I had great hopes for Belinda as a future Tory PM, until she jumped to “The Dark Side” in what was a totally opportunistic move. Sorry Belinda, I have no more respect for you :( GO LOIS!!!

Even though I support the NDP, I think the Liberals will win this seat! Newmarket-Aurora is one of those ridings where a candidate’s name counts for much more than the party. The 2004 race was a close one between the Conservatives and the Liberals and Stronach won by a hair (less than 700 votes) as a Conservative. Now that she has huge name recognition and is running against a newcomer like Lois Brown it will be an easy win for Stronach. This seat is provincially Liberal so the people will have no problem supporting Belinda as a Federal Liberal.

Well it looks like momentum is on our side to beat the NDP! Since my web site is not linked under my name, I thought I would leave it here.

Glenn Hubbers
Green Party of Canada
Candidate for Newmarket-Aurora
http://www.hubbers.ca
“Vote Green for a Change!”

Belinda Stronach only jumped ship to benefit herself not her riding or those of us who live there. She does not deserve to win again!

I am so disappointed in Belinda. She sold herself to the devil by jumping ship. And, she told us it was for the sake of keeping the country together. The liberal party seems to be tearing the country apart. If anything good comes from this election, I hold it is that Belinda is defeated.

John

I expect this riding will go Conservative, the same party the people voted in last time, and Belinda will get the boot.

Belinda deserves to be soundly defeated. If for no other reason then the fact she attended a Conservative party candidates confidential strategy meeting after deciding to jump to the Liberals several days later (last spring). How low class and deceitful can you get. As much as she deserves defeat wouldnt it be an extreme irony for her to sit in the front benches of a liberal opposition facing Steven Harper and Peter McKay in a Conservative Majority. S.B

Well Belinda glad you now are where you belong a party with little morals.Like your dinner mate Martin you make a great pair.Bet you both wore flipflops.Peter`s dad said it best…I would rather be betrayed than be a betrayer.

I’ve been around for a long time and this is the most hypocritical, and self serving move I have had the misfortune to observe! I dearly hope that Ms. Stronach is thoroughly trounced!

From the poll tracking above it looks like Belinda’s going to lose her seat. Her ill-considered, opportunistic move will likely be the source of her undoing.

B.S. betrayed a decent man, a soon-to-be-great party and the good voters of Newmarket-Aurora and the time has come for her to pay the piper. GO LOIS and may God be with you.

A few years ago I read a great essay by an saddened former Liberal stalwart which bemoaned the state of her party – the title of the essay: “Party of Opportunists”. Belinda fits well in that party… Whats next for you now Belinda? “CEO” of Magna Entertainment? Go Lois Go!

i think Belinda makes a great librano. but a loss may be a blessing for Magna, they will get that huge top notch executive brain back. maybe Belinda can cross again, “not”. Belinda and Mr Martin have tarnished polititions in the publics eyes. time to clean house . “go Lois go”, put some dignaty back in the position. i dont think dad can buy this one……..!

Belinda could have been in shape to be a leading cabinet minister in the new Harper government, instead she will likley loose her seat and remain a sad footnote in Canadian politics. Don’t feel sorry for her, vote Conservative, make sure she is out!!!

Belinda is going to loose. Canadians all over the country are hoping that treason, lies, opportunism, corruption, rich-daddy girl kiss-and-tell types get booted by yhe little people when they get a chance.

I watched B.S. criticize Harper on Mike Duffy’s show tonight – “What has he ever done outside of politics?” What Chutzpah? A university drop out who has only worked for Daddy criticizing Harper. At least Harper got his own jobs.

As a Conservative, and a person who believes in ethical politics (i know, i know, there is technically no such thing), I hope Belinda loses this riding so bad. You just cannot trust her. Who knows, she may go to the NDP if her heart desires it. A politician is supposed to represent the people’s beliefs, and when you change your political alignment without even so much as a word to, or from, the people of your riding, your just satisfying your own needs, and not the thousands of people that you are supposed to properly represent. Just let anybody win this riding except for Belinda Stronach.

Well, Opportunistic Belinda dumped her party and her boyfriend in one quick move, clearly on the basis that the Paul Martin Liberal’s were going to come back with a majority. Now she’ll be heading back to Daddy’s make work project. It’s time to sell your Magna shares, cos’ Belinda’s back!

I’m pretty sure I saw Ms. Stronach on TV tonight and I really believe she was trying to make a comment on, would you believe…… ethics!!!!
For the love of CANADA vote conservative

Ms. Stonach has no ethics, just like Scott brison. Thet both moved to to liberal party because they were opportunist and thought that liberals were going to stay in office for a very very long time. its time for them to go and this is comming from a longtime LIBERAL that has worked for the party for over thirty years.

I truly hope Belinda is defeated. Her initials basically state all you need to know about her political morals and values. She is nothing but an opportunist and now will (hopefully) get what she deserves. Perhaps Dad’s money cant by everything afterall?

Stronach has betrayed too many people. She is a short sighted opportunist. She has shown that she will say and do whatever it takes to further one cause: Her Own! Let’s hope the Conservative momentum continues.

In my book BS has as much integrity as that pillar of US politics Whisky Ted Kennedy(who left a young woman to suffocate and drown).Hopefully her political career will be much shorter than Fatso’s.Like the song says “go away little girl”, or the other song “why, why, why Delilah”.

Belinda will either get a booted seat or an opposition seat. The people in the riding deserve to get representation by a person who values principles over power. Goof luck, Lois Brown.

There is no way Belinda is going to lose in a liberal riding with the name regognition she has. My family lives in this area and I use to vote in Oak Ridges which is next door and a safe liberal riding. People might be upset because what she did. However the liberal support and the name will gurantee her a seat in the parliament.
This is one riding where the polling does not reflect reality.

Belinda changed parties for ambition and self seving reasons. I voted for her last election and she should have called a bi-election and gave us a choice. We have a choice now. Let’s send her packing.

There are a few comments saying this riding is a Liberal provincial riding. Actually, not really true. The Federal Newmarket-Aurora riding is overlapped by the Provincial Vaughan-King-Aurora and the Provincial York North ridings. In York North (Newmarket), we elected PC Julia Munro to Queens Park over Liberal John Taylor, who is the son of the Newmarket Mayor. So, family name recognition isn’t everything either. As for Aurora, they’re very different from and much smaller than Vaughan, which is the reason they have a Liberal MPP.

“I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad. I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few”.
Benjamin Disraeli, campaign speech at High Wycombe, England, November 27, 1832

This woman wanted to be the leader of the Conservative party? What a farce! Fortunately, saner heads prevailed. I hope B.S. loses and goes home crying to daddy.

Am hoping Belinda wins this riding. Then she can spend next couple of years sitting in back row of liberal opposition benches watching her former pals in CPC as they govern Canada. Let her sit there one day after another regreting how cheaply she sold her principles for such a short time ago.

Go Lois Go!! Bring Newmarket-Aurora in the Conservative fold!

It still amazes me on how many voters continue to support obvious flip floppers. Sheila Copps was the only MP that resigned to reflect a flip flop and was forgiven and re-elected. Belinda could of done the same thing and won credibility and would of kept her integrity and her political options. It says alot about your true values.

I’m hoping Belinda will lose this riding. Just watched her on CTV Question Period trashing the Conservatives, their policies, and their leader. Uh, didn’t you get elected by praising the Conservatives, their policies, and their leader? Just say no to hypocrites!

Belinda Stronach demonstrated personal strength, conviction in her values as a Canadian, as a Member of Parliament and as a representative of her riding when she moved over to the Liberals. As an out-of-riding Liberal I am contributing my thoughts in support of her campaign urging non-Liberal voters to consider that having the fortitude to leave one’s political party (considering also that her then boyfriend, Peter McKay was a member of the PC caucus) leaves no room for reasonable doubt that Belinda will stand her ground on things she believes in where backroom pressures might sway less formidable politicians. You are indeed fortunate to have her as a moderate voice and if Stephen Harper becomes PM, Belinda’s voice in the Opposition will be greatly needed as she knows a lot of privileged details about what goes on behind federal Conservative doors. Don’t let partisan passions dull your faculties of reason. Belinda Stronach is who you need.

Mary Dempster, Oakville Liberal
former Halton District School Board Trustee

It appears that Mary Dempster is leaving the same letter in numerous ridings where the Liberal candidate is in severe trouble. Check out her letter for Carolyn Bennett for St. Paul’s. It seems she has her marching orders from the Librano establishment to make a futile attempt to save Liberal heads. I look forward to seeing more of these letters as a clear indication that the Liberal Reign of Terror is over. Long live the Conservative Revolution. Ms. Dempster, you and Belinda can eat your cake, but Belinda’s political head is about to roll.

Martha Hall Findley put a good fight against Belinda last year and got 41%, propably mostly liberal votes. If Belinda keeps even a fraction of her last year votes, which at least one third came with the name, there is no way she can loose. There would have to be a total collapse in liberal votes and that my friends and fellow citizens is not going to happen. What Belinda did she did because of her believes. You can disagree with her decision, however it was her call. The system allowed it to happen. Perhaps in the future this cannot take place and an automatic by-election would be called. Sounds fare to me, but dont count on Conservatives to make the change.

I was proud to vote for BS in 2004 but she lost my vote when she crossed the floor in May. Patience is a virtue – she would have been a star in the upcoming Harper government ! It is truly disappointing that BS let her ambition come before the wishes of the people who chose to send her to Ottawa. Go Lois !

Mr. Jokinen overestimates Liberal support in this riding. In 200o, the combined PC/CA vote easily outdistanced the Liberal incumbent numbers. The real reason Belinda fared so badly in this riding is that true Conservatives didn’t support her.
The 905 belt is abandoning the Liberals in droves. Belinda will go down to defeat.

If Belinda loses — and I believe it is increasingly clear that she will — it will be rather sad, in some ways. What wasted potential! She really did have the chanceto make a strong contribution on the national scene … if she had only resisted the lure of an instanteous Cabinet position and a chance to take an ill-conceived shot at Stephen Harper. Loyalty and patience would have paid off big-time, but now, sadly, I fear she will be relegated to “wannabe” scrap heap of Canadian political history and likely never heard from again. A huge error in judgment did her in. Having said that, I hope she does lose. What we need are politicians who made judgments based on principle, not expediency. Bye bye, Belinda.

Hey Mary Dempster get your head out of the sand. Belinda did what she did not out of some altruistic reason, but because she is in love with power. Power is what she has wanted and she has backstabbed her way to political oblivion. I for one will be raising a toast to her sound defeat. That is, if Newmarket will listen to reason and not reward her own personal betrayal and a government that has stolen countless billions. It makes me laugh when the liberal left will trumpet B.S. for standing up for her convictions when her only conviction is that she should be PM. Ya thats someone you can trust.

