Laidlaw's Election Prediction?

Maggie Laidlaw carries on at the Election Prediction Project:

08 08 26 Maggie Laidlaw

I can't believe that people actually think the Conservatives will win this riding! We have the Brent Barr issue. The Conservatives will be lucky to come in third. This race will be between the Liberals and the Greens. Many Guelphites I speak to can see that a Green vote will be a vote for everything that regular Canadians believe in, and will allow Green party leader Elizabeth May into the televised debate to wipe the floor with Harper.

I don't know about you, but for some strange reason I don't picture Maggie Laidlaw speaking to too many Conservative supporters. The "many Guelphites" she's speaking to may make for great hype, but not an election result do they make. Not voting Green? Then you're not a "regular" Canadian in Laidlaw's world.

On a related note, lest everyone continues to labour under the fallacy that the Green Party is the last defender of democracy in Canada, let's not forget Elizabeth May's decision not to allow a candidate to run against Stephane Dion in exchange for no Liberal running against her.

Update: the wife just pointed out to me that there is no way to know if it was actually Guelph Councillor Maggie Laidlaw who posted that comment at the Election Prediction project. I guess I got a little carried away without thinking that one all the way through. I apologize to Councillor Laidlaw if the post is not actually hers. If it is, then everything stands.

Tell us what you really think

I see Maggie Laidlaw's not afraid to get her fingernails dirty in this by-election. From her Editorial piece in today's Mercury:

A Green party win would be a real green shift for Guelph
Progressive Conservatives in Guelph tend to be environmentally minded. They will not support a Harper Conservative/Alliance candidate, and they are looking for a suitable alternative.

That was really classy Maggie. Is this an example of all that love and cooperation around the Council horseshoe that everyone refers to lately?

I think there's definitely a horse involved somehow, but I don't think shoes come into play, unless you're wiping them off.

Gloria and Health Minister Tony Clement

Rogers First Local report on Health Minister Tony Clement's visit to Guelph in support of Gloria Kovach

Guelph Chamber of Commerce By-Election Survey: Update

Frank Valeriote has now submitted his answers for the Guelph Chamber of Commerce By-Election Survey. NDP candidate Tom King and Green candidate Mike Nagy are still missing in action.

One interesting thing to note about Frank Valeriote's answers is that it seems he continues to drink from that same big cup of Liberal Kool-aid that the remainder of the party does. His answers contain no less than 6 different references to the Economic Update/Mini-Budget of 2005 that was voted down, triggering the January 2006 election.

The Liberal arrogance of "we're right and everyone else is wrong" continues to live on in Frank's answers, despite the fact that the Liberals lost both the vote and the subsequent general election.

Next up I'm sure we'll be hearing that old standard that it's all the NDP's fault for helping bring down Paul Martin's government.

Guelph Mercury "Jumped the Shark" yesterday

The Mercury certainly jumped the shark yesterday with their publication of the KLR VU poll. The front page banner and story left out a few details.

Fortunately CanWest National reporter David Akin (a Guelph native) has done the research that should have been completed in the first place. The methodology used in this poll is certainly unorthodox and not generally accepted.

The KLR VU poll in Guelph: Dirty tricks or business development?

A poll came out yesterday purporting to show the voting intentions of people in Guelph, Ont., a medium-sized city where a by-election is underway.

The pollster said that, based on his survey, it appeared that the incumbent Liberals held a commanding lead. Liberal Brenda Chamberlain retired in the spring and now, Frank Valeriote wants to take her place. With the vote set for Sept. 8, this poll would suggest he has nothing to worry about.
The poll also showed that the Green Party is doing surprisingly well and is in third place in the riding, just ahead of the NDP. (The Greens, you won't be surprised to learn, are thrilled.) The Conservatives, who are running city councillor Gloria Kovach, are a distant second, the poll says.

So if you're a Liberal here, what's not to like, right?

Apparently plenty.

