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December 30, 2005 - A few interesting tips to look out for regarding a couple of stories: First, everyone is focussing in on the fact that the RCMP is investigating Finance Minister Ralph Goodale - but no one seems to have noticed that the letter from NDP Finance Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis and Paul Summerville, the NDP Candidate in St. Paul's that spurred the investigation was also submitted to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States. According to an NDP press release: "Wasylycia-Leis and Summerville noted that there was unusual trading in affected stocks on the New York Stock Exchange, making this an issue within the jurisdiction of the SEC. It is likely American investors sold their units in Canadian income trusts and Canadian dividend paying large corporations in the hours prior to the Minister Goodale announcement. There is evidence to suggest that they may have sold them to professional investors and others who may have received a tip on the pending Canadian government announcement that was not the subject of a Canadian government press release. The SEC, we believe, has an obligation to investigate and protect these investors," said Wasylycia-Leis and Summerville in their letter to the SEC." Keep in mind that it was the Americans, not the RCMP, who brought down Conrad Black as part of their ongoing hunt to track down white collar corporate fraud. They will be relentless on this file if American investors got screwed. Secondly, make no mistake about it - this announcment was not exclusive knowledge to strictly the Finance Minister's office or the Finance Department, meaning that the RCMP investigation is currently looking very closely at the PMO and PCO, two branches of the government who undoubtedly took part in crafting this particular policy on income trusts. Lastly, if you were unaware, Jamie Elmhirst, who is the president of the Liberal Party of Canada (BC), has been busted on his campaign blog for claiming on December 5 that: "Jack Layton had a great weekend in BC. First he managed to find something nice to say about Svend Robinson, although the performance struck me as a touch insincere, even for Jack Layton. How did Minister Emerson describe his style at our Convention dinner? Oh yes, he said that Jack Layton had a boiled dog's head smile. That would have made even me wince if I hadn't have been laughing so hard." TDH sources tell us that Minister David Emerson is fuming with his name being associated with such a comment, particularly on the heels of the Mike Klander affair. With Klander's chow-chow reference, Elmhirst's boiled dog head smile comments, and Raymond Chan's suspicious dealings surrounding the head tax redress settlement (see our posting on December 9th), the Liberals could be in real trouble with Chinese voters, particularly in the cities of Vancouver and Toronto.
We want to wish all readers a safe and Happy New Year, and we will be back
next week with regular daily commentaries. December 28, 2005 - We would like to spout off about the terrible Boxing Day shootings that occurred in Toronto. First, let TDH preface our comments with the fact that we have never been big on the "get tough on crime" type of mentality. In fact, that kind of ideology, particularly during election time, has always seemed simplistic in the way that it is often based on preying on the peoples' fears, regardless of whether statistics actually back up perception. It is amazing, however, what repeated random shootings, both here in Vancouver as well as out east, can do to a psyche. It is so very ironic that Paul Martin's announcement on banning handguns has actually increased gun sales to record breaking levels across the country. Gun violence in urban centres is not being carried out with these types of weapons, however, and thus a gun amnesty program seems a little out of touch with reality (although, other measures proposed such as a new 250 officer unit from the RCMP dedicated solely to fighting gun-related crimes is a sound idea). Surprised to say it, but in terms of striking fear into criminals...in terms of changing behaviours based on potential concequences...this statement from Stephen Harper is starting to resonate: "The problem is this is the first government in our history that seems unable to enforce our gun laws, and I think obviously this is just the consequence of 12 years of lax criminal justice in law enforcement." Even Jack Layton is really on point with his comments: "Since it would appear that these crimes were committed with handguns, it is almost certainly true that all of the weapons involved are already illegal - already banned. So it is important for Canadians not to be diverted by election rhetoric." Martin is right when he says that the shootings are the "consequences of exclusion." That being said, his solution to the problem seems somewhat inadequate and antiquated. December 27, 2005 - TDH Strategies will return to regular daily commentaries tomorrow, as we are still enjoying the holidays with family. However, in the meantime, let us offer these brief thoughts... This morning's Vancouver Sun has the resignation of Mike Klander as a front page story this morning. But Paul Wells asks a very relevent question about the whole affair in his December 25th entry: "Which blood vessels would Susan Murray and John Duffy be popping if they'd discovered a Conservative moron comparing an Asian-Canadian candidate to a dog?" More importantly, how differently would the mainstream press have reacted? The way in which we heard about the progression of this story hasn't been in newspapers and evening broadcasts, but rather through blogs like Wells and Tory Stephen Taylor (who if you click that link, ensures that