Mulcair Led NDP 13

Mon, 2012-05-28 08:21

Stockholm

Are you suggesting Rebecca Blaikie doesn't have "left wing bonafides" and was an opportunist when she ran in Winnipeg North?

Mon, 2012-05-28 09:14

#3

Brachina

I thought you liked Rebecca AC? If you don't like her find someone who like better and have them contest the nomination.

Mon, 2012-05-28 09:33

#4

Boom Boom

oops... wrong thread

Mon, 2012-05-28 09:47

#5

Arthur Cramer Arthur Cramer's picture

I don't know that I honestly can trust her to reflect the feelings of all the membership. Frankly it was my impression during the campaign she only had time for me when I was giving her campaign money, dropping polls, or scruitineering. But to be honest, that is how almost all NDP politicians are. They don't really care for the most part who you are and what you think. There are exceptions, but they are few.

As to another candidate, I hate to admit, but outside of venting, I just don't have the time or energy to do much else. And despite my insistence to the contrary I will probably go drop 15 - 20 polls, and scuritineer as I always do. Frankly, it drives my wife crazy listening to my rants, but at least she does. I really don't think they care what most of us think. They really don't. That is sad, but ture.

I supported Mulcair and donated money early on in his campaign. He was reasonably nice to me when he was here in Winnipeg but I don't expect him to do much more then say hello when he is here next, and that is not including my feeling he won't even remember my name.

I am a cynic. I hate this insider stuff, I hate being taken for granted, but given the alternative, what can you do? Why do you think I voted for Sellinger. He's a Lib as was Doer, but they are better then the crazy lunatics they were running against.

Mon, 2012-05-28 09:50

#6

Arthur Cramer Arthur Cramer's picture

And Stock, yes I am suggesting political opportunism played a significant role in her running.

Mon, 2012-05-28 11:02

#7

NorthReport

And it keeps the NDP on the front pages and the Liberals on the back pages where they now belong.

Mulcair picks his battle

The NDP and the Tories are more than happy to spar over the Alberta oil sands boom

http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/05/28/mulcair-picks-his-battle/

Mon, 2012-05-28 14:24

#8

quizzical

MacGregor who wrote the National Post article is a WAFI. says it's unclear why Muclair mortgaged his home so many times then listed several reasons why i would be refinancing my home if it was me in those shoes.

how much does it cost to send a kid to engineering school? or a co-owner going back to school?

how about that 95,000 settlement?

= none of my business and it sure as hell ain't anyone else's either.

Mon, 2012-05-28 14:27

#9

NorthReport

All the noise over the financing of Mulcair's home probably has more to do with trying to change the channel over the continuing excellent NDP party and leader polling results.

Mon, 2012-05-28 15:04

#10

NorthReport

An excellent debate about resource revenues

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/brian-topp/a...

Mon, 2012-05-28 17:12

#11

mark_alfred

I had a question quite some time ago about Mulcair's stance on childcare, and he did finally get back to me. My concern had been as follows:

mark_alfred wrote:
Dear Mr. Thomas Mulcair,

The 2011 platform stated, "We will work with the provinces and territories to establish and fund a Canada-wide child care and early learning program, enshrined in law". Your backgrounder states,

"Provide funding and a national framework to assist provinces to adopt a quality, low cost, universal child care program".

This hints to me that you are backing away from the "enshrined in law" portion of the former platform promise, and moving to a more voluntary set-up with the provinces. Is this the case? If so, I'm not particularly comfortable with this direction. I feel the work that Olivia Chow did on Bill C-303 (Early Learning and Child Care Act) was exemplary, and should be the direction that the NDP takes when bringing in universal childcare.

Mulcair's response was as follows:

Mulcair wrote:

Dear Mark,

Thank you for getting in touch with me about your concerns on childcare. I regret the delay in replying.

Please be assured that I remain committed to fighting for a national childcare program for Canadian families. As a Quebecer, I am proud that we have already implemented a program on a provincial level and so I will remain dedicated to expanding this framework to the national level.

What we know is that childcare subsidies don't work - the money that the Conservative government has allocated to parents for childcare spending simply isn't enough. The money is quite often not even enough to pay for one day of care.

Since Stephen Harper's Conservatives have been so intent on passing their budget filled with reckless cuts, every single public service Canadians rely on is on the line. My New Democratic team and I will be fighting against these cuts to ensure accessible public services and push for greater funding.

