Halifax Politics dot ca

The opposition has every right to defeat the government but Stéphane Dion does not have the right to take power without an election.

-Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives the nation a lesson in parliamentary democracy from the foyer of the House of Commons (November 28, 2008)

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

-From a letter to then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson signed by all three opposition leaders: Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stephen Harper
(September 9, 2004)

From http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/11/28/a-trip-down-minority-government-memory-lane/

Your results:
You are Malcolm Reynolds (Captain)

Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 90% Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 75% Wash (Ship Pilot) 75% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 70% Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 45% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 45% Inara Serra (Companion) 25% River (Stowaway) 25% Alliance 20% Derrial Book (Shepherd) 15% A Reaver (Cannibal) 5%

Honest and a defender of the innocent. You sometimes make mistakes in judgment but you are generally good and would protect your crew from harm.

Click here to take the “Which Serenity character are you?” quiz…

In part of his column in the National Post, John Ivison wrote:

Mr. Harper reacted like the boy who pokes the dog with a stick and then complains about being bitten. “The Opposition is working on an agreement in back corridors to reverse the result of the last election, without the consent of voters…. They want to put in place as prime minister someone [Stephane Dion] who was rejected by the voters of Canada only six weeks ago.”

Mr. Harper has only himself to blame for his dilemma. It seems highly unlikely that we would be in this sorry state had his hubris not pushed him to try to beggar the opposition parties by cutting their public subsidy.

The Liberals say that their visceral reaction has nothing to do with political funding issue and that the primary concern is the lack of stimulus in the fiscal update that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty brought down this week. “[Mr. Harper] said in Peru that it’s time for major fiscal stimulus but while he speaks like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he acts like Calvin Coolidge,” said Liberal MP John McCallum.

Full article here: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada … 008301&p=1

Sometimes, life deals you a hand and you just are not sure how to play it.  Today is one of those days.

This week, if you open the Coast – Halifax’s alternative weekly – you will see the list of reader voted “Best of Halifax” results.  Read the first page, and the section is “City People.”  Read into that section, and you reach “Best Candidate for Mayor”.  There, you see the winner Peter Kelly, the past and current Mayor.  Then first runner up, Sheila Fougere, who ran aginst Mr. Kelly in the last election and came within 14,000 votes.  And then, for second runner up you see a surprise – Waye Mason.

Now, I was not campagining, or anything.  A fair number of people voted for me, like, more than five, but probably less than 100.  So that is pretty interesting.  What happened?  Halifaxlocals happened.  Apparently, Sean (aka Poorhaus) suggested that members of the messageboard vote for me, and they did!

So while the masses of people around Halifax are not rising up to demand I take my rightful place chairing fights over cats and chickens, one of the most interesting things in this is that, in a far lesser way than was just proven by the US election, the internet is really bloody important in terms of mobilizing the masses.

I am not a politician.   I like to think I am an activist or informed citizen, so I don’t have to beat around the bush.  Yes, someday, I would like to go further and run for office.  Not school board, but something meaningful.

Municipal politics is very interesting: playgrounds, paved roads, clean water, parks, bikes, buses, culture funding, tourism, community events, amateur sports, international events.  Issues that hit people where they live.  Council has had good and bad moments, but Halifax Regional Municipality must do better than we have done the last four years.  I hope the next council steps up to the challenge.

Maybe someday.  Not today, obviously, I am still learning how to be the best teacher I can be.  But who knows what I might get up to in 2012!