Media Highlights for Tuesday February 21, 2006 – David Emerson
Feb 21 2006 Popularity of Canada’s ruling Conservatives wanes (XINHUA) Even making news in China
Feb 21 2006 A new reason to be cynical (Guardian Unlimited)
Canada’s new Conservative prime minister, Stephen Harper, has enjoyed what is perhaps the briefest political honeymoon in the country’s history.
Canadian politicians have switched parties before, but never so quickly after an election – and they usually offer a better reason than that their side lost. The bait-and-switch move, along with other controversial appointments, provoked an intense reaction across the country, including among Conservatives. making news over in the UK, too
Feb 21 2006 In My Humble Opinion (LTV News Sault Ste. Marie)
Last night on television David Emerson said that he “wasnât very political” and had no idea that his leaving the Liberal party to accept Harperâs appointment as Trade Minister would upset so many people?
Is he for real? How could he not know that?.
People elected him in on his Liberal platform and two weeks later he was in the Conservative camp.
His constituents are outraged and rightly so.
Thereâs a reason a lot of people think politicians are less than honest. Unfortunately, Emerson has just given them one more big fat reason why they do.
Feb 21 2006 Harper says Canada anxious for softwood lumber deal but not at any price (Sandra Cordon, CP)
Beleaguered[1] Trade Minister David Emerson is consulting industry officials to find a way forward, added Harper.
Harper created a huge controversy when he wooed Emerson – a former Liberal industry minister – over to the Conservative cabinet immediately after the Jan. 23 federal vote.
Some constituents of Emerson’s Vancouver riding are upset, saying they elected him as a Liberal, not a Tory.
And some Liberals have suggested he’s a traitor.
In fact, published reports recently suggested a softwood deal was imminent last year under the Liberals but Emerson stalled it because he said he thought it wasn’t a good enough arrangement for the lumber industry.
[1] beleaguered
To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege; to blockade.
Apropos!
SES Research, Canada’s most accurate national pollster over the course of the last election, announced today [PDF] that the Liberal party had recovered some public support (34%) and was now statistically tied with the Conservative party (at 33%).
Polling indicates that the Conservative government’s honeymoon was short-lived… We can expect a period of voter volatility as Canadians assess the new Harper-led federal government,”
The Conservatives raised the bar on ethics and accountability very high and I think people are waiting to see them deliver on that. SES President Nik Nanos
So much for the honeymoon. Of course it didn’t have to be this way; history may judge Mr. Harper as providing leadership in appointing Emerson and Fortier to cabinet, but its more likely that the weight of judgement will lean to the negative. Either way, Stephen Harper made the matrimonial bed, and our party will eventually see what offspring come of it.
Tim Armstrong, former Ontario Deputy Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade under a Tory government in Ontario recently weighed in :
But Emerson’s position is surely untenable, especially in light of his highly critical campaign against the Conservative platform during the election.
If, as has been suggested, he is seen to be indispensable in negotiating a softwood lumber settlement with the United States, he could resign and be retained by the government to perform this task. There are plenty of precedents for retaining outside negotiators for tasks of this sort.
My sentiments exactly.
Foreign Minister Peter MacKay has already put his foot in his mouth. That didn’t take very long.
Yesterday:
Canadian hostages are alive: MacKay
Globe and Mail, Canada – 11 hours ago
Two Canadian hostages kidnapped in Iraq while performing development work are believed to be alive, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay says.
Unfortunately, it appears that Mr. MacKay was merely working on raising his profile in granting an interview on Monday. Sadly he didn’t conduct himself with any regard for the very real potential to further endanger the hostages.
Today, after admitting that nothing new is known since the last video of the hostages was released three weeks ago:
MacKay plays down hostage statement
Globe and Mail, Canada – 33 minutes ago
Ottawa – Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay moved to play down expectations that Canadian aid workers held hostage in Iraq are safe…
Priceless, vintage, MacKay, master of the flip-flop:
“Sadly, we do not have any more recent information”, Mr. MacKay told a news conference. “That is what leads us to remain optimistic about their eventual release,” said MacKay.
Almost in the same breath, however, he indicated that more information was indeed trickling in about the hostages.
“Information is coming in, and much of it is based on those videos themselves,” he said. ”(There are) things that people are bringing forward, and we’re asking that this information continue to flow.” Alexander Panetta, CP, via Globe and Mail
From that same article:
A Liberal who once worked for the Foreign Affairs Department on the file said Mr. MacKay invited trouble by publicly discussing the hostage crisis.
It is dangerous to express optimism too boldly, because it gives kidnappers additional leverage, he said, insisting on anonymity.
Any politician who stakes his own word on the probable release of hostages could become more desperate to negotiate ? and kidnappers might easily recognize that, he said.
If this issue were not so serious and the stakes so high, this latest gaffe of MacKay’s would be funny. It is not. Lets hope MacKay quickly learns to wag his gums with a little more self-restraint.
Don’t lose your luggage while away, Peter.
After only two weeks in the top job in the country, Prime Minister Harper has fired or pushed out long-time leaders-office worker William Stairs, replacing him with Sandra Buckler (that’s her on the right) who among other things was the Conservative Party’s familiar face on CBC‘s Politics show during the election.
Ms. Buckler is said to be in a relationship with Mr. Moore; used to work for BC MP and former cabinet minister Tom Siddon over a decade ago; and was until recently a senior consultant for Ottawa lobbyist firm GPC Public Affairs.
Is there some symbolism in the firing of Stairs – the Emerson debacle – Moore – and Buckler’s appointment?
Sandra: you are going to find that selling the unsaleable (Emerson, Fortier) isn’t going to be any easier under your watch. Give your boss some advice – tell Stephen to stop making moves that invite legitimate public outrage.
