United We Stand

Today, a lot will be said in MSM, and in blogs and other forums as we all stop to remember the terrible events of five years ago today.

As I reflect on my own memories, I recall emotions of shock, horror, disbelief and anger such as I have never experienced before.

I still remember that feeling of nausea in the pit of my stomach as I stayed glued to the television all day long - watching those planes crash into the twin towers over and over again. It was like some sick version of 'Ground Hog Day'.

I can't help wondering if today is a cause for celebration for terrorists worldwide, or if perhaps they fear a renewal of resolve as free nations everywhere set their sights on the enemies of democracy. With all my heart I pray that it is the latter.

Jack Layton, how are you feeling today? Your real thoughts, Jack. Not your talking points.

What is a Catholic?

Well, nobody seems to be touching this subject with a ten-foot pole, so I guess I'll dive in; fool that I am.

Oh wait. No, I'm wrong. Somebody else did go after this one; and in as predictable a fashion as I would have expected.

Any Catholic who attended church in Canada this morning will likely have heard some version of Pope Benedict's harsh criticism of "the exclusion of God from the public sphere" in Canadian society. From Lifesite:

He acknowledged the "false dichotomies" such as 'tolerance' giving way to homosexual 'marriage' and 'freedom of choice' to abortion, "within the Christian community itself." It is "particularly damaging," he added, "when Christian civic leaders sacrifice the unity of faith and sanction the disintegration of reason and the principles of natural ethics, by yielding to ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls."

That is an interesting point. To what degree should Christian, and especially Roman Catholic political leaders, be influenced by their religious values? Lifesite notes that "until the current Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, all Canadian Prime Ministers since Trudeau in the 1960s have been Catholic except for the very brief reign of two months by the Conservative Kim Campbell government."



Moira McQueen, Professor of Theology at the University of Toronto, says in a Globe report:

"Any Catholic politician who was moving along the lines of same-sex marriage and totally ignoring what Pope Benedict was saying, isn't really following their conscience from a Catholic perspective."

James Loney and his partner Dan Hunt consider themselves to be Catholics. (Source: Record - Sept. 9)

But Loney and Hunt say they remain Catholics partly because they find beauty in the traditions of their church.

They attend a monthly healing mass to support people affected by HIV and AIDS, but they haven't found a parish where they feel spiritually nourished.

Hunt said he loves the church's social teaching to help the poor. He also said the church's teaching on the supremacy of following one's conscience enables them to remain Catholic while contradicting church teaching.

(I'm not sure if the Pope sees it that way, but whatever.)


Locally, some Catholics are upset about Bill Clinton coming to speak at the Catholic Counselling Centre, because of the obvious dichotomy of viewpoints between those of the former American President, and those of the Church.

So, what makes a Catholic "Catholic"? Is it a birthright? Is it a convenient label when asked what your faith is? Is it a beautiful ceremony? Is it a comfortable pew?

Or is it some kind of worldview; some set of precepts which helps guide the individual through the path of life? What do you think?

* * * *

Update: Seems that Suzanne was not pleased with this 'scolding'. Interesting comments follow.

She links to an earlier Lifesite entry that says Dalton McGuinty is a Catholic too! What is it with politicians and Catholicism?

The Ontario Bishops think McGuinty's o.k. apparently, because he "included a provision protecting religious objectors to same-sex “marriage” from prosecution. All other Ontario citizens are not protected by the legislation." So, the Bishops supported it because the clergy were protected. (From Feb. 23/05)


VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! Please read Phantom Observer's The Liberal Faith Report. H/T to Suzanne.
I had no idea the Grits were so pious.


More at Blogging Tories forum. Anyone can join in. Even the Pope.
Sames-sex marriage topic.
Abortion topic.


Message from Bishop Fred Henry.
Man forced to marry goat. Funny, but still...

CCP may be Challenged

The Court Challenges Program is under the microscope.

Canada.Com says, "The program has been the target of harsh criticism from social conservatives and critics of so-called judicial activism, who assert the initiative is a slush-fund for left-leaning groups to circumvent the will of elected legislators by challenging them in court."

The Trudeau-era program, was once axed by Mulroney but revived by the Liberals in 1993.
Today it is only under review; not actually on the chopping block.

Lifesite also has some background.

Lorne Gunter has a terrific editorial in today's National Post (Kill the Court Challenges Program); but again only available to subscribers. (Really, you need to buy the Post!).

"...Most Canadians have probably never heard of the CCP. And it's budget is only a little under $3-million a year. Yet no other federal program or law has done more damage to Canadian democracy. No other has so fundamentally altered Canadian society without recourse to Parliament..."

"...After 1993, when the Liberals returned to power, special interests were put in charge, and their funding decisions made secret.

Not only did left-leaning interest groups want to keep CCP cash flowing into their legal departments, they understood that if they controlled the CCP granting process, they could keep groups opposed to their viewpoints from receiving equal funding, thereby giving their own causes an unfair advantage in court..."

"...Over time, the CCP and its fundees have become a very cozy, close-knit little clan. The program almost never funds cases brought by individuals, only those supported by powerful rights-seeking lobbies, and almost always the same dozen or so lobbies...."

"...The CCP was even the principal funder in 1992's Schacter case, in which CCP-paid intervenors convinced Supreme Court judges to grant themselves "reading in" powers to create new rights in Canadian law where none were approved by Parliament or the legislatures..."

Needless to say, Mr. Gunter thinks it's time to bid the old CCP adieu.

Me too.

* * * *

Update: H/T to Jeff at Where'd that bug go? for providing more info from Real Women. Of course, Jeff has a slightly different take on the situation.

Should parents have equal rights? - (With updates)

Some parents in B.C. are quite angry because it appears that the B.C. government has accorded gay rights activists Peter and Murray Corren more access and input into the school curriculum than parents.

A 15,000 name petition is now calling on the B.C. government to give parents the same level of input as the Correns who reached an input agreement with the government this past April, after dropping their human rights complaint.

Parents' ability to remove their children from the classes may be restricted. (Lifesite)

Canadian Catholic News says:

The agreement clarifies the government's present Alternative Delivery Policy, which allows parents to remove their children from content that conflicts with their beliefs and values in three specified courses: Health and Career K-7, Career 8-9, and Planning 10.

This opting-out provision has never applied to other courses. The agreement now explicitly states opting out doesn't apply to other courses, which in future may have new same-sex material added to them.

My question here is not whether gay curriculum should be taught in the schools, but rather should parents have as much influence as special interest groups in the process? That is all they are asking for.



Lots of links:
- Richmond Review
- Abbotsford News
- Vancouver Sun
- Lifesite



UPDATE: More controversy in Manitoba. Did you know that only 10% of the population is actually heterosexual? I sure didn't. Good thing kids will be learning that there, as well as some useful tips for lesbian sex.



