Mediaboss Marketing

TORONTO Ontario's Liberals "tend to steal" her party's ideas, and with one year left until the next provincial election, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says they're doing it again.

In the 2014 election, Horwath faced criticism from her party's rank and file that her platform wasn't left enough, and that her campaign ran to the right of Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberals, who ended up winning a majority government.

But despite the criticism and her party's disappointing third-place finish the 54-year-old politician managed to survive.

Nothing has changed, a defiant Horwath said in a recent interview.

"We know what we stand for and we know what we believe in," said the Hamilton Centre MPP. "Those things haven't changed, ever."

Horwath, who has been leader since 2009, is not deterred by the governing Liberals' recent announcements, including a $15 minimum wage, union-friendly labour reforms and free tuition for low- and middle-income students measures that fall right into traditional NDP territory. Another Liberal promise a pharmacare program to make drugs free for Ontarians under age 25 was announced mere days after the NDP unveiled its universal pharmacare plan earlier this year.

"It's a funny thing about the Liberals," said Horwath. "They tend to steal our ideas and then really fumble the ball when it comes to implementation or getting it right. So they like to take our ideas and then mess around with them so that they don't actually come out to be exactly what we would hope."

Many observers believe there is an appetite for change in the Ontario electorate the Liberals have been in power for 14 years which bodes well for Horwath's party and the Progressive Conservatives.

However, some New Democrats acknowledge that having the governing Liberals on their ideological ground could pose a problem for their party.

Author and activist Judy Rebick warns the NDP will find itself in the same squeeze as last time around, particularly as the Liberals have the backing of organized labour.

Rebick was one of 34 longtime NDP supporters who wrote Horwath a letter in the middle of the 2014 election campaign, accusing her of trying to win Conservative votes while abandoning the party's progressive base.

She now believes the party has learned its lesson, citing some of the very ideas that the Liberals have adopted, such as the $15 minimum wage and pharmacare as evidence the NDP is on the right track.

"I think the NDP's only chance for success is to be bold, on the left of the Liberals," said Rebick.

But a former top NDP official thinks that's a dangerous game.

Getting into a "bidding war" with Liberals to see who can go farthest left will end up with the NDP losing credibility in the eyes of voters, who have held former premier Bob Rae's unpopular NDP government against the party since the 1990s, said Karl Belanger, a former national director of the federal New Democratic party.

"The key challenge, of course, is to appear as a competent party that can take over the reins of power and govern for the common good," he said. "The reality is that the Liberals ... can manage to go hard left and still appear credible, while the NDP are carrying the weight of the previous NDP government."

Instead, Belanger said, the NDP needs to propose policies with broad appeal.

"It doesn't mean you're going against your values," he said. "It means you're listening to communities, listening to their people on the ground and their concerns, and trying to bring forward policies that will help them in the end."

Genevieve Tellier, a political-science professor at the University of Ottawa, said the NDP has long had tension between left and centrist voices within.

"It's a difficult question of balance," she said, "where to fit on this ideological spectrum."

Tellier said the Liberals' strategic turn left likely indicates they believe public has an appetite for that shift.

However, she said that instead of trying to outmanoeuvre the Grits, the NDP should focus on convincing the public they can be good managers of the province, without the scandals and apparent sense of entitlement of the governing party.

The popularity of the NDP leader a recent Forum Research poll found voters gave Horwath the highest approval rating among the three leaders and found her the most trustworthy could be an asset for the party heading into the June, 7 2018 election. But, Tellier said, she is also now a veteran on the job, which can make it harder for her to convince the public that she represents the change they're looking for.

Despite the Liberals' penchant for her party's ideas, Horwath believes only the NDP can deliver on those promises.

"We believe that people need a break, that folks need to build a decent quality of life," she said. "But we don't just believe that on the eve of an election, we believe that all the time."

Read the original post:
Ontario's Liberals 'stealing' NDP's ideas, says Horwath - Hamilton Spectator

Why is Donald Trump the most hated president by the Liberal media ever? Because he's the biggest threat to liberalism to ever exist.Liberalism is under assault and Trump is at fault.

The first reason why liberals hate President Trump is because he's Politically Incorrect. They don't understand how someone so Politically Incorrect could ever get elected? He did the opposite of everything they said you have to do to get elected. President Trump punched political correctness in the face and won.

The Media is flipped out about Donald Trump tweeting. This should immediately tell you that Donald Trump tweeting is actually a good thing, not a bad thing. They cannot control the news narrative with Trump tweeting.;This drives them nuts.

Donald Trump denies global warming is caused by man. Climate Change the second most important issue to liberals in this day and age. Donald Trump has brought that under assault. The Liberals cannot afford to be exposed as liars on this issue, this is why they try to shut down anyone who argues against them.

