Cornwall ON – Sometimes you’re only as good as the person pulling your strings in Politics.   It’s funny, especially in the Western world how much we attribute to a leader.

For example does anyone really think George W Bush actually could spell policy never mind actually conceptualize one and implement it?

I may not like Stephen Harper or his policies, but I will always give him credit for achieving and generally realizing his plans.

When he came to power he couldn’t overwhelm Canadians with the ideology he stood for so he tried going easy on the public for awhile and then he brought in his man.  The person he felt could drive his staff towards his vision or  at least the vision he bought into.

That man is Guy Giorno whom Mr. Harper made his Chief of Staff in 2008.

There’s a great article by Lawrence Martin in today’s Globe and Mail.   It even mentions Keith Beardsley our own View from the Hill columnist.

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n bringing in Mr. Giorno, whose way of relaxing is to slip into a straitjacket, the PM was tightening the bolts even more. The changeover may come to be seen as the turning point in Mr. Harper’s governance, the moment when the die was cast, when the chance of these Conservatives ever becoming a big tent party ended.

With Mr. Giorno came a-house cleaning. Out went the moderates. In came the true believers. Among those who departed were top policy adviser Bruce Carson, a veteran Tory of no fixed ideological address, and Keith Beardsley, who had worked for Joe Clark and Jean Charest. They were older, experienced men, both prepared to challenge Hr. Harper when they thought he was overreaching.

Politics can make for strange bedfellows indeed.   What do you think Canada?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON - In the latest Canadian Press Harris Decima Polls The Green Party of Canada with 12%; a strong showing for the Elizabeth May led party while the Stephen Harper Conservatives see their support fall to 31%.   The Liberals are still under 30% while the NDP push up at 18% and the Quebec based Bloc Quebecois stand at 10%.

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Another noticeable feature of the survey is that female voters appear to again be moving away from the Tories.

The gender gap had more of less disappeared over the course of the last two months, said Gregg.

“One of the reasons right of centre parties suffer from a gender gap is that right of centre parties are seen as risky, that is, that they are seen as more extremist, more likely to do something that is destabilizing or unseemly.

What do you think Canada?  Will we have a fall election?  Who do you think would be best to lead Canada after the next election and why?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON – Tony Clement had an opportunity to perform today in front of the Industry Committee. One thing that can be said for Clement is that he is always well prepared, knows his files and it’s hard to trip him up. In addition, he always surrounds himself with highly competent staff, who keep him well briefed and prepared. As expected, his performance was pretty solid.

With the government refusing to back down on the long form census issue, they will now have to endure another week of negative press stories. One can always tell where these issues originate. If a minister screws up and makes a bad decision or makes a poor comment, PMO comes down like a ton of bricks on that minister’s staff or even the minister. A clarification from the minister’s office follows shortly after PMO intervenes.

When PMO is the source of the issue and negative stories, all too often they get stubborn, dig in their heels and refuse to budge. A story that should never have been one in the first place thus stretches out over days. In the end common sense usually prevails and political reality wins out. A recent example of this would be the decision to back down on changing the words to the national anthem.

So far on the census issue several respected organizations have suggested ways to solve this problem to everyone’s satisfaction.  These solutions cover some of the contentious issues such as which questions are intrusive and whether or not completion of the census should be compulsory. Today the minister indicated to the committee that he would listen to suggestions from others. This is a positive move. Thus the government has a way out if it wants to move this issue out of the spot light.

PMO has been insisting that ministers are now responsible for everything that happens in their department. In this case it means the minister gets hauled on the carpet for a PMO mistake, but if this policy really does mean that the minister is responsible for running his department then perhaps PMO should keep their fingers out of this issue and let the minister find a solution that is acceptable to all sides.

Keith Beardsley is a senior strategist for True North Public Affairs in Ottawa, as well as a blogger and political analyst. He can often be found running or cycling on his favorite bike trails.

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Cornwall ON - The Harper government is now going after Veterans.  Not happy just picking on Census takers they seem bent on depriving veterans of care and support when they truly need it most.

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With minimum public attention, there seems a plan afoot to curb, cut or even eliminate Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), which has been sort of a comfort blanket — even umbilical cord — for many Second World War and Korean veterans in old age.

Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn has confirmed that downsizing is being discussed, but just how is unclear.

That’s what really bugs me about some politicians.  You say one thing, and then your actions don’t support that.  You can’t hug the flag and yack about supporting the troops and then cut the rug under then when they need our support the most!

Wonder how many new Fighter’s it would take to put the funding in to take care of those that have given so much to our country?

Veteran’s Affairs are something that will always be needed.   It’s time we Canadians stood up for our needs and rights.  I mean where does it end?  Medicare?  Culture?  Now our Veterans?

CLICK HERE to visit the website and contact Minister Blackburn.

