Trying to make sense out of the senseless - Updated: Murder charge laid

(Update at end.)

This tragic story about the seemingly random murder of local resident Hunter Brown has been haunting me - Who murdered Hunter Brown?

Bad enough to have it happen anytime, but at Christmas it is especially poignant and disturbing. I can't imagine the horrors this family must be going through right now. As his son said on the local news yesterday, he didn't deserve to go that way.

This senior was the epitome of the Christmas spirit. He was killed as he set out on his traditional delivery of Christmas cards to his neighbours.


And of course there was the recent sad story about the woman who was killed by the snow plough near London. A horrible accident.

Please give your family members a big hug every day. You just never know.

* * * *

Update: Local TV news reports another assault in Kitchener, by a man uttering negatives references to God and attacking a resident who was shoveling his driveway.

More here.

Post - Police warn public to look out for Waterloo attacker.

CTV - ARREST IN ATTACK POSSIBLY RELATED TO SENIOR'S SLAYING.

* * * *

Wednesday Update: Murder charge laid after dramatic arrest.

Neo - Cops bag Christmas Card Killer.

Stephane Dion on MDL

Graham Richardson did a credible job interviewing Stephane Dion tonight on CTV's MDL (as opposed to last night when I seem to recall that he introduced a NDP MP as a Liberal).

At one point, Graham asked Dion, "Are you confident . . . that you can communicate with English Canada in a way the competes with Mr. Harper or is that still a challenge?"


Dion (complete with hand gestures):

"I think it's a work in progress. My aim is to speak English good enough that when people are driving with the traffic, with the noise, that they hear me; they understand..."

Does that English tutor come with a money-back guarantee, Mr. Dion?

* * * *

Wednesday Update: I had trouble past Dion's pathetic English but others have done a great job fisking the (lack of) content.

Loonie trumps Environment - Updated

(Update at end)

In spite of all the histrionics emanating from Bali last week, the issue of the Environment didn't even make CTV's Top Ten Canadian Stories.

More bad news for the Kyoto Kult - The Looney was Number One.

Reality bites, huh?

* * * *

Related: Lorne Gunter - For Kyoto's Champions, the meetings never end:

...Achievement means little to the UN's climate crusaders. It's the appearance of activity that counts. Keep moving, keep meeting, keep the shrimp toast and single malts coming, and the need actually to accomplish some tangible environmental outcome becomes inconsequential.

The Kyoto process is the ultimate triumph of symbolism over substance.

Consider the reception for Kevin Rudd, the new Australian prime minister. He wins power on the eve of the Bali conference and announces his first act as PM will be to sign the Kyoto accord and agree to deep emissions cuts --perhaps as much as 60% by 2020. He then flies off to the Indonesia resort where the 15,000 delegates and hangers-on welcome him as a conquering hero.

But three days into the UN gathering, Australia's electricity commission tells the new prime minister that his government's proposals will lead to a rise in electrical bills of at least 30%, perhaps more. Such an increase would almost surely stunt Australia's booming economy. So Mr. Rudd backs down. He announces his country will not agree to immediate cuts, but rather now favours cuts of 50-60% by 2050.


These are the same levels and deadline that have been advocated by Canada's Conservative government for more than a year. But because our Tories refuse to pay homage to Kyoto as the be-all and end-all of environmental compassion, they are vilified by delegates while the Rudd government is celebrated. Symbolism over substance...

One of Lorne's best columns, IMHO.


Also see Grey Canada - Emissions by country.

* * * *

Tuesday Update: Remember Austyn, our resident Political Prodigy?

Well it seems that last night he and his Dad were discussing BCer in Toronto's post - CTV omits global warming/environment from top stories list.

His Dad sent me this email:

Hi Joanne,

I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm pretty sure that you remember my very smart son Austyn.

He was reading over my shoulder as I was going through my regular reads of blogs on the internet. As I was scrolling through liblogs he got me to go back to BCer's. He wanted to read it and after we read it and the comments he asked me if I noticed anything.

Austyn's point was someone that is so concerned that the environment/global warming was not in the top ten of Canadian news stories, but still flies all over to re qualify for Aeroplan Elite status, obviously is not actually concerned about global warming...

I see a future Blogging Tory in the making. Well done, Austyn!

