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Archive of entries posted on 8th January 2008

Will Dion’s gamble pay off?

Posted by Joanne on 8 January 2008, 10:42 pm

Colby Cosh does not seem impressed with Dion’s decision to parachute in Joan Beatty:

She does have two X chromosomes, and that’s what really counts as far as the federal Liberals are concerned. David Orchard, the popular agriculture and protectionism advocate who backed Stephane Dion for the party leadership and who has been selling Liberal memberships in the riding, found himself unexpectedly betrayed by virtue of lacking the correct genetic apparatus. There is a principle at stake for the party, insists national campaign co-chairman David Smith. “We’re prepared to bite the bullet,” he says, “to demonstrate that our commitment to increasing our number of women candidates — particularly well-qualified ones — is very real.”

Which is basically saying that when push comes to shove, women will come out on top in Liberal land. Well, then it’s not surprising that women apparently prefer the Liberal party, I suppose.

But isn’t that just a bit condescending?

Meanwhile, Randy Burton of the Star Phoenix has a very interesting take on the whole affair – Dion defaults on debt to Orchard. He sees this as a big gamble on Dion’s part.:

If Beatty can actually win the March 17 byelection to replace former Liberal MP Gary Merasty, then the Liberals can claim they were right to “bite the bullet,” as Senator David Smith calls it.

If she fails, Dion will not only have reduced his seat count, but he will have alienated one of his most important supporters for nothing. Free trade critic and former Tory leadership candidate David Orchard delivered 150 votes to Dion’s leadership campaign in 2006, but apparently that wasn’t enough…

Tough being a man in the Liberal Party.

Might be even more painful for Dion though if his little gamble doesn’t pay off. That bullet might end up biting him in the butt.

* * * *
Wednesday Update: Northerners plan protest of Liberal Appointment:

…Orchard’s campaign manager Marjaleena Repo said she expects Orchard to be in the audience of Saturday’s meeting, but the issue belongs to the people of the riding.

“The issue is even beyond the candidates. I have this feeling that this is drawing a line in the sand. Or in the forest,” she said…

See also – Another female vote for Harper (Post).

Filed under Federal politics.
5 Comments

It’s called ‘weather’, Stupid!

Posted by Joanne on 8 January 2008, 12:25 pm

My heartfelt thanks to Helga Fischer of Kitchener for saving me the trouble of having to write to the Record about their idiotic Jan. 2 editorial, A year for saving the environment.

Ms. Fisher’s letter is much better than anything I could ever have composed – Weather is changeable:

…Whether it’s a period of a few months or many thousands of years, the weather keeps changing. Plate tectonics, the tilt of the earth and solar activity play the major roles in weather shifts. This seems not to concern you, but put a few SUVs on the road and you “warm mongers” see only catastrophe. I am asking you: How much more evidence do you need that climate change is normal . . . it’s been happening for millennia.

My favourite part of your rant is the second part of your question. The reference to “overstating” the warnings. Why can you not use honest language? The correct word is “exaggerate.” I have noticed that the word “overstate” is being used a fair bit by the “warmers” these days. If the word “exaggerate” scares you then little wonder you’re so “unnerved” by no snow until the middle of January last year.

Except for skiers and snowplow drivers, I heard very few complaints. If I were you I would be more intrigued by another “global warming” story . . . the one about how Al Gore went from a net worth of about $1 million seven years ago to a current estimated worth of over $100 million. I think it’s fair to say that global warming is the best thing that’s ever happened to him…

I love that last bit.

My personal feeling is that we don’t know exactly how much AGW is a factor in climate change, but to blame it on all man-made sources and say there can be no more discussion is quite disingenuous – although not surprising for an editorial board in the centre of Lemmingland.

* * * *
Related: Carbon plan a gas - Greg Weston.

Post – The short life of carbon taxes.

Yikes! The sky is falling!!! From Garth Turner:

…The more significant story is the climate change crisis and weather-related events that are probably upon us. As I said last week, 100 million people live within one metre of the seas, many of them in cities like Halifax, New York and London. Sea levels are rising, and it’s estimated within ten years many of these people will be environmental refugees, and their priceless real estate worthless in water…

Filed under AGW, Weather, climate change.
5 Comments

Following the lead of His Blondness

Posted by Joanne on 8 January 2008, 9:35 am

Toronto isn’t the only one with left-leaning ideologies that are worrisome to local taxpayers.

Kitchener’s pinko city council is pondering ‘experience bonuses’, while at the same time preparing us for a massive tax hike.

Coun. Berry Vrbanovic (who BTW ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in the 1999 Ontario election) pointed to the need for a new fire hall as part of the reason for the property tax increase. He also blamed the feds.

(You forgot to blame global warming, Berry!)

Now they are pondering these bonuses, not just if forced to do so by arbitration for firefighters, but perhaps for other municipal workers as well (and just who are these arbitrators anyway?):


David Ryrie appeared before city councillors yesterday to ask about the bonuses.

Ryrie wanted to know if firefighters get the bonuses, will other city employees be given similar pay hikes.

“I want to know if that was talked about at all,” Ryrie said.

The city’s chief administrator confirmed it was indeed talked about and considered.

No details were provided on who would get the bonuses and the amounts involved.

( . . . )

“You’ve got to get a grip,” Ed Redgwell told Kitchener councillors.

“Lots of people are living with two per cent increases to their pensions, and you are talking about increases of three or four or five per cent.”

This domino trend towards giving the public sector payouts that the private sector could never even dream of is worrisome. It’s a big carrot for union support during elections. However, it is unsustainable.

Companies are closing up and moving elsewhere. People are having to settle for McJobs.

Yet property taxes continue to increase. Seniors are usually on fixed incomes and many are not geared toward the cost of living. What are they supposed to do?

Somethings got to give.

And frankly, I’m tired of being the one forced to do the giving.

* * * *
Related: Jeff Allan will be discussing this topic on today’s show.

It isn’t just a Kitchener issue. It is a socialist, union-driven trend, and it is spreading like cancer. They will keep doing this just as long as you continue to bend over and take it.

Update: Coun. John Gazzola was just on Jeff’s show. He seems to be one of the few voices of reason here. He has major concerns about this proposed tax increase.

* * * *

Reality Check – With reference to Berry Vrbanovic’s complaints about the Federal Government regarding infrastructure (”It’s incumbent upon the federal government to support municipalities”), please check out these two links:

The first is a government site: Building Canada – Modern Infrastructure for a Strong Canada.

The second is from a National Post article – Liberals go on the attack over urban infrastructure:

…Mr. Cannon is clearly frustrated with provincial leaders, particularly with Ontario Premier Dalton ­McGuinty. In June, Mr. McGuinty announced a $17.5-billion rapid transit plan for the Greater Toronto Area and called on the federal government to cover one-third of the cost. Yet Mr. Cannon says he has yet to receive formal word of the Move Ontario plan from the McGuinty government. “There’s nothing, it’s just smoke,” he said. “It would seem to me that the provinces, particularly Ontario, have to come up with what they want to do and how they are going to help municipalities in their jurisdictions.”

So go talk to your buddy Dalton, Mr. Vrbanovic.

* * * *

Wednesday Update: City plays salary catch-up.

Filed under Toronto.
20 Comments