Justin Trudeau: Resignation?

Justin needs to resign or be fired

Is Ignatieff  providing a coherent model of leadership-discipline for the Liberal party? Ignatieff's inability to remove or convince Justin to resign demonstrates a serious weakness that will be exposed during a national  campaign in 2011 or 2012 in my humble opinion. The explanation and rationale won't work in a full blown national campaign.  Ignatieff won't get a do over when he has to make unpopular decisions. Political correctness has run amok and inequality of too many women has been swept under the carpet by well meaning Liberal-left ideologues in developed economies. These gaffes will destroy the Liberals when Canadians start to pay attention in greater numbers. Twenty-three per cent  at the finish line is too clearly high if the Liberals repeat  these mistakes. during the national campaign. Ask Stephane Dion about how quickly a bad interview in Atlantic Canada can affect your numbers.

Weakness with NFLD MPs voting against budget 2009

If the Liberals can't understand the importance of denouncing barbaric practices regardless of the multicultural lens such as honour killings than EVERY position espoused from this critic only reinforces their disconnect with Canadians and citizens. Justin should have apologized, offered  to step down from his critic's role if he had the long term interests of the party at heart. Perhaps he feels his resignation would hurt his  speaking fees income or his own candidacy for a future run at leadership of the party. I believe that was the same reason why Ignatieff reluctantly signed on to the coalition in 2008.  If Ignatieff had the leadership, strength of character in his own value system the coalition threat would not be the Achilles heel in subsequent campaigns against minority parliaments. As a result the Liberals will have to address this in the next election.

Three Leadership Liberal Candidates in favour of coalition: Money Shot

Ignatieff was not the Liberal leader at the time, of course. But the then-leader, Stéphane Dion, had already announced his departure. And Ignatieff was the clear favourite to replace him, with the support of at least two-thirds of the Liberal caucus. Many in the party, moreover, were skittish of formally aligning themselves with the NDP and the Bloc, if not outright opposed. So there can be little doubt that, had Ignatieff come out against the coalition, it would not have happened. He could have stopped it, cold. But he didn’t.-Ignatieff from both sides now

Political correctness: Liberal media to blame for coverage of gender inequality?

Will the mainstream media rush to provide cover and deflect the comments and views, will they brush it off as exuberance and vim again?

Liberal Cheerleader: Angry Liberals Still Suck

Liberal insiders correctly note the public is looking for a reason to vote against Mr. Harper, but they can’t yet see one in the Liberals. -Donald Martin

This sounds like sour grapes the Temple of Groupthink in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa.

The PPG don't matter and like the Liberal insiders they represent the backward ankle biting minority pining for the 'glory days'.

Too bad too sad.

The Government of Canada does not serve at the pleasure of the press gallery.

Donald notes in his article how the Liberals are not acting wisely.

• Policy Reversals
• Sinking Party Morale
• Crazy talk about NDP coalition
• Kevin Page is going to burst media driven campaign about Security Costs
• Media pining on Jean Chretiens return
• Last to allow for Auditor General review
• LGR battle
• Internal revolt on fixing immigration system
• Refusal for any adult conversation from Canada150 until writ is dropped.

It must be difficult to defend and support the Liberal Party when they are so intent on not earning the support of voters. Luckily for Donald his latest grumbling will have little resonance outside the Ottawa bubble.

CBC to study whether its news is biased

The CBC has commissioned a study to determine whether its news is biased, the president of the public broadcaster told the Senate finance committee this week.


“Our job — and we take it seriously — is to ensure that the information that we put out is fair and unbiased in everything that we do,” CBC President Hubert Lacroix said.
CANOE -- CNEWS - Media News: CBC to study whether its news is biased

Thousands show up for March For Life and where is the coverage, instead you will spend resources covering a crowd of 50 people and suggest it is a newstory.

 

University of Toronto political economist John Crispo was quoted in the September 29, 1994, issue of Maclean's as calling the CBC "a lousy left-wing, liberal, NDP, pinko network." Barry Cooper, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, says essentially the same thing in this book and goes to some lengths to prove it.Why spend more money to confirm a bias? Does it make sense to examine how resources have been strategically deployed on certain stories and not others? Order Book here

The Roots of CBC Bias: Its Founding Mandate

CBC Bias Rears It’s Ugly Head … Again 
 
CBC 'balanced' in election coverage, studies show






How do you explain the H1N1 Mark Sakamto mistake?
 
How do you explain reporting the PM missing a photo op when he arrives two minutes late as an important newsstory?
 
How do you run religious mistake at a state funeral wafer without double checking the facts?
 

How do you have a film crew show up on Sunday to film body bags drop off?
 
