AWLC

Prime Minister vs. Parliament - thestar.com

2009-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister vs. Parliament - thestar.com

In Response to Lorne Gunter's Edmonton Journal Words of Wisedom

2009-12-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

“…the strategic thing to do would have been to disguise closures at Alberta Hospital in amongst a raft of other cost-cutting measures.”

Reading Lorne Gunter’s opinion piece in Sunday’s Edmonton Journal answers a few questions about why we receive such low turnouts in our elections, provincial and federal. Apparently, according to Gunter, the way policy should be put forward to the unsophisticated voter is to “disguise” policy rather then the method used by Stelmach, which was to come right out with it. Embedding specific policy goals would allow the government to do what it wants, while diffusing the public criticism with widespread initiatives.

Although I don’t agree with Stelmach’s proposals at least Albertans were given the opportunity to voice their disagreement with them, which after all, is allowed in our “democratic” province. What Gunter is exposing in his article is how former governments in Alberta have been successful and THAT is what I take exception with and what I believe are the seeds of citizens’ discontent.

It is the political strategic game that alienates the voter. This form of politics reinforces the belief that politicians are only interested in power and their own self-interest and, more importantly, they are dishonest. Gunter’s and our past government’s contempt for the voter is even more disgusting. Their contempt for all Albertans apparently works very well for the Conservatives as they continue to return to the Legislature in droves.

What is needed is exactly the opposite of what Gunter proposes to bring democracy back to this province. Albertans are fed up with the ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ strategy of those directing the Alberta government or any political party. We need clear policy and honest discussions that voters can evaluate and decide upon, not the old conservative method of ruling Alberta. We deserve better and we should demand better.

Liberal Party of Canada ï¿½ Statement from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on Persons Day

2009-10-18T14:03:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada ï¿½ Statement from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on Persons Day

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It's Not Just Stelmach - Paula Stein

2009-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Edmonton Journal Opinion Piece Oct 12

Not all Stelmach’s fault

There is increasing focus on Ed Stelmach as the main problem in the Conservatives’ inability to provide good government. To place the blame for a faltering government — the destruction of health care; the assault on public education; the travesty that is youth services; the failure to provide seniors with appropriate supports; the mind-numbing deficits; and the financial waste of paying large numbers of high ranking government bureaucrats huge bonuses — at the feet of one man is wrong.

To do so would suggest that if the leader was changed, the entire structure of the government would change. This is untrue.

There are many Conservative members of the inner caucus who hold enormous decision-making powers, as do many Conservative party members who create the policy road maps that the government follows.

In the past, the Conservative party has been shrewd in playing a sleightof-hand game with Alberta voters: change the leader and we have a whole new party.

Yes, the leader sets the tone — to an extent — but Conservative ideology fuels Conservative government decisions, such as turning our healthcare system into a private, for-profit industry.
No matter who leads the Conservatives, that same ideology will still be in place.

Alberta needs a new direction under a new party. Alberta needs a healthy opposition or we lose our democracy. Albertans must take a thoughtful look at other political parties and their platforms and let go of old stereotypes. If not, we just invite the same bad government into our lives under a new leader.

2009-10-04T13:06:00.001-07:00

Federal cash flows to ridings

2009-09-25T19:38:00.001-07:00

Federal cash flows to ridings

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Michael Ignatieff: Canada prospers when Canada leads - Full Comment

2009-09-22T21:06:00.001-07:00

Michael Ignatieff: Canada prospers when Canada leads - Full Comment

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TheStar.com | Canada | Tories mum over vanishing Harper photos

2009-09-22T20:33:00.001-07:00

TheStar.com | Canada | Tories mum over vanishing Harper photos

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Harper’s partisanship puts Parliament in jeopardy — again (Edmonton Journal, 21 Sep 2009, Page A19)

2009-09-21T16:57:00.001-07:00

Harper’s partisanship puts Parliament in jeopardy — again

Edmonton Journal
21 Sep 2009

Re: “Liberals take verbal pot shots at Tories over leaked video,” The Journal, Sept. 11. The video showing Stephen Harper addressing the party faithful is a wake-up call for all Canadians, especially Canadian women. Apparently, if you support early...read more...

Election myth busters

2009-09-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Election myth busters

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"Only In Alberta" Alberta may limit women's cancer tests

2009-09-12T20:31:00.001-07:00

Alberta may limit women's cancer tests

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Kelly McParland: Tories manipulate the medium AND the message - Full Comment

2009-09-11T21:34:00.001-07:00

Kelly McParland: Tories manipulate the medium AND the message - Full Comment

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Calgary West MP Anders under fire from Muslim group over political pamphlet

2009-09-11T20:02:00.001-07:00

Calgary West MP Anders under fire from Muslim group over political pamphlet

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If Kabul, why not here?

