"Kuya" Mik first visit....

A little snow (about 4 cm.) just to show 'kuya' mik what it is all about.




Let me drive this machine, we don't have this in California !!!










Niagara Falls, Ontario




CN Tower, Toronto..














Rockefeller Centre, New York, N.Y.

and another child to carry on... 1st birthday

Well, It was a very Good Year, my first and looking forward for many, many, many more. thank you all... Emily...



Party Guests





Birthday girl Emily with mom, sis Chin Chin with Dad. My brother's grand daugthers, PA, USA

Lest We Forget...

Lest We Forget:

11th hour, 11th day of the 11th month...WE REMEMBER



take a tour in flanders fields museum here
the Maple Leaf museum, Belgium


If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep....

-John McCrae-In Flanders Fields




WE SHALL KEEP THE FAITH

Oh! You who sleep in “Flanders Fields,”
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the Torch you threw
And, holding high we keep the Faith.
With all who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led:
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
But lends a lustre to the red

Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders Fields.

A poem by:
Moina Michael (November 1918)

A liesurely night at the Range

Saturday nights and the "Boys" don't have much to do, bring out the "toys" and head to the range and have some fun. Someone brings some decent digicams next time around. These cell cams do not do justice to the 'good' looks of the "pistoleros"(pistols..hehehe).

Hockey Night in Canada New Anthem - Canada Gold...

Hockey Night in Canada has a new theme song. After a National Search, soliciting more than 1500 entries from fans and all members of the Canadian Public and the attraction of the $100,000 prize money to the winner, the winner which was decided by votes of the member of Public through Texts, emails and phones is Canadian Gold, composed by an Albertan Elementary School Teacher, beating Sticks to the Ice by a 13-year Toronto Boy.. But why the search and the dropping of the 40 year-theme song that besides from the O’Canada, the National Anthem, is the only other Canadian song that are distinctively recognizable all over the world? Also known as Canada’s second National Anthem...to find out how it all started you may start here, Iconic song sparks Hockey fight in Canada

Sticks to the Ice-- by Robert Fraser Burke--Runner Up


The Winner--Canada Gold--by Colin Oberst


...

And the Iconic 40-year-old Hockey Theme Song (a.k.a.the second Canada National Anthem) now the property of TSN (Toronto Sports Network) as re-recorded by the 54- member Toronto Symphony Orhestra for TSN.


If you are wondering about the announcer sign-on at the beginning of the videos, it was the voice of Foster Hewitt, Canada’s Premier hockey play-by-play broadcaster and the mentioned of Newfoundland was before the Colony joined Canada in 1949...

Election Day - Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Go Out and Vote!!!

For your Riding and Candidates go to this ridings and candidates

For where each major party stands in every issue from war in Afghanistan, Economy, crime, poverty, foreign affairs you may check the complete and latest update of the Party's stands on Today's issues

The Parties:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conservative Party of Canada --- Leader - Stephen Harper
Mar. 04, 2008

Liberal Party of Canada --- Leader Stéphane Dion
Mar. 04, 2008

New Democratic Party of Canada --- Leader - Jack Layton
Mar. 04, 2008

Bloc Quebecois --- Leader Gilles Duceppe
Mar. 04, 2008

Green Party of Canada --- Leader Elizabeth May
Mar. 04, 2008

Libertarian Party of Canada
Sep. 21, 2008

Progressive Canadian Party
Sept. 2l, 2008

Christian Heritage Party
Sep. 21, 2008

Communist Party of Canada
Sep. 21, 2008


First Peoples National Party of Canada
Sep. 21, 2008

Canadian Action Party
Sep. 21, 2008

Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party ...
Sep. 21, 2008

Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada
Sep. 21, 2008*

*date of filing with Election Canada.

The latest bundles from Davao..My late Bro's grandchildren..

Big Bundles Indeed...Bro's daughter Anne and sons, Chico and Mawe...










the two of us








Mawe is my name, and I follow Kuya Chico, the man


I am Chico, the First Born...



Mom and the Eldest son Chico.




we are Family, dad, mom (bro's daughter ann) chico and mawe, from the beautiful city of Toril, Davao City, Philippines.

Series of Massive Explosions Rocked Toronto

Sunday Morning, at about 3:50 am ED, when most of Torontonians were asleep, (I was awake and may had heard the series of Explosions, but never had given them some second thoughts as it was raining and could have been a series of thunders, with the absence of lightnings following, there was no mistaken that they were the sounds of Explosions that many reported could be heard miles away) a Series of Massive Explosions Rock the Northern Part of the City where a Propane Distributor-Dealers was located.

One employee,said to the truck Dispatcher for the Propane Company is not accounted for and Sadly one Firefighter Collapsed on the job and was rushed to the Hospital without vital signs and died..the cause of death still unknown..

Thousands of Residence within 1.6 km radius were evacuated and the Fire Dept. and Police reported only a few minor injuries among the victims:





thousands who fled blast told they can go home

Sunny Freeman
Staff Reporters
Bill Taylor
Thousands of people who were forced to flee after a series of explosions early today are being allowed to return home.

