[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wilf Day:
[QB]
Not necessarily. In the last House two Conservatives overflowed into the left side.
I believe these were two of the Alternate Speakers, along with Bill Blakie, who sat away from their caucuses (supposedly) to maintain their impartiality!
I believe that the 31-member NDP caucus during the 1972-74 minority government was split on both sides of the Commons.
Are there any historians who could back me up?
Sorry for the double post!
Technology is wonderful...when it works!
Sorry for the double post!
Technology is wonderful...when it works!
Sorry for the double post!
Technology is wonderful...when it works!
quote:
Originally posted by Stockholm:
[b] even if it was something as "low end" as being crtic on Canada Post.[/b]
HEY!
quote:
Originally posted by Stockholm:
[b] even if it was something as "low end" as being crtic on Canada Post.[/b]
HEY!
quote:
Originally posted by Stockholm:
[b] even if it was something as "low end" as being crtic on Canada Post.[/b]
HEY!
quote:
Originally posted by montrealais:
[b]What with the spectre of privatization and reduction of services to small communities, [/b]
The mandate of the strategic review specifically excluded privitization.
While office hours are occasionally adjusted, there is a Canada Post moratorium on closing rural post offices.
quote:
Originally posted by montrealais:
[b]What with the spectre of privatization and reduction of services to small communities, [/b]
The mandate of the strategic review specifically excluded privitization.
While office hours are occasionally adjusted, there is a Canada Post moratorium on closing rural post offices.
quote:
Originally posted by montrealais:
[b]What with the spectre of privatization and reduction of services to small communities, [/b]
The mandate of the strategic review specifically excluded privitization.
While office hours are occasionally adjusted, there is a Canada Post moratorium on closing rural post offices.
[url=http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/critics-10-16-2008]NDP strategist Ian Capstick said party leader Jack Layton generally unveils his shadow cabinet shortly after the prime minister appoints his ministers.[/url]
quote:
Until then, Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar is expected to field development questions.The NDP international critics fared better than their Liberal counterparts. Immigration critic Olivia Chow was in a tight race before surging ahead of her Liberal competitor, but all those who sought re-election did so successfully.
The most important loss was CIDA critic Alexa McDonough, one of the party's most authoritative voices on foreign policy, who did not seek re-election.
[url=http://www.midnorthmonitor.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1259110]Carol Hughes’ experience with the Canadian Labour Congress and as a justice worker in Elliot Lake could get her the nod for human resources and social development, industry, labour and housing, justice or public safety critic.[/url]
When is the new Caucus meeting?
[ 23 October 2008: Message edited by: Wilf Day ]
quote:
Originally posted by Wilf Day:
[b]Jack should at least get Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, or whatever he wants.[/b]
Yes. Plus, it would be nice if the parties in Ottawa started giving MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador, and Atlantic Canada more generally, something more than a few ghetto portfolios like Fisheries and ACOA. Harris was the lone or main NDP voice in NF's legislature for years, he's highly respected and is experienced enough to easily tackle any portfolio. I'd be upset but not at all surprised if Harris became DFO or ACOA critic by default, just because of the province he's from.
Alexa MacDonough was Foreign Affairs critic - hardly an "Atlantic ghetto" portfoloio to be critic of.
quote:
Originally posted by skarredmunkey:
[b]Harris was the lone or main NDP voice in NF's legislature for years, he's highly respected and is experienced enough to easily tackle any portfolio. [/b]
How many of the new caucus are lawyers? Harris (Danny Millions's former law partner and, IIRC, former college room mate) could be a candidate for Justice / Solicitor General.
The NDP would be really smart to put MPs prepared to speak French in the house in critic portfolios where they would face off with unilingual anglophones. It will help them increase their allotment of time on the French nightly news casts.
quote:
Originally posted by Stockholm:
[b]Alexa MacDonough was Foreign Affairs critic - hardly an "Atlantic ghetto" portfoloio to be critic of.[/b]
Oh, snap. Ya got me Stockholm. Go you.
From wiki:
quote:
[Peter] Stoffer is the current NDP critic of Fisheries and Oceans, Shipbuilding, Seniors, Veterans’ Affairs, and Amateur Sport. He is a former critic of Canada Post Corporation, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and National Defence.