How was climategate reported as an incident or the numerous errors from the IPCC?

Are the guests like David Suzuki that are propontents of Global Warming the only voice treated with credibility?

Canadian climate experts from both camps Tim Ball or John Robinson  to discuss the IPCC.
How much money has been spent in not correcting the record in statements by opposition MP that are factually incorrect that might be harmful to our economic well being?
Has the CBC explained how little Canada, Oilsands contribute to Carbon Emmissions and that Central Canada manufacturing and vehicle emmissions represent a larger figure?

CBC Ombudsman Admits Liberal Bias   

How do you explain spending more resources airing a story of a growing right wing religious conspiracy in Canada without indentifying religious MP's in other parties? This after a few weeks after the "cultural war" comments from a pollster that was outed for his significant donations to the Liberal Party and leadership contests of Rae and Ignatieff?

Update: Alberta Ardvark has a great site visit here.

Canadian Mainstream Media: Doublestandard

THE TOP 100 LOBBYISTS, 2009

Daniel Brock was a guest on CTV Question Period  Sunday May 02, 2010. Daniel has worked as a Reporter and Producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and the Maritimes. His journalism experience included covering federal, provincial and international politics and public policy news and current affairs for programs such as Morningside and the National Radio News. In 2008, Daniel was recognized by the national political and government newsweekly, The Hill Times, as one of Canada's top 100 lobbyists. - Fasken Martineau. 

Daniel Brock was one of the three organizers who traveled  to the United States to recruit Michael Ignatieff. Does Daniel have a potential vested interest or conflict into dismissing the request for an investigation by CPC MP Dean Del Mastro through the Heritage committee into institutional bias?

Fasken Martineau

Did Jane Taber downplay, omit by mistake Daniel's past working relationship with the CBC? Why is his past relationship with the CBC important? How did Daniel Brock frame the Conservative's request for accountability of the tax funded crown corporation public broadcaster?

Is this an example of bias, lazy journalism, I encourage readers to use Google when guests are invited or cited. How are the media framing the attempts by the Conservatives asking for investigations? Do journalists repeat the opposition narrative this is a "baseless fishing expedition and is used to raise funds" against the Conservatives? Do the same journalists apply the same tone, same phrases when describing the importance of accountability when opposition MP's demand numerous investigations for potential conflicts of interest?

Is the Media feeding the attacks on Ethics Commisioner?

Is the media providing a factual based narrative on the criticism of the Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson?

Ethics Commissioner: No Witchunt For You! (NDP LIB MP's Cry Foul!)

In the few articles I have reviewed I can only find  two Liberal MP's,  Pat Martin NDP criticism, a growing grumble on Parliament Hill – particularly from the opposition.

The Press has enlisted the support of a former Liberal appointee,  Howard Wilson, who served as the first and only federal ethics adviser from 1994 to 2004, say the Conservatives’ heavily promoted new ethics regime is to blame.

Does the press provide a reasonable background, eliminate a perception of potential bias that might make Howard Wilson's opinion less credible or the growing grumble is nothing unusual? No

As a Conservative blogger that has voted CPC for the last few election I will do my part in providing more historical detail to eliminate any potential for bias.

This CBC does an indepth article with context nice here.  Yes they can!

INDEPTH: CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

Role of the ethics commissioner

CBC News Online
June 10, 2005

In April 2004, Ottawa named Canada's first ethics commissioner, a role created to replace the ethics counsellor. The commissioner post, given to former McGill University principal Bernard Shapiro, has more power and is more independent from the government than the ethics counsellor.
Bernard Shapiro (CP file photo)

The ethics commissioner will enforce the code of conduct for cabinet ministers and establish a new code of conduct for backbench and opposition members. Unlike the ethics counsellor, who reported to the Prime Minister's Office, the commissioner will report directly to Parliament, but the prime minister will still decide what actions to take against MPs who are found to be in conflict of interest.

In June 2005, Shapiro came under criticism for his handling of the secret tapes Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal made of his conversations with prominent Liberals. Shapiro initially said he had no mandate to investigate the behaviour of Tim Murphy, the prime minister's chief of staff, who appears on the tapes. He later said he may have misinterpreted his own powers.

Appearing before the parliamentary ethics committee, he said, "I'm learning as I go along." NDP MP Ed Broadbent said Shapiro’s testimony made it clear he doesn't understand his mandate.
Broadbent has also called for Shapiro's resignation for his handling of the investigation of former Liberal cabinet minister Judy Sgro. Shapiro allowed Sgro and her staff to review details of his ongoing investigation, and he hired lawyers to review his decision.

