Jack Layton is dead

[Praxius]

I didn't find it that way at all......

Harper is not a great speaker.......and I don't want to over-analyze, but I actually thought he was on the edge of choking up at that point.......

Indeed.... it's not often I'm seen defending Harper, but as the leader of a Nation, you're usually still expected to show very little weakness to the public, even when something is very personal..... thus him trying to be as composed as he was.

Normally I would have expected Harper to give the run of the mill speach towards the loss of a politician, but he actually talked about knowing him personally, the things they had in common and how he actually respected him..... not to mention him noting regrets and what he personally learned about what has all happened.

That's a lot more than what I would normally have expected from him..... so brownie points for Harper.

It was a pretty incredible sight, there was probably a good 500-600 people showing their respects. Lots of real personal messages too, stuff along the line of "Jack, you gave me a reason to vote" etc. Like his politics or not, he had a profound effect on people, especially evident now.

He got me to vote..... before that, I didn't give a crap about politics and felt nothing I did or said mattered, that my vote still didn't count for anything and the government would still do whatever they damn well please. Layton and the NDP actually made me feel there was someone and some party out there that actually gave a damn and would have actually listened, and reguarlly back in Canada, I remember getting letters in the mail from the NDP and from Jack Layton informing me and others on what was going on.... keeping me aware..... and also sending regular questionnaires for me to fill out and send back so they actually got feedback from people.

...... and that's why I supported Layton.... that's why I supported the NDP.... and that's why I started to actually give a damn, because they made me feel like someone was actually listening for once & acting on what their supporters were telling them.

Maybe other parties do the same things, but I never encountered it before.

 

[Chev]

"show some respect the guy just passed away"

 

[Ariadne]

This is such a controversial thread ... so I skipped most of it.

I am sorry to see him go. It's an interesting political time in Canada. The Liberal party was all but wiped out in the last election. Jack Layton was the one that led the NDP, without him the party is weak. That leaves one political party in Canada. We can criticize all we want, but there really no alternative until the NDP and Liberals get back on their feet.

 

[JLM]

This is such a controversial thread ... so I skipped most of it.

I am sorry to see him go. It's an interesting political time in Canada. The Liberal party was all but wiped out in the last election. Jack Layton was the one that led the NDP, without him the party is weak. That leaves one political party in Canada. We can criticize all we want, but there really no alternative until the NDP and Liberals get back on their feet.

Maybe they are all tired and you should start up a new one. :lol:

 

[Ariadne]

Maybe they are all tired and you should start up a new one. :lol:

I don't know anything about politics except that I want the government to secure our northern waters. I think the current party is looking after that interest.

I think the NDP has a big hill to climb.

 

[Chev]

I would have thought so too but it doesn't seem to be the case from what I'm reading on Heritage Canada website.

It says Royal Family, current PM, former PM, Governal General (current and former), spouses of former Governal Generals, and serving Cabinet Minsters.

Unless the national ceremony is just not handled by Heritage? But I would think any state funeral would have to follow the same protacols.

Have we had a Oppostion Leader die in office before?

Wilfrid Laurier, in 1919 “In Canada, state funerals are public events held to commemorate the memory of present and former governors general, present and former prime ministers, sitting members of the Ministry and other prominent Canadians at the discretion of the Prime Minister” “Traditionally, state funerals are offered to prime ministers, governors general and current members of cabinet.”

 

[JLM]

I don't know anything about politics except that I want the government to secure our northern waters. I think the current party is looking after that interest.

I think the NDP has a big hill to climb.

YES, but not directly up but rather "fine tune" their way up. Social programs are good but only if every able bodied person contributes to them..............there's a lot of people today who have to get off their ass and do what they can for themselves first of all before going to Gov't. for help. I think if anyone could make the N.D.P. succeed Jack Layton could because he had the knack of making people feel good about themselves and from there it's only a step or two to where you get them to take action. For instance I feel sure if every able bodied Canadian would donate one hour of his/her time each week, we could clean up the streets and put the low lifes where they belong AND THEN, the cost of virtually everything would start coming down.

 

[Ariadne]

YES, but not directly up but rather "fine tune" their way up. Social programs are good but only if every able bodied person contributes to them..............there's a lot of people today who have to get off their ass and do what they can for themselves first of all before going to Gov't. for help. I think if anyone could make the N.D.P. succeed Jack Layton could because he had the knack of making people feel good about themselves and from there it's only a step or two to where you get them to take action. For instance I feel sure if every able bodied Canadian would donate one hour of his/her time each week, we could clean up the streets and put the low lifes where they belong AND THEN, the cost of virtually everything would start coming down.

