"These guys are basically tied," said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Reid. "At least at the start, this is going to be a very, very tight election campaign."
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Liberals and Conservatives Tied
With a federal election campaign set to get underway within days, a new poll showed the Conservatives and the Liberals statistically tied, setting up a contest that could be determined by which party runs the most effective campaign; both major parties would start a campaign with essentially the same support among the voters.
What a charade
Just for fun, what would Harper do if Layton had said 'yes my Leader, my caucus and I will do exactly what you direct!'? I'll bet Harper would have plugged his ears and sang 'la la la, I can't hear you, la la la'. The question is not whether we have an election but rather if it will be called for one of the High Holidays and if so, which one... .
Layton says PM determined to call election
BRUCE CHEADLE
The Canadian Press
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:13 EDT OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jack Layton described his summons to meet the Prime Minister as a "charade" even before the fact, and Saturday's meeting at 24 Sussex Drive appeared to live up to advance billing.
Mr. Layton spoke with Stephen Harper for half an hour at the Prime Minister's official residence but emerged to say absolutely nothing has changed and a fall election call appears imminent.
"He seems intent on quitting his job. I told him if he's prepared to quit his job he can explain that failure to Canadians," Mr. Layton said outside the wrought-iron gates Saturday afternoon.
As predicted, Mr. Harper told the NDP leader there was little common ground between their parties on which to build a parliamentary consensus this autumn.
Mr. Layton cited the economy, health care, the environment and food security and the listeriosis outbreak as key issues needing parliamentary attention.
"As prime minister, I told him I would have been convening the leaders to figure out how we work on these key issues," Mr. Layton told reporters.
Full story:
http://m.avantgo.com/ui?ag_url=52616e646f6d4956734cffcfd4f00a5c34ed4a58057a2376121805df3b1197ad0d1dc5a16497410daaffa8281653f72b05f044b3856e067a0f87a7db76a00a7e449816cf31f83624fc5153c72661e6d0&ag_channel=4179&showNav=0&ms=globeandmail
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Layton says PM determined to call election
BRUCE CHEADLE
The Canadian Press
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:13 EDT OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jack Layton described his summons to meet the Prime Minister as a "charade" even before the fact, and Saturday's meeting at 24 Sussex Drive appeared to live up to advance billing.
Mr. Layton spoke with Stephen Harper for half an hour at the Prime Minister's official residence but emerged to say absolutely nothing has changed and a fall election call appears imminent.
"He seems intent on quitting his job. I told him if he's prepared to quit his job he can explain that failure to Canadians," Mr. Layton said outside the wrought-iron gates Saturday afternoon.
As predicted, Mr. Harper told the NDP leader there was little common ground between their parties on which to build a parliamentary consensus this autumn.
Mr. Layton cited the economy, health care, the environment and food security and the listeriosis outbreak as key issues needing parliamentary attention.
"As prime minister, I told him I would have been convening the leaders to figure out how we work on these key issues," Mr. Layton told reporters.
Full story:
http://m.avantgo.com/ui?ag_url=52616e646f6d4956734cffcfd4f00a5c34ed4a58057a2376121805df3b1197ad0d1dc5a16497410daaffa8281653f72b05f044b3856e067a0f87a7db76a00a7e449816cf31f83624fc5153c72661e6d0&ag_channel=4179&showNav=0&ms=globeandmail
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Tainted Meat -- Walkerton Mayor Speaks Out
The mayor of Walkerton, Ont. - the scene of a deadly E. coli disaster eight years ago - called for a public inquiry.
Charlie Bagnato said he's "shocked" the federal government hasn't learned the lessons of his town's tainted-water tragedy in 2000, which killed seven people and made thousands more ill.
Bagnato noted that three federal ministers - Tony Clement, John Baird and Jim Flaherty - were all members of the Ontario cabinet at the time of the Walkerton outbreak.
The Walkerton tragedy was a result of government deregulation and cost-cutting, said Bagnato, who added he fears the federal Conservatives may be on the same track.
Bagnato said his concerns were further fuelled by media reports Friday that the Harper government opposed tougher U.S. rules to prevent Listeria, namely daily inspection visits and testing products for the Listeria bacterium.
Charlie Bagnato said he's "shocked" the federal government hasn't learned the lessons of his town's tainted-water tragedy in 2000, which killed seven people and made thousands more ill.
Bagnato noted that three federal ministers - Tony Clement, John Baird and Jim Flaherty - were all members of the Ontario cabinet at the time of the Walkerton outbreak.
The Walkerton tragedy was a result of government deregulation and cost-cutting, said Bagnato, who added he fears the federal Conservatives may be on the same track.
Bagnato said his concerns were further fuelled by media reports Friday that the Harper government opposed tougher U.S. rules to prevent Listeria, namely daily inspection visits and testing products for the Listeria bacterium.
Don't forget, (almost) all media is good media
Read the blogosphere, especially left side, and it's wall to wall Palin. Why she is so bad. And inexperienced. And fishy.
But it's still all about Palin and McCain.
McCain took control of the agenda just when Obama should be in charge.
The same way the Green Shift shifted to agenda here in Canada.
Media attention is good (not if it's about your candidate getting indicted but otherwise it's good). And when your enemies spend a lot of energy on you it proves you are doing something worth doing.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Blasphemy? Yes, that and more... .
I will admit I don't always understand art.
And I believe in freedom of speech and expression -- really I do, and not just for people who agree with me.
So I would not ban the piece "Zuerst die Fuesse," (Feet First); but I certainly would oppose any taxfunding for it. Whether the Pope is right that the piece is blasphemous (well, there isn't a lot of doubt on that score), I just think it's really silly and rather disgusting.
If you want to buy it fine ... .
By Philip Pullella
ROME (Reuters) - An Italian museum Thursday defied Pope Benedict and refused to remove a modern art sculpture portraying a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg that the Vatican had condemned as blasphemous.
The board of the Museion museum in the northern city of Bolzano decided by a majority vote that the frog was a work of art and would stay in place for the remainder of an exhibition.
The wooden sculpture by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger depicts a frog about 1 meter 30 cm (4 feet) high nailed to brown cross and holding a beer mug in one outstretched hand and an egg in another.
Called "Zuerst die Fuesse," (Feet First), it wears a green loin cloth and is nailed through the hands and the feet in the manner of Jesus Christ. Its green tongue hangs out of its mouth.
Full story here:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080828/n_odds_reuters/odd_frog_odd_dc
Evil in the US elections
Remarkable analysis from Al Jazeera -- for once I agree with them completely.
| Evil in the US elections |
| |
| By Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's Senior Political Analyst, in New York
|
|
I could only shake my head in bewilderment, as I listened to the interviews Rick Warren, a Baptist pastor, conducted with Barack Obama and John McCain, the US presidential candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. Most absurd during the two-hour special were the exchanges about "evil". When asked how they would deal with evil if they were elected president - would they ignore it, negotiate with it, contain it, or defeat it - Obama said he would "confront it" while McCain said unflinchingly that he would "defeat it". After this "civil forum" was broadcast on CNN, the network's so-called "best team on television" commented on the candidates' performance. This only managed to add insult to injury. One pundit commended McCain's steadfastness and courage in wanting to defeat, not merely confront, evil if elected president. For the Republican contender evil is embodied in communism, Islamic fundamentalism and notably Osama Bin Laden, who he promised to hunt down. Obama was also praised for acknowledging the existence of evil. He thought it present in Darfur but also on the streets of the US as well as in homes where parents abuse their children, and so on. Evil is the enemy The last time I checked, there was no legal or strategic interpretation of evil. An open-ended war on evil leads to Armageddon. It makes absolutely no sense for a future leader of a superpower to speak of dealing with "evil" as commander-in-chief unless this term is used as populist propaganda during election season. The threat of evil necessitates some sort of definition, otherwise, how can any president evaluate evil and apply the necessary measures to "confront it" or "defeat it"? Sectarian and tribal wars in Africa and Asia, like religious fundamentalism, are modern phenomena that need to be rationalised first and foremost within our modern world. In order to be defused or prevented altogether, such conflicts must not be defined or determined by the universal fight between good and evil. The same applies to street gangs and abusive parents; they require rational explanation and social analyses in order to deter them or best prevent them form carrying out their actions. In all such cases of violence, there is an urgent need for education, justice, fairness and the rule of law as well as a moral compass, not some religious crusade, to guide us.