History of the post

Howard Wilson
In 1994, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien named Howard Wilson as Canada's first ethics counsellor in response to campaign promises in the 1993 Liberal Red Book. The counsellor, who reported directly to the Prime Minister's Office, had responsibility to advise MPs on the following:

•The Conflict of Interest Code.
•The Parliamentary Code of Conduct.
•The Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.
•The Lobbyists Registration Act.
•The Lobbyists' Code of Conduct.

In the Red Book, the Liberals promised the new ethics counsellor would strengthen the Lobbyist Registration Act and clarify the Conflict of Interest Code.

Since 1994, the ethics counsellor has investigated several high-profile cases, including:

•Conflict of interest allegations against Chrétien regarding his involvement in the Hotel Grand-Mère.
•Allegations against former public works minister Alfonso Gagliano for awarding contracts to advertising companies connected to his sons.
•Paul Martin's role in the Canada Development Corporation (CDC) during the tainted blood scandal.
•Wilson ruled former solicitor general Lawrence MacAuley breached conflict of interest rules by directing government projects and contracts to friends and family, leading to MacAuley's resignation.

Criticism
The setup of the office of the ethics counsellor has come under fire from critics, who believe too much power is centralized in the Prime Minister's Office. During his time in office, Chrétien had argued that he, as prime minister, had to take final responsibility for his ministers.

Critics complain the ethics counsellor doesn't have any real authority – that he's not a real watchdog because the prime minister decides which cases the counsellor should investigate.

See link for REST of article.

Democracy Watch
Summary of the History of Democracy Watch's Eight Federal Ethics Complaints That Are Still Awaiting a Fair, Impartial Review

In December 2002, Democracy Watch applied to the Federal Court of Canada for a review of federal Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson's bias and failure to uphold legal duties because of the delay in ruling on 8 complaints Democracy Watch had filed with the Ethics Counsellor.

In 7 of the 8 complaints, the complaint was based upon activities of a lobbyist which Democracy Watch believes violate Rule 8 of the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct which prevents lobbyists from undertaking any activity that constitutes improper influence and puts a federal public office holder in a conflict of interest situation. The eighth complaint, filed on April 12, 2001 and concerning John Dossetor, alleged that Dossetor violated the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct by failing to register as a lobbyist.

Link to rest of article here. Court Case here

Remember how the media had fun, provided extra ink on prorogue, how it was undemocratic, unusual

The Canadian Parliament sat for 92 days in 2000 according to Hansard. The Canadian Parliament averaged less than 120 sitting days per year throughout the 1990s.

It is important news be provided with equal points of view, disclosure, potential bias or conflicts by those interviewed or offered as sources experts.

Identifying and Documenting Bias in News Stories

Sometimes liberal bias reflects a conscious choice by the reporter or editor. Sometimes it stems from mere laziness; it can take a lot of work to produce balanced news stories on a consistent basis. And a reporter under deadline pressure may just not understand the conservative viewpoint well enough to explain it in his story. So if the conservative expert he called doesn't call back in time, that perspective won't make it into the story.

But none of these are valid excuses. A reporter's job is to present a balanced story. (Of course, the reporter who tries but fails because he's just so rushed and can't get a conservative to comment deserves more understanding from you than the reporter who never bothers to call a conservative and regularly writes or broadcasts biased stories.)

Here is the hansard from a special committee here.

Highlights

• Between April 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, I reported findings on four investigations. One investigation that I began in this past fiscal year is still ongoing.
• The reasons for a decision not to proceed are shared with the parties concerned, but I cannot make them public.
• Ms. Denise Benoit:   As indicated earlier, salaries represent the largest item of our $7.1 million budget. In fact, the full salary budget amounts to $4.5 million. That leaves us with a non-salary budget of $1.8 million, an important portion of which is spent covering the cost of administrative services received under the various MOUs. When you add up the amounts under all the MOUs, the total comes out to between $700,000 and $800,000. Therefore, the amount that is left over and does not cover salaries is used to pay for normal operating expenses, for example, for equipment, systems and trips, although members of our organization travel very little.
• Ms. Mary Dawson:
  Each of the investigations takes a different length of time. There's no standard amount of time. We did an average of the four that we did, and we found that the average was about five and a half months, I believe.
  As for the cost, we support our investigations almost entirely internally. We don't resort to outside lawyers, so it's quite a bit less expensive than if we were getting outside lawyers. The model we've developed for an average, because we knew we'd be asked this question, said that it was about $24,000 for the average investigation, I think, but there are enormous differences between each investigation. 

Rest here.

I hope visitors will make up their own mind, about the challenges of this position without the use of selective sources and ommission of their potential conflicts of interest.




  

h/t BC Blue here

Liberal Party of Canada In Need of New Speech Writers.

