This is only a test. If this were a real emergency...
In his usual direct, blunt, tell-it-like-it-is sort of way, Retired Major General Lewis MacKenzie has been pointing out holes in Canada's emergency preparedness. In our usual oblivious, ignorant, la-la-la-I-can't hear you sort of way, Canadians, particularly those in leadership positions, haven't been paying attention.
MacKenzie pointed out in today's Vancouver edition of Metro that the Canadian Armed forces should deploy a ship to Coal Harbour to function as an emergency command centre in case a major earthquake hits the lower mainland. The General points out that in the event of a major disaster in Vancouver, the nearest military response would be coming from Edmonton, over 1000 KM away. Given that Vancouver's major airport is located on what is essentially sand out in Richmond, that response would more than likely be in the form of a convoy down the Yellowhead Highway, turning the City of Vancouver's estimate of citizens needing to look after themselves without help for three days into unsettling myopia.
Hurricane Katrina has taught us all about what happens when governments overlook essential public infrastructure and services for the sake of tax cuts (and military adventurism). It would be great to have an emergency command ship docked downtown for an earthquake. It would be great to reinforce our bridges and tunnels. It would be great to have relief and support for the potentially thousands of displaced Lower Mainlanders to help them get on with their lives. The funny thing is, no one's really willing to pay for it, because there's the outside chance it could mean raising taxes. What's worse for our corporate "citizens", it could also mean that governments could no longer turn a blind eye when companies like Telus steal the jobs of their employees, ship them to places like the Philipines, and rip away part of Canada's tax base.
Global warming and international terrorism are raising the bar for what the public expects from those who govern us, and until governments are willing to divert the agenda from aiding and abetting no-holds-barred capitalism, we all remain in jeopardy. Tax cuts and higher dividends on our mutual funds are not going to protect us from disaster, and the invisible hand of the markets won't be pulling me out from under what's left of my condo.
9.22.2005
9.21.2005
9.20.2005
Aquilini's Air Ball
The NBA's New Orleans Hornets have agreed in principle to temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City. After aggresively lobbying the NBA to bring the team to Vancouver, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini has been left fuming at the end of the bench. Outside of Aquilini's imagination (and Provnice hack Tony Gallagher's), did Vancouver really have any chance of returning to the NBA? In the reports that led up to the OKC announcement, no media outlet outside the 604 even mentioned Vancouver as a contender.
For the record, this page had season tickets to the Vancouver Grizzlies, and makes it to a Sonics game or two. I was one of the 13,000-14,000 who, according to the hockey-centric local media, weren't showing up to support a team which at best won about 20 games in a season, a loyalty-to-futility ration seldom matched in professional sports. A lot of people would love to see the NBA return here. However, basketball fans in Vancouver weren't that enthused about Aquilini's bid this time around. It could be his enthusiasm to swoop in and take away another city's team rubbed us in a Bill Laurie/Michael Heisley sort of way.
The NBA's New Orleans Hornets have agreed in principle to temporarily relocate to Oklahoma City. After aggresively lobbying the NBA to bring the team to Vancouver, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini has been left fuming at the end of the bench. Outside of Aquilini's imagination (and Provnice hack Tony Gallagher's), did Vancouver really have any chance of returning to the NBA? In the reports that led up to the OKC announcement, no media outlet outside the 604 even mentioned Vancouver as a contender.
For the record, this page had season tickets to the Vancouver Grizzlies, and makes it to a Sonics game or two. I was one of the 13,000-14,000 who, according to the hockey-centric local media, weren't showing up to support a team which at best won about 20 games in a season, a loyalty-to-futility ration seldom matched in professional sports. A lot of people would love to see the NBA return here. However, basketball fans in Vancouver weren't that enthused about Aquilini's bid this time around. It could be his enthusiasm to swoop in and take away another city's team rubbed us in a Bill Laurie/Michael Heisley sort of way.
9.19.2005
Fuck Hu
Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded his Canadian visit with a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Westin Bayshore on Saturday.
Am I alone in asking why our provincial and federal governments bend over backwards to accommodate a regime that denies its own citizens basic human rights, bullies its neighbours, and refuses to abandon an illegal occupation of a sovereign country? Am I also alone in believing that the Beijing-sponsored 'demonstrators' (who were only there to drown out the Tibetan, Falun Gong, and Taiwanese communities) need a serious bitchslap?
To the knee-jerk anti-Americans among you, I realize those sentiments are more than familiar. However, Americans can exercise their inherent right to turn their own government around in congressional elections no later than November of next year. Chinese students tried working towards that same right in the spring of 1989, and were either gunned down or rolled over by tanks. Over the subsequent 16 years, that desire for democracy and freedom was subverted by Beijing's finger-pointing patriotism and bribery through name-brand consumer goods. The only marketplace that isn't open in China is the marketplace of ideas.
Observers/apologists like to qualify The PRC's behaviour by emphasizing the country is still in a period of development. China's development is that of a vicious, unrepentant juvenile delinquent spoiled by its sudden economic wealth and the laissez-faire parenting of the global community. How many times have Western leaders claimed human rights would be on the agenda at a summit with the PRC, and what guarantees of better behaviour did those leaders walk away with? Why is it that since those 'discussions' about human rights, people I know are threatened with arrest for taking a photo in a Beijing Starbucks, or denied visiting rights to the village near Shanghai where they were born and raised out of fear they may be arriving from Taiwan?
At this rate, it will take years before relations with the West and China can be harmonized, so that all of us can enjoy cutthroat capitalism and brutal totalitarianism...
Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded his Canadian visit with a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Westin Bayshore on Saturday.
Am I alone in asking why our provincial and federal governments bend over backwards to accommodate a regime that denies its own citizens basic human rights, bullies its neighbours, and refuses to abandon an illegal occupation of a sovereign country? Am I also alone in believing that the Beijing-sponsored 'demonstrators' (who were only there to drown out the Tibetan, Falun Gong, and Taiwanese communities) need a serious bitchslap?
To the knee-jerk anti-Americans among you, I realize those sentiments are more than familiar. However, Americans can exercise their inherent right to turn their own government around in congressional elections no later than November of next year. Chinese students tried working towards that same right in the spring of 1989, and were either gunned down or rolled over by tanks. Over the subsequent 16 years, that desire for democracy and freedom was subverted by Beijing's finger-pointing patriotism and bribery through name-brand consumer goods. The only marketplace that isn't open in China is the marketplace of ideas.
Observers/apologists like to qualify The PRC's behaviour by emphasizing the country is still in a period of development. China's development is that of a vicious, unrepentant juvenile delinquent spoiled by its sudden economic wealth and the laissez-faire parenting of the global community. How many times have Western leaders claimed human rights would be on the agenda at a summit with the PRC, and what guarantees of better behaviour did those leaders walk away with? Why is it that since those 'discussions' about human rights, people I know are threatened with arrest for taking a photo in a Beijing Starbucks, or denied visiting rights to the village near Shanghai where they were born and raised out of fear they may be arriving from Taiwan?
At this rate, it will take years before relations with the West and China can be harmonized, so that all of us can enjoy cutthroat capitalism and brutal totalitarianism...
9.15.2005
Vonne-gut Check
I was lucky enough to be tuned into Comedy Central yesterday to see Kurt Vonnegut's appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Even in his twilight years, Vonnegut remains a titan of satire, and trading riffs with America's current court jester was a wonder to behold. For the record, this page has copies of just about everything the man has written, and is much looking forward to his latest book, Man Without A Country.
The highlight of the Vonnegut interview had to be his comparison of attempting to install democracy in Iraq with its installation in the United States. He advised the audience to be patient: "In a democracy, you don't have to give up your slaves until 100 years after you start one. You don't have to give women the vote for 150 years..."
Unfortunately, Vonnegut and Stewart ran out of time before the authour could get to his list of Liberal Crap I Never Want to Hear Again. As Stewart promised, The Daily show has it posted here.
I was lucky enough to be tuned into Comedy Central yesterday to see Kurt Vonnegut's appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Even in his twilight years, Vonnegut remains a titan of satire, and trading riffs with America's current court jester was a wonder to behold. For the record, this page has copies of just about everything the man has written, and is much looking forward to his latest book, Man Without A Country.
The highlight of the Vonnegut interview had to be his comparison of attempting to install democracy in Iraq with its installation in the United States. He advised the audience to be patient: "In a democracy, you don't have to give up your slaves until 100 years after you start one. You don't have to give women the vote for 150 years..."
Unfortunately, Vonnegut and Stewart ran out of time before the authour could get to his list of Liberal Crap I Never Want to Hear Again. As Stewart promised, The Daily show has it posted here.
9.14.2005
The Red Shoe Diaries
In advance of today's BC budget, Finance Minister Carole Taylor summoned the media to inform the public of two items:
1. The province is running a surplus
2. She bought a new pair of shoes
In the case of item 1, when a government rakes in record commodity prices, dumps crown corporations like BC rail, and spends next to nothing on education, health care, and the environment, why would running a surplus be news?
As for item 2, I'm not sure what brand of shoes those were, but after seeing them on TV last night, this page is guessing President's Choice Memories of the Davie Street Stroll. Earlier this year Taylor opted to coast on the reputation as a former CBC President (The CBC's reputation, not hers) and whore herself to the province's Liberal corporate overlords as Gordon Campbell's "star" candidate. Obviously, the shoe fits.
While the syncophanterati were getting their foot fetish on, Taylor was heard to pun "This budget's got sole!" Tee hee. Of course this comes from a woman who in her CBC days thought the Royal Air Canadian Air Face was funny.
Oh...and hardballing the Canadian Media Guild. She thought that was funny too.
In advance of today's BC budget, Finance Minister Carole Taylor summoned the media to inform the public of two items:
1. The province is running a surplus
2. She bought a new pair of shoes
In the case of item 1, when a government rakes in record commodity prices, dumps crown corporations like BC rail, and spends next to nothing on education, health care, and the environment, why would running a surplus be news?
As for item 2, I'm not sure what brand of shoes those were, but after seeing them on TV last night, this page is guessing President's Choice Memories of the Davie Street Stroll. Earlier this year Taylor opted to coast on the reputation as a former CBC President (The CBC's reputation, not hers) and whore herself to the province's Liberal corporate overlords as Gordon Campbell's "star" candidate. Obviously, the shoe fits.
While the syncophanterati were getting their foot fetish on, Taylor was heard to pun "This budget's got sole!" Tee hee. Of course this comes from a woman who in her CBC days thought the Royal Air Canadian Air Face was funny.
Oh...and hardballing the Canadian Media Guild. She thought that was funny too.
What's That Smell?
It's time to test your olfactory reflexes. Of the following items, which stinks the most?
a) The Burns Bog Fire
b) The sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan
c) Christy Clark's bid to become Mayor of Vancouver
It's time to test your olfactory reflexes. Of the following items, which stinks the most?
a) The Burns Bog Fire
b) The sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan
c) Christy Clark's bid to become Mayor of Vancouver
9.12.2005
Kicking off a culture shift
Sunday's fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were overshadowed by relief efforts in New Orleans. This page will always be sympathetic to those who lost love ones on September 11, 2001, but remains anything but sympathetic to those who try to turn Post Traumatic Stress Disorder into government policy.
The most visible sign of America shifting from a "post-9/11" to a "post-New Orleans" era was at National Football League stadiums around the country, as the pre-requisite military cheerleading was resigned to a backdrop for the various pre-game shows, and the players emerged from locker rooms without being led by the stars and stripes. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, they took the field at Raleigh's Alltel Stadium for their game against the Carolina Panthers with many of them holding hands.
If the NFL is an American cultural barometer, perhaps the imperial maxim of "You're either with us or against is" is graciously eroding towards "We're all in this together".
Sunday's fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were overshadowed by relief efforts in New Orleans. This page will always be sympathetic to those who lost love ones on September 11, 2001, but remains anything but sympathetic to those who try to turn Post Traumatic Stress Disorder into government policy.
The most visible sign of America shifting from a "post-9/11" to a "post-New Orleans" era was at National Football League stadiums around the country, as the pre-requisite military cheerleading was resigned to a backdrop for the various pre-game shows, and the players emerged from locker rooms without being led by the stars and stripes. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, they took the field at Raleigh's Alltel Stadium for their game against the Carolina Panthers with many of them holding hands.
If the NFL is an American cultural barometer, perhaps the imperial maxim of "You're either with us or against is" is graciously eroding towards "We're all in this together".
9.09.2005
Exorcise causes brain damage?
The Exorcism of Emily Rose opens in theatres today. This page usually rolls his eyes at these kinds of movies, but Sony Pictures promotional campaign caught my attention, and refuses to let go.
In one of the 'Emily' trailers, Sony uses the phrase phrase "based on a true story". Those of us jaded by the reality TV of Big Brother, Survivor, and Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq understand that "based on a true story" can mean just about anything. In this case, it refers to the Roman Catholic church actually recognizing the demonic possession of a 19 year old woman a few years ago, and the court case that followed after Emily died during the course of the exorcism.
