Paul Martin

[mirror]

How many of you remember Martin's words prior to the last election about how he was going to address the democratic deficit, etc.? Well Canadians are still waiting for some concrete action from this man. The following website reported by Paul Wells says it all:

Government of Canada Democratic Reform Website

Let's get us a prime minister who is actually going to follow through on his or her campaign promises.

[cybercoma]

welcome back bigdude.

[Fortunata]

It's time for a change of leaders of both the Liberal and Conservative parties. Both are so power hungry that they would sell their mothers for a vote.

[hiti]

The democratic renewal is suppose to come this fall and after the Gomery report and recommendations. In the meantime there is a committee and people working in this. Belinda Stronach is holding meeting across the country asking for the people's input.

I don't hear any ideas from the CONS except the Liberals are corrupt.

[err]

How many of you remember Martin's words prior to the last election about how he was going to address the democratic deficit, etc.? Well Canadians are still waiting for some concrete action from this man. The following website reported by Paul Wells says it all:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think I've mentioned it before... Paul Martin was reading his throne speech in January?? I was in the next room, and had to look at the TV, because it sounded like Jack Layton had written the speech.... So obviously, Martin knows that people are concerned with the current state of affairs in federal politics...

And then Martin got elected, and pushed for a corporate tax reduction that was NOT IN HIS PLATFORM.... while forgetting some of the more socialistic issues of his platform.

Thank God for Jack Layton... who at leasted tried to keep Paul Martin honest to his espoused intentions.... in doing sok Layton showed Canada that his party, the NDP was the only party putting the welfare of Canadians above the welfare of corporate Canada.

[mirror]

A columnist draws an interestingly analogy between PM Martin and President Bush. How either of these guys can suggest they relate to the average working person in our respective countries is hilarous. I suppoese this is the result when you get a media who is comprised of more fantasy than reality.

If Bush is a moron, what's Martin?

[Riverwind]

A columnist draws an interestingly analogy between PM Martin and President Bush. How either of these guys can suggest they relate to the average working person in our respective countries is hilarous. I suppoese this is the result when you get a media who is comprised of more fantasy than reality.

If Bush is a moron, what's Martin?

The guy had a point while he was talking about the personal background of both men and even the similarilities between the Liberals and Republicans in terms of their control over the national agenda. However, it is rediculous to compare Sponserhip to Iraq - Sponsership cost at most 300 million - Iraq is about 100 billion/year. Same thing can be said about his attempt to compare SSM to Iraq.

[BHS]

The democratic renewal is suppose to come this fall and after the Gomery report and recommendations. In the meantime there is a committee and people working in this. Belinda Stronach is holding meeting across the country asking for the people's input.

I don't hear any ideas from the CONS except the Liberals are corrupt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First of all, thanks for the laugh. Putting Belinda Stronach in charge of renewing people's trust in Canadian democracy is the single greatest piece of comedy fodder in the new millenium thus far. I expect big, big things from Air Farce.

The CONS as you call them have been screeching about democratic renewal since the earliest days of the Reform party. Here are some personal favourites:

-Elect the Senate

-Institute third party review of judicial candidates

-Scrap the monarchy, become a republic, leading to a

-Seperately elected head of state with authority to approve or veto legislation instead of a meaningless appointed figurehead

Don't think of this as an effort to make our federal government more American in nature. Think of it as trying to make the federal government into something other than a charade to rubberstamp decisions made in behind the closed doors of the PMO.

[hiti]

The majority do not want Canada to become a republic. What would be the point? You think the USA government is so much better than ours? Not likely.

Electing the senate means nothing without equal representation and being effective.

The USA has all these elected reps and every bill that is passed is weighed down with deals made for votes. Any appointments such as judges only get passed if they agree with the majority on the committee. And that does not guarantee it is the best person for the job. There is no advantage to the USA republic system.

Canada was formed by a PEACEFUL, VOLUNTARY UNION of Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario & Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.. Later, other provinces and territories VOLUNTARILY joined the Union -- Yes, the Dominion.

It is the RESILIENCY of Canadians and the Canadian Constitution and Bills of Rights, the visions of past and present political leaders, that have made Canada one of the best countries in the World in which peoples from all parts of the world want to live (#1 Norway, #2 Sweden, #3 Australia, #4 Canada).

[Argus]

The majority do not want Canada to become a republic. What would be the point? You think the USA government is so much better than ours? Not likely.

There actually is a point. Our parliamentary system was based on checks and balances which do not exist any more. It is based on the English system, with a strong monarch as head of state, and an upper chamber that actually had some power.