What do you think Canada?  Are you one of the relatives of one of the 150,000 + vets that still need our support?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON - The latest round in the census story has seen the Chief Statistician resign. While not an earth shattering event for the general public, who probably didn’t even know the position existed until yesterday, it helps to feed the media line of a government in crisis.

Certainly at the political level, many staff consider this to be an issue that is confined to the “Ottawa Bubble” and one that average Canadians aren’t interested in and which they aren’t paying any attention too.

To a certain extent this is true. I doubt that Canadians will be standing around their BBQ this weekend wringing their hands over the resignation of the Chief Statistician. But that is not where the problem exists.

Governments or political parties are rarely defeated in an election based on a single over riding issue, generally it’s a combination of factors and the impression voters have of the party, its issues and the leader. There have been exceptions such as the Bomarc missile, wage and price controls, Free Trade and to a certain extent the sponsorship scandal.  More often than not, governments are defeated by the overall impression they leave with voters. This impression is formed over time, in some cases years.

A governing party certainly has to keep its base on side and that never changes regardless of which party is in power. However, to win and to win a majority they have to reach out to others who do not traditionally support them. These voters tend to be rather fickle with their support waning or increasing throughout a government’s term. These additional voters will determine a majority, minority or a loss for the present government.

In politics, perception is often reality. If a government is perceived by the public to be incompetent, a bully, stubborn, unwilling to admit a mistake or arrogant, then there is a good possibility that voters will want to defeat them. The census issue by itself will not lead to the defeat of this government, but it will help voters form an opinion of it and of Harper.

Looking at the government’s track record over the summer and so far we have the Guergis/Jaffer affair, a sole sourced multi-billion dollar contract, the census issue, spending on the G8/G20, the fake lake, comments from the head of CSIS, the HST deal with Ottawa/BC/Ontario and   the shenanigans by ministers at committee.  These events have certainly left the average voter with an impression of this government, and setting aside partisanship, is it the type of impression the government wants voters to have of its term in office?

This government is far from being defeated, especially with a weak Official Opposition, but it can’t keep making mistakes, especially mistakes of their own doing. Clearly the census issue got away from them. Their communications strategy wasn’t up to par; at least they should have been able to back up their comments with real facts and not general comments about receiving 1000s of letters when they don’t appear to exist. At the same time staff should have been aware well in advance as to who would attack them and how and have already positioned the issue to the government’s advantage, instead of fighting a rear guard action every day.

The government needs to put this issue behind them and move on to more important issues that clearly demonstrate their positive abilities such as managing the economy. This census issue is not a hill for them to die on, but one to learn from their mistakes and but behind them.

Keith Beardsley is a senior strategist for True North Public Affairs in Ottawa, as well as a blogger and political analyst. He can often be found running or cycling on his favorite bike trails.

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Cornwall ON - Former Conservative Minister Helena Guergis has been cleared of charges by the RCMP today.

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Last April, Harper fired Guergis as minister of state for status of women, kicked her out of caucus, and provided the RCMP and Parliament’s ethics commissioner with information about the activities that prompted him to take such drastic action.

Within days, Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson found no reason to open a file on Guergis and now the RCMP are closing the books on Harper’s complaint.

Hmmm…can you say bus tread marks?   Ministers serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister.  You don’t need investigations to remove them, but what about removal from Caucus and preventing someone from running for office under a party’s banner?

So if Ms Guergis is not guilty of any wrong doing why the harsh treatment from our Prime Minister?  Why go to such bad lengths to just get rid of someone that displeased Mr. Harper?

What do you think Canada?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON- Local Federal NDP candidate Darlene Jalbert is having a party and BBQ in Lamoureux park and wants to invite everyone to attend.

It’s 11:30-2:30 on Sunday August 8th and you don’t have to be a member to enjoy the sounds and food!

We’ll be covering the event live on the Cornwall Free News!

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Cornwall ON - Click the Seawayradio.com logo above to go to our show page!  Or any of the images below to go to the show page to listen live or via podcast!

If it’s Tuesday morning it’s time to talk politics live from Cornwall Ontario with your host Jamie Gilcig and political pundits Denis Sabourin and Joe Gunn.

Keith Beardsley joins us at 9:45 for his View From the Hill, and you never know who else will pop onto our show!  The Call in numbers for the show are 1 (646) 595-4982, 1 (877) 217-3932.

Your favorite Old Time Radio shows with your host Reg Coffey of Coffey’s Coffee! The show is on every Wednesday night starting at 7:30 PM EST. The Call in numbers for the show are 1 (646) 595-4982, 1 (877) 217-3932.

Philo Vance – The Flying Murder Case – detective series

Quiet Please – Pathetic Fallacy – dark fantasy series

The Adventures of Superman – Fire In The Sterling Building

Airing on Friday nights at 11:00 pm starting June 18th, “Crescent Moon Lane” will set a graceful mood to close out your week. The show will be two hours long and commercial free.   All episodes available via podcast too!

