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September 10, 2008

Elect a Tory, kiss net neutrality goodbye

Posted by mason at 01:11 PM ET | Comments (0)

In a statement published on international peer-to-peer news site p2pnet.net, the NDP's Charlie Angus has brought the net neutrality issue into the federal election campaign. He begins by outlining what he calls the ruling Conservatives' ignorance toward digital innovation and the recent axing of the New Media Fund. The Harper government falls into line with the pro-free-market U.S. administration when it comes to copyright legislation, he continues, before extolling the virtues of his party as the only one defending Internet freedoms in the House of Commons.

"There are key urban ridings across Canada where the issue of copyright and Net Neutrality could spell the difference in winning or losing the riding," Angus writes. "This provides a unique opportunity to the arts, education and innovation community to get active and organized. The Conservative party needs to know that the digital community will push back against their corporate agenda."

Full text of the statement here.

More entries on: Copyright/left | Cultural industries | Election 2008 | Harper Index | Interweb

February 23, 2007

Supremes give Harper the finger

Posted by Ariel Troster at 01:08 PM ET | Comments (1)

While today's unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to strike down Canada's controversial security certificates was not a direct attack on Stephen Harper, given his latest antics, I like to close my eyes and conjure up the image of the nine Supremes lining up to give Harper the finger. Actually, it's the Charter of Rights giving Harper the finger, because once again, the Court has acknowledged that arbitrary discrimination is completely unacceptable.

In this case, the Court ruled that it's unconstitutional to detain non-citizens indefinitely without giving them access to the evidence (or even the charges!) against them. And yeah, yeah, I know, this law way pre-dated Harper, but I like to think of this judgment as a little love letter to "Canada's new government."

I almost puked during the federal election, when Harper staged convenient photo ops with various cultural communities, spreading the message that gay marriage would threaten their religious rights. He used oppression of the queer community as leverage to try to attract immigrant voters.

And now he's at it again, surrounding himself with the families of the Air India victims, trying to bolster his bid to maintain some of the most egregious aspects of Canada's anti-terror legislation (preventative arrests and investigative hearings) ... claiming that he is somehow protecting minority communities by severely restricting their human rights. Because who is suffering the brunt of the anti-terror madness? People of colour, particularly of Arab descent, who are subject to racial profiling and discrimination based on their immigration status.

To read more about the experiences of minority communities under Canada's new anti-terror regime, check out the final report of the People's Commission on Immigration "Security" Measures.

I imagine that the Anti-Terrorism Act will land on the Supremes' desk some time soon ... no wonder "Steve" hates the courts so much.

- Cross posted to Dykes Against Harper

More entries on: Harper Index

February 22, 2007

trying to be nice

Posted by john_d at 12:43 PM ET | Comments (0)

I wrote a blog entry last year criticizing the Prime Minister for skipping out on the Toronto AIDS Conference. The kernel of my argument, I think, was the issue of leadership over partisanship; that sometimes it's the Prime Minister's job to show up even if he's guaranteed to get booed. I remember some of the comments from that posting had to do with how malaria is a much larger problem than HIV, that Canada does its part in AIDS funding, and that a politician should be allowed to reserve the right to not be booed. I can't remember if Harper travelled to the far north in order to talk about the problem of malaria, but that's a side issue I guess.

Annnnyway, I was getting ready to practice non-partisanship and congratulate Stephen Harper on the recent announcement of AIDS vaccine research, and was steeling myself for hard-lefty cries of sell-out to both the Conservatives and evil Microsoft.

Then the Prime Minister showed me again that, mostly, his issue is one of leadership. The real kind. The inspiring kind.

So congratulations to the Prime Minister. He could have had any one of his MPs make unsupported, classless allegations about an opposition MP's family. He could have shielded himself from Parliament's outrage and the general disgust of the nation. But instead he chose to lead the House of Commons to its new low.

The vaccine thing is hopeful though, isn't it?

More entries on: Harper Index

December 28, 2006

Great end-of-year chuckle

Posted by mason at 01:50 AM ET | Comments (0)

From Wednesday’s Toronto Star story, “Tories admit breaking rules”:

The party has also been forced to send belated 2005 tax receipts to some 3,000 delegates who attended the convention, with instructions on the complicated process required to retroactively claim the tax credit.

Oh, sweet karma! The 3,000 Canadians who most hate taxes are forced to deal with a tax credit on their delegate fees for the 2005 Conservative convention because their party either didn’t understand the tax laws or willfully ignored them, wishing they’d go away.

Sure, most of them will just pay their accountants and not think twice about it, but I just can’t read that without cracking a smile. Happy New Year, Conservatives!

