Tiny Timmy was back on CFRA yesterday. He was extolling the virtues of two of his caucus who have decided to stage a sit in at Queen's Park. They are battling the dreaded HST legislation. What heroes they are. Here they are a ray of sunshine standing, or sitting, or sleeping, against an unwanted tax.
Rob Snow, who is well known for his Liberal leanings,... NOT, asked every self-serving question that Timmy could easily answer. The only question he ignored was..."If you get elected in 2011, will you cancel the HST?"
Now, Timmy knows the sound-byte answer to this one. He claims that the dreaded Liberals have made the HST legislation loophole resistant by putting in clauses that tie the hands of future government for 10,000 years. Iguess no one has told him that if he forms a government he can do whatever he wants with past legislation including lower the rate.
But, you know, Timmy will hide behind his accusation because he knows that the economic mess that Ontario is currently in will not be solved by growth. It will take tax dollars and to lower the rate or cancel the harmonization with the GST would make him dumber than Tiger.
Grow up, Timmy.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
What's good for the Goose?
It is interesting to note that while governments at most levels are required by law to maintain an Access to Information or Freedom of Information facility, none of the major or minor political parties, which make up such governments, support or maintain, internally, such Freedoms or Access.
Odd thing, I'd say.
Odd thing, I'd say.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tim Hudak should join the Leafs
Tim Hudak, the diminutive chef de la partie Conservative de Ontario (not bad french, eh?) is so good at his job as a politician that he should moonlight as a player for the Make Me Laffs. God knows that they need help.
What leads me to this conclusion? Timmy was on the Lardo Green show the other day wailing and lamenting about the Ontario HST. It is ungodly... it is unclean... it is illegal... it smells of dog doo. There was no epithet that Timmy could think of that could not be used to describe the new tax.
"So, Timmy", asks Lardo, "when you win power will you repeal the HST?"
Hudak will attack the HST because he is the leader of the Opposite Position and that is his job. But would he kill it? NO WAY.
As tough a bit of medicine that it is, even Tiny Tim knows that it is the right thing to do for the long term health of Ontario.
What leads me to this conclusion? Timmy was on the Lardo Green show the other day wailing and lamenting about the Ontario HST. It is ungodly... it is unclean... it is illegal... it smells of dog doo. There was no epithet that Timmy could think of that could not be used to describe the new tax.
"So, Timmy", asks Lardo, "when you win power will you repeal the HST?"
"On the ice for the Make Me Laffs is number 666, Timmy Hudak, the darling of the limp dick crowd. Just watch him SKATE."
Hudak will attack the HST because he is the leader of the Opposite Position and that is his job. But would he kill it? NO WAY.
As tough a bit of medicine that it is, even Tiny Tim knows that it is the right thing to do for the long term health of Ontario.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I think I give up!
Between the Bozos on Ottawa City Council, the non-communicators at Queen's Park and the lying bastard government on the Hill, there is not a single politician I trust or wish to vote for. Not one. Not a single f'ing one.
I lament for my country. I lament for my children and grandchildren. And I apologize to them for the utter stupidity of my generation.
I lament for my country. I lament for my children and grandchildren. And I apologize to them for the utter stupidity of my generation.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Lansdowne Live
Well the first hurdle for this project is past. I have a few random thoughts on the process I thought I would share with you.
The first is that, if someone with the verbal bombastic penchant of Alex Cullen ever became mayor of Ottawa the Dark Ages would be upon us.
The second is that I am please that for once Councilor Doucette was put in his place when the mayor cut off his remarks when his time was up. The crocodile tears, the wavering voice and the mild tantrum that he exhibited was a telling thing. Doucette is a spoiled child in a man's body. He is the kid who took his ball and ran home when he wasn't the centre of attention on the playground.
There appeared to be many councilors that were absent even while they were in the room. I am thinking specifically of Councilor Desroche. Unless he snuck in a question while was out of the room, he did not even take part in the final debate. Oh, he made a fine speech in the closing but where was his questioning otherwise?
I mentioned at the outset that the project was past the first hurdle. The next hurdle is the design panel headed by George Dark. Who, you may ask, is George Dark?
He has a resume overflowing with projects and kudos. During the final stages of he first hurdle process he was handed a series of documents on the project and wrote a report, of which I have a copy, that made all sorts of statements and assertions on how to improve the space at Lansdowne. In general the document is good, however, in his General comments, on page 19, he makes a somewhat strange observation that makes me wonder. He notes: "The schematic design drawings are too site plan like for public use. The problem is they look very precise and final … like a site plan application and do not convey the conceptual ideas well.."
Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the whole idea of a "schematic drawing" to look as precise as possible?
All in all the project is moving forward. That is a good thing. Let's just hope that it doesn't get bogged down in deciding on the colour of the drapes and making sure that they complement the sham.
That would be a sham(e).
The first is that, if someone with the verbal bombastic penchant of Alex Cullen ever became mayor of Ottawa the Dark Ages would be upon us.
The second is that I am please that for once Councilor Doucette was put in his place when the mayor cut off his remarks when his time was up. The crocodile tears, the wavering voice and the mild tantrum that he exhibited was a telling thing. Doucette is a spoiled child in a man's body. He is the kid who took his ball and ran home when he wasn't the centre of attention on the playground.
There appeared to be many councilors that were absent even while they were in the room. I am thinking specifically of Councilor Desroche. Unless he snuck in a question while was out of the room, he did not even take part in the final debate. Oh, he made a fine speech in the closing but where was his questioning otherwise?
He has a resume overflowing with projects and kudos. During the final stages of he first hurdle process he was handed a series of documents on the project and wrote a report, of which I have a copy, that made all sorts of statements and assertions on how to improve the space at Lansdowne. In general the document is good, however, in his General comments, on page 19, he makes a somewhat strange observation that makes me wonder. He notes: "The schematic design drawings are too site plan like for public use. The problem is they look very precise and final … like a site plan application and do not convey the conceptual ideas well.."
Correct me if I am wrong but isn't the whole idea of a "schematic drawing" to look as precise as possible?
All in all the project is moving forward. That is a good thing. Let's just hope that it doesn't get bogged down in deciding on the colour of the drapes and making sure that they complement the sham.
That would be a sham(e).
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
How dumb is Poilievre?
I reported last week that Pierre "I got my pension.. yippee" Poilievre, MP, had an ad in a recent local rag touting the Conservative Home Renovation Tax Credit. This came on the heels of the Big Cheque issue that even PM Harpo called wrong.
Now PP has decided that he needs to take his rhetoric directly to home, I guess just in case you do not read the rags. In a letter addressed to my house the smiling "Results for Himself" self-promoter says it again.
This time I will send the document to the Ethics Commissioner.
Now PP has decided that he needs to take his rhetoric directly to home, I guess just in case you do not read the rags. In a letter addressed to my house the smiling "Results for Himself" self-promoter says it again.
This time I will send the document to the Ethics Commissioner.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
And it goes on
The Cons just got through the "Big Cheque" scandal misunderstanding with the PM saying that it was one unfortunate incident by one MP. We now know that it was a coordinated conspiracy effort across the country by the Con caucus. It was interesting to note that of all the Cons who were part of the scandal effort, the one name that did not pop up was Pierre "pension for life" Poilievre, the champion of First Nations Rights from Nepean Carleton.
I guess that Pierre must have been away when theplot.. nah, it was a plot, plot was hatched. Not to be outdone by his caucus colleagues, PP waited a couple of weeks and then hatched his own plot in an obscure local news rag. In the Osgoode Packet this week, PP boasted about the "Conservative Home Renovation Tax Credit of up to $1350".
I have been collecting my receipts for a basement renovation. I guess I send them to PP to get my $1350 from the Con party... and not from the Government of Canada?
I guess that Pierre must have been away when the
I have been collecting my receipts for a basement renovation. I guess I send them to PP to get my $1350 from the Con party... and not from the Government of Canada?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Demonstration in the House
Today's Question Period in the House of Commons was upset when a very loud group of people in the gallery started to yell and chant when a Con Minster gave a non-answer to a question from Smilin' Jack concerning pensions.
The chanting continued as the Speaker stood in front of his throne, presumably debating whether to have the loud group shot or jailed.
The demonstration got me thinking. How does the average Canadian get his voice heard in the Commons? None of us really think that our local MP would ask any embarrassing questions on our behalf if they were a member of the government side of the House. Could you imagine in you best dream an instance where Pierre "I got my pension, so piss off" Poilievre would ask the Prime Minster if he would gut the Canada Health Act if he got a majority in Parliament?
Canadians are sheep being led by crooked shepherds with crooked crooks. Maybe it is time for all of us to go to the House to yell and chant.
By the way, it is interesting to note that the protesters appear to have been sitting in the Conservative gallery. (A set up?)
The chanting continued as the Speaker stood in front of his throne, presumably debating whether to have the loud group shot or jailed.
The demonstration got me thinking. How does the average Canadian get his voice heard in the Commons? None of us really think that our local MP would ask any embarrassing questions on our behalf if they were a member of the government side of the House. Could you imagine in you best dream an instance where Pierre "I got my pension, so piss off" Poilievre would ask the Prime Minster if he would gut the Canada Health Act if he got a majority in Parliament?
Canadians are sheep being led by crooked shepherds with crooked crooks. Maybe it is time for all of us to go to the House to yell and chant.
By the way, it is interesting to note that the protesters appear to have been sitting in the Conservative gallery. (A set up?)
Conwest... the voice of the few
Today's headline in the Calgary Herald blared the message that Liberal and NDP ridings all across this great nation have received more funding than Con ridings from something called the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. KIP is a program from Industry Canada which has earmarked 12 billion of taxpayers dollars for colleges and universities across Canada.
While it may be true that more total dollars has gone to non-Con ridings, Conwest forgot to mention that the vast majority of colleges and universities are located in non-Con ridings.
But never let it be said that statistics are not the refuge of the stupid. Conwest could, but did not, point out that while Alberta, with a population of less than15% than that in Ontario, received almost as many grants as Ontario (47 in Alberta and 56 in Ontario), In fact all four western provinces, with less that half that of Ontario received almost twice as many grants as Ontario. Quebec, where Cons are busting their humps to gain seats, received half of all the grants in the country.
Congratulations Conwest. You have shown your bias yet once again. No wonder you are bankrupt
While it may be true that more total dollars has gone to non-Con ridings, Conwest forgot to mention that the vast majority of colleges and universities are located in non-Con ridings.
But never let it be said that statistics are not the refuge of the stupid. Conwest could, but did not, point out that while Alberta, with a population of less than15% than that in Ontario, received almost as many grants as Ontario (47 in Alberta and 56 in Ontario), In fact all four western provinces, with less that half that of Ontario received almost twice as many grants as Ontario. Quebec, where Cons are busting their humps to gain seats, received half of all the grants in the country.
Congratulations Conwest. You have shown your bias yet once again. No wonder you are bankrupt
Thursday, October 22, 2009
CFRA Question of the Day?
On their web page, CFRA runs their Sound Off poll that asks major questions of the day and then crafts the answers so that no matter what you wish to answer you have to follow their script. Today's questions is:
"Should public sector workers in Ontario - be told to take "Dalton Days"? These would be days off - without pay - similar to "Rae Days" in ‘93 when all provincial employees took 12 days of unpaid leave as a cost cutting measure. The Ont. gov't is running at a $20B per year deficit, salaries represent 80% of operating costs."
Here is the answers that they offer:
1. Yes. All provincial & municipal managers, employees and politicians
2. This is unfair to the employees
3. Yes. But only "non-essential" workers
4. Other
I have two major problems with this "poll".
The first is that it not in fact a poll. If you right click on the poll and then click on "properties" you will find an interesting hidden comment. The "poll" is listed as an "ad" sponsored by the Ottawa Taxpayer Advocacy Group. It is an ad, not a poll. I wonder why CFRA keeps that fact secret? The Ottawa TAG, as they call themselves, appears to be a small group of wide-eyed future councilors, MPPs and MPs. These are the people that recently referred to city taxes as "legal extortion" and then challenged Alex Cullen and Marianne Wilkinson to a verbal duel at city hall. The evening's discourse was anything but civil. I wonder how much the Ottawa TAG paid for the ad/poll to CFRA? And where Ottawa TAG gets that kind of funding?
My second major problem is that none of the answers offered goes to the heart of the problem. The problem is not Dalton Day's. It is not how much the city/province would save by having public servants take a few days off without pay. The problem is that we have allowed city and provincial managers to grow the size of the bureaucracy with no regard for cost or what these new people will be doing. Why has the city added so many new workers at the same time as they ramp up more numerous contracts to outside firms? The problem is not the size of paychecks but rather the number of them and the work that gets done for them.
It is time for the city and the province, and for that matter the federal government, to take a harsh look internally and figure out what works and does not work. Look for body count (FTE) savings and start doing the job you were elected or selected to do. Dalton Days is a crass slap at a government that deserves criticism but it is not the long term solution to the problem.
"Should public sector workers in Ontario - be told to take "Dalton Days"? These would be days off - without pay - similar to "Rae Days" in ‘93 when all provincial employees took 12 days of unpaid leave as a cost cutting measure. The Ont. gov't is running at a $20B per year deficit, salaries represent 80% of operating costs."
