Susan Delacourt, Judy Sgro...Then and Now

It's no great secret that the Conservative Party (in particular Jason Kenney) has made it their special mission to destroy Dr. Ruby Dhalla and win the riding of Brampton Springdale in the next general election.

Yesterday the Star's Susan Delacourt was caught wearing her tin foil hat when Conservative spinster Alykhan Velshi lied about three Liberal MPs crossing the floor. Not only could she not verify the story, but she also protected Velshi's identity as the source of the bullshit.

The same Delacourt then issues a veiled threat in Dr. Dhalla's direction:

Q: Is the Star picking on Ruby Dhalla?

A: I see that Ms. Dhalla has posted on Twitter today that it's tough to be a female politician. Indeed it is. It is also difficult to balance on one leg, have a telephone conversation with the TV blaring and type on the blackberry while walking. Those examples are just as relevant to this story as Ms. Dhalla's gender. I believe she knows that the story could have been much worse, and we'll leave it at that.

Then, today, Delacourt tries the old backhanded apology after the PMO outs her source for her:

Velshi, when asked on Monday whether there was any truth to speculation about Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla (Brampton-Springdale) crossing the floor to the Conservatives, said that there had been talks with three Liberal MPs, but Dhalla was not among them. Velshi made the remarks in the Commons foyer, with other reporters nearby.

According to Velshi, the three Liberal MPs had made the approach to the Conservatives, but he did not know their names. He volunteered, however, that Dhalla wouldn't be a good catch because "she's going to lose" to the Tories in the next election.

At this point I'm not sure which of the two, Delacourt or Velshi is more full of shit.

This is the same Toronto Star that broke the bullshit Nannygate story about nothing. I'm going to bet lots that Kenney's office had a lot to do with seeking out the immigrant nannies that made up the false allegations about Dr. Dhalla.

But the story doesn't end with the Conservatives. No Sirry. The Geniuses at the OLO thought they better put some MORE distance between themselves and the star MP Dhalla. So they get Judy Sgro to come out against one of their own's private members bills. Problem with that is that Sgro supported this bill in the past.

If the OLO is serious about winning back the immigrant vote, they otta start thinking of ways to circle the wagons against Jason Kenney's spin machine.

As for Sgro? She owes Dr. Dhalla an apology I would think.


THEN


Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.) May 13, 2007 at committee:

I'll keep my comments as brief as possible.
Ms. Beaumier, I appreciate your being here. I know this is an important issue to all of us. You're aware that we are currently undertaking a poverty study. Hence, this whole issue you are raising of course becomes part of the overall strategy we are looking at--how we deal with poverty in Canada, such as whether or not everybody who lives in this country should be able to receive some sort of guaranteed income to ensure they have a few cents in their pocket, and dignity.

You referenced the south Asian community in particular. And you can tell by the people who are in attendance today that they're clearly watching this issue very carefully. Many of them come over as family members, we all know that, and they end up providing the child care that many of the parents can't find otherwise. The $100 they may receive as a child care benefit isn't going to the senior anyway, because the reality is that it's going in to help them maintain their living standards.

NOW

The legislation, tabled by Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla, was designed to allow elderly immigrants to qualify for the pension benefits after being in the country for three years, instead of the current requirement of 10. But Judy Sgro, the seniors and pensions critic, said the Liberal party wants to come up with a more comprehensive approach to addressing pension issues.

“The leader (Michael Ignatieff) and the Liberal caucus feel the solutions to the challenges facing our national pension and retirement systems must be addressed holistically and with a comprehensive national vision,” Sgro said in a statement released late on Monday afternoon. “Expenditure of public dollars must never be made without careful consideration of the long-term ramifications on the public treasury.”

Sgro said the Liberal party believed that increasing Old Age Security benefits “was not the most appropriate method” to improve government support for new Canadians. She estimated that, if adopted, the plan would cost the government between $300 million to $700 million.

The Harper government blasted Dhalla’s legislation last week after it was introduced, saying that ministers and MPs were being flooded with phone calls complaining about the proposal. But at the time, Dhalla said that it was not a Liberal bill and should be viewed only as a private member’s bill.

A spokesperson for Ignatieff said that Sgro issued her release to make it clear that the legislation was not party policy, but that MPs are not forced to vote in any particular way on a private member’s bill.

Susan Delacourt and Irresponsible Non-journalism

Irresponsible? Yes! And, from my favourite journalist in the country at that!!!

I'm not even going to link to her article as that would be giving it some form of credence. The media in this nation has sunk to depths that we have never, ever seen before in this country. No wonder bloggers and the likes are now being named as sources of information for the general public.

We shouldn't be surprised though given the way that Ottawa operates these days with all sense of decorum fallen by the wayside. Where mud - and the slinging thereof - seems to be the order of the day. Where a person's private life and reputation is at stake on a daily basis. But I digress.

Back to the topic at hand. When a nationally published journalist and respected author such as Susan Delacourt begins to write articles based on rumours we, as Canadians, are screwed. We're screwed.

It means that the the days of responsible journalism are over. You know, the days when FACTS meant something. It means that the media has succumbed to the hyperbole of spin. It means there is no time for "original thought" anymore.

And what? Susan couldn't even name the so-called "Conservative government official"? So she writes an article, based on a rumour, and was suggested by an unnamed source? Now that, my friends, is what we call horseshit!

