Democratic Power, 'Professional' Women's Power, Hydro Power, Multiculturalism's Power, MP Power, Perp Power & Cop Power

Janet Daley: "On the continent talk of freedom is gauche" -- Democracy -- Europe -- "government by the people"

This is simply excellent -- a must read

On the continent talk of freedom is gauche Janet Daley The Daily Telegraph, Feb. 24, 05

[. . . . ] Eighteenth-century spoken English may or may not survive in America and in Australia, but 18th-century ideas about liberty and the redeeming quality of democracy certainly seem to have found a permanent home in exile.

The enlightenment idealism of Europe was exported to the rebellious colonies and, in geographical isolation, it flourished. While Europeans themselves undermined their own great democratic project with their ancient hatreds and their aristocratic nostalgia, the naive Americans kept the dream intact, building it into a written constitution (an 18th-century idea itself).

Europe has pretty much given up on the whole undertaking now: [. . . . ]

Search: mutually profitable trade-off, European philosophy of government, Jacques Chirac, cynicism, American self-belief, govern themselves, a substitute, economic security





No whites need apply -- CSC -- "What's happened to merit in this country -- abilities and skills? What's happened to training and expertise?"

No whites need apply -- CORRECTIONAL SERVICE RESTRICTS JOB APPLICATIONS Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Bureau, Feb. 23, 05

CRITICS ARE calling it "craziness" that the Correctional Service of Canada is disqualifying candidates for parole officer jobs because they're white. An Ontario job-seeker received a rejection letter recently, advising that only aboriginals and visible minorities need apply. [. . . . ]

Search: CSC spokesman Michele Pilon-Santilli, Aboriginal and minority candidates





Prostitution -- "Liberals out to hook voters" -- the next "right"?

Liberals out to hook voters Bill Rodgers, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Toronto Sun, Feb. 23, 05

FEDERAL GRITS will be asked to support legalizing prostitution when they gather for their convention in Ottawa next week, Sun Media has learned. A resolution prepared by Young Liberals calls for the removal of the Criminal Code offence of communicating for the purposes of sex in return for money. [. . . . ]

Search: Senator Mac Harb, red-light districts, prostitution-related charges

I am considering applying for one of the positions as madame that will undoubtedly become available. Some of the items that I would highlight follow. I believe women's work should be better remunerated; like hockey, golf, basketball and other sports figures, the career spans of 'working gals' are very short, given the premium placed on face and body appeal. The ladies might need a bit of direction to useful instruction on putting a little away for later -- when their looks go -- if they survive the heroin and other addictions. Also, they could use pointers in entering other lucrative professions such as gambling, online ***--oh, yes--and education. I would enjoy organizing educational forays to the casinos and grow-ops; gardening is poised to become the next lucrative skill for retired pros. They could use instruction from someone versed in business skills / business partnerships -- say, on how to get rid of the middle men, the pimps, and go global; perhaps they could learn to apply for a small business grant. They will need to learn accounting, as well, to be successful independent entrepreneurs. I do believe there are some government, Crown Crops or foundation accounting experts who might be prevailed upon to instruct; it is a women's issue -- that women be afforded the same skills and rights to the advanced skills that have been unfairly the province of men who, traditionally, have been favoured with this expertise by virtue of their power positions. The glass ceiling has been shattered--along with the corner crawl--and women will benefit from these initiatives.

I feel a surge of feminist power just in the planning. Why, whole new careers could be theirs -- and mine. It's an ill wind . . . . and all that.


Perhaps these links would be of interest:

HOOKED ON PROFITS

Safe strolls and brothels would reduce risks for prostitutes Vancouver Sun, Sept. 17, 2004

Pot laws need thorough overhaul -- Coleman should be pushing Ottawa for change, not harassing B.C.'s municipal politicians Times Colonist, September 13, 2004

A Security Issue -- "Hydro-Quebec assures U.S. It has beefed up security at stations"

Hydro-Quebec assures U.S. It has beefed up security at stations Nicholas Van Praet, CanWest

[. . . . ] Paul Cellucci, U.S. ambassador to Canada, said last week he was concerned about Hydro's security. Hydro sells a significant amount of power to the U.S. northeast. It earned $1.57-billion on its total energy exports in 2002 and 2003. The utility ratcheted up its damage control another notch yesterday, saying chief executive Andre Caille is personally leading a new security oversight committee at Hydro-Quebec. "Everything is under control," he insisted after a speech to a group of Quebec manufacturers and exporters. [. . . . ]

Opposition vows to push for minimum term for child porn Feb. 23, 05, CanWest

OTTAWA - Child pornographers could be looking at mandatory minimum jail terms after opposition MPs brushed aside Justice Minister Irwin' Cotler's lack of enthusiasm yesterday and vowed to push ahead with amendments to the government's embattled child pornography bill.

[. . . . ] "Experience ... shows that minimum sentences are treated as maximum sentences" by courts, he said. "You can get the opposite of what you are after." He noted mandatory minimum sentences can lead to more frequent, and longer, trials. [. . . . ]

How much should a cop risk? -- "While Jim Slater fought for years to remove himself from the darkness of his abyss, that middle-aged woman breezed through her two years of probation. . . . got her 30 days or a $300 fine"

How much should a cop risk? February 23, 2005, Robert Marshall, Winnipeg Sun

[. . . . ] To the armchair critics of police shootings who have a proclivity to propagate the ridiculous -- consider this. Warning shots and missed trick-shots have to end up somewhere, just as this shotgun blast did. And then think about the two well-toned, 20-something police officers subduing this lone middle-aged woman -- or for that matter some coke-head armed with a knife or a bat. It can be done but at what cost?

When cops sign on they understand a certain risk factor exists but they are also trained not to be reckless with it. How much should we expect them to risk? The recent public debate left that unclear when the racial quagmire took over. [. . . . ]

Those who live in Toronto, particularly, might want to consider this one.

Francois Beaudoin on Crown Corps and Foundations, CBS' Fenton & Media Revelations, UN & US

Diane Francis: Francois Beaudoin on Crown Corps and Foundations -- a must read

Rein in the Crowns, ex-chief says -- Boards should not be patronage havens: Beaudoin Financial Post, Diane Francis, Feb. 24, 05

Francois Beaudoin, the former president of the Business Development Bank of Canada, was abused and eventually fired for objecting to a special loan deal for Jean Chretien's former partner. He finally got his day in court and this fall negotiated a settlement for damages.