BULLINDA you’re headed back to the boardroom – start packing – it’s all over and the results will be almost embarrasing! LOIS BROWN by at least 8,000 votes!

Maybe she’ll have some extra time to finish off her BA from York. Betcha she’ll be the only one with the title “Honourable” in her graduating class.

As people see the Conservatives heading for government I think they will start to hold on to Liberal ridings in order to stop it from getting too overwhelming. Not that the Liberals don’t deserve a time in opposition, but a minority government situation would be best. Belinda is a smart and capable MP who left the Tories because she saw them as a party that was not socially visionary. Newmarket needs her now to help stem the tide.

Anyone who votes for Belinda Stronach must have rocks in their heads. Here’s a person who said Paul Martin wasn’t fit to be Prime Minister and run the country. Then she loses the leadership race for Conservative Party by Stephen Harper; So being the spoiled rich kid that couldn’t get her way; she gets bribe by Paul Martin to cross the floor with a cabinet post; not a back bencher; A CABINET POST! Unbelievable. She let this riding down; if she wanted to cross the floor she should have had a bi-election and let the people decide. Then Paul Martin gives her a million dollars to tour the country to ask Canadians what they like see change in Canadian politics? Well Belinda could have saved us Million dollars of our tax money. I’ll give you a hint Belinda; Canadians don’t what self serving; flip- flopping politicians in parliment.

Wake up people!! I am a Conservative who recognised Bellinda for what she was from the begining. I knew she was no Conservative when she ran for the leadership of the party. She thought spending two million of Daddy’s money would let her walk over all the people who have worked hard and been true to the party for many years.When she lost the leadership she had a temper tantrum and slinked over to the Liberals when she thought knew she could get something. Of course she then stepped on the heads of the seasoned Liberals, with Paul Martin’s blessing! This woman is evil incarnate. Put the boots to her and let her go whining back to her Daddy.I hope I never have to see her face again in ANY political forum.
Liz Melnychuk

Belinda and McKay belongs together (bloody back stabbers) so I hope she will bring McKay to the Liberal (Martin-stabbing-Chretien) party soon.

(edited) The liberals could sweep this election and Belinda will go. If people like me in other ridings are looking up these web sites just to assure oneself she is history then you know how disgusting her acts were.

Dear Betrayed,
the Liberals are in this mess solely because of Chretien and if he was any kind of leader he would have ushered in Paul Martin instead of keeping him under his heel. I am no fan of the Liberals and they will hang this one on the current PM but the former is just as, if not more resonsible for this debacle called the Liberal Party. Thankyou Mr. Chretien for your legacy of corruption. That is what you will be remembered for.

Belinda Stronach has no idea what political party she supports and it is just so obvious she is just in it for political prestige. She is more concerned with how far she gets in Ottawa than what she does for the people of Newmarket-Aurora. She is a typical opportunists and jumped at the chance for a cabinent post and who knows what else. Belinda you are lost all creditbility as a politician and I am cheering for your defeat next Monday!

Thanks Michael. I hope these messages get out more to the public. It would be a terrible shame if your riding got stuck with Belinda a second time!
Liz

Watching Belinda (I don’t care what I have to do to get power) Stronach cross the floor to the liberals was just another case of a rat swimming TO a sinking ship. I can’t believe the voters of this riding will reward her with anything other than a “heave ho”! Chalk this one up to the tories (again)!

There is so much incessant, over-reactive whining here about Belinda changing sides. It is well known that Winston Churchill was himself also quite opportunistic, and changed party affiliations regularly. It is not unheard of to change parties based on shifting political climates. It is quite understandable that a red tory like Belinda would want to distance herself from the policies of Harper.

I can’t say that Peter MacKay didn’t deserve the betrayal from Belinda, since he himself betrayed the Progress Conservative party in the first place by uniting with the “Alliance”, despite his written agreement not to when he originally became the PC party leader.

Belinda is definitely going down here. Lawn signs (general sign of support) with her name are in huge numbers compared with Belinda lawn signs. With the recent downfall of Liberal support all over Canada, including the 905 region, her support is going to slip even more this week. Look to return this riding TORY BLUE!

Belinda will win here whatever some (mainly outsiders) think. She is the hardest working politician I have ever seen – in Government and Opposition. She is intelligent, honest, caring and tough. And she’s not afraid to stand up and fight for what she believes in – primarily the best interests of Newmarket-Aurora. She’s articulated that really well at the local All Candidates debates. The voters here will vote for Belinda as an MP that can make a difference – and not another invisible backbencher.

David your are calling Belinda caring and honest. Ill tell you how honest she is, she runs for a Conservative leadership, and tells me what she would do for the party and how she would love my vote. So I decided to vote for her, she sounded like a progressive conservative someone who looked okay. Ha I and everyone else who voted for her got lied to and fooled. You call switching going from wanting to be a leader one year to wanting to deserving a liberal cabinet position the next year. You call that honesty I call that lack of vision and greedy!!!

(edited) You have a chance to elect Belinda Stronach, someone who will be a leader within the liberal party whether they are in government or opposition. Everyone knows that a Conservative government is always temporary as a form of punishment for the Liberals. So when the Liberals again take the Hill for better or worse your riding would be better of with Stronach ranking high in the party.

Think about your future rather than jumping on a bandwagon

David G. if BS gets elected (highly improbable) and the conservatives form the next government(highly probable) she’d still be a backbencher. If she loses(highly probable) she will desert the Liberal party and try to find another way to become a legend in her own mind and a famous Canadian. If BS was not rich(thanks dadda) she’d be just another useless tit.
Michael, BS will not wait for the liberals to win again that’s not her style.

This just in, MARY DEMPSTER and Timo Jokinen probably work for Magna and are awaiting BS’s return. I wonder what will happen to Magna’s present CEO now.

Hopefully, Belinda will be dumped in a few days. But don’t get confident – get out to vote! Things can change on a dime!

The current results are too good to be true!

I hope Rob Sinclaire and the belinda team are
having a great time…. :)

Tonights poll on CTV seals it. An 18 point lead. Goodbye BS. You will gets lots of press as reporters fight over asking you “so hows it feel?”

Belinda rocks!!! Newmarket-Aurora is lucky to have a fabulous candidiate to vote for. And for anyone considering voting for Lois… well, you might as well write your voice off. She’ll be so far in the backbench… she’ll have to take a cab to get to Question Period.

Win or lose Ms. Stronach will be rewarded by the liberal party.History tells us the liberals will be back stronger than ever in a short time.Should the Cons form a gov.it won’t be long before the country realises the error they made. Perhaps it’ll be Belinda for PM.

If the people of Newmarket-Aurora can’t remember all the good things that Belinda and the Stronachs have done for them and their riding, then Frank, pack up Magna and move it into a riding where you and Belinda will be appreciated for your generousity and compassion to see Canada grow as our forefathers had imagined it would. Not as the 51st state that the Reform Alliance wants to turn it into.

Raymond you have got to be kidding. The libs need a very long time out and I think they will get it. A strong minority or even better a majority will be good for the country. We need to heal this country. Quebec and the West feel they want out. I want to keep our country together This is the best chance. Come on Ontario let’s heal all the wounds this dictatorship has caused.

The family is the smallest unit of government.

At age forty this self motivated spoiled brat has demonstrated twice she cannot handle the situation.

And now she wants to buy the PM’s job, she can afford it ! But can we ?

Send this selfish opportunist a message loud and clear on Jan 23, Yes its time for change !

People seem to be forgetting that it is actually the MP that they are to elect. In that case, I highly reccommend that people look to someone who can best represent their community. Belinda Stronach has proven her commitment to Newmarket-Aurora by making sure that our riding gets the funds we deserve to make our community better and more efficient. The conservatives opposed the budget that would bring 9 million to us and therefore Belinda’s choice to make sure the budget was passed was warranted. Belinda works for the community not a political party. One should consider which candidate would work the hardest for them and Belinda Stronach has the experience and record to continue to do this.

Unlike maybe a lot of you I actually live in Newmarket-Aurora. It was very interesting for me to receive literature from Belinda’s office two days after she crossed the floor, literature that was mailed when she was still a Tory. The pamphlet made several references to the corrupt Liberal Party and to how they squandered away people’s tax monies. Next thing I know she voluntarily becomes part of that corrupt party. It brings questions to her own integrity and that is why she’s not getting my vote!
For those of you still thinking about voting Liberal, please remind me what the total $$ figure of the Sponsorship Scandal was and then explain why you still think the Liberals are still best for Canada and for my riding.

Belinda can easily donate the 9 million in “promised” federal funds from her own bank account when she becomes a private citizen on the 24th. Why do the people of Newmarket have to be bought with their own tax dollars?

sober up kelly . Belinda used conservative votes to become a liberal (we all know thats what daddy wanted). Paul Martin dismissed the candidate out west for supposedly bribing a candidate from another party, can you honestly say what P.M did the weekend before B.Ss defection (bribing her with a cabinate position) was ANY different. i am sorry but P.M and B.S are to mega rich spoiled off spring, and have know idea what its like to sit in a hospital waiting room for hours or fight with government offices full of ignorant civil servants (i worked with a WW11 vet it was disgusting the treatment he rec.). the liberals have now moved to the scare campaign. go talk to a vet and you will see scared. the party of privalige must be defeated and real people put back in office . i will be voting conservative and i hope you all do , but i dont realy care who you support ,just do not vote “liberal”.

Residents of Newmarket-Aurora are lucky to have an MP with a voice as strong as Belinda’s. We can be confident that she will stand up for us, even if it’s an unpopular view. Then again, are Belinda’s views the ones that we share? How many of our fathers own mulit-national corporations?

In any case I would rather vote for the Grits than face the frightening reality of what the Conservatives are actually all about (don’t believe everything you hear about them moving to the political centre). We should be heeding the warnings from Belinda, as she was in such disagreement from the views of the Conservatives she risked her political career to distance herself…

Belinda has done nothing more for Newmarket than Karen Kraft Sloan did. She has done plenty for herself. And how does two years as an MP give her any more real experience than Lois Brown, who has worked in the Conservative machine for deacdes?

And the debt of gratitude we owe to Magna? I personally know no one well who works for Magna, except a buddy who took a lousy factory job to pay for some school.

Get Belinda out – she’s self-serving 1000%.

Man, L Paquette do you think for yourself or are you spoonfed from the Liberal party? So you would rather vote for the Grits? That’s like thanking the mugger for taking your money and kicking the hell out of you. And to say that Belinda switched sides because of a disagreement of views is utterly laughable! She switched sides to better position herself for power. There are no other reasons.

Belinda is the only candidate that can represent this riding. Vote for Belinda to be a leader of the new Liberals… the one that will rebuild with young, cool people like Belinda.

