It's true, everyone needs a vacation and who more than someone with the heavy task of proving he's capable of running the affairs of the country as PM. It's apparent he's not the one worrying about ideas and what to attack the Harper government on, that's left to the puppeteers in the back rooms of the outfit.

If they were confident in his ability to wing it, to go forth and win the hearts and minds of the masses across the country, we can be sure they'd have him out there. We can be forgiven if we deduct he's being managed, not a sign of a leader with ideas and a plan.

The backroom boys in the Liberal tent will be scrambling for plan B with the news from the Bank of Canada the recession is over in Canada. That is not good news for their agenda.

Not necessarily Canadian but Canadian if necessary.

This MIA is quite stunning. We are told that their is a financial crisis going on and that the Gov't is on double secret probation etc. yet he is in a bunker somewhere. This is very poor political instincts IMO.

He seems to have trouble making priorities, just like Dion.

Iggy would do well to emulate some of what Martin did in the two years or so after he was booted out of Cabinet by Chretien, and finally took over the leadership. Martin went around to the ridings, helped raise money for the local MP, recruited candidates, and generally pumped up the troops.

Since Iggy doesn't seem to be much involved in producing a platform, he might as well do something else that is useful and necessary.

Iggy needs to get himself pumped up with a few good ideas and a plan before he can expect to pump up anyone. A good General has a battle plan before he orders his troops to battle. General Iggy? Don't think so.

“MIA” the politician formerly known as “MI”

Suprised that the media haven't dispatched teams to find out where Iggy is, no doubt in some super luxuirous elitist vacation spot. Oh right that would only happen if it was a Conservative.

Here's one thing I don't get about Iggy's “teachings” to the Lib masses … a while ago, he said it was very important to get the 800,000 (or whatever the number was) absent voters who USED to vote Liberal (in 2000 I guess), out at the next election.

OK, so how to do it ? Well just nitpicking everything Harper does/doesn't do or how fast/slow he does something or if spending is too high/low, whatever, won't get the voters out. Iggy has to offer up something concrete. So, number one, he needs some specific, inspiring policies.

And number two, in the last week of the campaign, his stump speeches (like all leaders) will be imploring the troops to work hard, don't take anything for granted, get the vote out, etc etc. Well, if these troops are only seeing Iggy for the first time, they might wonder about the nerve of this guy, showing up at the last minute, to get us to work our butts off.

Iggy has got to pull his socks up and do some USEFUL work.

According to Susan Delcaourt, he was supposed to be in Gatineau this afternoon.

http://thestar.blogs.com/politics/2009/07/ignat…

Why do we not have photos of Ignatieff meeting and greeting the great unwashed Canadian public? The MSM are lap dog tame. If this was Europe the yellow press would have sussed this out 2 weeks ago. They are on vacation in cottage country away from the “stink of Toronto”.

Iggy is just hanging with his euro buddies so he can experience some real culture, fine food & great wine.

No bbq burgers, hot dogs & beer for our intellectual man of the world, no hanging with his colonial brethern.

On the other hand, if he did eat a hot dog, I’d bet he would do a Dion and use a knife & fork.

Iggy is just hanging with his euro buddies so he can experience some real culture, fine food & great wine.

No bbq burgers, hot dogs & beer for our intellectual man of the world, no hanging with his colonial brethern.

On the other hand, if he did eat a hot dog, I’d bet he would do a Dion and use a knife & fork.

Robert “Bob” Fife thinks Michael “MIA” Ignatieff will give him a Liberal Senate seat.

That's the truth. It looked like “Fife the Knife” had a coronary when Duffy got a Senate seat.

A clip of Ignatieff on tonites National. “Who from the Government is out their defending Canadian Healthcare from the onslaught south of the border”

Answer:
Did Paul Martin Jr. defend Canadian Healthcare by going to a private Montreal clinic? Did Belinda Stonach defend Canadian Heathcare by getting her cancer treated in California? Did Jean Chretien defend Canadian Healthcare by having his son treated at the Mayo Clinic?

Stephen Harper defends Canadian healthcare by only getting treated in Canadian Public Healthcare facilities.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't it be difficult for the Liberals to use Health care as an election issue, if they are all over the airwave defending it.

Iggy won't be gone for long – he's probably already missing Algonquin park.

The news has Iggy in Quebec, pushing back on a woman who paid out-of-pocket to survive brain cancer.

The news has Iggy in Quebec, pushing back on a woman who paid out-of-pocket to survive brain cancer.

I don’t begrudge Ignatieff for taking a holiday. He had to be in London on July 8th where he gave a talk about his book about Isaiah Berlin. (he is a professional book tour guy) and gets paid good money for it I’m sure as he declares “international speaking engagements as another source of income. He has a daughter there I think and then a villa in Provence, France which he declares the rent on as income – so checking up on that would be responsible. His wife’s relatives are all in Europe – so a family visit would also make sense. Since this is all personal travel I am certain he picked up the tab 100% and did not charge taxpayers or the Liberal party.
So – 10 days away is okay to pursue his personal and other professional interests.
My only question is – why be so secretive about it????
Like his “secret” trip to Bermuda over the Easter break. Why be so furtive?

I don’t begrudge Ignatieff for taking a holiday. He had to be in London on July 8th where he gave a talk about his book about Isaiah Berlin. (he is a professional book tour guy) and gets paid good money for it I’m sure as he declares “international speaking engagements as another source of income. He has a daughter there I think and then a villa in Provence, France which he declares the rent on as income – so checking up on that would be responsible. His wife’s relatives are all in Europe – so a family visit would also make sense. Since this is all personal travel I am certain he picked up the tab 100% and did not charge taxpayers or the Liberal party.
So – 10 days away is okay to pursue his personal and other professional interests.
My only question is – why be so secretive about it????
Like his “secret” trip to Bermuda over the Easter break. Why be so furtive?

It is bizarre and not a good idea to be sticking your nose into another countries debate on healthcare, or anything.

Being hypocrites is second nature to a Liberal, so no problem
Next week Iffy will be tearing on PMSH because wait times are too high, or about H1N1 or Doctor and Nurse shortages or 2 tier healthcare……etc etc etc, but NEVER offering up a solution.

