Blast from the past - 2006 Dion Policy Channel interview

During the leadership race, way back in 2006, Dion was interviewed by Satya Das from Policy Channel in Edmonton, Alberta. Being at least two years old, the interview is a bit out-of-date and some policies have of course evolved in that time. But I thought it was worth re-posting because it provides an in-depth discussion of several policy areas.

In this bilingual interview, Das and Dion discuss Alberta, the environment, energy, the economy, the north, social justice, especially for Aboriginal people, the Kelowna Accord, international peace and security, and water management.

This interview was one of the major factors in my conversion to big-L Liberalism. I had a good impression of Dion previously, especially as environment minister, and was very glad when he won the leadership. This interview showed that he understands the complex interrelationship between the environment, social justice and the economy - his "three pillars." And also the impact of the environment on international issues, e.g. water security has a huge impact on the potential for violent conflict. I was also pleased with his emphasis on Aboriginal issues, especially education.

Taped in Edmonton during the 2006 Liberal leadership race. The interview is in three parts - parts 1 & 2 in English; partie 3 - en français. (Mouseover the video to select another video from the series.)



PART 1
In this 2006 interview, Dion discusses his experience in government, his vision for the future, "reconciling the people and the planet," Alberta, energy and the environment. "I'm ready right away to be a very good leader and partner for Albertans. Alberta is my country. I fought to keep Alberta as part of my country." Also discusses international issues - democracy, health, avoiding war and violent conflict, human rights. Emphasizes importance of water management around the world.

PART 2
Dion discusses the north, Aboriginal people, education for Aboriginal youth, the Kelowna Accord, the economy, his three-pillar approach, the sponsorship scandal.

PARTIE 3
Stéphane Dion discute la course au leadership libéral (2006); l'Alberta, l'environnement, l'économie; l'approche à trois piliers - prospérité économique, justice sociale et environnement durable; le cercle virtueux; sa vision pour l'avenir.

Dion on As It Happens - audio

Stéphane Dion discussed the Liberal platform and took questions from listeners on this evening's As It Happens (CBC Radio One):

http://www.innutube.com/play_audio.php?audio=77
(Note: audio will start automagically when you click the link)

The Green Shift, good for corporate Canada

Stéphane Dion explains the tax advantages for corporations in The Green Shift policy.



Dion on TVO's The Agenda, September 18, 2008. See the complete interview on the TVO website.

Healthy environment = healthy economy

Dion links a healthy environment with a healthy economy -

Canadians should not pay more taxes. But we need to be taxed differently to be stronger collectively.... When we ask Canadians, "What is your priority, the economy or the environment?" my answer is both. We need to bring them together instead of opposing them.

Stéphane Dion on TVO's The Agenda, September 18, 2008. See the complete interview on the TVO website.

One mile wide and one inch deep

Stéphane Dion's response to the federal budget, February 26, 2008: "A budget that is one mile wide and one inch deep." (EN/FR)

More on the Liberal response to the budget at http://www.liberal.ca/story_13624_e.aspx (EN) or http://www.liberal.ca/story_13624_f.aspx (FR).

And today's Question Period (EN/FR) -
Stéphane Dion asks the prime minister to bring back Bill C-30, the revised Clean Air Act, supported by all three opposition parties and dropped when Parliament was prorogued in the fall of 2007. Dion notes that the Conservative plan is so weak that polluters won't pay, they'll get paid. That would be by you and me, the taxpayers. Paying polluters to pollute - now that's getting things done!

Stéphane Dion - A strong, positive and inspiring leader

What kind of a leader is Stéphane Dion?

Strong on the environment, social justice, human rights and the economy. And cool too! Who needs a rose and an opera cloak when you've got a leather backpack and a hockey stick? Top it all off with a great brain and a sense of humour - what's not to love?

In this video, Dion plays ball hockey, jokes with Gavin Crawford of This Hour Has 22 Minutes and does some standup comedy at Toronto Summit 2007.

He's strong and inspiring on the environment, Aboriginal issues and human rights.

We can no longer use our atmosphere as a free garbage dump.

Indigenous people are suffering, and we Canadians must be leaders for human rights in the world.

That's why we have a Canada on this planet - to protect human rights.

If you like the positive messages in this video, please vote for it at http://liblogs.ca/news.en.cgi?99!

"With our plan, Canadians are winners"

Stéphane Dion's stellar performance during Question Period, February 5, 2008, on assistance for Canada's manufacturing and forestry sectors.

