March 28, 2007 - March 30, 2007 - Biased? Breaks the rules?

Yep, that sounds like Jean Lapierre. Sounds like "government" of which he was part, too.

...

Pelletier wins second wrongful-dismissal case.
Mar 30, 2007 06:49 PM
Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The top aide to former prime minister Jean Chrétien won his second straight wrongful-dismissal suit against the federal government today.

A Federal Court judge ruled that Paul Martin's government acted improperly in 2005 when it fired Jean Pelletier a second time, immediately after a court overturned his first dismissal as head of Via Rail.

"We are very happy," said Suzanne Cote, Pelletier's lawyer.

"The legal impact of this decision is that there is no longer any (cabinet) order-in-council firing Mr. Pelletier."

Soon after taking office, Martin fired a number of close allies to Chrétien, his predecessor and bitter political rival.

Pelletier was ostensibly let go for calling Myriam Bedard - the former Olympic biathlete and Via employee - a pitiable woman in a newspaper interview.

He declined to comment on today's verdict, saying he does not want to make public remarks until a separate $3.7-million lawsuit against the federal government is resolved.

"I will be glad to comment then," said Pelletier, a former Quebec City mayor, chief of staff to Chrétien, and Via president.

Federal Court Justice Francois Lemieux ruled that the man who re-fired Pelletier - ex-transport minister Jean Lapierre - was biased against him and failed to follow proper procedures.

The verdict does not actually re-install Pelletier at the head of Via because his contract would have expired in August 2006 anyway, Cote said.

Pelletier was initially let go in early 2004 when he referred to Bedard as a pitiable single mother after she made allegations of impropriety regarding Via and the sponsorship scandal.

Later the same month, the former Olympic gold-medallist expanded on those allegations at an inquiry into the sponsorship scandal which received her stunning testimony with deep skepticism.

She said her boyfriend had personally convinced Chrétien to keep Canada out of the Iraq war, that an ad agency involved in the scandal also trafficked in cocaine, and that race-car driver Jacques Villeneuve was paid $12 million to wear the Canadian flag.

Bedard was in the news again at the end of last year for allegedly abducting her daughter before being arrested in Maryland.

...

 

March 28, 2007 - Conclusive proof that Karl Rove is more than George W. Bush's brain - he is, specifically, located in the part of Dubya's brain where nerdy white guys embarrass the rest of us, and never get the girl.

Forget subpoenas in Libbygate. This video does in Turd Blossom, once and for all.

 

March 29, 2007 - Well, it certainly looks like he wasn't opposed to our policies, as recently as three days ago. Nope.

So, d'ya think - just maybe - that this is all about someone's own selfish self-interest, and not that of his constituents?

Here's another little May 9, 2005 Star story that should tell you all you need to know about this political rocket scientist:

...

"Here's to putting the "back" in backbencher.

At Mississauga's Byngmount Beach Public School recently, Liberal MPP Tim Peterson was on tap to introduce Premier Dalton McGuinty, there to announce the closing of the nearby Lakeview coal-fired power plant, a major polluter.

As it happens, Peterson's back was to the phalanx of TV cameras positioned to photograph the premier with Lakeview's massive smokestacks as background.

Peterson began speaking into the microphone, which, inexplicably, he had turned backwards, then McGuinty quietly and helpfully suggested turning to face the cameras. Which the neophyte Mississauga South MPP did. Peterson might want to seek some media pointers from brothers David, the ex-premier, or Jim, the federal trade minister."

...

 

March 28, 2007 - Anyone who knows me knows I despise Big Tobacco.

It's why I am happy not to be associated with certain firms, anymore. And it's why you should read this, by a Fifth Estate producer with guts. (It requires a pile of registration, but it's worth it. Just tell them you are an 87-year-old housekeeper from Bolivia, as I did.)

 

March 29, 2007 - The greatest headline yet to one of my Post column contributions. Hilarious.

I forgot to mention that yesterday's speech was at Ottawa's tony Rideau Club. It was their best-attended event in a while, I was told - but I was personally attending it without a shirt and tie. The Rideau Club's management therefore told me I couldn't come in, since I wasn't wearing a jacket and tie. I was wearing a turtleneck. God's teeth!

"Well, I'm sorry," said I, "but I didn't know you had that rule. No one told me. I came up from Toronto this morning and I don't have any of those things. Sorry."

Sniffed the unmoved Rideau Club guy: "Well, sir, we cannot let you in. May we suggest you go down to Tip Top and purchase what you need?"

