CTV News | Tories accused of not playing fair with the torch

A Conservative, Liberal and an NDP debate the route of the Olympic torch, which will go through 91 Conservative ridings. Some Liberals and NDP feel left out of the Olympic equation, even though every Canadian will be within an hour's drive of the torch.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Nov. 5 2009 8:59 PM ET

As the Olympic Torch makes its way to Vancouver for the start of next year's games, there will be more torch relay ceremonies held in Conservative ridings than in the ridings of opposition members.

CTV News has obtained a list that shows that torch relay ceremonies will be held in 91 Conservative ridings, compared to 20 Liberal ridings and 17 ridings for both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.

"It is absolutely shameful to politicize and to make partisan something such as (the) Olympics," Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh told CTV.

However, both the federal government and the head of the Vancouver Olympics organizing committee (VANOC) say that there is no plan in place to keep the torch out of opposition ridings.

"This is not political, this is what I'm stressing," Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn said Wednesday, hours before sending a letter to all opposition MPs, assuring them that they could take part in torch events even if they are being held in Conservative ridings.

The head of VANOC also denies any Conservative involvement.

"At no time did anybody in any government, or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that," John Furlong said.

"We did our jobs the way we should have done them."

But opposition members are not convinced.

"It's absolutely planned," said Liberal MP Anita Neville, who represents the riding of Winnipeg South Centre -- a city where torch ceremonies skipped four ridings held by non-Conservative MPs.

NDP MP Pat Martin, who represents the riding of Winnipeg Centre, agreed with her assessment.

"They've gone to great extents to gerrymander their way around to avoid any opposition riding in my city," said Martin.

In Saskatchewan, all 11 Conservative MPs have a torch event taking place in their ridings, though the one Liberal MP does not.

"If it weren't so perverse, it would be laughable," said Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, who represents the Saskatchewan riding of Wascana.

It's a similar situation in Toronto, where Liberal MPs hold the majority of seats, though none of their ridings are scheduled to host torch events.

"I mean it's insane, it's just insane," said Liberal MP Joe Volpe.

With a report from CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief, Robert Fife

Comments are now closed for this story

Trackjam
said
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Would it really be any different if the Liberals were in power?

KG
said
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Next they will say someone took their milk money!

Skip Tyler
said
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Well I guess the liberal's have no problem being shameful. This is the way I see it, they are the one's who are politicizing the olympics. Maybe the Liberal's forgot that they only have 71 seats in Parliment, chances are that the torch will end up in more riding's that are not held by the Liberals.

LDL in ONT
said
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The head of VANOC also denies any Conservative involvement. " At no time did anyone in any government or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that." John Furlong said. Is this not clear for those Liberals? Frankly, if I were a Liberal supporter I'd be embarrassed by these whinners.

MAL of TO
said
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Grow the flubber up. Left, Right, Centre, Separatist... just grow up.

DJ in Manitoba
said
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Please tell me you have more to do than complain about this. I wonder where some of these politicians get their brains. MAYBE FROM THERE LEADERS! You sound like a bunch of children.

allan
said
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And the sky is blue today, probably caused by the tories, and the ocean is also blue, a tory conspiracy! Some conservative haters are making complete fools of themselves.

John
said
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Who cares really? There are bigger things going on than the winning of beaurocratic fat cats about how life is so unfair.

Saskmike
said
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Can't understand why the riding of Wascana was missed. Contained within the riding is the provincial legislature, the University of Regina, the Conexus Arts Centre, downtown Regina and a sports center named after Sandra Schmirler. This curling team won gold and is respected by the world. Such a shame!! Something smells don't you think?

Dan
said
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"It is absolutely shameful to politicize and to make partisan something such as (the) Olympics," Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh Then why is the Liberals politicizing it? Liberals have tried to use the Olympics twice now for political gain. I have one question for the Liberals, When will the games stop?

Bear
said
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This is supposed to be a sporting event. Should ban all political people from these events. This bickering is crap. Get a grip.

GTA
said
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The Liberals truly are pathological whiners. How incredibly pathetic.

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
said
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I just saw stockwell day [and other MPs] on tv waving the red mittens with the maple leaf on them.. They look just like the Liberal logo to me,, nobody noticed that? As far as the torch goes WHY have the Liberal and NDP not picked up on the environmental concerns associated with it? No,, instead they are whining about it missing their constituencies! They are transporting the thing ALL over the country, burning HUGE amounts of fossil fuels to move a stupid burning stick, for WHAT? No lefties complaining about that, and yet they want YOU to car pool to work, they want to stop the oilsands, they want ME to turn down the thermostat and freeze in the dark! Does anyone else find this incongruent,, or is it just me?

John in Edmonton
said
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This would be the perfect time for the Liberal and the NDP and the Bloc MPs, who believe that this is the case regarding the relay, to present documentation and evidence. Since all are making allegations, then they MUST have evidence. I look forward to viewing the files that they have.

simon
said
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We have had Tory stimulus Cheques.We have had the Tory economic action plan.We are now having the Tory Flu Vaccine.Why not have a Tory Winter Olympics?

Tom in Almonte
said
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Is this all the opposition can do? This is so stupid. Grow up.

Ron from Cobourg
said
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I really cannot believe what I am hearing now from the opposition parties. My guess is anything goes, no matter how childish, in an attempt to disrupt parliament. Your childishness and pettiness is not playing out as you hoped it would - first the flu and now the torch. What is next? Does the country and it's citizens mean anything to the opposition parties?