But the US media was more than happy to report how the Democratic and Republican candidates were speaking of confronting and defeating evil. In doing this, US media has pandered to the religious majority in the country. Religiosity in the US According to a Pew June 2008 study, 92 per cent of Americans believe in God or a universal spirit, and nearly 80 per cent think miracles occur. Most Americans believe that angels and demons are active in the world, and one in five Christians speaks or prays in tongues - ecstatic worship or prayer using unintelligible speech. But while the US has traditionally been religious, it has also been traditionally tolerant. Since the 1960s, evangelical churches have become politically proactive as faith-based organisations went on to exercise increasing influence over politics in the US and especially within the Republican party. In recent years, the less strident and more mainstream Christian and evangelical churches like Warren's Saddleback where the two candidates were interviewed, became more active then the southern right-wing churches represented by the likes of Pat Robertson. The fact that McCain and Obama's first joint appearance (not debate) was coordinated and hosted by an influential religious preacher speaks volumes about the influence of organised religion on politics in the US. Politics in a bubble Such theological/political journalism is unthinkable anywhere in Europe or in so-called democracies around the world. Calling one's enemy or their ideology or religion evil is the language normally used by such groups as al-Qaeda, not constitutional democracies. If religious interviews were done with such fanfare and influence in a Muslim country, democratic or otherwise, western and especially US media would have made mockery of such an imposition of religious fundamentalism on political process. For most outsiders, the US is in denial over its own "evil doing" around the world. Obama and McCain could see evil in Darfur but would not admit that the invasion and occupation of Iraq on false premises or for oil is no less an evil act. To his credit, Obama broke out of the delusional discourse of the US as the-city-on-a-hill to underline the need for humility when confronting evil so that the US does not perpetrate its own evils. But for some people around the world, it may be a bit late for that. Alas. |
Gustav - A potential story to upstage the last week in US politics?
There's a new hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, churning its way toward New Orleans, with landfall due around Monday, the opening day of the Republican convention. If Gustav hits and causes major damage one of the casualties could be the McCain campaign.
Gustav has left 71 people dead so far in the Caribbean. It struck the Cayman Islands on Friday, its winds knocking down trees and power lines.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said an evacuation order was likely, though not before Saturday, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expects a "huge number" of Gulf Coast residents will be told to leave the region this weekend.
There's been talk of rescheduling some of the events to avoid the unpleasant reminders of the criminally inept way the Bush administration handled hurricane Katrina.
As Katrina hit Louisiana exactly three years ago, George Bush was attending a fundraiser in Arizona for — guess who? John McCain.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Maybe the October 14 election is off?
Maybe the Conservatives should have looked at one of those fancy multicultural calendars used in schools, offices, courts, human resource offices, police stations, city halls etc (but apparently not Conservative HQ)
See this story from the Globe online
"PM's plan for Oct. 14 vote hits snag"
Canadian Jewish Congress warns Harper against calling election that would conflict with Jewish holiday
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080829.welection30/EmailBNStory/National/home
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Sarah Palin -- something of a fishy past ...
The more I see of McCain's choice the more I see method in what might seem madness.
First the timing. The day after the big Obama speech. A speech that got fairly low ratings. And Palin was big news and news that leaked early in the day and took the media spotlight on the Friday night after the Obama speech. A speech that seems to have been met with no poll bump. The Palin announcement took the wind out of Obama's sails.
Second the candidate. An attractive back story, a popular governor and better still someone who, the second Democratics criticized, Republics were able to counter with claims of putting down someone because she's a woman. Hillary supporters may not like all of Palin's ideas bit they may her strength and will to succeed. They may also like her bipartisan approach -- her cabinet contains Democrats and Independents.
But now a bizarre story; it shows Palin has a fishy past. Here's the first media hit with quotations from Palin. It appeared in the April 3, 1996, issue of the Anchorage Daily News. Here is the excerpt, quoted directly:
"Sarah Palin, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, told her husband on Tuesday she was driving to Anchorage to shop at Costco. Instead, she headed straight for Ivana.
And there, at J.C. Penney's cosmetic department, was Ivana, the former Mrs. Donald Trump, sitting at a table next to a photograph of herself. She wore a light-colored pantsuit and pink fingernail polish. Her blonde hair was coiffed in a bouffant French twist.
'We want to see Ivana,' said Palin, who admittedly smells like salmon for a large part of the summer, 'because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture.'"
Six months later, Palin was elected mayor of Wasilla, using the slogan "A Time for a Change.""
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
First the timing. The day after the big Obama speech. A speech that got fairly low ratings. And Palin was big news and news that leaked early in the day and took the media spotlight on the Friday night after the Obama speech. A speech that seems to have been met with no poll bump. The Palin announcement took the wind out of Obama's sails.
Second the candidate. An attractive back story, a popular governor and better still someone who, the second Democratics criticized, Republics were able to counter with claims of putting down someone because she's a woman. Hillary supporters may not like all of Palin's ideas bit they may her strength and will to succeed. They may also like her bipartisan approach -- her cabinet contains Democrats and Independents.
But now a bizarre story; it shows Palin has a fishy past. Here's the first media hit with quotations from Palin. It appeared in the April 3, 1996, issue of the Anchorage Daily News. Here is the excerpt, quoted directly:
"Sarah Palin, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, told her husband on Tuesday she was driving to Anchorage to shop at Costco. Instead, she headed straight for Ivana.
And there, at J.C. Penney's cosmetic department, was Ivana, the former Mrs. Donald Trump, sitting at a table next to a photograph of herself. She wore a light-colored pantsuit and pink fingernail polish. Her blonde hair was coiffed in a bouffant French twist.
'We want to see Ivana,' said Palin, who admittedly smells like salmon for a large part of the summer, 'because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture.'"
Six months later, Palin was elected mayor of Wasilla, using the slogan "A Time for a Change.""
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Mexico court upholds abortion law
Interesting story from Al Jazeera...
Full story here:
| Mexico court upholds abortion law | |||
| | |||
Mexico's supreme court has upheld a law allowing abortion in the nation's capital, defying president Felipe Calderon's conservative government and the Roman Catholic Church on the issue. Judges said there were no grounds to overturn a law, approved in 2007 by the Mexico assembly, that legalised abortions in the capital. |
Full story here:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/08/2008828194558991748.html
October 14, 2008 -- E-Day???
That's the date being talked about but October 14 falls on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
A PMO official said Sukkot, along with Thanksgiving and several other religious holidays during October, "does present challenges" in choosing an election day. But he noted that people can vote in advance polls if they can't or don't want to cast a ballot on election day. What he didn't note was that very few people actually do vote in advance polls.
In most ridings Sukkot is totally irrelevant but for a few, including Thornhill, it is exactly the type of thing to cut the vote of the Jews most likely to vote Conservative.
Stay tuned!
A PMO official said Sukkot, along with Thanksgiving and several other religious holidays during October, "does present challenges" in choosing an election day. But he noted that people can vote in advance polls if they can't or don't want to cast a ballot on election day. What he didn't note was that very few people actually do vote in advance polls.
