A Blog By James Curran

Madonna Brought it at Halftime

2012-02-05T20:25:00.000-05:00

Wow. Good for her. But, this commercial slayed me man.

Conservative Candidate? Check. NDP Candidate? Check! Liberal Candidate? What? There's an election?

2012-02-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

Why be prepared when you can just wing it. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/05/layton-riding-byelection.html

Happy Anniversary Liberal Party of Canada

2012-01-24T08:06:00.000-05:00

I remember that day as if it was just yesterday.

Started in the morning in Niagara Falls at the Burroughs campaign. Hit the Valeri campaign in Stoney Creek in the afternoon. Headed over to the Powers campaign in the late afternoon and evening and counted ballots in Freelton. Yes I said Freelton. As the results poured in we headed down the highway over to the Queensway to celebrate one victory. Ignatieff's!

When the result of the election became apparent as the evening progressed there was one thing I heard from Liberals from every corner of the province and from coast to coast as I fielded and made calls:

"We'll be back in a year!"

Well folks. It's 6 years later and we still haven't figured out what we stand for other than we are the best alternative (even though voters denied that too in May) and we are the natural governing party. Oh, and we like pot.

The First Person to Officially Announce for Liberal Leadership is...

2012-01-21T19:55:00.001-05:00

...Scott Yee! Eat your heart out Bob Rae. Scott beat you to it.

Here's his presser:

Message flagged Friday, January 20, 2012 4:00:04 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1:00 A.M. PST, January 20, 2012

SCOTT YEE ANNOUNCES HIS BID FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA

VANCOUVER - 29 year old Scott Yee announces his plans to seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, with his top 20 campaign ideas that Yee says will transform Canada forever.

One of Yee's top priorities is Monetary & Taxation Reform. Yee wants to end the debt-based monetary system, which makes up 95% of the Canadian economy, and is created by the banking system through the personal debt of Canadians, and instead increase the % of the money supply created by the government through a population-based system to fund all levels of government, therefore eliminating the taxation system.

As this would pump $816 billion into the Canadian economy, the fractional-reserve system will be reinstated, and the reserve ratio is to be set at the required % to equal $816 billion, therefore currency levels will stay the same.

This means the Government of Canada will no longer have to pay interest to create it's own money, and having a permanent money supply will make government spending recession proof.

Because there will no longer be any sales taxation, the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar will all be eliminated, leaving just the loonie and toonie in circulation.

Yee also wants to create a national housing program by partnering with municipalities. Cities will provide the land, and run the housing program locally. The federal government will provide the funding, and the profits from housing will be shared 50/50.

To see all of Yee's top 20 campaign priorities for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, please go to his website.

Contact Info:

Email: liberalleadershiprace@aol.com
Website: http://liberalleadershiprace.wordpress.com/

While Mr. Yee names all the parties that he has belonged to, I think his memory of events may be "selective". He failed to mention that he ran for the Marijuana Party in 2004 in the Danforth. Didn't see that party in the list of the many he's belonged to.

Here's a heads up Mr. Yee - I don't think the use of the Liberal logo is allowed on your leadership page. Just sayin'.

5 People, 1 Guitar, 28 Million Hits

2012-01-19T09:07:00.001-05:00

...and in only 14 days!!!! Eat you heart out Lady Gaga. Walk off the Earth is a sensation.

Here's the original

Most Contagious Video of the Year...

2012-01-18T10:52:00.001-05:00

If You're not Watching Tapscott

2012-01-14T08:53:00.002-05:00

At the Liberal Convention, you're really missing something special.

Martin Cauchon for Liberal Leader!

2012-01-13T13:53:00.000-05:00

And so it begins! Go Martin Go!

Liberal Delegates Might Want to Read This

2012-01-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

From: Maria Minna [mailto:mariaminna@rogers.com]

Sent: January-09-12 3:17 PM

To: undisclosed recipients:

Subject: Constitutional Amendments.

January 9, 2012

Dear Liberal Colleagues:

I want to share with you my concerns with the major and sweeping changes being proposed to the Liberal Constitution. I believe that, if passed, they will have a major impact on the culture and future of the Liberal Party of Canada.

First, I want to address the time allocated for discussion and voting. Despite the massive restructuring of the party’s constitution and its operations, the organizers have put together an agenda that, in my view, does not work to the benefit of delegates or an open party. There are two different Q&A sessions on Friday (1:30-3pm & 3:30-5pm) to explain, I presume, the changes which include adopting the primary system. It seems to me that time allowed is disjointed and does not allow for debate. Delegates should be getting the explanations at the same time that the constitutional amendments are being done so that, once discussion on a given amendment is over, delegates can vote with information fresh in their minds. As it is, these small time frames may make delegates feel they have had their say and not attend the real show which is the constitutional amendments which takes place in two different time slots on Saturday (1-2pm & 5-6:30pm).

