Election 2011: One Person's Point of View

Photo: soxophone player, Folckr ccl

Note: The following YouTube speaker begins by saying that the Federal Tories spent $26 million on "attack" ads in the last 3 months of their government. The actual fact is those ads were paid for with taxpayer money, but the subject was advertising touting the Harper government's economic stimulus. 

This stimulus was announced in 2009 and, at the time the Tories were defeated yesterday, was nearly finished if not completely. The ads were highly partisan, but not "attack" ads. The confusion arises, I believe, in that the Harper Tories were running party funded attack ads at the same time.

Both sets of ads ran simultaneously to Tory Ministers criss-crossing the country re-announcing spending that had already previously been announced with much fanfare.

Disclosure: I'm not associated in any way with any Federal party, be it the NDP, Liberals or Conservatives. I'm a Canadian. The only time I was ever a member of a political party was in the 1990, provincially, when I joined to vote to defeat the Liberal leadership bid of Roseanne Skoke, a rabid anti-gay rights advocate who, among other things, called homosexuality "unnatural and immoral."  My membership lapsed after one year and has never been renewed. 

I have voted for all three major parties in the past. Although I do have specific views on where I think Canada should be socially. My main goal is to speak truth to power, and remind us all of what has been going on in Ottawa for the past several years. I am doing this because I believe it has brought shame to Canadians.

Also, I do not know the person speaking in the YouTube video in any way.

On to the video with this post:

This video is a 7 minute recital from an Atlantic Canadian outlining his disbelief in the Tory Party's high polling numbers. He comes  across as somewhat conspiratorial (which I do not agree with) but does make many valid points.

For example, I don't agree with his ideas about pollsters being in the PMOs pocket, but it's very strange how a government can have as many scandals as the Harper government had and still be within majority government territory. That is according to a Friday Ipsos poll release.

So how can a poll be skewed? One explanation could be that as we age it is human tendency to become more small-c conservative. The youth of the 60s-70s are now in, or nearing, retirement. Also older voters, since they are at home more, watch more TV which exposed them more frequently to the ads, and are available to answer pollster telephone calls. 

In no way am I casting aspersions on older Canadians, who I personally value and respect. They are the ones who built the country we now enjoy. It is just one possible explanation for the polling numbers.

Perhaps Ipsos should try an online poll…

So the Conservatives have spent $26 million of taxpayer money on feel good "partisan" ads in 3 months. On CBC this morning they cited that the Conservatives bought more than 6,200 individual spots over that time period. That's massive. The four other parties combined equalled less than one third that number.

But how else have they been spending our money?

In March, a scandal surfaced when it was alleged that Immigration Minister Jason Kenney used government resources to raise money for his party. It came to light by accident when a package of material was inadvertently sent to an NDP MP with the same last name as a Conservative MP.

The package includes details of a Conservative strategy to build their party brand by targeting 10 ridings that are considered to be "very ethnic," since they have "ethnic" populations of at least 20 per cent. It referred to non-caucasian voters as "targets." 

Remember, Kenney was Minister of Immigration in the just defeated government, and was dissecting Canadians into individual market segments capable of being targeted. Not only morally repugnant and reprehensible, but also a misuse of government funds.

From the letter: "There are lots of ethnic voters. There will be quite a few more soon. They live where we need to win." 

By their own statements, to the Harper Conservatives, if you're "ethnic" you're less a person than you are a market segment.

In addition, in November, Conservative senators were found to be using tax-payer funded literature to target Liberal ridings with partisan messages, according to the Toronto Star. It was reported in that paper that at least one did so at the bidding of the  Conservative National Campaign Office. This is contrary to laws passed on the spending of public money.

Remember when you were young? 

Did your parents ever catch you drinking or smoking? How many times did you do it before they found out? 

Food for thought...

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Recipe: When life gives you Blood Oranges... and a recipe!

And every day when I've been good, I get an orange after food. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Blood oranges. Photo: CLC Photography, Flickr ccl

The inspiration for this recipe came after discovering blood oranges on sale at one of the local groceries. If you’ve never had a blood orange you’re missing something special.

A blood orange is a type of orange that has dark red flesh, rather than orange. This is caused by the presence of anthocyanis pigment, which is uncommon in citrus. Anthocyanis is the pigment that gives most red plants their colour. 

Blood oranges develop their dark colour by maturing in areas that have cool nights. When fully ripe, the red colour often extends to the rough outside peel giving sort of a beaten and bruised look. Buy worry not. That's what you want!

