With area townships working towards their own version of a tree canopy protection / conservation bylaw to comply with orders issued by the province of Ontario, there is no surprise at least one will come up with what would almost appear to be an “anti-farming” one.
In Linda Vogel’s comprehensive review in the October AgriNews, she quotes an email from Kasia Olszewska, planner in North Glengarry, who states the bylaw is necessary as, “neighbours do not want the landscape to change.”
This comment is exactly why I have always told new residents that, if you like the view from your new house, make sure you buy it too.
The bylaw preamble also states in part, “it is desirable to enact such a bylaw for the purpose of regulating and controlling the removal and associated public nuisance— of trees and woodlots.”
Thursday, October 31, 2019
CALIFORNIA FIRES BLAMED ON TRUMP
Former California Governor Jerry Brown told Congress on Tuesday that President Donald Trump and the Republican Party were responsible for the ongoing California fires because of their opposition to drastic climate change policies.
The ongoing California wildfires have a variety of causes. The immediate cause of the Getty Fire in Los Angeles, for example, appears to be a tree branch that was blown by high winds into power lines, according to the Los Angeles Times. Critics fault California and its utility companies for spending money on complying with “green” initiatives rather than on burying power lines. Others also cite homeless camps, where past fires have started, and poor forestry management policies that have barred the clearing of brush that can provide fuel for wildfires.
But Brown and other Democrats have identified climate change as the culprit, even though there is no scientific evidence to support that claim. In 2015 and in 2017, Brown also blamed climate change for wildfires in California, though scientists disagreed, calling Brown’s arguments an example of “noble-cause corruption.”
The ongoing California wildfires have a variety of causes. The immediate cause of the Getty Fire in Los Angeles, for example, appears to be a tree branch that was blown by high winds into power lines, according to the Los Angeles Times. Critics fault California and its utility companies for spending money on complying with “green” initiatives rather than on burying power lines. Others also cite homeless camps, where past fires have started, and poor forestry management policies that have barred the clearing of brush that can provide fuel for wildfires.
But Brown and other Democrats have identified climate change as the culprit, even though there is no scientific evidence to support that claim. In 2015 and in 2017, Brown also blamed climate change for wildfires in California, though scientists disagreed, calling Brown’s arguments an example of “noble-cause corruption.”
WESTERNERS WISE TO TRUDEAU'S LIES
Deaf to Alberta and Saskatchewan for four years, Justin Trudeau wants us to believe his hearing is suddenly restored.
The Liberals won no seats in the main energy provinces. Now the prime minister, reduced to a minority, yearns to listen and understand.
But his sop to westerners — engaging an advisor who happens to be Liberal — is flatly absurd, and not to be trusted.
The Liberals won no seats in the main energy provinces. Now the prime minister, reduced to a minority, yearns to listen and understand.
But his sop to westerners — engaging an advisor who happens to be Liberal — is flatly absurd, and not to be trusted.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
CHINA STILL CRYING OVER USA 5G NETWORK BAN
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang accused the US of "economic bullying behavior" after US officials cited national security concerns in using Chinese equipment in US communication networks.
Shuang told reporters that Beijing would "resolutely oppose the US abusing state power to suppress specific Chinese enterprises with unwarranted charges in the absence of any evidence."
The Trump administration has intervened in communication networks, picking winners and losers over the last several years, all in the name of national security.
Shuang told reporters that Beijing would "resolutely oppose the US abusing state power to suppress specific Chinese enterprises with unwarranted charges in the absence of any evidence."
The Trump administration has intervened in communication networks, picking winners and losers over the last several years, all in the name of national security.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
$70,000 FINE LEVIED ON QUEBEC MONASTERY
Brownsburg, Quebec – The devout nun in charge of administration insists she didn’t swear after she opened and read the letter in late August, addressed to her monastery from the Quebec Milk Marketing Board, but admits she did gasp in disbelief.
The August 19th letter from the Les Producteurs du Lait du Quebec (PLQ) to the Mesdames at the Saint Monastere Vierge – Marie la Consolatrice, on their 265-acre farm in the rocky, bush hills north of Montreal, didn’t mince words.
After ‘an investigation’ by the PLQ, it ‘leads us to believe’ that over the past two and a half years “you have produced and/or marketed a volume of 38,304 litres of milk without the knowledge of the PLQ and without holding quota,” it stated.
“In consequence, by virtue of article 18 of the Regulations, a penalty of $53,207.00 has been imposed on you. In addition, a penalty of $20,000 has been imposed on you by virtue of article 8.03 of the Conventions,” stated the letter.
The August 19th letter from the Les Producteurs du Lait du Quebec (PLQ) to the Mesdames at the Saint Monastere Vierge – Marie la Consolatrice, on their 265-acre farm in the rocky, bush hills north of Montreal, didn’t mince words.
After ‘an investigation’ by the PLQ, it ‘leads us to believe’ that over the past two and a half years “you have produced and/or marketed a volume of 38,304 litres of milk without the knowledge of the PLQ and without holding quota,” it stated.
“In consequence, by virtue of article 18 of the Regulations, a penalty of $53,207.00 has been imposed on you. In addition, a penalty of $20,000 has been imposed on you by virtue of article 8.03 of the Conventions,” stated the letter.
$15,000 TO DEFEATED MPs
When Liberal Mark Holland lost his seat in 2011, he couldn't get out of bed for days.
"It was absolutely devastating for me ... Because it was my hometown, it felt personal. It felt like a personal rejection," said the Ajax MP, who went on to be re-elected in 2015 and again on Monday.
He credits the House of Commons's transition program with helping him move on from his defeat. The program offers counselling and up to $15,000 to help defeated MPs transition from the House of Commons back to the civilian world.
The taxpayer-funded package can be used to cover the cost of career transition services, job training or post-secondary education and some travel expenses, according to the members' allowances and services manual.
"It was absolutely devastating for me ... Because it was my hometown, it felt personal. It felt like a personal rejection," said the Ajax MP, who went on to be re-elected in 2015 and again on Monday.
He credits the House of Commons's transition program with helping him move on from his defeat. The program offers counselling and up to $15,000 to help defeated MPs transition from the House of Commons back to the civilian world.
The taxpayer-funded package can be used to cover the cost of career transition services, job training or post-secondary education and some travel expenses, according to the members' allowances and services manual.
SANDMANN LAWSUIT TO PROCEED
A federal judge has reversed his previous ruling and allowed Covington Catholic pro-life student Nick Sandmann to proceed with his defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post.
Judge Bertelsman had dismissed the lawsuit based on the Post’s failure to name Sandmann specifically and said that the “rhetorical hyperbole” of the news outlet was protected by the First Amendment.
As Breitbart News also reported, Sandmann’s attorneys filed lawsuits as well against CNN, NBCUniversal, Democrat 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, comedian Kathy Griffin, and other media and left-wing activists.
Judge Bertelsman had dismissed the lawsuit based on the Post’s failure to name Sandmann specifically and said that the “rhetorical hyperbole” of the news outlet was protected by the First Amendment.
As Breitbart News also reported, Sandmann’s attorneys filed lawsuits as well against CNN, NBCUniversal, Democrat 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, comedian Kathy Griffin, and other media and left-wing activists.
RETURN TO DUTY
The dog, whose name and breed remain unknown, chased Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi into a tunnel and cornered him. With no place to go, the terrorist leader blew himself up along with three of his children, who he was using as human shields.
But there's good news! Initial reports overstated the severity of the dog's wounds, and she's already back on duty. And although her name isn't being released, her face is now famous:
But there's good news! Initial reports overstated the severity of the dog's wounds, and she's already back on duty. And although her name isn't being released, her face is now famous:
Monday, October 28, 2019
HOW USA TOOK OUT ISIS LEADER
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of violent jihadist group Islamic State, died during an overnight raid led by U.S. military forces in Syria.
Here is a description of the raid according to Trump, who went into unusual detail during a national address broadcast from the White House.
Here is a description of the raid according to Trump, who went into unusual detail during a national address broadcast from the White House.
USA MAY BLACKLIST SOME CHINESE COMPANIES
Navarro’s team has explored the possibility of blacklisting Chinese companies that violate numerous U.S. copyright and patent laws by placing them on the Commerce Department’s “entity list,” according to the people familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.
Getting on the list makes it difficult to operate in the United States without obtaining a special license. The entity list mainly includes companies that pose a military or terrorist threat to the United States, but the Trump administration has frequently argued that economic security is part of national security.
Getting on the list makes it difficult to operate in the United States without obtaining a special license. The entity list mainly includes companies that pose a military or terrorist threat to the United States, but the Trump administration has frequently argued that economic security is part of national security.
