Democracy of Hypocrisy

The federal government has released their budget today and surprise surprise, the libs and the ndp aren't backing it. But don't fret as the libs have already stated their intention to abstain from the vote, thus avoiding an election on the premise that Canadians do not want an election right now. Translation-the numbers aren't there to ensure the libs a victory.

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Wow, what a finish to the 2010 Winter games. Take out the much hyped own the podium and we bested our previous medal record set in Turin by 2 medals. Way to go Canada. In what was a slow start to the games, Canada pulled through in the waning days, winning multiple golds, silvers and bronzes, finishing with a total of 26 medals. Although we didn't own the podium outright, our athletes sure as hell owned the podium for the most gold medals ever won by a host country as well as most golds ever won at the winter Olympics.

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Canada's quest to own the podium isn't quite coming to fruition as hoped. The Americans are doing a good job of squatting our podium in the 2010 Winter Olympics and there are reports that Canada will fall short of its expectations. However, there is much more going on here than just the athletes failing to medal. Other countries, most notably the Brits, are complaining and lambasting the Vancouver games; calling them the worst games ever and so on. We are also taking flack for our program that was meant to produce top athletes. Apparently when we, the often quiet, laid back Canucks make such grandiose statements, suddenly we are too arrogant.

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Once again, the Ontario government will get it's nose in business that it should otherwise stay out of. In October of 2008, I blogged about the issue of Michael Schmidt selling raw milk to his neighbours and friends. The government believes that

raw milk can carry bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes, which carry serious, and sometimes deadly, health consequences.

and being the ever present guardians and protectors of ourselves, they are appealing a recent court decision that found Schmidt not guilty of violating the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

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...on the Liberal win in Toronto Centre.

Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray has won a provincial byelection for the Liberals in the Toronto Centre riding

You've got to be kidding. The liberals pull off another win in this province that enjoys being fleeced. I hope that Toronto Centre doesn't reflect the views of the rest of Ontario because if it does, then we shall be in for another McGuinty majority come election time next year.

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On Monday night, city council voted in favor of closing all nine of the city run day care facilities. In a debate that lasted well past 11:30 it came down to the vote, and with 3 councilors abstaining from the vote due to a conflict of interest, the motion passed. 118 workers will now either be bumped into other positions within the city or lose their jobs outright. Just what Windsor needs, more unemployed. The speakers were passionate, most were there objecting to the proposal and pleaded their case to what was obviously deaf ears.

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The Windsor Star seems unable to change. In what has become almost a daily ritual, stories will be printed that pertain to the blue collar workers, particularly those in union jobs and the woes that these workers face as the economy continues to tank. In a twist of irony, they also print stories misleading the people telling them that the economy in Windsor is turning around. What a slap in the face that is, I mean come on. Not only that, they have the nerve to print a story about the Toyota recall, but low and behold, commenting on that story is turned off. I find myself asking why that is but the answer is pretty clear. It doesn't involve union workers thus negating a chance for the Star to once again push their anti union vitriol through readers comments.

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I have finally gotten around to writing a new post and it's about time. Let's just say that the economy has got me down and I've been feeling some self loathing and a general feeling of "whatever". But it is a new year and I feel that what I have been seeing happening in Windsor and in the world in general,it is time to get my thoughts out there. But where to begin? Why right here at home of course.

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Stephen Harper is looking to repeat his performance of last year, or so say the speculators. Last year, it was the threat of an election that had him flee like a scared puppy, this year, it is most likely due to some alleged knowledge of detainee abuse, and the fact that the cons could appoint some more senators, finally giving them the majority in the senate. If parliament is prorogued, they won't return until March and any bills tabled currently will be killed, which is good news for those opposed to HST.

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West condemns Iran protest crackdown

Western countries condemned the crackdown on anti-government Iranian protesters during the religious ceremony of Ashura on Sunday. Tehran accuses foreigners of orchestrating and backing the unrest.

Western countries were quick to criticize the reports of the Sunday protests, with the White House strongly condemning the "violent and unjust suppression" of civilians and pronouncing its support for the riots.

"Hope and history are on the side of those who peacefully seek their universal rights, and so is the United States."

Canada followed suit and urged the restoration of human rights in the country, which has witnessed sporadic anti-government protests since the June 12 presidential election.

