Joanne's Journey

Those cold, heartless Conservatives

2012-01-04T08:29:00.000-05:00

(Reposted from BLY - Dec. 27/11)Who knew Social Justice was part of the Harper 'hidden agenda'?

2011-10-03T19:12:00.001-04:00

Server problems at BLY today.

Thanks for your patience.

Server Update

2011-07-16T08:58:00.003-04:00

Blue Like You is now on hiatus for the summer.

I may add a few backup posts to this site at some point. Also please remember that BlueLikeYou2 is an alternate site if we run into server problems again.

Have a great summer!

New Server being set up

2011-06-07T07:35:00.004-04:00

If you clicked on your Blue Like You bookmark and ended up here, please don't be alarmed. It is a temporary situation until things are set up on a new server.

Please feel free to use this post to discuss the budget, etc.

Thanks for your patience.

* * * *

Update

The new server may be ready soon. Hang on for the ride!

Of protests and civil disobedience

2011-06-06T07:50:00.003-04:00

(Reposted from Blue Like You June 6, 2011)

At first I was planning to protest Brigette DePape's protest by ignoring it, but some interesting angles are aligning.

Namely we have a front page story in today's National Post about 62-year-old Linda Gibbons who has spent 10 of the past 17 years in jail for being too close to abortion clinics. She has just been released and is trying to behave long enough to be able to visit her elderly mother. Then she vows to continue her protests and civil disobedience and will probably end up back behind bars as a consequence of her actions.

And what happened to Brigette DePape as a consequence of her protest and advocacy of civil disobedience in order to 'Stop Harper'?

She was immediately fired from her job as a Senate Page which was due to end in two months anyway. Now the job offers are flooding in, including one from Public Service Alliance of Canada. and even one from Michael Moore! Well I guess that's not so surprising.

I would love to ask both women how they think their protests will accomplish their respective goals?

In Linda Gibbons' case I suspect she is hoping to save one tiny life at a time; possibly by offering counsel to women on their way in for abortions.

But Brigette DePape is not happy with the election results and wants to "Stop Harper". I assume she realizes that this is a majority mandate and that there won't be another election for four years.

So how exactly does Ms. Pape intend to "Stop Harper"? Is that not some kind of implied threat? I hope some brave journalist out there has the cojones to ask her that one.

Issues with BLY

2011-06-03T15:03:00.003-04:00

Another outage today at Blue Like You.

No idea what the problem is now but thanks for your patience.

Update: May have to find a new server. Could be down for a while.

This is what strong leadership looks like

2011-05-27T21:26:00.002-04:00

(Reposted from BLY - May 27, 2011)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper continues to be unequivocal in demonstrating Canada's support for Israel - (via MSNBC) - Canada takes firm pro-Israel line at G8 summit:

...Diplomats involved in Middle East discussions at the G8 summit said Ottawa had insisted that no mention of Israel's pre-1967 borders be made in the leaders' final communique, even though most of the other leaders wanted a mention.

"The Canadians were really very adamant, even though Obama expressly referred to 1967 borders in his speech last week," one European diplomat said...

There are times when straddling the fence simply isn't an option, and a firm stand must be taken - even if it means standing alone and losing a seat at the UN Security Council.

And as L. Ian MacDonald points out, Prime Minister Harper has real street cred now.

Let's hope some of the other world leaders learn by example.

* * * *

Update

PM announces new maternal, newborn and child health initiatives - PM's website

PM attends the G-8 Deauville Summit in France - Great pics on flickr

MUST-WATCH! Janice Stein on Power & Politics - around the 7 minute mark. (H/T Fay) Actually the whole clip is worth watching.

PM plays key role at G8 summit - Tim Harper, Star. (With a great pic of the PM going barefoot in the sand! - Was he drawing a line?)

Lieberman thanks Canada PM for objection to 1967 borders at G8 - Haaretz

Green Energy Act a #Failure

2011-05-18T20:04:00.003-04:00

(Reposted from BLY - May 17, 2011)

In today's Financial Post, Ross McKitrick logically explains why Dalton McGuinty's Green Energy Act is doomed to failure on two fronts - job production and environmental:

The pledge by Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak to roll back key provisions of the Ontario Green Energy Act is a courageous move and deserves to be applauded. It will likely spark intense debates as we head into the upcoming election. It is hard to say whether public opinion will be on his side, but the facts certainly are.

The Green Energy Act (GEA) was proposed as both an environmental policy and a job-creation policy. It is misguided on both scores...

Some of the money quotes:

...An industry that depends on subsidies for its survival is not a net source of jobs. The funds for the subsidies have to be raised through taxation, and the burden of taxes kills more jobs than the subsidies create. This is as true for wind power as it is for greenhouse cucumbers, and it doesn't matter if the taxes are visible or are hidden in the form of feed-in tariffs and artificially inflated electricity bills...

...expanding the renewables portfolio is redundant since 75% of Ontario's electricity comes from nuclear and hydro power, which do not generate emissions. Twenty-two per cent comes from coal-and natural gas-fired power plants. Ontarians have paid hundreds of millions of dollars for installation of advanced emission control devices on those plants. As a result, Ontario air pollution levels have fallen dramatically since the 1970s and 1980s, a point easily confirmed by consulting any edition of the government's annual Air Quality in Ontario report...

...Whether the goal is to create jobs or protect the environment, the GEA is a failure, and the provincial Tories should be applauded for taking on the challenge of phasing it out.

This is a MUST-READ column on so many levels (H/T Lorrie Goldstein via Twitter).

Now all that remains is for Dalton McGuinty to come clean on the penalty question in the secret Samsung deal. Does one actually exist, and if so how much is it?

* * * *

Wednesday Update

PC Leader Hudak bringing in some big names - Adam Radwanski, Globe:

...along with Mr. Denley, Mr. Rossi and Mr. Gaudet are at least a few other high-profile candidates – among them former North Bay mayor Vic Fedeli, Hamilton television personality Donna Skelly and Ben Shenouda, the president of the Independent Pharmacists of Ontario. And it’s expected that there will be a couple more quasi-star candidates unveiled in the near future, including at least one member of the business community.

Ontario ready to rebel against Premier Dad?

2011-05-18T19:57:00.004-04:00

(Reposted from BLY May 14, 2011)

With an election looming in Ontario and several other provinces this fall, today's Chantel Hebert column is very pertinent - Shifting provincial politics gives Harper the upper hand (Star).

She explores the historic changes in the recent federal election and speculates on how they might impact the upcoming provincial elections - and the eventual working dynamics between the premiers and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

What particularly caught my interest in Hebert's column was her mention of an apparent mood shift against elitism and towards populism which could very well explain what happened in Toronto:

...Looking at the May 2nd results, it is impossible to completely divorce from Mayor Rob Ford’s victory the return of the federal Conservatives to the city after a two-decade absence.

An attraction to populism rather than an ideological swing to the right may have tilted the balance in both outcomes. But the fact remains that twice over a six-month period, a significant section of the Toronto electorate embraced a less elite-driven less activist approach to governance.

The NDP was not totally immune to lingering Toronto municipal dynamics either.

Jack Layton — who emerged as the main opposition option in the days leading up to the federal vote — is closely identified with the opposition forces at Toronto City Hall. He sat on the municipal council in a previous life; last fall he campaigned on behalf of son Mike and some of his left-leaning seatmates.

On May 2nd in Toronto, the NDP did well where Ford had not while the Conservatives made their biggest inroads in the periphery of the downtown core.

Hebert suggests that the McGuinty Liberals might therefore have reason to be fearful, but may also cling to the "hope that voters stick to their longstanding practice of not putting their eggs in the same basket at Queen’s Park and in Ottawa when they go to the provincial polls next fall."

This is where things start to get interesting though. First of all, the federal Conservative Party of Canada and provincial Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario are entirely different not only in jurisdiction but also in philosophy. I would argue that policy-wise the PCPO is very close to the OLP.

However what differentiates them is the Top-down elitist approach in which Dalton McGuinty uses/abuses his power. This is where I think Tim Hudak and the PC Party can make some traction.

Premier Dad has been telling us what to do for eight years now. The Nanny State of Ontario is a mess. There is little respect for the taxpayer and the average working family. It's all about secret deals like Samsung and financially-crippling environmental policy being shoved down our throats.

Tim Hudak needs to exploit Dalton McGuinty's arrogance and Father-Knows-Best attitude for all it's worth. The working people are getting sick and tired of elitists. It's time to rebel.

Eight years of Dalton McGuinty's stifling parental approach is enough!

Let's show him that we're all grown up now.

* * * *

Related

Merriam: McGuinty's Liberals likely next victim of 'vote-against' wave - Toronto Sun:

...There's little likelihood voters will be in any better mood by then. And the Dalton Gang has provided an abundance of reasons why people will choose to show them the door.

The latest is the secret 1% deal with one public sector union, while government leaders were talking about wage and cost controls.

Not only is a secret deal anathema to a democracy, but this one also illustrates a government with the backbone of a garter snake. The Gang was willing to freeze the wages of non-union workers, where they knew they'd face little opposition.

But they ran scared of the unions doing nothing to control either negotiated or arbitrated wage settlements. The secret deal shows things were even worse than imagined.

The Gang has done other backroom deals, such as the one involving offshore electrical giant Samsung. The company is to bring green-sector jobs to Ontario, in exchange for sweetheart pricing and years of bonuses.

This deal is part of the green energy imbroglio in which the government finds itself. Even supporters of green energy don't understand the above-market prices paid for power that regularly is sold out of province at discount rates because it isn't needed...

Ontario's Liberals look for a way to win - Lee Greenberg, Ottawa Citizen:

...In framing the discussion about energy in terms of health and education, the Liberals are relying on their two core policy strengths, both areas where voters have traditionally favoured them over their opponents. (Conservatives are typically trusted more on economic issues, including taxes.)

But Nanos says those hard and fast rules of past elections should be thrown out the window.

According to his latest poll numbers, the Conservatives are nearly tied with the Liberals when respondents were asked whom they trusted on health and education. An additional 30 to 40 per cent are not yet sure who to turn to on those issues.

And the negative signs are mounting...

Toronto Tory has more.

Ontario Liberals helped hospitals hide embarrassing information: critics - Social Policy in Ontario

Canada Wins!

2011-05-18T19:46:00.003-04:00

(Reposted from BLY May 3, 2011)

Last night's election results are the very best thing that could have happened for our country, and for each individual party except the Bloc and the ABC Press Party.

Obviously I am thrilled that we now have a strong, stable Majority Conservative government in Canada. The implications are excellent for our economic future.

But as John Ivison points out there are benefits for other parties as well - notably the NDP:

...This is the best of all possible worlds – our politics have been transformed by an energetic, young party and the election of the country’s first Green MP; the separatists have been reduced to a rump; and, the country is still in the hands of the most experienced and competent of the men who were running for the job of Prime Minister.

(John Ivison's back in my good books again.)

Yes it was a historic night for the NDP and Green Parties too.

And the Liberal party now has much-needed time to reinvent itself from the bottom up instead of constantly needing to be battle-ready, and lurching from one failed leader to the next.

Last night's biggest winner was Canada.

Lots more to discuss but I just want to savour the moment for now. Readers are welcome to share their emotions and stories as always.

Oh yeah. Congratulations Stephen Woodworth and other Conservative area incumbents. Woo-hoo! And a big shout-out to everyone who worked so hard on the campaigns. Every donation, every footstep, every phone-call, every sign - it's all so appreciated.

One big final thank you goes to the Coalition that caused this election in the first place!!!

* * * *

Right Place at the Right Time

2011-04-27T16:14:00.001-04:00

(Reposted from Blue Like You - April 27, 2011)

This morning my husband and I had the privilege of attending one of those closed-door morning presser-announcements with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at Sport Systems Unlimited in Waterloo, Ontario.

How this started out was my husband being at the local campaign office yesterday when they were looking for a few supporters to be at the event, and our names went on the list.

As we arrived this morning I was concerned we might be a bit late, but as it turned out the whole schedule was delayed due to bad weather last night which forced the plane to land at Pearson in Toronto instead of Kitchener.

We had no problem putting in the extra hour or so waiting for the Prime Minister because there good supply of coffee and pastries, and lots of animated discussion.

Gradually the press arrived and set up. We recognized Terry Milewski, John Ivison, Craig Oliver, Bob Fife, and some local CTV personalities.

This was a rare opportunity to see some behind the scene action as to how these pressers are set up, with CPC officials milling about and performing their various duties, RCMP keeping an eye on things, and the general stage area getting set up with lights and a backdrop of factory workers who seemed quite enthused to be there. Some of them were standing for well over a half hour waiting for the PM to arrive but they all seemed in good spirits.

It was also interesting to observe Terry Milewski and Dimitri Soudas share a few lighthearted words. That exchange made me think that maybe we are too quick to judge those media types that always seem to be slagging our side. For them these campaigns must be such a exhausting ordeal - as they would be for the leaders as well. That was just a bit of personal insight for myself to try to be a bit less judgmental.

While we were waiting I heard a crack of thunder and said a quick prayer that any power outage would hold off til after the event was over.

O.K. I don't want to make this an epic novel so I'll cut to the chase. Finally Stephen Harper arrived to his campaign theme song Better Now by Collective Soul. Everyone was so excited - clapping and cheering. Laureen accompanied him and she looked radiant in her fashinable outfit and long black boots (photo here.)

Even though she and Prime Minister Harper couldn't have had much sleep they both looked so fresh and energized. I won't go into his speech because the press will have covered it but the main points were about assisting business by minimizing red tape and creating a favourable environment for small businesses to prosper and create job opportunities.

PM Harper warned about the inherent risks involved with a "collection of oppositions" in charge of our country.

Questions from the press followed and to me they seemed a little less snarky than unusual. The finally it was over and Prime Minster Harper and Laureen were milling about shaking hands. It was hard to get near him so I just hung back and chatted with a few people including John Ivison who is very, very tall in real life and quite charming.

People were heading out so my husband and I made our way towards the door but it was really teeming by now. I'm talking floods. We headed outside but a huge fork of lightening appeared out of nowhere followed immediately by a deafening crash of thunder. We felt like sitting ducks in those giant puddles so we ran over to an open doorway leading to a loading dock bay and huddled against the wall to wait it out.

It was then that we realized we were standing in the area where the Prime Minister would be exiting. Only folks with accreditation were around. Nobody told us to leave so we just stood there watching as Stephen and Laureen posed for pictures with the employees in the factory. Laureen then smiled and chatted to a few other people before rushing off in her stylish boots through the puddles to the waiting bus.

Prime Minister Harper eventually made his way to where we were standing and we shook hands. As he released mine I told him I would pray for him. He looked back at me, smiled and asked if we wanted our pictures taken with him. Of course we agreed and thanked him. We were both still standing there stunned as he departed for the bus.

What a crazy morning. What an amazing time.

Oh yeah. One more thing. That same gigantic lightening flash also caused the power to go off just after the event ended.

The choice is clear

2011-04-14T13:22:00.001-04:00

(Reposted from Blue Like You - April 14, 2011)

We are at a pivotal moment in Canadian history.

You can either vote for (A) a stable, competent government by giving the Conservatives a majority or you can vote for (B) the following:

- a coalition that would present a comprehensive alternative program that challenges corporate domination, putting the interests of working people and our environment ahead of the pursuit of profit.
- a platform based on the key objectives of peace, jobs, sovereignty and democracy.
- a federal strategy for full employment. This must include action to stop and reverse the loss of manufacturing jobs; a massive program to build new social and non-profit housing; expansion of health care, education and social programs; a major investment in urban mass transit.
- tax reforms that place the burden on corporations and the very wealthy.
- a foreign policy based on peace, disarmament and global environmental justice. in order to combat the frightening agenda of the Harper government which is determined to weaken and even remove the civil liberties of Canadians, under the guise of its so-called "law and order" campaign.

Broadly speaking that pretty much sums up the combined policies of the opposition parties, right?

Well if you find yourself agreeing with Option B rather than Option A, the Communist Party of Canada will be very happy to accept your vote.

Wish you were there

2011-04-09T20:22:00.005-04:00

(Reposted from Blue Like You - Apr 8, 2011.)

Fantastic time this evening as Stephen Harper was warmly welcomed by a noisy and packed Tri-cities crowd in Kitchener

Incumbents Stephen Woodworth, Peter Braid, Gary Goodyear and Harold Albrecht were there as well as Guelph CPC candidate Marty Burke.

I'm just going to throw out my impressions here while they're fresh in my mind.

The excitement seemed to increase relative to the number of people pouring into the room. All available seating filled up in about 15 minutes and then it was standing room only. Music started to warm up the crowd and we played balloon volleyball for a while. People were shouting Harper, Harper and getting very excited. It was like waiting for a Rock Star to appear at a concert.

Finally Stephen Harper was introduced by the area MPs and made his appearance to a hugely enthusiastic pack of supporters. Thundersticks were booming and frenetic shouts of "Harper! Harper!" filled the room.

I glanced back at the media folks and their expressions were blank. This was all business for them.

But I reflected on what a great country we live in where we have the privilege of elections and the excitement of being with like-minded citizens who see Stephen Harper as such a competent leader.

His rally speech was warm, humorous and genuine. He seemed to really appreciate the enthusiasm of the supporters.

I'm not doing the experience justice here, but my message to you is to try to get to a rally this election - it's so incredibly energizing.

You will get so much out of it and appreciate how blessed we are to have had Stephen Harper for our Prime Minister these past five years, and how much we need him moving forward!

Please help us get that Conservative Majority.

New CPC ad

2011-04-05T20:35:00.005-04:00

(H/T Chris Selley - ‘Damn right’ the Liberals will ‘raise taxes’! Post)

Don't just yell at the T.V.

