Boom and echo (en francais)

With all the debate about blogs and their effect, or non-effect on the recent election, this piece by the Infozone on blogs is a good read.

The boom, and the echo!
January 24, 2006 IZ Commentary by James Murray

Something I have learned about the blogsphere and the Internet in general is there is a boom and an echo.

When an issue is posted on a blog, or a web site, people read the story.

This is what I call the boom.

If the story is interesting, people on the Internet start talking about it. They email copies to their friends, they post links on discussion forums, and they debate the article.

Then as more people talk about the article, link to it from other pages, it starts to build an echo. It ends up linked all over the Internet. I have back-tracked links from The Infozone to find recipes being discussed in South Africa, comments debated in Australia, and Britain.

This is what I call the echo.

...more

I'm adding the InfoZone onto my links sidebar. Certainly looks worthwhile for a daily visit.

Just what the doctor ordered (en francais)

Stephen Harper and the CPC seem to be the antibiotic required to finally end the mutual parasitic nature of the Liberals and the BQ in Quebec.

Quebec losing interest in independence: poll

H/T Nealenews

I've blogged about this several times over the last month:

Liberals and BQ - Mutual Parasites

Mutual Parasites - Liberal/BQ

Many see this as being good for current Liberal Premier Charest, but I wonder what affect it will have for the ADQ.

ADQ leader Mario Dumont was vocal in his support for the CPC in this last campaign. I think there is a loose alliance available between the ADQ and the CPC in Quebec. Given Charest's current standing in the polls, there is a possibility the next provincial election in Quebec could result in a Liberal minority with the ADQ holding the balance of power. Quebec voters have always shown themselves to be shrewd and this would be a way to punish an unpopular government without having to vote for the PQ.

Much will be determined by how Prime Minister Harper handles not only the Quebec file, but provincial relations in general. The election results and this latest poll at least demonstrate that people of Quebec are listening.

Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King dies (en francais)

Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King dies

Updated Tue. Jan. 31 2006 8:15 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Coretta Scott King, the widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. who worked tirelessly to pursue his dream of equality, has died. She was 78.

Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young broke the news during a phone call he made to NBC's Today show on Tuesday morning.

"I understand she was asleep last night and her daughter tried to wake her up," said Young, who was close to the King family.

In August, King suffered a minor heart attack and a major stroke that impaired her ability to speak.

Speaking of political accountability (en francais)

While the majority of us have been toiling away at various partisan endeavours over the last while, others have been busy. Cory Horner and his team have been busy revamping and updating Howdtheyvote.ca

I'm sure this is a resource many of us will be putting to good use in the coming months and years. A French translation is now online. Other cosmetic and behind the scence enhancements have been implemented.

If you haven't already yet, bookmark the site and visit often.

Have a little spare time? Like many volunteer efforts, they can always use a helpful hand.

Gomery Round 2 - 3pm Wednesday (en francais)

For all the political junkies, set your watches. The media exits the lockup at 3pm EST tomorrow. It's almost an anti-climax now, but this will still make for very interesting reading. This dovetails nicely with the preparation of the bill to implement the Federal Accountability Act.

Liberals, Tories brace for battle as second Gomery report looms
Jim Brown, Canadian Press

Published: Monday, January 30, 2006The media will have to wait until noon EST to see the text - and that will be at a briefing in a locked room, with no reporting allowed until the lockup ends two hours later.

David Warren gives bloggers a nod (en francais)

I apologize if this has already been posted, but I just noticed it in today's Windsor Star. I definitely have to check his site more often.

Ottawa Spring
An entirely new generation of Canadians, most much younger than I, is thinking aloud about the realities we face, and about how to deal with them, with a broad outlook. They feel empowered by Harper’s win -- even many of the disgruntled Liberals -- and they not only feel, but are, involved. The several hundred websites inter-linked through the Red Ensign network, and Blogging Tories, are also the means by which the new government can remain intimately in touch with events “on the ground” -- by-passing the “heritage media”.

As a political and research tool, they are already indispensable. We have fresh minds applying themselves to such practical problems as how to defeat the Liberals in the inner metro ridings; how to appeal to their captive ethnic groups; how to persuade their clients among the denizens of relatively depressed economic regions to buy into the hopeful new coalition. How, more simply, to challenge the big lies that have contaminated our public discourse, and overcome the crippling stench of “political correctness”. In almost every case, it is fresh air that is coming in to a very dank political parlour, and the spirit is generous and enterprising. Dare I say, this is participatory democracy.

The Dalton Gang (en francais)

Looks like Dalton McGuinty and the gang aren't learning any lessons from their federal cousins.

Lottery job appointment `disturbs' PCs

Jan. 30, 2006. 01:00 AM

Jim Warren, who served for 18 months as Premier Dalton McGuinty's executive director of communications, has been hired by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

As vice-president of strategic relationships, Warren will be responsible for pursuing new initiatives with the corporation, which oversees lotteries, casinos and slots and is mandated to maximize profits in a socially responsible manner.

Progressive Conservative critic Bob Runciman called Warren's hiring "disturbing," and said his party will look into whether the job was created specifically for him as a political favour.

"One of our concerns is that they're going to use these crown corporations as taxpayer-funded campaign offices," he said. Duncan Brown, the corporation's chief executive, had board approval when he asked Warren to accept the new position, said spokesperson Teresa Roncon.

Warren was communications director for former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman, and worked for Belinda Stronach when she was president of Magna International before taking the job with the premier.

Tim Hortons for the troops - update (en francais)

Some progress today. Looks like everyone who emailed Tim Hortons received the same email in return from various Customer Service representatives.

It's interesting to note that they state from the outset that the various articles printed were erroneous. I wonder what their spokesman, Mr. Skinner has to say about that. There is also the statement from Frank Cleyson:

Frank Cleyson, director of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency for Task Force Afghanistan, says his agency is in negotiations with the iconic Canadian coffee chain to set up a franchise here, 10,000 kilometres and nine time zones from North America

"It's still in discussions between (National Defence Headquarters in) Ottawa and Tim Hortons headquarters in Oakville," he said. "There hasn't been a decision yet ... (but) I understand the ball is in Tim Hortons court right now."

The reply certainly leaves the door open to negotiations with CANEX for the establishment of an outlet in Afghanistan. I'm going to try and get some contact info for Mr. Cleyson at NDHQ and continue following this situation.

I'm going to change the graphic in the sidebar to one that is a little less provocative, but will continue to highlight this situation.

Dear Mr. Synnott,

Thank you for your feedback. We wish to clarify the news article that ran
on the weekend. Firstly, the article is erroneous. Tim Hortons
unequivocally supports the Canadian Forces and our troops around the world.
We are also very proud to support our Veterans.

Each year we make one large coffee donation to the Forces so that they can
distribute coffee to service personnel at Christmas. This is called
Operation Santa Claus. In 2005, we sent additional coffee shipments to
Pakistan, Tsunami hit areas and Afghanistan as requested by the soldiers.

Secondly, up until today there has been no discussion between the Forces
and Tim Hortons head office about putting a store in Afghanistan. CANEX
(the retail arm of the Canadian Forces) operates six Tim Hortons stores on
bases across the country. We have had an ongoing business relationship with
them since 1994. Requests for putting a location in Afghanistan would only
come from them. If there is a possibility, or the opportunity arises, Tim
Hortons would most certainly look at working with CANEX to have our
products available for the troops in Afghanistan.

Tim Hortons prides itself on giving back to the community and supporting
groups across the country. This includes our partnership with the Canadian
Forces. We hope this clarifies any misunderstanding arising from the
article. Tim Hortons values the sacrifice of our troops and their families,
and will continue to do what we can to bring a little taste of home to the
troops.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regard,

The TDL Group

Sonia
Operations Services Representative

Tim Hortons roundup (en francais)

Thanks to Wonder Woman for the great post and graphic, helping to highlight this issue. I've taken all the posts that I could find regarding this and placed them in my sidebar, there to remain until we hear some good news.

If you see any other articles or posts, drop a link in the comments so I can add them to the sidebar.

As yet I have not received a reply to my email (other than an autoreply), although I didn't expect one until sometime today. If and when I do receive something, I'll post it here.

You can add your voice by emailing Tim Hortons and letting them know that you support our troops and hope they will as well.

customer_service@timhortons.com

New BBS Political Multimedia Contest Entry (en francais)

Album Release: Liberal Beer and Popcorn Blues (Multimedia)

Adjust your speakers! Check out this star-studded Compilation Album, designed to boost morale among the brand new Opposition Liberals.

Shades of K-Tel, Chad of Standsure.ca has a few suggestions for Liberal's listening pleasure.

Well done.

Moving day (en francais)

Normally I hate anything and everything to do with moving. But in this case, I'll make an exception.

Moving day at 24 Sussex

Just spun (en francais)

I have spent a fair amount of time over the last week reading various post election analysis articles and posts from all sides of the political spectrum. One in particular struck me as beyond the pale. Digging a little deeper on the authors' site, he is supposedly a journalist.

Politics Unspun - Appearances to the contrary, the Liberal Party was the big winner on election night

"The 124 seats the Harper Party won does not denote victory. It is at best a probationary governing lease, granted solely because Ontario voters were so disgusted by Liberal scandals. "

"When the next election comes, likely within 12 months given the new government’s intellectual gene pool, Harper will have to account for things like the Weyrich connection, and hypocrisy toward democracy in the Middle East. No sooner had the Palestinians held elections as was demanded of them, than Harper dismissed the result. Not even sworn in and Harper commits his first act of stupidity. That must be some kind of record."

For a self professed specialist in Middle East and Canadian Politics, he manages to exhibit a shallow knowledge of both in one article. Not a bad feat. "Harper Party" or my personal favourite, "given the new government's intellectual gene pool"?

Mr. Felton might want to take a few minutes and read some real political analysis.

Edit: after a little Google work, I now understand the above article. This is an example of Mr. Felton's journalistic work.
(.pdf file, page 6)

David Warren on Palestinian elections (en francais)

David Warren wades in, in his own unique way.

Hamas Wins
But Fatah has been, from its foundation in the 1960s, as terrorist as Hamas. The difference between the parties is merely tactical. Yasser Arafat discovered that Western (including Israeli) liberals are boobs, who could be conned into believing he was a “peace partner” if he just said so -- in English only. In Arabic, Fatah has never concealed its project of driving Israel into the sea. Hamas, a little more honestly, thinks peace talks are all a sham. It’s the bombings that get results.

Priceless (en francais)

Stephen Taylor's launch of BT-TV led me back to Google Video and this little gem that I found a month or so ago. First time I watched it, I almost fell out of my chair I laughed so damn hard.



This is also a good example of how easy it is to use Google Video. If you look, they give you the code to embed. Just copy, paste and you're in business.

Not so fast Liberals... (en francais)

Lorrie Goldstein on the importance of studying your history. H/T Nealenews

Not so fast Liberals
Lorrie Goldstein

What the federal Liberals don’t realize is that they are now standing on the same precipice the Ontario Conservatives fell off of in 1985.

Almost everything they’ve said since Monday suggests they still see themselves as a government-in-waiting. They assume they will be an effective opposition. They’re confident rookie prime minister-designate Stephen Harper will implode in the coming minority Parliament. They believe the public is waiting for them to pick a new leader, so they can be restored to their rightful place as the natural governing party.

So far, they are making every mistake the Ontario Conservatives did when they lost power in 1985 and refusing to admit what they need to do most — conduct a ruthless self-examination of why they lost the public’s confidence.

As more details are revealed about the upcoming Liberal leadership race, we should get a good indication what path they choose to follow.

Blogging Tories Site of the Week (en francais)

Jack's Newswatch
I'm retired and I do this to kill time.

"Nuff said".

Congratulations on the retirement!

Drop in and say hello.

Tim Horton's for the troops - Pt II (en francais)

From the sound of this article, discussions are still on-going, although Tim's is not convinced of the value of this endeavour as yet. Keep the emails going customer_service@timhortons.com

Tim Hortons in Afghanistan
Forces want troops to have their double-doubles: Canadian icon wary of store in a war zone

Chris Wattie, National Post
Published: Saturday, January 28, 2006

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Canadian Forces want to raise morale among troops deployed here by setting up the furthest flung coffee and doughnut franchise in the world: Tim Hortons Afghanistan.

But the Canadian icon is balking at the idea of opening shop at Kandahar Air Field, where more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers are being deployed this month, saying it "is not part of our business model."

U.S. soldiers serving in the sprawling Kandahar base have their own Burger King, Subway and Pizza Hut franchises and, with thousands of Canadian troops heading to southern Afghanistan this month, senior Canadian officers have decided it just won't be a Canadian base without a Tim Hortons.

Frank Cley-son, director of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency for the Afghanistan mission, says his agency is in negotiations with the coffee chain to set up a franchise here, 10,000 kilometres and nine time zones from North America.

"It's still in discussions between (National Defence Headquarters in) Ottawa and Tim Hortons headquarters in Oakville," said Mr. Cleyson. "There hasn't been a decision yet ... (but) I understand the ball is in Tim Hortons' court right now."

Greg Skinner, a spokesman for Tim Hortons, said in an e-mail interview that he was not aware of the most recent offer by the Canadian Forces, but said the company has turned down such offers in the past.

"We are not setting up a fully functioning store," he said."We are focusing on opening in Canada and the U.S. only. We have tight controls for our product and operations and these could not be maintained in Afghanistan."

The idea of a Tim Hortons in Kandahar arose when the first Canadians arrived at Kandahar air field and were greeted by a row of U.S. fast-food franchises along a "boardwalk" near the centre of the base, Mr. Cleyson said.

"The American military has standing offers with these corporations so you'll see their franchises wherever American soldiers are deployed," he said.

And the obvious way of adding a little Canadian content to the area, popular with off-duty soldiers from the dozens of countries now deployed to Kandahar, is a Tim Hortons.

"It's the most popular coffee franchise in Canada, certainly ... and it's very popular with the troops," said Mr. Cleyson. "We have Tim Hortons on bases across Canada and they're very successful.

"The guys would be lining up if there were one here, no question. Even the Americans are getting interested in the idea."

Mr. Cleyson said the company has been a longtime supporter of the military, donating hundreds of pounds of their tinned coffee to the support agency's "Operation Santa Claus" each Christmas.

"We provide every single solitary deployed Canadian soldier with a bag of goodies," he said. "And Tims has been a faithful donor to that program."

If the corporation and the Canadian Forces agree to terms, Mr. Cleyson said a small "Tims trailer" could be in place within a couple of weeks, perhaps even days depending on how the availability of cargo space on the military flights into Kandahar.

"There's a lot of logistics involved certainly," he said, "but it wouldn't take much to get it up and running."

The 800 Canadians now in Kandahar air field have been buzzing for weeks about the prospect of being able to buy a double-double on their way to their duties.

"American coffee just isn't the same thing," said one grizzled warrant officer, making a face at his morning cup of coffee in the base's mess tent.

"I'd pay some serious coin for a good cup of Timmies."

24 Sussex Drive (en francais)

There have been numerous stories over the last several days about 24 Sussex Drive, soon to be the residence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family. For a Heritage building, part of Canaada's history, it's a shame that the home has become a political football. Each successive leader has been loathe to spend any money on fixing the home for fear of being pilloried.

