Of Mice and Cats

What is Stephen Harper hiding?

Curtis — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:42:10 +0000

It’s no secret that Stephen Harper’s government is the most secretive in the history of Canada, but what are they hiding?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Maher+Harper+obsession+fostering+paranoia+paralysis+public+service/5792000/story.html

Conservatives were trying to “Harperize” government afterall.

Curtis — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:44:25 +0000

After much delay and many refusals for political reasons, the Canadian Government has finally released documents that show there was in fact a concerted effort to re-brand itself as “The Harper Government.” In true Conservative fasion the government is sticking with the original lie.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/documents-show-harperization-of-government-communications/article2253080/

Anyone surprised?

Kelowna votes, disappointed but not surprised.

Curtis — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:54 +0000

Well, Kelowna has voted and it seems the voters want to shake things up a bit. When I heard about an increase in voter turnout this time around, both at advance polls and on election day, I figured we were in for some changes. Unfortunately, the majority of voters are under the impression that bringing back the mayor from six years ago is change. This is the same Old Gray Mayor (pun intended) that commented after his defeat in 2005 that he was done with politics and that it was a younger person’s game. He also made comments about his female rival putting up pink, frilly curtains in city hall, and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars fighting a human right tribunal because he doesn’t like gays. I guess none of that matters to the 13,995 people who filled in the bubble next to his name.

Next came the disappointing council results where it seems instead of electing people based on their experience, their work ethic, or their being suited for the job, voters chose to go with celebrity. (Gerry Zimmermann – fire chief during the OK Mtn. Park fire of 2003; Colin Basran – former CHBC News reporter who doesn’t live in Kelowna; Maxine DeHart – Capital News business columnist; Mohini Singg – former CHBC News reporter) I suspected this may happen from the start, but I guess I held out some hope that voters would want better for their city.

The only encouraging news I can think of from the voting results is the aforementioned rise in voter turnout. Of course it’s not too encouraging when you consider the estimated turnout was a pathetic 33%!

Kelowna Municipal Election 2011, My Choices

Curtis — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:25:04 +0000

On Saturday Kelowna residents, or at least those who bother to vote, will decide the future of this great city by electing a mayor and council along with a board of school trustees. To be honest, I’ve never voted in a municipal election before, be it here, or in Calgary when I lived there. Since moving back to Kelowna I’ve become keenly aware of my love for this city and my concerns, hopes, and dreams for its future. That’s why for this municipal election I’ve done my best to follow the huge slate of candidates and pick those who I think can make this city even greater.

Though I’ve seen some nice changes in Kelowna in recent years, overall I’m not pleased with the direction being taken by Kelowna’s mayor and council. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that no incumbents made it on my list.

For mayor:
Kelowna needs a fresh new leader that will listen to the citizens of Kelowna and put their interests first. We don’t need more of the same or more of the past. (Here’s looking at you Walter Gray) We need a leader who will listen to our concerns and addresses them instead of looking only at what will best benefit the business community.

Cal Condy is that leader. Throughout his campaign Cal has shown himself to be a no-bullshit, get-things-done kind of guy who listens to the people around him. Plus the guy cracks me up. City hall could use a guy with a sense of humour.

For council:
Sadly, with 40 candidates running for council I can’t see eight of them who I would give my support to. Of course that helps the candidates that I will be voting for, since a vote for an eighth-choice candidate could mean a first-choice candidate doesn’t get a seat on council. And so my choices, in no particular order, are:

Rob Mabey is a progressive voice that has a plan to take back our city, to build on its momentum, and to make it a better place for all. Rob speaks of a Kelowna with development that is attainable for all levels of income, creating jobs, and reducing crime. Those are three things I’m voting for.

Mary-Ann Graham is a dedicated and hard working advocate for Kelowna and for Rutland specifically. She has an impressive record with many years of tirelessly working for her community including working to extinguish the repressive HST. She also has previous political experience working on many boards and committees through the years.

Tisha Kalmanovitch is a volunteer community advocate for a number of organizations and offers a progressive approach to move Kelowna forward. Plus, if she got Jack Layton’s blessing as a federal candidate in the last election, she’s got mine for Kelowna Council.

For school trustee:

Greg Krasichynsky is another New Democrat running in this election. His platform includes some unique and innovative ideas to provide the very best education to the students in this city.

Today the HST, tomorrow the BC Liberals.

Curtis — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:35:14 +0000

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/26/b-c-votes-to-scrap-hst/

Congratulations to British Columbians for working against great challenges and defying great odds to dispose of this regressive tax. Let’s now work even harder to dispose of the government that brought it in.

The loss of a great friend.

