true north strong and free...and me

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T00:51:00.012-05:00

A Merry Christmas to One and All...

The Littlest of the Clans..Melissa Janelle...

The Three Precious of our Youngest Sis...bibs, migs and pao...

Joshua as he looks at 20ll Christmas time...all of six years old now...

Joshua, with all the Girls at Christmas time..Toronto, Ontario. Canada 2011

Dad,bibs, Mom, Kuya Pao and Kuya Migs...San Jose, CA, USA, Christmas 2011

Emily, One year old Melissa and the eldest Franchine...Christmas in Hatboro, PA

summer post...our youngest sis first born came for a visit with a surpise...

2011-08-05T08:19:00.009-04:00

young lovers at Niagara Falls....

Josh welcoming Tita Lauren to Toronto...

Young and Serious...

Josh with Tita Lauren with the Caribbean Festival participants during the festivities...

We call him Migs (bibs Big Brother,) and that is his surprise, his GF he brought along during the trip...to New York with the auntie and uncle, in PA with cousins and Toronto...with more Aunties and uncle..(me)...Picture taken on the Glass Floor of the CN Tower...(don't look down)

on top of the CN tower with Josh..july 2011

The Christianising of Melissa or Lizzie Christening - May 29, 2011 Hatboro, PA, USA

2011-06-03T11:26:00.029-04:00

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...

The Day After...

The Godparents....

Mom and Daughter...

Mom and Dad and Lizzie with sis Emy and Chin...

Grandparents...

More Grandparents...

Cousins

Guests...

With Big Sis Francine...

The Day Before
>

Emily at Three

2010-11-22T04:11:00.009-05:00

Emy and little sister Lizzie...

And now there are Three...Melissa Janelle, December 27...

Mom and daughters and there will be Three.

Emily blowing her three candles, November 14, 20l0

Applause from the guests..

at home with ate chin checking the gifts.

collection of short videos of the "kids"...

2010-08-08T15:27:00.018-04:00

Emy and Ate Chin, Dec 28 Hatboro PA
Melissa Janelle, Dec 28, 2010, Hatboro PA
dance usa (hatboro, pa)
Floral Clock - Niagara Falls

chin and emily-sisters

the changing of the guard, parliament hill, ottawa, ontario, canada
changinf of the guard...Rideau Hall

Josh's First Winter...and First Year in Toronto (Canada)

2010-01-12T10:04:00.015-05:00

d Bibs with Chin and Auntie Joy with auntie's BMW x drive (after yours truly did a very thourough detailing job on the baby)

The late President Cory Aquino planted tree in the grounds of Rideau Hall...july 2010 with bibs during her summer vacation. posing with the honour guard at the GG residence-the Rideau Hall Down the water slide and another water slide... In Canada Wonderland theme park to cool off... Joshua (standing 5th from left) and his Classmates in Kin 1 Class of 2010, Easter Official Kin 1 Afternoon Mrs. Jones Class Photo, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, Toronto, Ontario... Now, let me show you guys how these things are done, the wrong way...

We Remember - on the 11th Hour, 11th Day of the 11th Month..

2009-11-11T09:32:00.004-05:00

a poem worth remembering

The Gatherings of the Next Generations...

2009-10-11T03:59:00.011-04:00

While the older ones busy with their Pumpkins Picking the little one was asleep all the time...only to wake in time for Snack...as usual at MacDo..

Josh got his Pick...

child and mother..Francine with mom and Josh with his...

getting acquainted

Cousins: from Hatboro, PA, U.S.A. Francine and sister Emily and from Toronto (host) Joshua..

It was a Long Trip and mom and dad decided to start early dawn to let the two "babies" spend most of the 10 hours drive continuing their sleep..They will be driving from Hatboro, (Philadelphia Area) to Toronto for a Long awaited meeting of the Next Generation, Cousins, two growing up in the U.S., one just Landed in this side of the Border...Introducing my Brother's Grandchildren..from Hatboro, U.S.A. Francine and Emily and from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Joshua...

Let us all say our Thanks for the Blessings we have had in the Past, and always hope and wish for the best for the Coming Generations...HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO ALL !!!

Multi-Activity-Vehicle (MAV) Mazda 5 GT

2009-07-05T05:07:00.024-04:00

UPDATE:....26 September, 2009....We welcome Joshua and Mom, arrived Toronto from Manila, Via Hongkong 24 Sept. at 7:57 PM Air Canada Flight 16...my Brother only Grandson, all of four years...and very good looking...to the New Immigrants, Welcome to Canada and feel at Home!!

