53 Replies to “Back by Popular Demand”

  1. Something I found while rummaging in the attic. A somewhat tedious read: can be. Good science: yes. Looks like decent research with reasonable conclusions.
    Good summary regarding the history and reality of climate change(?): decide for yourself.
    (Note: the fact that it is hosted by the AAPG will get some whines from the AGW supporters. As far as I can tell it doesn’t change the facts)
    “Geological Perspectives of Global Climate Change: Introduction and Overview”
    http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/gerhard/index.htm

  4. Conservative leading liberals 40% to 38% in ONTARIO. Newman having apoplexy. This poll taken before the terror vote. NDP tied with Green at 13% in national poll. Conservatives have 9% lead over liberals nationally. If these numbers go down for libs in the next poll, watch for them to support the budget, with the income trust issue in it. According to Jason C, there is lots of dissension in the ranks re Iggy getting too much exposure making dion look week. They also keep talking that the ads worked.

  8. NBA Union Chief, Players, Apprehensive About New Orleans All Star Game
    After experiencing All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said he isn’t sure if he wants to be part of the next one.
    Reacting to NBA Players Association director Billy Hunter’s comments about security for the 2008 All-Star festivities in New Orleans, McGrady said Tuesday that he is concerned about safety to the point he might consider skipping the event.
    “If I don’t feel I’m going to be safe, if I am on that team, I will look into probably not even going,” McGrady said.
    Hunter said in a Newsday article Monday that the union might consider suing the NBA if it does not believe New Orleans can safely host the event.
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4591942.html

  9. Stray dogs have killed a three-year-old boy in India’s hi-tech capital of Bangalore, police say.
    The death led to protests by irate residents over what they say is the failure of the civic authorities to control an estimated 70,000 strays.
    …
    Civic authorities had earlier ordered a cull of all diseased strays, but the campaign was opposed by animal activists.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6407983.stm

  10. Liberal self proclaimed attack pitbull Mark Holland will be in Alberta from Monday to Thursday.
    His mission: to talk some sense into Albertans about curtailing the growth of the oil sands and to of course admonish us all about the sins we are committing with our greenhouse gases, blah, blah.
    What part of provincial jurisdiciton over natural resources and infrastructure does Mr. Holland NOT understand.
    Can you imagine the kind of reception this little twirp is going to get? I hope instead we open HIS eyes. Alberta is the leading edge in the entire world on emmerging clean energy and conservation technologies – with more announcement s coming daily.
    Calgary received an award and world recognition as the most environmentally sustainable city in the world.
    Edmonton has virtually NO smog and we have many many environmental programs including what is considered the most successful blue box and recycling program in NOrth America.
    So maybe Mr; Holland can take some Alberta success stories back to his own riding in Ontarion and keep his nose out of our business.

  11. Rush Limbaugh has a story on Canadian Liberal wants, refering to Paul H. Also has pic of horse,s rear and car with title, horses cleaner than internal combustion engine. I love it.
    rushlimbaugh.com Go read it. Payback time for the Parrish doll episode. Drudge also refers to same item. Is that the kind of headlines dion is talking about when he says he will improve canada,s image in the world.

  12. Liberal self proclaimed attack pitbull Mark Holland will be in Alberta from Monday to Thursday.
    His mission: to talk some sense into Albertans about curtailing the growth of the oil sands and to of course admonish us all about the sins we are committing with our greenhouse gases, blah, blah.
    Posted by: Lorraine at March 1, 2007 6:34 PM
    ———-
    Would some good Albertan please tell Mr. Holland to get his stinking constituents off the Oak Ridges morraine?
    It’s an environmentally sensitive geological formation across the top of the GTA, and supplies much of the area’s clean water and oxygen. It is also home to many species of wildlife.
    The problem however is that many of Mr. Holland’s constituents have decide to park their smelly human bottoms atop the morraine, thus putting its future in doubt.
    Remind the nut of his duty to the environment. Insist he go door-to-door and tell his constituents to take a hike.