Calling it a "controlled return procedure," police began allowing some people back into the area around Keele St. and Wilson Ave. shortly after 8 o'clock tonight.
Some residents are being accompanied by police and other security personnel.
Although it was a miracle that thousands escaped unscathed from the series of massive explosions in the city's northwest end, a firefighter died and at least one other person remains unaccounted for.

The firefighter, identified this evening as Bob Leek, was declared dead after being taken to hospital with no vital signs. He collapsed on the grounds of the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases distribution plant in the Wilson Ave. and Keele St. area that literally blew up early this morning, forcing thousands to flee.

Toronto Fire division chief David Sheen told reporters this afternoon that Leek, a 25-year firefighting veteran and a personal friend, did not die of any trauma inflicted at the scene, such as being hit by falling debris.

"It was not traumatic circumstances," he said, his voice quivering. "There was every effort made to resuscitate him."

The cause of death, or the exact time he died, are not known, officials said, and will probably be determined at an autopsy in the next couple of days.

Officials said this afternoon that 18 people were injured in total. The person unaccounted for is believed to be the propane plant's truck dispatcher.

Why would they allow a propane company to open up in a residential area?” said Fernando Caschera, 56. “I don’t understand.”
One resident asked...and this question will be front and centre during the Public Inquiry that will surely follows the Fire Marshall Investigations and the Police Investigations...Why???

Jinggoy was here and so was bibs...summertime

water is fine...walk on the water you two or swim (too cold?)



sitting solo with the Bay for the background


sis and hubby, wow, after all these years!!!




bibs with cousin, she can play the guitar too and good, i hope by now.






mom, dad, bibs and kuya pao (you may call me Jinggoy)... somewhere in monterey, ca.usa

Between the Two Divides - the Electricity Rates..

Just as Recently as few weeks ago, there were lots of Goings On in the Republic of the Philippines in Regards to the Electricity Rates charge by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and is said to be the highest in Asia next to Japan (as we all knew Japan has the highest Cost of living in all Asia). There was an Attempt by the Government Pension Agency, known by its initial GSIS to take over the Management with a promise that it will be able to lower the rates. The current management is under the Lopezes, the Old Oligarch families who have been the on-and-off controlling majority interests of the country's largest Electricity Distributors.

Now to compare the typical electricity rates between the two Particular comparable situations, I posted our household billings which maybe compared by those who has the experience of paying the Highest Rate of Electricity in Asia Next to Japan:

Account Number***
000 776 93
Meter Number***
***altered to maintain privacy1024

Statement Date Amount Due Due Date Amount Paid

Jun 25 2008
$145.53 = (Total Bill for 61 days for the total usage of 1160 kWh + 43 kWh system loss (3.76 %)). Exchange rate of $1 to 42 Pesos:
Jul 12 2008

SCARBOROUGH ON
CoTttactm"ar 416.542.8000
Page
1 / 1
● Website
www.torontohydro.com
A 1.5% monthly late payment interest charge will be applied if received after due date

Your Electricity Charges

Electricity
394.628 KWH @ 5.000 cents/KWH 19.50
808.987 KWH @ 5.000 cents/KWH 40.45
Delivery 62.32
Regulatory 7.97
Debt Retirement Charge 8.12

138.59
Your Total Electricity Charges
6.94 = 5 % Federal Goods and Services Tax.
G.S.T. (G.S.T. Registration 89671 8327 RT0001)
Compare your daily usage

Read Date kWh Usage
r->10 JUN 08 i:;l58W«!ffi;; 1.160
10 APR 08 W$$$$ii88iS 1.394
08 FES 08 *?*.S::::;S;:;;i:5;;;;:S 1.324
07 DEC 07 iiiiiilisi 1,269
10 OCT 07 SSlliSiigg: 1.265
09 AUG 07 :sS;j:s:;:;jSS!:?;iS}:'?:;S 1.717
-3»08 JUN 07 fiisliiii;;: 1.125
10 APR 07 iligiill 1.268
08 FEB 07 kWh/dav c ,,..,, ^513
10 20 30 40 50 60


Your previous charges
Amount of last bill
Totai Payments-Thank you
Balance Forward
169.64 169.64
0.00

Amount to be Withdrawn Jul 12 2008
$145.53
Every Kilowatt Counts Summer Sweepstakes -Reduce your summer electricity use by 10% for a chance to win green prizes! Details at jwww.torontohydro.com/summersweepstakes
Stay informed. Get access to the latest news, info, and tips on electricity conservation. Sign up for our new e-Newsletter at www.torontohvdro.com/enewstettgr.
Your electricity usage

Meter Number Meter Reading Period Number of Days Read Type Units Self-Contained Current Reading Previous Reading kWh Used Loss Factor Adjustment Adjusted kWhUsed
10248265 APR 10 2008 To JUN 10 2008 61 Est. 1 9505 - 8346 = 1150 X 1.0375* = 1203.616

Further comment by Me:
(* Technical Loss at 3.76 % added to the charges... Billings is for 61 days, from April 10 to June 10 as per meter readings. The surge on the usage between the first 30 days and the later 31 days is the use of central air due to the heat wave during the days of late may and early June...)

