Stupid Blogger - With Green update

- Or stupid me for not saving my draft before an hour of research and writing went by. Grrrrr

Oh well. Just check out Lorrie Goldstein for now.

Maybe I'll try again later.

* * * *

O.K. I'm going to try again to pull a few thoughts together from this morning. It won't be the literary masterpiece I swear was almost at your doorstep, but I do have a few points to make.

I thought that Lorrie Goldstein's "Turning Green with Nausea" was one of the most balanced accounts of our current environmental challenges that I have read to date. The title was a bit off-putting first thing in the morning, but the content rocked. ;)

And after watching that cast of clowns in Smack-down Period this afternoon on CPAC, I am even more convinced that he is right. This issue is far too serious to just play cheap political games. As Lorrie explains, the consequences of inappropriate action on one extreme or the other could be serious. But let's cut the fear-mongering and the media preoccupation like Edward Greenspon's fawning piece that Lorrie mentions. You can almost read between the lines - Wow, climate change is a hot topic? Let's cash in!

And why did Greenspon set Dion on the environmental pedestal, when Elizabeth May's Green Party is the one with the momentum?


I had to laugh when I read this section that Goldstein highlighted:

In the Globe's magnum opus on global warming last Saturday, we learned from Greenspon's column (featuring a picture of a smiling Dion surrounded by unnaturally happy supporters at the Liberal leadership convention) that the staff at a restaurant insisted on serving Dion from green dishes upon learning he would dine there. Really?

Well, here's the funny part. Unless someone told Dion that the plates were green, he wouldn't even have known, since he's colour-blind! (Macleans, Yahoo) -

He cannot see the difference between red and green -- in traffic lights or T-shirts. Stéphane Dion walks everywhere because he is colour-blind.

I'll just leave you to ponder that particular bit of irony.

* * * *

Check out Prairie Wrangler - Looks like he is a Goldstein convert too. "Say it with me: anti-Kyoto doesn't mean anti-environment". Great post, Olaf!!!

Kate at SDA says she's with Lorrie Goldstein!!!

BTW, the Globe actually does have one redeeming attribute - Margaret Wente. Check out her column about taking climate polls with "bags of salt".

Question Period Face-off

The House of Commons just gave Ken Dryden a lovely tribute during Question Period. Then Dryden proceeded to bumble through a couple of questions, during which time he fell flat on his face (figuratively speaking). He rambled all over the place and talked about believing in what you do or something to that effect.

Monte Solberg scored several quick shots at him. I'll be checking Hansard for the replay.

If anyone comes across a post-game commentary from MSM, please let me know.

Mr. Dryden, you were a great Habs goalie. Why not leave with dignity? Now. Please.

We'll even retire your seat number.

* * * *

We now have the Hansard transcript available. This all follows a standing ovation for Ken Dryden:

Hon. Ken Dryden (York Centre, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I thank all members. Last night was a very special night and I can only wish one for everyone some day in their own way.

Some hon. members: Hear, hear!


The Speaker:
We will start the clock now.


Hon. Ken Dryden:
Mr. Speaker, real leadership is not just decisiveness. Most of all, it is direction, and to know a direction, one has to really believe in it, truly believe in it.

The Conservative child care plan, in every way, can only be understood as child care for those who do not believe in child care. It does not work. It cannot work. Why does this government not tell Canadians what it really believes?


Hon. Monte Solberg (Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, this government believes in something the previous government did not believe in, which is having faith in parents. We believe in choice. Within five months of forming government, the Conservative Party started to deliver choice in child care. Today, 1.9 million children receive cheques of $100 a month.

Thanks to the vision of this Prime Minister, we are delivering choice for child care. That is what we promised.

* * *


Hon. Ken Dryden (York Centre, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, this government has offered no choice whatsoever.

Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister three times if he believed in climate change and three times the Prime Minister did not say, would not say. If we are going to meet the challenges of the environment, we have to really believe. It is too big, too hard and too long for simply political believers. [Great grammar there, Ken. Is that a sample of what we can expect from the Ken Dryden Nanny State daycare system? - ed.]

It is the same for child care, literacy, first nations, women and persons with disabilities: we have to believe hard to really get the job done. Does this government--


The Speaker:
The hon. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.


Hon. Monte Solberg (Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that today in the House we are debating Bill C-36, a bill that will ensure Canadian seniors receive the guaranteed income supplement more easily than they have in the past, a bill that will ensure disabled Canadians will have a chance to receive disability benefits.

Through income splitting, pension splitting, raising the age credit and cutting the GST, we have done more in one year to help seniors than that government did in 13 years.

* * * *

Well, maybe I'm being too hard on Ken. We'll give him a few days grace while his head returns to normal size.

BTW, as Platty pointed out in comments, the exchange between Iggy and Baird was dynamite too. You can view the whole thing at Officially Screwed on YouTube.

Question period is great entertainment! Pass the popcorn and beer, please. Or am I allowed to have ice cream today, Mr. Dryden?

A Murky Issue

The Toronto Star is coaching Stephane Dion this morning. The editorial, "Opportunity for Dion" suggests that Dion should take advantage of the CPC contrast ads to outline his own plan:

As Dion tries to take political ownership of the climate change issue, one of the ads attempts to paint the former Liberal environment minister as someone who did nothing to stop Canada's greenhouse gas emissions from growing by 30 per cent.

That claim could certainly hurt Dion unless he seizes on the lesson that is implicit in the ad.

Dion, who was environment minister only for a short period during the minority Liberal government of Paul Martin, needs to convince voters that he, in fact, has a workable plan for fighting global warming.

His plan must be simple and straightforward. It must be effective, capable of producing quick and large results.

Considering that the usual Liberal solution is to just throw piles of taxpayer money at a problem, this could prove to be a challenge indeed - especially for an ex-professor more comfortable with theories and rosy ideals than harsh, economic facts.

Lorrie Goldstein ("There's No Big Green Machine") reminds us that there is a difference between justifiable concern about the environment in general vs. panic about climate change specifically. Although the opposition parties would like to frame those concepts as synonymous, Goldstein points to surveys that suggest that Canadians are more worried about exposure to smog and toxins than melting ice-caps:

But global warming and climate change, the issue Kyoto is meant to address, actually finished fourth on the list of environmental concerns of Canadians. The top three were more traditional worries such as toxic chemicals linked to human health (which 61% identified as "life threatening"), followed by air pollution and smog (55%), water pollution and quality (54%) and then global warming and climate change at 52%.

