Andre Marin has been one of the best ombudsmen that Ontario has ever seen. He’s worked tirelessly for the the people of this province by keeping a close eye on the McGuinty government, and communicating problems within his purview to the folks that pay their salaries when there are problems – i.e. us.
This is a huge benefit for taxpayers – especially with a majority government at the trough.
Now Marin’s five year term is up and Dalton says he wants to give other people a crack at the job. No doubt the popular Ombudsman has been a huge thorn in McGuinty’s side, while being exceptionally popular with the media and Ontarians in general.
Christina Blizzard in Yes Men Need Only Apply, suggests that if McGuinty ends up appointing a lapdog to the position that Andre Marin might give serious consideration to running for public office:
...I understand getting a plum government job shouldn’t be a shoo-in. The process should be transparent.
But neither should independent officers of the legislature fear for their jobs if they are outspoken in their criticism of the government.
McGuinty is sending a chilly message: Yes men only need apply.
What person with any integrity would take either the environment commissioner’s or the ombudsman’s job when that writing is on the wall?
Of course, Marin has one option. The premier himself is on a renewable contract. Marin could run for office next year.
Think about it. He’s feisty, outspoken and fearless.
He’d be a breath of fresh air around here…
Yes indeed. Ontario needs more Andre Marins.
As for Dalton McGuinty, let’s all make sure that he is replaced as Premier when his contract is up in October 2011.
From here on in it’s all politics and preparation for the next election on the part of McGuinty.
Same old, same old BS from that party!
O/T – I have just sent CTV’s Canada AM this letter:
Dear Canada AM;
I have just tuned in to your show this morning and could NOT believe what I heard coming from Bev Thompson’s mouth. That we “shouldn’t” brag too much today about our Olympic accomplishments.
What a bunch of hooey Bev! If one thing has become glowingly clear to ALL CANADIANS these past two weeks is that the Own The Podium gives this country permission to be winners and like it. It provided the mental launching pad for our athletes, their coaches and their families to stand proud and confidently in the wake of their own accomplishments.
To hell with that politically correct nonsense! Take the walls down CTV! Give our country as much bragging as they deserve. Allow them your permission to be part of what’s proving to be the greatest country in the world, first in economics, and second through our historic achievements.
If CTV hasn’t yet noticed that we’ve turned a corner as a country or paid attention to the awakened groundswell of patriotism these games reignited then I truly feel sorry for you.
So please Bev let your hair down, take a laxative or drop some Bailey’s in your morning coffee. Do whatever is takes to give our team and our country your permission to be great on the world stage and say so as many times and as much as they wish.
They deserve it, B.C. and our government deserve it and we as Canadians deserve something more that political correctness.
Heck, I even saw PM Harper high-5 Dalton McGuinty when we won speed skating gold yesterday. It seems even some politicians were coming together in spirit and pride.
Back up those ads and song with the verbal text that should go with it!
Yours truly,
XXXXXXXXX
P.S. – Marin should run if he’s canned! He is very respected. So too the environment watchdog. Marin’s the fellow who wanted to start opening the books of school boards, hospital boards and universties.
O/T,but an interesting tidbit I learned from cbc this am..remember how the media loved to emphasize the ‘huge’ numbers of people that had signed up to the anti-prorogue Facebook page? Well,there now is a Facebook page in support of the pants of curling team from Norway..and they currently have over 500,000 fans!!!! Now that’s really important stuff!
As for Iggy,the Libs can’t be happy with Siddiqui’s column in the torstar rag this am..’Ignatieff same as Stephen Harper on key issues’
Looks like Greg Weston deserves a few choice words today for his bozo column about the conspiracy behind Harper gov’t MPs lurking at the Olympics. Talk about a guy totally out of touch with the mood of the the country these days.
P.S. – Note to Weston – It’s about the athletes stupid!! If the gov’t MPs were hogging the limelight and making all kinds of statements you’d be the first one to whine about how they were trying to politicize the games. I see no mention of the Liberal MPs who I did catch a glimpse of.
