Blue Like You

Saskatoon journalist Wayne Eyre has some suggestions for Stephen Harper in today’s National Post. Some of his ideas are similar to those found on my Election Issue Wish List.

One of those items is overreaching power of Canada’s various Human Rights Commissions, for which Eyre proposes a solution:

-Join (Liberal) MP Keith Martin’s initiative to kill Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act — the one that deals with speech that’s "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt." Section 13 is custom-made for Islamist, and other, anti-free-speechers who — with no hit on their own wallet — can, and do, launch capricious and malicious suits against others.

Mr. Harper had it right in 1999, when he publicly opined that "Human Rights Commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society… It is, in fact, totalitarianism. I find this very scary stuff."

Of course, in today’s politically-correct world, this is a very delicate area. And throwing your support to an idea espoused by a member of a rival political party may not seem like a great idea during an election. However, I would certainly love to see more discussion on the topic of Section 13. (Are you listening, Steve Paikin?)

(Lots of background on this topic at ezralevant.com)

Eyre also seems to share my concerns about two-tier justice in Canada - especially Ontario. His suggestion of sending in the army to deal with native road blockades may seem a bit heavy-handed, but I would think there is a lot of support for this idea out there (Hello, Caledonia?). Unfortunately, it is another politically-incorrect concept and therefore not likely to be part of any party’s election platform.

Even though it’s not on my list, I like Eyre’s idea of improving the decorum in the House of Commons.  It is an embarrassment to the country that our elected members of Parliament are allowed to act in such a juvenile fashion (my apologies to Canadian children).

Finally, on the topic of consumer food safety which was on my list and not Eyre’s, I would like to suggest that the Prime Minister explain to Canadians exactly how his government plans to protect Canadians from any kind of tainted food products. This is of vital importance to Canadians. We rely on Government standards to protect us from dangerous imported and domestic products.

Concern about food safety is a major ‘gut’ issue.

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Afternoon Update: Well, it looks like the Liberals and MSM are getting totally desperate - Liberals accuse Harper of plagiarizing 2003 speech on Iraq - CBC (which must be gloating right now)

When it comes to plagiarism, the Liberals are experts - Steve Janke.

Liberals try to bushwhack Harper with Plagiarism claim - Neil Hrab. (Post)

Dalton McGuinty plans to ask the federal party leaders for fairness for Ontario:

…After meeting with students at a Pickering high school today, McGuinty said he will ask each federal party leader how they would deal with Ontario’s claims that it is not treated fairly by the federal government…

Too bad Dalton doesn’t worry about fair and equal treatment of Ontario citizens himself.

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Wednesday Update : Waterloo Region has big problems with long wait times for specialists. Here is the latest crisis developing - Region loses two dermatologists (Record). Where is Dalton McGuinty on this file? Why is he ignoring the health of Waterloo Region citizens?

…Area dermatologists see a mix of medical and cosmetic cases. But Papp said they could see more medical cases if the province provides more funding.

Money to introduce electronic health records would boost efficiency, he said. And hiring nurse practitioners or other trained practitioners to help monitor less serious cases would free up specialists to care for complex ones, he said.

Two years ago, Papp asked the province for funding for a nurse practitioner but was told none was available.

He added that there have been only minor increases to fee-for-service payments for dermatologists.

"Basically, we are getting paid the same as we did in 1986 and the costs are much, much higher."

Dalton McGuinty should stop pandering to unions and start funding the health sector properly. Where is our health tax going???

Regarding McGuinty’s electioneering style, check this out: Obama goes to McGuinty U. (Sun)

Yesterday we were visiting some relatives in Brantford, Ontario. The conversation turned to native issues, as it often does these days.

Actually, this time the topic came up quite abruptly when it was discovered that one of the guests had had an SUV stolen that very day from a cinema parking lot. The general feeling was that it was likely now on a nearby reserve being dismantled for parts. Car thefts are a big industry for some native youth. The problem is that police rarely enter the reserves so it is quite a lucrative racket.

Just like illegal smokes, this is a very difficult area to prosecute since the current provincial government is disinclined to take a hard stand against crimes committed by natives.

The OPP is losing the respect of many citizens in Brantford and Caledonia. Police are not being seen to enforce the law, and this has left many non-natives angry and cynical.

The whole Six Nations situation in Southern Ontario is a boiling pot of resentment on both sides. One of the guests last night blamed the feds for not taking action. I reminded him that law enforcement is a provincial issue, but he said that tons of money is flowing from the Federal Government to help pay for the OPP reinforcements in Caledonia. These costs are escalated by virtue of the fact that many cops are having to be housed in local hotels because there simply aren’t enough officers living in the area. They also make huge overtime bonuses as well, according to what I was told.