Nanos Graphs Big Issues: Environment, Education, Job/Economy, Healthcare.....Liberals are M.I.A.

For the past three weeks in Question Period, the Liberals have tried a new catchphrase "culture of deceit". It is used in almost every statement, question from the Liberal opposition. Does this pass as adult conversation in the Liberal Party?

Will the MSM participate in this Political Spin?

Culture War, Hidden Agenda is that what we should expect from the Liberal Party of Canada?

In his advice, Mr. Graves could hardly have been more blunt. “I told them that they should invoke a culture war. Cosmopolitanism versus parochialism, secularism versus moralism, Obama versus Palin, tolerance versus racism and homophobia, democracy versus autocracy. If the cranky old men in Alberta don’t like it, too bad. Go south and vote for Palin.”  Liberals Tacking Left

Liberal Party of Canada: Political Games

January 24, 2010- Prorogation Article Roy MacGregor Globe & Mail

Talk to Liberals – office holders, party organizers, fundraisers – around the country and you will tap into a malaise that a good pollster could rout out with a single question: “What's happening?” “Nothin',” the vast majority would respond, with a margin of error of plus or minus very little.

“There is no Liberal Party,” says one lifelong card carrier who has sat at cabinet tables.

“It died a long time ago. It's not completely extinct yet, but there's no there there.” In this lifelong Liberal's eyes, the party has been stalled for years. No new energy, no new ideas, no vision of what it might like to do. The singular advantage of proroguing, this Liberal would say, is that it has put an end to the squirming every time the opposition pounces.

“The ‘gotcha' stuff is out of control,” says the Liberal. “They bring in all these nerdy keener kids from campus and it's some kind of game to them. They're turning politics into pro wrestling.” The media concentrates on the top, Ignatieff, and on the Hill, but disenchanted Liberals say there is a story to be told far from the now-silenced sound bites of the Centre Block.

 
Three months later and NOTHING has changed just more gotcha stuff...
 
Where is the adult supervision, real policy debate in Parliament?

MSM: See Spot Run!

Accountable, Parliamentary Supremacy, or a personal ATM machine for the "political class"?

Our media is busy providing comic relief posing as journalism. They are consumed with stories with blinders on with this never-ending story of sex drugs and organized crime. See Spot Run is a tribute to the quality of our MSM.  The MSM like to blame the current government with the "cone of silence", instead digging deeper and tackling the larger issues that take time or may not have the sizzle of a scandal au jour.

There’s a pattern here. The Liberals stagger from one ugly issue to another, led by gloomy Iggy, and never once do they offer a hopeful idea.

Our soldiers fight valiantly in Afghanistan, but all the Liberals see is a conspiracy to abuse Taliban prisoners, which by definition implicates our soldiers. Their clumsy attempt to reopen the abortion debate backfired when Liberal members helped defeat the Liberal motion. - Monte Solberg

Board of Internal Economy

..the board’s meetings are always held behind closed doors, its books are off-limits to the auditor general, and its filing cabinets cannot be pried open by reporters requesting documents under the access to information laws that are supposed to ensure the public knows how its money is being wasted, er, spent.

Apparently this pocket change of $ 500 million on an annual basis is just too small to garner the front page or attention span of our serious journalists.

The amount of money in tax havens has been estimated at $11.5 trillion by the Tax Justice Network, a respected and independent advocacy group that monitors such trends. -Too small again!


Priorities have always been difficult for the Liberals, it looks like our media will has also been infected with the same condition. Examine how many months, ink on the Fall 2009 - Spring 2010:

• 22 sitting delay of Parliament (No March Break for you!)
• H1N1, laying blame, feeding fear of Global Pandemic (Never materialized 50% innoculated).
• Imbalance of Stimulus Spending (unproven, refuted by Provincial, Municipal officials)
• Linking  MP defeated in 2008, H.G. removed from Gov't, caucus pending investigations by RCMP on 2nd hand allegations. (Adscam Follow up)  
• Afghan Mission: War Crimes, Cover up (Based on 2nd, 3rd hand reports refuted by Military, Senior Officials)

Where are the facts and the names of the sources to provide a balanced perspective of what actually took place?

(Very narrow focus, lacking perspective)

Employment Rate Canada: MSM Spin Overly Negative Story

Context, perspective regarding our employment, how are the media, pundits, politicians communicating on the issue or the ability of government to create and make jobs?

How much are we spending in municipal, provincial, federal budgets in creating, saving jobs? How much is too much in saving jobs in your riding, industry?

The media can demostrate a bias by highlighting something and omitting a perspective.

Employment was little changed for a second consecutive month in May, with full-time gains mostly offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate held steady for the fourth straight month at 6.1%, a 33-year low.

