Sponsorship mess

I forgoto what a mess this whole thing is and was. Apparently A Montreal "advertising executive", a former teacher, and his family paid themeslves $12.1 million in salaries while their company profited from federal sponsorship contracts in the 1990s. The company gave the liberal party $100 grand during the same period.

Shocker

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was so displeased by Canada's decision to opt out of the program that she's postponed a planned visit to Ottawa in mid-April.

Same-sex marriage and polygamy

Looks like at least someone in government realized that when you start messing with the definitino of marriage, it might go further than just the sexes involved.

"The question of polygamy has also arisen lately in connection with the current public debate on civil marriage and the legal recognition of same-sex unions," says the three-page document from Status of Women Canada. "Concerns have been raised by some that in changing one aspect of the legal capacity to marry to allow equal access to civil marriage for same-sex couples, all of the other aspects of legal capacity may also be vulnerable to attack under the Charter[of Rights and Freedoms], including the ban on the practice of polygamy.

But don't worry: the justice minister said in January that the request was prompted solely by the British Columbia [polygamy] case and that there was "no connection" to same-sex marriage. "Any attempt to make that kind of connection is simply a way of confusing distinguishable issues in every regard." Right.

It's a mess

Have I mentioned the I like Paul Wells? This is a great column on the mess being made of federal-provincial and inter-provincial relations, and of the natural problems built in to the Liberals big "priorities": immigration, cities, and federalism. Ontario $23B more than it receives in federal-government services, and Newfoundland just got a $2B cheque to cover "shrinking equalization payments". McGuinty is mad that "an immigrant who lands in Montreal gets $3,800 of federal support, but an immigrant who lands here [Toronto] gets just over $800 in federal support?" Wouldn't it make sense to scale back the money Ottawa takes from taxpayers and business and the money it doles out to the provinces (motto: "a handout is a handup")? There's only one taxpayer, so it makes no sense at all to have money go to Ottawa so they can give it back to our provincial governments so they can in turn offer us services. Since when are cities a federal priority? Leave cities to their residents. And don't get me started on equalization. Redistribution on this level is a fatally flawed approach to managing a country's finances.

Two minds on missile defense

The National Post reports that Canadians are confused about missile defense - no surprise considering no one in this country has been willing to advocate for it.

• 54% oppose participating in US version, but...
• 56% say Canada should help protect North America against missiles

"They oppose it in practice and support it in principle...They oppose participation in missile defence but when you give them the arguments in favour of it, they embrace them."

Oh, and 31% of Quebeccers don't think Canada should even have a military. "What you have is a very strongly ingrained pacifist strain in Quebec and a very different opinion in the rest of the country"

Election 2004 revisited

I just finished watching a CBC (ugh) special on election 2004, and I found myself reliving some of the emotions, the disappoinment, and the sense of lost opportunity. I also realized how dishonest the Liberals were during the campaign. There was a classic shot of Martin in front of a background with the catchphrse "Shorting Waiting Times"; remember how the Liberals were going to fix healthcare for a generation? Right. There was the sharp turn leftward at the end. The demonization of economic ideas they would eventually adopt as their own (again). And then the push Martin made at the end while Harper stayed in Alberta. And the agony of election night. Why do I mention all this? I think my interest in Canadian politics is growing even as my interest in US politics wanes. I guess we'll see...

Everything going Bush's way

Lefties will argue it's not fast enough or far enough, or it's not real, or find something else to grouse about, but everything seems to be going Bush's way. Egypt is taking the first steps of democratic reform. People are asking "Why not here" in Lebanon and Palestine. In Iraq, there is real political debate amidst the admittedly too frequent violence. Oh, and they had successful elections that shut virtually every naysayer and critic up for at least 24 hours. In the recent past the Ukraine demonstrated their support for legitimate democracy and wowed the world. There were successful elections in Afghanistan. Howard was reelected in Australia; Bush won reelection in the U.S. Blair looks like he will win in Great Britain. That's because they get the one big thing, according to Mark Steyn. Things are far from perfect - there are real problems to be faced in Iran, North Korea, Syria, in Africa, and closer to home in Venezuela - but the trend is clearly up, and in Bush's direction.

