Some of the reasons I appreciate Martha Hall Findlay so much is her desire to get things done and to work with people especially the grassroots Liberal who make the energy and substance of the Liberal Party. Her schedule since December 19th has been nothing short of herculean. Her earnest desire to consult, open minded approach to meetings and deep commitment to ensure a safe, new future course for the Liberal Party of Canada is refreshing. I look forward to seeing her in action here in Manitoba and to making sure as many people meet and discuss this with her. She will be here it looks like now Friday Feb 8 to Monday Feb 12 and then again for the Big Event Red and White Ball February 14. On the Red and White Ball I had discussed with her committee here in Manitoba about having a fundraiser to help her with the debt of leadership and we agreed we would like to support her that. After some back and forth discussions we have decided not to go ahead with it and instead we will help put our time and energy behind Don Beemer and his committee for the Red and White Ball. Politics and knowing when to say yes and no.
Leaf win last night AWESOME !!!Bob MacKenzie is saying that Stevie Y is going to be GM of Team Canada at the Worlds...nice to have Stevey Y still involved in our national game !! Should be a good learning experience for him and I hope the expectations are not too high to tarnish him for future help with Wayne and the Olympic team. Jets back in Winnipeg ? I like it - I love it - I want more of it !!!...lets get Chipman and Asper together and make it happen it is doable and we can sustain an NHL team.
Browners Bouquet this week to the National Guy for Martha - Jung Suk Ryu he is a one person team for an 8 person job, works 24-7 supporting the tour, has the tact and diplomacy of a 20 year veteran of the politics, deals with the sensitivities of Caucus and PTA's like a smooth flowing computer program and administers logistical support reflective of the "Big Red Machine of the 90's" - ALL of this with his gal back in Alberta and him in Ottawa - Thank you Jung Suk and thank you Alberta Liberals and Edmonton for producing such and astute and well versed guy !!!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Doc Hockey - cutting edge ideas
My pal Dynamite Dave Petrishen (DDP) the head marketing guy for Burger King in Western Canada also moon lights for Scotty Taylor Website and at Hot 103 as Doc Hockey and always has some stimulating thoughts on our nations passion and pride - hockey! In his last blog he made the observation that Brett Hull did a super performance for NBC on the NHL. I agree with Doc Hockey but I don't agree that the Golden Brett is in the same category as Don Cherry. DDP makes the point that Golden Brett can be brash, bold and controversial which makes for some exciting commentary and not your run of the mill Harry Neale patented " he is got to be one of the best in league at that " crap that we get force fed on the CBC. DDP has some real bright spots and his blog can be read here. On other news some great conversation at Probe Research open house last night . Scott MacKay is certainly becoming a force and his new digs in the Western Canada Lotteries building has a great view of the Winnipeg-cityscape. I had occasion to speak with Ryan Craig Mayor Sam Katz Chief of Staff and Tory big man in the province. We had a mutual past in that he worked for Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution and I worked against it on Lyn Mc Leod's team. We both agreed that Lyn did an abysmal job and the blame lay squarely in the ole boys club around her at the time and not her as she is a wonderful lady. Ryan knows his stuff and is doing a fabulous job with Sam and the City. I would hope that they - The City - are able to help with even more to support or able to garner more support for the Aspers Bomber bid. I agree with Vic and the manner he puts the Canadian Human Rights Museum and the Bomber Bid in the same category - they are not . We need a new stadium give David the agreement and support.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Lets Get the Party Re Started !- Browners Bouquet Barb King !!
January 18th, 2007
“Let’s Get the Party Re-Started!”
Liberal AGM ‘07
Well this is what I have to say after attending the extremely well run and informative Liberal Party of Canada (Manitoba) Executive meeting tonight chaired by President Sharon MacArthur. I have been asked to provide a synopsis of the AGM Agenda to date - well here it is.
The March 9, 10 and 11th event for the Canad Inns Polo Park is going to be an exciting, energetic meeting.
To start we will be hosting for the First time a Blog/Internet Location this facility will be Chaired and run by Federal Revenue Chair Don Beemer.
