A letter from Stephen Harper to Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General in 2004

September 9, 2004

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,
C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1

Excellency,

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program.

We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority.

Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Gilles Duceppe, M.P.
Leader of the Bloc Quebecois

Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the New Democratic Party


This letter paints a pretty clear picture, I don't think I need any graphic details in this post. I guess it must be dependent upon on from what side of the aisle you are sending the letter?

*EDIT* Then there is this priceless interview with the CBC from the same time period!

When petitioning the Governor General...

... one should spell her name and title correctly. One should understand Canadian Constitutional law and quit tossing around terms like "coup" when speaking of a perfectly legal option under Canadian law. The persons in Parliament, proposing the Coalition Government, are duly elected, they are not an invading army seizing control!

I am neither in favour nor against this issue, (yet,) I simply want my Government to be operating in a manner that is best for my Country. A minority Government cannot and may not operate as though it held a majority. It must reach across the aisle and work with the other members. It must deal with the very real and frightening situation facing our economic well-being in a manner acceptable to all. A minority Government, in actuality, is a coalition, if it is working properly.

Canada's proposed coalition Government; undemocratic?

I still don't think the Bloc is a true Federal party, but they currently hold the status. So do the math... actually a much large percentage of the Canadian voters will be represented by their votes!

O' Ottawa... I am ashamed of you, true self serving acts, cause shame to all thy sons! From far & wide, we are ashamed of thee!

I am ashamed of the government of my country. I am angry that we spent $300 million to change nothing, contrary to the new law passed fixing election dates. I am mortified that the reigning party taped and released to the media, a private NDP meeting. tape1 tape2

I am angry, so very angry that The Bloc get $1.95 from MY tax dollars for each vote it gets. It only gets votes in Quebec, it only fields candidates in Quebec, it only represents interest in Quebec. It does not deserve my financial support. It is NOT a national party, therefore has no business in Federal politics.

If this government falls and they dare to call another election, I am going to do something. I haven't quite figured out what yet but something. We, the tax payers of Canada, cannot afford to just sit by and allow them to lead us around by the nose. We have the right and the obligation to let them know we will not stand for another $300 million of our money being tossed away.

In this economic climate it is shameful. So be it a Conservative minority, a coalition or whatever they come up with, grow up, take off your party uniforms and put on your Canada t'shirts and do the job you were sent to Ottawa to do.

Represent me!

pssssst... Annie... it's baaaaack! (Yes you Ann R.)

I know you've been waiting for it! Your favourite thing I blog about... the bird feeder is back up. Now you can wait anxiously for this year's pics! (This is from last year to remind you of what you've been missing.) xoxo

My rude family and friends!

So... what are the odds that twice in two days someone would ask you "are you smelling burnt toast?" Well if you are me, those odds are apparently very good! Both times it was explained by "well, sometimes we do all look at you and wonder if maybe you've just had a stroke or something!"

Rude, rude, rude! They claim that would be the only logical explanation of my behaviour or topic of conversation.

I'm gonna smack someone with a piece of burnt toast soon! :þ

MRSA

Photo/Graph: Google Trends

In March of this year, I did a posting on MRSA and what I've seen in hospitals, especially in Geriatric Wards. I am amazed at the number of people who've ended up here as the result of a google search for MRSA. It is from everywhere, all over the world, from Sweden to Indonesia to the USA, all kinds of institutions. Universities, High Schools, Hospitals, Military Installations, Governments... the list goes on and on. I would say that in my little, non-famous blog I get at least two hits a day based on that search.

Obviously, these people are looking for answers, looking for information... I would suggest that a much stronger, more organized effort on the part of Heath experts is called for.

Here's a great link to some info on MRSA.

*EDIT* from midnight to 7:30pm today, there were 9 hits from searching MRSA, one Brazil, one Netherlands and seven USA.

What could have been.

You can't help but wonder what difference it would have made to the world had he had his full time on earth.

I am so far behind the calendar!

