They are the 23 per cent

They've redesigned the future seating plan for the House of Commons, an expansion that will reward Alberta for its population boom, add a bit for British Columbia for the same and provide for Ontario's population domination with more seating as well.

Ever mindful of the political ramifications of such seat shifting, the Conservatives have also proposed a modest increase for the Province of Quebec, one which will seemingly bring the province right on target should one follow the path of representation by population.

Quebec which at the moment makes up 23% of the nations population, will upon the delivery of additional space in the House of Commons, lay claim to 23 per cent of the seats in the people's chamber.

So, one has to wonder why the federal NDP seems to be sticking to their quest for perpetual seats, regardless of the ebb and flow of population in the country.

Clearly the short term benefit of their stand would be to reward the legions of voters that sent the Orange wave from Quebec off to Ottawa, a political meteorite that streaked across the Quebec sky last spring and pushed the NDP from perennial third party status to Her Majesties Loyal Opposition.

Much of that of course came on the strength of the personality of the late Jack Layton, and now those that seek to replace him appear ready to take up the challenge of permanent seats for Quebec, while the rest of the nation will remain along the the rep by pop dogma.

A move that perhaps won't resonate too well with the old line NDPers of the west, especially those Premiers and would be Premiers who still feel the odd pang of alienation from the nation's capital.

The House of Commons re-design has had varying degrees of reaction from coast to coast to coast, some of that can be found below.

Toronto Star-- Canada's unequal voters
Toronto Star-- Tories fall short in repairing democratic imbalance
Toronto Star-- Fixing our democracy
Toronto Star-- No so common math goes into new seat allocation
Calgary Herald-- Quebec still more equal than other provinces
Edmonton Journal-- Seat-allocation merry go round spins
Ottawa Citizen-- Musical seats
CBC-- 6 new B. C. MPs are not enough, says NDP
CBC-- Adding 30 new MPs to cost millions per year
Vancouver Sun-- BC gets short end of stick in new House of Commons plan
Montreal Gazette-- Three more ridings not enough, minister says
National Post-- More than fair to Quebec
Globe and Mail-- Harper quells unrest in Tory ranks to juggle seats in House
Globe and Mail-- In redrawing the House, Harper plays to Quebec
Globe and Mail-- Analysis shows Tories would benefit most from rebalancing plan
Globe and Mail-- Conservatives should not waver on rep-by-pop
Saskatoon Star Phoenix-- Adding seats a cynical tactic

The Princess Warrior and her quarry

Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto is trying to make for a bit of damage control these days, that after reviews of his X-rated, expletive deleted phone call to Toronto's 911 service began to surface.

Ford, seemingly in fear for his personal safety upon an ambush by Princess Warrior Marg of 22 Minutes fame, hightailed it back to the homestead to make a number of anxiety steeped phone calls to the emergency phone centre for Metro Police.

And, while as a parent, we can understand his concern over his six year old daughter who it seems was quite scared by all the commotion in the family driveway, perhaps his Worship could have handled it all with a wee bit less drama (and expletives).

We're still not quite sure why a fellow who seems to project the image of a man afraid of no one, would be reduced to the state of taking his fears out on a telephone operator.

Clearly the television cameras should have given him some understanding of what was going on and after safely returning his daughter to the home, one wonders why he didn't return to the driveway if for no other reason than  to explain to the crew of the CBC program the right and wrong time to launch an ambush interview.

There is some blame to be given to the program's producers,  while the ambush of politicians is always entertaining fare, and a particular feature of 22 minutes,  there are limits to that kind of project, escorting ones child down a driveway  should be a clue to producers that it's not the best time to launch the attack.

For the CBC which is finding itself under more and more scrutiny these days, whether from the pulpit addresses of Don Cherry, to what seems to be a blood feud with Quebecor, the attention to its guidelines in proper form of interview probably isn't timely.

 So with that out of the way, on to his worship, his reaction to the whole escapade certainly doesn't reflect well on his rather strong willed nature, in short, perhaps he should have Manned up and taken to the driveway to dress down the fashionably attired Princess Warrior.

