Summer Ice Melt In Antarctica Is At The Highest Point In 1,000 Years, Researchers Say

Reuters

CANBERRA (Reuters) - The summer ice melt in parts of Antarctica is at its highest level in 1,000 years, Australian and British researchers reported on Monday, adding new evidence of the impact of global warming on sensitive Antarctic glaciers and ice shelves.
Researchers from the Australian National University and the British Antarctic Survey found data taken from an ice core also shows the summer ice melt has been 10 times more intense over the past 50 years compared with 600 years ago.
"It's definitely evidence that the climate and the environment is changing in this part of Antarctica," lead researcher Nerilie Abram said.
Abram and her team drilled a 364-metre (400-yard) deep ice core on James Ross Island, near the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, to measure historical temperatures and compare them with summer ice melt levels in the area.
They found that, while the temperatures have gradually increased by 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.9 degrees Fahrenheit) over 600 years, the rate of ice melting has been most intense over the past 50 years.
That shows the ice melt can increase dramatically in climate terms once temperatures hit a tipping point.
"Once your climate is at that level where it is starting to go above zero degrees, the amount of melt that will happen is very sensitive to any further increase in temperature you may have," Abram said.
Robert Mulvaney, from the British Antarctic Survey, said the stronger ice melts are likely responsible for faster glacier ice loss and some of the dramatic collapses from the Antarctic ice shelf over the past 50 years.
Their research was published in the Nature Geoscience journal.
(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Paul Tait)

Now read the real truth!!

 

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Justin Trudeau 'listening' to leadership pressure after Bob Rae bows out

 By Lee Berthiaume, Postmedia June 13, 2012 1:43 PM

Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae answered the question that has been dogging him for months: Does he want the "interim" tag taken off his title and become full time leader of the party? His answer today: No.

OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau has admitted he is "actively listening" to suggestions he throw his hat in the ring following Bob Rae's surprise announcement he will not seek to become permanent leader of the federal Liberals.

Many eyes already had been on the son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, arguably the most recognizable Liberal after Rae, and the admission he is considering a run after months of denying any interest in the position will stoke expectations further.  Read more:

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We need 13 Conservative MPs to "Be a Hero and Stop the Budget Bill."

We are having a rally at Colin Mayes office on Wednesday. I know you've heard about PM Harper's so called "Budget"  Bill C-38 that intends to kill environmental regulations that protect wild fish and fish habitat. This Federal Budget Bill makes changes to over 70 laws. It has drawn criticism across the political spectrum, including former Conservative cabinet ministers and members of PM Harper's own caucus.

The NDP held town hall meetings across Canada on Bill 38 which intends sweeping changes that were never mentioned in the Conservative's election platform. These changes will gut environmental protections, hollow out our economy and damage society. We need 13 Conservative MPs to "Be a Hero and Stop the Budget Bill."

This Wednesday, June 13th @ 5:30PM our time (while MPs gather in Ottawa for a decisive showdown in Parliament) Canadians will be holding rallys across Canada calling for 13 "hero" Conservative MPs to work together and stop the Bill, split it, and start over.

Check out this leadnow.ca link:  http://heroes.leadnow.ca/events/colin-mayes-okanagan-shuswap-bc/

Dianne Perrier (who is a member of the Federal Liberal Riding executive) is organizing this and one of our members is helping.

What: Local event to protest the federal government's proposed Omnibus Budget Bill, Bill C-38 as part of a National Day of Action

Who: Canadians from all walks of life, and all parties

Where: Colin Mayes Office (old railway station)
3105 29 Street,    
Vernon, BC V1T 5A8

Tel: 250-260-5020
Fax: 250-260-5025
Toll Free: 1-800-665-5040

When: Wednesday, June 13th, at 5:30PM

For more information about Leadnow.ca, please visit http://heroes.leadnow.ca

To see details from the last day of action, visit:
http://heroes.leadnow.ca/media/
Thanks, Nick

--  http://okanaganshuswapndp.ca

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NDP: Tony Clement Created G8 Slush Fund

OTTAWA - New Democrats say the Conservative government set up a slush fund for last year's G8 meetings in a way designed to avoid scrutiny by the auditor general.

