Canadian Politics at year end 2010

The Problem:

Every day something else is happening to prove Canada’s government is not working for Canadians. The problem seems to be the entire elected government from municipal to provincial and the entire 308 elected members of Canada’s House of Commons. Canadians face lies, deceit, escalating taxes and daily frightening reports with respect to the future expectations for our children and grandchildren.

Ten possible solutions:

1. Parliamentary democracy is unequivocally the best system in the world and needing a change probably like happened in many of the October 25th Ontario municipal election jurisdictions. A complete change of people currently holding elected office would be a start. Wouldn’t that be positive and refreshing?

2. Why not organize a movement to refuse paying the former Ontario Hydro debt included on Ontario hydro bills. What other business aside from the banks and the auto industry can pile up debt and let the taxpayer bail them out? We know the worst is yet to come because the government already said that the payback is just the beginning. Larger and more expensive utility rates are on the horizon while natural gas prices keep pace. Taxes imposed on fuel for our cars goes to paying executive and of course politician and civil service benefits. Look around the globe and the changes always bring unrest, riots and more. Canada's turn is probably coming since Canadians always react later than other people.

3. Why is Canada riding out the recession crippling Europe, America and the rest of the world? Could the reason be that Canadians are exporting our renewable resources as though every barrel of oil, ounce of precious metal, length of exported lumber, dairy and agricultural product together with manufactured goods? Is everyone convinced everything in the country belongs to this generation? Our governments and industry are so intent on making certain every level remains in power that the next generations are losing the heritage that should be included in future planning.

4. Why are Canadian banks registering unbelievable profits while banks across the world are struggling? Could the government be allowing interest rates to remain low so Canadians will continue to spend and contribute to the bank profits through artificially low credit rates making certain savings and investments do not increase in value?

5. Another example might be the price of gasoline at the pumps. Stock market manipulators allow the price for a barrel of oil to reflect little change in price during the fall as the summer travel season wound down. A few dollars up and then a drop of a few dollars while people watched daily stock market pricing reports makes for a feeling that gasoline prices are steady. Oil stock manipulators it seems began rapidly pumping up the price of crude with the Christmas travel season rapidly approaching to match quickly escalating gas prices at the pump . Oil inventories were dropping or OPEC was slowing production the oil companies claim and the price had to rise just in time for Christmas travel. Oh, that’s right, politically correct it is holiday season travel.

6. Why is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ the only international religious celebration that is designated a holiday season celebration rather than following the traditions of Ramadan, or a Hanukkah celebration? The reason is probably that Christianity has many branches making it less concentrated than other religions as a single faith . The predominantly Christian nations of the world are the richest having the best standard of living enjoyed by the most people practicing Christanity. Could the solution be using more of our wealth to assist the poorer nations instead of spending so extensively on war?

7. You don’t have to be a physic to know the end of the kind of folly practiced after the dirty thirties 20th century depression is in view. Can Canada find some honest leaders with the foresight and desire to make the world a better place for future generations instead of an artificial paradise for some of the people occupying the planet today?

8. Some recent police incidents include police ruthlessly enforcing their own and the government’s rules at the Toronto G20. Officers depicted kicking and abusing prisoners in Ottawa. Officers in Sault Ste Marie charged with inappropriate actions. There was the reported death of a mentally ill man in Nova Scotia after pictures of abuse surfaced. The taser death of a visitor in Vancouver shocked the country. Does this indicate the police out of control with the politicians aiding and abetting the crimes?

9. Opposition politicians claim another party in control will change the way the country is ruled. Where are the plans indicating any party would change the way the parties govern differently than the minority Conservative government? Where are the plans for the ruling Conservatives to serve the country’s needs for that matter. It seems everyone wants power but all the parties only want to serve the needs of the political parties.

10. Would it not make sense to freeze all government spending at current levels until provincial debt in every province disappears and the accumulated hydro debt is retired? Wouldn’t that begin to cure the ills that will eventually lead to an even deeper recession?

