Pandering to Quebec to Buy Votes?

Well that's what L.Ian Macdonald is suggesting that PM Harper do to gain seats in Quebec and win a majority government come next election.  He suggests since Quebec is trying to get an NHL franchise back and a bid for the 2022 Olympics that the Conservative government throw money at an NHL caliber arena so that they can have a good chance at bidding for both. He thinks that would win seats for the CPC.

 And that would be a commitment to match the Quebec government's pledge of $175 million to build an NHLcalibre hockey arena in Quebec City. Throw in another $50 million promised by the city and that would probably leave another $100 million in costs that would be covered by selling naming rights to an arena. The move would buttress both Quebec City's bid for the 2022 winter Olympics and, more immediately, for an NHL franchise and the return of the Nordiques.

 L.Ian is suggesting that really taxpayer money from the ROC namely the west  should go to La Belle province to buy votes. Look, I have nothing against the Olympics or the NHL. but throwing money at Quebec, just to buy some more votes?  I don't know, that's what's been happening  since the beginning of Confederation and it's never enough. Governments and parties have been giving that province special attention forever.  They always have their hand out wanting more. It think Quebec has gotten enough funds through equalization etc.

Would it actually win more votes for the CPC?  Who knows?  I don't really think so.  Quebec is fickle, you can never really count them to come through. I say PM Harper should just go back to giving ALL the provinces more autonomy which is  fair to everyone . Every province should be treated the same.  No favorites, please.

BTW, I think it's possible to win a majority without Quebec.  We are only ten short.  If we retain the ones we have, take the one back in Edmonton, a few in BC, a few in Ontario like Mark Holland's seat. I don't think Danny Williams is going to go the route of ABC again so we have a good chance at taking back those we lost in NFLD. 

Mr. Ziffy's Summer School Field Trip

I guess all Michael Ignatieff's elite schooling hasn't helped him  learn  much about what hard working Canadians are all about. So his handlers thought summer school might just do the trick. Instead of retreating to his villa in France, they gave  him an assignment. They sent him on a  bus  tour, a field trip to learn about our vast country and to  change his image as one who is an elite into just a normal regular schmuck, Joe Sixpack.   Don MacPherson calls the Mr. Ziffy's cross country magical bus tour  a  field trip.

 Michael Ignatieff is spending his summer on a cross-country field trip, assigned by his handlers to some light pre-campaign training while trying to transform his image from effete intellectual snob to red-ball-cap-wearin', hockey-, beer-and natural-wilderness-lovin' Regular Guy.
That is, if your idea of a Regular Guy is somebody wearing jeans, long sleeves and cowboy boots in Quebec in July, as if he is either lost (the Calgary Stampede is four provinces thataway, pardner) or two months early for the St. Tite western festival.
Or an asparagus, which is what Ignatieff answered an interviewer on a television food show whose final question was if he were a vegetable, which one he would be. According to La Presse columnist Stephane Laporte, the segment ended without further explanation. 

 He is not exactly setting the country on fire. Some at the beginning were touting him as  the second coming of Trudeau.  He's gaffe prone, a flip, flopper and looks  so fake as " a regular guy" like when he was photographed recently drinking a can of Molson. 

So when Ignatieff ostentatiously drank a Molson Dry from the can, he looked not so much like a man relaxing and enjoying a cold one as one who was trying to look the part in an act for the cameras.

The first couple of weeks, the media was all a buzz until they figured out that magical bus tour was, well not so magical. The national media in fact has been rather sparse in their reporting.  Not really much coverage  to tell you the truth.  They instead have used the fake long form census story as a deflection from the less than inspiring Liberal bus trip.

There's still plenty of the  tour left. Maybe things will turn around  but at this point, I kinda doubt it but then again you know what they say about politics.  "A week in politics is like an eternity."
No matter how hard he tries, he's just not one of us.  The party  echelon should just let him be himself.
Canadians are not stupid.  They can smell a fake a mile away. 

I got a feeling Canadians are  not going to give him a that good of a grade at the end this field trip.  So far I don't think he's quite making an A.  I would say more like a C-.  What say you?  How would you grade Mr.  Ziffy's field trip so far?

Good News for Canada, Bad News for Iffy Liberals

Well is seems that our federal government will be able balance the books a year earlier than what was planned according the Conference Board of Canada.

OTTAWA — So long as the federal government keeps its pledge on curbing program  spending, Ottawa should return to a surplus position one year ahead of schedule based on how the economy is unfolding, the Conference Board of Canada said Thursday.

Mr. Iffy's Liberals and the Liberal cheerleader media won't be happy about this good news.   They have been talking down Canada from the beginning of the recession.  Iffy said from the get go he wanted nothing to do with it and that the PM would have to wear it. They offered no help.  The opposition and the media were bellyaching complaining the government was spending not enough then too much.  Then the howls of protest because the deficit was too high at the same time the coalition of the losers would have implemented national daycare, pharmacare, etc. which would would have put us in such a economic state we'd be going down the road of Greece.  It would have been spend, spend, spend and no way to get out. They can't have it both ways.

I believe the Libs and their media thought for sure this would bring the big bad Harper government down and it would be easy street for them to take back the keys to 24 Sussex.    It is not quite turning out like that to their dismay.  That's why all the outrage about things that really don't matter to the average Canadian like fake lakes, census etc.

I can't find any comments from Iffy or any of his cabal on this good news.  No comments either from any other of the opposition for that matter. Where's  Budget Officer, Kevin Page, what has he got to say about this?  It's news that should be shouted from the roof tops. 

It's obvious Canada is in good hands and another good reason why we need a Conservative majority to continue with the plan.   If you have any doubts, just look at other countries.  We have it good in comparison.

