Thanks for sharing my post in this thread, Unionist. Glad you appreciated it.
Jagmeet Singh heads to Parliament
Wed, 2019-02-27 19:07
#52
Wed, 2019-02-27 21:29
#53
..while i have my thoughts on it at this point i don't really have enough info on the workings of the membership. but if it is the case that the membership will not rebel, i'm thinking that they should share some of the criticisms the leader faces. also the braintrust and the caucus. otherwise i feel this just feeds into the power struggles going on within the ndp.
I agree. I always have. Those who worship the Leader: 1) have never bothered to read the NDP constitution, which gives the leader no power whatsoever; and 2) enjoy being sheep - haven't noticed the power that the constitution allegedly gives them and are too lazy and self-satisfied to use that power.
That's why I'm not a member. Can't stand the members.
One day it will change. Like a volcanic eruption. No slow transformation.
Wed, 2019-02-27 21:31
#54
Or never.
Thu, 2019-02-28 00:24
#55
If Quebecers can't abide voting for a party whose leader is a Sikh who wears a long beard and a turban, explain why they vote Liberal, knowing that that party leads a government which includes Sikh cabinet ministers who wear...long beards and turbans, and whose leader took the exact same position as Tom Mulcair in 2015 on the right of a Muslim woman to wear the hijab at her citizenship ceremony. Or why they voted NDP in 2011 when its leader wore a turban-in the party color-at Sikh events throughout the country. Or numerous Quebec ridings re-elected NDP MPs in 2015 when Mulcair himself, as far as I know, wore turbans at Sikh events and...wait for it...had a beard.Here’s a surprise from the icm! Jagmeet becoming the PM in a headline
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/jagmeet-singh-ndp-leader-canadas-next-pm-151816694.html
There’s a potential roadblock in Quebec this time around because of the fact that Singh, a Sikh, wears a turban. Fournier, a Quebec native, says it’s more about religion for Quebecers than it is about race when it comes to voting. After all, this is a province that last year gave a majority mandate to a government that has proposed a ban on public servants wearing religious symbols at work.
Fits right in with why Julia lost to a Jewish liberal candidate. Perhaps if Julia was Jewish, maybe she could have stepped out of the shadow cast by Jags turban?
Lots of bigots in Quebec, no different than the rest of Canada.
Whatever else we can say, isn't it time to give the beard-and-turban thing a rest?
Singh can't shave and lose the turban without losing his identity and his integrity entirely. And the man just won a by-election, a by-election he at one point seen as being in great danger of losing, WHILE wearing a long beard and turban, in a riding where a right-wing hate party took 11% of the vote?
The NDP would have made the exact same showing in Outremont with a bland, clean-shaven white dude as leader. And we all know it.
It's time to move on on the ethnic thing.
Thu, 2019-02-28 05:45
#56
It’s not me that needs to move on. You can try to shoot the messenger, but why bother?
oh and by the way, did Harjit Singh Sajjan help Bendayan campaign in Outremont?
Thu, 2019-02-28 08:17
#57
Thu, 2019-02-28 08:52
#58
swallow
The NDP would have made the exact same showing in Outremont with a bland, clean-shaven white dude as leader. And we all know it.
It's time to move on on the ethnic thing.
Appreciate the general message there, Ken, but I have to respectfully disagree. Racism exists in Canada, and in Quebec, and we can't move on from this knowledge while people still refer to Singh, for instance, as "Mr Turban" (anecdotal but I hear this one a lot in conversation). Singh has, I think, addressed racism more honestly than most, and that can only be good for Canadian politics.
Sun, 2019-03-03 16:40
#59
Excellent column by Charlie Smith
Sun, 2019-03-03 16:52
#60
How the NDP tested its federal election strategy in Burnaby South
It may not be a coincidence that Singh won convincingly in Burnaby South while Trudeau’s support is plummeting at the same time
Sun, 2019-03-03 17:14
#61
Excellent column by Charlie Smith
There's a chance of a racist backlash against Singh in Cullen's riding of Skeena–Bulkley Valley, which was Reform Party territory in the 1990s.