During one of the Occasion of our Gatherings, a friend who is following the entries in this seldom updated blog asked me why I did not post an entry about my recently acquired wheels...here Iggy, for you and the rest...the Zoom, Zoom forever post...

Been driving and owning cars for so many years, actually as soon as I get my Canadian Driver’s License first issued in the City of Winnipeg while trying my Luck there way, way back then, and all I got for 6 weeks was the Driver License and the rest is History.

The last car I had was a Dodge Spirit mid-size sedan, one of Lee Iacocca series of the Famous K cars, which among others Introduced to the world the Iconic Minivan...it was good and it was bad...after about four years of trouble free driving, it became a proverbial “white elephant” and one day I just told a co-worker if he wants it, can have it...and all it needs is an engine from the junk yards and his son drove it for another 5 years...so for the time being I was driving the other Family Car, my sister’s which was also the baby sister of the mid-size Dodge, the Dodge Shadow, which is also our Middle name (our Mother’s Surname, Anino) which lasted without any trouble for 17 years, until May of 2007 when it just said, I had enough and to the Junk Yard she went...the man who picked it up said that the body is still in shape-shape that he might check the problem and spare it from being chop-chop for parts.

I was just happy taking the “quite” efficient and relatively Very Cheap mode of going places, the Toronto Mass Transit System, known for its acronym, TTC (Toronto Transit Commission)..the monthly expense was lower than even the Car Insurance Premium, any car by very much.

Then a Text Message coming from our only Sibling left in the Philippines, our Brother (retired) that her daughter and her 4 years old son are both coming over as immigrants any time soon, (but decided to let them go after celebrating his 70th Birthday this September) as his other son and family, (see the last entry, a week with Francine and Emily) are already been away and the house will be an empty nest now, with just him and his wife..Update..Septemer 12...the Big Boy is scheduled to Arrive Toronto Pearson International, September 24...

So over the cup of coffee with the visiting youngest sis from New York, we talked which car best suited to move the 4 year old grand nephew and the rest of the family...I already made up my Mind to go for the Six, three rows seating Mazda 5... it is not a minivan, not a crossover and Mazda gave it a very appropriate description...MAV (for Multi-Activity-Vehicle)..

So off to the Dealer, Scarborough Mazda check the specs here>/> to make a deal, and if less than 30 minutes the deal was sealed and the car will be ready after its body rust proofing, window tinting and registration were done, about a day or two...and off to Hatboro, PA we went and it was a very Nice Driving Car, with its Low Profile wide tires, riding in Nitrogen, and all operations can be set in Auto, (wiper, headlight, climate control) and even the 5 speed Auto transmission has a Manual Option, known as Steptronic, a flip to the left and tap-tap-tap up and down the car is in Manual Mode without the Clutch Pedal...or just stay in Auto and let it shifts by itself (can be shifted back and forth on the fly)...Power is transmitted to Front Wheels by a 2.3 liter DOHC 16V EFI engine and though there is no specs and how many seconds it can get from 0-100 km( maximum hway speed) I timed it somewhere between 8 to9 seconds, not bad for a small engine...fuel efficiency is quite good in Highway Driving, but not in City Driving as the Car is slightly bigger and heavier than conventional sedan.

So the “Big Boy” will have to learn to accept to ride in the second row seat as compared to always sitting beside Grandpa, the driver...and has to be buckled to his booster seat...It is not advisable to have a passenger less than 12 years of age occuppying Front Seat as the Air Bags and the possibility of impact with the dashboard is dangerous for younger passenger. It is even Illegal.

The Front...you may klik at the pix to view the enlarged image in separate window...

Parking alongside the "girls" own movers (francine and emily), the Toyota Sienna and the Kia Sportage.

The view from the Rear and passenger side...

Side view with sliding door wide open,(easy close door system)access to the Third row is thru the folded second row side seats pushed forward, the Centre or Jump Over, just like Francine does everytime...

The two seats middle row with hideaway tiny snack centre table for the "special passenger".

The Cabin

The Mazda 5 side view, the GT model.

The Twins (youngest in the family) visiting from the U.S. posing with the Mazda 5 somewhere in Niagara...the other is a Torontonian sis...July 11,2009

Special Bonus: Lolo Natic and Lola Mart, brand spanking New Chrysler Journey Crossover...love the scent of a new car...says lola Mart (as the kids would call them)...

a week with Francine and Emily

2009-04-10T01:40:00.018-04:00

with lolo gene and sometimes her Physician

and lola joy her Pedia...

