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JKR
He's right to an extent.
You should be going after Jason Kenney here, not Oda.
You are targeting the wrong culprit.
So now Oda and Harper are victims?!? They couldn't help deceiving Parliament?
Is that how Conservative Central is trying to spin this now?
I agree. Oda is a bit player here. She's just following orders. That's why she can't stand up in the House of Commons and answer these allegations. Instead she has to let Baird stand up in her stead and watch him defend her without actually answering any of the opposition's questions. If she was in the right, she would stand up forthrightly and simply answer the allegations against her. That she can't do this tells us a lot about how she feels about her disreputable standing in the matter.
The real culprit is Harper. The buck stops at his desk. He's the one whose actions over and over again over 5 years have shown a deep seated dislike for democracy.
Overlooking Kenney's role is a huge mistake. Harper's probably not touchable but Kenney may be. Choose your battles.
Grit and NDP MPs say the PM is keeping CIDA Minister Bev Oda quiet because they're worried she will reveal all the details behind the $7-million funding rejection.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/muzzle-02-21-2011
Grit and NDP MPs say the PM is keeping CIDA Minister Bev Oda quiet because they're worried she will reveal all the details behind the $7-million funding rejection.
Kairos, a church-based group that has received government support in one form or another since 1973, has long backed the creation of a separate Palestine state in Israel and on Dec. 16, 2009, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Alta.) announced at a Jerusalem conference on anti-Semitism that Kairos and other agencies had been de-funded by the Canadian government because they allegedly supported or helped organize a boycott and other economic measures against Israel. Mr. Kenney was incorrect, but the government has never explained why he made the statement.
The executive director of Kairos told The Hill Times that the funding rejection caught them by surprise, since the government had extended the church-based group's previous funding agreement by two months, and that the statement by Mr. Kenney shocked them.
"We had no idea that anyone in government would ever speak of us at a global forum to combat anti-Semitism in Jerusalem," said executive director Mary Corkeney. "My husband found something on the internet, just after it happened and I said, 'it's a joke.'
Around the time of Mr. Kenney's statement, however, the Conservative Party had been attempting to woo Jewish voters in Toronto and Montreal ridings.
There was a raging controversy that fall, among several issues Mr. Harper faced before he prorogued Parliament on Dec. 30, over flyers Conservative MPs had distributed in Liberal-held ridings suggesting that the Liberal Party was anti-Israel. Oddly, one of the Conservative targets was Liberal MP Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Que.), who is Jewish.
Ms. Oda told the Foreign Affairs committee last Dec. 9-a year after the Kairos funding recommendation had been reversed with the mysterious "not"-that she did not know who put in the extra word. She told the House of Commons last week she had ordered someone to have it done.
The government has insisted it was Ms. Oda's decision to reject the funding request, despite obvious signs that Mr. Kenney would have preferred that and Mr. Harper may have ordered her to take the decision.
A little-noticed section of the Conservative minority report from the House Foreign Affairs Committee may provide a clue, MPs say.
The document's wording suggests Ms. Oda was not present when the "not" was added, nor when her signature was inserted, likely with "the arm"-a nickname for a signature applicator Cabinet ministers are allowed to let staff use with the minister's authorization.
"The minister had directed her staff to ensure that her decision was reflected on the document in question, and it was," the Conservative committee report states.
"There was never any intent whatsoever, in either the minister's direction to her staff about having the document in question reflect the Minister's decision, or in staff's implementation of that direction, to give an incorrect impression of [CIDA] officials' advice to the minister," it says.
Unless Ms. Oda elaborates, it will be impossible to know with accuracy whether the "not" was added at the same time her signature was affixed to the document, apparently on Nov. 27, 2009, although the date as well is impossible to confirm with further explanation.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/muzzle-02-21-2011
The "Oda affair" is just the tip of the iceberg:
Goar: Harper is cutting off ‘lifeblood of democracy’
No, actually your buddy Brian Topp has nothing but praise for Oda.
Going after Oda is a wild goose chase.
Kenny has a much higher profile, and he is definitely part the the shenanigans here. Who is the NDP critic for his portfolio?
Nuff said!!!
Oda affair: burning issue with opposition but not catching fire with publichttp://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/oda-affair-burning-...
Your evident glee at this news is most inappropriate and offensive; but I'm sure it's shared by Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney...
If we want to bring down the Cons let's focus on what matters to voters, on things that count - like jobs and the economy, health care, education, the plight of poor seniors, etc., and forget all these sidebar issues that not many people care about.