Liberals know that you can control every aspect of someone's life through carbon emission regulations. Not just individuals, but businesses as well. They will fall under complete and utter government control. Liberals will never let the climate change issue go because of this.

Since President Trump is already the most hated man in a liberals world, now is the perfect time to go after their number one issue....... abortion.

As the liberals salivate over James Comey's upcoming testimony, republicans in congress should be aggressively pushing a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Now is the perfect time to do so. Republicans need to stop wasting this opportunity to take advantage of the liberal Hysteria.

Killing babies in the womb is extremely important to liberals. They wouldn't know what to do without going to sleep at night knowing babies are being Blended up in the womb. They have a passion for the death of children for some reason. The most evil thing in the world today is the killing of innocent babies, yet it is the most important issue to the left.

Why would any American allow themselves to be associated with a party that celebrates the murder of children. The very fact that I am so blunt about this, will no doubt cause the left to send hatred my way. Well, Because I know this, I will do it for them.

How dare I defend a baby's right to live! It is a woman's right to kill her child! You don't want your daughters punished with a baby! I am a cruel and hateful person for daring to protect innocent life. I obviously hate women tremendously. All those little baby girls that I'm trying to save, proves how much I hate women!

The left will call me a monster. But the child who has been saved from abortion, they'll call me a hero. I can live with that.

See the article here:
Liberals Will Hate Me Almost as much as Trump After Reading This - WSAU (blog)

Conservatives say signatories to an open letter last week from prominent members of the francophone community in support of Madeleine Meilleur's candidacy for languages commissioner include many Liberal partisans with a vested interest in seeing a fellow Liberal take the top job.

Canadian Heritage MinisterMlanieJolytwicecited the letter in questionperiod this week as evidence the government's nominee enjoys support within thefrancophonecommunity.

"We believe the selection committee made the right choice," the 94 signatories said in the letter. "Throughout her different careers, [Meilleur] has demonstrated professionalism, judgment and especially, integrity."

But the Conservatives said many of the letter's signatories have made donations to the Liberal Party of Canada and thus it is little surprise they would backMeilleur.

Ontario Conservative MP JohnBrassardsaid it is a further sign thatMeilleur'snomination has been tainted by Liberal partypolitics.

"It just deepens the partisan aspect of this appointment," Brassardsaid. "There shouldn't even be any semblance or sense that this is partisan."

CBC News found that 42 of the 94 names on the letter appear to be donors to the federal Liberals, according to analysis of Elections Canada data.

The signatories and donors include not only several prominent Franco-Ontarian leaders in the areas of business, law and culture, but also people who have worked for the federal orOntario Liberal parties. They include Pierre Cyr, the Ontario Liberal Party's operational vice-president of organization, and Noble Chummar, who previouslyworked for formerOntario Liberal premier DaltonMcGuinty andformer Liberal prime ministerPaul Martin.

"I'm not surprised the minister is holding up letters signed by Liberal donors,"Brassardtold CBC News in an interview. "Ms.Meilleurwas a Liberal donor herself."

Since 2009,Meilleurhas donated more than $3,000 to the federal Liberal Party, its local campaigns, and Justin Trudeau's2013 leadership race, according to analysis of Elections Canada data.

Ontario Conservative MP John Brassard says Madeleine Meilleur's nomination as official languages commissioner has been tainted by partisanship. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The appointment process has become too political forMeilleurto take up the position with any credibility, Brassard said.

"It's one thing to wave a letter of support in the House of Commons," Brassard said. "But the reality is that not everybody within the francophone, the Acadian and even the anglophone community is supporting this appointment."

Several organizations representing official language minority communities initially congratulatedMeilleuron her nomination, but have since withdrawn their support in light of the debate as to whether the process was above board.

Earlier this week, theSocitdel'Acadiedu Nouveau-Brunswick a group that defends the rights ofAcadiansin New Brunswick announced itwill seek a judicial reviewof the appointment process.

Ronald Caza, the Ottawa lawyer who rallied Meilleur's supporters to write the open letter to Joly, said he's surprised by the backlash against her nomination.

"All of those people, they signed because they believe in Madeleine Meilleur," Caza said."We just wanted the [Canadian heritage] minister to know that Madeleine does have all this support in the francophone community and that we're all very happy she's been nominated to play this role."

Caza, who has previously served as counsel to former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty, said he wanted to give voice to those in the francophone community who know Meilleur personally andbelieve she's best placed to advance the interests of official language minority communities.

"Everyone who signed that letter that's what they want," he said. "Whether they're Liberals or not is irrelevant."

Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly is defending the process that led to Meilleur's nomination as open, rigorous and merit-based. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

A spokesperson for Joly, Pierre-Olivier Herbert, said "the experience, expertise and integrity of Ms. Meilleur has been recognized by many in the official languages community across Canada."

