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Monday, March 20, 2006
PM, trade minister "cleared"
Shapiro ruled that both were within their constitutional rights of office, here, on CTV (HT: SDA). Here's the Commissioner's report.
Posted by Russ Kuykendall on March 20, 2006 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Well it's good that this annoyance is out of the way. There never was anything to investigate and Shapiro should have said so to the 'complainants' (sh*t-disturbers) at the outset.
Posted by: JR | 2006-03-20 12:27:02 PM
Phew! Everyone was just hanging on the edge of their seats worried about that one!....lol, lol...
Partisan hack.
Mr Shapiro: where is the money the Liberal Party stole from us?
Posted by: infidel | 2006-03-20 12:48:06 PM
Greetings,
So this slap in the face to voters in Vancouver/Kingsway is perfectly legal, in a very fine, hair-splitting sense, because parliament was prorogued at the time of the crime. Good. So, clearly, Shapiro, and the entire office are a rubber-stamp for the various politicians, and therefore superfluous, and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Cancel the job, the office, and any one, or thing, associated with same. They are a waste of tax dollars, and an aid to sleaze, and corruption in the system. As to all of the voters that beleived the lies passed around by emerson, when he pretended to be, stole the funds, and votes, of people that wanted a liberal, tough. You should have realized that politics is a no-holds barred, preposterous joke being played upon the people that fund the show, and honesty, integrity, and ethics are merely words, to be found in any English dictionary.
Wait, maybe I'm being too harsh! Don't fire the people, close the office, and save large amounts of tax dollars. Just change the letterhead, and call it 'the office of agreeing that whatever political prostitutes say is correct, is'. That way citizens would not be confused into thinking that there are in fact ethics amongst politicians, and we should all continue to vote for liars, and illusionists. Cake, anyone?
Cheers.
Posted by: knotsmart | 2006-03-20 1:02:25 PM
Paragraph breaks, who needs 'em, eh? Life is just one big incoherent splooge.
Posted by: Speller | 2006-03-20 1:46:32 PM
File that under " No Shit Sherlock! " now Harper can get on with firing this asshat and introducing a REAL ethic commission office!
Posted by: PGP | 2006-03-20 1:49:07 PM
A Sorry Political Gang
By Stephen Gray
What a sorry political gang that is asking for your vote. Floor crossing politicians with no principles. Alleged bribery by another one who is then cleared by the Law Society. Another political fool wants to bake a “bigger economic pie” and crosses the floor to find an oven to do so. Then this same one talks about “saving the country.” Meanwhile another little hypocrite who criticized the government for years, is now part of this corrupt political band and defends their corruption, and is made a cabinet minister to boot. He needs to get the order of the boot if his constituents have any brains in their heads. Then we have a self confessed jewel thief attempting to get back into the House of No Shame, and is competing with a witch doctor oops I mean doctor, who sees “burning crosses. ” What a “wonderful” choice for the people of that constituency! Still whichever one makes it, should be right at home in The House of No Shame.
Meanwhile other political wackos who are in favor of Red Light districts are also campaigning for your vote. Now you know the meaning of political prostitutes. Then you have the political chorus of the “corrupt” party from hell singing: “Promises made, promises kept.” Did you ever see a bigger political farce in all your life? Then we have another political hypocrite, who propped up the “corrupt” government now running around, posturing and preening, saying the people he propped up were corrupt. Does that not make him a former supporter of corruption?
Then we have the spectacle of a union boss hugging and practically kissing the leader of the party that cannot find the taxpayers missing millions. And the union boss saying this party is doing a good job and telling his compulsory members to vote for it. Meanwhile his members are being laid off and he is getting paid big compulsory dollars for playing politics. What the heck is going on? Have people gone nuts that they would even vote for, or listen to, a noisy little union boss, or these political charlatans? And now these sleazy politicians are trying to bribe the people with the peoples own money. Which proves they have taxed us to the max, and now they say they will give us some back. Yeah sure! Do you believe these political manipulators who are throwing mountains of money at us but are morally challenged? Even some of their eating habits are expensive and scary.