2009-09-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

If Kabul, why not here?

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AddThis - Sharing http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/10/ignatieff-harpe...

2009-09-10T18:36:00.001-07:00

AddThis - Sharing http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/10/ignatieff-harpe...

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Facing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Champ? NO! Mike Lake Champions Bigfoot! LOL

2009-09-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Facing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Champ? NO! Mike Lake Champions Bigfoot! LOL

Protect Bigfoot as species at risk: MP THIS IS NO JOKE!!!

2009-09-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Protect Bigfoot as species at risk: MP

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People living in glass houses..

2009-09-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

People living in glass houses..

Nurses only needed during boom? (Edmonton Journal, 29 Aug 2009, Page A16)

2009-08-30T19:46:00.001-07:00

Guess what? What is more Albertans will just continue voting these idiots in

Nurses only needed during boom?

Edmonton Journal
29 Aug 2009

Alberta nurses could be forgiven for feeling like they’re stuck in the revolving doors of a hospital these days, unsure whether to walk in or out. First, 5,000 of them were laid off during sweeping government health-care cuts in the 1990s. Then, as...read more...

Tech Tags: Edmonton Journal newspaper OPINION

Conservative loyalty rewarded (Edmonton Journal, 30 Aug 2009, Page A14)

2009-08-30T19:41:00.001-07:00

You have to really love this hypocrite and wonder about those that support him!

Conservative loyalty rewarded

Edmonton Journal
30 Aug 2009

Albertans, it seems we misunderstood this Senate obsession of Reformers and Stephen Harper Conservatives. When they raged at the appointment of party bagmen, former aides, sympathetic media types and hockey celebrities by the Chretien Liberals, we...read more...

Tech Tags: Edmonton Journal newspaper OPINION

The True North strong and mean

2009-08-30T19:27:00.001-07:00

The True North strong and mean

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DOCS’ FLU PAY â€�OUTRAGEOUS’ (Edmonton Journal, 22 Aug 2009, Page A1)

2009-08-22T09:55:00.001-07:00

Why am I a LIBERAL? To fight against the trampling of Medicare system, fight against the profiteering of those who take advantage of those they are suppose to serve, and fight against those who believe that this is the way it should be.

DOCS’ FLU PAY â€�OUTRAGEOUS’
TIFFANY CRAWFORD
Edmonton Journal
22 Aug 2009

It’s “outrageous” that Alberta doctors should be negotiating extra fees for treating H1N1 flu patients during a pandemic, says the president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses. Linda Silas said she was “stunned” to hear doctors have negotiated a...read more...

Tech Tags: Edmonton Journal newspaper FRONT PAGE

How Harperites are damaging our citizenship

2009-08-20T14:29:00.001-07:00

How Harperites are damaging our citizenship

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Harper government more connected to 'organized anti-feminism' than previous Conservative or Liberal parties

2009-08-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

The Hill Times, August 10, 2009
By Cynthia Münster

The Conservative Harper government "is closer to organized anti-feminism than any regime in the country's history" and if it wants to win a majority, it needs to reach out to minority activists, including women, says University of Toronto political science professor Sylvia Bashevkin.

"In terms of the willingness of pragmatists to win out over ideologues, if pragmatists are going to prevail in the Conservative Party, it seems to me there will be a much more clear focus on drawing in much more activists to the party, who are from all kinds of backgrounds, be they aboriginal, or new Canadians, or women, or so on and, of course, women in each of those other categories and youth," Prof. Bashevkin said in an interview with The Hill Times.

Prof. Bashevkin, author of Women, Power, Politics: The Hidden Story of Canada's Unfinished Democracy, said that the number of contacts the current Conservative government has to the "organized anti-feminism" movement are "significantly higher" than previous Conservative and Liberal governments. She noted in her book, published by Oxford University Press, that the Conservatives' 2006 election victory "entailed far more than a perfunctory changing of the guard on Parliament Hill." When the Conservatives took power, they cut $5-million from the Status of Women budget and "the notion of fostering equality was summarily stripped from the mandate of the agency," while halting a national child care program begun by the previous Liberal government in favour of a $1,200 tax credit "designed to advantage households with single—and overwhelmingly male—earners."

