Althia Raj is not a hostile witness. When a Toronto Star cheerleader quotes anonymous Liberal MPs about a PM who punches down and locks the paper trail, the honeymoon is over.
I couldn’t help thinking of my own Liberal MP, Peter Fragiskatos.
Peter’s nickname is “The Undertaker.”
He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t speak, he has no opinions, or ideas: he just climbs over the bodies.
He voted for every single initiative presented by the “former” government.
He has been referred to as the “Sgt. Schultz of MPs: he knows nothing, he sees nothing, he does nothing.
He collects his pay. He speaks when spoken to. He has neither mustered nor spoken an independent thought in eleven years. I doubt the “Diminutive Diva of Davos” even knows his name.
Speaking of which, how many folks out there have experienced a boss with “small man syndrome”.
I have. That is precisely of what Prime Minister Carney reminds one.
It is important to remember one thing about bosses afflicted similarly: that is, when things go wrong, not one of those MPs will waste a piss even if the boss’s hair were on fire.
Splendid article, and stellar Canadian commentary.
Until they split our electoral district in Oakville/Burlington, we had a non-entity like that, as well. Liberal Pam Damoff, or “Dam Pamoff” as she was known. It’s not just the exorbitant salary, but the perks and pension as well.
Thanks for another insightful commentary. Carney to me appears to believe in top down interventionism and managerialism ......an arrogant technocrat who thinks society is a collection of problems to be managed.
We need an Angus McLintock (Best Laid Plans) by Terry Fallis, in the House of Commons. Kidding aside, MC is deceiving many people and at breakneck speed because unfortunately Canadians in general are politically illicit and ignorant and way too 'nice'. If he has nice hair and nice smile and he says the right things when in public then he must be nice and doing the right things. Not to be doom and gloom but what is front of Canadians is soon going to show what we are made of and what we are not made of. That people in general have not pushed back on Bill C-5 in a greater way is telling me all I need to know about the backbone of Canada. Yes, some people are fighting this for sure but if people really knew the potential seriousness of this they would be in the streets marching and protesting. That they are not is concerning.
Canadian political illiteracy is mostly due to the CBC and the MSM not doing their jobs. They are leftist hacks. They proudly carry water for the liberals and you will not hear truth from them. Doubt whatever they say because much will be exaggeration and lies. Perhaps Ms. Raj is “breaking the mold.” I hope so.
Not entirely. It’s up to individuals to keep their gov’t accountable and in order to do that they have to read history, engage at political levels where they can and be proactive. Media is one part of that but it’s not all of it. Blame is part of being politically illiterate.
You are asking for a level of involvement that most people, due to family, work and other commitments don’t have the time or energy for. So that which they trusted to give unbiased and correct information has failed.
That is probably true for some. But long gone is the day when people sat for breakfast with the newspaper and got the “political” news in an unbiased manner.
Carney is the leader of the Liberals in the same manner that Justin Trudeau was. That is, the leader enables the MPs to get elected. On their own, they are a local personality with little ability to get elected beyond school boards. 75% of the current Liberal caucus would be now be ex-MPs except for Carney.
Ms. Raj is speaking for the Laurentian Liberal establishment (all Star subscribers). She misunderstands parliamentary democracy as different (and apparently preferable) to governing, as in a government that accomplishes things. She says "I feel your pain. Return my call when I'm after an insider story."
I didn't vote for Carney but I'm interested if he actually accomplishes something of benefit to Canada.
One can only hope that enough MP will grow a spine and stop this, but I guess you are right in your assessment of the qualifications of those individuals.
On the other side, the methods also matter. Sure, I would like that Carney achieves something good for Canada, but if the cost is that it must be done his way, that only whoever he chooses will benefit, and that taxpayers (instead of private investors) must pay for it, then is a very bad deal, even if he is successful.
Ian, Carnage is not for Canada ! He will only accomplish control and socialism type actions to ensure control. He taxes us without remorse and talks loudly of the pittance he gives back, to some, not all.
Do you have assigned sense of what beneficial accomplishments he might have in mind? He's been most vocal about transitioning the country to what he calls "clean energy." To that end he's announced a $1T plan to expand our electrical grid to better accommodate renewables. I personally don’t believe achieving those goals will benefit Canada. Others may disagree.
Your article suggests that there is more than a passing resemblance between the governing style of Donald Trump and Mark Carney. Both have autocratic tendencies.
