Dan Pitman of Toronto, Please Read This Blog!

Excellent letter to the editor in today's Toronto Sun about the TTC wildcat strike:

Dan Pitman (Public Sector Unions Unfair) writes:

But unions in a government-mandated monopoly hide behind the fact that, legally, there can be no competition. Drunk with power, they become arrogant bullies. The mayor must push for punishment immediately and the premier must ban all future TTC strikes. But if you expect union lackeys David Mouse or Dalton McWimp to act decisively, you're waiting for a subway that will never arrive at the station.

I couldn't have said it better. To be fair though, Mayor Miller does seem to be standing tough here.

Andrew Coyne in today's National Post (Smash Toronto's Monopoly) also points to the union as the root problem:

Unions strike when it is to their advantage, and it is to their advantage, typically, where they hold some kind of monopoly -- if not, other workers would simply step in to fill the gap.

Coyne suggests various remedies including contracting out. It is a very interesting article, where he analyzes transit systems in other major cities across the globe, in an effort to find an alternative to the publicly-funded monopoly in Toronto. Unfortunately, the link seems to be for registered subscribers only, but it's worth the price of the paper.

While the TTC remains stuck in the monopoly rut, around the world the movement is toward competition in public transit. Britain's remains the most radical experiment: In 1985, the streets of Britain were thrown open to competition from private bus services, in every city outside London. The results, admittedly, have been mixed. While costs were slashed by 42%, partly by experimenting with minivans, jitneys and other alternatives to the traditional bus, prices have not moderated to the extent hoped.

This whole area is crucial when you consider the amount of discussion surrounding smog and pollution. With the present federal government pushing for increased use of public transit, the reliability of the service needs to be examined.

Anyway, Dan Pitman, you are my kind of guy! If you ever read this blog, please respond in the comments section. I would love to hear from you.

McWimpy Strikes Again!

Yesterday's wildcat TTC strike evoked the following decisive action from Dithering Dalton:

Early in the day, Premier Dalton McGuinty called on the workers to respect their collective agreement, but said he was not prepared to consider declaring transit an essential service "in the heat of the moment."

As Toronto Sun reader Andy Manko pointed out in a letter today, "if mass transit is not an essential service to the city of Toronto, could you please tell us just what is?" The Sun editor rightly joined in, "Especially in Monday’s heat".

So just like Caledonia, laws were broken but who's going to pay for it?

Rob Granatstein of the Sun's City Hall Bureau asks these questions:

Who’s going to jail?

Who’s going to be fired?

Who’s going to be demoted?

Who’s going to be fined?

Who’s going to pay?

Yesterday’s wildcat strike by TTC workers was not just illegal — it was dangerous, irresponsible and unconscionable. Unlike a legal strike, there was no warning this was coming.

It was very dangerous because ambulances, police and taxis were caught in the gridlock and women were forced to hitchhike with no other alternative available.

Our ostrich of a Premier spent yet another day with his head stuck in the ground. And that's called leadership?


Update: Looks like the strike didn't bother one Toronto commuter too much.

Only Blonde, Blue-Eyed Babies Need Apply

After reading Dr. Roy's Thoughts on the British Sunday Times report that otherwise healthy babies are being aborted for treatable defects such as having a club foot, I was left with a feeling of disgust and revulsion. (H/T to Dr. Roy and Nealenews)

One baby had been aborted at 7 months for having a cleft palate! Canadian singer Rita MacNeil had a cleft palate which was corrected by surgery. What if her parents had decided that such a defect would render her undesirable? (No wise cracks, please).

The article is quite an alarming read. I am struck with two thoughts. First of all, with our publicly funded abortion-on-demand philosophy, what is stopping us from going there, if we aren't at this point already? Also, with new research and developments in genetics, aren't we awfully close to an industry of "Designer Babies", with easy disposal of the mistakes?

One thing for sure, Hitler would approve of this aspect of our "socially progressive" mentality.

"McGuinty...makes me sick"

The frustrated parent of an autistic child deprived of adequate assistance in Ontario laments on CTV: "I voted for McGuinty, and it makes me sick. It makes me absolutely sick".

Stacey Haley, mother of autistic twin boys, is one of several Ontario parents having to leave home and extended family and move to Alberta in order for her sons to receive proper care. She says she doesn't "see a future" in Ontario:

The Liberals promised in their 2003 election campaign to lift "unfair'' and "discriminatory'' age limits on costly childhood autism therapy. But now they're appealing an Ontario Superior Court decision from April 2005 that gave parents the right to provincial funding for a specialized autism therapy extended beyond the previous cutoff age of six years.

While lifting the cutoff is helpful, Haley said it still doesn't address lengthy waiting lists for specialized therapy.

She's been trying unsuccessfully to get government funding for more than a year to access Intensive Behavioural Intervention therapy that's supposed to give autistic kids a better chance at coping with the condition later in life.

