The Politics of Canada

[jacksunny 741]

The Navy and Air Force are being changed back to their historic names: "The Royal Canadian Navy" and "Royal Canadian Air Force." The army however, is staying the same.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

The Navy and Air Force are being changed back to their historic names: "The Royal Canadian Navy" and "Royal Canadian Air Force." The army however, is staying the same.

Yes, delightful isn't it? However integrated things are, you should be able to get into one branch and stay there. Imagine taking a land general and saying he is an admiral because he is stationed on a ship? Most generals wouldn't know a chart from a map, nor what to do with it either.

Land forces don't operate in 3D, while naval and air forces most certainly do. One assumes that the old rank system will also be brought back. After all, a Navy Captain is the equivalent of an Army Colonel or Brigadier General in command presence where an Army Captain is just a jumped up Lieutenant who hasn't even qualified in the field school.

[jacksunny 741]

Jack Layton passed away peacefully last night at the age of 61. RIP.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Jack Layton passed away peacefully last night at the age of 61. RIP.

Tragic. But he went out at the absolute peak of his political career. Unless the family objects, I expect a state funeral. R.I.P.

[RipRap 4,400]

Rest in Peace, Jack Layton...

I woke up watching Peter Mansbridge saying that he had passed away

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Jack's last letter to the country.

Written the day before his death. A man of great courage and composure.

[Wrightguy0 40]

This is a sad day for our country, we've lost a great and dignified voice in our political realm. Jack Layton was a man who truly deserved the title Honorable, we expected no less of him and he never disappointed us, he will be missed. My condolences go out to his family, who have been at his side through all of this. I ope we can put aside our political differences for now and mourn the passing of a good man, and a great Canadian.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

State funeral in Toronto Saturday. I, for one, will be glued to the reportage.

I still can't get my head around the fact that he is gone.

He was of the Tommy Douglas stripe. A charismatic politician who could touch everyone and kept it simple, and was totally true to his word. We get people like this in politics once per century. I am sorry he died so young. He would have made a great Prime Minister.

This is only the fourth time in our history that a leading parliamentary figure has died in office. Two were sitting Prime Ministers, the other two, including Mr. Layton, weere Leaders of the Opposition.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

My link

The GDP in the spring quarter took a dive of 0.1%. With all the natural disasters we've had, who is surprised in an export economy.

The giggle farm er ... government says that there is nothing to be concerned about and that we'll stay the course.

Interestingly the interim leader of the federal Liberal party took a swipe at the provincial Conservative candidate in this October's provincial election. Why Bob Rae should take a swipe at Mr. Hudak is a good question, since the federal Liberals are not much involved in provincial politics. It is especially interesting that Mr. Rae, who re-ratted to the Liberals from the provincial NDP after a spectacular flop in the Premier's office. His performance has probably put paid to the NDP provincial party for at least two generations. As B. Bunny would put it, "Whadda Maroon".

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

9/11 proclaimed as National Day of Service in Canada. My link

This will now be an annual observance.

[jacksunny 741]

I recently heard about a law proposed in the US that could have a big effect on Canadian industries. It would require that all public construction projects use only steel and other materials made in the US. This would obviously mean less production for these companies in Canada.

EDIT: It seems Canada is seeking an exemption from this.

  Edited September 15, 2011 by jacksunny  

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

I recently heard about a law proposed in the US that could have a big effect on Canadian industries. It would require that all public construction projects use only steel and other materials made in the US. This would obviously mean less production for these companies in Canada.

EDIT: It seems Canada is seeking an exemption from this.

Yes. Obama is trying to throw us under the bus. When the chips are down, they seem to forget what they get from us, and how essential some of it is. I'd hate to have to threaten to cut off their oil, gas and power, eh?

Trade is a two way street, and we sell them things that are essential to keeping the northern half of their country going. I think the trick here would be to lose a war with them and let them take us over. We'd all be in the same boat them, except that "je me souviens" would not be their problem.

By the way, I think if it came to a conflict, the result would be the same as the War of 1812. We'd win, and have to give stuff back in the treaty negotiations. I don't think the Yanks are stupid enough to take on the Commonwealth. They don't realize it, but they are very much dependent on imports to keep things going and a Commonwealth-wide embargo on shipping into the U.S. could easily be enforced by various Commonwealth Navies, notwithstanding their vaunted sea power. I think we've all learned a lot from Admiral Canaris.

I think that there are so many trade treaties between us that they can't really do much to us in the long run. This Buy America business is just political posturing. Even the Secret Service buys bus shells from Quebec. We'll probably have to grind them through the WTO tribunal, but a contract (treaty) is a contract.