This ideology that individuals are responsible for themselves and special designations should not be made for specific minority groups, will make it hard for the Conservatives to win majority governments, said Prof. Bashevkin, who received a Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award in 2005. "We find in many parties ... on the right of the spectrum, there is often people who have a very strong view that there should be a pure merit principle at work and therefore, there shouldn't be designated delegates, for example, who are youth or aboriginal or women to party conventions or party meetings or as party candidates and that often makes it difficult within those parties for people who are of the more pragmatic streak and just want to win elections. [It] also makes it hard for them to draw in voters and activists from those backgrounds."

Despite the ideology, Prof. Bashevkin told The Hill Times that women are disadvantaged when it comes to politics in general. Currently there are 69 female MPs in the House of Commons, making up 22.4 per cent even though women make up 52 per cent of the Canadian population. Prof. Bashevkin attributes this to the fact that Canadians are uncomfortable with electing women to powerful positions. This inequality makes our democratic system incomplete, she said. "If power is about commanding and power is about leading in a very hierarchical sense, then we often have a discomfort with the view that a woman would be a commander in chief or that she would be leading in the sense of giving orders. We see that as a highly masculine behaviour."

Why do you say women in politics are Canada's unfinished democracy?
"We haven't gone through a revolution recently, or ever. We haven't had a major transition following any internal strife of the sort that we've seen in other parts of the world. As a result we have a sense that things are quite complete as they are, yet I maintain that given the power in Canada of norms about democracy and equality going together and the fact that we have such low representation of women in our formal political institutions, I argue that this is an important part of finishing or completing the project of democratic renewal that many Canadians have been concerned about."

In the private sector and in the bureaucracy women have gotten at least closer to equality than in public, political life. How does your equation of women plus power equals discomfort apply to this? Does it mean we're just not comfortable voting them in?
"It's when we get to higher positions, for example, party leader positions—which one needs in a Parliamentary system in order to become leader of a government—where many other kinds of patterns kick in, which have to do with the public dissection of the individuals who are in the limelight.

"So we see this pattern of speech where we often speak about women in those leadership positions using their first names. ... We find this pattern of dissecting their appearance, their clothing, their hair, their style of speech, their personal lives. This is probably not just trivializing the women who may seek to run for top office but it also serves to discourage individuals from trying out those careers. It tends to dampen the supply of women as well as men who are willing to submit to that kind of public microscopic examination so part of it is the stakes that are involved.

"There is high stakes in all fields but very few of them are as exposed, stark, public inspection as public political leadership. ... So therefore, we tend to see women who become party leaders, leading parties that are really very weak and then blaming them when the party in fact turn in weak results in an election, which is entirely consistent with the fact that the party was in a weak position."

Why are we so uncomfortable with putting women in powerful positions?
"I think in part it goes back to a sense about a fairly masculine understanding of what power is, that if power is about commanding and power is about leading in a very hierarchical sense, then we often have a discomfort with the view that a woman would be a commander in chief or that she would be leading in the sense of giving orders. We see that as a highly masculine behaviour."

Wouldn't that discomfort apply to everything? Minorities, any non-white male Christian politician?
"I think we're much more uncomfortable with electing women from those backgrounds than we are with men and we can certainly argue that urban society in Canada is highly diverse and our urban leaders do not at all reflect the diversity of our population. For example, if you look at the MPs from Toronto right now in the House of Commons, they don't really resemble the interior of a subway car at rush hour. They are very different in terms of age, in terms of ethno-cultural composition and so on. ... We tend to be more comfortable with seeing men from those diverse backgrounds move forward and less so with women."

Still, we have had a female prime minister but I haven't seen a Canadian prime minister even being Hindu.
"I think it's true that we have had patterns in Canada whereby people from some demographic background tend to fit more with the norm than others but it generally is the case, when you look at groups breaking in, whether it's age or ethno-cultural background or sexual orientation or religion or so on, it tends to be men from those backgrounds breaking in ahead of the women, which suggests to me that there is this discomfort about women and gender which tends to transcend those various categories, whether it's about religion, ethno-cultural background, age or sexual orientation."

Why do you say that "the Harper government is closer to organized anti-feminism than any regime in the country's history?"
"I would argue that the numbers of contacts between staff people in the Prime Minister's Office, between caucus members in the Conservative caucus on one side and organized anti-feminism are significantly higher than they were in the Mulroney years or what we saw under the Liberals since 1993."