Harper Government Frees Teen Stuck in Cuba

Cody LeCompte, a teen who has been stuck in Communist Cuba since April will soon be coming home possibly next Tuesday.  He had gotten into an accident while driving a rental car and was never charged with anything and could face up to three years in jail but had to stay there.  Jailed in Cuba, how awful!

Thank God the Harper government has finally intervened and has an agreement with Cuban authority. Cody can come home providing he return for a possible trial (let's hope and pray that doesn't happen so he doesn't have to go back) and he pay for the repair of the other vehicle that was damaged.

In an exclusive interview with the Toronto Sun moments after a tentative deal was worked out with Cuban authorites, Cody was also emotional as he thought about the prospect of finally going home.“I am very surprised,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
The relieved teen thanked the Canadian government for getting involved in the case.
And Cody also expressed his gratitude to the thousands of Canadians across the country who have been “so supportive.”
“It’s nice to know that people care,” he said.
After 13-weeks of being trapped at a Cuban resort as police investigated a car crash, the teen’s family posted bail of $2,000 Cuban pesos (about $2,200) Wednesday that should allow him leave.
“In exchange for promising to appear at a future trial date if need be, they agreed release Cody,” his elated uncle, Gary Parmenter, said. “It’s obvious that some pressure was put on the Cuban and Canadian governments as a result of the articles the Sun ran.”
Parmenter said after weeks of nothing happening, things suddenly started to move Wednesday on the heels of the Canadian government issuing a news release indicating holding Cody any longer could affect tourism.
The deal to pay the bail was worked out in the town of Minas, about 30 minutes from the Gran Club resort in Santa Lucia, where Cody has been stranded.
“It’s a win-win for both governments.” said Parmenter “They both get to save face.”
The meeting came after comments made in Ottawa by Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), who hinted holding a Canadian for this long could have repercussions on Canadians deciding on Cuba as a vacation destination.
Parmenter said Cuban officials have indicated they will now work with the family to get Cody on the plane Tuesday.
There is, however, one more hurdle to clear — the cost of repairing the damage to the truck that allegedly broadsided the Hyundai Accent Cody was driving.
Cuban officials want to check with the driver to see if he expects the family to cover the estimated $500 in repairs.
No problem, says the family: “It would cost us a lot more than that to keep Cody here so I don’t foresee it as an issue” said Parmenter.
Danette said although she wishes the federal government had stepped in sooner, she’s happy they finally “came through.”

 She’s not ready just yet to think about the possibility of Cody having to return to the communist country for a potential trial or about the $30,000 of debt she’s accumulated during this ordeal.

“I’m just focused on getting my son back on Canadian soil,” she said. “Nothing else matters right now.”

This is wonderful news.  Cody will soon be back home.  I say thank you too to Minister Peter Kent and PM Harper for finally coming to bat for this innocent young man who did nothing wrong.  This maybe is a lesson  for anyone else who travels to Cuba, don't drive in that country, you could end up in the same boat.
I wish Cody and his mom all the best.  I hope they can get their lives back in order soon!

Federal Liberal Candidate Won't Stepdown.

A federal Liberal candidate from Calgary, Jennifer Pollock won't quit for her racist remarks she made concerning the Calgary Police Service on a twitter post. 

CALGARY - Embattled federal Liberal candidate Jennifer Pollock won't resign after posting online remarks accusing some Calgary cops of being racist.

 The Calgary West candidate, who twice lost to Conservative MP Rob Anders, courted controversy over the weekend by suggesting on Twitter that while she isn't condemning the force, she still contends some city police are racist.

Responding to reports of a memo sent to Tory faithful Sunday evening calling for Liberal boss Michael Ignatieff to axe the veteran campaigner, Pollock said she has no intention of stepping down and the government is simply using the gaffe as a smokescreen.
"This is a common tactic - the Conservatives are trying to change the channel by talking about this," she said. "I think in a big force in a big complex city there are some police who are racist.
"But I'm saying these things because I care about the police."
Pollock received some Twitter backlash Sunday after publicly agreeing with another person's statement that Calgary cops display "blatant racism."
She went further, saying: "My statement is not condemning the Calgary Police Service - but admitting the need for change - yes (there are) some racist cops in (Calgary)."
Police union boss John Dooks said he was offended by the remark but he's not ready to back calls for her resignation.
"It's insulting and offensive that somebody would say that," he said.
"I don't necessarily think someone should be fired for (saying) that but I'd like to hear her respond to it - she owes it to the community."
Dooks said racism is not tolerated in the service and "the only intolerance officers have generally is that against anti-societal behaviour."
Pollock noted she called police Chief Rick Hanson on Sunday night, leaving a message inviting him to give her a call if he wants to discuss her comments.
The party is continuing to back Pollock, with press secretary Michel Liboiron saying her candidacy is safe and the party believes the Calgary force is top-notch.
"Our position on the Calgary police department is crystal clear: They are a fine and respected force, and we have the utmost confidence and respect in them and their work," he wrote in an email.
"Our candidate simply wants to ensure that the police service has the resources to do its job - including the training and community outreach that is now an essential part of any police force in a world-class city such as Calgary."

 Mr. Iffy obviously is not going to call for her head he and the party are standing behind her.   If they think they can unseat Rob Anders in Calgary West, they have another thing coming and this surely doesn't help.
You can bet your booty that  if this were a Conservative candidate, there would be demands for the person to stepdown and an apology from all quarters, Liberals and their cheerleader media, calling the CPC racist and all sorts of names.

Could it be that Liberals  actually support racism?   They support affirmative action which is blatantly racist.  You make the call.