Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Off To The Left Coast
Am leaving this morning for 10 days in beautiful B.C. (next to awful Alberta and Somnambulant Sask.). Will be walking, checking out the local Meaderies, book hunting, and maybe stalking Caddy out by UVIC. Also letting mom cook for me, and arguing with dad and the little brother. I'll post on a somewhat looser schedule, and may seem unusually mellow. Back after labour day.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Finally, NDP Begins To Question Jack Layton's Leadership
...on Bill C-391:
Manitoba NDP MP Jim Maloway said he was not consulted by Layton or anyone else on the proposed bill.
"I got a heads-up on Saturday that there would be announcement by the leader Monday morning on the gun registry," said Maloway.
Regardless, said Maloway, he still plans to vote with Hoeppner.
"Nothing there changes my view on the long-gun registry," said Maloway.
He also said Layton's proposal is too little too late.
"This bill just went through committee last spring," said Maloway. "Where were all these amendments at the committee?"
If you read closely here, it sounds as though Maloway is admitting that Layton's new bill will not derail the vote on C-391. Furthermore, read between the lines and it sounds like Maloway is saying that he will not co-operate in the bringing forward of Jack's new "compromise" bill. Looks like the NDP leader has lost control of the debate and his own caucus.
So, is his gun registry stance Jack Layton's worst political mistake in a career that hasn't seen too many of them?
Manitoba NDP MP Jim Maloway said he was not consulted by Layton or anyone else on the proposed bill.
"I got a heads-up on Saturday that there would be announcement by the leader Monday morning on the gun registry," said Maloway.
Regardless, said Maloway, he still plans to vote with Hoeppner.
"Nothing there changes my view on the long-gun registry," said Maloway.
He also said Layton's proposal is too little too late.
"This bill just went through committee last spring," said Maloway. "Where were all these amendments at the committee?"
If you read closely here, it sounds as though Maloway is admitting that Layton's new bill will not derail the vote on C-391. Furthermore, read between the lines and it sounds like Maloway is saying that he will not co-operate in the bringing forward of Jack's new "compromise" bill. Looks like the NDP leader has lost control of the debate and his own caucus.
So, is his gun registry stance Jack Layton's worst political mistake in a career that hasn't seen too many of them?
Iggy's Been Working Out
I've written once or twice about how Iggy should exit his summer tour physically: should he sport an Alberta beer gut, thus appealing to Der Volk and maybe making inroads into the Tory strongholds out West, or remain lean and efficient like the Eastern Liberal Hawk that seems to be his default setting?And I'm proud to announce that it looks like Iggy's managed a classic Liberal compromise: nobody would dare call the man a scrawny elitist, but there's obviously a rowing machine at the back of that bus.
And he's been filing his fangs back a little, so as not to hurt anyone when he's baby-kissing. That too is good.
Victory will surely be ours.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Da Wymman O' Canada: We Supported Jack Layton
...and all we got was this lousy ribbon.Pity when your legacy on gun control winds up being a half's penny worth of cheap fabric.
Jack's Latest Feint
Mr. Layton is in a difficult spot: 12 of his MPs from rural ridings have told their constituents that they will oppose the registry. The votes of those 12 MP, when added to those of the 144 members of the Conservative caucus plus the two independents who normally vote along Conservative lines, would spell the failure of the motion to kill Ms. Hoeppner’s bill.
But Mr. Layton, who represents a downtown Toronto riding, personally supports the registry, as do other members of his caucus from urban constituencies. So he is proposing to introduce his own legislation – possibly in the form of a private-member’s bill – to address rural concerns.
You're kidding? A new bill wouldn't come up for a vote until the registry was dead and gone, so its useless. A private member's bill might never come up, so is less than useless. And, please, can we dispense with this silly argument about how Jack's being "brave" in allowing his back-benchers to "vote their conscience"? What a load of BS; the NDP knows how to march in lock step as well as any party in the Western word. Pretending that they've suddenly discovered the principle of local democracy is just too rich.
Update: Its to be a private member's bill. I've no idea how this is supposed to "stave off" a final vote on Bill C-391, and presumably neither does Jack or anyone else. Is the vote on C-391 supposed to be postponed until Jack's private member's bill slowly rises to the top of the parliamentary queue?