Poppy = War = Evil

In case you were staying awake nights wondering who makes up that tiny percentage that Justice Woolcott was trying to protect from the trauma of having to see a POPPY in court . . . We seem to have found a spokesman - The Poppy is a Symbol that Represents War:

I support Justice Margaret Woolcott who did not want a police officer wearing a poppy in her court. The wearing of poppies is no longer a neutral symbol of honour to our fallen heroes. Without intending disrespect to our veterans of the past, present, or future, I want readers to know that, for a small but growing percentage of Canadians, the poppy has become a partisan symbol of acquiescence to the necessity for war and violence as a solution to human conflicts...

I'm guessing he's not big on "Support our Troops" ribbons or pins either.

* * * *

Tuesday Update: Excellent rebuttal letter in today's Record (Letter of the Day) - Poppy is the symbol of the price of war:

...If Rev. Bosch is correct that most pacifists focus on the poppy as a symbol of war, I trust they can accept that to me and to many of those who came back alive, and to many of those related to those who fought and died, the poppy does not represent war nor the taking of lives. Instead, it represents the freedoms we enjoy today, personal sacrifice, unbelievable hardship, lifetime comradeship, gravestones in a far-off country and the knowledge that we need to try harder to avoid letting people like Adolf Hitler ever again rise to power.

The poppy is a symbol of peace. The poppy cries out "Please, never again. The cost is way too high."

A measure of class

I have to grudgingly admit that my partisan bias against Karen Redman has been somewhat mollified by a letter I received today, which was sent in reply to my indignant email when Ms. Redman backed up Irene Mathyssen during Scantygate.

In contrast to Ms. Mathyssen who seemed to have been dragged kicking and screaming into the House of Commons to deliver a formal apology, Karen Redman had the decency to issue an unqualified and heartfelt mea culpa very soon after the original debacle.

In any case, my angry letter has been answered in record time, considering that it was sent by snail-mail:

"Thank you for contacting my office concerning the recent incident in the House of Commons where I made a comment regarding allegations that had been made to my colleague...

I sincerely regret the comments that I made in the House of Commons and I have apologized to James Moore, Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlan, personally and in the House. I have a good deal of respect for Mr. Moore and I regret the hurt that was caused by my comments..."

We all make mistakes.

It's what we do next that makes the difference.

If you get stuck in the snow today, don't do this!

Big storm in Southern Ontario today. I walked to the store and by the time I headed home it was like a blizzard. My eyes are still stinging.

Anyway, I just received this link from an acquaintance:

How NOT to pull your car out of the Snow.

Warning! Do not watch the video while eating or drinking, or your computer screen will be wearing it about half way through.

I learned the hard way.

* * * *

Storm Update here.

The Honourable Member from CBC has the floor. Order!

Some folks are trying to downplay the significance of the allegations that the CBC fed questions to the Liberals in preparation for the Mulroney Inquisition.


But reader 'Ron' made a good point on a previous post:

At Sat Dec 15, 12:36:00 AM EST, Ron said…

The comments about Szabo and his handling of this line of questioning during the committee meeting is bang on -- I watched the proceedings and was surprised he allowed this line of questioning - up to then he was relatively within bounds in his chairing of the committee but that ruling was way out to lunch. I want to know if he was aware of it in advance; did he know the source; who instructed him to allow the question. I hope the Conservatives come back with questions about Liberal actions and behaviour. Mulroney may not have evidence or direct knowledge but neither did Schriber - just lay out a few suspicions, inuendoes, and broad quesions on what may have happened to the 40 million missing in the sponsorship matter. Since Szabo is so free with the range of questioning, I am sure there will be no problem with this line of questioning.

Sandy also makes a great point at Jack's Newswatch:

...what is not right is when a journalist influences a member of parliament in what questions to ask on a parliamentary committee. Why? Because that member of parliament has been elected by his or her constituents, is under oath and is granted parliamentary immunity from prosecution of libel.

Therefore, if members of parliament use leading questions provided by a reporter, the journalist and his or her media outlet are enjoying parliamentary privilege by proxy — the result of which could be unfounded allegations, innuendo and smear with absolute impunity...

Sandy also references a great post at The Black Rod.


If this is common practice amongst reporters and elected Members of Parliament, I think we the people need to get involved and scream our heads off!

MSM sure won't do it for us.

* * * *

Update: On the other hand, I have to congratulate the Star for keeping up with this story:

The CBC has begun an internal investigation and possible disciplinary process after one of its parliamentary reporters suggested questions to a Liberal MP on the Commons ethics committee.

The probe follows a formal complaint by the Conservative party. It centres on claims that MP Pablo Rodriguez (L-Honoré-Mercier) directed questions from the CBC to Brian Mulroney during a highly anticipated Commons committee hearing on Thursday.

