First we had Ignatieff.me and then IRuby.

Now it’s ElectMe. Well, at least the initials match.

(And they call Stephen Harper ‘arrogant’.)

I figured I’d start a new thread because everyone seems to be talking about it anyway.

Then

“We also approved a wide-reaching pesticide ban, which vastly reduces one of major sources of water pollution”. (David Miller, 2005 – Address at the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast.)

“Pesticides are poisons,” he insists. “They are a health hazard…” (David Miller, May 2004)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Now

From today’s Star:

A city that was the first in Ontario to ban the cosmetic use of insecticides and pesticides is now spraying chemicals at temporary garbage dumps as well as putting out rat bait…

From Today’s National Post:

…Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health paid a visit to Christie Pits Park — one of 19 designated drop off points — where enraged local residents have been trying to have a temporary dump shut down as a hazard.

Dr. David McKeown inspected the site, then later held a news conference declaring it all clear. He called for understanding among angry neighbours who have been picketing fellow residents bringing their garbage and preventing the spraying of chemicals on the bags piled up in a melted ice rink that would keep away vermin.

“I am issuing an appeal to residents who are concerned about the garbage to co-operate with city officials and to ensure access to these sites by the pest control operator,” Dr. McKeown said in a statement. “While I appreciate there are concerns about the use of pesticides, I am satisfied that the city is taking the necessary precautions to ensure pesticides are applied in a way that minimizes any risk to public health.”

So which is it?  Safe or not safe? Do pesticides and poisons leach into the water table or not? Are pesticides indeed poisons?

Or is the science entirely dependent on the political agenda of the day?

And if there is even a potential for disease due to public dumping of trash in city parks, why not declare garbage pickup an essential service?

I think Ontario-geofish has the right idea – Rats are people too.

*   *   *   *

News Update: Exterminators blocked from Christie Pits - Toronto Sun

City closes two dumps, opens two new ones - Star:

…While Dr. David McKeown, the city’s medical officer of health, has repeatedly insisted that a well-managed temporary garbage site need not cause a health hazard, he said at a briefing at Metro Hall today there is evidence of an insect infestation at Christie Pits.

He issued a work order today to the city to implement an effective insect control program at the site, and urged neighbours to cooperate and allow pest control officials into the area.

While the garbage will remain at the sites until the end of the strike, periodic spraying will take place to keep vermin away...

MUST-READ: Toronto on strike: Our parks grow thick with trash, and the union smiles – Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post:

…At Christie Pits I asked Jim, the city solid waste manager, why the city doesn’t just come in the night with loaders and trucks, and take the trash somewhere a little more appropriate, like a transfer station or a landfill.

“Because of them,” explains Jim, pointing to the strikers nearby. “They’ll let it come in, but they won’t let it come out.”

Judith Andrew of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business points to the growing wage disparity between the public vs private sector in today’s National Post – Frustration grows over public vs private pay.

However CUPE’s Paul Moist has a different view:

…Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, acknowledges there is a wage gap in Canada, but maintains the disparity is based on unionization, not on public versus private. A unionized cashier in the private sector, for example, is compensated similarly to a unionized cashier in the public sector, he said.

As a general rule, unionized employees earn higher wages and benefits, Mr. Moist said, “which we would argue is a good thing.” The average salary for a CUPE worker countrywide is about $35,000…

So if that’s the case, then everyone in Canada should belong to a union, right?  And then we could bail ourselves out, and keep striking so the next union doesn’t one-up us.

Yeah, that would work.

*   *   *   *

Related: David Miller’s moment of truth – National Post

Kelly McParland: Toronto, the workers’ paradise where nothing works – Post.

Letter in Friday’s Post:

“Reverse Robin Hood” is an apt description of the salaries earned by employees in the public sector. We see it at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. The fat benefits, the generous pensions are something that those in the private sector can dream of.

Small business is the backbone of the economic recovery. Judith Andrew is absolutely correct in stating that these businesses are being overly taxed to pay fat salaries to public service unionized workers — salaries they can’t afford to offer their own staff.

Anne Robinson, Toronto.

Good for Lorrie Goldstein.  In today’s column, he  exposes the MSM bias in the U.S. about how the EPA appears to have muzzled the findings of two of its own researchers – Towing the Obama Line.

This is a must-read on so many levels. Lorrie contrasts the media outrage accusing  George Bush of censoring expert opinion on climate change, but  Barack Obama seems to be getting a free pass. Instead the news cycle is focusing on  Michael Jackson 24-7.  Is that all that matters to Americans?

