That CISCO URL I was looking for
http://your.router/level/15/exec/-/sh/tech/CR
Edmonton Journal Reports on Town Hall
From The Edmonton Journal:
Health cuts 'ideological choice,' crowd told
More than 500 people attend town hall session organized by Friends of Medicare
By Richard Warnica, Edmonton JournalOctober 14, 2009 6:28 AM
The Alberta government has made an "ideological choice" to blow a hole in the public health system -- a move that will raise costs and erode care, a medicare advocate warned an audience of hundreds at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
"We are trying to stop money from flowing out of the system," said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
"The government is completely swimming against the current."
The overflow crowd of more than 500 had organizers scrambling to lay out chairs as Eggen took to the podium.
Lining the walls on either side of the hall, people broke into applause as experts argued that planned health cuts are uninformed, ill-timed and unnecessary.
"Alberta has less excuse than anywhere in the country to cut back," said Dr. Micheal Rachlis, a family doctor turned health policy analyst who spoke after Eggen.
Rachlis called plans to delist services and shut beds a breach in the "spirit of the Canada Health Act," one that won't save any money in the long run.
If the government really wanted to reduce costs, he said, it would expand coverage to include more drug coverage and community care and reform the way doctors and other health professionals are paid, not allow more private delivery.
"I think the best argument against going private is Tony Soprano's," he said: "Fuggetaboutit--you don't need it."
Diana Gibson, research director at the University of Alberta's Parkland Institute, told the crowd that the government is trying to use public relations to make health-care problems disappear.
"It appears with a couple of press releases, we can magic away nursing shortages," she said.
The crowd appeared to be overwhelmingly supportive of the speakers' messages, with some saying they were alarmed by stories of coming cuts and closures.
"I'm concerned by what I'm hearing in the media, but I'm also concerned by what I'm seeing," said Bill Davidson, who runs a boarding house for patients who fly in for treatment from the north. "I'm seeing new places getting built, but not enough staff going into them."
Others were there to protest plans to reduce beds at Alberta Hospital, an acute psychiatric care facility.
"I think it's an outrage that they're closing that mental hospital," said Shirley Lewis.
"I just feel like it's going to spiral into an even worse situation," said Agata Nowinka, a fourth-year medical student who worked at Alberta Hospital this fall.
The government has said it won't close beds at Alberta Hospital until new spaces for treatment are opened in the community. But that doesn't mollify Nowinka.
Acute psychotic patients often need constant intensive care, she said. "That just can't happen in the community. It's like sending your car to be treated by a hairdresser."
Eggen said the government is using the economy as an excuse to do what it wants with the health-care system.
"It's a business choice and an ideological choice," he said. "You blow a hole in the middle of your public health system and private health care will enter."
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
End of Quote
NOt only PC ideology but also WRA ideology - Mark my words!!
Health cuts 'ideological choice,' crowd told
More than 500 people attend town hall session organized by Friends of Medicare
By Richard Warnica, Edmonton JournalOctober 14, 2009 6:28 AM
The Alberta government has made an "ideological choice" to blow a hole in the public health system -- a move that will raise costs and erode care, a medicare advocate warned an audience of hundreds at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
"We are trying to stop money from flowing out of the system," said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
"The government is completely swimming against the current."
The overflow crowd of more than 500 had organizers scrambling to lay out chairs as Eggen took to the podium.
Lining the walls on either side of the hall, people broke into applause as experts argued that planned health cuts are uninformed, ill-timed and unnecessary.
"Alberta has less excuse than anywhere in the country to cut back," said Dr. Micheal Rachlis, a family doctor turned health policy analyst who spoke after Eggen.
Rachlis called plans to delist services and shut beds a breach in the "spirit of the Canada Health Act," one that won't save any money in the long run.
If the government really wanted to reduce costs, he said, it would expand coverage to include more drug coverage and community care and reform the way doctors and other health professionals are paid, not allow more private delivery.
"I think the best argument against going private is Tony Soprano's," he said: "Fuggetaboutit--you don't need it."
Diana Gibson, research director at the University of Alberta's Parkland Institute, told the crowd that the government is trying to use public relations to make health-care problems disappear.
"It appears with a couple of press releases, we can magic away nursing shortages," she said.
The crowd appeared to be overwhelmingly supportive of the speakers' messages, with some saying they were alarmed by stories of coming cuts and closures.
"I'm concerned by what I'm hearing in the media, but I'm also concerned by what I'm seeing," said Bill Davidson, who runs a boarding house for patients who fly in for treatment from the north. "I'm seeing new places getting built, but not enough staff going into them."
Others were there to protest plans to reduce beds at Alberta Hospital, an acute psychiatric care facility.
"I think it's an outrage that they're closing that mental hospital," said Shirley Lewis.
"I just feel like it's going to spiral into an even worse situation," said Agata Nowinka, a fourth-year medical student who worked at Alberta Hospital this fall.
The government has said it won't close beds at Alberta Hospital until new spaces for treatment are opened in the community. But that doesn't mollify Nowinka.