MIA & MI = MIAMI . Maybe that's where he is..

Stephen, you should do your homework before mouthing off about nothing:

You must not hide, Mr. Harper
REX MURPHY
881 words
3 August 2002
The Globe and Mail

Where is Stephen Harper? What is he up to? Is in on retreat?

I don't think it's necessary, yet, to remind Canadians that Mr. Harper is Leader of the Official Opposition. Although, if he maintains his stealth approach to the job, it may be necessary to do so very soon.

Has he some absolutely new, never-before-tried plan to land himself into 24 Sussex Dr.? Is he planning to sneak into the job of prime minister? Ever since the House of Commons closed down, Mr. Harper has had less presence on the political scene than the most indolent backbencher. There are CSIS operatives in this country who have had more profile in the past few months than Mr. Harper.

The Invisible Man of Canadian politics: It's a novel approach, and it might have worked for his predecessor, Stockwell Day, but it is almost desperately wrong for Mr. Harper and his Canadian Alliance.

…

Letter
With Harper, it's no wonder Opposition disappears
410 words
31 July 2002
The Toronto Star

Re Summer of discontent for federal leaders, Opinion, July 26.

Chantal Hebert underscores that the lack of support for the opposition parties in poll after poll is not because of the government's well-documented shortcomings, but a failure by the opposition parties to tell voters what makes them viable alternatives to the Liberals.

Having been an active member of the Reform-Alliance movement for 13 years, most recently as a candidate in the last federal election and having worked for various MPs since they came to Parliament in 1993, it is clear that in matters of policy the party has become that which it endeavoured to replace: a top-down political movement that views policies generated by its members as polemic.

Nowhere is the failure to promote the policies of change more evident than where Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper and his disappearing act is concerned. Though this should come as no surprise, given that he won the party leadership not because of any sweeping pronouncement or commitment to Alliance policy made by him before or since the victory but because his predecessor had become so completely discredited.

… having successfully employed the “say nothing, but wait until your opponent is so loathed they'll vote for anyone” strategy to win the Alliance leadership, Harper now appears content to follow the same course in appealing to Canadian voters. Of course, the problem is that so, too, are the other opposition parties.

It's no wonder, then, that the pretenders to the throne are rightly perceived as invisible, a fact born out by their dismal numbers in poll after poll, and a failure or refusal to distinguish themselves from each other.

Mike Green, Parliamentary Assistant, Office of Jim Pankiw, MP

…

It could be like Stanfield all over again
462 words
7 August 2002
The Toronto Star

Is Stephen Harper another Robert Stanfield, doomed by the Liberal party's uncanny skill to trump attractive new leaders with even fresher new blood of their own?

It's impossible not to wonder, in a summer in which the official Opposition leader has been invisible, and a former Liberal finance minister has seemingly taken over as the alternative head of government in the public imagination.

Barry Cooper, a political scientist at the University of Calgary and no fan of the Liberals, puts it even more bluntly: right now, the “real leader of the opposition is Paul Martin.”

…One might ask: What can Stephen Harper do this summer to wrest public attention from the Liberal battle?

Cooper argues that instead of skipping the Calgary Stampede, he should exploit such “photo ops” to talk policy on the many issues facing the country, and to underscore the contrast with Liberals' focus on personalities and vague generalities.

It's hard to imagine that Harper's doing his party a favour by spending the honeymoon months of his leadership virtually invisible. Just because his title is Leader of the Official Opposition, he can't assume voters will automatically look at him that way.

Stephen the real question is about the wherabouts of of one SH the make beleive PM:

“Stephen Harper, alleged to be Prime Minister, has not had a public event in Canada since July 7. That's, like, almost a month! I therefore vote for declaring him legally deceased, so that his loved ones can start divvying up his comfy sweaters. What say?”
………..

Count on Warren kinsella to get the real facts out!!!!

It appears the short respite we had from our illustrious troll was due to a frantic conference with the Liberal band master who obviously spends a lot of time digging up bones.

The latest truth ad from Tory Boy is a real zinger. It's more recent and relevant history and more insight into the man who aspires to lead. Maybe he should stick to studying Puffins.

Liz J hysterical, Tory boy is an amateur whiner compared to you.

I think this article more implicates the make believe PM harpo as the hypocrite he realy is:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Taxpayers+…

To be precise, in the four years Harper has presided, federal spending has jumped by nearly 31 per cent. Inflation and population growth increased by 11 per cent.

And, notes the federation, last May's federal budget “ushered in the largest deficit in history, new and increased spending on regional development programs and a massive increase in corporate welfare.”

The taxpayers' lobby labels the prime minister “a fiscal conservative backtracker,” and expresses dismay at the 22 former Reformers and four Mike Harris Conservatives sitting in the government caucus who have tolerated the spending hikes.

Cool. Was this the meeting when he said Canada's peacekeeping reputation was “entirely bogus.” ?

Fair enough this is the equivalent of meeting with the Pope and Obama. MIAMI is back…..

When has that happened to a Conservative? Or are you just theorizing about non-existent conspiracies again?

Nothing but Canadian, and never accepted citizenship elsewhere. Don't be daft.

Has Harper been seen the G8?

The economy starting to fire on all cylinder has put a mighty gust of wind in Harpers sail, leaving Ignatieff frantically bailing the boat, while the Liberals are wondering what happened? No wonder Ignatieff is hiting the media outlets like a drunken sailor trying to get a word in edge-wise, according to war-room voulunteer Warren Kinsella?

Mark-Alen Whittle. It's not only the economy that is going to blow wind into Harpers sail. The recent murder of 4 women by their husband and father is creating quite a stir. Rightfully so. It's time we do something about this nonesense of multiculturalism. These people bring in their multiple wifes as sisters or cousins and they collect welfare, i.e. Our tax dollars. How did we get to this point? Mr Trudeau and successive Liberal Governments created this disaster with their immegration policy.
Their is an uproar in the country. People are getting fed up and want some action. You can bet it is not coming from the Libs.

