Canning's Guess

community links

2011-02-06T23:11:00.004-05:00

Flowing from a great yowyow event a few days back, an enthusiastic group discussed the benefits of community organization from different perspectives. I promised to list a few links here at Canning's Guess. I spoke about the Centretown Citizens Community Association but there are thousands of community groups that are looking for volunteers. With so many community-based groups around Ottawa, it can be difficult to pick one but I think a good starting point – a practical starting point – is with your community association. Here's a somewhat dated (but still useful) community association directory to help with your choice. Good luck.

downtown ottawa: the birth of community

2011-02-02T19:03:00.006-05:00

The Centretown Citizens Community Association acts as a keystone in downtown Ottawa and holds a proud history. This short video really captures the essence of Centretown and why we need strong community organization.

health outcomes, our future, and the built environment

2010-11-21T19:53:00.005-05:00

The Centretown Buzz
November 19, 2010

There are certain moments in history when our involvement and collaboration are crucial to ensuring the health of our communities. In Centretown, we are on the cusp of realizing a new future. The opportunity is open to shaping a destiny that reflects the values of the people who live, work and play in the neighbourhoods that we love and call home. There are currently numerous large-scale projects staging up around us and we need to ensure that the principles of sustainability and health are reflected fully, as our built environment evolves. As Centretowners, we appreciate that the urban core of our nation’s capital is not only our community but it is also symbolic of a deeper, national and global experience. It is in this context that we will need to think critically about the development propositions that will increasingly be introduced to our community.

It’s truly exciting to think about what our streets will look like in the coming decade, but make no mistake, there will always be competing visions, and that competition is taking place today. In spite of intense resistance, led in part by a city-wide coalition called Friends of Lansdowne, we are now closer to having a new commercial and entertainment redevelopment project in our backyard, at Lansdowne Park. Transportation to and from this site will be challenging and solutions are still being discussed. Bronson Street is being rebuilt and an opposition campaign has emerged. Community groups are coming together through an initiative called Rescue Bronson and are questioning the effect of higher-capacity thorough-fare on local businesses, neighbourhood interconnectivity, families, and community health. We have a Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel that will eventually affect numerous transit users and that will forever change the transportation dynamics of our community. While the transit tunnel is being bored, drilling will also begin for what is called a combined sewage storage project, where massive sewage tunnels and storage will be located under Centretown. These two new developments are positive both for mass transit and for water quality in the Ottawa River, but there will be community impacts. The City of Ottawa is also reviewing Centretown within the boundaries of a newly created concept called “Mid-Centretown,” due to the location of growth pressure and development interests. Higher levels of density in Centretown are inevitable and our participation will be needed to ensure community interests are consistently represented, front and centre.

There still remain numerous unanswered questions regarding the limits of growth and the intersection between intensification and community health. What are the thresholds of population density and the levels of government services and community amenities that should accompany sustainable urban growth, and that are necessary to maintain or increase the health of Centretowners? High-speed and increased traffic has implications for families, pedestrians, and cyclists. Higher population density may bring more vehicular traffic. More people also mean more bicycles and pedestrians. Do we have the infrastructure to match? In 2010, smog-related premature deaths will total approximately 526. Compared to other Ontario municipalities, Ottawa has had fewer incidents of poor air quality but it’s clear that local, regional, and global air pollutants have dire health outcomes. What are the options if or when our air quality dips? In addition, less walkable, auto-dependent built environments have been correlated with higher body weights, obesity, and their associated chronic diseases. With Centretown’s below average amount of parks and recreation opportunities, when will new facilities be added to keep our growing population active? Where will new open space come from? Adverse living conditions must be addressed with greater resources during future stages of growth. Housing is unaffordable for many residents in the community; 33% of residents pay more than 30% of their income on shelter. The percent of people below the Low Income Cut-Off is 26% in Centretown. This is up from past years and is considerably higher than the Ottawa average. When combined with a poor availability of grocery stores and a large number of fast food outlets there is reason for concern. The social determinates of health are intimately connected to our built environment and pose real challenges that Centretowners must face, everyday.

There will no doubt be lasting concerns but we cannot turn our backs to growth. It means that we have a responsibility to face the growth challenge critically and with a close eye on the health of our community. At Centretown and Somerset West Community Health Centres we believe that every individual and community matter. Everyone deserves access to high-quality, comprehensive health and social services. Growth pressure is enveloping Centretown today like never before and the impacts on our community’s health must be managed effectively, risks need to be understood and avoided or mitigated, and opportunities need to be realized to their fullest potential. All of these changes to our built environment will have direct and indirect health outcomes. The challenge should not be one of leadership. The challenge must remain one of managing our opportunities. If we can ensure committed leadership, our future is one filled with great optimism for the health of Centretowners.

Centretown/Somerset West Community Health Centres’ teams of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, counsellors, dieticians, community developers, and health promoters deliver more than 60 programs. Community Health Centres are community-run organizations tailored to community needs and resources and committed to building healthier communities. The community health centre model of care is unique: the services go beyond primary health care to address the underlying conditions that affect one’s health. For more information about your community health centre please visit: www.centretownchc.org or www.swchc.on.ca.

an opportunity like no other

2010-10-13T19:21:00.008-04:00

The Centretown Buzz
October 22, 2010

During the current municipal election, one area that citizens are seriously considering, before expressing their vote choice, is the opportunity that recent “uploading” by the provincial government has presented to the health of our communities.

From 2010 to 2018, social services, worth tens of millions of dollars, will be uploaded to the province from the City. By 2011, the City will have access to more than 40 million new dollars from uploaded social services, now transferred to the Province. The amounts from the transfer grow each year: after 2018, the City will have almost $80 million freed up annually. The total estimated net benefit to the City of Ottawa is approximately $120 million. This has been an effective and widely celebrated response from our present provincial government to the downloading pressures of social services from governments past. For most, it would seem natural that our municipal government hold these resources within social services portfolios: the exact budget categories that the funds are coming from. However, this natural continuity remains uncertain. The reality is that some politicians and city bureaucrats place value in other areas.

Think about the possibilities that these resources present to our neighbourhoods. Think about the services that can be offered; the affordable housing options; and, the recreation and affordable transit choices that we hold at our finger tips – without raising taxes and without increasing total spending. The health of Ottawa requires citizens to work with their local politicians, friends, and neighbours to ensure that the City keeps these funds within the appropriate budget categories. This unique moment should not be wasted.

The upload of social services costs gives Ottawa a chance to make a real difference in ending homelessness, making housing more affordable and making sure Ottawa’s existing social housing buildings are in a good, sustainable condition. If an amount was earmarked annually – for example, $15 million – it could provide money to leverage federal and provincial funds that would allow Ottawa to build up to 1,000 new units of social and supportive housing each year. $15 million per year is enough to make overdue repairs on at least 1,500 existing units: directly improving the quality of life and health of more than 1,500 Ottawa households and families.

Our recreation infrastructure is also an area that needs a boost. The community is calling for increased and improved facilities. We must protect and improve our public parks and green spaces, including walkways, walking paths, bike paths and flowerbeds. There are more programs we could establish, from culture-specific courses and activities like dance to food gardens inspired by communities of new immigrants. There is a big need for Aboriginal-specific recreation programs, women-only courses and pool schedules, as well as spaces just for youth. All of these ideas require resources and they require the political will if want them realized.

As well, transit fares in Ottawa are the second highest in the country, making everyday transportation increasingly expensive. The City’s investment in transit is substantial but it has an over-reliance on fares, including unpopular fare increases in recent years. This has made everyday transportation harder for lower-income people, including seniors, the working poor, students and youth. In addition, seniors, shift workers and rural residents all need frequent scheduling and increased route options. Keeping transit affordable for everyday people should be a priority around Council and appropriate resources must be allocated. Now is our chance.

Geography and the built environment that surrounds us create barriers that individuals must face daily. Moreover, our societies heavily impact the opportunities and the life paths that we follow. Centretown and Somerset West Community Health Centres and the community health model respect the breadth and depth of these complexities, which also rests at the foundation of their collective mandate. Community Health Centres believe that every individual and every community matter: everyone deserves access to high-quality, comprehensive health and social services and we advocate on behalf of these principles. This means investing in our communities and recognizing opportunities that can impact the health and well-being of all citizens. The opportunity that these uploaded services provides to Ottawa to reinvest in our social infrastructure is truly exceptional. In this municipal election and the next, Ottawans should seriously consider the health of their communities before making their choice at the ballot box. We need to harness these resources today to keep our communities healthy into the future.

Centretown/Somerset West Community Health Centres’ teams of physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, counsellors, dieticians, community developers, and health promoters deliver more than 60 programs. Community Health Centres are community-run organizations tailored to community needs and resources and committed to building healthier communities. The community health centre model of care is unique: the services go beyond primary health care to address the underlying conditions that affect one’s health. For more information about your community health centre please visit: www.centretownchc.org or www.swchc.on.ca.

all politics is local

2010-07-25T19:37:00.006-04:00

It is interesting to listen to the punditry’s theory about “leadership” in Canadian federal politics. It would seem to the casual observer that if your goal is to build a winning political party you need only to find the “right” leader and the puzzle will be solved. Of course, it is possible to stumble upon the “wrong” leader and that will inevitably send you and your party back to the drawing board in search, once again, for a new leader.

I guess – in theory – this hit or miss process could continue indefinitely. If this was my political party I would be pretty concerned because – in theory – this could mean that my party would perpetually lose, assuming that the right leader could not be found. In such a complex world, there is something so intuitively simple about this assumption. The most refined, race-engineered Formula One automobile could never compete unless paired with a driver deserving of such engineering. Alternatively, that driver would never taste even the bitterness of defeat if they were not surrounded by the technical mastery necessary for competition. Like the motor sport analogue, driving or leading a modern political party to victory takes more than individual leadership. It requires a race-ready political machinery to harness the leadership opportunity that is available. In politics, this machinery is built first at the local level.

