Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED -- Ralph Goodale should be ashamed of himself ... what rights the gay community enjoys have been won through determination and costly court actions


GLOBAL NEWS ... Liberals went trolling Thursday for young, progressive-minded voters with 14-year-old video footage of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer speaking out against same-sex marriage — a tactic that prompted Jagmeet Singh to vow that New Democrats won’t prop up a minority Conservative government.

CBC NEWS ... on an otherwise unremarkable morning in mid-August, video of Scheer speaking in the House of Commons in 2005 appeared on Twitter. After Ralph Goodale (or whoever runs Goodale's Twitter account) posted the clip, a succession of Liberals piled on, reposting it and adding their own comments.


Liberal Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale

This is one of the most cynical, hypocritical and useless “attack ads” imaginable.

Ralph Goodale should be ashamed of himself, if any Liberal has the capacity for remorse and shame. When the gay community was fighting for equal rights, the Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois, Greens, Liberals and NDP all sat primly on the sidelines and did nothing to advance gay rights.

What rights the gay community enjoys have been won through determination and costly court actions

Gay marriage was approved by provincial courts, Ontario June 2003, British Columbia July 2003, Quebec March 2004, Yukon July 2004, Manitoba and Nova Scotia September 2004, Saskatchewan November 2004 and New Brunswick June 2005.

When parliament belatedly passed the Civil Marriage Act in July 2005, provinces representing 90% of the population were already performing same-sex marriages.

Political leaders did not attend gay pride parades until after the right to marry had been won. Their appearances now are meaningless glad-handing. They are trolling for votes, not supporting the gay community.

What rights the gay community enjoys have been won through determination and costly court actions. Politicians and their parties can take no credit. They sat with a finger in the air, trying to read public opinion rather than risk a push-back and losing votes for doing the right thing.

Nothing has changed.

No political party has the courage to risk going against public opinion and the courts to rescind gay marriage law. It would be the wrong thing to do and every politician knows it. The attempt to turn this into an election issue is ridiculous.

People attend gay pride parades for a variety of reasons; to gather and celebrate achievements, to support family members and friends, and to dare to be different.

Politicians attend for one reason: “Look at me; aren’t I special for just being here”!

No, you aren’t.


The Way I See It ~~ John Feldsted
Political commentator, Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper to step down for Conservative Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in a by-election

Deputy Whip and MLA Reann Gasper has informed the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia of her decision to step down as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, creating an opportunity for Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to seek the seat in a forthcoming by-election. Gasper said the decision was made carefully and deliberately, with the future of British Columbia firmly in mind. Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper “This is a decision I have made after a great deal of careful consideration, and I believe it is the right decision for me, for our Party, and for the work ahead,” said MLA Gasper. “It has been a privilege to represent the people of Abbotsford-Mission, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside my colleagues in the Conservative Caucus and to contribute to our leadership team.” “I have confidence in Kerry-Lynne, in her leadership, and in her ability to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Sits on $61 Million With No Start Date for Burnaby Hospital

Phase 2 of Burnaby Hospital redevelopment  was green lit to go ahead in September 2023 The NDP spent $45 million on the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, cancelled the second phase, and now has another $61 million listed for the project in the province’s Public Accounts, with no start date for construction. If the NDP cancelled the project, what is happening to the $61 million set aside for it? The Phase 2 project was expected to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion and was intended to expand the hospital’s capacity. With Burnaby’s population growing and residents struggling to access healthcare, the government should be investing in healthcare capacity, not leaving millions of dollars tied up in limbo. “The NDP spent $45 million on this project before cancelling it, and now $61 million remains listed for it in the Public Accounts,” said MLA Misty Van Popta, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure. “If the government isn’t going to build the hospital expansion, it should explain whe...
Post a Comment
Read more

BC Conservatives Point to Warning Signs in BC’s Economy

While Canada posted modest job gains in July, warning lights are still flashing in British Columbia. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, leaving too many first-time jobseekers shut out of the workforce. BC also lost 3,400 public administration jobs in July, likely as temporary Census positions ended. “BC's jobs divide remains stark. Unemployment is far higher in business-driven communities like Kelowna (9.3%) and Abbotsford-Mission (8.3%) than in Victoria (5.0%). Government should be focused on creating the conditions for private-sector investment and job growth,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and Shadow Minister for Economic Development. “We need an economy where young people can find work, businesses can hire, and every region has the opportunity to prosper.” This comes as BC faces five straight quarters where more businesses are closing than opening, an NDP cabinet rift over job-creating projects like Tilbury LNG, and fresh signs that even the province's to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more