Livin' it up in Gritland

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings

2006-12-23T16:30:00.000-08:00

2006-12-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Dion 54.7% Ignatieff 45.3%

Dion has got the Big MO

2006-12-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

Third Ballot: Dion 37% Ignatieff 34.5% Rae 28.5%

Three important things to consider:

He [Ignatieff] can not challenge Harper in Quebec as he has the same position on Quebecois as a nation. My inclination is that Dion, once the leadership race is in the books, will come out in opposition of Harper's stance on nation. We need a candidate who contrast Harper's balkanized view of Quebec.
Does not owe anything after the convention closes down as the two people supporting him are outside the HoC. In other words, his transition to Stornoway will be smoother than Ignatieffs, as Iggy would have to juggle critic portfolios to satisfy his supporters.
And last, but surely not least, he can pickup thousands of votes from environmentally conscious Canadian from coast to coast to coast. He has a better record on the environment than Harper. That is a very valuable asset.

Dion! Dion! Dion!

2006-12-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

The little campaign that could, now just became the strong campaign that will.

Date	Iggy	Rae	Dion	Ken
12/02/2006
Num. of delelgates	1481	1132	974	884
% of delegates	31.6	24.1	20.8	18.8

Update

I few observations:

I think the turning point was after Dion's speech last night wherein he realized that he did poorly and therefore his back was up against the wall. Instead of folding his tent, he rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Moral of the story? Never doubt this man ever again.
As a result of being put on the edge of defeat, he realized that he needed to secure support before the morning if he was ever going to get clearly into third and thus surpass Kennedy.
Neither Rae nor Ignatieff have shown significant growth which shows what I always suspected of BOB Rae, that Liberals will never untrust their party to an outsider like him. He will not gain any significant support from Dryden, Kennedy or Ignatieff, especially since Iggy will undoubtably ignore the writing on the wall and sit tight for another ballot. Thus, helping Dion close the gap on him and Rae.
One thing that I have to mention right now is a suggestion that my buddy Scott (aka The Sorry Centrist) said to me a few months ago, he said that both the Kennedy and the Dion camps sould come together and agree to make a few thousand "Kennedion" buttons for this very moment. Not to mention, he was the first one in cyber space to coin the phrase "Kennedion" and he isn't even a Liberal. Sign that guy up as a strategist.

No, they're not the Minnesota North Stars

2006-12-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

I'm seeing a sea of green in the Ken Dryden section. And no, they're not the Minnesota North Stars.

Btw, Kennedion is a go on the next ballot. As I said before, I think the Bob Rae momentum could very well scare a few people toward Dion.

Liberals: Anybody But Rae

2006-12-02T07:08:00.000-08:00

If Bob Rae gains the slightest bit of momentum on the second ballot, it will trigger a series of defections to Dion from not only Iggy's camp, but whoever is sitting in fourth.

Thus, Dryden will have a big decision on his hands. Will he continue the Dion serge or will he end it with an endorsement of Rae. I think we all know what a good Liberal will do. ;-)

Jason Cherniak said it best, "I was concerned that growth for Bob would make it look like momentum. Then I realized that momentum for Bob will scare Iggy supporters to Dion. This is going very well!"

The little campaign that could

2006-12-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

The Hon. Don Boudria on Stephane Dion's campaign, "we are the only one of the top four that is growing, we are the little campaign that's growing and we won't stop 'til we win."

Martha to Dion?

2006-12-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

If the rumours are true, Martha will be announcing shortly that she is throwing her support behind Stéphane. This is huge folks as her 130 delegates and ex-officios could be the start of a long but great day in the life of Mr. Dion.

My Status = Strange

I am one crazy bird. Been up all night watching the tube and at one point, while there was no coverage (a two hour break from CPAC reruns), I thought to myself that junkies like myself would actually watch a webcam of Andrew Coyne and Chantal Hebert talking in their sleep about the second and third ballot. I know, I need a life. Anyway, I'm sure many of you need a theme song that will pick you up after a long night of heavy politics and booze. So for all you stange [political] animals out there, like myself, who are preparing for another full round, get your MP3s and iPods ready because this ones for you.

Ignatieff loses ground, Dion gains momentum

2006-12-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

This is fantastic news. Now the question is: who will the delegates go to on the second ballot from the bottom four, especially Dryden and Brison?

