The Thoughts of a UofO Liberal

Michael Ignatieff is Making a Splash in the Canadian Media

2006-08-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-08-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

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??

2006-08-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

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...

2006-08-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

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...

2006-03-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-14T10:07:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

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.

UOYL Presidential Candidacy

2006-02-20T15:42:00.000-08:00

Good Day,

Firstly, I would like to thank the University of Ottawa Young Liberals for a great 2005-2006 year, and a job well done especially during the election. Your hard work and dedication will undoubtedly not go unnoticed!

I would like to take the time now to announce my candidacy for President of the University of Ottawa Young Liberals.

There are three qualities I can bring to the UOYL Executive and to the Organization as a whole: Experience, Dedication and Leadership.

Experience is without a question a quality that cannot be bought, it can only be acquired. I have sat on the Executive for the UOYL now for 2 years. I was first elected as Policy Director in 2004 under the leadership of then President Melanie Cameron. In this past 2005-2006 year I have had the honour of serving you as Vice-President working alongside Dustin Milligan. Working with two completely different executives has been an unbelievable experience, acquiring skills of organization and teamwork.

As Policy Director I learned a great deal of the process of policy production. The youth are the future of this party, and the policies we put forth today, will be the policies of tomorrow! In early 2005 I was the coordinator of a very successful Eastern Regional Policy Parliament that was very well attended by Liberal Youth and Dignitaries, including the Mayor of Ottawa, Bob Chiarelli.

This past year we have seen the establishment of a website, a blogsite, and a bank account. In terms of infrastructure, the UOYL has a strong foundation. It is not only infrastructure that makes an organization strong, but also the people in it! This past year has seen an enormous growth in the membership of the UOYL, not just names on a form, but an active and participatory membership. This has come without a doubt from the recognized dedication of the UOYL membership but also from the Leadership of the organization.

This past year I have been involved in every single meeting the UOYL has organized from the Fall Recall, the Minister Bentley Education Event, the general meetings, every executive meeting, the Christmas party, and of course, the Election we have just endured! Many of these meetings I was at the forefront of organization and chairing. We have had an astounding participatory rate this year at all of our meetings, THANK YOU!.

As President I will incorporate my dedication, experience and leadership qualities to break the mould and make UOYL the very successful Liberal organization it is and we all want it to continue and grow to be!

“Liberals are progressives and at their core they are reformers. All too often the Liberal party has come to represent the status quo. This is antithetical to what the party should be.” If elected, I will dedicate myself to lead this organization into 2007 with progressive organization and management, breaking the standard, striving for the best the University of Ottawa Young Liberals and the Liberal Party of Canada can be.

My dedication comes first and foremost to the members of the UOYL. My dedication is proven through my work to never compromise my own personal integrity, and above all the integrity of this organization. This dedication has been proven before and will be proven for many years to come!

I will work to continue to open and solidify communication lines to make sure all UOYL members are heard loud and clear. This communication will come through more frequency and regularity in meetings, both with the general membership and with the executive. Communication will come through a streamlined list-serve, a well-established website, and a blog-site that allows for free discussion on policy and party issues.

Tensions have been broken this past year with the Ottawa-Vanier Young Liberals. We will continue to build on the strong working relationship established with the Ottawa-Vanier Young Liberals during this past year, especially the election. This is a necessary partnership if either association is to be successful. In fact this is proven by the addition we are making to the constitution allowing the President of Ottawa-Vanier to sit as a non-voting member of the UOYL Executive.

I also intend to work hard to bring the Ottawa-area Young Liberal Associations together and build on existing and new relationships. This is key if the issues the Ottawa-area is facing are to be heard at the provincial and national level. I intend to also extend the links of communication to the riding associations in Ottawa. Many of these lines of communication were finally opened during the election, and we should not let them close once again. The UOYL needs to have a strong voice provincially as well, and it is time we began to bridge gaps with the OYL and begin working with other youth organizations and riding associations from across the province. LPC(O) AGM and Leadership 2007 are coming up and we need to build those links so our issues and our voices are heard!