The true part is more than likely the court case, but Sony mentions nothing about that part in the trailers, just the scary possession/exorcism stuff. Are they trying to pass off Demonic Possession is a "true" story, or is Sony just pandering to the winners of America's culture wars? A lot of Conservative Catholics have joined their Evangelical soulmates in believing those bedtime stories about demons, angels and that Saddam was in on 9/11. And didn't the Catholic Church also bring us such wonderful fables as "Your World is Flat", "Latex Ticket to Hell", and "Never Touched an Alter Boy"?
In the real world, "true" implies an objective standard, not the imposition of one's beliefs, be it Angels, Goblins, Trolls, Gnomes, Orks, Sith Lords, Republicans, or Demons. 'Emily' may have thought she was possessed, but a 15-year-old Japanese schoolgirl falling down a well doesn't make InuYahsa a true story either.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose opens in theatres today. This page usually rolls his eyes at these kinds of movies, but Sony Pictures promotional campaign caught my attention, and refuses to let go.
In one of the 'Emily' trailers, Sony uses the phrase phrase "based on a true story". Those of us jaded by the reality TV of Big Brother, Survivor, and Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq understand that "based on a true story" can mean just about anything. In this case, it refers to the Roman Catholic church actually recognizing the demonic possession of a 19 year old woman a few years ago, and the court case that followed after Emily died during the course of the exorcism.
The true part is more than likely the court case, but Sony mentions nothing about that part in the trailers, just the scary possession/exorcism stuff. Are they trying to pass off Demonic Possession is a "true" story, or is Sony just pandering to the winners of America's culture wars? A lot of Conservative Catholics have joined their Evangelical soulmates in believing those bedtime stories about demons, angels and that Saddam was in on 9/11. And didn't the Catholic Church also bring us such wonderful fables as "Your World is Flat", "Latex Ticket to Hell", and "Never Touched an Alter Boy"?
In the real world, "true" implies an objective standard, not the imposition of one's beliefs, be it Angels, Goblins, Trolls, Gnomes, Orks, Sith Lords, Republicans, or Demons. 'Emily' may have thought she was possessed, but a 15-year-old Japanese schoolgirl falling down a well doesn't make InuYahsa a true story either.
9.08.2005
S.U.V. - Stupid Useless Vanity
Ford Motor company has announced the fifth largest recall is U.S. auto history, recalling nearly 5 million SUVs and trucks. Consumer Advocate/Presidential Election Spoiler Ralph Nader says that the faulty, fire-starting cruise control switch could be currently installed in over three times that many Ford products.
This isn't necessarily bad news - Ford appears to have joined a growing portion of the public in (at least partially) recognizing that after their impact on the environment, urban planning, transportation costs, foreign policy and public safety, SUVs really ARE dangerous.
Ford Motor company has announced the fifth largest recall is U.S. auto history, recalling nearly 5 million SUVs and trucks. Consumer Advocate/Presidential Election Spoiler Ralph Nader says that the faulty, fire-starting cruise control switch could be currently installed in over three times that many Ford products.
This isn't necessarily bad news - Ford appears to have joined a growing portion of the public in (at least partially) recognizing that after their impact on the environment, urban planning, transportation costs, foreign policy and public safety, SUVs really ARE dangerous.
9.07.2005
Unfinished Business
A couple of things I'd like to take care of:
1. I would like to call upon any and all individuals or groups, with such an inclination, to take out Pat Robertson. Not only does this hate-mongering charlatan encourage the Bush Administration to break international law by assassinating Hugo Chavez, his 'Operation Blessing' also stands to profit handsomely from donations intended for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Oops...did I say "take out"? Does that mean I want him dead? Wait...I can play the backtrack game just as well as Pat does on the 700 Club...I meant take him out...to the ballgame! Yeah, that's it! Buy him some peanuts and Cracker Jacks - I don't give a f**k if he ever comes back...
2. Although I will have to wait until the 69th Amendment is passed (the one that allows foreign-born persons to run for President, it comes after all the amendments permitting and denying same-sex marriage), I would like to announce my candidacy for the Presidency of the United States (pause for emphasis).
My platform is simple - I will run on the pledge to not go on vacation during the month of August. I will remain at my post in the Oval Office rather than puttering around America's buttplug (Crawford, Texas). I will be there to pay attention when people like Military Intelligence and the FBI, or the National Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers tell me something really, really, really, really, really, really, really bad is going to happen during the first two weeks of September, and I will do something to knock off a few "reallys" before the bad actually hits.
A couple of things I'd like to take care of:
1. I would like to call upon any and all individuals or groups, with such an inclination, to take out Pat Robertson. Not only does this hate-mongering charlatan encourage the Bush Administration to break international law by assassinating Hugo Chavez, his 'Operation Blessing' also stands to profit handsomely from donations intended for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Oops...did I say "take out"? Does that mean I want him dead? Wait...I can play the backtrack game just as well as Pat does on the 700 Club...I meant take him out...to the ballgame! Yeah, that's it! Buy him some peanuts and Cracker Jacks - I don't give a f**k if he ever comes back...
2. Although I will have to wait until the 69th Amendment is passed (the one that allows foreign-born persons to run for President, it comes after all the amendments permitting and denying same-sex marriage), I would like to announce my candidacy for the Presidency of the United States (pause for emphasis).
My platform is simple - I will run on the pledge to not go on vacation during the month of August. I will remain at my post in the Oval Office rather than puttering around America's buttplug (Crawford, Texas). I will be there to pay attention when people like Military Intelligence and the FBI, or the National Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers tell me something really, really, really, really, really, really, really bad is going to happen during the first two weeks of September, and I will do something to knock off a few "reallys" before the bad actually hits.
9.06.2005
Rally Recap, or "Telus" the Truth!
I attended yesterday's Labour Day rally in front of Burnaby's Swangard Stadium, across the street from Telus (the truth!) headquarters. The Canwest Global cabal put the crowd at about 2500, which is a lowball given one could gauge the turnout against the Stadium grandstand (which seats almost twice that). Several municipal councillors, a solid handful of newly-minted NDP MLAs, and a trio of MPs (Libby Davies, Peter Julian, and Pat Martin) were on hand. This page is unimpressed that after trying to court union backing, no one from Jim Green's Vision Vancouver slate could be bothered to attend.
Representatives from the Telecommunications Workers Union, the Canadian Media Guild, and the United Steelworkers (on strike against BC Liberal Sugar Daddy Teck Cominco in Trail) addressed the gathering, and we were treated to the music of singer-songwriter/activist mascot Valdy. Viewers of the BCTV "News" on Global were later treated to a song and dance by Telus PR flak Drew McCarthur, who, while looking out on the sea of humanity his company has maliciously pissed off, cried about how Telus wanted to make their workers the best paid and most secure in Canada.
Given that Telus is looking for the right to fire and contract out anyone and everyone without cause or notice and bypass any notion of negotiation, mediation, or arbitration to get their way, the retail value of McCarthur's claim can easily be calculated by placing one's index finger to one's thumb and applying substantial pressure.
The best line of the day had to come from BC Fed President Jim Sinclair, who, in reference to CBC's hard line on replacing full-time workers with temporary staff, conducted an impromptu poll: "Anyone here have a temporary kid they can get rid of if they no longer have work? Anyone have a temporary mortage they can forego if their job ends?"
5.25.2005
5.24.2005
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Nova Scotia's Health Ministry has announced a proposed ban on smoking in all public indoor places in that province by the end of next year.
British Columbia had a similar ban in 1999 as a WCB regulation, which worked fine because it was simple and applied to everyone. Nobody got to smoke, so no one got to take advantage by offering smoking (or not) at their establishments. Misplaced bitching from the hospitality industry (like the bar owners in the North Peace who proposed separating and joining Alberta) saw the ban repealed by the Campbell Liberals and replaced with a complex set of regulations which involved setting aside 30% of the premises for smoking, ensuring that workers spent no more than 10% of their shift in the smoking area, requirements for new ventilation equipment, and varying applicability depending on whether or not municipalities already had smoking legistlation in place.
For Liberal supporters, who are overwhelmingly vocal advocates of smaller government, this came as a little suprising. The Liberals went as far as forming a Task Force in 2001, chaired by (soon to be outgoing) Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt. The task force met with a number of bar and restaurant owners who wanted smoking, but hung up on the British Columbia Lung Association, whom Mayencourt referred to as "a special interest group".
Between Vancouver securing the 2010 Winter Olympics and the recent provincial election, Gordon Campbell has tried to portray his government as champions of nutrition and physical fitness. We British Columbians can eat our vegetables, but if some of us still have to put up with a side order of second-hand carcinogens whenever we go out to eat, it's not like anyone should really believe the Liberals pledge to make us healthier.
Nova Scotia's Health Ministry has announced a proposed ban on smoking in all public indoor places in that province by the end of next year.
British Columbia had a similar ban in 1999 as a WCB regulation, which worked fine because it was simple and applied to everyone. Nobody got to smoke, so no one got to take advantage by offering smoking (or not) at their establishments. Misplaced bitching from the hospitality industry (like the bar owners in the North Peace who proposed separating and joining Alberta) saw the ban repealed by the Campbell Liberals and replaced with a complex set of regulations which involved setting aside 30% of the premises for smoking, ensuring that workers spent no more than 10% of their shift in the smoking area, requirements for new ventilation equipment, and varying applicability depending on whether or not municipalities already had smoking legistlation in place.
For Liberal supporters, who are overwhelmingly vocal advocates of smaller government, this came as a little suprising. The Liberals went as far as forming a Task Force in 2001, chaired by (soon to be outgoing) Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt. The task force met with a number of bar and restaurant owners who wanted smoking, but hung up on the British Columbia Lung Association, whom Mayencourt referred to as "a special interest group".
Between Vancouver securing the 2010 Winter Olympics and the recent provincial election, Gordon Campbell has tried to portray his government as champions of nutrition and physical fitness. We British Columbians can eat our vegetables, but if some of us still have to put up with a side order of second-hand carcinogens whenever we go out to eat, it's not like anyone should really believe the Liberals pledge to make us healthier.
5.18.2005
The Highlight Reel
A few thoughts from yesterday's election:
-Being the first Premier to lead back-to-back majorities, despite the media fanfare, isn't that impressive when you have a 74 seat head start, and you lose 8 cabinet ministers.
-A major reason for the NDP's resurgence was the support of the labour movement. While Carole James wants to change the party's relationship with unions, any attempt to end that relationship at the fall convention could knock the party off its upward trajectory.
-Adrienne Carr's 15 minutes of fame are over. By the standards set by the organizers of this year's Leaders Debate, the Greens' 9.1% of the popular vote would have had Carr fuming out the studio with Tom Morino.
-For Daniel Igali's sake, he should be happy he's not joining the Liberal caucus: Olympic champions make for really awful mascots.
-Random shadow cabinet positions: Jenny Kwan - opposition House Leader, Leonard Krog - Finance Critic, David Chudnovsky - Education Critic, Gregor Robertson - Environment Critic. I know the Liberals don't call it the 'Environment' Ministry, but watch for that title just out of spite.
-Fearing that his ass was about to be handed to him by Tim Stevenson in Burrard, Lorne Mayencourt apparently chased Stevenson for three blocks and tried to make a Citizen's Arrest. If Mayencourt survives the recount and delivers the most populated riding in the province to Gordon Campbell, Campbell may have to sacrifice a big chunk of the Liberals new "Don't worry, be happy" facade by giving this vindictive little man-bitch puke a seat at the cabinet table.
-Carole Taylor, Mary Polak. Mary Polak, Carole Taylor - how about the two of you get acquainted? Mary was just saying the most interesting thing about school textbooks...
A few thoughts from yesterday's election:
-Being the first Premier to lead back-to-back majorities, despite the media fanfare, isn't that impressive when you have a 74 seat head start, and you lose 8 cabinet ministers.
-A major reason for the NDP's resurgence was the support of the labour movement. While Carole James wants to change the party's relationship with unions, any attempt to end that relationship at the fall convention could knock the party off its upward trajectory.
-Adrienne Carr's 15 minutes of fame are over. By the standards set by the organizers of this year's Leaders Debate, the Greens' 9.1% of the popular vote would have had Carr fuming out the studio with Tom Morino.
-For Daniel Igali's sake, he should be happy he's not joining the Liberal caucus: Olympic champions make for really awful mascots.
-Random shadow cabinet positions: Jenny Kwan - opposition House Leader, Leonard Krog - Finance Critic, David Chudnovsky - Education Critic, Gregor Robertson - Environment Critic. I know the Liberals don't call it the 'Environment' Ministry, but watch for that title just out of spite.
-Fearing that his ass was about to be handed to him by Tim Stevenson in Burrard, Lorne Mayencourt apparently chased Stevenson for three blocks and tried to make a Citizen's Arrest. If Mayencourt survives the recount and delivers the most populated riding in the province to Gordon Campbell, Campbell may have to sacrifice a big chunk of the Liberals new "Don't worry, be happy" facade by giving this vindictive little man-bitch puke a seat at the cabinet table.
