I wonder - would we have ever learned of the Sponsorship scheme had there existed a Canadian Advertising Board?
The wheat board has often been described as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Liberal party and a huge patronage operation for Liberal governments.Despite its $6 billion in annual sales, and a large staff, no outside agency or official is allowed to look at its books to see just how profitable it is, where the money goes and how it is decided who gets contracts for advertising or polling.
Indeed, when the Liberal-dominated Senate sent back to the House of Commons the Conservatives' Federal Accountability Act -- that's the act calling for more ethics and openness in government -- one of the 'amendments' struck out by the Liberals was the guarantee to an access to information clause covering the wheat board.
In the run-up to the next election we need to hear more about this sort of thing.
I also want to see a new access-to-information act out of the CPC with some real improvements in access.
The wheat board is like the Wizzard of Oz and it treats farmers like Munchkin's. Well Toto it's time to pull back the curtain and see who is pulling what lever.
I wrote to all the Liberal Senators, chastizing them for holding up the Accountability Act.
Colin Kenney replied, chastizing me -He said: "When the legislation is faulty, it is our job to fix it.That’s what we are doing.
Read the constitution and think about it."
I replied, asking for specific details on 'the faults'.
He replied:
"you clearly have no idea what the constitution of your own country says about how legislation is passed.You also have not bothered to read the legislation.When you have read both, I will look forward to a short note of apology."
Larry Campbell wrote back, stating: "Have you any idea what you are talking about? Did youy read the mess that was sent to the senate.? If not, read it thoroughly and let me know if it makes sense to you. Until then, have a good neocon rant. "
So, Kenny informs me that I haven't read the document (how does he know?- and that wasn't my point. My point was the delay). He sets up the unelected, unaccountable Senate as the Government - essentially writing the legislation. But - its role is to review, not write legislation. Notice the 'hubris' - where he says - 'when the legislation is faulty, it's our job to fix it'.
Then- he demands an apology! Why? Because I chastized the Senate for its delay?
And - I'm a neocon if I complain about the Senate holding up and changing the act.
Note that the Senate not only doesn't want the Wheat Board investigated; it doesn't want itself investigated. Harper's Accountability Act was setting up ONE ethics officer who would deal with both the House and the Senate. The Senate 'rewrite' of 'the 'faulty legislation' was to remove themselves from this arms-length officer and go back to their current status which is where they have their own ethics officer completely and totally controlled - by the Senate. Faulty legislation??? A mess? And I'm a neocon who owes the Senate an apology?
Here's a link to a story in The Australian concerning their single desk Australian Wheat Board.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20800027-2702,00.html
It looks like the single desk down under is finished; all that needs to be done is set a time frame.
Odd that I haven't heard boo about this issue through the Canadian MSM. It couldn't be because of their leftist bias, could it?
A friend of mine who works in government tells me that the wheat board and the sponsorship scandal are meager compared to Aboriginal Affairs scandals involving the Liberals.
"Larry Campbell wrote back, stating: "Have you any idea what you are talking about? Did youy read the mess that was sent to the senate.? If not, read it thoroughly and let me know if it makes sense to you. Until then, have a good neocon rant. "
E-mail him back and ask him why ALL LIBERALS voted in favor of this bill before it was sent to the senate.Is he saying the Liberals party does not know how the constitution works?
On the plus side,Harper and the Conservatives should be able to gain some votes in the next campaign by talking about this.
good neocon rant. "
Nice to see that anti semitism is alive in the Canadian Senate.
ET:
Is it at all possible that they could know you as a regular commenter at SDA? If so, they would automatically see you as the enemy, no matter how relevent your inquiries were.
A Liberal party operative I know admitted to knowing all about SDA, and that he viewed this site regularly. Just a thought...
Mad Mike,I think that is quite a compliment to Kate,and all the thoughtful contributors that visit SDA ! About time they paid some attention to the rest of the world outside downtown TO.
ET:
These so-called senators, whether elected or not, are public servants, and as such have no right insulting you, or any other citizen/taxpayer.