See the complete post at David Akin's Blog

The Mercury was in such a hurry to print the poll that they failed to do even the most basic research. A simple Google search should have at least set off a few warning bells.

After being contacted by former Green Party Leader Jim Harris, the Mercury changed their online headline and posted some further clarification on the Guelph Votes blog. After Akin's thorough fisking, the Mercury should be not only backtracking they should be doing the 100M dash backwards.

Guelph Chamber of Commerce By-Election Survey

From the Chamber of Commerce website:

Candidates from the four major parties in the 2008 Federal Bi-Election that received more than 5% of the votes cast in Guelph-Wellington in the previous election were asked a series of questions by members of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. The questions and their responses are listed below.

Gloria Kovach

Frank Valeriote, Tom King and Mike Nagy seem to be missing in action so far. Clicking their links leads to "No response has been received to date".

Election Prediction Project update

It seems like the general consensus so far is that the by-election in Guelph is Too Close To Call (TCTC), which is reflected in the project's own ranking that has yet to change.

The typical partisans for both the Liberals and Conservatives are posting, but they are being out-voted so far. Since the 28th of July the count is 10 TCTC, 5 Liberal and 4 Conservative.

In the absence of any polling, I suspect the prediction is going to remain this way until election day.

Liberals fear Don Valley West by-election will hurt their efforts in Guelph

Back in August I posted about John Godfrey delaying his resignation for an additional month to benefit the Liberals. By delaying his resignation, he allowed the Liberals to focus all their Ontario resources in Guelph. This theory was widely ridiculed by various Liberals.

Now that the Prime Minister has called the by-election for September 22nd in Don Valley West, we get a post claiming that Harper is being an "opportunist" by doing so. I guess it's not a surprise to find that Liberals want to have it both ways.

Harper’s calling of this by-election for Sept. 22 in Don Valley West (DVW) is no different. Of course it’s a fairly safe riding for the Liberals, but I think it’s clear why Harper has called it now: to siphon Liberal resources away from Guelph, St. Lambert and Westmount Ville-Marie. The Conservatives are 100% focused on Guelph and I’m sure Harper has no plans to make much of a push for DVW, but I’m just guessing that in Harper’s eyes taking away any Liberal volunteers that would have otherwise been in the other 3 ridings between now and Sept. 8th works to his benefit

It's really simple. If John Godfrey hadn't delayed his resignation for a month, collecting a pay cheque from both the private sector and the taxpayers at the same time, the Don Valley West by-election would be happening at the same time as the other three. The Liberals claimed at the time that they were ready to go and Godfrey's delay had nothing to do with resources, money or the party's readiness. Are we now to believe that this wasn't true?

Two more candidates in Guelph By-Election

Two more candidates have been approved by Elections Canada for the Guelph by-election

Philip Bender - Libertarian "engineer and independent telephone company owner, Philip Bender. This is his first try federally, but Bender previously ran in a nearby provincial by-election against provincial Progressive Conservative party leader John Tory." (Pundit's Guide)

Kornelis Klevering - Marijuana Party, "(Brother) Kornelis "Kees" Klevering of the Assembly of the Church of the Universe, once called a high priest of hemp." (Pundit's Guide)

Nominations close on Monday the 18th of August with the final official list being published on the 21st of August.

H/T Guelph Speak and the Pundit's Guide

Stop the Carbon Tax website

For your viewing pleasure this Saturday morning:

Stop the Carbon Tax

Make sure you take a few minutes to sign the petition while you're there.

H/T PomoChristian

Prime Minister Harper to visit Kitchener next week

I found this on Facebook. I won't be able to go because of a prior commitment (although I'm currently trying to convince the wife that a little re-scheduling wouldn't hurt).

PM Stephen Harper in Kitchener
Come meet the Prime Minister!

