Carolyn Parrish argues passionately for the suspension of Canadian democracy and the right to vote, so that the results of public opinion polling may be duly upheld.
To suggest the best way for Prime Minister Paul Martin to honour Chuck Cadman’s memory would be to call a by-election quickly is to make his courageous effort to get to Ottawa on May 19 a waste of whatever strength he had remaining.
Historically, Surrey North elects representatives who are right of centre. In this case, it will most logically elect a Conservative. That Conservative will vote quite opposite to the way Cadman voted should there be another non-confidence motion. Fundamentally, representatives in a party-based system such as ours do not break ranks on matters of confidence. The vote of confidence was decided by independents, of which Cadman was one. No one breaks rank with his or her party on confidence motions, else that politician is immediately cast out . Only a truly elected independent, such as Cadman, can purely and completely vote the way a majority of his riding wants him to, once he’s fairly sure he has a true picture of their wishes.
Cadman’s constituents did not want to go to the polls this spring. It’s probably safe to say, that feeling hasn’t changed in the last two months. Cadman has chosen, I’m sure, competent staff for his constituency who mirror his attitudes and beliefs and who will continue to deal with constituents’ cases efficiently and sympathetically. Also, Cadman’s constituents very clearly were concerned about the expense of an early election which would probably not have dramatically changed the composition of the House. A single by-election would cost at least $250,000 only to be re-run less than a year from now.
If Martin truly wants to honour the memory of Chuck Cadman, who went to superhuman lengths to cast a vote against a precipitous election, he will ensure Cadman’s staff has the backup required to continue to serve the constituents of Surrey North in a manner to which they are accustomed. And he will honour Cadman’s last wishes rather than “move quickly” to call a by-election.
Loosely translated to mean: “We’re not done pillaging yet so don’t expect a byelection anytime soon.”
Caroline: Let the people of Surrey North decide who will speak for them. Paul Martin, in his benevolence, saw fit to give the people of Labrador a voice when he called a by-election there. Are you saying the people of Surrey North should be muzzled because they will likely vote Conservative? That a Canadian Member of Parliament should propose that can kind of dictatorship for Canada is astounding.
That is insane!!!
Don’t hold an election? What is she trying to do? Kill democracy?
What democracy??
This is a pretty long comment. If anyone wants to slog through it. It is a letter I will be sending to the editors of the local newspapers. It touches on some of the spin Ms. Parrish is spewing.
Since Chuck Cadmans death and as his memorial service approaches, there seems to be something of a competition among elected official, media and public as to who can offer the most fawning description of the Surrey North MP.
Heck even Prime Minister Paul Martin will be in attendance to lionize Chuck Cadman. I wonder, does the Prime Minister attend the memorial services of all deceased MPs?
Paul Martin will be here for one reason and one reason only. To spin Chuck Cadmans final act in Parliament into a defining moment of greatness. That is to say to turn black into white. This is rank political opportunism at its worst, since the Liberals did not show even a modicum of support for the kind of initiatives Chuck Cadman stood for in life.
Why? Because Chuck voted to keep Martins illegal government afloat. Had he voted against Martin, or abstained, he still would have passed away, but I somehow doubt that PMPM would have found the time to attend.
Anyone who questions the Liberal spin of Chuck Cadmans career will be considered mean spirited, and un-Canadian, the Liberals and liberal friendly media will surely see to that.
Had Cadman began his career as a Liberal, became an Independent, and supported the Martin government with his vote it would not have seemed quite so glaringly hypocritical.
But he didn�t. He began his career as a Reform MP, then Alliance, and if not for Jasbir Cheema and his commandeering of the Conservative nomination for the Surrey North riding through ethnic instant memberships, Cadman would have continued to serve as the Conservative MP for Surrey North
(It has been suggested that this drove a wedge between Cadman and the Conservatives though there was nothing that the Conservatives could do about it. That Cadman introduced Bill C-297 as a result, indicates that this was a critical issue to him.)
Throughout his career he has been the political polar opposite of a federal Liberal, and as the Liberals have marched further to the left, the political and philosophical chasm has grown wider.
Like to hear it in Chuck�s own words?