Date	Iggy	Rae	Dion	Ken
12/02/2006
Num. of delelgates	1412	977	856	854
% of delegates	29.3	20.3	17.8	17.7

As the BCer in Toronto puts it;

Stephane in third place, even if only by a scant four votes, wow! Yess!! Lots of happy Dion supporters here right now. Gerard's people had been spinning they'd be in third with a comfortable margin, this has to be very demoralizing for them tonight. Second ballot will tell the tale as this is far from over, but with these results, the Allan Rock endorsement and a great speech tonight, I am a very optimistic, enthusiastic and happy Dionista tonight!

Well said, and who said Martha Hall-Finley couldn't make a difference in this race. Her 130 delegates could decide who moves forward to ultimately challenge Ignatieff. Wow! This thing is just getting started!! See you @ 9:00 a.m.!!

Related

Dion the bright promise and the man to beat
Ignatieff's support shrinks to under 30 per cent

Alan Rock endorses Dion

2006-12-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

[click photo for story, via Cherniak on politics]

McKenna what ifs?

2006-12-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

As McKenna said to ATV news anchorman Steve Murphy a few weeks back after he asked him whether he would consider a future run at politics, "I was successful in escaping the trap and I don't plan on going back for the cheese."

I guess that still doesn't stop the what ifs from being discussed this weekend. lol

Latest Poll Numbers

2006-12-01T09:56:00.000-08:00

The latest Ipsos-Reid poll shows exactly what everybody already knew in the Dion camp, in that, he would be the most difficult opponent for Harper in a general election. For the rest of the candidates, the gap in wide.

Dion Central

2006-11-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

In the News

Stéphane Dion, gift to the Liberal party
Dion is only one to lead Liberals

Public Endorsements

The Montreal Gazette:

"Two months remain, and any day can bring surprises," the Gazette's editorial opined. "But on the basis of what Canadians have heard and seen so far, it is possible to reach a conclusion now, and here is ours: Stephane Dion is the best choice to lead the Liberal Party of Canada."

The Globe and Mail:

"arguably the most courageous Canadian politician of his generation."

"That he has been the most lucid on the crucial unity file is unsurprising," the Globe wrote, "but he has also presented a compelling vision of a 21st-century environmental economy."

"If a leader is going to exercise mastery over any files, those are among the most important."

Warren Kinsella:

"is the best guy for the job."

I see it too

2006-11-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

A great post from The Tyee's Rafe Mair;

Why I see Dion Winning

What’s going to happen at the Liberal Convention, perhaps the last to be held under the current system?

No one knows because two things are unknown – how will the non-elected delegates vote and what are the delegates’ second choices?

Michael Ignatieff is the damned fool that brought the “Quebec is a nation” nonsense into the national debate causing a motion on the floor of the House of Commons that itself badly divided the Liberals. He is the leading candidate for all that and, we’re assured, is still the darling of the “insiders”. Stephen Harper would rejoice at his selection.Bob Rae has run a good campaign committing himself to absolutely nothing. Somehow he seems to have created general amnesia over his disastrous record as Premier of Ontario.

Read entire article

John Baird: Political Patronage 101

2006-11-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

As a Maritimer, I am in full agreement with the decentralization of the public service in Ottawa. My friend Scott (aka The Sorry Centrist) has a great post on this very subject.

Dion gains momentum

2006-11-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

The new Strategic Counsel poll is out and Dion is comfortably ahead as the Liberals second choice amongst the four contenders. This has to be real bad news for Ignatieff and Kennedy. (Hat tip Jason Cherniak)

First choice (DSM percentage in brackets):

Ignatieff: 31 per cent (29.3 per cent)
Rae: 19 per cent (20.1 per cent)
Dion: 18 per cent (16.1 per cent)
Kennedy: 17 per cent (17.5 per cent)

Second Choice:

Dion: 23 per cent (+10)
Gerard Kennedy: 13 per cent (+5)
Bob Rae: 10 per cent (-13)
Michael Ignatieff: 6 per cent (-6)

Added together:

Dion: 41%
Iggy: 37%
Kennedy: 30%
Rae: 29%

Letter from Akaash

2006-11-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

From: "Akaash Maharaj" <Akaash@Maharaj.org>
To: "Liberal Membership" <liberals@maharaj.org>

Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 4:21 AM

Subject: Choosing Canada's Future

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this note finds you well, and looking forward to the Liberal Party of Canada’s leadership convention in Montreal this week.

As you know, this is the first federal Liberal leadership election in more than a generation whose outcome is genuinely uncertain. As a result, whether we vote at the convention as direct attendees, guide our ridings’ delegates as grassroots Liberals, or shape the context of the election as informed Canadians, the choices we make this week will have a decisive impact on the future of Canada.