I'm not surprised that McWimpy is backing down from yet another election promise. He needs some wiggle-room to assuage political bumblings like the Caledonia fiasco.

In another CTV report, the father of a six-year old autistic boy calls the Ontario provincial government "despicable":

New Democrat health critic Shelley Martel said the Ministry of Children and Youth Services is not funding families of autistic children at the promised levels.

Martel said Freedom of Information requests have revealed that in 2003-04, the ministry budgeted $80 million for autism but never used $32 million of it.

The following fiscal year, $89 million was budgeted for autism services, but $21 million was diverted to other children's programs in the ministry.

Martel said that in the meantime, about 400 autistic children who qualified for therapy were "languishing'' on a years-long waiting list.

"A government that does that has no morals,'' she said. "They have betrayed these families."

Too bad these parents won't be around in 2007 to vent their anger against the Lieberals in the next provincial election. Perhaps we can take up the cause for them.

Equal Opportunity

Dust My Broom has picked up on the story of the recent Ontario Human Rights ruling that transsexuals detained by police may opt to be body-searched by a male or female officer or both.

My question is, how does one define a transsexual? Is this option also open to transgendered persons? How about any other sexual preference?

Christiana Blizzard ("Search me? Yes please!") obviously thinks this could have some interesting implications.

Hush Money

According to the Hamilton Spectator, the Ontario government is "preparing an assistance program for Caledonia businesses hit hard by the standoff with native protesters, including a blockade of roads and a blackout caused this week by a fire set in a transformer."

So now our spineless Dalton is emerging from his foxhole to buy silence from the outraged community. He reminds me of that wimpy president in "24". A group of Canadian citizens broke the law, but we, the taxpayers of Ontario, will have to foot the bill for the protesters' actions. There are two sets of law in Canada, and this particular minority clearly has more rights than the rest of us.

What I want to know is, where is that money coming from? The health budget? Infrastructure? The emergency slush fund?

Whether or not the land claims are legitimate is beside the point. As Sun columnist Christina Blizzard pointed out, "If a group of thugs at Jane and Finch, or in Rosedale, barricaded a public road, threw objects at passersby and set fires, they'd be cooling their heels in jail by now."

Mike Strobel points to the Maori tribunal as an example of a possible solution to avoid this type of anarchy in the first place.

But if the rule of law can so easily be ignored in Ontario, and the provincial government forces the taxpayers to pay restitution to the injured party, how is that in any way moral, democratic and just plain common sense?

I cannot wait until the next election.

The Latest Hissy Fit

The Toronto Sun has singled out Small Dead Animals in "Best of the Blogs" today, for Kate's excellent post on the sulking Parliamentary Press Gallery (Look Who's Being Petulant Now?).

The PPG's obsession with Stephen Harper's failure to kowtow to their demands is well illustrated by Kate's quip: "My goodness. Can the country withstand a repeat of the national outpouring of disinterest that erupted during last year's CBC strike?" Brilliant. Two salvos for the price of one.

We bloggers find the whole debacle particularly entertaining, given that we generate copious columns at an equivalent rate for free, while the PPG and MSM in general still seem to be wallowing in the culture of entitlement so popular during the last regime.

Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein also recently took an extremely hilarious swipe at the Press Gallery (Harper Bids Media a Bon Voyage).

Good to see that at least someone in MSM isn't walking around with his lower lip stuck out.

The Politics of Vetting

The Toronto Sun recently ran an editorial criticizing both the opposition for its attack on nominee Gwyn Morgan, and P.M. Stephen Harper for temporarily shutting down the newly-formed Public Appointments Commission.

From my POV, the opposition members of the committee were deliberately attempting to humiliate Mr. Morgan, and thereby show Prime Minister Harper who's boss. NDP M.P. Peggy Nash et al felt they had won some kind of bizarre victory.

Gwyn Morgan has impeccable qualifications, and was willing to work for a dollar a year. The opposition parties suggested that a person who is clearly partisan shouldn't be in charge of vetting patronage candidates. But that claim is suspect. The position would merely approve the process; not the selection. Also, Mr. Morgan with his token salary is obviously not financially motivated, so this is no patronage appointment on its own. The weak allegation of racist comments was obviously a desperate red herring.

The Prime Minister felt Gwyn Morgan was the best man for the job, so why settle for second best? Why not wait for such a time as the Canadian people have a chance to voice their opinion rather than be railroaded by a group of cranky, petulant opposition members that have their collective noses out of joint?

Let's see who throws the "snit fit" then!

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Update: Check out Political Staples for more on the latest Ipsos Reid poll!

Supporting a Woman's Right to Choose

I was going to post something on Gwyn Morgan (thanks Mac), but something else caught my eye.

According to the Star, it seems that Alberta Conservative backbencher Leon Benoit is planning to introduce a private member's bill which would make it a separate criminal offence to harm an unborn child in cases where a pregnant mother is assaulted or murdered.

