gdp's Comments

http://www.themarknews.com/ : Catholic High School Bans Rainbows | The Mark

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 21:34:04 +0000

Does the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board realize just how sad and pathetic it looks right now?

Macleans.ca : Is Canada a nation?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:52:27 +0000

Canada = nation Canada = country Québec = nation that is part of Canadian nation Acadia = nation that is part of Canadian nation First nations = nations that are part of Canadian nation Newfoundland = (arguably) nation that is part of Canadian nation All provinces minus Québec = not a nation

http://www.themarknews.com/ : Harper’s Cabinet and the Existential Crisis of the Centre-Right | The Mark

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:44:55 +0000

B. Stronach never ran for the PC leadership. She ran for the Conservative leadership, after the merger, against Harper and Clement. Otherwise, excellent analysis.

Macleans.ca : How Stephen Harper will survive in 2011

Fri, 7 Jan 2011 21:43:45 +0000

We all know you're a créditiste plant

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 20:45:12 +0000

You're right - "hey, talk to us before you call an election because we've been in discussions and think you should consider all your options...and oh by the way we represent a majority of the House" probably means they just wanted to chat with her about the weather or something. And I'm sure Harper's subsequent statements that he was ready to lead an alternative government without an election were just a series of unfortunate Tourette syndrome-related outbursts.

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 19:44:42 +0000

The GG has two options lol: call an election or ask someone else to form government. lol. The letter proves Harper lol knows handing the reins to an alternative government, led lol by the second-place party, without a new election, is a legitimate possibility lol lol. Now he pretends it isn't lol lol lol. He is therefore a lying sack of...lolololololololololololololololol

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 15:11:40 +0000

"As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. " The letter is signed by Harper, Duceppe, and Layton. What "options" do you think they are referring to?

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 20:15:38 +0000

If you find the idea of a coalition led by the second-place party "illegitimate," in the sense that it appalls you and you don't like it, that's all well and good. Though you must then admit that you find our parliamentary system wanting, because our system allows for such a thing to happen. In other words, if you think in is "illegitimate" in the sense of being illegal or unconstitutional, you would be wrong (possibly brainwashed, but definitely wrong). So yes, I believe it is legitimate for the second-place party to lead a coalition (only, of course, after the first placed party as demonstrably failed to maintain the confidence of the House). The logic of my position lies simply in a straight reading of the rules of the game. Any party leader can potentially be prime minister if that person commands the confidence of a majority of MPs. I'm glad to see that you would have opposed Harper's 2004 coalition just as much - this shows you are a thinking, non-brainwashed person. But your beef lies with the system itself. A coalition led by the second -place party is nothing more than a potential product of that system. Logically.

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 17:14:29 +0000

Thanks for that. (And I hope it's clear I read too quickly and thought the questions said 'legitimate'. So the answer is No in every case)

Macleans.ca : The guardian of our democracy

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 16:42:23 +0000

We all know that the answer to every one of these questions is yes. And Stephen Harper knows it (recall his 2005(?) letter to the GG explaining how his second-place party could legitimately lead a coalition government with the Bloc and NDP, without a new election). What matters is that Harper has no problem pretending the answers to those questions aren't yes, and people believe him. Well, 30% of them do, anyway. For the Conservative base, then, truth is whatever Stephen Harper says it is. Facts matter little to them, and I fear clarification from the GG would do nothing to change this.

Macleans.ca : The Commons: They are but humans

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:19:01 +0000

Very well done. An MP who spoke in the House as she or he would in any other setting would stick out like a sore thumb. Yet these are the same people who fall all over themselves trying to "connect with Canadians." Very, very strange behaviour.

Macleans.ca : Rights and Democracy: an odd cameo appearance

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 20:37:46 +0000

Wow. Whatever province these guys are in sounds like it might be the most corrupt in the country.

Macleans.ca : How many? (II)

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 20:30:57 +0000

At least they gave you a fuller answer than Cannon is giving in QP. He refuses to even acknowledge the specific question.

Macleans.ca : Leave our MPs to bicker in peace

Thu, 2 Dec 2010 21:47:13 +0000

It's not about taking things back to some imaginary golden age of decorum...it's about taking things to where they should be. And don't start on that nonsense about how acting like a bunch of useless juvenile venom-spitters means they really care. Every second spent hurling insults, cracking bad jokes, faux-posturing and feigning outrage is a second not spent on writing or improving laws (otherwise known as their job). A parliament that strives to do more than bicker - now that might be a sign someone cares. Ever since people have started pointing out the painfully obvious - that QP is a grand farce - some have started defending/apologizing for behaviour from parliamentarians that would get anyone else kicked out of fourth grade. To these professional contrarians I ask: How popular does a really obviously good idea have to become before you oppose it?

http://www.themarknews.com/ : Corruption Continues, Thanks to Maclean’s | The Mark

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:05:07 +0000

The author of the Maclean's article is a Quebecer. He lives in Pointe St. Charles. This was self-analysis, not some view from Toronto.

http://www.themarknews.com/ : Live Chat: Michael Ignatieff From the Bus - Michael Ignatieff — THE MARK

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:50:28 +0000

Dear Mr. Ignatieff, I 'm running for the Liberal nomination in Jeanne-Le Ber. When could we get together for a beer and chat about it? Thanks, Pascal Zamprelli www.pascalzamprelli.ca

Macleans.ca : None dead in crash of metaphor

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:37:26 +0000

By industry-wide decree, journalists must now use the word "ill-fated" every time they use the words "Liberal bus tour." Please note that the edicts mandating the consistent and obligatory use of the word "embattled" when referring to Michael Ignatieff or his leadership, and "hapless" when looking back on Stephane Dion or his campaign, are still in full effect.

Macleans.ca : Let no baby go unkissed

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:41:11 +0000

Earning confidence one baby at a time. oy ve.

Macleans.ca : What's good for the Catholic...

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:37:33 +0000

The problem is that they are only semi-private. These schools are still heavily subsidized by the provincial government. It stands to reason that the government should have a say in the curriculum. If the schools disagree, they can go completely private.

Macleans.ca : Revenge of the '80s

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:28:57 +0000

One of these already happened, but you can be forgiven for forgetting about it, given its soaring degree of suck: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096159/