Christmas Greetings from the Prime Minister

On behalf of the Government of Canada, and from my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the year to come.

Lois Brown MP, Newmarket-Aurora

LOIS BROWN: CANADIAN AUTO-AID PACKAGE WELCOME NEWS

FOR NEWMARKET-AURORA

DECEMEBER 21, 2008

(Newmarket-Aurora, ON) - Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown says that the financial aid package for the Canadian Auto Industry announced December 20 by Prime Minister Harper and Premier McGuinty is welcome news for Newmarket and Aurora.

Highlighting the three-point plan is $4 billion in loans payable to General Motors of Canada Limited and Chrysler Canada Inc. by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, extended through Export Development Canada (EDC). There will be conditions attached to the financing extended to the automakers and the federal and provincial governments will exercise oversight over the use of taxpayer money as part of its ongoing due diligence. The loans are expected to provide additional time for the auto manufacturers to reduce structural costs and ensure a viable auto industry in Canada.

Prime Minister Harper also announced two additional steps that the federal government will undertake to support the overall competitiveness of the auto industry. Automotive suppliers will have greater access to accounts receivable insurance through federal Export Development Corporation coverage to compensate for the reduced availability of credit. Additionally, the Government of Canada will create a new facility to support access to credit for consumers with particular attention paid to improving the accessibility of car loans and dealer financing.

“This made-in-Canada, three-point auto aid package is welcome news for Newmarket and Aurora,” said Lois Brown. We have taken a holistic approach, and these measures will assist suppliers and consumers including the numerous automotive retail and supply industries located here. I am especially pleased that Prime Minister Harper and our government incorporated the advice forwarded from the local auto dealership round table meeting I recently conducted. All three recommendations resulting from that meeting were addressed in this auto aid package with the inclusion of support to auto suppliers, consumers and by extension retailers, in addition to assistance for large auto manufacturers.”

Lois Brown had received three key suggestions from her recent auto dealership round table; stimulate consumer spending, assist in extending credit for automotive purchases, and support Canada’s large automotive manufacturers.

The Canadian auto aid package comes one day after an announced U.S. $17.4 billion auto aid package.

Lois Brown is the Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora. She is a member of the House of Commons Standing Committees for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and is the Vice-President of the Conservative Party Auto Caucus.

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For further information, please contact:

Jackie Cousins

Media Contact

Each new Senator pledges to support Canada’s elected government, promote Canadian unity and advance Senate reform

Prime Minister Harper today announced that he will appoint 18 distinguished Canadians to serve in Canada’s Senate.

“Our government will continue to push for a more democratic, accountable and effective Senate,” said the Prime Minister. “If Senate vacancies are to be filled, however, they should be filled by the government that Canadians elected rather than by a coalition that no one voted for.”

The incoming Senators have all pledged to support eight-year term limits and other Senate reform legislation. Each incoming Senator has also declared his or her unwavering commitment to support Canadian unity and oppose the coalition.

Four of the incoming Senators will fill vacancies from the Province of Quebec. Incoming senators will fill three vacancies in British Columbia and Nova Scotia while two vacancies are being filled in Ontario and New Brunswick. One vacancy is being filled in each of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

“While I look forward to welcoming elected Senators to the Upper Chamber in the future, these current vacancies must be filled in order for the Senate to transact legitimate government business,” said the Prime Minister. “If the opposition parties do not approve of these Senate appointments they should stop obstructing our attempts to introduce meaningful Senate reform. For our part, we will continue working with the provinces and reform-minded parliamentarians to build a more accountable and democratic Senate.”

LIST OF NEW SENATORS

Newfoundland and Labrador

Fabian Manning has dedicated his career to serving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at all three levels of government. A three term councilor in the town of St. Brides, Mr. Manning served as coordinator for the Cape Shore Area Development Association for three years. Mr. Manning would go on to win three elections to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly as the representative for Placentia – St. Mary’s. Mr. Manning was subsequently elected as Member of Parliament in the federal constituency of Avalon in the 2006 Federal Election campaign. Mr. Manning would go on to chair both the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans as well as the Conservative Government’s Atlantic caucus.

Nova Scotia

Fred Dickson, QC is both one of Nova Scotia’s most respected lawyers and one of Canada’s top legal experts on offshore resource development. Mr. Dickson is counsel with the law firm of McInnes Cooper. Mr. Dickson has advised the federal and provincial government’s on numerous resource and infrastructure projects, including serving as an advisor to the Government of Nova Scotia during the singing of the 1982 and 1985 Canada / Nova Scotia Offshore Oil and Gas Agreements. Mr. Dickson remains active in these files as a Director of the Offshore / Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia and Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

Stephen Greene has political and policy experience at both the federal and provincial levels. Mr. Greene served as Chief of Staff in the Leader’s Office of the Reform Party of Canada from 1993 and 1996 during which he helped manage the opposition response to the national unity and fiscal issues of the day. He went on to work as the Executive Director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia. For the past two years he has served as Principal Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald with wide responsibilities to help the Premier administer an effective government for all Nova Scotians.