Unemployment rate rises, Ontario hit hardest

The national unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent in June. Here's what happened provincially (previous month in brackets):

Newfoundland 13.1 (12.5)
Prince Edward Island 10.1 (9.6)
Nova Scotia 7.6 (8.2)
New Brunswick 9.7 (8.9)
Quebec 7.2 (7.5)
Ontario 6.7 (6.4)
Manitoba 4.1 (4.2)
Saskatchewan 4.0 (4.1)
Alberta 3.3 (3.6)
British Columbia 4.5 (4.5)
Putting the unemployment rate in context

Despite the increase in 2008, Canada’s unemployment rate was still lower than it has been anytime between 1974 and 2006. In 1983, the unemployment rate in Canada reached an all-time high of 12 per cent. A more robust economy following the recession in the early 1990s, as well as stricter rules for unemployment benefit claims, helped Canada to cut that rate in half. It reached a 32-year low in 2007.

Not only does high unemployment tend to hurt labour productivity and GDP growth, it is also linked to higher rates of poverty, homelessness, income inequality, crime, poorer health outcomes, lower self-esteem, and social exclusion.

Following gains in April, employment decreased by 42,000 in May, led by further manufacturing losses in Ontario. The unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 8.4%, the highest rate in 11 years. Since the employment peak of last October, employment has fallen by 363,000 or 2.1%. The Daily

March's employment increase brings total gains to 176,000 (+1.1%) since July 2009.

Part-time employment was up by 32,000 in March, more than offsetting full-time losses. Despite the gain in March, part-time employment has fallen by 0.6% since July 2009, while full-time work has grown by 1.4%. - The Daily

- Monte Solberg

The thing about politics is that it’s almost always about looking for ways to make things better, which is good and noble and it’s the thing that voters want to hear. The problem with the gospel of constant improvement is that it promotes an almost single-minded focus on what we are missing instead of being thankful for all that we have. Besides, let’s be honest and acknowledge that the degree to which government can improve most people’s lives is limited. After all, before a government put in place a program to supplement our income, they first have to tax away our income

How much MORE will we have to repay in increased taxes for the Global recession and government spending?

In April 2007 unemployment in the U.S. dropped to 4.4%, March 2010 it rose to 9.7% for an increase of 5.3%.

In 2007 Canada reached 6.2%  and quickly rose to  over 8% as a result of the Global recession. A difference of 2% in the first six months of 2009. The rate remains 2% above the record low achieved in 2007. In Canada 1981-1998 our unemployment was above 8% (17 years). From 1999 - 2008 it remained below 8% (9 years).

We are currently outperforming the U.S. by 3% on employment. Another story you won't see in MSM.

David Akin: Liberal ridings get $1 million out of $69 million highway fund

This explains why the Liberals are in so much trouble. The Press have been trying for months to create a narrative of abuse or an overt agenda by the Federal Government in spending.


David omits the money in the NDP ridings and the location of the major highways. Highlights a snub on Toronto and the Liberals. Why David?
Of the $69 million in federal funds, $52 million will be spent on 24 projects in Conservative ridings. Ridings held by federal New Democrats will see 11 projects in this series of announcements, which will get federal funding of a combined $10.17 million

They did this with the Olympic Torch Relay and the Rinc Program.

http://citynews.video.citytv.com/video/45927123001/Smitherman-Disagrees-With-Federal-Counterpart/

When Carrolyn Parrish refutes how decisions are made at the local level, the rationale is ignored. When the Deputy Premier George Smitherman refutes bias and suggests different programs are will recieve different funding he is ignored.

“I understand the dramatic cries of outrage that must be flung at the government in power – often backed by somewhat scrambled statistics. But is infrastructure stimulus money being distributed unfairly? NOT!” She says that having first-hand knowledge of political “spin” and the “slings and arrows of the press,” she is a non-partisan now who can set the record straight. Ms. Parrish says that Mississauga is receiving a huge amount of dollars from various stimulus programs and it was city staff, not federal and provincial politicians, who decided which projects to fund. So there! “The feds and the province decided how much we’d get. Council decided where it would be spent. And we are grateful for that autonomy,” she writes. Meanwhile, last week, Infrastructure John Baird mischievously quoted Mr. Chrétien in an exchange over stimulus funding with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff: “Here is what the Prime Minister said,” Mr. Baird said. “‘Listen. We are the government. I don’t see why we can’t try to get credit for what we do. I hope we do so. There is nothing to be ashamed in that.’ Do members know who said that? It was Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.” Funny.

The media are desperate, David Miller was the receiptent of a large number of projects including Union Station a few months ago and the Federal Government does not hold a single seat. Did David Akin write a piece pointing out the lack of CPC funding in Toronto?