Intellectual property theft by China costs the U.S. economy up to $600 billion a year, according to a report last year by the U.S. Trade Representative. That figure includes everything from knockoff movies to cybertheft and China’s longtime requirement that U.S. firms partner with Chinese ones, a practice that often requires handing over business secrets to the Chinese.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
$20M IN DAMAGES TO INMATES, $1.12M TO LAWYERS
The federal government has been ordered to pay $1.12 million in legal fees for a segregation class action in a judgment critical of Ottawa’s arguments for paying less.
The fee award comes in a class action involving the placement of inmates in administrative solitary confinement.
In August, Superior Court Justice Paul Perell awarded the thousands of class members $20 million in damages, with the right of individual complainants to push for higher amounts depending on their circumstances.
The fee award comes in a class action involving the placement of inmates in administrative solitary confinement.
In August, Superior Court Justice Paul Perell awarded the thousands of class members $20 million in damages, with the right of individual complainants to push for higher amounts depending on their circumstances.
ISIS FOUNDER DEAD BY SUICIDE
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has died as the result of a raid conducted by United States special forces.
“He died like a dog, he died like a coward,” Trump said on Sunday.
“Last night the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,” Trump said. “He was the founder and leader of ISIS, the most ruthless and violent terror organization anywhere in the world.”
“He died like a dog, he died like a coward,” Trump said on Sunday.
“Last night the United States brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,” Trump said. “He was the founder and leader of ISIS, the most ruthless and violent terror organization anywhere in the world.”
FORD GOV'T SAVING $436M ON PHARMACIST FEES
Ontario has reached a tentative agreement with the province’s pharmacists that will see them take millions of dollars less in payments over the next half decade.
The deal, outlined in a Ministry of Health letter obtained by The Canadian Press, shows the province will save $436 million under the new reimbursement model.
The changes would see the province pocket a portion of the dispensing fees and mark-ups that pharmacists currently receive on all drug claims.
The deal, outlined in a Ministry of Health letter obtained by The Canadian Press, shows the province will save $436 million under the new reimbursement model.
The changes would see the province pocket a portion of the dispensing fees and mark-ups that pharmacists currently receive on all drug claims.
LIBERAL FUNDED MUSLIM VOTING GUIDE
A federally funded Canadian Muslim Voting Guide — released three days before the Oct. 21 election — gives Conservative leader Andrew Scheer a series of failing grades for apparently associating with far-right, Islamophobic figures, opposing the M-103 motion and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and for proposing immigration policies that “compromise asylum seekers.”
The highly partisan, anti-Zionist guide — produced by the Canadian Islamophobia Industry Research Project out of Wilfrid Laurier University — contends that newly re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been the “target of Islamophobic hate campaigns” and gives him a free pass for his black face antics because of his public stance against Islamophobia.
Conservative senator Linda Frum said as disturbing as it is to see academics using Jew-hatred as a “useful metric” on how to assess a political party, what is worse is that the Liberal government paid for this “hateful propaganda. “This is a clear violation of parliamentary ethics, election law, not to mention simple decency,” she said Friday.
The highly partisan, anti-Zionist guide — produced by the Canadian Islamophobia Industry Research Project out of Wilfrid Laurier University — contends that newly re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been the “target of Islamophobic hate campaigns” and gives him a free pass for his black face antics because of his public stance against Islamophobia.
Conservative senator Linda Frum said as disturbing as it is to see academics using Jew-hatred as a “useful metric” on how to assess a political party, what is worse is that the Liberal government paid for this “hateful propaganda. “This is a clear violation of parliamentary ethics, election law, not to mention simple decency,” she said Friday.
ANGER & FRUSTRATION IN CANADA'S WEST
Monday’s election result left a raw feeling among many voters in Western provinces, particularly Alberta and Saskatchewan. Clamorous calls for separation have since dominated national headlines, drawing comparisons to the intense atmosphere of the 1980s.
The issue has become deeply divided, with opinions ranging from outright dismissiveness to bombastic calls for an immediate exit of the West, or “wexit.” The National Post pulled together comments from seven prominent people in an attempt to gauge the true feeling of the West, one that likely lies somewhere between the two divides, where sentiments are propelled by a long-standing suspicion that the balance of power in Canada lies heavily skewed toward the East.
The issue has become deeply divided, with opinions ranging from outright dismissiveness to bombastic calls for an immediate exit of the West, or “wexit.” The National Post pulled together comments from seven prominent people in an attempt to gauge the true feeling of the West, one that likely lies somewhere between the two divides, where sentiments are propelled by a long-standing suspicion that the balance of power in Canada lies heavily skewed toward the East.
TWO-FACED PM TWO-PLANES
During the recent election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again refused to acknowledge that the only credible way to convince Canadians to consume less to save the planet from global warming is to lead by example.
If you don’t — and Trudeau doesn’t — then people will logically conclude you don’t really believe the world faces an imminent, existential threat from global warming, as Trudeau constantly claims.
The funniest example of this during the election was that Trudeau, aka “Justin two-planes,” had a 44-year-old, gas- guzzling, greenhouse gas-spewing cargo plane — as adroitly described by the Toronto Sun’s Bryan Passifiume — following him all over Canada, behind the more modern jet flying him and his entourage.
If you don’t — and Trudeau doesn’t — then people will logically conclude you don’t really believe the world faces an imminent, existential threat from global warming, as Trudeau constantly claims.
The funniest example of this during the election was that Trudeau, aka “Justin two-planes,” had a 44-year-old, gas- guzzling, greenhouse gas-spewing cargo plane — as adroitly described by the Toronto Sun’s Bryan Passifiume — following him all over Canada, behind the more modern jet flying him and his entourage.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
CASE OF CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF A 7-YEAR-OLD
Earlier this week, a jury awarded custody of 7-year-old boy James Younger to his mother, Dr. Ann Georgulas, who treats him like a girl, calling him Luna. She supports chemical castration for her son. That ruling gave her sole conservatorship over him and over all of the medical decisions. On Thursday, Judge Kim Cooks issued an order partly reversing that ruling but also imposing a gag order on the boy's father, Jeffrey Younger, who opposes the chemical castration of his son.
After the jury ruling, the outcry from conservative media and Twitter was swift and severe. Protests outside of the courtroom got the attention of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and he tweeted that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton would be looking into this matter.
REFUGEE GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER
EDMONTON — A Somali refugee has been found guilty of trying to kill a policeman outside a football game as well as four pedestrians who were struck with a U-Haul van — an attack originally investigated as possible terrorism
Const. Mike Chernyk testified that he was on traffic duty outside an Edmonton Eskimos game when he was struck by a car. He next remembered a man on top of him, stabbing him in the head with a knife.
After attacking the officer, Sharif struck and injured four pedestrians as he drove a speeding U-Haul van through the city’s downtown.
Const. Mike Chernyk testified that he was on traffic duty outside an Edmonton Eskimos game when he was struck by a car. He next remembered a man on top of him, stabbing him in the head with a knife.
After attacking the officer, Sharif struck and injured four pedestrians as he drove a speeding U-Haul van through the city’s downtown.
Friday, October 25, 2019
PM'S PROMISE OF MORE OF THE SAME FOR WEST
People in Alberta and Saskatchewan have Twitter, and read articles, and watch the evening news. When the PM and his closest confidants open up on the oil industry, are westerners supposed to assume he means some other oil industry, not theirs?
And this isn’t long-ago stuff. This is stuff that, in some cases, was being used as a central plank in Liberal messaging just days ago. The Liberals were hammering “dark oil money” in tweets through the party’s official account just weeks ago. In the French language debates, Trudeau attacked Kenney and Ford and “les petroliers qui les appuient” (the oil men who support them, in my rough translation). Two weeks ago, Liberal campaign organizer and close Trudeau confidant Gerald Butts was tweeting that the Conservative platform had been written by “the oil lobby.” He didn’t mean that in a good way. Nor does recently re-elected environment minister Catherine McKenna use the term “oil lobbyists” as one of endearment when she warns about the damage they’ll do to Canada’s environment and Indigenous peoples.
And this isn’t long-ago stuff. This is stuff that, in some cases, was being used as a central plank in Liberal messaging just days ago. The Liberals were hammering “dark oil money” in tweets through the party’s official account just weeks ago. In the French language debates, Trudeau attacked Kenney and Ford and “les petroliers qui les appuient” (the oil men who support them, in my rough translation). Two weeks ago, Liberal campaign organizer and close Trudeau confidant Gerald Butts was tweeting that the Conservative platform had been written by “the oil lobby.” He didn’t mean that in a good way. Nor does recently re-elected environment minister Catherine McKenna use the term “oil lobbyists” as one of endearment when she warns about the damage they’ll do to Canada’s environment and Indigenous peoples.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
PROTECTING CHILDREN IN GEORGIA
BUTTS COUNTY, Ga. — Last year, the Butts County Sheriff wanted to make it clear on Halloween who the registered sex offenders were. He did so by putting a warning sign in front of each of the sex offenders' homes.
"My office took precautions and placed signs indicating 'No Trick or Treat' at each registered sex offender’s residence in the County," Sheriff Gary Long said. "This was done to ensure the safety of our children."