Rejecting 2011 Canadian troop withdrawal reversal

I want to respond to the Liberal decision to support the Harper government keeping Canada’s troops in Afghanistan. Here is an exchange with Liberal Defense Critic Bob Rae after his appearance on CTV Question Period November 21st 2010

I have been a Liberal and supported candidates since Roger Mitchell held the Sudbury seat in the 1950’s and early 1960s. I did not always agree with the direction of the party and refused to be a card-carrying member and donor at times. However, I always supported the party federally and had a working friendship with Maurice Foster and Brent St. Denis when they represented our riding. Like many Liberals, I suppose I would not be considered a die-hard supporter. I was having a difficult time supporting recent Liberal initiatives. Your appearance on CTV QP on Sunday I felt was a political disaster for the party and the country. You came across as willing to sacrifice Liberal ideals once again to avoid having to face the electorate over the Conservative flip flop on keeping troops in Afghanistan. We are all aware of the reasons for supporting the US, the UN and helping Afghanistan to try shedding the image of a recruiting ground for terrorism. They are all noble causes but when the vast majority of Canadians are saying leave the war and find another more effective way to fight terrorists, Liberals should listen instead of placing all the party’s credence in a coalition with the Conservatives. The people have spoken, no screamed, that the war is a lost cause. You and the other Liberals in the farce called parliamentary debate during question period must listen and shift gears if you want financial and voter support from we, the usual party supporters. I feel better now.

I received this reply from an intern in Mr. Rae’s office. Thank you for taking the time to write to our office concerning the future of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan after July 2011. After months of speculation and inaction, the Harper government finally revealed its plan for the post-combat role of the Canadian forces: the Conservatives will keep 950 military personnel to train in Afghanistan until 2014.
Both Mr. Rae and the Liberal Party believe that Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan must end in 2011, as is currently scheduled. Further, we support the new post-combat training presence outlined by the government on November 16.
The Liberal Party has long made it clear that we support a continuing training role for Canada’s troops after the combat mission ends to sustain a stable, effective government in Afghanistan. Nearly six months ago, we took a position of leadership by proposing in our Global Networks Strategy that Canada pursue a limited, post-2011 role based on training of police and military personnel and civilian capacity-building in Afghanistan. The government’s proposal conforms to this Liberal position.
Despite the fast-approaching July 2011 deadline, the Conservative government was silent on the issue, providing no plan or guidance for how this withdrawal would take place, or what role, if any, Canada should play once the combat mission ends. Then, just hours after the Liberals pressed for answers in the House of Commons, and just days before the Lisbon NATO summit, the government has finally confirmed details of the post-2011 role that they are proposing.
Mr. Rae and the Liberal Party believe that this training role is appropriate, provided – as the government has stated – that such training will not involve any Canadian personnel, including military personnel, in an active combat role.
Canada must continue to work with other NATO and UN partners to sustain a stable, effective government in Afghanistan. Canada must remain committed to strengthen the capacity of the Afghan government to provide educational, health and social services, promote the equality of women, and develop its democratic institutions.
Mr. Rae and the Liberal Party strongly support the post-2011 non-combat mission as the best path to stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan for the Afghan people and its government. The position of the NDP is simply not credible. Jack Layton has called for “a massive civilian deployment” to provide stability in Afghanistan; however, you cannot achieve this in the midst of conflict without providing Afghans with the tools to protect their security and democracy.
The Liberal Party believes that the non-combat role in Afghanistan fits into the broader Liberal vision of Canada’s role in the world. The Liberal Global Networks Strategy emphasizes a return to a leadership in the United Nations peace operations and support for the ‘Responsibility to Protect’; constructive multilateralism, and a “whole-of-Canada” approach to human development.