Curtis — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:29:36 +0000

It is with great sadness that I return to blogging this week. Like so many Canadians I am shocked and saddened by the death of Jack Layton. As a New Democrat I’ve been a huge fan of Jack Laytion for many years, despite our disagreements on some things. Through the years I was able to attend three rallies that Jack spoke at. On one occasion I was able to shake his hand as he made his way to the stage. Though I didn’t really know him personally, I feel like I’ve lost a close friend. When I first heard the news of Jack’s death I was in shock. Hours later, reading the news, I was moved to tears.

It’s my hope, that Jack’s last public words to Canadians will inspire people, like they have inspired me, to become more involved in building the Canada we want. Let’s work together to build a better Canada in memory of a great leader, a good friend, and the best Prime Minister we never had.

Unreported Crime #1: Stephen Harper appointing Stockwell Day as a cabinet minister

Curtis — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:10:27 +0000

Does Stockwell Day actually believe we need more prisons to house people who’ve committed unreported crimes?

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20100803/stockwell-day-crime-100803/

At the very least, he thinks Canadian’s are stupid enough to be fooled by his reasoning. Does the Conservative government plan to fill these new prisons by suspending habeas corpus and locking up anyone who looks like they may have committed an unreported crime?

*Blog title blatantly stolen from Tyler Kinch’s Facebook status.

Ok, let’s try it Jack’s way…

Curtis — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:46:38 +0000

It seems the Conservative government now concedes Jack Layton was on to something when he suggested we open a line of communication with the Taliban to end the decade-long war in Afghanistan. Of course, you won’t hear the Conservatives telling it that way.

Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, quietly announced this week that our government wants to engage the Taliban and others in a “reconciliation process that is inclusive of all Afghans, no matter their ethnicity.”

I’m not sure I agree that this will be an effective tactic, I don’t agree with Layton on a lot of things when it comes to Afghanistan, but I’m glad our government has finally acknowledged that it’s worthy of consideration instead of dismissing it with childish name calling like they did four years ago when Jack suggested it.

Via: John Moore.

Torchbearer positions sold to sponsors?

Curtis — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:20:16 +0000

It seems Olympic torchbearer positions are being given out in the same manner as tickets to Olympic events. Priority is being given to high ranking sponsors.

http://tinyurl.com/yextat7

Canadians think politicians get little done, Harper proves them right.

Curtis — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:47:43 +0000

A recent Ipsos Reid poll shows that 72% of those surveyed said they disagreed with the statement “Politicians in Ottawa got a lot done this year.” Meanwhile, Stephen Harper is boasting about all his government has done. Harper’s decision to prorogue parliament, and the Governor General’s moronic decision to allow it, show that 72% to be correct. Harper’s decision to shut down parliament this way for the second time in two years cancels thirty-something bills that Harper had previously said were important. He slammed the Liberals for threatening to force an election because they would cancel these same “important” bills. The truth is Harper is a power hungry asshole who has proven time and again that he will do whatever it takes to cling to power and avoid being held accountable for his actions.

Stephen Harper doesn’t give a shit about what’s best for our country. It’s time to toss him out on his ass!

Federal Liberals will support HST

Curtis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:21:26 +0000

Michael Ignatieff says federal Liberals will support legislation to implement a harmonized sales tax in Ontario and British Columbia, despite previously bashing it as a job-killing “Harper sales tax.”

Liberal, Tory, same old story.

Harper’s Conservatives Silence Desent Again.

Curtis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:09:47 +0000

Once again, a government official speaks his opinion and gets canned because the Conservatives don’t agree with him. This time it’s the chairman of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.

OTTAWA – The watchdog over the RCMP won’t be invited back for another term, prompting critics to accuse the government of muzzling him.

The government says it’s not renewing the appointment of Paul Kennedy, chairman of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.

Kennedy, who assumed the job four years ago, has harshly criticized the RCMP’s use of Tasers and recently sparred with the government over his budget.

In a statement Friday, the government thanked Kennedy for his service, but gave no reason for not extending his term.

Don Davies, the NDP public safety critic, said Kennedy’s departure is the latest example of the Conservative government’s inability to withstand negative comments.

“I think it’s wrong and I think it’s unfortunate,” he said.

“It smacks of political partisanship. I don’t think they like to be criticized and I think they like to put their own people in.”

Davies noted others have been marginalized for saying things the government doesn’t like, citing parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page, author of unflattering reports about federal spending, diplomat Richard Colvin, who raised alarms over the treatment of Afghan detainees, and Military Police Complaints Commission chair Peter Tinsley, who is conducting a probe of the detainee file.

Liberal public safety critic Mark Holland was travelling and unavailable for an interview. Through his assistant, he expressed disappointment – though not surprise – with the government’s decision.

Holland said the government has consistently done everything in its power to stifle independent oversight.

