Peace, Order, and Good Government... Oxford Comma Part of Our Heritage
November 3, 2015 9:07 AM Subscribe
Interesting infographic/flow chart shows how new Canadian prime ministers are sworn in.
On Thursday Justin Trudeau will be sworn in as Canada's new prime minister at Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence.
The new cabinet will be announced and appointed following that ceremony. Interestingly, the public have been invited to attend the event for the first time in Canada's history.
On Thursday Justin Trudeau will be sworn in as Canada's new prime minister at Rideau Hall, the Governor General's residence.
The new cabinet will be announced and appointed following that ceremony. Interestingly, the public have been invited to attend the event for the first time in Canada's history.
He wants it to be like Notely's swearing in, but bigger. And it will be.
From CBC: "Rideau Hall is setting up two screens on its grounds so the public can watch the pomp and ceremony around the swearing-in the new government just steps away inside the official residence."
posted by Kabanos at 9:25 AM on November 3, 2015
From CBC: "Rideau Hall is setting up two screens on its grounds so the public can watch the pomp and ceremony around the swearing-in the new government just steps away inside the official residence."
posted by Kabanos at 9:25 AM on November 3, 2015
On the same day Harper will be facing a bunch of disgruntled MPs (many of them recently unemployed) in the Conservatives' first caucus meeting. I kind of which there were two screens set up outside of that room, for public viewing.
posted by Kabanos at 9:29 AM on November 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 9:29 AM on November 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
So, wait: If not a member of the Privy Council, the PM-designate has to take the Oath of Allegiance and the Privy Councillor's Oath twice each?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:35 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by Sys Rq at 9:35 AM on November 3, 2015
So, wait: If not a member of the Privy Council, the PM-designate has to take the Oath of Allegiance and the Privy Councillor's Oath twice each?
No, that second batch of OA and PCO and OO is for each member of the Cabinet.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
No, that second batch of OA and PCO and OO is for each member of the Cabinet.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah. Doy.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:40 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 9:40 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Doy!
I haven't heard that since I was eight! A very long time ago, BTW
posted by Zedcaster at 9:51 AM on November 3, 2015
I haven't heard that since I was eight! A very long time ago, BTW
posted by Zedcaster at 9:51 AM on November 3, 2015
I kind of which there were two screens set up outside of that room, for public viewing.
The Conservative ritual of discommendation should be riveting.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:02 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
The Conservative ritual of discommendation should be riveting.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:02 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
On the same day Harper will be facing a bunch of disgruntled MPs (many of them recently unemployed) in the Conservatives' first caucus meeting.
At one point, I read the "unemployed" ones weren't going to be allowed into the caucus meeting. Has that changed?
posted by milnews.ca at 10:08 AM on November 3, 2015
At one point, I read the "unemployed" ones weren't going to be allowed into the caucus meeting. Has that changed?
posted by milnews.ca at 10:08 AM on November 3, 2015
Notes to confused Americans:
The cabinet in Canada is functionally very similar to the US cabinet (in that it's the heads of a bunch of government departments - Minister of Transportation or Defence or what have you). But it's also quite different in that it's basically comprised of members of Parliament (~Congress members), so the pool is limited to the 184 Liberals elected last month. It's also a lot more malleable by the PM - he can combine or modify ministries, appoint whomever he wants with no confirmation process. (One of the steps is for the Governor General to approve the list but it's a pure formality.)
This puts more pressure on the PM to ensure a representative cabinet; he's already pledged 50% women, but there need to be multiple visible minority members, and a regional balance - here in Alberta we're expecting two ministers potentially and would be offended if we didn't have any.
I really enjoyed the recent Strategists podcast where they tried to construct a cabinet (especially since one of the panelists has done this in real life at the provincial level) but it is a little inside baseball.
Beaver tails are a fried dough pastry endemic to the Ottawa region. Sort of a wide, flat, floppy churro.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
The cabinet in Canada is functionally very similar to the US cabinet (in that it's the heads of a bunch of government departments - Minister of Transportation or Defence or what have you). But it's also quite different in that it's basically comprised of members of Parliament (~Congress members), so the pool is limited to the 184 Liberals elected last month. It's also a lot more malleable by the PM - he can combine or modify ministries, appoint whomever he wants with no confirmation process. (One of the steps is for the Governor General to approve the list but it's a pure formality.)
This puts more pressure on the PM to ensure a representative cabinet; he's already pledged 50% women, but there need to be multiple visible minority members, and a regional balance - here in Alberta we're expecting two ministers potentially and would be offended if we didn't have any.
I really enjoyed the recent Strategists podcast where they tried to construct a cabinet (especially since one of the panelists has done this in real life at the provincial level) but it is a little inside baseball.
Beaver tails are a fried dough pastry endemic to the Ottawa region. Sort of a wide, flat, floppy churro.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
Wait we have a giant seal for the Minister of Industry alone? wat?
posted by GuyZero at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by GuyZero at 10:09 AM on November 3, 2015
Wait we have a giant seal for the Minister of Industry alone? wat?
Huh. Colour me surprised. It looks like the keeper of the seals for Canada is the Registrar General.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:15 AM on November 3, 2015
Huh. Colour me surprised. It looks like the keeper of the seals for Canada is the Registrar General.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:15 AM on November 3, 2015
Beaver tails are a fried dough pastry endemic to the Ottawa region.
They're called elephant ears in a lot of the US.
posted by bonehead at 10:20 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
They're called elephant ears in a lot of the US.
posted by bonehead at 10:20 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
> On the same day Harper will be facing a bunch of disgruntled MPs (many of them recently unemployed) in the Conservatives' first caucus meeting.
"Your tears of unfathomable sadness are delicious!"
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2015
"Your tears of unfathomable sadness are delicious!"
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:24 AM on November 3, 2015
Beaver Tails fit perfectly into the category of "Oh hey, I haven't had that in forever! Oh now I remember why."
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 10:25 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 10:25 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
News to me too!
Looks like technically the Governor General is still the official Keeper of the Great Seal of Canada, just delegates the job to the Registrar General, who happens to be the Minister of Industry. Why that Minister, of all people? From Wikipedia:
posted by Kabanos at 10:26 AM on November 3, 2015
Looks like technically the Governor General is still the official Keeper of the Great Seal of Canada, just delegates the job to the Registrar General, who happens to be the Minister of Industry. Why that Minister, of all people? From Wikipedia:
Before Confederation there were two registrars general, appointed as the provincial secretaries of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. After Confederation, the Secretary of State became the Registrar General, until 1966, when the responsibility was delegated to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. When this ministerial position was discontinued in 1995, the role of Registrar General was again redelegated, this time to the Minister of Industry.Sounds like one of those jobs you get stuck with when people around you get downsized.
posted by Kabanos at 10:26 AM on November 3, 2015
This also explains why the Minister of Industry gets a big honkin' seal.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:28 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:28 AM on November 3, 2015
And yes, Americans, this is the kind of sexy danger Canadians get up to on the internet.
"Oooh. Look, eh? We have a keeper of the seals!"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:29 AM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
"Oooh. Look, eh? We have a keeper of the seals!"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:29 AM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
Also we have a really large seal swimming in the Rideau Canal, who is regularly fed Beaver Tails by the Minister of Industry, even though it's really the Queen's pet that she left at the Governor General's that one time.
posted by Kabanos at 10:35 AM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 10:35 AM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
The seal is actually one of her corgis in a wetsuit.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 10:44 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by [expletive deleted] at 10:44 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
This is a really bad example of an infographic. The text is small and hard to read, and the graphics don't give any additional information. Next time, try a list.
posted by demiurge at 10:48 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by demiurge at 10:48 AM on November 3, 2015 [3 favorites]
Later that night he will drink the blood of all former prime ministers, preserved in a specially prepared moose skull, and take the dark-oath. He will then add his own pint of blood to the mixture. The blood will be cryogenically frozen and placed in stasis for future prime ministers.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 10:55 AM on November 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
As much as I like the idea of the PM and cabinet showing up all at once in a bus and walking in, I really was hoping for our new PM to show up in Pierre's 300 SL, tool around on the GG's lawn a bit, and do a hard brake in front of Rideau Hall's front door.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:07 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:07 AM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
tool around on the GG's lawn a bit, and do a hard brake in front of Rideau Hall's front door...
...then jump out, pirouette, flip the bird in the general direction of western Canada and shout "Just watch me, motherfuckers!"
Also, a "NEP 4 LIFE" vanity plate would be a nice added touch, but I'll consider it optional if all of the above entrance criteria are met.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:11 AM on November 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
...then jump out, pirouette, flip the bird in the general direction of western Canada and shout "Just watch me, motherfuckers!"
Also, a "NEP 4 LIFE" vanity plate would be a nice added touch, but I'll consider it optional if all of the above entrance criteria are met.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:11 AM on November 3, 2015 [4 favorites]
Vaguely apropos to 'Just watch me, motherfuckers', I didn't know until just now that Justin said that Pierre "didn't actually just say 'fuddle duddle". I will note only that this revelation only came following the death of the formidable target of the fuddle duddle, Lincoln Alexander. As you were.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:23 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:23 AM on November 3, 2015
Andrew Coyne: Trudeau cabinet should be based on merit, not gender.
Beaverton: 50% female cabinet appointments lead to 5000% increase in guys who suddenly care about merit in cabinet.
I mean, the previous guy just appointed science ministers who believed in young-earth creationism (not sure where they thought oil came from), and environment ministers that questioned climate change. But this time the newspapers are concerned with "merit".
posted by bonehead at 11:46 AM on November 3, 2015 [28 favorites]
Beaverton: 50% female cabinet appointments lead to 5000% increase in guys who suddenly care about merit in cabinet.