Here is the answers that they offer:
1. Yes. All provincial & municipal managers, employees and politicians
2. This is unfair to the employees
3. Yes. But only "non-essential" workers
4. Other
I have two major problems with this "poll".
The first is that it not in fact a poll. If you right click on the poll and then click on My second major problem is that none of the answers offered goes to the heart of the problem. The problem is not Dalton Day's. It is not how much the city/province would save by having public servants take a few days off without pay. The problem is that we have allowed city and provincial managers to grow the size of the bureaucracy with no regard for cost or what these new people will be doing. Why has the city added so many new workers at the same time as they ramp up more numerous contracts to outside firms? The problem is not the size of paychecks but rather the number of them and the work that gets done for them.
It is time for the city and the province, and for that matter the federal government, to take a harsh look internally and figure out what works and does not work. Look for body count (FTE) savings and start doing the job you were elected or selected to do. Dalton Days is a crass slap at a government that deserves criticism but it is not the long term solution to the problem.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Congrats to PP
A Youtube video from Rick Mercer has gone viral on the web. The short clip offers congratulations to Con hatchet-man Pierre Something-or-other who just hit a personal milestone. He has lasted long enough as an MP to get a full pension -- and he is only 31 years old. Congrats PP. When you hit 65 you will get an indexed pension worth millions of dollars. And in the in between 34 years you will collect countless more millions as the greatest MP to ever sit in the Commons.
So just keep you head low in the House, swear a bit more in committees, insult a few more First Nations persons and maybe a few minorities, show up at the opening of an envelope (especially one with a cheque in it) and you will have a long and prosperous life because the sheep in Nepean Carleton will keep on electing you.
So just keep you head low in the House, swear a bit more in committees, insult a few more First Nations persons and maybe a few minorities, show up at the opening of an envelope (especially one with a cheque in it) and you will have a long and prosperous life because the sheep in Nepean Carleton will keep on electing you.
Come on, Tim. Get a life.
Tim Powers is The Con Sage and the greatest thinker to come out of Newfoundland since... Rex Murphy. He is also a wonderfully witty writer. Take his most recent missive as an example. In it he figures that Iggy needs a bigger hug than the one he got from some day-care kids to whom he was reading. Hillarious stuff, eh what?
He then goes on to compare Iggy to the boy who cried wolf. Hahaha. Side splitting repartee that. His old boss John "Joke a Minute" Crosbie must be spilling his martini when Timmy opens his mouth.
According to Tim, before he got into politics and business, he used to play high-end competitive rugby. Must of had his fair share of concussions. Could explain his illusions of grandeur.
What an ass!
He then goes on to compare Iggy to the boy who cried wolf. Hahaha. Side splitting repartee that. His old boss John "Joke a Minute" Crosbie must be spilling his martini when Timmy opens his mouth.
According to Tim, before he got into politics and business, he used to play high-end competitive rugby. Must of had his fair share of concussions. Could explain his illusions of grandeur.
What an ass!
Wally World?
Walter Robinson is a horse's ass. The failed Con candidate, failed Chief of Staff to Con Mayor Larry and former head of the (cue laugh track) non-partisan Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Wally is more than capable of defending Con excesses. And so he does from his (cue laugh track) non-partisan column in the Ottawa Sun.
The latest bird cage liner has Wally telling the world that even though the facts show that Con ridings across Canada receive more than their share of "stimulus" funding, those filthy Liberals are wrong to claim it.
He claims that the federal funding component for the Ottawa Convention Centre is evidence that Cons are supporting projects in an NDP riding with infrastructure money. WRONG! The centre's funding was committed long before the stimulus program was announced. Same thing with the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge project. The Perfect PP tells us time and again that the money was committed almost three years ago when the bridge was part of the North South LRT fiasco. So how can he now claim that it is part of the stimulus program that was announced this frigging year?
The crap goes on and on and on. And for a government who campaigned on the slogan "Our shit don't stink"... their shit do stink.
So why is Wally defending the Cons? Is it because he is a Con? Yes, that is part of it. The other part is that Wally is a registered lobbyist on the Hill. He needs and gets access to Ministers on behalf of his clients. Do you think that Wally's support of the government may have something to do with his need for access?
Wally is the President of the Tactix Government Consulting Inc. His registration number is 782814-231501-3. Look him up at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca. You will not be surprised to learn that he accesses: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Finance Canada (FIN), House of Commons, Industry Canada (IC), Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Privy Council Office (PCO), Senate of Canada and Transport Canada (TC).
Maybe we need to clean up Wally's act by having the Sun get rid of him.
The latest bird cage liner has Wally telling the world that even though the facts show that Con ridings across Canada receive more than their share of "stimulus" funding, those filthy Liberals are wrong to claim it.
He claims that the federal funding component for the Ottawa Convention Centre is evidence that Cons are supporting projects in an NDP riding with infrastructure money. WRONG! The centre's funding was committed long before the stimulus program was announced. Same thing with the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge project. The Perfect PP tells us time and again that the money was committed almost three years ago when the bridge was part of the North South LRT fiasco. So how can he now claim that it is part of the stimulus program that was announced this frigging year?
The crap goes on and on and on. And for a government who campaigned on the slogan "Our shit don't stink"... their shit do stink.
So why is Wally defending the Cons? Is it because he is a Con? Yes, that is part of it. The other part is that Wally is a registered lobbyist on the Hill. He needs and gets access to Ministers on behalf of his clients. Do you think that Wally's support of the government may have something to do with his need for access?
Wally is the President of the Tactix Government Consulting Inc. His registration number is 782814-231501-3. Look him up at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca. You will not be surprised to learn that he accesses: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Finance Canada (FIN), House of Commons, Industry Canada (IC), Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Privy Council Office (PCO), Senate of Canada and Transport Canada (TC).
Maybe we need to clean up Wally's act by having the Sun get rid of him.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Off to the slammer with them!
Jason Kenny seems to have a problem. A bunch of Tamils showed up in an old boat in Victoria asking for the keys to Canada. This has the entire Con government in a deep quandry.
If they accept the "refugees" they will be heroes to some and dumbos to the majority. If they reject them and send them back to Sri Lanka they will lose the crucial Tamil-Canadian vote. And when you are salivating for a majority government there is no such thing as a bad vote.
The Law and Order Party recently decided that their new prisons are good enough for Canadians, so why not put the boat-folks in prison until the refugee system can get around to granting them landed status.
It's a win scenario, Steve. The Tamils see you soft on refugees and the Con mouth-breathers see you strong on crime.
No need to thank me for the advice. Just send one of those big Con Party/Gov of Canada cheques to help fix my basement.
If they accept the "refugees" they will be heroes to some and dumbos to the majority. If they reject them and send them back to Sri Lanka they will lose the crucial Tamil-Canadian vote. And when you are salivating for a majority government there is no such thing as a bad vote.
The Law and Order Party recently decided that their new prisons are good enough for Canadians, so why not put the boat-folks in prison until the refugee system can get around to granting them landed status.
It's a win scenario, Steve. The Tamils see you soft on refugees and the Con mouth-breathers see you strong on crime.
No need to thank me for the advice. Just send one of those big Con Party/Gov of Canada cheques to help fix my basement.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Off to the slammer with you!
The Cons have an interesting take on crime. Stats show that crime is down all across Canada which continues a trend that has occurred over the past 10 or 12 years. That also means that fewer people are being incarcerated.
That should be great news for Canadians - and it is- unless you are a Con.
The stats can only mean one thing... we are soft on crime.
We need to make more things illegal and make sure that more Canadians go to jail. That way we can get our stats back up to where they used to be and make Harper's Cons happy.
Sure is strange!
That should be great news for Canadians - and it is- unless you are a Con.
The stats can only mean one thing... we are soft on crime.
We need to make more things illegal and make sure that more Canadians go to jail. That way we can get our stats back up to where they used to be and make Harper's Cons happy.
Sure is strange!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
China and India are still developing?
For the life of me I cannot understand why we continue to refer to China and India as developing nations and because of the term they get to pump billions of tonnes of pollutants into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates.
China's history goes back to 1550 BC while India can date its origins to 3300 BC. That compares to Canada which dates back to the 15th century AD. Why is it taking China and India so long to develop?
I guess the cynical answer would be that as developing nations they are given favoured status in treaties and support from the "developed" nations.
China is currently the largest loaner nation to the US economy and they are buying up Canadian resource companies at an ever increasing rate. But for some odd reason we see them as developing and our CIDA sends them aid. Go figure.
Maybe it is time to separate the wheat from the chaff.
China's history goes back to 1550 BC while India can date its origins to 3300 BC. That compares to Canada which dates back to the 15th century AD. Why is it taking China and India so long to develop?
I guess the cynical answer would be that as developing nations they are given favoured status in treaties and support from the "developed" nations.China is currently the largest loaner nation to the US economy and they are buying up Canadian resource companies at an ever increasing rate. But for some odd reason we see them as developing and our CIDA sends them aid. Go figure.
Maybe it is time to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Gerald Kenny... MP of all he sees
Gerry had better learn how to play the piano and sing... cause he is potentially in hot water over a picture of himself on the Internet. No, no, he's not doing anything illegal -- just stupid.
Seems that the Con government's Infrastructure money is actually Kenny's to dole out with his name on it. In the past government cash given out came with a big-sized cheque made up to look like a government check -- from the government... you know, you and me... of Canada.
Kenny's government handouts come complete with a medium-sized check made up in blue with the Cons party logo on it. A check from Gerry and Steve.
Now that sounds a lot like a bribe.
And just so you don't think that the picture to the right is a one time occasion. There is another photo of his honour given out a similar check to a Chester, NS, church.
I wonder what the Auditor General will make of this?
Kenny's government handouts come complete with a medium-sized check made up in blue with the Cons party logo on it. A check from Gerry and Steve.
Now that sounds a lot like a bribe.
And just so you don't think that the picture to the right is a one time occasion. There is another photo of his honour given out a similar check to a Chester, NS, church.
I wonder what the Auditor General will make of this?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Advice for Iggy
Mr. Ignatieff, I know that your strategy is to release your platform idea just prior to an election and not before. Your logic is that the Cons will spin your ideas like they did the Green Shift.
However, by not releasing your plan you have left the stage in the hands of the Cons who can ascribe anything they want to you as your hidden agenda and all the denying in the world will not help you.
There is not a single thinking person in this country who believes that Canada can eliminate the budget deficits that will build up in 2008-2011 without a new source of revenue or cutting programs. To waffle or deny that given is just downright dumb. Canadians want to be treated like adults... even some of the Cons... so do it. Have a dialogue with them but make it an honest dialogue. Then when Harper attacks -- and he will attack -- he will look like the liar that he is.
However, by not releasing your plan you have left the stage in the hands of the Cons who can ascribe anything they want to you as your hidden agenda and all the denying in the world will not help you.
There is not a single thinking person in this country who believes that Canada can eliminate the budget deficits that will build up in 2008-2011 without a new source of revenue or cutting programs. To waffle or deny that given is just downright dumb. Canadians want to be treated like adults... even some of the Cons... so do it. Have a dialogue with them but make it an honest dialogue. Then when Harper attacks -- and he will attack -- he will look like the liar that he is.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Watching this may result in your last flight
In its many years of bringing investigative reports to Canadians, the fifth estate has had its share of alarming stories. This season debuts with startling and disturbing allegations about the people we depend on to ensure our safety when we fly. The story begins with an urgent e-mail to the fifth estate.
The writer says she has “come across interesting, internal information from Transport Canada.” The sender: a journalism student who has found a USB key/computer memory stick in a coffee shop. The student’s discovery contains interesting information indeed. There are warnings from a security inspector at Canada’s biggest airport alleging public safety is being compromised because security and safety regulations are being circumvented in favour of profit and convenience.
In Riding on Risk, airing Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), on CBC-TV, reporter Hana Gartner talks to whistle blowers who have risked their livelihoods to try to change a system that they believe is putting passengers and airline employees in grave and needless danger—at the airports and in the air. We’ll also meet Kirsten Stevens of British Columbia, a woman whose logger husband boarded a routine flight one day, promising to be home in time for dinner with her and their three children. But, the small floatplane carrying him crashed and all aboard were killed. Stevens assumed Transport Canada would investigate. She was shocked when she realized they had closed their file on the crash. She did her own meticulous investigation and pinpointed a mechanical failure that may have led to her husband’s death. Since then, she has become a crusader, and a magnet, for whistle blowers inside the industry desperate to share their concerns about aviation security and safety.
Finally, the fifth estate takes the investigation to federal Minister of Transport, John Baird. Hana Gartner gives the Minister the opportunity to respond to the allegations and asks the question that should be on the minds of anyone in Canada who flies: should industry, concerned about saving money and cutting corners, be the same people to worry about safety?
Acting executive producer of the fifth estate is Sally Reardon. CBC Newsworld rebroadcasts the fifth estate on Sundays, at 7 p.m. ET, and Tuesdays, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
For more information on the fifth estate, visit their website at www.cbc.ca/fifth.
The writer says she has “come across interesting, internal information from Transport Canada.” The sender: a journalism student who has found a USB key/computer memory stick in a coffee shop. The student’s discovery contains interesting information indeed. There are warnings from a security inspector at Canada’s biggest airport alleging public safety is being compromised because security and safety regulations are being circumvented in favour of profit and convenience.