Instead, a bad situation got a lot worse with his tirade to the 911 staff, a strange little display that surely have some of Toronto's voters wondering what the hell they were thinking on election day, or as the Mayor might say, what  the %$^# they were thinking.

Ford who seems to have all the social skills of a hermit crab, certainly hasn't won himself many fans over recent months and we imagine this latest event won't do much for the declining popularity.

All in all, we imagine that his phone skills will be under the microscope and resonate across the Toronto political scene for months, if not years to come.

To be honest though, we're rather surprised at his call to Metro Police for assistance,  as past precedence for Toronto's Mayors suggests that when put in a panic induced state, you skip the police and go straight to the Canadian Armed Forces...

It's said that for politicians, any publicity is good publicity as long as your name is spelled correctly, somehow we don't think that holds true for Mayor Ford in this instance.

Back a few decades ago, a popular acronym for FORD was FIX OR REPAIR DAILY, alluding to problems of the era with the automobile of the name. That Ford, now one of the leading car makers in the world repaired their image quite nicely.

This Ford, it would seem has a bit of work to do.


Globe and Mail-- The mayor, the ambush and the unfortunate F-bomb
Globe and Mail-- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologizes for profanity in 911 call
Globe and Mail-- Games people don't play: It's ulcer time at the CBC
Globe and Mail-- Why Rob Ford called 911 on CBC
National Post-- Rob Ford and the CBC's condescending inside baseball
National Post-- What the #!%* did Rob Ford say to the 911 operator?
National Post-- "I apologize for expressing my frustration inappropriately: Rob Ford
National Post-- Rob Ford makes a bad situation worse
CBC-- Rob Ford denies calling  911 dispatcher names
CBC-- Jian's essay on Rob Ford's 22 minutes of fame
Toronto Star-- Mayor to dispatch: I'm annoyed
Toronto Star-- Pressure mounts for Mayor Ford to release tape of 911 call
Toronto Star-- Who leaked mayor's 911 call?
Toronto Sun-- Ford miffed at CBC troupe
Toronto Sun-- Ford says he didn't swear at 911 dispatcher
Toronto Sun-- Ford's statement about CBC ambush, 911 call

Peter, row your boats ashore.

Peter McKay, or any other Federal cabinet minister may not have had much impact on the final decision to award shipbuilding contracts, (at least that seems to be the message of the transparency process outlined prior to the bid) but for the home folk in Nova Scotia it would seem that their favourite son has delivered the goods anyways.

Nova Scotia, as has been trumpeted the last few days, came out the big winner in the procurement-arama competition, landing the most valuable of the contracts offered out on Wednesday.

Halifax's Irving Shipyards was awarded the lucrative 25 billion dollar combat ship contract, to provide the latest in naval capabilities for the recently re-christened Royal Canadian Navy, and while the fleet will no doubt welcome the new and shiny vessels upon their delivery, Wednesday's announcement was of course much more than just rebuilding the fleet.

It's of course about jobs, high paying, technology laden jobs that will make the Irving shipyard and BC's Seaspan operation (Seaspan won the 8 billion dollar contract for non combat vessels) busy hives of employment for the next few decades.

The announcement was hailed in Nova Scotia as the kind of thing that will bring some of the diaspora of  Nova Scotians that have left the province cause to come back home.

Likewise, in British Columbia, the Premier who of late never misses an opportunity for a photo op, was equally effusive over the opportunities for British Columbia's Seaspan shipyard with the announcement.  It certainly offers up a bit of tangible job creation for her much touted jobs, jobs, jobs agenda of recent weeks.

Though it would seem that the way the process moved forward, that any actual credit for the announcement won't rest at the Premier's doorstep, rather, it is just a convenient opportunity that lands at her door in the nick of time.

For good measure, it was also revealed that any future BC Ferry fleet requirements would most likely  utilize British Columbia shipyards, perhaps a back door admission that the German built ferry procurement of a few years back wasn't the wisest of strategies for a corporation that depends on British Columbians for its livelihood.

