A new choice for voters in Canada.

Green Party of Canada

Green Party hoping to double its support


by the Canadian Press

The Green party hopes to double its support in the Jan. 23 federal election, bringing it in further from the political fringe, their deputy leader David Chernushenko said.

But the party's chief goal remains getting its first MP elected to the House of Commons, Chernushenko said from Ottawa.

The Greens, who again intend to run a candidate in each of the 308 ridings, drew about 4.3 per cent of the popular vote in the June 2004 election.

CLICK HERE for complete Green Party CTV NEWS article.

Click here for GREEN PARTY OF CANADA website.

Michael McCafferty comments:

For Canadians who want a 'new choice' in politics and don't want to vote for the old line parties the Green Party of Canada offers them a real alternative.

Gay marriage should 'not' be an issue in this election.

Harper vows free vote on gay marriage

Canadian Press
Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Gay marriage should not be an issue in this election.

OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Stephen Harper launched his campaign Tuesday by steering it straight into the electoral turbulence of gay marriage.
The starting gun for the eight-week race still rang in the air as Harper went out of his way to reopen a politically noxious debate. A Conservative government would move to restore the traditional definition of marriage if Parliament supports the idea, he said. "It will be a genuine free vote when I'm prime minister.

CLICK HERE to read entire CANADIAN PRESS article.

Michael McCafferty comments:

Now is not the time for Mr. Harper to start a national debate on gay marriage.

The law passed by parliament allows gay marriage in Canada but allows religious clergy or church to opt out if they do not want to perform a gay marriage. In my opinion considering the diversity of Canadian society this is the best law for Canada.

You see I figure the Conservatives and Mr. Harper should not give the Liberals ammunition to attack with.

Those who are Christian know where Mr. Harper stands and this need not be an election issue that will divert attention away from the most important issues --
intergity in government and a time for change.

Gilles Duceppe,Stephen Harper and Jack Layton have voted no confidence in Canada's Liberal government and sent them a message.. Enough is enough.

Canada will go the polls in a national election

The short-lived 38th Parliament met its demise on Monday night, setting the stage for the longest election campaigns in two decades, as the Liberal government was defeated in a no-confidence vote at the hands of all three opposition parties and the country was launched into official election mode.


Click here to read the entire GLOBE AND MAIL report.

Michael McCafferty comments:

I congratulate Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party, and Jack Layton of the NDP and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois for having the political courage to bring down the Liberal government.

Canada will now go into a General Election campaign, and it is my hope that Canadians will feel like I do that "it's time for a change" -- after 12 years of the Liberals it is truly TIME FOR A CHANGE.

Private Braun Woodfield - a genuine Canadian hero.

A Canadian hero

The body of Pte. Braun Woodfield, the Canadian soldier who died in Afghanistan, is being flown home.

His remains, which left Kandahar on Saturday after a brief ceremony, are expected to arrive in Canada on Sunday.

CLICK HERE to read CTV NEWS report on Braun Woodfield.

Michael McCafferty comments:

Braun Woodield was truly a remarkable young man full of love of his country and noble ideals.

Braun Woodfield died in the service of his nation defending freedom in Afghanistan. He is truly a Canadian hero. My heartfelt sysmpathy goes out to his family -- and I salute Private Braun Woodfield.

Allan Cutler will be a candidate for the Conservative Party in Canada's election.

Adscam whistleblower to seek Conservative party nomination

OTTAWA -- A former civil servant who refused to go along with the way the sponsorship program was run will seek a Conservative nomination in the federal election expected to be called next week.

Retired Public Works employee Allan Cutler's candidacy was announced by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper at the party's weekly caucus meeting.

Cutler was the civil servant who blew the whistle on bid-rigging and political interference in the sponsorship program before being removed from his job by the man who ran the program, Chuck Guite.

Cutler, 56, teaches and is a consultant on government ethics.

If Cutler wins the nomination as Tory candidate in the riding of Ottawa South, his opponents will include Liberal David McGuinty, brother of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

© Broadcast News 2005

Michael McCafferty comments:

Allan Cutler will make an 'outstanding' Conservative member of parliament because he is a man of honor and integrity.