P Hicks
said
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it boggles the mind how childish the opposition is. For cryin' out loud grow up - you're making yourselves look ridiculous. There shouldn't even be a torch run.. wanna see the torch - go to B.C. I could care less that it's coming through sask. and I wouldn't check the riding map first.. is there not anything work to do in running the country? we just have to worry about the C on the olympic uniforms and the overblown H1N1 media circus and now this? Ridiculous!

Jonathan in Winnipeg
said
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A slow news day? Let's see, I think Prince Charles only went to events in Conservative ridings. Oops no Conservative ridings in Newfoundland. And the H1N1 flu vaccine is only being done in Conservative ridings....right? Get over it. If you try hard enough, you can find something that you will think is unfair.

Buffoons Anon.
said
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Hey Ujjal...really? This is how you spend your time? Ironic that your bringing light to this non- issue has, in fact, politicized it. Get a job.

hordesmom
said
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actually Trackjam it would be. I lived in Alberta during the winter games in Calgary and every riding was Conservative and although we had a Liberal government in Ottawa we still had the torch in every major city and many ridings within each one.

Peter 1951
said
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Now I guess Ignatieff and his band of whiners want us to locate the Trans Canada Highway so it goes through Liberal ridings. I suppose Iggy wants the torch to go through his home town in "BOSTON" too !! Not to worry Ignatieff after the next election there wouldn't be any Liberal ridings left anywhere in Canada.

wondering
said
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When I read that politicians and VANOC representatives denied their was collusion in deciding what ridings would have a torch ceremony, I realized they have mastered the game of denial by saying they are ignorant of any wrongdoing. Simply put: politicians have a responsibility to the people that put them in their seat of authority - at the very least they should act with integrity and answer questions truthfully. I think they would get farther in their careers if they were truthful. I gather their is no training or course material on how to act honourably when being a politician, no matter the stripes or colours of the party lines. It seems the conservatives, at this juncture, may need the training today more than anybody else.

Tired of all the Hoopla
said
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It seems the Liberals are barking up the wrong tree. They've known for a few years (Yes, years!) that Canada would be hosting the 2010 Winter Games. They knew that there would be a Torch Run throughout the country. They have had all this time to put requests in to the Vancouver Olympic committe for a spot on the route. Who's playing partisan politics now? Grow up and stop acting like spoiled children.

Dan
said
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I guess what the Liberals really want is for the torch to go through every one of their 74 ridings, I mean, How dare the Conservatives not go through everyone of my ridings. How dare they!. Do they not know that we are the official opposition? How dare they treat us like this! I guess next we will find that the Conservatives forced the athletes to ware blue socks so when pictures are taken they will look like Conservative supporters, how dare they!

Citizen Alberta
said
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In Ancient Greece the Torch relay used to symbolize the starting of the Olympics and an end to all wars during the games. I wish the Liberals and NDP would take the torch relay as an opportunity to drop the political fighting as well. The Government doesn't have time to meddle in decisions that are clearly made by VANOC, and VANOC is making it very clear they made the decision. This kind of petty finger pointing does not endure the Liberals or the NDP to the electorate. Can't we take the spirit of the Olympics as an opportunity to come together as a nation and set these stupid partisan games aside. The Minister actually sent letters to all opposition MP's guaranteeing this was not the case. That is taking a step above and beyond what is usual. I think if anything it underlines how serious the government is about disproving this malicious attack.

KMC (Markham, On)
said
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hordesmom wrote: "Actually, Trackjam, it would be (different if the Liberals were in power).

I lived in Alberta during the Winter Olympics in Calgary and every riding was Conservative and although we had a Liberal Government in Ottawa we still had the torch in every major city...

"Well, given that the Winter Olympics were in Calgary, Alberta and that "every riding was Conservative", the Liberals would have been hard pressed to deliver the torch without it being in Tory ridings.Unless, of course, they'd taken it in by helicopter.

Stu
said
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This is not news...frankly, I'm somewhat embarrassed to even be commenting here. This is about as newsworthy as reporting that a recent study has shown that people who don't exercise are generally in poorer health than those who do.(There has probably been an actual government-funded study to figure that one out).Who cares whose riding the torch ceremony is held in? How about this as an example: There's a torch ceremony in Edmonton. Period. Good for Edmonton, let's all come out to have a good time, no matter what part of the city you live in!

GFT from NB
said
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Does baby want his bottle?

charlie
said
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And this is what is brought forth as a burning issue in Liberalville? What should the next step be - an emergency debate in the Commons, a non-confidence vote, Senators rising from their semi-comatose slumber to take up the torch (so to speak), some Honourable Members holding their breath until they turn blue. or stamping their feet loudly, wailing and gnashing their teeth - can we please have some serious issues for a change instead of this nonsense? Say good night, Ujjal.

Maureen
said
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Enough of this whining from the Liberals. A little bit was OK, but they are beginning to sound like my kids when they were 5 years old - Mommy stop him doing this, Mommy she took my blanket, Mommy he made me hit him. Grow up, get some policies, at some point in time there will be an election - get ready for it!!

SLS
said
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This idea of it being intentional is a bit outlandish. I certainly hope it isn't. I personally have no use for the torries but wouldn't but it past back room politics to have taken advantage of the situation at hand. It does seem very unusual when you break down the numbers and see a few of the key ridings that were "missed". However, people it's the olympics, the one time we are "supposed" to put the politics aside and all cheer for our country. Whatever happened to that? As for the comment about the red mittens looking like the a liberals logo that's just silly..how about Blue...we can even change our flag too. Even better how about red white and blue.