Time and PlaceDate:
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Time: 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Romanian Cultural Centre
Street: 2150 Bleams Road
City/Town: Kitchener, ON

View Map

Contact InfoPhone: 519-748-6768
Email: silverwind828@gmail.com

Description
BBQ event with Prime Minister Stephen Harper this Tuesday August 19 at the Romanian Cultural Centre at 2150 Bleams Road in Kitchener.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets are 25$ for adults and 70$ for families. Only pre-registered guests will be admitted. To purchase tickets and register please call 519-745-3100 by Monday, August 18th at 4pm or email Beth Corbett silverwind828@gmail.com before Sunday Aug 17th at 5 PM. Leave a message with your name, phone number, and full address and number of guests. A volunteer will call to confirm your registration

What he said

Alberta Aardvark on John McCallum's visit to Guelph.

Bet on Gloria

Have a little fun with the by-election. You can join Hubdub for free and then bet on who will win the Guelph by-election. Spread the word.

H/T Blue Blogging Soapbox

A win for Guelph

Conservative Immigration Minister Diane Finley announced the new Canadian Experience Class for immigration yesterday. As a University city, Guelph stands to benefit from this new class. Students on study visas and skilled or professional workers on work permits no longer have to leave Canada to apply for immigration.

When you combine this initiative with the one from 2006 allowing foreign students to work off campus, cities such as Guelph become an attractive destination for students to not only study but to eventually settle.

News Release
Canada’s government to help temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates become permanent residents

Waterloo, August 12, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the details of the Canadian Experience Class, a proposed new avenue for immigration for certain temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates with Canadian work experience. Unlike other existing programs, this proposal will allow an applicant’s Canadian experience to be considered a key selection factor when immigrating to Canada.

The Canadian Experience Class will allow certain temporary foreign workers and certain foreign student graduates with managerial, professional, or technical or trade work experience to apply to become permanent residents, and eventually Canadian citizens. All applicants, depending on their occupational skill level, will be required to demonstrate either basic or moderate language skills. Proposed regulatory changes have been pre-published in the Canada Gazette for a 15-day comment period. Final regulatory changes will be published following this comment period.

“The Canadian Experience Class is one more measure this government is proposing to make our immigration system more attractive and accessible to individuals with diverse skills from around the world, and more responsive to Canada’s labour market needs,” said Minister Finley. “This new proposed avenue for immigration would also go further to spread the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.”

Temporary foreign workers and foreign students are generally spread out across the country and contribute to the growth of smaller communities as well as metropolitan areas. Individuals applying for permanent residence through this new avenue could apply from within Canada while continuing to work and continuing to contribute to their local communities.

The Canadian Experience Class comes after a number of recent initiatives the government has undertaken to help newcomers succeed and to help make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world. These initiatives include changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program; the establishment of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office; increased investments in language training and other programs and services aimed at helping newcomers successfully settle and integrate into their new communities; and, most recently, changes to the immigration system that would allow for priority processing of certain skilled applicants and reduced wait times for those wanting to immigrate to Canada.

Through the Canadian Experience Class, newcomers will be more likely to make the most of their abilities while undergoing a more seamless social and economic transition to Canada. And, in turn, their cultural and economic contributions will enrich Canada.

“Choosing newcomers based on knowledge of our labour market and experience within Canadian society would make Canada a more attractive destination for skilled individuals from around the world,” added Minister Finley. “International students and skilled workers would be more likely to choose Canada if they knew their time in Canada and contribution to Canadian society would assist in their eligibility to apply to stay permanently.”

For further information (media only), please contact:

Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650

Green Shift to hurt Canadians drastically says Liberal Candidate Frank Valeriote

Frank Valeriote

Liberal party candidate Frank Valeriote said the Green party's tax shift "goes too far, too fast," and "it will hurt people financially immediately and far more drastically."

As opposed to the Liberal plan which will hurt people slowly and less drastically.

Kind of like having your fingernails pulled out instead of chopping off your hand.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Green Shift

I know Frank Valeriote was initially against the Green Shift, flip-flop, and now he's for it, but you think he would at least include a quote from party leader Stephane Dion in his literature extolling the virtues of the Liberal's latest tax and spend program.

