Plebiscite in PEI!

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Canada., elections, electoral system, PEI, Plebiscite

As of today Saturday 29 October, the citizens of the Province of Prince Edward Island will have 10 days to express their choice for a new electoral system to replace the old antiquated system of First past the post.  We have 5 choices of possible voting systems.

We can vote by phone or by the internet or in person. Each voter is given a PIN number which is unique and you fill out the Plebiscite ballot stating which system you prefer from 1 being the best to 5 being the least favoured.

I hope people will take this opportunity, it is very important. PEI is the first and only Canadian Province so far to hold a Plebiscite on the question. At the National level Prime Minister Trudeau has promised a change and all political parties in the House of Commons are involved in reviewing options by consulting with Canadians across the country, the report should be presented in a few weeks.  PM Justin Trudeau has promised that by 2019 when the next Federal election is to take place we will have a new electoral system. I like a lot of Canadians are looking forward to this new system.

The options are on the ballot: Dual Member Proportional (DMP),

Mixed Member Proportional (MMP), Preferential Voting (PV), First past the Post (current system), First past the post plus leaders.

The MMP system is the one in Germany, Scotland, New Zealand. A lot of people like this system.

The PV system is used in Australia and Ireland.

Our system in Canada does not make every vote count a party can currently get 40% of the vote and the majority of the seats in the House, which is not fair.

 

 

 

Happy days are here again!!!

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Calgary, Canada., Conservative, elections, Liberal, Neo con, Ottawa, Parliament, Trudeau, Victory

At a moment like this I think of Mitch Miller and his chorus singing Happy Days are here again. Stephen Harper has resigned as Party Leader and he may stay on as a Member of Parliament for the time being. Nine years of politics of fear and division are over, nastiness shown the door. Harper who is from Calgary in Alberta, now he lives in a City, Calgary whose Mayor is a much loved and popular Progressive Muslim, a country where Neo Con American policies are repudiated and sent into the wilderness, a Province Alberta with a left leaning Premier Rachel Notley, NDP and a centre left Prime Minister Trudeau, you have to love Karma.

The Trudeau family, Justin, Sophie Grégoire and the three kids Xavier, 8, Ella-Grace Margaret, 6, and Hadrien, 1.

The Election came and it is a massive victory for the Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau. The Liberals have been called the Natural Ruling Party of Canada our back in power and that is GOOD NEWS for us all, I am very happy with this turn of events. This is a complete and total repudiation of Stephen Harper and his small minded party, fear, hate, xenophobia and racism agenda. Truly Harper was and is a repugnant man and good riddance. As journalist Chantal Hébert of the Toronto Star said, Harper’s legacy will be one of nastiness.

What is truly ironic is that Justin Trudeau at 43, wins such a great electoral victory, the Liberals were in third place in the last Parliament and now they are first. Justin who was attacked by Harper and his cronies as not ready and being unable to govern, too young is now the Prime Minister designate. Harper the faux economist replaced by a school teacher Trudeau. Quite the slap in the face to Harper who despised him and his late father Pierre and who made a point of saying nasty things about Trudeau father on numerous occasion including the day of his funeral.

The horrible damage done to our Democracy must now be repaired and it will be a tough slug, 9 years of corruption under Harper has to be undone. Justin Trudeau has promised to work closely with all the Provinces and Quebec is back into the fold of the National government and again assume its historical role as the King maker in this election, this is a welcome change.

Harper who aligned our Foreign Policy on an unconditional support of Netanyahu in Israel, to get the pro-Israel vote this has not paid off. The Jewish vote in Canada is traditionally Liberal and again they voted Liberal. An ill conceived policy of Harper who threatened our traditional role of Peace keeper and middle-man in that part of the world for which we were so well respected. Now Trudeau will have to re-align our Foreign Policy to a more level headed, middle of the road approach. I can just imagine Netanyahu being very unhappy about this turn of events. In Washington DC we are hoping for good relations with the Obama administration, Trudeau and Obama are natural allies, whereas Harper despised Obama and aligned himself with the GOP leadership, again a costly mistake. Same goes for our relations with Europe, the UN and Asia where Harper made numerous enemies, he also has few friends even in his own Caucus. Trudeau has to get us out of the bombing campaign in Syria and stop all the military adventurism of the Harper years, focusing again on our Hu.

