Civility in the House

To wit:

Are we headed for more civilized politics as an innocent new Parliament reconvenes -respectful debate on substantive issues, witty rejoinders instead of personal abuse, pointed questions rather than extreme claims? Have they heard our plaintive cries?

There is a case for despair, but also cause for hope and, during what promises to be a brief and busy spring session, those questions will be answered -starting Friday with the note struck by the Speech from the Throne.”

Personally, I like a bit of conflict in my House of Commons-watching. I like some creative tension. I like passion. Why does everyone always seem to think “decorum” will be better?

What thinkest thou, O readers? Is “decorum” achieveable? Do we want it?


Holy crap

The Liberal number depresses me, but it won’t stay that low for long.

What really blows me away is the Conservative number vis-a-vis the NDP number. If the campaign had gone for another couple weeks, would Jack Layton be Prime Minister?

OTTAWA – A new poll suggests New Democrats appear to have consolidated their support as official Opposition to the Harper Conservatives, particularly among women and urban voters.

As a new Parliament opens following the May 2 election, the Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey suggests the majority Conservative government has the support of 37 per cent of respondents — down from the Tories’ 39.6 per cent of the popular vote on election day.

NDP support stood at 34 per cent in the poll, up from 30.6 per cent of the popular vote, while the third-place Liberals slipped to 15 per cent in the survey, a loss of almost four percentage points from their election day total.


Fourteen years ago!

20110602-115939.jpg

The NDP’s Karl Belanger, of all people, just indirectly reminded me that, fourteen years ago today, I got beaten (soundly) in North Vancouver. The above pic is the cover of the Vancouver Sun on the day after the campaign kicked off.

Sometimes I think about that race, which was a privilege to be a part of. I lost, in part, because some said I was a parachute candidate (I wasn’t – I competed for the Liberal nomination), and because the local rag (which published Holocaust denier Doug Collins) detested me. Also a factor: the worry that I’d be a trained seal, and that I wouldn’t ever dissent with my party.

For those of you who know me, that last one is kind of amusing. Me being reluctant to oppose the party’s leadership? That’s funny.

Anyway. Hard to believe it’s been so many years. Congrats to all MPs, from all parties, who are celebrating the anniversary of their victory today. I would’ve like to be there celebrating with you, but that’s politics (and life).


Sun News, sunny day

It’s super nice here in Tee Dot, so I walked from the subway along King Street to Sun News. I am now a sweaty human puddle.

Tune in and mock me!


How the NDP will doom itself

In one easy lesson:

QUEBEC — Former prime minister Jean Chretien says he’s disturbed by the NDP’s “ambiguity” on national unity and its willingness to resurrect the debate over the Constitution.

He was referring to an NDP caucus that suddenly includes sympathizers of Quebec independence and is the first pan-Canadian party to oppose the Clarity Act, Chretien’s landmark law which sets rules for a future referendum.

“Obviously, there’s some ambiguity and I see they’ve started to talk about the Constitution again since the election,” Chretien said during a visit to Quebec City.

“I said in 1993: ‘If you want to talk about the Constitution, vote against me because I won’t go there. There are other problems than that.’ “

Jack Layton has said the NDP would support a simple majority win in a sovereignty referendum.

 


The only defensible position on Senate “reform”

Now, let’s see how long Timmy Hudak and his band of losers can ignore this one:

McGuinty rejects Senate reform; calls on Harper to abolish upper chamber (Senate-Reform-Ontario)
Source: The Canadian Press
May 31, 2011 10:35


BRAMPTON, Ont. – One day after Quebec threatened court action to block proposed Senate reform, Ontario is telling the federal government to abolish the upper chamber.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to introduce bills to impose term limits on senators and to allow provinces to elect nominees who would be appointed to the Senate.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says he’s talked with other premiers and believes the best option is to simply get rid of the Senate altogether.

He says to reform it in any substantive way “is just not possible.”

McGuinty says Ontario has 40 per cent of the population but only 25 per cent of Senate seats, and sees no need to have an unelected upper chamber in Ottawa.

Harper’s previous attempts to pass the Senate reform bills were thwarted by opposition parties, but the Conservatives now have majorities in both the House of Commons and the Senate.

INDEX: NATIONAL POLITICS

 


In today’s Sun: the NDP isn’t

The New Democratic Party — neither new nor democratic.

It’s true. Did you know the New Democrats have been calling themselves “new” for half a century? In the U.S., they might get jail time for that whopper. Down there, the Federal Trade Commission won’t let you call something “new” for more than six months. It’s against the law.

Up here, you can apparently call something “new” for five decades, and no one will take you to task for it. Federally, provincially, the NDP continue to insist they are “new.”

Given the fact I have been alive for almost exactly the same period of time, I insist everyone now start referring to me as “New Warren.” That, or “Young Warren.”

Also acceptable: “New, Young, and Strikingly Handsome With A Thick Head of Hair Warren.” If you’re 50-plus (or even less!), add the prefix “New” to your own name. It won’t be the least bit accurate, but perhaps it’ll make you feel better about yourself.