Your Next Liberal Candidate (and future MP) for Niagara Falls

Received this in my inbox today; I must say it brings a smile to my face to see a extremely dedicated Liberal step up and run.

That is if the party doesn't bar men from seeking the nomination......

Dear Fellow Liberal,

I'd like to take a moment of your time today to express to you my formal intentions to seek the nomination to be the next candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada for the riding of Niagara Falls.

This afternoon I will announce this intention to our local press, followed by a formal press release to news oulets in the region.

I thank all of you in advance for your consideration in this matter and look forward to serving you as a dedicated Liberal regardless of the final outcome in the nomination process.


Sincerely yours,

James C. Curran

Student Elections give me hope!

I'm currently on the campus of Brock University, standing in Issac's (our pub and favourite hang out spot) watching the Brock University Student Union All Candidate Debates. There are some excellent candidates and I am sure that next year whoever is elected will do a great job.

Several thoughts I thought I would share with everyone on this. Everyone seems to acknowledge that this is the age of voter apathy, particularly amoung my fellow youth. Watching my friends get up and submit their name to stand for election and be willing to commit the endless, countless hours that the positions the are campaigning for is an inspiration. It gives me hope that these individuals will be the leaders of tomorrow.

My perdictions for this years BUSU elections are as follows:

President- James O'Brien
Vice President of University Affairs - Damien O'Brien
Vice President of Student Services - Laura Grouchy
Board of Directors - Brittany Traynor & Bianca Bruni

Good Luck to all, although I am sure you guys won't need it!

In other news to quote a friend "you guys in Niagara Falls take your politics seriously!"

Nominations and Floor Crossings? Oh my!

I know it has been a while since the last time I blogged-but regardless here are a few musings:

• Being a member of the Niagara Falls riding this is amazing news. Jim Curran has been a wonderful riding president and his dedication to this party is an inspiration to not just myself but many. He is a fierce supporter and promoter of both youth and women participation in politics (his favourite t-shirt is his "women belong in the house..and in the senate"). I for one can not wait to see him on CPAC in the House of Commons.

• Disregarding people's personal opinions on whether or not Garth Turner will be a good addition to the Liberal fold or not; I would like to point out that Garth Turner did not choose to floor cross. To remind people he was tossed out of the Conservative Caucus, a decision he didn't make. He chose to sit as an independent initially and in his press conference vowed to be very critical of the whole party process, not just the Conservatives, but all political parties. Apparently after some time as an independent Garth has decided to join the Liberal Caucus. He did not leave the Conservative caucus in an attempt to screw them over; or because of some type of carrot dangled by the Liberal party. So by this rationale I would suggest that because unlike Scott Brison, Belinda Stronach, and Wajid Khan (who all went from one political party to another with no time in between); Garth Turner does not owe it to anyone to step down and run in a by-election. I come to this conclusion not because I don't want to risk his constituents re-electing a Conservative MP, or that I am in any way pro-floor crossing (quiet frankly, I don't have a strong opinion on it one way or another). If he floor crossed to the Liberals, then he floor crossed as a Independent which his constituents didn't elect him as either. So does that mean that he should have stepped down after he was tossed out of the Conservative Caucus and run as a Independent? Needless to say Garth's situation is a bit different to those of Scott, Belinda and Wajid.

Dear Jack Layton,

"The combination of the Conservatives and the NDP (29 seats) gives you 154 seats -- a majority you need. This makes Jack Layton and the NDP much more important." -CTV

Well, well, well! Yet again, you find yourself with the ball in your court. Yet again, you have the power to either topple or support the government. We know what your choice was last time; so a couple of questions now remain:

What hoops will you force Mr. Harper or Mr. Dion to jump through to gain your much needed support on any confidence vote?

Will you back your buddy Steve, like you did before?

Or will you continue to screw over those in power and topple the government by supporting the Liberals?

It may have been late in arrival, but I think Santa just delivered you your best Christmas present yet again!

What will it be Jack? Whose bed will you be sleeping in this time around?

One more sleep till Christmas

When is Female Equality really Equality for Women?

Stephane Dion has announced his pledge to field 103 female candidates in the next federal election. Everyone seems to be celebrating this promise; declaring that women finally are getting the equality in politics that has long been due to us.

However, I am left wondering what this ‘pledge’ really means. I acknowledge that women are underrepresented when it comes to sitting parliamentarians at both the provincial and federal levels; but when Dion states that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get 103 women as candidates for this party in the next election I can not help but feel slightly offended.

Why do women need this pledge to be declared equal to men? Are we incapable of becoming more politically involved and running for office without the party giving us special treatment? I am mortified to think that before this that we were unable to.

It is a huge, difficult decision to run for public office, one that has many consequences and demands once made. In my riding, I know of many women that are more then qualified to run and clean Nicholson’s clock. However, they have made the personal choice (one that I respect) to not run. Yet I know come election time they will be at the campaign office on the phone, organizing and dedicating countless hours towards defeating our Conservative Member of Parliament.

When somebody considers running for public office they think of the demands that it will place on their life, the time it will take away from family, and a slew of other things. Gender rarely factors into the equation of determining whether or not one will run.

Maybe, I am wrong. I don’t believe I am, but I feel that as women we do not need this special pledge to protect us and help us get elected. As a Liberal young woman I don’t particularly care whether or not our next candidate in Niagara Falls is a women or yet another man. I just want the person who stands the best chance of defeating Rob Nicholson when the election comes. Because I know that there will be an army of women and men behind them fighting to get that person elected!

CTV..how I love thee in the morning!

While reading the morning news:

Does this not sound familiar to this? Well, if that is the case then we know what we can look forward to!

Secondly, I must express my disappointment in Stephane Dion for this:

Updated Wed. Dec. 20 2006 11:04 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

Dion has been setting up his leadership team in recent days, naming key rivals to top positions. Michael Ignatieff, the perceived frontrunner for most of the leadership campaign, has been named deputy party leader.

Former Ontario education minister Gerard Kennedy, whose support helped Dion establish a win, has been named to the newly created position of special advisor on election readiness and renewal.

Meanwhile Bob Rae, who finished in third place, and Scott Brison, who came in sixth, were given responsibility for the party's election platform.
Martha Hall Findley, the last place finisher and only female candidate in the race, was asked to head consultations for the election platform.

Rae only agreed to the responsibility after Dion personally convinced him he would have a key role in the party, he would have a safe riding to run in during the next election, and that there would be key roles for some members of Rae's leadership team, according to the report.

Rae's new position means a former New Democrat is heading the process to write the Liberal platform, though Dion is certain to manage the details.

The two remaining leadership candidates, Joe Volpe and Ken Dryden, have so far not been given jobs.

So much for the Liberal Dream team. Both Joe and Ken deserve to be involved; Joe for his organizational abilities and Ken for his policy concepts and his vision for the party and for Canada.

Hopefully, come an election this will not be the case.