Finally some honesty about private health care. Good for Premier Wall for not being frightened by
leftist statists. Hopefully all governments in Canada will begin to understand that medicare is not a religion and alternate methods of healthcare delivery must be considered.
Tasha Kheiriddin: Private health care comes to…. Saskatchewan
Tasha Kheiriddin August 31, 2010 – 2:00 pm
From the cradle of Medicare, hope for health care reform. The Saskatchewan government announced this week that it will be contracting out dental and knee surgery to a private surgical facility. While the public purse will foot the bill, the operations will be performed by the Omni Surgery Centre instead of a public hospital.
According to provincial health minister Don McMorris,
“the move will help shorten wait times for some day surgeries and the setting will be more convenient for patients.”
The move will not only save time, but money. Surgeries done at the Omni Surgery Centre cost less than the same procedures done at a hospital. According to provincial officials, knee surgeries will cost $1,500, $179 or 11 per cent less per procedure. Dental surgeries, at $965, will be cheaper by $76 or seven per cent.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The chicken littles further exposed
Great headline in the UK.
tHE world’s leading climate change body has been accused of losing credibility after a damning report into its research practices.
A high-level inquiry into the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found there was “little evidence” for its claims about global warming.
It also said the panel had emphasised the negative impacts of climate change and made “substantive findings” based on little proof.
The report wants fundamental change on how the ipcc "works."
Others including Prof spencer understand that the ipcc has become a propaganda wing for the chicken littles and serves no useful purpose. Prof Spencer has a great photo of two of the chief chicken littles.
It looks like the railway engineer is toast.
This analysis of the chicken littles is quite good.
R.I.P. Cpl Brian Pinksen
Pinksen was from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, based in Corner Brook, N.L., and served with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
Kerry Pittman, Pinksen's uncle, remembered him as a true soldier. He'd won the top soldier award at the Gallipoli Armouries in Corner Brook and at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.
Pittman described himself as his nephew's uncle/father figure. He spent a lot of time with the young man after his father left. At eight years old Pinksen was left to be the father figure for his brothers Brandon, who is now 17, and Blair who is 12.
"He was very protective and he always had genuine concern for his family and friends," Pittman said. "If you met him your first impression probably was 'what a good guy.' That's what everybody's impression of Brian was.
"It's hard to put in words what he was. To me he was everything."
He recalls his nephew's upbeat attitude and how he always made time to do things with his brothers.
Tarek Fatah understands the jihadi threat
My friend Tarek understands only too well what is going on. I wish Canadians, especially in the Muslim community and in government would wake up to the threat. The jihadi apologists are being allowed deep into our government and bureaucracy.
No sooner did news of the Ottawa Terror Plot unfold on national TV, than one could predict the response of Canada's Islamists and their organizations.
Across Canada, apologists of the terror suspects repeated the same mantra. The three men arrested were portrayed as "innocent" and the wider Muslim community was positioned as the real victims of the episode. It was as if the Islamist leadership had dusted off the speaking notes from the days of the Toronto 18 trials when leader after leader stood up to claim the young men arrested were framed, not real terrorists.
As Muslim Canadians, both of us, while asking for the due judicial process to take its course, had no hesitation in condemning the rising tide of jihadi radicalism that is sweeping like a contagious disease among Muslim youth, especially of Pakistani ancestry, across Canada. However, by and large the leadership of traditional Islamist organizations and the mosque establishment repeated the now tired and cliché-ridden depiction of Muslims as the real victims.
No sooner did news of the Ottawa Terror Plot unfold on national TV, than one could predict the response of Canada's Islamists and their organizations.
Across Canada, apologists of the terror suspects repeated the same mantra. The three men arrested were portrayed as "innocent" and the wider Muslim community was positioned as the real victims of the episode. It was as if the Islamist leadership had dusted off the speaking notes from the days of the Toronto 18 trials when leader after leader stood up to claim the young men arrested were framed, not real terrorists.
As Muslim Canadians, both of us, while asking for the due judicial process to take its course, had no hesitation in condemning the rising tide of jihadi radicalism that is sweeping like a contagious disease among Muslim youth, especially of Pakistani ancestry, across Canada. However, by and large the leadership of traditional Islamist organizations and the mosque establishment repeated the now tired and cliché-ridden depiction of Muslims as the real victims.
Tea Party
As someone who prefers gradual steady change, I'm not sure what I think of this. I also would have most definitely been an United Empire Loyalist I am also dubious about this name for Canada. i do however support the ideas of less taxes, more freedom and smaller government. I also like the idea of returning to our original constitutional principle as laid out in the BNA act. In Canada freedom wears a Crown. I also want to support my friend Andrew lawton.
Andrew Lawton wants to bring that spirit to Canada.
Lawton, a conservative-leaning activist from London, Ont., is one of the organizers behind an online attempt to start a Tea Party movement in Canada.
Starting with a Facebook group, Lawton says there are plans for rallies this fall in Ottawa and Quebec City. Other cities may be added.
There are differences between the two countries Lawton acknowledges but adds the basis of the movement is the same.
“The issues differ but the ideology stays the same. Advocating for smaller government, freedom and letting people live their own lives.”
“One person came up to me recently and said that freedom is an American value,” said Lawton. “That’s not true. It’s an attitude I want to change.”
Andrew Lawton wants to bring that spirit to Canada.
Lawton, a conservative-leaning activist from London, Ont., is one of the organizers behind an online attempt to start a Tea Party movement in Canada.
Starting with a Facebook group, Lawton says there are plans for rallies this fall in Ottawa and Quebec City. Other cities may be added.
There are differences between the two countries Lawton acknowledges but adds the basis of the movement is the same.
“The issues differ but the ideology stays the same. Advocating for smaller government, freedom and letting people live their own lives.”
“One person came up to me recently and said that freedom is an American value,” said Lawton. “That’s not true. It’s an attitude I want to change.”
Monday, August 30, 2010
Promises, Promises
Sunday, August 29, 2010
bo's America according to Lord Black
b arack Obama's attempts to destroy the United states have not gone unnoticed by Lord Black. Let November come so that bo can be stopped.
Barack Obama, certainly, is not that president. To give himself a greater mandate for a lurch to the left, he did nothing for months while warning the country of imminent catastrophe. He promised a reduction of unemployment to less than 8% with an $800-billion stimulus bill that was just a pig trough for his party’s barons in Congress. Unemployment rose to 9.6% and the administration was reduced to utter flimflam about prevention of further job losses. (More relevant is that when chronically underemployed people are added to the mix, unemployment actually is over 18%, near Depression levels.)
Barack Obama, certainly, is not that president. To give himself a greater mandate for a lurch to the left, he did nothing for months while warning the country of imminent catastrophe. He promised a reduction of unemployment to less than 8% with an $800-billion stimulus bill that was just a pig trough for his party’s barons in Congress. Unemployment rose to 9.6% and the administration was reduced to utter flimflam about prevention of further job losses. (More relevant is that when chronically underemployed people are added to the mix, unemployment actually is over 18%, near Depression levels.)
Salim Mansur on the gz mosque
Prof Mansur understands the jihadi threat and their methods. We should all liisten.
Mosque really about pushing Sharia law
By AGENCE QMI
Last Updated: August 28, 2010 2:00am
The swirling controversy over the Ground Zero mosque obscures what should be obvious, at least since 9/11, about the behavioural pattern of radical Islamists engaged in stealth jihad, or “lawfare,” to advance their strategic interest of securing concessions by Western governments for Sharia.
In generating this controversy, and then pushing hard on it by insisting on the constitutionally protected right of freedom of religion to build this mosque in the vicinity of Ground Zero in New York City, Islamists behind the project have masterfully succeeded in greatly dividing Americans as the ninth anniversary of 9/11 approaches.
What we are witnessing here is radical Islamists once again, as in the Danish cartoon controversy — or the controversy surrounding the wearing by some Muslim women of niqabs or full-face coverings, or the push for censorship on grounds of hate speech — taking hold of the legal-political framework of liberal democracy to secure grounds for their anti-liberal agenda of advancing acceptance of Sharia in the West.
Through indiscriminate violence, radical Islamists have succeeded to define Islam in terms of Sharia — Islamic law constructed more than a millennium ago by legal scholars that is, putting it mildly, entirely obsolete in the context of modern philosophy, science, democracy, gender equity and individual rights and freedom — and jihad, or sanctioning of violence, in the name of religion.
Mosques for radical Islamists are centres for preaching, recruiting, fundraising, networking and engaging in the political work of advancing their strategic interests.
Mosque really about pushing Sharia law
By AGENCE QMI
Last Updated: August 28, 2010 2:00am
The swirling controversy over the Ground Zero mosque obscures what should be obvious, at least since 9/11, about the behavioural pattern of radical Islamists engaged in stealth jihad, or “lawfare,” to advance their strategic interest of securing concessions by Western governments for Sharia.
In generating this controversy, and then pushing hard on it by insisting on the constitutionally protected right of freedom of religion to build this mosque in the vicinity of Ground Zero in New York City, Islamists behind the project have masterfully succeeded in greatly dividing Americans as the ninth anniversary of 9/11 approaches.
What we are witnessing here is radical Islamists once again, as in the Danish cartoon controversy — or the controversy surrounding the wearing by some Muslim women of niqabs or full-face coverings, or the push for censorship on grounds of hate speech — taking hold of the legal-political framework of liberal democracy to secure grounds for their anti-liberal agenda of advancing acceptance of Sharia in the West.
Through indiscriminate violence, radical Islamists have succeeded to define Islam in terms of Sharia — Islamic law constructed more than a millennium ago by legal scholars that is, putting it mildly, entirely obsolete in the context of modern philosophy, science, democracy, gender equity and individual rights and freedom — and jihad, or sanctioning of violence, in the name of religion.
Mosques for radical Islamists are centres for preaching, recruiting, fundraising, networking and engaging in the political work of advancing their strategic interests.
pathetic pro mann protest
dr mann better worry, that the "protest" in his favour on Aug 20, 2010 was four people. I can arrange a bigger luncheon on 2 hours notice. This on a university campus. The organizer makes some excuse, but the real reason is the chicken littles are rapidly being exposed.
So said Ryan McElveen. The 2008 UVA graduate had been hoping that at least 50 people would appear for the protest he launched with some emails and flyers. He chose Friday, August 20, because that was the day that a judge, just a mile away, was hearing arguments on whether Cuccinelli’s inquest could move forward. Turns out that’s also the eve of move-in for the fall semester at UVA.
“Bad timing,” McElveen admitted as just two students and two professors rallied with him on the marble steps of the UVA Rotunda.
So said Ryan McElveen. The 2008 UVA graduate had been hoping that at least 50 people would appear for the protest he launched with some emails and flyers. He chose Friday, August 20, because that was the day that a judge, just a mile away, was hearing arguments on whether Cuccinelli’s inquest could move forward. Turns out that’s also the eve of move-in for the fall semester at UVA.
“Bad timing,” McElveen admitted as just two students and two professors rallied with him on the marble steps of the UVA Rotunda.
The jihadi threat in Canada
I certainly don't think all Muslims support this nonsense. Many who have come to Canada have run from oppressive theocratic regimes. Reading things like this and this are very disheartening. This is one of the problems of multiculturalism. It should the duty of Canadians to protect their fellow Canadians regardless of whether or not they are of the same religion or ethnicity. I am sujre most Canadians who are Muslim find these people despicable. The problem they are bullied and intimidated by the jihadi minority and their wahabi aligned imams into silence. We need to be far more careful about who is allowed into Canada. It must be made clear that loyalty to Queen and country is fundamental here. There is Freedom of religion but that doesn't mean freedom to allow jihadi conquest.
Khurram Sher and Misbahuddin Ahmed, two of the men charged in an Ottawa terror plot, are cousins by marriage, and the tightly-knit Montreal Muslim community they lived in is now shutting down to protect them.
In the online forum montrealmuslims.ca, an administrator posted a message Friday urging its members not to talk about “Khurram and Misbah,” publicly or privately, because it is “more than likely that some people are under surveillance and anything could be used against the defendants.”