They say documents obtained under Ontario's provincial freedom of information laws show Minister Tony Clement personally monitored the G8 legacy fund through his local constituency office to hide it from oversight.

The NDP also allege that federal civil servants sat in on meetings regarding how the $50 million was to be spent, then told the auditor general they knew nothing about the fund.

The auditor released a report earlier this year finding there was no paper trail to explain how and why the 32 projects granted funding were selected.

The auditor also found the $50 million fund was approved by parliament for border security, not local beautification projects hundreds of kilometres from the border.

The NDP says the documents show the projects were hand-picked by Clement after consultation with area mayors, who submitted applications using a form designed by his constituency office.

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Laila's take on the new High Commissioner to Great Brittain.

http://lailayuile.com/2011/06/24/shame-on-you-mr-harper-shame/

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Fed's solution to a nagging problem

The problem:

Future Earth 2025 - The Passionate Eye | CBC News Network

Prime Minister Harper's solution:

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/06/02/ottawa-trims-dozens-of-jobs/

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Scientists not needed - Ottawa trims dozens of jobs

Tamsin McMahon

Updated: Jun 2, 2011 5:33 PM ET

The federal government has handed out dozens of layoff notices ahead of announcing its budget next week that hopes to trim a projected $30-billion deficit.

The layoffs involve five curators positions at the National Gallery of Canada and 50 contract employees, mostly scientists, at Environment Canada.

Most of the contract employees were technicians and junior scientists, said Environment Canada spokesman Mark Johnson. They all work in areas of water, atmospheric science and technology mainly supporting senior scientists with their research. Read More »

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A mind of her own - Page fired after protest during Speech from the Throne

Tamsin McMahon

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2011 9:28 PM ET

A Senate page was arrested and fired after staging an anti-government protest in the middle of the Senate chambers as Governor-General David Johnston read the Speech from the Throne Friday.

Brigette DePape, a 21-year-old University of Ottawa graduate 10 months into a prestigious internship with the Senate, stunned the packed chamber by walking to the middle of the room dressed in her black-and-white page uniform and holding up a homemade stop sign that read “Stop Harper.’’

She was quickly grabbed by the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers and whisked down to Parliament Hill security, where she was arrested but not charged.

“I was in shock, I’ve never seen that,” said Senator Mobina Jaffer, who watched as the young page stood behind six Supreme Court Justices, the Governor-General and Prime Minister and staged her protest. “Pages, they’re sort of part of our group, we see them as our own normally.”

Ms. Jaffer, a Liberal, said she knew Ms. DePape as “a pleasant person. I’ve had nothing but nice chats with her.” more

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May in Your House -- Green Party video.

OTTAWA 4/28/2011 - On May 1, the Green Party of Canada presents its vision to Canadian voters with the world premiere of the half-hour television show: "May in Your House." For the first time in this election, voters will have a chance to hear about the Green Party's leader, history and platform. “May in Your House” airs Sunday, May 1 at 9:00pm EST/6:00pm PST on Business News Network (BNN) & CHEK-TV at 6:30-7pm PST, Victoria. A sneak preview is available at http://greenparty.ca/tv.

"Instead of a 30-second attack ad, we have produced a 30-minute exploration of a real alternative to the traditional parties," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. “May in Your House” explores the practical, realistic Green Party approaches to real problems faced by Canadians: climate change, jobs, health care, education, pensions, youth unemployment and more.

"Our approach has been ignored by the media that excluded us from the debate, so we have produced our own story," said Ms. May. On Sunday, May 1, just one day prior to the general election, all Canadians will have the opportunity to view this engaging half-hour documentary focusing on the Green Party of Canada and Ms. May, the party’s vibrant, charismatic leader and 2011 Federal Election candidate for the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands. This absorbing, fast-paced program will highlight the Green Party’s unique vision of a new Canada, one devoted to positive solutions and a bold, bright future.

