Belinda Stronach appointed to Cabinet
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He also said that he told his wife that Belinda would leave because she'd never be leader.
He's a petty little man.
Polls have been showing us shifting to left for a very long time now, Jay...especially on social policies.
Her father is a big-time Liberal. She's clearly been uncomfortable with the radical right in the Conservatives since she joined up. She's got as many connections to the Liberals as to the Conservatives. Aside from social policies, the Liberals and the Conservatives aren't that far apart at all. They are really just different sides of the Corporate Party.
I'm wondering who will jump next though. Loyola Hearn maybe? The entire east coast delegation? Just the MPs from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia? They are pretty much in a position where they have to vote against their party on the budget or face serious trouble at home. Could Belinda just be the first? Could we see somebody cross the floor in a dramatic gesture during the budget vote?
I was in a Sudbury Coffee shop this morning when the news of this broke/ press conference occured. Part of what I was reading (subtitles) had Stronach talking something about how serious Martin was regarding "...reforming Canadian Democracy". Anyone else catch this? Was she alluding to proportional representation perhaps?
Really I thought this was kind of a shame, Belinda seemed a voice of moderation within the Cons. Just in the last few days I had heard some talk about her moving into the leadership of that party. Whether that was a likely scenerio or not, she would likely hold some sway within the party, and away from Harper's rather extreme views.
There still is a couple of more Conservatives out there that may help to keep the present government in power for a little longer....http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=51f88a66-2d1f-4220-87f1-fbd326366cbd
No talk about crossing the floor tho' , just voting with the Libs/NDP come thursday.
Really I thought this was kind of a shame, Belinda seemed a voice of moderation within the Cons. Just in the last few days I had heard some talk about her moving into the leadership of that party. Whether that was a likely scenerio or not, she would likely hold some sway within the party, and away from Harper's rather extreme views.
There still is a couple of more Conservatives out there that may help to keep the present government in power for a little longer....http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=51f88a66-2d1f-4220-87f1-fbd326366cbd
No talk about crossing the floor tho' , just voting with the Libs/NDP come thursday.
I hadn't heard that. I'm in radio-land today, so I haven't seen the TV coverage.
The NDP has been pushing for PR though. The BQ has said that they'll support it. Stronach seemed to be for it, along with dropping the voting age to sixteen, in an interview I saw with her before the Conservative convention.
The Liberals really hate the idea of PR though...they have a lot to lose in such a system because they always get way more seats than the popular vote would indicate.
Re: RE: Belinda Stronach appointed to Cabinet
Hey Andem...nice to hear from you.
Sure it isn't impossible, but I thought her riding was big business?
She has a knack though, and perhaps I'm wrong and her riding will see it her "new" way.
It is strange mind you that she would run for the leadership of one party, and cross the floor to the "other side". She is an instant liberal, with little experience and Martin gives her a cabinet position?
It's all weird if you ask me.
Andem said:
Hey Andem...nice to hear from you.
Sure it isn't impossible, but I thought her riding was big business?
She has a knack though, and perhaps I'm wrong and her riding will see it her "new" way.
It is strange mind you that she would run for the leadership of one party, and cross the floor to the "other side". She is an instant liberal, with little experience and Martin gives her a cabinet position?
It's all weird if you ask me.
ukeright: 
Re: RE: Belinda Stronach appointed to Cabinet
Nope. Aurora is typical suburbia interested in improved infrastructure (IE. The funding in the liberal budget) and Newmarket is suburbia with cheap house prices. Either town can be swayed.
Markham is more big business.
Jay said:
Nope. Aurora is typical suburbia interested in improved infrastructure (IE. The funding in the liberal budget) and Newmarket is suburbia with cheap house prices. Either town can be swayed.
Markham is more big business.
RE: Belinda Stronach appo
Scott Brison joined the Liberals too. David Orchard will land someplace, though likely not the Liberals because of their trade policies. Charest is running the Quebec Liberals.
It's like your references to big business...the Liberals live on corporate donors just like the Conservatives do. A lot of those corporate donors give to both parties to hedge their bets.
Outside of the social policies, the Liberal party is not that far away from the Conservatives. Maybe a little less likely to kiss George Bush's ass, and a little less radical, but that more to do with political expediency than anything else.
Scott Brison joined the Liberals too. David Orchard will land someplace, though likely not the Liberals because of their trade policies. Charest is running the Quebec Liberals.
It's like your references to big business...the Liberals live on corporate donors just like the Conservatives do. A lot of those corporate donors give to both parties to hedge their bets.
Outside of the social policies, the Liberal party is not that far away from the Conservatives. Maybe a little less likely to kiss George Bush's ass, and a little less radical, but that more to do with political expediency than anything else.
