Canadian Politics

[Wideleft]

4 hours ago, GCn20 said:

The political landscape is becoming so polarized that people will wilfully ignore the corruption of the party they favor and blindly vote for them again. It's sad.

Hahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

The guy who is 100% behind a party using lies and conspiracy theories to oust his hate/crush accuses other people of voting blindly.

Tell me how a party that has been willfully lying and misleading you since the last election is suddenly going to be honest to you IF they form government.  How can people be so naive?

54 minutes ago, Rod Black said:

You might like to follow Norman Spector. https://twitter.com/nspector4/status/1578736993013747712?s=61&t=_stQ2xKaj3IiEFd7rNK7jg

Gawd no.

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/david-johnston-ndp-wherry-analysis-1.6862492

Wherry makes some valid points.

Notably:

Quote

The great irony is that the furor over Johnston's personal credibility has largely obscured what might otherwise have been considered a significant report on China's attempts to interfere in Canadian democracy and the poor handling of intelligence within government. If not for the fact that Johnston's report was preceded by such sensational allegations and partisan accusations of a political cover-up — and the fact that Johnston felt some claims needed to be debunked — his findings might have been considered highly alarming.

At this point, there are surely people who won't accept whatever comes out of the current process. That group is now bigger than it needed to be.

Also:

Quote

...it's also fair to say that, seven months into this political firestorm, the only winner seems to be China — which has at least succeeded in sowing discord and doubt.

As intended, IMO. This is precisely how bad actors mean to operate.

[Wideleft]

So what did Danielle offer Suncor to delay this announcement until after the election?

Suncor to slash 1,500 jobs amid cost-cutting plan

New CEO aims to find $400 million in cost savings at all levels of company

Kyle Bakx · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2023 5:27 PM CDT | Last Updated: June 1

 

Suncor Energy will eliminate 1,500 positions as the company's new chief executive announced an immediate plan to cut costs by $400 million by the end of this year.

Rich Kruger notified staff about the plan on Thursday in an email, describing how the company needs to reduce its staffing costs related to its competitors in the oilpatch.

Images of Kruger's email were shared with CBC News by employees at the company.

"Staffing reductions will occur at all levels of the organization and will be based on both performance and business need. As we do this, we will eliminate work, critically looking at what we do, why we do it, how we do it and the value it adds," Kruger told staff in the message.

"I assure you that decisions like these, that affect people and their lives, are not easy to make or taken lightly. However, at this time, they are necessary to ensure the ongoing competitiveness of our company," he said.

In an interview with CBC News last month following the company's annual general meeting, Kruger didn't rule out job cuts, but said there were other ways of reducing costs besides layoffs.

Kruger became CEO on April 3, pledging to transform the company into a "simpler and more focused organization" under his leadership.

In an emailed statement, spokesperson Sneh Seetal did not provide any additional details.

"Suncor is always looking for opportunities to drive value and improve performance in our business, cost reduction is one of those opportunities," she said.

The company had 16,558 full- and part-time employees at the end of 2022, which was a decrease from 16,922 one year prior, according to company documents.

About 60 per cent of Suncor's employees are connected to its oilsands operations. 

In February, Suncor announced it earned $2.74 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 76-per-cent increase from the $1.55 billion it earned in the same three months of 2021.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bakx-suncor-jobs-layoffs-1.6862758

[Tracker]

25 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

So what did Danielle offer Suncor to delay this announcement until after the election?

Suncor to slash 1,500 jobs amid cost-cutting plan

New CEO aims to find $400 million in cost savings at all levels of company

Kyle Bakx · CBC News · Posted: Jun 01, 2023 5:27 PM CDT | Last Updated: June 1

 

Suncor Energy will eliminate 1,500 positions as the company's new chief executive announced an immediate plan to cut costs by $400 million by the end of this year.

Rich Kruger notified staff about the plan on Thursday in an email, describing how the company needs to reduce its staffing costs related to its competitors in the oilpatch.

Images of Kruger's email were shared with CBC News by employees at the company.

"Staffing reductions will occur at all levels of the organization and will be based on both performance and business need. As we do this, we will eliminate work, critically looking at what we do, why we do it, how we do it and the value it adds," Kruger told staff in the message.

"I assure you that decisions like these, that affect people and their lives, are not easy to make or taken lightly. However, at this time, they are necessary to ensure the ongoing competitiveness of our company," he said.

In an interview with CBC News last month following the company's annual general meeting, Kruger didn't rule out job cuts, but said there were other ways of reducing costs besides layoffs.

Kruger became CEO on April 3, pledging to transform the company into a "simpler and more focused organization" under his leadership.

In an emailed statement, spokesperson Sneh Seetal did not provide any additional details.

"Suncor is always looking for opportunities to drive value and improve performance in our business, cost reduction is one of those opportunities," she said.

The company had 16,558 full- and part-time employees at the end of 2022, which was a decrease from 16,922 one year prior, according to company documents.

About 60 per cent of Suncor's employees are connected to its oilsands operations. 

