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Larry Muffin At Home

Tag Archives: Federal

I voted today

11 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by larrymuffin in politics world

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Canada., Election, Federal, hate, nonsense, scheer

Well today I did my duty as a Citizen and voted in our National Federal Election. It is the first day of voting by anticipation, this Thanksgiving weekend people can vote from 9am to 9 pm at polling stations. It’s easy and very well organized, it took all of 2 minutes. I had my voting card and one piece of ID, got my ballot, marked it and in the box it goes. No fancy machines, just a pencil and a piece of paper. Like most Canadians I have heard enough and my mind was made up.

I did not want to wait until 21 October which is the actual voting day, I’ve had enough of having to listen to lies and more lies from Conservative politicians and their leader Andrew Scheer. Whose father was a draft dodger during the Vietnam War, making Andrew an American Citizen, registered for the US Army reservist and travelling on a US passport. Something he hid from Canadians until just a few days ago. He also lied on his resume, he does not have a university diploma from Regina, and he was a gofer in an insurance company not a broker. He also hired Trump strategists to work on his campaign and receives funds from the GOP. So Andrew Scheer who wants to be Prime Minister of Canada is the Manchurian Candidate.

This election has 6 party leaders, though in reality only 2 really matter since only a liberal or a Conservative can actually get enough seats to form a government. The other parties will not get many seats. The Greens need 12 seats to be an official party, the NDP will likely be devastated in this election and may loose official party status, the Bloc only has candidates in Quebec and only represent that Province and the extreme right wing party of Maxime Bernier, the so called People’s Party will probably not have more than 1 seat in our House of Commons at 338 members.

We have had 4 so called debates, the ones in English a shouting match looking more like a food fight at a high school cafeteria with 5 moderators who did nothing but let the slug fest go on. The debate in French was far better and the moderator effective in controlling the leaders, the Media preferred the French version and its format and questions.

The big issues during the campaign were not discussed and the more offensive Conservative Premiers like Doug Ford of Ontario disappeared. While Jason Kenney of Alberta is on the one hand campaigning for the Conservative but at the same time challenging their leader Andrew Scheer.

The owners of Conservative papers, Postmedia, Sun, Globe and Mail and television Global and CTV were openly hostile to the Prime Minister promoting the Alt-right agenda, anti-immigration sentiment, bigotry, racism and violence against anyone who is not a conservative.

In other words our election process and the campaign have become like those South of the border. It is unfortunate but it also shows that Civic Illiteracy is well and alive and people do not know nor understand important issues. Are quick to blame to Government for what does not work in their personal lives. These negative feelings are difficult to explain given that the Economy is growing rapidly, unemployment is the lowest in 40 yrs, child poverty is the lowest it has ever been, etc..

The Alt-right and other hate groups have congregated around Andrew Scheer and his party, lawn signs for Conservative candidate stand next to signs advocating killing opponents. This was bound to happen here when you look at the Trumpian politics south of us. Conservatives in Canada admire Trump and wish we had the same white Evangelical politics. Andrew Scheer is their answer in this election. No it is not the genteel Canada we once knew.

What we do know for certain, it will be a minority government and this can give us some hope to avoid extreme politics.

On this Wednesday 4 November in Ottawa.

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Canada., Federal, Government, Ottawa, Parliament, Rideau Hall, Swearing in

So this morning at 10:30 like all Wednesday’s I was hosting the Art Lectures I organize at the National Gallery of Canada. However this morning at the same time a big event was taking place, I had competition. The turn-out to the lecture was half of what it usually is on this warm sunny November morning. Just down Sussex Drive from the Museum at the Residence of the Governor General, Rideau Hall, the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada who is Head of the Federal Government was being sworn into Office   with his new Cabinet. For the first time ever the public was invited to attend and the vast Park around the Rideau Hall was full of people, the crowds surprised the Press, it was a carnaval atmosphere. The new Cabinet arrived by bus, yes bus no limo here folks. Got off at the Gate of Rideau Hall and walked up the drive to the Residence, large television screens where placed outside for all to watch live.

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Here is Justin Trudeau holding in his arms his youngest son and his wife Sophie holding their daughter and the oldest boy walking with his parents, the other members of Cabinet are behind them walking up the drive at Rideau Hall, Press and the public all around them cheering.

Justin Trudeau was there with his wife Sophie Grégoire and his 3 kids, his mother Margaret the wife of the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau our 15th Prime Minister was also present to see her son become Prime Minister.

The 29th Canadian Ministry (Cabinet) of the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, has 30 Ministers around the Cabinet table. All the regions of the country are represented.

diverse-cabinet

Can-Crown

Note: This is in Order of Precedence, which is established by the chronological order of appointment to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, then in order of election or appointment to parliament for ministers who joined the Privy Council on the same day.

Minister Portfolio
Justin Trudeau Prime Minister, and also Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth November 4, 2015–
Ralph Goodale Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Carolyn Bennett Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Lawrence MacAulay Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Jody Wilson-Raybould Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Stéphane Dion Minister of Foreign Affairs
Judy Foote Minister of Public Services and Procurement
John McCallum Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Chrystia Freeland Minister of International Trade
Scott Brison President of the Treasury Board
Jane Philpott Minister of Health
Dominic LeBlanc Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Marie-Claude Bibeau Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for La Francophonie
Navdeep Bains Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Mélanie Joly Minister of Canadian Heritage
Bill Morneau Minister of Finance
Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue
Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Marc Garneau Minister of Transport
MaryAnn Mihychuk Minister of Employment, Workforce and Labour
Jim Carr Minister of Natural Resources
Maryam Monsef Minister of Democratic Institutions
Kent Hehr Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Carla Qualtrough Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Harjit Sajjan Minister of National Defence
Kirsty Duncan Minister of Science
Amarjeet Sohi Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Patty Hajdu Minister of Status of Women
Hunter Tootoo Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Bardish Chagger Minister of Small Business and Tourism

image

The New Cabinet posing in the Ballroom of Rideau Hall with H.E. the Governor General David Johnston under the picture of Queen Elizabeth II

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The Right Honourable the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (43) shaking hands with H.E. the Governor General David Johnston.

Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire hold hands before he is sworn-in as Canada's 23rd prime minister during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa November 4, 2015.  REUTERS/Chris Wattie

Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire 

images-2

Grandmother Margaret Trudeau with grand children

Only two more days and it’s over!!!!

17 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

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.

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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.

View from Monte dei Cocci Testaccio

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.

10872967_1544388775799330_537844341397632634_o

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.

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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.

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Montreal, today, my home town.

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Paris

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

Harperman!

21 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Canada., Election, Federal, Ottawa, Rights, Vote, voters

For those of you who are old enough to remember the 1960’s, the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, Civil Rights and all the protest songs, rallies and marches. Here is a new protest/campaign song. This tune just published on Youtube, recorded just a few days ago by people at the Unitarian Church in Ottawa, lyrics and music by Folksinger Tony Turner.

Our Canadian Federal Election is now on and Canadians vote on October 19, it’s going to be a long campaign, but has this protest song says Harperman it’s time for you to go will give us something to smile about. So far 20% or 35 members of his party are retiring, Thank you Lord! They all claim it’s for family reason, yeah sure, the reality is to collect now a big retirement jackpot O’money they voted themselves, on average $150,000 per year for life, when most retired Canadians get by with $35,000.

Harperman it’s time for you to go! A catchy tune and instantly reminded me of what we the people can do. I sincerely hope that we have a big turn out in October and that everyone who can, will vote. Though Harper has passed a Law restricting voters rights and making it more difficult for people to vote, a first in Canadian history. Voting is the only way we can put him on the bus home.

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