I mean, the previous guy just appointed science ministers who believed in young-earth creationism (not sure where they thought oil came from), and environment ministers that questioned climate change. But this time the newspapers are concerned with "merit".
posted by bonehead at 11:46 AM on November 3, 2015 [28 favorites]
not sure where they thought oil came from
I dunno what they teach kids these days in those heathen public schools, but all learned men know oil as the tears of Satan and his angels, which we are commanded to burn in our pickups because the aroma is pleasing to the Lord.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 11:54 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I dunno what they teach kids these days in those heathen public schools, but all learned men know oil as the tears of Satan and his angels, which we are commanded to burn in our pickups because the aroma is pleasing to the Lord.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 11:54 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now we're worried about a fading meritocracy? On the eve of swearing in a first-born golden son of privilege?
Bit late for that, Coyne. That ship has sailed. That ship has sailed, rusted over, and has been broken up by barefoot kids on a Chittagong beach.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2015
Bit late for that, Coyne. That ship has sailed. That ship has sailed, rusted over, and has been broken up by barefoot kids on a Chittagong beach.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2015
Yeah, that Beaverton piece pretty much nails it. It's not like previous male cabinet ministers were chosen based on competence. I mean, quite the opposite it seems.
posted by GuyZero at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by GuyZero at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2015
Trudeau cabinet should be based on merit, not gender.
I'm intrigued by this system Coyne has apparently devised of ranking each MP on a totally meritocratic scale for each Ministry so as to find the single inarguable best one for each position. I hope he shares it with college admissions boards.
posted by Etrigan at 12:18 PM on November 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm intrigued by this system Coyne has apparently devised of ranking each MP on a totally meritocratic scale for each Ministry so as to find the single inarguable best one for each position. I hope he shares it with college admissions boards.
posted by Etrigan at 12:18 PM on November 3, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Just watch me, motherfuckers!"
Recently: Justin Trudeau's 'Just watch me' note to Halifax man sold on eBay for $12,301.
posted by Kabanos at 12:25 PM on November 3, 2015
Recently: Justin Trudeau's 'Just watch me' note to Halifax man sold on eBay for $12,301.
posted by Kabanos at 12:25 PM on November 3, 2015
It's not like cabinets haven't been picked according to geography, language and ethnicity since confederation, after all. It's shocking then that gender should also be a consideration.
Though my favourite line of the Beaverton piece: Reached for comment, Canada’s researchers said, “We’re just happy we can report on this data trend without worrying about getting the hose again.”
posted by bonehead at 12:47 PM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
Though my favourite line of the Beaverton piece: Reached for comment, Canada’s researchers said, “We’re just happy we can report on this data trend without worrying about getting the hose again.”
posted by bonehead at 12:47 PM on November 3, 2015 [6 favorites]
I think the 300SL had been repainted when JT got married; I distinctly remember that it was black when I saw it pass.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2015
From Capt. Renault's link on PM's cars: I actually couldn’t find any reference to what kind of car Prime Minister Chrétien drove. I think we can all agree, however, it probably had a manual choke.
posted by bonehead at 12:55 PM on November 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 12:55 PM on November 3, 2015 [9 favorites]
It is a fixed rule, to be adhered to come what may. It is one, moreover, imposed without reference to the numbers of MPs of either sex from which cabinet is to be drawn. Women make up just over a quarter of the Liberal caucus, yet they will make up precisely half of cabinet. Your chances of getting into cabinet as a woman are as such roughly three times that of a man: 30 per cent, in a 28-member cabinet, versus 10 per cent.
This is just setting the "eligibility pool" at the wrong place. ~50% of the people eligible for the job are women. At best historical sexism means less than 50% made it past the phone interview stage but there is no reason we have to be tied to that proportion when setting cabinets. Want to give male and female MPs an equal chance at cabinet? Elect more women to the MP position.
bonehead: "“We’re just happy we can report on this data trend without worrying about getting the hose again.”"
Ouch.
posted by Mitheral at 1:04 PM on November 3, 2015
I have annoyed 3 people with my reaction to whole 50% percent women in the cabinet announcement.
They've had very serious concerns about it being based on "merit' and were desiring to have serious and studious conversations about it.
I literally just laughed. And when they try to splain cause of course I just don't understand and just need some more splaining I laugh more and said I did't have time for conversation based on stupid.
Not super construction but that's all I had.
posted by Jalliah at 1:07 PM on November 3, 2015 [8 favorites]
They've had very serious concerns about it being based on "merit' and were desiring to have serious and studious conversations about it.
I literally just laughed. And when they try to splain cause of course I just don't understand and just need some more splaining I laugh more and said I did't have time for conversation based on stupid.
Not super construction but that's all I had.
posted by Jalliah at 1:07 PM on November 3, 2015 [8 favorites]
Bit late for that, Coyne. That ship has sailed. That ship has sailed, rusted over, and has been broken up by barefoot kids on a Chittagong beach.
Ahmed Hassen might disagree with you.
posted by Nevin at 1:07 PM on November 3, 2015
Ahmed Hassen might disagree with you.
posted by Nevin at 1:07 PM on November 3, 2015
I distinctly remember that it was black when I saw it pass.
I've seen pictures of it where it's cream, and other times where it's clearly silver. Maybe it photographs different? I saw the old man driving it down Sherbrooke when I was living in Montreal (or at least I assume that was it -- how many of those would there be in town?), and it was silver then.
There's a feature article waiting to be written about just the car, I'm sure. Get on that, Canadian Literary Names.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:12 PM on November 3, 2015
I've seen pictures of it where it's cream, and other times where it's clearly silver. Maybe it photographs different? I saw the old man driving it down Sherbrooke when I was living in Montreal (or at least I assume that was it -- how many of those would there be in town?), and it was silver then.
There's a feature article waiting to be written about just the car, I'm sure. Get on that, Canadian Literary Names.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:12 PM on November 3, 2015
Well, I'm clearly in the loop.
posted by bonehead at 1:45 PM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 1:45 PM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just a point of clarification. The Ministers don't have to be picked from MPs. Sometimes, Senators are given cabinet positions, and from time to time, unelected people have been made Cabinet ministers. Harper did it in 2006 when he appoiunted Michel Fortier to Cabinet even though he wasn't even an MP. Also, Cabinet ministers don't have to be Liberal party members. There is some speculation that Elizabeth May, the Green Party leader, might be selected as Minister of the Environment.
All of this is allowed. Therefore the pool of women eligible to be appointed to Cabinet positions includes every single woman in Canada.
posted by salishsea at 11:08 PM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
All of this is allowed. Therefore the pool of women eligible to be appointed to Cabinet positions includes every single woman in Canada.
posted by salishsea at 11:08 PM on November 3, 2015 [5 favorites]
If the criteria are gender, environmental creds, competency, actual public stature in all parts of Canada, and actual influence in the last election you could argue that Tzeporah Berman would be a better choice for environment minister. Or Naomi Klein.
posted by Nevin at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Nevin at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2015
Tzeporah Berman
Good god no.
She did great work on the forest debate in BC, but her (and Greenpeace's) positions on things like nuclear power, GMO use, their willingness to politicise and even ignore baseline science. We just got rid of a bunch that had ideological-driven policies. We don't need another. Let's let activists stay advocates. They usually make horrible governors.
posted by bonehead at 6:19 AM on November 4, 2015
Good god no.
She did great work on the forest debate in BC, but her (and Greenpeace's) positions on things like nuclear power, GMO use, their willingness to politicise and even ignore baseline science. We just got rid of a bunch that had ideological-driven policies. We don't need another. Let's let activists stay advocates. They usually make horrible governors.
posted by bonehead at 6:19 AM on November 4, 2015
I was being facetious. I think gender parity in cabinet is a good thing, but being located in the Green Party heartland of Victoria I cannot understand why Greens think Elizabeth May be placed in cabinet. There's some talk she may be turfed out as leader at the party convention early next year.
And with the decision to form cabinet according to gender parity, and the further constraints of a smaller cabinet and the need for regional representation, it seems highly unlikely May will get the nod anyway.
posted by Nevin at 6:54 AM on November 4, 2015
And with the decision to form cabinet according to gender parity, and the further constraints of a smaller cabinet and the need for regional representation, it seems highly unlikely May will get the nod anyway.
posted by Nevin at 6:54 AM on November 4, 2015
Plus there's that small matter of having to accommodate a second party platform when they don't need to.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:00 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:00 AM on November 4, 2015
I was saying on Twitter I feel a bit sorry for JT as there is so much riding on him as soon as he gets into office. People will expect years of fuckery to be undone in a day but sadly, there is no magic wand to do that. It will take time to undo the horrible shit Harper did--and let's be honest, Trudeau will probably have some shit of his own--but I think everyone is so excited about a Liberal government that they will not have patience for the time it will take.
posted by Kitteh at 7:00 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 7:00 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
I was thinking about that last night. He's always had to live under his father's shadow, and now even more so with his hands on the levers. I don't envy him that at all.
I suspect that goodwill towards the Liberals will run for a long while yet. Even if the substantive change is less than what was hoped for, it will be excused, if it is even noticed. Chretien got a pass for a long, long time, simply for not being Mulroney, when in policy terms who was the more progressive of the two is quite debatable.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:10 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I suspect that goodwill towards the Liberals will run for a long while yet. Even if the substantive change is less than what was hoped for, it will be excused, if it is even noticed. Chretien got a pass for a long, long time, simply for not being Mulroney, when in policy terms who was the more progressive of the two is quite debatable.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:10 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
May is no friend to the liberals. I cannot imagine how that would happen, at all.