The agenda will start out Friday night with another First Ever - All Liberal Event chaired by Darryl Balasko where every Liberal in the province will be invited and welcomed for a night of entertainment and socialization. The theme is "Lets Get the Party Re-Started!" and we have put together events and happenings to stimulate change and renewal for our Liberal philosophy. Saturday will see Policy Discussions in the morning and Election Readiness sessions in the afternoon. The Election Readiness session will have both our internet guru Liberal "Blog King" Jason Cherniak whom has been widely acknowledged as the internet energy behind our new leaders victory December 3rd and the architect of Martha Hall Findlay's Big Red Bus -Quitto Maggi. Then a Media Information and Education session will be coordinated by Award winning Canadian Director and Life Long Liberal Don Marks. The Saturday Night Dinner will see our new leader Stephane Dion speak to his agenda and our changing party.
Sunday promises to equalling stimulating with Party Elections and a Constitutional Plenary Session slated to happen.
Our AGM committee is reflective of the changing nature of the Liberal party here in Manitoba and has elements from all 8 Leadership Campaigns BUT in keeping with our "include everyone attitude" if you have suggestions please forward them along and we will see what we can do. Tonight's Executive Meeting saw Jane Fudge offer the suggestion of a Heritage Display of Liberal traditions and personalities which we hope the Committee agrees to at our next meeting.
I like it it is fun and we have a great team putting the AGM together !
I gotta to tell you I just really truly appreciate Barb King she is always on top of things and just a pleasure to be around ! Thanks for being you Barb - helpful, kind and yes I have to concede this a Habs fan!! you get the Browner Bouquet of the Week!!
“Let’s Get the Party Re-Started!”
Liberal AGM ‘07
Well this is what I have to say after attending the extremely well run and informative Liberal Party of Canada (Manitoba) Executive meeting tonight chaired by President Sharon MacArthur. I have been asked to provide a synopsis of the AGM Agenda to date - well here it is.
The March 9, 10 and 11th event for the Canad Inns Polo Park is going to be an exciting, energetic meeting.
To start we will be hosting for the First time a Blog/Internet Location this facility will be Chaired and run by Federal Revenue Chair Don Beemer.
The agenda will start out Friday night with another First Ever - All Liberal Event chaired by Darryl Balasko where every Liberal in the province will be invited and welcomed for a night of entertainment and socialization. The theme is "Lets Get the Party Re-Started!" and we have put together events and happenings to stimulate change and renewal for our Liberal philosophy. Saturday will see Policy Discussions in the morning and Election Readiness sessions in the afternoon. The Election Readiness session will have both our internet guru Liberal "Blog King" Jason Cherniak whom has been widely acknowledged as the internet energy behind our new leaders victory December 3rd and the architect of Martha Hall Findlay's Big Red Bus -Quitto Maggi. Then a Media Information and Education session will be coordinated by Award winning Canadian Director and Life Long Liberal Don Marks. The Saturday Night Dinner will see our new leader Stephane Dion speak to his agenda and our changing party.
Sunday promises to equalling stimulating with Party Elections and a Constitutional Plenary Session slated to happen.
Our AGM committee is reflective of the changing nature of the Liberal party here in Manitoba and has elements from all 8 Leadership Campaigns BUT in keeping with our "include everyone attitude" if you have suggestions please forward them along and we will see what we can do. Tonight's Executive Meeting saw Jane Fudge offer the suggestion of a Heritage Display of Liberal traditions and personalities which we hope the Committee agrees to at our next meeting.
I like it it is fun and we have a great team putting the AGM together !
I gotta to tell you I just really truly appreciate Barb King she is always on top of things and just a pleasure to be around ! Thanks for being you Barb - helpful, kind and yes I have to concede this a Habs fan!! you get the Browner Bouquet of the Week!!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Big Things on their way!!
Well I look forward to going to the Wheat City Sunday to see Donna, Kevin , Andrew, Carl Stephen and the crew. It will not be so nice not seeing Marg Workman - a consummate life long Liberal and a dear gal whom passed away this past year. I see also ERC Chairs for Manitoba will be out next week it will be nice to get some semblance of organization and 14 calibre candidates nominated and on board for the upcoming election. I personally am looking forward to National Policy Outreach Martha Hall Findlay coming to Manitoba in February and also her attendance at the big Liberal Fundraiser the Red and White Ball on Feb 14 . Don Beemer our Revenue Chair is doing a great job trying new things and reinventing the position post Gomery and C-2.