In February, Suncor announced it earned $2.74 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, a 76-per-cent increase from the $1.55 billion it earned in the same three months of 2021.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bakx-suncor-jobs-layoffs-1.6862758

Ms. Smith may have to hold a yard sale to support them. Kinda interesting that this announcement came after the provincial election, though.

[HardCoreBlue]

8 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Ms. Smith may have to hold a yard sale to support them. Kinda interesting that this announcement came after the provincial election, though.

Clearly the fault of Notley.

[Noeller]

someone was saying online "even though we know this was decided long before the election, can you imagine the outcry if NDP had won the election and then this came out?" Just the optics of it, people would have FREAKED....

[SpeedFlex27]

23 hours ago, Tracker said:

SECTION I. ABUSING PARLIAMENT: SABOTAGE, SCANDALS, CORRUPTION AND CONTEMPT ‘Parliament has become so undermined that it is almost unable to do the job that people expect of it.’ Former auditor general Sheila Fraser on Harper’s omnibus bills.

Harperites Deliberately Sabotage, Stymie Committee System: Conservatives used tactics such as barring witnesses, closure, time limitations, and in camera sessions to an extent rarely, if ever, witnessed in Canada. In their early days in power, top Conservatives prepared a handbook instructing committee chairpersons how to obstruct proceedings.

Harper’s Own MPs Protest Muzzling: In a caucus known for his tight discipline, in 2014 some members finally rose up to contest being censored at question period by the Prime Minister’s Office. Former Conservative backbencher Brent Rathgeber turned independent and published a book, Irresponsible Government, decrying anti-democratic practices.

Conservative Bill Rewrites History to Protect Mounties from Potential Criminal Charges: To protect the RCMP, the government retroactively made an old bill come into force before it was passed by Parliament.

Harper Minister Caught in Advertising Scam with Public Funds: The Globe and Mail revealed that Harper’s chosen Minister for Democratic Reform Pierre1Poilievre  commissioned a team of public servants for overtime work on a Sunday to film him glad-handing constituents. The vanity video on the taxpayer dime was to promote the government’s benefits for families.

 

Corrupt Conservative Cronies: The Senate scandal is just the latest eruption of crony corruption in Harperite ranks. Take Bruce Carson. He was a convicted fraudster before Harper made him a key advisor in the PMO. There, Carson was lobbied for money for a new University of Calgary eco-think tank. He then left the PMO to run the same think tank, converting it to an oil industry booster with a $15-million grant from the Harper government. The complex saga added one more criminal charge to others Carson faces for allegedly illegally working his connections with the Harper government.

Access to Information System Impeded: Many new roadblocks have been put up by the Harper Conservatives. Former Information Commissioner Robert Marleau concluded that having obtained absolute power, the prime minister “has absolutely abused that power to the maximum.”

The Silencing of the Public Service: The PMO took an unprecedented step in instituting a system wherein the bureaucracy has all its communications vetted by the political nerve centre. The policy contribution role of the public service is significantly reduced. Complaints from insiders allege that the Privy Council office has become increasingly politicized.

Loyalty Oaths Imposed on Public Servants: Archivists and librarians were made to swear strict oaths of allegiance and were hit with restrictions on freedom of speech that editorialists of the right and left described as chilling.

Harper Government Sued by Justice Department Whistleblower: Time and again the Harper government proposes bills that end up being shot down by the courts, prompting critics to say such legislation is more about making political statements than lasting policy.

The wasted efforts bothered senior justice department lawyer Edgar Schmidt so much he finally sued the government for breaking the law by inadequately evaluating whether proposed bills violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He was promptly suspended without pay.

Conservatives Block Accreditation for Opposition Mps; In another example of partisanship taken to new heights, the PMO blocked opposition members from being accredited for international environment conferences and from visiting military bases.

Tactic Borrowed from North Korea’s Dear Leader: Ostensibly neutral public servants were used as stooges, falsely posing as new citizens in a staged Citizenship Renewal public relations exercise by the Immigration Department. Media critics had a field day comparing the charade to practices undertaken by North Korean dictators.

Clampdown on Freedom of Speech of Diplomatic Corps: Ottawa’s diplomats must get all communications approved from Conservative political operatives. Under Harper, the country’s ambassadors are hardly heard from any more. In a recent speech, former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis said our political culture under the Conservatives has descended into “a nadir of indignity.”

Aquatic Science Libraries Decimated: The Harper government’s downsizing of federal libraries included sudden closing of seven world famous Department of Fisheries and Oceans archives. A leaked memo revealed the destruction and consolidation would save less than half a million dollars. Scientist patrons of the libraries, who witnessed chaotic chucking of rare literature, called it a “book burning” with no logical purpose other than to restrict environmental information. The Harper government claimed vital works would be digitally preserved, but never provided a plan or cost for doing so, nor any proof it had happened. No scientists interviewed by The Tyee believed digitizing would or could replace what was lost.

