What do we do now any suggestions ????

Here is something to read about our MVA (Sunny Ways) ;

Kerr: There's a reason why Kent Hehr didn't support the Energy East pipeline

During the last federal election campaign, Calgary Liberal candidate Kent Hehr declared: “Rest assured: When elected, I will pound the table on the need for pipelines. It’s the safest way to transport oil and it is in the national interest.”

Hehr went on to defeat Conservative incumbent Joan Crockatt in Calgary Centre and is now minister of veterans’ affairs in Justin Trudeau’s government.

The federal Conservatives put Hehr’s pro pipeline pledge to the test recently, sponsoring a non-binding motion asserting that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil — exactly as Hehr had proclaimed. The motion also supported the Energy East project.

The Liberals, including Hehr, used their majority to defeat the pro-pipeline motion.

Why did Hehr abandon his original position, thereby letting down many of his Calgary constituents, who would surely have welcomed a vote consistent with his pro-pipeline campaign pledge?

Many Canadians naively expect that when they elect someone to represent them, that person will fight hard for their constituency’s interests. Sadly, that is not remotely how federal or provincial politics work in Canada.

Watch a few political television ads from the U.S.A., which are totally unlike any we see north of the 49th Parallel. American politicians’ voting records are held up to intense scrutiny by opponents: “Senator Smith told us she was in favour of X, which most local people wanted, but she actually voted for Y, which voters didn’t want at all. Smith can’t be trusted to represent the people of Kalamazoo. Next month, vote instead for Mr. Jones.”

This kind of advertisement is almost unheard of in Canada, because our politicians aren’t allowed to represent their constituents’ views, if those views clash with that politician’s party policy.

Since a Canadian government could fall if defeated on certain votes, and since prime ministers and premiers prefer to retain power for as long as possible, party leaders insist that her MPs or MLAs vote as she decrees. There is very little free voting or horse trading permitted.

This primacy of party over constituency interests is called party discipline, leading to so-called whipped votes, where an MP called the whip makes sure the whole caucus votes as the leader wishes. Any MP who votes against the party line jeopardizes her chances of getting into or staying in cabinet, the promised land of more influence and higher salaries.

Hehr probably likes being in government and surely enjoys being a cabinet minister. So do all his fellow ministers. Being in government is much more fun than Opposition, and being in cabinet is a better gig than being a government backbencher.

MPs and MLAs know that if they underperform voter expectations badly enough, they could be voted out, but in the short term, they are much more worried about keeping their cabinet jobs than in voting as their constituents wish. That’s just the way Canada’s parliamentary system is structured.

Many Canadians who voted for Hehr and his fellow Liberals did so to rid Canada of the infamously authoritarian Stephen Harper, who, as everyone knows, ruled Canada unsmilingly, unfashionably, un-photogenically, and with an iron fist, for most of a decade.

Awkwardly for millions of Liberal supporters so relieved that “Canada is back,” Trudeau, who coincidentally was elected with a very similar percentage of the popular vote as Harper’s last majority, now has just as much unchecked power as Harper did in his final years.

Cheerful, photogenic Trudeau has said he admires China’s “basic dictatorship,” has banned anti-abortion Liberals from seeking new nominations and has whipped even symbolic votes like the one urging pipeline support. The current PM is no more of a democrat than Harper was, even if Trudeau seems infinitely cuddlier.

Unlike early Harper minority governments, which had to tread carefully for several years before getting a majority, Trudeau’s government can do pretty much as it pleases until forced to call an election in four years time, as long as Justin keeps whipping those votes.

That’s just the way things work in a country that enjoys democracy every four years and semi-dictatorship during majority governments. Which dictator one prefers is a personal matter, but in Canada, majority prime ministers are all dictators. Sunny ways, people!

http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/kerr-theres-a-reason-why-kent-hehr-didnt-support-the-energy-east-pipeline

pinger wrote:Tx for your post at 20:28 Sparrow. Double edged sword? True enough.