A major problem for Trudeau for the past two weeks has been shoehorning his plethora of star candidates, returning veterans and notable under 50s into 28-29 chairs, given the need to balance of gender, regional, linguistic (and not just English/French), and visible minority representation. The last thing he needs to do is find someone from outside the party, even outside the Commons to fill a seat. I even doubt there will be more than a single senator, the Senate leader, in cabinet. But we'll know for sure in a short while.
posted by bonehead at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
A major problem for Trudeau for the past two weeks has been shoehorning his plethora of star candidates, returning veterans and notable under 50s into 28-29 chairs, given the need to balance of gender, regional, linguistic (and not just English/French), and visible minority representation. The last thing he needs to do is find someone from outside the party, even outside the Commons to fill a seat. I even doubt there will be more than a single senator, the Senate leader, in cabinet. But we'll know for sure in a short while.
posted by bonehead at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
> People will expect years of fuckery to be undone in a day but sadly, there is no magic wand to do that
This is true, but on the other hand there are so many things he and the Liberals can do or stop doing that won't require the passage of legislation, and most of them boil down to "not being assholes like the Conservatives"; muzzling scientists, fighting with the Supreme Court, communicating entirely in robotic talking points, throwing research in the trash, auditing charities, muzzling their own MPs, making federal employees swear loyalty oaths to the govenment...etc. etc. etc.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:47 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is true, but on the other hand there are so many things he and the Liberals can do or stop doing that won't require the passage of legislation, and most of them boil down to "not being assholes like the Conservatives"; muzzling scientists, fighting with the Supreme Court, communicating entirely in robotic talking points, throwing research in the trash, auditing charities, muzzling their own MPs, making federal employees swear loyalty oaths to the govenment...etc. etc. etc.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:47 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Changes to the civil service won't happen instantly. After almost ten years, many of the senior civil service posts are filled either by appointment by the former government or those who aligned their careers to the political priorities. Culture shift takes a few years at least. It's a slow and conservative process, so to speak. Senior management can't just be fired immediately, but the average lifetime for most of them is two to five years. There will likely be a lot of flux in the next year.
And federal employees have always sworn a loyalty oath (to the Queen).
posted by bonehead at 7:55 AM on November 4, 2015
And federal employees have always sworn a loyalty oath (to the Queen).
posted by bonehead at 7:55 AM on November 4, 2015
The female cabinet appointees all have some pretty impressive creds.
posted by Nevin at 8:01 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Nevin at 8:01 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bill Blair was left out. He should have just stayed home.
posted by maudlin at 8:02 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 8:02 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oh, I think he will get the ball rolling right out of the gate, but there are a lot of folks wanting him to be Magic Superstar PM like minute one.
posted by Kitteh at 8:03 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 8:03 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, I think he will get the ball rolling right out of the gate, but there are a lot of folks wanting him to be Magic Superstar PM
To see how badly things could go, just take a look at the Ontario Liberals. Or the BC Liberals (most of the political staff in our government come from Ontario).
Hopefully Trudeau's government will be different. The relatively young median age of the female cabinet appointees (about 40) makes me hopeful.
posted by Nevin at 8:05 AM on November 4, 2015
To see how badly things could go, just take a look at the Ontario Liberals. Or the BC Liberals (most of the political staff in our government come from Ontario).
Hopefully Trudeau's government will be different. The relatively young median age of the female cabinet appointees (about 40) makes me hopeful.
posted by Nevin at 8:05 AM on November 4, 2015
Without knowing anything about Jody Wilson-Raybould, I'm quite hopeful about the appointment of a First Nations woman as Justice Minister.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:11 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:11 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
She was a Crown prosecutor here in BC and is likely intimate with issues such as the Highway of Tears. Hopefully this means some firepower in cabinet to address the issue of murdered and missing aboriginal women all across Canada.
posted by Nevin at 8:13 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Nevin at 8:13 AM on November 4, 2015
I expect that there's a fair number of Old Stock Canadians freaking the fuck out right now. And I'm perfectly fine with that.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:19 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:19 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's interesting to see a First Nations Fisheries minister as well. Maybe there will be better relations between DFO and First Nations soon. It's hard to see how it could get any worse.
posted by vansly at 8:19 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by vansly at 8:19 AM on November 4, 2015
Bill Blair was left out
Hooray!
Here's the full cabinet list
The most joyous headline in recent Canadian history
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:23 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hooray!
Here's the full cabinet list
The most joyous headline in recent Canadian history
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:23 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
A First Nations woman in Justice? Yeah, MMIW is going to be an early priority. A Minister of Science (in addition to innovation, science, and economic development)? Up and down this list, there's a lot of promises moving forward.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:25 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:25 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not seeing a Minster of Industry. Who has the giant seal? Who has the giant seal?!?
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:27 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:27 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Michaelle Jean ate it
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:30 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:30 AM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Industry is gone, presumably to be split up between some of the other derpartments. A bunch of shuffling around there on the social services/industry/trade/finance axis.
The magnitude of FN and Inuit ministers at Justice (!) and DFO is huge. And really exciting to contemplate.
We have an astronaut in charge of Transport. How many other countries can say that?
Climate change is front and centre, in both the renaming of the Environment and Climate Change minister and in the appointment of Kirsty Duncan* as Minister of Science.
Public Safety gets a big profile boost with Ralph Goodale at the helm. Previously they've been fairly minor players with the service departments taking the lead. And yeah, this was the one I was afraid Blair would get.
*edit to add: former member of the IPCC
posted by bonehead at 8:32 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
The magnitude of FN and Inuit ministers at Justice (!) and DFO is huge. And really exciting to contemplate.
We have an astronaut in charge of Transport. How many other countries can say that?
Climate change is front and centre, in both the renaming of the Environment and Climate Change minister and in the appointment of Kirsty Duncan* as Minister of Science.
Public Safety gets a big profile boost with Ralph Goodale at the helm. Previously they've been fairly minor players with the service departments taking the lead. And yeah, this was the one I was afraid Blair would get.
*edit to add: former member of the IPCC
posted by bonehead at 8:32 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Industry is gone, presumably to be split up between some of the other derpartments.
That's hard to say, actually. It's probably just been renamed to Ec Dev. I wonder if there will still be a "Minister Responsible for Western Economic Development."
That ministry shovels money off the back of a truck in western Canada, notably for propping up the various Community Futures orgs that dot every burg on every hill and in every hollow.
Those commitments can't just dry up. Or maybe they will.
posted by Nevin at 8:36 AM on November 4, 2015
That's hard to say, actually. It's probably just been renamed to Ec Dev. I wonder if there will still be a "Minister Responsible for Western Economic Development."
That ministry shovels money off the back of a truck in western Canada, notably for propping up the various Community Futures orgs that dot every burg on every hill and in every hollow.
Those commitments can't just dry up. Or maybe they will.
posted by Nevin at 8:36 AM on November 4, 2015
derpartments
I'm choosing to believe that was on purpose
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:37 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm choosing to believe that was on purpose
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:37 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
We have an astronaut in charge of Transport.
It's not as cool as Brazil having Gilberto Gil as Culture Minister, but it's up there.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:40 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not as cool as Brazil having Gilberto Gil as Culture Minister, but it's up there.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:40 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think with the downturn in commodities and the ongoing divestment in the oil sands, this might be the opportunity that's needed to do something meaningful about climate change without incurring an (immediate) political or economic cost. It seems doubtful the oil sands are going to roar back to life in the next 3 years, even if the Liberals and the provincial NDP let things continue on as normal.
posted by Nevin at 8:55 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Nevin at 8:55 AM on November 4, 2015
I actually clapped my hands with glee when I saw Jody Wilson-Rayboult at Justice. She was far more on the economic development / treaty / self-government side of First Nations activism, but she was also a prosecutor in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, so it's not like she is unaware of the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women issue.
They renamed the Minister of Environment role to Minister of Environment and Climate Change. So apparently we believe that's a real thing, and one we can actually do something about, now. Catherine McKenna, who is a social justice and human rights lawyer, got the position.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
They renamed the Minister of Environment role to Minister of Environment and Climate Change. So apparently we believe that's a real thing, and one we can actually do something about, now. Catherine McKenna, who is a social justice and human rights lawyer, got the position.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:57 AM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
I love the visuals of Harjit Singh Sajjan - a Sikh who wears a turban - as minister of National Defence. I don't know much about him, beyond his service with the military, but just the idea that a man of colour, visual identifiable as "New Stock" is there is fantastic. It's not that long ago that we had a debate about whether or not Sikhs should be wearing their turbans in the military and as police officers.
posted by Cuke at 9:05 AM on November 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Cuke at 9:05 AM on November 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
ahem Defence
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:21 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:21 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
Our new Minister of Defense.
"General, do I need to come down there and win that fucking war myself?"
posted by Etrigan at 9:22 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
"General, do I need to come down there and win that fucking war myself?"
posted by Etrigan at 9:22 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
A bit more on Mr. Harjit Sajjan. He's a historic figure already.
posted by bonehead at 9:22 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 9:22 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Ladies and gentlemen of Canada, meet your new Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Paralympic Medal-winning athlete and human rights and labour lawyer, Carla Qualtrough.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:42 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:42 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
I never thought that looking through the pictures and bios of cabinet ministers would make me cry.
What a statement on so many levels.
This is the kind of Canada that I love and want.
And holy shit... Minister of Environment and CLIMATE CHANGE! About frikin time!
All symbolic for now and we will see what happens when the work starts but I'm going enjoy having some good feelings about our government for a change. It's an odd feeling to have and more then I imagined would happen.
posted by Jalliah at 9:55 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
What a statement on so many levels.
This is the kind of Canada that I love and want.
And holy shit... Minister of Environment and CLIMATE CHANGE! About frikin time!
All symbolic for now and we will see what happens when the work starts but I'm going enjoy having some good feelings about our government for a change. It's an odd feeling to have and more then I imagined would happen.
posted by Jalliah at 9:55 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not always a great idea to have someone from a military background as defense minister. They tend to bring the culture along with them in the role, which can affect their decisions. Traditionally in the Westminster system defense ministers don't have a professional military background.