  13. Mathematical modelling and global warming.
    From: American Thinker – February 28, 2007
    Numerical Models, Integrated Circuits and Global Warming Theory – Jerome J. Schmitt
    Here’s the link: you’ll need to replace “w3”.
    http://w3.americanthinker.com/2007/02/numerical_models_integrated_ci.html
    The piece provides some very good debate ammo for global warming “deniers”. It describes the use and severe limitations of mathematical modeling in commercial technology even though the systems are closed and involve fewer variables and therefore much greater control. This in contrast with the wide-open system of climate and the mind-numbing list of variables which must be accounted for. You don’t have to know much about science to see right away how ridiculous is the notion of predicting long term climate trends based solely on mathematical modeling.
    The thing that hit me between the eyes was his observation that while the models are useful in commercial technology, companies never base investment decisions solely on mathematical modeling.
    There’s also a good historical perspective on the grant-research feedback loop and the resulting politicization of science.

  14. Just a complaint about St. Suzuki,
    I had to wait in a long line-up today on Granville Street in Vancouver and that ass left the generator on his enviro-bus running and gassed the entire line-up.
    Then I noticed that his enviro-bus was parked across three parking spaces and the meters at all three were expired.
    And the thing that really bugged me was that I was the only person in the queue that was pissed off about it. How does this jerk get away with this kind of stuff?

  16. Another site for your favourites on climate change – from the US perspective (some sanity here too) You get the Democrats (like our wing bat Liberals and NDP) and the Republicans (not like our Conservatives but somewhat saner than some of the democrats)
    US Senate Committee on Environment and PUblic Works
    http://epw.senate.gov/public/

  17. From the indispensible Tim Blair
    AND YOU THOUGHT GORE WAS A HYPOCRITE
    Via MM, one of the finest headlines ever published:
    [Australian Green Party leader] Bob Brown uses frequent flyer points to go to Earth Summit
    timblair.net/ee/index.php/weblog/and_you_thought_gore_was_a_hypocrite/

  18. Robert, did you get pictures for utube. Too bad, especially of the expired meters and exhaust fumes. We have to be ready for these opportunities.

  19. When, where and how is Holland arriving in Alberta. Get out the signs saying GO HOME. SHUT UP. Where is he speaking, go and boo the hell out of him. Let him know, in no uncertain terms he and liberals are not welcome in Alberta. Hope our Premier refuses to meet with him. Does he really believe that he can change our minds. Typical idiodic ontario liberal.

  20. Bob points out that “Stray dogs…in India..[who, unfortunately, killed a three-year-old boy][have] led to protests by irate residents over what they say is the failure of the civic authorities to control an estimated 70,000 strays.”
    That’s exactly my complaint here in Canada. Authorities have let far more than 70,000 strays, of the Liberal strain, get out of control north of the 49th parallel.
    ‘Time to round ’em up.

  24. Anyone know where to download the CD of all the information available and stored within the Canadian
    Firearms Center? Its all out there. According to Dave Rutherford’s show this morning. For ten Billion
    dollars don’t we all get a copy? To think they were worried about breaches. The crooks stole the whole thing.

  27. Just in case you think the Chretien/Maurice Strong/Liberal/China/UN connection is rumour;
    And, just in case you have ot come to the realization that for the first time in nearly 50 years we have a Prime Minister NOT controlled by a cabal with a hidden agenda that is more frightening and corrupt than anything we have even seen uncovered yet:
    Add THIS to your favourites and pass on to everyone you know:
    http://www.primetimecrime.com/contributing/2005/20050120Gray.htm

  28. “New Decima Poll shows Tories lead over Liberals widening.”
    Yeah. It’s a Decima poll. I’ll believe it when I see a real poll being done by somebody credible like SES. 12% for the Greens! You gotta be kidding me.

