Comments (8)

Good thing I didn’t bet anyone on that “no Spring election” prediction, eh?

Comments (44)

“Why isn’t anyone asking for Michael Ignatieff’s resignation?

I mean, it’s not like they wouldn’t have just cause. In federal Grit land, things continue to go from bad to worse.

The Liberal Party’s fundraising is a shadow of its former self, with the Conservatives routinely raking in $5 for every two received by the Grits. Many rank-and-file Libs despair of their party’s policies –this year, with Ignatieff outflanking the Harper government on the right on Afghanistan, or informing his followers the oilsands are an instrument of national unity.

And there are the polls. The most recent batch reminded despairing federal Libs that their hated adversary, Stephen Harper, is perilously close to a Parliamentary majority. While Liberal support dips below 25% -something even Stephane Dion managed to avoid.”

Comments (52)

As I have written before, and as some friends will tell you, I am a raven/crow nut; I’m obsessed by these birds. Along with chimpanzees, many of these creatures (such as the incredible New Caledonian crow) are the most intelligent animals on the face of the planet. I have raven native art all over my apartment, and I read whatever I can about them. I’m crazy about crows.

Thus, this amazing story, well worth a read. Ka-kaw!

“Researchers believe that the ability to recognize humans is an extension of the crows’s ability to recognize each other, which helps them to warn one other about potential predators. This also means that if — oh, let’s stop kidding ourselves here — when they rise up against us, the crows will remember who threw out those tasty bread crumbs and who thought it was funny to spray them with the hose (in all fairness, it was pretty funny, just maybe not “worth having my eyes pecked out” funny).“

Comments (12)

It’s not all negative, but this part stood out:

“The Liberals have been able to drive the agenda over the past week – because, unlike Mr. Hudak, they’re able to make meaningful announcements. Meanwhile, he’s stuck in nearly every press conference and interview defending his lack of concrete alternatives. That hardly makes a positive impression among those who will be covering this year’s election campaign.”

Comments (4)

Not sure what happened to it – I can’t find it online. For the two of you who actually read my stuff, I will endeavour to find it!

In the meantime, happy first day of March.

Comments (5)

The author worked at The Charlatan. I have a soft spot for people who worked at the greatest student newspaper in the world.

Comments (6)

From my friend and former colleague John Ibbitson:

“Provincial governments are in the midst of generational change, as Christy Clark joins the swelling ranks of new premiers who will take on Ottawa in a contest for wealth and power.

Ms. Clark will replace outgoing British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell – an icon, if one were needed, for the old, tired crew who have either left, been pushed or face being pushed by voters who want new voices at the table playing a different political game.”

Two comments.

One, it’s high time: too many old farts like me still dominate Canadian politics.  Perhaps Christy’s win – a smart, sensible, single mom – signals a new day dawning.

Two, her win makes me feel old! I remember well the 1993 federal campaign, when a younger Christy Clark was camped out at a smallish desk outside our cramped war room space.  Then, as now, she was an amazing person, and clearly destined for great things.

Go Christy, go!

Comments (32)

Dear Commissioner,

Pursuant to Section 30(1) of the Member’s Integrity Act, I have reasonable and probable grounds to believe the Member for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox, & Addington, Mr. Randy Hillier, has contravened Ontario parliamentary convention.  I am requesting that you conduct an inquiry under Section 31(1) of the Member’s Integrity Act and render an opinion.

INTRODUCTION

The evidence outlined below and attached will show that Mr. Hillier is abusing taxpayer dollars and public resources for partisan political activity in a neighbouring riding. Mr. Hillier is using his website and legislative resources to further the interests of one of the candidates seeking the PC Party nomination in the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills. This activity is not only a violation of parliamentary convention, but arguably of basic ethical standards.

EVIDENCE

Mr. Hillier is the Progressive Conservative Member for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox, & Addington, which shares a border with the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills.

Mr. Hillier maintains a constituency website, www.randyhilliermpp.com, that is registered to his constituency office (105 Dufferin Street, Unit 1, Perth, Ontario, K7H 3A5).

Mr. Norm Sterling is the Progressive Conservative MPP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills. The Progressive Conservative Association in Carleton-Mississippi Mills is in the midst of nominating their candidate for the provincial election to be held on October 6, 2011.

Mr. Jack MacLaren is the other candidate for the Progressive Conservative Nomination in Carleton-Mississippi Mills.

Mr. Hillier and Mr. MacLaren “are good friends” (Ottawa Citizen, February 18, 2011), and both served terms as President of the Ontario Landowners’ Association, with Mr. MacLaren succeeding Mr. Hillier after the latter resigned to run in the provincial election in 2007.

On February 10, 2011, Mr. MacLaren sent out an email to an undisclosed list with the subject line “Jack MacLaren – A change is needed for Carleton Mississippi Mills Riding.” (See Exhibit A.)

The email asked recipients to support Mr. MacLaren in a number of forms, including by purchasing a membership to the Ontario PC Party, forwarding the email to others in the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills, and engaging with Mr. MacLaren through social media tools.

In total, the email had six external links:

• To Mr. MacLaren’s website, jackmaclaren.com;
• To share Mr. MacLaren’s website;
• To like Mr. MacLaren’s Facebook page;
• To follow Mr. MacLaren on Twitter;
• To subscribe to Mr. MacLaren’s YouTube channel; and,
• To unsubscribe from the e-mail list.

All six external links were routed through www.randyhilliermpp.com, Mr. Hillier’s constituency website. (See Exhibits B1 through B6.)

[snip]

The evidence demonstrates that Mr. Hillier is using his constituency office resources, paid for by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, to further the interests of a personal friend seeking a nomination for the PC Party.

That individual, Mr. Jack MacLaren, is a candidate in a neighbouring riding, currently represented by Mr. Norm Sterling, a duly-elected Member of Provincial Parliament.

Mr. Hillier is thus using Legislative Assembly funds to undermine and attack a Member of the Ontario Legislature in good standing.

Mr. Hillier has violated the Member’s Integrity Act and the parliamentary convention encompassed in it by allowing the use of his website for partisan political activity by Mr. MacLaren.

I request an inquiry under Section 31(1) of the Member’s Integrity Act and submit that Mr. Hillier’s violation of parliamentary convention be reprimanded under Section 34 (1)(b) of said Act.

Comments (2)

Turns out it starts with him!

Comments (18)