Once again, thank you for writing.

Best regards,

Tom

I was glad to hear back from him, but it didn't really address my question. Presumably if something like what Quebec has is set up here, then that would be a positive. I suppose to get an answer to whether the intention is to enshrine it in law or not (and if so, what form that would take) that I'd have to check out how it's set up in Quebec. Does anyone have any links to any legislation for this in Quebec? Is Quebec's childcare program enshrined in law? Is it similar in structure to Chow's work on Bill C-303 (Early Learning and Child Care Act), which was structurally very similar to the Canada Health Act?

Mon, 2012-05-28 17:15

#12

Stockholm

So it seems that the Ottawa Citizen and Post media photo-shopped a picture of Mulcair's house to make it look twice as big as it actually is...I wonder if anyone could be charged with forgery for that?

Mon, 2012-05-28 17:38

#13

mark_alfred

NorthReport wrote:

An excellent debate about resource revenues

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/brian-topp/a...

Thanks for the link. I like his taking Milke's argument against supporting publicly-owned funds and applying it to private sector banks. Good way of showing the double standard that Milke is using.

Mon, 2012-05-28 19:18

#14

knownothing knownothing's picture

Brad Wall invites Mulcair to a potash mine

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/28/mulcair-to-lecture-alberta-on-envir...

CAPP invite Mulcair for tour and he will meet with Fort Mac mayor but not Redford

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mulcair+earful+during+oilsands+tour...

Mon, 2012-05-28 19:31

#15

Arthur Cramer Arthur Cramer's picture

Stock, do you have a reference for your last post?

Tue, 2012-05-29 00:46

#16

mark_alfred

An article from the Winnipeg Free Press contrasts some of Layton's comments about the oil sands with Mulcair's current Dutch disease statements:

Winnipeg Free Press wrote:
On Monday, the words "Dutch disease" did not cross Mulcair's lips as he discussed his upcoming tour. He seemed to take pains to tone down his rhetoric, which was already much less inflammatory than the diatribes his predecessor, Jack Layton, used to unleash against the poisonous "tar sands."

After flying over the oilsands during the 2008 election, Layton blasted Prime Minister Stephen Harper for refusing to "protect the North from the toxic discharges of his friends in the big oil companies."

By contrast, Mulcair's tour is being organized by one of those big oil companies, Suncor, in what is meant to show a more businesslike, measured approach to the issue.

I miss Jack.

Tue, 2012-05-29 07:01

#17

nicky

From John Ibbitson of all people !!!!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/john-ibbitson/no-room-for-centrist-compromise-in-a-left-right-split-canada/article2445923/

JOHN IBBITSON
No room for centrist compromise in a left-right split Canada

JOHN IBBITSON
OTTAWA— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Mr. Mulcair's message is powerful, first and foremost because he believes it. He was saying it months ago, long before he won the leadership. Cynics forget the impact that a principled argument, passionately held, can have.

The NDP leader offers opponents of Stephen Harper a standard around which to rally. This is the first time that progressive forces have been able to put forward a leader and a message that offer such a compelling alternative to the Prime Minister and his conservative orthodoxy.

The NDP message plays into a great shift under way in Canadian politics, one that pits right-wing and left-wing values against each other on economic issues, with fewer and fewer voters clinging to centrist compromise.

...........

When Mr. Mulcair heads west later this week to tour the oil sands and meet with provincial politicians, his progress will be covered closely. It is difficult to remember the last time a trip by an opposition leader has garnered this much attention.

Mr. Mulcair will be heavily criticized by politicians and pundits during his travels. He won't care. He knows he is succeeding where everyone who came before him failed: rallying opposition to the Harper Conservatives around one idea and one figure.

The Conservatives will welcome this. A head-to-head fight between the left and the right, between Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Harper, is exactly what both sides want.

For in a political war between progressives and conservatives, there is no room for a party of the centre, for the Liberal Party, which is entrenched in a distant third place.

That may be Mr. Mulcair's greatest achievement: to take on the Western premiers, to take on the oil interests, to take on the Conservatives in the cause of the environment and of factory workers in central Canada.

And to leave the Liberals forgotten in his wake.

Tue, 2012-05-29 08:23

#18

Brachina

Spill over into BC. http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-liberals-...