UN Blasts Canada’s Treatment of Immigrants: Changes made to the Canada’s immigration and refugee system under Harper were investigated by the United Nations Human Rights Committee, whose report blasted how thousands of migrants are detained indefinitely without due process, many for over a year or more, as well as poor mental health support for those incarcerated.

Harper Government Denies Khadr Basic Rights: Defying court rulings, the Conservative government refused to accord Omar Khadr basic rights such as access to media. Editorialists of right and left persuasion described the move as unbefitting a democratic government.

Illegitimate Prorogation of Parliament, Twice: Prorogations are a legitimate procedure that can be abused depending on motivations. The Harper government provoked 60 protests across Canada and beyond its borders in 2010 after shutting the legislature’s doors to escape condemnation on the Afghan detainees’ file. It was the second prorogation in a year’s period.

Undue Interference with Independent Agencies: Command and control system was extended to meddling in bodies like National Energy Board and CRTC whose arms-length autonomy is significantly reduced. A special target was the Parliamentary Budget Office, which was hit with condemnations and budget cuts for its critical reports.

Billions Borrowed without Parliament’s Permission: The auditor general sounded alarms about the “prodigious” growth and size of federal borrowing. Those billions in “non-budgetary” spending used to get Parliament’s oversight, but no more.

The finance minister can borrow what he wants without Parliament’s permission. Why? A loophole buried in a 2007 Harper omnibus bill.

Lapdogs Appointed as Watchdogs: The most controversial was the case of former Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet. Her office reviewed more than 200 whistleblowing cases. Disciplinary action followed on none of them. Ouimet’s own angry staffers blew the whistle on their boss. The auditor general found Ouimet intimidated her employees, took “retaliatory action” against them and may have breached their privacy, all part of the Harper appointee’s “gross mismanagement.” Ouimet was paid more than $500,000 to leave her post.

SECTION II: ‘HARPER BRAND’ ABUSES: LIES, SPIES, AND THIS PORK SMELLS REALLY BAD

This election began the minute the last one ended. Since his first day as PM, Stephen Harper has reinforced his party’s ‘brand’ by rewarding cronies, slapping the Conservative logo on government cheques, perfecting the no questions photo-op, instructing bureaucrats to start calling Canada’s government “the Harper Government.” The flip side has been relentless monitoring, muzzling and attacks on anyone who might tarnish the image. Here are 22 instances of power abused to build the Harper brand.

PMO Attempts to Cover up Video Leak Putting Troops at Risk: On an Iraq visit, the PMO was caught lying to try and cover up the leak of a promo video, which constituted a security breach. The PMO, noted a National Post editorial, “stumbled from blunder to evasion and falsehood in the service of shamelessly manipulative partisanship, especially in using our troops as PR props.”

 

The ‘Harper Government’ Labelling Deception: Public servants were told to use “Harper Government” instead of “Government of Canada” in publicity releases. The Conservatives denied it was happening -- until internal memos revealed by the Canadian Press revealed the denial to be without basis.

Conservatives Place Party Logos on Government of Canada Cheques: Once “caught red-handed,” they backed off. The federal ethics commissioner, adopting the exasperated tone of an adult lecturing a child, noted: “Public spending announcements are government activities, not partisan political activities, and it is not appropriate to brand them with partisan or personal identifiers.”

Record Amounts of Partisan Political Advertising, on the Public Purse:

Several media reports told how the Conservatives used taxpayer money for partisan political advertising in record quantity, costing the public treasury $750 million since Harper became PM. In one instance, the Tories spent lavishly on ads for the promotion of a jobs grant program that had yet to be made public or presented to parliament or the provinces. Even more nakedly partisan, a mailed blast, charged to the taxpayers, targeting Justin Trudeau.

Conservatives Stack Their Own Ridings with Infrastructure Funds:

In a display of brazen pork barreling, the Conservatives arranged for no less than 83 percent of infrastructure fund projects go to Conservative ridings.

 

 

 

$50 Million Spending Deception as Documented by the Auditor General

The auditor general ruled Conservatives diverted $50-million from spending slated for border infrastructure to political spending on projects in Tony Clement’s riding at the time of the G-8 summit. Parliament was willfully misled.

Patronage Run Amok: After promising a new way, the prime minister dismantled his newly created Public Appointments Commission and reverted to old-styled patronage by the barrel. In June 2015, the PM made 98 patronage appointments. That included stocking the National Capital Commission with loyalists in advance of decisions on the controversial monument to the victims of communism.

Undermining Statistics Canada, Killing Data: Against pleas from everyone who needs and uses data from the long form census, the Harper government scrapped it, prompting the Statistics Canada chief to resign in protest.

Government Muzzles Science Community: Top scientists came under such heavy monitoring by the Conservatives that they staged “Death of Evidence” protests for being denied freedom of speech. The Conservatives sent out chaperones or “media minders” to track Environment Canada scientists and report on them.

 ‘Death of Evidence’ rally on Parliament Hill, July 10, 2012. Photo: Richard Webster.