Breakdown of delivery charge by the distributor:

Transmission Charge1 - 1.02¢/kWh
Distribution Charge - 1.87¢/kWh
Lost Revenue Adjustment Charge (New) - 0.08¢/kWh
Shared Savings Charge (New) - 0.09¢/kWh- (This charge was for the lost revenue incurred for last year shared savings on conservation measures...the goal here is to conserve energy, yet still not burden the taxpayers for the shortfall in revenue but instead the users of electricity...the more you use the more you compensate for others savings.
Customer Charge - $12.97/30 days —(Fixed Charge)-
Also very important note: Charges by the Generators of Electricity are collected by local Distributors without Markups on behalf of the Generators:

Note: highlighted and referenced notations are mine:

The 2008 Toronto's Gay Pride Parade - June 29

“Do Tell” it’s Ok... for the first time, members the Canadian Armed Forces joined the Gay Pride Week Parade this Year.




Crowds flock to watch the Pride Parade...

"It's a huge thing for me personally," said Warrant Officer John McDougall, a parade participant who has been an openly gay member of the military for 13 years. "To be able to be in public and be recognized not just for being a soldier, but for being a soldier who happens to be gay is amazing”.

McDougall and his colleagues joined 5,000 drag queens, bikers, and scantily-clad men who marched in the parade in front of scores of spectators. Other participants in the flashy celebration included Liberal MPs Bob Rae and Belinda Stronach, Toronto Mayor David Miller, and Federal NDP leader Jack Layton
2008 Gay Pride Parade

WE ARE SORRY

Three Little Words, uttered in the Hushed House of Commons Yesterday, History-Making words, “we are sorry”, Prime Minister Steven Harper apologized on behalf of the Federal Government and of the Nation to Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples for their suffering in the once-obligatory residential school system.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to offer an apology to former students of Indian residential schools. The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history.

In the 1870s, the federal government, partly in order to meet its obligation to educate aboriginal children, began to play a role in the development and administration of these schools. Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, "to kill the Indian in the child". Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.

Most schools were operated as "joint ventures" with Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian or United churches. The government of Canada built an educational system in which very young children were often forcibly removed from their homes, often taken far from their communities. Many were inadequately fed, clothed and housed. All were deprived of the care and nurturing of their parents, grandparents and communities. First nations, Inuit and Métis languages and cultural practices were prohibited in these schools. Tragically, some of these children died while attending residential schools and others never returned home

As the PM spoke, School Survivors in Public Galleries wept, their tears a tribute to every mother’s tears who cried for every child forcibly taken over from her for Generations.

Text of the Prime Minister’s Speech we are sorry
After the Official Apology...what are the next moves?? Check the rest of the story here>>

Voices

apology not going to fix what happened

Oldest victim of schools happy to witness the speech apology brings ‘hope and comfort’

Reactions to Harper's Speech

The Prime Minister on High Gas Prices...

Canada's Prime Minister Steven Harper

The Prime Minister on High Gas Prices..

PM Harper says Canadians hit hard by High Gas Prices should not look to Ottawa for relief at the Pumps..
Harper says that the ability of the Government to affect the price of gasoline is so small that it is not worth doing at all...

The PM says that the Energy Prices in his belief will continue to rise and you can not fool the Public into thinking otherwise.

In response to a question on Fuel Prices, the PM said that the “ability of the Government to affect the Price of Gasoline per se is so small that it is not worth doing”.

“What you’ve really got to do is lower the costs for consumers generally, rather than try to fight the upward trend in the Price of Gasoline”

The PM also said that overall Tax Cuts, like the two percentage points his government taken off the GST (goods and services tax), from 7% to 5%, are the best way to bring saving s to consumers.

Pump prices have risen 11.6 per cent from last April, while fuel oil and other fuels surged 36.9 per cent...

...ON THE OTHER HAND
Oil Prices have doubled from where they were a year ago, surpassing a record $132 US on commodities market yesterday. Yet the Prices at the Pump while painfully high have not doubled.

According to this week’s survey of pump prices by consulting firm M.J. Ervin, Canadians paid an average $1.27 per litre. Last May, a year ago today, the average was about $1.12 a litre, the difference of average 15 cents...

The Price of the crude oil last May was $66 a barrel and this May $132, the difference of $66..yearly double...

The average increase of 15 cents a litre is Big, but not as Dramatic as that of the Crude oil and why it that so?

There are other costs involved in the processing of fossil fuels into gasoline. You wouldn’t get a match to match increase in prices.

The increasingly very expensive raw product, the Crude is an important part of the equation, but there are other costs, like taxes as well as refining and marketing cost that well determine the final pump price.

Also the Fact that the Canadian Dollar is now in Parity with its US counterpart also keep pump prices relatively lower, since oil is benchmarked in U.S. currency..

Provincial Health Plan will Cover John changing into Jane..

TANNIS TOOHEY/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Health Minister George Smitherman announced Monday that a new $500,000 fund will help families meet expenses incurred while waiting for organ transplants. "I can't pretend this is a perfect fix for the situation, but it's a good beginning," he said.


Provincial Health Plan will cover “Sex- Change” operations...

It was 10 years ago that the previous Progressive Conservative government declared the operations were no longer eligible under the taxpayer-funded Ontario Health Insurance Plan, which had covered the surgery since 1971.