And should there be troubles along the way in the always challenging industry of shipbuilding, the Canadian government has the right to take over either of the two shipyards to complete the jobs at hand, should either default on their contractual obligations. An insurance policy of sorts for their 33 billion dollar investment.

While the champagne corks were popping in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, there was a bit of a bitter taste for the workers at the Davie Shipyard in Quebec City, the frequently bankrupt yard has just begun the process of moving back into the no bankruptcy world, the prospects of a federal contract for naval ships a hopeful wish that didn't come to fruition.

The Parti Quebecois as would be expected has used the announcement as another example of how Quebec never gets a fair shake and another example of Jean Charest's inability to deliver jobs to Quebec.

The decision to award the contracts to Nova Scotia and British Columbia, is having it's impact on the Federal NDP and its large Quebec caucus as well, as the euphoria and sadness appears split upon regional lines.

But, time perhaps will heal all wounds, as the CBC frequently pointed out on Wednesday afternoon, in the post mortem of the big announcement, there is still a rather large refit and rejuvenation requirement for the current ships in the fleet, which of course will have to be upgraded while the new vessels come on stream.

The dollar figures haven't been released yet on that project, and probably they won't be in the range of the windfall for Nova Scotia and maybe not that of BC. But providing the Quebec yard can stay afloat until that tender goes out, that refit work could factor in as a consolation prize to the folks at Davie Shipyards and perhaps a lifeline for Jean Charest.

That announcement of course is for another day, perhaps when it is need most and will provide for the maximum impact.

The press release from the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy outlined the successful bidders, the result of its long running process to add to the marine infrastructure of the nation, the details of which can be discovered through its website.

The CBC offers up a helpful review of just what 33 billion is going to provide (see slideshow here)

Further discussion points on the decision of Wednesday can be found below.

Globe and Mail-- Halifax, Vancouver win $33 billion in shipbuilding sweepstakes
Globe and Mail-- N. S. and B. C. Premiers hail 'Olympic' shipbuilding victories
Globe and Mail-- How Ottawa will reveal shipbuilding winners to yards, Tories and public
Globe and Mail-- Harper's team keeps hands off $35 billion shipbuilding hot potato
Globe and Mail-- Stakes high as Nova Scotia, B. C. Premier lobby for shipbuilding contracts
Globe and Mail-- Billions in shipbuilding contracts will make waves for Harper
Globe and Mail-- Procurement politics: The ship stops here
Globe and Mail-- Long wait almost over for shipyards seeking $35 billion in federal bounty
Globe and Mail-- Secrecy shrouds Ottawa's imminent $35 billion shipyard announcement
National Post-- Hope they float
National Post-- Picking the boat builders
National Post-- Taxpayers, prepare to run aground
National Post-- Quebec loses out on ship contracts
National Post-- A no-win scenario on military spending
National Post-- Public Works, Harper not informed of $35B decision
National Post-- 'Chomping at the bit', Navy says
Toronto Star-- Two winners and one big loser in contest to build military ships
Toronto Star-- Conservatives sailing into rough seas over shipbuilding contracts
CBC-- Was Quebec ships bid sunk by history of red ink?
CBC-- Politics of shipbuilding mean rough seas for Harper
CBC-- Halifax, B. C. yards win shipbuilding work
CBC-- Ships to start in Halifax, but not yet
CBC-- Jubilation as Halifax Shipyard awarded contract
CBC-- B. C. shipyard awarded $8B shipbuilding contract
Vancouver Sun-- Jubilation greets $8-billion shipbuilding contract for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- Post-secondary sector prepares for marine-trades boom
Vancouver Sun-- Deal with federal government pulls B. C. shipyard industry out of long slump
Vancouver Sun-- Jubilation greets $8 billion shipbuilding contract for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- NDP leader's criticism of shipbuilding off target
Vancouver Sun-- East, West coasts win shipbuilding contracts, Quebec frozen out
Vancouver Sun-- PM tells Clark contracts will be awarded without political interference
Vancouver Sun-- B. C. pledges $40 million to back shipbuilding bid
Vancouver Sun-- Evaluation process took the politics out of shipbuilding contracts
Vancouver Sun-- Federal government braces for blowback on $35B shipbuilding contract
Vancouver Province-- Hypocritical hurrahs from B. C. Libs over shipbuilding win
Vancouver Province-- Massive windfall as B. C.'s Seaspan wins $8-billion ship-building contract
Vancouver Province-- Colleges and companies gear up to fill skills and materials for B.C. shipbuilders
Vancouver Province--- Seaspan deal feels like the good old days
Vancouver Province-- 'Positive ripple effects' from deal likely to last decades
Vancouver Province-- B. C. Libs breathe sigh of relief over Seaspan contract
Vancouver Province-- Shipbuilding bid aided by rival's woes