It seems Mr Carney has settled in to his new role quite comfortably thanks to a semi conscious voter base and an overly accommodating MSM.
True colors are beginning to show themselves as the honeymoon fades and perhaps a bit of buyers remorse is being contemplated by some subordinates.
Dogbert in Scott Adams Dilbert comic strip identified this strategy many years ago.
INTIMIDATION BY LOUDNESS
Mr Carney is keenly aware that every single liberal caucus member owes their political life to him.
Liberals were fleeing like rats on a sinking ship a mere 24 moths ago.
The expectation is fall in line, be seen and not heard, speak when spoken to except to media of course.
The question is when will he start yelling at the ones he owes his political life to and will they have anything to say or will they fall in line as well?
I guess we'll see where this goes. I don't think Raj could be fairly characterized as a "loyalist." She's a credible observer and commentary so there is surely something to this.
It's not just entertainment though folks. Carney has us starting on a trajectory that we need and he seems to be making progress like no PM in my 6 decades.
People like to watch train wrecks but derailment now is most clearly not in our interest.
Of all the comments here, what you're saying Bill, makes the most sense to me.
I like Althea, she is very smart and deeply insightful. And courageous. She says what she sees.
One does not need to be too well read to know that hubris is the monkey on Carney's back. He is smart, experienced and very well educated. He has a vision for Canada, one that is desperately needed today. And Carney has the heft, the skills, the rolladex and the know-how to do something really great for Canada and Canadians.
But he can't do it on his own.
And he can't do it with his fellow 3-piece suit and tie crowd either.
He needs an XO. Someone who drinks beer and swears alot. Someone who has boots in his or her closet. And someone with the cajones to push, not yell, back when needed. He needs, we need, Canadians to be busy doing their part of these projects even if they don't understand the whole big picture.
Unfortunately, the ranks of sitting MP's are a pretty dismal effete lot. More Justin Trudeau and less Doug Ford.
Mark Carney is the smartest, most capable and competent leader we have had for a long time. I hope he can read this situation quickly and accurately and make the personal and procedural course corrections.
This assessment immediately put me in mind of Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru, and the Canadian macaques in the Liberal voters/sycophants, the Laurentian elites, and the media who represent them well.
I'm pretty sure we can create an AI candidate who will get elected and do a better job than any sitting MP. So let the man yell. The country is at war and there is no room for petty egos.
I've worked at alot of places. Here's a partial list:
Dun and Bradstreet, the ad departments of Winnipeg Tribune and its sucessor the Winnipeg Sun, the circulation department of the Winnipeg Free Press, the a decade and a half producing content and hosting on air at the CBC, the board of the Manitoba Kidney foundation, the board of Winnipeg's Rainbow Resource Centre, one of the founding members of Pink Money Events charitable event fundraising non-profit group, and member (2000-2004) of the executive committee and secretary to the board of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, during the bad days when we were crafting a strategy to keep them from bankruptcy.
My take on this is what anyone with time in the corporate world, rather than the political nest, would experience.
Bosses don't like to be bugged with things they've already delegated.
Bosses at Carney’s level have only 24 hours in the day, to get 48 hours of work done.
They get testy when people step outside the chain of command for feedback, that has been set up, and told applies to that MP.
They get annoyed at the lack of self awareness and entitlement shown by an MP who despite being coached otherwise, still requests to meet personally to discuss something that could be handled by the minister-in-charge-of.
And yeah. Depending on their stress that day, and level of sleep deprivation, sometimes they yell at people who do. Not. Get. The. Message- about "this could have been an email."
So I'm going to show Carney some grace. And remind some of the caucus snowflakes --
" It's not about you.
If you have re-election concerns, talk to the Whip.
If you have policy doubts, meet with the cabinet minister.
And ask yourself everytime you The MP want to call, or "pop in" to the head of this country's government: 🤔 Could this be just as effective as an email, with receipts attached?".....
But above all, don't go mewling in public about how mean your boss is.
Never in the history of work, anywhere, has that been a good strategy.
I enjoyed the article very much.
I couldn’t help thinking of my own Liberal MP, Peter Fragiskatos.
Peter’s nickname is “The Undertaker.”
He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t speak, he has no opinions, or ideas: he just climbs over the bodies.
He voted for every single initiative presented by the “former” government.
He has been referred to as the “Sgt. Schultz of MPs: he knows nothing, he sees nothing, he does nothing.