Now exactly what does the LPC plan to do regarding their part in this alleged collusion?

* * * *

Sunday Update: The Black Rod has a new post up -
Ethics expert investigating CBC-Liberal collusion. CBC Ombudsman Vince Carlin has just been handed the hot potato from Hell.

I think I just found my new favourite blog.


Sandy found an update to the CBC 'investigation' buried at the end of this article.

* * * *

Monday Update: Stephen Taylor - CPC keeps pressure on CBC, shifts focus to Liberals.

Steve Janke - The Conservatives are demanding answers to allegations of Liberal-CBC collusion.

Wudrick Blog - CBCGate: Name that Journo. This is a great post, and Dean Del Mastro actually comments!

Lingering questions

Trying to make sense of the Aqsa Parvez murder becomes even more difficult as time goes on.

Today's National Post describes the relationship between Aqsa and her parents through the eyes of the Tahir family, which had offered her a place to stay prior to Aqsa's death (Aqsa's last days):

...The Tahirs say that days after she moved in with them, Mr. and Ms. Parvez came over, and both families had a two hour meeting with Aqsa.

Her mother cried. Mr. Parvez calmly implored his daughter in Punjabi to tell him why she left and what he could do to bring her home. Aqsa barely spoke, except to say that she "just wanted change," according to Ms. Tahir. Privately Aqsa told her that she wanted "to get more out of life".

Mr. Parvez appeared to be relieved that his daughter was safe, said Ms. Tahir, and not alone on the street. He was content to see Aqsa living in a household that resembled his own, said Ms. Tahir, and told her to stay as long as she needed to. Aqsa asked if she could bring items from her house back, and he said they would arrange that "together."

"That's how he left," said Ms. Tahir, an immigration and paralegal consultant who immigrated from Pakistan 10 years ago.

But Aqsa, it seemed, was still searching for independence.

A few days after that first meeting, over coffee in Tim Hortons, Aqsa told her father that she wanted to live on her own, she wanted to go to school in the mornings and work in the evenings. Mr. Parvez offered to let her take over the basement. Aqsa said she would think about it...

( . . . )

Aqsa did not have a boyfriend, said Ms. Tahir, who expressed dismay at the "rumours" in the press, including speculation that it was conflict over wearing the hijab that triggered the alleged murder.

The Tahirs did not know of any dispute over Aqsa wearing a hijab and said that the older Parvez sisters did not always wear the head scarf.

By that account, you would think that all was sunshine and roses with this family - Just a small issue of teenage rebellion.

So exactly what went so horribly wrong when Aqsa went home to collect more clothes?

Something just doesn't add up here.

* * * *

Saturday Update: Michael Coren - Denial is sickening.

Sunday Update: Lorrie Goldstein - Murder elicits the extreme.

CBC reviewing complaint - Story getting MSM attention

The CBC is reviewing the allegations that one of their reporters fed questions to the Liberals - CBC reviewing claim reporter fed questions to Liberal MP.

(Update: CBC is messing with the links. See National Newswatch. Story now found under 'Arts & Entertainment'. Ain't that the truth...)

Considering how much the Liberals discounted this, things could get interesting.


Check out MDL link - Mike Duffy Live: Scott Reid and Tim Powers on the allegation that the Liberals allowed a media outlet to write their questions.

Listen to Scott Reid deny, deny, deny.


Stephen Taylor has the whole story here.

Also see Steve Janke.

Canwest has picked it up - Alleged CBC-Liberal collusion triggers Tory complaint.

Now the Star. H/T Wudrick Blog.

The Canadian Press story here discusses the outrage in the conservative blogosphere towards the end of the report.

* * * *

Saturday Update: National Post - CBC looks into allegations over Mulroney questioning.

Paul Wells - Don't Tell Doug Finley...

Sandy has a great post on this at Jack's Newswatch. Are reporters supposed to have 'Parliamentary Privilege'?

Dr. Roy - MSM reports on CBC misdeeds. (Comment from 'Ron' nails it, as far as I'm concerned.)

Do you know where YOUR health tax is going?

Christina has some pretty harsh words for Dwight Duncan this morning - Duncan Doles out Surplus:

In his fall economic outlook released yesterday, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan reported revenues are up $2.6 billion. Coincidentally, the so-called Ontario Health Premium raked in $2.6 billion in 2006-07 and is projected to bring in $2.7 billion in 2007-08.