A CBC reporter asked, “What do you make of Liberal criticisms that most of the stimulus money is going to Tory ridings?”


The prime minister kind of shrugged, threw up his shoulders and said, “Well, here I am,” winning a belly laugh from the assembled. “We have 500 infrastructure projects in the City of Toronto, where we do not hold a single seat.”

They have accused the Ontario Liberal Premier of being unfair to the Federal Liberal ridings in working with the Federal Government.

Perhaps an examination of the location of major highways in Ontario it will explain the facts.

Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe: Public Sector Champions

Reports from the U.S. indicate employment is stabilizing with the addition of jobs in the government. Thousands are being hired to conduct a Census. After this contract expires will the private sector step in or is the current numbers of growth of jobs in the U.S. unsustainable? How will this affect us in Canada if unemployment in the U.S. remains above remains higher. 

In Canada we have seen concerns raised from some groups about the need to restrict the growth of government.

Since 2000 the trend has been reversed and the average number of government employees has been increasing. After a decade of steady increases an examination or review has been launched by the Conservative led government which took office in 2006.  It has been over four years and many of think this is long overdue.

The Federal Government has begun a review and has already earned some negative feedback from the opposition and media pundits. I have heard this statement repeatedly used against the CPC led Federal government. It does not believe in government, it is idealogical, it has been hollowing out the departments and role of government. They are weaking our country. Are they making this stuff up? I can't find proof of government shrinking it's payroll beyond some cosmetic changes. 

...we will conduct a comprehensive review of administrative functions and overhead costs. Our goal is to eliminate any redundant spending and find savings wherever they may exist. The review will look at external and internal service operations, business processes, and administration.

Just this week, I announced the elimination of 245 federal appointment positions across government. By streamlining these organizations, we are ensuring that resources are put to the best possible use for Canadians.

Reality vs Perception (Public Sector Employment)
 
The fourth-quarter increase was spread among all government sectors. The major contributors were educational institutions, with an increase of 29,000 employees, or 2.8%, over the fourth quarter of 2006. This growth was mainly concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
General government employment amounted to just over 1.1 million, a gain of 2.4%, or 27,000. All three levels of general government contributed to this increase. Since 2000, however, federal and local government employment growth has outpaced that of the provincial and territorial governments.
Strong growth in the provincial administrations of Alberta and British Columbia was partly offset by a decrease in Quebec and New Brunswick.
Employment in health and social service institutions increased by 25,000, or 3.2%. Alberta accounted for over one-quarter of this growth.
Total public sector wages and salaries in the fourth quarter of 2007 were 3.3% higher than they were a year earlier. -The Daily

Population growth has been shifting for years in Canada. Democratic reform has included an additional 30 seats in parliament that mirrors a rebalancing of jobs in the private and public sector as well.

• 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.
• Ontario, the population rose by 0.12% to 13,134,500, the fastest fourth-quarter increase since 2003. Alberta's population increased 0.21% to just over 3,711,800.. - The Daily

I don't see the massive cuts, erosion in public services in education, or health as alleged by the opposition, where do they get their facts from?

Is the opposition, pundits being balanced in their criticism of this Federal government as "idealogical"  while ignoring the increase of Public Sector jobs?

Our MSM & Opposition rollover for Democrats?

Before any talks with government officials even started, she went on national Canadian networks twisting arms by talking about Afghanistan. Then she started lecturing Canadians about helping women around the world and posturing about social issues in the Arctic. She didn't join a meeting of the five Arctic coastal states because she objected to the exclusion of aboriginal groups and three other northern nations, and she left Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon alone at the podium of a joint press conference with all the Arctic ministers. I'm wondering what she did for North American aboriginals during her eight years at the White House with her husband and several more years as a Senator.-Angelo Perischilli

Sending Strombo to interview Hillary Clinton is further indication that CBC News is just plain dead.

Why didn’t Mansbridge go? Or Rex Murphy, Mark Kelly or even Kevin O’Leary or the other celebrity fanboy, Ghomeshi?

One last consideration: can you imagine the reaction in Canada if these diplomatic slaps in the face had come from the Republican Condoleezza Rice instead of the Democrat Hillary Clinton?


Update:

It is funny watching how the opponents of the current government defend their position.
Human Rights: MSM-left support Chinese Government in rebuking our human rights record.
Environment: MSM-left ignore reality praise Communist China, Democrat led US that account for 40% vs our 2% total.
Sovereignty: The MSM-left take Russia/US/Nordic interest's over our own if they can slag our PM.
Is this is not blind pathological hatred?
Many of us don't agree wholesale with everything from any gov't at any level but in four years list the alternatives introduced into parliament for debate.
The opposition have ALWAYS been in the majority and are responsible to challenge and introduce alternatives, they failed.
Perspective, reality vs. perception. The coalition of the left is dysfunctional, it won't change if they are in power.