Instead, we find a quote from none other than Al Gore, he who invented the internet and generates enough greenhouse gas at home to equal TWELVE average American families. Gore does make a sort of kindred spirit to use on the Liberal literature piece, as they have something in common. Neither of them did anything on the environment while in power. Birds of a feather, as they say.

Is Frank too embarrassed about his leaders plan, performance or both to include him in his flyer? Was Michael Ignatieff or Bob Rae too busy to lend a quote or two to the piece?

PS. Look real close at the "Benefits" section of Frank's description of the Green Shift. See if you can find any mention of the single biggest benefit most Canadians would expect from a Green Plan expected to cost them $15 billion dollars - THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS TO BE REDUCED!

Rainbow over Guelph

After Saturday's downpour(s) in Guelph, a beautiful full rainbow put in an appearance.

Such a rare sight.

People all up and down the neighbourhood were out viewing and taking pictures of it.

I can't remember the last time I've seen such a full horizon to horizon rainbow like this.

Who's doing the right thing

I bookmarked this one the other day, but didn't get a chance to comment on it. Matt Shurie hits all the right points. The Liberals, with a weak leader and a tax and spend program masquerading as an environmental initiative don't deserve another chance at this riding.

Who's doing the right thing?

Guelphites have been without federal representation since Brenda Chamberlain's retirement April 7. However, ask anyone in the know and they'll tell you the riding lacked any real leadership for many months before that date.

Perhaps even more bizarre is the fact that Chamberlain, who refused to fulfil her role while being paid a tidy sum by taxpayers, has quietly emerged in the current byelection campaign serving as campaign co-chair for Frank Valeriote.

During the opening of Valeriote's campaign office last week it was Chamberlain who proclaimed her support for the Liberal candidate: "I am proud to support Frank Valeriote wholeheartedly; he is a strong voice for Guelph."

An impressive endorsement from someone who clearly understands what it is to be a silent voice for the people.

Decisions, Decisions

What's a body to do on Sunday?

Lakeside Bible Church or Church of Our Lady.

Tough call, especially during a by-election.

Liberal Spam

It's amazing what pops up with Google Alerts.

It certainly can't be a good thing when your party emails pop up on a website dedicated to publishing spam on the internet.

From Email Spam and Scams Stink! - info@liberal.ca

Update: Steve Janke's excellent post on the King of Liberal Spammers - Garth Turner.

The Real Green Shift - In Guelph

Here's the article that Liberals everywhere seem to be so afraid of people in Guelph reading.

Name lawsuit no game
Green Shift owner taking Liberal party to court, worried about brand confusion
August 08, 2008
Magda Konieczna

GUELPH

Green Shift has about 10 clients in Guelph, including Ouderkirk and Taylor, Artisanale, and Meals that Heal

Damn the Mercury. The audacity of them to actually report on things people might be interested in hearing about. Maybe the Liberals would be happier if they reported on the Liberal Candidate in PEI who resigned because he figured out he can't sell the Green Shift to local voters.

Did this happen? - Update

I blogged the other day about a post I found online claiming to have smeared red paint all over the John Galt statue on Monday, John Galt Day.

Magda, from the Mercury replied that although the statue wasn't currently painted, they would check into it.

Apparently it did happen. Guelph police are investigating.

Kudos to Magda on the follow-up and to City Staff, who obviously had this cleaned up very quickly.

To the so-called "anarchists" who did this - most protesters at least have the courage of their convictions to stick around and pay the price for their actions. Your "paint bomb" stunt is nothing more then petty crime.

How dare she?

That's the Liberal response to a Mercury blog post revealing that Green Shift owner Jennifer Wright would be visiting Guelph to speak with the Mercury. More of the same here.

Apparently the Mercury needs to justify why they are even talking to Jennifer Wright. Top Tinfoil Hat Award goes to the suggestion that this is somehow being orchestrated by the Conservatives or NDP. The Liberals create a situation and then try to lay off the resulting damage on someone else. How typical.