We have a pizza politician who charges taxpayers big bucks for his hungry affliction. Is this guy ravenous or just a hungry glutton. What will happen to him if he ever loses his seat? Will he have to eat at MacDonalds on his own tab? Or use the Food Bank? The way this guy eats the food bank would be cleaned out faster than you could say AdScam. And talking about Adscam, millions of the peoples tax dollars are missing, nobody is in jail and nobody seems to care. Imagine if millions had gone missing from a bank the thieves would have been caught by now and probably be doing around twenty years in prison. But the AdScam thieves are not in prison. They are FREE. Meanwhile the guy who was in charge of finances when the money went missing knew nothing, saw nothing, and heard nothing. Now you know the meaning of those two words, “innocent bystander.” Where’s the police you might ask, and what are they doing about the unsolved missing millions? Does anybody know? Does anybody care? Is there a justice minister loose in the country? Or has the country lost its sense of justice, with judicial jackasses in ermine trimmed gowns “reading in” words that only they can see in their own twisted imaginations. These judicial dictators have imposed so called “same-sex marriage” on the country and compliant politicians impose it as “law.” Meanwhile another politician says he will have a free vote on this abomination if his party comes to power. A free vote sounds good except that this aberration called “same-sex marriage” was never in The Charter. So in effect this so called “free vote” would be a “free vote” on a LIE. And ALL the politicians are participating in this LIE and giving it credibility. The Not - withstanding clause in the Charter of Rights is the only hope and needs to be used to bring the judiciary to heel. But, unfortunately cowardly politicians have abdicated their responsibilities and are scared to use the Not - withstanding clause. So in effect the judiciary are the real rulers of the country. They do as they please and the politicians appease. This then is the sorry political gang that is asking for your vote.
Stephen Gray
Dec. 14, 2005.
[email protected] website http://www.geocities.com/graysinfo
.
Posted by: Stephen Gray | 2006-03-20 2:08:20 PM
People such as knotsmart are not smart. To continue trying to make a stink over Emerson when he simply followed a well established practise is simply dishonest. Especially since he did NOT change parties in order to prop up a failed government.
If such people were truly concerned, then they should lobby to get the rules changed. It would mean they are offended by politicians changing parties, no matter which parties are involved. Personally I would prefer that any politician elected as representing a particular platform have to go back to the voters to get their okay in order to change parties. However until such a change takes place, then it is dishonest to single on Emerson.
Posted by: Alain | 2006-03-20 2:09:44 PM
I don't know why msm has not questioned those people in David Emmersons' riding about just what they are up to!! Are they (the protesters) attempting to undermine the Conservative Party in power with a revival of the Reform Party? The msm sneered and feigned weak spined recoil at the 'thought' of 'recall' only a few five years ago. What a transformation!! The Reform Party is now pushing through it's agenda with the HELP of the msm. Strange times indeed.
Posted by: jema54j | 2006-03-20 3:01:47 PM
If rigid party lines had to be followed in Parliament then we would certainly have a dictatorship by the PMO's office forever - not just when Chretien types lead a bunch of trained Liberal seals.
This can't be what Emerson's constituents really want and they know it - they're simply partisan hacks.
Posted by: infidel | 2006-03-20 3:08:53 PM
Stephen Gray
Are you new to the planet ... or did the drugs just wear off?
There's nothing new under the sun. It's always been that way. You know ... scum always collects at the top of the pond.
Get over it! Live your live in spite of these assholes. Happiness doesn't come from government as so many on the left believe, it somes from within each individual. It is based on your ability to accept the realities of life and develop a good attitude anyway.
Posted by: Duke McGoo | 2006-03-20 3:20:21 PM
Greetings,
Alain, I think in my long-winded round about way, that's what I was trying to get at. The whole method of playing the game needs an overhaul. People, I think, are just upset at the recent regularity of the practice
Cheers.
P.S. Sorry if my grammatical skills are not as advanced as some!