Like Never Before, Limits Placed on Media Access

Journalists have been hard-pressed to recall another time when controls put on them were so tight.

At the Conservatives’ 2013 Calgary convention, reporters wrote of being harassed and penned in at every turn by the PMO’s command and control system.

In his book Killing The Messenger, journalist Mark Bourrie charts the many examples of new limits on freedom of speech introduced in the Harper era.

Harper’s Team Tries to Ban Journalist for Asking Question: Veteran TV cameraman Dave Ellis covered a Harper speech about oil to a business audience. Though media had been instructed no questions allowed, Ellis posed one about charges laid against a Conservative MP. The PMO tried to punish Ellis and his network by kicking him off covering Harper’s trip to Malaysia. After media hue and cry, Harper backed down and Ellis went.

Harper Minister Sucker Punches CBC Budget: After the 2011 federal election Heritage Minister James Moore assured Conservatives would “maintain or increase support for the CBC. That is our platform and we have said that before and we will commit to that.” The next year, Harper’s Cons delivered the biggest government cut to CBC since the mid-1990s, much deeper in proportion than overall trims to federal programs, defying public sentiment.

Suppression of Research: In the gun registration debate, incriminating research and documents such as a Firearms Report were deliberately withheld from the public. While ramping up their prison building, Conservatives suppressed related research and studies contradicting their political priorities.

The Vic Toews Porno Smear: In a vivid example of the browbeating of opponents, the minister of public safety said anyone who opposed federal plans to make electronic surveillance of Canadians easier for authorities was siding with child pornographers.

 

 

Harper’s Fallen Soldiers Blackout: Emulating George W. Bush’s optics tactics, Stephen Harper banned media coverage of fallen soldiers’ caskets returning from Afghanistan. He also refused to lower the flag half-mast. Soldiers’ family members expressed confusion and anger at the perceived show of disrespect.

Protesters Put under Blanket Surveillance: According to a leaked memo, as part of its command and control approach, the Conservatives have approved a system wherein all advocates, protesters and demonstrations can be monitored by authorities. The Government Operations Centre has requested federal departments to assist it in compiling a comprehensive inventory of protesters. Security specialists have called it a breach of Canadians’ Charter of Rights. Conservatives have moved to give CSIS even more powers than the spy agency wants.

Rights and Democracy, Other Groups, Dismantled: In a show of brute force, the Montreal-based group Rights and Democracy was pole-axed for its alleged political leanings and eventually disbanded. Organizations like the church group Kairos were de-budgeted or dismantled for political leanings. Nuclear Safety Commission head Linda Keen was dumped. Among the complaints cited by the PM was that in her distant past, she had some Liberal ties.

Harper Government Spied on Aboriginal Critic, ‘Retaliated’: Aboriginal child welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock was spied on by the Harper government, and when she arrived for a meeting with other First Nations leaders at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs only she was barred entry. Finding Blackstock had been “retaliated” against by a ministry official, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal awarded her $20,000 for pain and suffering.

 

Revenue Canada Loosed to Attack Charities: Not all charities, just the ones that don’t seem adequately aligned with the Harper brand. Enough to include many environmental, aid, human rights and free speech charities that banded together to push back against what looks like a politically motivated witch hunt.

Conservatives Use Unheard of Tactic to Force through Anti-Union Bill:

Conservative senators went to the unprecedented extent of overruling their own Speaker. What could be so important to break Senate rules? A bill pushed by Harper that is almost certainly unconstitutional for its privacy invading measures forced onto unions, unlike other groups. Latest in a steady stream of Conservative attacks on organized labour in Canada.

Harper Smears Liberal Sikh MP, Insinuating Tie to Terrorism: When Liberals opposed a 2007 Conservative plan to extend anti-terror legislation, Stephen Harper singled out Grit MP Navdeep Bains, seeming to suggest that Bains’ party was motivated by a desire to protect Bains’ father-in-law, Darshan Singh Saini. A recent news story had claimed Singh Saini was on a list of witnesses sought by the RCMP for its Air India investigation, but provided no proof he was involved. In the House, Liberals erupted with outrage and Bains asked, in vain, that Harper apologize.

Veterans’ Advocates Smeared: Medical files of Sean Bruyea, a strong advocate for veterans’ rights, were leaked in a case that privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart described as “alarming.” Veterans Affairs Canada ombudsman Pat Stogran was dumped after criticizing the government.

 

SECTION III: ELECTION ABUSES: SCAMS, SLIMES, STINGS AND CROOKED SPENDING: Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have made federal elections a gladiators’ arena where anything goes -- unless and until you are caught, that is. Here are 17 times his team violated election laws or ethics.

Conservatives Run Undercover Sting Operations: Conservatives secretly recorded political opponents and also used agent provocateur techniques to try and entrap them. A sting operation against Marlo Raynolds, a Liberal candidate in Alberta, was backed by then employment minister Jason Kenney.