It’s not the first time members of the community worried that they were under the eye of the government. Three years ago, on the same website, several people posted messages on a forum about concerns that the FBI were tapping their phones. A man who posted under the name Khurram was one of them, giving guidance to other worried members.
“Cellphones are much easier to listen into, a very common technique employed by CSIS/FBI etc.,” the poster wrote. “Home lines can be tapped but you should hear a clicking noise – inform Bell Canada right away. They can check if it is tapped or not.”
Khurram Sher and Misbahuddin Ahmed, two of the men charged in an Ottawa terror plot, are cousins by marriage, and the tightly-knit Montreal Muslim community they lived in is now shutting down to protect them.
In the online forum montrealmuslims.ca, an administrator posted a message Friday urging its members not to talk about “Khurram and Misbah,” publicly or privately, because it is “more than likely that some people are under surveillance and anything could be used against the defendants.”
It’s not the first time members of the community worried that they were under the eye of the government. Three years ago, on the same website, several people posted messages on a forum about concerns that the FBI were tapping their phones. A man who posted under the name Khurram was one of them, giving guidance to other worried members.
“Cellphones are much easier to listen into, a very common technique employed by CSIS/FBI etc.,” the poster wrote. “Home lines can be tapped but you should hear a clicking noise – inform Bell Canada right away. They can check if it is tapped or not.”
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Dr Roy's Thoughts sponsors HOMOCON 2010
Watch Restoring Honour live
The jihadi threat is among us
My friend David Harris was a senior official at CSIS. He has spoken out against the jihadi threat for some time. Unfortunately many among us including our politicians( even those on the right) seem unable to understand that this is an existential battle. We must rethink our immigration policy and do it quickly. Immigrants must be told they must be loyal to Queen and country. Violence will not be tolerated, preaching violence , even in hoses of worship must ne denounced by those who hear it.
This is your future. That was my wretched thought on behalf of Canadians as I watched Thursday's Project Samossa news conference.
Samossa was the major national security investigation that erupted this week in counterterrorism raids and the arrest of four Muslim-Canadians. The government's charges against three of them imply a wealth of evidence that will shock the conscience of Canadians.
These charges and limited revelations suggest that we could be front-row witnesses to the most vile of manifestations of the Islamist jihad in this country. The allegation is that people living among us and enjoying the immense privileges of Canadian citizenship, are siding with enemy forces aiming to kill and maim our boys and girls serving in Afghanistan -- and maybe residents of Ottawa and other Canadian centres, too.
We shouldn't be surprised.
The Toronto 18 showed us the savagery of the 7th-century war that is being imported into our 21st-century neighbourhoods. Defendants included those who should have been a credit to educated youth. From some we would have expected gratitude of immigrants who had been welcomed to a gentle and generous nation. Canadians' reward was instead a conspiracy to rent Toronto with explosives, and blast our Parliament with invasion and a prime ministerial beheading.
This is your future. That was my wretched thought on behalf of Canadians as I watched Thursday's Project Samossa news conference.
Samossa was the major national security investigation that erupted this week in counterterrorism raids and the arrest of four Muslim-Canadians. The government's charges against three of them imply a wealth of evidence that will shock the conscience of Canadians.
These charges and limited revelations suggest that we could be front-row witnesses to the most vile of manifestations of the Islamist jihad in this country. The allegation is that people living among us and enjoying the immense privileges of Canadian citizenship, are siding with enemy forces aiming to kill and maim our boys and girls serving in Afghanistan -- and maybe residents of Ottawa and other Canadian centres, too.
We shouldn't be surprised.
The Toronto 18 showed us the savagery of the 7th-century war that is being imported into our 21st-century neighbourhoods. Defendants included those who should have been a credit to educated youth. From some we would have expected gratitude of immigrants who had been welcomed to a gentle and generous nation. Canadians' reward was instead a conspiracy to rent Toronto with explosives, and blast our Parliament with invasion and a prime ministerial beheading.
Peter Jaworski on Charles Adler Show again
Roy Green was guest hosting for Charles Adler and he had my friend peter Jaworski on to report on the disappointing he had with the bureaucrats of clarington. Please go the site and doante to the Jaworski defence fund. I hate communism. I was so impressed how the Polish people thew off the yoke of this terrible system. I am a supporter of Tribute to Liberty. The Jaworskis fled communism and now face the jackboot of the state here in Canada, let's all do what we can for these hardworking, honest people.
Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better
I love the people of Newfoundland. They are among the kindest, most generous and friendliest people I have ever met. danny williams is another story. his attempts to channel hugo chavez have cost HM Government $13000000. It is time for the people of Newfoundland to elect federal Tories to
replace their federal grit mps and it is time for the provincial Tories to get a new and less follish leader.
Newfoundland’s national embarrassment
Kelly McParland August 27, 2010 – 10:39 am
Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald
Danny Williams isn’t sorry.
He isn’t sorry that he kicked AbitibiBowater out of Newfoundland. He isn’t sorry that in doing so he accidentally stuck Newfoundlanders with a mammoth bill for clean-up costs. He isn’t sorry that he broke an international trade agreement with the U.S. by seizing Abitibi’s assets.
Nope, Danny’s not sorry one bit. Though he is hurt that anyone would say nasty things about his province.
I certainly can take the criticism. Where I draw the line is at mean-spirited insinuations and inaccuracies about our province and its people.
… I will never apologize for fighting to protect our natural resources and for getting fair benefits for the people who own them, even if that means taking on big corporations.
replace their federal grit mps and it is time for the provincial Tories to get a new and less follish leader.
Newfoundland’s national embarrassment
Kelly McParland August 27, 2010 – 10:39 am
Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald
Danny Williams isn’t sorry.
He isn’t sorry that he kicked AbitibiBowater out of Newfoundland. He isn’t sorry that in doing so he accidentally stuck Newfoundlanders with a mammoth bill for clean-up costs. He isn’t sorry that he broke an international trade agreement with the U.S. by seizing Abitibi’s assets.
Nope, Danny’s not sorry one bit. Though he is hurt that anyone would say nasty things about his province.
I certainly can take the criticism. Where I draw the line is at mean-spirited insinuations and inaccuracies about our province and its people.
… I will never apologize for fighting to protect our natural resources and for getting fair benefits for the people who own them, even if that means taking on big corporations.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Good for Danielle Smith And the Wild Rose Alliance
I have repeatedly argued that allowing a parallel private system would help wait times and is only fair. Danielle Smith seems to agree. I met her in May and I think she will be a great Premier of Alberta. Good to see that someone in Canada is being realistic on skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Kevin Libin: Wildrose Alliance dares to discuss health-care privatization
Comments Twitter LinkedIn Digg Buzz Email
Kevin Libin August 26, 2010 – 7:00 am
Not many politicians have had the nerve to touch what one political scientist rightly calls the “third rail of Canadian politics,” namely, increasing the private sector’s role in delivering health care. In Alberta, former premier Ralph Klein used to occasionally threaten broad-based, for-profit health care. Then after blistering attacks from union groups and, often, federal politicians, he’d retreat.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Disappointing
I am in NYC for the next while on holiday. I was very disappointed to read of the response of the petty bureaucrats of clarington. I hope Mrs Jaworski is ok. I have tried to keep this issue at the fore front. Obviously we all have to keep putting pressure on these bureaucrats.
I have suggested to Peter that he start a local petition. We need to keep up the media pressure. There sounds like there needs to be local electoral pressure as well
Disappointing meeting with municipality
Posted on August 26, 2010 by willowpondbb
We’re very disappointed.
The meeting did not resolve anything.
Present at the meeting were my mom and dad (Marta and Lech), Mayor Jim Abernethy, Deputy Clerk C. Anne Greentree, Manager of Development Review Carlo Pellarin, and Junior Planner Meaghan Harrington. I was on the phone to participate in the meeting.
The municipality did not budge budge.
With respect to the crippling $50,000 charges faced by mom and dad for permitting me to host the Liberty Summer Seminar on my parents property, Mayor Abernethy insisted that there is nothing they can do. That once the charges are put forward, there is nothing he can do. “I’m not in a position to drop the charges,” he said. “Once a charge has been laid, politicians cannot interfere.” The mayor continuously insisted that his hands were tied.
With respect to hosting weddings, a separate issue from the Liberty Summer Seminar, we would need to file three applications. It costs $10,000 for a change in the Official Plan application, $5,000 for a re-zoning application, and $3,000 for a site amendment application. On top of the prohibitive $18,000 application charges, property owners should also hire a planning consultant who puts the applications together; and must pay for any experts that the municipality decides are necessary.
Total estimated bill (application fees + experts + consultant fees): the average income of an average Ontarioan for a year. To start a business. In Clarington. With no guarantee of approval.
When I asked how residents of the municipality can start a business if they cannot pay an average year’s salary up-front, the mayor explained to me that there are only two sources of revenue for the municipality — property taxes (my parents’ property tax bill is $7,542.78 this year; the municipality’s share is $2,249.75, the remainder goes to the Durham Region and to education) and user fees, including application fees.
The mayor’s salary, as of this year, is $100,232.14, with $12,340.16 in taxable benefits (source). (Mayor Abernethy attempted to decline the three per cent raise that bumped him over the six-figure income mark, as the article explains).
As for the commercial sign that Ezra Levant wrote about, they informed us that we have to get a permit for the sign. It costs $150 for the permit.
When my mother, in tears, explained her fear of the by-law officer who has been dealing with my mom, and explained, “I feel harassed,” C. Anne Greentree interrupted her. “We do not harass people,” she intoned. “I do take offense to that.”
When I asked about whether or not a different by-law enforcement officer can deal with my parents, since my mother is obviously frightened of the one dealing with us now (especially after reading Ezra Levant’s column and blog), they did not want to discuss that issue.
My mother went to the hospital yesterday. She has lost 10 kilos (about 22 pounds). She is just over five feet tall. She weighs less now than she weighed when she got married.
But no one wants to discuss the simple matter of putting someone other than the six-foot by-law enforcement officer who menacingly said, “be careful” to my mother in one exchange. When my mother, confused, responded “I am careful,” he leaned in and whispered, “be very careful…”
At the end of the meeting, I expressed my disappointment that nothing has moved forward, and that my parents are in the same position they were in before all of this started. Nothing has changed.
My parents did not go to work this morning to attend the meeting. My father left at one point in the meeting to put more quarters into the parking metre. The civil servants and the mayor were on the clock for the meeting. They did not lose two hours of income to speak with my parents.
Disappointed might be the wrong word. I feel deflated.
I feel deflated, but not defeated.
(Posted by Peter Jaworski)
If you would like to help, please call our councillors and mayor (click for details). If you can, please also consider donating to the Marta & Lech legal defence fund (click for details).
I have suggested to Peter that he start a local petition. We need to keep up the media pressure. There sounds like there needs to be local electoral pressure as well
Disappointing meeting with municipality
Posted on August 26, 2010 by willowpondbb
We’re very disappointed.
The meeting did not resolve anything.
Present at the meeting were my mom and dad (Marta and Lech), Mayor Jim Abernethy, Deputy Clerk C. Anne Greentree, Manager of Development Review Carlo Pellarin, and Junior Planner Meaghan Harrington. I was on the phone to participate in the meeting.
The municipality did not budge budge.
With respect to the crippling $50,000 charges faced by mom and dad for permitting me to host the Liberty Summer Seminar on my parents property, Mayor Abernethy insisted that there is nothing they can do. That once the charges are put forward, there is nothing he can do. “I’m not in a position to drop the charges,” he said. “Once a charge has been laid, politicians cannot interfere.” The mayor continuously insisted that his hands were tied.
With respect to hosting weddings, a separate issue from the Liberty Summer Seminar, we would need to file three applications. It costs $10,000 for a change in the Official Plan application, $5,000 for a re-zoning application, and $3,000 for a site amendment application. On top of the prohibitive $18,000 application charges, property owners should also hire a planning consultant who puts the applications together; and must pay for any experts that the municipality decides are necessary.