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is now the Chancellor of Germany

Flowers and smiles on Merkel's first day

By Ray Furlong BBC News, Berlin

Angela Merkel gave the briefest flicker of a smile when the result of her election was read out.

After a warm reception, work begins swiftly for the new chancellorOn the gallery overlooking parliament, her parents Horst and Herlind Kasner, both in their late 70s, sat eating biscuits in the shapes of the letters CDU, the party she leads.

They smiled warmly as the venue filled with applause at the election of a daughter who they had once told: "You have to be better than all the rest."
She was soon surrounded by a swarm of MPs waiting to congratulate her, many bearing bouquets of flowers.

CLICK HERE for BBC NEWS report on Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

Michael McCafferty comments:

What a wonderful day for Angela Merkel, for Germany and for conservatives around the world.

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker at a train stop during a winter election in Canada.

Winter election in Canada

Election planners tackle winter

Potential challenges of a snow-filled vote are forcing political strategists to be more creative

copyright The Globe and Mail

Ottawa — The cost of de-icing an aircraft is now suddenly an election expense cutting into the $18-million political parties will be allowed to spend in the expected winter election campaign.

More campaign signs will likely be found on bus shelters and the sides of barns rather than on lawns or along city streets where they may be obscured by snowbanks or pulverized by snowplows. Liberal Party candidates and workers are being advised to carry winter emergency kits in their vehicles, and sledgehammers to pound in the signs they do put on lawns.

In some places, the NDP will use steel rods to hold up their signs instead of wooden posts.

Canadians are expected to go to the polls in early January after a campaign that would begin on Nov. 28 or 29. This will be the country's first winter election in 25 years, and the potential challenges are forcing political strategists to be more creative.

CLICK HERE for entire GLOBE AND MAIL article on winter election in Canada.

Michael McCafferty comments:

Why all the fuss over a 'winter' election in Canada ? It's not as if this would be the first winter election in Canada's history.

That great Canadian from Saskatchewan Prime Minister John Diefenbaker fought two winter elections.

Any Canadian who truly believes in doing their civic duty should go out and vote no matter how cold out it is. After all we are not a nation of sissies.

The new leader of Quebec's separatist party Andre Boisclair wants to break up Canada !

Andre Boisclair new Parti Quebecois separatist leader

Boisclair Wins PQ Leadership

Quebec's separatist movement has a new leader.
Andre Boisclair won the leadership of the Parti Quebecois with a first ballot victory.

Boisclair received 53.7 per cent of first-round votes.

It will likely be 2007 before Boisclair gets a chance to defeat the governing Liberals.

The PQ leadership race was launched after Bernard Landry quit suddenly in June following lukewarm support at a party convention.

Boisclair is promising a quick referendum to take Quebec out of Canada if he becomes the next premier.

He immediately promised to seek a mandate to hold a referendum as soon as possible in the next P-Q mandate.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:

Ten years ago in 1995 the separatists in Quebec nearly won the referendum to separate from Canada. The federal Liberals in Quebec are as popular as a skunk at a tea party. The Gomery Report has made federalism in Quebec very unpopular.

Along comes this charismatic new leader of Quebec's Parti Quebecois who no doubt will become Quebec's new premier -- and guess what folks ? There will be another referandum on separation from Canada.

The federal Liberals have no credibility in Quebec -- they will nearly be wiped out by the BLOC QUEBECOIS in the federal election -- so all of us in Canada can thank the federal Liberals for pushing Quebec towards separation.

Andre Boisclair is a man with a mission -- to break up Canada. The left wing liberal media is excited by Boisclair. I hope he fails. Because if he succeeds Canada will be in danger !

Canada's Finance Minister Ralph Goodale offers 'tax cuts' to Canadians.

Tax cuts for Canadians ?

OTTAWA—Voters got a preview of the Liberals' election campaign platform as Finance Minister Ralph Goodale rolled out the goodies — highlighted by a $30-billion personal income-tax cut — in yesterday's instant budget.

This would mean a tax refund of up to $350 this year for the average Canadian.

Click here for entire TORONTO STAR article on the economic package.

Michael McCafferty comments:

I am in favor of 'tax cuts' especially for the middle class. What I see Finance Minister Ralph Goodale doing is stealing a page from the Conservative Party platform.

