Looks like Brodbeck has "slipped up" again.
“The problem with politicians and their hacks trying to spin, craft and fudge information about controversial issues in hopes of softening the political fallout is it usually comes back to blow up in their faces”, Tom Brodbeck Feb 6th.
Well said Tom. Looks like this logic should also apply to journalists/columnists.
Tom of course would know all about spin. Over the years, he has provided his readers with his own dose of number fudging, fact twisting and pretty much making things up in order to make the “facts” fit his point of view.
Fortunately BB has already documented a few cases which will save me the dreadful task of having to go back and re-read more of Broedbeck’s work to make my point.
Monday, March 23, 2009
My predictions
I’ve never done this so let’s see how close I get. I’m using the past few election results (general 2007, 2003 and recent by-elections) to base my predictions. I've done this mainly because I haven’t paid any attention to the local campaigns and also because local candidates only play a very small role in influencing the results anyway. I’ve stayed away from 1999 since I don’t think the results would be especially helpful.
ELMWOOD:
Things to consider:
-NDP's Jim Maloway received 65 % (2003) and 62 % (2007) of the vote.
-Tories finised second in both elections.
-Libs finished third in both elections.
-Doer is still well liked in Winnipeg
-The governing party’s popular vote tends to slip a bit in by-elections.
-Blaikie’s change from federal to provincial politics may have pissed off some folks.
-Blaikie is still very well regarded.
-This is a traditional NDP seat.
Winner -NDP 54 %
First loser –Tories 28 %
Second loser –Liberals 18 %
All things considered I don’t think Blaikie will hit 60 % but it will still be an easy win for the NDP. The Lib candidate seems to be working hard but I don’t think it will translate into much. The Lib brand is just too weak.
Turn out:
Things to consider:
-Turn out for the 2005 Fort Whyte by-election was 21 % lower than the 2007 general election. 59 vs 38 %.
-Turn out for the 2004 Minto by-election was 3 % lower than the 2007 general election. 50 vs 47 %.
-Turn out for the 2004 Turtle Mountain by-election was 7 % lower than the 2007 general election. 54 vs 47 %.
Elmwood has had a turn out of 47 % (2003) and 50 % (2007).
Final verdict on turnout: 39 %
THE PAS:
Things to consider:
-NDP has won the last two elections by landslides (69 % in 2007).
-Tories were second in 2007, while Libs placed second in 2003.
-Doer is still well liked in the north.
-The governing party’s popular vote tends to slip a bit in by-elections.
-NDP candidate seems to be quite strong but won't have the same kind of name recognition as Oscar Lathlin did.
-This is a traditonal NDP seat.
Winner-NDP 59 %
First loser-Tories 25 %
Second loser- Liberals 15 %
Turn out:
-Things to consider:
The Pas has had a turn out of 40 % (2003) and 37 % (2007)
Final verdict on turnout: 29 %
ELMWOOD:
Things to consider:
-NDP's Jim Maloway received 65 % (2003) and 62 % (2007) of the vote.
-Tories finised second in both elections.
-Libs finished third in both elections.
-Doer is still well liked in Winnipeg
-The governing party’s popular vote tends to slip a bit in by-elections.
-Blaikie’s change from federal to provincial politics may have pissed off some folks.
-Blaikie is still very well regarded.
-This is a traditional NDP seat.
Winner -NDP 54 %
First loser –Tories 28 %
Second loser –Liberals 18 %
All things considered I don’t think Blaikie will hit 60 % but it will still be an easy win for the NDP. The Lib candidate seems to be working hard but I don’t think it will translate into much. The Lib brand is just too weak.
Turn out:
Things to consider:
-Turn out for the 2005 Fort Whyte by-election was 21 % lower than the 2007 general election. 59 vs 38 %.
-Turn out for the 2004 Minto by-election was 3 % lower than the 2007 general election. 50 vs 47 %.
-Turn out for the 2004 Turtle Mountain by-election was 7 % lower than the 2007 general election. 54 vs 47 %.
Elmwood has had a turn out of 47 % (2003) and 50 % (2007).
Final verdict on turnout: 39 %
THE PAS:
Things to consider:
-NDP has won the last two elections by landslides (69 % in 2007).