The riding also has one of the highest percentages of Aboriginal people in the country, which helped Cullen retain the seat for 15 years. But there's no guarantee that he was going to hold his seat with Singh as leader, notwithstanding his large margins of victory in recent elections.
But an Indigeous candidate might help increase turnout in Indigenous communities. Imagine, for example, if Grand Chief Stewart Phillip were to carry the party banner there.
Penticton is nowhere near Skeena.
Sun, 2019-03-03 17:42
#62
How the NDP tested its federal election strategy in Burnaby South
It may not be a coincidence that Singh won convincingly in Burnaby South while Trudeau’s support is plummeting at the same time
Is the Green Party not running part of that strategy? (Or do they still exist? I don't know after reading that article.)
Sun, 2019-03-03 17:46
#63
"I have to say it is a bad idea to get involved in the federal voting process as individual First Nation persons. Any FN person involved in the federal electoral process will be, wittingly or unwittingly, part of implementing the government's termination plan." - R Diabo
First Nations and the Federal Election: An Exercise in Self-Termination
https://ricochet.media/en/534/first-nations-and-the-federal-election-an-...
Cullen's riding is an illegal nullity. The area in question is unceded and still sovereign indigenous territory. But yes, by all means let's pretend we support Hereditary chiefs when they tell us this to oppose a pipeline we don't like but continue to support Canada's usurpation-as-genocide when we covet political power that issues from that usurpation.
Sun, 2019-03-03 17:53
#64
Excellent column by Charlie Smith
Agreed. Forward thinking.
Sun, 2019-03-03 17:56
#65
What Singh could and should do, dealing with the visible religious symbols issue, would be to borrow from a tactic that worked extremely well for John Kennedy in 1960. That year, the big issue was whether a Catholic could be trusted with the U.S. presidency. JFK, whatever else you can say about him(and you can say a hell of a lot that is far from good) had a public, televised meeting with Protestant pastors in Houston, assuring them repeatedly that he would not take instruction from the Vatican or attempt to turn the US into a Catholic country as president. While Sikhism has no Pope, Singh could offer to have a similar meeting with hardline secularists in Quebec-put it on tv, do it all in French, obviously-where he would face the religious/ethnicity issues head-on. He would make it clear to them that he has no intent of trying to impose Sikhism as a state faith, that he is not actively involved with the Sikh separatist movement, and that, while he will not stop wearing his turban or shave his beard, he will be fully committed to a secular Quebec and a secular Canada. He would demonstrate leadership on this by facing the most extreme Quebec "Laïcité" types and making it clear that he will neither impose anything on them OR simply give in to their pointless demands that he change his personal appearance. He'd look gutsy and he'd have nothing to lose.
Sun, 2019-03-03 18:02
#66
I disagree Ken. Your suggestion sounds like pandering to racists to me. Did Harper have to do that, no he didn't and he belongs to a church that is far outside Canadian norms in its beliefs. Did Trudeau have to do that despite being a Catholic from Quebec? Did he have to promise not to listen to the Pope? Nope only the "other" needs to do that kind of demeaning conduct.
Sun, 2019-03-03 19:58
#67
No I think Ken Burch has something actually. Maybe a bit too extreme?
Harper and Justin Among other political leaders have met with leaders from other faits this is nothing new kropotkin Also, racism has no colour religion sex etc etc Anyone can be racist and probably is the only question is to what degree and if any self awareness exists
Sun, 2019-03-03 20:14
#68
The turban debate happened in BC a very long time ago. We have had politicians elected from the NDP, Conservatives and Liberals who wear that particular religious symbol. Why should he have to go on bended knee to bigots and racists to tell them he is a good guy? Isn't that a lot like asking a Jewish person who wears a symbol of their religion to assure people that they won't be the horrific stereotype that racists love to hate.