Michael L. MacDonald is a Nova Scotia businessman who since 1988 has been the owner and President of Fleur de Lis Motel Ltd. Mr. MacDonald had previously served terms as executive assistant to two federal cabinet ministers and the premier of Nova Scotia. A graduate of the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University, Mr. MacDonald has been an activist and volunteer with the federal and provincial Conservative parties since university, and is presently Vice-President of the Conservative Party of Canada and a two-term representative for Nova Scotia on the party’s national executive. A native of Louisbourg, Mr. MacDonald is a long-time resident of Dartmouth where he resides with his wife and two teenaged sons.

Prince Edward Island

Michael Duffy is one of Canada's most well known and respected news personalities and the current host of CTV's daily program, Mike Duffy Live. Mr. Duffy joined CBC Radio News in 1974, switched to CBC TV’s “The National” in 1978, and joined CTV in 1988. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Mr. Duffy is involved in a number of charitable activities both in Ottawa and in his home province, including the UPEI Building fund, and the current Holland College Foundation Fundraising campaign. He has been a visiting fellow at Duke University; and has been twice nominated for the “Best in the Business” award by the Washington Journalism Review. Mr. Duffy has received many other awards and citations, and honourary degrees from the University of PEI; from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY; and from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford.

New Brunswick

Percy Mockler has been a long-time MLA in the New Brunswick legislature since he was first elected in 1982. During his time in the provincial legislature, Mr. Mockler served in a number of portfolio's including Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Solicitor General and Minister of Human Resources Development and Housing. Mr. Mockler is a former advisory member for trade opportunities strategy with the federal Department of External Affairs. He has also been active in community affairs as treasurer of local fish and wildlife associations, a director of the caisse populaire, and as a member and chair of his local school board.

John D. Wallace was born in Rothesay, NB and had a distinguished law career in Saint John. Most recently, he served for 7 years as Partner/Counsel at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey. Previously he had been Corporate Counsel for Irving Oil Limited and a Partner at Palmer, O’Connell, Leger, Turnbull and Turnbull. Mr. Wallace continued his community service after retiring from law. He is a Member of the University of New Brunswick Board of Governors, the St. John Imperial Theatre Capital Campaign Cabinet and the New Brunswick Symphony Steering Committee. Mr. Wallace was the Telegraph-Journal Male Newsmaker of the Year in 2002 and became a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003.

Quebec

Patrick Brazeau is a member of the Algonquin Nation and a citizen of the Indian reserve of Kitigan Zibi, near Maniwaki, Quebec. A champion of the rights of Aboriginals, in 2006, he was chosen as the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. He used this forum to promote the economic and social development of Aboriginals, especially those who live off-reserve. Mr. Brazeau has a black belt in karate and was a member of the Naval Reserve on HMCS Carleton, in Ottawa.

Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis was born in Chicoutimi and studied at the École des Beaux-arts de Québec and at Laval University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and a certificate in college education. She was a teacher at the regional school board Louis-Fréchette. In 1981, she became the first woman to be elected to the Municipal Council of the City of Sainte-Foy. She became active in federal politics and was elected as the MP for the riding of Louis-Hébert from 1984 to 1993. Ms. Fortin-Duplessis has always been involved in the community. During her career, she was a member of the board of the Alzheimer Society and the Fondation de l’Opéra de Québec, and she is a member of the Laval hospital and the Saint-Sacrement hospital foundations. More recently, she was a volunteer for the International Eucharistic Congress.

Leo Housakos was born in Montreal and studied at Cégep Vanier and at McGill University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in arts, with a major in political science and history. In 1993, he co-founded the Montreal Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Director of Via Rail Canada.Throughout his business career he has held important management positions in several companies, including Quadvision Consultants and Terrau. Mr. Housakos is married and is the father of two children.

Michel Rivard studied in Quebec City and spent the most part of his professional life in public administration. He was President of the Corporation des maîtres entrepreneurs en réfrigération du Québec, then Mayor of Beauport from 1980 to 1984. Mr. Rivard was director of a number of organizations, and was President of the Executive Committee of the Communauté Urbaine de Québec. In 1994, he was elected at the Assemblée nationale as the MNA for Limoilou. He was Regional Delegate for the region of Quebec and parliamentary Assistant of the Minister responsible for the region of Quebec.

Ontario

Nicole Eaton has devoted much of her life to serving her community in varying degrees through her participation and leadership in a number of charitable organizations, foundations and the arts. Presently she is Director and Vice-Chair of St. Michael's Hospital Foundation, Director and Vice-Chair the National Ballet of Canada and Chair of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. Previously, Ms Eaton has served in varying capacities on a number of other organizations, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the George R. Gardiner Museum, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Ms Eaton is also a columnist for the newspaper the National Post and is co-author of two publications.

Irving Gerstein, C.M., O. Ont is a businessman and corporate director. A Member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, Mr. Gerstein has been involved in politics for over 40 years, including service as Chair of the Conservative Fund Canada. He is an Honourary Director of Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), having previously served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman Emeritus, and a director over a period of twenty-five years. He is a director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a former Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization. Mr. Gerstein graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania, and attended The London School of Economics.

