More on the devastating FIPA ratification from Elizabeth May.
https://soundcloud.com/cbcvictoria/e...is-raising-the
More on the devastating FIPA ratification from Elizabeth May.
https://soundcloud.com/cbcvictoria/e...is-raising-the
Last edited by botley; 10-27-2015 at 02:42 PM.
Downtown Toronto as a ward bloc will vote for Olivia Chow as Mayor on Oct. 27, that is my "gee I wonder how'd he figure that out" prediction. Unfortunately, I have no idea if their votes count for anything against the polling numbers still making headlines in Ford-landia (when I last heard, Chow's numbers had tanked in Scarborough, whereas Ford Nation is relatively unswayed by Tory's capable glad-handing), but I'm calling it on her behalf for the most "downtown" of us, in terms of Ward locations pretty much everywhere from below St. Clair West village -- which is not a Disaster, but a little city in itself, just needing a little help with its growing pains into some possible future upgrades with the nearby new Crosstown LRT line creating development.
Anyway, what I'm saying is that although it may look all Olivia Red on the map downtown after election day, it's still Ford Blue out the 'burbs and they have the numbers to beat us. So, Ford More Years? Or maybe Doug Ford'll behave well and poll high enough to split the support of Tory, who's currently leading, maybe even enough to sink them both below Olivia (who can't sink much lower before actually bleeding out diehards into the Tory camp). So this will be a nailbiter.
A slightly less worrying race, but one no less interesting, is shaping up against TDSB trustee Sheila Ward. Her embarrassing discretionary spending antics spilled all over the headlines last week and she never responded to my e-mail about that $2,000 the Toronto Star reported she spent on her assistant's training program for website-building tools that are supposedly open-sourced. Public schools are being squeezed out of the downtown core because of this loony bin that is the education file. The various education boards are the third-biggest item (second to the transit and police files) that the city's voters supposedly control. Yet you can't raise kids down here anymore, unless you're rich, because the public schools are in rotting, collapsing buildings sitting atop very valuable public land. Chris Moise, endorsed by Kristin Wong-Tam for an area encompassing both her ward and my ward's councillor's, is running against the incumbant Ward. It's a huge bell-weather race, and I hope people wake up to it.
Last edited by botley; 09-22-2014 at 09:03 AM.
Would it be best if the greater Toronto region were split? Downtown having its own mayor and council while the suburbs do their own thing?
The Greens were the only party to vote against C-41 today.
So we're officially at war. We're sending 6 CF-18 for 6 months (for now). No boots on the ground (for now).
Harper wouldn't tell the costs of the mission.
Thank god we can fill this huge military gap left by other nations with our high-tech top of the line CF-18.
I still think this isn't our war to fight but whatever. I guess we need to help cleanup other people's mess.
Never thought I'd say that but I miss Chrétien. Made the right decision back in 2003 not to get involved.
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/topstories/...nths-1.2803575
So the mission could last longer than six months but the gov would have to authorize it.
I agree. Destroying the IS will just make another mess a few years down the road.
http://rabble.ca/news/2014/10/olivia...ampaign=buffer
@botley
Article about Tory's record regarding women. Don't know how you feel about Rabble though
"He was president and CEO of Rogers from 1995 to 2003 and on their board since 2009. Rogers has never been known as a good employer of women..."
I have been working for Rogers for 8 years (cable, in an office, I work directly with male and female co workers, mgt and directors) and I can confirm that the above comment is absolute & complete rubbish. Rogers is very diverse and offers equal opportunity to everyone. Gender, and ethnic background, is not an issue here.
I'm not a big fan of either Tory or Chow. They were my third and second choices, respectively, before Sok dropped out. I like Chow's policies better, but she's spineless and doesn't follow through with enough passion or advocate with enough persuasion to accomplish what she says she'll do. At the end of the day, our city council holds the cards, the mayor is just the loudest voice among them. If you want the city to hire more women, vote for a female councillor.
Soldier shot at War Memorial and shooting at Parliament Hill.
Unconfirmed reports state that the suspect has been shot and killed.
On a related note:
Editorial by Glenn Greenwald following the incident in St-Jean yesterday.
canada has become a very poorly drawn caricature.
Last edited by Lew; 10-22-2014 at 01:04 PM. Reason: clarity
... and how did your edit add clarity to your statement?
Oh, man, that made me tear up, that singing.
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Undoubtedly this is the saddest report I've seen on this whole episode.
EDIT: okay, never mind, I just saw this. I'm out of tears.
Last edited by botley; 10-23-2014 at 07:32 PM.
Really nice gesture. Most hockey fans who go to games in the US know the words without the karaoke prompting. It's by far a better song than ours and always played before the games.
The voice of reason spoke eloquently in Parliament today, and in this clip before the press.
Last edited by botley; 10-23-2014 at 11:00 PM.
John Tory began his victory speech results in a flurry of insults on Twitter.
Minds were blown...
"why is john tory speaking french is this an oral exam?"
"Hey John Tory. This is a municipal election. French is not required."
"Anyone know the strategy behind John Tory starting his victory speech with French?"
Of course people tend to forget that Canada has two official languages.
Anyhow, is this guy any good? I haven't followed the race closely this time around. More conservative or liberal?
He is more conservative (historically speaking) than liberal but has spoken about supporting some more left leaning initiatives like revitalizing city parks, funding social housing (not much evidence that he is doing anything new apart from pledging funding that the city already committed to), arts&culture, expanding bike lanes in the city, environment (proposed to create some kind of city advisory board) but most of these initiatives have not been backed up in terms of how/who is going to pay for it. He has mentioned the need for reform in police services but his 2003 mayoral platform included hiring more cops, outlawing pan handling and giving them more access to dna samples... but 2003 had less attention on the topic of cops needlessly killing people.
The one thing that he has been pretty vague about is the possible expansion of the island airport. I sincerely hope that this doesn't happen especially since the plan to create a reliable rail system to shuttle to and from Pearson.
It is to be seen what is going to happen with him at the helm but a lot of people in this city would have voted for an inanimate carbon rod if it meant getting the Ford's out of the big seat.
His transit plan is moronic, but you're right, Ford's was worse.
Any one been following at all the newest Ford Clan member to get into politics? Michael "mikey" Ford?
I don't know too much about him apart the fact that he is young.
The reason I mention him is because he reminds me of Chaz Bono. I think that he might be one of those XXY double chromosome males.
I just realized I'm posting more in the US political thread than the Canadian one.
I don't want to let this thread die.
We're having our share of interesting stories too. Starting with the federal budget being pushed back.
After announcing a surplus, every signs are now pointing to a small deficit. It's sad that our economy relies so much on oil.
Oh well, I guess Harper is gonna have to find some new arguments to seduce the electoral vote come October. The game has changed.
Harper set the table with Bill C-51.
Government directives have been issued and we're seeing the first result.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle23019252/
"The RCMP has labelled the “anti-petroleum” movement as a growing and violent threat to Canada’s security".
With the anti-terrorist bill, environmentalist will now be watched and monitored because RCMP has labeled them as a threat to national security.
How long until Unions are put on that list?
This is some scary stuff. RCMP following government's lines on the enemy of the day.
well, not about canadian politics per se...but he is canadian and i think his blog is fabulous.
https://marknesop.wordpress.com/
and this one, too...
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.ca/
interesting reads, both of them.