Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada) questioned re Lebanon - watch now

[iverglas]

Sorry, there's no reproducible headline!

Peter MacKay is being questioned by members of the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development; started at 11 a.m., will go for a while.

http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3§ion_id=22&template_id=22&lang=e

-- go to "watch now" in the left hand menu.

Current polls show that Canadians do not support PM Harper's position on the situation.

[iverglas]

1. MacKay urges ceasefire under certain conditions

NDP foreign affairs critic Alexa McDonough
delivers a question during the committee
in Ottawa on Tuesday.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060728/mackay_mideast_060801/20060801?hub=Canada

Updated Tue. Aug. 1 2006 11:51 AM ET

... "There has to be a ceasefire," said MacKay. "Certain conditions must be achieved to reach that stable, durable cessation of violence in the region.

"This has to be a lasting peace. It cannot be simply a temporary solution to allow for the rearmament of a terrorist body, and simply begin the violence again."

MacKay, who is appearing before the Commons foreign affairs committee in Ottawa, also urged Israel to show restraint in its attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

This meeting is the first time the opposition has had to question MacKay since Prime Minister Stephen Harper came out in support of Israel's campaign against Hezbollah guerrillas.

Peter MacKay is the "left" wing of the present Conservative Party of Canada -- he comes from the old Progressive Conservative Party, which was historically not of the neo-con persuasion.

The PCs recently merged with the former Reform/Alliance Party (itself the issue of the old Social Credit Party), whose roots are in the right-wing Christian West, and which is led by the neo-con (i.e. economically right-wing) Stephen Harper.

The PC base was promptly made unwelcome and excluded from the party's operations and policy-making. MacKay sticks around for whatever reasons of his own he may have.

The current committee proceedings, the grilling of MacKay by all parties (i.e. the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois) are taking place during the summer parliamentary recess as a rather unusual event.

[iverglas]

2. "Only 32% back PM on Mideast"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com//servlet/story/LAC.20060801.POLL01/TPStory/National/

The survey finds that a majority of Canadians want their government to be neutral on the conflict and that Mr. Harper has tilted away from the traditional Canadian position. Moreover, they believe that the Conservative government is taking its cues from U.S. President George W. Bush.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060801.QUEBEC01/TPStory/National

A poll done for The Globe and Mail/CTV News suggests that Quebeckers are much cooler than other Canadians toward the government's handling of the crisis in Lebanon.

In addition, the poll shows that the Conservatives have not grown in popular support in the province since the last election, in which they posted a surprisingly strong showing.

http://www.640toronto.com/news/metro.cfm?cat=7428218912&rem=44275&red=80121823aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=metro.cfm

The CTV-Globe and Mail poll shows 77% want him to be neutral on the conflict.

A full 45% disagree with his support of Israel's actions and another 23% didn't offer an opinion.

Pollster Allan Gregg says the results may be a political warning for Harper.

[northamericancitizen]

3. Tahnks for the info Iverglass. eom

[laundry_queen]

4. Thanks iverglas.

Now excuse my while I go toss my cookies at MacKay's words of support for Israel (democratic country) and condemnation of Lebanon (cold blooded killers).

[iverglas]

5. welcome, both!

I turned the volume off at the lunch break and forgot all about it til now. It's still going ...