Liberals in bid to woo women

[jdobbin]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National

The Liberals are trying to find ways to bring women voters - especially baby boomers - back to the party, through recruitment, new policies and even better behaviour in the House of Commons.

"Liberals cannot win a government unless they have a significant gap in their favour with women voters," said Peter Donolo of the Strategic Counsel, a national polling firm. "They've got issues to overcome [such as] in Western Canada, so they have to find advantages where they can and a key one is women voters."

Probably the best strategy for the Liberal party to win over women voters is to concentrate on policies such a daycare and healthcare, two important issues for families.

It is true that recruitment of women as candidates and a less caustic response will likely have appeal, it will be policies that really set Liberals and Conservatives apart. Social issues are where the two parties will have significant differences.

To appeal to the general voter, the Liberals will have to show they are more competent on finances, jobs and the overall economy.

[Cuzzin E]

Because he makes a twirl in life, my box is broken help me blue elephant. Isn't lettuce brave? I like electrons, hello.

[madmax]

Probably the best strategy for the Liberal party to win over women voters is to concentrate on policies such a daycare and healthcare, two important issues for families.

I think I heard this before???

Broken promises

The specificity of the Red Book came back to haunt the Liberals, however, and much of the next few years were spent defending broken promises. The most notable of these was the Goods and Services Tax, which the Liberals had promised to replace but did not. Critics also said that the Liberals had broken their promises to increase the power of individual Members of Parliament and introducing a national childcare program.

And the Liberal Record on Health Care is attrocious. But there record on campaigning for it, is pretty good.

[jdobbin]

I think I heard this before???

The Liberals introduced a daycare program under Martin only to have it replaced by the Tory program which failed and continues to fail in providing daycare spaces.

And the Liberal Record on Health Care is attrocious. But there record on campaigning for it, is pretty good.

Stable long term financing of healthcare was restored by Martin and that financing has continued under Harper.

[madmax]

The Liberals introduced a daycare program under Martin only to have it replaced by the Tory program which failed and continues to fail in providing daycare spaces.

There is no daycare program. THere never was a daycare program. 1993 was when the Liberals campaigned on it. THere is no excuse not to have any form of daycare implemented 13 years later.

Why don't you campaign on the gun registery. That is something that the LPC acted on.

Stable long term financing of healthcare was restored by Martin and that financing has continued under Harper.

HAHAHAHA HA!!! ROTFLMAO.

The Federal Government only purpose is to argue against the fact that they once covered 50cents in Health Care funding, but today it is only 16cents on the dollar.

Yes, both the Liberals and Conservatives will argue these facts when in power.

If there was anytruth to the position of the Liberals and Health Care, the Romanov commission report would have been implemented.

34 Billion in Health Care funding over 5 years is a drop in the bucket.

However, what Paul Martin is RESPONSIBLE FOR

is this

http://paulmartintime.ca/tourblog/000522.html

The basic facts: Paul Martin reduced transfers to provinces by 40%, creating the crisis of health care funding that we have today. Then, when he had massive budget surpluses to play around with, he spent them all on tax cuts, the vast majority of which went to the rich.

While its funny that a Rightwing site cries about tax cuts for the rich, but hypocrisy is part of the Right wing idealogy when it comes to using every weapon possible to attack and opponent.

If you were to believe Paul Martin, he increased funding to 25cents on the dollar.

The LPC will campaign on Health Care, it was a formula that worked in the past. But during that period the LPC spent more time starving the victim.

[jdobbin]

There is no daycare program. THere never was a daycare program. 1993 was when the Liberals campaigned on it. THere is no excuse not to have any form of daycare implemented 13 years later.

There was a daycare program and it was negotiated with all ten provinces. You know this. The Harper government dismantled it in its first year despite the fact that it actually produced daycare spaces whereas their program didn't.

Why don't you campaign on the gun registery. That is something that the LPC acted on

.

I'm sure the Liberals will support the police in keeping the program in place.

34 Billion in Health Care funding over 5 years is a drop in the bucket.

It was long term financing after years of cuts to end the deficit.

[85RZ500]

Hey, the Convenient Canadian already wood the heck out of Progressive Tory, what else does he need?

Edited April 13, 2009 by 85RZ500

[Oleg Bach]

Liberals can woo the woman by supplying them with free housing - a washer and dryer and a tossed out husband the pays support to an adulterous hag who spends the money on her lesibian girlfriend while they smoke pot and pop pills - Yah - the liberals will tell these woman that they are free - when they are just prisoners of the the state....

[Argus]

There was a daycare program and it was negotiated with all ten provinces. You know this. The Harper government dismantled it in its first year despite the fact that it actually produced daycare spaces whereas their program didn't.