Update 2: Here's how:
Layton was pressed by reporters on how he expects this bill to become a reality, when Hoeppner's bill is lined up for a vote so soon after Parliament resumes. He suggested that if all parties come onside, they could use the bill as a basis to reach a solution — presumably meaning that Hoeppner's bill would either be amended or would die.
So Jack's compromise would require the Tories to *cough cough* dump bill C-391.
But Mr. Layton, who represents a downtown Toronto riding, personally supports the registry, as do other members of his caucus from urban constituencies. So he is proposing to introduce his own legislation – possibly in the form of a private-member’s bill – to address rural concerns.
You're kidding? A new bill wouldn't come up for a vote until the registry was dead and gone, so its useless. A private member's bill might never come up, so is less than useless. And, please, can we dispense with this silly argument about how Jack's being "brave" in allowing his back-benchers to "vote their conscience"? What a load of BS; the NDP knows how to march in lock step as well as any party in the Western word. Pretending that they've suddenly discovered the principle of local democracy is just too rich.
Update: Its to be a private member's bill. I've no idea how this is supposed to "stave off" a final vote on Bill C-391, and presumably neither does Jack or anyone else. Is the vote on C-391 supposed to be postponed until Jack's private member's bill slowly rises to the top of the parliamentary queue?
Update 2: Here's how:
Layton was pressed by reporters on how he expects this bill to become a reality, when Hoeppner's bill is lined up for a vote so soon after Parliament resumes. He suggested that if all parties come onside, they could use the bill as a basis to reach a solution — presumably meaning that Hoeppner's bill would either be amended or would die.
So Jack's compromise would require the Tories to *cough cough* dump bill C-391.
Monday Morning Quick Hits
Tories abandon non-whites: Alberta base puts kibosh on ethnic outreach.
And:
NDP abandons cities: gun registry cowardice will hurt candidates in T.O. and Vancouver.
And:
NDP abandons cities: gun registry cowardice will hurt candidates in T.O. and Vancouver.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Victoria Park Bus Shooting, Update
National Post runs a short piece, quoting me. Toronto Star says the man is dead, and has a witness saying there were two bursts of shots adding up to five, which is quite possible although not how I remember it (I thought there were four shots fired in two bursts, 3+1).
Police Shooting On Victoria Park Bus (24)
So, you will read about this tomorrow.
1) Incident on Victoria Park Bus 24 going South. Fellow pulls knife on bus.
2) Apparently, bus driver calls police. Looks like the bus has been cleared of other passengers by the time they show (or at least by the time the shooting starts).
3) I am just coming out of Value Village at Vic Park and Eglinton, have purchased 0 books, and hear a pattern of three, silence, and then one, shots (as they turn out to be--or it might have been two shots and then two more, as one of the folks at the scene suggested).
4) I am jogging that way anyway, and when I arrive, about three more police cars have joined the four or five that already surrounded the pulled-over bus. More keep coming; I think nearly a dozen are involved by the time I've passed the area going North. As I noted earlier, it doesn;t look like anyone is left on the bus.
5) Several people there tell me the white (?) guy carrying the knife got off the bus, did NOT heed police calls to drop his weapon, and was shot. He's laying on the other side of the bus, apparently, though I didn't see him.
6) Police tape is right now going up around the scene, and vic Park has a police presence almost up to Lawrence.
All this happened at just around 3:00 PM.
Update: First MSM story here.
1) Incident on Victoria Park Bus 24 going South. Fellow pulls knife on bus.
2) Apparently, bus driver calls police. Looks like the bus has been cleared of other passengers by the time they show (or at least by the time the shooting starts).
3) I am just coming out of Value Village at Vic Park and Eglinton, have purchased 0 books, and hear a pattern of three, silence, and then one, shots (as they turn out to be--or it might have been two shots and then two more, as one of the folks at the scene suggested).
4) I am jogging that way anyway, and when I arrive, about three more police cars have joined the four or five that already surrounded the pulled-over bus. More keep coming; I think nearly a dozen are involved by the time I've passed the area going North. As I noted earlier, it doesn;t look like anyone is left on the bus.
5) Several people there tell me the white (?) guy carrying the knife got off the bus, did NOT heed police calls to drop his weapon, and was shot. He's laying on the other side of the bus, apparently, though I didn't see him.