  29. Modelling has feats of clay. Modelling is not dead as a Dodo*, yet. Chucker Darwin is laughing at the modellers. Chuck observed the Creation firstly; then hypothesized. He looked back; then, forward. Modellers peer into a glass darkly. They see only their reflection. …-
    Improved Predictions Of Warming-Induced Extinctions Sought;
    Species Persist More Than Models Assume
    Science Daily
    “… note that although current mathematical models indicate that many species could be at risk from global warming,
    surprisingly few species became extinct during the past 2.5 million years,
    a period encompassing several ice ages. …
    The authors acknowledge, however, that they do not fully understand why so many species persisted during these ice ages, and caution that some genetic research suggests that species might in fact be more vulnerable than the fossil record indicates. …-
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793668/posts
    *Dodo, dead as Dion: caused by anthropogenic voting; man-made destruction of Liberals in Canada.

  30. “Cuban President Fidel Castro has appeared in a live broadcast for the first time since falling ill last July.”
    Say, wasn’t he pronounced, “dead, dead, dead”, here at SDA a short while ago?
    Remind me to never ask kate to choose my lottery numbers!

  31. I want to see the poll numbers by province. Where is the support for the greens. Maybe in BC, and some in Ont. But, as Chantel says, it will be much different at the ballot box. I still wonder why May gets so much press and media coverage. They have no seats, and she doesn’t even know where she will run as a candidate. Could it be her good looks. Anyone seen JVD on cbc lately. The panel on the national tonight seemed sort of positive re PMSH. They actually dissed Dion. There was some suggestion that during this 2 wk break he can re-invent himself, but he still has a fractured party. He couldn’t hold his caucus re the terror bill. Wait till he doles out the punishment. I think he will have a difficult time getting qualified candidates, especially women, to run. Knowing they will be in opposition, with no perks or hands in the trough, for 5 years will deter many. I really would not be surprised to see Iggy go back to Harvard, if he knows it will be several years before he could be PM, even if he became leader. Doesn’t strike me as a man who will wait. The next leadership race will be watched by non liberals very carefully, to see who is trying to buy who, and who shows up with instant liberals at delegate selection meetings.
    Several of us might have to buy memberships to see things first hand.

  32. Cassini Returns Never-before-seen Views of the Ringed Planet – Saturn
    NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has captured never-before-seen views of Saturn from perspectives high above and below the planet’s rings. Over the last several months, the spacecraft has climbed to higher and higher inclinations, providing its cameras with glimpses of the planet and rings that have scientists gushing….
    The images taken over last two months are being released today and include black and white and color mosaics, as well as a dramatic movie sequence showing the rings as they appeared to Cassini while it sped from south to north, rapidly crossing the ring plane. Also released is a playful view of the rings from high above, with the planet removed.
    Cassini’s highly inclined orbits around Saturn will be progressively lowered so that, by late June — three years after entering orbit — the spacecraft will once more be orbiting in the ring plane….-
    Go here for links:
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793676/posts

  36. Angus Reid poll — March 1st:
    Conservatives 40%
    Liberals 26%
    NDP 14%
    Bloq 10%
    Greens 8%
    Liberals and Conservatives tied at 22% in Quebec.

  38. Canadian Inuit Need air conditioners due to global warming!
    3w cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/03/01
    /us.canada.climate.ap/index.html?pc=&eref=affiliates

  40. technical tip:
    loaded microslop’s ‘defender’ for XP on my backup system. what a dog !!! the surveillance s/w took 20 times longer to load and sometimes missed the front 2 cameras for some reason.
    I promptly did the program remove thing and now its back to normal.
    oyyph.

  42. Tim Hortons sues over Afghan outlet
    Radio host’s comments about Afghan outlet at centre
    By SAM PAZZANO, SUN MEDIA
    Tim Hortons has launched a double-double of a lawsuit, seeking $105 million in damages from two of Canada’s largest media companies and a popular Toronto radio talk-show host.
    The coffee chain giant filed a defamation suit against Standard Radio and CFRB talk-show host Bill Carroll, along with CanWest, which owns Global TV, alleging they falsely stated that Ottawa footed the bill for a franchise serving Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.
    “The false and defamatory statements respecting the establishment of a Tim Hortons franchise injured the plaintiffs’ trade name, brand and commercial reputation,” according to documents filed with the Superior Court of Ontario.
    Tim Hortons Inc. is seeking $35 million in general and punitive damages each from CanWest, Standard Radio (which owns Toronto station CFRB) and Carroll, for falsely stating that the company received a multimillion-dollar subsidy from Ottawa in support of the Kandahar outlet.
    In his Nov. 1, 2006, radio broadcast, Carroll said: “If Tim Hortons wants to have a franchise in Afghanistan, it’s a pretty good public relations gesture … Then let them pay for it.”
    In a Global TV commentary, he said: “Tim Hortons has been sliding by on the great publicity about the Kandahar franchise all these months and then Global uncovers the dirty little secret. You and I, the taxpayers, are picking up $4 or 5 million dollars a year so that they can look good to the public … Shame on Tim Hortons.” …-
    http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/03/02/pf-3685725.html

