Changing of the Guard in Ottawa

Monday, February 06, 2006 08:00 AM

Stephen Harper is now the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada.
He has indicated his first priority will be to arm border guards and, in the wake of the Gomery Report, introduce government accountability legislation.

The next session of Parliament is expected to start in the middle of March.

At 26 Ministers, the Cabinet is smaller than the 37 positions the Martin Government held.
The big surprise was the crossing of the floor by David Emerson, the former industry minister for the Martin Government is now the Minister for International Industry , the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver Olympics.

Other Postings:
Chuck Strahl is the new Minister of Agriculture,
Stockwell Day is the MInister of Public Safety
Peter MacKay is Foreign Affairs
Vic Toews is Minister of Justice
Gordon O'Connor, Minister of Defence
Beverly Oda, Minister of Heritage
John Baird, National Revenue
Maxime Bernier- Industry
Lawrence Cannon- Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Tony Clement- Health
Jim Flaherty -Finance
Josee Verner-, Minister of International Cooperation
Rona Ambrose- Environment
Diane Finley - Human Resources
James Prentice- Indian Affairs
Loyola Hearn- Fisheries and Oceans
Michael Fortier -Public Works and Government Services
Jean - Pierre Blackburn - Labour
Marjory LeBreton - Leader of the Goverment in Senate
Gary Lunn - Natural Resources
Rob Nicholson - House Leader
Greg Thompson - Veterans Affairs
Monte Solberg- Citizenship / Immigration
Carol Skelton- Revenue
Michael Chong - President of the Queen's Privy Council / Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs/Sport

Neither Jay Hill nor Dick Harris made the cut.

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Posted on Monday, February 06, 2006 08:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on February 6 2006 8:44 AM

I bet if Dick Harris lost his seat by a slim count, than Jay Hill would have been given a cabinet seat.

I wonder if Chuck Strahls' seat is Jay Hills' seat in waiting?

Posted by: owl on February 6 2006 11:40 AM

Chuck Strahl is not only from farm country, he is also from the fringe of Urban Canada which is a growing part of the country.

Jay Hill is from "nowhere land" which is seeing reduced population.

Posted by: Palopu on February 6 2006 11:47 AM

Lefty. All did go well and the fools are down the road. Ta Ta

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on February 6 2006 12:08 PM

They will last a lot longer then the Liberal Thiefs,I see the liberals are JUMPING SHIP..Like the Rats they are.

Posted by: ammonra on February 6 2006 1:07 PM

You think Emerson is a Rat, even though Harper gives him a cabinet post? I agree.

Posted by: Don Mackenzie on February 6 2006 1:27 PM

YES I do think Emerson is a Rat, Harper was wrong to put a rat in Cabinet,as he is Wrong about the unelected member of his cabinet. Harper (was) my HERO, There should be a By election called today. If Emerson wins. So be it. YES I AM STILL A CONSERVATIVE,JUST A PISSED OFF ONE......Don

Posted by: ammonra on February 6 2006 3:03 PM

I know how you feel. I am a New Democrat, and I did not like Layton stimulating this election. He should have waited until all information was in, including the final Gomery report, the ethics commissioner's report on Grewal and the gross payout of over $400,000. Then a proper decision could have been made.

Posted by: Palopu on February 6 2006 6:13 PM

If Harper wants to get re-elected with a Conservative Majority then he has to do more than sit on his hands. He had no representation from the City of Vancouver and therefore was able to get Emerson to cross the floor. Emerson is a political opportunist and would not be with the Liberals for long in opposition in any event. This way he gets to be a player and Vancouver City gets a Cabinet Minister even though they were not smart enough to elect one themselves. Fortiers appointment is politically wise if you want to make inroads in Quebec. Dont forget that the Conservatives made a major breakthrough in Quebec and must build on this if they hope to get a Majority. The same applies in Ontario. So instead of crying in our beer I suggest that we wait awhile and see how this Government unfolds.

I doubt if any of the opposition partys have the go-nads to dump this minority Government in the near future, however the longer they wait the less chance they have of stopping a Conservative Majority in the next election. They are finally in a catch 22. If they topple the Conservative they will lose, and if they leave the Conservatives in for a long period they lose. Who said there is no justice.

Posted by: diplomat on February 6 2006 7:35 PM

Ammonra:..."and I did not like Layton stimulating this election. He should have waited until all information was in,..."

My feeling also, all along! Layton demonized Martin, but it wasn't Martin who contrived the bribery of Quebec! It was the little guy from Shawinigan who had that bright idea!

All through the election campaign Layton hammered away at Martin and the "culture of corruption."

Harper escaped Layton's criticism virtually unscathed!

Nice going!

Now, how does Jack get the worms back into the can again?

By the way, I vote Green.

Posted by: diplomat on February 7 2006 9:55 AM

Changing of the Guard.

Sixty-seven MPs were
either defeated or resigned voluntarily. 47 of these will immediately begin collecting a pension. 35 will get a severance payout. 15 will receive both.

Severance totals = $2.7 million, first year pension benefits equal $ 3.4 million. Pensions are indexed to age 75. These 46 former politicians can expect to accumulate $ 77.5 million in pension benefits.

After working for 18 months and then quitting voluntarily two former Bloc MPs will collect $ 144,300 in severance pay for striving to break up the country.

Departing MPs also receive $ 15,000 non-taxable to clear up outstanding constituency business and have the option of retaining their supplementary health and life insurance benefits.

MP's can earn up to a maximum of 75% of their total MP indemnity in annual pension income and begin collecting at the ripe old age of 55.

As long as one is on the gravy train it doesn't matter whether one rides in coach or first class!

The main thing is to be on it! Double dipping happens when both husband and wife managed to get elected and a ticket to ride!

Don't you feel good that you are allowed to send in your taxes to keep all this going?

Posted by: owl on February 7 2006 2:59 PM

Palopu ....

"They are finally in a catch 22. If they topple the Conservative they will lose, and if they leave the Conservatives in for a long period they lose."

Interesting two scenarios, but not all inclusive.

Too soon will certainly give the Conservatives more seats. I do not think the Emerson or Fortier situations are sufficient to recall a government on through a non confidence motion.

However, as time passes there will be actions which are going to please one side, and actions which will please another, and some actions which will please all, and others which will please none.

So, it becomes a matter of taking the pulse of the nation quite frequently and watching for a trend .......

If one is a conservative, one will hope that the trend is positive for as many people as possible. As a liberal or NDPer it would be the opposite .....

One goes for an election when one thinks the country is ready to make a more decisive decision, no matter whether one is a conservsative or other wise.

Do not forget, minority parties in power have called snap elections when they think they have a chance to catch a majority before they loose that edge.

Martin's house was 20 short of a majority, Harper's is 30 seats short. Harper has a larger catch up to do get a majority.

Posted by: owl on February 7 2006 3:02 PM

BTW, I am all for having armed border guards ..... much easier to do all that paper work with arms ....

:-)