Just when I think I’m stuck for a blog idea, Shawn Graham, bless his little heart, comes out with another gem. On Thursday, what should come on the radio but a story about how New Brunswick’s premier is finding himself under a little bit of media pressure. He feels that the media is giving him a hard time, henpecking him and ignoring the opposition. He’s feeling bruised and battered, and he’d like all those reporters to be a little bit more accommodating.

Mr. Graham has been on a bit of a tear since his government took office, and he now finds himself the least popular premier in Canada. One recent survey put his popularity at 15%, and we are now only seven months away from what might be the most eagerly awaited provincial election in New Brunswick history. In his short time in office, Mr. Graham has managed to tamper with post-secondary education, the health care system, and French immersion. The biggest gaffe, though, was when he broke a major election promise by attempting to sell the provincial power utility. It is this – the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec – that might be the final nail in the popularity coffin.
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It takes a special kind of political acumens for a regional Canadian politician to make news headlines both north and south of the border, but Danny Williams has done it.

The Blogosphere across North America lit up a few weeks ago with the news that the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador was heading to an undisclosed American medical facility for a no-further-details-given heart surgery last week. Canadian progressives are chastising Williams for bailing on his at-home medical options while American opponents of healthcare reform get a new scapegoat for why a public option doesn’t work.

Simplistic? Probably. Williams’ people were less than helpful when the news broke, initiating what CBC reporter Janyce McGregor called a “cone of silence” about the matter.

What we do know is that after “weeks of consultation” with doctors, Williams decided to head stateside for the surgery which was apparently unavailable in his home province. This was according to Deputy Premier Kathy Dunderdale, for whom the odious duty of informing the media fell.
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Photo Credit: CBC

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Première Dalton Mcguinty seems to feel that during this recession- the biggest global economic recession in 80 years – it is necessary to review Canadian assets and look at the possibility of selling off certain properties such as Hydro One, the OLG and Racetracks, and the Liquor Control Board. Two banks, CIBC World Markets and Goldman Sachs Group, are reviewing these assets in addition to others, to determine whether selling these off would indeed be beneficial in slimming down the $24.7 billion deficit which Tory MPP Peter Shurman explains was of the Premiers own making. A final decision has yet to be made but the proposal is on the table.

Critics point out that the government would be able to book revenue only to the extent that the sale price exceeds the book value of the asset, making this option less attractive when viewed in the proper context. NDP leader Andrea Horwath said: “It’s quick cash but you wind up paying through the nose everyday. This government is reaching into the past for a tired old idea that doesn’t work.” She explained that selling off public assets is a disastrous idea that will cost Ontario in the long run. “It’s very clear that when these public assets are sold off, the public gets a bad deal,” she said. Ironically, it was just the other week when Finance Minister Dwight Duncan stood up in the Legislature and reamed the PCs for having sold off Highway 407 to a private company that can now raise its toll rates at will.
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Photo Credit: Aftermath News

The City of Vancouver, The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and the provincial government have chosen to begin installing video surveillance cameras in preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic games, with no guarantees that they will be dismantled or removed after the games’ completion. The VPD and pro-surveillance advocates use a continual comparative to London and the city’s use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) to prevent crime, and the success the program has delivered. The BC Civil Liberties Association has a contrary viewpoint, concerned about the intrusion on privacy the program facilitates in comparison with the real benefits in solving and addressing crime. I think it is time to take a moment to look at some “British facts” regarding CCTV cameras.

London’s 2008 metropolitan police internal report obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal-Democrats notes that Great Britain has over 4 million CCTV cameras country-wide, both publicly and privately operated. There are over 1 million such cameras in London alone, 10,524 of which are funded by taxpayers, making London the most “watched” city in the world. Yet their crime solution rate is currently no better than Vancouver’s. The average person in London can expect to be observed on CCTV camera over 300 times in an average day. With only 1% of the worlds population, Great Britain has 20% of the worlds CCTV cameras in operation and the 2008 report from the metropolitan police admits that only one crime per year is solved for every 1,000 CCTV cameras installed in the UK.
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An "Olympic" Misconception

I would like to take a few minutes to clear up an “Olympic” misconception. As a resident of British Columbia I have heard repeatedly during discussions in the media of the fact that a “vote” was held by the provincial government to give the people of the province a voice in choosing to host the 2010 games. This mantra is most loudly trumpeted by the provincial Liberals, The Vancouver Olympic Committee or zealot Olympic supporters when faced with protest or pointed questions over ballooning costs. I decided to review the facts. I present my findings here for your assessment. I think the results offer a startling view of the actual legitimacy of the games and the inclusion (or lack thereof) within the democratic process afforded to the people of British Columbia that is becoming all too familiar in politics today.
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Your cabinet will meet around this oval table

Sir John A. MacDonald once inscribed his occupation as cabinet maker in a guest book. When people would criticize his cabinet ministers, Sir John A would tell them to send him better wood. Crafting the cabinet is an essential but difficult task for any Prime Minister or Premier, and it is a job that does not permit a lot of flexibility.

