The Liberals may be having a bad week but the Toronto Star touts a new poll showing the Liberals at over 40% in public support. I expected some bounce from the convention but not majority territory.

Posted by: Jim at December 9, 2006 07:03 AM

---

It's an Ekos poll commissioned by The Toronto Red Star..... enough said.

Posted by: TorontoCrawler at December 9, 2006 07:56 AM

---

an ipos-reid poll, commissioned by canwest has the grits at 38%.....

Posted by: jeff at December 9, 2006 09:27 AM

---

Yeah...terrible week...those polls...probably keeping him up at night.

The Conservatives on the other hand...really good week...showed themselves to be real defenders of traditional marriage in Canada...have locked up that social conservative vote for the next generation.

Posted by: Small Town Shyster at December 9, 2006 09:34 AM

---

It is strange that the liberals who are quick to defend their leader for being a citizen of France is not quick to oppose anti-semitism from within their party ranks. During the Liberal leadership convention, several delegates sent out electronic flyers among each other denouncing Rae for having once delivered a speech to the Jewish National Fund and requesting people not to vote for Bob Rae because his wife was Jewish.

A delegate actually approached Mrs. Rae, not knowing who she was and told her not to vote for Bob, because his wife was Jewish. When Mrs. Rae told the delegate who she was, that delegate made a hasty retreat.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061207/bob_rae_061207/20061207/

Here is a link to the actual electronic flyer that was being circulated among delegates:

http://www.stephentaylor.ca/archives/disgusting-flyer.jpg

Posted by: Marc at December 9, 2006 10:08 AM

---

The Liberal Party and their supporters continue to delude themselves. The election of Stephane Dion is more of the same old Liberal Party under Chretien. Looks like no party renewal.

It's hilarious to see Liberals point to the expected bounce from a leadership convention as proof they are going to win. The numbers show that they are not digging into Conservative numbers, but NDP numbers, we'll see how long that lasts.

Good Luck Liberals et al, just keep telling yourselves your doing great right into the next election.

Posted by: Kitchener Conservative at December 9, 2006 10:15 AM

---

You're such a rube.

Posted by: Robert McClelland at December 9, 2006 11:27 AM

---

Nice attempt at Spin Steve - if a "terrible" week for Dion is resulting in every major polling firm showing the Liberals in the lead... then I'd hate to be the Conservatives when he had a good week.

On the contrary, Dion has had a very impressive week.

Posted by: Scott Tribe at December 9, 2006 12:00 PM

---

Get lost, Creature from the Blahg.

As for your comments, Scott Tribe. How could it be a very impressive week for Stefawn Deeyawn when he's such a horse's ass. Well, actually a pony's.

As I mentioned in another post, "OK, so the Libs went for the "grassroots," workhorse of a candidate and neither of the thoroughbreds...and look who they got stuck with: a pony, neither spirited nor graceful, but definitely small."

He's going to have to come up with some fancy footwork--or get the Librano$' buddies in the MSM to spin it for him--to convince Canadians that under his watch as Minister of the Environment he actually DID anything.

The Emperor simply has no clothes. The pony doesn't have the legs to win him the race.

Posted by: 'been around the block at December 9, 2006 02:15 PM

---

I don't think that you really believe the Liberals are having a bad week. Polls show them to be in majority territory, and Dion's reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Why not just be honest?

Posted by: Rob at December 9, 2006 03:01 PM

---

Polls for Trolls (tm)

I don't want any party to live by polls, but by principles. Canada's Constitution et al was designed for 2 parties. I fraqnkly would love a stron opposition leader, I hope Dion is the one. My sad observation is more partisan snapping at each other (on both sides).

Posted by: at December 9, 2006 03:24 PM

---

Does anyone know if Maher Avar denounced his Syrian citizenship?
So when next time in US they will not ship him there!
Do I have to pay for him like I did for Lebanese Canadians?
I like to keep my money – spend on beer and popcorn.

Posted by: george at December 9, 2006 03:27 PM

---

Why is it that they keep forgetting he was traveling under his Syrain passport as a citizen opf Syria??? Must be a convienent omition on the Media's part or to point out this whole mess the Conservatives have been handed to clean up all happened under Martin's watch... Ah, I get it now, it must have been part of the evil Stephen Harpers "hidden agenda"

Posted by: Mr Ed at December 9, 2006 03:37 PM

---

mr.Ed
Does it mean that Syrian government has to pay not us?
He is suing Canadian government – what means me!
Can we ship him back?
At least half of him?
Settlement will be reduce 50%!!!!!!