In most ridings Sukkot is totally irrelevant but for a few, including Thornhill, it is exactly the type of thing to cut the vote of the Jews most likely to vote Conservative.
Stay tuned!
The book to rock the election???
Is it just me or is it possible the kiss and tell all book by Couillard won't be all that exciting? After all, seriously, what can she say? Her boyfriend was a jerk -- hey it's hardly big news when an ex says that -- and that he left confidential documents carelessly at her place -- we know that.
It hardly seems likely she can say much more except, perhaps, some second hand gossip from Cabinet.
My point? Let's not expect any useful bombshells
McCain picks Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate
Good choice for McCain -- someone young, fresh and a woman from an environmentally aware State. That said, she has some baggage especially on abortion. I suspect she will draw a lot more support than Biden -- we have a real election Folks!DENVER - John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice-presidential running mate Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention.
Two senior campaign officials disclosed Mccain's decision a few hours before the Republican presidential nominee-to-be and his newly-minted running mate appeared at a rally in swing-state Ohio.
Palin is a self-styled hockey mom and political reformer who has been governor of her state less than two years.
Palin's selection shocked numerous Republican officials.
Full story here:http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080829/world/mccain_veepstakes
Hurry up and wait
Law and politics are strange businesses.
Look at the election we might/may/could/will have despite the fixed(ish) date for an election and the more or less functional Parliament. Gear up for a battle then hold off for now! Even today I am unconvinced there will be an election this Fall (don't worry, I have no insight and no one I know agrees with me).
The Law is just as bad. Trials are scheduled and not held; people get ready for weeks and then get a call 'we have no judge -- come back in 6 months'. And then nothing is scheduled and a trial happens.
Huh?
Well, sitting quietly at my desk for a sleepy Friday, the end of the summer, just before a holiday I get an early morning e-mail.
Basically it said you are the lawyer for someone and we're going to Court in 2 hours to freeze his assets and we want a million dollars or so by noon.
Wow.
I planned to get a haircut this morning but I guess that's out the door!
So here I am in Court ... being told 'come back for 2:00 pm'.
Hurry up and wait!
Attack Ads Are Good -- This Is An Election About One Man
There is a general sense that attack ads are a bad idea -- the sense is wrong.
Attack ads that focus in real things -- issues and not, say, Harper's choice in sweaters -- help the public focus on what matters. That's a good thing.
And what matters here, for real, is leaders and leadership. This is an election about Harper.
The Conservatives know it and that's why their first ads are about a warm and cuddly Prime Minister. They'll attack Dion brutally but that will be so as to divert attention from Harper. If Canadians are shown Harper in all his colours and still vote Conservative, well, that's their right (and I am glad of it) but I don't see it happening.
We must focus on what Harper said and then what he did. We must focus on what Harper will do if he wins again, especially if he wins a majority.
There is a vast amount of material of Harper calling for clean, open government; fixed election dates and the like. Ads based on that material almost write themselves -- remind people what Harper said and then show what Harper did. No need to spend a lot of time on the hidden agenda (because it's not hidden; although imagine Harper with a majority!); we can point to the concrete stuff.
Attack ads that focus in real things -- issues and not, say, Harper's choice in sweaters -- help the public focus on what matters. That's a good thing.
And what matters here, for real, is leaders and leadership. This is an election about Harper.
The Conservatives know it and that's why their first ads are about a warm and cuddly Prime Minister. They'll attack Dion brutally but that will be so as to divert attention from Harper. If Canadians are shown Harper in all his colours and still vote Conservative, well, that's their right (and I am glad of it) but I don't see it happening.
We must focus on what Harper said and then what he did. We must focus on what Harper will do if he wins again, especially if he wins a majority.
There is a vast amount of material of Harper calling for clean, open government; fixed election dates and the like. Ads based on that material almost write themselves -- remind people what Harper said and then show what Harper did. No need to spend a lot of time on the hidden agenda (because it's not hidden; although imagine Harper with a majority!); we can point to the concrete stuff.
McCain's VP likely Sara Palin?
Blogosphere says Sara Palin, Governor of Alaska will be VP for McCain.
I still think Obama has a tough battle on his hands and Palin is credible, young and may attract some of the Clinton vote.
Exciting times ahead.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Alcohol poisoning
This is a sad story but certainly a wake-up call for everyone especially young people leaving home for the first time. I remember at college others kids, who had not had much experience drinking vodka like water. Alcohol poisoning is very possible -- it's worth reminding kids off to college.
Man, 20, dies after drinking bet: police
Man, 20, dies after drinking bet: police
Islam Under the Swastika
I don't normally do links to other blogs but there is a remarkable piece in the Dogs of War blog -- link below -- called ISLAM UNDER THE SWASTIKA -- The Grand Mufti and the Nazi Protectorate of Bosnia-Hercegovina, 1941-1945.
The piece is generally history without comment (although there are a few side comments showing the writer's political slant -- which is legitimate, we all have views) and it is a fascinating introduction to a little known part of the Second World War.
The photograph here shows:
Volunteers from the Handzar division, an expressly Muslim Waffen SS division. All wear the fez. Their logo consists of a skull and crossbones and an SS eagle. There were different models of fez in different colors (green or red and with or without the tassel). A scimitar or curved sword and a swastika were engraved on uniform collars.
http://magna-dogsofwar.blogspot.com/2008/08/islam-under-swastika.html
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tory Ads -- they can be as sssssleepy as they sssseem
The new Conservative commercial ends with what may well become Harper's election slogan:
"Stephen Harper. Strong leadership on your side," a voice says over a picture of a relaxed-looking Harper smiling at the camera.
I guess it could be a worse election slogan -- but to be honest I hope we do better.
There is the repetition of the S sounds (and despite the "snake" concept S is a comforting sound -- think of soothing). But beyond that it's bland and sleepy.
My guess is that the Conservatives will start with this relaxed type of pitch and rapidly move to something more effective (and dangerous).
Stay tuned!!!
"Stephen Harper. Strong leadership on your side," a voice says over a picture of a relaxed-looking Harper smiling at the camera.
I guess it could be a worse election slogan -- but to be honest I hope we do better.
There is the repetition of the S sounds (and despite the "snake" concept S is a comforting sound -- think of soothing). But beyond that it's bland and sleepy.
My guess is that the Conservatives will start with this relaxed type of pitch and rapidly move to something more effective (and dangerous).
Stay tuned!!!
Zoom go Boom
Zoom planes grounded in Calgary, Glasgow after airline fails to pay bills
MONTREAL - Airplanes operated by Zoom Airlines have been grounded in Calgary and Glasgow after the airline failed to pay several bills to government, airport, suppliers and the plane's owners.
Dozens of passengers waiting in Calgary were transported to Vancouver by WestJet Wednesday afternoon after Zoom's Boeing 767 was grounded by court order.
Harper is in a fix; The prime minister's claim that he can ignore his own fixed election date is legally dubious and morally even worse
I cannot believe the Governor General would refuse to call an election if Harper asked for one. But this article is an interesting argument that she doesn’t have to.
Regardless, it may be that calling an election now will not annoy the public but I remember a Liberal government (!!!) in
The Ottawa Citizen Thu 28 Aug 2008
Page: A15
Section: News
Byline: Errol P. Mendes
Source: Citizen Special
It now seems almost certain that Stephen Harper will visit the Governor General just after Labour Day to seek an early election. This is despite the fixed election date of October 2009 which was established by a law that his own government was eager to pass as a demonstration of political fairness, accountability and transparency. It was also a key Reform party core belief and part of the Conservatives' 2006 election platform.
