On this blog, I've lambasted Jack Layton, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper, Elizabeth May... The only leader of a Canadian federal party I haven't targeted with slings and arrows is Gilles Duceppe and that's only because his party isn't a national one.
Some would say I've been particularly hard on Layton. Until Ignatieff came onto the Canadian political scene, they were likely correct. I went especially hard on Layton because I had so much higher expectations of him and his party.
So knock me down with a feather when along comes a new Layton, who seems to have been invigorated and renewed after recent health challenges. It's as though he acquired a fresh determination "to get things done."
Now...
Might this NDP surge go so far as to deliver one Jack Layton as Leader of the Official Opposition?
Oh..., Please..., Yes!
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Showing posts with label Federal NDP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal NDP. Show all posts
21 April 2011
03 February 2011
CRTC, UBB and a Response from my MP
Am glad the CRTC has been ordered to review (read: 'reverse') its decision on usage-based Internet billing. But I won't be happy until the CRTC has gone the way of the dinosaurs, just like the dinosaurs its morphed mandate has been so busy protecting.
That aside, I wanted to share this great letter I received from my MP, NDP Jean Crowder, written in response to my terse email regarding the CRTC's UBB decision:
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That aside, I wanted to share this great letter I received from my MP, NDP Jean Crowder, written in response to my terse email regarding the CRTC's UBB decision:
Thank you for writing to me about the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision to allow usage based Internet billing. Put simply, this issue has been brewing for a long time. Canadians are paying more and more for less and less service.
The New Democrats have been pushing for the last number of years for a coherent digital innovation policy. The government has preferred to let the "market" make the decisions about access, speed and pricing for internet use. The problem is that we don't have an open, competitive market. We have a small oligarchy of vertically-integrated companies that control virtually every aspect of consumer-media use. The opportunities for price gouging and anti-competitive practices are obvious.
We welcome the Industry Minister's sudden change of heart on usage-based internet billing. As my colleague, Charlie Angus pointed out in the House of Commons, "Canada used to be a world leader in terms of internet access and speed. Under this government, we've fallen behind. If the CRTC's decision on usage-based billing is not overturned, Canada is in danger of becoming a digital backwater."
While the Minister of Industry has said he will review the usage-based billing decision, more action is needed to protect consumers who are already being hit with capped internet service. The large internet service providers and broadcast entities restrict competition by limiting access to their networks - not only to internet users but to their competitors as well.
I appreciate you taking the time let your views be known. It helps me in my work as a Member of Parliament. The New Democratic Party will continue to push for better access and digital rights for Canadians.
Sincerely,
Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan
101-126 Ingram St., Duncan, BC, V9L 1P1
www.jeancrowder.ca
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03 December 2010
Post Revival 2.0: We are Separatists
This is starting to become an annual event!
What is it about this time of year that makes Canada's federal parties suppose they can write off citizens' rights, in the service of their own self-interests? Perhaps they think we won't notice.
The prompt for this reprise of a reprise of an original post written two years ago is another collective, self-interested act by all parties, done in full knowledge of its result being further erosion of the democratic rights of a large swath of the electorate.
***
January 2009
For a long time, I've pondered the benefit of my community, now Vancouver Island, being part of the political entity that is the Dominion of Canada. Not because of any dislike for Canada's land, waters or people - that aspect of being Canadian makes me go all mushy inside - but because I can't see how a nation so large, structured as Canada is politically, can fairly represent and administer and distribute justice to all of its people.
As long as Canada maintains the power structure that it has now, then I would prefer that British Columbia be a nation unto itself - i.e., separate from Canada. Even better, that Vancouver Island go it alone.
Our top-tier government has only grown more powerful over the decades, not less. It has been steadily sucking political power from the nation's provinces, territories, regions and municipalities. Thus the federal government, together with its puppet masters, has steadily been eroding the ability of citizens in their communities to directly influence change.
More and more, citizens are taken as irrelevant by our politicians. The support of the federal government by large corporations powers the agenda of Canada's politicos. Their concern for the people functions only as an electoral device to "win" a mandate to govern, one that is rigged by our outdated voting system. And then the winning party governs for the CEOs. For "ordinary" Canadians (to which our political parties so fondly refer), to think otherwise is to be delusional.
Recently, I emailed these reflections to Daphne, and asked: Have you ever thought about things like this?
We don't always agree and I wasn't expecting agreement here.
