Canadian Politics

In Canadian politics

January 14, 2002 by Michael Boyle

In Canadian politics

, big news as Brian Tobin resigns. MJ Milloy has already posted a very good analysis of the news. All the pieces are there save this: Tobin has already done this once before. When he went back to the Rock last time, it was ostensibly the “give back to my home” jag, but really it was clear that it was all about going out in the wilderness to return a conquering hero.

The only question that remains: can it work a second time for Tobin? Most people only get one shot at the selfless exile pose. A second coming? Interesting, if cliche. A third? Very possibly a miscalculation.

From the Truth is Stranger than Fiction

December 14, 2001 by Michael Boyle

From the Truth is Stranger than Fiction

department: Alberta Premier Ralph Klein got drunk and stopped by a homeless shelter at 1am the other day. While there, witnesses report that he got into a loud argument with a man before throwing some money and being escorted out by his driver. Klein said by way of apology, “I don’t deny that [I had some drinks], but I want centre residents and all Albertans to know that I will always strive to represent my office and this province with dignity and respect.”

The Canadian Government

November 21, 2001 by Michael Boyle

has finally agreed to include a sunset clause in its anti-terrorism bill, the merits of which are doubtful at best.

Thanks to two people

November 13, 2000 by Michael Boyle

, Peter Merholz and Meg Hourihan, for pointing out this map of the US election results by county. The additional level of granularity yields some really interesting information – particularly concerning the urban/rural split in US politics.

The same thing exists in Canadian politics as well, with the ruling Liberals electing MPs in most major cities while the upstart Reform/Alliance has otherwise swept the West and is threatening a breakthrough in outlying parts of Ontario. Likewise, in Quebec the Bloc is predominant except in Montreal, and didn’t sweep Quebec City either. An important difference between Canada and the US is that Canada is slightly more urban than the US – though it’s only marginally so.

My attention turned

November 9, 2000 by Michael Boyle

to our own Federal general election tonight, as I watched the English language debate between the leaders of the 5 major parties. I was quite disappointed in the whole thing, although frankly I didn’t expect much.

Dan Rather, following all the US debates, was loathe to call them debates at all, suggesting that rather than debate it was really an opportunity for the two leaders to talk about their platform only – the other guy just happened to be in the room. Our debate here was the opposite – it was all acrimonious bickering and no annunciation of coherent platforms. None at all.

Alexa McDonough, leader of the ever-smaller federal NDP, came off the best by far, in my opinion. My own MP, Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois, was actually pretty good – except the idea that overwhelms everything else he stands for is diametrically opposed to my view of things. Joe Clark, the once and current leader of the Progressive Conservative party was OK, but it’s clear that although he’s a decent guy, his time has passed.

Which leaves Jean Chretien and Stockwell Day. Chretien, the leader of the Liberal party (and current PM, if you’re not from around here) was basically in an impossible situation. He didn’t meet it very well. Day came off like a motivational speaker – a lying, duplicitous motivational speaker. He and his Canadian Alliance cronies are probably the scariest thing to happen to Canadian politics in years. Which is enough said about him.