Thanks pinger.

You are going to have to call in some favors Nav to get this done!

Tx for your post at 20:28 Sparrow. Double edged sword? True enough.

I know, I know, I understand ! As soon as JT and Kent drop by.......what time the beer store open till... I'll pass it by them, someone's gotta light a fire under their arse! It's not like we waited 10 years for Otoole or the turncoat Stoffer!

Today on MVA Hehr's facebook page there are numerous posts from Veterans expressing their frustration with the lack of information and action on the Veteran mandate letter and file. When you review the facebook page posts of the last week or so, there is a theme developing one of frustration and anger towards the MVA and his office. Just my observation but the MVA having a facebook page may be a double edge sword because although it is clear that  MVA Hehr is actively meeting his constituents on a  daily  basis, in juxtaposition the lack of details on the Veteran file leaves room to assume not enough is being done.

I want zero deployments! Enough is enough! Our military should be solely for the defence of Canada. Why deploy troops when our government has no intention of looking after them when they return?If your not going to care and provide for the troops on return don't send them. Keep them in Canada where they are safer and provide them with Provincial workers compensation benefits upon injury. I'm so sick of going to the legion and seeing young reserves who were deployed to Afghanistan injured and screwed up and the only thing they got was a lump sum which most blew on trips, girls, drugs whatever now they got nothing! This is where the PA is absolutely essential! I like your report Danny !

But I am just a medically released able seaman, what do I know?

CANADIAN FORCES

Values and cultures
The Canadian armed forces values and culture have evolved throughout the years to where it is now. Canada’s Department of National Defence, evolved from a militia in the late 1800’s to a modern fighting force (to which it is today). Prior to World War I, Canada was considered an unmilitary nation. Nicholson (1962) noted that
She had a small Permanent Force of regular soldiers. Its statutory strength, set at 750 in 1883, had been increased from time to time until in 1905, when the decision to abandon Halifax and Esquimalt as Imperial naval bases led to the withdrawal “of the last British troops in Canada, it reached a maximum of 5000.”(Nicholson 1962).
From the moment the last British troop left and the lifting of the British imperialism over Canada, the Canadian Military was formed. The Canadian forces from that point on continued to expand, increasing in size, to where it stands at today.
Throughout the years our soldiers have fought in many conflicts, proving itself as a well-trained military force. The Canadian armed forces are trained and prepared to help other nations in instilling and maintaining the peace, for this is what is at the core of the Canadian Forces values. Canada’s military is well experienced in overseas conflicts, benefiting militarily from these involvements. According to Nicholson (1962), “not only did Canada’s militia benefit from the experience gained in overseas, but a precedent had been set for Canadian military participation

I wrote this as a class project.
CANADIAN FORCES
In future conflicts beyond her shores”. This statement is still relevant today, whereas the Canadian military continues to participate in overseas conflict.
The Canadian forces, prior to the ongoing war on terrorism was known as a military that could be called upon by the United Nation to perform many duties; such as, peacekeeping, performing humanitarian aid missions, to exemplifying to the world how a military that is controlled by a free democratic government conducts itself.
The culture of the Canadian armed forces is unique in many ways. A lot of the culture that is imparted into the Canadian armed forces are derived from the British military. From drill parades, to rank structure, mess dinners, to also swearing the oath of allegiance to the queen of England; the culture of the Canadian armed forces has been greatly influenced by the British.
One important aspect of the Canadian armed forces culture is the rank structure. The rank structure has two specific types of ranks, which are categorized as a commissioned officer and a non-commissioned officer. The forces having a rank structure allows it to establish a chain of command. A chain of Command is one of the most important function of the military in order to be effective in its operations and missions. Without a rank structure the military would have trouble performing its duties.
The culture of the Canadian military is not only influenced by the British, but it is strongly influenced by Canadian Society in general. Canadians whom serve in the Canadian Armed forces, not only have to demonstrate the ability to properly conduct themselves at home but also a broad. For this to happen almost immediately, members of the forces are exposed to the culture of the military as soon as military training commences.

