Hi. I’m Paul Martin. And I’d like to be the last Prime Minister of Canada.

You see, we don’t really need a parliament. I already have a group of your superiors assigned to lord over you in perpetuity. They’re called the judiciary.

Let’s face it: they know better than you dickheads.

And seeing as I’m the leader of all the people who represent your voice in Ottawa, well, dumb as you are, I think you can figure it out.

There’s no need for the House, there’s no need for parliament, heck there’s no need even for you, except that I like your money so much.

So what I’m going to do is turn the lights off. It’s my prerogative - last man out of the house, that’s me – gets to flip the switch.

You? Well you just keep sending those cheques to Ottawa. Momma needs a new steamship or two.

Interesting--Martin has, in effect, stated that private healthcare is not his fault, it is the SCOC? So the latest healthcare ruling by the SCOC stands? I am not upset by this SCOC ruling, but Martin has just had his cake and gotten to eat it too. How devious and self-serving. H throws democracy out the window to save his sorry ass--how Liberal of him. The NWC is the only thing that stands between us and total dictatorship--the democratic deficit indeed--Martin soved it with one statement--he got rid of Democracy.

Good shot Kate! (Will they get it??)

Actually, I would be delighted if the whole Charter of Rights and Freedoms was removed from the Canadian scene. A truly free nation does not require such a thing. Charters of Rights and Freedoms are really intended to limit rights, not uphold them. By not specifically including a right anyone can argue, successfully, that that right does not exist. The right to bear arms comes to mind, as does the right to own property.

Trudeau's vaunted "Just Society" is anything but just. It certainly isn't free.

That was beautiful. Just beautiful. You truly have a wonderous mind.

Wow... Ya know the lieberals are done when one of the most left-biased tabloids in the country is posting editorials against them...

Harper responded brilliantly too, IMO. He even drew a comparrison to a flaw in the US constitutional structure, I think that worked well to deflect the earlier attacks about him being "cozy" with the American social conservatives.

He sounded smart, and informed. Martin looked like he was on the defensive most of the debate, and as always, came off as a pompus prick.

-- Steve

Steve In Ontario,

I suspect that's because he actually is.

;)

For those of you who "worship at the altar" of a mis-guided Canuck "belief" that the SCOTUS is a "flaw" pay more attention to the senate hearings on Joseph Alito going on right at this very moment.

And if you still think it's a "flaw" you're going to have to prove that there has been more judicial social engineering in the US that here at home.

Didn't think so.

I know, I know. Samuel.

Fat Paulie
"The mayor of Toronto has pointed out it is handguns stolen from homes that are killing people. We've got to stop that. We've got to ban handguns."

Remove the NWC.
Then they have only to pickup the already registered long guns and we are unarmed, suckers that could'nt resist a Gomery like judge that decides the priministers job is redundant.

Fat Paulie has lost it.

He's lost his mind. I wonder if any of the Liberal policy wonks even saw this coming - it smacks of something said in desperation.

Then again, you have to wonder if he is as serious about it as Chretien was about eliminating the GST...

Hey look at the bright side, in 3-10 years there wont' be a Canada.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760

It's the Demography, Stupid
The real reason the West is in danger of extinction...

That's a very astute observation Kate, I wonder how "Crazy Jack" and "Fat Paulie" would respond to that?

just what canada needs , another constitutional wrangle with herds of lawyers, (or is it gaggle of lawyers) fighting both sides of the case all on the taxpayers dollar.

Eliminate the not withstanding clause. Is Paul Martin nuts? On April 24, 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada made the bonehead decision that said women were not persons. Unelected judges make illogical but 'legal' decisions on a regular basis. No, I want my elected MPs and MLAs to have the ability to overrule the unelected courts. If ones' elected members screw up, they can be replaced.

In this case the majority of the supremes were correct but as Kate points out that is not the issue. The issue is why should we pay HUGE amounts of money for a parlament that takes no responsibility. Harper was right. The only logical conclusion is that in some twisted way Martin is trying to set himself up as the protector of human and minority rights and divert the publics attention and dicussion away from the Liberals abismal record.

We expect this type of constitutional despotism from civil policy schizophrenics like Martin. While Martin's commitment to make Canada a Jurocratic dictatorship....did anyone notice Harper countered by promising to entrench individual property rights in the Caharter? Now there is a Charter debate that wouls not get too much negative static....how do the socialists argue that they do not want Canadians to own their own property? Good on ya Steven!

BTW: The CPC has attempted through a private member's bill to get property rights into the Charter 5 times in the past decade and each time Martin's government voted it down unanimously.....ask mr. Charter defender Martin what the heck that is all about

It's the Liberal's "Trudeau Cult" factor, WL, their screwball pseudo-communist mentality has to turn the constitution into a sacred text, like the Koran, or Mao's l'il red book. If Trudeau excluded private property rights then the cultists will fight to the death to keep them excluded. If the document is divinely inspired, the perfect creation of their figurehead, St. Pierre Elliot, then the notwithstanding clause isn't needed.