Why is that do you suppose?
Do yourselves a favor tonight folks – tune into NBC once in a while to see what the world really thinks of us – despite our media flunkies.
What is it with Canadian msm? Why shouldn’t we be proud of our athlete’s accomplishments? Richo,I couldn’t believe it when I read your post,and what that braindead Bev had to say..thankfully I missed that,or there would have been a size 9 boot through my tv.Is there an Olympic-sized competition going on with our own media,as to who can win the gold for most asinine,most derogatory comments about our athletes,our pride? If so,they will need a much bigger podium,as it will be crowded with the countless naysayers. Good Lord,what is wrong with them..as for Bev/ctv..after a comment like that,ctv proves it isn’t worthy of covering the Games,and should go back to what they do best…slag any and all accomplishments of PMSH.They can ‘spin’ like the best figure skaters. they really make me sick.
What is wrong with limiting these tenures to the length of thei contracts. However meritorious the incumbent is ,a constant turnover of these unelected pooh bahs is important. Automatic rehire s a recipe for attracting incompetents.
Go Crosby go!
Re ctv, just tuned in and someone was interviewing someone from the Globe and Mail. I couldn’t not believe all the positive things the guy was saying about Own the Podium and the great success of these games. He feels Canada has finally come of age (paraphrased) to be proud of their Country. Wonder if he will put it in print.
I read in an article in the National Post yesterday(forget which one) that the clothing being flogged on CTV with “BELIEVE” on it is being confused with official Vancouver 2010 Olympic wear clothing. That in fact proceeds or part of the proceeds of the sale of this stuff and the DVD go back to CTV. I’m going to see if I can find that article. Did anyone else read it? Am looking for clarification on that.
I just want to put up link again (in case you missed it) cuz I think it really shows up our own LAME stream media..I love it,and really feel it’s worth taking to heart and loving who we are,that it is great to take pride in Canada:title of article is ‘Leaving behind a Thank-You Note’
link: http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/02/26/2213393.aspx
Isn’t it ironic,that the US media loves us..and that makes the TO loons crazy.
Oh-oh! This isn’t going to sit well with the leftwing loons..just watching the Olympic updates on ctv with Michael Chambers..he just gave a great big ‘thank you’ to PMSH for ‘not just showing up at the Games’ but being there to support them in every way.He also specifically mentioned the GG,and Gary Lunn,so eat that Taber!
BTW,one of the best things about the Games coverage on ctv,has been the cancellation of that other olympic-sized anti-PMSH fiasco known as QP(or as I like to refer to it the show Questionable Partisanship),and the Tabloid Taber journalism,complete with Craig’s Crap.
For the first time in a very, very long time I have absolutely no interest in watching Question Period any more. On rainy days maybe but I’m going to milk this feeling for as long as possible.
If I want truth ads or updates that tell me the whole story I know where to look without having to actually sit through the show. Life’s just too short.
For the first time in a very, very long time I have absolutely no interest in watching Question Period any more.
I’m feeling the same way, Richco.
NBC had another thank you to the Canadians for their great olympics and ended with Canada will
own the Podium. They had great respect for these games and the way canadians responded to all winners with respect.
Hey Jo and Richco,just think of this 2 wk break from QP as ‘detox’ from an addiction to a really bad substance,and we now enter ‘rehab!’ I’m thinking some of the reality shows will make a great substitute,as I find them as ludicrous as QP with Tabloid and Oliver..and just as believable!
This is just too funny! Link up at NatNewswatch to hilarious column at G&M by Bruce Anderson ‘Why Ignatieff should start thinking Green’..what is most funny is that there are 4 pages of comments and nearly all of them have been removed as ‘offensive’ Does no one at G&M read the blogs or the proof that GW has been a huge fraud? I say,go for it Iggy..and you will go down faster than a downhill skier!
There is a petition online to re-appoint Andre Marin as Ombudsman. Please publicize:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/34604.html