Emy with dad and mom and lolo natic and lola mart

Emy with mom

walking Francine to the School Bus P.U. Corner (junior kin)

the house the girls call "home"

emy with "lolo"

Francine and Emily

Got snowed on the way somewhere in Buffalo, missed a few turns and a few more misses with the first use of the GPS, but this new tech guided me and sis right to the door of our grandnieces Francine and Emily in Hatboro, PA with very little delays as it re-calculated the route as soon as I missed the highlighted 3d maps plus the play by play (turn by turn) instruction of the pleasant voice prompts of "Samantha".

"Kuya" Mik first visit....

2008-12-31T15:46:00.013-05:00

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

2008-11-23T07:26:00.005-05:00

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...

2008-11-09T16:20:00.008-05:00

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

2008-11-02T07:22:00.013-05:00

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...

2008-10-12T05:55:00.024-04:00

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

2008-10-05T23:49:00.015-04:00

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..

2008-08-18T02:24:00.012-04:00

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

2008-08-10T21:02:00.009-04:00

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

2008-07-13T04:24:00.012-04:00

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..

2008-07-01T12:59:00.004-04:00

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

2008-06-29T23:17:00.005-04:00

“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

2008-06-12T09:23:00.010-04:00

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...

2008-05-22T10:06:00.005-04:00

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..

2008-05-16T10:09:00.007-04:00

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?

2008-05-04T23:47:00.009-04:00

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..

2008-04-22T11:57:00.007-04:00

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....

2008-04-13T02:37:00.008-04:00

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.

2008-04-09T06:18:00.011-04:00

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

2008-03-30T02:38:00.004-04:00

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..

2008-03-25T20:15:00.004-04:00

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 ! ! !

2008-03-22T21:52:00.002-04:00

Easter Bunny

Happy Easter to All!!!

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

2008-03-19T09:58:00.004-04:00

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.

2008-03-16T04:43:00.012-04:00

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...

2008-03-07T02:06:00.008-05:00

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???

2008-03-01T23:34:00.011-05:00

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

2008-02-23T08:44:00.006-05:00

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

bibs the amateur photographer...

2008-02-16T09:14:00.009-05:00

Pics taken from New York Museum of Arts by bibs

" />
With cousin DJ of Chicago in New York

With Kuyas somewhere in California..

Thousands of Students Locked In

2008-02-10T00:38:00.001-05:00

Alex Urosevic/Sun Media

The Police said it may have been a camera tripod sticking out instead of a firearm..But it is comforting to know that the Standard Procedures was executed to perfection just in case it maybe a real firearm in the future..

By ROB LAMBERTI AND JONATHAN JENKINS, SUN MEDIA

(Alex Urosevic/Sun Media)
OAKVILLE -- Thousands of Sheridan College students were locked down after a teacher and eight students thought they saw a gun sticking out of a person's knapsack.
But after almost three hours of huddling in darkened, locked rooms or under desks at the Trafalgar Rd. campus south of Upper Middle Rd., Halton police believe the protruding weapon was a camera tripod.

College President Dr. Robert Turner said a professor and some of his students thought they saw a "long tubular object" sticking out of the man sack and feared it was a firearm.

The lock down was announced by a school-wide public address system. Gordon said police acted as if they were dealing with an armed man and classes were cleared in a methodical way.

Art student Brittany Stewart said her teacher sprung into action after hearing the lock down announcement. "She automatically turned everything off, told us to be quiet and she closed the door and locked it," Stewart said. "I think one of the other students put a chair in front of it. By the time this happened, I finally realized what was going on and they secured the room."

She said she had trouble believing the announcement stating the lock down was not a drill. "And they repeated, 'This is not a drill,' I was dumbstruck," Stewart said. "It was kind of scary."

Banking student Jamie Basil said it was her teacher and fellow students who saw the man they thought was armed.

Kandise Barron was so spooked by the episode, she and a classmate hid in a closet for 45 minutes after two police officers rattled the door and told them they could come out, the glass-blowing program student said.

"They asked us to come out but we didn't come out," Barron said. "The mood was a little bit untrusting. It was quite frightening, actually."

Barron had been working on a project in a noisy studio and never heard any announcement about the lock down, when another student came in and hurriedly turned out the lights.

Read or see it here or here

All Schools, from Kindergarten to University are doing regular drills for emergency especially if it involves firearms spotted in the vicinity..Police and Special Forces are immediately dispatch to deal with the emergency and if involves like the incident described in the articles above, won't declare the all-clear until the whole campus is searched and found safe..may take hours as the one above, even in a false alarm..always better safe than sorry later..

India's 'Doctor Kidney' safe at GTA (Toronto Area)

2008-02-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

INTERPOL PHOTO
Dr. Amet Kumar is wanted in India

The Doctor wanted by Indian Police and has been the subject of the rarely used RED NOTICE warrant for being the suspected Leader of the underground Kidney Trafficking Ring that illegally harvested hundreds of kidneys by either duping the source or forcing at gunpoint to give up a kidney for transplant to wealthy clients, Indians or Foreigners, is for the Meantime Safe with his Wife and children at his Greater Toronto Home..

It is illegal in India to sell a kidney; the Interpol warrant charges Kumar with "crimes against life and health" and being part of a criminal enterprise.

Neighbours said the Kumars, wife Poonam Ameet and two sons ages 5 and 4 moved to the Area last April and the children attend a local private school..

Documents obtained by the Star show the couple bought a 4-bedroom home at Pali Drive (city of Brampton**) in a predominantly Indian neighbourhood of Bovaird Dr. and Airport Rd. In April 2007 for $610,000..***
**Brampton is a city southwest of Toronto approximately 30 kms from downtown with Mississauga in Between..
***$610,000 is above average for a house in the area, which usually top at $500,000..

Neighbours have a mixed impression towards the doctor; some say he’s some kind of introvert, some say he’s candid and up front and some said they joke about him at parties that he must be loaded to have such a young and beautiful wife but none was prepared to hear about the news of what he was alleged to be...

A spokesman for the RCMP said that they have limited information about the Indian Investigation but had been in touch through Interpol...

Modus Operandi: Teams of Kidney Scouts roamed the labour market in Delhi and cities in Uttar Praddesh, the poorest Indian’s state in search for potential donors..some prospect were offered outright for one of their kidneys for $1000 to $2500 and others were forced at gunpoint or drugged...The syndicate charges $50,000 for Transplant....

Baby Left at Mall Stairwell!!!

2008-01-31T08:38:00.000-05:00

SUPPLIED PHOTO
Police are seeking assistance in identifying this 8-month-old girl who was found in a stairwell in Toronto today.

Baby Left in Mall Stairwell...

A shopper at first thought it was a Doll, but luckily the Baby cried and she ran back and called 911...

Police said the baby, other than few bruises, is in good condition despite left not dressed for the Elements (temperature at -14 Celsius) and had not suffered any frostbite...

Anyone with information with the identity of the child is urged to contact the Police:

For more details and information please read the articles at the Toronto Star..

The Inconvenient Truth...

2008-01-27T23:50:00.001-05:00

The Inconvenient Truth

First they campaigned for the Public to conserve the water, subsidized replacement of inefficient toilets and in Toronto a campaign of replacing shower heads for Free regularly, encourage homeowners to water their lawns less and now with Water Pipes needing replacements, (some of them are 50 years and older) they’re complaining that Conservation is killing them..I meant the cities’ coffers for less revenue for less water use.

As Reported by Toronto Star, here are what the Regions’ officials have to say about Conservation and its effect on the Revenue and Upgrading of Water Delivery System...

Cliff Curtis - Durham Region Works Chief: When asked by the Star about declining water consumption, in unguarded answer he blurted out: “Conservation is Killing Us”

Realizing what he had just said, he added that of course there are a thousand and one reasons to conserve, but one thing for sure: Conservation is putting Cash-Strapped Municipalities in a bit of a Pickle..

Tougher post-Walkerton** regulations, growing communities and a rising backlog of crumbling pipes needing to be fixed are driving up costs even while diligent consumers are lowering their consumption and the size of their bills.

**Walkerton is a town in Ontario where water contamination few years back cause widespread infections among its residence and later examinations and investigations attributed up to nine deaths, majority of them elderly from E-Coli infection. After the Exhaustive Public Inquiry conducted by Justice Dennis O’Connor, the 700 pages Report put the blame mainly on the Koebel Brothers, Stan and Frank, who both worked at the facilities who were found out to have falsified records and gross neglect of duty and were both charged of criminal Negligence and convicted and also to the Government for Cut Backs, under the Common Sense Revolution, which also saw the Government laying off thousand of Nurses and other Care Givers in a buy out, only to scramble to plug for the shortages in a matter of Few Years. The Government settled out of court with all the victims of the Walkerton Water Contamination..

The Inquiry also recommended to the Government the measures to be taken to prevent the same from ever happening again, hence the need for Extra Revenue to meet all the upgrading as recommended in the Reports of Justice Dennis O’ Connor Inquiry...

Toronto alone is facing about $800 million worth of repair and replacement work, since half of the city's water mains and 30 per cent of its sewer pipes are more than 50 years old. But last year, total revenue was only $604 million.
(Now we won’t feel guilty of running the sprinklers all day and night this summer and taking a few hot showers in a day, instead of once a week..)