PANDERING TO LEFTIES IN HOC
Steyn: A few random thoughts on a grey morning after:
Justin is down over six per cent from his "sunny ways" sweep - and most of that went to other left-wing parties. That's to say, the day-o dauphin's support was reduced not by Scheer but by the Bloc and the Greens.
As for the consolations of a very narrow "popular vote" victory, aside from its irrelevance in parliamentary systems, the fact is that two-thirds of Canadian ballots went to left-wing parties. Lefties, alas, have no shortage of alternative places to park their votes; conservatives had a choice between Scheer's supposedly electable vapidity and an electorally insignificant populist party excluded from most debates and damned as racist.
~What's the upshot of that? If you thought the last four years of progressive virtue-signaling was nuts, get ready for worse: Trudeau will survive in the Commons only by pandering to lefties who take climate fanaticism and aboriginal land acknowledgments far more seriously than the blackface narcissus does.
MALE CYCLIST SETS NEW WOMAN'S RECORD
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as a woman, won the woman's cycling world championship on Saturday, setting what some consider to be a new women's world record for the event. He responded to criticism that it is unfair to allow biological men to compete with women, claiming that any opposition would violate his "human rights." After a female former Masters champion criticized him, he suggested that she and other critics are losers and bigots, not "real champions."
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
CANADA'S DISTRESSED ENERGY SECTOR
Exposing the concerted effort to shut down Canadian oil and gas production in this video, Over A Barrel. Featuring Vivian Krause.
PO'd IN THE OILPATCH
The Canadian oilpatch had a lot on the line heading in the federal election.
Many industry players saw it as a decisive moment to regain some momentum for a sector that’s been stuck in neutral this year, frustrated by a lack of pipeline capacity and largely ignored by investors.
Bob Geddes, president of Ensign Energy Services Inc., said the election outcome will continue the diminishment of the Canadian oil and gas sector and likely lead to less spending and drilling activity going forward if pipelines aren’t built and the sector can’t grow.
The victory of the Liberal party in Monday’s election — returning with a minority government — means many of the biggest issues for the sector haven’t really changed.
Many industry players saw it as a decisive moment to regain some momentum for a sector that’s been stuck in neutral this year, frustrated by a lack of pipeline capacity and largely ignored by investors.
Bob Geddes, president of Ensign Energy Services Inc., said the election outcome will continue the diminishment of the Canadian oil and gas sector and likely lead to less spending and drilling activity going forward if pipelines aren’t built and the sector can’t grow.
The victory of the Liberal party in Monday’s election — returning with a minority government — means many of the biggest issues for the sector haven’t really changed.
HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL KICKS YANIV'S ASS
It’s not a human right to force someone to wax your genitalia.
Now that would seem to be self-evident, yet it took five days of hearings and months of deliberation for B.C.’s human rights tribunal to come up with that obvious decision. Unfortunately, too many poor, vulnerable home aestheticians eking out a living in the Vancouver-area were dragged through the human rights muck for declining to perform a manzillian on a transgender opportunist named Jessica Yaniv.
Now that would seem to be self-evident, yet it took five days of hearings and months of deliberation for B.C.’s human rights tribunal to come up with that obvious decision. Unfortunately, too many poor, vulnerable home aestheticians eking out a living in the Vancouver-area were dragged through the human rights muck for declining to perform a manzillian on a transgender opportunist named Jessica Yaniv.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
CANADIAN ELECTION RESULTS 2019
Canadians headed to the polls on Monday to vote in the 2019 federal election. Justin Trudeau‘s Liberals will form a minority government despite the fact that Andrew Scheer‘s Conservatives won the popular vote. Jagmeet Singh’s NDP is expected to hold the balance of power. Elizabeth May‘s Greens didn’t do as well as expected, but the Bloc Quebecois had a strong night. Maxime Bernier‘s People’s Party of Canada didn’t win a single seat — including Bernier’s.
Monday, October 21, 2019
CLINTON HANDS OUT "RUSSIAN ASSET" SMEARS
“I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,” Clinton said in a transparent reference to Gabbard.
“She’s the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far. And that’s assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not because she’s also a Russian asset.”
Clinton provided no evidence for her outlandish claims, because she does not have any. Gabbard has repeatedly denied centrist conspiracy theories that she intends to run as a third-party candidate, a claim which establishment pundits have been making more and more often because they know there will never be any consequences when their claims are disproven. There is no evidence of any kind connecting either Jill Stein or Tulsi Gabbard to the Russian government.
“She’s the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far. And that’s assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not because she’s also a Russian asset.”
Clinton provided no evidence for her outlandish claims, because she does not have any. Gabbard has repeatedly denied centrist conspiracy theories that she intends to run as a third-party candidate, a claim which establishment pundits have been making more and more often because they know there will never be any consequences when their claims are disproven. There is no evidence of any kind connecting either Jill Stein or Tulsi Gabbard to the Russian government.
ANGELA MERKEL, KAPITAN OBVIOUS
Merkel told an audience of young members of her Christian Democrats (CDU) that allowing people of differing cultural backgrounds to live side by side without such integration was a huge mistake, according to Reuters, which notes that approximately four million Muslims live in the country.
"This (multicultural) approach has failed, utterly failed," said Merkel during the meeting in Potsdam, south of Berlin.
The stunning admission comes weeks after the former director of Germany's foreign intelligence service, Dr August Hanning, suggested Merkel had created a "security crisis" in Germany due to her open-border policy.
The stunning admission comes weeks after the former director of Germany's foreign intelligence service, Dr August Hanning, suggested Merkel had created a "security crisis" in Germany due to her open-border policy.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
CHALLENGING THE CLAIMS OF LOCAVORES
For several years, activists and policymakers have promoted a wide range of local food initiatives. Many of these have been unsuccessful or have experienced significant problems. These problems were unavoidable because the approaches promoted by local food activists (also known as locavores) (re)created the problems that had historically motivated the development of modern agricultural production practices and of the globalized food supply chain. By promoting the increased production of local food that does not offer a compelling quality/price ratio while shunning modern production and processing technologies, activists ensure that our food supply will become more expensive, environmentally damaging, and hazardous to our health than is presently the case. This is because their prescription is based on five myths.
NO HOPE FOR NEW PIPELINES
A star Liberal candidate and environmentalist says it is unlikely any new pipelines will be built under the government’s new project assessment legislation, contradicting a long-held claim by Ottawa that the new regime would not hinder expansion plans put forward by the oil and gas industry.
In an interview with the National Post, Montreal candidate Steven Guilbeault said changes under the controversial Bill C-69, which expanded the review process for major projects like hydro dams and nuclear plants, would likely bar any major new pipelines from being built due to their contribution to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
Friday, October 18, 2019
HOW TO "GET 'ER DONE" IN EDMONTON
An irate man broke up a line of Extinction Rebellion protesters who were trying to block a busy intersection in Edmonton, Canada as onlookers cheered.
INQUIRY INTO RCMP ACTION IN HIGH RIVER, 2013
The forced entries of RCMP into hundreds of High River homes to seize guns during the 2013 flood will be subject to an inquiry by Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner.
In a letter to applicant Dennis Young, who’s seeking disclosure of RCMP documents on the home entries and confiscations, commissioner Jill Clayton stated she agrees to an extended time for an inquiry into the matter, to be completed in October 2020.
When about 300 people refused to evacuate flooded High River in June 2013, Mounties said they entered homes to seize firearms to prevent them from falling into the hands of burglars.
Young said Mounties forced their way into 745 homes and ultimately caused $2.45 million in damage to 2,210 residences.
In a letter to applicant Dennis Young, who’s seeking disclosure of RCMP documents on the home entries and confiscations, commissioner Jill Clayton stated she agrees to an extended time for an inquiry into the matter, to be completed in October 2020.
When about 300 people refused to evacuate flooded High River in June 2013, Mounties said they entered homes to seize firearms to prevent them from falling into the hands of burglars.
Young said Mounties forced their way into 745 homes and ultimately caused $2.45 million in damage to 2,210 residences.
KIM JONG-UN, STUD MUFFIN ON A HORSE
Think of how busy North Korean boss Kim Jong-un's mornings must be. He's up at the crack of 10 for a full-body massage given by completely willing and authentic virgins. That's followed by a long breakfast of imported delicacies, paid for with $100 bills he had to personally counterfeit himself. Then a shower and a quick trim of the old whitewalls and flattop so he can look his best for that day's execution of some high-ranking official by antiaircraft cannon.
Lunch is an ordeal unto itself, attended by a fawning collection of department ministers, generals, and that last guy who looked at him funny, hung up by his ankles from special hooks attached to the chandelier above the table.
