Sunday, November 30, 2008
Why the opposition can't back down now
Sixty-two percent of Canadians said NO to Harper on Oct 14... we must continue saying NO!
Contact your MP! Tell her/him you reject Harper and support a coalition!
Reposted from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081129.WReid29/BNStory/Front
Why the opposition can't back down now
The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois will never get a better chance to take out Stephen Harper
SCOTT REID, Globe and Mail Update, November 29, 2008 at 5:00 PM EST
First things first: take him out.
After all, Stephen Harper is the most dangerous animal lurking in the jungles of Parliament. He is a threat to the future viability of the Liberals. A blood simple opponent of the NDP and the only serious contemporary challenge to the Bloc Quebecois. Without him, his party is an unlikely combination of Reform Party leftovers, Harris refugees and Red Tory desperates. They don't matter or even exist without Mr. Harper. So before you think a moment longer, opposition leaders, think on that.
And if that's not compelling enough, remember: He doesn't play to win. He plays to conquer. Under his guidance, the public interest is always subjugated to his personal political advancement. And he poisons Parliament with an extreme, bare-fanged breed of partisanship that has no hope of repair until he is banished.
This becomes relevant because suddenly, he is weak. In fact, at this particular moment, he is almost unable to defend himself. Owing to a ridiculously ill-considered act of hubris, he has laid himself vulnerable to his opponents. Their imperative could not be more clear: kill him. Kill him dead. Do not, whatever you do, provide him with an opportunity to extend his hold on power. Because you can be damn certain he will never again be so reckless as to give you a chance to finish him off.
Fate tends to be grudging with gifts of this significance. To ignore it would be an error every bit as historic as the one Mr. Harper himself has made.
So don't get fancy. Don't get confused. And don't get weak in the knees. If you don't put Mr. Harper in his grave, he'll put you in yours.
The next question is how. Nothing should be taken for granted. The guy has bought himself a week. And he'll use it to his advantage. He'll spend money, time and every ounce of energy to make it difficult on the Opposition.
Already, he's abandoning the liability of his own electoral financing proposals. He'll further correct his mistakes by having Jim Flaherty tease out talk of stimulus. He'll attack the legitimacy of an unelected "Prime Minister Dion." He'll turn the Liberal caucus loose on itself. And he will have success in rallying public opinion to his side.
Here's why: Already, the debate has shifted from the illegitimacy of what Mr. Harper has done to the illegitimacy of what comes next.
So be smart. Be deserving. Prove your case and show you have a plan that serves the public interest. Above all else, use the coming week to exert real leadership on the issues that matter.
The next few days are a campaign. Mr. Harper is no longer on trial; the coalition is. So take the initiative, show leadership and demonstrate competence.
That effort must first focus on the economy. Start with an articulation of how the coalition would direct the stimulus that the Conservatives withheld. Indicate that you will create a fund to echo U.S. investment in the auto sector. Express a willingness to create incentives to boost the manufacturing and forestry sectors. Announce an advisory board that is widely held and draws on the most talented that business and labour have to offer. Above all else, show that you're prepared to act, that you enjoy the support of serious people and that you will be guided by the need to create jobs and protect middle-class Canadians.
The other elephant in the room is leadership. Stephane Dion has bargained his way to the drive wheel of the new government. Good for him, but only if it suits the greater good. If Mr. Dion can make his case, then great. If he can't, move to an alternative - and do it fast.
Mr. Harper knows that his greatest advantage lies in Mr. Dion's weakness. The coalition can't let that impulse triumph. Don't permit the defeat of Mr. Harper to depend upon Mr. Dion's personal credibility - or that of any single individual, for that matter. There's too much at stake.
The coalition must be ruthless. Be quick to signal that if Mr. Dion can't win the confidence of his own party, or the country, an alternative will be identified before the vote in the House.