Also from wiki:
quote:
[Yvon Godin] is the current Whip of the NDP caucus, and is the NDP critic of Official Languages, Employment Insurance, Intergovernmental Affairs and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
There is a tendency in all parties to ghettoize portfolios, ministries and critic positions according to 'appropriate' region or the MP's assumed background. Agriculture goes to the Prairies or PEI, for example. I'm not saying this is inherently wrong, I'm just tired of the default attribution of, for example, Fisheries to Jack Harris just because he is from the East Coast. It's ignorant of the fact that many of these MPs from the "periphery" have more than just regional concerns or expertise and could serve other departments or critic portfolios much better.
quote:
Originally posted by skarredmunkey:
[b]There is a tendency in all parties to ghettoize portfolios, ministries and critic positions according to 'appropriate' region or the MP's assumed background. Agriculture goes to the Prairies or PEI, for example. I'm not saying this is inherently wrong, I'm just tired of the default attribution of, for example, Fisheries to Jack Harris just because he is from the East Coast. It's ignorant of the fact that many of these MPs from the "periphery" have more than just regional concerns or expertise and could serve other departments or critic portfolios much better.[/b]
Certainly those from the "periphery" have more than just regional concerns. But at the same time, it makes no sense to have someone who isn't from the region responsible for addressing the regional concerns.
Atlantic MPs shouldn't be limited to being critic for ACOA, but the critic for ACOA should be from the Atlantic. Similarly, it makes sense for Fisheries and Oceans to be assigned to someone from BC or the Atlantic. Those assignments can be made, and I'm sure they will be made, in a way that doesn't 'ghettoize' our Atlantic (or other) MPs.
[url=http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1254110]In the North, even Red Tories are cheering. Jim Gordon, a former Conservative MPP and former city mayor, said:[/url]
quote:
the economy in Sudbury tends to take much more time to recover from economic hardship than other areas of the province."When Jack Layton talks about the kitchen table, we certainly felt that the boardroom table wasn't interested in us here."
We are now facing another recession that is "going to be much worse" than anything the country has experienced since the Great depression, he said, and as a result, the leaders need to be "wise and prudent" about the projects they advocate for.
Gordon cites the proposed Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) -- a project that was rejected by the federal Conservative government -- as an example of a plan that utilizes northern resources while branching out beyond commodity.
On Wednesday, newly elected MP for Sudbury, New Democrat Glenn Thibeault, said through the course of the election campaign, the concerns of Sudburians shifted to the economy.
"CEMI puts us on a global stage," said Thibeault.
He has already spoken to long-time CEMI supporter and MP, Rick Bartolucci and is optimistic about working co-operatively to push the plan forward.
Speaking from his office in downtown Sudbury, Mayor John Rodriguez said CEMI is at the top of his priorities for the community, as well.
In addition to the mining centre, he cites the issue of affordable housing as one he hopes is brought to Ottawa.
"It is extremely important not only to our community but all communities in Canada," he said.
"We can spearhead this. I need them to bring home and impress upon the government that they need to bring money back for social housing."
Attaining social housing and reducing poverty is not only good for the region, it is "good for business" said the chair of the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Brian Gatien.
The newly elected MPs in Sudbury and Nickel Belt should focus on projects that diversify the region's economy, said the former city mayor.
"We can see already with the nickel price falling, it's like a balloon and it's going to burst," said Jim Gordon.
"One of their goals should be to work with the new government to encourage them to accept and support the kind of projects the community sends to develop our economy in other ways."
Predictions:
Jack Harris labour critic. Deputy critic for intergovernmental affairs
Olivia Chow will remain citizenship and immigration critic, deputy critic for social development (children and youth).
Dawn Black will remain national defence critic. While Peter Stoffer veterans Affairs critic, fisheries critic and deputy critic in charge of ship building.
Paul Dewer will be the foreign affairs critic. Nathan Cullen will become deputy foreign affairs critic and critic of foreign planning, disaster relief. Libby Davies will become the peace advocacy critic and the drug regulation critic.
Thomas Mulcair will be the finance critic and critic of Quebec issues. Malcolm Allen will be the deputy critic of finance and deputy housing critic with special emphasis on environmentally sound construction.
Alex Atamanenko will be the agriculture, and deputy critic of foreign affairs (involving relations with Russia)
Denice Savoie will continue on as critic for education, literacy, human resources.
Glen Thibeault will become the critic for persons with disabilities.