The taste, although citrusy, is very unlike that of other oranges. If pressed, I would have to say they have a “berry” flavour. The darker the flesh, the more pronounced the berry taste. The oranges I bought were almost black. So I had to do something special with them.

So what does one make? How about….

Chicken with Blood Orange Reduction

Prep: 10 min  | Cook: 20 min  | Serves 4

5 blood oranges (3 juiced; 2 whole)

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, sliced in half and then into half rings (not chopped)

1 tbsp Grand Marnier

3/4 cup chicken stock

1/2 tsp dried tarragon (or 1 tsp of fresh, chopped)

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp butter

salt and pepper, to taste

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan that you can cover with a lid. Season the chicken breasts with salt and lots of  cracked black pepper. Sear the chicken breast until they release naturally from the pan. Flip and repeat on the other side. Remove the chicken, cover and let rest.

Add the onion to the pan and sauté until softened. Add the Grand Marnier to the pan to deglaze. Pour in the chicken stock, juice of 3 blood oranges and the tarragon. Simmer until reduced by half.

Add the chicken breasts back to the pan, cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. While the chicken is simmering, peel and segment the remaining two oranges. This includes removing the membrane that covers each segment. Cut each segment in half. Set aside.

After 5 minutes, remove the chicken from the pan. If you think there’s still too much liquid, boil for a short time to reduce. You should have a generous 1/3 cup, plus the onion.

Add the orange segments to the sauce and allow to heat slightly. Then turn off the heat. Stir the honey into the reduced sauce. Then stir in the butter. Adding the butter gives "body" to the sauce. Taste for salt and add if necessary.

Serve the chicken topped with the orange and onion sauce and more black pepper.

If you've never segmented an orange, this 2 minute video shows exactly how to do it:

Easy, right?

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Election 2011: Huh? What just happened?

The Conservative government of Stephen Harper has lost a vote of non-confidence in the Parliament in Canada. So a Writ will soon be dropped. What does all that mean?

Inside the House of Commons. Looks small, doesn't it.
Photo: steven_n_maher, Flickr ccl

Here's a short synopsis of what happened today, how it happened and what could happen.

Who can form a Government in Canada? 

A majority

The "Government" consists of EVERY sitting member (MP). Common usage of the word, though, refers to the "ruling party" that brings forward most, but not all, legislation. It's a bit confusing to be sure. For example, your MP is part of the Government, even though they may not be a member of the party in power. (This is why there  was such a stink raised when the last ruling party put out notice to officials to refer to the government as "The Harper Government". It actually isn't. It's the "Canadian Government.")

If after an election, a certain party has a majority, it is traditional that the Governor General (GG) asks that party to head a government for her Majesty in Canada. The leader of that party becomes Prime Minister. We do not elect a prime minister, but a party based on its policies. In majority, a governing party can pass pretty much  any legislation it wants.

A minority

In the case of the last parliament, we had a minority Conservative (Tory) government. That means the TOTAL of the other parties seats were more than the Tories. The GG still asked the party with the most seats to form a government, but to last it has to have the “confidence” of the other sitting members. Confidence is essentially what you think it means. The elected MPs are confident in the government to govern responsibly. 

To pass legislation in a minority situation enough non-government MPs have to vote with the government to make a majority to pass legislation. You should be prepared for a lot of give and take in your legislation in a minority to get things done. If a minority sits firm and won’t give an inch it is possible to make it appear that the other “unreasonable” parties caused the election. That was probably, in part, what happened this afternoon.

Confidence votes

Some votes are not linked to confidence. Others are, like budget votes or ones moved to be confidence votes. That’s what the Liberals did this afternoon. They were able to make the vote, with the other parties help, a confidence motion. It was based on the recent contempt for parliament finding against the Tories. You see, the government makes legislation, but parliament governs. Without that confidence, in a minority situation, a government is at risk of falling.

In Canada, a non-confidence motion is a motion in the House of Commons, which, if passed, means that the government has lost the confidence of the House. The parliament withdrew their confidence (ongoing support) for the Tory government. So it fell. It’s gone. Good bye. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

What exactly is "contempt of parliament"?

From Wikipedia: In many jurisdictions governed by a parliament, Contempt of Parliament is the crime of obstructing the parliament in the carrying out of its functions, or of hindering any Member of Parliament in the performance of his or her duties. Actions which can constitute a contempt of Parliament vary, but typically include such things as:

• deliberately misleading a House of Parliament or a parliamentary committee;

• refusing to testify before, or to produce documents to, a House or committee; and

• attempting to influence a Member of Parliament, for example, by bribery or threats.

