Time once again to juxtapose, with a multiple juxtaposition today. (In the spirit of New Year comity, I hereby acknowledge Small Dead Animals’ Kate McMillan for what has proven to be a durable construct.)
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver:
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver’s accusation that “radical” environmental groups are trying to undermine the Canadian economy got CBC community members talking.
Oliver made the comment in an open letter released Monday. Appearing on CBC News Network later in the day, he said radicals are “a group of people who don’t take into account the facts but are driven by an ideological imperative.” [emphasis added]
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson:
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson cast aside criticism Tuesday that the government’s new justice bill doesn’t have a clear price tag and ignores trends that show crime rates are actually decreasing.
…”We’re not governing on the basis of the latest statistics,” Nicholson said at a news conference, held earlier in the day near Toronto.
Former Industry Minister (now President of the Treasury Board) Tony Clement:
Industry Minister Tony Clement acknowledged Wednesday it may well be that only a minority of Canadians support the government’s decision to scrap the long-form census — but he says that’s good enough.
Clement said the Conservative government is not reversing it decision to kill the 40-page mandatory census and replace it with a voluntary form, which critics say will come nowhere near providing the valuable data needed.
“Even if it is a minority of Canadians, they still have a legitimate ground to have a conversation with the government (that) in the 21st century there may be a better way of doing things,” he told reporters.
Minister of Science and Technology Gary Goodyear:
Canada’s science minister, the man at the centre of the controversy over federal funding cuts to researchers, won’t say if he believes in evolution.
“I’m not going to answer that question. I am a Christian, and I don’t think anybody asking a question about my religion is appropriate.”
Good grief, they make it so confoundedly easy.
