Rothstein grillin'

Further to my post below on Harper drawn our attention to the senate, another item where our attention was focused yesterday was our new Supreme Court of Canada Judge, Marshall Rothstein.

Ask me to name the other judges? Can you? Nope. Well, I now know something about this Rothstein guy, starting with his name. I now know he worked on a dining car on the train and got a sense of how diverse Canada is. And he seems like a smart, well-qualified individual for the job. I'm now confident he'll do a good job and make good decisions. I wouldn't have known that before.

Would my attention have been drawn with just a straight appointment and no review? No. I wouldn't have bothered. But the adhoc judicial committee interview with Rothstein from yesterday is all over the news now and was televised.

Do you feel somewhat more engaged into what this new Harper government is doing? I certainly am.

Day by day

This is one of the moments where I like to say, "I toada so!" And you're thinking this is a post on Stockwell Day. Sort of, but not really.

If there's one thing Stephen Harper has learned is that he understands the attention span of the average Canadian voter. During the campaign he made a small announcement day by day and controlled the agenda for most of the first half then when the Liberals played catch up, it was just enough to prevent a Conservative majority.

Now, as Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has been making small announcements day by day and is actually making decisions. While there are a few politically sensitive areas such as Kyoto, gun control, and missile defence that this new government is side stepping through, we have a better idea where the country is going compared to Paul Martin.

With Michael Fortier's appointment to the Senate (official today actually), much attention was drawn to the upper chamber. Most Canadians don't hear much about our Senators, and most can't even name their own--thus making it difficult to keep them accountable, which they are not at all. But now they're paying attention. If a Senator can be made a cabinet minister, which is true, then how can he or she be held accountable? Well, "experts" are saying, "Well, no, Fortier cannot be held accountable for his Public Works Ministry."

So with all that, Harper actually put out the bait, a pawn if you will to sacrifice. He has told the premiers that this fall they will begin talks on how senatorial elections should be done, then Harper will appoint the winner(s). Currently, Bert Brown from Alberta is the only senator-in-waiting. He's now next to be appointed.

This is a huge first step. Ultimately, the BEST scenario for Canada would be an EQUAL Senate, but that one would require constitutional change. We'll see how these elections go, and if looked upon favorably, perhaps opening up the constitution for senate reform ONLY would be the way to go. The big problem with the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords was there was too many changes, too many things on the table.

Now, hopefully everyone will forget about Fortier's appointment and we can move on, day by day.

Olympia!

Wow. Despite the supreme suckiness of the men's hockey team, I'm blown away by Canada's olympians at this year's winter games. We are so proud of you. Here's a recap of who won what.

These 24 medals put us in 3rd place and our highest showing ever. Our previous best was 17 medals in 2002 at Salt Lake City. Are we poised to win even more in Vancouver in 2010?

I now have a new favourite sport to watch--women's short track speed skating.

The women did remarkably well...especially Cindy Klassen, who won 5 medals!

Gold in the 1500m.
Silver in the 1000m.
Silver in the team pursuit.
Bronze in the 3000m.
Bronze in the 5000m.

Other bloggers...

There's not much for me to say today, because everyone else has said it... so here are a few of my fave blogs:

Stephen Taylor points out NDP MP Joe Comartin's hypocracy on the new adhoc judicial committee.

Steve Janke at AGWN points out why nationalized day care ultimately points out the goal of liberal socialism.

Dark Blue Tory has a made few good posts recently:

• One talks about our justice system and Paul Bernardo.
• One points to an article about Tories scrapping the liberal day care plan (see why above).
• Another points out to a news item which emphasizes my previous blog on Canada's crappy military equipment.

The True North Strong and Free

Recent announcements by Defence Minister Bill O'Conner and Stephen Harper's pledge to boost military spending and personnel is badly needed in this country. Yes, badly.

There are estimates that about 30% of the personnel are bureaucrats in Ottawa. This needs to be reduced obviously. We also have way too many generals. They should retire. Basically, the DND is top-heavy. Not surprised. It needs a big audit. Sheila Fraser?

While our pilots and troops are some of the best in the world, our equipment is old and faulty.

During WWI, WWII, and the Korean War, we accomplished a lot for world peace. We made an impact that is still remembered today, especially in Europe. We have few of those heroes left today, but they give us such pride and such gratitude. Most importantly, they gave us peace. Soon that feeling will be gone. And that is very sad. They are the reason why it's a good idea to wear a maple-leaf on a backpack while travelling in Europe.

Canada needs to restore its national pride, not by continued Liberal centralization and a big intrusive federal government, but with a strong and proud military and our continued relationship with the U.S. without having to rely on them as much.

Canada has become a pimple on world affairs. Sure we're a middle power, but that influence has deteriorated.

Some have said that it would be difficult to recruit and train more people because not many are signing up. Well no kidding. Not when the military has been gutted and neglected as it has under Liberal rule. Pay the troops more for their service. Get better equipment. If you build it, they will come. Yes, it's going to cost more, but when failed programs like the gun registry and the billions more squandered can't instead be put into national pride and security, then we have our priorities mixed up.

Prime Minister Harper has already stated we should reclaim our sovereignty in the Northwest Passage. Checkmark!

He's also looking to visit the troops in Afghanistan. Gold star!

Canada needs to become the True North Strong and Free again. Stephen Harper appears to be returning that pride.

