from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, May 4, 2015 at 12:08 AM
subject Trois élections partielles annoncées pour le 19 octobre; Lawyer says Omar Khadr was waterboarded as Harper government moves to prevent his release on bail
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the sunny weekend, which started with a couple hours at work, at Phi, starting a team to dismantle some monitors so we can start the Jason Lewis install this week. Then it was lunch at Sarah and Etienne’s, as Rose and Femke needed a playdate. Yesterday my dad took the training wheels off her bike and in an afternoon she learned how to ride her bike without them. We took her to the schoolyard nearby – it will be her school in the fall – and she rode and rode in circles. Sol walked the scooter. Tonight I went down to Lachine for the official launch of Mohammad Zamir’s campaign with close to 300 people. A bunch of us candidates were asked on stage to stand behind him while he shouted his speech. And he was playing his weird “coming soon” video on a loop the whole time. Projecting it. I think the sound was on and coming out the laptop speakers. In any case, I notice that myself and Papineau are still missing from the candidates page on the conservative party website. Can you have someone do something?
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, May 4, 2015 at 11:25 PM
subject Élaine Ayotte devient l’ambassadrice du Canada à l’UNESCO; Peel teachers’ strike puts more than 40,000 high school students out of class as Ontario strike starts to snowball
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. Survived another Monday, a hectic day at work bouncing between the three buildings, DHC and Phi, multiple projects on the go as I am covering Iliana’s admin duties. A big chunk of the gang are in Venice this week for the opening parties of the Biennial. We’re too “house poor” to go this year. Our new “tout en un” line of credit is open but we only seem to be able to withdraw $2000 per day so we are slowly paying down our credit cards and personal lines of credit.
I’ve received a request for my phone number from Minister Kelly Leitch. What do you suppose this is all about? Will she offer to speak at my campaign launch or cocktail fundraiser? In other odd news, I received an email from the Montreal regional captain of the Fair Vote Canada campaign (because I signed up to help with PR) and the goal of the campaign is to discuss PR with candidates and get them to sign the pledge, or at least fill out the questionnaire. Get a load of this paragraph:
This riding has been held by the Liberal party for many years (apart from a brief period from 2006-2008 when it was held by the Bloc) it has been represented by Liberal leader and MP Justin Trudeau since 2008. Three candidates have been nominated for the 2015 election so far, including the Liberal incumbent and leader, Justin Trudeau, NDP challenger Beatrice Zako, Conservative challenger Chris Lloyd (who doesn’t have a website or Facebook page) and Green challenger, Danny Polifroni (linked into their names are their Facebook pages and websites if they have one so you get a better idea of who they are).
Isn’t this hilarious? I never realized my Facebook page or websites were so hard to find. And who knew that there was already a Wikipedia page listing all the conservative candidates so far, including yours truly – but again, no external links. I do seem to be the only one who listed “artist” as occupation.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, May 6, 2015 at 11:06 PM
subject Le projet de loi antiterroriste adopté aux Communes; Harper government to make revoking of passports from suspected extremists quicker
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. Barely, like the Habs. Heard about that game-winning goal in the last second via Denis Coderre on Twitter, of course. Had no time to watch or listen to the game, as we ate late (first BBQ of the season), and the kids were not that cooperative getting to bed. Survived another day of installing at the Phi Centre. Met Aaron and Karen for lunch, we had Van Winkle sandwiches outside in the park by the water, enjoying the sunshine and sound of a leaf-blower. They arrived last night, driving from NB, on their way out west.
I was approached (hounded is an apt word) by a journalist from CBC who read an article in the St. Thomas University online student paper (full of errors) based on my artist talk at Connexion back in March. I finally spoke to her at the end of the day as of course I go through HQ with any media requests which I know will be denied but it seems she may go ahead with a story Friday morning. It might shed a little too much light on my campaign strategies. Here’s a link to the obscure Beacon story, I don’t even think Marc-André has heard of it, unless they did, and this is why I’m not on the conservative website any longer:
http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/47846/dear-pm-expect-unexpected-election/
Speaking of unexpected elections, that was quite something in Alberta yesterday eh? Off to bed.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, May 8, 2015 at 1:24 AM
subject Le projet de loi antiterroriste adopté aux Communes; Omar Khadr, victim and villain: Former Guantanamo detainee a divisive Canadian symbol
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a tough day at work, we were short a tech as Luc has a hernia – his fourth! Poor guy. So it was a bit of running around and more cable-hiding and trying to figure out the Lutron lighting panel. Four projectors are plugged into adaptors in the lighting tracks so it is imperative that the lights are never dimmed or shut off accicently. It was so nice and hot outside! Makes biking to and from work so much more pleasant. Turns out I need to work a bit tomorrow, even though it was going to be a day off. I’ll still be able to meet Robert and Judith at the airport and as well leave early to have snacks with them and my folks and the kids after daycare and before our supper reservations at Santa Barbara.