I replied to Mr. Rae through the intern. Thank you for your detailed reply. I hear the same argument reiterated on almost every newscast and television political broadcast. It appears to be simply rhetoric to avoid an unplanned election. Ten years of war and 154 Canadians dead is sufficient reason to get out of a country that cannot hold democratic elections without charges and counter charges of fraud. The country’s rulers historically await invaders (because that is what we have become) to stop spending money and leave so ruling chieftains can return to administering power in the traditional manner. Those future ‘trained troops’ will be equipped with modern weaponry supplied by NATO and UN countries believing themselves saviors of the nation that will eventually use that weaponry to defend and kill more ‘invaders’ to ensure the same old ideas that have been the nation’s character since before biblical times is reinstated. The Liberal/Conservative coalition in this instance has not learned anything from history and only succeeded in sacrificing 154 Canadian lives and thousands of Afghanistan men women and children in an effort to stop the next Al Qaeda attack against the western alliance even though experts tell us that attack is inevitable. Many of the people I speak with everyday on social networks, in coffee houses, on the street, and in shopping centers across Northeastern Ontario feel the same about this latest capitulation to the Harper drive for power. I don’t expect any further reply but you, Mr. Rae and his team should be aware that many former Liberal donors and supporters are disappointed.

A Pot Pourri of comments on today

November 9, 2010
I have been writing this blog like an opinion editorial. It is a habit from the past, it seems like I am afraid to say the comments are mine maybe? That will change beginning today hopefully.

What’s on the agenda? Federally with the House of Commons again in recess, only Harpers brown-nosing Israel while the rest of the world looks on in disgust seems newsworthy. The NEW Canada derived from the NEW Conservative philosophy that Canadians seem willing to allow is undoubtedly the result of the other OLD parties being just that, OLD parties with old ideas and too much political baggage. I guess it is too much to believe a NEW party will emerge to sweep the, fraudulent politicians and proven thievery without penalties or recrimination out the door. We have to agree that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East but for Canada’s Prime Minister to grovel while allegedly representing the country without parliamentary approval is unCanadian and probably illegal.

Provincially the Ontario Liberals seem to rushing towards opposition status once more due to among other issues implementing the hated HST. Insiders and appointees regularly appear in the media accused of stealing from the government and indirectly from the taxpayer then sent away with big payoffs for being dishonest. We recently went to an OLG slots location and listened to people at the slot machines mumbling about the infrequency of winning. What would the gamblers expect when imbedded thieves are getting so much cash without spinning the dial? If there is a government change in the next Federal or Provincial election will it make a difference, or will only the faces and allegiance of those taking advantage of the system change? Any answers?

We listened to American President Barack Obama on Television’s 60 Minutes Sunday night. It is undoubtedly difficult to be a Liberal Democratic President in the United States. Obama must face a financial mess that was there before winning the office, an unwinnable war, terrorist threats against his country, the tradition of a population accustomed to living extravagantly while the bottom has fallen out of the economy, and a world trying to overthrow the life Americans and by default Canadians enjoy. The man has the ability the accept criticism and refrain from placing blame on others when under attack by the media and opposition. It will be interesting to discover if the party faithful can salvage another term out of the turmoil that seems to have weakened Obama’s presidency. I like the man and most of his politics, but then again since unaffected directly by his government direction and can’t vote anyway since I am not American the future will in the hands of the people of America.

I do not like what has been happening in the NHL for the past several years although I guess it is a matter of dollars and control. Last Saturday night’s results were discouraging to a country that claims hockey as its national sport. Every Canadian team in action lost its game. Would it not make more sense to put three more Canadian teams in the league, Winnipeg, Quebec and another southern Ontario or Maritimes team and have a Canadian east west and American east west division that play off similar to major league baseball. A better alternative might to be the addition of a half dozen European teams with a US east division playoff against the European team champion while the Canadian champions would playoff with the US western division champs. The winners of each of those playoff games meet to decide the Stanley Cup champions. The result would be a true world championship probably as popular in some quarters as the World Cup of soccer. The idea would have a difficult time making it through hockey boardrooms for a multitude of financial and other reasons. Would it not be an exciting alternative to the massive playoff s in those same divisions bringing hockey into this century as a worldwide sport?