What they need to do to get the money for fixing their infra-structure and put Americans to work is to:

1. Pull out all their foreign military adventures and cut the military budget accordingly.
2. Fill all possible jobs with discharged service personnel on the infra-structure refurbishment plus all their unemployed, and they'd still need immigrant workers (Canadians?) to get the job done. Let's not forget where the high-steel workers come from, eh?
3. Stop buying cheap crap from the far east.
4. Pull their thumbs out of the ghastly gulch and get on with governing in a sensible way instead of all this foolish political posturing.
5. Start collecting taxes from everybody in an equitable fashion, closing all sweet deals and loopholes.
6. If some outfit says they are too big to fail, tell them to go to the improbable place. The weak go to the wall.
7. Get rid of at least two of Homeland Security, CIA, NSA, FBI, Secret Service. They have too many cop organizations. The remaining outfits can absorb the agents and any left overs can go build bridges. And either sell or demolish the vacated buildings and offices.
8. Stop all foreign aid to places where there is no transparency and accounting, especially on futile causes like the East African Famine. This is a hopeless cause as long as the drought continues. If private outfits want to chuck money at it, let them.
9. Tell Israel they are on their own. Tell the Jewish lobby to shut up or vote with their feet. Embargo large transfers of funds to Israel. Stop supporting this futile UN stupidity.
10. Find a way to have much less government in both the federal operations and the states.
11. The next politician who tries to add a sweet-heart rider to an essential bill in congress should be taken out behind the Pentagon and taught not to have sexual relations with the livestock.
12. Collect a large fee from lobbyists for registering. Say one billion dollars.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Deloitte gets a $90,000 per diem contract to do a business review of the federal government. The newshens are making a big deal out of this as are the opposition parties, but it is a tempest in a tea pot. The government is spending a few million to find savings three orders of magnitude larger that they know are there, but haven't got a handle on.

For 90 grand a day, I'd expect a small army of business analysts and accountants to descend on all departments. When it comes to some departments (supply and services, prime minister's office, defense HQ) I think a forensic audit is needed.

[drillman42 4]

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/QPeriod/20110928/canadian-flag-bill-carmichael-110928/

I've never heard of anyone being stopped from flying the Canadian flag. Seems like political posturing to me. Why not focus on the issues that matter, like the economy.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

http://www.ctv.ca/CT...michael-110928/

I've never heard of anyone being stopped from flying the Canadian flag. Seems like political posturing to me. Why not focus on the issues that matter, like the economy.

The trendy p's are correct. This is a diversionary tactic to mostly take attention away from a minister who is definitely in hot water. Tony Clement should at least step down until the new Auditor General either clears him or blows him away. Far too much money was sent into his riding. We used to accuse the Liberals of pork-barreling but look what we have now.

As far as apartment buildings, of any stripe, forbidding tenants from flying the flag, I think that they should be taken up and prosecuted as far as the law allows. I am damned well proud of my flag, and I'll fly it anywhere I please.

  Edited September 29, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[RipRap 4,400]

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110928/ctv-probe-reveals-peter-mackays-three-million-dollar-jet-tab-110928/

The Minister of Defence, Peter Mackay, is on hot water right now...

Election Night in Manitoba (Latest Poll from the Winnipeg Free Press),

Selinger's NDP leads the pack at 46%

PCs at 43%

Liberals are down to 7%

Green Party Sits at 4%

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

We have the aircraft, and they fly to keep pilot hours up anyway. Meanwhile, the Minister of Defense has been attending every repat of casualties, visiting the troops abroad, attending meetings of NATO and with the allies, and commercial flights are not always either available or wise for security reasons. CTV is creating a tempest in a tea pot.

The real issue in Ottawa these days is how did all that money get to Tony Clement's riding? The G8/G20 expenditures were obscene to say nothing of the riots in Toronto.

  Edited October 1, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Next big Canadian political event is a spate of provincial and territorial elections, currently in progress. Ontario's is Thursday. This will change the orientation of the provinces and the north west territory to the federal government. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Provincial election results: A Liberal Minority, one short of the required seats for a majority. This is the third consecutive Liberal government, but this one is different. The two opposiiion parties can now hold the Premier's feet to the fire on a daily basis.

For our American cousins this means that, while the Liberals have more seats in the Legislature than any other party, if the oppositon parties combine on a critical vote they can defeat the government and force an election. This is one of the best features of a parliamentary minority. In this situation, the people usually benefit because the government must tread carefully and comprimise to get anything done.

Under a parliamentary system, deadlocks are not possible. If the government tries to stonewall, the opposition parties can raise a motion of No Confidence, and when this passes, the defeated government must seek an election writ from the Lieutenant Governor. A new game starts about six weeks later. And before anyone asks, it there is a tie vote on anything, the Speaker of the Legislature, who is supposed to be neutral, casts the deciding vote.

The Premier is the leader of the party with the most seats, and he forms the government (Cabinet) from the elected members, not necessarily of his party. Should the Premier include opposition members in the Cabinet, this becomes a Coalition Government and it requires agreement of the new minister(s)' party. The chances of this happening in a non-national emergency situation are slim to none.