Ian Ottawa
said
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Please tell me that these are not the best there Party's have to offer as Leaders. These Arrogant,Self Serving, Egotistical, Swines, (ASSES, for short) have no right to think that they are entitled to demand or accuse anyone of this type of nonsense. The Liberals never supported athletes until they were of a Political value to boost there Party. I was an athlete and at no time was the Government there except to take advantage. These types of accusations are typical of the Opposition Party's and they should be em-bare-assed.

B. Kelley, Ontario the Overtaxed
said
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Its fun to watch the Liberals screw themselves into the ground while they breathlessly try to spin something, anything into a political advantage over the Tories. As the saying goes: "Desperate people will always do desperate things". This is becoming more comical by the minute.

ADM Saskatchewan
said
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Now the Liberals are really reaching just to have something to complain about. I am sure there is more important things to discuss than whining about where the torch is going.

Anne
said
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Do we not have more serious things to worry about right now?

paul
said
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Send the Olympics back to Greece. Who needs them. They do nothing to improve world conditions and nothing to improve the conditions in countries that host them. Nothing but a money grabber that puts countries further in debt. As for the political b.s. I for one will not be wasting my time to vote for either leader. Their childish games are tiresome and boring to say the least.

Tim from Calgary
said
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Boy, the Liberals constant whining is really getting tiresome. They're like little kids always crying about something whether it's toys or candy. It seems like the Liberals are trying to find the equivilent of Adscam to pin on the Conservatives. I have lost what little respect I had for this party of entitlement.

Cowgirl Junkie
said
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Please note that it was CTV who first brought the issue up - not the opposition.I would simply like the VANCO to explain how the route was chosen. That should clear things up...

Larry NL
said
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Iggy and his gang make the best comedy team on Parliament since Dion. The laughs just keep coming. I especially like Iggy's impersonation of Don Adams in "Get Smart".

Steve in PEI
said
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Of course the Conservatives planned this. This is the most corrupt and viciously partisan government in my memory, even beating out Jean Chretien! There is absolutely nothing that Conservatives do not see in partisan terms, and absolutely no leangths they will not go to for partisan advantage.Although it begs the question of why we're still doing torch relays in the first place. The Olympic torch relay was actually invented by Adolph Hitler for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin as a bit of Aryan supremacist play acting. That's also where the ceremony should have ended, given its tainted origins.

john from saskatoon
said
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Are the opposition members calling Mr. Furlong from Vanoc a liar when he says at no time did any govt or govt member or any politically involved person have a say in the torch relay path. Come out and say that clearly instead of with inuendos. They wont because it's not true and they'll get slapped with slander. The Liberal attemps to score points are getting very embarrasing. I can't wait till they blame the govt. for the leaves changing color in the fall.

Fraser
said
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I do wish the squabbling amongst the children would cease.

john from saskatoon
said
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To David Sawkiw, You're right about the Liberals putting their mark on things. Our red flag being the biggest. I also think red is the official color of whinners, corruption, scandal, patronage, broken promises, incompitance, etc.

Janice Grande Prairie
said
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Well...in the West there are more Conservative Ridings than any other. So what is the point of this article except the on going stirring of multiple pots. The whole Media needs to be taken to court for being subversive, inciting to riot, and a lying bunch of snivelling snots.

kgs
said
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how did this even rate news worthy? the opposition dont like this, they dont like that, what are they in kindergarten! for crying out loud get over yourselves, put on your big kid underwear and start acting like adults already! you are getting ridiculous!

Pip
said
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I believe the article reads "The head of VANOC also denies any Conservative involvement. "At no time did anybody in any government, or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that," John Furlong said."We did our jobs the way we should have done them." " To be perfectly honest I would believe his words before those of any politician. This is another tempest in a teacup put out by the Liberals to try and pin some sort of blame on the Conservative government. I would also find it difficult, west of Lake Superior, to find opposition ridings in which to run the torch. Please, less of the hystrionics and more real news! And posters, please base your posts on facts presented in the article before blindly presenting biased opinion. My bias in this piece is against a) politicians and b) uninformed posters; but the basis for my bias is cited in this post.

Kenneth H Young CD
said
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So who is actually surprised by this? In Canadian Politics there has been a long tradition of nepotism, partisanship and the always ongoing rewarding constituencies' for voting for the party in power. When VANOC said "At no time did anybody in any government, or any political party offer one iota of counsel or influence about that," I have to wonder if they think that we live in a vacuum. Anybody and their dog can in seconds find out which riding are Conservative, using the internet. You no longer need direct contact to stroke egos.The one thing that Canadians can be sure of is that every party would have done the same if they were in power. Fair to Canadians NO, but it is Canadian Politics.However it would be interesting to see if the events in non Conservative ridings were the close races and done in the hope of stealing a riding in the next election. Now that would be news.Cpl. Kenneth H. Young CD (ret)

hollinm
said
0 0

Oh the Conservatives are great. Now they can run the government and of course they also can run the Olympics by making sure their logo appears on the uniforms and making sure the torch relay goes through Conservative ridings.Its getting mighty unbelievable CTV. You need to refocus on real issues affecting the lives of everyday Canadians.

bcdarr
said
0 0

Dirty, bullying tactics from the conservatives? Surprise, surprise. What's truly pathetic, though, is when you read the self righteous responses, 'The liberals would be just as disgusting as we are!' or (and this is typical when the conservatives are shown to be disgraceful) 'This is news? Yawn, must be a slow news day.'

