If Pravin was in public school today, his parents would most likely be advised to medicate him for ADHD by the time he was in first grade. According to new research, students who are the youngest in their class are twice as likely to be medicated for ADHD. If they’re male they are three times as likely to be diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD. Being both male and on the younger side in his class, Pravin would’ve been a guidance counselor’s and pediatrician’s prime target for drugging. The only thing that might save him now is what probably saved him then: He is damned smart.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
WYNNE'S HYDRO MESS
While it’s a close race to the bottom, we can all agree there is no file that our leftist premier has bungled more than energy.
In the past year, Kathleen Wynne has sold off 30% of Hydro One to scrape up money for transit and to pay down the Ontario debt — before she has to face the electorate in little more than a year’s time.
Her plan, at least so far, is to sell off another 30% of the energy monopoly.
In the past year, Kathleen Wynne has sold off 30% of Hydro One to scrape up money for transit and to pay down the Ontario debt — before she has to face the electorate in little more than a year’s time.
Her plan, at least so far, is to sell off another 30% of the energy monopoly.
DISSENSION IN THE MEDICAL RANKS
A damaging wave of cyberbullying and intimidation is sweeping through the ranks of Ontario doctors, complete with obscene emails, threats against each other’s medical careers and refusals to take patient referrals from adversaries.
Although experts say bullying has always been a problem in medicine, in Ontario it has escalated since last summer’s failed ratification vote over a proposed deal between the government and Ontario Medical Association, which represents the province’s 34,000 doctors and medical students.
OTTAWA'S SPENDING PRIORITIES
Ottawa: The city would spend $10 million on new public art along the Stage 2 rail extensions, prompting one councillor to suggest lowering the spending cap for artwork.
Council’s default position is to spend the money on art, since the city has a policy that says one per cent of capital projects over $2 million must be spent on public art.
Council’s default position is to spend the money on art, since the city has a policy that says one per cent of capital projects over $2 million must be spent on public art.
Monday, February 27, 2017
CONVICTED KILLER KELLY ELLARD
I did not get pregnant on purpose. I chose to keep my child. It was a hard decision to make," Ellard told two members of the Parole Board of Canada on Monday.
STIFFER SANCTIONS FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING
NP — The federal government wants some provinces to toughen laws aimed at distracted drivers, the National Post has learned, but is not yet ready to criminalize those caught texting or talking on smartphones.
In a letter to his provincial counterparts, federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau seeks “nationally consistent enforcement measures and penalties” to combat a rapidly rising rate of accidents involving drivers who were using their phones at the time of the crash.DUCEPPE'S UK LINEAGE
It turns out that Gilles Duceppe, former Bloc Quebecois leader, has more anglo blood coursing through his veins than many English-speakers here opposed to his views on sovereignty.
Duceppe’s maternal grandfather, John James Rowley, hailed from the other side of the pond. He was one of an estimated 100,000 orphaned, abandoned and/or poor children who were dispatched to Canada from the British Isles between the mid-19th and mid-20th century, ostensibly to help alleviate a labour shortage here. Known as the British Home Children, many of these new arrivals were treated terribly, and were often exploited.
Duceppe’s maternal grandfather, John James Rowley, hailed from the other side of the pond. He was one of an estimated 100,000 orphaned, abandoned and/or poor children who were dispatched to Canada from the British Isles between the mid-19th and mid-20th century, ostensibly to help alleviate a labour shortage here. Known as the British Home Children, many of these new arrivals were treated terribly, and were often exploited.
SMITHERMAN IN POLITICS AGAIN
Almost seven years after failing to become mayor of Toronto, George Smitherman is planning a return to politics with a run for city council in the 2018 municipal election.
In a decade at Queen’s Park, the Etobicoke-raised Smitherman served as opposition MPP, health minister and minister of energy and infrastructure.
He was credited with implementing massive reforms to the province’s health care system but also tarred by the eHealth Ontario spending scandal
For some reason this article leaves out Smitherman's involvement with Samsung
TORONTO'S ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT POLICY
Toronto became the country’s first “sanctuary city” in 2013, and reaffirmed that decision in a vote a few weeks ago, adopting an official policy of providing public services to all residents regardless of their status.
If a city worker or public service provider learns a person is not in this country legally, that status cannot be reported to border authorities under the city policy.
According to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), police are obliged to report immigration violations to them — regardless of city policies.
If a city worker or public service provider learns a person is not in this country legally, that status cannot be reported to border authorities under the city policy.
According to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), police are obliged to report immigration violations to them — regardless of city policies.
MYSTERIOUS REMOVAL OF VAdm VANCE
NP: The RCMP’s arrival at Norman’s home set in motion the removal of one of the most respected officers in the Canadian Forces, for reasons the Liberal government has yet to acknowledge.
Hours after the RCMP went to Norman’s home, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance removed the vice-admiral from his position, a move Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say they fully support.
Henein’s statement about Norman being “caught in the bureaucratic crossfire” suggests a belief that internal fighting over the problem-plagued shipbuilding program may have been a factor in Vance’s decision to remove him.
Hours after the RCMP went to Norman’s home, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance removed the vice-admiral from his position, a move Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say they fully support.
Henein’s statement about Norman being “caught in the bureaucratic crossfire” suggests a belief that internal fighting over the problem-plagued shipbuilding program may have been a factor in Vance’s decision to remove him.
SHARED DISSERVICES CANADA
Canada's top cop is warning that ongoing computer network failures and slipshod service from Shared Services Canada could have "catastrophic" consequences for police and the public.
CBC News has obtained a blistering Jan. 20, 2017, memo to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale in which Commissioner Bob Paulson details how critical IT failures have increased by 129 per cent since the beleaguered department took over tech support for the entire government five years ago
.Not only that, the memo says, the duration of each outage has increased by 98 per cent.
CBC News has obtained a blistering Jan. 20, 2017, memo to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale in which Commissioner Bob Paulson details how critical IT failures have increased by 129 per cent since the beleaguered department took over tech support for the entire government five years ago
.Not only that, the memo says, the duration of each outage has increased by 98 per cent.
GOODALE: MAKING IT UP AS HE GOES ALONG
Most of the asylum seekers who have been crossing the Canada-U.S. border illegally were always planning to end up in Canada, said Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.
“The vast majority … are actually transiting through the United States,” the minister said in an interview on The West Block.
“The vast majority … are actually transiting through the United States,” the minister said in an interview on The West Block.
NOTHING TO SEE HERE, MOVE ALONG.
Two candidates seeking the federal Liberal nomination in the vacant Markham-Thornhill, Ont., riding are crying foul over the party’s handling of the nomination process, saying the party is “doing everything they can” to get Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s director of appointments, Mary Ng, elected as the candidate in next weekend’s nomination meeting.
On Feb. 20, the Liberal Party sent an email saying the deadline for signing up new members eligible to vote was Feb. 14.
ONTARIO TINKERING WITH LABOUR LAWS
The scope of the possible changes has the business community worried and the labor movement excited.
LEAVING THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The Trump administration is seriously considering pulling out of the UN Human Rights Council. Such a move would deal a blow to one of the most anti-Israel, anti-American appendages of the United Nations.
We've threatened to do this before, but this time, there appears to be general agreement among the foreign policy experts at the White House.
"EU TERRIFIED OF TRUMP"
Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party, told PJM that there is “nothing to be lost” with President Trump meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that Trump has to show he’s “not going to be a pushover.”
“Well, he has to show he wants to have a better relationship with Russia. He believes we have shared common interests in dealing with Islamic terrorism and issues like that but he’s not going to be a pushover
VILLAINIZING LINDA TRIPP
During a radio interview broadcast on Sunday, Linda Tripp, who was famously portrayed by John Goodman on Saturday Night Live during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, blasted SNL for what she described as a political campaign to “make me into a villain” instead of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM MEXICO
Mexico is not happy that President Trump appears to be serious about building a border wall and halting the cross-border human traffic. The improvements in border security promised in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 as a trade-off for the general amnesty never happened, and illegal border crossings have trended upwards again after a brief decline connected to the 2008-10 recession.
Let me put this in stark economic terms: Mexico’s national income grows in direct proportion to the size of the illegal Mexican population inside the United States. Does that help explain the Mexican fixation on U.S. politics? Mexico’s most profitable export to the U.S. is not oil or avocados or automobile parts, it is people.