2011-04-05T05:23:00.007-04:00

(Reposted from Blue Like You on Apr 2, 2011)

I'm just back from the grand opening of a local campaign office and want to mention a few things while they're still fresh in my mind.

Any Canadians wanting to see Stephen Harper's Conservatives get that majority need to ask themselves what they are doing to help achieve that goal.

Are you just sitting home getting angry at the bias on MSM and watching your blood pressure rise? Do you come to blogs like this to vent and rage, but never take that next step?

We are at a critical time in the history of our country. There is a very strong probability that the results of this election will either yield a Conservative majority or some kind of coalition involving the Liberals and NDP with the Bloc having tremendous influence. Realistically the chances of a Liberal majority are slim at this point, but that could change too.

So you have to make a decision. Can you afford to be complacent and hope that it all works out for the best?

I am begging you to call or visit your local Conservative campaign office right now. Find out how you can help - and there are so many ways. So much need. Or perhaps your assistance could be put to better use in a tightly-contested neighbouring riding instead.

But please get directly involved. Channel your rage and anger into constructive action.

Do everything you can in the next few weeks so that you can live with yourself after the election - Whatever the outcome.

Thank you.

* * * *

Update

The Kitchener-Waterloo area is going to be the focus of two very tight campaigns. I plan to expand on that at a future time.

Meanwhile if you live near this area, please check out Stephen Woodworth's and Peter Braid's campaign websites.

Stephen Woodworth in particular is going to have a tough fight against Karen Redman who desperately wants to reclaim the seat she lost in the 2008 election.

If you can help Stephen Woodworth please contact his Kitchener constituency office at (519) 745-2700. Thanks.

* * * *

Endnote

I plan to use this blog as a backup resource for important posts.

Blue Like You progress report

2010-10-22T05:33:00.004-04:00

I have a small army of smart people working furiously behind the scenes to restore Blue Like You.

Some people may begin seeing the new site this weekend. It may look a little different but if you guys come back, that's all that matters.

Thanks everyone!

Life is about change

2008-04-27T20:50:00.021-04:00

Blue Like You has now moved to a new home.

I hope you like the new place. Take off your shoes and rest awhile. Let me know what you think.

The biggest problem so far with the new blog is the font size, but I have assurances that this can be remedied by browser control. (Problem now resolved.)

I'll leave this post open for comments for the moment. You can also use it for an open thread for tips.

Thanks for your support and your patience!

* * * *

Jan. 23/09 Update: Having some server problems at Blue Like You today. If this continues for a long time, I'll post here until the issue is resolved.

Feb. 25/09: More server problems at BLY. Thanks for your patience.

April 30/09: Another server outage at BLY.

In any case, HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY, PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER!

June 11/09: Major server problems at BLY. Very frustrating.

June 24/09: Things are better. Just a bit slow.

* * * *

Sept. 1/09 - BLY is down again at a most inopportune time.

October 20, 2010 - The server at BLY is becoming increasingly unreliable. We are looking at different options. Thanks again for your patience.

Oct. 21, 2010 - The server will have to be changed. Hang on folks!

How many more scorpion attacks can Toronto sustain?

2008-04-27T08:05:00.004-04:00

Via CBL we have a privileged window into some inside chat at Steve Munro's - Is local 113 out of its mind?

The comments make for a fascinating read, including the one that caught Lemon's eye concerning the suggestion that the mechanics are upset about the TTC's purchase of new vehicles with warranties, which would mean less work for them.

However, the one that intrigued me was David R's suggestion that we look up the fable of the Scorpion and the Frog, which I did.

It seems to me that Toronto has many scorpions attacking it right now, but if I were to make a generalization, I would point to a population that continues to elect weak-kneed socialist politicians.

The Toronto Sun has started a new series trying to figure out how to save the Centre of the Universe. Rob Granastein suggests that it's up to the citizens to effect change.

I agree. And it should start at the ballot box.

Toronto voters need to stop stinging themselves.

* * * *

Update: Toronto Transit Workers ordered back to work.

Using Anthropomorphism as Propaganda Tool

2008-04-26T16:19:00.001-04:00

Have you seen that commercial yet from a well-known big-box store where the woman screws in a CFL bulb, and the box in which it was packaged suggests that the earth might have a crush on her because she is so eco-friendly? She blushes and stammers in return. (Never mind that it's 'Mother Earth' that she's flirting with... Yeah we won't go there.)

This is becoming an increasingly common media and activist ploy - ascribing human attributes to inanimate objects or non-human life forms in order to garner public sympathy and increase activist support. I assume the theory is that if we can identify with something in human terms, then we will be more inclined to accept the message.

And so we to try to "Save the planet" instead of trying to save the people on the planet. Instead of trying to be good stewards of the earth so that we can continue to sustain ourselves here, the focus is on getting rid of the human filth that degrades the earth. Barbara Kay alluded to this mindset in a recent column, Hug the Earth, kill the humans:

...Watson is the symbol of a movement that originated in a desire to improve the planet's physical condition, but transmogrified into the zero-sum dogma of eco-spirituality, in which the object of worship is the environment, and the messianic goal its return to a pre-civilization Edenic state. In this scenario, Earth is perennial victim, mankind eternal villain, the consumption of natural resources original sin. No emotionally manipulative appeal is beyond the pale for this pagan religion's demagogues, even the shameful appropriation of racist tropes. Alpha eco-spiritualist novelist Alice Walker claims, "the Earth is the nigger of the world..."

In today's Sun, Michael Coren also sees this as a worrisome trend:

... Here lies the point. Life matters much, much more than the planet, which is merely a place on which humans live. We need to care for Earth not because of it, but because of us. Pure self-interest. If humanity did not exist, to hell with the planet. It's a means to an end. We're the end; Earth the means.

Problem is, fashionable thinking has reversed the equation. The planet is to be saved because it is precious in itself and we, dangerous intruders, are the problem. Earth is to be revered, loved and even worshipped. Like some perverse replacement theology, Mother Earth takes on the role of real mothers and fathers....

And even more perverse is the notion that animals are more valuable than human beings. Bishop Fred Henry notes:

...As PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has said, "When it comes to pain, love, joy, loneliness and fear, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values his or her life and fights the knife."

Nevertheless, it turns out that some animals are more equal than others. One would expect that consistency would demand the condemnation of poisoning babies in the womb with a saline solution or cutting them up with surgical tools but Newkirk and Singer don't believe that human beings have the right to life...

I suppose the most frightening aspect of all of this is the mass brain-washing done in our public school system:

Dear Mother Earth,

What is our earth? I know it is the animals. What we can do? We can pick up the garbag and we can take care of the animals. Why is it important? to love you? I love you Mother Earth. If we don't love you everything wil go away.

Perhaps the school system should focus more on spelling than scaring kids into submission.

A few quick thoughts on the TTC strike

2008-04-26T08:25:00.005-04:00

This morning's Sun editorial encapsulated most of my personal reaction regarding the surprise TTC strike.

The union acted very irresponsibly by not giving any warning. As I watched the Toronto news stations near midnight, reporters were giving the information to many young women as they were planning to head home via a bus or subway. Several were in shock. I have a young niece who lives in downtown Toronto and I was immediately concerned for her safety.

The supposed reason for not giving a 48 hour warning was apparently to protect workers from abuse, but I suspect that transit users will have a few choice words for the drivers once this situation is temporarily resolved.

It should be a lesson for both David Miller and Dalton McGuinty though. Their union friends will just keep demanding more and more. They will never be able to satisfy their demands, and it will come at a huge cost to the taxpayer and transit user - both financially and in terms of safety.

At some point, they may need to make a tough choice.

And that time may well be now.

* * * *

Tony's viewpoint on this is worth reading. Comments are good too.

* * * *

Please Note: In the process of doing a bit of technical tweaking. Hopefully nothing here will be affected.

Popcorn and beer - Part deux

2008-04-25T21:08:00.004-04:00

Again we have a missing video clip from Mike Duffy Live... Funny, that.

However, I will transpose the audio as best I can with a disclaimer that I was not able to pick up every word.

The scene - Tonda MacCharles interviewing Scott Reid for the Liberals, and Tim Powers for the Conservatives.

(Heated debate in progress.)

T.P. - "Scott, Scott! You want to talk about forecasts, numbers, facts...?"

S. R. - "How about Mark Carney?"

T.P. "Well yeah. Exactly. What did Mark Carney say yesterday? 1.4% growth this year and 2.4 next year.."

S.R. - "What did you project? Stop, stop!!! You didn't project 1.4 - You projected 1.8!!!"

T. P. - "Scott, Scott... I don't know if you understand math, but 1.4 is above 1.8!!!"

S. R. (Looking rather puzzled) - "What do ya mean?"

* * * *

Actually, I lied in the title. This is actually Part 3 of the Beer & Popcorn saga.

Here's Part Two.

Sorting through the Mexican beans

2008-04-25T08:26:00.001-04:00

The hot air surrounding the Brenda Martin case has reached firestorm proportions which the government obviously feels the need to mollify as much as humanly possible.

The Liberals are trying to use this story as a political hammer, but it has been blown all out of proportion - especially by Dan McTeague.

It's become increasingly difficult to extricate the truth in all of this baseless rhetoric, but my sense is that Canadians are becoming less sympathetic as the story unfolds.

McTeague charges that "the federal government is dragging its feet, preventing Brenda Martin's quick handover to Canadian authorities."

Yet, the Gazette reports that it's actually the terms of the international treaty regarding prisoner transfers that is holding things up.

The Canadian Government is actually taking the unusual step of lending Brenda her get-out-of-jail fine, which makes me wonder what happened to her legion of strong supporters?

Yesterday's Post contained several letters from readers about this debacle, but this one says it best (excerpt):

My wife and I are non-resident Canadians who have made Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, our home in retirement. We have, therefore, been following the Brenda Martin case with much interest.

While it is impossible not to feel sympathetic toward a woman in such distress, I suspect that at least some her troubles were of her own making. And we understand that the Mexican legal system is much less predictable and transparent than Canada's.

No Canadian should feel unduly at risk living or vacationing in Mexico. However, in the event of finding yourself tangled up with the legal system, do not expect special treatment; do not denigrate the Mexican legal system; and do not get angry with individual Mexicans. Show contriteness, politeness and patience -- and, if the issue is sufficiently serious, get legal assistance via the nearest Canadian consular office...

Brenda Martin, along with her gang of outspoken supporters and the complicit media and Liberals may be their own worst enemies.

Character defamation suit in order?

2008-04-25T07:30:00.007-04:00

Check out the rhetoric that the Sun's Michael Den Tandt uses to describe the Prime Minister of Canada:

The crows are coming home to roost for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and a mangy bunch of birds they are. Will this provoke an election? Not likely. Not yet.

Harper must wake up some mornings and wonder where it all went wrong. Not long ago he was the Iceman, firmly in control of every teensy strand of his government, and seemingly managing it all with aplomb.

With Harper at the helm there were no mistakes. You didn't get charm, but you did get efficiency, intelligence and a ruthless instinct for political combat that made him more winner than loser.

Most Canadians were buying that package, when compared with the alternatives. We weren't warming to the man -- the piranha smile and assassin's eyes make that difficult -- but we were getting used to him. Harper and Stephane Dion, mano a mano? Dion was sure to emerge with two black eyes and his glasses fastened together with Scotch tape...

Assassin's eyes?

Why is it that bloggers need to be so careful, but MSM can say anything they want?

* * * *

Elections Canada - Having problems interpreting the law

2008-04-24T16:12:00.014-04:00

Looks like there may be someone else besides the CPC and Gerry Nicolls that has a difficult time accepting the notion of Elections Canada as some kind of infallible deity.

Licia Corbella describes her own run-ins with 'that independent government body' - Chief interpeter can't even interpret election ad laws (H/T to reader Frmgrl):

...The first three agents at Elections Canada's head office in Ottawa had never even heard about the advertising law and told me to call a 1-800 number.

When asked if it would be legal for me to pay for such an ad, one agent said: "Sounds fine with me. It's your money. You should be able to do whatever you want with it."

I agreed with her wholeheartedly. "So is that your answer?" I asked. "This is kind of important. After all, if I interpret this wrong, I could go to jail and get a criminal record."

That stumped her. Eventually, after being put on hold and speaking to close to one dozen Elections Canada staff members, most of whom didn't even know about the law, I was put through to a polite Elections Canada lawyer, who after a long conversation told me that he couldn't give me legal advice, just "legal information." His advice, or "information"? To hire a lawyer to figure it out. I'm not making this up!

( . . . )

While giving his evidence in chief, Kingsley said "third-party" individuals or groups had to be limited to spending no more than $3,000 in any given federal riding to a maximum of $150,000 during the election campaign or face criminal charges, large fines and even jail.

But when he was asked to interpret various scenarios -- like the one I presented to Elections Canada officials during the 2004 federal election -- he was unable or unwilling to interpret the law he says he helped frame and of which he was the self-described chief interpreter and enforcer...

And she gives her opinion of the current brouhaha:

...Just days after the election began, Andrew Kumpf sent an e-mail to Conservative party officials, wondering if the proposal to have Retail Media place ads on behalf of local candidates would violate the Canada Elections Act: "While our thinking is that this option would be legal, we are not certain beyond all reasonable doubt."

Is anyone? If the Tories sought clarity on election advertising from Elections Canada, like I did and the court did, they very likely got conflicting information, ambiguous information, no information or some "legal information" to call a lawyer.

The New Democrats did virtually the same thing as the Tories during that election campaign -- that is, they used national party funds to run national ads with just a local tagline at the end of the ad promoting the local candidate.

But Elections Canada hasn't raided the NDP's headquarters or the Liberals, who have engaged in the same practice in the past...

Wherever the truth may lie, the opposition parties will pursue this one as long as they can. However, I hardly think it has the impact of the sponsorship scandal on Joe Blow Canadian.

He's more concerned about his gas and food prices going up while his job disappears.

* * * *

Update: Just watching MDL. Did anyone else hear Buzz Hargrove suggest that the government can change the exchange rate? i.e. lower the value of the looney?

* * * *

Steve Janke has several great posts on the Elections Canada story:

Elections Canada Investigators' Manual

Elections Canada warrant makes no mention of interviews with senior Conservative officials

and Four questions concerning the search warrant.

And from the Colonist - Tory ads legal, organizer claims.

* * * *

BIG FRIDAY UPDATE: Actually, the Tories might have a point - Ottawa Citizen.

...What in there (Election Act) says local spending must happen locally or concern local issues? I see nothing.

Of course the courts might not agree with my interpretation. Or they may say the Tories did a legal thing but in a carelessly illegal way; one Liberal staffer suggested to me that the central problem was that local candidates did not technically "incur" the costs in question. Even if true, that claim hardly justifies Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc's reference to "an Enron-style accounting practice" at a Thursday press conference...

Brenda Martin - Contrast of opinons

2008-04-24T09:41:00.005-04:00

Hunter has a great post up contrasting the opinions of Dan McTeague vs. Bill Graham on the matter of Brenda Martin. I highly recommend reading it if you have any interest at all in this matter.

CanWest publishing seems to be particularly championing Brenda's cause. See today's editorial in the Edmonton Journal and also this report by Charles Rusnell in today's Ottawa Citizen.

The Journal laments:

Still, it's impossible to not be touched by the images of ravaged Brenda Martin we're presented with daily. Through the diligent reporting of the Journal's Charles Rusnell, we've gotten to know the woman better than most Canadians.

Charles Rusnell reports in the Citizen:

"I can't believe that my government would stand by and let them railroad me," Ms. Martin said.

I think it would help all concerned if Bill Graham could make a quick trip to Mexico and give Brenda Martin a reality check in person. She does seem to listen to Liberals, after all.

* * * *

Update: We found the missing Ezra video!!!! Silk Stocking has it here.

HRC in the news again

2008-04-24T09:02:00.003-04:00

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has ruled that Christian Horizons has violated the rights of a previous employee who had revealed that she was gay - Christians Horizons Rebuked (Record):

...The tribunal has ordered Kitchener-based Christian Horizons to compensate Connie Heintz, 39, and to end a prohibitive code-of-conduct contract for its 2,500 employees.

The contract, which all staff must sign, forbids workers from cheating on their spouses, having pre-marital sex or homosexual relationships, using pornography and "endorsing" alcohol or tobacco, among other things...

So Christian Horizons must now pay Heintz $23,000, plus interest.

That includes $5,000 for "the wilful and reckless infliction of mental anguish."

The charitable organization must also undergo "basic human-rights training for all employees and adopt an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy."

Personally, I'm on the fence on this one. If this was a case of a Catholic parish hiring a staff member who turned out to be gay, would they have the right to ask that person to resign?

Would they be forced to hire an openly gay person even if it conflicts with the church dogma?

It certainly indicative of the ongoing dichotomy between freedom of religion vs. the state.

* * * *

Update: Phantom weighs in here.

Saturday Update: Via Jack's Newswatch - MP wants religious agency's funding pulled - CTV.

So much to say, so little time

2008-04-24T08:15:00.005-04:00

There are a plethora of topics out there today, so I think I'll launch a series of short posts to address them and readers can weigh in as they like.

The first one is this morning's editorial in the Record which shocked me to the core. Why? Because they said everything I was thinking about Felix's proposed Ontario pesticide ban - and then some.

The editorial (Pesticide ban is unwarranted) explains that this isn't about the environment. It's about politics and pandering to very vocal special-interest groups:

...It will, come next spring, be illegal for residents of Kitchener's Rockway neighbourhood to use pesticides in their yards. But why will Rockway Golf Course in the same neighbourhood be allowed to spray pesticides on their greens and fairways? And why will golf courses beside residential neighbourhoods from one end of the region to the other -- in Elmira, Conestogo, Waterloo's Grey Silo Golf Course, Westmount, Kitchener's Doon, Cambridge's Galt Country Club -- all be exempt from the chemical ban McGuinty argues is so essential? Are these chemicals dangerous or not?