I suppose because a lot of stuff has to get done right away (cancelling F-35, extricating Canada from Iraq) they need someone who understands the culture and can (theoretically) get things done.
posted by Nevin at 9:55 AM on November 4, 2015
I suppose because a lot of stuff has to get done right away (cancelling F-35, extricating Canada from Iraq) they need someone who understands the culture and can (theoretically) get things done.
posted by Nevin at 9:55 AM on November 4, 2015
Lots of interesting stories here. Maryam Monsef was a child refugee from Afghanistan and is our first Afghani MP (though she's ethnic Persian I see). She's now minister of Democratic Institutions (and the youngest in cabinet).
Presumably she's the point person for electoral reform (Pierre Poilievre's old job). Here's an interview she did recently on The Current.
posted by bonehead at 10:00 AM on November 4, 2015
Presumably she's the point person for electoral reform (Pierre Poilievre's old job). Here's an interview she did recently on The Current.
posted by bonehead at 10:00 AM on November 4, 2015
Not always a great idea to have someone from a military background as defense minister.
My feeling is that this is a budget-increase cabinet. They promised to run some deficits and increase spending after the election, and putting a lot of on-the-nose Ministers (former Crown Prosecutor at Justice, former soldier at Defence, doctor at Health, scientist at Science, etc, etc.) in place suggests that they think those people will know where to put the extra money. If their economic plan doesn't work and they end up cutting funds, I suspect we'll see a very different looking cabinet before they have to start making those choices.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:03 AM on November 4, 2015
My feeling is that this is a budget-increase cabinet. They promised to run some deficits and increase spending after the election, and putting a lot of on-the-nose Ministers (former Crown Prosecutor at Justice, former soldier at Defence, doctor at Health, scientist at Science, etc, etc.) in place suggests that they think those people will know where to put the extra money. If their economic plan doesn't work and they end up cutting funds, I suspect we'll see a very different looking cabinet before they have to start making those choices.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:03 AM on November 4, 2015
I think it was Navdeep Bains that was presented the Seal at the end of the ceremony.
posted by sardonyx at 10:05 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 10:05 AM on November 4, 2015
Not always a great idea to have someone from a military background as defense minister. They tend to bring the culture along with them in the role, which can affect their decisions.
True, but when that military background includes personal experience as a member of a minority group in the ranks, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
posted by Etrigan at 10:10 AM on November 4, 2015
True, but when that military background includes personal experience as a member of a minority group in the ranks, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
posted by Etrigan at 10:10 AM on November 4, 2015
I dunno, living on the Left Coast as I do I don't exactly consider Sajjan as a member of a minority group. I mean, objectively speaking he is, I guess, but that's just a small, small fraction of his identity and what he brings to cabinet. Indo-Canadians have been in executive roles in government for at least 20 years now. But like I said, when I regard his CV his ethnicity is not what stands out to me, and shouldn't be a major criteria when choosing him for cabinet. Kind of insulting actually.
posted by Nevin at 10:24 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Nevin at 10:24 AM on November 4, 2015
It was pretty revealing which ministers Trudeau picked because he liked them and was buddies with them and which ones were there because they had to be. The man does not have a poker face at all.
posted by sardonyx at 10:42 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sardonyx at 10:42 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think commenting on his ethnicity is in any way insulting considering that the Canadian Forces have a significant diversity problem. Last year, after utterly failing to make their own diversity targets as mandated under Employment Equity legislation, instead of figuring out how to solve the problem, they instead fought for and received lower targets.
Nobody (here, I can't speak for the comments section on the Sun) is suggesting he got the job despite being unqualified or otherwise suspect because he is a minority. Rather, it's most like 'hey, he's really well qualified and he also has this demographic element that makes him particularly experienced with some of the problem he's going to have to deal with.'
It's the same with Jody Wilson-Rayboult. I'm not excited because they put some totally unqualified know-nothing into an important job because she's a native woman. I'm excited because they had an impeccably credentialed candidate who has more than the usual insight to a pressing and substantial problem, and they didn't overlook her just because she's not a white man.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:44 AM on November 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
Nobody (here, I can't speak for the comments section on the Sun) is suggesting he got the job despite being unqualified or otherwise suspect because he is a minority. Rather, it's most like 'hey, he's really well qualified and he also has this demographic element that makes him particularly experienced with some of the problem he's going to have to deal with.'
It's the same with Jody Wilson-Rayboult. I'm not excited because they put some totally unqualified know-nothing into an important job because she's a native woman. I'm excited because they had an impeccably credentialed candidate who has more than the usual insight to a pressing and substantial problem, and they didn't overlook her just because she's not a white man.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:44 AM on November 4, 2015 [7 favorites]
Goodale looked like somebody kicked his puppy and then torched his house. He was not a happy man today. There were a few others that really looked upset as well, but he seemed the most disappointed.
posted by sardonyx at 10:48 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by sardonyx at 10:48 AM on November 4, 2015
It looks to me like one of the things they tried to do with this cabinet is put some people in with actual backgrounds in the portfolio in place - so a family physician for Health, an actual scientist in Science, etc. So putting someone with a military background in Defense is in keeping with that. The fact that he's also a member of an ethnic minority is a plus, not a "major criteria" from where I'm looking at the strategy of how they made the selections.
Anyways, I'm kind of hoping this means that the political media can get back to reporting on actual policy and meaningful things. Nice as it is to have Harper gone and a different style of leadership, I was a little disappointed yesterday when CBC Newsworld was devoting segments to Justin being spotted walking out of Liberal headquarters and what he was wearing when he did so, along with him hanging out in hardhat and safety vest with the construction guys working on the West Block. I want some analysis! If I want coverage of what people are wearing when they show up somewhere, I'll go to that program that Mulroney's son is on.
posted by nubs at 10:53 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anyways, I'm kind of hoping this means that the political media can get back to reporting on actual policy and meaningful things. Nice as it is to have Harper gone and a different style of leadership, I was a little disappointed yesterday when CBC Newsworld was devoting segments to Justin being spotted walking out of Liberal headquarters and what he was wearing when he did so, along with him hanging out in hardhat and safety vest with the construction guys working on the West Block. I want some analysis! If I want coverage of what people are wearing when they show up somewhere, I'll go to that program that Mulroney's son is on.
posted by nubs at 10:53 AM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wilson-Raybould was also a former Chief Commisioner of the BC Treaty Commission, in which capacity I worked with her a little. She is a perfect person for Minister of Justice.
posted by salishsea at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by salishsea at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
...but he seemed the most disappointed.
Wait until we see pictures of Hedy "People-Are-Burning-Crosses-on-the-Lawns-of-Prince-George-As-We-Speak" Fry.
I look forward to those pictures.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Wait until we see pictures of Hedy "People-Are-Burning-Crosses-on-the-Lawns-of-Prince-George-As-We-Speak" Fry.
I look forward to those pictures.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
So who thinks that there may still be a chance that Blair ends up in cabinet in a couple of years? I can envision that he was told when he was recruited that he shouldn't expect a post right out of the gate because he was so controversial, but that if he kept his nose clean [INSERT ROB FORD JOKE HERE] and waited, he could have a shot in 2017.
posted by maudlin at 11:08 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by maudlin at 11:08 AM on November 4, 2015
There are no Ministers of State (or maybe a couple sort of, depending) in this cabinet, meaning there's no place to put up-and-comers, to give people a kick at the big leagues and see if they're up to the challenge. This makes sense right now. The government has a lot of big policy questions and needs to have a solid team in place to do that.
Trudeau might expand cabinet, perhaps in a shuffle in 18 months or so, to give some new faces apprentice Minister without portfolio positions. These are pretty essential to develop bench strength and allow people to fail or succeed without being too risky, but also for putting people on special purpose files. These tend to accrete over the life of a government.
Blair might get a look in then, but I kind of doubt it.
posted by bonehead at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2015
Trudeau might expand cabinet, perhaps in a shuffle in 18 months or so, to give some new faces apprentice Minister without portfolio positions. These are pretty essential to develop bench strength and allow people to fail or succeed without being too risky, but also for putting people on special purpose files. These tend to accrete over the life of a government.
Blair might get a look in then, but I kind of doubt it.
posted by bonehead at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2015
Speaking of committees, I wonder what will happen with the Board of Internal Economy's order for certain NDP MPs to repay satellite office expenses. The party chose to punt until after the election, and... here we are.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2015
Now that Justin Trudeau has named his cabinet, can Coyne, Kay, Ivison etc. tell us who are the unqualified women who have been appointed?
posted by nubs at 12:13 PM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by nubs at 12:13 PM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Can't be. Have you seen what they're calling "hoverboards"?
posted by maudlin at 12:24 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by maudlin at 12:24 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
News flash: according to Trudeau, it's 2015.
If he'd been holding that microphone, he'd have dropped it.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:59 PM on November 4, 2015
If he'd been holding that microphone, he'd have dropped it.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:59 PM on November 4, 2015
I love the visuals of Harjit Singh Sajjan - a Sikh who wears a turban - as minister of National Defence. I don't know much about him, beyond his service with the military, but just the idea that a man of colour, visual identifiable as "New Stock" is there is fantastic. It's not that long ago that we had a debate about whether or not Sikhs should be wearing their turbans in the military and as police officers.
And it was an ugly debate:
Herman Bittner, who created an unflattering calendar to protest the move, says in an interview, "Am I really a racist, or am I standing up and trying to save something that you know can be lost forever?"
Well, yes to the racist thing, and I'm trying to figure out what was "lost forever" now that we've had 25 years to reflect on the impact on this decision.