"No, 'we' may not," said I, immediately alive to the possibility of a new fight. "My speech is in five minutes, and I guess you've just decided it's not going to happen."

Anyway, calmer (and less snobby) heads prevailed and the thing went ahead. My favourite part came before the speech.

Dennis Prouse, my great Tory pal - and fellow failed North Vancouver 1997 candidate - told me that no one in Ottawa is certain when the election will be. So, said Dennis, the Tories have a favourite new phrase: WWCD.

I was puzzled: "WWCD?"

Said Dennis: "What would Chrétien do."

Oh, I loved that, as you can well imagine. I think someone else might, too.

Have a good one.

 

March 28, 2007 - This is my favourite part from Keith Leslie's CP report:

...

"...[McGuinty] also took obvious delight in pointing out that Kinsella had been a volunteer for Conservative Leader John Tory's failed 2003 bid to become mayor of Toronto.

The legislature erupted into laughter when the premier described Kinsella as an independent businessman, but Tory wasn't going to let his past association with the well-known consultant stop him from accusing McGuinty of trying to bury the lottery scandal.

"Mr. Kinsella did help me with my campaign, and he helps the premier cover up," Tory told the legislature. "And that's the difference between you and me in what we would ask him to do."

...

That clear to you? Me neither. "If he works for me, he's swell, but if he works for you, he's the progeny of Satan!"

Anyway. Ottawa is lovely at this time of year. Off to the Yang Sheng.

 

March 28, 2007 - I'm giving a speech in Ottawa today, among other things, and taking Porter Air for the first time. And it is - no kidding, no joke - totally awesome. Compared to our last experience with air travel - 15 hours to get home Florida, bags lost for a week, wife and children stranded for five days - it is weird to be treated like a human being again.

Kudos to whoever put this together. It's a keeper.

March 27, 2007 - I write this as our five year old sleeps in my lap. He hasn't been feeling well.

Quick reactions:

• Like the Windows Vista ads: wow. Wow. Wow.
  
  
• Charest has to go. That's obvious. Boisclair, too.
  
  
• For Dion, good news and bad. Bad: Liberal brand not so popular. Good: federalism beats the alternative.
  
  
• For Harper, good news and bad, too. Bad: he wasn't able to help Charest, as much as he tried. Good: conservatism beats the alternative.
  
  
• The ADQ didn't have time to do candidate scan. It has a boatload of new members who will be revealed to be lunatics.
  
  
• As any Liberal or PQ member will tell you, you can't do a deal with Dumont. His word's no good. Quebec will be back to the polls in 2008.
  
  
• Minority governments are the new cool thing, like an iPhone. People dig them. The Harper guys have changed the political calculus, but not in a way that will see them get what they want.
  
  
• Federal election? Yep.
  

March 26, 2007 - We get letters! Yep, we get letters!

...

From: "Georganne Burke"
To: wkinsella@hotmail.com
Subject: Your article on Jews and the Liberals
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:01:40 -0400

What a nerve you have. Very very offensive. And I usually find you amusing, even intelligent ... but this was the most patronizing, stereotyping, insulting piece I have read in a long time.

Shame.

And yes, I am a Conservative. But ask anyone who knows me. I was further to the left than you ever were. And then I grew up.

Georganne Burke
Manager of Community Relations
Conservative Party of Canada
Toll free: 1 866 808 8407
Ottawa (direct): 613 755 ****
Fax: 613 755 2001
Cell: 647 *** ****
georganneburke@conservative.ca

...

 

March 25, 2007 – Quite a few Postie types were at the United Jewish Appeal event in Toronto this morning – my editor Jon Kay, my colleague Linda Frum, and even ex-Postie Mark Steyn, who was nicer to me than I’ve been to him.

Here’s the speech I gave, before an arguably tough crowd. No one took a swing at me, so that’s a good day, in my book.

 

March 24, 2007 - Three things about law, as we prepare for hockey playoff day:

• One, he's probably got a limitations problem. But if he doesn't, I'd say the Plaintiff's chances are not bad. What goes 'round comes 'round.
  
  
• Two, this is illegal, or should be. I cannot believe this is happening in Canada. When was the last time someone scrutinized for facial features before you were permitted to vote? When? Never, that's when.
  
  
• Three, I am about to launch an action, a big one, against an old foe. The trial, which we hope to expedite, is going to be a beaut. But even if it takes ten years - which is the amount of time another case took, and which we won this week - so be it. It'll be worth it.

 

March 23, 2007 – Bits and pieces, this and that: 

• Good riddance.  Echoing my 1,000,000 other Liberal friends who embrace social policy that does not emanate from the Palaeolithic era, I now hope a Real Liberal© runs there.
  
