Get your Alberta Liberal coverage here!


Live! From Edmonton! It’s that guy from Calgary!

Interesting bit from the bottom of the story:

On Sunday, delegates will vote on a controversial resolution to co-operate with other “progressive” political parties in the next election. The NDP has voted down similar resolutions at their last two party AGMs.

Kinsella said the federal Liberals and NDP are inching toward some sort of co-operation, which may put pressure on provincial counterparts to do the same.

“If the other guys are splitting up, is it a good idea to consolidate to take advantage of that? I don’t think it’s such a bad idea at all,” Kinsella said.

UPDATE: The Journal guy is good-humoured about my jabs at the paper’s editorial board.


Harper, God and cynicism

I’m about to give a speech to 200 pumped-up Alberta Liberals, so I don’t have time to opine about this issue at length. But let’s just say that Susan Delacourt’s take on Stephen Harper and the Almighty is the same as mine.

I go to church more than Stephen Harper does. If you are only an occasional church-goer, you are also a lot more diligent about your faith than the Conservative Prime Minister.

Confused? Don’t be. I’m not suggesting that Marci McDonald’s thesis – that the Canadian Christian Right is getting a lot cockier, and a lot more aggressive, in its efforts to smash down the wall between Church and State – is wrong. If anything, she’s understating things.

What I am saying is this: the abortion-related machinations of the Harper PMO – or the top guy, at least – is all about politics, not faith. It’s about throwing a bone to a well-funded, well-organized conservative lobby. That may be good strategy, but – as Susan suggests – it isn’t very honest.

It’s the most despicable kind of cynicism, in fact.


Question

How can Stephen Harper now demonize coalition – after what has happened in Britain, and after his own party was the direct result of one?

Discuss. Will approve your comments when the plane lands!


Help

I am giving a speech – or about to – for a friend who is retiring.

Send comments about the Habs game so I can announce the score!

UPDATE: Wooot, as my son would say.

Dominic Moore (L) celebrates his first period goal in front of the Pittsburgh Penguins bench with teammate P.K. Subban


Before the Reformatory spin machine gets revved up…

…read this:

Fasken Martineau, a leading international business law and litigation firm, made the following statement concerning comments made today before a House of Common’s Committee.


In November 2006, Mr. Nazim Gillani of International Strategic Investments approached Fasken Martineau through one its partners, Alfred Apps, in connection with legal advice/services for International Strategic Investments. Mr. Apps met with Mr. Gillani, received documents from Mr. Gillani and accepted a retainer cheque from Mr. Gillani.


Mr. Apps previously had no knowledge of, or acquaintance with, Mr. Gillani. Very shortly thereafter, Fasken Martineau declined to act on behalf of International Strategic Investments. Mr. Apps so advised Mr. Gillani and returned the retainer to Mr. Gillani. Fasken Martineau has had no professional dealings with Mr. Gillani or International Strategic Investments in the intervening period.


Charlie Lewis, R.I.P.

This makes me sad. I used to work with a Charles Lewis at the Ottawa Citizen. He was a wonderful, thoughtful guy. There was no bigger supporter than him for the work I was doing exposing the religious right and the far right.  No one.

That’s why I’m sad to read tripe like the linked column – the hackneyed, clichéd, anti-CBC and anti-secularism/pro-Harper and pro-religious right claptrap that the Post churns out, endlessly, while completely indifferent to the effect it has on its circulation and/or credibility.  When I wrote for them, they – the great free-speechers! – refused to let me print a goddamned word that was positive about the CBC, the Star or related subjects.  When they also refused to let me say what I wanted to say about protecting human rights, I quit.  Now, I only read them online, and sporadically at best.

Anyway.  The Charles Lewis I knew isn’t the Charles Lewis I see in the Post this morning.  He’s left the building, and I sure miss him.