"Yes," replied Daphne, "have pondered this and have talked to others over the years... At one time, I printed T-shirts which depicted Vancouver Island as forming the Vancouver Island Liberation Organization, hence breaking away from the rest of Canada."
Vancouver Island Liberation Organization T-shirts, anyone?
We are not alone in wanting to detach ourselves from the rest of Canada, friend Daphne explained. An emerging notion is that of Cascadia. The boundaries of Cascadia vary but in most proposals, all or part of British Columbia, Oregon and Washington state are included.
While some notion of Cascadia might be workable in the future, Daphne and I prefer thinking only in terms of BC or Vancouver Island separating from Canada.
Seriously, we're fed up with successive governments which are supposed to be OF, FOR and BY the people being instead OF, FOR, and BY Canada's CEOs. And a heckuva job those CEOs have been doing lately!
Consider one example which exemplifies the joined-at-the-hip relation between Canada's government and big business.
Successive governments have been selling off our1 resources under the guise of the Security and Prosperity Partnership "agreement" endorsed by the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the USA. (Don't be fooled. The name keeps changing, but the agenda remains the same.)2
Instrumental to the SPP is our very own Grand Ayatollah, one Tom d'Aquino, president and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Mr. d'Aquino is one busy guy! Read the article. You'll understand why we two, having trashed our rose-coloured glasses long ago, prefer to divorce ourselves from Canada Inc.
1 A sizeable chunk of "our" natural resources are on and in traditional native land and water.
2 Excellent Canadian sites for information on the SPP include Global Research and the Council of Canadians.
[This post was co-written by Daphne Moldowin and Chrystal Ocean.]
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What is it about this time of year that makes Canada's federal parties suppose they can write off citizens' rights, in the service of their own self-interests? Perhaps they think we won't notice.
The prompt for this reprise of a reprise of an original post written two years ago is another collective, self-interested act by all parties, done in full knowledge of its result being further erosion of the democratic rights of a large swath of the electorate.
***
January 2009
For a long time, I've pondered the benefit of my community, now Vancouver Island, being part of the political entity that is the Dominion of Canada. Not because of any dislike for Canada's land, waters or people - that aspect of being Canadian makes me go all mushy inside - but because I can't see how a nation so large, structured as Canada is politically, can fairly represent and administer and distribute justice to all of its people.
As long as Canada maintains the power structure that it has now, then I would prefer that British Columbia be a nation unto itself - i.e., separate from Canada. Even better, that Vancouver Island go it alone.
Our top-tier government has only grown more powerful over the decades, not less. It has been steadily sucking political power from the nation's provinces, territories, regions and municipalities. Thus the federal government, together with its puppet masters, has steadily been eroding the ability of citizens in their communities to directly influence change.
More and more, citizens are taken as irrelevant by our politicians. The support of the federal government by large corporations powers the agenda of Canada's politicos. Their concern for the people functions only as an electoral device to "win" a mandate to govern, one that is rigged by our outdated voting system. And then the winning party governs for the CEOs. For "ordinary" Canadians (to which our political parties so fondly refer), to think otherwise is to be delusional.
Recently, I emailed these reflections to Daphne, and asked: Have you ever thought about things like this?
We don't always agree and I wasn't expecting agreement here.
"Yes," replied Daphne, "have pondered this and have talked to others over the years... At one time, I printed T-shirts which depicted Vancouver Island as forming the Vancouver Island Liberation Organization, hence breaking away from the rest of Canada."
Vancouver Island Liberation Organization T-shirts, anyone?
We are not alone in wanting to detach ourselves from the rest of Canada, friend Daphne explained. An emerging notion is that of Cascadia. The boundaries of Cascadia vary but in most proposals, all or part of British Columbia, Oregon and Washington state are included.
While some notion of Cascadia might be workable in the future, Daphne and I prefer thinking only in terms of BC or Vancouver Island separating from Canada.
Seriously, we're fed up with successive governments which are supposed to be OF, FOR and BY the people being instead OF, FOR, and BY Canada's CEOs. And a heckuva job those CEOs have been doing lately!
Consider one example which exemplifies the joined-at-the-hip relation between Canada's government and big business.
