Voice of the Association

From an Angus Reid poll released August 30, 2008: After a summer of explaining the Green Shift, it looks like Dion’s new tax plan does not appeal to Atlantic Canadians. It’s no wonder that Liberal MP’s like Wayne Easter and Robert Thibault are running away from the plan. h/t to Steve Janke who brought our attention to this item on his blog.

National Results

Regional Results

There isn’t much more to say, except that this poll shows the Conservatives are ahead of the national average in Atlantic Canada. No wonder Brian Murphy said, “I’m not going to pretend that there is 100 per cent agreement among our electorate that The Green Shift is the best idea to ever come down the pike.“ (Aug. 7, page A5, Times & Transcript).

Here are some excerpts from the more honest media agencies who have taken the time to look into Liberal allegations that the Tories are trashing arts and culture by making selective cuts to certain non-productive programs. These allegations call to mind Liberal contentions (repeated to this day) that the Conservatives “cut women’s funding” from the Status of Women. In reality they took money from an inflated bureaucracy of “advocates” and put it into more programs which actually help women to achieve equality and avoid discrimination. The net result was about a 42% increase in the Status of Women budget so that there was more money available to meet their aims than ever before.

Liberals short on facts - but don’t care:

Ottawa, ON — Attacks on the Conservative government over cuts to arts and cultural program appear to be more political rhetoric than fact. Canwest Global News is reporting that the federal Conservatives, under attack from the Liberals for cutting spending on federal arts programs actually are spending more on the arts than the Liberals did.

However, it appears that the Liberals have not done enough actual research on the issue, before reaching into their sack of rhetoric to attack the Harper Conservatives. “For the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2009, Parliament has voted to spend more than $4 billion on cultural programs, including the CBC, the Canada Arts Council, the National Gallery of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. That amount is $660 million or 19.7 per cent more than was spent in fiscal 2006, the last year when the Liberals controlled the purse strings.

“Overall program spending during that same period is up 18.6 per cent. In other words, Conservatives have boosted spending on arts programs faster than they have boosted overall government spending,” according to the report published by CanWest news.

The Conservative cuts to programs have the Liberals in a political frenzy. The Liberals have claimed that the cuts were another case of the Conservatives trying to appeal to their base. “With new cuts to culture and arts funding, the Conservative government is showing once again its complete disrespect toward our country’s cultural institutions and a flagrant lack of vision that is hurting our arts community and culture”, stated Liberal Heritage Critic Denis Coderre and Senator Francis Fox said Friday.

“The Conservatives are now showing clearly what they have in mind for Canada’s arts and culture.” charged Coderre. “The lack of explanation for the cuts and the silence of the Heritage minister is unacceptable. This government’s consistent refusal to consider culture as an important part of Canada’s development is mind boggling.”

If the Liberals are right, and the Conservatives are showing what they have in mind, it appears that the fact is more funding for the arts and culture rather than less. What is worrisome for the Liberals is that when they launch into attack mode but not armed with the facts, it makes it harder to believe other statements that are being made by the party.

The PM had this to say about the cuts:

“Mr. Harper also said that his government was committed to weeding out wasteful spending, even when that initiative results in cuts to some programs that support the work of artists.

‘The fact of the matter is, this government has increased cultural and arts funding,’ Mr. Harper said in his first comments on arts funding since Canwest News Service first reported news of the cuts earlier this month. ‘The opposition has a view that you can never cut any single program ever. We have a responsibility to make sure the spending that we’re doing is effective and that involves analysing every program and making sure we spend where we’re getting the best results.’

Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro defended the government’s actions, saying it is committed to arts and culture, but “must be able to make adjustments” and that the savings would be reallocated to other unspecified programs. (Ottawa Citizen)

Kory Teneycke, the top spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, defended the cuts to those programs but said they should not be taken as an indicator that Ottawa does not support the arts.

“The public reaction out there - you’d think we’d shut down the arts. That’s not the case,” said Teneycke. “This was not about less money for the arts. It about having government programs that are meeting their objectives. We’re committed to cancelling programs that are boondoggles.”

Fast facts on arts/culture funding by Conservatives:

Overall program spending during that same period is up 18.6 per cent. In other words, Conservatives have boosted spending on arts programs faster than they have boosted overall government spending.

The Department of Canadian Heritage will spend $1.4 billion this year, up $273 million or 24.4 per cent compared to 2006.

The Canada Council for the Arts will spend $181 million this year, up $30.3 million or 20.2 per cent.

The National Arts Centre Corporation will spend nearly $50 million this year, up $18.3 million or nearly 60 per cent compared to the Liberals.

