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nfotxnAs most have probably heard it is indeed official: Canadians vote January 23rd, 2006.
And already Steven Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, has vowed to call an open house vote re-opening the issue of the Civil Marriage Act aka Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
Except somebody hasn't really explained to Harper that this is kinda part of our constitution I know that hasn't really stopped the Republican party in the USA. But I would argue that our present political climate and system of governance is pretty well equipped to prevent that kind of democratic sabotage. That is barring a land-slide Conservative win... which is the furthest thing from reality given the polls.
Unlike Bush, who is personally liked by many Republican voters, even Conservative voters in Canada aren't crazy about Steven Harper. He is like a pip-squeak white collar middle manager who thinks he's executive material. A tax accountant who's got too big for his britches. Also he looks terrible in a cowboy outfit.
Anyhow, the goal of today's rehashing of Same Sex Marriage seems to be to rally the minority of bigots hiding under the guise of faith into mobilization. Nothing calls out the ground troops like a holy war! Too bad it's a bit of an empty promise.
Too my American friends, worry not, Canada is likely to stay a strong-hold of equal rights for married gays. Most demonstrative for the majority of Canadians in the months of equal marriage here is that it has neither lead to polygamy, bestiality nor fire and brimstone. This speaks volumes, people tend to trust their real lives first. It's common sense.
In the long run, as always, love cannot lose.
Now my fellow Canuckstanis I implore you to research your local MP. You can get information on their attendance and voting on bills as well as quotes. It's pretty neat to see that my MP is still as much a grandiose, pabulum mouthed nepotistic bitch as she was when she walked all over me in the 8th grade. No seriously, she totally took all the Federally granted computers and let her son set them all up. Even though I'd exclusively been volunteering my time keeping the very few old machines we had up and running.
At the time I had no idea she was a Federal MP and just thought she was some bitch. And in the 8th grade one learns to stand up to adults which can shock them a bit. Especially when you are right and they are wrong. I ended up getting in a heap of trouble for telling her off and I think got in much more trouble than I would have regularly. Upon her exit from the scene once the Good Public Relation Vibes had been all collected the head librarian apologized to me and explained to me how these things work. That class and stature are very much real, she also instilled in me that what I did despite being a bit crass was brave and correct.
My still existing disdain for authority was given a boost that day. Ironically that particular librarian now works my old elementary school around the corner from my old house. One beautiful summer afternoon about 2000-2001 I was taking a walk and saw her in the parking lot where she immediately recognized me. We had a chat, I told her where my life was going at the time (nowhere) and she still encouraged me as always with sweet and unfeigned honesty. These are the important people in life.
In the end I don't vote for Beth Phinney and tell everyone I know this story. Her office also never returned even the vaguest of reply to my multiple letters regarding Same Sex Marriage leading up to the final reading this past summer.
Also I always vote NDP 'cause I like to suck cock.
And already Steven Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, has vowed to call an open house vote re-opening the issue of the Civil Marriage Act aka Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
Except somebody hasn't really explained to Harper that this is kinda part of our constitution I know that hasn't really stopped the Republican party in the USA. But I would argue that our present political climate and system of governance is pretty well equipped to prevent that kind of democratic sabotage. That is barring a land-slide Conservative win... which is the furthest thing from reality given the polls.
Unlike Bush, who is personally liked by many Republican voters, even Conservative voters in Canada aren't crazy about Steven Harper. He is like a pip-squeak white collar middle manager who thinks he's executive material. A tax accountant who's got too big for his britches. Also he looks terrible in a cowboy outfit.
Anyhow, the goal of today's rehashing of Same Sex Marriage seems to be to rally the minority of bigots hiding under the guise of faith into mobilization. Nothing calls out the ground troops like a holy war! Too bad it's a bit of an empty promise.
Too my American friends, worry not, Canada is likely to stay a strong-hold of equal rights for married gays. Most demonstrative for the majority of Canadians in the months of equal marriage here is that it has neither lead to polygamy, bestiality nor fire and brimstone. This speaks volumes, people tend to trust their real lives first. It's common sense.
