Hillary Clinton praises PM Harper's G8 initiative

Hillary Clinton praises PM Harper's G8 initiative.

“We commend the Canadian government for focusing attention on this issue by offering a flagship initiative on maternal and child health at the upcoming G8 meeting,” Clinton told the conference, Women Deliver, which has gathered 3,500 high profile advocates, media and politicians.


Timely stock tip: It might be wise to buy stock in pharmaceutical companies, particularly those that manufacture over the counter analgesics such as Tylenol, ASA or Ibuprofen, as Hillary's comments are going to give many on the left in Canada some nasty headaches.

While the Liberals are flip flopping on immigration and Afghanistan

While the Liberals are busy with their games flip flopping on immigration and Afghanistan, PM Harper was busy on the diplomatic front.


PM Harper, the first foreign leader to meet with new UK PM David Cameron at #10 Downing St.



PM Harper meeting with French President Sarkozy on the terrace of the Palais de l'Élysee.



The French really know how to make someone feel welcome. (picture courtesy of David Akin)

Rare Kudos for Jack Layton

I don't do it often here on the blog, but Jack Layton deserves some recognition for displaying some class on the Governor General issue.

Layton, as opposed to Ignatieff, was able to keep his mouth shut, not hold a press conference, and did not feel compelled to abuse the trust placed in him by the PM who reached out and asked Layton for his thoughts on the selection of a new GG.

Way to go Jack, you are hands down a better, and smarter, politician than Ignatieff is or ever will be. You deserve to be in the OLO office more so than the current occupant.

More news that the OLO does not want to see.

While Michael Ignatieff is busy thinking thoughts at his villa in France.....

A global economic forecasting group says Canadian economic growth will outpace that of other G7 nations by a wide margin during the first half of 2010. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation is forecasting that Canada’s economy grew 6.2 per cent in the first quarter, well ahead of the 1.9 per cent overall growth for the G7 nations. The OECD predicts that Canada’s second-quarter growth will be about 4.5 per cent, nearly double the 2.3 per cent growth expected from the combined G7.

Which has it been? Responsible Government or Responsible opposition?

Since the 2008 election has Canada had a more responsible government or a more responsible opposition?

You can vote on the side bar and feel free to leave your comments below.

This may very well be the real ballot question the next time we go to the polls so choose wisely.

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I will not vote in my own poll but if I was going to I think the choice would be an easy one to make. When you compare and the performance of the Harper Government over that of the Ignatieff led official opposition it is a slam dunk. The Government has been much more responsible and wins hands down.

Be it on various policy, the military, trade relations, response to crisis such as the earthquake in Haiti or even our recent financial turmoil, this government has provided to Canadians a responsible government capable of compromise while the official opposition has offered up nothing other than lots of yelling to the cameras and smear.

You may not agree with everything this government has done, but most should agree that they have ran an effective government.

Being the opposition means contributing just as much as it means opposing and so far the official opposition Liberals have been a complete failure on half of that equation and their leader somehow is proud enough about this to even brag about how his Liberals have offered up nothing constructive.

Ignatieff's quote at the end of this video says it all on his leadership.

"I am the leader of the opposition. I have no position to clarify."







Here is a little something the grits should really think about. Mr. Ignatieff first has to prove that he is even capable of running the opposition in a responsible manner before he will ever be chosen by the people of Canada to be our PM, and unless that happens the Liberals are only buying time until the next leadership convention.


h/t Canadian Sense , Nobody likes Ignatieff.

Khadafi avoids facing the Cannon

Reports are coming in saying that Libyan Leader Muammar Khadafi has cancelled a stop over in Newfoundland planned for later this week.

There is speculation that the trip was cancelled so Khadafi would not have to face Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon who was expected to express Canada's "strong disapproval" over the hero's welcome organized by Libya for Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jumbo jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people, including two Canadians.

Score another win for the Harper Government.

