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Canada politics news: Thursday morning recap: Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Senate. Senate expenses scandal. Sen. Mike Duffy. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Conservatives. A few of the dominant news issues/topics on Wed, May 22, 2013. But this bold editorial declaration by the Toronto Star stands out: “If the Prime Minister can’t bring himself to address the Senate scandal in [...] The post Canada Politics News: Thursday Morning Recap appeared first on The Canadian Progressive. So what are the possible explanations for the infamous Rob Ford video. Rob Ford says it is just ridiculous, but beyond that he offers no explanation. So we are left to our own speculation. But there must be some explanation for the fact that the journalists that saw it thought that it was indeed Rob Ford, so let us look at the possible scenarios. The Ford Nation Conspiracy Theory Scenario Its Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as he might have appeared in ancient Rome, whence comes the idea that in politics public figures and their associates must be above suspicion. Below: The real Rob Ford; Caesar’s wife. Schadenfreude is all very well, but this whole Rob Ford video scandal has me feeling just the tiniest bit hinky. It’s a due-process thing, and I recognize that there can be no due process in politics, as unjust as that may seem. No, realpolitik demands that the operative rule in politics be summed up in the notion we abbreviate with the phrase “Caesar’s wife (Read more…) By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: New York news blog Gawker yesterday revealed the existence of a video showing Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The video was taken within the last six months, allegedly by the city’s Somali drug dealers. Gawker editor John Cook reported that he received a tip from [...] The post Conservative Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in ‘crack cocaine’ video scandal appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Regular readers of this blog may be aware of my almost boundless enthusiasm for The Toronto Star. I deeply admire its progressive mission, and I find its roster of excellent columnists informative and thought-provoking. I have come to regard it as a trusted source of news and opinion. It was therefore a bit of a shock to realize how badly below acceptable journalistic standards it recently fell when it published a story about Ontario Liberal MPP Magaret Best who, after being dropped from her cabinet position in the new Wynne government, took a medical leave, which she is still on. (Read more…) By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Toronto Star’s Heather Mallick suggests that the RCMP’s notorious macho culture was on full display during the announcement of the unveiling terrorist plot to derail a Via Rail passenger train. Mallick says: Call me cynical. I’m not, I am hopeful credulity itself, but the anti-terror bill [...] The post RCMP Macho Culture Displayed During Announcement Of Terror Plot? appeared first on The Canadian Progressive. By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Toronto Star’s Heather Mallick suggests that the RCMP’s notorious macho culture was on full display during the announcement of the unveiling terrorist plot to derail a Via Rail passenger train. Mallick says: Call me cynical. I’m not, I am hopeful credulity itself, but the anti-terror bill [...] The post RCMP Macho Culture Displayed During Announcement Of Terror Plot? appeared first on The Canadian Progressive. Harper’s government reacts with overwrought rage when other Canadian politicians express opinions outside Canada. So which way is it? By: Tim Harper | Toronto Star, Published on Fri Apr 19 2013: OTTAWA — Stephen Harper was representing Canada at the funeral of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in London this week. Was [...] The post Stephen Harper takes partisan politics abroad appeared first on The Canadian Progressive. Rob Ford, Toronto’s part-time mayor, is an addict. Among other things, he is addicted to lying. Those who are always quick to believe his side of the story are enablers. Ford doesn’t need defending; he needs an intervention. He’s not just hurting himself; he’s hurting the whole city. Ford has a long, well-documented history of lying, going back to when he was a city councillor, and probably