That reporter from CBC tried to contact me again tonight. Did you read the article I sent you? Is it bad for a first year student or typical? In any case, a flawed starting point for a larger story, as I wrote her tonight. I really hope they hold onto the story, and I feel any attempt to go along with them, “playing it straight” will just get me in deeper water.
alien unprivileged enemy belligerent?
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sun, May 10, 2015 at 11:24 PM
subject Elizabeth May s’excuse pour ses blagues déplacées; Patrick Brown needs to build a bigger tent to unseat Wynne Liberals
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the weekend, and my second MDMA experience last night, which was a more diverse experience that still involved a lot of personal connectivity but this time featured more elements of the outside world, such as taxi rides, an after-hours tour of DHC, dancing at Stereo Bar, walks through parks, interactions with strangers, more cab rides, more long walks. I quite like this drug! It feels a bit like being on acid but without the hallucinations and unlike pot, doesn’t make me paranoid or unable to speak.
Did you do anything special for Mothers’ Day? I notice your office issued a statement. In case you are not entirely familiar with the contents I am including here in this letter. For us, we slept in until 10, then gathered up some picnic items and cycled down to the Botantical Gardens, then after wandering a bit we ate, then went up the Olympic Tower. Rose has been asking to see it again over and over again in the past months. So this, and supper tonight that consisted of pizzas from Napolitana that Claudine purchased, were our mothers’ day gifts to my mom.
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on Mother’s Day
May 10, 2015
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of Mother’s Day:
“Today we celebrate all mothers across Canada and around the world for their dedication, unconditional love and support for their families.
“Mothers are the keystone of our families. They provide guidance, advice and kindness to their children and partners, many while managing careers, taking care of elderly family members and contributing to their community.
“Our Government recognizes the importance of supporting mothers and their families. That is why we are taking action to support families through tax measures and benefits such as the Family Tax Cut, the Universal Child Care Benefit, the Child Care Expense Deduction, the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, and the Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefit. These measures are benefiting Canadian families and allowing them to spend more quality time together while keeping more money in their pockets.
“Internationally, our Government continues to take a leadership role in promoting and improving maternal, newborn and child health, in order to ensure it remains a global development priority.
“On this special day, Laureen and I would like to honour all mothers and grandmothers for their commitment to their families and for their constant love and devotion.”
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, May 11, 2015 at 10:02 PM
subject Des employés fédéraux reportent leurs négociations pour protester contre une loi; The fix is in — Senate will quietly allow popular Reform Act to die
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive, surviving another Monday but that CBC journalist is still trying to get some sort of story out and so I wrote to M-A and Yannis my predicament:
Salut Marc-André,
la semaine passé une journaliste de CBC radio m’a contacté pour faire une entrevue. J’ai elle dit que je ne suis pas disponible mais elle m’a dit qu’il y a une article en ligne qui parle de mauvais façon de mon campagne, puis elle utilisera cette article comme base ou guide (en anglais: ‘angle’), pour son article. Il s’agit d’un article écrit par un étudiant qui a vu un présentation que j’ai fait sur ma pratique artistique en mars à Fredericton puis sans me parlé direct il m’a tout tordue mes mots! C’est évident à mes yeux qu’il n’a compris rien de mon discours. À ce moment est-ce que c’est mieux à rester silence ou d’essayer à parler avec plus de clarté avec la journaliste de CBC? Est-ce que j’ai le droit a demander à l’étudiant à retirer son article parce qu’il n’a jamais demandé mon permission?
Autres choses: J’attends toujours les brochures ou cartes d’affaires que Yannis a me promis il y a quelque semaines. En plus, je pense que je ferai lancement officielle de mon campagne le 14 juin. Est-ce qu’il y a un procédure à faire pour ça? Commander un pancarte? Je voudrais le faire avant Ramadan.
Merci en avance pour votre aide!
