NDP #17

Third Québec NDP MP facing nomination challenge

Meanwhile – and contrary to what Lysiane Gagnon wrote last weekend – between the nomination challenges to some incumbents, the 3 new Quebec seats, some retirements and a few defections, the NDP will have a decent number of new faces on its Quebec ticket, including EI rights advocate and lawyer Hans Marotte in Saint-Jean (where Tarik Brahmi is retiring), Lac Simon municipal councillor Chantel Crête in the new riding of Argenteuil-Le Petit Nation, economist Réjean Bellemare in Repentigny (where Jean-François Larose left the caucus), psychologist Marie-Josée Lemieux in the new riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, posties local president Karine Trudel in Jonquière (where Claude Patry left the caucus), former Bloc MP Maria Mourani in her riding of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, apparently as many as 8 nomination contestants in Pierre Boucher-Les Patriotes-Verchères (where Sana Hassainia left the caucus), and so forth.

http://www.punditsguide.ca/2015/01/third-quebec-ndp-mp-facing-nomination...

Debater wrote:

Looks like Mulcair is open to supporting Harper's anti-terrorism bill.  Is Mulcair letting Harper move the NDP to the right?

According to this French article from Radio-Canada, the NDP is showing 'cautious support' for the Conservative anti-terrorism bill:

Appui prudent du NPD au projet de loi antiterroriste conservateur

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2015/01/30/003-projet-loi...

https://twitter.com/RadioCanadaInfo/status/561264871904264192

Debater, I answered this point in the thread about Liberals when I said:

Aristotleded24 wrote:

I would like to have seen stronger wording from the Liberals and NDP in terms of voting against this measure, but to give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps if they "take time to analyze" then they can come back later and say, "we're voting against this bill because of dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah," and give the Opposition more political cover than to respond with, "Harper says black, we say white."

I'm sure some here will be keeping us in the loop, and the crux of the matter is how the parties vote, which I don't think either party has made a firm committment one way or another. Unfortunately it's a moot point, as the Conservatives have the votes to pass this on their own anyways.

You want to know why people accuse you of being a Liberal apologist? Because the Liberals and the NDP have taken what amounts to an identical position, and while you are right to call out and question Mulcair's approach, I don't see you doing likewise for the Liberals. And this after I went out on a limb to give both the NDP and the Liberals the benefit of the doubt on that issue.

What goes around, comes around it seems.

Conservatives face questions about taxpayer-funded mailings

Board of Internal Economy has already asked NDP to repay $1.17M for partisan mailings

Government whip John Duncan is one of 10 Conservative MPs whose mailings have been questioned in a report by House of Commons administration in response to an NDP complaint. Duncan is the Tory spokesman for the Commons' Board of Internal Economy, which will consider the report. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

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Rosemary Barton
Politics

Rosemary Barton, who first started covering politics at Quebec's national assembly, reports on Parliament Hill for CBC News Network and is a regular contributor and guest host on Power & Politics.

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• Lisa Raitt vows to recover 'every single penny' from NDP mailings
• NDP MPs owe $1.17M for ineligible mass mailings

The Conservative Party may have problems of its own when it comes to inappropriate taxpayer-funded mailings, according to documents obtained by CBC News.

In recent months the Tories have been highly critical of the NDP over its use of parliamentary mailings that were deemed too partisan.

• Tories, Liberals gang up on NDP over mailings — why now?

The issue with the Conservative mailings is expected to be raised at a meeting of the secretive Board of Internal Economy committee Tuesday.

But a final report prepared for the committee by House of Commons administration shows there are at least 20 mailings by Conservative MPs that raise questions.

The report says 10 Conservative MPs mailed materials that directed people to a website other than their own parliamentary website with the use of a QR code, a type of barcode that can be scanned by devices such as smartphones. The report says the code directed readers to a Conservative Party website.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-face-questions-about-taxpa...

Scammers!  

Federal government interns rarely offered paid work, MP learns

Veterans Affairs employed more unpaid interns than any other department, hired only 1 for paying job

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-interns-rarely-offere...

The Greens say Outlaw Internships! Push the Liberals and NDP to do the same! 

There are big political risks for the NDP in challenging Harper's anti-terror Bill

A nasty political fight with very big stakes

Harper does not seem to be looking for compromise, however. He wants a wedge issue, one that will help him win seats in places that are usually tough for the Conservatives, places such as Quebec.

And, for his part, Mulcair has telegraphed that while the oversight matter may be a big issue, it is not his and his party's only concern.

The Official Opposition Leader made a cogent and reasonable case for his skeptical position in an interview with CBC Radio's Michael Enright.

He expressed concern about security forces using their new powers to -- just to cite one example -- go after Canadians who might want to non-violently "stand in the way" of pipelines.

And the NDP leader even went so far as to point out that our society's collective obsessive fear and loathing of so-called "jihadi" terrorists has more to do with the degree of publicity those jihadists get than the uniquely horrible nature of their violence.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mulcair pointed out, has been the scene of far more extensive and brutal violence than the Middle East, but has largely remained far off our and our media's radar. Thus we are not frightened of Congolese terrorism. We do not even object when our mining companies continue to profitably operate in that fearfully violent, conflict-wracked country.  

But all of that is in the domain of rational argument, and Harper is not playing that game. 

The Prime Minister's game is an appeal to irrational and inchoate fear. And, for now, he appears to be winning.

After all, even some of those who say they utterly despise Harper appear, at this point, to be convinced by his appeal to fear and fear alone.

The Liberals don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

They have agreed to support Bill C-51 before there has been even one minute of debate on it in the House -- let alone consideration, with expert witness testimony, by a House committee.