Decision making

This just in: opting out of missile defense wasn't very bright. It will have long term consequences, none of them positive for Canada. And for what? Short term political gain. Very short term. Come to think of it, has this government made any decisions on non economic issues that weren't easy in the short term and bad in the long term? Think healthcare, equalization, missile defense, marriage, Iraq... And there is this from Paul Wells:

I had lunch with a foreign diplomat today. He asked a lot of questions. Taken in sum, he was begging me to explain this government in rational terms, because he was completely at a loss. I said, "If you want me to make sense of this government, I'm afraid you've invited the wrong guy to lunch."

Hillary! in 2008?

It's not too early to start talking about the race for president in 2008 is it? Of course not. This is the best article I've seen so far on who the contenders are for the Democrats, and even though Hillary! is the early favorite he figures she wont be able to win. Why? It would mean Bill would have to move back in to the White House...

Assuming the marriage is now stable, the unavoidable fact is that Bill Clinton would be moving back into the White House with a President Hillary Clinton. Surveys have consistently shown that both Clintons still bear many scars from their time at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and what has been forgotten about their many controversies will be re-investigated and refreshed during the course of a long 2008 campaign. Only a decisive rejection of the Bush regime and GOP actions in Congress could convince the electorate to overlook its raw feelings about the Clintons and to revisit that chapter of American history--one that was closed with considerable, widespread relief in early 2001.

The article goes on to argue that a moderate will emerge to challenge Hillary!'s candidacy, but I have my doubts. The Dems seem bent on destroying their party a little more by taking it harder to the left. They have no moderate voices at all, except maybe Joe Leiberman (he's got Joe-mentum!). I still think they will nominate Hillary! and then get crushed at the polls. But could she be as bad a candidate as Kerry? Is that even possible?

Martin on Missile defense

From David Frum's blog: Reader Kevin Callahan from Buffalo, New York draws attention this great quote from Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, explaining his decision not to participate in the US missile defense program: "Martin said he would expect to be consulted on what to do about any missile passing over Canada." Callahan observes: "In other words, Canada wants no part of missile defense right up until the time of incoming. At that point we can count them in."

Anglican church splitting over homosexuality

Anglican primates agreed Thursday that the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada would withdraw from a key body of the global Anglican Communion after failing to overcome internal church disagreements about the election of a gay bishop in the United States and the blessing of same-sex unions there and in Canada. It's sad to watch the decline of the Anglican Church, and for that matter of the United Church, in the west. But it's somewhat heart warming to see the leadership that has emerged both in Africa and Latin America. What is it about material confort that so easily corrupts?

Martin's finding out it's lonely at the top

The man who sought warmer ties with the United States has rebuffed one of President George W. Bush's most cherished ideas. The Prime Minister who was going to have healthier relationships with the provinces was denounced by no less than Premier Dalton McGuinty in the Liberal-led Ontario Legislature yesterday. The politician who vowed to be more in touch with the will of the Commons and the Liberal grassroots stood accused yesterday of pre-empting debate of both bodies by abruptly announcing that Canada was saying no to the U.S.-led missile defence plan. ... The same Liberal government that campaigned hard from the left in the last, tight week of the election campaign, which could be expected to align with the similarly minded New Democrats and Bloc Québécois, has produced a budget rejected by those parties and embraced by the Conservatives. Martin may well be thinking this week that that old saw is true: it's lonely at the top.

Full article in the [ugh] Toronto Star.

Harper's speech

Conservative leader Stephen Harper has an image problem, and a public relations problem, but he actually is both smart and funny. Here's his response to the budget in the House of Commons.

It was, I have to say, quite touching yesterday to see members of the government gleefully applauding measures that only during the election campaign they denounced as half-baked and downright dangerous. One thing has not changed: there are still two federal Liberal parties, the one that campaigns on certain promises and the one that governs on something else.

And in related news...

...the digital divide between rich and poor countries is closing rapidly

Top 100 gadgets of all time

Nostalgia, here I come. Apple is in the list a lot, which shows that their design guys are great; it's the business guys that suck. Seriously, this list is fun.

Not in

Paul Wells is outstanding:

[Martin:] We had an extensive discussion led by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defence, concerning the invitation to participate in the evolution of the proposed ballistic missile defence system. "It is in respect of that discussion that we are announcing today that Canada will not take part in the proposed ballistic missile defence system." Great. Excellent. Wonderful. And when did Martin tell the Americans about the fruits of this morning's discussion? Two days ago. Whee! After the cabinet meeting, Martin and Pierre Pettigrew leapt into their special PMO time machine to travel back to Tuesday's NATO summit where, Martin informed us, Pettigrew told Condi Rice of the, uh, then-pending Cabinet discussion. Martin then called Paul Cellucci and told him of the decision that, uh, would soon have been taken (these verb tenses are so difficult when one starts vaulting through the fourth dimension). I am left with two questions, which I have already lodged in the same place I always put questions for the fast-disappearing prime minister: Did he try to telephone George W. Bush with the news? Is the president taking his calls?