There has been no comment from Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff who said recently "" Canada is becoming the country that dares not speak its name!"

The real reason.....

It is not that all of the media and LPC hype surrounding Ignatieff, about how with one twitch of an eyebrow women would swoon and men would succumb to his awesomeness, has utterly failed with the Canadian public. It is not that even in the worst economic times this country has had in decades that Ignatieff is unable to gain support in the polls. It is not the fact that the Liberal brass tossed aside democracy and burned through a lot of political goodwill with their own members to appoint a dud (Ignatieff) as leader. No; none of these are the real reason why everyday Liberal strategists and the elite back room power brokers wake up screaming or are banging their heads on their desks thinking about the failed expectations and wondering what has gone so wrong.



The real reason is this:


And it is moves like this that show why PM Stephen Harper is a pure political genius and that those desks at Liberal Party HQ are going to continue to take a pounding for the foreseeable future.

From the article "Many people are using the word "inspired" to describe Harper's appointment of Doer, including former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. and former New Brunswick premier, (long time Liberal) Frank McKenna."

Brilliant absolutely brilliant.


Ignatieff and PM Harper are not even in the same league when it comes to political smarts and during the upcoming months this will become even more clear. Hang on to your fedora Iggy because you ain't seen nothing yet.

Getting it done. Early August Edition.

The conservative government continues to get the job done for Canadians while Iggy, the man with no policies, tries and fails miserably with his plan for E.I.

One new free trade deal with Peru becomes reality, with another deal with Panama just on the horizon.

Lets face it, the US economy is a mess and with their new President spending money at a historical pace, it may take more time for the US to recover from the recession than is currently believed. We can not put all of our eggs in one basket and even though the US is and always will be our largest trading partner, we have to try to look beyond our neighbors to the south and expand our markets. These 2 deals along with the recent free trade deal with Jordan are more positive examples of how the Harper Government continues to work for all of us while the Liberals do nothing but complain and get made up stories from the Liberal friendly press.

The PM goes to Afghanistan.

The PM goes to Afghanistan and leaves the safety of the Kandahar base to tour the good work we are doing in that country, while back in Ottawa Michael Ignatieff is still hiding under his desk.




Joanne at Blue Like You was thinking the same thing @ the same time. LOL, great minds =)

President Obama: "I take tips from Canada on a lot of things."

How long before we hear the left complaining that Obama is Harper's puppet?

When Obama was later asked whether had was taking any tips from Canada on his administration's Cuba policy, he quipped: "I take tips from Canada on a lot of things."

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Watch the CTV News clip

Update: I guess President Obama wasn't just saying it to be polite.

Pulling the rug out from under the coalition.

Heard any of these before?

Stephen Harper does not understand that he did not get a majority.

The Conservatives fail to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation.

He (Harper)was given a minority, and he refused to work with the other parties, he had 38% of the vote and he's trying to govern like he had 100% of the power, he's the one who's got democracy wrong, not us.

Given the critical situation facing our fellow citizens and the refusal and inability of the Harper government to deal with this critical situation, the opposition parties have decided that it was now time to take action.

The Conservatives chose partisan games based on ideological beliefs instead of considering the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.

The Conservatives must work with the other parties.

The Conservatives divisive measures that were making it hard for Parliament to work together .


Now tell me how a budget that does address the concerns of the coalition, is a real response to the current situation, is perhaps so non "conservative" or ideological that it is pissing off many so called conservatives, that the Government invited the other parties to participate in it's creation, is ready with cash immediately for the economy, is popular among the electorate, and is pretty much doing exactly the opposite of what the above quotes claim, could be voted against by the people who made the above statements?

It can't be, or at least it can't be honestly unless those above statements were just more of the same political rhetoric that we have seen so often in the past, and that Canadians are getting tired of reading about.