Now the Liberal Government will again cover the Procedure..Health Minister George Smitherman said the decision to resume coverage will only cost the Plan $200 thousand (at approximately $20 thousand per procedure) as only 8 to 10 individual will pass the ‘very rigorous’ psycological evaluation required before sex reassignment surgery...(well what happenes if more than 20 or 50 passed the VERY RIGOUROUS psycological evaluation, George?)

It's a very serious medical condition that affects a very small number of people," he told reporters, noting that other provinces including Alberta pay for the surgery.
Smitherman acknowledged the coverage could be controversial in some circles, given the heavy demands on Ontario's health-care system from people with rare, life-threatening diseases, for example.

"I think that people should be careful not to use what is $200,000 on a $40.2 billion health budget as an excuse to try a bit of a `them and us' conversation," he said

More on if you want to be woman johnnyhere


In a Majority Decision 5-4 Canada’s Supreme Court struck down another provision of the law which deal with Young Offender’s Act which require young offenders convicted of Serious Crimes why they should be sentenced as Juveniles.

"Young people who commit crimes have historically been treated separately and distinctly from adults," said Justice Rosalie Abella, in writing for the majority.
"This does not mean that young people are not accountable for the offences they commit. They are decidedly but differently accountable," she said.

The ruling is seen by many legal experts as one of the most important judgments on youth justice in Canada in a century, solidly affirming the concept that young offenders do not have the moral culpability of adults and are entitled to be dealt with in a separate justice system.

The case before the Supreme Court involved a Hamilton teenager identified only as "D.B.," who was convicted of manslaughter for sucker-punching and jumping on another youth at a shopping mall in Dec. 2003. The victim, who'd been standing on the sidelines watching a fight, died of his injuries.

D.B. was on probation at the time.

The Crown was seeking an adult sentence of five years in light of the seriousness of the offence. The youth court judge, however, concluded a youth sentence of three years would be sufficient to hold D.B. accountable for manslaughter.

Writing for the minority Justice Marshall Rothstein said there is "no consensus" within Canadian society that violent young offenders must be subjected to lesser penalties for justice to prevail.

youths are different SC rules...

Rudolph must die! --How about Chicken Little?

A reindeer is seen resting in a field with its fawn at the Toronto Zoo. For the first time in the zoo's history, newborn calves were "euthanized due to being male" for herd management reasons, officials said. (Michael Peake, Sun Media)


Wait until Santa finds out. Toronto Zoo starts killing male baby reindeer to manage the herd. Staff are heartbroken -- and furious By Mike Strobel


Toronto Zoo brass say ... Rudolph must die!
Dear Santa: I hope you are sitting down.

The Toronto Zoo is killing baby boy reindeer.
Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer...

The first was dispatched shortly after his birth April 8.
His mom, Hayzel, bellowed mournfully for two days. You could hear her from Meadowvale Rd.

The second met the same fate at the point of a hypodermic on April 22.
His mom, CUPE, is named for the zoo staff's union.

And their only fault were being born of the wrong gender, boy!! one is coming anytime soon, and hoping it is a girl...
Read the rest at Toronto Sun here
***************


RON BULL/TORONTO STAR
Lucky Clucky feasts directly from the bowl of plenty while behind her Sally and Heidi forage on the backyard lawn. The chickens are illegal in Toronto, a situation their owner is hoping to change.

It is Legal in New York, Portland, Chicago and Seattle and dozens other cities in the U.S., but Toronto By-Laws forbid poultry for Health reasons but allow raising Pigeons provided they rest, roost or perch only on their owner’s property.
And which comes first, the Chicken or the Egg? Find out HERE

The Elizabeth Bain Case..

Elizabeth Bain - undated photo


Breaking News...Robert Baltovich acquitted of murder of Elizabeth Bain..

April 22, 11:00 AM EDT

A Jury acquitted Robert Baltovich of murdering his college sweetheart Elizabeth Bain, 18 years ago after she disappeared.

The Crown prosecutors told the courtroom Tuesday morning, April 22, they would not proceed with their case against the 42 years old Baltovich. They would not be calling witnesses or bring evidence forward, the Crown said..

It was the Second Time Baltovich was to stand trial in Bain’s murder. He was convicted the first time and served 8 years before the Judge squashed the conviction and ordered a New Trial..

Elizabeth Bain disappeared in June 19, l990 after telling her Mother she was heading to University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus. Her car was found few kilometers from her home and the blood test confirmed blood found in the back seat of the car was hers...

Baltovich was charged in November l990.

During the appeal that overturned his Conviction, the Defense Legal’s Team collected a Reasonable Evidence that Bain may had been murdered by Serial Killer Paul Bernardo, said the lead defense lawyer...

Paul Bernardo was the Notorious School Girls Rapist and serial killer, who together with his wife Karla Homolka were convicted of two school girls and suspected of also killing Homolka's sister and few others disappearance, after raping and mutilating them and disposing their bodies..Bernardo is serving Life Sentence while his wife got a lighter sentence after a Plea Bargain with the Crown to testify against her Husband and now is out of Jail..

Did Paul Bernardo do it? The Notorious sex killer denied murdering Bain, but witnesses saw man fitting his discription and now if it wasn't Baltovich, then who else could it have been?