Conservative Convicted on Robocalls Scam: Tory operative Michael Sona was given jail time for his role in the robocalls scam. The judge indicated more than one person was likely involved. In another court judgment in a case brought by the Council of Canadians, the ruling said the robocalls operation was widespread, not just limited to the Guelph riding. Donald Segretti who did dirty tricks for the Nixon White House told a Canadian reporter his skullduggery didn’t go so low as to run schemes sending voters to the wrong polling stations.

Harper’s Ex-Parliamentary Secretary Jailed for Breaking Election Law

Dean Del Maestro was one of Harper’s favourites. As his parliamentary secretary, the PM frequently used him as an attack dog to allege misdeeds by opposition members. Del Maestro was given a jail sentence in June for his own election spending violations.

‘Reprehensible’ Dirty Tricks Campaign against Irwin Cotler: Conservative Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer ruled his party’s own tactics in running a surreptitious misinformation campaign in the riding of the highly respected MP were “reprehensible.”

 

Conservatives Bar Crosbie Candidacy: In a clear-cut case of the party hierarchy’s undercutting of democratic rights, Ches Crosbie, son of former Tory cabinet minister John Crosbie, was barred from running for the party in Newfoundland.

Election Violations Prompt Resignation of Cabinet Member: Peter Penashue, another Harper Conservative was compelled to step down over election spending violations.

Conservatives Attempt Election Campaign Frame-up: In an attempted smear in the last week of the 2011 election campaign, a senior Harper strategist planted a false story in Sun Media that Michael Ignatieff was an Iraq war planner. (Neither Conservative operatives nor Sun Media opted to make hay with the true story that Stephen Harper had, while leader of the Canadian Alliance in 2003, published a letter in The Wall Street Journal itching to get Canada into that disastrous war and slamming then PM Jean Chretien for saying no.)

Harper’s Office Deploys Interns for Dirty Tricks: In one instance that brought on allegations of Nixonian tactics, junior PMO staffers in the guise of normal citizens were sent out to disrupt a Justin Trudeau speech.

Citizens Ejected from Conservative Rallies: Tory operatives hauled out citizens from a Harper rally in the 2011 campaign because they had marginal ties to other parties. A spokesperson for the PM was compelled to apologize. Problem fixed this time around: Only fully vetted Harper supporters will be allowed, by invite only, to attend the PM’s campaign stops. If they have a ticket.

 

Conservatives Make Campaign Event Attendees Sign Gag Order: Not only have Harper’s campaign handlers made his campaign events by invite only, they were forcing anyone let in to sign an agreement not to transmit any description of the event or any images from it -- but dropped the gag orders after news stories made them an issue.

Conservatives Unfix Their Own Fixed Date Election Law: In 2008, Harper pulled the plug on his own government, violating his own new law, which stipulated elections every four years.

Guilty Plea on In and Out Affair: The Conservative Party and its fundraising arm pled guilty to some Elections Act charges stemming from their exceeding spending limits in the 2006 campaign. The investigation cost taxpayers over $2 million.

Cons’ Elections Bill Strips Power from Elections Canada: The Fair Elections Act also makes it harder for Canadians to vote as more ID is required. Nationwide protests in which more than 400 academics took part forced Pierre Poilievre to withdraw some measures in the bill because of their alleged anti-democratic bent.

Harper Minister Smears Head of Elections Canada: In a bid to impugn his integrity, Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre accused the Elections Canada CEO Marc Mayrand of being a power monger and wearing a team jersey.

Copyright Grab for Attack Ads: CTV News found out Conservatives aimed to rewrite copyright law to let political parties grab any media content and use it for free in their ads.

The impact, warned CTV’s Don Martin, “will be to cast a chill on every broadcast appearance” by MPs, commentators and reporters, who “must now be aware their views could end up featured in a political attack ad.” By asserting “unlimited access to the airwaves for propaganda purposes,” Martin said, the Harper government “could be seen as flirting with fascism.”

Conservatives Use Terrorists’ Propaganda in Attack Ad: Harper’s party created a political ad incorporating music and horrifying images of doomed captives pulled straight from the Islamic State’s own promotional video. The target: Justin Trudeau, whose views on the risks and rewards of bombing ISIS differ from Harper’s.

Record Use of Personal Attack Ads: Under Harper’s leadership, Conservatives became the first to routinely use personal attacks ads outside an election writ period. Their ads often used quotes deliberately taken out of context. Incidence of attack ads by Harper Conservatives was heavier than by any other government.

 

This section includes examples of willful misgoverning by the PM and his team, 31 times they have lied, flouted rules and stymied democracy to achieve political and ideological ends.

 

PMO Tied to Senate Hush Money Scandal: An RCMP affidavit reported widespread involvement by PMO staffers in a secret payment to Senator Mike Duffy to try and make a political problem go away. The Senate expenses scandal brought on allegations of a cover-up, a breach of the public trust, and a whitewashing of a Senate report. The PMO was found to have hand in the altering of a damning Deloitte audit.

