Are Rona's Days in Cabinet Numbered

Saturn · December 15, 2006

After delivering Harper's message on the environment, Rona has become the most despised member of his cabinet and the face of environmental doom. At this point she is nothing but a liability and clearly Harper would not like to take her into an election as a prominent member of his cabinet.

At this point, some in Ottawa are speculating that she will be disposed of in an upcoming cabinet shuffle (to occur within a month), given some other good job that would put her out of public view. IMO this makes perfect sense given that Harper well knows how damaging his inaction on the environmental front is to him and given Mulroney's recent comments in a build-up to a reversal in conservative environmental strategy just in time for the election. The whole point of the Clean Air Act was to set super low expectations of Harper's government on the environment, so that Harper could make changes that would be perceived as a vast improvement, thus confiming his image as the former regional ultra-conservative politician who has drastically changed since he moved into 24 Sussex and is now a statesman who upholds Canadian values and is lead by what's good for the country and not just by ideology (of course the quick close of the SSM debate and the reversal on the income-trust issue were also intended to build this new image).

What will Harper's new environmental policies look like? Are Rona's days in cabinet numbered? What position will she occupy after the cabinet shuffle? Who else will be put out of public view before the election? Stockwell Day for his performance on the Arar file perhaps?

mikedavid00 · December 15, 2006

After delivering Harper's message on the environment, Rona has become the most despised member of his cabinet and the face of environmental doom. At this point she is nothing but a liability and clearly Harper would not like to take her into an election as a prominent member of his cabinet.

Her problem is she's not a seasoned poltician. You can't tell people things they don't want to hear, even if it's realistic. Do you think the ministers of health on all parties know that they are in far too deep and can't fix the system? They know, they just won't say anything about it for poltiical reasons. Bob Rea is an extrememly seasoned politician. He is the only one peobably alive that could sell the public on a 2050 plan. http://www.bobrae.ca/en/aboutbob.php

Ambrose's heart and integrity was in the right place, but she IS a politician and needs to tell people what they want to hear. The Liberals method was to talk, promise, talk, talk, do nothing, win an election, keep talking, keep promosing. This also works.

But you can't have news headlines reading ANY kind of plan for 2050. It's just bad press.

Her plan was realistic and wouldn't cost us a thing. But when your opponent is making the environment the #1 issue (which is ludacris) and leading in polls, you can't be telling poeple there's a 2050 plan.

Also she didn't do a good job in the house. When she would get asked questions, she would refer members to 'read the website' for the full plan and sit back down. No joke. She had so many chances to turn the questiions back on the oposition but she didn't. It's just not in her.

She's going to get the boot. I hope she learned the lesson about poltics and public opinion.

Rue · December 15, 2006

Its interesting how the messenger is being attacked. Let's face it. She was just the mouth piece for a botched up environmental policy. Blaming her is I guess what we do in politics, slew the mouth-piece.

I think the point is, if you really study the issue the Liberals and NDP are no better then the Tories on this issue. How Stephane Dion has been able to portray himself as a great Environment Minister is beyond me.

The Liberal government may have supported Kyoto, but bent over backwords to assist industry pollute and violate the agreement.

The agreement itself is flawed precisely because of the loopholes it allows for industry to purchase credits to get out of having to conform to emission controls.

I think all three parties really need to sit down and get real.

If Stephane Dion wants to portray himself as a champion of the environment, then fair is fair, he has to take the heat for his government's failures with Kyoto as well.

As for Harper, I think this is one issue his party was unprepared for and needs to seriously re-visit.

I also think its very interesting to watch Dalton McGuinty on this issue. Talk about a two faced hippocrate. If Kyoto is properly enforced, the first province in deep doodoo is Ontario. Ontario next to Texas, is the biggest air polluter in North America. If Dion pushes the envelope on this, he necessarily conflicts with Ontario on emissions standards.

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

As for Harper, I think this is one issue his party was unprepared for and needs to seriously re-visit.

Making Darrel Reid Chief of Staff to Ambrose shows what Harper thinks of this ministry...a place to park religious zealots who view the "theory" of global warming suspiciously.

B. Max · December 15, 2006

Maybe Harper should give them what they want. We are going to do what the liberals , block, the greens and ndp want to do to you. He could announce it today to start next week. All businesses must cut there CO2 emissions to 6% bellow 1990 levels starting next monday. When the paycheck gets a lot smaller and there is no money for the mortgage and the repo man comes calling, the cops kick in doors in the middle of the night looking for your car keys and the grocery shelves start to empty that will be the end of it. One month later and you'll never hear the word kyoto again.