More entries on: Harper Index

November 17, 2006

Two legs good, four legs bad

Posted by john_d at 02:45 PM ET | Comments (0)

On human rights:

"The Chinese have since said they would like to have a meeting [with Stephen Harper], but also vowed to oppose any 'irresponsible' interference in its internal affairs."-- Globe & Mail

On the environment:

'There are some who are using the Kyoto Protocol to create divisions within our country, but we will not let that happen,' Ambrose said. -- Toronto Star

Canucks make waves internationally by claiming moral high ground on China, and by refusing to accept there is such a thing as moral high ground on the environment. Some international conventions are more equal than others.

More entries on: Harper Index

October 18, 2006

yes, this seems like a good time to get messy in public

Posted by john_d at 02:14 PM ET | Comments (3)

The Tories have taken Garth Turner's executive washroom key away. It's in the Globe. You know, Garth Turner...played third base for the Blue Jays in the 80's.

But here's my question -- who writes the Tory press statements? Check out Jaffer's word-like things:

"This is something that has been culminated since Mr. Turner's election to our caucus," Mr. Jaffer said Wednesday at a press conference in Ottawa. He said the primary sources of concern were confidentiality matters and attacks on other party members posted on Mr. Turner's blog.

"There is attacks that were made on individuals, including the Prime Minister," Mr. Jaffer said. "The theme of confidentiality was not being respected, in their opinion, and it restricted the ability for members to operate in a confidential way."

I hate it when themes are not respected and attacks is made.

Not fair? Too picky? Opening the door to examination of my own writing skills? If so, please buy and read my entire book before commenting.

More entries on: Harper Index

October 11, 2006

who can they sell this stuff to?

Posted by john_d at 02:46 PM ET | Comments (0)

It's not every day you look to Sun Media for criticism of the new federal government, or even back-handed support for Kyoto. And yet...

Thanks to Paul Wells for pointing to this column in the Sun where Greg Weston reveals some shady play on the truth by Environment Minister Rona Ambrose. A report today by Alan Findlay reveals even more factual sleight of hand.

A little snip:

"Sun Media has learned that costing figures cited by Ambrose during testimony to the environment and sustainable-development committee don't match estimates offered by the purported source."

Testimony to a committee? That sounds an awful lot like the kind of activity that should, by law, involve some dedication to the truth. Someone should check on that.

More entries on: Harper Index

August 31, 2006

the "I'm just saying" UPDATE

Posted by john_d at 10:02 AM ET | Comments (1)

So, the Toronto Star editorial board heard it wrong. This from Michael Ignatieff in the Globe & Mail this morning:

"Let's be clear: I am planning to run in the next election in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. I love being an MP and I've enjoyed it enormously and I'm looking forward to doing it again," Mr. Ignatieff said.

He added that, whoever wins the leadership race, he will do whatever he can to help him or her defeat Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the next election.

Asked why he didn't say that when the Star first asked, Mr. Ignatieff said he considered hypothetical questions about his political future should he lose the leadership contest to be moot.

"I feel I have good reason to believe I'm ahead in the race and I plan to win. So the hypothetical is not going to arise."

Okay then, THAT sounds much more reasonable. I will continue to write letters to my dedicaterd MP, secure in the knowledge that our public shorelines and air quality are foremost on his mind.

More entries on: Harper Index

August 30, 2006

I'm just saying

Posted by john_d at 12:16 PM ET | Comments (3)

-- photo courtesy the Ignatieff campaign site

Michael Ignatieff can't say whether or not he'll continue being my MP if the Liberals don't give him the steering wheel.

I saw his support up close when I worked the NDP campaign against him in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. These are committed longterm Liberals, good neighbourhood folks who worked very, very hard to get him elected despite the safe seat he chose, and despite their party's game-playing around the nomination process. Do comments like these not bother them?

"Depends who's leader," Ignatieff said yesterday when asked at a meeting with the Toronto Star editorial board if he would run for the party in the next election if he loses the leadership vote in early December.

...Ignatieff argued he wouldn't be "doing this occasionally difficult job" without serious commitment. "It's been brutal," he said. "Etobicoke-Lakeshore was very, very tough."

"But you won't commit to run for Etobicoke-Lakeshore again?" he was asked.

Replied Ignatieff: "I'd like to serve my constituents well, but you're asking me an anticipatory hypothetical about the situation that prevails on the 3rd or 4th of December."

Hypothetical? If the answer is "I am committed to running in Etobicoke-Lakeshore again whether I am leader or not," there is very little hypothetical about it.

Thanks to Torontoist for the tip on this. Ron why didn't you write this posting?

More entries on: Harper Index

August 18, 2006

Standing up for Canada...

