June 10, 1991 Was the Most Important Date in Canadian History

I'll bet if you went out on the street today and asked Canadians what they were doing on June 10, 1991; they would remember in vivid detail the day the North stood still.

Or would they?

Sadly, they probably would not, and that's a shame; because it was such a monumental date in our history and indeed that of the entire world.

No I'm not referring to the devastating volcano in the Philippines, the collapse of the Soviet Union or the death of the mullet as a favourite hairdo for men.

I'm referring to the day that the Kingston Whig Standard quoted Michael Ignatieff as saying "Taxes have to rise; there is no other way”

OH THE HORROR!!! Even after more than 18 years, the memory of that ominous statement still haunts me.

Gawd!!

I just visited the ridiculous website set up by the Conservative party to bash Michael Ignatieff and I'm feeling a little nauseous. Is this what Canadian politics has been reduced to? It's absolutely horrible. I knew that Harper had a mean streak, but this goes beyond mean to borderline insanity.

However, while it's clear that the Conservatives are desperate, having to dig up stuff from 18 years ago; the site also reveals that they're not terribly bright. They have been campaigning on two basic points. That Mr. Ignatieff will raise taxes, something that most Canadians know is inevitable given the state of our economy; and the fact that he spent 34 years outside of the country.

Yet, the revelation from the Kingston Whig Standard piece (Kingston is in Ontario, which is in Canada for those Conservatives not aware of that ... I could see Jason Kenney or Luc Harvey maybe having a problem, so I'll wait while they catch up .... ), shows that he still had an impact on our news. But what was this in reference to?

We have to look back to 1991, when Mr. Ignatieff's opinion was being sought. We were in the middle of an energy crisis and a global recession. Brian Mulroney was racking up the largest deficit in our history (his record was recently broken by Jim Flaherty. Yeah! Go Jim) and OPEC had us all in a choke hold. It was also at this time that we were beginning to take a serious look at our environment and how we were impacting it. All of the brightest minds were being put to use to chart a course toward stability.

Hmmm ... energy crisis, global recession, record breaking deficit and environmental Apocalypse. Sounds like deja vu all over again, and those things are still foremost on Mr. Ignatieff's mind; only this time he has an opportunity to do something about them.

In 1991, when Stephen Harper was sitting on Deb Grey's lap as her assistant, reading his latest edition of the National Citizens Coalition Bulldog magazine, no one was looking to him for solutions to international or even national problems.

Now it's 2009, and we are still not looking to him for solutions, because we've realized that after 3 1/2 years, he clearly has none. Instead he is busy trying to discredit those who do.

Mr. Ignatieff may have been out of the country for 34 years, but he was not in a Turkish prison. He taught at universities like Oxford, Harvard and Cambridge. He was a respected journalist, author and sought after academic. MacLeans magazine named him among the "Top 10 Canadian Who's Who" in 1997 and one of the "50 Most Influential Canadians Shaping Society."

I need to repeat that: one of the "50 Most Influential Canadians Shaping Society." Not just shaping Canadian society but a Canadian shaping society at large.

Is it wise for the Conservatives to allow Michael Ignatieff to let Canadians know what he was doing for those 34 years?

If he had brought this up, it would have looked like bragging, but now that the Cons have, he will just be defending himself. Gee, for a smart guy, Stephen Harper sure is dumb da dumb dumb.

So Conservative Blake Richards Isn't so Tough on Crime After all

For all his blather about being tough on Crime, Conservative Blake Richards has proven that he's only tough on some crime, or at least on some criminals.

Richards is one of the men our local Conservative candidate, Brian Abrams, had abuse taxpayer money to distribute partisan attack ads in Kingston, Ontario. (And Abrams wants to be our Member of Parliament????? Yikes!!!!!)

But Richards is the MP for Wild Rose, Alberta, a safe Reform Party seat, so he doesn't really need to campaign. Although, at least one of his constituents wasn't too pleased to be getting his taxpayer funded 'fluff'.