I am writing to let you know why I have chosen to support Stéphane Dion.

Throughout his decades of public service, Stéphane has consistently displayed political courage, loyalty to the national interest, and irreproachable personal integrity.

As author of the Clarity Act and as our party’s most unwavering proponent of the Kyoto Protocol, Stéphane has always displayed the courage of genuinely Liberal convictions. While others shrank from the debate, he lived the creed that government must stand prepared to do what is right not in spite of the difficulty, but precisely because of the difficulty.

During the arduous transition between the Chrétien and Martin leaderships, Stéphane was as steadfast a beacon for party unity as he has been for national unity. He understood that a principled political party must remain bound together through loyalty to a shared set of ideas and ideals, and must be more than just the vehicle for the ambitions of any one person.

Above all else, throughout his public and professional life, Stéphane has been recognised by friend and foe alike as a person of the highest ethical standing. For a party whose adversaries have so traduced us over scandals real and manufactured, we can only hope to re-earn the confidence of Canadians if we choose a leader whose entire record speaks to the nobility of public service.

Irrespective of the outcome of the leadership election, Stéphane will work towards an open and inclusive Liberal Party: one that will value the contributions of all leadership candidates and their teams, one that will draw Liberals together after the convention, and one that will present itself to Canadians as worthy and able to govern Canada.

Stéphane Dion is the Prime Minister Canada deserves and the leader the Liberal Party needs. I hope you will join me in making both a reality.

With best wishes,

Akaash

Semantic vs Symbolic

2006-11-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

From The Gazette;

"This has all become ridiculous," Dion said, adding these "semantic debates" yield little.
"We need to master symbolic politics in Canada. It just leads to
disappointed expectations and pointless anxieties and I think Mr. Ignatieff is leading us to disappointed expectations by putting too much stock in this."

Globe endorses Dion

2006-11-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

It was great to see the that the Globe and Mail endorsed Mr. Dion yesterday. Not to mention, I see we will have Justin Trudeau's support by the third ballot when Kennedy drops off.

He had suggested that he was wavering between Mr. Kennedy and former Liberal cabinet minister Stéphane Dion. He attended an event in Montreal last Tuesday at which Mr. Kennedy spoke about renewing the party.

And the compliments keep coming

2006-11-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

Globe and Mail's Jeffrey Simpson praises Dion;

With his policy ideas and his ironic positioning as a long-time minister running almost as an outsider against the establishment, Mr. Dion is the most intriguing candidate in the race.

On where he [Dion] will be after the first and second ballot;

Mr. Dion finished fourth in the delegate-selection process, about 60 votes behind Gerard Kennedy.

But Mr. Dion slides into third place on the first or second ballot. He does so because he wins more ex-officio support (such as former Treasury Board president Marcel Massé, yesterday) or support from
delegates of the four also-rans.

At this point, Mr. Dion's path to victory depends on the deal now being negotiated with the Kennedy camp. The deal is the classic prisoner's dilemma: Whoever is fourth agrees to support whoever
is third. So if Mr. Dion is, indeed, third, Mr. Kennedy would go to him.

Dion offers support

2006-11-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

According to the Canadian Press;

Harper's proposal also won the approval of Stephane Dion, the lone Quebec contender who has fiercely criticized the Liberal approach on the issue. He said Harper's motion is "very close" to a compromise he's been floating among Liberal leadership candidates.

Dion said Harper's recognition of Quebecers as a nation, is more in
keeping with the sociological sense of the word, whereas the Liberal resolution is more ambiguous, suggesting Quebec is a "nation-state."

Massé endorses Dion

2006-11-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Former Minister and Canadian Representative To The World Bank, Marcel Massé, Endorses Stéphane Dion.

(Ottawa – November 21st, 2006) Mr. Marcel Massé issued the following statement today:

“I had the great pleasure of working with Stéphane Dion from 1996 to 1999 when he succeeded me as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs after I became President of the Treasury Board. We were both heading central agencies vital to the government’s operations.

What Stéphane Dion accomplished for the unity of our country and to improve our federation is well-known and makes our party proud. What is less well-known was his absolute dedication to all of the government’s responsibilities, beyond his own department. On cultural policy, economic policy, social and environmental policies, Stéphane became over the years a trusted advisor who was always there to help his colleagues and serve Canadians.

His talents were sought by all. He understood the importance of teamwork and knew when to leave the limelight to others. He has shown he has both a politician’s decisiveness and the talents of a statesman.

