Turner Situation; Government Bully Politics At Its Best.

This has been a new phenomenon brought about by the current government to bully the opposition, particularly the Liberals.

During majority governments, it is common courtesy to allow opposition members to have first pick of offices to avoid any conflict. A block of offices is offered, and the party distributes them based on seniority and level of responsibility.

There is no such thing as a Liberal or Conservative office. The governing party is entitled to the multi suite offices that are reserved for ministers, and the government can really only claim ownership of those. If one were to visit Parliament Hill for the first time, one might be shocked to see that very few members have their fellow party members as neighbors. For the most part, very few offices have members of the same party adjacent to one and other. The Bloc Quebecois enjoy having offices near each other, but also many of them enjoy the West Block, which is popular with Members who smoke, thus spreading them out. There are 308 members of parliament, thus 308 offices. With the government removing a member from his office, they create an unoccupied space (wasting taxpayers money), and HOC will have to procure a new office (Once again wasting taxpayers money) or make Mr. Turner share with another Liberal, hindering that member and the party's resources and space.

The government will argue that in 2000, P.C. Member Jim Jones was not allowed to access his parliamentary office because he announced he was joining the then new Canadian Alliance. An election shorty followed, and Mr. Jones was defeated, so that story really has no ending. Also, the conflict was between two opposition parties, and if anyone knows how HOC ruled in that case,I would appreciate the information.

The bottom line is the Conservative Party's bully tactics. When they took power, they removed several Liberals from their offices, some of which had been in them since 1988. When Dalton McGuinty took power in Ontario in 2003, he allowed all P.C. backbench members to keep their existing offices. There use of intimidation in their lust for power has been clearly exposed in this case with Mr. Turner.

Let's Compare Tastes

This could be one of my last pokes at the Harpocrits, as I will resume my myspace and facebook addiction this weekend, not to mention that celebrity lookalike site.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has taken the liberty to post Mr. Dion's expenses while he was Environment Minister. Meanwhile why haven't they posted Brian Mulroney's expense claims so both Conservatives and Liberals can throw up. If there is a little ounce of stomach fluid left, the Trudeau expense claims will quickly dispose of them.

Alright, two Ministers on business, let's look at their choice in accomodation.

Stephane Dion

|Dion's choice for the Climate Change Conference. Also the only hotel connected by tunnel to the conference, but Mr. Dion does reside in the Montreal area, and there are also cheaper hotels within the neighborhood.

InterContinental Montreal, Montreal

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$122 We will assume this Lowest Average Rate. Dion choose $300 range Canadian.

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Hotel Class:

360 Rue St Antoine West

Montreal, QC h2y 3x4 Canada

InterContinental Montreal's Victorian Nordheimer building is an Old Montreal landmark located within walking distance of the city's downtown core and approximately... more

Amenities

Swimming Pool, Pets Allowed, Wheelchair Accessible, Spa/Massage, Meeting Facilities, Babysitting, Broadband Access, Restaurant in Hotel, Fireplace, Shopping...... see all

Chuck Strahl

hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. Lowest avg rate C$464.40 American

5.0-star Washington, DC Area: Dupont Circle/Kalorama

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Prominent hotel with health club in chic West End

Located where downtown and the West End converge, this 11-story hotel is 5 blocks from Georgetown, 6 blocks from Dupont Circle, and 3 miles from the National ...

Mr. Strahl does not live in Washington, but this hotel has no direct access to any of the business he was attending. To his credit, it is not the most expensive hotel in Washington. He could have shacked up with London North Centre Candidate Dianne Haskett, who does live in the greater Washington area. Next time choose the Watergate Chucky, not only chic but alot of history and heritage.

A Little Look at the Numbers

As per a blogger's request, I will submit government figures available to the public.

I will admit, I have never watched the Junos, but let's compare the last Liberal Minster's spending at the ceremony, compared to the current Conservatives.

Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Oda, Beverley J. - Minister
Purpose: JUNO Award Ceremony
Date(s): 2006-03-31 to 2006-04-03
Destination(s): Halifax
Air Fare: $1,976.39
Other Transportation:
Accommodation: $1,090.92
Meals and incidentals: $175.45
Other:
TOTAL: $3,242.76


Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Frulla, Liza, Minister
Purpose: Gala Awards of the 2005 Juno Awards
Date(s): 2005-04-01 to 2005-04-04
Destination(s): Winnipeg
Air Fare: $2,020.68
Other Transportation:
Accommodation: $666.90
Meals and incidentals: $182.85
Other: $54.94
TOTAL: $2,925.37

Alright about three hundred dollar difference no big deal. That is until the Treasury Board got caught covering this up.


Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
Detailed Report
Travel Expense
For: Oda, Beverley J. - Minister
Purpose: Crystal Cab and Limo Services (original revision: February 9, 2007; latest revision: February 13, 2007)
Date(s): 2006-03-31 to 2006-04-03
Destination(s): Halifax
Air Fare:
Other Transportation: $3,249.34
Accommodation:
Meals and incidentals:
Other:
TOTAL: $3,249.34

Wow, remind to visit Winnipeg instead of Halifax, apparently there is some kind of monopoly being run by Crystal Cabs, and their rates are very high. If I have to go to Halifax, I am taking the bus.

Of course we are still waiting for Minister Finely to show a note from her doctor that a person that suffers from Graves diesase the need to ride in Crown Victorias commissioned by a Limosine Company. Harpocrits, gotta love'em!

Bains Situation Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Stephen Harper is not a statesman, and for that matter isn't even a decent human being. He hates liberals and anyone else who disagrees with him. He is a monster and the most vindictive party leader, let alone Prime Minister in Canadian history, and does not deserve a minute more in power. Let's take a look at his record over his political career.

1. Never has had a real job. Was a political staffer, then a Member of Parliament, and an unregistered right wing lobbyist for an organization that was originally formed with the mandate to end public healthcare.

2. He goes on and on about Liberal corruption, and preaches about government transparency, yet he still refuses to release his donor list from 2001-2002 when he ran for the Canadian Alliance leadership, under the weak argument "It wasn't the law at the time". Well if he is such a squeaky clean fundraiser, what does he have to hide?

3. Accused Paul Martin of supporting child pornography, because he didn't a support an opposition motion which is standard parliamentary procedure. If had to defend his voting record against government motions and bills while he was in opposition, he would have some explaining to do. We can spend all day on how he doesn't support prescription drugs for seniors.

4. Accused Paul Martin of strategic votes on the 2005 Budget along with cancer treatments of members of the opposition. I hardly think that the Liberals Whip office has all the oppositions medical charts posted in order to ensure that opposition members won't be there.

5. Recalled former Ontario Liberal M.P.P., Alvin Curling from his diplomatic posting with an e-mail through an account he hadn't checked in over two years. Curling found out when his replacement phoned him for details on the turnover.

6. When his party got caught ripping off taxpayers with their policy convention, he used taxpayers dollars to launch an investigation into the Liberal Party's convention financing.

7. His encouragement of unparliamentary behaviour in the House of Commons, which has resulted in a decorum that would make grade school class with a substitute teacher look subdued.

8. While in opposition he made personal attacks against Liberals for lavish spending on taxpayers expense and abusing the challenger jet. Since taking power his cabinet members lavish spending of taxpayers money on limos, hotels and meals has dwarfed the previous governments, and Harper himself used the Challenger Jet to arrive in time to fund raise for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives.

Of course there are a band of Harper lovers that will read this, (I don't know why, it appears only on progressive and liberal blog posting sites) taunt the Liberals about a long stay in opposition and demand an apology for the G.S.T., sponsorship program and the gun registry. Yeah, yeah yeah, so I saved you the typing and you can just cut and paste into the comments section.

Hey Harper, Apologize for the Pacific Rail Scandal!

A BCer in Toronto and a creative youtube user influenced me to release this petition. If Ralph Goodale has to apologize for things that he had no knowledge and involvement in, then Harper should do the same.

"We the under signed believe that Prime Minister Stephen Harper should make a formal apology to Canadians for the Pacific Rail Scandal".

The clip off youtube is is currently down, looks like the Harpocrits are trying to block the truth.