There are basic principles to waging successful political campaigns that have been proven both anecdotally and empirically and that are generally accepted among campaign professionals and volunteers, at the electoral district (ED) level. Experience has shown that victories are earned one voter at a time. Intensive canvassing, voter identification and get-out-the-vote efforts is the trinity that wins close races. However, the integration of public opinion and opposition research with fact-based, competitive communications and socio-geographic selection when building a strategic foundation and tactical focus is also an integral feature of winning campaigns. A research-based and competitive communications emphasis is especially important when running against incumbent politicians and veteran campaigners or within strategically identified EDs. It is only through this type of fine grained, riding-by-riding perspective that a national party can position itself for victory in today’s perpetually hypercompetitive political battle.

I would not suggest for a minute that within the landscape of Canadian politics that strong national leadership isn’t a large piece on the puzzle; however, the puzzle itself is quite sizable and the pieces that need to come into place must revolve around a much bigger team than can be expressed through or by any single individual. The primary, mission critical factor in pre- and post political campaign success, regardless of the right or wrong national leader, relates to the magic of decentralized leadership, and the relative ability of 308 ED candidates and campaign teams to communicate and realize a winning electoral strategy. Once a national party ensures the local machinery is race-ready then everything else will fall into place.

prime minister interviews hockey greats

2010-02-25T19:59:00.008-05:00

Amazing interview. Well done Prime Minister, well done. And thanks to Stephen Taylor for the original post (well, and the PMO).

an argument for vision

2010-01-18T11:53:00.004-05:00

With the recent announcements by mayoral candidates, Ottawa has shifted into election mode. Many are suggesting that a federal election may also be looming this spring, and the province goes to the polls in October 2011. With a hyper-political landscape emerging, it is worthwhile to ask ourselves What should citizens consider before choosing their next municipal leaders?

One defining feature of politics is the necessity of relationships, and in Ottawa political relationships are deeply intertwined. The defining feature of good politics is the ability to use these relationships to develop, communicate and realize a shared vision that benefits society as a whole. Unfortunately, vision does not always match the time and place that we are in, and it can materialize in many forms. Political leaders, however, are increasingly using a combination of the economy and sustainable development to help express their ideas about the future and the appropriate role for government.

It has almost become cliché to hear that we are entering a new era as global citizens. Yet global economic competition is real. Market dynamics are always changing and businesses must remain competitive. Of course, this is also true for cities. Cities are a key economic unit. The choices that our municipal leaders make, or influence at other levels of government, heavily affect whether or not a city becomes a commercial leader or laggard, which in turn affects the quality of life we experience.

Today’s economies require governments to participate and even lead the global transition that is taking place. Within this context, sustainable development is not a cliché but rather a key strategic and operational principle. It relates intimately to Canada’s competitive edge. Political leaders that appreciate this principle will help position their cities for success within a tremendously competitive future. Ottawa is moving in this direction, but the question becomes one of comparison and scope. Among Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Berlin and other great cities worldwide there is a race developing to be the greenest city on earth. And this is not empty rhetoric. Canadian municipal leaders are communicating a vision of the future that fully realizes the significance of integrated sustainable urban development. Vancouver and Toronto do not want to be the greenest cities in the country, but rather in the world. Now that’s vision. It is time for citizens in Ottawa to reflect on this emerging political trend and the reasons for it. We should be asking about Ottawa’s vision, or if we even have one.

Relationships and vision are what politics are all about. Through relationships we build teams that are capable of monumental achievements. Politicians, societies and cities with vision bring a standard of community success that benefits the world. Municipal politicians that cannot build or leverage their relationships with other levels of government and private and not-for-profit sectors will find it challenging to contribute to the new urban agenda in Canada—or anywhere in the world for that matter. The highest standards of sustainable development must be the guiding principle of that vision. It is through this lens that Ottawans should consider their leadership options while municipal politicians are working hard to earn their support in October 2010. If the option is between leader or laggard, I choose leader, and I’m sure you would too.

Here are a couple of recent articles that relate to the municipal landscape that may also be of interest:

women needed

2009-12-04T11:51:00.003-05:00

Societies and governments around the world increasingly appreciate the critical importance of balanced, gender representation in the elite levels of their official politics. The United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union use 30 percent as a minimum benchmark to ensure a critical mass of women parliamentarians. In Canada, certain provincial legislatures have been more successful than our federal in overcoming the barriers of institutionalized male dominance. Both Quebec and Manitoba have passed the 30 percent threshold. The high water mark in the House of Commons is tied between the 2008 and 2004 general elections at 21.1 percent. Those who value liberal democratic reform believe that this gender bias is a perennial issue that must be addressed.

General elections are often discussed as the cornerstone of Canadian democracy. There are, however, alternative forums for citizens to participate. One forum that is rarely mentioned, but is the actual foundation of electoral politics in Canada, is the nomination process, administered by political parties. Before a political candidate is permitted to enter an election as a party representative they must first navigate their way through the hyper-political process of a nomination. Often, this represents the first round of competition for potential electoral candidates. With the exception of appointees or candidates that run independent of party affiliation, only a few avoid this grueling political rite of passage. It is at a grassroots level that women need to be fully engaged: at the party level, during nominations, in every electoral district across our country.

Nominations are about networks, membership sales (usually of some sort) and organization. The nominee that can organize their network, sell memberships and get out the vote, while simultaneously balancing the competing relationships that influence the nomination process (ex. membership cut-off dates, selection of a nomination dates and venues, etc.), will win. This entire enterprise is conducted in partial secrecy from the public in 308 electoral districts; is overseen and managed by volunteer party loyalists; and is ostensibly guided by the prerogative of the respective party’s constitution. Unfortunately, nomination overseers and managers often have direct conflicts of interests due to personal relationships and overlapping networks. Nomination rules are either incomplete or lack the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms necessary for compliance. Moreover, nominations cost money and run officially or unofficially for significant periods of time. This necessary process presents both structural and situational barriers that are often more difficult for woman to overcome than men.

To affect a greater gender balance within legislatures, Canadian political parties need to reform their respective constitutions to enshrine the greatest fairness in their nomination practices, which would include candidate search committees that are required to recruit women. The introduction of a multiparty, constitutional review and amendment process to institute a common standard among parties should be jointly championed by our political leaders. And lastly, the Government of Canada, through the appropriate body, should establish a fund and grant criteria to support female candidates during nominations. This combined, party-government approach would provide greater opportunity for women to compete during nominations and therefore future general elections. As for the results of future competition, women will easily take care of that part on their own.

the dirty old man of the climate world

2009-12-01T01:31:00.005-05:00

This, my friends, is how the world thinks about Canada. From today's Guardian:

In stark contrast to its cuddly international image, Canada is the dirty old man of the climate world – missing its Kyoto emissions reduction target by a country mile (by 2007, it was 34% above its target) and showing no signs of reigning in its profligacy.

Friends and foes Roundly criticised by developing countries for being way off the pace, now there are calls to suspend it from the Commonwealth.

What they're offering A pathetic 3% cut on their 1990 emissions levels by 2020 – an offer mired in thick black tar.

What they most want No curbs on its ability to mine those lucrative tar sands in Alberta for oil (a far more carbon-intensive process than regular extraction).

Least likely to say "Look, when you set a target, you've got to stick to it, OK?"

Ottawa’s megaproject and the sad reality of urban development

2009-11-17T00:11:00.016-05:00

After months of city-wide opposition to the Lansdowne Partnership Plan (a.k.a. Lansdowne Live), Council has voted to accept the proposal submitted by the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), with certain revisions.

Polling data and other research has shown that citizens across Ottawa do not agree with the plan’s heavy commercial bent. When polled on their level of support, more Ottawans rejected Landsdowne Live than accepted it. MPs and MPPs spoke out in opposition. The Federation of Citizens' Associations opposed the plan.* A majority of urban councillors voted against Lansdowne Live and, equally significant, the lack of process that allowed its submission. Community Health Centres diplomatically warned Council of their core principals, highlighting the significance of, among other points, affordable housing (coincidentally absent from the current plan). A judicial review application regarding the City’s authority to override its procurement policies has been submitted and accepted by the Superior Court of Ontario. The Ottawa Regional Society of Architects and the Ontario Association of Architects formally presented their opposition to council. And distinguished academics, professionals, and politicos (incl. Ed Broadbent, Penny Collenette, Elizabeth May, and Flora MacDonald) have spoken out to express the many financial and governance shortcomings of the Lansdowne Live proposal.

The campaign that was organized against Lansdowne Live was a great experience in grassroots campaigning. The fragmented coalition that emerged waged a strong fight. In the end, however, the communications team and high-level organization that took place in support of the megaproject won the battle. With the help of Hill and Knowlton and the Mayor, OSEG representatives and Lansdowne Live earned positive media coverage day after day. Of course, in their typical, status-quo fashion, Ottawa’s two major dailies lapped the OSEG press releases and conferences up with a spoon. Alternatively, CBC and Metro News should be applauded for offering a balanced and critical picture of the controversial plan and its implications. In addition, Councillor Clive Doucet demonstrated an iron-clad will and dedication to protect the public interest and to lead the opposition against this poorly structured deal. With almost a complete absence of initial support, Coucillor Doucet (and his dedicated staff) faced constant, unfair, untruthful, and arrogant criticism from all sides. He did not flinch nor did he back down. His choice of language and his tactical and strategic actions displayed a man who, by any measure, is a true community champion.

Ottawa is on the cusp of either turning an historic, national, admittedly somewhat decrepit, urban park into a massive shopping complex; or, depending on council’s “revisions,” possibly realizing a portion of the extreme potential that this site holds. Hopefully councillors will have the foresight and courage to do what is best for Ottawa. It can’t be easy to constantly deflect the pressures of the Mayor and OSEG but the political fallout will run deep if the current look and feel of the Lansdowne plan is not changed to respect the wishes and interests of the public.

Here are a few posts and links summarizing the opposition to Lansdowne Live:

* ERRATUM. The original post suggested that all community associations in Ottawa opposed the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. This statement was inaccurate. The associations that are members of the Federation of Citizens' Associations did oppose the plan, however, the FCA does not constitute "all community associations" and it is possible that proponents did exist.

repower

2009-10-29T15:22:00.002-04:00

Repower America is a climate change campaign that was launched by Al Gore. It's social media heavy and refined in it's application. Check out "the wall." Too cool. An amazing campaign with amazing communications.

vote earth

2009-10-28T21:48:00.002-04:00

Decent campaign. Awareness is important. Action, however, is much more significant.

time to move on

2009-10-27T01:22:00.008-04:00

Climate change or global warming is real. Our lifestyles are impacting the world. This is a global problem that requires a global solution and Canada has a huge role to play within this arena. So, the question is not, What do we do? – we've know that for some time – the real question is, What’s taking so long?