Brian Masse will become Industry critic, Canadian border services critic
Wayne Marston will be human rights critic, critic for sport, deputy industry critic
Tony Martin will be the education and retraining critic
Yvon Godin will be the employment critic, deputy immigration critic (foreign workers), and deputy arts and culture critic (as it relates to French and Acadian cultures)
John Rafterty will be the deputy education and retraining critic
Niki Ashton’s election portfolio includes Aboriginal Self-Government and Women’s issues – and her interest in languages gives her a multicultural flare. Jean Crowder is the present critic for Aboriginal Affairs and has the advantage of being Metis – along with having former portfolios dealing with local industry and the Status of Women. I doubt that the Status of Women will be a single portfolio in the NDP.
I figure that the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio will be split. Niki Ashton will get the bulk of Aboriginal Affairs concerning self government, housing and culture with an emphasis on the role of women in traditional Native Culture as well as the rights and difficulties Native women face and aboriginal games.
Jean Crowder will deal with Native Land Claims, and issues concerning both Native children and non Native children – and will get the Child Care and forestry critic portfolios.
Bruce Hyer will become the deputy minister of forestry while being groomed to take over the critic portfolio.
Pat Martin will continue on as the ethics critic, as well as being the deputy agriculture critic (wheat board) and deputy Aboriginal Affairs critic with emphasis on urban issues and urban reserves.
Irene Mathyssen will continue on as the critic for the status of women, urban environmental critic
Meghan Leslie will be the affordable housing critic and deputy status of women critic with emphasis on women in poverty.
Joe Comartin will be environment critic, deputy justice critic, deputy ethics critic. Linda Duncan’s specialty is environmental law so she is likely to be the deputy critic of environmental issues as they relate to trade agreements and government contracts. Dennis Bevington will remain the critic of northern development, Arctic sovereignty, deputy critic for natural resources (energy).
Peter Julian will still have the bulk of the NAFTA/SPP trade critic portfolio, but will become more focused on labour rights than the environment (which is enough to keep on top of with the government sneaky tricks)
Jim Malloway consumer protection and regulation critic. Don Davies deputy safety and regulation critic.
Judy W-L will be health critic
Chris Charlton will be the critic for senior issues including health and drug access, elder care and pensions.
Bill Siksay culture and heritage critic, critic for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgender issues. Charlie Angus will be deputy arts and culture critic.
David Christopherson will be justice and crime critic. Carol Hughes will be deputy justice critic with emphasis on youth issues. Claude Gravelle will be deputy justice critic with emphasis on crime prevention and handguns
Don Davies will become critic for the 2010 Olympics and Pacific Gateway project.
quote:
Originally posted by vaudree:
[b]Predictions:
[/b]
And who is critic for Democratic Reform?
quote:
Originally posted by Wilf Day:From the link:
[b]On Wednesday, newly elected MP for Sudbury, New Democrat Glenn Thibeault, said through the course of the election campaign, the concerns of Sudburians shifted to the economy.
[/b]
This partly explains the upset, but I think people were mostly looking for any excuse to vote out Marleau. Also, there appeared to be some movement from an anti-Marleau Liberal faction that sat out this time. Outside of Linda Duncan's seat's vulnerability to a stronger Tory, I think Sudbury is most likely to switch back to the Grits next time out, even if the NDP make additional gains elsewhere... provided that Marleau isn't given the Liberal nomination again.
Glenn Thibault would need either a really prominent caucus position that would keep him in the news or more Liberal in-fighting next time out. It would make more sense to give Carol Hughes the additional northeastern Ontario shadow cabinet position. She looks to have a much stronger chance at re-election.
quote:
And who is critic for Democratic Reform?
Probably Libby Davies - which would consist of abolishing the senate and some form of proportional representation - as well as keeping out those voting machines from the south.
Hey, I probably forgot a few things.
I came across this Wikipedia entry for the 1972 Canadian Election:
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Canadian_election]http://en.wikipedia....
It shows a seating plan of the House of Commons, with the NDP members split between the two sides of the House.
Will this be the way when Parliament sits again?
Will the NDP newbies have to sit on the government side again?
quote:
Glenn Thibault would need either a really prominent caucus position that would keep him in the news or more Liberal in-fighting next time out. It would make more sense to give Carol Hughes the additional northeastern Ontario shadow cabinet position.
