The National Post is also carrying two interesting letters today. The first is a joint effort by Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General and Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, Ottawa:
"...The Liberals have not only gone against a bill they drafted but against their own subcommittee members' recommendations to support the renewal of these important law enforcement tools. Mr. Dion is rejecting his own Cabinet decision and the advice of his own national security experts on the subcommittee, who thoroughly reviewed these provisions of the ATA.
This is not the time for the Liberals to be playing partisan politics with our national security."
The next letter is even more poignant, since it was written by Richard Braudo of Toronto, who says he has "acted as legal counsel for the Liberal party and worked as a volunteer in its campaigns in the past. But now, due to its unprincipled actions surrounding this legislation, the party no longer has my support."
"...Unfortunately, many judges are focused on a strict statutory interpretation of the Charter, failing to recognize that individual rights must be balanced with public safety. In the absence of such balancing, Charter-based decision-making -- which has a strong bias toward individual rights -- undoes the underlying fabric of Canadian society. Such an approach leads us toward anarchy.
And the opposition argument that the clauses at issue have never been used, and therefore are not needed, is nonsensical. It is especially absurd when at the same time the opposition claims that these clauses are abusive. These measures may be needed in the future. And the fact that they have not been used to date demonstrates that they have not been employed in an abusive manner, and can be fully expected not to be so used in the future..."
(So there goes that argument up in smoke, Red Tory).
As an Ontario resident, I can't believe that I am actually musing today that Canada would be better served with Bob Rae as the leader of the Liberal Party rather than Dion.
Perhaps Stephane should consider crossing the floor to the NDP. Then we could send both him and Jack on a one-way trip over to Afghanistan to initiate peace talks with the Taliban.
* * * *
Update: Dion is in a straitjacket of his own making. Check out Chantel Hebert.
Huge Update: Red Tory recanted his position!
That's it. Dion is done.
Huge Update: Red Tory recanted his position!
That's it. Dion is done.
* * * *
Selling Out Terror Victims - National Post: A writer who lost her father asks why Stephane Dion is sabotaging the Air India inquiry.
Great post by Dr. Roy on the Air India connection.
14 comments:
I'll be honest where Paul Wells has been silent:
Whoops!
I really figured Dion was going to be the perfect match-up to Harper - quiet, serious, intellectual policy addict vs. quiet, serious, intellectual policy addict. I said at the time, "Get ready for the most attention-demanding national debate ever". But instead, Dion is resorting too often to empty rhetoric, typical of a politician, and Harper has shown himself a tad too cynical in his actions too often: he is indeed a strategist, not a policy wonk.
Between them, I'll take Harper. Dion is optimistic, and I appreciate and value that quite a lot. But I'm not sure he's very pragmatic.
Between them, I'll take Harper. Dion is optimistic, and I appreciate and value that quite a lot. But I'm not sure he's very pragmatic.
Excellent, JBG. You nailed it in your usual, admirably non-partisan manner.
Well said indeed.
Joanne -- Perhaps you should have read my post this morning first...
I'm in shock.
Speaking from a different perspective, i think its good to see a real debate between members of the same party.
Harper's style of muzzling his members does really do much on the side of accountability.
Good on Dion for allowing a healthy debate on important issues. After all, isn't this what democracy is all about -- debate and consultation?
Good on Dion for allowing a healthy debate on important issues. After all, isn't this what democracy is all about -- debate and consultation?
Who are you? Garth Turner?
Seriously, there is a time and place for such things. Matters of national security are a time when we must present a strong, united front.
"Matters of national security are a time when we must present a strong, united front"
Baloney. At least your implication that we must accept whatever the Leader decides without question, simply because it is a "matter of national security".
We show the united front in having a consistent set of laws. We show a united front in defending our nation.
We debate the best ways of going about it because that is who we are. We are not the stereotypes being fed to the disaffected by terrorist recruiters.
We debate the best ways of going about it because that is who we are.
O.K. I'll buy that. I can recant my position as well as Red Tory can.
Interesting post. I applaud Red Tory for changing his position when he feels circumstances warranted it. As I said on his site, I shall applaud if and when Stephane Dion, after careful deliberation and thought, does likewise.
I think we can all agree that there are some things that transcend partisan politics. National security would certainly seem to be one of them. It is certainly important that one do the right thing, and risk the criticism that often comes with changing a position (which, after all, the CPC did with respect to taxing income trusts).
It is certainly important that one do the right thing, and risk the criticism that often comes with changing a position (which, after all, the CPC did with respect to taxing income trusts).
Good point, Brian!
Dion would risk being called a flip-flopper on this issue if he changed his mind, but I think there is a difference between not being able to make up your mind on a issue, vs. realizing that you made a mistake or miscalculated or whatever.
I admire people who say they made a mistake and don't put politics above doing the right thing.
Therefore, if Dion changed his mind on this one and supported the government, I would applaud him.
Hold me to it.
Matters of national security are a time when we must present a strong, united front.
Agreed, but act on those sentiments without placing any thought into it... and we could end up in a lost-cause phoney war.
Harper almost took us there, Good on the liberals for putting in some thought.
"As an Ontario resident, I can't believe that I am actually musing today that Canada would be better served with Bob Rae as the leader of the Liberal Party rather than Dion."
Goes to show Joanne! No matter how bad you think it's been ...things can get worse. Especially when LIberals are involved !
Red Tory has surprised me. The article in the Nationa post from the young woman who lost her father in the the horror of the Air India bombing is also well worth the read. Perhaps the NDP will reconsider. I don't see any signs that dion has learned anything form this. he has really boxed himself in on many issues.
Perhaps the NDP will reconsider. I don't see any signs that dion has learned anything form this. he has really boxed himself in on many issues.
Exactly my thoughts. Very good point too about the NDP. They should be reconsidering their position on this.
BTW, you had a great post on this topic, Dr. Roy. I added the link to the update.
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