Out of the gate this morning Alpha Males with any sand had this nonsense to deal with so I did.
Liberals give Gallant authority to appoint 3 female candidates
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gallant-appoint-three-candidates-1.4135232
83 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
wayne guitard
Democracy by political correctness. How "progressive".
David Raymond Amos
@wayne guitard The ghosts of
the "Progressive" Conservative Party and everybody else in the know
knows that the Liberals forever proved that Democracy was a myth not
long after the lawyer I call Trudeau "The Elder" took over the mandate.
Trudeau "The Younger" further proves it everyday lately. As the
Trudeau's love to say Just watch him.
Colin Seeley
"Cathy Rogers, the province's
first woman to take the role of Minister of Finance, said a lack of
gender parity in politics is detrimental to government.
"Until we can get women and men equitably represented in politics, like in other leadership positions in business and in society in general, we're not going to get the best decision making," said Rogers. ".
Using Rogers talk to be the poster girl to talk about things detrimental to govt and best decision making . Really !
Has there ever been anyone more detrimental to govt making because of poor decisions than Rogers.
If this means we get more people thinking like Rogers elected this is not a good idea.
What we need are good people. Male or female or whatever.
"Until we can get women and men equitably represented in politics, like in other leadership positions in business and in society in general, we're not going to get the best decision making," said Rogers. ".
Using Rogers talk to be the poster girl to talk about things detrimental to govt and best decision making . Really !
Has there ever been anyone more detrimental to govt making because of poor decisions than Rogers.
If this means we get more people thinking like Rogers elected this is not a good idea.
What we need are good people. Male or female or whatever.
David Raymond Amos
@Colin Seeley True
Wally E. Bamberger
I have no problem with a lady
candidate who has demonstrated an ability to get the job. I try to vote
for the best candidate, and they have often been ladies. An "appointed"
Liberal lady candidate? Now that's entirely another issue. Actually, an
"appointed" anybody is entirely another issue. They did not earn the
job and they will not earn my vote.
David Raymond Amos
@Wally E. Bamberger The party
system corrupted the myth called democracy. The way the party system
works is you follow the leader or you are out. That is why I think the
parties should be abolished.
In my humble opinion if Democracy were to have half a chance at all then every candidate would be an independent thinker with only the best interests of the folks in their riding at heart not the interests of any political party seeking mandate.
In my humble opinion if Democracy were to have half a chance at all then every candidate would be an independent thinker with only the best interests of the folks in their riding at heart not the interests of any political party seeking mandate.
Rosco holt
@David Raymond Amos
Yes make them all independent. Lobbyist would have to lobby allot more people this way.
Yes make them all independent. Lobbyist would have to lobby allot more people this way.
Jonas Smith
Gallant is only going to appoint women who toe the party line. Let's not kid ourselves here.
David Webb
@Jonas Smith As would any
party. The days of your local MLA representing their constituents is
long gone (If it ever did exist).
David Raymond Amos
@David Webb I concur
Mack Leigh
This is just more evidence of
social engineering and manipulation by these Gallant Liberals...
Politicians are now only being accepted into Cons/Libs if they meet
specific criteria. Only talk about certain subjects, some are totally
off limits and a candidate will be ousted if he/she speak the truth or
stand up for democracy.... Politicians are becoming more like the public
at an accelerated rate,,, just sheeple with a few at the top who call
all the shots.
David Raymond Amos
@Mack Leigh Over the past 50
years most of the Alpha Males have been eliminated from playing their
wicked little political games.
Then I went to the west coast and made the one of the first comments within the CBC domain before most folks in BC were out of bed
NDP-Green accord touted as a way to give B.C. certainty provides Trudeau anything but
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/b-c-coalition-what-it-means-for-trudeau-1.4137084
1504 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Mike Trout
I just love watching the
little Punch and Judy gong show that is the Libs/Dippers going at it,
even if it is at a provincial level.
David Raymond Amos
@Mike Trout Me too
David Raymond Amos
Methinks the latest Liberal Honeymoon is officially over
Dwight Williams
@David Raymond Amos
Nope. Christy is a Tory in sheeps clothing. After Vander Zalm crashed and burned the card-carrying Socreds tossed their cards and bought Liberal memberships. Took the party over. The BC Liberals haven't been liberal since I was a young man.
Nope. Christy is a Tory in sheeps clothing. After Vander Zalm crashed and burned the card-carrying Socreds tossed their cards and bought Liberal memberships. Took the party over. The BC Liberals haven't been liberal since I was a young man.
David Raymond Amos
@Dwight Williams Everybody
and his dog knows that but did you forget that Trudeau "The Younger"
supported Harper's evil C 51 Bill and has never altered it? Does that
not make him the same sort of Tory as Christy?
Martin Howser
@David Raymond Amos : have you read the whole of c51 to know for a fact it's "evil"!
David Raymond Amos
@Martin Howser I read enough
to file a lawsuit in 2015. Better yet, did you read Anne McLellan's
latest plan to take away more of our rights while allowing folks to
smoke dope?
FYI if you wish to argue me in public methinks you should come up to speed and read the text of the lawsuit I filed while running in the election of the 42nd Parliament or at the very least listen to what I told a panel of judges in the Federal Court of Appeal on May 24th before the Conservatives picked Harper 2.0 for a leader last weekend.
FYI if you wish to argue me in public methinks you should come up to speed and read the text of the lawsuit I filed while running in the election of the 42nd Parliament or at the very least listen to what I told a panel of judges in the Federal Court of Appeal on May 24th before the Conservatives picked Harper 2.0 for a leader last weekend.
Lawrence Aaluuluuq (RedWhite)
@David Raymond Amos
A conservative looks at every single Liberal failure, and can't look any farther. If there's a Conservative failure (and there are a -lot-), then the only courses of action are to clap their hands over their ears, or point the finger in the opposite direction without dealing with their own failures.
A centrist looks at ALL failures by ALL parties, then measures them against their successes.
Then we point and laugh at anyone without the intellectual self-respect to realize that the Reformers-in-Conservative-clothing think they can dupe Canadians again.
A conservative looks at every single Liberal failure, and can't look any farther. If there's a Conservative failure (and there are a -lot-), then the only courses of action are to clap their hands over their ears, or point the finger in the opposite direction without dealing with their own failures.
A centrist looks at ALL failures by ALL parties, then measures them against their successes.