The bill was initiated over the story of Olivia Talbot, a young Edmonton woman, who had chosen to keep her child and raise a family. An ex-boyfriend brutally shot and killed her and then shot and killed her unborn child. The baby's grandmother held the little boy in her arms briefly. He was 27 weeks along. She said that other than the bullet wound, he was perfect.

So Olivia had chosen to allow her baby to live, rather than aborting him. Her boyfriend took away her right to choose.

It should be interesting to watch how far this bill gets in the House of Commons.

According to Elton, the only Good Paparazzi is a Dead One.

Update: It has come to my attention that various net-nannies are taking issue with the language in this post, so things have been toned down a bit.

* * * * *

Nealnews and Yahoo News disclosed an interesting "expletive-laden tirade" by Sir Elton John against the press in Cannes on Saturday while presenting an award to young Canadian actor Kevin Zegers.

Apparently, Sir Elton yelled at out at photographers who were interrupting him (now close your eyes, Mom and kiddies):

"If you saw 'Transamerica' ... I'm talking ... you f---ing, f---ing photographers you should be shot, you should be all shot. Thank you."

Quite the temper tantrum, Mr. John!!

One wonders if the press shouldn't be included as a protected minority in Human Rights laws.

Another Redman Sighting -Toronto Sun Editorial

Looks like Riley scooped the Toronto Sun when he pointed out the pathetic turnout of Liberal M.P.'s to listen to visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Riley singled out Karen Redman's lame excuse for her colleagues' absence:

"I think because it was going in to a long weekend and it was a day when a lot of committee work was cancelled because of Prime Minister Howard's visit, that some people took that time to go back and work in their ridings."

Doesn't that remind you of high school kids being dismissed to attend a pep rally or football game or something, but sneaking home instead? Yeah, I bet they were working really hard in their ridings. Give me a break.

Anyway, the Sun's editorial picks up on this thread today: No Show, No Clue, No Class.

They are pillorying the Grits for the fact that even the NDP demonstrated more class by attending the visit of an important dignitary and leader who is clearly 180 degrees away from their party ethos. Yet they accorded him the respect he deserved.

In fairness to Karen Redman, the Sun also quotes her as stating that she personally believes, "It behooves us to pay respect, especially when it's a world leader, to be there and listen to him." Too bad not all of her classmates realize the importance of proper decorum.

I see a rudderless vessel adrift on a sea of inner turbulence. The captain has jumped ship; the crew scrambles for the lifeboats.

It's every man for himself.

More Incredibly Original Thoughts from Karen

It looks like the National Post has picked up on my disdain for lame and repetitious accusations made by the Liberals and my M.P. in particular.

Julie Smyth's House was One Martin Short for Afghan Vote gives an insiders' look at the past week in Ottawa. Smyth declares, "The opposition parties' obsessive need to deride all things American is approaching phobic proportions."


She singles out Kitchener-Centre M.P. Karen Redman among others, for some over-the-top comments made during "one session of Question Period" this past week:

- Karen Redman, Liberal Whip: "Will the Prime Minister admit that he is happy to take his orders on global warming from the White House and he wants the rest of the world to do the same?"

- Ms. Redman: "When will the Prime Minister just admit he has no made-in-Canada plan, only a made-in-the-U.S.A. plan designed by American republican pollsters?"


My Question:

When will the Honourable member from Kitchener-Centre finally admit that she has just plain run out of fresh material?

* * * * * * *

Important Update! - Another Karen Redman sighting at Riley's Political Rant. Thanks, Riley!

Another Dash of Real Life

Yesterday I was at my workout class, trying to lose some of that stubborn mid-section excess that seems to be stuck on with crazy glue. We were doing our regular high/low impact routines, and I was trying to keep up as usual.

I am not the picture of grace or coordination at the best of times, but with these classes my brain struggles to tell the rest of my body what to do. I must have some fundamental disconnect somewhere along the line. I try so hard: Is this my right side? Oh, no the other right...

And just forget the grape-vine.

Anyway, the instructor decided to have us all form a circle and start power-walking. Not too much of a problem - just follow the one ahead. Then she had us speed things up faster and faster, until we were jogging; then running. I found that we were bunched up in one section so I ploughed ahead in front of the others to get some room.

Then I felt it - that incredible runner's high! It was awesome. I was running way ahead of the pack and had limitless energy. It was that rare moment of being in "the zone"; mind and body operating in seamless efficiency. Endorphins were exploding from my brain!

I could have kept running forever, but we had to slow things down and move on to the weights. However, the rest of the class I was at the top of my game. I was an athlete!

If only that old tyrant of a high school gym teacher could see me now.

