Let me help you with some of these:
1. Stephen Harper
Current Canadian Prime Minister.
Charges: As leader of the opposition, he complained bitterly that the Liberals were consistently underestimating the surplus in order to make themselves look good when they beat predictions. The Liberals countered that they were prudently being conservative in their projections, so that an unforeseen economic disaster wouldn’t put the government in a deficit position. Turns out that the Liberals knew what they were doing, as Harper is primed to deliver a deficit in the 2008 fiscal year, a mere two years after he inherited a $13.5 billion surplus from the Liberals. Called an election 2 years after the 2006 election, in which he promised to call elections exactly ever 4 years. Justified calling the election by saying that Parliament had become dysfunctional; his government had no difficulty passing any legislation and there were no prospects of that changing. Proclaimed the Canadian banking system to be sound and declared that no bailout would be necesssary during the 2008 election, and the next day announced that Canadian banks would receive a $25 billion bailout(the figure has since increased to $50 billion). Assured Canadians that the federal government couldn’t possibly lose money on the deal, because the bailout involved purchasing mortgages that were insured against default by the federal government. Attempted to use the economic crisis to pass a bill that would bankrupt all of his political opposition while leaving his party flush with cash. When the opposition parties, which hold more seats together than his Conservative party, tried to defeat his government, he declared to all and sundry that the Liberals were launching an undemocratic coup.
2. Jack Layton
Leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party.
Charges: Spent the 2008 election pandering to exclusively Eastern voters, to the point where he made a campaign promise to place an immediate moratorium on further development in the oil sands in the West, which at the the time was one of the few sectors in Canada that was still producing jobs. Embodies every stereotype the right has ever made of the Left.
3. Elizabeth May
Leader of the Green Party
Charges: Sabotaged her own party in the 2008 election in exchange for a promise of an appointment to the Senate. Nothing more to say here, really.
4. Stephane Dion
Leader of the Liberal Party until late December.
Charges: Never answered Conservative charges that he is not a leader by, you know, showing leadership. Gave the Conservative party carte blanche to pass whatever legislation they liked, and cemented his wishy-washy reputation by having his party abstain from all votes in the House of Commons. Ran the 2008 election campaign with a platform that focused on the environment, a horrific misreading of a Canadian electorate that, loud claims to the contrary, has never cared overmuch about the environment. When he finally put his foot down with the Conservatives over the party funding issue, he couldn’t keep his own party in line to support his proposed coalition for more than a couple of weeks. Finally, his brief tenure as Liberal leader was mercifully taken out back and put down, with Ignatieff being proclaimed Liberal leader immediately to get Dion out of the spotlight.
5. Conrad Black
Founder of Hollinger Corp.
Charges: Gave up his Canadian citizenship so he could be knighted in England. Stole hundreds of millions of dollars from his own company, and was convicted of fraud. Attempted to reacquire Canadian citizenship, so he could transfer to a Canadian prison, where he would be eligible for parole earlier.
6. J. P. Ricciardi
General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
Charges: Almost certainly one of the most incompetent GMs in all of baseball, which is saying something. Took over a team with a payroll of $55 million that consistently finished third in its division. Turned them into a team with a $97 million payroll that consistently finishes third in its division. Publicly insulted Cincinnati Red Adam Dunn on a radio show. Later claimed the he apologized, which Dunn denies.
7. Danny Williams
Conservative Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Charges: Tried to lead an “Anybody but the Consersatives” campaign during the 2008 election. Is apparently of the belief that Newfoundland has a right to federal equalization payments no matter his province’s economic status. His constant whining about how unfair it is that provincial revenues from offshore oil drilling are in the equalization formula prompted a lot of eyerolling in Alberta, which for years has made equalization payments to the likes of Newfoundland largely due to the huge revenues Alberta gets from oil exploration.