Michael Ignatieff may have retained his Canadian Citizenship, but he did live his life incognito as a British elitist or Harvard Yank.

David; that is good, 'MIAMI'.

The Liberal Government may have deserted our Military, but MIAMI should think before he insults our sons and daughters in uniform. Ducking bullets while carrying the Canadian flag is not disgusting; MIAMI coming to Canada and insulting the Canadian forces is disgusting, calling our flag a poor imitation of a beer can label is disgusting. Boy, I'd like to give him a hazing.

Actually , I find the response to these murders remarkably muted. Maybe there is more discussion in Montreal where they lived or in Kingston where it happened but there is not really that much here in Southern Ontario.

There are no candle light vigils.There is little from womens groups that would normally be anguished at the murder of 4 women especially since it was women that were deliberately targeted. Why?

You may be right though. The debate will take place. There are more examples of this happening in a lot of places including in my hometown.Liberals will likely be mute on the need for action. It is a no win for them. Conservatives could be accused of exploiting the situation if they come on too strong.

The untold but clear reality is that while most do not engage in this sort of thing it is exclusive to one segment of immigrants. And silence from our leaders is akin to cowardice.

Liz J is right, the Toxic Troll has gone to his beloved source, whom he has quoted talking like a Valley Girl: “That's, like, almost a month! … What say?”

What a hoot!
That's like, SO 90s!
[Valspeak, which both our Toxic Troll and his Inspiration appear to favour].
Whatever …

However, I don't think much should be made of Michael Ignatieff's physical whereabouts. According to Susan Delacourt's July 14 blog entry, he was back in Ottawa by that date.
What should be more pertinent to Canadians is where Ignatieff is on various issues that concern Canada, and where the Liberal Party stands on those same issues.

What are Canadians to make of statements like this one from Ignatieff?
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/…
“I've always indicated a certain flexibility on 360 but not that much,” Ignatieff said.

Never mind Valspeak … more like doublespeak.

Liz J Hysterical…so you think apparanelty that Generalissimo Harpo has no0 back room boys making up stupid ads and publishing phoney utube garbage. You are one amazing close minded person. Thos blinder smust be permanently attached.

Hey Mark, you are still fantasing like you did back in the PSC days on Yahoo. I presume as a Hamilitonian you are impressed by the closure of all the important steel mills in your background and the closure of automotive plants in close proximity.

The economy “starting to fire on all cylinders”……..wow you must be trying to be a reformatory candidate in the next election. You have fantasies just like them.

Gabby, the only reformaTory left in Quebec…………where is Harpo on the deficit he promised woud not happen last fall is the most important question. Iggy is not running an election campaign just yet. Harpo is a servant of the Canadian people not our dictator like he acts. When your servants lie you fire them and generalissimo Harpo is next.

Gabby, the only reformaTory left in Quebec…………where is Harpo on the deficit he promised would not happen last fall is the most important question. Iggy is not running an election campaign just yet. Harpo is a servant of the Canadian people not our dictator like he acts. When your servants lie you fire them and generalissimo Harpo is next.

Oamnator you are really a racist behind that veil of so called righteousness…. a true reformatory.

No Liberal government ever sanctioned people coming here with two wives. That guy lied about who his ex wife was.

Your ignorance is unbelievable.

David you too are a racist

There is an irony here too. Our soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan, part of their mission is to give women more freedoms and human rights, while even in Canada they are not safe from this extreme ideological culture where it's obey the men in their family or die.

Of course, it is one segment of immigrants who retain that ideology completely against the laws of this civil, democratic society.

There will come a point when action will have to replace reaction.

lorraine, has harpo declared where he is vacationing this week. If you look above I quoted some articles about Stevie back in 2002 when he hid out for almost an entire summer and didn't declare his whereabouts. It seems you have some partisan thoughts about that.

Is lying baout a feficit in an election campaign when there was ALREADY ONE not hypocrisy. Was a four year election law broken not hypocrisy. Income trusts,etc. Hyopcrisy and lying fully resides in the Harpo camp.

Iggy is probably enjoying the ambiance of Stornoway and bonding with his cat Mimi after his summer sabbatical in his old haunts, London and France. He will be out when he gets directed to do so by his handlers and there are enough teleprompters to follow him about.

Now that the recession is declared over in Canada it's comforting to have the right people at the helm to get on with the task of recovery. Obama will be paying attention. Much to the chagrin of the Liberals, the POTUS has a great deal of respect and appreciation and admiration for our PM.

As for the Toxic Troll, YAWN….

Liz J hysterical……..PUKE!!!!

Your useless drivel makes me do that. I had thought was the most in(s)ane poster here. You have him/her beat by a KM or 2.

I hope Falatulence is working to reduce the deficit and not taking a vacation hwlping his wife get over her disasterous defeat in the provincial leadership run.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1825112

The reformatory fiscal stupidity is kicking in big time with huge feficits in April and May.

Wow! I think Toxic Troll has definitely gone off the deep end.

P aucity of reasoned arguments
U ntrammeled insults
K aopectate may help stem that
E ffluence

Heh, he certainly provided the right fodder for an acronym to fit his deficiencies.

He used to be less abrasive,a tad tolerable but that was back when they were half-assed about supporting Dion. With the new great hope not panning out to expectations we are getting rude and outright insulting comments with no incentive to civil debate. Frustration and desperation have gotten the better of him.

Liz J Hysterical and the last standing Quebec reformatory……….I think Iggy is doing just fine and not issuing insults and drivel to stay afloat. He is frustrating the reformatory war room becasue he won't give them any real targets. Their just visiting ads went over very poorly, they are dead with rigor mortis in Quebec and will soon take a dive in Ontario. Then we can have an eelction and put the party tha tknows how to govern back in power.

Just remember that 34 out of the last 46 years were Liberal years and Canada became a very highly ranked nation in lifestyle with much more wealth and a healthy bank account which Harpo and his minions have destroyed like a Tornado hit the balance sheet.

Keep the anger levels up…. its fun to watch the self destruction.