Mr. Harper will spend the next week marketing the evils of the coalition. And he'll do it like his life depends upon it - because politically, it does. The coalition can't show weakness or indecision. It must be clear in its determination to finish off Mr. Harper, to market its own virtues and to offer a leadership that Canadians find acceptable. It has to prove its legitimacy.
This is a rare moment in political history. A prime minister has been foolish enough to sacrifice control over his destiny to others. We know that Mr. Harper is tough. Between now and Dec. 8, we'll find out if the opposition is tougher.
Scott Reid was the communications director for former prime minister Paul Martin
Contact your MP! Tell her/him you reject Harper and support a coalition!
Reposted from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081129.WReid29/BNStory/Front
Why the opposition can't back down now
The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois will never get a better chance to take out Stephen Harper
SCOTT REID, Globe and Mail Update, November 29, 2008 at 5:00 PM EST
First things first: take him out.
After all, Stephen Harper is the most dangerous animal lurking in the jungles of Parliament. He is a threat to the future viability of the Liberals. A blood simple opponent of the NDP and the only serious contemporary challenge to the Bloc Quebecois. Without him, his party is an unlikely combination of Reform Party leftovers, Harris refugees and Red Tory desperates. They don't matter or even exist without Mr. Harper. So before you think a moment longer, opposition leaders, think on that.
And if that's not compelling enough, remember: He doesn't play to win. He plays to conquer. Under his guidance, the public interest is always subjugated to his personal political advancement. And he poisons Parliament with an extreme, bare-fanged breed of partisanship that has no hope of repair until he is banished.
This becomes relevant because suddenly, he is weak. In fact, at this particular moment, he is almost unable to defend himself. Owing to a ridiculously ill-considered act of hubris, he has laid himself vulnerable to his opponents. Their imperative could not be more clear: kill him. Kill him dead. Do not, whatever you do, provide him with an opportunity to extend his hold on power. Because you can be damn certain he will never again be so reckless as to give you a chance to finish him off.
Fate tends to be grudging with gifts of this significance. To ignore it would be an error every bit as historic as the one Mr. Harper himself has made.
So don't get fancy. Don't get confused. And don't get weak in the knees. If you don't put Mr. Harper in his grave, he'll put you in yours.
The next question is how. Nothing should be taken for granted. The guy has bought himself a week. And he'll use it to his advantage. He'll spend money, time and every ounce of energy to make it difficult on the Opposition.
Already, he's abandoning the liability of his own electoral financing proposals. He'll further correct his mistakes by having Jim Flaherty tease out talk of stimulus. He'll attack the legitimacy of an unelected "Prime Minister Dion." He'll turn the Liberal caucus loose on itself. And he will have success in rallying public opinion to his side.
Here's why: Already, the debate has shifted from the illegitimacy of what Mr. Harper has done to the illegitimacy of what comes next.
So be smart. Be deserving. Prove your case and show you have a plan that serves the public interest. Above all else, use the coming week to exert real leadership on the issues that matter.
The next few days are a campaign. Mr. Harper is no longer on trial; the coalition is. So take the initiative, show leadership and demonstrate competence.
That effort must first focus on the economy. Start with an articulation of how the coalition would direct the stimulus that the Conservatives withheld. Indicate that you will create a fund to echo U.S. investment in the auto sector. Express a willingness to create incentives to boost the manufacturing and forestry sectors. Announce an advisory board that is widely held and draws on the most talented that business and labour have to offer. Above all else, show that you're prepared to act, that you enjoy the support of serious people and that you will be guided by the need to create jobs and protect middle-class Canadians.
The other elephant in the room is leadership. Stephane Dion has bargained his way to the drive wheel of the new government. Good for him, but only if it suits the greater good. If Mr. Dion can make his case, then great. If he can't, move to an alternative - and do it fast.
Mr. Harper knows that his greatest advantage lies in Mr. Dion's weakness. The coalition can't let that impulse triumph. Don't permit the defeat of Mr. Harper to depend upon Mr. Dion's personal credibility - or that of any single individual, for that matter. There's too much at stake.