They’ll discover Vision Green, the party’s practical, ground-breaking platform dedicated to creating a Smart Economy, Strong Communities, and True Democracy. And they’ll get real, honest answers to the myriad of questions they’ve been asking in this election campaign, from a party that delivers a fresh new approach Canadians have been searching for.

If you’re one of the millions of Canadians who is feeling disaffected this election, who has lost confidence in government, and who is looking for vibrant, fresh ideas for fixing our country’s problems, this is your opportunity to find out more about this exciting party and its bold, visionary leader, Elizabeth May.

Make plans to watch “May in Your House,” Sunday, May 1 at 9:00pm EST/6:00pm PST on BNN & CHEK-TV at 6:30pm PST. A sneak preview is available at http://greenparty.ca/tv.

-30-

For social media editors:
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadianGreens, @ElizabethMay, #GPC #EMayIn
Follow us on Facebook: Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May
The Green Party on YouTube
Follow the Green Line: http://youtu.be/eHFRdl-U3Bo
A New Green Economy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgdadeBRic
Your Greens. Your neighbours. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQClKDthpoU
How to get rid of your bad government: http://youtu.be/ph_-qac-u98
For more information, contact:
Kieran Green
Director of Communications
C: 613-614-4916
Kieran.green@greenparty.ca
Huguette Allen,
Phone: 250.547.0272
The greatest threat to the Western way of life is the Western way of life (John Kozy)

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Harper says he wouldn't have hired adviser Bruce Carson had he known of his past

April 4, 2011 |Joan Bryden and Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he would never have hired Bruce Carson to advise him had he known about his past.

The federal government will have to do a better job of vetting top-level employees in light of weekend revelations about Carson, Harper said Monday at a campaign stop in rural Ontario.

The Canadian Press reported that Carson was convicted on five counts of fraud — three more than previously known — and received court-ordered psychiatric treatment before becoming one of Harper's closest advisers.

"I did not know about these revelations that we're finding out today. I don't know why I did not know," Harper said.

"Had I known these things, I would not have ... hired him."

Carson's lawyer, Patrick McCann, says his client disclosed his entire criminal record during a security check that was required to become a senior staffer in the Prime Minister's Office.

Harper indicated Monday something went awry.

"Obviously we're going to have to go back, look at our systems — and Privy Council Office is going to have to look at its systems — to make sure these things get caught."

The fresh disclosures raise new questions about Harper's judgment in hiring Carson as his chief policy analyst and troubleshooter, roles he held until 2008.

The PMO asked the RCMP last month to investigate Carson after a probe by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network alleged the 65-year-old may have illegally lobbied the federal government on behalf of a company that employed his girlfriend, a 22-year-old one-time escort.

"I think it's important to remember that Mr. Carson is not accused of anything that has to do with his employment in my office," Harper said Monday.

"These accusations relate to things that occurred afterwards. As soon as we found out about those matters, we turned them over to the authorities."

In his job as a senior adviser to Harper, Carson would have been privy to highly sensitive government files.

During his stint at the PMO, it was publicly known that Carson had been jailed and disbarred by the Law Society of Upper Canada in the early 1980s for two counts of defrauding clients.

But court documents uncovered by The Canadian Press show he had another run-in with the law in 1990, while he was working as a researcher for the Library of Parliament.

He was charged with defrauding a Budget Car and Truck Rental of a 1989 Toyota vehicle. He was also charged with defrauding the Bank of Montreal and the Toronto-Dominion Bank of sums exceeding $1,000 each.

In June 1990, Carson pleaded guilty to all three counts and received a suspended sentence and 24 months probation on condition that he "continue treatment at the R.O.H. (Royal Ottawa Hospital)" and make restitution of $4,000 within 23 months to the car rental company.

McCann, who represented Carson in 1990 and is acting for him again now, said the suspended sentence demonstrates the charges were "not considered to be that serious."

"He genuinely had a bit of a meltdown as a result of his marital break-up," McCann said in an interview.

"It was part of the situation at the time that he was having some ... psychiatric counselling and that was a factor, I think, that came into play too."

A friend of Carson's said he suffered "a stress-related mental collapse brought on by an ugly divorce."