  
• That Stronach guy has serious, serious cojones.  You have to admire that.
  
  
• My reference in yesterday’s column to the Tylenol case was more relevant than I realized, apparently.  I continue to believe this is a big story.
  
  
• Why not fly the flag? Is there a problem with it?
  
  
• From Canadian Press: “ [John] Tory said he's sticking to his guns but welcomed the opposing viewpoint – and the interest his position has generated. ``I think people recognize I'm prepared to take a stand on an issue,'' Tory said. ``I don't apologize for the fact I say I would explore and embrace (private knee surgeries) because I think we have to think outside the box.'' 
  
  Uh-huh.  Sure.  Sorry, but his health care “plan” isn’t “outside the box.”  It’s “inside your wallet.”

March 22, 2007 - I was in the gallery on the government side when the budget was released in the Ontario Legislature this afternoon, so I could clearly see the faces of the members of the Conservative and New Democrat caucuses. They looked very uncomfortable.

They should.

March 22, 2004 – Here’s one that I never thought I’d see, even from him: Mark Bourrie mocking my uncle’s death.  He is “Scooter.” 

March 22, 2007 - Just one of the letters I am receiving in response to today's Post column:

...

Hello Warren

I am awaiting news on when, where and how to report suspected cases... we are just one practice in Richmond Hill and in the past two weeks have had three cats die or be euthanized with acute renal failure who were fed recalled diet product. Two were from the same family... in that case we have some of the food supplied by the owner (presidents choice). The batch lot numbers match a published recall list. Even if we get zero more cases the simple math tells you the scope could be huge. Euthanasia is hard enough to do at any time but the anguish of these owners is terrible. Mistakes, even huge terrible ones, happen but if there has been effort to delay revealing the facts or to spin them in this case.... well I hope we will not let this one go.

Your truly Dr. Peter Lambros

...

 

March 22, 2007 - Today's Post column. Arf arf.

 

March 21, 2007 - My Uncle Donald, my godfather, died last week when we were in Florida. Nobody called us.

He was an Irish bachelor, as they say, and a wonderful man. I remember giving a pro-Israel speech at Concordia, a few years back, and there were all sorts of anti-Israel goons there, shouting abuse and epithets. It was an unpleasant experience.

At the end of it, Uncle Donald walked up to me, wearing his overcoat and fedora. I hadn't known he was there. "You did well, my boy," he said. "Your mother and father would be proud of you today." And off he went.

He was a wonderful man, and we will miss him.

(Christ but it's been a shitty two or three years.)

...

NELSON, Leo Edmund "Donald". At the Montreal General Hospital on March 6, 2007 aged eighty-two years peacefully passed away. A proud veteran of WWII. Predeceased by his brothers Tom, Charles and George and his sisters Nellie, Mary. Juanita and Margaret. He will be dearly missed by family and friends. Special thanks to "St Audrey and The CLSC Cavendish for their great care, especially Ann Smith. Resting at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home, 5610 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal (Quebec), H4A 1W5. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 12, 2007 at 11 a.m. in St. Monica's Church, 6405 Terrebonne Ave. Visiting hours are on Saturday, March 10, 2007 from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

...

 

March 20, 2007 - As I have argued before, sponsorships aren't such a bad idea, if run right. Looks like some folks now agree:

« Le budget fédéral accorde 30 millions par année pour appuyer des «festivals locaux des arts et du patrimoine», ce qui pourrait combler une partie des sommes de l'ancien programme des commandites. »

 

March 20, 2007 - What do I think? I think our pal and former colleague Patrick Muttart wrote the budget, that's what I think. He also wrote the PM's Conservative rally speech on the weekend, looks like.

Government by psychographics? If you know Muttart like we do around here, believe me, you could do a lot worse.

 

March 19, 2007 - More live-blogging: my sources say the Bloc will vote for it!

My question: why? Why take a hard stance so soon? The overnights in Quebec may show Quebeckers think this thing is a stinker. The PQ may be forced to come out against it!

In 2005, a whopping 86 days went by between the tabling of Ralph Goodale's final budget, and it being voted down on second reading. By that standard, there is plenty of time for opposition politicians to calculate whether this budget deserves support or not.

This is Alice-in-Wonderland territory, folks.

 

March 19, 2007 - I am on Charles Adler's national radio show as I type this, and can blog this much: I have been told by the cliched senior sources that the Liberals and the NDP plan to vote against this budget.

Barring any wimping out, get ready for an election in April for May.