A couple of Leafs win and Steen stepping up puts me in a great mood going into the weekend!!
A couple of Leafs win and Steen stepping up puts me in a great mood going into the weekend!!
Monday, January 8, 2007
Why..why ..why!
Many people have asked me why I am so involved and committed to this years Annual General Meeting of the Liberal Party of Canada (Manitoba). They tell me I was already Chair of the AGM back in 1992 , I have run campaigns and nominations why put in so much volunteer time AGAIN that I am whacked as there is nothing but undue scrutinization and pain in it for me. Well balderdash or (as a friend just shared with me a nice Canadian expression) "to H-E-double- hockey-sticks with you! To me our party our liberal first among equals philosophy is ALL about being Canadian. As a part of my community, my country and my world I want to contribute in my own small way. We, as Liberals, may well have our differences but it is important we work through them in a civilized manner and move forward. Not to be too "sporty" in my analogies but it is easy to yell and cat call from the cheap seats but quite another to carry the torch in the arena of life and try to make changes . So in a word my Co-Chairing the AGM is important. It is important to me because :
1) I feel for the party to unify as we have come off a divisive and labourous leadership process like no other in the history of the Liberal Party of Canada - the party of reform from within.
2) I know for the members of the party to work through their personal differences and work to a common goal we need to cleanse, heal and move forward with all 8 Leadership Camps playing a role on the AGM Committee
3) I feel it will provide a focal point to the province to show we as Manitoban Liberals are alive and well and we will be a force to be reckoned with
4) I want to have some fun and enjoy working with Liberals from across the province renewing old acquaintances and embracing new ones
5) I need to stand up and be counted and help voice the need for change with an understanding of our past mistakes and a strong will to focus on a better future.
Anyways my nephew lost his game Saturday night but not without a great hockey exhibition between the two high school teams!! Next time Muskies.
1) I feel for the party to unify as we have come off a divisive and labourous leadership process like no other in the history of the Liberal Party of Canada - the party of reform from within.
2) I know for the members of the party to work through their personal differences and work to a common goal we need to cleanse, heal and move forward with all 8 Leadership Camps playing a role on the AGM Committee
3) I feel it will provide a focal point to the province to show we as Manitoban Liberals are alive and well and we will be a force to be reckoned with
4) I want to have some fun and enjoy working with Liberals from across the province renewing old acquaintances and embracing new ones
5) I need to stand up and be counted and help voice the need for change with an understanding of our past mistakes and a strong will to focus on a better future.
Anyways my nephew lost his game Saturday night but not without a great hockey exhibition between the two high school teams!! Next time Muskies.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
No Tobans and Life in N.W.O.
Well my sources on Manitoban Tories getting more representation at the cabinet table (Pallister and Fletcher) were wrong but the Ontario Tory on Baird was right on the money. The defection of Khan is of little consequence as the man had a tough time making up his mind and sticking to his guns. These are not good qualities to have after 2 years in the House. His change of parties is markedly different then Belinda and Scott whom changed philosophies, not just organizations. jason Cherniak has some interesting coments on that one. On the hockey side great to see Canada keep the three-peat !!! Great hockey!Closer to home, my nephew is in town and as a Grade Niner is on the Varsity High School team. He and his Fort Frances High Muskies mates are playing superb hockey against some older competition. Nice to see High School hockey alive and well. They play a team from New Brunswick in the Semi Finals tonight so should be even more good ole Canadian hockey. The Fort High Muskies are very well tooled and skilled team with talent galore. Interesting comments from some of the parents in town for the tourney - they are absolutely terrified of car theft and many told me they shop in Thunder Bay rather than Winnipeg because of the car theft problem. Thunder Bay is farther from Fort Frances than Winnipeg. Not at all healthy or the City to be known for.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Battleground Manitoba
Manitoban Tories are ecstatic as Harper wages war in Toba Turf for the next election bringing even more representation in as sources tell me today's Cabinet shuffle will bring Pallister big lefty from Portage into the fold and see Stephen Fletcher take a larger role as well. In Ontario Flaherty or Baird is rumoured to be in for a shift which strikes me as odd with the Tories need for clear messages and shifting Flaherty or Baird makes no sense but that is what an Ontario Tory is telling me. That would be major. Closer to home Jonathan Toews is the hero who the City should give a HUGE reception to Saturday or Sunday after the Gold Medal. I see also the Black Rod has named some really good people as Citizens of the Year - Cozzy over at 92 CITI is kicking Adlers ass in the Afternoon Drive with his Liberal spouting and cutting edge interviews and Mayor Sam Katz is Man of the Year - great calls for those media muffins at the Black Rod! my question to them what about Clay Young at Cafe as the comeback kid?