This is very serious. The Harper government has the dubious distinction of being the only parliament in the Commonwealth to ever be found in contempt. Ever.

So what will happen next?

1. We have an election,

2. Or not.

Huh?

I’m not saying this is probable to happen, but the Governor General does not have to accept an election as inevitable. He can, at his discretion,  1) ask the prime minister to resign and a new Tory leader take over, or  2) ask the other parties that make up the duly elected parliament to form a minority (or majority) and govern. 

Either scenario is entirely constitutional and within the rules of parliament. Parliamentary democracies have been governed by coalitions very successfully in the past. A coalition currently governs in the United Kingdom.

Prepare yourself for an onslaught about a dreaded “coalition” we will be hearing about ad infinitum from the Tories for the next month. But it’s perfectly legal in our system.

A writ will be dropped

But what will most likely happen is a “writ will be dropped”. Dropping the writ is the slang term for when the prime minister goes to the head of state (GG representing the Queen) and formally advises him to dissolve parliament. By convention, the head of state grants the request and issues a “writ of election” for a new parliament.

A “writ” is written order commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or cease performing a specified act. In this case, the Government of Canada to hold an election.

Parliamentary democracy may make your eyes glaze over but it’s fundamentally important to you as a Canadian. We do not have the same system as our friends to the south, the USA. Most Canadians probably understand democracy from their system, not ours. 

The Tories have used our lack of knowledge of how our government is supposed to run to their advantage several times over the past few years. A case in point is the “Coalition” that was so “wrong” and "against democracy" to the Tories. I’m not saying I would be in favour or one, but it’s not against our laws. No matter what Stephen Harper, John Baird and the rest will be saying over the next four weeks.

In the US two party system (essentially) you either have a majority in Congress or Senate or not. No in between except for the odd Independent here and there. The US government is divided into the legislative (Congress and Senate), the Executive (the President and Cabinet) and the Judiciary (the Courts).

Canada is entirely different, with only a legislative and judiciary, with different laws and mechanisms as to how our government may legally act. The "executive branch" is within the sitting parliament and governs at the majority's will. That's a big difference.

And that is what occurred in Ottawa today.

So, Canadians, that is what is happening. Hope it helps explain what, and a little why.

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Election 2011: The Writ will soon be dropped.

Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night. – Bette Davis in the role of Margo Channing, All About Eve 1950

Don’t let this be your reaction. Please...

The minority Conservative government of Stephen Harper will soon be is no more. A vote of non-confidence will pass in the Canadian House of Commons before the end of today, unless something extraordinary comes to pass.

Rideau Hall, the official home of Canada's
Governor General. Photo: jessica @ flickr,
Flickr ccl

Steven Harper will be making a trip, most likely on Saturday, to Rideau Hall to visit Governor General David Johnston. He will advise the Governor General that parliament, by majority vote, has lost confidence in the government and said government must be dissolved and an election held.

That means the future of Canada is in my hands. And your hands. And the hands of the person sitting next to you. It is up to us to express our will as to who will guide our ship of state.

I will not pontificate in this post (can’t promise for the future) as to how I think you should vote. But I WILL pontificate on two of the words: think and vote. I don’t care who you vote for, just as long as you go to the polling station on election day and do your democratic responsibility. 

Your vote matters. It really, really does. I may agree (or disagree) with policies or actions of any or all the federal parties. But I will listen to the arguments and proposals about to flood our lives, and decide based on thought, not "who I always voted for" or "how my parents always voted." But believe me, I will vote.

You need to as well. The percentage of eligible Canadian voters actually casting ballots has steadily declined over the last two decades. 

Year Voter Turnout

1988 75.3%

1993 69.6%

1997 67.0%

2000 61.2%

2004 60.5%

2006 64.7%
2008 59.1%

The people who make up the majority of the turnout are increasingly ones with a “beef.” Apathetic Canadians just think “oh well, it doesn’t matter if I vote or not.” I tell you it does. Just what does your not voting mean? The result is only one portion of Canadians opinions are being expressed by ballot, and therefore represented in Parliament.

At a dismal 59.1% voter turnout, that means over 4 out of every 10 Canadians had no say in the governing of their country for the last 3 years. That’s atrocious.

In addition to overall voter apathy, another trend is the frighteningly low rate of youth voting. Only 25% of eligible voters aged 18-24 voted in the 2000 federal election. Studies also show a trend that if you don’t vote when young, you most likely won't vote when you get older.