Graham's 1st Contradiction

More from Bill Graham on the current Liblead.

Last week he said the Liberals don't have to support the gov't, but now he doesn't expect an election soon. Whatever.

And if Paul Martin is "categorical" in his decision not to make a come back, then why doesn't he just completely step down and have Bill Graham as the full interim leader? Why why why?

Ralphie boy

I didn't watch his Throne Speech. Whenever I hear that, I always picture King Ralph with a crown (maybe a Crown Royal?). Oh wait, he doesn't drink anymore.

A friend of mine who worked as a bartender at a local golf club lounge was mixing drinks for people during a political function and he told me that he saw Ralph at the end of the bar, not looking too happy while drinking a virgin cocktail. He said he almost looked depressed. Ralph's good days were long-ago. After that, his arrogance was evident during a drunken night when he threw his change at some down-trodden people. After that, I just couldn't support him anymore. Then he quit drinking after that and I think he's lost his spark.

I didn't vote for the PCs last time around. I started to work on a friend's local PC campaign, but then I saw a Premier who was vision-less and who didn't have any plan for "our bright future" at all. The PCs have been in power since 1971, a year before I was born. It's time for a change.

NDP leader Brian Mason recently stated that "anyone" could have managed the provinces finances with the amount of oil revenue streaming in. He's exactly right. Ralph and Co. have been over-spending on all sorts of things, while people continue to die on Highway 63 to Ft. McMurray because it hasn't been twinned yet. Get 'er done! And many other things.

Albertans like Ralph because he's folksy yet hard-nosed in dealing with the federal gov't. He made some tough decisions in the early-mid 90's, but with help from current leadership contender, Jim Dinning, and ol' energy minister, Steve "The Knife" West.

So where is Alberta going from here? Debt is paid off, so now it's time to save. Ralph said they should put back a billion into the Heritage Trust Fund. Well, after he has pillaged from the fund over the years to pay for his over-spending, I would hope he should.

But why not also help out low-middle income earners by getting rid of the $45/month health care premiums? It rakes in just under a billion a year and really hurts men and women over 25, especially single parents. My company pays for mine, so I don't even notice. But I remember when I did have to pay them. What a pain in the ass they were. It's just a tax. It goes into general revenue.

And speaking of health care, people who can pay are now jumping queues. This just isn't right. Why bother with the premiums which hurt the people who can't pay then?

The PCs are having their annual convention and will have a leadership confidence vote. Rumblings are that Jim Dinning' camp is gunning for a Paul Martin coup d'etat and have Ralph get below 70%. I suggest they vote 85% in favour, in exchange for a deal for Ralph to bow out gracefully.

Anyway, I'll be glad to see Ralph go. It's been a slice.

Casting a shadow

The opposition Liberals, i.e. Team Graham, have unveiled their shadow cabinet with 41 critic roles. With a reduced Harper cabinet, there's going to be a lot of double-teaming going on.

One of the top critic spots is John McCallum as finance critic. I just don't think he's going to fair very well there. I still reel at recalling Stephen Harper's bang-on imitation of McCallum at the Press Gallery Dinner in 2005. That was hilarious.

I think the top performers will be Scott Brison critiquing Rona Ambrose on environment and Stephane Dion zipping Peter Mackay on foreign affairs.

Other than that, the Liberals don't have a lot of credibility. Harper has already outlined his priorities and if the Liberals try to bring up other items, any cabinet minister can just say, "The Liberals had 12 years to fix it and they didn't."

Look to the NDP to be more feisty. The Bloc will be more cooperative than they were with the Liberals.

I think Harper will do very well during Question Period.

Supreme Club of Canada

Andrew Coyne sums it up best. Boy, does he ever sum it up about the elite culture in Ottawa.

But there's been some discussion on FreeDominion regarding this adhoc committee process that Harper and Toews have come up with as opposed to Conservative Party policy that the judge will be voted on by a free vote in the House of Commons.

Then people say, well the House doesn't sit for another month, then some say, well, why does the vacancy need to be filled so soon, and so on.

All valid points, but again, let's look at the big picture here. Some are expecting everything to all of a sudden change overnight in Ottawa. It's quite the daunting task, especially only after a couple weeks. Incremental changes. Sometimes its necessary to sacrifice a pawn, or even a rook to win. This adhoc review committee is a step in the right direction. Not exactly CPC policy, but a step that way. The next supposed vacancy is 2012.

Patience people. It's going to take some time...especially in a minority. To go in and crash and burn won't work with the way the management system is setup in the bureaucracy.

House of Cards & Adhocs

Cards...
So Public Safety Minister, Lock Stockwell Day and Two Smokin' Barrells, has been talking about the national ID card. He says it's "inevitable". I didn't like the idea when the Libs brought it up, and I don't like it now. I don't even like the SIN number idea. Perhaps passports could be beefed up, but "biometric data" on the card? Come on. At what point in a free society do individuals have to register their DNA? Answer? When they commit a crime.

Adhocs...
From the PMO: "Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the process that will be used to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court of Canada. At the centre of the process is a publicly televised appearance by the nominee before the Ad Hoc Committee to Review a Nominee for the Supreme Court of Canada."

What does this mean? This means we get to see more of those cute furry Santa Claus outfits that our Supreme Court justices have to wear on the bench. Don't you just feel like jumping on their lap and asking for a toy train? Okay, maybe not a toy train, but perhaps tougher sentences.