6) Police tape is right now going up around the scene, and vic Park has a police presence almost up to Lawrence.
All this happened at just around 3:00 PM.
Update: First MSM story here.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Some Investments Are Better Than Others
Despite the shrieking from Fox News North, having T.O. buy 450 Pape Ave. bestows heritage status on one of the city's more notable houses, something that the Harris family, descendants of previous owners, having been lobbying for for years. Also, though the word "subsidized" gets thrown around alot in Warmington's story, the building will be sub-divided into 19 studio/apartment units that will sell for $100,000 apiece, which will recoup most of the city's costs.And starving artists are a pretty good economic investment in any event. It took the cost of a gestetner(*) to launch Margaret Atwood's career, and now she's a huge economic plus for the nation.
On the other hand, 10 mill for a flag-pole that reminds all the middle-aged men on council of a giant penis--that seems a waste of money.
PS. Guess which project mayoral candidate Rob Ford supports?
(*) That's what some of Canada's government supported, 60s era Lit Mags were printed with.
National Post Brings The Shame
The article Corporate Welfare Not Repaid — bureaucrats unrepentant, published on Full comment.com on August 23, 2010, wrongly suggested that J.D. Irving, Limited was a recipient of Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) funds that were used to produce Royale brand bath tissue and that were not repaid. In fact, J.D. Irving, Limited began receiving an ACOA grant in 2005 for a research project involving naturally occurring spore in trees that is a natural immunization against budworm infestation. The research project involves respected scientists and shows great potential to reduce pesticide spraying, with positive environmental benefits.
The original piece is gone, but the folks at NP haven't bothered trying to remove the google cache version, which isn't as difficult as you might think.
As for corrections, looks like the rumour I noted yesterday--about Conservative talk-show ranter Lowell Green showing up for the INDU meeting on the long-form census--turned out to be incorrect. Fortunately, Lawrie McFarlane brought more than enough crazy to make up.
The original piece is gone, but the folks at NP haven't bothered trying to remove the google cache version, which isn't as difficult as you might think.
As for corrections, looks like the rumour I noted yesterday--about Conservative talk-show ranter Lowell Green showing up for the INDU meeting on the long-form census--turned out to be incorrect. Fortunately, Lawrie McFarlane brought more than enough crazy to make up.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Why Did The Tamil Cross The Sea (Again)?
Bryan Weese keeps up the Fox News North drumbeat o' fear, but his story does contain, way down at the bottom, some new and useful information. Remember the non-scientific non-survey of Tamil refugees that Brian Lilley wrote about last week? He used some of the figures in it to conclude:
...the majority of successful Tamil refugees travel back to Sri Lanka, raising questions about the legitimacy of their refugee status.
Actually, it didn't really raise such questions, and Lilley only thought it did because he ain't too handy with numbers. His case relied on the assumption that the Tamils who went home both arrived in Canada and returned to Sri Lanka in 2009 (read through the link above for details).
However, from Weese' story we find out that this is almost certainly not what transpired:
The Canadian Tamil Congress said many of those trips were likely taken during the four-year ceasefire in the civil war from 2002 to 2006.
Booyah! Hack on hack violence.
OT: This guy is also tracking the decline and fall of FNN. Worth a read.
...the majority of successful Tamil refugees travel back to Sri Lanka, raising questions about the legitimacy of their refugee status.
Actually, it didn't really raise such questions, and Lilley only thought it did because he ain't too handy with numbers. His case relied on the assumption that the Tamils who went home both arrived in Canada and returned to Sri Lanka in 2009 (read through the link above for details).
However, from Weese' story we find out that this is almost certainly not what transpired:
The Canadian Tamil Congress said many of those trips were likely taken during the four-year ceasefire in the civil war from 2002 to 2006.
Booyah! Hack on hack violence.
OT: This guy is also tracking the decline and fall of FNN. Worth a read.
A Few Average Men, Redux
The Tories have scared up a few, in fact precisely two, "regular guys" to come talk up their changes to the census at the INDU meeting this morning. Or at least I am assuming that talk radio ranter and Fox News North wannabe David Ruthorford will be on-side. In addition, Lawrie McFarlane, editorial writer for the Times-Colonist, has made his feelings clear. And that seems to be it from the schedule that I can see. Even the gal from B.C. civil liberties seems pro-long form.
