DAY TWELVE: Quick Hitters ((#3 in a series)

A bunch of links from around the Canadian web all related to the upcoming democratic exercise that is so pissing Stephen Harper off!

 The Conservative Leader refuses to comment on reports of campaign rally attendees being kicked out or barred entry for 'suspect' partisan loyalties -- one young woman was apparently ordered to turn her T-shirt inside out because it had a slogan endorsing environmentally-friendly fuels. Mmmmm, that's some pretty tasty democracy! Apparently I'm not the only one who is noticing the similarities between the PM's campaign and the one run by Karl Rove on behalf of GWB jr..

 Ralph Surette of theChronicleHerald.ca talks about a flagrant violation of parliamentary process committed by the federal Conservatives and his experience in dealing with the Harper regime and why he feels a Harper majority would be frightening.

 A report on those extremely expensive jets that Stephen doesn't want to discuss, says the costs could double. My favourite line: A U.S. analyst says Ottawa’s estimate of $75 million per F-35 may not include engine. There were complaints that with only a single engine the F-35 was poorly suited for patrolling Canada's North. With no engines it is of course perfect for keeping track of what's going on in the hanger, and it'll cost less.

From over at Rabble.ca an interesting read entitled "Restoring democracy: in Canada and Eight good ideas for the election and beyond"

Michael Ignatieff weighs in once more on the wasteful spending that took place at the G8 and G20 summits.

 Michael is campaigning in Quebec today and has a controversy on his hands as one of his candidates has been accused of making ignorant comments about aboriginals calling them "featherheads." Ignatieff said he has an ordered an investigation into the comments by André Forbes, the party’s flag-bearer in Manicouagan and promised “decisive” action, perhaps by the end of Wednesday. Hopefully he keeps his word on this and takes a no-nonsense approach as well. This kind of crap has no place in Canada, let alone as part of our national discourse. I just read a post that says the candidate in question, Andre Forbes has already been dumped!

 Signs that Iggy is feeling feisty on the trail has him firing away at Harper while visiting a local hardware store in Compton Quebec. He was contrasting the Liberal approach of treating rural and urban Canadians equally, while Mr. Harper was going at it “wedge issue by wedge issue, divide and split, divide and rule.”

 The Globe and Mail provides a terrific primer on the different party platforms - compare, contrast and come away better informed.

NDP leader Jack Layton was busy today unveiling a $537 million dollar plan to help aging Canadians stay in their homes longer. "Seniors are the fastest-growing age group in this country and they are looking to be assured that quality and accessible health care will be available when they need it."

Layton vowed to make home care an insured service under the Canada Health Act and to introduce a "Quality Home Care Plan" to improve access for some 100,000 more families a year.

Jack Layton also said that Canada’s universal health care system is in jeopardy if the Conservatives form a majority in this election and that Stephen Harper can’t be trusted to protect it. hard to argue that when of all the monies that Harper talks about spending our health care system is never mentioned.

 Green Party Leader Elizabeth May announced she will unveil her platform tomorrow in Toronto and that she is once again renting a private train car and doing a whistle-stop tour from Toronto to Montreal. I'll be there to greet her and see if I can get some pics.