- Canada's Prime Minister is openly advocating for the use of soldiers over mere books or arguments as a means of persuasion. Which of course means it's time to start making jokes about Thomas Mulcair.
- Speaking of whom, Mulcair's much-discussed comments also include one point which should speak nicely to the NDP's goal of continuing to build across Canada rather than looking for shortcuts:
Mulcair says he appreciates what Martin is saying, but he won't support a merger.- Deep Climate posts a superb expose of the Ethical Oil Institute. [Update: And see also James Laxer on the myth that it's possible to build a sustainable economy primarily on volatile resource industries.]
"He's doing a great job of putting an important idea out there, but I'm categorical," he said. "The reason we did so well in Quebec in particular, is the fact that we aren't the Liberals."
- Finally, remember back when any comparisons between Jack Layton and Barack Obama were met with haughty dismissals to the effect that Layton could never match Obama's appeal? Just wondering.
The "Canada is back" wikileaks cables are interesting.
ReplyDeleteIn particular, the contrast between "Canada's voice is being heard" then, when the Cons were being especially vocal and "principle-based" and what we're hearing now is very interesting.
Harper criticized the Liberals for "talking a good game" but that now (2007) "we're getting the changes we want to see".
I'm thinking that what Harper, Baird, and friends actually did was waste/use up all the goodwill that the previous Liberal (and real Conservative) governments had built up over decades. Initially other countries were probably stunned by the unfamiliar tactics coming from Canadian representatives. Now they just ignore them. Last year's UN, only 27 people stayed and thought listening to Harper's speech was worth the time, for example.
Canada's reputation as trustworthy diplomatic bridge-builders has been frittered away. Instead of peaceful solutions, Harper wants to rely on the threat of firearms and violence as the great equalizer.
Instead of the Canadian friend that wants to help, it's now just Little America. And why listen to the jibbering of Little America when you can hear what Big America has to say. Nobody believes that Canada would unilaterally send its military anywhere, including the Canadians that would have to support such a crazy action. There is little reason for countries to respect Canada for its words or for its bombs. Whoever comes in after the Harper Government will have a long, hard road ahead of them.