Kennedy is preparing to release a report on RCMP actions in the high-profile case of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who died at the Vancouver airport in October 2007 after being Tasered by the Mounties.

A Public Safety official called Kennedy last week to tell him he won’t be renewed.

Kennedy’s term expires at the end of December and a replacement has yet to be named.

He declined comment Friday.

Kennedy, a veteran public servant, is a trained lawyer who spent 25 years with the federal Justice Department before joining the then-solicitor general’s portfolio, now Public Safety, where he retired in May 2005 as a senior assistant deputy minister.

The government has been working on a long-awaited modernization of RCMP oversight. But it has outlined no timetable for making changes.

Kennedy has taken a keen interest in the process, arguing his office doesn’t have enough powers to properly oversee the RCMP.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan says he is waiting for the report of a federal commission into the 1985 Air India bombing before moving ahead.

But critics have pointed out that a 2006 commission of inquiry report into the Maher Arar affair has already produced a detailed blueprint for keeping an eye on security and intelligence agencies like the RCMP.

Holland said Friday the government continues to find excuses for not implementing the important changes.

Earlier this year it appeared the government wouldn’t replenish millions in special funding that Kennedy’s office received to carry out in-depth studies.

The complaints commission said the cutback would endanger research about how police deal with mentally ill suspects, and how forces often end up investigating themselves when officers get into trouble.

In the end, the commission got $3.1 million of the $3.7 million it hoped to receive for the research.

This from the party that, as opposition, slammed the Liberals for their partisanship.

Child Poverty in Canada

Curtis — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:52:56 +0000

Tuesday was the 20th anniversary of Canada’s parliament passing a resolution to end child poverty by the year 2000. All members of parliament at the time voted in favour of the resolution, but here we are twenty years later and the goal was not achieved. In fact, successive governments (and opposition MPs too) have done pathetically little to end child poverty. What seemed like a great idea at the time has become an embarrassing failure. I think the problem lies in parlamentarians’ failure to do something very simple that was once told to me: “Plan your work. Work your plan.” Parliamentarians certainly had a great goal, and gave themselves a reasonable time-frame, but they didn’t have a plan to follow. It’s time for Canada to accept its failure and start looking at how we can succeed on this issue. We should be looking at what other nations have done to eliminate child poverty and devising our own plan using what worked best for those nations.

Ed Broadbent, the man who came up with the end child poverty resolution in the first place, has an idea. It sounds good to me. At the very least, it would be a good start.

It’s time for a raise!

Curtis — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:29:56 +0000

Eight years is far too long for the lowest paid workers to wait for a raise. Good for Carole James for pushing this issue. Minimum wage should be at or above the poverty line!

New Democrats join British Columbians to mark eighth anniversary of BC’s minimum wage freeze

British Columbians believe hard work should be rewarded. It’s a core value that we all share.

That’s why the anniversary we marked this week was such a sad statement on the BC Liberals’ priorities.

Eight years ago this month, BC’s lowest paid workers got their last raise. Eight years ago.

In that time, costs have risen for all of life’s essentials.

And the new HST will make life even more expensive.

British Columbia now has the lowest minimum wage in the country.

And that means for tens of thousands of British Columbians getting up and going to work just doesn’t pay.

That has got to change.

To grow our economy and secure our future, every British Columbian who works hard, pays taxes, and contributes to their community should share in the benefits of BC’s economy.

But under the BC Liberals more and more British Columbians are falling behind.

BC has the highest child poverty rate in the country.

The gap between the rich and poor is growing.

And the middle-class is getting squeezed by rising costs and stagnant wages.

New Democrats believe it’s time to give minimum wage workers their first raise in eight years.

And it’s time to invest in the fundamentals to support a growing economy, a strong middle-class, and healthy communities.

Sincerely,

Carole

Conservative Candidate Silenced

Curtis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:24:51 +0000

Once again, Stephen Harper has slapped the PMO muzzle onto a fellow Conservative. This time it was the Conservative candidate in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election. I guess it’s ok to share Harper’s views on destroying Canada’s medical care system, you’re just not supposed to talk about them in public. He’s saving that descussion for when he gets his majority.

Reality check: Harper scrambling to hide candidate’s support for health privatization
Fri 06 Nov 2009

With only days until voters make their choice in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election, Stephen Harper is trying to hide his candidate’s comments in favour of private health care.

Speaking on local radio, Diana Dilworth expressed her willingness to allow more private medical care as an option for health reform:

“There’s a lot of different things that we could consider. And certainly private medical care is one of those options.” – Conservative candidate Diana Dilworth, CKNW’s “The Christy Clark Show,” 26 October 2009

Since she made her statement, Dilworth has all but disappeared.