Saskatchewan

Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M is an award winning journalist whose career stretches back more than three decades. Ms. Wallin is most recognized from her time at CTV where she co-hosted Canada AM and later served as CTV’s Ottawa Bureau chief. Ms. Wallin would subsequently form her own production company Pamela Wallin Productions Inc. Ms. Wallin has remained active in public life as Chancellor of the University of Guelph and Senior Advisor on Canada-US relations to the President of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas. In 2007, Prime Minister Harper appointed Ms. Wallin to the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan. Ms. Wallin has agreed to step down as Senator and submit her name as a candidate when Saskatchewan holds its first legislated Senate election.

British Columbia

Nancy Greene Raine, O.C., OBC was Canada’s female athlete of the last century by the Canadian Press and Broadcast News. She won gold and silver medals in alpine skiing at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968. Her total of 14 World Cup victories (including the Olympics) is still a Canadian record. During her nine-year career Nancy won a total of 17 Canadian Championship titles. Since retiring from active competition, she has worked to promote the sport and was instrumental in the early development of the Whistler-Blackcomb Resort. Since 1994 she has been Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks Resort and since 2005 she has been Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University. Ms. Green Raine is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of both Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Yonah Martin has deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage and has spent her life building bridges between different cultural communities in BC. Born in Seoul, South Korea, before immigrating to Canada 1972, Ms. Martin is the co-founder of the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) society and has served on the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC, the Vancouver Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, the Kateslem After School Club and the Coquitlam Festival Planners Network. Ms. Martin has also been active in political life as a candidate in the constituency of New Westminster-Coquitlam. In 2004 Ms. Martin received ‘Spirit of Community’ award for her service in the Tri-Cities Area.

Richard Neufeld has spent close to two decades in public service to the people of British Columbia. First elected to represent the riding of Peace River North in 1991, Mr. Neufeld has been re-elected on three separate occasions. Since 2001 Mr. Neufeld has served as British Columbia’s Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources. Mr. Neufeld has also served as the on the council of Fort Nelson, including five years as mayor. Prior to his involvement in public life, Mr. Neufeld owned and operated his own business.

Yukon

Hector Daniel Lang has made the Yukon his home for more than 50 years. Born in 1948 in Dawson Creek, BC, he moved with his family to Whitehorse where he completed high school, and later attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. First elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1974, Mr Lang served 5 consecutive terms, retiring from the legislature in 1992. Over the course of his 18 years in elected office he was responsible for numerous Ministerial portfolios and later served in the opposition. Since 1992, Mr. Lang has worked as a Sales Associate in the Yukon Real Estate industry. Active in community affairs, he is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors for Yukon College. He has four children and three grandchildren, who reside in Whitehorse. Mr Lang presently lives in Whitehorse with his partner Valerie Hodgson, a local artist.

Breaking news...Senate choices to be revealed at noon today

I can confirm that I have not been selected. Beyond that it will be interesting to see who Prime Minister Stephen Harper has chosen to fill the 18 vacant spots in the red chamber. A press conference is set for noon today.
-Darryl

Photos from Lois Brown open house in Newmarket

A great event that took place on Saturday. Lois Brown officially opened her constituency office and held an open house to make the occasion. The event was attended by Newmarket mayor Tony Van Bynen, Aurora mayor Phyllis Morris and several members of Newmarket and Aurora council were also present. It is good to see that in Newmarket-Aurora, there is a good working relationship between the local councils, MPP (Frank Klees) and MP (Lois Brown). Congratulations to Lois and her staff for organizing such a positive event.
-Darryl

Prime Minister Harper with Premier Dalton McGuinty announce Auto Bailout

Prime Minister Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty announce four billion dollar auto bailout package
-Darryl

Ontario Corporate Tax Rate should be cut to 10%

It seems Dalton McGuinty and provincial Liberals have been getting a free ride on the economy. While the media focuses on Stephen Harper and the feds, few have noticed what has been going on at Queens Park. Ontario has among the highest corporate tax rates in Canada at 14% only lower than PEI and Nova Scotia currently at 16%. Jim Flaherty has been arguing that Ontario should cut the corporate tax rate to improve productivity, save jobs and encourage foreign investment. So far Ontario has not responded despite falling into have not status and being ranked dead last in projected economic growth among the provinces. We can no longer afford to keep tax rates at this unsustainable level. McGuinty should address this issue in the next provincial budget. Under a manufacturing crisis and a recession, Ontario cannot expect to compete in this globalized economy at a corporate tax rate of 14%.
-Darryl

Update: McGuinty rejects cutting corporate taxes. It looks like he did come to agreement with Harper on the increased seat count for Ontario, BC and Alberta. Will Newmarket-Aurora be split into two ridings? How many more ridings does this mean for the GTA and Toronto? In Ontario seats are distributed in the legislature in the same way they are represented federally.

Harper CTV and CBC Interviews

I think Stephen Harper did well in both interviews.
-Darryl

CTV Part 1



Part 2



CBC Part 1



Part 2

Quick reflexes for Bush

I must say I am impressed with how quickly Bush ducked from the two flying shoes and give him credit for the way he joked about the situation after it occurred. Enjoy this video. Not something you see every day. In the Arab world, throwing shoes at someone is the equivalent to flipping them the bird or some other form of insult that shows a similar lack of respect to someone. Bush was on a surprise visit to Afghanistan and Iraq seen as his final farewell tour.
-Darryl



Update: Dana Perino was hit in the eye with a microphone during the chaos that was caused by the shoe thrower. Today she did a press conference talking about the incident and unfortunately sporting a black eye.