The answer is obvious. This ban is about politics, not science. And it is driven by political desire and public fear, not reason...

( . . . )

The fact is, to accept the need for McGuinty's ban, you need to conclude that Health Canada has been hopelessly wrong and inept -- not just on one occasion but consistently and for decades. Some would argue it has. However, it's worth knowing that Health Canada has, in the past and based on newer research, removed some pesticides from the list available to the general population.

Every time Canadians buy a prescription drug, they place their faith in Health Canada, which regulates our pharmaceuticals. When they accept laws to limit exposure to cigarette smoke, Canadians do so because Health Canada found tobacco to be carcinogenic. And just last week, the federal government began a process that will probably lead to a ban on the chemical bisphenol A, which is used in some plastic bottles and as food liners. Why? Because Health Canada sounded the alarm. So explain the selective trust.

For those who dismiss the wisdom and science of Health Canada, and there will be some, it is worth listening to Keith Solomon, director of the Centre for Toxicology at the University of Guelph. "There is no evidence to suggest a health risk from these chemicals,'' Solomon said bluntly of the substances McGuinty is banning. "This will not make any difference to the health of Ontarians.'' As for the ban itself, he is scathing: "It doesn't make sense because it is nonsensical...''

It's almost enough to make me regret cancelling my subscription.

But the opposition parties will cave to the bellowing of the special interest groups because they are just as pathetic as this government.

Civil liberties continue to be eroded by weak-kneed politicians. It's the story of our times.

Our own little travesty of justice

2008-04-23T13:55:00.004-04:00

Peter Kormos said it all:

..."The Baltovich story has a very Mexican ring to it, if you will,” Kormos said.

Bentley was evasive when asked about a news report that the Crown had earlier offered Baltovich a one-day jail sentence in return for revealing the location of Bain’s body...

Meanwhile, Deb Tielman seems to have finally learned that you catch more flies with honey than with caustic rhetoric:

"I do believe this is good for Brenda," she added. "I think to have Jason (Kenney) come and be able to give Brenda some kind of assurance from the government that this is going to be expedited and they can have her home in a couple of weeks will give Brenda something to hold on to.

I could actually get back on board the Brenda bandwagon if this keeps up.

* * * *

Related: CBC notes that the Premier and the AG don't seem to have their talking points synchronized today....

More on Baltovich at The Politic.

And poor Tonda. She just couldn't get Bill Graham to take a partisan stand on Brenda Martin.

Claire Hoy has a great editorial on Brenda Martin - Politics and Martin; Canadian prisoner in Mexico strangely partisan in her attacks.

Felix McGuinty and his ban fetish

2008-04-23T08:05:00.008-04:00

Kudos to Graeme MacKay for this one!

Gee, I wonder if the natives could look into a sideline of selling pesticides the way they do cigarettes...

The Star's Jim Coyle compares Dalton to one half of the "Odd Couple" (Less John Robarts than Felix Unger):

...To his great good fortune, McGuinty has escaped the unforgiving demands of nation-building. As such, he governs less as a latter-day Father of Confederation than a political version of Felix Unger, the clean freak from The Odd Couple.

If ever an Ontario premier had the luxury of sweating the small stuff, he's it.

In McGuinty's Ontario, clean living is the ethos of the day, so much so it sometimes feels as if the province is governed by a combination old-time school marm and cleaning lady.

Not lawns, not laundry, not young lungs, not even school lunches have escaped the government's fastidious eye.

Yesterday, the premier celebrated Earth Day by announcing a ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides on lawns in residential areas.

Recently, he liberated Ontarians labouring under the yoke of oppressive local regulation and freed them to use clotheslines to dry their laundry.

His government is banning cigarette displays in convenience stores. Not long ago, it nixed smoking in automobiles in which children were passengers.

In recent months, Ontario has given thumbs down to trans-fats in schools, banning them from cafeterias, vending machines and tuck shops where impressionable taste buds reside...

Christina Blizzard isn't impressed either - Pesticide ban hardly dandy. However, the Ontario Lemmings who voted for Felix presumably love being told how to live their lives.

My better half recently asked me (tongue in cheek), if the next decree will come in the form of how many squares of toilet tissue we're allowed to use each morning?

Well, I hope this is one area where Felix might allow us a little latitude.

* * * *

Update: While you're at it, how about banning the Health-Tax, Dalton?

Good resource here - Urban Pest Management Council of Canada.

Brenda Martin found guilty

2008-04-22T15:56:00.008-04:00

CTV reports that Brenda Martin has been found guilty and gets five years. Her mother is being shown live on Newsnet right now. I feel sorry for her.

Star - No parole.

Update: Martin expected to be moved to Canadian prison soon. (Globe)

Things that make you go Mmmm....

2008-04-22T15:14:00.013-04:00

Fellow traveller ChuckerCanuk pointed me in the direction of this little nugget by Elizabeth Thompson.

It may shed some light on why Elections Canada went all the way to Toronto to get a judge to sign the warrant. As she said, it obviously wasn't done in order to keep it a secret:

...The folks at Elections Canada were most helpful in letting the media know where the warrant was to be found. Can't be to save gas. The Toronto court house where the warrant was issued is a four hour drive from Elections Canada's HQ which is just a quick walk from the Ottawa courthouse...

Read the whole article for the missing link.

There may actually be something to the conspiracy theory.

(At the very least, Elections Canada is guilty of not shopping locally.)

* * * *

Update: Harper says Tories followed spending rules - CTV.

Steve Janke - The Toronto judge and the warrant.

Stephen Taylor has an excellent post up - The Elections Canada Raid (supporting information and Conservative response). Alex Panetta had some nice words for Stephen tonight on MDL.

Province-wide pesticide ban coming

2008-04-21T21:08:00.007-04:00

Dalton McGuinty will be introducing legislation tomorrow as the first step towards a province-wide pesticide ban.

Reader Ruth tipped me off on this, and expresses concern about people with weed allergies.

I want to know what the penalties will be and how much of a bureaucracy will need to be created to police it.

And will all pesticides be banned from store shelves?

A lawn can get wiped out by cinchbug or grubs in a matter of weeks. If we lose our lawns, then the cities will heat up even more, and we will also lose an important source of carbon dioxide absorption.

Reader Fred had a great suggestion a while ago:

Leave pesticides to the professionals (lawn care companies) and take them off the store shelves. This would reduce improper pesticide use greatly. The people who know pesticides (University of Guelph) say they are safe if used properly. Let's trust them (we have to believe someone) and not the fanatics who use junk science in their argument against good products.

Sounds good to me, Fred.

* * * *

Update: Can someone please explain to me why golf courses will be exempt?

I'm not doing an Earth Day post per say, but please check out ChuckerCanuk for an excellent piece on how our highly-esteemed Elections Canada is not being very responsible about its carbon footprint. Tsk-tsk.

Chucker, you rock!

National Post - Why Ontario's pesticide ban bugs me (and may bug you too).

Blog Chill

2008-04-21T11:20:00.001-04:00

Is there a code of Blogging ethics and liability somewhere? From the Star Phoenix:

...Kate McMillan of Small Dead Animals is one of several named as defendants in a statement of claim filed by Richard Warman with the Ontario Superior Court on April 7. Others include Ezra Levant, The National Post and one of its journalists, Jonathon Kay.

In the statement of claim, Warman alleges he was defamed on a blog known as freedominion.ca. He alleges those comments were linked to or commented upon on other blogs, including McMillan's and The National Post's.

Those who picked up on the original comments did not take steps to determine whether they were true, Warman alleges.

Warman also states it is not enough for a site to remove comments and postings that are questionable, as The National Post did. The newspaper pulled the piece written for its blog that Warman found defamatory.

In its place, the newspaper posted a retraction and apology. However, Warman alleges the article was linked to and copied by others online by that point and The National Post and Kay should be considered responsible for those republications. Editors for The National Post had no comment about the statement of claim...

Two questions here. First of all, does this mean all bloggers can get into trouble if they link to stories on other blogs that turn out not to be true?

Secondly, in the case of the National Post, they are being sued in spite of a retraction and apology, supposedly because the story was picked up all over the internet. Personally, I just don't see how a story can be contained in this day and age.

And should it be?

In any case, some of my readers have questioned my apparently heavy-handed comment moderation policy lately.

The reason should now be crystal clear.

The air needs to be cleared

2008-04-21T08:25:00.008-04:00

Yesterday's bizarre spectacle (as reported by MSM) of the CPC giving only certain members of the media an advanced briefing on the contents of the Elections Canada warrant, and then escaping down the fire stairway to avoid others, is not likely to help further the Conservatives' case in the court of public opinion.

However, there are still a few lingering questions that need to be answered honestly, and without spin from either side:

1. Did the CPC comply with all documentation requests from Elections Canada or not? If the latter, then let's see the evidence. EC should be able to demonstrate exactly which requests went unanswered. If the former, then the 'raid' on Conservative HQ looks very suspect - especially in view of the civil suit launched by the CPC against EC.

The Star reports that "the Conservatives insist they have done nothing wrong and say they were taken aback at the raid last week because they have complied with all requests to turn over documents."

But in the affidavit, Lamothe alleges the federal Conservatives embarked on a deliberate strategy to thwart election financing laws – and the party's spending limits – and to claim $700,000 in rebates for advertising expenses to which local candidates were not entitled.

Lamothe sought hard-copy and electronic copies of correspondence, emails, invoices, accounting records and other documents that would outline discussions between Conservative officials and its media production and buying agencies Retail Media, Yield or Yield Integrated, Republic Publicité + Design Inc.

2. Did EC cart away documentation from the civil case or not? There are conflicting reports. If so, why?

Investigators lined 16 or 18 people up along a hallway, one party official said, "like we were going to shoot back? I mean they had ... unfettered access to every single thing in Conservative party headquarters. They removed 17 boxes of material specific to our lawsuit, all the background stuff."

"They took away our tactics and our strategy" for the court case, said the official.

He also said the raid went well beyond the scope of the warrant, with investigators gathering information that had nothing to do with the issue.

"What does my computer and what's on there about the next campaign strategy, the next platform, the next ad campaign, and everything else, what the hell has that got to do with Elections Canada?" another official said.

"This is absolutely over the top."

Much of the seized material is likely to be the subject of legal arguments over whether it is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

3. Who tipped off the CBC (and likely the LPC) about the RCMP 'raid'? Why?

One thing for sure. Nobody's going to come out smelling sweet on this one.

* * * *

Update: Oh-oh! Somebody's nose must be out of joint (via Kady O'Malley):

...I can confirm that macleans.ca was most emphatically not welcome on the voyage. However, being unable to take a hint, we wound up hanging out in the hallway outside the backup briefing room - hastily arranged after word of the first meeting was leaked - with various other uninvited media guests: CBC, Canadian Press, and the Halifax Chronicle Herald and CanWest News, which had, in fact, originally been on the list, but was abruptly disinvited when the Conservatives realized who had been sent to cover the story...

Now I wonder who that could have been?

More sour grapes here.

Also, please check out Peter Csillag's excellent post - Don't read the MSM lips, no new election over RCMP raids.

Sandy has a great post here - Communications 101 for the Conservative Party.

Trusty Tory wants to go on the offensive - Where's the counter attack??

The future of MSM

2008-04-20T10:15:00.003-04:00

Today's Star features an intriguing article that examines how MSM is starting to wake up to the fact that many people are turning towards the internet as their #1 source for news - Papers boosting their online "brand".

The Star itself is focussing more attention on ad revenue generated from interest-specific sites, which is also an area that has attracted many bloggers.

As for the print version, I think it will continue although subscriptions will probably decline over time as downloads to personal portable devices rise in popularity.

Another area that will likely grow is the option of a subscription to an ad-free internet zone, embellished with extra features not available on the free site. This is where I think the Globe is behind the times with most of their stories under subscriber lock. It discourages Bloggers from linking to their articles, which decreases traffic to their ad-revenue generated sites. If they were more media-savvy, they'd have both.

Can bloggers and MSM co-exist? Undoubtedly most political blogs are dependent on MSM, and I'll be the first to admit it.

However, I do see a symbiotic relationship emerging as bloggers drive traffic to MSM internet sites and further discussion surrounding their editorials and news items. Some folks may even be encouraged to pick up the print version due to a Blogger's urging.

Yesterday, I was told by a well-known MSM reporter that he has a "problem with bloggers because they are not trained reporters, and frequently spread misinformation due to their reliance on speculation and assumptions driven by their personal, dogmatic agendas..."

Well with all due respect, I don't think bloggers have a monopoly on that one, sir.

Get her OUT OF HERE!

2008-04-19T15:28:00.004-04:00

Mexico is pulling out all stops to extradite Brenda Martin:

"...Mexico just wants her out of the country as soon as possible..."

Gee, I wonder why?

Elections Canada - Above reproach or undermining free speech?

2008-04-19T08:13:00.007-04:00

Steve Maher's featured again on National Newswatch - this time with a somewhat more relevant piece than a previous one...

Today's column (Tories may only have succeeded in making themselves look bad) is fairly well-balanced, with plenty of scorn for both major parties in Canada. However, I find this paragraph disturbing:

...The Harper team instinctively attacks opponents, which is good politics, since it forces political rivals to spend half their time defending themselves. When the Tories go after independent officials, however, they look dishonest and mean, since to believe them, you are asked to believe that independent officials are corrupt. The standard of proof for that is higher than anything the Tories have offered...

Contrast that with David Frum's excellent editorial in today's Post - Elections Canad's campaign against free speech:

Yesterday on this page, Gerry Nicholls accused Elections Canada of being a power-crazed bureaucracy motivated by petty vindictiveness.

That's the optimistic scenario! Power-crazed bureaucrats can be restrained or replaced.

The more frightening possibility raised by this week's RCMP "visit" to Conservative party headquarters is that the Canadian bureaucracy has once again revealed a deep, sustained and highly ideological hostility to ordinary rights of free speech...

Frum goes on to outline how some of our supposedly non-partisan Canadian institutions like Elections Canada and the CHRC are undermining political free speech, and political freedom by extension! Please read the whole thing and then save it for future reference.

Canadians need to take off their rose-coloured glasses and take a critical look at those hallowed institutions that we seem to have placed on a pedestal. They are run by human beings.

And as such, they are not above constructive criticism and monitoring.

* * * *

Update: Check out Gerry Nicholls - Elections Canada vs. Free Speech.

Also see Dr. Roy - George Jonas on abolishing HRCs.

* * * *

Sunday Update:

Dr. Roy's found another good one here - The myth of the level playing field by Lorne Gunter.

This could quite possibly win some kind of award as the most objective editorial of the year. Lessons for everyone here.

All Brenda, all the time

2008-04-18T21:00:00.001-04:00

Latest on Brenda Martin here.

Mike Duffy called Brenda's wait in prison 'tragic' on tonight's show. Oh pull-eze.

'Tragic', Duff? Usually we reserve that for a fallen soldier or a murdered child.

But Craig Oliver made up for that at the end of the show: "I don't remember a Canadian in trouble abroad who's had more attention than this woman has. I think she should stop complaining about every .."

And then Jane interrupted to remind us what a hard time poor Brenda has had.

Funny how CTV didn't post that clip tonight.

Something stinks in Ottawa

2008-04-18T08:08:00.001-04:00

Not a lot of time for blogging today, but Steve Janke raises a good point - "If the search warrant was leaked..." (H/T to Frmgrl in comments).

On the question of a leak, Gerry Nicholls has an op-ed in the Post - Revenge of the Elections Canada Bureaucrats. This is one scary horror story! Every Canadian should be concerned. It questions the impartiality of EC.

Finally, please focus your attention on the hyperbole in this editorial by The Ottawa Citizen's Susan Riley - New cast, same script:

...As for the latest contretemps -- RCMP raids this week on Conservative headquarters over alleged campaign financing irregularities -- Harper may be saved this time by complexity. Conservatives are accused by critics of getting around spending limits on national campaigns by filtering at least $1 million through local riding associations. The opposition says this amounts to money-laundering. Conservatives say it is perfectly legal and that Liberal MPs do the same thing. "Why are (only) Conservatives not allowed to talk about their national leader and national policies in an election," House Leader Peter Van Loan complained yesterday, a textbook example of the avowedly transparent Harper government's sophistry.

Adding confusion, we don't know yet if the RCMP is chasing this so-called "in-and-out" accounting trick, or some other misdeed. In any event, the details may be lost in Conservative side attacks on Liberals, the CBC, the RCMP, and anyone else who questions. This may be good for the Tories, but it is bad for politics. Rather than turning to an alternative party, what if more voters -- finding none -- turn off politics altogether?

Note the use of RCMP raid and RCMP chasing...

Now if you recall, it was the RCMP themselves who said they were there to merely provide assistance (and possibly even oversee the execution of the warrant so that EC didn't overstep their boundaries):

RCMP commissioner Bill Elliott said the RCMP has a "longstanding memorandum of understanding" to assist Elections Canada, and insisted his officers were simply complying with a request.

This is NOT an RCMP raid, nor is it an RCMP investigation!!!

And yet Ms. Riley has the gall to lecture us on ethics.

* * * *

This is puzzling too - Seized papers linked to lawsuit by Tonda MacCharles (H/T National Newswatch):

After a two-day search of files and electronic databases at Conservative party headquarters, Elections Canada seized material related to the party's "media advertising" in the last election.

At least some of the material that was carted or wheeled out Tuesday and Wednesday by RCMP officers assisting Elections Canada investigators was the basis for the party's planned questioning of elections officials in the lawsuit challenging their interpretation of campaign financing rules.

Included among papers and emails seized or downloaded were all of the party's documents, including a series of indexed binders of Elections Canada records, related to the Conservatives' challenge in Federal Court of the agency's decision to disallow rebate claims involving some local campaign advertising expenses in the 2006 election, according to a document obtained by the Star...

