Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Canadian Sponsorship Scandal
Its been a long time in the making, but it seems that the Liberal Party in Canada (and its formerly teflon ex-PM Jean Cretien) are in significant troubles. First off, the Liberals formed a minority government in the last election. In Canada, minority governments usually fall within about 18 months. Second, the intial draft of Justice John Gomery into the sponsorship debacle clearly delineates the level of corruption that occured in the mid 90's to the early 00's.
Stephen is calling for all parties to band together to bring the government down. One non-confidence vote and Canadians could be back at the polls in short order. Layton has indicated that he doesn't want a Christmas election, but you can see the wolves circling. I suspect an election will occur soon. This all hinges on Jack Layton of the NDP though. It is an interesting connundrum that the right wing parties need the most left wing party. Will Layton do it?
It troubles me personally as I've never been a fan of the right wing parties back home. The Conservative Party morphed with the Canadian Alliance and the Reform Party to create the current Conservative party.
On an related/unrelated note, I voted for the first time in over 10 years. I've been living in the States since 1995 and took American Citizenship last December. It felt a little strange to be actively be participating again, but the issues are important ones. Will Walmart be allowed to open up a store in Westminster? Will the State government be allowed to temporarily repeal TABOR (Tax Payers Bill of Rights)? Both issues are close to me. I don't want the Walmart opening up (though I don't object to revitalisation of the old strip mall) in our community. AND I believe that TABOR is responsible for higher education and health care for the less fortunate crumbling in this state. It is reprehensible to my social leaning tendancies. Both of these issues are at a statistical dead heat prior to the polls opening this morning.
CBC and Globe and Mail Coverage of the Sponsorship Scandal
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/01/gomery-reac051101.html
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/01/gomery-report051101.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051101.wxgomery1101/BNStory/National/
Stephen is calling for all parties to band together to bring the government down. One non-confidence vote and Canadians could be back at the polls in short order. Layton has indicated that he doesn't want a Christmas election, but you can see the wolves circling. I suspect an election will occur soon. This all hinges on Jack Layton of the NDP though. It is an interesting connundrum that the right wing parties need the most left wing party. Will Layton do it?
It troubles me personally as I've never been a fan of the right wing parties back home. The Conservative Party morphed with the Canadian Alliance and the Reform Party to create the current Conservative party.
On an related/unrelated note, I voted for the first time in over 10 years. I've been living in the States since 1995 and took American Citizenship last December. It felt a little strange to be actively be participating again, but the issues are important ones. Will Walmart be allowed to open up a store in Westminster? Will the State government be allowed to temporarily repeal TABOR (Tax Payers Bill of Rights)? Both issues are close to me. I don't want the Walmart opening up (though I don't object to revitalisation of the old strip mall) in our community. AND I believe that TABOR is responsible for higher education and health care for the less fortunate crumbling in this state. It is reprehensible to my social leaning tendancies. Both of these issues are at a statistical dead heat prior to the polls opening this morning.
CBC and Globe and Mail Coverage of the Sponsorship Scandal
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/01/gomery-reac051101.html
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/01/gomery-report051101.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051101.wxgomery1101/BNStory/National/