Lois Brown M.P., Newmarket-Aurora



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2008



Statement by Lois Brown, M.P. Newmarket-Aurora



(Newmarket-Aurora, ON) - Political maneuverings of the most serious consequence, by party leaders whose prime ministerial aspirations were firmly dismissed just weeks ago, have left many Canadians angry and confused. A take-over of government by the three federal opposition parties could plunge our country into a state of political and economic turmoil never seen before.

How did this happen? The October 14th federal election results saw a Conservative government earn a significantly stronger minority mandate. 143 Conservative MPs were elected, an increase of 15% from the 124 seats earned in 2006. The Liberal Party under Stéphane Dion received a historic low of 77 seats. The Bloc Québécois received 49 seats, and the NDP Party obtained 37 seats. Each party ran on platforms constitutionally guided by very different sets of principles.

However, instead of accepting their responsibilities as opposition critics, the Liberals, Bloc and NDP have created a pact designed to seize control of the government. This three-party coalition led by Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe intend to vote down the leadership of the Stephen Harper Conservatives and replace it with their own.

Why are these people risking the state of our already fragile economy and the possibility of plunging our country into unknown perils? In a letter dated December 1 addressed to “our fellow citizens,” all three Leaders contend that Mr. Harper “has no plan” to address the current economic crisis - language identical to the rhetoric heard during the recent campaign. The Liberals, Bloc and NDP simply refuse to accept the people’s verdict. Their campaign has continued, resulting in the formation of a bizarre, unstable coalition dependant on agreement of three diametrically opposed parties with little common ground. The real motivation in bringing down the Conservative government isn’t concern for the economy, but seizing an opportunity to gain control in a transparent, planned and unprecedented grab for power.

On October 14th citizens of Newmarket and Aurora elected a Conservative MP within a strong Conservative minority government to represent their interests in Ottawa. As your elected Member of Parliament, I am committed to acting in the best interests of our communities at all times. Most recently I have been working with the Minister of Industry and speaking with officials at Magna in an effort to mitigate the impact of the Exterion plant closings and to search for longer term solutions. There is dialogue with officials in both towns to determine which infrastructure projects the federal government can assist in fast-tracking.

What we do not need is a constitutional crisis and economic instability created from three political parties’ refusal to accept the democratically stated will of Canadians. The Liberal-NDP-Bloc strategy for our future is based on back-room deals and a written letter. The coalition’s entire plan relies on the support of the Bloc Québécois whose stated purpose for existence is to separate from Canada.

Since 2006 Prime Minister Stephen Harper has governed prudently and responsibly. Canada is forecast as having the best economic growth of all other OECD countries in the world. Our economy is undergoing challenges; however we remain in the best shape of all other G-7 countries. Our 2009 budget, to be tabled on January 27, will contain measures appropriate for these uncertain economic times. We are working at moving ahead on infrastructure projects and other productivity enhancing investments to create jobs and stimulate the economy. It is simply irresponsible for anyone to otherwise plunge Canada billions of dollars into debt without a well thought-out plan of return. To have an unstable coalition government take control without an election, during a time of global economic uncertainty, is a risk we cannot afford.

I urge everyone concerned with our country’s future to contact me. You can call me at 905-953-7515, send an email to BrownLo@parl.gc.ca or visit my constituency office at 16600 Bayview Ave., Suite 206, Newmarket, Ontario L3X 1Z9.

Lois Brown is the elected Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora. She is a member of the House of Commons Standing Committees for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade.



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Lois Brown M.P., Newmarket-Aurora



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 5, 2008

Harper meets with Ignatieff

After a crazy couple of weeks in Ottawa, it looks like things are slowly starting to get back to normal. What a week it was though. After threatening to cut of taxpayer subsidies to political parties as part of the economic statement, opposition parties quickly assembled a coalition that was greeted with protests and terrible poll numbers. To avoid a likely defeat in the House of Commons, Stephen Harper asked the Governor General to prorogue the parliament until the budget due for January 27, 2009. In response to that, Liberals used the time to show Stephane Dion the door by voting Michael Ignatieff in as interim leader. Ultimately Mr. Ignatieff will remain leader as both LeBlanc and Rae dropped out of the race. In the final event of this crazy week, Stephen Harper plans to appoint 18 senators with names going around like General Hillier, Don Cherry, the current Governor General, Bernard Lord, Mario Dumont and a series of other names who are a bit more predictable. Ironically, the surprise Senate appointment could result in a seat for John Tory prior to his self imposed December 31 deadline.

Parliament may have grinded to a halt, but the world around us did not. In Afghanistan, Canadian troops unfortunately suffered their 100th casualty. The United States is putting pressure on Canada to once again extend the mission beyond 2011. Unfortunately terrorism struck India in a way that threatens the world’s largest democracy with Western citizens including Canadians being targeted. Today Jim Prentice is representing Canada at a international environment conference. At the same time the economy has only gotten worse. Last night in the Senate, the US auto bailout collapsed after the UAW refused to make any concessions. Today GM is saying they will shut down all plants in January. There are also rumours that they are getting advice on bankruptcy protection. Chrysler warns it is rapidly drying up its cash reserves. Magna has laid off workers as have many other companies worldwide and in Canada. Other automotive companies seem OK in the short term but are facing heavy pressure from the lack of consumer confidence and economic recession. A dealership in Chicago was offering "buy one get one free" promotions on cars. As we speak, it appears the Canadian government has put together their own bailout package that would be approved following US action.