H/T to Counter-Coulter for the following link with a great summary at the end:
Gay guarantee for provincial curriculum


It seems that some people can never be happy though -

The harshest criticism of the contract came from Xtra West, a gay and lesbian newspaper in Vancouver that accused the Correns of settling too soon for too little. "I want the government to liberally sprinkle queer content throughout all the course material where we are now conspicuously absent," Robin Perelle said in an editorial.

Update: Some parents may be scheduling medical and dental appointments at strategic times.

Link to the actual petition (pdf)
Link to Canadian Alliance for Social Justice and Family Values Association.



IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! Is this next? From the U.K. - "Abortion Lessons for Children Should be Mandatory..."!



Wednesday Update: From "Activists and Educators" - National Post Editorial

"...the Minister of Education has no right to give privileged access to the school curriculum -- especially on a matter as sensitive as homosexuality -- to activists of any sort. The public schools are to serve the public good, not to advance particular agendas...."

"...It is possible to support public policies congruent with the push for gay rights while still acknowledging the reality that this is a far from settled issue in Canada. In the meantime, the public schools must recognize that they have no mandate to offend against the moral sensibilities and religious faith of many of their students and their parents...."

Amen.


Thursday Update: More from Proud to be Canadian.

Harper Pushing Senate Reform

Legislation is coming in the fall to create a process to elect members of the Senate for fixed terms.
- Full report at the Star website.

"Liberal senators are leery of the term-limit bill."

Gee, I wonder why?


More from the PMO.


Update: Interesting take on the situation by BT Braaten.

Get Ready for the Spin Cycle

This just in - The Bloc will support the softwood lumber deal, which means that the government won't fall on this issue.

Great. That means that the Grits and Dippers can start rehearsing their sanctamonious, self-righteous rhetoric for Question Period now.

Spare me.


570 is always on top of things. Just while writing this they reported that Tony Blair has announced that he will step down within one year. More at CTV.

Wacky Warren

Warren Kinsella has a column in today's National Post titled "Lessons from the Election that Was". Unfortunately it is hidden behind the subscribers' firewall, but I'm sure he will have it available on his site at some point.

The article is actually a discussion about an upcoming book, "The Canadian Election of 2006", and the contribution made by Carleton journalism professors Christopher Waddell and Christopher Dornan in the chapter titled "The Media and the Campaign".

Kinsella opens his piece by stating that after every election, the losers complain about the way they were treated by MSM. "It is as inevitable as sunset."

He goes on to give examples, such as the fact that the Liberals didn't like the way CTV covered the income-trust investigation, and that the NDP boycotted an editorial board meeting because of the way the Globe covered a particular poll.

Now this is the part that bothers me, and I am only quoting this one small excerpt because I've heard that Mr. Kinsella is protective when it comes to copyright infringement:

And the Conservatives? Learning from errors past, the Tories didn't bash the CBC directly -- but they certainly didn't prevent the well-organized "Blogging Tories" network from doing so, either.

So, he is blaming the Blogging Tories for bashing the CBC, and that somehow the CPC is responsible for that? Last time I heard, Freedom of Speech was still in the Charter.

Also, BT has no formal affiliation with the CPC. They do not receive any
money from them and they're not part of the organization. (I have that on good authority).

I agree that partisan blogs have to be mindful of what they write because it may cast a negative shadow on the very party that they are trying to support, but the party itself can in no way be held responsible for what is on the blogs. It is simply the passionate outpouring of a number of people who happen to support a particular party, but may have huge differences in opinion on policy. It is very different from what comes out of, for example, a particular riding association's draft policy proposal, which represents the thoughts of actual party members.

That is my opinion. Yours may be different. That's why we have blogs and discussions. And BTW, the CBC deserved it!


Update: More from Political Staples - "Well-organized?"

Somehow Greg has a link to the whole article. Check it out!

NDP Backs Down on 'Terrorist' Reference

Sounds like the heat was getting a bit much in the NDP kitchen.

The National Post has just put out a report that, "A group of NDP members has withdrawn controversial wording from an antiwar resolution that warned Canadian troops in Afghanistan risk “acting like terrorists.”

The wording caught the attention of some Conservative blogs, landed on the front page of the National Post newspaper, and provided welcome fodder for right-wing radio hosts.

However, the Post notes, "The main part of the resolution stands, including a line that suggests “foreign troops engaging in combat will make peace more difficult to achieve.”


Yes, I suppose everyone could just withdraw their troops, go home and wait for the inevitable world domination by the terrorists. If nobody complained, I'm sure it could be done peacefully.


H/T to Proud to Be Canadian - Note: Just Canada's Right Wing was Outraged.


Update: Lots of interesting reaction in today's Sun to various NDP gaffes.

Gary Doyle just made an interesting comment on Newstalk 570 - If these were the most reasonable resolutions the NDP could come up with, just what were the more radical, rejected ones? Mmmm.... Let's check out those trash cans!

Stephen Strikes Again!

Today's National Post has picked up on Stephen Taylor's awesome exposé of the NDP draft policies.

The NDP draft policy resolutions appeared briefly on the party Web site last week before being taken down. However, Conservative blogger Stephen Taylor obtained a copy and posted them on his Web site yesterday.

Well actually, he's done several postings, but that isn't the point. I love it when MSM picks up on blogging coups such as this one.


The front-page article (Troops Acting 'Like Terrorists?') is well worth the read.

Canada's troops in Afghanistan have been "acting like terrorists, destroying communities, killing and maiming innocent people", according to a resolution that will be voted on by New Democrats at the party's convention in Quebec City this weekend.

I can't imagine how the parents of those brave men and women would feel reading that statement.


Lorrie Goldstein also has an excellent editorial in today's Toronto Sun (Guess What, War is Hell).

He asks Jack Layton the following question regarding his desire to pull our troops out of Afghanistan and 'negotiate' with the Taliban:

Uh, negotiate what with the Taliban, Jack? The separation of mosque and state? Women's and children's rights? Union contracts with mandatory bathroom breaks for suicide bombers? C'mon!

Obviously, Jack is trying to score political points at the expense of our troops. In the Post article, Darrell Bricker of pollster Ipsos Reid is quoted as saying:

"If this issue drives the next vote, Layton could pull enough anti-war votes from the Liberals to help elect Tories," he said. He said the Liberals are in a difficult position on Afghanistan because they launched the mission, and at least two of the leadership candidates -- Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison -- are in favour of its extension to 2009."

Politics or integrity? What a conundrum for the Grits.

