The high cost of 'Family Day'

The next time Dalton whines for money, let's throw this one back at him:

A media request to McGuinty's office about whether the province would help municipalities with the extra cost was forwarded to the Ministry of Labour.

"The government believes that Ontario's economy is strong enough to accept an extra public holiday," said spokesperson Bruce Skeaff.

Well! That's good to hear. No new taxes, right? No more griping about infrastructure and rapid transit either.

And I trust that the ROC shouldn't have to worry about Dalton's hands in your pockets.

* * * *

Unrelated: Going to take a bit of time off to catch up on reading, etc.

Comment moderation will be on, but I'll check from time to time, and will also supply any important updates. Also please feel free to leave any tips via comments. Thanks.

All Schreiber, all the time

For all you Schreiber groupies, here are the latest transcripts courtesy of the National Post - Schreiber on the Hill, Live, Part Three.


Also starring:

Stephen Taylor - Schreiber's threatening letter to Mulroney.

Doucet denies he asked that Airbus money be funneled to Mulroney. H/T National Newswatch.

Adam Radwanski - Back to the start.

Dan Cook - Stephane Dion's 'invented cover-up'.

Mathyssen to issue formal apology Monday

From the Star:

After speaking to Moore late yesterday, Mathyssen acknowledged that he'd been looking at pictures of his girlfriend and apologized to him, said a party spokesman.

Mathyssen was in her London riding today but is expected to make a formal apology to Moore in the Commons on Monday.

All in all, not a great week for the NDP.

Here's a hint: Try to engage the brain before opening the mouth.

* * * *

Important Update: Stephen Harper just said something in Parliament regarding Karen Redman issuing an apology in the House, and asked why Irene Mathyssen wasn't there doing the same today? (2:30 PM)

Did anyone catch that earlier? What exactly did Karen Redman say?



Globe - Dan Cook: Karen Redman and Irene Mathyssen. Here's a laugh:

Note to the NDP press office: Your MPs name is Irene Mathyssen - not Irene Matheson.

Scanty-gate continues

Don Martin weighs in on Irene Mathyssen's outrageous and baseless allegations against James Moore (House of ill repute), whom Martin describes as a 'straitlaced Conservative MP with the Forrest Gump haircut':

An emotional Mr. Moore, looking as though he was about to burst into tears, defiantly and convincingly proclaimed his innocence and respect for a parliamentary institution that most days, and this one in particular, deserves only derision.

Consider the exchange between reporters and the New Democrat MP who raised the objection, invisible rookie Irene Mathyssen, and you'll be demanding a refund for the $1-million per day in taxes it costs to keep the Commons operating in the gutter.

Q Can you describe the garments she was wearing?

A Well I, I would describe it, I suppose, as soft porn, Playboy type stuff ... it was a flimsy, a flimsy negligee kind of thing, very small, very ... it was lingerie ... scanty lingerie.

Q White or...?

A It was dark in colour and she was a brunette.

Q A brunette?

A A brunette. Thank you.

Martin scolds Mathyssen for her partisan attack, which of course was amplified by Karen Redman, although Don doesn't mention Redman's complicity:

Let me get this straight. An MP looks over Mr. Moore's broad shoulder and glimpses something -- she's not sure if it was a photo from Mr. Moore's Hawaiian holiday, an ad for the upcoming Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition or what -- yet whispers her outrage to another MP behind Mr. Moore's back after the offending laptop has been closed. Then, almost 24 hours later, she rises on a point of privilege to blindside a fellow MP with incendiary allegations that he was viewing in-appropriate material.

Nothing prevented her from taking a closer look the night before and tapping Mr. Moore on the shoulder to express a concern. Ms. Mathyssen, in striving to preserve the "dignity" and "respect" of the elected House, decided to simply unleash a drive-by smear in the name of scoring cheap political points.

Hansard has now documented the whole tawdry exchange (around the 15:20 mark):

Mrs. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, last evening I was in the House to raise a question on behalf of my constituents. At that time, I saw the member for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam with an open laptop on his desk and on the screen was an image of a scantily clad woman. This was in my clear view and in the clear view of the public gallery.

