Breaking Bourque! MacKay Tossed From Helicopter! Paradis meets Paradise! Toews phased out! Fantino Basically Fucked! Bernier Back In, Cleared To Date Bikers!

BREAKING: Bourque insiders are reporting late this afternoon that Prime Minister Stephen Harper may soon shuffle his Cabinet. It remains unclear at this time if the move will be a major re-jig involving several known political figures or if it will be a more modest housecleaning to address certain deficiencies. Cabinet ministers said to be targeted include embattled Defense Minister Peter MacKay and his sidekick Associate-Defence Minister Julian Fantino, hapless ethics-challenged Industry Minister Christian Paradis, and the aging Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, currently suffering from a stressful portfolio that sent him to hospital earlier this week. MacKay may well be on his way out of Cabinet, Fantino may be going to Public Safety, Toews may defibrillate at Industry, and Paradis may be demoted to a 'Minister-without-portfolio' status for the time being. Should the shuffle be of a larger nature, names being whispered for promotion and re-jig include the rehabilitated Maxime Bernier (currently Minister of State for Small Business), the PM's Parliamentary Secretary Dean Del Mastro (said to have impressed many both in the House and in media settings), and affable journeyman Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, of all people. It is thought that the blood-letting will both address growing Conservative caucus discontent at its frontbench performance, while mitigating Opposition outrage at Ministerial actions (or lack thereof), which have dominated headlines in recent weeks. The Prime Minister is also poised to fill a handful of Senate vacancies in the coming months and at that time may replace Mulroney-era Senate leader Marjorie LeBreton with Doug Finley, which would not only bring the amiable one-malt kilt-man into Cabinet, but would also create the first husband-wife Cabinet tandem in the history of Canada. Raise a finger or two of 25-year-old GlenDronach to that ! Developing ..

Robocon Strategy Emerges

 The Conservative party does not need to investigate the issue of "robocalls" any further, according to Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

He also refers to the "one individual involved", who is no longer with the party.  Didn't see that one coming.

Update:

OTTAWA—Callers on behalf of the federal Conservative Party were instructed in the days before last year’s election to read scripts telling voters that Elections Canada had changed their voting locations, say telephone operators who worked for a Thunder Bay-based call centre.

These calls were made by The Responsive Marketing Group.  From their website:

The Responsive Marketing Group Inc. (RMG) is Canada's largest direct-contact firm working in the political sector. RMG works exclusively with right-of-centre campaigns to design and execute integrated programs that use direct mail, the telephone and online tools to build relationships that deliver results for our clients.

And their management profiles are seeable here.  Their CEO, Michael Davis, has deep connections to Harper and the CPoC, and is no stranger to controversy:

Davis formerly worked with fundraising consultant Craig Copland, the founder or co-founder of at least six Canadian charities that routinely spend 70 percent or more of contributions on telemarketers and other expenses, according to a recent Toronto Star investigation. These charities "exaggerate their good deeds, or outright refuse to say what they do with your money." Copland works closely with the telemarketing corporation Xentel DM. "Copland finds Xentel new charity clients. Xentel pays him royalties for charities sent its way. He also served on Xentel's board of directors until the Star started asking questions," the paper reported. Davis' RMG works in similar fashion.

"With RMG and Xentel, they'll guarantee money, but in effect you turn over your charitable tax number to them," says the consultant. "They can hide it in various ways." He says says, "Davis is smart. Three years ago he severed his connection with Copland," who is now drawing public heat.

Question period today should be fun.

A few comments from an upset Conservative.

An Anonymous Conservative Speaks Out Re Peter Mackay

If it was one of Chretien's lackeys caught doing this BS on the public dime, I doubt very much that any one of us would cut them any slack for it, so why should we do so when it happens to be someone that we voted for? The overwhelming reason that most of us voted for Harper was because we expect him to be responsible with the public purse, and everytime that nonsense like this comes to light, the more it reinforces the perception that the only difference between political parties is the colour of the posters they stand in front of when they lie to us.

