maplesyrup

Belinda Stronach has just made a great speech for Conservatives, touching on all the major issues, including gun control issues. Her websire is www.belinda.ca , she has her own blog on it as well. I believe she will win the Conservative party leadership race on the first ballot, and people like former Prime Minister Joe Clark will return to the fold.

All the more reason for the Dems to choose Dean. Kennedy gave quite a barbburner of a sppech the other day, after Paul O'Neil's book "Price of Loyalty" came out. That was quite an expose on the Bush presidency. I wonder if who the Democratics pick, will have a bearing on Nader's decision to run. Probably not.

Boydfish........Ontario and Quebec, and especially Quebec, would never, ever, agree to a Senate comprised of equal numbers of seats for each province. And I don't think you would have the votes without them for any constitutional change. Eliminating the first-past-the-post voting system in the House of Commons would do wonders though. That way everyone would have at least some representation, and we could have a more fair system. I agree with Michael, abolish the Senate. And that would save a lot of money. www.fairvotecanada.org

The Martin Liberals just announced appeal of same-sex ruling on CPP survivor benefits 'Ottawa to appeal same-sex ruling Ontario court ordered extension of CPP survivor benefits' http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=968793972154 'The federal government will appeal a court ruling ordering it to pay retroactive pension benefits to gays and lesbians whose partners died after April 1985 when the Charter of Rights and Freedoms took effect.'

'We are not amused... How completely do the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin and his gang of goniffs think they now own Ottawa?' -from Frank Magazine http://www.frankmagazine.ca/passim/view.php?id=320 'One of the Little Shits in the Martin brain trust, perhaps intoxicated by the first whiff of real power, apparently thought it'd be a more hip, happenin' kinda ceremony if it were to take place in Parliament instead of stuffy old Rideau Hall. (Someone at least refined the spitball so that the proposed venue was the Senate chamber, and not the off-limits-to-Addy House of Commons.) After all, we're not just swearing in any old prime minister. This is Paul Martin II, dude. Harbinger of a new age of democracy, power to the parliamentarians, etc. What better way to signal this than to start the whole thing off on the Hill? (Apparently the press theatre at Magna was already booked for the day.) Er, yes, very nice idea, comes the reply from Rideau Hall, but no. We think instead we'll stick with centuries of parliamentary tradition, the Magna Carta and all that mumbo jumbo. The GG invites the prospective PM to form a government. She doesn't make a pilgrimage downtown to pay tribute to him. This isn't the Liberal convention, after all.'

Stephane Dion's political career may be in jeopardy similar to the fate of Sheila Copps. Apparently the Martin boys are trying to block him from running as well.

Neil.F.......apparently the aspect of the agreement to not run for other parties, won't hold up legally, however it could be used to discredit or embarass. The 30-40 page questionnaire concerns me. What if you reveal secrets to the political party of your choice at the moment, and then later on, you decide to switch parties. What you divulge could then be used against you. My preference is for political parties to have reduced power, and for individual MPs to have increased decision-making abilities. Getting back to Sheila Copps. Many organizations, when they are being formed, or reconstituted, have what is known as a "grandfathering clause", which automatically admits you based on your previous experience. I believe this should apply to Copps in this situation.. What I'm not oomfortable with, is letting Martin get away with saying he's not involved in L'affaire Sheila Copps. What is happen' to Copps, from the federal liberal Party, which Martin completely controls, is 100% the result of Martin's wishes and direction.

Hi Rob1963.........the Governor General of Canada's term is usually for 5 years, and she was appointed in 1999. Sometime soon I will post a reference to an amazin' story about why Adrienne Clarkson's term of office is not being renewed. ---------------------------------------------- Hi Neil.F...........you might be more convincing, assuming that's one of your purposes, in posting here at Mapleleafweb, if you stick to debating issues rather than delivering personal attacks against individuals. Quite frrankly, I'm finding your approach a bit tiresome, and most certainly, not effective.

Is the Martin Liberals " Copps Clause" an assault on the democratic deficit? Absolutely. Canadians want more freedom for our politicians, not less. Canadians would appreciate if Paul Martin and his federal Liberals were to focus on cleaning up their own act in areas such as mass memberships signups, inability to trace membership funding, etc., rather than try to impose more restrictions on our elected representatives. 'Grits to make candidates sign waivers 'The Sheila Copps clause': Those seeking riding nominations must promise not to run against winner' by Tim Naumetz CanWest News Service http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpos...97-7e1f9b989a84 'In a rule that has been dubbed by party insiders as "the Sheila Copps clause" -- for her hint that she may run for the NDP should her Hamilton nomination battle against Transport Minister Tony Valeri fail -- the party is requiring all candidates to vow support for the eventual nomination victor. In new candidate rules distributed to party members last week, Prime Minister Paul Martin's campaign directors have also imposed sweeping requirements for disclosure of personal information from prospective candidates, including marital history and private medical information. The candidates must also sign a waiver that would allow the party to keep the information indefinitely and use it however party officials want. They must promise not to run against the winner in the electoral district or for any other party anywhere else.' :angry:

Finally the big day has arrived, with a very tight race according to the polls. There is a huge amount of energy and a lot of anger coming from the Democrats. Energized because whether he wins the nomination or not, Howard Dean has brought this party back to life. And anger directed towards George Bush for what he is doing to America.This will be a facinating evening. Good luck to everyone and your respecrtive candidates. 'Iowa caucuses down to wire' by Alan Freeman http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/.../International/ '"It's a wide-open race and it's fluid," said Gordon Fischer, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. "Any one of the four major candidates could win."'

'Searching for the treasured centre of Canadian politics' by Roy MacGregor http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/...Story/National/ 'For years now, it has been easy to dismiss the NDP as a party whose time once almost came but has long since gone, particularly so as this party of intervention tried to come to grips with a country that had long since run out of walking-around money. Suddenly, however, the old realities of the country seem rather tired. If the original two solitudes had to do with language, the new one has to do with addresses, East versus West and urban versus rural. If provincial appeasement and bashing were the reads of the past, today's story seems far more about cities, a force the federal government seems somewhat mystified by. Layton is clearly making inroads here. He comes from a city, Toronto, where traditionally "national" politicians pay a price, and yet today that verges on an advantage. As a former councillor and one-time president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, he has new allies out West in those cities that, like Toronto, are desperately in need of intervention. Last May, when he was campaigning to become Liberal Leader, Martin told a meeting of mayors in Winnipeg that "we will act" on getting a portion of the fuel tax to cities, but there has been little but confusion since Martin actually became Prime Minister. Layton, who seems to have a particular knack when it comes to goading the new Prime Minister, is clearly a leader with an upside, even if he has no seat in the House of Commons. The NDP, however, is still ahead of the new Conservative Party, which does not even have a leader. It does, however, have opportunity, and finds itself in the surprising position this week of actually engaging the Canadian attention after two leadership races — Stephen Harper's victory in the defunct Alliance Party and Peter MacKay's in the old Progressive Conservative Party — that garnered next to no national interest. The reason, for better or for worse, is Belinda Stronach, who will enter the leadership race this week. She will be both be dismissed as Paris Hilton starring in The Simple Political Life and embraced as a fresh, smart, young new face who can dramatically change the fortunes of the new party whether she wins or loses. Until the leadership of this third national party is decided on March 20, no one can say what new shifts will take place or even where, exactly, the treasured centre of Canadian politics is located.'

The NDP is going to absorb Paul Hellyer's Canadian Action Party.

I just read that our Governor General Adrienne Clarkson is not going to have her mandate renewed by the Paul Martin Liberals.

Geez, who wrote this dribble, Paul Martin? Actually perhaps he did, as it came from one of his buddies. 'Chief executives view Martin as a PM yet to be tested: Federal election may interfere with agenda for broader engagement' by Tom d'Aquino National Post http://www.mapleleafweb.com/community/foru...E=02&f=3&t=1014 'On the one hand, Prime Minister Paul Martin has made a fundamental commitment to addressing what he calls "the democratic deficit." Already he has taken steps to give more power to members of parliament and to parliamentary committees, allow more free votes in the House of Commons and enable public scrutiny of key government appointments. Taken together, the measures he has announced or proposed have the potential to open up the decision-making process considerably. For organizations like ours and for anyone interested in influencing public policy, the new structures and practices will provide more opportunities for input. However, they also will require more extensive efforts to work with a broader range of elected representatives and government officials.' So what d'Aquino is really saying here, is that unless you are big, with vast resources, it will be too difficult to lobby. 'In summary, I think we all have to remind ourselves that while Paul Martin may be a good friend and a former member of our council, he is now the Prime Minister of Canada and his business is politics. As he addresses the political challenges of 2004, he will do what he believes is right for his party and for the country, and it is inevitable that we will not always agree. We certainly should not rest on our laurels and assume that our ideas will get any preferential treatment from the new Prime Minister and his team.' This last sentence is such nonsense, that there is hardly a need to bother commenting on it. Mr D'Aquino is a real comedian, sharing his humour with us like this.

I wonder if Jack Layton's NDP are going to propose a taxation strategy based on Tom Kent's recent report entitled "Repair of Taxation".