The thankless task of doing legislative due diligence and fulfilling the constitutional role of a parliamentary opposition falls to the NDP.

A number of experts and journalists are encouraging the NDP to "screw their courage to the sticking place" and give Bill C-51 a thorough going-over, without fear of anxious and terrified public opinion.

Taking up that challenge will win the Official Opposition respect among members of that distinct minority group.

But how will it impress the voters, especially in the NDP's current stronghold of Quebec?

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2015/02/there-are-big-pol...

The NDP is standing alone, tall, and courageous, and is opposing Bill C-51. Excellent! 

Thanks josh
Appreciated

If this keeps up Harper may find that fewer and fewer Canadians side with his principles

Although sad because he was accurate, I particularly enjoyed reading Ralph Nadar's letter to PM Harper today that was published here at rabble.

Uncensored Afghan detainee reports sought by NDP MP Craig Scott

Afghan detainee issue 'will not and must not go away,' former law professor says

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/uncensored-afghan-detainee-reports-sough...

So standing up for the protection of family pets is going to destroy Canada's economy, eh! 

Tory MP: NDP's 'Radical Animal Rights Agenda' Would Cripple Economy

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/18/robert-sopuck-ndp-animal-rights-...

Thomas Mulcair: Let’s not lose our rights in the war on terror

Interesting, that seat has been NDP since 2006, let's see if the NDP keep it this election in spite of a nasty nomination battle.

Tom Mulcair’s NDP will strengthen the mining industry

NDP leader Tom Mulcair outlined his plan to support Canada’s mining industry in a speech to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC).

“Unlike the Conservatives who have put mining on the back burner, the NDP understands that this industry drives prosperity in Canada,” said Mr. Mulcair. “Canada’s New Democratic government will work with industry, aboriginal communities and the education sector to ensure mining and mineral processing create economic opportunities for a prosperous Canada.”

An Innovation Tax Credit, reducing the small business tax rate and extending the accelerated capital cost allowance for machinery are all part of the NDP plan. These measures will support the small businesses and contractors that are the backbones of mining communities and help mining companies hurt by the Conservatives’ cuts to support for capital intensive R&D.

Tom Mulcair also pledged that an NDP Government would create a respectful "Nation-to-Nation" relationship with Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. “Everything our Government does will respect Treat Rights, Inherent Rights and Canada's International obligations. This will ensure that all proposed investments will enjoy greater certainty. Sustainable development principles will be a reality under an NDP Government".

“These are concrete, practical proposals to strengthen our economy and make it work for Canadians,” added Mr. Mulcair.

http://www.ndp.ca/news/tom-mulcairs-ndp-will-strengthen-mining-industry

Sorry, but f*** mining.

Recycle. There is enough shit out there.

Burst Confed Building pipe leaves Stoffer dreaming of office reno

https://www.hilltimes.com/heard-on-the-hill/hill-life-people/2015/03/02/...

Last month on February 6, Rosane Doré Lefebvre's private member's bill C-608 passed!  It will become law once it receives royal assent. Here's a bit of background on it:  link.

Bill C-608 is An Act Respecting a National Day of the Midwife.  The international day of the midwife is on May 5.  This bill will officially recognize this day nationally here in Canada, to give more recognition and respect to midwives. 

So the NDP has a mission here.

Keep the Pontiac seat they won in the lat election, and take Finley and Poilievre down in their respective ridings as well in the next election.

And the NDP needs to start now! 

Patrick Brazeau suggests Diane Finley pulled Quebec funds when NDP won seat

NDP MP for Pontiac, Que., 'extremely disturbed' by allegations, writes to ethics commissioner

A sly tweet from a suspended former Conservative senator has triggered a New Democrat MP to call on the federal ethics watchdog to investigate Public Works Minister Diane Finley over what he describes as a "potential pattern" of breaking conflict of interest rules.

• Diane Finley breached conflict rules, federal ethics watchdog rules

On Tuesday night, just hours after Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson had released a report that found Finley had breached the Conflict of Interest Act by circumventing the standard approval process to give more than a million dollars in federal funding to a Markham-based community centre, suspended Senator Patrick Brazeau took to Twitter to accuse the minister of practising similarly questionable politics in Pontiac during the last election:

NDP would end tax break for 'CEOs on stock options' and give money to poor: Mulcair

Mulcair said tax loopholes primarily benefit wealthy Canadians, including corporate CEOs who use them to reduce the tax paid when they cash in their stock options

Roy Romanow says Harper Conservatives "missing in action" on health care

http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/video-roy-romanow-says-harper-conser...

Agreed.

Stephen Harper’s anti-niqab rhetoric helps terrorist recruiters, Charles Taylor says

Taylor said Harper is fuelling anti-Muslim sentiment and that, in turn, makes alienated Muslim Canadians easier targets for recruitment by radical Islamist terrorists.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/28/stephen-harpers-anti-niqab...

Economy a higher priority than terrorism for Canadian voters: poll

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/economy-a-higher-priority-t...

Ethics commissioner dismisses counter-complaint Vic Toews made against Pat Martin

Did we do away with the polling thread?

Latest EKOS:

NDP - 29

CPC - 28

LPC - 27

And apparently Forum also has a poll with the NDP in first (as per Twitter). Both polls with regionals to be released soon.

clambake wrote:

Did we do away with the polling thread?

Latest EKOS:

NDP - 29

CPC - 28

LPC - 27

And apparently Forum also has a poll with the NDP in first (as per Twitter). Both polls with regionals to be released soon.

Look right below on the acitve topics.