What do you mean by organized anti-feminism?
"I mean in particular to the positions of the group named REAL Women. REAL Women has had particular views, for example, about reproductive choice. They've had particular views about women in the workforce. They've had particular views about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that are really quite inconsistent with where most Canadians [are]. ... If you look at the patterns of contacts and the patterns of appointments and so on, you can see that the social conservative position of a group like REAL Women often find resonance more in this current government than in previous ones...

"In Canada, as in most parts of the world you are finding that overwhelming numbers of women who are elected are coming from the progressive side of the spectrum. There are relatively few women, as opposed to men, who are in the electorate of the hard right. ... This is reflected in the recruitment pattern to those parties. The percentages of women who are nominated as candidates and who are elected as MPs has been consistently lower in the Reform Party, the Alliance and the current Conservative Party."

Do you expect the Conservative tune to be changing at all in order to get more votes from women, who are less likely to vote Conservative?
"I'm not at all sure where the party is going to go but lately it looks like there may be more of a pragmatic view, which says it's important to win elections, it's important to move from a minority to a majority. At the same time I see no sign that the Liberals or the NDP are going to abandon their commitment to reaching out to women candidates and reaching out to women voters. ... Even if they were to change, even if the Conservatives were to become more pragmatic, it's not that easy to suddenly make a breakthrough when you have a long history of not wanting to move in that direction."

You propose political party quotas, proportional representation and mandatory voting as solutions to getting more women elected. These are not new suggestions and have been debated for years. Some parties already have quotas, but they have not produced results. Do you think proportional representation and mandatory voting will ever happen?
"I'm not sure that we will see those changes but I think they're worth raising as possibilities. They're worth debating because the more realistic options—including pressing party leaders to ensure open nominations so that lots of different candidates can actually run in the House of Commons—we come back to the more informal strategies, the more workable ones. ... The book does offer some more radical propositions as a way to stimulate us to at least focus on getting the more achievable and more incremental reforms implemented."

Women, Power, Politics: The Hidden Story of Canada's Unfinished Democracy, by Sylvia Bashevkin, Oxford University Press, 186 pp, $19.95. cmunster@hilltimes.com
The Hill Times

State of women's equality in Canada still sometimes very discouraging

2009-08-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Hill Times, August 17, 2009

The 'Famous Five,' who guaranteed that half the population can sit in the Senate were nation builders, says Copps
By Sheila Copps

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read last week that the Albertans who succeeded in getting Canadian women recognized in law as persons did not qualify as "nation builders." Ottawa Citizen reporter Robert Sibley claimed that the Parliament Hill Famous Five monument was misplaced amongst "nation builders and prime ministers." He proposed a venue switch with the statue of former Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. The Citizen headline screamed, "These persons ought to move down the street." Sibley had no problem with statues honouring Thomas D'Arcy McGee, George Brown, Robert Baldwin and Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine in addition to multiple monarchs and prime ministers. Sibley says it makes perfect sense to recognize a newspaper editor, an assassinated patriot and the men recognized for responsible government because of their contribution to nation building. But, in his view, the women responsible for guaranteeing that half the population can sit in the Senate made no such contribution. What unadulterated sexism! The newspaper moved quickly to print prominent ripostes from chair of the Ottawa Famous Five Committee Isabel Metcalfe and journalist Rosemary Thompson and others. Metcalfe identified the monument to Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Emily Murphy as the most popular grouping on the Hill. She pointed out that the Persons Case launched by the Famous Five, began the "long and vitally important Canadian struggle" toward equality. CTV deputy bureau chief Thompson vowed the monument would never be moved. Whenever she feels down, Thompson settles into the monument's bronze chair to reflect on how women can make a difference in Canada. Like Thompson, I sometimes get discouraged about the state of women's equality in our country. The same exclusionary arguments were trotted out when the Famous Five Ottawa Committee banded together more than a decade ago to work for the monument. They partnered with the Alberta-based Famous Five Foundation headed by Frances Wright. Her foundation had commissioned a similar monument for the Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary. These dynamic women dreamed of replicating the Barbara Paterson sculpture in the nation's capital and enlisted local support. Metcalfe and an active group of volunteers including Thompson started the Ottawa committee. They also successively lobbied to get the Famous Five on Canada's $50 bill. Every year they organize an Enbridge-sponsored luncheon series coupled with a mentoring program for young women leaders. The group had originally been encouraged to consider the undeveloped Daly site near the Chateau Laurier Hotel as a possible location for the Famous Five monument. The Hill had been deemed off limits since it had historically been reserved for Prime Ministers or Monarchs (with the notable exceptions mentioned above). Intrigued by the project, at the group's request I met with Speaker Gilbert Parent, to seek permission for a Parliamentary venue. "Gib," as he was affectionately known, informed me that if we could get all-party consent, he would approve the monument. With four exceptions already in place, the Speaker believed the Famous Five should be the fifth. In short order, Reformer Deb Grey, Conservative Elsie Wayne, New Democrat Alexa McDonough and Bloc member Suzanne Tremblay all worked with their caucuses to get unanimous consent. For the Liberals, Deputy Whip Marlene Catterall and MP Jean Augustine shared the task of moving the bill through the House and Senators Joyce Fairbairn and Marjory LeBreton did the heavy lifting in the Red Chamber. All caucuses were on side but we had inadvertently neglected to consult independent John Nunziata. When the bill was tabled, a slighted Nunziata voiced his opposition. In the end, we had to wait until he exited the Chamber to get consent. More complications arose when Senator Colin Kenny threatened to oppose the bill. He preferred the Daly site, now home to the terrace of the Metropolitan Restaurant. In the end, he supported the bill and it passed both chambers in December 1999. Once the statue was approved, public works minister Alfonso Gagliano worked on placement options. Everyone agreed the grouping should be nestled between the Senate and the East Block, a mainly senatorial office complex. The rest is history. Flanked by prime minister Jean ChrÃ©tien, the sculptor and myself, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson officially unveiled the monument on Oct. 18, 2000. The event marked the culmination of one of the most collaborative decisions ever made on Parliament Hill. A decade ago, Parliamentarians recognized the Famous Five as nation builders. Today, the rest of us should join the modern age and do the same. Sheila Copps is a former Liberal deputy prime minister.
news@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Conservatives misleading Canadians on the state of child care