Nina Chiarelli, Harper's acting director of communications, said Sunday that due to privacy law the PMO does not comment "on the security screening details of current or former employees."

Treasury Board guidelines require that all individuals who work in or for the office of any minister have a Level 2 (Secret) security clearance prior to appointment.

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The Lyin' King('s Speech)

Posted by The Eager Beaver on March 28, 2011 at 12:54 am

Mar 282011

My kits, I am in a most amazing mood!

After Day 1 of the election the score is: Democracy 1 – Harperland 0.

To boot, I’m just up here on my log, feasting on a delicious platter of irony. The MVP of today’s match: None other than that there “evil separatist” (good grief!) Gilles Duceppe!!!(more)

A satirical review by Eager Beaver of the first day's most often repeated word "Coalition".

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Find out your preference on policies.

Check out CBC's "Vote Compass" and see which party represents your views on various issues!

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The way I see it -- Election fever and the media.

As I watch the cream of the crop media giants interviewing politicians about the pending election I wonder why they do not get to the real points. Just a couple of issues that I think should be better tackled by these self appointed representatives of the public.

The “Harper Government” members often accuse the other parties that they are the ones responsible for the upcoming “unnecessary” election. Balderdash! A minority government must consult with the rest of the parties to ensure that they have enough support for proposed legislation or budget in order to carry on as government. Defeat of a minority government is always the result of a government’s unwillingness to negociate with the opposition. This point should be strongly emphasized by investigative reporters.

Another often heard accusation by government members that the opposition parties wish to form a coalition government in order to gain power to govern. Do they forget the obvious fact that a minority government could not operate without a coalition with one or more other parties? That is the only way minority governments can survive! Why don’t these reporters point out this simple fact to their interviewees?

A favourite subject of the “Harper Government” is the economy and who could manage it better. Would not managing the economy require money? I would think so. Does the government have money? Only virtual money, something like Monopoly money. Just check out the Canadian Debt Clock! The total debt of the “Harper Government” is over $562 billion. Each one of us owes nearly $17,000 and this debt is growing by the minute. Is that managing the economy? Local politicians do a heck of a lot better job of managing their communities economies than do our senior governments. Now, I am not implying that the other parties could do a better job, but to claim that this government is the best manager of the economy is a bit of a stretch. Virtual money is not a solid base for the economy and as long as they keep adding to the debt they are not managing the economy. Paul Martin was the last Finance Minister who had a balanced budget that was actually reducing the debt but then came the current minority Government that managed to reverse that brief spell of prosperity. Should not be responsible reporting to point this out? We can only wish!

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Tories rebrand Gov't of Canada as 'Harper Gov't'

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — It's official: Stephen Harper rules.

And lest anyone forgets, a directive went out to public servants late last year that "Government of Canada" in federal communications should be replaced by the words "Harper Government."

Public servants from four different line departments told The Canadian Press the instruction came from "the Centre" -- meaning the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Office that serves the prime minister.

None would speak on the record for fear of retribution. It's a well-grounded concern given the treatment of a senior government scientist who was fired in 2006 after rebelling against a directive to use "Canada's New Government" in government communications.

Andrew Okulitch was subsequently reinstated after his story went public, and the Conservatives finally retired the "Canada's New Government" handle after 21 months in office.

The "Harper Government" moniker rose to prominence in 2009, when its use was noted in light of a controversy over Conservative MPs posing with giant, mock government cheques bearing the party logo and MPs' signatures. The mock cheques were consigned to the dust bin, and the "Harper Government" handle went into partial hibernation.

Since December, the "Harper Government" has returned with a vengeance, sprouting like mushrooms across departmental communications.

The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the new messaging has been implemented.

Scores of news releases -- from the Canada Revenue Agency to Fisheries and Oceans, Finance, International Trade, Health Canada and Industry Canada -- are all headlined by "Harper Government" actions.

Even the Treasury Board Secretariat is using the term.

Treasury Board is the federal department charged with policing government communications policy, including the Federal Identity Program -- which to a layman's eyes appears to forbid such off-handed personalization in government titles.

