So it seems that Dalton McGuinty has caved to opposition pressure and finally called in the provincial auditor general to probe Slushgate.
To his credit, the Premier has asked for the report to be tabled by July; well before the next election.
However, he refuses to ask the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to step down until the dust settles, in spite of calls to do so from the opposition.
I watched Question Period this afternoon (way more entertaining than the Federal version these days), and Howard Hampton rightly asked what changed between yesterday and today? Up until this point, the McGuinty government seemed to be suggesting that the Tories and NDP were racist. In addition, the government was constantly stonewalling and obfuscating.
Just more non-answers in reply.
Alan Cutler, the famous whistleblower from the Federal sponsorship scandal, compares this one to Adscam. Although the dynamics have changed a bit this afternoon, the echo is still there. The opposition is asking for Minister Colle's resignation, but McGuinty keeps saying that we must let the auditor general do his work.
I'm sure I've seen this show before.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Right to Choose - Women vs. Doctors
It was difficult for me to select a topic today, because there really are a lot of issues that I would like to pursue. However, when I came across this article in today's Post, I decided to continue the abortion debate; especially with today being the day for the March for Life on Parliament Hill.
Then I began to realize that the other major theme I wanted to discuss, environmentalism, is closely related.
Melissa Leong of the Post reports that the National Abortion Federation has been applying pressure to the Canadian Medical Association "to change its so-called conscientious objector policy, which allows physicians to refuse to refer patients for abortions. It is the first time the federation has tried to lobby the CMA on this issue."
Apparently a recent study found that "only 15.9% of Canadian hospitals provide abortion services, a reduction from 17.8% that occurred without any change in official regulations or policies."
For shame!
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, feels that physicians should put their patients' interests ahead of their "own religious and moral convictions.
Dr. Williard Johnston of the Canadian Physicians for Life strongly disagrees:
Well, what do you think? This situation is somewhat reminiscent of the gay marriage debate with marriage commissioners being forced to perform marriage ceremonies contrary to their religious beliefs. The argument in favour of not allowing them to abstain is that the commissioners are public servants.
Yet are doctors public servants? With the medical profession being so closely tied to National Health Care, I suppose you could make an argument in support of Ms. Saporta's point of view.
So now we have to weigh the "rights" of the pregnant woman against the "rights" of the doctor. Does the pre-born child have any rights?
In a world where children are increasingly undervalued, the answer is likely no.
Indeed, the sanctity of human life itself is losing status against other concerns such as environmentalism. Lorrie Goldstein points out in today's Sun that a common theme exists among environmental advocates that there are too many people in the world, to the detriment of Mother Earth:
It would seem that human life is very expendable when weighed against the demands of our planet, which appears to have been deified in a strangely pagan manner - demanding human sacrifice as appeasement for perceived transgressions.
Then we have the real extremist view where the decision to limit the size of your family is measured in terms of "per capita carbon dioxide emissions". (More at Lifesite)
Given the current preoccupation with placating the Earth Goddess, I really don't think that the concerns of Dr. Johnston and the Canadian Physicians for Life stand a chance.
Heck, having an abortion may even one day be viewed as a virtuous, environmentally-friendly act.
Wow!! I've somehow woven a thread about abortion, same-sex marriage and environmentalists! That should be worth a comment or two.
Update: Proud to Be Canadian - CBC Newsworld's Susan Bonner calls pro-lifers "anti-abortionists". But what did you expect from CBC?
On the other hand, Don Newman's show was quite balanced tonight. Kudos to him for discussing the rally, which numbered in the 6000+ range of participants.
Sandy has a great post on the debate. Please take the time to check it out.
Then I began to realize that the other major theme I wanted to discuss, environmentalism, is closely related.
Melissa Leong of the Post reports that the National Abortion Federation has been applying pressure to the Canadian Medical Association "to change its so-called conscientious objector policy, which allows physicians to refuse to refer patients for abortions. It is the first time the federation has tried to lobby the CMA on this issue."
Apparently a recent study found that "only 15.9% of Canadian hospitals provide abortion services, a reduction from 17.8% that occurred without any change in official regulations or policies."
For shame!
Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, feels that physicians should put their patients' interests ahead of their "own religious and moral convictions.
Dr. Williard Johnston of the Canadian Physicians for Life strongly disagrees:
"Now is the time to be strengthening conscience protections so that people who find themselves uncomfortable with procedures should have their rights protected."
Well, what do you think? This situation is somewhat reminiscent of the gay marriage debate with marriage commissioners being forced to perform marriage ceremonies contrary to their religious beliefs. The argument in favour of not allowing them to abstain is that the commissioners are public servants.
Yet are doctors public servants? With the medical profession being so closely tied to National Health Care, I suppose you could make an argument in support of Ms. Saporta's point of view.
So now we have to weigh the "rights" of the pregnant woman against the "rights" of the doctor. Does the pre-born child have any rights?
In a world where children are increasingly undervalued, the answer is likely no.
Indeed, the sanctity of human life itself is losing status against other concerns such as environmentalism. Lorrie Goldstein points out in today's Sun that a common theme exists among environmental advocates that there are too many people in the world, to the detriment of Mother Earth:
In his bestseller The Weather Makers, scientist/conservationist Tim Flannery discusses in a chapter titled "2084: The Carbon Dictatorship?" the possibility of an Earth Commission for Thermostatic Control (ECTC) one day zeroing in on the major cause of man-made global warming -- "the total number of people on the planet."
With that, he writes, the ECTC "will have transformed itself into an Orwellian-style world government with its own currency, army and control over every person and every inch of our planet." To be clear, Flannery is not advocating such a body, merely speculating on what could happen if we don't take action against man-made global warming in time.
It would seem that human life is very expendable when weighed against the demands of our planet, which appears to have been deified in a strangely pagan manner - demanding human sacrifice as appeasement for perceived transgressions.
Then we have the real extremist view where the decision to limit the size of your family is measured in terms of "per capita carbon dioxide emissions". (More at Lifesite)
Given the current preoccupation with placating the Earth Goddess, I really don't think that the concerns of Dr. Johnston and the Canadian Physicians for Life stand a chance.
Heck, having an abortion may even one day be viewed as a virtuous, environmentally-friendly act.
* * * *
Wow!! I've somehow woven a thread about abortion, same-sex marriage and environmentalists! That should be worth a comment or two.
Update: Proud to Be Canadian - CBC Newsworld's Susan Bonner calls pro-lifers "anti-abortionists". But what did you expect from CBC?
On the other hand, Don Newman's show was quite balanced tonight. Kudos to him for discussing the rally, which numbered in the 6000+ range of participants.
Sandy has a great post on the debate. Please take the time to check it out.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The latest environmental target - Plastic Bags
If the light bulb ban is any indication, all of Canada better start preparing for the next onslaught - banning plastic bags.
Of course, Nanny Ontario is going to give us time to be good little citizenchiks and rid ourselves of this addiction voluntarily at first. And hey - if someone wants to give me a grocery discount for using my cloth bag, I'm all for it.
The outright ban idea has me concerned though. I use those plastic bags for garbage. You know, the rotten, smelly kind that needs to be contained. So if they were unavailable I'd be buying plastic kitchen liners instead. Now how is that an improvement?
Paper bags are being suggested in San Francisco as an alternative, but my understanding is that they are much more expensive to manufacture. I have asked for paper many times, because they are awesome for storing potatoes. No joy though. Apparently they store them in the store's safe. I've resorted to hoarding the ones given out for food drives and donate in plastic bags instead.
And paper bags can blow around as litter just as well as plastic. Oh, and they leak too.
Anyway, I wonder what will be next? Will we be banning BBQ's? Gas and electric lawn mowers? Snow blowers? Snowmobiles? Motorboats? Fetuses of non-environmentalists? How about breathing? That might help the environment.
We humans are such a blight on Mother Earth.
Of course, Nanny Ontario is going to give us time to be good little citizenchiks and rid ourselves of this addiction voluntarily at first. And hey - if someone wants to give me a grocery discount for using my cloth bag, I'm all for it.
The outright ban idea has me concerned though. I use those plastic bags for garbage. You know, the rotten, smelly kind that needs to be contained. So if they were unavailable I'd be buying plastic kitchen liners instead. Now how is that an improvement?
Paper bags are being suggested in San Francisco as an alternative, but my understanding is that they are much more expensive to manufacture. I have asked for paper many times, because they are awesome for storing potatoes. No joy though. Apparently they store them in the store's safe. I've resorted to hoarding the ones given out for food drives and donate in plastic bags instead.
And paper bags can blow around as litter just as well as plastic. Oh, and they leak too.
Anyway, I wonder what will be next? Will we be banning BBQ's? Gas and electric lawn mowers? Snow blowers? Snowmobiles? Motorboats? Fetuses of non-environmentalists? How about breathing? That might help the environment.
We humans are such a blight on Mother Earth.
* * * *
Update: NDP suggests corn starch bag mandate. If that's what the bags are made of that I use to lug my groceries home, they can forget that. The cans fall through the bottom before you get them in the door!