So after spending the day with my stomach in knots, I went to the gym in the late afternoon and worked out hard (my knee felt fine!), I received a conference call from Yannis and M-A and they wanted the link to the Beacon article and amidst kids and puzzles and kitchen noises I had to explain how that journalism student ended up with quotes like “If I have a goal, it’s that – to own the message and change it at whim, but still do it within certain parameters of the Conservative party,” and “The interesting thing to me is I’ve been telling the Prime Minister about this whole thing with all these imaginings, fantasies and options, like ya, I’m going to become a candidate and mess with your party and totally wait until the wind (sic) has dropped and then it’s going to be party time.” Yikes! So I’m meeting Yannis early tomorrow morning to discuss further actions, M-A is going to try to find out what other info the CBC journalist plans to reveal of my project, and I’m in limbo until the story breaks. Also, M-A asked me to stop writing you, but I told him I would have to think about it, as I have invested a lot of time in the project (15 years!), so it I can’t convince them to embrace the Dear PM project, to not fear it, to allow it to continue whilst still a candidate – even if it reveals all my daily flaws and imperfections – then if push comes to shove I may have to choose Dear PM over the campaign. If National Council doesn’t ditch me first.
I wonder if I can let the fate of the Habs decide the fate of my projects?
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, May 12, 2015 at 11:19 PM
subject Le NPD rétablirait l’aide internationale pour l’avortement; Conservative opponent in Justin Trudeau’s riding resigns after admitting he was just in it as an art project
Dear Stephen,
What an eventful day! The morning started with very early and repeated phone calls from and as the CBC online story launched and caught fire. I met at a café where I tried to explain the “messing with” quote and to convince him we could weather this media storm together, but to no avail. He presented me with the resignation papers and I signed; that bit of news didn’t take long to get out. wanted me to remove all my social media accounts but now that I’ve been let go, what would be the point of that? Later in the afternoon I locked myself in the bathroom just to calm my nerves.
I was going to use this letter as a platform to issue some sort of statement, but looking at it now, all point-form and wordy, it doesn’t make any sense. Do you really want to hear (yet again) how I believe our first-past-the-post system isn’t a true reflection of the electorate? To hear how I wanted to test the limits of free speech and explore the possibilities of voicing independent views within the confines of an electoral system that privileges dominant party ideologies? We see how far that got me. I’ve brought up artistic precedents with you in the past – Coluche, the Yes Men – but have you heard about the Janez Jansa collective in Slovenia? Three artists all changed their name to Janez Jansa, after a right-wing politician. Now that’s dedication!
I will reiterate that I believe making art is an inherently political act – sometimes more political than we realize. Though my candidacy with the Conservative Party was short-lived I remain hopeful that this experience provides fresh insights into the nature of, and the relationship between, the personal and the political in this, the age of social media. I hope the dialogue continues.
-chris
PS Do you realize that this is the first time in 15 years of Dear PM that I am actually in the the headlines I use as subjects in my daily letters? I find that very strange!
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Thu, May 14, 2015 at 12:59 AM
subject Ottawa à l’aise de promouvoir l’oléoduc Keystone sans l’Alberta; Firing, public shaming, notoriety — consequences are piling up for vulgar hecklers
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the second day of the story and as you can see it is just snowballing: Vice mobile app, BBC news app, cover page of the NP, articles popping up on the wire from Saskatoon to Washington. Did you catch the great spoof in the Beaverton, which claims you as a performance artist as well? Anyway, I was up at 6 to do the CBC morning show in SJ via phone, but had actually woken up much early, by 3:30, unable to get back to sleep. More anxiety. And though I was to work on time, I didn’t accomplish a whole lot. Met Hugo – who had played accordion at our wedding – at work and we recorded a piece for the Radio-Canada morning show tomorrow morning, and then I had lunch with Emily, then went to the gym, then did an interview with a guy from the Citizen, then cycled home, then got the kids, then stopped at the bakery, then made supper, then did the bedtime routine, then woke up just before 9 to meet Dan and Lisa who came over for a visit. They are heading back to Halifax tomorrow. Clo came home later from an Elektra event and now everyone is asleep in their own bed and I am exhausted and need to go to sleep too. Tomorrow will be another busy day with more interviews planned. Goodnight.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, May 15, 2015 at 12:09 AM
subject Ottawa à l’aise de promouvoir l’oléoduc Keystone sans l’Alberta; Ousted Tory hoped to ‘take down Justin Trudeau’ despite his candidacy being an art project