So, not to derail, but true story: A couple of years ago I was getting onto a streetcar near Chinatown East in Toronto. As I boarded, I noticed there was a bit of a hubbub, which consisted of the following:
The driver of the streetcar yelling at a white guy to get out - "You can't talk to people on my streetcar like that - get off or the cops are coming." (I'd find out later that this guy had hurled a couple of racial slurs at a few other passengers moments before, and other passengers and the driver had challenged him).
Racist white guy: "I have freedom of speech! I don't have to go anywhere."
A nearby white guy: "You're a racist jackass! Get the fuck out of here. What's your problem?"
Racist white guy: "And this is why Hitler had to gas the Jews!"
Just about everybody else on the streetcar: "Whoa! What the hell, dude?"
Driver (muttering under his breath): "Okay, screw this."
Driver closes the doors and advances about half a block to where, as luck would have it, a couple of cops happen to be standing by the side of the road. He stops beside them and pops open the door. "Hey guys, I've got a guy on here who's shouting racist insults at other passengers. I want him off."
One of the cops boards the streetcar. As luck would have it, he's a hulking Sikh man wearing a Toronto Police-issue turban.
Cop (to racist white guy): "Sir, get off the streetcar or I'm going to arrest you."
So the guy, very obviously physically outmatched, complies. As it turns out, the cops were there to do traffic control for a Chinese New Year dragon dance that, as luck would have it, was just then making its way along the sidewalk, with some of the spillover crowd and dancers on the street enveloping racist guy as he is escorted off the streetcar by a very large Sikh police officer.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:03 PM on November 4, 2015 [25 favorites]
And it was an ugly debate:
Herman Bittner, who created an unflattering calendar to protest the move, says in an interview, "Am I really a racist, or am I standing up and trying to save something that you know can be lost forever?"
Well, yes to the racist thing, and I'm trying to figure out what was "lost forever" now that we've had 25 years to reflect on the impact on this decision.
So, not to derail, but true story: A couple of years ago I was getting onto a streetcar near Chinatown East in Toronto. As I boarded, I noticed there was a bit of a hubbub, which consisted of the following:
The driver of the streetcar yelling at a white guy to get out - "You can't talk to people on my streetcar like that - get off or the cops are coming." (I'd find out later that this guy had hurled a couple of racial slurs at a few other passengers moments before, and other passengers and the driver had challenged him).
Racist white guy: "I have freedom of speech! I don't have to go anywhere."
A nearby white guy: "You're a racist jackass! Get the fuck out of here. What's your problem?"
Racist white guy: "And this is why Hitler had to gas the Jews!"
Just about everybody else on the streetcar: "Whoa! What the hell, dude?"
Driver (muttering under his breath): "Okay, screw this."
Driver closes the doors and advances about half a block to where, as luck would have it, a couple of cops happen to be standing by the side of the road. He stops beside them and pops open the door. "Hey guys, I've got a guy on here who's shouting racist insults at other passengers. I want him off."
One of the cops boards the streetcar. As luck would have it, he's a hulking Sikh man wearing a Toronto Police-issue turban.
Cop (to racist white guy): "Sir, get off the streetcar or I'm going to arrest you."
So the guy, very obviously physically outmatched, complies. As it turns out, the cops were there to do traffic control for a Chinese New Year dragon dance that, as luck would have it, was just then making its way along the sidewalk, with some of the spillover crowd and dancers on the street enveloping racist guy as he is escorted off the streetcar by a very large Sikh police officer.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:03 PM on November 4, 2015 [25 favorites]
mandolin conspiracy: "Toronto Police-issue turban"
How great is it that not only are turbans allowed; there is an official police issue.
posted by Mitheral at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
How great is it that not only are turbans allowed; there is an official police issue.
posted by Mitheral at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
I was going to say Goodale is a Martinite and also supporter of Bob Rae... Martin enjoys reasonably close ties with Trudeau (a lot of the First Nations initiatives will pick up where Martin left off in Kelowna nearly ten years ago) and Bob Rae is credited with pulling the Liberal Party together after 2011. I've met Bob Rae for work. I like him.
posted by Nevin at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by Nevin at 1:07 PM on November 4, 2015
@mandolin conspiracy
OMG I love that story! Thank you for telling it.
posted by Jalliah at 1:08 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
OMG I love that story! Thank you for telling it.
posted by Jalliah at 1:08 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Not uncoincidentally, I think, the man Trudeau replaced today got his start in politics opposing Sikh turbans in the RCMP.
posted by bonehead at 1:15 PM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 1:15 PM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
Not coincidentally, I think, the man Trudeau replaced today got his start in politics opposing Sikh turbans in the RCMP.
So much happy, evil giggling today.
posted by Jalliah at 1:17 PM on November 4, 2015
So much happy, evil giggling today.
posted by Jalliah at 1:17 PM on November 4, 2015
I'm not seeing a Minster of Industry. Who has the giant seal? Who has the giant seal?!?
I didn't even know about the role of the Keeper of the Seals until a few days ago, but now I won't be able to sleep until I know who the Registrar General of Canada is.
posted by Kabanos at 1:36 PM on November 4, 2015
I didn't even know about the role of the Keeper of the Seals until a few days ago, but now I won't be able to sleep until I know who the Registrar General of Canada is.
posted by Kabanos at 1:36 PM on November 4, 2015
You're right! Here he is accepting it: Navdeep Bains wants to be REALLY sure he’s holding Seal of Canada.
I don't know… shakey hands … and then he just handed it off to some guy…
posted by Kabanos at 2:01 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't know… shakey hands … and then he just handed it off to some guy…
posted by Kabanos at 2:01 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now I want to write an espionage thriller about the theft of the Seal of Canada. And in the end it wasn't stolen, it just went clubbing.
I'll show myself out
posted by nubs at 2:04 PM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'll show myself out
posted by nubs at 2:04 PM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]
Starring Pamela Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adrien Brody and Brigitte Bardot.
posted by Kabanos at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 2:07 PM on November 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
In Toronto, racists get escorted off the bus. In Hamilton, we just punch them in the face.
posted by Capt. Renault at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
It should be like the Stanley Cup so each player Cabinet Minister could have possession of the cup seal for a week. Hopefully no one gets a flat.
posted by Mitheral at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by Mitheral at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2015
Ivison is doing some quality backtracking on As It Happens right now -- that there's no parity in such and such a place, that some experienced people have been left behind, think of how they're feeling.
Sorry, Ivison, I refuse to hold a pity party for Bill Blair.
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:41 PM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Sorry, Ivison, I refuse to hold a pity party for Bill Blair.
posted by Capt. Renault at 3:41 PM on November 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
nubs, I gotta say: I feel much better knowing that I wasn't the only person itching to work the seals thing in that direction.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:58 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:58 PM on November 4, 2015
Ivison is doing some quality backtracking on As It Happens right now -
One thing that has been so monotonous over the past week as to have grown intolerable are the pronouncements and admonishments various pundits have made since October 19 counselling Trudeau about what he should as prime minister.
The political columnists are entertaining for their gossip, but when they stray into policy they end up sounding even more pompous than politicians.
posted by Nevin at 4:14 PM on November 4, 2015
One thing that has been so monotonous over the past week as to have grown intolerable are the pronouncements and admonishments various pundits have made since October 19 counselling Trudeau about what he should as prime minister.
The political columnists are entertaining for their gossip, but when they stray into policy they end up sounding even more pompous than politicians.
posted by Nevin at 4:14 PM on November 4, 2015
Aka the Ignatieff Syndrome
posted by bonehead at 4:26 PM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 4:26 PM on November 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Trudeau's (well, there's a picture of him holding some sort of writing instrument from a previous century above it, so I guess we're meant to assume he wrote it) open letter to Canadians. Boilerplate-y and vague, but at least it gives us an easily-referenced yardstick by which to measure how well his government actually delivers.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:00 PM on November 4, 2015
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:00 PM on November 4, 2015
Watched the ceremonial entry where the new and cabinet were drummed in ... Perry Belgrade (national chief AFN) was in the audience and it was like watching a kid seeing Santa arrive he was that excited to see not only the new min. Justice, but also the non-aboriginal min of indigenous and northern affairs. That bodes well.
And hallelulah to the name change from Indian Affairs!!
Also the inclusion of young people has been great, check out the Inuit throat singers, which for those who don't know, is a challenge to avoid laughing first.
posted by chapps at 12:37 AM on November 5, 2015
And hallelulah to the name change from Indian Affairs!!
Also the inclusion of young people has been great, check out the Inuit throat singers, which for those who don't know, is a challenge to avoid laughing first.
posted by chapps at 12:37 AM on November 5, 2015
Is it weird that I kind of find the instant switches from French to English and back in the behind the scenes video sexy? I forget he's a native French speaker, since as an American I normally see english-language media and he's got such perfectly colloquial English.
posted by tavella at 12:55 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by tavella at 12:55 AM on November 5, 2015
Trudeau isn't really a native French speaker and has been criticized for his French being oddly weak. Duceppe and Mulcair ranked the highest of the five leaders here.
Although he often spoke French with his dad, he has an anglophone mother and got most of his French through immersion. But I think his kids are going to grow up perfectly bilingual because unlike some of us with similar parentage *sigh* they speak both languages in the home.
posted by maudlin at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Although he often spoke French with his dad, he has an anglophone mother and got most of his French through immersion. But I think his kids are going to grow up perfectly bilingual because unlike some of us with similar parentage *sigh* they speak both languages in the home.
posted by maudlin at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I read in the G&M that his spoken English, his cadence and emphasis, are actually heavily informed by the fact that he's really a Francophone in his wiring.