Bill in BC
said
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More whining from the usual suspects

TiredofPettyToryValues
said
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Hey Trackjam, you're missing the point. It does not matter what party is in power. The point is that these events should not be politicized, period! However, now that you bring it up, the number of examples of Conservative largesse making it to the ridings of the faithful is staggering: cheques with MPs'/party name, stimulus money in general, torch relays. It's kind of sad! We can do better than this Canada.

Whining liberals make me sick
said
0 0

If this is the best the opposition can find wrong with the government, then I am a proud to have our government. When the libs were in power, we had sponsership scandels and healthcare cuts and RED book lies, and Gun Registry Boondoogle, and and and and.

Lz in Edmonton
said
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Heaven forbid the torch is going through more conservative ridings..... oh gee, oh my. Ever thought that almost every riding west of Toronto is Conservative?

Kris D.
said
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You know what, I'm not even surpirsed that Harper would politicize the Olympic torch relay. Heck, it wouldn't even surprise me if the torch had damn CPC logo on it.

lars
said
0 0

Do these people have nothing better to do than look at everything "under a microscope"....they are the ones running our country...sound more like children fighting in the sand box!

EB
said
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What about the RED coloured liberal mittens - is someone going to stretch that one, too? Grow up. Mrs. Neville is playing a political game.

Jo from Alberta
said
0 0

OH PLEASE! First, there would be much more "meandering" required to find a liberal riding in Alberta and Saskatchewan...and Second, perhaps we should just run the torch around Toronto and Ottawa? Because they are the only Canadians the Liberals really worry about....Funny when the shoe lands on the other foot isn't it! Just because the Liberals postured everything they did to benefit liberals only and cushion their bottoms, doesnt mean there is a big conservative conspiracy to do the same. booo hoo.

caper
said
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Here in NB we are trying to have the torch within 90 km of every community

Sakmike
said
0 0

I'm so disappointed with the thumbs down to my earlier post. I was just wondering why the late Sandra Schmirler should not be remembered at a location named after her to promote sports and maybe a future Olympian. Can you answer or are you people caught up in the politics. I was just asking a bloody question.

Bill from The Hat
said
0 0

What's more alarming for me than the fact that the Harperightest have done this, is that most of their supporters on this blog think it ok what they've done.The message is clear from Harper, if you don't vote for us you're not going to get stimulus funding, you're not going to get the Olympic torch... these are the things he is willing to do in the open and "above" board, one can only imagine what kind of corruption and favouritism is going on behind closed doors.

Mike
said
0 0

I guess there is mothing better for the oppostion parties to complain about. Grow up get over it and lets deal with things that really matter.

ian patterson
said
0 0

does this dosanjh guy never give up on the whining, who really cares about where the torch is, this guy needs to get a life.

Bob Howell
said
0 0

I was going to say how pathetic this whining is, but it's all been said. I agree with the bulk of the comments about, "Growing up" . I totally agree.

Mark in Victoria
said
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Gary Lunn was also using the Olympic torch as a way to attract people to his Conservative Party booth at the Saanichton Fall Fair this year. He was taking pictures of people with the torch. I can understand if it was an olympic booth since he is the Minister of Sport or whatever, but it shouldn't have been a Conservative Party booth.

Sarah613
said
0 0

LOL...well it is kinda funny that this is being politicized in a way. But maybe its also the people in those opposition ridings that are complaining about this to their MPs. Like with Toronto, not one Liberal riding has a torch event? I don't know...there are bigger things to worry about nowadays and maybe the Libs should pick their fights a little better, but it's still sort of fishy.

Jay
said
0 0

Kris Its the liberals that are making this politcal not harper and company.

Richard in Ontario
said
0 0

Gee I sure hope the sun doesn't someday happen to come up in the West, since I'm sure that would also be the Conservatives fault. The Liberals and NDP somehow don't understand basic math, since there are more PC ridings in Canada than theirs combined, makes it almost certain that the torch will go through more. Duh.Typical though, make every item in daily life, a political issue.

Proud to be Canadian, Ashamed of this PM
said
0 0

@Jo from Alberta,Yes what a preposterous idea to make the Olympics an INCLUSIVE event. How very 'Alberta' of you. A Canadian town is a Canadian regardless of political stripe, unless you're a Liberal, NDP, Bloc or Green supporter (so the Majority of Cdns in your view don't count - good job).

moffl
said
0 0

When are all the elected people going to do what they where elected to do and that is run this country. I am really getting sick and tired of he said she said, we where left out of this etc etc what about running this country and acting like grown ups instead of a bunch of kids that can't play nice and are always taking their ball and going home crying foul. This applies to all political parties. grow up and run this country so that we can all continue to be proud canadians

Olympic Red Gloves
said
0 0

THOSE darn red mittens are Liberal Propoganda. Why is every Olympic glove RED. It must be the liberal advertising. MOST disguisting.

MARG MM
said
0 0

GOOD LORD!!! What's next... The Conservatives get more "bathroom breaks"!!!!!Every time the Liberals open their mouths, the more foolish they look. I suppose they have asked all the torch bearers how they vote, just in case there are more Conservatives than Liberals carrying the torch.It's the Olympics, a time for Canada to come together, not a time for political shennigans.Gee I wonder if the Liberals have asked the athletes as well, just in case, there are more Conservative voters among them.GIVE US A BREAK!!!!!

