These conversations are bad. Obviously Murphy and Dosanjh are suggesting that the Grewals should abstain and that the Liberals would be very happy if they did so. References to Brison and Stronach clearly imply that the Grewals may eventually be rewarded with something. But this comment by Gurmant Grewal is really really bad: "Because I won't do anything until uncertainty element is removed." Uncertainty about what? About being rewarded? Clearly Grewal is both acknowledging that Murphy/Dosanjh have not promised anything and making an offer himself.
Archive for May, 2005
grewal/murphy/dosanjh conversations
May 31st, 2005same-sex marriage bill
May 31st, 2005"But opponents of same-sex marriage are pressing sympathetic Liberals to prevent quick passage. The Defend Marriage Trust has asked its members to call and e-mail eight Liberal MPs who oppose same-sex marriage, urging them to take the government down on a confidence motion rather than allow the bill to pass this spring."
The Liberals probably want to lose a confidence vote with the SSM bill in the works (so they can threaten that the Tories wouldn't pass the bill during the election), but losing one because their own members voted against them would be devastating.
Martin and Layton should move on electoral reform
May 27th, 2005It would be good if Martin and Layton (and Harper and Duceppe?) acted on the electoral reform proposal advocated by Ed Broadbent (2/3rds single member constituency and 1/3rd proportional representation). It would be one of the few positive things that this minority government could be remembered for. And it would go a long way to restoring the shattered confidence of Canadians in their government. But of course Martin will continue to govern "on the numbers." Lame.
the dairy industry in Canada is complicated
May 26th, 2005More than most people want to know about supply management and the Canadian dairy industry
Senate filibuster record: more than one day!
May 24th, 2005"The late Strom Thurmond holds the Senate filibuster record, speaking for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957."
memorial for Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
May 23rd, 2005yuan and US dollar linkage
May 18th, 2005Did you know that the Chinese yuan is linked to the US dollar (and perhaps artificially depressed)? No wonder Chinese exports to Wal-Mart account for more than 1% of China's GDP.
Brison takes a shot at MacKay
May 18th, 2005What a low blow: "It's not a personal thing for me at all," Brison said. "I don't pay a lot of attention. When you're shooting for big game, you don't worry about squirrels."
North American integration
May 18th, 2005The final report by the trinational independent task force is now available.
"We are asking the leaders of the United States, Mexico, and Canada to be bold and adopt a vision of the future that is bigger than, and beyond, the immediate problems of the present," said co-chair John P. Manley, Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. "They could be the architects of a new community of North America, not mere custodians of the status quo."
Of course the Stronach defection deflected all attention to the tension on the Hill.
zing!
May 17th, 2005Two words: Tories screwed.
Update: Maybe my "recruit some anti-same-sex-marriage Liberals" idea will come to fruition tomorrow.