One minute, here in the far south of Canada, it was warm and sunny; flowers still blooming and me not having the heart to rip them up. The next minute, every leaf is off the trees and there's been a bit of snow!

The sun umbrella is still on the patio table, the hammock is still outside and all the leaves are on my lawn! We do have some excuses in that in the past couple of weeks, which is when this seasonal turn about has happened, I've been one weekend in London, 4 days in Ottawa and Bob had a week of afternoons!

I'm hoping for a non seasonal, mini tornado to come and pick those dang leaves up! The umbrella and hammock I will take care of this weekend!

Anyone walking down my street with a rake, feel free to jump in!

Ottawa getting ready for the GG

The Parliament Building getting ready for the arrival of the Governor General for the opening of the new session. How lucky for us to see this!

Michelle is famous!

Mich just went to the Madonna concert in Detroit. Yes she just saw NKOTB and The Backstreet Boys... While at Madonna she spotted Trent of "Pink Is The New Blog" fame. They posed for a pic and he posted it in his famous blog!

If you need a little lift while I'm away.

I'm off to Ottawa on business for a few days so there may not be any posts for a bit. I thought I'd leave you with this cute little gimmik! Enjoy. Go ahead, click the link... it'll make you smile!

Sarah Palin at home

My sister Sandra has accused me of having a "girl crush!" Sheesh how silly is that? Just because every other post, or even every post in a row is about Sarah doesn't' mean that I am enamoured of her does it? Really... does it? OMG! I love her, I can't help it and it makes no sense whatsoever! Politically, we couldn't be further apart but I can't get enough of her.

This video is another great one for her. I really do think the pundits on the Republican side should have just let her out and be Sarah at her best!

I'm thinking of nominating her for leadership of the Liberal party. We're gonna haf ta work on her platform and maybe the dropping of the endings of every word but other than that... (wink)

Oh and I wanna send a shout out to my sister Sandra way up there in Sturgeon Falls, not as far north as Wasilla Alaska but compared to where I am, it might as well be!

The Edmund Fitzgerald, Nov. 10, 1975

I share my birthday with this event. (Same date, different year by 18 years.Though the ship was just about the same year as me, launched in June 1958.) Every year I hear this song on my birthday. This year, I didn't hear the song even once, so here it is; in their memory. (This video is very, very well done.)

Remembrance Day, try to remember to remember.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan








90 years since the end of "The War To End All Wars." How little we've learned. Remember

Sarah Palin... leave her alone!

YOU picked her! YOU vetted her! YOU enjoyed the hundreds of thousands that attended her rallies! YOU were her aids who passed her the phone when the "President of France" called! YOU are the ultimate responsibility!

I don't care that she answered the door in a towel... for the love of terry cloth, you were supposedly her allies, supporters and advisers! You should be ashamed and go crawl back into that poli-sci hole from whence you came!

Again, I don't agree with her in any way, shape or form but I love that woman.

Sarah, if you ever come to Windsor Ontario Canada, look me up!

And in the morning after, some things are still the same!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/europe/06russia.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink


It's a good thing Sarah's going home, she can keep an eye out for us!

Obama is the President of the United States of America

There is really nothing I can add to this headline. The world has turned a corner, the future is unlimited. We are Baracking in this house!

USA, is there any hope?

I'm watching CNN. I realize I am a measly Canadian, but were I an American right now, I would hang my head in shame at the way this election is being analysed by the "pundints."

Until YOU Americans stop analyzing by race nothing is going to change! Until YOU Americans, tell your news outlets, (read CNN,) to stop talking about how "interesting" the colour vote split is how can you possibly hope to actually invoke a real change?

I am saddened and dismayed by this type of reporting. Am I shocked? Nope. Do I not think that race/religion/guns/gender effect voting... of course, but to promote the carrying of a State by simple race numbers is asking for trouble and demeaning to the Candidates.

History in the making; today's the day for the USA!

Well, polls are open, lines are long and I cannot wait to see what happens! It's been a very long time since I've been this excited over an election.