We have proposed ... to make targeted investments in our manufacturing and forestry sectors to stimulate the economy, create jobs and green technologies right here in Canada. But the finance minister says he's not capable of identifying winners. Mr. Speaker, with our plan, Canadians are winners.

Also today's scrum on Dion's expectations for his meeting with the prime minister on the Afghanistan mission. (Click the "menu" button on the video player to see the second video.)

Stéphane Dion - won't back down

Stéphane Dion - he'll stand his ground and he won't back down - on national unity, Canadian sovereignty, climate change, human rights, poverty, youth, the arts, the economy, farmers, what's right for Canada, Canadian winters. (Music: I won't back down, Tom Petty)

Video of Stéphane Dion's January 9 press conference

For anyone who missed it, here's video of Stéphane Dion's January 9 press conference.

Dion opened with a discussion of the economy and the Conservative record of leaving large deficits which have had to be cleaned up by Liberal governments.

He talks about federal-provincial relations and the first ministers' meeting.

On the subject of the Chalk River / AECL issue (nuclear isotopes), Dion calls again for Gary Lunn's resignation; calls for Lunn to appear before the parliamentary committee on natural resources; calls for the release of the Auditor-General's report on AECL and discusses government interference with administrative tribunals.

On the subject of the environment, Dion discusses the report of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy and similarities with the Liberal white paper released last March, Balancing Our Carbon Budget.

Re: the Mulroney-Schreiber affair, Dion calls again for a full public inquiry and for the Johnston report to be made public.

On election speculation - Dion will decide how to vote on the budget after seeing and discussing it with his caucus.

In response to a question from Joan Bryden on the Saskatchewan byelection, Dion explains why he appointed Joan Beatty as candidate in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

On David Orchard, he says "I have strong regard for David Orchard, I'm in touch with him often. I hope we'll find a way to use his talents and skills in an optimal way."

Dion reiterated his view that Canada should inform NATO and the government of Afghanistan that our combat mission in Afghanistan will end in February 2009, but that we are willing to take a role in development, training, water management etc.

The video is in three parts, English with voiceover translation of French-language segments. See below for details of contents of each part.



Part 1 [09:22]
In part 1, Dion discusses the economy and the Conservative record of leaving large deficits which have had to be cleaned up by Liberal governments; federal-provincial relations and the first ministers' meeting; the Chalk River / AECL issue (nuclear isotopes); the report of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy; the Mulroney-Schreiber affair; election speculation. He responds to a question on the Saskatchewan byelection, Joan Beatty and David Orchard.

Part 2 [08:21]
In part 2, Dion responds to questions on the first ministers' meeting; CNSC, Gary Lunn, Chalk River, Linda Keen, the Auditor-General's report on AECL; election speculation; extending the combat mission in Afghanistan.

Part 3 [07:03]
In part 3, Dion takes questions on the economy; Chalk River, Gary Lunn, Linda Keen, government interference with administrative tribunals; and the first ministers' meeting.

Stéphane Dion - PolicyChannel interview (English, français)

So with 2008 just around the corner, and a federal election likely to happen in the next few months, thought I'd share with you this great interview from Policy Channel in Edmonton, Alberta.

Satya Das interviewed Stéphane Dion during the 2006 Liberal leadership race in English et en français. Das and Dion discuss Alberta, the environment, energy, the economy, social justice, especially for Aboriginal people, international peace and security, and water management.

This interview was one of the major factors in my conversion to big-L Liberalism. I had a good impression of Dion previously, especially as environment minister, and was very glad when he won the leadership. This interview showed that he understands the interrelationship between the environment, social justice and the economy - his "three pillars." And also the impact of the environment on international issues, e.g. water security has a huge impact on the potential for violent conflict. I was also pleased with his emphasis on Aboriginal issues, especially education.

Taped in Edmonton during the 2006 Liberal leadership race. The interview is in three parts - parts 1 & 2 in English; partie 3 - en français. (Click the "menu" toggle button to select another video from the series.)



PART 1
Dion discusses his experience in government, his vision for the future, "reconciling the people and the planet," Alberta, energy and the environment. "I'm ready right away to be a very good leader and partner for Albertans. Alberta is my country. I fought to keep Alberta as part of my country." Also discusses international issues - democracy, health, avoiding war and violent conflict, human rights. Emphasizes importance of water management around the world.

PART 2
Dion discusses the north, Aboriginal people, education for Aboriginal youth, the Kelowna Accord, the economy, his three-pillar approach, the sponsorship scandal.