November 4, 2010
It was so great to hear Tony Clement declare that Stephen Harper decided not to sell another Canadian resource to another country on the pretence it didn't matter to Canada's future. Of course, the door remains open to sell the Saskatchewan people's property within the next 30 days or longer. The only reason the potash company remained in Canadian ownership in fact was the possible loss of governing party seats needed to win a majority in the next election. We shall see what the future brings.

The Liberal party funding apparatus is telephoning every past and present donor trying to raise funds to finance the next election. Even dedicated past party faithful must be having a difficult time finding even a few dollars to support the cause. The party has not displayed the slightest indication that bringing it back to power with either a minority or majority would be anything more than the same old, same old Liberal politics. The amazing scenario of a malfunctioning Liberal Party and Conservatives that voters won’t trust is certainly foreign and sad for Canadians to endure. Where in heck are the real dynamic and cherished leaders hiding?

People watching the French language broadcast from Quebec are learning that big changes might be coming to rejuvenate the long-stalled sovereignty movement in the province. The door is open for Gilles Duceppe to lead the charge to independence after convincing the electorate another referendum would have better results than the 1995 squeaker. Maybe if the government funds a new NHL arena to house a Nordiques team in Quebec the rush to independence can be derailed again.

If the NDP was less dependent on militant labour unions and more business friendly as opposed to constantly championing the cause of the underdog, often the people not wanting to work, the seat count could gain ground. Labour parties in other nations are more flexible and with a personable leader like Jack Layton the New Democrats could probably make those needed gains and become the official opposition replacing the stale old Liberal Party.

Most Canadians like our American neighbors are tired of partisan politics with elected representatives chasing pensions and monetary benefits most people can only dream of latching onto without winning a major lottery prize. The Americans expressed displeasure at the situation during a recent rally then emphasized that displeasure by getting rid of a great many of the people hooked on the good life during the November 2nd election. Will Canadians ever react with more than tolerance towards the people that constantly take advantage from politicians to fraudsters and pretty criminals to the Bernardo and Williams killers?

Consuming soduim more important than health care problems.

Canada’s envied health care system is crumbling apparently because of escalating costs that benefit the corporate section involved in supply insurance for those with the added coverage. Not so much the doctor patient cost for consultation and diagnosis. It is more the cost of drugs that the doctors must prescribe to cure all ills or at least relieve suffering. Health ministers from the provinces and territories met recently in Newfoundland to talk about the situation that some believe might become a crisis. Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq in a press conference after the meeting explained what the Harper Conservative have in mind to deal with the crisis by stating the government is considering imposing a ban on eating too much salt.

Did she propose a solution to the wait times for surgery or even for doctor appointments in parts of the country? Can we expect to pay each time a visit to the doctor become necessary? Will the government that appointed Aglukkaq to lead the country’s health ministry continue to support building hospitals and other health care institutions that match the architectural design of the most lavish government buildings? Will the government work with the provinces to deal with third world health conditions on isolated Canadian First Nation reserves? Will the plans of her government for the future include affordable health care for our children and grandchildren when needed? All of these questions and may more need answers now but all Canadians heard from Minister Aglukkaq was the government’s concern that we consume too much salt and unless it is legislated lower by laws the health care costs will rise. The over consumption of salt by Canadians is rightfully a major concern as it has been since time everlasting but to usurp the real issues of health care to concentrate of outlawing excessive use of sodium in our food is ridiculous. At least we eat better and have more food at our disposal that the greatest percentage of the rest of the world. It is time for Minister Aglukkaq and her party to get real about health care problems.

Gun Registration...Another Harper victory

The private member’s bill to kill Canada’s long gun registry was one of the best-executed Harper Conservative ploys ever devised. Catering to the large rural vote the party can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Liberal/NDP/Bloq coalition votes to keep the legislation in place. Liberals once more stumbled into the trap of supporting another Conservative initiative. It was a narrow escape but the Harperites outmaneuvered and outsmarted Ignatieff and the Liberal caucus from the outset.