Posted by: knotsmart | 2006-03-20 3:50:23 PM
But the PM S Harper still was not cleared on being an incompentet leader, a dictator, despot
"Harper, Chrétien are alike, both manifested ruthlessness in dealing with contrariness, for they are despots, dictators, ostriches too as recently exhibited by the exercise of power turns out to be intoxicating. Harper by his cold, indifferent reaction to Alberta's potential forays outside the Medicare box.. the unapologetic approach to political expediency, as shown in the appointment to cabinet of David Emerson and Michael Fortier last month and in the lackadaisical manner in which the decision was defended. All bad moves that have come to make him look like no-brainers coverup by lying spins that the end justified the means and that attitude eventually filtered down his government, leading the others too in their own dictatorial, unsavoury directions. Harper also shoots himself in the foot in Quebec while courting Quebecers. Major opposition to the Afghan mission runs deepest in Quebec, the very place where the prime minister is hoping to make gains in the next election. On this issue, On this critical peace minded libertarians Quebecers are Harper's toughest opponents.. Harper's reluctance to delegate responsibility. to abdicate even a fraction of his considerable powers to Parliament, his caucus or his cabinet shows he is just another bad loser, bad manager, bad pm. "This all is a universe away from the participatory, grassroots democracy that Mr. Harper espoused when he was policy director of the Reform Party. It does a disservice to all those Canadians who voted for the Conservatives in the hope they would bring a new openness and accountability to government." No matter how the Albertan Conservatives lie, twist and spin it Harper's reality is he does not care about anyone else's good welfare but his own still When you invoke God's name, do really try personally to act like his real representative still too. Otherwise you make a mockery of his good name. "
". A more Christian parliament? HA HA HA you are joking, and what a big Joke still there is no difference between the red and blue ostriches for they are all self serving, hirelings, dictators, and there ain't yet a real Christian person amongst the whole Bunch, and these cowardly Christians they all have been silenced too. Christian? Not even especially Mr. S Harper who has yet to learn the Bible and practise it "44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10: ) anyone yet seen any of them do now a decent Christian thing? I have not. Christian Parliament. That was a good joke. More pretenders is more like it. Get real.
And how long will these pretenders, abusers, liars, undemocratic Rednecked Ostriched yahoos in Alberta try to spin everything to their own liking? Much too long.
Posted by: PM S Harper | 2006-03-20 3:52:32 PM
Knotsmart,
Another point to consider is that we do not technically, I believe, vote for a party, but a candidate. In practice some vote for a particular party, but many vote for a particular candidate. For example, David Kilgor in Edmonton. It is not exactly correct to say that the majority of voter voted for the Liberals in Vancouver/Kingsway. Some surely would had voted for ANY Liberal candidate. But surely some had voted for Emmerson himself.
For those who voted for Emmerson, there vote was not wasted.
Posted by: TM | 2006-03-20 4:04:41 PM
All Canadians are equal
but some Canadians are better than the others.
Albertans are better than the others because they tell so and often.
We can know the truth that they realy are better at producing much more manure,
we see it spread here often,
It smells bad also to the rest of us.
Posted by: All Canadians are equal | 2006-03-20 4:40:20 PM
Zee next hurdle for Arper: BB (not BS )... BB (not PP) ... (no, not Bruno)... BB.+
Loyola cleared Arper. +
Tories won't meet with Actress Brigitte Bardot over Seal Hunt
Both Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn have refused to meet with Bardot on her visit to Ottawa Wednesday."I think giving people like that attention and publicity just furthers their cause," Hearn told CBC News. +
via nealenews
BB here:
http://img.stern.de/_content/53/03/530349/Brigitte_alt_250.jpg
Posted by: maz2 | 2006-03-20 4:49:55 PM
Geez, Preacher, what is with your ostrich fetish?
Willknot-smart,if you think that people want to wade through the spew-age of your miseducation to mine your minuscule point, you are a mistaken.
When Prime Minister Harper cans this caricature of an Ethics Commissioner he should state that the vacancy will be filled by elected senators who will ride herd over the lower house.
One of the best reasons for two elected houses is that they can keep each other honest.