Posted by john_d at 10:12 AM ET | Comments (2)

...against the views of his own supporters. Today I salute Stephen Harper.

from one of the mob at Blogging Tories:

It would be surprising and out of character if Sheila Copps took seriously the evolving crisis between our western culture and Islam. Surprising, because if she did she might have to shoulder some of her party's responsibility for its headlong rush to embrace multiculturalism and the subsequent development of isolated ideological ghettoes. Out of character, because she might have to admit that a poorly assessed policy of wholesale acceptance of all cultures, might eventually lead to social indigestion.

And from Prime Minister Harper's recent speech celebrating the 59th anniversary of Indian independence:

As Canadians, we are fortunate to live in a country which embraces the many cultures of the world. Our ability to be proud Canadians while respecting our differences is what makes us unique, and has earned us the admiration of other nations.

Well said, Mr. Harper. Hope it doesn't lose you any votes.

More entries on: Harper Index

August 17, 2006

the politics of running away

Posted by john_d at 02:31 PM ET | Comments (1)

image courtesy Le jour, éditeur.

Say what you want about how a Prime Minister should or should not act, but I'm guessing there is nothing in this book about not showing up somewhere because you're afraid of being publicly booed.

This is the most pathetic thing yet in 192 days. A little leadership please.

More entries on: Harper Index

August 14, 2006

Alert, but not quite aware

Posted by john_d at 03:01 PM ET | Comments (18)

Everyone who is anyone involved in the worldwide fight against AIDS is in Toronto right now -- Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill Clinton, Alicia Keys, Richard Gere, Jack Layton and Stephen Lewis among thousands more. Which can only mean that since Prime Minister Stephen Harper is not in Toronto right now he is actively choosing NOT to be someone involved in the worldwide fight against AIDS.

One could argue that as a sitting Prime Minister, he has other duties just as pressing as the AIDS crisis. So, what is Stephen Harper up to? Well, when the AIDS conference opened yesterday with Bill Gates' speech, Harper was in Alert, Nunavut addressing the pressing issue of Canada's sovereignty over our melting northern ice fields. Could he have gotten farther way from Toronto and still be in Canada? Here's the conclusion of his address:

"Together, and over time, we are going to make sure that Canada truly remains the True North Strong and Free."

You can almost taste the inertia.

Wait a second, why is Arctic sovereignty an issue again, Prime Minister Harper?

But let's not get off-topic. Here's Dr. Mark Wainberg, director of the McGill University AIDS Centre and co-chair of the XVI International Conference on AIDS last week in The Globe and Mail:

"HIV/AIDS continues to kill more than 5,000 people each day -- a body count far higher than the number of individuals who have died in recent military conflicts anywhere in the world and also higher than the number of deaths attributable to any natural disaster in recent memory. "

You'd think that would make any politician's priority list. On the other hand, it might be smarter to take the heat for skipping this conference than risk an embarrassing reception if he did show up. Rabble.ca has a piece on what happened when the Prime Minister sent one of his precious Quebec lieutenants to the OutGames in Montreal:

"Enter Mr. Fortier, Minister of Public Works. Seconds into his speech, the boo-ing started. Within a few short moments, it seemed the entire stadium was loudly jeering the representative of a federal Cabinet which has pledged to re-open the issue of equal marriage for same-sex couples and attempt to roll back equality rights.

It was quite something to behold. I almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost."

More entries on: Harper Index

August 02, 2006

Nice work, if you can hear about it

Posted by mason at 10:56 AM ET | Comments (0)

A small raise for civil servants may not seem like a big deal, but when you were elected on a promise of a more open and transparent government, quietly posting news of pay hikes for senior government officials on a departmental website seems a little odd. Such was the case this week in Ottawa, and it rightly raised a few eyebrows. Then there's the little matter of the 1.1 per cent boost to bonus packages also given to the executives, not for doing extra work, but for meeting minimum requirements of the job.

Nothing to see here, people... move along...

More entries on: Harper Index

July 07, 2006

Yo, Steve -- Wassup?

Posted by annette at 03:18 PM ET | Comments (1)

Much is being said about President Bush calling our man Harper "Steve" earlier this week. While many are saying this indicates the two men are now chums, I'm more inclined to think the opposite -- that Bush really has no idea what Harper is like at all. I could be wrong, but Harper really doesn't strike me as a "Steve" -- he seems far too uptight for anything more casual than "Stephen."

Plus, calling a Stephen "Steve" really isn't very original. I'd be far more interested had Georgie lobbed out a "Steve-o," "Sparky" or "Chuckles".

Thoughts? Anyone else have some potential pet names for the PM?

More entries on: Harper Index

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