Doug @ BC
said
0 0

This is what Liberals do when they can't get enough of their own party to agree on anything that would actually evolve into policies that most Canadians would vote "FOR".Their whole plan to regain power,is to spin everything under the sun in a way that they hope will make Canadians vote "AGAINST" the Tories.How pathetic is it when the best case you can make for you party,is that we are slighly less terrible than those other guys. For the record,I'll go to the torch relay when it reaches the community closest to me.AND,I'll be waving the "FREE" Canadian flag that Sheila Copps sent me when she was a Liberal MP.If any current Liberal shows up,I'll be glad to show him the letter she sent with the flag.A fine example of Liberal partisanship.GET OVER IT. The Olympics are coming.They are for all of Canada.The torch is travelling almost 30,000 miles for crying out loud.At a time when we're in a war in Afghanistan,facing a flu epdemic,losing jobs to China,financing our every whim by spending our childrens,and our grandchildrens future earnings,etc,etc,etc,etc,I think ALL these children should give Canadians a break form the whining,and let us enjoy the festivities. WE DESERVE THIS BREAK FROM THEIR CHILDISH POLITICING AND PARTISANSHIP.

Rev. Ian
said
0 0

This kind of irrelevant b.s. is exactly why both Canadian politicians of all stripes have lost any respect from the people. When the politicos wake up and address real issues, maybe, just maybe, people will re-engage. Since I couldn't give a dam about the Olympics, why should I give a dam about about a lousy flame?

Conservatives can't count
said
0 0

@Richard in Ontario,Convenient how you forgot to include Bloc seats in your 'Flaherty math' - apparently Quebecers don't count as Canadians either. How Harper of you.

Tom Hawley
said
0 0

Some that post here can't or perhaps won't discuss the issue as they are to busy putting down those that raise the issue.As for the Olympics I will chose to watch the hockey.Who gives the most money for the Olmpics?If you said governments than give yourself a pat on the back.If this route was planned a couple of years ago than so be it.If not ,and it is obvious ,that some ridings are being leap frogged than those people deserve an explanation.

Spicy Salsa
said
0 0

My 2 year-old used to complain that my 4 year-old was not being fair with the Lego. He got over it. The Liberals truly are a pathetic bunch.

Kel in Victoria
said
0 0

Everyone settle down... Come on, is there any one really that surprised with how low the Conservatives will go? Hold back with your thumbs up and down... let's all just move forward. Again, no surprises here; and we all know it...

John Costa
said
0 0

This is petty... All you have to do is see a map of the ridings and notice that much of liberal support is in cities, and you can't bring the torch to every corner of Toronto, for example. Much of BC and Alberta is Tory, same with southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. So obviously the relay is going to hit more Tory ridings by default,. Not sure if I can put a wikipedia link on this comment page, but the wikipedia entry on the 2008 Canadian General Election and the map will tell the story. It makes me ashamed to call myself a Liberal when I see this nonsense being spewed from the Opposition benches when real issues should be tackled.

my take on this
said
0 0

I'm beginning to think the Conservative Party of Canada would have a BBQ at a school bus fire in a Liberal riding. Stephen Harper has single handedly turned the Conservative Party of Canada into a classless act. When Stephen Harper is finally gone from Canadian politics he'll be missed by "no one".

Vancouver is Liberal
said
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The Olympics are a world event. For those who are OCD (obsessive/compulsive disorder) and are analyzing this six ways to the podium, the events are being held in Vancouver. Check the political following of BC, the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area). It's Liberal and NDP. So that would put the events in a Liberal area wouldn't it?

Josh
said
0 0

Uh, oh... Another half baked liberal slander plan. How can the Liberal MP Mr. Dosanjh accuse the government of politicizing this? He's the one that brought it up! The government has not influence whatsoever as to where the festivities take place. Liberal press managers must hate it when the MPs go out saying stuff that bruises the Liberal image even more. What can you do?

Canadian in the Netherlands
said
0 0

I think politicians are getting paid too much.

keith
said
0 0

It's a good thing all of the real problems are solved so we can focus on something so petty as which neigbourhood the torch goes through.

Bryan from Lethbridge
said
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Whats insane is the idiocy of the complaint and the fact that some editor thinks it's newsworthy.The torch route was designed to hit as many communites as possible. fact is the conservatives hold most of the rural communities, whereas all 3 opposition parties have thier support concentrated around 3 cities. Therefore 3 stops for the opposition, the rest for conservatives. End of story... that some Politicians are deliberately ignoring this rather than focusing on real issues speaks volumes of their credibility. or competancy for that matter..

Jayson K Mendoza
said
0 0

Bah this seems about right and its pretty much pulling a story out of nothing.In fact those numbers are misleading because it doesn't take into account the geographical breakdown of those political riding's and the concentration of seats per party. Once you view a map of that the reason why so few liberal riding's are visited and compare it to the torch route become quite clear.

The committee for the Olympics would have wanted to cover all of Canada's geography and considering the liberal party holds so few seats outside of the GTA and Newfoundland it's quite easy to see why they ended up with as much torch stops as the NDP and Bloc who hold far more geographical area then the liberals. In the geographical area of Canada the conservative domination of Northern territory, and all provinces west of Ontario combined with their strong coverage in Ontario make it likely the vast majority of the torch run will go through conservative territory.With that information it would be fair to state that if the torch run had been more proportional to seat count it would have been more fair to make accusations of political intervention and influence. However the current torch run is within the expected parameters of a cross Canada run.