Let me put this in stark economic terms: Mexico’s national income grows in direct proportion to the size of the illegal Mexican population inside the United States. Does that help explain the Mexican fixation on U.S. politics? Mexico’s most profitable export to the U.S. is not oil or avocados or automobile parts, it is people.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
TRUMP TO SKIP HYENA FRENZY
Donald J. Trump: " I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!"
Gee, that's too damn bad. But you can bet the assembled journalists and Hollywood stars will have a fine old time bashing the president, without his being able to bash back.
Gee, that's too damn bad. But you can bet the assembled journalists and Hollywood stars will have a fine old time bashing the president, without his being able to bash back.
COUNTERFEIT PHARMACEUTICALS EDUCATION
Nicholls knew the drugs were potentially lethal. That didn’t matter to him.
“‘The high is worth the risk.’ That’s what people think. They think it’s not going to happen to them.”
At one time or another, Nicholl said he and all of his friends have overdosed. “If you have a party, there’s maybe 15 people. It’s guaranteed that one of them will overdose.”
Users will often consume 10 tablets a day, most often crushing them into powder form and snorting them or smoking them sprinkled in tobacco or marijuana.
“‘The high is worth the risk.’ That’s what people think. They think it’s not going to happen to them.”
At one time or another, Nicholl said he and all of his friends have overdosed. “If you have a party, there’s maybe 15 people. It’s guaranteed that one of them will overdose.”
Users will often consume 10 tablets a day, most often crushing them into powder form and snorting them or smoking them sprinkled in tobacco or marijuana.
AMBULANCE BLACK HOLE: RURAL ONT AT RISK
Prescott Russell had a 10 year contract with Ottawa, in which the service with the higher number of calls would compensate the other for those excess calls. That contract expired in December of 2015. The chief paramedic for Prescott Russell, Michel Chretien, says that in 2016, Prescott Russell saw a 250% hike in net calls that taxpayers in his county had to pay for, amounting to between $500,000 and $750,000, with most of those calls, he says, coming from Ottawa.
It's a growing concern for communities outside Ottawa. The Land Ambulance Act of Ontario requires that the closest ambulance to a patient must respond to a call. Many county ambulances end up in Ottawa as demand in that city grows, creating what Prescott-Russell’s mayor calls a “black hole” where their ambulances are in Ottawa, dropping off patients at the hospitals there, and constantly being re-routed into calls within that city, putting rural residents at risk.
It's a growing concern for communities outside Ottawa. The Land Ambulance Act of Ontario requires that the closest ambulance to a patient must respond to a call. Many county ambulances end up in Ottawa as demand in that city grows, creating what Prescott-Russell’s mayor calls a “black hole” where their ambulances are in Ottawa, dropping off patients at the hospitals there, and constantly being re-routed into calls within that city, putting rural residents at risk.
OTTAWA MURDERS
Canada’s capital is a small sleepy city of less than a million. Its average annual murder rate is only 10. That’s a weekend in Chicago. But last year something strange happened to Ottawa’s murder rate.
PREPARING FOR A BORDER CRISIS
Because although Canada treats those entering illegally humanely, and provides them a fair asylum hearing, sneaking in is still illegal, and the migrants are typically released into the public until their hearing date.
Are there enough personnel to convene and adjudicate the review hearings in a reasonably timely manner? Do frontline personnel, both customs and police officers, have the tools and equipment to do a reasonable job monitoring Canada’s enormous and undefended land border?
The federal government seems not to yet have answers to all these questions. Indeed, the Liberals have been largely silent about any responses to the growing migrant numbers, satisfied so far with the boost this new phenomenon provides to their welcoming and inclusive political brand.
Are there enough personnel to convene and adjudicate the review hearings in a reasonably timely manner? Do frontline personnel, both customs and police officers, have the tools and equipment to do a reasonable job monitoring Canada’s enormous and undefended land border?
The federal government seems not to yet have answers to all these questions. Indeed, the Liberals have been largely silent about any responses to the growing migrant numbers, satisfied so far with the boost this new phenomenon provides to their welcoming and inclusive political brand.
ONTARIO'S ECOLORDS
Rex Murphy, NP: Ontario is a living laboratory of what happens to a government that pays more ardent attention to the sages of Davos and the salons of Paris than the citizens of Ontario’s cold north. The McGuinty-Wynne “world leadership on the climate change (global warming)” file is an exercise mat for flexibility training. How else could the Ontario government have mastered its current somersaults on what it hilariously refers to as its energy policy; sending rebates to citizens unable to pay to light and heat their homes, precisely because that same government went full green and put energy costs in a place where people cannot pay to light and heat their homes. The Ontario Green Dream is the world’s first genuine (taxpayer) perpetual motion machine.
IT SPECIALISTS AMONG THE APPLICANTS?
Ontario’s immigration website has experienced a tenfold increase in visits since the province reopened its popular Provincial Nominee Program on Tuesday.
Applicants complained that ontarioimmigration.ca crashed almost immediately as they scrambled to compete for one of the 6,000 spots open for 2017. Once the annual quota is met, the system automatically stops taking applications.
FINGER PRINTING THE PRESS GALLERY
The parliamentary press gallery is challenging a plan to impose RCMP security screening measures on new members, including fingerprinting for criminal record checks.
The gallery, which marked its 150th year as an organization in 2016, formally opposed in principle the proposal from a House of Commons administrative committee during an annual meeting at the National Press Theatre today. The press gallery has the authority, delegated from the House of Commons, to accredit its own members, who are vetted to ensure they are bona fide journalists based in Ottawa covering the federal government.
By the way, there are now 332 active members, including 57 from CBC and 24 from Radio-Canada.
The gallery, which marked its 150th year as an organization in 2016, formally opposed in principle the proposal from a House of Commons administrative committee during an annual meeting at the National Press Theatre today. The press gallery has the authority, delegated from the House of Commons, to accredit its own members, who are vetted to ensure they are bona fide journalists based in Ottawa covering the federal government.
By the way, there are now 332 active members, including 57 from CBC and 24 from Radio-Canada.
BULLHEADED LIBERALS
In a mea culpa about high electricity prices, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault admits Ontario screwed up by paying too much for renewable energy.
“As they say, hindsight is 20-20,” Thibeault said.
By moving early on renewable power, Ontario has taken a leadership position in green energy in what was “absolutely the right policy” as the province phased out heavily polluting coal-fired power plants, Thibeault insisted.
LIBERALS BEING LIBERALS
Premier Kathleen Wynne has quietly re-appointed the man behind booze in supermarkets and the Hydro One sell-off as her unpaid privatization guru.
Friday, February 24, 2017
HOLDING BICYCLISTS ACCOUNTABLE
The notification about demerit points came as a shock to the Tsorlinis family because Isaac was riding his bicycle, not driving a motor vehicle, when he was stopped and ticketed by police.
MAKING AMERICA GREAT
OXON HILL, MD — White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus received a standing ovation and a heroes’ welcome at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday afternoon.
Conservatives, Bannon told the audience to applause, would have to remain active and involved. “If you think you’re going to get your country back without a fight, you are sadly mistaken.”
He asked the audience to have the administration’s back — but asked them: “Hold us accountable."
Conservatives, Bannon told the audience to applause, would have to remain active and involved. “If you think you’re going to get your country back without a fight, you are sadly mistaken.”
He asked the audience to have the administration’s back — but asked them: “Hold us accountable."
ONTARIO TIRE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM TO END
Ontario’s environment minister is closing the province’s troubled tire recycling agency after Star stories exposed suspicious money transfers, allegations of fraud and wasteful executive spending.
LITERALLY BLOWING TAX DOLLARS
With global average temperatures rising, and much of the Arctic Ocean likely to be ice-free in the late summers by 2030, a group of researchers have taken the first steps toward a plan to refreeze it -- using around 10 million wind-powered water pumps installed around the region.
PROTECTING GEERT WILDERS
The leader of the poll-topping Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), Geert Wilders, has announced the suspension of his campaign with less than three weeks to go before his nation’s general election after the discovery of a possible mole in his security detail.
A Moroccan-origin Dutch police officer working on Mr Wilder’s security detail was arrested Monday and subsequently released on bail for allegedly leaking police information about his assignment. Claims in the Dutch media stated the officer had passed information to a Dutch-Moroccan criminal organisation.
A Moroccan-origin Dutch police officer working on Mr Wilder’s security detail was arrested Monday and subsequently released on bail for allegedly leaking police information about his assignment. Claims in the Dutch media stated the officer had passed information to a Dutch-Moroccan criminal organisation.
