MP Dawn Black Ready to Jump To BC Provincial Politics?

Good riddance!

[size=30]JUMP!!![/size]

"I guess Black is weighing the possibility of being a potential cabinet minister in Victoria against being a third party critic for a ministry she once admitted she knows nothing about."

Why did she accept it then?

But more to the point, this appears to be a very good omen for the BC NDP's chances in the upcoming May election, otherwise why bother. 

Why, is she doing a great job in that portfolio?

Unionist, I honestly think she is towing the party's senior leadership's direction and talking points.

If Dawn Black does move into provincial politics, who do you believe will replace her as the party's defence critic?

______________________________________________________________________________________________ We are like cloaks, one thinks of us only when it rains.

Pardon?

NorthReport wrote:

How much work is provided to organized labour from the defence department? A lot? A little? Nothing? 

I think it would take a lot of work. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________ We are like cloaks, one thinks of us only when it rains.

Now if Pat Martin would get into Provincial politics the Federal NDP would really be getting somewhere.

Webgear wrote:

Unionist, I honestly think she is towing the party's senior leadership's direction and talking points.

I doubt it.

More likely is that she has a certain amount of rope to diverge from official position and what Jack and others say. The reasons for that being that the sop keeps the loose cannons in the Caucus from popping, and because  the Caucus/leadership is happy enough to have the wiggle room that follows from what Dawn Black says.

What Dawn Black says has never stopped Layton, Mulcair, and others from making the clearer statements of position.

Stoffer knows far more about Defense issues. But I'm guessing he would not get the crtitc role he wants back because I'm guessing he has either not tried to, or not succeeded at, convincing Layton he would stay on as short a leash as Black.

I think Stoffer supports a continuation of the commitment. He needs to be convinced, if it is even possible, that the Afghan government is just a totally worthless ally. They are not worth the blood. Why put Canadian soldiers and their families in the terrible position of having to prop up a government that has already failed?

Canadian troops have been at war in Afghanistan longer than in any war since 1763. All the studies indicate that even those Afghans that fully support the government think coalition troops have been there too long- they want their own army to stand up.

skarredmunkey wrote:

I guess Black is weighing the possibility of being a potential cabinet minister in Victoria

Or perhaps just a comfortable opposition member whose travel time will be cut down to almost nothing due to the fact that the BC Legislature hardly ever sits? It would be a cut in pay, I guess, but perhaps worth it for the increased leisure time and quality of life. Kind of like retirement?

Stoffer?  Appoint the pro-war guy as the defence critic?  Are you people serious? While you're at it, why don't you just make Pat Martin your spokesperson for issues with Israel and put Jim Maloway in charge of women's and LGBT issues.

Get someone who is committed to peace and immediate withdrawal.  And if you can't find someone like that, then you have a big problem.

And I think Pat Martin would be right at home in the Blairite Manitoba NDP.

Stockholm wrote:

What's the problem with Maloway and women's or LGBT issues? I've heard that the guy is a dumb as a post and kind of a jerk - but never that his views on the actual issues were out of the NDP mainstream.

Because one of those fascist Christian groups endorsed his as "pro-life and pro-family" while he was an MLA.  So I would hope his views are out of the NDP mainstream.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/elections/provincial/Manitoba/2003/results.html

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jun/03060403.html

Lord Palmerston wrote:

So according to them, three NDP MLAs are "pro-life."

Actually, Oscar Lathlin died recently, and Maloway moved up to being an MP.

And Chomiak admitted it publically a few years ago.

Stockholm wrote:

I'd like to hear that from a believable source.

What, you think they would endorse pro-choice MLAs?  Why would they do that?

And Chomiak is for sure pro-life.  He got into a little fight with Morgentaler a few years ago over funding at a clinic (I don't remember the specifics) in Winnipeg and admitted to being pro-life.

And while we're at it, Doer opposed Morgentaler getting the order of Canada.

Face it, the NDP isn't a purely pro-choice party.  Where do you think Joe Borowski came from?

According to the Pro-Choice Action Network:

Quote:

Manitoba provides zero funding to the Winnipeg Morgentaler Clinic, putting them in contravention of the Canada Health Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (Most of the same arguments that apply to New Brunswick as described previously also apply to Manitoba.)

Last fall, Manitoba's Health Minister Dave Chomiak put forward three possible scenarios to solve the abortion clinic funding crisis in the province: buying the Winnipeg Morgentaler clinic, expanding existing hospital services, or opening a new public clinic that also provides other women's health services.

But negotiations appear to have stalled and no solution lies in the immediate future, according to a clinic spokesperson, as well as Dr. Henry Morgentaler. Part of the problem is that Dave Chomiak likes to say he is personally anti-choice but that he "belongs to a pro-choice government." The latter credential has proven to be of no help to the clinic. In fact, Morgentaler suspects that Premier Gary Doer may have caved into anti-choice pressure, resulting in negotiations being suspended between Morgentaler and Chomiak last year.

Manitoba has arbitrarily singled out a particular private clinic—the Winnipeg Morgentaler Clinic—and refused to grant it approval as a public facility performing medically necessary services. Meanwhile, the province has given public funding to Pan Am, a sports medicine clinic. Chomiak's proposal to open a new publicly funded women’s clinic also ignores the fact that the Morgentaler Clinic already has full resources and staffing to deliver the required services.