Among other things, the policy states that "the criteria for creating an applied title include that it must: incorporate the word Canada or appear with the words Government of Canada...."

Treasury Board spokesman Robert Bousquet said by email "the use of the expression 'Harper Government' is not prohibited by either the Treasury Board's Federal Identity Program Policy nor the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada."

Added Bousquet in a brief phone interview: "In fact it's factual, in that it is the government of the day."

Indeed, journalists routinely use the "Harper government" to describe Conservative government actions. But the moniker's employment by the government itself is raising hackles among more than just some straight-laced civil servants.

"It is one thing for journalists or even the public to use the more partisan 'Harper government,' but it is another thing for the state to equate the Government of Canada with the leader of the governing party," said Jonathon Rose, a specialist in political communications at Queen's University.

He notes such language is expressly forbidden under an Ontario law that prohibits partisanship in government messaging.

"The effect of this subtle framing just before an election is to equate government with Harper," said Rose. "It creates a perception of a natural affinity between one party's leader and the act of governing."

The Harper-centric messaging prompted Rose to recall French King Louis XIV and his 17th century divine right of kings: "L'Etat, c'est moi," quipped the political scientist. "The state is me."

But Mel Cappe, a former clerk of the Privy Council, finds nothing amusing in the development.

"It is not the Harper Government," Cappe said in an interview, tersely enunciating each word. "It is the Government of Canada.

"It's my government and it's your government."

Cappe said the usage brings to mind Harper's own quip of last summer on the Arctic tundra: "I make the rules," Harper told journalists after he disembarked from an all-terrain vehicle.

"What this shows is the hubris of this government's approach," said Cappe, president of the Institute for Research in Public Policy in Montreal.

"We are governed by laws. Not by men. This is trying to change that."

Peter Aucoin, an expert in public administration at Dalhousie University, also said the "Harper Government" branding exercise should be belled for public consideration.

"It's the executive abusing the powers of government for purely partisan reasons. Period," said Aucoin.

Leslie Seidle, another former Privy Council official who now works with Cappe's IRPP, had a far more sanguine view, calling the moniker "simply a creative use of language."

"I can understand that some people might find it unusual, but quite honestly I don't think there's a lot of 'there' there," said Seidle.

Cappe agrees with Seidle that the issue is "totally inside baseball."

"It matters to maybe 600 people in Canada," said Cappe, before exorting The Canadian Press to take the issue public.

"But my sense is it's this subtle erosion of our understanding of the institutions of government that leads to a lack of credibility and respect on the part of the public.

"And that's why it is important. That's why it counts."

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Good news for BC Coast!

For Immediate Release
December 7, 2010

On December 3, 2010, Parliament debated a motion demanding that the government immediately legislate a ban on oil supertankers from plying the hazardous waters off British Columbia’s sensitive northern coast, including to the terminus of the proposed Enbridge pipeline in Kitimat.

On Tuesday the motion carried 143-138. Local NDP riding president Nick Hodge, "I am proud of the work that Nathan Cullen put into getting this motion adopted. We are fortunate to have MPs in Ottawa who reflect the values of the 7 in 10 British Columbians who oppose supertanker traffic off the northwest coast." http://www.pacificwild.org/site/press/1220982694.html

Local MP Colin Mayes spoke against the motion during debate. Mayes read into Hansard a list of government agencies responsible for navigation and safety. In answer to a question about a Coast Guard internal audit, he expressed concern for the loss of short-term construction jobs.
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3&DocId=4844199

- 30 -

Nick Hodge
President.,
Okanagan Shuswap Federal NDP Riding Association

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US warns Ottawa of pending WikiLeaks release

Thu Nov 25, 4:10 AM

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The U.S. government has notified Ottawa that the WikiLeaks website is preparing to release sensitive U.S. diplomatic files that could damage American relations with allies around the world.

U.S. officials say the documents may contain accounts of compromising conversations with political dissidents and friendly politicians as well as activities that could result in the expulsion of U.S. diplomats from foreign postings.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson phoned Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon to inform him of the matter, a foreign affairs spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Melissa Lantsman said the Canadian Embassy in Washington is "currently engaging" with the State Department on this matter.