Canada’s approach is summarized eloquently in a recent paper prepared by the Climate Action Network:

In Canada, climate change policy has been dominated by short-term approaches that have systematically sacrificed responsible commitments in favor of sectoral interests. The result is that, while many Canadians are responsible global citizens and want their country to play a constructive role on the world stage, Canada’s record on climate change has been entirely undistinguished. Frankly, Canada has been part of the problem, not part of the solution.

According to World Wildlife Fund’s G8 Scorecard 2009:

Canada scores lowest of all G8 countries: total emissions are steadily increasing and are far above the Kyoto target, per capita emissions are among the highest in the world. Mid to long-term greenhouse gas targets are inadequate. A plan to curb emissions was developed last year but has not been implemented. The Kyoto target will stay completely out of reach.

In the Climate Change Performance Index 2009 Canada ranks 59 out of 59 countries (i.e. last place) and states succinctly:

[I]n large parts of the world, including Canada, the USA and Russia, appropriate climate protection is contradicted by action and emission trends. … The emissions trends in Canada, Australia, China and Saudi Arabia are especially worrisome.

And here is what our Commissioner on the Environment and Sustainable Development says about the Canadian approach climate change:

[The Government] cannot demonstrate that … annual climate change plans for 2007 and 2008 fully meet all of the requirements … of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act. … [The Government] does not have a system in place to monitor and report, as required by the Act, on the greenhouse gas emission reductions for the measures in the annual climate change plans. [The Government] has indicated that the monitoring of actual GHG emission reductions could be technically unfeasible and not necessarily cost effective, and that reductions could be impossible to attribute to a specific measure.

Or to summarize, not only does Canada have one of the worst records in the world on reducing its emissions, but the little work we actually complete is embarrassingly unknown.

Many of life’s anxieties stem from the inability of societies to implement the ideas and beliefs that act as the foundation of sustainable development. Canadian governments do not quite understand what it means to be “sustainable” and many Canadians are unsure about what it means, in practical terms, to “value” sustainable development. Our political leadership has failed to provide the necessary stewardship and national and international markets have been slow to translate the inevitable into value. A recent Harvard Business Review article pulls it all together in single, direct thesis: There is no alternative to sustainable development.

It really is that simple. We have the answers. It’s time to move on. It’s time for our government to help us realize a future based on this key reality.

how it all started: thanks ed

2009-10-12T19:09:00.010-04:00

Had coffee with Ed Broadbent a couple days ago - busy guy. He made time to stop by and sign a picture from my early campaign days. My dad was in the Middle East peacekeeping with the United Nations (pretty cool) and my mom decided to bring me along to help out while she campaigned during the 1979 election. Although you can't see the inscription it reads, "Brian and Donna, the salt of the earth - in spite of a wayward son." Thanks Ed. You too are the salt of the earth.

campaigns matter

2009-09-09T15:14:00.011-04:00

We're at the point where most are predicting an election. Exciting times. Who will win and who will loose is tough to say. Minority or majority, also a tough one. What is for sure, however, is that campaigns matter - nationally, regionally and at the local level. The Liberals in 2006 went into the race polling at 37% and the Conservatives were at a dismal 29%. The result: a change in minority governments and the Conservatives led a masterful, come-from-behind win. Today, both the Liberals and the Conservatives have the capacity to mount highly competitive campaigns. When trying to understand the national landscape, I know that first and foremost campaigns matter and last but not least change is the air. I love elections.

CPAC-SES Tracking 2006

social media rocks

2009-08-18T20:44:00.011-04:00

Obama campaigner Rahaf Harfoush recently released a new book called Yes We Did - I liked it a lot. Harfoush eloquently balances her entertaining anecdotes with the lessons learnt and best practices of the campaign, all within a social media context. A must read for any political campaigner interested in how things now work.

money and its message

2009-08-18T14:36:00.006-04:00

What a creative use of public space: currency! The Dogwood Initiative has taken direct marketing to a new level. With the use of our Loonie, Dogwood has developed a medium of communications that encapsulates both it's message and website into a single image: notankers.ca. Love it. Well done Dogwood.

the significance of an anthem

2009-08-16T19:52:00.010-04:00

While watching the playoffs this year I noticed something: no Canadian anthem!? Weird, I thought. So I wrote a letter and then I created a petition (look to the right) - just in case. Here's the letter:

Letter to NHL

We'll have to wait and see for next steps.

quarter billion

2009-08-12T11:48:00.005-04:00

Not sure what your week looks like but the folks at i4i in Toronto just got awarded $290 million, resulting from a civil suit against Microsoft. Let me say that again, $290 million. Pretty decent week in my opinion.

What's a little strange is the lack of Canadian media attention, so far. Good on Pierre Bourque for highlighting this story on Bourque Newswatch. "Microsoft banned from selling Word in the United States" is a huge Canadian headline, especially when it's coupled with the fact the company who had their patent rights infringed (a polite legal term for stolen) is Canadian.

end of the urban agenda

2009-08-06T15:42:00.004-04:00

Let's hope the focus returns. The sooner the better I say. Here are a few words on the topic:

Vision that matches reality
Ottawa Sun
August 5, 2009
By Martin Canning
The rarely linear policy approach taken by successive federal governments is apparent in the once energetic “urban agenda.” In and around 2004, there were numerous federal departments pushing forward on significant files. From brownfields to sustainable transportation, our federal government, in partnership with Canadian cities, was beginning to show real leadership related to our built environment.

Recently, I was having a beer with a couple of friends active in the federal policy community. We were reminiscing about our time on the “urban file” when one exclaimed, “The urban agenda is dead!” I had to agree. If, as a nation, we do not shift our lens back to cities we will lose. The future of Canada must be built upon a competitive, innovative and sustainable urban agenda.

Vision is a word I keep hearing. Today’s cities are tomorrow’s future. It’s time to ensure our national agenda applies a vision that matches this reality.

a short reflection on recessions

2009-08-02T12:55:00.003-04:00

When looking for root causes examiners often begin by considering and applying the opaque concept of "human nature". Personally, I tend to agree with methods that review the human side of any social phenomenon. Regarding recessions, one key point, I think, to remember is that money and value and therefore debt has always been subjective. Recessions will come and go but one constant will always remain: human nature - or, as one man once put it, "the essence of the evolutionary spirit."

nasty and brutish

2009-07-13T13:11:00.003-04:00

I have respected Mr. Flanagan's commentary from the moment I started reading his words. Although our spots on the spectrum are no doubt left and right of each other, he is one of only a few political commentators that adds truth and eloquence to the nasty, brutish sport that is political communications.

minerals

2009-06-22T14:09:00.005-04:00

I have to express my respect and appreciation when a news source has the minerals to express an alternative, truthful view.

sorry folks, no election

2009-06-12T13:50:00.001-04:00

That's the official position of Canning's Guess. You heard it here first!

vulgar, eloquent, and accurate

2009-03-24T21:28:00.002-04:00

Here is the best description I have read on the AIG fiasco. Top shelf.

second tier political attacks building steam

2009-03-17T18:55:00.008-04:00

Top-shelf analysis here by Stephen Taylor on some of the day's developing political spin. I do, however, get a kick out of Mr. Taylor's suggestion that the Liberals are the "first to go neg" and that the Conservatives have held off on such "dark world" political tactics. There may be a little bias in his comments but I guess that's all a part of the game.

"Grit Girl" and "her" videos are pretty impressive. Here's the latest production:

early 2009 and bourque already locks down victory

2009-03-16T18:51:00.002-04:00

I have to give it to him. Pierre Bourque's Newswatch really makes me laugh sometimes with his headlines.

Today's headline takes the cake so far this year:

Lib Wonks set to gather for Iggy's Wonkless Wonkfest.

Well done. I think the more you use the word "wonk" and its many variants in a headline the funnier it becomes. Ha!

obama and microcredit

2009-02-10T20:39:00.001-05:00

Okay, full disclosure, I’m not an economist by trade, but I have this gut feeling that giving a bunch of money to big banks may not necessarily be the best economic stimulus. Banks are, by definition, an intermediary. You have to get up pretty early my friend. Here’s an alternative view point:

Microcredit stimulus

The Ottawa Citizen

February 9, 2009

By Martin Canning

Last summer in Burlington, Vermont, I was walking down Church Street and I noticed two folks standing behind a fold-up table. They had a big glass jug and it was filled with cash. The only other materials visible were a small pile of Obama 2008 stickers, a sign-up list, and two pens. We talked; I donated $5, received my sticker; and moved on. I learned such simple efforts generated $350 million in under three months.

With recent news of now 100 million of the world's poorest reached by microcredit, I began to think how this milestone relates to successful fundraising. The transactions are basic but work.

Microcredit, like Barack Obama's campaign, brings together millions of people through shared responsibility and action, and delivers results. Over 95 per cent of loans are repaid. Compare that to the recent bailouts and bankruptcies that we've all seen on the front page, every other day.