Has anyone checked Soros’s calendar for the days Iggy has been MIA ? Just asking.

I see that while harpo is absent his minions are dishing out pork in their ridings;this one's a dandy:

OTTAWA — The federal minister responsible for economic development in Quebec has dished out more than $6 million worth of cheques to his own riding in the past two weeks, including nearly $100,000 for a butcher shop.

Denis Lebel, MP for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean and the minister of state for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec, announced this week À l’Orée des Champs, a restaurant specializing in locally raised lamb dishes, will receive $94,770 to open an on-site butcher shop.
…………………………….

oink oink little piggies

….Actually, I think we could also add extreme obsession with the CPC and the PM to the resident Troll's breakdown, it could lead to madness. If someone is seen running down a street, wherever, yelling “out, out damn spot” it could be the Troll.

You may be right, Liz J.
Those roars Toxic Troll mistakes for anger are actually roars of laughter at his frenetic outbursts.

I mean … what is an “eelction”?
If he can't even spell it, can he help run one?
Or is he referring to what his slippery snake-like friends have been avoiding for fear of losing?

And then this gem:
“… they are dead with rigor mortis …”
Is he saying rigor mortis is a cause of death?
Maybe he should spend more time watching CSI instead of eructing all over this blog.

Troll's spelling errors could be just another symptom of his mental state.

Defending the Liberals is a very taxing task.

We read his complaints about government handouts, he's apparently unaware his party supported the stimulus package and called for even more. Is he saying Liberals in power never did such a thing?

How about that famous fountain in Shawinigan for stimulation? Surely people from across Canada are flocking to see it. How about a paved road to JC's private “cottage”?
Then there's the biggie, ADSCAM, hard to top that.

Nah, I'll take a chance on helping a butcher, kind of puts more meat on the table.

Gabby the last Quebec reformatory………….its always interesting how you try and slur people with your so called polite language. Its like Harpo saying his attack ads are truth ads when the real intent is to damage his opponent while his lousy management of the economy does not get discussed. That is about to change as Warren kinsella has his computer ready to release truth ads about Harpo and his ruination of the Canadian economy and his lies and his past.

I notice sneaky Flatulence has found another way of downloading taxes and increasing the government's take via the harmonized taxation route. The feds will gain $1.5 BB annually in additional tax revenue in BC alone and probably triple that in Ontario. That won't go unnoticed by the Libs and others. So much for the tax cutter reputation.

Liz J hysterical and Gabby the last standing reformatory in Quebec…..debating with you two tells me why the Liberals have governed for 34 out of the last 46 years and why Tory governments become duds very quickly.

Oh, my! So now you're offended by my “slurs”?
What's the matter, Toxic Troll?
Getting a little hypersensitive, aren't you?

You persist on referring to commenter Liz J as “hysterical.”
You persist in referring to other commenters here as brain dead, among other choice epithets.
You persist on referring to the finance Minister as “Flatulence” and the PM as Harpo, among other choice epithets.
Yet I'm the one using “slurs”?

Grow up, stop using your idiotic epithets and I may consider not ridiculing the inanity of your endless eructions … oh, and mocking you for the teeming typos.

Gabby the last Quebec reformatory……..did I say I was offended or simply stating you do the same thing………..big difference but then again there is always a difference with you.

I use my idiotic epithets where I feel they are needed;its part of my attack ad training.

I don't care if you stop ridiculing me; I think it simply shows your defensiveness about the failure you support.

“Gabby the last Quebec reformatory” the Toxic Troll calls me. And my stock reply to that is “It is better to be alone than in bad company.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

See, Toxic Troll, my entire life does not hinge on the Conservatives remaining in power.

Although I support them with my vote, my donations to the party, and my posting factual information countering the ridiculous idiocy posted by haters such as you, I will survive even in the unhappy event the Liberals regain power.

You, on the other hand, I fear may pop a vein when the Conservatives are reelected. I said so before, and it bears repeating … get some medical attention.

As for this thread, I've got other fish to fry. You can continue your soliloquy on winning the next “eelction.”

Gabby the last Quebec reformatory, I notice you don't chatise the reformatory trolls who call Iggy names like “IFFY” and “MIAMI”. is that a little partisan hypocrisy?

My life doesn't depend on any politician whatever stripe but many of my fellow do need governments in their lives and the reformatories are the worst kind of government for those people.

You see I believe government is there to serve and help those in need as well as regulate the things that need it. Reformatories only want to help their breed of angry white middle class mostly alpha male types.

The fact you call my posts idiocy typifies you.

My doctor says I'm just fine and in fact says I'm in the top 5% of healthy Canadians. I have fish to fry also and will continue to challenge your slanted versions of the truth and attack the mindless and unethical government we are getting.

Wow, Toxic Troll has seen a doctor! Nice to know he's physically fit, however that's no guarantee of mental stability or mental maturity.

If he has other fish to fry they must be calling out for attention judging from the time he spends here to spew crazy, juvenile screed 24/7.

Wonder what the Liberals pay per hour for his services ?

Liz J…you can't help yourself can you. Does hysteria run in the family gene pool or were you the runt of the litter?

Its a shame because every once in a while you do come up with something approaching human intelligence levels but then again they are very partisan. I'm glad Harpo is your hero and you like attack ad style debates. I like em too, as rebuttals, but unfortunately I'm on the other side that perfers to think about governence as opposed to beating the CRAP out of opponents.

You are right, David. I had a discussion with my family, and the consensus
was that this immigrant group in our society will be more careful in the
future. I am not so sure about that. On the other hand I am willing to admit
that is will be very difficult to curtail. For one this is a very close
society and often it does not come out until it is too late. To tighten
immigration laws for this kind of society, will be portrait as racism. In a
sense you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. The ordinary people
have to carry the ball to begin with. I can only hope that as the process
proceeds and more details are coming out that more people will speak out.
Forget the womens groups, they only stand up when they can make political
hay out of it.

Its amazing that no one from team reformatory posted this article on their bigotry:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1134143.html

” This angered evangelist preacher and activist Charles McVety, a longtime crusader against same-sex marriage, abortion and homosexuality. Mr. McVety launched a campaign on the Institute for Canadian Values website, under the headline Conservatives Announce New Program to Fund Sex Parades.

