Michael Ignatieff is Making a Splash in the Canadian Media

A brilliant article that details the many accomplishments and challenges that have shaped the man seeking to be the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada took up the entire Focus Section of the Globe and Mail. If you really want to see where Michael comes from, and where he has been I recommend you read this article "Being Michael Ignatieff".

Next major jump in the media is his appearance on the cover of this week's Maclean's Magazine. "The Ignatieff Manifesto", as Maclean's has appropriately entitled it, is a detailed piece written by Michael outlining his policy vision for Canada. This brilliant piece is accompanied by some powerful photos of Michael in action along with commentary by columnists such as Paul Wells.
I encourage you all to take the time and pick up a copy of Macleans. See for yourself, Michael's vision for Canada.

Oh Kenney!

Well it would appear as though Jason Kenney has made a fumble on the terrorism issue. Kenney has been seen as of late blasting Borys Wzesnewskyj for his comments about opening dialogue with terrorist organizations. Meanwhile Kenney has been seen attending events with and inviting individuals to events on parliament hill that are known members of a terrorist group in Iran. Very interesting.
Check this out.

Saviour of Canadian Culture??

Not quite...

But the movie "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" definately hits high on the entertainment value. French, English, Hockey, and Explosions...Can't go wrong. If you are looking for a comparable movie (similar, not to actually compare)...this film is a purely Canadian version of the Lethal Weapon Series. It is an action-comedy with the right amount of Canadiana!

I highly recommend it - however you either have to understand french or can read subtitles fast as it is the first Canadian, French-English fully bilingual film. Canadian media entertainment has been getting a bad rap these days, as being considered low budget, boring and dull. This movie may not completely erase that image, however it is a step in the right direction towards film with a slightly higher entertainment value.

Definately worth seeing - and hey, you are supporting the Canadian film industry rather than sending all the money south to Hollywood.

The UofO Liberal is Back...

After a prolonged absense, and much time spent moderating the UOYL blog, I have finally decided to start my personal blog up once again. It is great to see "Fish" back up and running, as well as the "Just Another Liberal" and "The Good the Bad and the Ugly". It is important for us young liberals to share our voices and opinions. Be sure to check out www.uoyl.ca and uoyl.blogspot.com for more uoyl events and blogging.

This post is for you Fish ;) (and all you law students)

I figured I would start us off with something a little smaller but very concerning nonetheless. The Conservative Government has taken their fight on crime to a whole new level. The Conservatives are bent on delivering on their 5 priorities, whatever the cost. Vic Toews, the Conservative Justice Minister, has in my opinion crossed the threshold on being tough on crime. He has announced that the government is examining the possibility of trying 10 and 11 year olds in court. Granted, that currently the Young Offenders Act allows 12 year olds to be tried before the court, however a 10 year old? Toews is arguing that this will deter youth from a life of crime - not denying for the Globe and Mail that incarceration was in the books.

I am sorry, but where did this man get his education?? Typical conservative ideology, punish the kids and they will be detered from doing it again. The Conservative government should be investing in youth programs, after school sports and recreation centres, etc. Most teens who follow down the path to criminality do so because they are surrounded by that lifestyle. If we take for example a young teen who committed a crime and is incarcerated in a Juvenile Facility - there are excellent chances that he/she will become a repeat offender because they have been emersed in a criminal environment. In many ways incarceration only perpetuates the cycle, and this is true for adults as much as it is for teens. However, the Conservative government is prepared to expose 10 year old children to these environments. These children, yes "children", need education and development, they are still growing.

If the conservatives truly believe that juvenile incarceration is the solution to ending crime, then they have much to learn about childhood development and justice. I hope many more Canadians, regardless of partisanship will also express their concerns over this outrageous proposal. There is a need for childhood education and development programs - but then again this government thinks all child raising problems can be resolved by throwing money at it ($1200 a year). Teens and crime is a much deeper issue than this government will admit, and using a stick (rather than a carrot) is not going to resolve it.

These are just my thoughts,

Looking forward to blogging with you more in the future!

Youth and the Liberal Leadership Race

The Liberal Party of Canada is entering a new age, in which we as Liberals and Canadians find ourselves at a turning point in our history … and the youth will be front and center!

On December 2-3, 2006 Liberals from across Canada will elect a new leader, one that will lead Liberal Party in opposition, into the next election, and ultimately to 24 Sussex Drive. This leadership race is by far the most open campaign in memory, especially for youth; as for many, this will be their first leadership convention. A race as open as this is sure to be defined by ideas and vision.

The Liberal Party of Canada has historically been the party of ideas as well as the leader at the forefront of the most dramatic evolutions in Canadian history including national health care, bilingualism, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is the path to which the youth wish to see the party return. This party over the past 5 years has strayed from traditional principles resulting in a profound internal struggle. The Liberal Party and especially the youth are not about who has the most money, but who has the best ideas. This leadership race will not be one of backroom politics, threats and sleazy tactics; but rather one that is freely and openly debated.

To date, it is clear that no one candidate has control of the youth vote. The youth have chosen to follow their hearts and minds, choosing to support the candidate whose vision best represents themselves, the Liberal Party, and Canada.