Goldstein details the sequence of events that seem to demonstrate that the new administration only wants to hear evidence that favours its political agenda:

…It raises concerns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tried to suppress the opinions of two of its own researchers — an economist and an environmental scientist — that the EPA was unwisely rushing into declaring carbon dioxide a pollutant, based on outdated and disputed scientific research on climate change.

According to e-mail records, these conclusions, contained in a 98-page report by 38-year EPA veteran Alan Carlin, an economist and lead author, and 26-year employee John Davidson, an environmental scientist, appear to have sent the EPA into a panic…

( . . . )

…On March 17, McGartland e-mailed Carlin that he had decided not to forward his concerns because: “The time for such discussion of fundamental issues has passed for this round. The administrator (Obama appointee Lisa Jackson) and the administration has decided to move forward on endangerment, and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision … I can only see one impact of your comments given where we are in the process, and that would be a very negative impact on our office.”

It’s actually a very frightening story, and is particularly relevant in terms of how Canada is now forced to toady the Obama party line, which is likely going to negatively affect both the U.S. economy and ours.

Truth seems to have become a casualty in the war on carbon.

*   *   *   *

Update: Video: EPA dissenter Alan Carlin speaks – Michelle Malkin (H/T Soccermom)

As California Goes – SDA

EPA throws Obama’s vow of “Openness” on bureaucratic toxic waste dump – Canada Free Press (But watch out for those annoying pop-ups)

The Decline of Thinking - The LRC blog

Inconvenient Science – The New Ledger

Meet Alan Carlin: The EPA’s Inconvenient Voice - NewsBusters

EPA global warming report nixed – Denver News Examiner

Questions on EPA’s potential suppression of climate change report – Digital Journal

Sen. Inhofe Calls for Inquiry Into ‘Suppressed’ Climate Change Report – Fox News

*   *   *   *

Friday Update:

U.S. climate bill threatens Canada – NP

Stay proud, Canada:

…Donolo says there is a kind of new “smugness” out there that goes sharply against the grain of the legendary inferiority complex. Canadians now say, 89 per cent of them, that they live in the best country in the world. They say, 87 per cent, that Canada is in better shape than anyone else to deal with the world economic situation.

They believe Quebec will stay. They believe in their soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. And they think everyone living here could be just a bit more patriotic about it.

“If ever there was a true Canadian inferiority complex,” Donolo says, “it’s gone. When 90 per cent of the people think they live in the world’s best country, that’s not a country with a self-confidence problem.”

*   *   *   *

H/T Bionic Liberal and Richco.

*   *   *   *

Update: Harper praises ’strong and resilient’ Canadians – CTV

Thursday Update:

Arab group exec quits after online tirade – Toronto Sun:

…Just after 8:30 last night, Shaban, 23, resigned his post as the CAF’s executive vice-president for Western Canada, CAF national president Khaled Mouammar confirmed…

“It’s finally Canada Day … Couldn’t be more ashamed to be Canadian,” he wrote, apparently in reference to Canada’s treatment of the native population.

Mouammar said the comments don’t reflect the views of the CAF, a group that represents more than 40 Arab organizations across the country.

Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress and a media commentator who has been critical of the CAF in the past, called the comments “hateful” and that Canadians shouldn’t tolerate it.

“This hateful attitude towards Canada is a direct result of how some politicians and police have refused to stand up to Islamists, either out of fear or for electoral expediency,” Fatah said.

At a time like this, words just can’t convey the sadness and loss.

But Tim Powers has made an excellent effort:

…On this tough day, after what has no doubt been a rocky road, the Batters’ family has shown tremendous courage in sharing Dave’s battle with the rest of the country. One hopes your guts will continue to advance the war against the Black Dog and lessen his bite.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a statement just released about Dave’s tragic death, said this:

“Dave ultimately lost his struggle with severe depression, but we should use his loss as a reminder that mental health illnesses affect Canadians in every walk of life. Too often Canadians, such as Dave, suffer in silence out of fear of being stigmatized for their illness.”

Good also for the Prime Minister in picking up the baton handed to him by the Batters family and speaking directly to all those Canadians, and their families, who have walked and continue to walk in Dave’s shoes…

Please don’t suffer in silence or out of humiliation. Seek help.

And know that you are not alone in your affliction.

*   *   *   *

Update: More condolences across partisan lines -  and in comments.