Then we point and laugh at anyone without the intellectual self-respect to realize that the Reformers-in-Conservative-clothing think they can dupe Canadians again.
David Raymond Amos
@Lawrence Aaluuluuq
(RedWhite) Don't forget Independent Candidates such as I who ran five
times thus far while CBC denied that I was on the ballot each time.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
For the record I am neither left or right but like my forefathers from Fundy Royal if old R.B Bennett was still alive and playing politics I would support him in a heartbeat.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
For the record I am neither left or right but like my forefathers from Fundy Royal if old R.B Bennett was still alive and playing politics I would support him in a heartbeat.
Ron Vollans
@David Raymond Amos
16 years in? Strange honeymoon.
16 years in? Strange honeymoon.
David Raymond Amos
@Ron Vollans Humm my math
says it has been not even 2 years since Trudeau "The Younger" and his
cohorts swept the floor of the House of all the Conservatives from the
Maritimes. The awful fact is that Liberals didn't win but the NDP and
the Harper certainly lost bigtime. Trust that I had a front row seat
watching that circus unfold its tent.
Bob Kindle
@David Raymond Amos
It ended the day he entered office and just resumed Harper's polices! The Liberals are the Conservatives, are the Liberals... There is no difference between those two parties!
It ended the day he entered office and just resumed Harper's polices! The Liberals are the Conservatives, are the Liberals... There is no difference between those two parties!
Bob Kindle
@David Raymond Amos
It ended the day he entered office and just resumed Harper's polices! The Liberals are the Conservatives, are the Liberals... There is no difference between those two parties!
It ended the day he entered office and just resumed Harper's polices! The Liberals are the Conservatives, are the Liberals... There is no difference between those two parties!
David Raymond Amos
@Bob Kindle Even you must
find it interesting that the CBC allows an NDP/Green Party supporter to
double post in order to bury my point of view while they often times
block my comments as well N'esy Pas?
Robin Trower
Nothing wrong here folks, it is democracy in action.
It was not too long ago that a certain federal leader considered coalitions of duly elected representatives to be a "threat" to democracy...
It was not too long ago that a certain federal leader considered coalitions of duly elected representatives to be a "threat" to democracy...
Marcel Pellerin
@Robin Trower
I remember very well that Harper was leading the pack with the BQ and the NDP but the deal never materialized. Thanks God
I remember very well that Harper was leading the pack with the BQ and the NDP but the deal never materialized. Thanks God
David Raymond Amos
@Robin Trower I would not
count out the backroom politicking just yet particularly a very sly lady
is still the Premier with the most number of seats.
What if Christy has secretly wooed away a few NDP members to her side of the fence just like Harper did with David Emerson after Martin did it with MacKay's beloved Belinda the year before?
What if Christy decides to entertain us all and goes all the way to starting the circus then when there is the predictable non confidence vote called a few NDP members vote for her? My My wouldn't I love watching that circus unfold.What say you?
What if Christy has secretly wooed away a few NDP members to her side of the fence just like Harper did with David Emerson after Martin did it with MacKay's beloved Belinda the year before?
What if Christy decides to entertain us all and goes all the way to starting the circus then when there is the predictable non confidence vote called a few NDP members vote for her? My My wouldn't I love watching that circus unfold.What say you?
Content disabled.
David Raymond Amos
@Robin Trower Methinks we may
witness a similar scene unfold in Nova Scotia in short order but this
time the NDP will be the King Makers N'esy Pas?
Content disabled.
David Raymond Amos
@David Raymond Amos Oh my my
it was interesting that your minions you call moderators within CBC
blocked that comment on today of all days N'esy Pas Minister Joly and
Hubby Lacroix? Methinks I should contact your Ombudsman/lady again EH?
colin smith
@David Raymond Amos
That's a good point. Not all the NDP are environment first. A lot are supported by trade unions. How do they reconcile that. The pipeline is a lot of good high paying jobs for BC trades.
That's a good point. Not all the NDP are environment first. A lot are supported by trade unions. How do they reconcile that. The pipeline is a lot of good high paying jobs for BC trades.
David Raymond Amos
@colin smith Its kinda hard
to respond promptly if at at when CBC moderators block one's comments
for political reasons not legal reasons.
Lets see if CBC blocks this comment because even the NDP Premier of Alberta agrees with you and CBC did publish that irrefutttable fact.
Rachel Notley warns caucus members not to campaign for B.C. NDP
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-british-columbia-bc-ndp-notley-1.4070297
"It's difficult for one to be working for our government and also supporting candidates who would be opposed to the successful construction of the Kinder Morgan pipeline," Notley said Thursday.
"We see that as being critical to our economic prosperity and growth in this province. That is the message that has been delivered and I trust that people will follow it."
Bob Kindle
@Phil Kachanoski
That was an election promise that will come back to haunt Trudeau, and proportional representation may not have determined the BC election, but it will likely be a major issue for the new coalition government! Liberal/Conservative (they are the same party, just look at Trudeau's policies! TPP, pipelines, he's Harper with a pretty face! and a whole lot of "um" and "ah") dominance over politics is coming to an end!
That was an election promise that will come back to haunt Trudeau, and proportional representation may not have determined the BC election, but it will likely be a major issue for the new coalition government! Liberal/Conservative (they are the same party, just look at Trudeau's policies! TPP, pipelines, he's Harper with a pretty face! and a whole lot of "um" and "ah") dominance over politics is coming to an end!
David Raymond Amos
@Bob Kindle If you think ERRE
is possible then what did you say or do about it when the ERRE
Committee was on tour last year? I know I predicted that it would go
nowhere fast during the Public Hearing in Fredericton just before
Thanksgiving last year. Check the Parliamentary record
Dennis McKeown
Great news for BC,move over Clark your time is done.
David Raymond Amos
@Dennis McKeown Methinks the Fat Lady ain't sung yet.
Charles Maturin
@David Raymond Amos
She's singing her head off trying to hold on to power. Harper succeeded by LYING. Hope the Lt. Gov. has more back bone than the GG at that time.
She's singing her head off trying to hold on to power. Harper succeeded by LYING. Hope the Lt. Gov. has more back bone than the GG at that time.
Tony Adams
Hopefully they will make a
coalition. It will show Justin and the Liberals where Canada really
stands. You are so out of touch that the other left parties have to get
together. That says a lot.