Sun, 2019-03-03 20:20
#69
I actually like Ken's suggestion because however such a meeting would turn out he would leave looking good. Just pretending that an issue doesn't exist won't make it disappear. I don't think that Singh should have to do this on a basis of what is right, but I do think it is sound electoral strategy. If Singh does nothing then the Richard Martineaus of the world define the issue, if he would attack the issue head on then he defines the issue and leaves others to react. Its gutsy and good politics.
Mon, 2019-03-04 18:53
#70
Did Harper have to do that, no he didn't and he belongs to a church that is far outside Canadian norms in its beliefs.
Might have something to do with never breaking 40% Canada wide, and never getting anywhere near that in Quebec.
Did Trudeau have to do that despite being a Catholic from Quebec? Did he have to promise not to listen to the Pope?He doesn't have to promise not to listen to the Pope, because it's obvious he doesn't. Many of his political positions are at direct odds with the Catholic church. In fact I can remember him being accused of not being a good Catholic by at least one Conservative MP.
[/quote]
Mon, 2019-03-04 20:35
#71
Pogo
Have we had a Prime Minister who didn't have a religous affiilation? Did MacKenzie King have to meet with the skeptic societies to say he wasn't going to let his mother run the country from the other side of the mirror?
Mon, 2019-03-04 21:35
#72
Have we had a Prime Minister who didn't have a religous affiilation?
Nope.
Tue, 2019-03-05 06:17
#73
Have we had a Prime Minister who didn't have a religous affiilation?
Nope.
Yes - Kim Campbell.
Tue, 2019-03-05 07:05
#74
Looks like the NDP are starting to rebound in the polls
Tue, 2019-03-05 12:35
#75
Have we had a Prime Minister who didn't have a religous affiilation?
Nope.
Yes - Kim Campbell.
Well, sort of Anglican
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada_by_relig...
Tue, 2019-03-05 15:32
#76
Did Harper have to do that, no he didn't and he belongs to a church that is far outside Canadian norms in its beliefs.
Might have something to do with never breaking 40% Canada wide, and never getting anywhere near that in Quebec.
Did Trudeau have to do that despite being a Catholic from Quebec? Did he have to promise not to listen to the Pope?He doesn't have to promise not to listen to the Pope, because it's obvious he doesn't. Many of his political positions are at direct odds with the Catholic church. In fact I can remember him being accused of not being a good Catholic by at least one Conservative MP.
[/quote]
This highlights one of the things I find fundamentally wrong with our current federal politics. The idea of big tent parties that can appeal to 40% of voters from sea to sea to sea is the problem. That and the cult of the leader. I would really like to see the a new GreenLabour party that had less heirarchy and more regional autonomy and a multi-faceted leadership structure.
In the meantime I find the Singh religion thing to be very xenophobic because it highlights that only certain kinds of people may apply to lead in Canada. Why should it be okay for a Liberal cabinet Minister to proudly wear a turban and not have to explain to the military that he will not impose his religious views on anyone but if he was to succeed Trudeau he would be unelectable in Quebec.
Wed, 2019-03-06 08:52
#77
Thu, 2019-03-07 00:31
#78
Michael Harris’ article in The Tyee today confirms that Jagmeet Singh is showing excellent leadership in this SNC scandal by calling for a public inquiry
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/03/06/SNC-Lavalin-Butts-Trudeau-Testimony-Political/
Thu, 2019-03-07 00:43
#79
Nice to see the NDP rebounding in the polls particularly in B.C. as a result of Singh’s solid victory in Burnaby South
One pollster even has the NDP at 20% support now in the pollsters
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_43rd_Canadian_federal_election
Thu, 2019-03-07 00:39
#80
Thu, 2019-03-07 00:39
#81
Thu, 2019-03-07 11:59
#82
Jagmeet Singh will be responding to Trudeau's early morning presser at 2 PM EST today. Should be covered on CPAC and the news channel networks such as Global, CTV etc.