“Over the next few days, I learned that with the exception of a tightly structured appearance on CKNW’s Christy Clark Show, Dilworth has yet to participate in any all-candidates’ debate. A New Westminster community group called Tenth to the Fraser abandoned plans for a debate after Dilworth declined to participate.” – The Tyee.ca, “The Curious Case of the Missing Tory,” 5 November 2009

If Stephen Harper disagrees with his candidate on private health care, why doesn’t he just say so instead of hiding her from voters?

Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t.

Political favours influencing H1N1 vaccine

Curtis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:22:13 +0000

Stephen Harper has long campaigned on a promise to end Liberal political patronage in Ottawa. That’s why many Canadians were surprised when he appointed 18 CPC friendly senators at a time when he didn’t have the confidence of the House of Commons. It’s now been revealed that senators are costing taxpayers almost 220 per cent more for expenses while working less and less.

And as if political patronage when it comes to the Senate wasn’t disturbing enough, it turns out political patronage has played a role in the distribution, or lack thereof, of lifesaving H1N1 vaccines.

Stephen Harper proves once again: Liberal, Tory, same old story.

NDP the balanced budget party?

Curtis — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:32:09 +0000

New Democratic governments have the best record when it comes to balancing their budgets and staying out of deficit. Even the Conservative federal government agrees.

Does Google Streetview help thieves?

Curtis — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:24:47 +0000

Last month CBC News reported on Google Streetview’s emergence in Canada and how some people are now concerned about their security and privacy. Patrick Mates, a home security inspector”, says “this is scary” and then claims that Google is making it easy for thieves to case people’s houses. I have news for Mr. Mates. Having a public road in front of your house makes it easy for thieves to check out your house too! Google Streetview doesn’t show anything that a normal walk or drive down the same street would show. In fact, from what I’ve seen of the Streetview images cruising down the street in reality would give you a better idea of what houses are vulnerable. Streetview isn’t available for my current city; Kelowna, B.C., but I was able to check out my former address in Calgary. For starters, I typed in the address and Google showed me an image of the house a block down the street. When I moved down the street to see the house I lived in, the image was blurry and parts of my car, that was parked out front, appeared twice. I was actually quite disappointed in the quality, but not enough to bitch and moan about it in CBC News’ comments section.

And that brings up this question: Of the many people who commented on CBC’s story and complained that their security and privacy have been violated, how many felt so violated that they wrote to Google and asked that the image of their home be removed?

Rick Mercer Rants About Swine Flu

Curtis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:17:26 +0000

“Although, who am I kidding? I live in a riding represented by the NDP. I ain’t seeing no vaccine. Meanwhile, if you live in Jim Flaherty’s riding you get three vaccines and a giant novelty cheque for five grand!”

I love it!

Tory Logos Everywhere

Curtis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:55:34 +0000

First came the release of Canada’s 2010 Olympic uniforms, and outrage that one of the designs supposedly looks like the Conservative Party of Canada logo. Honestly, I have to disagree with my fellow New Democrats. It just doesn’t look close enough to the Conservative logo to make me concerned. It just looks like hyper-partisanship fueled false outrage to me. I doubt the average Canadian is going to see a link. If some of the people who are making the accusations came forward with some proof that the CPC actually had a hand in influencing the designs I’d certainly be willing to change my mind.

Don’t get me wrong, I personally believe the HBC has botched the uniforms for our athletes ever since they won the contract for them. I’m not a big fan of the designs this time around. A couple of the designs I’ve seen featured in the Kelowna Bay are actually pretty nice, and I wouldn’t mind having a nice shirt with one of those logos. Too bad they’re so ridiculously high priced, and probably made in China. Some of the other designs, however, just look ridiculous to me. Our athletes were way better served when their outfits were designed by Roots. At least this time around they look better than the disaster HBC came up with for the Beijing Olympics.

Next, we have Conservative logos on cheques from the federal government. Conservative MPs all across the country were caught handing out taxpayer dollars and slapping that dirty little party emblem on them. And when I say all across the country, I mean in Conservative ridings across the country, because god knows Stephen Harper hasn’t stuck to a single campaign promise yet, especially one regarding ethics or patronage. At least one Conservative MP, Gerald Keddy, claimed he didn’t notice the giant party logo or his own signature on the ceremonial cheque he was handing out in front of the cameras. Is he fucking blind? Somebody better get Gerald some new glasses!

Keddy even defended his actions saying he was just doing his job, he “never gave it another thought”, and he “Would absolutely do it again.” At least that’s what he was saying until Stephen Harper slapped a muzzle on him. The next day he was claiming it was all a big mistake and “It was certainly inappropriate and not something I would do again.”

How stupid do the Conservatives think Canadians are? There’s no way someone could accidentally slap a logo that big on a cheque without noticing. They’re only sorry they got caught in the act.