I wonder what the response would be if the Conservative Party offered to spend $1 million to upgrade and preserve this part of Canada's history?

One way or another, a way must be found to de-politicize this and carry out the repairs necessary to ensure it's future.

Tim Horton's for the troops (en francais)

Sometimes a company just needs a little encouragement. For me personally, I think this is one of those times.

I realize that Tim's has very exacting standards and that is a cornerstone of their brand, but I really don't think that the military is looking for a full fledged store here. Some coffee and timbits would probably suffice.

Considering the dangers the military and their civilian support are facing in Afghanistan, the chance to order a 'Nato Standard' Tims seems small in comparison. A double/double would work wonders after 12 hours dressed in full combat gear and flak jacket, escorting a convoy.

The opportunity for a little piece of home when deployed is invaluable. It's really hard to put into words what this would mean for these troops.

Take a minute or two to let Tim Hortons' corporate office know how you feel.

Time to step up to the plate Tim Hortons. You're a part of Canadian culture now, don't let us down.

Java icon balks at franchise
No Tim Hortons for Canadian soldiers

CanWest News Service
Published: Saturday, January 28, 2006

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Canadian Forces want to raise morale among troops deployed here by setting up the furthest flung coffee and doughnut franchise in the world: Tim Hortons Afghanistan.

But the iconic Canadian chain is balking at the idea of opening shop at Kandahar Air Field, where more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers are being deployed this month, saying it "is not part of our business model."

American soldiers serving in the sprawling Kandahar air field base have their own Burger King, Subway and Pizza Hut franchises and, with thousands of Canadian troops on their way to southern Afghanistan this month, senior Canadian officers have decided it just wouldn't be a Canadian base without a Tim Hortons.

Frank Cleyson, director of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency for Task Force Afghanistan, says his agency is in negotiations with the iconic Canadian coffee chain to set up a franchise here, 10,000 kilometres and nine time zones from North America.

"It's still in discussions between (National Defence Headquarters in) Ottawa and Tim Hortons headquarters in Oakville," he said. "There hasn't been a decision yet ... (but) I understand the ball is in Tim Hortons court right now."

Greg Skinner, a spokesman for Tim Hortons, said in an e-mail interview that he was not aware of the most recent offer by the Canadian Forces, but said the company has turned down such offers in the past. "We are not setting up a fully functioning store," he said. "We are focusing on opening in Canada and the U.S. only. We have tight controls for our product and operations and these could not be maintained in Afghanistan."
© The Windsor Star 2006

Cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

Edit: I sent a copy of this post, along with my comments to the email provided in this blog. I'll post whatever response I receive.

Edit 2: I knew Tims was expanding the States, I just didn't realize how far they have gotten. With 288 locations, they are definitely making some inroads. Any Americans are welcome to join in and send Tims an email or two thousand.

Expectations (en francais)

Navigator - What you can expect from the new government

From Jaime Watt's address to the Empire Club, 27 Jan.

H/T to Kinsella

He's right - it's well worth the read. The results of focus groups carried out in four Canadian cities post-election. (Halifax, Vancouver, Quebec City and Toronto). First rate research and some surprising results.

Also a good example of how blogging can enhance a business, if done properly.

CP reports on Harper's transition team (en francais)

For all those screaming hidden agenda, BMD and civil service cuts as some sort of result from Harper's transition team:

Harper transition team packed with non-partisans
Updated Fri. Jan. 27 2006 6:44 PM ET
Canadian Press

Derek Burney, a former Mulroney chief of staff and a former ambassador to Washington, is heading up the small transition team. The five-member team also includes Camille Guilbault, former deputy chief of staff to Mulroney, Elizabeth Roscoe, a former chief of staff to senior Mulroney ministers, Maurice Archdeacon, a veteran public servant with expertise in security issues, and Ray Speaker, a founding member of the Reform party and a former Alberta cabinet minister.

Marie-Josee Lapointe, a former Mulroney deputy press secretary, is acting as spokeswoman for the team but is not involved in the transition process itself.

Lapointe said all members of the team are volunteering their time and none have anything to gain by being involved. None are registered lobbyists and she said it's a "reasonable assumption" that none will go on to work in Harper's Prime Minister's Office or other ministerial offices.

By contrast, Martin relied heavily on a tight-knit inner circle of advisers for both political and governmental advice. His 2003 15-member transition team consisted of a number of lobbyists, including team head Michael Robinson, as well as a host of people who wound up as senior staffers in his Prime Minister's Office.

Also on board was David Herle, a communications consultant who headed Martin's leadership and subsequent election campaigns while simultaneously under contract to various government departments.

But please, by all means, continue to under-estimate Harper. It will make it all the more enjoyable.

Canadian Islamic Congress Press Release (en francais)

Stephen Harper was pretty clear in his answer and I support him 100%.

Transcript of his first press conference
Question: May I ask a question about Hamas? They've been elected in Palestinian territories. Will the Canadian government recognize them?

Harper: I'll address this in more detail when I take office, Bob, but let me just say as you know, we've always maintained that we support a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine but for a nation to be truly democratic, that nation must renounce any use of terrorism.

THE CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS
MEDIA COMMUNIQUE

January 27, 2006

CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS URGES NEW PM TO RESPECT DEMOCRATIC RESULTS IN PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS -- IRA LEADERS AND EVEN FORMER ISRAELI PMs ONCE LABELLED TERRORISTS; HAMAS VICTORY A NEW PHASE IN MIDDLE EAST HISTORY

"Palestinians are to be congratulated for holding their recent elections in
a free, fair, and democratic manner," the Canadian Islamic Congress said in
a short statement issued today.

CIC noted that more than 77 % percent of eligible Palestinian voters cast
ballots in this week's elections, which saw a surprise upset in favour of
Hamas party.

CIC is urging the new government of Canadian PM-elect Stephen Harper to
respect the results of a vote that could soon see Hamas in political
control of Gaza and the West Bank.

"Canada should adopt a balanced policy in the region in order to work
towards, and ultimately achieve, peace with justice," the CIC statement
continued.

"Not to deal with the new Palestinian government will be a serious setback
to the peace movement and serve only to escalate the violence. The Irish
Republican Army's political wing proved itself competent to govern without
continuing armed violence; likewise, several former Israeli prime ministers
were once labelled terrorists. Hamas should be given the same chance to
establish itself in this new phase of Middle East history. We believe that
bringing Hamas into the legitimate political process and opening
constructive dialogue will help to moderate its policies."

CONTACTS:

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
e-mail: np@canadianislamiccongress.com

Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 771-1023
e-mail: nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com

And just in case, here is some opinions from other world leaders.

In the best tradition (en francais)

What Paul Franklin did was heroic in every sense of the word. So why doesn't he want the Victoria Cross

By MICHELE MANDEL

In an Edmonton hospital lies a wounded Canadian soldier who should become the first winner of Canada's own Victoria Cross.

Despite his objections.

We don't have many real heroes these days. There's no shortage of sports legends and shallow celebrities, but true grit and courage in the face of danger is exceedingly rare.

Master Cpl. Paul Franklin appears to be the real thing.

Franklin, of course, was one of the three soldiers injured Jan. 15 in Afghanistan in the suicide car bombing that killed senior diplomat Glyn Berry. Military sources have said that after Franklin's left leg was blown off below the knee, he managed to apply a tourniquet to his own wound and then crawled to comrades Pte. William Salikin and Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey to give them the first aid that may have saved their lives.

A military investigation is now under way and if those details bear out, it's an incredible tale of bravery and fortitude that should be recognized by us all.

Franklin, though, disagrees.

"His official stance on the matter," says Edmonton friend Greg Scratchley, "is that since he was well beyond incapacitated during the event, any suggestion of actions 'heroic' or 'valourous' are likely unsupported -- or unsubstantiated.

"He does not believe that the event warrants such consideration as their mission to protect Glyn Berry was ultimately unsuccessful."

But a campaign on the Internet views it far differently.

"This is a degree of military heroism in the face of hostile enemy action, which is truly beyond normal and is commendable in the extreme," writes Steve Janke in his blog, Angry(in the Great) White North.

"The shock must have been incredible ... yet keeping his head, he provided lifesaving first aid to himself, then began helping his comrades in arms. This man is heroic in every sense of the word. Should he not be a candidate for the Victoria Cross (Canada)?"

No one has been awarded Canada's version of the Victoria Cross since it was created in 1993.

It replaces the original British Victoria Cross awarded to 94 brave Canadians in conflicts between 1856 and the end of World War II.

Franklin and his two wounded colleagues arrived back in Canada Tuesday and are being treated at Edmonton's University of Alberta Hospital.

Scratchley says he is not surprised that his friend is being touted for the highest decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Canadian Forces.

"In the seven years I've known Paul, he has been dedicated to three things above all else -- his family, this country, and our military," Scratchley wrote in an e-mail before visiting Franklin late Wednesday night. "He is a proud soldier -- proud Canadian, and proud father. That said, I can only imagine that he would suggest himself unworthy of the honour."

The department of national defence is currently investigating the details of what happened on the Kandahar road that day.

"It's way too early to speculate," says Capt. Stephanie Godin in Ottawa.

If Franklin were recommended for the award, he would follow in the grand tradition of another Canadian medic -- World War II Cpl. Fred "Toppy" Topham -- whose Victoria Cross was nearly lost to Canada a year ago.

Topham treated his wounded comrades on March 24, 1945, while under two hours of enemy fire, even after suffering a gunshot wound to his face.

But his heroism was not done.

On his way back to his unit, he came upon a burning armoured Bren carrier. Alone, he pulled all three injured soldiers to safety even as the carrier's mortar rounds exploded and enemy gunfire rained down around them.

Toppy's medal is now in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa after the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and the Toronto Sun raised $275,000 to keep the award out of the hands of a British collector.

Shane Smith helped lead the Toronto EMS fundraising efforts, which contributed almost $2,000 to retaining Topham's Victoria Cross in Canada.

After hearing of Franklin's reported bravery, he believes his fellow medic should be considered for a VC as well. "I don't see a great deal of difference in what Cpl. Topham did and what Master Cpl. Franklin did," says Smith, EMS communications supervisor. "Without any regard to his own safety he continued his duties as a battleground medic."

Meanwhile, Franklin -- his left leg amputated -- remains in intensive care as doctors now try to save his shattered right leg.

"For our families -- the Victoria Cross would only remind us of how we already feel about Paul," Scratchley says, "but it would serve to show the rest of our country and the world the kind of men and women we have standing abroad, fighting for what is right and just with valour and honour."

And remind us that real heroes do exist after all.

New game in town (en francais)

An interesting little tidbit buried in this article. Any wonder why some in the 'cities' are now concerned that they don't have their 'traditional' members sitting at the government table?

Mulroney and his people play a key role as Harper takes over
In fact, the Montreal business community from which Mr. Mulroney received much support isn't too sure yet how to handle Mr. Harper. According to one source, they are at a loss to understand how the 10 newly elected Conservatives, all of whom are from outside the Montreal region, were able to win without their financial clout.

I would venture a guess that 'they' haven't bothered to read the Federal Accountability Act yet. Might be a good time to start.

Windsor Liberty Seminar (en francais)

The Windsor Liberty Seminar

Saturday, March 11, 2006

University of Windsor, Katzman Lounge

9:00am to 5:00pm

The Windsor Liberty Seminar will bring together those interested in exploring the ideas of freedom with an international panel of distinguished experts for a series of discussions on the nature of liberty and its potential to improve our lives.

Students and non-students alike are invited to attend this one-day event. The only requirement is openness to the belief that more freedom can create a better world. The Windsor Liberty Seminar is offered free of charge to all participants thanks to the generous support of The Institute for Humane Studies.

REGISTER

9:00 - Opening Remarks

9:30 – Speaker: Dr. Jan Narveson – An Introduction to Liberty

10:15 - Breakout Groups

11:00 – Speaker: Dr. Lydia Miljan – The Media's Hidden Agenda in the 2006 Election Campaign

11:45- Breakout Groups

12:30 – Lunch & Speech: Heather Tally - TBA

1:30 – Speaker: Dr. Stephen Horwitz – Economic Myths

2:15 - Breakout Groups

3:00 – Speaker: Gerry Nicholls –Promoting a Freedom Agenda in Canada

3:45 - Breakout Groups

4:30 - Closing Remarks and Thanks

5:00 – Adjournment

Speaker Bios

Bureaucracy run amok (en francais)

A Belgian family who have lived and worked in Canada for 8 years, managing a farm and running their own small business, are facing deportation. Why? A document detailing Michel Van Hauve's shoplifting conviction from 20 years ago was attached to the wrong piece of paper.

He didn't try to hide the conviction. Immigration always had a record of the offence, it was just attached to the wrong form.

For this, the family is supposed to leave Canada, wait a year and then re-apply.
Congratulations to Randy Hillier and the Lanark Landowners Association for taking on this family's cause.

"We are nobodies now"
By EARL McRAE - Ottawa Sun

It wasn't until the family applied for permanent residency status last August, says Hillier, that the government brought up the criminal-charge document, saying it was misattached in Van Hauve's thick files to a wrong document and therefore was "invalid," the family would have to be sent back to Belgium for a minimum 12 months before it could reapply.

New BBS Political Multimedia Contest Entry (Video) (en francais)

A little farewell retrospective for Paul Martin from Conservative Canadienne

More on McKenna (en francais)

More quoteable quotes from that Atlantic sage Frank McKenna:

"Consider this meeting of Atlantic leaders well attended, well prepared and well organized with many inspirational speakers, a call to arms for Atlantic Canada"

"We are tired of somebody coming in on the eve of an election and giving us an EI change believing that we would end up changing our vote over such a paltry thing as that."

"That involves cooperation between the provinces themselves and the Government of Canada. And I can guarantee you that there is not another region of Canada that you can get the provinces to agree on the time of day, not to speak of a program like that.

At least Alberta only wanted to build a firewall. Looks like the east is girding for war.

Pearls of wisdom (en francais)

Since old speeches by politicians seem to be all the rage these days, I thought I would grab an extra large Tims, fire up Google and spend an afternoon doing some research. Imagine my surprise when I found this speech in my first ten minutes. The Atlantic Tiger: Sharpening Our Regional Claws - Hon. Frank McKenna, P.C. Q.C. - Speech, Septemer 29th 2004 APEC conference

"I’m from the school of thought that believes that retired politicians should be seen but seldom heard and I always fancied myself in retirement as being a wise old man who would occasionally drop a few pearls of wisdom to those who wanted it instead of being a kind of yappy know-it-all…a person who didn’t know when to leave the political stage."

Ouch! I hope Brian Tobin and Allan Rock didn't hear that. Not a bad opener, but you have to wonder if this is just going to be the same old, same old, boring political speech.

"The only asset, I repeat the only asset that I can bring now to you is that I have no axes to grind, I have no special interests, I have no constituencies that I have to suck up to get elected, so I can say whatever I think."

Wow! This one should be a barn burner. Nice to know, though, that that's all Frank has been doing all these years is 'sucking up' to people to get elected.

