More Arts Funding = Less Plagiarism

What a wonderful twist of irony today's news is. One of Harper's speechwriters, unable to come up with anything original to say, steals a speech from the Australian P.M. In all honestly I don't believe that Harper had nothing to do with it. He is, to his very core, unoriginal and finding a staffer to throw under the bus every time he gets caught at something has become a standard tactic. The point remains though that if Harper and the Conservatives put more stock in the arts. If, for example, Harper read more they would be less inclined to steal the words of others, or at least would know that it was wrong.

Green or Greed Canadians....make your choice

It sure didn't take long for our leader (using that loosely) Stephen Harper to refuse a meeting Jack Layton asked to call of the party leaders this week concerning the recent economic nosedive the markets have taken and strategize steps to ensure Canadian economic welfare. The PM would rather duke it out in front of Canadians instead of putting competition aside briefly to gather those leaders we rely on as taxpayers and Canadian citizens to plan for any downturns. Tell me, is this the man and the party you really want looking after our country in what may be a very stressful couple of years.

According to Wolfe Blitzer on CNN's The Situation Room today discussions on how long financial stress could last...their guess, a couple years at best....at best. That, a very scary scenario for all North America as well as global concerns of how strong the ship's vortex will be and if it will be strong enough to sink everyone, but Canadians better take cue, we are very close in every way to the ship's vortex, close enough to be sucked in pretty deep so we must now look to our future with the best plan and the best man.

The Green Shift Stephane Dion has taken on, a brave Liberal leader who knew would be criticized by taxpayers, media and party leaders alike, still took on the task to finally implement a federal plan, not just provincial, who looked into our future of Canada and as future Canadians as a whole. A Liberal leader who knew the odds were against him after the sponsor-ship scandal caused many to loose faith in the Liberal party, who was the underdog coming into this party, instead of waging a platform of false beliefs to ensure a win, stood by making Canada a leader in environmental issues knowing full well this will also drive our economy in the future more then any other plan that could be implemented at this point of North American lifestyle.

I have always stood by carbon taxing since reading the book Heat-How to Stop the Planet from Burning and stood by limitations over the past year when I realized how much junk I accumulated over many years and how much was unnecessary and felt horribly guilty from my contribution of wasteful junk, just because I could buy it, because I wanted it, because going to the nearest mall, building center or one stop shopping felt good. I realized after emptying my house, what I needed...and that was to limit and teach my children to limit themselves and find a way to help instead of hurt. I also had an epiphany of my own life...I needed to help fix my part in the destruction of the earth with all this junk now sitting in a dump somewhere emitting off toxic pollution while it slowly decomposes, I need to add my two cents everyday starting with learning limitations.

So many Canadian voters hear the word Carbon Tax and are duped into believing it is a bad tax but it is so important Canadians do their bit of homework and read what the potential it has for our future in economics and the fact is we all will be learning to limit our spending, one way or another at the given moment of what's brewing.



According to TD Canada Trust's report released today on "Time for a Vision of Ontario's Economy" that can be found on their website under Economics, Don Drummond, SVP and Chief Economist and Derek Burleton AVP and Director of Economic Studies, Ontario itself will benefit all around if they took a closer look at BC implemented Carbon Tax:



Ontario has already indicated an interest in cap-and-trade

in partnership with other North American players. One

challenge with the cap-and-trade option is that it may be a

fractured market and could take a while to mount. For

that reason, the Ontario government might want to take a

close look at what the B.C. government has been doing,

which is essentially a mix of all three options.



The tax begins at $10 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent and will incrementally

increase to $30 in five years and will raise close to

$1.5 billion per year in revenues when fully implemented

That will be recycled back to taxpayers in the form of lower

taxes. For Ontario, the driving force behind a carbon tax

is not merely to generate revenues for government, but to

effectively achieve behavioural change. Moreover, it could

create a source of funds for other elements of a sweeping

economic plan. Pg 16 of report.

This being said, I picked out some very important paragraphs from the report but there are many more to be made and I encourage all Canadians to read it even though it is based on the Ontario economy, the carbon tax and what it can do is explained in much economic detail and when Mr. Harper puts down the plans of this and throwing money only to those who he believes he can win votes is doing a great injustice to Canadians especially knowing what our future is potentially looking at.

I urge everyone to read as much as you can before this election, as Americans are now determining what President will do the best for the people based on the lies and deceit that has been happening and Barak Obama who was an underdog at one time, don't dismiss Stephane Dion so quickly because you hear the word TAX in his very heavy French accent. We need a Prime Minister in this term who fly's Red and White...and keep the blues for our southern friends.

Harper's Hidden Agenda isn't Hidden

We've all heard of Stephen Harper's "Hidden Agenda." Harper and the Conservatives insist that there isn't one and the other parties keep warning us about it. The thing is that the agenda is only hidden if you don't look for it. Stephen Harper doesn't openly talk about it on national television and he does his best to keep other Conservative candidates and MPs quiet and away from the press but beyond that the neo-con agenda the Conservatives are pushing is black and white. Harper's claim that it doesn't exist comes off like a child with frosting on his face telling you he doesn't know where the cake went.

Harper and the Tories are anti-abortion, anti-women's rights, anti gay rights, against bilingualism, health care, and multiculturalism, anti-environment and pro-war. The point here is not to look at specific actions, I've already done that over here.

Right now I just want to look at what Conservatives have been saying about these issues during the rare times that they allow themselves (or that Harper allows them to) be honest about how they feel. These quotes are pulled from a variety of sources but I would especially like to single out this site for it's wonderful collection.

So, down the list we go starting with what Stephen Harper thinks about the US neo-conservative movement (currently represented by George Bush and John McCain.

"[Y]our country [the USA], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world."
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

On women and abortion:

"If they say they're personally opposed to abortion but they don't want to impose their opposition on society, ask them if they're personally opposed to child abuse, ask them if they're personally opposed to slavery. "
- Concervative MP Jason Kenney, Canadian Catholic News, May 24, 2004 Edition

"We should try to keep our mothers in the home and that’s where the whole Reform platform hangs together."
- Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative MP for Yorkton-Melville, in the Vancouver Province, October 11, 1993.

"We saw that young American having his head cut off. What's happening, what is happening down there no different."
- Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) at a 2004 pro-life rally on Parliament Hill, comparing abortion to the beheading of American Nicolas Berg by insurgents in Iraq

"Women who become pregnant through rape or incest should not qualify for government-funded abortions unless their pregnancy is life-threatening."
- Stockwell Day, 1995, at an Alberta Conservative party convention.

"If a community decides this is how you're going to dress and these are the punishments, who are we to say [different]?"
- Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservative MP Phillip Mayfield when asked why he believed that the torture and imprisonment of women for not wearing a veil should not be grounds for granting asylum, The Globe and Mail, March 24, 1995.

"I want to know how many women in Alberta are physically battered and not just insulted by their husbands... If we talk insulted by their husbands, then I'm afraid that I'm guilty from time to time of abusing my wife."
Stockwell Day, 1987, disputing a poll indicating one million women had been abused physically, emotionally, sexually or economically.

"At first glance to women of pregnancy prone age, this proposal may seem to be one of the best things about Canada. However, even with the current six-month leave, a functioning uterus can be an impediment to getting a job in the first place. Were it not for the idiocy of the Liberals contemplating the extrapolation spousal benefits to roommates, it could be argued that parental leave discriminates against infertile couples -- but that may lead to the risks of extending parental leave payments to those who merely go through the motions!"
- Cheryl Gallant in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner, October 28th 1999, opposing legislation to extend parental leave to one year.

