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November, 2004 Archives

November 30, 2004 - It is interesting to watch the parallel coverage between CBC and CNN of President George W. Bush's arrival in Ottawa.  While the CBC is determined to bring you every ounce of information possible regarding the trip (how many times he sneezes, what he doesn't finish on his plate at the state dinner tonight, etc.), CNN shows its regard for the importance of the visit by using names like Paul Chretien, creating a new hybrid political figure that no Canadian would ever want to encounter.

The trip will be interesting on a number of levels, however.  Here are some things TDH Strategies will be looking for throughout the day:

              ● The seriousness of Paul Martin's anticipated offer to assist
                 with the Iraqi election in January.  He will no doubt be
                 aware that if, God forbid, a Canadian citizen is kidnapped
                 or at all harmed as part of this process, his government
                 will face the wrath of a Canadian public overwhelmingly
                 opposed to the American presence in that country.

              ● What will be the piece of candy that Bush offers Canada?
                 While the softwood lumber dispute will likely get very little
                 substantial consideration (in spite of a WTO decision last
                 week affirming that the US duties are illegal), the ban on
                 Canadian beef looks like it might be lifted.  However, if
                 Bush only offers to review the ban over the next 120 days
                 (as has been previously mentioned), will Martin still pander
                 to the American president by offering concessions such as
                 unqualified support for the missile defence shield or a new
                 military commitment for Afghanistan?

              ● Most intriguingly, one wonders what the tone will be in the
                 interaction between Bush and Jean Chretien, who has
                 surprisingly accepted an invitation to attend tonight's state
                 dinner.  Knowing da little guy, now that he doesn't have to
                 worry about setting the national agenda, he will charm the
                 President with his relaxed social approach, outshining the stiff
                 and uncomfortable current Prime Minister in the process.

With the way that Ottawa is locked down by security and protocol, it is unlikely that anything unforeseen will take place.  That being said, political junkies can still curl up for their equivalent to Monday Night Football and hope that someone fumbles the ball.

November 29, 2004 - Without getting into a debate on the effectiveness of Paul Martin's G20 proposal for diplomacy (considering the valid criticism levied by this website on November 22 on the inequity of consideration within the current G8), it must be stated that Martin has had quite a spectacular week on the international stage.

He has looked calm and collected, compassionate, and most importantly, genuine in his resolve and commitment to extending Canada's influence towards the effects of poverty.  He also seems to be garnering support from a number of international leaders.  If Martin is able to pull off his idea of a new forum that has greater ability to tackle famine, war, human rights abuses, etc. than the United Nations, then he might actually have a place in the history books greater than being remembered as one of the country's most insignificant Prime Ministers. 

Although this once again begs the question, why can't Mr. Martin show this kind of passion and sincerity in domestic affairs at home? 

November 29, 2004 - If you think China's powerful now, just wait until this agreement comes into full effect.

Soon, if not immediately, the world is going to have to once again acknowledge that there are two full fledged superpowers.

Now if only ASEAN would consider human rights and political stability over economics and organizational pride, this agreement might actually improve the lives of millions of people across Southeast Asia.

But alas, as long as ASEAN turns a blind eye to crap like this, the organization will continue to lack legitimacy.

November 26, 2004 - Rumours of political party jumping make waves on the West coast. (click here to continue)

November 25, 2004 - Ignorant quote of the day:

"The concept of multiculturalism is difficult to make fit with a democratic society."
                - former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt

He has obviously never visited this country. 

November 25, 2004 - TDH Strategies encourages readers to go to Google and attempt a search on election fraud in Africa (try different word combinations).  Then, readers should check out this article, which aptly details the apathy that the West has traditionally shown towards electoral cheating in the forgotten continent.

When dictator/murderer Robert Mugabe "won" his election, the Western world was slow to do anything substantial about the results, using a lot of condemnation through talk (even the sanctions that were eventually imposed were far from uniform or decisive).  And as the first linked article points out, this attention paid to Zimbabwe, however inadequate, was far more swift than any that had been directed towards other African nations experiencing perversions of democracy.