Klander's name will forever live in the annals of Google infamy). Now, only when Klander resigns, do the big press outlets start carrying the story. Kind of reminds us of this scene about a week and a half ago: Martin's flat tire was just as significant as Robert Stanfield's fumbled football photo in 1974: and yet the incident got vitually no play in the media (in the blogosphere, well that's a different story). We believe that the Tories have to fight twice as hard these days to get a fair shake from the media. So, if Stephen Harper is earning good reviews for the way he is taking his party to the progressive middle, then he really has earned it. December 23, 2005 - We have to give credit where credit is due: Mark Marissen is running a smooth campaign out here in British Columbia, and so this type of polling and expectations are completely justified in our opinion. Our prediction? We think that the Liberals will maintain every seat the have in B.C. (currently 8), and have a very good shot at winning 3 more: Sukh Dhaliwal in Gurmant Grewal's old riding, Mary Pynenburg, who came within 300 votes in Burnaby-New Westminster, and Blair Wilson, the candidate in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast, who gave retiring John Reynolds a heart attack into the wee hours of the morning last election. December 23, 2005 - TDH Strategies has heard of candidates being creative with their election spending so that they fell within the laws abided over by Elections Canada - hiring staff months in advance, and then firing them when the writ is dropped; blowing huge amounts of money in advance of the election, and then spending nothing until the last week of the campaign for an advertising blitz; getting law firms to hire campaign staff, and then giving them extended leave; etc. But this tactic by Belinda Stronach is something we haven't heard of before - throwing a $100,000 victory party after the election, and including marketing and communications fees into the costs. Stronach's explanation? Well, there were "expenses incurred when one hosts seven TV networks going live by satellite at their request, plus numerous radio and print reporters who want high-quality multifeed audio etc.," hence the exorbitant amount. We tend to think that it will be difficult to prove any wrongdoing by Stronach. One question comes to mind, however: Was it embittered Liberals from the previous candidate's campaign who ratted her out, or the Conservatives? December 22, 2005 - This website tends to agree with Lawrence Martin's assessment on Stephen Harper's public image, as we too believe that Canadians are no longer scared of the man. That being said, we still don't think that his personality has reaached a place where it is going to carry the day when it comes to people's recollections in the final moments before casting their ballot. There continues to be a substantial disconnect between people's anger towards the Liberals and the alternative of parking their vote with the Conservatives. So as the political parties shut down over the next week or so for Christmas and Hanukkah, Harper has to take a look at his family and draw inspiration. The first three weeks of January will be the defining moments of Stephen Harper's career. He has turned the corner in terms of fear. He now needs to take the next step towards likeability. It isn't always necessary for everyone, but in this moment in history, with these political circumstances, and in consideration of the individuals involved, the difference between victory and defeat for the Tory leader will be the expression of emotion. Period. So, no joke, Stephen...are you ready to share your feelings with the nation? December 22, 2005 - TDH Strategies understands what Sheila Coppsis trying to accomplish. Like Warren says this morning, if a group of political assassins did everything in their power to disgrace a career that was characterized by over 20 years of great distinction, we'd be very angry too. But, for a woman who has been a master political player for much of her tenure, is this really the best way to get rid of Count Chocula?: "By CP HAMILTON -- Sheila Copps is working against the Liberal party and political nemesis Tony Valeri in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. The former Liberal stalwart, who lost a bitter nomination battle to Valeri last year, is advising the campaign of Tory candidate Frank Rukavina. The former deputy prime minister is also encouraging supporters to back NDP candidate Wayne Marston in the Jan. 23 election." Line up your entire organization behind one candidate, and do everything in your power to get him elected. But don't split the support and standing you have in Hamilton by focussing in on both. Either way, when it comes to the Liberal House Leader, we hope that Sheila is successful in her efforts. December 21, 2005 - In this website's ongoing periodic contact with BC's top Liberal organizer Mark Marissen, we always recognize the man to be savvy and cunning, politically brilliant, and relatively pleasant to deal with, even when we haven't exactly seen eye to eye on the performance of the Prime Minister. There is a reason that he is this province's most skilled politico, and has been for much of the past decade. So yesterday's surprising and terse conversation with Mr. Marissen was a little bit of a shock. Our posts on James Green have apparently caused a lot of anger within the Liberal fold, to the point of prompting open questioning of TDH's character and moral fibre. We were also informed that our information was the handiwork of "crazy people," and that our post was mean and damaging to various individuals. We found the phonecall to be suspect, considering that a) this website's first post on the subject (December 16 - see below) was based on a