si j'étais néo-démocrate...

Je donnerais un coup de fil à Martin Cauchon qui détient le profil idéal du social-démocrate moderne. Si le NPD souhaite devenir une réelle alternative au pouvoir, why not?

Are you an AC/DC Tory ?

By which I mean the Angry Canadian/Dominating (the)Conservatives ? Reading some blogs out there and the comment sections of various media (print and electronic) regarding Canadian politics, one gets the impression that Canada is dominated by the angry crowd (borderline trolling) : the angry Liberal and the angry Tory. But it seems to me that the political ads by the Conservatives are always aimed at making people angry (or scandalized or worried about some sort of 'doom') at something. I realize it is probably 'efficient' at mobilizing people, especially for funding close to an election, but nonetheless for me at least, making anyone who isn't a Tory seem like a enemy makes me feel uncomfortable. I believe in the best of people, I'm an optimist by nature, so negative ads or aggressive ones don't appeal to me. Perhaps that isn't the point you'll say, since I'm ALREADY a Tory and will remain one for as long as I live. But wouldn't it be better to argue positive reasons to be a Conservative ( ie: believing in the independence of people to create and innovate without having to justify themselves to the State all the time, respect different sovereignties (provinces for example), rather than go on about ' separatists, socialists' or ' bleeding hearts' (or anything else) ? Are there any other Conservatives out there who DON'T view their opponents as enemies and who prefer to have a positive debate about what we stand for ? Are we becoming the Liberals of old (and possibly new) by pretending to have an hegemony on what 'Canadian values are' ? It certainly makes me wonder these days. Anger is a powerful emotion, but it isn't the best characteristic to have, and by appealing to that raw power, politics becomes warfare at the expense of the social fabric.

The picture says it all

A big thanks to a buddy of mine, Darcy Hartwick for creating this awesome picture of PM Stephen Harper. It's too good not to share with other blogging Tories. Thanks man I owe you a beer or two or....

Paddling for Liberals...that's a paddling

So, apparently Liberal Party National Director, Rocco Rossi is paddling the Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Kingston for a good cause and is asking for donations. How cute. What is the cause? Cancer ? Fighting childhood obesity ? No no. Instead it is to, get this, help make Dear Michael, the next Prime-Minister. I didn't know the Liberal party was a charity did you? Oh well, whatever gimmick makes them happy I suppose. It sure beats developing and defending policies to the people of Canada. Still, was this particular director inspired by a Simpsons character named Jasper? "Talking out of turn...that's a paddling. Looking out the window...that's a paddling. Staring at my sandals...that'spaddling. Paddling the school canoe...ooh, you better believe that's a paddling." What next ? How about a hot-dog eating competition to help the Alberta wing of the Liberal party get out of permanent rehab. It's a good cause boys and girls: let's help protect an endangered species.

Gordon Brown....really?

You know a leader's status is greatly diminished when the first reaction to criticism from another leader is laughter. Whatever legitimate criticism we can have about Stephen Harper and the government, this declaration from the UK's PM would have more clout if his situation at home wasn't so sad. Heck he makes Paul Martin look pretty good in comparison. What is it they say, that it is better to be hated than mocked or pitied..... in which case, Stephen Harper shouldn't feel too bad about this.

Canada Day: a community of communities

Happy Canada Day everyone. As far as I'm concerned, the genius that is Canada is in its regional and national (first nations and Quebec) diversity. These differences are like 'accents' or unique narratives that enrich Canada. From Newfoundland to BC, the Territories or micro-regions of Ontario, everything seems out-of-sync. And yet somehow it works. Canada-on-Turtle-Island may not be a 'logical' country (in terms of acting like a nation-state with a centralized form of governance), but it is a decent and fundamentally fair one. Regionalism in Canada is a sign of strenght, not weakness. Moving to Vancouver in 2008 from Ottawa, and travelling in BC, you realize that the province is very different from Ontario, and yet that is EXACTLY what makes its particular identity narrative so interesting. Since Canada is so geographically diverse anyway, these 'accents' give the country a better understanding of itself, in all its subtelties. Unity in Diversity is our non-official moto,and I couldn't be any happier about it. Happy Canada Day to all and have a cold (Canadian) micro-brewed beer to enjoy this day.

Liberals like to burn each other don't they ?

Will the federal Liberals "no policy" policy convention in Vancouver next weekend be out-of-focus, blurred and forgotten? Oh dear. If I were Stéphane Dion, I would refuse that tribute instead of risking being humiliated...again.