Just say no to Trudeau 2019
Just say no to Trudeau 2019
Pete Shartin
@Tony Adams
don't be too angry when a few NDPers cross the floor in BC , it's bound to happen that or an election
don't be too angry when a few NDPers cross the floor in BC , it's bound to happen that or an election
David Raymond Amos
@Pete Shartin My thoughts exactly (Scroll up you will see)
David S. Foley
Alberta students just came up with 100% leak proof pipeline technology. Let's see what the leftist excuse is now.
Pete Shartin
@Bob Kindle
this is going to be hilarious ! Clark is going to stay on , and the NDP/Greens are broke after the election , they will be forced to vote with her until such time as they build up money to fight an election campaign or vote non confidence and go through an expensive campaign with no money ending up losing more candidates due to being out of money and out of supporters who are now afraid of what these two may do , plus the fact that both parties will not want to jeopardize their paid three month summer holidays with campaigning with no money ! haha I love it it's hilarious , I bet both parties are out gathering up their campaign signs carefully scraping the dog poop off of them so they can re-use them in 4 or 5 months
this is going to be hilarious ! Clark is going to stay on , and the NDP/Greens are broke after the election , they will be forced to vote with her until such time as they build up money to fight an election campaign or vote non confidence and go through an expensive campaign with no money ending up losing more candidates due to being out of money and out of supporters who are now afraid of what these two may do , plus the fact that both parties will not want to jeopardize their paid three month summer holidays with campaigning with no money ! haha I love it it's hilarious , I bet both parties are out gathering up their campaign signs carefully scraping the dog poop off of them so they can re-use them in 4 or 5 months
David Raymond Amos
@Pete Shartin I know for fact
that I am enjoying the circus as no doubt the Conservatives in Ottawa
are too. . I suspect Christy will call the coalition's bluff. Its
logical. However if some dippers don't cross the floor to support her
then the Liberals would lose the vote and the Lt Gov should ask the
coalition to try to form a government. If perchance another election
were to be called, methinks the Liberals could lose next time bigtime no
matter how much money they have in reserve. Trust that they will be
blamed for the expensive reelection by every left winger in Canada
excepting of course the strange dippers in Alberta who did not support
their own party in the first place. I have no doubt the Liberals in
Ottawa are concerned with the election in Nova Scotia as well. As I said
earlier the honeymoon appears to be over.
Pete Shartin
@David Raymond Amos
Add to that the softwood lumber dispute and tariffs are coming up shortly , trudeau holds the trump card so to speak , he can either get right on it and negotiate or just postpone negotiations and stall until such time as the pipe line is in and operating , all these eco-nuts on here are just jumping around but didn't think about what is coming within a couple weeks from now , and now that I have been thinking about it more I am thinking trudeau knows the softwood issue isn't going to go well for Canada this go round due to stumpage fees being dropped to basically nothing since 2008 , he is hedging on hopes that the pipeline can get going so Canada has income from exporting oil as the softwood issue may take a couple years to come to an agreement and he has to start campaigning again in 2018 , fun times !
Add to that the softwood lumber dispute and tariffs are coming up shortly , trudeau holds the trump card so to speak , he can either get right on it and negotiate or just postpone negotiations and stall until such time as the pipe line is in and operating , all these eco-nuts on here are just jumping around but didn't think about what is coming within a couple weeks from now , and now that I have been thinking about it more I am thinking trudeau knows the softwood issue isn't going to go well for Canada this go round due to stumpage fees being dropped to basically nothing since 2008 , he is hedging on hopes that the pipeline can get going so Canada has income from exporting oil as the softwood issue may take a couple years to come to an agreement and he has to start campaigning again in 2018 , fun times !
Seth Whittaker
The Green Party of Canada is
one of the most dangerous parties in Canada filled with failed
politicians bolstered by a carbon tax loving ideological out dated
perspective on the world only seek to erode the standard of living in
Canada
@Seth Whittaker
Trudeau is going to push that carbon tax on us all! While approving pipelines and flying around the globe telling the world they have to lower their carbon output!
Trudeau is going to push that carbon tax on us all! While approving pipelines and flying around the globe telling the world they have to lower their carbon output!
David Raymond Amos
@Bob Kindle Trudeau "The
Younger" is a walking talking oxymoron just like all politicians are.
If you think your hero in BC are any different methinks you are pipe
dreaming but have no fear Trudeau is gonna make that stuff legal in
short order in order to make some of even dumber than we already are.
Bill Laplante
Bill Laplante
Their association with Trudeau has destroyed the BC Liberals
Bernie Mack
@Bill Laplante Christy Clark's Liberals didn't need Trudeau's Liberal to succeed at being ousted.
Clarks over-the-top lies and bs about how BC was going to be transferred into an economic paradise just as soon as the world cut a shipping lane straight up to a BC Liquified Natural Gas depot.
We all know how that played out. Here we are building an environmentally disastrous dam on the Peace River which will leave us $20 billion or more in debt and for what. To provide electricity to a LNG industry that isn't and is less and less likely to ever come about.
I will acknowledge the federal Liberals certainly didn't help the BC Libs when Ottawa approved both the K-M pipeline and Site C dam based on review process appointees put in place by Stephen Harper.
Clarks over-the-top lies and bs about how BC was going to be transferred into an economic paradise just as soon as the world cut a shipping lane straight up to a BC Liquified Natural Gas depot.
We all know how that played out. Here we are building an environmentally disastrous dam on the Peace River which will leave us $20 billion or more in debt and for what. To provide electricity to a LNG industry that isn't and is less and less likely to ever come about.
I will acknowledge the federal Liberals certainly didn't help the BC Libs when Ottawa approved both the K-M pipeline and Site C dam based on review process appointees put in place by Stephen Harper.
David Raymond Amos
@Bernie Mack I would have to say you pretty well nailed it but I must also say that the NDP will be no better.
Then I checked what the Very Sneaky Mikey Gorman now working for CBC said about Polling Day in Nova Scotia and began to add my two bits worth for shits and giggles.
5 things that will determine the fate of Nova Scotia's election today
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-five-things-to-watch-halifax-cape-breton-pc-ndp-liberal-1.2670227
173 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Jim Pettipas
I would be nice to see the voter turnout over 60%. Sad that so many people do not exercise their democratic right.
David Raymond Amos
@Jim Pettipas FYI My daughter and I are not allowed to vote even if we wanted to
David Raymond Amos
@David Raymond Amos Well it looks like its all over but the crying now.