In fact, quite the opposite is expected. If asked, they must be accountable for their actions and respectful in their tone.
This patently and inbred Liberal attitude of arrogance and divisiveness must continue to be exposed. It's important for this disgraceful response to be made public, with the intent of forcing a public apology and accountability for their actions.
Perhaps the best way to get this started is if Kate, if so inclined, would post this story and share it with as many bloggers as possible, with the senators direct email addresses attached.
Unbelievable.
Mad Mike,
Even if that is true you would think that a SENATOR could act like a professional. Heck, he could have simply not replied. Instead he chose to act like a schoolchild and hurl out names and insults. It makes me love the senate even more to see that its members can't even muster the decency or professionalism of a call-center customer service rep.
Not so unbelievable, these are liberals you are dealing with after all. Hopefully the conservatives can fill in many of these patronage black holes and save the Canadian taxpayer from liberal arrogance.
Senators can be forgiven for their testiness, their clock is running and they know it.
While I have no doubt that there is honour among unelected senators and they have Canada's best interest in mind, this Accountability Act rewrite is intolerable.
I agree that the responses to K's letter should be upfront and center from as many bloggers as possible. Make it not go away even!
What do these Senators not understand about the word "REVIEW" and the words "make suggestions"
that is as much as is expected of them....PERIOD!
Even though it is written here that this Act came to the Senate with liberal approval...I have no doubt that senators are being encouraged to "stall"
ET Forward the e-mails concerning this to Harper's office.
Civil Servant. def: to serve the civilians and to be civil about it.
I wrote both Kenny and Campbell - that they had no right to insult me i.e., Kenny's asking for an apology; Campbell's calling me a 'neocon' and saying my complaint was a 'rant'.
They are paid by the taxpayer; they have a duty to be civil to me - even if my complaint was wwrong, was unfounded, was whatever. They must be civil to me. Instead - it was open insults.
Yes, my letter to them was confrontative. Doesn't matter.
And - their legal role, in the Senate, is not to write legislature; that's the role of the elected House. Not the unelected Senate. But, this Senate has assumed a role, that is not in the constitution (I checked) - and consider that they are the site of 'proper legislation'. Not the people.
Below is the letter I sent. It is confrontative and angry - at the delay, the delay, the delay.
"I am extremely angry at the Senate obstruction of the government's Accountability Act.
You do not represent the electorate; you are not elected; you are all pure patronage appointments, and accountable to no-one. You ought to be accountable to the taxpayer - and yet - your behaviour rejects the taxpayer.
We, the taxpayer electorate, elected the CPC government, with its open election campaign of an accountability act. The CPC campaigned on that mandate and we, the electorate, voted for that mandate. We voted for an accountability act.
How dare you - who are not elected - obstruct the will of the electorate? We voted for an accountability act.
What I want - is an elected Senate, with limited term Senators - who are answerable to the electorate and to the taxpayer. Or - abolish the Senate.
Your arrogant rejection of the electorate and our wishes - is a disgrace to our country. "
What should have happened? I should have received a professional response, outlining why the Senate was taking so long, and even, some of their concerns. Instead - I received personal insults - and, in my view, a quite incorrect self-assessed definition of the role of the Senate - ie, 'to Fix Faulty Legislation'.
Wow. That's quite the role they assume. What are their credentials to first, define the faults and second, to write up the 'better legislation'. We have an unelected body, accountable to no-one, which assumes a superior wisdom to the elected body and the electorate - How can we accept this?
By the way, I doubt if the esteemed Senators are aware of my comments on SDA. Even so - they are paid by the taxpayer; they must be civil to that taxpayer. They can't ask the taxpayer for an apology; they can't insult the taxpayer (you are a neocon). Their duty is to assist the will of the taxpayer as represented in the House. The fact that they can 'kill a bill' - is unacceptable in this day and age. Remember, they are patronage appointments; that's for political favours, not merit.