Acute psychotic patients often need constant intensive care, she said. "That just can't happen in the community. It's like sending your car to be treated by a hairdresser."
Eggen said the government is using the economy as an excuse to do what it wants with the health-care system.
"It's a business choice and an ideological choice," he said. "You blow a hole in the middle of your public health system and private health care will enter."
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
End of Quote
NOt only PC ideology but also WRA ideology - Mark my words!!
Even CBC reports Stelmach unpopular
From CBC's Website :
Voter support plummets for PCs, Stelmach: poll
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 | 6:02 PM MT
CBC News
Political support for Alberta's Progressive Conservative party is dropping at a dramatic pace with a majority of respondents in a new opinion poll disapproving of Premier Ed Stelmach's leadership.
If an election were held today, the Tories would still lead with 30 per cent support, followed by the Wildrose Alliance with 22 per cent, according to the survey conducted by Return On Insight, a strategic research consulting company.
The Alberta Liberals would place third with 18 per cent support, followed by the Alberta NDP with nine per cent, and the Green Party of Alberta — which was deregistered as a provincial political party in July — with four per cent.
'Much of the disenchantment rests with the perceived lack of leadership by Premier Ed Stelmach.'—Bruce Cameron, pollster
About one in eight Albertans, or 12 per cent, said they were undecided, while five per cent mentioned other parties.
The survey of 802 Albertans was done between Oct. 2-7 by phone using a random dialing sample. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Among decided voters, the Tories received only 34 per cent support, compared to 64 per cent in January 2007, the poll found.
"The historic dominance of the PC party in Alberta is being threatened by a newly emerging three-way split in voter support between the PCs, the Liberals, who are holding onto their core voters, and the Wildrose Alliance, who are benefiting directly from the collapse in PC loyalty," said Bruce Cameron, the pollster behind Return On Insight.
Fifty-seven per cent — almost six in 10 Albertans — disapprove of Stelmach's performance. In comparison, Liberal Leader David Swann received a disapproval rating of 43 per cent.
Tories in freefall
"The party is in a virtual freefall in terms of public support and confidence," said Cameron, who said he is not a member of a provincial party.
"The difficult economic situation and the resulting budget deficits no doubt played a role in this decline, but much of the disenchantment rests with the perceived lack of leadership by Premier Ed Stelmach."
The Tories won 72 of 83 provincial seats in the March 2008 election, but the Wildrose Alliance captured Calgary-Glenmore — held by the Conservatives for 40 years — in a September byelection.
Paul Hinman, the Wildrose Alliance's only MLA, was sworn in on Wednesday.
Stelmach faces a mandatory party leadership review on Nov. 7, while the Wildrose Alliance chooses a new leader on Saturday.
The premier will be addressing Albertans about the recession in a televised speech on Wednesday evening, followed by a fundraising dinner for the party in Red Deer.
End of Quote!
David Swann there is a lot of work to be done!!
Voter support plummets for PCs, Stelmach: poll
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 | 6:02 PM MT
CBC News
Political support for Alberta's Progressive Conservative party is dropping at a dramatic pace with a majority of respondents in a new opinion poll disapproving of Premier Ed Stelmach's leadership.
If an election were held today, the Tories would still lead with 30 per cent support, followed by the Wildrose Alliance with 22 per cent, according to the survey conducted by Return On Insight, a strategic research consulting company.
The Alberta Liberals would place third with 18 per cent support, followed by the Alberta NDP with nine per cent, and the Green Party of Alberta — which was deregistered as a provincial political party in July — with four per cent.
'Much of the disenchantment rests with the perceived lack of leadership by Premier Ed Stelmach.'—Bruce Cameron, pollster
About one in eight Albertans, or 12 per cent, said they were undecided, while five per cent mentioned other parties.
The survey of 802 Albertans was done between Oct. 2-7 by phone using a random dialing sample. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Among decided voters, the Tories received only 34 per cent support, compared to 64 per cent in January 2007, the poll found.
"The historic dominance of the PC party in Alberta is being threatened by a newly emerging three-way split in voter support between the PCs, the Liberals, who are holding onto their core voters, and the Wildrose Alliance, who are benefiting directly from the collapse in PC loyalty," said Bruce Cameron, the pollster behind Return On Insight.
Fifty-seven per cent — almost six in 10 Albertans — disapprove of Stelmach's performance. In comparison, Liberal Leader David Swann received a disapproval rating of 43 per cent.
Tories in freefall
"The party is in a virtual freefall in terms of public support and confidence," said Cameron, who said he is not a member of a provincial party.
"The difficult economic situation and the resulting budget deficits no doubt played a role in this decline, but much of the disenchantment rests with the perceived lack of leadership by Premier Ed Stelmach."
The Tories won 72 of 83 provincial seats in the March 2008 election, but the Wildrose Alliance captured Calgary-Glenmore — held by the Conservatives for 40 years — in a September byelection.
Paul Hinman, the Wildrose Alliance's only MLA, was sworn in on Wednesday.
