and not the spin.

Report of the Independent Advisor into the Allegations Respecting Financial Dealings Between Mr. Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney

Letter from David Johnston to the Prime Minister [ PDF 2.6 MB ]

Report [ HTML ] [ PDF 108 KB ]

Schedule 1 [ PDF 1.01 MB ]

Schedule 2 [ PDF 188 KB ]

Schedule 3 [ HTML ] [ PDF 12 KB ]

Schedule 4 [ HTML ] [ PDF 18 KB ]

Full report with schedules [ PDF 4.7 MB ]

From Frances Russell's Winnipeg Free Press article.

Public growing weary of inequality, corporate power

By 10:33 a.m. Jan 2, 2008, the 100 best-paid CEOs of Canada's public companies had already pocketed the full-time average annual Canadian wage of $38,998. Noted the CCPA: "And they will continue to earn the average Canadian wage every nine hours and 33 minutes for the rest of the year."

The study updated the CCPA's Growing Gap Project tracking inequality's alarming leap in Canada. In 1998, the best-paid 100 CEOs took home an average $3,457,150 annually, 104 times more than the average Canadian. By 2006, they earned $8,528,304, 218 times as much. Over the same eight years, average salaries rose 18 per cent.

"While there has always been some degree of income inequality in Canada, inequality this extreme is a recent phenomenon," the CCPA says.

The average CEO's salary in Canada must not have been suitably large enough for the CCPA's fairy tale study.

Stephane Dion:

He said Liberal MPs have been forced to abstain from key confidence votes, allowing the Conservatives to push through key legislation, because Canadians were opposed to the idea of a third election in three years.

Now, he said, Canadians have had enough of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and are ready for a change.

Who knew they made such good kool-aid in Montreal?

We've banned so many things today a kid needs a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, a teeth guard and a suitable guardian before going for a walk. Don't even think about building a home made go-kart to whip down your favourite local hill. Any wonder why childhood obesity is climbling? Why teach children anything anymore, just give them the state approved rule book to study.

Latest in the ban everything parade is negative politcal advertising. Anyone surprised it comes from the Toronto Star?

Political attack ads insult voters

A law should be enacted banning the purchase of airtime by political parties, political action groups and "friends" of the candidate for the purpose of broadcasting negative attack ads. Of course, given constitutional protection for freedom of speech, this will never happen.

What could happen is that we, as reasoned, rational voters, speak loudly and forcefully by way of the ballot box. By voting against any political party that stoops to the use of negative attack ads, we would send a message all politicians understand.

We need to let our political leaders know that attempts to manipulate us by any and all means will be rejected. Voters should favour those representatives who can communicate what they stand for without having to resort to the cheap shot.

The writer delivers the typical knee-jerk call for a ban in the first paragraph and then goes on to give the correct solution in the second paragraph.

If voters are as disgusted by attack ads as everyone claims, they have the single most powerful weapon already in their possession - their vote.

Elections Canada is already on a one-sided crusade to exercise judgement power on what does or doesn't constitute "local" or "national" programming. The writer would now have Elections Canada or some other quasi-judicial body, censor all politcal ads for appropriate content. Why stop there? We should only allow government approved ads that accurately reflect the positions of each party. That should do it.

Somewhere, Uncle Joe is smiling.

Update: one slim benefit if such a law ever existed? The Toronto Star would have to stop publishing during an election (Conservative targeted attack ads wouldn't be allowed).

goes to John Ivison

This is of concern to the geeks who run election campaigns and the overcaffeinated Liberal blogger who wrote "this is the largest political scandal in Canadian history that could result in the deregistration of the Conservative Party of Canada and the liquidation of its assets."

For the rest of us "in and out" is about one-tenth as interesting as it sounds. On current evidence, it does not constitute a political scandal by Burke's, or anyone else's, definition of the term.

Support an end to Martial Law and a return to Democracy in Pakistan

Fort Wayne Indiana Libertarians may not have won any races but they managed a full slate and had a significant impact on recent local elections. Third party politics is a whole different ball game in the States, but this is a good example of where to start and how to build.

Libertarian Candidates Impact Election Results

Playing the role of political spoiler. Allen County's Libertarian Party made history for itself this year, posting candidates in nearly every Fort Wayne municipal race. Though none of them won, their presence clearly impacted some of the key races. As Nicole Pence reports.

