Will Coalition Disrupt Canadian Success Story?

A party that seeks independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec has assumed a disproportionate role in the politics of Canada, the country it would like to see broken up.

The perennially strong electoral showing of the Bloc Quebecois in the province has made it all but impossible for rival parties to win a majority in the federal Parliament, allowing the separatist party to play the role of kingmaker.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/separatists-could-decide-governs-canada-20110407-075319-979.html

The CSN, the second largest union, had an extraordinary council meeting Monday to co-ordinate their strategy to do whatever it takes to beat the Harper government with a riding-by-riding choice. Duceppe’s lips were also the first loose ones last Monday to admit he will vote against the budget of a minority Tory government if that is the outcome of the current election. Layton and Ignatieff followed.

http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/columnists/eric_duhaime/2011/04/06/17903371.html

The 2010 international merchandise trade annual review reveals that exports rose 9.5% to $404.6 billion, led by higher exports of industrial goods and materials. Imports increased 10.6% to $413.6 billion, as volumes rose in all sectors.

The United States' share of Canada's trade (exports and imports combined) continued to fall in 2010, although it remained Canada's largest trading partner. The United States represented 62.5% of total merchandise trade in 2010, down from 76.3% in 2001. During the same period, Canada's trade with China more than tripled.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110407/dq110407b-eng.htm

“The Canadian dollar upward trend remains,” said Omer Esiner, chief market analyst in Washington at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange Inc., a currency brokerage. “There’s strong underlying support there, rather than just speculative positioning, which suggests sustained strengthening.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-07/canadian-dollar-strengthens-as-rising-crude-oil-and-gold-fuel-added-demand.html

Does it make sense to replace our PM and allow Quebec separatists to decide who the next PM will be? A majority on May 2, 2011 will be the only option for voters to prevent this outcome.

Toronto to Host Failed Adults and Ninjas

In honour of reporting the news important to Canadians, the media will spend a great deal of time photographing pictures of fences, failed adults wearing ninja costumes. Vancouver had the pleasure of these model citizens during the Olympics. Here is a few posts on these media darlings.here here.

“The criminal element apparently willing to wield anything that might cause damage or injury marched among about 200 legitimate protesters this morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. They walked down Georgia Street breaking windows, turning over news boxes and clashing with police,” said a Vancouver Police statement.

“This group contained more than 100 masked people many of whom kicked and damage numerous parked cars. They used spray paint on cars and transit buses and tore down signs,” said police.

“They also clashed with members of the public and pedestrians who didn’t support them. At one point they used a ladder as a moving barricade,” police said.- Black Bloc anarchists riot in downtown Vancouver

Perhaps the Police can take a lesson from APEC during the Liberals hosting of International leaders.

Kudos to the media in providing Cereal journalism in reporting on these important protests of these marginal and failed adults.

Parliament: Rewriting History Canadian Media on Hiatus

Perception vs Reality
Our media is failing to dig for substance, they have become part of the larger problem. How many stories on the Prime Minister arriving late for a photo? Anyone see a Canadian media outlet challenge the opposition party on the facts and fairy tales in Question Period?

The purpose of Question Period is to ask the Government questions about issues that are important, topical and to hold the government to account for decision taken or not taken. Is the Canadian media covering the events in Question Period in a neutral fashion or do they have their own agenda?

We have forty-nine Separatists demand their voice be heard. These Separatists demand Canada respect their demands of allowing Quebec to secede by playing the victim card. These forty-nine separatist ignore the results of two referendums. The Separatists earned 65% of the seats  in 2008 with only 38.1% the popular support in Quebec. The Separatists have no problem in demanding their minority voice represents the majority interest in retaining an imbalance of seats in the federal parliament. The Separatists have no difficulty in demanding the majority of Canadians stop progress, plans to adopt a national regulator or balance their books if it impacts on their interests. These Separatists have NEVER won the support of the majority in Quebec voters but they regularly stand up and accuse the federalist Members of Parliament in Quebec as voting against the best interest of Quebec. How does our Canadian media refer to the 38% popular vote in Quebec for the Separatists? Can you find an analysis of these riding and Bloc support? Where do the Separatists have the most of their support and seats? The Bloc with 87% are the most dependent on the political party subsidy welfare from the taxpayer compliments of the Chretien Liberal majority. The Liberals are next in reliance of the welfare from taxpayers.

Quebec is the largest beneficiary of the Federalist welfare. The majority of the federal government welfare has been on backs Ontario and Alberta. If you are paying the bills to keep the lights on in Quebec, are you not entitled to make the decision? The Separatists don't think so, they believe they are entitled to more money and powers. The population of Quebec is not growing as fast as Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia. Instead of allowing the other provinces to add seats the Separatists have chosen to play the victim. Quebec has been a taken the lion-share of equalization payments since the program was developed.