Stelmach faces a mandatory party leadership review on Nov. 7, while the Wildrose Alliance chooses a new leader on Saturday.
The premier will be addressing Albertans about the recession in a televised speech on Wednesday evening, followed by a fundraising dinner for the party in Red Deer.
End of Quote!
David Swann there is a lot of work to be done!!
Health Care Town Hall Meeting
Friends of Medicare has a Health Care Town Hall with Guest Speakers Dr Michael Rachlis and Diana Gibson the Tuesday 13 Oct 2009 7 p.m. at the Polish Hall across from the Royal Alex Hospital 10960 104 Street Edmonton; Free Parking. More Health Cuts? Wrong Way!!!
Liepert is a crisis
From http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Liepert+tweaks+style/2088843/story.html
Liepert tweaks style
By Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalOctober 10, 2009 7:06 AM
Alberta health policy? Full steam ahead.
Minister Ron Liepert's personal style?Well, maybe that needs a little tweak. "I'm constantly being told by certain people that I need to put a more human face on things," Liepert said in an interview on Friday. "And if that's what's required, I'm quite prepared to try to do that."
Liepert has come under criticism this week as the face of health reform in the province. Former Tory cabinet minister Ernie Isley called for him to be fired, and a CBC poll suggested 54 per cent of Albertans believe he is doing a poor or very poor job.
But Liepert stressed that the government's health policies are not his alone, and said he stands by even the most controversial decisions taken since the last election, including the decision not to redevelop Alberta Hospital.
Alberta Health Services said in August they would not redevelop the hospital for the mentally ill and would close roughly one-third of the 400 acute-care beds. The news release was issued late Friday afternoon and was vague about future plans.
Stakeholders, including physicians at the hospital, were furious and said they weren't consulted. Dr. P.J. White, the physician originally promoting the plan, later expressed concern that AHS was "rushing at breakneck speed" to close the beds, which had jumped to 246.
After weeks of public outcry, the government struck a panel that will look at implementing the plan. Liepert said the problems were the result of poor communications.
"Hindsight is great. I think at the time what Alberta Health Services was doing was saying, 'Look, here's the three-year plan ... no patient is going to be moved until the appropriate care is in the community. The forensic unit is not going to be closed, there will still be an Alberta Hospital, those who need institutional treatment will still receive it at Alberta Hospital.' But those messages didn't get through."
Liepert is embarking on a six-week tour around the province to talk to people about the government's health-care reform. One notion he wants to dispel is that the changes involve more private health care.
"I don't know how much more clear I can be, how many more times I have to say it, we are clearly standing behind a publicly funded health-care system," he said.
But Liepert said that privately funded is different than privately delivered, which is already common in the province.
Liepert said he wants to talk with as many people as possible.
"When I have the opportunity to meet with groups, there's generally a much better understanding about what we're trying to do."
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
2 options : Have Liepert ejected from caucus or have a byelection in Calgary West
Liepert tweaks style
By Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalOctober 10, 2009 7:06 AM
Alberta health policy? Full steam ahead.
Minister Ron Liepert's personal style?Well, maybe that needs a little tweak. "I'm constantly being told by certain people that I need to put a more human face on things," Liepert said in an interview on Friday. "And if that's what's required, I'm quite prepared to try to do that."
Liepert has come under criticism this week as the face of health reform in the province. Former Tory cabinet minister Ernie Isley called for him to be fired, and a CBC poll suggested 54 per cent of Albertans believe he is doing a poor or very poor job.
But Liepert stressed that the government's health policies are not his alone, and said he stands by even the most controversial decisions taken since the last election, including the decision not to redevelop Alberta Hospital.
Alberta Health Services said in August they would not redevelop the hospital for the mentally ill and would close roughly one-third of the 400 acute-care beds. The news release was issued late Friday afternoon and was vague about future plans.
Stakeholders, including physicians at the hospital, were furious and said they weren't consulted. Dr. P.J. White, the physician originally promoting the plan, later expressed concern that AHS was "rushing at breakneck speed" to close the beds, which had jumped to 246.
After weeks of public outcry, the government struck a panel that will look at implementing the plan. Liepert said the problems were the result of poor communications.
"Hindsight is great. I think at the time what Alberta Health Services was doing was saying, 'Look, here's the three-year plan ... no patient is going to be moved until the appropriate care is in the community. The forensic unit is not going to be closed, there will still be an Alberta Hospital, those who need institutional treatment will still receive it at Alberta Hospital.' But those messages didn't get through."
Liepert is embarking on a six-week tour around the province to talk to people about the government's health-care reform. One notion he wants to dispel is that the changes involve more private health care.
"I don't know how much more clear I can be, how many more times I have to say it, we are clearly standing behind a publicly funded health-care system," he said.
But Liepert said that privately funded is different than privately delivered, which is already common in the province.
Liepert said he wants to talk with as many people as possible.
"When I have the opportunity to meet with groups, there's generally a much better understanding about what we're trying to do."