Successive governments have been selling off our1 resources under the guise of the Security and Prosperity Partnership "agreement" endorsed by the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the USA. (Don't be fooled. The name keeps changing, but the agenda remains the same.)2
Instrumental to the SPP is our very own Grand Ayatollah, one Tom d'Aquino, president and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Mr. d'Aquino is one busy guy! Read the article. You'll understand why we two, having trashed our rose-coloured glasses long ago, prefer to divorce ourselves from Canada Inc.
1 A sizeable chunk of "our" natural resources are on and in traditional native land and water.
2 Excellent Canadian sites for information on the SPP include Global Research and the Council of Canadians.
[This post was co-written by Daphne Moldowin and Chrystal Ocean.]
Recommend this post
23 May 2010
NOW what is our Ineffectual Opposition going to do?
The Harper Government - yes, let's call it what it is; over 60% of Canadians are unrepresented by this government - will make official on Tuesday that political staffers are now banned from testifying before parliamentary committees.
The purported reason, according to political staffer Dimitri Soudas: "Ministers are the ones who are accountable and answer to Parliament."
To Iggy & Layton, neither of whom "want an election" (the Canadians that I know DO): How are you going to work your next climb-down? Without enabling more damage to our democracy?
ETA: The manoeuvrings by Canada's political parties to avoid an election in order to ensure their own survival, actions that risk our country's democratic institutions, is why I dislike party politics and favour the Single Transferable Vote, a proportional representation electoral system. STV is not only the fairest system for voters; it also enables more independents to be elected.
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The purported reason, according to political staffer Dimitri Soudas: "Ministers are the ones who are accountable and answer to Parliament."
To Iggy & Layton, neither of whom "want an election" (the Canadians that I know DO): How are you going to work your next climb-down? Without enabling more damage to our democracy?
ETA: The manoeuvrings by Canada's political parties to avoid an election in order to ensure their own survival, actions that risk our country's democratic institutions, is why I dislike party politics and favour the Single Transferable Vote, a proportional representation electoral system. STV is not only the fairest system for voters; it also enables more independents to be elected.
Recommend this post
21 May 2010
Correction - Jean Crowder Expenses
I'd written previously that NDP MP Jean Crowder, who represents my constituency of Nanaimo-Cowichan, claimed $274,404 for 'Other' (2008-2009).
I was wrong. Crowder's expense record claims that amount under 'Staff and Other Expenses'. For Other, the record claims $16. This is better and I apologize for the error. (Reporter David Akin brought it to my attention in a tweet.)
The correction doesn't change my point, however. All MP's expenses should undergo the type of audit that Sheila Fraser does. In fact, I'd prefer that MP's detailed expenses be made public, that they be posted online somewhere.
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I was wrong. Crowder's expense record claims that amount under 'Staff and Other Expenses'. For Other, the record claims $16. This is better and I apologize for the error. (Reporter David Akin brought it to my attention in a tweet.)
The correction doesn't change my point, however. All MP's expenses should undergo the type of audit that Sheila Fraser does. In fact, I'd prefer that MP's detailed expenses be made public, that they be posted online somewhere.
Recommend this post
19 May 2010
Lessons on Framing - Coalition Governments
As important as the question regarding whether the Liberal Party and NDP would consider being part of a coalition government is whether the Conservative Party would.
Why are virtually all media, journalists, other writers and democratic reformers ignoring this?
Just because Canadians won't vote in enough MPs to give a single party a majority is no reason why Canada must be stuck with perpetual minorities.
Coalition governments are majority governments.
If the Liberals and Conservatives want a majority government all they need do is be honest with Canadians and negotiate with the third- and/or fourth-place parties after an election.
Unfortunately, given the political environment Canada's party leaders have created, in collusion with most media, honesty and negotiation are unlikely democratic tools to be removed from their toolboxes. Indeed, those tools must be rusty from disuse.
Recommend this post
Why are virtually all media, journalists, other writers and democratic reformers ignoring this?
Just because Canadians won't vote in enough MPs to give a single party a majority is no reason why Canada must be stuck with perpetual minorities.
Coalition governments are majority governments.
If the Liberals and Conservatives want a majority government all they need do is be honest with Canadians and negotiate with the third- and/or fourth-place parties after an election.
Unfortunately, given the political environment Canada's party leaders have created, in collusion with most media, honesty and negotiation are unlikely democratic tools to be removed from their toolboxes. Indeed, those tools must be rusty from disuse.