However, back to Blake and his 'huffin' and puffin' ... criminals will pay' nonsense.

When Alberta Mountie, Guy Armand Raes, admitted to sexually assaulting a teenage girl, many residents felt he got off too lightly. His original sentence was for only eight months, but later he was able to serve just 90 days, and then just on weekends. In fact he was even able to still receive a medal for bravery, despite the conviction.

Jail urged for Mountie who fondled girl
By KEVIN MARTIN
The Calgary Sun

AIRDRIE -- Sexually abusing a wayward teen he took under his wing should land a disgraced Mountie a 90-day jail term, a prosecutor said yesterday. But the lawyer for Const. Guy Armand Raes said his client has already suffered public humiliation and lost career, and doesn't need to be thrown behind bars as well.

Defence counsel Willie de Wit said Raes, a 22-year RCMP veteran, will be forced to resign from the force after pleading guilty to sexual assault. Raes, 51, admitted fondling the breasts of a 17-year-old girl he had been helping get back on the straight and narrow for two years and to whom he had become a father figure. (Oh my gawd! Fondling her breasts makes him a 'father figure'. Is he nuts?)

Crown prosecutor Craig Krieger said despite Raes' efforts to assist the girl his sexual advances on her breached a trust relationship and warranted a severe punishment.

"We acknowledge the accused, especially going into what turned out to be the relationship, did not go into it to specifically exploit this girl, or harm her," Krieger said. "But over time he crossed the line," he told provincial court Judge Barb Veldhuis. Krieger pointed to a series of text messages between Raes and the teen, who can't be identified, to illustrate how he went too far in his job as a police officer attempting to assist a youth in trouble.

He noted in one exchange Raes talked about the two being "soul mates."

Krieger said Raes' good work at getting the girl, whom he first met when she was 15, off drugs and alcohol made his violation of her all the more damaging. "There's no doubt he made a positive difference to this girl's life," he said. "That's probably why it hurt so much when he breached the trust."

Raes, who was under warning from his superiors not to have off duty contact with youths whom he had encountered through work, arranged to meet the girl late in the evening of Feb. 12, 2007. They then drove to an isolated location where he fondled her naked breasts.

De Wit said the decorated officer, who was awarded the governor general's Star of Courage for pulling a young couple out of a fire, never set out to have a sexual relationship with the teen.

One of Blake Richard's constituents was upset by the light sentence so turned to the man who vowed to protect children from sexual abuse and get tough on crime. But of course, Richards ignored the complaint, not surprising after calling the RCMP watchdog a mere 'paper pusher'


Another Mountie Charged with Sexual Assault

"... about Guy Raes, I was just wondering if you did hear about what he got. He did not get the 8 months.. instead they decided to give him a sentince (sic) of 90 day in jail to only be spent on weekends.. I thought that 8 months was a joke. I even wrote a letter to our MP Blake Richards asking him to make sure the crown would appeal this sentice (sic) but do you think he would reply. On top of that he has the nerve to be in the paper and talking about our justice system and how they need to make sure people get the time for the crimes they commit. ...I cannot believe that Canada does not have the guts to put people behind bars, instead they get a slap on the wrist!

The law should be the same for everyone and I'm surprised that Mr. Richards did not at least respond.

Back to - The Blake Richards Story: Shameless Self-Promotion

Michael Ignatieff's Policies are Under His Hat Not His Sweater

During the 2008 election campaign, not wishing to get thrown off his carefully manipulated course; Stephen Harper did not unveil his Party's platform until the final week before going to the polls. This gave us Jack Layton's great line; 'Where's your platform, under your sweater?'

The sweater reference was of course to Harper's attempt at looking like an average Joe, which instead just made him look uncomfortable.

Well, Michael Ignatieff does wear sweaters, though not to impress anyone; and he has also been apprehensive about unveiling his platform, but for very different reasons I suspect.

