Tempus Fugit
It's June, faithful readers. Where does the time go? Naturally, each new week brings new ShoHu, so be sure to take a visit.
Time moves forward, too, in the Liberal leadership campaign. Joe Volpe today tapdanced around the acceptance, defence, return and recanting of some $27,000 in campaign donations from children under 18 - including three children of pharmaceutical company executives, who live evidently in what I like to call Big Pharma's House. Mr. Volpe, backpedaling, now states that donations should be restricted to adults only. Your humble scribe cries "Smokescreen" on this one. Would the effect have been any different if the parents funneled donations through 18-year-olds? No. What if they'd used other people's kids instead of their own? Nope. Same difference. If a candidate is vulnerable to influence from a major lobbying group, that group will find a way to get the money where it needs to be. The issue here is electoral independence, not age limits on donors.
Time is an issue too on Parliamant Hill. Stephen Harper's government is trying to set fixed election times, every four years like they do in the U.S. Apparently this will make things more fair and predictable, so Canadians won't be surprised, confused, or terrified.
"I woke up this morning and there was a sign on my lawn. I'm surprised, confused, and terrified."
See, now minority governments can be taken down. So, let's say you're a Prime Minister who has told everyone when an election will be called, say 30 days after the release of a major report on a government scandal. Fair warning. Nobody's surprised, confused, or terrified. But then, some folks decide to surprise, confuse, and terrify Canadians by voting non-confidence. Have you seen the ruckus they make when they do that? Throwing papers in the air and yelling?
Well, now, since elections will only be held every fourth October, that won't happen, unless the majority opposition decides to vote non-confidence, because that part of the constitution can't be changed. Nor can the part that says the PM can still ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament any time he wants to. So, this would be more of a guideline, would it? The words toothless, disingenuous, and self-serving come to mind.
I don't mind the proposed Senate reform - 8 year terms instead of appointments until age 75. As long as they remain unelected and get to keep their pensions.
Time moves forward, too, in the Liberal leadership campaign. Joe Volpe today tapdanced around the acceptance, defence, return and recanting of some $27,000 in campaign donations from children under 18 - including three children of pharmaceutical company executives, who live evidently in what I like to call Big Pharma's House. Mr. Volpe, backpedaling, now states that donations should be restricted to adults only. Your humble scribe cries "Smokescreen" on this one. Would the effect have been any different if the parents funneled donations through 18-year-olds? No. What if they'd used other people's kids instead of their own? Nope. Same difference. If a candidate is vulnerable to influence from a major lobbying group, that group will find a way to get the money where it needs to be. The issue here is electoral independence, not age limits on donors.
Time is an issue too on Parliamant Hill. Stephen Harper's government is trying to set fixed election times, every four years like they do in the U.S. Apparently this will make things more fair and predictable, so Canadians won't be surprised, confused, or terrified.
"I woke up this morning and there was a sign on my lawn. I'm surprised, confused, and terrified."
See, now minority governments can be taken down. So, let's say you're a Prime Minister who has told everyone when an election will be called, say 30 days after the release of a major report on a government scandal. Fair warning. Nobody's surprised, confused, or terrified. But then, some folks decide to surprise, confuse, and terrify Canadians by voting non-confidence. Have you seen the ruckus they make when they do that? Throwing papers in the air and yelling?
Well, now, since elections will only be held every fourth October, that won't happen, unless the majority opposition decides to vote non-confidence, because that part of the constitution can't be changed. Nor can the part that says the PM can still ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament any time he wants to. So, this would be more of a guideline, would it? The words toothless, disingenuous, and self-serving come to mind.
I don't mind the proposed Senate reform - 8 year terms instead of appointments until age 75. As long as they remain unelected and get to keep their pensions.
posted by Benjamin Thornton at 11:12 p.m.
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