NR, keeping the public's eye on the misdeeds of the Cons - especially Oda - is at least as effective as anything else the Opposition can do to discredit the HarperCons. I'm surprised at your attitude.
That, as usual, is a complete misrepresentation of what Topp said. He is only acknowledging she isn't a complete dolt. Which she is the truth. No where does he support her actions as you are trying to insinuate.
Depsite the headline, which is misleading, this is not at all bad news for the opposition. It is hardly surprising that about half of Canadians are following every nuance of the story, or what goes on in Ottawa. In fact that is pretty low compared to a lot of other issues I bet. That 32 per cent are clearly saying she should resign shows the the Opposition is probably on the right track.
Depsite the headline, which is misleading, this is not at all bad news for the opposition. It is hardly surprising that about half of Canadians are following every nuance of the story, or what goes on in Ottawa. In fact that is pretty low compared to a lot of other issues I bet. That 32 per cent are clearly saying she should resign shows the the Opposition is probably on the right track.
That, as usual, is utter bullshit. Everything Topp actually said about her was complimentary, if you bother to read it. I misrepresented nothing and insinuated nothing.
Angus Reid poll: 58% of Canadians think Oda should resign
33% think the PM told Oda to alter the document
http://www.visioncritical.com/public-opinion/5910/most-canadians-believe...
BB Oda is not even necessarily the culprit here. Jason Kenney may be involved in this up to his eyeballs, and he's a much bigger target. At this point what is actually even known here. Within the past few weeks the opposition has made some charges and the government has countered with their explanation. The Speaker is supposed to make a ruling possibly next week - what do you think he is going to say? My hunch is nothing much.
NR, did you support the opposition's attacks on the Liberals in the '06 election concerning their corruption. Why are things different now when the Conservatives are imperiled?
Are you afraid the Liberals might benefit equally or more from Conservative scandals?
If the NDP makes the strongest case against the Conservatives misconduct, they'll be the ones most likely to benefit from the public's dissaproval of the Conservatives malfeasance.
As linked by NorthReport above:
Babblers will recall that Tim Naumetz is the same gutter journalist who phones never-met-a-microphone-he-wouldn't-spew-into Pat Martin for incisive political analysis. In recent months, he did an entire story quoting Martin as predicting a fall election (in 2010!!) and another claiming that a deal between the Cons and the Bloc was in place. Now, he quotes the usual blood libel bullshit, identifying Zionists with Jews. Note that he doesn't say, "Irwin Cotler, who is a pro-Israel lobbyist", rather, "who is Jewish".
One of the big stories on P&P tonight: Bev Oda's expensive tastes in hotels and limos. "Limo Gate" again!
ETA: As soon as she was caught by CP through a freedom of access application, Oda paid the difference between the two hotels, and for the $12 glass of orange juice (!!!). But she hasn't paid the $3,000.00 limo service that she added on when she switched hotels - to the swanky Savoy in London.
Boom Boom, it's obvious you do not live in the 1% world where $12 orange juice is cheap. The CBC reported it as $16.
Seriously, Oda should already be gone for misleading a parliamentary committee. She is starting to sound like the reincarnation of Helena Guergis
oops - my mistake - yes, the glass of OJ was $16.00 - unbelievable!
There are very few days when I spend $16.00 on my three meals a day.
She should be gone after Limo Gate in Halifax. I thought by now Harper would be embarrassed to keep her on.
I don't know which CIDA thread is most active, so I'll post this here:
CBC reporting: " CIDA executive used public assets for private business" - watchdog
I think this is the only CIDA / KAIROS / etc... series of threads still open.
Received an email today from KAIROS - the group cut by the feds:
Friends in the KAIROS community:
One of our partners in Colombia, the Organizacion femenina popular (OFP), is receiving direct threats against some of its staff and their children. Any brief, personal message you can send the Colombian government and our elected officials will make a difference to their safety. And please share this action however you can:
http://www.kairoscanada.org/dignity-rights/urgent-action-serious-threats-to-colombian-partners-and-their-families/
Please send copies of your message to the OFP and KAIROS. On behalf of our partners, we thank you for your support and for the hope you offer these sisters and brothers in the midst of such repeated and unconscionable threats.
This message was sent from:
KAIROS | 310 Dupont Street Suite 200 | Toronto, ON M5R 1V9, Canada
(just getting around to reading today's email tonight)