I feel very strongly that this is not only disrespectful of women, but it is disrespectful of the House. It reflects an attitude of objectifying women. We know that when women and other human beings are objectified and dehumanized, they become the objects of violence and abuse.

On the eve of December 6, we have to be mindful that we represent all the people of our communities, men and women, and that we are national leaders here. This is a place of power. That power must be used respectfully and it must be used with humility.

I ask that the member apologize to members of the House.


Mr. James Moore (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, with respect, I do not have the faintest idea what my colleague is talking about. Members in the House who have known me as a member of the House since 2000 know I treat the House with respect. With respect to what she is alleging, I do not have the faintest idea what she is talking about.


The Speaker:
I have to say that whatever is being talked about does not strike me as being a point of order. The House some time ago allowed members to bring computers into the House. What appears on the screens of computers is not under the control of the Chair. I would suggest that if members have concerns about this, they raise it with the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. If it wants to pass a rule saying computers are not allowed in the House, it can do so.

I am not getting into anything about content on computers. I am sure the hon. member for London—Fanshawe was not suggesting that the Chair control in any way the computer screens of hon. members. I cannot do that.


Hon. Karen Redman (Kitchener Centre, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. I would like to point out that I believe all members of the House are honourable. I know this is a very serious allegation. I would hope the member, who has been accused of this point of order, would look in his heart and perhaps look on his laptop on a day—

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Hon. Karen Redman: Mr. Speaker, this is a serious allegation and I would hope the member, who has been named, would come back with more of an investigation to be able to—


The Speaker:
I have dealt with this matter. I do not believe that this kind of allegation is a point of order in the House. I will allow the hon. parliamentary secretary to say something more, but I am very concerned. This is not a matter of House procedure.


Mr. James Moore:
Mr. Speaker, with respect, I have taken great efforts throughout my political career to treat all my colleagues with the deepest of respect. I do not know where this attack is coming from, where these allegations are coming from. It is utterly baseless, utterly nonsensical.

I thank my colleagues every day and my constituents every day for giving me the honour of serving in the House. I would never do anything like what is being described to me today. I take great offence to what is being alleged here. I would never do what has been talked about. I respect the House too much to even consider doing what has been described to me. I love this place, I love serving my constituents and I am offended that this has even been alleged.

So far, James Moore's website is the only one I can see that has referenced the matter.

Nothing on Irene Mathyssen's. Does she plan to add this exchange to her "Irene in Parliament" page?


Karen Redman's website seems strangely inaccessible at this time... Will she be issuing an apology?

I'm not holding my breath.

Update: Website back up but no apology posted yet.

* * * *

Star - 'Porn' furor grips MP's.

This article contains some interesting background information:

MPs have been allowed to bring mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptop computers into the Commons for a number of years, said Heather Bradley, a spokesperson for Speaker Peter Milliken.

Since December 2004, when the chamber received a number of technological upgrades, MPs have had access to wireless Internet. Unlike many work environments, however, there are no restrictions placed on what websites politicians can look at.

* * * *

Friday Update: NDP apologizes after accusations...

Sandra Buckler, spokeswoman for the Prime Minister's Office, said she looked forward to Mathyssen's retraction in the House.

"Obviously, with the apology we look forward to the member making a statement to completely exonerate Mr. Moore," said Buckler.

Liberal MP Karen Redman sided with Mathyssen, calling it a "serious allegation" and urging Moore to "look in his heart, perhaps look on his laptop."

You can see how gossip gets started

The previous thread is getting just too long, but here is the latest ramification of Irene Mathyssen's little 'indiscretion' today - National Newswatch reports that it has just made World News.



MP 'caught looking at porn' in Parliament. - ABC news.




Ms. Mathyssen, I really don't feel that a simple apology is going to do the trick here. You and your partner in crime are going to have to do some major groveling.

Mr. Moore deserves an apology, as does the whole of Canada for rendering our Parliament such a farce.

* * * *

Related: Yahoo - Comments are interesting.

Vancouver Sun - Karen Redman is named here too.

You can watch David Akin's report regarding the apology on the CTV Broadband site -click on link here.

* * * *

Thursday Update: Plattytalk - Moron.

H of M - Dipper Mathyssen gets her prude on.

Steve Janke - Irene Mathyssen and a case of the objectification of men.

Joan Tintor - Lend me your vote - and your binoculars. Joan makes a reference to Karen Redman's pompous, self-righteous actions.

Nosy Irene - Update: Redman's no saint either; Irene to apologize - Will Karen?

Latest Update - Irene will apologize to James Moore - CTV.

...Late Wednesday, the NDP confirmed that she "is satisfied" with Moore's explanation.

In a press release, the New Democrats said that "Ms. Matheson has accepted the explanation and offered her apologies."

Akin said that Moore told him that "this has been the worst day of his career."

Earlier in the day, before Mathyssen had backed away from her claims, CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said he was at a loss to recall if anyone had leveled such allegations against an MP before.

He told CTV Newsnet, "What we are witnessing is a House of Commons in the last month-and-a-half which has really gone into a lot of mudslinging, a lot of effort to ruin people's reputations."

Warren Kinsella also updates his comments.

Stephen Taylor - NDP climbs down.

* * * *

The antics on the Hill just keep getting worse and worse.

And why was Irene Mathyssen looking at looking at Moore's laptop anyway?

* * * *

Related: Warren Kinsella - Before everyone else wades in on this...

As an aside, what is this about a sitting Premier who admits to possibly "receiving thousands in improper campaign contributions"? Is he referring to Charest? Because the pundits on MDL say that was all proper back then. The rules have changed now. So what exactly is he trying to suggest?


And Karen Redman jumps the shark with snarky, self-righteous unsubstantiated vilification:

Mr. Moore appeared stunned by the allegation, especially after it was amplified by Liberal MP Karen Redman, who said it was a “very serious allegation” and suggested Mr. Moore “look in his heart, perhaps look on his laptop.”

Oh that's really nice, Karen. We voters in Kitchener Centre will remember that one come February.


H/T Adam Radwanski, via National Newswatch.


Oh boy. Liberal bloggers are running with this one - Get a room, James Moore.

Probably the Sunshine Girl.

Totally predictable response from the peanut gallery - This Dipper already has Moore connected with offensive pictures and sexual harassment concerns. Good grief. And what kind of impression will the average viewer get from all this?

Does Moore get a trial before he's hung by this kangaroo court?

Aaron Wherry thinks Karen Redman is 'soft-spoken'.

Fantino gets smack-down from Record

In the interest of fair play, I should give credit where it is due, and the Record certainly earned kudos for this editorial - Police willingly ignore illicit cigarette sales.

The Record rightly points out the selective law enforcement techniques of the OPP and Julian Fantino in particular:

...Rather than simply dismiss -- or attempt to suppress -- a messenger that he finds objectionable, Fantino should consider the message. And while he's at it, perhaps the commissioner could explain to the people of Ontario why some laws are more worthy of enforcement than others.

Well, it would appear that either Gary McHale's decision to sue the OPP, or all the negative press and video clips that were generated after McHale's beating on the weekend have led to some action. The smoke shop in question is apparently going to be shut down.


No word yet of any charges in Saturday's assault.

Also no word on how Fantino plans to deal with the rest of illegal cigarette sales in Ontario.


More at Halls of Macadamia.

* * * *

Thursday Update: Great video from CHCH available here.

Friday Update: Cash offer expected in Caledonia dispute - Record:

Federal negotiator Ron Doering is expected to present a cash offer to settle the 175-year-old Welland Feeder Canal/Dunnville Dam claim Dec. 12. But Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton, lead negotiator for Six Nations, said yesterday a resolution to outstanding Six Nations claims "will not be resolved simply by throwing money at Six Nations."

"Neither one is taking into consideration that land was stolen from us and we are looking for fair equitable compensation for the loss of that land," MacNaughton said in a statement. "Promises were broken and the land has to be returned."

"Rev Jo" still a no-go - Updated: It's a Go!

Update: Thanks to my readers for letting me know that McGuinty overruled the PC Police and let the Rev Jo keep her plates:

“We can also do things that make ourselves outright laughable -- this is one of those instances.”

So I wonder how those nine civil servants feel now; knowing that their boss thinks they made a 'laughable' decision.

Christian Conservative has more with an informative Globe link. (Oh, boy. Now McGuinty is calling it an issue of "common sense". Yikes!)

* * * *

I sympathize with retired United Church minister Joanne Sorrill on this one, and it isn't just because of her terrific name. She is a victim of the Political Correctness Police (an anonymous panel of nine civil servants), which had been asked by Transportation Minister Jim Bradley to reconsider their decision to disallow the vanity plate that Sorill has held for 20 years - Rev Jo.

The Ministry's initial objections were that the plates might encourage speed or promote Christianity! (*Gasp*)

After further contemplation, they have come up with a new one - it might promote drunk driving! (Plate refusal #2 has cleric all REV'd up - Star). Gee, they totally missed the caffeine-addiction angle with the word "Jo".

Why couldn't they at least grandfather the existing plates, and then refuse to issue any new ones if this is suddenly so offensive in contemporary society?

All this craziness is well documented by Christina Blizzard this morning - I H8 Vanity Plate Censors. She closes with this:

Look, if you look hard enough, you can take offence at just about anything. But for pity's sake, let's stop this stupidity. Here's a licence plate that could sum up the entire ministry: GN BONKRS. Then again, they'd probably ban that. Too sexual in nature. How about: TOO PRISSY? Better still, try this one, then: BUTT*OUT.

I would only like to add that perhaps we should consider changing the titles of our elected officials and departments. After all, don't the words "Minister" and "Ministry" have some Christian overtones? Couldn't that be offensive to those who are Jewish, Muslim or atheist? We must change this immediately!

The Ontario Asylum of Transportation might be a good place to start.


Update: Hey! How about an acronym? ASSS - Asylum of Sentry and Street Services.

Or the previous one with the word "Greater" preceding it - GOAT. Instead of "Ministers" we could have "herders" or "tenders".



I'll bet you've got some suggestions too! Let's hear them.

* * * *

Thursday Update: Political correctness knows no borders - Santa gets the heave ho, ho, ho.

Sunday Update: Lorrie Goldstein - Licence this SOB H&R!

Fool on the Hill (and it isn't Schreiber)

This is great stuff for political junkies who just can't get enough of the Schreiber circus. We now have a blow-by-blow transcript, courtesy of the National Post.

I had hoped that Committee Chair Paul Szabo might have recovered a smidgen of his dignity after the first subservient performance, but alas! It was not to be:

11:10 a.m. — More preamble from committee chair Paul Szabo. Schreiber looks cool and collected. Szabo opens with an apology?! Apparently Canadians are expressing disgust that Schreiber was escorted to his house in handcuffs. Szabo seems to feel bad for subjecting Schreiber to "ridicule and mockery."
"The shame of one Canadian is the shame of all Canadians. Those who are responsible will take steps to make certain such a spectacle does not happen again."

Szabo goes on to complain that the hearing have been described as a political circus. "This is not a political circus, this is the Parliament of Canada," he says, huffily. Same thing, some might say.

* * * *

..."So now I am feeling somewhat like a beggar, I am empty. I don't know whether it is a Christmas gift or a burden. But for sure it will help you."

Christmas for the opposition for sure. He (Schreiber) offers to dig for more, if it isn't enough. He will more than likely be taken up on that offer.

11:57 a.m. — "This is a wonderful Christmas gift to us," gushes Szabo after Schreiber hands over the much-ballyhooed documents.

I don't think I can take much more of this.

These hearings should come with a disclaimer - Warning! May induce vomiting.

* * * *

Related: Robert Fife on Mike Duffy - "So what do we have here? We've got nothing".

Mike Duffy: "...Where's the beef?".

Steven Skurka - "...I call this now, the Airbust Inquiry. The only beneficiary of a public inquiry is one person, and that is Karlheinz Schreiber."


And exactly how much is this costing???


This one is just too rich by half (from CBC's Politics). Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal:

"...it just shows the culture of entitlement because as Mr. (Pat) Martin mentioned earlier, like, whether it was a race to get Joe Clark out, get Brian Mulroney in or Jean Charest later on or now it comes to Mr. Harper's government and he has written not only to Mr. Harper, but in fact he has also written to many ministers in his cabinet right now as well..."

Huh???

* * * *

Milestone noted - Over 1 K hits today. Thanks to all my readers.

Now things are starting to make sense - Updated

A while ago I wondered why some key Liberals and Liberal media were against opening up this can of worms.

The answer may lie here - Key Liberal Pushed Schreiber Project. (H/T National Newswatch)

* * * *

Update: Schreiber granted bail; testifies before committee.

And Szabo still bending over backwards.

Schreiberfest.


Schreiber vows 'Christmas' for MP's.


1:35 PM - L. Ian MacDonald on CTV - "If this was Christmas on the Hill, Mike, there was a lump of coal in the stocking."

Brilliant!


CTV - Schreiber testifies about dealings with Mulroney.

See Jack's Newswatch for commentary.


Curiosity Cat - Ethics committee blows Schreiber II.

Globe - Mulroney deal had nothing to do with Airbus: Schreiber.

AA - So why are we doing this again?

Underground democracy

To anyone who feels there is currently no leader in Ontario who reflects your views, check this out - Draft a Leader.

Related: Will Conservatives let Tory stay on as party leader?

* * * *

Wednesday Update: Stephen Taylor - First shot fired in battle over Tory's future.

Post - Wanted: New leader for Ontario Conservative Party.

Thursday update: Star - John Tory turns to Harper for help in keeping job.

Bali Bunk

Kudos to Jonathan Kay for diffusing some of the hot air emanating from yesterday's Star.

Today's National Post editorial focuses on the failures of Kyoto and the ironic hypocrisy of the upcoming Bali conference itself - Son of Kyoto:

...The UN is hosting a major conference this week and next in Bali, Indonesia, to negotiate a successor agreement to Kyoto. What lessons have the delegates drawn from the first treaty's flaws? None, apparently. If anything, their proposals for a Kyoto II suggest an accord that would be worse than the original.

While nominally binding more nations to reduction targets, the UN in reality appears intent on making the same three dozen wealthy countries make the bulk of the sacrifices. At the same time, it would saddle them with an additional burden: sending hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to developing nations in order to ensure that what marginal emission reductions those countries are called on to make can be achieved cost-free.

The sheer size of the Bali gathering shows how the global-warming movement has become an industry unto itself. During their negotiations on emission reductions to save the planet, the 20,000 delegates and observers in Bali will generate a greater carbon footprint than all the residents of a city the size of Victoria, Halifax or London, Ont., would produce in a month. The Canadian Climate Action Network, which includes some of this country's best-known eco-crusaders, boasted Monday that it was sending 60 participants. Flying those delegates and their confreres from around the world to the remote resort island will generate 110,000 tonnes of CO2, alone.

But then, this do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do attitude should not be surprising: The most strident champions of carbon abatement are unaccountable NGOs and celebrity environmentalists who travel around the world feting one another, drinking their own green Kool-Aid...

Exactly. And if any of those eco-evangelists feel the need for a brief diversion, there's plenty to atone for afterwards.



Cutting through the hype is a challenge for the average Canadian, but let me make this perfectly clear - It will affect your own bottom line. As Ultramar vice-president Louis Forget said of Quebec's 'green tax', "Somehow, the consumers will pay for it."

Oh yes, we will pay and pay and pay again.


Those of us who still have jobs, that is.

* * * *

Related: Adam Daifallah - Cooling it.

Bali Deadlock (Liberal, but still worth the read)

Help please! Update: Jonathan Kay to the rescue!

Evening Update: It appears that Jonathan Kay intends to publish this editorial in tomorrow's Post - Dump Kyoto, Save Lives. (H/T National Newswatch)

It's a direct rebuttal to Byers' Star piece (see below).

...My problem with the Kyoto camp isn’t that it’s peddling “junk science.” It’s that, like Byers, they go straight from the science to the politics without stopping to count the money. What if global warming is real, but Kyoto is still a rip-off — even according to the big-hearted humanitarian logic at the core of the pro-Kyoto camp?

On that note, here’s something that pops out at you when you read Byers’ op-ed: a total absence of numbers. The same is true of most pro-Kyoto articles, and sometimes even whole books. Too often, the argument for fighting climate change is based on vague appeals to cuddly polar bears, our moral debt to mother nature, the “will of the international community” — as well as the usual litany of worst-case (and, often, worse-than-worst-case) disaster scenarios. You rarely see anyone actually crunch the numbers and prove Kyoto’s worth on a cost-benefit basis...

Consider: The global all-in compliance costs of Kyoto amount to about $180-billion per year. Yet all these billions — even paid in perpetuity — would delay the globe’s expected rate of heating over the next century by just 5%. Assuming Kyoto is allowed to expire in 2012, its total effect will have been to delay the pace of global warming by one week. In terms of Canada’s contribution to Kyoto, the effect would be measured in hours. Think about that the next time Dion or David Suzuki lecture you about Canada’s lost opportunity to save the world.

Thank you Jonathan for this refreshing reality check. If only all my wishes were answered so swiftly.

* * * *

I can't let this one go by, but I need some help due to time constraints.

Please read this opinion piece by Michael Byers - Prime Minister Stands out as Small Man of Humanity (Star). If you're a True Blue Conservative, this one's gonna make you see red!


Here's what jumped out at me:

Harper's antipathy to international environmental co-operation is well known. He once dismissed the Kyoto Protocol as "essentially a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations." But his concerns about burden-sharing and free-riding are misplaced. Firefighters don't check tax records before responding to an emergency call.

Now this sounded vaguely familiar, and then I remembered. That analogy was used in a recent Record editorial (which we totally picked apart):

If rich and poor houses on a street were on fire, would Harper wait until everyone paid the same taxes before calling the fire brigade?

So what's up with that? Is this the latest revelation from some kind of Kyoto New Testament or something? I guessed I missed that service. (Oh, yeah. We were snowed in.)


Lots more to challenge in the article.

Have fun.

Is there a Speaker in the House?

L. Ian MacDonald calls on Peter Milliken to law down the law on Parliamentary decorum - The House Speaker must step in to bring MP's back in line.

...Mulcair is a lawyer and a former law teacher. He knows better. But he is also a shameless opportunist and relentless publicity hound. Jack Layton should haul him in and read him the riot act. While he's at it, Layton should also watch his back.

Or consider this exchange last Thursday between deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

Ignatieff: "Mr. Speaker, what representations did Elmer MacKay make to his own son, the current defence minister, concerning Karlheinz Schreiber? What representations did the defence minister make to the prime minister or any other government official about the Schreiber matter?"

MacKay: "None whatsoever, Mr. Speaker."

Ignatieff: "Mr. Speaker, fathers speak to sons, fathers even use fax machines. Ministers speak to other ministers barely five feet apart. The answer is not credible. Let me put the question in French. What representations did the minister of national defence make to the prime minister about Mr. Schreiber?"

So this is where the quest for fame and power has led Ignatieff. This is why he left Harvard, to dive into the cesspool that Parliament has become. He ought not to be proud of himself, but then he's not alone in running with a braying pack of dogs...

Shameful.

Between this and the Ethics committee's shenanigans with the Schreiber affair, it's no wonder that Canadians are becoming increasingly distrustful of politicians.

The toxic atmosphere threatens our very democracy as people get turned off from voting, and shrug their shoulders in apathy.

If you only read one editorial this weekend...

...then make it Angelo Persichilli - A Sad Canadian Circus.

...Schreiber had no right to be in the committee room on Parliament Hill because the alleged case of corruption, as it happens in any democratic country, should be handled by police and courts.

Politicians are the legislators, while the judicial system has to administer the law and police should enforce it.

Unfortunately, this area of competence in Canada has been obliterated by incompetence, political interests and accusations of corruption.

We have courts telling Parliament how to write laws. And, this week, Parliament has taken over the judicial system telling judges when and if someone can be extradited...

But what is Plan B?

Another 'disturbance' in Caledonia yesterday - Activist badly beaten in Caledonia attack (Spectator). More at LFP.

I just can't get over this line from Julian Fantino:

OPP commissioner Julian Fantino said in a release that the force, “will seek every legal remedy possible to end this madness and to bring them (protesters) to justice.”