originating in his childhood. His entire mayoral campaign was based on lies. Growing up rich, spoiled and sheltered, Ford is used to getting bailed out of trouble, and then having that trouble covered . . . → Read More: The Ranting Canadian: Rob Ford, Toronto’s part-time mayor, is an addict. Among… By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: That’s right, the Mayor of Toronto has a serious drinking problem. Actually, one that calls for rehab. The Toronto Star says Rob Ford’s drinking problem is so seriously that, since he was elected in 2010, his inner circle has repeatedly urged him enter rehab “over pattern of [...] The post Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Has a Serious Drinking Problem appeared first on The Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis. New Niagara hydro tunnel finally opens: Good news/bad news story in Niagara Falls today (March 22, 2013). I’m surprised there hasn’t been more media coverage. According to the Toronto Star, A new hydro tunnel at Niagara Falls officially gushed water today, cranking up electricity production at the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station … That will produce enough extra power to light up a city the size of Barrie. Yay! But: The project was budgeted for $985 million, but the final bill came in at $1.6 billion — costs that will ultimately be borne by electricity ratepayers. Yeesh. The Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) hosted its ACTION Party on March 8, 2013 at the Arcadian Court. Justin Trudeau and Omar Ha-Redeye Marc Garneau and Omar Ha-Redeye Omar Ha-Redeye and Kirsty Duncan Omar Sharif Jr and Omar Ha-Redeye Rob Ford and Omar Ha-Redeye An incident at the event involving Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Sarah Thomson, referred to over social media as “buttgate,” was subsequently covered by media sources which interviewed Omar Ha-Redeye: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says groping allegations ‘absolutely, completely false’ Another guest at the function, lawyer Omar Ha-Redeye, said in an interview that Ms. Thomson did (Read more…) . . . → Read More: Toronto Lawyer | Omar Ha-Redeye, J.D. » Politics: 2013 CJPAC Action and “Buttgate” 
 Aaron Levenstadt, Adam Chambers, Adam Waltman, Adam Williams, Advocacy, Alana Elmaleh, Alana Kayfetz, Alexandra Silverberg, Alexis Glinert, Baruch Lipinsky, Ben Kayfetz, Ben Singer, BEN SPURR, Ben Thorek, Brian Hefter, Brian Kaufmann, Brianna Ames, buttgate, Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, Carly Bennie, Chad Rogers, CJPAC, Dan Resnick, Dana David, Dani Peters, Daniel Dale, Daniel Feldberg, Daniel Sourani, Daniel Warner, Dar Refaeli, Darryl Getz, David Rider, Dori Tenenbaum, Dustin Kroft, Eitan Weisfeld, Elana Metter, Eli Aleyner, Elizabeth Gubarev, Erin Criger, Globe and Mail, Gloria Benaim, grabbed my butt, Heather Popliger, Ian Rosen, Ivanna Purkiss, Jake Goldberg, Jared Rochwerg, Jared Tessis, Jeff Green, Jian Magen, JILL MAHONEY, Jonathan Mackenzie, Jonathan Polak, Josh Benchetrit, JP Rasminsky, Justin Trudeau, Kirsty Duncan, Kyle Lichtman, Leanne Wright, Leigh Lampert, Leore Zimner, Lindsay Shapiro, Madi Murariu, Marc Garneau, Marco Glasman, Marissa Steiner, Mark Ebedes, Mark Gelfand, Marni Blustein, Matthew Cole, Matthew Frisch, Matthew Lerner, Max Rubin, media, Michael Platt, Michael Talbot, Michelle Golfman, Mitch Freed, Natalie Alcoba, national post, Nick Kadysh, Nicole Rausch, Niv Ben Shlomo, Noah Goldstein, Now Magazine, Omar Sharif Jr, Page Magen, politics, Rachel Mendleson, Rachel Singer, Regan Tessis, Rich Meloff, Rob Ford, Rob Snider, Sara Lefton, sarah thomson, Shane Fenton, Shirelle Segal, Talia Varley, Tara Disenhouse, TIMOTHY APPLEBY, Toronto Star, TU THANH HA, Vince Gasparro, Zac Chousky, Zach Burnet By Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, Feb. 18, 2013: In, 2004, Stephen Harper described Canada’s Senate as a “dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister.” He also said: “I will not name appointed people to the Senate. Anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.” Today, none of READ MORE CBC’s Peter Mansbridge coulda bin a contender: Salutin: As a follow-up to my post about former fluff broadcaster and current fraud artist Mike Duffy, here is a link to a Rick Salutin column about the fluffy news reader Peter Mansbridge, and about the decline of CBC news in general. As a bonus, here is my own take on Mansbridge.