What is good news for Canadian taxpayers is that both the Conservatives and Liberals are going to offer the voters of Canada tax cuts.

Order your copy of this outstanding new book by two remarkable young conservatives.

To see more information about this book click here.

Click here to order this book.

The Via Rail Train of Remembrance.

‘Troop train’ gets hero’s welcome !

OTTAWA November 10

TORONTO STAR REPORT click here

A special Via Rail train carrying a few hundred veterans and their family members has arrived in Ottawa ahead of Remembrance Day ceremonies tomorrow.
The train left Halifax Wednesday morning, and made more than 25 stops on its way to the nation's capital.

CTV NEWS coverage of the veterans' remembrance train click here.

Michael McCafferty comments:

My 88 year old uncle Douglas Matheson, a veteran of World War II, and my aunt Billie and my mother Helen McCafferty were on this very special train trip to Ottawa to honor Canada's veterans.

My late father was 21 when he landed at D Day in 1944. I wish he could have been on that train but I am sure he was there in spirit.

Thank God we live in a nation that pays such honor and respect to our veterans.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) Bloc leader Duceppe, Conservative leader Harper and New Democrat leader Layton -- will they agree on when to topple the Liberal government ?

Canada's NDP Leader Jack Layton proposes motion to bring down Liberal government on November 24

Layton calls for February election

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 CBC News Copyright

NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wednesday he will introduce a motion Nov. 24 calling for a February election, avoiding a Christmas vote.

Layton said the motion will call on Prime Minister Paul Martin to dissolve the House of Commons in the first week of January.

"This avoids the holiday election that nobody wants," Layton told a news conference in Vancouver.

But Layton's motion is not considered a confidence motion, meaning support for it from all the opposition parties won't necessarily trigger an election. It is also unclear whether the government would be bound by the motion.

Martin has promised an election would be called within 30 days after the release of the final Gomery report due Feb. 1.

"I think it's an innovative proposal. It's trying to address things that concern us all," Conservative Leader Stephen Harper told reporters in Toronto Wednesday.
Harper said he still needs some clarification on the proposal.

"I think we're moving rapidly to a three-party consensus to wrap up this Parliament," he said, adding that three opposition leaders will likely meet on Monday.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he still needs to analyze Layton's proposal.
"But I do think we've made an important step forward," he said.

The New Democrat leader's announcement came days after he rejected the Liberals' health-care proposal and said his party wouldn't support the Liberal government in a non-confidence vote.

The earliest date a non-confidence motion could be introduced is Nov. 15, a designated opposition day for the Conservatives.

But Harper said Tuesday his party won't introduce a non-confidence motion to topple the government because he had no faith Layton would support the move.

Harper said he was worried Layton would use the opportunity as potential leverage in his negotiations with the Liberals to get a better deal on health care.


MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:

Canada's NDP leader Jack Layton has made a very thoughtful and fair suggestion in order to avoid a Christmas election in Canada. It is my hope that Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe give serious consideration to Mr. Layton's proposal.

Jack Layton and NDP will support non-confidence in Canada's Liberal government.

NDP will support move to bring down Liberal government

Harper asks, gets Layton pledge

Nov. 8, 2005.
CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — Jack Layton sent the Conservatives the clarion signal they have been demanding, stating unequivocally today that he is committed to helping them bring down the government at the next available opportunity.

CLICK HERE for entire TORONTO STAR report on Jack Layton's pledge.

Michael McCafferty comments:

Canadians deserve the opportunity to go to the polls to vote on the record of Paul Martin's Liberal government. Jack Layton has now made it perfectly clear the NDP will support a non-confidence in parliament.

In my opinion the opposition parties in parliament would be very wise to wait until December 8th to vote down the government meaning a January 16th election. Anything else would literally ruin the Christmas season in Canada.

Regardless if you support the Liberals,Conservatives,NDP,Bloc or Greens I do believe the time has come to clear the air on Gomery and let the Canadian people decide on who they want as government.

Coca Cola Zero rocks !

Coca Cola Zero

Coca Cola Zero is a refreshing new soft drink !

Coca-Cola Zero is a product of the Coca-Cola company, released in June 2005. It is a sugar-free variation of Coca-Cola Classic, sweetened with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. This product is different from Diet Coke because of the sweeteners it uses (Diet Coke only uses aspartame) and because, unlike Diet Coke, this product is based on the original Coca-Cola formula.