Canada's Parliament buildings in Ottawa. Photo: Stephen Downe, Flickr ccl

What are we, sheep? If you disagree with a government, you change it one of two ways: revolution (which I do not suggest) or voting in candidates who reflect YOUR ideas. The electing of those who govern our country is the responsibility of every Canadian. It should be a moral imperative to us all.

When candidates or their minions come to your door, GRILL them on the issues. Ask them about their record. Ask them about their party’s positions on YOUR concerns. If they don’t have a position, or you disagree with them, support a party that does. Perhaps you will even inspire an opinion from them. Look no further than the quickly adopted party positions on internet Usage Caps to see what a united "WE" can do.

Let’s be honest. It’s not like you’re either voting for a dictatorship or communism. Believe me, all parties will be cast in that light over the next month. Doom and gloom will be prophesied from all sides in efforts to paint their opponents in the worst possible light. 

In Canada, the political parties are all crowded into the centre. Some are a more right, some more left — but all more or less in the centre. The present Conservative government certainly has its issues. The last Liberal government definitely had theirs. We lived through them both.

But now it’s your turn to be judge, jury and executioner. It’s up to every eligible Canadian of voting age to do their duty. It’s a terrible burden. First you have to weight the issues agains your concerns, then decide who to support, and then—horror of horrors—take about half hour of your life to cast a ballot. That probably includes your walking time to the polling station and back home. Think of all that we have because of our democracy. Support it as it supports you.

So who can vote in a Canadian federal election?

Photo: Chialion, Flickr ccl

Voting on Election Day

To vote in a Canadian federal election you must be a Canadian citizen and be 18 or older on election day. You should be on the voters list to vote. It’s more difficult, but not impossible, to get on it at your polling station on election day.

Voting in Advance Polls

If you are not able to vote on election day, you can vote in the advance polls. Locations and times of advance polls appear on the Voter Information Cards that Elections Canada mails to all registered electors once a federal election has been called.

Voting by Special Ballot

Eligible voters who do not wish to vote at their polling station, or cannot get to a regular polling station on election day or during the advance polls, can vote by mail, or in person at the office of the returning officer, using a Special Ballot.

To use a Special Ballot, you must have a Canadian address for electoral purposes and your vote will be counted for that riding. It is important to apply for a Special Ballot as soon as possible. Elections Canada will process your application, then send you a voting kit, which must be completed and received back by Elections Canada by 6 p.m. EST on election day. You can get an application form by calling Elections Canada at 1-800-INFO-VOTE (1-800-463-6868), from your riding returning officer, or from the nearest embassy or consulate.

How long is a federal election campaign?

The length of federal election campaigns vary, but under the Elections Act the minimum length of a campaign is 36 days.

If you know someone who plans not to vote, encourage them to change their mind. If you know someone who may need help getting out to vote, help them. We’re Canadians, people. Make YOUR voice heard.

The up side of all of this? At least we will only have to put up with the political posturing and idiotic messaging for only a month.

As Winston Churchill said: “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried.”

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Recipe: Is Poutine haute cuisine? It’s French….

If you want to look young and thin, hang around old fat people. – Jim Eason

The 2010 International Poutine Eating Championship, Toronto, Canada
Photo: onlyandrewn, Flickr ccl

Poutine is a guilty pleasure of many people around the world. Born in rural Québec in the 1950, it has now transcended its humble beginnings to not only greasy spoon diners, but also higher end restaurants where “traditional” toppings are replaced with luxury food items. I highlighted “traditional” because originally there were no toppings. They are all later additions.

This sinfully delicious dish takes only 3 main components: medium thick cut french fries, chicken gravy (or “brown” sauce – equal parts chicken and beef broth) and fresh cheese curds. It’s actually quite delicious when it all comes together. The hot gravy melts the fresh cheese over and into the fries so you have a fantastic cheesy, stringy forkful every bite.

Chips and gravy are quite common in takeouts and diners in North America, but it’s the fresh cheese that transforms it into poutine. No fresh cheese, no poutine.

Sadly, not very low in calories either. But what good in life doesn’t make you fat?

Component 1: french fries 

(or pomme frites if you want to get technical since the recipe comes from Québec)

You don’t have to heat up the deep frier unless you actually want to. I have had some great results lately using frozen french fries you bake in the oven. One local Canadian brand (McCain’s) has an extra crispy style that actually has the texture of deep fried when baked. This is a Godsend to me, as regular readers will know of my aversion to pots of oil on the stove. Also a little more healthy one would assume.