( . . . )

So who did Duncan give that extra money to? Hint: He didn't give it back to me and you. No, yesterday the government announced $3 billion in hand-outs -- to businesses. That's right, they're speeding up the elimination of the capital tax for the manufacturing and resource sector.

She call it the 'Reverse Robin Hood' - "Your health tax money goes to give fat-cat banks and other businesses a tax break." Oh, and of course Duncan slips his pal David Miller a "bail-out", according to Blizzard.

Well the Liberals have never denied that most of the so-called "health" premium or tax goes into General Revenues, so her story seems plausible. That fact was highlighted by the Globe during the past election:

...what the Liberals call "a health premium" is really a surtax that goes into general revenues, with only a notional allocation to health care.

Personally, I'm not going to get worked up about this. Uncle Dalton and his well-paid friends knows what's best. To be fair, Ontario does need to do something to mitigate the exodus of manufacturing, but as Christina says, let's call it a business assistance tax or a transit tax or a even a 'keep Liberals elected' tax. But don't call it a health anything when the money goes to general revenues - left to dole out for the most politically expedient cause of the day.

So if your kids have to go without this winter because of the health tax, just feel warm knowing that you're doing your part to bail out big business and David Miller.

It's the Ontario way.

* * * *

Update: Record - Let Santa Dalton keep on giving.

Breaking - Did CBC coach the Liberals?

Afternoon Breaking News: CTV's Mike Duffy show reports that Dean Del Mastro has issued a press release in relation to Jean LaPierre's earlier allegations on CTV that the CBC had sent questions to Pablo Rodriguez to ask Mulroney.

5:15 p.m. - Rodriguez denies the allegation on MDL.

Stephen Taylor's on it!

More at Crux-of-the-Matter.

PTBC - Alleged CBC/Liberal Party collusion claimed by former Liberal MP. Joel has part of the press release.

Le Politico - Mike Duffy confirms it: CBC wrote questions for Liberal MPs on ethics committee.

L. Ian MacDonald - As low as they come.

* * * *

(Morning post)


Brian Mulroney is testifying now in front of the Commons Committee and how his life has been impacted by spurious allegations.

This will be quite the day for media and bloggers.

CTV is providing the testimony live.

Paul Szabo is not off to a good start in trying to pretend to be non-partisan. He cuts Mulroney off continually. A Conservative MP asks that Mulroney be granted the same courtesy as Schreiber.

Star - Cash payment 'Not illegal'.

Post - Mulroney denies wrongdoing before ethics committee.


Post live-blogging here! - Brian Mulroney - Live on the Hill.

From the Post:

"He's sitting over there in his mansion in Rockcliffe chuckling ... he got his get out of jail card. He got what he wanted ... I think he seriously misled every member of this house with this false affidavit."

We've all been played for fools.


Macleans also Live-blogging.

Globe - Schreiber will 'say anything, sign anything, do anything' – Mulroney.

CTV - Mulroney explains cash payments from Schreiber.


Update: AA - Did CBC write some of the Liberal questions to BM today?

SDA readers heard it too!

* * * *

Friday Update: Steve Janke - The CBC and yellow journalism. (With very interesting comments)

SDA - Mulroney Testimony: CBC on the hotseat.

Stephen Taylor - Stephen updates post with press release from Doug Finley writing to CBC Ombudsman.

7 p.m. Breaking! CBC reviewing claim reporter fed questions to Liberal MP.

Kitchener judge gets smackdown from National Post

Poppygate started as such a quiet little story buried in the local section of the Kitchener Record.

However, the outrage has been growing. Today the National Post chastises Judge Woolcott for suggesting that police officers not wear a poppy in her courtroom - "Respect the Poppy".


The Post makes this observation:

The judge did not make clear who she thought might consider the poppy an unacceptable symbol, or what their reasoning would be. Not that it matters: To the extent there are hateful eccentrics out there who fail to comprehend the disasters and destruction that would have befallen our world if Canadian and other allied soldiers didn't valiantly put their lives on the line, we don't see why public officials should be pandering to their sensitivities...

Madam Justice, I believe you owe the veterans in this country a sincere apology.

* * * *

Update: Record - No rules banning poppies in local courts.
Letters page full of outrage from Record readers (lower left of page)

Perhaps we have finally discovered our Canadian identity!

Moderate Muslim voices speak out - Updated

(Update at end)

Right beside the National Post's politically-correct editorial is a candid op-ed by Tarek Fatah and Farzana Hassan - The deadly face of Muslim Extremism.