CLICK HERE for more about COCA COLA ZERO.

Michael McCafferty comments:

As a diabetic I am limited to what brands of soft drinks I can drink. Recently I discovered COCA COLA ZERO. It is so very refreshing because it literally tastes like good old fashioned
Coca Cola.

And it is really good when it is ice cold.

Kudos to Coca Cola for giving the world Coca Cola Zero.

President Chirac must restore law and order to France.

Wake up, France, you have a 'war' on your hands

Chirac promises punishment as unrest spreads
Copyright Associated Press

Paris — French President Jacques Chirac on Sunday promised arrests, trials and punishment for those sowing "violence or fear" across France — as the urban unrest that has triggered attacks on vehicles, nursery schools and other targets hit central Paris for the first time.

Youths set ablaze nearly 1,300 vehicles and torched businesses, schools and symbols of French authority, including post offices and provincial police stations, on the 10th consecutive night of unrest.

CLICK HERE for entire Globe and Mail report on the riots in France.

Michael McCafferty comments:

The 'liberal' media would have us believe that the riots in France are being carried out by French young people. Techincally they are correct. The reality is these youths are Muslims
who have not assimilated into French society.

President Jacques Chirac must stand up for France and law and order. To do anything less would be a failure and admission of weakness on the part of President Chirac and indeed France.

Prince Charles and Camilla are warmly welcomed in the USA.

Prince Charles and Camilla visit the USA

Georgetown Warmly Welcomes Prince Charles
Thursday November 3, 2005

Copyright
By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Prince Charles received the warmest public welcome so far of his U.S. tour Thursday, mingling with more than 1,000 cheering students at Georgetown University - and even signing a softball.

Arriving for a seminar on faith and social responsibility, Charles spent 15 minutes talking to students and staff who craned over barricades to catch a glimpse of him - offering handshakes to many and a rare autograph on a proffered softball to one young man.
Many in the crowd yelled ``Prince Charles!'' as he approached - one woman adding, ``Where's William?''

CLICK HERE to read report from THE GUARDIAN -- My favorite British newspaper.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:

I am delighted that Prince Charles and Camilla are be given such a warm friendly welcome in the USA. As one who believes the British Monarchy is an important part of our Canadian way of life I am pleased that Prince Charles and Camilla are getting good media coverage but more important they are being warmly received by the American public.

I do hope Prince Charles and Camilla visit Canada in the not too distant future.

Canada's Gomery Report

Canada's Gomery Report released

Gomery report lays blame on former Prime Minister Jean Chretien

copyright Canwest News Services

OTTAWA -- Justice John Gomery says former prime minister Jean Chretien shares the blame for one of the worst political scandals in Canadian history, which involved illegal kickbacks to the Quebec wing of the Liberal party. As for Prime Minister Paul Martin, Gomery says, he was out of the loop and is off the hook.
Gomery’s first

Gomery’s first report on the scandal is a 1,000-page blockbuster tale that documents the abuse of tens of millions of taxpayers dollars that leaves the reader with no doubt about who he believed and who he didn’t during months of oft-explosive and oft-contradictory testimony before his judicial inquiry.

CLICK HERE for in depth coverage of the Gomery Report.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:

Let me quote from a Conservative Party of Canada news release:

"On November 1, Judge Gomery tabled his report on the Liberal sponsorship scandal. The report confirmed that millions of dollars were stolen from the public treasury to benefit the Liberal party. The Liberal Party must be held politically and democratically responsible.

• The Liberal Party set up the sponsorship program. The Liberal Party ran the sponsorship program. The Liberal Party used the sponsorship program to funnel tax dollars into its partisan operations.

• High ranking Liberals manipulated the sponsorship program to enrich the Liberal Party and their friends.

• The sponsorship scandal is a Liberal scandal, not a Quebec scandal.

The culture of corruption is deep-rooted in the Liberal party and still exists. Justice Gomery specifically admonished the Liberals for equating the interests of the Liberal Party with those of national unity.

The Conservative is the only Party who will clean up government, fight waste, mismanagement and corruption."

I agree 100 % !