Fresh cheese curds are available bagged at your
grocer's deli.

Component 2: the brown sauce

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

4 cups of broth (either all chicken, or half chicken half beef)

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

The sauce is actually a “juiced up” broth. Simply take the butter, heat it in a saucepan and add the flour to make a roux. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the taste of the flour. Then slowly add the broth and allow to simmer for 1/2 hour. After simmering, taste for salt and pepper. Don’t be afraid of either ingredient when you add them. (Can you say healthy?)

Component 3: fresh cheese curds

Fresh cheese curds are the solid parts of soured milk used mostly in Canada and the northeastern/midwestern United States. They are available locally from the grocery in little bags, and in Canada are almost always a product of Quebec. These unripened irregularly shaped balls of cheese are not really able to be substituted. If it’s absolutely impossible to get them either mozzarella or mild white cheddar can be used, but it isn’t the same.

The plated delicacy! Photo: mttsndrs, Flickr ccl

To assemble: 

Place hot fries on your plate or in a bowl. Sprinkle cheese curds over the top and ladle the hot gravy over the top. Let it sit for a minute for the hot gravy to melt the cheese.

Mmmmmmmm.....

Here are a few toppings you can add to your poutine:

• fried onions

• cut up hot dogs

• chicken pieces

• hamburger

• peas

Some “upscale” toppings include:

• lobster

• foie gras

Don’t turn your nose up at the lobster. Veal with lobster, and a light “sauce,” is a common upscale restaurant dish, and is delicious. Just change the basic gravy above to something less "beefy" in the recipe.

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Recipe: More booze. Highland (Whiskey) Bitters

But O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes. – William Shakespeare 

A cure-all bitters label from the late 1800s. Wikipedia cc.

Well, "being" bitter is not the kind of bitter I’m going to talk about here, although I have been accused of that mood on more than one occasion! No, I want to talk to you about Bitters, that drop or two of mysterious liquid you put in cocktails, and the single bottle lasts you forever. 

There’s more to it than you may think, and I believe the recipe below may change your mind about the stuff. If you already have an opinion…

Angostura bitters. Wikipedia cc

Bitters is a botanically infused alcoholic beverage. The botanicals give a bitter or bittersweet flavour to the base alcohol. The word "bitters" derives from the fact that it does not contain any sweetening despite being strongly flavored (and alcoholic). Flavourings can include roots of many kinds, herbs, spices and even citrus peels, among assorted other botanicals.

Throughout the 1800s many bitters were sold as cure-all tonics. One wouldn’t doubt a person would feel better after drinking them. Usually the alcohol content was (and still is) 40% or more. Nowadays, more truthfully, they are sold as “digestifs,” and are most commonly used for flavouring cocktails.

Angostura bitters, certainly the best known, does not contain angostura bark, but rather is named for the town in Venezuela which it was first introduced. In the United Kingdom, Angostura bitters are not classified as an alcoholic beverage, and can be purchased by people of any age. This I find a bit odd, as it contains 44.7% alc/vol.

In Scotland, bitters were traditionally drunk before meals, especially breakfast “for the purpose of strenthening the stomache, and by that means invigorating the general health.” Any kind of spirit could be used and sometimes wine or ale.

Breakfast of champions? This recipe, if it doesn't prove too "bitter" may even be "sippable." Well, let’s just see...

This is "Hess House" bitters ageing.
Photo: ReeseCLloyd, Flickr ccl

Highland Bitters

From A Country Cup: Old and New Recipes for Drinks of All Kinds Made from Wild Plants and Herbs, Wilma Paterson, 1980

7/8 oz (22.5 g) gentian root

1/2 oz (15 g) whole coriander seed

1/4 oz (7.5 g) bitter orange peel (Seville orange peel)

1/8 oz (3.5 g) dried chamomile flowers

1/4 oz (7.5 g) whole cloves

1/4 oz (7.5 g) cinnamon stick

750 ml whisky

Finely chop the gentian root and orange peel (free of pith). Place in mortar with seeds, cloves, cinnamon and chamomile flowers. Bruise all together, place in an earthenware jar, pour in the whisky and seal. Leave for ten days, then strain and bottle. 

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That’s as easy as it is to make this bitters. But remember: garbage in, garbage out. Don’t buy the cheapest bottle of whiskey and expect a miracle to happen.

I’m going to make a half recipe this weekend. I’m not that much of a whiskey fan, except for Irish which I doubt would work very well in this recipe, so half will last me a good long time.

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