The National Gallery of Canada will spend $53.3 million, up $8.8 million or nearly 20 per cent.

The Conservative record on cultural spending when measured as a portion of all government spending shows that Conservatives, three years later, support the arts at about the same level that the Liberals did in their last year.

During the final budgetary year of former prime minister Paul Martin’s government, $18.06 of every $1,000 spent by the government was spent on cultural programs. That jumped in Harper’s first year in government to $19.54.

The Tories have seen the portion of all spending they need to make on public debt drop by more than 22 per cent. But they have used the spending room created by smaller debt charges to boost spending, as a portion of all government spending, on security and public safety (up 15 per cent); environment and resource-based programs (up 14.4 percent) (Regina Leader-Post)

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“Under this government, Canada has gone from leader to laggard on climate change,” said Mr. McGuinty. “Mr. Harper will be remembered as the Prime Minister who fiddled while the environment and the economy burned before his eyes.”

Fact check: During the Liberal reign greenhouse gas emissions shot up 35% above the Kyoto targets they signed on for (they were supposed to go to 6% below 1990 levels, instead they went to 29% above). That hardly qualifies us to be called a “leader” under the Liberal watch. In the last few years Canada’s emissions have actually been following a downward trend (but you haven’t heard that in the media have you?).

Perhaps Mr. McGuinty’s most irresponsible comments however were that the Prime minister is fiddling while the environment burns before his eyes. It is hard to counter that assertion when there is almost no press coverage of the substantial steps this government is taking towards an absolute reduction in emissions and environmental sustainability. Here are a few examples from just the last week:

1. Vancouver Island, BC - Investment in Renewable Energy (Cypress Creek hydro electric)
2. Salmon Arm, BC - Investment in Renewable Energy (solar powered hot water)
3. Calgary, AL - Investment in Renewable Energy (solar powered hot water)
4. Elmira, PE - Investment in Renewable Energy (wind energy)
5. Revelstoke, BC - Investment in Renewable Energy (South Cranberry Creek hydro electric)
6. Norway, PE - Investment in Renewable Energy (wind energy)
7. Vancouver, BC - Investment in Renewable Energy (Kwalsa hydro electric)
8. Harrison Lake, BC - Investment in Renewable Energy (low impact hydro)

That does not exactly look like “fiddling” while the environment burns. Unfortunately most Canadians have never heard of these initiatives except those affected by local media.

While the Liberals have been talking, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have been working. Maybe if the Liberals would tone down the rhetoric and quit spewing all their hot air, Canada’s GHG inventories would be even lower.

In a Toronto Star article by Allan Woods, the reporter perpetuates the myth that the “fixed election date law” prohibits the Prime Minister from calling an election earlier than October 2009.

“Under a Tory bill setting fixed election dates, the next vote is not supposed to occur until October 2009 unless the government is defeated in a confidence vote.”

This is the common presumption that has been perpetuated since the legislation was passed. The problem is, it has no element of truth. To make sure, we re-checked the version of C-16 that received Royal Assent and even conducted a word search for “confidence” and “vote.” The word confidence appears nowhere in the text of the bill or the summary, and the one place where the word vote appears has nothing to do with defeating the government.

There are only two reasons why this myth continues to prevail:

1. The opposition and the news media are complicit in a scheme to slander the Conservative government by falsely alleging that they care so little about the law that they are willing to violate their own legislation. (Note: We do not believe this to be true, however some would make this allegation).
2. The opposition has no clue of the substance of the bill that they debated and passed. Furthermore, the media would have to be simply parroting what the opposition is telling them, rather than simply checking the facts of a two page bill!

Given the two options above, one would be hard pressed to choose which one is worse! In any event, it remains to be seen whether or not some of the more esteemed reporters will eventually pick up on it.

Meanwhile, the erstwhile professor added his two cents to the pile:

“Dion, who has been reluctant to commit to toppling the Conservative minority in a non-confidence vote, said an election call by Harper would violate his own law setting fixed election dates.

“Now he wants to change this rule without changing the law, so he will break the law,” Dion as he wrapped up a three-day campaign-style swing through the GTA and southern Ontario.”

We invite readers to use the link above to read the full text of Bill C-16. The bill is very clear that the Governor General may dissolve Parliament at her discretion. In our previous post on this subject, we demonstrated clearly that the Governor General dissolves Parliament “on the advice of the Prime Minister” or when “the Prime Minister requests a writ.” The third circumstance which would prompt the GG to call an election is the understanding that “the government must retain the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons or tender its resignation.”