We are in a rebuilding phase in this party, and I want us, the UOYL to be front and centre in that task! WE have the experience, WE have the dedication, and WE have the leadership to do just that!

WE is not just myself or the executive or the other candidates for the new exec, but we as a whole …… WE as the UOYL!

I would also like to take the time to extend my personal nomination to a few other candidates running for positions on the UOYL Executive, including: Mike Petric for Vice-President. His experience with the OYL will no doubt be a welcome addition to this organization and executive. He will also be able to assist us in the task of rebuilding the working relationship with the OYL and clubs around the Ottawa Area.

Jenna Rozema for Secretary as her experience with the current executive will show, she is more than qualified. Her experience with the constitution will be a refreshing addition and her communications work leaves no doubt she will be capable of streamlining the list-serve.

Francois Pomerleau has proven his trustworthiness and dedication as current treasurer, and I would like to see him continue his work in that regard. Francois has been instrumental in establishing the UOYL Bank Account and management of UOYL treasury funds.

Brian Fisher is a first year law student and a policy wonk! He will no doubt fill the shoes of Policy Director nicely; I should know as I was once Policy Director.

Patrick Kilfoil was the backbone of the creation of the UOYL website. He was the lead designer and creator of the website. He would most definitely be a successful Communications Director.

Andrew Scott has demonstrated a strong eagerness to assist in opening this organization to the membership, to the school and to the community. He would most definitely serve as a solid Recruitment Director

Alex McBrien as Social Director has proven himself to be well-organized, dedicated and will be able to provide youthful vitality to this organization.

Thank you very much and see you at the AGM

Mackenzie Alexander Johnson
(Current Vice President of the UOYL)

We have our first Leadership Candidate!

2006-02-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

While Findlay has thrown her name "audacious[ly]" into the ring.

It seems presumptuous to have a "complete" new comer (Findlay), only a member for 3 years, to decide to run for leadership. This is a woman who has ran and lost in elections...against another leadership hopeful (cough) Belinda Stronach. It seems Newmarket-Aurora could become a leadership battleground riding, as if that riding didn't have enough publicity already. What is it about that riding that produces such "quality" (cough) Liberals...?

Just the thoughts of a uofoliberal...

I will admit I do not know much about this woman, but it would seem that not many do... If you have any further information on who Findlay is and why she thinks she can "lead" this party, please send it my way...

Bye Bye "A" Team... 'A' - Thank - You!

2006-02-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

It is time that Jean Chretien's Liberals and Paul Martin's Liberals hit the dusty trail and never looked back!!! This is the LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA! I am in fact GLAD that the "A" Team has taken this party's and this country's interests before themselves. They are relics of the days when we were not the juggernaut Liberal Party of our forefathers, but of the divisive, scandal plagued, battered, challenged, and barely breathing party of today! I think the brain of the party has actually lost a bit of oxygen, because the left hand no longer knows where the right hand is, let alone what the right hand is doing!

How can we re-invigorate a party that is internally bleeding, with old blood? We are in need of a transfusion of new ideas, new vision, new blood! We need to restore the principles the Liberal Party stands for! These beliefs are what made Canada the envy of the world, we need to return to those roots. Only by knowing where we've been can we possibly think of where we want to go!

McKenna, Manley, Tobin, Rock, come on who's next? NA NA NA NA... NA NA NA NA... HEY HEY HEY... GOODBYE!!!

This is no longer about who wants to be in opposition for 2, 4, 6, 20 years, this is about who can rebuild this party to the grand stature and lustre that was the envy of the House of Commons, Canada and the World! These men did not have that ability. They would have only acted as salt in the old wound that has caused and is causing the internal bleeding of this party! We are not in need of a leader to reconcile the differences of the party, we are in need of a leader who will bring us back to our roots, speak out strongly in defense of them and then act upon them in the new ideas he or she will push forward in this party!

This party is not broken because of differences in vision, it is broken because ambition has blinded that vision. A vision based on our roots and our core values. Martin was right in that Liberal values are Canadian values, it is just that Martin forgot what those values were. The A-Team may have had some soul searching in their years out of office, but it is not a case of soul searching, it is a case of core beliefs and values. If you have to think twice about what those values are, then you have no business being the leader of this party.