In Riding on Risk, airing Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT), on CBC-TV, reporter Hana Gartner talks to whistle blowers who have risked their livelihoods to try to change a system that they believe is putting passengers and airline employees in grave and needless danger—at the airports and in the air. We’ll also meet Kirsten Stevens of British Columbia, a woman whose logger husband boarded a routine flight one day, promising to be home in time for dinner with her and their three children. But, the small floatplane carrying him crashed and all aboard were killed. Stevens assumed Transport Canada would investigate. She was shocked when she realized they had closed their file on the crash. She did her own meticulous investigation and pinpointed a mechanical failure that may have led to her husband’s death. Since then, she has become a crusader, and a magnet, for whistle blowers inside the industry desperate to share their concerns about aviation security and safety.
Finally, the fifth estate takes the investigation to federal Minister of Transport, John Baird. Hana Gartner gives the Minister the opportunity to respond to the allegations and asks the question that should be on the minds of anyone in Canada who flies: should industry, concerned about saving money and cutting corners, be the same people to worry about safety?
Acting executive producer of the fifth estate is Sally Reardon. CBC Newsworld rebroadcasts the fifth estate on Sundays, at 7 p.m. ET, and Tuesdays, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
For more information on the fifth estate, visit their website at www.cbc.ca/fifth.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The devil is in the details
In 2007 the Cons passed a law to fix election dates. At the time, Rob Nicholson, then-Minister of Democratic Reform and now the Minister of Justice, declared that the measures restricted the prime minister from calling an election unless a vote of no-confidence occurred before October 19, 2009.
Then in 2008, Harper called an election based on the excuse that parliament wasn't working. There was no confidence vote involved, just Harper's imagination at work.
So in 2009, Democracy Watch takes the government to court over the issue and a judge rules that:
That, but the way is legal speak for the government can do whatever to hell it wants and we have nothing to say about it.
Another nail in the coffin of true democracy brought to you by the Ministry of Democratic Reform?
War is Peace and Freedom is Slavery
Then in 2008, Harper called an election based on the excuse that parliament wasn't working. There was no confidence vote involved, just Harper's imagination at work.
So in 2009, Democracy Watch takes the government to court over the issue and a judge rules that:
"The matter of convention in this set of circumstances is political in nature and is outside the jurisdiction of the court, bearing in mind the separation of powers under constitutional supremacy."
That, but the way is legal speak for the government can do whatever to hell it wants and we have nothing to say about it.
Another nail in the coffin of true democracy brought to you by the Ministry of Democratic Reform?
War is Peace and Freedom is Slavery
One or two of their own?
I wonder if the Ontario Cons are feeling a little sheepish these days. When former MPP and cabinet minister Michael Bryant got involved in an incident in which a cyclist died in Toronto, the Cons went overboard to heap blame on McGuinty and his government.
Now that Jaffer has been charges with DUI and cocaine possession, the Cons are mute. Three questions arise:
Inquiring minds just want to know.
Now that Jaffer has been charges with DUI and cocaine possession, the Cons are mute. Three questions arise:
1) Why did it take 5 days before the news of the arrest got out?
2) Will Jaffer go to jail for this alleged crime or will be be bailed out by the Tough-on-people-not-like-them Cons?
3) What did Helena know about the drugs and when did she find out?
Inquiring minds just want to know.
Con mouthpiece Tim Powers steps in it -- yet again
In a piece defending the fact that Harper was not met at the White House door by Obama, Powers says this,
Have to agree with Tim on one account. The President was probably working on domestic affair, as he should.
However Tim also raises the question of; Why was Harper in Washington when we have our own war, economic and health care issues up here in Canada? Not to mention body bags, drunk pot-head former MPs, etc. etc.
"The “nothing better to do society” has contrived that Canada has been snubbed because the President didn’t answer the door at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Yup, gotta be that. God forbid the President was actually working on, oh say, fighting a war in Afghanistan, plotting economic recovery or maybe trying to sell health care. Damn it, he should have answered the door!"
Have to agree with Tim on one account. The President was probably working on domestic affair, as he should.
However Tim also raises the question of; Why was Harper in Washington when we have our own war, economic and health care issues up here in Canada? Not to mention body bags, drunk pot-head former MPs, etc. etc.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mr. Harper goes to Washington
Obama flew into Ottawa in January. He was met at the airport by the Governor General and a guard of RCMP. He them moved on to Parliament Hill and was met by Harper behind a wall of bullet proof glass.
Harper flies into Washington in September and is met at the airport by a Hertz Car Rental representative and a guard of baggage handlers. He then drives to the White House where he is greeted by the the Assistant-Person for Making-sure-that-you-use-right-fork-for-the-salad, or something, behind a wall of rose bushes.
I am all a tingle for Steve.
Harper flies into Washington in September and is met at the airport by a Hertz Car Rental representative and a guard of baggage handlers. He then drives to the White House where he is greeted by the the Assistant-Person for Making-sure-that-you-use-right-fork-for-the-salad, or something, behind a wall of rose bushes.
I am all a tingle for Steve.
Thinking people recognize the deceipt
So here's the thing -- Harper and Iggy agree, before the summer recess, to strike a committee to see if there was some kind of compromise over Employment Insurance.
The committee meets a few times with the Liberal members submitting ideas and suggestions. What did the Cons do? They submitted not even one shred of paper. They drank the coffee and ate the donuts but did not do the work.
Why? Did they not have any ideas? Were they just wasting time? Did the donuts put them to sleep?
The answer is that they were being deceitful. Two weeks after the Liberals gave up trying to engage the Cons, the Cons release a position on EI that has bought off the "Socialists and the Separatists" (Harper's term). Did they not have any idea about their proposal during the summer? Was it dreamed up after the committee last met?
Or were they just thumbing their nose at Canadians?
Oh, and by the way, Nepean-Carleton's, "Results for Himself", MP was on that committee.
The committee meets a few times with the Liberal members submitting ideas and suggestions. What did the Cons do? They submitted not even one shred of paper. They drank the coffee and ate the donuts but did not do the work.
Why? Did they not have any ideas? Were they just wasting time? Did the donuts put them to sleep?
The answer is that they were being deceitful. Two weeks after the Liberals gave up trying to engage the Cons, the Cons release a position on EI that has bought off the "Socialists and the Separatists" (Harper's term). Did they not have any idea about their proposal during the summer? Was it dreamed up after the committee last met?
Or were they just thumbing their nose at Canadians?
Oh, and by the way, Nepean-Carleton's, "Results for Himself", MP was on that committee.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Cons buy off Socialists?
Has Harper bought Layton with a billion dollars plan to help the unemployed in NDP ridings? Shame, shame.It is odd, however, that Harper would even offer the bribe. Only a few months ago the Cons were saying the cost to bring equity to the EI program by eliminating the 58 EI qualification regions would cost a billion dollars and they could not afford it. Shame, shame.
An update to a previous HST post
I made mention a couple of days back that a story on the Internet that was being promoted by the rabid right was an analysis of the cost of the planned HST in Ontario by someone called a Boomer Wealth Coach.
I suggested that the Coach and I have a debate. No acceptance at this time.
In my response to the post, I mentioned that the provision for HST applying to RRSP/RRIF was speculative because lobbyists are fighting the provision and that lobbyists usually win their arguments.
What I missed in my response was the gross exaggeration of the HST that could be charged on investment. The Coach stated that the increase with the Federal/Provincial HST would be $1040 per year on $400,000 in the plan. IN reality the HST would apply to the management fees paid on RRSP/RRIFs. So let's calculate that backwards. The increase through the HST would be 8% of the fee, therefore the fee would be $13,000 per year or 2.6%. With interest rates on savings at less than 1% you would have been better off putting the money in the bank thus saving the 2.6% cost plus getting the 1% interest. Don't worry about capital gains, folks. RRSP/RRIFs have been walloped so bad that they will take some time to create gains!
As the Orange guy would say... "Save your money!"
I suggested that the Coach and I have a debate. No acceptance at this time.
In my response to the post, I mentioned that the provision for HST applying to RRSP/RRIF was speculative because lobbyists are fighting the provision and that lobbyists usually win their arguments.
What I missed in my response was the gross exaggeration of the HST that could be charged on investment. The Coach stated that the increase with the Federal/Provincial HST would be $1040 per year on $400,000 in the plan. IN reality the HST would apply to the management fees paid on RRSP/RRIFs. So let's calculate that backwards. The increase through the HST would be 8% of the fee, therefore the fee would be $13,000 per year or 2.6%. With interest rates on savings at less than 1% you would have been better off putting the money in the bank thus saving the 2.6% cost plus getting the 1% interest. Don't worry about capital gains, folks. RRSP/RRIFs have been walloped so bad that they will take some time to create gains!
As the Orange guy would say... "Save your money!"
For those who keep score
There is a Canadian being held in jail in Egypt. The claim was that he confessed that he was a spy for Israel. The counter-claim was that he was tortured into make that confession. The Canadian government offered no consular assistance to Mohammed El-Attar during the time that he was allegedly tortured and the government has washed its hands of the affair since. El-Attar is gay.
At a time when the incidence of HIV/AIDS is growing in Canada by 8-10% per year, the government of Canada has cut research and treatment funding. The largest group of sufferers are gay.
In 2009, Diane Ablonzy, a junior Harper minister, was stripped of her responsibility to dole out tourism funding after she gave $400,000 to the Gay Rights Parade in Toronto. Then the government overturned their own officials to deny funding to a gay event in Montreal, Cite-divers.
In 2008, our local golden-boy MP, Pierre Whatever, criticized the Ontario government for funding sex change operations through OHIP. The recipients of the operations, all 10 of them in any given year, are gay.
See any trend here?
At a time when the incidence of HIV/AIDS is growing in Canada by 8-10% per year, the government of Canada has cut research and treatment funding. The largest group of sufferers are gay.
In 2009, Diane Ablonzy, a junior Harper minister, was stripped of her responsibility to dole out tourism funding after she gave $400,000 to the Gay Rights Parade in Toronto. Then the government overturned their own officials to deny funding to a gay event in Montreal, Cite-divers.
In 2008, our local golden-boy MP, Pierre Whatever, criticized the Ontario government for funding sex change operations through OHIP. The recipients of the operations, all 10 of them in any given year, are gay.
See any trend here?
Time for some common decency
I recently had a bit of an electronic dust-up over a post that I had planned. The issue was that I am seeing growing parallels between Germany in the 1930s and Canada in 2009. I quoted a speech given by Hitler and compared that with one given recently by Harper.
Well the veritable fecal material hit the rotating device. You might be able to guess the venom spit in my direction.
Let me tell a story that is overdue to be told.
My father was a big man -- big in heart and big in stature. He did not talk much about his life during WWII. He joined the Canadian army shortly after marrying my mother, then went off to “walk from Sicily to Holland.” He was one of the so-called D-Day dodgers, so called because by the time the allies were ready to launch D-Day, the dodgers were a bit occupied fighting Nazis and Italians a little further east. One story that I drew out of my father before he died was that his best friend in the world, a guy he had grown up with, got drunk with and chased girls with, was burned alive in a flaming tank during a battle. My father watched the conflagration without being able to do anything to save his friend (the tank was hit by a round and erupted immediately into flames). My father, that big, powerful and self-confident man, was moved to tears on telling the story.
Here is the point of my story. No one group has an exclusive ownership of the horrors of the Second World War. There were 6 million Jews killed in camps but there were also between 18 and 25 million Russians who died. Nearly 50,000 Canadians died, including my father’s best friend. It is estimated that as many as 78 million persons, civilian and military lost their lives during the six official years of the war. No group escaped a gruesome war, including the over 7 million Germans, that some say could have been avoided if the signals in the 1930s had been heeded.
If I see parallels between Germany in 1935 and Canada in 2009, those observations should be acknowledged and analyzed on their own merit -- not washed through the morass of what was a grossly inhumane period and then dismissed on that basis.
Well the veritable fecal material hit the rotating device. You might be able to guess the venom spit in my direction.
Let me tell a story that is overdue to be told.
My father was a big man -- big in heart and big in stature. He did not talk much about his life during WWII. He joined the Canadian army shortly after marrying my mother, then went off to “walk from Sicily to Holland.” He was one of the so-called D-Day dodgers, so called because by the time the allies were ready to launch D-Day, the dodgers were a bit occupied fighting Nazis and Italians a little further east. One story that I drew out of my father before he died was that his best friend in the world, a guy he had grown up with, got drunk with and chased girls with, was burned alive in a flaming tank during a battle. My father watched the conflagration without being able to do anything to save his friend (the tank was hit by a round and erupted immediately into flames). My father, that big, powerful and self-confident man, was moved to tears on telling the story.
Here is the point of my story. No one group has an exclusive ownership of the horrors of the Second World War. There were 6 million Jews killed in camps but there were also between 18 and 25 million Russians who died. Nearly 50,000 Canadians died, including my father’s best friend. It is estimated that as many as 78 million persons, civilian and military lost their lives during the six official years of the war. No group escaped a gruesome war, including the over 7 million Germans, that some say could have been avoided if the signals in the 1930s had been heeded.
If I see parallels between Germany in 1935 and Canada in 2009, those observations should be acknowledged and analyzed on their own merit -- not washed through the morass of what was a grossly inhumane period and then dismissed on that basis.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
When is a tax increase not a tax increase?
So let's get this straight. All though out 2007 and 2008, the federal and provincial Cons chided the government of Ontario to reduce corporate taxes because without the reduction, business would move out of, or not locate in Ontario. "Lower corporate taxes are essential," spewed Flaherty. He being a former Ontario Minister of Finance made his word ring with truth (chuckle).
So lowering taxes on profit is a good thing. As a small business guy I like paying lower taxes... if now I could only make a profit!
So here we are in 2009, the Cons finally figured out that the economy is in the toilet and after 3 years of seven percent program spending growth, maybe, just maybe, they have to do something about the deficit which will be $50b-75b in 2009 depending on who does the math.
One of the problems for the government is that they are collecting a lower tax rate on less profit. The perfect storm! So what to do?
Raise the EI premiums paid by business! According to Cons it is not a tax increase. Tell that to the people who have to pay it!
The reality is that they gave tax breaks to big corporations making huge profits (read: banks and investment firms) and now they want to ding the smaller guys with a higher bill for EI. These are the same small firms that are not making a profit to take advantage of the tax-rate reduction. Will they have to lay of people to pay the EI... um... tax increase? Or will they just have to do without new employees?
Either way it is dumb.
So lowering taxes on profit is a good thing. As a small business guy I like paying lower taxes... if now I could only make a profit!
So here we are in 2009, the Cons finally figured out that the economy is in the toilet and after 3 years of seven percent program spending growth, maybe, just maybe, they have to do something about the deficit which will be $50b-75b in 2009 depending on who does the math.
One of the problems for the government is that they are collecting a lower tax rate on less profit. The perfect storm! So what to do?
Raise the EI premiums paid by business! According to Cons it is not a tax increase. Tell that to the people who have to pay it!
The reality is that they gave tax breaks to big corporations making huge profits (read: banks and investment firms) and now they want to ding the smaller guys with a higher bill for EI. These are the same small firms that are not making a profit to take advantage of the tax-rate reduction. Will they have to lay of people to pay the EI... um... tax increase? Or will they just have to do without new employees?
Either way it is dumb.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Pros and Cons of the Ontario HST
There is a message floating around on the World Wide Wait that has an unnamed Financial Coach telling a fictitious Ontario retired couple that the government is about to screw them for $2,100 per year.
That, of course, is crap and I can prove it!
First let's look at the analysis done by the Coach:
Wow, does he/she have you on the edge of you seat, contemplating moving to Arizona or maybe suicide?
I would love to meet the so-called Boomer Wealth Coach. In fact I would love to oppose him/her in debate so that I might clean the floor with she/he.
To start, I should say that I like the analysis that the Coach did. The retired couple is not doing too badly. Their income is $41,400 and their expenses are around $13,066. Leaving out, for now, the RRSP/RRIF tax increase, they will pay approximately $1,045.26 in increased tax with the HST implemented. The reason I left out the RRSP/RRIF is that it is under review at the province and subject to intense lobbying by the industry (and we all know that lobbyists run most governments). But for sake of our analysis let's put the RRSP/RRIF tax back in, making the total tax increase with the HST in place $2,100/year, as the Coach states.
Let's start with a couple of minor points. You pay $900 per year for haircuts? That is more than you pay to heat your home. Find a new barber, maybe one in Canada?. You pay $400 per year (each and every year) for legal advice? Are you a criminal? You pay $340 per year for magazines and newspaper, plus you pay $780 per year for Internet. You can get all the news and articles from the web for free! Finally, get rid of Fido and save $400 per year.
Now let's get to some meaty items that the Coach missed.
Your total income is $41,400 per year. 1) Your current tax rate is 6.05% for Ontario. In 2010 that rate drops to 5.05%. You save $414 per year. 2) I assume you own you own home. In 2010 the property tax credit for seniors will rise to $1025 each which will save you another $400 per year. 3) The sales tax credit for families in your circumstance will be $260 per person or $520 per year. And 4) let's not forget the $1000 non-taxable adjustment payment that you get in year one.
So let's do the math. Your increase in the tax load with the HST is $1050 per year for sake of argument ($2,100 per year if the RRSP/RRIF provision sticks).
Your reduction would total $1334 per year plus $1000 in year one for a total of... wait for it... $2334 in year one and $1334 per year.
Your savings would be $1284 in year one ($284, assuming the RRSP/RRIF provision sticks) and $284 per year thereafter.
No. It can't be. The Coach is wrong? The government is telling the truth? This will never wash at Conservative headquarters!
That, of course, is crap and I can prove it!
First let's look at the analysis done by the Coach:
_________________________________________________________Our staff did something different. We read the Budget document, called the Ministry Office for details, and added up the numbers. Then, we looked at the results as to how these proposals would affect the retired, or soon to be retired. It tired us out!
Consider a retired couple, receiving total retirement income of $41,400 after tax per year*, healthy enough to enjoy some comfort in retirement.
Many of those items used on a daily basis will now be subject to an 8% cost increase, because of the new harmonized sales tax introduced by the Liberal government in this Budget.
Look at just a few of those items that will cost more, without getting more.
* Cable TV: if $60 monthly, yearly increase is $57.60 more.* Golf Fees: if $1,500 yearly X 2, yearly increase is $240.00 more* Gym Membership: if $35 month X 2, yearly increase is $67.20 more.* Hydro: if $85 monthly, yearly increase is $81.60 more.* Haircuts: if $450 X 2 annually, yearly increase is $72.00 more.* Heating Fuel: if $800 annually, yearly increase is $64.00 more.* Internet: If $65 monthly, yearly increase is $62.40 more.* Income Tax Prep. If cost is $150 X 2, yearly increase is $24.00 more.* Legal Fees: for wills, P.Of A., advice, etc. add 8%, $32 more.* London Knights tickets: 4 games X 2, yrly incr. is $11.52 more.* Magazine Subscription: $25 annually X 4, increase is $8.00 more* Movie Tickets: one per month X 2, yearly increase is $16.32 more* Newspapers Subscription: $20 monthly, yrly incr. is $18.91 more* RRIF/RRSP**: $400,000 family savings, yrly incr. $1,040.00 more.
**This is a NEW HIDDEN TAX OF $52 per $20,000 on deposit, annually
* Telephone: if $48 monthly, yearly increase is $46.08 more* Tim Hortons Coffee: 3 per week X 2, yrly increase is $41.18.* Toronto Theatre: 2 X $150 ticket, yrly increase $24.00* Vacation Travel: $450 airline ticket X 2, yrly increase $76.00 more* Veterinarian: Beagle is Family! add $32.00 more.* Vitamins: $60 monthly X 2, yrly increase $115.20 more
Are you ready for the TAX KICK coming? THIS TAX IS COMING IN 2010.NEW TAXES OVER $2,100.00 MORE every year
Wow, does he/she have you on the edge of you seat, contemplating moving to Arizona or maybe suicide?
I would love to meet the so-called Boomer Wealth Coach. In fact I would love to oppose him/her in debate so that I might clean the floor with she/he. To start, I should say that I like the analysis that the Coach did. The retired couple is not doing too badly. Their income is $41,400 and their expenses are around $13,066. Leaving out, for now, the RRSP/RRIF tax increase, they will pay approximately $1,045.26 in increased tax with the HST implemented. The reason I left out the RRSP/RRIF is that it is under review at the province and subject to intense lobbying by the industry (and we all know that lobbyists run most governments). But for sake of our analysis let's put the RRSP/RRIF tax back in, making the total tax increase with the HST in place $2,100/year, as the Coach states.
Let's start with a couple of minor points. You pay $900 per year for haircuts? That is more than you pay to heat your home. Find a new barber, maybe one in Canada?. You pay $400 per year (each and every year) for legal advice? Are you a criminal? You pay $340 per year for magazines and newspaper, plus you pay $780 per year for Internet. You can get all the news and articles from the web for free! Finally, get rid of Fido and save $400 per year.
Now let's get to some meaty items that the Coach missed.
Your total income is $41,400 per year. 1) Your current tax rate is 6.05% for Ontario. In 2010 that rate drops to 5.05%. You save $414 per year. 2) I assume you own you own home. In 2010 the property tax credit for seniors will rise to $1025 each which will save you another $400 per year. 3) The sales tax credit for families in your circumstance will be $260 per person or $520 per year. And 4) let's not forget the $1000 non-taxable adjustment payment that you get in year one.
So let's do the math. Your increase in the tax load with the HST is $1050 per year for sake of argument ($2,100 per year if the RRSP/RRIF provision sticks).
Your reduction would total $1334 per year plus $1000 in year one for a total of... wait for it... $2334 in year one and $1334 per year.
Your savings would be $1284 in year one ($284, assuming the RRSP/RRIF provision sticks) and $284 per year thereafter.
No. It can't be. The Coach is wrong? The government is telling the truth? This will never wash at Conservative headquarters!
It is all so stupid
Don Martin's blurb in the Nat Post is a real pisser for anyone who follows Canadian politics. It is obvious that Don doesn't. Maybe he has been out of the country for the last couple of years -- which would make him less a Canadian, apparently, that other Canadians, according to his Prime Minister.
In his latest slag, he, again, rants on Liberals for calling the third election in three years. Three problems with that, Don. The first is that the Liberals can neither call an election (that is up to the Governor-General, or did you not know that?) nor force an election by themselves because it takes all three Opposition parties to do that (plain math skill, Don!). The second problem is that you seem to have not noticed (maybe you were at Harvard or Cambridge or something?) that it was Harper who forced the last TWO elections, even breaking HIS OWN election timing law! The third is that the country should have an election when its government does not reflect its values and priorities or when the government is corruptly running the country.
Take your pick, Don.
PS. Don't forget that you need your passport to get back in the country.
In his latest slag, he, again, rants on Liberals for calling the third election in three years. Three problems with that, Don. The first is that the Liberals can neither call an election (that is up to the Governor-General, or did you not know that?) nor force an election by themselves because it takes all three Opposition parties to do that (plain math skill, Don!). The second problem is that you seem to have not noticed (maybe you were at Harvard or Cambridge or something?) that it was Harper who forced the last TWO elections, even breaking HIS OWN election timing law! The third is that the country should have an election when its government does not reflect its values and priorities or when the government is corruptly running the country.Take your pick, Don.
PS. Don't forget that you need your passport to get back in the country.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
So much for "guess who"
With these latest court rulings that demand that anonymous bloggers be named, one has to wonder what goes next?
Will callers to CFRA have to identify themselves and swear an oath to that identity? That may not be a bad thing as many of the loyal Green callers would never dare call in on that basis.
What about the editorials in the newspaper? We never know who actually writes the editorials. We know who writes the letters to the editor but not the editorials. Hmmm.
In the Ottawa Citizen, some person writes about government under the fictitious name Mr. X. I wonder how his/her colleagues will feel when he/she is outed?
What about letters to Santa Claus? How does Saint Nick really know if Bobby's signature is real or if his Mom wrote the letter for him? Maybe Bobby does not really want the puppy and a pearl necklace.
Will callers to CFRA have to identify themselves and swear an oath to that identity? That may not be a bad thing as many of the loyal Green callers would never dare call in on that basis.What about the editorials in the newspaper? We never know who actually writes the editorials. We know who writes the letters to the editor but not the editorials. Hmmm.
In the Ottawa Citizen, some person writes about government under the fictitious name Mr. X. I wonder how his/her colleagues will feel when he/she is outed?
What about letters to Santa Claus? How does Saint Nick really know if Bobby's signature is real or if his Mom wrote the letter for him? Maybe Bobby does not really want the puppy and a pearl necklace.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Healthcare costs in US no laughing matter
A bunch of years ago I was a trouble shooter for the computer systems provided by Burroughs Corporation. My expertise was health care at the time and my task was to determine why a flag ship system at a major western Canadian hospital was not doing what it was supposed to do. I won't go into details but, in the final analysis, the issue was training. Staff were not familiar with computers and some were afraid of them. We fixed the problem by providing better training and trainers.
The real point of this entry has to do with a meeting I attended in Charlotte, North Carolina. The meeting brought together about 50 US Burroughs Health Care reps and myself. I was the only Canadian doing any work in health care for Burroughs in Canada.
For five days I listened to US reps describe their latest commercial conquest. The sold major systems to major and minor institutions -- each of which made our Canadian flag ship system seem puny. They were installing mainframe computers to do insurance billings in 200 bed hospitals that were larger and more expensive than the one we installed in Canada to run a whole 1250 bed hospital. Why so much computer power?
The answer is there was more profit to be made in billing an insurance company than there was in delivering health care services. The US system generally is based on profit... not care. I don't care what the proponents of for-profit health care say -- I lived the nightmare.
Any honest health care administrator or former Burroughs sales guy could set the US debate over health care straight but they are scared. People are carrying guns to town hall meetings. This is not a good sign for Americans.
The real point of this entry has to do with a meeting I attended in Charlotte, North Carolina. The meeting brought together about 50 US Burroughs Health Care reps and myself. I was the only Canadian doing any work in health care for Burroughs in Canada.
For five days I listened to US reps describe their latest commercial conquest. The sold major systems to major and minor institutions -- each of which made our Canadian flag ship system seem puny. They were installing mainframe computers to do insurance billings in 200 bed hospitals that were larger and more expensive than the one we installed in Canada to run a whole 1250 bed hospital. Why so much computer power?
The answer is there was more profit to be made in billing an insurance company than there was in delivering health care services. The US system generally is based on profit... not care. I don't care what the proponents of for-profit health care say -- I lived the nightmare.
Any honest health care administrator or former Burroughs sales guy could set the US debate over health care straight but they are scared. People are carrying guns to town hall meetings. This is not a good sign for Americans.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Did Harper find eight honourable people in Canada?
They are over 30 years old, they own property and they pay their taxes, so that qualifies them to be Canadian Senators. They are appointed to the $132,200 per year, plus perks and pensions, until the reach the age of 75.
But wait, Harper's new round of honest men and women Senators agreed that they will only serve eight years. Right?
However, Bill C-19, an Act to amend the Constitution of 1867 concerning Senate Tenure, did not pass third reading in 2008 before Harper called an election. Therefore there is nothing to compel the new crop to give up their cushy seats and there big salaries.
Guess we will have to wait eight years to find out how honourable the Honourables really are.
But wait, Harper's new round of honest men and women Senators agreed that they will only serve eight years. Right?
However, Bill C-19, an Act to amend the Constitution of 1867 concerning Senate Tenure, did not pass third reading in 2008 before Harper called an election. Therefore there is nothing to compel the new crop to give up their cushy seats and there big salaries.
Guess we will have to wait eight years to find out how honourable the Honourables really are.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Improving on perfection
A little temporary sidestep from politics.
I was doing some research on McIntosh apples this morning. They were developed by a Morrisburg (Ontario) area farmer in 1811. They are considered a cultivar, a cultured plant that once establish retains its new characteristics. There is even a organization with a regulation to designate and support cultivars. The regulation is the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
The McIntosh is described in Wikipedia as: "an apple cultivar with red and green skin, a tart flavor, and tender white flesh. It becomes ripe in late September. It is traditionally the most popular cultivar in New England and Eastern Canada, well known for the pink sauce unpeeled McIntoshes make. Many consider it a superior eating apple and well suited for applesauce, cider, and pies. It is extremely common to find this particular cultivar packed in children's lunches across North America owing to its small to medium size and longstanding reputation as a healthy snack."
A McIntosh apple is nature's perfect snack. Nothing could be better than a McIntosh. There is no way to improve on a McIntosh apple!
You are wrong, apple-breath. (with apologies to Johnny Carson)
In 2002, some guy named Richard Crooke of Ashfield, Connecticut, filed a patent in the USA for the: "Miriela, a variety of MacIntosh [sic] apple tree which is characterized by a later fruit maturity date, harder texture, slower ripening/softening rate, lower flesh ethylene level, and strong resistance to pre-harvest drop."
Who says you can't improve on perfetion.
I was doing some research on McIntosh apples this morning. They were developed by a Morrisburg (Ontario) area farmer in 1811. They are considered a cultivar, a cultured plant that once establish retains its new characteristics. There is even a organization with a regulation to designate and support cultivars. The regulation is the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
The McIntosh is described in Wikipedia as: "an apple cultivar with red and green skin, a tart flavor, and tender white flesh. It becomes ripe in late September. It is traditionally the most popular cultivar in New England and Eastern Canada, well known for the pink sauce unpeeled McIntoshes make. Many consider it a superior eating apple and well suited for applesauce, cider, and pies. It is extremely common to find this particular cultivar packed in children's lunches across North America owing to its small to medium size and longstanding reputation as a healthy snack." A McIntosh apple is nature's perfect snack. Nothing could be better than a McIntosh. There is no way to improve on a McIntosh apple!
You are wrong, apple-breath. (with apologies to Johnny Carson)
In 2002, some guy named Richard Crooke of Ashfield, Connecticut, filed a patent in the USA for the: "Miriela, a variety of MacIntosh [sic] apple tree which is characterized by a later fruit maturity date, harder texture, slower ripening/softening rate, lower flesh ethylene level, and strong resistance to pre-harvest drop."
Who says you can't improve on perfetion.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What comes around
A number of years ago a lawyer sat across a table from me and told me that there was nothing wrong with outsourcing lesser-skilled jobs to India. You will make more money, says he. He also told me that the higher-skilled and higher paid jobs would be safe in Canada. I jokingly asked him if his was one of the highly-skilled jobs. His answer was, "they could never outsource me."
Wrong.
According to the Globe & Mail, Canadian company Rio Tinto has outsourced its legal council to India. (chuckle, chuckle)
Hey, the Indians have the same common law structure as Canada so it makes sense.
Does that mean that we can or should outsource to Indian judges? After all Canadian judges are far too overworked and overpaid.
While we are at it, since India has the British Parliamentary system, maybe we can outsource Parliament. Now wouldn't that be juicy!
Wrong.
According to the Globe & Mail, Canadian company Rio Tinto has outsourced its legal council to India. (chuckle, chuckle)
Hey, the Indians have the same common law structure as Canada so it makes sense.
Does that mean that we can or should outsource to Indian judges? After all Canadian judges are far too overworked and overpaid.
While we are at it, since India has the British Parliamentary system, maybe we can outsource Parliament. Now wouldn't that be juicy!
Saying goodbye to a giant
America was blessed with the presence of Teddy Kennedy. An advocate of human rights and a strong supporter of a universal health care system, he will be missed for his oratory and ideas.
To HST or no to HST
There was an interesting letter to the editor in the Citizen this morning. Some guy claims he is a small business owner in Ontario and he will not be collecting the HST next year. He claims the right of eminent domain -- the government shouldn't have the right to steal his money. What bunk!
If the guy was really a small business owner he would know that he already collects the equivalent to the HST and that the work to do that is higher than what the province is promoting.
As a small business owner his costs will go down because all the sales tax he pays to run the business will be treated as an Input Tax Credit and therefore will be deducted from the tax he collects. With the extra profit he makes with the new system he can reduce his prices.
But as a small business owner he already knows these things. So why is he being so dense?
If the guy was really a small business owner he would know that he already collects the equivalent to the HST and that the work to do that is higher than what the province is promoting.
As a small business owner his costs will go down because all the sales tax he pays to run the business will be treated as an Input Tax Credit and therefore will be deducted from the tax he collects. With the extra profit he makes with the new system he can reduce his prices.
But as a small business owner he already knows these things. So why is he being so dense?
Friday, August 21, 2009
You go. Chantal
In today's Toronto Star, amongst the rants and raves over a beer ad that called Torontonians cold, was an editorial by Chantal Hebert concerning the fact that most Ministers of Health across Canada have less time in their jobs than most servers at Tim Hortons. At a time when pandemics are on the minds of Canadian, is it right that we are led by neophytes?
But Chantal stopped too soon in her analysis.
The reality is that there are junior everybodies all the way down the seniority food chain in almost all levels of government. With senior people retiring, the young pups are brought in to replace them... and in many cases those new souls think they have more experience than the elders they are replacing. But nothing could be further from the truth.
But let's look at the upper middle level of government -- the deputy ministers. In our federal group, DMs seldom have experience in their assigned ministry. They most often surround themselves with Queen's or UofT MBAs with more hair than experience.
Government used to be a calling for Canadians. It has over time turned into just another job where the term "pensionable time" is commonly mentioned.
But Chantal stopped too soon in her analysis.
The reality is that there are junior everybodies all the way down the seniority food chain in almost all levels of government. With senior people retiring, the young pups are brought in to replace them... and in many cases those new souls think they have more experience than the elders they are replacing. But nothing could be further from the truth.
But let's look at the upper middle level of government -- the deputy ministers. In our federal group, DMs seldom have experience in their assigned ministry. They most often surround themselves with Queen's or UofT MBAs with more hair than experience.
Government used to be a calling for Canadians. It has over time turned into just another job where the term "pensionable time" is commonly mentioned.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The long reach of stupidity
So here I am in Saskatoon. I am having breakfast at a local establishment quietly reading the morning news rag and what should my wondrous eyes behold? A full length editorial comment on a 3 week old story that includes my old friend Lisa MacLeod, Ontario MPP extraordinaire. An issue which I thought had been burned to a crisp in the media but continues to surface out here.
The issue was the ruling of the judge in the Larry O'Brien case. The judgment included a synopsis of the evidence and questioning of MacLeod by Larry Edelson, the defense lawyer. That "evidence and testimony" included such things as "it was a small part of a larger conversation" and "my dad was dying in Nova Scotia so I had other things on my mind." All these are very good facts for the defense to bring forward. Then the judge called MacLeod's testimony unreliable because she presented four stories on four different occasions. Anyone who knows Ms MacLeod, would not be too surprised by that.
But Ms MacLeod did not like being called unreliable so she quipped to the Globe & Mail that she did not know that "truth knew a gender". In other words she called the judge sexist.
Again, I thought that this issue was put down a few weeks back. The reality is that anyone who read sexism into the judges remarks was either sexist themselves or did not read the judgment. The truth of the matter is that McLeod is a self-promoter and decided to use gender as a weapon to raise her pitiful profile within the opposition benches.
.
The issue was the ruling of the judge in the Larry O'Brien case. The judgment included a synopsis of the evidence and questioning of MacLeod by Larry Edelson, the defense lawyer. That "evidence and testimony" included such things as "it was a small part of a larger conversation" and "my dad was dying in Nova Scotia so I had other things on my mind." All these are very good facts for the defense to bring forward. Then the judge called MacLeod's testimony unreliable because she presented four stories on four different occasions. Anyone who knows Ms MacLeod, would not be too surprised by that.
But Ms MacLeod did not like being called unreliable so she quipped to the Globe & Mail that she did not know that "truth knew a gender". In other words she called the judge sexist.
Again, I thought that this issue was put down a few weeks back. The reality is that anyone who read sexism into the judges remarks was either sexist themselves or did not read the judgment. The truth of the matter is that McLeod is a self-promoter and decided to use gender as a weapon to raise her pitiful profile within the opposition benches.
.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Harper does it again
So a reporter in Waterloo asks PM Harper about the issue of a Canadian being held as a criminal in Kenya at the request of the Canadian government. His answer?
McGuinty has screwed up on e-Health Records
Good answer Steve. NOT!
McGuinty has screwed up on e-Health Records
Good answer Steve. NOT!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Flaherty to be hit by 2x4 (made in china)
I cannot even fathom the news out of China today. It seems that FinMin Flaherty has decided to sell Canada to the Chinese in exchange for having a ScotiaBank branch across the street from Mao's tomb.
I have spent a great deal of time in China, I have done business in China and I have been screwed by Official China more times than I know what to do with.
If Flaherty imagines that Canadian banks are going to be welcome to operate as equals in China, I like some of what he is smoking. The truth is that in a manged economy where ALL spending flows from a central point, being a prestigious Canadian bank, no matter how well run, will be a pimple on an elephants ass in China. If your goal in life is to cash travelller's checks and operate an ATM, then China is for you. If you want to get into the auto and home financing business in China -- good luck.
Canadians need to learn a whole lot more about the world outside of North America if they want to compete.
I have spent a great deal of time in China, I have done business in China and I have been screwed by Official China more times than I know what to do with.
If Flaherty imagines that Canadian banks are going to be welcome to operate as equals in China, I like some of what he is smoking. The truth is that in a manged economy where ALL spending flows from a central point, being a prestigious Canadian bank, no matter how well run, will be a pimple on an elephants ass in China. If your goal in life is to cash travelller's checks and operate an ATM, then China is for you. If you want to get into the auto and home financing business in China -- good luck.
Canadians need to learn a whole lot more about the world outside of North America if they want to compete.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Lowell's Grin
Larry O'Brien is a colleague of mine. I am pleased that charges against him were dismissed. But the CFRA knives need to be put back into their sheaths.
Lowell Green. the mouth that spews, has begun his conspiracy chatter over the issue. He wants an investigation to find out why the charges were even filed, by whom and to what end. His level of gloat over the issue cannot be hidden.
If Lowell Grin believes that everyone who is found not-guilty is the victim of malicious prosecution then I wonder if how he would defend... say... OJ Simpson. Simpson was acquitted. What do you say Lowell?
Lowell Green. the mouth that spews, has begun his conspiracy chatter over the issue. He wants an investigation to find out why the charges were even filed, by whom and to what end. His level of gloat over the issue cannot be hidden.
If Lowell Grin believes that everyone who is found not-guilty is the victim of malicious prosecution then I wonder if how he would defend... say... OJ Simpson. Simpson was acquitted. What do you say Lowell?
Saturday, July 25, 2009
CPC Youth are chowing down
he CPC youth wing is crashing down in a ball of fire. Apparently there are a number of Youth members who are acting like like they are adult CPCers and are practicing eating their own.