The maximum term between election dates was previously fixed at 5 years by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. With this amendment to the Elections Act, the maximum fixed term is moved back from 5 years to 4 years between elections. We invite the Liberal leader et al to demonstrate how the Prime Minister could possibly violate this law by asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament. From the rhetoric regularly spewing from the opposition, it is clear that the Conservative government does not have their confidence. It is interesting to watch all of the opposition parties squirm now that they are faced with the prospects of being held accountable for their bellicose allegations.

Bill C-16 (partial quote)

Date of General Election
Powers of Governor General preserved 56.1 (1) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Governor General, including the power to dissolve Parliament at the Governor General’s discretion.
Election dates (2) Subject to subsection (1), each general election must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election, with the first general election after this section comes into force being held on Monday, October 19, 2009.

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Would the Prime Minister be “breaking his own law” by calling an election?

“But if Mr. Harper calls an election, Mr. Dion said the campaign would open with Opposition allegations that the
prime minister cannot be trusted since he’s breaking his own fixed election law.” - National Post, 19 August 2008

The Legislation

“This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to provide that, subject to an earlier dissolution of Parliament, a general election must be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election, with the first general election after this enactment comes into force being held on Monday, October 19, 2009. The enactment also provides that the Chief Electoral Officer may recommend an alternate day if the day set for polling is not suitable.”

What is “fixed” about this legislation?

1. If Parliament is not dissolved sooner, the election must be held on the third Monday of October.
2. If Parliament is not dissolved sooner, the election must be held in the 4th calendar year after the previous election.
3. If Parliament is not dissolved sooner, the first “fixed election date” after this legislation comes into force is 19 October 2009.
4. Whenever an election is called, the Chief Electoral Officer may move the date to “the Tuesday immediately following the Monday that would otherwise be polling day or the Monday of the following week.” [56.2 (4)]

Nothing in this bill changes anything about our Westminster tradition which allows the Governor General to dissolve Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. Witness the following:

“56.1 (1) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Governor General, including the power to dissolve Parliament at the Governor General’s discretion.

56.2 (3) If the Governor in Council accepts the recommendation, the Governor in Council shall make an order to that effect. The order must be published without delay in the Canada Gazette.

57 (4) In the case of a general election that is not held on a day set in accordance with subsection 56.1(2) or section 56.2…”

“The Governor in Council” is defined as: “In Canada, the governor in council is the Governor General acting on the advice of the federal cabinet.”

Parliament of Canada elaborates:

“The process is set in motion when the Prime Minister requests the Governor General, who represents the Queen as the head of state, to dissolve Parliament and to request the issue of Writs by the Chief Electoral Officer for an election.

…the government must retain the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons or tender its resignation.” (1)
Dissolution terminates a Parliament and is followed by a general election, the date of which is set by the Governor in Council, with the Constitution Act, 1982 providing that Parliament must sit at least once every 12 months.

Dissolution is proclaimed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. In the absence of such advice, dissolution is automatic following the expiration of a Parliament’s maximum five-year term. As a matter of interest, however, this has not yet occurred in Canadian parliamentary history. Parliament may be dissolved at any time. If the House is sitting, and there is not to be a prorogation ceremony, dissolution is usually announced to the House by the Prime Minister or some other Minister of the Government. If the House is not sitting, Parliament is dissolved by a proclamation of the Governor General. (2)

[Note: As of May 2007, the maximum five year term was amended to four years by Bill C-16. None of the other conditions were changed.]

Elections Canada’s clarifies the current status:

There are two things that regulate the timing of elections - The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and newer legislation passed by an Act of Parliament in 2007 which backs the maximum date up from 5 years to 4 years.

“According to subsection 4(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “No House of Commons and no legislative assembly shall continue for longer than five years from the date fixed for the return of the writs of a general election of its members.”

That maximum five year term was amended in the Elections Act to be fixed at no more than four years.

“Since May 2007, the Canada Elections Act requires that a general election be held on a fixed date: the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election. The first “fixed-date election” would be held on Monday, October 19, 2009. However, the law does not prevent the Governor General from dissolving Parliament at another date, for instance, when the government loses the confidence of the House of Commons. The date of a general election is set by the Governor in Council.”

What does the Prime Minister have to say for himself?

“We did establish a fixed date for the next election. That said, in this minority parliament, two of the parties (the Bloc and the NDP) have indicated for some months now that they want an election immediately. Mr. Dion has indicated that the government should be defeated, but he’s not sure when he’ll do that because he hasn’t got good enough polls. I don’t think that’s a particularly responsible position.