Jack has a way of dividing up critic portfolios when, even if someone else has the main portfolio, the MP has the portion of the portfolio which deals with local issues. Thus, the person gets to speak on the issues most important in their community.
quote:
Will this be the way when Parliament sits again?
I think that it will be the Bloc that is split and the NDP sitting together on the same side as the Liberals. If it is a choice between dividing the NDP and dividing the Bloc, Harper would prefer a divided Bloc.
This is my excuse to bump up this thread - and to remind those who have not posted their predictions.
quote:
Originally posted by vaudree:
[b]I think that it will be the Bloc that is split and the NDP sitting together on the same side as the Liberals. If it is a choice between dividing the NDP and dividing the Bloc, Harper would prefer a divided Bloc.[/b]
No doubt. However, with the Bloc having more MPs, it would normally be next to the Liberals. I would not be surprised if the NDP group is split. Ideally the Bloc, NDP and Liberal front bench would all be opposite the government, and the Liberals would overflow around one end. We will see.
[url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=de8ad1a8-50e1-4... Caucus meets tomorrow.[/url]
quote:
The federal New Democrats say they will pressure the newly elected minority Conservative government to back away from proposed corporate tax cuts in order to balance federal books and better position the country in uncertain economic times.Heading into their first meeting since the Oct. 14 election, New Democrat MPs said they expected the government to co-operate with opposition parties more than it had in the previous Parliament.
Deputy leader Thomas Mulcair, re-elected in the Montreal-area riding of Outremont, said the Conservative government had seriously compromised Canada's finances by introducing cuts to corporate taxes and the GST. Other New Democrats also said they would push for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to scrap corporate tax cuts and invest instead to protect jobs, as well as savings and pensions.
"I'd certainly like to see us pushing the Harper government to slow down or stop these corporate tax cuts that are going threaten our ability to deal with these problems," said Jack Harris, who was elected in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of St. John's East. "Mr. Harper doesn't have a major mandate here, he has a little better than one third of the vote and a minority Parliament so there has to be some cooperation on what the agenda for the country should be and how Parliament should work."
NDP Leader Jack Layton, who is scheduled to . . meet with his MPs in Ottawa on Wednesday, has criticized Harper for not doing more to protect jobs in the manufacturing and forestry industries.
Mulcair said Harper will be forced to consider NDP proposals since Canadians have refused to give him a majority government.
"If (Harper)'s as heavy handed and arrogant as he used to be, then he's going to get defeated at the first opportunity because we're not going to put up with it," Mulcair said. "We know that we've been given a strong mandate to stand up to Mr. Harper. We've done that in the past."
Linda Duncan . . said she hopes to work constructively with the Conservatives.
"I'm looking forward to trying to find some way to co-operate with the government in power," said Duncan. "We'll just wait and see what the government's agenda will be. Obviously the economy, the economy, the economy (is a priority), but we can't be setting aside health and environment."
The NDP essentially framed their big election plank as a big increase in the child tax credit through combining several existing credits (including the Conservatives taxable "childcare" benefit) and increasing the existing one. This is music to Harper's ears, because given a choice between tax cuts and government programs, new spending and rebundling old spending (at low cost), and increased administration costs vs. decreased administration costs, we know what he'll choose. The NDP should really push now to have that element or some sort of compromise on it, in the next federal budget. Another area of potential overlap is in the anti-crime measures. I could see the NDP and Conservatives drafted a compromise measure. I think Jack Layton's idea of devolving the power to regulate hand guns to lower levels of government will appeal to Harper: it opens the door to devolving responsibility for the long gun registry that the Tories and certain provinces are so eager to jettison. Finally, the NDP should put on a really good show about trying to get the Prime Minister to honour his commitment to the Atlantic Accord. It won't happen, but there are lots of free points to score there, especially if the Liberals are too busy with their leadership navel-gazing, and time is short before the issue is forgotten. NFLD couldn't have sent a clearer message in the last election.
[url=http://www.ndp.ca/press/thank-you-message-from-jack-layton]Jack's October 16 Thank You message: Working families gave our team a stronger mandate.[/url]
quote:
Together, we broke through Stephen Harper’s fortress Alberta by electing Linda Duncan in Edmonton.Together, we also elected a record breaking 17 New Democrats in Ontario – virtually sweeping Northern Ontario.
And I’m pleased to welcome Niki Ashton, the youngest member of our caucus and a strong addition to our team of women MPs.
Once again, New Democrats have elected the highest percentage of women of any of the parties.
