The Abortion Debate

 This Interim piece proceeds upon the wrong assumption.  Progressives want to have a "respectful" debate with the government side on Abortion.  We do!  So please keep those petitions and private Members bills coming.  And, Prime Minister Harper, I beseech you, let your back-benchers speak!

Trost Drops Hints?

Inertia and piecemeal solutions are the order of the day, unfortunately. Something major needs to be done. Getting rid of the Indian Act would be a good start.

If legislation was passed sun setting the Indian Act and forcing a major overhaul of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, we might start to get results that would benefit all Canadians.

I dunno.  The boy's got insight sometimes into what the Harpercon mind is thinking.  And who knows; if the gov. doesn't just use this as a means of screwing over the First Nations for their opposition to Northern Gateway and other acts of defiance, it might get cross party support.  We know Harper is looking for a legacy...

Shorter Brad Trost

Money spent in my riding is not wasteful. Other spending is.

Trost Trashes Oda

 Some additional detail around the Tory Gov's recent decision to re-fund Planned Parenthood International that I don't think  has appeared elsewhere:

Trost said he understands that six staffers in the office of International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda were working on getting IPPF grant money “and one of them decided to leak the story to the CBC.” Trost added, “rather than deny the story, a decision was made to rush funding,” to the abortion organization. A source in the Prime Minister’s Office also told The Interim that the move to fund Planned Parenthood came from Oda’s office and not the PMO.

So Minister Oda takes all the blame among SoCons, but she's in a GTA riding so who cares? 

One Thing About Brad Trost

...he doesn't speak through his hat on socon issues. If he is saying that Planned Parenthood will be defunded, but this can only happen after the election, then that event is in the cards. Remember, he is the guy that told the world that Diane Ablonczy had been demoted for appearing in a photo with transvestites.  And, when the dust settled, it turned out she had been.

Brad Trost: No Infrastructure Project Deadline Extension

Last August, Tory MP Brad Trost took flack for pooh poohing the idea of deadline extensions for Sask. infrastructure projects: as you may recall, Sask. had an extremely wet summer, and the delays that resulted were thought to imperil the completion of these projects before the government's March 31, 2011 deadline. There was some thought that the feds might bend on this deadline but, no, Brad's back, and he seems to think they will be holding firm. I would love, however, to know what his definition of "almost all" is in "almost all the projects are coming in on time". And, if that's true in Saskatchewan, why has it taken three summers to repave the mile or so of street in front of my building, absent flooding or any kind of inclement weather?

Unfortunate Timing

Saskatoon-Humboldt MP Brad Trost unleashes some family values fury against the judge who struck down Ontario's prostitution laws:

Prostitution is not despicable because it is illegal; it is illegal because it is despicable. Prostitution is not a career choice that any parent wants for their child. The government should not be party to the exploitation of vulnerable women. The role of government is to protect the weak, not to encourage their exploitation.

...on the same day the Harper government move to help unemployed escorts. I think Mr. Trost's personal copy of the bible just combusted.

Trost On Sask. Stadium Funding

Yes,no, maybe.

I sense that this government has lost direction.

More Tories Gone Rogue On Abortion

Tory MPs Brad Trost and Maurice Vellacott speak out on the A-word! Note a couple of things here. The editorial they reference argues that:

...aid groups have argued for years that real progress can't be made until women are given the education, resources and support to decide for themselves when to get and stay pregnant.

...which is to say its author's are also talking about such things as providing contraceptive options. Brad and Maurice make it all about abortion (as have most Tory responses to Iggy's recent statements. It looks like a deliberate tactic.). Secondly, their "evidence" seem to be derived from stories published at The Lifesite on Maternal Mortality levels. As you can see, Lifesite's been running a bunch of them lately. So one can legitimately question its accuracy.

Brad Gets Rad

Brad Trost, that is, embracing a flat tax for Canada:

Nations and jurisdictions that have adopted flat-tax systems “with extraordinary success” include: Jersey (1940), Hong Kong (1947) and the Czech Republic (2008).

Maybe he's jealous of all the attention M. Bernier's been getting lately with some of his own radical proposals. Another hat in the ring for a post-Harper CPoC leadership race? Mad Max vs. Flat Brad?

PS. Jersey is not New Jersey, but this place (pop. 91,626).

Brad Trost Brings The Logixxx

The United States is a more socialistic country than Canada. Surprised?

Tory MP Brad Trost is not.

What I find interesting about the ten freest economies in the world is that all the countries on the list have one of two qualities: either the nation is one of the world’s richest (Switzerland and Denmark) or the economy has grown dramatically in the past couple of decades (Chile and Ireland).

This clearly demonstrates that freedom brings prosperity.

I could argue with this, but why the fuck bother? I will just point out that Brad Trost, while not officially gay, is hot enough to make the cut. His ass is so firm you could bounce a dime off it. Not that anyone has, as far as I can confirm.

Brad Trost Identifies A New Enemy And Tories Threaten Bank Boycott!

So remember, the next time a bank economist comments that a hike in the GST is necessary, he or she is also quietly asking for a tax cut for their bank.

An obvious shot at TD Bank CEO Ed Clark, who presumably can deny the above statement, or outline all those secret tax cuts he's asking for.

Meanwhile, some Tories are threatening a TD boycott.

Could Two Wrongs Make A Right?

Could racist whackjob (and former Reform Party MP) Jim Pankiw pull enough votes from the homophobic but extremely hot Tory MP Brad Trost to throw Saskatoon-Humboldt to the NDP? Pankiw received 20% of the vote when he ran last.

And is it wrong to support Evil to prevent a Greater Evil? How about contribute to its campaign?

While You Were Sleeping

The Stephen Harper Torys were gutting the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, formerly the Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada. Gwen Landolt of REAL Women is well-pleased, and so presumably is Tory MP Brad Trost, who has been trying to eliminate Canada's funding to the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The CFSH is the Canadian member of the IPPF.

Shit! That Brad Trost guy is everywhere.

Update: Interesting timing with this.

He's Back: Trost On The Two Blocs, Gay Pride, And Etc.

On the Bloc Anglais:

Remember: it was the NDP who first approached the Bloc Québécois to form the three party coalition government.

The NDP even joked on their phone calls that the coalition couldn’t be called the coalition for Canada because they were now allied with the Bloc.

And last year, the NDP even voted with the Bloc (against both the Conservatives and Liberals) to allow the Quebec legislature to impose its language laws on the Canadian government.

Considering how closely the NDP are working with the Bloc Quebecois it’s no wonder that some people are referring to the NDP as Les Bloc Anglais .

Guy's a real cut-up for sure.

And on the Toronto Gay Pride Parade:

At the beginning of the summer, I received considerable feedback on my stance on funding for Toronto’s Pride parade. A few people from Saskatoon criticized my stance, but several times as many people (both in Saskatoon and in the smaller communities) thanked me for what I said. The reasons why people supported my stance varied; some thought the money was being wasted; others were opposed to the message that the parade was promoting.

Funny, I don't remember a stance being taken at all, I remember Trost bragging about how Diane Ablonczy had been demoted for being too gay friendly but, silly me, he was really assuming a principled position.

Head Tory Blogger: Guergis' Husband In Trouble, Let's Dump On Her

His wife is Helena Guergis, is the Minister of State for the Status of Women, and so assists Minister James Moore (Canadian Heritage). Given the seriousness of the charges, the distraction of dealing with the situation, and of course, the importance of avoiding any appearance of a conflict of interest anywhere near the cabinet table, I think careful consideration has to be given to relieving Guergis of any duties above and beyond that of an MP.

Kind of like when I stub my toe and yell at my wife. But the whole CPoC seems to have that mind set. Anyway, I wonder who they would replace her with? Maybe Brad Trost is ready for the big-time.

Diane Ablonczy: I Swear I Thought She Was A Women

From Today's National Post, Diane Ablonczy's guest editorial, which I have reproduced below:

Firstly, it is a good thing that Charles McVety exists, okay? A very good thing! If Charles Mcvety didn't exist, there would be anarchy, a godless darkness filled with men in thongs, singing and dancing and having cuddle parties! Okay? Charles McVety is truly, truly wonderful. Lets get that out of the way. I love you Charles McVety.

2ndly, don't fuck with those rural backbenchers! I've been through that prick Brad Trost's riding many times, and its basically the foothills outside of gooberville. If you took every brain in town and rolled them together it wouldn't make a single moron. So I figured, what the hell? I've worked hard for the party, for the nation--I've worked hard for my jr. Ministry. Handing out tourism pork is supposed to be my gig! But no! They're like the Great Plains Illuminati out there. One word and there's pitchfork hanging out your ass! As happened to me! My own fault, though. I didn't see the signs, didn't obey the rules. So let me make another thing clear: Brad, you are a strong, wise male and I a mere woman with silly pretentions to individual autonomy. You are also a magnificent physical specimen, with an ass that's hard as a rock! All muscle, I swear! You could bounce a marble off that ass! In fact, you are so hot that it makes me wonder if...

But no...no...

And as for that damned picture! Too me that says "full bodied woman", okay? Look at the picture and tell me if it doesn't say "full bodied woman" to you. Canada's big cities, let me tell you, are crawling with "full bodied women".

So by all means lets get Government out of the festival business. Or at least get me out of the festival business. Although, I guess you could say that I am out of the festival business. Not by choice, though! I was rubbed out of the festival business.

(Okay, Stevie, I've said it. Can I have some power back now?)

So Is Brad Trost Now Distributing Marquee Tourism Event Funds?

SoCons gone rogue, it looks like:

Saskatoon-Humboldt MP Brad Trost isn't backing away from a statement he made to an anti-abortion website earlier this week about Toronto's Pride Week being a polarizing and political event that should not have received federal funding.

And here's the kicker:

Trost said he was aware the federal government, under Canadian Heritage, funded Saskatoon's Pride Festival in June with a $9,000 grant to the Saskatoon Diversity Network.

"I've been aware of it. I'm a fiscal conservative so I've been urging reductions all across the board on all sorts of issues, not just on heritage funding," he said.

The MP said he hasn't reviewed all of the Canadian events that have received funding through MTEP, but so far Toronto Pride Week appears to be the only one he thinks should not have received federal dollars.

"I haven't actually looked through the whole entire list, but it may be that this one is the unique one," he said. "I've seen about a partial list of what was funded through this program, but not a complete list."

Trost hopes MTEP eventually expands to fund smaller events such as local parades.

So now we've got your prototype of a back-bench nobody pontificating on where government ministers should be dispensing funds. All when the boss is overseas.

Anyway, Trost's interview winds up with a mini panic attack:

After the interview was over, Trost accused the StarPhoenix reporter of "ambushing" him with questions about the issue and pressed the stop button on her voice recorder.

Thanks to Mr. Trost for keeping this alive into day four. Looks like my work on the file is done. I would just remind readers that, painful as it is to read, the Lifesite should be on your regular visit list. If you want to chase down political crazies, you have to go where the crazy people go.

Do They Hate Gays, Or Just Torontonians, Or Just Gay Torontonians?

But in his criticism of his colleague, [Brad Trost] did not mention his government funds Saskatoon's Pride parade. The Saskatoon Diversity Network received $9,000 from Canadian Heritage this year for last June's Pride Festival.

h/t Roy in comments.

Anyone know if Trost appeared at this?

Brad The Impaler

When he's not sticking it to his fellow Tories, how does Brad Trost, Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding of Saskatoon—Humboldt, spend his days?

Trying to defund International Planned Parenthood, of course. He's got a petition to the HOC going that would cut their government funding. One thing he's pissed off about:

The IPPF does not support physicians' freedom to practice according to their conscience and/or religious beliefs regarding abortion referral.

Note we're talking abortion referral here, not abortion per se. Brad thinks Christian docs should be able to refuse to even tell women seeking abortions where they might get one. IPP's declaration on the matter reads:

5.3 Health care professionals have the right to conscientious objection with regard to providing contraception and abortion services only if they can refer the client to health professionals willing to provide the service immediately. No such right exists in emergency cases where lives are at risk.

But that ain't good enough for Brad.

Note that IPP is funded through CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency). That's Bev Oda's department...for now. Keep your head down, Bev.