Because of his history, I asked him to comment on the recent and long-awaited changes announced by the Treasury Board designed to improve the governance of Crown corporations. [. . . . ]

Search: Treasury Board, all-party Parliamentary committee, legislated mandate


See a related article in the Financial Post Feb. 24, 05. Search: Ubisoft, University of Sherbrooke, CEGEP, government picking winners and losers (It could be picking winners / industry winners -- one or the other)





Media: CBS veteran rips network -- Tom Fenton slams entertainment factor: 'There's nothing there you need to know' Feb. 24, 05, World Net Daily (WorldNetDaily.com )

When Tom Fenton stepped down from CBS News in December after 34 years of service, he was praised by the president of the network as "the embodiment of the wise and worldly CBS News correspondent."

Now, Fenton is going public with criticism of his own network and television news in general, with his forthcoming book, titled "Bad News."

"I wrote this book out of conviction," Fenton told the Buffalo News. "I don't have a lot of illusions it's going to change things." [. . . . ]

Search: foreign news, Osama bin Laden, compacted, context, on trust, radioactive

Tom Fenton's "Bad News" -- the usual disclaimer here -- no, I am not paid to plug this book but I would read it.





UN: Get the UN Out of the US -- Move America Forward, textual information and petition

Get the UN Out of the US -- Move America Forward, textual information and petition

During the past several years, the threat facing the United States of America and much of the world from violent terrorist organizations has grown exponentially. While the United Nations is chartered to promote peace, its actions recently have made it an accessory to terrorist crimes. [. . . . ]

Search: Kofi Annan, Resolution 144, France, Russia, China, weapons

Multiculturalism, IRB, Vietnamese Immigration via Philippines, Vietnamese Asian & Other Criminal Gangs in Canada

MULTICULTURAL MADNESS -- How Western Civilization has been turned upside down in one generation

[. . . . ] "MULTICULTURAL MADNESS" documents how multiculturalism, which started on college campuses during the "cultural revolution" of the '60s, has succeeded in making America so confused, "politically correct" and "minority-sensitive" that it has all but forgotten its original, core, Judeo-Christian values. Because of rampant multiculturalism:

* American heroes from Christopher Columbus to the Pilgrims are now likened to genocidal racists and maniacal bigots. [In Canada, we could substitute white explorers, legislators attempting in Canada to give native children the skills to join in the economy -- Now, we have 11,000 lawsuits still unsettled covering not just sexual abuse, but loss of language and culture. ]

[. . . . ] * "Whiteness studies" – the latest incarnation of multiculturalism on America's college campuses – teaches that "whiteness" is the underlying cause of practically every conceivable social ill and that white people are almost inherently evil. [Think of the advertisement excluding white males -- CSC -- Search: "No whites need apply". ]

* Devil-worship and witchcraft are now afforded the same respect as worship of God. [Think the UN, Maurice Strong and earth worship/environmentalism, if my memory serves. ] [. . . . ]

Search: "expose of what multiculturalism is really all about"




How "Li Qing Mai, and her husband, Zhi Wen Tang, of Mission, B.C." got away with running a grow op -- a lesson for all

Is anyone else out there considering planting a little pin money crop?

Seriously, this ruling gives enough time to the criminal element to flush the cocaine or methamphetamines away, provided there aren't too many. Like location, timing is everything.

B.C. Supreme Court says police gave too little warning at grow op bust Greg Joyce, CP, Feb. 23, 05

VANCOUVER (CP) - A husband and wife have been acquitted of growing marijuana after an investigating RCMP officer failed to give them enough time to answer their door before he smashed it down with a battering ram.

"This judgment reinforces the fact that the police should knock and announce and give the homeowner an opportunity of getting to the door," the accused's lawyer, David Tarnow, said Tuesday after the B.C. Supreme Court ruling.

Simply unbelievable! While the police wait politely at the door, drugs can be flushed down, burned or . . .





Lawyer guilty of money-laundering -- Police say conviction in 2002 sting shows growing sophistication of organized crime Paul Waldie, February 23, 2005

A Toronto lawyer was found guilty of money laundering yesterday in a case the RCMP say demonstrates the growing sophistication of organized crime.

Simon Rosenfeld was one of about 55 Canadian and U.S. citizens arrested in 2002 as part of a sweeping RCMP-FBI sting called Bermuda Short, which exposed a raft of stock-market manipulation and money-laundering scams. [. . . . ]

Search: Colombian cocaine cartel, organized crime, false affidavit, merits and benefits, white-collar, penny stock scam




Immigrantion -- the IRB

Former lover cross-examined Shannon Kari, CanWest, Feb. 23, 05

TORONTO - An explicit and lengthy dirty laundry list of allegations between an Immigration Canada investigator and his former mistress was aired in public yesterday during a bitter Ontario Superior Court trial. [. . . . ]

Search: facing a deportation order





The Real Refugee Scandal -- It's a matter of life and death, not sex Claudia Rosett, February 23, 2005. Wall Street Journal.

Ms. Rosett is a journalist-in-residence with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Her column appears [in the Opinion Journal] and in The Wall Street Journal Europe on alternate Wednesdays.

So prolific in scandal has the United Nations become that it's getting hard to keep tabs. You can surf the channels, from rape by peacekeepers in the Congo, to theft at the World Meteorological Organization, to a Human Rights Commission crammed with despots; from inadequate auditing to botched management to wasted money to running the biggest heist in the history of humanitarian work--the Oil for Food program in Saddam's Iraq. [. . . . ]

Search: "This report was submitted months ago to Mr. Annan, who ignored the findings", UNHCR, well-mannered nuances, North Koreans, China, executed some 60, The convention promised . . .



Canada to welcome Vietnamese boat people with family here -- Keeping it in the family

Our government is going to permit "family class" immigration of boat people originally from Vietnam who are living in the Philippines presently -- something about needing a relative here in order to get that magical passage to Canada.

Canada to welcome vietnamese boat people with family here Feb. 23, 05, Elizabeth Thompson, CanWest

[. . . . ] Under a decision taken yesterday by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Joe Volpe and to be announced tomorrow, those who fled Vietnam to the Philippines in 1988 will be allowed to come to Canada provided they can prove family ties to people already here. [. . . . ]

I hate to be cynical about this but, as soon as I read of this, something twigged in my mind. Let's see, now, some of the worst and most violent drug gangs--or should I call them business operatives--in Canada are part of the Vietnamese Canadian community. Do you suppose any of them have a relative in the Philippine "refugee" contingent? What kind of checking is or can be done by an overworked border/port patrol when the IRB is stocked with government appointees and "stakeholers"? Give me a break!

I must declare a personal interest of a sort; I have noticed a new interest out of the Philippines in my blog. I believe I have mentioned before the hacks from the drug areas of the world--very specific locations can be traced. I doubt that the local Philippine populace is interested in my political views. What is this Philippine interest? Make a guess.




ASIAN ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN CANADA, 1999-2002

A Report Prepared by the Federal Research Division, Library of Congress under an Interagency Agreement with the United States Government
July 2003
Researcher: Neil S. Helfand
Project Manager: David L. Osborne
Federal Research Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540 −4840
. . . .Homepage: http://loc.gov/rr/frd/

Note that the source of this report is the US Library of Congress. Canadian report links are in footnotes below and others are from the bibliography.

PREFACE

This study is based on open source research into the scope of Asian organized crime and terrorist activity in Canada during the period 1999 to 2002, and the extent of cooperation and possible overlap between criminal and terrorist activities in that country. The analyst examined those Asian organized crime syndicates that direct their criminal activities at the United States via Canada, namely crime groups trafficking heroin from Southeast Asia, groups engaging in the trafficking of women, and groups committing financial crimes against U.S. interests. The terrorist organizations examined were those that are viewed as potentially planning attacks on U.S. interests.

[. . . . ] Vietnamese criminal groups range from street gangs engaged in drug trafficking to highly sophisticated groups. The groups are known to be very violent, and some members are reported to have been trained in the use of weapons and explosives. The groups are expanding in the area of high technology crimes and have engaged in the theft of computer parts, which they sell on the black market to third world countries. Vietnamese groups also are believed to be involved in the trafficking of women.

Vietnamese groups, especially the street gangs, are generally less formal in structure than many other organized crime groups. This lack of organization often has meant that they are extremely mobile and able to cooperate with other organizations. Quite often, Vietnamese groups lack ties to any one community and, therefore, may travel to various cities to set up temporary operations. These networking activities have led to fear that they eventually will organize into more formal and structured groups.108

Vietnamese organized crime groups also are known to work with the Hells Angels, mainly in British Columbia, for the large-scale cultivation and exportation of marijuana. These activities have been expanding eastward across Canada to Ontario. It is estimated that there are approximately 15,000 to 20,000 marijuana-growing operations in the Lower Mainland with an estimated sale value of CDN$6 billion.109

[. . . . ] According to a CISC report, Vietnamese groups control approximately 80 to 85 percent of the heroin trade in the Kamloops area of British Columbia. Vancouver also is used as a transshipment center for trafficking heroin into the United States, and is reported to have approximately 10,000 marijuana growing operations. Vietnamese gangs are reputed to be controlling much of this activity.116 Vietnamese crime groups import heroin directly from the Golden Triangle region, almost always through Vietnam or China. Typically, couriers bring in body packs that contain less than five kilograms per person per trip.117

[. . . . ] 109 Criminal Intelligence Service Canada. Annual Report on Organized Crime Canada ( Ottawa: 2002).

[. . . . ] 117 “Government Reports on Vietnamese, Chinese Crime Gangs,” Paris AFP (North European Service) in English, August 20, 1999 (FBIS Document FTS19990820001434).

[. . . . ] 120 Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Report 2000/04. International Terrorism: The Threat to Canada, May 3, 2000.

It might be useful to look at the Bibliography, page 44, where I found these:

“Canadian Police: Huge Heroin Deals Funded From Hong Kong,” Hong Kong South ChinaSunday Morning Post in English [Honk Kong], June 27, 1999 (FBIS Document
CPP19990628000046).

“Canadian Report Says Some of $20 Million Hashish Imports Financed Terrorism,” The Globeand Mail [Toronto], July 15, 2002 (FBIS Document FTS20020715000129).

Canadian Security Intelligence Service. International Terrorism: The Threat to Canada. Report No. 2000/04, May 3, 2000.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada. Annual Report on Organized Crime Canada. Ottawa: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.




CISC Report 2004 -- "Across the country, Vietnamese-based groups remain extensively involved in multiple residential marihuana grow operations with distribution within Canada and to the U.S."

[. . . . ] Across the country, Vietnamese-based groups remain extensively involved in multiple residential marihuana grow operations with distribution within Canada and to the U.S. These operations are widespread throughout the B.C. Lower Mainland, Alberta and southern Ontario and will continue to increase in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Profits from marihuana cultivation are often reinvested in other criminal activities, such as in the importation of ecstasy and cocaine. Marihuana cultivation continues to affect Canadians’ health and safety, often resulting in toxic moulds, condemned grow houses, fire hazards and chemical vapours from pesticides. Additionally, individuals involved in marihuana cultivation often experience violence through home invasions, assaults and booby-traprelated injuries.

[. . . . ] The border area between B.C. and Washington state is exploited by organized crime groups, such as Vietnamese-based and Eastern European-based groups. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, organized crime also exploits the land border to move contraband, particularly illicit drugs. The southwestern Ontario border with the U.S. is the focal point of the largest flow of international legitimate commercial and personal traffic. In some instances, illicit drugs have been concealed within commercial shipments facilitated by a small element within the trucking industry that has been corrupted by organized crime.

[. . . . ] The unique geographical locations of some Aboriginal reserves, particularly those near the Canada/U.S. border, have been exploited by Aboriginal-based smuggling groups to smuggle drugs, firearms, tobacco and people between Canada and the U.S. In many instances this illegal movement is conducted on contract for other organized crime groups based in Ontario and Quebec. [. . . . ]

Search: Asian-based networks.

Download an Adobe Acrobat .pdf copy of the whole report (Vol64_no3_e-RCMP-BikerGangs.pdf)

Note the connections between Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Asian-based crime networks.

Adobe Acrobat .pdf copy of the whole report (Vol64_no3_e-RCMP-BikerGangs.pdf)




National Strategy to Combat Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Gazette, Vol. 64, No. 3, 2002, "Canada's Crackdown on Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs"

[. . . . ]

Bikers and Asian-based Organized Crime

Sgt. Woods explains that the majority of urban grow houses they take down are controlled by Asian organized crime groups, along with “transfer” houses where the drugs are bagged and weighed, but that distribution networks are the territory of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs). “There’s no doubt they control distribution,” he says. “But there are so many layers between them and us that they’re untouchable.” While bikers used to control marijuana cultivation in Canada in the mid 1990s, Asian-based organized crime has moved into major centres in B.C., Ontario, and Quebec, and is making inroads in other provinces, says Daniel Lacroix, an intelligence analyst with the RCMP’s Criminal Intelligence Directorate. Mr. Lacroix adds that bikers still have a stronghold in Quebec, but have lost their monopoly in some Canadian cities, expanding operations into outlying areas, like suburbs and rural townships. “In some cities [in Quebec], the Asians are playing a greater role but bikers control most of it,” he says. “Asian groups are operating in Laval today, and that would have been unheard of 10 years ago.” One hundred kilometres east of Laval, residents call with tips on local grow operations almost every day, says Corporal Roger Caron, head of Granby Detachment in Quebec, just 50 kilometres north of the Vermont border. But keeping up with day-to-day calls while targeting the drug networks that sustain marijuana cultivation and other drugs is impossible, admits Cpl. Caron. “It’s totally out of control,” he says. “And what worries me most is that this problem is not going to get any better.”

