The Unexpected War

Found this via the CBC, and smalldeadanimals.com; Good work on the part of the CBC, to actually report on Liberal Party manipulations and lies.

Loving the Throne Speech more, and more by the minute!!

You know you're a geek, when issues like these get you excited. The Conservatives will be seeking to tear down inter-provincial trade barriers, and establish a National Securities Regulator, as part of their agenda this coming fall.

The past week or two have really got me stoked over the direction of this government, and the direction they're taking the Canadian economy. The roles and responsibilities of each level of government are finally being untangled by PM Harper, and its in the long-term best interest of Canada, to boot. For too many years, we had it backwards (despite the fact that the Constitution stated otherwise). The federal government seemed to preside over implementation, and delivery of our cherished social programs, and economic issues were left to the provinces. This is now being reversed, and its great to see.

The premiers will likely begin they're predictable crusade against the big, bad Federal Government for intruding on their fiefdoms, even though its completely legal, and justified by the Constitution of Canada.

John Flaherty, Stephen Harper and the rest of this Conservative Government have been more than patient in allowing the provinces to come to their own cooperative resolution of this issue, just as they did with equalization. Once again though, the provinces have chosen self-interest over national interest, which I guess shouldn't come as any big shock to long-time observers of federal politics in Canada.

Harper building consensus at the U.N.

I try very hard to ignore almost all discussion of Kyoto and Global Warming. The whole debate has become so fanatical that its difficult to have a rational discussion, not to mention that its biggest advocates have completely over-played their hands, and have handed the issue to moderates like Stephen Harper, who believe we need to strike an effective balance between environmental protection and economic growth.

So with that in mind, Peter Foster of the National Post has written another great article supporting Stephen Harper's position, with the best part being that Canada is on the verge of joining the APP, which I think will be far more effective long term in developing green technology, and acting to protect the environment in a responsible, rational manner.

H/T: Exactly Right.

Canadian Political realignment.

Since Stephen Harper won his minority parliament almost 19 months ago, there has been quiet talk of a serious political realignment taking place in this country. Its most ardent proponents are probably L. Ian MacDonald and Chantal Hebert, although I think more people are coming around to this viewpoint everyday.

It started in 2004, when the conservative movement was unified one banner - The Conservative Party of Canada - which began the shift of traditional Tory ridings, which had gone Liberal over the last 13 years due to the vote on the right being split, moving back to the Tories.

After the historic Policy convention on 2005, the Conservative's had defined themselves as a moderate, mainstream alternative to the Liberals through eliminating extremist planks like recall elections, national referenda, positions on abortion, etc. that made many voters uncomfortable.

On December 19, 2005, Stephen Harper delivered a historic speech in Quebec City where he spoke to the real, and honest concerns of Quebecers in a respectful and sensitive manner. This spiked his support in the province, which led to a Conservative beachhead of 10 seats in the province in the last federal election. Harper has continued to build on that victory since.

In the Quebec provincial election this past March, we saw the realignment take another step forward. Quebec voters who had always longed for a third choice within the polarized climate of the separatists vs. federalist paradigm, got their wish. The Action Democratique du Quebec, or the ADQ, led by Mario Dumont, emerged to offer Quebecers that choice on a provincial level, much like the Conservatives had emerged federally as the third choice. The ADQ won 41 seats in the Quebec Assembly, forming the official opposition in the minority parliament, where the Liberals formed the government with 48 seats.

After this it started becoming apparent that Quebec politics was evolving away from the long-time tribal atmosphere of federalists vs. sovereignists, and was moving toward the more common, modern day, self-interest and values based politics that exists in the rest of Canada. This is happening, in part, due to the efforts of Stephen Harper and Mario Dumont, but mostly due to the changing attitudes and concerns of Quebecers.

All these events are bad news for the traditional powerhouses in Quebec - the Parti/Bloc Quebecois, and the Liberal Party of Canada - These two long-time forces have always been co-dependant. Their respective existence is mutually tied. Without the threat of Quebec separation, the Liberals lose a wedge issue that has been theirs for most of the last forty years, and without the Liberals, the separatists lose the ability to rally people around stopping the over-centralizing, corrupt Liberals from further intruding on their affairs.

Assuming the Conservatives don't assume the mantle of the Liberals, and start ramming the federal prerogative down the throats of average Quebecers. It stands to reason that this seismic shift in Quebec politics will continue, to the betterment of all of Canada.

