Canada General Discussion

[RogueBeaver]

Oops- yeah, 2005. Though not a Pelquiste I'd be happy with either Couillard or Moreau as leader. They should be aiming for a 2-cycle recovery.

Since this is a delegated convention I'd be skeptical of public polls, but Couillard led 43-14-8 in the last Leger poll of Pelquiste supporters. Meanwhile the caucus is split with 13 Couillard, 13 Moreau, 10 Bachand.

[MaxQue]

I worry about Moreau. He is the guy which compared Mario Dumont to Jean-Marie Le Pen and which wanted to fire all the employees of the government (and especially the jurists) which took parts in protests against hike or Bill 78, as they were disloyal to their employer.

[RogueBeaver]

While Le Pen is overboard, that whole 2007 campaign was pretty awful and Dumont was the worst. Otherwise I don't know much about him. Often painted as a rising star of sorts but I get vaguely bad vibes about his political horsepower. Couillard's a proven quantity but the Pelquistes are deluding themselves if they think he's an automatic ticket to power next time, especially since CEIC will probably Gomery them to some extent and further worsen their already guttural standing among Francophones.


Gene Whelan has died at 88. RIP.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/19/senator-eugene-whelan/

[RogueBeaver]

Rae now sending mixed signals: he'll stay as an MP and saying he has 2 years to decide about 2015. Ivison is usually spot-on with his scoops, plus it seems more plausible that Rae retires rather than stick around. Mission accomplished unless he wants to remain a frontbench critic, say Foreign Affairs, for the next 2 years.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2013-02-19/article-3180711/Grits-don%26rsquot-have-to-worry-about-%26lsquocrazy-uncle%26rsquo-Bob/1

[RogueBeaver]

BC, please give these pathetic desperadoes the thumping they need and deserve.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/bc-budget-reveals-a-governments-last-gasp/article8904005/

[DC Al Fine]

BC, please give these pathetic desperadoes the thumping they need and deserve.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/bc-budget-reveals-a-governments-last-gasp/article8904005/

Here's hoping Cummins steals a great deal of seats from the Grits. Clark needs to go.

[RogueBeaver]

Not happening. BCCP is also a joke.

Also, more godawfulness from the vile Prog regime in Edmonton. Those guys need to be Kim Campbelled.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/02/20/jen-gerson-alberta-canadas-poor-little-rich-province/

[DC Al Fine]

Not happening. BCCP is also a joke.

Also, more godawfulness from the vile Prog regime in Edmonton. Those guys need to be Kim Campbelled.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/02/20/jen-gerson-alberta-canadas-poor-little-rich-province/

I'm not looking for the BCCP to win, just cost the Liberals enough votes to lose seats.

On another note, if you can't balance the budget in Alberta, you really shouldn't be a respectable candidate for school board, much less mayor.

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, but the regime speaks fluent Simpsonese and is therefore Purely Awesome in Golden Triangle eyes.

[MaxQue]

Small ministerial shakeover in Ottawa, to replace John Duncan, former minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, which resigned last week.

He will be replaced by Bernard Valcourt (Madawaska-Restigouche, NB), which is currently Associate Minister for Defence and Minister of State to Francophonie and to the Atlantic Canada Opportinuities Agency.

He will be replaced at the Atlantic Canada Opportinuities Agency by Gail Shea (Egmont, PEI), which is also National Revenue Minister.

He will be replaced at Francophonie by Steven Blaney (Lévis-Bellechasse, QC), which is also minister of Veteran Affairs.

For Associate Minister for Defence, he will be replaced by Kerry-Lynne Findlay (Delta-Richmond East, BC), which was the parlimentary secretary of the Justice minister.

[Hatman 🍁]

Is there a reason why no federal government has ever had an actual aboriginal be Minister of Aboriginal Affairs? It's not like Harper doesn't have anyone to chose from. There might even be some native Tory senators whose names are not Brazeau.

[MaxQue]

Is there a reason why no federal government has ever had an actual aboriginal be Minister of Aboriginal Affairs? It's not like Harper doesn't have anyone to chose from. There might even be some native Tory senators whose names are not Brazeau.