So, in spite of the Liberal party's vehement denial that this had nothing to do with the CPC court challenge against EC, which coincidentally they were due to deal with the very day after the "raid", we find out that some of the material seized did in fact have to due with that case. The Liberals kept saying they were two different issues.

Can someone please explain to me how a one party involved in a legal suit could go into the premises of the other and take away their documents relating to the court action?

Maybe I'm missing something here.

Nation of Wimps

2008-04-17T13:04:00.006-04:00

Gary Doyle is interviewing the author of A Nation of Wimps. Listen live.

This book looks like a winner!

It's hard not to think of 'Ban Everything' trend in Ontario when looking at the picture on the book cover.

* * * *

Speaking of books, has anyone read John Grisham's "The Appeal" yet? If so, what did you think about the ending? I love the reviews at the end of that link.

Does Elections Canada have 'an agenda'?

2008-04-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

Just how 'non-partisan' is Elections Canada?

The fact that Gerry Nichols who is usually a thorn in Harper's side, actually backed up the Conservative Party yesterday with this post, is probably one of the most telling indicators of where the truth actually lies.

Gerry pulls no punches. And the Globe seemed impressed enough to report on his observations this morning.

Yesterday, on MDL, Garth Turner kept referring to things not passing the smell test. (Great post, Sentinel).

Well, I think something just reeks. Why were the CBC, and the Liberal party first off the block with this story? Does the NDP not watch Newsworld? Some reports have certain suspects actually waiting for the RCMP and Elections Canada to arrive. Jason Kenney said as much on the aforementioned MDL clip.

Don Martin discloses the following observations:

...The real interesting part, which has a lot of Conservative MPs in a lather, is how two camera crews magically surfaced to stake out both floors rented by the Conservative party within minutes of the search warrant being executed.

The RCMP cruisers were unmarked and the police scanner didn't broadcast the "visit," so unless CBC journalists are telepathic, the only plausible explanation is that they were tipped by Elections Canada.

And being dedicated Newsworld watchers, gleeful Liberals armed with their own cameras were scrambled to record the "visitation" within minutes of the news being broadcast...

He also calls Elections Canada's actions "heavy-handed".

A comment at Warren Kinsella's blog caught my attention:

...And André Thouin just happens to be an ex-RCMP officer.

I believe the RCMP, the Liberals, and the media were there so early because Mr. Thouin arranged it so. The weapons and flak jackets make no sense at all, except to draw attention to the fact that these were no mere Elections Canada lackies. Whatever the case, it was well played. And clearly a "PR stunt" by EC.

There's nothing wrong with calling it like it is.
Sitsonsix | 04.16.08 - 7:37 pm

Canadians need to be reassured that such a vital institution as Elections Canada actually is non-partisan. Our democracy depends on it.

The optics sure aren't comforting.

Was it a setup for a photo-op?

2008-04-16T14:55:00.012-04:00

The Toronto Star reports:

...A videographer hired by the Liberals was present as the raid was carried out, alongside mainstream media camera crews documenting the incident...

It doesn't sound like they just happened by, does it?

* * * *

From CNEWS - Tories attack Elections Canada over raid.

Elections Canada made a media "circus" out of a raid on Conservative party headquarters, inviting an opposition camera crew to observe police officers carrying out the raid, Tory MPs complained Wednesday.

The Liberals laughed off any suggestion that they were tipped off in advance of the raid, which appeared to be continuing Wednesday, saying they sent a videographer to the Tory party offices after seeing the event unfold on a television news network...

..."I do find it odd, when I look at a photograph this morning and I see someone knocking on the door with cameras, with news cameras present," Flaherty said as he left a Conservative caucus meeting on Parliament Hill.

"And to see that there were Liberal party people in the hallway, I find that very strange indeed."

( . . . )

A videographer hired by the Liberals was present as the raid was carried out, alongside numerous mainstream media camera crews documenting the incident.

Now who are you going to believe?

Stephen Taylor - Something isn't right about the RCMP "raid". 'Catherine' in comments says:

Stephen, maybe someone should correct Garth Turner's statement on Mike Duffy live, where he stated the CPC "stole" Canadians tax dollars.

Link here. In the same interview, Jason Kenney marvels at how a Liberal party official was there ahead of the RCMP and Elections Canada.

National Post - Elections Canada leaked news of RCMP raid, Tories said.

Don Martin - Elections Canada brings out the sledgehammer.

Qubec doctors against protecting a woman's right to choose...

2008-04-16T13:07:00.003-04:00

...to carry her own baby to term.

Perhaps the Hippocratic Oath should be renamed the Hypocritical Oath.

Things aren't much better in Canada

2008-04-16T08:30:00.017-04:00

Brenda Martin shouldn't be so anxious to get back here. In the court of political and media rhetoric, Canada isn't far behind Mexico in the concept of guilty until proven innocent.

The headlines from yesterday's story have run the gamut from RCMP called in to help search Tory offices, all the way to RCMP raids Tory office in election probe.

Never mind that the RCMP clarified the situation as follows (RCMP raid a 'PR stunt', Tories claim):

...RCMP commissioner Bill Elliott said the RCMP has a "longstanding memorandum of understanding" to assist Elections Canada, and insisted his officers were simply complying with a request...

Whatever that means. However, it wasn't a 'raid' by the RCMP. But as noted in the previous post, the hyperbole and torqued headlines are spinning around the world.

The political rhetoric is also astounding. From the Liberal website:

The RCMP raid of Conservative Party headquarters is proof that Prime Minister Stephen Harper must explain to Canadians about his party’s alleged involvement in deceptive financing practices during the 2006 federal election, the Liberal Opposition said today.

Aha. They learned from the last time and added the word 'alleged'. But if this was only some assistance that the RCMP was providing to their old buddies, Elections Canada, then the preceding paragraph seems a bit contrived, n'est-pas?

And Michael Ignatieff self-righteously proclaims:

“How did it get to this? An RCMP squad raiding the offices of the Conservative Party - spinners in frantic damage control,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “I mean, how did we get here? Why did Elections Canada have to get a search warrant and the help of the RCMP in the first place? Why did they have to pry information from this government's clenched fist?”

Mmmm.... How did it get to this, Michael?

Do you think those camera-toting colleagues of yours who were descending like hungry vultures and greedily snapping photos for future ads have any idea either?

Anyway, don't rush back, Brenda. It isn't a whole lot better here either.

* * * *

Update: Via Steve Janke, Adam Radwanski weighs in with "Subtle as a Sledgehammer".

Cherniak - In and Out of the printing press. In his dreams.

I left a comment. Wonder if he'll publish it.

Tories say Liberals were tipped to raid - Star:

...A videographer hired by the Liberals was present as the raid was carried out...

But CBC's Newman said just before QP today, that they must have seen it on the news, and decided to drop by? C'mon.

* * * *

Update: Don Martin - Elections Canada brings out the sledgehammer:

...with footage in the can and a campaign script that writes itself, this is no longer an issue of guilt or Conservative innocence in the showdown with election officials.

That's the beauty of securing a conviction in the court of public opinion -- optics, hearsay and circumstantial evidence can instantly gas chamber the innocent with no avenue of appeal.

And on this particular count, shots of warrant-bearing cops wandering the headquarters of the allegedly clean Conservatives are Tory tarnish and Grit gold.

This is why I find Election Canada's behaviour somewhat squeamish. Nobody can recall such heavy handed behaviour before and there's no explanation why police were required when a phone call might have sufficed.

The Conservatives insist they'll have their day in court and argue convincingly that Elections Canada will be proven wrong. There's documentation suggesting the other three parties are not without sin at the ins and outs of creative campaign financing...

I smell an election

2008-04-15T11:46:00.012-04:00

RCMP ~~raid~~ search Tory headquarters:

...Camera crews, including one from the Liberal party, were on hand as police arrived at the downtown building...

Funny how the CBC scooped the Canadian Press.

11:58 - Interesting. The date stamp changed on both stories, as did the headline of the CBC's post.

More at CTV.

Oh yeah. Hillier is stepping down too. CBC again. H/T National Newswatch.

* * * *

Update: This is now an international story!

Croatia - CANADIAN POLICE RAID CONSERVATIVE PARTY HQ. (Check out the photo.)

BBC - Canadian Police search party headquarters.

NYT - Canada: Conservative Party Raided.

Gotta love those torqued headlines...

* * * *

And from his new home at Canada.Com, David Akin reports that "Liberal political operatives with video cameras filmed the RCMP officers at Conservative headquarters and plan to use the footage in their campaign advertising."

What serendipitous timing!

The Teflon Premier

2008-04-15T06:45:00.004-04:00

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's battle with the Ontario Liberal Government seems to have produced two unpleasant results (from my POV) - Support for the CPC in Ontario is going down, while numbers for both federal and provincial Liberals are going up in this province.

While Flaherty may be responsible for the federal polling results, the Ontario picture is likely due more to an extremely weak opposition. As the Ottawa Sun's Antonella Artuso reports, nothing seems to be sticking to Dalton McGuinty:

...Pollster Nik Nanos said the Liberals now enjoy a 15-point advantage over the Tories, up from 11 points in the October election.

Supporting the McGuinty government is a "default" position for voters who don't see the opposition as proactive on important issues, such as the province's economic slowdown, Nanos said.

"They're not wearing anything as a government," he said. "It's classic ... free ride politics."

The Nanos Research poll finds the Liberals have the support of 45% of decided voters, followed by the Conservatives at 30%, the NDP at 14% and the Green Party at 10%....

Strangely, even the media seems outraged today by Dalton's arrogance. Joe Warmington is especially angered the way Dalton dodged the media surrounding his closed-door session with Chinese business people:

...Somebody has to call out the premier and remind him he's in that job at our pleasure in an open, democratic society where the press is entitled to cover his every public move. This means his meeting with a business delegation from Jiangsu, China, and its Vice-Governor Zhang Weiguo, should have some reasonable media opportunities. As premier, he's on our clock -- as were cabinet ministers Michael Chan and John Wilkinson...

Well, Joe. I don't know about that. With polls like the one that just came out, I think you can be assured that Dalton's actions will become even more arrogant and secretive. Don't look for any transparency from this guy in the near future. He has the Ontario Lemmings eating out of his hand.

But I do wonder if any of that Teflon the premier wears was made in China?

* * * *

Update: Aww... Doesn't this warm the cockles of your plebeian heart? - I talked rights: Preem. Chinese VIP 'listened intently':

...McGuinty said he made it clear to Zhang that he would be attending question period following the meeting and would give opposition MPPs an opportunity to hold him to account.

"He was surprised at that process," McGuinty said. "But I embrace that process."

Yeah, right.

Brenda's back in the headlines

2008-04-14T19:09:00.005-04:00

After having had a brief reprieve from the Brenda Martin saga, we see that she's back in the news today - Brenda Martin in tears at final hearing:

Brenda Martin, held in a Mexican prison for over two years on fraud charges, burst into tears at her final hearing Monday after the judge said he wouldn't guarantee a ruling in her case by Friday.

The Mexican judge apparently wasn't moved by her tears and maintains that he is entitled to 30 business days to make a decision.

The evidence against her seems to be circumstantial at best.

So anyway, I'm just curious. Have your feelings about this situation changed at all? Do you feel more sympathetic now, or less, or no change?

Today's Christianity - Not much more than a coffee club

2008-04-14T15:55:00.005-04:00

The Sun's Connie Woodcock addresses her frustration with moral relativism and its influence on today's movement towards secularism in some Christian religions - Take the Christ out of Christianity and what's left?

...But most of all I do not want to hear any more from the Rev. Gretta Vosper, the minister at West Hill United Church who has apparently managed the ultimate doublethink. She has removed God, Jesus, the resurrection and most of the Bible from her services, yet claims to be a Christian.

She has just written a controversial book called With or Without God in which she discusses the need for Christianity to reform. In her case, that means dropping Jesus off a cliff and making up some kind of "spirituality" instead. There's no "big Godism" at her church, she says. Indeed, there is no God at all by the sounds of it. Doesn't that make her a pagan," one talk show caller wondered after listening to her.

It's more than a little pathetic and goes a long way toward explaining why the United Church is the most rapidly shrinking of Canada's mainstream churches. It may also explain why the church is having a bit of a struggle coming up with a new statement of beliefs.

Take the Christ out of Christianity and what's left? A Tim Hortons coffee club, that's what. What can they be thinking at the United Church of Canada?

There seem to be schisms developing in many churches these days, and they generally center around the conflict between absolute truth (i.e. the Bible) vs. moral relativism (everything is o.k. as long as nobody's getting hurt).

It's just one more manifestation of a weak culture that badly wishes to justify self-serving, hedonistic pursuits and has thereby rendered itself vulnerable to others with more discipline and purpose.

The Dion dilemma

2008-04-14T09:15:00.009-04:00

With polls showing the Liberals and Conservatives in an apparent dead-heat, it's disconcerting as a Conservative supporter to ponder what those polls might disclose if Dion was not the Liberal leader.

There aren't too many columnists out there still trying to paint Stephane Dion as being effective. Even the traditional left-leaning pundits seem to be jumping ship. I suppose you can only support an illusion up to a point.

Chantel Hebert thinks that Dion blew it when he sold out on the environment issue. And now Dion is facing an even bigger test, with the immigration bill being tied to the budget, and thereby forcing him to either take a stand or cut and run once again.

But the immigration issue is so entrenched in Liberal folklore that it would be difficult for Dion to sit this one out. In two different newspapers columnist Angelo Persichilli outlines the dilemma - and the hypocrisy of their so-called self-acclaimed title as Champions of Immigration.

In the Sun (Will Immigration Issue bring down the Tories?), Persichilli states:

Will the issue of immigration do what the environment, crime bill and Afghanistan failed to do? Will the debate over immigration help Canadians get rid of this dysfunctional Parliament?

The answer seems positive. However, it seemed positive in the past but, in the end, one opposition party or another chickened out. This time it looks like the Liberals are tired of their new bend-and-run fitness program on Parliament Hill every time there's a confidence vote and they may actually want to get rid of the Harper government.

So what they are talking about?

All of them know the immigration system is in a complete state of chaos. It's also clear this deterioration took place mainly under the Liberals' watch since 1993. They know what the problems are, but they don't know how to solve them.

They know Canada's economy needs tradespeople, but they don't know how to let them in. They know criminals abuse the system, but they don't know how to kick them out. They let highly educated immigrants in, but they don't know how to find them jobs other than driving taxis in Toronto. They want to help refugees from around the world settle in Canada but don't know how, forcing them to join the huge ranks of "undocumented" workers...

He goes on to point out that only immigration lawyers and consultants are benefitting from the present chaotic and sluggish system.

And then comes the clincher:

...In reality, the Liberals are not looking for a debate that would expose their shortcomings on this issue, but a platform to revitalize the myth about the Conservatives being against immigrants and them the champions of the poor and the weak. And, with this image in mind, throw (Dion) Quixote into the campaign.

Persichilli's Hill Times piece is even more revealing - Liberals now thing of June election:

.

..Last week, at a quasi-emergency meeting of the Liberal shadow Cabinet, the need to go to the polls as soon as possible was debated, recognized, and there was a general consensus that the Conservative immigration reform plan would be the trigger. According to Liberal sources, Canadians should go to the polls in June. This seems to be the plan.

After voting down the NDP motion last week to force the government to extrapolate the immigration issue from the budget bill, the bill will be debated in committee. At the Citizenship and Immigration Committee, Liberals are going to present their amendments to the reforms presented by Minister of Immigration Diane Finley. Liberals are very confident that these amendments will be approved with the help of the other opposition parties and sent back to the House for a vote.

Of course, the government could choose to accept them and change the budget bill in the House. If it does, the government is safe and the Liberals are stuck with Stéphane Dion for the summer, at least. However, in answer to a question asked by Mike Duffy last week during his afternoon Mike Duffy Live show, the Immigration Minister Finley said clearly that the government has no intention of changing anything and the Liberal amendments will be rejected. This means that the Liberals will vote the government down; at least that's what they were saying last week.

If the Liberal plan holds—and the "if" is necessary considering the twists of the last few months—the final vote against the budget will take place during the first half of May and Canadians would go to the polls in June.

"Of course the best for the Liberals," a party strategist told The Hill Times last week, "would be the removal of Dion before the vote and, even if this development is highly unlikely, it doesn't mean that some Liberals have completely given up their hopes..."

The Liberal party's biggest enemy is not the Harper government, but rather their own in-fighting and problems with moles, which are apparent with the Quebec wing's inner turmoil and with comments like this:

...Dion seems to be convinced that the only development that could save his leadership is a national election. However, even if an election was widely welcomed a few months ago by the majority of Liberal MPs and strategists, there are now doubts. The polls are so bad that many MPs, even in Toronto, are fearing for their own seats. Some are concerned that even Etobicoke-Lakeshore is not a sure bet.

"I'm not saying that Michael Ignatieff is not going to win. I'm only saying that he has to work hard to keep it," a Liberal insider told The Hill Times...

And here's the conundrum:

...And that's why they are using immigration to defeat the government. They, the Liberals, created the mess, they failed to correct it, and they don't have a plan solve it. Still they believe that the old antics about this issue ("Conservatives are racist and we are the good guys") will be enough to bring them back to power or, as a Liberal strategist said half-jokingly last week, spare them the humiliation, 15 years after the Conservative experience, from becoming "the party of two."

L. Ian MacDonald points out the further hypocrisy of the Liberal's opposition to changes in the Immigration policy - Harper is playing truth or dare on the immigration bill:

...Then the Liberal deputy leader, Michael Ignatieff, turned to refugee claimants and determination, always a hot-button issue. Under the previous Liberal government, he noted, "the queue for refugee claimants had been effectively reduced to zero."

He continued: "Under the Conservative government, the backlog has ballooned to nearly 60,000 and is said to be heading to 100,000 by 2012."

Ignatieff concluded: "What does the government have against refugees?"

Well, nothing. The real question is the reverse of the one posed by Iggy. If there are 60,000 refugee claimants today, how come there were none two years ago?

The answer is that since there are 800,000 people lined up at the front door, 60,000 people are trying to get in through the back door of refugee claims. The system isn't working in the front, and has been systematically abused by lawyers and claimants in the back. And everyone knows it. Lawyers for Karlheinz Schreiber could file a refugee claim on the grounds he would be tortured by his jailers if extradited to Germany.

The Liberals are trying to whip ethnic communities into a frenzy largely over the discretion the bill gives the minister to instruct her department to give priority to immigrants whose job skills are needed in the Canadian workforce. "Cherry-picking," Dion called it. Imagine, prioritizing immigration according to the demands of our economy. Aha. Queue jumping. Putting the economy ahead of family unification and refugee claims, sensitive issues in multicultural communities....

In view of all this, it boggles the mind that Liberal brand continues to stay afloat nationally, and even be on top in Ontario.

All of which makes me wonder what would happen if the Liberals finally did somehow get it together? Would they be back in government?

I can only hope their problems last for a long, long time.

Running on arrogance

2008-04-13T08:45:00.003-04:00

Christina Blizzard's Sun column today is titled, Running on Empty. I disagree. There's a lot of hot air in the Legislature. 'Empty' would be an improvement.

To me it's worse to be hypocritical than to be doing nothing. And surely there must be some kind of statute of limitations on pointing the finger at previous governments:

...The worst offender is Health Minister George Smitherman. He was under fire last week over news reports that the Rouge Valley Hospital was about to lay off nurses.

Nickel Belt New Democrat France Gelinas asked Smitherman about the layoffs in question period.

After Smitherman had gone through his litany of blaming (a) the Tories and (b) the hospital management, he reminded Gelinas that when the NDP were in power, they closed hospital beds.

"That's when Howard Hampton was on a five-year bathroom break," Smitherman said contemptuously...

Dalton's method of handling things is to deliver a sanctimonious sermon:

...Pausing every now and then for dramatic effect, he gets into a breathless, preacher-style way of talking when he gets into the spin cycle.

We need "constructive engagement" to persuade the Chinese government to be more like us, he argued. Hallelujah, sister Sandra is going to spread the gospel of good government to China. Hallelujah, hallelujah.

This bafflegab is frustrating for anyone seeking real answers...

So we have a preacher and a pitbull in charge of this province. (My apologies to dog owners.)

You know, sometimes I wonder why I bother pointing any of this out. I'm beating my head against a wall of voter apathy and Liberal Lemming-worship here in Ontario. Hypocrisy and arrogance don't seem to bother them. They just shrug it off and say, well that's politics for ya.

However, with another election years away, I do hope that Blizzard is right. Better that they sit there and twiddle their thumbs than do any more damage than they already have.

So go ahead and take a long, long bathroom break yourself, George. Unless of course, you'd rather wear a diaper.

Your chance to let Dalton know what you're thinking!

2008-04-12T17:05:00.003-04:00

O.K. This normally doesn't happen until election time, but the Committee doing the review about the Lord's Prayer is actually asking our opinion!!!

Yes, yes. I know. Dalton won't actually read the forms, but won't it make you feel better? Look at it as a kind of therapy.

Some of the opposition members feel that this issue is using up valuable government time that could be better spent on more pressing issues. Do you agree?

Well, tell them!

Some folks fear that this could lead to ugly tensions between various faith-groups and secularists:

...Some question the need for a divisive debate. Frank Dimant, executive director of B'nai Brith, said Ontario is facing much more pressing issues – including a slowing economy and gun violence. No one was clamouring for a change to the Lord's Prayer, he said.

"I do not believe that the people of Ontario are interested in engaging in a massive debate between religions, ethnic groups, cultural groups and atheists," said Dimant, adding the Lord's Prayer is more symbolic nowadays.

"Why look for a problem which will pit group against group in this province?"

Hmmm... Yes, that does sound familiar.

In any case, tell the Committee how you feel about this - all the good, bad and ugly thoughts you have. Click on Consultation on prayer in the Legislative Assembly and then let them have it!!

It's a rare chance to participate in democracy in action.

Or at least the illusion of democracy.

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

2008-04-12T08:10:00.002-04:00

Chronicle Herald reporter Stephen Maher lets us in on the big 'secret' that one of Harper's cabinet ministers is gay - (like nobody knew...) Harper? Homophobic? One of his top cabinet ministers is gay:

ONE OF Stephen Harper’s senior cabinet ministers is a closeted homosexual.

Because the minister’s desire to keep his or her sex life private outweighs whatever public interest there might be in letting readers know about that sex life, reporters never write about it.

Similarly, reporters in the gallery never reported on a married Liberal cabinet minister who had a much younger same-sex lover.

Politicians should be able to have whatever kind of sex they like, so long as they don’t do it in the street and scare the horses. But it is worth pointing out that there is a homosexual minister in Mr. Harper’s government, because it shows that there are gay people everywhere and also shows that Mr. Harper is not personally hostile to gays and lesbians...

Maher thinks that Harper should take Brad Wall's lead and discuss ways to reach out to the gay community, like say, sending a Cabinet minister to the Gay Pride Parade in Toronto.

Well, I'm not sure that Harper would want to follow that exact suggestion.

* * * *

Update: Over at Cherniak's, Nicol points out in comments that many Progressives show intolerance towards Christians, and a gay commenter agrees with him:

"On the other hand, progressives should also learn that some people they know might be Evangelical or Catholic and not think lesser of them either. Trust me, the assumptions and opportunities lost go both ways and progressives are no where near as tolerant as perhaps you like to think around people who are practicing Catholics or Evangelical."

I agree with that... I'm gay/have a lot of "progressive" friends, but when religion comes up, some of them can be so intolerant.. it's ridiculous.

* * * *

Memo to Mike Duffy - in comment section.

Gary Clement scores with this one

2008-04-11T14:48:00.009-04:00

In the print edition of Friday's National Post:

(The above widget keeps changing, but it's kind of cool. Just hold your cursor over the pic and you will see arrows that will allow you to flip through Clement's archives.)

Christian Conservative has the Dion cartoon here.

In response to the Speaker's statement saying, "All in favour of the government's motion say 'AYE'", Dion responds with the following:

"AYE am actually opposed and outraged by this government's abuse of..."

The Clement archive can also be found here. (H/T Uncommon Truths)

* * * *

Also just got into my new issue of Macleans. Paul Wells has a fascinating article about Dion titled, "Party of One". H/T to reader Jad for the link.

Worst news ever

2008-04-11T07:35:00.013-04:00

Brent Butt will be pulling the plug on Corner Gas next season. The series finale will air sometime in the spring of 2009.

Brent wants the award-winning show to finish on top.

Contrast this with Sarah Polley's whining on Parliament Hill yesterday. Hunter covers the story here.

I have no idea how government subsidies work in film vs. television but I have a strong suspicion that if it's a good production, people will watch it and it will become successful.

And guess what, Ms. Polley? Something can be a hit without using sex and violence to attract a large audience.

Jackass!

Now excuse me while I go drown my sorrows with a big plate of chili cheese-dogs.

* * * *

Update: Metro - Polley pleads case:

...But the Conservatives reacted quickly to Polley’s statements, claiming she had a political vendetta against the party.
In the 2004 election campaign, Polley was an active member of the “Stop Harper” campaign, and attached her name to a news release attacking the now prime minister.
“Hard-working Canadians are growing increasingly tired of special interest groups telling them what to do,” Tory MP Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton) said in a news release. “If famous actors and actresses want to produce materials that are offensive to the majority of Canadians, they can do it on their own dime, not on the backs of Canadian taxpayers.”

Right on.

So now I'm faced with a problem. There were a few other well-known Canadian artists involved in the Stop-Harper campaign. I funded some of them directly by purchasing their CDs and attending their concerts.

It will be easy to deface my Chantel Kreviazuk CDs, but Sarah McLachlan too?

Too bad she's so misguided.

* * * *

Oh boy. I can hardly bare to read this tripe by Aaron Wherry - The Commons: Ms. Polley goes to Ottawa. Warning - Have barf bucket on standby.

Time to take a stand

2008-04-10T16:05:00.001-04:00

Wally Oppal is inching ever closer to actually laying charges in Bountiful - B.C. may charge men of sect: A-G.

Good for him.

Meanwhile, in Ontario we not only allow it - Our tax dollars support it.

The way things are going...

2008-04-10T15:17:00.007-04:00

... you have to wonder if Dion is going to be putting forward a private member's bill to extend the 4-year mandate of this government in 2009?

I can just hear it now - "Mr. Speaker, Canadians still don't want an election..."

The National Post asks how much longer the Party of Shame will be able to continue with this pathetic strategy.

* * * *

Friday Update: Humiliation follows humiliation for Dion - Lorne Gunter:

...Now it should be clear that there is no principle greater to the Liberals than winning the next election. Nothing -- no policy or ideal -- is worth more. There is no principle they would not sacrifice for power and no principle for which they would fight a losing battle...

Telegdi may break ranks on immigration bill

2008-04-10T08:38:00.009-04:00

The Edmonton Journal quotes Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi as clearly not being onside with the Dion maneuver to complain and then acquiesce to the Government (H/T National Newswatch):

...But Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi, who represents the Ontario riding of Kitchener-Waterloo, said Wednesday he will vote against the bill when it comes up for third reading in the House of Commons, no matter what position his party takes.

"They can't move my seat any further back, can they?" Telegdi said in an interview, referring to his status as a backbench MP and any repercussions he might face for breaking party ranks. "It's a horrible bill..."

Mmmm. Perhaps I was wrong about Andrew being past his 'best-before" date...

Although I feel he's way off base when he calls it a 'horrible bill', you still have to give the man credit for taking a stand.

Which is more than I can say for his leader.

* * * *

Update: Looks like Telegdi may have company. John Ivison reports that "Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, who represents Scarborough-Agincourt, said he is facing "massive" pressure within his riding to oppose the bill and he may vote against it at third reading as well."

Don Martin quotes Stephane Dion in one of his more eloquent moments:

"I will choose my time in keeping in my mind the necessity to give to Canadians in an optimal situation the possibility to have a progressive Liberal government that will replace this bad bill by a good law and that will replace this bad government by a good government," stammered Liberal leader Stephane Dion yesterday. Um, well, you figure that out...

I have to ask this question - If hell froze over and Stephane Dion actually became PM, would he really reverse the law if doing so might jeopardize his chances of retaining power?

This should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up

2008-04-09T22:51:00.015-04:00

Jonathan Kay warns of the OHRC's desire to increase its jurisdiction.

In a related article (Rights body dismisses Maclean's case), Tarek Fatah founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress weighs with these observations:

..for the Commission "to refer to Maclean's magazine and journalists as contributing to racism is bullshit, if you can use that word."

He said the Commission has unfairly taken sides against freedom of speech in a dispute within the Canadian Muslim community between moderates and fundamentalists.

"There are within the staff [of the Ontario Human Rights Commission], and among the commissioners, hardline Islamic supporters of Islamic extremism, and this [handling of the Maclean's case] reflects their presence over there," Mr. Fatah said, identifying two people by name.

"In the eyes of the Ontario human rights commission, the only good Muslim is an Islamist Muslim," he said. "As long as we hate Canada, we will be cared for. As soon as we say Canada is our home and we have to defend her traditions, freedoms and secular democracy, we will be considered as the outside."

Absolutely chilling - especially in view of today's events.

* * * *

Thursday Morning Update: This should make all bloggers wary of how our freedom to debate on the internet is in jeopardy - That's done.

National Post - Ontario rights commission dismisses complaint, sort of by Joseph Brean.

Saskboy is not impressed - Terrible news for the Canadian Blogosphere.

Thursday Afternoon Update: Jonathan Kay on the Ontario Human Rights Commission: Some interesting thoughts from a former government insider.

Interesting interview going on right now on the Gary Doyle show with the author of "Why we want to kill you".

Am I allowed to say that?

Tip from a reader - Muslim Canadian Congress shocked at OHRC decision to trumpet Islamic cause. Well worth the read, if you're concerned about Sharia law in Ontario.

BCL weighs in - "Sask. Blogs Aggregator: Striking A Martyr's Pose"

Let them eat platitudes!

2008-04-09T16:24:00.002-04:00

Bad enough he wants to take away the Lord's Prayer from the Ontario Legislature. Now Dalton seems to have taken to delivering sermons.

Jim Coyle notes (Record):

When a mere provincial premier takes to letting fall from his lips the words of King Solomon, it's a good bet that a case of second-term smugness has set in.

Dalton McGuinty was in Hamilton recently, the same day Statistics Canada released some dreary employment numbers for Ontario. The U.S. recession was spilling over the border, analysts said. And the Steel City is one of the places where such news hits particularly hard.

But McGuinty -- sounding more like the province's pastor than its premier -- advised in what will hereafter be known as his Sermon on Hamilton Mountain against panic.

"Trust me, folks,'' he said. "This too shall pass.''

Well, probably.

But what's next? Instead of a Throne Speech readings from the Book of Proverbs?...

- Perhaps Dalton sees himself as some kind of holy man, say like the Dali Lama?

Are Kitchener taxpayers getting their money's worth?

2008-04-09T08:30:00.003-04:00

I tend to shy away from local politics in this blog. However, this item may have universal appeal inasmuch as it serves as an example of why it is crucial to pay attention to municipal issues and elections. A large portion of your property tax bill can be affected by incompetence and a feeling of entitlement.

Kitchener City Council has already been in the limelight before, courtesy of Rick Mercer. Now local reporter Record Terry Pender is putting the city's purchase of a portion of a large industrial site under the microscope. The results aren't pretty.

If I interpret all this correctly, the city originally purchased the land from South Kitchener Holdings at almost double the cost that Michelin sold it for. The reason given was that SKH had agreed to do all the environmental clean-up, so it was a 'good deal'.

However, Michelin must have gotten wind of this and felt the air had to be cleared - They are paying for the cleanup themselves.

Councillor Geoff Lorentz and Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr justified their actions as follows:

...Lorentz said yesterday that if he had known Michelin was going to clean up the site, he might have voted differently on the purchase agreement.

"Nobody told me: 'Hey, we can get a deal on this because Michelin was going to clean up the site,' " Lorentz said.

"I don't think anybody on council had that information."

Lorentz is angry at Michelin for making public the environmental remediation work, accusing the company of trying to protect its corporate image after disrupting the lives of hundreds of Kitchener workers.

"They put a lot of people out of work in this community and caused a lot of hardship, and now they are worried about their reputation -- that's a hard pill to swallow," Lorentz said.

Michelin closed the former BF Goodrich plant in the summer of 2006, throwing 1,100 out of work.

Mayor Carl Zehr said he didn't know anything about Michelin's cleanup deal with South Kitchener Holdings...

John Gazzola, the only councillor that had raised concerns and voted against the deal, is also now the only one to take responsibility. "I really don't think we did our homework, to tell you the truth."

"The difference in price was to clean up the land -- that's fine," Gazzola said. "But if Michelin did it, why are we paying South Kitchener Holdings for cleaning up the land?"

Michelin's announcement provoked Gazzola to raise the issue again. "Someone isn't really putting all the information out," he said...

Indeed. It would seem that most council members are either trying to cover something up, or else they don't have a clue.

On the other hand, what can you expect from a crew that has to go to an Elton John concert to see how the auditorium works?

* * * *

Thursday Update: Answers needed on Goodrich deal. (Record)

Human rights abuses not McGuinty's concern

2008-04-08T13:27:00.007-04:00

NDP Peter Kormos worries that Sandra Pupatello will be used as a 'dupe', during the Ontario Government's upcoming cabinet-level trade junket to China.

It's o.k. Peter.

No worries there. It's the voters who are the dupes.

* * * *

Update: Speaking of China, Canadian Consumer Product safety Laws to be toughened up.

Halls of Macadamia has more: The scary, hidden McSlippery agenda.

STOP THE PRESSES!! Maybe we have a solution to this problem - Sandra Pupatello can bring it!

Are some rights more equal than others?

2008-04-08T08:25:00.008-04:00

Jonathan Kay has had a controversial series of posts in the National Post's Full Comment. It starts here, then here and finally culminates in today's print column generated from this post.

The main issue seems to be this particular statement in the original post:

...In fact, many Canadians still regarded homosexuality as a lifestyle choice rather than what it is — a hard-wired aspect of a person's identity, little different from their race or sex...

(Well I might might dispute the notion of sex or gender being hard-wired these days. It seems to be more like something you decide when you get up in the morning.)

In any case Mr. Kay, who is openly secular, believes that homosexuality is hard-wired. Indeed, he is convinced of it and chastises the religious right for vocalizing any opposing viewpoint:

...The idea that these specimens "turned gay" voluntarily -- or that they could reverse their God-given lust thrusters 180 degrees as a matter of conscious will--is laughable.

I say all this not to make fun of religious types. But speaking selfishly as a secularized conservative, I do find their line of free-will argumentation slightly embarrassing. It furthers the unfortunate stereotype of conservatives as being out-of-touch with anyone outside society's mainstream (narrowly defined). It also bespeaks a mindset that privileges dogma above empirical observation, an accusation usually reserved for the left...

So what I glean from this is that Jonathan Kay wants everyone on the religious right to shut up, because he feels that they are embarrassing him and undermining the credibility of the right. (And never mind that religious conviction is not just the purview of the right, although some parties choose to punish or expel their dissenters - all in the name of 'tolerance'.)

Let's be clear - There is no place in Canada for the incitement of hatred of any kind. However, we must differentiate between being able to vocalize one's personal religious belief vs. hate mongering against any other group of citizens.

Which leads me to this question: Is there a hierarchy of 'rights' in Canada?

If so, I suppose religious rights are at the bottom - probably because they're not 'hard-wired'.

* * * *

Update: Now, is polygamy 'hard-wired'? How long before polygamy (formally) comes to Canada?

This one's for Greg

2008-04-08T07:15:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, reader Greg left the following comment in my post about closing the Lukiwski file:

I agree, let's move on to talking about the idiot provincial NDP MPP who is introducing a motion to ban advertising of products aimed at children 13 years old and under. After all us parents need to be protected from being nagged by our kids to buy unhealthy products, and goodness knows we are incapable of making decisions on our own without a socialist telling us what we are allowed to buy for our kids.

Well much to my surprise, today's Record has a scathing editorial against this bill - Let them Advertise Cake:

...Unfortunately, the clumsy bit of nanny-state legislation he's pushing doesn't discriminate between good and bad, salubrious and debilitating. It would simply prohibit all commercial television ads for food or drink directed at children under age 13.

But the unintended consequence of Marchese's proposal would be that ads for healthy food would be banned along with those selling products that could cause health problems. That seems needless, foolish and counterproductive. And it's only one of many reasons to hope his legislation dies a quick, unlamented death...

Nanny-state legislation?

Wow. Maybe there's still some hope for the Record's editorial board.

This knuckle-dragging redneck has had enough

2008-04-07T08:55:00.004-04:00

I think this will be my last post on the Lukiwski affair for a while. Quite frankly, I'm getting bored with the faux-outrage from the left, and as even John Moore says, Context is Everything.

I don't think this is an issue that the opposition parties want to go to the polls on. There are all kinds of examples that could be dredged up in retaliation.

No doubt the left-wing media and politicians are trying to reinforce the notion of the CPC being a scary party of Neo-Con knuckle-dragging Rednecks, but we know that there are examples of similar attitudes in the LPC.

So if the Grits, Dippers and left-leaning media only have 17-year-old slurs and innuendos which with to smear the Conservatives, then I think we can look forward to watching this Government finish the full term.

It all reeks of desperation.

* * * *

Of course, I never said I wouldn't link to other blogs... "Knuckledraggers". (Alice the Camel)

These are headlines you only dream of...

2008-04-06T20:05:00.003-04:00

Premier will sue the Canadian Press - by the Canadian Press.

Pinch me. I must be dreaming.

* * * *

Update: Pity. (H/T Reid)

The 'Emotion Police' are at it again

2008-04-06T08:30:00.010-04:00

Good grief! Perhaps some of the MSM forgot to publish their formal declaration on how politicians are supposed to convey their emotion. Is there an official, politically-correct, media-endorsed format? You'd almost think so, watching how they sit in judgment like little demagogues deciding whether a particular MP's display of emotion passes their smell-test. (Remember how Helene Guergis couldn't please Don Martin?)

Let's face it. If Stephen Harper had said anything at all during his visit to Auschwitz, it would have been condemned as too trite.

Instead, he chose to keep his emotion as private as possible and left his thoughts in a book of remembrance.

Oh, but that's not good enough for the Star. Instead of showing a photo of the Prime Minister kneeling in respect and prayer, the Red Star displays an image of Harper ranting in Parliament. The inference is that he has plenty to say there, but his lack of public rhetoric in Auschwitz does what? Portray some kind of lack of feeling?

Some emotion is so intense, it cannot be conveyed by words.

But the Toronto Star Inquirer's level of insight is so superficial, that it's not surprising they would pillory the Prime Minister for the way he handled himself at such a profound occasion.

Hunter points out at CBL's that the Globe originally had posted the photo of Harper kneeling, but then changed it. Why?

She suggests that it may be time for all the 'knuckle draggers' to start fighting back.

I'm in.

* * * *

Update: Great advice from Platty regarding how to complain effectively about MSM bias - So, ya wanna dance?

Privacy issues surrounding the Lukiwski tape

2008-04-05T08:45:00.008-04:00

Lyle Hewitt makes a good point in today's Leader-Post about the flagrant abuse of privacy rights concerning the other individuals in the 1991 tape who are not public figures at the present time.

Hewitt worked on the campaign in question, but is not on the tape. His concerns are for those private citizens whose faces have been plastered in the media from coast-to-coast over the last several days:

...No one on that tape was doing anything illegal. No one was making any sort of policy statement.

No one was making a declaration to reporters or issuing a personal vision statement.

The context of the tape is perfectly clear. It was an after-hours party at a stressful workplace, where most of the people, underneath it all, were well aware that they were going to be losing their jobs soon. They took a night off to let their hair down and relax a bit.

From the video, it's obvious that alcohol had been consumed. After people had had a few drinks and were feeling uninhibited, some goof with a camera started wandering around and goading people into doing and saying silly things.

If there is anyone out there who can honestly say that they have never been in a situation even remotely like that, please allow me to buy you a ticket to the Vatican so that you can go and apply for sainthood.

Most of the people in the video were and remain private citizens. They do not deserve to have their Candid Camera moments from two decades ago splashed across the media. Why weren't the faces of the other people pixelated out or why wasn't the film edited in some other way so as to show only the public figures that the media was gunning for? To those of you in the opposition and the media who have blown this story so ridiculously out of proportion, I say shame on you. You had better hope that your own drunken antics from past prorogation parties (the legislature's annual post-session all-party booze-fest) don't come to light some day.

And for those of you in the public who sat back and snickered as you watched the video, I hope you enjoyed your cheap, voyeuristic thrill -- and I hope it never happens to you.

The media should be ashamed.

And every Canadian citizen planning to attend a private party that's being recorded in any manner should be aware that if any of the participants ever becomes an elected public official, your antics may very well become the fodder for a humiliating media feeding-frenzy any time in the future.

* * * *

Update: More privacy issues - via Ezra Levant.

National Post - Tom Lukiwski should not resign.

- And I'm very honoured to have Deborah Gyapong pick up this post - "I'm not the only one raising privacy concerns".

Celestial Junk: Robert Fife Bashes Knuckle-Dragging Conservatives.

Friday Night Flick

2008-04-04T20:49:00.003-04:00

My son talked me into /begged/cajoled until I agreed to watch a DVD he had rented - I Am Legend.

Not sorry I saw it. Also not sorry I followed his advice about watching it during daylight!

Spoiler alert! There is an alternate ending. Please tell me which you prefer and why?

And what were they thinking?

So what do you think?

2008-04-04T19:34:00.004-04:00

Is this not the epitome of poetic justice?

The Quality of Mercy - missing in Ottawa

2008-04-04T12:10:00.010-04:00

The Bard would not have been impressed.

A man makes a heartfelt, humble apology for something he said at a private party 16 years ago, but the Liberals are using it in today's Question Period as an attempt to smear the Government.

No doubt they're looking to see if this dog will hunt, but I think it's just going to come back to bite them in the rear anyway - just like every other so- called scandal that they've attempted to ignite.

* * * *

Update: Partial transcript of Commons apology here. (Post)

- Excellent post by Steve Janke who has suggested a variety of options for Tom Lukiwski.

Queer-Liberal: Tommy Douglas on homosexuality in 1968. (Via Mike McGuire)

Macleans - Homophobic slur hurts Tory attempts at image makeover. Remember this one? -

"Homosexuality is statistically abnormal, it's physically abnormal and it's morally immoral." Liberal MP Tom Wappel.

Interesting take on things here from Jonathan Kay at the National Post: Tom Lukiwski shouldn't resign.

Forgiveness hard to find in Ottawa - National Post.

SDA - Lukiwski - Stop Apologizing.

Voting record demonstrates intolerance: MacPhail

2008-04-03T21:15:00.006-04:00

Liberal strategist Don Boudria had it right on MDL. A MPs voting record does not signify whether or not he is homophobic.

However, NDP strategist Joy McPhail maintains that MP Tom Lukiwski must still be homophobic since his voting record supposedly reflects it.

So according to Joy MacPhail, a vote against gay marriage is homophobic. Very interesting. And therefore, representing the views of your constituents is not relevant in Parliament.

Furthermore, she states, " ...he's probably amongst his own inside that caucus - they're probably all A's as he describes himself inside that caucus. So let him stay amongst his own, but he's got to go as Parliamentary Secretary..."

No generalizing there. No group slurs. No sir.

Boudria attempted to distance himself from MacPhail's obtuse remarks:

"...I don't think someone's voting record should be utilized to say whether a comment he made was appropriate or not appropriate. The comment stand on it's own...

...I want to distance myself from guilt by association remarks...

Exactly.

Joy smells blood and jumps the shark.

* * * *

Update: H/T to Reid in comments for pointing out Cherniak's surprisingly forgiving mood tonight...

Friday Update: Tasteless tape sparks tacky outrage - The Star Phoenix.

Alberta Ardvark: My sincere regrets. Real Early Edition:

...If the CBC, NDP, and this country can forgive enough to name Tommy Douglas as the Greatest Canadian, and if the Liberals can forgive Stephane Dion for being a proud Quebec separatist, I hold out hope that the public can also find it in their hearts to forgive me as well...

And from Gabby in the comment section of this post:

What this incident proves to me is the following:

1. The opposition will try ANY means to discredit the Conservatives. Let's face it, the more dirt they dig up, the less the focus will be on their own inadequacies.

2. The "progressives" believe in forgiveness and redemption only when it fits their purposes.
Lukiwski has apologized profusely for his idiotic statement, yet the sanctimonious "progressives" say it's not enough. That was the gist of the discussions on Newman's Politics, Pierre Donais' Revue Politique, and Peter Van Dusen's Prime Time Politics.
They are ready to forgive baby shakers and murderers, but the comment of someone who may have had one too many beers ... oh no! His career should be ruined.

3. The "progressives," apparently the only people who have a caring bone in their bodies, believe in guilt by association.
According to their logic, Lukiwski made a homophobic comment, he's a Conservative, therefore, all Conservatives are homophobic.

4. The "progressives" believe in the right to privacy, yet they have no qualms about digging into another party's discarded files.

5. Canadians are warned almost daily to protect themselves against identity theft. Haven't Conservative staffers been listening to those warnings? Haven't they heard of shredders?

And (#6) don't assume that the private tape made of your bone-headed remarks while partying and drinking way too much will never surface and humiliate you and your family when you've finally matured and your attitudes have changed 16 years later.

Good question

2008-04-03T11:42:00.003-04:00

From a caller on Jeff Allan's Hour of Rage:

Exactly what kind of energy does that power saw use anyway?

* * * *

More from Lorrie Goldstein regarding Kyoto - Kyoto supporters have no idea.

Say goodnight, Andrew

2008-04-03T08:45:00.003-04:00

Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi has succeeded in embarrassing himself, as well as every constituent who voted for him:

If it is possible to lower the standard of political debate in Canada below its already abysmal level, Andrew Telegdi has done the job. In a truly bizarre outburst this week, the Kitchener-Waterloo MP compared the recommendations of an expert panel working for the federal government to the mentality that imposed the notorious Chinese Head Tax and the equally obnoxious Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sin of the panel to bring such abuse hurtling down on their heads? They want to cut the number of times the Maple Leaf flag is lowered on the Peace Tower in Ottawa. For pity's sake, Mr. Telegdi. Show some proportion. Show some sense. You're turning an anthill into one of the Rockies...

That editorial is in his hometown newspaper, The (Liberal) Record. Hopefully the riding will wake up and see that Andrew Telegdi has passed his best-before date in politics.

Yesterday's Post editorial exposed more of Telegdi's ridiculous rhetoric to the whole nation:

...Today the House of Commons is scheduled to vote on a nonbinding motion by MP Andrew Telegdi, who wishes -- against the advice of the protocol panel -- to restore the policy of lowering the flag for every dead soldier who returns from Afghanistan. Mr. Telegdi's motion defines what is meant when someone is accused of "wrapping himself in the flag." He suggests that the Conservatives are trying to "sweep" Afghanistan combat deaths "under the rug," as if nobody would take notice of them if they couldn't check the Peace Tower for the latest vexillological casualty report every morning.

Perhaps it is fair to say such a swinish thing about one's electoral opponents, or at least inevitable that such things will be said. But does Mr. Telegdi mean to smear the members of the panel with the brush of his conspiracy theory? They were brought in as legitimate experts to research the issue in good faith; it would be a shame if Parliament subjected them to that kind of abuse.

The world's Top Intelligent Community should think twice before re-electing this man.

* * * *

Wudrick Blog: Attention Kitchener-Waterloo.

Peter Worthington (Sun) - Lowering the flag for soldiers dilutes its importance.

Harper delivers

2008-04-02T16:51:00.004-04:00

Breaking - NATO agrees to 1,000 more troops in Southern Afghanistan: CTV. (They just changed the link. France has agreed to more as well!)

More here: NATO to meet Canada's demand for more troops in southern Afghanistan - CBC.

As an aside, I have never been more proud of our Prime Minister than when watching him this morning on CBC Newsworld in the press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Harper was so articulate and handled himself with such quiet confidence. I tried to imagine Stephane Dion in that position...

Best news I've heard in ages!

2008-04-01T12:36:00.003-04:00

We're going to have a great reason to celebrate this New Year's Eve!!

One down, and way too many to go.

* * * *

Update: Sorry, but I'm having major computer problems and have had to turn on Comment Moderation. I hope things will be resolved in a day or two. Thanks for your patience.

* * * *

Wednesday Afternoon Update: Finally back on-line!

The bad news - I couldn't blog.

The good news - I couldn't blog.

I have been amazingly productive during the last 24 hours!!

Don Martin - Chief of the emotion police

2008-04-01T10:45:00.004-04:00

Whatever you might think about Helene Guergis' efficacy on the Brenda Martin file, Post columnist Don Martin has lobbed some pretty cheaps shots in today's column:

For very different behaviour, consider the video taken by Global News four weeks ago, which can be viewed on the National Post Web site.

The 1992 Miss Huronia is caught giving a scripted Ottawa welcome to a handful of women parliamentarians from Afghanistan. Suddenly Ms. Guergis breaks into tears.

"I promised I wouldn't do this," she sobs. "I love you guys. You're the highlight of my career. This is just the beginning of a long-lasting friendship for all of us and I can't wait to see you all again."

It might be heartfelt emotion, except that this is the same Ms. Guergis who seems curiously unmoved by the plight of Mexico-imprisoned Brenda Martin, a suicidal Canadian yet to be tried after two years in a cramped jail.

How is that relevant? The two events aren't even related.

And is Don Martin trying to say that he should be the judge of how she feels about things and how she expresses her emotion? How does he even know what she is thinking and how she really feels?

This kind of sexist attitude is very typical of certain controlling, misogynistic men that seek to undermine a woman's self-esteem in marriages where the woman becomes a slave.

And Martin's public excoriation of Guergis' perceived emotional reaction enables certain types of abusive relationships to seem socially acceptable.

Don Martin owes Ms. Guergis and all woman an apology for trying to tell them what is acceptable in terms of how they feel and how they display honest emotion.

Or is it only men who are allowed to have this freedom?

* * * *

Wednesday Update: Another Guergis slamfest here. But Irwin Cotler shows incredible class:

...Abandoning partisan politics, Mr. Cotler, who got involved in the Itzhayek case about seven months ago, said Ms. Guergis "did her best, in my view. She did work hard..."

There are a few Liberal MPs whom I greatly admire, and Irwin Cotler is definitely one of them.

Back to the sea? (April Fool!)

2008-04-01T08:05:00.007-04:00

Well he was a fish out of water anyway.

Good luck, Ken Dryden.

* * * *

Update: Several of my readers suspect that this is an April Fool's joke... If so, well done ~~CTV~~ National Newswatch!!

On the other hand, please give this some thought, Ken. It's a great idea!

And Gerry Nicholls makes the point that there really isn't anything special about today anyway.

How can you tell when Dalton McGuinty is lying?

2008-03-31T10:55:00.000-04:00

Answer - When his lips are moving.

(H/T to a caller on the Jeff Allan show.)

Have we reached the "Brenda Martin" saturation point?

2008-03-31T09:35:00.011-04:00

The strategy of Brenda Martin and her supporters (including MSM and the LPC) has been to fire humiliating and scornful salvos at the Canadian Government, and hope that somehow this will expedite Martin's release from Mexican prison.

Leaving the rationale of the plan aside, one has to wonder if it's actually working. This CTV report states that while 'hundreds' of supporters were expected, only four dozen actually showed up.

Some of those 'four dozen' were undoubtedly Liberal MPs seeking to take advantage of the situation. Liberal Paul Macklin obviously feels that size doesn't matter:

"I've been on Parliament Hill for many years as an MP and I will say today was the most emotional day I've ever spent on the Hill," Macklin, a former Liberal MP for the riding of Northumberland-Quinte West in Ontario, told Newsnet.

"To hear (Martin) thank everyone across this country was just amazing for all of us."

Well, I'm sure it was moving for family and friends - and for opposition MPs hoping to exploit it as a wedge issue.

However, one organizer justified the weak turnout with this statement: "The problem with rallies like this sometimes is that the people interested are not living in the city where the rally takes place."

Uh-huh. Going by that logic, then the only rallies that attract large support on the Hill are those that appeal to the local folks?

National Post reader Roy Weston may have nailed it although he didn't specifically mention Brenda Martin's name:

...It's incumbent upon travellers, not the government, to know what their rights are when they travel to another country. If they don't like their chances, should they be arrested, then they shouldn't go abroad. Canadian representatives can't just wave a magic wand and free people from jail, and all the teary-eyed blubbering by those who have been arrested is not going to change that...

Wake up people! The Nanny State ends at our borders.

* * * *

Update: In case you missed it, CTV's Question Period covered the story yesterday, and ran a few audio clips from a telephone interview with Brenda Martin:

"...I've turned down visits because they wanted to see me, but they have not been nice to me...

"...I have been angry? Yes, I've been angry..."

* * * *

Tuesday Update: Jailed Canadian to get hearing - Post.

Also, I've updated all related labels so that you can follow the whole chronology of the Brenda Martin saga by clicking on the label "Brenda Martin" (below)

Wednesday Update: Mexican president could free Martin - Edmonton Journal.

Thursday Update: Canadians should yell about Brenda - Ottawa Citizen.
(Love to hear your thoughts on this one!)

Amherst Daily - Focus on Martin may aid case: MP. Uh-huh.

But where do the jobs come from?

2008-03-30T14:45:00.002-04:00

Angelo Persichilli's column in today's Sun is a must-read - Ontario must create jobs to prosper.

Great to have a job-training program, but at some point you need to have places for those people to work. So if we spend a pile of money re-educating the work force only to have them leave the province for greener pastures, what have we accomplished?

And how can Dalton's pet projects in health care and education be sustained with a dwindling tax base?

And how can a burgeoning public sector be sustained? John Tory noted recently in the Post:

...Mr. McGuinty boasts that he has created new jobs in Ontario, but he fails to mention that almost half of the new jobs created are public sector jobs, paid for by taxpayers' dollars. Ontario is the only province in Canada where over the past five years the growth of public sector jobs has exceeded the growth of private sector jobs. Mr. McGuinty wrongly believes this is sustainable. It's not. We need private sector jobs to pay for those in the public sector...

In spite of what we think of Mr. Tory, his message rings true. If we continue on this path we will end up being the 'caboose' instead of the economic engine of Canada.

Jim Flaherty was right that the conditions need to be made favourable for investment to be attractive in Ontario. At the moment, they're anything but.

Persichilli says we have to start immediately to create the jobs that the skilled labour is being groomed for. He wonders why we are selling our raw resources to other countries to be manufactured, and then shipping the products back to be bought by Canadians?

Of course, nobody is addressing the real issue - that we have priced our labour right out of the market.

Unless we're willing to accept lower wages and abandon the union mentality, we will never be competitive.

And then the other provinces with natural resources will become the economic engines of the country - until everything has been depleted.

* * * *

Monday Update: Method in minister's madness by Nik Nanos.

'Raising awareness' with ad hominems

2008-03-30T08:15:00.008-04:00

Sounds like Lorrie Goldstein gets more than his fair share of ranting emails from the Kyoto crowd.

In today's column (Let's clear the air here), Goldstein lays out his stance on global warming and climate change, which I find to be moderate, non-partisan and entirely reasonable:

For more than a year now, having done a fair bit of research about the issue on my own, I've been writing critically about global warming. During that time, I have stated the following:

That I accept the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the Earth is warming unnaturally and that it is "very likely" human activity is the cause.

That, regardless of global warming, it's important to conserve energy and to burn fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) as cleanly and efficiently as possible, not just for environmental reasons, but for geo-political ones. The less we have to rely on Mideast oil, the greater our security will be.

I've said Canada, as a resource-rich country, should be a leader in the responsible use of fossil fuels and government subsidies to the oil industry -- unnecessary when oil costs more than $100 a barrel -- should be re-invested into Canadian research and development of new sources of renewable energy and clean technologies.

I've said if Canada imposes a carbon tax, presuming a majority of Canadians favour this, it must be done in concert with the U.S. and our other major trading partners, so as not to damage our economy.
I've argued it must be truly revenue neutral, providing already overtaxed Canadians with realistic ways of moving toward a carbon economy...

Then he goes on to explain why he doesn't support the Kyoto protocol which, as he agrees with Harper, really is a 'socialist, money-sucking scheme'. Worse, it is not realistically designed to lower man-made GHG emissions due to the exclusion of certain countries such as China and India, and the fact that the U.S. has not ratified the treaty "dating back to the Bill Clinton/Al Gore administration".

Also:

...Climate hysterics, led by environmental radicals and opportunistic politicians, who screech that every time there's an extreme, or even unusual weather event it's "proof" of man-made global warming, don't know what they're talking about. They constantly confuse "weather" and "climate."

They don't understand the difference between man-made global warming and the Earth's natural greenhouse effect, which keeps us all from freezing...

...Kyoto isn't an environmental plan. It's a plan to transfer wealth from the First World to the Third and damage the American economy in particular...

As if we need that right now! As we can already see, a worsening U.S. economic situation can seriously impact our economy - especially in Ontario.

Please read the whole article. It's a no-nonsense approach to a very highly-charged, political argument. Yet the emails still pour in calling him names for this moderate stance.

Maybe that's because when they've run out of facts, then name-calling is the only thing left to fall back on.

Or is it?

They could always try locking him up.

* * * *

Update: Great somewhat-related post here at Mesopotamia West - How to Appeal to Liberals.

Attacking the messenger

2008-03-29T17:55:00.007-04:00

Via a reader - British police support worker Philip Balmforth has been removed from his duties, and faces a disciplinary meeting for talking to the press about Asian girls in the school system who go missing and often end up in forced marriages - Policeman who exposed forced marriages faces sack for 'shaming' his city.

So the 'honour' and image of the city is more important than trying to lessen the incidence of abduction and rape? And if we don't hear about it, then it doesn't happen?

Meanwhile we get a lesson here in how our poor Western morals make us 'hypocrites' for suggesting that forced marriages with children are anything but noble.

Canada should take note.

Another treehugging plan gone horribly wrong

2008-03-29T07:30:00.013-04:00

'Earth Hour' may have some unintended repercussions. (Cool pics though at this Star slideshow.)

Matthew at The Politic has found a Globe article humorously listing 60 things to do during Earth Hour. Numbers 24 to 26 may very well end up being played out all across the world:

24. Don't forget fitness. Practise naked yoga.

25. Conserve water. Share a bath.

26. Or go to bed early. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

So nine months from now, won't there be a sharp global increase in the birth rate of earth-fouling, carbon-emitting, meat-eating human nuisances?

* * * *

Update: I just came across the Snopes report on safety concerns regarding CFLs. It's definitely worth a read. You may want to bookmark it in case you ever break one. No you don't have to call in a Hazmat team, but there are some precautions to take.

There have been many reports of explosions, of flashing and noises at the end of the bulb's life, and of fixtures being burned. They can also be affected by humidity. Of course there are concerns about mercury.

But apparently you needn't worry, as long as you check the packaging.

Why do I still not feel reassured?

* * * *

Sunday Update: Stephen Taylor has an excellent post up showing how various buildings in Ottawa 'observed' Earth Hour. Well worth the visit!

Squandering the gift of democracy

2008-03-28T21:43:00.007-04:00

I rarely agree with Jack Layton but he's right on the money about the Liberals not doing their job in Parliament.

Steve Janke points out how in some parts of the world, it is very dangerous to oppose the government. However, here in Canada, there is no fear of loss of life - Indeed, the Official Opposition is paid to oppose.

Yet they cower and hide when it comes time to vote.

* * * *

Saturday Update- Liberals to assess best odds, Dion says (Globe):

"It's rare that the population wants an election, but we can feel it when the fruit is ripe. And at that time - it's not up to me to tell you when; it's part of the strategy that we keep close to our chest - there will be an election."

(This from the leader with 'no instinct'.)

L. Ian MacDonald calls this a non-denial denial by Iggy (Gazette) when asked about the quote in La Presse where he supposedly said that "Stéphane Dion doesn't have the stature of a leader":

"I have worked tirelessly for our party and our leader and will continue to work with our strong Liberal team to ensure we win the next election," he declared. "No one has the right to call my loyalty into question."

Back in Ron Zeigler's time in the Nixon White House, this was known as a non-denial denial. Iggy didn't deny the quote, and La Presse pointedly stood by the story.

Also, yesterday there was a good article in the Ottawa Citizen - Finding out how your MP voted can be an exercise in futility.

Here's another injustice for Dan McTeague to champion - The HRC

2008-03-28T07:15:00.020-04:00

Liberal MP Dan McTeague does seem to like being in the limelight, and some of his causes are worthwhile.

However, yesterday he stated that "Foreign Affairs violated Brenda Martin's privacy rights by allegedly leaking a department report" according to Canadian Press.

Well, as my insightful reader Gabby pointed out in comments, this is all a bit rich:

So now Ms. Martin's privacy rights have been violated?
Who splashed her story all over the MSM - press, TV, radio?
Who made sure her name was on practically every news report?
And which parties continuosly accuse the government of secrecy, lack of transparency, and unwillingness to release documents under the freedom of information requests?
So now that the government releases information, it's a violation of Ms. Martin's privacy?
A little consistency would be welcome.

Oh! the hypocrisy!

So, if you're concerned about privacy rights being violated, Mr. McTeague, how about shining a light on this abuse as reported in Jonathan Kay's excellent Post editorial this morning - A disaster for Canada's Human Rights Commission:

Privacy is another concept that the HRC seems to find confusing. The most scandalous disclosure to emerge on Tuesday involved the manner by which investigators logged on to Lemire's Web site.

In what appears to be a ham-fisted attempt to avoid revealing the commission's IP address, they tapped into the unsecured wi-firouter of a 26-year-old Ottawa woman who lived near the commission's 344 Slater St. headquarters. At Tuesday's hearing, a Bell Canada employee read out the woman's name, address and phone number to shocked audience members. A National Post reporter contacted the woman and found that she'd never heard of Lemire, Steacy, or his investigations. Unless she is secretly working undercover for Steacy, it appears that the commission cynically invaded the privacy of an innocent citizen in order to pursue an obscure Web-trawling vendetta; and then caused her name to be read out to the Canadian public, thereby identifying her as an unwitting conduit to neo-Nazi Web sites. One likes to imagine that the privacy commissioner will be having a chat with Dean et al. in coming days.

This is absolutely horrifying. Just think about it. The HRC is trolling and baiting using an innocent citizen's IP address, and then her name gets dragged into this abysmal, taxpayer-funded sinkhole of a Kangaroo Court!

To be fair to Dan McTeague, he has already come out in support of fellow Liberal MP Dr. Keith Martin's private member's bill M - 446. (Note how he says there is a "reversal of the presumption of innocence" in the clip. How ironic considering the Martin case where we talk about Mexico's horrible justice system!!)

I think we need Dan McTeague's help in getting this issue front and centre in the media.

Every citizen in Canada should be warned about how Free Speech is not given 'any value' by HRC's Dean Steacy.

Because when you think about it, aren't even Canadians like Brenda Martin more threatened by lack of free speech than anything else?

* * * *

Update: The Belleville Intelligencer is obviously not so intelligent.

Martin rally still on this weekend. How about a rally against the HRC, folks? Or are you not concerned about your right to free speech and being able to hold rallies?

CTV Update: Brenda Martin says 'leaked' report violates privacy.

Ottawa Citizen: Don't throw stones at Mexico by Gar Purdy.

Uncommon Truths - Brenda Martin: Ms. Damned if you do...

Puerto Vallarta Scene Forum - with postings by Deb Tieleman.

CTV W5 (background)

Privacy czar looking into ‘leaked' report on jailed Canadian - Globe.

Liberals blast Bernier over leak - Charles Rusnell.

Privacy czar will probe Brenda Martin report leak - CTV.

'Dozens' of people at rally - Globe

Bill Casey, won't you please stay home? (With Update)

2008-03-27T19:36:00.009-04:00

Well, in any case you may want to reconsider your trip after reading this.

- On the other hand, I don't blame you for wanting to get a little sun.

(Update - A reader informs me the meeting will be in Ottawa. Well, that should help reduce his carbon footprint.)

* * * *

Big Update: Liberal MP calls for probe into 'leaked' report on jailed Canadian. That would be this.

McTeague calls it a 'privacy' issue. The real problem likely is that he doesn't think references to beauty pageants, fries and soda are going to win her much sympathy.

So who's being conned now?

Akin to CanWest

2008-03-27T14:24:00.009-04:00

Update: Confirmation received from the Star. (o.k. - Not the best source but it will have to do.)

Funny the difference a few days can make.

* * * *

Mmm... I'm trying to imagine David Akin as a Global National reporter.

But as a National Post correspondent? I'm afraid that CTV environment may have contaminated him.

Well, we'll see.

* * * *

Update: Warren K. chimes in here.

Analyzing the 'attack dog' tactics

2008-03-27T12:14:00.004-04:00

I think Wilson's nailed it in Comments at Return of the Trust Tory:

...But it is fun to watch McGuinty racked over the hot coals.
If Dalton (and Kinsella) had his eye on replacing Dion, the CPC are getting their punches in early.
Double delicious is that McGuinty is trying to spend his way out of hard times, just like Bob Rae did. and the comparison is made at every opportunity the CPC gets (or creates).

And judging from the reaction at the blog of the Kicking-Ass Master himself, it's having the desired effect.

As always, looking way ahead at the big picture...

When is CP going to correct the bribe story?

2008-03-26T21:43:00.011-04:00

On Monday the Canadian Press released a story stating that Alyn Waage said that Brenda Martin advised him by letter of a demand by Mexican officials for $500,000 to be able to get out of prison.

Funny thing is, it's not true according to Brenda Martin herself who supposedly told Charles Rusnell, who then mentioned it on Tuesday's Charles Adler show.

You can hear it yourself by checking out CJOB's audio vault, and selecting Tuesday, March 25 at around the 1:40 p.m. mark. (H/T Orville who's been right on top of this story, and Peter 12 in comments at DMB)

Rusnell clearly says on the tape that Brenda told him that she has never been asked directly to pay a bribe... That it doesn't work that way anyhow - it's all done through a law firm.

So there may be a nuance of truth somewhere along the line, but the con man's version of the story is shaky at best. So where's the update, CP?

Meanwhile, a couple of MP's are still perplexed by the $500,000 bribe allegation.

Why is it so hard to get the facts, and why weren't Waage's allegations verified before the story was released?

If I wanted fiction, I'd have bought a novel.

* * * *

Thursday Update: H/T to reader Lee for this one - Officials kept contact with imprisoned Canadian.

Boycott Earth Hour

2008-03-26T15:30:00.006-04:00

Update: Do not miss the Season finale RMR - (Season 5; episode 19; second clip) - Light Zapper!!!

* * * *

I'm supporting Diogenes Borealis in his Earth Hour boycott. This is just more trumped-up feel-good green nonsense.

Peter Foster calls it Earth Hour's soft fascism:

...Earth Hour was in fact pioneered last year in Sydney by WWF Australia, advised by advertising giant Leo Burnet. Leo Burnet's chairman, Nigel Marsh, demonstrated his skill both in semantic perversion and moral obfuscation when he declared: "I'm an optimist about climate change. The human race eventually abolished slavery and gave women the vote. We eventually work it out."

Get the implication? "Deny" the dubious science or dangerous politics of anthropogenic climate change and you're the kind of person who would support slavery and keep women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen!

On the other hand, Lorrie Goldstein suggests that perhaps the topic of climate change is no longer so relevant, since the Ontario budget barely addressed the supposedly catastrophic problem:

...Finally, and most tellingly, the media didn't ask one question of Duncan, Conservative Leader John Tory or NDP Leader Howard Hampton in three separate news conferences, about Premier Dalton McGuinty's plans to fight climate change -- not even as we all merrily prepare for "Earth Hour" this Saturday.

And all this astounding lack of interest about global warming -- according to Al Gore the greatest threat humanity has ever faced -- in the province which, next to Alberta, is Canada's biggest greenhouse gas emitter! Shameful!

Of course, what it all demonstrates better than any opinion poll could is how much of the ongoing hysteria about global warming only survives in the rarefied atmosphere of constantly re-enforced political and media propaganda...

Exactly.

So pardon me if I opt out of this propaganda stunt.

I'll have every light bulb in the house turned on - and they'll all be incandescent.

* * * *

Thursday Update: Oh good grief! Look what's on the front page of today's Record. What a thing to wake up to!! (On the plus side, I did finally send in my cancellation notice.)

Looks like Lorrie Goldstein is going to have a busy Earth Hour - Minutes count when saving earth:

...HERE IS MY ITINERARY:

8:00 p.m. -- Turn off lights before leaving house -- naked -- mindful of George Monbiot's warning in Heat: How to Stop the Planet From Burning, that the campaign against global warming is a campaign in favour of austerity. In this light, I have decided to give up clothes, the manufacture of which is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

8:01 p.m. -- Hug tree.

8:02 p.m. -- Lecture next-door neighbour about his stupid idea of holding community barbecue to celebrate Earth Hour, noting burning charcoal, propane and natural gas to heat barbecues emits GHG. Angrily ask neighbour why he is cooking chicken and hamburger, given that meat production is a major source of GHG. Demand neighbour serve chicken and hamburger to guests raw, noting food poisoning is a small price to pay for preventing cataclysmic climate change and making the world safe for Al Gore...

Please read the whole thing. It is hilarious!!!

Updating the Brenda Martin spin-cycle

2008-03-26T11:45:00.008-04:00

There is just no end to the complexities of the Brenda Martin story, and half the problem is trying to sort out the fact from the fiction.

Last night on CTV's The National they played up some breaking news about having gained access to some kind of bank records showing Brenda Martin's 'investment' and a sum of nearly that amount refunded back to her afterwards by Alyn Waage.

I have to ask myself, so what?

Waage has allegedly declared that Brenda wouldn't be released until a bribe was paid, but Orville at Dust My Broom has confirmation that Brenda denies this.

Charles Rusnell reports that Martin supporters say that Mexico could simply expel Martin, but the CTV story said no - that the Mexican authorities say it's too late for that.

So where does the truth lie?