SinceMeilleur'snomination was announcedon May 15, the government has had to fend accusations from the opposition thatMeilleurbenefited from herties to officials in both the Prime Minister's Office and Joly's office.

Joly told the House of Commons last Wednesday that Gerald Butts and Katie Telford two of the prime minister's top advisers never discussed with Meilleur her nomination as official languages commissioner.

Joly has also said that none of her employees who previously worked with Meilleur or had contact with her were involved in the selection process.

Meilleurtestified before a special sitting of the Senate Monday evening, defending her record and promising to put the languages post ahead of party politics.Underthe Official Languages Act, a language commissioner must be approved by a vote in both the House of Commons and Senate before he or she can start the job.

A vote in the Senate will be held at a later date.

See the original post here:
Letter backing bilingualism watchdog nominee signed by key Liberals, Conservatives say - CBC.ca

By Staff The Canadian Press

VICTORIA Politicians have been called back to the British Columbia legislature on June 22, setting the stage for a showdown between the ruling Liberals and two opposition parties that want to defeat them.

Premier Christy Clark has said she expects to lose a confidence vote in the house after the New Democrats and Greens reached an agreement to allow the NDP to form a minority government.

No party won a majority of seats in a provincial election last month. The Liberals won 43 seats in the 87-seat legislature, with the NDP winning 41 seats and the Greens three.

The results left Clark with a tenuous grip on power and spelled the likely end for the Liberals 16 years in government.

Government House Leader Mike de Jong says the first order of business will be to elect a Speaker.

After which, and in the aftermath of a very close election, the government will seek to determine if it continues to enjoy the confidence of the house, he said in a statement Wednesday.

Before de Jong made the announcement, Horgan expressed his frustration about the length of time it was taking the Liberals to recall the legislature.

I cant walk down the street now without someone coming up to me and saying, So are you the premier or is she the premier? Whats going on? he said earlier Wednesday.

I think we need to get certainty. Its well over a month since election day. People want to know. Lets get on with it.

Green Leader Andrew Weaver welcomed the decision to recall the house.

Im glad that the premier has finally decided to recall the legislature, Weaver said in a statement. In the weeks since the election, it has been encouraging to see all three parties agree that British Columbians want us to work together.

The first order of business selecting a Speaker is a tall one. The narrow election results mean none of the three parties are eager to give up one of their voting members to take on the role.

I rather suspect theyre all going to file in, take their seats and stare at each other for a while, said Hamish Telford, a political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley.

The Speaker enforces the rules in the legislature and only votes in the event of a tie, and even then only to maintain the status quo, as per tradition.

All members of the legislature who are not cabinet ministers are eligible to be Speaker, Telford said.

Telford said he expects Clark to announce a cabinet before June 22 and she could appoint potential Speakers from her party to cabinet, such as former Speaker Linda Reid, to make them ineligible for the job.

When there has been an impasse over the Speaker, legislatures have been dissolved and another election held, he said.

But if a Speaker is chosen, the government would introduce a throne speech, Telford said. There would be a reply from the Opposition, a debate and then a confidence vote.

If the Speaker comes from the Liberals, its likely the government will be defeated. If the Speaker is a New Democrat, a tie is expected, he said.

Telford said in that case, he thinks the Speaker would likely break with convention and vote against the Liberal government.

I have yet to find a case anywhere in the Commonwealth where a Speaker has voted in such a way that it leads to the defeat of the government, he said. Thats not to say there hasnt been a case, but I havent found one.

By Laura Kane in Vancouver.

Read the rest here:
BC legislature called back, Liberals face defeat - Globalnews.ca

The latest research from a Halifax-based political polling group shows the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservatives continue to have the most support among decided voters, but one-third of the people surveyed don't know who they would vote for.

Corporate Research Associates released results from a poll conducted from May 4 to June 1 on Wednesday.

Tories have 40 per cent of support among decided voters, while the governing Liberals have 34 per cent. That's just a single percentage point change in support for reach party PCs in February had39 per cent support, while Liberals had 33 per cent.

The provincial New Democrats are down to 24 per cent support, compared to 26 per cent three months ago.

Undecided voters total 32 per cent of people polled, while two per cent declined to answer. Five per cent said they either support none of the parties, or do not plan to vote.

When it comes to party leadership, Premier Dwight Ball had a very slight increase in support 23 per cent, compared to 21 per cent three months ago.

PC Leader Paul Davis had36 per cent support, up from 33 per cent in February.

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy saw the biggest change, with 16 per cent, down from 23 per cent.

Thirteen per cent of people polled supported none of the leaders, while 12 per cent said they have no defined opinion.

CRA's poll is part of its Atlantic quarterly report, and was conducted over the phone.

It's based on a sample of 804 adult residents, with overall results accurate within plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, in 95 out of 100 samples.

Read more:
PC Opposition maintains lead ahead of Liberals: CRA poll - CBC.ca