Did a province ever did, anyways?

[RogueBeaver]

Forum Ontario polls incoming: 36 PC, 29 OLP, 28 NDP.

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/02/22/poll_suggests_hudak_tories_could_win_minority_but_wynne_has_pulled_liberals_out_of_tailspin.html

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/22/justin_trudeau_could_help_liberals_regain_ontario_poll.html

Moreau: We gotta listen to Anglos.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Moreau+likes+chances+Liberal+race/7999118/story.html

[Hash]

Is there a reason why no federal government has ever had an actual aboriginal be Minister of Aboriginal Affairs? It's not like Harper doesn't have anyone to chose from. There might even be some native Tory senators whose names are not Brazeau.

Leona Aglukkaq might be a good choice for AANDC, given that unlike most of the caucus she's actually talented and competent. I think she's overdue for a promotion to something better than health (where she's done good but it's not a big portfolio federally). Peter Penashue would have been a good choice in the past obviously, but he's damaged goods now.

[Hatman 🍁]

Is there a reason why no federal government has ever had an actual aboriginal be Minister of Aboriginal Affairs? It's not like Harper doesn't have anyone to chose from. There might even be some native Tory senators whose names are not Brazeau.

Leona Aglukkaq might be a good choice for AANDC, given that unlike most of the caucus she's actually talented and competent. I think she's overdue for a promotion to something better than health (where she's done good but it's not a big portfolio federally). Peter Penashue would have been a good choice in the past obviously, but he's damaged goods now.

It would be a demotion of Aglukkaq; Isn't Bruinooge Metis or something?

Maybe one reason no govt has made an aboriginal in charge of that dept is because of a fear they may favour one tribe over another? We all know how Aboriginal voting patterns are.

[RogueBeaver]

The other aboriginal star is Metis Shelly Glover, but she'd be a much better fit for Public Safety.

[RogueBeaver]

PLQ update: Couillard will obviously win on the first ballot, no one's sure who places second. Ridings left in the selection process favour Bachand though. Eerily similar to their last convention 30 (summarizes them in a single number, n'est ce pas?) years ago, when Paradis edged out Johnson for 2nd in an upset. I hope Moreau places second. Should also be interesting to see how Couillard interacts with the federal parties. And of course how he gets back in the Assembly.

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-quebecoise/201302/22/01-4624644-plq-couillard-devrait-lemporter-des-le-premier-tour.php

[MaxQue]

In Quebec, Green party leader resigned during the party convention, a few hours before the result of the leadership review were to be announced.

He said he will perhaps run in the leadership race to succeed himself.

As usual, Quebec Green Party is being a joke.

[MaxQue]

NDP loses another MP in Quebec, Claude Patry, MP for Jonquière-Alma joins Bloc.

He cites the position of the NDP of Clarity Law and the NDP support to the Muskrat Falls project as his reasons.

[RogueBeaver]

Then there's Tom Flanagan's Akinesque musings on child porn yesterday. (NSFW) PMO has already repudiated them as "repugnant, ignorant and appalling." Hear hear.

http://o.canada.com/2013/02/28/tom-flanagan-is-okay-with-child-pornography/

Tom Mulcair will be holding a House foyer presser in 15 minutes. Dunno if Patry's the issue he wants to talk about.

[RogueBeaver]

Danielle Smith has also repudiated him. WTF was he thinking? Waiting for CBC to comment, though they might just suspend him.

http://www.wildrose.ca/feature/wildrose-leader-smith-condemns-flanagans-child-porn-remarks/

[RogueBeaver]

Mulcair: We'll take that riding if Patry runs as a Dipper. PM now referring to NDP as Bloc Orange.

[Hatman 🍁]

Ugh. Good riddance, I suppose.

[RogueBeaver]

Might not be the last either.

On another note, Flanagan is still speaking at the Manning Conference. CBC has just terminated him.

Another Manning speaker: John Howard. Awesome.

[MaxQue]

Perhaps he is upset at redistricting. Him and the Chicoutimi-Le Fjord MP would live in the same riding, now and the party would give a preference to the other one?