"We are not privy to the full contents of documents which may be leaked," Lantsman said in an email to The Canadian Press.

A State Department spokesman said Wednesday the release of confidential communications about foreign governments probably will erode trust in the United States as a diplomatic partner.

"These revelations are harmful to the United States and our interests," state department spokesman P.J. Crowley said. "They are going to create tension in relationships between our diplomats and our friends around the world."

U.S. diplomatic outposts around the world have begun notifying other governments that WikiLeaks, a group that bills itself as a website devoted to reforming governments worldwide by exposing their secrets, may release these documents in the next few days.

Many of the cables are believed to date from the start of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, meaning that the White House will not be able to distance itself from any disclosures.

One concern, for example, is that the documents may reveal the kinds of pressure the U.S. administration has put on various countries to accept the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been cleared for release but are unwelcome in their home countries.

Canadian detainee Omar Khadr was the subject of discussions last month between Cannon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Canada has long resisted repatriating Khadr, the only western detainee remaining at Guantanamo Bay, despite pressure from both American and Canada's federal courts. That position is thought to have caused tensions between the two countries.

The Toronto-born Khadr pleaded guilty last month to five war crimes, including the murder of a U.S. soldier during a firefight in Afghanistan in July 2002.

On Oct. 31, Khadr was sentenced to eight years in prison. According to a pre-trial deal, the 24-year-old man will serve one more year in U.S. custody, and after that he can apply to transfer to Canada to serve out the balance of his sentence under Canadian terms.

It remains to be seen if diplomatic cables between Ottawa and Washington regarding Khadr, the Canadian mission in Afghanistan or other bilateral matters will be among the documents expected to be released this weekend.

_With files from the Associated Press.

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A hard working politician!

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PM’s actions, words at odds –

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper shut down Parliament for three months to prepare this year’s budget, he told Canadians he was “recalibrating the government’s agenda.” It was time to switch from stimulus to restraint, he said.

In his March budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty did lay out a rigorous plan to eliminate Ottawa’s $56 billion deficit in five years. “Canada has returned to economic growth following the deepest global economic recession since the 1930s,” he said. “In this budget we will take action to ensure the government lives within its means.”

But since then the Conservatives have running up some eye-popping bills.

They spent $1.2 billion to host world leaders for a weekend in June. The original price tag was $179 million.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told taxpayers it would cost $2 billion to build new prison facilities to crack down on young offenders. Parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page calculated the government would have to spend $9.5 billion to implement its plan.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced a $9 billion commitment to purchase to 65 new state-of-the-art fighter jets. A maintenance contract, yet to be finalized, is likely to add $7 billion to the price, for a grand total of $16 billion.

In addition to these big-ticket expenditures, the government passed up opportunities to practise the restraint that it preaches.

Asked if he would trim his 38-member cabinet — one of the largest in Canadian history — Harper said: “I don’t think it would be appropriate at this time.”

Asked if his decision to replace Canada’s mandatory long-form consensus with a voluntary questionnaire was a cost-cutting measure, Industry Minister Tony Clement pointed out that the new survey would cost $30 million more.

There has been no discernible drop in foreign travel by cabinet ministers, no demonstration of frugality at the top, no attempt to reconcile this summer’s spending spree with the Prime Minister’s rhetoric about prudence and restraint.

None of this means the government’s plan to wipe out the deficit by 2015 is doomed. If the economic recovery that began early this year strengthens, global conditions are benign and the government matches its words with action from now on, Flaherty’s target may still be achievable.

But the government is sending out very confusing signals.

Was it really necessary to spend $1.2 billion on the G8 and G20 summits, turning Toronto into an armed camp where vandals had a field day and peaceful protesters were jailed?

Was the awarding of a contract for new fighter jets without tender the way to get the best price, or could a lower price have been achieved with a proper bidding process?

Does it make sense to pay more for a voluntary census when most statisticians, decision-makers and planners consider it too unreliable to use?

This is a strange introduction to an era of restraint.