As the Canadian government decides what to do about the auto bailout, other economic indicators are of equal concern. Housing prices are slumping. Interest rates have been slashed to a 50 year low but banks are not passing on those savings to consumers. Credit availability is still a concern. Personal credit card debt and a lack of savings are becoming a threat to retirement as many baby boomers approach that age. Pension plans are taking a hit in the stock markets. The Canadian dollar and oil prices have declined drastically from where they were at the beginning of the election campaign. As oil prices drop, some projects may get delayed in the oil sands and elsewhere in Canada. Unemployment is increasing, especially in the manufacturing sector. Foreclosures and bankruptcies are rising. No one is buying anything. The result is less tax revenue for both the government of Ontario and the government of Canada. This will lead to deficits with or without a stimulus package. While Canada is better off than most of our G7 counterparts, one cannot ignore the economic turmoil happening all around the world. No one is expecting that 2009 will be anything less than an extremely tough year for Canada and the entire global economy.

With all of these pressing concerns, our parliament is currently paralyzed and unstable. The Conservatives face potential defeat on the upcoming budget. Should this happen we are looking at a potential election or transition to a coalition government. Either way the government would be paralyzed for at least another six weeks meaning nothing would be done until April at the earliest to address the economy.

After a week of crazy events in Ottawa, it looks like some sanity is being restored. Jim Flaherty and Stephen Harper have been hard at work on the upcoming budget that will likely include sector by sector assistance, a stimulus package, tax relief for corporations and businesses, a reduction in spending and infrastructure investments. Today Michael Ignatieff met with Stephen Harper and I would imagine the budget was discussed including some potential Liberal demands to ensure it passes. Let's hope for the good of this nation that the meeting went well. After putting partisanship before the people, it is clear that something now has to be done for the state of our economy. For months we have not been able to pick up the business section of a newspaper without seeing catastrophic news. In Ontario things are worse due to the fact the province is now dead last in growth projections, a have not province and will bare the brunt of the impact that is currently affecting the manufacturing sector. It is important to get John Tory or a leader in the House that can hold Dalton McGuinty to account. Canadians of all political stripes seem to admire how President elect Barack Obama was able to get beyond left and right politics, partisanship and demonstrate a commitment to work across the aisle. Now Canadians and Ontarians have the same opportunity within their government.

Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff, the onus is now on both of you to get past partisan politics and work together to demonstrate to Canadians that they can once again have confidence in their government. The state of the economy and the threats to this nation are far too important to continue playing these silly games. For that reason, I hope the meeting that took place today went well for the benefit of all 308 MPs who were elected to work for their constituents as oppose to themselves. We cannot afford an election. We cannot afford a coalition. Therefore that only leaves the option of working together. Get it done!

Update: New poll shows 65% of Canadians support compromise over coalition. 56% prefer election over coalition. 46% - 26% support Conservatives over Liberals despite the change in leadership. The message is clear. It is time to work together.

-Darryl

Harper should appoint Mario Dumont, Bernard Lord to Senate and Cabinet

Instantly our Quebec credibility would be increased and there is not a politician in Quebec that I would rather have as part of our team. Bernard Lord would also be a huge asset for us in Atlantic Canada and in cabinet. Finally I hope that someone from the PC caucus is appointed so that the seat issue with John Tory can be resolved before the end of the year as promised.
-Darryl

Layton owes us an apology

National Post Published: Thursday, December 11, 2008

Don't sit back, Liberals – it's time to democratize the party

Harper to appoint 18 Senators

Update: Will this result in John Tory getting a seat? Senator Munro? Senator Runciman ?

I hope he considers me for an appointment. I understand the threat of the coalition appointing these vacancies but in general I am not sure how I feel about this move. Maybe Harper's appointment of 18 Senators will cause the other parties and all of the provinces to get onside with the idea of reforming the senate. The senate should be elected or abolished in my opinion.

News report initially comes from the Toronto Star and can be found here.
-Darryl

Harper on Trees for Troops and Christmas lights across Canada

PM participates in Trees for Troops



PM at the lighting of the Christmas lights across Canada

Time for partisan games is over...let's get to work on the economy

Congratulations to Michael Ignatieff for becoming the new leader of the Liberal Party. Following today's caucus vote, Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff should meet at the earliest possible opportunity. We have worked well with Michael in the past. It is time to put together a budget that addresses some of the economic challenges Canada faces. All 308 MPs have a duty to come back to the House of Commons with a more cooperative attitude to prove to Canadians that they are capable of addressing the issues that all of them were elected to address. January 27 is not that far away. The time for partisan games, coalitions and politics is over. We must now address the economy that is impacting real people from coast to coast. I look forward to Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff working together and getting something done for the good of this country. I believe that for the time being, we can work with this new leader of the Liberal Party.
-Darryl

***

"I think the big national parties should be working together to fix the economy, and we're more than willing to do that, and I hope the next Liberal leader, the first thing he'll do is be willing to sit down with me to have that discussion."
-Prime Minister Stephen Harper