Posted by: george at December 9, 2006 03:51 PM

---

The truth of Arar will never be known as it falls within national security.I believe he did have some involvement.

Posted by: Simeon at December 9, 2006 04:13 PM

---

simeon
so it means i still have to pay for it?
i hate it,
look at this:
Arar's lawyer Julian Falconer said the parties responsible for the fiasco must be identified and held accountable.

Falconer said Arar's entire family has been affected. His brother lost a trucking business because of an inability to travel to the U.S., his parents have aged "horribly" and Arar himself cannot travel to 70 countries, Falconer said.

(CTV)
he wants to go to 70 countries?
i cannot afford to go to 2. Ship him back!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: george at December 9, 2006 04:23 PM

---

Regarding the opinion polls, it is only normal for a party to get a bounce in the polls after electing a new leader. Remember John Turner & Kim Campbell? Mr Turner got a big bounce in the polls, and he went on to suffer the worst ever federal Liberal election defeat. Ms Campbell got an even bigger bounce, and went on to suffer the biggest EVER election defeat by a sitting government. So, if the Liberals and their supporters want to get complacent, they do so at their own peril.

Posted by: Brian in Calgary at December 9, 2006 04:28 PM

---

I am tired of having to defend myself.
I am a social conservative.
I am right wing.
I am a capitalist.
I defend traditional marriage and family values.

There is no place or room in Canada for me to be all that and espouse this?

So much for inclusive Canada. Inclusive as long as you are a liberal.
enough

Posted by: enough at December 9, 2006 04:44 PM

---

The Conservative government has launched a $300-million plan to curb the use of toxic chemicals in Canada.

Whew. What a relief for Canadians. Government will continue to expand under the conservatives as fast as it did under the socialists. And it's only going to cost the public $300M (for starters), and besides the dozens or maybe hundreds of new government jobs that will be created, it'll probably only hamper and drive up costs in a handful of small, unimportant sectors of the Canadian economy. Like pulp and paper, auto manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, mining, smelting and refining, metallurgy, transportation and farming. For starters. Because we know that once a bureaucracy gets rolling, it'll find new toxic bogeymen behind every tree and rock. Bless their sharing, caring, overpaid souls. And after these industries have been crippled by the environmental police, there will be plenty more jobs at EDC, BDC, Industry Canada, etc. plus all of the many duplicate and overlapping provincial agencies, as they try to bring industry back to life with tax-dollar loans and subsidies.

It's morning in Canada! Actually it's one of those Groundhog Day kind of mornings. But I'm sure we'll get it right some decade.

Posted by: at December 9, 2006 08:52 PM

---

"Do I have to pay for him like I did for Lebanese Canadians?
I like to keep my money to spend on beer and popcorn."

You can blame Stephen Harper exclusively for this $85 million dollar bill (the government actually refuses to release the total cost). Official government policy states that taxpayers will not be charged for these sorts of rescue operations, and that the individuals being rescued should pay. Harper chose to ignore this policy and stuck it to taxpayers instead. Thank you, sir.

Speaking of sticking it to taxpayers -- I personally love the new $300 million Environmental Toxins programme. As anonymous notes, I'm not sure conservatives will like the plan nearly as much. It seems the Tory committment to voluntary, tax-incentive environmental policies has quiety disappeared. Like I said, I'm all for it.

Overall, I don't know if it was a good week or a bad week for Dion; but my guess is that anytime the environment tops the government's agenda, he has to be a happy man.

Posted by: bob at December 10, 2006 02:41 AM

---

The Tories have brought in two major environment programs in less than a year and all Dion has to show for two years as Minister is a contract(s) to one of the adscam companies. I don't see how that comparison would make him happy.

Posted by: Bob at December 10, 2006 05:59 AM

---

My appologies Bob, i inadvertenly posted your name. i blame my poor computer skills.

Posted by: phil at December 10, 2006 06:04 AM

---

From the link provided.

CEPA first became a law in 1988. A review in the 1990's further strengthened its human health and environmental protection components. To distinguish between the two, CEPA 1999 is used to refer to the renewed Act.

Who was the Prime Minister then Robert?

So the Liberals strengthened it and Harper has gone a further step.Thanks for pointing that out.

Now explain why ghg emmissions rose in 2005 with Dion already in the previous tear as enviro minister.

Posted by: paulsstuff at December 10, 2006 12:18 PM

---

Golly, gee... where on earth do you think that Harper got his list of chemicals from?? Did they appear out of thin air? Did he write up the list himself?