"Now, there has been some interest in Ottawa expressed at different times but there’s always the suggestion that this would end up violating the Charter of Rights, directing immigrants as to where they have to go. And I’ll tell you frankly, I can’t for the life of me see how a refugee from Bangladesh would have more rights than a community of two million people here in Atlantic Canada that simply want a chance to grow and thrive and make this region better"

Charter rights and immigration all in one. So let's follow along here. The "refugee from Bangladesh" should go where told to go and like it, regardless of the Charter of Rights. Very enlightening.

"And this issue of one region didn’t seem to be a factor two weeks ago when the Government of Canada gave a special side deal to the Province of Quebec in order to get them to sign the healthcare accord. When it’s done in that context, it is called asymmetric federalism. When we want it, it is called special deals for our region and I do not think that is right. So in my humble view this issue of politics and regional politics is the last refuge of political cowards."

Well, we know what he thinks of Paul now.

Take a few minutes and read the speech. It's very interesting.

McKenna resigns (en francais)

Game on for the Liberal leadership race. CKNW news flash just reported and Globe posted a quick report.

McKenna resigns
By BRIAN LAGHI

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 Posted at 5:33 PM EST

Globe and Mail Update

Frank McKenna has informed Stephen Harper that he intends to resign his post as Canadian ambassador to the United States, paving the way for him to run for the Liberal leadership, the Globe and Mail has learned.

Mr. McKenna spoke with Mr. Harper yesterday, a day after he wrote the prime minister-designate a letter signalling his intention to quit.

The news comes against the backdrop of a series of political events, as Mr. Harper began yesterday to build his government and as other Liberals considered whether they might run for the top job of their party.

In the meantime, he'll keep working at the job he was appointed to less than a year ago by Paul Martin, who was toppled in this week's election.

Mr. McKenna wants Harper to have the letter before he's officially sworn in as prime minister.

It notes the two men share a mutual commitment to Canada, and says Mr. McKenna would have had no difficulty working with a Conservative government.

The former New Brunswick premier is widely expected to enter the race to replace Mr. Martin, but those close to him say he won't be making an announcement yet.

With a report from the Canadian Press

Cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

Bleezer Testing (en francais)

From blogger Larry Borsato comes:

Bleezer is a powerful blogging client. And it's free.

Why use Bleezer to blog?

* Blog from anywhere. Work on Windows, OS X, and Linux.
* Work with any blogging service. As many as you want, even Blogger.
* Add tags for any tag service. Technorati, del.icio.us, or anything else.
* Create custom markup. Define your own key combinations for custom HTML markup.
* Spell check. Ensure everything is speeled spelled ok.
* Advertise. Ping Technorati, weblogs.com, ping-o-matic, Pingoat, or any other service.
* Work online or offline. Compose posts offline and post them when you want to.
* Did we mention Bleezer is free?

Andrew mentioned this tool a while ago, before it's first release and I made a note to keep an eye out for it. Looks like in all the election hype I missed the release. Found it in my wanderings today. First testing finds it to be a very promising tool.

I wonder (en francais)

With the Federal Accountability Act, or a version of it, soon to be the law of the land, how many $1,000.00 dollar individual donations will it take for the Liberal Party to get out of debt?

With Liberal debt reported to be as high as $33 million and facing soon to be announced leadership race and convention expenses, I wonder how long before donour fatigue sets in?

One avenue left would be a special levy on cash laden EDAs of say, 25 percent? They'll probably start at 40 percent and bargain down to 25 after much local screaming and howling.

With corporate purse strings cut, the reigns of government removed and who knows what still to come from a different set of eyes looking at the nations books, a job removing nuclear fuel rods from a damaged reactor might be preferable to being a Liberal fundraiser in Canada.

Mayors and federal politics (en francais)

For a group with permanent tickets on the 'Scary Conservatives' bandwagon, a few big city mayors are certainly singing a different tune now. All of a sudden the fiscal imbalance and Stephen Harper's pledge to deal with it have rocketed to the top of big city mayor's agendas.

Personally, I think Prime Minister Stephen Harper is going to win big with this one. Give the money to the provinces, where it belongs, and let them make the decisions. Premiers such as Gordon Campbell and Dalton McGuinty will then be left with the decisions on where and how to spend the money, and the explanations that go with those decisions.

`Opportunity' for cities, Miller says
Tories `will have to reach out' GTA mayors okay with minority
Jan. 25, 2006. 01:00 AM
JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU

Mayor David Miller put the best face he could on Monday's election even though the results mean Canada's biggest city has no voice in the new Conservative government.

Miller did so by speaking the language of Conservative leader and soon-to-be prime minister Stephen Harper.

David Miller spins (en francais)

...and loses. This article should do wonders for future credibility analysis of David Miller statements.

How all those crime guns got onto streets
By MARK BONOKOSKI

Having invoked the fear factor that half the guns used to bathe Toronto in blood last year were stolen from law-abiding collectors and shooters, Prime Minister Paul Martin went to the polls Monday vowing to ban all handguns in Canada -- if constitutionally viable, that is, a caveat he later had to add when he misfired on the facts.

Toronto Mayor David Miller sang the same statistical tune, despite contrary evidence in a report tabled last month by his own police service -- a report obtained through access to information that shows, if not twisted, that no more than 16% of "crime guns" in Toronto were obtained through the robbery of legitimate owners.

Read the full article to get a real sense of the depth politicians will sink to in order to further their own agendas, and truth be damned.

Another disturbing thing found in this article.

"The Canadian government reports are incomplete, but partial figures show that the Canadian police or military have reported that they have lost or had stolen over 500 guns."

That would be over 500 weapons exempt from the firearms registry. A quiet little statistic, that one.

Coming Soon (en francais)

A virtual collaboration space for Tory Geeks and those who want to learn.

Burney named head of transistion team (en francais)

No surprises here. A wise choice by Stephen Harper. Derek Burney is an experienced hand at government and will be a definitive part of the early days of the CPC government.

Statement by Prime Minister elect Stephen Harper
24 January 2006

OTTAWA – Statement by Prime Minister elect Stephen Harper:

“The Conservative transition team will be led by Derek H. Burney, who served previously as Canada's Ambassador to the United States and as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Mr. Burney will be assisted by a group with extensive experience in government. Their main objective will be to ensure a smooth transition from the outgoing to the incoming administration.”

-30-

For further information: Marie-Josée Lapointe (613) 355-3011

For what it's worth (en francais)

There are many positives that we can take from our recent election endeavours. For example, based on last nights vote the Liberals will be receiving less money.

2004 16219
2006 13412
equal 2807 lesss votes

Which means the Liberal Party of Canada will get $4,912.25 a year less thanks to the voters of Windsor-Tecumseh.

The CPC on the other hand:

2004 9827
2006 12852
equals 3025

$5,293.75 more for the CPC

That at least brought a smile to may face today. I'll take what I can get while the bruises heal.

The way forward (en francais)

While I dabble in many things politically, I remain firmly on the organization side. I'm not dismissive of policy, just pragmatic in that you will not have a chance to implement your policy without a solid organization to deliver your vote.

The Blogging Tories was a great grassroots initiative founded by Craig and Stephen. The seeds of many other things were planted during this campaign and in order for them to grow they will need attention.

Richard Ciano, CPC Vice-President and National Councillor has long been an advocate of organization. In the coming months and years, Richard and his fellow councillors will need everyone's support to continue building and expanding the party across Canada. As others focus on government, the organization must expand and evolve.

That's where I'll be.

P.S. - now that the elections over I should be able to find some time to read Rescuing Canada's Right. I'm looking forward to it.

Time pt II (en francais)

Time was written in the pre-election build-up, full of hope and confidence. Time is all the more relevant today here in Windsor-Tecumseh. Reality is the ultimate cold-shower of life. To say that the majority of our campaign team is stunned would be an understatement.

I'm proud to have worked on Rick Fuschi's team. Many have dismissed our numbers as hyberbole and typical campaigning. They would be wrong. Rick was the most dedicated,hard working candidate I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. 19,000 doors and 48,888 phone calls. No spin or bullshit there, those are real numbers.

As disappointing as last nights results were, the team has much to be proud of. The campaign raised and spent the limit. This hasn't been done in over 30 years in our riding. Many people may be thinking today that it's all been a waste of time and energy, myself, I see it as an investment in the future.

Townhall meetings, outreach and expanding our supporter base were just some of the activities from this campaign that must continue. To retreat now from these initiatives would be squandering the hard fought gains. The Conservative Party of Canada truly is a big tent party and to continue moving forward we must invite many more people into that tent.

Adam Daifallah's blog today - Sober second thoughts asks a very pertinent question.

One thing the Tories need to do is look at their urban vote problem. The Tories do not have a single seat in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. They didn't win a single seat in Mississauga, Brampton or London. This was solid Mike Harris country. Why are these people still voting Liberal?

In the coming weeks and months we must analyse our data, speak to people and find the answers to Adam's question. Failure to do so would be abandoning the very hope we've been campaigning on for the last year.

Windsor-Tecumseh 8:15pm (en francais)

Turnout is fantastic. Phone bank is about to wrap up and everyone is heading out for a last round of door-knocking then off to the polls to scrutineer the count.

Everything's rocking

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Funniest endorsement of the campaign (en francais)

H/T Nealenews

How to Vote by David Warren -
I would vote for my local Conservative if he had two heads and five elbows and was married to a same-sex yeti in Tibet. And I would vote for him with a clean conscience.

A very open and honest article. Worth reading, especially for Conservative trying to better understand all aspects of the party and it's supporters.

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Windsor-Tecumseh 1:30pm (en francais)

Last of the Scrutineer briefings completed and volunteers continue to come in to the office. There's no doubt now that we're fielding the best ground team Windsor-Tecumseh has seen in years. Scrutineers are available for every poll with plenty of backups. Door knockers are heading out for their first round. Second shift will start at around 5pm. Phone calling is rocking along. Almost 1500 calls completed and we're not even at full speed yet. Callers are reporting that people are excited and motivated to vote. Very few not voting or not supporting phone calls. All that VoterID work from the last year is paying off. Office is buzzing and people are having fun.

One person - one vote at a time.

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Windsor-Tecumseh 12:30pm (en francais)

First round of Scrutineer Briefings began at 12:00. Volunteer enthusiasm is a motivator unto itself.

More reports of Comartin signs at polling stations. As fast as they can put 'em up, we spot 'em and deal with them. The ground game has only just begun.

A years worth of planning, preparing, and strategy is going to pay off today.

Go team.

One person - one vote at a time.

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Windsor-Tecumseh 11:00am (en francais)

Poll Captain briefings complete. 22 leaders ready to drive our GOTV plan. Beautiful sunny day here in Windsor.

Supporter phone calls are rocking along. Round 1 calling will end at 12:00 pm, then it's re-evaluate, reload and on to Round 2. Motivation and spirits are high. Everyone can feel that a monumental change is coming.

Reports are coming in that some of Comartin's sign teams were a little over zealous last night. Signs posted on public school fences beside polling stations. Campaign Manager is all over it.

Nothing left to chance.

One person - one vote at a time.

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Windsor-Tecumseh 9:15am (en francais)

Full team is in and the office is humming.

Mobile poll scrutineers were in for their final briefing and are off. Leave nothing to chance. This is the first time the CPC has had scrutineers at the mobile polls.

Great news in the Windsor Star this morning. Article on the front page on Harper's visit to Windsor yesterday, remainder of story inside. No editorial endorsement for individual candidates! This is a first for the Star and reflective of how far Rick's campaign has come. The Star's 5 days of endorsements for the Conservative Party speak volumes about where Windsor-Tecumseh is heading.

Go Blue!

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Windsor-Tecumseh 6:30 am (en francais)

Campaign office open and ready to go. Just finished uploading the last supporters list to our VOIP system. 8 Computers, 8 Volunteers = 24 lines of GOTV dialing power.

Comartin's office - dark, not open
Easton's office - dark, not open

I guess we know who the hungry ones are.

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Confirmation and a H/T for all (en francais)

I made my prediction a long time ago and have never doubted that we would reach this point. Realizing this goal will require all our efforts tomorrrow.

CPC 158
Lib 61
Bloc 67
NDP 21
Green 1

(I made a slight adjustment to account for a slight surge by the NDP)

Big H/T to Craig, Stephen and all the Blogging Tories. Regardless of what some might say, you have made a difference.

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Blogging Tories Site of the Week (en francais)

Almost forgot, it's Sunday...

Kerplonka!
KerPlonka:
Function: Noun
Etymology: imitative
Meanings:
1) The sound of this man's drops of unsolicited opinion falling into the cistern that is the blogosphere;
2) The sound of a moonbat being bitchslapped;
3) A silly play on the author's last name.

Blog on!

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199,200,218 Reasons not to vote Liberal (en francais)

Linda Williamson of the Toronto Sun has the right idea - 218 Reasons not to vote Liberal

199 200 Reasons not to vote Liberal

A Dubious Day

Have some fun - try this google search - 200 reasons not to vote conservative

or this one - Dubious Day

Many thanks to all those who linked, emailed and posted this list. I'm still averaging about 50 to 60 unique hits a day on just this post. I've lost track of all the links, but I think it's save to say that hundreds of thousands of people have viewed this list in one form or another this campaign.

That's a good thing!

H/T to Canadian Blue Lemons

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Harper's Windsor visit (en francais)

CTV Newsnet Clip

Harper reaches out to Quebec voters - CBC story

Edit: Well we're up to 400 in the news accounts - Leaders stay on message in final election pleas

Pic from David Akin's Election blog

Edit 2: Akin Live blogging Harper's last campaign day

Fantastic event this morning. CTV pegs it at 300, while tour and our own count had it over 450. Either way it was a great crowd for 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday.(in Windsor - you know, that labour town!) My friend was happy. He won a bet with Don Martin over the crowd size. Martin took 150 or less, my friend over 150. It wasn't even close. We had to get the shoehorn out.

The crowd was energized and Stephen stepped up. Stump speech, but just the fact that he was in Windsor for his final stop in Ontario was worth it. A little birdy tells us that Comartin's campaign is a lot more worried than he's letting on. We've even been honoured with a Comartin shadow at our events now. Moving up in the world.

A campaign couldn't ask for a better finish. Good local media coverage that will play all day today and tomorrow morning. I imagine we should get front page or inside front for the paper tomorrow. I always did like earned media - the price is right.

After the event about 30 people went to Windsor Airport for a tarmac sendoff. Quick stop of the campaign bus, a few last words from Stephen, sign a few posters and signs and they're off to Manitoba.

What a fantastic motivator for the whole team heading into tomorrow. It's a shot in the arm to launch us into the fight. (we picked up 20 more volunteers this morning)

Thanks to Stephen Harper and the tour for expressing confidence in our team and making Windsor your Ontario sendoff. It's just what the doctor ordered.

Trackback to David Akin's CTV Blog

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Time (en francais)

As we near the end of this campaign, I do have one thing I want to thank Paul Martin and his group of advisors for - time. The decision to go with a long campaign, hoping for a Harper gaffe, was just what the CPC needed. While the National campaign was primed and ready to go, many if not most local campaigns had much to do.

The 2004 campaign was a haphazard affair at best for the CPC. The post merger period was still an uneasy one for many people. The infrastructure, experience and knowledge was lacking in a wide array of areas. Some people were still sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see how things developed. I don't say this as a criticism as much as simply my view of how things developed.