Fatah and Hassan are members of the Muslim Canadian Congress, and have received death threats in the past for expressing their views.

They must feel that this message is worth the risk.

...If convicted, Aqsa's father and brother must be handed the strictest penalty available under the law. As for the imams and clergy of Canada's mosques, who constantly berate young women for not wearing the hijab or snub them for "violating Islam," they need to reflect on the consequences of their sermons.

Consider, as an example, the Montreal mosque that recently posted on its Web site a warning to the effect that if young girls took off their hijab, they could end up getting raped and having "illegitimate children." Other proffered risks included "Stresses, insecurity and suspicion in the minds of husbands" and "instigating young people to deviate towards the path of lust."

As if the threat of rape and the fear of illegitimate children were not enough, these pre-teen girls were told that if they took off their hijab, they would cease to be Muslims: "By removing your hijab, you have destroyed your faith. Islam means submission to Allah in all our actions." Little wonder then, that Canadian girls walk away from sports tournaments rather than remove their hijabs...

Fatah and Hassan suggest that this may put undue pressure on Muslim men to exert control over the women in their families:

Radical Muslim men consider themselves ultimately responsible for the conduct of the womenfolk. This outlook is rooted in a medieval ethos that treats women as nonpersons, unable to decide for themselves what they should wear, where they must go and what they must accomplish in life. If their conduct is seen as contravening this austere religious outlook, they are invariably subjected to abuse.

Today's Star discloses a disturbing tidbit that was alluded to in a Global newscast last night - that the brother may have had more to do with this than simply obstructing justice:

...Friends of the slain girl said Parvez's brother picked her up Monday morning from a bus stop, where she was waiting to go to school, and told her she'd better come home to get a change of clothes...

Yes, women from all different kinds of faith and cultural backgrounds have been the target of abuse and violence.

However, this does not excuse us from trying to consider all possible systemic causes of the tragedy, and focus on doing all we can to prevent this from happening again.

Anything less is an act of complicity.

* * * *

Update - Ont. man charged with killing daughter held in jail.

More family violence against women here.

CTV - Autopsy shows teen died from 'neck compression':

The United Nations estimates at least 5,000 women a year are killed for committing adultery, defying tradition, or for simply talking to the wrong man and thereby bringing shame upon relatives.

Exact numbers are impossible to know because the majority of such murders -- women are the main victims -- go unreported and the guilty unpunished.

United Muslim Women of Canada's Anisa Ali said the public shouldn't assume that honour killings only happen in the Muslim community.

Honour killings. Because the death of the female relative is preferable to the shame she would bring on the family if she were allowed to live...

Hard to comprehend.

* * * *

Thursday Update: Record - Local imams tackling domestic abuse.

Record - A Muslim teen dies, a nation asks why.

Barbara Kay - How Canada let Aqsa down.

Jack's Newswatch - Cynapse: Swift justice for Aqsa.

* * * *

Friday Update: CBC - Brother charged with obstruction after Brampton teen's death gets jail.

Muslim clerics denounce girl's death, but reiterate hijab's importance.

Gary McHale banned from Caledonia

The Dunnville Chronicle reports that Gary McHale has been "prohibited from entering Caledonia, Hagersville and York under conditions set by the Ontario Provincial Police...", among other restrictions.

Is this a normal way to deal with such things? I never heard of a Canadian citizen being barred from a particular town before.

More details at Caledonia Wakeup Call.

When multiculturalism collides with Canadian Rights - Update: Teen is dead

"She just wanted to dress like we do"

* * * *

Very sad update: Aqsa Parvez has died of the injuries inflicted on her by her own father.

Aqsa's father, Muhammad Parvez, 57, has been charged with murder. He made a brief court appearance this morning and was remanded in custody pending another court appearance Wednesday.

The teen's brother - Waqas Parvez, 26 - has been charged with obstructing justice.

* * * *

To some people, the hijab is a symbol of faith, culture and a means of modesty in an increasingly secular, anything-goes Canada.

To others it is a symbol of oppression; even though some hijab-wearers insist it is more liberating because women are judged for themselves rather than their looks.

But all this hinges on the assumption of choice.

Such does not appear to be the case with a 16-year old girl who is now in critical condition after being choked by her father; who apparently was enraged by his daughter's desire to wear Western clothing - Were clothes behind the attack on teenager? (Post)

Her condition is so grave that police have not yet charged the man arrested at the scene until they know whether it will be a charge of murder or attempted murder. He was scheduled to appear in Brampton court today.