The Conservatives in backing the private member’s bill (avoiding a vote of non-confidence) met a mountain of protests from every anti-gun lobby, police force and gathering of police officials in the country. The move came off exactly as planned with the Liberals showing unity on an issue that in real terms the Conservatives were ready to support. The NDP caucus played perfectly into the mix with a great many of their members representing large sprawling urban and rural constituents. NDP members one after another, caught in the crossfire, changed from supporting the rural kill the registry to siding with the more numerous urbanite keep the registry faction. After all, votes count to remain in parliament and the NDP members had to appease the majority while claiming to be voting in conscience for the best interest of the riding and the country even if it meant deserting their traditional supporters on the issue.

Liberals and Michael Ignatieff will pay dearly once the media begins to reveal how naive the party was in acting once more in the interest of Harpers minority Conservatives after avoiding having to scrap the registration law. Is this the final act of by a trembling old Liberal party that will lead to American style right wing majority government in Canada? Are we destined to have a rightwing Reform Party/ Conservative coalition with its Canadian version of Fox news and George W. Bush style politics?

Should Canadians lose the home to cancer drugs?

This issue hasn’t come up for much debate by Canada’s politicians. The problem recently written about in Reader’s Digest involves a woman in Ontario dying after the provincial government in effect disallowed funding for a needed cancer drug. The reason, although not pointed out in the article, was probably that the family owned home if sold could pay the cost of the lifesaving treatment.

There are likely two trains of thoughts on the situation. People with sufficiently large savings and employment retirement insurance policies would say the government is right denying the drug until the money realized from selling the house is exhausted. Those retirees owning a home and living on the edge or below the poverty level would believe Canada’s world-renowned healthcare system should pay for the drugs. The reason being that keeping the house would eventually mean a spouse and family members could benefit financially from the property sale.

Most elected politicians with better than average income levels and gold plated retirement benefits will probably be on the side of having the cancer victim’s family sell the asset and pay for the drug. However, that more or less selfish thinking might change once baby boomers without company pensions and facing the same dilemma consider voting against members of any party supporting using the sale of family homes to pay for medical expenses. If readers think gun registry split the country between rural and city dwellers wait until the drug payment issue divides the electorate with savings from those living at the poverty level.

The solution is obvious. Canada should simply use some of the multi-billion dollars now supporting health care to fund needed drugs for Canadians that do not have private health care coverage. To accomplish the shift in funding there would have to be spending cuts and changes in the cost of developing architecturally designed state-of-the-art facilities considered elaborately essential. Fewer well paid non-medical employees and severely reducing the payment to highly overpaid managers and administrators would be a good place to start. Renegotiating union contracts with the same vision for reducing costs that foreign owned companies buying Canada’s industries are using to decimate the terms and conditions won over the years by powerful foreign-based unions would need consideration by over expensed hospital boards.

The difference must come from the healthcare system when renegotiated benefit packages reducing the amount of drug coverage allowed retirees that worked long years for large corporations becomes a factor. Since it isn’t the fault of the family that the drugs are suddenly unaffordable, forcing the surviving spouse out of the family home should not become a Canadian tradition.

Changes are inevitable since the 2008 collapse of the North American financial system that is just now beginning to show signs of a shaky recovery. It is unrealistic to believe a country as small, and rich in resources, going at bargain prices to large foreign interests, will continue to weather the storm. Let’s hope our leaders are more far-sighted than the political games currently taking place in parliament and supported by a sensational seeking media.

Canada is about to change...an opinion

If you are like most Canadian Tim Horton conversationalists, the latest domestic news is disheartening and probably even discouraging. Canada recently became a country ruled (not governed by one party). Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, New Cons, or Reform Party based Conservative alliance depending on an individual’s point of view is ruling with less than a majority in parliament. The Liberals, New Democrats, Greens, and even the Bloq are scrambling to keep what they have in the way of support.


