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A Block of a Street Named after a Band

Kingston city council is incredible. Last night, in a 7-6 vote, they decided to rename one block of Barrack Street after The Tragically Hip. This is not just any city block but one that is probably one of the oldest street names west of Quebec City. It was named because the street connected the armories on what is now Montreal Street, to the soldiers' barracks near the waterfront. A long time ago.

Several interesting remarks were made by councillors last night.

1. One councillor spoke passionately about what a great tourist attraction it would be to name one block of a street after TTH. It begs the queston: why would ANYONE go to this block to look at the front of the entertainment centre, where TTH did NOT get their start? This would attract tourists? He must think tourists are stupider than bricks.



2. A councillor spoke about the recognition of local citizens in a concrete way, including musicians, writers, etc. The city does not regognize its own now. It's high time it did. Good on you, Councillor Schell.



3. The Mayor made one of the most impassioned speeches in favour of this notion. Interestingly, he has university degree(s?) and cited some numbers to bolster his agreement. Unfortunately, he must have missed the stats class in which the prof discussed the use of numbers. He made two very serious, and persuasive, errors. First, he said that the majority of attendees at a public meeting supported this change. That may be true. The stats prof would ask: how many attended the meeting? how many citizens are there in the municipality and what percentage of them attended the meeting? was it a cross section of citizens? did people attend with their minds already made up (either way) ? Second...he cited the city's on-line poll which asked people's opinion. The obvious errors in thie extremely unscientific tool are, most importantly, that the only ones who vote are those with access to a computer. How many citizens within the city limits have a computer, and how many of those even bothered to vote? [as an aside, I know of one well-known, highly regarded local who does not even own a computer, to say nothing of his online voting] The remarks of voters are not taken into account.

My Canada

I look back at my country, Canada, and wish we still had it.
Changes in structure and institutions to make them more responsive to the changing needs of citizens are important to do.
But, what is sad for our country, it that the current government strives to change the core values of Canada: respect, caring for its citizens, honour, support for allies....

Now, we have Mr Toews not only getting rid of the long gun registry, but now he wants permission to hack into my priviate info, and who knows what he will do with that!

One of the reponses to this decision, is that someone has hacked his divorce docs, and flooded the internet with not only those docs, but his apparent affairs and a recently-born child.

This response demonstrates the anger that many people feel about the government's high handed, "we'll do it if we want" attitude.

None of his sadly-lacking-moral behaviour is any of the public's business, but the hacker has demonstrated how easy it is to get any and all info about people off the internet.

How low can out country go?

How Time Flies!

Time to get back to this!

Another Way to Raise Revenue

Right.
The only ways that the deficit can be eliminated (by 2014??? Good grief) are by cutting spending (i.e. programs) or raising taxes.
Or, raising fees....a sort of tax....so today, word comes in the media that fees for all sorts of federal programs are going up. That is entry into National Parks, camping fees in those same parks....more to come.

Canadians who have very small discretionary money to spend, are once again going to be dinged.

It's hard to believe that Canadians voted these hosers into power.

And, if Ontario is not careful, and outspoken, it will vote another hoser into provincial power this October. Nothing short of frightening.

Now it's Happening!

Why are the unions so amazed?
The federal government is about to legislate the postal workers back to work, at a wage settlement that is LESS than they are now receiving!
Where did all these Canadians think the "savings" would come from that would result in eliminating the federal deficit by 2014? There are still only 2 ways to do this: raise taxes or cut the number of employees.
There are cuts in other federal departments, e.g. department of public works, and the staff are wailing.
Canaians voted this lot of people into a majority postion, and will have to live with what they do.
Our country will be forever changed by the time we get rid of the Harper conservatives.

The People Will Be Shocked

Balance the budget by 2014???
Programs will be cut, drastically. It will be staggering.

I wonder what will happen to support for sport. If the PM maintains the support for Own the Podium-type programs, he will have to take the money from the NSOs. And THAT will devastate some of them.

Suddenly, People Have Figured It Out!

Polls done within the last week, by the CBC regarding the PM's plans are showing that

• fewer than 60% of those polled agree with lowering corporate taxes


• fewer than 60% of those polled agree with cutting programs to bring the deficit down

Where were these people when Harper laid out those ideas and said he'd do them, if elected with a majority!

Theere are only 2 ways to cut the deficit: raise taxes or cut programs. Or both.

Just wait till programs begin to disappear.....as they say, he has 4 years to do this. Oh yes, that's if he follows the law, which he didn't do related to this election.

It's Begun

Incredible tactics of the PM:

• he appointed two defeated Tory candidates from the May election to the Senate. The worst example of patronage and blatant "too bad folks" in Canada's history. And that was the same day he announced his cabinet.




• it began before the election, with the cost of "security" for the G8 summit. Now, $2900.00/officer for one Sunday's security.