Oh where, oh where did this list come from? Why it was researched and started when Dion was environment minister and this past September the finalized list was handed to Harper as the "new" government.

Why did it take Harpo so long to announce Dion's Chemical Management Plan and the funding for it? Kinda slow on the up-take, Steve.

Posted by: hiti at December 10, 2006 11:29 PM

---

hiti, Prime Minister Stephen Harper "Kinda slow on the up-take"???

You've got to be kidding. He and his government had a few other priorities to attend to and they've only been in office for 10 months.

H***, the CPC government has done more in the past 10 months than the Libs managed to do in 13 years. That's because the Libs were more involved in bilking the Canadian public out of million$ of dollar$--they still owe us--and propping up their friends' and their own personal fortunes.

I've often asked how it is that Chretien, a small-town lawyer (you know, le p'tit gar de Shawinigan) and then PM, got to be a mulit-millionaire. There's something very fishy going on and it really stinks.

Do your homework, hiti.

And, BTW, if Dion had "the list," how come he didn't bring in the Chemical Management Plan himself? I imagine it had something to do with the Libs' not wanting to spend the $$$ on it, seeing as that would deplete their Adscam pay-offs.

Posted by: 'been around the block at December 11, 2006 09:06 AM

---

Good point "been around the block". That is one of my favourite questions to pose to Libs. Just how did the little guy from Shawinigan get to be a multi-millionaire from spending his whole life in the public service? Can you believe that nobody in the MSM is asking the same question?

Posted by: johnboy at December 11, 2006 01:57 PM

---

'been around the block, Dion never had the list. He just asked for the research to be done and the list to be delivered to the government, which now happens to be Steve. Having got the list of harmful chemicals this past September, Steve just looked at it for the past 3 months until he could play politics with it. Sorta like his photo-op with the military this past weekend.

As for Steve doing more in 10 months than the Liberals in 13 years, ya he raised my taxes, destroyed retirement funds, changed our mission in Afghanistan from humanitarian aid to warmongering, gave Dubya Bush a billion from the softwood lumber producers as he sold them out to his buddy, canceled literacy programs, funding to museums, funding to women's rights, canceled all the good Project Green programs like EnerGuide, covered the butt of the RCMP commish until he couldn't get away with it anymore, killed the funding to fix the problems with First Nations, left numerous parents without child care spaces, keeps on showing up for photo-ops with the military and that is just a small list of how idiotic Steve is, never mind his international image.

Posted by: hiti at December 11, 2006 11:44 PM

---

As for Jean Chretien, he left politics when John Turner was elected and he made his millions during that time period. Most lawyers are millionaires.

Posted by: hiti at December 11, 2006 11:45 PM

---

Bad week for Dion? By the measure of what? He waltzed all round your man without even trying. He is plainly working to a plan. Both bowl at Stephen the Unready and outflank him, at the same time. Very bold. As for you, it might be better to work on real issues for a while. There are all kinds of holes in the Canadian Environmental Act, remember that is the one your lad is amending (snort) with the clean air, or is it healthy air act now strugglling for credibility in Parliament. There are two very large problems. We do not have the time for the usual 20 years of BS about Provincial/Federal screw ups and how dreadful it all is. And we need to made a drastic
separation between scrubbing the air and products and MSDS systems, and reduction of greenhouse gasses. You can tell us how SO2 is not pollution.

Posted by: garhane at December 12, 2006 03:36 AM

---

Thanks, hiti, for articulating all of the good things Prime Minister Stephen Harper has done for Canadians.

Seeing as the Librano$ turned Canada upside down, which Lib-supporters figure is right-side up (seeing as you're all standing on your heads), no wonder you think all of their policies were moving Canada "forward."

'You wanted multi-million dollar corporations to avoid billion$ of dollar$ of taxes because of loopholes left in the taxation laws my the Libs, so that low- and middle-income Canadians could take up the slack? Fine. 'Sounds like a typically skewed Librano plan to me.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty had the guts and was principled enough to make a tough decision, which economists on both sides of the political spectrum said would have to be made at some point. Funny thing, the Libs left it up to the CPC to make the difficult decision.

I could poke holes in every one of your other arguments but don't have time. Wake up hiti. Smell the coffee. Grow up. It's time to leave the Liberal playpen and deal with the real world.

Thank G*d PMSH and the CPC understand that.

Posted by: 'been around the block at December 12, 2006 07:53 AM

---

'been around the block... open wide, another bowl of horse pucks coming your way from Steve and Jimmie.