Harper’s Tories are actually doing a great job of shedding a great deal of the bureaucratic empire building and public service expansion built up over the years of left of center governance. The only trouble seems to be that the way the current government is making the changes is unpopular with most Canadians. Harper appears so dictatorial that 65% to 70% of the population will not give his government the support and trust needed to make the needed changes.

Will the changes eventually happen? Probably unless the other parties begin to gain momentum in some yet to be disclosed manner, or a new party comes along to unseat the struggling, inept opposition. A new party can happen as witnessed by the recent surge of support for Alberta’s Wild Rose Party. The same scenario can happen nationwide if a dynamic leader emerges with enough funding to rise from the ashes of Canada’s former Liberal, Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties. Undoubtedly, the Bloq Quebecois will outlive its usefulness to Quebecers and the Greens will linger as for a place for the disgruntled and idealist environmental factions to caste votes.

Change is inevitable. If Canadians are only interested in change for the sake of change then electing a party with a leader that dictates everything that happens means the Harperites will succeed in getting another minority or even a majority of seats in the next election. The announced Conservative plan for riding redistribution will mean the demise of Quebec as a major influence in Canada’s politics. Increasing the number of seats at the expense of Ontario and Quebec would strengthen the Conservative western base probably leading to another Quebec referendum. Would that result in the United States of Canada or a European type political landscape? With the selling off resource industries to foreign interests and a crumbling infrastructure that holds this great country together needing continuing revenue from those disappearing resource industries change is inevitable.

Political stalemate.

 A new month of the same old, same old with regard to Canada's politics. The Conservatives are still shooting the party in the foot once opinion polls reflect increases in popularity. The Liberals are still pretending to support an anointed leader, the New Democrats are still the NDP against everything the major parties propose and the Bloq are still Quebecers.

The only truly reasonable answer to those questions is where the country goes from here politically except to an election that Canada cannot afford and will probably bring about little in the way of change. We can’t on the other hand keep letting the spoiled children sitting in the House of Commons play partisan politics. One of the parties, maybe even the Green Party must come up with an alternative that voters will embrace scaring the foolishness out of the current political competitiveness.

Let’s be honest and admit a few dozen more state of the art airplanes and ships patrolling one of the world’s longest unprotected coastlines makes as much sense as telling the Americans Canada does not need the protection of our powerful neighbor’s military. The deterrence of any real threat against our sovereignty could only become serious if America didn’t come to our defense. Do politicians have to concentrate on whether our soldiers are following established protocol of warfare, the upcoming census answers should be long or short form, a minister of the crown or her husband is using their political office for commercial advantage and the list goes on. What about demanding politicians of every party begin dealing with the federal deficit and how it will affect the provinces and municipalities, tackling the burgeoning shortfall in healthcare and education funding, supporting industries trying to offset the decline of heavy industrial jobs in North America.

These complaints are all negativity caused by the fact most Canadians seems content to let the country and even more worrisome its citizens slip deeper into debt as prices escalate and savings shrink. All this is happening while politicians play Nero fiddling as the country burns its advantages in the world. The government insists Canada is the envy of every other nation because our banks weathered the recession that brought down larger less government regulated financial institutions. Our five banks compared to hundreds in the United States, Europe and other countries never even claimed a loss. Profits fell but never disappeared like in the rest of the world. Can a country boasting a few thousand citizens blessed with envied resources expect to retain that idealistic position against the concentrated effort of nations with larger budgets and bigger, richer banks looking to exploit Canadian resources?

We need leadership like the men that built the country and were willing to sacrifice political stability to build nationwide railroads, cross-Canada highways, metropolitan city transportation facilities, enduring tourist attractions and again the list goes on. Before the upcoming elections opportunists willing to sacrifice Canada’s wealth for instant cash must disappear replaced by forward thinking young people of a different cult. Today’s politicians are as outdated as the telegram and land phone.

Should Canada assimilate First Nations?

Some readers might remember the old saying ‘give this land back to the Indians’ often used when people became frustrated or angry with government programs. The old adage might be closer to the truth today after the government decided to rename Vancouver’s Stanley Park and look the other way with respect to the sale of illegal cigarettes on most reserves in populated areas.

A guest editorial in a small Northern Ontario newspaper  by a recognized lawyer/activist from Sudbury Ontario caused a mild flurry of letters apparently by First Nation writers after the essay appeared.
Letter writers Northern Fire and Dog Soldier have valid points and should not be hiding behind anonymity. These protesters should let readers know their names when standing up for those rights. What is there to fear in a free society? Only G8 and G20 gatherings trample on the rights of Canadians for ego mongering politicians.

The guest editorial apparently sanctioned by the Sun Media editor suggested First Nations should accept assimilation. The arguments by the essay writer are academic and far from a solution since the problem is as old as Canada and won’t be resolved as suggested. The writer seems to feel the plight of native Canadians are only those reported in the media about the plight of the less fortunate of the native population that fell through the cracks ending up in prison. Statistics indicate the First Nation jail population surpasses every other segment of the population, as does the national suicide rate. There is a reason for those numbers that have to do with the reservation system imposed on First Canadians by our ancestors and perpetuated by every elected government since and before confederation.

The reserve system is deplorable outside of the Great Lakes corridor. First Nation leaders fought and won concessions near heavily populated regions allowing their people access to education, employment and government funding to establish profitable business ventures while improving living conditions. Some projects failed, but many succeeded providing a great deal of employment and self-respect to native Canadians that would have probably otherwise have stumbled along the edge of those previously mentioned cracks or tumbled into the abyss.

The imposed reservation system is imperfect. Native administration on the other hand accepted the adversity of the system turning it into a secure base for all First nation people. Where non-Native children have the security of the family home when facing adversity, Native youth have the support of the entire reserve community when needing help and support. Does that sound like a system that should be caste aside or integrated into today’s imperfect society? Canadians allowed our most treasured institutions to rip apart First Nation communities in the past by removing children from the family home. Are we prepared to try another heartless experiment by destroying the last vestige of native Canadian identification?

The reserve system might be imperfect but if communities can access deserved funding programs and encouragement from government, and their own successful people, a new way of life can immerge. Cultural and political Native organizations are now emerging to offer native Canadians a new way of life within the traditional reserve system. Native organizations trying to improve life in isolated native reserves should be able to access a fair share of the billions in taxpayer funds currently available to immigrants and refugees coming to Canada to escape homeland injustices. To be a truly a shining example of a country leading the world in overcoming poverty and inequity Canada must deal with the problems running rampant on our “Indian” reserves, especially outside the Great Lakes development corridor.

A review before spending $1 billion on G8-20 security

I am disillusioned by politics and politicians of every creed and party affiliation the same as most Canadians. Our Conservative Prime Minister has the leanings of a Castro-like dictator. I feel voters should be wary of any politician with dictatorial tenancies and made the comment on a major media website. To emphasize the point I used a quote from Harry S. Truman. "Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear." Harry S Truman, August 8, 1950.


Canada’s history is wrought with Liberal left wing to center of left dynasties that brought in government sponsored health care, lucrative welfare and unemployment benefit programs that our burgeoning overseas immigrant and refugee population are taking advantage of at the expense of Canadians. The current strongly right wing Harper government is trying to stem the tide but cannot get a majority of seats in the House of Commons allowing the Reform-Conservative coalition to rule. The Reform party that spawned Harper and a bevy of hard right wing politicians from our western provinces could only garner a few seats mostly in the oil producing regions until overpowering a weakened Conservative base in central Canada. The Liberals meanwhile after thirteen years in power led by Quebecer Jean Chretien began an internal battle for party power between Chrétien and his finance Minster Paul Martin. The Gomery scandal surfaced involving many Quebec Liberals that led to Chrétien retiring and Paul Martin’s selection as leader. The scandal had legs enough to cost the Liberals their traditional power base in Ontario and Quebec defeating the Martin led Liberals in the 2006 Election. The Reform-Conservatives won most seats in our 303 seat four party parliament but not a majority. That meant compromising with the Liberal opposition, The New Democrats (Labor) or Quebec Bloq Quebecois (separatist) party to enact legislation.

