Friday, November 15, 2013

The Rob Ford Saga: A Stain On The City of Toronto


The Rob Ford saga has occupied the attention of the mainstream media and social media for some time now and anything I would have to add would be superfluous. Very likely, we have spent far too many hours obsessing over his behaviour and its effects on the reputation of the City of Toronto. Now, city council seeks to find a way to force him out of office or limit his ability to function as mayor of Toronto. It's hard to imagine that, with admissions of dangerous criminal behaviour, use of inappropriate language, public drunkenness, use of a soul-destroying drug like crack cocaine, lying, etc, we can't just get rid of him.

In Toronto's long and illustrious history, it was never foreseen that an individual like Rob Ford would ever occupy the mayor's chair. No mechanism for removal in place, no way to force this horror of a man to exit. Going forward, there will be such measures available, leaving only the need for a powerful stain remover.

Friday, April 19, 2013

The American Taliban - Here In Canada?


I recently watched the season finale of The Newsroom on HBO.  The news anchor, Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels), read off a list of the characteristics of the American Tea Party. Now, we here in Canada do not have a "Tea Party" per se, but the list led me to make some obvious comparisons to the Conservatives that currently form the government.  Here's the list of those characteristics he read, you can mix and match as you like:


  • Ideological purity
  • Compromise as weakness
  • A fundamentalist belief in scriptural literalism
  • Denying science
  • Undeterred by facts
  • Unmoved by new information
  • Fear of progress
  • Demonization of education
  • Need to control women's bodies
  • Severe xenophobia
  • Intolerance of dissent
  • Pathological hatred of government


Upon reaching the end of the list, McAvoy says this, "They can call themselves the Tea Party, they can call themselves conservatives, they can call themselves Republicans, but what they really are is the American Taliban."

Tough stuff.  And though it's only a TV drama, it makes a point.  The Conservatives are not the Taliban but do their policies and ideology lead us in that direction?  We know how government scientists have been muzzled by the necessity to have anything they say approved by the PMO communications people.  The National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy was shut down for releasing scientific information that was counter to the Conservative agenda.  Minister John Baird admitted at the time that they were not going to fund groups that don't tow the line and speak contrary to government policy.

During the 2011 election campaign, Michael Ignatieff was vilified as an "elitist" because of his educational accomplishments. Climate scientists and environmentalist have been called "extremists" whose intentions are to undermine the Canadian way of life and forever ruin the economy.  Funding for women's groups and women's issues, the arts, environmental groups, abortion in third world countries, has been reduced or eliminated while funding to religious organizations has increased.  Dissenters are public berated, abused and humiliated simply for speaking up - whether it's about budget issues or the torture of Afghan detainees. Two huge omnibus bills were driven through parliament with limited debate in the house or in committee and without nary an amendment. So much for compromise.

Draw your own conclusions but Stephen Harper's promise to change Canada so much you wouldn't recognize it when he's done is being kept.  The country is divided region against region more than I have ever seen - even during the years of René Lévesque.  Policies and actions of the government are returning us to more Dickensian times.  More and more, it's every man and woman for themselves.  We're on the wrong road.



Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Moral Decay and Rot Within the Conservative Party.


Today we woke up to the news that Arthur Porter has been charged, and a warrant issued for fraud.  Twitter is ablaze with comments on a released video in which Tom Flanagan is of the opinion that child pornography is somehow a victimless crime. (Perhaps more about that in a future post.)  With Canadian Senators scrambling for the exits when questioned about their expenses and even their legitimacy, we are left to wonder just how deep the corruption and moral decay goes in the Conservative Party.

Here is a partial list of Conservative party members and/or supporters that have been getting into hot water. Many of them are PM Stephen Harper's appointees - some with connections to the PMO, others are MPs and Ministers.  These are just links to news media reports and many of the investigations are still ongoing but a disturbing pattern has emerged. As you go down the list, ask yourself if these are the kind of people you want governing your country. You may want to have something nearby to settle your stomach as you read.

Please use the comments section if you feel there's something to add to the list.  I'm sure there are plenty of other incidents.

