Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

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by Aaron Wherry on Monday, September 13, 2010 11:44am - 0 Comments

On the same day it’s reported that government scientists can’t talk about ancient floods without first submitting an application and receiving written approval, Steve Blaney claims he and his fellow Quebec Conservative MPs donned Nordiques’ jerseys unbeknownst to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“It was a little surprise,” he said.

Tags: arena, nordiques, Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec Nordiques, Steven Blaney

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bennji

ROFL!
ChrisWPG

Wait till the same Quebec Con MP's vote to save the long gun registry. I mean it is a free vote according to the PMO, and if they vote how there constituents want, wouldn't that be the right thing to do? Or have in fact the Cons whipped the vote?

Cats

The right thing to do is to vote how they promised during the last election.

Every CPC MP supported killing the registry in the last election. Its no surprise they'll all vote to kill it. That's the promise they made and part of the reason they were elected.

My understanding is that certain Liberal and NDP MPs made a promise to their voters that they did NOT support the gun registry. If they did then they should honour that.

Cats!

burlivespipe

Yes, they should get right on that, after they go back and do what they said about accountability, deficits, democratic reform, income trusts, taxes, honesty and integrity etc etc.

Dawgs love cats…
ChrisWPG

Hmm Cats, I've reviewed the material available on the websites that I could find for Quebec Con MP's and nowhere does it mention killing the long gun registry, but go ahead and spread your propaganda anyway….

Cats

Its in the party platform and part of the leader's campaign.

Unless a member EXPLICITLY renounces a position and then stakes out their own alternate position then we must assume that the platform applies to them.

Its pretty rare and almost unheard of in the CPC party. An imaginary rift over arena funding prompted the CBC to write stories about a caucus revolting against Harper's arena funding pledge.

A real rift would be the number #1 talking point during a campaign:

You want to kill the registry Mr. Harper ? But your OWN MPs think its a good idea. Who's wrong ?

Cats!

ChrisWPG

"You want to kill the registry Mr. Harper ? But your OWN MPs think its a good idea. Who's wrong ?"

You want to kill the registry Mr. Harper? But your own Police Chiefs think its a good idea. Who's wrong ?
Cats

Wow now we're off topic. So i'll recap and assume you agree with my original point then ?

This thread was about debunking the talking point often used by the Liberals and the media about how urban CPC MPs should be voting for the registry because that's what their voters want.

I am pointing out that making a campaign promise TRUMPS that.

Whatever the Liberal or NDP MPs promised in the last election they should fulfill.

Mice day.
Thwim

Well.. you'd think it would trump that. But the CPC members voted for the softwood lumber deal too, even though their leader had said that if he were prime minister, he'd demand the US live up to its full NAFTA obligations and that you don't negotiate when you've won.
Cats

I have no objection to you calling out CPC members on that or income trusts.

Just as I will call out NDP or Liberal MPs for breaking their promises.

But one bad turn doesn't justify another.

Obviously Cats!
Jenn_

You make a good point, Cats, I'll give you that. However, what party platform? The one the Conservatives got around to producing 11 days before the election? The one filled with mostly pictures of Harper? It was in there?

Emily

Yes, because he and his fellow MPs know how much Harper likes surprises.
Stewart_Smith

It is a little known but charming fact that Stephen Harper just loves surprises. Indeed, to keep him on his toes he likes to have Dimitre play Kato in the PMO.

[youtube WM042h4Pkks&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM042h4Pkks&feature=related youtube]
Not Stephen Colbert

Well, I suppose it's possible. I mean, I generally wear my Nordiques t-shirt without PMO pre-approval, so what's to stop them from doing the same? Oh right, that.
L.Lea

Hahahaha, a surprise. Stevie doesn't like getting surprises ….. These guys sure think we are all pretty dumb.

danby

These guys sure think we are all pretty dumb

Actually, ~~I think they rely on "us" being inattentive and apathetic~~ pretty dumb…. sounds about right
wellwell

Stephen 'Hulk' Harper: "Mr. Blaney, don't surprise me. You wouldn't like me when I'm surprised."

Holly Stick

As some commenter also pointed out, funny that Dmitri didn't mention being surprised after that photo came out.

AJR79

That's because the PMO wasn't suprised. It's all about plausible deniability for this lead-filled trial balloon.

Crit_Reasoning

I thought the trial balloon was filled with plutonium, which is not only much denser than lead but also radioactive.

wellwell

With Chalk River shut down (again) they had to make do.

MostlyCivil

Dear Steve:

Joined the Liberals.

Surprise!

xoxo, Maxime.
Jan

And another surprise – QMI got the scoop.

Joe You

Must have been tough.

LdKitchenersOwn

That's totally different. Those MPs aren't experts. They have no idea what they're talking about.

Rest-assured that had those MPs been world renowned economists with a detailed peer-reviewed study laying out exactly why it's a terrible idea to invest public money in professional sports arenas during tough economic times while juggling a deficit – no one ever would have heard Boo from them. It's people who KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT that the government would like to keep quiet, and by this criteria, we never have to worry about our MPs being silenced.

Ever.