Canadian Politics

polaris_x · December 2013

dignin wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Green Party has second MP!

Link?

Edit: found one

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/thunder ... -1.2462983

sorry ... my bad ... i should have provided one ...

dignin · December 2013

polaris_x wrote:

dignin wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

Green Party has second MP!

Link?

Edit: found one

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/thunder ... -1.2462983

sorry ... my bad ... i should have provided one ...

No prob, just couldn't find any news online about it at the time.

Glad Elizabeth May has some company in the house, I really like her. I wish it was under a more ideal circumstance and he was elected as a Green though. I like the story that they sit next to one another already.

lukin2006 · December 2013

Good for the greens ... But we need proportional representation ...

Hugh Freaking Dillon · December 2013

Tory Minister says it isn't his job to feed hungry kids.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/tory-minister-moore-apologizes-for-saying-it-is-not-his-job-to-feed-hungry-kids-236057151.html

OTTAWA - Industry Minister James Moore has apologized for what he admits were insensitive comments about feeding hungry children.

"In response to a question from a reporter last week, I made an insensitive comment that I deeply regret. I apologize," Moore said Monday in a statement posted on his website.

The minister reportedly told a Vancouver radio station that it was not his job to feed "my neighbour's child."

Moore was speaking about the state of child poverty, which has opened the Harper government up to broader criticism.

The NDP called Moore's comments callous and heartless and demanded an apology.

The Liberals accused the government of failing hungry kids and poor families.

"During the holidays many of us are looking to help our neighbours and those in need," NDP critic Jinny Sims said in a statement Monday. "For a Conservative minister to claim that child poverty isn't his problem is heartless.

"Child poverty has continued to grow under this government and now they're saying it's not their problem."

Ralph Goodale, the Liberal deputy leader, said Moore's comments represented one more example of the "scorched-earth policies" of the Harper government.

"Ministers in the Harper cabinet last week tried to wash their hands of the searing statistic that one child in seven in Canada lives in poverty and goes to school every day on an empty stomach," Goodale said in a statement.

"The Conservatives say that's too bad, but it's not their problem — despite two resolutions in Parliament in recent years calling for national action and federal leadership to tackle child poverty."

Moore reportedly told Vancouver radio station News1130 that it was not up to the federal government to ensure children had enough to eat.

"Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government's job to be there to serve people their breakfast?" he was quoted as saying.

"Is it my job to feed my neighbour's child? I don't think so," he said.

Initially, Moore appeared to distance himself from the remarks, which set off a wave of criticism on social media.

But on Monday, he issued a statement that backtracked categorically.

"Caring for each other is a Canadian ethic that I strongly believe in — always have and always will. Of course poverty is an issue that concerns me, and concerns all Canadians," he said.

Moore said that "all levels of government, indeed all members of our society" need to show compassion for those in need.

"Great work has been done to tackle poverty and the challenges associated with poverty. And while more work is needed, I know the cause of fighting poverty is not helped by comments like those I made last week.

"For that, I am sorry."

PJ_Soul · December 2013

^^^ Typical Conservative attitude. The guy can apologize until he's blue in the face. We all know he still meant it.

polaris_x · December 2013

i would chalk this up to sounds worse than it really is as he is kind of right in so much as child poverty generally falls under provincial jurisdiction ... and he is industry minister - so, it's not even really close to his portfolio ..

Hugh Freaking Dillon · December 2013

polaris_x wrote:

i would chalk this up to sounds worse than it really is as he is kind of right in so much as child poverty generally falls under provincial jurisdiction ... and he is industry minister - so, it's not even really close to his portfolio ..

correct, but the direct quote is:

"Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government's job to be there to serve people their breakfast?" he was quoted as saying.

"Is it my job to feed my neighbour's child? I don't think so," he said.

This doesn't sound to me as though he's talking about federal vs provincials jurisdiction issues.....it sounds to me like he doesn't think it's ANY government's job to help the needy. it's a typical conservative mindset. like instead of a federally regulated daycare system, "let's just toss $100 per month at them and hope the women stay home preggers and barefoot like they should be."

polaris_x · December 2013

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

correct, but the direct quote is:

"Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government's job to be there to serve people their breakfast?" he was quoted as saying.