I didn’t want to get into an argument with him, but I was thinking that having the federal government (and therefore all Canadian taxpayers) bankrole the policing costs in Caledonia hardly makes the feds responsible for the milquetoast attitude of the OPP. If that is the case, then we are all complicit in the application of two-tier justice in Southern Ontario.

This morning I came across this article from the Brantford Expositor - "We don’t have a solution to your problem ", says land claims negotiator.

There are a few very important items here that everyone needs to be made aware of:

The federal government is doing all it can to resolve Six Nations land claims, said Ron Doering, chief federal negotiator, during a speech to the Rotary Club of Brantford on Friday.

However, the federal government has no jurisdiction or responsibility when it comes to land development or law enforcement concerns , he said…

…For the federal government to intrude into the realm of land development issues would be illegal , Doering said, adding that the government has no part in law enforcement.

Doering, a lawyer with 35 years’ experience in law and public policy administration, told the gathering that he does not recall a "more complicated" set of negotiations than the current talks with Six Nations.

He said it annoys him to read media reports that take "cheap shots" at the government and ask why the feds have not stepped up to the plate.

"I’ve been at the plate," he said…

…a $125-million offer was presented in May 2007 to Six Nations to settle four outstanding claims. No reply was received.

Government negotiators then decided to focus on a single, smaller and more straightforward claim involving lands flooded by the building of the Welland Canal in the 1820s. That offer for $26 million has neither been accepted nor rejected, Doering said.

"If we can’t settle this, I’m getting discouraged about if we can settle any claims," he said, adding that other Six Nations claims, some involving stock- holdings of the Grand River Navigation Company and dating back to the mid- 1800s are "diabolically complicated."

Doering also explained how the monetary figures for land claims settlements are determined through complex calculations of the value of money and land over time.

If anything, the government’s $26-million offer erred "on the side of being fair and generous as final and full compensation" for the Welland Canal flooding of 1829, he said…

…Talks between the Six Nations’ and government representatives are temporarily on hold while Six Nations’ negotiators are "taking a break," he said.

"I’ve given up making predictions but I hope to be back at the table in the next couple of weeks."

So in reality, if anyone should be ’stepping up to the plate’, it should be Julian Fantino, Dalton McGuinty and the dysfunctional Six Nations’ negotiating ‘team’, which is often at odds with itself.

And if Dalton tries to tell you otherwise, send him that Expositor link.

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Update: And you gotta love this from Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant :

"We are not where we should be," Bryant said. "It’s been 200 years. … The Harper government needs to stop hesitating and get on with a solution."

200 years and suddenly the Harper government is at fault for not coming up with a solution fast enough. It is enough to make you want to laugh - or weep in despair and frustration at the empty rhetoric and ridiculous finger pointing.

Related: Why are talks taking so long? Ron Doering offers his top 10 reasons.

Update: This post has been featured at Jack’s Newswatch - Daily Blogger.

Please listen to John Tory live on the Jeff Allan show this morning for all three hours.

Right now he is addressing the economy, as well as the (lack of) the rule of law in Ontario. Listen live here and please try to call in.

Now’s your chance to air your grievances, all you malcontents.

Moebius, that means you!

(From MacKay - May 31, 2006 )

Please visit my poll page and cast your vote at one or both of the two polls about Julian Fantino vs. Shawn Brant.

The first poll asks if Fantino should be suspended. Current results sit at 91% saying no and 9% saying yes, out of a total of 55 votes since July 20.

The second poll is more specific, asking whether Fantino should be suspended, fired, given the Order of Canada or none of the above? Only 9 votes have been cast here, but 78% of the respondents have voted for ‘None of the Above". 22% say he should be fired.

The National Post takes a shot at fellow MSM this morning with their editorial, Fantino’s Non-Scandal:

…The only "danger" at issue here is the risk of this country being overrun by native protests in the face of cops who have both hands tied behind their backs.

How exactly did this increasingly wimpy nation get to a point where it is considered "scandalous" for a police officer to use Bmovie tough talk to eject thugs from public property? More to the point: Why are our media colleagues cheerleading this embarrassing phenomenon?

Well, Shawn Brant, his lawyer and NDP MPP Peter Kormos certainly know how to use the media to their advantage. And to his credit, Dalton McGuinty has stood by Fantino on this one. I grudgingly give him a thumbs-up for that. The NDP’s action is shameless and irresponsible.