National spent a great deal of time and effort analyzing the last campaign and working towards fixing what didn't work. Regional conferences were held throughout the country. The policy convention afforded an opportunity for networking and development. The CPC Campaign School, spearheaded by Richard Ciano has worked on overdrive bringing people up to speed on various aspects of campaigning.

The long campaign was the final piece of the puzzle needed to prepare. Local campaigns had time to organize and establish themselves while the national campaign carried the ball. The pre-Christmas period was put to good use by local candidates, with the break giving campaigns an opportunity to take a short breather, regroup and prepare for the second round.

One of the most obvious differences this campaign is the absence of the legacy parties. No longer is someone asked which side of the 'house' were they from. Time has given them shared experiences together under one big tent as opposed to the 'shotgun wedding' feeling some may have felt from the last campaign.

Tomorrow we go into an election as a team revitalized and renewed. Better prepared, better trained and better motivated. One party, one voice.

Conservatives

Good luck to everyone and I hope to meet many of you in Ottawa this February. (for the swearing in, of course!)

Edit: From Wonder Women - Comin' up blue roses...

One person - one vote at a time!

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Through the looking glass (en francais)

Election predictions are all the rage these days, but they aren't the only sort being made.

If Harper wins, where go Tory bloggers?
There has been a lot of blog discussion about what the Conservative bloggers will be like if Harper wins. Will they become ecstatic in the great white north? Will they start dropping off? Will they be conciliatory?

HANDLING DEFEAT

While I still believe the outcome of this election is going to be different than the polls are predicting, I’m realistic enough to allow for any possibility. Because of this, I’d like to lay out a plan for progressive bloggers to follow should Stephen Harper win either a minority or majority government.

The first thing progressives need to remember is that it’s only politics and not a life or death struggle between the forces of light and darkness. That type of thinking needs to be left where it belongs; in the Kool-Aid drinking, conservative camp. In politics, one needs to look at the long view and focus on the long term goals progressives have laid out for a better Canada. And progressives need to realize that it was inevitable that the conservatives would eventually win one.

Educational reads, both of them. I guess I should go mix up a batch of purple Kool-Aid and prepare my gloat quotes.

On the other hand, maybe I'll just go back to working on:

T2OH

A unique new resource for Tories, coming soon to a section of cyberspace near you.

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Predictions by David Warren (en francais)

Excellent piece from David Warren:

Predictions
The polls show the election race tightening. They seem to show that people in the Atlantic provinces, Montreal, and Toronto -- all Liberal bedrock in recent elections -- are having third thoughts about their second thoughts to maybe vote for the Conservatives this time. With an unprecedented number of “undecided”, I think it would be foolish to make election predictions even two days ahead. We’ll see what we see.

If the Liberals do better than expected on Monday, it will certainly have been because their scare campaign finally succeeded -- the dirtiest and most vicious politics we have seen in post-War Canada, and perhaps through our whole national history. But that in itself is no reason to despair. As I argued Wednesday, it is a scorched-earth strategy that will give diminishing returns in every subsequent election. The Internet is growing constantly, undermining the ability of any candidate to utter howlers or perform sleights that sympathetic media might once have let pass. Moreover, diversity of views and interests is re-entering the old media, via the “500-channel universe”.

An interesting comment buried within the article regarding the internet, blogs and how they are helping reshape discussions and issues in Canada. This will be an interesting article to revisit post-election.

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Liberals try to sneak $1 billion in spending (en francais)

Ya gotta love RSS. Contrary to what Mr. Eugene Parks would have you believe, it's a very useful tool available to everyone.


Liberals attempt to sneak $1 billion in spending past Canadians
21 January 2006

OTTAWA – Documents obtained by the Conservative Party indicate that Paul Martin and the Liberals have authorized the spending of $1.13 billion through a secretive and technical Order-in-Council. This spending is effective as of December 22, 2005, yet the Liberals failed to tell Canadians just how the money will be spent.

“This Liberal government has been addicted to secrecy and closed government for the past 13 years,” said the Conservative candidate for Edmonton-St. Albert, John Williams. “This is just the latest slap in the face to Canadian taxpayers, and another example of why this Liberal government must be replaced.”

“The question is not whether this $1 billion is good or bad spending. Instead, the question is: Why are they spending a billion dollars without being open and transparent about it?” said Williams.

“Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party will end this type of government secrecy. Our Federal Accountability Act, which will be the first act of a Conservative government, will truly clean up the Liberal accountability deficit,” said Williams. “Canadians deserve to know where their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent, in an open and transparent way, instead of a Liberal government rushing through a billion dollars of spending in the heat of an election campaign.”

Documents

Whereas the President of the Treasury Board reports that there is no appropriation for the payment of the sums mentioned in the annexed schedule, amounting in the aggregate to $1,130,433,505, and the appropriate Ministers have reported that the payment of these sums is urgently required for the public good;

And whereas Parliament is not in session and there is no other appropriation pursuant to which the payment of these sums may be made;

Therefore, Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the President of the Treasury Board, pursuant to subsection 30(1) of the Financial Administration Act, hereby directs the preparation of a special warrant to be signed by the Governor General authorizing the payment, effective December 22, 2005, of the sums mentioned in the annexed schedule, amounting in the aggregate to $1,130,433,505, to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

SPECIAL WARRANT

Pursuant to Order in Council P.C. 2005‑2337 of December 20, 2005, the President of the Treasury Board is hereby authorized to pay out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, effective December 22, 2005, the amount of $1,130,433,505 for the purposes set out in the annexed schedule.

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Windsor Star - 5 days, 5 CPC Endorsements (en francais)

Tuesday through Saturday. Five days, five editorials endorsing the Conservative Party of Canada. No ambiguity here.

Tues: The election: Canada needs a change
Wed: The U.S.: It's time to mend fences
Thurs: After Kyoto: A chance for better air
Fri: Ottawa's culture: A Tory plan for change

National unity: An opportunity on Monday

Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, January 21, 2006

If your Canada includes Quebec, then your Canada cannot include another Liberal government under Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Liberal corruption under Martin's predecessor Jean Chretien, laid bare with explosive revelations almost daily at the Gomery inquiry, caused support for the separatist Bloc Quebecois to crest beyond 50 per cent in opinion polls.

Martin attempted to exploit that sentiment at the beginning of this campaign when he declared this election a referendum on Quebec separatism. His tactic, a dangerous one considering the disdain Quebecers held toward the tarnished Liberal brand, was designed to frighten soft sovereigntists and disgruntled federalists back into the Liberal fold.

Martin hoped fanning fears of Quebec secession would convince a hostile electorate to hold their noses and vote for the Grits. He also hoped to convince the rest of Canada only the Liberals could stave off the Bloc and prevent the paralysis of another unity crisis. His strategy appears to have backfired for two reasons:

The first is this election isn't a referendum on national unity and Quebecers know it. They are savvy voters. They have twice rejected secession and tend to maximize their clout by siding with the victors in national elections. Quebecers know this election is nothing more than an opportunity to pass judgment on a tired government bereft of vision and beset by scandal. They know a vote for the Bloc Monday is not the same as a Oui vote in a future referendum.

The second flaw in Martin's strategy -- and one he likely couldn't have fathomed when he embarked on this campaign -- is the stunning rise in the fortunes of the Conservative party, which secured only nine per cent of the popular vote and zero seats in Quebec during the last election.

Opinion polls in Quebec indicate support for the Conservatives has surpassed 30 per cent while support for the Grits has plummeted as low as 12 per cent in some polls. Support for the Bloc has fallen to the extent that the Tories are actually ahead of them in two Quebec City districts.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper won an endorsement this week from the French language daily newspaper La Presse and also an endorsement from Mario Dumont, the leader of the Action Democratique du Quebec, a provincial party with five seats in the National Assembly that commands 15 per cent popular support. Harper has also won praise from Quebec Premier Jean Charest, a Liberal, for promising to address the fiscal imbalance and provide Quebec a voice on the international stage.

The rise of the Conservatives in Quebec is fuelled by more than animosity toward the Liberals. It is fuelled by Harper's belief that a strong Canada must be composed of strong provinces and that repeated federal intrusions into areas of provincial jurisdictions have hurt rather than helped create a prosperous and united nation.

The Liberal party is no longer the party of national unity and, in many respects, is no longer even a national party. The party holds just two of the 42 seats in Alberta and Saskatchewan, eight of the 36 seats in British Columbia and just three of the 14 seats in Manitoba. The Liberals won 21 of 75 seats in Quebec in 2004 but are poised to be wiped off the map.

Quebecers are embracing the Conservatives as a viable federalist alternative because they resent the Liberals and their role in the sponsorship scandal. The majority of Quebecers do not resent federalism and they do not resent Canada.

They want a change in government, just like other Canadians, and the Conservative party can provide that change while promoting national unity from coast to coast to coast.

Day by day, editorial by editorial, dispelling the myth that Windsor is simply a labour town. This city is much more complex and sophisticated than people would have you believe. On Monday the 23rd of January, the voters of Windsor-Tecumseh are about to demonstrate that.

Paul Martin - what is your policy on Right to Choose? (en francais)

We all know what the Conservative Party Policy is regarding a women's right to choose, the question is - What is the Liberal Party's policy?

All we hear from Paul Martin is the smear and fear about Stephen Harper, but we have yet to hear Paul Martin state in the same unequivocal terms exactly what his and his caucus position is.

Considering his attempts to distort the Conservative position on this issue, I think Canadians deserve to hear from Paul Martin.

It would be interesting to hear his response if he was asked by a media member to make the same commitment as Stephen Harper.

In the absence of any clear statements, I guess we just have to rely on what they've said in the past. That seems to be an accepted practice by the Liberals.

What is Paul Martin hiding?

Paul Martin, Liberal leader:

* “Martin said the prime minister must immediately recall parliament to introduce new abortion legislation” (Halifax Daily News, July 20, 1989).

* “I am personally against abortion on demand, but I believe it is very clear that there must be legislation brought in that will deal with what is becoming simply a mish-mash of approaches” (Halifax Daily News, July 20, 1989).

* “It’s very clear that we are going to have 10 different [abortion] laws and that we are going to have these laws made by judges” (Halifax Chronicle – Herald, July 20, 1989).

* Paul Martin said he was personally opposed to abortion (Toronto Star, March 26, 1990).

Joe Fontana, current Minister of Labour:

* Abortion should be limited to “exceptional extenuating circumstances” involving rape or incest
(London Free Press, October 12, 1988).

Joe Volpe, current Minister of Immigration:

* “The government has contented itself with casting the issue in the context of abortion, a context which invariably favours the rights of those who are present against those who are silent, a context which too often is seen as purely a woman’s issue” – (Hansard, November 22, 1989).

Joe McGuire, current Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency:

* Abortion is “the murder of another human being” – (Hansard, November 27, 1989).

Albina Guarnieri, current Minister of Veterans Affairs:

* “Bill C-43 is abortion on demand with red tape...In effect, the legislation makes it possible for women to seek and obtain abortions for reasons that may have more to do with lifestyle considerations than with actual physical endangerment” (Hansard, November 23, 1989).

* “In fact, the health clause will operate as nothing more than a rubber stamp condonement of abortion on demand. It will allow women to abort their unborn child based on a fleeting notion of immediate convenience” (Hansard, November 23, 1989).

* “The decision as to which life merits protection cannot be left to judges, doctors, or even women themselves. The issue must be dealt with on a national level by Parliament so that we as elected representatives may once and for all establish the supremacy of life and the protection of the unborn as would befit a civilized society. We must not be condemned by a future Parliament for legitimizing the termination of hundreds of thousands of unborn Canadians” (Hansard, November 23, 1989).

* “To imperiously determine which life should be afforded protection of the law and which should not would leave our society extremely susceptible to the social decision-making characteristic of the genocidal policies of certain Third World nations” (Hansard, November 23, 1989).

Jim Karygiannis, current parliamentary secretary:

* Mr. Karygiannis said that he would not have been elected to the House of Commons without the support of the pro-life Campaign Life Coalition: “I think in 1988 when I was first elected, Campaign Life probably turned things in my favour” (Charlottetown Guardian, June 6, 2005).

* Campaign Life has sent out brochures endorsing Mr. Karygiannis in every election since 1988, with Mr. Karygiannis paying the postage (Charlottetown Guardian, June 6, 2005).

Maurizio Bevilacqua, current Liberal MP:

* “Hon. members, everything I believe, everything that I hold dear, my social and cultural make-up, my personal beliefs as a human being, tells me that abortion is wrong. I feel within myself, passionately, that abortion is against the natural order. It negates the essence of our being” (Hansard, November 27, 1989).

* “I do not understand how any of us can accept giving the responsibility and the right to anyone to decide on who will live and who will not” (Hansard, November 27, 1989).

Paul Szabo, current Liberal MP:

* Szabo said it's offensive to the many Liberals such as himself who are “people of faith” and who share evangelical Christians' socially conservative views on moral issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage (Kingston Whig-Standard, May 11, 2004).

* “We did not balance the interests of the unborn” (Hansard, October 28, 2003).

* “Even the medical profession does not agree with the legal precedent, which is a person is not a human being until it is born and severed from the umbilical cord” (Hansard, September 30, 2003).

* “There is unquestionably a growing body of evidence that there are medical impacts on abortion” (Hansard, September 30, 2003).

* “The consequences of this issue, whether it be to women's health, whether it be to the health of an unborn child who is recognized as an uncontested biological fact to be a member of the human species, is enormous and growing. The fact that the U.S. will recognize the unborn child from conception to birth as a person entitled to protection means that things are changing” (Hansard, September 30, 2003).

* “Last year there were over 110,000 abortions in Canada with a cost to our health care system of over $10 million. That is over 300 abortions each and every day. It says that each year 110,000 mistakes are made at the expense of all Canadians by those who fail to act responsibly. Is it too much to ask Canadians just to be responsible for their actions? We do have a choice and that choice should be made before we act, not after we have failed to act responsibly” (Hansard, November 27, 1998).

* “Things do change. Science is changing. We can operate on unborn children, examine them, do all kinds of microsurgery, et cetera. All of a sudden we need to start thinking about fundamentals, about what the difference is” (Hansard, March 22, 2001).

* “Linda and I have three children and we loved, cared for and celebrated each of them right from the start. We believe that human life begins at conception” (Toronto Star, October 8, 1992).

* “She [Margaret Wente] also says if there were more responsible men that there would be fewer abortions and makes reference to “unanticipated fatherhood.” Unless I'm mistaken, it takes two to tango. How can she suggest that pregnancy could qualify as an unanticipated consequence of unprotected intercourse? Should we not expect that people should be responsible for their actions?” (Globe and Mail, November 18, 1994).

* Paul Szabo was awarded the 2003 Joseph P. Borowski Award by Campaign Life Coalition, in recognition of “integrity and leadership in defending life and family in the public square” (Western Catholic Reporter, May 24, 2004).

Roger Gallaway, current Liberal MP:

* Gallaway says there is no difference between his party and the Conservatives on abortion (Calgary Herald, June 7, 2004).