Today's NDP: northerners, women, Linda Duncan, Niki Ashton, working families. I like it.
Predictions are too hard, because there are so many NDP MPs this time around and many of them are very good despite Blaikie, Priddy, McDonough, and Nash not returning to Ottawa!
Here are some random stabs, with many of the caucus stars not included because I couldn't figure out where they will go. I'm still very hopeful that French speaking MPs will get good shots at the big portfolios:
PM- Jack Layton
Justice and Attorney General- Jack Harris
National Defence- Paul Dewar (The NDP would be very smart to put someone who could do organising in Quebec on this file or at least ensure the NDP gets a lot of exposure in the French language media, maybe Dewar could rise to the occasion.)
International Trade- Peter Julian
Treasury Board- Judy W-L
HRSD- Olivia Chow
International Cooperation- Nathan Cullen
Environment- Linda Duncan
Transport or Infrastructure and Communities- Brian Masse
Foreign Affairs- Dawn Black
Industry- Malcolm Allen
Finance- Thomas Mulcair
House Leader- Libby Davies
Health- Libby Davies
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec- Thomas Mulcair
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency- Megan Leslie
Post-Secondary Education- Denise Savoie
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism- Don Davies (This one is hard because the NDP has many strong candidates, I think however that it is crucial a critic be either from the Lower Mainland of BC or the GTA just for electoral purposes, bilingualism is a big plus).
A very unsatisfactory list [img]frown.gif" border="0[/img] I just wanted to get some predictions in before the real list gets announced.
[ 07 November 2008: Message edited by: V. Jara ]
I saw a Facebook reference to Niki Ashton being Youth Critic.
But I can't find the critic list. Parliament resumes Wednesday. The critics must have been named. Whazzup?
One added unpredictable in this is that Joe Comratin is in the running to be speaker f of the House of Commons. He he were to get elected speaker - there might have to be some shuffling of critics portfolios.
The list has been released:
Member of Parliament
Critic Duties
Jack Layton
(Toronto–Danforth)
Party Leader
Intergovernmental Affairs
Malcolm Allen
(Welland)
Skills Training and Apprenticeships
Deputy Critic Food Security (CFIA)
Deputy Critic Agriculture
Charlie Angus
(Timmins–James Bay)
Heritage and Culture
Digital Issues
Niki Ashton
(Churchill)
Youth
Rural and Community Development
Alex Atamanenko
(BC Southern Interior)
Agriculture and Agri-Food
Food Security
Dennis Bevington
(Western Arctic)
Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities
Northern Development and Sovereignty
Dawn Black
(New Westminister– Coquitlam)
National Defence
Chris Charlton
(Hamilton Mountain)
Labour
Deputy Critic Finance
David Christopherson
(Hamilton Centre)
Democratic Reform
Public Accounts
Canada Post
Olivia Chow
(Trinity-Spadina)
Citizenship and Immigration
Children and Childcare
GTA Issues
Joe Comartin
(Windsor-Tecumseh)
Without Portfolio
Jean Crowder
(Nanaimo-Cowichan)
First Nations, Métis and Inuit Affairs
Nathan Cullen
(Skeena-Bulkley Valley)
Natural Resources and Energy
Don Davies
(Vancouver Kingsway)
Deputy Critic Immigration and Citizenship
Western Economic Diversification
Multiculturalism
Metro Vancouver
Libby Davies
(Vancouver East)
House Leader
Justice
Substance Abuse and Prostitution Issues
Paul Dewar
(Ottawa Centre)
Foreign Affairs
Deputy Critic Crown Corps (National Capital Commission)
Linda Duncan
(Edmonton–Strathcona)
Environment
Yvon Godin
(Acadie-Bathurst)
Whip
Employment Insurance
Official Languages
Claude Gravelle
(Nickel Belt)
Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
Deputy Critic Industry (Mines)
La Francophonie
Jack Harris
(St. John's East)
Public Safety
ACOA, Atlantic Gateway
Deputy Critic Energy (Atlantic Region)
Carol Hughes
(Algoma–Manitoulin–Kapuskasing)
National Revenue
Deputy Critic First Nations, Métis and Inuit Affairs (Health)
Bruce Hyer
(Thunder Bay–Superior North)
Small Business and Tourism
Deputy Environment Critic (Water and National Parks)
Peter Julian
(Burnaby-New Westminister)
International Trade
Asia-Pacific Gateway
Deputy Critic Fisheries (West Coast Fisheries)
2010 Olympics
Megan Leslie
(Halifax)
Post-Secondary Education and Literacy
Deputy Critic Justice
Deputy Critic First Nations, Métis and Inuit Affairs (Urban Issues)
Jim Malloway
(Elmwood-Transcona)
Science and Technology
Deputy Critic Public Works (E-government)