The coalition must be ruthless. Be quick to signal that if Mr. Dion can't win the confidence of his own party, or the country, an alternative will be identified before the vote in the House.
Mr. Harper will spend the next week marketing the evils of the coalition. And he'll do it like his life depends upon it - because politically, it does. The coalition can't show weakness or indecision. It must be clear in its determination to finish off Mr. Harper, to market its own virtues and to offer a leadership that Canadians find acceptable. It has to prove its legitimacy.
This is a rare moment in political history. A prime minister has been foolish enough to sacrifice control over his destiny to others. We know that Mr. Harper is tough. Between now and Dec. 8, we'll find out if the opposition is tougher.
Scott Reid was the communications director for former prime minister Paul Martin
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tory views on women's rights perfectly clear
Reposted from: http://www.thestar.com/living/article/539189
Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star, November 19, 2008
Stephen Harper can put on all the warm and fuzzy sweaters he likes, smile and say soothing things to politically moderate Canadians but, every time his base speaks out, the Prime Minister's carefully crafted image begins to unravel.
This was evident during the Conservative national policy convention in Winnipeg last weekend, at least when it came to issues concerning women.
Passed were three policy resolutions that affect women, and their rights, and choices.
In ascending order of outrageousness, they are:
Resolution P-305 would allow for income splitting for families with children, which would ease the tax burden on the main earner and put more cash in the couple's pockets.
That means spouses – usually women – who don't work outside of the home for pay could also get some financial reward for their contributions to the family, assuming, of course, that they actually see some of the dough.
Now, on the surface, this is great.
Except for one thing: It discriminates against single-parent families, many of who struggle to make ends meet.
It also works more to the benefit of the rich than the middle classes. The more income that a couple can split, the bigger and better the tax break. And aren't non-working spouses dependents anyway?
What income splitting as official policy really says is, especially in the absence of a national daycare program, a woman's place is in the home.
Resolution P-213 should hardly come as a surprise to anybody following the Harper government's efforts to wipe out any and all support for women's rights.
The proposal eliminates support for full gender equality as well as equal pay for work of equal value.
Let me repeat that: It would eliminate support for full gender equality.
Oh it couches that in airy fairy speak, stating that the party is all for "the full participation of women in the social, economic, and cultural life of Canada." But the phrase "gender equality" was scrubbed and equal pay will only go for "equal work."
That means male parking lot attendants can continue to make more than female child care workers, even if the latter have university educations and are entrusted with your precious kid instead of your car.
Which says a lot about where the Cons stand on the issue of women's work and independence.
And, if you still don't get their agenda, consider what bloggers Dr. Dawg and Danielle Takacs both reported from the floor. At least one delegate objected to the resolution because women already have it "too good" and the proposal should have included men.
Last but, oh so very far from least, is Resolution P-207 which is all about, here we go again, protecting "unborn children" from violence.
Rewind to the eve of the last federal election when Harper pulled the plug on the controversial Bill C-484, the so-called "Unborn Victims of Crime Act" because it contained language that could lead to the definition of the fetus as a legal person.
Well, a similar bill could be back like the stink of skunk after the rain. According to Kady Malley of Maclean's, when one delegate got up to say that passing this would open the door to fetal rights, she was cheered. But, when the applause died down, she concluded that this was not a good thing. Which was when she was booed.
True, after the vote, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told reporters Harper has publicly stated he has no intention of reopening the abortion debate. So why can't he close it in his own party ranks?
It's obvious that, whatever face Harper presents to Canadians, his dark grass roots will always be showing.
Antonia Zerbisias is a Living section columnist. azerbisias@thestar.ca. She blogs at thestar.blogs.com.
Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star, November 19, 2008
Stephen Harper can put on all the warm and fuzzy sweaters he likes, smile and say soothing things to politically moderate Canadians but, every time his base speaks out, the Prime Minister's carefully crafted image begins to unravel.