At present there are no legal or traditional checks on the power of the prime minister, who has gotten progressively more powerful, his office absorbing power away from all other institutions. In effect, he is an almost absolute dictator during his term in office, with very nearly absolute power. The distance between the PMO and such institutions as the RCMP, the military and even the judiciary has grown uncomfortably narrow.

The President of the US has enormous power, but it is checked in numerous ways by the power of the Senate and Congress, and a Supreme Court whose members he can nominate but not put in power without cooperation from Congress. And Congress is not as open and shut as our parliament. The majority party can't just ram legislation through again and again while ignoring the minority.

Presidents can't even appoint their own cabinet or senior bureacrats without Congressional agreement. Even senior military appointments require Congressional oversight and approval. And, of course, he has a constitution with a hell of a lot less wiggle room than ours. If the present Republicans had a "Notwithstanding Clause" for example, they'd have long since used it to do away with abortion, just for one. Our constutiton isn't worth the paper it's written on as a protection from a determined prime minister.

So in some ways going to a Republican form of government with legitimate checks and balances on the power of the PM might not be a bad idea.

The USA has all these elected reps and every bill that is passed is weighed down with deals made for votes.

We get the same thing, just in another form. Which is why we fund joke books, canoe museums, and golf courses.

Any appointments such as judges only get passed if they agree with the majority on the committee. And that does not guarantee it is the best person for the job.

It's called consensus, and not a bad idea in a democracy. You prefer our system, whre the PM appoints who ever he feels like, and nobody else has a say? And do you actually think the best person for the job is ever appointed? Say what you will about the US Supreme Court. It is quoted all over the world by people because for the most part its judges are extremely intelligent and learned. Nobody ever says much about Canada's SC because they are, for the most part, political hacks without the ability to articulate any vision of justice or law and no particularly great degree of wisdom and intellect.

There is no advantage to the USA republic system.

Well, no, obviously, if you have no particular respect for consensus or compromise or many people having a say in the country and don't think there should be any openness in government so that people know what's going on then you'd find no use in the US system.

Canada was formed by a PEACEFUL, VOLUNTARY UNION  of Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario & Quebec), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.. Later, other provinces and territories  VOLUNTARILY  joined the Union --  Yes, the Dominion.

And what's that got to do with the price of bread?

[mirror]

Finally some constructive words of praise for our Muslim communities in Canada. It's about time.

Martin praises Muslim stand against extremism

[BHS]

Finally some constructive words of praise for our Muslim communities in Canada. It's about time.

Martin praises Muslim stand against extremism

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know I was walking around on egg shells wondering, "When will Paul Martin do his job and congratulate Muslim imams for doing something that would be a matter of course for any other world religious leaders in a similar situation?".

God, I love Paul Martin. So firm and principled, and yet willing to give when the need arises. He's, like, perfect.

[mirror]

Martin's positive move on unity

This GG appointment by PM Martin is a brilliant move which will bring votes to the federalist cause in Quebec.

[mcqueen625]

The democratic renewal is suppose to come this fall and after the Gomery report and recommendations. In the meantime there is a committee and people working in this. Belinda Stronach is holding meeting across the country asking for the people's input.

I don't hear any ideas from the CONS except the Liberals are corrupt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I heard a speculation on the news that the Liberal's may be setting themselves up for defeat before tha Gomery Report is released, and then blame the PC's for not allowing the report ot be made public first. I beleive that the Liberal's want to hang onto power by any means, and I would put nothing past them. I support the Liberal Leader provincially, but I have made it quite plain that my vote will certainly not be cast for a Liberal federally.

[shoop]

I heard a speculation on the news that the Liberal's may be setting themselves up for defeat before tha Gomery Report is released, and then blame the PC's for not allowing the report ot be made public first. I beleive that the Liberal's want to hang onto power by any means, and I would put nothing past them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends how they 'engineer' this defeat.

Harper has built a solid platform to run on. Probably best to wait until Gomery reports, but you never know...

[SirSpanky]

Martin's positive move on unity

This GG appointment by PM Martin is a brilliant move which will bring votes to the federalist cause in Quebec.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How effective however, I have my doubts. I don't take the position very seriously, and thus I doubt Quebecers would either. It'll just be seen as a token appointment, and fuel to the "gimme more" philosophy.

[shoop]

As more and more of Jean's separatist beliefs and leanings come to light it will only serve to strengthen the BQ and the PQ.

Great work Mr. Dithers....