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
2 options : Have Liepert ejected from caucus or have a byelection in Calgary West
Latest Edmonton Journal Poll
From The Edmonton Journal :
Wildrose Alliance vies for second place in Alberta: poll
By Trish Audette, edmontonjournal.com October 8, 2009 5:57 AM
EDMONTON — The Wildrose Alliance party could be Premier Ed Stelmach’s primary competition if an election was held today, according to a poll released Wednesday.
A telephone survey of 1,201 eligible voters conducted over the weekend shows the Alliance and Alberta Liberals in a “statistical dead heat,” vying for second place behind the governing Tories.
“You have to keep in mind the Conservatives still lead in all categories,” said political scientist Faron Ellis of the University of Lethbridge, who conducted the poll. “The barbarians are not at the gates of the legislature just yet.”
But increased media attention after former Alliance leader Paul Hinman captured Calgary-Glenmore in a byelection — and ahead of the fledgling party’s Oct. 17 leadership vote — has led to a new level of support for a party that “up until now (was) a very fringe element,” Ellis said.
Across the province, the poll suggests 38.4 per cent of Albertans would vote for Stelmach’s Tories today, compared to the 52.7 per cent who supported the party in the 2008 election.
Alliance support was at 21.5 per cent in the poll, up sharply from 6.8 per cent of the votes the party took in the last election.
The poll had the Liberals at 20.8 per cent, the NDP at 10.7 per cent and other parties at a total of 8.5 per cent. The Alberta Greens were deregistered this summer.
“The existing opposition parties don’t have a lot of good news in this poll, unless they can count on vote-splitting in Edmonton,” Ellis said.
In the capital — the only place where the Alliance falls well behind both the Liberals and NDP — the poll shows Tory support at 34.5 per cent, the Liberals at 27.5 per cent, the NDP at 17 per cent, the Wildrose Alliance at 13.1 per cent and other parties at a total of 11.1 per cent.
Edmonton’s numbers are markedly different from Calgary’s, where the Tories polled at 38.2 per cent, the Wildrose Alliance at 27 per cent, the Liberals at 20.7 per cent, and the NDP at 6.6 per cent. Other parties there polled at 7.7 per cent.
Across the province, the Alliance curried slightly more favour among men, middle-income voters, people 65 or older, and people who identify themselves as religious. University grads were least likely to favour the new party.
In analyzing the data, Ellis concluded that the governing Tories face “growing political unrest on their right flank.”
Still, much of the Alliance’s future success depends on whether the party can field candidates in ridings across the province, and the outcome of a leadership race between Mark Dyrholm and Danielle Smith.
“One of the problems this party’s going to have is, they’re going to go down the populist road,” said Ellis, who was a federal Reform party member. He said he currently holds a Wildrose Alliance membership for research purposes and works with the federal Conservative party.
“If you’re Conservative, you can look at these numbers and say, ‘Conservatives are ahead everywhere, good news,’ ” Ellis said.
Stelmach’s Tories have likely seen similar results in their own post-byelection polls, he said.
The Wildrose Alliance claims it now has 11,670 members, up from 1,800 in June.
Alliance president Jeff Callaway said Ellis’s results are not surprising, as the party has done its own internal polls in ridings across the province. “The results are consistent and in some instances even better,” he said. “I think once we get our leader crowned Oct. 17 in Edmonton, it will be one more step closer for us. It is exciting times for the party.”
Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann said it’s important to remember that polls are a snapshot and reflect what people say at the time they were surveyed.
“Of course, the focus of this time was the real upset in Calgary-Glenmore, where most of the Conservative vote went away from the Tories and to the Wildrose Alliance,” he said. “I think anyone who studies political science will also recognize that with a party without a leader, there is a strong tendency for people to give them the benefit of the doubt and to assume something about their policies which most people don’t know anything about yet. There is this strong honeymoon effect.”
Swann said he thinks the numbers will change once the Alliance has a leader and voters see where the party stands on issues such as deregulation, health care, environmental stewardship and human rights.
Tom Olsen, director of media relations for the premier’s office, said Stelmach “does not take for granted” his role as the premier of Alberta.
“To that end, he is committed to continue providing good government to the citizens of Alberta,” Olsen said in an e-mail. “The premier has also been known to say the poll that matters most is the poll that occurs on election day.”
The provincial poll, conducted by students at Lethbridge College and Athabasca University, has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error for the Edmonton data was five percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
with files from Florence Loyie
My comments are if you look at the my Calgary Glenmore post, I was right!
Wildrose Alliance vies for second place in Alberta: poll
By Trish Audette, edmontonjournal.com October 8, 2009 5:57 AM
EDMONTON — The Wildrose Alliance party could be Premier Ed Stelmach’s primary competition if an election was held today, according to a poll released Wednesday.
A telephone survey of 1,201 eligible voters conducted over the weekend shows the Alliance and Alberta Liberals in a “statistical dead heat,” vying for second place behind the governing Tories.
“You have to keep in mind the Conservatives still lead in all categories,” said political scientist Faron Ellis of the University of Lethbridge, who conducted the poll. “The barbarians are not at the gates of the legislature just yet.”
