Tory Connections Lead

[jdobbin]

Announced this past Friday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...tional/National

The Conservative government appointed a raft of Tories to federal boards, agencies and as citizenship judges yesterday.

At least seven of the 11 appointments yesterday to the National Film Board, Via Rail, the CDIC, two shipping agencies, and citizenship judgeships, went to people with Tory links. They include a former MP, a former Manitoba MLA who now works for a Conservative MP, a former Canadian Alliance candidate, and advisers to federal and provincial Tory ministers.

Immigration Minister Diane Finley, whose husband Doug is the Conservative Party's campaign manager, yesterday appointed three citizenship judges, a post that pays $82,800 to $97,400 a year. Two have Tory ties.

Harold Gilleshammer, an aide to Manitoba federal Conservative MP Merv Tweed and former Tory MLA in that province's legislature, was made a citizenship judge.

Ah, nothing like the late Friday announcement for news you hope no one will notice.

Edited December 12, 2007 by jdobbin

[geoffrey]

Some 30% of Canadians voted CPC last election. Ties to Tories? Please. You've got to do better.

It's expected through pure statistics that Tory supporters will get appointed to a huge chunk of positions. It's even more likely if Tories make the appointments as people are likely to get jobs in either the public sector or private if they share similar values or outlooks on the job at hand.

[Canuck E Stan]

The Conservative government appointed a raft of Tories to federal boards, agencies and as citizenship judges yesterday.

I thought "raft" meant a whole lot......is seven,a whole lot?.....or did the reporter mean enough to fill a raft?

Immigration Minister Diane Finley, whose husband Doug is the Conservative Party's campaign manager, yesterday appointed three citizenship judges, a post that pays $82,800 to $97,400 a year. Two have Tory ties.

Why was the reference to her husband added? Was he the one who appointed the judges? How about the kids? What do they do?

At least seven of the 11 appointments yesterday to the National Film Board, Via Rail, the CDIC, two shipping agencies, and citizenship judgeships, went to people with Tory links.

At least? Who were the others? Not being Tory then I guess they're not worth mentioning.

Like the reporter,who's married to his wife, this story contains a raft of information for the reader to absorb,so much in fact, none of the other newspapers even mentioned the raft of appointments.

Did I mention the reporter is married to his wife?

[Canuck E Stan]

Double post

Edited December 12, 2007 by Canuck E Stan

[jdobbin]

Some 30% of Canadians voted CPC last election. Ties to Tories? Please. You've got to do better.

It's expected through pure statistics that Tory supporters will get appointed to a huge chunk of positions. It's even more likely if Tories make the appointments as people are likely to get jobs in either the public sector or private if they share similar values or outlooks on the job at hand.

Most of the 30% who voted Tory don't have such public and direct connection to the government in power. It is patronage pure and simple. Not that there is anything wrong with that but for some reason the government wants to make these type of announcements late on Fridays.

[Lazarus]

Most of the 30% who voted Tory don't have such public and direct connection to the government in power. It is patronage pure and simple. Not that there is anything wrong with that but for some reason the government wants to make these type of announcements late on Fridays.

It's just good old fashion political hay making as usual. Don't matter which party is in power, they will find means and ways to rewarded their powerful supporters. If the Liberals were in power and did this, then the Conservative supporters would be raising a stink......in the end, it doesn't matter much. Patronage has been with us since the days of Athenian Democracy and will be with till the day the star we call Sol goes supernova and takes out Sol 3.

[Canuck E Stan]

Most of the 30% who voted Tory don't have such public and direct connection to the government in power. It is patronage pure and simple. Not that there is anything wrong with that but for some reason the government wants to make these type of announcements late on Fridays.

Making a shipload of this type of patronage appointments just before or just after an election call is a better time?

[Canuck E Stan]

Double post

Edited December 12, 2007 by Canuck E Stan

[jdobbin]

Making a shipload of this type of patronage appointments just before or just after an election call is a better time?

If a government wants to be transparent, they make announcements on appointments so that they face scrutiny. Late Friday announcements is what the Tories used to accuse the Liberals of. Many MPs are back on flights to their ridings and the Parliamentary session is done for the day.

I recognize that patronage appointments happen in every government. However, Harper promised a more open process in his government. Copying what the Liberals used to do doesn't seem in keeping with that.

[M.Dancer]

As the Tories climb, the more Liberal they become......

[Wild Bill]

If a government wants to be transparent, they make announcements on appointments so that they face scrutiny. Late Friday announcements is what the Tories used to accuse the Liberals of. Many MPs are back on flights to their ridings and the Parliamentary session is done for the day.

I recognize that patronage appointments happen in every government. However, Harper promised a more open process in his government. Copying what the Liberals used to do doesn't seem in keeping with that.

Folks might remember that Trudeau made his chauffeur a senator!

