Sounding off on arts cuts

Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe continued to attack the Conservatives' cuts to arts and culture today in a speech to the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.

The cuts have become an important issue in Quebec, if only because the province's artists have been increasingly vocal about them. A major concert and protest took place last night in Montreal, attended by Duceppe and NDP leader Jack Layton, who promised to reverse the $45 million in program cuts.

In his speech, Duceppe told the business leaders arts and culture generated $1.4 billion for Montreal's economy alone.

Then he had a bit of fun. He reminded the audience of California governor and former Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's criticism of Ottawa and Washington for inaction on the environment.

"We're sending a strong message to our federal governments that states and provinces are moving forward in the absence of federal action," Schwarzenegger said yesterday  during an announcement of a regional market among 11 provinces and states to trade carbon emissions and lower greenhouse gases.

But for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives, "Schwarzenegger isn't credible," Duceppe said.

"He's an artist!"

- Andrew Chung

No sign of Goldilocks — or the third bear

Sure, the sign at the Travelodge in Kenora said "bear sightings in parking lot," but who pays attention to signs?

Not intrepid Radio-Canada reporter Daniel Thibeault, travelling with NDP Leader Jack Layton's campaign.

Early this morning, Thibeault decided to get some fresh air and have a cigarette after the tour reached this northern outpost.

But he came face to face with a large furry parking lot dweller.

"Oh my God, there's a bear," exclaimed the TV reporter.

Thibeault then spotted another bear lurking in the dark.

Coolly finishing his cigarette, he went back inside, giving his friends a blog item for their election notebooks.

"It's just a bear," he said.

Not on the same team

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has rejected any suggestion of forming a coalition with the NDP after the next election. Instead, Dion suggests that NDP Leader Jack Layton has already teamed with political allies.

"Mr. Layton already has his coalition, I understand. He has a coalition with the nudist party, a coalition with the marijuana party," Dion told reporters during a stop in Burnaby, B.C.

Dion was referring to the troubles that the NDP has had with candidates in B.C., including two who quit after online videos surfaced which showed them allegedly smoking marijuana. And B.C. NDP candidate Julian West dropped out after questions about his naked swim in front of some teenagers 12 years ago.

Liberal candidate Ujjal Dosanjh was more biting on the topic of a Liberal-NDP coalition, telling reporters that Layton already had a coalition with the Conservatives. That's a reference to the NDP, Conservative and Bloc Quebecois move to topple the minority Liberals in Nov., 2005, sparking the election that brought Prime Minister Stephen Harper to power.

"As a result, what we had was the death of Kyoto, death of Kelowna and death of a national childcare program. That is the coalition he entered into. We are running to form a government and replace Mr. Harper," Dosanjh said.

- Bruce Campion-Smith

So much for the skinny-dipping Dipper

B.C. NDP candidate Julian West has called it quits over a controversial naked swim in front of some teenagers 12 years ago.

The Saanich-Gulf Islands New Democrat says his nude hijinks were becoming a distraction for NDP Leader Jack Layton's national campaign.

While Layton has steadfastly defended West, the former Green Party candidate suggested his naked 1996 romp as a 32-year-old environmentalist at a youth conference was too much to overcome.

"After thinking about it, I have determined that I do not want to continue as a candidate and I have informed the party of that decision," he said in a statement.

"I do not want my candidacy to detract from the campaign or from the issues that should be front and centre in this campaign. I'm going to return to my private life now, and I sincerely hope the campaign will be focused on the issues."

Although he's "resigned," West's name will still be on the ballot as the deadline for candidates to step down or be replaced has passed.

A dozen high school students witnessed West's infamous swim and his nude body-painting at a camp on Mesachie Lake in B.C., and he was asked to leave the two-day conference.

At the time, the RCMP deemed his behaviour "inappropriate," but he was never charged with any crime.

On Sunday in Gatineau, Que., Layton said Canadians were more concerned about serious issues like the shortage of family doctors than the youthful indiscretions of political candidates.