"The government of Canada condemns the use of brutal violence by the Iranian security forces and once again calls upon Iran to meet its human rights obligations," Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement issued late Sunday, AFP reported.

Western countries can condemn others but have no problem being violent with their own citizens. Watch the news on any of the protests that happen on western soil; G20, WTO, SPP etc. The hypocrisy of the western world is astounding. While they call for a restoration of human rights, they have no qualms about crushing our own. With the upcoming olympics, lets see just how much they care for freedom. The security forces that will be present will be a reminder that dissent will be met with violence.

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Natives in both Ontario and B.C plan to fight the HST that will take effect on July 1, 2010. The conflict looms because of a broken relationship between the governments and the Native peoples. Ontario Native Chiefs say they will launch a campaign against the HST that will include road blockades, traffic disruptions and possible legal action against the government of Canada. BC first nations are also considering different courses of action on their turf. First Nations leaders say that the government did not consult them, which they feel is an attack on their sovereignty because the government has a legal requirement to consult the First Nations on matters that impact their rights to title, something they feel this tax does.

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Stephen Harper rebuked by China's Premier, according to the media. The way they were covering this, you'd think the Premier actually said something that would cause irreparable harm , something that was probably mistranslated anyhow. What people should care about is the about face Harper has made since coming into power.

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Emboldened following the Climategate scandal, the Liberal opposition in Australia's parliament threw out its pro-Kyoto leader yesterday and then today, under the leadership of global warming skeptic Tony Abbott, voted down the government's plan to pass cap and trade legislation. The proposed legislation, intended to be a feather in the cap of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd prior to his departure for climate change meetings in Copenhagen, failed by a vote of 41 to 33 in the Senate, Australia's upper house.

And so it begins, who will be next? The fallout from "climategate" doesn't seem like it will be felt here in Canada as Jim Prentice is basically dismissing the now infamous emails and saying that they don't change climate science. What does Copenhagen have in store for us, one can only wait.

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Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontohumanesociety/article/732023--humane-society-it-seems-like-house-of-horrors?bn=1

An inside look at the Toronto Humane Society revealed a place where neglected animals lived and died in terrible pain and feral cats roamed free in the basement and between walls, one dying a slow death in a trap.

From what I have been reading, its about time. My gosh, wtf is goin on there? I am appalled at the revelations of how that place was run and what it has become. I have never really been a fan of humane societies because of their approach to euthanasia,that is, their taking in animals for a few days and then killing them. But THS was different in that they allegedly have a no kill policy in place, something you would think I would agree with, which I do, to an extent. However,word is that they let terminally sick animals and other sick animals who have no hope for survival to suffer needlessly to suit some personal agenda. I do not agree with this, I do not like to see animals suffer and the very thought of it upsets me.

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I really didn't find the video to be that witty but the premise is what got me. This whole global warming business, now called climate change for some reason, stinks bad. The reason behind this video, and the hoopla (or lack thereof in mainstream media)surrounding it is the apparent leak of supposedly hacked emails showing scientists "cooking the books" in terms of climate change. If this is true, then these people have been caught in their own lies and manipulation and it only strengthens the case against their junk science.

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...kind of sucked but that's to be expected since I have never read the book, nor have I ever read any of the books in the Twilight series. I was going to blog about my experience the night I seen it with my fiance, which was Friday night but I had been busy with work and school. I wouldn't say it was an awful movie because I don't know how true to the book it was but there was only a minuscule amount of stuff happening in the movie to make me say that it wasn't a waste of money. I'm not your typical Twilight hater, if there is such a thing, all I know is that the characters seem a lil off to me. The leading female, Bella is a codependent, expressionless whiner while Edward seems like a Mary Sue. I just can't "get" each of their personalities if you will. Perhaps it was the fact that I was surrounded by tweens and their weird mothers that made the experience something less than to be desired, I dunno.

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The people living in West Windsor, specifically the Indian Rd area have had enough, and took their frustrations to city council on Monday, only to be denied. They are tired of the abandoned houses, the rodents, and the plummeting property values. With hopes of having their voices heard, city council was quick to reject them and tell them to come back in two weeks.

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Tisk tisk Spanky, this doesn't look good at all.