Poor Belinda her newest mentor Buzz Hargrave has today advocated to vote for the Bloc. Buzz the –CAW union boss– is developing his mastery of the political strategic voting. Say bye to politic Belinda.

We have an expression down East,”Fish or cut bait.”It blows my mind that anyone could vote for
such a self serving person as BS.Just throw her overboard and be done with it.

This Just In….

It has been reported that Belinda’s Dad (Frank)
is actually knocking on doors with her.

Can you believe it ….
And her poll workers are young Lawers from Ottawa…
She has no support

Young and cool? Belinda? This is a joke right? Belinda looks like a burn out(those kind of women usually do).I would not want a person like her to be a role model for the young women of Canada.She is spoiled, sleazy and has absolutely no morals or ethics. I can hardley wait until Monday to see her go!

I have no argument with a person deciding they can no longer support a particular party. However, Belinda’s move deprived her constituency of the choice they made to vote in a conservative member. Further, the timing and way she did it was to maximize her personal marketability (she was much more valuable to Paul Martin a week before a non confidence vote) and hijacked what would have been a successful non-confidence motion. How can the people of Newmarket vote for such a poor record of integrity?

Joel Parkes,

It would appear that the vast majority of comments on here are quite reflective of the attitude of the right-wing of the Conservative party. The “down on her knees” comment is particularly offensive, but not out of character with the rest. Liz Melnychuk spews a particularly nasty brand of bile. I’m not certain at all from her posts that she could spell hyperbole, but she can dish it out. According to her Belinda is “evil incarnate” and also, “sleazy” and “lacking in any morals or ethics”. Wow. It’s nice to see the religious right show the good Christian values. Settle down Liz, I really don’t think Belinda has horns. For the record, I won’t be voting for either the Liberals or the Conservatives. Thanks go out to many of you for the unintentional hilarity provided by your atrocious spelling and general lack of mental stability.

So! My prediction is Lois Brown by at least 5%. I’ve heard she’s quite nice and very intelligent. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the majority of her supporters on this board.

Most comments of any riding. Gee I wonder why I (a Vancouver boy) would even look here? It’s because even though I’m an NDP supporter, what BS did was completely undemocratic, opportunistic, and just plain old fashoned disgusting. Glad to see she is going to get what she deserves.
I’m sure her billion dollars will lessen the blow. :)

Interesting that people envoke Churchills crossing the floor to justify Belinda’s action. Interestingly they don’t tell the rest of the story…it was never for a cabinet position… Sadly I supported her for leadership, and first hand heard how she didn’t trust the …”thiefing Liberals…”. Blind ambition has its own rewards and price. Lets hope that both her treachery and the Liberal theivery will get their just rewards (Oh yes has the cheque the Liberals promised been mailed yet??, and where is the $40. million that can’t be found??) Yes truly Canadian Values!!!

Unlike many of you, I actually live IN Newmarket. And I can report to you all that Frank Stronach was today, in the produce department of the SuperStore at Bayview/St. John’s Sideroad, campaigning on behalf of Belinda with Dennis Mills. I strayed around pretending to shop for more groceries…Daddy Frank was going casually from shopper to shopper for about 20 minutes (when I decided to leave in both amazement and disgust) talking about how proud he was of his daughter and that she always “stood up for what she believed was right.” Sorry Frank, I didn’t buy it while I was buying apples this morning, and I’m not buying it now: Belinda is in a heap of trouble, and rightly so. Bye Bye Belinda…you were the author of your own demise.

Polls indicate Belinda will lose.

Justice demands that Belinda should lose.

*Comedy* wants Belinda to win, and then cross the floor back to the Conservatives (assuming the Conseratives get enough seats to govern with a majority should Belinda cross).

(I’m not in this riding, btw).

David G states: “She [BS] is intelligent, honest, caring and tough…”

Belinda Stronach may hold some of those qualities as an individual, but as a politician she’s been a complete failure. She has flipped on major social (except abortion and same-sex marriage), economic and foreign policy issues. In any kind of forum or debate, she does not grasp the issues well and resorts to “canned” rhetoric that is often off topic or not reality. Crossing the floor was completely unethical. Even if you feel that some of these points are a matter of perspective, it’s a problem we have to discuss them in the first place and we should elect a new MP.

Greg Soucie, what gives you the idea that the anti BS posters are in your words “the religious right”. Not one of us mentioned religion but I guess you must have some special power to come to that conclusion.
If you really want to know we are the “vast right wing conspiracy” but don’t spread it around.

BYE BYE BS!!! What goes around comes around. I hope you enjoyed being a cabinet minister for 15mins….i guess it’s back to Magna.

This is really interesting. What was supposed to be a ho-hum election is now a donnybrook.
The bad feelings are spilling over here; let’s just step back for a moment.
This riding (and I live in it) was going to be a fight from the day Ms Stronach crossed the floor.
I didn’t vote for her when she was a Tory because I didn’t think she had the qualifications.
She is a really nice person but she has never really accomplished anything. (Please don’t start on her tenure at Magna; it would take days to unravel that palaver).
When you compare her to Karen Sloan or John Cole it’s hard to see anything compelling.
There’s more to it than that, the area has a love-hate thing with the Stronach’s and that’s mixed up big time here.(Sorry Aurorans but up here in the tundra north of St.John’s Sideroad they’re considered just a trifle too flamboyant). Which is a shame because despite the fact that they love to get their names in the paper they still do have the habit of building new hospital wings and housing hundreds of hurricane victims.
And Belinda really has worked hard to learn the job, pity that she found something too accomplish and now (it seems) will get turfed.
But the crossing the floor thing was just way too over the top. Imagine what she could have done, with a that power and prestige and panache if she had stayed in the Conservative party? Imagine what a Progressive influence she could have been in continuing the rebuild of that party (and despite whatever Monday’s results bring the Conservative party, if it is reamin a winner, is still in need of a lot of work).
But she blew it, and I believe her when she says she did on principle (nothwithstanding that a Cabinet job is still a principle!).
None of it matters because either she or her advisors underestimated the combination of all these factors plus one more – Ms Stronach when you say that you are a conservative and run on it and get elected your stuck with that pony til the next election or you sit as an independant or you resign to force a by election and run on your new party. (Even John Nunziata and Sheila Copps had the honour to do that).
Yup I didn’t vote for her last time and Monday I might spend the whole day driving conservative voters to the polls.
Sorry Belinda but you blew it.

Peter McKay and his new girlfriend Sophie will surely be enjoying a good bottle of Dom celebrating not only their win but the loss of BS.

M. Caldwell,

Thank you for the realistic and accurate description of the political climate in this riding (I live in Aurora). It is mind boggling that the Canadian public is not more skeptical of Stronach. Some of Canada’s most hated politicians (Conservative and Liberal) are backing/counselling her! Brian Malroney and David Peterson, oh good grief… any common sense would say “start with a clean slate.” Her qualifications: a high school diploma and a few years work experience at her father’s company. Belinda for PM… now that would be “dangerous” for Canada.

Belinda Stronach cross-the-floor to the Liberals to support the NDP/Liberal Deal. The riding of Newmarket-Aurora also supported the deal. I’m not surprise that Buzz Hargrove is supporting Belinda in this election. As a CEO Belinda helped Unionzed 3 Magna plants in the US under the UAW. unlike Don Walker. Don Walker was anti-union. Belinda will support her riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

As for Lois Brown. Lois Brown is a Ultra right-wing Neoconservative and a copy of Stephen Harper. Neoconservatives are Dangerous. Stephen Harper is not a centerist. If I live in this riding I will vote back in Belinda Stronach. Belinda is woring people about the Conservatives. Belinda knows what shes talking about.

wow….its so sad that there is so much jealousy….sorry but if lois brown is your idea of a good representative, you’re sadly mistaken…lets see; extreme right wing, nut-job endorsers and zero education and zero experience, not to mention in the debates all she can do is recite the national conservative platform…sorry to burst your royal blue, harper/facsist/backward bubbles but lois brown will do absolutely nothing for this riding!!

GO Lois! I’ve already voted.
Bring Newmarket-Aurora BACK to the people who elected a Conservative candidate.

Oh Kelly please….

Extreme right wing? By what standard? Less government, yes, but not ‘extreme right wing’

Nut job endorsers? So only certain people are allowed to endorse candidates? now that’s democratic reform eh?

Zero education? Sorry, but ‘people wo live in glass houses…’ Where did Belinda get her MBA again??

Zero experience? She’s been in party politics for many years – in the back room and in the front office.

Reciting National Conservative platform… I believe that’s called ’sticking to the message’

I grant you that there a lot of reasons not to vote Conservtive, I may not agree with them but I respect them. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for any of the silly issues you have raised.

Send Belinda packing on Monday – a worthless MP that kicked a good Liberal candidate out of a chance to run. Definately makes me angry.

I’ll be voting for Lois Brown on Monday, no question.

michaelm,

Belinda Stronach claims she was an architect of the new Conservative party. Therefore she had a hand in crafting the “right-wing” agenda. So, what is it? Why do you conclude that she’s had this great epiphany and changed all her core values?

Belinda Stronach is not an opportunist nor did she betray anyone. She crossed the floor because her values are not as extreme as the anti-abortion, pro-gun, oil patch, religious right branch of the party. She wanted a more moderate and “progressive” Conservative Party but rather than actually changing the party is just fooling everyone into thinking that they are now moderate. Stockwell Day will still be part of the Conservative caucus as will a lot of other crazy nut-jobs. When Belinda joined the Conservatives she was a rookie but quickly learned what they are all about. They are not moderate. George W. Bush ran as a “Compassionate Conservative”, blah blah blah. He was supposed to be the “Great Uniter”, blah blah blah. I don’t think I have to tell anyone how that sad story turned out. If Harper wins, at least we now know that he has no chance at getting a majority so if he goes “Bush” on Canadians, we’ll send him back to his ranch.

Belinda is political opportunistic who is part of her father’s plan to build “political capital” and push an private agenda for his multinational.

How could someone be so clueless to be consider credible as PM, a party leader or anywhere in politics?

Ken Adams — the way you paint the right is like listening to the propaganda minister of the Liberal party. I find your rhetoric offensive and hope that it is not indicative of this riding. Despite what you say, Belinda is an opportunist of the worst kind.

Ken Adams,

I appreciate your ethusiasm for this candidate, but all of the motives and qualities you project onto Ms. Stronach are pure speculation. Her work experience and political track record is so short and unpredictable that a rational person can’t reach the conclusions you are.