In the long run, as always, love cannot lose.
Now my fellow Canuckstanis I implore you to research your local MP. You can get information on their attendance and voting on bills as well as quotes. It's pretty neat to see that my MP is still as much a grandiose, pabulum mouthed nepotistic bitch as she was when she walked all over me in the 8th grade. No seriously, she totally took all the Federally granted computers and let her son set them all up. Even though I'd exclusively been volunteering my time keeping the very few old machines we had up and running.
At the time I had no idea she was a Federal MP and just thought she was some bitch. And in the 8th grade one learns to stand up to adults which can shock them a bit. Especially when you are right and they are wrong. I ended up getting in a heap of trouble for telling her off and I think got in much more trouble than I would have regularly. Upon her exit from the scene once the Good Public Relation Vibes had been all collected the head librarian apologized to me and explained to me how these things work. That class and stature are very much real, she also instilled in me that what I did despite being a bit crass was brave and correct.
My still existing disdain for authority was given a boost that day. Ironically that particular librarian now works my old elementary school around the corner from my old house. One beautiful summer afternoon about 2000-2001 I was taking a walk and saw her in the parking lot where she immediately recognized me. We had a chat, I told her where my life was going at the time (nowhere) and she still encouraged me as always with sweet and unfeigned honesty. These are the important people in life.
In the end I don't vote for Beth Phinney and tell everyone I know this story. Her office also never returned even the vaguest of reply to my multiple letters regarding Same Sex Marriage leading up to the final reading this past summer.
Also I always vote NDP 'cause I like to suck cock.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 06:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 07:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 07:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 12:02 pm (UTC)So the risk, if the Conservative win any greater number of seats than they already have is very real. It's pretty scary, actually. I am not a marriage person myself, but it will be the beginning of a very dark period in Canada if they start rolling back rights for people.
It is a real risk and we are not as protected as many people believe.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 07:30 pm (UTC)And the only way this could happen is a Conservative majority government--the Bloc, NDP, and most Liberals wil l vote against it--even on a free vote.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 09:57 pm (UTC)I think you are wrong. If you read section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it states:
33. (1) Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter.
This means that any legislation with this provision is Court proof, if you will. It means that the Supreme Court can say all it wants about the matter, but section 15 of the Charter (the equality provisions) does not apply to it.
The conservatives have made it clear they do not like the courts to "make law" when that is the prerogative of the legislature. They would insert that clause to protect the legislature against court interference. Mark my words.
32 Liberals, a handful of Block and NDP members also voted against the Same Sex Marriage Act. A few more conservatives elected and they could have the votes to do it.
This is a lot more possible than you appear to believe, trust me.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 10:53 pm (UTC)I'm basing my position on MacDougall's work on the issue before the first precendents were set (see MacDougall, Bruce, "The Celebration of Same-Sex Marriage," Ottawa Law Review 32:235-267 (Spring 2001)), as well as the Open Letter from Law Professors to Hon Stephen Harper, which is available here. Both resources say that Parliament can't legislate around same-sex marriage due to the Charter.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 12:11 am (UTC)http://www.equal-marriage.ca/resource.php?id=429
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 02:07 am (UTC)In fact, the letter from the Law Professors says just the opposite and they seem to agree with me: the only way to do it (which therefore means it is possible) is for the government to invoke the Notwithstanding clause. And I quote:
You must explain to Canadians how your plan to entrench the traditional definition of marriage will pass constitutional muster. The truth is, there is only one way to accomplish your goal: invoke the notwithstanding clause. Emphasis added
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 02:41 am (UTC)Which ain't gonna happen. Zero change. Ditto for them getting a majority. Zero chance. There is no chance the Cons will get anywhere near the 85+ seats in Ontario (of 106) in order to get a majority without at least half the seats in Quebec.
If they got 1 seat in Quebec it'd be a surprise. This simply will not happen in this election, with Harper as their leader. McKay or another not ex-Reformer might be able to get enough seats in ON to win a majority in the future, but then the entire tenure of the caucus would also be different.