The only logical explanation for these actions is an anti-abortion bias by the Manitoba government. When provincial politicians abuse their elected office by imposing their personal religious or philosophical beliefs onto citizens, they are guilty of violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

For now, the Manitoba pro-choice community is pinning their hopes on a lawsuit filed last July by two anonymous Manitoba women, challenging the province's illegal refusal to fund abortions outside public hospitals. They are suing the provincial government for the costs of their abortions at the Winnipeg Morgentaler clinic in years past, during two different governments. The lawsuit is progressing slowly, with a court date now set for the end of May.

http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/print-friendly/02spring.sht...

Stockholm, read a history book before you make such comments. Honestly.

Yowsa, did this thread ever meander after I last read it!

Say what you want about Jim Maloway, the guy is an organizational machine!  (He and his staff both, actually).

Say what you want about Henry Morgentaler (and I was thrilled that he got the Order of Canada), but he had a libertarian streak that did not want to see his clinics brought under the rubric of the publicly funded and administered health system.  I understand why, I think, but I think he was wrong, and I'm glad the Manitoba and Ontario NDP governments pressed that point.

Stoffer would be a great defence critic.  He is the best constituency politician since George Baker, and one of the most natural politicians I've even seen in action.

OK, I guess with those 3 comments I've just put myself well outside the rabble mainstream.  Oh well.

V. Jara wrote:

I think Stoffer supports a continuation of the commitment. He needs to be convinced, if it is even possible, that the Afghan government is just a totally worthless ally. They are not worth the blood. Why put Canadian soldiers and their families in the terrible position of having to prop up a government that has already failed?

So, imperialism if feasible, but if too many Canadians die then it's just not worth it?

ottawaobserver wrote:

Stoffer would be a great defence critic.  He is the best constituency politician since George Baker, and one of the most natural politicians I've even seen in action.

Somehow I think seeking out the one pro-war guy in caucus and making him defence critic doesn't exactly show off the NDP's commitment to peace, regardless of how good of a constituency politician he is.  What are anti-war activists to think if a party that claims to be anti-war puts a pro-war guy in charge of war?

...and, you know, he's an open Blairite who supports war and voted for C-484 and such...

V. Jara. - "His home riding is currently represented by NDP MP Alex Atamanenko I believe."

Isn't the Creston side of Corky Evan's provincial riding in Jim Abbot's riding and the Neslon side in Alex Atamenko's?

ottawaobserver wrote:

I've never seen any convincing evidence that Peter Stoffer is "pro-war", as you put it.  He votes for every private member's bill on 2nd reading on the principle that backbenchers efforts should be supported, and said that he would vote against C-484 on 3rd reading.

He is supportive of the folks in his riding who are in the forces and the reserves, and in particular of veterans' rights.  I believe this was also a big issue for historic figures in our party, like Stanley Knowles to name just one.  I'd stack Stoffer's voting record on the issue (or any issue really) up against Ignatieff's any time.

Just google "Peter Stoffer Afghanistan".  Here's one link of many, discussing a convention resolution to withdraw troops which Stoffer opposed.

Quote:

Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer, whose riding holds a large military constituency, also spoke out against the proposal. He called it "premature."

"What (the troops) are doing is right," he said. "We need to send the message that we love them, we care about them, and that we hope for their speedy return.

Hell, he's wearing a yellow ribbon in his picture on wikipedia.  That shows that he is either pro-war, or just incapable of seeing through this whole "support the troops" bullshit.  I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one of those things.

Genstrike

What is your view on the press statements released by Mr. Layton when a Canadian soldier dies?

______________________________________________________________________________________________ We are like cloaks, one thinks of us only when it rains.

Bravo, genstrike.

Webgear wrote:

Genstrike

 

Read the press statements, Mr. Layton is playing support the troops game also.

 

"I wish to extend my condolences to the loved ones of Sapper Sean David Greenfield, who was killed today when the armoured vehicle he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device, in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar city.

Sapper Greenfield, a 25 year-old engineer, was based out of Petawawa, Ont., and served with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, colleagues and communities who mourn the loss of this brave soldier."

"On behalf of all New Democrats, I wish you all the strength and support needed during this time and remind you that Sapper Greenfield's sacrifice, dedication and commitment to his country will never be forgotten."

 

Statement by Jack Layton on the death of a Canadian soldier in Afghanistan

I did read some statements, and wrote what Layton should have wrote but doesn't have either the moral convictions or political courage to write.  The bit about pretending everyone died for the good of their country was a response to what he writes.

Yes, Layton is playing the support the troops game too and I think he should be heavily criticized for that.  It shows either a lack of anti-militarist convictions or a lack of political courage.  But Layton is also far from the worst offender in the NDP.  People like Peter Stoffer, Pat Martin, and Gary Doer are (but of course, these three jokers being worse doesn't make Jack Layton good).  And if the NDP is serious about peace (which I often have my doubts about), they wouldn't let any of these clowns anywhere near the position of defense critic.  Having a pro-war Blairite in caucus is bad enough, but making him defense critic would be a clear endorsement of his views on the war.

If the NDP had a clue then they would realize the Defense Critic portfolio presents them with one of their best opportunities to cut the Ignatieff Liberals down a size or two.  They should put someone with real principle in the position like Siskay or a star performer that can respect and support the position of the party's membership.