Monday, November 28, 2005

The Campaigning Begins...

Lucky us. We get to elect a new government. While I should probably be glad to have the right to be able to vote for a government, the choices don't do anything for me.
The way I see it, I can't even guess on the lesser of all evils. We are always going to have a minority government, and we are destined to have coalition governments from now on. Gone are the days of majority governments, and we can thank the past governments trying to make everyone happy, for this happening. We are going to continue to elect minority governments, and change them as often as we do our underwear.

The sooner we stop trying to look after everyone's interest, the better. Its getting too expensive to the regular taxpayer to fund all the differences everyone wants. Let the Liberals back in, that way I know I will at least get my refunds due.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Misguided Youth in Toronto

There was an interesting article in the National Post about the high school students that got charged with sexual assault. One of the students says "I really don't understand what happened to me". How pathetic. If the students that got charged are guilty, his statement reflects the values that he has for women, and other people in society. I am sure that with this group of 16 students, this isn't the first time they have been up to no good.
If they guilty, I suggest that the parents also get charged as co-conspirators, since they are the ones that are responsible to instill the proper values into their kids. Problems with troublesome teens is the lack of parenting done these days, and the last few weeks in Toronto with the school sexual assault shows it

Maybe the governments will take heed and look at overhauling the Young Offender's Act.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Weenie of the Week - Conrad Black

It's that time again, where we get another Weenie of the week. Conrad Black, the fallen media mogul of late, deserves more than just the Weenie Award...a nice 6 x 8 cell in Kingston pen for starters.


Conrad, for denouncing your Canadian citizenship, in order to be crowned Baron Black of Crossharbour, and then when you are in deep shit with the US authorities, have the balls to come back and ASK for your citizenship again, you ARE the Weenie of the Week. And I guess that makes Barbara, the Weenette of the Week, for even agreeing to go along with your request...


Go stand up to your obligations for fleecing the shareholders of Hollinger, and take your hits like a man. Non-competition fees...really...I hope the Canadian government ties your nuts in a knot.

Canadian Liberal Government Well-Organized Crime?

Interesting to note, the latest lashes by Harper et al about the sponsorship scandal...the Conservatives made one mistake. They mention that the funneling of millions of taxpayers cash to Liberals was "well-organized crime".
News for you, Conservatives, if it was that well-organized, they wouldn't have been caught!

I can see the mudslinging over Christmas...all the white snow will be defaced with shit and mud from all sides..."I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas!"

8 weeks to go...lets see what else comes up in the fight for governance of this country.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Unions Sealing GM's Fate

With the latest announcement by GM, it looks like 3,900 people will be out of work eventually, over the next 3 years. Granted, most should come from attrition, however, in order to prop up its infrastructure, attrition and buyouts out of expensive contracts is not the answer.
What the union needs to do is to swallow an expensive pill. Take wage, pension, and benefit cuts in order to keep the livlihood of ALL your members in tact. It is far better to have everyone working for less money, then to displace 3,900 people and families.
Tell me, Mr. Hargrove, how many people are going to feel sorry for the workers that are left, making $65-70 an hour? Newest members into the union are already working for less money due to 2-tiered wage system.
It's time for the unions to take ownership, and contribute to saving their livlihood. A 20% reduction in wages and benefits across the board will go along way to saving GM. The only ones complaining of concessions are the ones that know that they are over-compensated already.

GM will bounce back, whether they shed their legacy costs voluntarily, or through bankruptcy...Mr. Hargrove, take the initiative to save whats left for the good of the members that are left.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Those Crazy Frenchmen

It was nice to read that the rioting in France had settled down for a bit, and perhaps MAYBE, starting to get back to normal, until a few government types had something to say as to the reason for the riots...one of the main reasons for the riots, was caused by the polygamous culture of muslims...lol...had to laugh at that one.
Look out Utah...according to the French, you are prone to riots and your cars will burst into flames...

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Weenie of the Week - Bill Blair

I am a couple of days late on the Weenie of the Week...better late than never. I don't ever have to worry about finding one, as it seems they all do something stupid that gets them the prize. The latest? Toronto police chief Bill Blair, for his comments at a news conference last Friday, commenting on the fatal shooting of a teen at a funeral...