So the logical questions inquiring minds must now ask are: Why is the injustice happening in the Ukraine any different then what has happened all across Africa for many decades?  Is democracy less important in Africa than in the rest of the world?

November 25, 2004 - TDH Strategies is a sucker for conspiracy theories, and the one going around regarding why man of the global hour, Viktor Yushchenko, has experienced this facial disfigurement over the past couple of months:

is absolutely shocking.  Whether fact of fiction, however, one suspects that this isn't simply the result of the stress caused by fighting through a fixed election process. 

November 24, 2004 - Immigration Minister Judy Sgro's strategies in dealing with her stripper scandal have been absolutely horrendous, and believe it or not, she actually looks worse now than she did when she took on the job of Paul Martin cheerleader (complete with uniform) during the election campaign.

From a crisis management point of view, let's look at the latest round of mishaps that have emerged in the last couple of days:

1) Sgro's quote from yesterday:

"I have concerns with the exotic-dancer category. I always have.  I would like to see that program not there. It is an issue I have been concerned about for some time."

Except, of course, when you're running for your life in a tight election race...then, not so many concerns.

2) It has just been reported that Sgro's senior policy advisor Ihor Wons met with a strip club owner on-site last summer, where the proprietor of the establishment "asked for him to help...get the girls from the Dominican Republic."

Hmmm...hasn't his boss "always" had a problem with the exotic-dancer immigration category?  Was he just doing a spot check at the club to determine if any claimants were in the country illegally?  And, for those that were, was there any kind of testing done to check for eligibility to stay?

3) Sgro's L.A. (or what they are now referring to as Director of Parliamentary Affairs) apparently called the Conservative and NDP immigration critics to discuss the matter.  Now Conservative leader Stephen Harper is alleging that Sgro's directions to her staff member are completely improper by the assistant's act of divulging confidential information, directly in contravention of the Privacy Act (a point that has plenty of merit, particularly considering Sgro is refusing to talk about the case while it is being investigated by the Ethics Commissioner).  Why would you continue to open yourself up for new lines of attack?

Furthermore, is a legislative assistant really the one who should be put in the position of spinning the story to the opposition parties?

4) Why continue to speak publicly that you are determined to reform the immigration system to become more efficient and fair - and in the process attack Churches that provide sanctuary to refugee claimants and deny a couple who wants to adopt a dangerously malnourished 19 month old Vietnamese boy and reunite him with his sister - when you don't seem to be able to distinguish immigration on humanitarian grounds from political favours granted to campaign workers?

This woman is a political disaster.  Even Paul Martin, when asked if he was sympathetic to the the stripper's plight which allowed her to jump the immigration queue, responded with:

"Our reaction to that was we don't care what the circumstances were."

Ouch.  It is clear that Sgro's head is currently on the chopping block, and with such a crucial and sensitive portfolio as immigration, Martin might want to drop the axe sooner rather than later.

November 23, 2004 - Far be it for this website to come to the defence of everyone's favourite dinosaur loving, wetsuit wearing politician, Stockwell Day, whose politics and viewpoints will never resonate in this forum.

That being said, there is a valid criticism that must be levied towards the Canadian media in their handling of the latest Stockwell Day "controversy."

Day, as Conservative Foreign Affairs critic, recently sent out an email to his caucus colleagues which offered:

"Some of you have asked why I have not released a statement of condolence or sympathy.  As you know, there are two sides to the Arafat story. You pick."

This statement made reference to Day's attachment of the now infamous David Frum article, which made international waves by its speculation on whether Arafat had AIDS. (EDITOR'S NOTE:  On a totally unrelated matter, how such a respected and brilliant woman such as Barbara Frum could birth such a wacko neo-con "Axis of Evil" instigator is beyond all logic or reason.  Barbara has likely turned in her grave more than once over the past couple of years.)

In the eyes of the media, Day's choice to cite the Frum piece was an indication of his alleged bigotry towards the plight of AIDS.  However, anyone who actually takes the time to read the above-linked article would see that its opening lines pose this question:

"As Yasser Arafat reviews his life from his Paris hospital bed, what do you think he thinks? Does he regard himself as a success or not?