Just a further comment. I had originally sent my 'rant' to only a few members of the Senate, including Hugh Segal. He wrote me back saying that it was the Liberal Senators who were holding it up and suggested I send my email to them.
I did - whew - a lot of work, looking up their emails. A few oldies aren't electronically wired.
I sent Kenny and Campbell's replies to Segal and the pm.
As I said - no matter whether I, the citizen, was right or wrong, humble or confrontative - they are paid by the taxpayer and their duty is to treat the citizen professionally. That means - no insults.
What bothered me above all, was their self-anointment as the Font of Wisdom.
ET - I'd like a full copy of the Campbell email if you have it. Senators calling a taxpayer names. That's worth a look.
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
No doubt, years of CWB "direction" by the Federal Liberals have corrupted the Board. I guess it was inevitable, as with CBC, Adscam, Medicare, ..
The CWB was set up in the 1930s with the idea that a small number of sellers has the advantage over a large number of buyers. As in Pharmaceutical, oil, Media, .. In the 1930s, 150,000 sellers to 4 or 5 buyers was hopless. "Single Desk" was to correct that. Depends who is sitting at that desk. Through the decades the gov't was there, not a competent CEO. Other "priorities" took over the single desk.
Primary Food Production is the most esential Industry, period. Without it, nothing else matters, not even medical care. Without food we die anyways.
Food production will NEVER be allowed to be in the realm of a completely Free Market. (Think USDA) In the past 20 years, Farmers have given up control over pricing, marketing. The first rule of marketing strength is to not show your hand, imply a tight supply situation. Todays Farmer has often sold, priced most of his production BEFORE he even sows it. Production Contracts, Deferred Delivery Contracts, Production Credit Contracts, allow the Grain Companies to take their own risk and uncertainty out of the market place. They know, months ahead of time, what will be delivered to them, when, at what price and what grade. The era of the Tenant Farmer has returned.
Larry Campbell remembered...
After insisting he will run for Vancouver mayor as an independent, in April 2005 he begins to actively campaign against the Conservative party during the election, really an unprecedented step for someone who will need to work with whoever wins.
“The Conservatives made it clear that cities don’t count with them and that they’re not prepared to share the gas tax with the municipalities. It would be disastrous”
This was complete b.s., but made headlines.
End of June and the guy surprises everyone by announcing he won’t be running for mayor. One month later, appointed to the senate by Paul.
And he doesn’t like the accountability act.
Unaccountable bureaucracies always become draconian and self serving institutions....just like unaccountable governments become...dictatorial and self serving bodies that seek only to perpetuate themselves.
Have you met the Liberals?
About 10 years ago the Farmers lost a huge marketing strength. The right, forever, to use Producer Cars to deliver against a Futures Contract, was made redundant when the delivery point, was changed from Vancouver to Saskatoon for Canola. Flax, Thunder Bay to Virden MB. Why ? Have never recieved an answer, but that legislation eliminated an esential element in the Farmer's marketing strength.
I have said it many times that we will be governed by the liberals for ever, until we Canadians elect a government that will abolish the monopoly strangleholds that the liberals have been sucessefull in creating over the last 60 yrs or more, CWB.
The other stranglehold has been the Senate, We have complained about the Senate for years, Nothing will be done about it until We the people start voicing our opinions louder, Such as ET has done. Iam sick & tired of being told what to do by the this antiquated, washed-up, bench-warming Unelected Institution.
This Country needs a Majority Government
ET - I'd like a full copy of the Campbell email if you have it. Senators calling a taxpayer names. That's worth a look.
Along with Michael Ignatieff these boys work very hard to ensure as many Jewish people as possible leave the Liberal Party.
Good work boys!
Just watched the Prime Minister's speeh on Quebec, He made the best speech to date in his career. Opposition leader Bill Graham also made a heartfelt reply to the PM, Jack Layton layed the biggest Egg in the Face of his career, By stating the only way to keep Canada together is to elect a Social Democratic Government.
''The wheat board has often been described as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Liberal party''
Has often been described by who exactly? Paul Jackson is an idiot.