And on the Federal Green front, Gov't Staffer Arrested in Alleged Leak of Green Plan.
And on the Federal Green front, Gov't Staffer Arrested in Alleged Leak of Green Plan.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Jane Stewart out
This morning's Star reports that Veteran aboriginal affairs negotiator Jane Stewart has been replaced at the Caledonia negotiating table by Murray Coolican, a former deputy minister of Ontario's aboriginal affairs department.
According to the report, "Jane Stewart was paid $1,300 a day to negotiate an end to the occupation. Coolican's salary is still being negotiated..."
Do these guys come with a money-back guarantee?
Breaking news (Wednesday afternoon): CNRail sues native protesters. This should be interesting.
According to the report, "Jane Stewart was paid $1,300 a day to negotiate an end to the occupation. Coolican's salary is still being negotiated..."
Do these guys come with a money-back guarantee?
* * * *
Breaking news (Wednesday afternoon): CNRail sues native protesters. This should be interesting.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Your Tax Dollars Funding Bad Medicine (with update)
Today's National Post contains a flurry of letters to the editor in response to Anne Marie Owen's May 5 article, The "A" Word. Abortion is a subject that typically polarizes Canadians into two emotional camps of morality vs. 'rights'.
What is interesting is that the letters were all in favour of reopening the debate. The Post usually tries to be balanced in their Letters section, so I can only assume that there were few if any letters asking that this not be discussed (although I suppose the very act of writing in would be a form of debate).
Owens' point of view seems to be skewed towards the question of accessibility rather than morality, so I am guessing that she is on the 'Right to Choose' side. The language that she uses gives her away:
Perhaps one of the best reasons for reopening this debate (in spite of the fact that it is political poison) is the compelling insight found in the following letter by Dr. Philip Ney of Victoria:
Another letter from Denise Mountenay of Canada Silent No More affirms this viewpoint:
So it appears that this publicly-funded, universally-available medical procedure is not only lethal to pre-born humans, but also carries a significant risk to the patient who may not be made aware of all the implications at the time of a very emotional crisis.
Where is the medical value here?
What is interesting is that the letters were all in favour of reopening the debate. The Post usually tries to be balanced in their Letters section, so I can only assume that there were few if any letters asking that this not be discussed (although I suppose the very act of writing in would be a form of debate).
Owens' point of view seems to be skewed towards the question of accessibility rather than morality, so I am guessing that she is on the 'Right to Choose' side. The language that she uses gives her away:
If the organizers of the 10th March for Life are right, more than 5,000 anti-abortion activists are likely to descend on Parliament Hill next week for their annual campaign lobbying for dramatic legislative change.
Yet there will likely be no televised images of the demonstration and only sparse coverage from the mainstream media of an event that those on the other side of the debate typically characterize as a gathering of a couple hundred radicals from the fringe.
The campaign's media liaison, Wanda Hartlin, is accustomed to hearing the complaints of members frustrated each year by the resounding silence of media coverage of their key public awareness exercise.
"I don't think the media is that interested in religious topics and the media sees this as a religious topic," she says. "I don't think the media is ignoring us. I think you take us from a different direction ?
"We call ourselves pro-life. The media calls us anti-abortion. The pro-choice people call us anti-choice."
Perhaps one of the best reasons for reopening this debate (in spite of the fact that it is political poison) is the compelling insight found in the following letter by Dr. Philip Ney of Victoria:
...Since abortion is a medical procedure, performed by medical staff in medical facilities and paid for by medical funding, the debate should be: is abortion good medicine? There is rapidly growing evidence that abortion does considerably more harm than good. Abortion is bad medicine. This is the reason that more women are successfully suing doctors for their abortion related harms. It is the reason that it is increasingly difficult to recruit physicians and nurses to perform abortions.
Another letter from Denise Mountenay of Canada Silent No More affirms this viewpoint:
...Most of us were only teenagers when we found out we were pregnant, pressured to have abortions by our boyfriends and parents. We were told it was "just a clump of tissue" ? "just a fetus" ? so we believed that if doctors, those who cared about us and government thought it was OK, that it must be all right
As founder and president of Canada Silent No More, I've been reaching out to the thousands of women suffering in silence about their abortion pain. Most women live with deep remorse, regret, shame and guilt from the choice to abort their babies. We were not informed about all of the risk factors, or trauma it would cause...
So it appears that this publicly-funded, universally-available medical procedure is not only lethal to pre-born humans, but also carries a significant risk to the patient who may not be made aware of all the implications at the time of a very emotional crisis.
Where is the medical value here?
* * * *
Tuesday Update: Today's Post Letters section deals exclusively with the A-word. Who says Canadians don't want to talk about this? Some of the opinions have been reprinted from the Post's blog. I found this one particularly noteworthy:
Very good argument. It all comes back to the arbitrary legal decision to call a human being a "person" once he or she has fully emerged from the mother's body, never mind that preemies are able to survive months earlier if they are wanted.
What has happened is that we have given pregnant women the power to play God with regards to human life. Then some doctors practice bad medicine by enabling this circumvention of the human rights of those who will never be allowed to vote; which is why politicians side with the Pro-Choicers.
SaintNobody said: The whole point of the abortion debate is that pro-lifers are arguing that unborn children deserve rights. We don't kill newborns because we can't afford to raise them. We don't kill old people because they're terminally ill. We should adopt the same standard for unborn children. Personal autonomy is great, but not at the cost of killing another human being.
In 1968, when Pierre Trudeau legalized abortion, he took away the rights of a whole class of human beings. Now that's scary.
Very good argument. It all comes back to the arbitrary legal decision to call a human being a "person" once he or she has fully emerged from the mother's body, never mind that preemies are able to survive months earlier if they are wanted.
What has happened is that we have given pregnant women the power to play God with regards to human life. Then some doctors practice bad medicine by enabling this circumvention of the human rights of those who will never be allowed to vote; which is why politicians side with the Pro-Choicers.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
The Merits of Blogging
My little respite from blogging was extremely restorative. It gave me a chance to do a lot of reflecting on the pros and cons of continuing with Joanne's Journey. The fact that I was on a forced withdrawal from computer access of any kind likely hastened my digital cleansing.
Probably the biggest relief was not having to deal with ridiculous issues like the Shane Doan debacle. Good grief! What were those dough-heads thinking?
Anyway, it was quite pleasant to wake up and let the other bloggers deal with the crazy political antics in Ottawa, which made me reassess why I was even taking on this self-imposed role.
Folks, there is a life out there that doesn't involve politics and it is sweet.
Will I return? Probably.
Articles like those in today's Sun are enticing me. Lorrie Goldstein advises Premier McGuinty to stick to an attitude of not talking down to the special interest groups and various demographics he is trying to impress (Has Dalton Lost His Edge?)
Christina Blizzard has an awesome column this morning - "Wheels Falling Off for Dalton". This will be a very handy item in the upcoming fall election.
Will I be back? Of course.
But right now, the sunshine beckons.
Probably the biggest relief was not having to deal with ridiculous issues like the Shane Doan debacle. Good grief! What were those dough-heads thinking?
Anyway, it was quite pleasant to wake up and let the other bloggers deal with the crazy political antics in Ottawa, which made me reassess why I was even taking on this self-imposed role.
Folks, there is a life out there that doesn't involve politics and it is sweet.
Will I return? Probably.
Articles like those in today's Sun are enticing me. Lorrie Goldstein advises Premier McGuinty to stick to an attitude of not talking down to the special interest groups and various demographics he is trying to impress (Has Dalton Lost His Edge?)
Christina Blizzard has an awesome column this morning - "Wheels Falling Off for Dalton". This will be a very handy item in the upcoming fall election.
Will I be back? Of course.
But right now, the sunshine beckons.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
The Red Green Puppet Show
The Kyoto Kult analogy to religion reached new heights when Elizabeth May delivered an 'environmental sermon' at Liberal MP Glen Pearson's United Church on the weekend. Mr. Pearson likened the Green party leader to an Old Testament prophet.
It seems though that Mr. Pearson is now somewhat uncomfortable that Liz stands by her comments that condemn Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on climate change, comparing it to "a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis."
A spokesman for the Prime Minister is asking for the slur to be retracted, adding that May is becoming Dion's puppet; doing the dirty work for him. (Imagine a leadership debate with Liz on board!)
Mr. Pearson is now trying to distance himself with the Godwin-like remarks:
Better be careful, Stephane. Your cute little sock-puppet seems to be morphing into a very scary marionette with a will of her own.
It seems though that Mr. Pearson is now somewhat uncomfortable that Liz stands by her comments that condemn Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on climate change, comparing it to "a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis."
A spokesman for the Prime Minister is asking for the slur to be retracted, adding that May is becoming Dion's puppet; doing the dirty work for him. (Imagine a leadership debate with Liz on board!)
Mr. Pearson is now trying to distance himself with the Godwin-like remarks:
"Canadians need to get more serious about it, but the whole link to the Nazis over that went beyond the pale, for me.
Better be careful, Stephane. Your cute little sock-puppet seems to be morphing into a very scary marionette with a will of her own.
* * * *
Update: Don't get sucked in by this one!
ChuckerCanuk - Elizabeth May: Christian Bashing "Christian".
ChuckerCanuk - Elizabeth May: Christian Bashing "Christian".
* * * *
I'll be taking some time off. Feel free to leave comments, although I may eventually use Comment Moderation when away from the computer for extended periods.
Real life awaits.
Real life awaits.
Monday, April 30, 2007
To Al Gore - Flick Off, eh?
Does anyone else out there resent Al Gore telling Canada what to do about the environment? I can barely tolerate David Suzuki's squawking, but the sanctimonious Goracle???
Well Mr. Gore, stick this in your global warming pipe and smoke it.
Well Mr. Gore, stick this in your global warming pipe and smoke it.
Ouch!
One thing you've got to give Lorrie Goldstein - he doesn't play favourites! This is probably the most balanced editorial I've read to date on the Afghan detainee story.
But let's put the blame game aside, ferret out the truth and get on with a responsible solution. And while I'm at it, where's the rest of NATO? Why are we left hanging with all these problems?
But let's put the blame game aside, ferret out the truth and get on with a responsible solution. And while I'm at it, where's the rest of NATO? Why are we left hanging with all these problems?
* * * *
Update: As promised, here is a response from Lorrie Goldstein, sent after I advised him about some of the comments regarding his column today (especially the one at 12:53:00 PM):
Well, thanks Lorrie, for clarifying this for us. As I have said before, I'm conflicted on this one.
Tuesday Update: CTV has an updated story which also addresses rumours of O'Connor's resignation - Afghan politician rejects prisoner abuse claims.
Wednesday Update: Good on Lorrie Goldstein for exposing the Liberal hypocrisy here.
Surely the person who best knows if Gordon O'Connor was wrong is Gordon O'Connor.
Please note what I wrote in today's piece: "At one point, O'Connor said the Red Cross was inspecting the prisoners for Canada. Wrong."
I wrote it that way for a reason. (O'Connor Apologizes to Commons)
On your reader's point that there are now allegations the Liberals may have known about similar torture allegations and ignored them while in government is, if the allegations are accurate, relevant, but it would only show that the Liberals are hypocrites. Like THAT'S a surprise?
It doesn't change the incompetent - at best - Conservative response to this controversy, which has been going on for months and which was simply re-ignited last week by the Globe because of its interviews with actual detainees.
This isn't the first time the Conservatives have had a crack at addressing this issue, so they can't claim to have been caught off guard.
Well, thanks Lorrie, for clarifying this for us. As I have said before, I'm conflicted on this one.
Tuesday Update: CTV has an updated story which also addresses rumours of O'Connor's resignation - Afghan politician rejects prisoner abuse claims.
Wednesday Update: Good on Lorrie Goldstein for exposing the Liberal hypocrisy here.
Celebrating Stephen Harper's Birthday
I would like to join Dr. Roy in wishing our Prime Minister a very happy birthday today. The previous post also contains some birthday wishes from various readers towards the end of the thread.
Like Dr. Roy, I must admit I had my doubts about Stephen Harper at the beginning. Even when canvassing in the last election I ran into people who said they didn't think Mr. Harper was the right man for the job.
However, over the last few years I have not only had the pleasure of hearing him speak in person several times; I have even shaken hands with him, had my photo taken with him and had that photo personally signed by him with my favourite gold Sharpie. It doesn't get much better than that for a Blogging Tory.
So today I want to thank Stephen Harper for following his inner convictions and trying to do his best for our country. He's here to get the job done. No, he's not perfect. None of us are. But I truly believe that he is working for Canada; not for his own glory. That is why I support him and respect him.
Happy Birthday, Prime Minister!
Like Dr. Roy, I must admit I had my doubts about Stephen Harper at the beginning. Even when canvassing in the last election I ran into people who said they didn't think Mr. Harper was the right man for the job.
However, over the last few years I have not only had the pleasure of hearing him speak in person several times; I have even shaken hands with him, had my photo taken with him and had that photo personally signed by him with my favourite gold Sharpie. It doesn't get much better than that for a Blogging Tory.
So today I want to thank Stephen Harper for following his inner convictions and trying to do his best for our country. He's here to get the job done. No, he's not perfect. None of us are. But I truly believe that he is working for Canada; not for his own glory. That is why I support him and respect him.
Happy Birthday, Prime Minister!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Dion is good at running meetings
I just want to thank Lorrie Goldstein for his column this morning - What Did You Decide, Dion?
At first I thought he was going to talk about whether or not the opposition will attempt a motion of non-confidence since the recently-announced environmental policy is a "scam".
But no, Lorrie was referring to the Liberal ad where Dion is celebrated as having "led 182 countries to a long-term agreement to fight climate change."
The actual meeting results were a bit more sketchy according to Robert Henson's account in The Rough Guide to Climate Change. Goldstein does give credit to Dion for keeping the meeting process from falling apart. But what else did Stephane Dion accomplish as Environment Minister, other than running meetings with flair and watching "Canada's greenhouse gas emissions increase at almost twice the rate of the U.S."?
I can't think of a thing.
But that's not actually why I'm so grateful to Lorrie for this morning's editorial. The real reason is that he finally deciphered what Dion said in the end of the commercial as he triumphantly pounds his gavel on the desk to the thunderous applause of those around him. - "Decided".
I honestly thought he said "Silence". Silly me.
Thanks Lorrie.
At first I thought he was going to talk about whether or not the opposition will attempt a motion of non-confidence since the recently-announced environmental policy is a "scam".
But no, Lorrie was referring to the Liberal ad where Dion is celebrated as having "led 182 countries to a long-term agreement to fight climate change."
The actual meeting results were a bit more sketchy according to Robert Henson's account in The Rough Guide to Climate Change. Goldstein does give credit to Dion for keeping the meeting process from falling apart. But what else did Stephane Dion accomplish as Environment Minister, other than running meetings with flair and watching "Canada's greenhouse gas emissions increase at almost twice the rate of the U.S."?
I can't think of a thing.
But that's not actually why I'm so grateful to Lorrie for this morning's editorial. The real reason is that he finally deciphered what Dion said in the end of the commercial as he triumphantly pounds his gavel on the desk to the thunderous applause of those around him. - "Decided".
I honestly thought he said "Silence". Silly me.
Thanks Lorrie.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Is Dalton's Mom Out of Touch too?
Yesterday Premier Dalton McGuinty defended the FLICK-OFF campaign by saying that some people are being 'a bit too FLICKING sensitive'.
So I wonder if Dalton's mother has also joined Liberal media strategist Ben Chin's list of Ontario residents who are "out of touch"?
But McGuinty, who proudly donned a bracelet emblazoned with the slogan earlier in the day, said he can't understand how it could offend "the modest sensibilities of some Ontarians."
"I might expect my mother to complain about this," McGuinty told a gathering of radio and television news directors in Toronto.
So I wonder if Dalton's mother has also joined Liberal media strategist Ben Chin's list of Ontario residents who are "out of touch"?
* * * *
Update: Lorrie Goldstein tells McGuinty to flick-off (with respect). I second the motion.
Wednesday Update: Colle-gate a sorry affair.
Wednesday Update: Colle-gate a sorry affair.
Liberal cover-up?
Joel-Denis Bellevance relates a story in La Presse that suggests that the former Liberal government was keenly aware of warnings of torture in Afghanistan (H/T National Newswatch).
This is a translated version of the article, so it reads the way Stephane Dion speaks English, and is therefore somewhat difficult to follow, but well worth the effort.
Bellevance makes the point that the present government is surely to blame for a lot of confusion this week, but the Liberals may not have been lily-white in the affair themselves.
* * * *
And here's your weekend quiz courtesy of ChuckerCanuk: Am I a Liberal..?
This is a translated version of the article, so it reads the way Stephane Dion speaks English, and is therefore somewhat difficult to follow, but well worth the effort.
Bellevance makes the point that the present government is surely to blame for a lot of confusion this week, but the Liberals may not have been lily-white in the affair themselves.
* * * *
Et en français: (Bourque) - Torture en Afghanistan: les libéraux savaient.
SDA: Michael Ignatieff - Call Your Office.
SDA: Michael Ignatieff - Call Your Office.
And here's your weekend quiz courtesy of ChuckerCanuk: Am I a Liberal..?
Should dental care be included in medicare?
This is a gut-wrenching story from the Star - Plunged into darkness.
Simply put, Moses Han went blind because he didn't have the $1,300 to fix an infected tooth. The infection eventually caused him to lose his sight.
I have long wondered why basic dental care is not covered by the public health care system; especially for those who can't afford it and have no private insurance. An infection can not only cause blindness, but other major problems such as affecting cardiac function. Preventative treatment could save a lot of money in the long run.
Canadian citizens should not have their health compromised due to major dental problems.
Simply put, Moses Han went blind because he didn't have the $1,300 to fix an infected tooth. The infection eventually caused him to lose his sight.
Dental care is not included in Canada's medicare system so provincial health insurance does not cover it. There are some options for treatment. For those on social assistance and the Ontario Disability Support Program, there's basic coverage, but no preventative treatment.
I have long wondered why basic dental care is not covered by the public health care system; especially for those who can't afford it and have no private insurance. An infection can not only cause blindness, but other major problems such as affecting cardiac function. Preventative treatment could save a lot of money in the long run.
Canadian citizens should not have their health compromised due to major dental problems.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Green Plan Fall-out
No surprises with John Baird's environmental plan. He had no choice but to straddle that difficult line between trying to please the environmentalists and safeguarding the economy. Of course he received few kudos for his efforts.
I concur with Chantel Hebert, Don Martin and the incredibly insightful ChuckerCanuk that now is the time for the opposition to either put forward a motion of non-confidence or forever hold their flicking peace.
Speaking of Dalton, one wonders what climate-change nightmare is in store for us:
Gulp! With that let-them-eat-tofu majority government of his, there's no telling what might happen to this poor province's economy.
And from the Goracle: Al Gore says Tories' Green Plan 'A Fraud'.
- Then don't!!!
Baird fights back.
I concur with Chantel Hebert, Don Martin and the incredibly insightful ChuckerCanuk that now is the time for the opposition to either put forward a motion of non-confidence or forever hold their flicking peace.
Speaking of Dalton, one wonders what climate-change nightmare is in store for us:
“It falls short of Canadian expectations. I think we can reach further and we intend to do that here in Ontario when we put out our climate change plan,” he said at the opening of the Green Living Show at Exhibition Place.
Gulp! With that let-them-eat-tofu majority government of his, there's no telling what might happen to this poor province's economy.
And from the Goracle: Al Gore says Tories' Green Plan 'A Fraud'.
Mr. Gore acknowledged he is not a Canadian citizen and said he has “no right to interfere in your decisions.”
- Then don't!!!
Baird fights back.
WHO'S out of touch?
Lotto-gate, 'Corner Store Trust'-gate, Colle-gate, 'FLICK-OFF'-gate...
The Ontario majority Liberal government is having to spend a lot of bothersome effort trying to divert public attention away from these pesky nuisances.
Accountability? Who needs that when you have a majority? You just vote down any attempt to be examined for questionable actions.
The public? They're so self-absorbed they don't even care what you do right, Dalton?
The first rule of politics for the McGuinty government is when confronted with an attack, fling back any mud you can grab. Anyone watching Oral Questions in the Ontario Legislature yesterday would know what I'm referring to. The government refuses to be accountable to the opposition and therefore by extension to the taxpayers.
But I always thought that being in charge of the public purse is a sacred trust - That it should be respected; not used as a party coffer.
However, I digress. In today's Sun Christiana Blizzard relates how she was told by former CityTV reporter-turned Liberal media strategist Ben Chin that she was "out of touch" as was radio host Bill Carroll and the entire CFRB audience; the overwhelming majority of whom felt that Minister Broten should resign. Chin later apologized and said that he meant that John Tory was out of touch.
Well here's a wake-up call, Ben. You can add a lot of MSM pundits and bloggers across the whole political spectrum to that list of folks who are out of touch. Also the National Post. I'm sure there are others.
So who's really out of touch? I'll let you decide. I'm just a dumb taxpayer who probably can't be trusted.
The Ontario majority Liberal government is having to spend a lot of bothersome effort trying to divert public attention away from these pesky nuisances.
Accountability? Who needs that when you have a majority? You just vote down any attempt to be examined for questionable actions.
The public? They're so self-absorbed they don't even care what you do right, Dalton?
The first rule of politics for the McGuinty government is when confronted with an attack, fling back any mud you can grab. Anyone watching Oral Questions in the Ontario Legislature yesterday would know what I'm referring to. The government refuses to be accountable to the opposition and therefore by extension to the taxpayers.
But I always thought that being in charge of the public purse is a sacred trust - That it should be respected; not used as a party coffer.
However, I digress. In today's Sun Christiana Blizzard relates how she was told by former CityTV reporter-turned Liberal media strategist Ben Chin that she was "out of touch" as was radio host Bill Carroll and the entire CFRB audience; the overwhelming majority of whom felt that Minister Broten should resign. Chin later apologized and said that he meant that John Tory was out of touch.
Well here's a wake-up call, Ben. You can add a lot of MSM pundits and bloggers across the whole political spectrum to that list of folks who are out of touch. Also the National Post. I'm sure there are others.
So who's really out of touch? I'll let you decide. I'm just a dumb taxpayer who probably can't be trusted.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Disgusting Antics in Queen's Park today
The McGuinty Liberals have used their majority to prevent an investigation by the Auditor General regarding the process of grants being doled out by Citizenship and Immigration.
I watched Question Period this afternoon and I was absolutely astounded and angered by the obfuscation and snide attacks by George Smitherman and eventually Minister Colle when he finally decided to show up at 3 p.m.
What a travesty of democracy! Every Ontario citizen should be watching this disgusting display of antics before they vote in October. I am appalled.
Globe - "Colle-gate" affair has managed to put Liberals in a box. (Subscriber only).
I watched Question Period this afternoon and I was absolutely astounded and angered by the obfuscation and snide attacks by George Smitherman and eventually Minister Colle when he finally decided to show up at 3 p.m.
What a travesty of democracy! Every Ontario citizen should be watching this disgusting display of antics before they vote in October. I am appalled.
Globe - "Colle-gate" affair has managed to put Liberals in a box. (Subscriber only).
Long live the mole
CTV reports that "according to insiders", Sudbury MP Diane Marleau cautioned the Liberal caucus yesterday in a closed-door meeting, against loose-lips and how this can adversely affect party polling results.
The elephant in the room, of course, is that a few members obviously didn't quite understand the substance of the message.
The elephant in the room, of course, is that a few members obviously didn't quite understand the substance of the message.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Your Ontario Tax dollars - Hard at work
It seems that the Ontario opposition parties are a tad upset that $500,000 has been spent to help tell Canadians to Flick Off!
Yes, Ontario. You have paid to be told to Go Flick Yourself.
Perhaps you would like to mention that to Dalton in October's election.
From the Western Standard's Shotgun - Check out this pic!
Angry has another angle - The Cost to Flick Off.
Good point here - "Have we lost the ability to be creative without appealing to the absolute lowest levels of communication? If so, let's leave the lights on. Perhaps this culture is not worth saving." Well said.
Yes, Ontario. You have paid to be told to Go Flick Yourself.
Perhaps you would like to mention that to Dalton in October's election.
* * * *
Thursday Update:
Christina Blizzard calls this a Brilliant flickin' idea. Actually she makes a good point. This is what the Ontario Liberal government thinks about our youth; that we can only reach them by using innuendo and potty talk. It really is an incredible example of Liberal arrogance when you think about it.
Lorrie Goldstein tells us of more idiocy emanating from Queen's Park - Canada's Dumbest Politician. Can you guess who?
ChuckerCanuk has waded into the scary world of Ontario politics with this gem! Anyone from Gov.on.ca really should check it out.
And as much as it pains me to do this, I must direct your attention to Red Tory's recent post on this subject - Flicking Stupid. (What's flicking scary is how much we are agreeing lately!)
Christina Blizzard calls this a Brilliant flickin' idea. Actually she makes a good point. This is what the Ontario Liberal government thinks about our youth; that we can only reach them by using innuendo and potty talk. It really is an incredible example of Liberal arrogance when you think about it.
Lorrie Goldstein tells us of more idiocy emanating from Queen's Park - Canada's Dumbest Politician. Can you guess who?
ChuckerCanuk has waded into the scary world of Ontario politics with this gem! Anyone from Gov.on.ca really should check it out.
And as much as it pains me to do this, I must direct your attention to Red Tory's recent post on this subject - Flicking Stupid. (What's flicking scary is how much we are agreeing lately!)
From the Western Standard's Shotgun - Check out this pic!
Angry has another angle - The Cost to Flick Off.
Good point here - "Have we lost the ability to be creative without appealing to the absolute lowest levels of communication? If so, let's leave the lights on. Perhaps this culture is not worth saving." Well said.
Something's starting to stink in Queen's Park
The Ottawa Citizen has just provided a handy explanation of recent alleged Ontario Liberal scandals that should prove quite useful when election time draws near this fall.
Lottogate and "Colle-gate" are the latest, and could prove deadly to the Grits. Voters will overlook incompetency to some degree, notably the way Caledonia has been handled, but don't mess with public trust and the taxpayers' wallets!
Pollster Greg Lyle is quoted at the end of the piece as saying that he doesn't think that "the average person is spending all that much time talking about this."
Do you agree? Is the average Ontario resident just so complacent that potential government scandal isn't even on the radar?
Do you care?
Lottogate and "Colle-gate" are the latest, and could prove deadly to the Grits. Voters will overlook incompetency to some degree, notably the way Caledonia has been handled, but don't mess with public trust and the taxpayers' wallets!
Pollster Greg Lyle is quoted at the end of the piece as saying that he doesn't think that "the average person is spending all that much time talking about this."
Do you agree? Is the average Ontario resident just so complacent that potential government scandal isn't even on the radar?
Do you care?
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