Fixed elections in each house's off year. Staggered elections will get the electorate used to participating in their democracy.
Posted by: Speller | 2006-03-20 5:00:10 PM
Liberal Buffoons in Senate are up to old tricks " If ever we needed proof that it's time to reform or abolish the Senate, we're about to be handed it by a group of frustrated Liberals in the upper chamber who seem unable to cope with the idea that their natural governing party is out of power. Sen. Joe Day is warning that he and the 65 other Liberals in the so-called chamber of sober second thought will make life difficult for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government if they dare to bring in legislation that the Grits consider contrary to the national interest. What utter gall. It's outrageous to think that a bunch of Liberal hacks and hangers-on could hold up the work of parliamentarians we elected to set policy and pass laws. We have seen this show before, of course, when a Grit-stacked Senate tried in 1990 to block GST legislation introduced by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's government. That attempt led to one of the most disgraceful and embarrassing displays ever seen on Parliament Hill as senators blew whistles and kazoos, rang cowbells and quoted from the Bible in their attempts to disrupt proceedings. Tory Sen. Marjory LeBreton says it was that kind of behaviour "that seriously damaged the already fragile reputation of the Senate." No kidding. We'd compare them with a bunch of eight-year-olds but don't want to risk offending the children. Losing their grip on the reins of power is never easy for Liberals to accept, but here's a lesson that they had better learn and learn now: Harper and the Conservatives form the government of the day. They were elected to power on a platform that committed them to some very specific programs, including tax reform, financial assistance to parents, crime control and restoring faith in medicare. Voters will render their judgment a couple of years from now as to whether or not they were on the right track. In the meantime, we can do without buffoonery by a bunch of people whose main claim to fame is Liberal party loyalty. "
Actually the federal elections will be next June due to the way Harper is bullying everyone..
Posted by: Liberal Buffoons in Senate | 2006-03-20 6:04:55 PM
Yep, Preacher, what a genius. The Liberals will get a new leader, get out of debt, and top up their war chest all in time to wage an election starting in June.
Putz.
Posted by: Speller | 2006-03-20 6:28:29 PM
We will have another Minotity government
till one political party starts to care about the good welfare of all Canadians
Posted by: Naw | 2006-03-20 7:25:03 PM
The 'good' welfare of Canadians, Preacher? You are such a redundant Yutz.
What do you think the "wel" part in welfare means, HMMMMM, Ostrich?
Posted by: Speller | 2006-03-20 7:38:35 PM
Election in June? I'd love to see that. The Liberals leaderless. Canadians having no appetite for another election. The $300 million price tag. New campaign finance laws benefiting the CPC because of their grassroots base and sinking the Liberal Steamship (pun intended :P). If the Liberals, Bloc and NDP topple the government over childcare like they are threatening, it will guarantee at least 10 years of CPC rule. So bring it on :)
Posted by: Big Makk | 2006-03-20 8:59:08 PM
It is not an Either-Or situation.
This is not a case of the Conservatives being right and Liberals being wrong, or vice versa.
Harper and Emerson breached a very important part of the social contract between citizens of this country and their elected representatives. They huddled together and decided to unilaterally override the wishes of the voters in Vancouver Kingsway. In effect, they stole the votes of the majority in that riding, and abrogated the citizens' choice to themselves.
This is what is immoral about that decision.
The fact that the ethics code is toothless and does not address this issue, does not make the act of these highwaymen moral.
When Martin huddled with Stronach to cut a deal to have her join his minority government a short while before a vote of confidence, these two also unilaterally overrode the wishes of the voters in her riding, and stole the votes of the majority in that riding. Martin did what the Liberals had become so used to do: be awfully smart in playing the game of politics, rather than actually governing honourably, by force of ideas and policies, not tricks and sleight of hand.
Stronach faced her voters, and persuaded enough of them that her departure from the New Tories was based on differences of principle, in addition to differences of personality. They considered her argument, and enough agreed with her to re-elect her. The voters judged her, and sided with her, forgiving the wrong done when she and Martin huddled.