“While many parents are losing their jobs, trying to make ends meet and pay their taxes, the Government is taking their hard-earned money and giving cash towards anti-family activities that ultimately endanger our children!” said the site, urging supporters to contact the prime minister’s office and their local MP to express their opposition.

The campaign worked.”
……………………………………….

“So the Conservatives sent one message to the social conservatives that are a key part of their electoral base, and a different message to the general public”

………………………………………….

“On July 8, the Conservatives got some support from Suzanne Girard, the director of Divers/Cité, a Montreal gay and lesbian festival headlined by disco act Sister Sledge, who was to perform their hit We Are Family in front of thousands of dancing gays and lesbians.

Ms. Girard defended the Tories and said she didn’t believe her organization would be cut off.

“We live in a great country in that we can do this, even if it is a Conservative government,” she said.”

On July 22, five days before the festival was to begin, Divers/Cité learned that it would not get funding under the program, although officials had been optimistic until Industry Minister Tony Clement took the file from Ms. Ablonczy.”

………………………………………………………..
“Mr. Harper’s people have made a political calculation. Socially conservative Christians form the core of the Conservative base, as they formed the core of the Reform Party’s base, and they must be cultivated. Mr. Harper’s team wants them to exercise their influence quietly, though, and he was likely displeased that Mr. Trost signalled openly that they had been heard.

The Conservatives, naturally enough, want to have their cake and eat it too — heeding Mr. McVety and his supporters while not letting other Canadians know that they are doing so.

But money talks, and the decision to not fund Divers/Cité makes it plain that they would rather anger gays and lesbians — who mostly won’t vote for them anyway — than Mr. McVety and his supporters, who do vote Tory.

Appropriately enough, Divers/Cité had to cancel Sister Sledge.”

………………………………..

Now please tell me this is not a party controlled by right bigots. The article goes on to say there is one closeted cabinet minister in reformatory ranks.
If that is your idea of an open democratic party then I would even prefer communism over that. Shame shame.

By the way I am very hetrosexual.

More documented proof of Harpo's hidden ideology:

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/Entertainment/?cid=6…
New book labels Harper a neo-con

By Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch

“Thomas W. Joseph believes he has a message every Canadian needs to hear before they vote in the next federal election.”

Through his fourth politically themed book, 8 Days of Crisis on the Hill: Political Blip…Or Stephen Harper’s Revolution Derailed?, Joseph explores the events that occurred on the Hill in November and December when the prime minister asked the Governor General to dissolve parliament. By doing that, Harper thwarted an attempt by then opposition party leaders to form a possible coalition government.

“Those events got to me and I decided to explore them further and that led me into an examination of political leadership of the prime minister and the Conservative government,” Joseph said at his book launch at Chapters Friday afternoon.

The book lands at the conclusion that Harper has a hidden agenda, said Joseph, adding he lays out the evidence supporting his claim.

He also said that anybody that considers themselves progressive, whether it be Liberal, NDP or progressive conservative, should be concerned.

The prime minster’s intent, his political ideology, leads him to believe that many of the social programs, many of the economic policies that have been developed since the Great Depression of the 1930s are wrong,” Joseph said.

He goes on to accuse Harper of looking at more so-called neo-conservative policies like those of Ronald Regan or Margaret Thatcher, which helped bring on the economic crisis the world is currently struggling with.

“I think he’s a threat to the country,” he said. “As a progressive, I find it an alarming situation.”

It took Joseph four months to write 8 Days of Crisis on the Hill and he hopes any Canadians with an interest in the country’s political situation will consider his message.

“I’m hoping that Canadians will find the conclusions I’ve drawn with the evidence I’ve provided something to give serious though to before they go to the ballot,” he said.

Joseph’s book can be found online on Amazon, Indigo and Barnes & Noble’s websites. It can also be found locally at Chapters.

I wise person told me; “it maybe better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know”.

Anyone read or hear much about the fact the recession is now over in Canada? Too positive for the Liberal toadies in the media?

Never mention the fact it has unfolded just as our PM said, we'd be the last in and the first out, again, too positive , not a fit with their agenda.

Iggy's elf, Special K, must be getting frustrated, the sky is not falling, the ammo drawer is empty, to use an old Newfie quote: “The arse is out of 'er” on the arsenal front for the Iggy Liberals who hoped to ride to victory on gloom and doom.

EI reform anyone?

Liz J Hysterical, I was wondering when you would surface with more half truths in orfer to avoid the truth about yopur party;its noted you don't dare debate the right wing bonanza and Reformatory homophobia handed to the Libs:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/fp/rece…

“There are still risks to the recovery,” says Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. He also feels your pain, and suggests that part of the recession isn't over.”
…………………………………

and before you think Harpo and his gang of reformatories did all this on their own:

Well, monetary and fiscal policy – lots of liquidity and lots of deficit spending, have apparently done their jobs, may Keynes be praised. And at some point pent-up demand is going to kick in.

Which isn't to say the pain is gone. In Canada, unemployment has risen from six per cent a year ago to 8.6 per cent today. Since the beginning of the recession in the third quarter last year, the Canadian economy has lost 370,000 jobs.

………………………………………………………………….

and then this:

Our dollar is petro-currency, and closely tracks the world price of oil, which has doubled from a $33 low early in the year to the mid-60s last week.

Carney needs to be careful about this. It's one thing to rein in speculators. It's another to be seen as poor-mouthing.
…………………………………………………

Almost every economist states the need to raise taxes at some point while Mr. Harpo Liar is in denial. Those consequeneces will show up pretty soon with an ever increasing deficit.

Nova dog, youa re correct. We don't really know Harpo do we. The facts are starting to come and the peoples knowledge will enable them to judge accordingly.

Four consecutive budgets all passed by the Liberals. Thank You.

I look forward to hearing from MIAMI that he will increase taxes….

He has already said it, he wants to reduce EI hours to 360. There are hudreds of seasonal businesses that will lay off part time employees as soon as they qualify for poogie. Some of these people will be wacking golf balls while the tax payer will have to make up for it.