Today’s youth will be tomorrow’s leaders. This is a point in history where most of the descendents of the baby boom generation are entering educational institutions, the workforce…their lives. The youth must stand firm on their beliefs and take this opportunity to shape the Canada they wish to see in the next 5, 10, 50 years. The Liberal Party has diverged from its core values, and this is our opportunity, not just as youth, but all members, to return to those values and focus them in our vision for the future.

Canada and the Liberal Party are facing very complex challenges. Still today in the 21st Century, the Quebec separatist movements threaten Canada’s federation. Canada’s provinces are battling for Ottawa’s attention. The rural-urban divide is as prevalent today as ever and society is divided on many social justice and environmental issues. The Liberal Party has been, is, and will always be the party prepared to confront these challenges head on. It is the youth who are confronting these issues today and will show the same resolve towards these and new challenges in the future.

In the past, the youth of the Liberal Party have been shoveled off to the side as though an insignificant nuisance and were pushed around at one’s convenience. The youth will comprise approximately 25%, or one quarter of the vote at leadership! The youth are a powerful force in this party and in Canada, and they must not forget this fact. The youth must seize the day, challenge out dated and stale ideas; and advance a strong, progressive, Canadian Agenda!

The next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada will be one with a real and focused vision, capable of inspiring the party, the youth and Canadians to overcome past divisions, and move forward in the 21st Century, together, in the driver’s seat of our future!



Mackenzie Johnson

President,
University of Ottawa Young Liberals

Looks like the Muzzles may never come off...

Not so good a morning for Canadian Politics...

It seems Harper wants accountability for everyone else but Conservatives!

The latest of Harper missteps in accountability... comes from his own feet. This morning we have learned that Harper will not allow Cabinet Ministers or Bureaucrats to speak publicly on any government initiatives or policies without clearing it through him... so basically no one is allowed to talk. Sounds alot like the Ministry of Truth from George Orwell's 1984.

I know this first hand from work, as this coming week the government program I work in was going to be having presentations and kiosks at a major conference, and now the silencing orders have fallen and we are no longer allowed to advertise our initiatives.

This is a very sad loophole to infring on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Members of Parliament, especially Government Members of Parliament and even more especially Cabinet Ministers MUST be held accountable to the Canadian public. The media is Canada's information source to make these officials accountable, as is the floor of the House of Commons. Now is Harper going to prevent Cabinet Ministers from answering questions in Question Period because the media might hear it?

So to recap... We have Emerson's defection less than a week after taking office as a Liberal.... (sadly out of media now) We have an UNACCOUNTABLE Public Works Minister, Senator Fortier -- Who is managing nearly $30 Billion of tax payers money..... and a tightning of the muzzles of Conservative members, and now the Bureaucracy...

Accountability.... to whom Harper??
Stay tuned next week for more mind blowing episodes of Conservative Politics... at least the Liberal Party was open with Canadians....

Just my thoughts....

Women and the UOYL

Hello,

I just want to comment on the flurry of activity on the UOYL Blog, this level of interaction, discussion and controversy is exactly why we created the Blog and I am very pleased with the results. Keep it up and we will hit the 2000 hits mark by next week!

In response to some of the recent comments regarding female representation in the UOYL. The University of Ottawa Young Liberals have always been and will always be committed to equality rights! We were and are major supporters of the civil marriage bill as a recent action, and it is false to think otherwise of our position on rights!

The UOYL not 1 year ago was led by a female president, Melanie Cameron, who is now the National Director for the Young Liberals of Canada. When the last executive in 2005 was elected there was a female president, a female social director, a female membership secretary and a female first year representative. Our VP, Policy, Treasurer, Comms and Recruitment were held by men. This changed slightly when our president left to join the YLC, but the point remains that the UOYL elected a gender equal executive, with two of the most important positions held by women.

This year's election was one of the most interesting I have seen to date. I will begin by stating that the majority of people in the room voting were women. The chairs of our AGM were both young liberal women sitting in important positions. Many of the nominations from the floor for executive positions, and the discussion around constitutional amendments came from women. There was nothing that prevented a woman from running for a position.

To think the election was biased towards men is false! To think this organization is biased towards men is FALSE! The issue of women running for executive positions at the UOYL is not impeded in any respect, in fact it is encouraged!

However, in light of these very controversial and heated discussions, there will be a roundtable discussion at our next general meeting in order to gauge the membership position on this issue.

Just my thoughts...

2006-2007

Hello Everyone,

I first off would like to thank the University of Ottawa Young Liberals for a GREAT 2005-2006 year and thank you for giving me the mandate to lead us forward into 2007 and beyond!

This is a crucial year in the history of the Liberal Party. We now sit in opposition for the first time since 1993, we are going through massive transformations in thought at the local level, and we have a REAL leadership race! This year will be a busy one for us at the UOYL!

I wish to stress one key element in this whole process. This party has been marked by in-fighting and division for many years now, and if the UOYL is to play a key role in the future success of this party we need to move forward as a cohesive unit. Let us lead the party by example by putting aside petty differences and working together for the greater good, the betterment of Canadian politics!

There will be many events occurring in this year and I encourage all members of the UOYL to become active in all aspects of this time of transformation. We are the Liberals of today and will be the Leaders of tomorrow, let us start acting like we are!

Thank you and see you at our next event,
Sincerely,

Mackenzie Johnson
President, UOYL


PS: Check us out at www.uoyl.ca for regular updates on events and meetings and; for meaningful dialogue and policy discussion, visit our blog at www.uoyl.blogspot.com.