Apparently, we're not in

There's been no official announcement, but the U.S. government seems to have been told that we wont be participating in their anti-ballistic missile shield. It's a popular move with the left here, but it makes no sense considering the US is going to do it whether we are on board or not. As Tony Blair has demonstrated, it's better to be in the club and have a say then on the outside carping. Paul Wells has the best take on Martin's approach to the whole thing:

Frank McKenna commits a gaffe in the classic Michael Kinsley manner: he foolishly says what's actually going on. Hijinx ensue. Before dusk, Paul Martin has made a decision he had been proud of not making for months on end. This is the new Martini trope, incidentally: Yes, dammit, we're proudly indecisive — until the precise moment when we decide it's time to decide whether to decide. Government by gaffe. We always knew Martin would find a way to innovate.

The Canadian Budget #2

Now that I've had a chance to think about it a bit, I've got a few more thoughts:

• Stephen Harper (Conservative leader) said he's happier than he thought he was going to be, and that he's pleased. The NDP spokesperson said she thinks the liberals have sold out and are in bed with the conservatives. That is a good sign.

• I'm impressed with both Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and President of the Treasury Board Reg Alcock when it comes to internal spending reviews and fiscal discipline. This budget could have been so much worse.

• I still have a number of complaints (surprise): no EI reduction, not enough income tax reduction, nor are the reductions coming in soon enough, and the child care money isn't coming as a tax cut for all parents with young children.

The Canadian Budget

Not great, but not too bad either. The budget remains balanced over the next 5 years, even as spending goes up almost 9% this year alone. Part of the spending announced today comes from an $11B gov-wide review (nice to see), and part of it is newly announced money. It seems that a majority of the committments are back end loaded, coming in to effect mainly in the last 2 years of the 5 year plan. It's $42 billion in new cash over five years, or $76 billion if you include the spending promises on health care and equalization made since the previous federal budget of last March.

• 13 billion for the military, $7 billion is new
• $7 billion in personal tax cuts by increasing the basic personal exemption, but it's almost entirely in the last 2 years; nothing this year, and only $100 next year.
• $5 billion in gas tax revenues for cities
• $5 billion for a national child-care program, but it should be a tax exemption for all parents with kids under 5
• $3.4 billion more in foreign aid
• $5 billion for environmental initiatives

Lots of other stuff: some debt repayment, more money for seniors benefit, corporate tax cuts, increases in RRSP contribution limits, money to help immigrants settle, a reduction in the air travellers charge, a promise to gradually eliminate the 10 per cent luxury tax on jewellery [we have a luxury tax on jewellery? - ed], etc

Steyn is back online!

Finally - steynonline.com is back up, so columns from the worlds best commentator is once again all in one place. Welcome back Mark!

Canada - US "never more different"

Frank McKenna, former premier of New Brunswick, is Canada's new Ambassador to the US, and in an appearance before the Commons Foreign Relations committee had a few interesting things to say about relations between the two countries.

"I don't think I've ever seen the countries, in many ways, more different," McKenna told the committee. "We're going in a very different direction from the United States of America." By example, he cited legislative measures such as same-sex marriage, gun control and pot decriminalization. And he said Canada's "whole approach with respect to preserving the social structure, social security in Canada, is dramatically different from the direction of the United States of America.

"We just seem to be much further apart than we've ever been before. So my view is Canadians have done a good job of protecting our cultural integrity and our sovereignty."

Now we Canadians are obsessed with defining ourselves in opposition to the US, and we habitually think of ourselves as morally superior. But is it really true that the measure of how we are "protecting our cultureal integrity and our sovereignty" is that the liberal government has veered sharply to the left on marriage, drugs, and the role of the state?

Budget news

Looks like the liberal budget will have a:

• small tax cut by raising the personal exemption
• 13B for the military over 5 years
• 11B for the environment

Interesting. Something for everyone...

blog.marturia.net

Worth checking out: blog.marturia.net. I may cross post, but who knows.

First post

Wow - my first post. Hurray for me. If you read this, be so kind as to blow me away with an email. Thanks!