"We had no intelligence on whether we should have been policing the funeral or not"...what a lame excuse. This is the politically correct answer actually. What he really meant to say was, "We had racially profiled the individuals involved, the deceased at the funeral, and the victim at the church, however, we decided not to act on it, because we would have shunned by the media and the community for profiling the individuals, and making our presence known".

When will the people of Toronto, and other crime infested cities realize that this is now a racial issue, and needs to be followed up? The only ones that cry racism are the ones that have something to hide...well, if you can't see that the problems with the shootings in Toronto this summer is racially motivated, then by all means, Toronto police, pull out and let them take care of their own problems, and maybe by the time they are done, the neighborhoods in the Finch area will be cleaned up.
Let's stop throwing tax dollars at a situation if you won't have the balls to call a spade a spade.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Pension Liability Problems - Not Just a US Problem

The US PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.) has issued its annual report, that states that it is short about $22.8 billion in pension liabilities.
This liability grows, as more and more companies declare bankruptcy, and shed their legacy costs.
In Canada, pension liabilities have been building, to the point that the taxpayer will soon be paying the bill (listen up, Stelco...).
How did this happen? Greedy unions, stupid management, and special kudos to the NDP government of the mid 90s that gave pension contribution holidays to a few companies that were considered "too big to fail".
In order for taxpayers to get a break on bailouts like this, companies, unions and government need to look at the following;
1) The government should mandate defined-contribution plans and eliminate defined benefit plans. Unions should look to their membership and realize that defined benefit plans are great at one point, but increasing COLAs (cost of living allowances) on defined benefit plans will only result in doom and gloom in the future. With such lucrative pension benefits, comapnies can't keep up and remain competitive.
2) Pension liabilities should be fully funded. In fact, there should be steep fines for any company that is found to have unfunded liabilities.
3) In order to make defined-contribution plans more palatable to people, the government should remove the mandatory retirement age. I am sure that there will be more income tax to collect from people working past 65, than what the government would get if people started withdrawing from RRSPs or RRIFs.

Retirement with nice pension benefits is a privilege, not a right. As soon as unions, companies and the government realize this, we the taxpayers, can plan accordingly and determine our own financial fate, instead of letting someone else determine it for us.

Canada's Response to Immigrant Smuggling - Not Good Enough

There are a couple of issues that are disturbing about the latest charges against a Chinese man charged with immigrant smuggling (in Halifax).
First off, he is complaining that his human rights are being violated. Second, as an "english speaking" translator for the tour group he was with, he has contributed to his "future" extradition costs, by requiring a Cantonese translator.
WTF, Canada! This country is looking more and more like a sieve, and people from all over the world are coming here expecting a free ride - when does this stop? Canada has bent over backwards enough for immigrants to this country, that by now, we must be the laughing stock of the UN.
If we want to clean things up at home, the first place to start is to treat the Halifax incident as a crime, and to treat individuals that deceive the government (as this gentleman did, with a fake Korean passport...) as the criminals they are.
Canada needs to close the holes in our immigration legislation to make it MORE difficult for people entering the country, not yield to their demands at the expense of taxpayers.

Mind you, we put up enough with Quebec, don't we?

School Bullying in Toronto

Fifteen teens have been released on bail, after being charged with sexual assault and various other crimes, after a girl has come forward, claiming it all happened in school.
The parents of the accused were seen denouncing the victim, and have said that the school never said anything was going on.
Seems to me, we have an issue of out of control teens, at a time when parents are refusing to properly discipline their kids.
Where have we gone wrong? As a parent, I am determined to adhere to strict discipline measures to keep my kids responsible and considerate of others and their property. What these kids have been charged with, reflects directly on their parents. Its about time that the courts go after the kids and the parents, to make a statement saying we will not tolerate insolence of minors, nor the ignorance of their parents. I hope they throw the book at them.
As for the victim, its too bad that a 15 year old girl has to put up with this trauma, and to have done so, for 18 months. She has finally had the nerve to say "enough", and I hope that any other victims of school bullying come forward with their stories, and lets get back to being human beings.

Whoever you are, victims, some of us are pulling for you more that you know.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Deck the Halls...with tax breaks...but for how long?