2009-07-20T20:26:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Conservatives misleading Canadians on the state of child care

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Liberals call for immediate release of full Weatherill report into listeriosis crisis

2009-07-20T20:24:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Liberals call for immediate release of full Weatherill report into listeriosis crisis

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Kelly McParland: The Tory need to offend - Full Comment

2009-07-13T09:45:00.001-07:00

Kelly McParland: The Tory need to offend - Full Comment

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Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Isaiah Berlin Lecture: Liberal Values in Tough Times

2009-07-12T16:29:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Isaiah Berlin Lecture: Liberal Values in Tough Times

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Tax raises or spending cuts needed to end deficit: report.

2009-07-06T16:56:00.001-07:00

Tax raises or spending cuts needed to end deficit: report.

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'Men are attracted to smiles,' Alberta MLA advised girls on blog

2009-06-23T22:43:00.001-07:00

'Men are attracted to smiles,' Alberta MLA advised girls on blog

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2009-06-22T17:29:00.001-07:00

EWLPA/AWLC Policy Issues

2009-06-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Alberta’s Women’s Liberal Commission
Policy Issues – June 17, 2009
Gender Lense Should Be Applied to All Policy
Area
Issue
Priority
Economic
1. Taxation of 55 year olds and older
· Minimum wage
· National Standards

2. Spousal Support
· National Standards
· Controlled – i.e. Passports

3. Agricultural
· Drought conditions – additional expenses for livestock, etc
· Food production, cattle – livestock
· Disappearing farmland – food production

4. Infrastructure - transportation

5. Industry/Illness – Northern Alberta

6. Research and Development

7. “Sandwich” Generation

8. Legal Challenges Fund
· Pay Equity
· Etc.

Social Justice
1. Human Rights – Civil Liberties

2. Seniors and Disabled in the same ministry (maybe only a provincial issue)

3. Child Care – National Day Care Policy
· Universal – National Standards
· Equal Opportunity
· Standards of Nutrition – Standards for Physical Activity

4. Obesity – Promoting Healthy Living
· “Participaction”
· Partnership between Feds and Provinces
· Breakfast/Hot Lunch For all Students

5. Senior Abuse and Safety
· Number of facilities required
· Transportation
· Isolation

6. Consistency of Pharmaceuticals
· Pharmacare
· Catastrophic Drug Program

7. Immigration
· Foreign Workers – Landed Immigrant Status
· Dual Citizenship – Tax Returns
· Act needs to be overhauled
· Strengthen Foreign Domestic Workers’ Protection
· Credentials recognized – tests difficulties, language, etc.
· Brokers should be disallowed
· Encourage participation in society
· Refugee Status
· Education and Awareness
· Recognition of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