He will claim the right to do so on two grounds. First, he will claim that he is legally able to do so despite the law he championed. This is because he will claim the law, which is a minor amendment to the Canada Elections Act, still gives the governor general the right to dissolve Parliament on the advice of the prime minister. Some experts claim that the prime minister would only be bound by a constitutional amendment that entrenches a fixed date for elections. The experts could well be wrong.
Much of the powers of the prime minister and the Governor General are governed not by the written Constitution, but by constitutional conventions, including who has the right to dissolve Parliament and call for elections. Constitutional convention gives the prime minister only the right to advise the governor general to call for dissolution of Parliament and thereby trigger an election. The Governor General has an uncontested residual power to deny a prime minister's request for dissolution.
Constitutional conventions can be both entrenched in and overridden by statute law. That is precisely what the Conservatives did when they decided to constrain the conventional power of the prime minister to seek dissolution whenever he smelled political advantage to do so.
However, the fixed election law does not constrain the residual power of the Governor General as it expressly stipulates that "Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Governor General, including the power to dissolve Parliament at the governor general's discretion."
Historical precedent demonstrates that the use of the conventional residual power by the governor general contrary to the advice of the prime minister has the potential to cause political controversy and create trouble for the Crown in
Even if the fixed elections law does not constrain the governor general's discretion to grant dissolution of Parliament, one could argue that the law constrains the prime minister's power to ask for one until October 2009. Hiding under the political constraints of the governor general's residual power is nevertheless a violation of a statute. Some aggrieved citizen may even consider seeking court action to stop this legally dubious move.
The imminent violation of the fixed elections law is even more distasteful when one considers the second reason for Mr. Harper's claim to ignore his own law. He claims that he may seek the dissolution because Parliament is dysfunctional and will continue to be so with the next session to start soon after Labour Day.
Ignoring the fact that most of his agenda has passed through Parliament and become law, Mr. Harper and other Conservatives point to the dysfunctional nature of parliamentary committees such as the one examining whether the advertising expenses practices of the Conservatives breached the Elections Act. The parliamentary channel's coverage of the proceedings has revealed that it was primarily the disruptive antics of the Conservative party members on the committee and the failure of Conservative witnesses to appear before the committee that was the cause of the dysfunction of this committee. The secret, 200-page Conservative guidebook to disrupt and manipulate parliamentary committees -- including chairs storming out of meetings -- is proof that it is the Conservatives who are orchestrating the dysfunction in Parliament and then blaming it on the opposition parties.
It is as if this Conservative government is convinced that opposition parties have no right to object and oppose policies and practices that they may find repugnant.
There is also the damning logic of Mr. Harper's own admission that any election will result in another minority government. So why call it now if that is the case? To continue the alleged dysfunctional Parliament with a new minority government at the cost of almost $200 million to the Canadian taxpayer? Or is it to put off more scrutiny on the alleged wrongdoings of the Conservatives that fly in the face of their promise of transparency, honesty and accountability?
If the prime minister does decide to ignore the fixed election date and ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament soon after Labour Day because it is dysfunctional, it would be akin to a person who has blown up his own house asking the rest of us to build him a new one.
If not the rule of law, a most basic sense of political morality should make the prime minister think twice about breaking his own law.
Errol P. Mendes is a professor of international, constitutional and human rights law at the
Computer viruses make it to orbit
 The virus travelled on a laptop issued to an astronaut |
A computer virus is alive and well on the International Space Station (ISS).
Nasa has confirmed that laptops carried to the ISS in July were infected with a virus known as Gammima.AG.
The worm was first detected on Earth in August 2007 and lurks on infected machines waiting to steal login names for popular online games.
Nasa said it was not the first time computer viruses had travelled into space and it was investigating how the machines were infected.Full story here:
'All is well' -- Federal Minister brushes off concerns for food safety
The Federal Minister contrasts poorly with the President of Maple Leaf.
News reports today have the Minister defending the food inspection standards we have in Canada and suggesting nothing went wrong causing problems at Maple Leaf.
In a sense, of course, the Minister has a point. Canada does have excellent food inspection standards and food poisoning is very rare.
But, something certainly went very very wrong at Maple Leaf -- people shouldn't die from eating a ham and cheese sandwich -- and that 'something' came shortly after changes where Federal inspections were downloaded from the regulator to the industry regulated.
Was the downloading the cause? We can't say yet. My guess is that someone at Maple Leaf made a tragic mistake -- not motivated by cost cutting or malice, just a mistake -- and another set of eyes might or might not have caught the error. But a properly staffed Federal inspection agency is necessary and to download inspections to industry (in a less than transparent way -- who knew before the Maple Leaf tragedy?) is clearly wrong (remember Walkerton?).
For the Minister to say 'all is well' is just not true and bad bad bad politics. It is an attempt to deal with a problem by denying the problem exists.
Contrast the Minister's brush off of concerns with the genuine and serious acknowledgment of fault, apology and vigorous action of the President of Maple Leaf -- this leader is a leader.
Maybe we can convince the President of Maple Leaf to come into politics -- if he's a Tory he'd bring some candor to the job.
News reports today have the Minister defending the food inspection standards we have in Canada and suggesting nothing went wrong causing problems at Maple Leaf.
In a sense, of course, the Minister has a point. Canada does have excellent food inspection standards and food poisoning is very rare.
But, something certainly went very very wrong at Maple Leaf -- people shouldn't die from eating a ham and cheese sandwich -- and that 'something' came shortly after changes where Federal inspections were downloaded from the regulator to the industry regulated.
Was the downloading the cause? We can't say yet. My guess is that someone at Maple Leaf made a tragic mistake -- not motivated by cost cutting or malice, just a mistake -- and another set of eyes might or might not have caught the error. But a properly staffed Federal inspection agency is necessary and to download inspections to industry (in a less than transparent way -- who knew before the Maple Leaf tragedy?) is clearly wrong (remember Walkerton?).
For the Minister to say 'all is well' is just not true and bad bad bad politics. It is an attempt to deal with a problem by denying the problem exists.
Contrast the Minister's brush off of concerns with the genuine and serious acknowledgment of fault, apology and vigorous action of the President of Maple Leaf -- this leader is a leader.
Maybe we can convince the President of Maple Leaf to come into politics -- if he's a Tory he'd bring some candor to the job.
Surrender leads police to body
Toronto police found the body of a slain man yesterday, only after someone surrendered to police for the crime.
On Tuesday, Toronto police received a telephone call from the lawyer of a person who, for unknown reasons, had decided to come forward. Police arranged for the person, who CTV reported to be a 30-year-old woman, to surrender.
"I can only suspect that this person thought they were in over their head, and felt the need to do the right thing," Det. Sgt. Grinton said.
A man was arrested yesterday in connection with the death. He and the woman are charged with first-degree murder. Three others remained at large last night. No names have been released. It's Toronto's 45th homicide of 2008.
Police would not say how long it was between the killing and the person coming forward.
Lawyers say it's rare for people to wait a long time to turn themselves in for such a major crime.
"This is a unique case in that it appears [the suspect] had a credible opportunity not to come forward," said James Morton, a lawyer with Steinberg Morton Hope & Israel LLP and a lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. Instead, the woman did come forward. That action would "almost certainly" affect a court's sentencing or bail decisions, Mr. Morton said.
"... It's better to confess up front and beg forgiveness than to be caught hiding."
Full story here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080828.TRAILER28/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
On Tuesday, Toronto police received a telephone call from the lawyer of a person who, for unknown reasons, had decided to come forward. Police arranged for the person, who CTV reported to be a 30-year-old woman, to surrender.
"I can only suspect that this person thought they were in over their head, and felt the need to do the right thing," Det. Sgt. Grinton said.
A man was arrested yesterday in connection with the death. He and the woman are charged with first-degree murder. Three others remained at large last night. No names have been released. It's Toronto's 45th homicide of 2008.
