We get e-mail:
I thought to write you this short note with less than 44 hours to go before kick-off at the BC Lions’ first home game of the 2010 CFL football season. As you are likely already aware, this season will be a unique one as the Lions’ return to Empire Field and will play all their home games outdoors while BC Place receives its new retractable roof.
Unfortunately, the Mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson, has thrown a wrench into the opening ceremonies by not allowing an Air Force CF-18 fighter jet conduct a fly past at 500 feet AGL (Above Ground Level). Earlier today, the Mayor notified the BC Lions’ office that he had changed his mind and would no longer allow the fly past to take place. The President of the BC Lions, Mr. Dennis Skulsky, has tried to contact the Mayor directly to discuss the matter but Mayor Robertson has made himself unavailable.
So with that said, I’ve decided to contact all my friends, colleagues and business associates that are supporters of our men and women in uniform to advise them of this unfortunate development and to solicit your support to have Mayor Robertson honour his word and re-approve this fly past which I believe will allow the fans at Saturday’s game cheer for our troops.
Mayor Robertson’s telephone number is 604-873-7621 and e-mail is gregor.robertson@vancouver.ca should you wish to make your thoughts on this issue known…….the troops appreciate your support.
Because that nasty, loud jet-plane might disturb the heroin addicts, pollute the trees in Stanley Park, and drown out the foul-mouthed tirade of the street-person harrassing you for the change in your pocket, you know.
Update: SDA gets results!
Maybe a boycott BC is in order..no more tourist dollars will be coming from this prairie family.
Sammy,
Don’t make all of BC pay for the actions of the mayor of one city.
Am I missing something?
Does the mayor of a city actually have the legal authority to forbid the deployment of the Federal power (represented in this case by a CF-18 flyover) within municipal limits?
Another communist.
When non-watermelons aren’t interested in local government, guess what you get by default and by the thousands?
It’s BC. No cheering for the team but thanks for the money suckers.
strangelove – tourism in BC is over rated and over priced anyway so it’s really an easy non-decision to make.
Remember all the violence and mayhem during the Vancouver Olympics?
Oh wait! There wasn’t any because of the military security blanket.
You are dealing with mayor “happy planet”, so simply strap a couple of bikes to each cf-18 and direct the pilots to swig buckets of fair trade organic juices as they fly over, or maybe just cut to the chase and have the slightly modified cf-18s buzz down the empty bike lane on the burrard bridge.just don’t frighten the chickens.
I’d like to see the fly-by anyway; just to see Mayor Prissypants’ spitting out his herbal tea in righteous outrage.
Dr. Strangelove
There are or should be consequences when an electorate puts a fringe activist in a position of power. I think Sammy and anyone else who disagres with the Mayor of Leftorium should punish all of BC so that everyone understands that there are consequences when you either don’t vote or do and vote for Mayor Two Face.
It’s not just a case of supporting out troops.
I am quite certain that when these magnificent machines fly overhead it inspires a few kids to go into science and engineering, my own included.
I fail to see the harm here unless I’m missing something.
If the CF-18 pilot was planning to drop a load of napalm, strafe the fans in the stands or attempt a landing on the field, I could see the mayor’s point.
Obviously just another control freak exercising authority simply because he can.
The fact that cretins such as Robertson get elected speaks volumes for the voters of Vancouver.
“Does the mayor of a city actually have the legal authority to forbid the deployment of the Federal power (represented in this case by a CF-18 flyover) within municipal limits?”
Yes, I fear he does – unless it’s wartime or a similar emergency. It has to do with regulations on low-flying aircraft.
That said, what is it with so many mayors of Canadian cities? Where do these weenies come from?
Municipal government would seem to be the Ground Zero of political mediocrity.
I say do it anyway. It’s not like there are any SAM sites controlled by The People’s Republic of Vancouver.
As much as I dislike Mayor Prissypants and the detestable politics for which he stands, I think we should sit back and remember that Transport Canada has the authority to authorize (or otherwise) a flypast at 500 ft AGL. Regardless, Mayor Prissypants should concern himself with bicycles, chickens and other things that tap out his intelligence level.
Mt. Hope used to host one of the largest air shows in North America. Then the Ontario government changed the insurance requirements to the point where hosing the event was no longer financially possible, even for a non-profit.
