Since the publication of my book Rogue in Power, I have called the attention of my readers to two main points. First, I wanted to underline the significance of a mass vote against the Conservatives, taking into account the particularities of each riding. Second, I invited the members of civil society to imagine today what kind of mobilization we will need after the elections. In essence, even if we imagine that Stephen Harper and his team lose the next elections, which I highly doubt, we will need to do a lot of work to rebuild the Canadian institutions and democratic practices needed for the maintenance of the rule of law.
liberals
Access-to-medicine bill is mired in Parliamentary red tape
A parliament battle currently raging gives the impression that the Conservative government isn't keen on delivering affordable drugs to children dying from HIV in the rest of the world.
Of course, many members of the public disagree, especially the 30,261 signatories of a petition calling for the government to support Bill C-393.
Young blood for shaky Grits, but no government-in-waiting
The Liberals win byelections in Yarmouth and Glace Bay with bright young fellows. Is something going on in our politics? The Liberals on the march, perhaps, against a fading NDP?
Let's inquire.
It is a marvellous victory for the Liberals -- especially in Glace Bay where logic would have dictated that they'd be in bad odour because a sitting Liberal resigned amid scandal. It's especially good for Stephen McNeil, whose iffy status as leader is firmed up.
But I wonder. How long is the idealism of two bright young fellows going to last sitting around with some of the old horses in the Liberal caucus? Will they end up like most of them -- locally strong MLAs in a party that doesn't really have a core?
Reading polls on the direction of Nova Scotia politics
The last couple of polls indicate that Nova Scotia's NDP government is on the skids.
If that's so, here's a view of the shoals ahead for our once-again lurching ship: at the next election we'll have a choice of three parties on the skids.
The fact is that the opposition parties are still broken fragments of the old order, yet to reconstitute themselves as serious contenders for government.
Although they've made some occasional good points, they have yet to present themselves in more than just point-scoring mode.
Buyers and believers in Canadian politics
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Parliament took its summer recess last week. MPs return to their riding looking for signs of support, and indications of dissatisfaction. Political scientists proceed more formally to assess how parties are performing. How many citizens qualify as partisans of one party or another? To what extent do people identify with a party without being a member? And how do we evaluate voter intentions?
Garneau Wants His Toys Back
In the Huff Post:
"They did not call and return the contents with an apology for opening the package clearly addressed to me. No, Mr. Speaker, they instead removed the content, then gave them away. That Mr. Speaker, is not only an invasion of my privacy, it is theft," Garneau said. "When contacted by my office, they showed no remorse whatsoever for this offense," he added, requesting an investigation."
Anyone have thoughts on this. Is this something to worry about? I wish he'd show this kind of outrage over susbtantial issues.
As a retired Military Officer, I can tell you I wouldn't have had much use for this guy. What a Prima Donna!
