Ottawa

BTC: Amnesia

A moment please for Peter MacKay.

It’s been almost two years now since he allegedly made canine reference to Belinda Stronach, but still, whenever discussion turns to sexism in Canadian politics, his is the standard that is cited as precedent. And this time he has only to look across the cabinet table and ask why Rona Ambrose was apparently unable to resist calling into question Stéphane Dion and the entire Liberal party in demanding Robert Thibault apologize, thereby making such comparisons inevitable.

But MacKay, in his eternal defence, is hardly alone in this glass house Ms. Ambrose (who, herself, once demeaned Ken Dryden’s age, race and gender) has neatly constructed. Maurice Vellacott resolutely remains a member of Conservative caucus despite his questionable comments on the matter of Ms. Stronach. As does Monte Solberg. 

Mind you, the latter’s comments are not so easily referenced, published as they were on a blog that is long ago defunct. In fairness then to Mr. MacKay and so that Mr. Solberg might get his due credit, we reprint them here.

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May 17, 2005

What do you get for the girl who has everything?

Personally I don’t think it’s fair that a guy should come into work only to be split in half by an axe. How I yearn for those old days of last week when it was considered a scandal to be uncivil in the House. Where does this fit in on the incivility scale?

Shakespeare so wants to be alive so that he can write about this. Its the story of a woman who cares so much about Canada that she is willing to sacrifice all kinds of personal relationships and her principles just so she can get to Cabinet for the benefit of all Canadians. And why not? I mean the Liberals really value her for her ideas. No, seriously.

Ya that’s it. They care about her insights on skills training. Sure it will help to have her vote on the budget, but really it’s her ideas they want. I bet those senior bureaucrats are salivating at the idea of doing a little “blue skying” with B. on the foreign credentials thing. That’s been her strength all along. It’s just that we Conservatives didn’t see it. We didn’t draw that out of her the way we should have, and now we are paying the price.

Good luck girl with those Liberals. If you can’t trust them, who can you trust?

POSTED BY MONTE AT 7:11 AM  

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May 18, 2005

Belinda Stronach of no fixed address

Come on everyone, lay off. Belinda is who she is. I’m sure this time she’s really found her niche. Wouldn’t surprise me if she stuck with it for several months. Maybe even a year. Next, who knows, maybe she’ll be a marine biologist, or a circus performer. That’s what free spirits do.

No there is none of that getting stuck in a rut for that girl. When things aren’t going her way, she gets going. She’s gone before you can say, “The Liberals are corrupt”, which is what she used to say all the time. But it’s a woman’s perogative to change her mind, and I support her right to do that. But it’s also her perogative to use her mind, which I would also support.

All the best B. as your live life with, apparently, no regrets.

POSTED BY MONTE AT 8:25 AM

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