What have you guys gotten yourself into now lol.The white elephant known as Ceaser's Windsor is having a bit of trouble with their new $81 million power plant. See, the thing is, it isn't fully operational, far from it, and it may never be! The good ole citizens of Ontario should be mad as hell for paying for this boondoggle but I haven't really heard much from anyone. Must be the love we still have for the Dalton Liberals, but then again, the polls are showing his support shrivelling up so who knows.

Some highlights of the article

The OLG also says the energy centre was supposed to cost $40 million. Built into the parking garage of Caesars Windsor, the powerhouse provides heating, cooling and backup power to the expanded gaming facility.

Well, in theory that is what it is supposed to do, but in reality...

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So the government actually worked together to accomplish something and voted to abolish the long gun registry. Many Canadians are rejoicing to finally see something being done about this billion dollar boondoggle.

poll results

Are you for or against the long gun registry in Canada?
Selection Votes
For 57%- 8
Against 43%- 6
I don't care 0%- 0

Poll comments:

From marcel on November 17, 2009 at 7:51 pm.

The long gun registry is a joke it has only sucked about two billion dollars out our pockets. Registering hunting guns serves no purpose, Registering criminals should be the order of the day, not a few farmers and rabbit hunters.

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The past two weeks have been rather interesting, not only in my city, but across Canada. What makes it interesting is the hysteria and almost comical nature surrounding the h1n1 vaccination program, or lack thereof. Just reading the news online has led me to wonder how they could screw something like this up, especially after hyping it up and saying they were on it and they had enough vaccines for everyone in Canada. Well since the program started last week, there has been nothing but line ups, and of course the shortage of the damn vaccine itself. Yup, people are drudging out in the cold weather to wait in line for hours to get a shot. A lineup that could potentially increase their chances of catching the very virus they are there to supposedly protect against. The government has dropped the ball big time, and had this been a "real" pandemic many, many people could die.

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A carpenter out of work because of an injury has been charged after a hostage-taking at the Workers' Compensation Board office in downtown Edmonton, police said Thursday.

Yet the same bureaucratic nightmare that awaits many claimants in the workers compensation circus remains. When will this government run agency get a clue and realize that their practises hurt many and cause people great suffering? I am actually surprised this hasn't occurred sooner. This guy is facing a multitude of charges and has obviously been pushed over the edge, but nothing will be done to ensure stuff like this doesn't happen again, other than tightening security in these buildings. What a shame, for this system is broken and no one will do anything.

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...two Liberal governments that is, one in Ontario, the other in BC. The stuff coming out of these governments lead me two wonder if there are actually any sane people in politics. First I'll start with Ontario and the infamous Dalton "The Dad" McGuinty Liberal government and their hand in today's announcement that auto insurance will be rising yet again. Increases could be as much as 14% in places like Toronto;yet Dalton has the balls to say to the public that car insurance is actually cheaper today then it was six years ago when he took office. WTF is this clown smoking? The reasoning behind this latest round of increases is chalked upped to the increasing physiotherapy and rehabilitation costs facing people injured in car accidents, or so say the insurance companies. Ask most people what they think of insurance companies and most will say that it is a scam, and it very well is. Yet the government is happy to go along with this scam and shaft the very people they are supposed to represent. And me living in Ontario, I do not feel represented at all and will be glad the day comes when Dalton's gang of thieves get the ole heave hoe.

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Ottawa spends more than half a million to defend RCMP, officers at Taser inquiry

By James Keller (CP) – 7 hours ago

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The federal government spent more than half a million dollars defending the RCMP and the actions of the four officers who stunned Robert Dziekanski with a Taser at Vancouver's airport.

Pathetic! The taxpayer is paying for these mooks to be defended for their reprehensible actions. Just as we did for the Somalia affair in the 90's, only to have that one cut short by the Chretien government and the Airborne regiment disbanded. So why isn't the RCMP being disbanded? Because they covered their ass well and since no actual criminal charges have been made, nothing will be done.

On a side note, I find it interesting how Taser International changed the usage guidelines for this device, even though they continue to maintain the claim that the taser did not kill Robert Dziekanski. I suspect that they may be sniffing possible lawsuits in the air.

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Canada considers random breathalyzers and the NDP throw their support behind it.