Thu, 2019-03-07 16:07
#83
Fri, 2019-03-08 19:13
#84
When I first heard Singh won leadership of the NDP my gut told me he was going to be the prime minister which is history making in itself much less a turban wearing leader. And then I though this guy needs a miracle to become the next PM and that I got it wrong but maybe not. Singh is a natural born leader and is eloquent in his speech and knows how to read and reach out to his audience and despite the odds against him his confidence is unwavering. They love Singh in Eastern Canada. Canada is changing as stats show that Asians will be the majority of the population and whites a minority with only 30% of the population in 10 years in Canada. I expect more and more Asians sitting in positions of power in Canada and white men less and less as Canada goes from a white country to an Asian country as their populations continue to grow in Canada.
Fri, 2019-03-08 20:40
#85
Canada is changing as stats show that Asians will be the majority of the population and whites a minority with only 30% of the population in 10 years in Canada.
Where did you get this statistic? Getting to the majority alone would be an increase of 20 million in the Asian-Canadian population – nearly a doubling in the population of Canada, via births to and immigration of only Asians. By comparison, the total visible minority population of Canada has only increased by 3.7 million over the past 20 years.
Fri, 2019-03-08 21:51
#86
Canada is changing as stats show that Asians will be the majority of the population and whites a minority with only 30% of the population in 10 years in Canada.
Where did you get this statistic? Getting to the majority alone would be an increase of 20 million in the Asian-Canadian population – nearly a doubling in the population of Canada, via births to and immigration of only Asians. By comparison, the total visible minority population of Canada has only increased by 3.7 million over the past 20 years.
cco, with the greatest of respect - you're actually initiating a conversation with this idiocy?
Fri, 2019-03-08 21:59
#87
Clearly, what we're dealing with in post #84 is some sort of racist troll, using what is meant to sound like a pro-Singh message to do a coded anti-immigrant screed.
Fri, 2019-03-08 22:40
#88
cco, with the greatest of respect - you're actually initiating a conversation with this idiocy?
Perhaps it was ill-advised. There are certainly some things I don't bother responding to (and some threads I stay out of). But there's a fine line between quarantining trolls so they can scream to themselves in an echo chamber and abandoning the entire field of discussion to said idiocy. We recently had the previously-banned troll (montgomery) who'd take nobody disagreeing with him an hour after he posted as approval. Occasionally, I think, it might be wise to push back a bit, instead of just reporting a post like that to the mods and pushing the dispute to "Can getting census numbers wrong be grounds for banning?!?!" YMMV.
Fri, 2019-03-08 22:50
#89
cco - agreed, in general terms. But when some idiot posts just 4 times in 7 years of being registered with babble, and (as Ken Burch points out) their post is a racist provocative lie, it is possible to just ignore them. No need to report them, or fear that they will take silence as assent. IMHO.
Sat, 2019-03-09 07:43
#90
Here is a perfect opening for Singh as he begins to develop a national persona
Mon, 2019-03-11 13:12
#91
Mon, 2019-03-11 21:37
#92
Singh appoints Alexandre Boulerice deputy leader (Radio Canada) (francais)
I am not sure the rationale of it not being Guy Caron who also would have been good but it seems like a good move.
Tue, 2019-03-12 10:51
#93
Singh appoints Alexandre Boulerice deputy leader (Radio Canada) (francais)
I am not sure the rationale of it not being Guy Caron who also would have been good but it seems like a good move.
I was thinking the same thing. Caron is already taking a step down from Parliamentary leader now that Singh has a seat, but surely he expected that. This is a further demotion, though. Putting Boulerice in as deputy instead of Caron appears to represent a broader effort to rebrand the party in Quebec. Boulerice is much closer to Quebec Solidaire iirc. I guess we'll see whether it ends up meaning anything.
