Saturday Morning Links

Assorted content for your weekend reading.

- Gerald Caplan rightly asks what media outlets think they have to gain by promoting anti-Muslim bigotry:

The goal of the Muslim-haters is surely clear enough. By lumping all Muslims together as terrorists, by equating a violence-prone Muslim lunatic fringe with all Muslims, by insulting the hundreds of millions of moderate Muslims everywhere, they alienate all Muslims and create among non-Muslims an irrational fear of and hostility to all Muslims. What purpose can this serve other than to provoke a clash, possibly a violent one, between Muslims and the rest? Anders Breivik didn’t come from nowhere, nor will the next Breivik.

But what’s the interest of certain media in enabling these haters to spread their gospel, to fan the flames of intolerance? What audience are they after? What do they expect their audiences to make of all this sympathetic exposure to rabid anti-Muslim feelings? Why are they inciting ordinary people to hate other ordinary people? Why?

- Though in fairness at least a couple of outlets are instead looking for other ways to divide Canadians as well - with Postmedia looking particularly unsubtle in having the nerve to criticize NDP MPs for not participating in what it explicitly describes as a hunt for "political skeletons".

- Chantal Hebert is right to note that this fall's provincial elections figure to have massive implications when it comes to other levels of government as well. But I'll reiterate that the issue isn't Ontario alone: instead, it's the real danger of a Con-friendly sweep in all of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario that could open the door for Stephen Harper to ram through constitutional changes on an ideological basis.

- Finally, Karim Bardeesy profiles Rathika Sitsabaiesan as the new face of the NDP. And those interested in joining in the festivities from her busy Regina trip (including a Q & A at the U of R this morning, a barbecue at noon and a wine and cheese social this evening) can get the details here and here.

SaskBlogs - Regina Tweetup

For those interested, Saskboy and yours truly will be stopping by the Riddell Centre for a Tweetup at 5:30 this afternoon. Feel free to stop by for a bit of a break from the election campaign - or at least a good nonpartisan chat about it.

Updates and Events

A few scheduling notes to help Saskatchewan political junkies to plan the rest of their month...

- One NDP nomination race has come and gone sooner than expected, as Serge Leclerc's resignation resulted in an early nomination meeting in Saskatoon Northwest. Congrats to acclaimed candidate Jan Dyky, who will face off against the Sask Party's Gord Wyant in a riding which had seen nothing but nail-biters until the 2007 election.

- Also on the nomination front, I've previously noted the NDP's October 2 nomination meeting for Saskatoon Sutherland. But an equally important date is looming much closer, as the deadline for membership sales is September 18.

- As LRT notes, the events surrounding the NDP's Regina caucus meeting include a fund-raiser tomorrow night for UFCW 1400 members. So for those looking to have a good time for a good cause, now's your chance.

- Finally, the Saskatchewan NDP's policy review process looks to be kicking into high gear, with upcoming meetings scheduled for Regina on September 20 and Saskatoon on September 28.

Saskatchewan NDP Events Update

As Guest noted in comments here, there's another joint nomination meeting coming up for four of the Saskatchewan NDP's Saskatoon seats. With that in mind, let's note a few more of the significant events approaching in the next few weeks:

- May 26, 6:30 PM, Good Samaritan Parish Centre - Regina Coronation Park all-candidates forum.

- May 31, 7:00 PM, Royal Canadian Legion Hall (Saskatoon) - Saskatoon Riversdale, Saskatoon Fairview, Saskatoon Eastview and Saskatoon Centre joint nomination meeting.

- June 17, 7:00 PM, location not listed Sunset United Church - Regina South nomination meeting.

- June 19, 1:00 PM, Thom Collegiate - Regina Coronation Park nomination meeting. (This one isn't yet up on the party's events schedule, but will presumably be confirmed.)

Meanwhile, the policy review process looks to be taking a brief break after meetings the last two weekends. But I'll be sure to note when the next sessions are posted.

Update: Thanks to a reader for noting the location for the Regina South nomination meeting.

Count 'em up

As Aaron Wherry notes, the final count from the CAPP rallies is roughly equal to the number of ralliers on both sides of the coalition showdown a year earlier. (Or one can see the count as being roughly 19,000 to 3 rather than an even split among a similar number of people). And that increase in interest from the anti-Harper side comes despite the fact that unlike last year, the immediate identity of Canada's government didn't hang in the balance.

Of course the Cons will try to keep pretending the public outrage doesn't matter. But does anybody think Harper can expect to remain in power much longer if that pattern continues?

CAPP - Saskatchewan Events

The full list of CAPP protests scheduled for tomorrow across the country can be found here. But for those looking for the Saskatchewan events, here's the time and place to show your support for democracy against Stephen Harper's decision to shut down Parliament:

Prince Albert:
Saturday, January 23
1:30 pm
PA Union Centre, 107-8th St. E.

Regina:
Saturday, January 23, 2010
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Scarth Street Mall (South Side by the Buffalo)

Saskatoon:
Saturday, January 23, 2010
1:00pm - 2:30pm
City Hall Square (South Side of City Hall)
222 3rd Ave. North

On renewal opportunities

For those wondering when the Saskatchewan NDP's much-anticipated policy renewal process would officially get underway, the answer is: tomorrow. The first phase will consist of two public meetings to be held:

- in Regina from 1 PM to 5 PM November 21, at Tommy Douglas House (1122 Saskatchewan Drive); and
- in Saskatoon from 1 PM to 5 PM December 5, at UFCW Local 1400 Hall (1526 Fletcher Road).

These meetings will focus on finalizing terms of reference for the rest of the policy process to follow, as well as compiling ideas for topics and experts to be discussed. For now, the expectation is that a first round of reports and public input will be completed in time for the NDP's provincial convention in 2010, with a broader public engagement and consultation process to follow before final debate over the policies at the 2011 convention.

In other words, there will be plenty more chances to have your say as the process plays out. But for those eager to help develop the NDP's next wave of policy ideas (whether or not you're currently a party member), now is your chance to get started.

Worth a look

While the Saskatchewan NDP's current leadership race hasn't yet led to much discussion about the party, those looking for some insight into the future of the party and the province will be able to get that tonight from one of the NDP's past leaders. Allan Blakeney is launching his memoir, An Honourable Calling, at the Regina Public Library Film Theatre tonight at 7.

See the RPL's Events Page for more details. And stay tuned to see if a Draft Allen Blakeney movement has launched by the end of the evening.