Does Christy really think this is going to work. I have a weird feeling Mulcair is going to be dragged into BC and Quebec provinicial elections.

Tue, 2012-05-29 11:12

#19

quizzical

Stockholm wrote:
So it seems that the Ottawa Citizen and Post media photo-shopped a picture of Mulcair's house to make it look twice as big as it actually is...I wonder if anyone could be charged with forgery for that?

i went and looked at the pic again and it looks lto me ike the garage was made longer and wider compared to the house but it could just be my imagination running away with me.

is there a link or somethin?

Tue, 2012-05-29 11:14

#20

NorthReport

The time has come for a progressive revival

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lawrence-martin/the-time-ha...

The list is only a partial one. Until now, the blowback against the undoing of the old Canadian way has been held in check by several factors, among them Stephen Harper’s skill at not appearing radical in what he is doing, the ascendancy of Western conservatism, the weakness of the Liberal party and the power of the Harper team to frighten and intimidate critics.

But there are signs of change. The New Democrats, leading the Conservatives in a poll released this month, have reached historic highs. The issue of inequality is now ranked as the most pressing concern of Canadians. It being an issue that is a hallmark of a regressive society, it could spur a progressive revival.

Tue, 2012-05-29 11:58

#21

NorthReport

Effective.

NDP attacks Tories for landing failed candidates in gov't jobs

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/attacks+Tories+landing+failed+candidate...

Tue, 2012-05-29 14:20

#22

wage zombie

As someone who was critical of Mulcair on Babble I have to say I am really liking his performance so far as leader.

This was the Mulcair that I wanted to see in the leadership race...unafraid to make principled, intelligent arguments even if they could cause controversy.

I think my biggest complaing about Mulcair the leadership candidate was his "frontrunner strategy" or playing it safe and vague. I viewed the leadership race as an audition as opposed to a job intreview, and I felt that Mulcair should have been showing us how he would act as leader. And I don't know that he did really.

Looking back now I can appreciate why a front runner would run their campaign that way. Obviously you go with what works. I thought his safe strategy as front runner would translate to playing it safe as leader.

If Mulcair had been acting more like this during the leadership race he would've addressed my concerns.

At this point, I am very impressed and very happy to have him as our leader.

Go Tom Go!

Tue, 2012-05-29 14:47

#23

Steve_Shutt Steve_Shutt's picture

Had he been acting like this during the leadership campaign he would have been far more adversarial and divisive with people he fundamentally agrees with and does not have many fundamental disagreements with.

Tue, 2012-05-29 15:16

#24

Brachina

Big diffence campaigning against enemies then it is against allies. Unleashing against allies would damage the party, no reason to,hold,back against Harper, unleash away.

Tue, 2012-05-29 15:21

#25

wage zombie

I'm not looking to rehash the leadership debate. I'm not talking about "unleashing" or being divisive, I'm talking about not speaking in bland and vague platitudes. IMO that's what we got during the leadership campaign.

I knew that Mulcair would be able to stand up to attacks from the other parties and the traditional media, and I'm happy to see that he's articulating bold prinicipled stands.

Tue, 2012-05-29 15:41

#26

Bärlüer

mark_alfred wrote:

I suppose to get an answer to whether the intention is to enshrine it in law or not (and if so, what form that would take) that I'd have to check out how it's set up in Quebec. [...] Is Quebec's childcare program enshrined in law?

Yes.

mark_alfred wrote:
Is it similar in structure to Chow's work on Bill C-303 (Early Learning and Child Care Act), which was structurally very similar to the Canada Health Act?

Well, it's obviously very different, since Olivia Chow's Bill (the latest version is Bill C-373), which I just quickly looked at, merely establishes "criteria and conditions that must be met before a child care transfer payment may be made in support of the early learning and child care program of a province, territory or aboriginal peoples’ organization." (s. 3). Broad criteria/principles of accountability, quality, universality and accessibility are established.

The Quebec law, now called the Educational Childcare Act, is a reasonably hefty piece of legislation (168 articles; with accompanying 138-article regulations) that provides for a complete mechanism of delivery of child care and education. It defines the mandates and duties of the various actors in this system (childcare centres, day care centres, home childcare providers, home childcare coordinating offices, the Minister). Etc.[/quote]

mark_alfred wrote:
Does anyone have any links to any legislation for this in Quebec?