8. Homelessness
· Facilities – especially safe shelters for women and children
· Bring back the National Housing Program
· Study to look at the causes:
o Poverty
o Mental health
o Drug addiction, alcohol, crime
o Gambling

9. Health
· Seniors’ health care issues – growing population concerns
o Joint operations, etc
· Monitoring provinces on spending – accountability
· Healing facilities – Aboriginal focused
· National Home Care Program
· Hospices – Romanov Report – decreases expenses
· Medical Research
o Isotopes
· National Standards and Accountability
· Patient Care
· Portability for seniors and the disabled from province to province – national plans

10. Water Safety
· Access to fresh water
· Water reserves
· First Nations, Metis, Innu reserves

11. Reinstate the Kelowna Accord

12. Stopping Human Trafficking

13. Protecting Pensions

Education
1. Post Secondary
· Rewards for completion – 1st and last year paid for with conditions of qualifications – possibly tied to public service in specific areas of need and tied to province

2. Official Language Programs
· Emphasis on proper training/teaching, availability
· Importance

Status of Women
1. Emphasis on women’s issues –
· Grants for education against abuse, violence, etc
· Cultural access

Arts and Culture
1. Promoting the participation of the young
2. Cuts to the Canada Council – the National Portrait Gallery
3. CBC – Continued funding, non partisan, supporting Canadian broadcasting
4. Strengthen the National Film Board

5. Participation of Women in the Liberal party as candidates, board members, the executive, etc. Balanced reflection of our society

Environment
1. Water Security

2. Food Security – Labeling, inspection

3. Resource Development

4. Sustainable Environment

5. No Bio-Fuels

6. Public Transportation

7. Energy Alternatives

8. Environmental friendly Vehicles

Others
1. Retirement – Individuals

2. Research and Development

3. Foreign Aid

4. Prison System – Offsetting the push from the Right – i.e. Kadar, Somalia (ignoring the rulings of the courts), more prisons, imprisonment of 14 year olds, etc.

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Statement from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in response to the Harper government's second accountability report

2009-06-15T17:37:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Statement from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in response to the Harper government's second accountability report

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» Harper government infrastructure projects past due

2009-06-11T13:46:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Harper government infrastructure projects past due

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» Just the facts: Lisa Raitt's isotope incompetence and the health crisis

2009-06-11T11:51:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Just the facts: Lisa Raitt's isotope incompetence and the health crisis

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Not So "Sexy" Minister Raitt

2009-06-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Raitt calls isotope crisis 'sexy,' criticizes Aglukkaq on audiotape

2009-06-08T18:46:00.001-07:00

Raitt calls isotope crisis 'sexy,' criticizes Aglukkaq on audiotape

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Ignatieff talks tough on protectionism at FCM

2009-06-07T17:41:00.001-07:00

Ignatieff talks tough on protectionism at FCM

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What will students do?

2009-06-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

Bill 44 poses a dilemma to critical thinkers who realize that an imbalance in ideology can have far-reaching consequences. Take the recent letter such as Kylie Degeling’s June 3, letter (“Bill 44’s passage doesn’t end controversy”), while others connotate a “smudge-pot” mentality about a very serious issue.
As an educator for over 40 years, I am not a part of a silent or an accepting majority. Practicality, workable and sensible application of this bill to every school situation is needed.
Questions arise. What pragmatic solutions will probably play out to avoid a groundswell of controversary when parents withdraw their children from school sessions? When a student is withdrawn, where does the student go? Do they stand unsupervised in the hallway? Do they go to the office to be supervised by the school secretary or the administrator? Or do the parents take charge of their young person for the time? Within the school, extra staff, adequately funded would be needed to supervise “released” students from controversial content.
Much subject content is prepared and presented in thematic units of progressive skills, knowledge and not on isolated facts. Free-f low discussions generated by certain topics in social studies and the sciences are not always confined to the parameters set forth by the parents of some 25 to 40 different students in each classroom. For example, in language arts, getting ready for a provincial spelling bee contest, the word hermaphrodite in its context might occur. Biology topics related to male/female pairing of species would be a touchy subject. In geography and history, explaining uniqueness of birds and animals on the Galapagos Islands as portrayed by Charles Darwin might be tricky. Critical to the teaching process, the “what” in content fields is usually presented within a democratic classroom setting. This should promote understanding, broaden the knowledge base and allow for organization of logical learning sequences and experiences. The goal is wholistic education.
Education does transmit a culture and could generate good critical-thinking skills. Relationships are learned at home in the family setting. These social and cultural practices grow as the child enters pre-school and kindergarten. By Grade 1, the excitement of learning to listen, speak with confidence, write and read set a foundation for students. Hopefully individuality is developed and maintained within the setting of a creative well-organized and supportive classroom. When a student is withdrawn from a classroom, other students question why. Then the highlighted student may be held up as being different, too bright, too slow or just a bully, etc. Inclusion and acceptance of children is part of building self-esteem socially and culturally. Parental exclusion or withdrawal could have far-reaching effects and outcomes for a child. Patterns established at home and in school and supported by parents co-operating with teachers could lead to either adult successes or failures.
Fortunately parents do have options already. Home-schooling, various progressive institutions and private schools, as well as a variety of faith-based schools have been established.
Relative to Bill 44, when “push” comes to “shove” parents need to be aware that money talks. If a controversy develops and escalates, then legal costs and legal aid may be difficult to fund to resolve an issue. Conflict resolution between Bill 44, Alberta human rights and the Alberta School Act could be a rewarding, mind-bending and educational experience in inself.