If it’s Saturday morning in Cornwall Ontario it’s time for the Farmer’s Market on George Assaly Lane and we broadcast from there from 8:00-10:00 AM!   Seawayradio.com your local community radio station live from Cornwall Ontario!   Now join The Finder Chicks, Julia Lucio and Mai-Liis Renaud with their TRADING POST.  You can buy, sell, or tell Cornwall and the area about your event or Garage Sale!   Call in Toll Free 1.877.217-3932

Starting soon on Saturday afternoons it’s The Conrnwall Underground with your host Jason Setnyk.

The Cornwall Underground on Seaway Radio plays an eclectic mix of punk, metal, ska, alternative and indie rock music. Every show features some local music from right here in Cornwall Ontario, as well as some Canadian bands, and bands from all over the world. The focus of one show might be punk and another show might be metal. Stay tuned to hear some amazing and fun music including some local bands who you may or may not know. This is the loudest radio show in Cornwall Ontario and in the Seaway Valley.

The host of Cornwall Underground is Jason Setnyk, a local artist and music promoter who has booked hundreds of bands shows in Cornwall and Ottawa. Setnyk runs the Cornwall Underground website which has promoted local concerts and music in Cornwall since 1999, and he has produced four compilation Cds of local music. Setnyk is the co-founder of Rock the Vote, and he hosts monthly acoustic shows at Café Connectionz called Rock for Charity.

Seawayradio.com – Your live all request community radio station from Cornwall Ontario!

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Cornwall ON - Michael Ignatieff is on tour.  He’s dropping into a town near you as he whistle stops across Canada via Bus; shaking hands, kissin’ babies, smiling, waving, back slapping, eating fried food, Purel’ing, and pandering for votes from Canadians.

He’s trying to connect with Canadians or should I say try and get Canadians to connect with him.

As I watched him here in Cornwall Ontario it struck me how different the experience was than what I was reading in some media reports.

Now as a long time Liberal; up until 2009 as a matter of fact; I’ve grown accustomed to some powerfully personable politicians.     I met Pierre Trudeau once, and Jean Chretien; while flawed in some ways was definately quite the Canadian Politician.

Personally I identify with strong politicians; not bullies so much as Strong people who provide natural leadership.   And to me strong leadership is trusting in someone even if you don’t agree with them at times.    Leadership isn’t depending on script writers and teams of people pitching you to other people while hoping you can pull it off.

I think about things like; would I enjoy having a alcoholic beverage with this person; or spending time with them in a civilian atmosphere?  Would I want this person in charge of my welfare and safety?  Would I trust them with the PIN to my bank account?  And other strange thoughts, but I digress….

I watch our own Mayor in Cornwall Ontario; Bob Kilger; whom I’ve learned immensely from.   Watching Mayor Kilger work a room; enter a room, and the little things he does is something you can’t learn in any school.       Watching Jean Chretien grab a protester and put him down was spontaneous magic, but it was Canadian magic.   Frank McKenna is another Canadian politician I’ve admired, and I will admit I once voted for Brian Mulroney too.   Danny Williams fascinates me politically.

We may not be the biggest country in the world, but don’t mess with us.  We’re still one of the few countries to ever beat America in war, and ask Germans of a certain age what they think about our Military.

As much as I detest Stephen Harper’s vision of Canada I think I can honestly say I respect the fact that he’s been able to Iron grip his party to near total discipline, and Jean Chretien (and some of his people who probably skipped reading MacBeth in school) can tell you how hard that is.

So today’s exercise as the pools start as to when Mr. Ignatieff’s final day as Liberal Leader is, is whom would you think would have a better chance of beating Stephen Harper?   Feel free to take our poll and you may select up to 3 choices.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What do you think Canada?  You can post your comments below.

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Cornwall ON - So did you get the latest mailing from our MP Guy Lauzon?  You know the MP that refused to wish Happy Canada Day to the 20,000+ viewers of  The Cornwall Free News. Guy and the Harper government are concerned about us taxpayers.   They’re concerned about accountability, and how your dollars are being collected.

I give Mr. Lauzon credit for keeping this epic smaller than the Standard Freeholder as his last one actually weighed more than that days paper (yes, we weighed the mailer versus the paper that day.) and that’s not meant as a flame in anyway to the Free Holder.

….families deserve to keep their hard earned dollars….families lose millions because faulty measurement devices like weight scales and gas pumps…to crack down on dishonest business practices….

So let me understand this Mr. Lauzon.   You are so concerned about we Canadian taxpayers that you’re taking this action?   $16 BILLION dollars for fighter’s we most likely would never use to full need; over $1 BILLION dollars on the G20, and while hospital beds are needed in your riding, and you’re sending out a mailing about gas pumps?

And you sir voted for the HST and that comes with it?  You’re concerned about the tax burden of your constituents?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

You can post your comments below and Mr. Lauzon you have an open and unedited door to respond to this or have any op ed space you wish.

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