But increased media attention after former Alliance leader Paul Hinman captured Calgary-Glenmore in a byelection — and ahead of the fledgling party’s Oct. 17 leadership vote — has led to a new level of support for a party that “up until now (was) a very fringe element,” Ellis said.
Across the province, the poll suggests 38.4 per cent of Albertans would vote for Stelmach’s Tories today, compared to the 52.7 per cent who supported the party in the 2008 election.
Alliance support was at 21.5 per cent in the poll, up sharply from 6.8 per cent of the votes the party took in the last election.
The poll had the Liberals at 20.8 per cent, the NDP at 10.7 per cent and other parties at a total of 8.5 per cent. The Alberta Greens were deregistered this summer.
“The existing opposition parties don’t have a lot of good news in this poll, unless they can count on vote-splitting in Edmonton,” Ellis said.
In the capital — the only place where the Alliance falls well behind both the Liberals and NDP — the poll shows Tory support at 34.5 per cent, the Liberals at 27.5 per cent, the NDP at 17 per cent, the Wildrose Alliance at 13.1 per cent and other parties at a total of 11.1 per cent.
Edmonton’s numbers are markedly different from Calgary’s, where the Tories polled at 38.2 per cent, the Wildrose Alliance at 27 per cent, the Liberals at 20.7 per cent, and the NDP at 6.6 per cent. Other parties there polled at 7.7 per cent.
Across the province, the Alliance curried slightly more favour among men, middle-income voters, people 65 or older, and people who identify themselves as religious. University grads were least likely to favour the new party.
In analyzing the data, Ellis concluded that the governing Tories face “growing political unrest on their right flank.”
Still, much of the Alliance’s future success depends on whether the party can field candidates in ridings across the province, and the outcome of a leadership race between Mark Dyrholm and Danielle Smith.
“One of the problems this party’s going to have is, they’re going to go down the populist road,” said Ellis, who was a federal Reform party member. He said he currently holds a Wildrose Alliance membership for research purposes and works with the federal Conservative party.
“If you’re Conservative, you can look at these numbers and say, ‘Conservatives are ahead everywhere, good news,’ ” Ellis said.
Stelmach’s Tories have likely seen similar results in their own post-byelection polls, he said.
The Wildrose Alliance claims it now has 11,670 members, up from 1,800 in June.
Alliance president Jeff Callaway said Ellis’s results are not surprising, as the party has done its own internal polls in ridings across the province. “The results are consistent and in some instances even better,” he said. “I think once we get our leader crowned Oct. 17 in Edmonton, it will be one more step closer for us. It is exciting times for the party.”
Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann said it’s important to remember that polls are a snapshot and reflect what people say at the time they were surveyed.
“Of course, the focus of this time was the real upset in Calgary-Glenmore, where most of the Conservative vote went away from the Tories and to the Wildrose Alliance,” he said. “I think anyone who studies political science will also recognize that with a party without a leader, there is a strong tendency for people to give them the benefit of the doubt and to assume something about their policies which most people don’t know anything about yet. There is this strong honeymoon effect.”
Swann said he thinks the numbers will change once the Alliance has a leader and voters see where the party stands on issues such as deregulation, health care, environmental stewardship and human rights.
Tom Olsen, director of media relations for the premier’s office, said Stelmach “does not take for granted” his role as the premier of Alberta.
“To that end, he is committed to continue providing good government to the citizens of Alberta,” Olsen said in an e-mail. “The premier has also been known to say the poll that matters most is the poll that occurs on election day.”
The provincial poll, conducted by students at Lethbridge College and Athabasca University, has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error for the Edmonton data was five percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
with files from Florence Loyie
My comments are if you look at the my Calgary Glenmore post, I was right!
Liberal Leader David Swann on TV Tonight!
FRom the Leg:
Tune into Alberta Prime time tonight at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm on channel 9 (Access Television).
David will be featured in a 5 minute segment talking about the political climate in Alberta, specifically what role the Wildrose Alliance plays and what role we play as the Official Opposition. David will be doing a one on one interview with Jennifer Martin.
Tune into Alberta Prime time tonight at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm on channel 9 (Access Television).
David will be featured in a 5 minute segment talking about the political climate in Alberta, specifically what role the Wildrose Alliance plays and what role we play as the Official Opposition. David will be doing a one on one interview with Jennifer Martin.
What is up today?
Off to breakfast at http://www.mayfieldnetworkclub.com .
Off to http://www.calvarycommunity.ca/ for Oasis this evening.
I Must remember to talk to the webmaster about the pocast error.
Off to http://www.calvarycommunity.ca/ for Oasis this evening.
I Must remember to talk to the webmaster about the pocast error.
We need to know boths sides
How did CPC propaganda end up in my mailbox?
Verbatim
Office of Joy Smith, M.P.