The Liberal Arrogance Express rolls on.

See Also: ABL (Anybody but Liberal)

Hmmm....

Thin skin or sour grapes?

Regardless of merit or qualification, criticize a Liberal and your opinions are nothing more than "chatter" and "gibberish".

Obama, American flags and empty rhetoric.

Silly me, and here I thought this was about Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Good thing haying season is pretty much over. They'll need all the straw they can grasp on to at this point.

ABL

Take some time and have a good read through Liberal blogger Jason Cherniak's post and the comments about the Guelph By-Election. Personally, the arrogance makes me shudder, but I'm used to it. Having read through this little bit of arrogant drivel I would encourage everyone to vote ABL - Anyone But Liberal. Vote Green, Vote NDP, Vote Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada, hold your breath and vote Conservative. Hell - vote Rhino if we can scare one up. (Where's Walter Tucker when you need him?)

Jason Cherniak said...

I did miss the possibility that a higher Liberal vote might be because people prefer a local business man and community volunteer to the Tory and NDP candidates.

Because the rest of the candidates in the field are nothing more than chopped liver in Liberal's eyes. Partisan politics aside, Guelph has fielded one of the strongest slates I've ever seen in recent years in a By-Election. Each and every one of these individuals could and would represent Guelph to the best of their abilities. No absentee Liberal MPs in this bunch! (We Hope!)

Tell us what you really think about the Liberal's Carbon Tax

Atlantic truckers oppose Green Shift

Published Wednesday August 6th, 2008
Carbon tax will 'create welfare instead of wealth': executive director

"The Liberal caucus should also recognize that Atlantic Canadians do not need a carbon tax to lead Canada on emissions reductions," he added. "We do not need Stephane Dion punishing us with a carbon tax that will return pennies to our pockets at tax time, yet take dollars out of our wallets year round."

Nelson predicted the proposed carbon tax will remove billions of dollars from the Atlantic Canadian economy and that using carbon tax windfall in social programs will "create welfare instead of wealth."

H/T to Wilson in the comments of yesterday's post for the link to this article.

H/T to Reaction for the graphics

Green shift more a wealth shift

With each passing day, more and more people are wising up to what the Green Shaft is really about. The following is a great Letter to the Editor of the Kingston Whig Standard:

Green Shift more a wealth shift

The Green Shift is supposed to be about reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, yet most of the meeting was spent enticing people with talk about tax cuts and expanding wasteful entitlement programs that have done nothing in the past to reduce poverty.

Dion had no problem stating a specific target for reducing poverty by using the money raised from taxing everyone on everything they need every day, but where is the target for reducing carbon dioxide? Without knowing how much CO2 will be reduced, we can't know whether the benefit will be worth the pain of higher living expenses.

Dion has also indicated he's in favour of carbon taxes in the short term, and cap and trade in the medium to long term. Both measures have been applied in the European Union yet there has been a complete failure to meet Kyoto targets for CO2 emissions. As of 2004, European Union countries were 4.4 per cent above 1990 emission levels, and in 2006 emission levels increased a further 0.68 per cent.

With all the numbers included in the Liberal's Carbon Tax program, the one thing missing is exactly how much CO2 emissions will be reduced by implementing their plan. For $15.2 billion dollars in taxpayer's money, you think they could give us at least a ballpark figure. The fact that they can't or won't demonstrates that Carbon Tax plan is nothing more than a Liberal Tax and Spend program wrapped in nice green paper.

Did this happen?

I received this via a Google Email alert:

Guelph, Ontario: Anarchists paint bomb statue of John Galt
Tuesday, August 05 2008 @ 02:32 PM CDT
Contributed by: Anonymous
Views: 132
In the wee hours of the morning of August 4 anarchist settlers used a ketchup bottle to apply red metal paint to a statue of John Galt in front of City Hall. August 4 was Guelph’s first ever John Galt Day. The town was awash in festivities and celebrations honouring John Galt and the plan he developed for the founding of the city of Guelph back in 1827. But who is this John Galt character?