During those years, I was also the political Minister for Quebec. I had a front row seat when Stéphane fought for national unity as a proud Canadian and a proud Quebecer. Today, I see him leading a spirited campaign to lead our Party. I am not surprised that he is the one viewed by many as having defended with the most passion the clearest vision and the most detailed plan of action for the Liberal Party: the three pillars approach.

Stéphane wants Canada to be the country that, more than any other, combines economic vitality, social justice and environmental sustainability. My experience of Canada and of the world tells me he his right.

I know that he is the leader we need. The leader who will beat Stephen Harper and help Canada succeed. I call on all Liberal delegates to support this proud Quebecer and proud Canadian: Stéphane Dion.”

- 30 -

Looking and acting the part

2006-11-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here is more evidence why I think Dion has what it takes to be a great Prime Minister. Like Chretien before him, he seems to have a grasp on how to manage tough domestic affairs; as well, he does not back away from taking the difficult stance on Foreign policy. A true sign of a leader who is prepared to lead in difficult times.

Dion on his foreign policy approach [to Afghanistan];

''I would really try to work with the other countries. Canada does not act unilaterally and I will try, definitely, to work with them. Between a complete withdrawal and the mission the way it is designed, I want to think that there is something that makes sense,'' said Dion

He has really separated himself from the pack on this one, which I believe is a good thing.

Coming up the middle

2006-11-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

I know this deal has been in the works for quite sometime now, but what is more important is that it has put Dion in the drivers seat in Montreal.

BurnBrae Farms expanding into NB

2006-11-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

I just got word that Canada’s largest and leading Egg company, Burnbrae Farms, will be moving [expanding] a brand new processing plant into Sackville, New Brunswick. This is great news.

Btw, I'm really starting to like this Graham guy as he reminds me of someone I really admire.

Warren Kinsella to attend...

2006-11-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

...the Liberal convention? According to the comments section over at Scott's blog [The Sorry Centrist], Warren will attend his first federal Liberal [leadership] convention in over 16 years. I wonder if he'll be wearing a Dion pin?

Dion bring message of hope

2006-11-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

Riding a recent wave of optimism, Stéphane Dion stormed into the Liberal unfriendly waters of Alberta with a solid message on climate change, western alienation, and the country’s military involvement in Afghanistan. As was expected, he was very critical of Harper's poor environmental record as well as his lack of effort in solving Canada's fiscal imbalance;

"It’s a false act. We already have the Canadian Environmental protection Act, which gives us the capacity to take action right now. Harper doesn’t believe in the science of climate change and, for them and many governments, it’s a burden for the economy.”On the topic of equalization payments and Premier Ralph Klein’s repeated pleas for Alberta to be treated more fairly in the Canadian confederation, Dion said Albertans “are willing to share as long as they know that payments aren’t in reaction to one strong complainant among provinces. Every province must have the same average fiscal capacity,” he said.

Now I know why I like this guy so much.

Dion the Bridge Builder

2006-10-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

If you are a supporter of Bob Rae or Gerrard Kennedy, this screed by Warren Kinsella has to sting;

Former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae? Less than 20% support -- and finish in Ontario, too. Former Ontario education minister Gerard Kennedy? vote -- but, astonishingly, with only one per cent of the Quebec delegates. delegates, out of more than 1,000 up for grabs in la belle province.

However, If you are a Dion fan, as I am, then you have to be pleased with this part;

Among the second tier, only Liberal constitution-wars scrapper Stephane Dion is happy. Having been relegated to also-ran status for months, Dion captured 17% of the delegates, and was -- like Ignatieff -- in respectable shape in every region of the country.

If you think that it is just Warren's [Chretien] wing of the party that believes that Dion can win this, you're wrong. Listen to his arch foe and Martinite advisor, David Herle, during an interview with Don Newman [see 50 min 30 second mark], he seems to be on the very same page as Warren about Dion as he says, "at the moment I would probably bet on Dion." When was the last time you saw key members of the Martinite or Chretienite factions agree? Vey scary, although, oddly accurate. Especially after we all remember this a few years ago.

IMHO, I think Dion is the only candidate that understands and respects both sides, and that goes a long way in solving that division. I like the silent momentum that is taking place.

Delegate vs Voter percentages

2006-10-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

Jason Cherniak raises a great point on total delegate percentages versus voting percentages. They are not two in the same;

Now that I write this, I realize it is reason to think that Ignatieff's support is not as high as the delegate percentage suggests. I think that is relevant to the Paul Wells win-by-bleeding argument. If Ignatieff's first ballot vote was actually closer to 25%, then a 30% bleed without another candidate openly supporting him is even less likely than I argued yesterday.