Baltovich defence team says that legitimate question was never properly addressed because the Police focus back in l990 was on Baltovich "to the exclusion of all other potential perpetrators."

For police interview with Paul Bernardo in 2007 it is here and the rest of the story..

details here

As for Elizabeth Bain’s mother doubt that Paul Bernardo involved in her daughter’s death..
Elizabeth mother is a Pilipina and her father is a Caucasian..

UPDATE: Columnist Rossi Dimanno Articles and Interview with Julita Bain, Elizabeth Bain's Mother Prayer and Anger don't ease the torment of Julita Bain

__________________________*************************************

No longer any reasonable prospect of conviction’


Text of Crown attorney Philip Kotanen's statement to the court this morning:

"Recent developments, including the cumulative effect of the pre-trial evidentiary rulings rendered to date in this case, other evidentiary issues, and changes to case law, have obliged the Crown to seriously reconsider whether there remains a reasonable prospect of conviction. We carefully weighed the evidence that was once available to the prosecution, and what now remains as a result of the evidence that was excluded in the pre-trial evidentiary rulings, and the other factors listed above.

"I wish to advise you that, now having completed that careful and detailed reassessment of the case, and having sought the advice of senior colleagues in the ministry, it has become apparent that there is no longer any reasonable prospect of conviction at this point. As such, I am duty bound to discontinue this prosecution.

"Accordingly, the Crown will not call any evidence in this matter. The murder of Elizabeth Bain was a horrendous and tragic event that has had a devastating impact on the lives of her family and friends. I can assure the family and the public that this decision has only been taken following a careful and exhaustive review of the evidence as it currently exists. However, as I have stated, the Crown cannot proceed where there is no reasonable prospect of conviction. Thank you for the opportunity to place these comments on the record."

RCMP siezed Protest Ship....

RCMP seizes seal hunt protest ship:

UDATE:The Minister was Right after all.

It's all about the money, environmental crusader told CBC's Barbara Frum
Apr 16, 2008 06:08 PM THE CANADIAN PRESS

HALIFAX–An environmental crusader at the centre of the anti-sealing movement is standing by comments he made 30 years ago in which he rebuked other conservation groups for exploiting harp seals for profit.


In a 1978 CBC radio interview, now being circulated on YouTube, Paul Watson slams Greenpeace and others for focusing protests on seal hunting because "it is very easy to exploit," even though the species is not endangered.

Watson, the 57-year-old co-founder of Greenpeace who later established the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, tells the interviewer that conservation groups campaign to protect seals because the animals are "cute" and their images help generate more donations than efforts to save other species.
"Oh, it's definitely because it's easier to make money and because it does make a profit," he says in the seven-minute discussion with Barbara Frum.

And now it is the same Mr. Watson and his organization who is raising Millions in Donations protesting the Seal Hunts which is neither for Conservation (seals are not among endangered species) nor for Cruelty as Experts in the Fields had declared that the methods of harvesting the Seals is as humane as killing of animals in the Slaughterhouse..Well it is because it is cute and easy to raise money..to me and many who depends on the annual hunt for their livelihood this is like a scam no different than other schemes taking advantage of emotional issues for their own personal gains..Fisheries Minister Hearn was right after all: "a bunch of money-sucking manipulators"

for the rest of the story, it is here and the video here
_____________________________________*******************************************


They can Protest, yet they have to abide by our Rules, that’s all we ask of them!!!
Video and More here

HALIFAX – An RCMP tactical squad stormed and seized the anti-sealing vessel Farley Mowat today, in a provocative move the federal fisheries minister said would prevent "a bunch of money-sucking manipulators" from interfering with the annual hunt.

Paul Watson, head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, said the seizure of his ship and the arrests of two senior officers amounted to an "act of war" because the vessel is registered in the Netherlands

Seal Hunt is a legal livelihood for many Canadians in the East Coast for decades now and it is also strictly regulated like any legal activities such as fishing and hunting. Every year during the Season, there are high Profile Protesters adding their voices against the annual ritual and Europe is contemplating banning all Seal Products coming from Canada, well and good, we do not have problems with that.

But the issue here, while it is still legal for our fishermen and seal hunters to engage in their lawful livelihood, it is our Right and we reserve to exercise that right to protect them in our Water and Shores under our Laws and under the International Laws of the Seas.
And just to show that we are not strangers to confrontation and would not hesitate to do what we believe is right, we do have some little experience with those who showed disregards of our rules..

To be sure, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department are no strangers to confrontation on the water.
On March 9, 1995, as Spain and Canada were locked in an emotional battle over the overfishing of turbot just beyond Canadian waters, the coast guard patrol vessel Cape Roger intercepted the Spanish trawler Estai, which cut its nets and fled.
After a lengthy pursuit, the crew of the Cape Roger fired four bursts from .50-calibre machine gun across the bow of the Estai, which then stopped and was seized by RCMP and Fisheries officers

.

Banning what was already Banned.

CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR


ETF officers and K-9 unit search for clues on Janet Blvd. after 2 p.m. shooting at Lawrence Ave. E. apartment building April 8, 2008, left two men injured.

Banning what was already Banned is more Politics than Sense..