-Carole Taylor, Mary Polak. Mary Polak, Carole Taylor - how about the two of you get acquainted? Mary was just saying the most interesting thing about school textbooks...
5.17.2005
Show The Cards
Prediction time: Carole James led a solid campaign to regain the NDP's traditional base, and was the class of the Leaders Debate two weeks ago. The Liberals ran a relatively mistake-free campaign and were well insulated from scrutiny by the major media outlets, who downplayed scandals like illegal donations from chartities and municipalites. The Green Party, no longer able to siphon NDP votes, is starting to find a base of its own.
When the dust settles tonight the picture should look something like:
BC Liberals 45
New Democrats 32
Green Party (Adrianne Carr) 1
Independent (Paul Nettleton) 1
I'm calling a second #@$! Liberal majority - is that ever partisan or what....
As for the STV Referrendum: 48% Yes, 52% No.
Prediction time: Carole James led a solid campaign to regain the NDP's traditional base, and was the class of the Leaders Debate two weeks ago. The Liberals ran a relatively mistake-free campaign and were well insulated from scrutiny by the major media outlets, who downplayed scandals like illegal donations from chartities and municipalites. The Green Party, no longer able to siphon NDP votes, is starting to find a base of its own.
When the dust settles tonight the picture should look something like:
BC Liberals 45
New Democrats 32
Green Party (Adrianne Carr) 1
Independent (Paul Nettleton) 1
I'm calling a second #@$! Liberal majority - is that ever partisan or what....
As for the STV Referrendum: 48% Yes, 52% No.
5.16.2005
Don't Poke The Bear
Elections BC says that 'partisan' blogs are advertising and bloggers must be registered.
For those of you scoring at home, this page was already registered with Elections BC, as a resident of British Columbia, a Canadian Citizen, and subject to that little known document known as The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
David Schreck and a horde of BC bloggers are making this similar point: blogging isn't advertising. People have the right to their opinions, whether or not they're spilled over a $4.00 latte or in a 10 point arial font over a little bandwidth.
Meanwhile, The Province (a division of perennial right-wing cheerleaders, CanWest Global) can run a full page editorial urging votes for the Liberals. The Globe and Mail (a division of 2010 Olympic synchophants Bell Globemedia) can commission an unethical push poll to swing a little momentum towards Gordon Campbell. It's the micro-media outlets which make up the local blogosphere get The Man breathing down our collective necks.
This move furthers the debate as to what constitutes "partisan". If you've visited here before, you know that this isn't journalism, it's sportswriting: you know which team I'm rooting for, but you also know I'm going to let you know where I think the team is coming up a little short (like spending the last weekend of the campaign in the Okanagan and up North rather than in the Lower Mainland).
If Elections BC wants to come after this page for its perspective, I say, bring it, beeyatch: Right after you come up with the money to investigate how the Liberals are getting theirs from municipalities and charities.
Elections BC says that 'partisan' blogs are advertising and bloggers must be registered.
For those of you scoring at home, this page was already registered with Elections BC, as a resident of British Columbia, a Canadian Citizen, and subject to that little known document known as The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
David Schreck and a horde of BC bloggers are making this similar point: blogging isn't advertising. People have the right to their opinions, whether or not they're spilled over a $4.00 latte or in a 10 point arial font over a little bandwidth.
Meanwhile, The Province (a division of perennial right-wing cheerleaders, CanWest Global) can run a full page editorial urging votes for the Liberals. The Globe and Mail (a division of 2010 Olympic synchophants Bell Globemedia) can commission an unethical push poll to swing a little momentum towards Gordon Campbell. It's the micro-media outlets which make up the local blogosphere get The Man breathing down our collective necks.
This move furthers the debate as to what constitutes "partisan". If you've visited here before, you know that this isn't journalism, it's sportswriting: you know which team I'm rooting for, but you also know I'm going to let you know where I think the team is coming up a little short (like spending the last weekend of the campaign in the Okanagan and up North rather than in the Lower Mainland).
If Elections BC wants to come after this page for its perspective, I say, bring it, beeyatch: Right after you come up with the money to investigate how the Liberals are getting theirs from municipalities and charities.
5.15.2005
The Reset
Having spent the better part of last week where the media is required to say "Governor Schwarzenegger" with a straight face, I've been bringing myself up to speed on the election. Either I've missed something or:
-The Liberals have given up running against the New Democrats. Instead they're picking a fight with "The Glen Clark Gang", which is kind of funny coming from the Bill Vander Zalm Gang. I caught a TV spot where they claimed NDP stood for something other than New Democratic Party...Nasty Decrepit Perverts or something...
-Campbell's Cabal have bolted to a commanding, insurmountable, throw in the towel, lie on the floor wailing and gnashing teeth lead, going from a five point lead in the Mustel poll to eight points (where they've been for the entire campaign) at the end of last week with Ispos-Reid. Somewhere in the writing of victory speeches (or defence briefs for the Basi trial), a margin of error in the 3.5 to 4% range is missing.
-Is it just me, or is the NDP running more TV spots than the Liberals? It's not like the BC Fed or any of the major unions (who are running issue - specific campaigns) are cutting any cheques, which leads me to believe somebody in the party has successfully mastered EMPTY YOUR WALLETS FOR CAROLE NOW subliminal messaging.
-The Liberals are still chewing on the BCTF, making wild claims about an impending teachers strike, which is also funny, given they were legislated as an essential service whose job action is subject to the BC Labour Relations Board. LRB ruled for binding arbitration in the last dispute with teachers, to which the Liberals simply legislated a collective agreement, just like they did with HEU and Crown Prosecutors, all of whom are headed to the courts. Well, the Liberals did promise transparency and accountability, who knew they'd be relying on a judge (who isn't Wally Opal) to deliver it?
On another note, I had mentioned in a previous post having May 17 tattooed on my forehead for the past three or so years - I had that removed yesterday at the advance poll.
Having spent the better part of last week where the media is required to say "Governor Schwarzenegger" with a straight face, I've been bringing myself up to speed on the election. Either I've missed something or:
-The Liberals have given up running against the New Democrats. Instead they're picking a fight with "The Glen Clark Gang", which is kind of funny coming from the Bill Vander Zalm Gang. I caught a TV spot where they claimed NDP stood for something other than New Democratic Party...Nasty Decrepit Perverts or something...
-Campbell's Cabal have bolted to a commanding, insurmountable, throw in the towel, lie on the floor wailing and gnashing teeth lead, going from a five point lead in the Mustel poll to eight points (where they've been for the entire campaign) at the end of last week with Ispos-Reid. Somewhere in the writing of victory speeches (or defence briefs for the Basi trial), a margin of error in the 3.5 to 4% range is missing.
-Is it just me, or is the NDP running more TV spots than the Liberals? It's not like the BC Fed or any of the major unions (who are running issue - specific campaigns) are cutting any cheques, which leads me to believe somebody in the party has successfully mastered EMPTY YOUR WALLETS FOR CAROLE NOW subliminal messaging.
-The Liberals are still chewing on the BCTF, making wild claims about an impending teachers strike, which is also funny, given they were legislated as an essential service whose job action is subject to the BC Labour Relations Board. LRB ruled for binding arbitration in the last dispute with teachers, to which the Liberals simply legislated a collective agreement, just like they did with HEU and Crown Prosecutors, all of whom are headed to the courts. Well, the Liberals did promise transparency and accountability, who knew they'd be relying on a judge (who isn't Wally Opal) to deliver it?
On another note, I had mentioned in a previous post having May 17 tattooed on my forehead for the past three or so years - I had that removed yesterday at the advance poll.
5.09.2005
5.06.2005
Campbell's Index
The BC Liberals by the numbers:
25 per cent tax cut enjoyed by wealthy elites
50 per cent increase in MSP Premiums
100 per cent increase in college and university tuition fees
7.5 per cent sales tax for three years
5,000 long-term care beds never delivered
2 NDP MLAs denied Official Opposition status
300 fewer nurses
8,000 health care workers fired
6 dollars an hour minimum wage
0.149 Gordon Campbell’s blood alcohol limit on January 9, 2003
113 schools closed
2112 homeless people in Vancouver in March, 2005
2.3 million dollars in fines returned to fish farms that broke environmental laws
13,000 dollars received by the BC Liberals from charities
9 search warrants executed in Victoria on December 28, 2003
70 million dollars cut from the Ministry of Children and Family Development
900 year lease granted to CN for BC Rail
2.6 average per cent GDP for most of their four years in power*,
3.1 average per cent GDP while the NDP was in power**
1600 CUPE 2950 members legislated back to work in 2003
0 BC Liberal candidates appearing at candidates forums
2.19 million dollars in corporate donations
2 married senior citizens forced to live apart because of cuts to long-term care
11 days until the polls open
*Auditor-General
**Premier’s Fiscal Review Panel
The BC Liberals by the numbers:
25 per cent tax cut enjoyed by wealthy elites
50 per cent increase in MSP Premiums
100 per cent increase in college and university tuition fees
7.5 per cent sales tax for three years
5,000 long-term care beds never delivered
2 NDP MLAs denied Official Opposition status
300 fewer nurses
8,000 health care workers fired
6 dollars an hour minimum wage
0.149 Gordon Campbell’s blood alcohol limit on January 9, 2003
113 schools closed
2112 homeless people in Vancouver in March, 2005
2.3 million dollars in fines returned to fish farms that broke environmental laws
13,000 dollars received by the BC Liberals from charities
9 search warrants executed in Victoria on December 28, 2003
70 million dollars cut from the Ministry of Children and Family Development
900 year lease granted to CN for BC Rail
2.6 average per cent GDP for most of their four years in power*,
3.1 average per cent GDP while the NDP was in power**
1600 CUPE 2950 members legislated back to work in 2003
0 BC Liberal candidates appearing at candidates forums
2.19 million dollars in corporate donations
2 married senior citizens forced to live apart because of cuts to long-term care
11 days until the polls open
*Auditor-General
**Premier’s Fiscal Review Panel
5.05.2005
What Would Jenny Do?
I am at a loss to explain Jenny Kwan and Gabriel Yu's participation in the anti-Japan rally in Vancouver yesterday. It was my belief, up until I saw the two of them in a 24 Hours photo from the protest march, that New Democrats left pandering to ethnic communities to the BC Liberals, whether or not we came from those communities. I thought as New Democrats, we were class warriors who focused on changing the injustices in our world that we could change, not finger-pointing at someone because we think they haven't apologized enough.
Make no mistake, the occupation and the Rape of Nanking are atrocities. So is Japan being attacked with nuclear weapons.
So is Tianmen Square, and I don't think anyone can reasonably deny that the Butchers of Beijing are exploiting the justified grievances of the Chinese people to distract them from the cruel strain of Social Darwinism and totalitarianism that makes up modern China. The only reason anti-Japan protests have become a concern to them is the possibility they may be harnessed by dissidents to turn them against Beijing instead of Tokyo. Re-establishing Japan as the 'bad guy' in the Far East also makes it that much easier for the PRC to pursue its less than benevolent foreign policies, like threatening Taiwan and occupying Tibet.
Jenny Kwan was born in China, and I can certainly understand her deep personal motivation to attend the demonstration yesterday. My family arrived in Canada from the Ukraine as a result of Russia's occupation and systematic famine under Stalin. However, unlike China, Ukraine has fought for and won democracy, and in a democracy, those elected represent all the voters.
In her riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, that would include the people who live in and around Powell Street, home to the largest Japanese Cultural celebration in British Columbia. Many of them remember being forcibly removed from their homes in Vancouver around the same time the Emporer they had turned their backs on was assaulting China. Those people had to be warned by Vancouver Police to stay off the street yesterday.
I will still be voting for Jenny Kwan on May 17, but I implore her to ask herself what yesterday's demonstration was really about, and if she could have done something with her time yesterday that would have encouraged others to vote for her, rather than alienating some of them.
I am at a loss to explain Jenny Kwan and Gabriel Yu's participation in the anti-Japan rally in Vancouver yesterday. It was my belief, up until I saw the two of them in a 24 Hours photo from the protest march, that New Democrats left pandering to ethnic communities to the BC Liberals, whether or not we came from those communities. I thought as New Democrats, we were class warriors who focused on changing the injustices in our world that we could change, not finger-pointing at someone because we think they haven't apologized enough.
Make no mistake, the occupation and the Rape of Nanking are atrocities. So is Japan being attacked with nuclear weapons.
So is Tianmen Square, and I don't think anyone can reasonably deny that the Butchers of Beijing are exploiting the justified grievances of the Chinese people to distract them from the cruel strain of Social Darwinism and totalitarianism that makes up modern China. The only reason anti-Japan protests have become a concern to them is the possibility they may be harnessed by dissidents to turn them against Beijing instead of Tokyo. Re-establishing Japan as the 'bad guy' in the Far East also makes it that much easier for the PRC to pursue its less than benevolent foreign policies, like threatening Taiwan and occupying Tibet.