A theory that could definitely prove to be unfavourable to Ignatieff's overall first ballot support.

Simpson on Dion

2006-10-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

This quote by Globe and Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson hits the nail right on the head:

“Mr. Dion has enough support in both Ontario and Quebec to remain credible. To put matters upside down: He didn’t win either province but he didn’t bomb, as did Mr. Rae in Ontario and Mr. Kennedy in Quebec.”

Leaked memo

2006-09-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

A fellow New Brunswick blogger, the Sorry Centrist, has raised a good point regarding a leaked memo by tory strategists, in which, the conservatives claim they fear Ignatieff the most as a potential Liberal leader and opponent in the next election. I think this is a blatant "red herring".

Definition of Red Herring: a logical fallacy sometimes used in an attempt to confuse or distract someone else intentionally.

In other words, they do not fear Iggy as stated in the memo, they undoubtedly fear Dion as he is the only candidate in this race that can regain Quebec from the separatist forces while punishing them [tories] on their woeful environmental record. Since Alberta is not a Liberal stronghold, the fight on the environment in the rest of the country would be an easy sell for the Liberals and a difficult one for an Alberta leader.

Super Weekend

2006-09-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Liberal leadership moves towards 'Super Weekend'

After thursday, the environment will be on every Liberal's mind. Something that I believe will favour Dion as he has a great grasp of that portfolio.

Weighing in

2006-09-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posts lately, but I have been away on business. Nonetheless, this isn't stopping me from weighing in on the outcome of tonight's seat count. Here are my final predictions:

Liberals: 32

Tories: 23

NDP: 0

Dion proven on Quebec file

2006-09-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a great Dion quote from the Toronto Star columnist Linda Diebel from yesterdays debate in Quebec city...

Montreal MP Stéphane Dion, a former cabinet minister, said he's the best person to bring Quebecers onside, arguing the way to win over separatists to federalism is not by alienating them but giving them a push to choose Canada.
"That push historically has always come from Liberals," Dion said to loud applause. "They are my friends and we have to convince them ... . We must explain what an extraordinary country Canada is."

Lord showing his true colours

2006-08-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Tory campaign has shown its first signs of desparation today as they have chosen to take the low road against Shawn Graham and the surging Liberals.

From the Telegraph Journal today:

Desserud said the Premier might want to keep the debate on the issues, he has shown a tendency to get personal in the past.

Desserud referenced debates in the legislature when Tories talked about Graham's father Alan, a former Liberal cabinet minister, and another occasion when during a debate in the house that referenced a news story, Lord mentioned that the reporter's wife once did some work for a communications firm that had done work for the Liberals.

"Lord has shown his stripes," Desserud said.

'I think the pattern had already been set."

Take a good look

2006-08-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

...because it's the last time you will see this man as Premier.

Gone Fishing

2006-07-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of a long vacation. Will be back in the fall when the temperature starts to cool down and the politics begin to heat up.

South Park Dion

2006-07-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

This Blogsite has been all the rage the last two days in the Liberal blogosphere. Here is one reason why:

We need more women in politics

2006-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Cherniak on Politics has a great article on woman in politics;

My Quebec series has been delayed somewhat by Dion's announcement yesterday on women in politics. I will get back to Quebec tomorrow. Today, though, I intend to explain why I support Dion's policy on women in politics.

I will be supporting Dion

2006-06-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce, as a Liberal in New Brunswick, that I will be supporting Stéphane Dion in December.

This will not divide us

2006-05-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

Calgary Grit is bang on regarding the role the Afghan mission will play in the leadership debate;

I posted a while back on why I felt it was foolish to read too much into what was, for all intents and purposes, a meaningless vote on Afghanistan. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that this is a very politically charged issue that will play a major role in both the Liberal leadership race and the next federal election. This has been the first topic nearly every Liberal I've talked to this week has brought up and most people have very strong opinions on it.

A Western Revival

2006-05-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

This CP story by Joan Bryden is promising news for western Liberals;

OTTAWA (CP) - Gerard Kennedy, one of eight Toronto-based candidates for the Liberal leadership, says he's willing to consider seeking a federal seat in western Canada.
"I'm not closed-minded to that at all," the former Ontario education minister said in an interview.

Of the 11 contenders in the race, only one - Vancouver MP Hedy Fry - is currently based in the West, largely a political wasteland for Liberals.