Wed, 2019-03-13 12:47
#94
Good on Jagmeet to call for the grounding of the 737 MAX planes
I see that Garneau has now grounded them
Wed, 2019-03-13 14:32
#95
Putting Boulerice in as deputy instead of Caron appears to represent a broader effort to rebrand the party in Quebec. Boulerice is much closer to Quebec Solidaire iirc. I guess we'll see whether it ends up meaning anything.
I have always had lots of time for Alex Boulerice. Re QS: I don't know whether he ever was a member of QS, but he definitely was in Union des Forces Progressistes (one of QS's founding predecessor organizations) and ran for them in the 2003 Québec election. He was also attacked by the Cons for having donated money to QS (at least until 2011 I believe). He voted "yes" in the 1995 referendum (not how I voted btw, but I respect that), and publicly modified that position later. He knew how to call out imperialist war instead of eulogizing Vimy. He took a far stronger pro-Palestinian position than his leadership could ever stomach. Didn't hear him say anything stirring against intervention in Venezuela, though I did prod him to.
And FWIW, he's the only NDP candidate I've donated money to in recent decades (although I have "lent" them my vote in Outremont at least since Mulcair's 2007 byelection win). So he has my stamp of approval - tentatively lol. Compared to the alternatives.
Fri, 2019-03-15 18:26
#96
Now even the USA is following Singh's lead and like Canada are now grounding the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 planes. Good leadership there Jagmeet!
Fri, 2019-03-15 10:54
#97
..i really like the boulerice choice. caron was an economist when what is needed is an activist. this bodes well for singh. shows the importance activists and the ndp. i believe that when singh ran in bby he was, as a matter of survival, forced to support the gas pipeline. he just could not have come out against horgan and survived. he already was facing the rath of notley and the pro ndp pipeliners from sask. eta: edit spelling
Fri, 2019-03-15 10:37
#98
Jagmeet Singh shuffles NDP critics as he prepares to enter the House (iPolitics.ca)
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has orchestrated a major overhaul of his front bench, reassigning critic roles for 13 MPs as he prepares to assume his seat in the House of Commons.
Singh has elevated Saskatoon MP Sheri Benson to deputy leader, where she will serve alongside Montreal’s Alexandre Boulerice, who is also the party’s Quebec lieutenant. Boulerice’s appointment was announced earlier this week.
Quebec MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau will take over as party whip, while former leadership hopeful Peter Julian has been appointed House leader and energy critic. Julian represents a riding in Metro Vancouver that includes parts of Burnaby, the terminus for the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline.
Karine Trudel, who represents a riding in Quebec’s Saguenay region, will take over as deputy House leader, while Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan has been appointed deputy whip. Failed leadership candidate Guy Caron, who has served as the party’s parliamentary leader in Singh’s absence, will take over the foreign affairs post.
***
Other notable changes include Windsor-area MP Tracey Ramsey being named justice critic and Laverdière taking over a new role as special adviser to the leader on foreign affairs.
The rest of the changes are posted below:
- Courtenay—Alberni MP Gord Johns is the critic for fisheries, oceans and coast guard
- North Island—Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is the critic for veterans
- Elmwood—Transcona MP Daniel Blaikie is the deputy critic for ethics
- Victoria MP Murray Rankin is the deputy critic for justice
- Port Moody—Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly is the deputy critic for fisheries, oceans and coast guard
Fri, 2019-03-15 17:56
#99
Most of us only know Caron as a economic policy wonk, what are his views on NATO, Palestine and and Venezuela and the Liberals vastly expanded military budget.
Fri, 2019-03-15 20:36
#100
Hi kropotkin. Jag so far with this shuffle appears to be showing some good leadership. With an election coming up in just over half a year, it’s very unclear who will still be on and who’s gone? Especially in Quebec.
Brosseau and Boulerice In my opinion are in the top 10 NDP’s best MP’s list.
It would be a huge loss to the NDP if they never get re-elected!
Sun, 2019-03-17 19:16
#101