The importance of the cabinet in Canadian politics is reflected by some of the problems facing governments. Stephen Harper has struggled in the past with unnecessary and embarrassing scandals due at least in part to weak or inexperienced cabinet ministers. He has also struggled to find appropriate appointments for important ministries, also for the same reasons. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has had some strong ministers in his cabinet. However, he may face future problems because the Tories are now led by the plucky and aggressive Tim Hudak, and most of his talented ministers have left or will soon leave the cabinet. The difficulties faced by the Prime Minister or by a Provincial Premier are magnified by the regional nature of the country and the provinces: the government leader must, to the best of his ability, ensure that there is adequate representation in the cabinet from all the regions within his jurisdiction.
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Just a short note about Rob Davis (a Toronto Catholic School Trustee) and his Toronto Boot Camp for school trustees. A week ago, I had the opportunity to attend his basic training Boot Camp for trustees; more are probably going to be offered, and I think this is a good thing. Some readers may not align themselves with Rob Davis’s conservative political positions, and some may have concerns about public funding for Catholic schools. However, the idea of prepping potential candidates is a good one, and Rob Davis deserves credit for this experiment. This Boot Camp was prompted by the provincial takeover of the Toronto Catholic School Board and by revelations of inappropriate and possibly illegal conduct by some of the trustees on the board. Although personable and intelligent, Mr. Davis and his guest speakers did not sugar coat the training for the potential recruits. This is a very difficult job, and the pay is not commensurate with the responsibilities and workload that a trustee faces. Tips were offered on how to avoid conflict of interest allegations, campaign and raise money effectively, and maintain a work-life balance. If you think you may have a calling to become a school trustee, you can contact Mr. Davis at campaignsolutions@hotmail.com

Shawn Graham and Jean Charest announce the proposed sale of New Brunswick Power

In the past few weeks New Brunswick has been lucky enough to enjoy a break from the regularly scheduled swine flu hysteria. Thanks to Premier Shawn Graham we have been jolted from our H1N1-induced torpor. While everyone’s attention was focused on fighting over vaccines, Premier Graham and Quebec Premier Jean Charest were working out a deal that would see New Brunswick give up total control of its power assets by selling NB Power to Hydro Quebec. In spite of Premier Graham’s mantra of “self-sufficiency” for our little have-not province, he is selling out our energy future and doing it for a fraction of what the assets are actually worth. The vast majority of rate cuts will benefit only large industrial users, cutting small businesses and residential users off from the spoils, all by government design.
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Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan

Many Ontarians are wondering: where is the official opposition in Queens Park? The Ontario Liberal government is drowning in deficit, mishandling taxpayer money, struggling to deal with the eHealth scandal, and now they seek to introduce a harmonized sales tax. These issues are political dynamite, so why haven’t the Tories jumped all over the wounded doe that is the Liberal government?

Dalton McGuinty and Dwight Duncan have made quite a pair of populist media darlings lately. They’ve been trumpeting the virtues of their new HST exemptions for coffee, newspapers, and homes under $400 000. While the Liberals are magnanimously laying these pearls before the swine, the weak response that has come from the Ontario opposition continues to descend into ineptitude.

Tax harmonization has been a pet project of Federal Finance Minister Jim Flarety for a long time. He has made no bones about his disgust for the high taxes on business in Ontario, going so far as to accuse Dalton McGuinty of administering the most severe tax regime in the entire G8 bloc. McGuinty has made it clear that without the funds and cooperation of the federal Conservatives, the HST couldn’t have happened. In effect, the Ontario Liberals have allied themselves with Stephen Harper’s federal government on this issue.
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Ontario MPP and Mayoral hopeful George Smitherman with Toronto Mayor David Miller.

When David Miller announced that he would not be seeking a third term for mayor, much speculation arose as to who would dare take the role of what is seemingly the worst political job in the country. Almost right away, Ontario Liberal MPP George Smitherman – who was Health minister of Ontario from 2003-2008 until he was shifted to Energy and Infrastructure – put his name in the proverbial hat, though no official candidacy will begin until the new year. Smitherman is MPP for the Toronto Central riding and does have experience in municipal politics, as he was top aide to former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall. Considering his likely opponents may include John Tory, Smitherman must think he is a shoe-in for the job and has even resigned his portfolio (though not his membership) in anticipation of the race.

Smitherman will be switching political domains on the heels of the red hot eHealth scandal, which saw the resignation of Smitherman’s health portfolio successor David Caplan. Smitherman feels there should be no correlation between himself or the scandal, because eHealth was not created until after he was shuffled to the energy portfolio.
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