While I normally report from Ottawa, I was in Toronto this weekend for Pride, and just to let you know, of the federal leaders representing at Pride, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Elizabeth May were all in attendance. Only Layton was riding aboard a float, the New Democrats this year having decided that not having a float – while not as green – meant they were getting lost in the crowds. The provincial Progressive Conservatives had a whole half-dozen people marching with a banner. To no one’s surprise, the federal Conservatives did not represent, but it might surprise you to know that the federal government did give money to Toronto Pride this year as part of their Marquee Festival tourism programme – a nice change from their usual habit of only funding “family friendly” festivals.
Mario Silva and Rob Oliphant (and his very lovely husband) were also marching in the parade, along with Gerard Kennedy and Bob Rae (I’m sure there were others, but those were all I could see from my vantage point, though I was told on Friday that Carolyn Bennett was really excited about marching), while Olivia Chow was riding on the NDP float with her husband.
Also this year, there was a small contingent of RCMP constables in the parade in and amongst the various police services, and the Canadian Forces had a sizable contingent this year as well as a recruiting booth in the fair. I also noticed that one of their trans members was also representing, so go Canadian Forces for being a progressive military organisation!
Speaking of the Forces, Her Excellency was in Halifax on the weekend to present them with new ceremonial colours – an age-old tradition. And check out this photo of Her Excellency in her uniform as the Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces. She can pull off a uniform and make it look stylish too!
(Canadian Press photo)
It has also been announced that Her Excellency will also open the Vancouver Olympic Games in February and not the Queen as had been suggested. It is part of the Olympic charter that a country’s head of state is supposed to open the games, which would generally mean the Queen. Harper, however, has decided that Her Excellency will do it instead in her capacity as the designated representative of the Queen. Fear not, however – the Queen will be visiting Canada some time next year, even if it’s not for the Olympics.
The Toronto Star’s “Sham-ocracy” series continued with bonus parts over the weekend, starting with a story about how the Information Commissioner, having given his resignation, threatened to storm the Privy Council Office to seize documents that he had long-ago requested, but that PCO was stalling on releasing. PCO, however, blinked and surrendered the documents a day later. Now why couldn’t he have started using these powers while he was still sticking around?
As well, there are further developments to their early story about MP’s spending habits – which allege some wrongdoing on the part of a few MPs – and a big essay from columnist James Travers about how it will take a selfless leader to start fixing what is wrong with our democracy – one who will worry more about policy than politics. The problem is, everyone who says they’ll fix things end up sticking to ruling from the centre once the reality of their position sets in, which is a pretty disheartening thought.
And finally, over in Victoria, the BC Civil Liberties Association is raising the alarm over police plans to use new body-mounted video cameras when conducting bag checks for people smuggling liquor into the Canada Day festivities. Organisers say that they’ve had problems the past few years with drunks at the fireworks festivities and on busses, while the BCCLA say the police searches are illegal, and want people to launch a class-action suit against them. Because apparently nothing says Canada Day like an assault on civil liberties.