I think polls do indicate that the next election in all likelihood would be a minority one way or the other. The fact of the matter is, what I will have to decide over the next few weeks is whether or not we can have a productive fall session of Parliament, or whether in fact the government needs a new mandate. That’s a decision, that’s an analysis I’ll have to reflect on.

I’ll have to talk to some of the other parties, but what’s absolutely clear from the comments of all three opposition leaders (including Mr. Dion) is that they have no intention of respecting the fixed election date so obviously we’re going to have to judge how the Parliamentary agenda is unfolding. I think we’ve had a productive two and a half years, I do think that has slowed somewhat in recent weeks. I will take the next few weeks do a thorough evaluation of the situation and ensure one way or another we can have a productive parliament in the future.” (CTV News 12:01 ff)

The law is clear, when the Government has lost the confidence of the “majority of the House of Commons [it must] tender its resignation” notwithstanding a fixed date for the maximum term of a mandate. The only thing that is absent is the Liberals’ formal declaration of non-confidence. Stéphane Dion is making a mockery out of Parliament and the democratic process by publicly declaring his non-confidence in the media, but refusing to back it up inside the House. The media is complicit in this, as they are the perception that the Prime Minister would be ‘breaking his own law’ by calling an election.

The figure to the right is from a recent study that shows trends of repeat offenders based on the age at which they were first convicted.

It is clear that those who get into trouble when they are young are much more likely to land in prison, over and over again. This is why it is so important to reach out to troubled youth BEFORE THEY GET IN TROUBLE. That is exactly what the Conservative government of Stephen Harper is doing.

The Hon. Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today issued the following statement about the rise in street gang violence in cities across Canada.

“The top priority of our Government is the protection and safety of Canadians. That is why in just over two years we have taken concrete action on several fronts to help cities across this country combat the serious threat posed by gang-related activities.

In January 2007, I announced $16.1 million in funding for initiatives that target youth gang prevention throughout our cities. Of this amount, $11.1 million was earmarked to create a Youth Gang Prevention Fund to help communities prevent youth crime with a focus on guns, gangs, and drugs.

Our Safer Communities strategy is implemented, in part, through effective law enforcement and by adding more police in our streets. Our Government has delivered on key platform commitments to provide financial resources to support the recruitment of 2,500 new front-line police officers and to fund an additional 1,000 RCMP personnel. (See CTV interview)
We are also giving our law enforcement agencies strong legislative tools, including the Tackling Violent Crime Act which came fully into force this past July. This bill introduces a reverse onus for bail which requires those accused of serious gun crimes to show why they should not be kept in jail while awaiting trial.

This law, which targets organized criminals and gangs, introduces tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes.

We have also introduced legislation that will strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act to allow judges to include deterrence and denunciation as principles of sentencing. This will make it easier to detain youth who pose a risk to public safety before their trials, including those who steal cars.

Our message is clear: The Government of Canada will not stand by and allow our citizens to live in fear. This is the message I will convey in my keynote address to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police 2008 Annual Conference next Monday in Montreal.”

One of the exciting new technologies which is flourishing under PM Harper’s Conservative government is small-scale hydro projects which are producing renewable electricity in British Columbia, with a tiny environmental impact.

One example of success is Cloudworks Energy Inc. describe their new process this way:

“Run-of-River projects are dramatically different in design, appearance and impact from conventional hydroelectric projects. There are two main differences. First, there is no water storage other than the limited amount required to submerge the intake pipe. Second, there is no alteration of downstream flows, since all diverted water is returned to the stream below the powerhouse.

Potential sites tend to exist at high altitudes, characterized by features such as fast flows, steep canyons, waterfalls and other natural barriers. These features reduce the suitability of such sites for potentially competing land uses such as recreation and, most importantly, limit fish presence and diversity.

British Columbia is fortunate to have a large number of such sites, particularly in the coastal mountain ranges. Run-of-river projects can be developed on appropriate sites with little if any negative impact on either aquatic or terrestrial habitat.”

The benefits of a “run-of-river” project over a conventional dam are immediately apparent when you view a systems diagram side by side (see links above).

This is the kind of innovation that we need to combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions and still maintain a viable economy and standard of living. Furthermore, this small-scale multiple input model of electricity generation mirrors the internet packet model which revolutionized communications two decades ago.

The future is warmer and brighter with conservative innovation on the job.

Take Note: Crime facts and stats for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety today announced that the Government of Canada is launching a program to electronically monitor federal offenders.

