Think Twice Canada

[August1991]

Paul Wells has a link to a group in Toronto that wants Canadians to think twice before getting rid of the Liberals and voting in that scary Stephen Harper.

Well, no wonder. Who is in Think Twice? Their web site provides a list of several organizations and quite a few individuals. Of the organizations, about half also appear on Public Works Canada's list of transfer recipients.

The Liberal Party gives our tax money to these groups (no strings attached, not payment for services - these are straight subsidies) and these groups then tell us to vote Liberal.

Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada $204,526

Egale Canada $112,800

National Association of Women and the Law $204,002

Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women $304,481

Canadian Auto Workers $482,686

The Prevent Cancer Coalition appears to be an American organization with a Windsor branch set up by the Canadian Auto Workers.

[Harare]

Poor Buzz, he really thought that little speech he gave endosing Paul Martin would buy him a Senate seat, I feel so bad for him.

[tml12]

Poor Buzz, he really thought that little speech he gave endosing Paul Martin would buy him a Senate seat, I feel so bad for him.

I would have guessed Supreme Court nomination but yeah...well, at least he has one less jacket to give away...

[Guest eureka]

Is there a reson that those organizations should not want the Conservatives? The womens' groups are, seemingly, more aware that Harper is proposing to make things very tough for them - by cancelling childcare agreements and nixing a childcare programme.

In fact, they obviously are a lot more aware than most of the posters here who profess interest in politics. Harper has to be stopped.

[Melanie_]

The Conservative party is running 38 women out of 308 candidates. I don't know much about the women's groups listed there, but I can see why they might be concerned about a Conservative government.

[Bryan]

The womens' groups are, seemingly, more aware that Harper is proposing to make things very tough for them - by cancelling childcare agreements and nixing a childcare programme.

Funny. A lot of women I know are far more impressed with the Conservative plan.. I know as a parent of 2 children, I definitely do not like the Liberal plan.

[geoffrey]

Whatever happened to the Liberals attacking Harper on third-party ads and campaigning?? They even have AMERICANS paying for them. Oh man, Martin needs to be stopped before he sells us to the Americans. Red alert here boys and girls.

I think we need to break out the Liberal left hypocracy song here.

[tml12]

Whatever happened to the Liberals attacking Harper on third-party ads and campaigning?? They even have AMERICANS paying for them. Oh man, Martin needs to be stopped before he sells us to the Americans. Red alert here boys and girls.

I think we need to break out the Liberal left hypocracy song here.

LMAO Great point Geoffrey...

[Drea]

The womens' groups are, seemingly, more aware that Harper is proposing to make things very tough for them - by cancelling childcare agreements and nixing a childcare programme.

Funny. A lot of women I know are far more impressed with the Conservative plan.. I know as a parent of 2 children, I definitely do not like the Liberal plan.

Does your wife work Bryan? Are your children under 6? Are you living under the poverty line -- in other words do you NEED the $100?

[Argus]

Poor Buzz, he really thought that little speech he gave endosing Paul Martin would buy him a Senate seat, I feel so bad for him.

There's still time. Even after an election Martin is still PM until Harper is sworn in. Think there'll be a swarm of last-minute appointments?

[shoop]

No way Martin does that.

It would be completely unprecedented. Are you sure Martin could do that with receiving the approval of parliament?

There's still time. Even after an election Martin is still PM until Harper is sworn in. Think there'll be a swarm of last-minute appointments?

[Argus]

Is there a reson that those organizations should not want the Conservatives?

Gee, could it be that they probably won't be able to keep getting those fat government grants in order to lobby the government? I've never been in favour of government grants for advocacy groups of any kind. If people want some group to represent them they can damned well get together and fund it. I hope the Tories put an end to this kind of thing. I don't want a cuback, I want a 100% elimination of these grants.

[Hicksey]

The Conservative party is running 38 women out of 308 candidates. I don't know much about the women's groups listed there, but I can see why they might be concerned about a Conservative government.

It's nice you list the conservative numbers and criticize them ... how about the Liberal and NDP number so we can compare?

[Melanie_]

NDP = 108 women running, 308 candidates overall

Bloc = 23 women, 75 candidates overall

Liberal = 79 women, 308 candidates overall

Green = 72 women, 308 candidates overall

Conservative = 38 women, 308 candidates overall

[Hicksey]

NDP = 108 women running, 308 candidates overall

Bloc = 23 women, 75 candidates overall

Liberal = 79 women, 308 candidates overall

Green = 72 women, 308 candidates overall

Conservative = 38 women, 308 candidates overall

Proof that politics is still largely a boys club.