The federal justice minister is considering a new law that would allow police to conduct random breathalyzer tests on drivers, regardless of whether they suspect motorists have been drinking.

Well isn't that so perfect. I bet the loons over at M.A.D.D are high fiving each other like crazy over this announcement.

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Canada's "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery is in custody awaiting extradition to the United States for allegedly selling marijuana seeds to US customers. The political fall guy will be appearing in a Seattle court where he is expected to plead guilty and will be facing a five year term in federal prison. Without the plea bargain he would have been facing fifty years!Before entering the B.C court room, Emery spoke with the crowd gathered outside and said

There is no crime here. The politicians who support this extradition are supporters of organized crime. We are making criminals with laws like this.

The saga began in 2005 when he was arrested in a joint operation between Canadian and US police forces for allegedly selling marijuana seeds over the internet from Vancouver to customers in the U.S. Emery has stated that his business has made millions of dollars over the years and that the money was used in his many political campaigns as well as supporting marijuana advocacy groups around the world.

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Canadians are bullish on giving government officials permission to restrict personal freedoms in a flu pandemic, with half of those surveyed agreeing that violation of a quarantine order would be tantamount to manslaughter.

Once again Canadians are willing bend over and take it up the you know what. Disturbing...with the flu season just around the corner (and already showing up in some parts) people are scared shitless, what with the constant media barrages of the coming epidemic. I am guilty of it now to, making mention of this nonsense but I must vent because its pissing me off. Every day, the swine flu or as it is known technically H1N1 is in the headlines. We hear about the deaths, of how it is going to hit us hard and we need to get vaccinated to fight it off. And if those measures include mandatory vaccinations or quarantines etc, then so be it. Of course that is how these people surveyed think, that it is totally ok for the government to do what they wish in order to protect the rest of us. Perhaps I am wrong but in my opinion, thats bullshit. Forcing health workers to show up for work when their may be an epidemic or pandemic happening seems a tad off to me. If people refuse to go to work for safety reasons, I think that is a pretty valid reason, yes? If you refuse the shot, does that mean you should be treated like a criminal?According to those polled, absolutely.

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Jack Layton propping up Harper? Word on the street is that is exactly what he will be doing by supporting the Tories and their extension to EI benefits to long tenured workers. A move that would squash any hopes that Ignatieff may have of a fall election. If this comes to light, then Harper has made quite the save, by throwing in something he knew the dippers wouldn't reject, I mean how could they? Most Canadians don't want an election and by going against the Conservatives, Layton would for sure be dealt a fatal blow as he must know that his party has nothing to gain; yet he himself has everything to lose. Now is not the best time for an election. Whether he honestly believes that as most of us do, or he is more concerned about himself, I don't know but I would assume that all politicians are looking out for their own interests first.

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Is this an annual thing? Harper flies up north and the papers print a story about Harper and the military flexing their muscles? LMFAO, My blog from last August pretty much could have been written today as the premises is basically the exact same thing. This latest exercise in the north is supposed to show the world that Canada means business when it comes to protecting its claim to the high north, complete with a Coast guard ship, submarine, and a frigate. I bet them russkies are shaking in their boots now,after all, a Coast Guard ship and a frigate that is basically a tin can when it comes to ice burgs is their to show them whose boss.

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I am totally disgusted these past few days with news coming out of out west and east of people abusing and slaughtering animals for fun. WTF is wrong with people? The first part of my post will be on the idiots from Saskatchewan who thought it would be fun to shoot at ducks, ducklings included, on a lake from a vehicle and from the road. Not only did they do this, they videotaped it and made heartless jokes and then posted the video on youtube. I know some people don't care or think it has been overblown, but the point is what they did is not hunting and it shouldn't be overlooked.

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...and with good reason, the government is screwing them out of vacation and stat holiday pay. Why? Because they don't have to pay them according to the Employment Standards Act, even though it has been past practise to do so. Basically the government has broken it's own contract with these student workers. The students signed a contract before starting employment at the parks that they would receive vacation and holiday pay, as they have done so in the past, but the government recently "discovered" that they do not qualify for them as the Crown is exempt from provisions under the Act.

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Link: http://www.windsorstar.com/business/Ontario+press+automakers+executive+compensation/1846036/story.html

Ontario won't press automakers on executive compensation

WINDSOR — Ontario will not use its shareholder status to press taxpayer-funded General Motors and Chrysler Group LLC to release details on compensation paid to its board members and executives, Sandra Pupatello, the province's minister of economic development and trade, said Thursday.

"If I were in charge of their PR department I think I might have chosen to do this a little differently because the perception is often as impactful as the reality," she said. "So, they may choose to do this because just in the spirit of being thankful that we've all been helping. But they're not obligated to."

Pupatello was responding Thursday to growing calls on GM and Chrysler — recipients of more than $14 billion in federal and Ontario government loans — to disclose salaries of their top executives. Although GM has released details of compensation for its board members, Chrysler has refused to follow suit, calling the information "confidential."

Pupatello also defended the base payment of $200,000 to Carol Stephenson, board appointee of Canada and Ontario.

"I think it's probably what is very typical at that level for this size of a corporation," she said.

"And, right now, there's a lot riding on these board members doing a very good job and due diligence. And the governments are going to rely on these people and they've been selected because of the kind of expertise they bring. Carol has very good reputation and we're going to be exacting that reputation in this position."

But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said taxpayers have the right to know full details of how the auto companies are spending their dollars.

"The bottom line is we now own parts of these companies — whether we own one per cent, two per cent or 30 per cent — is irrelevant," said Horwath.

"The bottom line is it's taxpayer dollars that are shoring up these companies and by virtue of our participation in those companies we have a right to know what the executive compensation packages are and what the perks are members of the board are receiving."

The federal and Ontario governments have provided U.S.-based parents of GM and Chrysler with loans to help keep the auto companies from going under. The governments own two per cent of Chrysler and almost 12 per cent of GM.

GM Canada has said it cut executive salaries by 10 per cent, reduced pay for salaried staff and trimmed benefits and pension plans as part of its restructuring.

It also said that "due diligence conducted by all governments in advance of their support and investment in GM, appropriately included a comprehensive review and careful scrutiny of compensation for hourly and regular salaried employees, and in particular compensation for GM's executives.

"In the case of GM Canada executives and board members, the compensation is not at a level which would require public disclosure based on the agreed terms and conditions between GM and all the governments," it added.

Excuse me? We the taxpayers are basically being told that it is none of our business and leading the way is Sandra "photo op" Pupatello. What in the blue hell is going on here? We funded this bail out, as in we the taxpayers and you'd think that we would have a right to know what exactly our money is being spent on. I guess we only get a sneak peak as it was revealed that Carole Stephenson, dean of the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario sits on the GM board and earns $200,000 and a company vehicle all the while retaining her post as Dean at the university. However, Chrysler has refused to reveal compensation for its board of directors. As well, both companies have refused news media requests to release details of salaries of their Canadian CEO's.

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The city of Windsor and CUPE locals 543 and 82 have settled an historic 101 day strike. Details of the settlement include a 6.3% (edit, it is now being reported as 5.7%) wage increase over four years of the contract, with 1.5, 1.8, and 2% annually, a $2,000 signing bonus, and all possible disciplinary actions against transgressions the strikers have done during the strike will be dropped. However, this settlement comes at a cost to Windsor taxpayers of $17.2 million over 4 years. Post retirement benefits for new hires, the sticking point of the strike have been dropped. It is unclear whether the unfair labour practises suit against the city will continue.

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CUPE locals 543 and 82 rejected the city's counter offer on Thursday, an offer that many were hoping would end this 14 week strike. In what has been a day filled with drama, CUPE flat out said "NO" to the mayor and to city council. It all started with the city asking CUPE leadership to take the offer to its members and let them vote on it.

The vote occurred Thursday morning, but not before city managers showed up to hand out back to work protocols to the workers, who in disgust, threw the papers in the air. Rumours abound that CUPE leadership was instilling fear into the membership by stating that the city was not going to include a back to work protocol and that members may lose their jobs or face disciplinary actions upon settling the strike for any actions the mayor deemed worthy of dismissal or discipline.