In some senses, he must feel he has failed. He has been waging war on Israel for four decades, and yet Israel is still there, richer and stronger than ever. He has personified Palestinian Arab nationalism--and he has led the Palestinian Arabs from one disaster to another.

Yet the old murderer surely also has abundant cause to feel successful. Once a pariah, a killer, a terrorist, he is now a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a billionaire."

It is therefore a huge editorial leap of speculation to suggest that Day's reluctance to send official condolences had anything to do with the issue of AIDS.  In fact, Day makes specific reference to "the two sides to the Arafat story," and asks the recipients of the email to consider both.

The media has plenty of cause to question Day and his party's attitudes of often blatant prejudice.  But manufacturing intent as has been done in this situation clearly demonstrates the dangers of pack journalism.  

November 22, 2004 - Wonderful...what will most likely be an American puppet government in Iraq (regardless of how fairly elections are run) will be able to start fresh without the burden of $32 billion of debt after an agreement was struck with the Paris Club of 19 mostly Western industrialized countries.

So why were poverty stricken African nations without the benefit of the second largest oil reserves in the world not afforded the same courtesy when G8 leaders rejected a similar request from a delegation of African leaders back in June?

This double standard is absolutely disgraceful.

November 22, 2004 - Often times, Paul Martin and his handlers are so afraid to show the Prime Minister's human side (warts and all) that they either paint a picture that is far too rosy and idealistic to live up to, or resort to aggressive political tactics guided by a take no prisoners fervour.

So when Martin was candidly caught on camera at the APEC summit yesterday, responding to Chilean President Ricardo Lagosthat's invitation to meet with:

"Ahh, that's going to be tough. I've got a big event.  Today is the biggest football game in Canada.  We couldn't do it right after the meeting?"

it was one of the most refreshing and likeable responses the PM has uttered in many years.  People always enjoyed Jean Chretien for his natural approach - his mistakes, his off the cuff comments, his mangled language, etc.  After a year in the job, Martin is finally learning that sometimes it is OK to be just a regular guy in the Prime Minister's chair rather than a leader always trying so hard to appear Prime Ministerial (and often failing). 

You can watch the footage of the exchange here.

November 19, 2004 - This must be posted, as this website has been quite appropriately taken to task about the Alfonso Gagliano item posted immediately below:

Well, will you be equally as scathing about ethical standards now that both Harper and McKay made statements that they are unwilling to repeat outside of the protection of the Chamber?

Should I die in questionable circumstances and they search through my effects they may find Mr Gagliano's phone number in my old rolodex.  I only met him once, in Jean Robert Gauthier's office Christmas party and got his card from him.(I was not impressed by him then and even less so now) This does not mean I had any business with him...ever. They would also find the numbers of a lot of high level Liberals, Governors-General ex and current, Senators, bag men municipal politicians of every stripe. But it would be scurrilous to link me with any of their activities other than that which occured in fact.

If Stephen Harper and Peter McKay are unwilling to repeat their statements outside of the buffer of the House of Commons, then yes, I must agree with the reader - their statements are unethical.

With regards to this website writing about such a rumour, well TDH Strategies fully acknowledges the possibility that it might have perpetrated slanderous accusations without basis.  If people have been offended by even suggesting that the story has merit, then TDH Strategies sincerely apologizes.

November 19, 2004 - This is absolutely shocking to read in print...and the paper is sticking by it's story.  However, is it just TDH Strategies, or long before the NY Daily News reported on the possible link, had anyone else heard the ***rumour*** of a dead New York Mafioso that was found with the phone number of Alfonso Gagliano in the 1980's?  Ok, a little far fetched, and to be fair to Gagliano, the serious attention the story is receiving isn't warranted without a shred of proof behind it...but this particular subject matter has been something that has circulated hushed whispers through political circles for many years now

And I must respectfully disagree with Warren Kinsella's take on the story, as this has absolutely nothing to do with Gagliano's Italian heritage (TDH has never heard anything of the sort about Fontana, Ianno, Discepola, Volpe...)

November 19, 2004 - Playing mathematics with the House of Commons these days is an exercise of razor thin margins.