At this point in time I'm inclined to agree that everyone should donate an hour each week to clean up the lowlifes, but I don't think it would take long for complete chaos to break out ... so common sense kicks in ... maybe not.

It's a good thing that Canada has a stable government for a few years. That's what is needed for other parties to rebuild ... and for now ... since there are no options ... Canadians should maybe support their government instead of criticize it ... criticizing the gov't doesn't look good for the neighbours; shows weakness.

 

[JLM]

I think you're right, I don't think charisma is Harper's long suit and I think he probably puts prosperity over the environment but then I guess before you can clean up the mess you have to have some money. He is toughening up a wee bit on criminals and he's given seniors the ability of more discretionary spending. (We know how to get more value for money than the slugs at the trough) :lol:

 

[Ariadne]

I think you're right, I don't think charisma is Harper's long suit and I think he probably puts prosperity over the environment but then I guess before you can clean up the mess you have to have some money. He is toughening up a wee bit on criminals and he's given seniors the ability of more discretionary spending. (We know how to get more value for money than the slugs at the trough) :lol:

Harper helped all those Lebanese people with Canadian passports by diverting his plane to pick them up. He's doing his best.

Environmentally, he is not coming down hard on Alberta oil exploration. He understands that it benefits the entire country, and the US depends on Canadian oil for something like 33 million barrels of oil each day. Environmental restrictions on oil raise the price of exploration and decreases the national benefit. If any animals have been put on endangered spieces lists because of the exploration, we would know about it. Oil exploration leaves a big ugly hole that sprouts a city and industry. I hope the people that live there aren't going to one day expect the gov't to clean up the sewer where they built a house.

 

[Tonington]

He understands that it benefits the entire country, and the US depends on Canadian oil for something like 33 million barrels of oil each day.

That's way high. Canadian exports to the US are about 2 million barrels a day.
ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/p...ons/company_level_imports/current/import.html

 

[SLM]

Wilfrid Laurier, in 1919

Yep, but he was also a former PM at the time of his death too, so he would be entitled to a state funeral on that basis alone.

 

[Goober]

Well good for you !!
So are you suggesting you would not draw a line in the sand, but always deferre this decision to the PM to make a political decision..

As to the PM's discretion it is to enable the country to acord a person not a PM, GG a State Funereal. Not difficult to understand the caveat.

 

[Mowich]

For anyone wanting to leave a message of condolence to Jack's family, the government has put up a special page. This is the link.
State Funerals in Canada- Express your Condolences

 

[Locutus]

For anyone wanting to leave a message of condolence to Jack's family, the government has put up a special page. This is the link.
State Funerals in Canada- Express your Condolences

Thanks.

That's how this thread should have gone. It sure needed it.

 

[El Barto]

For anyone wanting to leave a message of condolence to Jack's family, the government has put up a special page. This is the link.
State Funerals in Canada- Express your Condolences

Thank you
I have sent mine

 

[eh1eh]

A rare breed. Full of honesty and integrity. No wonder he is gone. This wretched world has no place for good people in power.

sigh

 

[JLM]

A rare breed. Full of honesty and integrity. No wonder he is gone. This wretched world has no place for good people in power.

sigh

It seems that way at times, for sure, but still the good people in the world outnumber the bad, they just can't out gun the bad. Indeed Jack was a rare breed, but I'd say the man influenced more people than the politician.

 

[eh1eh]

It seems that way at times, for sure, but still the good people in the world outnumber the bad, they just can't out gun the bad. Indeed Jack was a rare breed, but I'd say the man influenced more people than the politician.

I'm no NDPer but with Jack nipping at Ol Harpos heels I felt my CPP and health care might just be there in 20 years when I need it.

 

[JLM]

I'm no NDPer but with Jack nipping at Ol Harpos heels I felt my CPP and health care might just be there in 20 years when I need it.

Out of fairness and recognizing Jack's abilities and talents I still think when it comes to fiscal savvy like investing Harpo has the edge. I've been drawing C.P.P. for over 8 years and the cheques just keep getting bigger each year, which suits me fine because (keeping my fingers and toes crossed) my main ambition now is to be retired for more years than I worked. :lol: