SpankyMcFarland

Canada is more than its MPs: http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=162b1509-8c58-4ac1-a2bf-9d1977cd820c

I fear we will see some abrupt changes in that regard over the next few decades.

To say everyone 'on the left', whatever that means here, was aghast with criticism of China is completely incorrect. Many Canadians of every political hue have been steadfast in their criticism of China for decades. The current Chinese regime is a clear threat to gobal peace and stability.

They are three I have not seen in for the interim job - Kenney, Raitt, Rempel - so I presume they might be going for the big one.

So everyone is fighting for the temp post which is kind of weird. Have so many applied before? Who will be in for the real job? Kenney, Raitt, Rempel?

I strongly disagree with JT's position on abortion. It is one thing to have it as party policy, which I support, quite another to demand every MP support it. For me, it's a matter of conscience that deserves a free vote. And I KNOW JT is perfectly within his rights to do what he did. I just happen to think that all parties should allow the opinions of their MPs to be freely expressed on this matter.

Just to return to something more relevant, Calandra claimed that C-24 was an issue on the doorsteps with new Canadians. As a relatively new Canadian myself, it is not hard to see why. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/27/paul-calandra-says-it-was-a-mistake-to-focus-on-niqab-barbaric-practices_n_8404422.html

So elements of the Conservative Party are lefties?

According to Paul Calandra, people were asking him such questions on the doorsteps in Markham. It was an issue. Once the principle is established, it would be easy to extend all over the place.

The left must include everyone up to PC voters then.

One issue the Tories really misjudged was C-24. Every new Canadian had a little think about that and its potential significance.

On the Left? I don't know what you think the Left is if I am in it.

Have you met many Iranians? Do you call their country scummy to their face? In my experience, they are pretty easy-going people but that might raise a few hackles.

If you have met many Iranians, you will know they are no petty people. Some are famous businessmen and philanthropists in Canada. Iran already has a large middle class with a high proportion of female graduates..There will be significant investment potential for Canadian companies in that country over the next few decades.

And Iran is certainly not little. That is flat out wrong.

Really, it's pretty childish to talk like that about countries. They are far more than their rulers.

So the moral clarity disappears then.

Iran is an ancient civilization that is much more than its oppressive government.

Listen, referring to any country as 'scummy' is inappropriate.

And what happened to Harper's disdain, exactly? Did he get tough with the Chinese? No. He's moral when he thinks he can push people around.

Moderators? Scummy? Whatever about that, Iran is not little, sparsely populated or a recent phenomenon.

I mean understanding that 'moral clarity' is often used to disguise bigotry of one sort or another.

Your contempt for a whole region of this country mirrors that of your leader. Which is why he got no seats here. How come you can away with that on this forum?

You want to get tough with China, too? Lots of executions there, you know. All sorts of interesting things go on in China.

I hope we have good relations with Israel and everyone else out there. Let's go back to being benign, friendly and vague. No need to make enemies unnecessarily like Steve did.