"For taxpayers, however, it’s a rip-off. And it has nothing to do with gender. Both men and women taxpayers will pay additional money to both men and women in the civil service. That’s why the federal government should scrap its ridiculous pay equity law."
- Stephen Harper on pay equity, NCC Overview, Fall 1998.

On Gay Rights

"When you go into the issue of homosexuals and lesbians it's in the interest of society to have the right to discriminate against that group in areas of ... schools is one that comes to mind."
- Conservative Party Natural Resources critic Dave Chatters arguing in favour of discrimination against gays on a radio station in Westlock, Alberta, on April 30th 1996.

"Homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured through counselling."
Stockwell Day, quoted in Alberta Report.

"In the 1950s, buggery was a criminal offence. Now it's a requirement to receive benefits from the federal government."
- Yorkton-Melville Conservative MP Garry Breitkreuz commenting on same sex benefits, The Leader-Post, March 3, 2000.

"I want the whole world to know that I do not condone homosexuals. I do not condone their activity. I do not like what they do. I think it is wrong. I think it is unnatural and I think it is totally immoral. I will object to it forever whenever they attack the good, traditional Canadian family unit that built the country."
- MP Myron Thompson.

"Stories are one thing. Facts are another. I'm so tired of dealing with a few scant, fabricated stories. [Discrimination against homosexuals] just is not happening."
- Stockwell Day in the Red Deer Advocate, May 11, 1996.

"We all make mistakes and they made a mistake in pursuing a project which purports to reflect the sexual choices of one per cent of the population."
- Stockwell Day, 1997, fighting a $10,000 lotteries grant to study the lives and history of gays in Alberta. Most statistics suggest that four to 10 per cent of the general population is homosexual.

“Law-abiding men and women should be allowed to carry concealed handguns. If women and gays really wanted to stop being victims of hate crimes, they'd be in support of this, but judging from discussions, they'd rather be helpless and rely on government”
- Chris Reid Ex Conservative candidate

"Regarding sexual orientation or, more accurately, what we are really talking about, sexual behaviour, the argument has been made ... that this is analogous to race and ethnicity.... (For) anyone in the Liberal party to equate the traditional definition of marriage with segregation and apartheid is vile and disgusting."
Conservative leader Stephen Harper, 2003.

On the Environment

“Carbon dioxide does not cause or contribute to smog, and the Kyoto treaty would do nothing to reduce or prevent smog.”
- Stephen Harper, Toronto Star, June 10, 2004

“[The Kyoto Accord is] a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations… [The Accord is] based on tentative and contradictory scientific evidence about climate trends.”
Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance fundraising letter, Fall 2002

"Let me put that absolutely to rest. I've never heard a single word about Canada withdrawing from Kyoto. It's never even been discussed. That's absolute fear-mongering,"
- John Baird

On Unemployment and Poverty

"In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"Old age security is welfare for the aged."
- Conservative MP Paul Forseth, Vancouver Sun, October 6th 1993.

"I have strong concerns that we're building shelters on a grander and grander scale. I don't think there's a person in here who would expect these excesses."
- Conservative Party Homelessness Critic Peter Goldring in the Calgary Herald, March 6th 2002, calling the Calgary Drop-In Centre the 'Cowtown Casa Loma" of Canadian shelters.

"We would eliminate regional development subsidies... There is a disproportionate concentration of business subsidies in Atlantic Canada. These subsidies are hugely inefficient."
- Conservative MP Jason Kenney, August 19, 2000, quoted in the National Post.

On Canada Generally

"I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians."
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, then vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, in a June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

"Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status, led by a second-world strongman appropriately suited for the task."
- Would-be "second-world strongman" Stephen Harper in his article "It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada," December 12th, 2000.

On Multiculturalism, Immigration and Immigrants

"[Government policy] is promoting diversity at the expense of unity and equality."
- Gurmant Grewal, Conservative Multiculturalism Critic, Vancouver Sun, December 2nd 1997. Grewal had introduced a motion aimed to "prevent the reference to and designation of any Canadian or group of Canadians in a hyphenated form, based on race, religion, colour or place of origin."

"You have to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from Eastern Canada; people who live in ghettos and are not integrated into Western Canadian society."
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper, in Report Newsmagazine, 2001.

"What happens if a boatload [of immigrants] comes over from wherever and decides that they want to to cast ballots?"
- Calgary West Conservative MP Rob Anders expressing opposition to landed immigrants having the right to vote in candidate nomination races, Edmonton Journal, October 2, 2000.

"B.C. gets no protection from an immigration department that imports literally thousands of criminals into British Columbia who prey upon law abiding citizens."
- Darrel Stinson, Conservative MP, Hansard, April 27 1998.

"Particularly in big cities, we've got people that have grown up in a different culture," he said. "And they don't have the same background in terms of the stable communities we had 20, 30 years ago in our cities … and don't have the same respect for authority or people's person or property."
Calgary Conservative MP Lee Richardson 2008

"Immigrants are choking welfare systems, contributing to high unemployment, and many cannot read."
- Conservative MP Art Hanger, Canadian Press, February 2, 1994.

"Do you notice that in Toronto there has been increased crime from certain groups, like Jamaicans? "
- Calgary Northeast MP Art Hanger during a get-acquainted tour of Toronto's ethnic communities, to a storekeeper about crime, quoted in the Edmonton Journal, March 14th 1994.

"My riding has the largest Iranian population in the country. At least 40% of all the Iranians living there are refugee claimants. Most of them are bogus. "
- North Vancouver Conservative MP Ted White in the House of Commons, March 31 2003.

On Arts and Culture
“I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala and all sorts of people at a rich gala all subsidized by the taxpayer, claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know they have actually gone up, I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people,"
-Stephen Harper, 2008

"It's a sincere question. Why do we need [the CBC]? Why should we have it?"
- Jim Abbott, Conservative Party Heritage Critic, National Post, February 5th 2002. Abbott believes the CBC English-language service should be scrapped and some of its newsgathering functions transferred to CBC Newsworld.

"I wanted to make a scene about that but I never did. Instead I ran for Parliament and came here with one real good purpose which is to stop the funding for this kind of obscenity. It has no market in Canadian society. We need to stop it. It is no wonder we have all the violence against women and children when we have a publicly funded radio promoting it."
- Conservative Agriculture critic Ken Epp on how the "obscenity" on CBC Radio is causing violence against women and children, Nov. 18 1997, Hansard.

On Aboriginal Issues

"If you behave and you're sober and there's no problems and if you don't do a sit down and whatever, I don't care."
Darlene Lannigan staffer for Conservative Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon, she made the remarks when aboriginal asked for a meeting with Cannon (2008)

"The Europeans came to this country 300 years ago and opened it up and settled it and because we didn't kill the Indians and have Indian wars, that doesn't mean we didn't conquer these people. If they weren't in fact conquered then why did they allow themselves to be herded into little reserves on the most isolated, desolate, worthless parts of the country."
- Athabasca MP David Chatters on Aboriginal people.

"I think that all the Indians should all be sent to Labrador, to all live together in peace and leave us in peace."
- Reform Party candidate Ricardo Lopez, The Montreal Gazette, June 4, 1988.

"You can't scalp me because I haven't got much hair on top of my head."
- Saskatchewan Canadian Alliance candidate Brian Fitzpatrick during a native-organized candidates debate, November 2000.

On Bilingualism

"It is simply difficult – extremely difficult – for someone to become bilingual in a country that is not. And make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it less bilingual today than it has ever been... So there you have it. As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions."
- Stephen Harper on bilingualism, Calgary Sun, May 6th 2001.

On Health Care

"What we clearly need is experimentation with market reforms and private delivery options [in health care]."
- Stephen Harper, then President of the NCC, 2001.