(Not calling you out, IANALinguist, just an other data point)
posted by hearthpig at 6:39 AM on November 5, 2015
So Trudeau = Chrétien? Can mangle both official languages.
posted by maudlin at 6:50 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by maudlin at 6:50 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Memo to all the people wringing their hands over the number of women in Trudeau's cabinet - here is today's Heritage Moment:
Peals of laughter greeted Vancouver MP Margaret Mitchell when she posed a question about a parliamentary report on battered women in 1982. By 1991, things haven't changed much: MP Barbara Greene says she has been threatened by a fellow caucus member and told to shut up. And even though MP Deborah Grey doesn't identify herself as a feminist, she agrees sexism is a problem in the House.
Doug Saunders: "One of those laughing guys was my childhood MP, Bill Kempling, who also called cabinet ministers "slut," "bitch" & "fishwife" in Parliament"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:31 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Peals of laughter greeted Vancouver MP Margaret Mitchell when she posed a question about a parliamentary report on battered women in 1982. By 1991, things haven't changed much: MP Barbara Greene says she has been threatened by a fellow caucus member and told to shut up. And even though MP Deborah Grey doesn't identify herself as a feminist, she agrees sexism is a problem in the House.
Doug Saunders: "One of those laughing guys was my childhood MP, Bill Kempling, who also called cabinet ministers "slut," "bitch" & "fishwife" in Parliament"
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:31 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
And "by all those people" I'm mainly referring to Coyne and the apologists for his make-believe meritocracy.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:35 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:35 AM on November 5, 2015
The Current had a 'debate' about meritocracy this morning. I couldn't figure out if they were playing Devil's Advocate, or trolling the audience. Either way, they were feeding Teh Stupid.
I would take the meritocracy argument more seriously if it had been applied at any point in history up to now, instead of only at the very minute we move from token appointments of women and minorities to having them in actual power (speaking very, very generally) in numbers reflecting the population.
Where was this concern for a meritocracy when Vic Toews -- a man convicted of breaking election laws -- was appointed Justice Minister? One couldn't be a judge or even called to the Bar with that on their record, but apparently it was meritorious for him to be in charge of the entire Justice system? When did this meritocracy ever even exist? (Sorry -- personal, lingering bugbear about Toews. There are plenty of others.)
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:59 AM on November 5, 2015 [5 favorites]
I would take the meritocracy argument more seriously if it had been applied at any point in history up to now, instead of only at the very minute we move from token appointments of women and minorities to having them in actual power (speaking very, very generally) in numbers reflecting the population.
Where was this concern for a meritocracy when Vic Toews -- a man convicted of breaking election laws -- was appointed Justice Minister? One couldn't be a judge or even called to the Bar with that on their record, but apparently it was meritorious for him to be in charge of the entire Justice system? When did this meritocracy ever even exist? (Sorry -- personal, lingering bugbear about Toews. There are plenty of others.)
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:59 AM on November 5, 2015 [5 favorites]
A real scientist as Minister of Science!!
Our Minister of Transport knows how to FLY IN SPACE, for Heaven's sakes!
There's this bullshit meme going on about how the Cons had a higher percentage of elected women in Cabinet, which is just gaming the numbers: there could be a sole woman seated for your Party in the House and assign her Right Honourable Minister of Breakfast Cereals and Snack Food, and claim 100% of elected women in the Cabinet.
Of course anyone may elect to view these cabinet selections as pandering and politicking and patronage if it aligns with their belief system, and it remains to be seen if this cabinet will be effective, but how anyone can claim that this cabinet does not concretely represent Real Change is beyond me.
posted by hearthpig at 8:27 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Our Minister of Transport knows how to FLY IN SPACE, for Heaven's sakes!
There's this bullshit meme going on about how the Cons had a higher percentage of elected women in Cabinet, which is just gaming the numbers: there could be a sole woman seated for your Party in the House and assign her Right Honourable Minister of Breakfast Cereals and Snack Food, and claim 100% of elected women in the Cabinet.
Of course anyone may elect to view these cabinet selections as pandering and politicking and patronage if it aligns with their belief system, and it remains to be seen if this cabinet will be effective, but how anyone can claim that this cabinet does not concretely represent Real Change is beyond me.
posted by hearthpig at 8:27 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Where was this concern for a meritocracy when Vic Toews -- a man convicted of breaking election laws -- was appointed Justice Minister?
Also...
Toews divorced from his wife of 30 years, Lorraine Kathleen Fehr, after it was discovered that he had fathered a child with his underage babysitter.
Wait! That's not all!
The paycheque of former federal justice minister Vic Toews, who is now a judge in Manitoba, has been garnisheed in a dispute over back rent in which he says he did not understand a Quebec tribunal’s order to pay the money because it was written in French.
In a ruling last week, the Quebec rental board said that as an experienced legal mind, Justice Toews should have paid attention when he received a judicial document titled “DÉCISION.”
*head explodes*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:37 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Also...
Toews divorced from his wife of 30 years, Lorraine Kathleen Fehr, after it was discovered that he had fathered a child with his underage babysitter.
Wait! That's not all!
The paycheque of former federal justice minister Vic Toews, who is now a judge in Manitoba, has been garnisheed in a dispute over back rent in which he says he did not understand a Quebec tribunal’s order to pay the money because it was written in French.
In a ruling last week, the Quebec rental board said that as an experienced legal mind, Justice Toews should have paid attention when he received a judicial document titled “DÉCISION.”
*head explodes*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:37 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Our Minister of Transport knows how to FLY IN SPACE, for Heaven's sakes!
Finding one who knew how not to fly in space would be rather more impressive.
posted by Etrigan at 9:42 AM on November 5, 2015
Finding one who knew how not to fly in space would be rather more impressive.
posted by Etrigan at 9:42 AM on November 5, 2015
Oh, and...
Initially considered a moderate within the Canadian Alliance, Toews later became known for endorsing socially conservative causes. He was a vocal opponent of Bill C-250 (2003), which made sexual orientation a protected category under Canada's hate crime legislation. Toews stated that the bill could restrict freedom of expression and religion, and was quoted as saying that a "homosexual activist" could sue a hotel chain to remove Bibles as hate literature.[58] He later emerged as a prominent opponent of same-sex marriage, and suggested that changing the definition of marriage in Canada could result in polygamy being legalized.
[...]
In June 2006, Toews introduced a bill (Bill C-2) to raise the age of sexual consent from fourteen to sixteen. The bill included an exemption for adolescents who have relations with persons no more than five years older than themselves
*feels around for mop to wipe up exploded head goo*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:49 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Initially considered a moderate within the Canadian Alliance, Toews later became known for endorsing socially conservative causes. He was a vocal opponent of Bill C-250 (2003), which made sexual orientation a protected category under Canada's hate crime legislation. Toews stated that the bill could restrict freedom of expression and religion, and was quoted as saying that a "homosexual activist" could sue a hotel chain to remove Bibles as hate literature.[58] He later emerged as a prominent opponent of same-sex marriage, and suggested that changing the definition of marriage in Canada could result in polygamy being legalized.
[...]
In June 2006, Toews introduced a bill (Bill C-2) to raise the age of sexual consent from fourteen to sixteen. The bill included an exemption for adolescents who have relations with persons no more than five years older than themselves
*feels around for mop to wipe up exploded head goo*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:49 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Mandatory Long Form Census restored
Give a guy a seal, next he wants to count everything.
MERCI, TRUDEAU
posted by nubs at 9:59 AM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
Give a guy a seal, next he wants to count everything.
MERCI, TRUDEAU
posted by nubs at 9:59 AM on November 5, 2015 [6 favorites]
If you read Coyne's column he acknowledges that meritocracy has never been the basis for cabinet appointments until now.
On one hand surely Coyne could have read the tea leaves and understood the mood of the nation (especially the 50% of the electorate who might be pleased that finally there was gender parity at the cabinet table) but on the other hand the guy is paid to be an opinionator, to "mansplain", if you will.
I'm more curious to hear what Kady O'Mally thinks (it was her question that provoked the answer from the PM, "Duh, it's 2015!") or Rosemarie Barton or Chantal Herbert. For *some reason* it's the guy columnists and reporters who are getting all the coverage...
posted by Nevin at 10:10 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
On one hand surely Coyne could have read the tea leaves and understood the mood of the nation (especially the 50% of the electorate who might be pleased that finally there was gender parity at the cabinet table) but on the other hand the guy is paid to be an opinionator, to "mansplain", if you will.
I'm more curious to hear what Kady O'Mally thinks (it was her question that provoked the answer from the PM, "Duh, it's 2015!") or Rosemarie Barton or Chantal Herbert. For *some reason* it's the guy columnists and reporters who are getting all the coverage...
posted by Nevin at 10:10 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Let the gripers gripe. It's done, and we can never go back.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:21 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:21 AM on November 5, 2015
I will never stop loving his answer, though: "Because it's 2015."
FUCK YEAH
posted by Kitteh at 10:22 AM on November 5, 2015 [7 favorites]
FUCK YEAH
posted by Kitteh at 10:22 AM on November 5, 2015 [7 favorites]
Even though women accounted for only 17% of PM Harper's caucus, they comprised over 30% of his cabinet. So men as-a-percent-of-MPs were already under-represented. It's just such a ridiculous idea.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 10:24 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by GhostintheMachine at 10:24 AM on November 5, 2015
The cancelling of the Long Form Census made me so, so angry. I found it so frustrating to know what it meant to lose it as well as try to explain to many people why it was such a big deal and how ideologically based it was. Just reading some of the comments on that news story took me right back to the GRRWR.
Seems like such a simple thing to bring back but it means so much.
Glad I can move that off my "Why I detested Harper's Gov't" list to a "Fixed!!' list.
posted by Jalliah at 10:29 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seems like such a simple thing to bring back but it means so much.
Glad I can move that off my "Why I detested Harper's Gov't" list to a "Fixed!!' list.
posted by Jalliah at 10:29 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I will never stop loving his answer, though: "Because it's 2015."