Bobwatts
Vote PC. all the way!!! If
the liberals get in again it will be the end pf NS as we know it.
Another 4 years of Mcneil will ruin NS.
David Raymond Amos
@Bobwatts For what it is
worth my best advice has always been is to vote for anyone your wish
except one person. That person is the incumbent in every riding. If many
folks did vote for the incumbents then we would have many new people
seated in the house. Perhaps some would be very ethical and if so then
we may see a true change for the better. I have always thought if we rid
ourselves of professional politicians we would finally get the
government we deserve.
james fryday
Heading out to buy some Chinese Hors d'oerves at M&M's. Gotta have some munchies for the "game of life" tonight on TV.It's do or die for Nova Scotia.4 years of McNeil government with very little growth combined with "tunnel vision" planning based on a fictional "balanced budget" will be the doom of a dying province.There is a reason why we have the oldest population per capita in Canada. Young people and families go elsewhere to find work.What company would want to invest in Nova Scotia when education is poor for kids and 45,000 using food banks and 100,000 without a family doctor..17 schools closed in Cape Breton last year. Where are you going to find a sustainable work force. Without the shipbuilding program supported by previous NDP we would be at zero or minus growth.We need to remake the province as a sustainable place to live and the Liberals and Tories are only interested in the rich getting richer, penny pinching the middle class and forgetting about the poor.Low wages,high taxes and poor services. Recipe for disaster.This province needs "life support or the NDP to establish the baseline of quality services to support growth and sustaintain and keep our children in this province. That takes investment in people.Now or never is the plan. NDP is the way forward.
David Raymond Amos
@james fryday Methinks too many M&M's rots your brains and makes one walk in circles leaning hard to the left.
james fryday
@David Raymond Amos -If you
vote Tory you still walk around in circles,just in the opposite
direction of the NDP. If Liberal they don't walk in circles, they just
stand there looking off into the sky dreaming of the day things will get
better. Like the play "Waiting for Godot".
David Raymond Amos
@james fryday Why else would I run as an Independent 5 times thus far?
John Conrad
What difference does it make who gets elected? Food bank usage at an all time high. The VG hospital is crumbling. Value Village is the preferred store for clothes shopping. HST at 15%. High electricity rates. NS Liberals continue to fill up the bloated bureaucracy with Liberal supporters.. Government wants everyone to live in downtown Halifax. Property taxes high. Gouged at the gas pumps. Seems to be one government worker for every NS resident but you cant get any info or help from them anyway. Ship building contracts slow to start or will be cancelled by the federal Liberals and the workers are being recruited from outside NS anyway. Many seniors deciding between eating or buying medication or paying for electricity. None of this will change based on who gets elected.
David Raymond Amos
@John Conrad I second your opinion Sir.
Bob roberts
You will get my vote if your
not afraid to take on BRAGGS and fix the govt funded monopoly they have
created in the blueberry industry ,the rest of the world have blueberry
prices around 60 to 80 cents a pound ,BRAGGS have so many govt sponsored
acres of blueberries that they are at a point ,WE DONT NEED "YOUR"
berries so 25 cents a pound
Take it or leave it ,so much for interest free loans ,
Take it or leave it ,so much for interest free loans ,
John Sollows
@Bob roberts
Good point. Their push to import bees stinks, as well. So does their treatment of folks in the southwest.
Good point. Their push to import bees stinks, as well. So does their treatment of folks in the southwest.
Larry Lippard
@John Sollows
Listen up Johnny. The situation here in Newfoundland is unique as the province is the last place on earth that has not been affected by bee diseases and mites with associated colony collapse. This is a result of a ban on honeybee imports that has been in place for more than ten years. The level of agricultural operations using toxic pesticides is minimal. The beekeepers of the province can manage their colonies without using chemical treatments. Our bees enjoy healthy immune systems.
Listen up Johnny. The situation here in Newfoundland is unique as the province is the last place on earth that has not been affected by bee diseases and mites with associated colony collapse. This is a result of a ban on honeybee imports that has been in place for more than ten years. The level of agricultural operations using toxic pesticides is minimal. The beekeepers of the province can manage their colonies without using chemical treatments. Our bees enjoy healthy immune systems.
David Raymond Amos
@Larry Lippard Methinks there more Newfies who live off the Rock than on it. Perhaps that is why there are more bees?
David Raymond Amos
@Bob roberts Here is your tip of the day about Braggs just Google the following words and look under TD Financial Group
Harper and Bankers
Then Google
David Amos and Oxford Frozen Foods
and say to the Liberals for me will ya?
Harper and Bankers
Then Google
David Amos and Oxford Frozen Foods
and say to the Liberals for me will ya?
Joan Walls
Nova Scotian's who are union
based vote en mass to protect their pocket books ~ as mentioned we have
not had a 2nd term government since 1988.We need some consistency and
tough policies.The civil service are part of the problem working
provincially and we know who they will vote for to protect their future
pocket books and on it goes.
We continue to slid into debt with too much of our health care and education budgets going to salaries/ benefits / pension top ups and retirement bonus that are out of wack with the "average private sector Nova Scotian tax payer."
If the real truth be known about this entitled public sector's job behaviour people would understand why McNeil took the smart decision to stand up to them Yes the first strike by teachers ever ~ that should be every voters clue as to what this is really all about.
We continue to slid into debt with too much of our health care and education budgets going to salaries/ benefits / pension top ups and retirement bonus that are out of wack with the "average private sector Nova Scotian tax payer."
If the real truth be known about this entitled public sector's job behaviour people would understand why McNeil took the smart decision to stand up to them Yes the first strike by teachers ever ~ that should be every voters clue as to what this is really all about.
David Raymond Amos
@Joan Walls "The civil service are part of the problem" TRUE
However in my humble opinion the real problem is all the professional politicians over the years who created so many useless lucrative positions for their buddies to hold on to forever then retire in Florida with a fat pension to enjoy.
However in my humble opinion the real problem is all the professional politicians over the years who created so many useless lucrative positions for their buddies to hold on to forever then retire in Florida with a fat pension to enjoy.
David Sampson
All voters need to grasp is
the direct relationship between our out-of-control spending and our
ability to adequately fund Health Care and Education. We have more civil
servants than any other province and that fact alone inhibits our
ability to adequately fund health care and education. The parties want
to manufacture hope but they can't manufacture the money to pay for it.