“This initiative will better protect communities and provide an additional tool for the Correctional Service of Canada and police to prevent crime. Our Government is determined to ensure that those offenders who are released by the National Parole Board into the community are more effectively monitored“, said Minister Day. “We have listened to police and victims groups who have been requesting such a tool for years. Compelling offenders to abide by the conditions of their release is a key aspect of our reform of Canada’s prison system.“

The electronic monitoring system will function by having an offender wear an ankle bracelet with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that reports its position to a monitoring network. Correctional Service Canada (CSC) will be alerted whenever an offender violates conditions such as curfews, residency or location restrictions. Following an alert, appropriate action will be taken and the police may be called as required.

It is anticipated that electronic monitoring will make our communities safer in the following three ways:

1. Quickly detecting any violations of certain types of release conditions;
2. Compelling offenders to abide by the terms of their release; and,
3. Increasing safety for parole officers conducting late night checks of offenders under imposed curfews.

CSC has entered into an agreement with the Nova Scotia government, which will provide support and advice based on their experience with this technology.

“In 2006, Nova Scotia became the first province in the country to use GPS technology to monitor offenders,” said Justice Minister and Attorney General Cecil Clarke. “We are pleased to share the knowledge and expertise we have gained over the past two years with the Government of Canada.”

“I am very pleased with the government’s announcement. Enhanced supervision through electronic monitoring will provide victims and the public greater protection,” added Steve Sullivan, Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime.

This initiative complements the Tackling Violent Crime Act which came into force earlier this year. This legislation provides for better monitoring of offenders who have been released into the community, but still require police supervision. It is long past time that victims and innocents were protected from criminals who breach conditions of their release.

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health announced yesterday that the Government’s funding commitment to the Canadian Mental Health Commission is now confirmed at $130 million over its 10-year mandate.

“This funding commitment underscores the Government of Canada’s belief in this important initiative to improve the quality of life of Canadians and their families dealing with mental illness,” said Minister Clement. “Some of the best experts in the mental health field in Canada are working with the Commission.”

The creation of a mental health commission was a key recommendation of a Standing Senate Committee’s report on mental health, mental illness and addiction in Canada. It was officially launched by the Prime Minister on August 31, 2007.

“I applaud the Government for its continued commitment to improve mental health in Canada,” said the Honourable Michael Kirby, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. “For far too long, mental health has not received the attention it deserves in this country.”

“The Canadian Mental Health Association enthusiastically applauds the federal government’s announcement of increased support of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. This is a tremendous vote of confidence in the Commission, and a most encouraging sign of the importance of mental health as a national issue,” said Dr. Taylor Alexander, Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Mental Health Association. “The CMHA looks forward to working closely with the Commission in achieving its challenging mandate, which will be much more feasible with this support,” Dr. Taylor added.

In Budget 2007, the Government committed $55 million over five years towards a mental health commission and today the Government confirms a total investment of $130 million over 10 years as follows: $5.5 million in 2007/08; $7.5 million in 2008/09; $12 million in 2009/10 and $15 million per year starting in 2010/11 until 2017.

Through Budget 2008 the Government of Canada also committed an additional $110 million to the Mental Health Commission of Canada for research projects to help Canadians with mental illness who are homeless. The Commission will set up five demonstration research projects across Canada. The sites that have been selected are: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton.

The establishment of the Commission is an important component of the Government’s strategy to address mental health issues in Canada.The three key initiatives of the Commission are to conduct a 10-year anti-stigma campaign, build a pan-Canadian Knowledge Exchange Centre, and elaborate a national mental health strategy for Canada.

Canadians who want to improve their literacy skills at work, at home or in their community are getting help from their federal Government.

“Our Government is creating the best educated, most skilled, most flexible workforce in the world,” stated Senator Di Nino. “This project will give Canadians more opportunities to upgrade their literacy and essential skills so they can build stronger futures for themselves and their families.”

Canada’s Government is investing $950,188 in ABC Canada Literacy Foundation to fund the organization’s activities such as Family Literacy Day, Look Under LEARN, and other programs including their private sector champion’s initiatives that encourage Canadian businesses, groups and individuals to address adult and workplace literacy. The funds also enable ABC Canada to expand literacy and essential skills networks, promote active partnerships and create awareness of challenges people face because of low literacy and essential skills.

“The funds will help ABC Canada support programs that will help Canadians with low literacy skills to address these challenges and prepare themselves for changes in the economy,” said Margaret Eaton, president of ABC Canada Literacy Foundation.

The federal Government works in partnership with provinces, territories, business and voluntary organizations across the country to help Canadians improve their literacy skills and build better lives. The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills at Human Resources and Social Development Canada is the federal government’s centre for Literacy and Essential Skills.