I haven't heard anything about this. Did it happen? Was it cleaned up before anyone could notice?

New Candidate in Guelph By-Election

From the Elections Canada website:

Karen Levenson (Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada)

By-Election Polling

As we haven't seen the typical avalanche of polls (yet) from the Globe, Star, Sun Media and all the other usual suspects, I thought I would look around and try to find some other polls that might be relevant. This is one I found on the Mercury site:

mercury web poll

May 24, 2008

Would you support a national carbon tax?

Yes: 18 per cent (88 votes)

No: 82 per cent (412 votes).

Visit GuelphMercury.com to vote on this week's poll.

Note: I wonder what happened to last week's poll that asked if Guelph should "invest" in some art for display in the new Civic Square. As I remember, the poll was running around 70 to 30 against such an investment. I looked through Saturday's issue and couldn't find it published anywhere. That poll had the smell of someone's trial ballon. When it went over like a lead ballon, I guess it makes sense to just make it disappear.

The REAL Green Shift

The real Green Shift

Jennifer Wright, National Post
Published: Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Put yourself in my sandals for a moment.

Having put the past 10 years of my life into growing a successful mission-based environmental company called Green Shift, I was furious when an official from Liberal leader Stephane Dion's office called me one evening a month ago to tell me that the following morning, the Liberal Party of Canada would release its proposed new environmental tax program under my trademark. She said we would benefit from the confusion they were about to foment.

I was beyond livid when I realized that, despite my very vocal objections, during the coming general election, 308 Liberal candidates would be promoting an election platform whose environmental tax program would carry the hijacked name of our company.

Green Shift

A project, funded by a fair trade business structure, to help Shift the economy to a dark shade of green. We work with various industries and help the genuine to be strong leaders, in order to help set a precedent that others will follow.

You can join the Official Green Shift group on Facebook. Company founder Jennifer Wright pulls no punches in her fight to claim back Green Shift from the Liberals:

The REAL Green Shift needs your help!

The Liberal Party of Canada has hi-jacked our name and we want it back.

Brief synapse: On June 23rd the Liberal Party of Canada proposed a National “environmental” tax program called the Green Shift.

We, the real Green Shift have stated on its website for over 5 years that Green Shift is as much a concept as it is a company. In essence - an environmental program, developed almost 10 years ago and expected to continue well into the future.

Companies and institutions who are a part of the real Green Shift earn the right to use this name to represent that they are a part of the environmental leaders, and thus naturally we cannot risk people instead thinking that their participation in Green Shift is somehow affiliated with a political party.

As an organization we have gone to great lengths to see that environmental protection supercedes any and all barriers and thus we do not nor cannot have our name associated with any political agenda.

Although we are going to fight this in the legal system - they are a big machine and this is thought to have been well thought out - inc. calculating how much we could afford to fight. Well, we are pretty determined to see justice prevail, and we believe where there is a will there is a way. That being said, we really could use your help as the court of public opinion is what we care most about.

If you are interested/able to help us to fight the machine, please write to Stephan Dion (at DionS@parl.gc.ca).and ask that he please stop using our name for his environmental TAX program.

Thank-you in advance,

Sincerely,

Green Shift

Jennifer and Green Shift also got a boost for their lawsuit recently from Montreal Communications firm Influence Communications. Their research shows that Stephane Dion isn't being very truthful when he claims that "Green Shift" is a common term and the Liberal's use won't affect GreenShift.ca

Influence Communications completed an exhaustive 12-month scan of all newspapers (14 000+) in 159 countries to discover that ‘green shift’ as a term has been encountered in only 62 occasions; this from over 15 million articles/editorials directly or indirectly related to the environment/climate change...etc. This contradicts recent affirmations expressed by certain political leaders.