However, that this is even a story one year after the fact is symptomatic of our weak-kneed progressive attitudes when it comes to applying the law of the land to all citizens equally.

Or as Julian Fantino himself has observed,

"I find the whole thing ludicrous,” the Ontario Provincial Police commissioner said in an e-mail.

"It’s all utter shameful madness that under the circumstances . . . I and the OPP would be portrayed as the villains and Brant the victim. But, then again, some people have no shame,” he wrote.

"Ironically, only in Canada can someone basically usurp the rights and lawful entitlement of tens of thousands of people and obstruct commerce by leading a so-called blockade using criminal tactics (and have) such unlawful actions be made out to be legitimate and its mastermind then the victim. This is insane!” he wrote.

It is indeed insane.

But when you have an Ontario Premier with a long-standing policy of incremental appeasement and an apparent policing philosophy that involves merely ‘keeping the peace’ when laws are broken, then he shouldn’t be too surprised when an alleged perpetrator of a crime is made to look like victim.

It is a logical progression.

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Update: Thanks to Sol for directing me to this excellent commentary in today’s Sun - Apparently Fantino’s an o.k. guy. It seems that the Kangaroo Court comprised of MSM and left-leaning politicians has been less than honest with us regarding the context of Fantino’s comments:

…What you probably haven’t heard is the next thing Fantino said: "I don’t want to do that. I want to help you deal with the suicides (on native reserves) … I’ve travelled to … reserves. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve seen it. I’ve been to Kashechewan and some of these other places. I’ve been there … "

Shawn Brant himself seemed quite impressed with Fantino at the time.

If this is Peter Kormos’ way to get face-time before an NDP leadership race, I think he’s picking the wrong issue.

Neo has more - What percentage of Ontarians…

Another tip from Sol - Christina Blizzard: Shawn Brant vs. everyone.

The Ontario NDP party is now increasing the pressure on Julian Fantino by calling for him to either resign or be fired.

This significantly ups the ante from just a few days ago when Shawn Brant’s lawyer had simply asked for Fantino to be temporarily suspended and that his comments be investigated.

My poll is still active but I may need another one to reflect this new development.

Meanwhile, do you think Julian Fantino should be suspended?

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Update: OPP head defends tactics in defusing 2007 aboriginal protest. (Globe)

Welcome CBC readers! Please vote here! (Even though the poll can’t keep up with the story!). Thanks.

Tuesday Update: Christina Blizzard has a great column in this morning’s Sun - McGuinty is right to back top cop:

…McGuinty must stand by Fantino, or risk provoking a thousand anarchists across the province.

And shame on New Democrat Peter Kormos for calling Fantino, "bellicose," "pugilistic," and "inflammatory."

Someone’s being inflammatory — and it isn’t Fantino.

I’m not always on the top cop’s side. But in this one, his personal intervention in the all-night negotiations saved the province from what could have been a bloodbath.

Suspension? I don’t think so. Give Fantino a medal.

Thank you, Christina. You can cast your vote right here.

Shawn Brant’s lawyer wants Julian Fantino suspended and investigated for comments he made to Brant during critical negotiations surrounding the Aboriginal Day of action at the end of June 2007.

Apparently the issue is the language that Fantino used in an attempt to discourage Brant from holding Canadian travellers hostage (CTV):

The wiretap documents suggest the OPP was minutes away from moving in on First Nations blockades on Highway 401 during the aboriginal day of action.

The phone conversations — recorded without a court order — indicate Fantino told Brant he would do “everything I can within your community and everywhere else to destroy your reputation.”

So how do you see this latest development? Has Fantino overstepped his jurisdiction? Or do you see him as some kind of hero, since he prevented any bloodshed?

I have a poll up here which I am still trying to perfect from a technical point of view, but please have your say there and in the comment section. Thanks.

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Monday Update: Excellent column by Joe Warmington in today’s Sun - Give Fantino a lot of credit:

… “There is danger in allowing this man to be left at the head of the OPP,” Rosenthal was quoted by the Sun’s Ian Robertson. “The danger is life and death … they should suspend Commissioner Fantino pending an inquiry.”

Of course, such words, and legal dancing over the legality of such things as a wiretap are going to gain attention in an attempt to get the best deal for a client. However, when I read this, it struck me how lost in all of this is the fact that protesters had blocked one of the world’s busiest highways and rail lines — both the lifeblood for commerce in this country.

Fantino was able to hastily negotiate peacefully an end to this blockade; he should be given a medal. It did not turn out to be another Ipperwash or even a long drawn out situation like the one at Caledonia. It was over in a matter of hours. As the province’s top cop, the guy did his job.