Police would not say how long it was between the killing and the person coming forward.
Lawyers say it's rare for people to wait a long time to turn themselves in for such a major crime.
"This is a unique case in that it appears [the suspect] had a credible opportunity not to come forward," said James Morton, a lawyer with Steinberg Morton Hope & Israel LLP and a lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. Instead, the woman did come forward. That action would "almost certainly" affect a court's sentencing or bail decisions, Mr. Morton said.
"... It's better to confess up front and beg forgiveness than to be caught hiding."
Full story here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080828.TRAILER28/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
Open letter from Libby Davies to Tony Clement on harm reduction
I don't normally give space to NDP MP's but this is an important letter and, frankly, when you are right you are right.
August 21, 2008
Hon. Tony Clement
Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Clement,
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding your misleading and irresponsible attacks on harm reduction and Vancouver's InSite supervised injection site at the recent World Health Organization XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City and again at the 2008 Canadian Medical Association conference in Montreal.
At both of these conferences, you persisted in representing harm reduction and drug rehabilitation/treatment as two mutually exclusive, alternative approaches to problems associated with drug addiction. As has been explained to you on numerous occasions by health researchers, medical professionals, drug treatment experts and others, this is an entirely false dichotomy. Harm reduction is one component of a comprehensive "Four Pillar" approach, which also includes prevention, treatment and law enforcement. Low-threshold programs, such as supervised injection sites are essential in the Four Pillars approach for reducing overdose deaths and the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, and also for drawing hard-to-reach users into treatment and rehabilitation. Harm reduction is part of a continuum of care that includes treatment and prevention, and the only voices in Canada portraying it as a 'substitute' are you and your government.
Unfortunately, your recent comments in Mexico City and Montreal are only the latest episodes in a well-established pattern of putting ideology and partisan politics ahead of rational public policy on this issue.
The Conservative government's National Anti-Drug Strategy has essentially abandoned the Four Pillars approach for a "One Pillar," US-style "war in drugs" that puts almost all resources into law enforcement. As of 2007, law enforcement accounted for an overwhelming 73% of spending in the National Anti-Drug Strategy, while treatment only received 14%, research just 7% and prevention and harm reduction a pitiful 2.6% each.
The Conservative government delayed a decision on the status of InSite for more than two years, claiming more research needed to be done. Now the research has been done, and it is absolutely clear. More than 20 peer-reviewed studies by internationally recognized researchers have demonstrated the health, safety and cost benefits of InSite. Even the criminologist hired by the government to evaluate the existing research said that InSite contributes to public order and saves lives. The response from the government in the face of this overwhelmingly favourable body of research was that the decision on InSite would not be based on scientific evidence alone.
At the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, you called supervised injection sites "harm addition," contradicting the official policy developed by the World Health Organization in conjunction with the world's leading addiction and health researchers.
At the 2008 Canadian Medical Association conference, you attacked the CMA's support for InSite and harm reduction generally, even going so far as to question the ethics of the 80% of Canadian doctors who support supervised injection sites.
Given the weight of evidence and the time that you and your government have had to digest it, I can only conclude that this continuing opposition to the Four Pillars approach is not because of an honest lack of comprehension, but is instead driven by the partisan political concerns of the Conservative Party. At a time when a comprehensive approach to the problem of drug addiction is so desperately needed, it is frustrating that you and your party have chosen cheap partisan political games over rational, evidence-based public policy.
My concern about your statements is compounded by your party's recent use of public money to mail leaflets containing dehumanizing language into East Vancouver and other communities across Canada. People with addictions are amongst the most desperate and vulnerable in our society, and referring to them as "junkies" is simply bullying and has no legitimate place in public discourse. While your party was clearly attempting to fear-monger and appeal to people's safety and security concerns, the Conservative Party has instead simply displayed the mean spiritedness and lack of compassion that underlies so many of its policies. Will future Conservative Party leaflets begin referring to Canadians with mental illnesses as "nutcases"? Or maybe call people with physical disabilities people "cripples"? Canadians have moved beyond this sort of stigmatization and dehumanization of vulnerable and ill people. I have received numerous letters and phone calls from constituents and people across Canada outraged by this mailing.
Based on the above concerns, I strongly urge you and your government to take the following actions:
1.Abandon the time and money-wasting appeal of the BC Supreme Court's Decision on InSite, and start work on implementing a well-funded, comprehensive, evidence based and effective Four Pillars strategy for dealing with drug addiction. This government must recognize that harm reduction programs like InSite are a necessary component of a broader strategy that includes prevention, treatment and enforcement.
2.Commit to basing drug policy decisions on scientific evidence and the informed opinion of the mainstream medical and research communities.
History is full of tragic examples of governments and other institutions ignoring evidence because of ideological bias and short-term political concerns. In the case of drug policy in Canada, the price of Conservative ideological purity and political partisanship will be paid in lives ruined and lost. That's too high a price to pay for political games.
3. Respect, support and strengthen effective, locally developed initiatives dealing with addiction related issues. InSite grew out of the experience of groups and individuals working on the frontline of Vancouver's health and poverty crisis. There is broad community consensus in support of the project, including local residents, community groups, social service providers, businesses, law enforcement officers, municipal and provincial politicians, and people coping with addiction themselves. Your government's efforts to disregard the will of the community on this issue shows arrogance and poor judgement.
4. Stop wasting public money distributing dehumanizing, fear-mongering material on this issue to Canadians. Instead, Canadians need access to realistic information on addiction related issues, both to inform public policy and for use in prevention and harm reduction campaigns. This issue is far too important to be manipulated for cheap, partisan political purposes.I look forward to your reply on this serious matter.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies, MP (Vancouver East)
NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy Reform
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Another Stiff Sentence Imposed At Trial Upheld On Appeal
R. v. T.J.F. 2008 BCCA 325 is an interesting example of an appeal court, yet again, upholding a stiff sentence imposed at trial.
Here an effective five year sentence was imposed for a charge of breaking and entering into a place and committing an assault therein upheld. A young person, the offender, and two others broke into apartment of a 97-year-old woman and assaulted her. Offender had youth convictions, and was then on bail for serious youth offences. Notwithstanding that prior to entering the apartment the offender did not know the premises was a dwelling-house, his conduct deserves considerable disapprobation.
The Court wrote:
[18] T.J.F.’s record and recent actions clearly demonstrates that he has little regard for the law, and is presently a danger to the safety of the community. Notwithstanding his age and his, hopefully, prospects of rehabilitation, this is a case in which the protection of the public is the primary consideration. Having regard to all of the circumstances, I cannot say that the sentencing judge imposed a sentence which is demonstrably unfit. There is, accordingly, no basis on which to interfere: R. v. M.(
Interfaith Meeting at the DNC
Interesting article in Al Jazeera on interfaith politics at the Democratic Convention. Worth a look.
Full post here:
|
The Democratic party's first interfaith meeting at its annual convention was certainly not short of drama. Before a speaker had even reached the stage three anti-abortion protesters were ejected from the event after they began hectoring the crowd for their "anti-Christianity" and over Obama's perceived weak stance on the emotive issue. |
Full post here:
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/uselections2008/2008/08/20088253121739184.html
Grocers In Canada
There is something almost sinful about a really good grocer. The wonderful foods from around the world do tend to encourage gluttony (deadly sin #3).
Well, here's a picture of one of Canada's best grocers -- Moisan in Quebec City. It's been around for over a hundred years and has just about everything you can imagine. As an example it has dozens of specialty salts.
I know this sounds like an advertisement but if you're in Quebec City visit Moisans. And if you're somewhere else find a local specialty grocer and just go visit -- if you haven't gone before, and are used the No Frills etc. you'll be amazed.
Oopsie!
Bank customers' details sold for £35 on eBay
LONDON (AFP) - A data processing firm has launched an urgent review after a staff member sold a computer on eBay containing the personal details of a million bank customers, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.The computer server was bought online for 35 pounds by Andrew Chapman, an IT manager from Oxford who discovered the information on the hard drive.
It included bank account numbers, phone numbers, mothers' maiden names and signatures of one million customers of American Express, NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the Independent newspaper reported.
The server had originally belonged to Mail Source, a data processing firm which is part of Graphic Data which holds financial information for banks and other organisations.
An Old Judge
Sitting in Court a few days ago before an old judge I thought of how many times over how many years I have sat before this man. He has become an old man -- ascending the bench takes time and you can see he is frail.
He was of humble beginnings and many say not terribly intellectual (but if not book smart he is canny).
But gosh, what a well for common sense and human empathy. (And I don't say this because I won -- I didn't).
Over the years I have seen his keen eye decide who is, and who is not, truthful or likely to be a danger -- and he has been right on the money.
The fact is sometimes it's better to have a judge who understands people than a judge who understands the law.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Election thoughts #2
It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.
Noel Coward
Noel Coward
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Nothing Changes
Mugabe 'to form government alone'
 Mr Mugabe was humiliated during his speech before MPs |
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he will form a new government despite stalled power-sharing negotiations with the opposition, state media reports.
"The MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) does not want to come in apparently," he is quoted as saying.
The BBC's Karen Allen says such a move would be the death-knell for the South African-brokered talks to end the post-election crisis.
Meanwhile, three MDC MPs were arrested on Tuesday when parliament was opened.Full story here:
E-Mail String
Here's an e-mail string with a Conservative friend (full name deleted). I really do not see what Harper is playing at but I suppose only the election day will tell:
August 27, 2008 7:50 AM
James :
BIG mistake.
John
On 8/26/08 9:03 PM, "James" wrote:
> Damned if I know
> ------Original Message------
> Sent: Aug 26, 2008 8:31 PM
> Subject: Question
>
> James :
>
> Why is Harper pushing for a fall election?
>
> John
August 27, 2008 7:50 AM
James :
BIG mistake.
John
On 8/26/08 9:03 PM, "James" wrote:
> Damned if I know
> ------Original Message------
> Sent: Aug 26, 2008 8:31 PM
> Subject: Question
>
> James :
>
> Why is Harper pushing for a fall election?
>
> John
An election thought
'Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.'
Oscar Wilde
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Federal Agency Responsible For Food Safety Began This Year To Allow Industry To Inspection Itself
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
August 27, 2008
TORONTO AND OTTAWA — Canadian meat inspectors failed to learn crucial lessons from a deadly listeria outbreak a decade ago, experts on the bacterium suggested yesterday as the food-safety crisis spread further with three more deaths, including that of a woman in Saskatchewan, under investigation.
And the federal agency responsible for food safety this year began to let the industry conduct its own food testing, The Globe and Mail has learned.
A leaked cabinet document that outlined plans for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to give the food industry a greater role in the inspection process raised the ire of opposition politicians last week.
However, some of the plans have been in place since March 31, according to a CFIA manager and an official from the union that represents the federal inspectors.
At the Maple Leaf plant behind the listeria outbreak, a single federal inspector was relegated to auditing company paperwork and had to deal with several other plants, the manager and the union official said, contradicting the impression that officials had left last week that full-time watchdogs were on-site.
Under the new system, federal inspectors do random product tests only three or four times a year at any given plant. And meat packers are required to test each type of product only once a month.
Under the old system, inspectors had a more hands-on role on the plant floor, did more of the tests themselves and had more freedom to investigate, said former CFIA inspector Bob Kingston, who is national president of the Agriculture Union, a branch of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Full story:
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Welcome to Wonderland -- Old City Hall Criminal Court
It is difficult to convey a sense of
The building itself is a grand structure -- assuredly a historic site -- but sadly fallen into disrepair. The lovely tiled floors are patched, badly, and worn where they're are not scuffed. The hallways smell of sweat and fear and anger and loathing.
The Hall is inescapably linked to the Don Jail -- another ancient building where prisoners are held in conditions abominable to our grandparents. Three men in a tiny cell too small for one. The Don literally resembles the old Clink. The Hall and the Don are living proof the Beggar's Opera speaks truth to power.
Walking the halls are lawyers, judges, police, witnesses, accused and the walking dead (the mentally unstable, usually drug addicted, zombies who clearly don't know where they are, or if they do, they are somewhere else). Everyone is in a tumble because there are no secured halls and everyone moves promiscuously together. No fiction could be as odd as this without seeming contrived and false.
The Hall is where I started arguing in court -- night court 25 years ago, no, more than that. Oddly nothing has changed and the magistrates I appeared before then are still here now, unchanged and unchanging. They greet me as a young man. But others who have been my students at law school call over 'hello Professor Morton' and make small talk about evidence and practice.
It seems pleasant, if you ignore the smell and heat, until the screaming starts.
Someone, in great distress, cries out.
From where or why is not clear. Is the person injured or delusional or both? Regardless others take up the cry and the Hall fills, briefly, with howling that stops almost as soon as it begins.
Adding to the adventure is a demonstration (protest?) outside. The yelling has forced all windows closed (and there is no air conditioning in this ancient building). I go outside to get some air and snap a photo for the blog. A vague memory comes to mind of a neo Nazi protest in the 1980's outside the building.
It was evening and I left the Hall by a side way. I was suddenly part of the protest -- not where I wanted to be -- I suspect the neo Nazi would not want my type in their special club. Immigrants are over represented in municipal courts -- a function I suspect of poverty and prejudice -- and neo Nazis tend to see the Hall as a centre of infection for the nation.
I digress.
The Hall is a place out of Restoration England. The wealthy and powerful move cheek and jowl with the poor and the ill and the mad. It is the stuff of tragic opera or novels that seem implausible to the taste.
But this is not what a great nation does with its poor and downtrodden. Or perhaps, this is not what a great nation should do with its poor and downtrodden.
A disappointed Liberal; Surely Harper is better than this? I guess not.
I am surprised by Harper's behavior in setting up a phony crisis to justify calling an election when he said he wouldn't.
First, the fake crisis is so clumsy that Harper is giving away votes. Parliament is working just fine and lots of good legislation is being enacted -- show me anything the Government failed to get that they wanted.
Second, and here is my real surprise, I thought Harper was better than this. While I disagree with many of his policies (and not all -- some legislation was necessary and good) I thought Harper really was a man of principle. I saw him as better than 'politics as usual'.
Well, we see a fake crisis created to justify an election made to avoid investigation into financial irregularities in campaign expenses. Sounds all too familiar. I'm disappointed ... guess I'll vote Liberal!
Snap election all but certain: Harper CAMPBELL CLARK Globe and Mail Update and Canadian Press Tue, 26 Aug 2008
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper portrayed a snap election as a virtual certainty Tuesday morning and hinted it will likely be triggered next week, before three Sept. 8 by-elections.
At an Ottawa press conference Tuesday, Mr. Harper insisted he would not be breaking his word by disregarding his own fixed-election-date law that sets voting day in October, 2009, insisting that opposition parties want to bring down the government before then, so it is up to him to remove doubts about who will govern.
"They're committed to an election well before then. If they're clearly committed to that course of action, and I think they are, then it behooves the government to provide some responsibility," he said.
"The country must have a government that can function during a time of economic uncertainty, and if it's not this government, or not this Parliament, the public will have an opportunity to decide whom."
Mr. Harper had said previously he wants to meet opposition leaders before the Commons resumes Sept. 15 to see if he will be able to advance his fall agenda – although he has not indicated specifically what that entails.
But Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has proposed a meeting Sept. 9, a day after three by-elections slated in Ontario and Quebec, and Mr. Harper hinted Tuesday he won't wait that long.
"The opening is to talk at any opportunity. Not to wait three weeks to have a meeting. Obviously…that indicates a fundamental difference between the government and the opposition parties"
Mr. Dion said Tuesday he is perfectly prepared to meet with what he calls a "panicking" Prime Minister before Parliament is scheduled to resume, but he stressed that Mr. Harper has no intention of holding serious talks with the opposition parties. He suggested Mr. Harper is fabricating a crisis as a way of masking that he's about to break the Conservatives' legislated promise on fixed election dates.
Mr. Dion said Mr. Harper's officials did not indicate any urgency when he was contacted about a meeting with the Prime Minister eight days ago. The Liberal Leader said Mr. Harper is simply trying to force an election before the slowing economy shows Conservative policy shortcomings, and before parliamentary committees can explore the Tories' "ethical" problems.
Full story here:
http://m.avantgo.com/ui?ag_url=52616e646f6d49567471f31bcc18c61d3d3a47a3755632e3c47ec237a156211070f6efbbd1098124404b587d12455c3d2035e5eacba146f3b96957c6a302b82ca73894e5c29b3a63c78c2b6b6962e661&ag_channel=4179&showNav=0&ms=globeandmail
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
Harry Potter star's disability takes cloak off DCD
As some may recall even Olympic athletes have difficulties -- what is impressive is how people can succeed despite challenges!
Daniel Radcliffe suffers from a mild version of dyspraxia, a condition that can make even the simplest daily tasks unmanageable
When Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe spoke publicly about having dyspraxia recently, it was the first time many people had ever heard of the condition.
The diagnostic term used by the medical community is Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, and it encompasses a range of motor difficulties that can interfere with the activities of daily life.
Mr. Radcliffe's spokesman has been quoted saying the star of the phenomenally successful Harry Potter films has a very mild condition that, at its worst, means he has bad handwriting and trouble with tying shoelaces.
Full story here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080826.LPOTTER26/EmailTPStory/
Abortion Arguments
I hesitate even to mention an argument going around in the media about abortion.
The issue (legitimately) raises strong feelings.
My view, expressed before, is abortion should be rare, safe and legal. (I admit paraphrasing the Clintons on this but it does express my view).
That said, there is a current argument in favour of allowing abortion based on the relatively high miscarriage rate. In summary the argument says that, since many pregnancies miscarry, and since an induced abortion is just a miscarriage, abortion merely does what nature often does. This, somehow, suggests abortion is unproblematic.
The trouble with this argument can be seem in a moment if one considers human life. (And this is not a "start of life" argument).
Everyone dies. It is not a question of whether but merely a question of when.
Death is natural.
Does this mean killing, say, a 52 year old woman in good health (who is bound to die anyway) is merely doing what nature does and is, accordingly, ok? (I hope the answer is obvious -- if not, the answer is no, it is not ok).
Maybe I misunderstand the miscarriage argument -- if so perhaps wise readers can set me straight? Otherwise, I will base my view on other arguments.
The issue (legitimately) raises strong feelings.
My view, expressed before, is abortion should be rare, safe and legal. (I admit paraphrasing the Clintons on this but it does express my view).
That said, there is a current argument in favour of allowing abortion based on the relatively high miscarriage rate. In summary the argument says that, since many pregnancies miscarry, and since an induced abortion is just a miscarriage, abortion merely does what nature often does. This, somehow, suggests abortion is unproblematic.
The trouble with this argument can be seem in a moment if one considers human life. (And this is not a "start of life" argument).
Everyone dies. It is not a question of whether but merely a question of when.
Death is natural.
Does this mean killing, say, a 52 year old woman in good health (who is bound to die anyway) is merely doing what nature does and is, accordingly, ok? (I hope the answer is obvious -- if not, the answer is no, it is not ok).
Maybe I misunderstand the miscarriage argument -- if so perhaps wise readers can set me straight? Otherwise, I will base my view on other arguments.
Taliban hit hard by Canada
If this mission has the effect suggested, this is very good news.
Canadian Forces deal 'huge blow' to Taliban: official
Canadian Forces have destroyed a Taliban compound and crippled militants' ability to make and plant roadside bombs, military officials said Monday.
Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould told reporters Monday that Canadian Forces "hit the Taliban hard" during operation Op Timis Preem.
The operation was conducted in the Zhari district of Kandahar province last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Corbould said the operation's objective was to strike at the Taliban's command and control infrastructure and take away their ability to conduct operations against Afghan and coalition forces.
The mission's key goal was to reduce the Taliban's ability to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which they routinely plant along Highway Number One -- the main national highway that crosses Kandahar province.
Corbould said the operation has served "a huge blow to the enemy's ability to plant major IEDs."
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080825%2fvehicle_bomb_080825
Canadian Forces deal 'huge blow' to Taliban: official
Canadian Forces have destroyed a Taliban compound and crippled militants' ability to make and plant roadside bombs, military officials said Monday.
Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould told reporters Monday that Canadian Forces "hit the Taliban hard" during operation Op Timis Preem.
The operation was conducted in the Zhari district of Kandahar province last Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Corbould said the operation's objective was to strike at the Taliban's command and control infrastructure and take away their ability to conduct operations against Afghan and coalition forces.
The mission's key goal was to reduce the Taliban's ability to build improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which they routinely plant along Highway Number One -- the main national highway that crosses Kandahar province.
Corbould said the operation has served "a huge blow to the enemy's ability to plant major IEDs."
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080825%2fvehicle_bomb_080825
Monday, August 25, 2008
C. S. Forester
Mere revenge, objectless, retaliatory, is always stale and unprofitable.
The Commodore, 1945
Silly Nonsense From the PMO
Dion says he can't meet Harper until Sept. 9
On this issue I totally agree with our Leader and here's why.
There is a mini general election going on right now. Yes, there are only 4 by-elections coming up but they are important by-elections and the Liberals are campaigning hard for them.
For Harper to suggest that Dion should drop everything and meet the day before the first three of the by-elections is unreasonable. To say Dion has "broken off communications" is childish. Why the rush?
What is Harper looking for? And why not honour his commitment to hold the election on a fixed timetable? Like his politics or not Harper is better than this silly nonsense; his acting like a petulant child.
Dion says he can't meet Harper until Sept. 9
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said Monday he's unavailable to speak with the prime minister about the so-called "dysfunctional" state of Parliament until Sept. 9 -- one day after three scheduled byelections.
"(Dion) is essentially refusing to meet and, not only refusing to meet, refusing to speak by phone," Kory Teneycke, Harper's communication director, said Monday. "This is a sign that he's, for all intents and purposes, broken off communication with the prime minister."
Sources have told CTV News that Harper may go to the Governor General as early as Sept. 5 to ask for a general election. That would send Canadians to the polls on Oct. 14 at the earliest.
Critics say Harper hopes to force an election before Canadians vote in four byelections set for September.
Three are set for Sept. 8 in the Guelph riding of Southwestern Ontario, and the Quebec ridings of Westmount-Ville Marie in Montreal and nearby Saint Lambert.
A fourth byelection in the Toronto riding of Don Valley West is scheduled for Sept. 22.
The general election date would also come before a possible Democratic presidential victory south of the border, which may fuel Liberal support.
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Dion+says+he+cant+meet+Harper+until+Sept+9/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080825%2fdion_election_080825&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
On this issue I totally agree with our Leader and here's why.
There is a mini general election going on right now. Yes, there are only 4 by-elections coming up but they are important by-elections and the Liberals are campaigning hard for them.