* Gallaway, Martin's point man on parliamentary reforms to empower MPs, said Martin is entitled to say he won't encourage private members' bills on abortion, “but that's not a prohibition either” (The Record, June 7, 2004).

* “There's nothing that can prevent a member of the House who's not a cabinet minister from bringing in any private members' bill” (The Record, June 7, 2004).

* “I don't sense there's a very wide gulf on these issues” (The National Post, June 7, 2004).

* Mr. Gallaway says although Mr. Martin may discourage his MPs from bringing forward an abortion bill, there is nothing to prevent an MP from doing so. “A person could bring a private member's bill on abortion and they may draw public scorn, they may very quickly go down in the House.... Members of Parliament, regardless of political stripes or notwithstanding political stripes, can take part in these kinds of debates” (National Post, June 7, 2004).

Alan Tonks, current Liberal MP:

* Liberal MP Alan Tonks, who responded to the survey by saying he would support a ban on abortion and a prohibition on abortion-inducing drugs, said Mr. Martin has stated that matters of conscience are free votes (Globe and Mail, January 14, 2006).

* “Generally speaking, I opt on the side of life. I don't support carte-blanche abortion,” Mr. Tonks said. “If there was a motion that was presented to review and send to committee, whatever the nature of the change being asked, I would always support it going to the committee” (Globe and Mail, January 14, 2006).

Tom Wappel, current Liberal MP:

* Wappel ran in the 1990 Liberal leadership race on an anti-abortion platform.

* “It's fascinating that when somebody like me says I'm personally against abortion, then I'm told my personal views have no business in the public arena” (National Post, July 18, 2002).

* Wappel said that “most people” in his party “agree that the number of abortions in Canada is too high, and that that’s got to be changed” (National Post, April 21, 2004).

* “The tradition of the Liberal party is to stick up for the little guy, and the littlest guy of all is the child in the womb. Surely that child deserves our protection” (Toronto Star, June 23, 1990).

* “Life begins at conception and it must be protected from conception through to natural death. If we do not provide this protection, we abdicate our responsibilities on a personal and national level” (Toronto Star, June 23, 1990).

* “I would like to see our party discuss the issue of human life and discuss the solutions to the problems that abortion raises” (Globe and Mail, June 30, 1989).

* “We are talking about human rights and protecting against discrimination, but we cannot talk about the discrimination that the unborn child has. It has no rights. It has an absolute impossibility of protecting itself from a decision that another person makes about its very right to breathe. Do you not find it interesting, Madam Speaker, that on the one hand it is perfectly acceptable and legal in Canada at the present time to kill an unborn child at any point of its development, right up until it comes out of the womb, yet on the other hand we are wringing our hands about the ethics of experimentation on zygotes? Where is the logic in that? How can it be logical to permit a third trimester abortion at eight months without blinking our eyes and wring our hands about whether or not a fertilized egg is going to be flushed down a scientist's drain?” (Hansard, March 22, 2001).

* “Rape and incest are terrible and lamentable tragedies but they cannot possibly be compounded by the further tragedy of destroying human life” (Toronto Star, July 4, 1989).

* “I for one will not lead a country that takes human life without proper justification ... we've got to stop the killing” (Kingston Whig Standard, November 8, 1998).

* “I will actively work towards a redefinition of human being to be 'a human life, from the moment of conception.' Anything less cheapens our respect for life, for human dignity, and ultimately for ourselves” (Toronto Star, July 4, 1989).

* “I believe the majority of Canadians feel we should have abortion legislation” (Toronto Star, November 27, 1988).

* “terrible tragedy, but an innocent human being is now part of the equation” (in response to a question put to him by a Calgary high school student about allowing abortion in cases of rape) (Toronto Star, March 20, 1990).

* Wappel faced tough questions from students, including one about the impact a pregnancy would have on a high school student. “It's an attitude problem. People don't want to come to school because they're embarrassed to be pregnant,” he said, but it's no reason “to take a life” (Vancouver Sun, March 20, 1990).

* Wappel, a staunchly pro-life MP, said Harper's comments were merely “a statement of the obvious” about the way private members' business works and Martin would act no differently (Toronto Star, June 7, 2004).

* Wappel says there is no difference between his party and the Conservatives on abortion (Calgary Herald, June 7, 2004).

* “I don't think too much should be made of the prime minister's comment,” said Wappel. He said private members' business has never been subject to party discipline (The Record, June 7, 2004).

* He noted that Martin has vowed to eliminate the democratic deficit to give backbenchers more power and said Martin would not, therefore, roll back the clock by trying to direct the content of private members' business or deny free votes on it. “I have no fear that private members' business is somehow going to be attempted to be controlled,” said Wappel, who once proposed a private members' bill to recognize that life begins at conception -- a bill that never came to a vote (The Record, June 7, 2004).

* Wappel suggested Martin simply got caught up in the heat of the campaign when he suggested he'd interfere in private members' bills (The Record, June 7, 2004).

* Wappel, a Toronto-area MP with a consistent pro-life stance, said there was nothing controversial in Mr. Harper's comments on abortion, saying they reflect how the process works (National Post, June 7, 2004).

* He dismissed any inference that his party leader would react any differently to the process: “I have no fear that private member's business is somehow going to be attempted to be controlled” (National Post, June 7, 2004).

* His issue is abortion. He believes it should be an offence under the Criminal Code, punishable by up to life imprisonment, for both the patient and her doctor. He would not allow the termination of a pregnancy, even in the case of rape or incest (Toronto Star, June 16, 1990).

* “If you have a human life and you have an abortion–a medical procedure designed to destroy offspring–you are clearly destroying human life” (Hansard, May 24, 1990).

* “If this bill passes, it will institutionalize abortion. It will, in fact, make the procedure of abortion legitimate. In my view, the respect for life which it pretends to try to engender, will be diminished. Another statement which has been used is: ‘It’s my body.’ The fact is that there are two bodies involved. There is the mother and there is the child within her. Both those bodies are entitled to respect. Both those bodies are entitled to protection” (May 24, 1990)

* Wappel insists that it is unfair to label the Liberal Party as officially pro-choice, and at one point suggests that “most people in the Liberal Party would agree that the number of abortions in Canada is too high, and that that's got to be changed” (http://www.punditmag.com/articles/wappel.html, Interview in 2000 with Adam Radwanski)

* Stated, “The candidates owe it to Liberals and to Canadians to answer three simple questions: Are you opposed to abortion, why, and what specifically would you do about abortion as prime minister?” (Toronto Star, January 29, 1990).

* Stated abortion should be an offence under the Criminal Code, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment (Toronto Star, June 23, 1990).

Opposed abortion even in rape cases (Calgary Herald, March 20, 1990).

* Promised to introduce legislation protecting life from “conception to death” (Calgary Herald, March 20, 1990).

* Proposed making women considering an abortion undergo “psychological, economical and emotional” counseling (Calgary Herald, March 20, 1990).

* Proposed instituting a national program to educate Canadians about abortion techniques “and what they do in terms of killing a human being within the mother” (Calgary Herald, March 20, 1990).

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GOTV - every last vote counts (en francais)

This example from an election manual has always stood out in my mind. It is very relevant in an election such as we are facing now.

GOTV Can Make the Difference – an Example

Imagine a Canada without Pierre Trudeau!

That’s what a well run GOTV could have done. In his second election in
1972, Trudeau won a minority, defeating Robert Stanfield’s PCs by only
two seats – 109 to 107.

Some of those seats were very close. In the riding of Meadow Lake in
Saskatchewan, the NDP only beat the PCs by 23 votes. There must have
been 24 more PC supporters out there who didn’t vote. That would have
given the PCs 108 seats.

In a riding of Ontario, the Liberal candidate beat the PC candidate by four
votes. A better PC GOTV effort would have made the difference. If five
more PC supporters had voted, Trudeau would have lost.

The fate of the country was decided by 27 voters in these two ridings!

There were also two other ridings that the PCs barely lost:
· Selkirk in Manitoba, by 30 votes, and
· Okanagan-Kootenay in British Columbia, by 158 votes.

This shows how GOTV efforts can matter.

On Monday do everything you possible can in your individual ridings. Vote, if you already haven't. Call your family and friends. Encourage them to vote, help them get out to vote. The battle is not over until the poll closes. EVERY VOTE COUNTS

Don't be one of the 27!

From the Shotgun: In the final stretch

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Spot the Policy Part III - Smear and Fear (en francais)

Spot the positive policy and vision for Canada.

The only thing that seems to be missing on the front page of the Liberal site is a picture of Paul Martin, on his knees, begging Canadians for their vote.

No pictures available of Ozzy Osborne and Stephen Harper together?

How about something with a shred of truth, difficult as that is for Liberals these days.

At least they're consistent - Smear and Fear I

Edit: see Stephen Taylor's take on the subject

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Arrogant to the end (en francais)

Of course we all know, especially those that live out in Alberta (thanks Buzz), that the only values that exist in Canada are Liberal values.

Full Newsletter

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You, me and... (en francais)

Stephen Harper Rally

Sunday
January 22nd

7:30 am

Hilton Hotel

277 Riverside Dr W.

Come join us welcome Stephen Harper and the Conservative Team to Windsor.

For the first time in over 70 years we are poised to elect a Conservative in Windsor-Tecumseh and Stephen is visiting Windsor to help us seal the deal

Conservatives throughout Windsor have worked long and hard for the last year to prepare for this election. Momentum is on our side as both the National and local campaigns roll on. Bring the whole family and help us cheer Rick Fuschi and Stephen Harper to victory!

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Hey Buzz - a message from a former customer (en francais)

Rob from The Right Balance has a message for you, posted in this thread:

"Any CAW members out there here's my two cents. I't bounus time for me out here in Calgary and it was "a good year" now with some extra cash in my pocket and Conservatives going to give me a 1% GST break a hot new Dodge Charger was in the works. But then Buzz opened his mouth on his ALberta views. I went to the CAW website and the Charger is a CAW built vehicle. Well it's not going to be a Charger. Rule #1 never piss off the customer.
20 January, 2006 10:54"

I wonder how other Albertans feel about Buzz's babbling? For that matter, how about the Federalists in Quebec fighting for Canada? I'm sure they appreciate you and your union encouraging your members to vote for the Bloc. I think Rob has the right idea. Many will vote first with their ballot and second with their pocketbook. The first may just piss you off, but hopefully the second will get your attention for a change. Me - I doubt it.

Edit: Seems like some other people out west have the same idea - Vote with your money

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New CPC Ad - Move Canada Forward (en francais)

"Move Canada Forward"

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Bye Bye Ralph (en francais)

Just in case anyone missed this story yesterday, although I'm sure Ralph Goodale certainly didn't.

Calvert expects quick action on equalization
Last Updated Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:01:20 EST
CBC News

Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert says if the Conservatives win the federal election, it will be good news for his province's equalization problems.

Besides Ralph, poor Jack Layton just can't catch a break these days. First it was Buzz Hargrove now Saskatchewan NDP Premier Lorne Calvert. Jack might want to put one of these on his next Birthday or Christmas wish list.

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Byfield's prediction for the next 10 years (en francais)

Winds of change

Link Byfield, Calgary Sun
For the next 10 years or more, the word "Liberal" in a news headline may normally be accompanied by "charged" or "convicted."

Take note of the part in the article discussing shredders. I told you so.

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CAW money used to support Bloc? (en francais)

With all the talk about Buzz supporting the Bloc and seeing the pamphlet posted on the CAW French site, I thought it might be worthwhile to visit Elections Canada and see who is listed as a Third Party.

Registered Third Parties
For the 39th General Election, January 23, 2006 (PDF format)

If you look at the report, you will see the CAW Canada/TCA Quebec listed as a Registered Third Party.

Which leads me to wonder how much of the members money is the CAW/TCA spending to promote a party who's sole goal is the separation of Quebec from Canada? With an individual riding cap of $3,000 per riding to a maximum of $150,000, there is a lot of potential.

Once again, let me see if I can muddle my way through this maze.

Buzz Hargrove is the National President of a union who is currently supporting the Bloc Quebecois, a separatist party in Quebec, in this federal election.

At the same time he is campaigning with the Prime Minister of Canada, a man who vowed to fight separatists on every street corner of Canada. Several times Buzz Hargrove has appeared and endorsed Paul Martin and his party. Never once has Paul Martin challenged Buzz Hargrove on his separatist support for the Bloc in Quebec.

And Stephen Harper is a threat to Canada? I would really like to see what brand of logic Paul Martin and Buzz Hargrove subscribe to.

By the way Buzz, I would be careful next time I see Paul Martin. Now that the cat is out of the bag he's obligated to scrap with you on the street corner, and we all know just how dangerous a Liberal in danger of losing his or her government entitlements is.

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Buzz Hargrove unmasked (en francais)

H/T to Bourque and further to what Conservative Life has already posted on this issue.

Like many others I was both shocked and outraged at Buzz Hargrove's statements the other day. As we examine this issue further, I'm not surprised now that Buzz is campaigning with Paul Martin. They're two peas in a pod. Both will say anything, do anything and stop at nothing to further THEIR own agendas, regardless of the cost.

CAW Endorses the Bloc

You can download the pdf pamphlet endorsing the Bloc. I have put the text of the pamphlet through Google Translate. The translatin is rough, but more than enough to get the general idea. (if anyone can forward an exact translation, it would be appreciated)

From Google Translate

The TCA support the Block Québécois It is of tradition in the trade union of the Canadian Workers of the car (TCA-Quebec) to give an opinion publicly when significant stakes touch the population in general and the workers and the workers in particular. For the election of January 23, 2006, we will grant our support to the Québécois Block. Indeed, we believe that it is absolutely necessary to elect candidates and candidates resulting from a political party which has like concern to defend the interests of the workers. In Quebec, they are the representatives of the Block who are likely best to carry this question to the House of Commons. The presence of the Québécois Block in Ottawa is essential. The defense of the rights of the workers and the workers, that wants to also say to discuss the social stakes when it is needed. The durable development, the right to housing, universalization, health belong to a long list of social questions which require our detailed attention. It is continuously to bring our réfl exions on all these subjects, and to give an opinion, which we will manage to build a true solidarity. On its side, the Martin government did not do anything of signifi financial futures for the workers and the workers. Nothing to protect us in the event of bankruptcy, nor to counter the job losses due to universalization, anything for the unemployed, and enfi N nothing on imbalance fi scal. The liberals even diverted the billion dollars of the case of the assuranceemploi while refusing bonifi er the mode afi N to give to the workers and the workers what was owe them. In a word, the liberals of Paul Martin do not deserve to receive our support. Thus, I invite you to militate in favour of the Québécois Block and to put the efforts necessary afi N to make elect a very large majority of deputies bloquists.

Of particular note is the last paragraph where they attack Paul Martin and the Liberals for not doing anything about the same issues that Buzz was stumping for the Liberals in Strathroy yesterday.

So let me get this straight. Quebec Liberals must be different than Ontario Liberals as they are accused of diverting billions from unemployment, not protecting workers in bankruptcy proceedings and overall not deserving of CAW support. But those Ontario Liberals, they're gold. CAW stamp of approval, top notch, best of the bunch. But wait, only in those ridings where they are going to win, or it looks like they are going to win. Wherever it looks like the NDP is going to win, vote for them, except in Quebec and maybe Alberta (possibly Manitoba). Right, got it!