* * * *

Looks like I'm not the only Blogging Tory who is outraged by some of these NDP draft policy resolutions:

Canadian Troops Accused of Terrorism - DMB

Bloggers in the News - Rootleweb
NDP Resolution calls Canadian Troops 'Terrorists' - Doing it Wrong
Support Our Terrorists! - UT
We All Believe in What We Are Doing Here - Doing It Wrong

Time to Support S.O.C. - With Update

The recent and very successful blogburst calling for the elimination of Status of Women (SOW or SWC - depending which side of the fence you're on), has produced a torrent of controversy in its wake.

Several issues are involved. First of all, is the concept of women still needing protection from men a valid one? I suppose in some areas that is true. Some women continue to be poor, uneducated, abused, experience inequality in the workplace, have problems finding affordable daycare, and/or require government assistance in general.

However, should this continue to be done under the purview of Status of Women? Is it not accomplished already under other goverment agencies at various levels?

And many women actually feel quite resentful that this notion of women as the poor, oppressed minority is still being perpetuated.

Kate says "Being testosterone-challenged is not a disability."

Kathy Shaidle say "We need Status of Women Canada like a fish needs a bicycle".




Secondly, many women resent the fact that SOW-SWC advocates only from the feminist POV.

Straight from the *ahem* horse's mouth, we have this definition of their mandate:

Status of Women Canada (SWC) is the federal government agency which promotes gender equality, and the full participation of women in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the country. SWC focuses its work in three areas: improving women's economic autonomy and well-being, eliminating systemic violence against women and children, and advancing women's human rights.

O.K. This mandate should speak for all women, but it doesn't. The concerns of Moms who wish to child-care their own kids, like Sara, are not addressed. And what about stay-at-home Dads? Do they have an advocate?

(BTW, congrats to Sara on her debut guest spot at The Turner Report! Totally awesome!!!)


The concerns of women and men who would like to see limits on abortion are not only ignored, but vehemently challenged. Also, there is no government advocate for the rights of unborn females (and males).

In the area of same-sex 'equality', groups like Egale are double-dipping (source: Real Women):

...Another example is the homosexual lobby group, Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE), which receives funding from both the Status of Women and the Court Challenges Program...

How about some funding for those marriage commissioners and all others opposed to same-sex marriage, who are hauled up in front of a Human Right's tribunal because they refused to perform some kind of act or service due to religious objections or matters of conscience?

Personally, I think we have to start taking a long, hard look at the whole aspect of funding special interest groups. Can we really afford it in this day and age? Look at what the Vancouver Sun had to say about the precarious state of the North American economy - "Faltering U.S. economy could easily drag Canadians down too":

...While Canada's economy is not as dependent on consumer spending as is the U.S. economy, exports account for 45 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, with 86.9 per cent of those exports going to the U.S. If Americans buy less lumber, oil, natural gas, beef, wheat, pulp, paper, metals, minerals and cars, Canadians will share the pain.

The writing is on the wall and governments of all stripes should be preparing for slower growth. That means putting the fiscal house in order, curbing spending and leaving more money in taxpayers' pockets. High taxes and high interest rates exacerbate a recession, so the federal government must keep a lid on both.

All governments will have to prioritize program spending, hold public service salary increases to no more than the rate of inflation and forgo the frivolous demands of special interest groups....

Therefore, I am suggesting that we scrap all special interests groups and downsize to one central advocacy umbrella: SOC - Status of Canadians.


I've even got the slogan: Time to put a sock in it, eh?

* * * *

Update: Sara has sent me an interesting link from wa-a-a-a-a-y back in the CBC archives.

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women, called by Prime Minister Pearson in February 1967, held the notion of equal opportunity as its precept. Chaired by journalist Florence Bird, the panel was criticized both for exceeding traditional boundaries and also for hedging on the conservative. But the great undercurrent born of the Bird Commission was a renunciation against inequality.

In my dictionary, equality refers to being "of the same quality, value, status... another". I wonder which version Status of Women is using now?

As the Great Canadian Social Experiment Evolves...

Ontario children may end up being allowed to have more than two legal parents.
(H/T Lifesite.)

Isn't it going to get a bit crowded on 'Meet the Teacher Night'?

* * * *

Doggerel Party has also picked up on this.

My Beef is "Where's the Chicken?" (With update)

I was originally just going to reference this column by the Sun's Christina Blizzard (Caledonia Mess Goes On) as an update to a previous post, but it deserves the limelight.

Among the noteworthy comments, she makes this point:

A recent Court of Appeal ruling acknowledged that they were in contempt of an earlier ruling telling them to leave the property, but cautioned that public safety would be threatened if the order was enforced. "The unchallenged evidence before us is that a court order that makes the current limited occupation of Douglas Creek Estates a contempt of court will only escalate tensions in the community, put public safety at increased risk and adversely affect the land-claim negotiations," the ruling said.

Oh, good. Now we have the courts sanctioning the takeover because we're too chicken to enforce the law. Apparently, if you cover your face with a bandanna and generally act menacing, you can get anything you want in this province.

I might add that there is somewhat of a safety risk involved when you have children going to a school where the adjacent property is off-limits to police and fire officials.

Many of the protesters I have spoken to do not recognize the authority of the laws, bylaws and regulations of this country. So will these homes meet the standards other developers must meet? Not likely. All it will take is for someone to build a fire for warmth, it'll get out of hand -- and you'll have a tragedy. Mark my words.

Almost prophetic considering the recent events!


But this is the best part. (Stop reading right here and go directly to the column, if you don't want to spoil the punch line):

Look, no one wants any violence. But McGuinty's handlers are trying to paint him as "Mr. Ontario" and "Mr. Personality." Sometimes, though, the way you judge a person's character is by how they stand up to bullies. On Caledonia, we're talking McChicken.

As a follow-up, a reader sent in a letter asking McChicken the following question ("No Leadership in Caledonia"):

What will you do now that the natives plan on staying on this government owned land? Oh, I know! Sit on your butt some more. Justice Marshall was right all along. His advice was to remove the natives first, then negotiate. Do you see the difference here? Right now, the natives tell you to jump, and you ask "how high?"

Answer: With any luck, right out of the ballpark.


UPDATE: Some Caledonia residents want McChicken to buy them out too! (With figures about the chicken feed he's already tossed around).

And from Wake-Up Call: Gwen Boniface - Ontario's Newest Millionaire.

"...Gwen reduced this force to a bunch of tree hugging, baby kissing, politically correct cowards that have absolutely no backing of our employer or the gov't..."

To catch what's going on in local radio, check out Jeff Allen's rant (August 31st).

The Right Side - (Archives)

And Now From the Native Side - With update

Ottawa Core has just posted an update by Six Nations Spokeswoman Hazel Hill.

It would appear that Ms. Hill is not overly enthusiastic with the way things are progressing either. As I interpret it, she is feeling that it is a waste of time to be dealing with the provincial and federal governments, who are the "servants" of the Crown.

So it seems that the natives aren't happy, the people of Caledonia aren't happy, and the only person smiling these days has got to be Jane Stewart with her $1300 a day stipend.

So how are you Ontario taxpayers feeling about all this?

* * * *

More from the native POV at Ottawa Core. (This time regarding the tobacco trade.)

Fire may have been deliberate - With Update

From Caledonia Wake-Up Call, a report has been cited that suggests that yesterday's fire on the occupied land may have been set by a disgruntled protestor.

Again, I am asking the Premier to deal with this. Inaction can also bring tragedy.

* * * *

Update: Not everyone is buying this story.

Who's Laughing Now? - With Update

This morning's Post quotes Steve Miazga, who is General Manager of planning and economic development for Haldimand County, as saying that since the disputed land in Caledonia now belongs to the province, therefore the government, not the native protesters "would have to file the proper paperwork for construction on the site."

"Failing to do so would leave the province in violation of the Ontario Building Code Act."

So what's next? Will the Province of Ontario itself be thumbing it's nose at the rule of law? If the natives complete the homes and the province fails to take out a building permit, it will be breaking the law. And the Province would likely be liable for any injuries or deaths resulting from faulty wiring, etc.

Meanwhile, Kahentinetha Horn, a Mohawk journalist and part-time lecturer at Concordia University in Montreal, says:

"The Canadian and Ontario government want the whole issue of lands and resources being repossessed by Indigenous people to fizzle and fall apart. They want to see us become laughing stocks."

No worries there, Ms. Horn. The only laughing stocks in this story are the Ontario taxpayers. But we'll see who gets the last laugh after the next provincial election.

* * * *

Update: Now I'm really laughing!!! Do both levels of government think this will do any good at all?

I think this is a smokescreen to appear to be doing something. On the plus side, Premier McGuinty does seem to have pulled his head out of the sand.

However, I wouldn't want to be sending my kids to a school situated right beside an occupied area where police and firemen are not allowed. What is up with that?

Somebody Just Turned up the Heat

What's going on in Caledonia? Anyone have any more information?

Caledonia Wake-Up Call has pics of a fire at the Douglas Creek Estates, where the natives are occupying the disputed land.

Seems that the police are not allowed to investigate, so details are sketchy at the moment.

H/T to Steve Janke.

* * * *

Hamilton Spectator is carrying the story. H/T to SDA. Very interesting reading. I hope the province has taken out lots of liability insurance.

Are you worth $1,300 a day?

Obviously, Premier McGuinty thinks negotiator Jane Stewart is! She is being paid about $180 an hour.

No wonder he is worried about the so-called fiscal imbalance!!!

Trust me, it isn't just the money that's out of whack here. I feel like Alice in Smotherland. Just sinking deeper and deeper into despair.

Update: Dalton isn't pleased that the natives are planning to spend the winter on the Estates.

Ugly Decision by City Council

Municipal elections are coming this fall in Ontario, and thanks to the provincial Liberals, we are now looking at a four year mandate for the city fathers to be in power. All the more reason to get involved at the municipal level and challenge the complacency and culture of entitlement.

To that end, I am focusing today's entry on a local issue which could have national ramifications - Just how much government do we need running our lives?

Today's Kitchener Record has kindly provided a front page story and pic about the recent controversial decision of Kitchener City Council to ban the building of semi-detached houses with double garages in front, starting Jan. 1.

As you can see from the photo on the link, the semis appear to be all garage, with few windows to monitor the street. This has caused some complaints of esthetic and safety problems. Some people have even labelled them "ugly".

The homeowners are insulted that their homes would be regarded in this way. Dakota owner Carolyn Nesseth loves her home. Regarding the safety concern, she points out that their living room is situated on the floor above the garage and therefore affords a fine view of the street.

The Globe quotes Mayor Carl Zehr as protesting that he never used the word "ugly". It is more about aesthetics, he maintains. Sounds like political double-talk to me.


Of course the builder is livid. This has been a huge seller. The units are extremely affordable and of great value, considering the amenities.

Since beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, I really don't see the problem here. The free market will prevail. If people hate the appearance, nobody will buy and the houses won't sell. Period.

A further advantage to these homes is smaller lawn space, so the environmentalists should be happy - less pesticide use to argue about.

I also feel that city council should be trying to solve much greater problems such as the many downtown issues (drugs, crime, vacant stores and lots, etc.)

Can't help wondering, though, how those people in the "ugly" homes will be voting this fall.

* * * *

Hey, you even get to vote on the Record site. Register your opinion here.

Update @2:44 p.m. - Was Kitchener council right to ban double garages?

Yes - 41%
No - 59%

Are you listening Carl Zehr?


Update @ 7:44 p.m. Yes - 39% No - 61%

Read it and weep, Mayor Zehr! Why would you do this in an election year???

Food Bank or Six Nations? - With update

Why do I get the feeling that the natives occupying the Douglas Creek Estates have no intention of leaving at the end of September? Who will you be donating those canned goods to in December?

(H/T to Dust My Broom.)

Maybe they'll still be there by the Ontario election in 2007. It would be interesting to watch the Liberals canvassing in that town.

Update - Caledonia Mayor Marie Trainer wonders if the natives will be stopping by city hall for their building permits.

Bloc M.P. Dies in Collision - With Update

Bloc Quebecois member Benoit Sauvageau was killed today in a traffic accident around noon.

No matter what your political stripes, this is a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the family.

More at Canadian Christian Conservative.

* * * *

FRIDAY UPDATE: Bloc MP's fatal car crash sparks questions. (Globe)

If what is suggested is true, it is an even greater tragedy. God help the family through this difficult time.

Big Blue Blogburst just keeps rolling along

My hearty congratulations to Suzanne of Big Blue Wave, and all others who supported her blogburst calling for the end of government funding for SOW (Status of Women).

SOW doesn't speak for me either, and I resent taxdollars going to that organization. Their values differ sharply from mine, and probably about half of the rest of the female population in Canada. Let's see a some real equality; not just money going to feminist causes.

Or better yet, let's redirect the funds to our troops in Afghanistan so they will have better equipment.

There may be a few areas such as abuse where women still are vulnerable, but I challenge SOW to prove to me how their grant money is being used efficiently in this regard.

For anyone who would like to read more about this very successful blogburst, here are some links:

Big Blue Wave - It is Time to Eliminate Status of Women (lots of links here to various Blogging Tories' contributions.)

Big Blue Wave - Blogger Reaction against Status of Women

CTV - Harper Pressed to Axe 'Status of Women'.

Macleans - Social Conservatives Press Harper to Axe Status of Women Canada.


Join in! Write or call your M.P.

Time for one more Liberal entitlement machine to be put to rest.

Happy Six-Month Anniversary Caledonia!

It was six months ago today that natives arrived at the Douglas Creek housing development in Caledonia and barred workers from the site as they asserted their land reclamation.

Today the site is owned by the Province of Ontario, and occupied by Six Nations protestors who have been allowed to stay until at least the end of September. Negotiations continue in spite of Justice David Marshall's suggestion that the site should be cleared first. The rule of law appears to have been put aside in order to keep the political peace, even though the homeowners have suffered mental stress and declining house values. Racial tensions continue to simmer on both sides.

The Hamilton Spectator has an excellent article which includes a timeline of major events. As the piece states, this land claim appears to be only the beginning:

That assertion dates back to a land claim with its roots in 200-year-old history. Natives say 10 kilometres on either side of the Grand River granted to Six Nations after the American Revolutionary War should properly still belong to them.

Six Nations spokesman Clyde Powless obviously sees this as symbolic of a greater goal:

The dispute in Caledonia is about more than land. The ironworker, who pulls out a pocket knife to clean his fingernails, says his people are standing up to "your government" and its forced assimilation.

"A lot of people on our reserve don't know our own ways or traditional values," he said.

"It was dying out and now I see it resurging."

Powless likens the situation to the civil rights movement in the U.S.

Ontario Conservative leader John Tory has asked Premier Dalton McGuinty to "clarify the Liberal government's position on how long protesters can stay on the site without being evicted." He has also asked for some noise and nighttime activity restrictions, which seems like a reasonable request.

I have a request too. Could Premier McGuinty please let us know if he plans to continue buying up properties and cities along the Grand River as they are reclaimed by the natives? Will this be the mode of operation for future protests? What's the plan, Premier?

To me, that's the elephant in the room at this anniversary party.

What's the Buzz?

Just back from a self-imposed exile into the wilderness - far away from the madding crowd of electronic gadgets of any sort. It was somewhat of a voluntary computer rehab.

My only contact with the so-called real world was the odd local newspaper and radio station, which seemed more focussed on 'Back to School' ads and country music respectively. As a result, I am feeling a bit like Rip Van Winkle trying to catch up.

I would be most appreciative if you would clue me in on the latest news, since I am so out of touch. You play the blogger, and I'll just sit back and relax.

Let me suggest that you take an opportunity to get back to nature sometime, if you haven't done it already. Take the time to go up to God's country in northern Ontario and feel the fresh lake breeze on your face. Inhale clean air and watch the sunlight glimmering on the rippling waves. Listen as they lap onto the rocks near shore. Savour the taste of a summer sausage sandwich while fishing in a boat with nothing but reeds, islands and 'Truman Show' clouds all round you.

Sit back in the evening and listen to the loons as they swoop and call out their soft mournful song. Watch the clouds turn to cotton candy blue and pink as the sun sets behind the tall bending pines in the west.

Gaze at a million stars in the ink black sky that are hidden from the urban eye. Reflect on all of God's gifts.

Appreciate nature - the ebb and flow - the joy of peaceful solitude punctuated with human companionship and an affirmation that we are all one in this incredible world.

Down for Maintenance

Taking some time off for reflection, and to get away from this computer.

Other priorities are demanding my attention again. I hope to be back in a few weeks with renewed enthusiasm.

As a parting thought, I was privileged to be in attendance at a function last night where the mother of a Canadian soldier was speaking just days after seeing her son off on his way to Afghanistan.

Although they were both very cognizant of the danger, she talked with pride about her son's desire to help another country become free, and in the process for himself to become a better person.

As a mother myself who just had two children out of the country for the past few weeks, I cannot imagine what she is going through in this situation.

But I admire her courage, and the courage and conviction of her son.

They are both models of the highest level of humanity - when we can get beyond our own petty needs and desires, and actually do something to try to improve the world.

God bless you, young soldier, and both your family at home and your new army family in Afghanistan. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.

Get over it already!

P.M. Stephen Harper is not showing up at the AID's conference. Period. Deal with it.

Surely all the time and effort spent weeping and lamenting over this turn of events could be put to better use. But of course we know the real reason behind the furor - political capital.

Certain advocacy groups seem to be trying to send out a message via sympathetic MSM that our PM does not care because he is not there. So by extension that means that former PM Jean Chretien also does not care, because he too was a no-show at the 1996 Vancouver conference.


Clearly the PM is in another no-win situation just like the Outgames ballyhoo. He would have faced criticism and catcalls either way.

As a Toronto Sun editor commented at the end of a letter to the editor today, "When he does turn up, as he did during the Lebanon evacuation, he gets accused of grandstanding".

Heading north was a good move. I think the temperature is cooler up there in more ways than one.

* * * *

Update: There are a few links to this post. One actually agrees with my POV: A Step in the Right Direction - Harper and the Aids Conference.

Friday Update: Multi-Billion Dollar Industry.

Who's Watching Who?

O.K. Check this out. CBC Watch has linked to my blog post detailing the reply from the CBC regarding my complaint about the context manipulation as exposed by Stephen Taylor. I had a clue that this would occur since I had received a very polite email a few days ago asking my permission (which is classy and greatly appreciated).

Now, that's interesting, but it gets even better. I just stumbled upon Inside the CBC.Com, which is apparently "The Official Blog of the Canadian Broadcasting System". They have linked to the same post (without my permission). "The National responded to a complaint from a blogger". Nice. No name; just a link.

If you click on the link about the "brouhaha", you will be directed to a discussion about Taylor's coup and the significance of YouTube as a blogging tool. (Oh, and BTW, his clip has been played more than 5,000 times, and is on the "most-linked-to" list, according to the article).

So here I am watching the CBC watching us watching them. I love the irony!

Cam's Hoping for Hope

Sgt. Cam Wooley is the 'star' of the OPP, in my opinion.

One of the highlights of any long weekend in Ontario is listening to his animated reports about crazy drivers on the 400 series highways who push the limits in terms of speed and vehicles in various states of disrepair. He also compiles lists of excuses from motorists that could be humorous if the situation wasn't so dangerous.

I recently saw an interesting piece about his hobby/sideline. He repairs and restores old police vehicles, etc. for spots in films. His cars have to audition just like movie stars. He has had several successful entries.

All this serves as a backdrop for today's Toronto Sun article, "Who Will Lead the OPP?".
(H/T to Nealenews).

Cam, who is also head of the OPP union in the GTA, weighs in with his opinion about the possible candidates to replace outgoing OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface. He seems to be favouring deputy commissioner Jay Hope:

In recent years, he has focused on recruiting women, First Nations people and minorities. The former GTA regional OPP commander and Canada's top-ranking black police officer "knows who his boss is -- the citizens," Woolley said. "He's a classy guy.

"He'd never give an order he wouldn't follow himself, and he's so in tune with officers in the community," he said, adding unlike most municipal chiefs, the OPP commissioner meets regularly with the police union.

Well, all I can say is, if he's good enough for Cam, he's good enough for me. Best wishes, Jay Hope.

More MSM Watchdogs

If you are into encouraging accuracy in MSM, here are a couple of links worth checking out.

The first is CBC Watch, which seems to be dedicated to "exposing the bias" in the CBC - my kind of site. They have highlighted a terrific report by Arthur Weinreb of Canada Free Press, in which he gives credit to Stephen Taylor for his excellent work in the now infamous Christina Lawand 'report'.

A brief excerpt:

The actions of the CBC were far worse than anything that Dan Rather ever did. The Dan had evidence that George W. Bush had evaded his National Guard Service and in his zest to get the president, he ignored any evidence, however obvious, that suggested the documents that he had were forgeries. But here the CBC, by the use of selective editing and taking statements out of context didn’t just report false news — they actually created it.

Heads should roll over this. And some real thought should be given to their funding.

I noticed another recent piece by Weinreb regarding Caledonia (Obeying the Law - Dalton's Going to Think about it):

As with many things in life, there is good news and bad news in the McGuinty government’s handling of the entire Caledonia fiasco. The good news is that Dalton McGuinty is looking absolutely prime ministerial. The bad news is that he looks like the prime minister of Lebanon. Like Lebanon, there is a section of the province that is completely lawless, controlled by a group who are a law unto themselves who do what they want, when they want to do it. Much like the Lebanese army, the Ontario Provincial Police are around somewhere but they never do anything or get involved.

Beauty! This is going to be a regular read for me!

Reply From CBC

I am sharing a reply from the CBC, but I'll have to dissect it later. My IHTG (In House Tech Guy) just got back from a six week sojourn in Germany, so we are celebrating tonight!

As you may recall this had to do with Stephen Taylor's excellent exposure of media manipulation.

Please feel free to leave your comments about the response. Thanks!

UPDATE: As you will see from the comment section, this turns out to be nothing more than a form letter. Read the comments on this post by Stephen Taylor! Also check out this at Officially Screwed.


Reply as received:
(Italics mine)


Thank you for your email to CBC regarding a report aired on The
National. Jonathan Whitten, executive producer of The National asked me
to forward the following to you:



Thank you for your e-mail of August 8th addressed to Vince Carlin, CBC
Ombudsman. As you know, Mr. Carlin asked me to reply.


You wrote to draw our attention to a report on the August 4 editions of
THE NATIONAL that you feel is inaccurate and misleading. Specifically,
you wrote that by juxtaposing a comment by a protestor with what you
feel is an unrelated statement made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in
a news conference, the report misrepresented the Prime Minister’s views,
and made him appear insensitive.


The report on THE NATIONAL Friday night concerned the Prime Minister’s
reaction to questions he was facing about the Middle East. The report
began with protestors outside the Conservative caucus meeting in
Cornwall, one of whom was seen saying that both sides killing innocent
children is wrong and has to stop.


The Prime Minister, meeting behind closed doors, did not hear her
message (although, as we reported, she was invited to meet with the
Minister of Foreign Affairs), but reporters did ask him about civilian
deaths in a news conference held after the caucus meeting. He did not
reply to the question directly, but he told reporters ­ including the
CBC’s Christina Lawand ­ that his policy on the Middle East remained the
same and would not change because of public opinion surveys or protests.
He said that Canadians are not neutral on terrorism and that he would
not call for a cease-fire until the right conditions were in place. And,
he said, when properly understood, his views represent the views of most
Canadians. Ms. Lawand clearly stated those views in her report.


She also included a statement from the news conference ­ the one to
which you referred ­ where the Prime Minister said he is "not
preoccupied in any way with reaction within individual communities."


This statement was in response to a reporter who asked specifically how
he felt about what seemed to be growing support in the Jewish community
for his government and ended his question by asking whether he was
concerned about the negative response among some in the Arab
community. Mr. Harper replied that he agreed the Middle East conflict
had a pretty strong resonance in some cultural communities, but that the
government “can’t take positions based on polls, we can’t take decisions
based on reactions within certain domestic communities.”


In the bulk of his answer, however, he explained that the issues were
far larger than the concerns of some communities. These are “serious
international issues, he said, “there are not only many lives at stake,
there are a lot of long term strategic interests of this country and of
the world.…” He talked about two major elements of the Canadian policy,
about terrorist groups, both in Canada and abroad. He talked about
humanitarian concerns, including evacuation and re-construction as being
among the “focuses of our activity.”


Then he returned to where he had started his answer and repeated: “I’m
not concerned or preoccupied in any way with reaction within individual
communities. I think that reaction is very predictable.” That was the
clip included in the report following the protestor. It is logical to
conclude here that the reaction he is “not concerned” with, is the kind
of reaction personified by the protestor seen at the beginning of the
report. Mr. Harper was talking about predictable reactions in general
of which the protestor was a specific example. Some have argued that he
was talking about polling within the Arab and Jewish communities, and
while that's possible, he was also discussing, in addition to polling,
"reactions within certain domestic communities." Far from being
unrelated, as you suggest, the two are directly related.


Later in the news conference, the Prime Minister was specifically asked
about the protestors outside the meeting. While he did say that it is
important to listen to members of the various communities (as we
reported, his Ministers met with two of the protestors) he also said
“they can’t guide all of our decisions at the same time.” Far from
being contradictory to his response to the earlier question, this was
restating the government position that we faithfully reported throughout
the piece.


I do, however, agree with your concern about the structure of the
report. The construction of the piece did make it appear the Prime
Minister was responding directly to the woman protester, and that was
not the case. We should have taken the time to make it clear that the
Prime Minister was responding to a general question, and not a specific
question about the woman's concerns, and I regret that. While this does
not constitute a misrepresentation of Mr. Harper's position, or the
position of his Government, the program could have, and should have,
taken the time to be clear about what prompted the response.


It is also my responsibility to inform you that if you are not satisfied
with this response, you may wish to submit the matter for review by the
CBC Ombudsman, Mr. Vince Carlin. The Office of the Ombudsman, an
independent and impartial body reporting directly to the President, is
responsible for evaluating program compliance with the CBC's
journalistic policies. Mr. Carlin may be reached by mail at the address
shown below, or by fax at (416) 205-2825, or by e-mail at
ombudsman@cbc.ca


Yours sincerely,


Jonathan Whitten
Executive Producer
THE NATIONAL


Box 500, Station “A”,
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1E6



I hope this information is helpful to you, and thank you again for
writing.



Sincerely,


Jamie Richards
Communications Officer
CBC Audience Relations

Open Letter to Premier McGuinty

Another good reason to have a National Post subscription (no I'm not getting a kick-back here).

Conservative Opposition Leader John Tory has written an open letter to Dalton McGuinty about "Restoring the Rule of Law" in Caledonia. Again, this is available to subscribers only.

However, Mr. Tory makes some excellent suggestions. First of all, he urges the Ontario Premier to get personally involved and call all sides into his office; laying out various conditions for returning to the negotiating table such as:

• -End to "unscheduled gatherings"
• -Agreement to restrict noise and activity at night
• -Remove all barricades and signage on and around site
• -"...the protesters leave the occupied land not later than the time at which negotiations are to resume, with assurances in hand from you, in writing if necessary, that the land in dispute will be held by the Government of Ontario in trust, that there will be no action taken in respect of that land pending the conclusion of the land claims negotiations and that the land will be dealt with in accordance with the ultimate determination of the land claims process, which I hope can be expedited. Since the governments are parties to the land claims negotiations, it may well be that you would put the land apparently owned by the Ontario Government into the hands of an independent trustee acceptable to all participants in those negotiations."

Seems like common sense to me. Of course, that's not usually McGuinty's style.

BTW, John Tory is on Newstalk 570 this morning.


Update: Joan Tintor has the whole letter posted, along with her own very witty editorial!

Kudos for Stephen

Warren Kinsella has recognized Stephen Taylor's excellent work in today's National Post, "Keeping the Media Honest".

Unfortunately, the article is behind a subscribers' firewall, but it is well worth the read if you can get your hands on a copy today.

...Along with exposing a significant media misstep, Taylor's work again suggests that a new era is upon us. As my colleague Andrew Coyne has noted elsewhere, reporters have to be much more careful now: There are "20,000 fact-checkers" -- bloggers, in other words -- watching everything the mainstream media do, ready to object to any factual error...

Well done, Stephen! We are all proud of you.

And Justice Marshall rides off into the setting sun...

Well, they're calling out the big guns now - Ontario is appealing the decision.

From the Star:

Attorney General Michael Bryant said the government will argue that the court has no jurisdiction to order an end to negotiations aimed at resolving a land occupation in Caledonia.

More from CTV.

I guess Goliath and two-tier justice won this round. Let me see now, they're going to use the court process to try to argue why they shouldn't have to listen to a court tell them what to do. Uh-huh.

(H/T to Zac and Steel City Grit.)

Also, CCC has a very valid and disturbing concern about this.


Thursday Update: OPP Get Their Woman (and Six Nations spokesman says what he thinks about the Canadian flag).

Friday Update: Vancouver Sun's view of Ontario's headache that just won't go away - The rules for civil disobedience.

Also, Six Nations Man Arrested.

Ignoring a "Two-Bit" Judge

I feel sorry for Justice David Marshall this morning. He is the lone voice of sanity and integrity in a boiling sea of vicious sniping, name-calling, rage, disrespect, resentment and blatant abdication of duty. It would appear that hardly anyone is on his side.

From this morning's Record:

Marshall "has no jurisdiction," said Clyde Powless, Six Nations spokesperson, ...earlier yesterday. "This is a federal issue and he is an Ontario court judge. It's a shame a two-bit judge can step in the way of negotiations with the government."

(Yes, it's a shame that Justice Marshall doesn't know his boundaries. After all, he is just a figure-head, right? No real power?)



From the same article:

Hazel Hill, another Six Nations spokesperson, said the judge's ruling is "an act of aggression" and "an attempt to criminalize us and declare war against us."

Judge Marshall vs. the First Nations! I wonder if the OPP would just stand by and watch that one?


Then some mixed messages:

First Dalton McGuinty is quoted as saying, "Obviously, we want to abide by any decision made by the judge.''

However, in today's National Post, David Peterson, the former Ontario premier appointed by McGuinty as the original negotiator in this fiasco called Judge Marshall's ruling "bizarre", and questioned his authority:

"How can he order an end to negotiations?"

"This is very dicey. I don't know if it's enforceable and I don't know what the purpose would be even if it is," Mr. Peterson said.

Meanwhile, tensions have increased, to put it mildly. Both sides are rightly concerned about the escalating chance of dangerous confrontations.

Now I am asking two questions:

1. How much longer can Justice Marshall hold out against all odds?

2. How much longer can Dalton McGuinty hide under his bed and hope this is all a bad dream?

* * * *

This is for anyone out there who still thinks Caledonia is only Ontario's problem - Today's Record editorial ends with this paragraph:

If negotiations continue and the court order is ignored, the Six Nations will have been handed unprecedented levels of authority and sovereignty in Canada. More ominously, the use of unlawful force to settle disagreements will have been rewarded. It is now clear that the dispute in Caledonia is no longer just about who owns a piece of land. It is about nothing less than whose law is in force in this province. What answers will the people of Ontario be given?

Don't say we didn't warn you!

* * * *

David Peterson must really have it in for Justice Marshall. The CBC has quoted him as calling the judge an amateur.

"This is very fragile and very complex and it doesn't need any more amateurs trying to make this worse..."

Wow! So now Judge David Marshall is a two-bit amateur. The man can't get 'no respect!'

McGuinty May have to Face the Real World Soon

Latest ruling by Judge David Marshall: End negotiations until protestors are off property.

More at CWC (audio clip).

I see the Ontario Liberal government as really missing in action in this dispute. Neither side is happy. Time to do what we paid you for, Grits. Lead. Do something! Is anyone out there?


Update: More at SDA. (Check out the lovely flags that fly in Caledonia. In Ontario. In Canada. I'm not making this up!)

Also Steve Janke - Could Caledonia become a Constitutional Crisis for Canada?

Please send today's Star to Monte Kwinter

Remember the man who said there is no occupation and no mayhem in Caledonia?

Well the Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator and (of course) the CWC all say otherwise. Will Monte Kwinter still be wearing blinders come election time next year?

* * * *

Technical Update: Ah-hah! I fixed it myself, IHTG! What do you think of that???

Can you be gay and pro-life at the same time?

Oh, I know I promised to stay away from these hot topics; especially in the summer. But this one is really too good to pass up.

Please read this post by McPhee, who explains his position as a gay pro-lifer. The blog itself (Children Living, Please) is well worth the visit. Lots of interesting viewpoints from the various contributors - Liberals, gays, feminists and others all united in this common goal.


H/T to Big Blue Wave for the link.

Two Disturbing Items on this Holiday Monday

Just reading a few blogs here and there. Two items punched me in the gut.

One is a photo of a defaced Canadian flag right here in Ontario. I wonder if this is the real thing, or was that Reuters photographer up to his tricks again?

The other is courtesy of Dr. Roy. It seems that Ms. Magazine is inviting women who have had abortions to sign an on-line petition (and donate cash) to further the cause of a woman's right to "sovereignty over her own body" and of course, to help deflect the inherent feeling of conflict and regret that such a decision might normally produce in a human being with any sense of conscience.