-Tories were second in 2007, while Libs placed second in 2003.
-Doer is still well liked in the north.
-The governing party’s popular vote tends to slip a bit in by-elections.
-NDP candidate seems to be quite strong but won't have the same kind of name recognition as Oscar Lathlin did.
-This is a traditonal NDP seat.
Winner-NDP 59 %
First loser-Tories 25 %
Second loser- Liberals 15 %
Turn out:
-Things to consider:
The Pas has had a turn out of 40 % (2003) and 37 % (2007)
Final verdict on turnout: 29 %
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Worst idea ever
I thought the CTF's job was to reduce duplication. Craig wants to create an "all-party committee to review provincial spending”. Great idea. Except for one thing. We've got one already. It’s called the committee of supply. You know the one that's part of the estimates process. The one that's been around forever and sits every year.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but can we have Adrienne back.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY - Committee comprised of all Members of the Assembly chaired by the Deputy Speaker. This Committee meets to consider the Spending estimates of all government departments.
The Committee of Supply does have the ability to defeat a supply resolution, or entertain a proposal to reduce its amount.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but can we have Adrienne back.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY - Committee comprised of all Members of the Assembly chaired by the Deputy Speaker. This Committee meets to consider the Spending estimates of all government departments.
The Committee of Supply does have the ability to defeat a supply resolution, or entertain a proposal to reduce its amount.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
My dog ate my homework
Hopefully the CTF did their homework this time before handing out the hardware. We wouldn't want another embarrassment like this following story. And they blamed the Sun for it too. Classy. I know there is waste in government and they should be called on it but I just like poking a little fun at my absolute favorite taxpayers group.
Wasteful spending award withdrawn
Winnipeg Free Press
Friday, March 10, 2006
Byline: Gabrielle Giroday
THEY'RE used to embarrassing politicians, but yesterday members of an outspoken advocacy group said they were embarrassed after not doing their homework.
And they blamed a rival Winnipeg newspaper for misleading them.
Yesterday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) withdrew an award for wasteful spending given to the Manitoban government last week for publicly funding Botox and tummy tucks.
On March 1, the CTF awarded Manitoba its top provincial prize for spending $918,000 on tummy tucks and $10,900 on Botox from 2003 to 2004.
Following the awards' release, Manitoba Health officials defended the spending and told the Free Press the procedures were not used for cosmetic purposes.
Botox is a common cosmetic procedure to smooth fine wrinkles, they said, but it's also used to stop muscle spasms for sufferers of multiple sclerosis. The 218 publicly funded tummy tucks were used to treat patients with chronic skin infections on their stomachs, health officials added.
"It makes it out that all of these procedures are cosmetic and that's not true," said Jackie Sul, director of insured benefits for Manitoba Health, last week.
After about a dozen complaints to the CTF, the organization decided to withdraw the award for the first time since the annual campaign began in 1999.
"Frankly, we had not done our homework on this," said Troy Lanigan, National Taxpayers Federation communications director.
"We were under some misinterpretation about the nature and scope of those procedures, and we felt (withdrawing the award) was the appropriate thing to do."
Yesterday, the CTF released a statement apologizing to burn victims and patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer that had Botox or tummy tucks because it was medically necessary.
CTF said in a release that when it first heard of the tax expenditures for the treatments it was "implied that the said amounts were for cosmetic purposes," in an article published in the Winnipeg Sun in December 2005.
Wasteful spending award withdrawn
Winnipeg Free Press
Friday, March 10, 2006
Byline: Gabrielle Giroday
THEY'RE used to embarrassing politicians, but yesterday members of an outspoken advocacy group said they were embarrassed after not doing their homework.
And they blamed a rival Winnipeg newspaper for misleading them.
Yesterday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) withdrew an award for wasteful spending given to the Manitoban government last week for publicly funding Botox and tummy tucks.
On March 1, the CTF awarded Manitoba its top provincial prize for spending $918,000 on tummy tucks and $10,900 on Botox from 2003 to 2004.
Following the awards' release, Manitoba Health officials defended the spending and told the Free Press the procedures were not used for cosmetic purposes.
