Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.
Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.
Please send LVD your political and news videos and clips and, subject to our completely subjective standards of taste, quality and liability exposure (hey, its our blog afterall), we will publish it. So send 'em all along, folks, in the comments or by email to tedbetts (at) yahoo.ca.
"I wondered how long it would take for the media to discover that the infrastructure stimulus spending has everything to with patronage, and nothing to do with what is good for the nation. [Deputy Minister Louis] Ranger [whose retirement was announced yesterday] was pushed out of the job and told, “We don’t want your advice” regarding the spending projects. Indeed, the woman who is the ADM in charge of the file has been specifically told by the Minster’s office, “We don’t want your advice; we want you to do as you’re told.”
Projects are selected based on the needs of the Conservative Member of Parliament in that riding as the first criteria. As a long time bureaucrat, I am used to dealing with politicians who revel in self-interest. Baird however, is the nastiest, most partisan creature to have ever run a large department. What is best for Canada isn’t even remotely of interest to him - what is best for his party and his own political ambitions drives his agenda entirely."
Dear XXXXXX,
On Monday I insisted that it is time to replace confrontation with cooperation in the House of Commons. Following a series of meetings with Mr. Harper over the last two days, I’m pleased to announce that our hard work and commitment to progress has started to pay off. The government has made a number of concessions – most notably, an agreement to form an Employment Insurance working group that will work throughout the summer months to fix flaws and find a way to build regional fairness into our EI system, and to offer access to self-employed Canadians.
Mr. Harper has also agreed to a strict accountability timetable for the fall. The government will bring Parliament back early and deliver an additional accountability report to Canadians the week of September 28th. This report will be followed by a guaranteed Opposition Day – and further Opposition Days throughout the fall – allowing our Liberal caucus to hold the government accountable and bring forward a confidence motion, if that becomes necessary and is in the best interests of Canadians.
By achieving this outcome, the Liberal Party has demonstrated its commitment to putting the needs of Canadians ahead of politics by helping to make Parliament work. We have delivered progress and accountability while avoiding a summer election at a time when Canadians are more worried about the growing health care crisis and supporting their families through this recession.
I’ll continue to keep you up to date throughout the summer, and hope you will stay in touch as well.
Thank you,
Michael