Local Left-Wing Lunacy

I was trying to clean up the towering stacks of newspapers around here, when I came across an article from the Tuesday Record:

Resurrect Liberal day-care plan, councillors say (May 16 - Local):

Our local cast of clowns has "...unanimously passed a motion that calls on the new Conservative government in Ottawa to make a five-year commitment to the day-care program put in place by the Liberals."

"This is a motherhood issue," Coun. Geoff Lorentz said at the meeting of the finance committee.

"To cancel all of these spots, to me it's unbelievable."


Motherhood issue? Come on!!! Sara, I bet you'll have something to say about that!


"Mayor Carl Zehr led the call for support in Kitchener, but wanted any reference to the Conservative government replaced with the term federal government."

"You can't take the politics out of it, but I would like to take the partisanship out of it," Zehr said.

That's rich Carl, considering you have Sharon Mitic, of Canadian Auto Workers Local 1524 behind you.

"Mitic was joined by Jim Woods, the first vice-president of Local 1524, as the union leads a nationwide campaign to convince the federal Tories the child-care program put in place by the Liberals must be retained."

First of all, didn't these turkeys pay attention during the election? This is not something that P.M. Harper just recently pulled out of a hat. The government was elected on five now famous planks and this was one of them. Secondly, the Liberal "plan" was nothing more than sending a cheque to the provinces. These guys are now panicking because they have to face all these local lobby groups.


And Coun. Berry Vrbanovic, who chairs the finance committee, said that the recent federal budget that cancels the program "runs counter to all research that demonstrates each dollar invested in early childhood education saves $7 in later expenditures on health care and criminal justice."

Hmm... That sounds familiar. Just who did this "research", BTW?


"This is certainly one of the more unfortunate parts of the recent federal budget," Vrbanovic said. "I think this is going to come back to bite us, and bite us significantly."

Oh, this is going to come back to bite you all right, Berry - Right at the next municipal election!

Computer Keyboards can be Crunchy

Well, I guess I'll have to eat my words to a certain extent. My own Member of Parliament, the "Honourable" Karen Redman actually did do the honourable thing last night by voting with the yeas to extend the Afghanistan mission by two years. Complete voting details can be found in Hansard. (Time - 22:20)

What is less honourable is that neighouring riding M.P. Andrew Telegdi voted with the nays.

What is the least Honourable and definitely not Right, is that former Prime Minister Paul Martin wasn't even there to cast a vote. What does this guy do to earn his pay anyway, or is that an "entitlement"?

Now please excuse me while I try to floss the plastic out of my teeth.



Update: I may have eaten that keyboard for nothing. I was listening to Jeff Allen's "Hour of Rage" on Newstalk 570, and somebody complained that Karen Redman apparently whined that it was with "great indignation" that she voted to extend the mission.

Can anyone confirm that? It just felt too weird supporting Karen on anything. Thanks.

Stand up for Our Troops!

Riley Hennessey (Riley's Political Rant) has requested that we bloggers all show our support of the Afghanistan mission by posting a special entry today.

According to CTV, "the New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois have decided not to support an extension of the mission, while the Liberals remain undecided."

So we all know that Jack Spratt can take no flack, and Gilles is at the mercy of Quebec popular opinion (apparently), so that leaves the Untrue Grits to do the right thing.

My take on this is that anything short of throwing full support behind this motion to extend the deployment would be a slap in the face to the families of the fifteen soldiers who have already paid the ultimate price. Can you imagine being in their position and listening to all the partisan platitudes and political posturing?

To commence planning withdrawal operations at this point would be like cutting out one cancerous tumour, but leaving the rest in because the doctors couldn't agree how to go about it.

The Liberals have the opportunity to show some intestinal fortitude and support our troops right now, instead of worrying about half-mast flags and photo-ops at repatriation ceremonies.

However, since it is a 'vote of conscience', I fear the worst. But they will be the ones to have to answer to the families and the rest of Canada at the time of the next election.

McCartney and Mills call it Quits

Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills just announced their separation. They blame the "constant intrusion " into their daily lives.

Yes, we know how that feels, Paul. We here in Canada are sick and tired of fading celebs invading our country to protest the seal hunt.



For more info, see Dr. Roy.

Right to Choose - Marital Partners

Sad story tonight on Global National about some women in Bountiful, B.C. facing deportation because their visitors' visas have expired. Their request to stay in Canada on compassionate grounds has been denied.

These women will have their family broken up. They have children who will be yanked away from their father. Yes, one father. That is their only crime. They are in a plural relationship - Not legal, but never prosecuted because it would not stand up in court due to Freedom of Religion.

Winston Blackmore insists he is only an adulterer, and that is not a crime. His wives are adults who freely choose to live in a consentual group relationship in a country which condones swingers' clubs. They are only taking it to the next level.

In fact, in January 2006 a report for the federal Justice Department says Canada should "get rid of its law banning polygamy and change other legislation to help women and children living in such multiple-spouse relationships. "

These poor woman need a federal advocate. I highly recommend Andrew Telegdi for the job.

Kangaroo Court

M.P. Maurice Vellacott has been accused, tried and convicted in the court of popular opinion, concerning his comments about Chief Justice Beverley MacLachlin's speech on Dec. 1, 2005 in Wellington, New Zealand. This issue has been discussed at nauseum in MSM and in blogs. For more background info check out Canadian Blue Lemons, among others.

I held off commenting on the situation myself until I had enough time to digest some of the different points of view and information. However, as with Garth Turner, I tend to champion the underdog.

I believe that Maurice Vellacott's only crime is that he uttered out loud what many of us are thinking - That the Supreme Court now has self-induced powers way beyond the original mandate. The courts are supposed to interpret the law of the elected representatives in our democracy; not change the law or massage it like a piece of dough to fit some social engineering strategy (e.g. same-sex marriage, swingers’ clubs, etc.)

Saturday’s National Post contained an excellent letter to the editor in this regard, “Vellacott deserves praise, not censure”. Rosemary Underwood writes:


”Bravo to Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott for expressing what most thinking Canadians already believe: that Supreme Court judges play God with the law. He has paid much too high a price for repeating what he has probably been hearing from his constituents. In a true democratic society, constituents send their local representatives to Parliament to express their views. These MPs are accountable to their constituency and, in the next election, the people have their chance to reward or punish them according to how well they have represented them…”

She goes on to point out that the Supreme Court is accountable to no one. “Its judges have a mandate to interpret laws; not create them…” Ms. Underwood feels that Maurice Vellacott is courageous, and should be applauded; not persecuted. I agree, Rosemary.

Last time I checked, Freedom of Speech was still in the Charter, and applied equally to all citizens – unless of course Judge Beverley sees fit to decree otherwise.

Another Cute Quip from Karen

Well, my cherished M.P. Karen Redman is at it again. She is trying to make political hay on the heels of federal environmental funding cuts. In Waterloo Region, workers at the Energy Efficiency Program were told Friday to halt home evaluations that helped homeowners identify ways to reduce energy use in their homes.

The Saturday Record ("Ottawa to end energy-use tests in area homes") reports that:

“Cambridge Conservative MP Gary Goodyear supported the cut and argued too much of the cost of the program went to administration and too little to improving energy efficiency.”

However, Ms. Redman was apparently quite "appalled":

She puts blame for the cut squarely at the feet of Conservative philosophy:

"Anyone who was very happy with what Mike Harris did to Ontario will be very pleased with Stephen Harper is doing to Canada," Redman said.

Pul-leeze!!! Is that the best ya got, Karen? The “Scary Stephen” gimmick isn’t working anymore. You’ve got to come up with something more original; more creative!

Well, at least Karen is doing her bit for the environment – by recycling old election scripts.

* * * * * *

Update: Karen was just on the Jeff Allen show on Newtalk 570 (May 16). Now she is pulling out the old "Stephen Harper = George Bush" card.

You wouldn't make a very good poker player, Karen.

More to follow.

Abortion Debate Finally Resolved

It can now be proven that an unborn child is a human being. The good news comes from a rival party, but truth knows no partisan boundaries.

Giuseppe Gori, of the Family Coalition Party of Ontario puts forth a very convincing argument in his recent newsletter, "Straight Thoughts 144". I had it forwarded to me and am currently trying to get a link for you. If I receive the author's permission, I will reproduce it in its entirety.

According to Gori, he has proven that Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin supports this notion. The argument something like this:

On December 1st, 2005 Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin delivered a now infamous speech in Wellington, New Zealand. She quoted Professor Benjamin Berger and agreed with his statement:

"...justice is not a matter of majoritarian or popular debate, but an expression of a reasoned commitment to the dignity of all human beings.”

She continued:

“Similarly, if one agrees that the raison d’être of the modern state is to promote the interests of its citizens, it follows that the states should not be allowed to exterminate entire sectors of the society..."

So she is saying that respecting human life is not a matter of popular opinion, and that the state cannot allow genocide.

Gori then argues that a fetus is a being, since it exists.

It is also human, since its DNA can be recognized as such from the moment of existence.

Therefore the state should not have legislation allowing abortion since the unborn child is a "human being", and therefore falls within the boundaries of her declaration of protection.

Ergo, the Supreme Court of Canada's Chief Justice does not believe in abortion.


Another argument used by abortion rights' activists is that a fetus isn't a person until it is born. However, we have now proven that an unborn child is a human being, and that a human being is a person. Therefore, an unborn child is a person.

Case closed. Somebody should tell Jack Layton.

* * * * * * *

On that optimistic note, I would like to wish all mothers a Happy Mothers' Day. That includes ALL moms - especially those carrying our tiny unborn Canadian "persons". May God bless you and your baby and give you strength and wisdom to do all you can to protect his precious gift.

Taking a Step Back

Well, this has been quite the week. I took a short hiatus, then returned with some hot-button topics. That precipitated some kind of War of the Blogs.

As I sit back and reflect on the events, I am beginning to see that there are two different types of people that author and visit blogs. One wants to debate and offer opinions in a respectful spirit; the other seeks to vilify and destroy any view that doesn't agree with their own. If they can't achieve that end with logic, they then resort to ridicule, sarcasm and malicious slander. What motivates this type of person? I can only surmise that they get some kind of twisted pleasure out of it, or that they under are under the illusion that others will somehow be in awe of their intellectual abilities.


One realization has emerged from the all the social issue discussion for me though - Contrary to what Canadians may believe, the concept that the defining of moral values is in any way a democratic process, is a myth.

It is strictly the under purview of the Supreme Court of Canada - and Jack Layton.

Liberal M.P.'s Speak Out Against Abortion!!!

Liberal M.P. Tom Wappel and Conservative M.P. Maurice Vellacott appeared on Mike Duffy Live today as a non-partisan, united front discussing the anti-abortion rally on Parliament Hill.

"More than a dozen Conservative and Liberal backbench MPs, along with several senators, spoke at Thursday's rally, urging the crowd to keep up their fight", according to the CTV website.


Wappel said Canada is behind on abortion legislation in comparison to other countries.

"We're the only western democracy that has absolutely no law whatsoever when it comes to protecting the unborn child," he said.

Wappel said abortion is a "taboo" subject among politicians, many of whom won't publicly give their opinion on the subject.



Imagine.

Liberal M.P.'s
Speaking out against abortion
In Canada.

I am not making this up.




Update: As I mentioned in the comments of this post, the NDP has a policy regarding social issues that all caucus members must vote as the party dictates (which is a rather ironic, considering what a fascist concept that is.) Therefore, anyone living in a riding represented by an NDP M.P. has absolutely no hope of having their concerns taken to heart.

This is a problem with moral issues because even with the Liberal and Conservative backbenchers being allowed to vote their conscience, the NDP and quite often the Bloc have to vote along party lines. Bev Desjarlais found that out the hard way during the same-sex marriage vote. The New "Democratic" Party is anything but democratic.

And they talk about Stephen Harper being a control freak.

Bloggers' Code of Conduct?

Over the last few days, some comments on this site have degenerated into a vicious game of personal attacks.

I have been trying to monitor it to the best of my ability and have been accused of over-zealous censoring and "shoddy" (?) journalism. I have personally been called a bigot and a fascist, among other lovely epithets. I can take it.

Where I draw the line, though is when I see fellow bloggers and guests being unfairly targeted with slander and abuse. Censorship is a tough road to travel. Obviously, it is up to the host how much profanity they allow. But the spirit of the blog is to allow a democratic and open forum for discussion and exchange of ideas. Deliberate personal attacks are not welcome here.

Nor should they be condoned anywhere in the blogosphere.

Misled by MSM Again?

Here is something I just came across, regarding the CTV and Associated Press releases citing the Swedish Study about brain differences between homosexuals and straights.

CTV states ("Lesbian brains respond like straight men"):

"In both cases the findings add weight to the idea that homosexuality has a physical basis and is not learned behaviour."

Yet it seems when a colleague followed up on the report, the Swedish researcher did not say anything of the kind! (Reference: World Net Daily)

"Researcher Dr. Ivanka Savic of the Stockholm Brain Institute said of the AP interpretation of her work, "This is incorrect and not stated in the paper."

Dr. Savic "did not want to create the impression that the study proves sexual response is not learned. In fact, [the Swedish research team] seems pretty open to plausible interpretations."

Please study this carefully. Looks like yet another case of MSM either not bothering to get the facts straight (pardon the pun) or even worse - spinning it to suit their own agenda???

It sickens me.

Wrapping up the Debate

Well, yesterday's comment board turned into another free-for-all, and if anyone's feelings were hurt, I apologize. Emotions were running high. Just a few parting thoughts, and then I'm moving on to other pressing issues:

To anyone who is contemplating an abortion right now, please read this, from "Journal of an Insomniac". It is not a display of bloody pictures. It is simply a touching tribute to a birth mother who chose life.


Gabby said something yesterday which stuck with me. She thinks this discussion is best left for another time, because anyone seen opposing abortion is looked on as a religious zealot, and in this fragile government the subject is taboo.

I agree that the Harper government has its hands tied on this one. Therefore the only thing we can do is voice our concerns to M.P.'s from other parties who may be open enough to truly listen to another point of view. Of course, even if Parliament changed the law, the Supreme Court would likely strike it down anyway, so this may be all for nothing.

That is the state of democracy in Canada.

Emotional Debate Rages On

Who said the abortion debate is dead? Just check out yesterday's comments, and you will see that the only ones silent about this story are politicians and unborn babies.

The fracas has helped me to reduce the discussion to two salient questions:

1. Should there continue to be absolutely no legal restrictions at all on abortions at any stage in Canada, up to and including partial-birth abortions?

2. If we continue with the status quo, should all abortions be publicly funded on demand with no exception, no matter how many times a woman decides to use this as a form of birth control?

Regarding the legal question, some people have suggested that if it is true that life begins at the moment of conception, then we can't even condone abortion with regards to rape, etc. However, I personally feel that removing some injustice is better than not removing any. There is no question that a baby minutes away from delivery can feel pain. To have his head crushed, or scissors stuck in his neck at this point is far worse than destroying a two-week old embryo. I would prefer not to see any abortion, but sometimes a compromise is necessary.

Another argument used to support abortion on demand is that a woman has the right to control her own body. What about the baby's right to control her body?

Secondly, if we have to live with this travesty, why do we have to pay for it? Again, in some cases, I can see the need; especially if the mothers' life is threatened. But if a woman has repeated abortions due to poor planning, should we have to cough up the money?

Anyone who has valid statistics on any of this is more than welcome to submit them in comments. Please show the source. Thanks.

You may think I am beating my head against a brick wall here. However, I think that the feminists have done such a good job selling Canadian society a bill of goods on this subject, that we are all afraid to discuss it in public.

At least democracy lives on in blogs.

I'm Ba-ack!

I have been using my little sabbatical to do some gardening (good for the soul), reading, reflecting and celebrating various family milestones.

I have also been checking out other blogs, and even ventured over to the dark side at Calgary Grit, where I became entangled in a free-for-all against your truly. Actually, CG is a terrific site, but it does attract some strange characters. Well, they probably think that about me too.

Anyway, I have emerged from the lion's den unscathed and stronger for the experience.

One of the discussion topics that came up was abortion. This resulted from my voicing frustration that abortions are fully funded on demand, in Ontario, but not eye exams.

In the ultimate Liberal abdication of personal responsibility, I get this response:

“Abortions are not a predictable expense…It's common sense that most unplanned, accidental pregnancies should be terminated and delayed until later”.

I replied, “I think I can predict how to avoid needing one.”

RGM also chimed in:

“How do you reckon it is "common sense" that people shouldn't have to be held accountable and responsible for their actions?”

Our liberal society sees every unplanned pregnancy as a medical emergency that is somehow threatening to the mother. I guess she may not be able to afford that extra trip south if she has one more kid. It is handled with the same level of public funding and social reaction as a cancerous tumour.

The Conservative government can’t even mention this issue, because the feminists will be screaming from sea to sea to sea. We have bought into this lie and we are funding it to the exclusion of other important medical needs.

God bless Canada indeed.

Simmering on the Back Burner

As my blog description states, this is "a mélange of Canadian politics seasoned with a dash of real life", and the latter is requiring my attention right now.

Therefore, I am taking a brief hiatus, and postings will be sparse. Do not despair, dear readers. I will be back soon with more spicy tidbits to toss into that political hot-pot.

I'll leave you with this slice of real life:

My mother, as you may know, is one of my biggest fans and contributes regularly to this blog. A few days ago she was over and I gave her a huge pile of magazines I had finished reading.

While she was still there, I checked my mailbox and discovered three brand new issues of Time, Western Standard and Macleans. I was salivating at the sight of them. As Mom started leafing through the new arrivals, I promised that I would give them to her as soon as I had a chance to read them over.

She left shortly afterwards, and I decided to sit down with a cup of tea and check over my new magazines, but I could only locate one. I called her up to see if she had possibly grabbed the other two with the batch of recycled ones. It turned out that she did, and was very apologetic. I assured her that I could wait until she had read them, because I had so much other reading to catch up with.

Anyway, the next morning she showed up with the two missing issues, and handed them over to me. I told her that I could have waited until she was done with them.

"Oh, no!" she grinned. "We have to feed True Blue!"

Back in My Good Books

The Toronto Sun is officially back on my list of favourites.

Today's editorial, Harper Eats Babies and the Jails Them? reflects so much of what was discussed yesterday on various Blogging Tories sites. (H/T to Vicki, Sara, and so many others...)

As much as I appreciate the tone and outrage of the piece, I can't help reflecting smugly that it's nice to see MSM catching up to us.

Budget is "Total Lack of Vision" and "Pro-Pollution"

The Grits seem to be afflicted with chronic "Foot in Mouth" disease lately. First we had the infamous popcorn and beer statement; yesterday was Carolyn Bennett's gem about it being good that the budget includes money for jails because we will need them with the demise of the last-minute Liberal daycare program. Today, my own Liberal M.P. Karen Redman went head to head against Cambridge Tory M.P. Gary Goodyear on 570 News' Jeff Allen Show.

Karen maintains that not enough was included in the budget; hence a "Total lack of vision in this budget".