We know that the Conservative have been launching poisonous ads for months and have even created a website to personally attack Mr. Ignatieff; so if he is hesitant about giving them more fodder, I can understand. We know they're just waiting to pounce, and have their spin machine oiled up and ready to go. (Our own local 'also ran', Brian Abrams; even has elected Conservative MPs, Mike Wallace and Blake Richards, distributing taxpayer funded propaganda.)

We also know that they will cherry pick the document, twisting intentions and fabricating points to fit their profile of the man.

But will this hurt the Liberal leader, if he doesn't answer the media with regards to the direction he will be heading? Time will tell. For now, the fact that Ignatieff has been able to increase the funding for his party substantially; reveals that people have confidence in his message, even if it is being doled in small measures.

His intelligence, education and life experiences have shown us that he is a man of substance, and the flurry of activity around the Conservative war room, indicates that they know it too. The smell of desperation is permeating from the walls. And you thought it was pollution.

Ignatieff paying a price for his silence
Aug 03, 2009
Toronto Star
Carol Goar

According to meteorologist Dave Phillips, Ottawa took the prize for the soggiest July in the country. The nation's capital was chilly, damp and uninviting.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he took advantage of the bad weather to "sit at home and think thoughts." He us (sic) promising Canadians an ambitious policy agenda in the fall.

That would be a nice change. (waiting for an election to lay his cards on the table?)

Since Ignatieff took command in December, it has been hard to figure out what the Liberals stand for, how they would govern the country or whether they have workable alternatives.

Ignatieff may believe – or his strategists may have convinced him – that it is tactically smart to withhold his platform until an election is imminent. (Harper held his platform until the last week of the 2008 election campaign)

But the former Harvard professor is paying a price. His party is stalled in the polls. Voters have doubts about his ability to manage the economy. He is acquiring a reputation as a leader who is more comfortable deliberating than providing a sense of direction.

Liberal MPs are also paying a price. Most have avoided the limelight since Parliament closed, not knowing what they're supposed to say. This makes it look as if they have few ideas or concerns.

It would be interesting to hear what Ignatieff has come up with after spending half the summer wrestling with the nation's challenges.

What, for example, are his guiding principles?

The Liberal leader has issued a steady stream of press releases, accusing the government of neglecting the unemployed, failing to protect Canadian-developed technology, pulling the plug on Canadian isotope production, ignoring the concerns of rural Canadians and dragging its feet on global warming.

But this running commentary is headline-driven. It indicates nothing about Ignatieff's priorities or values. (read his books and you'll know his values)

Is there any Conservative policy he finds so wrong he would be compelled to oppose it, whatever the risk?

The Liberal leader has threatened to vote non-confidence in the government's recession-fighting strategy and its refusal to extend jobless benefits to the millions of Canadians who don't qualify for coverage. But both times he has backed off.

He has said so little about most other issues – national security, fiscal policy, resource development, city building, health care, poverty, aboriginal affairs, the environment or Canada-U.S. relations – that it is hard to tell where he would draw the line.

Does he have a plan to tackle climate change?

Former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, for all his shortcomings, was at least clear on this question. He staked his career on the conviction that a carbon tax was necessary to curb energy consumption.

Ignatieff has jettisoned his predecessor's unpopular policy (which he himself advocated two years ago) but has not offered Canadians a replacement.

Has he determined which Liberal traditions he will uphold and which belong to a bygone era?

The confusion over last month's sale of Nortel Networks' wireless business to Ericsson, a Swedish telecom giant, suggests not.

Industry critic Marc Garneau said he saw no reason for Ottawa to intervene. "If we want to play in the big leagues, we have to play by international rules."

A day later, Ignatieff sent out a different message, demanding that the government review the transaction, given the "unique and strategic nature" of the Canadian technology pioneer's assets. He sounded like an economic nationalist – but one with sluggish reflexes.