Big Congratulations to My Friends Justin Trudeau and Ruby Dhalla Today

Many of you may remember that I implored the Liberal Party to name Mr. Trudeau as the Youth and Multiculural Critic back in the spring. Today that plea has been answered.

The bonus part about all of this is that Michael Ignatieff has found the perfect person to address one of the most infectious problems in our country today: Child Poverty. That person is none other than Dr. Ruby Dhalla. Dr. Dhalla has been at the forefront of the youth movement for years and knows all too well how child poverty affects our communities in more ways than one.

Here are the appointments made by Mr. Ignatieff this morning:

• Navdeep Bains – Small Business and Tourism
• Siobhan Coady – Treasury Board
• Bonnie Crombie – Crown Corporations
• Ujjal Dosanjh – National Defense
• Kirsty Duncan – Public Health
• Marlene Jennings – Government Ethics and Democratic Reform
• Derek Lee – National Revenue
• Joyce Murray – Amateur Sport and Vancouver Olympics
• Robert Oliphant – Veterans Affairs
• Justin Trudeau – Youth and Multiculturalism


Marcel Proulx was also named Associate Critic, National Defense.


Mr. Ignatieff also appointed several new special advisors:
• Ruby Dhalla – Child Poverty
• Mario Silva – Latin America
• Bryon Wilfert – Asia Pacific
• Borys Wrzesnewskyj – Emerging Democracies


Yasmin Ratansi was also nominated the new Chair of the Government Operations Committee.

About Conservative Attacks on Bill C-428

Ruby Dhalla has introduced a private member's bill. It's Bill C-428. Nothing new. The same bill received support when it was introduced by Colleen Beaumier not so long ago.

Because it IS Dr. Dhalla that introduced the bill, every Conservative blogger, TV station and radio call-in show has viciously attacked her and the bill. Misinformation seems to be their game.

Not one of them seems to recall that it was, in fact CONservative MP Gurmant Grewal that brought this to Parliament back in November 2004:

Motion M-187

Title: OAS Reform

Description: That, in the opinion of the House, the government should end the disparity of the 10-year residency requirement for Old Age Security eligibility.

Status: Placed on the Order Paper on November 3, 2004
___________________________________________________________

Where was the faux outrage then?

NDP MP Denise Savoie, with Olivia Chow also supported the bill:

For seniors
C-261 Establish a pension ombudsman
C-262 Ensure a guaranteed monthly income for seniors
C-336 Full retroactivity for pensions beginning at age seventy
C-432 Establish the first Sunday in February as Seniors’ Day
M-96 Eliminate the 10-year residency requirement for OAS
M-120 Half-price passports for seniors
M-135 Create a dedicated federal department for seniors to implement the NDP’s seniors charter

When Will Denis Coderre Put the Party First?

Update: And the Coderre cheapshots continue along with the self-absorbtion.....and on a day we, as Liberals, are preparing to topple a government. Thanks Denis. It's all about you.

The answer is never.

There is no need for me to tell those of you who know me that I have a long-standing distaste for M. Coderre and his incredible, selfish desire to undermine almost every Liberal leader since he became an MP. In the Outremont by-election against Tom Mulcair, I stood within 5 feet of him whilst he gave an "anonymous interview" raking Stephane Dion over the coals.

In caucus, he did everything in his power to destroy not only Dion, but his entire OLO.

Today, being the same self-centred SOB that he is, Coderre has called a press conference, thereby now undermining his own leader of choice, Michael Ignatieff. (The OLO has no idea what the press conference is about or what he will be saying) With any luck he will do what he has asked many other sitting MPs to do over the past few months...step down and make room for new blood.



P.S. I'm really, really, really, really trying......but.....

To All Montreal Liberals: I ask you to join Martin Cauchon's Cause

Who better to fight Tom Mulcair than Martin Cauchon? I for one am ready to board a plane tomorrow to help this man win - whether it be a nomination first, or a straight out election battle. Who among you is with me?

Here are the past results for Outremont. Notice Cauchon's smallest margin of victory was a mere 4,400 votes.

About Rahim and Helena

Life is trying. Public life is even more trying. I am not condoning drinking and driving or drug use, but I pray that these two young people get through this extraordinary event they are going through and that Rahim finds the help he obviously needs to get back on track.

Political mistakes are one thing. Personal mistakes that lead to political gain are another. Let he without sin cast the first stone.

The New Democrats Gave up Their Right to Demand Anything

This is serious stuff.

And, this is serious bullshit:

New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she's demanding an immediate investigation into the government's "callous, insensitive and incompetent" handling of swine flu preparations on First Nation reserves.

She said the government delayed sending hand sanitizers to communities and won't sponsor flu kits, but is prepared to send body bags.

"We find this absolutely abhorrent and repugnant," she said. "I think it just reflects a much deeper-rooted problem that Health Canada has in terms of recognizing the serious nature of H1N1 on reserves."

Really now Judy. If you think this government is as incompetent as all that, please feel free to relay that to your leader who is supporting them in a confidence vote.

There's an Election this week!!!

And I'm asking all available Liberals to chip in to get Dr. Eric Hoskins elected tomorrow in the St. Paul's by-election. Click here for info.

Harper Forms Coalition with Separatists and Socialists

Jack and Gilles shall stay on the hill. For Gilles, he hopes to save those 19 Bloc members due for pensions next year. For Jack, he knows he'll lose half is seats, including Olivia's. Thus, a two income family becomes a one income family. For Harper, well, he can stop running those coalition ads. Makes him look stupid now, no?