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Windsor is stuck in a trend that no one would ever want to be in and that trend is the unemployment rate, which now sits at 14.4%. This once booming town now holds the distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in Canada. There were more than 25,000 local residents out of Work in the Windsor area at the beginning of the summer, however with the Chrysler Windsor Assembly Plant reopening at the end of June, 3500 workers are now back on the job and with news that the midnight shift will remain at least until next summer, it may mean that the local economy may now begin to recover. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

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The strike by the municipal workers in Windsor that is. 12 weeks now without garbage collection, parking tickets, daycare etc. I've been able to go about my life without being affected by this to be honest. I don't have a habit of strolling through back alleyways to see the mountains of garbage that are piled up, but I see them in pictures nonetheless in the local news rag and on the many blogs I happen to come across. There doesn't seem to be any talks scheduled that I know of and so we continue to live in a garbage town.

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Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper have agreed to put elections talks off until the fall. The sabre rattling that Ignatieff has been doing of late has led to the two agreeing to study the issue of employment insurance over the summer. A panel has been implemented and is to report on September 28 with proposals on how to allow self-employed Canadians to participate voluntarily in the EI system and on improving eligibility requirements in order to ensure regional fairness.

I am wondering though, what happened to the line Iggy was spouting about how "the unemployed need help now, not in the fall"? Is Ignatieff afraid and just another Stephane Dion? Take the poll on the side bar.

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Unions at Canwest Global Communications (TSX:CGS) newspapers say they are being asked to enter concession talks with the company, which faces a major restructuring effort as it tries to deal with a crushing $3.9 billion debt load.

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With the buzzing of the Lycoming engines, Red Bull Air Race day was upon the city of Windsor. I awoke today to the sounds of a CF-18 roaring down the river front and rushed out the door to catch a glimpse of this awesome fighter jet doing a flyby over the riverfront, only to see it fly off into the distance never to return.../sad. But the glimpse I did catch was cool enough and with that I made up my mind that I would be headed down to the river front to watch the spectacular air races that were to take place. My father and I hopped into my car and headed downtown in an effort to find a parking pace, a futile effort at first glance but we eventually found a spot within a 5 minute walk from the river front down Caron avenue.

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I attended the CUPE rally today which started out front of the University of Windsor and ended at city hall square. I must say that I was very impressed with the turnout. CUPE members from out of town arrived in bus loads; as well other locals from the Windsor area stood by their union brothers and sisters as we marched to city hall down Riverside drive. Chants of "hey hey, ho ho, Eddie has got to go" and other songs were plentiful as we walked past the red bull air racers practising in their sweet planes. The 9 week old strike has no end in site and it was awesome that the different locals came out to show support.

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The citizens of Windsor made good on their promise to clean up the Ford Test Track today. As organizers and crews converged on the park, so did pro union citizens, many from different unions that are not on strike; I being one of them. Mike Morency, the organizer of this event, had some words to speak to the people before the clean up was to commence. They were planning to cut the grass, however, the police informed them that they would not be allowed due to safety reasons and for fear of confrontation. Mr. Morency was called out on only doing this for publicity as speculation arises that he wishes to run for city council in the election next year. A question which he quickly shrugged aside. Mr. Morency says that he supports the union and had only planned on cleaning this one park, yet on his facebook group it has come to light that they are planning to clean more city parks. Over all, there were no physical fights, just angry words exchanged between both sides and when I finally left, a small crowd of people were left, along with the police.

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In your seemingly heart felt gesture to organize and clean up the parks of the city, you are also performing work that is done by workers who are on strike.I don't know what has happened to this town; historically, we have been a union city and people seemed to care about one another back in the day. Nowadays, we have the ME generation, those only concerned about themselves, the same people whose fathers, mothers, uncles, grand fathers etc worked in one of the automotive plants or other unionized trade shops in town. But something has changed, suddenly we unionized workers are the enemy and are the endless targets for people to blame. With the strike by the city workers going into its seventh week, the anger and frustration has made many organize an event for Saturday to "take back our parks". Ordinary citizens of Windsor are heading out to the city's baseball diamonds, the soccer pitches and other parks to cut the grass that has grown as some would say, waist high. They will be picking up the garbage and making sure that things will be safe for the kids.