If governments want to stimulate the global economy with solid investments, policy makers should take a page out of the Obama campaign and apply the lessons by building the capacity of microfinance in countries where it matters most. Now that's shovel-ready, economic stimulus.

bourque takes chill pill

2009-02-10T14:07:00.005-05:00

Today, Pierre Bourque has removed all that is Kinsella from his website. CPC communications strategists must have used their special calculators and figured that it was a loosing equation. Well done CPC strategists. Mr. Kinsella's calculator, however, produced different output. Mental note: never make fun of Mr. Bourque's art.

bourque versus kinsella

2009-02-09T19:06:00.003-05:00

An accomplished veteran of political communications and Canadian political warfare should have known better. Warren Kinsella let his guard down and Pierre Bourque has pounced. But Canadian information consumers should not be confused by these Conservative tactics. Indeed, Mr. Kinsella’s comments were wrong. The apology that accompanies such remarks must be sincere and unqualified. The ambitious politicization of this “controversy” is quite typical of political communications and the forum in which the battle ensues has also become commonplace. The unfortunate paradox of the art of clever political communication is that practitioners often miss the opportunity to shut up. That Pierre Bourque is a paid Conservative advertiser and that his website is a mouthpiece of the Conservative Party of Canada is sometimes forgotten, but has been exposed for many years (this has been well documented here, here, and here). The Bourque versus Kinsella e-battle continues and it will be interesting to see what groups or individuals will be sweeped into its wake.

backbone deficit

2008-12-07T16:59:00.005-05:00

Bravo

My sentiments exactly.

seinfield moment

2007-08-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, the person who boards a plane and attempts to carry-on or check an "explosive or improvised explosive" worries me hugely - I'm not going to lie to you.

The person, however, who originally was on their way to the airport with their explosive who then checks the CATSA website and realizes,"Gee Margret, maybe that is an explosive after all," and leaves their SEMTEX at home, is the person that really worries me.

Thank you CATSA for your thoroughness. I am now completely clear on what I can and cannot bring on my next trip to Toronto.

stick to your guns

2007-05-29T09:52:00.000-04:00

I worked on a winning campaign in 2004 where, at the beginning, the candidate and I talked before going door-to-door. He told me a story I will never forget (or maybe it was a lesson). But I always do forget whether it was related to him or actually his brother? Anyway, the story goes something like this.

Upon receiving a phone call from the Prime Minister of the day, the PM offers some unsolicited but welcome advice in his typical rough English:

Sir, let me tell you something. If you only do three things in your campaign it should be these. First, develop a strategy and stick to it. Number two: stick to your strategy - commit. And last, third, stick to your #@$!*%$ strategy.

Good advice. Hard to implement sometimes. But when you do it works. (I wonder where he got the idea from?)

2007 or 2009 or 2011 or ...

2007-05-26T23:30:00.000-04:00

Okay, so what exactly is this Afghanistan Compact all about?

The Compact is the result of consultation between the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations and the international community, and represents a framework for co-operation for the next five years [i.e. 2006-2011].

2011 you say. Big deal. This Compact thing doesn’t influence Canada’s military actions in Afghanistan does it?

Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan are guided by the Afghanistan Compact, which provides a five-year framework [i.e. 2006-2011] for coordinating the work of the Afghan government and its international partners [i.e. Canada] by outlining specific outcomes, as well as the benchmarks and time lines for their delivery in the three areas of security, governance, and development.

Fine. If the Compact guides Canada’s military, and its deliverables are almost all bound to the year 2011, I’m sure the Minster of National Defense would be aware?

Canada is committed militarily to the NATO mission in Afghanistan until February 2009. Anyone who claims otherwise [i.e. before this date] is, quite simply, wrong. This commitment is in line with Canadian values - a commitment that began under the previous Liberal Government [note the use of the word EXTEND and EXTENSION below].

That’s weird. Minister O’Connor’s numbers seem a little off – he’s talking about 2009? What’s the Prime Minister’s math on this one?

Mr. Speaker, we are seeking to extend the mission of both the Canadian Forces in Kandahar as well as the efforts of Canadian military, diplomats, development workers and police in the PRT for 24 months.

This mission extension will cover the period from February 2007 to 2009.

So what? 2007 or 2009 or 2011 – what does it matter? Why should I care if my government is telling me the truth?

My concern is not necessarily the mission. Instead, my concern relates to the game that is being played with the Canadian public. If our country is going to war until 2011 I think we deserve to know. Don’t you?

galipeau goes berzerk

2007-05-17T00:03:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine recently put forward a theory of why a truly unremarkable MP like Royal Galipeau was given the dignified (and unhesitatingly ironic) post of Deputy Speaker in our House of Commons. According to the rules of parliamentary procedure, goes the theory, the person who occupies this role is restricted by the customs of the Green Chamber. Put simply, Deputy Speakers are required to keep their mouth shut while the House is in session. Interesting indeed.

Apparently, our unremarkable MP has long had a reputation for unparliamentary behavior. Or, said my friend with his usual fluency and aptness, "he's a complete nut job."

How'd this guy sneak past security anyway? Somebody call the guards!

11 votes

2007-05-14T14:05:00.000-04:00

Well, in the end, it was damn close. I think Ottawa Orleans will do just fine with their incumbent candidate but I still believe Rachel Decoste had (and has) what it takes to win that riding. I wish Mr. Godbout the best of luck in the upcoming election. Ottawa Orleans has a strong, loyal Liberal constituency that holds more than enough potential to swing things back the way they should be. Congratulations on your win Monsieur. It will be important over the summer to spend time working to bring a unified team together for victory in late 2007 or early 2008. No small feat but very possible.

age is subjective

2007-05-14T14:00:00.000-04:00

I ran into Marion Dewar on good ol' route 85 this past weekend. First time we talked since Ottawa's municipal election. I tell you that woman has a certain fire in her belly that you have to respect. Every time I talk with Marion I get up and I want to take on the world. Very few have that ability: the ability to mobilize.

79 years of age. Still using public transit. Still involved in grassroots organization. Still working the phones during political campaigns. Still mobilizing youth. I'm impressed.

There's something cool about shooting the breeze with a former mayor on the bus. Classless, in the good sense.

Looking forward to next time.

and the headline of the year award goes to

2007-04-20T13:55:00.000-04:00

Bourque!

I would like to formally nominate Pierre Bourque of Bourque Newswatch for the Canadian Blogger News Headline of the Year Award for his cleverly sardonic description of Prime Minister Harper and the Conservative Party's new strategic advisor, entitled:

HARPER'S FLUFFER ALSO A JOJO

The loudest LOL today. Chapeau once again Monsieur. Past advertising campaigns notwithstanding, I'm glad to see you still have a little of the good stuff still left in you.

easter sunday

2007-04-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

Just finished watching Jesus Camp. Many of us recognize the influence of religious extremism in today's politics. Nevertheless, I think it is important to be reminded on occasion.

international relations

2007-04-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

One aspect that I find extremely intriguing about international relations is the geopolitics of it all. That is, over top of a foundation of complexity there is a great deal of strategy that always takes place. Whether or not it is based in some sort of universal rationalism is of course the debate.

What is also extremely intriguing about the international scene is that the interpretation of truth often becomes quite a formidable task. Layers of misinformation abound. Many people form their opinions on foreign policy solely on popular media reports. And that's the frightening reality of it all.

there's only one patten

2007-03-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

About a week ago, Richard Patten, M.P.P. Ottawa Centre, announced that he would not seek re-election. For me, this announcement was and is a real disappointment.

I have had the opportunity to work with Richard over the years and we have become friends; however, we have not yet had the chance to campaign together. I was looking forward to this opportunity over the summer, leading into the fall election. Unfortunately, this is no longer an option. I'm sure Richard will work closely with his successor and their team, but it won't be the same. The Ontario Liberal Party has lost a stellar M.P.P. and a safe seat to boot. Although I'm not happy about this outcome, I understand and appreciate the motives behind Mr. Patten's decision.

Richard, I wish you the best of luck in all your future pursuits. You have been one of only a few political or community mentors in my life. Even though our friendship is still quite formative, I must say that you have taught me a lot. The principle of inclusiveness, which is core to both the concepts of liberalism and democracy, often proves difficult to implement in practise. In my world, it is this attribute or ability that is the most impressive sort an elected representative can possess and one that you hold, beyond dispute. That is, an altruistic drive to represent: the honest belief, respect and trust in the values and concerns of the many - a political art that human nature often attempts to constrain. Not so in Ottawa Centre.

Well done sir. There's definitely only one Patten on this earth; although I'm more than positive that you will certainly remained involved, your art will be missed.

décoste enters tight race in ottawa-orleans

2007-03-09T01:58:00.000-05:00

DÉCOSTE ENTERS LIBERAL RACE FOR OTTAWA-ORLEANS; GETS BACKING OF COUNCILLOR BLOESS

OTTAWA - Rachel Décoste, a 30 year-old software engineer and Liberal activist in Ottawa-Orleans, announced today that she would be seeking the Liberal nomination in her home riding.

Décoste has been a long time Liberal supporter and became very active in the party in 2006, backing the leadership bid of former Ontario education minister Gerard Kennedy before throwing her support to Liberal leader Stéphane Dion on the third and fourth ballots during the leadership convention.

Décoste, who faces as many as three former MPs and a current city councillor for the nomination, said she was a bit nervous to become a candidate but has received a lot of encouragement from Liberals and other citizens across the riding who value her new perspective.

"I really became energized about federal politics as I worked with a new generation of thinkers to advance the campaigns of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Dion. I found out what it was like to make a difference and affect real change and I want to keep doing that," Décoste explained. "After being encouraged by a number of fellow Liberals, I began making some inquiries about a possible run and the support I have received from grassroots Liberals has been amazing."

Décoste has long been involved in community causes in the riding, gained a key endorsement at her announcement from Ottawa Ward 2 councillor Rainer Bloess.

Bloess, who has served on municipal council since 1994, offered his full support to Décoste. "Rachel is really a tremendous young woman with a strong vision and strong convictions. She represents new ideas and new leadership and that is exactly what we need in our representative to Parliament Hill."

Décoste was thankful for Bloess' support. "Rainer is a great voice for my community on council and I am humbled by the confidence he has placed in me with his public support. With the support of youth and the grassroots and the support of such notable community leaders as Rainer Bloess, I can win this nomination and win back this riding for the Liberals in the next election."

eavesdroppings

2007-02-22T01:20:00.001-05:00

Here's a new concept for a blog. Get kicked out of your apartment due to renovations, spend your week at a local coffee shop, and post overheard conversations on your website.

For now, the morning crowd is in - mostly older gentlemen. The discussion so far has focused on new boot laces, the inflated cost of liver and, of course, the weather.

The morning's scenario: what do you do if you come across a car, the doors are locked, and there is a baby inside? Guy#1: call the police. Guy#2: smash the window. Guy#3: how hot is it outside? Consensus builds: if it's hot, break the window, then call the police. I love this place. Law, ethics and caramel brittle latte all in one.