Total estimated bill (application fees + experts + consultant fees): the average income of an average Ontarioan for a year. To start a business. In Clarington. With no guarantee of approval.
When I asked how residents of the municipality can start a business if they cannot pay an average year’s salary up-front, the mayor explained to me that there are only two sources of revenue for the municipality — property taxes (my parents’ property tax bill is $7,542.78 this year; the municipality’s share is $2,249.75, the remainder goes to the Durham Region and to education) and user fees, including application fees.
The mayor’s salary, as of this year, is $100,232.14, with $12,340.16 in taxable benefits (source). (Mayor Abernethy attempted to decline the three per cent raise that bumped him over the six-figure income mark, as the article explains).
As for the commercial sign that Ezra Levant wrote about, they informed us that we have to get a permit for the sign. It costs $150 for the permit.
When my mother, in tears, explained her fear of the by-law officer who has been dealing with my mom, and explained, “I feel harassed,” C. Anne Greentree interrupted her. “We do not harass people,” she intoned. “I do take offense to that.”
When I asked about whether or not a different by-law enforcement officer can deal with my parents, since my mother is obviously frightened of the one dealing with us now (especially after reading Ezra Levant’s column and blog), they did not want to discuss that issue.
My mother went to the hospital yesterday. She has lost 10 kilos (about 22 pounds). She is just over five feet tall. She weighs less now than she weighed when she got married.
But no one wants to discuss the simple matter of putting someone other than the six-foot by-law enforcement officer who menacingly said, “be careful” to my mother in one exchange. When my mother, confused, responded “I am careful,” he leaned in and whispered, “be very careful…”
At the end of the meeting, I expressed my disappointment that nothing has moved forward, and that my parents are in the same position they were in before all of this started. Nothing has changed.
My parents did not go to work this morning to attend the meeting. My father left at one point in the meeting to put more quarters into the parking metre. The civil servants and the mayor were on the clock for the meeting. They did not lose two hours of income to speak with my parents.
Disappointed might be the wrong word. I feel deflated.
I feel deflated, but not defeated.
(Posted by Peter Jaworski)
If you would like to help, please call our councillors and mayor (click for details). If you can, please also consider donating to the Marta & Lech legal defence fund (click for details).
HM PM's Harper and Diefenbaker
I am a great fan of Dief the Chief. he was a staunch Monarchist, a defender of our values and a great prime minister. I am glad that HM PM Harper talks about him so frequently. I appreciate this article by David Akin. I also think the North is important for canad for so many reasons, including resources.
Continuing Dief's legacy
Can Harper deliver on promises for Canada's North?
By DAVID AKIN, QMI Agency
RESOLUTE, Nunavut — Listen to enough Stephen Harper speeches and you will hear him refer to one man over and over again: John Diefenbaker, “the Chief” from Prince Albert, Sask., who was Canada’s 13th prime minister from 1957 to 1963.
Prime Minister Harper talked about the Chief again just this week in the midst of his annual Arctic tour, noting that Diefenbaker’s northern vision was one where “traditional activities like hunting and fishing co-exist alongside cutting-edge scientific research.”
Diefenbaker, in fact, made the North one of the central themes of the 1958 general election, the one in which he would triumph with what is still the largest majority of seats in Canadian history when measured as a percentage of the seats in the Commons.
Continuing Dief's legacy
Can Harper deliver on promises for Canada's North?
By DAVID AKIN, QMI Agency
RESOLUTE, Nunavut — Listen to enough Stephen Harper speeches and you will hear him refer to one man over and over again: John Diefenbaker, “the Chief” from Prince Albert, Sask., who was Canada’s 13th prime minister from 1957 to 1963.
Prime Minister Harper talked about the Chief again just this week in the midst of his annual Arctic tour, noting that Diefenbaker’s northern vision was one where “traditional activities like hunting and fishing co-exist alongside cutting-edge scientific research.”
Diefenbaker, in fact, made the North one of the central themes of the 1958 general election, the one in which he would triumph with what is still the largest majority of seats in Canadian history when measured as a percentage of the seats in the Commons.
Anti Christian bigotry
Once again people come to the defence of people in the name of political correctness, who didn't need or want "protection. If this had been a Muslim group I doubt these lefty do gooders would have done this. It is now open season on Christians. Will the anti Christian bigot michael savage now apologize? I doubt it. apparently reading the Bible loudly is a hate crime according to the intolerant left.
Presumed victim of ‘homophobia’ angry neighbours lashed out at preachers
Comments Twitter LinkedIn Digg Buzz Email Drew Halfnight August 26, 2010 – 8:00 am
Blair Chiasson, the presumed victim of what was believed to be a homophobic incident in Toronto’s east end, was supposed to be thankful to the residents who rushed to his defence.
Instead, he is angry at those who lashed out at street preachers conducting a service across from his house.
“They took a non-issue and turned it into an issue,” he said on Wednesday.
Residents on his street in Leslieville confronted members of Highfield Road Gospel Hall on Sunday night and forced them to leave. One resident, Geoffrey Skelding, caught the tail end of the clash on video and posted it on YouTube.
The video, which has now been viewed more than 78,000 times, appears with a headline calling the congregents “religious haters” and a cutline accusing them of “grouping in front of a couple’s house and reading their bible loudly.”
Presumed victim of ‘homophobia’ angry neighbours lashed out at preachers
Comments Twitter LinkedIn Digg Buzz Email Drew Halfnight August 26, 2010 – 8:00 am
Blair Chiasson, the presumed victim of what was believed to be a homophobic incident in Toronto’s east end, was supposed to be thankful to the residents who rushed to his defence.
Instead, he is angry at those who lashed out at street preachers conducting a service across from his house.
“They took a non-issue and turned it into an issue,” he said on Wednesday.
Residents on his street in Leslieville confronted members of Highfield Road Gospel Hall on Sunday night and forced them to leave. One resident, Geoffrey Skelding, caught the tail end of the clash on video and posted it on YouTube.
The video, which has now been viewed more than 78,000 times, appears with a headline calling the congregents “religious haters” and a cutline accusing them of “grouping in front of a couple’s house and reading their bible loudly.”
Taxi deregulation
My friend Vincent Geloso with Germain Belzile of the MEI, write about Taxi deregulation. Supply management should be eliminated in all sectors. I would love to get rid of the Weat marketing Board and the Milk Marketing board. Taxi deregalation would also be a good idea. Allow the market to work! read the paper at the MEI.
Taxi deregulation would be good for passengers and drivers
Restrictions on the number of cab licences result in higher fares and longer waits
By GERMAIN BELZILE and VINCENT GELOSO, Freelance August 25, 2010
For nearly 60 years, the number of taxis in Quebec has failed to keep pace with growth in population and income. In 1952, there were 4,978 taxis on the island of Montreal. Today, regulations limit the number to 4,445. Because of this scarcity, obtaining a taxi owner's permit in Montreal and Laval now costs more than $200,000.
Limits on the number of taxi permits were instituted during the Second World War. In 1973, the Quebec government took over management of the taxi industry from cities. At that time taxi drivers who had permits issued by municipal authorities received owner's permits at no charge. From 1985 to 1990, the Quebec Department of Transport instituted a plan to buy back 1,287 permits in Montreal, and remove them from circulation.
Today, getting a permit generally requires buying one from someone who decides to leave the industry. In 2009, there were a total of 8,254 taxis operating in Quebec. The very few new permits added since November 2000 (some 200 for the entire province) are valid for a maximum of five years and are non-transferable.
Supply management policies, aimed at limiting the production of goods or services so as to inflate their prices, are familiar in Canada, due in particular to the marketing board system in use for milk, chickens and eggs, mainly. It is less well known, however, that the taxi industry is regulated in the same way, with similar consequences for consumers. Restricting the number of taxi owner permits, as is currently done in Quebec, usually results in higher fares and longer waiting times for consumers.
Taxi deregulation would be good for passengers and drivers
Restrictions on the number of cab licences result in higher fares and longer waits
By GERMAIN BELZILE and VINCENT GELOSO, Freelance August 25, 2010
For nearly 60 years, the number of taxis in Quebec has failed to keep pace with growth in population and income. In 1952, there were 4,978 taxis on the island of Montreal. Today, regulations limit the number to 4,445. Because of this scarcity, obtaining a taxi owner's permit in Montreal and Laval now costs more than $200,000.
Limits on the number of taxi permits were instituted during the Second World War. In 1973, the Quebec government took over management of the taxi industry from cities. At that time taxi drivers who had permits issued by municipal authorities received owner's permits at no charge. From 1985 to 1990, the Quebec Department of Transport instituted a plan to buy back 1,287 permits in Montreal, and remove them from circulation.
Today, getting a permit generally requires buying one from someone who decides to leave the industry. In 2009, there were a total of 8,254 taxis operating in Quebec. The very few new permits added since November 2000 (some 200 for the entire province) are valid for a maximum of five years and are non-transferable.
Supply management policies, aimed at limiting the production of goods or services so as to inflate their prices, are familiar in Canada, due in particular to the marketing board system in use for milk, chickens and eggs, mainly. It is less well known, however, that the taxi industry is regulated in the same way, with similar consequences for consumers. Restricting the number of taxi owner permits, as is currently done in Quebec, usually results in higher fares and longer waiting times for consumers.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
LSS on the Radio
My friend Peter Jaworski was on the John Oakley show this morning and on The Charles Adler Show ( With Roy Green Hosting) this afternoon. As you all know Peter's family has been bothered by the bureaucrats of Clarington. I recorded most of the Oakley segment. I missed the last few minutes. Peter was on for almost half an hour this morning. The mayor of Clarington called in sounding very nervous and trying to blame the province. I called in and took a dig at the hrc thought police as well. Listen here.
You can hear the Charles Adler(Roy Green) segment here.
I must also note that John OToole, the Tory MPP for the are called me yesterday to say that he was in contact with Mayor Abernathy. I was most impressed by Mr O'Toole. It was great that an MPP responded to an email with a phone call. Tim Hudak has a great team!
You can hear the Charles Adler(Roy Green) segment here.
I must also note that John OToole, the Tory MPP for the are called me yesterday to say that he was in contact with Mayor Abernathy. I was most impressed by Mr O'Toole. It was great that an MPP responded to an email with a phone call. Tim Hudak has a great team!
James Bissett on Rutherford
Chantal Hebert on iffy in Quebec
Things don't look for good for iffy in Quebec or anywhere else. The failbus tour has been all but ignored, except by we Blogging Tories, who mock it daily.
Hébert: Charest’s troubles only magnify Ignatieff woes in Quebec
Published On Wed Aug 25 2010
By Chantal Hébert National Columnist
The vacuum created by the simultaneous resignation of Michael Ignatieff’s former Quebec minister Jean-Marc Fournier as his adviser and the accidental death of his Quebec-savvy communications director Mario Laguë earlier this month may explain why the Liberal leader will devote his second summer foray in Quebec this week to the unlikely issue of pension reform.
Given that alone among the provinces Quebec actually runs a public pension system distinct from the Canada Pension Plan, the chosen theme for Thursday’s visit is an odd fit.
In fairness though, the issue of pension reform may well reflect the interests of a critical mass of Quebec federal Liberals. In this province, it is hard to determine which is aging faster: the federal Liberal membership or the ever-shrinking group of Catholic mass regulars.
Moreover, in light of their ongoing organizing challenges in Quebec, Liberal strategists are at least playing it safe by selecting an issue that comes with the potential of captive audiences.
Ignatieff will be spending the bulk of Thursday afternoon touring a Montreal South Shore seniors’ residence.
The first Quebec leg of Ignatieff’s summer tour last month went unnoticed and polls show that his cross-country travels have had no impact on the province’s electorate.
Hébert: Charest’s troubles only magnify Ignatieff woes in Quebec
Published On Wed Aug 25 2010
By Chantal Hébert National Columnist
The vacuum created by the simultaneous resignation of Michael Ignatieff’s former Quebec minister Jean-Marc Fournier as his adviser and the accidental death of his Quebec-savvy communications director Mario Laguë earlier this month may explain why the Liberal leader will devote his second summer foray in Quebec this week to the unlikely issue of pension reform.
Given that alone among the provinces Quebec actually runs a public pension system distinct from the Canada Pension Plan, the chosen theme for Thursday’s visit is an odd fit.
In fairness though, the issue of pension reform may well reflect the interests of a critical mass of Quebec federal Liberals. In this province, it is hard to determine which is aging faster: the federal Liberal membership or the ever-shrinking group of Catholic mass regulars.
Moreover, in light of their ongoing organizing challenges in Quebec, Liberal strategists are at least playing it safe by selecting an issue that comes with the potential of captive audiences.
Ignatieff will be spending the bulk of Thursday afternoon touring a Montreal South Shore seniors’ residence.
The first Quebec leg of Ignatieff’s summer tour last month went unnoticed and polls show that his cross-country travels have had no impact on the province’s electorate.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Real or Fake
Unfortunately I am sure even the Tory action plan had some of these kind of boondoogles. This is funny but very sad.
Arrogant king of the hypocrites
The egos of hollywood is truly breathtaking. james cameron now claims he cancelled the debate on the hoax with Marc Morano, because he is at a higher social standing than Morano. The real reason was that his environmental buddies knew he would be totally defeated. These chicken littles continue to make themselves a laughing stock. They are losing the debate and they are increasingly desperate and pathetic.
Morano said he and two other skeptics—conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart and filmmaker Ann McElhinney—were planning to debate Cameron last night, but the director pulled the plug after environmentalists warned him against participating in the forum. Morano said the cancellation was made while he was on his flight to Aspen.
“He let his friends in the environmental community spook him out of this debate,” Morano said. “When he was warned that he was probably going to lose and lose badly, he ran like a scared mouse.”
Morano was "allowed" to speak by these loons who told him to kill himself and had his speech interupted. al gore would have had such people dragged from the room.
Morano said he and two other skeptics—conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart and filmmaker Ann McElhinney—were planning to debate Cameron last night, but the director pulled the plug after environmentalists warned him against participating in the forum. Morano said the cancellation was made while he was on his flight to Aspen.
“He let his friends in the environmental community spook him out of this debate,” Morano said. “When he was warned that he was probably going to lose and lose badly, he ran like a scared mouse.”
Morano was "allowed" to speak by these loons who told him to kill himself and had his speech interupted. al gore would have had such people dragged from the room.
Good for Gerald Deltell
As I have been writing of late, I am supporting the ADQ. The leader of the ADQ Gerard Deltel is a federalist. He voted No in the last referendum.
He is a capitalist! We need a center right alternative in Quebec at the provincial level. The politics of oui and no are getting us no where.
Instead of wallowing in accepting billions of dollars each year equalization, "welfare of Canada, Quebec would rather focus on the potential mining, oil and gas to get rich, repeated yesterday Gerard DELTEL.
He is a capitalist! We need a center right alternative in Quebec at the provincial level. The politics of oui and no are getting us no where.
Instead of wallowing in accepting billions of dollars each year equalization, "welfare of Canada, Quebec would rather focus on the potential mining, oil and gas to get rich, repeated yesterday Gerard DELTEL.
Tories Gather in Montreal
I attended a great event in Montreal with HM Minister Of Natural resources and Tory Lieutenant in Quebec. It was nice to see see so many Tories gather at the Bar Saint Sulpice in the heart of Bloc territory as my friend Luca puts it. The place was absolutely packed. There was lots of great political conversation. It was great to see so many friends including Paul Beaudry, Adam Daifallah, Luca Manfredi, Marc Olivier Fortin, Jess Weiser, Richard Yufe, Nick Waldteufel and many others. My friend and candidate in Outremont Rodolphe Husny and our St Leonard candidate Michel Ricardo De lorris were lso in attendance. It is nice to so many of HM Ministers coming to Quebec of late. We Had HM Minister of International Trade Tony Clement a few weeks ago. I am told many more of Hm Ministers will be in Montreal this fall. I hope HM PM Harper will also be coming to address the Tory faithful in Quebec very soon. We need to increase our visibility in Quebec. We need to go into the separatist heartland and challenge the ideas of our opponents and show that they should vote Tory.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Black Ribbon Day: We remember
Cutting Corporate welfare
We should eliminate corporate welfare and electoral welfare. They achieve very little and cutting them will help cut the deficit. I agree with Tasha. In the case of social assistance we need to make it a short term thing to allow people to get back on their feet. We need to give more longterm support to those who actually can't work, but the able bodied should be encouraged to regain their dignity and get a job.
And the pork barrel fills again….
Back in April of this year, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy released a report chronicling the abysmal loan repayment record of Industry Canada. The report found that since 1982,
Industry Canada has authorized almost $21-billion in “assistance” to various recipients, paid out $18-billion, and collected under $1.9-billion under all past and present assistance programs, or just over 10%.
Fast-forward to August 2010. According to data obtained by the Canadian Press through an access-to-information request, the 10% rule appears to now also apply to the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency (ACOA). In 2000, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced a raft of provisional loans by ACOA, totalling $33.2-million, to be disbursed to 17 companies. As of April 2010, only $3.2-million of those loans has been repaid, mostly by two businesses; $4.7-million in loans has been written off, because the three recipients went bankrupt. Another four companies are in default. Of the 10 remaining businesses, five have not made any payments as of April 20, 2010.
And the pork barrel fills again….
Back in April of this year, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy released a report chronicling the abysmal loan repayment record of Industry Canada. The report found that since 1982,
Industry Canada has authorized almost $21-billion in “assistance” to various recipients, paid out $18-billion, and collected under $1.9-billion under all past and present assistance programs, or just over 10%.
Fast-forward to August 2010. According to data obtained by the Canadian Press through an access-to-information request, the 10% rule appears to now also apply to the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency (ACOA). In 2000, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced a raft of provisional loans by ACOA, totalling $33.2-million, to be disbursed to 17 companies. As of April 2010, only $3.2-million of those loans has been repaid, mostly by two businesses; $4.7-million in loans has been written off, because the three recipients went bankrupt. Another four companies are in default. Of the 10 remaining businesses, five have not made any payments as of April 20, 2010.
Thomas Sowell: Dismantling America
South Pacific
I attended the Dancap production( it is the Lincoln center revival) of South Pacific at the Four Seasons Opera House in Toronto. It was a spectacular production. I had been invited to a preview a few months ago.
The sets, the singing, the costumes were all exquisite. It was all I could do to not sing along. Jason Howard and Carmen Cusack were wonderful in the lead roles.The reviews have been amazing. The show also had a lot to do with race and prejudice. It was a very forward thinking musical. I loved this production. See it if at all possible.
The sets, the singing, the costumes were all exquisite. It was all I could do to not sing along. Jason Howard and Carmen Cusack were wonderful in the lead roles.The reviews have been amazing. The show also had a lot to do with race and prejudice. It was a very forward thinking musical. I loved this production. See it if at all possible.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
James Cameron cowardly hypocrite
I received an email from Anne McElhinny one of the filmakers of Not Evil Just Wrong. James Cameron is truly a coward and a hypocrite, but that desn't surprise me. he is a chicken little.
James Cameron—King of the Hypocrites
Last March James Cameron sounded defiant.
The Avatar director was determined to expose journalists, such as myself, who thought it was important to ask questions about climate change orthodoxy and the radical "solutions" being proposed.
Cameron said was itching to debate the issue and show skeptical journalists and scientists that they were wrong.
“I want to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out with those boneheads," he said in an interview.
Well, a few weeks ago Mr. Cameron seemed to honor his word.
His representatives contacted myself and two other well known skeptics, Marc Morano of the Climate Depot website and Andrew Breitbart, the new media entrepreneur.
Mr. Cameron was attending the AREDAY environmental conference in Aspen Colorado 19-22 August. He wanted the conference to end with a debate on climate change. Cameron would be flanked with two scientists. It would be 90 minutes long. It would be streamed live on the internet.
They hoped the debate would attract a lot of media coverage.
"We are delighted to have Fox News, Newsmax, The Washington Times and anyone else you'd like. The more the better," one of James Cameron's organizers said in an email.
It looked like James Cameron really was a man of his word who would get to take on the skeptics he felt were so endangering humanity.
Everyone on our side agreed with their conditions. The debate was even listed on the AREDAY agenda.
But then as the debate approached James Cameron's side started changing the rules.
They wanted to change their team. We agreed.
They wanted to change the format to less of a debate—to "a roundtable". We agreed.
Then they wanted to ban our cameras from the debate. We could have access to their footage. We agreed.
Bizarrely, for a brief while, the worlds most successful film maker suggested that no cameras should be allowed-that sound only should be recorded. We agreed
Then finally James Cameron, who so publicly announced that he "wanted to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out," decided to ban the media from the shoot out.
He even wanted to ban the public. The debate/roundtable would only be open to those who attended the conference.
No media would be allowed and there would be no streaming on the internet. No one would be allowed to record it in any way.
We all agreed to that.
And then, yesterday, just one day before the debate, his representatives sent an email that Mr. "shoot it out " Cameron no longer wanted to take part. The debate was cancelled.
James Cameron's behavior raises some very important questions.
Does he genuinely believe in man made climate change? If he believes it is a danger to humanity surely he should be debating the issue every chance he gets ?
Or is it just a pose?
The man who called for an open and public debate at "high noon" suddenly doesn't want his policies open to serious scrutiny.
I was looking forward to debating with the film maker. I was looking forward to finding out where we agreed and disagreed and finding a way forward that would help the poorest people in the developing and developed world.
But that is not going to happen because somewhere along the way James Cameron, a great film maker, has moved from King of the World to being King of the Hypocrites.
- Ann McElhinney
Our mailing address is:
Greener Horizon Films Ltd
8737 Venice Blvd.
Suite 202
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2010 Greener Horizon Films Ltd All rights reserved.
James Cameron—King of the Hypocrites
Last March James Cameron sounded defiant.
The Avatar director was determined to expose journalists, such as myself, who thought it was important to ask questions about climate change orthodoxy and the radical "solutions" being proposed.
Cameron said was itching to debate the issue and show skeptical journalists and scientists that they were wrong.
“I want to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out with those boneheads," he said in an interview.
Well, a few weeks ago Mr. Cameron seemed to honor his word.
His representatives contacted myself and two other well known skeptics, Marc Morano of the Climate Depot website and Andrew Breitbart, the new media entrepreneur.
Mr. Cameron was attending the AREDAY environmental conference in Aspen Colorado 19-22 August. He wanted the conference to end with a debate on climate change. Cameron would be flanked with two scientists. It would be 90 minutes long. It would be streamed live on the internet.
They hoped the debate would attract a lot of media coverage.
"We are delighted to have Fox News, Newsmax, The Washington Times and anyone else you'd like. The more the better," one of James Cameron's organizers said in an email.
It looked like James Cameron really was a man of his word who would get to take on the skeptics he felt were so endangering humanity.
Everyone on our side agreed with their conditions. The debate was even listed on the AREDAY agenda.
But then as the debate approached James Cameron's side started changing the rules.
They wanted to change their team. We agreed.
They wanted to change the format to less of a debate—to "a roundtable". We agreed.
Then they wanted to ban our cameras from the debate. We could have access to their footage. We agreed.
Bizarrely, for a brief while, the worlds most successful film maker suggested that no cameras should be allowed-that sound only should be recorded. We agreed
Then finally James Cameron, who so publicly announced that he "wanted to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out," decided to ban the media from the shoot out.
He even wanted to ban the public. The debate/roundtable would only be open to those who attended the conference.
No media would be allowed and there would be no streaming on the internet. No one would be allowed to record it in any way.
We all agreed to that.
And then, yesterday, just one day before the debate, his representatives sent an email that Mr. "shoot it out " Cameron no longer wanted to take part. The debate was cancelled.
James Cameron's behavior raises some very important questions.
Does he genuinely believe in man made climate change? If he believes it is a danger to humanity surely he should be debating the issue every chance he gets ?
Or is it just a pose?
The man who called for an open and public debate at "high noon" suddenly doesn't want his policies open to serious scrutiny.
I was looking forward to debating with the film maker. I was looking forward to finding out where we agreed and disagreed and finding a way forward that would help the poorest people in the developing and developed world.
But that is not going to happen because somewhere along the way James Cameron, a great film maker, has moved from King of the World to being King of the Hypocrites.
- Ann McElhinney
Our mailing address is:
Greener Horizon Films Ltd
8737 Venice Blvd.
Suite 202
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Add us to your address book
Copyright (C) 2010 Greener Horizon Films Ltd All rights reserved.
Cross Country Checkup on the Tamil Assylum seekers
Cross country checkup was on the Tamil asylum seekers this week.
Canada is too generous in terms of refugee laws and our generosity is abused.
You can listen to me at 13:37. My friend James Bissett was also on. He was Canada's former Ambassador to Yugoslavia and the former head of the immigration service. he is on at 34:50 and 54:20 . An interesting email at 53:48 on how the charter makes the situation worse. James Bissett agreed. Listen here.
James Bissett said we don't actually deport our failed refugee claimants.
Canada is too generous in terms of refugee laws and our generosity is abused.
You can listen to me at 13:37. My friend James Bissett was also on. He was Canada's former Ambassador to Yugoslavia and the former head of the immigration service. he is on at 34:50 and 54:20 . An interesting email at 53:48 on how the charter makes the situation worse. James Bissett agreed. Listen here.
James Bissett said we don't actually deport our failed refugee claimants.
Salim Mansur on israel and the Arabs
If Israel didn't exist, the Arab regimes would have to invent it. How else could they stay in power. Prof Mansur compares and contrasts.
Don’t blame Israel for Arab failures
By SALIM MANSUR, QMI Agency
Last Updated: August 21, 2010 2:00am
TEL AVIV — Size matters, and in geopolitics it can be critically important.
A grasp of this elementary fact could provide a better understanding for, and empathy with, a small country besieged by hostile powers on its borders.
Yet this fact often escapes people living in countries of continental dimensions with large spaces empty of inhabitants — as in Canada, the U.S., Russia, Australia and the E.U. — and they may, ironically at times, display a chauvinism reflecting the size of their country.
The fact of how small Israel is territorially, and how this fact deepens its sense of vulnerability, weighs down upon anyone who visits the country.
As I write sitting at a cafe on Tel Aviv’s waterfront, I remember how this city and Haifa to the north were targets of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War.
Israel is merely a dot relative to the Arab world, and yet made responsible, in the logic of the anti-Zionist bigots, for the problems of the Middle East and the inability of the Arab-Muslim culture to deal with the challenges of the modern world.
Consider the following: The Arab world, excluding Iran and Turkey, is comprised of 22 countries stretching from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean with a total area around 13 million sq. km and a population of nearly 350 million.
In terms of territorial size, only Russia is larger than the Arab world at 17 million sq. km.
Israel is barely 22,000 sq. km, or about three times the size of New York City, with a population of 7.5 million of which 20% are Israeli Arabs.
Don’t blame Israel for Arab failures
By SALIM MANSUR, QMI Agency
Last Updated: August 21, 2010 2:00am
TEL AVIV — Size matters, and in geopolitics it can be critically important.
A grasp of this elementary fact could provide a better understanding for, and empathy with, a small country besieged by hostile powers on its borders.
Yet this fact often escapes people living in countries of continental dimensions with large spaces empty of inhabitants — as in Canada, the U.S., Russia, Australia and the E.U. — and they may, ironically at times, display a chauvinism reflecting the size of their country.
The fact of how small Israel is territorially, and how this fact deepens its sense of vulnerability, weighs down upon anyone who visits the country.
As I write sitting at a cafe on Tel Aviv’s waterfront, I remember how this city and Haifa to the north were targets of Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War.
Israel is merely a dot relative to the Arab world, and yet made responsible, in the logic of the anti-Zionist bigots, for the problems of the Middle East and the inability of the Arab-Muslim culture to deal with the challenges of the modern world.
Consider the following: The Arab world, excluding Iran and Turkey, is comprised of 22 countries stretching from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean with a total area around 13 million sq. km and a population of nearly 350 million.
In terms of territorial size, only Russia is larger than the Arab world at 17 million sq. km.
Israel is barely 22,000 sq. km, or about three times the size of New York City, with a population of 7.5 million of which 20% are Israeli Arabs.
ellie may still in charge?
ellie may seems to be in charge of a rapidly shrinking party. She did get an 85% approval vote, but the constitution of her party says there should be a leadership vote. I prefer that ellie may stays as head of the green party. She is presiding over such important issues as allowing polygamy( defeated). The greens will continue to be an irrelevance under ellie may. May she be leader for life of the greens.
Ms. Lemieux, who does not expect an election this fall, said she would like the Green Party to be more bold.
“We have a lot of strengths but I'm not seeing these strengths on the radar of Canadians right now,” Ms. Lemieux said.
“We're more than what's there right now.”
Ms. Lemieux says also she's worried about the exodus of party members, saying they've lost about 3,000 of 12,000 members since the last election.
“If there's an election called in a month certainly we're not in as strong a position as we were in 2008,” she said.
Ms. Lemieux presented one of the two leadership motions that were causing a stir.
Her motion asks that a leadership race be called no later than Oct. 31. The other leadership-related motion proposes that if a leader's term is extended, a race must be called no later than eight weeks after a federal election.
For her part, Ms. May tried to mollify the dissenters, saying she would do “a lot” of things differently in the next election, including choosing a riding she has a better chance of winning.
Ms. Lemieux, who does not expect an election this fall, said she would like the Green Party to be more bold.
“We have a lot of strengths but I'm not seeing these strengths on the radar of Canadians right now,” Ms. Lemieux said.
“We're more than what's there right now.”
Ms. Lemieux says also she's worried about the exodus of party members, saying they've lost about 3,000 of 12,000 members since the last election.
“If there's an election called in a month certainly we're not in as strong a position as we were in 2008,” she said.
Ms. Lemieux presented one of the two leadership motions that were causing a stir.
Her motion asks that a leadership race be called no later than Oct. 31. The other leadership-related motion proposes that if a leader's term is extended, a race must be called no later than eight weeks after a federal election.
For her part, Ms. May tried to mollify the dissenters, saying she would do “a lot” of things differently in the next election, including choosing a riding she has a better chance of winning.
Rex Murphy on the seal hunt
I am always amused that some people want to save some cute animals and don't worry about eating other cute animals. The seal hunt has ahd a lot of negative press, but it seems someone in Europe has made the right decision, at least for now.
Rex Murphy: A winning streak for international ignorance
*
Rex Murphy August 21, 2010 – 8:27 am
REUTERS/Paul Darrow
Thanks mainly to the determination and energy of some of Canada’s Inuit leaders, the European Court of Justice has suspended the European ban on seal products until further notice. National Inuit leader Mary Simon quite naturally welcomed the ruling, but emphasized in a statement that it is not a full win, just a stop “to the implementation of the ban” as scheduled.
Nonetheless advocates for the seal hunt, aboriginal or otherwise, will welcome whatever victories — however partial or temporary — they get. In every other venue and in every other forum the seal hunters have been losing for years.
Activists and urban animal rights groups, abetted by a bevy of high-bosomed B-actressess, have raged against the seal hunt — particularly the one of the East Coast of Newfoundland — for nearly half a century. Yes it’s been that long. With their relentless messaging and hype, they have fixed the image of this great and worthy venture in a dark and mean light, and left it beyond repair. In the salons of Los Angeles, London and Paris the seal hunt is a synonym for barbarity, and the peasants who prosecute the hunt are sadists and savages. It is a “blood sport” for cruel and careless man, unbecoming of our “sensitive” age. The tide of activist description has overwhelmed the reality of the hunt and — more poignantly — the great story of its history.
Rex Murphy: A winning streak for international ignorance
*
Rex Murphy August 21, 2010 – 8:27 am
REUTERS/Paul Darrow
Thanks mainly to the determination and energy of some of Canada’s Inuit leaders, the European Court of Justice has suspended the European ban on seal products until further notice. National Inuit leader Mary Simon quite naturally welcomed the ruling, but emphasized in a statement that it is not a full win, just a stop “to the implementation of the ban” as scheduled.
Nonetheless advocates for the seal hunt, aboriginal or otherwise, will welcome whatever victories — however partial or temporary — they get. In every other venue and in every other forum the seal hunters have been losing for years.
Activists and urban animal rights groups, abetted by a bevy of high-bosomed B-actressess, have raged against the seal hunt — particularly the one of the East Coast of Newfoundland — for nearly half a century. Yes it’s been that long. With their relentless messaging and hype, they have fixed the image of this great and worthy venture in a dark and mean light, and left it beyond repair. In the salons of Los Angeles, London and Paris the seal hunt is a synonym for barbarity, and the peasants who prosecute the hunt are sadists and savages. It is a “blood sport” for cruel and careless man, unbecoming of our “sensitive” age. The tide of activist description has overwhelmed the reality of the hunt and — more poignantly — the great story of its history.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Homocon 2010
Here is Ann Coulter discussing her appearance at Homocon 2010. I will be attending this event with NYC. I met some of the people at GOProud at CPAC this year. They are great people and conservative! It should be a lot of fun.
Liberty Summer Seminar: My letter in the NP
The NP whittled down my latest letter a bit. I also said how impressed I was by Peter Jaworski, Matt Bufton and Janet Neilson. I also mentioned that the Jaworskis should be congratulated for their entrepreneurial spirit, not crushed by the jackboots of the state. Here is what survived the edit. I am very impressed by the massive coverage this has gooten. It has been reported in the US as well.
I have been a long-time supporter of the Institute for Liberal studies and the Liberty Summer Seminar. This organization teaches young people about freedom and free markets. By trying to stop the Jaworski family from holding a summer seminar on personal liberties, local bureaucrats are making themselves into a national embarrassment.
I suggest that the entire local council and their bureaucrats attend the event next year so they may understand something about freedom
Roy Eappen. Montreal.
I have been a long-time supporter of the Institute for Liberal studies and the Liberty Summer Seminar. This organization teaches young people about freedom and free markets. By trying to stop the Jaworski family from holding a summer seminar on personal liberties, local bureaucrats are making themselves into a national embarrassment.
I suggest that the entire local council and their bureaucrats attend the event next year so they may understand something about freedom
Roy Eappen. Montreal.
Falling on his face
Apparently that was what iffy was worried about during the bus tour. Well it has been a fall on his face kind of tour which most people of ignored.
Iggy's summer tour a flop: poll
By BRYN WEESE, Parliamentary Bureau
Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his tour bus made a stop at Much Music on Queen St. recently. Here he dances with singer Macomrme Fifi Calypso Monarch of Canada 2010. Then he did a conga line back to the bus with his GTA area MPs. (Michael Peake, QMI Agency)
Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his tour bus made a stop at Much Music on Queen St. recently. Here he dances with singer Macomrme Fifi Calypso Monarch of Canada 2010. Then he did a conga line back to the bus with his GTA area MPs. (Michael Peake, QMI Agency)
OTTAWA — The Liberal Express summer bus tour has been a flop, according to a new Leger Marketing poll.
At least it's failed if the plan was to introduce Michael Ignatieff to Canadians.
Less than one-in-ten Canadians say they know more about the Liberal leader now than when the tour began, and most of them are already Liberal supporters.
Of the 8% who say they know more about Ignatieff now, 59% say their opinion of him has improved, while 18% say it's worsened.
A total of 30% of Canadians still say they know nothing at all about the Liberal leader, with women and young people (under the age of 35) most likely to know nothing about him (36% and 34% respectively).
"The issue with Michael Ignatieff, prior to the summer, was that people really did not know who he was or what he stood for," said Dave Scholz with Leger Marketing. "Now near the end of the summer tour, we're finding that only 8% of people know more about him now than they did before. That's a pretty small number.
"And when you break it out, those are more likely to be Liberal voters. He's preaching to the converted."
According to the poll, done exclusively for QMI Agency, if an election were held today 37% of Canadians would vote for the Conservatives, 28% would vote Liberal, 16% would vote NDP, with the Bloc Quebecois and Greens getting 9% and 8% respectively.
I have been meaning to post this speech from the iffy tour. It is fairly bizarre. Apparently the Tories don't want minorities like me to vote. Thanks to my source in Thornhill where iffy spoke earlier this month.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Anglosphere Forever
I am big proponent of free trade among the Anglosphere and eventually the Commonwealth. Our links are strong and should be made stronger.
The Internet is dragging Britain away from Europe and towards the Anglosphere
By Daniel Hannan Politics Last updated: August 20th, 2010
The EU is being made redundant by technological change. In the 1950s, a regional trade association arguably made sense. But in a world where capital surges around the globe at the touch of a button, physical proximity becomes irrelevant. When deciding whether to invest in a country, corporations will consider many factors – tax rates, regulation, language, corruptibility of public officials – before they worry about geography., Commonwealth
The Internet makes it as easy for my constituents to do business with a company in New Zealand as with a company in Belgium. Easier, indeed, because the Kiwi company shares our common law, accountancy practices, commercial traditions and language.
The Internet is dragging Britain away from Europe and towards the Anglosphere
By Daniel Hannan Politics Last updated: August 20th, 2010
The EU is being made redundant by technological change. In the 1950s, a regional trade association arguably made sense. But in a world where capital surges around the globe at the touch of a button, physical proximity becomes irrelevant. When deciding whether to invest in a country, corporations will consider many factors – tax rates, regulation, language, corruptibility of public officials – before they worry about geography., Commonwealth
The Internet makes it as easy for my constituents to do business with a company in New Zealand as with a company in Belgium. Easier, indeed, because the Kiwi company shares our common law, accountancy practices, commercial traditions and language.
The US Midterms
As the midterms near things look worse and worse for the dems. Even the Senate might be >at play. The GOP is very likely to take the house. dems are even courting old people now. More from Dick Morris. Indeed president Bush is making a comeback. The dems do have more money and the RNC seems very disorganized, but I still think there will be a GOP house and a much narrower majority in the senate. It should be fun to watch. Look at the house list of vulnerable dems .
It may seem odd for someone who recently warned conservatives of overconfidence to predict that the November elections may well produce a landslide unprecedented in the lifetime of many Americans. But the indicators of just such a tsunami seem to grow bigger and more persistent each day. Polling data differs depending upon which organization is conducting the poll. So it is no surprise that job approval for Obama is at one level in one poll and at another level in a rival poll. The trend lines of all polls, however, agree: Obama seems in free fall. Democrats who unwisely tied their political fortunes to this latest incarnation of the tired, old mantra of "change and hope" now find themselves in the backseat of a fast car driven by reckless a teenager.
The current generic congressional ballots, as well as the slower changing party identification polls, now favor Republicans and the advantage seems to grow bigger every day. Compounding that problem is the "enthusiasm gap" which has Democrats at the low end and Republicans at the high end, liberals at the low end and conservatives at the high end, which suggests that the vote on election day will be larger -- perhaps much larger -- than the six point difference which currently separates the parties.
Obama these days appears less like a smooth political operator and more like a tone deaf radical leftist who honestly does not understand why not opposing the construction of a mosque at Ground Zero offends such a large majority of Americans. When the pundits he listens to echo his surrealistic "tolerance" of Moslems intent upon destroying the moral foundations of our nation, Democrat candidates outside leftist hothouse constituencies of San Francisco or Vermont can only cringe. Everything Obama does, everything his wife does, seems to show Americans more starkly how their vision of a Joyful Obaman Presidency differs from the reality of this disciple of Alinksy in power.
It may seem odd for someone who recently warned conservatives of overconfidence to predict that the November elections may well produce a landslide unprecedented in the lifetime of many Americans. But the indicators of just such a tsunami seem to grow bigger and more persistent each day. Polling data differs depending upon which organization is conducting the poll. So it is no surprise that job approval for Obama is at one level in one poll and at another level in a rival poll. The trend lines of all polls, however, agree: Obama seems in free fall. Democrats who unwisely tied their political fortunes to this latest incarnation of the tired, old mantra of "change and hope" now find themselves in the backseat of a fast car driven by reckless a teenager.
The current generic congressional ballots, as well as the slower changing party identification polls, now favor Republicans and the advantage seems to grow bigger every day. Compounding that problem is the "enthusiasm gap" which has Democrats at the low end and Republicans at the high end, liberals at the low end and conservatives at the high end, which suggests that the vote on election day will be larger -- perhaps much larger -- than the six point difference which currently separates the parties.
Obama these days appears less like a smooth political operator and more like a tone deaf radical leftist who honestly does not understand why not opposing the construction of a mosque at Ground Zero offends such a large majority of Americans. When the pundits he listens to echo his surrealistic "tolerance" of Moslems intent upon destroying the moral foundations of our nation, Democrat candidates outside leftist hothouse constituencies of San Francisco or Vermont can only cringe. Everything Obama does, everything his wife does, seems to show Americans more starkly how their vision of a Joyful Obaman Presidency differs from the reality of this disciple of Alinksy in power.
Oz Election
Voting starts in Oz very soon. The polling numbers say it's going to be a very tight vote but there is a significant chance of a hung parliament or a Coalition victory. Best of luck to the Coalition, the only real choice for Australians.
Discovery!
Good news for Ezra and free speech. Bad news for warman. Perhaps warman's reign of terror will soon be over. His favourite venue, the hrc thought police, has had section 13 declared unconstitutional by one of its own adjudicators. I am fairly certain that it will be found unconstitutional by the courts. HM Government needs to think about severely limiting the hrc in its other functions. HM Government should also abolish section 13.1 before the courts even rule.
A judge has ordered anti-hate lawyer Richard Warman to turn over a laptop computer he used to create false personas on far-right websites, so that an independent expert can search it for evidence that Mr. Warman authored a racist comment against a Canadian senator.
In a ruling stemming from Mr. Warman’s libel suit against free-speech activist Ezra Levant, Master Donald E. Short of the Ontario Superior Court ordered that a “mirror image” of the computer’s hard drive be searched for any data about the names “Pogue Mahone,” “Axetogrind,” “Lucie,” “Mary Dufford” and “Dave McLean,” names Mr. Warman gave when registering with controversial websites to monitor online racism and prepare complaints of hate speech.
Time to donate to Ezra!!!!
A judge has ordered anti-hate lawyer Richard Warman to turn over a laptop computer he used to create false personas on far-right websites, so that an independent expert can search it for evidence that Mr. Warman authored a racist comment against a Canadian senator.
In a ruling stemming from Mr. Warman’s libel suit against free-speech activist Ezra Levant, Master Donald E. Short of the Ontario Superior Court ordered that a “mirror image” of the computer’s hard drive be searched for any data about the names “Pogue Mahone,” “Axetogrind,” “Lucie,” “Mary Dufford” and “Dave McLean,” names Mr. Warman gave when registering with controversial websites to monitor online racism and prepare complaints of hate speech.
Time to donate to Ezra!!!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
blundering bureaucrats
A great editorial in the NAtional Post! The bureaucrats owe the jaworskis an apology.
National Post editorial board: Save the Liberty Summer Seminar
National Post editorial board August 19, 2010 – 3:15 pm
We are not sure if the slow summer is to blame, but it is hard to shake the impression that Big Brother has really been running amok lately. Coast to coast, our bureaucrats apparently have nothing better to do than harass well-meaning citizens who take any kind of personal initiative. Earlier this summer, we opined on the pettiness of the officials of Port Coquitlam, B.C. who ordered two enterprising pre-teens to remove their lemonade stand from a local park. This display of mean-spiritedness has now been trumped by bureaucrats in Clarington, Ont., who seek to put a stop to a ten-year tradition at the home of local resident Peter Jaworski and his family who host — wait for it — a summer seminar on personal liberties.
National Post editorial board: Save the Liberty Summer Seminar
National Post editorial board August 19, 2010 – 3:15 pm
We are not sure if the slow summer is to blame, but it is hard to shake the impression that Big Brother has really been running amok lately. Coast to coast, our bureaucrats apparently have nothing better to do than harass well-meaning citizens who take any kind of personal initiative. Earlier this summer, we opined on the pettiness of the officials of Port Coquitlam, B.C. who ordered two enterprising pre-teens to remove their lemonade stand from a local park. This display of mean-spiritedness has now been trumped by bureaucrats in Clarington, Ont., who seek to put a stop to a ten-year tradition at the home of local resident Peter Jaworski and his family who host — wait for it — a summer seminar on personal liberties.
One Can only Hope
Larry is hysterical that Luc Lavoie may head up the crtc. I would prefer the abolition of the crtc, but taking it over is not a bad idea. Even larry admits that Mr. Lavoie is capable. So what's the problem? Oh, he may approve the SUNTV news application. Horrors. larry is very afraid. Good.
Observers of Mr. Harper have long noted that he doesn’t take kindly to commissions or agencies or anyone else who tends to get in the way of his wishes. It’s only necessary to look at what happened at, among others, Rights and Democracy, Elections Canada, the Nuclear Safety Commission and Parliament.
So the question naturally arises: Do the CRTC board members actually think they can get away with delaying or denying Mr. Harper’s wishes on Fox News North? Do they really believe they have some kind of independent power?
The CRTC chair is Konrad von Finckenstein, and his term doesn’t end until 2012. But insiders report that Mr. Harper now wants him out well before that date and replaced by a rubber stamper. The independently minded Mr. von Finckenstein, who did not respond to queries on the matter, is reportedly being offered judgeships and ambassadorships, one post being Chile. So far, he’s not biting. But the bait might get bigger.
In addition, CRTC vice-chair Michel Arpin is being ushered out the door. His term expires at the end of the month; he’d like to stay on, but his request is not being granted.
Names being floated as a replacement for either the chair or vice-chair include none other than Mr. Péladeau’s long-time right-hand man, Luc Lavoie. Mr. Lavoie is a competent fellow but, given his Péladeau ties, the idea sounds far-fetched, positively galling. But, then again, when has galling ever stopped Stephen Harper?
Replacing the CRTC’s chair and vice-chair would pretty well seal the deal for Mr. Harper and Mr. Péladeau. Mr. Teneycke has said all along that the new station would be up and running by the start of 2011 with a Category 1 licence, meaning cable companies would be required to offer it as part of a package.
Observers of Mr. Harper have long noted that he doesn’t take kindly to commissions or agencies or anyone else who tends to get in the way of his wishes. It’s only necessary to look at what happened at, among others, Rights and Democracy, Elections Canada, the Nuclear Safety Commission and Parliament.
So the question naturally arises: Do the CRTC board members actually think they can get away with delaying or denying Mr. Harper’s wishes on Fox News North? Do they really believe they have some kind of independent power?
The CRTC chair is Konrad von Finckenstein, and his term doesn’t end until 2012. But insiders report that Mr. Harper now wants him out well before that date and replaced by a rubber stamper. The independently minded Mr. von Finckenstein, who did not respond to queries on the matter, is reportedly being offered judgeships and ambassadorships, one post being Chile. So far, he’s not biting. But the bait might get bigger.
In addition, CRTC vice-chair Michel Arpin is being ushered out the door. His term expires at the end of the month; he’d like to stay on, but his request is not being granted.
Names being floated as a replacement for either the chair or vice-chair include none other than Mr. Péladeau’s long-time right-hand man, Luc Lavoie. Mr. Lavoie is a competent fellow but, given his Péladeau ties, the idea sounds far-fetched, positively galling. But, then again, when has galling ever stopped Stephen Harper?
Replacing the CRTC’s chair and vice-chair would pretty well seal the deal for Mr. Harper and Mr. Péladeau. Mr. Teneycke has said all along that the new station would be up and running by the start of 2011 with a Category 1 licence, meaning cable companies would be required to offer it as part of a package.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
More on big brother and the Jaworskis
A great piece by Kevin Libin in the NP. Remember to let big brother know what you think of them.
Kevin Libin: Bureaucratic ‘bullies’ foil annual libertarian retreat
Kevin Libin, National Post · Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010
Peter Jaworski wasn’t born in the cradle of freedom, but his mother says she hid illegal, anti-Soviet pamphlets in his baby carriage, covertly passing them out to fellow dissidents on the streets of Wroclaw, Poland. When
local police sent an order to his father to report to them for unspecified reasons, the family used a permit to travel to Germany and fled, eventually settling in Orono, Ont.
Since coming to Canada, Peter has celebrated freedom with more enthusiasm than most. He helped found the Institute for Liberal Studies, a libertarian advocacy group; he’s writing his PhD thesis about concepts of ownership rights; and every summer for the past 10 years he’s hosted the two-day Liberty Summer Seminar on his parents’ acreage. There, a few dozen libertarians — past attendees have included Conservative Cabinet minister Jason Kenney and Ontario Cabinet minister Randy Hillier — camp out on the idyllic grounds, hear a handful of pro-liberty speakers, tap their feet along with some freedom-minded musical acts, and enjoy Mother Jaworski’s cooking.
At least, they used to. This past July may have been the last, as the libertarians met their nemeses in the flesh: bureaucrats armed with a red tape roll full of regulations that may not only shut down the seminar for good, but threaten to hit the Jaworskis with as much as $50,000 in fines for using their property for reasons unapproved by government.
“I thought government would help me to do business, to be independent, not to be on welfare, but it’s the opposite. It’s like ‘you own this property? Now we own you,’” Marta Jaworski says. “Government is just like Big Brother. Without government we would [apparently] be all dead. They think we need them so much in every aspect of our lives.”
Kevin Libin: Bureaucratic ‘bullies’ foil annual libertarian retreat
Kevin Libin, National Post · Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010
Peter Jaworski wasn’t born in the cradle of freedom, but his mother says she hid illegal, anti-Soviet pamphlets in his baby carriage, covertly passing them out to fellow dissidents on the streets of Wroclaw, Poland. When
local police sent an order to his father to report to them for unspecified reasons, the family used a permit to travel to Germany and fled, eventually settling in Orono, Ont.
Since coming to Canada, Peter has celebrated freedom with more enthusiasm than most. He helped found the Institute for Liberal Studies, a libertarian advocacy group; he’s writing his PhD thesis about concepts of ownership rights; and every summer for the past 10 years he’s hosted the two-day Liberty Summer Seminar on his parents’ acreage. There, a few dozen libertarians — past attendees have included Conservative Cabinet minister Jason Kenney and Ontario Cabinet minister Randy Hillier — camp out on the idyllic grounds, hear a handful of pro-liberty speakers, tap their feet along with some freedom-minded musical acts, and enjoy Mother Jaworski’s cooking.
At least, they used to. This past July may have been the last, as the libertarians met their nemeses in the flesh: bureaucrats armed with a red tape roll full of regulations that may not only shut down the seminar for good, but threaten to hit the Jaworskis with as much as $50,000 in fines for using their property for reasons unapproved by government.
“I thought government would help me to do business, to be independent, not to be on welfare, but it’s the opposite. It’s like ‘you own this property? Now we own you,’” Marta Jaworski says. “Government is just like Big Brother. Without government we would [apparently] be all dead. They think we need them so much in every aspect of our lives.”
HM Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan in Montreal
HM Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan was in Montreal today for an event sponsored by the Dollard Pierrefonds Riding association and their soon to be Candidate Agop Evereklian. It was a great event with a large,enthusiastic and multiethnic, crowd. There was a nominal admission fee which was donated to Pakistan flood relief. I spoke to the Minister about free trade , congratualtiong HM Government for the big increase in free trade agreements. I encouraged to expand our free trade agreements especially with he UK, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Here is the HM Minister's speech where he talked a lot about free trade. We should have free trade with the EU in about a year. I like thata Canada has unilaterally dropped some duties. Increasing trade is a good idea and is a real accomplishment of HM Government.
I also want to congratulate Agop and his team for the great event. He will be a great MP one day and hopefully a cabinet minister.
HM Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan from roy eappen on Vimeo.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: The clash of Civilizations
An interesting article by the brave and intelligent Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I don't like to see things in this way, but I am increasingly being forced to see that this is indeed the case. The West does need to protect its way of life and civilization. Is it already to late. The left seems to serve as a fifth column in this regard.
How to Win the Clash of Civilizations
The key advantage of Huntington's famous model is that it describes the world as it is—not as we wish it to be.
By AYAAN HIRSI ALI
What do the controversies around the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, the eviction of American missionaries from Morocco earlier this year, the minaret ban in Switzerland last year, and the recent burka ban in France have in common? All four are framed in the Western media as issues of religious tolerance. But that is not their essence. Fundamentally, they are all symptoms of what the late Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington called the "Clash of Civilizations," particularly the clash between Islam and the West.
Huntington's argument is worth summarizing briefly for those who now only remember his striking title. The essential building block of the post-Cold War world, he wrote, are seven or eight historical civilizations of which the Western, the Muslim and the Confucian are the most important.
The balance of power among these civilizations, he argued, is shifting. The West is declining in relative power, Islam is exploding demographically, and Asian civilizations—especially China—are economically ascendant. Huntington also said that a civilization-based world order is emerging in which states that share cultural affinities will cooperate with each other and group themselves around the leading states of their civilization.
The West's universalist pretensions are increasingly bringing it into conflict with the other civilizations, most seriously with Islam and China. Thus the survival of the West depends on Americans, Europeans and other Westerners reaffirming their shared civilization as unique—and uniting to defend it against challenges from non-Western civilizations.
How to Win the Clash of Civilizations
The key advantage of Huntington's famous model is that it describes the world as it is—not as we wish it to be.
By AYAAN HIRSI ALI
What do the controversies around the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, the eviction of American missionaries from Morocco earlier this year, the minaret ban in Switzerland last year, and the recent burka ban in France have in common? All four are framed in the Western media as issues of religious tolerance. But that is not their essence. Fundamentally, they are all symptoms of what the late Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington called the "Clash of Civilizations," particularly the clash between Islam and the West.
Huntington's argument is worth summarizing briefly for those who now only remember his striking title. The essential building block of the post-Cold War world, he wrote, are seven or eight historical civilizations of which the Western, the Muslim and the Confucian are the most important.
The balance of power among these civilizations, he argued, is shifting. The West is declining in relative power, Islam is exploding demographically, and Asian civilizations—especially China—are economically ascendant. Huntington also said that a civilization-based world order is emerging in which states that share cultural affinities will cooperate with each other and group themselves around the leading states of their civilization.
The West's universalist pretensions are increasingly bringing it into conflict with the other civilizations, most seriously with Islam and China. Thus the survival of the West depends on Americans, Europeans and other Westerners reaffirming their shared civilization as unique—and uniting to defend it against challenges from non-Western civilizations.
Glavin on Pakistan
I have long said that Pakistan is not a friend in the war on terror. India has said this for many years. The ISI started the taliban and I have no doubt still funds it. The central government is very weak. terry is right, Pakistan scares me.
Terry Glavin: If Pakistan didn’t scare you before, it should now
Terry Glavin August 18, 2010 – 11:01 am
The Sound of Pennies Dropping:
1. Pakistan’s main spy agency says homegrown Islamist militants have overtaken the Indian army as the greatest threat to national security, a finding with potential ramifications for relations between the two rival South Asian nations and for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. A recent internal assessment of security by the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s powerful military spy agency, determined that for the first time in 63 years, it expects a majority of threats to come from Islamist militants, according to a senior ISI officer.
Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/08/18/terry-glavin-if-pakistan-didnt-scare-you-before-it-should-now/#ixzz0wzB2Yjjm
Terry Glavin: If Pakistan didn’t scare you before, it should now
Terry Glavin August 18, 2010 – 11:01 am
The Sound of Pennies Dropping:
1. Pakistan’s main spy agency says homegrown Islamist militants have overtaken the Indian army as the greatest threat to national security, a finding with potential ramifications for relations between the two rival South Asian nations and for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. A recent internal assessment of security by the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s powerful military spy agency, determined that for the first time in 63 years, it expects a majority of threats to come from Islamist militants, according to a senior ISI officer.
Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/08/18/terry-glavin-if-pakistan-didnt-scare-you-before-it-should-now/#ixzz0wzB2Yjjm
red star reports on the persecution of the Jaworskis
More on my post from yesterday in of all places the red star. The ridiculous actions of minor officialdom are exposed for all the world to see. Perhaps they will stop further embarrassment by withdrawing all charges. Keep emailing the mayor and council. Let them know you think this ridiculous.
What price liberty? Up to $50K
Published On Tue Aug 17 2010
David Rider Urban Affairs Bureau Chief
The municipality of Clarington is clamping down on a studious celebration of Canadian liberties, charging its rural hosts with a zoning offence carrying a hefty fine.
“The irony isn’t lost on me,” said Peter Jaworski whose parents, Marta and Lech, have been charged under a bylaw for letting him hold — for the tenth time — the annual Liberty Summer Seminar on their 16 hectare spread east of Oshawa.
“It’s an outrage that we’re hosting an event celebrating the freedoms we have in Canada, that we didn’t have in (communist) Poland from which my family fled, and the municipality decides to stomp down on my parents,” Jaworski said.
“I feel horrible — they’re facing a possible $50,000 fine ($25,000 each),” at a time when the couple opened a bed-and-breakfast to bolster a struggling business selling books and other items to employees of various companies.
What price liberty? Up to $50K
Published On Tue Aug 17 2010
David Rider Urban Affairs Bureau Chief
The municipality of Clarington is clamping down on a studious celebration of Canadian liberties, charging its rural hosts with a zoning offence carrying a hefty fine.
“The irony isn’t lost on me,” said Peter Jaworski whose parents, Marta and Lech, have been charged under a bylaw for letting him hold — for the tenth time — the annual Liberty Summer Seminar on their 16 hectare spread east of Oshawa.
“It’s an outrage that we’re hosting an event celebrating the freedoms we have in Canada, that we didn’t have in (communist) Poland from which my family fled, and the municipality decides to stomp down on my parents,” Jaworski said.
“I feel horrible — they’re facing a possible $50,000 fine ($25,000 each),” at a time when the couple opened a bed-and-breakfast to bolster a struggling business selling books and other items to employees of various companies.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
HM PM Harper visits Chris Alexander in Ajax Pickering
Here is video of HM PM Harper, Chris Alexander and ( some of) HM Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty in Ajax Pickering. As readers of this blog already know I am a big fan of Chris Alexander. He must win Ajax Pickering. Vote, volunteer for or donate to this amazing man's campaign. He is an amazing candidate. He had a great speech today.
It is always fun listening to HM PM Harper. He made many great jabs at the socialist coalition. It was a great event. Thanks to the cbc for broadcasting it live.( I can't believe I just wrote that).
HM PM Harper in Ajax from roy eappen on Vimeo.
Charest and the grits, bq allies?
An interesting article by Bill Johnson.I have been quite disappointed by jean charest anti Canada volleys of late. Gerard Deltell of the ADQ is far less hostile to Canada, than charest of late. The Quebec liberal party is the problem in Quebec, as much as the separatists. That's why I support the ADQ. We mst get out of this federalist separatists nonsense so that Quebec can address its huge financial problems.
The separatist movement turned out jubilantly on Sunday in Montreal to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that day – Aug. 13, 1990 – when Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe was first elected to Parliament.
There was reason for the festive mood. In all six federal elections since 1993, the Bloc swept a majority of Quebec’s 75 seats – as it would again were an election held tomorrow.
Then, an opinion poll in Saturday’s La Presse had the Bloc’s Siamese sister, the Parti Québécois, leading the Liberals 39 per cent to 31 per cent. Among French speakers, the gap was 45 per cent to 24 per cent, portending a majority PQ government. And 66 per cent wanted Premier Jean Charest to step down.
The Bloc can be proud. But credit for impressive separatist performances should also go to the Bloc’s silent partner, the Quebec Liberal Party. The Liberals, under Robert Bourassa, Claude Ryan, Daniel Johnson Jr. and now Mr. Charest, created the conditions for the separatist parties to surge.