Ex-cop has the dirt on bad money -- COLLEGE WORKSHOPS A GLOBAL HIT Alan Cairns, Toronto Sun, February 23, 2005

DIRTY MONEY loves Canada for the same reasons clean money likes it here, says an expert on international money laundering. "Bad guys work hard for their money and they want somewhere safe to put it," says former RCMP undercover cop Chris Mathers. [. . . . ]

Search: first-choice haven, shadowy game, anti-money laundering course, Centennial, OPP, RCMP, bank compliance officers

Bud Talkinghorn: "Victim", Somalia "Heart of Darkness", PJ O'Rourke "Peace Kills" -- & -- Brigitte Gabriel via CCD

Big tobacco sued -- Oh, goody! I finally get to be a victim

The announcement that the major tobacco companies are involved in a class action suit against them was inevitable. The cases in the United States were successful; that must have had the lawyers up here salivating. After all, it was the American lawyers who took home the lion's share of the multi-billion settlement. If there was any true justice the class action folk should have taken those bloody leeches to court to retrive some of that swag.

Is tobacco addictive? Yes, of course it is. Can we addicts kick the habit? I have done it, for a time, twice. Did the cure last? No, we addicts like our nicotine too much--although I, personally, have licked it for about four years altogether. Are we victims? NO, we are weaklings, who simply love nicotine. A relative, who not only smoked for 40 years, but smoked unfiltered cigarettes at that, quit cold turkey five years ago. Millions have done the same. Persistent smoking, in the face of the ghastly pictures on the cigarette covers, puts us in the hard core category. However, as Ben Franklin once wisely said, "Nine out of ten men dies a suicide." There is a distinct possibility that the money I would have saved not smoking would have gone to other mood elevators -- some that might have hastened my death even sooner. It is instructive to note that the waddling beachball teens, who pass my window every day, rarely have a cigarette dangling from their mouths. Perhaps that is because they are too busy stuffing said orifice with candy bars, chips, and some sugary liquid called a "slurpy". The evidence of their junk food gluttony is evidenced all over my lawn. Their fate will be early diabetes, fat-clogged arteries, and premature death.

A final question is necessary. Do I wish tobacco had never been introduced. Most certainly. The money and coughing I would have been spared are enormous. However it is a legal product that has made the various governments very rich. When the tobacco industry is driven out, or forced to make their product more expensive than heroin, the next target will be alcohol. Trust me on this one. It won't be legalized gambling because the government is the biggest pusher. [Is it possible that some very well-connected people have got in on the profits? Otherwise, why would governments not merely allow, but encourage, gambling? NJC] For all you anti-smoking lobbyists there will be a pyrrhic victory, as you have to stop by the ATM machine to finance your $63 bottle of scotch. Your government hates sin, but is addicted to the "sin taxes". You may also see a fast-tracking of legal marijuana legislation. Rocky Mountain High cannabis might appear at your local government drug store--next to that $63 scotch. Governments will then try to force out of business any "illegal" purveyors of the wisdom weed. The only illegality now will be private sources that under-cut the government price.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will rise in Parliament to talk about how the Charter rights of stoners have been cruelly oppressed, but as part of the "moral duty" of Liberals, it msut be regulated for safety purposes.

So if the class action lawsuits sweep into BC will I join in? No. I'm egotistical enough to never claim to be a "victim" of what I knew was dangerous. That would make about as much sense as suing BC because I got swept away in an avalanche while skiing in prohibited back country. God, will people not take any responsibilty for their own actions? What's next, suing the liquor/beer companies or Tim Horton's for my doughnut addiction?

© Bud Talkinghorn




Somalia is the true heart of darkness, but CBC's Carol Off thinks we should pour in more money

Somalia is so debased as a society that it is hard to even describe it. A continuum of zeroes best captures it. It has no government, no telephone system, no rule outside that of the war lords' guns. You remember Carol Off, who hosted CBC's Counterspin--a forum for every leftish opinion. That program had such low ratings that it finally had to be cancelled. But like Ralph Benmergai, there is no end to rehabilitaion. Even as Carol outlines in this CBC 'special' on the futility of Somalia's situation, we should nevertheless try again.

The massive famine relief mission by America and the UN in the early 90's ended miserably. The Marines' attempts to stop the looting of supplies was foiled by warlord Aidid's blatant looting right off the docks. Finally, the Marines attacked his headquarters in Mogadishu. The result was 27 U.S. dead, and an estimated 600 to 1200 Somalis killed. Surviving Marines claimed that the Somali gunmen forced their women and children out in front as human shields. Every foreigner left after that bloodbath. For over a decade there has been no civic improvement. Garbage collection, road maintenance, and any other governmental service has collapsed. The supposed government rules from exile in Kenya. Into this swamp, Braveheart Carol Off wants us to reinvest millions. Isn't that a classic CBC presentation? And considering the umbilical cord that joins the government and the CBC, don't think that millions in aid won't be poured down these sinkhole. And if that effort fails once again, Carol can always tell us it is entirely the fault of colonialism.

© Bud Talkinghorn--For those of you who wonder why I watch this CBC socialist agitprop, I have one answer. Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.

© Bud Talkinghorn




Conservatives gone wild--PJ O'Rourke makes funny

PJ O'Rourke's latest book, Peace Kills, is a stone hoot. At times satiric about the left's many foibles, at other times, dead on the money about the international problem areas. Perhaps though the most hilarious part is his turning a journalistic eye on a Washington, DC "peace" rally. Along with the ardent "War is bad, and poverty is terrible too" placard carriers, are the flotsam and jetsam that invariably wash up at such gigs. One such group was pro-vegan. Amongst their placards featuring veggies is one that shows a giant carrot labelled "Inteeligence". Another protestor has set up a petition table for the lowering of the drinking age. One loony is in favour of anarchosyndicalism -- a word O'Rourke says "has not probably been articulated since Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Another group is seen waving huge papier-mache symbols that look like giant baked potatoes. Their message is that "The naked are being oppressed by the clothed". PJ thought that he had misheard, but the woman repeated their particular angst-filled complaint. And so it went. The real anti-war crowd had to put up with this motley freak contingent because, from a distance, it appeared to swell their numbers on the six o'clock TV news. It was always a sad time however when the cameras zeroed in on the "Butt pirates against Bush" banner, instead of the "No blood for oil" placards. Doubly sad was when the anarchists tried to burn the American flag, but couldn't do it after four tries. As O'Rourke opines: "Maybe their children's anti-smoking sermons had retarded their fire-making abilities, or the airport securoty had confiscated all their lighters." That is but a teaser; read the book.

© Bud Talkinghorn




Recommended --"Brigitte Gabriel audio highlights" via CCD

Brigitte Gabriel discusses the following issues: via Alastair Gordon, canadiancoalition.org/forum, 2005/02/13

1. If Israel gave up the West Bank and Gaza, would there be peace in the Middle East? (BTW, that is the official Canadian position)

2. Palestinian leadership and their use of billions in Western aid.

3. Palestinian manipulation of the West.

4. Failure of the West to understand the Palestinian mentality and their mode of operation.

5. The Duke University hate fest.

6. Why is the Middle East important to Americans? Does the Rotary Club know they are targeted for death by Hamas?

Brigitte Gabriel audio highlights

Brigitte Gabriel on mainstream Jewish response to Palestinian incitement

Brigitte Gabriel's Video -- Interview excellent

Language -- Nunavut -- Elder Abuse -- Splenda

Last year, the federal government spent $1.45 million providing such services to Nunavut's 410 francophones -- over $35,000 per person in Nunavut

The military might have to do without, but our language czar's department never cuts back, not even in the face of overwhelming other problems in the North.

Nunavut wants Inuktituk declared official language Feb. 20, 05, Bob Weber, CP

(CP) - Frustrated by what it calls poor funding for Nunavut's mother tongue, the territorial government says it is negotiating with Ottawa to have Inuktitut declared Canada's third official language.

That would force the federal government to correct an imbalance that has it spending more than $3,500 per francophone on French services in Nunavut and nothing on the language most residents actually speak, said territorial Culture Minister Louis Tapardjuk.

[. . . . ]

See what government's have wrought? 70% of Nunavut speak Inuktitut but,

"Although Ottawa spends about $1.1 million on Inuktitut language programs, that money is only available for community-based projects such as dictionaries or curriculum materials."

My gosh, more money will have to be allocated -- because government cannot cut back on the needs of 410 francophones. This is absurd. I don't care what one group wants, or that it is demanded by our "two official languages" legislation -- or is it the constitution? Does common sense ever prevail in provision of services, and particularly in French?

What about the other massive problems? The level of education and opportunity faced by children who grow up in northern reserve communities? The gas sniffing kids? The alcohol ridden parents? The report of the entry of drugs into the equation, a report that the minister responsible for natives, MP Andy Scott, sees fit not to ask the RCMP to investigate? Well, some problems just don't hold a candle to language, whether the official one or Inuktitut.

Can anyone see these kids when they're young, before they start sniffing, drinking or whatever and not want to cuddle them and to help? Once the brain damage from glue sniffing is done, is the child ever really fixable? Help them before they start and to heck with languages. The children would be better served by improving their English if they are ever to get out of communities without work and into areas where there is employment.





Help Me: Elder abuse in Canada

Help Me: Elder abuse in Canada CTV.ca News Staff via Jack's Newswatch

Anthony says it came as a shock to learn that the Criminal Code didn’t encompass these types of behaviours. “As a caregiver, you’re taught from day one, abuse is anything from verbal – you cannot threaten verbally; you cannot intimidate; you cannot shake; you cannot toss; you can’t even tip them up from a prone position to a standing position without stopping. All those are supposed to be abuse and criminal.”

W-FIVE tried to ask Debbie Bonney, the director of Versa Care, about Norma’s treatment at the facility, but she denied our request. Later at our invitation, Donna Kingelin, the vice president of long term care at Central Park Lodges -- the company that operates both Charlotte Villa and Versa Care – came to our offices together with company officials to view hidden camera footage.

While officials at Versa Care had previously concluded Norma was not being abused under their care, Kingelin quickly changed her opinion. “When we walked out of your building after viewing those tapes,” she said, “we called the home. We found the staff that we saw on those videos, we asked if they were on. We sent them home immediately – we didn’t waste a minute to act.”

[. . . . ] But abuse is happening to others too. Statistics Canada reports as many as seven per cent of all seniors are abused. And seniors’ advocates say our laws still need to catch up to the seriousness of the problem. [. . . . ]

If you have little time, at least look at the photographs. Canada has an aging population and this is a fear of most, to be unable to talk to tell what is happening to them while being subjected to daily abuse.




Splenda

BusinessWeek -- Splenda information and more here

Splenda even comes in a blend with sugar which is marketed to use in baking.

One doesn't hear things like "Splenda shares many similar characteristics to pesticides like DDT that can accumulate in your body fat and tissues... " in BusinessWeek or other mainstream news. [. . . . ]

This came via someone with a scientific background. Check it out.

Auditor General's Report on Foundations

Auditor General's Report on Foundations

Update: I made an error here. The Auditor General did NOT make this statement. I did. I missed putting it on a separate line and indicating this.

The statement was:

The government specializes in keeping the public in the dark

That is my idea, not the AG's. My apologies to the Auditor General whom I admire; she is much more diplomatic than I. NJC

I note that the accounting and accountability issues are linked. At issue is whether the foundations are controlled by the government. If they are, then payments to them could not be recorded as expenses, since the foundations would be within the accounting entity. Accountability improvements that increase government control may raise the question of consolidation within the accounting entity, under the accounting standards set by the Public Sector Accounting Board.

Opening Statement to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance: Sheila Fraser, FCA, Auditor General of Canada -- Accountability of Foundations 22 February 2005

Accountability of Foundations Chapter 4 ( - February 2005 Status Report of the Auditor General)

[. . . . ] With me today are John Wiersema, Deputy Auditor General, and Tom Wileman, the Principal responsible for the chapter.

Since 1997, foundations have received more than $9 billion from the federal government. The foundations carry out government programs, but are independent corporations, not accountable to Parliament through a minister. The money is paid in advance of need and in fact most of it, $7.7 billion, is still sitting in the foundations’ bank accounts and investments. All of these factors lead to my concerns about accountability to Parliament for taxpayers’ money.

[. . . . ] We focussed on the essential requirements for accountability to Parliament. In our view, these fall into three areas: reporting to Parliament and the public; the external audit and evaluation regime; and ministerial oversight. I will speak about our findings in each one. Overall we were not satisfied with the government’s progress.

We did find a number of improvements, however, most notably in the area of reporting. The government announced a number of measures to improve foundation accountability in the 2003 Budget Plan. These commitments were repeated in the 2004 Budget, and a number of them have since been implemented.

Mr. Chairman, we are concerned that no provision has been made for performance audit in foundations that would be reported to Parliament. The government has stated that existing provisions for evaluation, performance reporting and compliance audits cover most of the expectations related to performance audit. They also indicated that performance audits could be undertaken by expanding audits of compliance with funding agreements. We disagree. Performance audits carried out by Parliament’s auditor and reported to Parliament are needed.

At present, my Office does not have access to audit any foundation. Yet many foundations are active in areas also covered by government programs. For example, both the Canada Foundation for Innovation and Technology Partnerships Canada, a special operating agency within Industry Canada, distribute public funding to improve Canada’s innovation performance.

A second area of concern is ministerial oversight. In 2002, we recommended that the government ensure that an adjustment mechanism was in place to allow sponsoring ministers to intervene in the exceptional case where the foundation is clearly not meeting its public purpose or where circumstances have changed considerably since its creation.

We found that in most cases the government has put in place provisions for extreme situations, such as default, or the foundation breaking the funding agreement, and the recovery of unspent funds on wind-up. However, no action has been taken with respect to the need for ministers to make adjustments where circumstances have changed considerably.

In our view, an adjustment mechanism is needed to ensure that sponsoring departments and foundations do not work at cross purposes. There are many reasons why government could want adjustments to be made, including major policy shifts and federal-provincial agreements directly affecting foundations.

We also found weaknesses in Treasury Board policies, and some recommendations we made in 2002 have not been acted upon. For example, the policy on transfer payments allows exemptions to the requirement that payments not be made in advance of need, and these have been freely given for transfers to foundations. We recommended that the Treasury Board Secretariat review the use of these exemptions. The Secretariat has planned a review of the overall policy. However, it is not clear whether this review will also deal with the use of exemptions.

As in earlier years, my observations on the government’s financial statements in the 2004 Public Accounts raise concerns about the accounting for transfers to foundations. These concerns are summarized in the chapter. The government has recorded these transfers as expenses although most of the funds remain in the foundations’ bank accounts and investments accumulating interest.

I note that the accounting and accountability issues are linked. At issue is whether the foundations are controlled by the government. If they are, then payments to them could not be recorded as expenses, since the foundations would be within the accounting entity. Accountability improvements that increase government control may raise the question of consolidation within the accounting entity, under the accounting standards set by the Public Sector Accounting Board. [. . . .]

Note: Accountability of Foundations -- Main Points

How very interesting that Paul Martin's government wanted to place two departments, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, under the control of one minister. Would that minister have been Bill Graham, Pierre Pettigrew or someone else who would have run the combined department?

CSIS Downsized 700 Agents - Report of Manpower & Funding Problem, Spinning Defeat of Bills to Split Foreign Affairs & Int. Trade or the original article

Search: Spinning Defeat of Bills to Split Foreign Affairs & Int. Trade (or International Trade)

UN: Maurice Strong and Friends -- Steyn's "The Power Behind the Thrones" Has Something for Everyone & a Canadian Connection -- Just Search

UN: Morphing Moses

Morphing Moses Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com, February 22, 2005

The Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect on February 16, 2005 in a blaze of celebrations, proves the power and might of obscure Canadian, Maurice Strong.

[. . . . ]


Search: United Nations 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2008 to 2012, unproven, ensconced in the offices, Earth Charter Initiative, Ten Commandments, Gorbachev, spirituality




UN: Oil-for-Food finds NFL football! Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com, February 21, 2005

Search: a rags to riches tale, Javier Loya, Vitol SA, Newfoundland, Come by Chance, refinery, Oilexco Ltd, El Paso Energy, Michael Loya, French President Jacques Chirac, Tikritans




Mark Steyn "The Power behind the thrones " -- an article with something to interest everyone -- just check the search terms.

The Power behind the thrones 14 February 2005, Mark Steyn

I always love the bit on the big international news story where they try to find the Canadian angle. [. . . . ]

Once upon a time, it didn’t seem such an effort to find “Canadians making a difference in the world”--D-Day, say, or even the early years of Pearsonian peacekeeping. But it’s a stretch nowadays. [. . . . ]

And yet, throughout this period, there has indeed been a Canadian making a difference in the world-and if The National wanted to do a 133-part special report on him, for once they’d have enough material. Most of us know Paul Desmarais as the . . . well, let’s hold it there: most Canadians don’t know Paul Desmarais at all. [. . . . ]

Search: “the Toronto-born spokesman for the international aid agency Oxfam.” Halliburton, Power Corp.,TotalFinaElf, “liberated”, Bush, Cheney, "Jean Chrétien: his daughter, his son-in-law", Stockwell Day, CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Saddam Link, bank, global-compassion, Conrad Black, Maude Barlow, Nicholas Sarkozy, world’s least famous Canadian, Rabinovitch, John Rae, Joel Bell, economic adviser, Senator Michael Pitfield.




Did the UN have anything to do with the release of 880 women and children?

release of 880 women and children from bondage

Working through an Arab-African peace committee, CSI officials were able to secure the voluntary emancipation of 880 people. Many women and girls, interviewed upon their release, reported being gang-raped and forced to convert. Our members helped underwrite the cost of the survival kits that were distributed to liberated slaves. [. . . . ]

Security: Government's Prorities? Phony Docs-Harjit Singh, CSIS-Charkaoui-No Electronic Monitoring Device Available, Canadian Islamic Congress & CAIR

Security: What are the Government's Prorities? -- public enemy #1 crooks and terrorists are coming in -- and Canada's Liberal welcome wagon is out -- discussion of this might embarass the government

Border alert for deportee and credit-card scamster, Harjit Singh who has filed a $1.25-million countersuit against former Minister Sgro Tom Godfrey, Toronto Sun, Feb. 23, 05

CANADIAN AND U.S. border alerts have been issued for deported pizzeria owner Harjit Singh, who police say may try to sneak back into the country. At the same time, the man who brought down former immigration minister Judy Sgro over influence peddling allegations has launched a counter-lawsuit against Sgro for $1.25 million. [. . . . ]

Search: phony travel documents




Reminder: listen -- via Canada Free Press, "Frustrations of an infidel" Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com, February 19, 2005




CSIS agent testifies at Charkaoui hearing about threats to Canada -- Minister claims $8 billion for security but no electronic monitoring device available

CSIS agent testifies at Charkaoui hearing about threats to Canada Nelson Wyatt, February 21, 2005

Under questioning, [a high-ranking CSIS intelligence officer] also said al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden had declared Canada a target in two edicts issued in 1998 and 2002, the latter because of Canada's support of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

[. . . . ] But jailed millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam and terrorist Abou Zubaida, also in detention in the United States, identified him as the man they met at a training camp in Afghanistan in 1998.

[. . . . Adil] Charkaoui, 31, spent his first weekend of freedom under police supervision. Police showed up at his house early Saturday, alerted him to their presence because of his lack of a monitoring device and remained parked outside his residence. [. . . . ]

Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD): "CAIR condemns '24' but it won't condemn Islamic terrorists"

Canadian Coalition for Democracy or Democracies: CAIR condemns '24' but it won't condemn Islamic terrorists posted by Jacques, an article by Joel Mowbray, February 21, 2005

What has Fox's hit TV show "24" done to prompt TV Guide to report "24 in Hot Water" and Entertainment Weekly to ask, "Has '24' Gone Too Far?"?

Its bad guys are terrorists who are Muslims. That's it.

Few of us need reminding that we are not simply waging a war against terror, but against the radical Islam that animates the enemy. The enemy is not coincidentally Muslim, but they are the enemy because their radicalized version of Islam tells them to be. "24," so far at least, understands that.

What makes "24" this season so special, though, is that it's the first entertainment production in the post-9/11 era to accurately portray the enemy. The Monday night hit features the Araz family, Turkish Muslim immigrants who live in suburbia and are a sleeper cell for an unnamed terrorist outfit. [. . . . ]

When four Americans were murdered (and burned, hanged, and mutilated) in Fallujah last year, CAIR pointedly refused to condemn the murders, only saying that mutilations were contrary to Islam a position almost identical to infamous Fallujah cleric Sheikh Khalid Ahmed. [. . . . ]

By the way, did the USA's CAIR or Canada's Canadian Islamic Congress as high-profile Islamic organizations contribute to charity for the children of Beslan -- or do their efforts seem to be concentrated on efforts to aid the suspected sleepers and terrorists in the West's midst?

Or is one not supposed to ask in politically correct Canada?




Islamic Congress's Letter to PM Supports Position on Syria and Lebanon, and Warns That Aggressive U.S. Policies in Middle East Will Lead to More Death, Destruction and Misery

Islamic Congress's Letter to PM Supports Position on Syria and Lebanon, and Warns That Aggressive U.S. Policies in Middle East Will Lead to More Death, Destruction and Misery February 19th, 2005, Muharram 10, 1426, Volume: 8, Issue: 15

In a letter today to Prime Minister Paul Martin, the Canadian Islamic Congress said it endorses yesterday Martin's characterization that Syrian troops are in Lebanon as peacekeepers, not invaders. "The withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon should be left up to those two countries to negotiate," said the CIC.

Obviously, this group did not learn history from an unbiased instructor -- graduates of indoctrination without thought from Islamic schools, undoubtedly.

CIC also urged the Canadian government to moderate Washington's aggressive and dangerous policies against Iran, Syria and Lebanon, warning that failure to do so will lead only to more death, destruction and human misery in the Middle East. [. . . . ]

Does Canadian taxpayer money has go into the CIC under the rubric of "multiculturalism" or through charitable status? Or does the prohibition against alcohol allow all those scotch dollars to support this active and vocal group started by Mr. Elmasry, headed by him and claiming to speak for all Muslims in Canada?

Security: Mystery gas, Who Directs Foreign Policy? Beware China's traps, 10 Most 'Spiked' Stories

Security: Mystery gas hits passengers

This is an Australian story but it should be a wake-up call for all of us.

Mystery gas hits passengers Daniel Hoare, Steve Creedy, February 22, 2005, via Canada Free Press

There was a chemical which rapidly dissipated; 47 were hospitalized. The terminal for Virgin Blue and Regional Express were affected. It makes you wonder, does it not?




Security: Canada's "independent" foreign policy

Canada's "independent" foreign policy Al Gordon, 2005/02/16

Let me see... Non-democratic China dictates to Canada what our foreign policy should be toward democratic Taiwan, even to the point of Canada not allowing a democratically-electred Taiwanese representative to visit his family in Canada.

And the Palestinian Authority dictates to Pierre Pettigrew, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, what Canada's foreign policy must be toward Yasser Arafat. Mahmoud Abbas says that Canada must honor the greaetst killer of Jews since Adolf Hitler, and our Foreign Minister meekly obliges.

. . . Beijing. . . Dalai Lama. . . Tamil Tigers [. . . . ]

There is more.




Security: Beware China's traps

Beware China's traps James T. Hackett, Feb. 22, 05, Washington Times. James T. Hackett is a contributing writer to The Washington Times and is based in San Diego.

As the Bush administration concentrates on the multiple problems of the Middle East and moves to improve relations with Europe, it must take care not to ignore the traps set by China. With more than 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, an anti-American regime in Iran determined to acquire nuclear weapons, an unhelpful government in Syria, and a rare chance for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the Middle East is naturally the focus of administration attention.

But the Chinese pot simmers on the back burner and could boil over if not carefully watched. With the U.S. heavily committed in the Middle East and eager to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Beijing sees a chance for a free hand with Taiwan in exchange for helping control North Korea.

China's growing economic prosperity gives it leverage. Last year, the U.S. trade deficit with China rose to $162 billion. Our purchases are making China a fat cat nation with enough cash to buy everything in sight. What it wants most is modern weapons that will give it the capability to both strike Taiwan and fight off the U.S. Pacific Fleet. [. . . . ]

Security: Identity-theft case the latest in a series

Identity-theft case the latest in a series Tom Ramstack, Feb. 22, 05, Washington Times

The Choice Point Inc. identity theft case follows similar incidents recently that show the vulnerability of consumers to electronic fraud.

[. . . . ] Obtaining personal financial information can be as easy as stealing mail sent by a bank or looking at workplace records of customers and fellow employees, she said.

Most often, thieves steal the information from checkbooks or wallets, according to the Better Business Bureau. Only 12 percent of identity theft results from computer crimes. [. . . . ]

Read this one -- lots of examples -- even from "45,000 former military and intelligence workers", "30,000 students and staff members", "blood donors" and others. One perpetrator was "a former help-desk worker for Teledata Communications Inc.".




Security: -- WND's 'Operation Spike' pinpoints major events media ignored

The year's 10 most underreported stories

America's vulnerability to a nuclear terrorist attack tops the list of the 10 most "spiked" or underreported stories of the last year, according to an annual WND survey.

Around the close of each year, most news organizations present their retrospective replays of what they consider to have been the top news stories in the previous 12 months.

However, -- WND's 'Operation Spike' pinpoints major events media ignored the editors of WorldNetDaily always have found it more newsworthy to publish a compilation of the most important unreported or underreported news events of the year – to bring forth perhaps for one last time major news stories that were undeservedly "spiked" by the establishment press. [. . . . ]

I don't know who contribute to this site but they are good!

If you are pressed for time, just go to this site and read the items in bold and get hooked into reading now or return lster for the details.

Homosexual ‘Marriage’ a Health Risk Doctors Warn Parliamentarians -- Right Honourable MP's Pat O'Brien and Stephen Harper on Gay 'Marriage'

Homosexual ‘Marriage’ a Health Risk Doctors Warn Parliamentarians or download the Adobe Acrobat .pdf file

The following came from someone I know; he has a science background and is very concerned.