With increasing rate of Gun Crimes in the Greater Toronto Area, particularly in the areas where the Drug and Gang cultures are prevalent, the Toronto Council’s Executive committee unanimously approved a resolution banning handguns..

The Best the City could do is asked the Federal Government to ban Handguns...But. But handguns have been effectively banned across the country for a long time already..Handgun can be carried only by Police Officers and Security Personnel (armoured vehicles guards).

Yet, handguns can be had by anyone legally under the law and without the limits as to how many a person can have as long as the requirements of the law regarding proper and safe storage are complied with and all others such as they must be registered, and only for the purpose of Collection and Sports (target shooting).

But lately, some gun crimes involved legally owned handguns committed by its owners and most stolen from their owners, but majority still involved illegal handguns smuggled from across the border and traded illegally on the City Streets.

If indeed ownership of handguns should be banned, it can not only be done locally in particular city or province, but the whole country as Criminal Law is the Federal Government responsibilities and banning ownership in one place, but not in another is surely in Violation of the Charter's provision on Equality...

But the Federal Government had already informed the City of Toronto Government that Canada’s Gun Control Law is the Strictest it could get as handguns are already effectively banned. What is needed is the Policing aspect of enforcing the Gun Law and the enforcement of as much the Maximum penalty for violent Crimes involving firearms..

Also lately, Police forces in the GTA let it known that most of the suspects arrested in violent gun crimes are either repeat offenders, or Out on Bail for another Gun Crimes or Violent Crimes.

The granting of Bail for violent crime offenders should be reviewed and this is where the Onus should be Reversed and the burden should be shifted to the Accused to justify granting of Bail before the resolution of his or her case.

Yes, witnesses have been hearing lot of fireworks, anytime of day and only to read in the paper or watch in the t.v. or listen in the Radio that another one had been a victim of a gun crime, and sometimes a completely innocent by-stander...

for today's fireworks, clik here and here and for much bigger fireworks it's here

UPDATE: A 7 yerrs old boy that was reported missing during the shooting and who may have witnessed the shooting had been located by the Police together with his Father in the Same Building Complex where the incident happened..the boy's father was charged for the double shooting...it's here just clik...

Let There Be Dark

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

TOP: Toronto skyline, as seen at 8:27 p.m. on March 29, 2008. BOTTOM: Toronto skyline, as seen at 8:19 p.m. on March 26, 2008.


Participating in the World Wide Earth Hour, a campaign to bring awareness to the Climate Change brought by man, Toronto went Dark for an Hour or So and Hit the Target..This is the first year of its participation of the Earth Hour, which Started in Christchurch, New Zealand and Suva, Fiji 17 hours ago and will Culminate in Vancouver and San Francisco where the Lights are to go out at the Golden Bridge.

Just before 9 o’clock, the meter at the Toronto Hydro control centre hit a low of 2,738 megawatts - 5 per cent below the demand an hour earlier and about 8.7 per cent less than a typical late March Saturday night

Across the downtown, while most street-level storefront signs remained on, business logos atop high-rise office towers and hotels were dark, and lights blinked out in many condo windows.

Staff at the Sheraton Centre hotel apologized because technical problems delayed their participation, but they vowed to keep the lights out until 10 o’clock as compensation.

In Sydney, the event appeared to be at least as popular as last year, when 2.2 million people took part and electricity consumption fell by 10.2 per cent. This time, lights at the famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge were switched off and Australians held candle-lit beach parties, played poker by candle light and floated candles down rivers.

Australian energy officials said electricity consumption was down by 1,000 megawatts across the country, the equivalent of shutting down two large generating stations.

In Bangkok Thailand, some of the city’s business districts, shopping malls and billboards went dark, although streetlights stayed on. One major hotel invited guests to dine by candlelight and reported brisk business.

But for some reason or another, some countries and cities decided not to participate:

France, Germany, Spain and European Union institutions - planned nothing to mark Earth Hour.

That didn’t dismay organizers, who said there’s a powerful message in the fact that the usual powerhouse countries aren’t leading the way, and that even in wealthy places like Canada it’s very much a grassroots phenomenon.

“I’m just beginning to get a sense that this is a way of giving voice to a lot of people who don’t normally have a voice,” Andy Ridley, of WWF in Sydney, said a day before the event.

For details of the articles and Videos of the Earth Hour, it is here at the Toronto Star

After the Holy Week, something Bad and Something Good..

TONY BOCK/TORONTO STAR
A Toronto police robot is used to check a package left behind by a suspected thief at the Royal Bank branch at 5080 Sheppard Ave., March 25, 2008.

A bank robber was shot by Police after leaving the scene of Bank Robbery and leaving a package he threatened bank staff as “bomb”. He was rush to Sunnybrook hospital for life threatening injuries...Robot has been sent inside the bank to check on the “package”.

Earlier today, in midtown, three more Bank robberies suspected to have been carried by the same man wearing disguises, threatening bank employees with gun, but in all cases no gun was drawn...

Police would not say if the robber got shot late today was the same robber who robbed three banks earlier...