SUSTAINABILITY ILLUSIONS
Like “dangerous manmade climate change,” sustainability reflects poor understanding of basic energy, economic, resource extraction and manufacturing principles – and a tendency to emphasize tautologies and theoretical models as an alternative to readily observable evidence in the Real World. It also involves well-intended but ill-informed people being led by ill-intended but well-informed activists who use the concept to gain greater government control over people’s lives, livelihoods and living standards.
FAIL: CANADA'S EQUALIZATION SYSTEM
In recent months, several commentators have been recommending that other countries adopt equalization and other Canadian-style regional subsidies. They argue that this would help avoid the political stresses that the American rustbelt and other regions have experienced from headwinds in the global economy.
Let’s hope other countries are not listening. While our regional subsidies helped troubled regions achieve short-term stability, they impaired economic performance in these regions and Canada as a whole.
Let’s hope other countries are not listening. While our regional subsidies helped troubled regions achieve short-term stability, they impaired economic performance in these regions and Canada as a whole.
TED CRUZ TOASTS HARRY REID
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told the Conservative Political Action Conference outside D.C. today that "many times" since Jan. 20 he has "raised a glass and toasted Harry Reid."
"Because Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke the Senate rules to change the Senate rules, lowered the threshold for confirmation from 60 votes to 51 votes. And it is a direct result of Harry Reid that we now have the most conservative Cabinet in decades," Cruz said.
GARBAGE, SCAMS & FIRE IN NORTH DAKOTA
NBC News reported that the Dakota Access Pipeline protesters burned their tents at the demonstration site “for cultural reasons” Wednesday, the deadline for leaving the campground. Wooden housing structures the protesters had built were also burned.
Authorities said two children — a 7-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl — had to be treated for burns.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has received $6 million in donations for the protest and Chairman Dave Archambault has said that cleanup efforts would be funded in part by that money.
Burgum has his doubts. He thinks people who have donated have been scammed.
“They’ve just been duped. For anybody that’s clicking the PayPal button, your stuff could be going for illegal activity, it could be going to somebody who’s not even here protesting,” Burgum said.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
LIBERALS BEING LIBERALS
The Ontario government's recent move to boost rebates for electric vehicles is under fire, amid revelations that a senior Liberal staffer has been hired by electric car-maker Tesla.
Ian Myrans left his post as director of policy to Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray and joined Tesla this month. At about the same time, the government announced it was removing caps on its electric vehicle incentive program that had previously prevented buyers of Tesla models from getting the maximum rebate.
MEANWHILE IN TORONTO
In January, some 810 people seeking refugee status, including men, women and children, used a city shelter, according to statistics from Toronto's Shelter Support and Housing Administration (SSHA). That's an 80 per cent increase from January 2016.
LIBERALS VOTE DOWN ANTI-RACISM MOTION
The federal Liberals have defeated a Conservative anti-racism motion so they can pass their own version, which condemns Islamophobia.
Conservative MP David Anderson’s motion to condemn “all forms of systemic racism, religious intolerance, and discrimination” failed in a vote of 165-126 in the House of Commons, after Liberal MPs, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, voted against it.
CHRISTY CLARK'S ELECTION MOVES
“So how do you give a billion back to people and to whom do you want to give it? We looked at it and I thought we should focus it on the middle class first of all, and MSP is the easiest instrument by which to deliver that to the middle class, and it was also the biggest tax cut we could deliver to people.” Clark’s budget Tuesday called for a 50 per cent cut to MSP premiums for two million households that earn less than $120,000 annually, saving each up to $900 a year. But the change doesn’t come into effect until Jan. 1, 2018 — eight months after May’s provincial election, sparking questions on why she didn’t instead cut the provincial sales tax immediately.
CHINA'S TOEHOLD IN CANADA'S HEALTH CARE
On paper, a majority stake in Retirement Concepts – believed to exceed $1-billion in value – is being sold to a Chinese-owned company called Cedar Tree Investment Canada. That is the deal that federal officials in Ottawa announced they had approved this week. However, Cedar Tree is the company that Anbang is using to make the acquisition.
NDP health critic Don Davies called the Anbang deal a “foreign takeover of vital health-care and seniors facilities” in B.C., and asked the Liberals whether the purchase was ever discussed at one of their cash-for-access fundraisers.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
$28 MILLION DAMAGE AWARD
The wind-power company that won a $28-million trade award over the Ontario government’s decision to kill its Lake Ontario wind farm is going to court to collect, it said Tuesday.
Windstream Energy hasn’t been paid the damages an international tribunal awarded it at the end of September. Because the ruling is a trade dispute — Windstream is U.S.-based, and alleged it was treated unfairly in part because of that — it’s the federal government that’s supposed to pay up.
Windstream Energy hasn’t been paid the damages an international tribunal awarded it at the end of September. Because the ruling is a trade dispute — Windstream is U.S.-based, and alleged it was treated unfairly in part because of that — it’s the federal government that’s supposed to pay up.
GREEN DRAMA ON OTTAWA CITY COUNCIL
Guy Laflamme, executive director of Ottawa 2017, said the marketing stun tof giving away free gas in Montreal was designed as a message to Montrealers that Ottawa is only two hours away and they only need a tank of gas to visit the capital. He estimated $5,000 to $6,000 worth of gas would be bought for 150 motorists.
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney, a member of the environment committee, couldn’t believe what she was reading on her cellphone as she left the meeting.
“How about 150 free bikes instead?” McKenney quipped.
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney, a member of the environment committee, couldn’t believe what she was reading on her cellphone as she left the meeting.
“How about 150 free bikes instead?” McKenney quipped.
SHINING A LIGHT ON RADICAL ISLAM
Anthony Furey: Last year, I revealed news that the imam of a mosque that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited was publicly listed on the mosque’s very website as the member of a group that was designated a terrorist organization abroad and whose leader had been banned from entering the United Kingdom and France for his extremist views.
While regular Canadians read the story with great interest, the mainstream surprisingly wanted nothing to do with it.
While regular Canadians read the story with great interest, the mainstream surprisingly wanted nothing to do with it.
ASYLUM FOR 1200 YAZIDI REFUGEES
Some 1,200 people considered to be among the most vulnerable refugees in the world are to be housed in Canada by the end of this year, the Trudeau government announced Tuesday — a move praised by Conservative MP Michelle Rempel as a message to the world that the persecuted Yazidi population needs to be a greater priority for safe-haven countries.
Nearly 400 Yazidi refugees and other survivors of Islamist extremists have already been accepted over the last four months, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said.
Nearly 400 Yazidi refugees and other survivors of Islamist extremists have already been accepted over the last four months, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER
Canada’s border agencies are moving staff around in response to a rise in illegal crossings, but Ottawa has yet to announce a formal plan to deal with the rush of people arriving on foot from the United States seeking refugee status.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said on Tuesday that the federal cabinet is eager to hear any suggestions the RCMP or the Canada Border Services Agency may have for what Ottawa should do next.
Feel safe now?
CRITICIZING AMERICAN JOURNALISTS
These clowns actually believe that since they are recognized in the First Amendment that they have constitutional immunity.
Criticizing them is attacking the First Amendment. They really believe this. Criticizing them is akin to attacking the Constitution, and that’s un-American, and that’s why you hear these journalists say. “It’s un-American to criticize. It’s un-American for Trump to be destabilizing. It’s un-American for Trump to be going out there and trying to do damage to the media. We’ve got First Amendment protection.”
Criticizing them is attacking the First Amendment. They really believe this. Criticizing them is akin to attacking the Constitution, and that’s un-American, and that’s why you hear these journalists say. “It’s un-American to criticize. It’s un-American for Trump to be destabilizing. It’s un-American for Trump to be going out there and trying to do damage to the media. We’ve got First Amendment protection.”
ANTI-TRUMP VIOLENCE IN PORTLAND
“Brought to you by the, same people who held a Women’s March that wasn’t about Women, who held peaceful protests against a non-existent Muslim Ban that led to counter protesters getting assaulted, and who rioted and did millions in property damage to throw a fit over a legitimate election result they didn’t like – more of the same,” said a spokesperson for the Oregon Republican Party
HEADED FOR TRUMP'S CHOPPING BLOCK
AmeriCorps sounded like a good idea. Create a program where American youth could basically earn free college by working and helping their communities. On the surface -- and if you don't understand the inherent issue with any government program -- it sounds like a great way to help people get their educations.
The program -- which never reached the level its creator Bill Clinton envisioned -- now finds itself on the chopping block along with other left-wing darlings such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
DEALING WITH ILLEGALS IN THE USA
Americans wanted their immigration laws enforced and President Trump is obliging them.