But Kennedy is casting himself as a quasi-western candidate who can finally lead the Liberals to their long-sought breakthrough in the West. -- CP

I still hope he moves to Quebec to fix the situation there. Both regions (Quebec and Western Canada) need special attention if the party is ever going to rebuild.

Harper's New Axis of Feeble

2006-05-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Cherniak is dead on regarding last night's partisanly motivated vote;

Harper's Afghanistan vote was a joke. Out of nowhere, he asked
Parliament for its approval to extend a military mission for 2 years. What will
the mission be for those two years? How much will it cost? How many troops will
we need to send? How will this affect our other commitments? The truth is that
nobody knows. Stephen Harper did not call a vote last night because he believes
in Parliament. Just yesterday he proved his disdain for Parliament when he
suggested that the other parties are corrupt because they did not support his
appointment! What Harper proposed last night was a sham vote on the basis of no
relevant facts.

Getting things straight

2006-05-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Kinsella clarifies a few things.

Saturday's Globe & Mail error;

Uh-huh. Sure. The "error," as things turned out, was mainly the Globe and Mail's. As noted, Gerard Kennedy and Maurizio Bevilacqua are quite bilingual. But in the original news story -- published in the Saturday edition of the Globe -- a University of Ottawa professor sniffed that Bevilacqua, Kennedy et al. "were varying degrees of catastrophes."

"Catastrophes!" My goodness! Call me nutty, but when making the decision to call someone a "catastrophe" on your front page, aren't you well-advised to do a wee bit of fact-checking first? It wasn't "Dewey Defeats Truman," admittedly, but from the perspective of Messrs. Bevilacqua and Kennedy, it probably felt a bit like that when they fished a copy of the Globe out of the neighbour's blue box on Saturday morning.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I should say that Maurizio Bevilacqua once attended one of my birthday parties, and that Gerard Kennedy once donated blood at a Canadian Blood Services clinic in which I was involved. And, given what I know of both men, I'd say they will probably recover from the journalistic sucker punch they received over the weekend. They may be helped, arguably, by Monday's front-page Globe non-apology, in which an "Editor's Note" allowed that "an error" had been made with respect to Messrs. Kennedy and Bevilacqua's proficiency in French.

But, online, the Globe continues to quote U of O professor Helene Knoerr, who proclaims: "We cannot allow ourselves to have a prime minister who does not have the language. We can't."

Nor, perhaps, can we allow ourselves to have self-described "national newspapers" which make big, fat, honkin' front-page errors.

Like the Globe did, bien sur!

And Ignatieff's stance on Afghanistan;

Ignatieff was wrong on Iraq (something he now admits), but he is not wrong on Afghanistan. The route back to power should not involve this kind of reckless detour, ever.

Little Red Wedges

2006-05-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Now here is an issue that will definite get the competitive juices brewing amongst leadership hopefuls;

OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's dangerous military mission in Afghanistan is becoming a wedge issue in the Liberal leadership contest.

The 11 candidates are divided over the merits of the mission and whether it should be extended beyond the current deadline of February. Toronto MP and former minister Joe Volpe is so far the most critical of the mission. He's calling for the withdrawal of troops from Kandahar province, where a number of Canadian soldiers have been killed recently as they attempt to root out Taliban insurgents.

Globe and Mail Mea Culpa

2006-05-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

It seems as though their was a reporting mistake regarding the french language skills of both Maurizio Bevilacqua and Gerard Kennedy;

OTTAWA -- Liberal leadership candidates Maurizio Bevilacqua and Gerard Kennedy speak French well enough to qualify for a bilingualism certificate, according to a university expert.
Interviews with both men in French, evaluated by University of Ottawa expert Hélène Knoerr, were rated at a level high enough to pass the test for a certificate, Dr. Knoerr said yesterday.
The Globe and Mail mistakenly included both Mr. Bevilacqua and Mr. Kennedy in a list of Liberal leadership candidates whose ratings in second-language proficiency would place them below the level required to obtain a bilingualism certificate -- the kind of certificate someone applying for a job would present to an employer.
Dr. Knoerr rated both men as 2- on a test that requires a 2 or better to pass, but she said the scores count as level 2, and they would not fail.

Grits need young greens

2006-05-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

A story today in the London Free Press urging the party to recognize the youth vote as well as environmentalists;

Federal Liberals must win over environmentalists and young voters before challengers such as the Green party do, Grit faithful said at a London conference yesterday.