story that had already been published in the Vancouver Courier and b) we never ever mentioned anything about Mark. We were told that Green was a volunteer asked by a particular Liberal candidate to help out on her campaign (the stunning reason of which we will not go into). So, if that is the only link to the Liberals, let's for one second forget all the innuendo about Green's employment past, and instead focus on facts: Green was in the Liberal party campaign headquarters for what the Courier reported to be a "a federal Liberal strategy meeting." The obvious questions that must then be asked are: Why would a simple volunteer who at that point had not been officially confirmed as a campaign manager, be included in a central strategy session of this sort? Was the Liberal brain trust completely unaware of his attendance beforehand? How many "volunteers" from campaigns are included in meetings at this level? It was admitted that the Green incident was a mistake. So then, why have the ambiguous postings of this humble little commentator, which never pointed accusing fingers at anyone in particular, caused so much emotion? December 21, 2005 - In light of yesterday's post found immediately below, Paul Martin continuing on with this: ""We need a strong Quebec, we need strong provinces, but we also need a strong national government. Mr. Harper would simply reduce the role of the federal government to that of a tax collector. Well that's simply not on. That is not how we will build a country that will live up to our hopes and dreams." is really funny. He seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that his entire time in office has been characterized by a blatant weakness in dealing with the provinces, and a cozy public profile for his frequent embracing of sovereignists. December 20, 2005 - For the record, TDH Strategies thinks that it is very brave of Stephen Harper to even touch on the concept of bringing Quebec back into the constitutional fold. Sincerely. That does not mean that we agree with all of his proposals - for example, there is no way that Quebec should have its own set of international relations independent of Canada (although, Paul Martin seems to have been blazing down that path quite comfortably over the past year or so). The reason we are inspired to see someone taking a risk of this sort during an election campaign is because anyone who loves this country understands that "la belle province" cannot sit on the outside looking in forever. And just because people don't want to delve into a constitutional crisis again doesn't mean that the issue isn't worthy of a little play during an election for all the marbles. That takes guts, and for his efforts, Harper should be commended. By contrast, what really made us laugh yesterday was Paul Martin's response to Harper's Quebec proposals: ""We are one country, and you don't strengthen Canada by weakening the federal government. We speak with one voice internationally, not two and not 10." Hmmmm...is this the same man that the Toronto Star's Richard Gwynn said this about last February: "The implied contract of Confederation - I'll help you because you'll help me - has lost much of its binding glue. What's replacing this is a system and practice in which anyone is free to get whatever they can, the key word being 'anyone'.: Far from least, Martin is no Pierre Trudeau. He doesn't frighten any premier, to put it mildly. And, rather than Trudeau's 'One Canada,' Martin believes in 'asymmetric federalism.' That's a fancy way of saying anyone, not just Quebec, is free to get whatever they can." The same man whose health care deal with the provinces inspired this commentary from the CBC's Larry Zolf: "Martin looks like he caved in to the provinces, that he was, in Trudeau's words about Clark "merely a head waiter to the provinces." Trudeau used that term to dismiss Clark's vision of Canada as a community of communities. Martin did give away billions of dollars to get a deal, just to show he was a deal maker unafraid of any negative consequences to any deal he made. Even his special deal with Quebec was interpreted by the Martin forces as a kind of Meech Lake deal in operation. Quebec was distinct, said Martin, who held the option open for other provinces to take the Quebec model for themselves. Some of the pundits argue that Martin, by abandoning the role of a strong federal presence in health care, is betraying the national trust Canadian voters put in him." The same man who allows Liza Frulla, his Minister of Heritage, to say this at an international conference in Paris: "...in my absence, Quebec Culture Minister Line Beauchamp could speak for Canada at UNESCO meetings. There will be cases where I won't be there or I will be busy in Parliament while Line will be able to attend these meetings. We have a modus operandi. Line can very well speak for the two of us. We will agree beforehand." Sorry, but Paul Martin has absolutely ZERO credibility when it comes to talking about maintaining a strong federal government or Quebec's place in the federation. December 19, 2005 - This morning's Vancouver Sun has an interview with Stephen Harper detailing why, in his own words, he has the emotional range of a tennis line judge: "I guess the nature of me, the nature of my personality, and the nature of my party, is, we want to think about what we can actually do. That's the most important thing. It's great and obviously important to tell people we feel their pain. But for me it doesn't mean much unless somebody gives me some idea that we're going to improve it." OK, not a bad answer, for a guy who, as we all saw during the debates, has a hard time cracking a smile without looking awkward. But this explanation from his communications director William Stairs, which was in turn adopted