"Is it my job to feed my neighbour's child? I don't think so," he said.

This doesn't sound to me as though he's talking about federal vs provincials jurisdiction issues.....it sounds to me like he doesn't think it's ANY government's job to help the needy. it's a typical conservative mindset. like instead of a federally regulated daycare system, "let's just toss $100 per month at them and hope the women stay home preggers and barefoot like they should be."

for sure - obviously, i'm no fan of the cons ... but he says "is that always the government's job" ... which would indicate that at least it is partially the government's job ...

in any case i don't anticipate much fallout from this ... and we are still almost 2 years away until another election ...

PJ_Soul · December 2013

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

i would chalk this up to sounds worse than it really is as he is kind of right in so much as child poverty generally falls under provincial jurisdiction ... and he is industry minister - so, it's not even really close to his portfolio ..

correct, but the direct quote is:

"Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government's job to be there to serve people their breakfast?" he was quoted as saying.

"Is it my job to feed my neighbour's child? I don't think so," he said.

This doesn't sound to me as though he's talking about federal vs provincials jurisdiction issues.....it sounds to me like he doesn't think it's ANY government's job to help the needy. it's a typical conservative mindset. like instead of a federally regulated daycare system, "let's just toss $100 per month at them and hope the women stay home preggers and barefoot like they should be."

Agree.
I don't think anyone is overreacting at all. I also don't think anyone should be demanding an apology. What good is an apology when they meant what they said??

lukin2006 · December 2013

polaris_x wrote:

i would chalk this up to sounds worse than it really is as he is kind of right in so much as child poverty generally falls under provincial jurisdiction ... and he is industry minister - so, it's not even really close to his portfolio ..

Wow ... your kind of defending a conservative ...

I kid, but I get what your saying.

polaris_x · December 2013

lukin2006 wrote:

Wow ... your kind of defending a conservative ... I kid, but I get what your saying.

gives me cred when I lay into them ...

even flow - question mark · December 2013

Get rid of your cell phone, your cable, and the luxuries that you think you need and put some fucking food in your kids mouth. Don't count on the government unless you've lost your job. Welfare is not employment. Neither is having unplanned kids that you know you can't support. THAT IS WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID!

Yeah, I know people fall on tough times, but.............I'm sure somebody will fill in the rest.

dignin · December 2013

even flow - question mark wrote:

Get rid of your cell phone, your cable, and the luxuries that you think you need and put some fucking food in your kids mouth. Don't count on the government unless you've lost your job. Welfare is not employment. Neither is having unplanned kids that you know you can't support. THAT IS WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID!

Yeah, I know people fall on tough times, but.............I'm sure somebody will fill in the rest.

Ya! Fuck those kids for having shitty parents. Those kids should quit whining about being hungry and go get a job!

lukin2006 · December 2013

dignin wrote:

even flow - question mark wrote:

Get rid of your cell phone, your cable, and the luxuries that you think you need and put some fucking food in your kids mouth. Don't count on the government unless you've lost your job. Welfare is not employment. Neither is having unplanned kids that you know you can't support. THAT IS WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID!

Yeah, I know people fall on tough times, but.............I'm sure somebody will fill in the rest.

Ya! Fuck those kids for having shitty parents. Those kids should quit whining about being hungry and go get a job!

The problem isn't just shitty parents, sorry more and more parents abdicate a lot of their responsibilities onto school. I work with people who have no problem sending their kids off to school to take advantage of the breakfast program that most schools now offer, these are people who can easily afford to feed their own kids but its just easier to let the school do it, and believe me this is not an isolated incident. His statement will not hurt him in the least. I know school teachers who say that more and more parents expect the schools to raise their kids. The shitty parents need to be dealt with in some way by child and youth services and maybe teen parents need mandatory education classes ... i'm not really sure what the solution is.