Justin Trudeau gets the job done.

[gerryh]

Now, I am NOT comparing Trudeau to Kennedy, BUT, for those that keep going on about his name, his education, his experience, his "pretty face".......... maybe they should take a good look at JFK's bio. His education and HOW he won his Congressional and Senate seats.

 

[Trex]

That's weird I've never once based my federal vote on what was going on provincially or vice versa.
Can you give me one intelligent reason why someone would do that?

Since you asked, sure i'll take a crack at it.

In general we are supposed to vote for the best council member, trustee, MLA and MP according to whom we feel will best represent us.
In practice things can be slightly different.
In reality some votes are "locked in" thus if you are a hard core lefty you may tend to vote for the most left leaning representatives in Municipal, Provincial and Federal elections.
So forget about the "locked in" votes.
Next a lot of folks tend to vote for best representative municipally however provincially some of those same folks may vote more for the leadership of a party than for the individual MLA's.
Federally even more people tend to vote for the leadership of the party in question over the merits of individual MP candidates.
Not saying that it's right but thats how some folks tend to vote.

Now lets look at Ontario, a Province with a lot of swayable or somewhat undecided voters.
Traditionally Ontario used to contain a heck of a lot of Federal Liberals, especially in the TO heartlands.
After the Chretien/Martin fiasco a lot of soft Liberal votes went to the Federal Conservatives.
A lot of those votes are still soft and could easily swing back to the Federal Liberals.
Now lets look at it Provincially.
McGuinty was a Liberal disaster and the present Horwath/ Wynne tango benefits nobody but the Dips.
Probably some reviews will be called to look at the power plant cancellations, ehealth and green power.
This also is not good news for the Libs provincially.
Now lets swing back to Ontario on a Federal level.
Lots of folks in Ontario are growing tired of Harper and could quite easily be convinced to vote Federal Liberal once again.
But on the Provincial side you have this slow moving Liberal train wreck.
And that may keep some folks in Harpers camp.

In BC Dix and the Dippers will get in Provincially.
If the Dip's do quite well, in most peoples eyes, that could help the Dips out Federally in BC with a few extra seats.
Especially with young, left leaning folks.
But lets say the opposite comes true.
Lets say the Dippers trash BC once again.
The pipelines dont go in, coal terminals get cancelled, O&G drilling shuts down, the hardrock mines get scrubbed, the loggers get laid off and so on.
Business taxes go up and then the companies that can tend to move east to Alberta.
Income and property taxes go up and then so does unemployment.
And then the teachers and fellow unionists in the public sector get large raises.
Public debt goes through the roof.
Hypothetically speaking.
That would cost the Dippers federally in BC.
A bunch of potentially swingable or undecided voters would then be burned Federally for the Dips and their votes would then go Con or Lib.

Thats how in my view Provincial politics can influence Federal voting trends.
I am not saying it should, but I think it does.

 

[Jonny_C]

Oh, boy, here we go again. Maybe he'll get the Nobel for providing lotsa wishful thi.... I mean hope, too.

Well, JT will have to assume power first. ;-)

And despite the wet dreams he inspires with his fresh face and openness (policy vacuum) so far, he will have his work cut out for him in the next couple of years.

Not saying he CAN'T do it, if things roll right for him, but what I've seen so far only makes him interesting, not electable.

 

[Angstrom]

Well, JT will have to assume power first. ;-)

And despite the wet dreams he inspires with his fresh face and openness (policy vacuum) so far, he will have his work cut out for him in the next couple of years.

Not saying he CAN'T do it, if things roll right for him, but what I've seen so far only makes him interesting, not electable.

Well that's better then Dion and igy combined.

 

[Jonny_C]

Well that's better then Dion and igy combined.

Oh no doubt. The Liberals made the right choice. You can see that by the "honeymoon" polls. The proof of the pudding though, so to speak, is what comes now. I doubt whether JT can coast to a win on good looks and airy "feel good" policy.

Liberals in these forums cheerlead; they can't help themselves because they see some hope of a way out of their crushing situation. But the party and its leader will have to "man up" and develop into a viable alternative. They're a far way from that yet.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I think that anyone who decides to be a teacher does so because they are a decoent caring person. I do not think Justin is a bad guy, I just think he is ill equipped to lead the country. I know, that makes me the anti-christ, or worse, a neocon.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

I don't think that Canadians expect Justin Trudeau to be perfect, Stephen Harper certainly isn't and there's some good indications he's taking this nation in directions that could have very serious consequences for Canadians in the coming years.

If we're on a downward trajectory, as more than a few of us believe, then having a leader that will almost certainly take us in a different direction or even be willing to acknowledge well established facts, is a good thing.

 

[Jonny_C]

I don't think that Canadians expect Justin Trudeau to be perfect, Stephen Harper certainly isn't and there's some good indications he's taking this nation in directions that could have very serious consequences for Canadians in the coming years.

Or maybe in directions we need to go? Just sayin'.