You never had a daycare program, despite the fact you campaigned on it for four straight elections.

Right at the end, seeing the writing on the wall, Martin desperately flew from capital to capital, basically offering up free money to the provinces if they would call it "daycare". They didn't even have to spend it on day care! Naturally, all the provinces agreed to take the money, but that is a far, far, far cry from a national daycare program. Something, btw, I could support if it actually did something to make it easier for working women to have and raise children.

It was long term financing after years of cuts to end the deficit.

The Liberals called health care a "sacred trust" every election, then let it fall apart year after year while stuffing immense surpluses into piggy banks so they could use it if they were threatened during a future election. You never had any ideas thereafter for fixing health care - and you still don't.

In the end, all you guys demonstrated was that you didn't care a rats ass for daycare or health care. All you cared about was playing the electorate for suckers and then gifting your pals with taxpayer money.

[scribblet]

The Liberals called health care a "sacred trust" every election, then let it fall apart year after year while stuffing immense surpluses into piggy banks so they could use it if they were threatened during a future election. You never had any ideas thereafter for fixing health care - and you still don't.

In the end, all you guys demonstrated was that you didn't care a rats ass for daycare or health care. All you cared about was playing the electorate for suckers and then gifting your pals with taxpayer money.

wow - tell it like it is -

[Oleg Bach]

Day care is a liberal value - It's also a socialist value - constant doctoring and medicating of the herd is also a socialist value - real doctors and real woman who are paired with real husbands don't need damned day care - or constant coddling at the clinic to feel loved..

[jdobbin]

You never had a daycare program, despite the fact you campaigned on it for four straight elections.

We have gone over this before and despite the links that showed that Martin did have a program in place and Conservatve figures to show that progran actually created spaces, you ignored it.

Right at the end, seeing the writing on the wall, Martin desperately flew from capital to capital, basically offering up free money to the provinces if they would call it "daycare". They didn't even have to spend it on day care! Naturally, all the provinces agreed to take the money, but that is a far, far, far cry from a national daycare program. Something, btw, I could support if it actually did something to make it easier for working women to have and raise children.

Each province wanted to run their own program as they saw fit. The Feds negotiated deals with each province accordingly.

The Liberals called health care a "sacred trust" every election, then let it fall apart year after year while stuffing immense surpluses into piggy banks so they could use it if they were threatened during a future election. You never had any ideas thereafter for fixing health care - and you still don't.

One of the reason Harper doesn't have the provinces crawling up his back on healthcare as they used to is because he maintained the stable funding for the program that Martin put in place.

In the end, all you guys demonstrated was that you didn't care a rats ass for daycare or health care. All you cared about was playing the electorate for suckers and then gifting your pals with taxpayer money.

The Tories showed how much they cared about daycare by dismantling the deal that Liberals put in place in favour of one that absolutely created zero daycare spaces.

[Smallc]

One of the reason Harper doesn't have the provinces crawling up his back on healthcare as they used to is because he maintained the stable funding for the program that Martin put in place.

Correct. I don't think that I've heard much of anything in complaints from provinces since the funding program was put in place.

[Shakeyhands]

Hey, the Convenient Canadian already wood the heck out of Progressive Tory, what else does he need?

That working yet?

[kimmy]

The thread title sounds like something that could get you arrested, if done indiscreetly.

I am under the impression that the Liberals already have a lead among female voters; those not already on board might not be the sort for whom a national daycare program is a deciding factor. We're not a monolith...

One policy that women from coast to coast would rally behind would be taking away Oleg's computer. Please consider bringing it up at the next town hall.

-k

[Keepitsimple]

Each province wanted to run their own program as they saw fit. The Feds negotiated deals with each province accordingly.

One of the reason Harper doesn't have the provinces crawling up his back on healthcare as they used to is because he maintained the stable funding for the program that Martin put in place.

The delivery of Healthcare is a Provincial responsibility. Daycare is "early education" and the delivery of such services is also a Provincial responsibility. That doesn't mean that the Federal government can't play an important role. Canada is blessed with having 10 provinces to test new methods of delivering services in both Healthcare and Education and as you stated, provinces want to derliver services in their own way - which can differ greatly due to geography and scales of economy. The Federal government can help greatly in becoming a "clearing house" for best practices and investing in infrastructure to grease the wheels for the introduction of new delivery methods. A good example in Healthcare is the assembly line method of hip and knee relacements in Alberta and Ontario. The Feds could contribute infrastructure money for other provinces to replicate this "best practice" to help set up the service.

The "saving heathcare for a generation" funding of $35 billion over 5 years sounds great as a sound byte...... but Ontario spends over $40 billion in one year so their share of that funding is a pittance. The Feds cannot "save" Healthcare - but each province can.......and we all know that ultimately, it will be accomplished with a judicious mix of Public and Private delivery. Daycare needs to be looked at in a similar light.

The Liberal approach of wooing votes by pretending to be a champion for causes that are the responsibility of the Provinces is not helpful to say the least.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Keepitsimple

[Alta4ever]

The Liberal approach of wooing votes by pretending to be a champion for causes that are the responsibility of the Provinces is not helpful to say the least.

I whole heartedly argee. This tactic has been used time and time again by the liberals to remove provincial powers from them and attack the constitution of the country.

[waldo]

The Feds cannot "save" Healthcare - but each province can.......and we all know that ultimately, it will be accomplished with a judicious mix of Public and Private delivery. Daycare needs to be looked at in a similar light.

The Liberal approach of wooing votes by pretending to be a champion for causes that are the responsibility of the Provinces is not helpful to say the least.

without your so-called Federal "champion", your "judicious mix of Public and Private delivery" would quickly see the unraveling of Canada's health care system. Look no farther than the attempted Klein's "Third Way" and the ongoing attempts by various parties to launch full-on private health care in breach of the principles of universality within the Health Care Act.

your cut-paste primer on the health-care system... and your curt summation... places an unwarranted emphasis on those provincial health care responsibilities - which are limited to only operational management, organization and delivery... don't worry, the Liberal champion of Canadian health care will always ensure the underlying principles of the Health Care Act are maintained and kept paramount as one of the defining symbols of Canada.

[Keepitsimple]

without your so-called Federal "champion", your "judicious mix of Public and Private delivery" would quickly see the unraveling of Canada's health care system. Look no farther than the attempted Klein's "Third Way" and the ongoing attempts by various parties to launch full-on private health care in breach of the principles of universality within the Health Care Act.

your cut-paste primer on the health-care system... and your curt summation... places an unwarranted emphasis on those provincial health care responsibilities - which are limited to only operational management, organization and delivery... don't worry, the Liberal champion of Canadian health care will always ensure the underlying principles of the Health Care Act are maintained and kept paramount as one of the defining symbols of Canada.

You just don't get it.....your healthcare Dogma is not working. Why not let provinces - like Alberta for example - try something innovative. If it works - great, the Feds can help other provinces to use it as a model - if they so choose. Other provinces should be free to try things as well. It is not the Federal Government's responsibility to dictate the method of delivering Healthcare as a "one size fits all" for the Provinces. Each province should explore their own solutions - within the "spirit" of the Canada Health Care Act. Your "Liberal Champion" reminds me of a commercial I saw on safe driving "He was right - dead right!". While your Liberals are supposedly fighting to uphold the letter of the law in the Canada Health Act, healthcare in Canada is going to hell in a handbasket. Times have changed and we have to look at alternatives while protecting the single-payer system.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Keepitsimple

[madmax]

the Liberal champion of Canadian health care will always ensure the underlying principles of the Health Care Act are maintained and kept paramount as one of the defining symbols of Canada.

UM.. without the NDP there wouldn't be a "Canada Health Act" and ever since its implementation a large segment of the Liberal Party have been frothing at the mouth to abandon the principles of it by any means necessary.

Elimination of Public Health Care by Stealth, while preaching protection of the Canada Health Act.

All hat and no horse.

[waldo]

You just don't get it.....your healthcare Dogma is not working. Why not let provinces - like Alberta for example - try something innovative. If it works - great, the Feds can help other provinces to use it as a model - if they so choose. Other provinces should be free to try things as well. It is not the Federal Government's responsibility to dictate the method of delivering Healthcare as a "one size fits all" for the Provinces. Each province should explore their own solutions - within the "spirit" of the Canada Health Care Act. Your "Liberal Champion" reminds me of a commercial I saw on safe driving "He was right - dead right!". While your Liberals are supposedly fighting to uphold the letter of the law in the Canada Health Act, healthcare in Canada is going to hell in a handbasket. Times have changed and we have to look at alternatives while protecting the single-payer system.

and what do you get… other than dribbling out vacuous do nothing catch phrases like your “within the “spirit” of the Canada Health Care Act?

there are avenues for the provinces to explore… target wait times by expanding private delivery of publicly funded services… change the hospital funding mechanisms to reward performance… extend hospital/clinic operating room hours to include weekends… etc. Operations is a provincial responsibility – of course - perhaps you could give examples of where you see the Federal government dictating provincial healthcare as a “one size fits all”… you know, step it up beyond your catch phrasing.

that single-payer system is under continual threat from private enterprisers who champion a two-tier system. Care to comment on the Copeman clinic model and how you see that, as you say, “an alternative while protecting the single-payer system”.