 

March 18, 2007 - Budget, smudget. My frigging bags are still missing and Air Canada doesn't even know where they are. And my house keys are in them.

I think I understand why. Sort of.

March 18, 2007 - I may be missing something, along with my luggage, but I'm not sure what is the big deal, myself. In the 2003 Ontario campaign, we had a deal with the Tories to let their watchers watch us, and our watchers watch them. We still do, down here.

Sure feels like an election is coming, eh?

 

March 17, 2007 - I would be surprised if I am not the only guy blogging about Quebec's provincial election from Philadelphia's International Airport. I'll go right out on a limb and declare that.

But given what I've been reading since 5 a.m. this morning, I will make another bold prediction: if Charest loses, the federal election becomes Dion's to lose. For no other reason that the only leader who can effectively fight a new referendum is a federalist francophone. Voters get that.

Not the best way to win the top job, admittedly, but that's the way Yours Truly sees it, from the vantage point of snowy Philly. At least I have the new Stooges and Arcade Fire offerings to boost the spirits, eh?

 

March 17, 2007 - It's early, early, and I'm in the biggest lineup I have ever seen at Orlando's airport, theoretically in order that I can jet back to the Great White North. Anyone who wants to buy me a pint tonight, you know where to get me. If I get there, that is. Big if. USAir is a frigging joke.

As I wait with my 1,000 new friends, here are some linkless, contextless observations about our three days Disney's Mouse House^TM, and the USA generally:

• At every attraction, on every ride, there was a Disney©; drone shouting: "Move to the left, please." So what does said person put on their resumé? A "Move Leftward Logistics Coordinator"?
  
  
• One dollar bills are idiotic. Americans should do what we have done (on that, and many other things). They probably are looking at what is happening in the Quebec provincial campaign and are saying the same thing about us.
  
  
• At the trailer park disguised as the MGM-Disney®^TM theme park, one guy was dressed up as one of the green army guys from Toy Story. He signed our sons' little Disney© autograph books 'GREEN ARMY GUY."
  
  
• Nobody reads newspapers in these parts. Apart from a few USA Today boxes here and there, there's nada. Depressing.
  
  
• At Disney©, what they do, they do well. Which is mug you, and remove everything from your pocketbook. But they do it with a Disney© smile.
  
  
• Why are the citizens of The Last Superpower® so blasé about lineups? Why doesn't the ridiculously-named Homeland Security ban lineups? It amazes me that this country is able to get pizzas delivered, let alone space flight.
  
  The Starbucks® staff - and there are no Starbucks® at Disney© that I could see - are too loud and too friendly. Compared to their counterparts at Disney©, however, they are practically comatose.
  
  
• Didn't see a single "BUSH '04" oval bumper sticker on this trip. Not one. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Dubya.
  
  
• At the Mouse House^TM, you can buy neato little Mickey-shaped waffles for the kids, and they will only set you back five hundred dollars.
  
  
• Does Manifest Destiny mean anything when your budgetary deficit is measured in trillions?
  
  
• There is no way I will make my connection to Philly. No way.
  
  
• Never, ever fly USAir out of Orlando. Walk instead. It's faster.

 

March 16, 2007 - Yesterday's mass ego-mail by Mr. Sack 'o Hammers has produced a hilarious reaction. Even down here in Florida, I've been hearing about folks on the 600-plus (!!!) list of names responding with:

a) WTF cares, and/or (!)

b) Get me TF off this mass email.

A sample:

...

Conversation: Stephen LeDrew joins CFRB
Subject: RE: Stephen LeDrew joins CFRB

Please do not copy me on the congratulatory reply and I would appreciate being removed from what ever mailing list this is. Thank you.

M. Wilder

...

March 15, 2007 - Well, if that law thing doesn't work out, there's always...Sunday morning radio to fall back on.

Live from Toronto! The Sack of Hammers show! Starring the "well-connected" guy who "oversaw the transition" from winning to losing!

...

From: Sylvia Sauro On Behalf Of Stephen LeDrew
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:25 PM
Subject: Stephen LeDrew joins CFRB

I'm pleased to announce that Stephen LeDrew will host his own talk show Sunday mornings 11 am to noon starting this Sunday. Stephen will debate the big issues of the day with the newsmakers and take your calls. The new show will be called Issues with Stephen LeDrew.

...LeDrew is well connected as a lawyer who deals with regulatory and policy issues at all levels of government. He was elected President of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1998 and again in 2000, serving as Party President for almost six years, until November 2003. As Party President, Stephen oversaw not only the rebuilding of the Party finances, but the transition of leadership in the Party from Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to Prime Minister Paul Martin.

