Newsstand: November 23, 2009
The Making of a Medley
The Daily Photoist: November 23, 2009
Televisualist: A Kinder, Gentler Televisualist
It's been a tumultuous month so far in Canadian politics, with an unlikely centre-left coalition seeking to oust the newly re-elected Conservatives from power in Ottawa. But although Prime Minister Stephen Harper put the kibosh on the opposition's attempt to boot him from office before year's end, Saturday's duelling noontime pro- and anti-coalition rallies in Toronto went on as planned, showing just how much this unusual crisis has shaken residents across the political spectrum.
Conservative rhetoric about the opposition's "undemocratic coup d'état" had clearly had an effect on some in the anti-coalition group massed at Queen's Park. Shouts of "Arrest Layton!" could be heard from the crowd of several hundred, and one sign showed a picture of Stéphane Dion wrapping a scarf around his neck with the caption, "TREASON: Alright, let's jus' get dis 'anging over wit." Angry placards were outnumbered by little Canadian flags, however, with most attendees preferring to manifest their views in a display of polite patriotism.
Several blocks away at Nathan Phillips Square, the simultaneous pro-coalition rally had both numbers and star power on its side: about 1,500 people crowded outside City Hall to hear speeches from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, NDP Leader Jack Layton, and emcee Mary Walsh (of This Hour Has 22 Minutes and CODCO fame), as well as a short acoustic set from Broken Social Scene. Also present was a variety of interest groups that would stand to gain under a more left-leaning government, including labour unions, the International Socialists, Fair Vote Canada, and ecoSanity.org. And although there were fewer accusations of treason, coalition supporters were just as passionate as their opponents, at one point taking up Barack Obama's signature chant of "Yes we can!"
With Michael Ignatieff set to take over as Liberal leader before week's end, however, the likelihood of a progressive coalition ushering in change on this side of the border is becoming less and less likely. But whatever the outcome of this unprecedented period in Canadian political history, the crisis will eventually end and both sides of the coalition debate will have to live together with the result. Despite all the heated rhetoric, those who attended both rallies want passionately what is best for the country. And if they can sustain that passion when the smoke clears, our democracy will be stronger for it.
Photos by Miles Storey/Torontoist.
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The whole "Yes we can" thing makes me cringe. I've heard "Yes we can" at a rally about hate crime, "Yes we can" and "Obama!" at a rally about student fees, "Yes we can" at a protest about cycling...I am really sick of "Yes we can".
When I sense someone's trying to rally ideology-based emotions within me, I kind of involuntarily shut down.
Anyway, they mentioned Canadian politics on Fox or some American news network with the caption "Canadian politics: QUEEN INTERVENES!". Which is hilarious.
Ha! I'm getting tired of the "yes we can" chant as well. On my way to the pro-coalition rally I saw an ad on the subway for Dr. Bernstein (you know, the weight loss guy) and it seems HE'S using it now (although, it's changed to "Yes you can", which is pretty much the same thing.) At the rally when the crowd started chanting, I stood there quite embarrassed.
All of this is just irritating, or maybe it is just me. A bunch of Nero's, fiddling for personal power while the economy burns, all masking their own ambition in such a thin lie about principles.
For the politicians it's a power grab -- started off by nothing more than a fight over money. And for the coalition hoards, it seems nothing more than a whiny attempt at a do-over because their party didn't win.
Blech to it all, and may saner and more ready-to-work heads prevail come the new year.
For the record, Fair Vote Canada was also present at the No rally. According to an FVC organizer, they had four volunteers and came prepared with about 700 flyers.
FVC is a multipartisan organization with several prominent Conservatives on their advisory.
The official position of FVC is not to support or to condemn the coalition, but to point out that this whole mess is a result of the dysfunctional voting system we are using. FVC is for coalitions AFTER a proportional representation election.
Here's a link to the executive director of FVC's op-ed on the coalition crisis
Here's a link to the flyer distributed at both rallies
Why are so many people against democracy/the coalition?
/bait
I did like the piece at the AGO that has plainly: "If Obama can get elected president, I can clean my room. Yes I can."
yes we can is THE WORST! no sorry, the THE WORST is:
Yes we Can-ada
Which I also heard at the rally. Which I was at. And generally enjoyed. Harper is toast. Maybe in January. Maybe in a year. He will never win a seat in Quebec. He will never form a majority government.
Btw. Torontoist, where are you getting your #s from? The Globe and Mail had attendance at 3000, you report 1/2 that. I'm actually asking this sincerely. How do media organizations determine this? What is the standard?
robducey: I got the 1500 number from Canwest's story on the rally. As for how they (or the Globe and Mail) determined their number, I'm not sure. Outlets sometimes get attendance information from event organizers or the police, though.
"And if they can sustain that passion when the smoke clears, our democracy will be stronger for it."
Hear, hear.
The only trouble is that our parliamentary democracy is nested within a constitutional monarchy.
Therefore, key decisions still reside with unelected officials, e.g. the Governor General.
Worth examining in the light of the current crisis.
thanks Jerad.
seems like both of those sources could have a vested interest in spreading misinformation.
it also occurs to me that Canwest would like the Coalition rally to seem to have the least amount of support they can reasonably report without seeming like outright liars. i feel like i have seen 1500 people in a place before and there was a lot more than that there.