Many Canadians opinion of Ms. Stronach appears to be based on public endorsements by people who are sitting on the Magna Board of Directors or figures that are politically motivated. Yeah, that’s politics, but the particular mix of those people (Mike Harris, Brian Malroney, etc.) are more “right-wing and dangerous” than Stockwell Day. It is also flawed reasoning to assume the success of a public company, with thousands of employees and an evolved business heirarchy, translates to an individual.

If being friendly with Americans is bad, then you should browse Belinda’s own website to see her southern connections (Clinton’s, Kennedy’s, etc.). ..

Ken Adams

Belinda Stronach did in fact betray a good portion of the 21818 voters in the riding who voted for a “Conservative Belinda Stronach”.

If you are one of the 21818, then I stand corrected, and I revise my figure to 21817.

I may still be off in my numbers, but we can see several persons on this board who voted for her and feel ashamed or betrayed.

Either way I bet I am still closer to the truth than you. Even if “one person” feels betrayed, that’s still a billion persent more than your “no one”.

Be careful of your use of superlatives: “Belinda betrayed nobody” is wrong. The content and volume of comments on this board are proof of it.

Now does anyone think anything other than Belinda is a opportunistic so-and-so and Lois Brown is a member of the KKK?

I am just going to watch from here on.

Ken Adams,
I noticed that you’re parroting the PM you know Harper is Bush the second and he’s a bogeyman and he’ll turn Canada into the 51st. state blah blah blah and he’s for the religious right blah blah,and yet the US is the richest, strongest country with the best economy on the planet, so Bush must be doing something right. The fact is BS is a turncoat, period,and she shouldn’t be re-elected.

kelly you forgot one point about lois, shes working class just like us, Belinda has no idea what its like to rob peter to pay paul. do you honestly think Belinda knows how much a tank of heating oil costs a senior or is affected or understands gas prices going over a $1 a liter. i think to represent the average person you must be one. i think you are suffering from rich princess syndrom, fantasy not reality. the working class voted her in and the working class is voting her out !! just my thoughts…….

So the “turncoat barbie doll” is heading for defeat….great. The only major accomplishment of this dilitante is to have had the good fortune to have been born to wealthy parents. Good riddance.

vince collins,

The USA may be the most powerful country in the world, but it doesn’t have the best economy, not by a long shot. The Dow Jones is the worst performing market in the Western World (while the TSE is one of the best), they have a deficit so large beyond recognition, high poverty, high crime (manyfold worser than in Toronto)… all at the hands of a bunch of neo-cons like Harper.

Say what you want about Belinda, but knwoing what Harper wants to do to Canada, anyone with a sens eof reality knows the real reason she crossed the floor.

Tell Lois to stick to her knitting.

How can Belinda betrayed anyone if she supported the NDP/Liberal deal that the riding also support the deal. navermind the cross-the-floor crap. Lois Brown is dangerous ultra right-wing social conservative. Is Newmarket-Aurora realy a ultra right-wing neoconservative riding? I don’t think so.

Ken Adams:

your right conservatives are dangerous. Belinda Stronach is one of the best MP’s out there. We need her back in to restore Left-wing Liberalism.

JP:

Belinda was always left-wing even know she helped with the merger of two partys.

If people want an objective appraisal of what left wing liberalism has done to Canada please read the article at http://www.ericmargolis.com/archives/2000/10/trudeau_canadas.php
The Conservatives will need to be in power for the next three decades to undo this much damage.

Fact is in the election of 2004 Belinda Stronach ran to the Left of Martha Hall Findlay even know the Conservative party is a right-wing party. Martha Hall Findlay is a Right-wing Liberal. Belinda Stronach is a Left-wing Liberal. Martha Hall Findlay supporters are going to support Lois Brown and the Conservatives. And the ones that supported the Conservative party because of the party there also supporting Lois Brown and the Conservatives as well. However the ones that support the Liberal party because of the party are supporting Belinda Stronach and the Liberals and the ones that supported Belinda Stronach will also support Belinda Stronach (again) and the Liberals. In 2004 NDP supporters voted for Belinda Stronach and in 2006 even more NDP supporters are supporting Belinda Stronach. Belinda is going to win.

Bye,Bye Bye Belinda; we need An honest Conservative Government in Power now to clean up the corruption; I like Stephen Harpers plan to bring in his Accountability Act to stop future government corruption is the best thing that has being proposed in years. But you just watch if they get in power the Liberals will fight this Bill for sure! The Liberals must go!

This is a woman who claimed Mike Harris was her political idol, he stood behind her quest for the leadership of the Conservative party of Canada….. she was one of the rising stars in Ottawa until she stabbed her supporters in the back for a plum cabinet position in the Liberal government. Her anger for Harper is not about the apparent divisive issues, her hate for him stems from the leadership loss and its not that hard to figure out. So what better way to pay him back? Belinda I don’t live in your riding but I see right through you and really will stand up and clap when you are defeated on Monday. You represent exactly what the Liberal party is. A bunch of opportunists who care only about how far they can go, and not the people of your riding.

three cheers for kelly.go belinda

Adam:

Belinda Stronach anger for Harper is not about the leadership loss, her hate for him stems from the apparent divisive issues and its not that hard to figure out. Belinda is woring people about the Conservative. Harper is a Ultra hard right-wing Neoconservative.

Wow. I wish. Harper is fairly centrist actually. It is interesting that his party does very well in NDP Saskatchewan and NDP Manitoba. Lets also remember that Martin had defections too. Liberal MP Pat O’Brien left the Liberals because of same sex marriage. Nobody is calling Martin intolerant.He forced his view on his cabinet, told others they’d be out of a good job in the future and turned the marriage debate in commitee into a joke, with traditional marriage defenders being insulted by liberals.

Only those who really believe they benefit from corruption would continue to vote for corruption.
Belinda must be a believer!!!!
BTW, I’m a neo-nineteenth century liberal, and the Liberal Party
of Canada is an incredible corruption of a, once, fine ideal.

Harper a centrist? he worked at the NCC and supports ultra hard far right-wing thinks tanks. Harper is not a centrist he is a ultra hard far right-wing Neoconservative.

J. Terrence Santoni, you lose your credibility when you make a sexist *and* racist slur on Olivia Chow.

What Belinda did was fundamentally undemocratic. I had such high hopes for her but her switch was inexcusable. Its time for both Belinda and Paul Martin to exit public life. Go Louis!

Belinda must go! She betrayed all the Conservative voters who wanted a Conservative Member of Parliament to represent them not a Liberal. This is paramount to fraud. It took away the voting franchise rights for nearly 22,000 taxpaying citizens who voted for a Conservative Representative in 2004 and ended up with a self-serving (bought for a cabinet post) Liberal.

The Buzz(vote for the BQ)Hargrove – Belinda(sold for a cabinet post)Stronach tandem are well suited for each other as neither have even the morals of a snake and both lack respect for the electorate. It is time to teach Belinda that integrity counts in Canada. We do not want or need corruption, arrogance, scare mongering, ‘culture of entitlement’ or self serving individuals in Canada’s parliament anymore. Belinda is history! Vote for Lois who will sit as a Conservative thoughout the term and not betray those who voted.

Isn’t it possible that Belinda saw the “Real” Stephen Harper and his old “Reform” cronies newly lavelled ‘Conservatives’ thanks to her ex-boyfriends lies and betrayals, and truly believed they would be “disasterous” for the country…this is not a dumb lady, she knew there would be a huge backlash…yet she was willing to take all your wrath…think about it….

Anyone who votes for theft corruption bribery and lying have few if any morals.How do you left wing fanatics spin this to your kids.Parents I thought were to set a good example.Martin and his partner in bribery are on their farewell tour.Even Liberals in Lakeshore and Lac St.Jean are jumping ship before the S.S.Martin with its foreign flag a flyin is taking the deep dive.Glad to see the majority of people in your riding have morals.Your kids will be the beneficiary.
John Belleville

I’ve had enough of Belinda and i think a conservative would do well.

Harper a hard right Conservative??..What a laugh…you folks are obviously geo-political experts! Have you read his platform? That platform is way left of Bill Clinton’s Democrats. Give us a break and get some facts before you blather more fear! I know..reform ..ncc…alliance…fundementalists..blah,blah ,blah,…guess what?.. no ones listening to that garbage anymore.

Will, reading the CV of Mr.Marglois will tell anyone reading it that the article is hardly objective.

And Michael, Harper’s campaign platform may be centrist but his record is deep blue neo-con. Please don’t tell me you are naive enough believe polticians’ campaign promises.

IN ORDER TO FIX THE LIBERAL PARTY BELINDA STRONACH NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO OTTAWA TO REPRESENT YOUR GREAT RIDING! AND RESTORE LEFT-WING LIBERALISM

One-party governments began to fail in the 1980s. The fall of the Berlin Wall epitomised the political reform that swept the world.

Each country had gone to the authoritarian left in its own way and then went about its reform in its own way.

The reform movement in England, New Zealand and the Baltic states, for example, was very successful. In 1984 Mulroney was given a huge mandate to clean up Ottawa. This didn’t get very far as Mulroney was more a liberal than a conservative.

One way to really upset a Liberal has been to point out that the countries that have been the most successful in denying global political reform have been North Korea, Cuba and “Ottawa”.

Conservatives now have a chance to begin another attempt to provide more accountable government.

Around the world, students of limited and responsible government should be focusing on our election as it could start the process that would include Canada,finally, in the list of countries that have ended or curbed one-party governments.

In the 1990s the good folks in Mexico booted out the PRI Party. Late last year Ukranians accomplished a big step towards reform.

Now it’s Canada’s turn–I trust that the electorate has the gumption to deny rather than reward the most corrupt government in our history.

Well Dave …i’m certainly not naive enough to believe anything that Martin or Stronach has to say…..thy’ve had 12 years to say it…and nobodys listening anymore…sorry Dave, its time.

michaelm,

Again… Ms. Stronach does not have enough of a track record to claim a “left-wing” moniker. She is counselled/advised by Mike Harris and Brian Malroney. These two are the antithesis of Liberalism. Talk is cheap, and she changes positions constantly. Whipping the “abortion” issue is not enough.

To Vince Collins-Timo Jokinen does not work for Magna. I have opinions and I respect yours. The fact is that Belinda has a very good chance to be relected in her riding.

Harper a hard right Conservative??..What a laugh…you folks are obviously geo-political experts! Have you read his platform? That platform is way left of Bill Clinton’s Democrats. Give us a break and get some facts before you blather more fear! I know..reform ..ncc…alliance…fundementalists..blah,blah ,blah,…guess what?.. no ones listening to that garbage anymore.

Comment by Michael 01.21.06 @ 8:27 am

Here here to the above comment! 100% correct. The people that call Harper a right wing neo con have absolutely no concept of what right wing is in a global concept.
The Liberal fear mongers and their ’sheep’ like followers like to call anyone who doesnt feel that gov’t has to babysit the people and always decide what’s best a neo con. Good ole spineless Martin would rather let the courts make policy than take a stand on anything. The Liberals have had 13 years to waste, steal and mismanage our money…TIME TO GO NOW! BS losing is just icing on the cake.