 SDC

Mind you, the more often expressed view among CPoC supporters is that MacKay is entitled to his entitlements:

As a Minister of the Crown, private or commercial transportation should be used whenever reasonable to do so. That being said, MacKay's record as a Minister has earned him the right for us to cut him a little slack on this one even if it may have been inappropriate.

Peter MacKay: A History of Geographical Blunders

In posing a question to former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. MacKay said California shares a border with British Columbia.

Arnie was polite enough not to point out the fact that two little places called Oregon and Washington lie between Cali and B.C.

This is not the 1st time this kind of thing has happened. In fact, its not the 2nd time this kind of thing has happened:

He [Peter MacKay] got his speaking notes for the Northwest Passage mixed up with his speaking notes for the Arctic Ocean, and I think that's pretty appalling given the importance of this particular issue for the long-term interests of Canada.

No! No!! Its the 3rd time.

MacKay's New Babe

When you read read about her accomplishments, it's clear that she is far to good for him.

Anyway, the practical question is: what will Max Bernier do now? Because, lets face it, this one is far hotter.

More pics here.

NDP Calls For Mackay's Resignation

And I don't know why the Libs aren't doing more of this kind of shit--agitating, opposing, and etc. You can't win if you don't play. What is it? Beneath the party's dignity to kick out once in awhile? It isn't like nobody's thought of the idea. But Noooo! And therefore any of the glory that might result (in the way of headlines: its not like MacKay would actually step down) will accrue to the NDP.

Although the Anywhere But Copenhagen thing is quite clever, and the results have been most entertaining.

Not That There's Anything Wrong With That

A picture of Peter MacKay (left) from the Dalhousie yearbook, sent in anonymously.

Our guys are hotter.

Tory Minister of National Defense Can't Find The Arctic Ocean!

He [Peter MacKay] got his speaking notes for the Northwest Passage mixed up with his speaking notes for the Arctic Ocean, and I think that's pretty appalling given the importance of this particular issue for the long-term interests of Canada.

You can't assert sovereignty over it if you can't find it. Can Canada afford four more years from a government in which the players--other than the PM himself--are a bunch of developmentally challenged cabbage heads?

Booyah! Right back at ya!

Peter MacKay's Mondo Boner!

The Wonderbabe Strikes!

From The Chronicle Herald:

Mr. MacKay said the timing of the [anti Green Shift] ad campaign has nothing to do with the fact Mr. Thibault’s riding is hosting the Liberals’ Atlantic caucus meetings this week. He said he wasn’t aware the meetings were happening.

From the official CPoC announcement this weekend re said ad campaign:

““Since Atlantic Canadians mostly rely on coal for electricity, oil to heat their homes, and diesel to import food and other items, the permanent new Liberal carbon tax will be devastating for the region,” said Peter Mackay, Minister of National Defence. “It’s no wonder Liberals are spending two days in Digby trying to find ways to fool Atlantic Canadians about it – we won’t let that happen."

Kadey O'Malley: supporting the old boys at Macleans in their dotage.

MacKay On The Arctic: You Can't Use It If You Can't Find It

From The Embassy Magazine:

Immediately after Russian scientists planted their country's flag on the bottom of the Arctic Ocean under the North Pole to bolster their recent territorial claim, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay dismissed it as a "show by Russia."

However, his assertion that the area is actually Canadian property has raised questions about his understanding of the Arctic file as the flag was planted in international territory.

"Minister MacKay demonstrated a clear lack of understanding on the issue by referring to this as Canadian waters on the basis of a long-standing Canadian claim," said Michael Byers, holder of the Canada Research Chair on Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia.

"He got his speaking notes for the Northwest Passage mixed up with his speaking notes for the Arctic Ocean, and I think that's pretty appalling given the importance of this particular issue for the long-term interests of Canada."


The guy can't tell Toronto from Halifax. How do you think he's going to distinguish one hunk of ice from another?