To read the details of the crimes after the Holy Week check here


THE CANADIAN PRESS
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (left) and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan smile as they wait to deliver the provincial budget in Toronto, Tuesday, March 25, 2008
And for Something Good:

Today the Provincial Government brought down the Annual Budget and in it something good:
$1.5 B for Jobs Training:

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan is targeting the unemployed and the poor in a provincial budget designed to cushion Ontario against an economic slowdown.
In a record $96.2-billion spending plan tabled this afternoon in the Legislature, Duncan unveiled a three-year $1.5 billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan.

“The plan is as sweeping in scope as it is balanced in approach,” the treasurer said of the budget, which did not increase taxes while forecasting a $600-million surplus for 2007-08.

Ignoring federal Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s call yesterday for Ontario “to step up in support of our businesses” and slash corporate income taxes, the Liberals instead invested in human capital.

“It is a balanced approach that is prudent and pragmatic,” said Duncan in a shot at Flaherty, who has long insisted that tax cuts pay for themselves by stimulating economic activity.

For related articles of the budget you may check the toronto star

Happy Easter to All ! ! !

Easter Bunny


Happy Easter to All!!!

Thrity Three Years After, An Arrest for Murder...

Barbara Brown holds a picture of her sister Beverly Lynn Smith. (Sun File Photo)




There is no Statute of Limitation for Crimes, especially for Crime of Murder:

THIRTY THREE YEARS AGO, Douglas Smith, as he did every night, calls home to check with his wife and new baby from his work at GM Plant in Oshawa, Ontario. But that night on December, l974 there was no Answer. Worried he called his neighbor Alan Smith (no relation) and asked him to have his wife run over and check on his wife Beverly and her Baby.

”Doug, she's lying on the floor. You'd better come home," was the call he got back.

She was shot with a .22 cal weapon on the back of the head. Baby Rebecca was safe sleeping on the next Room.

It was the first homicide for the Durham Regional Police force, which was formed that same year. And for more than three decades, there have been few developments and even fewer leads.
That is, until last Monday, when police charged that same neighbour, Alan Smith, with her murder.

Alan Smith was arrested in his home in another town where neighbors said he is living with his daughter and granddaughter. He is charged of second degree murder.

Detectives wouldn't say what led to his arrest. "Just old-fashioned, dogged detective work," said police spokesperson David Selby
In 1992, then-Chief Dave Edwards told the Star they'd had the same suspect from the beginning, but never had the proof to nail him.
"One day he will let his guard down," Edwards said. "What goes around comes around ... and when the times comes we will be there."
There is no indication Alan Smith is that same suspect. And police would not say whether a member of the public came forward with more information or whether DNA advancements led to the arrest.
But whatever the reason, Barbra Brown and the rest of the Smith family view the Durham squad as heroes.

For details of the articles and the video check the pages of Toronto Star: Arrest in l974 Slaying

Gunfight at the City's North End..one down, five hurt.

RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

Officers prepare to canvass March 15, 2008 in the housing complex at Dufferin St. and Lawrence Ave. W. where six men were shot a day earlier, one fatally.



RENE JOHNSON/TORONTO STAR

A bullet hole is seen in the aftermath of a shootout March 14, 2008 near Dufferin St. and Lawrence Ave. W. which left one man dead and three others in hospital

Gunfight at the City’s North End:

An 18 years old identified by Police as Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim, was the 11th homicide victims of the City for the Year and five other young men were hurt in a shootout in Toronto Northend of Lawrence and Duferin Area at a Toronto Housing Corporation apartment building.

Witnesses said the Area is known for the hangouts of youths, some or most carrying guns and the melee may had been started when some youth playing with gun accidentally discharged prompting others to shoot back thinking the war has started.

for more details and witnesses comments clik here
and here

LATEST UPDATE from the City's Police, March 16 4:00am EDT Brazen shooting left one dead, five injured, Toronto Sun Media

Six young men caught in a hail of bullets, one of whom was killed, were minding their own business when a gunman opened fire on them at a Lawrence Heights housing complex, police say.

Surveillance video shows two men walking up to the six shortly before 10 p.m. Friday as they stood on the doorstep of a lowrise apartment at 87 Amaranth Ct., near Allen Rd. and Lawrence Ave. W.

Then, without warning, one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting all six.

"There's no explanation for why the gunman opens fire," homicide Det.-Sgt. Brian Borg said yesterday after viewing the video. "It was quite a brazen shooting."

He said the victims had no chance to escape because they were "boxed in" on the porch.

No arrests had been made as of last night. Tipsters are urged to call the homicide unit at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS.

PM Orders Probe of NAFTA-Gate...

CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS

PM Chief of Staff...The Man at the Centre of NAFTA-Gate that could tip the Campaign for Democrats Presidential Nomination in favour of Hillary Clinton..


PM Orders Wider Probe of NAFTA-Gate to Include his Own Office..

Prime Minister Harper refused to heed opposition demand to Fire his Chief of Staff Ian Brodie for what is now known as Nafta Gate.

A document leak last week suggested an Obama adviser told the Canadian government that Obama wasn't serious about his campaign threats to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Allegations of hypocrisy and double-talk rocked Obama's campaign in the final days before the critical Ohio primary, which he lost to Hillary Clinton by a wider-than-expected margin.