�This was a wake-up call for the Liberals. Their arrogance has given way to complacency and a sense that they can do what they want with little or no consequence. Well, today that arrogance caught up with them,� says Surrey North MP Chuck Cadman. �All of their self-righteous protestations about dirty tricks and theatrics don�t hold water. There was absolutely nothing underhanded about what occurred today. The opposition expressed its displeasure with the actions of the government. That is one of the roles of the opposition. The Liberals were embarrassed as well they should be.�
Doesn�t sound to me like the words of someone who supports the Liberal party. And those words are 4 years old. Long before the litany of Liberal scandals (far too numerous for the public to recall them all) culminating in Adscam and its fallout, Gomery, and 4 ignored non-confidence votes by the Martin Government and the Grewal tapes. Yet support them he did. And why? Because according to Chuck, his constituents did not want an election. (Ironically they will be getting one now – or maybe not)
Lets get back to the infamous Grewal tapes. Cadmans support for the Liberals may have seemed slightly less, shall we say unusual, had Prime Minister Paul Martins Chief of Staff Tim Murphy (along with Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh) not been caught on tape providing Gurmant Grewal with a viable excuse should he (or anyone else) decide to sell his vote to the Liberals.
The recommended spin? �Members (who would abstain or side with the Liberals) can do it on the basis of, well you know, look my riding doesn�t want an election, doesn�t want one now��. Simply a coincidence that Cadmans reason for backing the Liberals was the same spin provided by Tim Murphy virtually verbatim? One would have to be wilfully na�ve to think so.
It has been suggested in an editorial in the National Post, and various other media outlets, that Cadman either did a series of polls or held a vote to determine the wishes of his constituents. Would his constituency office be willing to release the poll results? How scientific was the study. Are votes accompanied by names and addresses to assure that there were not multiple votes or opinions being cast by a single or group of individuals? (for the record I contacted Mr. Cadmans office to advise that I wished him to vote against the Liberals. No one even asked me my name, address or phone number.)
And if at the end of the day there was a poll, was the best Chuck Cadman could do was to base his poll on a Liberal talking point that originated from the office of PM Paul Martin?? Would not a better question to ask have been �Have the Liberals lost the moral/legal right to govern�? Or, � Do you trust Paul Martin and the Liberals to continue to lead Canada�? Or, �Would you like MP Chuck Cadman to support or not support the Liberal government in the upcoming Parliamentary vote�. Any bets on the results of that poll?
But no we got the flaccid, my constituents do not feel like being bothered with the act of voting right now. Since when did whether voters felt like voting become an issue anyway? Fully 40% of the population decided they did not want to go to the polls in the last election and didn�t. And almost as many failed to show up for the 2000 election. That didn�t stop elections from being held.
More ironic is the Liberals (and medias) concern on whether Canadian voters wanted to go to the polls, since the federal Liberals have never once since gaining power in 1993 gone their entire 5 year mandate without an opportunistic election. In the last 12 years we have had 4 elections. That�s an average of every 3 years. And each time the date was set by the governing Liberals. That is sending Canadians, including those in Surrey North, to the polls more often than necessary, to suit the Liberals political needs
Without Chuck Cadmans vote, the Liberal government would have suffered a non-confidence vote (for the fifth time in two weeks no less) and lost their grip on power.
He did not need to support the Conservatives. Had he simply not shown up, or abstained, the Liberals would have fallen. Would his constituents have been understanding if their MP did not go to Ottawa because he was suffering from cancer?
One would be inclined to think so since MP Chuck Cadman led all MPs with 142 absences or abstentions in this sitting of Parliament and, rightly, no one seems to hold that against him. The only other MPs with totals over 100 were fellow cancer sufferers David Chatters and Darrell Stinson. Would one more abstention have been a big deal? Surrey North constituents seemed to be at ease with the fact that, due to Chuck Cadmans failing health, they had the least representation of any riding in Canada (based on his attendance.)
So based on the fact that Chuck Cadman knew how he was going to vote before he left for Ottawa (based on his polls), he went to ensure that the Liberal Party stayed in power, not for any other reason.
Was this because the Liberals have such a stellar record on holding criminals accountable for their crimes? Since coming to power in 1993 (the year after the Cadmans son Jesse was murdered) the Liberals have brought in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, conditional sentencing, the faint hope clause and many other initiatives which expand the �rights� of criminals, reduce their accountability and diminish the rights of victims.
Not only have they not supported MP Chuck Cadman in his efforts, but they have also aggressively moved Canada�s Criminal Justice system in a direction that has undermined the kind of initiatives that Chuck Cadman spent the last 13 years of his life trying to introduce.