Recommend this post
18 May 2010
Second Exchange with MP's Office re Expenses
Hello Chrystal,
We comply with the rules laid out by the Board of Internal Economy. If you would like a certain audit from them, please contact the members on the Board. Here is the link to their website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/boie-e.htm.
Sincerely,
Alistair MacGregor │Community Development
Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan
My reply:
Therein lies the rub. The rules as "laid out by the Board of Internal Economy" do not meet the demands of Canadians like myself.
I appreciate your quick responses. They've been informative.
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[See original letter and first exchange]
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We comply with the rules laid out by the Board of Internal Economy. If you would like a certain audit from them, please contact the members on the Board. Here is the link to their website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/boie-e.htm.
Sincerely,
Alistair MacGregor │Community Development
Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan
My reply:
Therein lies the rub. The rules as "laid out by the Board of Internal Economy" do not meet the demands of Canadians like myself.
I appreciate your quick responses. They've been informative.
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[See original letter and first exchange]
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Response to My Letter to MP re Expenses
Dear Chrystal,
Thank you for your email to Jean.
The House of Commons, through the Board of Internal Economy, has rigorous internal auditing, including the auditing of MPs’ expenses, and an external auditor is hired on a regular basis to conduct an external audit on the books. There are very strict rules for all expenses incurred by MPs’ offices and these are enforced by impartial House of Commons administration staff.
All of our expenses are public and available online. Below are three links to different expenses of MP offices:
1. Members Office and Travel Expenses
Below is the direct link to the PDF document for the most recent financial period.
Members Office and Travel Expenses 2008 - 2009
2. Disclosure Statement from the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
A direct link to a specific MP’s disclosure statement can be obtained by entering the name of the MP on this page:
http://ciec-ccie.gc.ca/PublicSearchMembers.aspx
3. Candidate's Electoral Campaign Return
Find the information here by clicking "40th General Election" and then searching by candidate:
http://www.elections.ca/scripts/webpep/fin2/select_election.aspx?entity=1〈=e
I hope this addresses your concerns. Please contact me if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Alistair MacGregor │Community Development
Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan
My reply:
The audits you mention ... are financial audits. They are not the performance audits as done by the Auditor General.
The links you provide do not show details of expenses, merely major category breakdowns.
Therefore, no, your response does not address my concerns.
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[My original letter and an update]
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Thank you for your email to Jean.
The House of Commons, through the Board of Internal Economy, has rigorous internal auditing, including the auditing of MPs’ expenses, and an external auditor is hired on a regular basis to conduct an external audit on the books. There are very strict rules for all expenses incurred by MPs’ offices and these are enforced by impartial House of Commons administration staff.
All of our expenses are public and available online. Below are three links to different expenses of MP offices:
1. Members Office and Travel Expenses
Below is the direct link to the PDF document for the most recent financial period.
Members Office and Travel Expenses 2008 - 2009
2. Disclosure Statement from the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
A direct link to a specific MP’s disclosure statement can be obtained by entering the name of the MP on this page:
http://ciec-ccie.gc.ca/PublicSearchMembers.aspx
3. Candidate's Electoral Campaign Return
Find the information here by clicking "40th General Election" and then searching by candidate:
http://www.elections.ca/scripts/webpep/fin2/select_election.aspx?entity=1〈=e
I hope this addresses your concerns. Please contact me if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Alistair MacGregor │Community Development
Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan
My reply:
The audits you mention ... are financial audits. They are not the performance audits as done by the Auditor General.
The links you provide do not show details of expenses, merely major category breakdowns.
Therefore, no, your response does not address my concerns.
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[My original letter and an update]
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Letter to My Member of Parliament re MP Expenses
Hello Jean [Crowder, NDP MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan]:
Given the public outcry - count me among the numbers - over the denial by the Board of Internal Economy to permit Canada's Auditor General to audit MP expenses, will you:
1. Make your expenses public?
2. Push your leader and fellow MPs to have MP expenses annually made public and/or to have MP expenses audited by Canada's Auditor General, whenever he/she requests it?
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[See two updates]
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Given the public outcry - count me among the numbers - over the denial by the Board of Internal Economy to permit Canada's Auditor General to audit MP expenses, will you:
1. Make your expenses public?
2. Push your leader and fellow MPs to have MP expenses annually made public and/or to have MP expenses audited by Canada's Auditor General, whenever he/she requests it?
Chrystal Ocean,
Duncan BC.
[See two updates]
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