Last week, draft memos were leaked that outlined how to handle illegals caught at the border. The final version of the policy covers illegals in the interior of the U.S., giving agents broad latitude to detain those suspected of being in the country illegally.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
FAIL: SWEDEN'S MULTICULTURAL UTOPIA
Sweden’s government reacted to comments made by President Trump on the failings of the Swedish multicultural experiment with bewilderment, but the situation in Sweden is deteriorating rapidly due to mass migration.
Here are ten topics and incidents that expose what Sweden’s government won’t acknowledge:
Here are ten topics and incidents that expose what Sweden’s government won’t acknowledge:
LE PEN'S REFUSAL
France’s far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen refused to don a headscarf for a meeting with Lebanon’s top Sunni Muslim cleric on Tuesday and walked away from the scheduled appointment after a brief squabble at the entrance.
What a contrast to Ontario's appeaser Premier.
What a contrast to Ontario's appeaser Premier.
ORNGE CRIMINAL PROBE
The five-year-old criminal investigation into kickback allegations involving ORNGE air ambulance is about to wrap up.
The investigation of former ORNGE boss Dr. Chris Mazza began in February 2012 after a series of Toronto Star stories that probed safety issues and allegations of connections between Mazza and suppliers, including Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland.
The story that brought in OPP detectives revealed how after ORNGE bought helicopters from the Italian company, a private, Mazza-controlled firm received a payment of $4.7 million and the promise of $2 million more from AgustaWestland.
EXPLAINING REVENUE NEUTRAL TO LEFTIES
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his national carbon pricing scheme he claimed, incorrectly, that it was revenue neutral because none of the money will go to the federal government.
When Alberta Premier Rachel Notley introduced her carbon tax for Jan. 1, she said, incorrectly, that it was revenue neutral because all the money would go to reducing emissions.
The issue is that without revenue neutrality, carbon pricing is simply another government cash grab that will make Canadians poorer and only reduce emissions by causing a recession.
When Alberta Premier Rachel Notley introduced her carbon tax for Jan. 1, she said, incorrectly, that it was revenue neutral because all the money would go to reducing emissions.
The issue is that without revenue neutrality, carbon pricing is simply another government cash grab that will make Canadians poorer and only reduce emissions by causing a recession.
TORONTO IMAM "MISSPEAKS"
Toronto’s Jewish Defence League says it will file a “hate crimes” complaint with Toronto Police alleging there were “troubling” words in sermons at a downtown mosque, including inciting the “killing of Jews.”
4 MONTHS ON, STILL NO YAZIDIS
Rempel hoped the government would present a detailed plan with targets and timelines when MPs returned in January after the Christmas break. But to date, no information has been made public.
She pressed Hussen again last week, asking him in the House of Commons why "zero" Yazidis have been brought to Canada so far. She said she worried there will be a "broken promise that will cost lives."
She pressed Hussen again last week, asking him in the House of Commons why "zero" Yazidis have been brought to Canada so far. She said she worried there will be a "broken promise that will cost lives."
CBC REPORTS ON SINKING TRUST IN MEDIA
All of the other occupations I just mentioned are legally leashed and held accountable, to one extent or another. People in those jobs must qualify for them, and submit to strict professional standards.
A lawyer is governed not just by normal criminal and civil law, but by clearly defined ethics, interpreted by quasi-judicial boards of his or her peers. The same self-regulation is practised by most other professions.
Not journalism. There is no uniform qualification for a reporter, no uniform code of behaviour. Journalism has vigorously resisted any efforts to legally define journalism, or any sort of peer review.
A lawyer is governed not just by normal criminal and civil law, but by clearly defined ethics, interpreted by quasi-judicial boards of his or her peers. The same self-regulation is practised by most other professions.
Not journalism. There is no uniform qualification for a reporter, no uniform code of behaviour. Journalism has vigorously resisted any efforts to legally define journalism, or any sort of peer review.
SKID GREASERS ON PARLIAMENT HILL
There are thousands of lobbyists whose job it is to persuade federal government officials to take certain action, but it takes a special combination of experience, knowledge, and high-level connections to be considered among the very elite of this profession.
As usual, this year’s 10th annual edition of the Top 100 Lobbyists list includes an assortment of consultant lobbyists, as well as those working for corporations or not-for-profit organizations, representing various sizes of organizations.
As usual, this year’s 10th annual edition of the Top 100 Lobbyists list includes an assortment of consultant lobbyists, as well as those working for corporations or not-for-profit organizations, representing various sizes of organizations.
Monday, February 20, 2017
CASHING IN ON SOLAR COMPANY COLLAPSES
Gordon Johnson of Axiom Capital Management Inc. is the short selling 3rd Avenue Financial Analyst Solar Energy companies are learning to hate. His business is making money from the failure of unsustainable renewable business models.
THE COST OF REFUGEES IN AMERICA
American taxpayers will spend more than $4.1 billion in the 2017 budget to support the 519,018 refugees who have been resettled by the federal government in the United States since October 2009, according to a cost estimate by Breitbart News.
10,000 NEW ICE HIRES
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John F. Kelly authorized the hiring of an additional 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and enforcement officers. The move by DHS delivers on a promise made by President Donald Trump to increase enforcement–particularly in removing criminal aliens inside the borders of the U.S.
BROAD NEW POWERS OF THE NSA
In its final days, the Obama administration has expanded the power of the National Security Agency to share globally intercepted personal communications with the government’s 16 other intelligence agencies before applying privacy protections.
LEFTIES INFLUENCING YOUR CHILD
To say that some people dislike Donald Trump may well be the understatement of the year. It's hard to imagine any duly elected president seeing so many protests in his first two months in office, yet here we are.
It's so bad that now an 11-year-old in Annadale, New York, was docked 15 points on a homework assignment because she failed to answer a question demanding students bash Trump:
LAUGH
James Fridman is best known for his incredibly literal interpretations of people's photoshop requests shooting to fame with his comedic edits of his fan's photos.
SPEAKING UP FOR CANADA'S OILPATCH
Cody Battershill: I haven't noticed many of these wealthy film idols advocating for poor people who can't even pay for the most basic, reliable oil-based technologies -- natural gas for cooking, heating and electricity, or gasoline for transportation, or petroleum-derived plastics and fertilizers that contribute to shelter, clothing and agriculture.
When renewable energy technologies finally catch up to society's demands, then eventually this all may change. But since renewable alternatives today just can't support societal needs, then cutting off affordable petroleum-based resources isn't just frivolous; it's harmful to the most vulnerable people in society.
When renewable energy technologies finally catch up to society's demands, then eventually this all may change. But since renewable alternatives today just can't support societal needs, then cutting off affordable petroleum-based resources isn't just frivolous; it's harmful to the most vulnerable people in society.
INCITING VIOLENCE AT MCGILL
Nearly two weeks after a student politician posted those four words to social media, the McGill University campus remains divided about the blurring lines between free speech and violence.
Igor Sadikov has issued two public apologies since posting the now infamous “Punch a Zionist today” tweet on Feb. 6. The 22-year-old political science student has also deleted the tweet, suspended his Twitter account and says he’s listened to the concerns of students who felt threatened by his words.
But in the face of mounting calls for him to resign from the Arts Undergraduate Society of McGill, Sadikov has been steadfast. He will not step down.
Igor Sadikov has issued two public apologies since posting the now infamous “Punch a Zionist today” tweet on Feb. 6. The 22-year-old political science student has also deleted the tweet, suspended his Twitter account and says he’s listened to the concerns of students who felt threatened by his words.
But in the face of mounting calls for him to resign from the Arts Undergraduate Society of McGill, Sadikov has been steadfast. He will not step down.
LIBERALS DO NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM
Two Conservative MPs are calling on the federal government to act to stop the flow of people illegally crossing the United States border into Canada.
Michelle Rempel and Tony Clement tweeted on Sunday that illegal crossings are unsafe and place a burden on local law enforcement.
"The government must respond to this situation in a way that keeps Canadians safe, and sends a strong message to those considering an illegal crossing that there are proper channels to do this," Rempel wrote.
Michelle Rempel and Tony Clement tweeted on Sunday that illegal crossings are unsafe and place a burden on local law enforcement.
"The government must respond to this situation in a way that keeps Canadians safe, and sends a strong message to those considering an illegal crossing that there are proper channels to do this," Rempel wrote.