Mr. Cadman by all accounts was an honourable man who took up an honourable cause and made it his life�s work. He is worthy of the praise that is being directed his way in his passing. But his final vote in the House of Commons is a stain on his record that is at complete odds with his entire career. It should not be ignored, or held up as noble act of democracy in action. It should be questioned and examined, whether in life or in death.
So why did Chuck Cadman support a government that he had opposed for the entirety of his career? I guess we will see in the coming months. One wonders if the constituency of Surrey North will be represented by a Liberal Party Cabinet Minister after the next election.
Umm… what?
Found this fun little story via Kate at small dead animals. (You can either use bugmenot.com for a name and password to the Star, or just read the full text over at SDA.)
Ah, Carolyn Parrish, she gives me The Rage yet again.
How can she even spout
Excellent suggestion from CP. It shows her true colours. She must have picked up some ideas about democracy from Arafat during her Mission To Palestine. http://www.carolynparrish.parl.gc.ca/10years/Palestine_Report-Summary2.html
If I understand Parrish’s argument, we already know what Mr. Cadman’s constituents want, so to ask them to express their opinion in an election would be undemocratic. They don’t need an elected representative anyway because there are clerical staff who can look after their needs. Is that the gist?
No taxation without access to clerks! A truly Canadian warcry.
So…lemme get this straid : madcow Parrish sez that by leaving the people of Cadman’s riding without elected representation in parliament to vote their will, that democracy is serbed??? It is this type of dyslexic anti democratic ideal that makes me loath partisan Liberals with the white hot radiance of a thousand suns.
“Only a truly elected independent, such as Cadman, can purely and completely vote the way a majority of his riding wants him to, once he is fairly sure he has a true picture of their wishes.”
Mr.Cadman was truly elected a Consevative. The riding of Surrey North should now have the chance to truly elect a independent, consevative, green, ndpee or fiberal to represent them.
May I be the first to wish Carolyn Parrish of Mississauga-Erindale good luck in getting re-elected as the TRUE independent that she presents herself as.
Obviously the Garish Miss Parrish is ignorant of history.
Chuck Cadman started out as a Reform, then an Alliance MP. The only reason he ran as an independent was because a new Tory member carpetbagged his way into the 2004 Tory nomination.
Hence, Ms. Parrish’s implication that Cadman was not a true Tory is a false one.
I have to agree Kate here, Cadman’s riding deserves to have a by-election when they choose to have one, and if they wish to vote a CPC member to represent them, then so be it. That is how the system works and Carolyn Parrish can just shut her pie-hole. Theis is an incredible level of disrespect to Cadman, and to the people he represents, not to mention to all the people of Canada. Martin, if he has any brains should be calling the by-election ASAP and kicking Carolyn Parrish in the butt as he shows her the door.
Carolyn Parrish level of stupidity even surpasses Grewal, and that is saying something.
PhantomObserver Thanks for pointing that Mr.Cadman was elected a independent. I retract my part of my comment.
Bravo Ward.
thanks for your posting.
Only thing what would do good for cleaning his stinking name ( cadman) will be to publish so called “polls”. This will never happen. There is none.
Welcome to democracy “Liberal style”. Is this the kind of democratic renewal that Belinda will be spreading across Canada this summer?
After this Saturday’s Memorial service, we should begin calling on Martin to quickly set a date for a by-election, letters to the editor, call in shows, blogs. Don’t let the Libs get away with denying the people of Mr. Cadman’s riding a voice in Parliament for the Liberal’s desperate cling to power.
Excellent suggestion, Brent, I’ll email Anne McLellan right away, she LOVES hearing from me.
HA!
But I’ll do it anyway.
Ward baby,
You get that letter published in any large city newspaper ( including in Alberia) and your welcome to my patio, pronto. We’ll knock back Tequila Sunrises till sunrise.
It just isn’t going to happen. (Getting the letter in the newspaper I mean.)
But don’t worry about me.
Pass the tequila Sheila.
Hoggs & kisses
This was originally posted 13 July, 2005.
Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Will the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$ declare a state of emergency in Canada soon? Will there ever be another federal election in Canada again? Fantastic imaginings? Not so; read any history?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Feds plan for possible terror attack during national election campaign
OTTAWA (CP) – Federal officials have drafted contingency plans for a grim scenario – the disruption of a national election by a terrorist strike on Canadian soil.
cnews
“Feds” means AdScam Martin’s socialist regime. Notice the black words: “a grim scenario”. Black deeds to follow by the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Posted by maz2 at July 13, 2005 07:02 PM
The motivation for Ms. Parrish’s comments are truly Liberal…self-preservation. Cadman was elected as an independent, Parrish has NO chance of being re-elected as an independent. She is fearful that a Conservative victory would result in the toppling of Liberals, before she can snuggle back into the fold of the big red machine. No principle…just a former liberal showing she still acts and thinks like a liberal.
Excellent letter Ward. So good even I have nothing to add.
Corpulent Carolyn should stay in Toronto where she is busy teaching classes on How to be Rude to Americans and How to Be A Dimwit.
Carolyn is such a dumb-a$$.
Surrey North is NOT traditionally Conservative. Jim Karpoff was the NDP MP before Reform MP Margaret Bridgman got elected in ’93. I lived in that constituency for many many years! It is very poor and working class although some things are starting to change now. Provincially it traditionally votes NDP also.
Of course that’s beside the point that some Eastern wench of an MP doesn’t want some Westerners to vote! Bhat a witch she is!
Good letter, Ward. De mortuis nil nisi bonum and all that, but however honourable Cadman was over his entire life and career, he’ll be remembered for only one thing – throwing a life preserver to a Liberal government drowning in its own filth. I don’t believe all the tortured reasoning of people who are desperate to save his reputation by somehow finding an “honourable” side to what he did. Let’s be honest: he was a dying man, and he crumbled under the pressure. Our country was put in the power of a weakened shell of a man, and the result was a predictable disaster. His name will forever be a synonym for weakling in Canada.
I wonder how much $$$$ was in the envelope.
Wanda, well arn’t you the stubborn, fiesty independant minded Lady!
You and me both kid. I chalked Cadman’s choice of vote up to his extreme illness.
It was a vote geared to the convenience of summer holidays and trampled principle into the ground.
The Gomery project may have been recessed for a short time but it would not have been lost or wasted.
At least Bill C-11 is well under way. BendGovt.blog.ca and there is promise of ministry by ministry accounting and audit in the works. [Promised by pmPM during Grovel TV speech]
These things protect our public wealth regardless of who holds sway in Ottawa.
73s TG
sure makes you consider the moral&intellectual decline in mississauga..?
“sure makes you consider the moral&intellectual decline in mississauga..?”
Yeah… especially since I LIVE in Mississauga!
Though thankfully not in Parrish’s riding. I’d have probably lost my mind by now were that the case.
I’m surprised she took time out of her busy career of sniping at Americans to even address such a mundane Canadian issue.
I just received a newsletter from my MP(Wararwa) who did a poll and asked should there be an election now to throw the bastards(my description) out. 73% said yes. I live 10 miles from Cadmans area.
I said at the time that Chuck Cadman didn’t want a vote. He was sick and didn’t have the energy to fight another election. So while others fawn over how principaled he was I don’t think he was as pure of heart as others think.
Horny Toad
Yikes. Every time I start thinking about moving back to the True North Weak and Feeble… I see stuff like this and I am reminded of why I left in the first place. I have more freedom and opportunity here by accident.
I hope that this is the beginning of the end for these nabobs though, Canada does deserve better than this. It could be such a great place… if only.
Transaltion… I want to drag out this session as long as possible cause I know I’m screwed when it comes to getting re-elected.
That an airhead like Parrish can type truely amazes me (another airhead)
I think that the praise heaped upon Cadman by the PM and his puppets was nauseating to say the least. Cadman’s question should have been: “Should I vote with:
A: The Liberals
B: The Conservatives
As there has to be an election in the near future anyway, the cost of an election (or in Surrey North) a by-election is going to cost the taxpayer the big bucks anyway so that, to my way of thinking, was a stupid question.
As for Ms. Parrish. How that woman can be so stupid and still exist is beyond belief. Talk about political incorrectness! Oh, I forgot, it isn’t politically incorrect to badmouth George Bush or Americans, you just can’t say anything truthful about Muslim extremists. That is politically incorrect according to the higher purpose persons.
Now that I have pushed all those annoying buttons, I will end this.
Peace and love,
Pearl