"Thus, I invite you to militate in favour of the Québécois Block and to put the efforts necessary afi N to make elect a very large majority of deputies bloquists."

Hargove has the nerve to accuse Stephen Harper of being a separatist. He would help give the BQ the moral victory of winning 50 + 1 % of the vote in Quebec rather than supporting a federalist party - even the NDP. The NDP and the CPC started off this campaign virtually tied in the polls in Quebec. The NDP is still wallowing in single digits while the CPC has presented themselves as a credible Federalist alternative.

It's fairly clear. Paul Martin is out to benefit the Liberals and only the Liberals. Buzz Hargrove is out to further the agenda of the CAW and ONLY the CAW. That's what he is elected for. To believe that Buzz Hargrove represents all Canadians is to put your faith in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus all rolled into one.

And people wonder why the NDP can't form a credible national alternative? With friends like the CAW, who needs enemies.

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New BBS Multimedia Contest Entry (Flash) (en francais)

Courtesy of London Fog:

More black market election advertising intended to unduly influence the vote: Peter Tosh has endorsed "Not The Liberals" in this Flash presentation!

Elections Canada note: At my normal rate of $12,000 an hour for this kind of work, I have by producing this provided some $36,000 to oppose the Liberal party with this ad.

Click the picture of the Liberal to watch it.

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Not content with ruining his own campaign... (en francais)

Paul Martin sees the need to tell Jack Layton how to run his. Of course the message is, Jack should be attacking Conservatives because the Liberals are in danger of losing power. The arrogance and entitlement never end.

Layton Has Turned his Back on Kyoto
January 19, 2006

NDP Leader Jack Layton has missed another opportunity to tell the truth about what a Conservative government would mean for Canada’s Kyoto commitments.

The Prime Minister challenged Mr. Layton, saying he has “taken a pass” when it comes to the fight against the party that opposes Kyoto and Canada’s commitment to climate change.

Mr. Layton responded, “Well, that is just not true.” And then he went back to criticizing the Liberals.

Finally, he added, “I committed our party to relentlessly fight any attempt to renege on our responsibilities on climate change in the next Parliament.”

THE FACTS

Mr. Layton knows full well that there would be nothing the NDP could do if a Conservative government decided to withdraw Canada from the Kyoto Accord. The decisions would not require legislation, and would likely never be put before Parliament.

Mr. Layton also knows Canada has been entrusted for the next year with the chairmanship of the UN chair on improving and implementing Kyoto. But Mr. Layton will not talk about the implications of the chair falling into the hands of the Conservatives.

But rather than oppose the Conservatives, Mr. Layton has once again put politics before principle and given them a pass.

Coming from the man who made Belinda Stronach a cabinet minister, I don't think Paul Martin has a leg to stand on when it comes to lecturing people on politics and principle.

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Buzz takes aim (en francais)

From today's Windsor Star.

We've got an excellent artist here in Graston.

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18000 Doors (en francais)

And now for a local parody of the infamous Liberal ad, created by Matt:



Rick Fuschi

... admitted one Liberal insider, one of the hardest-working candidates that person has seen. Fuschi has been campaigning since last spring, knocking on doors long before some candidates in this area had even decided to run.

Windsor Star,

January 11th, 2006

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Liberals know best (en francais)

Latest Liberal excuse why Canadians should vote for them and only them:

Latest Liberal Missive
"We need your support to ensure Canadians are getting the message that a Conservative government is an unknown quantity. They’ve never governed, and have no experience with governing."

And they call Stephan Harper arrogant? If you follow the Liberal logic, we might as well just do away with elections, as they are the only ones who know how to run Canada.

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Hargrove and the CAW spin (en francais)

Below is Buzz's news release, issued after he removed both feet from his mouth.

Here's the actual interview.

For some reason, the two just don't seem to match. What about the "secret society" crack relating to the NCC?

The next press releases should be apologies from both Buzz and Paul Martin. Because this election is all about Canadian values, right?

News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350

Attention News Editors:

Devolution of Federal Responsibilities Plays Into Separatists Hands,Hargrove Says

TORONTO, Jan. 18 /CNW/ - CAW president Buzz Hargrove at a campaign event in Strathroy, Ontario today outlined strong concerns with the future of federal programs and services under the potential leadership of a Stephen Harper Conservative government.

Hargrove said he recognizes that Harper is a federalist, but Hargrove emphasized that Harper is playing into the hands of the separatists because he would promote the loosening of federal institutions, programs and powers.

As an example, Hargrove pointed to the recent national child care agreements signed between Ottawa and the provinces to fund badly needed child care spaces. Harper has promised to cancel these agreements.

Today Prime Minister Paul Martin made a commitment to working people to put in place a guaranteed pension fund to ensure workers do not lose their pension due to the bankruptcy of their employer.

"Members of our union as well as all working Canadians must recognize that the Prime Minister has committed financial support for industries that are important to Canada and today he committed to the long term viability of Ford's St. Thomas, Ontario auto assembly plant," Hargrove said.

This is in contrast to the Conservatives who refuse to support Canada's important industries, Hargrove said. For example, Garth Turner, a Conservative candidate in the Oakville area, has said that government money invested in Ford's new flexible manufacturing plant in Oakville was a waste of money.

"Clearly the election of Harper's Conservatives would undermine the job security of union members, their families and communities," Hargrove said.

-0- 01/18/2006

/For further information: contact CAW Communications, John McClyment, (416) 495-3766 or Jim Paré, (416) 723-2224/

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Positive vs Negative (en francais)

While the Liberals have been busy posting negative garbage on their site, the CPC has been hard at work on a snazzy new video:

I'm Voting Conservative!

Maybe when the Liberals are done smearing everyone, they'll get around to posting an apology for their Labour Lieutenant's comments today.

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Buzz Hargrove - Unplugged and live (en francais)

1. Stephan Harper is a separatist

2. Quebec should vote for the Bloc to stop Harper

3. The NCC is a "secret society" and that's who Stephen Harper worked for

Clip One - Roger Smith comments on Hargrove's comments

Clip Two - Hargroves comments

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Buzz supposed to be helping Paul Martin and the Liberals?

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Scott Tribe weighs in (en francais)

Blogging Tories being charged with political manipulation?

Wow.. so much for the Blogosphere having no influence in Canada ;)

I'm a little uneasy with this: - does that mean all the other blog-groups (Liberals, NDP'ers and us here at Prog Blog) are next?

Unless these people have proof.. I find this charge silly.. and it smacks of political intimidation.

As I said to Scott in another post, I have no problem with ideological differences, but this is just ridiculous.

Gee, that wasn't so hard. We actually can agree on some issues. :)

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Liberal website posts BT joke (en francais)

I wondered how long it would take. Actually, the Liberals were slower than I thought.


Some interesting links related to the story:
1. Black Sheep flees Conservative flock. Comments are very interesting.

2. Are the Blogging Tories An Arm Of The Conservative Party of Canada Officially Or Otherwise?

3. Blinded by the Right

4. Personal Memo To Sandra Buckler in the OLO of the CPC

Kate is on it -
SDA - The Trojan Tory is at it again

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Paul Martin and Buzz Hargrove (en francais)

London A Channel station just reported that Buzz Hargrove and another Union member were seen with Paul Martin in London. Speculating on the possibility of another joint announcement.

Should be interesting.

Edit: Unbelievable is the term. I think Buzz has really gone off the deep end.

Buzz: Separatists Better Than Conservatives


Vote separatist to stop the separatist

Well there's still 5 days till the election, maybe Buzz will endorse the Marxist-Leninist's next.

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Complaint filed against Blogging Tories (en francais)

Well, at least we know what Carole Jamieson has been up to lately. This is so laughable it should be nominated for an award at Canada's Comedy Festival.

One of these days, the MSM might even be able to sort out the difference between a website, a blog and an AGGREGATOR.

Edit: BC - what an interesting place for this load of crap to come from. For some strange reason I have visions of moonbats dancing in my head. Wonder why.

I won't even get into all the various reasons why this is ridiculous, I'm sure others will lead the way.

Edit 2: OK, I lied. I couldn't resist doing a bit of quick research. Thirty seconds on Google and this little mystery was solved. I guess Allan Woods doesn't use Google very much. This just went from laughable to truly bizzare.

Edit 3: Took a little while to find the article I was looking for: Elections Canada sees no problem with blogging during the election by Romeo St. Martin.
[PoliticsWatch Updated 4:15 p.m. December 2, 2005]

Read the article above and it's not to hard to figure out what is being attempted by trying to link the BT with the CPC.

Probe of blog urged(Subscription required)- Windsor Star
Tory blogsite violates election law,critics claim - (Subscription required) - Ottawa Citizen
Allan Woods, CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, January 18, 2006

QUEBEC - Elections Canada has been asked to investigate the Conservatives after allegations the party is overseeing a group that operates partisan online web logs.

Canada's election watchdog received a complaint Tuesday morning from a disaffected party member who claims the Tories tried to sway political opinion in cyberspace in the leadup to, and during, the election by setting up the popular "Blogging Tories" website.

The site appears to be a coalition of like-minded individuals who have met in cyberspace to share their political opinions and express their frustrations with Paul Martin's Liberals.

But a Victoria man, Eugene Parks, and Toronto Tory dissident Carole Jamieson allege the venture may violate the Elections Act and third-party financing laws.

"They're using a third-party agency to get elected," said Parks, a former Conservative supporter who now says he is an opponent. "It's pure hypocrisy."

Parks said Tuesday he was approached by Conservative MP Diane Ablonczy in December 2005 and asked to head what he described as a pre-election initiative on behalf of the party.

A Conservative party campaign official said Tuesday that there is "no connection" between the federal party and the website and chalked the complaint up to a party member who is still upset about the merger of the Progressive Conservative party and the Canadian Alliance in 2003.
© The Windsor Star 2006

Link cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

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Allan Gregg live online 2pm today (en francais)

For all the poll obsessed, here's your opportunity to lob a few questions at one of Canada's high profile pollsters.

Allan Gregg discusses the Tory surge in the polls

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Posted at 3:27 PM EST

Globe and Mail Update

Allan Gregg, managing partner of The Strategic Counsel, will be on-line Wednesday at 2 p.m. EST to take your questions on the latest trends in the Jan. 23 election campaign according to the extensive daily polling his company is doing for The Globe and CTV News.

Cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

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Former Premier Bill Davis endorses Harper (en francais)

I almost missed this little bit as I scanned through Garth Turner's blog:

The event was a tactical success – noisy, jammed, late and loose. The crowd was set to roar from the moment it built momentum. As I glad-handed before the main event, I was peppered with comments like, “Man, this has been a long time coming,” “Finally it feels powerful again being a Conservative,” and “I think I’m gonna cry…” Bill Davis was there – which a guy from CFRB told me afterwards would be the lead story tomorrow.

The former Ontario premier, Davis is widely seen as a pink Tory of mythic proportions, and his unqualified endorsement of Harper tonight said this: Listen, you lying Liberal bastards who are trying to terrify people that they are about to elect George W.Bush north, I am here to tell you the guy is straight up. He is no Reform knuckle-dragger. He is a modern inclusive politician. He has listened. He has learned. He is getting the William G. Davis seal of approval. So there.

And the crowd roared.

While Bill Davis may not mean much to some people, most of us grew up in Ontario during his tenure. My first job was delivering election material in Guelph for the old Big Blue Machine.

The suburban ridings where many 35+ voters live can be affected by this. In many cases, Bill's endorsement may be enough to give people a reason to vote Conservative this time. No matter how you look at things, this is not a good sign for Paul Martin.

Update: Ex-premier Bill Davis woos voters in Burlington
Ontario elder statesman says Harper builds consensus and respects others
By Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
BURLINGTON (Jan 18, 2006)

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Advance Poll Turnout - Riding by Riding (en francais)

Advance Poll Results

Looks like Advance Poll turnout is up across the board. Every Province and Territory is reporting higher turnout than the 2004 election.

Contrary to popular belief by many that low voter turnout is better for Conservatives, this is a good thing for the CPC.

Keep working!

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Southwest strength no fluke (en francais)

While I was looking for another post last night, I came across this little gem - Vote Splitting on the Left

Interesting to note that all the ridings I listed are currently considered 'in play' in the election and very possible pickups for the CPC.

As with Generals who fight the last war, people who continue to fight the last election, and base their predictions on such are doomed to failure. People who are expressing surprise at the strength of the CPC in the southwest haven't been paying attention for the last year.

That's a good thing.

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Southwestern Ontario's blue tide rising (en francais)

Although I disagree with Mr. Butler on the Tory surge being the only reason for Rick's campaign doing so well, I'm not going to argue with the assessment. The fact that Rick has knocked on over 18,000 doors and the the team has completed over 45,000 phone calls since May have played a large factor. Fourteen months of work have produced an in-depth campaign plan, a committed (or soon to be!) team and the hardest working candidate I've ever seen.

H/T to Jack's Newswatch

Southwestern Ontario's blue tide rising
Hard times in area farming and auto industries mean trouble for the Liberals, writes Don Butler.

One measure of the Tory surge is that even in urban Windsor-Tecumseh, a former Liberal stronghold where Tories have never done well, the race is now widely seen as being between New Democrat incumbent Joe Comartin and Conservative Rick Fuschi.

Sorry Bruck. Wrong choice, wrong party, wrong time.

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Toronto Star Pundit's Blog (en francais)

The Star has launched a new blog, the Pundits featuring Tim Powers, CPC, Sheila Gervais, Libs, Jamey Heath, NDP. No Greens included. Moderated by Star business columnist David Olive, the pundits will debate daily topics. It's a Typepad blog with moderated comments.

Have at it people!

Cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

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Vote-O-Matic 3000™ (en francais)

Not sure who to vote for this election? Try the Vote-O-Matic 3000™ brought to you by the Random Party of Canada.

You have to admire people's creativity!

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Ouch! News not good for Liberals (en francais)

55% would welcome a Harper majority
Poll indicates Conservatives can widen gap as Liberal attack ads proving ineffective
By BRIAN LAGHI
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Posted at 1:34 AM EST

Begging for chance
Martin says his 'evolution' not complete
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, OTTAWA BUREAU

Majority in reach: Tories poised to win up to 153 seats, poll says
FRONT-RUNNER: Conservative Leader Stephen Harper talks with reporters at a news conference in Saint John, N.B., Monday.
Photograph by : Tom Hanson, Canadian Pres
Janice Tibbetts, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Liberals scramble to curb losses
Martin appeals to NDP voters to form `coalition'
New tracking poll suggests race may be tightening
Jan. 17, 2006. 01:00 AM
SUSAN DELACOURT, LES WHITTINGTON AND ANDREW MILLS
OTTAWA BUREAU

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Canconv is back... (en francais)

with a new name - The Canadian Blog Exchange.
Andrew continues to grow and improve this fantastic tool.

With 400 blogs and over 16,000 posts, The Blog Exchange is blog central for politics related topics in Canada.

Andrew does all this work on his own time and expense. If you can, stop by and visit the donation page.

Cross posted to Progressive Bloggers

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Windsor Star endorses Conservative Party (en francais)

Best way to start the day is to read an editorial like this.