How long in advance did Scott Brison plan his defection to the Liberals? Do you think he is going to get re-elected? I have my reservations. 'Brison takes the money and runs' http://www.frankmagazine.ca/passim/view.php?id=319 'What vile rumblings are these against my dear friend, the newly baptized Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary Scott Brison? Ever since his deft deke from the Conservatives right into the Privy Council, one can't go anywhere without hearing sour recriminations against Beam Me Up Scotty, particularly in Hogtown and specifically with reference to his fundraising activities. After all, it seems like only yesterday (it was!!--ed.) that Brison was running for the Tory leadership, only to have his efforts rewarded with a bitter defeat and a six figure debt. This last was particularly vexing as Brison had publicly pledged he wouldn't run a deficit and brashly challenged frontrunner Peter MacKay to do the same. But what the hell. This is, after all, the same Scott Brison who voted to bless the PC-CA merger four days before denouncing it as a Christer coup and telling anyone who would listen he left rather than become the Conservatives' token tapette. It might even be true. But his aversion to conservatives was not in evidence in recent weeks as he hobnobbed with Tories from Winnipeg to Rosedale, accepting donations of wealthy and not-so-wealthy donors inclined to relieve him of that embarrassing leadership debt.'

Word on the street (from Right On, the New VI television show on Vancouver Island this evening), is that prospective new Liberal candidate Keith Martin will not win his seat in Esquimalt- Juan de Fuca, for a couple of reasons. First, is that Martin is supportive of two tier health care. Second, because of his inconsistencies with political parties. Initially Keith Martin stayed with the Alliance/Reform for 10 years, including running for their leadership, and then at the moment they are moderating their policies by merging with the PCs, he decides to join the Martin Liberals, who are to the right of Jean Chretien.

Michael.....thanks.

Cross Canada Checkup - CBC Radio AM This Week's Topic ...Canada-U.S. relations Sunday January 18, 2004 @ 4 PM (ET) Prime Minister Paul Martin and U.S. President Bush say they hit it off in their first meeting. What does it mean for relations between the two countries? With issues such as softwood lumber, mad cow, and the war on terror continuing to fester, what's the value of good relations at the top? What do you think? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday.....on Cross Country Checkup ------------------------------------------------------------- In Canada there was a lot of Paul Martin spin in the press surrounding his meeting with George Bush The mad cow issue wasn't resolved. The softwood lumber issue wasn't resolved. Nothing was accomplished that wasn't already there.

'A Stronach fan, Strahl pulls out of Tory contest' By Ian Bailey The Province http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovinc...D4-036CB6E1AB3B 'Fraser Valley MP Chuck Strahl has all but endorsed auto-parts tycoon Belinda Stronach as the best leadership choice for the Conservative Party of Canada, days after calling off his own bid for the top job.' This is a real blow to Harper, as Strahl has a certain amount of support, particularly in the West. She's not a shoe in, and it's probably going to be a close race, but Stronach will win. Whatever happens it is going to be a fascinating journey. Good luck to your respective favourite candidate. Finally some excitement in the conservative ranks.

(No charges have been laid) 'Basi's federal connection upsets some B.C. Liberals' by Vaughn Palmer in the Vancouver Sun http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouvers...BE-6F50DF6768B3 'That being the degree to which Dave Basi, the fired aide to provincial house leader Gary Collins, was involved in organizing on behalf of the Paul Martin federal Liberals. "That is certainly a concern of ours," Krueger told reporters. "Certainly he should not have been involving himself in federal membership drives if he was on our payroll. We have an internal rule that our staff don't work on federal campaigns."'

(No charges have been laid) 'Special prosecutor to probe B.C. case Head of government agency questioned over firm's dealings' Sean Holman Special to Times Colonist http://www.canada.com/victoria/story.asp?i...BC-3E8C2FD971A4 'Walls, a former president of a B.C. Liberal riding association and relative by marriage of Premier Gordon Campbell, has denied any wrongdoing by himself or the company.'

'Brazil to propose world 'hunger tax' on international financial transactions' http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/01/.../316412-ap.html 'SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will propose a tax on international financial transactions to raise funds for a worldwide campaign against hunger when he meets later this month with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Brazilian government said Saturday.' This progressive leader of Brazil, President Lula, is a creative fellow. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I think we are talking about tolerance and respect for others, regardless of their point of view. Some folks have it, and some don't.

Pellaken.......I think theWatcher is onto something, when he talks about people who are older. Generally speaking, change is difficult for people, and the older one gets, the more difficult change becomes. My hunch is that the younger generations are more accepting of the different liftstyles that are out in society today. I say out today because, for example, society has always had homosexuals, it's just that they more hidden, or not so open, as they are today. So to reply to your question, making money has always been with us, the other stuff has't, for a lot of people.