  43. I had the cassini pic of the saturn rings from october 16 2006 enlarged to 20 X 40 and mounted and framed.
    the little blue dot to the left and above the rings is the earth.
    check it out.

  44. technical tip: I installed microslop’s ‘defender for XP’ on my backup system to try it out. what a dog !!!
    the surveillance s/w took 20 times longer to close and reopen its vid files, and sometimes dropped both front cameras in the process. dod dog dog.
    so I did the ‘remove programs’ bit and now its ok.
    oyyph.

  45. Many people said that this message did not transmit properly so I am resending it to the whole list.
    ——————————————————————————–
    From: Language Fairness [mailto:CLF1@sympatico.ca]
    Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 12:49 PM
    To: ‘Ottawa-area-CLF@lists-clf.org’; ‘Outside-Ottawa-CLF@lists-clf.org’
    Subject: Focus on Quebec
    Canadians for Language Fairness
    P.O. Box 40111
    Bank & Hunt Club Postal Outlet
    2515 Bank Street.
    Ottawa, ON, K1V 0W8
    Tel (613) 321-7333
    Website: http://www.languagefairness.ca Email: clf1@sympatico.ca
    ——————————————————————————–
    March 1, 2007
    As a prelude to the next language group meeting, hosted by the English-Language Advocates in Ottawa, I would like to focus on Quebec. The meeting referred to here is scheduled for March 13th, 7:30 pm at the Ottawa Citizen Conference Centre. Our guest speaker for that meeting will be Reed Scowen, author of “Time to say Goodbye”. I will give you more details about Mr. Scowen’s visit next week.
    For this message, I thought that we could focus on Quebec to give our readers some idea of how the various columnists are dealing with the upcoming Quebec election. It is quite amusing that most of them show a distinct sense of weariness with the political sheenanigans of Quebec – “to go or not to go – that is the question”!!
    Quite frankly, I’m glad to see that people are no longer worried at the prospect of Quebec separatatism. Many people are openly expressing the desire to see them leave so that Canada can start to heal. As long as Quebec is part of Canada, we will have to accommodate them and they take such a lot of accommodating!! I sense that our collective patience is exhausted!!
    Kim
    ——————————————————————————–
    Calgary Sun : Feb 23, 2007
    Go big, Charest
    By LICIA CORBELLA
    “Quebec, Quebec, Quebec. Blah, blah, blah. It’s always about Quebec. Fifty stinking years of Quebec blackmailing this country with it’s limp threat to separate.”
    That’s how an e-mail sent to me yesterday began. It was written by a man who asked to be described as Jacques, “a former Quebecer and long-time proud Albertan.”
    His letter referred in particular to Quebec Premier Jean Charest’s Wednesday election call and how that tidbit of info dominated the news cycle and likely will long after the polls close on March 26. In contrast, other provincial election calls usually garner a brief mention on national newscasts.
    True enough. That’s the reality in Canada. What Quebec does and what Quebec wants leads the agenda.
    That the election call came one day after the feds announced a March 19 budget day leaves many non-Quebecers feeling cynical about the timing and most Albertans fearing Prime Minister Stephen Harper is going to break another election promise and change the equalization formula that determines how much so-called “have not” provinces get from “have” provinces.
    Undoubtedly, Charest has been promised by Harper there will be good news for Quebec in the federal budget.
    How much good news is the question.
    Many non-Albertans believe the wild rose province is “greedy” and doesn’t share its wealth. It is an unfair perception based on ignorance.
    According to Alberta MLA Ted Morton, since 1961, Alberta has contributed $220 billion net to the rest of Canada and during that same period Quebec raked in $211 billion net in equalization transfers.
    What has that bought us? It certainly hasn’t purchased unity.
    There is really only one way to end the neverendum threat — by Jean Charest winning the election then promptly holding a referendum to end all referendums.
    If Charest wants to be more than just the boy simply stalling the inevitable tide of separatist fervour, or at least the eventual change of government to a separatist one, he should hold a referendum.
    Many people will say holding another referendum would be tempting fate.
    However, the difference with a referendum held by Charest as opposed to a nationalist government would be the question asked. The wording of the 1995 referendum question was impossible to understand:
    “Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign, after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new Economic and Political Partnership, within the scope of the Bill respecting the future of Quebec and the agreement signed on June 12, 1995.”
    Polls showed most Quebecers didn’t have a clue what that meant. The day before that fright night the vast majority of Quebecers actually believed a Yes vote would not mean Quebecers would lose their Canadian passports or any other Canadian benefit. They were duped.
    With a voter turnout of 93%, the No side barely won, with 50.6% of the vote.
    But that close call proved nothing. The question should be simple and to the point: Should Quebec separate from Canada? Yes or No?