Jenny Kwan was born in China, and I can certainly understand her deep personal motivation to attend the demonstration yesterday. My family arrived in Canada from the Ukraine as a result of Russia's occupation and systematic famine under Stalin. However, unlike China, Ukraine has fought for and won democracy, and in a democracy, those elected represent all the voters.
In her riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, that would include the people who live in and around Powell Street, home to the largest Japanese Cultural celebration in British Columbia. Many of them remember being forcibly removed from their homes in Vancouver around the same time the Emporer they had turned their backs on was assaulting China. Those people had to be warned by Vancouver Police to stay off the street yesterday.
I will still be voting for Jenny Kwan on May 17, but I implore her to ask herself what yesterday's demonstration was really about, and if she could have done something with her time yesterday that would have encouraged others to vote for her, rather than alienating some of them.
5.04.2005
The Post-Game Show
The Leaders Debate was better than this page expected, largely due to a change in format from 2001 that allowed Gordon Campbell, Adrianne Carr, and Carole James to go directly after each other. James took this opportunity to keep moving and stay on the attack, easily the best strategy for the newest combatant. From long-term care beds to BC Rail, James asked more questions than the media panel, and had the debate been longer than 60 minutes, probably wouldn't have quit until she had beaten a confession out of the Premier. The more Campbell becomes the issue, the more the NDP has a chance of removing Campbell.
Campbell was defensive throughout the debate, if not dismissive of the points raised by James and Adrianne Carr. As the subject areas for questions were submitted to the leaders a week prior to the debate, the Premier lucked out in that he wouldn't have to address any fundraising issues. "We made choices" didn't resonate as Campbell failed to explain why the Liberals made those choices. Afraid the 'send a message' vote might spill over into a 'throw the bums out' vote, Campbell sternly reminded the audience that 'you're not electing an opposition, you're electing a government'.
Adrianne Carr 2005 is an upgrade from Adrianne Carr 2001, but this page is waiting for the next version to take her seriously. At one point she came across as a bigger labour supporter than James for recounting her time on HEU's picket line, then turned around a few minutes later to describe the labour movement as a "vested interest" in the NDP. Carr asked BC voters to "elect Green MLAs", which looks like a retreat from trying to seize Official Oppostion status four years ago.
The questions from the media panel gave the leaders enough to work with, give or take some intellectual dishonesty from Global TV's Keith Baldry. Baldry cited health care as a percentage of the provincial budget increasing from 33% to 44% as evidence of health spending rising out of control. That doesn't wash unless the rest of budget is taken into account: if you spend less on everything else (education, environment, social services...), the health care portion auotmatically becomes larger by default. While it was good to see panelists from Fairchild Broadcasting and Channel M, this page believes equity may have been better served if one the panelists had come from BC's Indo-Canadian Community, which may have significant influence on the May 17 outcome.
Various spin is taking place right now, which started even before the debate started. Yesterday afternoon I received a call from NDP HQ inviting me to a 'Debate Victory' breakfast in Burnaby this morning. Given that just last fall we saw John Kerry out-debate George Bush only to be buried by an avalanche of negative TV ads in swing states, some of us would prefer to hold the pancakes of triumph until May 18.
The Leaders Debate was better than this page expected, largely due to a change in format from 2001 that allowed Gordon Campbell, Adrianne Carr, and Carole James to go directly after each other. James took this opportunity to keep moving and stay on the attack, easily the best strategy for the newest combatant. From long-term care beds to BC Rail, James asked more questions than the media panel, and had the debate been longer than 60 minutes, probably wouldn't have quit until she had beaten a confession out of the Premier. The more Campbell becomes the issue, the more the NDP has a chance of removing Campbell.
Campbell was defensive throughout the debate, if not dismissive of the points raised by James and Adrianne Carr. As the subject areas for questions were submitted to the leaders a week prior to the debate, the Premier lucked out in that he wouldn't have to address any fundraising issues. "We made choices" didn't resonate as Campbell failed to explain why the Liberals made those choices. Afraid the 'send a message' vote might spill over into a 'throw the bums out' vote, Campbell sternly reminded the audience that 'you're not electing an opposition, you're electing a government'.
Adrianne Carr 2005 is an upgrade from Adrianne Carr 2001, but this page is waiting for the next version to take her seriously. At one point she came across as a bigger labour supporter than James for recounting her time on HEU's picket line, then turned around a few minutes later to describe the labour movement as a "vested interest" in the NDP. Carr asked BC voters to "elect Green MLAs", which looks like a retreat from trying to seize Official Oppostion status four years ago.
The questions from the media panel gave the leaders enough to work with, give or take some intellectual dishonesty from Global TV's Keith Baldry. Baldry cited health care as a percentage of the provincial budget increasing from 33% to 44% as evidence of health spending rising out of control. That doesn't wash unless the rest of budget is taken into account: if you spend less on everything else (education, environment, social services...), the health care portion auotmatically becomes larger by default. While it was good to see panelists from Fairchild Broadcasting and Channel M, this page believes equity may have been better served if one the panelists had come from BC's Indo-Canadian Community, which may have significant influence on the May 17 outcome.
Various spin is taking place right now, which started even before the debate started. Yesterday afternoon I received a call from NDP HQ inviting me to a 'Debate Victory' breakfast in Burnaby this morning. Given that just last fall we saw John Kerry out-debate George Bush only to be buried by an avalanche of negative TV ads in swing states, some of us would prefer to hold the pancakes of triumph until May 18.
5.02.2005
Halftime Highlights
Two weeks into the campaign, two weeks to go, and tomorrow night's Leaders Debate in the middle. So far, the campaign looks like a draw: The Ispos-Reid numbers from last week mirror those at the drop of the writ on April 19. The NDP (39%) has gained negligible ground, but the Liberals (46%) haven't pulled away either. With 38% of Green (13%) voters admitting they could switch their vote on May 17, the swing ridings remain to close to call.
The NDP has benefited from the allegations of municipal officials being hoodwinked to donate to the Liberals. The Liberals are countering by accusing the NDP of getting free campaign signs from the BCGEU. These situations don't equate: The receipts that showed up at Town Hall in Kitimat and Fort St. John read "BC Liberal Party", where do the BCGEU campaign signs say 'New Democrats?' "Vote for Change" could mean the Green Party, Democratic Reform, Marijuana, Work Less: add 'change' to what the right wing considers "partisan" speech.
Tomorrow night, Gordon Campbell, Carole James, and Adrianne Carr will take to the airwaves in a stage-managed debate. I don't think the format will allow for the knockout blow that will push someone to victory, but it will provide the opportunity for James to provide a positive first impression to a significant portions of voters who have heard about her, but haven't heard her directly.
Two weeks into the campaign, two weeks to go, and tomorrow night's Leaders Debate in the middle. So far, the campaign looks like a draw: The Ispos-Reid numbers from last week mirror those at the drop of the writ on April 19. The NDP (39%) has gained negligible ground, but the Liberals (46%) haven't pulled away either. With 38% of Green (13%) voters admitting they could switch their vote on May 17, the swing ridings remain to close to call.
The NDP has benefited from the allegations of municipal officials being hoodwinked to donate to the Liberals. The Liberals are countering by accusing the NDP of getting free campaign signs from the BCGEU. These situations don't equate: The receipts that showed up at Town Hall in Kitimat and Fort St. John read "BC Liberal Party", where do the BCGEU campaign signs say 'New Democrats?' "Vote for Change" could mean the Green Party, Democratic Reform, Marijuana, Work Less: add 'change' to what the right wing considers "partisan" speech.
Tomorrow night, Gordon Campbell, Carole James, and Adrianne Carr will take to the airwaves in a stage-managed debate. I don't think the format will allow for the knockout blow that will push someone to victory, but it will provide the opportunity for James to provide a positive first impression to a significant portions of voters who have heard about her, but haven't heard her directly.
4.29.2005
Beat 'em in the alley
The National Hockey League Players Association is filing for Union certification in Quebec and British Columbia.
It would appear that the NHL owners recent softpedalling of using scab players was a PR exercise, since the players are looking to certify in the only two jurisdictions in North America where the use of scabs is prohibited by law. The league's hand would be forced to temporarily relocate the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks to scab-friendly locales.
Either that or lobby the respective provincial governments in Quebec City and Victoria to repeal the anti-scab legislation: I'm certain that worker-hating corporate whores like Jean Charest or Gordon Campbell wouldn't be averse to legalizing scabs, especially when they can look like heroes for preserving the right of mouth-breathing Molson-inhaling troglodytes to pay for overpriced tickets to see an NHL made up of backstabbing opportunists who wouldn't make the fourth line in the East Coast Hockey League.
After 'Right to Hockey' passes, I'm sure 'Right to Work' wouldn't be that far off. Unions in Quebec and BC should keep their sticks on the ice and their heads up.
The National Hockey League Players Association is filing for Union certification in Quebec and British Columbia.
It would appear that the NHL owners recent softpedalling of using scab players was a PR exercise, since the players are looking to certify in the only two jurisdictions in North America where the use of scabs is prohibited by law. The league's hand would be forced to temporarily relocate the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks to scab-friendly locales.
Either that or lobby the respective provincial governments in Quebec City and Victoria to repeal the anti-scab legislation: I'm certain that worker-hating corporate whores like Jean Charest or Gordon Campbell wouldn't be averse to legalizing scabs, especially when they can look like heroes for preserving the right of mouth-breathing Molson-inhaling troglodytes to pay for overpriced tickets to see an NHL made up of backstabbing opportunists who wouldn't make the fourth line in the East Coast Hockey League.
After 'Right to Hockey' passes, I'm sure 'Right to Work' wouldn't be that far off. Unions in Quebec and BC should keep their sticks on the ice and their heads up.
4.28.2005
Bodily Functions and the Body Politic
Over at the Tyee, Bill Horne thinks a lot of leftist and/or labour activists are guilty of 'branding with bile'
"With traditional adversaries trying to reconcile in various parts of the world -- truth commissions, dialogue groups, peace camps for Palestinian and Israeli or Belfast Catholic and Protestant children -- the lessons are there. Can the NDP learn from these pioneers in peace making, and break out of its us-against-them rhetoric into more confident, inclusive and powerful politics?"
There are no lessons, unless the BC Liberals start shooting at people. The conflicts Horne uses as illustrations are marked by violence, but in that violence there exists a balance of power, if at the least a sense of mutually assured destruction. In BC politics, there is no balance of power: we have one party with its base among working people trying to make their lives just a little easier (the NDP), and we have one party with its base among the corporate elite who think working people are theirs to manipulate as they see fit (formerly Social Credit, now the BC Liberals).
Throw in the right-wing's mortal lock on major media outlets and the province's lack of election financing laws, and it makes as much sense for the left to extend a hand to the other side as it does to start to start stocking up on the ammunition ourselves. There's a reason the body produces bile, if it doesn't produce bile than the body becomes diseased and dies. So does the left if we mistakenly look for common ground that isn't there.
Horne's questioning effectiveness of negative rhetoric about one's opponents leaves this page somewhat puzzled, given the Liberals rode it to 77 seats in 2001 election. What, is it only good to demonize your opponents when you're pretty much assured of winning?
Over at the Tyee, Bill Horne thinks a lot of leftist and/or labour activists are guilty of 'branding with bile'
"With traditional adversaries trying to reconcile in various parts of the world -- truth commissions, dialogue groups, peace camps for Palestinian and Israeli or Belfast Catholic and Protestant children -- the lessons are there. Can the NDP learn from these pioneers in peace making, and break out of its us-against-them rhetoric into more confident, inclusive and powerful politics?"
There are no lessons, unless the BC Liberals start shooting at people. The conflicts Horne uses as illustrations are marked by violence, but in that violence there exists a balance of power, if at the least a sense of mutually assured destruction. In BC politics, there is no balance of power: we have one party with its base among working people trying to make their lives just a little easier (the NDP), and we have one party with its base among the corporate elite who think working people are theirs to manipulate as they see fit (formerly Social Credit, now the BC Liberals).
Throw in the right-wing's mortal lock on major media outlets and the province's lack of election financing laws, and it makes as much sense for the left to extend a hand to the other side as it does to start to start stocking up on the ammunition ourselves. There's a reason the body produces bile, if it doesn't produce bile than the body becomes diseased and dies. So does the left if we mistakenly look for common ground that isn't there.
Horne's questioning effectiveness of negative rhetoric about one's opponents leaves this page somewhat puzzled, given the Liberals rode it to 77 seats in 2001 election. What, is it only good to demonize your opponents when you're pretty much assured of winning?
4.27.2005
The Partisanship has already set sail
Over at Revolutionary Moderation, Don expresses some misgivings about partisan divisions in the 'blogosphere'. I haven't joined Blogging New Democrats, but if they asked, yeah sure.
"I don't think the Canadian blogosphere dividing itself into teams is a positive change."
I hope Don doesn't take it personally, but I always get a giggle when anybody treats polarization like something that can be prevented, like a sunburn, vapour lock, or late fees at the video store. The truth is, you either polarize or someone polarizes you: after the second time I was legislated back to work, the fourth overheard conversation about a gay-bashing, and the fifth completely motionless homeless person lying prone on East Hastings, I completely gave up on trying to see the other side of the issue. Does anyone really think that the media-powered class and culture wars that pass for Canadian society give any quarter for compromise or objectivity?