Peace has to start somewhere? ISIS the gang will be now on the run!!,,,,they are dug in and flying F-18's in circles is not helping. They send signals ahead to other posts...root the assholes out , the ones who want to be capture should give up and the rest can meet their faith. IMO

Boots on the ground boys and girls......HMMMM,,,,,,need more people? Not an expensive way to do it and at no cost of Canadian lives nor blood on the hands of our pilots.
Training their people is the best and only way.....Respected Canadian soldiers training foreign fighters....they want peace as much as we do????

Canadian "UN"armed Forces of Canada, emphasize "UN", Peace will only happen if you are not whipping out your CF-18 and showing them how big they are!
Bombing is doing what?  Killing people? Well! In Canada that would be considered murder.
Do unto others as you want others to do unto you.
Defending our sovereignty? Yes, that is understandable.
This world needs a peaceful place and a place that is neutral from all conflicts. Canada is well known for our freedoms and democratic rights and as Canadian we should be opposed to dropping bombs. (Adding fuel to the fire doesn’t help and plus do we as news readers really understand what is happening overseas?)
Keep in mind readers, this is 2016 and when you are sending 300+ trainers or more of the brightest fighting soldiers from Canada to train the trainers????
Military wise, we are in good hands.

We all know what we need to do and these Veterans exemplify the ultimate snub. Now if veterans are being disrespected I would say this old saying, respect is earned and not given!
Anyone else want to be a puppet? and lest not forget we have no financial obligation to attend any events these :POLITICIANS: have scheduled.
http://gawker.com/veterans-refuse-to-appear-on-stage-as-puppets-for-donal-1757635856

Frustration????????????Holy frickty frack! If swearing was allowed on this site I would have a few choice pleasantries to describe this day  in and day out saga.

A voice from this group on facebook,
Banished Veterans

I have to admit that my patience with this new government is starting to wear out. They made many big promises, not just to vets but to many different groups. They kept their promise to settle 25,000 new refugees by the end of February, they kept their promise to start a public inquiry into the mmiw, which are good things to do. Veterans on the other hand are still waiting. It seems that is what we do best lately, wait. Wait until the economy is right, or, that some Minister finally starts working on the veterans file, or even that the PM finally remembers we are still here waiting. This lot have been sworn in for 3 solid months now, and we veterans have seen almost nothing in attention from the Minister. He has traveled there, traveled here, met these people, met those people, had a yogurt something for breakfast, which is nice and healthy. But, what we have NOT seen nor heard, is one solid thing being done directly for vets. Many of the promises made actually need an amendment to already existing legislation, yet this Minister has not submitted one single piece into the House. For example, all those veterans who were screwed out of their money when it was clawed back from their ELB payments, just the SISIP and RCMP vets, all this Minister needs to do is amend the date in the legislation that O`Toole put in when he changed the date from September 30 2102 to May 29, 2012, to amend THAT date to April 1, 2006. One simple amendment and a few thousand veterans are then authorised to be paid back their clawed back money. Do we see this amendment in the House yet???? NO. How about the Earnings Loss Benefit rate of 75% of pre-release salary being amended to 90% of pre-release salary, another election promises????Nope, nothing there either. Instead the Minister is attending Chinese New Year celebrations and having a party. How friggin nice for him! I guess when JT said sunny ways are here, he didn`t mean for Canada`s veterans!

John G. as a quick note as well, has anyone actually checked out the budget pre-consultation that we can participate in????? Notice that the word veterans does NOT appear ANYWHERE?????

Royal Canadian "UN"armed Forces of Canada. I emphasize "UN", Peace will only happen if you are not whipping out your CF-18 and showing them how big they are!