It was a key link in a chain reaction set off days earlier when Brodie made some candid comments to journalists in Ottawa last week.

Brodie reportedly downplayed talk by Democratic candidates that they would reopen NAFTA.

According to one source present, he specifically said the Clinton camp had told Canadian officials that her tough talk should be taken with a grain of salt. Brodie says he doesn't recall specifically mentioning Clinton or Obama, but he has not denied the rest of the conversation.

CTV pursued the story from Washington the next day. For reasons that remain unclear, the network wound up focusing its subsequent reports much more heavily on Obama than on Clinton.

When Obama denied such things had taken place, a leaked diplomatic memo surfaced. It contained a written conversation between Obama’s adviser and being interpreted that the Presidential nominee just posturing and not serious about re-opening the NAFTA agreement. The Adviser said the conversation was twisted out of context.

Obama was hounded by the Story and had to cut short a news conference where he was pounded with very aggressive questioning about the leak. The Leak occurred at the eve of Ohio Primary.

Allegations of Hypocrisy and Double Talk rocked Obama campaign during the final days of Ohio Primary which he lost by wider than expected margin to Hillary Clinton..

PM Harper asked Kevin Lynch, the chief of the Privy Council, the most Senior Bureaucrat to led the Probe and said he will take whatever measures Lynch recommends.

The New Democrats said the prime minister's promises of a probe are not good enough. They want Brodie fired, and have lambasted Harper for telling the Commons this week that his chief of staff was not responsible for the leak.

"Will he now apologize to this House, the American people, and Senator Obama, and will he fire his chief of staff?" NDP Leader Jack Layton asked during the daily question period.

"Will the prime minister show some backbone and show Mr. Brodie the door immediately”

Both Leaders of the Oppositions Liberals and New Democrats asked the PM to request the RCMP to Investigate as the leak may have violated the Security and Information Act for leaking of secret diplomatic documents.

Last year, the Mounties hauled a Junior-Level in handcuff for leaking a Climate Change document to the Media, and the Opposition are wondering why the PM would not Publicly ask the RCMP to step for this Nafta-gate which could be a more damaging Leak..

Tory mumbling and fumbling about the NAFTA-Gate Leaks and the Man at the Centre

And for the PM widening Probe read the details PM asked Country’s Top Civil Servant to Led the Probe

Bribery or Breach of Ethics???

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

PM Harper has a lot of explaining to do about this Affair..

Update: March 4 10 am: PM Harper give notice to the Liberals and Party Leader Spephan Dion that he will sue for Libel if the Liberals would not retract from their Website their post claiming that the PM had knowledge of the supposed Bribery and it did took Place..Cadman widow in a subsequent interview, said that Harper, then an opposition Leader met with her after the vote and assured her that no offer was made..here is the details of the Update..

A biography of Cadman, to be published this month, charges that two Conservative party officials offered Cadman, who was critically ill with cancer, a $1 million life insurance policy if he voted against the then-Liberal minority government in a confidence vote on May 19, 2005. If he had voted with the Conservatives, the government would have fallen, forcing an election.

Background: Chuck Cadman was a British Columbia MP who remained Independent after the Re-Uniting of the Conservatives, who split up into splinter Parties after the debacles of Elections past. During the Confidence vote in Paul Martin minority Liberal Government in May 2005, his vote was crucial for the survival of the Government, thus arising to the Scandal that the Conservatives, in the opposition at that Time was trying to lure the Independent MP to their side to defeat the Government triggering an Election with an alleged Offer of a $1 Million in Life Insurance Policy. Cadman voted for the Liberal, thereby assuring the survival of the Government for another few months..Cadman died July 9. 2005, less than two months after the vote.

Now the Liberal Party, the main opposition, who have been propping up the Minority Conservative government to avoid an early Election nobody wants, is re-examining it’s strategy of supporting the Government and instead openly musing of toppling it as the Members find it hard to support the Government after the allegation.

The allegation was supported by Cadman’s widow, who herself now is a candidate for the Conservative Party and was also echoed by his daughter, which also followed her Mother’s statement that her father told her of the same before he died and added that she so proud he didn’t not take the offer...

Confronted with the allegation PM Harper, who had an Interview with the Author of the Book which script been released in Advance, even suggested that he knew of the offer but has this to say:

And an interview with the book's author, Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk, Harper, who was opposition leader at the time, even suggests he knew of the offer.
Asked about the insurance policy, Harper said, "it was only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to an election, okay? That's my understanding of what they were talking about."

All personalities involved in the allegation do not deny that they had been meeting with the MP, but denied about the offer of Life Insurance Policy or any monetary incentives..(pls note that according to the experts in the field of insurance, Chuck Cadman at the time was uninsurable for having terminal cancer)

It is considered an offence under the Criminal Code to offer a politician an inducement, financial or otherwise, to influence him or her.

The Opposition Liberals already written the RCMP to look after the allegations and the Force will review the contents of the letter and will make up the decision to proceed with the investigation or not...

For more of the Brewing Scandals check the pages of the Toronto Star

And for those who may have doubts that the tale maybe too good to be True how about this column by tom walkom

Portrait of a Mother

Rochelle (che), my niece, with daughters Francine, 4 years old, and Emily, 4 months old.