That comes from the taxpayer by way of higher taxes.
Vote for the party that will best control our mindless, endless addictive spending.
Vote for the party that will best control our mindless, endless addictive spending.
David Raymond Amos
@David Sampson "Vote for the party that will best control our mindless, endless addictive spending"
So sorry to burst your bubble but methinks no such party exists.
So sorry to burst your bubble but methinks no such party exists.
Mike Sampson
Our health care is a mess!
Provincial equalization payments go mostly to HRM. The Liberal election
rant about having grown the population applies to the HRM . The new
"HOGTOWN". What about the rest of the province?? Seniors take note,
this Gov't. is not there for you. Plus many millions of our tax dollars
wasted on the Bluenose and the Cat. Put those dollars into enhancing the
healthcare system! Enough is enough!
David Raymond Amos
@Mike Sampson I concur
Max Merl
Canadians hope Nova Scotians make the right choice and elect a majority PC government.
Larry Lippard
@Max Merl
Listen up Maxie, the downfall of the PC government in Nova Scotia is when they announced a deficit financial position for the province. They sealed their own coffin. The residents of the province have no stomach for deficits. Dream On.
Listen up Maxie, the downfall of the PC government in Nova Scotia is when they announced a deficit financial position for the province. They sealed their own coffin. The residents of the province have no stomach for deficits. Dream On.
David Raymond Amos
@Larry Lippard Yo Larry Listen up. Nobody listens to clowns we are supposed laugh at their nonsense..
Larry Lippard
Listen up Nova Scotians. Its
a foregone conclusion, the results will be a majority government for
the Liberals followed by the Tories, NDP then the Green. I am still
baffled about the riding of Dartmouth South without mentioning names.
It makes me wonder about the electorate there. Get out and vote, its
your constitutional right, vote wise and with your heart.
Larry Lippard
@Ken Norton
Listen up Kenny. After this election, it will be Send in the Clouds, it will be that dark and bleak.
Listen up Kenny. After this election, it will be Send in the Clouds, it will be that dark and bleak.
David Raymond Amos
@Larry Lippard "Vote with your heart" No thats funny The Clown has it the mark.
FYI those were my last words during my televised debate in Fundy Roal on Rogers TV during the 2015 Federal Election.
Google
Fundy Royal Debate
to check my words.
FYI those were my last words during my televised debate in Fundy Roal on Rogers TV during the 2015 Federal Election.
Fundy Royal Debate
to check my words.
Content disabled.
David Raymond Amos
@Larry Lippard The song is "Send in the Clowns" but as you well know you are already here
David Raymond Amos
@David Raymond Amos WOW
clearly @Larry Lippard has some fans among the CBC moderators N'esy pas?
For the record not only was that comment harmless and funny it was also
VERY TRUE.
I opted not to say anything about Harper 2.0 after I heard him described as such on CBC first thing in the morning. I figured my comments would be lost within a blizzard of comments throughout the day anyway. So I decided to wait awhile to see the top comments and make one or two within those threads to try the water with CBC's malicious moderators then wait until after the Nova Scotia election was a matter of history.
That said Trust that I have no respect whatsoever for whatever Andy Baby Scheer or Mean Mr MacDonald of CBC have to say about anything anyway. The proof of the pudding was when CBC deleted Lorna Jensen's most popular thread that I had commented within ( Anybody bother to notice she has the same last name as the Crown Counsel I have been arguing with about Andy Baby and the Boyz actions against me?)
Andrew Scheer says he won't impose his religious beliefs on Canadians. We'll see: Neil Macdonald
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/andrew-scheer-leadership-1.4136808
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Commenting is now closed for this story.
Lorna Jensen (Poof)
So...Neil MacDonald churns out more asinine assessments....what else is new ?
Religious beliefs "should not be examined by the government" if they violate existing federal laws granting citizens free speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, sexual equality, and free choice in all matters. "Some religions" are still using 9th century beliefs that are not legal in Canada and they should be informed that theses practices will not be tolerated. Islam may be one of them.
Religious beliefs "should not be examined by the government" if they violate existing federal laws granting citizens free speech, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, sexual equality, and free choice in all matters. "Some religions" are still using 9th century beliefs that are not legal in Canada and they should be informed that theses practices will not be tolerated. Islam may be one of them.
David Raymond Amos
@Lorna Jensen I agree that
Mean Mr MacDonald and his CBC cohorts churn out many asinine
assessments. However to be fair to all and to give the little devils
their due I did hear one very true assessment of the Conservatives
latest leader first thing this morning.
Somebody on the CBC radio airwaves funded by the taxpayers hard earned dimes called the dude I always called Andy Baby Scheer "Harper 2.0" In my humble opinion that is the perfect nickname for the young fella who was always good at playing "following the leader". Hence from this time forward that is what I am gonna call him as I watch him try to herd cats with poor rhetoric and a fake smile.
As much as I have no respect whatsoever for the lawyer I call Maxy Baby but at least the Quebecker spoke his mind, broke his own ground and hoed his own rows. Much to my chagrin I must confess that I largely agreed with the French libertarian.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-five-things-to-watch-halifax-cape-breton-pc-ndp-liberal-1.2670227
5 things that will determine the fate of Nova Scotia's election today
How voters answer these questions today will determine who forms the next government
By Michael Gorman, CBC News Posted: May 30, 2017 6:00 AM AT
These three men are vying to be Nova Scotia's next
premier. From left: Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil, Progressive
Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie, and NDP Leader Gary Burrill.
(Canadian Press)
After a month of promises, platforms, debates and attack ads,
provincial politicians are putting their futures in the hands of Nova
Scotia voters.
Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil and his team are looking for a second straight majority government, which would be the first in the province since 1988, while Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie and NDP Leader Gary Burrill have each made the case that McNeil and the Grits aren't even worthy of being reduced to a minority government.
As people make last-minute trips to the ballot box before the polls close at 8 p.m. AT and results begin to flow in, here are five storylines worth watching as we await the final numbers.
The Liberals' march to victory in 2013 included electing 22 first-time MLAs. They added two more rookies during byelections in 2015. What happens to those 24 candidates in their bids for re-election will ultimately determine if McNeil and his team return to Province House as the government.
While some of those candidates, including those who served in the Liberal cabinet, should have a clear path to a second straight electoral win, others are in tight races — with NDP and Tory candidates trying to capitalize on anger about the state of health care in the province and the Liberal government's recurring feuds with organized labour.