Old guys impress me sometimes. Clearly, for some, it's more of a quantitative thing.

Oh, a transition seems to be taking place. Younger folks are coming in (by younger I mean the 35-45 range). I wonder what these people talk about? Prediction: considering I'm in Ottawa, probably politics or government. What a great city for a poli sci grad; torturous for everyone else I guess. Lucky me.

Okay. Time for my second tea. Will keep you posted. Kirk out.

[Originally sent from earlier today. Treos, like Macs, suck.]

part of the problem

2007-01-28T18:11:00.000-05:00

It is interesting to read the comments of certain journalists at times. In her Sunday column, Sun journalist Susan Sherring, takes aim at an emerging citizen-based group called Eye on Ottawa, whose goal is exactly that: keeping an eye on our Members of Council. Writes Sherring about the mission of Eye on Ottawa:

Among the group's ideas? They plan to monitor the issues and councillors' voting records so the public can know specifically where their rep stands on the issues of the day. Great idea. In theory.

Sherring continues:

And they're not doing anyone any favours if they're only going to be critical. … (Leave the criticism up to the columnists.)

In theory? Leave the criticisms up the columnists? I don’t understand? Is Sherring suggesting that monitoring issues and voting records and being critical of elected representatives is not practical or out of the purview of the citizens of Ottawa? This has to be a joke. But sadly, it isn’t.

The unfortunate reality is that Ottawa’s paparazzi are not only part of but also help create a local, barely democratic system that, over the last six years and two municipal elections, has resulted with every incumbent Member of Council (at the councilor level that ran) being re-elected. Fact: the current municipal election process in Ottawa does not facilitate effective competition between Members of Council and competing nominees. The system is neither fair nor balanced. This is a problem. Action is needed. Ottawans deserve better. And Eye on Ottawa is one of the only groups putting their time and energy into addressing this particular public good for free for the people of Ottawa.

Instead of recognizing Ottawa’s obvious democratic deficit and addressing the problem, many of our city’s so-called pundits continue to rally behind the status quo. Sometimes I really wish we could vote for both our politicians and our journalists, but then again, in our present system, they would probably find a way to linger around year after year as well.

energy not nationalism may be Canada’s next constitutional challenge

2007-01-22T02:04:00.000-05:00

During the last two decades, energy politics in Canada has been relatively peaceful. This has not always been the case. For extended periods after the world’s first oil shocks, both in 1973 and later in 1979, governments across the country clashed venomously over energy issues. Oil and gas became a central topic on most governments’ policy agendas. With skyrocketing world prices, and with the lion’s share of the country’s petroleum located in only a few provinces, Canada was faced with a new, externally imposed, energy dynamic that challenged the integrity of our federation.

This period was a major turning point in Canadian federal and intergovernmental relations, when governments were pressured to compete for jurisdictional power and control over an emerging petroleum policy regime. Federal and the provincial governments took on new roles in their struggle to change Canada’s oil and gas policies. The result was an energy-induced competition that influenced a transformation in the structure of traditional forms of Canadian governance. Economic disputes, group interests, institutional organization, past policies, and national and provincial politics, all came together during this period and exacerbated many of the federal and intergovernmental battles that took place.

Although durable, Canada’s federal system is not indestructible. As seen through the lens of our nation’s political history, powerful energy forces have brought federal and intergovernmental relations to the brink. Fortunately, to date, the system has been able to survive. Today, we have built a country on many of lessons learned throughout this period of “conflictual federalism.” Our collective memory has now aged a little but we must not forget. I strenuously hope governments in Canada remember these lessons when they face the next big international energy shock. The consequence of memory loss could be fatal.

For alternative descriptions of international and national energy outlooks try Global Public Media. It’s a great resource and it includes a Canadian focus.

bourque fights back

2007-01-18T02:12:00.000-05:00

It's interesting how we communicate sometimes. Tonight, in his own special way, Bourque finally offers an opinion. And it's crystal clear where he stands on the issue - an issue that over the last couple of weeks has been debated not only online but across the entire country through our national media. His position really isn't at all surprising.

Pierre Bourque's two-part response to all of us who questioned the ethical standard of his service or the standard of those who purchased it is simple. Succinct and to the point:

EXPERT: ADVERTISING REVENUE GRAVITATING
TO INTERNET
Bourque Advertising Works!

Chapeau monsieur - a clever retort and I guess, in a way, an appropriate ending to a now dwindling conversation. But Mr. Bourque, I have to be honest with you. I have this feeling. I have a feeling that this topic will once again reemerge in the not so distant future, somehow, someway. It's funny how headlines can sometimes take a life of their own.

this and that

2007-01-17T23:58:00.000-05:00

A few quick comments.

First, I like this guy a whole bunch. He should run again somewhere in Ottawa. Just listen to that name: Batson, Blake Batson. I look forward to seeing when and where he will emerge.

Second, I also like Garth Turner. I didn't really know who he was until recently but in all fairness to me, I could probably say that about a lot of people. Please read his blog from today, it's worth it. Mr. Turner doesn't think Mr. Harper is going to win the next election. Who am I to argue? But, then again, maybe we just haven't been reading Bourque.

And third, nobody wants to sign my petition. My name is the only name on the damn thing - that just isn't cool. If you look over to your right you will see a link to the Fair Elections in Ottawa Petition. It would be nice if you signed it. It could result in a few decent councilors actually being elected in this city someday. Or, if you are too lazy to scroll that heavy mouse all the way over there, you can also click here, here, and even here. Thank you kindly. You have just contributed positively to the democratic process in our nation's capital.

Oh, and one last thing. Speaking of impressive websites, I have been checking out the Daily Canuck everyday lately. I like the Daily Canuck. They have a "green news section" and they recently linked to Canning's Guess, and I didn't even ask them. Thanks Daily Canuck - great site!

bourque exposed

2007-01-15T18:32:00.000-05:00

Maybe I spoke too soon (see below). It seems like the Bourque issue is starting to open up. The talk continues in the blogosphere but the story finally broke yesterday and today in the mainstream media.

Bruce Cheadle's Canadian Press article was picked up by:

Globe and Mail: How much for a friendly headline?
National Post: Headlines on popular Internet news can be bought for a price
CTV: Some Internet news sites selling headlines
And CBC: Headlines on popular Internet news sites can be bought for a price

Good work Bruce (and everyone else). I wonder how much more steam this story holds?

the bourque non-story

2007-01-13T20:42:00.000-05:00

Well, it definitely was an interesting week. Early on Monday morning, partially fuelled by comments on Warren Kinsella and Jason Cherniak’s websites, I posted an article related to the sale of online news headlines on Canning's Guess entitled bourque sells out?. This same day, Mr. Kinsella, Adam Radwanski and the Daily Canuck linked my article (and a couple of others) to their blogs; while, simultaneously, another group of interested bloggers discussed the topic over on Cherniak’s site or on their own.

For the next 48 hours, bloggers (big and small) weighed in on the issue. What an interesting experience to have watched this story “grow” within the blogosphere.

Strangely, it hasn’t been picked up by anyone in the mainstream. Maybe these folks know something we don’t. I mean, maybe, in the end, Bourque Newswatch doesn’t sell news headlines to political parties? At this point, it's hard to say for sure. But after more thought on the matter, and a little research, I’m now leaning in the other direction.

What is also interesting is that both Cerberus and Jason Cherniak (as well James Bowie and possibly others) brought this very issue to light almost a year ago, to the date; but, as was the case last year, suggestions of Bourque's headline "peddling" remained unsubstantiated during this discussion as well.

For some reason, I don't think the conversation has come to its end; therefore, I have decided to put together a collection of links and comments.

To begin, here are some examples of Bourque Newswatch headlines following Stéphane Dion’s leadership victory (there are a few more added since last time). It was during December that I first began to notice the possibility of an "irregular" bias on Newswatch. These are from Bourque's “Recent News (or Headlines)” section:

CLOCK TICKS FOR ADSCAM REDUX (headline falls under a picture of a watch hanging from Mr. Dion’s name)

THE PERSUASIVE CITOYEN DION

DION: KHAN WILL NOT DEFECT ... HARPER: KHAN HAS DEFECTED

DION APPOINTS HAPLESS EX-CHRETIEN CABMIN MASSE TO TOP JOB

MARZOLINI: CITOYEN DION, THE ANTI-POLITICIAN ?

DION ON TOUR: NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME

DION'S DISCONNECT

DION WON'T GIVE UP FRANCE

DION, CITIZEN OF FRANCE: "I AM LOYAL TO MY COUNTRY"

And these are from Bourque's “Notes (or Hot News)" section:

DUAL-DION: OBFUSCATIONS, SPIN, & OTHERWISE

Stephane Dion: I was a card-carrying member of the Parti-Quebecois

Foreign Legion ? France abolished conscription in 2001.
How did Citoyen Dion evade his military service in France ?

In December 2006, a Conservative blog recognized the apparent bias and started to question its relevance. Smoke then began to appear on a few political blogs as a result of a National Post article written by Warren Kinsella.

December 5, 2006 – On Conservative Life blog:

I've noticed recently, however, that [Pierre] is no fan of Dion. I don't recall the headlines from yesterday but they were not Dion-friendly. ... He also has a poll asking whether a citizen of France should be qualified to be Prime Minister of Canada.

December 14, 2006 – In the National Post, Kinsella writes of a "viral campaign" against Dion initiated by Ezra Levant's December 4th column:

By the time it got maximum media penetration - by the time it started to do what its anonymous proponents had hoped it would do - the Stephane Dion "citizenship" canard was showing up everywhere. Blogs, newspapers, TV and radio, ostensibly independent Web sites. Everywhere.

That's what viral campaigns are conceived to do, and what the anti-Dion campaign did well. It smeared a man who, truly, did not deserve it.
... The Stephane Dion dual citizenship story first appeared immediately after the conclusion of the Liberal leadership convention. My friend Ezra Levant, a long-time conservative (and Conservative) activist, revealed the "news."