SpinMeNot
said
0 0

The Torch Relay goes through communities not political ridings. It goes through Toronto, so all Torontonians can participate in the ceremonies. Only the Liberals would think the relay route is about ridings instead of communities. The Liberals have only 25 ridings outside Ontario and Quebec. The Conservatives have 82 ridings outside Ontario and Quebec. The only way for the relay route to go through all the communities outside "Central Canada" and have a proportional party riding representation would be to avoid a lot of communities outside "Central Canada" or make the route go up and down every street in the Toronto and Montreal areas. Even in Ontario and Quebec there are 61 Conservative ridings compared to 52 Liberal ridings. Again, should all the communities outside Toronto and Montreal be bypassed to make the route equal based on ridings?

Mike
said
0 0

All emotions aside.Let the numbers talk for themselve; of the 12 Federal ridings in Sask, only the 11 that are held by the Cons are having an torch event, the 1 not held by the Cons, is not having an event. I guess sometimes 11 1 does not = 12.

Cambob In Toronto
said
0 0

"In the court of public opinion, facts are irrelevent. All that matters is to toss out as many wild, "evil" accusations as possible and hope that something sticks to your foe." - From a missing page out of one of Ignatieff's books.

david sawkiw[sasakatchewan farmer]
said
0 0

I just went through all the comments again. The scary part is that on this silly issue I see two distinct but cohesive lines developing------Liberal [east] versus Conservative[West].. I'm thinking this may yet fester into another movement of Western alienation or even separation...........All can say is that it was a VERY good thing that those 12 ndp and 8 Liberals supported the cancelling of the gun registry,,, otherwise I am pretty sure this cauldron may have boiled over........

Jay_To
said
0 0

No surprise. Its becoming apparent that the entire purpose of the Reform Conservative Government is to stick it to areas of the country they feel have vexed them or get more, either imagined or real, from past governments. When one gerrymanders around the largest city in canada its obvious what they are doing. They have even told Toronto to Eff off. Our country is now being ruled for an grossly overrepresented portion of the population. Rural areas have fewer people per riding. Less than 1/3 of the country is determining and denying the other over 67%. This country will not survive a conservative majority and I have my doubts it will last much longer under a conservative minority. We need a government of canada, not a government of conservative areas.

Scotty
said
0 0

Typical Tories. They're so obsessed with the fear that their effort to become the natural governing party will collapse the way of the Diefenbaker and Mulroney governments did that they'll do anything! Canadians will eventually see through it. They'll put the Liberals back in power. to clean up the mess the Tories left then eventually the Liberals will get sloppy and we'll give the Tories yet another chance, they'll screw it up yet again. Yada,. yada, yada....

art
said
0 0

Maybe if the liberals win the next election they can have the torch run through their ridings at the next Canadian Olympic Games.I believe the fearless Liberal leader is planning on an election soon , or is he ? Or isn't he ? Well with all these important issues Torch runs etc. , how can he be expected to plan for an election .The libs certainly have their priorties in order. Thank our lucky stars we have a strong opposition party looking out for our concerns!

skuleman
said
0 0

Why do Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary etc. need more than one torch ceremony? Anything more is just a waste of taxpayers money.likewise, in rural areas and the north, the ridings are huge and as its often difficult for people to travel a long distance, more than one per riding might make sense.

PJ
said
0 0

Then maybe the Liberal MP's should have gotten off their duffs to participate and plan a ceremony for their communities. After all this is about bringing the torch to Canadian communities, not political ridings. It's just insane to think otherwise.

The Other Lowell in BC
said
0 0

Well to be fair, if the government, had any sense of propriety, they would ensure that all parties were equally represented in the torch run. 70% of the ridings getting the torch relay being conservative, does smell a little fishy in Denmark (or in this case Ottawa). There is a familiar pattern here. Majority of stimulus money going to conservative ridings. etc. It is partisanship at its worst. Their failure on the H1N1 front is just mismanagement. Nothing partisan about it. We can only hope that one of these days Harper will grow up. So far he is going down as one of the worst PM's that Canada has had. His need to manipulate, distort and obfuscate are second to none.

Portes
said
0 0

trackjamYou made a very valid point, it has not been taken too well by the Liberal supporters on here. If the Liberals were I power they would do the same thing, I personally think that this route was made years ago, possibly even when the Liberals were in power. if this is all the Liberals have to say then they are in really sad shape, instead of bickering all the time why don't they make suggestions to help, rahter than the constant tirade. An Opposition party is to oppose,not to waste time over such nonsense. The present Leaders are thinking like the old days , this is 2003 and not the 90'S

zwinky
said
0 0

This really seems fishy in the Saskatchewan and Toronto areas.Ceremonies in 11 of 12 ridings in Saskatchewan with the ONLY riding left out being a high profile Liberal member? Managing to land the flame ONLY at the scarce few Conservative ridings in the GTA?Give us some credit for brains - this fails the "walks like a duck" test big time.

Alan
said
0 0

Ummm, hordesmom, you may want to check your facts about the 1988 Olympics. Just a little bit of research would tell you that Brian Mulroney and the PC party were in power.It just boggles the mind how people will post inacccurate comments. It boggles me more how people will read this crap and believe it.