Harper Found in Contempt of Parliament: For refusing to disclose information on the costing of programs to Parliament, which Parliament was entitled to receive, the Harper government became the first in Canadian history to be found in contempt of Parliament.

Against Court Order, Refusal to Share Budget Info: Even though it lost a court case and was ordered to comply, the Harper government nevertheless refused to share 170 times reasons and impacts for cuts with Canada’s independent budget watchdog, mocking Parliament’s right to control the public purse.

Conservative Cabinet Staffers Granted Immunity from Testimony: A PMO edict absolved political staffers from ever having to testify before parliamentary committees.

Conservatives Falsify Reports and Documents: Among documents deliberately altered in the writing or the quoting by the government: CIDA document by Bev Oda’s office on Kairos; the Senate Committee Report on the Duffy affair; a report by former auditor general Sheila Fraser on financial management.

Repeated Duplicity in Afghan Detainees Controversy: Among the abuses: Parliament was misled and denied documents. An inquiry was shut down. Tories attempted to discredit diplomat Richard Colvin whose testimony diverted from the government’s line.

Repeated Duplicity on Costing of F-35 Fighter Jets: An auditor general’s report revealed serial deceptive practices used by the Conservatives in misleading the public and Parliament on the projected cost of the fighter jets.

Harper Minister Lies, Blames Statistics Canada for Killing Long Form Census:

Under fire for Conservatives killing the long form census, Industry Minister Tony Clement falsely stated that StatsCan backed the idea and assured the voluntary substitute would yield valid statistical data. Neither was true, outraged StatsCan sources confirmed.

Conservative MP Admits He Lied to Parliament: As opposition members claimed the Harper government was out to rig election rules in its favour, Conservative MP Brad Butt rose in the House of Commons to say why the bill was needed -- all the voter fraud he had personally witnessed. Weeks later he rose again to say his statements were false. Delivering his strained apology, he failed to explain why he lied in the first place.

Conservative House Leader Admits to Mockery of Question Period: Criticized far and wide for farcical answers in question period, Paul Calandra, parliamentary secretary to Harper, made a tearful apology for abuse of the democratic process.

 

Harper Maligns the Supreme Court Chief Justice: The Prime Minister took the unprecedented step of alleging inappropriate conduct by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. Facts undermined the credibility of the PM’s position.

Conservatives Engage in Abuse of Process with Omnibus Bills: Harper’s party pushed legislation through Parliament via omnibus bills, the scale of which Parliament had never seen. Such bills are widely condemned as an abuse of the democratic process, because they blend and bury so many controversial laws within one dense package. Harper himself once railed against them, and his born again love for them made his own MPs queasy. Referencing such bills, former auditor general Sheila Fraser said that “Parliament has become so undermined that it is almost unable to do the job that people expect of it.”

 

What a joke. Harper was a decade ago. Get over it. Your hatred for anything conservative & Pollievre is nothing but political junk. Since you're talking about Trudeau, Harper never had the scandals our current criminal PM has ever had.

Like Elbowgate.

Aga Khan Scandal.

Cultural Appropriation Scandal (India)

SNC Lavalin Affair

Blackface Scandal,

We Charity Scandal, PM Interference In The RCMP Investigation Of The Mass Shooting In Nova Scotia,

Six Thousand A Night Hotel Rooms, 

The ArriveCan Scandal: The app developed for travellers at $80,000 but reportedly cost the federal government $54 million to implement using anonymous subcontractors that can't be named.

Allegations of Chinese Interference in the federal elections in 2019 & 2021,

Refusing to appoint a federal enquiry into Chinese interference despite revelations that MPs from all parties in the House of Commons have been threatened & targeted.

Special Rapporteur David Johnston appointed by Trudeau to investigate these claims reporeted he could find no evidence of political interference from Communist China & recommended no federal enquiry be held.

A motion was passed on & voted on in the HOC two days ago for David Johnson to resign as special rapporteur by a count of 174-150. But it is a non binding vote. Johnson has since doubled down saying he won't resign & has the backing of Trudeau.

Next scandal: We don't know when but we know it's coming. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by SpeedFlex27

[JCon]

29 minutes ago, Noeller said:

someone was saying online "even though we know this was decided long before the election, can you imagine the outcry if NDP had won the election and then this came out?" Just the optics of it, people would have FREAKED....

The worst people. 

Saw some CPC campaigners out today. I look forward to them knocking on my door so I blow an air horn in their faces. We'll see how that terrorist supporting party likes have horns blaring at them. 

[Noeller]

5 minutes ago, JCon said:

The worst people. 

Saw some CPC campaigners out today. I look forward to them knocking on my door so I blow an air horn in their faces. We'll see how that terrorist supporting party likes have horns blaring at them. 

You are just the best people... love this.

[SpeedFlex27]

8 minutes ago, Noeller said:

You are just the best people... love this.