So we have an interesting split. The Liberals came first, one short of an absolute majority; the Conservatives came second; and the New Democratic Party came third. The NDP is now the tail that can wag the dog. The ideology of the parties is:

Liberals: center left (same old, same old)

Conservatives: center right (or maybe more right)

NDP: social-democrats (more left than center)

It is likely that the NDP will be the ones whose members will be addressed to support the government in risky votes. However, this kind of thing is usually sanctioned by agreement of the party leaders on a case by case basis. It gives the third place party enormous power, as a single vote from them will pass any bill.

  Edited October 7, 2011 by A Nonny Moose  

[jacksunny 741]

Since we're talking about provincial politics now, I guess I may as well mention that Alison Redford was voted in as the new leader of the PC party, making her premier and Alberta's first female premier. She won't be calling an election this year, and she was quick to restore education funding taken away by the previous Stelmach government.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Well, now that the flap in the provinces is over, there are some national and international items that we are stirring up.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that placing a hyperlink does not constitute publication, but merely a cite like a footnote.

We are beefing up our presence in the oceans with an adjusted for inflation budget of more than we spent on ships in WW II. This is one of the things we are doing about global warming. We are going to patrol the Northwest Passage and keep it safe.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

<expletive deleted>

Pixelated pile of puke! Whoever wrote the specifications for this expensive boondoggle should be shown the door.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Lest we forget.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Well, its been a long time since anything really exciting happened in Canada, but now we seem to be facing a thread to our democracy model. Here is the latest news-byte on what's happening.

It is possible that by-elections could be called in ridings under investigation by Elections Canada.

---

And furthermore (1920 EDT)

There isn't much public support for the idea that Ottawa and Staff Headquarters have been kicking around to purchase new F-35s. Times are tough, and it is time to decide whether we want guns or butter.

  Edited March 13, 2012 by A Nonny Moose  

[your_adress_here 11]

So apparently Harper isn't going to do a judicial review of the robo-calls? Is he trying to bring the wrath of the canadian people on him? (haha, right.)

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

So apparently Harper isn't going to do a judicial review of the robo-calls? Is he trying to bring the wrath of the canadian people on him? (haha, right.)

There are more than nine ridings involved. By elections would probably see the majority gone in a puff of anger. This is very dangerous territory for a government that has been acting like an absolute monarchy.

[RipRap 4,400]

I wonder what will happen when Elections Canada finally summon "Monseiur Pierre Poutine"

On other news: Mulcair set to win the NDP leadership race?

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

I wonder what will happen when Elections Canada finally summon "Monseiur Pierre Poutine"

On other news: Mulcair set to win the NDP leadership race?

The CBC is reporting that M. Poutine as been identified, so I hope EC lands on him with both feet. If enough by-elections were called would the incumbent win?

---

Mr. Mulcair has received an endorsement from one of the other candidates, and frankly I don't care for the others either. If I was a card-carrying NDP member, I'd probably vote for him. The former president of the NDP doesn't impress me much, and of the two Mulcair is the better choice since he has been on the hustings and the other is just a back-room boy.

In any case, it is going to be one very difficult act to follow. Whoever gets in will have to fill the shoes of a dead man.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Let the fun and games begin.

The Toronto-Danforth riding by election is on and will be decided by tomorrow night. For on-lookers this is Jack Layton's riding. It is being hotly contested by the NDP (incumbent) and the Liberals who've been parading around with Bob Rae (Interim leader) and Justin Trudeau (trading on Daddy's reputation) to try an get this riding back that they lost in 2004. All done but the shouting by tomorrow night.

The NDP leadership will be decided next weekend. Thomas Mulcair is in front here but the party establishment (old guard) has endorsed Brian Topp (former president of the party). This is going to be interesting. A member of the old guard interviewed by CBC television (Steven Lewis) said that it is time for the old guard to stand down and let the chips fall where they may. He is hoping for a youthful renewal of the party. Mr. Lewis, former leader of the Ontario NDP, has been doing work for the UN now for several years with a special portfolio on the problems of Africa. Good spot for a social democrat.

This is going to be a hot week in Canadian politics. If the NDP loses Toronto-Danforth to the Liberals it will cause considerable consternation in the NDP and great jubilation among the Liberals who haven't had any good news for a while. On the other hand, should the unlikely happen and the Conservatives win this seat, it will increase their majority to 10 seats.

Toronto-Danforth is a mixed bag of ethnicities, mostly Greek and Italian extraction, and there are election signs on the tops of some buildings in Koine (Modern Greek). In that area there are Koine subtitles on the street signs. It is one of Toronto's multi-cultural practices to meet the ethnicity of its neighborhoods. At one point in my chequered career, I lived in that area, and it was very interesting and exciting. Some of the restaurants there are incredibly good if you like northern Mediterranean food.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Well, as I expected, the NDP kept Toronto-Danforth. The interesting thing was that the percentage of the vote was the same as it was for the late Jack Layton (charismatic leader of the party) at 60%, the Liberals were second(!) and the Conservatives were wiped out, which ought to send a message to the government that some people are not happy with them.

Now comes the taking of blood and the drinking of blood - the NDP convention next weekend.