Best wishes to Jennifer Wright and GreenShift.ca. My wife's parents are small business owners so I can understand the frustration she is feeling at having her business' identity stolen by Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party of Canada.

Enjoy John Galt Day

John Galt, novelist, poet, Uncle to Edgar Allan Poe, founder of Guelph, Ontario. You can find some of John Galt's work online at Project Gutenburg

John Galt - Wikipedia

John Galt - Library and Archives Canada Biography

John Galt - the other "John Galt"

John Galt Day reflects history
August 01, 2008
Nicole Visschedyk

GUELPH

The life of Guelph founder John Galt will be celebrated Monday with historic games, a parade and canoe hockey.

Galt, a prominent Scottish author, founded Guelph in 1827.

Monday, Aug. 4

11:30 a.m.: Flag raising ceremony at Guelph City Hall, 59 Carden St.

Noon: Picnic and events at the River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St.

John Galt, from the Autobiography of John Galt, page 58,59

It was consistent with my plan to invest our ceremony with a little mystery, the better to make it be remembered. So intimating that the main body of the men were not to come, we walked to the brow of the neighbouring rising ground, and Mr. Prior having shewn the site selected for the town, a large maple tree was chosen; on which, taking an axe from one of the woodmen, I struck the first stroke. To me at least the moment was impressive, -and the silence of the woods, that echoed to the sound, was as the sigh of solemn genius of the wilderness departing for ever.

The doctor followed me, then, if I recollect correctly, Mr. Prior, and the woodmen finished the work. The tree fell with a crash of accumulating thunder, as if ancient Nature were alarmed at the entrance of social man into her innocent solitudes with his sorrows, his follies, and his crimes.

I do not suppose that the sublimity of the occasion was unfelt by the others, for I noticed that after the tree fell, there was a funeral pause, as when the coffin is lowered into the grave; it was, however, of short duration, for the doctor pulled a flask of whisky from his bosom, and we drank prosperity to the City of Guelph.

Godfrey's long $100,000 goodbye

Looks like today's Calgary Herald editorial agrees with a point I made in yesterday's post - Godfrey finally resigns.

Godfrey's long $100,000 goodbye

A July 1 resignation as promised by Godfrey would have forced the Liberal party to pony up even more scarce staff, political workers and resources. But that would have been the Liberal party's problem. Godfrey should have resigned July 1 as promised, if not earlier, and let the electoral chips fall where they might.

One thing the editorial highlights is that when Godfrey first announced his intention to retire in November of 2007, he stated that it would be effective July 1st. I didn't know that little fact. I guess Godfrey and the Liberals hadn't counted on Brenda Chamberlain resigning. At least Chamberlain announced her resignation and then promptly left, although it could be argued she was barely there before her resignation.

As you head to the polls to vote on September 8th, keep Liberal MP John Godfrey's "sacrifice" in mind. By delaying his resignation by one month he ensured himself a $12,500 bonus while helping the cash strapped Liberals focus most of their efforts on the riding in Guelph.

Taking one for the team - Liberal style!

Update: I just noticed that my post from yesterday was selected as the Daily Blogger post at Jack's Newswatch. Thanks Jack! That made my day. (although the wife says I still have to do the dishes tonight - celebrity or not. I get the feeling that my lovely wife doesn't appreciate blogs like other people do.)

Update 2: Visit Jason Cherniak's blog for a view from the Liberal Twilight Zone

Doing the right thing!

Before and during the by-election each candidate has been hosting fund raisers as well as soliciting funds for their campaigns through email, regular mail and personal appeals. I thought it would be interesting to see which candidates support their party personally. I searched through the Elections Canada Database for both local and national donations during the last reporting period ending December 2007.