First, however, is the significant yet hardly surprising move by Paul Martin to remove maverick and loudmouth MP Carolyn Parrish from the Liberal caucus.  In pure political terms, Martin had no choice - regardless of your views of George W. Bush or the Iraq war (two issues that this website has never shied away providing opinions on), Parrish went out of her way to provoke a response by continually being offensive, and her type of tactics never had anything to do with exercising free speech or representing the sentiments of her constituents (somewhere along the way, it seems, she entirely forgot the fact that before all else, she is a representative of those Canadians who voted for her).  Diplomacy and decorum is in theory supposed to accompany those that occupy seats in the House of Commons, and Parrish's complete lack of either quality threatened to inflame bi-lateral relations that are already shaky. 

That being said, Martin's move will raise a couple of eyebrows from within the Liberal hierarchy.  Here is where simple addition comes into play:

Parliamentary Seat Totals

Liberals - 133
(not including Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House)
Tories - 99
BQ - 54
NDP -19
Independents - 2

So assuming that the loosely-aligned coalitions that have manifested remain in tact (the Liberals and the NDP, the BQ and the Tories), the Liberals are now 1 vote behind.  The two independents - one a former Tory, and one a former Liberal, would seem to balance each other out, until you look at the personalities involved. 

Chuck Cadman has already announced two conditions to return to the Conservatives, and is inclined towards the Tory viewpoint regardless of whether he sits in or out of their caucus.  Parrish, on the other hand, is a self-serving figure who is more concerned with stirring the pot than being a voice of the people.  In fact, Parrish is now saying that she is relieved she is no longer a Liberal, and was kicked out of caucus for standing up to the Prime Minister, not because she was anti-American.  TDH Strategies says bullshit, particularly because she has now been given front page exposure on the WIDELY read American web-based political rag, The Drudge Report.  Bottom line?  It is impossible to say where her votes are going to go from this point forward.

It is a very tricky time for the Liberal minority government...a task that TDH Strategies isn't sure the current set of Liberal political strategists is up for.

November 19, 2004 - In reply to TDH's open question to readers regarding Paul Martin, here are some excerpts from the more colourful responses:

From Jay Jones of Burnaby, BC:

The real question you have asked today is whether we as Canadian citizens should allow our government to be above the law as we have for so many years. What might put an end to government corruption?

Of which, I would have quite simply replied, "accountability and fear of prosecution," for which I am uncertain can ever be arranged.

Again, same shit, different pile...it looks like generation after generation is just going to keep stepping in it, and then walk on their merry way, pretending they don't smell the stink.

From Tim S. Macneil of Toronto, ON:
 

Political ethics are like figure skating scores. One has a set of standards, which seem to fluctuate with the seasons, against which to measure subjectively the performance of one who is doing a job the judges would never be in a position to do . Every prime minister in my memory has laid down a set of rules for his government to follow. When certain acts were deemed to be in the grey area the rules were changed post fact. (NOTE: post fact) That means what may have been ethical today may not necessarily be so tomorrow.  That is why in my opinion politicians should be  judged by legal and not ethical standards. It isn't as easy to change the law as it is ethical standards. I know this sounds cold and cynical but...hey...that's the reality politics.  So, did Paul  Martin do anything illegal is a far more interesting question, than did he act ethically. And no doubt it is the question that will be asked soon by somebody.

TDH Strategies is still interested in receiving the opinions of other readers, so please continue to write in.

November 17, 2004 - A question for TDH readers on the Paul Martin record. (click here to continue)

November 16, 2004 - News that trust for politicians has risen is utterly shocking, considering everything that has happened with the sponsorship scandal and Dalton McGuinty's infamous "I won't raise taxes" pledge, but regardless of why this has occurred, it is a very important step in the right direction.  Now if only our elected officials didn't continue to give cause to reverse this type of trend, public service might once again be considered an honourable vocation by the general public.  Aspiring politicians can only hope...

November 16, 2004 - When Immigration Minister Judy Sgro talks about wanting to reform the immigration system, is this what she really means?  And will agility and acrobatics on the stripper poll be added to the favoured skill sets for those trying to move to Canada?