"I do support the idea of private health care."
- Jason Kenney, Conservative Party critic on Canada-U.S. Relations, October 31st 2000.

"It's past time the feds scrapped the Canada Health Act."
- Stephen Harper, then Vice-President of the National Citizens Coalition, 1997.

"We also support the exploration of alternative ways to deliver health care. Moving toward alternatives, including those provided by the private sector, is a natural development of our health care system."
- Stephen Harper, Toronto Star, October 2002.

On War
"I don't know all the facts on Iraq, but I think we should work closely with the Americans."
- Stephen Harper, Report Newsmagazine, March 25th 2002.

"It was probably not an appropriate term, but we support the war effort and believe we should be supporting our troops and our allies and be there with them doing everything necessary to win."
- Stephen Harper supporting the US-lead war on Iraq, Montreal Gazette, April 2nd 2003. Harper also called then-Defence Minister John McCallum an "idiot."

"This government's only explanation for not standing behind our allies is that they couldn't get the approval of the Security Council at the United Nations - a body [on] which Canada doesn't even have a seat."
- Stephen Harper supporting the American invasion of Iraq, CTV's Question Period, March 30, 2003.

"Mr. Speaker, the issue of war requires moral leadership. We believe the government should stand by our troops, our friends and our allies and do everything necessary to support them right through to victory."
- Stephen Harper, supporting the American invasion of Iraq, House of Commons, April 1, 2003.

"Thank you for saying to our friends in the United States of America, you are our ally, our neighbour, and our best friend in the whole wide world. And when your brave men and women give their lives for freedom and democracy we are not neutral. We do not stand on the sidelines; we're for the disarmament of Saddam and the liberation of the people of Iraq."
- Stephen Harper, Friends of America Rally, April 4, 2003.

On National Unity
"Withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan... Collect our own revenue from personal income tax... Resume provincial responsibility for health-care policy. If Ottawa objects to provincial policy, fight in the courts... [E]ach province should raise its own revenue for health... It is imperative to take the initiative, to build firewalls around Alberta... "
- Stephen Harper in an "Open letter to Ralph Klein," January 24th 2001.

"Much about the Canadian Alliance is worthy of support, and a large number of Canadians do support it. But the CA will be under considerable pressure to rid itself of any tinge of a Western agenda or Alberta control. This we must fight. If the Alliance is ever to become a party that could be lead by a Paul Martin or a Joe Clark, it must do so without us. We don't need a second Liberal party."
- Stephen Harper, now leader of the Conservative Party, in "It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada," December 12th, 2000.

""Whether Canada ends up with one national government or two governments or 10 governments, the Canadian people will require less government no matter what the constitutional status or arrangement of any future country may be."
- Stephen Harper in a 1994 National Citizens Coalition speech.

On Canadian Sovereignty
"Continental economic and security integration" with the U.S. as well as a "continental energy strategy" that should be broadened "to a range of other natural resources."
- Conservative leader Stephen Harper.

Stephen Harper would like us to believe all of these remarks were accidental, overblown or examples of media-bias. All of them, regardless of how often they happen. He would like us to believe that because the party changed it's name, it's beliefs are different - even though most of the major players are the same. The reality is that the core of the Conservative party appears to endorse most of the above statements. If you read comments on the internet (on the CBC News site for example you will find the above comments echoed over and over again by Conservative supporters, you will actually read far worse comments and those are just the ones that the moderators of that site allow through - you will also see frequent Conservative complaints about comments being censored.

There is no Hidden Agenda it's all right there, laid out for you if you care to look. The only way in which the Conservative agenda is hidden is if you choose not to look.

Art Lesson Tax Credit Good, But Misses the Point

Today Stephen Harper announced a tax credit that would allow more young people to take art lessons. It is good to know that the Prime Minister who has been openly hostile to the arts to date is at least not openly hostile to children. The move is certainly welcome from an arts and culture (as well as a parental) perspective. However this is not groups for a cease fire between artists and the conservatives.

The programs cut by the conservative were about boosting the arts and culture industry by making it easier to find an export market. While it's wonderful that more children may be able to take art lessons it would be good if there were a possibility that some of those children might be able to go on to careers in the arts and that is what Stephen Harper has put in jeopardy.

The Border tackles Stop Loss and US Soldiers in Canada

Last year while Stephen Harper was brown nosing and pretending the US does not practice torture the people at the Border did an episode about US rendition flights (and one that crash landed in Northern Quebec). So, given that Canada's treatment of US war resisters has become a hotly contested issue this election season I am greatly looking forward to seeing how the Border handles the issue in their season premier tomorrow night.

Although I don't have a clear idea of how the issue will be treated there are clues at a Canadian Army Forum:

"For the episode (entitled Stoploss) the synopsis is: Three American soldiers plunge into the Niagara River and swim to Canada.   Deserters, refusing to return to Iraq under the U.S.’s “stop loss” policy, they  seek refugee status in Canada.   Major Mike Kessler and his Immigration and Customs Security (ICS) Squad are forced to deal with the fallout -- from Canadian anti-war protestors to an incensed American four-star general.  One of the soldiers has a psychotic breakdown forcing Major Kessler to face his worst nightmare."

The show can be seen tomorrow night (monday, Sept. 29) at 9 p.m. on CBC. If it's something you're into you can also follow the border via their Facebook Group and/or on Twitter as well as their CBC Web Site.

the Border - Stop Loss behind the Scenes

Bedouin Soundclash Slams Tory Art Cuts

The hugely successful band Bedouin Soundclash, from Kingston Ontario, is the latest to take a shot at explaining why Stephen Harper's cuts to the arts are a terrible idea. I hope the band doesn't mind, but here is the entire posting from the band's Myspace Blog:

"For anyone reading this internationally, the fact that Canada is having an election in addition to the U.S. has likely gone unnoticed. Actually, given its coverage in our own country alot of younger Canadians might have turned their focus more towards the excitement of Barack Obama than to Steven Harper (or they have focused on their Wii which is an amazing machine i have to admit.) There isn't much 'sexy' about this election. And, I'm not sure any of the leaders have had sex in a while, they look stressed. Regardless, I thought I would put my own thoughts out the on the issues that are facing someone like myself.

In an underhanded gesture, without consulting the public, Prime Minister Harper has cut over 14 million dollars to film makers, musicians and writers in Canada. One great canadian group, Holy Fuck, were amongst those cited as bands who have benefited from this spending. They were trashed in the papers by conservatives as an example of terrible art we support with this funding. I'll go back to that ridiculous and scary argument later. (well, if it pleases Big Brother that is).

The cuts were targeted at funds which were directed to international arts initiatives for Canadians touring, promoting, and working abroad. The cold logic was that this did not benefit Canadians at home. We are facing an economic crisis and to Harper this was probably frivolous spending that Canadian tax payers don't see back.

As someone who has recieved those grants at times I can put it into my own perspective. If we choose to tour Germany, France, England, Japan etc. we are eligible for this money. When we have received the money we are able to effectively promote ourselves, pay our (Canadian) crew, and come home with money in hand. Logically, this money is claimed in Canada and we subsequently pay taxes back to the country. The system is harmonious and is actually estimated at bringing in 85 million dollars worth of revenue annually to Canada. This far exceeds the money granted.

The conservatives also felt, beyond economics, that this money was going to “fringe arts groups” like Holy Fuck who are “unrepresentative” of canada and “offensive”. We are now living amongst Big Brother, comrades. When a government can decide unilaterally what it deems acceptable art we are living in dangerous times. Arcade Fire, Metric, Sam Roberts, K-os, Broken Social Scene, Billy Talent, Nelly Furtado, Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Bedouin Soundclash, etc. have all recieved funding as well and have all seen their careers improve immensely abroad as a result.

