[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[crazy canuck]

Yes, we've let capitalism replace our empire building ethos. Now we face the consequences.

Perhaps, but I think it has more to do entering a post fact world.  Or at least a world in which there is sharp disagreement about what is factually true. 

[viper37]

Yes, we've let capitalism replace our empire building ethos. Now we face the consequences.

The socialist countries were not doing better, they fumbled, unable to compete with the West and their standards of living were always inferior to ours.  Don't take my word for it, ask the former resident who is among us. 

Cuba is not doing better, Venezuela is not doing better. Nicaragua is not doing better.  China is crumbling. 

Like it or not, Churchill was right, was have the least worst of all the systems.

[Grey Fox]

That might be so, we could have made it our #2 instead of #1 and still have made a couple people billionaires.

[crazy canuck]

Looks like a full on caucus revolt is about to happen.

Probably too late to put a new leader in a position to be successful in the next election.  But who knows. If there is a new leader, we can probably expect a campaign of joy.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/519974dc5e28f762a87fb14c1570523f4fb873adfcfcb945043907ccc3c41650/BHAHPRVQKJFDZC6VRKT7YGG64Y/

[Josephus]

A while ago, back before June, I said here that Trudeau is going nowhwere as long as Biden stays. But that if Biden is removed, or leaves, then the same will probably happen here. Looks like that might happen.

The other thing I did say, though, is that who would even want Trudeau's job right now, knowing they are likely heading into defeat?

[Grey Fox]

Nothing is done. The hate is directed & focused at Trudeau, not the Liberal brand. A Carney led or really any other outsider led Liberal party could attack PP on all his fascist tendencies.

[crazy canuck]

If the Liberals do change leaders it will be interesting to see how much of the current PP support is just anti-Trudeau animus.

[Barrister]

Nothing is done. The hate is directed & focused at Trudeau, not the Liberal brand. A Carney led or really any other outsider led Liberal party could attack PP on all his fascist tendencies.

So, I agree that nothing is guaranteed in politics.  I do think a different leader is the best shot the Liberals have.

But throughout the West incumbent governments are being defeated.  It does seem to be a post-Covid thing.  So I don't think a Mark Carney would come in with some blank slate, completely removed from the Trudeau legacy - unless he very forcefully rejected Trudeau.

[crazy canuck]

It seems obvious that any new leader would distance themselves from Trudeau as much as possible.

[Barrister]

So here's something weird on a couple of different levels.

I get a text yesterday from the "1905 Committee".  It's one of these groups that exists to pressure a political party from within (in this case, the Alberta United Conservative Party, or UCP).  They called me once before, urging me to go to the UCP AGM.  By the way, the UCP Constitution is rather stupid.  Any member who can get to Red Deer can be a delegate - there's no nominating process or anything.  So that means the AGMs can be dominated by the most intense - which usually means the most crazy.  1905 Committee seems to be pretty clear about wanting the UCP to take an even-more radical position on multiple issues.

But back to the text yesterday.  It was inviting me to an event, called "Injection of Truth".  Yup - it appears to be all about Covid conspiracy mongering.  Give it up people - the pandemic has been over for what - two and a half years at a minimum?  The really hard lockdowns only lasted a few months four years ago?  Yes - it sucked.  :eyeroll:

But here's the last thing - I was going to post a link to the website here, but I went to test it - turns out it's blocked at my work (not on my phone though).

injectionoftruth.ca

[crazy canuck]

Not touching that link with a ten foot pole

[Barrister]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-testify-foreign-interference-inquiry-1.7353342

Too long to quote - just go read it.

Cole's Notes:
-CSIS has warned of foreign interference in Canadian elections
-Trudeau attacks the Conservatives, saying he knows of Conservative politicians who are somehow involved with foreign intelligence
-under questioning by Conservative lawyer, Trudeau admits some Liberal politicians are also implicated
-Poilievre has declined to get security clearance so he can view this intelligence

It really feels like both sides are playing politics on a topic way too important to be a political football.

I mean Trudeau I think has a point that Poilievre should get that clearance.  Poilievre's argument has been it would prevent him from being able to comment on any of these issues.  Maybe so, but for someone who could be our Prime Minister in 12 months he should know what's going on.

But Trudeau is clearly trying to make political attacks on this as well when his party is just as implicated, if not more so.  As Poilievre says - release the names - all the names.

[crazy canuck]

PP says he doesn't want to get the clearance because he does not want to be restricted in what he can say.

Then he calls on Trudeau to ignore the restrictions imposed by obtaining the clearance and release all the names.

The hypocrisy of it all.

[Barrister]

Back to India from yesterday:

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-threats-india-rcmp-allegations

Jagmeet Singh is in a very interesting situation in the India allegations.  He's Canada's highest-profile Sikh politician, so it's of course obvious he would be interested in the topic.  I should also make clear - whether it's Sikhs, Jews, Ukrainians, Irish or any other group - someone can have ties to their home country without in any way taking away from their loyalty to Canada.

But politicians always need to be a little extra careful to show that loyalty to Canada, and not just be interested in their ethnic homeland.

So here's the very odd part of what Singh had to say:

On Tuesday, Singh called on the Liberals to "impose severe and strict sanctions" on Indian diplomats as well as "ban" the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network from operating in Canada, which he characterized as a "extremist militant group" from India.

But here's the thing.  Singh is the only one who even mentioned the RSS.  I can't find any other mention in the news other than quoting Singh.

And I'm far from an expert, but the RSS is a far-right Hindu organization.  It's sometimes called para-military, but that is perhaps because members have a uniform (of shorts and a white button up shirt).  I think it is active in Canada, but nothing (at least in public) tying it to any violence in Canada.  Most importantly though - it has close ties to India's ruling BJP Party.

So banning a Hindu nationalist group tied to India's ruling party, all at the request of a Sikh-Canadian politician, seems like it's not going to help matters...

[crazy canuck]

Strange that you could not find any other mention of the group.  Concerns about the groups activities in Canada populated the first page of a search I did of just that name.  If you do the same you will see that amongst other things, there is an in depth CBC report from May 2023 describing a number of concerns, including acts of intimidation here in Canada.  You will also see that it has been banned in India on a number of occasions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rss-hindutva-india-report-1.6764114