November 16, 2004 - Two historical elections in the Middle East are now slated to take place in January, and in an interesting twist, Paul Martin is lobbying hard for Canada to take an integral role in one of them.  This is a surprisingly sharp position, both from the objective of making the country more relevant on the international stage and towards repairing relations with the Bush administration.

In conversations that have taken place over the past two weeks, Martin has spoken to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, King Abdullah of Jordan, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and British Prime Minister Tony Blair about greater Canadian involvement in the Middle East peace process. 

Now assuming the Mr. Martin can get a handle of who his real Foreign Affairs Minister is (Defence Minister Bill Graham doesn't seem to understand that a cabinet shuffle occurred in June, and Pierre Pettigrew looks as lost in the role as his plane was on the way to the Arafat funeral), this could be a great new endeavour for Canada - one the does not emphasize our sorely lacking military capabilities, but demonstrates to the world why Canada is the ideal model for peace and decorum.

Although, one can't help but speculate as to the outcomes of the US running the Iraqi election, and Canada assisting the Palestinians in choosing a new leader.  TDH Strategies can see it now...Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi emerging after days of counts and recounts as a clear victor, and claiming that he now had political capital that he was preparing to spend, and one of 5 or 6 Palestinian leadership candidates walking away with an indecisive win, and claiming that he will make every effort to work with other parties for the greater good.

November 15, 2004 - Now that Colin Powell has handed the Bush administration his resignation as Secretary of State, how long will it be until salacious details like this come directly from the horse's mouth?

November 15, 2004 - In the rash of commentaries that have emerged in the days following Yasser Arafat's death, those that advance the idea of doom and gloom seem like the most inaccurate of the wide ranging streams of thought.

True leadership cannot be passive in the way that it manifests itself, and for this reason, Mr. Arafat was the largest obstacle to peace in the Middle East.  Extremism has run rampant, and Palestinian suicide attacks are so often the trigger that has prompted Israel to take drastic measures for security. 

The fact that Israel is looking at taking a different approach in negotiations with the Palestinian leadership is one of the most positive things to emerge out of the conflict in many years.

Other than causing chaos amongst the Palestinian successor candidates jockeying for positions of power, Arafat's death might just have been the most progressive occurrence towards peace since the Bill Clinton era.

November 12, 2004 - The country now has a pretty good understanding of Paul Martin's approach to the provinces, which encompasses the willingness to bend to demands and decentralize federal authority on a range of issues.

Now many of the criticisms of this governance style can be attributed to those that believe in a strong federal government within the context of the federation. Thus, this is simply a difference of opinion on which approach works better in keeping the country running smoothly.  Fair enough.

However, Martin is playing with fire by allowing this jaunt by Jean Charest to occur.  There is absolutely NO REASON that the premier of Quebec should be accompanying a trade delegation led by French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin to Mexico.  Regardless of whether the provinces have significant control over such aspects of public policy pertaining to natural resources, for example, this quote by Michael Behiels, a historian at the University of Ottawa, says it best:

“They [the rest of the world] do not see these nuances, they do not see fine print. They see a premier of a province of Canada travelling with the prime minister of another country.”

Bottom line - they see a weak country.

According to DFAIT, government policy has changed since Jean Chretien prevented a 1999 meeting between former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard and ex-Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo.

However, this is not simply a premier meeting with officials of other countries, which isn't abnormal.  This is a symbolic gesture between the province of Quebec and the country of France that far supersedes the economic potential of the excursion.

This is really a disgrace, particularly after Paul Martin's bumbling trip abroad last month.  It is time for the Prime Minister to begin to lead Canada as opposed to pandering to 10 provinces and 3 territories. 

November 10, 2004 - So far, between the two senior British Columbia Ministers appointed to Paul Martin's cabinet, it has been the rookie rather than the former premier that has looked more comfortable in the role.

Ujjal Dosanjh has seemed out of his element as Minister of Health, and has often been passed over in terms of communicating the government's message to the provinces and the public.

Apparently, however, now he is prepared to take a step up on the international stage by delivering "a tough message today to U.S. officials seeking to import cheap Internet drugs, saying Canada cannot be seen as a drugstore for the United States."