For Harper to suggest that Dion should drop everything and meet the day before the first three of the by-elections is unreasonable. To say Dion has "broken off communications" is childish. Why the rush?
What is Harper looking for? And why not honour his commitment to hold the election on a fixed timetable? Like his politics or not Harper is better than this silly nonsense; his acting like a petulant child.
Dion says he can't meet Harper until Sept. 9
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said Monday he's unavailable to speak with the prime minister about the so-called "dysfunctional" state of Parliament until Sept. 9 -- one day after three scheduled byelections.
"(Dion) is essentially refusing to meet and, not only refusing to meet, refusing to speak by phone," Kory Teneycke, Harper's communication director, said Monday. "This is a sign that he's, for all intents and purposes, broken off communication with the prime minister."
Sources have told CTV News that Harper may go to the Governor General as early as Sept. 5 to ask for a general election. That would send Canadians to the polls on Oct. 14 at the earliest.
Critics say Harper hopes to force an election before Canadians vote in four byelections set for September.
Three are set for Sept. 8 in the Guelph riding of Southwestern Ontario, and the Quebec ridings of Westmount-Ville Marie in Montreal and nearby Saint Lambert.
A fourth byelection in the Toronto riding of Don Valley West is scheduled for Sept. 22.
The general election date would also come before a possible Democratic presidential victory south of the border, which may fuel Liberal support.
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Dion+says+he+cant+meet+Harper+until+Sept+9/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080825%2fdion_election_080825&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
I can't even imagine a comment on this story
Italian priest to organize 'beauty contest' for nuns: 'Miss Sister 2008'
ROME - An Italian priest says he has decided to organize an online beauty pageant for nuns.Rev. Antonio Rungi, a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples area, says he wants to fight the stereotype that nuns are all old and dour.
The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by Rungi. Visitors to the site will have a month to "vote for the nun they consider a model."
Nuns will fill out a profile, including information about their life and vocation, and provide the website with a photograph.
It will be up to them to choose whether to pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.
Full story here:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080824/koddities/oddity_nuns__beauty_contest
Splash
Didn't they save money on the Titanic by cutting back on life vests and life boats? Of course, if a modern plane crashes in water it's not very likely life vests will help?
N.L. mayor says airline decision to replace life vests unconscionable
By The Canadian PressST. JOHN. N.L. - A Newfoundland politician who is pushing for an airline passenger bill of rights says airlines are taking a backwards step when it comes to passenger safety.
Woody French, the mayor of Conception Bay South, says he finds it unconscionable that Jazz, an affiliate of Air Canada, is pulling life vests out of some of its planes to save on fuel.
Full story here:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080825/national/nl_airline_rights
Musing on a long ago Treasurer
Sitting in the Barrie courthouse I noticed the picture in this post.
It was of Gershom William Mason, KC.
A founder of what is now Weir Foulds, Mason was Treasurer of the Law Society in the late 1940's.
I hope the picture does not do him justice.
The expression of mingled exasperation and contempt does not make him look like a very nice man. I suppose being nice and being a leading lawyer are not two items that necessarily go together. But it would be better if they did.
The internet failed to provide some background on Mason. Was he from Barrie? Is that why his picture is here? Did he want something beyond what he achieved -- was he a disappointed politician or lawyer who failed to become a judge? Was his personal life a challenge? Was he, unbeknownst to himself, a tremendous success loved by his staff and fellow lawyers?
Or perhaps he was a very level headed decent man happy to be a lawyer and I am projecting hopes and fears onto his painted canvass? That's the trouble with a painting and a few dates. They raise questions but do nothing to provide answers. They only allow for speculation
Physical barriers tumble, mental ones remain
Important piece from the Star (see the Star.ca for the full story; part of the piece appears below).
A person's humanity lies in their spirit and not their body.
Invisible discrimination is very real; troops injured during combat often had to fight against this sort of prejudice and the first serious attempts to make public places accessible started after the First World War.
Helen Henderson
The Toronto Star, Aug. 23, 2008
Tomorrow's ceremony closing the Beijing Olympics will no doubt be another
display of spectacular entertainment. Flawless, if the opening performance
is any indication. But I'm not really into flawless.
Yes, I know all about Hollywood and body doubles and what sells. I know that
wasn't really Kevin Costner's bare backside in the movie Robin Hood and I
know most of the world couldn't care less. But this isn't just about digitally enhanced displays of light and a little girl lip-synching China's "Ode to the Motherland."
It's about a culture of exclusion, a false hierarchy built on ignorance. And it's about why the Paralympics, due to start two weeks from today, never get the same attention as the so-called main event that precedes them.
China is by no means alone in harbouring an ugly "us/them" attitude. Beijing officials were eager to tell the world that parts of the Great Wall and the
Forbidden City would be accessible to wheelchairs for the first time this
year. But the barriers erected by closed minds were very much in evidence in
the run- up to the games.
Back in May, disability groups around the world expressed outrage following
the release of the official guide. distributed to 100,000 volunteers training to help out at Olympic events.
As reported by Ashling O'Connor, Olympics correspondent for The Times of London, the guide led off its section on disabled people by saying:
"Paralympic athletes and disabled spectators are a special group. They have unique personalities and ways of thinking."
By way of explanation, the guide. continued: "Some physically disabled are
isolated, unsocial and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling ... defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority."
Other pearls from the guide, which was hastily withdrawn with apologies from
Beijing officials, included:
"Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy. They show no
differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanism from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of
disfigurement and disability."
"When you make eye contact, do not fuss or show unusual curiosity. Never
stare at their disfigurement."
"A patronizing or condescending attitude will be easily sensed, even for a brain-damaged patient."
The "optically disabled (are) introverted. They seldom show strong emotions."
Lest you write off such language as unique to countries where disabled
people are still for the most part hidden, consider a Nike ad published eight years ago in magazines throughout North America. The ad, for which Nike subsequently apologized, read, in part: "You're probably asking yourself, 'How can a trail running shoe ... help me avoid compressing my spinal cord into a Slinky on the side of some unsuspecting conifer, thereby rendering me a drooling, misshapen non-extreme-trail-running husk of my former self, forced to roam
the earth in a motorized wheelchair ...?'"
Presumably, the trail running shoe in question was flawless and would, by
extension, confer perfection on those who wore it.
This year, some 4,000 athletes from around the world are gearing up for the
Beijing Paralympics, among them Chinese fencer Jin Jing, who made headlines
in April when a demonstrator tried unsuccessfully to wrest the Olympic torch from her during the Paris lap of the relay to Beijing.
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
What does Stephen Harper know that we don't?
OK, this is getting weird. Why is the PM in such a rush for an election? What does he know the rest of us don't?
Harper may ask for election as soon as Sept. 5Prime Minister Stephen Harper may go to the Governor General as early as Sept. 5 to ask for a general election, senior Conservative sources have told CTV News.
That would cancel four byelections already scheduled for next month, with three set for Sept. 8. Campaigns have already kicked into gear in the Guelph riding of Southwestern Ontario, and the Quebec ridings of Westmount-Ville Marie in Montreal and nearby Saint Lambert.
Full story here:
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Harper+may+ask+for+election+as+soon+as+Sept+5/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080824%2fharper_dion_080824&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Harper may ask for election as soon as Sept. 5Prime Minister Stephen Harper may go to the Governor General as early as Sept. 5 to ask for a general election, senior Conservative sources have told CTV News.
That would cancel four byelections already scheduled for next month, with three set for Sept. 8. Campaigns have already kicked into gear in the Guelph riding of Southwestern Ontario, and the Quebec ridings of Westmount-Ville Marie in Montreal and nearby Saint Lambert.
Full story here:
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Harper+may+ask+for+election+as+soon+as+Sept+5/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080824%2fharper_dion_080824&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)