If the Liberal-Left had any understanding about a Conservative government, they wouldn’t be so anxious about a necessary clean up of Ottawa.

A true conservative would never pass legislation preventing Liberals from doing good—with their own money.

What to make of the rise and fall of Bolinda Stronach? When she narrowly won the CPC nomination over Lois Brown in 2004, she thanked one Jack Hurst above all others for her triumph. Jack Who?
Reformers in York Region will recall Jacko’s meddlesome ways back in the early days of Reform. Over the years, if trouble was coming, Jacko seemed to be around for the show.
Jack Hurst was the one name absent from the SIRC CSIS Report which witewashed CSIS informer Grant Bristow. Just about every single riding officer in Reform in the GTA from early the days is mentioned in that tome but not Jack Hurst for some reason. There is a constant reference to “The Source” in that report. Who is “The Source”?
Who was the muysterious agent who offered Frank Klees a bribe to support someone for the CA Leadership in the second ballot in exchange for donations? Frank is to be commended for turning down the bribe. Who supplied the money? Does Bolinda or her daddy know?

Michael, I’m not gullible enough to believe Martin’s or Stronach’s rhetoric either, I’m simply saying that the Conservative platform as presented in the election is no real indication that they’ve given up their neo-Con ways, only proof that they’ll say what they need to win.

Vote on record not on rhetoric. And Harper’s record is ALL neo-con.

Neo-Con??…where do you get this stuff?..Quit making up more York University fantasy names for Canadian Politcians.My point is that if think Stephen Harper is some right wing extremist,you simply don’t know what your talking about OR you are simply trying to sell fear.Read his biography,do some independant study and I don’t mean the Toronto star.I could say alot about the Liberals and the NDP,even use a few made up names,but I,m taking your advice and voting based on THEIR RECORDS.

Besides this election is over anyway and the bullies are history.Dithers can join the ranks of Liberal heroes Johnny Turner and Chretien. Good riddance!

There was nothing wrong with the Reform Party in its platforms. sure there are some extremeists in every camp Liberals included. The Liberals and their media lapdogs were very successful in painting Reform/ Alliance/ and Conservative with a fear mongering irrational brush. Western alienation is very much alive as is discontent in Quebec. To say that Harper is just concerned with the west is yet another example of the stupidity of people that believe the media and the Liberal government. Think for yourself. Don’t just listen to the media but check out the facts. Listen to the whole story not just the snippet of a speach that is taken out of context. Harper is a decent and honest individual and will make an excellent PM. Especially on the world stage. I don’t see him using or abusing our relationship with our southern neighbor for his own political gain. With that said I think Martin is a good guy as well but has inherited a party that was corrupted by Chretien and Chretien loyalists. It is time for a change of government. It is time for the Liberal party to get wiped off the face of the Canadian landscape like the PC’s experienced because of Mulroney. They will be better for it and so will our country in the long run.

Dave, Check the gdp and the gpp of both countries and then come back and we’ll talk. Anyways I don’t know what Lois and next prime minister will do once they get elected but I know what BS and P.M did and I’ll cast my vote accordingly. Neo-cons, religious right, right wing,Bush lovers, US supporters, MAN YOU GUYS ARE DESPERATE.

Micahel, if you don’t like the records of the Libs and NDP, then that’s fine, good for you for not voting for them and making your choice based on an appropriate basis, rather than the rhetoric of campaign promises. Just don’t expect me to see Harper in some new light based on his campaign. I know what he stood for in the past, I’d hardly call it moderate (and FYI, my paper is the Globe and Mail, my magazine is the Economist).

Vince, Of course the US GDP is higher, they have more people. That’s not the tell tale sign of an economy. The drop in the US dollar and the terrible performance of the markets are the key indicators that people are not confident in the US economy enough to invest in it, many are more than willing to put their money in Canada though.

Vote on record Dave??? Well then there is no way you should vote Liberal.

Besides this election is over anyway and the bullies are history.Dithers can join the ranks of Liberal heroes Johnny Turner and Chretien. Good riddance!

Comment by Michael 01.21.06 @ 2:57 pm

In rebuttal to this comment my little ‘Tory’ friend.

I would rather be compared to Chrretien and Turner than say… Mulroney and Campbell.

Slice and dice all you want ‘Michael’, the Conservatives have an extreme right wing agenda that will make Canada into quite cozy puppets of the Bush Administration. If you don’t believe me thats your MO but within 2 years when this minority Conservitive government is defeated, Canadians from coast to coast will bring back the Liberals who have always stood for Canada.

Please excuse us Liberals for a little while, we are going into the shop for some repairs… try not to hand the keys to Americans in the meantime.

WOW! Been to a lot of ridings on this site, and this one by far has the most responses.

Wouldn’t it be funny if Belinda and Mackay were still secretly dating, and she was the Liberal “Mole”, and so in five years one of them would be guarenteed PM?

Too vivid of an imagination, I guess.

Bullinduh is a pathetic, self-serving, spoiled, uneducated,unprincipled, fickle, rich kid brat, who is using the Canadian political system as her own personal little pay thing … but she is a Fiberal Librano in Newmarket, so who knows?

I hope that Belinda doesn’t win. Jumping parties really showed her colors. Go Conservatives Go!

The unfortunate reality in this riding is that the Conservatives will vote for a dog if it was running for their party. They are using the ad-scam as an excuse to back their homophobic, gun-toting, anti-choice socially conservative red-neck agenda and, by doing so, allowing our country to be swallowed up by the neo-cons just like our neighbours to the South. And crossing the floor is another non-argument. Churchill crossed the floor. Former Tory Cabinet Minister Crosby used to be a Liberal. Even Mulroney was a Liberal in University but saw that he had a greater career opportunity in the Conservative party. Crossing the floor is part of politics and it prevents members from being shackled by party whips to the point of irrelevance. But, as I said, neo-cons will use anything as an excuse to inject their social agenda into politics. It’s up to you NDP supporters to jump ship and help Belinda out here. Canada needs you.

Joel Parkes,

If you really knew what neoconservativism entails, you’d have enough vision to avoid these fear mongering rants. Trying to create a “boogey man” is essence of it. Even worse is the fact you can’t even see the parallels between Belinda Stronach and George W. Bush.

It is juvenile to define “homophobic, gun-toting, anti-choice socially conservative red-necks” as anyone who does not support the Liberals. You do realize there are checks and balances in our democratic system, right?

If you really want to make a difference, join the Liberal party, petition to get rid of Belinda and start fresh. You might win the next election if the Conservatives really screw it up.

Joel Parkes:

Belinda Stronach needs to be return to ottawa. Belinda will win.

Canada’s checks and balances were deliberately diminished by Trudeau’s constitution which while emulating that of the US, avoided their checks and balances that are so essential in protecting the freedom of the individual.

Instead of a government that exists at the pleasure of the people, we have a political system that designs and grants certain rights to the people.

It is not sound to think that Chretein corrupted politics, as with any experiment in authoritarian government, the corruption creates the leader.

The definative reference on this is Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom”. As Paul Martin is also a result of a corrupt system there is no way that he can reform it.

Fortunately the electorate can and should.

If the GDP of the US is higher than Canada’s because they have more people then by the same token China’s and India’s should be higher than the US’s right? Wrong.

To JP. You say that I might win the next election if the Conservatives screw it up. I’m not running for any federal election so where did you get your information? And Bob, how do you envision the electorate ‘correcting’ the corrupt system? Would that be by using the notwithstanding clause to override judicial decisions that don’t fall in line with Conservative values? Just curious.

There, there, Belinda
On Tuesday morning go out a buy yourself a new (feel good)pair of shoes.
Then begin plotting your run for Paul Martins job on Wednesday morning.
You can already see the vultures circling.
Her past motives have become all too clear now. She knew she had no hope in heck of ever leading the conservative party.
As a Liberal, she probably felt that she would be able to make another run for the PM’s office… abeit with a party of conveinience.
The only plus in the whole floor crossing affair is that she proved how polically inept she is.
Timing is everything Belinda. And thankfully for us you jumped ship too soon.
Thanks for proving beyound a doubt what you are REALLY all about.

@ Mike T, when did I ever say I was voting Liberal? THere are other parties besides the Tories and Liberals. That’s teh rpoblem with this country, we’ve lived by a rotating coronation of those two status quo parties. And for the record, I’m not voting NDP either.

Oh, so your completely throwing your vote away. ok.

The only way one can throw their vote away is to vote for any party other than the one that best fits their views. Since I am choosing the party that best fits my views, then no, I am not throwing my vote away. They may not win, but at least the party I vote for will get the money each vote alots. Why should I give that money to a party that I don’t believe in?

When people stop strategic voting we’ll get better government.

Joel
It’s called democracy, and as Victor Hugo observed there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose timw has arrived.

Communist Russia and East Germany had an authoritarian constitution as well, with the dictator exercising power through his appointed judiciary to a brutal police force.

Nevertheless, after some 80 years of experiment in authoritarian government the public saw through the scam and in some the most exciting times (for the sovereignty of the individual), in 1989, turfed out one of the most brutal governments in history.

The mechanism seems to be is that the top-down clique in power looses the will to impose authority at the same time that the public looses the complacency of submission. They sent the tanks into Hungary to kill a popular call for democracy in 1957, as well as into Prague in 1968. That urge for democracy was so enlightening as to be called “The Prague Spring”

In the late 1980s dictators in Poland, East Germany and Russia had the tanks ready, but did not muster the will to send them in.
One of the key events occured when the border guards refused to murder East German citizens who merely wanted to go “cross border shopping” Instead, border guards voluntarily laid down their guns and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

I first read about the phenomenon in 1975 in a paper on the collapses of dictaterships in ancient Egypt.

Then through my own research observed that something similar happened as the public moved to end brutal “one-party” governments at the end of the Roman Empire and at the end of the 1500s when the Catholic Church became the mechanism through which authoritarian monsters imposed an arbitrary police state.

Of interest is that each experiment in centralized authority also involved chronic price inflation through deliberate currency depreciation. Whether it was in the third, sixteenth or twentieth century each monstous go at tyranny seemed to exhaust itself after some 80 to 90 years.

Beginning in the late 1980s another great reformation began and while it swept most of the world, some regions have been remarkably successful in resisting the refreshing change. These would include North Korea, Cuba and, sadly, “Ottawa”.

It’s worth adding that each country went its own way in each experiment in authoritarianism,and in the main, each has enjoyed its own version of reform. It’s also worth adding that each experiment ended with massive corruption of the political system and mounting popular disgust for it.