If we're on a downward trajectory, as more than a few of us believe, then having a leader that will almost certainly take us in a different direction or even be willing to acknowledge well established facts, is a good thing.

In politics there are facts and then there are facts. What you call facts are likely better characterized interpretations or viewpoints. Something as "simple" as whether or not to build a pipeline depends on two wholly different sets of "facts", for example, or two wholly different interpretations of facts. Net benefit vs net risk, and two sides see, or emphasize, two different outcomes.

 

[Locutus]

Bad advice: Think Justin Trudeau’s instincts are scary? Take a look at what two of his advisers have to say

What are Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy views, especially about the threat of Islamic terrorism?

Two years ago, Trudeau criticized the new citizenship guide for new immigrants, called Discover Canada. One passage in that guide book said, “Canada’s openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, ‘honour killings,’ female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence.”

Pretty tough to disagree with that. But Trudeau did. He said, “There needs to be a little bit of an attempt at responsible neutrality” by the Canadian government. Honour killings shouldn’t be called “barbaric,” he said.


more shininess:


Bad advice: Think Justin Trudeau’s instincts are scary? Take a look at what two of his advisers have to say | Columnists | Opinion | Toronto Sun

 

[Jonny_C]

Honour killings shouldn’t be called “barbaric,” he said.

I didn't know that he said that. If it's so, I think he's abysmally wrong.

 

[Locutus]

I didn't know that he said that. If it's so, I think he's abysmally wrong.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said the government should not call honour killings "barbaric" in a study guide for would-be Canadian citizens. On Monday, the federal government updated its Discover Canada guide, a pamphlet given to new immigrants to help explain life in Canada and prepare them for the citizenship test.

Among other things, it tells new Canadians that gay marriage is OK and forced marriages are not.

But the guide also says: "Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, 'honour killings,' female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence."

"Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws," it reads.

Trudeau blasted the Conservatives for using the term "barbaric," even though it's been in the guide since 2009. Forced marriages are the only new item on the list.

"There's nothing that the word 'barbaric' achieves that the words 'absolutely unacceptable' would not have achieved," Trudeau, the Liberal immigration critic, said.

"We accept that these acts are absolutely unacceptable. That's not the debate. In casual conversation, I'd even use the word barbaric to describe female circumcision, for example, but in an official Government of Canada publication, there needs to be a little bit of an attempt at responsible neutrality."

But Immigration Minister Jason Kenney fired back Monday, accusing the Liberals of choosing political correctness over women's rights.
"Despite Trudeau's opposition, we make no apologies for letting immigrant women know their rights. We won't turn a blind eye to the abuse of immigrant women, even if the Ignatieff Liberals prefer we err on the side of political correctness," said Alykhan Velshi, a spokesman for Kenney.

Newcomers are also being warned in the updated guide to leave their "violent, extreme or hateful prejudices" at the door, even if they're coming from a war-torn country or conflict zone.

"Such experiences do not justify bringing to Canada violent, extreme or hateful prejudices. In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law," the brochure now reads.

Announcing the changes in Vancouver Monday, Kenney said it's important to make sure newcomers to Canada understand the laws and values of the land.

"We expect people who want to become Canadians to have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities, and the values and institutions that are rooted in Canada's history," he said. "This study guide has strengthened the value of Canadian citizenship."
Opposition parties lauded the government for including gay marriage in the document. Critics blasted feds last year for omitting gay rights from the first version of the guide, which was introduced in 2009.


Honour killings term angers Trudeau | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

 

[captain morgan]

 

[55Mercury]

what's this about pi R squared?

everyone knows pie are round!

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Or maybe in directions we need to go? Just sayin'.

So we need less transparency, accountability and local control of our economy and jobs?

Ottawa approves $15B Chinese takeover of Nexen | CTV News

BC coal mine's temp workers 'exacerbate' concerns over Chinese investment: memo

Not sure about you, but I really don't want to follow the Chinese political or economic model here.

And why are some of the most profitable businesses in Canada outsourcing our jobs?

RBC didn't plan for outsourcing backlash: PR expert | CTV News

RBC broke the first rule of public relations, failing to plan for the possibility that employees whose jobs were being outsourced would be upset and take their complaints public, says one PR expert.

In February, 45 of the bank's personnel were informed that they would be replaced by outsourced workers after the bank contracted a number of technological services to iGate, a California-based firm that specializes in sending jobs offshore.

According to an RBC employee, personnel were given 90 days' notice. At least one of the Canadian employees complained that she was asked to train her own foreign replacement.

In politics there are facts and then there are facts. What you call facts are likely better characterized interpretations or viewpoints. Something as "simple" as whether or not to build a pipeline depends on two wholly different sets of "facts", for example, or two wholly different interpretations of facts. Net benefit vs net risk, and two sides see, or emphasize, two different outcomes.