Update: Looks like the Tories have found another talk show guy; Lowell Green will be appearing.
Update: Tories also found James Henderson, whose bitches turned out to be with the still mandatory agricultural census, and Joseph Lam, the vice-president of the Canada First Community Organization, to speak on behalf of regular folk.
Update: Looks like the Tories have found another talk show guy; Lowell Green will be appearing.
Update: Tories also found James Henderson, whose bitches turned out to be with the still mandatory agricultural census, and Joseph Lam, the vice-president of the Canada First Community Organization, to speak on behalf of regular folk.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Dear Mr. Layton: Please Take Note
Letters to the Editor
By SUN READERS
Ottawa Sun
Last Updated: August 25, 2010 2:00am
Layton under the gun
Jack Layton is trying to bury his head in the sand. He refuses to acknowledge the responsibility he and his party will bear if the gun registry is dismantled.
I am the mother of Polytechnique victim Anne-Marie Edward and have been involved in the gun control issue for 20 years now.
Layton is hiding behind the claim that the bill to repeal the registry is a private member’s bill, in spite of the evidence that it is a government bill. Before the last vote, he instructed his caucus members to say: ‘This’ if you support the Conservatives ... and ‘that’ if you oppose the Conservatives. The result: 12 NDP and eight Liberals voted with the Tories.
The Liberals have come to their senses and will whip the vote. If the gun registry goes down the drain for lack of Jack Layton’s leadership, the Canadian people will remember him, not as the founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, but as the man who let the victims of Polytechnique and the women of Canada down when we needed him most.
Of course, dismantling the gun registry is a Conservative initiative. Don’t worry, women will remember that as well. But Layton is in a position to stop them. You cannot side with the devil and pretend you are an angel.
Suzanne Laplante Edward
Pierrefonds, Que.
By SUN READERS
Ottawa Sun
Last Updated: August 25, 2010 2:00am
Layton under the gun
Jack Layton is trying to bury his head in the sand. He refuses to acknowledge the responsibility he and his party will bear if the gun registry is dismantled.
I am the mother of Polytechnique victim Anne-Marie Edward and have been involved in the gun control issue for 20 years now.
Layton is hiding behind the claim that the bill to repeal the registry is a private member’s bill, in spite of the evidence that it is a government bill. Before the last vote, he instructed his caucus members to say: ‘This’ if you support the Conservatives ... and ‘that’ if you oppose the Conservatives. The result: 12 NDP and eight Liberals voted with the Tories.
The Liberals have come to their senses and will whip the vote. If the gun registry goes down the drain for lack of Jack Layton’s leadership, the Canadian people will remember him, not as the founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, but as the man who let the victims of Polytechnique and the women of Canada down when we needed him most.
Of course, dismantling the gun registry is a Conservative initiative. Don’t worry, women will remember that as well. But Layton is in a position to stop them. You cannot side with the devil and pretend you are an angel.
Suzanne Laplante Edward
Pierrefonds, Que.
He Ain't Got The Funk
So far the only picture I've seen that shows the PM actually dancing, and I use that term loosely, on his arctic tour.
More Math From Fox News North
And we're talking billions upon billions in oil and natural gas that will feed the world's energy demands into the next millennium.
A pretty ambitious claim, given that the next millennium is 990 years off.
PS. You don't need to read the editorial through the link. Believe me.
A pretty ambitious claim, given that the next millennium is 990 years off.
PS. You don't need to read the editorial through the link. Believe me.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Brian Lilley: Innumerate Cad
As you may recall, on the 22nd Fox News North published a story entitled Refugees go home for holidays: based on the results of a "secret government survey", FNN reporter Brian Lilley wrote that
...the majority of successful Tamil refugees travel back to Sri Lanka, raising questions about the legitimacy of their refugee status.
Of course, it turned out the number of people interviewed for the survey was a whopping 50. Furthermore, as CBC's Kady O'Malley soon discovered, the secret goverment survey was not a secret government survey at all,
...but a review of a sampling of files from Sri Lankan nationals, some of whom were formerly found to be Convention refugees, who now want to sponsor family members to come to Canada.
...and the government agency behind it, the The Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA), was quick to point out that
...[we have] no ability to state that this sample is statistically representative of any pattern that may or may not exist beyond this sample. Rather, these numbers are solely indicative of an observed pattern within the small sample reviewed.