***

Ignatieff steps in, Harper reaches out

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/09/harper-interview.html

Full CBC Interview with Harper

Harper should meet with Palin

I think improving relations between Alaska and Canada would only be a good thing. Very positive comments from Sarah Palin today. I think there are a lot of common issues that her state and our country and provinces can work on together. It seems Sarah Palin is a big fan of Canada. I also agree obviously with her message to Obama as well.
-Darryl

Darryl on Rogers York Region tonight at 8pm

Tonight I will join Michael Parsa (Conservative), Mike Seaward (NDP) and Kyle Peterson (Liberal) on Focal Point with John Taylor. The show is on Rogers Cable 10 at 8pm. Likely topics will include:

*The proposed coalition and the events of last week
*The situation with Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff as new leader of the Liberal Party
*Stephen Harper
*The economy and January 27 budget
*How this all impacts York Region

I am looking forward to doing the show tonight and it looks like there is a strong panel lined up tonight representing all sides.
-Darryl

Breaking News: Bob Rae drops out of Liberal leadership race

Michael Ignatieff will now officially be the leader of the Liberal party by caucus vote. It is highly likely that this will be ratified in May with something closer to a leadership review. This of course puts the coalition in question.
-Darryl

***

Darryl is congratulating Charest on his majority, hopes Dumont runs as a federal Conservative in the next election.

Full story here.

Charest needs 63 of 125 seats to win a majority. By 11 p.m. ET, the Liberals were on track to edge past that number:

• Liberals: 66
• Parti Quebecois: 51
• ADQ: 7
• Quebec Solidaire: 1

Quebec has chosen stability over the PQ despite what has been going on in Ottawa right now. Does this mean Gilles Duceppe will run provincially for the PQ and how will that impact the coalition? Finally the ADQ has lost official party status and Mario Dumont has resigned as leader. Will he consider a run for the Federal Conservatives? I think most would agree he would be a great candidate for us in Quebec.
-Darryl

Dion resigns officially

What a difference a day can make in politics. Monday it looked like Dion would become Prime Minister and 77 Liberal MPs all signed a letter to the Governor General saying they were united by the coalition under Dion's leadership. Today after trying to force Harper out of his job as leader, he finds himself turfed instead.

"I will take the decisions, were I to be given the honour to lead the party, on the 26th, when I've seen the budget."
-Michael Ignatieff

Hopefully the new Liberal leader will allow us to work together for Canadians on the budget. It is no secret that Iggy refused to accept a cabinet post in this coalition government and has been lukewarm on the prospect from the beginning.
-Darryl

***

For Release: Immediate
Statement by the Honourable Stéphane Dion

After the election on October 14 I announced I would stay on as Leader of the Liberal Party until my party could select my successor. One of my goals was to ensure an effective opposition to Stephen Harper’s government.

I believe that decision was the right one and I am proud of having forced Stephen Harper to back away from his attempt to force upon Canadians his most ideological and harmful plans in these tough economic times.

The alliance between the Liberal Party and the NDP to replace the Harper government, with the support of the Bloc Québécois, is a solid basis to give Canada a government that reflects both the aspirations of the majority of Canadians and the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. Such a government would be more stable than a minority Conservative government incapable of cooperating with opposition parties.

As the Governor General has granted a prorogation, it is a logical time for us Liberals to assess how we can best prepare our party to carry this fight forward.

There is a sense in the party, and certainly in the caucus, that given these new circumstances the new leader needs to be in place before the House resumes. I agree. I recommend this course to my party and caucus. As always, I want to do what is best for my country and my party, especially when Canadians’ jobs and pensions are at risk.

So I have decided to step aside as Leader of the Liberal Party effective as soon as my successor is duly chosen.

I will offer my unconditional and enthusiastic support to my successor in the same way I have always supported the leaders of our great party. I will work under the next leader’s direction with all my energy in order to give Canada a better government.

I wish to close by making it absolutely clear that my earlier departure does not change the facts of the situation that the Prime Minister has created in the last two weeks.

The Prime Minister and his government refused to lay out a plan to stimulate the economy. The Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister shut down Parliament to save his job while thousands of Canadians are losing theirs. The Prime Minister has poisoned the well of trust and respect that is necessary for a minority government to work in Parliament - especially in a time of crisis.

Mr. Harper took an economic crisis and added a parliamentary crisis that he then tried to transform into a national unity crisis: this is no way for a Prime Minister of Canada to act.

It is my hope that the decision I have announced today will enhance the capacity of Parliament to function effectively for the sake of Canadians in this economic crisis.

Stéphane Dion, PC, MP

How can anyone take Bob Rae seriously


"To take away your chance to choose the person who leads you… it just doesn’t seem right"
-Bob Rae

Update: One more post from Mr. Rae...

"All weekend, I'd been hearing rumors about this, but today I was really surprised to read press reports about various MPs moving for an immediate vote to elect our Leader next Wednesday, in the Commons caucus.

I thought I'd seen a lot of politics over 30 years of public service, but this one really came from left field.

The idea of taking away the vote from tens of thousands of grassroots activists in every part of Canada, and reducing the franchise to just 76 men and women seems so out-of-step with the modern world. It makes you shake your head."