Wayne Marston
(Hamilton East-Stoney Creek)
Seniors and Pensions
Human Rights
Deputy Critic Industry (Steel)
Pat Martin
(Winnipeg Centre)
Treasury Board and Public Works and Government Services
Crown Corporations
Deputy Critic Agriculture (Canada Wheat Board)
Deputy Critic Energy (Energy Retrofits)
Tony Martin
(Sault Ste Marie)
Human Resources and Skills Development
Poverty
Brian Masse
(Windsor West)
Industry and Auto Sector
Canada–U.S. Border
Irene Mathyssen
(London Fanshawe)
Status of Women
Deputy Critic Public Safety
Tom Mulcair
(Outremont)
Deputy Leader
Finance
Quebec Issues and Economic Development Agency of Canada
for the Regions of Quebec
John Rafferty
(Thunder Bay–Rainey River)
International Cooperation and CIDA
Deputy Critic Industry (Forestry)
Deputy Critic Heritage and Culture (CBC)
Denise Savoie
(Victoria)
Housing, Homelessness and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Deputy Critic Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Public Transit
Bill Siksay
(Burnaby-Douglas)
Ethics, Access to Information and Privacy
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender Issues
Peter Stoffer
(Sackville-Eastern Shore)
Fisheries
Veterans Affairs
Deputy Critic Industry (Shipbuilding)
Glenn Thibeault
(Sudbury)
Consumer Protection
Sport
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
(Winnipeg North)
Health
Persons with Disabilities
http://www.ndp.ca/press/jack-layton-s-new-democrat-shadow-cabinet-ready-...
I love how Libby Davies is critic for "Substance Abuse and Prostitution Issues" in addition to being Deputy Leader.
If they called her "Vice-Leader" she could also be the "critic' for "vice"!! 
I guess Comartin is "without portfolio" because he's running to be Speaker.
Libby apparently is no longer "deputy leader" she has the designation of "house leader".
___________________________________________________________
"watching the tide roll away"
I love how Libby Davies is critic for "Substance Abuse and Prostitution Issues" in addition to being Deputy Leader.If they called her "Vice-Leader" she could also be the "critic' for "vice"!!
Stock, seriously get a grip. To label substance abuse and prostitution issues as "vice" is incredibly assinine, and infuritating. It is marginalizing smearing, and completely idiotic and non-progressive.
___________________________________________________________
"watching the tide roll away"
I'm actually in favour of most things labelled "vices". Most of the fun stuff in the world falls into the category of "vice". In fact a few years ago when I got the title of "vice-president" where i work i asked if I could get business cards that day "president of vice"!
I was always under the impression that the word "prostitution" was considered stigmatizing - maybe her portfolio ought to be "Critic for Issues Relating to Substance Abuse and Sex Trade Workers".
In fact a few years ago when I got the title of "vice-president" where i work i asked if I could get business cards that day "president of vice"!
That explains Dick Cheney.
Libby apparently is no longer "deputy leader" she has the designation of "house leader".
Yeah, I'm not happy about that either. I guess the thinking goes that Mulcair needs a leg up because of his much reduced margin of victory, but I hope that's all it means, and not a marginalization of Libby's voice.
Libby apparently is no longer "deputy leader" she has the designation of "house leader".
Yeah, I'm not happy about that either. I guess the thinking goes that Mulcair needs a leg up because of his much reduced margin of victory, but I hope that's all it means, and not a marginalization of Libby's voice.
I am going to be watching very closely and still plan to dash a letter off to the Layton and the federal board about it. Just formulating what I want to say exactly, as I see it as a marginalization of women in the NDP from the positions of power. And they had better be careful about that as it is women who support the NDP in the majority.
___________________________________________________________
"watching the tide roll away"
No one really strikes me as having been demoted. The newbies definitely have done really well. It's also odd to see so many deputy critics, although this should help the MPs reduce their committee work and hey, the caucus is growing! I think if I was Jack, I would tell all the MPs that if there are any with leadership ambitions, this next Parliament is the time to turn up the heat. I don't see Layton stepping down anytime soon, but it IS time to groom the successors.
