Friday, September 18, 2015
Wilks attending all debates: Not True
To listen to Chris Walker's conversations regarding the interview with David Wilks MP go here:
What's Happening.......
Ongoing
Library Display
Artwork
by Monique Bolduc
Cranbrook and District Arts Council
135 Tenth Av. S.
Exhibit "We paint' Group
'til September 25th
Friday September 18th
Key City Theatre Open House
4 -7:00pm
Saturday September 19th
Cranbrook Farmer's Market
10:00am - 1:00pm
Library Display
Artwork
by Monique Bolduc
Cranbrook and District Arts Council
135 Tenth Av. S.
Exhibit "We paint' Group
'til September 25th
Friday September 18th
Key City Theatre Open House
4 -7:00pm
Saturday September 19th
Cranbrook Farmer's Market
10:00am - 1:00pm
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Reaction to leaders debate on the economy: John Ivison
One response to the Economy Debate held Sept 17th
It’s a unanimous decision — or it should be. Tom Mulcair, the NDP leader, won Thursday’s election debate rumble on points. There was no knock out blow but across a range of measures, Mulcair bossed the debate. Here’s a breakdown of how he scored:
LANDING HARD AND CLEAR PUNCHES
Thomas Mulcair bashed both his rivals all evening. “Mr. Harper put all his eggs in one basket and then dropped the basket,” he said of the Conservative government’s handling of the economy.
He pointed out that Trudeau’s first vote in the House of Commons was for Conservatives’ corporate tax “giveaway.”
“Jack Layton and I fought that every single step of the way.”
He said that one of Trudeau’s last votes in the House was to support the Conservative Party’s anti-terror legislation, “which seriously compromises the rights and freedoms of Canadians.”
He boxed the Liberal leader’s ears over his comments where he called small business owners tax cheats. “I find that offensive,” Mulcair said.
Trudeau tried to land blows on Harper over the refugee crisis but it was Mulcair who drew blood when he responded to the Conservative leader’s accusation that the Liberals and NDP would open Canada’s borders to “hundreds of thousands” of refugees, with no regard to security. “That is undignified – Mr. Harper is fearmongering on the backs of people who need help most,” he chided.
To read the entire article from John Ivison on The National Post go to the link above.
LANDING HARD AND CLEAR PUNCHES
Thomas Mulcair bashed both his rivals all evening. “Mr. Harper put all his eggs in one basket and then dropped the basket,” he said of the Conservative government’s handling of the economy.
He pointed out that Trudeau’s first vote in the House of Commons was for Conservatives’ corporate tax “giveaway.”
He said that one of Trudeau’s last votes in the House was to support the Conservative Party’s anti-terror legislation, “which seriously compromises the rights and freedoms of Canadians.”
He boxed the Liberal leader’s ears over his comments where he called small business owners tax cheats. “I find that offensive,” Mulcair said.
Trudeau tried to land blows on Harper over the refugee crisis but it was Mulcair who drew blood when he responded to the Conservative leader’s accusation that the Liberals and NDP would open Canada’s borders to “hundreds of thousands” of refugees, with no regard to security. “That is undignified – Mr. Harper is fearmongering on the backs of people who need help most,” he chided.
To read the entire article from John Ivison on The National Post go to the link above.
Health Care Opinion from Canadian Medical Association Journal
As new health care promises are made by NDP's Thomas Mulcair, this article from August of this year provides some background from the medical community.
Stephen Harper's Conservatives likely won't be receiving an endorsement from the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a prominent medical journal for peer-reviewed clinical research and health policy.
The current issue of the CMAJ features a new editorial written by Deputy Editor Dr. Matthew Stanbrook slamming the Harper Conservatives for weakening public health care in Canada.
"For much of the last decade, Canadian federal health policy has been conspicuous by its absence," Stanbrook says, adding "in recent years, the federal government has neglected [its health care] responsibilities, even when courts have ordered them to do otherwise."