- Robert Benzie

Bilingualism comes to Hamilton

NDP Leader Jack Layton’s orange campaign bus caused quite a stir when it parked outside the Crowne Plaza in Hamilton this afternoon.

The Prevost bus, emblazoned with massive photos of Layton, also boasts links to the party’s website, ndp.ca and npd.ca.

“Look at that, there’s a typo on the bus,” said one woman as she smoked a cigarette outside Effort Square.

“It says NPD. Should say NDP,” she muttered to a friend between hauls of her smoke.

Of course, NPD stands for Nouveau parti démocratique du Canada, the NDP’s name in the nation’s other official language.

- Robert Benzie

Now, that's a security detail

While the RCMP provide bodyguards for all the federal leaders during the election campaign, NDP Leader Jack Layton had an unusual show of force this morning.

Layton's leased Air Canada Airbus 319 was flanked by two Air Force McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fighter jets on the tarmac at the Esso Avitat terminal at Ottawa International Airport.

While impressive display of military might seems a stark contrast to Layton's more pacificist views, he was known as a scrappy street fighter in his days at Toronto city hall.

And, of course, such firepower could be useful in the Oct. 2 leaders' debate.

— Robert Benzie

iJack

Reporters travelling with Jack Layton were welcomed into the inner sanctum of his musical tastes when he connected his iPod to the loudspeaker on his campaign plane.

As expected, the strains of War by Edwin Starr could be heard, but there was also Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas and Vivian Hawke and Shaft by the recently deceased Isaac Hayes.

"Some of you have the notion that the 60s were all about war and liberation and all that, but these are the songs of the 60s," Layton said into the microphone used by the flight attendants. "Later I'll show you how to dance to it."

Instead of dancing he later took up the guitar and led the plane in rousing versions of folk songs.

There was some Canadian content - notably Four Strong Winds by Ian and
Sylvia, Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell and a lively a capella version of  Barrett's Privateers -- but Layton was also eager to sing Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a Changin and pointed out the political themes.

He began the sing-along with Puff the Magic Dragon, but it took some convincing given that reporters had hounded him about the resignation of two NDP candidates in BC after online videos surfaced which showed them allegedly smoking marijuana.

At first Layton pretended his songbook was missing that song but once reporters reassured him it was meant as an ironic and good-humoured joke he gave in and played it.

-- Joanna Smith

Sunny Outlook

The NDP scrambled to find a last-minute candidate to run in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky riding but now have a nomination set for tonight.

While the riding has gone either Conservative or Liberal in the past two decades, the NDP has a core group of support (especially in the Sunshine Coast and Squamish area) and got a respectable 20 per cent of the votes last time.

"We have at least one member who is willing to run and feeling quite confident on taking on that role and speaking for Jack Layton," says riding association president Bill Forst, the former campaign manager of he-who-has-gone underground Dana Larsen.

Larsen, a former candidate of the Marijuana Party, resigned Tuesday after a video showed up of him using LSD and driving while stoned.

The confident candidate? Bill Forst.

- Petti Fong

Ask and he shall answer

There were some nervous giggles from NDP staffers as they watched Jack Layton being interviewed by Peter Mansbridge from a room in the downtown Toronto CBC headquarters.

One viewer had emailed a comment expressing frustration by what she described as Layton avoiding straight answers to questions.

"Is it possible for you to answer a question, Mr. Layton?" the viewer asked.

"Oh no!" one staffer gasped.

Layton answered "Yes."

-Joanna Smith

NDPers like sardines in a can

A volunteer in the Davenport riding campaign office of NDP candidate Peter Ferreira started rounding up supporters to stand behind Jack Layton for the television shot.

She told them it would let audiences see the crowd in the room, except the 17 or so people now in the frame pretty much constitute the whole crowd.

So, as usual at these "crowded room" campaign events, Layton will make his supporters stare at the back of his head while he delivers a speech to the national media.

Obama indeed.

Update: There are some actual people in the room now.

It is hot in here.

 

-Joanna Smith