Parliament: Taxpayers 0 Political Games 1

I don't buy for one second politicians care one fig about parliamentary supremacy regarding the right to view documents in protecting our freedom. This is another example crass politics again.

Are these Politicians from the opposition demanding all documents pertaining to their personal, riding, office expenses and spending be made available to the taxpayer? The opposition members of parliament are in a majority and can remove their confidence of this government if they don't trust them. We have repeatedly been told by leaders of the opposition they don't have confidence in this government in regards to the economy, healthcare, family planning, environment but they keep voting for those policies.

Selective redacting you say? Is a Minister applying the censorship to said documents? No, an experienced non partisan civil service is entrusted for all Federal Governments? The opposition continue to suggest "foul play" without directly implicating our Civil Servants or our Military in a massive conspiracy to protect this government. Simply pathetic!


Here is a great article from a life long liberal.

The End Game

Do you find the news today on television consists more of one anchor pontificating to another rather than reporting on the actual “news?” CBC and CTV are masters at this, bringing us a myriad of mind-numbing opinions from the same “media” people on multiple issues every day. A good example of this is the coverage of the Afghan detainee issue. The thrust of the media coverage seems to coalesce around the idea that the Canadian Forces deliberately, in a planned and premeditated manner, colluded with Afghan authorities in the torturing of detainees in Afghanistan. The national media are beside themselves frothing, spewing and spanking with joy as they report this as if it were true. They provide magnified coverage to Richard Colvin and present his assertions as fact and suggest there is a cover-up at the highest levels. What is the end game? To whom would the Official Opposition suggest the military turn over its military detainees? The Taliban? Al Qaeda? Perhaps a Canadian prison should be opened with all the trimmings provided by Correctional Services Canada? -Dan Donovan, OLM Publisher

Sadly this is just another stunt, another game in Parliament in gotcha politics and our lazy media is along for the ride.


The opposition are hoping to go to the next campaign with "contempt of parliament" on the campaign literature aided by our lazy media.

A recent Angus Poll found 49% of Canadians are not following the debate at all. The opposition are busy ignoring the issues that matter  only 11% believe problem began after 2006. Canadian soldiers actively participated in the torture of Afghan detainees is supported by a very small minority in Quebec, Ontario, Atlantic Provinces. (14%)

It is time we move to limit the damage of lazy reporting, bias by allowing deregulation in our print and television.

Why continue to provide taxpayer funding for this poor quality product, the CRTC should recommend we allow unrestricted Global access to our telephone, internet, television viewing by increasing competition and choice for the consumers.

Women's Olympic Champions: No Apology Necessary

 

Let's hope the men's team can follow the Women's Gold Medal Win!

I am confident the majority of Canadians who were watching, cheering on our ladies last night, will not require an  APOLOGY. I DO NOT accept the double standard, how male athletes are excused for much worse behaviour on a regular basis. We can blame this on our tabloid style media for acting like bottom feeders AGAIN.

UPATE Photos

Photos Credits Win/Luke/SI

A word for the IOC, and reporters casting this as a negative incident: Please, just let Team Canada have their fun. What they did was refreshingly authentic. Don’t punish them for it.)-Luke Win SI.

UPDATE - Petti Fong

Initial reports that the International Olympic Committee was investigating the incident was downplayed by both the organization and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Mark Adams with the IOC said there is no investigation but the committee has written to the Canadian Olympic Committee asking for an explanation of what happened. Hockey Canada has apologized for the actions of the women’s team.

“In the excitement of the moment, the celebration left the confines of our dressing room and shouldn’t,” they said in a statement. “The team regrets that its gold-medal celebrations may have caused the IOC or COC any embarrassment.”

COC president Michael Chambers said the women have nothing to apologize for.

“The players were very swift to express their regrets,” said Chambers Friday. “They know it was an error of judgment on their part.”

Chambers said, with a straight face, that it’s not uncommon for people to have a cold drink, including alcohol, after a hockey game.

Political Polling For Junkies

Is this Ground Hog Day at  the Liberal Bunker? I bet they wish they were successful in pulling the plug in August 2009.
July 2008 before the PM invited each opposition leader for Tea and an interest in supporting the CPC Fall Agenda.

 Angus Poll July 2008
Does this look familiar with Feb 2010 or worse for the Liberals?