I think Canadians are being fleeced by a global-warming snow-job. Few in the media are willing to differentiate between the subtleties of a very complex issue. The Star's editorial is providing Stephane Dion with tactical suggestions for the Liberal leader's future; not necessarily that of a healthy Canadian environment.

The politics of fear are not used exclusively by our elected officials.

* * * *

Related Links: Brilliant ChuckerCanuk - "Do you believe the science of climate change?"

Kathleen Harris (Sun) - "Green gets red hot".

The Strong Conservative - "Counter Culture to Global Warming, It's a Natural Cycle".

Used to be that Conservative bloggers were called bigots; now we're heretics.

UPDATE: New poll from Decima! (Star) Canadians seem skeptical. I wonder why...

I love this bit at the end:

Jamey Heath, a former NDP communications director, posted an op-ed rant on the left-wing rabble.ca website recently, excoriating those who criticize the NDP for attempting to help the Tories rewrite their much-criticized Clean Air Act.

"That's how low this debate has sunk," wrote Heath. "Just scream `Harper Helper' and watch facts and possibilities fly out the window, all because that's how Liberals say politics work."

Jack's Newswatch - "The Sky is Falling". Great rant & links.

"Contrast" Ads

I prefer the term "Contrast Ads" that Paul Wells mentions in his blog regarding the Conservative ads that have just been released (Jan. 28 entry - Thrust! Parry! Ho!). H/T Political Staples.

The ads are exposing the contrast between the two parties and underscoring the weakness of the Liberal leader.

And as Gerry Nicolls of National Citizens Coalition points out on his blog, the Liberals have used these tactics themselves in the past:

Yeah right, Stephane it’s terrible.

But wasn’t it your party that set new lows for nasty attack ads in the past two federal elections?

So maybe my love of attack ads isn’t so shocking after all.

There are no lies in these ads. They are merely pointing out weaknesses in the Liberal party. They are not personal attacks.

But sometimes the truth hurts.

* * * *

Greg Weston's column ("Attacked by their own") is very insightful today. Greg is not a big PMSH fan from what I've read, but he seems to think that this is a clever strategy.

Toronto Star reports that the Tory Attack Ad Draw Copyright Questions.

Wednesday Update: Dion throws a jab at Harper. Would you call it a personal attack?

Would it make a difference?

In October I wrote about 3D Ultrasound baby pics, and the ironic dichotomy that exists between preborn humans who are wanted vs. unwanted. The trend towards being able to show off baby before birth is obviously on the increase with the Hamilton Spectator profiling the opening of Hamilton's first "entertainment ultrasound clinic" called 'Fetal Expressions'.

Cute.

It seems that the decision to carry a baby to term has become somewhat of a designer option - Do you want to discard it, or would you like to keep it and give Grandma her brag book ahead of time?

As much as I resent the fact that Ontario taxpayers are paying for abortions on demand, I would be in favour of an increase to that coverage if it would include a compulsory 3D ultrasound and viewing by the woman before an abortion is performed - especially if the pregnancy is at the stage of viability.

Apparently there are possible risks associated with 3D ultrasounds:

"We are doing something to the baby that could be shown to be noxious and we are not able to show a benefit to the baby," said Dr. Ants Toi, a Radiologist, at Mt. Sinai & Princess Margaret hospitals.

Gee. I'm fairly certain that abortion might fit that category too. Funny how that doesn't seem to worry anyone.

Test

Just switching to new Blogger. This is a test. No need to search for emergency supplies.

Does Coren have the right to say what he thinks isn't 'normal'?

Where does Freedom of thought, opinion, speech or religion end and hate speech begin? Michael Coren goes out on a legal limb in today's Sun.

Since my wrist is still causing me some problems I'm keeping this short, but I thought it might be interesting to discuss. Please keep it civil. Thanks.

Perplexing Polls

Today's Toronto Sun highlights a Leger survey (Tories, Grits Remain Neck and Neck) which suggests that the Conservative and Liberal parties are in a dead heat (35% vs. 32%), but PM Stephen Harper far outshines Stephane Dion at the moment in terms of leadership (34% vs. 19%). Quebec was the only province showing a tie in preference for Prime Minister.

As I was contemplating the reasons for this apparent discrepancy, I came across some insightful articles in National Newswatch under "Featured Links".

Don Martin's column "Liberals Confounded by One-Candle Harper" is particularly intriguing. Martin, on route back from Nairobi, was surprised to come across a flattering article about Stephen Harper in the 'Americas' section of The Economist.

As Martin says, "what The Economist peddles as perception counts more on the world stage than a dozen photo-ops at world leader gabfests."


But this is the point to ponder:

But what makes the magazine's mostly fawning assessment of the fledgling government so interesting is how this international swoon is but a yawn in Canada, where the support Mr. Harper needs to grow into a majority government remains elusive.

I might add, never mind 'grow into a majority'. We're talking survival here right now. But after reading Martin's piece, the thought that came to mind was how we in Canada so often fail to recognize talent in our own country. Why do we need the international community to remind us of our own treasures? The Leger Poll does seem to indicate a rising awareness of Harper's ability to make us proud on the world stage, but for some reason that does not translate into more favourable polling for the party itself.

Part of the problem may be beyond Harper's control as pointed out by Bruce Anderson of Decima Research. He "found that NDP support has been bleeding to the Liberals and the Green party in four vote-rich regions of the province." Source: CTV - Polls suggest Canadians kicking parties' tires.

(Private aside to all Blogging Tories - The following is for your eyes only: Do NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES dis JACK!!)


Well I could go on with my analysis but my carpal tunnel is acting up again, which may require a temporary break from blogging.

I'll leave you with this awesome quote from James Travers, who usually leans left, but not today (Election about Nothing is a Bonus for Harper):

To indulgently return to a self-pleasing metaphor, environmental credibility is the little black dress of new age politics. It's the must-have item in every wardrobe, even if begged, borrowed or stolen. So it's no surprise that the Prime Minister is reaching into the Liberal cupboard. After all, in politics imitation isn't just sincere flattery, it's a winning tactic.

Isn't that a beaut? The little black dress of new age politics. Brilliant, James!

O.K. I'm going for the ice now. Try not to miss me too much.

* * * *

Oops! Almost forgot. Quite a good report card from the National Post regarding the Harper Government's first year. Although the odd misstep was mentioned, the Post finished up on this positive note:

On balance, though, the Conservatives' first year has a been a tremendous success. It is hard to see how a minority government, especially one with a hostile opposition and press corps, could have done more.

* * * *

Friday Update: Very insightful column by the brilliant Chantel Hebert in today's Star - Cooler Heads Might Delay Election Until Fall.