1. Alberta's Senator-Elect Link Byfield, never one to hide his light under a bushel

Is it just me or is there a big turn in the Canadian political tide?

There's something extraordinarily pleasant about a House of Commons controlled by the Conservatives.

These Conservatives, anyway.

After seventy years of constitutional derailment by sanctimonious Liberals and socialists, one feels an almost punitive glee in watching Stephen Harper humiliate all those parties which caused the wreck.

2. Halifax Chronicle Herald

Farcical Reform

There is one glaring omission in the efforts of both the Tories and New Democrats to alter the Senate: They ignore the absolute necessity to change the Constitution if any reforms are to be accomplished. If political parties of all stripes are serious about reforming the Senate, let them engage the provinces and all Canadians in a serious dialogue, not the current farce.

I suppose a motion in the House of Commons, supported by a majority of elected MPs, doesn't represent the beginnings of "serious dialague". One might get the feeling that the above editorial is influenced by the locations of it's printing presses and advertising base.

3. YouTube.ca and the new CPC War room on YouTube.

Jason Cherniak in the Hill Times:

Dion's leadership not on the line at first-ever council of presidents

Ontario riding association president Jason Cherniak says 'I personally think we should pass a motion saying that we support his leadership and I might even be proposing it.'

By Abbas Rana

A high-profile Dion leadership campaign worker and blogger, fed up with what he calls "incorrect," but powerful media reports, says he may force the leadership issue and move a motion to support leader Stéphane Dion at next month's first-ever council of presidents meeting of the 308 riding association presidents in Montreal.

Jason Cherniak, riding association president for Richmond Hill, Ont., said although there isn't supposed to be any vote on Mr. Dion's (Saint-Laurent-Cartierville, Que.) leadership at the meeting, he's considering putting forward the strategic motion of support. "I personally think we should pass a motion saying that we support his leadership and I might even be proposing it, but this is something that's in the early stages and I haven't organized anything," Mr. Cherniak said in an interview. He runs his own popular blog and served as blog campaign chair for Mr. Dion's leadership campaign in the last Liberal leadership campaign.

"Media reports about challenges to Mr. Dion's leadership are incorrect. As the grassroots of the party, we need to remind everybody that we're the ones who make those decisions and we have full confidence in Stéphane Dion."

Liberal Party President's response:

But the party president said there will be no vote or review of Mr. Dion's leadership.

"I have not heard that, number one. Number two, it is not in the roles and responsibilities or the powers of this committee," said Liberal Party President and Ontario Senator Marie Poulin, who, as the party president, is also the chair of the council of presidents.

Is the Liberal party stifling feedback from it's EDA Presidents now?

Is this a real grassroots session or a dog and pony session meant to appease members? Who makes "those decisions" - the Liberal Party or the grassroots?

Even if the Liberal Party allows Jason to move ahead with the motion, anything less than a unanimous endorsement would be viewed as further weakness in Dion's leadership. On the other hand, a unanimous vote would now be viewed as nothing more than stage-managed pap.

Questions for Stephane Dion in today's media scrum:

1. One of your riding Presidents is advocating for a vote by all EDA Presidents on your Leadership. Would you be willing to allow such a vote during the President's Council meeting in Montreal?

2. Are you afraid of what the results of such a vote would be?

3. If the purpose of this meeting is to "empower and seek input from the party grassroots" wouldn't a motion of support be seen as both empowering and seeking real input?

Those are a couple of the top of my head. You can post any others in the comments.

Update: a few commenters at Jason's blog have found an error or two in his logic (or lack thereof)

I can't wait for the next election to take a bite of the Liberal sandwich that this is going to provide: 

NDP will spend maximum on campaign: 

Layton Mia Rabson , Winnipeg Free Press

Published: Friday, November 02, 2007

WINNIPEG - The federal NDP have for the first time in history given themselves the go-ahead to spend every last cent allowed under federal election financing laws, hoping to make historic gains at the polls.

 
Party officials are in Winnipeg this weekend for an election strategy session. The election planning committee made the decision Friday to give the party more financial room whenever the next campaign occurs. "For the first time in Canadian history, in the next election, the NDP will be able to mount a campaign of the same size as the two major parties," said Leader Jack Layton.