PARTIE 3
Stéphane Dion discute la course au leadership libéral (2006); l'Alberta, l'environnement, l'économie; l'approche à trois piliers - prospérité économique, justice sociale et environnement durable; le cercle virtueux; sa vision pour l'avenir.

Why Stéphane Dion should be Canada's next prime minister

Governing is complicated, we need a leader with a good mind

Stéphane Dion is often criticized for not being the master of the 10-second sound bite. In a modern, educated country such as Canada we need to get beyond being slaves to 10-second sound bites.

Running a country and playing an important role in international affairs is too complex to be expressed in 10 seconds - or even 30 seconds.

Isn't choosing a government worth more time and effort than choosing a brand of cereal at the grocery store? If it isn't, we need to give our priorities a shake.

Canada is immensely fortunate that someone like Stéphane Dion has put himself forward, even after years of unmitigated and undeserved abuse. With his rigorous intelligence he examines issues from every side and doesn't fall into the trap of accepting high-sounding rhetoric over reason.

Consulting with partners, stakeholders and experts, and using his intelligence and his decades of experience first studying then participating in Canadian political life, Dion makes calm and reasoned decisions on policies that would be best for all Canadians. No hidden agenda, just how best to balance policies for the benefit of all Canadians. Quebecers, Albertans, the ROC, businesspeople, working people, minorities, majorities, Aboriginal people - all of us.

What's so terrible about that?

To people who complain about Dion's English, I can tell you that he speaks English as well as, and often better than, many native English-speakers. I hear professional broadcasters stumbling and making mistakes all the time. Working in postsecondary education, I've edited the writing of people with advanced degrees for decades, and most of them have much worse grammar and syntax than Dion.

To people who don't like his accent, I say find some tolerance. If you're lucky enough to be a native English-speaker in a predominantly English-speaking country, that's purely a matter of chance. Imagine if you belonged to a linguistic minority - you'd be at the mercy of other people's tolerance through no fault of your own. And by the way, how's your French?

We need a leader who understands why Canada is a great country

When Dion talks about what he values in Canada, he goes straight to the heart of the matter and expresses it in terms that are very moving and yet very concrete:

The most important reason we have to make sure this country survives is that it has realized universal human ideals the rest of mankind can only dream of.

Canada is the best example of what the world must become in terms of tolerance, openness, and harmony between different communities.

Canada is perhaps the country where human beings, no matter where they come from, have the best chance of being treated as human beings. That, more than anything, is why I love this country, and why I don't want to see it torn apart. (Straight Talk: on Canadian unity, p. 9. Speech to the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, Calgary, June 2, 1996.)

"Where human beings ... have the best chance of being treated as human beings" - that's what I love most about Canada and I think the vast majority of Canadians agree. That's what's at the foundation of our deep attachment to things like the principle of universal health care. Canada's lofty mountains and majestic landscape are metaphors for these ideals.

We need a leader who can fit together the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle

Stéphane Dion's three-pillar approach brings together environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social justice in a "virtuous circle."

My goals are based on the three pillars of a prosperous economy, social justice, and a sustainable environment. These three pillars are not silos. They do not exist in isolation from each other. Rather, Canada must combine them, more effectively and more profitably than anywhere in the world.
(Speech to the Economic Club of Toronto and the Toronto Board of Trade, January 16, 2007. Economy and Environment: Smart Money Is Going Green.
Source: http://www.liberal.ca/story_12390_e.aspx)

We need a leader who will look out for the most vulnerable among us

In his speech "Towards a Fairer Canada Without Poverty" (Toronto, November 9, 2007), Dion says "Poverty today is a reality that mocks and undermines the prosperity known by most of our people in Canada." Dion pledges to help the working poor "climb over the welfare wall," and bring in specific measures to help children, seniors and Aboriginal people:

Over 5 years a new Liberal government will

1. reduce the number of Canadians living below the poverty line by at least 30 per cent; and

2. reduce the number of children living in poverty by at least 50 per cent....

Our plan will address the issues of homelessness, affordable housing and universal child care....

We must be fairer to our seniors, who have invested so much of themselves in building our country. We will start by increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement payments for the lowest income seniors and we will ensure that the loss of a partner does not drive the surviving spouse below the low income threshold....

For Aboriginal families we will honour the promises made in the Kelowna Accord and its plan for a better future.
(Source: http://www.liberal.ca/story_13294_e.aspx)

According to the National Post,

... leaders of community groups that strive to give the poor a hand up, were delighted a party leader has decided to put the issue front and centre on the national agenda.