Craig
said
0 0

I find it a little rich to say that the Torch ceremony is not going through Ralph Goodale's riding. It will be in the City of Regina. Which contains 4 ridings in which Ralph's is by far the largest. Last time I checked City Hall, Wascana Park and Victoria Park were all in his riding. I don't exactly know where in the city the actual ceremony will be held.That fact is so sloppily reported in this story that I have trouble believing the credibility of the rest of the story.Also the fact is that the Liberal ridings are concentrated around Vancouver, Toronto, & Montreal. Where the Conservatives won over a more geographically dispersed area.

Ivan
said
0 0

For all those claiming this is no big deal - pretty well guaranteed, you'd all be screaming if the party positions were reversed. (now I wait for the Cons. party hacks who are being paid to click 'disagree' with comments like mine)

Craig Norman
said
0 0

The Regina event is being held at the Lawson Sportsplex which is not in Ralph's riding. If Ralph is upset about this then maybe he needs to talk to the City of Regina since they are organizing the event.

Wade Ens
said
0 0

Liberal ridings are all clustered together in Toronto.Nobody forced them to vote Liberal

Healthy level of cynicism
said
0 0

My goodness, is there no end to the faux outrage and whining by politicians? Hey, those Olympic mitts they're selling at the Bay look suspiciously Liberal - they're red, and have a maple leaf symbol on them; which looks suspiciously like the Liberal Party's logo. OBVIOUSLY, the Liberal party has infiltrated and influenced the Olympics then, right? Where's the media? Call the RCMP!This is a conspiracy which must be investigated - how about a $100 Million Royal Commission?

John in ON
said
0 0

WOW....What's on the complain agenda next week? Can't wait to hear something new from an opposition MP so I can have an alternative next election! Otherwise it’s Harper by a landslide...

Richard in Ontario
said
0 0

@Conservatives can't count. Thought I might point out that the Bloc aren't whining about this as the Libs and NDP are. This is typical Liberal thinking, throw out any old item to try to stir the pot of public opinion. Yes we can count, but you also forgot to include he independant members who also aren't railing about this issue. Boo Hoo, Iggy and company are being picked on again.

Vince M
said
0 0

Only the Liberals would think the country is split up by political riding instead of communities. Such is their inflated sense of importance.

JTP
said
0 0

I have not seen the list but is there an influence in places like Manitoba where conserviative ridings are rural (smaller towns) so hitting that town hits a PC riding where Winnipeg is largely NDP/liberal so hitting 1 stop in winnipeg means missing a larger number of non-PCs?It looks bad, 91 to 29. But how many of that 91 are single riding communities?

mario
said
0 0

It is pretty shameful when you mixed such an event with Politics. I am the kind of neutral when it comes to what party I will vote in any elections, but as mentioned in the article, it seems that there was a lot of planning by the current government to host a torch event in their ridings

M M B Ont
said
0 0

It SNOWED here today and it's a Conservative riding so do I blame them for it?? Tomorrow it is going to rain .. again in a Conservative riding. Ohhh shame Conservatives for sending the rain, the snow, the sun, the stars!!How pathetic of the Liberals to whine about the Olympic torch and where it passes ! Is this not Canada regardless of any riding? The Liberals need to grow up or shut up! This is getting to be very tiring! But then what do you expect from little children ?

Steve
said
0 0

I believe the non-political head of the Committee - if he says there was no political influence, then there was none.

LZ
said
0 0

Oh my gosh, I love my country but we are such a nation of complainers!!!!

Hindusan
said
0 0

This seems really fishy. I know Stephen Harper's Conservatives would do anything for a few votes. For those lIberal bashers here, they are just keeping hte government to account. When the conservatives were in opposition they said nothing close to this will ever happen.

Barb bull lake NB
said
0 0

my grandson who is 11 thinks that Ken Dryden sure has put a scum over being a sport in hockey, a guy who people looked up to , whinning about a torch not being held in liberal ridings , grow up Ken you sit there in Question period and look like you will be down on floor throwing a fit if thing don't go your way,and you look like you don't have a clue what anybody is saying

Mead
said
0 0

With deaths looming on the horizon from H1N1, is this the best fodder the Liberals can muster for an election.

NO to Tories Canada!
said
0 0

What difference if it was Liberal in power.. What is wrong with people's common sense? Our beloved Tories MP has responsiblity to Canadian as we elected them into Canada's new so-called government. Tories had their chance to be most fairness government and decent government that Canadian clearly desperate for. They blew it.Stop defend their shameful actions. This is Canada - not Tory Canada -

tc
said
0 0

Here is a suggestion for the morons in parliament. Quit complaining about stupid idiotic things like this and actually start to work for the people of this country like your supposed to. You are all a bunch of juveniles crying and screaming about nothing. I believe we have one or two things going on in this country that may be a bit more important and serious than where the olympic torch is going. Grow up

Warren in saskatoon
said
0 0

CTV you should be bloody ashamed to have Tom Clark waste 10 minutes of my time by discussing were the torch will run in this country.The liberals and ndp are a bunch of fools, they are more or less telling Mr. Furlong he is not telling the truth regarding the decision of were the Canadian Olympic Committee decided on the route. I thought the CBC was bad CTV you just took the cake.If there is nothing more important for you to talk about then put on a childrens program it would have more mature topics. Youre a bunch of bone heads and I can't wait for another election maybe they can somehow get rid of Tom Clarke as well as the Liberals, sorry same thing.

mlrfreeman
said
0 0

Okay, it's official now - the Liberal Party has gone stark raving mad!

odatjo
said
0 0

Of course the Cons would interfere with the torch, if there is a slim chance that they can get even on more vote, they would lie, scheme and plot to get it. So far we have the H1N1 charade of misinformation, then the stimulus package, now the torch relay. Yes, I am pleased that CTV was kind enough to draw it to our attention, that lets me know that someone is watching the Cons as they run rough-shod over the taxpayers of this country of ours.. The Cons really don't care about the torch, only the votes that they may get. What a mess they make as they continue to deceive us.