This was evident during the Conservative national policy convention in Winnipeg last weekend, at least when it came to issues concerning women.
Passed were three policy resolutions that affect women, and their rights, and choices.
In ascending order of outrageousness, they are:
Resolution P-305 would allow for income splitting for families with children, which would ease the tax burden on the main earner and put more cash in the couple's pockets.
That means spouses – usually women – who don't work outside of the home for pay could also get some financial reward for their contributions to the family, assuming, of course, that they actually see some of the dough.
Now, on the surface, this is great.
Except for one thing: It discriminates against single-parent families, many of who struggle to make ends meet.
It also works more to the benefit of the rich than the middle classes. The more income that a couple can split, the bigger and better the tax break. And aren't non-working spouses dependents anyway?
What income splitting as official policy really says is, especially in the absence of a national daycare program, a woman's place is in the home.
Resolution P-213 should hardly come as a surprise to anybody following the Harper government's efforts to wipe out any and all support for women's rights.
The proposal eliminates support for full gender equality as well as equal pay for work of equal value.
Let me repeat that: It would eliminate support for full gender equality.
Oh it couches that in airy fairy speak, stating that the party is all for "the full participation of women in the social, economic, and cultural life of Canada." But the phrase "gender equality" was scrubbed and equal pay will only go for "equal work."
That means male parking lot attendants can continue to make more than female child care workers, even if the latter have university educations and are entrusted with your precious kid instead of your car.
Which says a lot about where the Cons stand on the issue of women's work and independence.
And, if you still don't get their agenda, consider what bloggers Dr. Dawg and Danielle Takacs both reported from the floor. At least one delegate objected to the resolution because women already have it "too good" and the proposal should have included men.
Last but, oh so very far from least, is Resolution P-207 which is all about, here we go again, protecting "unborn children" from violence.
Rewind to the eve of the last federal election when Harper pulled the plug on the controversial Bill C-484, the so-called "Unborn Victims of Crime Act" because it contained language that could lead to the definition of the fetus as a legal person.
Well, a similar bill could be back like the stink of skunk after the rain. According to Kady Malley of Maclean's, when one delegate got up to say that passing this would open the door to fetal rights, she was cheered. But, when the applause died down, she concluded that this was not a good thing. Which was when she was booed.
True, after the vote, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson told reporters Harper has publicly stated he has no intention of reopening the abortion debate. So why can't he close it in his own party ranks?
It's obvious that, whatever face Harper presents to Canadians, his dark grass roots will always be showing.
Antonia Zerbisias is a Living section columnist. azerbisias@thestar.ca. She blogs at thestar.blogs.com.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Block Harper - November 15th Rally at Winnipeg Convention Centre
A rally will held at the Conservative Party convention at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on November 15th (12 noon) to oppose the Harper agenda and to support the majority of Canadians:
The majority of Canadians who want our soldiers out of Afghanistan, and for Canada to meet its Kyoto commitments.
The majority who oppose further integration with the United States and who want an end to the secret 'Security and Prosperity' or SPP talks.
The majority who want more affordable access to higher education, action to end poverty and homelessness.
Host: The Majority Agenda Coalition (of which Winnipeg's DoC is a part)
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: The Winnipeg Convention Centre -- York Ave between Edmonton and Carleton
Email: block.harper.winnipeg@gmail.com
The majority of Canadians who want our soldiers out of Afghanistan, and for Canada to meet its Kyoto commitments.
The majority who oppose further integration with the United States and who want an end to the secret 'Security and Prosperity' or SPP talks.
The majority who want more affordable access to higher education, action to end poverty and homelessness.
Host: The Majority Agenda Coalition (of which Winnipeg's DoC is a part)
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: The Winnipeg Convention Centre -- York Ave between Edmonton and Carleton
Email: block.harper.winnipeg@gmail.com
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