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another busy, busy day. Hugo’s reportage this morning played really well, he did a fantastic job making me sound better in French than I really am. Then I did Vice while walking my bike towards work. Met with The Star in mid morning and during that interview Jerry called me. I called him back and boy did I get an earful. He is so angry! I don’t think I’ve ever had someone that angry at me in all my life. There were moments where I honestly think he means to do me physical harm. He sees no artistic validity to anything I’ve done, and that I must be certifiable nuts to write letters to you every day. He asked if my mother had dropped me on my head as a child. He says I wasted 3 years of his life. I apologized, and tried to offer him an optimistic outlook, like that all publicity is good publicity, and that his riding association was getting international attention (it sounds like he had just read the article in the Independent, which mentions my cynicism towards out electoral system and my desire for more PR. He is so bitter and hurt and angry it made the “terror-belly” knot of anxiety in my gut grow even more taut than I ever thought possible. Lucky Noelle calmed me a bit over the phone before my next interview, which was on the phone with the La Presse Ottawa correspondent over the phone, and then I did a follow-up to the National Post piece. I started tearing up at one point when thinking about Jerry. It was a long interview and they concluded with a short video shoot in a hotel lobby (to avoid noises from outside). By the end of the day my nerves were shot and I almost jumped out of my skin while at the market buying mangoes and I heard someone shout “hey, Chris Lloyd” but it was Clark, who is always a pleasure to see and he helped me carry groceries back home and stayed for a quick beer. I made supper for the kids and then Clo and I got them to bed and she went to more Elektra events and I did a Skype interview with Global BC, then cleaned up the kitchen. I had scheduled an interview with La Journal de Montreal tomorrow but just cancelled it as I am developing a cough that feels like pneumonia or strep and the kids have been coughing lately too so we’ll all go to the clinic. And would you look at that: I’m in the subject heading again!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sun, May 17, 2015 at 12:49 AM
subject Tous les réseaux peuvent accueillir un débat électoral, dit le CRTC; Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk’s plea for liver donor answered but ethical questions raised
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the start of the weekend. I also survived a little interview via Skype with Global BC. An old friend, one of the first official directors the Khyber ever had, works with them now and set up the interview.
I survived a bit of a wait at the clinic yesterday with the kids. Took them out of daycare just after lunch, tried to nap to no avail, then took them to get their haircuts, then we waited at the clinic before being examined and told we had colds and to drink orange juice.
Today the big adventure consisted of hunting down some yard sales and running into Michael and Emi and Lowell and having them over for brunch and then Michael and I biked downtown with the kids so I could get my computer from work and also check out the Yinka show. I had forgotten that it was the curators’ tour so we tried to stay a few galleries ahead or behind the group. Overall the kids liked the show but I think they liked cycling in the on-again, off-again rain.
I needed my computer to find the exact images and order I gave them at the Connexion talk; they are finalizing the video edit and we are discussing what now to do with it. I’ve been on the computer since 10, since after Stacy called and woke me up as I had fallen asleep with the kids because of course. And somehow I haven’t even started looking for that presentation folder. I’m going to send this letter and find that folder then go to bed.
But first I thought you would enjoy one of my hate emails. It’s been the only one so far:
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Eric Greenbaum <efginto@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 12, 2015 at 12:33 PM
Subject: You should go to jail.
To: dearPM@gmail.com
I hope you get prosecuted to the full extent of the law. What you did is fraud, completely deceitful, and abhorrent.
You’re not clever. You’re not an artist. You’re just an asshole.
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, May 19, 2015 at 1:59 AM
subject L’Arabie saoudite utilise des bombes illégales, dénonce HRW; Only person who has power to stop Poilievre blowing tax money on ‘vanity videos’ is PM
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another Monday. What a great long weekend it was! The kids had fun, we had fun, the weather was great. Did some work in the yard. We love the yard, the alley, the neighbourhood. Rose has a new BFF, they’ve really hit it off. It’s been fun to see her interact with another girl her age. They’ve got a real pool and Rose was invited over for a little dip this afternoon. Tonight instead of going to Parc Jarry for a picnic as planned Rose and I went to get some groceries and fresh cut fries from Nouveau Système on Beaubien and then we watched The Little Mermaid.
Did a Skype with JM and Kim to discuss the Viva performance art festival and the Optica pitch; we’re still trying to pitch a debate, but we don’t know if it should best be presented at the Viva space, or in a rented space in Papineau. And both Kim and I would best like to keep it in character, or as authentic as possible to a real debate, and invite the other candidates, including Justin Trudeau.