But there is so much more to work on from Pensions for our Veterans, adequate funding for Health Care, re-establish funding for the CBC Radio-Canada so it can continue as our National Broadcaster, protecting Seniors in their old age, pensions, the environment, our infrastructure, job creation, freeing scientists to do their jobs without fear, re-establishing the National Census, repeal and amend bill C-51 (Secret Police) and bill C-24 (stripping of Citizenship), Assisted Dying Legislation, Legalizing Marijuana and the list goes on.

In the Old 41 Parliament at dissolution the standing was Conservative 159, NDP 95 and Liberals 36.

Now in the new 42sd Parliament the Liberals have made a huge come back with an absolute majority of  184 Seats, the Conservatives are the Official Opposition with only 99 seats and the NDP are now in third place at 44 seats, their leader Tom Mulcair will probably have to step down also. The rest of the seats are divided amongst other Parties who may not have Official Party Status according to Parliamentary rules. This Liberal victory is good for Ontario and for the Capital Ottawa both led by Liberals. In Ottawa Centre, Catherine McKenna, a brilliant women, is our new MP. Though she is replacing the much loved Paul Dewar, NDP.

The Senate which is not elected has 105 members, Conservatives have 47 seats, Liberals 29 seats and 7 independents. There are 22 vacant seats at this time, this is where the new Prime Minister could appoint and recommend to the Governor General new Liberal Senators and tip the balance. Otherwise bills coming from the House of Commons could be delayed by the Conservative Senators though not defeated. It is hoped the Conservative Senators would not do that given all the legal problems the Senate is facing at this time including criminal enquiries and trials of Conservative Senators, like Mike Duffy and Brazeau.

Parliament of Canada, Ottawa.

Only two more days and it’s over!!!!

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Canada., elections, Federal, Harper, Mulcair, Padova, Padua, Parliament, Pyramid, Rome, Trudeau, Veneto, Venice

Like most Canadians, I have suffered through a long and often painful electoral campaign of 78 days, the longest in Canadian history. In Canada usually a campaign is 42 days which is long enough. I am sorry that the important issues like Health Care funding, the infrastructure in our Cities, the economy and our Foreign Policy was not fully discussed instead we got the racist and xenophobic speeches of Stephen Harper who revealed himself to be a hater, a loner and someone out of touch with reality, promising mediocrity and a colonial Canada back to the bad old days.

On the other hand I am very proud that my riding Ottawa Centre had the highest participation of early voters during the four days of advance polling of all of Canada. A feat really when you think of it. Mind you, I, like many people in Ottawa Centre can walk to Parliament in about 10 minutes by foot. So when you are that close to the seat of power it is difficult not to be plugged in all the time, which can also be a curse.

Some 3.6 million Canadians voted during the advance polling an increase of 71% since 2011. It is a supreme irony that Justin Trudeau the son of Pierre E. Trudeau one of our great Prime Ministers, would defeat Stephen Harper, according to Harper, Justin was not ready, really? It seems the public thinks otherwise. Am sure the bitter irony of it all is not lost on Harper and his crew. Justin is 43 years old the same age as JFK when he became President. Justin style was to lead a campaign where he includes everyone of us and speaks of fresh air and positive change. Though Tom Mulcair of the NDP had a good campaign his ideas were sound and solid but unfortunately he forgot lesson number one of politics, keep it simple, in the end too many big words and concepts, all good but  difficult for the average person to grasp.

The vote is Monday October 19 and all the polls of various polling companies now say that the Liberals are at 38% the Conservatives at 30% and the NDP at 24%, many predict a small majority Liberal Government. I am just happy like lots of people that the toxic Harper may be gone and with him the party he fashioned, because if you look closely you will notice there is no team, it’s a Party of One.

Also on Friday many Shred-it trucks around the Prime Minister’s Office and other Ministerial Offices in downtown Ottawa. The number of trucks alone was highly unusual, too many boxes being loaded, there was also some moving of furniture going on. Already a transition on the way? Seems so.

It is Fall now in Ottawa, the leaves have gone from the trees and the air is crisp, pumpkins are out and the Rideau Canal is being drained in preparation for the Winter skating. I have changed my wardrobe to Winter setting a Seasonal ritual. It is also a chance to give away things you no longer want.

We are also getting a trainer again for our two dachshunds, they are as a breed of dogs very difficult to train, too stubborn they say, but it is not impossible and what we want to correct are things that should be attended too.

