Whatever keeps this story in the news is OK by me.
PS. This is the statement on his Facebook page. No accompanying graphics, unfortunately.
PS. This is the statement on his Facebook page. No accompanying graphics, unfortunately.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
= BOOM!!!
... Tory Majority + NDP opposition.
Mark my words.
Although maybe me and my wife can load up our Cavalier and make a dash for the The Free Republic of British Columbia, if the Trans Canada hasn't been blockaded by then. Kill me if we run out of gas in Mushaboo, though, or in Calgary where they haven't mastered the concept of a two-way street. And d'you know how many prairie place names, like "Winnipeg" for example, were originally First Nation's words meaning "frozen tundra" or "ain't nothing here but blackflies"? Many, many of them.
On the other hand, maybe we could stay put and join the new nation of Que-ntario, where we pay for their social programs and in turn get physical access to their blonde chicks, especially Mitsou. My wife wouldn't be too happy with that, but apparently they've also got cheese.
In any case, I'm planning for major changes ahead. These two are like kids playing with dynamite. They have no clue. Bad shit is on the way. Prepare to duck.
Mark my words.
Although maybe me and my wife can load up our Cavalier and make a dash for the The Free Republic of British Columbia, if the Trans Canada hasn't been blockaded by then. Kill me if we run out of gas in Mushaboo, though, or in Calgary where they haven't mastered the concept of a two-way street. And d'you know how many prairie place names, like "Winnipeg" for example, were originally First Nation's words meaning "frozen tundra" or "ain't nothing here but blackflies"? Many, many of them.
On the other hand, maybe we could stay put and join the new nation of Que-ntario, where we pay for their social programs and in turn get physical access to their blonde chicks, especially Mitsou. My wife wouldn't be too happy with that, but apparently they've also got cheese.
In any case, I'm planning for major changes ahead. These two are like kids playing with dynamite. They have no clue. Bad shit is on the way. Prepare to duck.
Warman Vs. Free Dominion: A Few Threads Tied Up
As part of his on-going legal action against the on-line forum Free Dominion, Ottawa human rights lawyer Richard Warman has been trying to get IP addresses and other information from the site owners in order to determine the identities of the remaining anonymous posters that he has accused of defaming him. The first time this particular motion went before a judge Mr. Warman was victorious. A second judge, however, ruled that the first had not adequately addressed the free speech/privacy issues involved, and asked that Mr. Warman show a prima facie case for defamation before ordering the site owners Mark and Connie Fournier to turn over the relevant documentation. Well, a third judge has spoken, and guess what? Your right to post anonymously is not absolute:
And since these postings were prima facie defamatory:
I'm not going to publish the entire decision, as it contains the defamatory statements at issue. I've read it through, though, and there's nothing particular surprising in the reasoning as far as I can tell. If you anonymously libel someone on-line, don't expect to make privacy and free speech your defence.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Not His Honorable Member
That's what PCPO candidate George Lepp is saying now. Yesterday, his story seemed different: Lepp claimed that he had indeed accidentally shot his dick, after which time someone had stolen his blackberry "curve" and advertised the family jewels on Lepp's twitter account. This morning, apparently without having even seen a picture of the dick, Mr. Lepp has disowned it. Apparently, after his blackberry was "pick-pocketed" (by attendees of the Anime North convention, it has been suggested), the thief took pictures of his own dick and posted them to Lepp's twitter account.
Believe it or not, I think this new version is the more believable.
Believe it or not, I think this new version is the more believable.
Once More With Senate Reform
They're at it again, so I will say it again:
1) All I've heard suggests that the provinces will be asked elect a Senate candidate who the PM promises to then appoint. In other words, the actual appointment will still be in the hands of the PM, who the provinces (and candidates) are being asked to trust. But I personally would not trust PM Harper to appoint a Senator whose views do not coincide with his own. As a practical matter, I think any potential Senate candidate with LPoC or NDP leanings would be disinclined to spend any money on a campaign where their appointment is not assured even should they win. But if the end result is to stuff the Senate with Torys, why not just stuff the Senate with Torys? Why the elaborate charade?
2) Any attempt to introduce term-limits for Senators will have to overcome opposition from the five Tory Senators who have come out against the idea, and any others who have not yet spoken up. Its hardly just the Libs in the upper-chamber who have opposed the idea.
1) All I've heard suggests that the provinces will be asked elect a Senate candidate who the PM promises to then appoint. In other words, the actual appointment will still be in the hands of the PM, who the provinces (and candidates) are being asked to trust. But I personally would not trust PM Harper to appoint a Senator whose views do not coincide with his own. As a practical matter, I think any potential Senate candidate with LPoC or NDP leanings would be disinclined to spend any money on a campaign where their appointment is not assured even should they win. But if the end result is to stuff the Senate with Torys, why not just stuff the Senate with Torys? Why the elaborate charade?
2) Any attempt to introduce term-limits for Senators will have to overcome opposition from the five Tory Senators who have come out against the idea, and any others who have not yet spoken up. Its hardly just the Libs in the upper-chamber who have opposed the idea.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Mr. Lepp's Penis
(Warning! Graphic image below!)
You know, you get emails sometimes. And late today I got one with this attached:
You know, you get emails sometimes. And late today I got one with this attached:
...purporting to show the penis of PCPO candidate for Niagara-on-the-Lake George Lepp. I thought, yeah right. Considering the proximity to this incident, which also involved twitter and yfrog, I figured that at most people might have figured out how to hack these social networking services and post naughty pictures from the accounts of political candidates.
But tonight I see this:
But tonight I see this:
Alan Sakach, communications director for the Ontario Conservatives, said the photo was inadvertently taken by Lepp’s BlackBerry when it was in his front pocket. The photo was posted after someone took it from the candidate for the riding of Niagara Falls, according to Sakach.
I don't want to spend too much time on the likeliness of Mr. Lepp's account. I would just point out that, however strange it might seem, the alternative is considerably worse. Back in my day, the best "fun" you could have at Conservative conventions was when they buried the live chickens in sand, and everyone got drunk on rot-gut and tried to shoot their heads off. If Mr. Lepp is not being honest here, then believe it or not the Tories have learned how to throw a better party.
Tim Hudak Asks: Is Our Children Learning?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Coming To A Neighborhood Near You
One thing about Tim Hudak's call for chain-gangs is that its a good reason to listen to Sam Cooke (who taught Rod Stewart to sing, incidentally). You can play it while you're reading the rest:
My favorite bit of Tory policy wonkery with respect to the chain gang proposal so far:
Details on whether inmates would be manacled together to prevent escape have yet to worked out, [Hudak] said.
Personally, I think Hudak has to come clean on the manacles/no-manacles issue before he can be taken seriously. I would obviously prefer a "no-manacle" policy, but as a typical Canadian compromise I would be able to accept manacles if they were offered in a series of attractive colours, and if the sex offenders and low level drug-dealers on the work crew filling pot-holes in downtown Markham were allowed to choose the colour of their own set of manacles. There's more opportunity for self-realization that way, in my opinion. But I'm a Liberal--I'm soft.
PS. It's hard to know how faithfully Conservative bloggers represent the Conservative rank & file, but this guy has an interesting take.
My favorite bit of Tory policy wonkery with respect to the chain gang proposal so far:
Details on whether inmates would be manacled together to prevent escape have yet to worked out, [Hudak] said.
Personally, I think Hudak has to come clean on the manacles/no-manacles issue before he can be taken seriously. I would obviously prefer a "no-manacle" policy, but as a typical Canadian compromise I would be able to accept manacles if they were offered in a series of attractive colours, and if the sex offenders and low level drug-dealers on the work crew filling pot-holes in downtown Markham were allowed to choose the colour of their own set of manacles. There's more opportunity for self-realization that way, in my opinion. But I'm a Liberal--I'm soft.
PS. It's hard to know how faithfully Conservative bloggers represent the Conservative rank & file, but this guy has an interesting take.
Ontario Torys Incoherent On Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)
Tim Hudak is vowing to scrap 'em, but MPP Randy Hillier has managed to work through his local LHIN to help get a Acquired Brain Injury and Rehab Home built out in Napanee:
Georgina Thompson, chairperson of the Southeast LHIN's board of directors, attended the meeting Friday, and told the Finlay family they now have the LHIN's support.
The meeting was set up by MPP Randy Hillier and was the third in a series of meetings the Progressive Conservative representative for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington has orchestrated. It took place at the former Lenadco building on Bridge Street, which is the proposed site for the brain injury facility.
Randy's even proud enough of his efforts that he's touting them on his own website. These LHIN thingys can't be all bad, then, eh Timmy?
Georgina Thompson, chairperson of the Southeast LHIN's board of directors, attended the meeting Friday, and told the Finlay family they now have the LHIN's support.
The meeting was set up by MPP Randy Hillier and was the third in a series of meetings the Progressive Conservative representative for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington has orchestrated. It took place at the former Lenadco building on Bridge Street, which is the proposed site for the brain injury facility.
Randy's even proud enough of his efforts that he's touting them on his own website. These LHIN thingys can't be all bad, then, eh Timmy?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tim Hudak's Government In Waiting?
Seen outside the PCPO convention. Escapees from one of Hudak's chain gangs? His shadow cabinet?
Apparently not:
The Ontario Provincial Conservative party will be having a conference at the Toronto Congress Center on the same weekend as Anime North. They will be in the North building, which is completely separate from the South building where Anime North is. They even have separate parking lots. There is not expected to be any problems with these events going on concurrently.
Former Defence Minister Paul Hellyer Speaks
...on a possible Liberal-NDP merger:
It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the conclusion that the Liberal and New Democratic Parties should merge and become one entity known as the Liberal Democratic Party of Canada. I am convinced that it would be in the best long-term interests of both parties but, far more important, it would be in the best interests of Canada. Canadians deserve a clear choice when they next vote.
On little green men from outer space:
I wish I were in a mood for good humour, but I am not. We are hell-bent in the direction of destroying our planet, and we appear to be doing precious little about it. Decades ago visitors from other planets warned us about where we were headed, and offered to help. But instead, we, or at least some of us, interpreted their visits as a threat, and decided to shoot first and ask questions afterward. The inevitable result was that some of our planes were lost; but how many were due to retaliation, and how many were a result of our own stupidity is a moot point.
Not that I have an issue with NDP/merger discussions, though they ain't gonna happen any time soon. Just sayin'.
It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the conclusion that the Liberal and New Democratic Parties should merge and become one entity known as the Liberal Democratic Party of Canada. I am convinced that it would be in the best long-term interests of both parties but, far more important, it would be in the best interests of Canada. Canadians deserve a clear choice when they next vote.
On little green men from outer space:
I wish I were in a mood for good humour, but I am not. We are hell-bent in the direction of destroying our planet, and we appear to be doing precious little about it. Decades ago visitors from other planets warned us about where we were headed, and offered to help. But instead, we, or at least some of us, interpreted their visits as a threat, and decided to shoot first and ask questions afterward. The inevitable result was that some of our planes were lost; but how many were due to retaliation, and how many were a result of our own stupidity is a moot point.
Not that I have an issue with NDP/merger discussions, though they ain't gonna happen any time soon. Just sayin'.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
WK Explains
1) Kathy Shaidle is not a conservative. She's a racist. The evidence for that is overwhelming. Mr Paiken and the writers at the G&M do conservatives no favours by eliding the distinction.
2) I have no problem with anyone attempting to deny Ms. Shaidle a pay-cheque or a soap-box, and I'd like to think I've got her tossed out of a venue or two in my time. My taxes pay Mr. Paiken's salary, and it appalls me that he would use them to promote trash on TVO.
3) WK is talking about taking this case to the Ontario Press Council. I say do it. Pigs don't regulate themselves.
Mike Harris Redux: Tim Hudak Will Bring Back Worker Intimidation
He tells the TCA (Toronto Construction Association), a group representing employers, that he will kill the card-based certification of unions, just like Mike Harris did back in the day. He also wants to close the Ontario College of Trades.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
What Happened To Liblogs?
The link goes nowhere, but I am told the site is still supposed to be functioning. What's going on?
Jason Cherniak writes:
There's a problem with the domain that I'm trying to fix. It may still take a day or two. I'd appreciate it if you could post this as an update to your post.
Jason Cherniak writes:
There's a problem with the domain that I'm trying to fix. It may still take a day or two. I'd appreciate it if you could post this as an update to your post.
NDP Day 1: Populist Bullshit, But Otherwise Not Bad
As Canadians, we all desire that every single senior be lifted out of poverty, just as we wish mothers to be free...everywhere...even in M'banqui. Of course, as leader of the official opposition, Jack Layton can't do diddley about either of these problems. But suggesting concrete action on a manageable issue was never the point. What was the point? Ms. O'Malley had it pegged correctly:
...which is to say Jack and Co. are taking this "government in waiting" thing right over the top. Its all bluster, and the notion that the NDP can, for example, choose or not choose an occasion to "bring down" the Harper government, as Mr. Layton has suggested on a previous occasion, is pure madness. But the rhetoric isn't aimed at the cynical or the knowledgeable; its meant to appear in bits and pieces on the tv screens of the nation and make folks who are otherwise more interested in the hockey game think for one brief instant that this Jack Layton fellow might be PM material after all. And as crude theater, I suspect it will be effective.
But not for very long. As soon as the wheels of parliament start turning, as soon as legislation begins to pass, the limits of NDP influence will become swiftly apparent. Presumably, Mr. Layton will have a speech for that occasion as well.
h/t
But not for very long. As soon as the wheels of parliament start turning, as soon as legislation begins to pass, the limits of NDP influence will become swiftly apparent. Presumably, Mr. Layton will have a speech for that occasion as well.
h/t
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Durham Region Health Faces $40,000,000 Class-Action Lawsuit
Back in late 2009, Durham Region Health lost a flash-drive containing the records of over 83,000 patients who had visited one of their local community clinics to get a shot against H1N1. Now they are facing a class action lawsuit to the tune of $40,000,000. Flaherty Dow Elliott & McCarthy are handling the case on a contingency basis.
Convenience and reliability have their price.
Convenience and reliability have their price.
Cdn. Emissions Down, Dalton McGunty Partially Responsible
Go Ontario. Manitoba Too:
The National Inventory Report (NIR), concludes that the major drivers were the 2008/2009 recession and the closure of coal burning energy facilities by provincial governments, like Ontario and Manitoba.
Meanwhile, Alberta is No. 1 in all the wrong ways. Regulate 'em, Mr. Kent! Right up the wazoo!
The National Inventory Report (NIR), concludes that the major drivers were the 2008/2009 recession and the closure of coal burning energy facilities by provincial governments, like Ontario and Manitoba.
Meanwhile, Alberta is No. 1 in all the wrong ways. Regulate 'em, Mr. Kent! Right up the wazoo!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tory Senate Reform Proposal Is A Sham
"We can do it by appointing elected senators,” says Jason Kenny, but if senate candidates still, once elected, must be appointed, then the PM can ignore the result of any plebiscite where the result goes against him. Think what is likely to happen if a candidate with known NDP connections were to run and win. What assurance would they have that the Harper government would not simply pass them over?
And, that being the case, why would anyone not onside with the Harper government even choose to run?
Although perhaps that is the point.
And, that being the case, why would anyone not onside with the Harper government even choose to run?
Although perhaps that is the point.
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