Going to Harvard and boldly telling Americans that we aren't going to be their drugstore is a strong sentiment - certainly more powerful than anything that our wishy-washy position on the issues has produced previously.  It's a good stand, particularly since George W. Bush has said that he isn't so sure about the safety of pharmaceuticals originating from Canada.  Which, if that's the case, should prompt his seniors to go get them somewhere else.

TDH Strategies' hope, however, is that Dosanjh doesn't over-extend the government as he did during the health summit with the provinces.  The speech itself doesn't seem to be the problem for the Minister...it is the press scrum immediately afterwards that could be challenging.

November 10, 2004 - This is a huge question that will be put on the table in January, and despite his claims to the contrary, it will be interesting to see if Paul Martin will stand unequivocally behind his declarations not to go to Iraq.

If we are going to proceed on the marijuana legislation, and want a meaningful commitment on the limitations put on Canadian beef across the border, then how much is he going to have to give up to get into the good books of George W. Bush.  And more importantly, how far will Martin's back bend.  Like, for example...

November 10, 2004 - The deadline has been set, and they have until the end of the year to make a decision.

And yet, the government still hasn't had a meaningful debate in an open fashion about this issue.  Yes, as TDH Strategies has written before, the federal government does not necessarily have to put foreign affairs decisions such as this to the floor of the House of Commons.  On the other hand, it might be a smart thing to at least consider, considering how bitterly divisive this issue is across the country.

The suspicion from here is, though, that like usual, the Martin government will be backed into a decision rather have the fortitude to actually follow their own course.

November 9, 2004 - Ralph Klein continues to be the most powerful force in Alberta.
                                                          
                                                      

Where else in the country can you get away with responding to a televised debate question on health care like this:

 "What you want me to say is that I favour private health care. Well, I don't know,"

and still cruise to a decisive victory?

Now although the province of Alberta is a peculiar beast at times, the core values still remain quintessentially Canadian.  By a wide margin, health care has been identified as the most important issue of the election campaign, with 49% of voters naming it as their top priority.

And yet, listen to political scientist Faron Ellis, who teaches at Lethbridge Community College, characterize the health care debate:

"It's difficult for voters to swallow the argument that 'we are planning big reforms, but an election isn't the place to debate them."

Absolutely right...why would an election be the place to debate the future of your health care system?  Another brand of Alberta logic that one of TDH Strategies' friends in Calgary or Edmonton will have to explain.  Anyways, regardless of whether you like his politics or not, one thing is for sure...Ralph Klein is a phenomenon, and will be remembered as one of Canada's most successful politicians ever.

November 9, 2004 - This is a spectacular article by Jim Travers of the Toronto Star this morning, talking about the intricacies of the tentatively scheduled state visit by George W. Bush to Ottawa in January. 

Travers makes a very important point:

"...awkward moments are inevitable and someone should have thought ahead to them before issuing an invitation that was more polite than heartfelt."

Canada was in an uproar years ago when Bush's first state visit after his 2000 victory was to Mexico instead of the longstanding tradition of coming to Canada.  So, could it be that Paul Martin wanted to get that formality out of the way without fully contemplating the deep and profound policy implications of a face to face meeting on home soil?

Nah, couldn't be.  Surely this government has more strength than to alter domestic policy based on American political pressure...

November 8, 2004 - The leaders of both of British Columbia's provincial major political parties want what each other's got. (click here to continue)

November 8, 2004 - You know that when you have an opposing party's policy convention cheering you on, you've done pretty well for yourself.

Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams is reaching icon status on the Rock, on par with former premier Clyde Wells.  This was a battle he knew he couldn't lose, and regardless of political stripe, the entire province seems to be rallying behind him (with the exception of poor Minister of Natural Resources John Efford, who is currently standing alone in defending Paul Martin's offer).

The Liberals need Newfoundland in the next election, and so like TDH Strategies wrote on November 1, the federal government had better change their tactics before they build Williams a statue and burn Martin in effigy.

November 8, 2004 - Beyond politics, TDH Strategies is happy that they backed down off their ignorant protest.  This is not the issue, nor the week, for self-serving political posturing. 