Are the Liberals willing to seek a "mandate" and remove confidence on March 4, 2010?  Let's hope they ignore the realities and push the new improved Photo-op'd Platform contrived during the Prorogue as the Polling and media reinforce the "virtual tie" for the last few weeks. (I am in the minority who actually want an election,  I know)

Here's why a small dose of reality that escapes most apologists for the Liberals. History has a habit of being cruel to those who are ignorant and do not learn from their previous mistakes. Teaching moment.

The majority of Canadians do not hold positive views on the possibility of the Grits recapturing power. Fifty-seven per cent of respondents disagree with a statement saying that the Liberal Party would do a good job if it forms the next federal government. Ontario also holds the highest number of respondents who express confidence in an eventual government led by the Liberal Party (41%), followed by Atlantic Canada (38%) and British Columbia (35%).

Skepticism in the Liberals doing a good job as the next federal government increases with age. While 49 per cent of respondents aged 18-34 disagree with this notion, the proportion jumps to 57 per cent for middle-aged Canadians, and 64 per cent for older Canadians.-Angus Poll Sept 10, 2008

Has anything really changed in last four years to give the Liberals the benefit of doubt?

I hope to show how the Polls can move quickly in a short period of time when VOTERS are given an opportunity to send a message to the clowns political parties wishing to govern in Ottawa. The Liberals were polling to hold or make gains in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and British Columbia. How did that work out for the Liberals?

Angus Poll Oct 2008 Regional Prediction vs Actual: General Election (Most accurate in predicting final election results)

Ontario Angus October 2008

British Columbia Angus October 2008

Quebec Angus October 2008

Over two years of CPC in power and voters give the Liberals the worst P.O.P. since confederation!

Let's review: Nearly one year later, a month prior to the "Time is Up" gaffe by Michael Ignatieff. A six point national lead for the current governement. Internal Polling by the Liberals was denied at the time leading up to the Sudbury photo-op.

• Liberals are 7% ahead of the NDP in BC.
• Liberals are 9% ahead of the NDP in Alberta.
• Liberals are ahead of NDP in MB/SK
• Liberal are polling at 40% in ATL, nine points ahead of the second place NDP.
• Liberals are nine points behind the Bloc in Quebec with a double digit gap ahead the other federal parties. 

Angus Poll August 2009

 

 Four years adrift Michael destroys any momentum in September opening a double digit lead for the government-thanks. Media pile on making more jokes and calls for his resignation. December 30, 2009 Media catches opposition party leaders offshore while pushing latest fake scandal. MI returns from France and begins a month of photo-ops pretending they are back to work after the extended Christmas Break. Michael is busy in Vancouver for more photo ops hoping to cash in with the great television ratings.

 
Angus Poll Feb 2010 

Let's compare August 2009 vs Feb 2010

• The Liberals fallen back to third -2% while NDP +9%
• The Liberals have improved from 50 points behind to 44 the CPC in Alberta.
• The Liberals have lost their nine point lead from the NDP and fallen to third place. Gap reduced from 31 to 26 point in MB/SK with the CPC.
• The Liberals have cut the four point lead in half of the CPC in Ontario. NDP are +9.
• Quebec has NOT shifted much.
• Atlantic NDP lose nine points to the Green, CPC no change, Liberals up 4 points.

So the NDP other than Atlantic Regionals have recovered most of their weakness in polling and the gap for the most part has not changed from August 2009. Groundhog Day at Liberal HQ.
Anyone remember in September 2008 how the Liberals were polling one month before the PM provided a teaching moment?
How is the media reporting the latest polling, today?

If people are critical of what you call media bias (Canadian media outlets favour a specific party over others) you can remind they are in the minority with only 20% in support of their position.

MSM: Repeat Hockey Stick Effect

Liberals reach out to female voters with a little help from their friends in the media

The Liberals were working to recover key segments of the population that have deserted them in recent months – including women. The two leading parties are essentially tied in opinion polls, so winning back traditional Liberal support could swing a future election.- The Globe & Mail

In only three times in ten months a significant gap has been captured outside the M.O.E and the MSM has used  a small number of Polls to add the use of Polling Data to illustrate?


Additional examples of Media being selective in use of Polls to tell a story.

http://canadiansense.blogspot.com/2010/01/msm-applying-michael-mann-hockey-stick.html


Reference:

Ekos
http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2008/09/daily-tracking-september-30-2008/
http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2008/10/daily-tracking-final-numbers/
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full-report-june-1.pdf							Large Poll
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/0779-full-report-_july-30_.pdf
http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2009/08/tories-retain-small-edge-august-27-2009/
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/0779-full-report-september-24.pdf
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full-report-october-29.pdf							Large
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full_report_november_26.pdf							Large
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full_report_december_17.pdf
http://www.ekospolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/full_report_january_28.pdf