Kildonan-St. Paul
Bureau de Joy Smith, députée
Kildonan-St. Paul
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2009
News Release
Opposition To Child Trafficking Bill Horrifies Former Trafficking Victim
Ottawa, ON: Wednesday September 30, 2009, MP Joy Smith’s Bill C-268, which proposes five year minimum sentences for traffickers of children, received significant support from 239 Members of Parliament during the vote at Third Reading. However, 43 MPs of the Bloc Quebecois and 3 MPs from the NDP parties voted against serious penalties for child traffickers.
As Timea Nagy, a former victim of human trafficking, sat in gallery of the House of Commons watching the vote on C-268, she felt horrified that anyone would vote against such legislation.
“I don’t understand how anyone could feel that five years in jail is too much for those who offer children for sale,” said Timea Nagy. “What if it were their child that was trafficked? Would they still have voted the same way?”
“Timea is truly and inspiration and hero to us all! Her determination to help other victims gives us continued hope that one day we will end this modern day slave trade,” said MP Joy Smith. “We must give her and other victims hope. As Members of Parliament, we are obligated to give victims confidence to come forward and escape the clutches of their traffickers.”
Timea also had the opportunity to review some of the comments made by one of the NDP members who voted against Bill C-268. During the final debate on C-268 on September 29, 2009, NDP MP Megan Leslie said,
“We have a situation here in which five people have been convicted. Let us remember that the bill deals only with people who have been convicted, and we have 800 people who are being trafficked. They are not addressed by the bill at all, not one bit. Five versus 800: I wonder why we are even wasting our time talking about this when what we really need is action on child trafficking.”
“I know the terrifying feeling of knowing that your trafficker is out there. Is there any wonder why there are only 5 convictions and these 800 other victims don’t come forward,” said Timea Nagy, who now counsels other victims of human trafficking. “What confidence can we offer them, when there is no guarantee that their trafficker will receive any jail time at all? Why would they dare come forward when the threat of further exploitation and abuse remains?”
Prior to the vote on Bill C-268, an email was distributed to all MPs with a message from Timea.
To the Members of House of Commons.
My name is Timea Eva Nagy. I am a Human Trafficked victim and survivor.
As a person who has experienced this horrific crime first hand, and as a person who is now helping other victims by giving them hope and courage to go to the police and give a statement, facing the possibility that their keepers will walk or get a light sentence is the hardest part of my job.
Looking in a victim’s eye, and telling her that the Police will do everything they can, but it is now up to the law and the court system to make sure that these guys will never hurt her again can be really scary to rely on.
Trafficking drugs and guns get tougher sentences then trafficking a person.
I truly believe that if it was your daughter, sister, you would also feel that something is wrong with that picture. You have a chance today to change that. We as Victims, and the Police officers are relying on your decision today.
Please give us hope and reasons to be brave and strong for giving a statement and testifying. Please reward the Police officers who are doing a really hard work by giving them tougher law’s to work with.
You have the power to do that!
On September 30, 2009, two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to take a stand against child trafficking. Two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to bring dignity to the victims of child trafficking. Two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to fight the fear of victims.
Unfortunately, forty-six Members of Parliament chose to vote against hope for victims.
Timea was by no means the only person shocked by the resistance to C-268. Canadians across Canada were appalled at the opposition to C-268. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, founder of Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA) said, “Voting against this Bill will be detrimental to Quebec and the victims of criminal acts. The Bloc’s position suggests that attacking children is not serious and not subject to severe sentences.”
Other Canadians reflected on the passage of C-268 as fundamental to affirming Canada’s position towards child trafficking.
“This is certainly a great moment where together as Canadians we stand for children, sending a clear message that we will never tolerate their trafficking,” said former Quebec youth judge, Andree Ruffo. “It took the vision and determination of Mrs. Joy Smith, Member of Parliament. She should be thanked and congratulated.”
Both Mr. Boisvenu and Ms. Ruffo spoke with MP Joy Smith at a walk to raise awareness about child trafficking and support C-268 last Sunday in Montreal. The walk drew many people from across Quebec representing a wide range of faiths, ethnic backgrounds, and communities.
“Regardless of where I go in Canada, Canadians are clear that they will not tolerate child trafficking, nor will they tolerate light sentences for the perpetrators.” said Mrs. Smith. “This message continues to be consistent across our country.”
The full list of voting results can be viewed here: http://www.joysmith.ca/index.asp?ID=76&cat_ID=1&sub_ID=468
- 30 -
For more information please contact:
Joel Oosterman
Legislative Assistant
Office of Joy Smith, MP
Phone: (613) 992-7148
Email: smithj8@parl.gc.ca
Website: http://www.joysmith.ca
Benjamin Perrin
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
Faculty Fellow, Liu Institute for Global Issues
Phone: (778) 928-9327
E-mail: perrin@law.ubc.ca
Website: http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/perrin
Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu
President
Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA)
Phone: 819-620-3554
Email: afpad@bellnet.ca
Website: http://www.afpad.ca/en/index.shtml
Andrée Ruffo
Former Quebec Youth Judge
Phone: 450-244-5049
End Verbatim.
The Question is what does the BQ and the NDP oppose in this bill?