November 5, 2004 - For a while now, the Bloc Québécois have been on their best behaviour, with talk of separatism and the propagation of anti-Canadian rhetoric replaced by a Quebec-first mentality.  And, a party based on this premise is particularly hard to critisize, both because of their crucial status in the new era of minority governance, as well as the fact that the Reform party for intents and purposes a BC/Alberta-first entity as well.

However, it seems that the offensive compenent of the BQ is sure to never completely peter out, as evidenced by Bloc MP Andre Bellavance, who has refused to hand out Canadian flags when attending Remembrance Day services next week in his riding of Richmond-Arthabaska in southeastern Quebec.

This is utterly disgusting.  Veterans from Quebec died valiantly in the wars that Canada has fought in, and refusing veterans this basic courtesy is reprehensible as a public representative.  He has not only trounced the sentiments behind the Canadian flag (something of no consequence to the Bloc), but more disturbingly, dishonoured every single Quebec soldier who has ever gone to war for their families, for their ideals, and for their nation.

You cannot instil class in some people, and it is incidents such as this that have made politics nothing like the gentlemanly profession it was once considered.

November 4, 2004 - UPDATE! A spokesperson for the French hospital hosting Arafat now says that the PLO leader is not dead.  Much like the U.S. election, it is becoming very hard to keep track of which news organization to believe these days.

November 4, 2004 - CBC News is reporting that PLO leader Yasser Arafat has died in a Paris hospital.  With George W. Bush back in power, Iran apparently targeted as the next branch of the Bush doctrine, and this latest development, the Middle East looks like it is on the verge of Armageddon.

November 3, 2004 - As the entire world waits for the state of Ohio to finish counting their votes, here are a couple of open questions regarding last night:

What is the purpose of exit polls other than serving as the egg that ends up on the faces of the media?

Once the votes have been cast, why is there still so much guesswork involved in determining a winner? 

Why do people in the world's superpower have to wait up to 11 hours to cast a vote?

Why will the official count for 1 state, and more specially, a total of 250,000 (a figure that accounts for approximately 0.08% of the total population) provisional and absentee ballots, take 11 days to complete?

Why does a "losing side" have to concede defeat before the path for a winner can be cleared?

How could George W. Bush end up with the most votes cast for any candidate in American history?

There are so many more to ask, as the endless wait for a winner to be declared drags on.  Quite frankly, what is happening down there is an embarrassment.

And this is the country that wants to bring democracy to the Middle East?   

November 2, 2004 - 2:45pm P.S.T.  3 quick updates:

1) Kerry leads in exit polls, markets plummet, and the spirits of the world rise again!

2) Paul Begala is often seen as the most level-headed of the talking heads on CNN's Crossfire.  But after listening to him just say that negative ad campaigning was a great thing for increasing the voter turnout (huh?), I couldn't agree more with Jon Stewart's attack on the program 2 weeks ago.

3) It has always been a race for TV networks to declare a winner in election night coverage.  But in light of the fiasco in 2000, one might think that this time around, they're giving out an award for whoever makes the last prediction of the night.

November 2, 2004 - Warren Kinsella's website links up to one of the most important articles about the current direction of the federal government that this website has ever read.  Powerful stuff by Raymond Heard.

November 2, 2004 - For the third time in the past year, the Liberal government has introduced the Jean Chretien era Bill C-17, which will decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use, and implement a system of fines to be issued in the form of tickets.

Now in spite of their delicate minority status, the Liberals better stick to their guns and make sure the proposed legislation is enshrined into law this time, regardless of the ignorant stances that both the NDP and the Tories are taking on the issue.

While the addition of an NDP amendment granting amnesty for the over 600,000 Canadians with a criminal record for pot possession has merit, the NDP's position on growing pot in the home is utterly baffling.

The party also wants the rules for growing pot at home - a $500 fine for adults caught with three plants or less - to be loosened slightly.

Whether it is 3 plants or 25, one of the main thrusts of this legislation is the ability to clamp down on the criminal elements of marijuana, of which home-based grow-ops comprise a huge component.  Thus, just as simple possession should in no way be considered anything more than a fineable offence, the bill should not in the same breath support an initiative which encourages production in the home by way of smaller fines.