    Let Quebecers know what that entails. No passports, no disaster relief funding, no more federal government contracts and make-work projects, no more equalization, the removal of federal property from Quebec, including many art works and archives, etc.
    Such a referendum is the only way Canada can be assured the blackmail will end. The Clarity Act is supposed to ensure a clear question is asked, but the PQ have already declared they will frame any question they want and will assume yes means yes. How would we stop them?
    It’s not likely Charest will hold a referendum, but for those of us in the ignored regions, it’s a nice dream to contemplate since it helps tune out the interminable blah, blah, blah of Quebec, Quebec, Quebec.
    ——————————————————————————–
    Ottawa Sun : Feb 25, 2007
    LETTERS
    Re: Go big Charest (Feb. 23) Licia Corbella is not the only one fed up with Quebec’s constant whining. Have-not province? In their dreams. Where are the aerospace and pharmaceutical industries centered? And who makes billions of dollars selling power to the U.S.?
    If they ever do decide to separate, I hope a Conservative government is in power with a non-Quebec prime minister and they play real hardball with the whiners, including letting them know that certain territories they have exploited but do not own will be removed from their control and that a corridor between Ontario and the Maritimes adjacent to the St. Lawrence Seaway will be claimed and seized by Canada.
    I think the average Quebecer has sense enough to realize how good they have it now and it’s only their self-aggrandizing politicians who keep making these veiled threats.
    Ted Thompson
    (Playing politics keeps politicians warm in the winter)
    ——————————————————————————–
    National Post
    Published: Saturday, February 24, 2007
    Boisclair may be good for Canada
    Andrew Coyne
    Launching his campaign for re-election, Jean Charest got straight to the point. “It’s a choice between unity and separation,” he declared. “Andre Boisclair and the Parti Quebecois have made their priority to hold a referendum as fast as possible.”
    Well, no, actually. The choice before Quebecers is between years of demands for more powers for Quebec, or years of dithering over whether to call a referendum. It’s a choice between stretching the bonds of the federation still further to accommodate Quebec’s demands, until unity and separation become all but indistinguishable, or — assuming the PQ does work up the nerve to hold a referendum — finally choosing between the two. It is a choice between a party that is clearly for vagueness, and a party that is vaguely for clarity.
    In other words, it is not so obvious as it might seem that the interests of Canada are synonymous with the election of another Liberal government. This Liberal government is more federalist- friendly than most, but it is not, it should be emphasized, federalist. It is against separation, but what it is for might more accurately be described as interprovincialism — a “federation” that assigns the federal government little significant role, but rather leaves issues that cross provincial boundaries to be negotiated collectively amongst the provinces. You know, like sovereign states.
    Like all provincial governments, it has an agenda in its dealings with Ottawa, but unlike the others, it has a weapon to back up its demands: not the threat of separation, but the threat of the threat of separation. Give us what we want, runs the subtext of every Quebec Liberal demand, or you’ll hand the next election to the separatists.
    Even if that is not their intent, it is how they tend to behave. For a Liberal government must always be looking over its shoulder, not only at the separatist opposition, but at the broader range of nationalist opinion, as represented in the media, the universities, and the unions. So it is constantly having to prove, or feeling it has to prove, its nationalist credentials, to the point where it is sometimes plus nationaliste que les nationalistes.
    The feds, for their part, feel obliged to make concessions, to give their provincial counterparts something to show for their pains, to show that Quebec is better off with the federalists in power than the separatists. Or perhaps it is simply that it gives federal politicians cover: what might otherwise look like pandering to a significant regional voting block, for the usual grubby purposes, can instead be portrayed as a statesmanlike gesture of reconciliation.
    It was the Quebec Liberal party that invented, perfected and applied much of the language of modern Quebec nationalism: from maitres chez nous and deux nations to “distinct society” and “fiscal imbalance.” It was under previous Quebec Liberal governments that we got the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords, and it is under this Quebec Liberal government that the feds resumed their attempts to court nationalist sentiment, offering Quebec a seat at UNESCO, recognition as a nation and other symbolic baubles.
    Whereas when the Pequistes are in power, the feds feel entitled — or obliged — to give them the back of their hand. It was under PQ governments that we got patriation, the Social Union, and the Clarity Act: among the only examples of federal backbone in dealing with the provinces in living memory. (Even these, it should be said, involved significant concessions on Ottawa’s part, but at least the feds got something in return.) In every case, the PQ sulked, or screamed, or threatened in response. And in every case, they were ignored, their bluff was called, and support for sovereignty plummeted.