Of course, in British Columbia, it doesn't take much to be branded 'partisan' - I can't think of anywhere else where teachers are labeled as such because they send notes home to parents attached to report cards with such blatantly partisan messages as "schools are being closed and class sizes are getting larger - call your MLA". Gordon Campbell says if his Liberals are re-elected, he'll ban the BC Teachers Federation from sending out that kind of treacherous and seditious correspondence.
Sarcasm? Well, that's still a choice...
Over at Revolutionary Moderation, Don expresses some misgivings about partisan divisions in the 'blogosphere'. I haven't joined Blogging New Democrats, but if they asked, yeah sure.
"I don't think the Canadian blogosphere dividing itself into teams is a positive change."
I hope Don doesn't take it personally, but I always get a giggle when anybody treats polarization like something that can be prevented, like a sunburn, vapour lock, or late fees at the video store. The truth is, you either polarize or someone polarizes you: after the second time I was legislated back to work, the fourth overheard conversation about a gay-bashing, and the fifth completely motionless homeless person lying prone on East Hastings, I completely gave up on trying to see the other side of the issue. Does anyone really think that the media-powered class and culture wars that pass for Canadian society give any quarter for compromise or objectivity?
Of course, in British Columbia, it doesn't take much to be branded 'partisan' - I can't think of anywhere else where teachers are labeled as such because they send notes home to parents attached to report cards with such blatantly partisan messages as "schools are being closed and class sizes are getting larger - call your MLA". Gordon Campbell says if his Liberals are re-elected, he'll ban the BC Teachers Federation from sending out that kind of treacherous and seditious correspondence.
Sarcasm? Well, that's still a choice...
Take your white towel and....
Last night while Gordon Campbell was trying to bribe BC's public servants with their own money, the Premier received the endorsement of former Vancouver Canucks General Manager Brian Burke. As part owner of the Western Hockey League's expansion Chilliwack Bruins, it appears that Burke is now rich enough to support the B.C. Liberals: "I know what it takes to build a winning organization and I want you all to know we have a leader tonight with all those qualities."
When Burke talks about a winning organization, is he referring to the same Vancouver Canucks, who, under his tenure as General Manager, never made it past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs? The same Canucks who would roll up impressive strings of victories in the regular season, only to fall apart to the Minnesota Wilds and Calgary Flames of the hockey world when it really mattered? The Liberals love to credit themselves for the province's booming economy, only to choke every time they face off against problems in education and health care. As for "what it takes", can anyone tell the difference between Todd Bertuzzi's sucker punch on Steve Moore and Gordon Campbell's sucker punch on the Hospital Employees Union?
Nobody I know misses the stupidity and brutality of the locked-out NHL. We wouldn't miss the stupidity and brutality of the BC Liberals either.
Last night while Gordon Campbell was trying to bribe BC's public servants with their own money, the Premier received the endorsement of former Vancouver Canucks General Manager Brian Burke. As part owner of the Western Hockey League's expansion Chilliwack Bruins, it appears that Burke is now rich enough to support the B.C. Liberals: "I know what it takes to build a winning organization and I want you all to know we have a leader tonight with all those qualities."
When Burke talks about a winning organization, is he referring to the same Vancouver Canucks, who, under his tenure as General Manager, never made it past the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs? The same Canucks who would roll up impressive strings of victories in the regular season, only to fall apart to the Minnesota Wilds and Calgary Flames of the hockey world when it really mattered? The Liberals love to credit themselves for the province's booming economy, only to choke every time they face off against problems in education and health care. As for "what it takes", can anyone tell the difference between Todd Bertuzzi's sucker punch on Steve Moore and Gordon Campbell's sucker punch on the Hospital Employees Union?
Nobody I know misses the stupidity and brutality of the locked-out NHL. We wouldn't miss the stupidity and brutality of the BC Liberals either.
4.26.2005
Open-Net mugging in Campbell River
Carole James gets bullied by open-net fish farmers, and Liberal hacks masquerading as open-net fish farmers.
"The NDP wants to bring back the moratorium on open-net fish farms, and would offer tax credits for closed-containment systems. But fish farmers say they fear that would spell the end of their industry, and kill their jobs in an area where unemployment is already high. "
To recap the point of the 'demonstrators': inferior farmed salmon intermingled with wild salmon stocks devasting the gene pool to eventual extinction, good. NDP, bad.
Carole James gets bullied by open-net fish farmers, and Liberal hacks masquerading as open-net fish farmers.
"The NDP wants to bring back the moratorium on open-net fish farms, and would offer tax credits for closed-containment systems. But fish farmers say they fear that would spell the end of their industry, and kill their jobs in an area where unemployment is already high. "
To recap the point of the 'demonstrators': inferior farmed salmon intermingled with wild salmon stocks devasting the gene pool to eventual extinction, good. NDP, bad.
SIGN WARS
Episode II: Attack from Happy Planet
Strolled through Vancouver-Fairview on the weekend on my way to Granville Island, and noticed a substantial volume of signage for NDP candidate/juice magnate Gregor Robertson, who's running against Liberal/Gary Collins replacement Virginia Green.
I don't know if Green's campaign has been slow off the mark, but going past the waterfront condominiums overlooking False Creek en route to Granville Island, one is left with the impression that Robertson must be smoother than the stuff he makes out of pulverized mangoes and sells for three dollars a bottle.
Episode II: Attack from Happy Planet
Strolled through Vancouver-Fairview on the weekend on my way to Granville Island, and noticed a substantial volume of signage for NDP candidate/juice magnate Gregor Robertson, who's running against Liberal/Gary Collins replacement Virginia Green.
I don't know if Green's campaign has been slow off the mark, but going past the waterfront condominiums overlooking False Creek en route to Granville Island, one is left with the impression that Robertson must be smoother than the stuff he makes out of pulverized mangoes and sells for three dollars a bottle.
Keith Milosevicted in Chilliwack-Kent
Rollie Keith has stepped aside as the NDP candidate in Chilliwack-Kent, as a result of media reports surrounding his comments about former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. 2001 candidate Malcom James will be replacing Keith on the NDP ticket.
This riding was already a lock for the BC Liberals, but a number of pundits and Lewis MacKenzie have suggested that the controversy could effect collateral damage on the NDP campaign across BC. Gordon Campbell says that the apparent lapse in the candidate selection process proves the NDP isn't ready to govern. By contrast the Liberals use an extensive screening process, as illustrated by their candidate in Vancouver-Point Grey.
This page says the Rollie Keith episode could be a huge factor on May 17, particularly in the volatile swing ridings of Croatia, Serbia, Chechnya, and Russia: all of them could go either way...
Rollie Keith has stepped aside as the NDP candidate in Chilliwack-Kent, as a result of media reports surrounding his comments about former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. 2001 candidate Malcom James will be replacing Keith on the NDP ticket.
This riding was already a lock for the BC Liberals, but a number of pundits and Lewis MacKenzie have suggested that the controversy could effect collateral damage on the NDP campaign across BC. Gordon Campbell says that the apparent lapse in the candidate selection process proves the NDP isn't ready to govern. By contrast the Liberals use an extensive screening process, as illustrated by their candidate in Vancouver-Point Grey.
This page says the Rollie Keith episode could be a huge factor on May 17, particularly in the volatile swing ridings of Croatia, Serbia, Chechnya, and Russia: all of them could go either way...
4.25.2005
Shocked and Appalled?
"Carole James is selling out the Labour Movement in British Columbia! Labour was a founding partner in the NDP, and we were the ones doing most of the fighting back against Gordon Campbell over the past four years!"
I'm hoping to hear those words, or at least similar ones, out of the mouth of a Jim Sinclair, Barry O'Neil, George Heyman, Debra McPherson, or any prominent labour leader in B.C. As it stands now, Labour is solidly behind the NDP, and unions like CUPE B.C. backed Carole James' leadership bid knowing full well she would be looking to steer the party towards the centre.
It doesn't appear that any of the leadership within the labour movement has a problem with that - a number of unions have at one time or another advocated a sit-down with the business community and the government to review the Labour Code. This position would differ from the BC Liberals, who believe BC workers shouldn't be shown to the table, they should be shown the door.
Still, if someone were to at least give the impression of some kind of betrayal, it would make the NDP's move towards the centre much more visible, and ultimately make the party that much more electable with swing voters who mistakenly shiver whenever the mainstream media raises the spectre of 'Big Labour'. The end justifies the means: a government that regards labour as a legitimate actor in BC's economy and the formulation of public policy. The other positive for Labour is that it's a subtle means to remind Carole James and the NDP about who their base is, in case they're planning to move from the centre into 'Ujjal' territory...
If you're the President of one of this province's larger unions and reading this article, why not take this opportunity and help yourself to a little outrage? Do you really want to wait for post-election consultation on automatic certification, or 12-year olds in the workplace? What's the worst that could happen, getting the NDP elected?
"Carole James is selling out the Labour Movement in British Columbia! Labour was a founding partner in the NDP, and we were the ones doing most of the fighting back against Gordon Campbell over the past four years!"
I'm hoping to hear those words, or at least similar ones, out of the mouth of a Jim Sinclair, Barry O'Neil, George Heyman, Debra McPherson, or any prominent labour leader in B.C. As it stands now, Labour is solidly behind the NDP, and unions like CUPE B.C. backed Carole James' leadership bid knowing full well she would be looking to steer the party towards the centre.
It doesn't appear that any of the leadership within the labour movement has a problem with that - a number of unions have at one time or another advocated a sit-down with the business community and the government to review the Labour Code. This position would differ from the BC Liberals, who believe BC workers shouldn't be shown to the table, they should be shown the door.
Still, if someone were to at least give the impression of some kind of betrayal, it would make the NDP's move towards the centre much more visible, and ultimately make the party that much more electable with swing voters who mistakenly shiver whenever the mainstream media raises the spectre of 'Big Labour'. The end justifies the means: a government that regards labour as a legitimate actor in BC's economy and the formulation of public policy. The other positive for Labour is that it's a subtle means to remind Carole James and the NDP about who their base is, in case they're planning to move from the centre into 'Ujjal' territory...
If you're the President of one of this province's larger unions and reading this article, why not take this opportunity and help yourself to a little outrage? Do you really want to wait for post-election consultation on automatic certification, or 12-year olds in the workplace? What's the worst that could happen, getting the NDP elected?
Worth a Thousand Words
On Saturday the logo for Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics was unveiled.
Immediate polling shows a mixed reaction to the stylized Inukshuk, but there appears to be a general consensus that it's not the worst image British Columbia could present to the world.
On Saturday the logo for Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics was unveiled.
Immediate polling shows a mixed reaction to the stylized Inukshuk, but there appears to be a general consensus that it's not the worst image British Columbia could present to the world.
4.21.2005
I'll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours
It wasn't until after enough ballots were counted in the Surrey Panorama-Ridge byelection to declare Jagrup Brar the winner, that Gordon Campbell launched into his diatribe about how "big labour" won the seat for the NDP. This time, the Premier is wasting no time in showing off his vendetta towards the labour movement.
It's kind of sad that only a few days into the campaign, Campbell is already reduced to potshots and fear-mongering about the big, bad unions and their secret agenda. However, it's also damned funny, coming from the pinhead who brought us such articles of faith as "I don't believe in tearing up collective agreements", "I will not sell BC Rail", "No officer, I haven't been drinking" and "The NDP fudged the budget."
Does the NDP have a hidden agenda? I haven't seen one, but I sure hope it includes restoring pay equity and automatic certification if 50% of employees at a worksite sign union cards. Of course the Liberals have been more than above board about things like their plans to privatize B.C.'s public school services in the same way they privatized services at hospitals. I'm sure that was mentioned somewhere in between the aerial photography and 2010 Olympic bumph.
Meanwhile, British Columbians are waiting to see Gordon Campbell's itinerary, let alone a platform from the Liberals. For some reason, Gordon Campbell really hates people who like to serve the public, earn a decent living, and return much of what they earn to the community in the form of taxes and local spending. Projecting his issues about his longstanding problem with the truth on to Carole James only goes to prove how much Campbell is trying to hide it.
For the record, the NDP does have a hidden agenda, notice how Carole James hasn't talked openly about forming the government the way Campbell blustered about in 2001? If you play "Send Gordon Campbell a message" backwards, the message you hear is "Premier Carole James".
It wasn't until after enough ballots were counted in the Surrey Panorama-Ridge byelection to declare Jagrup Brar the winner, that Gordon Campbell launched into his diatribe about how "big labour" won the seat for the NDP. This time, the Premier is wasting no time in showing off his vendetta towards the labour movement.
It's kind of sad that only a few days into the campaign, Campbell is already reduced to potshots and fear-mongering about the big, bad unions and their secret agenda. However, it's also damned funny, coming from the pinhead who brought us such articles of faith as "I don't believe in tearing up collective agreements", "I will not sell BC Rail", "No officer, I haven't been drinking" and "The NDP fudged the budget."
