How do you spell BARF in Inuit?

by Jack Locke

Does the Conservative Party of Canada take us Canadians for fools?

As Prime Minister Harper toots around Nunavut promoting Canadian sovereignty, high Arctic research, protection of the “unique and fragile Arctic ecosystem” and development of a strong Northern economy, I have to wonder how he can with a straight face, suggest that opposition leader Michael Ignatieff is “just visiting.”

Conservative's website perpetuates high-school-style criticism of Liberal leader

The day I see Laureen Harper pack up the kids and buy a house in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, I will know that the Prime Minister is serious. His fifth summer visiting northern Canada hardly makes him a local.

“As part of this strategy, our new High Arctic Research Station will be a world-class, year-round, multidisciplinary facility exploring the cutting edge of our Arctic science and technology. This station will create jobs, foster economic and social development, and help us understand and protect our northern environment,” says the Prime Minister’s press release.

Only a visiting politician would include protection of the northern environment and foster economic development in a single sentence.

[Update – Aug. 27, from Postmedia News: Oil companies could drill in Harper’s new beluga sanctuary]

It’s nice to see such sincerity being generated by his communications staff. And the pièce de résistance:

“The Prime Minister has made the North a priority for our Conservative Government because Canadians care about every part of our great country.”

Bloc Quebecois supports Elizabeth May??

by Jack Locke

Jacques Rivard listed as Elizabeth May endorsement motion sponsor

The Green Party has a little explaining to do. Why was their former member, now Bloc Quebecois member, Jacques Rivard listed online as a sponsor for the motion to endorse Elizabeth May? Rivard quit the Greens in June to join the Bloc Quebecois. Seemingly nothing can block the Greens.

BE IT RESOLVED that the membership affirm its endorsement of Elizabeth May as Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

Sponsor(s): Frank de Jong, Ralph Benmergui, Adriane Carr, Jacques Rivard, Helen Chennell, Louise Comeau, Johan Hamels, Frank deMont, Kate Storey, Doug Storey, Katie Gibbs, John Streicker, Erich Jacoby-Hawkins, Eric Walton, Lorraine Rekmans, Janice Harvey, John Fryer, William Munsey, Drew Fenwick, Marlene Wells

Edit or regret it

CTV News has proven the dire lack of editorial presence in Canada. In a MyNews story posted at http://mynews.ctv.ca/?siteT=montreal , here is what the great broadcaster posted:

Hemmingford car crash

“A Hemmingford resident was heading south on Rte 219 towards Mooers NY this morning crashed with a Honda Accord with 3 males from the Valleyfield area which were heading east of Covey Hill Road coming from a paint ball excursions. They did not make there stop at corner. Driver of the first car was transported to St Jean hospital shaken with possible arm fracture. No information regarding the conditions or were the 3 people in Honda have been taken too. Mooers Fire Dept. assisted Hemmingford Volunteer Fire Dept in using the jaws of Life.”

Greens dance before dinner

by Jack Locke

The Green Party’s unconventional convention this weekend is fraught with procedural abnormalities. The major issue of leadership, whether or not to hold a leadership contest (as was mandated by bylaw,) was voted on in an omnibus motion before dinner today(Friday) with approximately only 250 members present.

The leadership contest was mandated four years prior, but then was reversed at the proverbial last minute.

“Do the words “Whack job” mean anything?” twittered SCBritton on the Green’s live post board. It remains possible that a further extension may be granted should the Greens choose to continually change the rules.

With live video streaming on the web, and instant messaging posted, the only thing missing was proper debate. An omnibus motion that included a change to rules, to delay a leadership contest that was set four years prior, is akin to political robbery, if you ask me. The Canadian Greens call it the Bonser ballot, but a Bonser bullet might be more accurate.

The old, last-minute switcheroo comes live, on-stream via high-speed internet. You can bet a few members will terminate their memberships over this one.

Green Party minutiae

The Green Party of Canada should do well in the next federal election. They have learned to spin like the best of ’em. Take the following Canadian Press news story, whose headline is a multi-coloured rainbow:

Greens say May leadership not black-and-white

Welcome to Canada

Government of Canada welcomes Chinese tourists

Government of Canada welcomes Sri Lankans

This week saw two groups of foreigners arriving on Canada’s west
coast. The government’s welcome can only be compared as Day and Night.
Here’s what the Harper Government issued upon the arrival of a group of
Chinese tourists:

Harper Government Welcomes First Official Chinese Tour Groups

Vancouver,
British Columbia, August 18, 2010 — Several hundred Chinese tourists
arrived at the Vancouver International Airport today, as the Government
of Canada officially opened its doors under the Approved Destination
Status (ADS) agreement with China.

Enthusiastic travellers from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhouwere
greeted at Vancouver International Airport by the Honourable Stockwell
Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia–Pacific
Gateway.