RIP Dave Batters - Dr. Roy

Suicide – - Preventable Death – James Morton

Dave Batters RIP – Mike McGuire

Chris Vander Doelen of The Windsor Star warns us to prepare for months of tedious Harris-Hudak comparisons by Liberal media friends until the next election – Hudak vilification underway. (Boy, you’d think they’d at least try to dream up some different headlines for the first Star two links.  ‘Back to the future’  x2?  C’mon. I’m yawning already.)

My guess is that the Ontario Liberal strategists are either seriously underestimating the intelligence of the average voter or else they’re stuck in a time warp.  In any case, we’ll let them play their little game.

Grassroots conservative voters are over the moon to have a real alternative to the Liberals this time around:

…But Hudak’s selection over the “centrist” and “moderate” candidates touted by the media means the PC party faithful are tired of playing it safe and trying to make Toronto happy. They’re fed up with being led to the polls by middle-of-the-roaders who can’t cut through the clutter to win...

Meanwhile, Tim Hudak is wasting no time preparing the way for the next election and getting down to the business of holding the McGuinty Liberal Government to account. Today’s National Post has the story – New PC leader lands hot topic.

From the reactor waffling and Green Energy Act,  to the health tax and the e-health boondoggle, there are no shortage of issues for Tim Hudak and his team to focus on.

Moreover, they also have time to explain how their solid conservative principles of   “…rewarding hard work and ingenuity, supporting families, supporting home ownership and respecting the rule of law” will help get this province going again.

I am energized and ready for the battle.  I hope you are too.

*   *   *   *

Update: You are not going to believe this one – Toronto Star equates ON PC’s with death penalty – Crux of the Matter

The Star has really crossed the line this time.

More on Millerland - Matt Gurney: In patriotic Toronto, Pride parade goes ahead; Canada Day gets the axe – National Post

Michael Taube still stands by his words that “Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff will likely never become prime minister.”

Today’s CTV headline may very well reinforce his opinion – New GDP numbers show economy is on the rebound.

Meanwhile, Ottawa Bob keeps wearing his rose-coloured glasses.

*   *   *   *

Update: Tories question Liberal senators’ need for database – Globe:

…Kevin Gaudet, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, said Elections Canada should investigate. Mr. Gaudet said he isn’t prepared to accept the Liberal assurances that there was no partisan intent. “It’s those types of lines that raise the type of joke, ‘How do you know when a politician’s lying: When his lips are moving.’”

Investigation required over Liberal Senate efforts to buy Election Software - CTF (H/T Gabby)

In his June 28th column, Lorrie Goldstein focused on the ‘cozy relationships‘ involved in the Green Movement. Specifically he was referring to Tom Adams’ YouTube video “Green Energy Act Paradox”.

Lorrie summarizes Tom Adams’ observations:

…He describes the “cosy relationship” that exists among governments that want power, energy companies that want profits and environmental organizations that want more renewable energy, but also consulting fees and government funding.

The way it works is governments hand out money to environmental organizations, who consult with and for energy companies, who together advise the government on what green energy laws should look like, and who then praise the government — ad nauseam — for the legislation they helped design when the government unveils it.

And who are the losers in this neat little drama, you ask?

Why, the public, of course, who are increasingly being presented with so-called “green” legislation in which all the key decisions have been made behind closed doors, long before the so-called public consultations begin…

Adams and Goldstein aren’t the only ones noticing this symbiotic relationship.

Back in early March, Terence Corcoran exposed the same bed partners:

Who’s pushing for all this? Not the people. The major backers of green power tax-and-grab regimes are hundreds of businesses that stand to collect billions in subsidies and tax benefits from solar, wind and other alternative energy forms.

Business groups, with major lobbying and legal backing, are in cahoots with green activists, who, in turn, are sleeping with government bureaucrats and politicians.

Let’s follow some money. There’s the Ontario Green Energy Act Alliance, the major lobbying effort behind the new green police state. It self-describes its origins: “The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA), together with other leading trade associations, environmental groups, First Nations, developers, manufacturers, farmers and landowners, is initiating a campaign to create the Ontario Green Energy Act.”

( . . . )

…In summary, the Ontario government pays millions of dollars to environmental activists and corporate interests to lobby the Ontario government and agitate for the Green Energy Act, which act serves the interests of the agitators…

Smells a little, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile the consultation process has been ongoing regarding wind turbines with varying degrees of success and satisfaction, for example in Port Elgin and Toronto.  Feedback will be accepted until July 24, 2009.

This is one of those areas where Joe Blow taxpayer might not get too excited until those wind turbines begin to negatively affect his property or health.

However we should all be concerned about these reports of cozy backscratching going on behind the scenes, with hands reaching deep into our pockets.

*   *   *   *

Tuesday Update: Springer just brought a very important article to my attention. Check it out at his blog:   The truth about global warming is out there…

Smitherman rolls dice on new nuke deal – Sun Editorial:

…Ontario’s original time line to complete the new Darlington reactors by 2018 — keeping nuclear power at its current level of supplying 50% of the province’s electricity, albeit more reliably than it does at present — was wildly optimistic.

And despite denials yesterday, the longer it takes to build the new nukes, the longer it will take to close Ontario’s coal-fired energy plants, which the province has promised to do by 2014.

Nuke plants, unlike coal, don’t emit greenhouse gases or air pollution.

But they do produce nuclear waste and are fiercely opposed by the same environmental groups Premier Dalton McGuinty has been relying on to sell Ontarians on expensive wind energy and industrial wind farms...

*   *   *   *

Plastic-bag initiative fails to catch on – Post:

…The fees should not be allowed to “hide behind a green mask,” said Michael Flavell, a senior Ottawa-based trade and competition lawyer.

“This is a complex area that should be examined carefully,” Mr. Flavell stated. “The Competition Bureau must not hesitate to delve into the details of new ‘green’ initiatives to uncover their true intentions and consequences, and ensure they are not masking anti-competitive manoeuvres.”

A spokeswoman for the federal Competition Bureau responded to questions about the bylaw by saying only that “we are aware of the issue,” and said she could not comment further…

*   *   *   *

Speaking of the environment:

…Govind Rao of the Friends of Christie Pits told ctvtoronto.ca on Monday that his group sent an inquiry about what chemicals are being used to control insects and vermin at the temporary dump sites, one of which is in a hockey rink at Christie Pits, which is north of Bloor Street West and west of Christie Street…

But I thought McGuinty banned pesticides???

Stimulate this!

(NSFW – Only for family festivals)

H/T Maz2.

*   *   *   *

Related: Politics getting in way of Pride – Jonathan Naymark, National Post

A few gems here – Gay parade cleanup upsets striking workers – National Post:

…but the strike meant the city had to use a team of nearly 100 non-union city staff and a “handful” of private contract workers instead, said city spokesman Rob Andrusevich.

This plan didn’t sit well with union members, who stood on Yonge Street and blocked the approximately one dozen private contractors the city hired to pick up and load sections of moveable metal fence from along the parade route.

“We’re trying to slow them down from doing our job,” said picket captain Ben DeSousa…

So, why not just do it yourselves?

…Not to be outdone, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Toronto Centre MP Bob Rae walked the parade route alongside a Liberal float, from which a drag queen in a lime green dress swivelled her hips.

Her?

*   *   *   *

Welcome SDA readers!!! Kate wants photos of Iggy and Rae.

Here are a couple of Iggy for ya, Kate! (Numbers 10 & 13)

Gee, I don’t know about you, but his outfit seems a bit dull to me. Do you think he’s feeling comfortable? Looks a bit overdressed too.

*   *   *   *

Police should charge naughty parade participants, reverend urges - Sault Star:

…But police have in the past charged participants for nudity –only to have charges dropped because it was successfully argued the suspects were wearing shoes…

Those must have been some high boots!

*   *   *   *

Evening Update:

Obligatory gay pride post – Eric at Diogenes Borealis.

While some people take the summer off… -  Alberta Ardvark.

Liberals need more time to refill Ignatieff’s tank – Chantel Hebert (H/T Frmgrl)  (Very interesting choice of photo accompanying that headline)

*   *   *   *

Tuesday Update: No special treatment for Pride: Mayor – National Post

And an excellent letter in today’s Post – Not Proud:

Re: Politics Getting in the Way of Pride, Jonathan Naymark, June 26.

As a young Zionist and proud Israeli, witnessing Palestinian campaigners at Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade carrying signs reading “Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism” and “Out with Israeli apartheid” made me feel personally attacked and discriminated against. The Palestinian display did not indicate any support for the gay and lesbian community. Rather, they used the parade as a political platform to discriminate against another people. Their intolerance towards Israel — the only country in the Middle East where one can be open about his or her sexuality — had no place in a parade that encourages acceptance of people from all walks of life.

Lavi Zemer, Toronto.

Raphael has a thought-provoking post up on the topic of public nudity in the Pride Parade – What Is The Purpose Of A “Gay Pride” Parade?

*   *   *   *

“Const. Wendy Drummond said there is no blind eye and all laws will be enforced.” – Toronto Sun

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too.