Does the NDP have a hidden agenda? I haven't seen one, but I sure hope it includes restoring pay equity and automatic certification if 50% of employees at a worksite sign union cards. Of course the Liberals have been more than above board about things like their plans to privatize B.C.'s public school services in the same way they privatized services at hospitals. I'm sure that was mentioned somewhere in between the aerial photography and 2010 Olympic bumph.
Meanwhile, British Columbians are waiting to see Gordon Campbell's itinerary, let alone a platform from the Liberals. For some reason, Gordon Campbell really hates people who like to serve the public, earn a decent living, and return much of what they earn to the community in the form of taxes and local spending. Projecting his issues about his longstanding problem with the truth on to Carole James only goes to prove how much Campbell is trying to hide it.
For the record, the NDP does have a hidden agenda, notice how Carole James hasn't talked openly about forming the government the way Campbell blustered about in 2001? If you play "Send Gordon Campbell a message" backwards, the message you hear is "Premier Carole James".
4.20.2005
We Have Liftoff
I squeezed into the Italian Cultural Centre last night for the NDP's Vancouver campaign launch.
I go to a lot of blatantly partisan events: picket lines, rallies, conventions, so I tend to check my enthusiasm with the thought that everyone in the room is already a true believer. However, last night, I couldn't curb the feeling that I was actually having fun. As the 1,000 or so people filled up the hall, there were buzzing conversations, pacing, fidgeting - nervous energy, but positive energy.
Joy MacPhail introduced the Vancouver-area candidates and Carole James, which, while providing the optics of passing the torch, also provided the optics of Joy MacPhail still being around: that's a distraction for New Democrats still warming up to James, and a bone to nitpick for anyone who wants to question the "New" in New Democrat.
James was better last night than she was in Victoria last Friday - a lot more at ease and putting more emotion into her speech. I left thinking that she will get better as the campaign goes along, but still needs to show she can deliver off the cuff. Both Gordon Campbell and Adrianne Carr like the name-calling schoolyard rhetoric that generates easy soundbytes, and "Doing Politics Differently" might not be an effective response.
The Liberals had their campaign launch yesterday as well, where Gordon Campbell once again attacked the NDP as being controlled by 'big labour' and 'union hacks'. Coming from CUPE BC, That's funny, given that Judy Darcy wasn't handed a nomination and we still don't have a straight answer on pay equity. If you're scoring at home, I did a head count of union hacks last night, which totaled George Heyman and.....what the hell, me.
If anything, it was fun to be in a huge crowd and chant N!D!P! N!D!P! You'd be surprised how few and far between the opportunities to do that are....
I squeezed into the Italian Cultural Centre last night for the NDP's Vancouver campaign launch.
I go to a lot of blatantly partisan events: picket lines, rallies, conventions, so I tend to check my enthusiasm with the thought that everyone in the room is already a true believer. However, last night, I couldn't curb the feeling that I was actually having fun. As the 1,000 or so people filled up the hall, there were buzzing conversations, pacing, fidgeting - nervous energy, but positive energy.
Joy MacPhail introduced the Vancouver-area candidates and Carole James, which, while providing the optics of passing the torch, also provided the optics of Joy MacPhail still being around: that's a distraction for New Democrats still warming up to James, and a bone to nitpick for anyone who wants to question the "New" in New Democrat.
James was better last night than she was in Victoria last Friday - a lot more at ease and putting more emotion into her speech. I left thinking that she will get better as the campaign goes along, but still needs to show she can deliver off the cuff. Both Gordon Campbell and Adrianne Carr like the name-calling schoolyard rhetoric that generates easy soundbytes, and "Doing Politics Differently" might not be an effective response.
The Liberals had their campaign launch yesterday as well, where Gordon Campbell once again attacked the NDP as being controlled by 'big labour' and 'union hacks'. Coming from CUPE BC, That's funny, given that Judy Darcy wasn't handed a nomination and we still don't have a straight answer on pay equity. If you're scoring at home, I did a head count of union hacks last night, which totaled George Heyman and.....what the hell, me.
If anything, it was fun to be in a huge crowd and chant N!D!P! N!D!P! You'd be surprised how few and far between the opportunities to do that are....
4.19.2005
The 'Dr' is in at the CBC
If you go to 'BC Votes' section at the CBC British Columbia site, Democratic Reform B.C. (DrBC) and their leader Tom Morino are recognized among the major parties. For Dr. BC, that's a bigger break than (Burnaby North Liberal President) Shayne Gordon's defection to the new party last week.
If Morino and Co. can string together enough glimpses from the media over the next week, and get some lobbying from the NDP and/or the Green Party, Dr. BC may have an appointment with the televised leaders debate on May 3.
If you go to 'BC Votes' section at the CBC British Columbia site, Democratic Reform B.C. (DrBC) and their leader Tom Morino are recognized among the major parties. For Dr. BC, that's a bigger break than (Burnaby North Liberal President) Shayne Gordon's defection to the new party last week.
If Morino and Co. can string together enough glimpses from the media over the next week, and get some lobbying from the NDP and/or the Green Party, Dr. BC may have an appointment with the televised leaders debate on May 3.
Are We There Yet?
For a lot of people who live outside British Columbia, today is probably the first news that B.C. has a Provincial Election on May 17. For most people in B.C., the corners on that fixed election date were sanded down to a general understanding we'd be going to the polls sometime around the Victoria Day weekend, and now would be a good time to start paying attention.
For anyone in the labour, environmental, and anti-poverty (among others) activist communities, May 17 has been stamped on our collective forehead for almost the past four years. Some of us are tired already as a result of the drawn out pre-campaign posturing. Some of us are disheartened by a parade of polls and punditry that the best the NDP can hope for are a scattering of moral victories. Some of us are itching to start campaigning for real, bouyed by the party's resurgence since the bloodletting of 2001.
Will the NDP win this election? I've already passed judgement as to what I consider winning. Can the NDP win a majority of seats and form a government? To that question I submit a qualified Yes: The NDP is a team a few games out from winning a pennant race: they can still win, but they need to catch a few breaks: concentration of supporters in key ridings, falters in the Liberal campaign, a stunning debate performance by Carole James, to name a few. If those things happen, anything can happen.
For a lot of people who live outside British Columbia, today is probably the first news that B.C. has a Provincial Election on May 17. For most people in B.C., the corners on that fixed election date were sanded down to a general understanding we'd be going to the polls sometime around the Victoria Day weekend, and now would be a good time to start paying attention.
For anyone in the labour, environmental, and anti-poverty (among others) activist communities, May 17 has been stamped on our collective forehead for almost the past four years. Some of us are tired already as a result of the drawn out pre-campaign posturing. Some of us are disheartened by a parade of polls and punditry that the best the NDP can hope for are a scattering of moral victories. Some of us are itching to start campaigning for real, bouyed by the party's resurgence since the bloodletting of 2001.
Will the NDP win this election? I've already passed judgement as to what I consider winning. Can the NDP win a majority of seats and form a government? To that question I submit a qualified Yes: The NDP is a team a few games out from winning a pennant race: they can still win, but they need to catch a few breaks: concentration of supporters in key ridings, falters in the Liberal campaign, a stunning debate performance by Carole James, to name a few. If those things happen, anything can happen.
4.18.2005
SIGN WARS:
Episode I: The Lehan Menace
Trying to determine election winners by the number of lawn and window signs their candidates have is like a big stick (or bag) of cotton candy: fluffy, unsubstantial, but a lot of fun. Throughout the campaign, I'm going to try and point out any interesting trends as to what voters are posting into the ground or mounting in their windows.
For example, a pre-writ glance in Vancouver - Point Grey along Broadway and up West 10th shows 3 signs for NDP candidate Mel Lehan to 2 for Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell. If this trend continues, Campbell is in serious trouble in his own riding.
See, isn't that totally disconnected from reality...and fun? Of course Campbell is not going to be crushed, but I don't think that the upscale empty nesters parking the Liberals' near-billboards on their front lawns get to vote more than once either.
Convention Snapshots
I'm back from the 2005 CUPE BC Convention in Victoria, where about 500 of us passed several resolutions, elected a new executive, and bid a fond farewell to outgoing Secretary Treasurer (and prospective Burnaby City councilor) Colleen Jordan.
Here are my highlights from the four days:
-The first convention appearance for Local 2010 (Whistler Municipal Workers), who appear to be the only workers in Whistler who don't get a cost of living allowance to afford to actually live where they work. Busloads of labour activists will be at Town Council Monday night to drive that point home.
-The resolution opposing BC-STV was passed, which may or may not have something to do with Dave Barrett's lambasting BC-STV at a CUPE BC Political Action Conference earlier this year.
-A noticeable split on the issue of CUPE BC supporting U.S. War Resisters in Canada. A few members stated that they signed up for a job and they couldn't just quit. Remind me not to take a school custodial position in Surrey, especially if they're using tazers on anyone's genitals.
-The Liberals unveiled their plans to privatize B.C.'s school support services at a P3 conference in Toronto a few weeks ago. A Liberal victory could mean workers in K-12 schools could become the HEU of 2006.
-Carole James delivered almost the same speech to us that she delivered to the Vancouver Board of Trade. Biggest crowd-pleasers were the pledge to stop privatization of health care and the tuition freeze. Two words a substantial portion of the delegates wanted to hear, "Pay Equity", were not heard during her speech. Note to the handlers: Moderate is fine, but not to the point of bland - when you're speaking to your base you're supposed to activate them, not the other way around.
-The closest thing I've seen to a "Less Filling - Tastes Great" debate took place on a constitutional resolution which would automatically have the Chair test delegates to close debate if four consecutive speakers spoke for/or against. The resolution failed.
-My Local passed a resolution calling for the definition of 'Age' to be removed from the Human Rights code, as some of our older members who can't afford to retire are being leaned on.
-Several plainclothes RCMP officers were drifting around the Hotel on Thursday and Friday - the rumour was Paulie Pockets was making a detour after his "pre-campaign" visit with Larry Campbell to get a little golf in.
The May 17th election dominated the proceedings, with a clear message that CUPE BC will need to stay focussed and ready for action no matter what the result is. We could get another four years of Gordon Campbell, or we could eventually end up with another NDP government that tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one. Either way, the CUPE BC wheel is being left to squeak.
I'm back from the 2005 CUPE BC Convention in Victoria, where about 500 of us passed several resolutions, elected a new executive, and bid a fond farewell to outgoing Secretary Treasurer (and prospective Burnaby City councilor) Colleen Jordan.
Here are my highlights from the four days:
-The first convention appearance for Local 2010 (Whistler Municipal Workers), who appear to be the only workers in Whistler who don't get a cost of living allowance to afford to actually live where they work. Busloads of labour activists will be at Town Council Monday night to drive that point home.
-The resolution opposing BC-STV was passed, which may or may not have something to do with Dave Barrett's lambasting BC-STV at a CUPE BC Political Action Conference earlier this year.
-A noticeable split on the issue of CUPE BC supporting U.S. War Resisters in Canada. A few members stated that they signed up for a job and they couldn't just quit. Remind me not to take a school custodial position in Surrey, especially if they're using tazers on anyone's genitals.
-The Liberals unveiled their plans to privatize B.C.'s school support services at a P3 conference in Toronto a few weeks ago. A Liberal victory could mean workers in K-12 schools could become the HEU of 2006.
-Carole James delivered almost the same speech to us that she delivered to the Vancouver Board of Trade. Biggest crowd-pleasers were the pledge to stop privatization of health care and the tuition freeze. Two words a substantial portion of the delegates wanted to hear, "Pay Equity", were not heard during her speech. Note to the handlers: Moderate is fine, but not to the point of bland - when you're speaking to your base you're supposed to activate them, not the other way around.
-The closest thing I've seen to a "Less Filling - Tastes Great" debate took place on a constitutional resolution which would automatically have the Chair test delegates to close debate if four consecutive speakers spoke for/or against. The resolution failed.
-My Local passed a resolution calling for the definition of 'Age' to be removed from the Human Rights code, as some of our older members who can't afford to retire are being leaned on.
-Several plainclothes RCMP officers were drifting around the Hotel on Thursday and Friday - the rumour was Paulie Pockets was making a detour after his "pre-campaign" visit with Larry Campbell to get a little golf in.
The May 17th election dominated the proceedings, with a clear message that CUPE BC will need to stay focussed and ready for action no matter what the result is. We could get another four years of Gordon Campbell, or we could eventually end up with another NDP government that tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing no one. Either way, the CUPE BC wheel is being left to squeak.
4.13.2005
Winning Isn't Everything. Or is it?
Carole James will be dropping by the CUPE BC Convention on Friday afternoon to gather a few standing ovations and (hopefully) outline the long-awaited NDP platform for the May 17 election. At a press conference on Monday, James said that "the NDP is running to win", despite reports from 'party insiders' that the best anyone is really hoping for is around 30 seats.