Mr. Harper under fire, noted that he did have a love for the arts and has a grade nine royal conservatory certificate on PIANO! He also submitted a shot of him to the papers at his baby grand over on Sussex street. One of his 'party animal' aides said every year they have a jolly good time at the Christmas party when Stevie cuts a rug to his favourite rock and roll tunes. Finally! I hope he releases the live session on record, the great white Ray Charles of the north. I can't think of something more enjoyable than sitting back with my HiFI cranked and listening to the sweet soulful sounds of Steven Harper tickling the ivory. That one is going right next to my Neil Young records, and also into the canon of great contributions to Canadian art. You are right, who needs spending when we have conservative covers of Elton John? Even your mom can agree, holy fuck.

When the government needs money because we have sent troops to Afghanistan, he pulls it from the arts. I think i would much rather be recognized around the world for our humanity and arts, then for forceful peacekeeping in a country where anti-Canadian sentiment is now high.


Perhaps Steven Harper should put less time into making Hanukkah cards for every Jewish-Canadian around the country to “celebrate” the holidays and put the money he spent on paper back into something worthwhile. (I didn't realize the Jews were so important to Harpers votes, holy fuck!)

And in terms of votes, he now is calling to pull our military out of Afghanistan by 2011. Just in time for the election. I would hope that he made that difficult decision to participate in a war out of moral principle and safety. In a war where more than 100 Canadians have died, you would hope it was for more than a gesture of proxy to the U.S.

He also wants to end house arrests in this country and make close to 30 crimes worthy of imprisonment. At a time where money is scarce, why would we want to spend more money on keeping people imprisoned of petty crimes, in a situation which would not promote rehabilitation but has shown to further a criminal tendency. His health minister also wants to cut funding to Insite, a clinic which allows safe injection for addicts in the lower east side here in Vancouver. He feels it promotes drug use, ignoring the medical evidence that when a user can inject safely around health care workers it limits the spread of disease, controls OD's, and most importantly has shown a great success rate in those who will subsequently go on to rehab. Holy fuck!

The reason i bring both these things up is that both these issues fall under the Conservatives dogma of 'law and order.' Harper says he is 'colour blind' and that the rules fit for everyone. However, the reality is that the predominant majority in the lower east side, and disproportionate of those in Canadian prisons, are native. He is completely ignoring the real social issues, and leaving behind those he has decided aren't important to votes.

I am not telling anyone how to vote. In fact, I really can't stand these 'vote or die' campaigns, or 'rock the vote.' If kids don't want to vote then don't vote. If you have everything that you need in your life (like Wii which is truly fantastic) then continue on the path. I will leave bullying to the U.S. and P Diddy. (by the way P Diddy also wants you to know Burger King is now open late. start eating!)

It was funny last week when our management got a call from the NDP asking if we would play an opening rally in Toronto. At the time, all three leaders Dion, Harper, and Layton had shut Elizabeth May of the Green Party out of a televised debate. They offered us money to play. I said that we would play for free, under the condition that we could wear green party shirts onstage and that Jack Layton would push to get May into the debates. The rest of the day there was so much public outcry over the Green Party anyways in this country, that May was allowed into the debate. I read the paper the next day with the headline that she was in. “fuck,” I thought, “we are going to have to play this fucking thing for free now.” Holy Fuck!

Jay



P.S. For the information of the conservatives and our spending. We shot a video in Japan and with the extra footage our director Marc Ricciadelli starred as himself in a short film he called 'escamaster'. Marc rode the escalators to the extreme, and we have the video on the myspace page. Strangely enough, without knowing three months ago the controversy of names with swears in them, he used 'Two Snakes' as the song for the video. This was written by another great hardcore band called Fucked Up. Get your knives out again."

Help Boost Canadian Arts and Culture

Regardless of whether or not Harper's cuts happen, the arts in Canada are never in great shape. One of the largest disadvantages that Canadians face in terms of arts and media is a lack of exposure. American stuff frequently comes with huge marketing budgets and, in part because of that, they get alot of free publicity in the Canadian Arts and Entertainment Press. Canadians, on the other hand, tend to have little or no publicity budget and frequently struggle to get media attention.

So, inspired by an election related project I'm working on, I'm taking a small, specific and concrete step to try to help (at least a little).

I've started two different groups on Facebook

Boost: Canadian Film and Television (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26499944909)

Boost: Canadian Music (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28783813599)

The goal is to get these group as close as possible to, but not over, 5000 members. 5,000 is the maximum number of members a group can have without Facebook shutting off your ability to send messages.

Periodically I will send out videos posted on YouTube (music videos, film and television trailers etc). Members are then asked to click on the link, watch them, rate them and comment, and then use the "Share" link on Facebook to share them with friends.

This flurry of activity will not only insure that many people see it (the members of the group for a start) but will also give them a quick boost in YouTube's popularity rating, so a great many people not in the group will be made aware of it.

Again, it's a small step but 5-10 thousand views for a video or trailer is significant in terms of the Canadian market. I'm also aware that there are other areas of the arts that needs support even more, but since these are the strongest areas they are the best to do a test run with. If it doesn't work with music, film and television it is unlikely to work elsewhere. If it does, in fact, work then other groups may be added to the roster later.

Other Arts and Culture related groups I've created

Publicbroadcasting.ca (group for my web site - a combination of Arts, Culture, News and Politics)

Publicbroadcasting.ca (page - see above)

Canadian Music (page)

CBC Radio 2

CBC Radio 3 Sessions (group)

CBC Radio 3 Sessions (page)

Events Toronto (group)

Events Toronto (page)

Friends of the CBC

I Want My Radio 3 TV

Canadian Renaissance Project
(obviously not something that is going to fly with the current government, but maybe someday)

Eyes on Toronto to Return for Nuit Blanche

On Saturday, October 4 Nuit Blanche returns to Toronto from 6:52 pm (don't get there at 6:51 it'll do you no good) until sunrise. Nuit Blanche is, as always, market by arts events all over the downtown core. This year 155 'destinations' in three zones will be featured as part of the official celebration. (Details are here.)

Amoung these 155 destinations is an all night edition of Eyes on Toronto at the Gladstone Hotel you can check out the Nuit Blanche profile for the event as well as the Facebook Event or just visit Eyesontoronto.ca. No word on who will be performing yet, but Eyes has in the past managed to get some great guests. There are samples of some of them on the Eyes On Toronto YouTube Channel. Eyes has also said that the Eyes on Toronto crew has "Huge Moves" coming in the fall, but has dropped no hints as to what that might mean.

Choose Your Canada

Today while walking down the street there was a man walking with his two children. Although it's not Halloween yet one of the children was dressed as Batman and the other as some type of pirate. Both children were thoroughly into their roles and seemed completely unaware that they were a bit out of place. No one laughed but all of the adults in the vicinity smiled at each other. So much, I think, for Stephen Harpers claim that arts and culture do not matter to ordinary people. You might not think that this falls under arts and culture, but it does, this is where it starts. Children imagining and pretending which, if they are not overly discouraged, leads to imagining and pretending on a larger scale. Every parent, or every good parent, would like to be able to tell their children that if they work hard at it they someday might be a great writer, actor, artist or dancer and this is what Stephen Harper is against, this is what he says doesn't matter to ordinary people.

