Canadian Federal and Provincial Politics - The Northern Pundit

Reuters had a story (And has now removed) reporting a story that outlines how critics believe Paul Martin is boosting the separatist threat in Canada.

Although the scandal occurred under the Liberals, Martin says only a vote for him will keep Canada united. Early on in the campaign he declared the January 23 federal vote was “really a referendum election” — a phrase with powerful undertones.

When the separatist Parti Quebecois (PQ) was in power in Quebec, the province held
referendums on breaking away from Canada in 1980 and 1995. Both failed, but the PQ — now in opposition — says if it wins the next provincial election it will push hard for another vote on independence.

More nonsense attacks - the Liberals are the only party in PQ with any opposition to the Bloq.

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The Globe is reporting how Paul Martin’s Aide is apologizing for his earlier mentioned comment.

One of Paul Martin’s top aides apologized to Canadian parents yesterday after saying on national television that they would buy popcorn and beer with the money the Conservatives are offering for child care.

The Conservatives rolled out a child-care plan last week that would give parents of preschool children an annual $1,200 per child to spend as they see fit.

I hope (but don’t believe that it will) put the stops on this issue. I don’t want to hear about it anymore - discipline the guy or whatever and get on with the election. The other parties will hammer at this until the 23rd regardless.

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In yet another strange-yet-true election campaign story, the Ottawa Sun reports on a Stephen Harper visit to a St. Catharines Karate School Saturday:

Instructor Tom Burtnik, who runs the small martial arts club in St. Catharines, introduced the Conservative leader to a group of kids who will soon travel to a competition in Las Vegas — their first competition out of the country.

Harper did his best Captain Highliner imitation as he questioned the young athletes.

“So are you going to see the Las Vegas strip while you’re there? Do some gambling?” Harper asked six-year-old Kolten Wight.

Perhaps he should have also suggested that they enjoy some drinks or fine Cuban cigars.

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A blog I have been following lately, M.K. Braaten has posted a fantastic dig which outlines a possible Insider trading issue relating to a company started owned by Paul Martin’s Former Current Doctor, Mediasys Inc. Trading volume on the Income Trust skyrocketed the day before Ralph Goodale’s Nov. 23rd annoucement that the government would cut the tax on dividends and not impose a new tax on income trusts.

By the way, who owns Medisys? Well, when they converted into an income trust in November 2004, 45% of the issued and outstanding shares were owned by directors and senior management at Medisys.

Who are these people? One is former Liberal Senator Leo Kolber. Leo Kolber has donated nearly $60,000 to the Liberals since 1993, including $17,500 in 2002 through his company 87215 Canada Ltd.

Seems the trading volume shot up 3200% the day before, with trades (despite reports of negative trends and prospecti) picking up 200,000 shares above the average 5k/day. Seems to me like an ‘inside’ tip got leaked to too many people.

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[Thanks! to David W for the corrections!]

CTV News has a report that Stephen Harper today vowed to commit $250,000,000 to the fight against cancer.

With both Liberal Leader Paul Martin and NDP Leader Jack Layton taking a break from the hustings on Saturday, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper used the election spotlight to promise $250 million over five years to help fund the battle against cancer.

Harper pledged that the annual $50 million in funding would bankroll the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (CSCC), a network of all major cancer organizations and stakeholders, including the Canadian Cancer Society.

Wow, he’s even firing both barrels on Saturday - Can it continue until January?

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In one of the greatest yet most irrelevant issues yet in this election race, the Liberal4Life blog has turned me onto an Ottawa Citizen article regarding the Liberal Party of Canada using actual Liberal voters to pose as Liberal supporters in their campaign commercials. It’s a great post, and is worth reading:

And what does the article say about the Conservatives’ use of people who aren’t Average Canadians?

But the Conservative party’s televised advertisements so far in this campaign have featured … people who are clearly actors.

I suppose the alternative and most acceptable way to proceed making commercials would be to have Conservatives posing at Liberals and vice-versa.

Here it is as a Link…

The Globe’s Subscriber section has an offbeat story about Stephen Harper sentimentally honoring John Lennon by singing a verse of “The Ballad of John and Yoko”:

A John Lennon fan, Mr. Harper was honouring the 25th anniversary of the musician’s death and sang a verse of The Ballad of John and Yoko. He told reporters that the day has been forever etched in his mind.

I find it oddly ironic that the leader of the right wing reformers in Canada is a Lennon fan. I wonder if he has any “Ringo Starr and the All Starr Band” in his collection as well?

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The Globe reports Paul Martin has recently upset the whitehouse by stating on Thursday:

Mr. Martin chastised the United States at the UN conference on climate change on Wednesday as “reticent” for not ratifying the Kyoto accord. He also said the United States lacked a “global conscience.”

It then continues:

The Bush administration, reports suggest, was furious at the suggestion — considering it an infuriating, if cheap, electioneering ploy focused solely on Canada’s Jan. 23 vote.

But according to a spokesperson for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the meeting was constructive, not confrontational

I believe what Paul Martin has said is something that the majority of the entire world outside the US thinks - however it is an unappropriate situation. I agree with the whitehouse - it was a cheap shot to get some anti-US votes here in the Canada away from the NDP’s.

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The Globe has a report about Jack Layton’s plane being unable to land in Windsor yesterday.

“Canadians in their daily lives, particularly in winter, sometimes have to make adjustments because of the weather. Guess what? It turns out a winter campaign requires the same thing,” Mr. Layton said.

“I’m glad to finally be here in Windsor.”

Weather forecasters have suggested Canadians are in for a nasty winter, but Mr. Layton is trying to put on a brave face, saying he finds cold and snow “fun” rather than frustrating

Mr. Layton - you don’t always have to be positive and keen about things. Your plane got re-routed, that sucks. Putting a positive spin on everything gets annoying after a while.

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The Globe and Mail is reporting that Stephen Harper has pledged new Conservative tax breaks for Seniors.

In the first stop of a swing through southern Ontario, Harper was at a seniors community centre to say that a Tory government would raise to $2,500 over five years the annual amount that seniors can obtan from their pension tax free. Harper would immediately double the $1,000 figure and increase it by another $500 over five years.

He said the tax relief move was aimed primarily at middle-class retirees whose earnings are just above what they receive through the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

I am not sure if this is a quick-fire response to the NDP proposal or just coincidental timing. A friend suggested to me that that conservatives have an “Announcement per Day” plan, that certainly explains the non-stop action in announcements.

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