Well it's a wrap!
Aide stamped Bev Oda signature on funding memo
You seem very happy at the prospect that the Conservatives will get away with lying to Parliament. Maybe the only thing that would be better is is if the Cons win 225 seats to the Liberals 4 seats?
Well it's a wrap!
Aide stamped Bev Oda signature on funding memo
Funding document only altered to signal direct decision from minister, Tories say
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Aide+stamped+signature/4316862/story...
Now that's a Conservative talking point. Literally.
senior government officials sent a background document Saturday to members of the Conservative caucus to outline how the controversial memo — which political critics say was “doctored” — was actually prepared.
Here we go again with the same ole, same ole. Sounds a lot like more Liberal crybaby BS to me.
Time to get over it - the party's over for the Liberals. It's just that some people haved clued into a bit earlier than others.
Unfortunately some folks can't tell the difference between laughing 
at someone and smiling 
at someone.
Background memo sent by *senior government officials to members of the Conservative caucus
I keep trying to tell ya but if it makes you happy to bury your head in the sand go for it. Just don't be surprised when the election results come in. Pleaase don't say what happened?
Lost generation haunts Liberals
Liberal MPs run their ridings like McDonald's franchises: each with the same brand but independently owned and not open to new blood. This has killed the primary life source for any political organization - fresh ideas from new faces, the grassroots.
Many ridings are no longer true Liberal ridings, they simply "belong" to the MPs who have represented them for years. This has been good for Liberal leaders because the seats were won regardless of the leader. But when those MPs leave, the ridings are up for grabs, as recently was the case in Vaughan.
Replacing Ignatieff is an option, but as a Liberal strategist told me last week, "Who can replace him?"
Those available are, politically speaking, too old and not needed, while those who are needed are too young, and thus not ready. In between, there's the lost generation.
The challenge for the Liberal party is to find a solution before the fake face of the young Dorian Gray morphs into the decaying picture hidden in the attic of Stornoway.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/941755--persichi...
I keep trying to tell ya but if it makes you happy to bury your head in the sand go for it. Just don't be surprised when the election results come in. Pleaase don't say what happened?
Lost generation haunts Liberals
Liberal MPs run their ridings like McDonald's franchises: each with the same brand but independently owned and not open to new blood. This has killed the primary life source for any political organization - fresh ideas from new faces, the grassroots.
Many ridings are no longer true Liberal ridings, they simply "belong" to the MPs who have represented them for years. This has been good for Liberal leaders because the seats were won regardless of the leader. But when those MPs leave, the ridings are up for grabs, as recently was the case in Vaughan.
Replacing Ignatieff is an option, but as a Liberal strategist told me last week, "Who can replace him?"
Those available are, politically speaking, too old and not needed, while those who are needed are too young, and thus not ready. In between, there's the lost generation.
The challenge for the Liberal party is to find a solution before the fake face of the young Dorian Gray morphs into the decaying picture hidden in the attic of Stornoway.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/941755--persichi...
And just what does this story have to do with Bev Oda or KAIROS?
Obviously, this BS.
It is this kind of mentality that is going to put the Conservatives into a majority position. Can't we be a little smarter than this absurdness.
You seem very happy at the prospect that the Conservatives will get away with lying to Parliament. Maybe the only thing that would be better is is if the Cons win 225 seats to the Liberals 4 seats?
Well it's a wrap!
Aide stamped Bev Oda signature on funding memo
Funding document only altered to signal direct decision from minister, Tories sayhttp://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Aide+stamped+signature/4316862/story...
Now that's a Conservative talking point. Literally.
senior government officials sent a background document Saturday to members of the Conservative caucus to outline how the controversial memo — which political critics say was “doctored” — was actually prepared.
Not the deed that sinks you - Toronto Sun
The Harper PMO is hoping you won’t give a tinker’s damn about Bev Oda (who?) and Kairos (what?). I’ve done enough TV panels with Conservative strategists over the years to know that whenever a scandal rears its ugly head, their standard line is: “Nothing to see here, move along...."