"He said that if she leaves, he would kill her."

This article is a real eye-opener. I wonder how many other Canadian girls are out there in similar circumstances. They must eventually either give in to the intimidation or face abuse of some kind.


A frightening situation for a country that considers itself so advanced in the area of Human Rights.

* * * *

More from the Toronto Sun - Friends feared worst.
Star - Teen clings to life, dad in custody.
P.C. - The Star on Hijab Murder - It 'can divide families'.

Montreal Muslim News - The Voice of Aqsa's blood cries from the ground:

...Now, every time people see a hijab-wearing woman walking down the street they will wonder if these women are forced to wear it for fear of the dangerous consequences if they refuse...

Above link from Dust my Broom - Aqsa Parvez has reportedly died.
Jonathan Kay - On the death of Aqsa Parvez.
Little Green Footballs - Strangled to death for not wearing a Hijab (with a dig at the Star).



Related: Quebec union wants a charter to ban religious garb -Post.
The Abaya Monologues - Post.
Globe - When multi morphs into plural.

Poppygate backlash

Lots of outrage in today's Record regarding their recent story about a Kitchener judge who cautioned a constable against wearing a poppy in her courtroom around Remembrance Day.

First we have various Letters to the Editor, including the Letter of the Day - Judges have proudly worn poppies in court.

Even the Record's editorial gives Justice Margaret Woolcott a blast (accompanied with all due respect) - The poppy should be welcome everywhere.

Justice Woolcott never said who might take offence at a police officer wearing a poppy. That's because, in reality, no one probably would take umbrage. However, the best response to someone who objects to the poppy would be a polite but firm, "tough.'' Police who wish to should continue wearing the poppy. As for Justice Woolcott, she should read a good history book.

Well, Stephen Taylor suggested a much more eloquent response should Const. Haines ever find himself in this situation again:

"Your honour, this symbol represents the sacrifice that braver Canadians than you or me made to have a free and fair court. It is a symbol, yes, much like the robes you wear and the gavel you use. It is this symbol which gives the ones you carry any authority, for without the sacrifice represented by those I honour, your symbols bear none."
-- Stephen Taylor

Afterwards, Stephen notes that in Canada we would refer to the judge as "Madam Justice".


Whatever you want to call Justice Woolcott, the message still rings true.

* * * *

Update - The Politic: The Poppy is Offensive - BAN IT!

Hodgepodge of updates and links - Updated many times

I'm trying hard to get away from the computer for a while, but it just won't let me...

Anyway, here is an assortment of links which I hope you find interesting. I often post these types of things for future reference. Blogger can be a useful tool for research with its search functions.


Threat to Freedom of Speech in Canada:
SDA - Macleans Magazine: A Case Study of Media-Propagated Islamophobia. Excellent comment by one of Kate's U.S. readers:

As an American, I cannot believe what is going on in your country concerning that disgusting (and clearly dangerous) "Human Rights Commission" of yours. When criticism of government policy can be penalized as "hate speech", you are no longer sliding down a slippery slope. Rather, you are in the muck. I will never again regret the appearance of flag burners in my country. I may disagree with them, at times to the point of fury, but I will regard their presence as a blessed sign that free speech is alive and well in America.
Posted by: Robert Pujat at December 10, 2007 3:57 PM

Tobacco Tax Protest:
LFP - Farmers to give Natives tobacco. Big tax loss for government.

The convoy would be illegal. Special permits are required to transport tobacco from Delhi to Caledonia. It is also illegal to transact tobacco outside the auction exchange in Delhi...

Will the OPP uphold the law?
Sex offender registry funds diverted, Tories say. (OPP diverted funds...)

Runciman suggested the OPP diverted some of the money for the sex offender registry to pay for policing the nearly two-year aboriginal occupation of a disputed housing development in Caledonia.

Isn't that great?
Sun - Province failing Christopher.


Paying homage to Mother Earth:
Celestial Junk - Ecophobia: Taking Advantage of NHL Hammer-heads.
FLICK OFF, eh?

Making lots of green: A convenient £50m for Green Gore (Times, courtesy of National Newswatch). Also see Australia 'stalling Bali Talks'. Wow!! Wasn't Rudd supposed to be the Environmentalist's messiah or something?

Highly recommended: Angelo Persichilli - Dion's Polluted Reputation.

Anyone got some darts? Suzuki as a guest columnist for the Star - Could there be a worse combination?