Conservative Gloria Kovach: Local - $295.00 National - $236.00 Total - $531.00

Liberal Frank Valeriote: Local - Unknown, the 2007 Liberal EDA return has not been processed and posted online by Elections Canada. National - $0, Leadership Campaign - $0 Total - $0

NDP Tom King: Local - $0, National - $0 Total - $0

Green Mike Nagy: Local - $0, National - $0 Total - $0

I don't know about anyone else, but I would have a hard time supporting a candidate who doesn't support either the local or national party. Hopefully Frank, Tom and Mike have had a change of heart in 2008. I guess Frank can point and say he's just following his leader's example. Stephane Dion didn't donate anything to the Liberal Party last year either. For that matter, he hasn't bothered donating to his own Leadership Campaign. That's leading by example!

PS. For all those Liberal Leadership Fund Raisers, Frank is ripe for the picking for an $1100.00 dollar donation. I know you could all use it - desperately! (Psst - contact details here for Frank)
C'mon Frank - DO THE RIGHT THING!

Note: to save everyone searching, Stephen Harper and Jack Layton both donated the limit of $1100.00 dollars, Elizabeth May donated $725.00 dollars.

Godfrey finally resigns

Don Valley West is now vacant, one month later than what it should have been. Had Liberal MP John Godfrey resigned last month, the riding would have been included in the current round of by-elections.

When you look at the miserable Liberal fundraising numbers, it's not hard to understand why the Liberal MP hung on to his job for another month (collecting two pay cheques, one from his private sector employer, the other from you, the taxpayer).

By having Godfrey delay his resignation and miss this round of by-elections, the Liberals can save around $80,000.00 dollars, roughly what they would be allowed to spend to support a campaign in Don Valley West. The spending levels for the other three ridings will probably be in the range of $250,000.00 total, which the parties can choose to split up any way they wish amongst the ridings.

The last thing the Liberals want to do is fight for another seat against opponents that are better funded and prepared than they are. I think they're planning on spending the absolute minimum amount possible in support of their candidates. My guess is that they'll come in it at around the $75 to $80,000.00 dollar mark. A close watch on the party's various media buys over the course of the campaign should tell an interesting story.

With a $2 million dollar loan at 9% interest helping keep party operations afloat, the cash-strapped Liberals have little choice but to tighten their belts and hope for the best.
Right now their focus has to remain on fundraising, not spending on campaigns.

Barker does a little fortune telling today

Gerry Barker's column in today's Guelph Mercury should be bookmarked for the future:

One of Murphy’s lesser known laws: the 50-50-90 rule. Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90 per cent probability you’ll get it wrong.

Taxpayers have to be relieved that spending $102 million on various projects in one section of the city will not cost them huge increases in taxes. If you believe that, read the previous paragraph.

I'd add that if you think the final cost is going to be $102 million you might be suffering from a touch of heat stroke.

Higher taxes and more debt - a future to look forward to in Guelph.

No takebacks on the Internet

Liberal blogger "The Liberal Bag" posted a blog on Wednesday about a personal experience in the Montreal riding of Westmont-Ville Marie, where the Dion appointed candidate Marc Garneau is supposed to win an easy victory.

Apparently Dionistas don't take well to criticism. After doing a virtual dance all over the Liberal Bag, he removed the post and posted an apology.

Thanks to Google cache (and Stephen Taylor), you can read the offending post for yourself.

What the hell are we doing in Westmount-Ville Marie?

So while the Liberal campaign in W-VM is seemingly stagnant for possibly a whole week in a critical riding we must hold, an enthusiastic NDP campaign is, at the very least, not literally turning away volunteers who show up already wearing party buttons, and at the most is knocking on doors with a strong team. While up in Guelph, whenever the topic of Westmount-Ville Marie came up, any comparisons to Outremont were largely dismissed, with the consensus being the riding was simply too Liberals to fall, and while the NDP would finish second, it would be a distant second. I included myself in the category of people who said this, but after my day in Westmount-Ville Marie, I am definitely no longer sure. This should be a wake-up call.

Complete post courtesy of Google Cache

Perception trumps reality in today's Liberal Party of Canada. Truth must be rudely stamped out in favour of the greater goal of winning, regardless of the cost.

Kinda makes you wonder about the whole Green Shaft thing.