Yes.

Tue, 2012-05-29 15:42

#27

Unionist

Mark_alfred, here's a description (in less hefty terms) of the services available from the Québec government:

[url=http://www4.gouv.qc.ca/EN/Portail/Citoyens/Evenements/DevenirParent/Page... of childcare services[/url]

Tue, 2012-05-29 18:53

#28

Geoff OB

wage zombie wrote:

As someone who was critical of Mulcair on Babble I have to say I am really liking his performance so far as leader.

This was the Mulcair that I wanted to see in the leadership race...unafraid to make principled, intelligent arguments even if they could cause controversy.

I think my biggest complaing about Mulcair the leadership candidate was his "frontrunner strategy" or playing it safe and vague. I viewed the leadership race as an audition as opposed to a job intreview, and I felt that Mulcair should have been showing us how he would act as leader. And I don't know that he did really.

Looking back now I can appreciate why a front runner would run their campaign that way. Obviously you go with what works. I thought his safe strategy as front runner would translate to playing it safe as leader.

If Mulcair had been acting more like this during the leadership race he would've addressed my concerns.

At this point, I am very impressed and very happy to have him as our leader.

Go Tom Go!

I too have been impressed with Mulcair's performance, although I'd like to hear a clear statement of support from him for the student protests in Montreal. He and the party, in general, have had little to say, so far.

Tue, 2012-05-29 19:45

#29

NDPP

NDP Walks Tightrope on Issue of Quebec Protests

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/walks+tightrope+issue+Quebec+protest...

"..Not quite neutral but not ready to overtly take sides, the party is trying to avoid alienating the students and the province's left wing or Premier Jean Charest, with whom NDP leader Thomas Mulcair just recently patched up a long-standing feud.."

run with hare-hunt with hounds

Tue, 2012-05-29 20:10

#30

Brachina

Why does everyone expect Mulcair to solve this, its not his job, he's not Premier, he's not Prime Minister, he has no Authority, the best he can do is moral support at massive cost to the NDP and no gain to students.

And what does it say that for those that appear to believe that it somehow education has become federal juristiction, that they skip Harper completely and go straight to Mulcair, yet Harper's the Prime Minister, no one, not even the rightwing Pundits gives a shit what,Harper thinks as far as I can tell.

This is just getting weird now. I don't get it. I don't get what people expect Mulcair to do.

I did notice that his so called gag order is very weak when it comes to MPs.

Tue, 2012-05-29 20:13

#31

wage zombie

Brachina wrote:

Why does everyone expect Mulcair to solve this, its not his job, he's not Premier, he's not Prime Minister, he has no Authority, the best he can do is moral support at massive cost to the NDP and no gain to students.

No the best he could do is help it spread.

Wed, 2012-05-30 00:05

#32

Boom Boom

I can't imagine Jack Layton being so silent on the issue of the Quebec students. I think he would have stood amongst them and challenged Charest straight out. But Mulcair ain't Layton. He has strengths which we will come to appreciate in due course.

Wed, 2012-05-30 01:01

#33

DSloth

The (token) neutrality has absolutely nothing to do with staying on Charest's good sign, which has practically no value to the NDP in Quebec or Federally, and everything to do with the incredibly delicate tight rope this party is going to have to walk on the issue of Federalism. This is indisputably a provincial issue and a lot of dippers are going to have to get used to the notion that we can't be a Quebec party if our knee jerk reaction is to cast aside the seperation of powers when we decide that we know best.

Wed, 2012-05-30 10:37

#34

mtm

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1202578--tim-harper-ndp-leader-tom-mulcair-invades-enemy-territory#.T8VsH0imzus.twitter

Wed, 2012-05-30 10:48

#35

theleftyinvestor

Brachina wrote:
Spill over into BC. http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-liberals-... Does Christy really think this is going to work. I have a weird feeling Mulcair is going to be dragged into BC and Quebec provinicial elections.

BC has a long history of essentially running against the federal government in every election cycle.

Wed, 2012-05-30 10:48

#36

theleftyinvestor

Geoff OB wrote:

I too have been impressed with Mulcair's performance, although I'd like to hear a clear statement of support from him for the student protests in Montreal. He and the party, in general, have had little to say, so far.

