|
|
Posted by Scott Tribe on May 27, 2011, at 6:56 am |
It seems a new poll is out that says Canadians are more then willing right now to re-open the Constitution to do such things as Senate reform:
After almost two decades of constitutional peace, Harris-Decima survey conducted for The Canadian Press indicates a majority is now willing to risk re-opening the constitutional can of worms to accomplish some specific goals…For instance, 61 per cent said they’re prepared to re-open the Constitution to reform or abolish the appointed Senate. And 58 per cent said they’re willing to offer constitutional amendments in a bid to finally secure Quebec’s signature on the Constitution. Fifty-eight per cent also said they’re willing to open [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on May 21, 2010, at 11:45 am |
There are two traits of our newest Conservative Senator, David Braley (who, by the way, owns 2 CFL teams – the Toronto Argos and the BC Lions. I still don’t get how he’s allowed to own 2 different teams in the same league – conflict of interest anyone? – but that’s another story).
The first trait, as noted by Kady O’Malley, is that he already has the Conservative trait of deny, deny, deny, even when faced with facts:
From today’s Globe and Mail:
As the Prime Minister’s Office announced Mr. Braley’s appointment, opposition Liberal researchers said he personally donated $16,500 to Mr. Harper’s 2004 leadership campaign and that his [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on February 9, 2010, at 10:04 am |
Here’s a wonkish-type post from me today on Senate reform, since there’s another poll out today (h/t Harperbizarro)that shows many Canadians in favour of an elected Senate.
In my opinion, If you’re going to do reform, Harper’s piecemeal way isn’t the way to go (it may not even be constitutionally legal); you need to open the Constitution and hammer out an agreement with the provinces. It’s more difficult to do it that way, but if you’re serious about it and not just trying to use it as a wedge issue for stirring up your supporters, then that’s the way you do it. If you fail, you drop it [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on September 1, 2009, at 12:23 am |
This is a different video take on the patronage king, Stephen Harper. It’s been promoted elsewhere on other blogs, but it still amused me enough that I thought I’d add it here as well.
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 30, 2009, at 2:06 pm |
It’s been rather amusing pointing out the hypocrisy that Harper has engaged in with all these crony appointments to the Senate in recent days and comparing them to his past statements, but let me say that I also want to mirror Jeff’s blogpost in saying that if Harper were actually to propose real Senate reform, I’d go along with that. What is “real Senate reform”, you might ask? Jeff’s definition will do nicely:
..real and meaningful Senate reform means a constitutional amendment. It means the amending formula. It means sitting down with the provinces and negotiating regional representation, and elections, and term limits, and the balance of powers between [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 29, 2009, at 11:53 am |
In brief, and just to follow up on Impolitical’s post this AM, there are many things I worry about with regards to Liberal election strategy and allowing Harper to continue being PM of this country, but “losing the Senate” because of a raft of patronage appointments by this PM isn’t one of those worries.
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 28, 2009, at 4:31 pm |
Check out the interview that ex-hockey coach, current hockey analyst, and newly appointed Conservative Senator Jacques Demers gave to the Globe:
Mr. Demers… was a well-known face among the new crop of senators. He said he will continue working as a hockey analyst and put his mind to his new job.
“I’ve just been named a senator here, and I’m going to have to start following [federal politics],” he said in an interview.
I’m not listing this to attack Jacques: I applaud him for his honesty about his not having followed federal politics up to this point.
It reflects worse on Harper for picking him then it does Jacques [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 28, 2009, at 11:36 am |
So, I’m going to get on here today and actually give Harper credit for picking Gary Doer, the just-resigned ex-NDP premier of Manitoba, to be the new ambassador to the US. He’s someone who’ll be more ideologically in tune with President Obama then current Canadian ambassador Michael Wilson is (who probably is feeling a bit uncomfortable down there after Conservative officials leaked to the US press about “Obama doesn’t really believe in vetoing Free trade” stuff that occurred in the Democratic primaries and helped contribute to an Obama defeat in Ohio), and since he’s an ex-premier, he’ll probably be used to try and go at this “Buy American” legislation [...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 27, 2009, at 9:25 pm |
Gritgirl strikes on the Harpocrisy of these new Conservative Senate appointments – bringing the total to 27 in less then a calendar year.
Look, I’ll be the first to admit the Liberals aren’t exactly pious when it comes to lecturing other party’s on their PM making patronage appointments to the Senate. The difference is that Harper has said ad nauseum the past 13 years he would never do this. Yet, he’s now made 27 Senate appointments of his Conservative cronies in less then a year. As Gritgirl points out, this is the LARGEST ever amount of appointments in a single year by any Canadian Prime Minister.
[...]
Posted by Scott Tribe on August 27, 2009, at 11:54 am |
A new Ekos poll come out in line with Decima’s results, making me again question Ipsos Reid’s poll as well as the NDP bloggers jumping all over that one result and declaring the end of Liberalism. Also, Harper apparently is destroying the Senate (and his past pious pronouncements on Senate Reform) to save the Senate, or something… [...]
|
|