SPECIAL ELECTION RULES FOR TRUDEAU
For the past three years, Putin has been the object of regular denunciation for alleged attempts to influence the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Special Counsel Robert Mueller dug deep into suspected dirty tricks originating in Moscow, said to have been aimed at undermining former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s run for the White House. More recently, Democrats have launched an impeachment drive based on charges President Donald Trump sought to pressure Ukraine’s president into providing some dirt on Joe Biden, his potential opponent in the 2020 election race.
Both scandals derive from the well-founded belief that it is wholly inappropriate for a prominent foreign political figure to intrude on the domestic affairs of another country, especially a democratic election in which power is at stake.
Except, it appears, if it’s Canada and you happen to be Justin Trudeau. Once again, as voters ponder how to mark their ballots come Monday’s election, we’ve had it made clear that there’s one set of rules for other people, and another for Justin Trudeau.
Both scandals derive from the well-founded belief that it is wholly inappropriate for a prominent foreign political figure to intrude on the domestic affairs of another country, especially a democratic election in which power is at stake.
Except, it appears, if it’s Canada and you happen to be Justin Trudeau. Once again, as voters ponder how to mark their ballots come Monday’s election, we’ve had it made clear that there’s one set of rules for other people, and another for Justin Trudeau.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
FURIOUS LONDONERS STRIKE BACK AT PROTESTERS
Furious Londoners turned on Extinction Rebellion today with crowds of commuters dragging protesters down from the roofs of Tube carriages to rough them up on the station platform, while online the group was slammed for comparing its actions to those of civil rights legend Rosa Parks.
As their eco-protest enters its 11th day XR activists launched a co-ordinated strike on three London Underground stations, clambering on top of carriages and glueing themselves to doors despite Monday's city-wide ban issued by the Met Police.
But their efforts to disrupt public transport were met with a furious backlash from commuters, industry groups and politicians leading one XR spokesman to admit the move had been a 'huge own goal'.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING RING SMASHED
Dozens of suspects face more than 300 charges stemming from a year-long human trafficking investigation into a criminal organization that allegedly forced women into the sex trade — using manipulation, threats and violence — and saw them pimped out across Canada.
York Regional Police say the multi-provincial Project Convalesce was launched when two woman reached out for help after fleeing the grasp of the organization’s accused “kingpin”
York Regional Police say the multi-provincial Project Convalesce was launched when two woman reached out for help after fleeing the grasp of the organization’s accused “kingpin”
BREXIT DEAL REACHED
Britain clinched a last-minute Brexit deal with the European Union on Thursday, but still faced a challenge in getting it approved by parliament.
It is unclear what Brexit will ultimately mean for the United Kingdom and the European project – built on the ruins of World War Two as a way to integrate economic power and thus end centuries of European bloodshed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was the face of the campaign to leave the EU in Britain’s 2016 referendum, has repeatedly said he will not ask for a delay – even though parliament has passed a law to oblige him to do just that if it has not agreed and ratified a deal by Saturday.
It is unclear what Brexit will ultimately mean for the United Kingdom and the European project – built on the ruins of World War Two as a way to integrate economic power and thus end centuries of European bloodshed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was the face of the campaign to leave the EU in Britain’s 2016 referendum, has repeatedly said he will not ask for a delay – even though parliament has passed a law to oblige him to do just that if it has not agreed and ratified a deal by Saturday.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
CRA NAILS HOME DEPOT FOR INFORMATION
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is trying to use information from Home Depot customers to crack down on the underground economy.
The company sent out letters to customers who have a commercial credit card account, notifying them Home Depot would be handing over information like business names, addresses and purchases between 2013 and 2016 to the agency.
One tax lawyer told Global News the additional information could help the CRA crackdown on contractors getting paid under the table.
The company sent out letters to customers who have a commercial credit card account, notifying them Home Depot would be handing over information like business names, addresses and purchases between 2013 and 2016 to the agency.
One tax lawyer told Global News the additional information could help the CRA crackdown on contractors getting paid under the table.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
TURKISH MILITANTS IN KENTUCKY?
ABC News apologized on Twitter Monday after mistaking a video of a nighttime demonstration at a Kentucky shooting range as Turkish militant fire on Syria.
The network aired the video twice, on ‘World News Tonight’ on Sunday night and ‘Good Morning America’ on Monday morning, purporting it to show the “fury of the Turkish attack” on the Turkey-Syria border.
“This video, right here, appearing to show Turkey’s military bombing Kurd civilians in a Syrian border town,” ABC anchor Tom Llamas said during the broadcast.
The network aired the video twice, on ‘World News Tonight’ on Sunday night and ‘Good Morning America’ on Monday morning, purporting it to show the “fury of the Turkish attack” on the Turkey-Syria border.
“This video, right here, appearing to show Turkey’s military bombing Kurd civilians in a Syrian border town,” ABC anchor Tom Llamas said during the broadcast.
NO CHARGES AGAINST CANADIAN ISIS TERRORISTS
Toronto’s Mohammed Khalifa — a key member of the Islamic State media branch — was captured in January following a gun battle with Kurdish fighters, but nine months in prison haven’t dampened his zeal.
“I do see an obligation to continue fighting,” he told Global News in an interview in northern Syria.
He faces no charges in Canada and a Turkish invasion has brought chaos to the region where he is detained, throwing his fate and that of thousands of other foreign ISIS captives into question. Neither the RCMP nor any other Canadian officials have contacted him, he said. The only foreign agency he has spoken to is the FBI, which he said had interviewed him.
“I do see an obligation to continue fighting,” he told Global News in an interview in northern Syria.
He faces no charges in Canada and a Turkish invasion has brought chaos to the region where he is detained, throwing his fate and that of thousands of other foreign ISIS captives into question. Neither the RCMP nor any other Canadian officials have contacted him, he said. The only foreign agency he has spoken to is the FBI, which he said had interviewed him.
Monday, October 14, 2019
FISCAL FOLLIES OF JUSTIN TRUDEAU
While the fiscal plans of all the political parties heading into the Oct. 21 election should be taken with a huge grain of salt, criticism by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the financial platforms of his opponents has zero credibility.
That means that in his March budget, the last before the Oct. 21 election, Trudeau predicted his accumulated deficits would be $56.4 billion over the next four years.
Now, six months later, he’s predicting his accumulated deficits will be $93.9 billion over the next four years, or $37.5 billion higher ($93.9 billion – $56.4 billion) than he predicted in March.
That means he’s already 66% over his March budget predictions.
That means that in his March budget, the last before the Oct. 21 election, Trudeau predicted his accumulated deficits would be $56.4 billion over the next four years.
Now, six months later, he’s predicting his accumulated deficits will be $93.9 billion over the next four years, or $37.5 billion higher ($93.9 billion – $56.4 billion) than he predicted in March.
That means he’s already 66% over his March budget predictions.
NO PENALTY FOR SCRAPPING CAP-&-TRADE
An environmental group that accused the Ontario government of breaking the law when it scrapped the province’s cap-and-trade system claimed a symbolic victory on Friday as a court decision validated the allegation without changing the status quo.
Two of three judges on a divisional court panel said the government violated the province’s Environmental Bill of Rights when it failed to consult the public on a regulation ending the system last year.
But the panel declined a request from Greenpeace Canada — the environmental group that launched the complaint alongside EcoJustice — for a formal declaration against the government. The panel dismissed the case without penalty to the Progressive Conservatives who maintain they were delivering on a campaign promise made in 2018.
Two of three judges on a divisional court panel said the government violated the province’s Environmental Bill of Rights when it failed to consult the public on a regulation ending the system last year.
But the panel declined a request from Greenpeace Canada — the environmental group that launched the complaint alongside EcoJustice — for a formal declaration against the government. The panel dismissed the case without penalty to the Progressive Conservatives who maintain they were delivering on a campaign promise made in 2018.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
COMPARING COUNTRIES' HEALTH CARE
Comparing the performance of different countries’ health-care systems provides an opportunity for policy makers and the general public to determine how well Canada’s health-care system is performing relative to its international peers. Overall, the data examined suggest that, although Canada’s is among the most expensive universal-access health-care systems in the OECD, its performance is modest to poor.
This study uses a “value for money approach” to compare the cost and performance of 28 universal health-care systems in high-income countries. The level of health-care expenditure is measured using two indicators, while the performance of each country’s health-care system is measured using 40 indicators
THE BLOC'S WAR ON ALBERTA
The federal government comports itself like a petro-state, toadying up to oil companies, while Quebec, virtuously, produces planes and trains but no gas-powered automobiles, says the Bloc Québécois.
“Since it is a petro-state, Ottawa runs from failure to failure with inconsistent policies that spare oil companies in the West,” the platform reads.
But as much as it is anti-Ottawa, the Bloc is perhaps the most explicitly anti-Alberta it has ever been in its history. While Alberta and Quebec have in the past worked on shared concerns, the Bloc in its 2019 iteration sees little but Alberta taking Quebec’s money while having designs on its green fields and pastures for dirty pipelines.
“Since it is a petro-state, Ottawa runs from failure to failure with inconsistent policies that spare oil companies in the West,” the platform reads.
But as much as it is anti-Ottawa, the Bloc is perhaps the most explicitly anti-Alberta it has ever been in its history. While Alberta and Quebec have in the past worked on shared concerns, the Bloc in its 2019 iteration sees little but Alberta taking Quebec’s money while having designs on its green fields and pastures for dirty pipelines.
CHINA'S INVESTMENT BUYS MIDDLE EAST SILENCE
At a meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) in Beijing, Chinese officials pledged US$23 billion in loans and development aid to the region. China and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore US$65 billion in joint ventures, a contract with a big number but a vague future. Xi has visited Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt, to express personally China’s hopes for the Middle East.
We might imagine that Islamic nations in the Middle East would be offended by China’s treatment of the Islamic Uyghurs in China’s western province. So offended, in fact, that they might refuse China’s invitations to engage in joint projects. For years, Beijing has pursued the goal of “pacifying” its Uyghur Muslim minority, whom Chinese bureaucrats see as dangerously prone to radicalization; it takes a communist to spot a dangerous radical.
We might imagine that Islamic nations in the Middle East would be offended by China’s treatment of the Islamic Uyghurs in China’s western province. So offended, in fact, that they might refuse China’s invitations to engage in joint projects. For years, Beijing has pursued the goal of “pacifying” its Uyghur Muslim minority, whom Chinese bureaucrats see as dangerously prone to radicalization; it takes a communist to spot a dangerous radical.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
PM's EXTRAORDINARY DEBATE STATEMENTS
Hostility to government support for oil and gas radiated from Elizabeth May of the Greens, NDP chief Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Quebec Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet in the French language debate on Thursday.
Blanchet, who virulently opposes any pipeline through Quebec, was almost as contemptuous of Trans Mountain.
Trudeau clearly knows his majority is most endangered in Quebec. Hence this remarkable statement on climate change: “It’s necessary to have a strong government, full of Quebecers, full of francophones, who are going to be able to continue the fight” against conservatives who, in his view, “wouldn’t do anything.”
No leader in my memory has ever promised a government full of Ontarians, or British Columbians, or Albertans — or, for that matter, full of English speakers. It’s extraordinary.
Blanchet, who virulently opposes any pipeline through Quebec, was almost as contemptuous of Trans Mountain.
Trudeau clearly knows his majority is most endangered in Quebec. Hence this remarkable statement on climate change: “It’s necessary to have a strong government, full of Quebecers, full of francophones, who are going to be able to continue the fight” against conservatives who, in his view, “wouldn’t do anything.”
No leader in my memory has ever promised a government full of Ontarians, or British Columbians, or Albertans — or, for that matter, full of English speakers. It’s extraordinary.
CUE THE LAUGHTER
The CBC is suing the Conservative party, claiming its use of excerpts from the broadcaster on a Conservative party website and on Twitter, violated the “moral rights” of news anchor Rosemary Barton and reporter John Paul Tasker.
The lawsuit says the use of the material in a partisan way “diminishes the reputation” of the CBC and leaves it open to allegations that it is biased.
“Further, selectively editing various news items together to present a sensational and one-sided perspective against one particular political party may leave a viewer with the impression that the journalists are themselves biased, contrary to their obligations to be ‘fair and balanced’,” it reads.
The lawsuit says the use of the material in a partisan way “diminishes the reputation” of the CBC and leaves it open to allegations that it is biased.
“Further, selectively editing various news items together to present a sensational and one-sided perspective against one particular political party may leave a viewer with the impression that the journalists are themselves biased, contrary to their obligations to be ‘fair and balanced’,” it reads.
PROPERTY RIGHTS & PROSPERITY ON FN RESERVE
First Nations people living on Indian reserves are the most disadvantaged segment of Canada’s Indigenous population. Yet the situation is not all bleak because some First Nations are finding a path toward prosperity. Scholars, like journalists, often focus on bad news, but we should also study the good news to see what can be learned from successful First Nations. Westbank First Nation, located in British Columbia on the west side of Okanagan Lake opposite Kelowna, is a highly successful First Nation, and its achievements offer important lessons to other First Nations as well as to Canadian policy makers.
Westbank First Nation (WFN) has combined individual property rights, in the form of certificates of possession (CPs), with a system of government enabling these rights to become useful in the economy. The lesson is that neither property rights nor government can succeed on their own, but the two together can become a powerful engine of wealth creation. To be most effective, property rights must be supported by a government that defines and records these rights, enforces them impartially under the rule of law, and supports owners with services and utilities such as roadways, police and fire protection, water and sewerage, and other amenities required to make property development attractive.
Westbank First Nation (WFN) has combined individual property rights, in the form of certificates of possession (CPs), with a system of government enabling these rights to become useful in the economy. The lesson is that neither property rights nor government can succeed on their own, but the two together can become a powerful engine of wealth creation. To be most effective, property rights must be supported by a government that defines and records these rights, enforces them impartially under the rule of law, and supports owners with services and utilities such as roadways, police and fire protection, water and sewerage, and other amenities required to make property development attractive.
TURKEY, SYRIA & THE KURDS
On October 7, US forces started withdrawing from their positions along a large chunk of the Syrian-Turkish border. US military garrisons in Tel Abyad, Tel Musa, Tel Hinzir and Tel Arqam were abandoned. US patrols in the border area were halted. The Pentagon provided no details regarding the number of troops withdrawn from the border. US mainstream media outlets mention the numbers from 50 to 100.
This US decision caused a kind of panic among leaders and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They simultaneously called the US decision a backstab, asked the US-led coalition to establish a no-fly zone ‘like in Iraq’ and declared their readiness to resume negotiations with Russia and the Assad government, which they just a few weeks ago were calling a ‘bloody regime’.
This US decision caused a kind of panic among leaders and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They simultaneously called the US decision a backstab, asked the US-led coalition to establish a no-fly zone ‘like in Iraq’ and declared their readiness to resume negotiations with Russia and the Assad government, which they just a few weeks ago were calling a ‘bloody regime’.
THE BOLLOCKS OF EXTINCTION REBELLION
BBC's Andrew Neil rips apart Extinction Rebellion claim that ‘billions of children will die’
Andrew Neil dismantled the argument made by an Extinction Rebellion member that “billions of children will die in the next 10 to 20 years” because of climate change.
Andrew Neil dismantled the argument made by an Extinction Rebellion member that “billions of children will die in the next 10 to 20 years” because of climate change.
Friday, October 11, 2019
ONTARIO VOTERS MUST SAVE CANADA
The unity of our country is threatened and the reason is the incompetent leadership of Justin Trudeau. He has mismanaged the national relationship with Quebec and with Alberta. Under Trudeau, the federal government has chosen policies that pit region against region, rather than work to increase national prosperity and unity.
We are now faced with the possibility of a minority Trudeau government propped up by the economically illiterate NDP and Greens. The consequences of that would be devastating for Canadians. The economic plans of the NDP and Greens would plunge Canada into a financial hole. But the most dangerous policy is the NDP’s commitment to allow every province a veto on national infrastructure that crosses their borders.
This is a formula for beggar-thy-neighbour behaviour that could lead to Canada destroying itself in a series of vetoes and reprisals. It is staggering to consider the implications.
We are now faced with the possibility of a minority Trudeau government propped up by the economically illiterate NDP and Greens. The consequences of that would be devastating for Canadians. The economic plans of the NDP and Greens would plunge Canada into a financial hole. But the most dangerous policy is the NDP’s commitment to allow every province a veto on national infrastructure that crosses their borders.
This is a formula for beggar-thy-neighbour behaviour that could lead to Canada destroying itself in a series of vetoes and reprisals. It is staggering to consider the implications.
27 NATIONS SIGN CYBERSECURITY PLEDGE
While the last United Nations General Assembly will be mostly remembered for the disgraceful display orchestrated by the handlers of manipulated 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, lost in the hoopla that can only be described as “GretaMania” was a historic cybersecurity joint agreement signed by 27 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Canada just prior to the UN General Assembly's General Debate.
The agreement in large part sought to address the increasing instances of state sponsored hacking against critical infrastructure targets internationally. Just this summer, the New York Times reported that the United States government was ramping up its efforts at exploiting vulnerabilities in the Russian power grid in response to Russia allegedly inserting malware into the systems controlling American power plants, oil and gas pipelines, and water supplies.
A large portion of the agreement carries the theme that countries should follow international law regarding what may constitute acceptable state-sponsored hacking efforts. While the United States and many of its allies generally agree that it is reasonable for intelligence agencies to hack targets with the intent to spy on and attack military targets, this pledge reiterates the belief that attacking civilian infrastructure targets is considered strictly off limits.
THE LIAR HAS EXONERATED HIMSELF
The most troubling part of Justin Trudeau’s attempt to rewrite history on the SNC-Lavalin affair is it’s a sign the prime minister may be prepared to politically interfere again in a criminal prosecution.
Trudeau claimed during Monday’s televised leaders debate the original Globe and Mail story that ran in February was "false." He made the surprise comment after Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer reminded Trudeau he looked Canadians in the eye the day the story ran and flat out lied when he said the allegations were false.
Trudeau’s reply to Scheer on Monday: "They were false." It was a surprising comment because even Trudeau had stopped making that claim months ago, after it became clear the story was accurate.
Trudeau claimed during Monday’s televised leaders debate the original Globe and Mail story that ran in February was "false." He made the surprise comment after Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer reminded Trudeau he looked Canadians in the eye the day the story ran and flat out lied when he said the allegations were false.
Trudeau’s reply to Scheer on Monday: "They were false." It was a surprising comment because even Trudeau had stopped making that claim months ago, after it became clear the story was accurate.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
UKRAINE PRESIDENT BACKS TRUMP'S STORY
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump did not seek to blackmail him during a phone call in July or a meeting in September.
Zelenskiy said he had not known that U.S. military aid to Ukraine had been blocked at the time of the call. Having been made aware of this by his defense minister later, he raised the issue during a separate meeting in September in Poland with Vice President Mike Pence.
The U.S. House of Representatives has launched an impeachment inquiry against Trump, focused on whether he used congressionally approved aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump’s main Democratic rivals as he seeks re-election in 2020.
Zelenskiy said he had not known that U.S. military aid to Ukraine had been blocked at the time of the call. Having been made aware of this by his defense minister later, he raised the issue during a separate meeting in September in Poland with Vice President Mike Pence.
The U.S. House of Representatives has launched an impeachment inquiry against Trump, focused on whether he used congressionally approved aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump’s main Democratic rivals as he seeks re-election in 2020.
PIPELINE POLITICS DAMAGING OUR ECONOMY
As Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a meeting with the Toronto Sun editorial board Tuesday, imagine the reaction if political leaders in Canada were advocating in this election policies that would deliberately lead to the death of the east coast fishery, Quebec manufacturing, Ontario’s auto sector or B.C.’s forest industry.
There would be justified outrage in each of those provinces.
And yet Alberta and Saskatchewan are being called upon to accept that they should be denied access to international markets for their oil and natural gas resources, costing their economy and Canada’s, up to $20 billion annually.
There would be justified outrage in each of those provinces.
And yet Alberta and Saskatchewan are being called upon to accept that they should be denied access to international markets for their oil and natural gas resources, costing their economy and Canada’s, up to $20 billion annually.
IGNORING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Lilley: Fix the border or lose support for legal immigration, that was Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s message on Wednesday.
Scheer held a news conference at the illegal border crossing at Roxham Road in Quebec promising that a Conservative government would fix the problem that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have allowed to fester.
Scheer said that if elected on Oct. 21 that he would close the loophole that allows for the illegal crossings between the United States and Canada and restore confidence in the immigration system.
Scheer held a news conference at the illegal border crossing at Roxham Road in Quebec promising that a Conservative government would fix the problem that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have allowed to fester.
Scheer said that if elected on Oct. 21 that he would close the loophole that allows for the illegal crossings between the United States and Canada and restore confidence in the immigration system.
THE SHAMELESS LIBERAL, JUDY SGRO
In her initial defence of Mr. Blackface, veteran Liberal MP Judy Sgro offered up the usual nonsense: We were all young once and sometimes made poor choices and mistakes, blah, blah, blah.
Then radio host Jacqueline Dixon asked what sort of reaction Sgro had been getting from her constituents in Humber River-Black Creek, Ont., only one of the country’s most diverse ridings, with, according to the 2016 census, the highest percentage of visible minorities, particularly people from Latin America, Southeast Asia, Jamaica and Vietnam.
“Those in the black community have told me how much more love they have for the prime minister. He wanted to have a black face, he took great pride in it too.
“They’re (black constituents) looking for more ways that they can show how much they support and love the prime minister.”
Then radio host Jacqueline Dixon asked what sort of reaction Sgro had been getting from her constituents in Humber River-Black Creek, Ont., only one of the country’s most diverse ridings, with, according to the 2016 census, the highest percentage of visible minorities, particularly people from Latin America, Southeast Asia, Jamaica and Vietnam.
“Those in the black community have told me how much more love they have for the prime minister. He wanted to have a black face, he took great pride in it too.
“They’re (black constituents) looking for more ways that they can show how much they support and love the prime minister.”
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
COUNTERSUING THE WOUNDED TRESPASSER
Edouard Maurice, the Okotoks man being sued by a trespasser who was hit with a ricocheted bullet that was fired to scare off burglars, has filed court documents denying his responsibility for the man’s injuries.
In turn, Maurice has filed a counterclaim, saying the mental anguish and trauma of the incident has harmed his family.
The document, filed in a Calgary court on Tuesday, comes roughly a month after Ryan Watson filed a lawsuit against Maurice, claiming post-traumatic stress disorder and lingering pain from the .22-calibre bullet that hit him in the arm.
In turn, Maurice has filed a counterclaim, saying the mental anguish and trauma of the incident has harmed his family.
The document, filed in a Calgary court on Tuesday, comes roughly a month after Ryan Watson filed a lawsuit against Maurice, claiming post-traumatic stress disorder and lingering pain from the .22-calibre bullet that hit him in the arm.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
DON'T BE FOOLED BY ACTIVISTS' RHETORIC
Kurtis Andrews: It was recently reported that the Ontario government is considering “all options including new legislation” to better protect farmers from protestors trespassing on farms and harassing livestock transporters. This is welcome news and essential to restore farmer’s and drivers’ sense of safety and security.
Meanwhile, in response, activists are complaining because they claim that such a law would prevent the public from seeing “what happens on farms.” Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice Canada, an animal rights advocacy group, was quoted as saying, “the reason that we’re seeing animal advocates going onto farms is because it’s the only way for them to see the conditions animals are kept without any regulations, without any government inspections.”
Oversight is not their job, it is the job of the government. Everyone, and livestock farmers in particular, support the best possible animal welfare standards. Trespassing and harassment have nothing to do with this. Provocation of fear and intimidation should never be tolerated in our society – morally or legally.
Meanwhile, in response, activists are complaining because they claim that such a law would prevent the public from seeing “what happens on farms.” Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice Canada, an animal rights advocacy group, was quoted as saying, “the reason that we’re seeing animal advocates going onto farms is because it’s the only way for them to see the conditions animals are kept without any regulations, without any government inspections.”
Oversight is not their job, it is the job of the government. Everyone, and livestock farmers in particular, support the best possible animal welfare standards. Trespassing and harassment have nothing to do with this. Provocation of fear and intimidation should never be tolerated in our society – morally or legally.
LEFTIES ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE MEDIA
Two right-wing media organizations have won a legal battle to obtain accreditation for their representatives to cover last night's election debate.
A Federal Court judge says Rebel Media and the True North Centre for Public Policy have established that they would suffer "irreparable harm" if denied access to the English-language leaders' debate taking place in Gatineau, Que., tonight and the French-language debate later this week.
The two organizations turned to the court after learning their representatives had been denied access to the debate on grounds that they engaged in advocacy.
A Federal Court judge says Rebel Media and the True North Centre for Public Policy have established that they would suffer "irreparable harm" if denied access to the English-language leaders' debate taking place in Gatineau, Que., tonight and the French-language debate later this week.
The two organizations turned to the court after learning their representatives had been denied access to the debate on grounds that they engaged in advocacy.
SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THE HOCKEY GAME
Blatchford: There may not have been a super obvious winner of last nights leaders' debate — though five of the leaders had their moments — but there sure was a single clear loser.
That would be the current prime minister.
Scheer pointed out that he’d broken ethics rules twice, interfered with an ongoing criminal investigation (SNC-Lavalin and the full-court press Trudeau, a few of his key henchmen and staffers in the PCO and PMO, put on former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould) and asked, “When did you decide the rules don’t apply to you?”
Trudeau looked grey, uncomfortable and sweaty from the outset, perhaps because he knew that without his script and a teleprompter, he’d be reaching into his bag of nose-stretchers and would stand revealed, as Scheer put it once during a question about defending Canadian interests and values on the world stage and mentioned Trudeau’s ghastly penchant for dress-up and blackface, and said in effect, no wonder he doesn’t remember how many times he put on blackface “because he’s always wearing a mask. You’re a phoney and a fraud and you don’t deserve to govern this country.”
That would be the current prime minister.
Scheer pointed out that he’d broken ethics rules twice, interfered with an ongoing criminal investigation (SNC-Lavalin and the full-court press Trudeau, a few of his key henchmen and staffers in the PCO and PMO, put on former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould) and asked, “When did you decide the rules don’t apply to you?”