• In November 2008 the Lib-Dem formed a coalition signed the Accord. It agreed to give these Separatists a veto, balance of power during the worst global recession as the total number of Lib-Dem MPs were not greater than the six week old government. The deal was to last until June 2011.
• Brian Topp author, ex-NDP strategist explained how this secret deal was in place months ago and was not the same as alleged by coalition leaders.
• Brian Topp has not been sued by the opposition leaders to correct his statements on the details.
• Anyone from the media inquire with this revelation the secret deal was in place months before the election?

The NDP earn more votes than the Separatists but send less MPs to parliament. The NDP have agreed with the Separatists giving Quebec an unfair representation against Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. The Democrats hold one seat, they have never been a credible force in Quebec. The Democrats are the closest in ideology with the separatists on social issues. The Democrats regularly vote against expanding global free trade, combat missions. They look to the Robin Hood School of economics theory.  The NDP seem to get alot of support from Public Unions. These Unions will be asked to make some freeze or reduce their entitlements in dealing with the deficit. Can you guess how much energy the NDP will expend in defending these Public Unions?

The Liberals have had the biggest hill to climb in regaining credibility since their loss of power under Martin in 2006. They have failed to make significant inroads with the grassroots to open their wallets, key demographics, winning support outside their pockets in three of the largest cities. In 2008 the Liberal support in Ontario retreated again. This was a historic low that was not seen since confederation. The problems of the Liberal Party , fall from grace as the natural governing party has many theories. The Big Tent Party are polling 1-3% above their historic 2008 collapse. Is this the new normal?

• Inter-cine: Trudeau-Turner-Chretien-Martin-Dion-Ignatieff
• Nasty Television Ads
• RCMP investigation on Income Trusts
• Financial Strength, Organization discipline
• Platform, Vision, Trust
• Roman Catholic, Female, Visible minorities, Rural voters

It is not difficult to understand the lack of success from the official opposition Liberals since losing power in 2006. The executive rejected the risk of the grassroots upsetting their an appointment of a leader who was defeated by Dion. The current leader did not win a democratic race in his own riding. Ignatieff was parachuted into a safe Liberal seat, his opportunism pushed the female Liberal MP out. They have not chosen to listen, represent the interest of regular voters. They have chosen along with the fringe parties to play political games with a cultural war in pitting region against region.

The world is moving ahead, Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced a 5% cut to public sector salaries, as well as reductions to pensions and regional government funding.-BBC News

Have the opposition parties united behind opening their expenses to the public? Have they participated in calls for restraint in growth of government programs?

Stockwell Day has been put in charge to find savings in every department including Parliament. Are the opposition parties interested in following the example of other governments?

Treasury Board President Stockwell Day announced Monday that Industry Canada and regional development agencies for Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the West will be among 13 departments required to shave 5 per cent from their budgets this year. -G&M

Will the opposition continue to frame these re-balancing of priorities as radical, ideological as part of the cultural war narrative? What part is the Canadian media playing?

Central Canada Keeps Seat Majority

The Bloc are a funny bunch. Some think they are anti-Alberta with the numerous attacks on the provincial matters (energy) from Alberta.
The Bloc are equal opportunity mudslingers that put the interests of their Bloc voters first.

I would say the Bloc have an equal disdain for Ontario as well. How many times did the Bloc complain about the Auto industry getting a bailout in Question Period?

The Bloc are masterful of playing the victim of unfair treatment as they only run candidates in Quebec and have NO REASON to protect the National interest.

The Bloc have made it clear on a number of occassions where their priorities and loyalites lie, Quebec.
The Bloc do NOT represent the majority in Quebec. They in fact share the same level of support as the CPC on a National scale. The Bloc won 38.1% of the popular vote but won 65% of the 75 seats in Quebec.
The Coalition apologists repeated they represented the 62% majority in November 2008. The Federal Parties represent the majority in Quebec and in their platform none of them promised to support the Bloc motions to restrict English for Supreme Court appointments.
The CPC in 2008 won 37.7% of the popular vote and earned 46% of the seats across Canada. Excluding Quebec 75 seats they won a significant mandate with over 57% of the seats. In 2009 they won two more seats including a Bloc seat held for 16 years seat to bring them to 145 seats. They are ten seats short of a numerical majority.
Protecting English, minority language rights in Quebec. I can't find in the platform of the NDP to remove the use English from Federal buildings in Quebec either in their campaign promises from 2008. Maybe someone can provide link?
Why are the NDP pandering to the Bloc? Does the French language need protection by eliminating the use of English in Quebec's federal buildings? 
The question for the political parties that ally themselves with the Bloc, namely the NDP and Liberals how does this protect Canadian interests against the separtists party?
Are you pandering the French in Quebec requiring the French language be mandatory on the Supreme Court? Why not demand the same protection for English and other minorities in Quebec?