If you want to focus on the remotely possible, vas-y. It's also possible that we could have a tie between the Libs and Cons and the GG would have to pick one. Also highly unlikely.
I think this is a "the sky is falling" argument.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 10:41 am (UTC)NOW you are putting words in my mouth saying I am raising remote possibilities as inevitable. I don't mind debate but please, debate fairly. Don't change the premise of the argument at the last minute.
I agree with you that it seems unlikely but remember at the last election it started out that way too, but right before the vote, the Conservatives were polling like they were going to get a majority until the Liberals started attacking them and stealling all the NDP votes at the last minute.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 11:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 03:58 pm (UTC)You're right, it's a different argument. I apologize.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-01 04:13 pm (UTC)Ahh, Canadian Federal Politics
Date: 2005-11-30 01:57 pm (UTC)Canadian choices:
I agree, Brode - I think I'll vote Stupid this year too. And I still say (as much as I disliked the old PC party) if the party that gave us Jean Charest, Belinda Stronach, Joe Clark, and Mike Harris was still around at the federal level, they'd be winning this election in a complete landslide.
Re: Ahh, Canadian Federal Politics
Date: 2005-11-30 04:59 pm (UTC)The Corrupt Party = Liberals..
The Dangerously Insane Party = Conservatives
The Stupid Party = Green?
The Non-Canadian Party = Bloc Quebecois
The Inconsequential Party = NDP?
Misc = Communist Party!
Did I get it right?
Re: Ahh, Canadian Federal Politics
Date: 2005-11-30 05:04 pm (UTC)Vote Stupid!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 05:06 pm (UTC)Let's look at a few key ridings: Miami-Dade, Tampa, Everglades.
Seriously though, Harper just doesn't seem to get it that smearing the liberal party and offering nothing won't even win him the most conservative of Ontario centrists. Or that he can't just buy out the PC party, take its name, and we'll grant him its historical record.
Reform 3.0 is simply not seen as the old Tories. And the old Tory hard liners will be quick to tell you that. Just ask David Orchard or Joe Clark. Heck, look at Orchard's website.
Then there's Stronach, who was in bed (who knows how litereally) with the Ontario PC's, and who brokered the deal to create reform 3.0 and destroy the founding party of the country. She jumped ship to the Liberals like the opertunist she is. If the Liberal riding association has any sense at all in Aurora, they'll run somebody else.
But hey, at the end of the day they Conservatives ARE correct about typecasting the culture of the Liberal party as one of entittlement. Beth Phinney felt pretty entittled. Feel free to tell that story if the Conservative comes to your door.
Vote NDP: someone has to!
Mind you it already looks like they're running an anti-liberal campaign, which is a mistake. They think they'll just chip away at the left and score enough to balance a liberal minority there. Wrong. They should be going after the Conservatives. There's plenty of non-political people that aren't dogmatic righ/left one way or the other who are so insensed about the sponsorship "scandel" they're just looking to vote not-liberal for the first time in 15 years. This is the protest vote the NDP should be going after.
Well said
Date: 2005-11-30 07:01 pm (UTC)The problem is that the NDP is the only party without a geographical basis (besides Toronto). The Canadian riding system ensures that parties need to be geographical. If you look at the last election, the NDP got more votes than the PQ, but only half as many seats.
The other problem with that the NDP is that it's Stuck On Stupid. Many NDP candidates are unkept college hippies. That's a suicidal face to put forward.
Either way, vote Stupid!
Cowboy outfit
Date: 2005-11-30 07:29 pm (UTC)http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4319/673/1600/harper11.jpg
Its pretty damn ridiculous. Looks like a case of George Bush penis-envy
Re: Cowboy outfit
Date: 2005-11-30 07:51 pm (UTC)Thanks!
Re: Cowboy outfit
Date: 2005-11-30 07:31 pm (UTC)More social democrats means a better Canada. Without exception.
Go us! Go you!!!!!
Re: Cowboy outfit
Date: 2005-11-30 10:05 pm (UTC)Re: Cowboy outfit
Date: 2005-11-30 10:53 pm (UTC)