Trudeau looked grey, uncomfortable and sweaty from the outset, perhaps because he knew that without his script and a teleprompter, he’d be reaching into his bag of nose-stretchers and would stand revealed, as Scheer put it once during a question about defending Canadian interests and values on the world stage and mentioned Trudeau’s ghastly penchant for dress-up and blackface, and said in effect, no wonder he doesn’t remember how many times he put on blackface “because he’s always wearing a mask. You’re a phoney and a fraud and you don’t deserve to govern this country.”
Monday, October 7, 2019
GOV'T WILL STORE CLASSIFIED DATA IN PUBLIC CLOUD
The Canadian government’s ongoing effort to adopt the public cloud took another step forward this summer with the help of Microsoft and AWS, representing a “massive leap of faith” in cloud security, according to Peter Melanson, director of federal sales at Microsoft Canada.
“We’re talking about internal workloads of government data…things like human resources systems and financial systems,” he said, referring to the types of workloads the federal government is moving to public cloud.
These workloads fall under the Protected B classification, which according to the Department of Justice, is described as “information where unauthorized disclosure could cause serious injury to an individual, organization or government.” Protected B includes medical information, information protected by solicitor-client or litigation privilege, or received in confidence from other government departments and agencies.
“We’re talking about internal workloads of government data…things like human resources systems and financial systems,” he said, referring to the types of workloads the federal government is moving to public cloud.
These workloads fall under the Protected B classification, which according to the Department of Justice, is described as “information where unauthorized disclosure could cause serious injury to an individual, organization or government.” Protected B includes medical information, information protected by solicitor-client or litigation privilege, or received in confidence from other government departments and agencies.
CANCELLED CELEBRATIONS OF COMMUNIST CHINA
Two city-hall ceremonies to mark the founding of Communist China this weekend were cancelled at the last minute, as controversy continued over how the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic was to be celebrated in Canada — if at all.
The flag-raising events planned for Richmond Hill and Vaughan, both suburban municipalities north of Toronto with large Chinese-Canadian populations, were called off amid angry complaints from groups supporting protesters in Hong Kong.
“While our Canadian citizens have been bullied, while our country has been bullied by this totalitarian regime, why should we still continue with this kind of celebratory event?” asked Gloria Fung, head of the group Canada-Hong Kong Link. “Our politicians need to show a higher level of political wisdom, to understand what not to do on Canadian soil.”
The flag-raising events planned for Richmond Hill and Vaughan, both suburban municipalities north of Toronto with large Chinese-Canadian populations, were called off amid angry complaints from groups supporting protesters in Hong Kong.
“While our Canadian citizens have been bullied, while our country has been bullied by this totalitarian regime, why should we still continue with this kind of celebratory event?” asked Gloria Fung, head of the group Canada-Hong Kong Link. “Our politicians need to show a higher level of political wisdom, to understand what not to do on Canadian soil.”
Saturday, October 5, 2019
TRUDEAU'S EGO DRIVEN FOREIGN AID
One suspects thousands, if not millions, in Canada and around the world who are Twitter addicts spewed their coffees halfway across the room when Justin Trudeau, as prime minister, blasély sent out his tweet to comedian Trevor Noah pledging $50 million of our money toward his charitable cause.
It doesn’t really matter what Noah’s charity was, although it was a rather good one. What matters is that Trevor Noah is a big-time celebrity and Justin Trudeau needed a boost to his self-esteem via a shot of dopamine, and what better a fix than one of the world’s top comedians with a huge television fan base giving you a public high-five and shout-out?
It would be rocket fuel for Trudeau’s ego.
For us taxpayers, however, it meant another $50 million IOU on top of a huge stack of others from a government that just can’t stop giving aid money, even to regimes with badass dictators like China, North Korea and Iran.
It doesn’t really matter what Noah’s charity was, although it was a rather good one. What matters is that Trevor Noah is a big-time celebrity and Justin Trudeau needed a boost to his self-esteem via a shot of dopamine, and what better a fix than one of the world’s top comedians with a huge television fan base giving you a public high-five and shout-out?
It would be rocket fuel for Trudeau’s ego.
For us taxpayers, however, it meant another $50 million IOU on top of a huge stack of others from a government that just can’t stop giving aid money, even to regimes with badass dictators like China, North Korea and Iran.
851000 ARRESTED AT USA-MEXICO BORDER 2019
Border Patrol agents working along the U.S.-Mexico border took into custody approximately 851,000 people in the U.S. government’s fiscal 2019, marking the highest number of arrests since 2007, according to federal data exclusively obtained by the Washington Examiner.
But the 40,000 people taken into custody in September is less than one-third of the 132,000 arrests made in May at the height of a surge of illegal immigrants.
Roughly 40,000 people were apprehended after crossing into Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California during the month of September. That number was added to the previous 11 months to bring fiscal 2019, which ran Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, to slightly more than 851,000 arrests. Those arrested for illegally crossing into the U.S. from Mexico may have claimed asylum once in custody, but that figure is not released by the government each month.
JUSTICE FOR MAN CARRYING CANADIAN FLAG
It is a unanimous decision, bitingly written by Justice Suzanne Cote from the Supreme Court of Canada and it puts a shine — a happy ending — on the disgraceful 10-year-long ordeal of Randy Fleming.
Fleming was arrested by a half-dozen Ontario Provincial Police officers on May 24, 2009, wrestled to the ground, hands cuffed behind his back and permanently injured, transported to a nearby detachment and kept in a cell for almost three hours.
A resident of Caledonia, Fleming was protesting the then three-year-old occupation of Douglas Creek Estates, once a housing development under construction, by Six Nations protesters.
Fleming was arrested by a half-dozen Ontario Provincial Police officers on May 24, 2009, wrestled to the ground, hands cuffed behind his back and permanently injured, transported to a nearby detachment and kept in a cell for almost three hours.
A resident of Caledonia, Fleming was protesting the then three-year-old occupation of Douglas Creek Estates, once a housing development under construction, by Six Nations protesters.
PM'S SELF INTEREST TRUMPS FN COMPENSATION
“I never want to hear one single Liberal pronounce the word ‘reconciliation’ ever again,” said former NDP MP Romeo Saganash on hearing that the federal government is appealing a ruling to compensate First Nations children harmed by the on-reserve child welfare system.
Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015 partly on a pledge that “no relationship was more important” to him than that with Indigenous Canadians.
Yet, the news that the government will seek judicial review on a ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to pay $40,000 to each child taken from homes and communities since 2006 suggests devotion to a cause closer to home – his own re-election.
Justin Trudeau was elected in 2015 partly on a pledge that “no relationship was more important” to him than that with Indigenous Canadians.
Yet, the news that the government will seek judicial review on a ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to pay $40,000 to each child taken from homes and communities since 2006 suggests devotion to a cause closer to home – his own re-election.
Friday, October 4, 2019
PM TWO PLANES
Rex Murphy: The First Environmentalist, after the blackfaces affair, after SNC and banishing Raybould and Philpott from his caucus, after breaking his most “honest” promise to bring the budget to balance in four years – the First Environmentalist, the preacher of renewables and “carbon” poverty for all of us, drags himself and his vast entourage around in two planes.
One just for his baggage (which on speculation from absolutely unreliable sources) I would guess is composed, as befits our thespian PM, of a wardrobe collection to rival that of the Metropolitan Opera; a third of the second plane will be walled-off, fitted with walnut paneling and refurbished as an inspirational and meditation chamber — The Hall of Selfies; where dejected staff and speechwriters on their last gasp, refresh their spirits with chants (diversity is our strength; Harper, Harper, Harper) and yoga; the remaining third contains a mobile boxing ring, a canoe or three, and, most vital, a complete set of the renowned Encyclopedia of the World’s most Shameless and Obsequious Apologies. (End of reporting from unreliable, even phantom, sources.)
One just for his baggage (which on speculation from absolutely unreliable sources) I would guess is composed, as befits our thespian PM, of a wardrobe collection to rival that of the Metropolitan Opera; a third of the second plane will be walled-off, fitted with walnut paneling and refurbished as an inspirational and meditation chamber — The Hall of Selfies; where dejected staff and speechwriters on their last gasp, refresh their spirits with chants (diversity is our strength; Harper, Harper, Harper) and yoga; the remaining third contains a mobile boxing ring, a canoe or three, and, most vital, a complete set of the renowned Encyclopedia of the World’s most Shameless and Obsequious Apologies. (End of reporting from unreliable, even phantom, sources.)
POLICE CHIEF HAS BAIL SYSTEM IN HIS SIGHTS
“Service-wide, in August and September, a total of 53 individuals arrested by the Toronto Police Service on firearm charges were released on bail and were re-arrested on another offence.”
You read it right — 53 people in 60 days where arrested on gun charges and then released on bail.
Tweeted Saunders: “While on that bail, 24 of them received bail a second time.”
You read it right — 53 people in 60 days where arrested on gun charges and then released on bail.