 
In the 2005-06 campaign, the NDP spent $14.9 million, a record for the party, but still more than $3 million shy of the spending limit.

 
Both the Conservatives and the Liberals hit the limit.

 
"We're hoping the possibility to present our message with the same scale as the other parties will allow for an equal playing field to be created," said Layton.

The Liberal's worst nightmare.  

The worst spin I've seen in the last 30 years:

 I abstained with balls.

Best quote on Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's "mini-budget" goes to a comment at the Globe and Mail:  

Ivison on the Liberals: 

At the moment, the Liberals are behaving like the crack suicide squad from Monty Python's Life of Brian, who attack by impaling themselves on their own swords.

 
Still more to come on the Bonnie Crombie Mississauga Liberal Spooktacular Sponsorship Fundraising Event.
 

Looks like another long week ahead for the hapless Liberal Leader Stephane Dion: 

1. Sarnia-Lambton federal Liberal association president resigns

Posted By By DAN McCAFFERY The Observer

"It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees," she continued.

 
"The opposition's role isn't to survive, it's to oppose. I'm a little disappointed." Gillis predicts bad times are ahead for the party.

 
"The longer you delay (forcing an election) the weaker you become. People do not follow weakness, they follow leaders. They are setting themselves up for a real fall."

 
2. Ignatieff supporter Bonnie Crombie seems to have a problem with definitions if we are to believe her supporters.

3. Ignatieff supporter Denis Coderre wins quote of the week with his post Throne Speech abstention comment:

"Sorry," said Liberal MP Denis Coderre, gingerly extending his arm for a handshake on Wednesday night after his party abstained on the throne-speech vote. "My fingers are a bit sore. I guess I need to lose some weight – because sitting on my hands really hurts."

4. More Coderre:

Liberal MP Denis Coderre: "The ships not sinking, but it's clearly taking on water."

 
5. Yet another cloud for a Liberal Party Leader desperately looking for some sunshine:

Liberal MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast Blair Wilson today resigned from the federal Liberal Caucus and stepped down from his position as Liberal National Revenue Critic   

The familiar saying took on a whole new meaning last week in the United States: 

"Give me liberty or give me death," she wrote. "Maybe the next campaign ought to be for assisted-suicide laws in our state. If they will not allow me to live in peace, and a little less pain, would they help me to die, humanely?"

Long time medical marijuana advocate Robin Prosser chose death last week, committing suicide after being denied access to medical marijuana by Federal DEA agents.  

You can watch Robin's story on YouTube in a four part series entitled "Forbidden Medicine".  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuxHvCDdNzc

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SfbsnE2C_U

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLthAm0WhMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWTiRhy3-F0

H/T to Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan and OfficiallyScrewed.com for this one. (check out the video on Officially Screwed.com)

At first glance, this issue of Corporate Sponsorship of a Liberal EDA fundraiser looks like nothing more than incompetence. I'm sure we'll hear lots of excuses of "over-zealous" local advertising, or misprints or some other such excuse.

When you delve into things a little deeper though, the picture changes.

Is this another nail in the coffin of Stephane Dion by Michael Ignatieff supporters? Was this event allowed to go forward to demonstrate how little Dion actually controls the party he leads?

From Bonnie Crombie's bio page:

Her passion for politics and public service is also highlighted by Bonnie's many years of service to a cross-section of Liberals both federally and provincially, including her most recent position as Co-Campaign Manager for the GTA and Convention Floor Manager for Michael Ignatieff in his bid to become the leader of the federal Liberal Party. Bonnie has managed municipal, provincial and federal campaigns as well as sat on numerous riding associations in Parkdale High Park, West Vancouver and Mississauga.

Not just an average Ignatieff supporter, but a prominent one.  Bonnie Crombie would also be hard pressed to plead ignorance given the extensive Liberal experience listed in her biography.

In addition to the "Sponsors" listed on the bottom of the flyer, two out of the four entertainment acts would be considered businesses and as such would be required to charge the event fair market value for their services. Donations in kind are only allowed from individuals and only when it is of goods or services that don't form the basis of their regular income.

More to come on this as I attempt to analyze the expenses and estimated income from an event such as this. 