FUCK YEAH
At around the 7 min mark of the behind the scenes video that tavella posted upthread he and some of his team talk about how this is how he should respond to gender parity questions. Made the response even better after getting a little insight to why he used it.
posted by Jalliah at 10:40 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
FUCK YEAH
At around the 7 min mark of the behind the scenes video that tavella posted upthread he and some of his team talk about how this is how he should respond to gender parity questions. Made the response even better after getting a little insight to why he used it.
posted by Jalliah at 10:40 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
...why it was such a big deal and how ideologically based it was.
I was honestly surprised at the move. Yes, it was totally ideologically based, but there didn't seem to be a push from the base for it, as there was for over things, like the long gun registry. It seemed that only after the abolition was introduced that the base got excited about it, learning it was something they wanted it all along.
Given that absence of any original demand, I would have thought that long form's extensive use by Big Business (if nothing else) would have been enough to quash any move for change. Shows what I know.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:53 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was honestly surprised at the move. Yes, it was totally ideologically based, but there didn't seem to be a push from the base for it, as there was for over things, like the long gun registry. It seemed that only after the abolition was introduced that the base got excited about it, learning it was something they wanted it all along.
Given that absence of any original demand, I would have thought that long form's extensive use by Big Business (if nothing else) would have been enough to quash any move for change. Shows what I know.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:53 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Because it's 2015."
Different contexts, but it's still somewhat reminiscent of Pierre Trudeau's "Welcome to the 1980's!"
posted by Kabanos at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Different contexts, but it's still somewhat reminiscent of Pierre Trudeau's "Welcome to the 1980's!"
posted by Kabanos at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Multi-millionaire for finance minister, of course.
posted by clawsoon at 11:37 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by clawsoon at 11:37 AM on November 5, 2015
Multi-millionaire for finance minister, of course.
Meh. Paul Martin was probably richer and he was fine.
posted by GuyZero at 11:46 AM on November 5, 2015
Meh. Paul Martin was probably richer and he was fine.
posted by GuyZero at 11:46 AM on November 5, 2015
I found it interesting that even though it is a quite diverse cabinet, there weren't any of east asian heritage. Do Asian-Canadians tend more towards the NDP/Cons compared to Indo-Canadians? Or have they just not gotten into electoral politics at the same level yet?
posted by tavella at 11:55 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by tavella at 11:55 AM on November 5, 2015
Multi-millionaire for finance minister, of course.
This is a Liberal government. They're liberals in the classic (rather than American) sense, not progressives.
posted by Nevin at 11:57 AM on November 5, 2015
This is a Liberal government. They're liberals in the classic (rather than American) sense, not progressives.
posted by Nevin at 11:57 AM on November 5, 2015
In 2004, Forbes Magazine pegged former prime minister Paul Martin's net worth at about $225 million.
posted by bonehead at 12:16 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by bonehead at 12:16 PM on November 5, 2015
Martin was famous also for making sure his interests, mostly shipping, owning Canada Steamship Lines, were not under his control when in politics. This was his "blind trust". As that article points out, just by owning a single big company, there were a lot more conflicts of interest that may have been obvious at first thought. It's not just the company and its interests that are the problem, but also those companies that are its customers and suppliers and financial providers and their interests, as well. Gets sticky quite fast and I'm not sure Martin's hands were always clean, even though I do think he tried hard to do his best.
posted by bonehead at 12:21 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by bonehead at 12:21 PM on November 5, 2015
NY Mag presents....the Justin Trudeau Paper Doll.
Notice that aside from the boxing trunks and suit, there aren't any other pants. And that's a TUQUE, NY Mag, not a beanie.
posted by Kitteh at 3:20 PM on November 5, 2015
Notice that aside from the boxing trunks and suit, there aren't any other pants. And that's a TUQUE, NY Mag, not a beanie.
posted by Kitteh at 3:20 PM on November 5, 2015
Why would he wear combat boots to Whistler?
That one is a puzzler. But then what do they know. As Kitteh said they called it a BEANIE.
posted by Jalliah at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
That one is a puzzler. But then what do they know. As Kitteh said they called it a BEANIE.
posted by Jalliah at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Omg I have the Pierre Elliot Trudeau paper doll somewhere buried in stuff still at my parents' place!!!
posted by chapps at 4:54 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by chapps at 4:54 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
The PET paper doll wasn't nude underneath, but he had many outfits. Myfave was the one where he was pirouetting! Here is a view of it from an old book sale site.
posted by chapps at 5:16 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by chapps at 5:16 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey let's not forget that other guy. So Long Harper.
I wish this were real because I kind of imagine that this is what he's actually thinking right now:
"As my final act as Prime Minister of Canada, there is something I would like to express to all Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast; fuck you."
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:02 PM on November 5, 2015
I wish this were real because I kind of imagine that this is what he's actually thinking right now:
"As my final act as Prime Minister of Canada, there is something I would like to express to all Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast; fuck you."
posted by Ashwagandha at 10:02 PM on November 5, 2015
"Because it's 2015"
Hell-ass yes. This came up at work and I got the "but merit! women are prevented from rising to the top so how can this many women be as qualified as men?" and I wanted to faceplant into the deepfryer.
Then again I got told by someone different at work today that having people of colour or lots of women starring in the new star wars is "divisive" and "making a pathetic political point" so it's been aaaaaaaaaargh all around.
Many thanks to all sorts of people on MeFi, mostly female-identified people, for giving me some language that may have helped instead of saying "are you joking you blithering idiot."
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:13 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hell-ass yes. This came up at work and I got the "but merit! women are prevented from rising to the top so how can this many women be as qualified as men?" and I wanted to faceplant into the deepfryer.
Then again I got told by someone different at work today that having people of colour or lots of women starring in the new star wars is "divisive" and "making a pathetic political point" so it's been aaaaaaaaaargh all around.
Many thanks to all sorts of people on MeFi, mostly female-identified people, for giving me some language that may have helped instead of saying "are you joking you blithering idiot."
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:13 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Sure, you could see having people of colour and women in Star Wars as 'divisive'. [pause] And which side are you on?"
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:32 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:32 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Now that the cabinet has been appointed I just asked the person which of the women in it do they think is not qualified.
He just looked at me and walked away.
posted by Jalliah at 6:44 AM on November 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
He just looked at me and walked away.
posted by Jalliah at 6:44 AM on November 6, 2015 [5 favorites]
If he'd been holding that microphone, he'd have dropped it.Someone posted this on Reddit.
posted by Poldo at 7:09 AM on November 6, 2015
Trudeau's comment to Mansbridge that "a lot of people take the bus to work" was pretty awesome. Maybe a year from now there will be someone else doing Mansbridge's job.
posted by Nevin at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Nevin at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
I want to see that Bautista bat-flip photoshopped with Trudeau and a mic.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:28 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:28 AM on November 6, 2015
I tried to convince the guy who did the illustration Poldo linked to do it on Twitter, but I don't think he went for it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:38 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by jacquilynne at 8:38 AM on November 6, 2015
I don't know, fffm, but a good, "are you joking you blithering idiot?" sounds pretty good to me.
And Ashwagandha, I'm surprised anyone's under the impression Harper has been saying anything but that for the last nine years. It's all we've heard him say here in Atlantic Canada; I'm just glad we got to clearly say it back to him last month.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:45 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
And Ashwagandha, I'm surprised anyone's under the impression Harper has been saying anything but that for the last nine years. It's all we've heard him say here in Atlantic Canada; I'm just glad we got to clearly say it back to him last month.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:45 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I said "It's not pathetic for people of colour to be able to look at the media that dominates our society and see themselves, get over it."
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:49 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:49 AM on November 6, 2015
Andrew Coyne makes a good point when he says that 5 of the 15 women in cabinet are ministers of state and therefore do not have full cabinet portfolios (or equal pay). Heads of committees are mostly men.
posted by Nevin at 8:51 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by Nevin at 8:51 AM on November 6, 2015
Every Cabinet member I see listed has a portfolio. There's nobody listed as a Minister of State.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:58 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:58 AM on November 6, 2015
So his argument has shifted from "meritocracy only" to "they still aren't equal", which is a good point, but still doesn't answer the question of who isn't there on merit. If you're going to go blow that horn, you better be prepared to keep playing the tune. Anyways the PMO is apparently hashing things out with the Treasury Board statutes to make those positions full ministers; the existing statutes need to be changed, but the new President of the Treasury Board was also just sworn in on Wednesday.
posted by nubs at 9:02 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nubs at 9:02 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
>Anyways the PMO is apparently hashing things out with the Treasury Board statutes to make those positions full ministers; the existing statutes need to be changed,
Aha. Thanks for pointing that out.
Look, after the past 9 years this whole "optimism" thing is a bit of a foreign concept.
posted by Nevin at 9:07 AM on November 6, 2015
Aha. Thanks for pointing that out.
Look, after the past 9 years this whole "optimism" thing is a bit of a foreign concept.
posted by Nevin at 9:07 AM on November 6, 2015
I'm with you completely Nevin - I have a huge skepticism in me that at some point we're going to see behind the curtain and realize nothing has changed. I heard the story about the Ministers of State thing on the radio this morning, and by the time I got to work, CBC had that story up that clarified what was going on. So right now it feels like every time I think that we're just getting the same shit with a prettier paint job, it turns out that it might not be just a paint job.
It won't all stay this shiny forever, but it is nice to have it for as long as it lasts.
posted by nubs at 9:21 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
It won't all stay this shiny forever, but it is nice to have it for as long as it lasts.
posted by nubs at 9:21 AM on November 6, 2015 [3 favorites]
Here's the Privy Council page that lists who is a Minister of State (for now)
posted by Nevin at 9:34 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by Nevin at 9:34 AM on November 6, 2015
It's a pretty important difference, between being a sort of super-deputy to being full autonomous, with not just an office staff but with an department, agency or at least secretariat reporting to Parliament and with services to deliver.