Cal2--it is a 'murder' of lawyers because, just like the crows they are, they pick and pick at our carcass until they have everything they can get out of us the taxpayer with the blessing of their Liberal masters.

Notwithstanding Clause?

That was just a giant red herring. He tossed that in to try to muddy the waters...PM knows damn well that is just another promise he'll never have to keep. It's just wryly funny. He drew his sword...and promptly fell on it.

Twit.

The most interesting and important thing said WRT the Constitution was Harpers' remark about putting property rights in.

Property rights are not only critical to personal freedom, but are the basic foundation of wealth generation of free western societies.

I have found that when mentioning property rights in conversation, most people are amazed or disbelieving when they find out we do not have them in Canada.

That single remark by Harper should give us more hope for the future than any policy announcement to date.

Good one again, Kate. I wonder how many people get to the "Roundtable" section? Do you know?

I stole this comment from www.lufa.ca

Board up Parliament, we dont need it, let the 9 Supreme Liebrals Rule the Country.

Excellent post Kate.

Our multi-millionaire, lawyer, prime minister is very cunning. He can maintain a grip on power through Liberal appointed SCC judges once the NWC is removed and long after he is voted out of office.

Alex
Winnipeg

OT

Have you seen the new Liberal ads? Ayyyyy! Well's is right they're nuclear. Wonder how they are going to play out?

At the end of November last year, in New Zealand, our chief justice Beverley McLachlin said:

"The rule of law requires judges to uphold unwritten constitutional norms, even in the face of clearly enacted laws or hostile public opinion."

Paul Martin is telling her to go right ahead and he'll make sure that no-one can counter.

Brilliant!

Since our trackbacks are broken at the moment (software "upgrade") here's the take at The Wild Duck:

Cherry-Picking: From “Defending” to “Amending”

What a great way to derail Martin.

I wonder how Bucky is going to respond when someone poses the question on the Chouilli decision.
If Charet decides not to fight the decision, would a Martin government withold transfers because Quebec would be in violation of the Health Act?

I don't see Charet allowing Martin to put him in a corner like this, does Martin want him to lose the next provincial election?

PMPM can ask them to suspend the election pending a constitutionally check.

there has to be a way to provide the Natural Ruling Law party a way in.

PRAVDA has the martin headline up all morning. - a truly unbiased journalist would be questioning the sanity of opening constitutional debates.

I think Mr. Martin did a great job with the NWC... there's going to be a lot of people asking themselves "exactly what is your hidden agenda Mr. Martin"?

Private Healthcare Clinic to Open in Ottawa
Melanie Adams
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 11:56 AM

The founder of a private medical clinic in Vancouver has confirmed plans to open a similar centre in Ottawa.

The Copeman Healthcare Clinic will offer a range of services; some covered by OHIP, and others that are not.

For 23-hundred dollars a year, clients will have access everything from diagnostics to physiotherapy.

Founder Don Copeman says the doctor-to-patient ratio will be four times better than the average family practice.

The 11-thousand square foot facility is expected to open this summer. >>>>

Polls
Ottawa will soon have its first private medical clinic. You can access some services for $2300.00 per year. Other services would be covered by OHIP. Would you use it?
Where do I sign up?
30.2%
I would like to, but can't afford it.
42.7%
Never. I don't support private health care at all.
27.0%
Total Votes: 96
cfra.com

You hit the nail on the head there TOMAX7!
Welcome to Canuckstan.........thats the real evil coming in a few years........DHIMMITUDE!
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/

High praise for Kate from...Rube McClelland? at...wtf???...BlogsCanada?

"All you have to do is look at the diparity of who the media has asked to participate in their little blogger sideshows; they're all squishy lefties versus the right's top line ideologues. Just look at the Bloggers roundtable. Gen X and Zaphod's Head are no match ideologically for Kate. Kate takes this stuff seriously. The other two remind me of frat boys goofing off."

http://www.blogscanada.ca/egroup/CommentView.aspx?guid=4385bcea-d820-44a5-b82f-b296e4681791

Everybody loves a winner, and nobody can jump on and off a bandwagon like a Leaf fan...

Comrades of the assembly of Supreme Court Justices...it has come to our attention that the petty bougouise posting to Canadian blog sites such as "Small Dead Animals" are actively encouraging suppression of the proletariat and a return to democracy. We must outlaw such electronic public gatherings immediately and decree capital punishment be carried out on the subversive elements and their families.

Freedom to choose a different set of social ideals other than those of this imperial court cannot be tolerated in our perfect society!!!