He was one of CFRB's commentators at last year's Liberal Leadership Convention in Montreal and is a regular contributor to the Bill Carroll Morning Show..."

...

March 15, 2007 - Today's Post column, here, in which I suggest Lord Crossharbour should have chosen discretion over valour.

And, over this great distance, lots of interesting information is coming in about our good pals at Canadian Observer - including a conference one of them has been organizing at U of M for one Ghassan Hage. "What is racism," indeed.

 

March 14, 2007 - Greetings from Florida. On our way to the Mouse House.

A few of us are trying to figure out who this bigot [canadianobserver.wordpress.com] is. Tips can be sent to the usual place, at wkinsella@hotmail.com.

Time to shine a light on another coackroach!



March 12, 2007 - Even over a great distance, good news travels. Finally, justice - and from a Conservative government, too, not the nasty, brutish and short-lived "Liberal" one that preceded it.

And what a disgrace that government was. Good riddance to all who led it, for what they did to Jean Pelletier and so many others.

...

Via Rail: Ottawa réintégrera Jean Pelletier

Karine Fortin
Presse Canadienne
Ottawa

Le gouvernement fédéral a décidé de ne pas porter en appel un jugement de la Cour fédérale lui ordonnant de réintégrer l'ancien président du conseil d administration de Via Rail, Jean Pelletier, dans ses fonctions.

L'ancien maire de Québec et conseiller de Jean Chrétien avait été congédié en mars 2004 après avoir fait des commentaires controversés sur la championne olympique Myriam Bédard.

En plein scandale des commandites, Mme Bédard avait écrit au premier ministre Paul Martin pour lui confier qu'elle avait été témoin de «choses pas catholiques» lorsqu'elle travaillait pour Via Rail.

M. Pelletier avait réfuté les allégations et qualifié Mme Bédard «de pauvre fille qui fait pitié, une fille qui n'a pas de conjoint».

Un juge de la Cour fédérale avait conclu en novembre 2005 que le gouvernement avait traité M. Pelletier de façon inéquitable en le remerciant et avait ordonné sa réintégration. Cette décision a été confirmée par la Cour fédérale d'appel en janvier dernier.

Le délai d'appel de 60 jours expirait lundi. Un porte-parole du Conseil privé, Greg Jack, a confirmé en fin d'après-midi qu'Ottawa n'avait pas l'intention de porter l'affaire devant le plus haut tribunal du pays.

...

 

March 11, 2007 - On Friday night in Toronto (where we then were), I met with Tom Gabel of Against Me! backstage at the Phoenix. He told me that he was an army brat, born in the other Naples, but later removed to Naples, Florida (where I now am) after his folks broke up. It was an intensely, and unexpectedly, personal conversation. It surprised me.

So here I am, days shy of St. Pat's, drinking Sam Adams and listen to Gabel sing 'Pints of Guinness Make You Strong,' the extraordinary song with which Against Me! started a set that was unforgettable. (Watch a Youtube version here.)

Otherwise, here are the lyrics, which are for the maudlin Irish like me, and which testify to the greatness of Gabel's band.

My God, I love this band.

...

"Evelyn sits by the elevator doors.

It's been 37 years since James dies on St. Patrick's Day, in 1964, but she could not hold it against him.

There were times when there was nothing she could do but lie in bed all day beside a picture of them together.

A picture of better days.

And just like James, I'll be drinking Irish tonight, and the memory of his last work week wil be gone forever.

Evelyn I'm not coming home tonight.

If we're never together, if I'm never back again, well I swear to God that I'll love you forever.

Evelyn I'm not coming home tonight.

In all the years that went by, she said she'd always love him.

And from the day that he died, she never loved again.

And in his wallet, she kept in her nightstand, an A.A. card and a lock of red hair.

She kept secrets of pride locked so tight in her heart, it killed a part of her before the rest was gone.

She said, "if I would have known just how things would have ended up, I just would have let myself die."

And just like James, I'll be drinking Irish tonight, and the memory of his last work week will be gone forever.

Evelyn I'm not coming home tonight.

If we're never together, if I'm never back again, well I swear to God that I'll love you forever.

Evelyn I'm not coming home tonight..."

...

 

March 9, 2007 - Despite our rather, um, complicated past, despite the gastro bug that hit me mid-band practice last night and laid me flat all day, the interview proceeded with Johnny Rotten, née John Lydon. He was charming, funny and smart. I shit you not.

