In today’s Sun: colour me frustrated

And so, three years later, the farce that is Canadian progressive politics continues apace. Liberals and New Democrats persist in fighting amongst themselves, while Stephen Harper’s regime giddily reaps the benefits. Even with the blossoming Robocon scandal, Harper retains the loyalty of the 30-plus percent who classify themselves as hardcore conservatives.

Progressives, meanwhile, remain powerless — despite the fact 60% of the electorate favour them. The sad saga continued last week. Speaking to a group of students in Victoria, Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said this: “… If by 2015, with the election approaching, and neither party has gotten its act together enough to shine and to be the obvious alternative, then there will be a lot of pressure for us to start looking at that.

“I think there is not anyone in Parliament, outside the Conservative Party of Canada, that is willing to risk seeing Stephen Harper become prime minister one more time.”


Authenticity

Gary Mason’s (typically) thoughtful column, here, reminded me of a cautionary tale about another BC Liberal, here.

Abrupt changes in your ideology and your identity – your authenticity – can be as disastrous as, say, plaid shirts.

In this business – and in BC, in particular – authenticity isn’t just something.

It’s everything.


Seeking special dispensation

As many of you are aware, Your Humble Narrator is a dutiful and pious Irish Catholic. As such, during this time of Lenten observance, I have – as in previous years – dispensed with the demon liquor.

And, as all of you as who have cast your eye over a calendar today would know, tomorrow is the sacred and historically significant feast of St. Patrick’s. Whilst I am permitted a wee drink or two on Sundays during Lent, this is not necessarily so on Saturdays during Lent. Consequently, I’m seeking special dispensation from the many of my readers who happen to be priests – and/or those of you who possess the faculties to concoct a suitably plausible case for arguing that St. Patrick’s Day is excluded from noble Lenten sacrifices such as mine.

I eagerly await your submissions, and wish your vote to be in the ballot box an hour before the Devil (ie., Stephen Harper) knows you have voted.


Your nightly Robocon: the cancer spreads

An investigation by CBC News has turned up voters all over Canada who say the reason they got robocalls sending them to fictitious polling stations was that they’d revealed they would not vote Conservative.

Although the Conservative Party has denied any involvement in the calls, these new details suggest that the misleading calls relied on data gathered by, and carefully guarded by, the Conservative Party.

Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand announced Thursday that he now has “over 700 Canadians from across the country” who allege “specific circumstances” of fraudulent or improper calls. CBC News examined 31 ridings where such calls have been reported and found a pattern: those receiving those calls also had previous calls from the Conservative Party to find out which way they would vote.”