On a Facebook account one youth is complaining as follows:
________________
Letter to CPC National Councillors
Re: Fire CPC Staffers in the "No Youth Wing" Group
From: Graham Sproule (g.j.sproule@hotmail.com)
Sent: July 21, 2009 4:19:15 AM
To: danhilton@conservative.ca;
Cc: rajotte.j@parl.gc.ca
To the National Councillors of the Conservative Party of Canada:
I have already visited the office of my MP James Rajotte and I was advised to take my concerns to the party's National Councillors. As a long-time Conservative Party supporter it is with regret that I bring your attention the following blog which contains defamatory statements against myself and other members and/or supporters of the party:
http://noyouthwing.wordpre
This blog is linked to the following Facebook group which includes many current Conservative Party of Canada staffers:
http://www.facebook.com/gr
I am surprised that the party has so far decided to turn a blind eye to the activities of their own staff members against fellow conservatives. The party may not be able to control what its staff do in their spare time, but the party certainly is under no obligation to retain these staff members. In light of indecisiveness on the part of the party, I have created the following facebook group in response:
http://www.facebook.com/gr
If the party isn't willing to fire its staff members who are promoting this character defamation and libel, than those of us who have been subjected to it are obligated to take our case directly to party members, party donors and the media. I believe this matter could be easily resolved if the party made a public promise to fire any staff members involved in a group making defamatory statements about fellow party members and conservatives.
The seriousness of this matter should not be doubted, as identity theft and libel are indictable offenses under the law. I don't think those of us who have been defamed ought to seek legal counsel at this point, as this matter can easily be solved internally by the Conservative Party of Canada. To move to that phase would surely cause further embarrassment for all parties involved.
Sincerely,
Graham Sproule
Edmonton-Leduc
On a Facebook account one youth is complaining as follows:
________________
Letter to CPC National Councillors
Re: Fire CPC Staffers in the "No Youth Wing" Group
From: Graham Sproule (g.j.sproule@hotmail.com)
Sent: July 21, 2009 4:19:15 AM
To: danhilton@conservative.ca;
Cc: rajotte.j@parl.gc.ca
To the National Councillors of the Conservative Party of Canada:
I have already visited the office of my MP James Rajotte and I was advised to take my concerns to the party's National Councillors. As a long-time Conservative Party supporter it is with regret that I bring your attention the following blog which contains defamatory statements against myself and other members and/or supporters of the party:
http://noyouthwing.wordpre
This blog is linked to the following Facebook group which includes many current Conservative Party of Canada staffers:
http://www.facebook.com/gr
I am surprised that the party has so far decided to turn a blind eye to the activities of their own staff members against fellow conservatives. The party may not be able to control what its staff do in their spare time, but the party certainly is under no obligation to retain these staff members. In light of indecisiveness on the part of the party, I have created the following facebook group in response:
http://www.facebook.com/gr
If the party isn't willing to fire its staff members who are promoting this character defamation and libel, than those of us who have been subjected to it are obligated to take our case directly to party members, party donors and the media. I believe this matter could be easily resolved if the party made a public promise to fire any staff members involved in a group making defamatory statements about fellow party members and conservatives.
The seriousness of this matter should not be doubted, as identity theft and libel are indictable offenses under the law. I don't think those of us who have been defamed ought to seek legal counsel at this point, as this matter can easily be solved internally by the Conservative Party of Canada. To move to that phase would surely cause further embarrassment for all parties involved.
Sincerely,
Graham Sproule
Edmonton-Leduc
________________
Speaks for itself, eh what? BTW, the noyouthwing blog on Wordpress has suddenly disappeared.
It's Saturday in Ottawa
There are two ways to tell if it is Saturday in the Nation's capital.
The first is to look at the sky. If it is raining, it's Saturday.
The second is to look at page A6 of the local newsrag. Sure enough on A6 of today's bird cage liner is an innocuous article touting FinMin Flaherty saying that Canada's has turned the corner on the recession -- green shoots are showing -- things are looking rosy. Buried in the article is a toss away line stating that the deficit for 2009 has been pegged at a measly $75 billion.
What?
Flaherty told us a few weeks ago that the deficit would be about $50 billion., Now it is 50% higher at $75 billion? Can't this guy count? Or is he just a serial liar?
In the space of 10 months, Flaherty and the Con government have gone from predicting surpluses to small deficits to large deficits to, now, a humongous deficit. And I wager to say that he is not finished yet.
In his last update, before this one, Flaherty touted that the deficit would only be $85 billion over the next 5 years. He poopooed the bank economist who said it will be more like $156 billion. Now he is up to $75 billion in the first of the 5 years and there is no end in site.
Is that what you want from a government?
The first is to look at the sky. If it is raining, it's Saturday.
The second is to look at page A6 of the local newsrag. Sure enough on A6 of today's bird cage liner is an innocuous article touting FinMin Flaherty saying that Canada's has turned the corner on the recession -- green shoots are showing -- things are looking rosy. Buried in the article is a toss away line stating that the deficit for 2009 has been pegged at a measly $75 billion.
What?
Flaherty told us a few weeks ago that the deficit would be about $50 billion., Now it is 50% higher at $75 billion? Can't this guy count? Or is he just a serial liar?
In the space of 10 months, Flaherty and the Con government have gone from predicting surpluses to small deficits to large deficits to, now, a humongous deficit. And I wager to say that he is not finished yet.
In his last update, before this one, Flaherty touted that the deficit would only be $85 billion over the next 5 years. He poopooed the bank economist who said it will be more like $156 billion. Now he is up to $75 billion in the first of the 5 years and there is no end in site.
Is that what you want from a government?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Cons are toast
When the infighting begins, the end is at hand.
The social networking site has a new group that I was invited to join. The invite came from a contact of mine who is a die-hard Con supporter. The group is labelled, "Fire CPC Staffers in the "No Youth Wing" and it shows how concerned Harper is to losing his digs at 24 Sussex and how even more concerned are the Con Hill staffers at losing their keys to the executive restrooms.
This is how the group is described: "The Conservative Party of Canada has chosen to turn a blind eye to the activities of its own staffers who - unsatisfied with only impugning the motives of grieving parents of fallen Canadian soldiers - have now decided to employ their defamatory rhetoric to create a "phony war" against fellow conservatives in the hopes of proving their loyalty to the PMO and keeping their cushy party jobs. The party cannot turn a blind eye to the activities of those under their employ. Here are the facts:
"The CPC staffers on the hill are becoming anxious about their job security. Their "No Youth Wing" facebook group is a spin-off of previous group called "Anti-AYCC" that was deleted by facebook for its defamatory content against at least one conservative. Most of the people on this "new group" are CPC Hill staffers. The campus clubs that supposedly support their group would require an executive meeting and a vote to do so. There is no question that the the CPC wants a new program to train its staffers, and these current staffers are worried about maintaining their jobs in the party."
Can you say... panic?
By the way, I decided not to join.
.
The social networking site has a new group that I was invited to join. The invite came from a contact of mine who is a die-hard Con supporter. The group is labelled, "Fire CPC Staffers in the "No Youth Wing" and it shows how concerned Harper is to losing his digs at 24 Sussex and how even more concerned are the Con Hill staffers at losing their keys to the executive restrooms.
"The CPC staffers on the hill are becoming anxious about their job security. Their "No Youth Wing" facebook group is a spin-off of previous group called "Anti-AYCC" that was deleted by facebook for its defamatory content against at least one conservative. Most of the people on this "new group" are CPC Hill staffers. The campus clubs that supposedly support their group would require an executive meeting and a vote to do so. There is no question that the the CPC wants a new program to train its staffers, and these current staffers are worried about maintaining their jobs in the party."
Can you say... panic?
By the way, I decided not to join.
.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Suggestion for Jason
Hey Jason, I know what you are trying to do, what with requiring Mexicans and Czechs to have a visa to get to Canada, but you are going about it the wrong way.
I do not often offer advice to Cons, unless I am suggesting that crawl back into the holes from whence they came, but I will break rank by offering some to Jason Kenny, Minster of All Things Not Yet Canadian.
Rather than imposing visas just prohibit all direct flights from Czech Republic and Mexico (except charters that were booked from Canada by Canadians).
That would mean that the "refugees" would have to route through another country before they get to Canada. Then you can deny all of them entry because they should have sought refuge in country they flew through or from.
Don't say thanks, Jason. Just leave town.
Rather than imposing visas just prohibit all direct flights from Czech Republic and Mexico (except charters that were booked from Canada by Canadians).
That would mean that the "refugees" would have to route through another country before they get to Canada. Then you can deny all of them entry because they should have sought refuge in country they flew through or from.
Don't say thanks, Jason. Just leave town.
They wouldn't even listen when they were offered free food
About a month back, in July, the Cons held a $150/head dinner in Montreal with PM Harper as the key note. The place was packed with 2000 screaming bodies -- apparently. According to sources close to the situation, the reality was that a great number of the attendees were given free tickets. They were there for the free food. Now that's transparency!Even with the free food, a large part of the crowd were asked to quiet down during the PMs scintillating 30 minute speech. Apparently there weren't saying, "Right on, Steve" or "You go, boy," They were yelling across the table for someone to pass the butter or the buns. I wonder if there was a chance of a good food fight?
Cons are toast in Quebec? Right on!
Odd times on the Hill
We all know about the furor that Jason Kenny kicked off by requiring Mexicans to get visas to visit Canada. Kenny's reasoning is that too many bogus refugees are fleeing Mexico to try and get to Canada and that it is clogging our system. Never mind that a big piece of the problem is that half of the seats on the IRB are currently waiting to be filled by Harper cronies.
How does the issue square with a tri-lateral meeting that Harper is attending, August 8-11 in Mexico, with Obama and Calderón as part of the discussions on the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
Will the spat begun by Kenny evaporate before August 11 to save Harper's ass? And if not will Harper need a visa to attend the meeting?
Let's wait and see.
How does the issue square with a tri-lateral meeting that Harper is attending, August 8-11 in Mexico, with Obama and Calderón as part of the discussions on the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
Will the spat begun by Kenny evaporate before August 11 to save Harper's ass? And if not will Harper need a visa to attend the meeting?
Let's wait and see.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Harper stays the course
Last fall Harper stated that the economy was strong and that Canada will never have a deficit. A few weeks later he admitted that maybe things weren't so rosy. A few after that, he admits that we might have smaller than expected surpluses and that dips in the TSE were "buying" opportunities.
By January he predicted a slight deficit of to cover his stimulus package. Then the estimate grew to $34 billion and then to over $50 billion.
He then tells us that the budget will be balanced in five years and that the debt will rise by only $100 billion.
In the meantime, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, M. Page, who Harper hates with a passion, predicted that the deficits will continue after Harper's target date and the debt will rise by $156 billion.
"Dumb", says Harper. Almost all economists must be dumb also, cause they agree with Page.
It reminds of the old military story that a mother was watching her son on the parade square and she remarked, with pride, "My son is the only one in step". Harper must be the only one in step.
Next comes that declaration that Harper will not raise taxes or cut programs to balance the budget. Then just yesterday he clarified it all by stating that he will not cut taxes or slash programs to meet an arbitrary deadline for balancing the budget.
So let's get this straight -- Harper tells us that the PBO is dumb to suggest that the deficits will last longer than he declares and that he will not raise taxes or cut programs. Then he tells us that he will not raise taxes or cut programs just to meet the dates that he has already stated?
Stay tune -- the next logical thing for Harper to say is he may have to raise taxes or cut programs to get the country's budget balanced. But you can be sure that he will find someway to blame it on the Liberals.
Who is the dumb one now, Pinocchio?
By January he predicted a slight deficit of to cover his stimulus package. Then the estimate grew to $34 billion and then to over $50 billion.He then tells us that the budget will be balanced in five years and that the debt will rise by only $100 billion.
In the meantime, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, M. Page, who Harper hates with a passion, predicted that the deficits will continue after Harper's target date and the debt will rise by $156 billion.
"Dumb", says Harper. Almost all economists must be dumb also, cause they agree with Page.
It reminds of the old military story that a mother was watching her son on the parade square and she remarked, with pride, "My son is the only one in step". Harper must be the only one in step.
Next comes that declaration that Harper will not raise taxes or cut programs to balance the budget. Then just yesterday he clarified it all by stating that he will not cut taxes or slash programs to meet an arbitrary deadline for balancing the budget.
So let's get this straight -- Harper tells us that the PBO is dumb to suggest that the deficits will last longer than he declares and that he will not raise taxes or cut programs. Then he tells us that he will not raise taxes or cut programs just to meet the dates that he has already stated?
Stay tune -- the next logical thing for Harper to say is he may have to raise taxes or cut programs to get the country's budget balanced. But you can be sure that he will find someway to blame it on the Liberals.
Who is the dumb one now, Pinocchio?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Fall election, says Harper
The best way to predict an election is to watch what PM Harper and his band of Cons do when they thinks that no one is watching.
Example 1: Harper agreed with Iggy to strike a committee to look at ways to improve EI for Canadians. Then he turned around and assigned his pit-bull moppet, Poilievre, to the committee. Harper knows that PP does not have a single cooperative bone in his body so he is using PP to scuttle the work and send us to a fall election.
Example 2: I am sure that it is no coincidence that AECL waited until Parliament was not sitting to announce that their one month-turned three month shutdown of the NRU reactor in Chalk River is now one year, and maybe it will never come up again. Liberals have been saying this for months but Harper stalled the announcement hoping that no one will notice?