"I think energy and the environment could be the major emphasis for us in the next election. It could be a biggie," said Doug Ferguson, organizer of the get-together to discuss how to renew the battered Liberal party.

Harper out of control

2006-05-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Jason Cherniak believes Harper has gone too far;

Stephen Harper is planning to use the resources of the Government of Canada to sue the Loyal Opposition of Canada. As one reader pointed out, this was no surprise to me. However, this should not really be a surprise to anybody. As I pointed out at the end of November, Harper has long been claiming that the Liberal Party owes $40 million. In my second post on the subject, I argued that such a suit would be nothing more than suing your political opponents for mismanagement. In other words, it would be using the courts to replicate, if not replace, the democratic will of the people. It is the epitome of a misuse of government power.

Go over to Cherniak on Politics and chime in.

Six Liberal contenders don't pass as bilingual

2006-05-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

All agree next leader must be fluent; only five give adequate replies to questions in second language

CAMPBELL CLARK

OTTAWA -- By objective standards, more than half of the candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party are not bilingual. By the candidates' own admissions, the winner must be.
Language has become an issue in the Liberal leadership campaign, a race with 10 anglophones and one francophone vying to lead a party that badly needs to rebuild in Quebec and views itself as the national-unity party that claims bilingualism as its brand.

Will the party of Wilfrid Laurier and official bilingualism, an institution whose own self-image rests partly on being a bridge between francophones and anglophones, concede the language terrain?

Only five of the 11 candidates now running for the Liberal leadership were given passing grades when rated against the scale for a bilingualism certificate by University of Ottawa professor Hélène Knoerr. Bob Rae topped the list, followed closely by Michael Ignatieff, but Stéphane Dion (who was tested on his English fluency), Joe Volpe and Martha Hall Findlay also made the grade.

"The others were varying degrees of catastrophes," Prof. Knoerr said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives now place first in Quebec polls, and many Liberals from the province now look aghast at the possibility of electing a leader who speaks French less well than Mr. Harper, a former Reform Party MP from Calgary.

Former heritage minister Liza Frulla, who lost her seat in the Jan. 23 election, said the party needs to rebuild after being battered in Quebec by the sponsorship scandal, and needs a prospective prime minister who can explain a new vision directly to Quebeckers.
"We cannot allow ourselves to have a prime minister who does not have the language. We can't," she said. "Not just for us, but the message we would send is that the prime minister, or the leader of the Liberal Party, is a leader for the rest of Canada."

The Liberal leadership campaign has been sensitive about bilingualism: Two MPs who support Joe Volpe called a reporter when their candidate was not included in a mention of three MPs who speak "top-notch French."

Scott Brison has complained that his French is better than people say. So has Carolyn Bennett, who says her French needs work, but that she is acceptably bilingual.

"I've got news for her," Prof. Knoerr said. Ms. Bennett's second-language skills rated last of the 10 who felt able to complete the interview, because her errors in vocabulary, grammar and syntax were enough that a francophone listener would have a hard time following.
Still, all 10 agreed that bilingualism is important. Those who are less proficient argued that perfection is not necessary -- just being able to get a point across -- and most argued they will be good enough to beat Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe in a French-language debate when the time comes.

Ken Dryden, whose French was rated as weak, argued that speaking the language is important, but that understanding Quebec and its culture is more crucial: "The language is only an instrument," he said.

Only Vancouver MP Hedy Fry, who did not complete the French interview, said it's not necessary for the next leader to be bilingual. Although she insisted on switching to English after struggling to answer two French questions, she insisted that she has a foundation in the language, and will be bilingual by the Dec. 2 leadership vote.

The Globe and Mail asked all 11 candidates the same four questions in their second language -- English for Mr. Dion, and French for the others.

Prof. Knoerr, a bilingual expert in French as a second language at the University of Ottawa, evaluated them according to a scale used for certifying second-language ability.
Only one, Ms. Fry, felt that she could not complete the interview.

The interviews ranged from three to 11 minutes, and it was usually those who rated lowest who took the longest time. Prof. Knoerr used only about four minutes of each interview for the evaluations, to provide an equal comparison.

For politicians, the evaluations provide more than just a rating of how well they express their message. It also determines whether a listener has to make an effort to understand them -- too much effort, and a TV viewer will change the channel.

Both Mr. Rae and Mr. Ignatieff scored top-level ratings, rating 4, displaying a wide range of proficiency that Prof. Knoerr labelled "impressive." Mr. Ignatieff hesitated a bit more, but in both cases, "the message got through very well, and the pronunciation was very good."
Mr. Dion rated just below, at 3+. "He understands absolutely everything. His vocabulary and grammar are excellent, but his accent is very present," Prof. Knoerr said.