I’ve been trying to watch some of the video footage from the artist talk I gave back in Fredericton; they are planning to put it on their website, and I want to make sure I didn’t say anything that violates my confidentiality agreement. Aside from naming some names, which we’ll censor, I think I’m OK. The inverse could also be true, and everything I’ve said publicly since last week is very, very bad for me. But what benefit would the party have to suing me (or worse)? The candidacy procedures may be secret but I’m pretty sure that what I’m talking about are not massive secrets. Talking about policy changes at the 2011 convention is really, really old news. Tomorrow night I’m on CJAD.
Woah, it is really, really late.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, May 19, 2015 at 10:37 PM
subject Destruction du registre des armes à feu: la police ouvre une enquête; Bank robber’s jail term slashed by Ontario court so he would avoid deportation to Syria
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the first day back at work after the long weekend. There had been a leak in the air conditioning unit that sits on the mezzanine above G7. The water damage is terrible as it is mostly inside the walls and insulation, but miraculously no artworks were damaged. Spent some time this afternoon sawing holes out from the inside of the wall to get under the Andrews’ plinth. Also went to the gym, and then biked to Pip’s for supper, meeting Clo and the kids there. The kids were wired from drinking soy chocolate milk. We ate soft shell tacos and then it was time for me to cycle to CJAD for an interview, then cycled home, and now I am totally exhausted. I’ve lined up another podcast interview for tomorrow after work, and an extended call with some folks at VICE for Thursday. Meanwhile, the Britts restaurant folks still want my estimate and paperwork is piling up at work, and we have yet to do our taxes, but I’m beat, I’m off to bed.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Thu, May 21, 2015 at 12:19 AM
subject Le NPD promet un budget équilibré; Spotlight on Montreal college after students accused of trying to join foreign jihadists
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. Survived another day at work. I updated my CV online with some select articles and interviews from the past week. The interview on CJAD is up on soundcloud now. And after work I went to Grumpy’s to meet Walter for another podcast interview. He met me and we went next door to Comedy Central upstairs and met Keith and then we put on nifty microphones and then talked for an hour. Their podcast has a comedic bent, and the conversation was fun. I think it goes up on their website tomorrow, it’s called 9 to 5 cc. I don’t quite know what the cc is for.
Hey I received a letter from CSIS, about my request for info (from the facebook group called Canadians: Celebrate Bill C-51 by Asking CSIS for Their File on You!). Here it is:
Hello Chris Lloyd,
You have successfully submitted your request under the Access to Information Act to Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Your payment receipt number is #R124415338.
The information and documents that you provided will be reviewed and processing will begin shortly.
Please note that if you have submitted your request outside of regular business hours, the processing of your request will begin the following business day.
If your request is complete, it will be processed within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt, unless an extension is required. Extensions may be taken for limited and specific reasons, which are listed in the following sections of the Acts:
Section 9 of the Access to Information Act
Your temporary request tracking number is 291501. After your request has been registered, a new number will be assigned to your request.
Should additional information or documents be required, you will be notified by the Access to Information and Privacy Division at Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
When you receive an answer to your request, review the information to determine whether you wish to make a further request under the Act. You also have the right to file a complaint to the Information Commissionershould you believe that you have been denied any of your rights under the Act.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact CSIS’s ATIP Division by e-mail.
Thank you for using the Access to Information and Privacy online application.
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Thu, May 21, 2015 at 10:58 PM
subject Stephen Harper honoré par le Conseil de la communauté juive de Montréal; Majority of potential liver donors to Eugene Melnyk not interested in donating to someone else
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. Survived a three-day work week! Went to the gym again today and my body feels sore, but in a good way. Cycling to work and home again feels great too. We had Clark over for supper, veggie burgers on the BBQ. He and Clo went off to Sight n Sound at Eastern Bloc and I put the kids to bed. Rose complained of an ear ache and I was cross with her. That was a bit mean of me. Sometimes it is hard to be patient and understanding and loving all the time. I gave her some Tylenol, cleaned her ear out a bit with a Q-tip, and she claimed to feel better and fell asleep without further fussing. Sol found this operation fascinated and cleaned his own ears a bit, which are in sore need of a visit from Mr. Q-tip. Waxy!