It seems that Canada is finally beginning to realize that unprecedented power centralized in the Prime Ministers Office is dangerous and corrupt.

So through the fog of electoral battle this election becomes rather straightforward. Do enough people really beleive enough in such corruption to vote for corruption?

On the hundred-year war by government and bureaucracy upon Canada’s individuals there are some questions.

Is there any special dispensation that our lamentable governing apparatus remain corrupt and in power,when those in Eastern Europe, for example, have experienced some change?

No.

Are there any examples in history of one-party governments ever reforming themselves?

No.

In the three glaring examples in just the past 2000 years each ended with an irresistable change in public opinion. The change wasn’t easy and it took some time.

It seems that Canada’s turn is finally arriving so it’s worth reviewing the establishment’s desperation. Our authoritarians, from the PMO to the Supreme Court will not send in the tanks–they don’t have any.

On monday the electorate could take an important step towards restoring the checks and balances that constrained political corruption until the Liberals found it expedient to change the constitution to one of arbitrary authority.

This could be called Political Reality 101.

Bob, I really don’t think you can compare Canada to brutal dictatorships of Eastern Europe. As usual, people with little substance to their point of view will create a hypothetical model that they can then safely tear apart. It’s called intellectual cowardice. We’re talking Canada here and Belinda Stronach in particular. Just where North Korea and Cuba come into this is anyone’s guess. I didn’t think you were this extreme, Bob. You are obviously a Conservative trying to support your team and that is democracy. But please don’t compare our society to dictatorships of the past. If Harper gets in will you ask him to dismantle the system he runs or will you suddenly see the light and realise that it was just not run the way you like? And please don’t call your theories Political Reality 101. It’s more like Comparitive Conspiracy Theories 101.

Joel
I’m a neo nineteenth century liberal who is disgusted with how a 100 years of authoritarian compulsions have corrupted the fine ideals of limited government and the sovereignty of the individual.

It’s going to take a long time to get back to the BNA constitution that so effectively provided the checks and balances
upon the always prevalent urge for arbitrary government.

My vote will be for the party that finally understands that political bullying and corruption always go together and is offering a small step towards reform.

The “Tantrum Generation” has become addicted to paternalistic government
and relies upon the spiritual comforts offered by the state, much
as the religious turn to a priesthood.

My vote will be for change from a uniquely Canadian experiment in the centralization of political power and the corruption that always goes with it –in any time or any country.

If Lord Acton was running he would get my vote, but as Harper is the leader closest to being a 19th Century liberal he will get my vote.

Hey–I just dreamed up the 101 thing and I’ll define it any way I like. In the meantime, you might look up Websters definition of fascism.

The next thread could be about that the various theories of economic intervention from Marx to Keynes should all be under the Dept. of Comparative Religion.

Joel

The address I gave to The Committee For Monetary Reform and Education in October, 2004 covers Political Reality more thoroughly than this thread can accomdate.

Check out “Political and Monetary Reform” on

http://www.cmre.org

Response to Joel Parkes:

RE: “Conservatives are homophobic”

Eleven states in the USA had a referendum on gay
marriage. IT FAILED MISERABLY!!! WHY WAS THERE NO REFERENDUM HELD IN CANADA?? BECAUSE IT WOULD FAIL MISERABLY HERE ALSO!!!

The “gay sympathetic” appointed supreme court decided what is moral for the entire nation–WHAT NONESENSE!!! This is not a minority rights issue
whatsoever. It is a MORAL issue. Of course the secular humanists would tell you–THERE IS NO RIGHT-THERE IS NO WRONG-IF IT FEELS RIGHT-JUST DO IT!!!

If one decides to marry a dog or horse–should that be legal? It is a minority rights issue
isn’t it?? Let’s not invent terms like
“homophobic” to shut peoples mouths in order to support the gay agenda!!!!

Actually John, during the last Conservative convention, the vote on motion of whether or not to oppose gay marriage won, but only with 56% support, so if only 56% of committed CONSERVATIVES are oppposed to gay marriage, then you’ll have avery hard time convincing anyone that the majority of all Candians oppose it.

And you’r eright, it IS a moral issue. My morals include treating all citzens of the coutnry equally.

There isn’t one poll that has Belinda in the lead – her leadership ambitions are in the dumpster – Lois is about to get the last laugh, and it won’t even be close!!!!! TEE HEE HEE!

Sorry Belinda but i have no respect for what you did so my vote this time will go to Lois Brown

OH LOIS – Won’t it be fun tomorrow night – Belinda bawling her eyes out – realizing that if she had just kept her ambition in check, and not crossed the floor, that she likely would have been given a meaningful and long term position in Cabinet – my guess is that she goes ballistic on national television and takes a shot at everyone, including Martin – BELINDA…………YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK…………….GOODBYE!!!!!

Hmm…and hence the word majority is brought up again. What does majority mean Dave??…’the greater number’ – Oxford Dict. So, if 56% of a party support something, that means the majority of that party support it. If you can remember when the gay-marriage vote was passed, Paul Martin forced his whole cabinet to vote for it. That makes up almost half of the liberal party. It is simply not just the conservatives that are against gay-marriage… when Harper is elected, and actually allows a ‘free-vote’ you will be surprised that it will not just be the conservatives that will vote against the bill.

Yes, I agree… I can’t wait until Belinda is out. She has no right to be in politics. The only reason she was allowed was because she’s rich. It also shows she has no integrity. Why did she cross the floor? Because she wanted power. Get her out of politics. Back Stabber!!

This site has brought out all the neo-cons for the country to see and that is a very good thing. I think everyone should read the diatribe coming from John Saunders in order to see the hatred that is rearing its ugly head in Newmarket-Aurora. It’s disgusting. John Saunders should be the new poster boy for homophobia in Canada. Why shouldn’t gay people be allowed to marry? Is it because they are not equal? Is it because religion has a copyright on the term ‘marriage’? Or is it because the people within our midst who hate people not like them wish it to be the case? Canada is not the U.S., Mr. Saunders, no matter how much you wish it to be so. You should just take a deep breath, relax, and realise that the world is evolving around you and that just because the rate of change frightens you does not mean that it is a bad thing. Once again I urge all NDP supporters in this riding to not split the left of centre vote and to stop the John Saunders of the world from having their way. Please vote Belinda. Vote for a progressive society, not one built on hatred and division.

Dear Everyone Out There Who Can Say Only Nasty Things About Belinda:

What’s your promlem? Jealousy? Pettiness? Ignorance? Spite?

Few Canadian politicians have shown Belinda’s courage–which she clearly demonstrated by leaving the right-wing cabal that had captured the old Progressive Conservative Party when it had become clear that the P.C.’s proud ‘progressive’ and inclusive pan-Canadian approach was about to be trashed by the Harper-led conspirators. She fled a party which she discovered was secretly planning to re-create our wonderful land into the image of G.W. Bush’s America. Heaven help this country if these people should gain a majority on Monday!

Belinda’s only serious failure of good judgement was ever having associated herself in the first place with Peter McKay, who (talk about treachery!) has clearly shown himself to have been one of the most treacherous politicians in Canadian history for his shameless betrayal of the grand old P.C. party. Remember his ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with David Orchard? Some gentleman! Some agreement! If anyone deserved to be dumped, it was Peter.

Good on you Belinda for having finally seen the light! As they say, ‘better late than never.’ I only hope my fellow and sister citizens of Newmarket-Aurora also come to their senses soon enough to save the candidacy of the courageous and caring representative we have in Belinda.

How sad. Mr. Parkes seems to view all those Canadians who disagree with changing the legal definition of marriage to allow gays and lesbians so-called “equal rights”, with hate-mongerers and homophobics. Mr. Martin resurrected the issue, knowing it would elicit emotional responses, and so that he could once again declare how scary Mr. Harper is, and threaten that Mr. Harper would take away this “right” that was rammed through Parliament. Perhaps Mr. Parkes could enlighten us as to what this issue has to do with running the country. Let’s concentrate on the important things, which are too many to list here. By the way, I have yet to find anyone who can quote the section of the Charter that specifically includes gays and/or lesbians. While “sex” is mentioned, most people would assume that to mean male or female, or is there another sex out there that no one knows about?

John, you can marry your horse if you can get consent from it. ; ). Why must people always compare men (of consent) wanting to marry each other? And while we are upholding the traditional definition of marriage, should that traditional definition not include a man marrying multiple women as stated in the bible?
http://www.religioustolerance.org/mar_bibl.htm
Or do we only let religion into politics when it is convenient to do so?

Iain, not voting with your party because of your conviction, leaving your party and sit as an independent, and sacrificing your political future because of your beliefs takes courage. Crossing the floor because the PM offered you a cabinet post and betraying a party that you wanted to lead takes connivance and treachery. You see, the liberals themselves knew who to go after and what it would take and how easy it would be. After all they just needed one vote.

Joel Parkes, you have your opinion of the definition of marriage and we neo-cons,conservative christians of the religious right who belong to the vast right wing conspiracy and admire G.W.Bush and the USA have ours.

Belinda is the Paris Hilton of Canadian politics. She’s never accomplished anything, famous because of her family, and she is disloyal to her friends. I have no idea why anyone would vote for her.

No I don’t belive we should be like the americans but I believe in referendums on major issues like gay marriage. I don’t believe in manufactured poll results and manufactured democracy. Do you honestly belive that most Canadians support Gay Marriage?? Since when does the minority decide what the majority should follow??

Helen,

Paul Martin did not resurrect the issue of gay rights, Stephen Harper did on the very first day of the campaign.

Maybe Belinda will switch sides AGAIN and run for John Tory’s “kinder, gentler”, patrician, country-clubbish PC Party. She’d fit right in.

Stephen Harper has no plans to reopen the abortion discussion – this is another case of Martin fear mongering – Belinda did not cross the floor over the gay marriage issue – she stated her view long before the last election, as did many members of the Conservative Party, and no one objected – she crossed the floor to become a cabinet minister – she was more interested in her own ambitions than she was about representing the consituents who had elected her as a Conservative – she will pay the price tomorrow – and by the way, many of us who have concerns over gay marriage, have a concern only with the word marriage – we feel it should be called civil union (or something like it), not marriage, as we feel marriage is a union between a man and a woman – we have no problem extending all the rights and tax incentives enjoyed by any united couple – again, just the word marriage!

Mr. Hauseman, just why do you think that the term marriage should be owned by only certain members of society? Are there some people that are less equal than others? You may try to present your homophobia as a reasoned position by saying it’s only the term ‘marriage’ that you don’t want gays to use but that exclusion is as strong as saying you think gays are not equal citizens. Get over it. Society is evolving and it would be better to look ahead than to try to keep society back in the days when religion had undeserved control over the lives of most people. If you really are Christian then you would know that God loves us all, not just the ones who say they are the only ones.