Claire Hoy probably has the best take on this to date:

...But there comes a point - at least for me - where the constant carping and the serial whining about your plight changes from legitimate concerns to an annoying sense of absolute entitlement.

Let's look at the reality here. The main reason her case has dragged on for two years is because she has complicated it, turning it into a constitutional matter before the Mexican courts. That takes time there just as it would here.

And while there is much screaming in Ottawa - where the Liberals, wouldn't you know, are trying to blame the government for Martin's plight - the fact is that a two-year wait for a trial is not unusual in Canada, either. Indeed, two years is considered rather swift in legal circles, particularly when it involves serious and/or complicated matters.

Yet we as Canadians, or at least many of us - along with most of the media - have recently adopted the position that if a Canadian is in jail outside the country there's automatically an injustice being done - to the Canadian.

Meanwhile, MP Rick Norlock gives us his side of the story, saying that it may be a matter of only weeks rather than months before this is resolved. So progress is being made - just not fast enough for Brenda or the opposition parties.

I sincerely hope that once Brenda Martin is back on Canadian soil that she shows some kind of gratitude for the efforts being made on her behalf.

And I look forward to hearing the true story someday.

Stephane Dion is NOT a wimp!

2008-03-26T07:09:00.004-04:00

Via Dr. Roy we learn that there are more men disenchanted with Stephane Dion, than there are women who supposedly can't warm up to Harper.

...Conservatives correctly complain the oft-documented aversion of women voters to their leader is actually less pronounced than male discomfort with Mr. Dion, a trend increasingly evident in Ipsos Reid polling numbers shared with senior public servants last week.

Ipsos-Reid president Darrell Bricker notes that the traditional softness of male support for the Liberals has drooped to an alarmingly flaccid state since Mr. Dion became party leader 16 months ago.

The Harper Conservative male-voter lead over the Dion Liberals is now at an almost insurmountable 14 points -- 41% versus 27% for the Liberals...

So, in the interest of trying to protect the CPC's best weapon, here is my suggestion to the Liberal party - Try a T-shirt.

How to call in to talk radio

2008-03-25T20:25:00.005-04:00

CP's Alexander Panetta reports that some folks seem a bit incensed by the CPC's offer to coach talk-show callers with party talking points in an effort to counter some of the generally pro-Liberal MSM. Apparently CFRA's Mark Sutcliffe isn't impressed, although he doesn't think they get a 'ton' of callers using the crib sheets.

Actually I had no idea such a service was available, and therefore felt compelled to check it out myself. You go to the main party site, and then click on login to My Campaign, which takes you here.

Then you click on Call Talk Radio, input your postal code and topic you wish to discuss, and Poof! You're taken to a page showing all the talk shows in your immediate area, complete with times and tips on how to call in. The 'talking points' are merely lists of information to highlight Conservative accomplishments and failings of the other parties.

All in all, a fairly innovative and interactive program. It could even be useful to Conservative bloggers.

However, as the site suggests, you need to be prepared to ad-lib it with the show's host if he or she interrupts with some questions. As such, I doubt Joe Blow off the street would be inclined to get much use out of it. I always think it's better to talk from the heart on talk shows.

Liberal party spokesman Daniel Lauzon seems quite outraged:

“This undermines our democracy,” said Liberal party spokesman Daniel Lauzon.

“It's not up for someone in Ottawa to tell someone in Blind River what they should think. . . All we tell our supporters is, 'Speak your mind. Get out there and talk.'

“Never do we dictate messaging.”

My gosh, you'd think Stephen Harper himself arm wrestles every Conservative supporter to the ground and forces a recitation of the party line at gun-point.

More likely Mr. Lauzon is just expressing a sour grapes regret that they didn't think of it first.

* * * *

Update: One of my readers reminded me about that little CBC-gate incident:

Compare it to CBC employees 'telling' MP's what to ask in the HoC:
Which method is more subtle and manipulative? How powerful is a caller to a radio show?
Does it threaten the democratic process in the HoC?

Not to mention that in that case it was the Liberals needing to be fed questions, which doesn't speak well for their integrity, judgment and imagination.

- Especially when the CBC doesn't even know that Bill Casey is an Independent until a reader tells them.

Sheesh!

* * * *

Wednesday Update: Victor Wong says this is old news. Someone should tell Alex Panetta.

Thursday Update: The Chronicle Herald obviously hasn't read Victor's post.

Caledonia citizens get back at Bryant

2008-03-25T15:30:00.007-04:00

For anyone following the Caledonia debacle, this post by Jonathan Kay is excellent. It has links to several recent events including Michael Bryant's pathetic use of YouTube as a PR forum for communicating with residents.

Well the townsfolk have returned the favour. Videos can be found here. (The Spectator suggests trying here).

Psst, Rick Mercer... I see skit potential here!

Good on the National Post for continuing to be one of the few MSM voices supporting the citizens of Caledonia and the theory of a non-discriminatory police and justice system - even if it doesn't exist in Ontario at the present time.

La révolte silencieuse against the emperor with "no instinct"

2008-03-25T08:45:00.016-04:00

For Canadian political junkies, these are interesting times.

The Globe's Daniel Leblanc gives us a peek into the inner turmoil of the Liberal party's Quebec ranks, and it ain't a pretty picture (Dion facing revolt in Quebec ranks).

We first heard of this discord several weeks ago when Joël-Denis Bellavance alluded to a révolte silencieuse on Mike Duffy Live. Both Bellevance and Jean LaPierre had heard rumours that Bob Rae had control of the Quebec wing and was wanting to wait until the March 17th by-elections had passed and Rae had time in front of the cameras in Parliament before forcing an election.

However, the Silent Revolt is getting louder - LeBlanc suggests even more serious in-fighting and lack of faith in Stéphane Dion. Lisa Frulla in particular is surprisingly candid with her remarks:

“He has no instinct,” former Liberal minister and political commentator Liza Frulla said in an interview.

“At a certain point, people feel it if there is something wrong, even if they don't know exactly what it is. But he, poor Stéphane, doesn't feel it.”

She also has strong words for Dion's Quebec lieutenant:

Ms. Frulla also said publicly what many Liberals are saying privately about Mr. Dion's lieutenant in Quebec, Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette.

“She is abrasive and she is narcissistic,” Ms. Frulla said.

The former minister of Canadian Heritage argued that Ms. Hervieux-Payette is failing to connect with grassroots organizers.

“The more people know her, the more they run away. She has met a number of riding association presidents, and these people … are leaving,” Ms. Frulla said.

(I sure can agree with her on that one. I can barely stand to watch the woman on MDL.)

In any case, it would appear that Quebec cannot be counted on for Liberal support at this moment in time, which may push the likelihood of an election off until the fall or later - especially after the dismal performance of the LPC in two of the four recent by-elections.

If that happens, it will be hard to imagine Bob Rae ranting about the government on one hand, but then actually joining the Party of Hand Warmers on the other, as the LPC continues to run away from votes in the Commons. Will Bob Rae declare mutiny?

Which leads me to the slugfest between Jim Flaherty and Dalton McGuinty. Why would Flaherty continually poke McGuinty in the eye regarding tax policy and its alleged affect on the economy?

The answer may lie in John Ivison's observations in today's Post:

...But Mr. Flaherty's unprecedented interference in Ontario's budgetary process was not designed to persuade his Ontario counterpart, Dwight Duncan, to shred the already printed budget and present a cobbled-together alternative more to his liking.

It was designed to send the message that, even though many Ontarians often think of the federal Conservatives as villains, they are really the "goodies" -- the guardians of fiscal probity. By contrast, Liberals, both federal and provincial, are spendthrifts who will lead us all into a new era of deficits, unemployment, homelessness and rickets...

So all this may well be a carefully honed-plan to set up the CPC as looking like the party to rely on in times of economic difficulties which would, if it all goes according to Hoyle, allow a rich harvest of discontented Ontario voters assuming a worsening of the economic downturn - especially if provinces that follow Flaherty's advice end up faring better than Ontario.

And with the Quebec wing in tatters and Ontario voters looking for responsible, effective fiscal policy, the scene becomes fertile for either an election with positive results for the Conservatives, or else the Liberals continue to enable the present government to enjoy a tacit majority.

Your move, mon petit empereur.

* * * *

Update: Via Jack's Newswatch - This is an absolute must read by Luc Schulz: Ontario's Economy Run by Monkeys.

Another interesting theory here: Ottawa Citizen - Bash Ontario, Win Voters Elsewhere.

CTV - Dion urges restive Quebec wing to pull itself together.

Also worth reading - Fuschi's Canadian Forum - The great (taxcuts vs. bribes) debate.

Terence Corcoran - In Ontario, it's spend and be damned.

What is 'gender'?

2008-03-24T13:12:00.003-04:00

The story of the so-called man who is pregnant got me to thinking...

What is the point of gender anyway? The "man" identifies as male because his breasts have been removed? A lot of woman have that done involuntarily and that doesn't make them male. He also was taking male hormones, but 'chose' to retain his female reproductive parts. Why?

Margaret Somerville states:

"Where I would do a reversal on this is to say, 'You've artificially made yourself a man. You're not a man, you're a woman and you're having a baby and you're actually having your own baby. Just because you put on a clown suit, doesn't mean that you don't still exist underneath."

To take a little poetic licence with a well known phrase, it's like putting a jock-strap on a sow.

Obviously the 'man' is still going to have female chromosomes.

Which leads me to the question, why bother with gender at all? Why have it on drivers' licenses and other legal documents? If we can decide on a whim that we'll a particular gender, then what's the point?

And perhaps for "women" who are still oppressed in various parts of the world, that could very well be the best outcome possible.

The 'Save Brenda / Slam the Feds'-fest continues

2008-03-24T10:15:00.010-04:00

According to CP, Brenda Martin is outraged that Conservative MP Helena Guergis 'partied' while Ms. Martin was "languishing" in her Mexican prison cell.

Jason Kenney is quoted in the Chronicle Herald report with a possible explanation:

Martin's criminal case was put on hold for two months until a Mexican judge ruled on a constitutional challenge raised by her lawyer.

Conservative MP Jason Kenney last week told The Canadian Press that Guergis couldn't do much until the judge ruled on the court challenge.

``It was really a bit of a moot question at that point,'' Kenney said.

Well, I'm no legal expert, so it's hard for me to make a judgment on the situation. A bit of moral support couldn't have hurt though.

In any case Jason Kenney's recent visit has apparently escaped the minds of the Brenda supporters who have set up a website dedicated to her release. - Former PM Paul Martin is the only politician mentioned on the front page as having visited her:

...Recently, Brenda has been on suicide watch, having been removed from the general prison population several times now. There has been extensive national media coverage on Brenda, who has been emotionally supported by her childhood friend Debra Tieleman. The Government of Canada has failed to act in intervening in this case, despite pleas from citizens around Canada, opposition MPs, Brenda’s mother and Brenda herself. Recently, Brenda was visited by former Prime Minister Paul Martin in prison to offer support.

Brenda feels that if she is not helped now, with the support of the Canadian Government, she feels she will perish in prison...

However, Brenda Martin herself now seems to be fearing a backlash from the Boycott Mexico bandwagon which some over-zealous MP's had considered mounting.

Just a small suggestion here, but my feeling is that Brenda Martin would garner a lot more support if she and her cheerleaders attempted to tone down the partisan attacks just a tad. By trying to shame the government, they've actually ended up alienating a large segment of Canadian sympathy.

Let's hear the facts. Let's try to stay focussed and rational.

But partisan sniping is going to come back to bite the opposition, and perhaps even Brenda Martin herself.

* * * *

Update: Mexican officials asked for $500K to free Brenda Martin, says her former boss - 570 News:

...Alyn Waage, who is in a U.S. prison over an Internet scam, says Martin told him of the demand in a letter.

He says it's unlikely Mexican authorities will release Martin from the Puente Grande women's prison near Guadalajara until he pays up...

Arthur Weinreb - Calls to boycott Mexico - a couple of years too late.

Calgary Herald - Martin snared in bribe-stained justice system: Waage.

It just gets more and more convoluted.

The Politic - Brenda Martin and Canadians detained abroad.

Tuesday Update: National Post - Mexico holding Martin over bribe: con man.

But Orville isn't buying it.

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T15:57:00.004-04:00

I was looking for something 'Easter-ish" to post today, and got sidetracked by all the woes of the world. However, I'll put all that aside for tomorrow and focus on the word "Hope", which is what Easter is to me.

Ian Hunter has written a beautiful piece about the essential differences between this realm and the next in Saturday's National Post.

He also mentions Pope Benedict who has courageously baptized a well known Muslim this Easter. Steve Janke has the story here.

Hunter's article contains one of my favourite quotes from scripture:

The essence of Christian hope was best summed up in a few words when Jesus said: "In this world, you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."

Be strong. Be brave. Have hope. Don't give up.

Happy Easter.

One more reason to stop public funding for CBC

2008-03-22T16:48:00.008-04:00

This is pretty poor:

A Nova Scotia MP said he may urge Canadians to avoid travelling to Mexico if a jailed Canadian woman, Brenda Martin, is not set free soon.

Bill Casey, the Conservative Party MP for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley made the remarks in a letter sent to Mexico's ambassador to Canada...

Good grief! What is this? Amateur hour?

* * * *

Update: CBC caught the error! I wonder which member of the brain trust at the Mothercorps figured that one out? Ah, it came from comments. Ha!

* * * *

This is priceless! Via Liberal Arts and Minds who links to this Chronicle Herald article... Comment by 'Family Doc':

The best way to ensure Canadians stay out of Mexico is to remove all Immodium stocked on pharmacy shelves here. I am sure the medical community would lend its support.

Priceless.

* * * *

Sunday Update: Greg Weston has really jumped the shark here - Prisoner hopes to see enlightenment of Day. "As Brenda Martin reaches for what may be her only lifeline out of Mexican hell, she can only pray for the amazing grace of Stockwell Day."

Oh pull-eeze!!! Is that an Easter reference, Greggy? What a load of simpering saccharin.

Next it will be, Save Saint Brenda from the "foreign hellhole"!

Just how gullible does he think we are?

Living with the consquences of the Nanny State

2008-03-22T09:45:00.004-04:00

Thanks again to SDA for the link today. Tony's comment regarding this article seems to have piqued her interest as it did mine. Is "Sandy Smith" an alias for Brenda Martin? There certainly appears to be no end to the intrigue.

The Record surprised me today with a fairly level-headed editorial on the controversy - Harsh realities for jailed woman:

...Nonetheless, there appears to be little more the Canadian government can do. There have been more than 100 contacts between federal government representatives and either Martin or Mexican officials. Canadian officials at the highest levels -- including Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, and possibly even Harper himself, have spoken to their counterparts about her case, urging fair and swift treatment. Other Canadians, including former prime minister Paul Martin, and several MPs, have visited her and telephoned. There is no doubt that Mexican officials, from President Felipe Calderon on down, are intensely aware of her case

But as Harper himself points out, Mexico is a sovereign country, and this case is one for the courts, which must be free of political intervention. There would be an uproar, and swift resignations, were Harper, or any other politician, to step in if they disagreed with a judge's rulings here.

We must remember, too, that unfortunately Martin's case is hardly unique. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, about 1,750 Canadians are today imprisoned in other countries and the Canadian government has the same responsibility to them that it has to Martin. The bulk of these prisoners are in the U.S., but others are in jails in countries as diverse as China, Australia, Thailand and Peru, mostly on drug, immigration or fraud charges.

Many doubtless are guilty as charged. Others have been dealt with in ways many Canadians will consider harsh. For example, Kitchener mother Loan Ngoc Bui is serving 40 years for drug trafficking after a police officer in Illinois stopped her car and found 3,710 ecstasy pills hidden in it. Her boyfriend, who was driving, says Bui knew nothing of the drugs.

But Americans take a different view of drugs than we do in Canada, and as a result, Bui is serving out a sentence harsher than a Canadian court would dole out even for a convicted murderer.

The federal government has lived up to its obligations to Martin, who has had the benefit of dozens of high-level interventions, something most Canadians imprisoned abroad never see. Ottawa must continue be vigilant, and ensure her case is dealt with swiftly and fairly, but beyond that, Martin's fate lies in the hands of a Mexican judge.

(Just when I was determined to cancel my subscription... Oh well.)

After reading that editorial, a couple of thoughts came to mind. First of all, as the Record noted, the Mexican government would probably like nothing better than to have Brenda Martin ejected from Mexico forthwith. By now her notorious case is undoubtedly an embarrassment and a drag to their tourist industry. So how will putting pressure on either the Canadian or Mexican government change anything people????

As Harper was quoted by the Record, "Mexico is a sovereign country, and this case is one for the courts, which must be free of political intervention."

O.K. I know that the Mexican legal system is reported to be corrupt, and there is a presumption of guilt until innocence is proven, but it is still a sovereign country. Brenda Martin left Canada and went there of her own volition to work. And yes, she has been in prison already for two years awaiting charges (which have now been laid) and trial, which has its own quaint little idiosyncrasies in the Mexican system. And yes, she has been imprisoned with already-convicted women.

However according to many sources, she has received special treatment in this high-profile case - certainly much better than many other Canadians in the same plight.

Which brings me to point number two. Isn't it interesting that anyone committing a crime seems to want to either return to Canada or stay in Canada when it comes time to pay the piper? I'm thinking about Schreiber, several Canadian pedophiles, and countless others who know that Canada is an easy mark when it comes to serving sentences and the comfort of that environment. And the Lefties were in shock that our Charter Rights didn't extend to Afghan detainees!

Could it be that our Canadian system is so lax to the point of creating a mentality of rights-entitlement that has undercut the fundamental need to be held accountable for our actions?

Just go where you want, do what you want and Canada will bail you out afterwards if you embarrass the government enough.

There must be a middle ground somewhere.

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Update: Tony's viewpoint: The other side to the Brenda Martin story.