I mean, how uninformed can one be as to not know that whatever taxes corporations didn't pay was paid by the income trust holder. DUH!

As for Jimmie lying about tax leakage, didn't happen. Economist Yves Fortin, working on behalf of the Canadian Association of Income Funds, stated in a paper that "it might well be that no tax leakage would be found if such a study was done properly." The "new" government hasn't released the numbers it has come up with. They don't want the truth to come out cause they're waiting for their buds from the south to swoop in and grab all the income trusts. They're waiting, private equity firms from the US and abroad, drawing up lists of target companies and waiting for the prices to drop further before they strike.

All those smaller companies who relied on their income trust for capital and expansion will sell out and disappear.

This really is the stupidest government since Mulroney. Back then I use to vote Tory but now I've grown up and acquired a heart. I no longer subscribe to the neo-con, republican ideology.

Posted by: hiti at December 12, 2006 10:26 PM

---

The EU has maintained a web site for several years listing the various chemicals used in the manufacture of "fragrances" and also used as "flavour" in food.

http://www.fpinva.org/Composition/EU.htm

I believe the list currently stands at over 5000, the majority of which are VOC's derived from petroleum. Of the 5000+ chemicals, only about 100 have actually been tested as to the effects on the human body. Of those 100, several are known carcinogens, several are known to cause birth defects, several are known to be hormone disrupters, several are also known to directly affect brain chemistry, who knows what the effect of the other 4900+ is. These chemicals are used in the manufacture of "fragrances" which are then used to make scented candles, added to toothpaste, household cleaners, shampoo, pesticides, soap, fabric softener, perfume, after shave, and just about everything you can think of. Some are also used to enhance the flavour of foods. Considering about 95% of the adverse reactions to cosmetics are caused by the "fragrance" in the cosmetics, the Liberal Government's much vaunted "labeling" reform regarding cosmetic companies listing ingredients does absolutely nothing, because the amount is less than a certain %, the company only has to list "fragrance" as an ingredient. About 75% of asthma attacks are triggered by "fragrances". Artificial "musks" used in "fragrances" for hand lotion, soap, etc. accumulate in the water system, and then accumulate in the tissue of lower animals and on up the food chain, ultimately to humans. The US is doing more testing(can’t remember who), a series of articles in the Calgary Sun indicated the average person leaves home in the morning with on average 135 various chemicals on them, gained from the use of toothpaste, shampoo, hand lotion, perfume, and fabric softener on their clothes, etc. It’s estimated about 15% to 20% of the population suffers to varying degrees from adverse reactions to “fragrances”. I can’t go anywhere without at least getting stuffed sinuses and itchy eyes to a severe headache. So many people complain about the hazards of second-hand cigarette smoke, but they don’t realize they are probably carrying around more toxic chemicals on their body than they could ever find in second-hand cigarette smoke.

Posted by: LJ at December 13, 2006 02:39 AM

---

hiti,do you ever research anything before posting on here.Cause you seem to be wrong 100% of the time.The list of chemicals was sent for review in 1999,and i'm pretty sure Dion was not enviro minister then.The review was to end at the end of September of this year, which it did.

Upon reviewing the final report Harper acted.

As for your statement about tax leakage,none other than Ralph Goodale,he of the RCMP income trust investigation,agreed about the losses of tax revenue.

Project green spent $6 and saw ghg emmissions rise,so scrapping that makes good sense to me.

Afghanistan,check again.It was Paul Martin who committed the troops to Kandahar,and at that time he said there would certainly be casualties because of the dangerous mission.

And perhaps the stupidest thing you wrote:
I mean, how uninformed can one be as to not know that whatever taxes corporations didn't pay was paid by the income trust holder. DUH!

Maybe check with an accountant before making such an idiotic statement.And you realize it wasn't just lost tax revenues,it was also the fact that these companies set up as trusts were spending next to nothing on R&D.

Posted by: paulsstuff at December 13, 2006 01:43 PM

---

If Dion had a bad first week the rest of his career as the resident of Stornoway isn't going to be any better.
Rumours persist of a rift between camp followers, and all it takes is one of them not recieving what they think they are entitled to could cause a resumption of hostilities.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/547722.html

Wonder what she's going to do if Dion makes somebody else deputy leader?