I was dismayed (but unsurprised)that Larry Campbell was awarded a senate seat. While still mayor of Vancouver and during the election campaign, he began publically attacking the Conservatives- calling them "barbarians and fools". His reward followed almost immediately.
Sadly, his response to ET was completely in character. Good thing that as coroner he worked with the dead, because he certainly has no knack for communicating with the living.
Campbell is just one of those west-coast utopians transplanted by the Libranos into the Ottawa scene where he can do more damage. We need a triple E senate, or no senate at all. In fact, Canadians should be allowed to choose for themselves.
I have never found anyone who want's a senate elected or not. when will the people finally get to vote on this curse upon our country!
One of the biggest lies of Canadian history that keeps getting repeated and is repeated on the CWB website is that the CWB 'maximizes returns to the producer."
Here is a quote from the Coors malting barley comments on their website:
"The implementation of the Canada/US Trade Agreement (CUSTA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) encouraged the integration of the malt barley market between the United States and Canada. Import retrictions were reduced and the CWB adopted a pricing policy of selling to Canadian maltsters at the MInneapolis cash prices less transportation costs. THIS ELIMINATED THE PRICE PROTECTION FOR CANADIAN MALTSTERS." (That is my caps)
'PRICE PROTECTION' equals 'CHEAP GRAIN'. This states plainly that the Canadian maltsters (Molsons, Labatts, Okeefe, Carling, blah blah) were obtaining western malt barley for prices below the US market price and therefore the world price.
The CWB was 'maximizing returns' to the beer companies with western farmers subsidizing central Canada's malt and liquor industry, from 1935 to at least 1996, (but our accounting is secret because you guys would hang us, if you knew what we were doing).
The CWB did more for the bottom lines of the Bronfmans, the Molsons and Labatts than it ever did for western farmers.
And some farmers still want to support these CWB crooks? Hello, do you guys see why the eastern politicians rabidly support the CWB? The CWB is jobs in their eastern constituencies.
I wrote to all the Liberal Senators, chastizing them for holding up the Accountability Act.
The Liberal senators are the contemptible guardians of a corrupt legacy. But the real question is, why are the Conservatives pushing the Accountability Act?
I have three possible explanations.
1) The Conservatives are naive fools who actually convinced themselves that government wealth-redistribution and regulatory schemes are not inherently corrupt, but the only real problem with them is that the book of accounting and auditing rules for government expenditures is insufficiently thick.
2) It's some kind of trick play intended to first expose the inherent corruption of government programs, and then use the resulting public outrage as an excuse to make drastic cuts to these programs' budgets. But this will never work, because if the Conservatives never dare to speak the truth, that the spending programs are evil and corrupt in their very conception and not just in their execution, then they will never be able to gain the moral high ground after the fact. At most, they will only be able to retool, rename and rebrand the various ways in which Canadians' wealth is stolen and redistributed.
3) The Conservatives know that the government programs are inherently evil and corrupt, they know that no amount of auditors' reports will lead to any kind of meaningful change, and they just don't give a damn. Their only real purpose is to govern for long enough to gain the largest possible amounts of cash through government salaries and pensions, contracts, bribes, kickbacks and subsidies.
From: A pro-western, Egyptian blogger:
http://www.sandmonkey.org/2006/11/22/whooops/
Whooops
Someone in Syria fucked up!
Al Seyassah daily learned from authoritative sources in Beirut, that one of the editors of the Syrian National News Agency (SANA) placed a
phone call to a pro-Syrian Lebanese newspaper at 3:05 pm on Tuesday. The caller inquired about the details of the assassination of Lebanese
Minister for Industry Pierre Gemayel, raising eyebrows at the Lebanese newpaper.
The timing of phone call was 55 minutes before the assassination was carried out.
Ten minutes after the call was placed, the Syrian editor placed another phone call in order to apologize for a misunderstanding.
Link in arabic is here!
http://www.alseyassah.com/alseyassah/First_12.asp
So sorry for the OT post. It was supposed to go under the previous SDA article.