And, I used most of your questions, folks. Rotten liked that approach, as it turned out.

He even posed for a photo. This is one for the books.

 

March 9, 2007 - I'm getting a ton of terrific questions to ask Rotten - thanks. Keep 'em coming, punk rockers, at wkinsella@hotmail.com.

In a related vein, here's an email just received:

...

Bonjour!

Last week, while enjoying a morning beer and reading Fury’s Hour on a Mexican beach (what else is there to do on a Mexican beach?), I glanced over at the couple sitting a few feet away – and I noticed the chap (an American) was thumbing through his own copy of Fury’s Hour. For the next hour, we spitted out our respective faves The Clash, Buzzcocks, Ramones and so forth. Turns out he’s from Iron County, Utah... odd...

Bonne chance avec M. Rotten!

d

Daniel H. Tessier

...

 

March 8, 2007 - Okay, here's a web-based punk rock experiment, maaan.

Unless I get thrown out like last time, the interview with Johnny Rotten is scheduled to proceed tomorrow afternoon - before the Against Me! and Riverboat Gamblers show at the Phoenix.

Because I am your loyal servant, I want to ask the questions you want asked. Send me your top five questions for Johnny, by email, at wkinsella@hotmail.com. I'll pick the best ones and let you know his answers soonest.

Unless his bodyguard "Rambo" beats me, that is, which is always a possibility.

We mean it, maaaan!

 

March 8, 2007 - My name is Warren, and I write for the National Post today about how the NDP is smart.

My name is Warren, and I also write (for the first time since Joey Ramone died) about music for the National Post.

My name is Warren, and accessmag wants me to interview Johnny Rotten tomorrow. In person. And some of us remember what happened last time, eh?

 

March 7, 2007 - Oops! Using poor people as props, now this. What's next?

...

Tory backs down on wait times
Cobourg Daily Star (On)
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Page: 1
Section: Front
Byline: Valerie MacDonald

Are wait times going up or down at the local hospital?

The leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party has reported twice this week that Northumberland Hills Hospital's wait time for cataract surgery is up by 15 per cent, while Northumberland's MPP maintained the hospital's wait time for this procedure is among the lowest in the province.

During a stop in Cobourg on Tuesday, opposition leader John Tory reported cataract surgery wait times at the local hospital was up. He reiterated it at a health care round table discussion in Brighton yesterday and issued a media release that stated "the wait for cataract surgeries at Northumberland Hills Hospital is up by 15 per cent."

Both MPP Lou Rinaldi and hospital officials don't understand where Mr. Tory's numbers come from.

Last month the average wait to have cataract surgery in Northumberland Hills Hospital was 21 days, hospital president Joan Ross said in an interview yesterday. In January it was 23 and in December it was 16.

"I think we have the lowest, or one of the lowest, wait times (in Ontario)."

Wait time for the three months prior to that, September through November, 2006 were higher at 40, 34 and 24 days, respectively.

The important thing is that over time the wait time is trending downward for cataract surgery, noted Mrs. Ross.

Figures on the ministry's wait-time website are not current for comparisons to other parts of the province but for the most recent, October/November 2006, Northumberland Hills Hospital had the lowest wait time in the Central East area of Ontario and the third lowest in the province... During the past two years, the provincial government has provided extra funding to reduce wait times at Northumberland Hills Hospital, she continued. Originally the base case volume was about 415 but with $96,000 more funding annually, the hospital has not only hit the target of 128 more operations, but Mrs. Ross expects to complete 600 to 620 by the fiscal year end in March. That's a least 50 more cataract surgeries than the provincial funding target.

Mr. Tory's office promised to look into their sources of information that led the opposition leader to reiterate his claim that the wait times at Northumberland Hills Hospital are up 15 per cent.

When that was done, the opposition leader admitted his figures were outdated and he apologized.

© 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved.

...

 

March 6, 2007 - It's the second period, and 2 to zero for the Leafs!

Now, anyone know who these smiling Leafs fans are, beside me?

March 6, 2007 - Too late? Yes, probably. Never wait too long.

Here's what I mean: this is Daisy. And here's what I say about Daisy in chapter four of my new book, being published by Dundurn in the Fall:

"...Barry Goldwater's mistake was to underestimate the power of [the Democrats' TV ad called Daisy], which had become the talk of the nation. At first, he dismissed Daisy as "weird television advertising." Two weeks later, however, Republicans, including Goldwater himself, had woken up to the significant damage done to their campaign by Tony Schwartz, a little girl and a flower. Desperate, they hauled Dwight D. Eisenhower out of retirement to prop up Goldwater's faltering presidential hopes. In a hurriedly produced sixty-second spot, Eisenhower and Goldwater were filmed chatting. Goldwater says: "Our opponents are referring to us as warmongers." Says Eisenhower, looking indignant: "Well, Barry, in my mind, this is actual tommyrot."