    That’s not the only reason why a federalist might prefer to see a separatist government in Quebec City. If our long national trip to the dentist’s is ever to end, it can only happen on the PQ’s watch. In the event of a PQ victory, one of three things must happen. One, they hold a referendum and lose. In which case, the power of the number three in human affairs comes into play: the logic of “three strikes and you’re out” would prove irresistible.
    Two, they fail to hold a referendum, in violation of their most explicit campaign promise, not least to their own supporters. In which case they tear themselves apart, at length and with much bloodletting. Not that I’m complaining.
    Three, the least attractive option but also the least likely, they hold a referendum and win. Which is when their troubles really begin: as I have argued many times before, separation can neither be negotiated nor can it be achieved by fiat. A unilateral declaration of independence, with all the chaos it would unleash, would end in the speedy collapse of the PQ government, possibly within days.
    Of course, the PQ could always hold a referendum on a fudged question, as they did in 1980 and 1995. But post-Clarity Act, the game has changed: Ottawa is bound by law not to negotiate. And without negotiations, there is no lawful way to proceed.
    Admittedly, it seems a stretch to imagine Quebecers electing Andre Boisclair, the right man to lead the PQ into the abyss if ever there was one. Still, a guy can hope.
    Ac@andrewcoyne.com
    © National Post 2007
    ——————————————————————————–
    Nothing Beats Quebec Politics. Tuesday, February 27, 2007
    Canada By Howard Galganov
    Canada’s province of Quebec is off to the polls to choose between a hard Separatist (Andre Boisclair of the Parti Quebecois) who wants to take Quebec out of Canada, and a soft Separatist (Jean Charest of the Parti Liberal) who wants to take Canada out of Quebec.
    There is a subtle difference between the two.
    Boisclair and his followers are willing to do what it takes to become an independent state with all the risks and hardships.
    Charest on the other hand, wants Quebec to be a state within a state with no risks whatsoever.
    Therefore, I have to ask the people of Canada outside of Quebec what is best for Canada?
    Does Canada do better with a phony federalist like Jean Charest who wants his cake and eat it too, as long as the rest of Canada pays for it?
    Or: Is Canada better served by a Quebec Separatist who is willing to let Canada off the money hook and take all the risks to be independent?
    Under Quebec Liberals, Canada has been dragged through the mud and forced to expense enormous amounts of money just to appease them.
    While under the Parti Quebecois, Canada has never so much as given them a ho-hum in response to their threats.
    And then there are the Anglo and Ethnic communities that live in Quebec, predominately within the area of Greater Montreal, who are figuratively and literally treated like second-class citizens.
    The Parti Quebecois know they’ll receive virtually no votes from the Anglos and very few from the Ethnics, while the Quebec Liberals know they’ll receive just about all the votes from the Anglos and most of the votes from the Ethnics only because they’re not the Parti Quebecois.
    How sad is that, that the Anglos and Ethnics of Quebec are so taken for granted, that this election has literally nothing whatsoever to do with them?
    If I was still living in Quebec, I would vote for neither the Parti Quebecois nor the liberal party, since one doesn’t care how we vote, and the other figures the Anglo/Ethnic votes are already in the bag.
    Boisclair calls Charest a liar. Charest calls Boisclair a “coke-head”. They’re probably both right.
    But, if neither the liar nor the “coke-head” do it for you, there’s always Mario Dumont of the very ethnocentric Parti Action Democratique, who’s campaigning hard to keep Quebec Christian, French and presumably white, even though he hasn’t come outright to say white. But that’s just a detail.
    Say whatever you want about Quebec. And much can be said good and bad. But no one can ever say that Quebec politics is boring. Even to an outsider (former Quebecer) like me.
    ——————————————————————————–
    National Post
    Published: Tuesday, February 27, 2007
    Boisclair’s ‘consultations’
    Canada’s four-decades-long struggle with Quebec independence has been marked by inventive wordplay. The separatist side, in particular, has consistently used euphemisms to conceal the radical nature of its project. Now, the Parti Quebecois is at it again. The same party that once gave us the term “sovereignty association” has expunged the word “referendum” from its platform for the duration of the current Quebec provincial election, in favour of the more ambiguous “public consultation.”
    What seemed a year ago like a sure thing — a victory by the PQ over the provincial Liberals — now appears unlikely. Andre Boisclair, the PQ’s new leader, has come across to many voters as rash, indolent and thin-skinned. In just 16 short months, he has managed to fritter away a lead of more than 20 points in the polls.