From 308 to 338 Central Canada keeps the majority of seats. The WEST  is not moving the Parliament to Fort McMurry next week.
Why are the two Federal parties, the Liberal Party of Canada,  the New Democratic Party pandering to a separtist political party in Quebec that represents a minority in the province of Quebec only?
Are the NDP, Liberals participating in pittting region against region on behalf of the separtists in Quebec for political advantage?
Update: Political Parties playing games in Ottawa?
As an example to Canadians the MP's from the Bloc, NDP, Liberals who have demanded fluency for employment to the Supreme Court through their motion.
 
Canadians should demand the same for those three parties playing this political game.
How many NDP, Liberals are fluently French again? How many Bloc are fluently English? They should not run for office until they have passed those "tests".
Let's hope Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Gilles Duceppe hold their party to the same standards.

Quebecers out of touch vs R.O.C. ( N.A.T.O & U.S.)

Are all Quebecers unique, pessimistic in their opposition to the mission or any armed conflict? Are both English and French Quebecers equally opposed to the mission? Seventy-five per cent of Quebecers polled between April 8-9, 2010 were against the use of the Canadian Military in Afghanistan. BC was second with 56%, a 19% gap in opposition of the mission. Angus Poll here.

Our media, our educational institutions, Politicians of all parties provincially, federally in Quebec are failing to effectively reach out, communicate the importance and goodwork in Afghanistan. They failed to do the same regarding WWI, WWII.

A country requires all regions supporting, having faith in our military and government in the use of deadly force in dealing with genocidal dictators or rogue states.

Parliament Rebalancing: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia Gains

April Fools Joke or Check Mate?

Legislation to rebalance the House of Commons by giving Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia more seats is expected today, setting off a political debate pitting urban against rural and large against small.

The legislation would rebalance the House of Commons to better enshrine the principle of “representation by population,” or “one person, one vote.”

The House would be adjusted so that the three fastest-growing provinces in Canada would have the number of seats that their numbers warrant. Depending on the formula, the House could grow by 30 seats or more from its current level of 308 - John Ibbitson , Globe and Mail

Source: Wiki

Six metropolitan areas now claim more than a million residents. Calgary and Edmonton joined Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa-Gatineau in the “millionaire's club”, which now houses 45 per cent of the Canadians.
Barrie, north of Toronto, was the fastest growing census metropolitan area, notching up a 19.2 per cent population rise to 177,061 for the census region, and a 24 per cent rise for the city itself.

It joins five other metropolitan areas on the densely populated shores of the Great Lakes — known as the Greater Golden Horseshoe — on the list of fastest growing metro areas: Oshawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Guelph and Brantford are all in the nation's top 15.

Eight mid-size urban centres had a growth rate of more than 10 per cent, about twice as high as the rate for Canada as a whole. Seven of the eight were in Alberta. TENILLE BONOGUORE Globe and Mail

 
 

Today we are faced with a political party that has dropped from 40% of the percentage of vote to 26.3% in eight years. The trend and direction of the slide in "official" Polls have been steady and only negative.

Since 2000 the Liberals have had Jean Chretien, Paul Martin, Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff lead the party. Paul Martin left the party after losing power to CPC led by Stephen Harper.

Stephen Harper has led a minority government since 2006 when the Liberals hit 30.3%. In October 2008 the CPC won another minority government with the Liberals hitting a historic low of 26.3%.

November 2009, the Liberals are now "unofficially" back to their historic lows after some unofficial polls this summer showing a four percent gain from the October 2008 results. A very small group in Ottawa and the MSM believe the Liberals are a serious threat and present articles in their defence on a regular basis. The official opposition has not been able to stop the gradual erosion of support since 2000. Today the Liberal Party has been weakened from presenting any serious or substantive issues prior to five days before an "official" campaign. -Canadiansense  Forrest Gump Politics Scene 2000-2008

The tactical decisions of the government toward next election can be seen in a bid to hamstring their opponents

• reintroduction of a removal of the political party subsidy
• Economy, Jobs, Deficit, Pensions, Free Trade Deals
• Rebalance of seats to boost Ontario -West
• Own the middle, right of centre fertile spectrum of voters

What political parties stand to benefit the most by adding seats to the fastest growing cities in those three provinces? Will the Liberals join the Bloc in blocking the legislation and risk the wrath of voters in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia?
 