Or JCon could just choose to not answer the door & be an asshat. I had both NDP & UCP candidates come to my door & that's what we did. JCon strikes me as a decent & reasonable guy. He may feel like that now but when push comes to shove he'll do what 99% of us do & just ignore the PC candidate in his riding at his door. Or perhaps he'll answer even getting into a discusiion with them telling them how unhappy he is why he won't vote PC. that's what I think he'll do. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by SpeedFlex27

[HardCoreBlue]

1 minute ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Or you could just choose to not answer the door & not be an asshat. 

Insert Debbie Downer Gif

[SpeedFlex27]

4 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Insert Debbie Downer Gif

This whole thread is one big ***** fest. It's been a Debbie Downer for years. 

[Noeller]

if a nazi comes to your door, you don't just ignore them.... be like Chris Evans.... knock out Adolph Hitler (or supporters) over 150 times...

[JCon]

5 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Or JCon could just choose to not answer the door & be an asshat. I had both NDP & UCP candidates come to my door & that's what we did. JCon strikes me as a decent & reasonable guy. He may feel like that now but when push comes to shove he'll do what 99% of us do & just ignore the PC candidate in his riding at his door. Or perhaps even getting into a discusiion with them telling them how unhappy he is why he won't vote PC. that's what I think he'll do. 

Or, maybe if your party supports terrorists and violent overthrow of a democratically elected govt, then you should expect some push back when you on knock on people's doors. I'm certainly not inviting them here. 

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

if a nazi comes to your door, you don't just ignore them.... be like Chris Evans.... knock out Adolph Hitler (or supporters) over 150 times...

You punch the Nazi in the face. 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 minute ago, JCon said:

Or, maybe if your party supports terrorists and violent overthrow of a democratically elected govt, then you should expect some push back when you on knock on people's doors. I'm certainly not inviting them here. 

Yup I'd suggest this might be a great example that this isn't 'another side to find the middle ground' type discussion. 

[SpeedFlex27]

2 minutes ago, Noeller said:

if a nazi comes to your door, you don't just ignore them.... be like Chris Evans.... knock out Adolph Hitler (or supporters) over 150 times...

You talk big over here like some kind of keyboard warrior but c'mon, man, we know.... really??? We all know the thought of a criminal record, jail time & losing your job paying you all those big alt right Alberta bucks will stop you cold. 

[SpeedFlex27]

8 minutes ago, JCon said:

Or, maybe if your party supports terrorists and violent overthrow of a democratically elected govt, then you should expect some push back when you on knock on people's doors. I'm certainly not inviting them here. 

You punch the Nazi in the face. 

You should worry about Manitoba first. I'm not going to discuss a topic already hashed out by me & Tracker 2 days ago. You can twist things anyway you want. I don't care as you'll do it anyway. So, I suppose you'll vote for the NDP's Wab Kinew who has been convicted twice of domestic violence against his former partner & another charge stayed. Nice choice. Go for it. Vote in a wife beater for manitoba's next Premier. Better than a Nazi. You can sleep easy. 

[JCon]

20 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You should worry about Manitoba first. I'm not going to discuss a topic already hashed out by me & Tracker 2 days ago. You can twist things anyway you want. I don't care as you'll do it anyway. So, I suppose you'll vote for the NDP's Wab Kinew who has been convicted twice of domestic violence against his former partner & another charge stayed. Nice choice. Go for it. Vote in a wife beater for manitoba's next Premier. Better than a Nazi. You can sleep easy. 

It's a federal by-election, which is why it's in Canadian politics. 

But, I'll vote for whoever is running against Obby. 

And, it is better than a Nazi. Seems the right is very comfortable with them. 

[SpeedFlex27]

So, let me understand this. When the time comes & there's a provincial election in Manitoba, you'll vote for a guy convicted twice for assualting his former partner & charges stayed on a third as Premier just because he isn't conservative? So much for standing up for the safety of women. I guess political expediency makes it okay for a guy to vote for a guy who beats up women.  

Edited June 3, 2023 by SpeedFlex27

[rebusrankin]

13 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, let me understand this. When the time comes & there's a provincial election in Manitoba, you'll vote for a guy convicted twice for assualting his former partner & charges stayed on a third as Premier just because he isn't conservative? So much for standing up for the safety of women. I guess political expediency makes it okay for a guy to vote for a guy who beats up women.  

Actually I plan to vote NDP because the PCs have done a terrible job managing healthcare (ER closures/consolidation, the handling of COVID, the increased wait times for medical procedures and a backlog larger then when they took over, denying healthcare professionals a contract for 5-6 years) and education (underfunding education so classes are larger and there are less supports for students with additional needs, not to mention a lack of supports for a growing EAL population and mental health) which are their two main areas of responsibility. I also don't think they've managed public finances well (those education tax rebates are through loans which is going to add nearly a billion to the provinces debt). Additionally I don't like the homophobia and racism displayed by many of their members. Finally I don't like the anti education, anti academic, anti expert comments of many of their elected memebers or those running their campaigns. 