Edit: Congratulations to Jason Cherniak being first out of the gate and managing to work incompetence, over-zealous and misprint all into one excuse:

The 14-year old who produced the brochures advertising the event mistakenly referred to "sponsors" in the distribution.

What does it say about your election team or EDA that a 14 year old is allowed to not only print but post on the official candidate's site and distribute a flyer for a major fundraiser without it being vetted by anyone else in the organization? Where would the 14 year old ever get the idea that there are any sponsors? Where and how would he/she get a list of sponsors if no "sponsors" existed?

Since the flyer no longer exists on Bonnie's site, you can view it here.

PS. - I haven't been one of "them" for a long time, not that there's anything wrong with it. It's simply a matter of choice.

Premier Ed Stelmach's got a tough decision to make this week. 

My suggestion: 

1. Immediately raise the royalties 10%

2. 2.5 % raise next year

3. 2.5 % raise the 2nd year

4. 5 % raise the 3rd year. 

Effects of each years raise to be evaluated. Future years increases can be adjusted with a one year notification to industry.

CPC Energy is challenging you to show us what you got!

We are looking for student activist to create an original video to be featured on the CPC Energy website and to compete for awesome prizes. Your short video can be about anything - a policy, your favorite or not-so-favorite politician or even a rant about the tired old left. Funny or serious, anything goes! Be creative! Be original!

1 Blue 8GB Ipod Nano,1 30GB Ipod Video and 1 Nintendo Wii (with 2 Games Included) up for grabs.

Contest Terms and Conditions

Hmm... I wonder if we could get him to guest at next summer's Liberty Summer Seminar?

That scraping sound you hear is the political "centre" marker in Canada shifting to the right again. 

Dion promises bigger corporate-tax cut than Harper

When was the last time every government in Canada, Federal and Provincial, had balanced budgets? 

There remains a lot to be accomplished, but we're talking generational sorts of changes, not one or two governments. One step at a time.

I actually had a good chuckle reading this "manifesto". The demise of the Liberal party, both federally and Provincially in Quebec, apparently is a grave threat to liberalism. I agree there is a threat to large L, Liberal Party of Canada "Liberalism", I don't see the threat to classic liberalism. If anything, the demise of the above may open the door to more classic liberalism not only in Quebec, but all of Canada.

A manifesto in defence of liberalism and federalism in Quebec

Globe and Mail

Update October 11, 2007 at 8:57 PM EDT

The following comes from grassroots liberals and federalists for the promotion of liberal and federalist values in Quebec:

The current political situation is of grave concern to Quebeckers who share liberal and federalist values. The resounding defeat of the federal Liberal Party in the Sept. 17 by-elections and the Quebec Liberal Party's relegation to the bottom of the polls demonstrates not only that these parties are politically weak, but that the very existence of political liberalism and a resolutely federalist vision are threatened in the province.

Nothwithstanding the previous post, there are a couple of things to consider on this day after. 

John Tory took over a party mired deep in debt and even deeper in the polls. The once powerful "big blue machine" was fraction of it's former glory, despite loyalists claim.

Tory's biggest mistake? Typical of many leadership winners. Surround yourself with loyalists and advance your agenda. Loyalists make great yes men and extremely poor realists.

The longer I spend in politics, the more I despise the inevitable ass-kissers who seem to stick to leaders like flies on a pest strip. Worse is the arrogance and rudeness displayed by the above mentioned as they deal with the unwashed masses who make up the uninformed electorate.

Hubris is unfortunately never realised until the day after the crushing defeat that even Mickey Mouse can predict.

Reap what you sow springs to mind.

The early betting has already started on the next leader of the PC Party of Ontario. 

The smart candidates started five or six months ago.  Who's your favourite?

I think we can safely say what the new priorities of the Government are. This Press Conference was the first government response to the various demands of the opposition parties.

1. Strengthening the economy

2. Strengthening the Federation

3. Protecting Canadian Sovereignty

4. Crime

5. Environment

6. Canada's mission in Afghanistan

The Prime Minister made it clear that a vote for the Throne speech was a mandate for the Government to proceed on those issues and that he expected related legislation to be ongoing questions of confidence.

The stage is certainly set for the next session of Parliament.