Newfie Canadian

But at least they are a clear indication of the individual's wishes. In the current case, I believe the only people who claim to know Terri's wishes are her husband and members of his family. I thought that was well summed up Sweal.

The Senate, as useless as it is, may never be an issue big enough for the electorate. There are too many everyday problems for us to try to get the politicians to deal with, most notably health care.

Finance Minister Sullivan released his budget today. Pretty much a good news budget, especially considering that last years budget was brutal. Here's the government web page for the budget. http://www.budget.gov.nl.ca/budget2005/\ I thought it was OK. New health care and education money, including some much needed medical equipment and new school buses. Guess all that cash from the Atlantic Accord, the Health Care Deal and the high price of oil came in handy. Looks like Williams will get re-elected. Nothing quite like it, is there?

As I recall, and I may be wrong, there has been a lot of distrust and dissatisfaction with the PQ in the recent past. And don't the ADQ only have 5 out of 125 seats? My point was the sovereigntist movement doesn't see the Liberal government as the problem. Lucien Bouchard was Mulroney's Québec lieutenant. Sovereigntists see the Canadian government as the problem, and that's the problem. In your opinion, how would that 50% split if it was made clear that sovereignty association (or the like) wouldn't be an option, Would they mostly go to the sovereigntists or lean towards the federalists or would it be even?

Harper had an OK speech (the "Promises made, Promises broken" part was a little corny though). Interesting how they had an insert with a shot of Peter Mckay on the screen when Harper was speaking. He clapped and stood, but didn't smile a lot. He talked a good game and said a lot of things I could agree with, and a few that I didn't. The problem for him though will be the delegate vote on several key issues.

I apologize Bakunin, I should have been more specific. I wasn't whining about the people of Québec. And you're right about the Liberals. In regards to the general population, I assume (as I'm hardly an expert on Québec culture) they want what people in NL, or BC or Manitoba want, for the most part: a better deal from the feds. It's the sovereigntist movement my beef is with. There is no pleasing them. They want out and that's it. But if they (the sovereigntists) want out, it should be made clear that they are taking all Québecers all the way out. Bakunin, if there had been a clear and concise question in the last referendum with a clear and concise plan put forward by both the PQ and the Feds as to what the relationship would be, perhaps a clean break with no association or the like, would the vote have been different? In regards to the provincial Liberals, Québec appears to suffer provincially from what we all suffer federally: no better alternatives.

And yet the only thing that got attention was a resolution stacking the conventions with western Conservatives. It's all about perception, and I perceive trouble in the CPC. The shenadigans of Cheryl Gallant et al will make that hard, especially if a rift grows between the old Tories and the old Alliance. If Harper wants to nip this crisis in the rear, he needs to come out strongly against it, something which he apparently won't do. I had planned to.

My take on separatism is pretty much how kimmy summed it up: go if you want, but we're taking back the keys to the house and locking the refrigerator after you go. And no, you can't borrow the car on the weekend.

I really wanted to see some progress from the CPC during this convention, but they just can't seem to get it together. From the G&M (I'd post the link but I think you may need to be registered to get it): The CPC needed to really avoid this kind of stuff and concentrate on national policy making. Now, even if they do manage to hold it together and come up with some good policy, people won't remember. EDIT- Same story on CTV. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Star Trek TOS was the best. "The Trouble with Tribbles" was the best show, not"City on the Edge of Forever". Stargate Sg1 is arguably the best sci-fi out there, and the spin off Atlantis is doing well. The new BG is great. I wasn't a fan of the original, but the new series has it all, good sfx, drama, humour and plots.