Harper became frustrated with having his legislation blocked and parliament became so partisan along party lines that the business of government came to a virtual standstill. His party engineered a defeat of a money bill that usually leads to an election before the mandatory 5-year election term expires. The voters once more decided during the 2008 election a minority government was best for the country and denied Harper’s coalition a majority. Two elections and polls over the past five years continue to deny any party a majority. It seems Canadians just don’t trust politicians of any cult. That was even more evident in the past few weeks when the independent Auditor General announced her intention to audit the expense accounts of all elected politicians and our unelected senate. (another can of political worms) and both Houses of Parliament refused to let their personal tax funded expenses be independently audited. They claimed the internal audit performed by civil servants under the influence of political leaders was sufficient. The electorate through polling felt the current checks were similar to letting a fox rule the henhouse. The polls registered an 87% rejection of allowing internal audits to continue. The strange or sad part about the issue is that all parties except the Quebec Separatists balked at the independent audit. The politicians under unprecedented constituent pressure reached a compromise with the Auditor general and she will now audit every expense member’s account. We can bet that some unacceptable spending that some if not many politicians were feeling was beyond scrutiny will surface.

Canada or rather the Harper government is hosting the G8 conference at Huntsville a resort region north of Toronto followed by a G20 conference in Toronto. The theme of the conference covering three days in June is how to deal with the out of control spending and huge deficits plaguing the world economy. Our government is spending $1 billion just for security. That will add another billion to our own deficit. Does any of this make sense? Erupting volcanoes grounding air traffic costing billions, the Gulf spill will cost????? The future of oil exploration is probably on the line and from reports, alternative energy sources are far into the future.

Eckhart Tolle's...The Power of Now...A New World.

Here is a comment or maybe a review of the books written by Eckhart Tolle titled ‘A New World’… awakening your life’s purpose… and ‘The Power of Now’
It is difficult not to imagine most readers felt the same way about these non-fiction novels. Reading the books is much like the captivation surfacing when people attend a Christian revival meeting, church service, or preparing to buy a Slap Chop after viewing the often-repeated television commercial.
The power of suggestion becomes rampant. The premise behind living in the ‘Now’ seems like the idealistic alternative to blindly following centuries old religious teachings based entirely on faith and scriptures written 400 years after the event and inspired by God.
Tolle claims waking up one day to the realization that the world is not a depressing place and in a short time found the way to the truth about everyone and everything on earth being a part of the universe. The books debunk death as a permanency and claims after leaving the body our presence or spirit becomes a part of the universe. The premise claims being without worldly needs the spirit is free to roam the universe even though the books never define the reason for the spirit remaining part of the universe. The wakeup seems more likely a thought process that told the author documenting the idea could result in multi million sales of ‘The Power of Now’ concept.
‘The Power of Now’ and ‘A New World’ are not much different than the multitude of books written both supporting and rejecting various religious suppositions followed by millions worldwide without positive proof God really exists. The philosophy of the books seems to indicate the truth about being perpetually happy is realizing the pleasure of universal space and detaching ones self from egotism. Quit worrying in other words about fame and fortune since both are as fleeting as striving for excellence and profit.
It doesn’t seem Tolle practices what the book preaches. He writes books for profit and holds seminars to bring converts to ‘Now’ realization of the words written in the books. Those endeavors are likely a massively profitable business stroking the author’s ego.
Both books based on the teachings of Catholicism and to a less degree Buddhism compare the teachings of those religions to the concept of ‘Now’. Christian and Buddha followers exasperated with the idea that some wise old men living on a mountaintops know the way to live life while pleasing God combined with a political hierarchy that allowed pedophile’s to infiltrate the ranks of trusted church leaders might find the ‘Power of Now’ and ‘A New World’ worthy of consideration. Worthy as long as the next phase of ‘Now’ development isn’t building churches and promoting the praises of a new faith.