December 15, 2006 – Small Dead Animals, reduces the argument to partisan lines and, through personal e-mail correspondence and other evidence, offers an "Ezra retort" to the Kinsella allegations (there is legitimate proof that the citizenship issue had been around for at least a few days before Mr. Levant's "revelation"). Says Mr. Levant in an e-mail:

I can't recall where I first saw it. I heard the rumour somewhere, on the blogosphere I think, on the day [Dion] was chosen. I must have visited a dozen sites that day. I used the Google blog search to find a source, but couldn't. So then I checked the Infomart archives, and found confirmation in an interview he did a few years ago with Montreal Gazette.
Kinsella misunderstands the nature of viruses - that they are natural. Uninteresting ideas don't catch on, even if they're forced, while hot news - or interesting revelations - spread spontaneously. This didn't spread because of Tory black ops. It spread because it was startling news, and then it spread more because of how Dion mishandled it. And now it spreads further because of Kinsella.

Also on December 15, 2006 – On Warren Kinsella’s blog (referring to a strange photo of Stéphane Dion that surfaced on Bourque Newswatch where Bourque suggested Mr. Dion was "jaywalking"):

Who took this photo of Dion, in a bid to embarrass him? That sure is an interesting URL. Hmmm.

On December 16, 2006 – the commentary on Small Dead Animals continues.

In January, the smoke almost turns to fire (but not quite).

January 7, 2006 – Jason Cherniak continues the suggestion that the anti-Dion campaign has "Ezra origins" but also summarized succinctly and effectively what was taking place on Bourque:

It all [started] in a traditional way. Ezra Levant wrote a column questioning Dion's automatic French citizenship that comes from his mother being a French citizen. … Levant edits a written journal, so it was not pure Internet strategy. The media picked it up and it became a short-term story. Nothing special.

However, online the story was treated like a major catastrophe. Pierre Bourque linked to it for days on end. He would find different stories that said basically the same thing, but give each link a different headline so that it would seem like Dion was under real fire. You would never have known that it was just the same opinion linked to day in and day out.

January 8, 2006 – On Warren Kinsella's blog:

Jeepers, those anti-Dion "headlines" sure show up with great frequency and prominence on certain blogs and web sites, these days, don't they? Geez, you don't think a certain political party is PAYING for those "headlines" to appear, do you? (I'm not involved in the federal Grits, at all, but I can't think of anything more stupid than one of their opponents allowing a REAL headline to be printed: "PAYOLA SCANDAL: POLITICOS CAN'T GET GOOD NEWS COVERAGE, HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.")

Flowing mostly from these two posts, comments from bloggers around the country began to emerge. Unfortunately, in my opinion, very few actually highlighted the real issue at hand. Tories seemed to focus on a “Conservative conspiracy”, Liberals tended to emphasize overly partisan points of view, and the "non-partisans" downplayed the story's general importance.

So far, the Bourque discussion has also included comments on the following blogs (and I apologize because I’m sure that I missed a few):

I argue here and here that the recent commentary made by Kinsella (and some of the others mentioned above, which include Cherniak) allude or specifically point to potential impropriety on only one side of the issue: the political side. There is, as I have argued, a very significant media-specific component that deserves attention as well. At the end of the day, I believe both positions can be related back to a basic ethical question: is the sale and/or purchase of news headlines an unethical practice? And if the answer is yes then a natural two-part follow-up would be: does Bourque Newswatch sell news headlines and, if so, do political parties purchase them?

Until Bourque Newswatch or someone "in the know" reveals the truth about these allegations, the story will ultimately remain unfounded and thus a non-story. This is unfortunate because I think the basic ethical question that this issue raises deserves a formal or official answer. As long as these types of questions are left pending, it seems that the integrity or reputation of Bourque Newswatch will remain in partial disrepute (I have e-mailed Mr. Bourque asking him these very questions but he has not yet offered a reply).

For the time being, the only public communications from Bourque Newswatch is actually on Bourque Newswatch. Here is what the website says about the services it provides:

We Guaranty Front-Page Coverage For Your Mission-Critical Message.

Unique Customized Tactical Messaging Capabilities

Banners - Headlines - Pop Polls - Email Blasts - More

Contact Pierre Bourque to discuss your needs ...

To me, this would suggest that news headlines are indeed for sale. And as for Bourques's clientele, here, again, is a description from the website. In the words of Bourque, "[let's] look at the list of clients who count on us to get their message seen, heard, and actioned":

Liberal Party Of Canada
New Democratic Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
PC Party of Ontario
Liberal Party of Ontario
Belinda Stronach Leadership Campaign
John Tory Mayoralty Campaign
Marijuana Party
Saskatchewan NDP

The only additional evidence that I could find online related to the possibility of Bourque Newswatch selling news headlines (outside of the description found on the website itself) are a few obscure comments during a Crossing Boundaries Working Session in May 2002. Tim Powers, a popular Conservative strategist, comments about Bourque Newsatch. He is paraphrased in the minutes:

We can see the internet has become a powerful internal communications device – a way to drive gossip and news stories. For example, much of the destabilizing of Stockwell Day‘s leadership was created online.

His company, Summa Strategies, has used the Pierre Bourque website to advocate issues for their candidates - egg. online gossiping and online PSAs have been very useful. The Bourque site is especially effective since journalists, politicians and business leaders look it at. As a corollary to this it is important to note that being effective online means understanding your audience.

The are a few words or euphemisms mentioned here, all referring to Bourque Newwatch and his services, that are worth repeating: "internal communications device"; "a way to drive gossip and news stories"; "destabilizing"; and finally, "especially effective since journalists, politicians and business leaders look at it."

And now, a final repetition. Once again, Mr. Cheniak's succinct and effective description of what took place on Newswatch:

... online the story was treated like a major catastrophe. Pierre Bourque linked to it for days on end. He would find different stories that said basically the same thing, but give each link a different headline so that it would seem like Dion was under real fire. You would never have known that it was just the same opinion linked to day in and day out.

For anyone curious about Mr. Bourque's journalistic integrity, this article, written by Joshua Heller in the Ryerson Review of Journalism (RRJ), entitled The Wrong Man, contains some of the only background information on Pierre Bourque that I could find online. The article sheds light on Mr. Bourque's career history, offers insight into his character and includes examples of more than a couple questionable journalistic practices. There are also a few words about Mr. Bourque written here and here on Wikipedia and old interviews and articles here, here, and here. I cannot yet conclude on the RRJ article's credibility but it has been suggested here that Mr. Bourque was not too impressed following its publication. It should be mentioned, however, that on the surface it at least seems to be well written and researched. Although published back in 2001, I believe it to be timely in the context of the present discussion. Says Heller of Bourque's online process and goals:

Perhaps a more constructive approach might be for Bourque to formulate a detailed plan of how to run the site and follow through in a consistent manner. When I spoke with him, he told me that he decides whether to post a tip on his site by "gut instinct." As he says, "It just follows from how I particularly feel. Y'know, do you like the colour blue, over red? It just depends."

When I asked Bourque what goals he hopes to accomplish with his site, he told me, "The mission of my site is to provide as complete a list—. I don't really have a statement, except that my statement is 'Tomorrow's News Now.' That's my slogan, 'Tomorrow's News Now.' So it's the site you go to to read about news first." Is it any wonder that in three years, Bourque has not come near to enjoying Drudge's success?

I have to say that, personally, because of the continued silence from Mr. Bourque on this topic, combined with the evidence provided above (primarily Bourque.com's overt bias in "news" headlines as of late, and what seems to be a clearly stated service on the Bourque website), I now have a revised outlook on the news services provided by Bourque Newswatch. And, with great difficulty, I am going to reserve further comment for now, but I will conclude on this final point.

If these allegations snowball into the mainstream and are eventually substantiated then, my guess would be, the newsworthiness of Bourque.com will decrease significantly. Why would anyone knowingly and repetitively consume disinformation, especially when there is decent competition? So for today, this topic is a non-story but I have to wonder what tomorrow's news will hold?

statesmen upon us, we hope

2007-01-12T01:35:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth May was on CFRA today; I stopped what I was doing; I listened; and, I thought how strange it is sometimes how topics emerge on the political agenda. What an odd political landscape all of a sudden: John Baird strategically selected as the new environment minister; Stéphane Dion, an ex-environment minister, leading the federal Liberals; and, the NDP and the Greens (of all parties) fiercely positioning themselves as environmental leaders, in fear they may lose control of an agenda item they legitimately own.

In 2006 and 2004, the environment was barely on the radar and today, a little over a year after the last federal election, we now see “the environment” emerging as a possible contender for the top election issue of 2007.

And I say “the environment” because as the term is being used it refers to much more than “the environment” we are used to hearing about. It relates to a lot more than trees and the atmosphere. The term now encapsulates its long lost literal meaning. Simply put, it means everything.

A handful of people predicted this outcome for years. That is, the politicization of the environment to a degree never before seen: the emerging political side of the “new industrial revolution”. It really was only a matter of time. And this is just the beginning. Wait until the topic of energy eventually (and I would argue inevitably) merges with the growing power of environmental politics.

Here are a few clippings from a letter I sent to Nancy Hughes Anthony (President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce) back in early 2005:

We as Canadians are coming ever closer to a threshold where lifestyle changes are definitely going to take place. The topic of climate change is not just a cliché put forth by fragmented portions of our society but rather it reflects a growing environmental concern among our population as well as a growing consensus of shared Canadian values.

When viewed from an energy perspective, the story of climate change poses both tremendous challenges and tremendous opportunities, especially in a country with endowments such as ours. Canadian business has had the historic luxury of experiencing one of the world’s cheapest energy environments; however, this often-neglected characteristic is quickly changing. In the future, economies, both macro and micro, that do not position themselves strategically vis-à-vis higher priced inputs or, similarly, position themselves at a slower rate than their competitors simply will not be able to survive. This trend, I’m sure you’re already aware, is increasingly manifest among firms with smaller relative market shares, across all sectors of our national economy.

Kyoto is a mechanism that facilitates a transition: a transition that will take place one way or another. Furthermore, Kyoto is truly, even in the minds of it’s staunchest supporters, a very small, almost inconsequential, first step. If the Chamber and its membership finds Kyoto unappetizing, it better brace itself for the decades to come because, unfortunately, it’s not going to get any easier.