Has Ignatieff thought about how to restructure Ontario's battered manufacturing sector, restore civility to Parliament, make democracy matter to disengaged voters or marshal the energy and optimism of young Canadians?

He hasn't said so. He apparently feels no urgency.

With luck, it will be sunny in Ottawa this month. Ignatieff needs to get out of his study. The Liberals need to show some life.

I don't entirely disagree with Ms Goar. We've got to get the message out, even if it means that the Conservatives will almost instantly twist the facts. Canadians are getting tired of their attack ads anyway, so we must now offer an alternative. Talk to me Michael.

Conservative Blake Richards Campaign Literature a Work of Fiction

When Alberta MP, Blake Richards started distributing taxpayer funded attack ads in Kingston, Ontario; for our local Conservative candidate Brian Abrams, I was curious to know who Abrams was aligning himself with.

Not that Richards was the only one helping him finance his campaign with our money. Mike Wallace from Burlington also abused the public trust, hoping to do for Brian what he did for Lisa Raitt.

Naturally, this begs the question. If Brian Abrams can steal our tax dollars so easily before he's elected, why would we risk giving him access to the public purse?

It might eliminate the middle man, but during a time of economic uncertainty, do we really want to vote for a guy whose only priority is getting elected, and to hell with our tax dollars? Obviously it's all about him.

But back to Abram's new pal, Blake Richards. I was reading part of his campaign literature, posted by someone who really doesn't like him. I excused their rant, because I've been there myself on occasion, but when I ran down the list of Richard's brags and promises, it was pretty clearly a work of fiction.

However, it was also very clearly Reform Party ideology. Contempt for the courts and judges, the gun registry and the Canadian Wheat Board. Same old, same old.

We also learned that he has been a member of the Reform Party since 1988, back in the day when they were merely a Western protest party, with much of their protest against Quebec, multiculturalism, the gun registry, homosexuals .... or as Stephen Harper so aptly put it in an op-ed piece he wrote back in the day ... their priorities were the 'g' words: 'guns, gays and government grants'.

We have to also remember that most of the Reform Party policy, drafted by Harper was cribbed from the National Citizens Coalition handbook, so you might say, that like his boss; Richards is still working for the NCC.

Below are a few excerpts from Blake Richard's campaign brochure:

Reform Party Roots

Blake has been active in federal politics since joining the Reform Party in 1988, and has served as a Director and Policy Chairman in Wild Rose since 1993. He has been the local Campaign Manager for two federal elections for Myron Thompson as well as two national leadership campaigns.... serving as Constituency Assistant to current Member of Parliament Myron Thompson, for seven years.

Fact or Fiction?

Our Conservative government has accomplished much we can be proud of since taking office.

'We have lowered taxes by reducing the GST ...' - Most economists and our own Parliamentary budget officer, agree that lowering the GST was one of the biggest mistakes this government made. Reducing consumption taxes is not the way to go, and while it did nothing to stimulate the economy, greatly reduced our revenue at a time when we are now running an enormous debt and deficit. At some point it will have to be brought back to the 7% or we are going to be in trouble.

'... created greater accountability and transparency in government...' - This government is the least transparent of any before it. They tightly control the message, and make it difficult for the media to gain access to information. And as to the Accountability Act. It wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Offices have been created and staffed, but they have nothing to do. Whistle blowers are only allowed to whistle at the opposition, the Public Appointments Commission has no commissioner and the Republican who helped them draft the legislation, has himself been deemed one of the worst politicians in the U.S.

'... and reformed the Canadian Wheat Board allowing western farmers to market their own barley....' - Stephen Harper sued us again, in his long term goal to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board. However, " The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court ruling that the attempt by the Government of Canada to remove the single desk on barley through regulatory change violated The Canadian Wheat Board Act". I just love when Stephen sues us. He never wins but he sure knows how to waste our tax dollars.