So we are likely to see at least five new autonomous agencies/offices stood up in the next few months. The Minister of Science, for example, has been attached in the past to the "Chief Science Officer", a rump office in the Public Health Agency of Canada (of all places). I would expect that to change fairly quickly.
Many cabinet positions, including those five mentioned, have historically been the lesser designation, but during the swearing in they were very careful to avoid that language. I assumed that that was deliberate (which is why I said what I did above) and a signal of how important those issues are to the new government.
posted by bonehead at 10:30 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
So we are likely to see at least five new autonomous agencies/offices stood up in the next few months. The Minister of Science, for example, has been attached in the past to the "Chief Science Officer", a rump office in the Public Health Agency of Canada (of all places). I would expect that to change fairly quickly.
Many cabinet positions, including those five mentioned, have historically been the lesser designation, but during the swearing in they were very careful to avoid that language. I assumed that that was deliberate (which is why I said what I did above) and a signal of how important those issues are to the new government.
posted by bonehead at 10:30 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
The more I learn about this TPP mess, the more relieved i am that the old bunch are out.
Say what you will about Mulroney and Chrétien, but at least last time we had a public debate about whether a trade deal was a good idea. This time the CPC fuckers tried their best to sneak it past us, even carrying water for the Americans doing their best to screw us over.
Stephen Harper may be best remembered as the worst trade negotiator this country has ever seen.
posted by bonehead at 10:48 AM on November 6, 2015
Say what you will about Mulroney and Chrétien, but at least last time we had a public debate about whether a trade deal was a good idea. This time the CPC fuckers tried their best to sneak it past us, even carrying water for the Americans doing their best to screw us over.
Stephen Harper may be best remembered as the worst trade negotiator this country has ever seen.
posted by bonehead at 10:48 AM on November 6, 2015
Here's an article from Slate that includes an interesting video. From the article:
posted by mhum at 11:06 AM on November 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
1983: constitutional talks. Father of @Puglaas (Hon Jody Wilson-Raybould) Bill Wilson tells Trudeau Sr. he has 2 daughters who want to be PM. Look around the room. Listen. (around 3:30) Sometimes I hear the laughter as something other than sweet and heartwarmed. Watch Wilson’s face as they laugh, though. I have been showing this clip to my class for at least five years. Today one daughter became the Minister of Justice.The extra bonus thing about the "gender parity in cabinet" thing is providing yet another test to see which of your FB acquaintances are secretly (or not-so-secretly) reactionary assholes. The double extra bonus is that there have always been geographic quotas for the cabinet and yet none of these jerkoffs got this worked up about that. A savvier type of asshole will try to feign indignation about the geographic quotas too ("all quotas are bad") but it's so transparently obvious that they can't possibly be fooling anyone but themselves.
posted by mhum at 11:06 AM on November 6, 2015 [4 favorites]
This time the CPC fuckers tried their best to sneak it past us
I think Harper was between a rock and a hard place. The preliminary TPP agreement was to be announced right in the middle of the election campaign. They probably thought to not be able to say Canada had not signed onto the largest trade deal in history would have cost them the election (but they lost anyway).
TPP also rewarded the Conservatives' western base. It's a great deal for food processors hoping to export to japan. The price Japan wanted to exact for accessing its market was to walk away from the NAFTA commitment to supply auto parts from Canada when making cars in Canada.
It's something we should have fought, but it would have meant we wouldn't have signed on to TPP. The only hope is that Congress will vote against it.
posted by Nevin at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2015
I think Harper was between a rock and a hard place. The preliminary TPP agreement was to be announced right in the middle of the election campaign. They probably thought to not be able to say Canada had not signed onto the largest trade deal in history would have cost them the election (but they lost anyway).
TPP also rewarded the Conservatives' western base. It's a great deal for food processors hoping to export to japan. The price Japan wanted to exact for accessing its market was to walk away from the NAFTA commitment to supply auto parts from Canada when making cars in Canada.
It's something we should have fought, but it would have meant we wouldn't have signed on to TPP. The only hope is that Congress will vote against it.
posted by Nevin at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2015
He was hiding it because, while the TPP might benefit western agriculture, it completely dicks over manufacturing in Ontario and Quebec, sectors which employ many of those the voters east of Montreal and in the Golden Horseshoe that the CPC had to win to retain power. Not only did he not get what his country needed, he hid is failure to do so from the voters to who deserved to know, and that's pretty unforgivable in my book.
posted by bonehead at 11:47 AM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 11:47 AM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Huh. That Slate article name-checks my constitutional law professor as the source of the video.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:22 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by jacquilynne at 12:22 PM on November 6, 2015
Now watching that video, we watched that in class. I had no idea how meaningful it was at the time.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:25 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 12:25 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
it completely dicks over manufacturing in Ontario
Given how the Tories needed Ontario seats I couldn't figure out why Harper would hang the auto sector out to dry like that. Oh well: Nortel, Blackberry, Bombardier, Magna... so long, been nice knowing you.
posted by Nevin at 1:59 PM on November 6, 2015
Given how the Tories needed Ontario seats I couldn't figure out why Harper would hang the auto sector out to dry like that. Oh well: Nortel, Blackberry, Bombardier, Magna... so long, been nice knowing you.
posted by Nevin at 1:59 PM on November 6, 2015
Oh well: Nortel, Blackberry, Bombardier, Magna... so long, been nice knowing you.
Wait, is this a list of companies screwed by the TPP or Canadian companies that killed themselves through incompetence?
posted by GuyZero at 2:06 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wait, is this a list of companies screwed by the TPP or Canadian companies that killed themselves through incompetence?
posted by GuyZero at 2:06 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wait, is this a list of companies screwed by the TPP or Canadian companies that killed themselves through incompetence?
Good point, although autoparts (Magna) relied on a trade environment clearly defined by NAFTA. At the same time, these highly efficient hardware, advanced manufacturing and aerospace companies were the ones that were supposed to help shift Canada away from resources.
There is a tech sector in Canada to be sure, but the range of occupations is much more narrow.
posted by Nevin at 3:33 PM on November 6, 2015
Good point, although autoparts (Magna) relied on a trade environment clearly defined by NAFTA. At the same time, these highly efficient hardware, advanced manufacturing and aerospace companies were the ones that were supposed to help shift Canada away from resources.
There is a tech sector in Canada to be sure, but the range of occupations is much more narrow.
posted by Nevin at 3:33 PM on November 6, 2015
Great interview of Rona Ambrose by Rosemarie Barton. I'm so glad Barton took over from Evan Solomon.
posted by Nevin at 5:38 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by Nevin at 5:38 PM on November 6, 2015
I haven't watched the interview, but the article makes my blood boil. The questions I'm hoping were asked but highly doubt were:
-if this is a non-partisan issue and one you are so passionate on, why were you silent about it during the time the Conservatives were in power?
-Was it because it was easier to keep silent so you could ensure you could keep your seat and junior Cabinet position?
-If that was the case, why should the Canadian public believe you have any integrity at all on any position?
posted by nubs at 7:12 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
-if this is a non-partisan issue and one you are so passionate on, why were you silent about it during the time the Conservatives were in power?
-Was it because it was easier to keep silent so you could ensure you could keep your seat and junior Cabinet position?
-If that was the case, why should the Canadian public believe you have any integrity at all on any position?
posted by nubs at 7:12 PM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
What nubs said.
*angrily throws down mop he was using to wipe up exploded head goo from upthread*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:48 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
*angrily throws down mop he was using to wipe up exploded head goo from upthread*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:48 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
-if this is a non-partisan issue and one you are so passionate on, why were you silent about it during the time the Conservatives were in power?
I may not agree with her, but I can understand Ambrose's logic. There have already been inquiries into the status of indigenous women. It's time to act. The problem is, how the Conservatives chose to act didn't help solve the problem.
Same with Insight in Vancouver and with marijuana legalization. Ambrose acted according to her conscience, and the values of her core constituency. Unfortunately for the rest of us for 9 years or so, her values were out of sync with 60% of Canadians who voted in 2011.
posted by Nevin at 8:59 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I may not agree with her, but I can understand Ambrose's logic. There have already been inquiries into the status of indigenous women. It's time to act. The problem is, how the Conservatives chose to act didn't help solve the problem.
Same with Insight in Vancouver and with marijuana legalization. Ambrose acted according to her conscience, and the values of her core constituency. Unfortunately for the rest of us for 9 years or so, her values were out of sync with 60% of Canadians who voted in 2011.
posted by Nevin at 8:59 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't stop laughing at this. I'd buy it if it was a unicorn. That would be ultimate perfection.
Dreamy Trudeau Sweater.
posted by Jalliah at 6:27 AM on November 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
Dreamy Trudeau Sweater.
posted by Jalliah at 6:27 AM on November 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
Conservatives never consulted RCMP about "Barbaric Cultural Practices" tipline
This backs up what sources have recently told CBC News — that the idea for such a tip line was cooked up at the last minute by a small circle of people close to former prime minister and Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper with no consultation with anyone else.
Today, the Conservative Party's Interim Leader Rona Ambrose told reporters, "I was not part of that decision, nor do I support it."
When pressed for more, Ambrose said, "The campaign's over."
posted by nubs at 1:20 PM on November 18, 2015
This backs up what sources have recently told CBC News — that the idea for such a tip line was cooked up at the last minute by a small circle of people close to former prime minister and Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper with no consultation with anyone else.
Today, the Conservative Party's Interim Leader Rona Ambrose told reporters, "I was not part of that decision, nor do I support it."
When pressed for more, Ambrose said, "The campaign's over."
posted by nubs at 1:20 PM on November 18, 2015
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