OTTAWA, February 17, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A group of physicians has presented to Canadian Parliamentarians scientific evidence that homosexual marriage is a health risk to Canadians. The heavily referenced brief titled "Gay Marriage and Homosexuality, Some Medical Comments" warns that the new law will result in the further normalization of homosexual sex which has already resulted in severe health risks and related costs to care for and treat persons affected by risky sexual behaviour.

The document, signed by doctors in different disciplines from family medicine, dermatology and neurology, warns that anal sex as practiced by most gay men, has a large number of diseases associated with it, “many of which are rare or even unknown in the heterosexual population” such as: anal cancer, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, Herpes simplex virus, HIV, Human papilloma virus, Isospora belli, Microsporidia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C and others.

Doctors who spoke with LifeSiteNews.com also warn that this dangerous sexual practice has spread to the heterosexual community as well.

“There is a significant increase in the risk of contracting HIV when engaging in anal sex,” the paper warns. It cites studies indicating that “Young homosexual men aged 15-22, who had anal sex had a fivefold increased risk of contracting HIV over those who never engaged in anal sex.”

The brief notes also that “Over 70% of all AIDS diagnoses in Canada in adults over the age of 15 up to June 2004 were in homosexual men (13,019 out of 19,238).”

The brief warns “Any attempts to legalize gay marriage should be aware of the link between homosexuality and pedophilia. While the majority of homosexuals are not involved in pedophilia, it is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among pedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable.”

The doctors cite the Journal of Homosexuality in demonstrating an overlap between the homosexual activist movement and the promoters of pedophilia. Moreover, the paper references studies showing that while “the number of homosexuals in essentially all surveys is less than 3%,” “the percentage of homosexuals among pedophiles is 25%.” It concludes: “Therefore, the prevalence of pedophilia among homosexuals is about 10-25 times higher than one would expect if the proportion of pedophiles were evenly distributed within the (hetero- and homosexual) populations.”

The authors of the report are John Shea,MD, FRCP (C), Radiologist; John K. Wilson MD, FRCP (C), Cardiologist; Paul Ranalli MD, FRCP (C), Neurologist; Christina Paulaitis MD, CCFP, Family Physician; Luigi Castagna MD, FRCP (C), Paediatric Neurologist; Hans-Christian Raabe MD, MRCP MR! CGP Internist; W. André Lafrance MD, FRCP (C), Dermatologist

the complete report

Acrobat format

Right Honourable Member of Parliament -- MP Pat O'Brien, London--Fanshawe, Liberal

There are MP's of all political stripes who have demonstrated their integrity. One I wish to note is MP Pat O'Brien, a Liberal, who spoke eloquently against same sex 'marriage'. He spoke out of principle -- obviously, not a YES man for the PM/PMO who, rumour has it, have been pressuring MP's to follow the Cabinet in voting yes to same sex 'marriage'. There are MP's who will vote their conscience and who are mindful of the wishes of their constituents; Mr. O'Brien appears to be one of them.

I admire the integrity of any man who goes against what must be overwhelming pressure to go along, especially in a minority government situation, one who votes his conscience. Liberals like Pat O'Brien will not lose their seats over gay 'marriage', I believe. He joins other MP's who have tried to make a difference -- MP David Kilgour and MP Robert Nault come to mind; I admit I know too little about either but I am impressed with the little I have read about their efforts -- on security in the former case and on cleaning up the finances on the reserves in the latter. They may have failed -- for now -- but they stood for something.

To earn our admiration, MP's do not have to agree with those of us who are of a conservative bent; they just have to be decent representatives for their constituents, MP's who try to do what is right, MP's who articulate what so many Canadians are saying and which some legislators close to the PMO ignore in pursuing their own agendas.

Pat O'Brien gave an impassioned defence of his position supporting traditional marriage. It was an eloquent speech.

Whatever their political affiliation, MP's who act with integrity should be honoured. Most of us simply want those who represent us to actually do so, not be forced to follow the PMO.


Email to thank this MP here: OBrien.P@parl.gc.ca


Most of us can live with what Parliamentarians decide on their own, not caving under pressure. If we do not like it we may vote them out. We can live with that. I would suggest we work to get rid of the judicial activism that props up the whole sorry system of a few deciding for all.





Another Right Honourable MP and Leader of HM Opposition, Stephen Harper -- his speech on the government's attempt to abolish the traditional definition of marriage in Canada

Address in the House of Commons on Bill C-38: the Hon. Stephen Harper, Leader of the Official Opposition February 16, 2005

Mr. Speaker, before I turn to my formal remarks I would like to begin with just a brief reply to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister spoke at length, as we just heard, about rights in the Charter of Rights. I remind the Prime Minister that in our system of government, the Prime Minister does not decide or define our rights. The Prime Minister does not interpret the Charter of Rights. The Supreme Court of Canada does that. He asked the Supreme Court of Canada to endorse his interpretation and it just refused.

[. . . . ] What do we have today? We have no agreement on child care. We have a phantom deal on infrastructure. We have missing policy reviews on defence and foreign affairs. We have none of that famous fixed for a generation in health care. We have holes in federal agencies, the same old democratic deficit in the Senate, unaccountable foundations and, on the first day of a major environmental and economic accord to which the Prime Minister committed this country, we have no plan whatsoever and the Prime Minister does not speak about it. His only speech is on his new-found passion for same sex marriage because it is the only proposal of significance he has been able to lay before the House of Commons.

The greater tragedy is the greater message in his speech, that if we do not accept his particular views on this legislation, then we are not truly Canadian. That is something that this party will never accept.

Questioning of Motives

[. . . . ] As the Prime Minister invited us to do [to win the leadership of his own party], I do want to engage in this debate about fundamental social values. I do want to discuss how compromise proposals like civil unions may be able to resolve some of the impediments the Prime Minister noted. I hope the Prime Minister will extend to me and roughly half the members of the House and roughly two-thirds of the country who support the traditional definition of marriage, the courtesy of an open debate without facing spurious charges of bigotry or bad faith from the Prime Minister, his spin doctors or his media allies. [. . . . ]

There is much more, ranging over aspects of this issue -- a "must read".




Some Winnipeg MPs receiving the most correspondence of their political careers

Thanks to R for the following item from the Wnnipeg Free Press, Feb 6 2005

- Same-sex marriage legislation has resulted in some Winnipeg MPs receiving the most correspondence of their political careers. CPC MP Joy Smith called the same-sex marriage legislation "a hot-button issue," and noted that her office receives about a thousand responses each week. Jack Haasbeek, executive constituency assistant to CPC justice critic Vic Toews, said this issue alone has generated "more correspondence than any other single issue since Vic was elected in the year 2000." The two Conservative MPs said their mail reflects overwhelming opposition to the legislation, while Liberal MP Anita Neville reported overwhelming support. . . . (K. Carlson : WFP A3).