'We have implemented fixed election dates...' - When the ethics committee was getting too close to unearthing the truth in the Conservatives alleged election fraud, Harper shut everything down and broke his own fixed date election law, adding another three hundred million dollars to the ballooning costs of the "In and Out" scandal. Oh yeah, and he's suing us over that too. Man he must hate Canadians.

'... and brought forward bills to modernize the patronage-riddled Senate... despite a minority parliament and fierce opposition from a Senate dominated by Liberal patronage appointees' - Harper appointed 18 new senators, all through patronage. He has also found a way to make the Senate cease to function for anyone but him.

'Blake is committed to holding politicians more accountable by giving citizens the ability to recall promise-breaking politicians from office between elections...' Good to know. So does this mean we can fire Stephen Harper and Jim Flaherty, for starters?

'Blake will fight for an end to judicial activism. It is the role of Parliament to create laws, not the domain of unelected and unaccountable judges....' Oh there's that old Reformer 'it's all the judges' fault.' Sounds like Maurice Vellacott. So Brian Abrams is a lawyer. Does he hate judges too?

'Blake is committed to ending all patronage appointments. Federal government positions should be filled based strictly on merit...' Hmmm ... too bad Harper doesn't share his vision. I've been creating a list of patronage appointments under our current PM, and he may even break Brian Mulroney's record.

'Blake is committed to ending the massive public subsidies that pay political parties $1.87 per vote received in the last general election. Taxpayers should not be forced to support political parties....' Rich. I agree. Taxpayers should not be forced to support political parties.

'Blake is committed to being a good steward of our environment, but believes there must be a balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth ... Blake firmly believes that any action on climate change must be based on a Made In Canada solution, and not on the faulty Kyoto Accord or any international carbon trading scheme which bolsters the economies of other countries at the expense of our own....' - Unfortunately for Blake, the environmental minister disagrees. He has signed on to the U.S. Cap and Trade, which is a fancy term for 'carbon tax'. Poor Blake. The problem is that as much as this government has abandoned any real environmental concerns, George Bush is gone and Obama is committed to going green. So if the Cons want to keep their precious NAFTA afloat, they have no choice but to clean up their act, literally.

'Blake supports immigration based on our economic and labour market needs, rather than some artificial quota.... Blake supports revamping the temporary foreign workers program – making it fair to both employers and employees' – Jason Kenney and Peter Van Loan are making Blake's dreams come true.

The rest is pretty much, as one of his constituents put it: 'FLUFF!'

So what does Brian Abrams stand for? Why did he ask Richards to abuse his mailing privileges to campaign for him in Kingston? Last election Abrams pretty much sprouted party rhetoric. Will he stand up for us or sit down and shut up for Stephen Harper? I think I know.

Back to - The Blake Richards Story: Shameless Self-Promotion

Is Blake Richards Competing with Baird and Poilievre as Biggest Self Promotor?

When Blake Richards, the Member of Parliament for Wild Rose Alberta, came to my backyard in Kingston Ontario, distributing taxpayer funded attacks ads; I visited his backyard, and what a mess.

This self-promoter could sure give John Baird and Pierre Poilievre a run for their money.

In fact if you read Poilievre's Wikipedia that he updates every few minutes (last time today) and Blake Richards' (last time July 28), they sound pretty much the same, focusing on 'charity work', committees and the like.

Richards was involved in a hockey game, which raised funds for his local community. This is a good thing and can be found in his local media if you google it. But is this a necessary part of his Wiki bio? It's not like he found a cure for cancer or heaven forbid, made an attempt to stop wasting our tax dollars (I had to throw that in because I'm so tired of these tax funded attack ads)

Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg once said that “True charity is the desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense” If Poilievre and Richards seek recompense in the form of political brownie points, it reduces their 'altruism' to simple narcissism.

All politicians engage regularly in charity work. It helps raise their profile in their communities, and creates a rapport with their constituents. However, cutting and pasting from your website to make yourself good is a little tacky.

But hang in their Blake. Maybe you'll steal the crown from John Baird and become Hill Times biggest self-promoter. Just think. Something new to add to your Wiki Wacki profile.