“I’m delighted to be here to welcome our guests from China and to
mark this important day for the Canadian tourism industry,” said
Minister Day. “Now that Approved Destination Status between our two
countries is fully operational — and with an expected 100 million
international travellers from China overall by 2020 — doors are opening
to attract even more visitors from China.”

“This is an exciting occasion for our country, and we are proud to
showcase some of Canada’s most exciting attractions to the Chinese
delegation,” said the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small
Business and Tourism). “We hope that Canada becomes a top‑of‑mind
destination for Chinese travellers and that today’s arrival is just the
first of many.”

“On behalf of all British Columbians, I welcome our Chinese guests
to Canada and to British Columbia and I thank the federal government
for its efforts in securing Canada Approved Destination Status with
China,” said the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British
Columbia. “This agreement will be a boost to our tourism industry, and
we are looking forward to many more visits in the future. Canada‘s
Approved Destination Status is expected to result in an increase in
Chinese visitors to B.C. by 10 percent in 2010 alone and an additional
15 percent in each of the next two years.”

These first tour groups will start exploring British Columbia,
Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, where they will take in the iconic and the
extraordinary. The Chinese visitors were accompanied upon arrival by an
official delegation of the China National Tourism Administration
(CNTA), headed by Vice Chairman Du Jiang. The CTNA delegation will also
enjoy a separate tour to get to know Canada better.

Canada–China relations continue to strengthen following the official
signing of the Approved Destination Status agreement. The agreement was
historically signed in Canada this past June, following Prime Minister
Stephen Harper’s successful visit to China last December. Approved
Destination Status with China will allow the tourism industry to
actively market Canadian tourism in China, one of the fastest growing
outbound markets.

CTC President and CEO Michele McKenzie notes that “the growth in the
China market over the next two years will indeed be fuelled by leisure
group travel, and we’re very excited to see these groups starting to
arrive. We also have high expectations and strategies in place for
increased business to Canada’s meetings, incentive and convention
sector as well as independent travel. The important thing will be to
market collaboratively with our partners in China under a very strong
Canada tourism brand in order to have maximum impact — and that’s what
we’ll do.”

To strengthen tourism, Canada’s Economic Action Plan is investing in
attractions and premiere events while increasing marketing and
promotion efforts to highlight to the world all that Canada has to
offer. In addition, the government is supporting the Canadian Tourism
Commission with an additional $8 million for marketing initiatives and
programs to promote Canada as a destination of choice to visitors in
key international markets such as China.

Give me your tired, your poor… a Minister’s resignation

Canadian Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews was born in Paraguay.

There comes a time when opposition parties, nay, citizens should call for a Minister’s resignation. The case of the Minister of Public Safety, Vic Toews, on the welcoming of the vessel MV Sun Sea is one such time.

“Human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempted abuses of our nation’s generosity for financial gain are utterly unacceptable,” Toews said in an Aug 13 press release.

But the humans we are talking about are oppressed Tamils seeking a life free of slavery or oppression following a horrible war and defeat. We could learn something from dead American poet Emma Lazarus:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Green Party suffering from Gang Green

The Green Party is showing its true colours.

False information, advance voting disclosure, and inaccurate press statements from the party’s head office will be prime subjects for debate at their convention later this month in Toronto.

Lemieux notes "irregularities."

“In fact, I believe that all leadership and governance related motions and resolutions should be work shopped on the floor of the convention because of the irregularities that have occurred,” says Sylvie Lemieux, a Green Party dissident who calls her party’s official information misleading.

Results of the Green’s early mail in voting that will be finalized at their August 20 – 22 annual conference has concluded, but the results are being deceitfully portrayed.

A press release posted on the Green Party site, suggests 85% of Green members have voted in support of leader Elizabeth May. The truth shows that only 12% of members(846 voters) cast votes and that results on a procedural issue is being portrayed as a vote of confidence in May.

“Green Party members vote overwhelmingly in support of Elizabeth May” claims the headline on the press release issued by the party.

Most telling perhaps is that preliminary results of the mail in vote were disclosed prior to a final tally to be held at the convention. The prejudicial announcement is being used to suggest that the matter of a leadership contest has been determined—when it has not been, nor will be prior to the convention.

May seems to claim victory prior to convention

In what can only be described as false reporting, the party’s statement concludes with a note of gratitude from May.

“I am very grateful to our members for such a heartening expression of support. Working together, we can and will change Canadian politics, with elected Green MPs,” Elizabeth May is quoted in the release.

Laraque will be a great politician

Laraque's fist shows he's a lefty

With the announcement that Georges Laraque has been appointed the Green Party of Canada’s deputy-leader, we thought it would be helpful to share some information and pictures from Georges’ website.

“What I do on the ice is definitely not the type of person I am off the ice, I hate violence,” writes Georges Laraque.

Vegan Laraque will make mince meat of Conservatives