• June 2nd....chopping staff at Environment Canada and at the National Gallery. Not attrition; real, deep cuts

Another Harper Miscue

Advance polls for the May 2 election are on Easter weekend: Good Friday, Easter and the Monday. I just can't see myself going to the polls on Good Friday. Would Steven Harper go to vote on Good Friday? Maybe he'll be at church too........... http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2008/09/10/why-stephen-harper-keeps-his-evangelicalism-very-private.aspx He goes to the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. there is one (or more?) in Ottawa. Quotation from the above article......The Alliance Church, to which Harper has belonged for decades, believes Jesus Christ will return to Earth in an apocalypse, won't ordain women, strongly opposes abortion and divorce, condemns homosexuality as the most base of sins and believes those who aren't born-again are "lost."

Looking Worn

Mr Harper is looking worn and tired. All this defending himself and his government because of their lack of transparency, their sharp elbows (keeping students from rallies), MPs who mis-step.......it's getting to him. Betting has it that he will crash before May 2nd, date of the election. An election campaign is tough enough for any leader, but it must be emotionally exhausting for Harper to have to apologize (or at least consider doing that) almost every day.

No votes or Conservatives, Please!

This is not the time to vote Conservative, no matter how much you think your local candidate might be a good representative for your community.\ A few good reasons:

• Harper does not tell the truth


• Harper has now said that he didn't know about his Security Advisor's (Bruce Carson) many clashes with the law


• Then Harper appointed him the first (and only ) civilian head of the RCMP, in spite of Elliott's reputation as a bully


• Harper's well-known distain for women


• Conservative view on abortion


• Harper's unwillingness to let his Cabinet members speak


• Harper's treatment of a couple of his former Cabinet members


• Harper's continuing insistence that the long-gun registry will be cancelled (now, if he gets a majority!)


• Canada's decreasing position internationally, due to Harper's "isolationist" stance for the country, and a couple of unpopular "Holier than thou" stances

Rex Murphy's Simple Recipe for Politicans....

http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/indepthanalysis/rexmurphy/story/2011/03/28/thenational-rexmurphy-110328.html Imagine! No dreadful ads on TV! Plainspeak!

A Political Tool

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/03/26/vote-compass.html

Try this.

News Flash!

Will someone tell Mr Harper that there's nothing wrong with a coalition?

He probably is damning the idea, cause he sees that he won't get a majority!!!

Junior Hockey: the disgraceful Frontenacs

A Whig reader wrote this week to the paper that what is lacking in the Fronts organization is LEADERSHIP. How right he is.
The dismal yea of the Fronts cannot be attributed to the athletes, but rather is the responsibility of the coach.
One of these days, the owners and GM of the Fronts will realize that Doug gilmour is not a coach. As an advocate for coaches and their required eduation and training, I can say that Mr G has neither.
A good athlete does not make a good coach. We have seen that with Wayne Gretzky. He was never a good coach, and probably never will be. Wisely, he left the coach position.
The Fronts need an educated professional coach, and the management to back him up.
This is not complicated.
Look around the Junior Hockey circles in Canada, review the successful franchises, and ask yourself why they are successful.

Harper's Chosen Federal Election

No mattere what baloney or spin Mr Harper tries to put on it, HE is the one who has caused/chosen to have an election.

Why?

• he refuses to talk with the opposition parties
• he refuses to listen to Canadians
• his government has a list of scandals to match any previous list
• his government was found in contempt of parliament, the first time in Canadian history that this has happened
• he does not tell the truth
• there is no transparency in his government
• Canadians do not like to be bullied, and civil servants and MPs don't either

Isn't this enough????

They've Chosen....

The local Tories have chosen Alicia Gordon to run in the next federal election.
This defies understanding.
A few questions: how could any female choose to be a member of the Conservative party, never mind run in an election? how could any female stand being told what to say (nothing, please), or how to vote or how to run a ministry? How could any female support less day care, pro-life, minimizing of the family....the list goes on.
How could ANYONE support a patronizing bully like the PM?

Instead of hate responses, perhaps one of you would explain. Just explain. Not post hate stuff.

It's Ok

The PM chooses to pretend that it's the denial of the grant that we are upset about. It's that, but more importantly, lying about how the "not" got there, that is most upsetting to Canadians.

One wonders how the PM is bringing up his children. Is it ok to lie, as long as you don't get caught at it?

And on to the most recent of a long string of extraordinary changes (including defending Oda) to government policy.

Fewer skilled immigrants and fewer family members are to be allowed it come to Canada this year. We need people who are willing to work, and we need family members of immigrants to join their new Canadian relatives. Many older family members look after children, live with their children and contribute to this country in this way. Imagine if you immigrated to another country, expecting to be able to have your parents and siblings join you in a few years, then, you find out that it will be 8-10 years before they can join you. By then, your babies are almost teens, and the time you really needed then has passed....to say nothing of the possibility that one one them has passed on.

Surely all cabinet ministers, or those who think they are running in the next election fo the Conservatives, can believe in this sort of thing.

Let's put these questions to the two people wanting the Consservative nomination in Kingston: is it ok to try to cover up your lies? is it ok to change the rules about immigrants coming to Canada, disappointing those who were led to believe that their family members could soon join them? why have the numbers of immigrants allowed into this country been lowered for 2011?