...It was not insignificant, perhaps, that the Democrats and the Republicans were making essentially the same allegation against each other-that the future was at peril in the presidential race. But it was the Democrats (or, more accurately, Tony Schwartz) who understood that, on television, the picture of a child was worth far more than [Republican] words. In politics, that basic proposition has not been challenged since: pictures equal emotion, which equals power. Words do not equal pictures.

When the results came in, early on November 4, 1964, Lyndon Baines Johnson had won by a landslide. Barry Goldwater, meanwhile, barely won his home state, by less than 1 per cent. Out of fifty states, the Republican nominee took only six. Daisy had won."

 

March 6, 2007 - Not exactly "holding your feet to the fire" in the way the Tory Tory Tory braintrust expected, eh? This is what happens when politicians think voters are stupid. They're not.

...

Not everyone happy to see Tory at food bank
Belleville Intelligencer (ON)
Tue 06 Mar 2007
Page: 1
Section: Front
Byline:
Source:

Volunteers at The Gleaners Food Bank were thankful for the help Monday when John Tory and a gaggle of Progressive Conservative MPPs rolled up their sleeves to help sort and pick up food donations.

But, not everyone was happy to see the politicians.

One man, a 28-year-old city resident who asked his name not be used, said walking into the food bank to see politicians smiling and mugging for the media did not help his situation.

"This just adds to the embarrassment of having to come here," he said, sitting in a chair far from the cameras. "I'm assuming they're all here to make it look like they care."

The man said he had nothing to say to Tory, MP Daryl Kramp or the others and simply wanted to get his food and leave.

A single mother leaving the food bank just after Tory spoke with reporters said she had heard he would be visiting the building and had considered visiting at another time.

"Am I really supposed to care he's here?" she asked as she walked away. "I'd like to know how many of them in there have ever had to use (a food bank)."

...

 

March 5, 2007 – It’s hard to get optimistic about equality rights, some days.  You take down one problem, and another one quickly pops up to replace it.

The post about the teacher who spoke up at our kids’ school, and received a threatening anonymous letter at her home, is down – at her request.  This situation has been very, very upsetting for her and for others.  But I have forwarded to her the kind notes that have been sent to me, from all over the country.  Thank you.

And, now, a new problem replaces that one – one that is also related to tolerance.

Jason Cherniak first alerted me to this issue, this morning.  Robert McClelland, the anti-Semite who professes to be an activist for the NDP, wrote the following on his web site:

...

Robert McClelland
Says: March 4th, 2007 at 2:07 pm

When the State starts rounding up my Jewish neighbours, I’ll speak up.

Not me. People like Klownsella, Chernyuk and Smeagol the Jew have taught me it’s not worth getting involved. When next they come for the Jews I doubt I’ll even be able to muster up a “what a shame”.

 ...

McClelland, as I have written before is the man who has written “F*CK THE JEWS” and called Israelis murderers, among other things.  He site is linked to by many bloggers, including professional journalists at the Star and CTV.  Which I do not understand, at all.

The NDP, to its great credit, is acting against this bigot who claims to support them.  Here is a note I received a short while ago from Nammi Poorooshasb:

...

 
“Hi Warren,

As you've no doubt seen, Robert McLelland has posted some pretty awful stuff on his blog recently. Our Party President has written the attached letter.

It makes it pretty clear that this guy isn't connected to the Party and that his comments don't reflect our values.

Take care and I'm sorry to hear about the goings on at your kids' school. My wife's a teacher and I know first hand about some of the garbage they have to deal with.

Take care,

Nammi”

...

 
The letter, from party president Anne McGrath to my friend Ed Morgan at the CJC, is here.

Kudos to the NDP for acting against this anti-Semitic fool – and I look forward to linking to their site when it is ready.

 

 

March 4, 2007 - Back from Hap Nichold's funeral in Ottawa. It was sad.

Taking the boys to 9 o'clock mass before hockey. Just-turned-seven-year old is not happy, says his "reputation" (that's a quote) will be hurt by going to chuch before hockey.

Says he: " Church is BORING! Why can't they talk about NEW things and COOL things?"

Anyone with an answer to that one, let me know.

 

March 2, 2007 - I don't want to shoot the messenger, as some anxious Grits are doing these days. There are many people I wish to shoot, but polling messengers are not among them.

For this poll, however, I may make an exception.

Now, I know, I know: exclusively online polls are cheaper to do. They are less intrusive for the folks being called. They provide pollsters with a willing pool of folks who have indicated they are willing to answer questions. They're not bogus pop-up polls, like you find on certain Conservative-funded aggregator sites, these days. Yadda yadda yadda.

But online polls shut out the 30+ per cent of Canadians who aren't online. Among those online (and as the blogosphere demonstrates, daily), important demographic groups are significantly under-represented: older people, rural residents, those with lower incomes, and women. And, despite what some of what even the respected pollsters claim, pollsters aren't being terribly scientific in their recruitment efforts.

Most importantly, online polls destroy, utterly, what made polling so valuable in the first place: random sampling. Randomness, if that is a word, is lost.

That's why so many pollsters were getting results so dramatically wrong in 2004 and 2006, I suspect.

So what, you say? Well, I know that Andrew is making fun of Jason, and Jason is shooting assorted messengers, and Blogging Tories are trumpeting the fine work of pollsters they once maligned, and...blah blah blah. Yawn.

My advice, as a federal Liberal In Exile©, is that Grits should stop shooting the messengers, and start shooting someone else.

Um, the Tories.

That's what we used to do, when some of us were still welcome in the Liberal Party of Canada, way back in, say, 1993, 1997 and 2000.

Now, where is that rifle? I've got some provincial hunting to do.

 

March 2, 2007 - This is a real, bona fide headline, and it confirms everything we have been saying about the Tory Tory Tories. But I think it is unfair to say that they will give rural Ontario "shit," quote unquote.

I have it on good authority that they have a hidden agenda to give "shit" to urban Ontario, too. Get it right, Wallace.

...

"Tories promise 'a real shit in the arm' for rural Ontario"
Port Hope Evening Guide (ON)
Fri 02 Mar 2007
Page: 21
Section: Commentary / Opinion
Byline: Wallace, James

In a major speech to municipal politicians today, Conservative leader John Tory will preview key rural issues his party will campaign on in the upcoming fall election campaign.

Tory will argue the provincial Liberals have largely abandoned rural Ontario and test drive some of the Conservative policy proposals he'll use in the lead-up to the Oct. 10 vote.

Promises range from decentralizing Ontario's bureaucracy to a pledge to sort out the province's property tax crisis within months of assuming office..."

...

 

March 1, 2007 - Grampa's corn cob pipe! Aunt Tessie's cookies!

McGuinty did great! We got free chocolates, and I stole one of the flower centrepieces for my wife!

By the Wife of Bath!

By Dante's Hellish Rings!

March 1, 2007 - Odin's raven! I just saw Gerard Kennedy! Also, Neil Sweeney!

By the hammer of Thor!

 

March 1, 2007 - The Daisy gang are all at the annual Ontario Liberal Party's Heritage Dinner. The snowstorm raging outside has crippled the GTA - but this hall still is packed. Not bad.

Cameron and I have decided that, as I live-blog this event, I will use assorted exclamations that are extremely funny to the two of us, but - in all likelihood - are less so for you.

To begin:

By Zeus's beard!! McGuinty's doing great! God's teeth!!

 

March 1, 2007 – Anyone willing to dispute the contention that so-called attack ads work?

Anyone?

March 1, 2007 - From the fifth estate web site:

SPAGHETTI The fifth estate sent a letter to Mulroney on February 22, 2005 requesting "an interview with you to address what that money was in exchange for, what work was done for the money, and when and how the money was received." Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney failed to respond to requests for an interview by the fifth estate about the $300,000 given to him by Schreiber after he stepped down as Prime Minister. So what was the money for? Schreiber says he hoped Mulroney would be useful in his continuing efforts to get an armoured vehicle factory built in Cape Breton for the German arms giant Thyssen. But nothing ever came out of that. In a court appearance on April 17, 1996 Mulroney didn't mention that he received $300,000 from Karlheinz Schreiber. However, according to Schreiber, Mulroney sent him a brochure from Archer Daniels Midland, where the former Prime Minister was a company director. "Maybe it's a pretty expensive brochure," Schreiber told the fifth estate. "So what did he do to earn $300,000?" Linden MacIntyre asked Schreiber. "What had he done for the money?" Schreiber laughed. "Well, I learned to my great surprise that he worked with me on spaghetti."

 

March 1, 2007 - Today's Post column, here. It is about people who are excellent at peddling bullshit. Quite a lot of that going on, these days.