    On top of that, most Quebec voters want nothing to do with another referendum on independence, at least for now. Last week, two-thirds told CROP Research they want no vote during the first term of any PQ government. On the other hand, PQ hardliners are adamant: A third referendum on whether to make Quebec a nation (the earlier two going to the No side in 1980 and 1995), must be held after a PQ win.
    All of which has left the unpopular Mr. Boisclair with a big circle to square. Hence his wordplay: Tell skeptical voters there will be no referendum, only “consultations” in hopes they will think of, say, legislative hearings. Meanwhile, a nudge and wink to core supporters that “consultation” really means binding referendum.
    On the weekend, Mr. Boisclair as much as confessed to his two-faced approach. “There is no ambiguity whatsoever on the issue of sovereignty,” he told reporters. “Quebecers know who we are.” And one of his highest profile candidates, Marc Laviolette, went further, “Black cat, white cat — the important thing is that he catches the mouse.” Gullible Quebec voters, presumably, being the mice.
    This, of course, is not the first time separatists have tried to finesse their way out of a jam (or out of the country) with semantics. But admittedly, the federalists have sometimes done the same. Witness “special status” for Quebec in the constitution, which became “distinct society,” then “unique character,” “asymmetric federalism” and finally “a nation within a united Canada.”
    Yet over the years, it has been the PQ that has done the most spinning. Separatism has morphed into independence, then nationalism and sovereignty association. And sovereignty association itself has had several meanings, from the promise of a common market and currency with Canada had the 1980 referendum succeeded, to “a new economic and political partnership” in 1995, to Mr. Boisclair’s recent assurances that even if his party should win Quebec’s March 26 election, and even if it could then convince Quebec voters to embrace sovereignty, the transfers and equalization payments from Ottawa would keep on flowing in — Quebec as independent state and “have-not” province simultaneously.
    We share Liberal Premier Jean Charest’s confidence that Quebec voters are too smart to be duped by the PQ’s latest subterfuge. They will see it for the political wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing it is — a crass attempt to win government by claiming to be cool to the idea of independence, yet with the full intention of subjecting Quebec and Canada to a pointless and disruptive referendum once office has been captured.
    © National Post 2007
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    Another goodie for Quebeckers!
    RESPs too good to resist
    With university tuition fees in Quebec apparently headed upward after a long freeze, the Charest government’s decision to add a provincial bonus to the federal grant on Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) contributions makes the tax-sheltered savings plan for post-secondary studies about as good a deal as you will find in the financial sector. “This is an investment you can’t afford to miss. Governments are sending a clear message to parents that they believe it’s important to save for education,” said Peter Lewis,vice-president of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.
    (Gaz B2 – PAUL DELEAN, The Gazette – 02/26/2007)
    Charest backs off his federal funding claim: But says referendum could open ‘black hole’
    Premier Jean Charest yesterday backed down from his claim that Ottawa would cut funding to Quebec the day after a Parti Quebecois election win – but he repeated his warning that federal cash would abruptly stop if another referendum were to endorse sovereignty. On Sunday, PQ leader Andre Boisclair had accused him of using scare tactics and blackmailing Quebecers to vote Liberal. Boisclair was reacting to Charest’s claim that extra billions Ottawa has promised in equalization and transfer payments in the coming federal budget would be “cut substantially the day the PQ takes power.”
    (Gaz A10 – ANDY RIGA, The Gazette)
    Daycare workers to strike
    Unionized daycare workers at 25 non-profit centres in Montreal and Laval have voted in favour of an unlimited strike, starting next Monday. The union, which has already held six strike days this month, including yesterday, represents about 400 educators, office workers and kitchen staff at the daycares affected by the strike call. The main bone of contention is a new job category the employers group wants to write into the contract: an educator’s aide, a worker who could fill in for the higher-qualified educator for up to two hours a day. Aides would receive a maximum of $14.82 an hour, as of April 1, compared with $19.43 for educators. The workers have been without a new contract since 2003. (Gaz A8 – ANN CARROLL, The Gazette)
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    Our shirt project has been launched!! Send out a message for all of Canada!!
    “Quebec said NON to bilingualism, Canada should too”
    These shirts come in a variety of colours – please ask for the order form for more details. For the summer, they also come in T-shirt format.
    Patchwork Quilt
    Only 20 tickets left on this beautiful quilt!!