Long live the Law Givers. Sieg Heil!

So: If the Quebec National Assembly ratifies a constitutional amendment to a constitution they (still) have not ratified, does this mean they're on board? Meech Lake and Charlottetown were just for fun? Or will Paulie get 7 out of 10 provinces (comprising 50% of the population) to ratify his amendment, regardless of what Quebec thinks? That is sure to piss off Quebec...

"What the Premiers and Prime Minister agreed to is a safety valve which is unlikely ever to be used except in non-controversial circumstances by Parliament or legislatures to override certain sections of the Charter. The purpose of an override clause is to provide the flexibility that is required to ensure that legislatures rather than judges have the final say on important matters of public policy."

- Jean Chretien (as Minister of Justice) Canada House of Commons, Debates, 20 November 1981 p. 13042-13043

"Tonight They Bury Martin"

Date Posted: 09:36:38 01/10/06 Tue

Wait for Duceppe to confront Martin on
Making Quebec a Nation

On Option Canada file where gov't broke the law
Name the names of the candidates who got the dirty money

Be prepared to see Martin collapse on stage -it is going to be a hoot. >
http://www.voy.com/178771/116850.html

Marcie Abramovitch made no fewer than 23 references to herself .. her thoughts and her feelings in this six short paragraphed NDP blurb at the round table.

Talk about ego-centricity.

It's all about Marcie and how SHE feels and how SHE thinks about everything.

This idiot is a throw back to the ME generation.

This smacks of desperation and hypocricy. Martin accuses Harper of no respecting the Charter, yet it is Martin who clearly feels the Charter must be changed. Martin threw up a Hail Mary only to have it intercepted by the Conservatives who now can likely run out the clock. Dumbest move by a politican in my memory. Cleary the sneer didn't work for Martin, so now the smears (negative, dishonest attack ads) are next. More hypocrisy coming from Martin, who referenced "drive by smears" in last night's debate. What channel will he be on in tonight's french language debate? I suspect nary a word about notwithstanding clause, which was invoked by Quebec government over sign language law and supported by Quebecers. I suspect Duceppe in particular will have a field day tonight. Having said that, there is no way Harper can get majority, regardless of percentage of popular vots. Tories would have to take at least 20 Toronto seats, for a total of at least 56 new seats, assuming they retain all 99 they have now. No problem. Once Harper gets into financial records, he will recoil with horror, as will Canadians, at the corruption and messpending around the Gun Registry file et al, which up to now has been beyond the full investigatory powers of the Auditor General. If you think there are scandals now, just wait until Liberal shenanigans truly see the light of day. That is what Liberals are terrified of. They can't play peekaboo, as in 1980, and get right back into power. Yes, the Tories will have to work hard until the 23rd, continuing to dialogue with Canadians, asking them for a mandate and respecting their final decision. I just don't know how the Liberals can stop this train; but, they will try very hard and it would be foolish to count them out now and become complacent. We will see.

I watched the French debates, and all through them Martin tried to challenge Harper about how much funding and power he would give Quebec versus Ontario, the West, etc. Then during the closing statements he tried to paint himself as Captain Quebec.

What he didn't want to admit is that Stephen Harper's ideas give the best incentive for soft sovreigntists to make a go of it in Canada rather than pursue their own future. Paul Martin seems to believe that all sovreigntists have made up their minds and should continue to pursue their dream of an independent Quebec without addressing their concerns.

Of course, this is consistent with what we have seen for the past 12 years with the Liberals...playing the interests of Quebeckers in our federation against the interests of everyone else.

Once again, nobody has done more to advance the sovreigntist cause in Quebec than the Liberal Party of Canada.

For the past forty years we have been on a slide down to a world where wrong is right and bad is good .. but no more. Good men and women are standing up to this ridiculous philosophy of the so called 'just society' of the tail wagging the dog.

Democracy is the rule of the majority and the majority is breaking it's polite silence.

Read the rest of this warning at Duke's
http://dukemcgoo.blogspot.com

Last night I thought I heard Jack Layton say "It's time to get down and get the job done".Compares nicely with "Stand up for Canada" doesn't it?.....What scares me is that Martin's Hail Mary on the "not withstanding clause" was thought up with only 14 days before the vote.Why would the Liberals wait to the last minute to introduce their first act if re-elected?...last minute vision isn't healthy when driving in a school zone or running a country.

If Mr. Martin wants to protect us from "for profit health care" for his personal sake , he best not go to his personal physician for a prostate exam , or a perhaps little late-- a vasectomy.

his doc may have different feelings about mr dithers proclaimations and PMPM may have bad feelings after in his prostatations.

Again, re: SCOTUS and Sam Alito.

Check this out:

"I think that the legitimacy of the court would be undermined in any case if the court made a decision based on its perception of public opinion," Alito said.

Link