Canada General Discussion

[RogueBeaver]

BC is winnable for Dippers. Not so much SK, MB so long as Mulcair keeps parroting McGuinty with talk of "Dutch disease" plus C&T.

[RogueBeaver]

Current levels or slightly better. I don't know much about Dix but he gives me the impression of soft-spoken middling-left, if that makes any sense.

[RogueBeaver]

At Issue tonight: Everyone agreed that a) Mulcair's oilsands comments are regional wedge politics b) the government's anti-environmentalist hyperbole is way overdoing it.

I expect the next big news (besides the budget omnibus that only we uber-junkies are following) federally will be the federal Liberal executive setting their convention date next month. Immediately followed by Bob Rae's resignation.

Oh, and can someone please explain the "Coderre's a great organizer" meme that's so prevalent in the TO media? Probably part of their total ignorance about Quebec.

[RogueBeaver]

Brokerage isn't what it used to be. Catholics and immigrants used to be firmly in their corner, for instance.

[RogueBeaver]

Rae would probably win on a personal vote, like most remaining Grits.

[RogueBeaver]

Etobicoke Centre result overturned- will Opitz appeal to the Supremes?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/18/pol-court-throws-out-etobicoke-centre-election-wrzesnewskyj.html

[RogueBeaver]

Deschamps is retiring from the Court.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/supreme-court-justice-retires-giving-harper-chance-to-appoint-majority/article2437085/

[RogueBeaver]

But where does it end? This is so stupid. I'd rather just defer to Elections Canada's judgement and handling of the issue, rather than election results being contested at court and overturned whenever the results are close, forcing by-elections.

Hear, hear. It already went through an automatic recount last year.

[RogueBeaver]

Shouldn't be overly hard to get the 9 vote margin in Montmagny - L'Islet - Kamouraska - Riviére-du-Loup overturned based on this ruling.

Hopefully the five people who were found to have voted twice cop a hefty fine.

If I were the CPC strategist I wouldn't risk it. Given the current NDP honeymoon and anti-Harper sentiment in Quebec, a by-election could well result in a solid NDP victory and prompt accusations of Conservatives wasting money for being sore losers.

I agree with you 100%. The flirtation between Harper and Quebec ended during the 2008 campaign and won't return unless Mulcair stumbles horribly on a Quebec-related issue.

[RogueBeaver]

Even the Star wants Mulcair to back down on the oilsands.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1181476--tim-harper-tom-mulcair-will-not-move-but-conservatives-define-oilsands-debate

Another Air Canada pilots' strike?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/air-canada-pilots-dispute-goes-to-arbitration-after-negotiations-fail-152161675.html

[RogueBeaver]

No surprise.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/no-canadian-boots-on-afghan-soil-after-2014-harper-says/article2439178/

[RogueBeaver]

I don't see this being a major issue, given that none of the party leaders are particularly wealthy.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/NDP%20leader%20has%20remortgaged%20his%20home%2011%20times%20since%20early%201980s/6685607/story.html

[RogueBeaver]

Brison as interim?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/john-ibbitson/wholl-lead-the-liberals-for-the-next-year/article2447233/

[RogueBeaver]

For the first time in a while, I agree with her.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1208502--chantal-hebert-jury-is-still-out-on-thomas-mulcair-s-makeover-of-the-ndp

Plus the Del Maestro stuff from earlier this week. As I've said often the guy is our Coderre- a loudmouthed embarrassment to the party. Dunno why on earth Harper wants him as his PS.

[RogueBeaver]

Major Cabinet shuffle incoming.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1208579--cabinet-shuffle-expected-to-put-new-face-on-stephen-harper-government

[RogueBeaver]

1) Abolish Oda's ministry and put it back in Foreign Affairs as a division, where it belongs.

2) Replace MacKay with Alexander.

3) James Moore goes to Environment.

4) Shelly Glover becomes Vic Toews' parliamentary secretary, in line to replace him in a couple of shuffles.

5) Keep Nicholson where he is.

[RogueBeaver]

Hell, Bev Oda just needs to be fired. What an embarrassment.

Harper doesn't like firing people from Cabinet entirely. Simply because a) admitting he was wrong b) puts him on the political defensive. Prefers to wait things out- Chretien did the same thing later in his premiership (Jane Stewart anyone?).

[RogueBeaver]

Lawrence MacAulay is NOT retiring, contra yesterday's rumours.

https://twitter.com/ryhicks/status/211880710091448320

[RogueBeaver]

All omnibus these next 10 days as the session wraps up, since Scheer ruled against May this morning.

[RogueBeaver]

Ivison says the opposition is in part to blame for the Omnibust.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/06/11/john-ivison-the-opposition-shares-the-blame-for-creating-omnibus-bill-mess/

[RogueBeaver]

Ivison says the opposition is in part to blame for the Omnibust.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/06/11/john-ivison-the-opposition-shares-the-blame-for-creating-omnibus-bill-mess/

So, he is blaming the Opposition for opposing?

He's blaming them for bad strategy- saying they could have forced rule changes during the Harper minorities. As if Dion or Iggy were capable of outfoxing Harper in that sort of situation.

[RogueBeaver]

If he keeps himself out of trouble for a little longer, I certainly wouldn't mind Bernier swapping places with Paradis.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/06/12/john-ivison-berniers-maverick-call-for-bilingualism-reignites-conservative-push-in-quebec/

[RogueBeaver]

Someone will blink.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mcguinty-wont-rule-anything-out-in-ontario-budget-standoff/article4266004/

[RogueBeaver]

Yes... because with Dad's political luck and his opponents' penchant for self-destruction he could well get a real majority. *Puke*

[RogueBeaver]

Only been 8 months since the last election, so presumably most people would just renominate. At any rate Horwath went all soft at a presser this morning, so she'll cut a deal with Dad.