Lorne Gunter - Harper right to oppose Bali proposals.

Lorrie Goldstein - New Kyoto must include U.S., China.



Justice:
Big Blue Wave - The Unborn Victims of Crime Bill: It's a go!
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Second Reading scheduled (first time debated)

Scantygate:
National Post - The NDP's Nosey Nanny. BTW, isn't there a screen of some kind that you can buy for a laptop so personal information can't be seen at an angle by straying eyes?

Update: Dr. Roy says yes!!! Memo to James Moore - Put this on your Christmas list!!!

Steve Janke has a video for Irene Mathyssen.

Dr. Roy found the link to Irene's imaginary diary!

What would Irene say about this??? (H/T Mary T in comments) - Don't look, James!!!

Times Colonist - Sleazy NDP porn allegation dishonours all MP's.


More grievances from the Eternally Offended:
David Warren - Suing for Silence.


Urban Funding:
Record - Lack of transit link to Toronto an 'embarrassment', Cannon says and Minister blames cities, province for bogged-down transportation.

O.K. Premier. C'est maintenant votre tour.


Health care Accessibility:
Michael Coren - Two-Tier Trauma

Ottawa Sun - New funding trims abortion wait times. "Now, new funding has cut the wait time to terminate a pregnancy to about a week"... Well, at least Smitherman has his priorities straight, right?


Potential Dion Replacements:
Maybe Chretien should try again? (Don't it always seem to go, you don't know whatcha got til it's gone...)





More to come...

Wearing a poppy can be offensive

From the annals of Political Correctness "Believe it or not"...

A Kitchener judge doesn't think it's appropriate for constables and lawyers to wear poppies in her courtroom - Judge frowns on poppies in courtroom:

"Because however much -- and I really probably should have said something to (defence lawyer Richard Prendiville, who was also wearing a poppy) too -- but however much you may think that's a totally acceptable symbol, and that it is totally neutral, that might not be entirely the case for everybody who comes to court," the judge said.

Woolcott continued: "It represents a symbol of support and I suspect that 99.999 per cent of us happily wear it outside of the courtroom. You probably should not wear anything like that in court."

Before she excused Haines, Woolcott told him that she might ask him to remove the poppy next time...

Just when you thought things couldn't possibly get any worse.

* * * *

Related - Gary Valcour, the Second-place winner of the National Post's Canadian motto contest was right on:

"Endless possibilities squandered in political correctness"

Mathyssen just doesn't get it

This one's separate post worthy, in spite of my self-imposed commitment to finish Warren Kinsella's new book, The War Room. (I don't want to pay a library fine, and I'm too cheap to buy it.)

Just like Trusty Tory, I don't usually like going after Dippers, but my motives are different - The NDP is the CPC's best friend for splitting the vote on the left. However, some things just transcend partisanship, and this is one of them.

The Star's Ottawa Bureau-chief, Bruce Campion-Smith had an article in yesterday's paper that contains a wakeup call of sorts for Jack Layton (Apology of sorts for 'porn slur').

In my opinion, Irene Mathyssen is just not MP material. Perhaps she could function as an Independent, but she has demonstrated that her mouth and her own selfish interests take priority over her sense of working with the team, and even over human decency.

After her (forced) formal apology to James Moore in the House on Friday morning, Mathyssen didn't have the good sense to keep her big yap shut:

Yesterday, she publicly apologized in the Commons for not raising her concern with Moore privately.

"I recognize that would have been the appropriate step," Mathyssen said in an interview.

But she maintains such photos have no place in the Commons.

"I think that is a mistake and I'm sure that he has learned that, the importance of prudence," Mathyssen said. "What I saw was not appropriate."

When I first read that, I assumed she had said it before the formal apology, but the subtitle in the article says, "Sorry for raising laptop photos publicly, MP tells House, but later calls images inappropriate". So this was actually said afterwards!!!

Jack Layton has been notably absent from all this embarrassment; instead sending Libby Davies to be the cleanup attendant. I think he's afraid that some of this dirt might stick to him. He probably wants to distance himself as much as possible from the ongoing train wreck.

So here's my advice for Jack - Make use of the handyman's best friend, and place it firmly over Irene's mouth.

Or bite the bullet and dump her altogether. She's not a team-player.

Her constituents should do the same come the next election.

* * * *

Related: Dr. Roy - Irene criticized from coast to coast.