CONTROLLING ONLINE PESTICIDE PURCHASES
The federal government is moving to close a loophole that allows Canadians to make legal online purchases of pesticides not registered for use in Canada, and have them shipped into the country.
Right now, if someone buys the pesticides for use in controlling weeds or insects around their own home and doesn't exceed the amount that qualifies for an exemption, there is little that authorities can do to stop the shipment, say government officials.
Right now, if someone buys the pesticides for use in controlling weeds or insects around their own home and doesn't exceed the amount that qualifies for an exemption, there is little that authorities can do to stop the shipment, say government officials.
TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL
A federal fund designed to give financial help to parents whose children have been murdered or gone missing has spent more than 14 times as much on administration costs as it has on actual grants.
Internal government documents obtained by The Canadian Press show that the fund has doled out $170,000 in grants as of March 2015, while at the same time spending more than $2.4 million on costs, not including employee benefits.
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT CARDS IN ONTARIO
From the Fraser Institute: The Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools 2017 collects a variety of relevant, objective indicators of school performance into one, easily accessible public document so that anyone can analyze and compare the performance of individual schools. Visit the interactive school ranking website to find your school.
Sunday, February 19, 2017
BYE BYE BICARDI
Meanwhile, the announcement of the closure comes less than a year after Bacardi Canada was awarded a government grant worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the plant's operations. Last May, Jeff Leal – Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – announced that $350,000 was earmarked for the company through the federal/provincial program Growing Forward 2.
ENDING WINTER HYDRO DISCONNECTIONS
Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault accepted that rising energy rates are contributing to disconnects, adding that his government is looking at further action to stop or slow down the increases.
“I know we can do more,” Thibeault told Lawton. “All the low-hanging fruit has been done in trying to reduce rates, and so now I’m looking at everything. Like, everything is on the table within reason to try and find ways that we can make it lower for those who are still living in the city–some families living in London, for example, will be having a hard time, you know, finding a way to pay that bill, and I also know that’s true for many folks out in the rural part.”
Blah blah blah...
“I know we can do more,” Thibeault told Lawton. “All the low-hanging fruit has been done in trying to reduce rates, and so now I’m looking at everything. Like, everything is on the table within reason to try and find ways that we can make it lower for those who are still living in the city–some families living in London, for example, will be having a hard time, you know, finding a way to pay that bill, and I also know that’s true for many folks out in the rural part.”
Blah blah blah...
NOTHING TO SEE HERE, MOVE ALONG
Newly released court documents shed light on what raised police suspicions about Sabrine Djermane and El Mahdi Jamali, the Montrealers who were teenagers when they were charged with several terrorism-related offences in 2015.
The documents show that it was Djermane's sister who tipped off police and that investigators found materials that could be used to make a homemade bomb at Jamali's home.
The documents show that it was Djermane's sister who tipped off police and that investigators found materials that could be used to make a homemade bomb at Jamali's home.
BULLHEADED WYNNE
One way for Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government to demonstrate openness and transparency would be to take the advice and recommendations of Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk seriously.
Wynne’s government repeatedly hasn’t, even though Lysyk is an independent officer of the legislature, whose job is to protect the public’s interest by holding the government to account in its spending of taxpayers’ money.
Wynne’s government repeatedly hasn’t, even though Lysyk is an independent officer of the legislature, whose job is to protect the public’s interest by holding the government to account in its spending of taxpayers’ money.
MERKEL'S MANOEUVERS
To placate conservatives put off by Merkel's decision in 2015 to open German borders to refugees, leaders of her Christian Democrat party (CDU) have been pushing to deport more migrants whose applications have failed or foreigners who have committed crimes.
Altmaier said it was important to send these people home promptly in order to maintain a high level of public support for the asylum system.
Germany has taken in more than a million migrants in the last 18 months, often fleeing war and turmoil in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Altmaier said it was important to send these people home promptly in order to maintain a high level of public support for the asylum system.
Germany has taken in more than a million migrants in the last 18 months, often fleeing war and turmoil in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
CLASS SIX MILK UNLEASHES EXPORT MARKET
Ian Cumming: But if one looks at U.S. data on dairy exports from the U.S. into Canada, we see an increase of 12 per cent increase in volume in the last year.
Then there are dairy exports from Canada, which had been steadily going down over the years. Not any more. Last year was the first time in years that Canadian dairy exports increased and they didn’t just increase. They shot up.
Then there are dairy exports from Canada, which had been steadily going down over the years. Not any more. Last year was the first time in years that Canadian dairy exports increased and they didn’t just increase. They shot up.
HEATING OR EATING IN ONTARIO
In the past two years, my provincial and federal taxes have increased. I lost my federal tax credit for my children’s soccer and swimming lessons. Our family’s child care tax credit has decreased. Even the cost to renew my vehicle licence went up. I have just started paying more for gasoline thanks to a provincial tax on carbon. (The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates the cost of all carbon taxes to cost the average Canadian family an extra $2,569 per year in five years).
Did I mention that my electrical bill went up again?
Did I mention that my electrical bill went up again?
SILENCING THE CRANKS
Blatchford, NP: It does raise the question of whether Canada, which already has laws against hate speech and propaganda and more vague catch-alls such as causing a disturbance for offences which don’t meet the tougher test, really needs M-103, that much-discussed motion which would have the government formally recognize the need to “quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear.”
FUNDING THE REVOLUTION
A leading Canadian agri-food expert says Canada has an opportunity to significantly boost its gross domestic product and be a key player in the coming agriculture-industrial revolution but the sector needs investment from the federal government to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Agriculture really is at the cusp of a new industrial revolution...This is Canada's moment to take advantage of a huge opportunity," Evan Fraser, the head of the University of Guelph's Food Institute, told CBC's The House host Chris Hall.
"Agriculture really is at the cusp of a new industrial revolution...This is Canada's moment to take advantage of a huge opportunity," Evan Fraser, the head of the University of Guelph's Food Institute, told CBC's The House host Chris Hall.
LIBERAL MP SLINGING ACCUSATIONS
A Liberal MP Friday said the Quebec mosque murders were a “direct result” of the kinds of policies “championed” in recent elections by the federal Conservative party and the provincial Parti Quebecois.
Chandra Arya’s accusation, made Friday in the House of Commons, was the latest attempt by federal Liberals to blame “elements” in the Conservative Party for a sharp rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada.
Chandra Arya’s accusation, made Friday in the House of Commons, was the latest attempt by federal Liberals to blame “elements” in the Conservative Party for a sharp rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada.
SUING FOR FLYNN RECORDS
Conservative foundation Judicial Watch is planning to sue several government agencies if they do not hand over records related to the wiretapping of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
THE ALL-KNOWING POPE FRANCIS
In an impassioned address Friday, Pope Francis denied the existence of Islamic terrorism, while simultaneously asserting that “the ecological crisis is real.”
“Christian terrorism does not exist, Jewish terrorism does not exist, and Muslim terrorism does not exist. They do not exist,” Francis said in his speech to a world meeting of populist movements.
“Christian terrorism does not exist, Jewish terrorism does not exist, and Muslim terrorism does not exist. They do not exist,” Francis said in his speech to a world meeting of populist movements.
Friday, February 17, 2017
HOW NOT TO GET OUT OF A SNOWBANK
When a 24-year-old man got his car stuck in a Cantley snowbank Tuesday night, he came up with an “unorthodox” idea to free it singlehandedly.
Unfortunately for him, it was a terrible idea.
Alone and unwilling to wait for a tow truck, the man wedged a skateboard on the white compact’s accelerator, then jumped out to push, said MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais spokesman Martin Fournel.
Unfortunately for him, it was a terrible idea.
Alone and unwilling to wait for a tow truck, the man wedged a skateboard on the white compact’s accelerator, then jumped out to push, said MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais spokesman Martin Fournel.
MEDIA BULLS MEET THE MATADOR
The press doesn't just have Trump Derangement Syndrome. They now have full-blown Trump Psychosis. And like most people with serious disorders, they are teetering close to the brink of self-immolation.
RANKING CANADA'S HEALTH CARE
It’s a common complaint — Canadians needing medical attention having to cool their heels in a hospital emergency room for hours on end before being seen by a doctor or another health-care practitioner.
Well, it turns out that compared to other industrialized countries, Canada has the highest proportion of patients reporting excessively long waits in an emergency department, a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows.
Well, it turns out that compared to other industrialized countries, Canada has the highest proportion of patients reporting excessively long waits in an emergency department, a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows.