Rupert Downing, executive director of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, said his group asked all the political parties to come up with a strategy and Dion was the first to respond.

"I think this is groundbreaking for Canada, but we have seen it in other countries," Downing said.
(Source: National Post, Friday, November 9, 2007.)

We need sound fiscal management

A prime minister should be looking for ways to reform the tax system to reduce the overall tax burden while not endangering social programs, infrastructure renewal etc. Make the tax system more progressive - reducing the burden on the most disadvantaged - while encouraging savings and investment to encourage job creation and innovation. Rather than a cheap trick like a GST cut which everyone from labour to big business agrees is a very bad idea.

"We can no longer use our atmosphere as a free garbage dump"

We need a leader who can deliver solutions to our serious environmental problems.

Dion's Carbon Budget has been praised by leading Canadian environmentalists. Not surprisingly, since environmentalists were consulted in developing the plan. (The Conservatives say that consulting the people with deep environmental expertise is a bad thing. This tells you a lot about the Conservatives.)

Dion's plan, released on March 16, 2007, is based on the principle that the polluter pays. Each large emitter is assigned a carbon budget, "limiting the total carbon emissions those industries can produce each year."

First, we will establish an absolute emissions cap, or total carbon budget, for the three largest polluting sectors: oil and gas production, utilities, and energy-intensive industries. This cap would be set at our Kyoto target of six percent below 1990 emission levels, and it would come into effect January 1, 2008.

Second, we will use that absolute cap to allocate an annual carbon budget to every large industrial emitter in each of these three sectors.

Third, we will put a price on carbon. Companies that exceed their carbon budget will be required to deposit $20 for each excess tonne of carbon into a Green Investment Account, or GIA, for each and every year that they exceed their budget. That price will grow to $30 per tonne by 2011, in line with prices on the international market....

We can no longer use our atmosphere as a free garbage dump. This plan asks industry to take responsibility for its fair share of our carbon emissions, and encourages businesses to invest in tangibly reducing their own emissions.
"Balancing Our Carbon Budget," Ottawa, March 16, 2007
(Source: http://www.liberal.ca/story_12588_e.aspx)

We need a leader who respects and works with others

According to Dion's biographer, Linda Diebel, speaking on TVO's The Agenda (November 9, 2007), official Ottawa admires the macho bullying tactics of Stephen Harper.

As a schoolyard bully, Harper may get top marks. But we all know that bullies are actually cowards and certainly aren't the people you call on when you want to get things done.

Harper has to run everything himself. He doesn't even trust his own cabinet ministers to talk to the news media. The times he's held press conferences himself since becoming prime minister can be counted on two fingers.

Running a country requires a prime minister who works with and trusts his own elected colleagues - ministers and MPs. A prime minister who is open and transparent - speaks to the media because he understands that the media in a sense represent the public - even on a bad news day. A prime minister also needs to work cooperatively with provincial premiers and stakeholders across the country.

Dion showed his capacity to work collegially the moment he won the leadership. He thanked and praised all the other candidates in the leadership race and gave top jobs to the top contenders and their supporters.

Canada's best opportunity for success

To sum up, Canadians have the opportunity to elect an intelligent, experienced, well-qualified leader to the top job in the country.

Stéphane Dion has developed sound policies for dealing with the pressing issues we face in relation to the environment, the economy and social programs. He has a record of working collegially with all levels of government and stakeholders across the country. He is working to make this a richer, fairer, greener country for all Canadians - wherever you are on the political, geographic or linguistic spectrum.

So if you're still stuck on Dion's accent - get over it or you'll be denying yourself and your children the best opportunity for success this country may ever have.

Our lunch with Stéphane

A Golden Opportunity: Sound tax cuts for Canadians
Une occasion en or : de vraies réductions d’impôts pour les Canadiens

So, your intrepid bloggers learned last night that Stéphane Dion was going to be speaking at the Canadian Club of London today, Monday, October 29, 2007. Nothing if not dedicated to our liblogging duty, we of course attended.

We weren't the only ones. This was the largest crowd ever for a Canadian Club of London (CCL) event - clearly Dion is popular in the London area. Liberal MPs and candidates from across southwestern Ontario were also there.

Dion was introduced by the CCL president, Doug Ferguson. Yes, the same Doug Ferguson who is National Vice-President, English of the LPC.

In his intro, Ferguson mentioned Dion's "courage under fire" - were truer words ever spoken? If I was writing vol. 2 of Dion's bio, I think that would be a perfect title.

For an audience of business people, today's speech was a "call for economic responsibility; a forward-looking vision for Canada."