There will be no such statement. Yes the NDP doesn't have any strong interest in lining up beside a Charest government, but it's all about the PQ right now. Mulcair does not want to help the PQ (which he could well do with a message of support for the students) because a Marois victory could destroy all the momentum the federal NDP has built up. He also does not want to have the public semblance of attacking the PQ, because he can't afford to lose their voters.

Wed, 2012-05-30 11:25

#37

Ippurigakko

mulcair should can get NPDQ back in Quebec, is it dissolved in recently? how NDPQ back?

Wed, 2012-05-30 11:38

#38

Stockholm

I disagree that a PQ win in Quebec would destroy the NDP momentum there. It would create a lot of uncertainty and it would lead us into uncharted terrirory - but its hard to say whether by 2015 having the PQ in power under Marois would help or hurt the NDP federally. I can see a scenario where Marois as Premier HELPS the NDP. For one thing she would probably become very very very unpopular very quickly and typically when you have a toxic PQ provincial government - it tends to make people even more reluctant to want to vote for the the BQ sister party federally. Also, if Marois succeeds in provoking a national unity crisis - Mulcair would quickly emerge as the one and only credible voice for federalism in Quebec. Harper is toxic in Quebec and would be seen as putting fuel on the fire. A lot of Canadians might then see the NDP as the only party capable of uniting the country and defending Canada against Marois and her xenophobic ethnic nationalism.

Wed, 2012-05-30 11:45

#39

KenS

I really dont think that the reluctance to say anything has to do with provincial jurisdiction. It could be stated as referring to aspirations and other generalities.

I'm not jumping up and down about it, but lets at least admit that the reluctance is simply over association with radicalism.

Wed, 2012-05-30 11:52

#40

Boom Boom

Joe Oliver is on CBC accusing Mulcair of putting ideology ahead of the oil sands. I'm splitting my sides laughing at this ignoramus.

Wed, 2012-05-30 12:06

#41

Sean in Ottawa

And then there is this inconvenient truth:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/new-report-backs-up-mulcairs-cla...

Wed, 2012-05-30 12:16

#42

Boom Boom

Yeah, Evan Solomon last night on P&P said that report was coming today, and it will be discussed on P&P tonight. Joe Oliver is trying to blunt it.

Wed, 2012-05-30 12:35

#43

mtm

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/30/was-thomas-mulcair-right-new-report-supports-dutch-disease-claims/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

same article but better headline and fantastic mulcair grin

Wed, 2012-05-30 13:23

#44

NorthReport

Yes pictures do say a lot mtm.

------------------------------

So who are the Western Premiers going to be listing to: the Western-based Pembina Institute who suggest we do indeed have a strain of "Dutch Disease" involved here, or the right-wing Eastern-based Macdonald Laurier Institute which of course is in denial about any problems whatsoever to do with our tar sands?

Great article Karl and thank you.

Mulcair’s Dutch Disease comment may put the environment back on the front burner

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2012/05/mulcair’s-dutch...

Wed, 2012-05-30 13:52

#45

NorthReport

What in the world is going on at the National Post?

Tories’ CP Rail back-to-work bill plays into NDP’s hands

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/05/28/john-ivison-tories-back-t...

Wed, 2012-05-30 13:55

#46

Sean in Ottawa

The National Post published some blatant propaganda today to make up for that...

Wed, 2012-05-30 13:58

#47

NorthReport

I thought all the NP published was right-wing propaganda since their inception.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tory politics exclusive, not inclusive

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/tory-politics-exclus...

Wed, 2012-05-30 14:01

#48

NorthReport

Some business leaders are sharp as a tack. Maybe Mulcair's Western Canada tar sands trip hosts are one of these, and they have already seen the writing on the wall about a change in our federal government coming down the pipes a few years from now.

Wed, 2012-05-30 15:35

#49

NorthReport

Con MP from Calgary-Centre steps down.

Wed, 2012-05-30 15:41

#50

Brachina

NorthReport wrote:

Con MP from Calgary-Centre steps down.

What? When? Why? Source?

Wed, 2012-05-30 16:26

#51

NorthReport

Brachina

I first heard about it from Don Martin on CTV.

With the Cons losing a Caucus member in Calgary today, I could not think of a better time for Mulcair to be visiting Alberta.

Mulcair Led NDP 13

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