There has been plenty of talk about how the PM has abandoned the principles of conservatism, and that he should stick to his guns by not increasing spending etc. Fortunately those so called conservatives that are doing most of the criticizing are not the PM as this type of thing would be playing right into the hands of Layton and the coup crew who would be overjoyed if the PM were that stupid or that ideologically rigid. It would be spun as proving that the coalition is a good idea because the PM does not understand or care about Canadians and is not willing to make things work. They are not going to get that chance.

The opposition gets out foxed by Harper again and they have not yet figured it out.

The budget will pass, the coalition will be dead with the partners pointing fingers at one another in blame, good honest government will continue, and when an election eventually is called the proof of who compromised and was willing to make government work, and who was only playing political games will be even clearer than it was when the NDP/Bloc/Liberal hidden agenda was first revealed back in early December.

It will take all 3 opposition parties to bring the government down.

Congratulations to PM Harper, and all those out there who worked so hard to get a de facto majority government.


It is going to take all 3 opposition parties voting together to bring down the new government and cause our fifth election in as little as six years. I do not see this happening for at least 3 more years, or possibly longer.

Harpernomics

Most stable banking system in the world.

Record job creation for September.

Canada will lead G7 for GDP growth for 2009.


If this is Harpernomics; Ill take a few more years please.

Location, Location, Location.

IMHO, you could not get a better location than this ad found on the CTV.ca website.




and for your viewing pleasure the latest CPC ad

900 Days

Congratulations to PM Harper and his Government for being in office 900 days.

For a list of what this government has accomplished please follow this LINK.

Toughening up Consumer Product Laws

The good news stories about the Conservative government continue with yesterdays announcement of an overhaul of Canada's outdated product safety laws . Some of these old laws and regulations have not been updated in decades nor have they kept up with the changes of todays world wide economy. At least not until yesterday.

In what has already been a good week for getting things done for Canadians, this can only be called another feather in the cap of the Prime Minister.

Congratulations Mr. Harper on continuing to do what most Canadians expect their government to do; while the desperate Liberals go back in time, almost as long as some of these outdated product laws, looking for dirt to try to smear your government with.

It is all the Liberals have.

Conservatives set record for settling native land claims.

The Harper Government is quietly getting more things done in Ottawa, while the opposition Liberals led by Stephane Dion are too concerned with their own fortunes and internal strife to even bother with their jobs by voting on issues before the house.

From the Globe and Mail:

OTTAWA — The Conservative government resolved a record number of native land-claim disputes this year in a bid to improve relations with Canada's aboriginals and spur economic development on reserves.

Former Indian Affairs minister Jim Prentice caused a stir in his department last year when he quietly ordered public servants to conclude at least 50 specific land-claim disputes for the fiscal year ending Monday.

Meeting that target was left to his successor, Chuck Strahl, who confirmed yesterday that 54 claims have been resolved, of which 37 involved financial settlements.

"It was a big, all-out effort to do that," said Mr. Strahl, who took over the department last August.

The 34-year historical record of the specific claims process shows the ambitiousness of the target. On average, only 14 claims are concluded each year. The average annual amount paid out in settlements is $63.7-million.

The most productive year previously on record was 1993-1994, when the government paid out 30 specific claims settlements at a total cost of $263-million. The final tab for this year's record number of settlements will be about $70-million, Mr. Strahl said, which is only slightly higher than an average year. Mr. Strahl acknowledges that the department likely went after some of the simplest disputes to meet the demands of their political bosses.

"You want to do the low-hanging fruit first, that's for sure," he said. "I certainly gave no instruction that way, but it wouldn't surprise me."

Sources told The Globe and Mail that some native leaders expressed concern to Mr. Prentice that the bureaucracy would stop negotiating while the federal government established a new specific claims tribunal. To assuage those concerns, Mr. Prentice made the 50-claim promise.

The bill establishing the tribunal, C-30, was introduced last November and is still in the House of Commons. The new tribunal would have the power to make $250-million in settlement payments a year for 10 years with the aim of reducing the backlog of nearly 800 claims. Mr. Strahl expressed frustration that the bill has yet to become law, given that it has broad support.