Great news for Team Fuschi!

The election: Canada needs change

Windsor Star
Published: Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Prime Minister Paul Martin was given a chance by voters 19 months ago to breathe new life into a Liberal government that was listless and drifting and mired in allegations of corruption. He failed in the task because of his weak and vacillating leadership and because the task, after more than a decade of Liberal rule, was almost insurmountable.

The inertia and malaise plaguing the Liberal party is largely the result of having won four consecutive elections against a splintered opposition. Change and choice are the lifeblood of democracy and the lack of them a breeding ground for arrogance and complacency. The Liberals have come to believe they are entitled to govern and entitled to the perks that come with that entitlement. Public service has become public self-service.

more...

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Mutual Parasites - Liberals/BQ (en francais)

I had decided a while ago not to comment on polls anymore during this election, but the latest from Quebec is very interesting.

Conservatives support surges in Quebec: poll

The poll of 2,492 Quebecers is considered accurate within 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. It was conducted Jan. 13-15.

Among sovereigntists responding to the poll, 80 per cent said they would vote for the Bloc next Monday, 12 per cent said they would cast a Tory ballot, three per cent intended to vote NDP and two per cent were planning to vote Liberal.

But one revealing finding was that 49 per cent of sovereigntist respondents who indicated they were not fully decided or could change their mind said they were seriously considering voting Tory or might think seriously about it. In fact, 24 per cent of sovereigntists in the poll said they would be more likely to vote Conservative if they became convinced the Tories could win a majority.

Among federalists, 41 per cent said they would have voted Conservative, 28 per cent for the Liberals, 13 per cent for the NDP and nine per cent for the Bloc.

So who is the credible Federalist option in Quebec? I have always believed that the Liberals and PQ are mutal parasites who need and feed off each other. The best way to lower the separatist fervor in Quebec is to reduce both parties.

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Scandal #178 - Technology Partnerships Canada (en francais)

200 Bloggers - 200 Scandals

Technoscam
While Parliament was still in session, Techology Partnerships Canada (TPC) was at the centre of a lot of activity. The Dingwall affair flowed from his activities as an un-registered lobbyist for a company seeking TPC funds, as well as another company that paid him an illegal contingency fee. Below is a summary of many of the related issues surrounding TPC that I first posted back in June of 2005. With the Liberals sitting on the results of over 40 audits and trying to rename and relaunch the program in the final months of Parliament, TPC remains one of the biggest unanswered questions of the last session.

Following the post in Part I, I decided what I had read was unsettling and begged further research. I am currently working with public information available from the TPC website and using the Elections Canada contribution database. Feel free to pitch in and help with ideas, suggestions or a bit of research. If you'd like to help, drop me a line at bluebloggingsoapbox@gmail.com

Part I - I like to get ahead on things

Part II - Slight of hand?

Part III - Donations are good.

Update

Part IV - and the winner is...

Update - from Bill @ Strongworld
Bill does some digging on Zenon, some familiar names attached to the company. Maurice Strong ring any bells?

Update from Bill @ Strongworld

CPC Press Release from MP James Rajotte
Corporate Welfare Plan Fails on All Counts

from Bill @ Strongworld
Liberal friendly TPC recipient: Aeterna Labs Inc.


from Bill @ Strongworld
Liberal friendly TPC recipient: BioChem Pharma


from Bill @ Strongworld
Liberal Friendly TPC recipient: SNC Lavalin Control Systems

TPC Program Update - The Gravy Train Rolls On

TPC Program Fraud - What does it take?

TPC Gravy Train Rolls on

Audit of $2.9 billion TPC program expands

Here we go again, is anyone suprised?

Adscam the sequel?

Technology Partnership Canada being phased out -- before the scaandal happens

Son-of-TPC

Adscam - part deux!!

Liberals TPC Smokescreen

Liberals TPC Smokescreen Pt II

Technology Partnership Canada investigation nabs David Dingwall

TPC - Name that Scandal

Fundraising for Dummies

Sources/Research Tools/Inspiration

Unofficial Canadian Political Contributions Search Tool (Ver: alpha 0.61 - April 27, 2005)
Created and hosted by Andrew Anderson @ Boundy by Gravity

Technology Partnerships Canada - website. This is where I found all the yearly reports, audits and evaluations.

Susan Riley - Ottawa Citizen columnist - Susan's article that I read in the Windsor Star is what got me started on this.

Google - what would we do without it?

Auditor General of Canada - website. Hours and hours of fun reading here. Almost depressing when you realize that successive Auditor General's have been making the same recommendations for years.

Blogging Tories - a not so suprisingly diverse group of men and women dedicated to the Conservative cause.

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Quote of the Day from a Liberal Press Release (en francais)

"Canadians have to ask themselves how can they trust a party to govern that is either incompetent or deceitful."

Now there's a 'look in the mirror' statement if I've ever heard one!

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Your campaign low point (en francais)

Ezra Levant poses the question on the Shotgun today. "The campaign's low point What do you think it was?"

His answer, Paul Martin's 'notwithstanding' pledge. You can read his article in the Calgary Sun.

I would probably pick the 'notwithstanding' pledge as my number 2 low point. Unfortunately, I'm saving my number 1 pick as I don't think we've seen it as yet. With less than seven days to go and the Liberal campaign in freefall, I believe the worst is yet to come. I hope I'm proved wrong, but the cynic in me doesn't really think so.

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Wise words from Winnipeg (en francais)

Partisan leanings aside (mine), Winnipeg Sun Columnist Gord MacFarlane pens an optimistic article. Contrary to what most Chicken Littles would have you believe, regardless of the result on the 23rd, most Canadians will wake up to find the end of the world hasn't arrived and quite possibly, Canada will be ready to embark on a new era of governence.

Relax, everyone; there will be a Canada on Jan. 24.

In fact, I have no doubt that the best for Canada is yet to come.

Fit to govern

Somehow, somewhere along the way, the Liberal party managed to convince far too many Canadians that they and only they were fit to govern this country. Worse than that, they came to believe it themselves.

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Budget suggestion (en francais)

Easiest way for Canadians to save hundreds of millions of dollars next year?

Click the question mark for the answer.

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Be prepared (en francais)

It's everything but the kitchen sink this week and when that doesn't work, they'll throw that in too. Smear, fear and a few billion more in promises will probably be only part of what is to come. I'm sure there will be plenty of bait trolled around, looking for a bite. Resist the urge.

Time to stay the course, on track and on message.

Keep working until the 24th of January.

One person - one vote at a time.

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10 Power 10 Ideas (en francais)

10 Power 10
IDEAS

1. Help create 10 Blue Fingers.

2. Email 10 family/friends/coworkers the link to the 199200 Reasons not to Vote Liberal blog

3. Email 10 family/friends/coworkers the link to this picture.

4. Volunteer to be a Scrutineer with your local campaign.

5. Volunteer as a driver for election day.

6. Volunteer as a door knocker on election day.

7. Join the Blogging Tories Challenge: 200 Bloggers - 200 Scandals

8. Tell 10 people that the Conservatives are going to win and that's a good thing!

9. Help end the Liberal spin and mistruth.

10. Submit your ideas for the 'Power of Ten'

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Junior's legacy to his father (en francais)

Campaign Stories #6

To start off, for all the pundits, pollsters, NDP supporters and everyone else who ever said that a Conservative could never win in Windsor Tecumseh:

Democraticspace.org moves Windsor-Tecumseh into the "Too close to call" category.

The past years work by the Campaign Team is starting to pay. Strategy and planning sessions held over the last 12 months produced a solid plan that we continue to execute. Tweaks and adjustments have been made, but the core plan remains. An old military axiom of the 6 P's has been a guiding principle - Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Special ballot turnout in this election increased to over 1300 votes from 486 and the advance polls look to be on track to reach 6000, up from 4000 in 2004.

It was interesting that none of the other parties had scrutineers at the polls yesterday. The Liberals I can understand, considering the hapless state of their campaign, but the NDP? A friend of mine drove by the NDP office at 8pm and the lights were all off and no one was home, 5pm for the Liberals. We left our office at 12:30 this morning, and there was still one person left finishing up some work.

Friday we hosted numerous 'Coffee Hours' close to advance poll locations. Supporters hosted these events and Rick would stop by each one to speak with everyone and when he left, everyone headed off to the Advance Poll to vote. Saturday was a Pancake Breakfast central to three Advance Polls. Turnout was great and you could feel the excitement. Day by day, poll by poll, one person at a time.

Rick just went over the 18,000 mark in his door knocking and the team has made over 45,000 phone calls. It's really simple - campaigns are won with hard work, lots of it. One of the best compliments was received in the Windsor Star this week in a riding profile article.

... admitted one Liberal insider, one of the hardest-working candidates that person has seen. Fuschi has been campaigning since last spring, knocking on doors long before some candidates in this area had even decided to run.

Windsor Star, January 11th, 2006

This week will be furious with activity. One last push for the advance polls and then we shift into GOTV mode. If all goes well, another 5 to 6,000 phone calls will be made this week, numerous rides and lots more door knocking. End result - Rick Fuschi MP, the first Conservative elected in Windsor-Tecumseh since the Hon Raymond D. Morand in 1930. An interesting sub-note, Raymond Morand was defeated by Paul Martin Sr. in 1935.

It would only be fitting to take back this riding from a government lead by Junior.

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Election related stock tip (en francais)

Buy some stock in any company manufacturing these items. For some strange reason, I think there's going to be a run on the product starting Tuesday the 24th of February.

You heard it here first.

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Blogging Tories Site of the Week (en francais)

Pomochristian
Thoughts about faith, life and our world.

Blog on!

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Team Fuschi takes to the airwaves (en francais)

Rick Fuschi's radio ads begin airing Monday morning on local new/talk station AM800 CKLW.


Just curious to know what people think of them. They were developed locally.

Rick Doorknocking 1

Rick Doorknocking 2

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Buzz Hargrove knows best... (en francais)

I almost missed this one yesterday. H/T to ALW for the link.

Buzz's latest pronouncement - Canadians are too stupid to figure it out for themselves and must rely on his superior deduction skills.

Think Twice campaign leery of Harper win(registration required)

When asked if it was possible for Canadians to study the party platforms and make an educated choice to vote Conservative, Mr. Hargrove said it was not.

"Stephen Harper has sleepwalked people through this election, hiding exactly what he believes and what he's going to do," said Mr. Hargrove, who has previously endorsed Mr. Martin.

He dismissed the idea the Think Twice panel's interests would be better served by vocally endorsing the NDP, rather than encouraging the public to vote "to stop" another party.
"It's not about who deserves to be elected," he said.

Personally, I think this is worse than the Liberal's military attack ads. 'Buzz knows best and the rest of us better vote Liberal if we know what's good for us.' Insulting on so many levels, Hargrove's pronouncements cheapen the individual person's vote and encourage the 'collective mind' approach.

I encourage Union members everywhere to print out this post, the National Post article or both. Distribute Buzz's words to those who are not enlightened enough to make up their own mind.

They just might have something to say about that.

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Use their own ad against them - new CPC ad (en francais)

Great ad - starring Keith Martin, John McCallum, Judy Stewart and Paul Martin

Even Liberals...

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Liberal Justice Minister Cotler spins some more fantasy (en francais)

As with other issues such as EI and the Canadian Wheat Board, the coming week should bring a flood of spin, misrepresentation and outright lies.

There's nothing more dangerous than a Liberal about to lose their Government Expense acccount.

Beware!






Cotler misstated handgun ban support
adviser

Betty Ann Adam, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, January 14, 2006

Ontario is the only province that has endorsed a Liberal proposal to ban handguns, an adviser to federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said Friday.

Cotler said last weekend in Saskatoon that support for the Liberal proposal is "not just in Ontario." He mentioned Manitoba, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Quebec, saying some provinces would buy in and others would not.

But Cotler did not intend to give the impression other provinces support the plan, said Leigh Lampert.

Lampert said Cotler was talking about a bill to amend the Criminal Code that was tabled before the government fell in November.

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Liberal Entitlement Example #13897 - they'll never learn (en francais)

Advance Polls
Saturday, January 14, Monday, January 16

Special Ballot
Voting available at your local
Returning Office until 6:00 pm January 17

I think I'm supposed to be either surprised or shocked, but I'm fast losing the capacity for either. The spin will be "it's just a coincidence", Liberal ridings did not receive any special treatment. Last election it was Liberal ridings that seemed to have the same sort of luck with Visitor Visas. With the kind of luck they have, more Liberals should be buying 6/49 tickets.

Grit ridings got 79% of federal funding for Canada Day
Quebec also received disproportionate share of cash for celebrations

Glen McGregor, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Saturday, January 14, 2006

A disproportionate share of federal funding for celebrations of Canada Day and other national holidays was given to organizations in ridings held by Liberal MPs.

A little more than 79 per cent of the $7.5 million provided since the last election through Canadian Heritage's Celebrate Canada program funded projects based in Liberal ridings, a Citizen analysis shows.

As well, projects based in Quebec received more than half of the total amount spent by the national program.

The government approved funding for more than 1,600 projects to mark Canada Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, and the lesser-known holidays Canadian Multiculturalism Day and National Aboriginal Day between the end of June 2004 and last October.

The Citizen matched the addresses listed for the holiday projects to their electoral districts. Those based in Liberal ridings received $5.9 million, or about four times the $1.5 million for those in ridings held by all opposition MPs combined.

Before the federal election was called, the Liberals held 133, or about 43 per cent, of the 308 seats in the House of Commons.

There's only one way to put an end to this.

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Liberals paid $1 Million dollars for Canada logo... (en francais)

the worst part is, we already owned the damn thing!

Feds' million-dollar baby
By LICIA CORBELLA

The federal Liberal government allowed the word Canada and the Canadian flag to be used to launder money.

In March of 2004, Canadians learned that they paid almost $1 million for the development of the "Canada" logo -- that simply consists of the word: Canada with a small Canadian flag above the last letter "a".

The logo -- also called the Canada wordmark -- can be found on most government websites, on all federal government buildings and also at special events sponsored by the feds.

In previously secret Liberal cabinet documents, made public as a result of the inquiry by Justice John Gomery into the federal Liberal government's sponsorship scandal, it was revealed eight Liberal-friendly advertising firms charged taxpayers $989,000 for "development and consulting" of the Canada logo.

But now, it turns out, the wordmark was developed long ago.
...

It really makes you wonder what other little timebombs are waiting to go off in Ottawa.

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Help a Liberal retire today (en francais)

Advance Polls
Saturday, January 14, Monday, January 16


Special Ballot
Voting available at your local
Returning Office until 6:00 pm January 17

Friday 13th bad for Grits
Greg Weston
Sat, January 14, 2006

Friday 13th bad for Grits

By GREG WESTON

OTTAWA -- The first clue that the Liberals were going to have a really bad day yesterday was plastered all over one of our favourite news websites, bourque.com -- six morning headlines describing Grit MPs mired in new controversy. Just overnight.

Turns out some of the stories are more smear than scandal, but the result is the same.

All the bad news that's fit (and unfit) to print creates the impression that the Liberal campaign is a giant train wreck in progress.

