producers…

Filed under Dalton Days, Dalton McGuinty, Energy, Follow the money, Green Shaft, Just trust Dalton, Lemmings love Fiberals, Lemmings love taxes, Liberal arrogance, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Ontario government, Ours to Recover, Premier Hudak in 2011, Shifty Green, Socialism, Tim Hudak, Wind farms, Your tax-dollars, economy, grassroots power.
23 Comments

Dear Iffy: Please define ‘alternative’

Posted by Joanne on 3 January 2010, 9:51 am

Angelo Persichilli is obviously as confused as I am about what Michael Ignatieff actually means when he pontificates that Canadians don’t want an election but rather an ‘alternative’ (H/T NNW):

…It took him I don’t know how many university degrees and three years in Parliament to understand the first rule of politics: you don’t call an election if you have nothing to tell voters.


He now no longer talks about an election but rather about an “alternative.” I hope that by March we can understand what he’s talking about. An “alternative” can materialize through a new coalition or an election. Having excluded the coalition in December 2008 and an election in December 2009, I hope Ignatieff doesn’t expect Harper to go to the Governor General, resign, and ask Michaëlle Jean to appoint Ignatieff as his replacement…


Well considering the pervasive attitude of entitlement in the Liberal party, it wouldn’t totally surprise me.

Or could he possibly mean that he will be offering ‘an alternative’ to himself? Let’s hope not.

Filed under Coalition of the swilling, Iffy, Iggo Waffles, Liberal Party of Toronto, Liberal entitlement, Liberal machine, Michael Ignatieff, The LPC is dysfunctional.
71 Comments

Checkmate 2010

Posted by Joanne on 30 December 2009, 8:57 am

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.

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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...

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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.

Filed under Canadian Politics, Canadian Senate, Coalition of the swilling, Harper smartest PM ever, Iffy, Liberal entitlement, Michael Ignatieff, Senate reform.
54 Comments
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