Canadian Politics Thread

Sums it up nicely.

This can't actually be as bad as the critics say, right? Right?: http://www.newsweek.com/new-treaty-allows-china-sue-canada-change-its-laws-270751?piano_t=1

I mean it's Newsweek so it ain't exactly a leftwing blogger source... This sounds like the real deal.

If it is, this—like several other pieces of legislation Harper has launched in the past few years—have made me glad I already live in Quebec.

I think everyone here, franco, anglo, and other alike would agree that the aftermath of selling the country down the river to China over Alberta's oil revenue is hardly worth sticking around for.

I mean, it seems amazing (or not, given Harper's track record) that we're not hearing more about it. Entire federal elections were held before the FTA and NAFTA were ratified. The only defences I've heard of this, aside from John Manley's, are from total Tory partisans. Even more independent-minded right-wingers don't seem very excited.

i'm wondering how something snuck in like that could ever be legal.

independent-minded right-wingers

Right! There is a huge segment of these people, your average pickup truck Albertan for example, who love Harper but despise or at least distrust the weird bogeyman of Chinese Business Interests.

On that note there's also a lot of veiled racism among this segment of the Canadian population, and some of the reaction to Anything Chinese verges on the kind of crude stereotyping you'd hear from Rob Ford. Come to think of it, veiled racism masquerading as political discourse is another thing I've noticed Canadians exhibiting more and more of the past decade's Americanization of Canada.

But really, I'm not too jazzed about selling off our legislative sovereignty to any country. Sweden or Denmark I could probably handle, though, because I'd assume that a Swedish company would be more ethical and responsible in its conduct towards local populations and the environment. I don't think it makes me racist to say that China seems like it can be pretty fucked up and untrustworthy on this score.

No, I'm not sure that any part of Chinese history would indicate that the 'Communist' Chinese government or its companies (usually with significant state involvement) are the most trustworthy partners to enter into some sort of investment protection/free trade deal with.

racist!

Ha, just to be clear, that was a comment on the track record of the Communist government in China, not anything broader than that.

Fucking hell.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/parliament-shooting/article21217602/#dashboard/follows/

not sure this is the right thread - but whatevs. this is insane... apparently there might be up to 5 shooters running around! one is dead and a soldier/guard has been shot, but is "responding", which i guess is good?

Greenwald article on the attack earlier this week, unfortunately published about an hour before the Ottawa shooting:
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/10/22/canada-proclaiming-war-12-years-shocked-someone-attacked-soldiers/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0kJzJ_IcAEp2X_.jpg:large

I think this is the right thread, personally. A shooting in Parliament a week after jumping into the Iraq conflict. This is going to have huge political repercussions.

Scary. I wonder how he made it inside.

Downtown is in lockdown. I'm a few kilometers away and definitely not going to be going in that direction today.

how so?

xpost

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrGqoISd-do

Anyone else in Ottawa? I'm locked in my sessional office on U of O campus until further notice.

This is the best feed to follow, i think:
https://twitter.com/sladurantaye/lists/ottawa-shooting

i'm following the reddit feed: http://www.reddit.com/live/ts4r8m1g99ys/

Oh, duh, I see jmm posted that he is in the city as well.

anyways - i don't see how this will have political repercussions. we weren't going to be pulling out before – we def not be now (unfortunately imho). i don't see anyone really taking the PM to task over this without looking callas and opportunistic (tho I guess i could be wrong about that one).

I'm in Ottawa. Anticipating a very long and depressing silly season to come.

Yeah, I don't see this as a political issue, at least not yet. No one really knowswhat it's about, although Iraq is probably the best guess.

i meant more that Harper will use this in a huge way
also it will push the "chickens coming home to roost"/causation conversation forward - like that Greenwald article

if this isn't Iraq/ISIS-related it may be a different story but would be a shock if it isnt

also how is a co-ordinated attack on parliament not something that will have political ramifications? Harper was already playing political football with the earlier car attack during question period earlier this week

It is the best guess maybe, but I'm waiting till more info on the shooter(s) is out.

580 CFRA ‏@CFRAOttawa 1m1 minute ago
AFP and Torstar report soldier shot at the National War Memorial has died in hospital.

Harper was already playing political football with the earlier car attack during question period earlier this week

i actually did not know this...

so - it look like a soldier has been killed now.

xpost

http://metronews.ca/news/canada/1190015/after-alleged-quebec-terrorist-attack-harper-conservatives-push-new-spy-powers/

ok, i guess your right. this is fucking troubling.

Just loaded a 1h42m Lachenmann video. Planning to be in here for the long haul.

apparently soldier is possibly not dead.

"loiterer-deterring jazz"

https://twitter.com/kady/status/524971036287438848

kady o'malley ‏@kady 1 min1 minute ago
Oh, and now a street fight between spectators is about to break out as they argue over who is prouder of being a Canadian.

so they're lifting the lockdowns... maybe there was only one shooter? apparently no one (alive) in custody...

We're still locked down on campus. But yeah, apparently, there was no Rideau Centre shooting.

http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/index.aspx?newsId=afcfc348-7311-4f2a-9039-418830ba2eca

Althia Raj ‏@althiaraj 4s4 seconds ago
Another security alert: "the downtown core is still not secure. As such, ALL BUILDINGS must remain on lockdown. Do not leave..."

yeah i wouldn't be surprised if the multiple shooters turns out to be fog of war stuff, seems like that often happens in early reports
on this kind of situation.
there were shots fired inside the parliament building and at the war memorial though, right? does the timing work for it to have been one person?

On the Media put this together after the Ft. Worth shootings (I think), v useful.

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/09/20/otm_consumer_handbook-4-copy_custom-0c8dfca9a3a739c93ad6ef34273fa5b252dd1214-s40-c85.png

xp I don't know. I get the impression the Parliament shootout came a bit after the war memorial shooting. It is surprising that a single shooter could have gotten across the lawn and that far into the building. It isn't the most secure building, but there are supposed to be plainclothes police surveilling the lawn and entrances.

that On The Media thing is so great

uOttawa lockdown lifted!

go get a beer!

So it looks like one guy shot at soldiers, jumps in a car and a 5 minute chase ensues with guns blazing, just like in the movies?

how was the lachenmann? your stoicism is admirable.....

xpost no looks like he shot the soldier at the war memorial and then ran into the Center Block parliament building, where he opened fire but was killed by the Sgt at Arms (basically the ceremonial guard of parliament)

but was killed by the Sgt at Arms (basically the ceremonial guard of parliament)

That's kind of amazing if true. The symbolic guard legit saving the day.

not even the first time a sgt at arms has stopped a killer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Marc_Jalbert

I didn't get to finish the Lachenmann. I navigated away accidentally and ended up talking with the prof who was locked in the office. It was really cool though and I'll definitely watch the whole thing some time.

Beer has definitely been got, though.