What most commentators do not understand is that the voters decided in a very clear, very unmistakable way, that Martin was not to be forgiven for this and other acts. His crass move to save his faltering government by agreeing with a member of another party joining his Liberals, failed to pass the smell test for many voters.
And so the voters passed judgment on Martin and he lost his minority government, the leadership of the country, and the leadership of his party.
Just as the voters will pass judgment on Emerson and Harper for their action in Vancouver Kingsway.
It is the right of voters to hold politicians to account.
That is the right I am supporting, not with a snivel, but emphatically.
The politicians work for us, the voters. Not the other way round. We are the kings and queens; not them.
And every now and then we have to make them understand that.
Posted by: CuriosityKilledTheCat | 2006-03-20 9:55:58 PM
Getting back to the main subject . The Dead and uselesss commissioner is still walking The Ethics Commissioner rightly exonerated both Stephen Harper and David Emerson from any conflict of interest in Mr. Emerson's appointment to the cabinet
Notwithstanding fire him.. he has beem mostly useless
Posted by: Nevertheless -Notwithstanding | 2006-03-21 2:18:14 AM
More "democratic fecifit" ... there oughta be a law against it
... & Harper is ample girff tooo, so let Paul Who respomd to that & Jeancula, too
jesus chriss is a canadian
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/journal/journal.html
voyez jeanchretien as passion chriss
you tink arpere is harassed, eh
what you say, Jean?
Tories Will Allow free Vote on Bill to Prevent MPs from Switching Parties
The Conservative government is willing to allow a free vote on any potential law to block floor-crossing by parliamentarians, says a Tory MP. +
via nealenews
Posted by: maz2 | 2006-03-21 7:35:21 AM
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/journal/journal.html
Quebecers sure do have a good sense of humour
Many Albertans can learn from it
I liked the cartoon one about JC
No Christians killing people over it in Canada?
Posted by: HA HA HA HA | 2006-03-21 8:48:36 AM
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/galeries_1/polcan/000077-paul_martin_liberal.jpg
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/galeries_1/polcan/000087-hockey_canada.jpg
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/galeries_1/polcan/000049-martin_28_juin.jpg
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/galeries_1/polcan/000047-stephen_harper.jpg
http://www.lecornichon.qc.ca/galeries_1/polcan/000091-bernard_derome.jpg
Posted by: Very Appropriate | 2006-03-21 9:34:05 AM
Here's some thoughts:
1) There is a difference between what Belinda did and what Emerson (and even Brison did.)
2) A candidate should be more loyal to the country and the electorate than his/her party (an idea not shared widely enough.) If it's in the country's or his riding's interest for him to cross the floor, do so.
3) If you voted Liberal, you voted for corruption and if you believe that what Emerson did was corrupt, you got what you voted for. There is no moral reason for you to be upset. You voted for the most corrupt regime in history and if you feel betrayed, learn the lesson - don't vote for the party of crooks. (I don't believe that Emerson was bad, but he did run as a Liberal which is bad.)
3) Floor crossing is a part of politics. If you believe that you can get more done for your constituents by crossing the floor, do so. Winston Churchill did so - Twice!
Posted by: Warwick | 2006-03-21 10:20:16 AM
Bernard Shapiro said in a report that Harper did not offer David Emerson, who was elected as a Liberal MP, any inducements to switch political parties and become his international trade minister after the Jan. 23 vote. Instead, Harper was exercising the prime minister's "personal prerogative" that allows him to bring anyone he wishes into cabinet. But while the move did not violate the conflict of interest code for MPs, Shapiro said, certain "ethical principles" and "values" that lie beyond his mandate have not been respected. "Fairly or unfairly, this particular instance has given many citizens a sense that their vote ... was somehow devalued, if not betrayed," he wrote. Winnipeg MP Pat Martin said his party will again introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to try to ban floor crossing. Similar legislation has been around since 1999 and been defeated in successive Parliaments. Those hypocritical MPs have yet too put one bad Liberal into a real jail too.
Posted by: Jean | 2006-03-21 1:31:52 PM
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