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Liberals, Conservatives in virtual tie – CBC News

The Liberals and Conservatives are in a virtual tie with voters, says an EKOS poll.The Liberals and Conservatives are in a virtual tie with voters, says an EKOS poll. The Liberals have regained some support among voters and are now in a virtual tie with the Conservatives despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's swift response to the Haiti quake, an EKOS poll suggests.

It marks the first time the Liberals have drawn so close to the governing party since late summer.

Asked which party they would support if an election were held tomorrow, 30.9 per cent of those polled chose the Liberals and 31.5 per cent backed the Conservatives.

The poll found 14.9 per cent of respondents supporting the NDP, 11.5 per cent the Green Party and 9.1 per cent the Bloc Québécois.

"The Liberals continued to edge upward this week despite Stephen Harper's adroit response to the disaster in Haiti, which dominated the news, obliterating the vexatious issues of prorogation and the treatment of Afghan detainees," said EKOS president Frank Graves.

"However, public opinion sometimes lags the news by a few days," Graves said, adding that it will be important to watch whether the trends are sustained.

Support for the Liberals has increased in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces and is also trending up among younger voters, new Canadians, as well as those who are university educated.

The two parties are virtually tied among women, while the Conservatives retain a narrow lead among men — a demographic group they traditionally lead by a larger margin.

In terms of the direction of the government, Canadians continue to have mixed feelings.

Forty-five per cent feel the government is moving in the right direction while an equal number, 42 per cent, believe they are moving in the wrong direction.

People in Alberta, Canadians 65 and older, and those with a high school education or less are more likely to believe the government is moving in the right direction.

Those with a university-level education are more likely to think the government is moving in the wrong direction.

The key demographic to watch are the baby boomers, who swung to the Conservatives in the last two elections, said Graves.

"Now many are defecting to the Liberals again, apparently unhappy with the Conservatives' governance style. The Conservatives still lead among this group, but their lead is much less significant than it was."

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Liberals to table non-confidence motion Monday -- National Post

Are you ready for another potential Federal Election?

David Akin, Canwest News Service

OTTAWA -- The federal Liberal party will release the text Monday afternoon of its non-confidence motion that MPs will be expected to vote on Thursday.

The Liberals want to bring down Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government and force a general election but, to do that, MPs from all three opposition parties must vote in favour of the Liberal non-confidence motion. It appears, though, that the NDPwill stand with the government Thursday.

Brad Lavigne, the NDP's national director, appeared on television shows Sunday saying his party's first priority is to see government legislation that would extend the maximum amount of time some people can receive employment insurance benefits approved by the Commons. That legislation, the government says, would help about 190,000 people who are nearing the end of their benefit period.

Ralph Goodale, the Liberal MP from Saskatchewan and his party's House leader, said the motion to be tabled Monday will be unambiguous.

"We want to play this straightforward, very straight-up," Mr. Goodale said.

The motion could be as simple as "Be it Resolved that this House has no confidence in the government."

Confidence motions, though, are typically a little longer than that, with a pre-amble that sets out the reasons why the party proposing the motion does not have confidence in the government.

"This government cannot be trusted in terms of its numbers," Liberal MP David McGuinty said Monday morning after meeting with party leader Michael Ignatieff and his closest advisers.

The Bloc Quebecois has already indicated it will vote with the Liberals and against the government on Thursday's vote.

The Liberals believe they can score some political points at the NDP's expense and the wording of their confidence motion is part of the strategy to do just that.

The preamble in the Liberal confidence motion could, for example, indict the government for failing to act on some issues that are core parts of the NDP's agenda, such as more robust employment insurance reform.

Mr. Ignatieff said last week he does not want to give the NDP anywhere to "hide."

The timing of the confidence motion is connected to the release Monday of the government's third quarterly update on its economic stimulus plan.

In exchange for Liberal support last spring of the budget, the Conservatives agreed to table quarterly updates on some of the objectives and benchmarks outlined in the budget. As part of that Liberal-Conservative agreement last spring, both sides agreed that the Liberals would have the chance to introduce this confidence motion three days after the government tables this third report.

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