Chris Benoit

Like many people, I was a wrestling fan growing up, I had lost interest in the past three or four years, but when I saw this story among the headlines on ESPN.com, I was shocked.

I always enjoyed watching Chris Benoit wrestle, but was never his biggest fan, and never claimed to be. I never met him, or saw him compete live. That said, I'm saddened, but equally angered by the murder-suicide of himself, along with his wife and son.

Chris Benoit's death deserves to be covered as a news story, but nothing further. I'm sure in the coming weeks, and months we'll become better informed on the circumstances that led to this heinous crime, and I think its going to paint a portrait of Chris Benoit, and the entire wrestling industry that will be uncomfortable for many fans. But, thats too bad. The industry needs to face up to the disgusting realities that it faces, and stop acting as ostriches.

Chris Benoit, unfortunately, does not deserve a tribute show, or to be remembered positively.

UPDATED

I don't think I'll ever watch another Chris Benoit match. This might be explained scientifically, due to brain trauma, or some sort of mental problem that developed while he competed in the ring, but regardless, I have trouble expressing remorse, or forgiveness towards someone who kills his wife and child, and then takes his own life.

Its so mind boggling that someone could committ the crimes that Chris Benoit has committed, especially when everyone who knew him has always spoke so highly of him. He was respected by everyone in WWE, and by every fan who watched him compete. I pray that his ex-wife and two children who survive him, will be able to get through this incredibly difficult time.

My questions are the same as anyone else's. Why? Why did this happen? Why did a man, who seemed so humble, so polite, and so caring, to so many people decide to committ an act of such decadence and violence? I just don't know.

My heart to goes out to all who survive him, friends and family alike, but my forgiveness of Chris Benoit himself for these acts will have to be reserved for later. I just can't imagine that a normal, caring, loving human being could act in that way.

Who would you vote for?

TSN has released the list of nominees for the Hockey Hall of Fame today, and its probably the best list of candidates that I've seen in years. I don't envy the writers and journalists who have to vote this year. Who do you think should be inducted? Keep in mind the limit for the number of inductees in one year is usually four. I'm not sure if thats law, or just convention.

Mark Messier
Ron Francis
Al MacInnis
Scott Stevens
Adam Oates
Igor Larionov
Claude Lemieux

More Kudos for Harper's principled stand...

Thomas Courchene of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, published, not too long ago a very nice defense of the Conservative government's plan to fix our broken form of fiscal federalism in Canada. PM Harper and Min. Flaherty laid out their plan to put the bickering between provinces and the Federal government six feet under, and they're following through, almost to the letter. Its so nice to see.

Mr. Courchene's piece from the IRPP should be published in every major newspaper and discussed on every major newscast, so that Canadians can at least get a basic understanding that this government is intent on doing what it says its going to do, polls be damned. I think thats very different than what Canadians have become accustomed to, and needs to be communicated more effectively, so that Canadians understand the choice before them, come the next election.

If you want the straight goods on Equalization...

visit this blog. This is easily the best blog I've found, in terms of explaining the controversy over the Equalization program and the Atlantic Accords. If anyone has found a better source, send it this way. I'm always open to new information.

I think the Prime Minister, in the end, did the right thing with the budget, and Equalization specifically. He certainly could have communicated it better, but in the heat of the moment, when you've been taking jabs from ungrateful premiers for three months, I understand you get a little testy.

Anyone reading this will quickly realize that this goes against my post from last week where I was very critical of the Harper government's communication tactics, but its important, with hindsight, to recognize that, in the end, when the fog clears, people will realize that Harper got it right. As he has on many issues since forming government (ie. income trusts, Afghanistan, etc).

Who really "can't afford" health care in America?

Conservative Party sponsors Pierre Bourque

Is there really anything wrong with the Conservative Party of Canada choosing to sponsor a stock car driver? If it were the Government of Canada choosing to sponsor Pierre Bourque, that would be a more serious charge. Or if the Conservative Party were paying the sponsorship with taxpayer dollars, that would be wrong as well.

Since nobody has seen any evidence of wrong-doing yet, I can't really complain or have a problem with the CPC choosing to puts its logo on a stock car, in an attempt to advertise its brand to potential voters.

The opposition is crying that this is hypocritical, since the government claims to care about the environment, and these cars, like all cars, contribute greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Liberal Party only wishes it had the financial capital to advertise its brand in these unique ways, but even if it did, it would probably just use taxpayer money to pay for the sponsorship anyway, because being a Liberal, and being a Canadian are one in the same...right? Oh, wait...thats not quite right.