Ron
said
0 0

Here we go again - remember the same bunch squawking about the Conservatives interfering with the logo? Liberals are incapable of being truthful with us - they are always trying to find some way to mislead the public and pretend they are better than they are. The Olympic committee should start suing these creeps for their lies and accusations - after all they are impugning the reputation of these people by implying (or stating) they are pawns and puppets for the Conservatives, unable to make their own decisions. This is one more example of why this group are knows as Liebrals across the country.

GMAN
said
0 0

Didn't the Liberals close Military bases in Tory ridings when in power and beef up the bases in Liberal ridings???That is far more abuse of tax payer dollars and and financially punitive to non loberal ridings.Where was the complaining then? None..right, that's because that is the system of governemtn we live with. Usal; walk the walk or shut your yap...since you had your chance...shut your yap/

SK Doc
said
0 0

Canada = a nation of whiners...

Charles
said
0 0

Why not say that it is the Liberal supporting CTV that haas been promoting this nonsense. Do you have the gall to publish this message.

Yvonne in Huntsville
said
0 0

Honestly, would you expect anything better than this from the Tories at this point? Look at their history, folks; their reign has been jam packed with low-class, immature stunts like this.

Nasty Celt
said
0 0

The Conservatives sound just like the RCMP in the Dziekanski affair. We're supposed to believe them and not our own lying eyes. Conservative's and their supporters are such pathetic liars. I've seen 5 year old's do a better job of it. Man up and admit when you screw up. It's a sign of character.

Plail
said
0 0

Wow! Wafergate, big chequegate, CPC Olympic uniforms, and now torchgate. The Liberals must just be soaring in the polls after raising so many issues that are of great concern to Canadians.

Ron
said
0 0

This whole debate is childish and typical of what the Liberal party has become. They have no policies, no ethics, no values - all they have is the desire to get back at the trough. There is no evidence the Conservatives had the slightest thing to do with the route; that doesn't stop the Liberals who accuse, blame, condemn, insult and slander the VANOC committee and the hundreds of people who worked tirelessly to put this run together - now the news isn't about the awe inspiring run, or the wonder of the event - it is about Liberal whining and moaning and tearing down all that doesn't get them to the trough. Sick, Sick, Sick - my dislike for that corrupt and untrustworthy party is quickly becoming a true contempt.

Roadrobber
said
0 0

Next the Liberals will be complaining that more Conservative ridings are getting more H1N1 vaccination programes than Liberal ones. How pathetic of the Liberals to complain about this. How low the Liberals have sunk. Where is the leadership from this party? Until they get some real issues they will be destined to wander in the wilderness of opposition for a very long time.

Warren in Saskatoon
said
0 0

The Canadian Olympic Comittee has worked it's butt off for 4 or 5 years to bring the Olympics to Canada and hold the best olympics ever and you get two political parties more or less calling Mr. Furlong a liar you should all be ashamed and I hope Mr. Furlong goes in front of Parliament and tells the Liberals and NDP to shut there mouths and stay away from the Olympics if they don't have anything good to say. Ralph Goodale your a joke just like your friend Volpe.

Bonnie
said
0 0

The opposition parties are a bunch of whiners! This really makes them look bad!

Keith in Gibsons
said
0 0

Anybody ever stop to think that part of the reason for visiting more Conservative ridings is because there ARE more Conservative ridings? Remember, they won the election and formed the government because they had the most MPs elected? This whole NDP/Liberal belief that the losers are entitled to the winner's prize is just getting too old.

Val Breakenridge, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
said
0 0

I am saddened the Liberals have stated the torch route was engineered for party politics. The torch relay is the biggest Canadian unity event since Calgary in '88. Why couldn't the politicians just this once leave their petty agendas out of it? The MPs from Winnipeg should especially be ashamed for their remarks. Winnipeg's torch festivities are at the Forks. Of course its at the Forks! Everything happens at the Forks! ...its central... it can handle the crowds... its where Winnipeggers having been meeting to celebrate special occasions for eons. If the Liberals have proof the route is engineered, let's see it. If not, how about taking the high road and sharing in the joy the relay is bringing to a nation?

Andrew
said
0 0

Can we, the taxpayers, get a refund for they days paid for this work. Paying for such wastes of time doesn't feel very economical.

Citizen Windsor
said
0 0

Vancouver as a constituency is dominated by Liberals like Ujjal Dusanj and Hady Fry. It is a majority Liberal and NDP riding's.....how do you explain that using their logic. There are two Conservatives in Vancouver. Secondly, the Conservatives have more seats then the Liberals and are spread out in most the provinces so it is likely that there would be more stops in Conservative ridings....hmmm. Iggy and Latin can suck it up and try doing something constructive for once or they better get used to being in opposition.

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