The two small different time slots for constitutional discussion and voting are also disjointed and do not allow for enough continuous time to debate and vote. The discussions and amendments should take place at the same time with plenty of time dedicated to this critical piece of our party’s restructuring. I am also concerned that some delegates may leave Saturday night and others may be busy attending other functions such as hospitality suites and we may get low turn-out.

Given the importance of the changes being proposed, I would have expected a good deal more time earlier in the day to be allocated. If the current executive really means it when they say they want an open party, then they should make the Friday (because having a general Q&A by itself is a waste of time) and the Saturday time slots all a constitutional debate and voting and collapse all the time slots earlier in the day while people are more engaged.

In a reply to a Liberal member on the same issue, the LPC’s Andre Brisebois explained that the reason for the agenda structure was that some members wanted policy discussion. Meanwhile LPC spokesperson Sarah Bain stated in an interview that “the three-day conference was planned as a policy convention, but has adopted an emphasis on renewal at the request of membership.” She also says that, “the resolutions that have garnered the most votes online would have the Liberals establish a renewal commission.....”

So, given that the road map, including the primary system, is the core of the renewal debate why relegate them to bits of leftover time?

I do want to share with you my concerns with the proposed primary system which creates a two-tier system -- supporters and members.

1. I believe our leadership process could be hijacked not to mention possible manipulation of data. Since it would be open to anyone who cared to register, the only thing a voter has to do is to sign a paper and that gives him/her the right to vote for the Liberal Leader, no fees needed. Remember that this is one of the only two most important privileges that the current paid-up member has in the Liberal Party.

This same supporter can register today, vote and deregister when voting is over. No other obligation is expected of them except to pledge that they are not a member of another party which is easy to do as most people are not members of the parties they support. We could potentially end up with supporters of other parties registering and voting for the Leader they think is the weaker one, thereby hijacking our process. Similarly, special interest groups could register and influence the process unduly.

The election of riding candidates will even be more influenced by special interest groups and cause major problems for the party.

Registration to vote can happen as late as 27 days before voting.

2. A member of the Liberal Party, on the other hand, has to pay a membership fee of $10 for the privilege of voting for the next Leader and of course is expected to do all the work of running a riding association, volunteering at riding events such as summer picnics, work in elections, raise money for the party and much more.

3. The constitutional proposal also has the election of a leader taking place over a period of 70 days, region by region across the country with results being made public as each region votes. This is the American primary system. In Canada we have changed election laws so that results of one region cannot be made public until the rest of the country has voted so as not to influence or discourage those voting later. I do not support having voters either influenced or demoralized as the vote rolls across the country. This could also skew the results.

4. The leadership vote is to be held in the different EDAs which means volunteers in associations having to manage possibly thousands of voters with interest groups controlling the vote.

5. There is to be a Leadership Committee within the party who is supposed to oversee the whole process, but I don’t believe that a volunteer committee can ensure no manipulation in such a complex system.

I don’t believe that our party has the infrastructure (I don’t believe any party has) to administer such a large number of registrants (several million possibly) not to mention the financial cost. We have had huge challenges in the past running large nominations in ridings and have had some very bad messes. This large-scale exercise across the country would lend itself to manipulation, and huge costs and major problems which could do a great deal of damage to the party. We are an organization of volunteers -- not Elections Canada.

6. Our leadership candidates of 2006 spent years trying to eliminate their leadership debt and some, I believe, are still trying. With a much larger campaign which would be required with a broader voting base, a long primary would entail major expenses both for the candidates and for LPC . Among other things, this could cause women to stay out of the race. The additional cost to LPC alone has not been assessed both in terms of human and monetary capital.

7. The powers of the President of the Liberal Party would change dramatically in this case but there is nothing in the document to address this.

8. The primary system would give the Liberal Leader and his/her office more power over Caucus and the Party. As a recent Member of Parliament with almost 18years of experience, I can say with first-hand knowledge, that, most of the time caucus is not considered or listened to by the leader and especially his office. There is very little accountability to caucus members. Especially during our years in opposition, we could have avoided a great deal of pain and losses if the leadership and their offices had listened and taken into consideration the expertise and advice of caucus members. Therefore, I am convinced that a Leader who is so broadly elected will feel even less accountable towards caucus let alone any accountability to the party at large.

9. I see no checks and balances in this proposal. In the American Presidential system the President has to go to Congress and Senate to lobby to get his agenda approved. We do not have a presidential system in Canada and our Parliamentary system already gives the Prime Minister huge powers which would become that much stronger with a primary system that elected him/her as leader of the party.