James has also said that NDP candidates or volunteers "aren't under orders" to talk about anything but winning. Jenny Kwan's pre-campaign literature includes phrases like "send Gordon Campbell's Liberals a message they can't ignore". That doesn't read like the Liberals' bombastic "A New Era for British Columbia" of four years ago.
Because I started out as a New Democrat in Alberta, I'm still a little fuzzy around this idea of 'winning' elections. In 1997, we said that we won because we got Pam Barrett and Raj Pannu into the Legislature after electing zero MLAs four years earlier. I know that in BC electing 2 MLA's in 2001 was not a 'win', but hasn't the party gathered enough success to declare a victory even though the drop of a writ is a few days away? There was every opportunity for the NDP to cash in their collective chips after 2001, but the party took a good look in the mirror and steered a moderate progressive course with the election of James. Meanwhile, Joy McPhail and Jenny Kwan turned in heroic performances in the legislature, exposing the Campbell "Liberals" as little more than Howe Street's shock troops, with no intention of steering BC towards the middle like they told voters in the 2001 campaign.
The results? Poll numbers that may not look that impressive on the surface (46 to 39 for the Liberals), but are close to the popular vote when the NDP pulled off its dramatic comeback of 1996. Even if Carole James doesn't lead New Democrats to government, there's an important victory for all British Columbians in having an official Opposition again, and there's four years for the NDP to build a cohesive caucus and allow James to build her profile as a Premier in waiting. In the long run, that may be better than rushing to feed a rebuilt and tentative governing party to CanWest Global and the Vancouver Board of Trade.
That's not to say that New Democrats shouldn't be pulling out all the stops to form a government on May 17. Gordon Campbell didn't get it when he was told to resign from a number of quarters after his drunk driving conviction, and he's not going to get it if his government gets a significant kick in the mandate either. In 1991, British Columbians looked to send a message to a polarizing and arrogant Social Credit government. That message was loud enough to inadvertently put Mike Harcourt in the Premier's Office. Carole James could end up the same way if New Democrats simply focus on delivering a credible message to voters, winning as many seats as possible and letting the arithmetic do the rest.
Carole James will be dropping by the CUPE BC Convention on Friday afternoon to gather a few standing ovations and (hopefully) outline the long-awaited NDP platform for the May 17 election. At a press conference on Monday, James said that "the NDP is running to win", despite reports from 'party insiders' that the best anyone is really hoping for is around 30 seats.
James has also said that NDP candidates or volunteers "aren't under orders" to talk about anything but winning. Jenny Kwan's pre-campaign literature includes phrases like "send Gordon Campbell's Liberals a message they can't ignore". That doesn't read like the Liberals' bombastic "A New Era for British Columbia" of four years ago.
Because I started out as a New Democrat in Alberta, I'm still a little fuzzy around this idea of 'winning' elections. In 1997, we said that we won because we got Pam Barrett and Raj Pannu into the Legislature after electing zero MLAs four years earlier. I know that in BC electing 2 MLA's in 2001 was not a 'win', but hasn't the party gathered enough success to declare a victory even though the drop of a writ is a few days away? There was every opportunity for the NDP to cash in their collective chips after 2001, but the party took a good look in the mirror and steered a moderate progressive course with the election of James. Meanwhile, Joy McPhail and Jenny Kwan turned in heroic performances in the legislature, exposing the Campbell "Liberals" as little more than Howe Street's shock troops, with no intention of steering BC towards the middle like they told voters in the 2001 campaign.
The results? Poll numbers that may not look that impressive on the surface (46 to 39 for the Liberals), but are close to the popular vote when the NDP pulled off its dramatic comeback of 1996. Even if Carole James doesn't lead New Democrats to government, there's an important victory for all British Columbians in having an official Opposition again, and there's four years for the NDP to build a cohesive caucus and allow James to build her profile as a Premier in waiting. In the long run, that may be better than rushing to feed a rebuilt and tentative governing party to CanWest Global and the Vancouver Board of Trade.
That's not to say that New Democrats shouldn't be pulling out all the stops to form a government on May 17. Gordon Campbell didn't get it when he was told to resign from a number of quarters after his drunk driving conviction, and he's not going to get it if his government gets a significant kick in the mandate either. In 1991, British Columbians looked to send a message to a polarizing and arrogant Social Credit government. That message was loud enough to inadvertently put Mike Harcourt in the Premier's Office. Carole James could end up the same way if New Democrats simply focus on delivering a credible message to voters, winning as many seats as possible and letting the arithmetic do the rest.
4.12.2005
CUPE BC and STV
Among the items on the agenda for this week's CUPE BC Convention are two resolutions concerning the BC-STV referrendum. Briefly put, Resolution #90 supports STV, while Resolution #95 opposes it.
I'll be voting against #90 and in favour of #95. While the first-past-the-post system is by no means perfect, changing the electoral system won't change the electoral system in BC until there are significant changes in the overall political system, particularly implementing some serious campaign finance reform. Moving the goalposts further from the community-based organizing that labour has seen most of its political success is not a good idea.
If you're scoring at home, resolution #90 comes from Local 374, and #95 is from CUPE BC's Political Action Committee and the Executive Board. It appears that the leadership of B.C.'s largest union is well on their way to formulating a position on STV, and given NDP candidates may be relying on support from the union, it may influence their position despite the party's official position of neutrality.
Among the items on the agenda for this week's CUPE BC Convention are two resolutions concerning the BC-STV referrendum. Briefly put, Resolution #90 supports STV, while Resolution #95 opposes it.
I'll be voting against #90 and in favour of #95. While the first-past-the-post system is by no means perfect, changing the electoral system won't change the electoral system in BC until there are significant changes in the overall political system, particularly implementing some serious campaign finance reform. Moving the goalposts further from the community-based organizing that labour has seen most of its political success is not a good idea.
If you're scoring at home, resolution #90 comes from Local 374, and #95 is from CUPE BC's Political Action Committee and the Executive Board. It appears that the leadership of B.C.'s largest union is well on their way to formulating a position on STV, and given NDP candidates may be relying on support from the union, it may influence their position despite the party's official position of neutrality.
4.11.2005
Passport to Futility
Last week Homeland Security made the recommendation that all travellers (including Canadians) require a passport to enter the United States. Such a move is bound to deter tourists..er, ah...terrorists from making their way into the U.S. *
What's the rationale for chucking decades of reciprocity and unfettered access across our borders? If you believe Froma Harrop, the answer may lie to the south...further south.
"Illegal aliens depress the wages of low-skilled citizens and legal immigrants. This situation suits Bush just fine. Bush loves nothing more than cheap labor. For all we know, he may regard illegal workers as a kind of tax break for business.
So the cheap-labor crowd finds great value in keeping the immigration system broken. But there's the political problem. Because illegal immigration angers most Americans, Bush must appear to be doing something about it. "
*I stole that from Rick Mercer - I'm just not that funny.
Last week Homeland Security made the recommendation that all travellers (including Canadians) require a passport to enter the United States. Such a move is bound to deter tourists..er, ah...terrorists from making their way into the U.S. *
What's the rationale for chucking decades of reciprocity and unfettered access across our borders? If you believe Froma Harrop, the answer may lie to the south...further south.
"Illegal aliens depress the wages of low-skilled citizens and legal immigrants. This situation suits Bush just fine. Bush loves nothing more than cheap labor. For all we know, he may regard illegal workers as a kind of tax break for business.
So the cheap-labor crowd finds great value in keeping the immigration system broken. But there's the political problem. Because illegal immigration angers most Americans, Bush must appear to be doing something about it. "
*I stole that from Rick Mercer - I'm just not that funny.
4.08.2005
4.07.2005
Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers!
Start screaming about Canada's activist judiciary in 5...4...3...2...
I love Vancouver: the soggy skies, the endless supply of raw fish and espresso beans, the perpetual wait for the overcrowded bus. There's many great things about this town, but the one thing I love to mention in my travels (or to any visitors here) is that there is no Wal-Mart in the City of Vancouver. Gosh knows they've tried, but they haven't been able to bully Vancouver's City Council the way they have throughout North America.
Yesterday, Wal-Mart suffered a major loss at the Supreme Court of Canada, which has the potential to blow the door wide open on the company's dirty little union-busting secrets. UFCW 1400 gets to look over such fun reading as "Wal-Mart - A Manager's Toolbox to Remaining Union-Free." Wal-Mart gets the finger from our courts and pretty much anyone with a conscience.
Wal-Mart's U.S. sales are slowing down, while rival Costco reported a higher boost in sales last month. Could it be that American consumers are catching on to the true cost of "Everyday Low Prices"? Trying to make that business up by applying the same corporate brutality won't work here. Memo to the Waltons and their shareholders: just because you see a few pickup trucks in the parking lot doesn't mean you're in Alabama.
Start screaming about Canada's activist judiciary in 5...4...3...2...
I love Vancouver: the soggy skies, the endless supply of raw fish and espresso beans, the perpetual wait for the overcrowded bus. There's many great things about this town, but the one thing I love to mention in my travels (or to any visitors here) is that there is no Wal-Mart in the City of Vancouver. Gosh knows they've tried, but they haven't been able to bully Vancouver's City Council the way they have throughout North America.
Yesterday, Wal-Mart suffered a major loss at the Supreme Court of Canada, which has the potential to blow the door wide open on the company's dirty little union-busting secrets. UFCW 1400 gets to look over such fun reading as "Wal-Mart - A Manager's Toolbox to Remaining Union-Free." Wal-Mart gets the finger from our courts and pretty much anyone with a conscience.
Wal-Mart's U.S. sales are slowing down, while rival Costco reported a higher boost in sales last month. Could it be that American consumers are catching on to the true cost of "Everyday Low Prices"? Trying to make that business up by applying the same corporate brutality won't work here. Memo to the Waltons and their shareholders: just because you see a few pickup trucks in the parking lot doesn't mean you're in Alabama.
BC Liberal Campaign Theme Song: "CHING - CHING - CHING!!"
Elections BC reports that the BC Liberals have raised over $3 million for the upcoming campaign, compared to the NDP's $900,000.
73% of Liberal donations come from corporations, with Canfor, Interfor, and Tek Cominco leading the way. Despite Gordon Campbell's delusionist diatribe that the NDP is in the pocket of 'Big Labour', Unions only make up 12% of NDP donations last year.
New Democrats want to see a ban on corporate and union donations, similar to legislation in Manitoba. If a ban was in place in BC in 2004, the donation figures would look something like:
New Democrats: $774,000
BC Liberals: $810,000
Of course, these figures will go up as May 17 approaches. In fact, one might be surprised at just how easy it is to make them go up...
Elections BC reports that the BC Liberals have raised over $3 million for the upcoming campaign, compared to the NDP's $900,000.
73% of Liberal donations come from corporations, with Canfor, Interfor, and Tek Cominco leading the way. Despite Gordon Campbell's delusionist diatribe that the NDP is in the pocket of 'Big Labour', Unions only make up 12% of NDP donations last year.
New Democrats want to see a ban on corporate and union donations, similar to legislation in Manitoba. If a ban was in place in BC in 2004, the donation figures would look something like:
New Democrats: $774,000
BC Liberals: $810,000
Of course, these figures will go up as May 17 approaches. In fact, one might be surprised at just how easy it is to make them go up...
4.06.2005
Someone get Stephen Harper a calendar and map.
Yesterday's budget compromise on Kyoto provisions notwithstanding, The Conservatives have been huffing and puffing about bringing down Paul Martin's government over the details of the Gomery Inquiry. The parties have been put on alert for a spring election, and Stephen Harper hopes to grab the keys to 24 Sussex Drive.
What appears to be missing from the Conservative strategy is that in the province where the Conservatives draw about a quarter of their caucus, British Columbia, a provincial election is already scheduled for Tuesday, May 17. If the next federal election is as close as last year's, BC could emerge as the battleground province. Harper can't afford the prospect of his western shock troops trying to cement their hold over Gordon Campbell's BC Liberals while he's trying to cement a hold on the country.
The BC NDP rode a split on the right between Social Credit and the BC Liberals to a landslide victory in 1991. A concurrent federal election could have the same impact: splitting the attentions of right wingers between campaigns, and splitting the BC Liberals between its dwindling Liberal and growing Conservative factions. New Democrats could easily choose to leave the province's 5 MPs to their own devices and focus on the bigger prize in Victoria.
Of course it remains to be seen how the inquiry will play out once the publication ban is lifted, but this page isn't one to be left out when there's idle speculation going on...
UPDATE: It looks like the Conservatives are out of breath....for now.
Yesterday's budget compromise on Kyoto provisions notwithstanding, The Conservatives have been huffing and puffing about bringing down Paul Martin's government over the details of the Gomery Inquiry. The parties have been put on alert for a spring election, and Stephen Harper hopes to grab the keys to 24 Sussex Drive.
What appears to be missing from the Conservative strategy is that in the province where the Conservatives draw about a quarter of their caucus, British Columbia, a provincial election is already scheduled for Tuesday, May 17. If the next federal election is as close as last year's, BC could emerge as the battleground province. Harper can't afford the prospect of his western shock troops trying to cement their hold over Gordon Campbell's BC Liberals while he's trying to cement a hold on the country.