[waldo]

UM.. without the NDP there wouldn't be a "Canada Health Act" and ever since its implementation a large segment of the Liberal Party have been frothing at the mouth to abandon the principles of it by any means necessary.

Elimination of Public Health Care by Stealth, while preaching protection of the Canada Health Act.

All hat and no horse.

oh really - here I thought the Canada Health Act came in under the Liberal Trudeau government... spearheaded by then Minister of Health Monique Bégin... what's that about NDP hat and no horse?

[tango]

I think the main obstacle to women in the HoC is the sexual harassment and otherwise juvenile, bullying bad behaviour of the men. You can see it any day watching CPAC, but you don't always see the sexual harassment women are subjected to away from the cameras, in meetings, etc. "Youre playing with the big dogs now, baby."

With this is in mind, Liberal MPs are, among other things, trying to be more polite during Question Period in the Commons. Women respond better to politicians who are not hurling insults, Liberals say.

Winnipeg Liberal MP Anita Neville, the party's status of women critic, said she was shocked to hear a Tory MP recently speak derisively about one group "shacking up" with another.

"You're not hearing [offensive language] from the Liberals, quite deliberately. And that is a real effort to tone down ... and be respectful," said Ms. Neville, who has regular meetings with women in her riding and says they are critical of the behaviour in Question Period.

Edited April 14, 2009 by tango

[madmax]

oh really - here I thought the Canada Health Act came in under the Liberal Trudeau government... spearheaded by then Minister of Health Monique Bégin... what's that about NDP hat and no horse?

The Canada Health Act came in during the last year of the Trudea government. It is one extension of a long history of public medicine in Canada.

......."

the Pearson government introduced the Medical Care Act which was passed in 1966 by a vote of 177 to two. These two Acts established a formula whereby the federal government paid approximately 50% of approved expenditures for hospital and physician services. "

However if you wish to speak on the established Canada Health Act in 1984, perhaps this will highlight who did what and when.

The Canada Health Act was passed unanimously by Parliament in 1984, and received Royal Assent on 1 April. Following election of a Conservative government under Brian Mulroney in September 1984, in June 1985, after consultation with the provinces, new federal Health Minister Jake Epp wrote a letter to his provincial counterparts that clarified and interpreted the criteria points and other parts of the new act.

[jdobbin]

The delivery of Healthcare is a Provincial responsibility.

Never said it wasn't. It is why the federal government doesn't run it.

However, anyone who says that there isn't a role for the federal government in healthcare standards, coordination and funding ignores the historic role. We don't need 10 Level 4 labs for infectious diseases. We don't need 10 standards on drugs.

The federal government has an important role in providing these things.

The constitutional role of transfer payments is entrenched and the Feds can set general standards for care before providing the money.

Daycare is "early education" and the delivery of such services is also a Provincial responsibility. That doesn't mean that the Federal government can't play an important role. Canada is blessed with having 10 provinces to test new methods of delivering services in both Healthcare and Education and as you stated, provinces want to derliver services in their own way - which can differ greatly due to geography and scales of economy.

It is why Paul Martin negotiated a deal to build daycare spaces with each province. That program, unlike the Tory unilateral tax credit program that bypassed the provinces, actually built spaces with staff. The Tory program was simply an income supplement that didn't offer enough to help provide actual daycare.

The Federal government can help greatly in becoming a "clearing house" for best practices and investing in infrastructure to grease the wheels for the introduction of new delivery methods. A good example in Healthcare is the assembly line method of hip and knee relacements in Alberta and Ontario. The Feds could contribute infrastructure money for other provinces to replicate this "best practice" to help set up the service.

The Tory program on daycare didn't provide any infrastructure money for spaces to be built. In the words of the minister responsible, it failed in that category.

The truth is that Tories don't really believe in daycare.

The "saving heathcare for a generation" funding of $35 billion over 5 years sounds great as a sound byte...... but Ontario spends over $40 billion in one year so their share of that funding is a pittance.

And yet combined with other transfers was enough to get the provinces off the back of the Feds without going into deficit.

The Feds cannot "save" Healthcare - but each province can.......and we all know that ultimately, it will be accomplished with a judicious mix of Public and Private delivery. Daycare needs to be looked at in a similar light.

National standards still can have an important role along with stable long term financing.

The Tory program for daycare certainly has not helped the provinces. It bypassed them.

The Liberal approach of wooing votes by pretending to be a champion for causes that are the responsibility of the Provinces is not helpful to say the least.

The Tory approach of bypassing the provinces is not helpful in the least.