On the whole this is a battle over Canada, over who we are and how we see ourselves. The Canada I see, the one I love is a Canada that is interested in the well-being of friends and neighbors but not overly interested in international power. It is a place where we have great reverence for nature, and even when she is unkind we make the best of it, help one another and try to have a good time. It is a place where we take care of the weakest in society, where we don't put much stock in wealth and power but universally love to gather with friends for drinks and music and talk. It is a place where we like to curl up with a good coffee and a good book on a particularly cold day. It is, in short, a place where things like this happen.

My Canada is a place where people plan for the future, even if it means a few sacrifices now, and aren't afraid to try new things. When our health care system was new everyone was predicting disaster, and there were some bumps in the road making it work but overall it's something that Canadians are very proud of and overwhelmingly would never want to give up. When we came up with peacekeeping the worlds superpowers were perplexed but it's turned out to be a valuable tool, saving countless lives around the world and shaping Canada's reputation as an international peacekeeper, diplomat and honest broker.

Stephen Harper's Canada is a very different place. It is not surprising really as their ideology doesn't come from Canada. It is born, bred and financed in the United States. It is a Canada where nature is a resource to be sold to the highest bidder. It is a place where everyone looks out for themselves - where people might donate to charity or help an elderly neighbor shovel snow but the basic rule is 'more for me now'. It is a place that is fascinated by military power (even if it's only joining in with US military adventures). It is a place where the goal is to become wealthy, even if it means your neighbors go broke. It is a place where parents do not worry about their children having clean air to breathe or clean water to drink as long as there is money to buy them a new iPod at Christmas. It is a place where generally your future is determined by the wealth of your parents - on whether they can afford to send you to University, on whether they can afford Health care because in Stephen Harper's Canada health care and peacekeeping are antiquated concepts, things we no longer need.

Stephen Harper's Canada is, in short, the same as George Bush's America. It does not matter to Harper and his supporters that Bush's policies failed, it doesn't matter that it would destroy any trace of Canadian identity, as long as it makes the greediest people rich. Stephen Harper's Canada, in other words, has put my Canada on the auction block - for sale to the highest bidder.

People have to make a choice. They have to decide if Stephen Harper's Canada is what they want. I frankly don't understand why anyone would choose that Canada, unless Canada never meant much to them to begin with. But we are, as they say, in a culture war and all I can really do is keep fighting for the good guys and hope that Harper's supporters are able to overcome fear and short term greed for a better future for everyone.

What your musical tastes say about you...

"Classical to Rap: Music lovers have much more in common than you would think" by Chris Green

Just read this article from the Independent UK about how your musical tastes can define your personality. Interesting read, but not sure how much I agree with it.

Here's the link

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/classical-to-rap-music-lovers-have-much-more-in-common-than-you-would-think-919553.html

Coming Up in Toronto

Thursday, September 25
The St.Clair Jazz All-Stars
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NO SHAME : Nick Jaina / Kite Hill / Parlovr @ Rancho
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Fembots In-Store Performance
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mission 63: mod club radio
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NO SHAME : Nick Jaina / Kite Hill / Parlovr @ Rancho
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DOC TORONTO’S MASTERS SERIES #3: SHELLEY SAYWELL – FILMING UNDER FIRE
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TTW After Party And Networking Event
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City of Toronto Billboard Bylaw Consultations
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The Refined + Trevor James & The Perfect Gentlemen + All-Day Breakfast
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No Appendix + No Promoter = Free Thursday Show @ Rancho
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Friday, September 26
h.e. shirt party
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PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
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Richard Underhill Quartet at Chalkers 6-9pm Friday, Sept 26
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TWM 25: B.A. Johnston CD Release w/ Schomberg Fair, Horses, Raccoon Wedding
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Boxes & Bags Pop Brains!
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picturesound
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Sean Pinchin @ The Savannah room
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SHIT LA MERDE 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
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Saturday, September 27
The TrekZac FestiCon
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TWM: Sing Leaf, Ladyfingers, The Wind Whistles, We're For Barton
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Wendy Leung @ Cameron House w/ Will Hemmings and TBA
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FLEECE ELVES PLAY SAVANNAH ROOM SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27
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LIVE WRESTLING
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the oxford hotel presents: wet nose hero, tune yards, my people sleeping
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Joshua Cockerill Band featuring Christine Bougie
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FAMILY AFFAIR
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F'UNREAL
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Sunday, September 28
Jozef van Wissem — Anonymous Lute Solos of the Golden Age
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The 100 Celebrity Diet
Tyee Columnist Vanessa Richmond Presents at Word on the Street
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Sara Davis Buechner kicks off Toronto's Hart House concert season
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The Parkdale Revolutionary Orchestra @ The Gladstone Hotel
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Sunday Matinee!! Joey Only (anarchist folk) / Bag Ladies / Rough Sea
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Monday, September 29

Dragons' Den Season 3 Starts
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MACHETES play Elvis Monday!
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Tuesday, September 30
NO SHAME : A Pop Montreal Preview @ The Silver Dollar
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Wednesday, October 1
We Are So Fucked (WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING)
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CINEPLEX ENTERTAINMENT FALL CONCERT SERIES: PART I!
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GRANNY BOOTS - DJ Backfat (RM Vaughan), Keith Cole, Alexis O'Hara
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Benefit Show: A Comedy
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PWYC Weds w/ Arctic, Astrophysics For Fun & Brodie Dakin & the Mercucials
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Thursday, October 2
Slow/Dynamite w/ LUNCHMEAT @ The Silver Dollar
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World Press Photo 08 (Toronto)
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Psychedelic Horseshit w/ U.S. Girls + Golden Error + 10,000 Watt Head
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Devin and the Dark Light at the Boat!
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elZOO's theFIRSTthursday
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NO SHAME : Mandibles / Muskox / Gabe Levine @ Tiger Bar THURS OCT 2
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Friday, October 3
AWSUM INK presents...October Sky!!!
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Clouds That Look Like Things, Paint Movement, Matt Bahen, People of Canada
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øøø ROOM PARTY øøø
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Saturday, October 4
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2008
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Climate Catastrophe and Social Justice: Action and Analysis
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The Look: Colour Techniques in After Effects
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Nuit Blanche at the Music Gallery: It's not a church, it's a SPORTS BAR
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Fire Hydrant @ Cameron House (Doug's 30th)
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Tuesday, October 7
Gareth Bate "Penance & Devotion" Solo Exhibition
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RAYMI F...ART SHOW PARTY
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Royally Sparked CD Release Party
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Wednesday, October 8
FOXFIRE CHARITY BASH
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Thursday, October 9
Ministry of the Environment CD release party!
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Red Light In The Night- Cabaret
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Friday, October 10
The Second Footprints Reading Series! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
Seeking submissions of short theatre pieces by emerging female artists!!
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ONFF CD RELEASE!!! "The War On Geometry" w/ Black Hat Brigade & Dinosaur Bones
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Saturday, October 11
Toronto CD Release Party for - What the Boat Gave the River
Mark Berube and The Patriotic Few
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Tuesday, October 14
Vote Against Stephen Harper on October 14
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Distribute the rabble rouser!
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Wednesday, October 15
Young Widows w/METZ, Anagram @ Sneaky Dee's
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Thursday, October 16
FW & DI @ ROK BOUTIQUE
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Said the Whale at the Horseshoe Tavern w/ Awkward Stage, Sylvie and Vancougar
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Friday, October 17
Wooden Sky & Mother Mother
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Mozart in Love
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Saturday, October 18
Hexes and Ohs Bedroom Madness CD Release
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Sunday, October 19
2008 Toronto Zombie Walk
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Tuesday, October 21
X AVANT New Music Festival III — "Space is the Place"
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Thursday, October 23
Come party with us! rabble.ca relaunches Oct. 23
raising a ruckus! Emerging media finding common ground, making change
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Saturday, October 25
AWSUM INK presents....Surefire Machine!!!
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Thursday, October 30
Flourish A Brighter Future Through Culture
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Out of the Shadows
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The Faceless, Abigail Williams, Decrepit Birth, Neuraxis, Veil Of Maya
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HALLOWEEN GHOST CRUISE
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CATS
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Friday, October 31
Wiccan Halloween Party at The Black Swan featuring Themis Wicca Rock
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Saturday, November 1
The Toronto Small Press Affair
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Friday, November 14
Art Gallery of Ontario public opening
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Saturday, November 15
Plastic Crimewave Sound w/ Djin Aquarian + Mondo Drag
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Said the Whale Tour Dates

It seems like they just finished a tour but Said the Whale is hitting the road yet again. This time they've added keyboard player Jaycelyn Brown to the mix, which should make for a slightly different sound for the band. You can get an idea of what Jaycelyn might bring with a listen to some of her solo work at myspace.com/jaycelynbrown. Although they seem to be on the road constantly you can also read a bit about the band and their love of home here.


