Canadian Satirical and Comedy Writers Mobilize; Beg Stockwell Day to Remain in Politics
A coalition of Canada's satirical and comedy writers representing a wide
range of interests, from The Royal Canadian Air Farce to Frank
Magazine, have united to make a plea to embattled Canadian Alliance Leader
Stockwell Day to remain in national politics.
Since Day put his leadership on the line in July by announcing that a new
leadership contest will be held for the Alliance within the next six months,
comedy writers and comedians have been panicking. His non-committal attitude
towards whether or not he will actually be a candidate in the new leadership
race has made comedy industry representatives even more nervous, so much so
that they have formed a pro-Day advocacy group entitled Canadian Comedy Workers
for Day (CCWD).
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Canadian comedy's raison d'être, Mr.
Stockwell Day.
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"Stockwell, the country needs you. We need you to look deep inside yourself,
if possible, and realize your importance to the country's largest industry
and biggest export: comedy," said Lisa Dyment, a writer for This Hour
has 22 Minutes and noted Canadian comedy historian.
"We're talking about an individual here whose significance cannot be
underestimated. I mean, Stockwell's arguably the most lampooned Canadian public
figure since (former Prime Minister) Mackenzie King."
Added CTV late night talk show host and official Liberal Party of Canada
comedian Mike Bullard: "Please, Mr. Day. Think of our productivity here
in Canada that you so often complain about. What would your departure do to
help?"
Traveling stand-up comedian Jimmy DeWitt also expressed concern, particularly
with regards to his act's freshness should Day not run in the leadership race:
"I've milked Day for seven or eight months solid now, I mean, the stuff
he comes out with
.it just writes itself," said the Niagara Falls-based
comic.
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Staff writers from
This Hour has 22 Minutes stage a CCWD sponsored pro-Stockwell
Day protest outside CBC headquarters in Halifax.
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"I guess if I had to, I could dig out my old Chrétien impressions
or something in a worst case scenario. For me, dat stuff never go howt of
style," said DeWitt with a hearty chuckle as he cracked the room up with
some classic Jean Chrétien imitations.
In anticipation that Day will run as a candidate, numerous comedy industry
workers are taking out party memberships so that they can vote for Day in
the new leadership race, according to Alliance party officials.
"I haven't seen so many new memberships pour in so quickly since (former
Alliance leadership candidate) Tom Long signed up all those dead Quebeckers
last year," said an anonymous Alliance official.
"We didn't even have this many members back in the pre-jet ski, debate
cue card, Niagara River, secret spy, libel lawsuit, Canadians outside Alberta
didn't know anything about this guy other than he's good looking which must
mean he's competent salad days," said the party official.
Cindy-Sue Fullmore, Day's spokesperson this week, declined comment on the
activities of CCWD, other than mentioning that their support is "appreciated,"
and "demonstrative that Stockwell Day still has plenty of supporters
amongst grass roots Canadians who have confidence in his abilities,"
failing to notice the irony in her comments.
Posted on August 24th, 2001
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