Yes, there was a little blue

Last year on Canada Day, a local Ottawa radio station, Hot 89.9, called for a boycott of the festivities because of how Conservative blue had elbowed out traditional red-and-white in the colour theme of the Parliament Hill stage. Canada Day blue

As I recall, no one actually ever explained what the blue emphasis was all about. But this year, it was a little more subtle. So where was the blue in yesterday's festivities?

1. In the sky, fortunately. It was near-perfect weather for Canada Day.

2. In the light bathing the Parliament Hill buildings after dark. Yes, as night fell, all those lovely limestone buildings were immersed in a vivid blue hue.

3. On stage - Blue Rodeo was the marquee act, after all, and lead singer Jim Cuddy's brother, Loftus, was a Conservative candidate in Toronto-Danforth in the 2004 election.

It should be noted, however, that Cuddy has said he didn't vote for his brother and that, if memory serves, Jim Cuddy is more likely to be found at events in support of NDP leader Jack Layton (who holds the Toronto-Danforth seat.) Cuddy's politics

Comments

[Platty]

It should be noted, however, that Cuddy has said he didn't vote for his brother...

Uh, exactly why is it that this "should be noted"?

Just making sure that you are not promoting anything "Blue" there Ms. Delacourt?

Too funny.....

=

[Gabby in QC]

Ms. Delacourt, I notice you almost always wear red during your appearances on Don Newman's PG Pundits.
Would viewers be right in concluding that you are serving as a walking ad for the Liberal party?

When this same issue was visited in 2007 (also by you, I believe), a comment on another blog linked to a picture showing the 2005 and the 2007 Canada Day festivities had practically identical stage set-ups, i.e. a lot of blue as well as red.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find the link to convince doubters.

How grateful am I, though, that I live in a country where an apparently major concern is how much of a colour is displayed by whom ...

[Mike G]

There is blue all over government websites, too.

I don't understand why people are okay with this. It isn't on the flag. The only reason it is there, just like the only reason the new lowest-bracket tax rate was red instead of black on T1 forms, is Conservative politicking.

They also like to run internet banner-ad campaigns about government changes with (obviously) public money, like one I spotted a few months ago: "Tax Savings for Everyone! Click here to learn more!"

I am glad there was less blue around this time -- and I certainly don't mind if it's the Quebec shade of blue, but I haven't seen any of that. It's the darker Tory blue. Every government website has some blue now.

Would we just swallow it if an NDP government put orange everywhere? So many things seem to indicate that, still, years into it, Harper & friends still don't seem to understand that they are running the government of the entire country, not turning us Conservative Campaign Central.

Anyway, Happy [belated] Canada Day! Heh.

[jad]

According to the TV commentator, the blue this year was due to Labatts being the sponsor. Sometimes it's too easy to see conspiracy everywhere.