September 25th, 2008 Vancouver, BC | Chan Centre (Telus Studio Theatre) @ 5pm **ALL AGES**

October 9th, 2008 Calgary, AB | The Gateway @ SAIT

October 10th, 2008 Regina, SK | The Distrikt w/ Sylvie

October 11th, 2008 Winnipeg, MB | The Lo Pub w/ Sylvie

October 12th, 2008 Thunder Bay, ON | Jack's w/ Sylvie

October 14th, 2008 London, ON | Call The Office w/ Sylvie

October 15th, 2008 Hamilton, ON | The Casbah w/ Mother Mother & The Wooden Sky

October 16th, 2008 Toronto, ON | Horseshoe Tavern w/ The Awkward Stage, Sylvie and Vancougar

October 17th, 2008 Ottawa, ON | Zaphod's w/ Sylvie

October 18th, 2008 Montreal, PQ | Club L'Ambi

October 21st, 2008 New York City, NY | Piano's (CMJ Music Marathon)

October 22nd, 2008 New York City, NY | Arlene's Grocery w/ Shad K & Hey Rosetta! (CMJ Music Marathon)

October 28th, 2008 Saskatoon, SK | TBC

October 29th, 2008 Regina, SK | TBC

October 30th, 2008 Lethbridge, AB | TBC

October 31st, 2008 St. Albert, AB | TBC

November 1st, 2008 Edmonton, AB | TBC

November 2nd, 2008 Calgary, AB | TBC ***ALL-AGES***

Said the Whale - "This City's A Mess"

Chartattack: Full Halifax Pop Explosion Lineup

Chartattack has the full lineup for this years Halifax Pop Explosion:

"Jay Reatard, Polaris Prize Music finalist Basia Bulat, HILOTRONS and White Cowbell Oklahoma are among the acts to join a lineup that includes Islands, The Inbreds, Monotonix, Woodhands and Polaris finalists Holy Fuck and Two Hours Traffic.

This year's Halifax Pop Explosion features more than 140 acts performing at 12 venues in the city from Oct. 21 to 25. You can see the full schedule at the festival's website and a program guide here. Passes and tickets to select shows are available at the HPX site. "

You can read the full article at http://www.chartattack.com/news/60676/full-halifax-pop-explosion-lineup or visit the Halifax Pop Explosion website at halifaxpopexplosion.com.

Stephen Harper Lies About Other Things

These two aren't so much lie lies, it's not that what he's saying is inaccurate - it's what he's not saying that qualify these remarks as lies.

I've already talked about his lies on the arts today, but he also lied about an environmental plan and about food safety.

On the environment Harper trotted out what he would like us to believe is an environmental plan. He says that he wants to increase the fines for "the most serious environmental crimes to $6 million for corporations and $1 million for individuals."

What he doesn't say (the part that makes it a lie):

Global warming, and the pollution of our air, water and soil as well as the dwindling of many endangered species have all been caused by legal pollution, there would be no impact on most polluters just the ones that broke our rather lax environmental laws

Polluters are so heavily subsidized and otherwise taken care of that even the largest of Harper's fines wouldn't even put a dent in their Federal Subsidies. (wouldn't it be nice if Harper was as hard on polluters as he is on 14 year olds).

The Liberals, NDP, and Green Party all have an environmental plan, Stephen Harper does not. What he has proposed isn't an environmental plan it's basically just an accounting trick.

Next, Stephen Harper lashed out at past Liberal Governments for acting on food safety. While it's true that the Liberals should have acted and didn't - that Liberal government, along with it's leader and most of its Cabinet Ministers are gone. What makes it a lie is, again, what Harper didn't say. Namely that:

First Harper has been prime minister for 2.5 years and also did not act on, suggest acting on or promote action on the Liberal policies that upset him so much today.

Second the Conservatives actually cut funding for inspections and made our food less safe.

The Liberals at least had the good sense not to make fun of the victims.

Again, Stephen Harper can only win if people don't think about what he's saying.

Harper Lies About Art Some More

Stephen Harper is lying again and he is guessing that the supporters he is seeking will be too dumb to tell the difference. How cynical is that? Not trying to convince voters of the value of your position but instead hoping that they will be dumb enough to believe your lies? Yesterday when asked about his cuts to the arts Stephen Harper told the press:

"I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see ... a bunch of people at a rich gala ... all subsidized by the taxpayers -- claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know those subsidies have gone up -- I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people," Mr. Harper told reporters.

I don't know what Harper is talking about really. Sure I've seen people come out to rich galas. These are generally held when the Toronto International Film Festival comes to town and American stars show up. The government though doesn't pay for that. There are sometimes Gala fundraisers for things like the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Royal Ontario Museum. While the Government contributes to the AGO and the ROM these galas are held to try and convince the better off in Toronto to contribute money to the facilities. The government does not pay for the galas and the galas raise money so the government doesn't have to pay as much.

None of this though has anything to do with the subsidies we are talking about, the subsidies Stephen Harper cut. Canadian artists are often faced with a difficult decision. Canada is not a big market (30 million people compared to over 300 million in the US). It is very difficult for many of them to get enough income from Canada alone. Those who can't do so frequently leave their friends, families and the country they love behind and live in the larger markets of the US or Europe.

The subsidies cut by the Conservatives were designed to help these artists find foreign audiences while still living in Canada. Most of the subsidies that come from these programs give an artist, or group of artists a few hundred dollars to help them travel abroad and enter foreign markets. If any of these people were wealthy they wouldn't bother - the amount of paperwork involved in getting such a grant is barely worth the small amount you get from them (if your application is accepted.) If you run a business in Canada you know the value of exports and you know that there are government programs designed to help you find export markets. It should also be noted that the programs being cut are tremendously successful. Canada is known the world over as a place that values arts and culture and a place that produces great artists and Canadian cultural exports bring in over 5 billion dollars annually.

Now, Stephen Harper has no trouble spending 300 million dollars on an election he said he wouldn't call. He has no trouble spending $1.4 billion dollars to subsidize oil sands development even though they are destroying the environment of western Canada and the oil companies are making record profits. He has no trouble spending billions subsidizing manufacturing exports but apparently spending 40 million to help struggling artists make a living while choosing to live in Canada is frivolous.

This policy would send a clear message to Canadian artists and to the world that Canada does not care about the arts, that if you want to be any kind of an artist you should leave the country. It would also shake the world's image of Canada.

So please, show Stephen Harper that you're not as dumb as he thinks you are and on Oct. 14 fire him and elect a Prime Minister who cares about Canada and doesn't assume that we're all idiots.