Burrill has been on a mission to remake Nova Scotia's NDP along its more traditional social-democratic roots since assuming the party leadership in February 2016. For Burrill to continue that effort, it is crucial for him to have a seat in Province House.
Burrill served one term as MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley from 2009 to 2013, but lost his bid for re-election. This time he's running in Halifax Chebucto, a seat that for years was considered safe for the party but went to the Liberals in 2013. Burrill will be hoping some of that old NDP magic will be present tonight.
If the NDP were to win only one seat tonight, this is arguably the most important seat.
Throughout this campaign, the Tories' Baillie and the NDP's Burrill have argued that the health-care system is in crisis as procedure wait times mount and people struggle to find family doctors.
They clearly see it as a weakness for the Liberals, who have acknowledged there's much work to be done, while stopping short of calling it a crisis.
With massive town hall meetings recently in Cape Breton to voice concerns about the system and doctors being more vocally critical than they've perhaps been before, health care could be the deciding factor for any close race, particularly in Cape Breton.
As the Liberal leader had one fight after another with organized labour — including health-care workers and teachers, the latter culminating in the province's first-ever teachers strike — McNeil and his team made a calculated gamble: that there are more people in the province who are not in unions than are, and that that majority would be receptive to the Liberal argument for slowing public-sector salary growth in an effort to balance the books and increase services.
During this campaign, many criticized McNeil's approach in his first
mandate, which they characterized as confrontational, sometimes
mean-spirited, and stubborn. But McNeil has countered throughout the
campaign that his party has received support from plenty in the very
groups with whom he's had tense times.
Whether he's correct will dictate his fate.
If the pollsters are correct, Nova Scotia will either have a Liberal or Tory government by the end of tonight. There are several things that need to happen for each scenario to play out.
For the Tories, they need to win seats in rural Nova Scotia and suburban Halifax that went Liberal in 2013 and they need the NDP to regain strength — and seats — in Metro Halifax and parts of Cape Breton. If those shifts happen, Baillie and his team will be sitting on the government side of Province House.
For the Liberals, it's pretty simple: they must retain enough of their gains from 2013 to offset any losses. To form a majority government, they must be strong in Halifax, just as they were in the last election, as well as maintain their rural seats. For a minority government, they can afford losses in one area or the other — but not in both.
The other thing that would benefit the Grits is if there is a strong opposition vote, but split evenly between the Tories and NDP, allowing them to come up the middle.
Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil and his team are looking for a second straight majority government, which would be the first in the province since 1988, while Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie and NDP Leader Gary Burrill have each made the case that McNeil and the Grits aren't even worthy of being reduced to a minority government.
As people make last-minute trips to the ballot box before the polls close at 8 p.m. AT and results begin to flow in, here are five storylines worth watching as we await the final numbers.
What will happen with the rookie Liberal MLAs?
The Liberals' march to victory in 2013 included electing 22 first-time MLAs. They added two more rookies during byelections in 2015. What happens to those 24 candidates in their bids for re-election will ultimately determine if McNeil and his team return to Province House as the government.
While some of those candidates, including those who served in the Liberal cabinet, should have a clear path to a second straight electoral win, others are in tight races — with NDP and Tory candidates trying to capitalize on anger about the state of health care in the province and the Liberal government's recurring feuds with organized labour.
Can the NDP win its most important seat?
Burrill has been on a mission to remake Nova Scotia's NDP along its more traditional social-democratic roots since assuming the party leadership in February 2016. For Burrill to continue that effort, it is crucial for him to have a seat in Province House.
Burrill served one term as MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley from 2009 to 2013, but lost his bid for re-election. This time he's running in Halifax Chebucto, a seat that for years was considered safe for the party but went to the Liberals in 2013. Burrill will be hoping some of that old NDP magic will be present tonight.
If the NDP were to win only one seat tonight, this is arguably the most important seat.
Will health care be the No. 1 issue?
Throughout this campaign, the Tories' Baillie and the NDP's Burrill have argued that the health-care system is in crisis as procedure wait times mount and people struggle to find family doctors.
They clearly see it as a weakness for the Liberals, who have acknowledged there's much work to be done, while stopping short of calling it a crisis.
With massive town hall meetings recently in Cape Breton to voice concerns about the system and doctors being more vocally critical than they've perhaps been before, health care could be the deciding factor for any close race, particularly in Cape Breton.
Did McNeil's shift from salaries to services backfire?
As the Liberal leader had one fight after another with organized labour — including health-care workers and teachers, the latter culminating in the province's first-ever teachers strike — McNeil and his team made a calculated gamble: that there are more people in the province who are not in unions than are, and that that majority would be receptive to the Liberal argument for slowing public-sector salary growth in an effort to balance the books and increase services.
The province's teachers staged a one-day strike in February. (Steve Lawrence/CBC)
Whether he's correct will dictate his fate.
Who will win?
If the pollsters are correct, Nova Scotia will either have a Liberal or Tory government by the end of tonight. There are several things that need to happen for each scenario to play out.
For the Tories, they need to win seats in rural Nova Scotia and suburban Halifax that went Liberal in 2013 and they need the NDP to regain strength — and seats — in Metro Halifax and parts of Cape Breton. If those shifts happen, Baillie and his team will be sitting on the government side of Province House.
For the Liberals, it's pretty simple: they must retain enough of their gains from 2013 to offset any losses. To form a majority government, they must be strong in Halifax, just as they were in the last election, as well as maintain their rural seats. For a minority government, they can afford losses in one area or the other — but not in both.
The other thing that would benefit the Grits is if there is a strong opposition vote, but split evenly between the Tories and NDP, allowing them to come up the middle.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/b-c-coalition-what-it-means-for-trudeau-1.4137084
NDP-Green accord touted as a way to give B.C. certainty provides Trudeau anything but
PM worked hard to get B.C. on board with Kinder Morgan expansion; this 2-party team might not be so willing
By Chris Hall, CBC News Posted: May 30, 2017 5:00 AM ET
B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver and NDP Leader John
Horgan speak to media on Monday after announcing they'll be working
together to help form a minority government. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian
Press)
When the leaders of British Columbia's NDP and Green Party stood before the microphones in Victoria on Monday to say they'd reached a deal to join forces, the reverberations were felt clear across the country, on Parliament Hill.