[JCon]

7 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Actually I plan to vote NDP because the PCs have done a terrible job managing healthcare (ER closures/consolidation, the handling of COVID, the increased wait times for medical procedures and a backlog larger then when they took over, denying healthcare professionals a contract for 5-6 years) and education (underfunding education so classes are larger and there are less supports for students with additional needs, not to mention a lack of supports for a growing EAL population and mental health) which are their two main areas of responsibility. I also don't think they've managed public finances well (those education tax rebates are through loans which is going to add nearly a billion to the provinces debt). Additionally I don't like the homophobia and racism displayed by many of their members. Finally I don't like the anti education, anti academic, anti expert comments of many of their elected memebers or those running their campaigns. 

And, those are just the high profile portfolios. They've been a disaster for this province for 7 years. Almost criminal what they've done. 

[SpeedFlex27]

3 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Actually I plan to vote NDP because the PCs have done a terrible job managing healthcare (ER closures/consolidation, the handling of COVID, the increased wait times for medical procedures and a backlog larger then when they took over, denying healthcare professionals a contract for 5-6 years) and education (underfunding education so classes are larger and there are less supports for students with additional needs, not to mention a lack of supports for a growing EAL population and mental health) which are their two main areas of responsibility. I also don't think they've managed public finances well (those education tax rebates are through loans which is going to add nearly a billion to the provinces debt). Additionally I don't like the homophobia and racism displayed by many of their members. Finally I don't like the anti education, anti academic, anti expert comments of many of their elected memebers or those running their campaigns. 

So, voting for a guy who beats up women is okay just because political expediency beats morals & ethics??? Okie dokie. I'll remeber that the next time a pro athlete is convicted & all of you call him scum. Maybe Bobby Hull should have ran for the leadership of the NDP before he died. All of you who villified him here would have voted for him.

And, if you think the NDP would do a better job at healthcare just look at the mess in BC right now. Socialists talk a great game only to **** up real good. 

[Tracker]

13 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, voting for a guy who beats up women is okay just because political expediency beats morals & ethics??? Okie dokie. I'll remeber that the next time a pro athlete is convicted & all of you call him scum. Maybe Bobby Hull should have ran for the leadership of the NDP before he died. All of you who villified him here would have voted for him.

And, if you think the NDP would do a better job at healthcare just look at the mess in BC right now. Socialists talk a great game only to **** up real good. 

Sooooo.....Harper's sorry record is irrelevant because its in the past but Kinew's is not. Okaay...

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Sooooo.....Harper's sorry record is irrelevant because its in the past but Kinew's is not. Okaay...

Funny how no one here gave Bobby Hull the same benefit of the doubt. There's lots of hypocrites here. Kinew should have been punted by the social justice warriors that call themselves the NDP but he wasn't. So, what he did is there on record. And if you're going to go back a decade & keep bringing up Harper well then, Wab Kinew's past is also open season then. 

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, voting for a guy who beats up women is okay just because political expediency beats morals & ethics??? Okie dokie. I'll remeber that the next time a pro athlete is convicted & all of you call him scum. Maybe Bobby Hull should have ran for the leadership of the NDP before he died. All of you who villified him here would have voted for him.

And, if you think the NDP would do a better job at healthcare just look at the mess in BC right now. Socialists talk a great game only to **** up real good. 

Tracker with the roll eye emoji. Hey Track, BC healthcare is a mess. That's a huge concern for anyone moving out there. As well as people who can't find a family doctor & huge wait times at Emergencies in hospitals. You'd think a political party that supposedly prides itself as a party that stands up for healthcare can screw up so badly is unbelievable. 

[JohnnyAbonny]

"These are not episodes in my life I'm proud of," Kinew said. "I struggled with alcohol, and that caused me to behave in ways that weren't healthy for me, or those around me. When the alcohol stopped, so did the fights. Violence, racism, and sexism are unacceptable. I've apologized unequivocally, and I do so again: to anyone I harmed, I am sorry”

"Because of my past, I understand the challenges of young people in our society who are struggling with the same things I was — alcohol, addictions, anger. I know that they can do better, because I learned how to do better," Kinew said.

Kinew attended sweat lodges "to purify himself" and participated in a sun dance event, during which he fasted for four days and pulled buffalo skulls by piercings cut into his body.

"Suffice it to say, it shows a significant degree of commitment by the individual who attends," Miller said.

Kinew also began attending regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. 

"While abstaining from alcohol, he has had no involvement in the justice system," Miller said. "He realizes this is a lifelong path he has to follow."

I don’t know why I’m even biting on this, but @SpeedFlex27 The comparison to Bobby Hull.. Come on, I know you’re better than that. 

First of all, you’re comparing a guy who’s running for Premier to a wife beating, Hitler idolizing (and dead) hockey player. 

Second, there’s zero indication Bobby Hull showed any kind of remorse or accountability for his behaviour. 

Third, regardless of what party is in charge, healthcare is a mess everywhere in this country right now.  It just so happens that the Manitoba PC party have deliberately and methodically used policy to make Manitoba health care worse.