Anyone who doubts this symbiotic relationship need only consult the QLP’s website. There, the Liberals explain the eight values that define their party: individual freedoms, identification with Quebec, economic development, social justice, respect for civil society, democracy a hallmark of political action, intergenerational equity, and ties to Canada.
So one might expect a celebration of federalism as a fundamental value that distinguishes the QLP from the separatists, not to mention an appreciation of Quebec’s participation in Canada, the country recognized as among the most socially developed on Earth. But there’s not a single word of praise for Canada or federalism in the 2,260-word essay. Nowhere is Canada recognized as the country of Quebeckers.
The separatist movement turned out jubilantly on Sunday in Montreal to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that day – Aug. 13, 1990 – when Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe was first elected to Parliament.
There was reason for the festive mood. In all six federal elections since 1993, the Bloc swept a majority of Quebec’s 75 seats – as it would again were an election held tomorrow.
Then, an opinion poll in Saturday’s La Presse had the Bloc’s Siamese sister, the Parti Québécois, leading the Liberals 39 per cent to 31 per cent. Among French speakers, the gap was 45 per cent to 24 per cent, portending a majority PQ government. And 66 per cent wanted Premier Jean Charest to step down.
The Bloc can be proud. But credit for impressive separatist performances should also go to the Bloc’s silent partner, the Quebec Liberal Party. The Liberals, under Robert Bourassa, Claude Ryan, Daniel Johnson Jr. and now Mr. Charest, created the conditions for the separatist parties to surge.
Anyone who doubts this symbiotic relationship need only consult the QLP’s website. There, the Liberals explain the eight values that define their party: individual freedoms, identification with Quebec, economic development, social justice, respect for civil society, democracy a hallmark of political action, intergenerational equity, and ties to Canada.
So one might expect a celebration of federalism as a fundamental value that distinguishes the QLP from the separatists, not to mention an appreciation of Quebec’s participation in Canada, the country recognized as among the most socially developed on Earth. But there’s not a single word of praise for Canada or federalism in the 2,260-word essay. Nowhere is Canada recognized as the country of Quebeckers.
Ridiculous
I have been a long time supporter of the ILS and the Liberty summer seminar. Peter Jaworski's parents have hosted this event for many years. It is not a commercial enterprise. Indeed the ILS is a tax deductible charity. Someone has complained to the local authourities. The fines may bankrupt the Jaworskis. It is the nanny state gone wild. This makes me mad. I have already donated money to the defense fund. You should too. This is needless harassment of business owners who were trying to do something nice to support their son. The LSS is a seminar that explains ideas about freedom. It is rather ironic that petty bureaucrats are trying to destroy Peter's parents for supporting freedom.
Press release: Home owners burnt by barbecue seminar
Posted on August 17, 2010 by willowpondbb
August 17: Home owners burnt by BBQ
Orono, ON: Due to an anonymous zoning complaint filed with the local municipality, husband and wife bed-and-breakfast proprietors Marta & Lech Jaworski may be forced to pay as much as $50,000 in fines for permitting their son, Peter, to use his family’s property to host the Liberty Summer Seminar, an annual seminar in support of liberty.
“Our family escaped Poland for fear of reprisals in 1984 after my mom and dad handed out pro-democracy and pro-freedom literature from under my baby carriage,” said Peter Jaworski. “It’s ironic and upsetting that they may now be facing charges in Canada for allowing me to host an event in support of those very same principles.”
The Liberty Summer Seminar is a non-profit event for like-minded individuals hosted by the Institute for Liberal Studies, a registered charity in Canada.
Now in its tenth year, the LSS has drawn politicians like M.P. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, M.P.P. Randy Hillier, and M.P. Scott Reid, as well as prominent academics, like emeritus professor of philosophy Jan Narveson who was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, journalists like CBC’s Kady O’Malley and U.S.-based reason magazine senior editor Michael C. Moynihan, amongst many others.
Over the weekend of July 25, the LSS celebrated its tenth anniversary with a two-day event on the Orono property. On Sunday afternoon, as the event was wrapping up, a municipal law enforcement official arrived without notice in the car parking area. He quizzed a passing LSS participant about the event, asking him what had been served for lunch, as well as the cost of the registration fee, and the number of port-a-potties available. After a few minutes, the official left without attempting to speak to the Jaworski family.
On August 12th, the Jaworskis were served with a summons to appear in court on the grounds that they had “allowed the use of land in an agricultural zone for a use other than a permitted residential use; namely for a commercial conference centre,” which is contrary to Clarington by-laws.*
“The municipality tells me that they work on a complaint basis,” said Peter Jaworski, “although I don’t believe any of our immediate neighbours complained, since we’ve been doing this for nine years without a single complaint or problem, and being very public about it.”
“I wrote about the Seminar in the Orono Weekly Times back when I was a weekly columnist with the newspaper, and it’s been mentioned in prominent media outlets like the CBC, Maclean’s, the Sun chain of newspapers, and the Western Standard,” continued Peter Jaworski.
The charges come at a time when Marta and Lech Jaworski are struggling financially. Lifelong entrepreneurs, in 1989 the couple started Ma-Le Enterprises — which takes the first two initials of their first names — a small business that sells children’s books, cookbooks, and other items directly to employees of various companies. After the global recession devastated their sales income, they decided to turn the family farm into a bed and breakfast to make ends meet. Both Marta and Lech continue to work full-time, operating the bed and breakfast during their weekends.
“If we’re convicted of letting our son host a barbecue with his friends, these charges could bankrupt us,” said Lech Jaworski. “It’s hard to have peace-of-mind when you’re looking at something like this.”
“I will always let my son use our property for what he believes in, and for the freedom we came to Canada to find,” said Marta Jaworski. “If he wants to host a seminar to support more liberty in Canada, we’re not just happy, but proud to let him do that. That’s what you do as parents.”
The Jaworskis are expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 605 Rossland Road East in Whitby, Ontario on the 28th of September at 2 p.m in courtroom #103. They are working on setting up a blog (www.willowpondbb.wordpress.com) to draw attention to their plight.
—30—
For further information, contact:
Peter Jaworski (peterjaworski@gmail.com),
Marta & Lech Jaworski (martajaworski@hotmail.com).
* The full text reads: “allowed the use of land in an agricultural zone for a use other than a permitted residential use; namely for a commercial conference centre, contrary to section 6.1(a) of Clarington Zoning By-Law # 84-63 as amended, and therefore contrary to The Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chap. P. 13 section 67.
Here are the contacts for Clarington. Let them know what you think of this nonsense.
The Municipality of Clarington
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6
Telephone: 905-623-3379
(All Departments unless otherwise noted)
Toll Free: 800-563-1195
General Inquiry Email
info@clarington.net
Tourism General Inquiry
tourism@clarington.net
Find us on Google Maps
OFFICE HOURS
SEPTEMBER - JUNE
MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
JULY - AUGUST
MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Elected Officials
Mayor Jim Abernethy
mayor@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Mary Novak (1 & 2)
mnovak@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Charlie Trim (3 & 4)
ctrim@clarington.net
Local Councillor Adrian Foster (1)
afoster@clarington.net
Local Councillor Ron Hooper (2)
rhooper@clarington.net
Local Councillor Willie Woo (3)
wwoo@clarington.net
Local Councillor Gord Robinson (4)
grobinson@clarington.net
Press release: Home owners burnt by barbecue seminar
Posted on August 17, 2010 by willowpondbb
August 17: Home owners burnt by BBQ
Orono, ON: Due to an anonymous zoning complaint filed with the local municipality, husband and wife bed-and-breakfast proprietors Marta & Lech Jaworski may be forced to pay as much as $50,000 in fines for permitting their son, Peter, to use his family’s property to host the Liberty Summer Seminar, an annual seminar in support of liberty.
“Our family escaped Poland for fear of reprisals in 1984 after my mom and dad handed out pro-democracy and pro-freedom literature from under my baby carriage,” said Peter Jaworski. “It’s ironic and upsetting that they may now be facing charges in Canada for allowing me to host an event in support of those very same principles.”
The Liberty Summer Seminar is a non-profit event for like-minded individuals hosted by the Institute for Liberal Studies, a registered charity in Canada.
Now in its tenth year, the LSS has drawn politicians like M.P. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, M.P.P. Randy Hillier, and M.P. Scott Reid, as well as prominent academics, like emeritus professor of philosophy Jan Narveson who was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, journalists like CBC’s Kady O’Malley and U.S.-based reason magazine senior editor Michael C. Moynihan, amongst many others.
Over the weekend of July 25, the LSS celebrated its tenth anniversary with a two-day event on the Orono property. On Sunday afternoon, as the event was wrapping up, a municipal law enforcement official arrived without notice in the car parking area. He quizzed a passing LSS participant about the event, asking him what had been served for lunch, as well as the cost of the registration fee, and the number of port-a-potties available. After a few minutes, the official left without attempting to speak to the Jaworski family.
On August 12th, the Jaworskis were served with a summons to appear in court on the grounds that they had “allowed the use of land in an agricultural zone for a use other than a permitted residential use; namely for a commercial conference centre,” which is contrary to Clarington by-laws.*
“The municipality tells me that they work on a complaint basis,” said Peter Jaworski, “although I don’t believe any of our immediate neighbours complained, since we’ve been doing this for nine years without a single complaint or problem, and being very public about it.”
“I wrote about the Seminar in the Orono Weekly Times back when I was a weekly columnist with the newspaper, and it’s been mentioned in prominent media outlets like the CBC, Maclean’s, the Sun chain of newspapers, and the Western Standard,” continued Peter Jaworski.
The charges come at a time when Marta and Lech Jaworski are struggling financially. Lifelong entrepreneurs, in 1989 the couple started Ma-Le Enterprises — which takes the first two initials of their first names — a small business that sells children’s books, cookbooks, and other items directly to employees of various companies. After the global recession devastated their sales income, they decided to turn the family farm into a bed and breakfast to make ends meet. Both Marta and Lech continue to work full-time, operating the bed and breakfast during their weekends.
“If we’re convicted of letting our son host a barbecue with his friends, these charges could bankrupt us,” said Lech Jaworski. “It’s hard to have peace-of-mind when you’re looking at something like this.”
“I will always let my son use our property for what he believes in, and for the freedom we came to Canada to find,” said Marta Jaworski. “If he wants to host a seminar to support more liberty in Canada, we’re not just happy, but proud to let him do that. That’s what you do as parents.”
The Jaworskis are expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 605 Rossland Road East in Whitby, Ontario on the 28th of September at 2 p.m in courtroom #103. They are working on setting up a blog (www.willowpondbb.wordpress.com) to draw attention to their plight.
—30—
For further information, contact:
Peter Jaworski (peterjaworski@gmail.com),
Marta & Lech Jaworski (martajaworski@hotmail.com).
* The full text reads: “allowed the use of land in an agricultural zone for a use other than a permitted residential use; namely for a commercial conference centre, contrary to section 6.1(a) of Clarington Zoning By-Law # 84-63 as amended, and therefore contrary to The Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chap. P. 13 section 67.
Here are the contacts for Clarington. Let them know what you think of this nonsense.
The Municipality of Clarington
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6
Telephone: 905-623-3379
(All Departments unless otherwise noted)
Toll Free: 800-563-1195
General Inquiry Email
info@clarington.net
Tourism General Inquiry
tourism@clarington.net
Find us on Google Maps
OFFICE HOURS
SEPTEMBER - JUNE
MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
JULY - AUGUST
MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Elected Officials
Mayor Jim Abernethy
mayor@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Mary Novak (1 & 2)
mnovak@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Charlie Trim (3 & 4)
ctrim@clarington.net
Local Councillor Adrian Foster (1)
afoster@clarington.net
Local Councillor Ron Hooper (2)
rhooper@clarington.net
Local Councillor Willie Woo (3)
wwoo@clarington.net
Local Councillor Gord Robinson (4)
grobinson@clarington.net
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