SOME OLD NEWS FROM OCTOBER
**You may have to translate the news article**
The Trudeau government has had to defend itself from allowing the Caliph Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and about twenty faithful to pray in Parliament this week.
The Trudeau government has had to defend itself from allowing the Caliph Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and about twenty faithful to pray in Parliament this week.
CLEANING UP FUKUSHIMA REACTOR
TOKYO - Robot probes sent to one of Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear reactors have suggested worse-than-anticipated challenges for the plant's ongoing cleanup.
TRUMP LAYS WASTE TO DETRACTORS
What Trump did in his press conference, at least for those able to ignore the din and their anti-Trump biases, was effectively talk past the media he was so savagely pillorying, and instead talk directly into the living rooms of the American people who elected him.
It was a potpourri of potential landmines but, at the end of the press conference, most of them came up duds because Trump either stepped around them, or refused to step on them.
CANADA'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Immigration Watch Canada is an organization of Canadians who believe that immigration has to serve the needs and interests of Canada’s own citizens. It cannot be turned into a social assistance / job-finding program for people from other countries. It should not be a method to suppress wages and provide employers with an unending supply of low-wage labour. It should never be a social engineering experiment that is conducted on Canada’s mainstream population in order to make it a minority.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
BUMBLEBEE LIVES MATTER
Today, environmentalists sued the interior department over bumblebees. This all goes back to an Obama ruling, perfectly timed to fail, on purpose.
INTERNATIONAL DRUG RINGS IN CANADA
A B.C. gangster linked to one of the biggest arms seizures in Canadian history has pleaded guilty in Montreal to a series of drug, explosives and firearms charges.
Prosecutors said Shane “Wheels” Maloney controlled the massive weapons cache, which contained 1,475 sticks of dynamite, two pounds of C-4 explosives, remote controls for the explosives, detonators and hundreds of firearms and prohibited gun parts.
Prosecutors said Shane “Wheels” Maloney controlled the massive weapons cache, which contained 1,475 sticks of dynamite, two pounds of C-4 explosives, remote controls for the explosives, detonators and hundreds of firearms and prohibited gun parts.
CLIMATE SCIENTISTS A GLASSY-EYED CULT
Happer said he began to question the emerging consensus view on climate change while working as director of research at the Department of Energy as part of the George W Bush administration. Climate scientists would “grudgingly” present their work to administrators, he claims, while those in other fields would share their results with enthusiasm. “I would ask questions but they were evasive and wouldn’t answer,” he said. “This experience really soured me on the community. I started reading up and I realised why they weren’t answering the questions: because they didn’t have good answers. It was really at that point that I began to get seriously worried about climate as a science.”
ORGAN TRANSPLANTS SURGE IN B.C.
B.C.’s overdose epidemic, especially deaths involving fentanyl, is behind a significant increase in the number of organ transplant donors, according to a B.C. Transplant agency leader.
Experts started to see the trend six months ago when overdoses surged to record highs, said Dr. David Landsberg, provincial medical director of transplant services.
Experts started to see the trend six months ago when overdoses surged to record highs, said Dr. David Landsberg, provincial medical director of transplant services.
ANTI-TRUMP LECTURE CAUGHT ON TAPE
Representatives for a Southern California student who was suspended after filming his professor's anti-Donald Trump rant say Orange Coast College is taking an "unconstitutional viewpoint" that targets conservatives.
What's more, they say officials at the school have provided just another example of an "attack by leftists" in academia.
What's more, they say officials at the school have provided just another example of an "attack by leftists" in academia.
TRASHING THE LAND YOU CLAIM TO LOVE
Expected near-record temperatures and rapid snow melt are increasing the risk of high water by week’s end at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camps — and state officials are worried time is running out to prevent contamination of the rivers there.
There are roughly 200 vehicles down there at last count, ranging from cars and pickups to rental trucks,” George Kuntz, vice president of the North Dakota Towing Association. “We’re going to have a very drastic situation trying to keep these vehicles from getting into the river – what everybody’s been trying to protect from day one."
There are roughly 200 vehicles down there at last count, ranging from cars and pickups to rental trucks,” George Kuntz, vice president of the North Dakota Towing Association. “We’re going to have a very drastic situation trying to keep these vehicles from getting into the river – what everybody’s been trying to protect from day one."
CANADA WIDE CASH GRAB
A new study by the Fraser Institute reveals there isn’t one government in Canada implementing the most honest and effective form of carbon pricing - a 100% revenue-neutral carbon tax.
If you think that’s because they’re more interested in growing government revenues rather than lowering industrial greenhouse-gas emissions linked to man-made climate change, you’re right.
If you think that’s because they’re more interested in growing government revenues rather than lowering industrial greenhouse-gas emissions linked to man-made climate change, you’re right.
FIGHTING OVER PUBLIC PENSION FUNDS
Ontario’s Liberal government paid up to $435,000 to the expert panel appointed to resolve its dispute with Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk over whether surpluses on billions in public pension funds should be counted as government “assets.”
That has Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) fuming.
That has Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) fuming.
NDP'S EASY RIDE IN ALBERTA
Undoubtedly these have been, and continue to be, unusual and troubling times. Yet, they are the very times when a vigorous opposition party is essential to question this ongoing sea change in provincial politics and, in tandem, suggest alternate approaches to what ails us. If nothing else, such actions in a democracy keep the government’s feet to the fire.
Sadly, that’s not the case, as both major opposition parties engage in a ridiculously long and simmering internal wrangle on their own futures – whether to get it together or keep going it alone.
Sadly, that’s not the case, as both major opposition parties engage in a ridiculously long and simmering internal wrangle on their own futures – whether to get it together or keep going it alone.
PROTECTING WHISTLE BLOWERS
The heads of some of Canada’s biggest media organizations have strongly endorsed a federal bill that would offer greater protection to journalistic sources, stating recent police probes in Quebec have had a chilling effect on whistle-blowers across the country.
In an appearance at a Senate committee on Wednesday evening, officials at six large newsrooms said public-interest journalism can only thrive if sources feel their anonymity is adequately protected, which they say is currently not the case in Canada.
1400 YEARS OF ISLAM
Islam - The Undeniable Truth - A quick lesson in the history of Islam - Brigitte Gabriel. h/t SDA
L.A. MAYOR ABOVE THE LAW?
The mayor of Los Angeles said he's not getting "transparency" about the recent raids conducted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and vowed to "continue to protect our people."
ICE officers in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York City areas arrested more than 680 during the sweeps, he said, and "of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminal aliens."
NO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION RE FLYNN
The media narrative that recently ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was involved in nefarious -- nay, sinister and possibly treasonous!!! -- dealings in his December call with the Russian ambassador is quickly collapsing, as CNN reports that the FBI will not be pursuing any criminal investigation involving Flynn's phone call.
So too is the hype that the Trump campaign was riddled with contacts with Russian intelligence, as reported yesterday by The New York Times.
EU PLOTS TO CONTROL UK FISHING RIGHTS
The European Parliament is threatening to deny the UK “market access” in a Brexit deal unless it can keep control of Britain’s lucrative fishing waters.
The leaked European Union (EU) document, obtained by The Guardian, lays out plans to force the UK to abide by the EU’s widely despised common fisheries policy (CFP) after Brexit by not “granting… access to the EU domestic market” if the UK refuses to accept its continuation.
The leaked European Union (EU) document, obtained by The Guardian, lays out plans to force the UK to abide by the EU’s widely despised common fisheries policy (CFP) after Brexit by not “granting… access to the EU domestic market” if the UK refuses to accept its continuation.
However, the Fishing For Leave campaign told Breitbart London the EU was “playing hardball” because “64 per cent of all fish caught in North West Europe are taken in UK waters” and Brexit would be “a huge loss to the EU and a multi-billion pound gain to the UK”.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
WYNNE VISITS A MOSQUE
As the men began praying, Wynne – the highest ranking politician in the province of Ontario – was made to sit in a back corner.
ASYLUM SEEKERS IN QUEBEC & MANITOBA
“It doesn’t matter how you’ve entered. Once you make your way in you advance your refugee claim as usual,” she said. “If you’ve entered through a field, then the safe-third-country agreement wouldn’t be attached to your claim. You’re not obligated to disclose the manner by which you have entered.”
MORE MONEY FOR CBSA
As U.S. President Donald Trump eyes border security, the Trudeau government is investing millions to offset growing pressures along the Canada-U.S. border, including organized crime and the threat of terrorism.
According to supplementary estimates tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons, the federal government is giving the Canada Border Services Agency an additional $85.5 million.
According to supplementary estimates tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons, the federal government is giving the Canada Border Services Agency an additional $85.5 million.
WYNNE BUYING TEACHER VOTES
Apparently Ontario’s finances are in such great shape that Premier Kathleen Wynne can afford to open up the spending spigots to buy peace with Ontario’s teacher unions in time for next year’s provincial election.
Ontario spends a whopping 77 cents out of every education dollar on teacher and education worker compensation alone — highest among the provinces.
Ontario spends a whopping 77 cents out of every education dollar on teacher and education worker compensation alone — highest among the provinces.
OROVILLE DAM UPDATE
OROVILLE, Calif. — Nearly 200,000 Northern Californians who live downstream of the country’s tallest dam were allowed to return home Tuesday after two nights of uncertainty, but they were warned they may have to again flee to higher ground on a moment’s notice if hastily made repairs to the battered structure don’t hold.
PROTECTING FREE SPEECH IN CANADA
The M-103 motion may not become law immediately, but no one should tolerate parliament tightening up anybody’s free speech.
My position is this motion should be thrown in the trash where it belongs. There are laws that deal with hate mongering and those participating in such acts do not come from one race, religion or skin colour. Canadians were united in their disgust at what transpired at the Quebec City mosque and people are getting pretty sick of being called racist for simply offering a view.
My position is this motion should be thrown in the trash where it belongs. There are laws that deal with hate mongering and those participating in such acts do not come from one race, religion or skin colour. Canadians were united in their disgust at what transpired at the Quebec City mosque and people are getting pretty sick of being called racist for simply offering a view.
WHEN GREEN POLICIES UNDERMINE THE ECONOMY
FP: Despite what you might hear from certain Canadian politicians, governments everywhere are starting to back away from anti-carbon policies as the backlash from voters continues to mount. We see it in Germany where they’ve begun returning to coal power. We see it in the cancellation of green subsidies in the U.K., Portugal and Spain. And there are even signs of it in Ontario, which suspended plans for $3.8 billion in new renewable contracts.
HE OBVIOUSLY MADE AN IMPRESSION
There were some guffaws when Trump's spokesman Sean Spicer tripped on the prime minister's name. He saluted the "incredibly productive," meeting with, "Prime Minister Joe Trudeau of Canada."
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
TORONTO GANG WARS
Sources familiar with the city’s street gangs say six fatal shootings in the past 11 months — one of which was an innocent grandmother — are believed to be the result of a war between the Regent Park-based gang Sick Thugz and a newer splinter group called Halal.
IT'S RELEVANT TO THE STORY
Are Canadian media outlets trying to cover up possible crimes committed by Syrian refugees in Canada?
A man was arrested last weekend, after several teenage girls reported him to authorities at West Edmonton Mall. During a gathering for families that work at the University of Alberta, the man allegedly “both followed and inappropriately touched at least six teen girls while swimming in the park,” said police spokesperson Scott Pattison.
A man was arrested last weekend, after several teenage girls reported him to authorities at West Edmonton Mall. During a gathering for families that work at the University of Alberta, the man allegedly “both followed and inappropriately touched at least six teen girls while swimming in the park,” said police spokesperson Scott Pattison.
TRUMP'S OPPORTUNITY
President Trump could soon find himself responsible for appointing a greater share of federal court judges than any first-term president in 40 years, in large part because of a growing number of older judges and a stack of vacancies on the federal courts.
PUPPET MASTERS KNOW THEY'RE LOSING
The Left is getting massively out-Alinsky'd, and the hilarious thing is that this band of withered hippies, unemployable millennial safe-space cases, and unlovable and unshaven libfeminists don’t even know it.Oh, their masters sure know it. Soros is bitterly having to ramp up his infusions of blood money to keep his community-organized “grassroots” movements afloat. The less dumb ones among the lying dinosaur media are panicking as their influence fades, and Chuck Schumer is enduring such a non-stop parade of serial humiliations that if the Senate were a penitentiary, he’d be McConnell’s prison Mitch.
CRIMINAL CONVICTION IN BOUNTIFUL
After decades of on-again, off-again police investigations into Bountiful, a stream of special prosecutors, charges, dropped charges and a constitutional reference trial, the Crown this month won a landmark case.
Brandon James Blackmore and his former wife, Emily Ruth Gail Blackmore, were convicted in B.C. Supreme Court of removing a child from Canada for a sexual purpose. Their trial heard the 13-year-old girl was taken from Bountiful to the United States in 2004 to marry Mr. Jeffs, who was in his late 40s at the time and had taken over as FLDS prophet after his father’s death.
ANOTHER LIBERAL BROKEN PROMISE
When a government breaks an election promise it usually attracts a fair bit of controversy. Witness the hubbub in the aftermath of the Trudeau Liberals abandoning electoral reform. With the federal budget coming soon, it is also worth recalling that the Liberals promised to run deficits of no more than $10-billion for a maximum of three years, but the government’s latest projections peg its annual deficits at almost $30-billion with no timeline for returning to a balanced budget.
While these broken promises have garnered some attention, yet another broken promise has managed to fly under the radar. The Liberals campaigned on the promise to cut taxes for Canada’s middle class. Yet since forming government, they have announced several tax hikes and more may be on the way.
TRADE DEALS AND TARIFFS
In June 1930, the Congress of the United States passed the “Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act”.
The original piece of legislation was designed to protect American agriculture but within days, other industries began storming Washington demanding similar protections.
The thinking was that tariffs would protect American industry, save jobs and allow producers to raise the price of their goods.
The effect was almost exactly the opposite. As the US raised protective tariffs, other nations followed suit and international trade stagnated.
The original piece of legislation was designed to protect American agriculture but within days, other industries began storming Washington demanding similar protections.
The thinking was that tariffs would protect American industry, save jobs and allow producers to raise the price of their goods.
The effect was almost exactly the opposite. As the US raised protective tariffs, other nations followed suit and international trade stagnated.
Monday, February 13, 2017
WYNNE ADJUSTING THE GLOBAL ADJUSTMENT
Premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet are considering two key changes that could see hydro bills drop in the range of eight per cent or more, multiple sources tell CBC News.
With the high cost of electricity the top concern for voters in Ontario, and Wynne's popularity at an all-time low, the Liberals have signalled that tackling hydro bills is their number one priority heading into the spring budget.
With the high cost of electricity the top concern for voters in Ontario, and Wynne's popularity at an all-time low, the Liberals have signalled that tackling hydro bills is their number one priority heading into the spring budget.
CLARK'S HACKING SMEAR BACKFIRED
There’s an old saying in politics: When you’re in a hole, stop digging.
Unfortunately for Premier Christy Clark, when it came to last week’s bizarre, backfiring “hacking” saga, not only did she not stop digging — she also got behind the controls of a backhoe and started excavating.
The reason Clark and the Liberals staged this week-long farce is simple: They couldn’t resist a chance to smear their enemies with an election just weeks away.
Unfortunately for Premier Christy Clark, when it came to last week’s bizarre, backfiring “hacking” saga, not only did she not stop digging — she also got behind the controls of a backhoe and started excavating.
The reason Clark and the Liberals staged this week-long farce is simple: They couldn’t resist a chance to smear their enemies with an election just weeks away.
CALIFORNIA SPILLWAY FLOODING EVACUATION
A massive crevasse that formed in a spillway at Northern California's Oroville Dam has spurred mass evacuations, with nearby residents fleeing the worst-case specter of a three-story wall of water rushing downstream.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
BILL C-23
U.S. border guards would get new powers to question, search and even detain Canadian citizens on Canadian soil under a bill proposed by the Liberal government.
Legal experts say Bill C-23, introduced by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, and likely to pass in the current sitting of Parliament, could also erode the standing of Canadian permanent residents by threatening their automatic right to enter Canada.
MEANWHILE IN HEMMINGFORD, QUEBEC
Through back roads and in taxis, hundreds of immigrants are making their way across the border between Quebec and the United States illegally, according to Canadian Border Services Agency statistics.
ONTARIO LIBERALS KEEPING FARMERS GREEN
LINDSAY — Aside from a few indignant flare-ups, many farmers are resigned to this year’s hike in the price of diesel.
The province commissioned a report on its cap-and-trade program that pegged the increase on diesel fuel at 5 cents per litre this year.
The province commissioned a report on its cap-and-trade program that pegged the increase on diesel fuel at 5 cents per litre this year.