The Conservatives are undermining and under-funding Canada's public healthcare system, spurning collaboration with the provinces and essentially removing the federal government from the health care business, Stanbrook suggests:
"During that time, the federal government has walked away from collaborating with the provinces through the Council of the Federation and declined to renew the First Ministers’ Accord on Health Care; dithered on public health measures of glaringly obvious benefit, such as tobacco control and asbestos elimination; ignored and disbanded expert advisory panels on health issues; weakened the authority of the public health agency; muzzled scientists; eliminated the long form census, the best source of information on regional disparities relevant to health; and eroded research support, while increasingly tying what remains to business interests rather than health benefits.
By all appearances, the federal government seems to be trying to get itself out of the health care business. It cannot."
Too often, at election time, we neglect our health care concerns and let economic fears dominate how we vote. This must change, immediately. CMAJcalls on all Canadians to make sure that health care is a key issue in the upcoming federal election. CMAJ expects all federal political parties to articulate clear, effective, thoughtful policy platforms on health, and advises all Canadians to keep the health policies of their candidates’ parties in mind when casting their ballots. Otherwise, we will continue to lack solutions for our urgent health care problems.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Harper's Abuses of Power continued: The Tyee, 17 - 20
On August 11th we published the first part of this article from the Tyee.
Tyee staff and contributors have compiled a list of 70 government assaults on democracy and the law. As a list of 70 is pretty difficult for anyone to verify all at once we will post a few at a time. To read the entire list at once go to this link.
Tyee staff and contributors have compiled a list of 70 government assaults on democracy and the law. As a list of 70 is pretty difficult for anyone to verify all at once we will post a few at a time. To read the entire list at once go to this link.
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/08/10/Harper-Abuses-of-Power-Final/
Corrupt
Conservative Cronies
The Senate
scandal is just the latest eruption of crony corruption in
Harperite ranks. Take Bruce Carson. He was a convicted fraudster before Harper
made him a key advisor in the PMO. There, Carson was lobbied for money for a new University of
Calgary eco-think tank. He then left the PMO to run the same think tank,
converting it to an oil industry booster with a $15-million grant from the
Harper government. The complex saga added one more criminal charge to others
Carson faces for allegedly illegally working his connections with the Harper
government.
Access to
Information System Impeded
Many new roadblocks have been put up by the Harper
Conservatives. Former Information Commissioner Robert Marleau concluded that having obtained absolute power,
the prime minister "has absolutely abused that power to the maximum."
The Silencing
of the Public Service
The PMO took an
unprecedented step in instituting a system wherein the bureaucracy has all its
communications vetted by the political nerve centre. The policy contribution
role of the public service is significantly reduced. Complaints from insiders
allege that the Privy Council office has become increasingly politicized.
Loyalty Oaths
Imposed on Public Servants
Archivists and
librarians were made to swear strict oaths of allegiance and were hit with restrictions on freedom of speech
that editorialists of the right and left described as chilling. Integrity
Commissioner Christiane Ouimet sat on more than 200 whistleblower files before
quitting. Her style? 'Gross mismanagement,' concluded the auditor general.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Mulcair makes quick stop in Cranbrook to make an announcement
To read about Mulcair's promises regarding funding to healthcare go to:
photos Jenny Humphrey
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| Local NDP Candidate Wayne Stetski greets Thomas Mulcair as he exits his vehicle |
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| Entering private residence |
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| Press |
Gran Fondo, Cranbrook 2015
On Saturday more than
340 cyclists participated in the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo in one of three
rides starting and ending at the St. Eugene Mission - the Piccolo (58 km),
Medio (100 km) and the Gran Fondo (150 km). On Sunday almost 30 children aged 6
to 12 took part in the Kootenay Kids Fondo involving rides of 8 km or 16 km.
Thanks to the Rotary Club, sponsors and all the many volunteers for making this
weekend such a successful occasion!
Stewart Wilson
photos Stewart Wilson
Council Meeting , September 14th 2015.
Council meeting tonight, September 14th 2015, 6:00pm Council Chambers City Hall. Open to the public. The full agenda can be read at:
Click on any item to view details.
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