Monday, January 1, 2007
Live, Love, Work and Play in '07!!
Well here is my "I would like to witness/be a part of" in 2007 list in order of precedence;
1) that mankind finds sentient life in the galaxy and we begin a planet wide effort to create a environmentally conscience, 1000 family unit space station
2) we find a cure for cancer and (not to be too prideful but to focus on our strengths) that a Canadian leads the path
3) the United Nations becomes more empowered and relevant to the 21st century Geo-political economy and consilience and cooperation become the first lines of approach for ALL governments
4) the Roman Catholic Church reevaluates..no CHANGES the way it treats women
4) poverty and illiteracy/innumeracy are beaten back to less than 5 % of Canadians being afflected by these horrible evils
5) Canada finds a manner to engage its citizens once again and become the leader in finding ways to emancipate the major problems of the 21 st century - poverty, unemployment, racial and gender discrimination, imbalance of power and wealth, workplace democracy, over reliance on technology and environment degradation
6) my friends, family and co-workers all achieve ALL that they want in 2007
7) I do all that I can to continue my personal journey to self-actualization and become the person I can be fullfilling my dreams, hopes and aspirations for a better future
As I look back on '06 I felt social injustice and the treatment of our fellow humans really is becoming more and more the "battleground" for the new world order. The atrocities our Canadian troops have witnessed, the abuse of power by those put in positions of trust by the public, the decaying confidence people have in governments around the world - all these actions/thoughts/viewpoints combine within me to hope for the best in each of us to come out.
The morale compasses we all possess need to be looked to for guidance, our spiritual self's need to be enhanced and nourished and each and every one of us 3 billion strong needs to contribute to setting a steady and sure direction for contributing to our fellow human beings, our communities and in our unique way 3 billion deep make our world a better place to live, love, work and play in 2007.
1) that mankind finds sentient life in the galaxy and we begin a planet wide effort to create a environmentally conscience, 1000 family unit space station
2) we find a cure for cancer and (not to be too prideful but to focus on our strengths) that a Canadian leads the path
3) the United Nations becomes more empowered and relevant to the 21st century Geo-political economy and consilience and cooperation become the first lines of approach for ALL governments
4) the Roman Catholic Church reevaluates..no CHANGES the way it treats women
4) poverty and illiteracy/innumeracy are beaten back to less than 5 % of Canadians being afflected by these horrible evils
5) Canada finds a manner to engage its citizens once again and become the leader in finding ways to emancipate the major problems of the 21 st century - poverty, unemployment, racial and gender discrimination, imbalance of power and wealth, workplace democracy, over reliance on technology and environment degradation
6) my friends, family and co-workers all achieve ALL that they want in 2007
7) I do all that I can to continue my personal journey to self-actualization and become the person I can be fullfilling my dreams, hopes and aspirations for a better future
As I look back on '06 I felt social injustice and the treatment of our fellow humans really is becoming more and more the "battleground" for the new world order. The atrocities our Canadian troops have witnessed, the abuse of power by those put in positions of trust by the public, the decaying confidence people have in governments around the world - all these actions/thoughts/viewpoints combine within me to hope for the best in each of us to come out.
The morale compasses we all possess need to be looked to for guidance, our spiritual self's need to be enhanced and nourished and each and every one of us 3 billion strong needs to contribute to setting a steady and sure direction for contributing to our fellow human beings, our communities and in our unique way 3 billion deep make our world a better place to live, love, work and play in 2007.
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