Ex-spy watchdog Arthur Porter charged with fraud http://www.windsorstar.com/watchdog+charged+with+fraud/8027184/story.html

Tom Flanagan okay with child pornography.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqS4qKkE_SY

RCMP called in to assist with Dean Del Mastro election campaign investigation  http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/rcmp-assisting-elections-canada-dean-del-mastro-campaign-180012207.html

Trial date set for Bruce Carson, former Harper aide, charged with influence peddling  
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/trial-date-set-for-bruce-carson-former-harper-aide-charged-with-influence-peddling/article4628142/

Penashue records removed from election spending file http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/04/pol-letters-removed-from-peter-penashue-file.html

Pamela Wallin, Conservative senator, holds Ontario health card  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/25/pamela_wallin_conservative_senator_holds_ontario_health_card.html

Senator Mike Duffy takes kitchen exit as reporters seek answers on residence  http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/senator-mike-duffy-takes-kitchen-exit-as-reporters-seek-answers-on-residence-1.1146765#ixzz2MBUoZYpo

Generous donations from executives of SNC-Lavalin's Conservative Party http://nowheremanblogs.blogspot.ca/2012/05/generous-donations-from-executives-of.html

Arrest warrants issued for Arthur Porter, ex-SNC-Lavalin CEO Pierre Duhaime http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/arrest-warrants-issued-for-arthur-porter-ex-snc-lavalin-ceo-pierre-duhaime/article9104853/

Senator Patrick Brazeau accused of pushing woman down stairs http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/26/sen_patrick_brazeau_pleads_not_guilty_plea_to_assault_sexual_assault_charges.html

Anonymous Releases Information on Vic Toews  http://thecanadianpoliticalscene.blogspot.ca/2012/03/anonymous-releases-information-on-vic.html

Christian Paradis faces yet another ethics investigation after conflict of interest decision  http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/24/christian-paradis-faces-yet-another-ethics-investigation-after-conflict-of-interest-decision/

Senate residency uproar continues as Harper holds the line  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/27/pol-senate-residency-uproar-continues.html

Conservatives admit making robocalls in Saskatchewan http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/05/pol-conservatives-admit-robocalls-saskatchewan.html

Robocalls probe remains top priority, Elections Canada head says  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Robocalls+probe+remains+priority+Elections+Canada+head+says/8004362/story.html#ixzz2MBcPsBbc

Conservatives’ ‘in-and-out’ scandal investigation cost taxpayers $2.3-million http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/10/conservatives-in-and-out-scandal-investigation-cost-taxpayers-2-3m/

Conservatives admit they’re behind false byelection phone calls in Liberal riding  http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/30/conservatives-admit-theyre-behind-false-byelection-calls-for-liberal-mps-riding/

The Chuck Cadman bribe controversy
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/parliament39/cadman.html

Flaherty broke rules by writing CRTC letter: ethics commissioner  
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/flaherty-broke-rules-by-writing-crtc-letter-ethics-commissioner/article7509562/

Gazebos and the governing morality 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/gazebos-and-the-governing-morality/article626964/

Harper, Where's Bev Oda's Pink Slip?
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/peter-worthington/bev-oda-savoy_b_1455771.html

SNC-Lavalin staff donated $15K to Conservative nominee  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/03/20/snc-lavalin-donations-conservative.html

Elections Canada asked to probe donations from SNC-Lavalin execs  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/03/21/canada-quebec-snc-lavalin-political-donations-elections-canada-probe.html?cmp=rss

Michael Sona Charged By Elections Canada In Connection To Robocall Scandal  http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/02/michael-sona-charged-robocall_n_2994767.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Storify'd: April foolery - Patrick Brazeau style
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2013/04/storifyd-april-foolery----patrick-brazeau-style.html


Library head Daniel Caron resigns as $170,000 in expenses found  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Library+head+Daniel+Caron+resigns+expenses+found/8391614/story.html#ixzz2TThJBLoS

PM's chief of staff paid off Mike Duffy's Senate expenses
Ethics czar announces review of possible conflict of interest over gift of $90,000  
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/05/15/pol-duffy-senate-deal.html

Key moments in the Senate expenses controversy
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/05/15/pol-senate-expenses-timeline-duffy-wallin-harb-brazeau.html

Duffy campaign invoice contradicts expense claim
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/05/16/pol-duffy-senate-expenses.html


Sen. Mike Duffy leaves Conservative caucus amid expense scandal  http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/sen-mike-duffy-leaves-conservative-caucus-amid-expense-scandal-1.1283982#ixzz2TVo9sGR8

Mike Duffy tried to influence CRTC decision on Sun Media: source
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mike-duffy-tried-to-influence-crtc-decision-on-sun-media-source-1.1285555#ixzz2TVohy2lM