Not everyone is impressed with the Occupation

There's a case to be made that Canada's version of the Occupy (insert your town here) movement isn't carrying quite the gravitas as that of other nations.

Unlike Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and other parts of the European Union, our economic standing isn't quite in the midst of collapse, actually even compared to our neighbours to the south, Canadians for the most part are moving on with life as usual.

Unemployment in some locales is far too high and there is no doubt a growing number of the hidden unemployed that just don't count anymore, lost in the mystery zone of Stats Can statistical calculus, where leaving the EI rolls means you have been zapped away, out of sight, out of mind...

Still, all in all, compared to the rest of the world, Canada has fared the tumult better than most.

Hence, the regular crowd that seems to appear at all protests that have gathered this weekend past under the  Occupy banner.

Kelly McParland of the National Post offers up this review of their efforts in Toronto, a gathering, which in his mind, is one that really doesn't portend of a great movement at the moment.

Some of the other observations from the Occupation's front lines can be found below:

Globe and Mail-- Small group of 'Occupy Toronto' protesters gather outside the TSX
Globe and Mail-- Occupy movement a protest no politician can afford to ignore
Globe and Mail-- For the middle class, Occupy movement is a moment of decision
Globe and Mail-- Occupy: A movement in search of a destination
National Post-- Greed doesn't stop at the 1%
National Post-- Why they're 'occupying Wall Street'
National Post-- March of the global anarchy-crazies
National Post-- The Occupy movement finally comes home to Vancouver
National Post-- Occupy Wall Street protesters get things half right
National Post-- Occupy Wall Street: It's a symptom of something serious
Toronto Star-- Bay Street protest fizzles
Toronto Star-- Planned Bay Street protest divides Toronto activists
Toronto Star-- Occupy Toronto protesters settle in at St. James Park
Toronto Star-- Occupy Toronto: Copycat protest or the start of a true people's revolution
Toronto Star-- Voices from Occupy TO : Why they're protesting
Toronto Star-- Occupy Wall Street and the Canadian connections
Winnipeg Free Press-- Here as long as it takes
Winnipeg Free Press-- Social concerns occupy 'Peggers
Vancouver Sun-- Occupy Vancouver protest stretches in Sunday as protesters set up camp
Vancouver Sun-- 10 best Occupy Vancouver signs
Vancouver Sun-- Occupation could last for weeks say protesters
Vancouver Province--  Occupy Vancouver continues under 24/7 police presence
Vancouver Province-- Occupy Vancouver needs to be peaceful, protesters agree
Vancouver Province-- Occupy Vancouver promises whine-in
Vancouver Province-- Shared angst underscores Occupy Vancouver
Victoria Times Colonist-- Occupy Victoria protesters set up camp in Centennial Square
Victoria Times Colonist-- Occupy Victoria protest draws nearly 1,000 downtown
The Tyee-- Elites foolish to dismiss Occupy Wall Street
The Tyee-- Handful of BC cities set to be "occupied" on Saturday
The Tyee-- Strong labour presence at Occupy Vancouver
The Tyee-- Occupy Vancouver closely followed by BC bloggers, tweeters