The entire speech is available online here: http://www.liberal.ca/story_13263_e.aspx (EN) and here http://www.liberal.ca/story_13263_f.aspx (FR) so I won't go into detail about the contents. (Especially as this blogger is not an economics expert.)

Here are some highlights (paraphrased from my scribbled notes)...

[About the Liberal economic record:] When the Liberals took power, the Wall Street Journal had made Canada an honourary member of the Third World. Thirteen years of Liberal government has made us the envy of the First World.

The challenges we face are enormous. We need to make the right choices right now.

After Toronto, London has the highest number of smog days.... Liberals will have a strong platform for clean air, clean water, a credible plan for climate change and a healthy natural environment.

We need a fairer Canada. More than a half million senior citizens live in poverty... More than a million Canadian children live in poverty. Most poor people work. A job should be a path to dignity and self-sufficiency.

A plan to fight poverty is urgent. It will be at the heart of a Liberal agenda. [BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE HERE]

Conservative interest deductibility proposal will cost Canadian companies billions of dollars and enrich foreign governments.

We need to improve access to post-secondary institutions such as the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College. [YAY FANSHAWE!! - ed.] I don't want to live in a country where only the rich have access to post-secondary education.

He made the point, which he has made before, that another 1% cut of the GST, would be a serious mistake:

There's only one person who has studied economics who wants to cut the GST. Unfortunately that person is the current Prime Minister.

Cutting income taxes gives people the choice to save or spend their savings. When the GST is cut you have to spend to benefit. Canada needs people to save more, which leads to investment, which leads to innovation, job creation etc.

He called the proposed GST cut an "irresponsible use of the Canadian budget. It will cost $6 billion a year or a massive $30 billion over 5 years. A budgetary decision of that magnitude should focus on creating jobs and improving Canadians’ standard of living."

He talked about the Liberal record of "significantly reducing taxes across the board. We significantly lowered the cost of doing business in Canada. We reduced corporate income tax rates from 28 per cent, to a planned 19 per cent by 2010." He committed to further corporate tax and personal income tax reductions.

We must take advantage of this golden opportunity to offer broad-based income tax relief to Canadians, while investing in the urgent priorities of Canadians.

In response to a question of Doug Reycraft, Mayor of Southwest Middlesex [?] and on the exec of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Dion committed to working with municipalities to strengthen their capacity to manage their infrastructure needs. He said "if there is a fiscal imbalance it's for the third level of government - municipalities. I will be an excellent partner for municipalities." He noted that any tax cuts would be responsible and would not destroy government's capacity to do essential things like infrastructure renewal. (Note - he got lots of standing O's at his speech to the FCM in Calgary a few months ago; he obviously has a good record with them from when he was intergov affairs and environment minister.)

After the speech and questions he did a scrum with local media. (Click here for the Facebook photo album.) One of the questions of course was about the Blair Wilson thing. Asked "Do you still support Wilson?" Dion responded (paraphrase from memory): "I support his actions and call on the Conservative government to do the same thing." Dion noted that Wilson contacted Elections Canada himself and asked them to investigate as soon he learned about allegations of Elections Act violations by his campaign. He resigned from his revenue critic position and from the Liberal caucus immediately and is calling on Elections Canada for a speedy investigation and resolution to the matter.

Contrast that with the Conservatives who are not cooperating with Elections Canada about violations that Elections Canada has reported, and have not stepped down from their positions; in fact several are cabinet ministers.

Here's what Deb Prothero had to say on the Unity Facebook group:

Stephane Dion addressed the largest crowd ever in the 102 year history of the Canadian Council of London at noon today. He was focussed and deliberate in his presentation on how to create a Greener, Fairer & Richer Canada. The crowd was receptive and to demonstrate his capacity for leadership, Dion took several questions, giving unrehearsed answers that were short, sweet and hit the nail on the head and sometimes a delightful bit of humour. Results: standing ovation from the business community!

My impression - Stephane Dion is the only leader with the courage to face the Canadian people's questions and the media's questions in a scrum afterward. Only a leader who can do this is capable of the depth of principled thought and emotional maturity to take this nation into the future. I want my Canada back and I want Dion leading it. And his integrity under fire and his sense of humour are so refreshing!

For more on Dion's London appearance, see also "Our lunch with Stéphane, part 2 - social issues":
http://femmeverte.blogspot.com/2007/10/our-lunch-with-stphane-part-2-social.html

After the Cdn Club event, Dion toured UWO's Biotron Institute for Experimental Climate Change Research.