On Elgin and Somerset, in the heart of the country’s capital, there used to be a famous James Freeman Clarke citation posted outside of St. John’s church for almost a year. It has since been taken down but the simple yet popular political saying screamed at the passers by for each and everyday of its tenure. It said, quite eloquently, A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, the next generation.

Maybe it’s a little presumptuous but I would like to believe that we are witnessing the genesis of a new era of environmental statesmanship. A way of thought that has slowly drifted eastward across the North Atlantic to now find a natural identity among the more progressive here in Canada. Luckily for us, this happens to comprise of almost our entire population.

ckcu discusses the issue

2007-01-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

On Thursday Morning, if you have a moment, tune into CKCU 93.1 FM: Ottawa's Community Radio Station.

The World Famous Dan Shields has invited yours truly on air to shoot the breeze about a few topics. One that we will touch on is the topic of the possibility of online news aggregators selling and political parties buying news headlines.

The Question: Is this an ethical practice?

CKCU 93.1 FM / 8 - 9:30 am EST / Thursday, January 11 / 613-520-2759

Mr. Bourque, if you're listening, you're more than welcome to call in. Any other journalists or anyone at all out there who may be interested, don't be shy. Mr. Kinsella, it would definitely be great to get your take on it all.

both sides of the coin

2007-01-09T00:03:00.000-05:00

In the context of one of Canada’s leading online new sources, a conversation develops in the blogosphere regarding the appropriateness of peddling news headlines, sparked partially by comments found here on Warren Kinsella's blog. Within about 24 hours, the views seem to have fallen into two camps.

On the one hand, we have what I’ll call the “media view”. Here is an example from one of my posts (for more, see below):

For me, the issue can be defined as a simple, two-word question: media manipulation? That is, has Pierre Bourque misrepresented (willingly or unwillingly) the objectivity of his “free” service? And, if so, has Mr. Bourque crossed some type of moral boundary that exists out there somewhere? And, if so, where or what is it?

And on the other hand, we have what I’ll call the “political view”. Here is an example from Kinsella (more here):

The issue, if there is one, is whether political parties should be purchasing headlines – headlines that promote their opponents' shortcomings, or promote their successes.

The issue … isn't Pierre Bourque, at all, at all.

I would suggest that both viewpoints are actually quite legitimate. In addition, I would also suggest that they are closely connected. That is, it would be difficult to offer one without the other. If an action is perceived to be “wrong” it should not be excused just because someone says, “Well, I only did it because so-and-so wanted me to do it or paid me to do it.” What kind of rationale is that? I think the political view is indeed significant but I find it curious that anyone would choose to ignore the media side of the coin.

A basic lesson in communications that I have picked up over the years is never beat around the bush: say what you are trying to say up front and do so fairly. I’m sure Mr. Bourque is a big boy and probably appreciates – and may even be smiling a little about – the conversation that is taking place – even if he is a headline peddler. To this point, the discussion has been frank but fair.

Oh, and a final note. Canning’s Guess political blog, just a few weeks old, reached a small milestone today: 1000 visitors. Must have been that Bourque headline?

maybe bourque was never in?

2007-01-08T20:53:00.000-05:00

After a little bit of web research, it appears that the issue of one of Canada’s only news aggregators (and definitely the most popular) – Bourque Newswatch – and the suggestion that this news service may be trading headlines for dollars is a topic of interest to at least a few. Back in 2006 here and here, and yesterday and today, here, here, and here; as well as, here, here and, most importantly, here. So people are defintely talking. For this political blog, the topic has resulted in the most comments posted in the short history of Canning’s Guess (see post below, last I checked we were at five!).

I’m not yet sure, however, how mainstream the Bourque debate has been in the past or will become in the future? But I do feel that this topic really touches a nerve. For me, the issue can be defined as a simple, two-word question: media manipulation? That is, has Pierre Bourque misrepresented (willingly or unwillingly) the objectivity of his “free” service? And, if so, has Mr. Bourque crossed some type of moral boundary that exists out there somewhere? And, if so, where or what is it?

The online conversation that I have seen so far somewhat answers the questions posed. A clear dichotomy has been displayed and, although in part, it is not entirely due to political partisanship, as some would suggest (see comment sections in the more popular blogs). Rather, on one side, there is a feeling that Bourque Newswatch “should be” an objective source for news. This is, of course, a normative statement. Why do I personally feel this way? Because Newswatch fills a useful niche in my life and I prefer straight up news than the sneaky sort.

The other side suggests, however, that everyone knows that Newswatch is in the advertising business so people shouldn’t be surprised or upset if we get paid advertising thrown into the mix (even if it is on the sly). Get used to it they say. This is what news media does and this is how news media survives. In other words, how can you sell out if you were never in to begin with? – kind of an idealist versus realist debate and a classic argument within the world of media communications.

In the end, I guess I’m more of an idealist. For those interested in what is being promoted as a more “balance approach” to Canadian news you can turn to Bourque’s biggest competitor: National Newswatch. These days, I know I’ll be using it more.

bourque sells out?

2007-01-08T03:09:00.000-05:00

Here is a clip of a recent e-mail I sent to Warren Kinsella in reply to a request for “theories or evidence” related to an anonymous picture posted on Bourque Newswatch of Stéphane Dion allegedly jaywalking (according to Bourque):

… So, regarding theory, what we may be seeing is a Conservative attempt to attack Dion’s legitimacy in a two-tier fashion. On one level we have the standard practice. We’ll see the official attacks appear in major media (national print and television) but, on a second level, we may continue to see smear tactics surface out of less popular or non-traditional media sources (web-based news and blogs and local media) in an attempt to snowball issues such as jaywalking into the national conversation.

Such tactics, however, can potentially backfire if they can be linked to the current PMO or higher echelons within the Conservative Party. I guess one question would be is this effort systematic and professional or are these attacks just coincidences or the results of low-level Conservatives just having a little bit of fun? …

From Mr. Kinsella’s website today:

Jeepers, those anti-Dion "headlines" sure show up with great frequency and prominence on certain blogs and web sites, these days, don't they? Geez, you don't think a certain political party is PAYING for those "headlines" to appear, do you? …

Recent headlines from Bourque Newswatch (this list doesn’t include the jaywalking headline mentioned above or the few other interesting headlines that have been posted since Mr. Dion's leadership victory):

CLOCK TICKS FOR ADSCAM REDUX (headline falls under a picture of a watch hanging from Mr. Dion’s name)

THE PERSUASIVE CITOYEN DION

DION: KHAN WILL NOT DEFECT ... HARPER: KHAN HAS DEFECTED

DION APPOINTS HAPLESS EX-CHRETIEN CABMIN MASSE TO TOP JOB

MARZOLINI: CITOYEN DION, THE ANTI-POLITICIAN ?

DION ON TOUR: NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME

DION'S DISCONNECT

So, for now, Bourque’s link remains over to your right. For sometime I have used Newswatch - and maybe naively so - as a relatively objective source for Canadian headlines; but, if Pierre keeps this up, I may have to reconsider his news worthiness.

a secret profession

2006-12-30T20:03:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years, I have spent many hours reading and talking about and actually practicing campaign management. I enjoy this part of politics a lot but I have grown increasingly curious about the secrecy that seems to surround its practice.

There are a few points that I would like to make:

Campaign management is a professional discipline that includes a specific skill set and a specialized body of knowledge. To prove competitive, larger campaigns require highly sophisticated campaign professionals (or “political consultants”) and technology (it should be noted, however, certain practices display a clear technological backwardness within political campaigns).

Information transfer (i.e. learning) takes place either through word of mouth or participation and therefore an associated theoretical framework and collection of best practices have been slow to emerge. In the United States, a few universities offer graduate degrees but the literature on campaign management, on both sides of the border, remains limited.

Two possible reasons for this “underground” profession to remain underground is first, there is typically no immediate financial gain for political consultants in local-level campaigns due to Canada’s low expense limits; and second, because of our country’s sporadic and oftentimes infrequent election cycles, campaigns tend to be only seasonal in nature.

But, again, the aspect of campaign management that really gets me is the secrecy. It’s no surprise that political consultants and candidates do not mention their “political strategies” or “communications strategies” publicly during campaigns – that’s a huge faux pas, no doubt. The silence remains, however, even after a campaign winds down. For the most part, campaign information is just not available for public consumption.

It’s too bad that in Canada political campaigns engage volunteers only periodically throughout their “real” career experiences. Us underlings only have a moment here or there to gather up the secrets of the profession. In the United States, it seems a little more open. Maybe I should consider moving? But, at the same time, there are two elections quickly approaching …

the moment of truth

2006-12-10T21:38:00.000-05:00

The time has come when Harper's Conservatives will finally have to prove their mettle and I don't think the situation is going to get any easier. It seems like today's PMO has attempted - as the saying goes - to make bricks without straw. Team building is the foundation of any strong government, minority or not. It's the foundation of all forms of organization. In theory, it's actually quite simple really. When people - whether they are caucus members or citizens - do not feel like they have contributed to the team then they will not participate effectively within the team. Unfortunately, for the Conservatives, Harper's form of centralized control isn't a characteristic that build teams. Instead, it weakens them.

And I say "unfortunately" because the context is utterly incredible. If there was ever an opportunity for the Conservatives to build on it is the present. After coming into office following one of the country's biggest and most controversial scandals ever in Canadian political history, in addition to the RCMP investigation that broke midway through the election period regarding income trusts, while facing a competitor whose national campaign, from an organizational perspective, has been described by most commentators as less than impressive, the Conservative Party of Canada was able only to add an extra 25 seats, allowing it to barely slip into minority government status. I have often heard the 2006 federal election described as more of Liberal loss that an actual Conservative victory - I would have to agree. I think this description is quite accurate.

Now, here we are, a mere two weeks after Canada's Official Opposition finally elects itself a leader, following a luxurious - from the Government's point of view - ten month long leaderless descent into the political wilderness and where are the Conservatives now? Well, I'll let Politics Watch describe the situation:

The Tory failure to move up in the polls this fall and Dion's strong early polling results are the first two steps in a potential problem for Harper's leader-oriented government.