And now, to be fair:

A Rebuttal from the Conservatives

Anyonebutharper.ca site launches

A new election web site has launched with the simple and self-explanatory title Anyonebutharper.ca it contains information on why to vote against Stephen Harper, how to vote strategically in order to beat Stephen Harper (especially important now that Jack Layton has expressed interest in a coalition government with the Liberals), links to like minded sites and some amazing videos. (Full Disclosure: I've been working with the Anyone But Harper folks - many more videos are coming!)

Have a look and please distribute, repost and share widely!!

The Fundamentals of the Economy Are Strong and Other Harper Myths

A great new video from the folks at acreativerevolution.ca but before I get to that a few other brief notes. First Montreal Simon has some notes on the ties between the Conservatives and ultra conservative Catholic movement Opus Dei. Also Conservative Candidate Chris Reid, Toronto Centre has called it quits after he "criticized passengers on a Prairie bus this summer for not intervening to stop the beheading of a fellow passenger.

Finally, according to Nanos research the Tories have now slipped to a 5 percentage point lead over the Liberals. The new poll (PDF) puts the Tories at 36% and the Liberals at 31%, The NDP currently has 20% and the Greens and Bloc are tied at 7%. The poll shows Conservative support slipping across the board, in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec and the West.

And now
Stephen Harper and Friends Reassure You About the Economy

Attention Calgary: Vicious Citcle

No this is nothing to do with the election, my friend Nicole Ooms has some pieces up at a show that opens tonight at the Vicious Circle, 1011 1st Street SW at 7 pm. Visit Nicole's site at www.nicolesarah.com. You can find out more about Vicious Circle and get directions, hours etc., at viciouscircle.ca

Dion Sides with Arts and Culture: Conservatives Plan more Damage

Stephen Dion said today that, if elected, a Liberal Government would reverse the damage done by Harper to the Arts and strengthen them more than ever before. Among Dion's promises

Doubling the budget of the Canada Council for the Arts to $360 million a year

Increasing the film production tax credit to 30 per cent from 25 per cent

Reversing the Conservatives' $45 million in cuts to the budgets of various arts groups.

Dion also pointed to a fundraising letter send out by the Conservatives that asks the question "The CBC costs taxpayers over $1.1 billion per year. Do you think this is a good use of taxpayers' dollars or a bad use of taxpayers' dollars?" This doesn't obviously bode well for the CBC or for the Conservatives future plans for Arts and Culture.

The Western Wall Falls Too: The Day Capitalism Failed

To modern western conservatives the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the failure of communism. The Soviet Union had failed to make communism work as a system of government. (communism for those of you who don't know is different from socialism - look it up.) Although it actually began under Ronald Reagan in 1980 this marked the true dawn of the conservative era. The neo-cons (as they are now known) marshaled in a new era of deregulation, laissez-fair economics, social Darwinism (poor Darwin - this had nothing to do with his theory), and an Adam Smith like belief in the power of the markets to make everything good.

Adam Smith (1723-1790) believed that if every person acted in their own self interest under a system of competition and free markets that everyone would prosper. This, along with a conservative Christian morality adopted to secure more votes, has been the driving philosophy of Western Conservatives and the one that they matched up against the communism of the soviets. The problem we are now left with is that both have failed.

In order to save off another great depression the U.S. Bush administration (the home seat of modern neo-con philosophy) has been forced to use a socialist solution - a 700 billion dollar bailout of the banking industry. Again, this is from a government and an ideological philosophy that preached non-intervention and small government but is already (before the bailout) more than 9.5 trillion dollars in debt, even before the bailout and while accumulation all of this debt the standard of living of US citizens has actually declined. This is, as the saying goes, socialism for the rich and capitalism for everyone else. The people who lost their homes as a result of this fiasco will get nothing. It must be remembered though that it was socialist and semi-socialist solutions (combined with a World War) that pulled the west out of the first Great Depression.

So am I espousing socialism? No, not really. What I am saying is that unless someone comes up with another, entirely new, economic philosophy that we are left with a hybrid. The markets and competition obviously have a place. Most Canadians don't want to live in a world with one kind of iced cream, one kind of shirt, one kind of coffee. In Canada Bell and Rogers, for example, have shown us that large companies without competition become complacent and charge ever higher prices while service declines. On the other hand, socialist solutions along with industry regulation, government intervention and taxes also have their place. Adam Smith was wrong. Everyone acting in their own self interest will eventually lead to catastrophe. People's self interest is all too often short sighted, what is in your personal self interest today is frequently not good for you, your country, or the environment (and the planet that sustains our lives) over the long haul. Now we must struggle to find that balance knowing that the economic schools of thought that have guided the last 200+ years do not, in a pure form, work.

I bring this up at this time for two reasons. First to mark the occasion of the fall of the West's Berlin Wall. Second because we are in an election and Stephen Harper is running on a belief that deregulation, laissez-fair economics, social Darwinism, and an Adam Smith like belief in the power of the markets to make everything good. All we have to do is look south to see where that road ends.

Contrasting Dion and Harper

However it comes out this is turning out to be a great election to analyze. As a thinking person it is becoming more impossible by the day to support the conservatives. Yesterday while listening to CBC Radio I heard from the Liberals and the Conservatives. It was on one of those breaks where they allow the parties a little air time.

For the Liberals Stephen Dion talked for the full time alloted about his environmental record and the liberals Carbon tax plan. It was interesting, informative and well thought out.

Then the Conservatives came on and it became clear that they don't even care about smart people. They want dumb people and/or scared people. They used their time to play 30 second ads, one of them they played twice (just for repetition value). Each of the Ads featured comments from 'voters'. The comments all basically said the same thing 'Dion bad', 'more taxes', 'doesn't seem like a leader to me' and all of them ended with the same conclusion 'not worth the risk'. The ads were so repetitive that they almost turned into a chant "not a leader, not worth the risk". There was no substance, no real arguments (just insults), no analysis, nothing to counter Dion's plan.

As an aside, the reality of Dion's plan is that it will probably not raise your taxes. The idea behind the carbon tax is to shift from income tax to consumption tax. There is a nice quick outline of what such a plan might look like on the Green Party's website http://www.greenparty.ca/en/background/06.06.2007b. So your income tax would go down and then carbon tax would be added to various products depending on the pollution required to produce them. So if you live even a semi-green lifestyle your overall taxes go down. How much you pay in taxes depends on the decisions you make - if you buy recyclable or recycled products your taxes go down, if you take public transit or carpool your taxes go down, if you walk or ride a bike sometimes you taxes go down, if you buy a more fuel efficient car or energy efficient appliances for your home your taxes go down etc., The basic idea here is that it would encourage people to use products that pollute less, and use less of products that pollute. So according to the calculator on the LIberal website my family's taxes would go down by about $1500 a year. All I can say is, check out the actual plan and find out what it means for you before you start chanting with the Harperites.

Now, back to the topic at hand, Harper's mantra for this election is 'not a leader, not worth the risk'. But both of these things can easily be said about Harper. Shortly after Mr. Dion became the leader of the Liberals the Conservatives ran an ad with Dion saying 'It's not easy to set priorities' or something like that, but Mr. Dion has, in fact, made his priorities clear so far they include, first and foremost the environment, but also aid for farmers, assitance in gaining and maintaining manufacturing jobs, repairing crumbling infrastructure across Canada, help for those in poverty and higher education, improved child care assistance and helping Canadian cities. Pretty good priorities I think.