Ah , but while the actual stats people who conducted this "file review" cautioned against generalizing beyond their sample, this hasn't stopped Mr. Lilley from generalizing beyond their sample. Employing special math techniques taught to him by Kory Teneycke, he continues to cast aspersions upon Tamil immigrants:
While the government survey of files in their Colombo office was only 50, that same office approved only 611 visas last year. So 50 out of that (8% of the total) is indeed significant.
Last year only 392 people from Sri Lanka arrived at a Canadian port of entry and claimed refugee status. When dealing with numbers in the hundreds a sampling of 50 is significant number.
But, of course, Lilley has no way of knowing that any of the 50 Tamils in the sample were among the 611/392 that came over "last year". As the CBSA email suggests, many of them could have been in Canada for considerably longer. All of which makes Lilley's percentages in the above far less "significant" than advertised.
Worse than Lilley's foray into bullshit mathematics, however, is his totally gratuitous shot at Kady O'Malley for calling him out on the matter:
The left in Canada, it seems, would rather ignore the issue than take the government to task. Over at the CBC, blogger in residence Kady O’Malley took issue with our numbers for not being statistically valid.
...the majority of successful Tamil refugees travel back to Sri Lanka, raising questions about the legitimacy of their refugee status.
Of course, it turned out the number of people interviewed for the survey was a whopping 50. Furthermore, as CBC's Kady O'Malley soon discovered, the secret goverment survey was not a secret government survey at all,
...but a review of a sampling of files from Sri Lankan nationals, some of whom were formerly found to be Convention refugees, who now want to sponsor family members to come to Canada.
...and the government agency behind it, the The Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA), was quick to point out that
...[we have] no ability to state that this sample is statistically representative of any pattern that may or may not exist beyond this sample. Rather, these numbers are solely indicative of an observed pattern within the small sample reviewed.
Ah , but while the actual stats people who conducted this "file review" cautioned against generalizing beyond their sample, this hasn't stopped Mr. Lilley from generalizing beyond their sample. Employing special math techniques taught to him by Kory Teneycke, he continues to cast aspersions upon Tamil immigrants:
While the government survey of files in their Colombo office was only 50, that same office approved only 611 visas last year. So 50 out of that (8% of the total) is indeed significant.
Last year only 392 people from Sri Lanka arrived at a Canadian port of entry and claimed refugee status. When dealing with numbers in the hundreds a sampling of 50 is significant number.
But, of course, Lilley has no way of knowing that any of the 50 Tamils in the sample were among the 611/392 that came over "last year". As the CBSA email suggests, many of them could have been in Canada for considerably longer. All of which makes Lilley's percentages in the above far less "significant" than advertised.
Worse than Lilley's foray into bullshit mathematics, however, is his totally gratuitous shot at Kady O'Malley for calling him out on the matter:
The left in Canada, it seems, would rather ignore the issue than take the government to task. Over at the CBC, blogger in residence Kady O’Malley took issue with our numbers for not being statistically valid.
But of course we know they weren't statisically valid and, as I pointed out above, they still aren't. So: two displays of innumeracy sandwiching a cheap shot. The nerve of this man.
Frankly, I would travel to Ottawa and box his ears myself, but its really a long drive, and I've had a bum knee since 'Nam. And there's my trick elbow. Luckily, Kady is more than able to protect her own honour. I've met her and, while really very tiny, she's got a nasty bite.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Yo Chris Selley! Raheel Raza is a CHICK!
Honestly, dude its been hours since you wrote this, and still no correction. Besides you oughtta know who Raheel is--she's one of them moderate Muslims that hangs with Tarek Fatah. If you don't know that by now-- if the NP is going forward on this sloppy a basis--how is Post Media going to position themselves to the Left of Fox News North as Canada's responsible or at least non-Kooky Conservative media outlet? Which is what you guys seem to be trying to do lately. Pity, though, eh? Sucks when you have to grow up.
Julian Fantino--Federal Tory Candidate In Vaughan?
Becoming an MP sounds like having negative momentum, career wise (unless he was quickly made minister of something), but WK knows what WK knows.
Iggy Gives A Twitch
...on Global Warming. Not much. Just a twitch. Of course its difficult to make the connection between individual weather events and climate change, but...
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