The BC NDP rode a split on the right between Social Credit and the BC Liberals to a landslide victory in 1991. A concurrent federal election could have the same impact: splitting the attentions of right wingers between campaigns, and splitting the BC Liberals between its dwindling Liberal and growing Conservative factions. New Democrats could easily choose to leave the province's 5 MPs to their own devices and focus on the bigger prize in Victoria.
Of course it remains to be seen how the inquiry will play out once the publication ban is lifted, but this page isn't one to be left out when there's idle speculation going on...
UPDATE: It looks like the Conservatives are out of breath....for now.
4.05.2005
Don't Touch That Dial!
24 Hours columnist Bill Tielman makes the case for including Democratic Reform BC Leader Tom Morino in the upcoming televised leaders debate.
B.C. is one of the few places where TV debates can swing an election. Had it not been for Gordon Wilson's performance in 1991, the BC Liberals might never have grown to the point where they looked good enough for Gordon Campbell and his pack of Socred rejects to hijack. This time around, the NDP hopes to use the proceedings to show off its "extreme makeover", as personified by leader Carole James.
However, debate producers (a closed door cabal of media executives, as opposed to a transparent, non-partisan body like the Commission on Presidential Debates) have opted once again to deny BC voters a clear view of their electoral choices. Adrienne Carr and the Green Party, who have never elected anyone, and were blown out in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge byelection, are in. Tom Morino and Democratic Reform BC, who actually have an MLA (Elayne Brenzinger, Surrey-Whalley) are out.
In Alberta's last Provincial Election, the far-right Alberta Alliance and its lone MLA were invited to the televised dance. Tielman is right to cry foul:
"TV executives met behind closed doors in late March to negotiate a deal that cut Morino out of an unprecedented multi-station leaders' debate, likely May 3. "
Mind you, how Tielman can spot the differences among, say, an Executive from Global TV, an Editorial Board Member of the Vancouver Sun, an Officer of the Vancouver Board of Trade, and a B.C. Liberal strategist is astounding - they all blurred together for many of us over a year ago. His key point, and one this page agrees with, is that cutting Morino and DRBC out is a move by the Liberals to appear unopposed on the right, while the Canwest cartel continues to perpetuate the falsehood that the Greens are a left-leaning party to siphon NDP votes. Let's go to the videotape...
"We trust business to do the right thing"
-Adrienne Carr, 2001 Leaders Debate
Wow. Better than Castro. Had me storming the barricades, I'll tell ya...
Make no mistake, this is a political machination, but like all machinations, it may yet backfire for Campbell, the Liberals, and the media that prop them up like so many senior citizens unable to find long-term care beds. Morino could successfully play the sympathy card out of his exclusion, and supplant the Greens as the anti-establishment protest vote. Carole James, if she's smarter than Ujjal Dosanjh, could, with all of BC watching, take the gloves off with the Green Party and spell out the clear differences between her and Adrienne Carr once and for all. Campbell could be forced to watch his vote-splitting Trojan Horse toppled from his debate podium.
As they say in that business, stay tuned...
24 Hours columnist Bill Tielman makes the case for including Democratic Reform BC Leader Tom Morino in the upcoming televised leaders debate.
B.C. is one of the few places where TV debates can swing an election. Had it not been for Gordon Wilson's performance in 1991, the BC Liberals might never have grown to the point where they looked good enough for Gordon Campbell and his pack of Socred rejects to hijack. This time around, the NDP hopes to use the proceedings to show off its "extreme makeover", as personified by leader Carole James.
However, debate producers (a closed door cabal of media executives, as opposed to a transparent, non-partisan body like the Commission on Presidential Debates) have opted once again to deny BC voters a clear view of their electoral choices. Adrienne Carr and the Green Party, who have never elected anyone, and were blown out in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge byelection, are in. Tom Morino and Democratic Reform BC, who actually have an MLA (Elayne Brenzinger, Surrey-Whalley) are out.
In Alberta's last Provincial Election, the far-right Alberta Alliance and its lone MLA were invited to the televised dance. Tielman is right to cry foul:
"TV executives met behind closed doors in late March to negotiate a deal that cut Morino out of an unprecedented multi-station leaders' debate, likely May 3. "
Mind you, how Tielman can spot the differences among, say, an Executive from Global TV, an Editorial Board Member of the Vancouver Sun, an Officer of the Vancouver Board of Trade, and a B.C. Liberal strategist is astounding - they all blurred together for many of us over a year ago. His key point, and one this page agrees with, is that cutting Morino and DRBC out is a move by the Liberals to appear unopposed on the right, while the Canwest cartel continues to perpetuate the falsehood that the Greens are a left-leaning party to siphon NDP votes. Let's go to the videotape...
"We trust business to do the right thing"
-Adrienne Carr, 2001 Leaders Debate
Wow. Better than Castro. Had me storming the barricades, I'll tell ya...
Make no mistake, this is a political machination, but like all machinations, it may yet backfire for Campbell, the Liberals, and the media that prop them up like so many senior citizens unable to find long-term care beds. Morino could successfully play the sympathy card out of his exclusion, and supplant the Greens as the anti-establishment protest vote. Carole James, if she's smarter than Ujjal Dosanjh, could, with all of BC watching, take the gloves off with the Green Party and spell out the clear differences between her and Adrienne Carr once and for all. Campbell could be forced to watch his vote-splitting Trojan Horse toppled from his debate podium.
As they say in that business, stay tuned...
4.04.2005
Karol Wojtyla, 1920 - 2005
As reported everywhere, Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 on Saturday.
In the days leading up to the inevitable, I noticed a significant volume of polemic directed at the Pope at discussion boards that I frequent regularly. While I've never agreed with the Catholic Church's position with...well, anything, quite a few people vented their spleens about what a distant octogenarian thought of abortion and same sex marriage. Having grew up with both the Nazi occupation and Poland's Communist dictatorship, I would like to think Karol highly valued the right of individuals to make their own moral choices. He chose the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, and the worst he could have done to anyone who disagreed with him was not let them be Catholic anymore.
The terms of debate in Western Society have shifted since Cardinal Wojtyla was elected in 1978. At that point in time, the debate was about which economic and political systems should prevail. When Pope John Paul II reached out to Catholics behind the Iron Curtain, he emphasized religion as an instrument of freedom, which inevitably led to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. In 2004, Conservative Catholics joined with Evangelical Christians last year to re-elect George W. Bush, who diminishes foreign policy to notions of "good" and "evil" and flexes political muscle to enforce "freedom" through such measures as the PATRIOT Act. The powers of the Bush Administration extend far beyond simple excommunication. There is no real no choice in the American Empire beyond the embrace of corporate globalization, and it appears that the only debate allowed is over issues which should be left at the church door.
There is one issue where Pope John Paul II and President Bush had a strong difference of opinion, which at the least points out the hypocrisy from the White House in looking to establish a "culture of life".
As reported everywhere, Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 on Saturday.
In the days leading up to the inevitable, I noticed a significant volume of polemic directed at the Pope at discussion boards that I frequent regularly. While I've never agreed with the Catholic Church's position with...well, anything, quite a few people vented their spleens about what a distant octogenarian thought of abortion and same sex marriage. Having grew up with both the Nazi occupation and Poland's Communist dictatorship, I would like to think Karol highly valued the right of individuals to make their own moral choices. He chose the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, and the worst he could have done to anyone who disagreed with him was not let them be Catholic anymore.
The terms of debate in Western Society have shifted since Cardinal Wojtyla was elected in 1978. At that point in time, the debate was about which economic and political systems should prevail. When Pope John Paul II reached out to Catholics behind the Iron Curtain, he emphasized religion as an instrument of freedom, which inevitably led to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. In 2004, Conservative Catholics joined with Evangelical Christians last year to re-elect George W. Bush, who diminishes foreign policy to notions of "good" and "evil" and flexes political muscle to enforce "freedom" through such measures as the PATRIOT Act. The powers of the Bush Administration extend far beyond simple excommunication. There is no real no choice in the American Empire beyond the embrace of corporate globalization, and it appears that the only debate allowed is over issues which should be left at the church door.
There is one issue where Pope John Paul II and President Bush had a strong difference of opinion, which at the least points out the hypocrisy from the White House in looking to establish a "culture of life".
4.01.2005
Showdown at Haida Gwaii
Members of the Haida Nation and allied protestors have seized over $50 million worth of logs on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Despite a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that insisted the BC Liberal government "consult more meaningfully" with First Nations over land use issues, Victoria never bothered to inform the Haida they approved Weyerhauser's sale of Queen Charlottes timber licenses to Brascan.
With a couple of weeks until the official start of the provincial election campaign, it appears the Lieberals are closing out their term by coming full circle with BC's First Nations: They started out with a racist and antagonistic treaty referendum that defied Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and now they finish by defying the Supreme Court of Canada. Add "certainty in the settlement of aboriginal land claims" to the pile of Liberal broken promises.
Members of the Haida Nation and allied protestors have seized over $50 million worth of logs on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Despite a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that insisted the BC Liberal government "consult more meaningfully" with First Nations over land use issues, Victoria never bothered to inform the Haida they approved Weyerhauser's sale of Queen Charlottes timber licenses to Brascan.
With a couple of weeks until the official start of the provincial election campaign, it appears the Lieberals are closing out their term by coming full circle with BC's First Nations: They started out with a racist and antagonistic treaty referendum that defied Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and now they finish by defying the Supreme Court of Canada. Add "certainty in the settlement of aboriginal land claims" to the pile of Liberal broken promises.
3.31.2005
To be 'Frank', he sounds a lot like Brian did
Canada's Ambassador to the U.S., Frank McKenna, gave an interview to the American political cable channel C-SPAN yesterday. In the interview, McKenna refuted claims ranging from rampant anti-Americanism in this country to terrorists filtering south across our border.
The bulk of the interview focused on trade issues, and on the issue of cattle exports, McKenna made this interesting comment:
"If this blockage continues on the border, we're increasingly going to develop our own processing industry in Canada and we're going to increasingly invest in the science that will lead to universal testing or perhaps something short of (that) If we do that, it will mean processing jobs will move from the United States into Canada. And that's not where we want to go."
"...jobs...move...into Canada. And that's not where we want to go. "
Astonishing! If Canadians started processing their own meat, it might not be long before things degrade to the point where we're processing our own raw logs. Thank goodness our man in Washington is speaking up to save unsuspecting Canadians from the evils of economic diversification and gainful employment. Thank you Ambassador McKenna, we can all go back to hewing wood and drawing water - at least if we can get it past Customs...
Canada's Ambassador to the U.S., Frank McKenna, gave an interview to the American political cable channel C-SPAN yesterday. In the interview, McKenna refuted claims ranging from rampant anti-Americanism in this country to terrorists filtering south across our border.
The bulk of the interview focused on trade issues, and on the issue of cattle exports, McKenna made this interesting comment:
"If this blockage continues on the border, we're increasingly going to develop our own processing industry in Canada and we're going to increasingly invest in the science that will lead to universal testing or perhaps something short of (that) If we do that, it will mean processing jobs will move from the United States into Canada. And that's not where we want to go."
"...jobs...move...into Canada. And that's not where we want to go. "
Astonishing! If Canadians started processing their own meat, it might not be long before things degrade to the point where we're processing our own raw logs. Thank goodness our man in Washington is speaking up to save unsuspecting Canadians from the evils of economic diversification and gainful employment. Thank you Ambassador McKenna, we can all go back to hewing wood and drawing water - at least if we can get it past Customs...
3.30.2005
Whistling in the Dark
An SES Research poll released yesterday indicates that only 17% of Canadians trust the federal government to spend their tax dollars fairly. 33% per cent trust their provincial governments, while 32% put their faith in City Hall.
SES also did a poll which I haven't seen anywhere else since seeing it on Broadcast News yesterday which had 42% of respondents claiming that Ottawa was still running a deficit, a response that flies in the face of almost a dozen consecutive balanced budgets from Paul Martin. Don't get me wrong, balancing the budget on the backs of students, the unemployed, and our health care system is not something I approve of, but the fact of the matter is, the books are balanced.
Political debate in this country would be a lot easier if we had a few common terms of reference, like, the truth. Memo to the media: Telling a story repeatedly until someone believes it is not the same as telling people what's actually happened.
An SES Research poll released yesterday indicates that only 17% of Canadians trust the federal government to spend their tax dollars fairly. 33% per cent trust their provincial governments, while 32% put their faith in City Hall.
SES also did a poll which I haven't seen anywhere else since seeing it on Broadcast News yesterday which had 42% of respondents claiming that Ottawa was still running a deficit, a response that flies in the face of almost a dozen consecutive balanced budgets from Paul Martin. Don't get me wrong, balancing the budget on the backs of students, the unemployed, and our health care system is not something I approve of, but the fact of the matter is, the books are balanced.
Political debate in this country would be a lot easier if we had a few common terms of reference, like, the truth. Memo to the media: Telling a story repeatedly until someone believes it is not the same as telling people what's actually happened.
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