He collects his pay. He speaks when spoken to. He has neither mustered nor spoken an independent thought in eleven years. I doubt the “Diminutive Diva of Davos” even knows his name.
Speaking of which, how many folks out there have experienced a boss with “small man syndrome”.
I have. That is precisely of what Prime Minister Carney reminds one.
It is important to remember one thing about bosses afflicted similarly: that is, when things go wrong, not one of those MPs will waste a piss even if the boss’s hair were on fire.
Splendid article, and stellar Canadian commentary.
Until they split our electoral district in Oakville/Burlington, we had a non-entity like that, as well. Liberal Pam Damoff, or “Dam Pamoff” as she was known. It’s not just the exorbitant salary, but the perks and pension as well.
Great point.
The gift that keeps on giving.
Excellent comment and assessment!
Thanks for another insightful commentary. Carney to me appears to believe in top down interventionism and managerialism ......an arrogant technocrat who thinks society is a collection of problems to be managed.
We need an Angus McLintock (Best Laid Plans) by Terry Fallis, in the House of Commons. Kidding aside, MC is deceiving many people and at breakneck speed because unfortunately Canadians in general are politically illicit and ignorant and way too 'nice'. If he has nice hair and nice smile and he says the right things when in public then he must be nice and doing the right things. Not to be doom and gloom but what is front of Canadians is soon going to show what we are made of and what we are not made of. That people in general have not pushed back on Bill C-5 in a greater way is telling me all I need to know about the backbone of Canada. Yes, some people are fighting this for sure but if people really knew the potential seriousness of this they would be in the streets marching and protesting. That they are not is concerning.
Canadian political illiteracy is mostly due to the CBC and the MSM not doing their jobs. They are leftist hacks. They proudly carry water for the liberals and you will not hear truth from them. Doubt whatever they say because much will be exaggeration and lies. Perhaps Ms. Raj is “breaking the mold.” I hope so.
Not entirely. It’s up to individuals to keep their gov’t accountable and in order to do that they have to read history, engage at political levels where they can and be proactive. Media is one part of that but it’s not all of it. Blame is part of being politically illiterate.
You are asking for a level of involvement that most people, due to family, work and other commitments don’t have the time or energy for. So that which they trusted to give unbiased and correct information has failed.
Many that do have the time don't engage is my point. They don't want to.
That is probably true for some. But long gone is the day when people sat for breakfast with the newspaper and got the “political” news in an unbiased manner.
Carney is the leader of the Liberals in the same manner that Justin Trudeau was. That is, the leader enables the MPs to get elected. On their own, they are a local personality with little ability to get elected beyond school boards. 75% of the current Liberal caucus would be now be ex-MPs except for Carney.
Ms. Raj is speaking for the Laurentian Liberal establishment (all Star subscribers). She misunderstands parliamentary democracy as different (and apparently preferable) to governing, as in a government that accomplishes things. She says "I feel your pain. Return my call when I'm after an insider story."
I didn't vote for Carney but I'm interested if he actually accomplishes something of benefit to Canada.
One can only hope that enough MP will grow a spine and stop this, but I guess you are right in your assessment of the qualifications of those individuals.
On the other side, the methods also matter. Sure, I would like that Carney achieves something good for Canada, but if the cost is that it must be done his way, that only whoever he chooses will benefit, and that taxpayers (instead of private investors) must pay for it, then is a very bad deal, even if he is successful.
Ian, Carnage is not for Canada ! He will only accomplish control and socialism type actions to ensure control. He taxes us without remorse and talks loudly of the pittance he gives back, to some, not all.
Do you have assigned sense of what beneficial accomplishments he might have in mind? He's been most vocal about transitioning the country to what he calls "clean energy." To that end he's announced a $1T plan to expand our electrical grid to better accommodate renewables. I personally don’t believe achieving those goals will benefit Canada. Others may disagree.
The man is a narcissist who wants to get rich off Canadians. He loves the power and doesn’t care to be accountable to anyone.
Your article suggests that there is more than a passing resemblance between the governing style of Donald Trump and Mark Carney. Both have autocratic tendencies.
They're both CEOs to the core. Their nature is to decide and execute, not to seek consensus.
Very interesting, thank you. I really appreciate your work.
Bravo Dr Navrro
It seems Mr Carney has settled in to his new role quite comfortably thanks to a semi conscious voter base and an overly accommodating MSM.
True colors are beginning to show themselves as the honeymoon fades and perhaps a bit of buyers remorse is being contemplated by some subordinates.