***

I'm One of the 67,924 That Want a Say in the Liberal Leadership

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55698732400&ref=nf


A Message From Bob:

As you know, our Leader Mr. Dion is stepping down, and Mr. Leblanc is exiting the leadership race. I want to thank both of them for their contributions, past present and future.



In light of the opportunity to defeat the Harper government and replace it with a new government of national economic unity, it is clearly now time to bring the leadership selection process to an earlier resolution. We need our new permanent leader in place by the time the House returns to debate the Conservative budget on January 26th, 2009.



This obviously means we need a different selection process from the one that was put in place to lead us to a Convention in May. Press reports have some suggesting that the entire leadership process should be replaced with a single, secret vote to be held in a closed meeting of the 76 MPs, next week. I think this is the wrong thing for our Party.



The party Executive is working on a viable, timely, cost-effective and constitutional means of enabling a one-member-one-vote democratic leadership selection. This can be in place swiftly, and you can make your voice heard in the selection of your Leader. I believe that ordinary Liberal volunteers must have a direct say in choosing the new Leader. That’s the only way to go.



You are the volunteers who make this Party a living force in the life of our country. Without you, there is no Liberal Party. You give your time, your talent, your financial support, and ask for nothing in return except the chance to contribute. To take away your chance to choose the person who leads you… it just doesn’t seem right.



As well, there are real questions about representation that we need to keep in mind. A simple vote of the Commons caucus would leave significant portions of our country’s diversity silent in the selection of our Leader. Because our caucus is concentrated in major urban centres, almost no rural ridings would be represented. Literally two Liberals between North Bay, Ontario and Vancouver, BC would have a vote in the MPs-only process. Most of francophone Quebec outside of Montreal would go unheard from. Defeated candidates would be disenfranchised. So would the party executive that you have put in place. So would our youth, women and aboriginals – who are under-represented in the Commons caucus. So would our long-serving Senators, who have given so much for our Party. That doesn’t seem right either.



Finally, there’s the question of what this kind of vote would mean for our party’s ability to grow. We have a chance to welcome Canadians into our political family. We need more of them to join us – especially in the places where our support has been declining. I favour a 308 riding strategy, not a 76-person vote. I have spoken out for using our race as a chance to grow this party; a closed caucus vote would take it in the opposite direction.



Let’s urge everyone in a position to influence this to put a stop to this hasty, ill-considered idea before it goes any further. I urge you to contact your nearest Liberal Member of Parliament, and any of the following, to let them know how you feel about this attempt to take away your vote:



Party President Doug Ferguson: doug@liberal.ca



Commons Caucus Chair Anthony Rota: Rotaa@parl.gc.ca

Spooked by the polls, the Liberals have decided to jettison Stephane Dion as their lame duck leader by having him ‘resign’ some time this week.

Now rumours of a palace coup by some fifty of so Liberal MPs are swirling around. The plan is to skew the Liberal selection process by having the Caucus vote to replace Dion with Michael Ignatieff, as ‘interim leader’.

Ignatieff is making a bold bid for power, aimed at usurping the right of ordinary Liberals to vote for their leader. And at the same time, Ignatieff is reported to be backing off from the Coalition Accord signed by the LPC and NDP, which would put the Coalition in power, supported by the Bloc for 18 months.

With Rovian guile, the plan of this small band of conspirators is to have the May convention of the Liberals converted into a ‘ratification’ of the interim leader, Ignatieff. Rubberstamp the palace coup, Liberals; it is for your own good to have ‘stability’, not to ‘upset the apple cart’ or ‘rock the boat’.

What a breathtaking 180 degree turn within a few days that Ignatieff is making!

The ink on the Accord is scarcely dry, and he is preparing to unilaterally breach it. How on earth can the Liberals expect the Bloc or the NDP to trust any Liberal minority government (if there is one) under Ignatieff after such a flagrant breach of faith ? The NDP and the Bloc would be fully entitled to view the Liberal Party under Ignatieff in such circumstances as simply being as duplicitous as Stephen Harper is viewed …

Ignatieff is reported to be saying “Coalition if necessary, but not necessarily a Coalition.” What twaddle!

With these words, Ignatieff is telegraphing weakness to Harper, and Harper, the most accomplished bully in Parliament for decades, can smell weakness from a hundred yards away.
We can expect Harper to pounce on such telegraphed weakness by Ignatieff, and move in to break the Coalition well before January 26.

Look for Harper to play to Ignatieff’s vanity, by having one on one talks with him, and praising him for the ‘new spirit of cooperation’ Ignatieff has displayed.

Ignatieff will no doubt announce that due to his personal efforts, and the ‘threat’ of a coalition, he has managed to force Harper to come up with a stimulus plan that is ‘better’ than the one the Tories had planned, and to bask in his Pyrrhic victory. Watch the pleasure on his face when Harper pats him on the back and says: “You’re doing a heckuva job, Michael!”

What Ignatieff misses is what Bob Rae and countless Liberals have sensed. Polls show that 67% of ordinary Liberals back the Accord.

These people, like the NDP and the Bloc, realize that the power equation in Parliament has shifted; that Harper has no room to hide, and that Harper should be voted out. Harper has lost the confidence of the opposition MPs and even more importantly, has lost the essential element of confidence: trust.