Libby apparently is no longer "deputy leader" she has the designation of "house leader".
The NDP has never had two deputy leaders.
Except in the last parliament when Tom Mulcair was made deputy leader after his by-election win, Libby kept the title as well for the duration of that parliament.
I'm sure no one expected this anomalous situation to continue indefinitely. She was already House Leader in the last House, so her role has not changed. She simply lost the additional honorary title.
Honouary title?Ya right then why bother with it at all?
At any rate, I have written to the NDP and Layton expressing my chagrin. I take it as a serious marginalization of women's power within the party.
___________________________________________________________
"watching the tide roll away"
I was disappointed with Deputy leader going to Thomas Mulcair over Libby Davies.
Although LGBT issues are important, as are ethics, access to info and privacy issues, Bill Siksay's critic position seems like a demotion. It's not like he has any Cabinet portfolio to follow. That's really too bad.
According to the News Release I read, Libby and Mulcair are still both Deputy Leaders. I suspect any omission in the above list was a typo.
By the way, is there an echo in this thread? It's sort of like Groundhog Day in here.
Being House Leader is the most important job in the caucus after being leader. "Deputy Leader" is largely honorific and for a while Blaikie was the Deputy Leader.
It seems to me that women are in some very powerful positions in the NDP caucus what with Libby Davies being House Leader and Justice Critic and Judy W-L being caucus chair and Health Critic. I also notice that Linda Duncan has been catapulted to the very profile position of Environment Critic. Calling that a "serious marginalization of women's power within the party" is really grasping at straws.
Giving a high profile to the only NDP MP who can speak for the 25% of the country that is Quebec is pretty important as well and clearly Mulcair is the "Quebec Lieut." to Layton. Or would people rather that we be accused of "marginalizing Quebec's power within the party or that we are "humiliating Quebec" by not giving a high position to a Quebecer?
There has been NO change to Libby's status as Deputy Leader! This is a quote from the NDP news release issued with the critic list:
Layton also announced he was making no changes to his strong executive team: Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) will continue as caucus chair, Libby Davies (Vancouver East) as House leader and deputy leader and Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) as deputy leader. Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst) will serve his fourth term as New Democrat whip.
Can we please move on to actual discussion of the critic assignments and stop mounting massive protests against a decision that wasn't made? Libby is exactly where she was before and she gets the Justice portfolio to boot (pending Comartin's possible election as Speaker). Methinks babblers doth protest too much! 
Although LGBT issues are important, as are ethics, access to info and privacy issues, Bill Siksay's critic position seems like a demotion. It's not like he has any Cabinet portfolio to follow. That's really too bad.
I tend to agree, that was the one assignment that caused me some concern. Bill Siksay is a stellar MP and was gaining more profile in the last year or so, with lots of appearances on Mike Duffy Live and other media. I'm assuming he'll be the point person on the Mulroney/Schrieber enquiry, the in-and-out scandal, etc, but that doesn't really play to his strengths or his interests, IMHO. The Bevington appointment to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio also seemed odd, I thought that one would go to an urban MP like Don Davies or Jim Maloway.
Apart from that, it looks good overall. Among the newbies, Megan Leslie and Linda Duncan seem to be the big winners, Jack Harris also got a very solid portfolio, though I don't know how relevant Public Safety is to his riding. I was glad to see Cullen get Energy and Natural Resources, so he can stay involved on the climate change file.
Savoie is a good fit for Housing and Public Transit with her municipal background, and those are very relevant issues in this riding. Similarly, Masse is ideal to handle the huge auto bailout issue, hopefully he will push for a transition package to the "Green Car Strategy" as opposed to just a blanket bailout to the current dinosaur auto sector.
Paul Dewar
(Ottawa Centre)
Foreign Affairs
Very unfortunate. He's the one who issued a statement supporting Harper's boycott of Durban II, before getting reined in and having the statement expunged from the website.
Dawn Black
(New Westminister– Coquitlam)
National Defence
Also unfortunate, for reasons that babblers know all too well. I would have like to see Libby Davies and Bill Siksay in these positions, given that they obviously better reflect the sentiments of the Canadian people besides the overwhelming sentiments of the last NDP convention.