This rebalancing will weaken the ability of the Bloc in Quebec for more equalization, transfers and accurately reflect the redistribution of population, wealth and power in Canada. The Bloc, Quebec will resist this rebalancing, will the NDP and Liberals join the Bloc in defending the power remains with Ontario-Quebec?

Ignatieff (Liberal GPS) has veered again after the left votes by adopting the NDP freeze "corporate taxes" in Montreal. The disconnect, Canadians don't trust the Liberals on many major files including the deficit, economy and negotiating Free Trade Deals.

The Liberals can't run from their track record of balancing the books in raiding the EI fund $ 60 Billion, a $ 25 Billion cut in transfers to the provinces in Health, Education and Social Services.

In December 2008 Canadian Premiers, Federal Government joined the G8, G20 in the largest deficit spending programs to combat the Global Recession. Those relationships continue to negotiate and get things done.

The Liberals will promise to not download to the provinces again, not raid the EI fund,  or raise taxes to pay for more "social justice" projects.
Who do you trust ?


UPDATE: Seat breakdown rationale:

Ontario


1997 Census 10,084,885 103 ridings (97,911)

2009 Census 12,160,282 106 ridings (114,719)


Quebec (No extra seats that I am aware)


1997 Census 6,895,963 * 75 ridings (91,946)

2009 Census 7,546,131 * 75 ridings (100,615)


Alberta

1997 2,545,553  * 26 ridings (97,905)

2009 3,290,350 * 28 ridings (117,512)

BC

1997 3,282,061 * 34 ridings (96,531)

2009 4,113,487 * 36 ridings (114,263)


UPDATE 2:   Weblinks and more rationale behind reform.

“Our government is following through with its Throne Speech commitment to restoring the principle of representation by population in the House of Commons,” said Minister of State Fletcher. “If passed, this legislation will give fair representation to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, while protecting the seat counts of the other provinces “ - Democratic Reform

Quebec holds 75 seats in Parliament total 308. It accounts for 24% of the seats. The changes will reflect a growth in provinces where immigration from outside and other provinces has resulted in an under represented population. 233/308 excluding Quebec account for 75% of the seats.

The additional 30 seats will change the math in rebalancing to measure the population changes.
233+30 =263 for a Parliament of 338
Rest of Canada will grow to 78% and Quebec will shrink to 22%.

Is Quebec growing as fast as the other regions of Canada or predicted to grow faster than Ontario, British Columbia or Albera? No

Canada's population was estimated at 33,930,800 as of January 1, 2010, an increase of 57,500 or 0.17% from the level at October 1, 2009. Population growth remains fastest in Western Canada, with all provinces in the region recording percentage increases above the national level.
British Columbia's population rose by 14,300, or 0.32%, to just over 4,494,200. It was the second consecutive quarter in which the province recorded the fastest population increase among the provinces.
The increase was due mainly to a net inflow of about 9,000 people from international migration, the largest in the nation. At 2,300, British Columbia also posted the largest net inflow from interprovincial migration in the country. Alberta is 0.21%.  - The Daily

Will we allow a separtist's party dictate democratic reform for our Federal Government?

It is time for the residents of Quebec to reject this party of division for a stronger united Canada. Will the NDP, Liberals join with the separtists' party in delaying democratic reform of our parliament?

Bloc Benefits From Liberal Political Subsidy: Nearly $ 300 million in welfare

The four opposition Political Parties are "entitled" to their entitlements!

Follow the money to see who Canadians are supporting with donations through membership to their political party.

On the surface, it would appear Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives have the most to lose if subsidies were cut because they garnered the most votes in the October election. The Conservatives earned $10 million in subsidies, compared to $7.7 million for the Liberals, $4.9 million for the NDP, $2.6 million for the Bloc Québécois and $1.8 million for the Greens.
But because the Conservatives have such a strong fundraising base, their subsidy represents only 37 per cent of the party's total revenues.
By comparison, the subsidy amounts to 63 per cent of the Liberals' funding, 86 per cent of the Bloc's, 57 per cent of the NDP's and 65 per cent of the Greens'. - CBC November 2008

 