RE: Belinda Stronach appo
Well maybe she finally realized what she got her self into, after sitting in a caucus full of neanderthals. So she got out while she had a chance. She is far from being stupid. She will easily win that riding anyways. She barely won the last time as a tory so running as a Liberal may be easier.
Well maybe she finally realized what she got her self into, after sitting in a caucus full of neanderthals. So she got out while she had a chance. She is far from being stupid. She will easily win that riding anyways. She barely won the last time as a tory so running as a Liberal may be easier.
RE: Belinda Stronach appo
Well it used to be a Liberal Riding and she Barley won last time as she basically won on her looks and charm. Anyone else running as a Tory would of lost. So if she is to run as a Liberal next election she should win the riding by a wider margain. She really was not a hardened tory anyways, she does fit in better as a liberal. If the people she represents don't like her changing they can vote her out. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.
Well it used to be a Liberal Riding and she Barley won last time as she basically won on her looks and charm. Anyone else running as a Tory would of lost. So if she is to run as a Liberal next election she should win the riding by a wider margain. She really was not a hardened tory anyways, she does fit in better as a liberal. If the people she represents don't like her changing they can vote her out. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.
RE: Belinda Stronach appo
Why not? They did it in BC. Just an extension of their constant name-changing, really.
I don't think it will happen federally though.
She will win her riding again. Her constituents like her. I'd still bet that she did some polling and found out that her constituents don't like Harper though.
Why not? They did it in BC. Just an extension of their constant name-changing, really.
I don't think it will happen federally though.
She will win her riding again. Her constituents like her. I'd still bet that she did some polling and found out that her constituents don't like Harper though.
RE: Belinda Stronach appo
Harper looked more constipated than usual today. He is not happy.
There may be tories who support the budget who could still vote for it on Thursday. Chuck Cadman was on radio and he said the conservative mp's from maratimes are being hounded by the people, as they want that oil deal to pass.
I think the tories are ready to implode in on themselves, especially if Liberals win next election.
Liberal numbers are up in vote rich Ontario and this could help the Liberals and hurt tories even more.
BTW-She only won by 600 votes as a tory. I bet if she ran as a Liberal last time it would of been a hell of a lot more.
Harper looked more constipated than usual today. He is not happy.
There may be tories who support the budget who could still vote for it on Thursday. Chuck Cadman was on radio and he said the conservative mp's from maratimes are being hounded by the people, as they want that oil deal to pass.
I think the tories are ready to implode in on themselves, especially if Liberals win next election.
Liberal numbers are up in vote rich Ontario and this could help the Liberals and hurt tories even more.
BTW-She only won by 600 votes as a tory. I bet if she ran as a Liberal last time it would of been a hell of a lot more.
Reverend Blair said:
I also remember Jack making some similar "deal" with Martin to look into reforming democracy, shortly after the last election. (I forget what this was in return for) maybe with enough of these little nudges, and hopefully a yes in BC today, there may be enough to actually have some real pressure on reformation.
Certainly the Libs don't want PR, they have everything to lose and nothing to gain by it. Nevertheless, we can still hope.
Re: RE: Belinda Stronach appo
The lower the dollar is, the more our economy rolls.
Reverend Blair said:
The lower the dollar is, the more our economy rolls.
Re: RE: Belinda Stronach appo
They are. But I doubt the NDP will ever be elected, because they are too far left for most Canadians. Maybe if the bloc dissapeared though, the NDP might have a chance. As I'm sure they would get the majority of seats here.
Reverend Blair said:
They are. But I doubt the NDP will ever be elected, because they are too far left for most Canadians. Maybe if the bloc dissapeared though, the NDP might have a chance. As I'm sure they would get the majority of seats here.
Here's a suggestive reference to what I heard on TV.
"Stronach has been named human resources minister by Martin and will increase the total number of Liberal seats to 133. She will also assume responsibility for democratic renewal and will help guide the implementation of the recommendations from the Gomery commission's final report."
http://www.politicswatch.com/stronach-may17-2005.htm
"Stronach has been named human resources minister by Martin and will increase the total number of Liberal seats to 133. She will also assume responsibility for democratic renewal and will help guide the implementation of the recommendations from the Gomery commission's final report."
http://www.politicswatch.com/stronach-may17-2005.htm
That deal fell apart mostly because the Conservatives, who had previously said that they liked PR, didn't want anything to do with it.
The higher the dollar is, the more money you make. Most of Quebec's exports are hydro-electricity or related to cheap hydro, aren't they? It's not like your customers can just go elsewhere.
I just saw her on Politics. Democratic renewal was mentioned again. They didn't give any details, but she did mention that it should include reforms so that something like sponsorship can't happen again. PR is generally considered to cut down on such scandals because no single party ever has complete control.