Dogbert in Scott Adams Dilbert comic strip identified this strategy many years ago.
INTIMIDATION BY LOUDNESS
Mr Carney is keenly aware that every single liberal caucus member owes their political life to him.
Liberals were fleeing like rats on a sinking ship a mere 24 moths ago.
The expectation is fall in line, be seen and not heard, speak when spoken to except to media of course.
The question is when will he start yelling at the ones he owes his political life to and will they have anything to say or will they fall in line as well?
I’d guess that because the criticism is coming from a female journalist, he’ll dismiss it as he dismisses their questions.
I guess we'll see where this goes. I don't think Raj could be fairly characterized as a "loyalist." She's a credible observer and commentary so there is surely something to this.
It's not just entertainment though folks. Carney has us starting on a trajectory that we need and he seems to be making progress like no PM in my 6 decades.
People like to watch train wrecks but derailment now is most clearly not in our interest.
Of all the comments here, what you're saying Bill, makes the most sense to me.
I like Althea, she is very smart and deeply insightful. And courageous. She says what she sees.
One does not need to be too well read to know that hubris is the monkey on Carney's back. He is smart, experienced and very well educated. He has a vision for Canada, one that is desperately needed today. And Carney has the heft, the skills, the rolladex and the know-how to do something really great for Canada and Canadians.
But he can't do it on his own.
And he can't do it with his fellow 3-piece suit and tie crowd either.
He needs an XO. Someone who drinks beer and swears alot. Someone who has boots in his or her closet. And someone with the cajones to push, not yell, back when needed. He needs, we need, Canadians to be busy doing their part of these projects even if they don't understand the whole big picture.
Unfortunately, the ranks of sitting MP's are a pretty dismal effete lot. More Justin Trudeau and less Doug Ford.
Mark Carney is the smartest, most capable and competent leader we have had for a long time. I hope he can read this situation quickly and accurately and make the personal and procedural course corrections.
Otherwise, we are hooped.
This assessment immediately put me in mind of Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru, and the Canadian macaques in the Liberal voters/sycophants, the Laurentian elites, and the media who represent them well.
I'm pretty sure we can create an AI candidate who will get elected and do a better job than any sitting MP. So let the man yell. The country is at war and there is no room for petty egos.
It was over for me when he showed up. It was over for me after we got rid of Trudeau. This guy is worse. Far worse.
" The experiences, Raj writes, left a lasting imprint."
Hopefully a neatlydefined boot imprint on their soft Tudeauesque inspired buttocks.
Were it not for PM Carney most of them would be out of caucus.
Sickening man. He could care less about ANYTHING but himself. His profile, his European friends.
Carney hates Liberals as much as your readers do. Now that is real skill
Hmmm.
I've worked at alot of places. Here's a partial list:
Dun and Bradstreet, the ad departments of Winnipeg Tribune and its sucessor the Winnipeg Sun, the circulation department of the Winnipeg Free Press, the a decade and a half producing content and hosting on air at the CBC, the board of the Manitoba Kidney foundation, the board of Winnipeg's Rainbow Resource Centre, one of the founding members of Pink Money Events charitable event fundraising non-profit group, and member (2000-2004) of the executive committee and secretary to the board of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, during the bad days when we were crafting a strategy to keep them from bankruptcy.
My take on this is what anyone with time in the corporate world, rather than the political nest, would experience.
Bosses don't like to be bugged with things they've already delegated.
Bosses at Carney’s level have only 24 hours in the day, to get 48 hours of work done.
They get testy when people step outside the chain of command for feedback, that has been set up, and told applies to that MP.
They get annoyed at the lack of self awareness and entitlement shown by an MP who despite being coached otherwise, still requests to meet personally to discuss something that could be handled by the minister-in-charge-of.
And yeah. Depending on their stress that day, and level of sleep deprivation, sometimes they yell at people who do. Not. Get. The. Message- about "this could have been an email."
So I'm going to show Carney some grace. And remind some of the caucus snowflakes --
" It's not about you.
If you have re-election concerns, talk to the Whip.
If you have policy doubts, meet with the cabinet minister.
And ask yourself everytime you The MP want to call, or "pop in" to the head of this country's government: 🤔 Could this be just as effective as an email, with receipts attached?".....
But above all, don't go mewling in public about how mean your boss is.
Never in the history of work, anywhere, has that been a good strategy.