On the other hand, what are Mr. Harper's priorities? He hasn't really said. Sure he's pledged small sums of money here and there, but not enough to really solve anything. His plan seems to be primarily to bash Dion without committing to anything himself. He has essentially offered no plan on the environment, no plan for cities, no plan for farmers or manufacturing jobs. He has not said whether or not, if McCain is elected in the U.S., if he will follow McCain into Iran. Perhaps this is because he has been too busy apologizing for things his team has done and playing down new scandals.

But Harper's past record certainly does not recommend him for the job for which he is reapplying. His record on the environment is intolerable, he has not run an honest, transparent government but a secretive, dishonest and corrupt one, he has openly attacked Canadian arts and culture and his record on the economy is, by any reasonable standard, weak outside Alberta. The corporate tax cuts he's so proud of have not created any jobs, and the 2 cent reduction in the GST has helped the average family very little.

The truth is we live in sad times. We have one Candidate who doesn't come across well on television but has good policy positions on things Canadians care about and we have one candidate who looks good on TV but doesn't really care about the average Canadian or Canada's future (unless we're talking about oil futures) and the guy who looks good on TV is winning.

So, here are a few alternate takes on Dion and Harper

Stephen Dion







Stephen Harper

Laura Barrett shows off her Victory Garden on Sunday

This Sunday at the Tranzac in Toronto, Laura Barrett will unveil her new album "Victory Garden" over brunch. People will gather at 11:30 a.m. for a brunch catered by Barrett herself and then at 1:30 the music starts. Dan Werb of the Woodhands and Halifax's Ghost Bees will be joining Laura for the CD release.

Unlike Barretts previous EPs "Victory Garden" will feature a full band including Werb, Basia Bulat.

The first review is up on Eye Weekly:

"Barrett’s debut long-player (her EP Earth Sciences was re-released by Paper Bag in February) Victory Garden offers 13 originals and the addition of a full band — fleshed out by local players like Dan Werb, Basia Bulat and Paul Aucoin. Riding high on swoony melancholy and offset by cinematic shimmers of strings and woodwinds, the pervading plunk of Barrett’s kalimba plays like a children’s music box in double time, wisely employed as an accent rather than punctuation. Her emphatic storytelling works two ways: musical theatre monologue (“The Sharper Side” marries Sweeney Todd with Dancer in the Dark), and piano-bar camp (“Rien A Declarer” holds a franglais charm), aided by the ephemeral harmonies of Ghost Bees’ Sari and Romy Lightman. Though it sounds ready-made for book-club kids, Victory Garden is a compelling album even if you haven’t done all the required reading."

Coming Up in Toronto

Hi Folks, election season is upon us. Please remember that if Harper's cuts to Arts and Culture stand that this list could become much, much shorter.

Please pay special attention to the event
Vote Against Stephen Harper on October 14
Facebook Event Page

You May Also Be Interested in the Following

Canadians United Against Stephen Harper
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Mean People Suck
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Department of Culture
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Canadians Against War in Iran
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Thursday, September 18
NO SHAME : The Darcys / Boys Who Say No / The Music Box @ Rancho
yee-haw.
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Boxes & Bags Bash With the Bot!
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Ladyfest 2008: La Musique
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KNOCK KNOCK GINGER/WOODWARD COMPANY/DEADBEAT DADS/DECADE OF SLEEP + MORE!
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LULLABYE ARKESTRA & ORN @ WRONGBAR
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Second Pass at Rock and Roll Heaven
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Friday, September 19
Steam Whistle Unsigned #8
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TUSKS TORONTO EP RELEASE w/ MANDIBLES AND STEVEN MCKAY
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the oxford hotel presents: brad casey, hungry lake, and sam sidd
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"No Subtitles" Music and art show
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Saturday, September 20
TWM Presents: Lovely Killbots, Honest I's, the Svens, Bombs
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YO! Remember the '90s?
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Post Card Making Pot Luck Party
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The Hots with Seedy Ease... and, oohhh it's going to be good...
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Snowblink, Entire Cities & The Weather Station @ the Tranzac
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YO! Remember the '90s?
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Sunday, September 21
Laura Barrett: Victory Garden - Launch and Brunch!!
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Fall Kickoff Carnival - All FREE! Attention Jewish Teens: This event is for you!
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FABRik Showcase #3
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Monday, September 22
Spacing presents thinkTORONTO
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Trampoline Hall - September 22, 2008
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SNAKES & LADDERS
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Adventure, Sports: The Band, Hot Friends, Future Islands
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Tuesday, September 23
AGOKWE "gay love on the rez" (Sept. 23 - October 12)
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*Showcho*
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Wednesday, September 24
Bravo!FACT SCREENING
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Wed. Sept. 24 @ The Boat - Slutty Slutty Bang Bang, Yuka + YNF
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PWYC Weds w/ The Stormalongs, Great Lenin's Ghost, Senor Kasio
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Thursday, September 25
The St.Clair Jazz All-Stars
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NO SHAME : Nick Jaina / Kite Hill / Parlovr @ Rancho
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Fembots In-Store Performance
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mission 63: mod club radio
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NO SHAME : Nick Jaina / Kite Hill / Parlovr @ Rancho
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Saturday, September 26
h.e. shirt party
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PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
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TWM 25: B.A. Johnston CD Release w/ Schomberg Fair, Horses, Raccoon Wedding
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Boxes & Bags Pop Brains!
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picturesound
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Sean Pinchin @ The Savannah room
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SHIT LA MERDE 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY
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Saturday, September 27
The TrekZac FestiCon
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TWM: Sing Leaf, Ladyfingers, The Wind Whistles, We're For Barton
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Wendy Leung @ Cameron House w/ Will Hemmings and TBA
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FLEECE ELVES PLAY SAVANNAH ROOM SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27
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Sunday, September 28
Jozef van Wissem — Anonymous Lute Solos of the Golden Age
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Tuesday, September 30
NO SHAME : A Pop Montreal Preview @ The Silver Dollar
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Wednesday, October 1
We Are So Fucked (WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING)
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Thursday, October 2
Slow/Dynamite w/ LUNCHMEAT @ The Silver Dollar
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World Press Photo 08 (Toronto)
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Friday, October 3
AWSUM INK presents...October Sky!!!
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Saturday, October 4
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2008
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Climate Catastrophe and Social Justice: Action and Analysis
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The Look: Colour Techniques in After Effects
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Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2008
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Tuesday, October 7
Gareth Bate "Penance & Devotion" Solo Exhibition
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Friday, October 10
The Second Footprints Reading Series! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
Seeking submissions of short theatre pieces by emerging female artists!!
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ONFF CD RELEASE!!! "The War On Geometry" w/ Black Hat Brigade & Dinosaur Bones
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Tuesday, October 14
Vote Against Stephen Harper on October 14
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Wednesday, October 15
Young Widows w/METZ, Anagram @ Sneaky Dee's
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Thursday, October 16
FW & DI @ ROK BOUTIQUE
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Friday, October 17
Wooden Sky & Mother Mother
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Mozart in Love
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Sunday, October 19
2008 Toronto Zombie Walk
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Tuesday, October 21
X AVANT New Music Festival III — "Space is the Place"
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Thursday, October 23
Come party with us! rabble.ca relaunches Oct. 23
raising a ruckus! Emerging media finding common ground, making change
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Thursday, October 30
Flourish A Brighter Future Through Culture
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Out of the Shadows
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The Faceless, Abigail Williams, Decrepit Birth, Neuraxis, Veil Of Maya
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HALLOWEEN GHOST CRUISE
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CATS
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Friday, October 31
Wiccan Halloween Party at The Black Swan featuring Themis Wicca Rock
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Friday, November 14
Art Gallery of Ontario public opening
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Saturday, November 15
Plastic Crimewave Sound w/ Djin Aquarian + Mondo Drag
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