Belinda and Scottie, you both have thought waaaayyy too long and hard about those values to have any credibility standing in front of me and preaching them, let alone in front of this country or the world!

These are just the thoughts of a uofoliberal...

The loss of a piece of Canada's past...

2006-01-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

It is in fact insulting to a patriotic nationalist canadian to see such a treasured piece of Canadian history and tradition to be bought and sold by the highest bidders. I do blame the BAY! They sold out the 335 years of history and tradition to an american conglomerate. Typical... it is sickening to see the poor sense of national identity by Canadians today. One I think the design is god aweful, but nonetheless, the fact that Canadian Olympic Commission selected the Bay as the designer of the Canadian Olympic gear is sad considering this company was discussing sale to this American months ago. They really arent showing their "Roots".

Liberal Leadership

2006-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

I have the utmost respect for Dion. I know of no other Liberal with more support in his riding, no other MP who works as hard...for crying out loud the guy writes all of his own speeches and does most of his responses for QP.

Rex Murphy: "Stéphane Dion, the most underutilized talent in the Liberal Party, was superb on election night, as he almost always is. The Liberals should do a lot more than they appear to do to hold on to Stéphane Dion."

However, as I mentioned in an earlier response, 40 years of Quebec Prime Ministers and Liberal leaders must come to an end. The Conservatives are making in ways into Ontario because there is no leadership for this great province. Liberal leaders have lost most credibility in the province of Quebec hence why the conservatives and Bloc have so much support.

McKenna is from Atlantic Canada, and many have argued that it is time for a Liberal Leader from there... However, history has shown that the East will support the Liberals no matter where the Liberal Leader is from, hence I dont forsee a leader not from the East being a big hinderance on us getting seats.

The West is too conservative for one, and many easterners do not trust the politicians from the West. The West does not know, understand, trust, nor care about the East.

There is a province with a strong economy, with a large and diverse population and a strong liberal base!! Ontario is a confused province these days. It is caught between the East/West Divide, lives next to Quebec separatism and is increasingly under the strong influence of many Northern US states. Ontario is increasingly divisive amongst party lines electing many representatives from the 3 national parties. However, the province is traditionally centrist with a very liberal thought process. The province and the party needs a leader from Ontario!

Ontarians have the ability to credibly act as a mediator for the East/West Divide. Ontario understands first hand the rural/urban divide, and can work to mend those differences. Ontario has the most at stake with regards to national unity and sovereignty boasting the largest francophone population outside Quebec! Toronto is the Liberal bastille, and we need to let Torontonians know they are heard! I do believe Michael Ignatieff or Ken Dryden are the two front runners for me and unless something changes they will be for some time to come.

I full heartedly believe the next Prime Minister of Canada must be Liberal and must come from the Great Province of Ontario!

Patriotic Leaders? Conservatives are not...

2006-01-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

Well it seems the conservative agenda really wasnt that transparent after all... It seems that Klein was told to keep his mouth shut (as was the case with many conservative candidates) about their backdoor conservative agendas. Klein is going ahead with reforms to health care that could damage permanently the universal health care system in this country.

Klein stated:"I would describe more as coincidental the fact that a Conservative government was elected as we're moving through these health-care reforms," he said. "But we would have moved through those reforms with or without a Conservative government."

Proof undeniable to the dooped Canadian public that the conservative party really is a threat to the national institutions we hold dear! Once again a little bit of Canada is lost each and every time a conservative opens his or her mouth!

I have no issue with Harper standing up and defending the arctic! He claims to be a champion of US relations...but he wasnt PM for a week and he has already started a fight. Next time a leader of a party challenges another for standing up to the US, they should think twice before opening their hypocritical mouths!!!!

Harper defend national sovereignty and I will support it. The Northwest Passage is an integral part of our country and our nation! Defend it, but only if you will also work to defend our domestic sovereignty, our institutions!!!