Four consecutive budgets and only one really telling the truth. Flaherty has a habit of lying so that will be exposed a tthe right time. The PBO chief has already caught them in the big lie on deficit repayments. Tories are Liars which is why Tory times are tough times and remewmber that 34 out of the last 46 years were Liberal years and they ended with huge surpluses. Your next excuse about Liberal accounting treatment of the EI surplus is bogus becauee the harpercrites will not change that either.

Maybe Harpo and his gangg of thieves need to revisit the social welfare they have given every family in the Country..the monthly family allowance beer and popcorn check. The stupidity is populist tax decreases that do nothing for the Country's productive capacity. The Libs want to protect those at the bottom end of the spectrum and they are the most vulnerable. Then again reformatories don't care about the poor do they when they can whack away at anything that moves them away from their right wing base.

It has been said that those GST cuts adds up to billions of dollars, I ask where those billions of dollars went? Has it been stashed in offshore accounts, have people been stuffing it into their mattresses? Oh yeah we went into recession later than all other countries and we are coming out faster, Hmmmmm Harper got it right again…

The beer and popcorn monies went to families that had children under 6 years of age, I guarantee you the money in one way or another was spent on care for the kids. Does anyone honestly think that putting all toddlers in a universal day are would help the economy? Yeah help the afternoon soaps get higher ratings maybe.

Iggy is, at this moment, filling a time capsule with things that have not been invented yet, or, having an awkward moment, just to see what it would feel like, or just speaking French in Russian!!!

Nova dog, you know and I know that the reason Canada went into recession was because our banking system did not tank like the US system. The GST cuts did not add up to several billions more in the pockets of people that needed tax relief. The rich continue to buy their luxury goods and new houses at cheaper prices.

As for the beer and popcorn monies….. it has been proven over time that directed subsidies are more productive for the economy as opposed to direct handouts.

I respect your theories and of course I am no economist, maybe and just maybe the Libs will get the credit. As far as where the beer and popcorn money goes, I remember back in a simpler time when the PC's and Lib's would bring my grandfather a bottle just before every election. Just politics I guess.

Girls, Girls, Don't go into the outhouse of the Toxic Troll, he stinks too much. Why go down to his level. Things are already heating up on the political screen. The PM has more less given Iggy an ultimatum either withdraw your EG accessibility or face an election. Lets see what the ” CZar
Iggy” has to say to that.

Frankly I don't see why my tax Dollars are supposed to finance people who want to strut around in the nude. They can do that without our money. Besides we have never denied to be right wing.

The question being asked here is concerning the whereabouts of one, Michael Ignatieff, successor to one, Stephane Dion.

So far no one has been able to locate him. Whether he's being kept hidden by order or design is hard to determine.

One thing for certain, this thread is off the rails and in need of attention. We should be able to make comments without the schoolyard name calling by the resident Troll who always starts the ball rolling on that score. We can all be smart asses in jest and fun but tearing into someone personally because of a different opinion on politics or anything else crosses the line and ruins civil debate.

I've reached an age where being called hysterical, or brain dead or a puke really doesn't phase me and I certainly would never lie to support a politician of any stripe, lying is not something I condone anywhere.

Politicians are often accused of lying, some do, but more often than not conditions change and they have to change direction, that's the nature of politics, opponents call it lying. it's all part of the game. Still say the biggest example of a lie, it had to be deliberate , came from Jean Chretien just before an election, when asked about the hated GST, he replied “it's gone”, there's a clip of it in the news archives somewhere. He went on to win a majority. Sheila Copps had to make another run to re-win her seat
because she ran on the same lie, she believed her boss.

So, Harpo the bully is speaking out against Canada's unemployed….that plays very well on the left so I hope he keeps it up. He can then keep his bible toting base support and lose the rest.

Speaking of outhouses………rumours abound that you still live with an outhosue as your only facility and that you have Harpo's picture on the door to help get things moving. LOL

They did it in Toronto but won't in Vancuver and Montreal simply because the bible thumpers chastised Harpo.

Clean it up Terry. Thanks

Liz J hysterical, the thread was on the rails and th wherabouts of Iggy were answered by yours truly very early in the thread. Stephen had not done his homework as well as warren Kinsella who posted exact details of iggy's movements and appearances.

Your issue on the other posts I've made is the fact I've further exposed the reformatory rabble in more lies and dumb stuff. All facts by the way, and no inuendos or half truths that you like to specialize in.

Just a little sunday afternoon humour,Stephen.

Cut the ad hominem Terry

An interesting link to an interesting opinion (dated July 14, 2009):
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/John/1784…
“The Liberals are in big trouble. Ever since Paul Martin's regime collapsed under the weight of its own hubris, the party has looked for leadership from a group of well-meaning incompetents — Dion, Rae, and Ignatieff — not one of whom has the charisma, the political skills, or the staying power to rebuild the Liberal brand as the natural governing party of Canada. After Dion's leadership fell apart last fall, there was hope that some of the men who had been watching from the sidelines might jump back into the fray, but one after another, past contenders like Brian Tobin and Frank McKenna decided, for one reason or another, that it wasn't worth it.”
H/T Dr. J and Mr. K

Stephen, I think that goes for more than myself if you care to check on the “sisters” here.

Also, your edit feature seems to be down so its pretty hard to self censor posts.

Gabby the standing tory in QC……….the polls that Nik Nanos did recently don't bear out those so called facts you quoted.
Then again I always presume half truths are your trade in stock. Iggy is staking a measured approach to all this fully realizing he has to rebuild the party and he has doen remarkably well in a short time. Fund raising is at or near Tory levels, even w/o church basement donations, their election software is live and working and the party policy committee has taken a little more time to test their future pronouncements. So, its all good leadership from where I sit and Warren K. is just itching to get at Harpo in an election campaign.

Frank Mckenna did not want to to do the penance of opposition when he's currently making milions per year as deputy chair of TD. The same goes for Tobin. Neither of these two were rich and now have opportunities to sock some real money away after years of public service. Its that simple.