[mirror]

PoliticsWatch's Worst of the Session

Interesting take on the last session of Parliament.

[Riverwind]

As more and more of Jean's separatist beliefs and leanings come to light it will only serve to strengthen the BQ and the PQ.

Great work Mr. Dithers....

I was outraged at hearing the Jean was possibly a seperatist (and still think it is time all of these key appointments were taken out of the hands of the PMO and into light of parliment). However, after reflection, I realized close to 60% of French Quebequers voted yes in the 1995 referendum which means that excluding people who might of voted yes eliminates a lot of otherwise qualified soft-nationalist candidates. As a result, I came to the conclusion that:

a - If Jean was a hard line seperatist should would have never accepted the post.

b - If Jean makes a public statement that she believes in the unity of the country and will work towards promoting unity during her term in office then how she might have voted is irrelevant.

c - The political opinions of her spouse are frankly irrelevant - we would never have subjected a man to this kind of scrutiny if his wife was a possible seperatist.

That said, all of this should have been known _before_ she was appointed. Way to go Mr. Dithers :angry:

[shoop]

PM scolds Klein over controversy.

Gotta like Martin's reaction. Sooooo typical. He gets into trouble and what does he do?

Attack the boogeyman Ralph Klein.

Uhhhh Mr. Dithers unless you consulted Ralph when making the decision you shouldn't be blaming him. Does anybody really think Dithers consulted Ralph Klein when making this decision?

[Argus]

As more and more of Jean's separatist beliefs and leanings come to light it will only serve to strengthen the BQ and the PQ.

Great work Mr. Dithers....

I was outraged at hearing the Jean was possibly a seperatist (and still think it is time all of these key appointments were taken out of the hands of the PMO and into light of parliment). However, after reflection, I realized close to 60% of French Quebequers voted yes in the 1995 referendum which means that excluding people who might of voted yes eliminates a lot of otherwise qualified soft-nationalist candidates.

Would you care to give your definition of a "soft" separatist?

Because my definiition is as follows:

Hard seperatist. Rigid nationalist determined to have his own country no matter what the consequences.

Soft seperatist: Has no particular affection for Canada nor desire to be a part of it but is worried about the economic consequences of seperating.

[Argus]

PM scolds Klein over controversy.

Gotta like Martin's reaction. Sooooo typical. He gets into trouble and what does he do?

Attack the boogeyman Ralph Klein.

Interesting link. And reading the Star is always an exercise in head-shaking. I know so many journalists try to pretend to being unbiased, but the Star never even bothers to offer up the pretense of neutrality. Thus their nicname as the Liberal Party's house organ. Note how the "news" is written on this.

Prime Minister Paul Martin has scolded Ralph Klein for fuelling the bizarre and, many would say, groundless controversy surrounding Canada's Governor General-designate, Michaëlle Jean.

The twisted tale has Canada's next royal representative pegged as someone who would tear apart the country.

This isn't a column for opinion but their actual news pages. And without knowing any more about Jean than anyone else they've dismissed and are deriding any questioning of her.

[Riverwind]

Soft seperatist: Has no particular affection for Canada nor desire to be a part of it but is worried about the economic consequences of seperating.

The are many kinds of soft-nationalists. Many are people who have a strong affinity for the Quebequois culture and Canada but are constantly bombardered with seperatist propaganda telling them that the Quebequois culture will dissappear unless Quebec becomes a seperate country.

[Argus]

Soft seperatist: Has no particular affection for Canada nor desire to be a part of it but is worried about the economic consequences of seperating.

The are many kinds of soft-nationalists. Many are people who have a strong affinity for the Quebequois culture and Canada but are constantly bombardered with seperatist propaganda telling them that the Quebequois culture will dissappear unless Quebec becomes a seperate country.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you're saying they're Canadians who love Canada but are weak and stupid?

[kimmy]

PM scolds Klein over controversy.

Gotta like Martin's reaction. Sooooo typical. He gets into trouble and what does he do?

Attack the boogeyman Ralph Klein.

Typical.

Confronting these rumours at their source-- Quebec-- would have taken gonads, so it goes without saying that Martin had to wait for Klein to weigh in before taking action.

step 1: make angry phonecall to Klein.

step 2: make sure somebody in the Toronto media knows about it.

Woo-hoo! Problem solved! And probably scores some extra popularity points in Toronto for taking Klein down.

Martin should consider having a friend in the press at all of Klein's media scrums to ask for Klein's opinion on other issues that Martin is too gutless to take on first-hand.

-k