[Shakeyhands]

This isn't a new practice as we all know.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/170783

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...12f21d0&p=1

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics...55a&k=57257

and frankly, it would not have been an issue had Steve not campaigned on ending the practice in his "NEW" government. Oh the hypocrisy...

[Moxie]

As the Tories climb, the more Liberal they become......

Yep, I see no difference between a Classical Liberal and the current PM. That's a good thing.

[jdobbin]

Folks might remember that Trudeau made his chauffeur a senator!

Think that is what Harper might do?

[Michael Bluth]

Folks might remember that Trudeau made his chauffeur a senator!

As well as his secretary/horizontal jogging partner...

[guyser]

Think that is what Harper might do?

Well....stevey does have his hairdresser / psychic advisor / image consultant so he could keep up the mockery of past administrations.

[Fortunata]

and frankly, it would not have been an issue had Steve not campaigned on ending the practice in his "NEW" government. Oh the hypocrisy...

Exactly. Steve campaigned on this. He made a big fuss about being open, transparent, ending patronage appointments, yada, yada, yada. All lies. Yet the Harperconservatives defend anything he does. He can do exactly the opposite of what he said he was going to and still excuses are made for these lies. Why are you followers defending these actions? Isn't this part of why you voted for him .. you know the honesty thing? Doing what he said he would do?

[jdobbin]

Well....stevey does have his hairdresser / psychic advisor / image consultant so he could keep up the mockery of past administrations.

And "arrange" to have her elected to Senate? heh

Edited December 12, 2007 by jdobbin

[Michael Bluth]

Why are you followers defending these actions? Isn't this part of why you voted for him .. you know the honesty thing? Doing what he said he would do?

What political party do you lead Fortunata? Are you Elizabeth May?

I voted for Harper because he promised a more open and honest Government than the Liberals at the end of their 13-year run of corruption and cronyism.

He has delivered.

[guyser]

What political party do you lead Fortunata? Are you Elizabeth May?

I voted for Harper because he promised a more open and honest Government than the Liberals at the end of their 13-year run of corruption and cronyism.

He has delivered.

Except where he hasn't. And when shown where he hasn't the reply seems to be crickets......

Why would that be?

Perhaps the Privy Council and there determined efforts to deny FOI requests? Not my opinion by the way, but the Auditors.

As dancer said earlier....the longer stevey is in power , the more they act like the last bozos. Getting closer to equal .

As for appointing friends and supporters...meh.....done by all parties all the time. Stevey just said he wouldnt.

[Michael Bluth]

Except where he hasn't.

No crickets. He has definitely been more open and transparent than Paulie or Jean's gov'ts.

And when shown where he hasn't the reply seems to be crickets......

Why would that be?

Can't answer that question because it's based on a false premise.

Perhaps the Privy Council and there determined efforts to deny FOI requests? Not my opinion by the way, but the Auditors.

"The Auditors"? that means you would be able to provide a link. If you actually did want an answer.

As dancer said earlier....the longer stevey is in power , the more they act like the last bozos. Getting closer to equal .

Still miles and miles to go. Harper won't serve over a decade as PM no matter what. So that is moot...

As for appointing friends and supporters...meh.....done by all parties all the time. Stevey just said he wouldnt.

Again, evidence? Proof? Why bother... You've deluded yourself to that point that you see it as black and white.

The supposed 'raft' of appointments can fit in a raft. Ahhh the irony!

[Shakeyhands]

No crickets. He has definitely been more open and transparent than Paulie or Jean's gov'ts.

What?

And are you claiming that Harper didn't say he wouldn't make patronage appts???

[Canuck E Stan]

“We have to change the way things work in Ottawa.”-Paul Martin

Speech to the National Convention

Liberal Party of Canada

November 15, 2003

“We will put an end to cronyism…. No longer will the key to Ottawa be who do you know. We are going to condemn to history the practice and the politics of cronyism.” -Paul Martin

Speech to Quebec City Chamber of Commerce

March 17, 2004

Open Patronage Appointments

It's one of the key privileges enjoyed by the party in power---the ability to fill top government jobs with its' choices. And it's a process Prime Minister Paul Martin has said he'd make more transparent---starting yesterday--- when Justice Minister Irwin Cotler gave his statement.

But in the end, the final say still rests with the Prime Minister's Office---like back in 2002, when Paul Martin took then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien to task for patronage, challenging his government to walk the line when it comes to powerful placements.

And Paul Martin was right, as was Stephan Harper.

Liberal cronyism did end.

[jdobbin]

And Paul Martin was right, as was Stephan Harper.

Liberal cronyism did end.

And Tory cronyism has begun a new era.

[capricorn]

The political leanings of high profile appointments was off kilter for too long. Harper's appointments merely level the playing field. Opposition supporters are understandably upset. Why would they begrudge the Conservatives' day in the sun when they were in the wilderness for all those many years? Pass the suntan lotion.