Then on the other end of the spectrum are the timid Tories, who are concerned that the Americans might get angry with us should we proceed with this legislation.  Listen to the ridiculousness of Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews:

"As my constituents say to me, 'We would rather be working than smoking drugs.' It's as simple as that.  How can this government guarantee there won't be retaliatory actions by the Americans?"

Ugh.  Without going into a long diatribe on the ludicrous and in fact funny aspects of this comment, TDH Strategies has just one question - who cares what the Americans think on this issue?  Their "war on drugs" mentality has been a complete disaster over the past couple of decades, and has not proven to effectively combat the flow of every  globally available narcotic into their country.  So why would the decriminalization of simple marijuana possession in Canada (with complementary harsher penalties for those financially involved in the drug trade) make any difference in this American border problem?

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is a very intelligent man, and needs to reign in the fear mongering of the Conservatives and the loosey-goosey attitudes of the NDP to craft a piece of legislation that actually passes through the house this time.

That is, assuming that his own leader Paul Martin doesn't get too spooked by whoever is the President of the United States come tomorrow.

November 2, 2004 - After writing yesterday of how useless pollsters have become in the political prediction game, the Internet's largest trading community has officially picked a victor for the US election.

Tradesports, which describes itself as "a person-to-person trading 'Exchange'" (TradeSports members trade directly with each other, bypassing sportsbooks by setting odds through the volume of  buys and sells on any "contract" the website runs) has picked George W. Bush as the winner.

With trading being shut down at midnight last night (with voters officially able to go to the polls in certain constituencies), Tradesports closed with Mr Bush at 54.4 -- to 46.7 for Mr Kerry, with both candidates apparently receiving a surge of buy orders.

Now while TDH Strategies won't say if a bet was placed, or for who that hypothetical bet might have been placed for, here is hoping that political pundits and professional pollsters are put in their place by the online trends of common folk willing to put their money where their mouths are.

Let it ride.

November 1, 2004 - Will we see a sequel to this blasted tale, or will those who impair fall down and fail?  And will Jim Carrey be called on to play, for he is Canuck, ending words with "Eh?"

November 1, 2004 - It is really fascinating how self-admittedly useless pollsters have become in the non-stop coverage of the American election. 

Whether its the approximately 8 million households being left out of opinion-sampling because they only use a cell phone (federal regulations prohibit pollsters from calling cell phone users for the cost the recipient might incur), or the utter inability to determine what kind of voter turnout there will be (based on factors like weather or unexpected work responsibilities), the number crunchers are fumbling in the dark, and being deemed irrelevant by the cursed margin of error.

As TDH Strategies has been stating since January (the Democrats are of course not limping across the finish line as originally expected), however, we still think that George W. Bush will take this election based on a stronger turnout by evangelicals who largely stayed at home in 2000, and an overall support base which is a lot more staunch than recent John Kerry converts.

Here is hoping that this prediction turns out to be completely and more importantly, unequivocally, wrong.

November 1, 2004 - It had been the opinion of this website that Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams had simply won a public relations battle last week.  The thought was that while Paul Martin might have changed the parameters of the original equalization agreement pledged last June, the details of the federal government's current offer still seemed substantial. 

After reading this article in the Toronto Star this morning, however, the above assessment isn't so steadfast anymore.

Who can argue with Newfoundland Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan when he passionately proclaims:

"It isn't a matter of generosity, it's a matter of rights.  We're just trying to get up off our knees and have a chance."

Premised on the same philosophical outlook of those that use a food bank, no province wants to consistently have to rely on equalization payments from Ottawa.

Sustained growth for a period far beyond the point of reaching Ontario's fiscal capacity is the only way that Newfoundland and Labrador can really grow into a self-sustaining economic engine for the country.  So as was done with Alberta when the province was first developing its oil patch, Paul Martin should make Newfoundland's oil revenues exempt from the equalization formula. 

This isn't about being bent over a barrel by the premier...this is just the correct public policy approach to take.