Colleagues, I am not saying that this system should not happen in Canada, but I believe that, if and when it ever does, we have to have in place all the proper checks and balances, address the issue of membership better, and not run the process ourselves but have Elections Canada run it to ensure a true independent and accountable process for Canadians to see.

In the meantime, I would recommend that we establish a Change Commission to study the recommendation and look at all the issues raised above and more and report back at the end of 2012 or at the next convention. In the meantime, let’s elect our next leader with the one member one vote which we established at the last convention and have never put to use.

Please share these few thoughts of mine with your Liberal colleagues and, if we are on the same wavelength, make sure the convention organizers know how you feel before the convention gets under way.

Sincerely yours,

Maria Minna

Hon. Maria Minna, P.C.

Former Member of Parliament

Beaches-East York

Evan Solomon: "Jean Chretien is $200,000 richer today...."

2011-12-22T17:31:00.000-05:00

Um. NO. He's NOT Evan!!! He is being reimbursed for money spent as a result of that circus called Gomery. CBC should retract that ridiculous statement!

Ontario Members of the Liberal Party of Canada Should Call for an End to its Own PTA

2011-12-12T12:32:00.005-05:00

I mean really. What's the point of having a PTA if they refuse to adhere to their own constitutions?

Recently, rather than holding an Annual General Meeting, the LCPO opted to hold an Executive Board meeting only. To compound matters, the Management Committee did not even bother to seek an approval from the Exec Board on a preferred date of said AGM in 2012. By rule, the AGM should be held before February 4, 2012 - 24 months from the previous AGM. No such meeting has been called and no extension has been granted by the Executive Board.

I used to believe there was a supreme importance behind having PTAs, however, I'm of the belief now that the LPCO should collapse itself in favour of central control by the LPC.

Article VII of the LPC(O) Constitution

ARTICLE VII - ANNUAL AND GENERAL MEETINGS
Call of Meeting; Notice; Authority
1. The Annual Meeting of LPC(O) shall be held each year at a time and place to be fixed by the Executive Board or in an electoral emergency the Management Committee, provided such date is no later than eighteen (18) months from the date of the prior Annual Meeting. The Executive Board may direct the President to call a special meeting of LPC(O) upon ninety (90) days notice at any time for such purpose as it may consider advisable. Those eligible to attend and vote at a special meeting shall be selected in the same manner as those who may attend and vote at an Annual Meeting. If an election or a Leadership Convention is called or there is electoral emergency after the time and place for the Annual Meeting or a special meeting is fixed, the Management Committee may postpone the Annual Meeting or the special meeting for such reasonable period of time as is required to enable LPC(O) to participate in the election or Leadership Convention or to deal with the electoral emergency even if as a result of the postponement, an Annual Meeting is held more than eighteen (18) months after the prior Annual Meeting . However, an Annual Meeting shall not be postponed to a date more than 24 months after the prior Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting or a special meeting may review, and by majority vote, amend or revoke any act or regulation passed, taken or made by the Management Committee or the Executive Board, provided such act shall not apply retroactively.

Notice

2. Notice in writing shall be sent at least ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting to all persons entitled to attend as delegates, other than those to be elected under paragraph 3 (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), and to the secretaries of all Electoral District Associations and to the President and Secretary of all other organizations entitled to send delegates to the Annual Meeting.

As you can see, the time has passed for any sort of proper meeting of Ontario members.

It's Jason Cherniak that Should Resign...

2011-12-03T11:57:00.001-05:00

...Along with the rest of the LPCOntario Management
Committee of the Executive.

Jason is arguing for the immediate resignation of National Executive Policy Chair Joan Bourassa over on Facebook. I"m of the opinion that I guy not doing HIS job should not being calling for someone else's resignation for apparently not doing hers (mostly ist's just Jason who thinks she hasn't done her job).

Here's my reason for asking for the entire Ontario Management Committee to resign:

Article VII of the LPC(O) Constitution

ARTICLE VII - ANNUAL AND GENERAL MEETINGS

Call of

Meeting; Notice; Authority

1. The Annual Meeting of LPC(O) shall be held each year at a time and place to be fixed by the Executive Board or in an electoral emergency the Management Committee, provided such date is no later than eighteen (18) months from the date of the prior Annual Meeting. The Executive Board may direct the President to call a special meeting of LPC(O) upon ninety (90) days notice at any time for such purpose as it may consider advisable. Those eligible to attend and vote at a special meeting shall be selected in the same manner as those who may attend and vote at an Annual Meeting. If an election or a Leadership Convention is called or there is electoral emergency after the time and place for the Annual Meeting or a special meeting is fixed, the Management Committee may postpone the Annual Meeting or the special meeting for such reasonable period of time as is required to enable LPC(O) to participate in the election or Leadership Convention or to deal with the electoral emergency even if as a result of the postponement, an Annual Meeting is held more than eighteen (18) months after the prior Annual Meeting . However, an Annual Meeting shall not be postponed to a date more than 24 months after the prior Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting or a special meeting may review, and by majority vote, amend or revoke any act or regulation passed, taken or made by the Management Committee or the Executive Board, provided such act shall not apply retroactively.