It’s interesting to me that on one hand the OPP are criticized and even sued for not doing enough to end native standoffs and now there are calls for inquiries for doing too much. With this one, instead of pats on the back for the OPP and its gutsy leadership, the ghost of Dudley George was trotted out as were the violins for some so called native protesters who, by the way, are not elected by their own band members, are not part of the Assembly of First Nations and are not sitting at the table of numerous legitimate land claims negotiations.

This was not a land claim but merely a bunch of protesters cutting off the country’s citizens from reaching each other by highway or rail!…

Exactly.

Jeff Allan just had Aaron Detlor and Ken Hewitt on his show, discussing native protesters ignoring a court injunction to stay away from a Brantford construction site.

Of course, no arrests were made. Ken Hewitt said it’s like déjà vu. Detlor says it is justified because it is native land.

Do you think this is justified? Would you buy a property in Brantford now?

Jeff says it’s (native occupation) like ‘gangrene coming up your leg.’

Related: Expositor - Not a step forward.

Do we have a Canadian law against polygamy or not? And if evidence surfaces that the law is being broken, is it not incumbent on the police to investigate ?

I suppose that if you live in a province that has a two-tiered justice system, and prefers to busy itself with little bans on law-abiding citizens’ rights rather than concentrating on more important issues like the flagrant abuse of women in certain ethnic communities, then you can’t expect anything else.

A letter in today’s Post responds to John Turley-Ewarts’ June 2 editorial (Sharia by Stealth) with a suggestion:

It is regrettable that neither the Ontario Provincial Police nor the Ontario government appears to have the backbone to enforce their own polygamy laws. However I do not believe the situation is hopeless for these ladies.

I cannot believe that any woman would want to continue in a relationship with a man who has behaved in the manner described in this article. Therefore the logical course of action would be for these women to sue for divorce. That would bring the issue into the provincial courts, where they could claim the maximum possible for alimony, child support, division of family assets, etc.

I am sure the prospect of the possible financial consequences of their polygamous tendencies would have a salutary effect on any Muslim men contemplating this course of action and put an end to the practice.

Michael Edwards, Bloomfield, Ont.

Yes, well, all good in theory. However, the reality is that this type of divorce would be highly emotional and very expensive. Yes, perhaps the duplicitous husband could end up paying the bills, but there are no guarantees. Meanwhile, the woman and her children have to undergo a grueling divorce process.

And what about the emotional abuse inflicted on the poor woman when a powerful religious figure warns her:

“You will have to stand beside [your husband] in these difficult times,” Hindy told her. “You should stop causing problems to him. You will not get anything by divorce except destroying your life.”

Where is the feminist outrage, ladies?

Here’s a novel idea. How about we actually enforce the law so that this type of abuse does not continue? If an actual consequence is seen to be likely, perhaps it would discourage such men from even entertaining the idea in the first place.

Either that, or let’s strike down the law.

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Update: Gee, I wonder what’s next ?

This one’s from a few days ago - Tory MPP pushes for Ontario polygamy probe.

Barbara Kay also had a few words to say, as did Macleans’ Chris Selley

Saturday Update : This story makes Europe News - Harems and Hypocrites.

Originally published in Front Page Magazine. BTW, this is a MUST-READ!!!

Where is the McGuinty government in this? I thought they rejected Sharia Law in Ontario.

Turns out, Muslim women are being hurt by the secret polygamy practices of their husbands (GTA’s Secret world of polygamy - Star):

"Polygamy is happening in Toronto; it’s not common, but it’s happening," said Hindy, imam at Salahuddin Islamic Centre .

Hindy, hardly a stranger to controversy, is well known for his friendship with the family of Omar Khadr, the young Canadian detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and his outspoken views on the implementation of Islamic law. In the past five years, Hindy said he has officiated or "blessed" more than 30 polygamous marriages; the most recent was two months ago. Even some imams in the GTA have second wives, he added.

"This is in our religion and nobody can force us to do anything against our religion," he said. "If the laws of the country conflict with Islamic law, if one goes against the other, then I am going to follow Islamic law, simple as that."

So now we have another example of the McGuinty government turning a blind eye to law-breaking , this time at the expense of Muslim women who have been betrayed by their polygamous husbands.

Why aren’t we hearing about charges being brought against these men?

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Meanwhile, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has no problem challenging Christian religious freedom.

More great discussions going on at Jack’s Newswatch and Halls of Macadamia (If you’re good with gay marriage… )

The Politic - Polygamy Amongst Ontario Muslims.

Star - I do, I do, I do. The last taboo.