Stéphane Dion may not be aware of it but every time he accuses the Conservatives of stealing a page from his policy book on the environment, he is validating the reality of their makeover as a more environment-friendly government.

The Environment and What???

Just caught the end of an interview by Gary Doyle of Newstalk 570 with Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale.

Mr. Goodale was waxing poetic on the amazing Mr. Dion and how he has so quickly united the party during the Liberal caucus retreat just wrapping up in Quebec City. Ralph sounded very excited and energized with the fresh approach.

After a few slams at Harper and his too cozy ties with the 'Republicans' in the States, he started eagerly discussing their new focus - The environment, and wait for it... INTEGRITY!!!

* * * *

See also ChuckerCanuk - Dion Wants Sponsorship Cronies Back in Action.

Didn't they learn anything during the last year?

SDA - Party of Convictions: Dion Pardons.

Toronto Tories - Same old Liberals uner Dion.

Officially Screwed - Liberals Redefine "Life".


THURSDAY UPDATE: Stephane Flip Flops - Officially Screwed.

Just do it, Cam!!

O.K. This story could resurrect my interest in the upcoming Ontario election - Cam Eyes Political Highway.

It seems that the Ontario Progressive Conservative party has asked OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley to consider running in the fall provincial election. Cam is seriously considering the option:

"I kind of expected to finish my career as a police officer, but with recent developments, this might be another way to serve the public and improve public safety."

'Recent developments' being this.

Joan Tintor is obviously not a big Cam fan, from what I have read. I will be looking forward to her take on this.

Personally, I think this would be awesome. A candidate with Cam's personality and experience could really add some zing to the party and to the election in general.

Go for it, Cam!

I want a better Ontario.

* * * *

Update: Something tells me Cam wouldn't be the type of guy to find new curtains a huge provincial priority. I wonder how many eye exams those new drapes could have covered...

That would have helped the highway safety cause.

* * * *

Wow! Joan Tintor has weighed in on this now - Ontario PCs smart to approach Woolley.

CSC may be sued

Federal prison guards are not happy about Correctional Service Canada's failure to comply with a federal government inspector's order to enforce a smoking ban in prisons.

The Sun reports that "(Union President Sylvain) Martel said CSC should be fined for not meeting the Labour Code. If not, employees will seek the legal right to sue in the same way inmates can and do sue the Crown."

Well, I'm not sure about the rest of Canada, but for any prisons in Ontario the answer is obvious - build them a casino!

An Offal Dilemma

The Oneida First Nation of the Thames is taking on Toronto Mayor David Miller for failure to consult them about the decision to ship Toronto's waste to the Green Lane landfill site near London.

Considering how slealthily the dump deal was reached, it's not surprising that His Blondness either forgot or didn't bother checking with the Oneida Nation in his panic to solve the Michigan trash crisis before the last municipal election.

Other municipalities such as Waterloo Region have several bridge and highway projects on hold pending Six Nation approval. Does His Blondness feel he is above the law?

No response from Toronto city officials as the matter is 'before the courts'.

Now how will Dalton McGuinty buy his pal's way out of this one with our money?

* * * *

BTW, I had made a suggestion to the natives way back in September.

As all the Media Vultures Circle

The Pickton trial is just starting and already I'm sickened by it.

I had turned on Global National for the news, and had to turn the sound down while the grisly details were described. What about people who have young kids within listening range? This stuff is going to give them nightmares.

I'm going to try to avoid absorbing this horror, but it's going to be difficult.

* * * *

Update: Warren Kinsella's column in Thursday's Post asks an important question - Can Robert Pickton get a fair trial?

Steffi's Imaginary Friend

Dust My Broom has discovered a profile from the Globe that could shed some light on Stephane Dion's inability to remember certain important events, such as anything at all to do with Adscam and more recently the alleged plan to expand production in the Alberta oilsands under his watch as Environment Minister during the Martin government.

We hear stories about great times spent with a neighbour who says he never did any of the things Dion so fondly remembers; and dead dog jokes (the latter to prove he has a sense of humour).

Is this the guy you want for your Prime Minister? I can just see it now:

"What terrorist attack? I didn't see one. I'm going to walk Kyoto now. Au revoir."

* * * *

Monday Update: Steffi is savaged by schoolyard bullies Ezra Levant (Dion Easy Target) and Paul Jackson (Dion Diaster Looms).

More at SDA - Canada's Answer to Al Gore.

PMSH says make my day...

True North - It Never Happened... (Stephane may be in denial over what he did or didn't do as Environment Minister).

Did Anyone Remember the Marshmallows?

Today's Toronto Sun is hosting an All-Party Hold-Their-Feet-to-the-Fire Global-Warming Roast today.

Over here, holding a very pointy skewer is the Sun Editorial Board, "We've Got Questions about Kyoto".

Next, we have Lorrie Goldstein poking holes in carbon emissions trading schemes ("Big Industry Polluters Cash in on Credits...")

Finally, Greg Weston warns us that allowing gassy cows too close to our bonfire may cause an explosion ("Farmyard Flatulence is a Source of Gas Emissions").

Protestors are welcome to this event. Dress is optional.

However, if you do choose to wear clothing, please ensure that no air molecules were harmed in the manufacturing process. Thank you.

* * * *

Tuesday Update: Lorrie Goldstein presents his own Inconvenient Truth.

Two-Tier Justice 'Proven' in Ontario

Gary McHale is now claiming 'victory' in his efforts to prove that two-tier justice exists in Ontario:

I have been told that at late Friday Night about 30 Natives have put up a Canadian and US Flag in front of DCE
OPP stood by and watched.

Therefore, it has been clearly proved that it is only illegal for non-natives to raise the Canadian Flag.

Of course, Gary himself was thrown in jail for attempting to raise a Canadian flag near the disputed Caledonia land.


The OPPA has issued a warning:

"The people behind these protests are not from the area," said OPPA President Karl Walsh.

"They are, however, acting on a sustained basis to push an aggressive political agenda that includes promoting hatred, flaunting the justice system and inciting violence," Walsh said

However, Gary sees his mission as one of accountability and justice.

Should be an interesting time in Caledonia today.


Update: OPP says STAY AWAY!

* * * *

Afternoon Update: Sounds like it ended up being just one big shouting match.

Background - Caledonia may well be just the tip of the iceberg.

What would YOU have done?

How far would you go to protect your child?

