Thoughts on BC Politics and More

An alleged vote-buying scandal in Quebec’s Liberal Party is dredging up the same vulnerabilities that two landmark inquiries – one federal, one provincial – have already warned Canadians about. The new crisis engulfing the Quebec Liberals focuses on Justin Trudeau’s former Quebec lieutenant and long-time Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez, a heavyweight organizer within Canada’s most successful political machine, going back to his days in the Liberal youth wing. The latest escalation – including early “validations” by Quebec’s anti-corruption unit, UPAC – comes in the wake of a journalistic investigation by Quebecor’s Bureau d’enquête revealing that Élections Québec is in possession of text messages between two people who allegedly worked to elect Rodriguez as Liberal leader last spring ...  CLICK HERE for the full story

The latest Quebec Léger poll, published Wednesday in Quebecor media, reveals widespread dissatisfaction with François Legault’s government—and that discontent shows no signs of fading. Since December 2023, every Léger survey has reported a dissatisfaction rate above 55%. In this latest release, 61% of Quebec respondents say they are unhappy with the government's performance, soon entering its eighth year in power ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Screeched-in McKenna commits a classic political gaffe Lorrie Goldstein ~~ Toronto Sun ~~ May 27, 2019 In politics, a gaffe occurs when a politician accidentally tells the truth and Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna just committed a classic one. Last Thursday she uploaded to her Twitter account (@cathmckenna) a video of her being “screeched in” at Christian’s Pub in St. John’s, N.L., complete with her kissing the cod. Catherine McKenna being “screeched in” at Christian’s Pub in St. John’s, N.L   Then she offered advice to two bar patrons (one of them CBC comedian Mark Critch ) who were engaging in a friendly debate about whether St. John’s is the oldest city in North America. Looking into the camera, a boisterous McKenna, using emphatic hand gestures and raising her voice on key words for emphasis, declares: “ But you know, I actually gave them some real advice . I said that if you actually say it louder , we’ve learned in the ...

And the some-what muted hits by the CBC, on the Conservative Party of Canada, continue unabated.   In fact, they appear to be increasing as we hit the six-month mark before October’s federal election. In a Radio Canada News story dated May 2 nd (please note English translation provided by Liberal supporter John O’Fee) stated: All political parties in Ottawa - with the exception of Andrew Scheer's Conservatives - say they are prepared to submit their election promises to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's analysis for this fall's vote. For the first time ever this year, Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux will offer parties the opportunity to calculate the costs of their election commitments . Beginning June 23, the government's "watchdog" on financial matters will suspend its regular activities to focus entirely on requests from political parties that want a neutral estimate of the costs of their promises. On Facebook Wed...