Help wanted
The Cumberland Early Intervention Program in Amherst, NS, is advertising for a Parenting Journey Interventionist. [Note to file: Add "journey" to list of banned words.]...
21 November, 2009
Are the Harper forces backpedaling on torture?
The Star's Tonda McCharles reports that the Conservatives are changing tack in the torture scandal. "It is our understanding that other current and former DFAIT employees will be testifying before the Parliamentary Committee. Their testimony will provide important context and information about this issue." ...
20 November, 2009
Tom Flannigan is baffled too
Former top Steven Harper strategist Tom Flannigan tells Jane Taber of the Globe and Mail he's unimpressed with Conservative character assassination of career diplomat and whistle-blower Richard Colvin. He thinks it's happening...
20 November, 2009
Even Coyne is baffled at Conservative smear tactics
Writing in Maclean's, Andrew Coyne expresses "some bafflement" at the Conservatives' reaction to Richard Colvin's testimony. Don't worry, Coyne hasn't gone socialist. He's sure Canada is no longer turning over detainees without adequate safeguards. He thinks the Harperites fixed the problem, and ought to take credit for it. He doesn't think we are at the point of needing a public inquiry—yet. He thinks Colvin's testimony is "less than bullet-proof." But it’s another thing altogether to imply that Colvin is some sort of whack job or stooge of the Taliban. As others have pointed out, his sterling career track — he’s now a...
20 November, 2009
Hébert: only minority government let Colvin testify
Chantal Hébert makes a good point. Canadians only got to hear Richard Colvin's testimony because we have a minority Parliament. The Conservatives had previously used a national security clause in the Canada Evidence Act to prevent Colvin from testifying to a Military Police Complaints Tribunal hearing. But not having a Parliamentary majority, they were powerless to prevent him from testifying to the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan. Hébert is skeptical of claims the government was out of the loop: [T]the government could not have been in the dark about the potential prevalence of torture unless the country's top civil...
20 November, 2009
Colvin torture testimony – Friday wrapup
Here is a roundup of clips and comments on the Harper Conservatives' slagging of Richard Colvin, who was a respected career diplomat until his tried to warn the Harper administration about Canadian complicity in Afghan torture. First, a scrum in which Defense Minister Peter MacKay calls Colvin a patsy for the Taliban before running away under tough questions from Parliament Hill reporters: MacKay's predecessor as Defense minister, Gordon O'Connor, "was never briefed on any of this." Diplomat turned blogger Norman Specter, writing in the Globe and Mail: [I]t’s important to remember that this is not the first time serious allegations have been made against...
20 November, 2009
Colvin torture testimony – editorial roundup
Here is a roundup of newspaper editorials about Richard Colvin's tesimony about Canadian military and civilian complicity in torture. Globe and Mail: If his account is correct, the federal government was so determined to turn a blind eye to the treatment of the detainees by the Afghan National Directorate of Security and police that it discouraged record-keeping and other documentation – highly uncharacteristic behaviour in any bureaucracy. On this, Mr. Colvin gave evidence from his own direct experience, not hearsay. The word “cover-up,” which evokes the Watergate scandal and a concealment of wrongdoing within an institution, or even obstruction of justice, may be...
20 November, 2009
Colvin torture testimony – cartoon roundup
Dale Cummings in the Winnipeg Free Press: Aislin in the Montreal Gazette: Malcolm Mays in the Edmonton Journal: Brian Gable in the Globe and Mail: Gary Clement in the National Post: ...
20 November, 2009
Conservative bucket defense – reader feedback
Cliff White writes: The most shocking aspect of the Colvin testimony is the attack the Tories Conservatives have waged against it. If they are willing to do this in public, you can imagine what they were doing and will do in private. My only hope is that this sticks to them....
19 November, 2009
NDP dissembling – reader feedback
Contrarian reader Cliff White, who perches somewhere to the left of our new blue NDP government, responds to our complaints about the Dexter/Steele spin on their foregone fiscal promises: Enough with the self righteousness already. Of course they have to take responsibility for, and be brought to task for, their broken promises and misleading statements. On the other hand, dismissing them offhand and branding them all as liars, as some readers have, is not helpful. Lets face it: they didn't get into this predicament on their own. There are, for instance, the unelected workers and volunteers who craft strategies and policy statements...
19 November, 2009