I have been following this site for weeks and have read most posts for all ridings. I have resisted the urge to post but feel I must now.

I am from New Brunswick but assure all that everyone in the country is interested in the outcome of this riding.

The only person that I would like to see defeated more than B.S. is Scott Brison. That will not likely happen so I will cheer for Belinda’s defeat.

And no, Mr. Parkes , my opinion about Brison doesn’t mean I am neo-cons or some of the other terms you have used. I just think he is arrogant.

Joel Parkes & Iain,

I’m going to turn the tables. Does Ms. Stronach believe in polygamy? To what point in a pregnancy does she support abortion?

Ms. Stronach has been invited to several gay events and conferences. She has not attended any of them. Why?

Within her first week as Minister of Human Resources, 11 Magna representatives where at her door looking for workers insurance loopholes. In her first memo, she discussed growing the ministry if HR up to 2x the current size (in the same manner Australia has done). If she’s fiscally right, so why would she even consider more government?

Why don’t you ping her and get back to us? Oh yeah, good luck getting a reply.

Vince, I really don’t understand your point. I compared Harper to the Republican party on another site and American on a different one. So what? Honestly, it’s too easy pointing out the flaws in the arguments of neo-cons. You are so filled with hate that you can’t see the world. You only see what you want the world to be like. It must be very frustrating watching a woman like Belinda do well. It must be very frustrating seeing Parliament support gay marriage. It must be very frustrating seeing courts uphold a woman’s right to choose. I suggest you learn to just let go and let social evolution work its course. You will live a happier life. Surely you don’t want to live a life filled with such anger, or do you? Anyway, this site is about Belinda Stronach’s candidacy in Newmarket and I really hope she succeeds. The amount of vitriol I have seen on this site is by far the worst in Canada and you could all use a strong and intelligent MP to protect those of you in Newmarket who do not want to be influenced by such naked aggression and hatred. Please calm down and try to enjoy yourselves, o.k.?

JOEL – Just because I have different beliefs in the definition of marriage doesn’t mean my views are homophobic – I feel everyone should be treated equally under the law, and enjoy the same privelages of our laws, regardless of the type of union between partners – I just happen to think that Marriage (one of the types of union) is between a man and a woman – I also believe that it’s a woman’s right to choose because it’s her body – using your analogy, you’d believe it would be a decision both a mother and father would have to make equally – you can’t have it both ways! Time to get off your ivory pedestal and start respecting that anyone is entitled to their own views without being chastised or scolded – I’m a red tory and proud of it – John Tory was my master of ceremonies at my wedding 28 years ago – I hope he becomes Premier and that McGuinty (the all time breaker of election promises), gets tossed out on his ear – I’m sick of Harper being branded everything from a Western Yahoo to a Fascist Dictator – I know Harper – if anything he’s just about in the center philisophically – if Martin had focussed on running the country properly, instead of fear mongering, he wouldn’t be in the position he’s in at the moment – and Jack Layton’s right………why does the entire human race have to believe that if the Federal Liberal Party is not in office, the world may come to an end – remember John A. MacDonald – he was our first PM, Conservative, and with his ally Cartier, led the charge to create this country – remember Robert Borden – he led Canada through World War I – remember Richaed Bennett – he championed the Statute of Westminster which established our independence from Great Britain and made us into a nation – remember John Diefenbaker – he fought for a Bill of Rights for all Canadians – Canada has been well served by Canadians of many political stripes…..ie. Tommy Douglas and Medicare, Pierre Trudeau and our constitution, and so on – and guess what, gawd forbid, some of them were not Liberals – it will give me great pleasure, on Monday night, to watch the election of a wonderful candidate in Newmarket-Aurora, one who has served our community in a number of ways for many years, an intelligent, caring person who will represent our riding with conviction and distinction, LOIS BROWN!!!!!

Hey Vince,

Forget about this clown, Winston Churchill, Tie Domi and the Era Banner. The issue in this riding is not same sex marriage or abortion. It is the abuse of power that Belinda Stronach represents, and the importance of defeating her cannot be overstated.

Get out and vote tomorrow… and if you can, bring someone with you.

Forget about the gay marriage issue – forget about abortion – forget about the Liberals – all are non issues – let’s look forward to a great new Conservative Government, restoring trust and integrity, bringing our nation together once again, creating a bright new future for all Canadians, and glad in the knowledge that our own wonderful MP, Lois Brown, will be part of that great new government! BRAVO STEPHEN! BRAVO LOIS! BRAVO CANADA! (PPPHHHLLLAAATTT!!! JOEL!)

The only candidates I want to see lose Monday night is Stronach, Alcock, and Brison. Here’s hoping for a clean sweep! 3 less Liberals to make us puke!
Oh, yeah, throw in Lapierre into that pot of rogues.

Ok, John what I was getting at was there is no traditional definition of marriage. You are right. I don’t know where the country stands on the issue of gay marriage, obviously Belinda wasn’t against it, which is something I respected in her. Joe Clark wasn’t against it either. I’m not sure where the majority of the country stands on this. Being a catholic, I’ve heard a lot of people are against this issue, because then gays will marry and spread gayness to their children. Much like the French. How dare their spread their minority language and contaminate our culture? If the majority of people always decided everything then we would never have any minority rights. Blacks would have never been allowed in Canada. Females doubtfully would have gained the right to vote, we didn’t have referendums to establish their rights did we?

If Harper says “God Bless Canada” one more time, I think I am going to lose my mochevals. I hope that we are not headed down the road of government sponsored Christian faith based initiatives…

No we are not JDS; if we keeping voting Liberals we are headed down road of government sponsored Gay rights over majority rights, legalized prostitution; legalize pot; keeping the age of consent at 14 years of age; more government corruption etc. etc. etc. But if someone says God Bless OOOOOOOOOOOOOOh how scary; things like honour your father and mother, don’t commit murder; or adultery; treat others as you would like to be treated; that is so radical that it scares me.

Joel Parkes is a municipal political hack wannabe from another riding in Ontario and has been ripping on Dean Del Mastro, a conservative hopeful, for the past few weeks in another blog. You worry about your riding and we’ll worry about ours, Joel. And in Newmarket-Aurora, we respect those who are honest, trustworthy and intelligent – none of which apply to Ms. Stronach. Tomorrow, I’ll be proud to vote for the party I voted for LAST time, a vote which was taken away when Belinda decided on her own to switch over to further her own ambitions and join the stale and corrupt Liberal party. Try winning your own municipal riding and leave the voting to those who actually live in the riding.

I agree with Iain.

Belinda is a great MP. There will be more people out there to vote in Newmarket-Aurora to keep in Belinda Stronach.

“You worry about your riding and we’ll worry about ours, Joel.” Comment by Rick 01.22.06 @ 10:46 pm
Our local MP, Peter Adams, who has now retired, was Parliamentary secretary for Belinda Stronach and he has told me a lot about her so that is why I have contributed to this blog in Newmarket. By all accounts she is an intelligent, imaginative and, judging by the right wing freak show she encounters in this riding, very brave. I think people like her bring a level of quality to politics that is needed. The way some of you homophobic cultural neanderthals are reacting to her only indicates to me that you envy her success and that you can’t stand the idea of a woman succeeding while your political ideas have failed to get support. Believe me, you all have a role in this election. People have told me that this blog has been read by people all over the country and you neo-cons are doing a great job campaigning for the Liberals and the NDP every time you spout one of your hate filled messages. Keep up the good work!

I was a Liberal supporter who had great expectations for Paul Martin when he replaced the scroundel, Chretien. Unfortunately, I am extremely disappointed with his performance in power. Furthermore, his bold faced lies and antics on gay rights,abortion, medicare,and the Charter have totally disgusted me!
There are two values I want in my leaders: HONESTY and INTEGRITY.
I have concluded that Paul Martin and Belinda Stronach have neither of these values!!!
I have studied the policies of all parties and observed the conduct of party leaders during the campaign, especially the debates. I have changed my vote to Stehen Harper because I believe his values and policies are good for Canada and in sync with my beliefs.
PS: I fully support a woman’s right to choose. Abortion is a moral issue, not a legal issue.
Gay marriage – I couldn’t care less! How does it diminish the relationship I have with my wife?

If anyone deserves to lose in this election it is the incumbent. She was elected as a Conservative by a narrow margin, and then opportunistically changed horses to benefit her hopefully short political career. Hopefully her electors will send a signal to other politicians of like-mindset, who say one thing at election time, and do the opposite after elected. Liberal Premier Dalton McGuiinty is another good example of this political treachery to the voting public; the courts have said “OK” to this; I hope the public makes it clear they do NOT agree!!

TO JDS:

What is wrong with Christian faith based
initiatives in government. If government
was to properly reenforce “Thou shall not kill”
there would be no murders in society. Think
about it Mr. intellectual!!! Perhaps you have not
come out of hybernation yet and have not seen the
recent murder scene in Toronto. Believe me people
like your self can only lead to social and moral
chaos!!!

Joel Parkes,

Let me tell you something about the Stronach’s. They are good friends with Austrian Jorge Haider. Who is this man and his party? They are haulocaust deniers that support the neo-nazi movement in Europe. The best part is that he works for Magna, as do some of his top officials. This was one of the issues that burned Frank Stronach when he ran for office. I bet Peter Adams didn’t tell you that, did he?

Nothing hate-filled here, Joel. Just telling it like it is to someone who doesn’t live in the riding and therefore has little right to infiltrate it with rants about an MP whom he, by his own admission, has only heard about and never met nor spoken to nor watched in a live debate. First of all, I think it necessary to say that it is obvious you are nothing more than a municipal hack trying to stir up trouble, and therefore anything you say is tainted by the mere fact it is irrelevant to the reality which is the riding of Newmarket-Aurora. You live in Peterborough and far for you to say that “By all accounts she (Belinda) is an intelligent, imaginative and, judging by the right wing freak show she encounters in this riding, very brave.” I in fact know TWO people who worked very closely with her on her last campaign and found her to be a complete airhead. She knows nothing of the riding, does not go door-to-door as she claims, and needs handlers to provide her with the information she dutifully reads off a sheet of paper. In fact, name recognition and billions of dollars aside, what the hell does she have to offer? Her dad lost 3 times as a Liberal here, and he still donates money to the riding…maybe you should have done your research in that regard, Joel. You have not been to the local debates, while many people who live IN the riding and contribute to this message board have. You do not read our local Era Banner, while many of us here receive it on a weekly basis. You do not know of the issues which are important to us here in our riding, which is why I say again that maybe your efforts would be best served in trying to muster up enough support for your own plan to run for municipal politics in Peterborough, which – judging by the way you speak down to many people who have different views than your own – is bound to fail.