from an analogy written by Preston Manning, is absolutely baffling: "Mr. Harper will fix your furnace, and more important than that he'll understand why it's broken." Wonderful imagery, Gents. Does Mr. Harper do toilets as well? December 19, 2005 - The following quote is taken from a talk Michael Ignatieff gave at Boston University, a recording of which was broadcast on Australian National Radio April 22, 2005 (with transcript). Here's the sentence: "The reality is that torture does work, that's the problem." He also wrote this for the New York Times on May 2, 2004: "But defeating terror requires violence. It may also require coercion, secrecy, deception, even violation of rights." Thus, it is hard not to view this letter to the editor with a measure of scepticism. December 16, 2005 - MAJOR BC Scandal Brewing. TDH Strategies wrote this advice to the Liberals about new Senator Larry Campbell in the Hill Times at the end of September: "As with any explosive force...just remember to handle with care." The Liberals decided not to heed our advice. Let us refresh our readers' memory about the James Green story that polluted the recent Vancouver mayoral race with scandal: "November 22, 2005 - Dirty politics - apparently, the public cannot escape it, whether in municipal, provincial or federal affairs. It seems as though Vancouver's new mayor Sam Sullivan has his hands all over a pretty slimy trick, despite all of his empty denials. Here's the story. Jim Green, mayoral candidate for the new Vision Vancouver party, and close colleague of former mayor Larry Campbell, was thought to be the frontrunner from the very beginning of the race. Mr. Sullivan, while considered a nice man, was seen as little more than a wallflower over his tenure on city council over the past 12 years. Enter James Green into the race. James Green, a former music teacher, events promoter and Delta school-board trustee who has gone bankrupt, threw his hat into the ring, and sold himself as a serious candidate. For a man who had very limited resources upon first inspection, Green was running in style with an office in the not-so-cheap Plaza of Nations, renting a provincial-election-style campaign bus that usually costs in the neighbourhood of abuot $1,000/day, and had a slick political website designed by a well-known television producer of the company Fairfax Creative. In Saturday's election, James Green ended up getting 4,273 votes, while Jim Green lost to Sullivan by 3,647 votes." So Larry Campbell walks into Liberal campaign headquarters 2 days ago, to check out the operations, and here is what ensues: "Vancouver Courier Campbell walks when other Green shows up at Liberal pow wow By Mike Howell-Staff writer An independent mayoral candidate in the eye of a political storm last month has resurfaced in the federal election campaign-and former mayor Larry Campbell isn't happy about it. The mere presence of James Green at a federal Liberal strategy meeting Saturday for campaign managers in downtown Vancouver caused Campbell to storm out of the building. "All I know is he came in, and I left," said Campbell, now a Liberal senator who retired after three years as mayor. "I don't have to hang around with people that, quite frankly, I don't have any faith in." Added Campbell: "I still am not convinced that he wasn't tied into the NPA. I'm a free man now, I just said, 'Fine if he's there, I'm not going to be there.'" Green attended the meeting as campaign manager for Patricia Whittaker, the Liberal candidate representing Delta-Richmond East. Campbell was already at the Hastings Street building when Green arrived. "I went down just to see where [the Liberals] were set up," Campbell said. "I wasn't actually involved in the meetings, per se." Because of Green's financial past, everyone wondered where he got the money for the bus and other aspects of his campaign. Well, where Green has worked for the past 4 months is going to shock people...maybe Sam Sullivan didn't have anything to do with it after all. Stay tuned. December 15, 2005 - Martin's Finally Growing Up. Does anyone remember this Paul Martin circa 2003?: "Our bilateral relations must be conducted on a far more sophisticated basis than they have been to date. We must engage the Americans face-to-face at important levels of our respective political systems - prime minister and president; premiers and governors; members of parliament and members of Congress; mayors, business and union leaders, and civil society." It seems that in campaign mode, today's Prime Minister Paul Martin is a different beast these days. And make no mistake about it...this is a very good thing. It was a favourite pasttime of the Martinites to ciriticize Jean Chretien about his frosty relations with George W. Bush. It was their man who was going to lead this country out of the hinterlands of U.S. consideration, and create a new, cordial and engaging relationship with our southern neighbour. Paul Martin didn't fail in this objective. Rather, it is the Americans who are completely indifferent to the concept of respect. So reading this kind of crap from Albertan oil patch sympathizers like Neil Waugh of the Edmonton Sun makes our blood boil. Excuse me, but we have been warned by some South Carolina political Bush appointee whose knowledge of Canada before becoming Ambassador was the taste of maple syrup on his pancakes? Uh uh...that isn't going to fly. Good for Martin for telling this overbearing and largely ignorant figure that he won't be dictated to. Forget the nervous nellies (as Chretien used to refer to them), and carry on. Without a doubt, this is one of the best quotes we have heard from Martin in years: "When it comes to defending Canadian values, when it comes to standing up for Canadian interests, I'm going to call it as I see it."