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The United States and Canada have struck a deal which would see the US Coast Guard operating in Canadian waters and the RCMP operating in the US waters should the need arise. Known as the shiprider program ( you know these things always need a cool name), these new rules are intended to improve the ever popular word SECURITY and to eliminate grey areas that both sides have faced in the past, such as either side having to stop at the border and call in the other country for help.

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It looks like the bulls may soon be on parade yet again. Count Michael "Iggy" Ignatieff and the non Conservative Conservative Stephen Harper are talking smack like they are in some kind of pre-fight press conference a la Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis. Ok ok, maybe not with all the expletives and hysteria but nonetheless it's entertaining in it's own right. Harper says that if the Liberals want to "fight" an election, the Cons are ready. The issue? None other than Employment Insurance, or perhaps its because Iggy is doing well in the polls, hmm, talk about timing eh. Just what we need, another election, this dysfunctional parliament should have it's own variety show because the comedy is top notch, however, I do not believe that we need to go to the polls again.

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The UAW is fighting for it's members future in North America as GM plans to outsource and shut down plants in its bid to restructure. GM wants to outsource production to Mexico and Asia and it has caused a stir within the UAW who believes that

"This is really about the shape of GM in the US and its foot print in North America in the future," a senior UAW official who asked not to be identified told AFP

The UAW strongly objects to GM's plans because it basically means that GM's manufacturing will shift from North America to places like China, Mexico, Korea and Japan. The UAW also believes that if GM will be given government money, that they should keep plants open in North America.

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As per usual, Dalton McGuinty has yet again stepped up to the plate and hit the ball way out to left field, way way out. This time, the Ontario government has decided that even though the legal blood alcohol content level is 0.08 as per the criminal code of Canada, anyone caught with levels between 0.05-0.08 will now be considered to have broken the law and will be given a 3 day license suspension, even if it is your first offence. The kicker is that a person will not be able to appeal the decision made by the police officer who happens to stop you. No due process, none. If caught with a similar level of booze in their system a second time, their licence will then be suspended for 7 days and the driver will have to attend an alcohol education program. A third time will get you a 30 day suspension complete with the remedial alcohol treatment program and an ignition interlock condition placed on your licence for six months. Previously, drivers received only a 12-hour licence suspension for blowing a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.08, no matter how many times they were caught. Keep in mind folks, this is for those caught below the so called legal limit, so it seems there are now two legal limits which makes no sense but more about that later.

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So I've come back to post here on my blog after going through a bit of depression over the past month and a half. What do I come back to? None other than Ignatieff spouting off about how it might be necessary to raise taxes to fight the deficit. Well, considering I live in Ontario, which has been losing jobs at an alarming rate, I don't think we want more taxes. I don't think the guy who got laid off at the GM plant wants to pay higher taxes, and I know I don't either.

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Vancouver woman kidnapped in Pakistan pleads for life on video. Canadian Khadija Abdul Qahaar, formerly known as Beverly Giesbrecht had been kidnapped in Pakistan in November and a video depicting her pleading for her life has been released. She is expected to be beheaded by the end of March if the Taliban kidnappers do not receive a ransom of $2 million. The video shows her crying as she says her

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Even during these harsh economic times, the Dalton McGuinty government still manages to slap the Canadian workers in the face by making a deal to purchase Ontario flags that are made in China. If this isn't further evidence to support my claim that he is a terrible Premier then stay tuned because in a short while I am sure that he will once again do something incredibly stupid.

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Greyhound bus killer deemed "not criminally responsible"

On July 30, 2008, the world was shocked when Vince Li murdered fellow Greyhound passenger Timothy McLean on a bus headed to Winnipeg.
Li appalled the community he lived in, as well as the rest of Canada, and it was made clear by reports appearing prior to the event, that Li was suffering from a mental illness.
The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Judge, John Scurfield, deemed Li not criminally responsible for the crime due to this mental illness.
Li pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder when the trial began on March 3.
Psychiatric evidence, provided by both the defence and the crown, suggest he suffers from schizophrenia and that last July, when he fatally stabbed, beheaded and cannibalized McLean, he was experiencing a major psychotic episode.

Of course the victims family isn't happy about the outcome and I for one do not blame them. Now, although I am a psychology student and have some experience studying things like schizophrenia et al, it still leaves one to wonder what more can be done? Yes this guy obviously has a mental illness, what "normal" person would do such a thing?

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