When it comes to a government that's been ignoring basic physics because it contradicts economic and political interests there's a serious problem. On the climate change issue alone Canadians have been paying heavily from the costs of extreme weather and changing habitats and that will almost certainly increase in the coming years. I'm looking forward to seeing how creative you and your party can get in explaining away the blatantly obvious.

As far as pipelines go the simple fact is they often leak and sometimes disastrously, people should have a choice about having them built through areas where they live.

Third oil spill fuels calls for Alberta pipeline review - The Globe and Mail

The company that wants to build the Keystone pipeline has a bad record of safety.

Settlement: Koch Petroleum Group Oil Spills Settlement | Civil Enforcement | Compliance and Enforcement | US EPA

Koch Industries Inc., will pay the largest civil fine ever imposed on a company under any federal environmental law to resolve claims related to more than 300 oil spills from its pipelines and oil facilities in six states, the Justice Department and the U.S. EPA announced. A settlement filed on January 13, 2000 requires Koch, the second-largest privately held company in the United States, to pay a $30 million civil penalty, improve its leak-prevention programs and spend $5 million on environmental projects.

The settlement filed in U.S. District Court in Houston resolves two lawsuits in Houston and Tulsa, Okla., which charge that Koch illegally discharged crude oil and petroleum products in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Alabama. The State of Texas joined the United States in suing Koch, and the $30 million penalty will be divided equally between Texas and the federal government.

So the problem doesn't seem to be in the interpretation of facts, but the ignoring of facts that may negatively affect certain interests that have very powerful political clout. So the question becomes how long do we avoid dealing with reality out of fear of pissing off power special interests.

Btw, there is no political physics and we ignore the real stuff at our own peril. Any ideology that avoids dealing with the real world is eventually going to collapse under the effects of doing so.

 

[Colpy]

Bad advice: Think Justin Trudeau’s instincts are scary? Take a look at what two of his advisers have to say

What are Justin Trudeau’s foreign policy views, especially about the threat of Islamic terrorism?

Two years ago, Trudeau criticized the new citizenship guide for new immigrants, called Discover Canada. One passage in that guide book said, “Canada’s openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, ‘honour killings,’ female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence.”

Pretty tough to disagree with that. But Trudeau did. He said, “There needs to be a little bit of an attempt at responsible neutrality” by the Canadian government. Honour killings shouldn’t be called “barbaric,” he said.


more shininess:


Bad advice: Think Justin Trudeau’s instincts are scary? Take a look at what two of his advisers have to say | Columnists | Opinion | Toronto Sun

Excellent OP.........

 

[L Gilbert]

I don't think that Canadians expect Justin Trudeau to be perfect, Stephen Harper certainly isn't and there's some good indications he's taking this nation in directions that could have very serious consequences for Canadians in the coming years.

If we're on a downward trajectory, as more than a few of us believe, then having a leader that will almost certainly take us in a different direction or even be willing to acknowledge well established facts, is a good thing.

Sideways is not necessarily a better direction nor is up. And much like other people that formed gov't, Harpy is neither all bad nor all good as we can see by the trail of disasters and triumphs throughout Canadian history. I really will have to see if Junior is any different to believe it.
Anyway, you can suggest him to be the next pope of you like, but I prefer evidence over wishful thinking and so far, I've seen him flipflop enough to give me doubts about his holiness.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Sideways is not necessarily a better direction nor is up. And much like other people that formed gov't, Harpy is neither all bad nor all good as we can see by the trail of disasters and triumphs throughout Canadian history. I really will have to see if Junior is any different to believe it.

Who knows what Harper really is, he has one of the least transparent governments in our history, which is something to be seriously concerned about. He could have the most effective social, economic and environmental polices in our history(which I doubt), but we're not being informed and our MPs are being marginalized to an extent we haven't seen before.

If Justin Trudeau just lets the light in a little bit it would be an improvement over what we have now.

 

[DaSleeper]

You must believe in Santa Claus............

 

[L Gilbert]

Who knows what Harper really is, he has one of the least transparent governments in our history, which is something to be seriously concerned about. He could have the most effective social, economic and environmental polices in our history(which I doubt), but we're not being informed and our MPs are being marginalized to an extent we haven't seen before.

If Justin Trudeau just lets the light in a little bit it would be an improvement over what we have now.

lol Yeah, we haven't a clue what Harpy's been doing since Feb 2006. Everything's completely black........... except for all the secrets in the newsmedia about dropping GST a percentage, making student scholarships non-taxable, income trust taxation, lowest debt to GDP ratio in the G-8 through the economic mess, etc. Yep, everything's a complete mystery and Harpy's a demon in a suit.

Oh, wait, if everything's a mystery, then you have no grounds for disliking him and his gov't.

Like the Gliberals divulged everything they were doing. uhuh suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

You must believe in Santa Claus............

No, I believe in the democratic system we're supposed to have.

And that's poorly served by a PM who's more concerned about "winning" the game for his team than he is building a strong Canada. And that's strong democratically, socially, and culturally, not just economically. Even on that count he's not doing so well.