The chances are high right now that if the Coalition is not destroyed by Mr Dithers II, the Tory government will be voted out of power in early 2009, and be replaced by the LPC-NDP Coalition.

Liberals should vote for the man of principle, Bob Rae, and Bob Rae should abide by the Accord, honour the signature of the Liberal Party on this historic document, vote the Tories out of power and replace it with the Coalition government.

Only that way will ordinary Canadians get a chance to have the Accord principles implemented by a progressive centre government, and have Parliament governed in a new spirit of cooperation, rather than mean spirited bickering and partisan politics.

If Liberals are given the chance to vote for their leader, they should vote for the Warrior, not the Wimp.

Rumours abound that Ignatieff might try to end the Coalition. If that happens, then the Coalition will not become the next government, and the principles of the Accord will be cast aside, to the detriment of ordinary Canadians.

If Ignatieff does abandon the Coaltion, the answer might be for the NDP and Bloc to enter into an agreement that they will both only support any minority government which agrees in writing and publicly to support each and every one of the principles of the Accord, and to allow both the NDP and Bloc to agree to any stimulus legislation in order to make sure the Accord principles are not being short changed.

This will mean that in a minority government position, whether Liberal of Tory, for the next 18 months, no government will succeed in passing a vote of confidence if it has to rely on the NDP and Bloc MPs in any way.

The only way a minority Tory government might succeed is to have the Liberals support it; and if the stimulus measures are not at all similar to the Accord principles, then voters will consider this come the next election.

Breaking News: Michael Ignatieff to become leader of the Liberal Party by caucus vote on Wednesday

According to a CTV 's Craig Oliver an announcement will be coming tomorrow that LeBlanc will drop out of the race and throw his support behind Ignatieff. A vote will take place in caucus on Wednesday to put Michael Ignatieff in as leader. Stephane Dion is done. Michael Ignatieff will become parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party and pressure will be placed on Bob Rae to step down as a "team player". Michael Ignatieff seemed to back away from the coalition while leaving it on the table at the same time. He did say he was open to seeing what was in the budget and would make a decision on January 27 on what to do. It will be interesting to see if there is any backlash from the grassroots about not having a say in the process. Another system of voting by phone or online was also proposed. It looks like Ignatieff will be installed leader based on a vote in caucus rubberstamped by the executive.
-Darryl

***

CTV Question Period Today

Breaking News: Dominic LeBlanc out of Liberal leadership race according to CTV.

It looks like Dominic LeBlanc is out of the leadership race and assuming John Manley or someone else doesn't jump it; we are now down to Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff. One of these two is most likely to be leading the Liberal Party when the House of Commons resumes on January 26. Bob Rae supports a coalition and overthrowing Harper no matter what Conservatives propose in the budget. Michael Ignatieff is open to supporting the budget while using the coalition as a threat or alternative in the event the government is defeated. Dion is expected to resign on Wednesday or Thursday following a caucus meeting. It is unclear if a caucus vote or some form of one member one vote system will determine the contest. Based on these events, I suspect Michael Ignatieff will be the next Liberal leader and leader of the official opposition when parliament resumes.
-Darryl

Harper is desperately trying to create a sense of crisis so that the Governor General will be stampeded in January, when the Tory government is voted out in a confidence vote, to depart from accepted convention of looking for an alternative government and turning to the LPC-NDP Coalition, and to call an election instead.

Harper realizes that the only way he can remain in power is if he manages to subvert our parliamentary conventions and run a fear mongering election, demonizing the Bloc and painting the LPC-NDP Coalition as traitors for putting into writing an agreement by the Bloc to support the Coalition for 18 months.

If the GG does decide to call a new election early in the new year, despite the country having recently gone to the polls, then the Coalition will nevertheless become the government.

How?

Because there is an irresistible drive by the three opposition parties to replace the Harper government with a progressive centre government, based on the principles captured in the Accord. These Accord principles will still be as valid come the new year as they are today.

Therefore the three parties will, if an election is indeed called, be open to an electoral accord which will guarantee that the three parties return the same number of MPs to Parliament as they now have, and so once again have a majority of votes in the House.

Even if the Tories have the most MPs after that election of all four parties, and form a government, it will be voted down in yet another confidence vote, and the Governor General will then definitely call on the LPC-NDP Coalition for form the next government and proceed to its own vote of confidence, which it will of course win.

In fact, it is highly probable that the three opposition parties will in fact increase their number of seats in the House, at the expense of the Tories.

Why? Because the irresistible logic of the power equation now created by the formation of this LPC-NDP Coalition requires that the three opposition parties agree before the next election not to oppose each other in all the ridings which currently have an MP. That leaves the existing MP facing only one major foe each (the Tory candidate).

And the next step is also logically persuasive: that the three opposition parties agree that in all other ridings now held by the Tories, they will run only one candidate, and coalesce behind that candidate.

Given that the Tories have won many seats only by a small percentage of the votes, and only because of split votes amongst the Liberals, NDP and the Bloc, and that the Tories received a million votes less than the opposition parties in the 2008 election, the Tories will definitely lose many seats and end up perhaps with fewer than one hundred seats in total.

It is conceivable that the Liberals will end up with the majority of total seats in such a new House.

Harper’s demise is inevitable.