“These incidents, where interlopers put their personal agendas over those who are striving for a permanent and lasting resolution will not be tolerated,” said Fantino.

At first I thought he was referring to the native protesters.

Silly me.


Meanwhile, the feds will offer another cash settlement, since the $125 million offered last May wasn't good enough - Ottawa plans new cash offer to Six Nations.

If that fails, then Plan B goes into action.

Trouble is, nobody seems to know what that might be.

Bad news for Lizzy May and company - Bumped with update

(Update at end)

Environment Canada forecasts "coldest winter in almost 15 years".

If November is any indication, I'm inclined to agree.


Oops. Stephane must have read the same report! Y2Kyoto: Politics ends at the swim up bar.

"We are speaking about the worst ecological threat that humanity is facing, and I will do my best to get out of this damn frozen country."

* * * *

Saturday Update: Speaking of Bali, this is a must-watch video - Rex Murphy (Bali Logic). H/T Socialist Gulag:

...If global warming is the imminent and catastrophic peril to the earth that everyone from the IPCC to David Suzuki to Al Gore and every socially-conscious celebrity on the planet have been telling us it is, then there can be no serious argument for Canada to make mandatory commitments, while exempting the giant emitters of the world such as China and India. This is like plugging a leak while ignoring a flood...

An inconvenient mess

Oh the irony...

The eco-cruise ship which belongs to Al Gore's buddy Bruce Poon Tip and sunk in the Antartic, is fast becoming a huge eco-disaster - Sunken Antarctic cruise ship leaves oil spill, threatening 2,500 penguins (MS Explorer).

Kerwin update

Tonight the local CTV affiliate gave an update on the Kerwin Harrison story. The plight of the poor homeless man whose meager belongings were torched by vandals has certainly moved a lot of people, including myself.

Kerwin didn't want to use a homeless shelter, because it meant abandoning his two dogs. Thanks to the publicity, a kind animal rescuer who lives on a farm took Kerwin in.

Tonight, an update revealed that Kerwin and his dogs are doing well. He said he has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community. His dogs are happy, warm and well-fed as is Kerwin. He is earning his keep by helping out at the farm, but plans to move back to Waterloo Region very soon. Apparently RIM may offer him a part-time job.


Anyway, I thought I would share this good news with all of you who were touched by the original story.

Ontario Throne Speech was a snooze

As one of my readers pointed out yesterday, the silver lining in the whole circus going on in Ottawa was that it stole the spotlight from McGuinty's Throne Speech. Heh.

Too bad in one way. This was David Onley's debut for the occasion as lieutenant-governor. I have nothing but great respect and admiration for the man.

However, the throne speech is another matter. McGuinty's government could promise the moon, and I think many Ontarians (that didn't vote Liberal) would be highly skeptical.

Some things I would prefer that he didn't enact, such as the province-wide pesticide ban, but on the other hand at least there would be some continuity. Property rights would once again take a hit though. Oh wait, there aren't any property rights in Canada.... Pierre left that one out of his beloved Charter.


Anyway, back to the throne speech. The Post doesn't seem very impressed with the government's plans to fight poverty - McGuinty's phony war. As expected, the Star is gushing with praise.

The Sun thinks McGuinty has missed the important targets, while the Globe calls it 'short on specifics'.

Well, I don't believe throne speeches in general are meant to be anything other than a hint of where the government's priorities are. For the McGuinty Liberals that is obviously to stay in power. No threat there due to the Ontario voters' decision to reward him for all the broken promises with another majority.


All in all, I think Christina Blizzard's column is my favourite review - Ontario Neverland throne speech. At one point she mocks McGuinty's Nanny-state penchant for bans:

In one of those curious, off-the-wall nanny state-type bans, the Libs are poised to ban trans fat from school cafeterias. Kind of reminds you of the attempted ban on sushi and the pitbull prohibition.

Tuck into those fries while you can, kids. The long arm of the broccoli cops will grab them some time soon.

If only Dalton would ban himself.

Perhaps he'll do Ontario a favour and throw his hat into the next LPC leadership race.