I'm Not the Only One Angry With Blake Richards

Recent letters to the editor, published in the Kingston Whig Standard, have revealed that most Kingstonians are upset with the recent taxpayer funded attack ads, that Conservative MPs Blake Richards (Wild Rose Alberta) and Mike Wallace (Burlington, Ontario) have been distributing in our city.

After 20 years of having Peter Milliken as our Member of Parliament, we're not used to seeing anything other than period newsletters that keep us up to date on changes, or provide direction should we have concerns.

He has never asked us to answer silly poll questions, nor does he use the mail outs for partisan attacks.

However, given that Brian Abrams will allow these men to abuse our tax dollars in this fashion, to save him a few bucks on his next election campaign, (especially during a period of economic uncertainty), gives us some indication of what to expect if he ever won this seat.

His sideshow barker, Hugh Segal, dismisses it by saying everyone does it. That's not true. And even if it was, how does that make it right? The Reform Party latched onto this loop hole years ago, but it has gotten entirely out of hand.

In 2002, when running for the leadership of the Alliance party, Stephen Harper accused Maurice Vellacott of abusing tax dollars to campaign for Stockwell Day. Soon after, Peter MacKay charged that Stephen Harper was abusing tax dollars to pepper his riding with trash.

Now everyone in the Conservative Party seems to have caught the bug, and if you search the net at all, you'll hear more complaints, but also learn some interesting strategies to deal with this.

If the government body can't see that this is an inexcusable practice, then we've got to take it upon ourselves to fight back. One gentlemen wrote across his 'Stop Wasting My Money A... hole!', before sending it back. I'm writing letters to the local papers and radio stations of the MP abusing his privilege, to let their constituents know that this is how they handle an economic crisis.

However, a local man, who was just as upset as I was; after his well deserved rant, offered another suggestion:

If you're going to campaign, call an election
July 3, 2009

On my way home, I stopped by my post office box. There I found a piece of mail that made me see red. It was from the government, and it represents, as far as I can tell, a massive abuse of the public trust.

It was a pamphlet that seemed to be trying to be a survey, asking who I thought was on the right track for Canada, with a little election ballot. However, most of it was a written version of the attack ads against Ignatieff, once again claiming that he was "just visiting." To make matters worse, to return this "survey" you just have to fold it up and put it into the mail - the "No Postage Required" on the stamp means that the return post is being paid for by Canada Post.

This is, put simply, an outrage. Consider the following:

1. This came "Compliments of Blake Richards, MP." My Member of Parliament is Peter Milliken. So, effectively, an MP with no portfolio is soliciting from another MP's riding.

2. This is an election campaign flyer - there is no question of that. But there hasn't been an election called. And this isn't the government bragging about its record - this is an attack ad flyer. This comes pretty close to libel, if it doesn't actually cross the line.

3. This hasn't been paid for by the Conservative Party of Canada coffers - this was paid for by Canada Post. In short, taxpayers are paying for the Conservatives to mail out attack ad flyers outside of an election.

This is not acceptable behaviour from public servants. Now, there is something that people can do about it. They can write to their Member of Parliament, and they can also write to the Board of Internal Economy.

Here is the list of its members. My fellow Canadians - I ask you, please write and complain. The only way that the Conservative Party will learn its lesson is if we do not remain silent, and if we tell them, united, that this will not be allowed to stand.

I responded to the frustrated Blogger:

I am just as frustrated as you with these damn campaign flyers being paid from our tax dollars. I live in Kingston as well and mine was from Mike Wallace in Burlington. I sent a letter to the editor of the Kingston Whig Standard and the Burlington Post. Both were published.

My son got the one from Richards so I've just sent off a letter to his local paper. Ironically, someone had already written one there, not about the attack ads but about other nonsense he's been sending his constituents that is nothing more than Conservative rhetoric. (they called it fluff)

Blake may have some explaining to do if they publish my letter as well.