Lately you can tell that the beer and popcorn gang that ran the last campaign for Bucky is still fully in control. So far Dion is saying he will vote against budget that he has no idea what it contains because he's opposed to Harper's "agenda". I sure hope Dion isn't talking about a principled stand or anything because it shouldn't have taken any effort for the liberals to stop legislation from passing, though for all Dion's talk Harper even in a minority position got the job done. The other weak point in Dion's argument is the talking point about the hard right wing ideology to the socon base. Perhaps Mr Dion might want to explain how some of his own MP's reflect that same socon base? Perhaps he should be explaining to his hard left base what he intends on doing about those rouge MP's. Are those the ridings where he is going to appoint female candidates? Paul Steckle it was nice knowing you.
More to the point, if Dion wants to play up the liberal party as a centrist one, then he better be ready to explain what conservative policies he's ready to support, if not then Dion represents a hard left turn.

The future under a Dion government:

NEP II
Cut and run from Afghanistan
Higher taxes to pay for Kyoto credits
More denial that a fiscal imbalance exists, and more incursion into provincial jurisdictions while ignoring the federal jurisdiction.
Increase of the GST
More waste on a gun registry that doesn't work (the shooter at Dawson used a registered weapon)
Fully legalized prostitution
Legalized marijana
Willful promotion of anal sex with minors
Lifting the ban on reproductive technology
Business as usual in Quebec (more adscam)
Refusal to reform the senate by any means

Posted by: gimbol at December 16, 2006 07:29 AM

---

With respect to the polls, and as a follow-up to my earlier comment, it appears that the bloom has already worn off the new Liberal rose. Ipsos-Reid already has the Grits back into a statistical tie with the Tories. So much for the Liberal bounce. As I said before, the Liberals will get complacent at their own peril.

Posted by: Brian in Calgary at December 16, 2006 02:17 PM

---

The Liberal party is still a tinderbox and will be for some time. Divided it is and they all damned well know it. They know who they are. Even Kinsella, the dinosaur enthusiast, knows it to be the case. Remember how he used a toy dino as a prop against Stockwell Day? Stockwell has proven to be a very credible Minister in the Harper Government. Far beyond anything the Libranos have put up in the recent past.

As for polls, we at least have a PM who has the guts to make decisions NOT based on polls.
The all things to all people Liberal Party runs on polls and the you vote for me and you've got it non-principled governance.

Posted by: Liz J at December 17, 2006 05:34 PM

---

"You can blame Stephen Harper exclusively for this $85 million dollar bill (the government actually refuses to release the total cost). Official government policy states that taxpayers will not be charged for these sorts of rescue operations, and that the individuals being rescued should pay. Harper chose to ignore this policy and stuck it to taxpayers instead. Thank you, sir."

For your own sake do your bloody homework before you run around making an ass of yourself! Pierre Trudeau and the Liberal Party are the only ones responsible for this boondoggle. It was they who changed our citizenship laws making Canada the ONLY country in the world that grants citizenship to refugees pal. They did it for one reason only, for votes during an election year when things were looking poorly for them. Traditionally immigrants vote Liberal in Canada, always have, likely always will. How to save themselves, grant citizenship to 100's of 1000's of refugees and bingo, that many Liberal votes. The Liberals once again sold Canada down the river with no regard for the long term damage and cost to this country, it was all about staying in power and the country be damned. These hyphenated Canadians, who never wanted Canada to be their permanent home in the first place, took what was handed to them on a silver platter, and but got out of the country as soon as conditions improved back 'home' in Lebanon enough to permit a safe return. They would have done so without our citizenship, but what the heck, a freebee is a freebee, and it has certainly paid off, on the rest of our backs. Ahhh, Canadian citizenship these people say, we never have to give anything to Canada yet Canada gives us the 'gift that just keeps on giving'.

The difference between a landed immigrant and a refugee; a foreigner requesting to immigrant to Canada must be approved by Canada, ie background security check, self-supporting, employable (not eligible for welfare) etc. Refugees arrive here uninvited, often after destroying all identification enroute, from 3rd world countries so devoid of 20th century technoloty it is impossible to do background security or criminality checks on them. Refugees are eligible and receive welfare from the moment they set foot in this country. They are never required to seek employment or work, but may voluntarily work if they so choose. Both categories of people are eligible for citizenship 3 short years after arriving. Incidently, Trudeau and his boys reduced the time period from 5 to 3 years for eligibilty for citizenship the same year they permitted refugees citizenship to enable more landed immigrants to become citizen so they could vote Liberal and save the government too. Again, the Liberals sold Canada's security down the toilet for votes, for POWER.

Question: Does anybody out there think aside from Canada, the rest of the entire world just might have a reason for not permitting refugees to ever obtain citizenship to the countries that offer them safety? Duh?

Posted by: Ross at December 22, 2006 01:28 PM

---