Example 3: Cons are churning out the ten percenters in record numbers. I am waiting for the one that accuses Iggy of starting WWII. Regardless of what they say, ten percenters are propaganda aimed at the pre-election writ.
Example 1: Harper agreed with Iggy to strike a committee to look at ways to improve EI for Canadians. Then he turned around and assigned his pit-bull moppet, Poilievre, to the committee. Harper knows that PP does not have a single cooperative bone in his body so he is using PP to scuttle the work and send us to a fall election.
Example 2: I am sure that it is no coincidence that AECL waited until Parliament was not sitting to announce that their one month-turned three month shutdown of the NRU reactor in Chalk River is now one year, and maybe it will never come up again. Liberals have been saying this for months but Harper stalled the announcement hoping that no one will notice?
Example 3: Cons are churning out the ten percenters in record numbers. I am waiting for the one that accuses Iggy of starting WWII. Regardless of what they say, ten percenters are propaganda aimed at the pre-election writ.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
I am glad you made it clear, Pierre.
On June 12, 2009, Nepean Carleton's mighty mouth MP, Pierre Poilievre entered, voluntarily, a scrum outside the House of Commons. For those who may not be aware, a scrum is one of the few chances that reporters get to ask questions of Cons MPs. Generally, guys like PP only like media types that have a camera in both hands. and no mouth.
Julie VanDusen, from CBC, was part of the scrum and she asked this seemingly simple question:
"How many jobs have been created through the federal investment in infrastructure."
The answer should have been simple enough. After all The FinMin had been talking about creating 160,000 jobs just a few minutes earlier in the Commons.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“No, but I need a number,” the reporter protested.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“You've got more than 3,000 - where are you going? I mean if it's a great news…” the reporter said.
“I'm going to the grand opening of a new radio station here in Ottawa,” Mr. Poilievre replied.
“Okay. How many jobs have been created to date?” the reporter asked.
“Lots of jobs. Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Be specific,” the reporter said.
“I'll be specific,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Okay,” the reporter said.
“We're building roads, bridges, hockey arenas, other construction projects all of which create jobs. We're lowering taxes so that people can spend and invest in the economy to create even more jobs. So the answer to your question is lots of jobs. Thanks,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“The Prime Minister said 80 percent of the projects are underway. How many jobs? Give me a number,” the reporter said.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Give me a number,” the reporter said.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“That's not an answer,” the reporter protested.
With that, PP walked away to his next photo op.
I will bet you that if you asked PP how many votes he got in the last election, he could tell to the last number. I bet, if you asked PP how many times he has been named by the Speaker he could tell you, but then he'd tell you that it was the Liberals fault, not his.
So why can't PP answer a simple question on employment numbers? Is it because he doesn't know? Is it because he doesn't care? Is it that he is no more than a stuffed shirt who when he does not have a script, he cannot operate?
I guess we will find in the fall during the next election.
Julie VanDusen, from CBC, was part of the scrum and she asked this seemingly simple question:
"How many jobs have been created through the federal investment in infrastructure."
The answer should have been simple enough. After all The FinMin had been talking about creating 160,000 jobs just a few minutes earlier in the Commons.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“No, but I need a number,” the reporter protested.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“You've got more than 3,000 - where are you going? I mean if it's a great news…” the reporter said.
“I'm going to the grand opening of a new radio station here in Ottawa,” Mr. Poilievre replied.
“Okay. How many jobs have been created to date?” the reporter asked.
“Lots of jobs. Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Be specific,” the reporter said.
“I'll be specific,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Okay,” the reporter said.
“We're building roads, bridges, hockey arenas, other construction projects all of which create jobs. We're lowering taxes so that people can spend and invest in the economy to create even more jobs. So the answer to your question is lots of jobs. Thanks,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“The Prime Minister said 80 percent of the projects are underway. How many jobs? Give me a number,” the reporter said.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Give me a number,” the reporter said.
“Lots of jobs,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“That's not an answer,” the reporter protested.
With that, PP walked away to his next photo op.
I will bet you that if you asked PP how many votes he got in the last election, he could tell to the last number. I bet, if you asked PP how many times he has been named by the Speaker he could tell you, but then he'd tell you that it was the Liberals fault, not his.
So why can't PP answer a simple question on employment numbers? Is it because he doesn't know? Is it because he doesn't care? Is it that he is no more than a stuffed shirt who when he does not have a script, he cannot operate?
I guess we will find in the fall during the next election.
Time to come out of the closet, PP
The tiny perfect MP for Nepean Carleton has some 'splainin' to do.
How is his government going to pay off the $156 billion in debt that be lumped onto Canadian thanks to their spending spree?
Tell us Pierre: will you cut services? Will you cut transfers to provinces? Will you sell off all the country's assets? Will you raise taxes?
Or will you just run for the hills to avoid the question?
How is his government going to pay off the $156 billion in debt that be lumped onto Canadian thanks to their spending spree?
Tell us Pierre: will you cut services? Will you cut transfers to provinces? Will you sell off all the country's assets? Will you raise taxes?
Or will you just run for the hills to avoid the question?
Friday, July 3, 2009
Lest we forget
In the fog of the 2008 war over the fiscal update delivered by everyone's least favourite government, most of us remember the brouhaha over the funding of federal political parties. The Cons still try to make hay with their continuing use of the coalition terms. Scary thought, wasn't it? Parliamentarians working together on the Hill. What could be scarier than cooperative politicians, ask the Cons?
Well in that fog there were two very important initiatives that the voters in Nepean Carleton should remember -- and ask PP about during the next election.
This is a direct quote from their economic update: "As indicated in the Speech from the Throne, the Government is introducing legislation to ensure predictability of federal public sector compensation during this difficult economic period."
What, you ask, does that mean? Here is another quote, "For groups with collective agreements already covering 2008–09, the 1.5 per cent would apply for the remainder of the three-year period starting at the anniversary date of the collective agreement." What that means is that collective bargaining for civil servants was being suspended and a 1.5% increase was being imposed. Sounds a bit like wage control, doesn't it?
But the piece de resistance was this gem. "In addition, the legislation would suspend the right to strike on wages through 2010–11."
And you still want to vote for the Cons?
The second issue forgotten in the coalition talk was this little tidbit from the economic update: "the Government will introduce legislation to modernize the pay equity regime for federal public sector employees,...". This was a sneaky attempt by the Cons to rid themselves of the pay equity issue by putting onus on the collective bargaining system to solve their problem. Let me explain it this way. If you are a char-lady making $8.00 per hour and you do work deemed the same value as the street sweeper who makes $9.00 per hour, you could appeal to the government for equal pay for work of equal value. The problem is who could figure out what work is as valuable as another job? Well the government wants to make that a union issue. Fine and dandy, as long as the government negotiators accept the union's determinations.
For example, what if the union says that the street sweepers are equivalent to, say, electric engineers who are cleaning up the tritium spill from the reactor floors at Chalk River? Does that mean the the government accepts the argument that the street sweepers should get a raise to $70 per hour? And with them go the char-ladies? Betcha the answer is no.
Before the nest election, public servants, and all Canadians, will want to look closely at what the Cons have been doing to Canada and Canadians. They protected the pensions of the CAW by bailing out GM and Chrysler, but the said "Piss off" to Nortel pensioners. They protected the assets of the US-owned car companies but turned their back on technological innovations at Nortel that have been paid for by Canadians.
This is a shameful government -- and you should see it as just that.
Well in that fog there were two very important initiatives that the voters in Nepean Carleton should remember -- and ask PP about during the next election.
This is a direct quote from their economic update: "As indicated in the Speech from the Throne, the Government is introducing legislation to ensure predictability of federal public sector compensation during this difficult economic period."
What, you ask, does that mean? Here is another quote, "For groups with collective agreements already covering 2008–09, the 1.5 per cent would apply for the remainder of the three-year period starting at the anniversary date of the collective agreement." What that means is that collective bargaining for civil servants was being suspended and a 1.5% increase was being imposed. Sounds a bit like wage control, doesn't it?
But the piece de resistance was this gem. "In addition, the legislation would suspend the right to strike on wages through 2010–11."
And you still want to vote for the Cons?
The second issue forgotten in the coalition talk was this little tidbit from the economic update: "the Government will introduce legislation to modernize the pay equity regime for federal public sector employees,...". This was a sneaky attempt by the Cons to rid themselves of the pay equity issue by putting onus on the collective bargaining system to solve their problem. Let me explain it this way. If you are a char-lady making $8.00 per hour and you do work deemed the same value as the street sweeper who makes $9.00 per hour, you could appeal to the government for equal pay for work of equal value. The problem is who could figure out what work is as valuable as another job? Well the government wants to make that a union issue. Fine and dandy, as long as the government negotiators accept the union's determinations.For example, what if the union says that the street sweepers are equivalent to, say, electric engineers who are cleaning up the tritium spill from the reactor floors at Chalk River? Does that mean the the government accepts the argument that the street sweepers should get a raise to $70 per hour? And with them go the char-ladies? Betcha the answer is no.
Before the nest election, public servants, and all Canadians, will want to look closely at what the Cons have been doing to Canada and Canadians. They protected the pensions of the CAW by bailing out GM and Chrysler, but the said "Piss off" to Nortel pensioners. They protected the assets of the US-owned car companies but turned their back on technological innovations at Nortel that have been paid for by Canadians.This is a shameful government -- and you should see it as just that.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The arrogance of GM
GM is a basket case. It produces vehicles that hardly any one wants. It moves at a glacial pace to be innovative and it's finances are so far into the toilet that the government needed to bail them out.
Hand's up all those who expect to ever see a single cent of the $10 billion, given by our lawmakers, returned to Canadian taxpayers in the next -- oh say-- ten years.
No one willing to take a guess? Well,. you are right. The answer is zero or negative 200. We will never see that money again.
As part of its "restructuring" plan, GM sold its OPEL division to Magna, a Canadian company owned by Belinda Stronach's dad. The deal helped justify the government's bailouts.
Magna stepped up to the plate and is planning to invest in OPEL, raise its product, profile and markets and make it a success story. The deal was good for GM, good for Magna and good for OPEL.
Now... GM is showing that it is still as arrogant as ever. They are demanding that they have the right to take back OPEL when they are back on their feet again. To hell with Magna. To hell with the increased value of OPEL. GM's making demands and, damn it, you better listen!
Piss off, GM. You will have the right to declare that you are back on your feet AFTER you have paid back every cent given to you by Canadians. And not a minute before.
And if you want to buy back OPEL, you do it at market rates and at the price demanded by Magna... not some arbitrary number you want to put on it.
The arrogance.
Hand's up all those who expect to ever see a single cent of the $10 billion, given by our lawmakers, returned to Canadian taxpayers in the next -- oh say-- ten years.
No one willing to take a guess? Well,. you are right. The answer is zero or negative 200. We will never see that money again.
As part of its "restructuring" plan, GM sold its OPEL division to Magna, a Canadian company owned by Belinda Stronach's dad. The deal helped justify the government's bailouts.
Magna stepped up to the plate and is planning to invest in OPEL, raise its product, profile and markets and make it a success story. The deal was good for GM, good for Magna and good for OPEL.
Now... GM is showing that it is still as arrogant as ever. They are demanding that they have the right to take back OPEL when they are back on their feet again. To hell with Magna. To hell with the increased value of OPEL. GM's making demands and, damn it, you better listen!
Piss off, GM. You will have the right to declare that you are back on your feet AFTER you have paid back every cent given to you by Canadians. And not a minute before.
And if you want to buy back OPEL, you do it at market rates and at the price demanded by Magna... not some arbitrary number you want to put on it.
The arrogance.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Raitt drops an unintentional bomb
In a news conference on May 29, 2008, before the so-called sexy talk, Lisa Raitt, Minister of Things-that-glow, was asked about the privatization of AECL. While confirming that the sale is progressing, she had no real comment on whether any buyer would share the AECL debt or liability should something happen after the sale -- like, say, a melt-down. Her answer was, essentially, "I think that our negotiators will look at that."
But the real bomb dropped a bit later.When asked what type of oversight will exist when a sale is made, Raitt replied that the major oversight will come from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. She stated that the CNSC is the oversight regulator that is independent of government.
What?
Can she be referring to the same CNSC that had its head fired by Harper because she wouldn't do his bidding?
How can the CNSC be called independent and charged with the responsibility to protect Canadians, when the government can fire its ass?
What if the CNSC says to Harper and Raitt, that they cannot sell AECL unless the buyer accepted all risks and had to post a $2 billion bond to cover the eventualities of that risk. How long would the independent CNSC be around?
Think the bond is unreasonable. The US government demands that the nuclear industry invest $10 billion into a fund to cover risk. We do here in Canada also, but the limit is only $650 million.
But the real bomb dropped a bit later.When asked what type of oversight will exist when a sale is made, Raitt replied that the major oversight will come from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. She stated that the CNSC is the oversight regulator that is independent of government.
What?
Can she be referring to the same CNSC that had its head fired by Harper because she wouldn't do his bidding?How can the CNSC be called independent and charged with the responsibility to protect Canadians, when the government can fire its ass?
What if the CNSC says to Harper and Raitt, that they cannot sell AECL unless the buyer accepted all risks and had to post a $2 billion bond to cover the eventualities of that risk. How long would the independent CNSC be around?