If these guys want to come to my backyard then I'm going to theirs. We've got to start fighting back.

Back to - The Blake Richards Story: Shameless Self-Promotion

Gilles Duceppe on Board With EI Reform

When I first learned that Ryan Sparrow had not only been rehired by the Conservatives but would be working with Diane Finley, I knew that EI reform would be long on message and short on substance.

This was the catalyst that could trigger a fall election, something Stephen Harper is terrified of; so they needed a master of spin, and there are few better at it than Mr. Sparrow.

I wonder if Kory Teneycke's leaving had anything to do with Ryan's return? Teneycke had tried to change the way that the Conservatives dealt with the press, by actually allowing MPs to talk. Mind you they only read press releases from the PMO, but at least we learned they weren't all mute.

But back to EI reform and a possible fall election.

Less than a year ago, Stephen Harper couldn't wait to get to the polls. He even broke his own law to make it happen, though his eagerness had more to do with the "In and Out" scandal that was threatening to bring down his government. A total of 66 Conservative candidates from the 2006 election campaign, including several elected MPs and cabinet ministers, could have been facing (alleged) fraud charges.

Witness testimony and hard evidence was becoming increasingly difficult to downplay, so Harper immediately closed down the committee, launched yet another lawsuit against the Canadian people and distracted us all with an election.

The case is still on the back burner and last I heard the Conservatives counter suit will begin in November. Can't wait to hear how they're going to defend (allegedly) forging receipts to claim expenses they never incurred.

In many respects it will be better if Harper is out of office at that time, because he will no longer be able to abuse his power to deny accountability. This is a very serious matter that can't be simply swept under the rug, and puts the entire legitimacy of his office into question.

But now that the opposition parties are threatening to bring down his government over much needed reform to EI, he's begging us to protect him. There are even rumours that he may again go to the Governor General on his hands and knees asking her to once again prorogue parliament.

Will she? I hope not. But if she wants to avoid an election during an economic crisis, that the Conservatives denied was even coming; she could always ask Mr. Ignatieff to head up a coalition government that best represents the majority of Canadians. Harper has certainly been throwing the 'c' word around a lot these days.

For me, I was just happy to hear that Gilles Duceppe had lent his voice to the 'unemployed' in this country who are being silenced because of Harper's ideology. When our PM was President of the National Citizens Coalition, he hated the fact that we had such a lenient system. His NCC demanded that seasonal workers and 'pregnant' women be removed from the system and always felt that EI recipients were getting a 'free ride'.

And then of course his famous speech when he said: "Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it... In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."

I really like Gilles Duceppe. A very smart man who has Stephen Harper's number.

Bloc threatens government over EI changes
By ELIZABETH THOMPSON,
NATIONAL BUREAU
Edmonton Sun
August 1, 2009

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe is threatening to bring down Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government unless it makes changes to Canada's employment insurance system.

In a message posted on the Bloc's website yesterday, Duceppe said the committee set up by the Conservatives and the Liberals to examine the EI system appears to be "an empty shell intended to buy them time."

"This committee will only prolong the injustice experienced by the unemployed who do not now have access to the system."

Duceppe, who believes people should qualify for EI after 360 hours of work, says he will wait to see the committee's report and then decide whether to support it.

READY

"If we find ourselves in elections, the Bloc Quebecois will be ready. It is already. And I am too."

Duceppe's comments come as Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has suggested he could trigger an election this fall and Harper is warning an election could hurt Canada's fragile economic recovery.

Defeating the government, however, will take the combined vote of the Liberals, the Bloc and the NDP. (We only need to hear from you now Mr. Layton)

Duceppe's message will likely quash rumours he is about to resign as Bloc leader.

In his posting, Duceppe says he is looking forward to hitting the road for his summer tour and discussing the Bloc's proposals with Quebecers.

Bloc officials say Duceppe has a busy schedule planned this fall.