Verbatim
Office of Joy Smith, M.P.
Kildonan-St. Paul
Bureau de Joy Smith, députée
Kildonan-St. Paul
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2009
News Release
Opposition To Child Trafficking Bill Horrifies Former Trafficking Victim
Ottawa, ON: Wednesday September 30, 2009, MP Joy Smith’s Bill C-268, which proposes five year minimum sentences for traffickers of children, received significant support from 239 Members of Parliament during the vote at Third Reading. However, 43 MPs of the Bloc Quebecois and 3 MPs from the NDP parties voted against serious penalties for child traffickers.
As Timea Nagy, a former victim of human trafficking, sat in gallery of the House of Commons watching the vote on C-268, she felt horrified that anyone would vote against such legislation.
“I don’t understand how anyone could feel that five years in jail is too much for those who offer children for sale,” said Timea Nagy. “What if it were their child that was trafficked? Would they still have voted the same way?”
“Timea is truly and inspiration and hero to us all! Her determination to help other victims gives us continued hope that one day we will end this modern day slave trade,” said MP Joy Smith. “We must give her and other victims hope. As Members of Parliament, we are obligated to give victims confidence to come forward and escape the clutches of their traffickers.”
Timea also had the opportunity to review some of the comments made by one of the NDP members who voted against Bill C-268. During the final debate on C-268 on September 29, 2009, NDP MP Megan Leslie said,
“We have a situation here in which five people have been convicted. Let us remember that the bill deals only with people who have been convicted, and we have 800 people who are being trafficked. They are not addressed by the bill at all, not one bit. Five versus 800: I wonder why we are even wasting our time talking about this when what we really need is action on child trafficking.”
“I know the terrifying feeling of knowing that your trafficker is out there. Is there any wonder why there are only 5 convictions and these 800 other victims don’t come forward,” said Timea Nagy, who now counsels other victims of human trafficking. “What confidence can we offer them, when there is no guarantee that their trafficker will receive any jail time at all? Why would they dare come forward when the threat of further exploitation and abuse remains?”
Prior to the vote on Bill C-268, an email was distributed to all MPs with a message from Timea.
To the Members of House of Commons.
My name is Timea Eva Nagy. I am a Human Trafficked victim and survivor.
As a person who has experienced this horrific crime first hand, and as a person who is now helping other victims by giving them hope and courage to go to the police and give a statement, facing the possibility that their keepers will walk or get a light sentence is the hardest part of my job.
Looking in a victim’s eye, and telling her that the Police will do everything they can, but it is now up to the law and the court system to make sure that these guys will never hurt her again can be really scary to rely on.
Trafficking drugs and guns get tougher sentences then trafficking a person.
I truly believe that if it was your daughter, sister, you would also feel that something is wrong with that picture. You have a chance today to change that. We as Victims, and the Police officers are relying on your decision today.
Please give us hope and reasons to be brave and strong for giving a statement and testifying. Please reward the Police officers who are doing a really hard work by giving them tougher law’s to work with.
You have the power to do that!
On September 30, 2009, two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to take a stand against child trafficking. Two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to bring dignity to the victims of child trafficking. Two hundred and thirty-nine Members of Parliament voted to fight the fear of victims.
Unfortunately, forty-six Members of Parliament chose to vote against hope for victims.
Timea was by no means the only person shocked by the resistance to C-268. Canadians across Canada were appalled at the opposition to C-268. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, founder of Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA) said, “Voting against this Bill will be detrimental to Quebec and the victims of criminal acts. The Bloc’s position suggests that attacking children is not serious and not subject to severe sentences.”
Other Canadians reflected on the passage of C-268 as fundamental to affirming Canada’s position towards child trafficking.
“This is certainly a great moment where together as Canadians we stand for children, sending a clear message that we will never tolerate their trafficking,” said former Quebec youth judge, Andree Ruffo. “It took the vision and determination of Mrs. Joy Smith, Member of Parliament. She should be thanked and congratulated.”
Both Mr. Boisvenu and Ms. Ruffo spoke with MP Joy Smith at a walk to raise awareness about child trafficking and support C-268 last Sunday in Montreal. The walk drew many people from across Quebec representing a wide range of faiths, ethnic backgrounds, and communities.
“Regardless of where I go in Canada, Canadians are clear that they will not tolerate child trafficking, nor will they tolerate light sentences for the perpetrators.” said Mrs. Smith. “This message continues to be consistent across our country.”
The full list of voting results can be viewed here: http://www.joysmith.ca/index.asp?ID=76&cat_ID=1&sub_ID=468
- 30 -
For more information please contact:
Joel Oosterman
Legislative Assistant
Office of Joy Smith, MP
Phone: (613) 992-7148
Email: smithj8@parl.gc.ca
Website: http://www.joysmith.ca
Benjamin Perrin
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia
Faculty Fellow, Liu Institute for Global Issues
Phone: (778) 928-9327
E-mail: perrin@law.ubc.ca
Website: http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/perrin
Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu
President
Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA)
Phone: 819-620-3554
Email: afpad@bellnet.ca
Website: http://www.afpad.ca/en/index.shtml
Andrée Ruffo
Former Quebec Youth Judge
Phone: 450-244-5049
End Verbatim.