Tweeted Saunders: “While on that bail, 24 of them received bail a second time.”
Thursday, October 3, 2019
WEAKNESS OF THE CROWN & ITS INVESTIGATORS
On the surface, there isn’t much to connect these four legal dramas. These were disparate proceedings involving unique circumstances and sets of facts. Each case featured different RCMP or Competition
Bureau lead investigators. The same was true of the Crown prosecutors. Federal lawyers led the legal fights involving vice-admiral Mark Norman and the alleged bid-riggers. In the other two cases — involving Sen. Mike Duffy and the Nortel Three — the RCMP forwarded the matter to provincial prosecutors.
But, taken together, the proceedings reveal a weakness in the way the Crown and its investigators conducted their business.
In each instance, the RCMP and Competition Bureau arrived early at a theory of the alleged crime and hunted for evidence to support it. As a consequence, key potential witnesses were ignored or dismissed, crucial documents were left untouched, and Crown prosecutors tended not to stray far from the original narrative.
Bureau lead investigators. The same was true of the Crown prosecutors. Federal lawyers led the legal fights involving vice-admiral Mark Norman and the alleged bid-riggers. In the other two cases — involving Sen. Mike Duffy and the Nortel Three — the RCMP forwarded the matter to provincial prosecutors.
But, taken together, the proceedings reveal a weakness in the way the Crown and its investigators conducted their business.
In each instance, the RCMP and Competition Bureau arrived early at a theory of the alleged crime and hunted for evidence to support it. As a consequence, key potential witnesses were ignored or dismissed, crucial documents were left untouched, and Crown prosecutors tended not to stray far from the original narrative.
SCHOOLING PM ON ONTARIO POLITICS
The Liberals believe attacking Ford helps their chances of winning seats in Ontario but of all the criticisms Trudeau could make of Ford, accusing him of provoking turmoil in the education sector is just dumb.
Long before Ford became premier, these unions waged war on the Kathleen Wynne/Dalton McGuinty Liberal governments of 2003-2018, the Mike Harris/Ernie Eves Progressive Conservative governments of 1995-2003, and the Bob Rae NDP government of 1990-1995.
Wynne, a staunch Trudeau ally, imposed back-to-work legislation on striking high school teachers in three Ontario school boards in 2015.
They walked off the job because her government wanted to eliminate caps on class sizes, increase non-classroom duties and rein in the provincial deficit by refusing to allocate any new money for salary increases.
Long before Ford became premier, these unions waged war on the Kathleen Wynne/Dalton McGuinty Liberal governments of 2003-2018, the Mike Harris/Ernie Eves Progressive Conservative governments of 1995-2003, and the Bob Rae NDP government of 1990-1995.
Wynne, a staunch Trudeau ally, imposed back-to-work legislation on striking high school teachers in three Ontario school boards in 2015.
They walked off the job because her government wanted to eliminate caps on class sizes, increase non-classroom duties and rein in the provincial deficit by refusing to allocate any new money for salary increases.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN BOYLE TRIAL
Joshua Boyle revealed his criminal state of mind when he wrote that “a husband has some minor right to force sex of his choosing on a wife,” a Crown attorney has charged.
In his closing argument Wednesday, Crown attorney Jason Neubauer said the statement — made in a letter from Boyle to his wife — reflected his belief that he could have sex with Caitlan Coleman without her consent.
“It reveals his state of mind, his belief that he had the right to force sex of his choosing on his wife,” Neubauer argued.
In his closing argument Wednesday, Crown attorney Jason Neubauer said the statement — made in a letter from Boyle to his wife — reflected his belief that he could have sex with Caitlan Coleman without her consent.
“It reveals his state of mind, his belief that he had the right to force sex of his choosing on his wife,” Neubauer argued.
ALBERTA THIEF SUING RURAL PROPERTY OWNER
It was reported earlier this week that Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has contributed to an online fundraiser for Edouard Maurice, a farmer living near Okotoks who wounded a burglar on his property in February of last year. Maurice had, one early morning, been awakened by his dogs and surprised two thieves rummaging through a vehicle. Penny-ante property crime of this sort has reached toxic levels in rural Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Maurice told the burglars, a man and a woman, to go away. They ignored him. Knowing that police might take hours to respond to any call, he fired two “warning shots” in their general direction. The pair fled. Being none the wiser, Maurice went inside and called 911 to report the burglary. Two hours later, RCMP cruisers rolled up to arrest him. One of his .22-calibre rounds had ricocheted and struck the male burglar in the arm.
When a ballistics report confirmed that the bullet had ricocheted, the police decided to back off from charging Maurice with aggravated assault and firearms offences. Thief Ryan Watson was eventually convicted of mischief and violating probation. But now Watson is suing Maurice, claiming damages of $100,000, for “emotional upset, severe fatigue and insomnia” as well as — this is a nice touch — loss of income.
Maurice told the burglars, a man and a woman, to go away. They ignored him. Knowing that police might take hours to respond to any call, he fired two “warning shots” in their general direction. The pair fled. Being none the wiser, Maurice went inside and called 911 to report the burglary. Two hours later, RCMP cruisers rolled up to arrest him. One of his .22-calibre rounds had ricocheted and struck the male burglar in the arm.
When a ballistics report confirmed that the bullet had ricocheted, the police decided to back off from charging Maurice with aggravated assault and firearms offences. Thief Ryan Watson was eventually convicted of mischief and violating probation. But now Watson is suing Maurice, claiming damages of $100,000, for “emotional upset, severe fatigue and insomnia” as well as — this is a nice touch — loss of income.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
TRUDEAU: WORLD'S WOKEST MAMMY SINGER
Mark Steyn: Under the Learn To Camp program, every Canadian will be provided with a tub of boot polish, a novelty turban, a jewel to stick in your belly button, and genie slippers with curly toes, and trained how to swish across a Vancouver ballroom while asking other guests to tally your banana.
Oh, wait, sorry, that was last week's Justin story. In America a ten-minute phone call to some fellow in Kiev is all the pretext you need for two years of multi-million-dollar investigation. But in Canada the news that the Prime Minister has spent half his adult life as the world's wokest mammy singer is just a blip in the day's news cycle, soon to be supplanted by a genuinely eye-catching scandal such as whether or not the Tory leader had a valid license from the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan or the Canadian Association of Insurance Brokers back in 1997, or 1978, or whenever.
But golly, before the Canadian media "moves on" - indeed, gallops on - couldn't we have contemplated the sheer weirdness of Canada's head of government a while longer? On the election debate stage, he will be the only blackface devotee. Likewise at the G7 summit. And indeed at the G20. And Nato.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
UK PAID £11BILLION TO EU IN 2018
From the comments:
£11bn may seem a lot (pop. 70 million = £157 per person or for 20m familes say £550 per household.
BUT - think what they get for that, fishing quotas, the CAP farming rules, some great regulations and millions of fresh faced immigrants ready for dodgy tiling or unskilled building work!!
All achieved by breaking English common law and their Bill of Rights, necessary to hand power away from the peasants to the very foreigners they fought to stop in WWII.
By doing this the UK MPs can ensure their children never have to worry about freedom or democracy again.
BIDEN DEMANDS MEDIA CENSOR GIULIANI
The presidential campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden sent a letter to every major television network, demanding that they keep former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani off the air.
Giuliani serves as a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, and has been involved in investigating Hunter Biden’s overseas business interests, which he developed while his father was in office.
The former vice president pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who was investigating Burma Holdings, an oil and gas company on whose board Hunter Biden sat at the time — a clear conflict of interest that Joe Biden has never explained.
Biden’s attempt to silence the opposition — and the media — is virtually unprecedented in the history of American politics.
Giuliani serves as a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, and has been involved in investigating Hunter Biden’s overseas business interests, which he developed while his father was in office.
The former vice president pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who was investigating Burma Holdings, an oil and gas company on whose board Hunter Biden sat at the time — a clear conflict of interest that Joe Biden has never explained.
Biden’s attempt to silence the opposition — and the media — is virtually unprecedented in the history of American politics.
CANADIAN POLITICIANS HONOUR CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
Canada’s defense minister has drawn criticism for his recent appearance at a reception in Vancouver during which he stood on stage alongside the Chinese consul-general.
The gala event Sept. 22 at a restaurant in Chinatown was organized by the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, an umbrella organization for dozens of business and cultural associations, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Besides Sajjan, other attendees included Tong Xiaoling, the Chinese consul-general in Vancouver, and her deputies, as well as Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s minister of jobs, trade and technology, and George Chow, the B.C. minister of state for trade.
The gala event Sept. 22 at a restaurant in Chinatown was organized by the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, an umbrella organization for dozens of business and cultural associations, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Besides Sajjan, other attendees included Tong Xiaoling, the Chinese consul-general in Vancouver, and her deputies, as well as Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s minister of jobs, trade and technology, and George Chow, the B.C. minister of state for trade.
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