Botox is a common cosmetic procedure to smooth fine wrinkles, they said, but it's also used to stop muscle spasms for sufferers of multiple sclerosis. The 218 publicly funded tummy tucks were used to treat patients with chronic skin infections on their stomachs, health officials added.
"It makes it out that all of these procedures are cosmetic and that's not true," said Jackie Sul, director of insured benefits for Manitoba Health, last week.
After about a dozen complaints to the CTF, the organization decided to withdraw the award for the first time since the annual campaign began in 1999.
"Frankly, we had not done our homework on this," said Troy Lanigan, National Taxpayers Federation communications director.
"We were under some misinterpretation about the nature and scope of those procedures, and we felt (withdrawing the award) was the appropriate thing to do."
Yesterday, the CTF released a statement apologizing to burn victims and patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer that had Botox or tummy tucks because it was medically necessary.
CTF said in a release that when it first heard of the tax expenditures for the treatments it was "implied that the said amounts were for cosmetic purposes," in an article published in the Winnipeg Sun in December 2005.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Another one bites the dust
It has been an awful year for media layoffs. To view the latest, check out CanMediaLayoffs.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Batting .500
I called that reporter Mary Agnes Welch was leaving her beat at the legislature but I got her replacement wrong.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
To Iceland and beyond
Curtis' favourite Minister is unfairly getting criticized for going to Iceland to recruit skilled workers through the Provincial Nominee Program. Now there are huge holes in the arguments put forward that the province should train Aboriginal people or recruit out of work Ontario auto-workers instead of looking overseas.
Manitoba needs highly skilled workers in certain specific professions. We are talking doctors, engineers and geothermal installers. These workers are key to helping Manitoba businesses grow and keeping the economy out of a recession. It is a complete oversimplification to suggest that we should use Aboriginal labour or Ontario workers to fill these jobs.
Of course training Aboriginal people is important and the province has put a lot of effort and funding to train this largely untapped resource. However, Manitoba businesses need these high skilled workers now. It’s not like you can take a person and train them overnight to work as an engineer. It just doesn’t work that way.
It also doesn’t make any sense bringing auto-workers to Manitoba. Firstly, has no one noticed we don’t have an auto industry? Secondly, it’s not like you can say “hey buddy, you used to put cars together, how about installing these geothermal heat pump thingys”. They are both skilled jobs but with completely different technical requirements that require special skills. It's like asking a dentist to do a lung transplant.
Iceland has a huge geothermal industry and many highly trained workers possibly willing to relocate here. That’s why the province is recruiting there. Businesses have looked locally and couldn’t find people to fill the jobs (it’s a requirement under the Provincial Nominee Program that businesses prove that they have made an effort to fill the jobs with local people).
Manitoba needs immigrants for population and economic growth. Let’s not get caught up in the anti-immigration rhetoric now.
Manitoba needs highly skilled workers in certain specific professions. We are talking doctors, engineers and geothermal installers. These workers are key to helping Manitoba businesses grow and keeping the economy out of a recession. It is a complete oversimplification to suggest that we should use Aboriginal labour or Ontario workers to fill these jobs.
Of course training Aboriginal people is important and the province has put a lot of effort and funding to train this largely untapped resource. However, Manitoba businesses need these high skilled workers now. It’s not like you can take a person and train them overnight to work as an engineer. It just doesn’t work that way.
It also doesn’t make any sense bringing auto-workers to Manitoba. Firstly, has no one noticed we don’t have an auto industry? Secondly, it’s not like you can say “hey buddy, you used to put cars together, how about installing these geothermal heat pump thingys”. They are both skilled jobs but with completely different technical requirements that require special skills. It's like asking a dentist to do a lung transplant.
Iceland has a huge geothermal industry and many highly trained workers possibly willing to relocate here. That’s why the province is recruiting there. Businesses have looked locally and couldn’t find people to fill the jobs (it’s a requirement under the Provincial Nominee Program that businesses prove that they have made an effort to fill the jobs with local people).
Manitoba needs immigrants for population and economic growth. Let’s not get caught up in the anti-immigration rhetoric now.
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