I am also thinking of Christmas this year what will we do. Probably stay in town, at home. No I am not putting the Xmas music on quite yet.

Here are photos of places I like and visited often maybe Fall like in a way.

Padova, Italy, view of the basilica of Saint-Anthony of Padua which is a beautiful church and contains the grave of the Saint who remains one of the most popular in the Catholic church. He was Portuguese and joined Saint Francis attracted to the Humanist thinking which would lead to the Renaissance period. The Oval park surrounded by a ring of water is the former Roman colosseum which at the Renaissance was converted into a green space. Padova is a University town, lots of good restaurants and history and if you wish to visit Venice, you are only 25 minutes away by train.

The pyramid tomb of Caius Cestius Epulo in Rome at the Protestant Cemetery by the Gate of St-Paul, built in 19 BC in only 330 days. Recently restored with a monetary gift of a Japanese businessman.

A view of the entrance to the Grand Canal from the Sea in Venice. Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore ( Most Holy Redeemer) built in 1592 in Giudecca. Architects Andrea Palladio and Antonio Da Ponte.

The column of Saint Teodoro with the monster of the lagoon in Venice. He is the Patron Saint of the City of Venice. The monument is next to the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Doge. The Chapel in the Palace of the Doge is dedicated to him. St-Teodoro is an Eastern Orthodox Saint and until the 9th century Venice was close to the Eastern Christian rite which explains the Byzantine decorative style of the Basilica of St-Mark. After the Venetian brought back the remains of St-Mark from Egypt in 828 AD, he replaced St-Teodoro as Patron of Venice.

Montreal, today, my home town.

Paris

A simple pleasure, a nice coffee on a Fall day or any day really.

Change of Seasons

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Autumn, Bush, Canada., corruption, cuisine, elections, Fall, Food, Harper, horn of plenty, pumpkin, thanksgiving

With the arrival of Autumn, days are noticeably shorter and the weather cooler, so it is time to look at wardrobes and make a switch to Fall-Winter clothing. I cleaned up my wardrobe, gave away what I no longer wear. I also cleaned my library and made four boxes of books to give to the Ottawa Library, not to worry I still have books for 45 boxes. What I want to do next is go through all the dish ware and glasses, a lot of it we have not used in years, best to sell it or give it away. I also reorganized my 50 mm lead soldiers and packaged all those I no longer wanted on display. It is a long task to box them up and put them away, that alone took 2 days.

I bought a big pumpkin for $5 dollars which I believe was a bargain. Next the small garden on the balcony will need cleaning out and put away for winter. But that can wait until after Thanksgiving on 11 October. This year we will share the preparation of the meal with friends, much easier that way and a lot less stressful.

We got our Voters cards from Elections Canada, so we are registered to Vote in the Federal Election come 19 October. We have to also bring photo I.D. with proof of home address, like a Driver’s Licence. A wind of panic is now blowing in Canada, this very long campaign has people frazzled and politicians making desperate promises for a vote. What is assured now is a Minority Government but who will win is not certain, all 3 major parties are tied at 29 or 30% which is far to close to call. This is truly depressing, it looks like the issue is about a piece of tissue, a veil worn by some Muslim Women. With all our problems you would think that there are more pressing problems facing us but no, oh no, it’s all about Muslims women who wear a head covering. It does not help to point out that Muslims in Canada represent just 1% of the population of 36 million and are no threat to any of us. Hysteria is the order of the day and Mr. Harper is doing a fine job of it. Someone said in the 1950’s it was the Communists now it’s the Muslims, how true. Canada has turned into a version of the book 1984.

As for the refugee crisis Mr. Harper calls them Bogus refugee, that is the only way he refers to anyone claiming to be a refugee, you are bogus, a free loader. What is interesting is how this line of attack has woken up the sleeping beasts of ignorance, racism and xenophobia. Someone pointed out that in the past you had the Tavern drunk who would rant about this or that, but you could always ignore that guy sitting at the end of the bar. Now he is on the Internet and trolls around with his petty insults and outrageous opinions, not so easy to ignore and in the meantime infects others into thinking it’s Ok to be hateful. All the while saying he is a supporter of Stephen Harper and the CPC. I have not heard the Conservatives or Harper contradict or distance themselves from such statements. The other day I was looking at Jeb Bush’s platform for the US Presidency and realized it was the same as Stephen Harper in Canada, scary stuff. What strange times we live in who needs excitement.