It was the Liberals, of course, who long ago perfected the art of the drive-by smear in their ruthless demonization of the Alliance and Reform parties.

Alas, those who live by the smear die by the smear, and the Liberals are certainly getting killed on that front. Here's a sample from yesterday's body count: ...

It's certainly not over yet folks. Every day and every vote counts.

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The Finance Minister who cried wolf (en francais)

This year's surplus was predicted to be $1.9 billion by Ralph Goodale. The real surplus - $9.1 billion. When it comes to partisan politics, Mr. Goodale is not above being creative with his analysis.

Why haven't the Liberals submitted their numbers to an independant organiztion like the Conference Board of Canada? I believe they offered to review your costing, what are you afraid of?

January 8, 2006
Liberals slam Tory cash plan
By MARIA BABBAGE

Similar accusations by the Liberals against the Conservative platform were made in the 2004 election campaign, although subsequent surpluses more than made up for the shortfall the Liberals had predicted.

...Finance Minister Ralph Goodale said the cost analysis of Conservative promises was drafted by Liberal campaign members and wasn't endorsed by an independent accountant.

Goodale insists that saying the Tories would overspend by at least $12.4 billion over five years is "putting the most gentle possible interpretation on the arithmetic."

The deficit could actually be far higher, he said. No one knows how much Harper would have to spend to satisfy premiers who want more cash from Ottawa to fix the so-called "fiscal imbalance" as the Tories have promised.

Goodale's first pronouncements were the result of 'in-depth' analysis by Liberal war room hacks using the Liberal's own projections. We all know how accurate they are!

Liberals wrong on the numbers
08 January 2006

OTTAWA – Paul Martin is trying to change the channel from the scandal that is enveloping his party by attacking the Conservative fiscal plan.

* Last election, Paul Martin claimed: “I know the figures. I spent nine years as minister of finance.” (Liberal Party Press Release, June 14, 2004)

* In the spring of 2004, Paul Martin predicted a surplus of $1.9 billion for fiscal 2003-04, and used that figure to claim that the Conservative 2004 election program was not affordable.

* As everyone now knows, the real surplus turned out to be $9.1 billion, and Martin’s claims about the Conservative platform were wrong.

* Martin is using the same words today as he attacks the 2006 Conservative platform: “I know these numbers,” he said. (Canadian Press, January 8, 2006)

* Martin was wrong in 2004, and he is wrong now.

Paul Martin has been consistently wrong on “knowing the numbers.”

More fear and smear.

Martin Numerically-Challenged
June 04, 2004

OTTAWA – A $27-billion platform? Hardly.

Paul Martin was finance minister for virtually the entire past decade. He has shown, year after year, a great propensity to play fast and loose with numbers. Most notably, he has chronically under-estimated federal surpluses to suit his public relations needs (remember the last budget, when he said the cupboards were bare?). Can he really be trusted to provide honest math?

2000 budget – surplus underestimated by $9.7 billion

2001 budget – surplus underestimated by $5.2 billion

2002 budget – surplus underestimated by $4 billion

2004 budget – surplus underestimated by $4 billion

Underestimating surplus to the tune of $23 billion over the last five years.

Why would anyone listen to your figures now Ralph? You have no credibility.

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Spot the Policy - Part III (en francais)

Paul Martin, the Liberals and their positive vision for Canada

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Earned Media - ya gotta love it (en francais)

Especially for your GOTV effort!

Early polls could be key(subscription required)

Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, January 13, 2006

Supporters of Conservative candidate Rick Fuschi in Windsor-Tecumseh will be plied with coffee today and then practically escorted to nearby polling stations to vote.

It's called getting out the vote, and it will escalate significantly today, the first of three days of advance polls in the federal election.

"It is crucial for a close election to have an effective, efficient advance vote team, and any campaign worth it has one," said one former candidate and party insider.

The number of party volunteers shuttling voters to the polls today will be a sign of the strength of their campaigns, he said.

Fuschi's campaign has scheduled four "coffee hours" across the riding to draw supporters. The candidate will show up for half an hour, talk to people and then leave for the next one. Volunteers will then offer to help voters get to their polling stations.

It's a strategy that has been employed throughout Fuschi's campaign to get supporters to vote early by special ballot. Across the riding, the campaign hosts town hall meetings for supporters during the week and pancake breakfasts for them on weekends.

All the events are staged near where people can vote.

"We feed them and then walk them, push them, do what we can to get them to the polling station," said campaign manager Nick Kouvalis.

Like most campaigns, they offer supporters directions to polling stations, rides and even babysitting, whatever it takes.

They have been encouraging people to vote early by special ballot since the beginning of the campaign.

"If you have x amount of identified supporters, you can't get them all out the same day, said Kouvalis.

"You only have so many people and so much time on election day."

Kouvalis knows because he was the get-out-the-vote person for Essex MP Jeff Watson in the last election. Watson won 659 votes more than Liberal incumbent Susan Whelan in the special ballots and advance polls, including the small number of military and foreign service ballots, all cast before election day. Watson won the election by only 829 votes.

Conservative support began to falter the last 10 days of the campaign in the last election, and the party that had talked of forming the government ended up losing.

"So the extra 600 votes he (Watson) had from the advance poll, had 400 of them changed their minds on election day, Susan Whelan would have been MP," said Kouvalis.
© The Windsor Star 2006

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Pomochristian ad parody (mirror) (en francais)

Copy of post from Pomochristian.ca

Here’s my new parody based on Brent Colbert’s entry, it was just too funny to wait.

Its called ‘The Light Side’

But… BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, please respect a few rules. Don’t just click the link, please right click and save as. This will allow you to play your copy as many times as you like. If you just click the link, every time you do, you will use precious server bandwidth that I need to try and keep this site up.

If too many people hit the server, I may have to take the file down. I apologize in advance.

To BBS and Ferrethouse, and anyone else who wants to, there are NO restrictions on mirroring, all I ask is that you email me a link so I can offer a mirror to the video on your site. You can put it up on your blogs as well, just trackback please, or email me a link. Preferably both, so I can list the mirrors.

I hope you all enjoy the video, and please remember, this is a JOKE. I don’t really think that Paul Martin is… well… I don’t want to spoil it. Paul Martin is a nice guy who wants to mold Canada in his vision. He’s not a bad man (although he’s done some bad things). I do not hate him. I’m not trying to insult him. This is a JOKE. Like and editorial cartoon. Nothing more.

Anyways… without further blathering, here’s the download (1.3 MB)

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CPC Platform - hot off the presses! (en francais)

Straight from the plumber's tool box - no leaks here ma'am.



Stand Up for Canada - Conservative Party of Canada Federal Election Platform 2006(News Release and .pdf file)

Stand Up for Canada - Conservative Party of Canada Federal Election Platform 2006(direct .pdf file link)

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ADQ's Dumont throws support behind Harper (en francais)

I caught this news conference yesterday. Although not a big secrect, Dumont made sure the people of Quebec heard this time.

Dumont says he'll vote Tory
Jan. 13, 2006. 01:11 AM
GRAHAM FRASER
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER

MONTREAL—A prominent Quebec politician has given Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's campaign a shot in the arm.

Mario Dumont, leader of the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ), said the Bloc Québécois has not represented the interests of Quebecers, and doesn't deserve their votes.

He said he personally plans to vote for Harper's Conservatives in the Jan. 23 election.

The head of the right-of-centre provincial party that has five elected members told a news conference in Quebec City "the Bloc Québécois was saved by the sponsorship scandal. The sponsorship scandal was their life preserver, and they are still riding on it." ...

Keep an eye on the numbers in the East.

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CTV's Robert Fife no pushover (en francais)

An interesting exchange between Newsnet host Ravi Baichwal and CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife, from yesterday.

Forward the video to just past the half way point.

I won't prejudice you by commenting, other than to say my opinion of Fife shot up considerably after watching this.

CTV's Robert Fife

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CBC Blogger John Bowman singing karaoke (en francais)

I always was a sucker for a dare.

The video quality isn't great, but beware the audio - not for small kids.

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Spot the Policy - Part II (en francais)

I'll even make it hard for you, I won't circle anything on this one.

It's all about values

and policy

in Canada

Somebody said that

We're not making it up.

Spot the Policy (en francais)

Quick - point out the Policy that Paul Martin introduced today.

Any wonder why people are having a hard time evaluating the Liberal's policies.

Liberal "Smear and Fear" campaign continues (en francais)

After Stephen Harper acted decisively on the Zeisman issue, the Liberal Party thought about it for 7 hours or so, and then amended their website with this insightful little piece and then just to make sure, they re-issued the same piece, with a different title along with posting it on the front page.

I went through the Navy's Damage Control School in Halifax several times in the eighties so I know what's it's like when you're running around plugging leaks and shoring up crumbling bulkheads. Just in case they missed it amongst all the din and confusion going on in the Liberal war room:

Stephen Harper on Zeisman along with the accompanying story.

I know it's hard to believe a leader could actually be decisive, and they're certainly not used to it, but flogging a dead horse at this point just makes them look silly.

Next, just when you think they couldn't possibly sink any lower, they serve up another smear, insinuating that Stephen Harper and the CPC are racist. A little research reveals some other aspects to the story the Liberals would rather not include in their version.

Ever since Liberal blogger Jason Cherniak first posted this smear on his CTV Election blog I've been digging around. Seems there are a few details Jason left out of his posting, and the Liberal Party seems to have omitted them as well in the article posted on their website:

* CASJAVA is a group of new Canadians who advocate their concerns democratically. A variety of prominent political and social figures from across the political spectrum have attended their activities, including Liberals and New Democrats. For instance:

· Liberal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh spoke to a CASJAVA conference when he was BC Attorney General (Vancouver Sun, January 26, 1999)

· CASJAVA has endorsed Liberal MP Joe Commuzzi.

· CASJAVA endorsed former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido, who also attended a CASJAVA rally (CP, The Daily News (Kamloops), Monday, August 18, 2003)

· Prominent Vancouver municipal politicians regularly attend CASJAVA events, including current Mayor Sam Sullivan, who attended the group’s October, 2005 banquet.

· CASJAVA has worked with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, the Catholic Civil Rights League, and other church, civic, and ethnic organizations.

· Are the Liberals saying that Ujjal Dosanjh, Sam Sullivan, and the Archbishop of Vancouver are responsible for all of CASJAVA’s publications or statements?

This phrase takes on a whole new meaning when looked at through the words of several prominent Liberals - "new Canadians who advocate their concerns democratically"

ORAL QUESTION PERIOD

[English]

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Mr. Stockwell Day (Leader of the Opposition, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, we have just learned through access to information that on May 4 our Canadian high commissioner in Sri Lanka sent a classified message to Ottawa warning that a minister of the crown was about to attend a dinner for a Tamil terrorist front organization.

The commissioner wrote “In view of the timing and sponsorship, consideration must be given to the perception of attendance of a minister of the Canadian government”. Why did the finance minister ignore this warning and attend the meeting anyway?

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, this was a meeting of Tamils who had gathered together to celebrate the Tamil new year.

These are Canadian citizens who were gathered to celebrate their feast. I am pleased that I attended a meeting of Canadian Tamils celebrating their feast.

Mr. Stockwell Day (Leader of the Opposition, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, CSIS clearly lists the Tamil tigers as one of the many groups with terrorist links that are active in Canada. The United States state department lists FACT, which was the sponsor of the dinner that the minister attended, as a front organization for the Tamil tigers.

These facts were included in the warning that was sent from our officials. Yet both the Minister for International Cooperation and the Minister of Finance have claimed that FACT is an innocent cultural organization. Why did two ministers of the crown ignore the warnings of our own Canadian diplomats?

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, this was not a meeting of Tamil tigers. This was a meeting of Tamil Canadians.

At the particular meeting a young woman stood up who had recently graduated from high school and talked about what she wanted to do in Canada, what she was going to do in university, how she wanted to be a success, how important Canada was to her, and how this was her country.

She said that she could not believe that people would condemn her because of her Tamil race, because of something that was happening somewhere else. It is too bad that the Leader of the Opposition does not see that.

Mr. Stockwell Day (Leader of the Opposition, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, the high commissioner in Sri Lanka expressed concern about the possible security threat that the minister's attendance would have on Canadian mission staff and their families.

Foreign Affairs recognized the threat. They wrote back saying “Thank you for keeping us up to date on the threats on personal security of Canadian mission staff and dependants”. They should not try and hide behind these threats that we are just zeroing in on a certain individual. We applaud this young woman who spoke but we do not applaud the denial that the finance minister is making. Why does the Prime Minister allow these—

The Speaker: The Right Hon. Prime Minister.

. 1420 +

Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, there was a celebration of Canadian citizens. There were representatives of the federal government and provincial governments present. There were editors of newspapers present.

When people come to Canada from anywhere else in the world we want them to be equal. What the Leader of the Opposition is saying tells us a lot about his thinking—
The Speaker: The hon. member for Calgary Southeast.

Mr. Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, it is CSIS, our security force, not the official opposition, which has said that the Federal Association of Canadian Tamils, FACT, has connections to the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam.

I am holding in my hand an e-mail from the high commission in Sri Lanka dated May 26, indicating that after the finance minister had this dinner there was a front page picture in the Sri Lanka newspaper saying “Canadian finance minister at the Tamil tiger fundraiser held by the Federal Association of Canadian Tamils”.

Despite warnings from our own officials, why did the finance minister allow our officials to be put in danger—

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Finance.

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, in addition to the young woman at this dinner there were doctors, there were lawyers, there were business people, there were teachers, and there were educators who had come together to celebrate their new year.

All of us on this side of the House have attended group festivities and celebrations of people from other parts of the world where there are also problems, but never once has it occurred to any Canadian to simply make the allegation that because in somebody's country there is a problem these people are not Canadians but these people are terrorists.

Mr. Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, if there is any shame then it is in this place in that a minister of the crown ignored warnings from one of our foreign embassies indicating, and I quote from a Sri Lankan newspaper, his “Liberation Tiger sympathies” and his presence at a “Liberation Tiger fundraiser” threatened the safety of Canadian embassy employees”.

Why does he continue to ignore the fact people in Sri Lanka read in a newspaper that he attended a Tamil tiger fundraiser and that he has Tamil tiger sympathies? Is he not at all concerned about the warnings that this would be a security threat to Canadian embassy employees?

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, what I am concerned about is the sense of values that is being demonstrated by the official opposition.

Let us make it very clear, and I do not believe I am only speaking for the government but I am speaking for all Canadians, that there are not two kinds of citizenship in this country. When people land upon our shores they are entitled to celebrate their heritage and they are equal Canadians with all of us.

One set of rules for Liberals and a different standard for everyone else.

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How long? (en francais)

Considering the news broke at around 10:40 this morning that Zeisman had been dealt with by Harper, I wonder just how long it will take the Liberals to correct not only the front page article, but the duplicate articles in the "Latest News".

Post time checks in the comments section.

Edit: 6:00 pm EST - story modified - Harper Still Faces Tough Questions on Zeisman

2nd article removed.

Liberal Rapid Response in action!

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Harper gives Zeisman the boot (en francais)

Well done!

Harper dumps B.C. candidate under investigation

Updated Thu. Jan. 12 2006 10:35 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The Conservative Party has dumped Derek Zeisman, a c