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

Making Darrel Reid Chief of Staff to Ambrose shows what Harper thinks of this ministry...a place to park religious zealots who view the "theory" of global warming suspiciously.

Did Darrel Reid steal Canada from you as a child?

This obsession of yours is quite troubling.

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

Making Darrel Reid Chief of Staff to Ambrose shows what Harper thinks of this ministry...a place to park religious zealots who view the "theory" of global warming suspiciously.

This obsession of yours is quite troubling.

Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Do provide support...

Which ministry would be appropriate for Mr. Reid? Or because you oppose his views does that mean he shouldn't be allowed to serve the Government at all?

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Do provide support...

Which ministry would be appropriate for Mr. Reid? Or because you oppose his views does that mean he shouldn't be allowed to serve the Government at all?

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/162005d.asp

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/162005d.asp

Tenuous at best.

Feel free to answer the second question.

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/162005d.asp

Tenuous at best.

Feel free to answer the second question.

Pastor of any ministry outside of government.

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

Pastor of any ministry outside of government.

So Canadians of faith have no place in Government.

Hmmm, but I thought freedom of religion was protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Just as long as you aren't public in expressing one's faith? Or do you have an approved list of religions?

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

Pastor of any ministry outside of government.

So Canadians of faith have no place in Government.

Sure they do. Paul Martin was a church goer.

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

Sure they do. Paul Martin was a church goer.

Who never spoke publicly of his faith and broke with the dictates of his church the instant it proved to be politically advantageous.

Why should Mr. Reid be excluded from serving the Government at any level because you disagree with his views on global warming?

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

Sure they do. Paul Martin was a church goer.

Who never spoke publicly of his faith and broke with the dictates of his church the instant it proved to be politically advantageous.

Why should Mr. Reid be excluded from serving the Government at any level because you disagree with his views on global warming?

His views on global warming don't disqualify him from serving at any level.

Ricki Bobbi · December 15, 2006

His views on global warming don't disqualify him from serving at any level.

Then why a smart*ss remark like this when asked where he should serve in Government?

Pastor of any ministry outside of government.

mikedavid00 · December 15, 2006

Its interesting how the messenger is being attacked. Let's face it. She was just the mouth piece for a botched up environmental policy. Blaming her is I guess what we do in politics, slew the mouth-piece.

Well not really. It's her job to research and design the plan and her leader approves it. She most likely came out with the truth saying it was 2050. After all, it took 100 years to get here. It's probably a realistic plan. Harper goofed by thinking that the environment wouldn't matter and it wouldn't make news. The media will look for any crumb to attack the CPC (Lebannon etc). It just wasn't a poltically savvy move. So she'll have to take the fall. I'm sure she knows this. She'll get another misiters position i'm sure.

I think the point is, if you really study the issue the Liberals and NDP are no better then the Tories on this issue. How Stephane Dion has been able to portray himself as a great Environment Minister is beyond me.

I agree. But people don't even know who Dion is. And a lot of this is up to the media. The media in Canada back Liberal (proven).

The Liberal government may have supported Kyoto, but bent over backwords to assist industry pollute and violate the agreement.

Yes. Ambrose didn't potray this well enough in the house. Neither did the Conservatives. Neither did the media.

The agreement itself is flawed precisely because of the loopholes it allows for industry to purchase credits to get out of having to conform to emission controls.
I think all three parties really need to sit down and get real.

I agree. I think 2050 was real enough.

If Stephane Dion wants to portray himself as a champion of the environment, then fair is fair, he has to take the heat for his government's failures with Kyoto as well.

People don't blame Liberals for anything. It's in our Canadian culture not to blame Liberals.

As for Harper, I think this is one issue his party was unprepared for and needs to seriously re-visit.

They will. They need to run campaign ads and play off healthcare. Do you want our tax dollars to go into health care or international credits for other countries?

I also think its very interesting to watch Dalton McGuinty on this issue. Talk about a two faced hippocrate. If Kyoto is properly enforced, the first province in deep doodoo is Ontario. Ontario next to Texas, is the biggest air polluter in North America. If Dion pushes the envelope on this, he necessarily conflicts with Ontario on emissions standards.

And texas has oil refineries.