Most of the Conservative caucus have been willing to go along or put up with Harper's PMO control of communications and policy because it has the intended goal of delivering the Conservatives their first majority government in a generation.

But if the Tory slide in support continues, more and more MPs may be less concerned about Harper winning a majority and more concerned about saving their own seats, especially as an election approaches.

And already private grumbling about Harper's style has become more and more public in recent weeks. The fortress around what goes on behind the scenes is slowly being penetrated with non-flattering leaks from inside.

PoliticsWatch has learned that regional caucus meetings have become weekly venting sessions for MPs and even cabinet ministers frustrated at the centralized control of Harper's PMO.

One cabinet minister has complained to his colleagues about a two-week delay he faced in delivering a straightforward, positive speech because he had to wait for PMO approval.

Discussion at Alberta caucus is said to be dominated in recent weeks with complaints about the government's income-trust flip-flop.

MPs are more reluctant to voice complaints at national caucus in front of the prime minister. That could be due to past heavy-handed tactics from Harper.

According to sources, when the government announced $1 billion in spending cuts in September, caucus learned about it after the cuts had been made. Harper then told MPs that specific MPs would be designated to speak about the cuts and any MP that publicly voiced criticism about cuts affecting their riding would do so at their own peril.

There is also a general sense from MPs that unelected party officials are exerting too much influence and are disrespecting caucus and elected officials.

So, the moment of truth is finally upon us. My guess is we are on the cusp of a sea change in Canadian federal politics and a brand new chapter in public policy as well.

Canadians generally do not like electing Conservative governments. Conservative rule in Canada is like a weird form of mass, citizen-imposed masochism. Where citizens want and need to punish periodic Liberal arrogance but, in so doing, punish themselves in the process. We recognize and respect the role our national institutions play in building a more just society but at the very same time we have no problem throwing the Liberal bums out when they deserve it. The paradox is the Canadian political default can be a hard pill to swallow. Canadians do not want "cut and gut" conservative government. This is one fundamental characteristic of Canadian political culture that Conservatives continue to ignore time and time again - to their own peril.

And not a moment too soon I say. The past ten months have already felt like an eternity. I think the next federal election is going to be extremely easier (and definitely warmer) for the local campaigns on the doorstep. I'm looking forward to it. Or, as one great leader said while still in his youth, we are counting the days.

exposé on groundbreaking forms of political organization

2006-11-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

It's unfortunate that the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) is just today considering this "major reshaping of the party for the 21st century":

The new constitution envisions a system under which the party's policy committee and the campaign committee are integrated. Until now, the campaign committee, appointed by the leader, had final say over the platform, which rankled rank-and-file party members who would sweat hours coming up with ideas, only to see them ignored.

Wow, ingenious. LPC is even going to start:

... thinking about things like IT and ... candidate recruitment and training and volunteers ... all the time.

Truly impressive.

I wounder how many years it will take for some visionary to step up and "realize" these basic features of effective political organization and apply it at the provincial levels as well (see previous post)?

My guess is, probably sometime after their next elections.

the day after

2006-11-19T01:11:00.000-05:00

It’s the day after Ottawa’s municipal election: November 14th, 2006. I had the fortunate opportunity to help a friend by managing his campaign against an incumbent councilor – an experience to say the least.

We lost. And so did every other team that ran against incumbent councilors. Nevertheless, I feel like shit. You think that this trend would lighten the defeat but it hasn’t.

Actually, to tell you the truth, it isn’t the loss per se that has attached itself to me but rather its margin. Our team had itself convinced that it was a close race; the media had us convinced that it was a close race; it felt like a close race. In the end, unfortunately, it wasn’t close at all. I offer my respect to the incumbent councilor for what seemed to be, for the most part, a clean campaign.

Regardless, my grapes have turned somewhat sour and I’ll tell you why. For those who have played the game you will probably smile sarcastically when you read this next sentence – this next fact.

The system is unfair. Period. Full stop.

Democracy in Canada is an ideal not a reality. Citizens and pundits alike use this term as if it exists in some type of pure sense. Not even close. In Ottawa (and I suspect across the country) the rules that govern elections are about as toothless as one can create; most especially at the municipal level. Some examples that were personally witnessed include:

Incumbents are permitted to use certain office resources that clearly display an overlap between their official duties and political campaigning up until one month and 15 days before the election (ex. brochure development and distribution, website design and maintenance, etc.). Ideally, competing nominees will have their campaigns up and running months before this date – if they wish to prove formidable – and therefore all campaign expenses must be recorded as such (ex. brochure development and distribution, website design and maintenance, etc.).

Incumbents and competing nominees share equal spending limits and these limits hover around $25 000. To run a truly competitive campaign 80 cents per registered voter simply is not enough, especially when you consider less than 50 percent of this population typically does not vote. This last point cannot be stressed enough.

The resources provided by Elections Ottawa to campaigns during an election year are extremely antiquated (ex. paper versus electronic copies of data, outdated and functionally irrelevant maps, etc.). To mount a competitive campaign refined and accurate data and information are essential.

No person or group is responsible for organizing all candidates events and/or debates; if organized, candidates are not responsible to attend; when organized, many incumbents avoid such events; and, in more extreme examples, even work to circumvent their organization. Assuming public debate is an essential component of a democracy, this final example is particularly alarming.

These examples are merely a few of the more salient points that, at first glance, may seem somewhat marginal but, when reviewed as a whole, display a system that requires a much greater push before it even comes close to deserving “the rhetoric of democracy” that it currently receives.

I recently read an enjoyable piece by Steve Paiken called The Dark Side: The Personal Price of Political Life. Although not completely relevant to today’s discussion, there is a passage that I feel is more than worthy to help us conclude. Paiken writes:

For too many Canadians, politics is a discredited, loathsome profession. The minute you enter it, your motives are suspect. The public finds it impossible to believe that anyone participates without a sinister, self-aggrandizing agenda. That’s why it is astonishing that so many men and women are still attracted to placing their names on the ballots and standing for office. After all, the majority of the people who do that will lose.

A harsh reality to say the least but that’s the game of politics. Both in 2003 and in 2006 every incumbent councilor in Ottawa that ran won. In spite of the discourse of certain idealists, realpolitik remains a characteristic across the municipal landscape in Ottawa and I think it would be a reasonable guess that this is true for the rest of the country as well.

I hope this description will never be construed a critique of any one councilor but in stead a critique of a system that, to most objective observers, demonstrates an unmistakable affront to the most important political ideal ever to emerge. To my friend and to all those who ran against incumbents during Ottawa’s election, I offer my profound respect to you personally and to the challenges you faced as the underdogs. The mountain may seem insurmountable today but with action we will join to celebrate tomorrow’s victory.

Until tomorrow …

harper’s ideology is liberal, ask him

2006-11-12T02:45:00.000-05:00

Election after election, Canadians somehow convince themselves that an ideological choice has actually taken place. In spite of this popular belief, I would argue that the only choice that voters currently have in our country is between slightly different policy paths and not ideology. Canadian politicians all support, hands down, the basic underlying assumptions that act as the foundation to Canadian society and culture. Both our political ideologies and our public policies are premised upon state-centered, liberal-democratic, free market assumptions (my apologies to the devout partisans that may be listening).

Unfortunately, Liberalism and liberalism and Conservatism and conservatism are not as cut and paste as one may originally assume. Liberalism, as a party affiliation, no doubt attracts a different crowd than does Conservatism; however, to suggest that the two camps do not share a similar ideological footing reveals a partial naivety of the environment in which our politicos interact.

The major political parties in our federal system are like teams and these teams are essentially playing the same game. All teams want to win (this is the “politics” of it all) but, at the same time, they support the legitimacy of the system or, in other words, the game. The Big Show here in Canada happens to be located in Ottawa and, regardless of the team, the players all perform in the same stadium, play by the same rules and, for the most part – Bloc aside – respect the authority of the league.

A little while ago, a scholar by the name of Francis Fukuyama received attention for an article entitled The End of History? He was referring to the emerging post-war dominance of liberalism vis-à-vis a declining communist challenge. Or, even better, in his rather forceful words, “the unabashed victory of economic and political liberalism” that has resulted in “the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.” Although a little presumptuous, Mr. Fukuyama was actually quite prescient in his thesis. While I personally do not believe that an “absolute” end is near, the present course is, for the most part, fairly clear: Canadians will just have to wait for a competitive set of ideas about how our society should be organized.

Prime Ministers and partisan rhetoric will come and go but the fundamentals, the basic societal assumptions of Canadians, on either side of the House, are here to stay – some, may even suggest they have been enshrined.

good question

2006-10-22T02:32:00.000-04:00

Just left Politics Watch before heading to bed. I think they summed the week up quite well:

So the Tories end the week with one fewer seat in the minority Parliament than they started out with, friction between ministers and MPs exposed, polling numbers showing a majority becoming further and further out of reach, a cabinet minister openly criticizing the PMO's communication strategy and a long-awaited environment plan that appears headed for defeat.

And this is supposed to be the easy phase of Harper's minority government.

The current free ride will end after the Liberals elect a leader in December and the potential for an election will become a reality.

The question is if Harper continues to be the face of the party, relegates cabinet ministers to the role of extras on a made-for-TV movie set and keeps his backbench muzzled how many MPs will stay in line if and when the Tories find themselves trailing in the polls to a newly elected Liberal leader and an election approaching?

Good question. And that’s not to mention MacKay’s alleged, controversial, canine comments. Maybe next week will be better; however, like the folks at Politics Watch, I have a funny feeling that this may be an emerging trend.

first contact

2006-03-17T01:33:00.000-05:00

guess (gs)
v. guessed, guess·ing, guess·es
v. tr.

1. To predict (a result or an event) without sufficient information.
2. To assume, presume, or assert (a fact) without sufficient information.
To form a correct estimate or conjecture of: guessed the answer.
To suppose; think: I guess he was wrong.

v. intr.

To make an estimate or conjecture: We could only guess at her motives.
To estimate or conjecture correctly.

An act or instance of guessing.
A conjecture arrived at by guessing.

[Middle English gessen, probably of Scandinavian origin. See ghend- in Indo-European Roots.]