  46. Tehran – A top Iranian cleric said on Friday the United States was within Iran’s *firing range*, a day after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to hit back at US interests worldwide if attacked.
    *Americans have surrounded us but it works to our advantage. They are within our firing range in the east, west and elsewhere,* Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said in his Friday prayer sermon carried live on state radio.
    He was referring to the US military presence in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in the Gulf waters off southern Iran.
    *Would you dare to violate Iranian borders? See what harm will be done to you then,* said Jananti, who heads the hardline electoral watchdog the Guardians Council. **
    More chance of a conflict between Saudis [Sunni] and [Shiia] – Iran.
    Saudies are quiet, but carry a big stick. They ship most of their oil through Hormouz straights, Iran*s war games central.
    Messing up the straight is not what the Saudies look forward to.
    Iran is great at bluster but they are not likely to invite vengence from the Saudies and other locals. = TG

  48. So, daycare workers are going on strike. Just imagine the chaos if a nat. daycare program was forced on all of Canada. Smart cdn parents could see what would happen if their children were left to the whims of a union.
    When disaster strikes around the world the US is the first to send aid. I have heard of no country offering aid of any kind to the US be it money or workers to assist in their recent disasters. Reminds me of that column by a cdn years ago. Gordon Sinclair I think it was. If I was in any kind of office in the USA I would refuse aid to any other country who suffers a flood, hurricane or any disaster.

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