These days I see letters to the editor in the Hamilton Spectator (Torstar Red Star Lite) complaining about that noisy old Lancaster, why can’t it be made a static display?
That’s why the Lancaster flies over MY house out in Hooterville instead of flying over Hamilton. I’m pretty happy about that, all the more for me.
In November 2008, the people of Vancouver chose Gregor Robertson as their new Mayor. He was elected on a platform of ending street homelessness in the City of Vancouver by 2015, and making Vancouver the greenest city in the world.
That my dear friends, is clear evidence that Vancouver’s “dear leader” has his head stuck up his socialist butt.
“He was elected on a platform of ending street homelessness in the City of Vancouver by 2015…”
And I know just how he’ll do it.
In 2015, all the homeless on the streets of Vancouver will be reclassified as “panhandlers” for the purpose of statistics.
Poof! No more “homeless”!
I golf regularly in the BC interior (Kokanee Springs next week!). That’s where I learned that BC stands for “bring cash”.
Its Vancouver! or what ever the Xlax Xlax name is these days… who cares! Mushroom eating asshats.
(and I thought they were all on Saltspring Island… silly me)
Gregor Robertson is a horrible person, absolutely in the pay of folks outside of the city of Vancouver. He’s a typical Leftie who HATES the military and everything it stands for.
A friend from Newfoundland moved here some years back, during the controversy surrounding the widening of the Lions Gate Bridge. Memorable quote regarding Van City Council: “They’re just passing the joint and waiting for the aliens to arrive and give them antigravity technology.” Loved it!
“Am I missing something?”
No, this is a disturbing trend I’ve noticed on both sides of the boarder. As conservatives we must do a better job at the local level; myself included.
The most glaring abuse of this type is the case of Chicago wishing to ban hand gun ownership. Thank goodness for the US Supreme Court. If the commies had their way, Second Amendment rights would not apply to those in Chicago.
I’m not sure of the BC Lions financial picture, but I could imagine an owner like the Dallas Cowboy’s Jerry Jones giving the Mayor a one finger salute and letting the show continue. The perception of the local government fining the Lions and thus sticking-it to the military will look bad politically; but, if the Lions bow to the Mayor’s authority, the Mayor will get a pass politically.
A single CF-18 flypast? Not even a 4 plane? Pathetic politics. Where will they be when Godzilla wanders through the downtown, eh?
On the bright side maybe comrade Mayor can get a Ruskie TU-95 Bear to take a flypast. They seem to be wandering closer these days.
Solution: have mayor Prissypants declare that the CF-18 was made possible by the natives’ contribution to science, math and engineering.
Transport Canada’s flight rules prohibit flight below 1,000 ft over built-up areas, and as BCer points out, only Transport Canada can waive the rule. Military flyovers are generally conducted above 1,000 AGL (Indy 500, Superbowl, etc), and they are impressive. Airshows have their own TC rules. All of that said, I agree that Pretty Boy is an offensive politician.
“‘Xwayxway'”.
Barnum&Bailey’s Abor Circus comes to Van’s Stanley Park.
This way to the ‘Xwayxway’.
Ugh, Kemo Sabay.
…-
“Stanley Park name will not change **
Global News,VANCOUVER — The federal government on Monday said the name of Stanley Park will not be changed, following
http://www.globaltvbc.com/ entertainment/ stanleyparknamewillchange/ 3238964/ story.html
Phantom said “That’s why the Lancaster flies over MY house out in Hooterville instead of flying over Hamilton.”
I seem to be on it’s regular flight path as well. I never get tired of seeing it and always stop what I’m doing to watch it. I had friends there the first time they fired it up and people started crying. None of them had heard that sound since the war. People need to see these things and they need to put faces to them so they actually understand history and the human aspect to it.
I think they *should* change the name of Stanley Park – to “Indo-Canadian Gangsta Wannabes’ Fag-Bashing Arena”. Just so everyone’s clear on how it’s actually used.
500ft AGL is too low. Shit happens.
Take it up to 1500, boys.
My guess is that some leftist lobby group got to him and made him ‘change his mind’. They probably told him that if he didn’t do what they said (no flypast) then, they’d campaign against him in the next election.
Eeeeee. Your last paragraph brought back memories of San Francisco. Yeccchhhhh!
Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.