While the deal won't be finalized until later today, it could spell an end to Christy Clark's chances of holding on to power before she can even introduce a throne speech that might take into account the priorities of the province's three Green MLAs, on things like political finance reform, more affordable housing and funding for clean technology.
"The reason we are standing here today instead of waiting for a throne speech to be put forward is precisely to give British Columbians certainty," Green Leader Andrew Weaver told reporters.
- B.C. Green Party agrees to support NDP
- Horgan, Weaver hope to tread historic path in minority government
For the federal Liberals and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, B.C.'s certainty is creating nothing but uncertainty in Ottawa.
Here's why.
Both Weaver and NDP Leader John Horgan oppose the expansion of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline between Edmonton and Vancouver. Their accord comes just a day before the company is to make its initial public offering for shares in the $7.4-billion project.
The federal Liberals approved the expansion in November as part of a strategy to get Alberta's NDP government to introduce a price on carbon. One depended on the other.
"The decision we took on the Trans Mountain pipeline was based on facts [and] evidence, on what is in the best interest of Canadians," he said, during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Rome Tuesday.
"Regardless of a change in government, in British Columbia or anywhere, the facts and evidence do not change," Trudeau said.
"We understand that growing a strong economy for the future requires taking leadership on the environment.
We have to do those two things together," he said. "That is what drives us in the choices we make, and we stand by those choices."
"The prime minister's been clear that, without a climate plan, we can't get a pipeline, and without a pipeline, we can't get a climate plan," one Liberal had insider said Monday as government officials met behind closed doors to craft strategy.
The PMO statement issued late Monday was more anodyne.
"Canada has strong institutions at the federal and provincial level that are able to work through complex situations."
This, apparently, qualifies as one of those complex situations.
Pipeline politics revisited
The truth is the Trudeau government worked hard just to get Clark's Liberal government on board with the Kinder Morgan expansion, even though the province has had a carbon tax for years.
First, Trudeau's government approved the Site C hydroelectric dam despite significant opposition from area residents and First Nations. Then, in November, Ottawa gave the go-ahead to an $11.4-billion liquefied natural gas project in northern B.C.
Both projects remain central planks in Clark's economic plan for the province — and in her election campaign.
Today, the future of all of those projects is less clear than yesterday.
The Trudeau government worked hard to get
Christy Clark's Liberal government on board with the Kinder Morgan
pipeline expansion. It remains to be seen if a NDP-Green coalition would
be as willing to negotiate on the $7.4-billion project. (Darryl
Dyck/Canadian Press)
"It's the kind of unprincipled set of trade-offs that causes disillusionment with politics."
So what's next? In Kinder Morgan's case, the province of B.C. still hasn't issued all the required permits. An NDP government, supported by the Greens, presumably won't feel the need.
Or this new government could order a provincial environmental assessment of the project — something the Clark government didn't do.
- Trans Mountain IPO to proceed despite B.C. Green-NDP deal
- Greens and NDP deal changes nothing on pipeline, Alberta gov't says
"Our objective as we form a government is to ensure that we keep the economy going and that we prepare for the economy of the future," Horgan said Monday.
"That's the exciting part about looking at our two platforms together, and bringing them together in the form of this agreement on key issues we can absolutely agree on: to grow the economy, to create the economy for the future, as well as making sure foundational industries, like forestry, are front and centre."
Neither Horgan nor Weaver said a word about energy being a foundational industry.
Environmental groups noticed: The Pembina Institute, Clean Energy Canada and Stand.earth all released statements not long after Monday's news conference, hailing the NDP/Green accord as a positive step for clean growth and a greener energy future.
Effects on the NDP
But the impact of this accord won't only be felt by Liberals in Ottawa; it makes the federal NDP leadership race potentially more difficult, too.
Notley's NDP government in Alberta wants the pipeline. Alberta's New Democrats, along with trade union members from the province, played a pivotal role in preventing Tom Mulcair from winning a leadership review at the NDP convention in Edmonton last year.
Federal NDP leadership candidates (from left)
Guy Caron, Charlie Angus, Niki Ashton and Peter Julian look on during
the first debate of the party's leadership race in this March 2017 file
photo. A change in B.C.'s provincial government may affect the New
Democrats' federal race, if pipeline politics come into play. (Justin
Tang/Canadian Press)
One of those candidates, B.C. MP Peter Julian, told CBC Radio's The House earlier this month that he remains opposed to Kinder Morgan.
"I believe we need to make the transition to clean energy. What we need to do is work with energy workers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, retraining them for the clean energy potential that is there."
Others in the race may well feel the same, especially now that there's the distinct possibility of a second provincial NDP government in B.C., where, unlike Alberta, New Democrats have a track record of electoral success.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/gallant-appoint-three-candidates-1.4135232
Liberals give Gallant authority to appoint 3 female candidates
Liberals can only appoint candidates in unheld ridings, the move aims to create gender parity
By Jordan Gill, CBC News Posted: May 29, 2017 7:41 AM AT
The Liberals have given Brian Gallant the ability to
appoint up to three female candidates in ridings the party does not hold
in a move to boost the number of women in politics. (CBC)
The provincial Liberals have given Brian Gallant the
authority to appoint up to three female candidates to achieve parity in
women running in unheld ridings in the next provincial election.
The motion was passed unanimously by the New Brunswick Liberal Association's board of directors.
Cathy Rogers, the province's first woman to take the role of minister of finance, said a lack of gender parity in politics is detrimental to government.
"Until we can get women and men equitably represented in politics, like in other leadership positions in business and in society in general, we're not going to get the best decision making," said Rogers.
In addition to the new authority given to the Liberal leader, Rogers said the party is also actively recruiting more women candidates among other initiatives to achieve parity.
"There's a number of things that people can do to try to get better representation of women in politics and I see this as one of them," said Rogers.
What the new authority does not fix, however, is the number of women currently sitting in the legislature.
There are only four women in the Liberal caucus, resulting
in 15 per cent. But Rogers said giving the leader the ability to appoint
three candidates is still a step in the right direction.
"We'd like to see a lot more but if we can appoint three [candidates] that helps," said Rogers.
If the number in the legislature remain the same until the next election, and all sitting Liberal MLAs reoffer, Liberals would have to nominate 11 or 12 women to reach near-parity [parity wouldn't be possible as the number of unheld ridings would be odd.]
There are no plans, however, if there isn't parity even with the leader's three appointments.
"We're going to do everything we can to meet that goal," said Rogers.