The Liberals announce personal tax breaks, given the recent turmoil in government about non-confidence. I say its about time. With the recent surpluses reported every year, I want my money in my pocket, not the government coffers.
With the toppling of the government merely months away, I am sure that my tax breaks recently announced, will go by the wayside.
Who do we have to blame for this? The NDP and the Conservatives. They should have known that there were problems with the sponsorship fund before now. It took an inquiry to get it all out on the table, when the opposing parties should have had their finance critics looking at the government's fiscal responsibilities all along.
I hope that when the non-confidence motion is brought up, we do have an election 8 weeks before Martin was going to have one, so that the people can punish the NDP and Conservatives for being weenies. I expect the Liberals will win a minority government, and we will have wasted even more time and money with an election that gets us nowhere. All the election is going to do, is point out who the real morons are.
The Liberals did 2 things right, which I doubt any other party would have done - they paid back sponsorship funds, and they banned some high ranking Liberal party members for life. The only other thing they could do to save face, is to implement rigorous measures into fiscal responsibility, and then, and only then, will they get my vote.

I have been a Conservative all my life...but I won't continue to support a party that has nothing in their back pocket for ensuring a competent, law-abiding government. As it stands right now, my thoughts and vote is moving red...

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Anyone Else Pissed Off with Hydro?

Recent quarterly results from hydro utilities, shows unusually high gains in profits, however, when the time comes that we need power available (the summer), it seems that we have to go into "energy saving" mode.

I have a few questions...after all these years, why is it we can't have reliable cheap power? And can anyone tell me how much debt is left outstanding with the old Ontario Hydro?

With all the available capacity in hydrogenerating stations, we should never have a problem with rolling brown outs or other issues.

Its about time someone in the government go after these morons running our hydro plants, and get us into the 21st century.

Saddam's Defense Team Withdrawing?

Recent news states that 1,100 of Saddam's defence lawyers (1,100??) have withdrawn, due to safety concerns.

Safety concerns are a "red herring". I am sure that once the lawyers reviewed the evidence, they saw that they don't have a case.

I still can't believe 1,100 lawyers...in addition to the cost of the war in Iraq, I bet the legal costs, to the US taxpayer, will be huge...good luck swallowing that pill.

QEII now considered an Al Quaeda enemy...better check their list for my Grandma

The latest crap from Al Quaeda is that the Queen is now "one of the severest enemies of Islam", in its attempt to justify the London bombings.

As always, they are trying to justify their warped ways and tactics, with anyone vulnerable to blame for their extremist tactics. That's what spineless dinks do.

The sooner someone or some coalition and goes in and makes Iraq a parking lot, the better. And, by the way, level other hiding spots that OBL might be holed up.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Private Health Care...Why Not?

There seems to be a lot of upset people on the issue of private health care. What does it matter if someone pays for faster service?

We in Canada take health care as a right, when its really a privilege. Check out other countries, and you see that our existing system isn't too bad.

I say yes to private health care, if you can do it within the following guidelines, Mr. Martin;

1) ensure that the public system utilizes the same technology and leading edge technology and practices as the private clinics.
2) ensure that the license fees are sufficient enough so that any admin fees and costs to run a private health clinic DO NOT come out of taxpayers' money at all.
3) If a person opts in to private health care, take away their OHIP benefits and health card.
4) Don't cover any additional medical treatment for privately funded health centers.
5) Ensure that the public health system employees are at least paid 10% better than private health center employees.

Let's see how long it takes for private health care to establish itself under the conditions above.

Just remember, diseases/medical issues/accidents knows no prejudice. Private health care does not mean you will get back to health any quicker or better than public health recipients.

The only guarantee is that you will end up with less money, for nothing more.

Mandatory Gun Sentence? Say It Ain't So

Mr. Cotler has done an about face on mandatory jail time for gun offences.

All I have to say is, glad you finally gave your head a shake, Mr. Cotler...too bad it took a threat of a federal election to get you to change your mind.

By the way, when the judges give out the mandatory incarcerations, don't forget to give the perps a $5 coupon for their first federally-sponsored tattoo...

Gull Bay Vacation Hotspot

Wow, pack up the family, load the wagon, and take a National Lampoon vacation to......Gull Bay!

I know in the brochure, I bet it says lots of good things about how the government would take care of you, dinner out every night, hotel/motel lodging, etc.

Here is a better deal, Mr. Martin and caucus dumbasses. How about buying 20 trailers, throw them on the some crown land up there for a couple of years, furnish them with about $5,000 worth of goodies, and have a small community for the price of $500,000?? Nooooooo, spending $2 million is better. Again, more of our tax dollars gone to waste.

I would like to know how Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles (
Trailer Park Boys) would fair in the temporary community? How long before the motel got torched?

Federal Government into Tattooing

Unbelievable...the federal government is getting into the tattoo business, at a cost of $700,000, of taxpayers' money. Their argument? To make sure the inmates have clean needles so they don't get sick.

I say let them get sick!! This kind of program does nothing for prisoner reform. This only goes to show you that the federal government is more interested in making them more "comfy" than to rehabilitate them.

When is the government going to open a licensed lounge for inmates so they can kick back and relax and have a beer after a hard day making $5?

God forbid, they have to have real beer, instead of the ol' "Chateau Tomatoe", in case they get sick.

Start using your heads people...

Lest We Forget

I'm not that insensitive to acknowledge a special day in history...to all of those who fought for the freedom and rights we enjoy today...


In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

ACE Aviation declares dividend

Recent news has it that parent of Air Canada is set to dole out $300 million in dividends to shareholders. If Air Canada averages 25 million passengers a year, that works out to $12 per passenger...is there something wrong with this picture if Milton wants to charge you $2 for a pillow on a flight? How about reducing the dividend to $250 million, and throw the pillows in for free for the confort to your customers?

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Supreme Court sides with Mom

Having been separated for 6 years, I was interested in this case. The mother appealed a reduction in child support based on custody arrangements and won. What this means is, that the court has ruled that maintaining the child's standard of living is the first consideration, as it should be, and the time split between parents is not a huge consideration. Where the line must be drawn, is in what constitutes a reasonable standard of living for the child. I could get into details of my situation, but trips south, and a cruise for my kids (I have never been on a cruise yet in my life...) does not maintain their standard of living - it enhances it. The Supreme Court did acknowledge that more equitable custody arrangements will lead to higher costs...and the father will almost always be on the hook for the additional money.

So, congrats to the mother and for all the moms that have the kids in their custody...to us dads, it is another pill to swallow when we can't afford to maintain their standard of living if we want to see them more...something will give, and access by the fathers will be the first thing to give out.

Our Deepest Sympathies, Jordan

The latest cowardly attack on Jordan by suspected Al Qaeda is an abomination...I hope that the US and all other allies see what is going on and squash the animals that are responsible. My condolescences to the people of Jordan, and other nationalities deeply affected by these terrorist attacks.

EI to be reduced 4%

Well, it's a step in the right direction...EI premiums to be cut by 4%. Tell me, Mr. Martin, what are you going to do with the billions in surplus? And how are you going to make it easier for people that need EI, to get it? I suspect that there will be an increase in the availability to expectant moms...let's see how they disperse the excess, to complement the reduced premiums...I won't hold my breath...

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Weenie of the Week - Stephen Harper

I know its a bit early for Weenie of the Week, but this post is related to it. The Conservatives are working on trying to force a non-confidence motion for 15 Nov.





The problem, it seems, is that Harper doesn't believe that Layton will follow him with a vote...well, surprise Mr. Harper! Mr. Layton is doing exactly what he should be doing, and that is trying to win concessions for his party and constituents, because he has a VISION. All the Conservatives can do is throw their hands up in the air, without negotiating with the Liberals to further Conservative interests.





So, for not having a backbone, or going after the Liberals on your own merits or agenda, you get the Weenie of the Week award...you didn't let me down Mr. Harper, I knew you would get it this week...lol

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Conservatives Making Inroads to Government?

Here's a novel idea - let's have a government thats accountable to the people...sheesh, you would think that the Conservatives would have figured that out BEFORE the Gomery report came out. Its a little disappointing to see that Mr. Harper sees fit that only now, should the reigning government be accountable for spending and for following the trail of money doled out.

I would have thought that this would be the norm by now...I guess once you get found out, you have to make a change on the way you do business. I don't mind the government taking some perks for their work, but to lock down the government in paper trails that will stifle the inner workings, then we have to draw the line.

It is interesting to note, that the Conservatives will be running on a platform of good governance...anything else you might want to have in your back pocket, besides what you should have been running on in the past???

Harper and his cronies will use the system as all previous other governments...to feed off the plates of taxpayers, in the name of "good government"...another one of those oxymorons...headed by the biggest moron around right now.

Any guesses as to who the next Weenie of the Week will be?

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Weenie of the Week - Robert Milton


This week was a tough one, until I read the article on how Air Canada plans to compete with no frills airlines (particularily WestJet)...

Mr. Milton and company, plan to charge you $2 for a pillow on your next flight. This should add value for the shareholders and rank you as a customer service guru.

I am sure that reading about the profits made this quarter, passengers will flock even more to your counters looking for that $2 savings on their next flight.

Congratulations for starting down the path to take the airline under yet once again...by the way, if you premix the coffee with cream and sugar before the flight takes off, you can save another 1 cent per cup on stir sticks...

Give me some notice too, when you decide that the economics of bringing my own toilet paper on board starts to yield attractive returns to your bean counters.

Air Canada - How Cheap is Cheap?

Browsing through the biz headlines, and noticing what profits were made in the third quarter, I came across a blurb that said that Air Canada had made about $280 million this quarter...not bad, I thought to myself, consdering the problems the airline had with restructuring last year.

Then lo and behold, another article jumped out at me about Air Canada...besides eliminating meals on North American flights (which is probably a good thing based on the food I have had), they are going to start charging $2 if you want a pillow for the flight.

How small town cheap!!! I bet the financial whiz that came up with that one, is the same person that thought that Chretien should have monogrammed golf balls...

I thought I would give Air Canada another chance...this sort of news just sealed its fate with me and I will stick with Westjet...take your toonie for your pillow and stick it. You would have been better off adding to the price of an alcoholic beverage...

I swear, some people must really need to scrape the bottom of the barrel for a buck...or $2, in this case...

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Jack Layton has Class

I am not a fan of the NDP, however, he is the only party leader that has had class in the Gomery affair. Harper has accused the NDP of being too chicken to go to the polls. Layton has class...Paul Martin has taken the first step by passing the report on to the RCMP for review, which, in my mind, is the right thing to do. Kudos to the PM for thinking. The NDP are doing whats best for the people, not whats best for their party, by riding out the results of how Martin handles the situation...unlike the Conservatives or the BQ. If Martin really had nothing to do with the sponsorship scandal (which I still doubt), then he is the guy to make sure justice is done. If he gives the authorities full power and access to investigate criminal proceedings. then he has my vote. Let's wait and see how it is handled. Harper's approach is akin to me saying that he is a dink, because of the leadership of Joe Clark years ago.

Harper should know that this is not the time to call for an election. Again, the Conservatives should rethink the strategy of their leader, and move to have him ousted. For once, I would like to see the Conservatives use their own platform to secure votes. Desparate politicians resort to desparate measures, even at the cost of the people that support them financially.

Follow the lead of the NDP, Mr. Harper...sit and abide your time, and use your time and effort for something more constructive...like building a platform to oust the Liberals in a spring election. I am sure that the rest of your party is tired of eating red herring...

Gomery Revisited

Well, big surprise in the report...Paul Martin, I had you in there as being involved somehow, and I still believe you were. I find it hard to believe, as do other Canadians, that even as minister of finance, you knew nothing that was going on...tsk, tsk, tsk...you just didn't get found out this time.

You were part of the "inner circle". Consider yourself, as an individual, lucky this time. The downfall will be your association with the Liberals...and has anyone else made a connection as to why Martin would suggest a Quebecer as the next GG? Must be just me...Liberal...Quebec...media...sponsorship...connect the dots.

Chretien, no big surprise there. Ouellet, another boring revelation.
Has the Canadian public seen now, how the Liberals are not the be all and end all? I am still miffed, because we don't even have an alternative.

I wish our justice system was like the US...and allow the taxpayers to go after damages a few times greater than the fraud amounts. Does the defrauded taxpayer become eligible for something from the victim relief fund, now that criminal charges are pending???

Gomery Report revealed

Everyone in the political arena is awaiting the Gomery report today, for yet another swipe at the Liberal government. Is the report going to be a surprise?? I doubt it. We all know that corruption and misappropriation of funds is the norm in Ottawa, and other governement centers in the world.

Let's wait and see what Paul Martin and his cronies can come up with today to do damage control. I'll bet that the usual spin doctoring occurs, and with an election looming, look to the Liberals to grovel incessantly in the media.

I can see a few nominees for Weenie of the week coming up...