Think the bond is unreasonable. The US government demands that the nuclear industry invest $10 billion into a fund to cover risk. We do here in Canada also, but the limit is only $650 million.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
How to make government work
Michael Ignatieff has it right. The Dippers and the Bloc have it wrong. Harper just doesn't get it.
The IT is how to make government work given that we will probably never again see a majority government.in this country.
Cooperation and transparency. That's IT.
Read the budget before you decide to vote against it, Jack and Gilles.
Talk with the opposition before you try to bully legislation through the House, Stephen.
Keep an open mind and your eye on what is good for Canadians, Michael.
That is the way to get government to work in Canada.
The IT is how to make government work given that we will probably never again see a majority government.in this country.
Cooperation and transparency. That's IT.
Read the budget before you decide to vote against it, Jack and Gilles.
Talk with the opposition before you try to bully legislation through the House, Stephen.
Keep an open mind and your eye on what is good for Canadians, Michael.
That is the way to get government to work in Canada.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Why the NDP?
Seems to me that you go into politics to win. When you are a party, you fight to win. There is a second place in politics -- it is called Official Opposition. There is no third place, especially if you are a perennial third placer and have less likelihood of every gaining power than Ozzie Osbourne (he of bat-eating fame) of getting an award from the SPCA.
So why do it? Do you represent such a special view of confederation that, without you, Canada would die in great agony? Nope, that can't be it.
Do you represent deep incite filled arguments when you announce that you will vote against anything and everything that the Cons put up for vote? Nope that can't be it.
Do you have such panache and flair that Canadians can't do without you? That's it. Of course, it should have been obvious. It's Jack's moustache.
So why do it? Do you represent such a special view of confederation that, without you, Canada would die in great agony? Nope, that can't be it.Do you represent deep incite filled arguments when you announce that you will vote against anything and everything that the Cons put up for vote? Nope that can't be it.
Do you have such panache and flair that Canadians can't do without you? That's it. Of course, it should have been obvious. It's Jack's moustache.
Wsetern Premiers to the rescue - PART 2
Here is a news flash for you. Harper and the gang that can't legislate straight have decided that the nuclear industry is toxic to them. Oh sure, they promote nukes as an alternative energy source and think that isotopes are sexy, but they are planning to sell off AECL's non-toxic divisions to the French or the Americans and then bury the isotope project deep underground. "We are getting out of the isotope business," declared Harper.
Now Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, is jumping to the rescue. He wants to take over the isotope businesss from AECL and move it all to U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Great idea. Go for it Brad. But -- wait for it -- Brad wants the feds to pay the majority of the costs.
This is a deal that Harper cannot resist. It has all the earmarks of political success except for two things; 1) there are very few more seats in Saskatchewan for the Cons to buy and 2) once you are sucked in to funding nukes in Saskatchewan, you are on the hook forever -- and that does not square with the "getting out the isotope business" statement.
It also, you can bet your navel fuzz, is going to cheese off the governments of Ontario and Quebec if you move everything to Saskatchewan. Ontario because they lose another industry and Quebec because they did not get it.
Welcome to Canada.
Now Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, is jumping to the rescue. He wants to take over the isotope businesss from AECL and move it all to U of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Great idea. Go for it Brad. But -- wait for it -- Brad wants the feds to pay the majority of the costs.
It also, you can bet your navel fuzz, is going to cheese off the governments of Ontario and Quebec if you move everything to Saskatchewan. Ontario because they lose another industry and Quebec because they did not get it.
Welcome to Canada.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Western Premiers to the rescue - PART 1
The western Canadian premiers, in their conference north of 60, have declared that it is crucial that the federal government make EI fair for all Canadians. That means they must back Iggy's demand that we get rid of the 58 regions of EI and have only one. Right?
Wrong. Their idea of fairness is to discriminate between big cities, smaller centres and rural areas. That's fairness for all Canadians?
You know the difference between an unemployed stiff in Rouleau, Sask. (I pick them because when Dog River -- aka Corner Gas -- closed shop it put at least Wanda out of work and onto EI) and Toronto (I pick them cause it is a big city)? The only difference is that the cost of living is higher in Toronto and when you have no income, it can be a bitch.
Come on, boys. Make it fair. One rule for all Canadians. Losing a job is tough enough without the government making it tougher.
And by the way, two of the regions that have different rules for EI benefits are Ottawa and Gatineau. The folks in Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa, get more and faster EI benefits than the unemployed folks in Ottawa.
Still think it's fair, lads?
Wrong. Their idea of fairness is to discriminate between big cities, smaller centres and rural areas. That's fairness for all Canadians?You know the difference between an unemployed stiff in Rouleau, Sask. (I pick them because when Dog River -- aka Corner Gas -- closed shop it put at least Wanda out of work and onto EI) and Toronto (I pick them cause it is a big city)? The only difference is that the cost of living is higher in Toronto and when you have no income, it can be a bitch.
Come on, boys. Make it fair. One rule for all Canadians. Losing a job is tough enough without the government making it tougher.And by the way, two of the regions that have different rules for EI benefits are Ottawa and Gatineau. The folks in Gatineau, just across the river from Ottawa, get more and faster EI benefits than the unemployed folks in Ottawa.
Still think it's fair, lads?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
It is time for the Cons to come clean
At what point in time with the mighty-mouth MP for Nepean Carleton quit lying to Canadians. In his most recent hyper-partisan mailer, paid for by taxpayers, he lies and distorts over and over again statements by Iggy.
Let's put the shoe on the other foot for just a minute. Will the Cons tell us how they will get back to a balanced budget after running massive and record-braking deficits? Will they raise taxes? Apparently not. Will they just wait for the economy to turn around and depend on future surpluses? Never happen. That leaves only one alternative for the Cons.
If they do not raise revenues THEY WILL NEVER PAY OFF THE DEBT!
For once in their lives, will the Cons come clean with Canadians and start treating us as intelligent beings instead of lemmings!
Let's put the shoe on the other foot for just a minute. Will the Cons tell us how they will get back to a balanced budget after running massive and record-braking deficits? Will they raise taxes? Apparently not. Will they just wait for the economy to turn around and depend on future surpluses? Never happen. That leaves only one alternative for the Cons.
A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL CUT CIVIL SERVICE JOBS, HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSFERS TO PROVINCES AND GUT THE MILITARY!
If they do not raise revenues THEY WILL NEVER PAY OFF THE DEBT!
For once in their lives, will the Cons come clean with Canadians and start treating us as intelligent beings instead of lemmings!
Two messages in one action
It is very interesting to see how the press sees the politics that unfolded this week on the federal scene.
On Monday, Iggy told Harper that he had four issues of national importance that he wanted to negotiate with Harper (after all he is the only one that has any clout in his dictatorship). On Tuesday Iggy finally got a meeting with Harper. The meeting when into the evening and continued on Wednesday. In the end Iggy got what he needed to support Harper and Harper got to gloat that he saved Canadians from another election.
But how did the press see the events?
The Toronto Star says this: "In staving off an election neither of them wanted, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff have shown that it is possible for a minority Parliament to work constructively."
The National Post says this: "On Monday, Ignatieff defined himself as the weakest Liberal leader since, well, since Stephane Dion. His laying out of four conditions for supporting tomorrow's supply motion was a disaster in every respect. It was easily the worst moment of his leadership, demonstrating that neither he nor the Liberals are ready to govern."
Welcome to Canada where freedom of speech was guaranteed by a law passed by a Liberal government.
On Monday, Iggy told Harper that he had four issues of national importance that he wanted to negotiate with Harper (after all he is the only one that has any clout in his dictatorship). On Tuesday Iggy finally got a meeting with Harper. The meeting when into the evening and continued on Wednesday. In the end Iggy got what he needed to support Harper and Harper got to gloat that he saved Canadians from another election.
But how did the press see the events?
The Toronto Star says this: "In staving off an election neither of them wanted, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff have shown that it is possible for a minority Parliament to work constructively."
The National Post says this: "On Monday, Ignatieff defined himself as the weakest Liberal leader since, well, since Stephane Dion. His laying out of four conditions for supporting tomorrow's supply motion was a disaster in every respect. It was easily the worst moment of his leadership, demonstrating that neither he nor the Liberals are ready to govern."
Welcome to Canada where freedom of speech was guaranteed by a law passed by a Liberal government.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The loonies are coming back to bite FOX News
Check out the video at (http://tpmtv.talkingpointsmemo.com/?id=2706277). It shows FOX News' Shepard Smith discussing the issue of crazies doing crazy things. "They are scary," he declares.
Well... what goes around, comes around. FOX has fed these loonies for years. And they are coming to Canada.
Well... what goes around, comes around. FOX has fed these loonies for years. And they are coming to Canada.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Common decency, please.
I was at a presentation last evening concerning the province's Green Energy Act. So many common decencies were being ignored at the meeting that I hardly know where to start.
So let's begin with the man who should know better. The meeting was held in Ottawa much to the chagrin of Ottawa Councilor Glenn Brooks. Brooks, who is generally opposed to being nice to anyone who can't or won't vote for him, decided that Green Energy is only a rural issue and so criticized the location of the meeting. "There will not be a single windmill built in the city," cries Brooks. "If you held your meeting in Richmond or North Gower, I can guarantee a larger crowd," he drones on. What Brooks has not figured out is that Green Energy affects all Ontarions, not just those with a hard-on against wind mills. The meeting was held in Ottawa because that is the population centre. I imagine that if the meeting was held in, say, Smiths Falls, Brooks would be against that too, since there is no wind farm going in there.
Let's move on to the wind farm opponents. The people representing the government do not have the power of life and death over you. They were asking for your input so that they might be able to create the regulations for the bill passed in May. Did you show any appreciation to them? Not one bit! When the main speaker finished, was there even polite applause? Not on bit! But every anti-wind farm advocate who opened his or her mouth was feted to wild applause just for asking the question. (In reality, very few questions or suggestions were made other than to ask the government not to repeat his quiet as a library mantra.)
I decided to leave after an hour out of pure boredom.
If I can offer a bit of advice to Brooks and the people of North Gower, you get more done by showing respect rather than disdain. And by the way, in case you missed it, the Green Energy Act includes, solar, biomass, hydro and other forms of Green Energy -- not just wind.
Let's move on to the wind farm opponents. The people representing the government do not have the power of life and death over you. They were asking for your input so that they might be able to create the regulations for the bill passed in May. Did you show any appreciation to them? Not one bit! When the main speaker finished, was there even polite applause? Not on bit! But every anti-wind farm advocate who opened his or her mouth was feted to wild applause just for asking the question. (In reality, very few questions or suggestions were made other than to ask the government not to repeat his quiet as a library mantra.)
I decided to leave after an hour out of pure boredom.
If I can offer a bit of advice to Brooks and the people of North Gower, you get more done by showing respect rather than disdain. And by the way, in case you missed it, the Green Energy Act includes, solar, biomass, hydro and other forms of Green Energy -- not just wind.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Driving Cons crazy.
It is a short trip driving Cons crazy, but Iggy has gone and done it big time. Take the comments from the Con Propaganda Newsrag, the National Post.
I his incite-full commentary of today, Kelly McParland scoffs at Iggy's decision to leave until Friday's House vote to announce if the government gets Liberal support or not. If this lack of support results in an election, this is what Kelly (strange name for a guy) has to say: "Canadians overwhelmingly say they oppose an election. Triggering one would cost about $300 million, and put the stimulus program on hold indefinitely. Mr. Ignatieff says Mr. Harper isn't doing a good enough job, yet he'd be forcing a lengthy delay smack in the middle of the crisis. Who would Canadians blame for that?"
Strange that coming from the same guy who dismissed Harper calling an election in defiance of his own Fixed Election Day act when nobody wanted one. Can you say two faced?
McParland goes on the say: "Mr. Ignatieff made the odd claim that merely approving specific projects and committing the money doesn't represent actual spending. Real spending apparently consists only of physically transferring the money." This is truly amazing coming out the mouth of an apparently sentient being. Does Kelly not understand that in times of recession promises of aid are about as useful as condoms in a nursery? Getting the financial assistance is more important that just another photo-op to announce it.
It is truly sad to see the mighty fall so low.
I his incite-full commentary of today, Kelly McParland scoffs at Iggy's decision to leave until Friday's House vote to announce if the government gets Liberal support or not. If this lack of support results in an election, this is what Kelly (strange name for a guy) has to say: "Canadians overwhelmingly say they oppose an election. Triggering one would cost about $300 million, and put the stimulus program on hold indefinitely. Mr. Ignatieff says Mr. Harper isn't doing a good enough job, yet he'd be forcing a lengthy delay smack in the middle of the crisis. Who would Canadians blame for that?"
Strange that coming from the same guy who dismissed Harper calling an election in defiance of his own Fixed Election Day act when nobody wanted one. Can you say two faced?
McParland goes on the say: "Mr. Ignatieff made the odd claim that merely approving specific projects and committing the money doesn't represent actual spending. Real spending apparently consists only of physically transferring the money." This is truly amazing coming out the mouth of an apparently sentient being. Does Kelly not understand that in times of recession promises of aid are about as useful as condoms in a nursery? Getting the financial assistance is more important that just another photo-op to announce it.
It is truly sad to see the mighty fall so low.
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