Notice

2. Notice in writing shall be sent at least ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting to all persons entitled to attend as delegates, other than those to be elected under paragraph 3 (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), and to the secretaries of all Electoral District Associations and to the President and Secretary of all other organizations entitled to send delegates to the Annual Meeting.

As you can see, the time has passed for any sort of proper, legal meeting of Ontario members. You know, Ontario members that form a large majority of the LPC membership across Canada. Those members.

Had we had such an AGM Ontario Liberals would have been able to meet in a proper forum to put forward and approve any policies or LPC Constitutional amendments to the National Convention in January. Instead we've had to make due with ideas on the fly. You see Jason Cherniak and his team members are equally responsible for what he says Joan hasn't done. That is they failed to properly consult the membership.

Jason has argued that the Management Committee didn't have enough time to call and AGM and that party resources in Ontario were too stretched to hold DSMs to such and event - even though DSMs were already being held anyway for the National Convention. Plus there was and election in May and October don't ya know. And, instead of having an AGM, the committee in its infinite wisdom decided to hold an event that pretty much costs the same amount called and Executive Board Meeting last week in Niagara Falls.

People in glass houses Jason. People in glass houses.

Feel free to discuss.

Bob Rae Then and Now

2011-11-29T21:12:00.001-05:00

What a turd this guy is turning out to be.

Here's what Bob said then:

“This is a job that needs to be done now … this is just my chance to serve,” Mr. Rae said. “I think there will be a broader chance for renewal in the search for a new leader in a year and a half (or) two years, and I think it’s important for the party to look very much to a new generation of leadership. And I’m sure that will happen.”

Here's what Bob says now:

"I think the role of the interim leader is to do everything possible to rebuild the party. Beyond that, I don't recall anything in the job description that went beyond that."

Make no mistake folks. Bob is not on a "rebuilding" tour. Bob is on a "leadership" tour.
Dear Bob,

YOU ARE NOT THE NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP!

Love

TWDIKG

Tasha Loves the Harper Crime Bill

2011-11-25T07:10:00.001-05:00

Warren Kinsella for Toronto Danforth Liberal

2011-11-24T19:16:00.001-05:00

Nominations have opened for the Liberal Party in Toronto Danforth.

Now, I realize it's just a by-election and not a full blown Federal Election, but I'm wondering if my friend is going to step up to the plate as promised. I mean he did put it in writing. Didn't he?

Wishful thinking me thinks, but I'm quite prepared to donate to his campaign.

Movember day 17

2011-11-17T15:42:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to give. I know many of you have suggested you have or you would. Time's a ticking.

Here's my version of the 70's baseball player handlebar look.

The Liberal Party has Officially Lost its Mind....

2011-11-17T11:50:00.001-05:00

....and with it the ability to regain any of their lost urban seats in any election anytime soon (which I'm sure you've heard me warn of before). WTH is the Liberal caucus even thinking? What do you mean we don't need more MPs? For Chrisake get your head out of arses Liberal MPs.

The Liberals’ plan is doubly unexpected given Rae’s background as an Ontario premier, when he was a consistent voice arguing for the province’s “fair share” at the federal-provincial table. Ontario’s current Liberal government, under Premier Dalton McGuinty, has been a strong advocate of increased seats for the province in the next reshuffle of Commons seats, due to be in place for the 2015 election.

Which is it Mr. Rae? We need more seats? Or, we dont?

Tashajournalist: Fast Ford Nation

2011-11-15T14:42:00.001-05:00

Everyone loves Rob Ford! Have a listen.

Movember...Day 9

2011-11-09T08:30:00.004-05:00

Give to the cause. Any amount helps out in a great cause.

Movember...Saving Face without Risking My Butt

2011-11-01T18:34:00.000-04:00

Ok. That's the corney slogan of the day....but, I am registered for Movember. Over 4,000 Canadians a year meet their maker because of this disease.

Give early. Give often. Please.

Should Ontario Start its Own Long Gun Registry?

2011-10-25T17:19:00.001-04:00

Feel free to discuss.

Congratulations Torontonians

2011-10-25T07:02:00.000-04:00

It was a year ago today you elected this ass to office.

RIP Long Gun Registry

2011-10-25T06:41:00.000-04:00

It's been nice knowing ya.

You Think Your Depressed?

2011-10-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Facebook post of the day.

Dear United States of America

2011-10-24T17:35:00.000-04:00

I will not be looking to vacation in your country anytime soon.