Is Irene Mathyssen crazy? Updated - With forced apology

Afternoon Update: Well it would appear that Ms. Mathyssen had a sudden change of heart (NDP MP sorry for 'scantily clad woman' attack):

"The member has explained what those images were and I have accepted his explanation," Mathyssen said Friday in the House, after cancelling scheduled events in her London-area riding and flying to Ottawa to make the statement.

Robert Fife says she'll have to explain why she said one thing to her home-town paper, and then turned around and hoofed it to Ottawa for this volte-face. He offers his interpretation of how it likely went down:

"But I'm sure that the New Democratic Party leadership said Irene, you were wrong, completely wrong on this, you owe Mr. Moore an apology, get up there and unreservedly apologize and let's put this matter to rest. That is what she has done."

Meanwhile, I'm sure James Moore will be refraining from showing pics of his dog in the House from now on.


Post - Should James Moore be satisfied with today's apology? John Turley-Ewart nails it:

Perhaps Jack Layton has also learned a lesson from this whole incident as well — that Ms. Mathyssen is a liability rather than an asset to a party with the pretension of having a conscience but a track record for being unscrupulous.

CTV video available via Jack's Newswatch. H/T Plattytalk.

Platty wonders where Jack Layton is in all this. I'm thinking he wants to distance himself as much as possible from the stench. I'm sure Karen Redman wishes she hadn't hitched her wagon to this train wreck.

* * * *

Original morning post:

I was planning to go on a brief hiatus, but reader Ruth left this tip in a previous thread - Mathyssen stands by her complaint. (also posted at National Newswatch).

How can her constituents 'stand by' her now? This is absolutely outrageous.

James Moore has shown a lot more class and grace in this situation than I would have. I have great admiration for him. He has taken the high road.

Mathyssen has succeeded in casting herself as a swarmy, vindictive fool, by not letting this go.

Even her fellow NDP members were apologizing and saying it was a lesson learned.

Mathyssen needs to take a time out, and as Karen Redman had originally suggested to Moore, take a close look in her heart and perhaps try to examine her true motives.

* * * *

Related: Lorrie Goldstein - May I peek over your shoulder?

L. Ian MacDonald - MP savaged for having pictures of his girlfriend (obviously written before the latest Mathyssen misstep):

Moore, one of the most promising young members of the House, was devastated.

As it happened, voters from his riding were his guests in the visitors' gallery that day. How humiliating is that? As he later said: "That's on Wikipedia under my name for the next five years."

In light of the latest, I wonder what Goldstein and MacDonald would say?

Personally, I am beyond anger. I can't imagine how James Moore is feeling today.

* * * *

By way of contrast, check out yesterday's Hansard (10:05 mark). I'll give Karen Redman full credit for issuing her apology in the House. Class act, Karen.

Notice how Libby Davies assures the House that Mathyssen will formally apologize too. No mention of any qualification that she thinks Moore should not have personal pics in the House:

Hon. Karen Redman (Kitchener Centre, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Yesterday the member for London—Fanshawe rose on a point of order concerning alleged behaviour by the member for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam. I also spoke on this point of order and made comments that I would like to apologize for if they caused any undue concern and embarrassment to the member for Port Moody--Westwood--Port Coquitlam.


Hon. Jay Hill (Secretary of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to the chief opposition whip for that apology.

I would like to point out though, on this point of order, that all too often some members in the Chamber jump to conclusions and they can do other members a lot of damage and cause a lot of hurt unnecessarily.

Obviously, we look forward to the apology that I understand will be forthcoming from the member for London—Fanshawe as well, but the point is that what we have seen in the Chamber is some of the worst. When people are unjustly accused, it becomes a national media circus and story.

On behalf of my colleague who is not in the Chamber at the moment, and I know I am not supposed to say that but I think that is obvious, I will accept the apology of the hon. member.

However, I would point out that, especially as whips, we are the people who are responsible for the morale and the discipline of our respective caucuses. I think it is incumbent upon us to reflect on that and not jump to conclusions.


The Speaker:
I thank both whips for their submissions. The hon. member for Vancouver East is rising on the same point of order.


Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say, listening to the opposition whip and the government whip, that certainly the member for London—Fanshawe will at the earliest opportunity be in the House to make an apology. Therefore, I just want to confirm that indeed that will happen.


The Speaker:
I thank the hon. members for their attention to this matter. As I indicated yesterday, in my view it was a completely invalid point of order and I also indicated that it was not appropriate for it to have been raised in the House.

Time to dump Irene, Jack.