I don’t live in Vancouver proper (thank God), but fired off an e-mail to Mr. PrissyPants anyways:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Honour your word, Mr. Mayor.
Allow the CF18 flyby for the BC Lions home opener.
To give your word, then retract it, and then make yourself “unavailable” to discuss the matter further, epitomizes political cowardice. Especially for such a trivial matter such as this. I can only imagine anti-military special interests have hijacked your position on this matter, John and Jane Public be damned.
Sad.
Regards,
lol nick
There are or should be consequences when an electorate puts a fringe activist in a position of power. I think Sammy and anyone else who disagres with the Mayor of Leftorium should punish all of BC so that everyone understands that there are consequences when you either don’t vote or do and vote for Mayor Two Face.
Posted by: Brian Mallard at July 9, 2010 11:52 AM
Brian, that is illogical. You do realize that residents outside of Vancouver city limits have no vote for the Vancouver mayoralty, do you not? To suggest punishment “all of BC” for the actions of voters within Vancouver city limits is…..puzzling.
His Worship had already scheduled alternative entertainment: David Suzuki is going to float above the stadium in a hemp balloon kept aloft by bovine gas.
Cheers, Indiana.
Solution, part 2: “Empire Field”. “Empire”?! You bunch of racist, colonialist, murdering capitalists! Have the mayor change the name to “Land Stolen From the Noble, Peace-loving, Mother-Earth Custodian Peoples of the First Nations To Whom We Owe Everything in Perpetuity”. Then have him instruct the Cf-18 pilot to strafe the crowd.
(Empire Field—formerly, Empire Stadium, the site, among other things, of “The Miracle Mile”, 1954, when Bannister beat Landy to finish at 3:58.8. My father, ex-RCAF WWII vet, was there on the sidelines when Landy looked the wrong way as Bannister passed him in the home stretch.)
I’m with ‘mojo’ and ‘Ham’; do it at 1,000′ and to hell with Robertson’s permission.
Mojo, 1500 AGL is above circuit altitude. 500 feet is fine — it’s not like they stay at that altitude.
Best fun I (and I’m guessing, the fighter jocks) had was up in Whitehorse without radar coverage. No tapes to infract for speed violations nor any proof their unrestricted climbs into controlled airspace…
Transport Canada isn’t the issue, either. The Bombers had a Herc flyby (coordinated by my seat mate at the stadium) and the Riders had 4 Texan II’s. (Rider fans weren’t able to count correctly, so I went and checked their numbers.)
“David Suzuki is going to float above the stadium in a hemp balloon kept aloft by bovine gas.”
Oh? Just what’s wrong with his own flatulence?
“His Worship had already scheduled alternative entertainment: David Suzuki is going to float above the stadium in a hemp balloon kept aloft by bovine gas.
Posted by: Jamie MacMaster at July 9, 2010 2:23 PM”
I would most definitely go to the game, but only if they handed out slingshots and rocks or dart guns to try and pop that helium balloon. That would really make the opening ceremonies a true sporting/entertainment event worth twice the price of admission!!!
Yukon We can count to four, the usual number of strings on a banjo.
I’m thinking of running for mayor of Vancouver with the campaign slogan “clear your mind of its lifelong marijuana haze and experiment with reality.” I could get maybe 5% of the vote if there was massive publicity and if I got on the good side of the pouty girl doing the interview.
Nah, make that 0.5% — I was thinking of Abbotsford there.
During the games CF-18s were in the air 24/7. They worked in shifts and were authorized to take drastic action if needed. Funny, no complaints from mayor progressive-pants then.
Another Solution: Make it a passenger airliner, call it a political photo-op, and make sure it passes closely by the city center.
You’ve got this wrong. The mayor had approved a fly over two weeks ago and hasn’t changed his mind. you have your facts wrong folks!
“Maybe a boycott BC is in order..no more tourist dollars will be coming from this prairie family.”
OH NO! What are we to do?!
Seriously, you guys are upset that Vancouver’s mayor doesn’t want jets to fly low over the city? It’s somebody building a windmill or something near your house that you can get upset over?
Marxists tend to get nervous about all low flying aircraft in their proximity not flown by party members. It’s a health and safety thing.
spool the f 18 up to mach 2 and see how the chickens respond to the boom…mayor prissy pants to mayor pissy pants.