"I am starting to get concerned about it. It's always possible an election could interrupt the process," he said.

There are two main types of land claims. Specific claims involve native communities arguing that their land or money has been stolen or misused. Common examples include reserve land used for highways or rail lines without compensation. From 1927 to 1951, it was illegal for lawyers to take on native clients for claims against the Crown.

The second type, called comprehensive claims, are usually larger and more expensive. These claims resolve land disputes with natives who never signed treaties with the government or establish self-government arrangements outside of the Indian Act.

Alberta lawyer Ron Maurice represents natives in land-claim disputes and worked with Mr. Prentice at the Indian Claims Commission and in private practice.

According to his contacts, Mr. Maurice said, not all public servants welcomed Mr. Prentice's 50-claim target.

"It's fair to say though that there are probably other people within the [specific claims] branch that saw it as being unrealistic or too onerous," he said.

Mr. Maurice said the focus on resolving land claims highlights a "sea change" in aboriginal policy.

In contrast to the 2005 Liberal plan signed in Kelowna, B.C., that would have spent $5-billion on programs for aboriginals, Mr. Maurice said Conservatives are spending money to resolve land claims in the hope that communities can raise their own revenue to meet social needs.

"I would think it's probably just a matter of course before the government expects first nations to look at their own source of revenues and the settlement of these land claims as one means of funding other aspects of band governance," he said.

Herman Crain, a band councillor with Saskatchewan's Muskoday First Nation, says a recent $10-million settlement will buy urban reserve land in Prince Albert.

He said the community could set up an on-reserve urban convenience store to sell tax-free cigarettes to status Indians living in the city.

"I think doors have started to open now," he said.

With a report from Brian Laghi.

Getting things done while the Dion led opposition run.

Here is a nice little update to the story. Inuit to name Island after PM Harper.

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper could end up with a remote Quebec island named after him following a land-claim deal with the Inuit of the province's northern Nunavik region.

After almost three decades of on-and-off negotiation, the people of Nunavik will get a new national park, new resource rights, administrative controls, and $54 million over nine years...."

Another Quebec Liberal 'Star' Candidate says no to Dion

This kind of sums up the week for the leaderless LPC.

"Paul Leduc, a three-term mayor of a large Montreal suburb, says that he's changed his mind about running for the Liberals and that one of the party's household names provided him with phone numbers for journalists and urged him to go public with his story." Source .


Not only are potential stars walking and or running away from Dion, they are being encouraged to go to the Canadian media with it!

Those knives that many have been secretly sharpening over the last 20 months are out big time as everybody in the country watches. Canadians get to see the leadership of Dion and the mess his party is in. Quebec is almost in open revolt, and even amongst the die hard loyalists, there is trouble as Libloggers are openly calling for Dion to step down, and others call for him to fire his long time advisor Jamie Carrol. All this and much more will be brought to the Canadian people by the MSM, who enjoy the smell of political blood even more than they enjoy tormenting the conservatives.

Makes you wonder why so many Liberals want a fall election? Or does it?



Al

And in the meantime PM Harper continues to demonstrate to Canadians just who the better leader is.

This is going to be tough for some Ontatrio Liberals to swallow.

The Liberal Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, backs the Harper Government budget. The very same budget the the Liberal dominated Senate is thinking about amending or even killing completely,which seems to be against the wishes of their great leader Dion.

That last set of commercials are starting to look more brilliant as each day passes.



Update: Joanne has a blog entry and a link to an article from Chantal Hébert warning Liberal Senators that playing around with the budget may not be in the best interests of anyone, including Dion and the Liberal Party.

Duceppe Out of PQ Leadership race

Breaking: Gilles Duceppe has decided not to seek the leadership of the PQ and has chosen to throw his support behind Pauline Marois.

Update : CTV has the story here.