Don't know about you Gabby but I've had entirely enough of this blog. Terry1 can have it. He's takes over all threads with the same old screed.

Liz J, I thought you had more fight in you than that.

“those so called facts you quoted.”

As usual, you have misread what I have posted and put your own inane spin on it.
I introduced that quote with this: “An interesting link to an interesting opinion (dated July 14, 2009).”

Get it? An opinion. I did not present that as “facts.” It's not my opinion, but that of Andrew Potter.
Unlike you, I do not use facts and opinions interchangeably.

Furthermore, your statement “Frank Mckenna did not want to to [sic] do the penance of opposition…” is clearly an admission on your part that the Liberals' motivation is self-serving power, not service to the country.
You think highly of the aforementioned Liberals, don't you?

The idiocy continues.

Liz J, despite the idiocy of the Toxic Troll, I do not intend to leave this blog. That is precisely what he's looking for, to chase away and shut out any opposing POV. He wants it all to himself so he can spread his poison.

I have rarely sunk to the level of name-calling, but to paraphrase Groucho Marx – who apparently said “I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception” – well, I never call anyone an idiot, but in Toxic Troll's case I'll make an exception.

And I'll keep on calling him an idiot until he stops using the epithets he's been using all along.

Gabby the lone Reformatory in QC…………..I see you've been to the reformatory war room and graduated. Congrats.

I'm glad you're hanging around to fight another battle.

Gabby the uniformed last tory in QC……..frank Mckenna did not want to serve his Country?

That's rich. He was in NB politics for over 2o years and won a landslide victory wiping out the Tories in one election. He was the Canadian Ambassador to Washington.

I would suggest he's done one hell of a lot more for his Country than you could ever imagine. What a slur.

You have once again misread my comment.
Why?
Probably because your bilious anti-conservative anger and your biased view of anything said by a conservative prevents you from comprehending even the simplest of sentences.

Did I say Frank McKenna did not want to serve his country?
No.
What did I say?
“Furthermore, your statement … is clearly an admission on your part that the Liberals' motivation is self-serving power, not service to the country.”
What is missing from my original comment, represented by [...]?
This, your own words: “Frank Mckenna did not want to to [sic] do the penance of opposition…”
See, Toxic Troll?
I did not say Frank McKenna did not want to serve his country. You are the one who hinted at that.
BTW, learn how to write the gent’s name. It's McKenna, not Mckenna.

By all means, keep misreading and misrepresenting what is said. That is the only way you think you'll win an argument. Oh, and let’s not forget using numbskulled name-calling.

“Gabby the uniformed last tory”?
So now you're even phantasizing about what I wear?
Or is that more proof of your illiteracy?

The idiocy continues.

I don't need to go to any war room.
I don't need to parrot anyone's talking points, like you do.
I'm not the one constantly quoting a backroom boy and strategist to back up comments written here.
Toxic Troll's words:
“stephen, Count on Warren kinsella to get the real facts out!!!!”
“Warren kinsella has his computer ready to release truth ads about Harpo.”
“… Warren K. is just itching to get at Harpo in an election campaign.”

The idiocy continues.

Do you not support the attack ads that come from Reformatory central?

it doesn't matter where my material comes from but it simply counters your nonsensical approach to things that everyone who is not a tory is wrong or misguided.

The illogical, support of the unethical and lying approach continues.

I am sure you wear a uniform…that's how they keep you in line with reformatory brainwashing.

My illiteracy is simply a function of my poor typing skills. That was never my skill set.

As For your Frank Mckenna comments….. I say you're pushing BS uphill.

MIAMI chose to join a party that attacked our military and spread their own brand of attack ads on Canadians. Simply put ,he gets what he deserves. It is after all acknowledged that attack ads work (at least according to a particular best selling author of the Lib war room).

Once again, your delusions – or should I say lies? – are showing.

“… everyone who is not a tory is wrong or misguided.”
Prove I ever said anything approaching that figment of your own twisted imagination.

I could search through my past comments to quote back to you what I said about attack ads in general, and some of them in particular.

But given the difficulty you apparently have in understanding any sentence more complex than “See Spot run” I figure it's a complete waste of my time.

And anyway, the question here is not whether you and I have differing POVs about the parties we choose to support.

My bone of contention is your constant spewing of venom and puerile name-calling of anyone who disagrees with your POV.
You disagree with a commenter's statements or sources? It's your prerogative and your right to challenge them.
It is not your right, however, to invariably pepper every post with your petty and unwarranted name-calling, without getting back some similar barbs.

As a well-known Canadian was fond of saying: “The more you throw mud, the more you lose ground.”

Hmm kind of off topic but I just have a question here about this “reformatory” nonsense. Certainly it is a very funny pun. It highlights the Reform Party roots of the Conservative Party, certainly something that is very funny to Liberal supporters, although, not so much for Western Canadians who very much supported the party for its Pro-West agenda. In fact, as an Albertan, I have a hard time believing why being affiliated with a pro-west party is a bad thing at all, but I guess I'll leave that up to you Liberal supports who clearly know better.

What I don't understand is that Ignatieff, who you are a big fan of, Terry, has made it a “priority,” of sorts, to mend fences with the West. He has admitted NEP was a bad idea, and that there is much work to be done for the Liberal Party to regain the trust of Western Canadians. As a huge supporter of Ignatieff, I assume you agree with this point…

…and yet, you, and so many other Liberal supporters (Kinsella, of note) continue to use this word “Reformatory” which is certainly interpreted as a shot across the bow of Western Canadians. Is this part of your strategy for winning back the trust of the West, Terry?

Alex in Edmonton, if I recall the reform party was western based and basically the conservative party today is reform policy driven. I also don't think anywhere near 100% of westerners are true “reform” conservative supporters. In fact the PROGRESSIVE conservative party was quite popular in the west. Reform basically stole the name conservative to legitimize their goals in the east.

Westerners have, in general, called the Liberal party every name under the sun since the NEP almost 30 years ago.

