Andrew Lang.ca - for Just another WordPress weblog

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1558-liberal-party-continues-slide-in-polls

http://www.themarknews.com/articles/1877-long-form-census-is-getting-the-short-stick

http://themarknews.com/articles/2126-harper-s-revisionist-canada

Join the discussion

On June the 3rd The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin and Ontario Attorney General, The Hon. Chris Bentley joined Andrew and his supporters for cocktails and conversation in support of Andrew’s candidacy for Toronto-Danforth.

Minister Bentley spoke eloquently about leadership and the need to protect our Canadian values.

Former Prime Minister, Paul Martin, reminded guests that it was Jack Layton who killed the Kelowna Accord and National Child Care all for his own ambition.

In thanking his honourable speakers, Andrew pointed to their example of leading with ideas. He paraphrased George Bernard Shaw saying

“Some see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that have never been and ask why not?”

Join the discussion

Andrew gave a rousing speech on September 7th. Take a look:

Andrew was featured in the lead story of Global TV’s September 7, 2008 evening newscast.

Check out Andrew’s new YouTube channel

• As a Liberal it has galled me for years that Canadians, given the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, still believe that Conservatives are better at handling an economy.

•  

• No one argues that Conservatives are very good at accruing and protecting their own wealth. But somehow this has translated into the misconception that they are good at or even care about protecting or enhancing the wealth of others.

•  

• It is not a recent phenomenon. During the depression of the 1930’s Canadians elected R.B. Bennett as Prime Minister because he was a millionaire. The logic being – if he knows how to make money for himself he can do the same for the country. His economic policies did make money for himself but sadly plunged the Canadian economy further into depression.

•  

• After 13 years of Liberal governments with an unprecedented string of balanced budgets and a booming economy Stephen Harper has decided that Canada should once again run a deficit. With tax cuts for the wealthiest Canadians and program spending for those that don’t need it things are becoming reminiscent of George Bush Sr.’s trickle down economics.

•  

• The problem is it never trickles down. Conservatives conserve, keep, save for themselves.

•  

• The time has come to set the record straight.  Conservatives shrink economies while Liberals grow them.

Join the discussion

• Toronto’s Pride Week is aptly named. For the queer communities it is a moment to celebrate. For everyone else it is an opportunity to reinforce their complete and utter acceptance. For me it was an experience that made me especially proud – of my city, my country and for the Pride Committee – who put on one of the best run events in the World.

• Yesterday’s parade was my third and it has never been bigger or better. Generating tourism worth close to 100 million dollars into the city is quite an accomplishment but raising awareness and bridging the gaps of understanding is what it is really all about.

• To be in the parade looking out at the spectators one knows that every person in attendance was an equal and active participant.

• One only has to speak to one of the many tourists in Toronto for the event to be reminded of how good things are here and how, sadly, some must return to intolerance and bigotry.

• We still have much to do but the tide has turned on injustice and we are forcing ignorant ideas into the shadows. The close-minded are wary now; more cagey. Where there was once bravado in their hatred now there is fear of being found out.

• The time has come to put the words Pride Week and Pride Parade in italics because every day is a day in which Toronto’s queer communities should be proud – proud of what they have endured in the name of just being who they are and proud that they never stooped to the vile levels of their detractors.

• Pride Week is no longer just for our queer communities because yesterday I was extremely proud to join them in this celebration of diversity.

Join the discussion

• While most Liberals are licking their chomps over the string of embarrassments falling down upon the Conservative Party, I am growing concerned that these entertaining diversions are distracting us from the menace that is Stephen Harper.  

• The Bernier Affair may speak to poor judgement on Harper’s part and a shallow pool of talent from which to choose Ministers but doesn’t it really just point out how debased the Department of Foreign Affairs has become. Harper didn’t care about Bernier’s incompetence because Bernier had no real power.   

• Meanwhile the Conservatives recently decided it was a good idea to revive the Cadman Affair, an issue that seemed to have lost the media’s interest. Why would they do this? Is it for the reasons being tossed about; that they are trying to pre-empt the use of the tape in a negative ad campaign during an election or is there a more Machiavelli reason?   

• The revival of this issue allows the Conservatives to control the story and how it is debated.  It also distracts us from the real and dangerous initiatives undertaken by Stephen Harper over the past 2 years.  

• Let’s not forget that Harper is systematically trying to undermine the Charter of Rights by killing the Court Challenges Program, shutting down the Access to Information database and questioning the validity of decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada for the mere fact that they disagree.   

• Bill C-10 is overt attempt by Harper to impose his own moral compass by censoring Canadian film and television.  

• Bill C-50 once again demonstrates why Immigrants don’t generally like the Conservatives; because the Conservatives don’t like Immigrants.   

• Harper hates arms length bodies because they prevent him from getting his sticky little fingers on the levers of control. When he campaigned on accountability, we didn’t know that he meant everything should be accountable to him.  

• Harper promised us that we wouldn’t recognize Canada when he got through with it. His latest trick in the unravelling of the Canadian fabric is to distract us with the bumbling and fumbling of his incompetent caucus while he pulls at yet another thread.

• Don’t be distracted.

Join the discussion

• Sometimes people make me sad.  
• The fact that we still need an international day against homophobia is the cause for one of these occasions.  
• I’d like to think that we have evolved enough as a species to be beyond such irrational emotions but unfortunately that is far from the truth.  
• This year, International Day Against Homophobia falls on the weekend on which we celebrate the Queen’s birthday. There’s a joke in there but not one a straight guy can get away with saying. 
• For the most part Canada should be proud of her record in the recognition for lesbian and gay communities. Most of our progress can be traced to the adoption of the Charter of Human Rights. “However, judicial advances will remain only that until a complete, unlimited social acceptance of homosexuality is achieved and homophobia wiped out. To achieve this goal, the Fondation Émergence proposed in 2003, along with partners, to hold each year a special day dedicated to the social recognition of homosexual experience.” http://www.homophobiaday.org/ 
• On the face of things we seem to be close to solving our problem. The truth, however, is that prejudice remains and while there is a lot of talk about acceptance and openness, many gays and lesbians are unable to live their lives as they would choose for fear of discrimination. 
• The answer continues to be communication. Only through continued, open dialogue can we be sure that everyone is getting the message. It is not enough for a person to remain silent, he or she must come to understand. 
• Silence is deadly but it is also very lonely for those who live in fear of being themselves.  
• International Day Against Homophobia is about all people hoping for a prejudice-free world. On May 17^th, if you can’t take part in an organized event, take some time to talk about it with your family and friends.  
• Remember that it is not enough to tolerate. We must learn to accept until we wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place.  

Join the discussion

Two bloggers comment on Andrew’s nomination victory:

http://localgrit.blogspot.com/2008/04/andrew-lang-for-toronto-danforth.html

http://jamesbowie.blogspot.com/2008/04/andrew-lang-for-toronto-danforth.html