“But the campaign that [Martin] and his ministers have waged over the last eight weeks–by turns empty, dishonest, hysterical, vicious, crude,demagogic, shrill, incoherent, hypocritical, not to say staggeringly incompetent–makes his impending departure from the scene a positive delight, I’m literally counting the hours.”

Andrew Coyne, National Post, January, 21.

Me too!

The REAL Belinda:

*On the war in Iraq
“I believe we should have stood by the United States, our ally and neighbour, and I said we should not take democracy for granted,”
-February 7, 2004

*On the Budget that is all of a sudden good for Newmarket-Aurora:
“At its core, the budget is flawed and defective on one on two accounts. First, it is built on an accounting shell game that seems out of step with the revolution in corporate good governance following scandals like Enron and WorldCom. Second, it is focused on spending taxpayer money with very little attention to enhance economic growth.”
-March 7, 2005, speaking about the proposed Liberal budget.

*On Paul Martin:
“If Paul Martin is too distracted by his own political misfortune to govern, we will continue to step up to the plate. Someone must defend the interest of hard-working and suffering Canadian ranchers and farmers.”
-May 8, 2005.

*On Stephen Harper:
“We are going to work together, we are going to pull together and we are going to be stronger because of it.”
-March 21, 2004, after losing the leadership race to Stephen Harper.

*On the gun registry:
“As a mother, I am scared by gun violence. I would stiffen the penalties for crimes involving guns. What I would not do is to penalize law-abiding farmers and hunters who use firearms as a tool.”
-Launch speech, Jan. 20, 2004

“While strengthening gun control, I would scrap the gun registry. I would use the money to fight against illegal guns and drugs.”
-Launch speech, Jan. 20, 2004

*On Marijuana:
“I oppose the decriminalization of marijuana. This is a question of public safety and public health.”
-Launch speech, Jan. 20, 2004

*On funding the Canadian Military:
“To defend ourselves and meet our international obligations, I would rebuild our military, giving our troops the equipment, the funding and the recognition they deserve.”
-Launch speech, Jan. 20, 2004

*On Mike Harris:
“[A] person with vision, a person with experience, a person with courage, a person who has the ideas, and a person who has the conviction that can help Canada recover to be the number one country in the world.” – Mike Harris nominating Belinda Stronach for CPC Leader,
-Toronto Sun, January 29, 2004

“I believe Harris made the most significant mark on Ontario and I did go to him seeking advice.”
-Toronto Star, January 25, 2004

*On the current Conservative education platform:
“We should support higher education by allowing both parents and students to deduct post-secondary tuition from their income tax.”
-Launch speech, Jan. 20, 2004

*On relations with the United States:
Ms. Stronach called for…a “common security perimeter” with the United States.
-Globe and Mail, Jan. 27, 2004

*On Gomery and Corruption, the Fiscal Imbalance and the Conservative Party:

“Dear Friends and Neighbours:

“Like many of you, I am deeply disappointed by the revelations of the Gomery inquiry into government corruption and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars. The people of Canada deserve better.

“Fortunately, we have a strong Opposition in the House that is ready to govern this country and is willing to clean up the corruption and manage the finances of the nation more responsibly.

“I have also recently spoken out in the media and in the House of Commons on the issue of how much money the federal government transfers to the province of Ontario, the economic engine of Canada.

“Ontario taxpayers give Ottawa a lot of money but do not get back their fair share in the form of government services. That’s not good for Ontario, and it’s not good for Canada.

“The recently announced agreement between Ottawa and Ontario is too little and too late. The fact is, continued underfunding by the Liberal government is compromising the quality of health care and other services available to residents. While our province generates more than 40% of this country’s wealth, we rank ninth out of 10 provinces in federal funding for health care.

“Residents in our riding have been waiting for nearly a year now for an announcement regarding funding for a badly needed cancer care facility at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

“The people of Aurora-Newmarket and Ontario are proud of the role they play in helping to build a strong Canada. All we ask for is fair treatment from the federal government.

“As your Member of Parliament, I welcome your views on this and other issues that are important to you. Please feel free to drop by the constituency office or call us at 905-836-7722 if we may assist in any way.

“And thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you in Ottawa!

“Signed, Belinda Stronach.”

-Sent to every household in Newmarket-Aurora on May 10, 7 days prior to crossing the floor and joining the Liberal Party

Well it’s election day. Despite my intentions to this point I now find myself firmly resolved to cast a strategic vote. Let’s not find out the hard way what the Harris conservatives have been unwilling to discuss in the open. As far as fiscal responsibility and standing up for the nation goes, all I can say is … remember Mulroney!

Bernard, Harper is Harper, Mulroney is Mulroney. If we want to compare politica parties past leaders to the ones in place now I got 3 words for you, Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Enough said.

Bernard, maybe you neglected to do your research with respect to voting for Belinda:

*On Mike Harris:
“[A] person with vision, a person with experience, a person with courage, a person who has the ideas, and a person who has the conviction that can help Canada recover to be the number one country in the world.”
- Mike Harris nominating Belinda Stronach for CPC Leader, Toronto Sun, January 29, 2004

“I believe Harris made the most significant mark on Ontario and I did go to him seeking advice.”
-Toronto Star, January 25, 2004

Bernard, remember Mulroney and the $2,000,000 he got from your friend JEAN OF THE PROOF IS THE PROOF AND IF YOU HAVE GOOD PROOF IT’S PROVEN.

It’s over Liberal supporters! Bye bye BS and yes this will also unfortunately be Martin’s last election. As a conservative I hope the Liberals will keep Martin on for the next election but even Liberals arnt that stupid.

I’m sure there are a lot of glum faces out there now, particularly because Belinda beat the pants off Brown by so much. Belinda was a much better person than a lot of the volatile idealogues posting here… who are now reduced to a poor group of sad sacks. Too bad!

Peter F: Iam sure your right, there are a lot of glum faces out there, but I think….

It seems we all got a little something.

Liberal supporters got Belinda re-elected. Good for her, it’s clear that she was able to get the message out and get the vote out. The people got a chance to judge her ship jumping and judged it not to be a ‘hanging offense’.

She won: Fair and square.

Those of us wishing to see her go have the satisfaction of watching her sit next to Scott Brison for the next two years (or so) staring across the aisle at Prime Minister Harper. A little time for reflection.

I am sure she’ll use the time constructively, I like it or lump it, she’s not done yet.

Democracy was served.

The glum faces will be smiling when Peter Van Loan from next door in York Simcoe is chosen as minister in the same portfolio Bull-inda had until yesterday – looks like another failed leadership bid coming up, then obscurity after she crosses the floor to the Bloc!

Peter F:

Hey, Belinda won. That’s the way it is. The crossing the floor issue is dead, and I expect she will make a charge for the Liberal leadership.

A few comments:

On Lois: Good grassroots campaign. But her credentials are too weak, the media went against her and the same sex marriage phone prank hurt badly. In this riding, she should have been offensive, not defensive.

On Belinda: Successfully moved the election issues from accountability to social values. Used much of her future political capital; her diatribes on national media will be damaging. Did a fantastic job (again) of telephone soliciting and getting supporters to the polls.

On “volatile idealogues”: The pundits all agree that wealth is more attractive than “sweet apple pie.” Spend some time browsing the newsites to see what political analysts (cbc.ca, york region.ca and cnn) are saying about the Stronachs. It is interesting from all perspectives, and many of these background/impact issues should have been highlighted *before* this election.

On pollsters: People don’t admit how they are voting in this riding. There is atleast a 20% gap in their predictions and the results.

As predicted. I had a feeling that she would of won. Here are the reasons to my prediction:

Last election she ran as Conservative. She won by less than 1000 votes. I bet some people regardless of the party that they support voted for Belinda because of Magna International in New-Market. Liberal supporters voted Liberal and they would probably keep their votes there. Therefore this election, i kind of knew that Belinda will get LIBERALS SUPPORTER plus Belinda Supporters. Therefore that has more votes than what she would of got last time. Yes.. some Liberals might go to Conservatives but that is only parts of Liberals not a lot. But Belinda supporters because of Magna will follow her. As you know, many jobs at NewMarket Aurora is from Magna. If i lived there i would vote for her too if i was working for Magna. You know what i mean? Even though i dont agree that she jumped to another party during last May. She should of stay there and went this election. That would of been better & it doesnt make her that big of a backstabber.

Well that is only my opinion! Tell me if you agree with me

Well, Belinda won!! But if she will now be in opposition instead of being a Minister. Then again, with Paul Martin stepping down – she will go for the leadership of the Liberals!

Belinda won like I predicted in this blog. It was a win based on logic, strong liberal base in Aurora-Newmarket and name regognition beyond everything. Congratulations Belinda, serve well and do your best to buildup the liberal brand. Also congratutalions to Lois for a good campaign.
And for all of my fellow bloggers, take care.

You can come out from under the desk now Belinda !

At least my boss was a winner.

Her win is great for the Conservatives. Now she can sit in the opposition benches and get no answers to her questions.

Hi Rick! It looks like your predictions about Belinda didn’t work out. Oh well, at least you took part in the election in Newmarket in some way. I’m sure people read your blog and then knew exactly why they would vote for Belinda. As for your lack of understanding as to why I would even dare talk on a blog that is not in the city where I live it’s a little bit complicated so I’ll go slow for your benefit. I saw hatred on this blog and I don’t like hatred. People like you need to know that there are people out there who will confront hatred wherever they find it and will even seek it out in order to confront it. It’s my opinion that not enough people confront ethical thugs like yourself because they are turned off by the degree of vitriol they see. Not me. I find it all good fun. People like you need to know that they are in a minority. Much like Harper’s government is today. Oh sure, the Conservatives got in and I honestly think that they deserve a kick at the can and maybe they can evolve and become a modern party that the majority of Canadians will embrace. Maybe. I do think there are some good Tories out there. Unfortunately Peterborough decided to select one of the bad ones so we’ll just have to live with that. It effectively means that Ottawa is shut for the time being. But I have a lot of confidence that Mr. Harper will not be able to hide the freak show that makes up some (not all) of his party and that the Liberals, after a leadership race, and the rejuvenated NDP will come back. But, anyway, keep up the good work, Rick. I suggest you help write speeches for the Conservative party. They could sure use a visionary like yourself. All the best!

Belinda for Prime Minister; will be the best thing for the Conservatives

Belinda keeping her seat was yet another gift for the Conservatives. The Liberals have an illegal handgun perpetually aimed at their collective foot.

Joel Parkes:

If you lived in this riding, you would have witnessed Belinda Stronach & her supporters say far worse things about Lois Brown than anything written in this blog. How do you address that imbalance, guy? Did you write the Era Banner and lecture Stronach supporters?