Jack Layton, 1950 - 2011

Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. b: July 18, 1950, d: August 20, 2011.

For my American friends, Jack was the leader of the Official Opposition and the New Democratic Party of Canada. He brought the NDP to the position of Official Opposition in the last federal election in Canada (2011). I believe he would have been the next Prime Minister of Canada but for his untimely death one year ago.

Jack Layton had a message to Canadians. His untimely death in August 2011, gives us all pause to review what is important to each and every one of us... He showed us how to question, to ask how do we define who we are? As humans and Canadians.

He wrote a letter to Canadians on August 20, 2011, knowing that his end was near, he wished us to continue. He wanted to encourage and inspire us. To keep up with the “good fight”. He said:

to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world....My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.All my very best,Jack Layton

Click here to see the entire letter:

List of events across Canada celebrating Jack’s Life: 

Environmental concerns were at the forefront of Jack’s agenda. He was horrified by the environmental devastation created by the tar sands in Northern Canada. He knew that climate change was the result of human’s “industrialization”.

Jack was a leader that spearheaded challenges to the corporate world. Jack was all about bringing Canadians information about the environmental impact of industrialization. He wanted all Canadians to know that Climate Change has an economic impact, as well as a social one.

We are not the only species on the planet. We have a responsibility to be good stewards. These were Jack’s messages on the environment.

RIP Jack. Miss you.

photo courtesy of michaelkaufman.com

You get what you vote for

Harper's Conservatives do NOT care about the average Canadian. Its same ol' same ol' on Parliament Hill.

Canadians are generally hard workers. However, our own government (Human Resources Minister Diane Finley) does NOT agree. Instead, she says “We do not want to make it lucrative for them to stay home and get paid for it”. She is talking about Employment Insurance Claimants. You know... that thing that ALL working Canadians must pay into and are entitled to when they loose their jobs through no fault of their own.
No fault, but hey... we must ensure you are not lazy you sloths!
Look who is call Canadian lazy!
The government that uses EI funds for their general budget.
Might as well just call it what it is... a tax.
How insulting.
To the very people that make this country work.
An extra 5 weeks of benefits is all you are going to get you lazy sods.
Be grateful for that!
Have a look at this article: http://thetyee.ca/Views/2009/02/09/Lazy/

Lack of Confidence in Harper

Stephen Harper must really be upset. He is so upset that his sense of logic has been subverted.

Harper is going to subvert the concept of prorogation of parliament to attempt to avert the confidence vote.

That's what this is... plain and simple. A Confidence vote.

Do the members of Parliament have confidence that the current Prime Minister and his government are able to carry on the business of the government?

If it is a question of being undemocratic... Mr. Harper needs to look in the mirror for the answer.

Ok, so what is prorogation of parliament for? It is for the END of a session of the Parliament, and no more bills are to be submitted until the next session, and a new speech from the Throne.

We have only had a speech from the Throne.

There have been NO bills submitted.

We cannot have prorogation of parliament until some work has been accomplished. If the government of the day cannot have any bills passed, that is because THERE IS NO CONFIDENCE LEFT IN THE GOVERNMENT.

If that is the case, the Government should resign and a Writ is dropped for the next election.

Canadians need to take on this. Write to your member of Parliament. Here how to find out who your MP is (based on your postal code):http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

The message you need to send is simple:

HAVE PM STEPHEN HARPER ALLOW A VOTE

More fun than a barrel of ... politicians???

Just thought you'd like to know a couple of things ... this is a really important week in politics.
Stephen Harper tabled a financial package that was internally inconsistent. (We are doing things to create economic stimulus, but we Conservatives don't run the market; its not our job to stimulate the economy. We did stimulate the economy, but it didn't work; Canada is in a recession, but its not our fault and we are not going to do anything to help, except cut opposition funding, so no one can keep us accountable, and eliminate the right to strike for civil servants).
In the next week, you are going to hear that Stephen Harper was elected as Prime Minister, and that his party is the rightful leader of Canada. In fact, he got fewer seats in this last election, and his minority government was NOT given a mandate by the people of Canada. IN FACT, only 38% of the vote went to the Conservatives. Almost 2/3's of Canadians voted for the OPPOSITION PARTIES!!!!
I know you think I rant and rave a lot. I do. Its because I care what happens. I want you to care what happens too. This is Canada, where politics is still FUN!!!

Confidence in government

This weekend will be one of historical significance for Canada.

Confidence in government? I need some. I also need the government to be accountable.

Six weeks ago, Canada had an election. The Conservatives did NOT gain the majority it wanted. For the last (almost) 3 years the government has had the same minority position. One of the things that has struck me personally about the Conservative government's actions since they came to power three years ago, is that they believe that they may act as if they do in fact have a majority in the House. They have started that again in this new term.

The Conservative have believed that they can continue with their agenda, believing that Canadians will just accept it.

Now it appears that the opposition leaders are finally listening to the people of Canada. We cannot afford to do more of the same in these economic uncertain times.

The Conservative know how to take care of their friends. They don't know how to take care of the average Canadian. They are NOT looking out for my family, but their own.

We are now in one of the worst recessions in modern times. Yet the Conservative government believes that they can ignore some of the basic tenants of being Canadian. The things that are essential to Canada: Health Care, Equality, Access to government, communication and transportation across a large land mass.

Our country is resource rich. However, if the rest of the world cannot afford our resources, it won't count for much. We don't need to be pinched and shoved into a position where we give away the store for next to nothing. We need to maintain control of our resources. The most valuable resource is people. We need to support the Canadian people, and give them what they need to survive and remain healthy.

The Conservative government has forsaken Canadians in favour of their corporate friends. They have forgotten that the driving force of getting out of a recession is the small business owner. Ordinary Canadians. People like you and me.

Our families are important. The Conservatives' arrogance needs to be stopped. They work for us, not the other way around. They are acting in an unaccountable fashion.

The NDP and the Liberal parties are finally in sync with the fact that this Conservative government needs to be stopped. They are in a position to bring a confidence motion on Monday. They can do it!

Thank goodness they put aside their differences so that the government can be accountable and take care of Canadians.

To the coalition of the NDP & the Liberals: bring it on! Do it for me!