As a parent I sympathize with Saskatchewan father Kim Walker, who is now going to prison for murdering his then 16 year-old daughter's convicted drug-dealing boyfriend. I can't condone murder, but I know that there is something primordial in a parent's brain and heart that defies logic and common sense. In the heat of the moment, rational thought takes second place if one's offspring is in danger. That is how we are wired.

"My father is my hero,'' Walker's daughter Jadah said as she left for home without her dad.

Now Jadah will be without her father for the 10 years he has to wait in prison for parole.

There are many issues here. First of all, we can never justify murder but sometimes extreme circumstances require more legal flexibility. With the number of sentences served at home these days, I question this seemingly harsh decision.

"You may have honestly believed that shooting James Hayward was the only viable option to you,'' Justice Jennifer Pritchard said after imposing her sentence.

"In short, you were a desperate man and no doubt the hearts of most parents reach out to you, but you wrongfully killed this man.''

Tough call. I wonder how any of us would act in such a situation. It's easy to sit back in the comfort of your own home and cast judgment.

My guess is that Kim Walker has few regrets. His daughter is now safe.

* * * *

Update: This is a better link than the one from the Post which seems to have taken the Star-Phoenix story and abbreviated it. Interesting segment here:

The court heard testimony that the shooting followed months of growing concern over Jadah's health and behaviour, culminating in an anonymous letter to Walker and his wife in March 2003 telling them their daughter and Hayward were injecting morphine.

Acting on the advice of the RCMP, the couple had Jadah committed under a Mental Health Act warrant for assessment of her drug problem at the Yorkton hospital's psychiatric ward over the weekend.

But on the Monday of her release, Jadah Walker was picked up by friends and reunited with Hayward at his house.

The court has heard that on hearing this, Walker left his home with a Luger M80 semi-automatic pistol and extra ammunition. After asking a resistant Jadah to come home, he shot Hayward in front of his daughter and other witnesses.

Walker testified he remembers only "flashes" of the incident and nothing of the actual shooting.

It is quite possible that Walker, when faced with the extreme tension and frustration of having Jadah refuse to come home after her hospital stay and still firmly under Hayward's control, experienced an amygdala highjack and went ballistic. This is like temporary insanity inasmuch as rational thought takes a back seat to gut reaction. It isn't an excuse but it may possibly shed some light on the behaviour.

Little Mosque Across the Atlantic

Michael Coren's column (From the mouth of mullahs) in today's National Post highlights a disturbing U.K. documentary, Undercover Mosque. He is not the only one sounding the alarm.

The "10-month undercover investigation into home-grown extremism has revealed hard-line Islamic fundamentalism being preached in British mosques" (Mirror).

Coren points out that the mosques that were chosen for investigation were considered to be 'moderate'.

The findings are frightening:

Some speakers call for girls to be hit if they don't wear Islamic dress and say that they can marry before puberty, others praise the Taliban.

Speaking at the Ahl-e-Hadith mosque, in Derby, Dr Mian tells his listeners: "You are in a situation in which you have to live like a state-within-a-state - until you take over.

"But until this happens, you have to preach, until you become such a force that the people just submit to you."

The implicit warning is that giving into Muslim extremism is not the answer. Rather, it is the enabler.

* * * *

Update: Dr. Roy has an interesting perspective on this - Double Standards.

Closing the Book on Little Sisters

This is encouraging. Sometimes sanity does prevail.

Anti-Prayer Police Not Happy

You gotta love Ontario.

Fantino doesn't want us to laugh. Secular Ontario doesn't want us to pray.

At least we'll be allowed to smoke outside of casinos.

Spoilsport Fantino

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino believes it's his duty to remove the highlight of our long-weekend entertainment here in Ontario.

Seriously though, if Cam Woolley's reports drew attention to poorly-maintained vehicles and safety issues, where was the harm? The effect was to give these kinds of offenses a high profile. My guess is that many folks planning to head north on a long weekend would have been more aware of aware of OPP presence thanks to Cam, and at least giving some thought to the upkeep of their vehicles and safe driving practices.

Perhaps there is some bad blood between Fantino and Woolley, but Cam claims to be O.K. with it. Well, what else can he say? The OPP is now on message to be SERIOUS.

Whatever the reason, it's a shame. I was so hopeful that Fantino's appointment would have a positive outcome for Ontario. Now I'm not so sure. He says he is a traditionalist. I guess that means no laughing.

In any case, thanks for the memories, Cam. We're going to miss you.

* * * *

Joan Tintor explains why I shouldn't shed too many tears for Cam Woolley.

Natives apart from Canadian Law?

The Hamilton Spectator reports that Toronto lawyer Stephen Ford is working towards a legal confirmation of what native protestors in Caledonia have been saying all along - that they should not be regarded as being subject to Canadian law.

Ford's long-term plan is to convince the Canadian courts they have no jurisdiction over native Canadians like Gibson who are charged with criminal offences on native lands.

( ... )

Eventually, if and when he finds a court to hear the constitutional arguments, he's expected to call expert witnesses in an attempt to prove that the Six Nations came to Canada as allies of the Crown and have remained a sovereign people.

This could have some interesting ramifications, to say the least.

* * * *

BTW, this thread about Hope Bay is in the archives now, but the comments are still going strong!

More here about Caledonia (Artifacts found).

What Fiscal Imbalance?

If Dalton McGuinty wants his so-called "fiscal imbalance" addressed, it looks like he'd better start supporting Stephen Harper.

In Guelph yesterday, Stephane Dion suggested that he is a F.I. skeptic (H/T National Newswatch):

"Don't ask me to pretend there is a fiscal imbalance and elect me and (hope) I will fix it. I don't want to create these kinds of expectations."

Well, if I were Dalton McGuinty (*shudder*), I would therefore support Harper who has made a promise to address the situation, rather than Citoyen Dion who says "Meh" with a French accent.


And on the topic of a leader from Quebec again:

He said he's proud to be a Quebecer and ignored those who discouraged him from running for the Liberal leadership because he's a francophone.

"Many people told me don't run because after Mr. Chretien, Mr. Martin, Mr. Trudeau, enough Quebecers, now we want to go elsewhere. And I told them, 'I don't believe my country will react this way, I don't believe my party will react this way,"' Dion said.

"I (thought) they will say he have a complex country, a great country, but a complex country, and we need to choose the best talents and we should not dismiss somebody because of his or her province."

What about candidate nominations, Mr. Dion? Will you actually be looking for the 'best talent', or will you be dismissing men because of their gender?


Update: Well, obviously M. Dion does not deem it very important to have women in the chairmanship positions. (H/T Halls of Macadamia.) So I guess I was wrong. It's all about the best talent.

* * * *

See also True North - Dion doesn't know if there's a fiscal imbalance?

Update: What plan?

Marriage Stats

Interesting report from Statistics Canada.

Marriage seems to be declining in popularity - except in Ontario and B.C. where gay marriages were allowed in 2003.

Draw your own conclusions.


Similar picture in the States (Married Couples are a Minority in U.S. Households) - Obviously not such a big drawing card anymore.

* * * *

Thursday Update - MSM and others put their spin on the data:

Ottawa Sun - Same-sex Marriage Drawing Foreigners

Statistics Canada data on 2003 nuptials, which included gay couples for the first time in Canadian history, found 3.5% of the 22,000 marriages in British Columbia were between people of the same sex. And nearly 56% of those were non-residents of Canada.

Equal Marriage of course, sees this as a positive outcome - that the institution of marriage is being bolstered by same-sex marriage. (Or is it simply a temporary and novel aberation in a general trend?)


Toronto Sun - Canuks in No Hurry to get Hitched.

Chronicle Herald - More People Saying I Don't - regarding Quebec's preference for cohabitation:

But even then, he (sociology professor Don Kerr) said there are concerns with cohabitation.

"Cohabitation has an impact on the life experience of children in that such unions are quite dramatically more unstable than marriages — even with children."

He said research shows that children born into a cohabiting union were four to five times more likely to experience a breakup by parents than those born into married families.

Divorce stats here. Increase in Boomers divorcing after kids leave the nest.

Non-resident same-sex marriages being used for political purposes.

Two-Tier Integrity

Darcey points out the hypocrisy of the Ontario Liberal government in making an exception to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act for casinos only.

I guess it wasn't enough for Dalton to just have two-tier justice in Caledonia and two-tier economics with the 25% pay raise for MPP's while the manufacturing sector continues to implode. Now we have two-tier smoking rules. Legion and charity bingo halls will just have to suck it up.

So by process of elimination, I won't be able to vote Liberal in the fall because of McDouble Standard; nor Conservative because of Tory Raise-Accomplice; nor NDP because of lingering nightmares from the Rae Reign.

That leaves what?

Time to start a new party. How about "The Integrity Party"?

The slogan could be "Ontario. Yours to Recover".

* * * *

Update: McGuinty hypocrisy seems to be getting attention in New Zealand! Aren't you proud to live in Ontario?

Oops - Michigan too. Well, Dalton, it may be hard to sweep your butt under the rug this time.


Thursday Update: Interesting letter in today's Sun from Jim Watson, Minister of Health Promotion -

Unlike Conservative critic Tim Hudak and the big tobacco lobby, I will not agree to exemptions for indoor smoking rooms at casinos or any other facility because I do not believe employees of these facilities should be treated as second class citizens and have their lives put at risk as a result of exposure to second hand smoke.

Furthermore, I will not support the Conservative party's plans to water down the legislation and allow a whole series of exemptions to the act.

Say what?


Also please check out Arthur Weinreb's column at CFP!- Casino smoking rooms shock naïve Ontarians. There are several gems in this one.


More from the Sun's Christina Blizzard - Evolution's Political Detour.

Rant Aggregator

Today's post is a compilation of rants from MSM which caught my eye.


Greg Weston takes Stephane Dion's English pronunciation to task in Pardon, Monsieur Dion? "Liberal Leader's Shaky English Could Make Him French Toast in the Next Election". I would suggest possibly milquetoast as well.


Roy Leishman of the LFP - "Judicial Activists Know No Restrain." Roy rants about the Ontario Court of Appeal's self-proclaimed right to define the Canadian family and asks why our legislated officials seemingly have no opinion or objection.

Strange indeed...

Oh yeah! I know why, Roy! Christina Blizzard found them - They're at home counting their 25% raises!!!

- and saying see ya in March, suckers.

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Update: Kate does her take on the Weston article - A Way with Words: Found in Translation.

Read the comments. One of her readers starts talking about "Borat Dion". Too funny.

Afternoon Update: I don't know how I missed this one this morning! Lorrie Goldstein has another column on the Kyoto debacle (More Kyoto Crimes):

The news for Canadian taxpayers and consumers only gets worse. Even if we were to meet our Kyoto targets for 2012, which would have a huge negative impact on our economy because we're now 35% behind, it won't matter.

China, India and the U.S. -- none of them restricted by Kyoto -- are planning to build more than 850 new coal-fired energy plants over the next few years. China alone is planning 562. (Burning coal emits more greenhouse gas, linked to global warming, than oil or natural gas, the world's two other major fossil fuels.)

BTW, still an excellent debate going on a few threads ago.


Since this is somewhat of a dog's breakfast today, I'm going to include a short excerpt from a great letter by a geologist in Saturday's Financial Post in response to Peter Foster's Jan. 9 column, "Climate Action Would be Suicidal".

Reviving catastrophism

"...Also, for your information, there was a fascinating paper that appeared in the Geological Association of Canada journal, last year I think, demonstrating that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide appear to follow increases in temperature, not precede them! I doubt you'll hear the great wizard, Dr. David Suzuki, catastrophist extraordinaire, speaking much about that.

Finally, as if any other proofs of the earth's incredible self-buffering and self-regulating capacity were required, how about the fact that as this winter has been so mild, the burning of fossil fuels for heating as gone way down and so has the consequent emissions of carbon dioxide. Presto. Problem solved! Avrom Howard, Thornhill, Ont. "

Well, that might be oversimplifying things a bit.

Weinreb's Worth the Read

If you get a moment, check out Arthur Weinreb at Canada Free Press. His columns are always entertaining, witty and informative even though you may not always agree with his point of view.

Arthur recently contacted me regarding my post on the Plight of the Disadvantaged Two-Parent Child. He said he loved my coined term "parentally disadvantaged" and wanted to use it in a future column, which he has in fact done with his usual tongue-in-cheek flair.


I enjoyed this part:

The lower court dismissed her application. While sympathetic to the lesbian partner's plight, the judge came up with the silly notion that judges are supposed to interpret the law and not legislate.

The decision was reversed on appeal. The Court of Appeal found that the CLRA was outdated. Having come into force in the 1970s after a study by the Law Reform Commission of Ontario, the Act just didn't take today's realities into account (these realities being no doubt that when it comes to families, anything goes).

So true!


His January 9 column talks about the pitfalls of multiculturalism - The Liberals' "Secret Agenda".


This column is more serious but still relentlessly sardonic:

Canada should not be thought of as a real country because it was founded by that segment of society that it is perfectly permissible to discriminate against -- white males. We should play down the fact that we are a country because it will inevitably lead to tribalism. The Liberals are on a course to destroy whatever is left of our collective identity and culture by replacing it with multiculturalism where our culture consists of everyone else's culture (except that of Canadians).

I agree with Arthur. We are so busy trying not to offend and be politically correct, that we have lost any notion of who we are as a collective entity. We are a nation of solitudes.

Dear Editor

National Post letters editor Paul Russell has provided some helpful tips for anyone who has ever written a letter to the editor and then wondered why it was rejected.

The suggestions are meant for Post readers but many can apply to any newspaper. I used to write dozens of letters a month before starting my blog. It was my major way to vent my frustration whenever I read the paper. Now, of course, I am my own publisher which has its pitfalls. I have no editor which means I am responsible for my own spelling, grammar and lawsuits (just kidding on the last one - I hope!).

Anyway, some of Paul's tips are quite witty :

"Eschew obfuscation - Which is to say you should keep the language of the letter as simple and unpretentious as possible."

(I know of a certain left-leaning blogger who might take this one to heart.)

"Avoid clichés like the plague - It goes without saying that you have to think outside the box. In a nutshell, it's the kiss of death to rely on tried and true expressions. They are so yesterday. Honestly."

One of my letters published by the Post had the last line removed. I complained to Mr. Russell and he explained that it was because of the line being a cliché. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right Paul?



Actually, Paul and I have traded many emails. If a busy editor bothers to give you the time of day (was that a cliché?) to help improve your writing skills, accept that assistance with all the humility and gratitude you can muster. You will be receiving a valuable lesson.

And perhaps one day you'll even see your letter in the National Post.

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Another appreciative post at Just Between Us Girls.


Tuesday Update: Well you have to give the National Post credit for taking a bit of good-natured ribbing in today's Letters column ("Our Mistakes"):

Re: How To Write A Letter To The Editor, Paul Russell; Keeping Baby Close, But Not To Close, letter, both Jan. 15.

Now that I know how to write a letter to the editor, I really hope this one makes it. In the above-noted article I learned that "15 tips" is singular (Why else would it state "here's 15 tips'' instead of "here are" ? ?) and that babies do not make good baseball pitchers. (Why else would it say that babies are not "to close"?) I hope this is the kind of letter you're looking for.

I could say something here about eating crow, but I guess that would be considered somewhat of a cliché, right Paul? ;)

Craig, say it ain't so!

Well I am in shock. I was cruising National Newswatch this morning and came across this - Popular Conservative Website is 'No More'.

Craig Smith (aka Ferret), co-founder of the Blogging Tories has pulled the plug on his blog. This sudden departure is a profound loss for us, but Craig says he needs more time for his family.

I suppose we should all remember to keep our priorities straight, but I really liked Craig's blog. This is very distressing. However, I respect his decision.

Best wishes, Craig. Thanks for all you have contributed to BT. Please come back and visit.

The Politics and Religion of Kyoto

Once again the Toronto Sun's Lorrie Goldstein provides balanced and valuable insight today regarding the Kyoto controversy - Debunking Hot Hysteria. Of particular interest to me:

In fact, predicting climate change and forecasting weather are different issues. Unfortunately, too many politicians, environmental activists and media who often have a political agenda to ram through the Kyoto accord, are deliberately blurring this important distinction.

This is understandable because the UN treaty is highly controversial.

Many Kyoto critics charge it is more concerned with transferring wealth from the First World to the Third World than seriously reducing man-made greenhouse gases.

So is it possible that Kyoto is actually a form of enforced U.N. global tithing for the benefit of 'developing countries' such as China who are let off the hook?

To be sure there is a lot of hysteria and political twisting of 'facts' at the polar opposites (sorry) of the debate, but I suspect the increased focus goes deeper than that.

Why all the hype right now? Why is this such a crisis today and supposedly on the minds of Canadians more than the threat of terrorism, inadequate health care or poverty?

First of all, I would suggest that MSM has a lot to do with it. Unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims are often made by junk-scientists and used by MSM as an enticement to sell their product. Repetition is used to reinforce the belief. Environmental fear sells papers, encourages people to watch propaganda on television, the internet and in the cinema.

Of course, environmental lobbyists and green industries have a vested interest too. But it's not all about the money.


The second reason why I believe this is such a hot topic today is that there is a huge spiritual void that the worship of the environment and earth serves to fill; especially by those who have abandoned traditional religion.

To be sure most Christians, Jews, Muslims and followers of other faiths have a respect for the earth as a gift from their God and believe in the importance of being good stewards, but for some people, the earth has become their god.

M.I.T. Professor Richard Lindzen articulated this concept quite eloquently in a speech given at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.:

"Do you believe in global warming? That is a religious question. So is the second part: Are you a skeptic or a believer?"

"Essentially if whatever you are told is alleged to be supported by 'all scientists,' you don't have to understand [the issue] anymore. You simply go back to treating it as a matter of religious belief..."

Once a person becomes a believer of global warming, "you never have to defend this belief except to claim that you are supported by all scientists -- except for a handful of corrupted heretics..."

"The research and support for research depends on the alarm," Lindzen told CNSNews.com following his speech. "The research itself often is very good, but by the time it gets through the filter of environmental advocates and the press innocent things begin to sound just as though they are the end of the world.

This all seems to dovetail well with a letter in today's Sun:

Green doom

Re "The New Pornographers (Lorrie Goldstein, Jan. 7): I've always been amazed by the fact that if someone stands on a street corner and preaches apocalyptic doom, many consider that to be a sign of mental illness. However, if one preaches apocalyptic doom, but does it within the confines of environmental concern, this is deemed as being honourable and compassionate. Strange days indeed.

Indeed. Better pull out your Kyoto bible and bow to High Priest Suzuki.

Is global warming - or to use the new buzz word climate change actually occurring? I don't see how that can possibly be disputed or denied. However the relevant question is to what degree are man-made greenhouse gas emissions responsible and what can we do about that in practical terms?

I suspect that the truth lies somewhere in between the hype and self-interest at both ends - possibly in that middle ground that Colby Cosh suggests where climate change can be seen as a rational probability requiring thoughtful consideration and policy development, but not necessarily mandating a panicky, paranoid reaction.

That goal would especially not be well-served by joining the Kyoto Kult.


Update: Kate points out a disturbing POV from the Weather Channel - "Sing from the Same Hymn Book". Stripping the Kyoto heretics - it fits in perfectly with my religion analogy.

Dion reaches out to Alberta

Gotta love Dion's approach (H/T SDA)

“The government will not decide everything" - Translation: You'll still get to choose your own street names. Kyoto's a good one though.


And how about this one?

Then he tore a strip off young guys heading for the oilsands.

“All these workers living too fast for the easy money in the north,” the prime minister-wannabe blasted as Liberal-appointed senators Tommy Banks and Grant Mitchell looked on. “It’s not good for the economy.”

Good stuff, Stephane.

He talked about “new regulations for the industry” – which means Alberta hydrocarbon- based industrial heartland. “It will be fair, it will be demanding, but we will be responsible,” he insisted. “It will not be a way to pull the money out of Alberta.”

Then he outlined his plan to make oilsands developers toe the line, imposing what sounds like massive taxes by basing the fed’s capital cost allowance on how much process water they use and how much carbon dioxide goes up the stacks.

Quelle finesse!


At this rate, Harper won't even have to go out on the campaign trail. Dion will do it all for him.

* * * *

Update: More outrage here - Dion and Easy Money.

A great Western rant here - KOed, Going Dion for the Count.

Gerry Nichols - Bad Moooo-ve by Dion.

Colby Cosh - "Fire Bad. Bread good."

Debunk - Part Deux

Continuing on with the Kyoto theme...

Tuesday's Financial Post carried a similar story adjacent to the article by Peiser. In "Climate action would be suicidal", FP columnist Peter Foster gives his reasons for the lack of substance in Kyoto, which you can read for yourself.

Here is the interesting part:

...Kyoto was just one draconian step towards a much more draconian future.

It is hard to understand why the Conservatives do not hammer away at these facts. Instead, in the face of an alleged tsunami of public concern, matched only by public ignorance, the Conservatives have now allegedly "gone green." They are "consulting" with radical, unelected environmental NGOs. But then what can they do? There is an election coming and its most important feature may be that Canadians are enjoying unseasonally mild weather even as it is being used to scare them to death.

So the government is being held hostage to the political will of Jack Layton and the environmentalists; even more so now with Wajid Khan's move to the Tories having the net result of needing only the cooperation of the NDP to hold the balance of power (reinforced by Lapierre's recent resignation).

Climate change is an alleged "collective action" problem. That is, there is no point in doing anything unless every major or developing industrial power on earth signs on, and -- more importantly -- keeps to its commitments. Which they wouldn't. As it is, the absence of China and India from Kyoto -- nations likely destined to be this century's largest carbon emitters -- was one of the reasons why the United States wisely refused to sign on.

In any event, the nations that did sign on to Kyoto are almost all struggling to meet their targets. They have succeeded only in imposing even more deadweight bureaucracy...

"Deadweight bureaucracy" - The kind of thing that lefties love. Lots of unionized jobs feeding at the trough of the public purse.

Today's Post carries a column by Colby Cosh stating the case for a reasonable middle ground. We also have a couple of articles in the FP. Foster again talks about "hysteria over climate change" in Europe's Masterplan, and Lawrence Solomon talks about a theory of a 'crash' coming in the climate boom-bust cycle (Will the Sun Cool Us?).



All of which begs the question - Why did all this seemingly factual opposition suddenly come out of the media woodwork? My guess is that Canadian business is suddenly worrying that Harper's steady course to the centre is actually now veering far left; which should be a concern for us all.

And if Harper is moving far left, God help Canada.

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Update: Excellent debate going on about Kyoto at The Prairie Wrangler: Should Canada Drop Kyoto?

And speaking of the environment, Hargrove slams Layton over tough emission standards (SDA) - "It's Not Easy Being Green". Reminds me of a quote from the previous post - "a fundamental conflict between economic realism and environmental idealism".

Saturday Update: Dark Blue Tory - Kyoto's garbage...end of story.

And a few choice lines from a Sun reader (I don't agree with the whole letter, but this part is great):

Kudos to Lorrie Goldstein for prying off the lid of what is probably the biggest scam in the world, the Kyoto Protocol, or what I call the Wizard of Oz(one). This treaty is actually a giant wealth redistribution scheme, socialism on a global scale that taxes wealthy, industrialized countries by forcing them to buy carbon emission credits from poorer countries through a virtual (phony) carbon market, while not reducing the world's pollution by one single molecule. In other words, we pay other countries to make and take our garbage. Also, Kyoto will actually accelerate globalization by encouraging companies to move their factories from highly-regulated Canada to mass-polluter countries like India and China; thus lowering our standard of living. In effect it's socialism disguised as science by our environistas. No wonder Dion, Duceppe, and Layton love it...

Debunking Kyoto - Part 1

First of all, I want to make it clear that I am not disputing the concept of climate change. I believe that it has occurred at varying rates since the beginning of time.

However, I do not believe that the Kyoto accord is necessarily the ultimate answer to this problem. Throwing piles of money at something that will likely deliver questionable results at best, does not seem to be a reasonable approach in my humble opinion. Also, there are pollution problems other than greenhouse gas emissions plaguing our planet.

First I have to give thanks to SDA reader "Willy" for a reference to a very interesting article in Tuesday's Financial Post - Kyoto sinks Europe: Billions in costs make it more and more unlikely that the EU can continue to go it alone slashing carbon emissions by Benny Peiser who is a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University:

The crisis centres on a fundamental conflict between economic realism and environmental idealism, between national interest and green ideology. It has exposed the increasing tension between Europe's green enthusiasm and the realization that its unilateral framework comes at a hefty cost that is beginning to erode the economic stability of a waning continent.

Instead of reducing EU's carbon emissions significantly, the carbon-trading strategy for meeting its Kyoto target has actually had the opposite effect:

Instead, year after year, most EU countries continue to increase their greenhouse-gas emissions. Rather than proving its effectiveness, the trading system has pushed electricity prices even higher while energy-intensive companies are forced to close down, cut jobs, or pass on the costs to consumers.

Gunter Verheugen, the EU's industry commissioner, has warned that by "going it alone" Europe is burdening its industries and consumers with soaring costs that are undermining Europe's international competitiveness. Instead of improving environmental conditions, Europe's policy threatens to redirect energy-intensive production to parts of the world that reject mandatory carbon cuts.

Verheugen's warning reaffirms what U.S. administrations have been saying for many years. It is aimed at the rapidly evolving challenges posed by Asian competitors such as China and India that are set to overtake Europe's sluggish economy within the next couple of decades. Indeed, Europe's imprudent unilateralism is not only constraining its trade and industry; worse still, it has led to a significant slowdown in European R&D budgets, a sliding trend that is hampering the development of low-carbon technologies.

Did you catch that last bit? Kyoto has had the effect of slowing down low-carbon technology development.

In recent weeks, even U.S. Democrats have cautiously started to lower expectations. They now concede that even under a Democratic administration, the United States is unlikely to join any international climate regime that would exclude Asia's looming superpowers and burden its economy with unilateral obligations.

What's that? Even the Democrats are having second thoughts about Kyoto?


Meanwhile, the environmentalists are trying to wring as much political capital as they can from Stephen Harper's shaky minority government. Two noteworthy editorials from today's Toronto Sun chastise Harper and other politicians for jumping on the popular bandwagon.

A respected Canadian climatologist, Dr. Tim Bell, says "the Kyoto Protocol is a political solution to a non-existent problem without scientific justification."

More to follow.

Challenge for Dalton

I wonder if Dalton can do anything about the incredible shrinking job situation in Southern Ontario?

Talking about good-paying jobs here; not McJobs.

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More from the Record about NCR:

NCR is blaming the strong Canadian dollar and the fact a high percentage of Waterloo's production is exported as reasons for the changes.

As well, NCR's competitors are cutting expenses by moving their manufacturing to "offshore and low-cost regions," Langos said. "If we didn't take this effort and activity, then it will cause our margins to decline significantly because it will make us less competitive in the marketplace."

Hoping for Answers

Hope Bay, Ontario cottagers are still patiently waiting to hear from the natives who own the land that their cottages sit on, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada which has been handling the lease agreements and rent collection up until now.

The cottagers have been told to vacate the buildings by the end of January. According to the Globe, "more jarring was the issue of building ownership: "You are not allowed to remove or dismantle any structures affixed to the land," said the letter, signed by Leea Litzgus, the department's Ontario director of lands and trusts services."


The cottagers feel that the buildings are theirs, because as the Owen Sound Sun Times reports:

Those leases with INAC direct that tenants receive 12 months notice if the land is to become unavailable for cottage rental purposes. They also give cottagers the right within 30 days to remove any buildings they erected on the leased land, after which they would become the property of the Crown.

Instead, and despite years of INAC assurances - one in an e-mail as recently as last November - that negotiations toward new leases were proceeding, the cottagers in a December letter from INAC were abruptly ordered out and given until Jan. 31 to collect their belongings.

INAC spokesman Brock Worobel said Wednesday the federal government does not have a position on cottage ownership, and he would not discuss terms of the expired leases with INAC on behalf of the First Nation land holders.

"The First Nation is of the opinion that the cottages are theirs," Worobel said. "We do not have a position on who owns the cottages and that needs to be decided in a court of law."

The Hope Bay cottagers are taking a very non-confrontational approach to this frustrating situation. They are appealing for meetings and discussion from both sides, but so far without results.

This conflict is far different from Caledonia inasmuch as the land is not in dispute. However, given the poor track record of both levels of government on that file, I can only wish the cottages of Hope Bay the patience of Job with regards to its resolution.

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Friday Update: Now you can put a face to the displaced cottagers (Record).


Official Government POV.

Oligarchy of Judges Runs Canada

At least that's what David Warren seems to be suggesting in today's Ottawa Citizen (A Straight Line to Polygamy):

The people of Canada are entirely excluded from this power loop by judges who, as our Supreme Court chief justice, Beverley McLachlin, is happy to explain, must never be tainted by electoral politics, even to the degree of being approved by Parliament. Nor, as she has also patiently explained, must they be restricted to interpreting the law as they receive it. Nor, I would think, would she make them accountable to God (though she has yet to rule expressly on that issue). No, they are a law unto themselves.

The word for this is "oligarchy" -- where a faction, in this case of judges, rules a country and writes the laws at its own pleasure. Canada previously aspired to "democracy," in which the people wrote their own laws, through a Parliament they elected and a government they could replace.

He cites the recent Ontario Court of Appeal "Three Parent" decision as the natural next step to polygamy being legalized. I would argue that it already is, inasmuch as it has never been challenged. It is only still listed as a criminal offence for "feel-good" purposes.


Warren finishes with the following warning:

Wake up, gentle reader. If you don't want polygamy in Canada, you had better start making a loud noise. For the internal enemies of our civilization have laid all the groundwork for this coup de grace.

Sorry, David. I think it's already too late.

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Meanwhile, in Sweden of all places, a judge has rejected two lesbian women’s attempts to adopt their partner’s biological child!!!

Well at least Canada is forward thinking, even if the rest of the world lives in a time warp.

Lorrie tells it like it is again

Lorrie Goldstein cuts through the hot air and gaseous political emissions surrounding Kyoto (The Problem with Kyoto).


His insight is almost painfully clear. He asks both Harper and Dion:

Why do you support a bizarre United Nations treaty that is mainly concerned with transferring billions of dollars from the First World (i.e. us) to the Third World over a period of decades, without any guarantees this will lower the man-made greenhouse gas emissions you say are the main cause of global warming?

Whatever they do, Kyoto contains no provisions to compel those nations to live up to their word when Canadians and others, either as taxpayers or consumers, bankroll projects abroad to reduce greenhouse gases.

He chastizes Harper for paying lip-service for re-election purposes, which does seem to be the case since John Baird became Environment Minister.

As for Harper, why do you now support a treaty which you surely must know is a mess and why are you ready to have (shudder) NDP leader Jack Layton make things even worse? Other than getting yourself re-elected, that is.

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Some feedback in Thursday's Letters section:

Thank you Lorrie Goldstein for your column of Jan. 10 ("The problem with Kyoto") explaining the truth about this protocol. Now I know why the U.S. and Australia did not sign on. The Liberals always seem to go any which way the wind blows thinking it will buy them votes, and maybe this has. I wish Canadians would read the details before blindly following those false pied pipers. I look forward to seeing John Baird's environmental plan and I am glad the Conservatives are consulting environmentalists...

...I think Lorrie Goldstein nailed the reasoning behind Stephen Harper's recent capitulation to the left on Kyoto as vote pandering. Making Canadians reduce energy emissions will prove detrimental. Europe is already feeling the pain with higher energy costs and lost jobs as a result of their Emissions Trading Scheme. Even the science behind Kyoto is dubious at best...

...Recent articles have stated that more than $20 billion has been taken out of western economies to purchase carbon credits in other countries not affected by the Kyoto accord. The lion's share of this money is going to China. Why is this? If you agree with the rumours, the fact is that people in high places have vast business interests in these countries, primarily China. The Conservative party had it right....