I wonder why so few women? A very good question for Harper.

Another reason that while I'd like to see a strong conservative minority, I don't want to see a conservative majority just yet.

BTW ... thanks for the info. Been to lazy to google anything. Been googling what seems like non-stop lately trying to find an old article I quoted for another poster.

[Melanie_]

I've often wondered why there are so few women here as well, although lately we've had quite a few new women to the board. Do you think women are just less interested in politics? Less willing to debate? Feel less likely to be taken seriously?

[Hicksey]

I've often wondered why so few women here as well, although lateley we've had quite a few new women to the board. Do you think women are just less interested in politics? Less willing to debate? Feel less likely to be taken seriously?

I think it is most likely a combination of all the factors you mentioned.

I also think that a lot of women aren't willing to endure the level of interruption and intrusion into their personal lives that comes with a career in politics. I believe that women have a deeper knowledge of how it can affect their family and are unwilling to open them to it. I think the men are more consumed by the competition of debate and fame and more willing to endure the intrusion.

[Argus]

NDP = 108 women running, 308 candidates overall

Bloc = 23 women, 75 candidates overall

Liberal = 79 women, 308 candidates overall

Green = 72 women, 308 candidates overall

Conservative = 38 women, 308 candidates overall

Proof that politics is still largely a boys club.

I wonder why so few women? A very good question for Harper.

I would suggest there are a few reasons. One, women tend to be more sentimental in their politics. The Liberals are past masters are appealing to that (thus a national daycare plan promised for 5 straight elections). The NDP also has an ideological appeal to many, as do the Greens and even the BQ. But the Tories continue to be all about fiscal responsibility, which is kind of a boring draw to most people. It's also the kind of thing which appears to be a much bigger concern to men than women. Women also tend to vote on appearance more than men, and while Martin seems like a favorite old grandpa Harper looks like your mean boss (which is ironic given from all accounts Martin is a very mean boss). So just as men are much more likely to vote conservative than women, more men are likely attracted to the idea of running for the Conservatives than women.

[August1991]

I've often wondered why so few women here as well, although lateley we've had quite a few new women to the board. Do you think women are just less interested in politics? Less willing to debate? Feel less likely to be taken seriously?

Politics is a risky occupation, and women tend to be risk-averse.

As to the numbers of female candidates for each of the parties, there are some ridings where the candidate has no chance of winning. It may make more sense to look at female candidates that can possibly win. The 38 female candidates for the Tories may lead to more MPs than the 108 female Liberal candidates.

Ultimately, if female candidates were the magic bullet for electoral success, it's a certainty that all parties would run them.

When this question arises, I always think of Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir or Indira Gandhi. They were primarily successful politicians.

----

As to your point about women on this board, I have been curious about that and I can think of no obvious answer.

[cybercoma]

[chauvinism]That's because female Conservatives are where they belong....at home making dinner for their husbands and raising the children instead of ruining family life by pursuing a career.[/chauvinism]

[fellowtraveller]

Maybe the simplest explanation is the correct one: women are just smarter than men, and avoid politics.

[Hicksey]

[chauvinism]That's because female Conservatives are where they belong....at home making dinner for their husbands and raising the children instead of ruining family life by pursuing a career.[/chauvinism]

What bringeth out the feminazi in you?

[Melanie_]

I guess I can be glad I'm not a female Conservative!

[cybercoma]

[chauvinism]That's because female Conservatives are where they belong....at home making dinner for their husbands and raising the children instead of ruining family life by pursuing a career.[/chauvinism]

What bringeth out the feminazi in you?

terrible sarcastic humour.

It was a play on the stereotype of Conservatives being old-fashioned and "family-oriented".

[geoffrey]

[chauvinism]That's because female Conservatives are where they belong....at home making dinner for their husbands and raising the children instead of ruining family life by pursuing a career.[/chauvinism]

What bringeth out the feminazi in you?

terrible sarcastic humour.

It was a play on the stereotype of Conservatives being old-fashioned and "family-oriented".

Anyone want to buy my horse and buggy? It's in great condition, I'm personally thinking of upgrading to a Bennett buggy myself, but we'll see how the finances are. Must not overspend.

The wife is also looking for a chair, when she's at home all day she occasionally wants to sit. I think this could be acceptable. I'm willing to trade my buggy for a chair if its in good condition and upholstered nicely.