C. Jean Hodgkinson
Published in The Edmonton Journal, June 5, 2009

Liberal Party of Canada Â» In their own words: Conservative incompetence and the Chalk River isotope shortage

2009-06-04T08:04:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» In their own words: Conservative incompetence and the Chalk River isotope shortage

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Harper's got nothing to teach on patriotism - Winnipeg Free Press

2009-06-03T12:19:00.001-07:00

Harper's got nothing to teach on patriotism - Winnipeg Free Press

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EI beneficiaries jump 10.6%

2009-06-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

EI beneficiaries jump 10.6%

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Corcoran: Donât blame deficit on the economy

2009-06-02T18:43:00.001-07:00

Corcoran: Donât blame deficit on the economy

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CBC, Via Rail flagged for possible sale: files

2009-06-02T18:31:00.001-07:00

CBC, Via Rail flagged for possible sale: files

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» By the numbers: Government waste under the 50 billion dollar man

2009-06-01T21:34:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» By the numbers: Government waste under the 50 billion dollar man

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» Liberals call on Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre to withdraw and apologize for his latest offensive statement

2009-06-01T21:32:00.001-07:00

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Liberals call on Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre to withdraw and apologize for his latest offensive statement

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Gender won't guarantee a Liberal nomination

2009-05-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Edmonton JournalMay 11, 2009

Re: "Liberals turn back time with women's plan; Ignatieff's desire for more women candidates reminiscent of Victorian era," by Naomi Lakritz, Opinion, April 26.

Naomi Lakritz is poorly informed of Michael Ignatieff's intentions to increase the percentage of women candidates in the next federal election.

To suggest that he has agreed to guarantee women uncontested nominations for the next election is absurd. He would like to encourage more women to run for the nomination, but he is certainly not advocating allowing them to win simply because they are female.

Ignatieff is interested in seeing proper population representation in the House of Commons, which would mean at least 50 per cent female. Women will still have to win the nomination based on their integrity and hard work, just like the men. How this translates into reverse Victorianism is simply perplexing.

Lakritz neglects to acknowledge how in most cases, women have to work twice has hard as their male counterparts because it is more challenging to raise money as a female candidate, whether seeking the nomination or in the midst of an election.

Lakritz also suggests that there is no such thing as women's issues. I disagree.The first example that comes to mind is the very issue we are discussing here: the small percentage of female representation in politics; and the others like childcare, health care and seniors are gender specific issues for many women. Lakritz suggests that these are men's issues too, and though I agree with her in theory, this is simply not reality. Despite progressive attitudes towards women in the workplace and gender equality, the bulk of responsibility in terms of child care and aging parents still falls to women. The women's sphere (otherwise known as the "domestic sphere") has not been eliminated.

It seems counterproductive to critique Ignatieff for his good and progressive step towards encouraging more women to public service.

A more productive argument might focus on Stephen Harper's lack of interest in women's issues and his malicious inclusion of challenging pay equity in the recent budget, demonstrates someone that takes complete advantage of women by simply discounting them. Clearly, we don't matter. As an interesting irony, pay equity does exist in some places: female MPs get paid exactly the same as males do.

Ignatieff does not seem the type of leader to provide any advantage based on gender; my impression of him, thus far, is that he expects women to aspire to the same as men in terms of political citizenship by stepping up and doing their part.