The House of Commons is a sham - McLeans
Since announcing that he would not seek re-election, Liberal MP Keith Martin has been searing in his criticism of the present situation. “I’ve never seen morale so low or Parliament so dysfunctional in more than 17 years of being there,” he says. “There’s an overwhelming sense of futility, disappointment and sadness among most of the MPs who are there.” Martin is unmatched in tone, but is not alone in his concerns. One MP uses the term “farcical” to describe the process of debate in the House. “I think the vast majority of MPs are interested in playing a bigger role,” says Conservative MP Michael Chong, “in having greater authority and autonomy to execute their roles.”
Martin is explicit in assigning blame. He laments for those who surround party leaders, the “fairly young, ambitious, rabidly partisan individuals who often treat MPs with utter disdain.” The incentives, he says, are backwards. “Rabid partisanship is rewarded,” he says. “Overweening and excessive party discipline has disempowered members of Parliament and forced them to pay utter homage to the leaderships of their party, instead of their true bosses, which are the people that sent them there.”
There are, by Martin’s telling, two particularly worrisome results of the system as it is: the important debates it does not allow Parliament to have and the untold number of individuals it discourages from taking part. “We’re sending a very sad and sorry message to the bright and the young,” he says, “that their skills are not going to be used to the best of their abilities if they go into federal politics.”
Boo! Hoo!
I think before this is all over some people are going to be apologizing to Ms Oda and Mr Harper over this for their comments.
PS Don't be shy about tellin' us that this is Liberal war room guy Warren Kensella who is making the comment.
JKR
He's right to an extent.
You should be going after Jason Kenney here, not Oda.
You are targeting the wrong culprit.
Boo! Hoo!
I think before this is all over some people are going to be apologizing to Ms Oda and Mr Harper over this for their comments.
So now Oda and Harper are victims?!? They couldn't help deceiving Parliament?
Is that how Conservative Central is trying to spin this now?
JKR
He's right to an extent.
You should be going after Jason Kenney here, not Oda.
You are targeting the wrong culprit.
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.
Feds muzzle Oda, worried she'll cave in Question Period, say opposition MPs
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.
Feds muzzle Oda, worried she'll cave in Question Period, say opposition MPs
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.
The "Oda affair" is just the tip of the iceberg:
Goar: Harper is cutting off ‘lifeblood of democracy’
Here are a few of the things Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t want you to know:
• How much his crime crackdown will cost.
...
• How much his latest corporate tax cut will cost the national treasury.
...
• Who was in charge of security at last year’s G20 summit.
...
• What a North American security perimeter will actually mean.
...
• What criteria the government uses to cut off a non-profit organization’s funding.
...
• Whether Canadian troops in Afghanistan handed detainees over to state security officials knowing they would be tortured.
...
The list goes on. Harper has stymied parliamentary committees, removed outspoken government watchdogs and obstructed Access to Information requests. He has prorogued Parliament twice.
Six years ago, as opposition leader, he wrote these words in an essay published by the Montreal Gazette: “Information is the lifeblood of a democracy. Without adequate access to key information about government policies and programs, citizens and parliamentarians cannot make informed decisions and incompetent or corrupt governments can be hidden under a cloak of secrecy.”
It would be hard to put it better than that.
This isn’t just an issue affecting journalists, civil libertarians and opposition MPs. You’re being kept in the dark about what’s happening to your tax dollars and your country.
In defending Oda, Harper stands alone
No, actually your buddy [url=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/brian-topp/2011/02/what-layton-told-harp... Topp has nothing but praise for Oda[/url].
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 public
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/oda-affair-burning-...
Nuff said!!!
[url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/oda-affair-burning-... affair: burning issue with opposition but not catching fire with public[/url]
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.
In defending Oda, Harper stands alone
No, actually your buddy [url=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/brian-topp/2011/02/what-layton-told-harp... Topp has nothing but praise for Oda[/url].
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.
Nuff said!!!
Oda affair: burning issue with opposition but not catching fire with public
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/oda-affair-burning-...
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.
Nuff said!!!
Oda affair: burning issue with opposition but not catching fire with public
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/oda-affair-burning-...
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 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.
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, 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.
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, 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:
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.
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)