Incidentally, has anyone set odds on MacKay's getting the boot during next week's cabinet shuffle? His name hasn't come up in places like this, but his various screw-ups have left him unpopular on both sides of the political spectrum. Personally, I would not be surprised to see him shuffled.

Now THERE'S Some Liberal Media Bias

From the Vancouver Sun's Barbara Yaffe:

May has put Peter MacKay on notice: She's aiming in the next election to take his Nova Scotia seat out from under him.

The high-profile foreign affairs minister, a bachelor who repeatedly gets voted sexist man in the Commons, doesn't look worried. Nor should he be. The decision on May's part is folly.

h/t anchorlink.

Peter MacKay's Double Standard

On Wednesday, Peter MacKay got angry in the HOC, after some Liberal bully referred to Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor as a chicken. He said:

I just heard something in the House from a former finance minister who has called the Minister of National Defence a chicken. This is a man who has served his country in uniform for over 30 years!

And yet he previously referred to Belinda Stronach as a dog, even though she too served her country, or at least Peter MacKay's end of it, and even though it was only for two or three minute intervals and entirely sans uniform.

What a hypocrite!

Torys Accidentally Smear Fellow Tory

Peter MacKay's communications director Dan Dugas apparently shares his master's delicate political touch. On Tuesday he smeared Paul Hobson, an economist who has argued that a cap on how much equalization and offshore revenue the province can receive if it opts into the Tories’ new equalization system would cost the province about $1 billion.

Dugas wrote in an e-mail to the Chronicle Herald:

"Don’t you think your readers ought to know that the author of a study on equalization is Paul Hobson, a Brison riding executive member (president) who went to the Grits with Brison? I’m saying it’s the kind of context in a political story that people should be aware of every time you mention him, don’t you think?"

However, Mr. Hobson shot back that:

...he’s not a Liberal. In fact, he donated $100 to the federal Conservatives in January.

At least Mr. Dugas, unlike his boss, had the class to issue an apology. But you've got to wonder about a government that can't even hurl slime accurately.

MacKay Rebukes Japanese PM For Denying Him Use Of Comfort Women

...or did I read that headline incorrectly. Although MacKay does say that he feels "enormous sympathy for comfort women" and "regrets" their abuse.

Yeah. Playing the nice guy is the oldest pick-up strategy in the book. Give old wandering Peter (and his wandering peter) a few more days and he'll try buying them all drinks.

Peter MacKay: Where The Hell Am I?

At the East Coast Music Awards (in Halifax), where MacKay:

...was booed when he mistakenly referred to Halifax as Toronto.

Must have been dreaming of his sweet neo-con.

Tories Put The Sex Back in Essex

As I wrote here, a series of alleged death threats, trials, and nomination battles have roiled the Windsor-Essex Conservative riding association. But I could not have imagined the depths of depravity to which this intra-mural squabble seems to have sunk. Luckily, Richard Warnica of The Tyee is ready to wallow in the filth so we don't have to.

In brief, the case involved death threats apparently uttered in 2005 by Tory operative Nick Kouvalis against Tory MP Jeff Watson . The alleged threats were made before two witnesses, a pair of buxom young female volunteers for the Watson campaign.

However, the credibility of one witness was called into question when it became clear that she bore a grudge towards Mr. Kouvalis. She had recently ended an affair with Conservative caucus chair Rahim Jaffer, and Mr. Kouvalis had warned her to stay away from Peter MacKay. Furthermore, nude pictures of both witnesses turned up in emails to the local press, and this tended (in the judge's eyes at least) to further detract from the persuasiveness of their testimony.

This raises all sorts of questions, like: how many women can Peter MacKay chase at one time? Secondly, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought only Liberals were allowed to have sex. NDPers study the issues; Tories get drunk, ride out on horses, and shoot the heads off chickens.

Or are these guys what they used to call progressive Conservatives? If so, I don't know if I'd ever vote that way, but Jeff Watson might be in line for a suit-case full of adscam money from my personal stash.