Stephanie Laskoski, Edmonton

Gov't needs vision

2009-05-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

The Edmonton JournalMay 23, 2009

We have, without doubt, a government that has lost sight of what is good, what is right and what is responsible in its mandate to represent Albertans.

The decision to defer the addition of pediatric emergency beds in the Stollery hospital at a mere cost of $23 million is negligent. The Stollery is a world-class beacon for Edmonton and an example of outstanding care and service for the children of Alberta. To pull the plug on the addition of 12 critically needed emergency beds is short-sighted.

Alberta is being 'rebranded' as a province with a government that is more concerned with its own self-image than with the care and health of its most vulnerable citizens in their most vulnerable times. I believe this Tory government needs a moral barometer far more than it needs its hundreds of communication staff, public affairs bureau and rebranding specialists.

Nancy Cavanaugh, Edmonton

Let politicians know

2009-05-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

Let politicians know

The Edmonton JournalMay 24, 2009

Thank you, Paula Simons, for raising awareness regarding both the challenging working conditions and the deferral of promised improvements to pediatric emergency service accommodations here in Edmonton.

The expansion of triage and treatment areas for dealing with sick and injured children is not only manageable economically but should 'weigh in' as an ethical priority.

The fact that 2,500 children have been treated in a tent in the last 14 months carries a mixed message. The system is prepared to take extraordinary steps to meet urgent triage and treatment needs, but there are other, often corporate, challenges that will take precedence when capital improvement funds are needed.

Compared with other much less pressing funding allocations (e.g. $36 million for office space in the Mazankowski building or $25 million on rebranding to spin a more positive message) the $23 million for the necessary expansion of the Stollery Children's Hospital, allocated in August 2008, should be easy to access.

Albertans need to contact the premier, the minister of health and their MLA and demand that the current service continues, but the expansion project be commenced immediately. NOW is the time to do the right thing!

Jane Walker, Edmonton

Please God

2009-05-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

There is a prayer being heard throughout the corridors of the Legislature, “Please God give us another NEP so we will have someone else to blame for what is happening in Alberta.” After all, who else can the provincial government blame for the shocking loss of revenue from royalty deals or the lack of investment in diversified industries that may have provided further opportunities for Albertans? But maybe it is easier for Albertans to blame somebody else, “out of our borders” than it is to look within and consider that maybe, just maybe the Conservatives were not the answer for Alberta’s future and instead of thinking about what could have been is now just the same story all over again.

Reading the papers it is so evident that the government is not listening to the needs of the people of this province. These are only a few examples from the past few days: “Wait times soar”, “Health superboard called a failure”, “Rural Alberta could lose hospitals”, “Alberta’s economy in retreat” Calgary Herald - “Doctors predict cancer surgery delays”, “Up to 2 weeks delay on cancer surgery”, “Sick kids treated in tent”, “Alberta Tories defend tiny royalties take” Edmonton Journal. If you did not know any better you would think that the government’s plan was to take Alberta to the brink in order to bring about changes that Albertans would never accept ordinarily. But that would be cynical and this is Alberta after all.

I am sorry, but there are alternatives to the Conservatives. There are parties with differing perspectives that would not have gone through another boom without providing for the future of all Albertans. These same capable candidates would not put 25 million into advertizing Alberta’s promise while reneging on 23 million to accommodate the needs of Alberta’s children at the Stollery Hospital. Alberta needs more than a prayer in the Legislature, we need a government who governs by the will of the people, and a people who are willing to take a real look at what change would really mean.

AWLC

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DOCS’ FLU PAY â€�OUTRAGEOUS’ (Edmonton Journal, 22 Aug 2009, Page A1)

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State of women's equality in Canada still sometimes very discouraging

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» Just the facts: Lisa Raitt's isotope incompetence and the health crisis

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Liberal Party of Canada Â» In their own words: Conservative incompetence and the Chalk River isotope shortage

Harper's got nothing to teach on patriotism - Winnipeg Free Press

EI beneficiaries jump 10.6%

Corcoran: Donât blame deficit on the economy

CBC, Via Rail flagged for possible sale: files

Liberal Party of Canada Â» By the numbers: Government waste under the 50 billion dollar man

Liberal Party of Canada Â» Liberals call on Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre to withdraw and apologize for his latest offensive statement

Gender won't guarantee a Liberal nomination

Gov't needs vision

Let politicians know

Please God

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Conservatives misleading Canadians on the state of child care

Liberal Party of Canada ÃÂ» Isaiah Berlin Lecture: Liberal Values in Tough Times

Corcoran: Donât blame deficit on the economy