Gary found this laughable considering the previous Liberal government's poor record. He said, "We've gone from Dithering to Done... We're not going to just promise for 13 years." I love it!

Karen dissed the 1% GST cut, saying that there is no watchdog to ensure that small and medium businesses don't just jack up the price on goods by 1%, thereby inferring that businesses might be dishonest and try to fleece the public.

Gary countered that he trusts businesses to pass on the savings to their customers.

Karen finished up the interview with her comment that she sees this as a very "Pro-Pollution" budget.

Gary asserted that $2 billion spent actually cleaning air here is better for Canada than $4 billion spent in Russia (paying lip service to Kyoto).

Time and time again, Karen spewed disinformation and Gary torpedoed her assaults with truth. He said she obviously hadn't read the whole budget before making her claims. "Are you kidding Karen?" he asked her incredulously at one point.

Mmmm... I know some other people who would be well-advised to read the whole document before opening their mouths. Seems to be a pattern with Liberals and MSM.

Personal Email Revealed!

This is not the first time I have ever received an email from Stephen Harper. However, it is definitely the first time I have ever received an email from Prime Minister Stephen Harper!

In Nov. of 2005, the Hon. Stephen Harper, Leader of the Opposition had sent me an email, thanking me for my various letters to the editor that highlighted Liberal corruption.

O.K., I had shamelessly brought them to his attention.. I admit it. But it was way cool to have them acknowledged by title!!

Then a few days ago, inspired by a few fellow Blogging Tories that suggested sending birthday wishes to PM Stephen Harper, I added my own:

Dear P.M. Harper,

I just want to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Birthday. Your gift is on my blog...

Very best wishes,
Joanne



Of course, I received the standard reply nanoseconds afterwards:

"Please know that your e-mail message has been received in the Prime Minister's Office and that your comments have been noted. Our office always welcomes hearing from correspondents and being made aware of their views..."

Ya-da-da, ya-da-da. Then I moved on to other things.

Today, I noticed another message in my in-box from the "Office of the Prime Minister". I've got to tell you, it does make the heart beat a tad faster. And this time, it was a little different. It was a personal note from the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, thanking me for the warm birthday greetings and kind words of encouragement.

He concluded with:
"I look forward to your continued support as we work to fulfill the mandate given to us by Canadians."

I admit it wasn't an overblown, gushing missive, but it struck a chord with me. It was like, "Hey Joanne - good job. Thanks."

Considering the fact that my own M.P. doesn't give me the time of day, this is without a doubt, the best reponse I've ever had from a politician!

And he just happens to be the Prime Minister of Canada!!! As Monte Solberg would have said in his blog days, "Who knew?"

Personal Email from the PM!

While everyone else is talking about the budget, I am picking myself up off the floor after receiving an email from Stephen Harper. I will share the details later.

Fear Not ; Freedom of the Press Alive and Unfettered in Ontario

Yesterday I stumbled across a blatant example of left-wing propaganda in Kitchener's The Record, "Tories march to wrong drum by following U.S. lead" by columnist Frank Etherington.

Now Frank is well known in this area for his extremely anti-Conservative tirades, but this one is particularly offensive - insulting not only Tories, but our soldiers as well. This piece is way too long and nauseating to reproduce in it's entirety (and likely against copyright rules), so I'll offer a few of the more disgusting tidbits:

"To protect their self-serving butts from unfriendly voter fire, federal Tories are censoring the media by banning journalists from gut-wrenching military ceremonies where dead soldiers come home in flag-draped coffins..." He then accuses Harper of emulating George W. Bush. Wow, that was an original thought, Frank! Never heard that one before.

He then refers to Harper's media ban at repatriation ceremonies as "a disrespectful slap in the face for all Canadians including the grieving families of dead or maimed soldiers." Etherington contends that the move had everything to do with political optics and nothing to do with family privacy.

Next he accuses Harper of "exploiting those who risk injury or death every day", when Harper visited Kandahar to support the troops. Etherington complains of "countless nauseating news clips where he guzzled root beer and rubbed shoulders with soldiers like Dinning."

Now here is the clincher. As you read this quote, imagine yourself to be the parent of a young man who just gave up his life in a country where terrorist cells had been flourishing, religious freedom had been all but non-existent, and women had been regarded as little more than mere chattels rather than human beings:

"...I hope Canadians appreciate that, because little will be achieved in Afghanistan, Harper should quickly bring soldiers home. The mission is hopeless and the casualty cost is already too high."

You can vent your fury by writing to Mr. Etherington at fetherington@therecord.com or write a Letter to the Editor at letters@therecord.com.

Note: If writing the Record, please include your full name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. They will only print your name and city.

As always, I welcome your comments on this site. If you can find something here to defend, I would be very interested in hearing from you. Is Frank Etherington accurately reflecting anyone else's opinion in Canada?