Mr. Volpe, whose French is perhaps underrated because he sometimes misuses English terms in French, was given a 3, enough to certify him as bilingual.

Ms. Hall Findlay, a Toronto lawyer and considered a long-shot candidate, was given a borderline mark of 3- because, although she made mistakes and searched for words, she was usually able to find a way to make her point.

The five other candidates who completed the interview -- Maurizio Bevilacqua, Gerard Kennedy, Mr. Brison, Mr. Dryden and Ms. Bennett -- all rated below the level for bilingual certification.

Mr. Bevilacqua was not terrible, rated at 2-, but made mistakes in grammar, vocabulary and language structure. "You have to make an effort to follow him," Prof. Knoerr said.
Mr. Kennedy, who garnered the same rating, made fewer grammatical and syntax errors, but had a "very limited" vocabulary, and spoke in a halting manner.

Mr. Brison rated a 1+ because, even though he understands French well and displays confidence when he speaks, he made a lot of vocabulary and grammatical mistakes.
"He has an accent that really could be cut with a knife," she said.

Mr. Dryden, meanwhile, rated only a 1, despite his nine famous years in Montreal as goaltender for the Canadiens hockey team. His hesitating style in English is amplified in French, making it hard to follow.

Ms. Bennett, meanwhile, rates the lowest -- not counting Ms. Fry -- because even though she understands the language, her vocabulary, structure and grammar are all very flawed.
"She requires the most effort to follow," Prof. Knoerr said. "A francophone would last about 15 seconds listening to her."

Prof. Knoerr did not evaluate Mr. Harper's French -- the standard that several francophone Liberals say their leader must beat -- but she said that from listening to him casually, he is probably just good enough to be certified as bilingual, rating about a 3.

Language report card
Each of the Liberal leadership candidates was graded on second-language skills using a scale in which 4 is excellent and anything less than 3 means the speaker would not be certified as bilingual.

Who passed:

Bob Rae 4

Michael Ignatieff 4-

Stéphane Dion (in English) 3+

Joe Volpe 3

Martha Hall Findlay 3-

Who failed:

Maurizio Bevilacqua 2-

Gerard Kennedy 2-

Scott Brison 1+

Ken Dryden 1

Carolyn Bennett 1

Hedy Fry (Incomplete) 0

What the grades mean:

4 - Someone who speaks their second language like their native language and makes only a few minor errors.
3 - A reasonably fluent speaker who understands everything and makes errors that do not obscure what they are trying to say.
2 - A speaker who makes errors or uses an accent that sometimes interferes with communication.
1 - Someone who speaks with unsophisticated structure, hesitation and vocabulary.

Ray Frennette Joins Kennedy Campaign

2006-05-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

MONCTON – Long-time New Brunswick Liberal Ray Frenette today called on people throughout Atlantic Canada to join him in supporting Gerard Kennedy for Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Frenette will chair the Kennedy Campaign in New Brunswick.

“Gerard Kennedy champions enterprise and sees it in the soul of people across Atlantic Canada,” said Frenette. “As Liberal Leader and Prime Minister he will work hard with our region to unlock our future prosperity and fulfill our economic potential within a strong and united Canada.”

Frenette represented the riding of Moncton East in New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1998, when he retired after a term as interim party leader and Premier of New Brunswick. He served as House Leader for Premier Frank McKenna for more than 10 years. After leaving politics, he served as director of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) from 1998-2001 and as AECL chair from 2001-05.

“Gerard is a truly national candidate,” said Frenette. “The roots of his family run from Prince Edward Island, his wife’s birthplace, to Manitoba where he was born and raised, to Alberta where he ran his first food bank and helped Canadians help one another, to Ontario where he turned around an education system badly damaged by a Conservative government in that province.”

“I am honoured to call Ray Frenette part of our team,” Kennedy told New Brunswick Liberals. “He has been an integral part of the Liberal success story in New Brunswick for decades.”

“People in New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada – not only Liberals, but those outside the party – know we can create an enterprising culture in this country while ensuring that we govern with practical compassion,” said Kennedy. “I’m reaching out to Atlantic Canadians to share a renewed sense of purpose, and take full advantage of the opportunity we have today to start doing politics differently.”

Inaugural Post

2006-05-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

I am really new to this blogging stuff, so bare with me while I get my feet wet.