My idea of winning back the west is to show how uncanadian the true policies of the reformers are. I think westerners are more tolerant than that. Remember Stock Day wa s laughed out of his job based on his right wing agenda.

Well, I think the Conservative name came out of the merger with the PC party and the desire to “Unite the Right.” If you believe their current policy is purely “Reform driven” then you must be willing to give Stephen Harper credit for legitimizing that policy in the East (he's won two elections now).

My problem is that it's tough to take Iggy seriously when he says he's ready to mend fences with the West but has someone on his payroll (Kinsella) using a term which is a dig at a pro-west party, and ultimately, many Western Canadians who voted for them. It's tough for me to take him seriously.

Well, I think the Conservative name came out of the merger with the PC party and the desire to “Unite the Right.” If you believe their current policy is purely “Reform driven” then you must be willing to give Stephen Harper credit for legitimizing that policy in the East (he's won two elections now).

My problem is that it's tough to take Iggy seriously when he says he's ready to mend fences with the West but has someone on his payroll (Kinsella) using a term which is a dig at a pro-west party, and ultimately, many Western Canadians who voted for them. It's tough for me to take him seriously.

In sentence one you say harpo should be given credit for legitimizing his policies in the east. Of course Harpo has lied about almost everything and that is now manifesting itself there especially in Quebec. Harpo also won because the left is divided and why he's trying to crowd the center now. His real policies will only come forth in a majority government that he will never achieve. In fact the party will never achieve a majority with Harpo as leader.

In sentence two you suggest that Iggy's people should not attack the west but Harpo is ok to issue attack ads in the east where Liberals are popular. So, I'm confused about your thought process. It seems very partisan

Yaaaaawwwwnnnnnnn

Your vitriol re: our Prime Minister are unjustified and indicate you have never gotten past your role of bully in the playground. Most likely indicative of learning difficulties at school, or small genitalia.

Still living in your parents' basement?

I know its hard not to be bored when you sit around watching soap operas every day.

Dear alienated, our so called PM is the recipient of his own medicine. He is the ultimate bully because he gets his “gang” to do the dirty work which speaks of even smaller genitalia and possibly none at all. In fact a PM that lives to beat his opposition instead of for the good of the people in the land is probably a candidate for surgery……….I'll leave that to your imgaination.

Back on topic and for those who still wonder where Iggy is at:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/guns+aimed+Ig…
“Our sojourner from Harvard has now served in Parliament longer than Pierre Trudeau or Brian Mulroney did before becoming prime minister. He has reconciled with Bob Rae and united his party, streamlined its fundraising, eliminated its debt, and mounted, on most days, an intelligent and eloquent opposition.

He is becoming political, which is why this gifted orator can give the listless speech he did to Liberals in Vancouver. He has made mistakes, sure, but most of them are more important to the chattering classes than to ordinary Canadians.

Yet Michael Ignatieff remains an extraordinary person who hasn't failed at anything in life, who is now learning to be a professional politician. It takes time.”
………………………………………………

that is why Harpo's nightmare will continue. Iggy is much smarter than him and won't need to resort to poison in order to win and bring Canada back from the reformatory purgatory.

hey Liz J, un hysterical, Are you sure the recession is over. harpo and his boys won't like this news.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-busine…

The number of Canadians collecting jobless benefits is climbing sharply, hitting record levels certain to stoke mounting controversy over the program.

In May, Statistics Canada said Tuesday 778,700 people received regular benefits under the Employment Insurance program, up by 65,600 or 9.2 per cent from April.

It was the highest number since the federal agency began collecting such statistics in 1997.

The number of EI beneficiaries has jumped almost 56 per cent, or by more than 278,000, since employment in Canada peaked last October.

Alberta and Ontario showed the fastest rates of increase in May, Statistics Canada said.

The sharp rise surpassed the increase of 3.7 per cent in April.

The statistics are certain to raise the ire of those pushing for change to the employment insurance system, to make benefits more accessible to those thrown out of work during the recession. Critics say many more Canadians have been shut out from benefits.

Last spring, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff threatened to vote against the government if it failed to meet demands for an overhaul. In the end, the Liberals and Conservatives agreed to set up a panel that would study the issue.

Tuesday's numbers continue to show growing problems in Western Canada. Alberta, once Canada's boom province, marked the largest percentage growth in beneficiaries over the seven months since employment peaked. Following Alberta were British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, each marking record levels.

In May alone, the number of claimants in Alberta, where the jobless rate has spiked to 6.6 per cent from 3.7 per cent seven months ago, surged 16.8 per cent. That was almost matched by Ontario, where the number of beneficiaries soared 16 per cent.

Quebec, Manitoba and the eastern provinces have, over the past seven month, posted increases below the national average of 55.6 per cent.

Statistics Canada cited hefty increases in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria and southwestern Ontario, home to the battered auto industry. Some centres – such as Kelowna and Cranbrook, B.C., and Windsor and Guelph, Ont., have seen their numbers more than triple.

Well terry1, PSC went down the tubes and stuck it to their investors. Here's the scoop via Google search (link below to Maclean's Magazine).

And when PSC owned the Taro Landfill I was the only citizen they have ever allowed on the site to take a raw leachate sample from their main well.

According to Dr. Sorger at McMaster this stuff is toxic and is still being pumped into Hamilton's sewer system on the Mountain brow, through the sewage treatment plant, and into Hamilton Harbour. Surreal.
–
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cf…

I know all about PSC and their bankruptcy and I know the mafia guys never went to jail or evn suffered one bit financially from that corporate ponzi scheme. Only in hamilton could that happen.

As for Taro I always said you overreacted and it appears you are still doing so.

Gabby, lets go and slug it out.

I come from the rpespective that we have had the most toxic government in Canadian history with its attack ads and demeaning insults. The lack of respect for the voters in this country by this government is more than toxic.

I lay my claim to be that based on your hero………the Harpercrite.

Gabby, lets go and slug it out.

I come from the rpespective that we have had the most toxic government in Canadian history with its attack ads and demeaning insults. The lack of respect for the voters in this country by this government is more than toxic.

I lay my claim to be that based on your hero………the Harpercrite.