Peter Mansbridge: big voice, big disappointment Over the past decade or so, TV news anchor Peter Mansbridge, of the tax-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), has become a shell of his former self. He may have been a serious reporter . . . → Read More: The Ranting Canadian: CBC’s Peter Mansbridge coulda bin a contender: Salutin by Obert Madondo: Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to tear down his stubborn wall of silence over hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence. First Nations leaders, the opposition, unions, the media, grassroots movements and individuals are urging Harper to meet with the Attawapiskat First Nation chief as her indefinite protest reaches the mid-point of its second week. READ MORE
Activism News, Assembly of First Nations, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, attawapiskat, Bill C-45, Canada, CBC, Chief Theresa Spence, Chief Theresa Spence Hunger Strike, Conservative government, Derek Nepinak, Elder Raymond Robinson, Featured, First Nations, Governor General David Johnston, grassroots movement, HUNGER STRIKE, Idle No More, Indigenous Rights, inequality, media, National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, News, Ottawa, parliament hill, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, protest, rights, social media, Theresa Spence, thomas mulcair, Toronto Star, Victoria Island The great lie of the populist politician – by Don Gillmor, November 23, 2012 : http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1291812—the-great-lie-of-the-populist-politician The linked column is a great summary of the North American tradition of rich… . . . → Read More: The Ranting Canadian: The great lie of the populist politician – by Don Gillmor, November 23, 2012 These are the Canadian Progressive’s Canada and U.S. news headlines November 9, 2012. CANADA: The ugly truth about Stephen Harper’s foreign policy – Rabble.ca Disabled vets, ‘struggling’ widows line up to vent frustrations… . . . → Read More: Canadian ProgressiveCanadian Progressive: Canada and U.S. news headlines on November 9 2012 Yesterday I wrote a post expressing real pleasure that The Toronto Star is enjoying such a wide readership and profitability, given the important work that it does on a number of levels. Although evidence of that work is found in pretty much every edition of the paper, today’s seems particularly noteworthy for its potential impact. First, as a result of an investigation by the paper into the harmful effects, including strokes, convulsions, depression and suicide on children being treated with drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, today we learn the following: Health Canada has detailed records of probes into ADHD . . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: Just Another Day’s Work At The Star Paul Kahnert of Markham has an uncommonly apt observation in this morning’s Star, one that I’m sure the ideologues leading us both federally and provincially will choose to ignore: Re: Canada’s idle threat, Business Aug. 25 It’s time to reverse corporate tax cuts. David Olive’s article was proof positive that tax cuts don’t work. Weren’t tax cuts for corporations supposed to make them “competitive” and create lots of job for Canadians? We’ve been conned. The only thing tax cuts created was massive wealth for corporations and the top 1 per cent. Corporate tax cuts have been one of the . . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: A Sage Observation After many setbacks, Sayed Shah Sarifi, the brave young Afghan interpreter who recently arrived in Toronto thanks to his own tenacity and the efforts of people of goodwill, has landed his first Canadian job. You can read this good-news story here. Recommend this Post Our Ford, the (Lord) Mayor of Toronto is rabidly right-wing. No doubt about that. After all, he recently proposed exiling Toronto’s convicted criminals, most of whom tend to be persons of color. Fellow Conservative and immigrant-bashing minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, endorsed the idea. Still, I would never have imagined the Mayor of Canada’s most racially-diverse city with his beefy arm wrapped a white supremacist. Until now. Yep, that’s Our Ford in the photo below, with Jon Latvis, a member of the neo-Nazi band RAHOWA (Racial Holy War). The photo is also available on Latvis’ Facebook profile, . . . → Read More: Canadian Progressive World: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s Official White Supremacist Portrait: PHOTO
Blog, Canada, Canada Politics, Canadian Politics, Citizenship, City Hall, Conservatives, Immigration, Jason Kenney, Jon Latvis, Key Profiles, media, Neo-Nazi, New Year, opinion., Politics News, provinces, race, Racial Holy War, Racism, RaHoWa, Right Wing, Rob Ford, Society, Toronto, Toronto Star, White Supremacists, Worst Canadian Direct democracy is to representative democracy what extra-virgin olive oil is to refined olive oil. The latter is more cost effective and, perhaps according to some, just as good. But to the connoisseur, there is no substitute for the real stuff. In the fourth article of his ongoing series on democracy, Toronto Star columnist Rick Salutin examines the real stuff in the form of Swiss referendums. Several national referendums are held together four times per year in Switzerland on everything from tax policy to constitutional amendments to international treaties. Direct democracy advocates all around the world look on enviously, . . . → Read More: Song of the Watermelon: Referendums: The Perils and the Possibilities I’m mad, really mad! Mayor Ford wants to clarify his comments from the other day, following the tragic shooting in Scarborough. Here’s what he said at the time: Asked how he planned to force gangsters out of Toronto, Mr. Ford said: “I don’t know and that’s what I’m going to sit down with the prime minister and find out: how our immigration laws work. Obviously I have an idea. But whatever I “Democracy,” as Winston Churchill famously stated, “is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Somewhat less famously, he also remarked that “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” Notwithstanding this somewhat anemic endorsement, those who live under democracy tend to quite like it. We often devote ourselves to attempts at strengthening the people’s rule. A recent effort in this vein comes courtesy of columnist Rick Salutin and his series on democratic renewal for the Toronto Star. Salutin, in the second . . . → Read More: Song of the Watermelon: Rick Salutin on Democracy, Parties, and Electoral Reform While I have sometimes been critical of my former union, The Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation, both in this blog and my other one, I have always been a supporter and advocate of unions. I was particularly surprised and pleased that yesterday, in contrast to the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) accepting a deal with the McGuinty government which sees the elimination of the retirement gratuity amongst other deep concessions, OSSTF’s Ken Coran, along with three other union heads, refused to give up the fight. In what would be regarded in normal times as a major concession, OSSTF has . . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: Is This Really Negotiating? |
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