Off to bed early tonight. Spoke with Vice again today at noon to plan some sort of coverage for let in the summer. Have a couple more interviews lined up for tomorrow morning, with Rabble and NSCAD. I really need to start thinking and planning an exhibition tour and an accompanying book, but I fear that I will procrastinate. I also have to plan the bronze sculpture, the CALQ grant, and finish our taxes. Yes, we still haven’t finished them!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, May 22, 2015 at 11:03 PM
subject Bientôt des fonds pour encourager les prostituées à quitter l’industrie du sexe; Bogus gaffe charge obscures legitimate debate over universal vs. targeted tax benefits
Dear Stephen,
Still alive. I survived a phone interview with Rabble, coming home after dropping the kids off at daycare. Spent the day alternating between fighting ants and formatting the letters from 2011 into book form. Not really fighting ants, just laying bait traps and trying to direct them to the bait with washes of diluted vinegar. So far the ants seem to be concentrated in the bathroom and front hall, with a few in the kids’ bedroom. Clo did a major clean a few mornings ago when they were first discovered and there is no food laying about that we know of, so hopefully they are helping themselves to the bait. I don’t like the idea of poisoning a whole colony but I like the idea of an indoor infestation less.
After daycare I decided to bike downtown with the kids to check out a free show by the Dear Criminals, part of OFFTA, at Place Émilie-Gamelin (where so many protests begin or end), which has become more of a Place des Spectacles venue (complete with giant floating colourful net sculpture), but this was not the best parenting decision ever. True, Sol liked the music and danced and was cute, but he didn’t eat his grilled cheese, and the biggest problem was the cold. It was only about 11 degrees, and their hands were freezing. Rose ate a full hamburger, and we moved the the sun, and then cycled home, uphill and against the wind. We skyped with Thomas when we got home; Sol and Thomas seemed to bond over the strangeness of the video link, the sound and images. The kids were in bed and asleep by 9:30. I folded laundry listening to a Canadaland podcast about muzzled Canadian scientists, and am now writing to you whilst getting sucked into Facebook. What do you think of the new EKOS poll that shows a strong NDP surge? Is this part of your plan all along, to focus only on Trudeau and hope that Canadians just self-reflexively avoid voting NDP when push comes to shove? Still 150 days before the election, a lot can change…
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, May 25, 2015 at 10:26 PM
subject Projet de loi C-51: Blaney cite l’arrestation de 10 jeunes; B.C. Human Rights Tribunal to consider striking gender designation from birth certificates
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived: Monday, and the return to work (and the gym); a quick overnight trip to Nominingue (and all the attendant blackflies); and Rose getting her ear pierced (we started with one because when you go to a good clinic, and they are really keen on sterilization, and use the needle instead of that stupid gun, and get a nice medical-grade metal stud, then one ear alone can cost over $100!). Anyway, it was a mostly relaxing weekend, despite the cooler than normal temperatures. There were a lot of flies outside in Nomininigue but not so bad by the water and both Rose and Sol enjoyed wading in the lake very much. Rose was practically swimming, and Sol spent a lot of time digging his hands into the mud and then flinging it over his head. The drive home only took 1.75 hours. The weather was crap again today and I cycled home in the rain, stopping at Waldmans for seafood and some groceries, made roasted veggies (fiddleheads, potatoes, peppers, mushrooms and brussels sprouts!) with cod and scallops tossed in near the end. We were supposed to meet Marcello but he had something come up and then a physio appointment that ran late so now perhaps we meet tomorrow. We’d like to get this backsplash finished. Did no work on art projects or taxes this past weekend.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, May 27, 2015 at 11:11 PM
subject Les libéraux y vont aussi de leur virage sur le Régime de pensions du Canada; Unexpected fallout of Quebec’s 1995 referendum: a sharp drop in boys born
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I am surviving and loving this heat wave! This morning at work we pulled it all together and had the galleries at 465 up and open again, right on schedule. Freed up my afternoon for a phone interview with my alma mater. Also, Rabble posted online their interview. So the story continues, as do my weird dreams of showing up at conservative events and suddenly trying to explain my presence there, after all that has happened. And suddenly, bam! Facebook grabs you and an hour is gone. I’m already in bed, not planning to do anything more than read some new New Yorker, but still. Still not done our taxes. Maybe I’ll watch an episode of Louis before sleep. Also: what was your team thinking with that ridiculous “just not ready” ad? It’s almost like you accept that Trudeau will eventually become PM, you’re just hoping it won’t be in October. Did you forget who is the actual official opposition? Have you seen the polls lately? Or do you have some nasty wag the dog tricks up your sleeve?
-chris
DEAR PM 