Between 2004 and 2008, Canadians will have spent $290 million on subsidies to federal political parties. If subsidies continue, either because of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s reversal on the matter, or if a Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois coalition takes power, Canadians will pay out another $260 million to parties between 2009 and 2013. That’s almost the price tag on another federal election fight between Ottawa’s warring forces.- Frontier Centre
..The BQ continues to depend on state subsidies like no other party: over 80% of the party's revenue comes from the annual subsidy. The Liberals are the only other party that gets a majority of its money from the state (though well behind the BQ at about 60% in 2008).
The fact that the Liberals and Michael Ignatieff essentially hold the balance of power in Parliament (the NDP and BQ have signaled that they will always vote against the government) means that it is unlikely that the Conservatives will reintroduce the measure to remove the subsidy. Unless, however, Stephen Harper wants to provoke an election ... but that likely won't be for a while. But it is imperative for the Liberals to learn how to thrive under this new regime. By my estimates, Conservative revenue is up about 60% since the 2004 changes to party finance. The Liberals are down 12%. Righting that balance has to be one of Michael Ignatieff's biggest priorities as Liberal leader.- Mapleleaf Web
The Conservative government nearly blew itself out of the water last November when it tried to cut off $27-million a year in federal allowances to political parties. Although polls showed the idea was popular with the public, the commentariat generally panned it as a low blow against competing parties, because they are more dependent on the subsidies than the Conservatives are. The opposition parties formed their famous coalition and threatened to vote non-confidence against the Conservatives, who quickly retracted the proposal. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, however, has vowed to bring it back as part of his campaign platform in the next election.-Globe & Mail
 
I don’t care what their motivations are: it’s the right thing to do. The public subsidy came in with the Chretien campaign finance reforms in 2003. But it was entirely contrary in spirit. The point of the restrictions on corporate and union donations was that elections should be a matter between the candidates and the voters. Corporations and unions don’t get extra votes in the ballot box, and shouldn’t get extra voice in the fund-raising contest. Nor should corporate and union leaders be able to donate other people’s money on their behalf. Whether to contribute to a political party, and how much, and to whom, should be a private, personal matter — voluntary, individual decisions.-Andrew Coyne
H/T to Pundits' Guide (Great Site for non-partisan information on Canadian Federal Politics)

The party raised $208,455.07 in the last three months of 2009 from 1,936 contributors, for an average donation size of $107.67. This yielded an annual take of some $621.5K, the Bloc's best ever non-election year since quarterly numbers were first reported in 2005, and the new party finance regime took effect.-Pundits Guide

Political Mistakes 101: Iggy gave Jack the "ball"

In Nov 2008 Canadians were presented an idea of a cooperative model by three opposition leaders. A central theme for this coalition was an opportunity for these voters to replace the existing government without returning back to the Polls. The numerical and timing advantage by the three opposition leaders were sufficient to wrest control. The rules exist to effect such a change.

The government needed to divide the united opposition and buy time. The government was successful in having the Governor General agreeing to close parliament one week earlier before the scheduled Christmas Break. The Government spent the time to provide a New Budget that included a substantial increase in funding for programs. The united opposition had lost their "timing advantage" window, but still had enough vote non-confidence against the government. The six week advantage has been replaced by fifteen weeks leading many to believe the GG would entertain the opportunity to return to the Polls.

The Liberal leader decided for various reasons his party might not benefit from returning to the Polls in  March 2009. The decision to not vote no-confidence against the government resulted in the adoption of EAP. The Liberal leader decided to allow the CPC to wear the recession by setting up Report Cards and putting the government of Prohabation. The three smaller opposition parties who were united in November 2008 to were now divided again.

In June 2009 the Liberal leader called a Press Conference and decided to deliver four ulimatiums for his continued support. The Polls were favourable and showed a potential for a small minority Liberal government. The next twenty four hours exposed the reluctance of the Liberal Party to withdraw their support of the government to visit the Polls.

Many in the MSM lost confidence in the Liberal leader declaring the termination of the honeymoon. The upwared momentum of the Polls had now stalled and the positive numbers for the leadership scores started to turn negative. A Nik Nanos Poll show a substantial negative trend in June 2009.

In Sudbury the Liberals held a summer caucus meeting and made another public proclamation.

“Stephen Harper leads a government that doesn’t care. We can do better and we will do better.”

The Liberals have now attempted to shift the burden of returning to the Polls on the NDP and Bloc parties. Will this new strategy benefit of hurt the Liberal party?

Many of us will consider this another strategic error on the part of the Liberal Party. In the next few weeks the media will now be following the two smaller parties giving them a bigger spot light just before we enter into a national campaign.

Will the experienced leaders of the NDP and Bloc capitalize on Liberal Party's decision to pass the ball on keeping this government afloat for the next few months?

Did the Polls react favourably to the Liberal Party leader when they voted in favour of supporting EAP? Why would the same polls not repeat the same pattern?