Not so much? Well the CPC started their convention last night with Harper on the defensive over Cheryl Gallant's "Christianity under attack" leaflets. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories The timing of all of this is bad for the party, unless of course the whole of the party agrees in which case she'll be a hero, but I don't think the party agrees. I would have thought that Harper and his staff would have tried to keep things like this from happening in the weeks ahead of the convention. Then I watched Rahim Jaffer speak for a few minutes, and all he did for about 5 minutes was remind everyone of the differences between the Reform/Alliance part of the party and the PC part of the party, which seemed dangerous to me as the convention is being held in Montréal. I confess I didn't see his whole speech, so he may have tied both sides together afterward in a more symbiotic way. It all makes for an interesting weekend. I must admit, despite myself I am actually looking forward to seeing the resolutions and their votes this weekend. Any bets on how well Harper will do on the leadership vote? My bet-79%

I suspect you may be right, Shakeyhands. Bayman.Born, raised and living in Conception Bay North. I have lived in Town, but I didn't like it a whole lot. You from these parts Shakeyhands?

Little update on Newfie News. Unless he tanks badly in the next couple of years, Williams is going to get re-elected. 86% of Voters Satisfied with Williams Funny what a little tussle with the Feds will do for your image at home. In a further bid for re-election, Williams loosens purse strings for Labrador

Well, according to a Léger poll from March of 2004: Also, I thought I'd put this little tidbit from the same poll in here concerning Canadians/Americans perceptions of our similarities/diffferences. In a practical sense, we are tied together, but I believe that in a majority of areas we are to extremely different entities. One only needs to look at the social and trade issues currently before our 2 nations.

Sucks for where I live. 3 votes in the Electoral college, 1 Representative and 2 Senators. But at least we'd be the 4th biggest state....

With all due respect Argus, I got exactly what I expected. We will probably see the same type of thing in a couple of weeks from the CPC.

From CBC:

First off, let me say my thoughts and condolences go out to the RCMP and the families of those brave officers. Perhaps you may be right kimmy, There was a thread a while ago in which this was covered, not long after I joined and I believe it was August and/or Black Dog that made some compelling arguments about this issue. I have a concern about the criminal element. How can we as a society know that they will not simply go on to other lucrative illegal drug operations? Criminals are in it to make money. The higher the financial stakes, the more dangerous they become, and in a year or 2 or 3 or 5 we're talking about legalizing or relaxing the laws concerning another potentially dangerous drug.

And this may be the gist of the problem, though I wouldn't have quite put it that way. It no longer appears to be a matter of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. In regards to a trade war, it won't go too far. Martin has enough trouble making up his mind to initiate a trade war. Honestly though, the US appears to be entering a new era of protectionism. We've seen it with softwood lumber, wheat, and now beef. I found it interesting today watching clips of Republican Senators warn Democrats against protectionism, and one Democrat (I can't remember who) warning Canadians to get our act together. I'm not an expert on the beef industry, but aren't the rules and regulations and procedures in Canada very similar to those in the US?

Well Stoker old pal, how does the Senate fit into our conspiracy theory? U.S. Senate nixes plan to end Cdn. cattle ban

He sure wouldn't be the worst person to go to. Deal.

I won't argue, except to say that that particular judge appears to have a soft spot for R-CALF. This would seem to indicate a preference for R-CALF's position (whether it be legal sympathy, nationalist sympathy, who am I to say) regardless of the current BMD situation.

If it chafes, yes. Just kidding. I suggest that the court challenge was going to happen even if Martin had signed on to BMD. That lobby has had it in for the Canadian beef industry forever. They aren't going to let Canadian beef flood their market without a fight. The proof for your theory (and by the way I'm inclined to agree with you) will come in how hard the Dept. of Agriculture fights the injunction.

My beef Stoker, if you'll pardon the pun, is the double standard being imposed towards beef. When the first case of mad cow was found in Canada, they slammed the border shut and it hasn't totally reopened yet. But when the first case was found in the US, they were the first to try to convince everyone (i.e. the Japanese) that there was nothing to worry about. Having said that however, today's shenadigans were initiated by a powerful American beef lobby group who is probably afraid more for their own bottom lines than the saftey of the public. The science suggests that there is being enough done to combat mad cow, as admitted by the US Dept of Agriculture.

And let the fallout begin... Rice cancels Canada visit after missile decision Acceptable snub or juvenile behaviour?