A KICK IN THE GONADS
On Thursday United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent the Security Council a letter nominating as the new head of the UN's mission to Libya a former prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad -- who was described in the letter as "Salam Fayyad (Palestine)."
America's new ambassador, Nikki Haley, said no. Having thus blocked Fayyad's appointment, Haley then put out a statement explaining why: For too long the UN has been unfairly biased in favor of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel. The United States does not currently recognize a Palestinian state or support the signal this appointment would send within the United Nations, however, we encourage the two sides to come together directly on a solution. Going forward the United States will act, not just talk, in support of our allies.
TRUMP SHAKES UP GLOBAL OIL MARKET
After a painful, Obama-induced decline, worsened by a sustained slump in oil prices, the U.S. oil and gas industry is finally staging a comeback. While the liberal elite wastes no opportunity to decry Trump’s “America First” energy plan, a more sober look will actually show that not only is the policy a godsend for the industry, but it will actually help Washington build stronger bridges with other countries.
DESPONDENT PRESIDENT OF THE EU
Jean-Claude Juncker, the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg who now serves as President of the European Union’s powerful unelected executive, will not stand for a second term after 2019.
The despondent 62-year-old said he doubted the bloc would hold together during the upcoming Brexit negotiations
The despondent 62-year-old said he doubted the bloc would hold together during the upcoming Brexit negotiations
WWII BOMB DEFUSED IN GREECE
Authorities in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki evacuated an estimated 75,000 people Sunday so army experts could defuse a 500-pound (227-kilogram) unexploded World War II bomb found under a gas station.
REPEALING OBAMA'S REGULATIONS
Politico reports that Obama administration staffers are mourning the repeal of regulations that they had spent years crafting but which are being eliminated by a Republican Congress under the 1996 Congressional Review Act.
Many of the regulations were promulgated late in President Barack Obama’s term, in the hope of locking the incoming Trump administration into left-wing policies it would not be able to reverse.
Many of the regulations were promulgated late in President Barack Obama’s term, in the hope of locking the incoming Trump administration into left-wing policies it would not be able to reverse.
TOUGH CHOICES ON HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
Republicans love cutting taxes, especially if they were authored by a president named Barack Obama. But as they push their wobbly effort to erase his health care overhaul, they're divided over whether to repeal the levies the law imposed to finance its expanded coverage for millions of Americans. It's a trillion-dollar dilemma - actually closer to $1.1 trillion. That's the 10-year price tag the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office puts on revenue the government would lose if the law's taxes on wealthy people, the insurance and pharmaceutical industries and others were eliminated.
TRIAL TIMES IN CRIMINAL COURTS
Ditching some mandatory minimum sentences and cutting back on preliminary inquiries are two of the measures under consideration as lawmakers, lawyers, judges and court staff rush to respond to tight new timelines for criminal trials in Canada.
GREEN ELECTRICITY COST OF $50 BILLION
NP, Terence Corcoran; While the punditocracy whipped itself into a justifiable if ritual lather over another Ottawa bailout of Bombardier, the $372-million loan is small change compared with the multi-billion-dollar green electric power fiascos across the country.
A rough tally of the ballooning financial plight of the electricity sectors in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland quickly runs to more than $50 billion in new debt and imbedded costs for investments that threaten to be money-losing drags on growth and consumers — and the federal government —for years to come.
A rough tally of the ballooning financial plight of the electricity sectors in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland quickly runs to more than $50 billion in new debt and imbedded costs for investments that threaten to be money-losing drags on growth and consumers — and the federal government —for years to come.
TRUTH-BENDING & FACT-DENYING
NP, Rex Murphy: Activists and street orators, tribunes of the social justice warrior (SJW) caste, often grant themselves a latitude with truth and facts, a licence to improvise and fantasticate, that visits mere party politicians only in their most liberated dreams.
The idea that the chants of SJWs or the wailing of fanatical enviros offer more “authenticity” than the rote recitations and talking-points parroting of legislator politicians, or that there’s more “truth” on a Greenpeace banner than in the pages of Hansard, is a delusion reserved for dedicated hermits and the terminally naïve.
The idea that the chants of SJWs or the wailing of fanatical enviros offer more “authenticity” than the rote recitations and talking-points parroting of legislator politicians, or that there’s more “truth” on a Greenpeace banner than in the pages of Hansard, is a delusion reserved for dedicated hermits and the terminally naïve.
ONTARIO'S CRUMBLING HEALTH CARE
But the largest and arguably wealthiest province in the country has the fewest hospital beds and nurses per capita, spends $1 billion of its home care budget on administration, is in a prolonged battle with its doctors over compensation and is plagued by long wait times, especially for specialist services.
NOTLEY'S NDP WORKS FOR ALBERTANS
Notley said as leaders of Alberta’s Progressive Conservative and Wildrose parties negotiate a merger in hopes of toppling her government, the NDP government continues to work for Albertans.
“We’re making life more affordable, they’re focused on their internal politics. We’re creating jobs, they’re talking Alberta down. We’re protecting health care and education, they’re promising reckless cuts that will hurt hospitals, schools, parents and children.”
“We’re making life more affordable, they’re focused on their internal politics. We’re creating jobs, they’re talking Alberta down. We’re protecting health care and education, they’re promising reckless cuts that will hurt hospitals, schools, parents and children.”
Saturday, February 11, 2017
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT,...
A government report showing Ottawa faces decades of deficits was kept under wraps for two and half months before it was quietly released online two days before Christmas. Daniel Lauzon, a spokesman for Finance Minister Morneau, said Tuesday that he took “exception” to The Globe’s questions about why the long-term forecast was removed from the update. He said that due to the volatility of economic forecasts, the decision was made to release the long-term estimates at the end of the year so as not to “create confusion” by releasing them as part of the update. Releasing the long-term forecast on the same day would have meant taking a communications risk that the government’s infrastructure announcements would be overshadowed by media attention on the new deficit forecasts, which showed Ottawa is on track to run deficits until the 2050s.
Friday, February 10, 2017
REPUBLICANS PUSHING FOR CARBON TAX
Beltway Republicans, including former Treasury Secretary James Baker, lobby National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn to enact a carbon tax at the White House
WYNNE'S BUY-A-TEACHERS'-UNION CONTRACT
It appears that as far as Premier Kathleen Wynne is concerned, it is indeed all about winning.
Winning in the 2018 election, despite being the least popular premier in Canada, seems to be at the root of the lavish two-year contract extensions signed with at least two teachers unions to date — ones that end in August of 2019.
And taxpayers be damned.
Winning in the 2018 election, despite being the least popular premier in Canada, seems to be at the root of the lavish two-year contract extensions signed with at least two teachers unions to date — ones that end in August of 2019.
And taxpayers be damned.
ANOTHER WYNNE "MISTAKE"
Now that we have the latest census information from Statistics Canada, it’s easy to see that Premier Kathleen Wynne’s estimate of the cost of carbon pricing for Ontarians doesn’t add up.
In fact, it’s low by 117.5%.
In fact, it’s low by 117.5%.
A CHILLING EFFECT ON FREE SPEECH
Members of Parliament will debate a motion to condemn Islamophobia and track incidents of hate crime against Muslims in the House of Commons next week.
Motion 103 was tabled by Mississauga, Ont., Liberal backbencher Iqra Khalid last fall, but will be discussed in the aftermath of last month's mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque. It calls on government to "condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination."
Motion 103 was tabled by Mississauga, Ont., Liberal backbencher Iqra Khalid last fall, but will be discussed in the aftermath of last month's mass shooting at a Quebec City mosque. It calls on government to "condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination."
JUDGED ON RESULTS, NOT INTENTIONS
John Ivison, NP: Trudeau was always a joke to the right; he should worry now the left’s joined in the laughter
THE CURSED DIESEL
The upcoming federal budget will include up to $50 million to help remote communities develop renewable energy projects and get off diesel as a power source, CBC News has learned.
Sources say Ottawa is prepared to make "a sizable investment" to help mostly Indigenous communities develop renewable energy projects that could include hydro, solar, wind or biomass energy.
Sources say Ottawa is prepared to make "a sizable investment" to help mostly Indigenous communities develop renewable energy projects that could include hydro, solar, wind or biomass energy.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
BUNDY RANCH STAND-OFF TRIAL
A federal judge in Las Vegas was considering crucial rulings while jury selection continued Tuesday for the trial of six defendants accused of stopping U.S. agents at gunpoint from rounding up cattle near Cliven Bundy's ranch in 2014.
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