Ontario burns too much coal, plus air form the US enters into Ontario from what I've heard.

The CPC has to show voters that Kyoto is a waste of money. They need to focus on a major heathcare innitiatvie and upshot Kyoto. The voters know what's important, it's how the message is deliviered.

And as I've said before, they MUST start playing to immigrants or they will NOT win a majority ever.

mikedavid00 · December 15, 2006

When the paycheck gets a lot smaller and there is no money for the mortgage and the repo man comes calling, the cops kick in doors in the middle of the night looking for your car keys and the grocery shelves start to empty that will be the end of it. One month later and you'll never hear the word kyoto again.

heheh true.

Poeple here on the forum don't understand the basics of an economy. This is what happens if we get taxed anymore or start wasting money on Kyoto.

Canadian Blue · December 15, 2006

Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Norman what are Reid's views on Global Warming, I haven't found any yet.

As well Socon's aren't all that bad, its not like their fascists. Their's even a few socon's in the Liberal caucus.

normanchateau · December 15, 2006

Yes, I am troubled by Harper parking failed CPC candidate Darrel Reid in the Environment Ministry given that Reid was leader of Focus on the Family and given the view of Fous on the Family on global warming.

Norman what are Reid's views on Global Warming, I haven't found any yet.

I posted a link to the global warming views of Focus on the Family earlier in this thread. I've yet to hear Reid suggest that he differs with their views and he was the Canadian leader of Focus on the Family.

But my views of Reid are more influenced by some of the other positions he has taken...against stem cell research for example. Stem cell research saves lives. Even the president of the CPC constituency which picked Reid as the Richmond BC candidate resigned after Reid got the nomination because he considered Reid too extreme.

Canadian Blue · December 15, 2006

So you don't have any real proof of what Darrel Reid actually thinks. Until I hear Reid say that he believe's Global Warming is a hoax I'll believe that he is against Global Warming.

But my views of Reid are more influenced by some of the other positions he has taken...against stem cell research for example. Stem cell research saves lives. Even the president of the CPC constituency which picked Reid as the Richmond BC candidate resigned after Reid got the nomination because he considered Reid too extreme.

They didn't seem too extreme. I think Reid's view's are just as extreme as Svend Robinson's.

mikedavid00 · December 16, 2006

But my views of Reid are more influenced by some of the other positions he has taken...against stem cell research for example. Stem cell research saves lives. Even the president of the CPC constituency which picked Reid as the Richmond BC candidate resigned after Reid got the nomination because he considered Reid too extreme.

I heard ex Liberal president Steven Ladrew say that harper likes it when people talk so he might keep on Ambrose after all because of all the publicity she's getting. He said that Harper likes that.

Saturn · December 16, 2006

heheh true.
Poeple here on the forum don't understand the basics of an economy. This is what happens if we get taxed anymore or start wasting money on Kyoto.

What the heck do you know about the basics of an economy? All you "know" is BS you've read in the conservative media. That is junk written by journalists with an agenda and with a 5-year horizon at the most. Plus some junk from blogs of xenophobes.

I presume you are 60 because you don't seem to care at all about the economy 15-20 down the road. Which is fine of course but you can't push nearsightedness as some form of good policy.

Saturn · December 16, 2006

So you don't have any real proof of what Darrel Reid actually thinks. Until I hear Reid say that he believe's Global Warming is a hoax I'll believe that he is against Global Warming.
But my views of Reid are more influenced by some of the other positions he has taken...against stem cell research for example. Stem cell research saves lives. Even the president of the CPC constituency which picked Reid as the Richmond BC candidate resigned after Reid got the nomination because he considered Reid too extreme.

They didn't seem too extreme. I think Reid's view's are just as extreme as Svend Robinson's.

Robinson wants people to die unnecessarily? That IS extreme. Is he fighting to ban vaccinations and blood transfusions or something?

Saturn · December 16, 2006

I heard ex Liberal president Steven Ladrew say that harper likes it when eople talk so he might keep on Ambrose after all because of all the publicity she's getting. He said that Harper likes that.

Harper may like publicity but he doesn't like negative publicity. He is going to keep Rona of course (he can't toss her out of the party like Garth for example because she's been loyal like a dog) but she will definitely end up far away from the environmental portfolio. Maybe minister of sport or parliamentary secretary to the minister of culture of something of this sort or he may create a whole new ministry for her - minister of silly walks, etc.