That's right. They don't just want freedom of choice. They want the stigma obliterated from the societal psyche in general.

Let's stand up with pride and declare to the world that we have ended the life within us!

Media Bias Exposed!

Anyone who follows this blog regularly knows that bias and deception in MSM 'news' is my pet peeve.

Stephen Taylor has gone to extraordinary lengths to expose the CBC, with this example of blatant editing and manipulation of sound bites designed to further their agenda. Kudos to Stephen for his innovative method of presenting this evidence. Please watch the video on his site.

Many Blogging Tories have commended him for this fine work.

In the comments section of Stephen's post, "W.C." suggests complaining to the CBC Ombudsman:

E-mail Vince Carlin:

ombudsman@cbc.ca

I think this is a great idea. The only way we're going to have a hope of keeping them accountable is if they know we're onto their little game. Could someone please remind me again why we taxpayers are funding this propaganda?

Let's keep Rex Murphy and get rid of the rest of them.

* * * *

Update: "Check out Typical CBC. It's predictable." Dark Blue Tory more info and a story about Reuters doctoring photos of Beirut. It's not just predictable; it's disgusting.

Globe Poll

Although I don't put much stock in on-line polls, today's Globe poll is somewhat disturbing (Do you support the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan?)

Results at 2:40 p.m. show the "No" side with 76% of the vote; Yes only 24%!

I find this really surprising, because it is a fairly wide open question, and subject to interpretation. How could 76% be totally against the mission, when even the opposition parties support it to some degree?

Very strange.


Sunday Update: Well, the Yes side has picked up somewhat at 6:30 a.m.
31% against 69% for the No's.

Not that I care about polls, of course. Especially a poll in the Globe.

Another Deal with the Devil?

According to the Star, the RCMP may have cut a deal with Peter Whitmore.

How ethical is that? Do you think the RCMP should have done whatever it took to get those boys out alive? I am so relieved that they're safe, but if this pervert gets a chance to hurt more kids, then something is wrong.

Reminds me of another deal with the devil in Ontario.


Update: A member of the McGuinty government who is actually making some sense! Maybe we should hope for a leadership review.


Another very interesting article here:

Some researchers, including Michael Seto of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, say pedophilia is an innate sexual preference, just like heterosexuality or homosexuality. Seto said that many pedophiles, however misguided, believe they are having romantic relationships with the children.

While I could make an editorial comment here, I won't. I'll let you do that.

* * * *

Sunday Update: Excellent editorial in the Toronto Sun! ("Sex offender laws have to change")

Keep Holding Their Feet to the Fire

Something very strange just happened on the CTV site.

Dark Blue Tory had posted a link to CTV clearly stating that "...some Canadians are unhappy with the Conservative position on the Mideast..."

and in the same article:

"Polls suggest a majority of Canadians don't support his position."


Dark Blue Tory asked, "Which one is it?"

That seemed like such a good question that I fired off an email to CTV at 11:38 and also asked for the relevant polls references.

Just a short while ago, I checked back on the CTV site. Amazing! Instant rewrite!

Now the same link yields this statement, "The prime minister has been under fire for his support of Israel in its battle with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and a new poll suggests 45 per cent of Canadians don't support his position..." (12:03 p.m.)

The first statement remains the same.

So, was this a coincidence? Was someone at CTV responsible for yet another example of shoddy reporting, or was it some kind of deliberate agenda?

Biased polling is one thing. Biased or sloppy reporting of polls is way over the top.

Caledonia Update - Poll Headaches

Although the Ontario Liberals still have the support of the majority of Ontario residents (why?), it seems that John Tory's Conservatives now have a large margin of support among Hamilton and Niagara voters. Today's Spectator states that according to Leger's Craig Worden,

"the only issue he can think of that could be affecting Grit fortunes in Hamilton is the native occupation of a Caledonia housing development."

"He said for the last six months there was basically a three-way tie in Hamilton-Niagara between the three parties."

Perhaps there is hope. This issue really is a blemish on the face of the government. Even the natives are not totally thrilled with the way things have been handled.

In another interesting development, the Spectator has uncovered an exclusive story about RCMP involvement.

In Denial

I don't look at polls. I don't look at polls. I don't look at polls...

Thanks a lot, Neale.

I'm going back to bed.

* * * *

A somewhat more hopeful note here.

Mr. Dryden's got a beef

The August 7 issue of Macleans contains an amusing little behind-the-scenes collection of "Ottawa Outtakes" by Mitchel Raphael.

It seems that Liberal leadership candidate Ken Dryden can't find a "hamburger he likes in all of Canada."

According to the article, this leadership race is hard on him. Back in the good old days, when he was goaltending for the Canadiens and even when the Liberals were in power, "his people would call ahead to find the best burger and milkshake places."

"..The only place that satisfies his palate these days is south of the border at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in the Boston area..."

(Poor baby!)

Raphael goes on to describe how Dryden co-hosted his Toronto constituency BBQ with Ontario MPP Monte Kwinter, but didn't eat a thing. His wife apparently is a gourmet cook, which may partially account for his demanding palate.

But I have to ask you, how is a man who can't even enjoy a good old Harvey's or Wendy's going to relate to the common folk if he is party leader or worse yet, Prime Minister? I mean that would be as bad as being born with a silver spoon in your mouth and owning a huge shipping company, wouldn't it?

Canada's burgers aren't good enough for you Ken? Come on! Choke one down. Pretend you're on Survivor!

* * * *

Ironically, I just stumbled across this post from yesterday, by A BCer in Toronto! Pics and lots of links. I could have saved myself a lot of typing if I had found that first!

Radwanski Wrap-up

Today's National Post contains a letter that addresses the relative merits of political blogging. The whole letter is great, but here are a few choice lines:

Defending the blogosphere

Bloggers can go to excess, but political blogging as a whole is beneficial to our society. Why? Bloggers can go further than the standard media in suggesting new and innovative ways at looking at problems. They can reject each others' ideas as having gone too far or being impractical, and most importantly they can confirm and add to the ideas of the blogger....

On that point, Radwanski says that newspapers cannot give a specific viewpoint except in the editorial column... he is wrong.

...The choice of what subjects are newsworthy, the prominence and positioning of information in the article and the headlines attributed to the article all clearly set out a viewpoint. The same concept is true for radio and television, as is most clearly shown by the CBC's anti-Bush stance.

So, I will read both, the blogs with their obvious passionate viewpoint, as well as the newspapers with their not-so-well hidden agenda.

Jonathan Usher, Toronto.

Excellent points, Jonathan!

BTW, an interesting rebuttal by RightGirl, H/T Rempelia Prime.
Gabby has also made some great observations in comments on my preceding post.