Rogers said this isn't the end of initiatives the party has in mind to reach parity.
"I would say stay tuned, we'll probably talk about some other initiatives down the road," said Rogers.
The motion was passed unanimously by the New Brunswick Liberal Association's board of directors.
Cathy Rogers, the province's first woman to take the role of minister of finance, said a lack of gender parity in politics is detrimental to government.
- Gallant names 5 women to bench, achieves gender parity on provincial court
- Young New Brunswick women get crash course in politics
- Want more women in politics? Nominate them in 'winnable' ridings, expert says
"Until we can get women and men equitably represented in politics, like in other leadership positions in business and in society in general, we're not going to get the best decision making," said Rogers.
In addition to the new authority given to the Liberal leader, Rogers said the party is also actively recruiting more women candidates among other initiatives to achieve parity.
"There's a number of things that people can do to try to get better representation of women in politics and I see this as one of them," said Rogers.
What the new authority does not fix, however, is the number of women currently sitting in the legislature.
Cathy Rogers, the province's first woman to
take the role of minister of finance, said a lack of gender parity in
politics is detrimental to making government decisions. (James
West/Canadian Press)
"We'd like to see a lot more but if we can appoint three [candidates] that helps," said Rogers.
If the number in the legislature remain the same until the next election, and all sitting Liberal MLAs reoffer, Liberals would have to nominate 11 or 12 women to reach near-parity [parity wouldn't be possible as the number of unheld ridings would be odd.]
There are no plans, however, if there isn't parity even with the leader's three appointments.
"We're going to do everything we can to meet that goal," said Rogers.
Rogers said this isn't the end of initiatives the party has in mind to reach parity.
"I would say stay tuned, we'll probably talk about some other initiatives down the road," said Rogers.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/andrew-scheer-leadership-1.4136808
Andrew Scheer says he won't impose his religious beliefs on Canadians. We'll see: Neil Macdonald
Social conservatives in the United States have used all sorts of creative schemes to impose their views
By Neil Macdonald, CBC News Posted: May 30, 2017 5:00 AM ET
Social and religious conservatives helped make Andrew
Scheer the leader of the Conservative Party this past weekend. It
remains to be seen how much of a say they will have in policy. (David
Donnelly/CBC)
That makes sense. To ignore political views that clash with your own eventually leads to irrational obduracy.
There is research indicating that misinformed people rarely change their minds, even when presented with facts. They merely pursue alternative facts. Which creates a stupidity feedback loop.
So by all means, cast your attention net wide. Consume information and analysis across the political spectrum. I read the Weekly Standard and the National Review regularly. Having your mind changed by fact is a sublime experience.
Religion, though, is something else. It is by definition not fact-based. It is a pure belief system.
Religion in politics
To be clear here, I am all for a person's right to believe in whatever he or she desires, to embrace foundational myths of aliens, or miracles, or extreme positions of love or hatred, as long as it remains in a place of worship, with the door closed.
But it usually doesn't.
Religion most often involves a deep commitment to telling other people how to live their lives. In the U.S. — and to a lesser extent Canada — evangelical conservatives, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, are often a relentless and formidable political force.
Many expect and obtain supplication from candidates for public office. They push for laws that amount to moral dictation, often using their tax-free status to amass funding for their activism.
Religious lobbies in the U.S. have waged an all-out assault on Planned Parenthood. (Eric Gay/Associated Press)
They fought bitterly against same-sex marriage, speciously and viciously arguing that it would somehow contaminate heterosexual marriage, or lead to pedophilia and bestiality.
They oppose transgender rights (transgender people are apparently freaks of nature or charlatans who must at all costs be restricted to a bathroom of society's choosing).
Their political lobbies want to force prayer back into school, and replace — or at least match — the teaching of science with superstition. (Yes, superstition. The word is defined as a persistent belief in something despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and there is overwhelming evidence of evolution.
Humans and dinosaurs did not co-exist, as creationists would have us believe, and the Earth is a lot more than 10,000 years old despite what the so-called young earthers say).
A matter of faith
Faced with legal barriers to some of these efforts, they decry judges as "activist" and seek to install more religious judges.
And whenever someone calls them on what is often plain old hatred-laced bigotry, they smile and say, "No, no, you don't understand. It's a matter of 'faith.'"
"Faith," apparently, confers licence to discriminate, bully, marginalize and deprive someone of liberty (such as the liberty to end an unwanted pregnancy).
Which brings us to the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Andrew Scheer, who, if the preponderance of political analysis is correct, was pushed over the top by social and religious conservatives.
Scheer has described a bill normalizing same-sex marriage as 'abhorrent.' (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
He seems a nice fellow — a bit like the current prime minister. Both men wander around with what seem like permanent smiles plastered on their faces.
Scheer likes to be described as a "happy warrior," and reporters are constantly describing him as "jolly" or "impish." Well, good for him. Relentless cheerfulness must take effort.
But Scheer opposes the very notion of a woman deciding to end her own pregnancy. He has described a bill normalizing same-sex marriage as "abhorrent," not only to him and other Catholics but to every member of every "faith community."
Well, Reform Jews, Unitarians, Buddhists and Hindus, among others, might take issue with that.
But notice the "faith community" reference. The good old catch-all.
Otherwise put, it amounts to this: "I and a bunch of other people like me think homosexuality is an abomination, but because we meet in church, you have to respect that view."
No, we don't.
Religious conservatives make the same basic argument when they argue that people suffering horrible, terminal pain shouldn't be enabled or even allowed to end their own lives.
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- The far left and far right converge on transgender rights in Canada: Neil Macdonald
Or when, inexplicably, they publicly oppose, as Scheer has, strengthening protection for transgender people, who have to be among the most vulnerable in society.
Canadians do have Scheer's word that despite his strongly stated positions, he would not as prime minister introduce legislation re-opening the abortion question or same-sex marriage.
But social conservatives in the United States have used all sorts of creative schemes to impose their views on populations in states where they hold sway. You often don't need legislation to get your way.
Canada's a different place, but a prime minister enjoys much broader power than a president.
A little de-funding here, a little creative regulatory tweaking there, and you can accomplish what you want without big, loud, bothersome House of Commons debates.
We shall see. Scheer has already wiped his policy platform off his leadership website.
Other than all that, by the way, congratulations. May the road rise up to meet you, the wind be at your back and the sun shine warm on your face.
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