The Question is what does the BQ and the NDP oppose in this bill?
We follow each other
Twitter Arsenal and rootnl2k at twitter are following each other.
Blow me over!!
up to 55 mph / 95 kmph winds. Watch out!!
Mental Health protest
check it out at the Edmonton Journal .
Calgary Glenmore Byelection
Source: ab.politics post archived in groups.google.com
However look at this and you be the judge
Party WPA Liberal PC NDP SC Ind Greens
2008 1025 4213 6436 477 n/a n/a 550
8.1% 33.2% 50.7% 3.8% 4.3%
Turnout 41.2%
2009 By-El
4052 3776 2863 148 118 71
37% 34% 26% 1% 1% 1%
Turnout 40.5%
Looks as if Alberta is a 3 way race between WPA, PCAA and ALP.
However look at this and you be the judge
Party WPA Liberal PC NDP SC Ind Greens
2008 1025 4213 6436 477 n/a n/a 550
8.1% 33.2% 50.7% 3.8% 4.3%
Turnout 41.2%
2009 By-El
4052 3776 2863 148 118 71
37% 34% 26% 1% 1% 1%
Turnout 40.5%
Looks as if Alberta is a 3 way race between WPA, PCAA and ALP.
More old PC cabinet ministers join Wild Rose Alliance
Ernie Isley announces membership in Wildrose Alliance . About that 70%+ Ralph Klein was talking about. I knew the supports of Ed Stelmach in the last leadership race. Nice to be socialable butdoes it pay off?
4 Byelections called in Canada
From CBC
We see by-elections in Electoral districts where votes will be held Nov. 9:
Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley (Nova Scotia)
New Westminster-Coquitlam (British Columbia)
Hochelaga (Quebec)
Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup (Quebec)
Rumour has the CPC are not confident to win even 1.
So from the last elections:
Colchester Cumberland
CON 3493 Ind (Bill Casey) 27303 NDP 4874 Liberal 3344 ind (Rock Simpson) 550
FRom Wikipedia
Party Candidate
Conservative Scott Armstrong
Liberal Jim Burrows
New Democrat Mark Austin
Green Jason Blanch
Christian Heritage Jim Hnatiuk
Liberal or NDP could take this
Rivière-du-Loup
Liberal 6 835 CHP 147 BQ 20 494 Green 978 NDP 2 428 CON 13 640
BQ hold
FRom Pundit's Guide
BQ Nancy Gagnon CONS Bernard Genereux
N/A at this time
Hochelaga
Comm 184 ML 177 Liberal 9 442 CON 4 201 rhinos 230 Green 1 946 Marijuan 183 BQ 22 720 NDP 6 600
From Pundit's Guide
NDP Jean-Claude Rocheleau
Will the Liberals overtake the BQ here?
New Westminster-Coquitlam
NDP 20 787 Libertarian 314 Liberal 5 615 CON 19 299 Green 3 574 ML 103
From tri-citynews.com :
Coquitlam Coun. Fin Donnelly will represent the NDP in the race, while Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth will hold the Conservative banner. Ken Beck Lee, an engineer from New Westminster is running for the Liberals and Rebecca Helps will represent the Greens.
This one could be close for the NDP.
We see by-elections in Electoral districts where votes will be held Nov. 9:
Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley (Nova Scotia)
New Westminster-Coquitlam (British Columbia)
Hochelaga (Quebec)
Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup (Quebec)
Rumour has the CPC are not confident to win even 1.
So from the last elections:
Colchester Cumberland
CON 3493 Ind (Bill Casey) 27303 NDP 4874 Liberal 3344 ind (Rock Simpson) 550
FRom Wikipedia
Party Candidate
Conservative Scott Armstrong
Liberal Jim Burrows
New Democrat Mark Austin
Green Jason Blanch
Christian Heritage Jim Hnatiuk
Liberal or NDP could take this
Rivière-du-Loup
Liberal 6 835 CHP 147 BQ 20 494 Green 978 NDP 2 428 CON 13 640
BQ hold
FRom Pundit's Guide
BQ Nancy Gagnon CONS Bernard Genereux
N/A at this time
Hochelaga
Comm 184 ML 177 Liberal 9 442 CON 4 201 rhinos 230 Green 1 946 Marijuan 183 BQ 22 720 NDP 6 600
From Pundit's Guide
NDP Jean-Claude Rocheleau
Will the Liberals overtake the BQ here?
New Westminster-Coquitlam
NDP 20 787 Libertarian 314 Liberal 5 615 CON 19 299 Green 3 574 ML 103
From tri-citynews.com :
Coquitlam Coun. Fin Donnelly will represent the NDP in the race, while Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth will hold the Conservative banner. Ken Beck Lee, an engineer from New Westminster is running for the Liberals and Rebecca Helps will represent the Greens.
This one could be close for the NDP.