Other regions are hurting, too.

Peel Region treasurer Dan Labrecque estimates his region has lost $7 million to so-called "revenue or billable flows shortfall." The need to make up for that lost money accounts for nearly half of Peel's proposed 16 per cent water rate hike (expected to be phased in at 12.5 per cent).
"A number of factors are contributing to this, including the success of our water consumption (reduction) efforts," said Labrecque. "We've pointed it out to council saying, here's the trend, we don't know if it's a sustainable trend, or whether it's an adjustment because of changes, the Al Gore movie and all that kind of stuff."

Everyone efforts are the obvious factors in the consumption decline and it is also augmented by new building codes that require more efficient equipments for new homes and subsidized replacements in old ones...

But there is always the good side to the bad.. On the Plus side Conservation could save municipalities in existing infrastructures as they will last longer and can postpone capital expenditure of building new ones...less water also means less energy to Treat and Pump water and wastewater, savings on energy bill for the cities..there you go..more than offset each other.

And I have some idea what is next..Municipalities will raise the Water Bill for the needed revenue and the consumers will conserve more and the municipalities will raise the bill some more....as if we are taxed to the hilt yet... so we have to do some compromise here...longer shower time, greener lawns, wash the cars and driveways and the sidings as often and for families with lot of children to invent some water games...it’s fun and helping the Works Tzars of your cities solve their dilemma and let them worry about something else..

On the completely unrelated subject, I vote for Javier Bardem for Oscar Best Supporting Actor for his role in Coen Brothers No Country for Old Men and our very own Ellen Page for Best Actress in Juno...

Ellen Page in Juno....

The Earth Hour - March 29, Saturday 8 to 9 PM ...count yourself in..

2008-01-19T20:13:00.000-05:00

SUN HERALD FILE PHOTOS

Noor Javed Jan. 20, 2008

On March 31, 2007 at exactly 7:30 p.m., Sydney Harbour was cast into darkness. Citizens doused their lights, faded to green and embraced a bold new idea.

From the Star, through Jagoda S. Pike, its Publisher - is issuing a Challenge - to ourselves and to our readers - to commit ourselves to One Hour of Darkness.

The date, March 29, time between 8:00 to 9:00 PM. By going dark for One Hour, not only that we will reduce the Electricity consumption, but we will be making a statement, giving a warning to Sluggish Governments and Industries that the time for Action is NOW..

The movement started in Sydney last year and this year event will again start at Sydney and there will be more cities participating beyond the Australian continent..Sydney is in again, and the event, so far, has expanded within Australia to include Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Gold Coast and Melbourne, and beyond the island continent to Toronto; Chicago; Tel Aviv and Haifa, Israel; Manila, Philippines; Suva, Fiji; Christchurch, New Zealand; and four Danish cities – Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg. At least three more – Bangkok, Singapore and Shanghai – are likely to participate. Others are welcome.

A similar event, Lights out America will be held in additional U.S. locations..

It may seem insignificant to turn out the lights in your dwelling for an hour on a Saturday night, what with millions of cars, factories spewing poisonous gases into the air it is like a solitary tiny ant trying to halt the juggernaut of destructive climate change..but one multiplied by many is a force that may move the government to address the issues...

Star Photographer Lucas Oleniuk captures the issue of Global Warning by creating a video from Still Images..20,000 still images taken in 20 days in a video that truly tells the Story Airsickness: An Industrial Devolution watch it and lights out on March 29 to make a statement...

For the Jagoda S. Pike, Star Publisher message Take the Earth Hour Challenge

Star Photo...

Police closed both directions of Hwy 400 after a blinding whiteouts which reduced visibility resulted in 100s of collisions. It was re-opened in time for Monday Rush..

It was cold, but sunny, perfectly sunny day, then suddenly a blinding wind whipped whiteout and Highway 400, the gateway to Northern Ontario became a wrecking yard with more than 100 cars involved in Chain-Reaction collisions..

Motorists told tales of being in sunshine one moment and enveloped in swirling snow the next.

For a moment, consider yourself in a whiteout, what would you do? Keep driving ahead and Rear End someone in Front of YOU? Stop where you are and wait someone rear end YOU?

Luckily with hundreds of cars and truck involved, police reported no fatalities and mostly Minor Injuries and emergency vehicles including Air Ambulances were on the scene shortly to transport the injured..The Highway was closed until cleared with all vehicles and opened in time for Monday Rush Hour..

For details of the whiteouts take a look here..

The Baptism of Emily

2007-12-26T09:38:00.000-05:00

Emily Christening December 23, 2007...Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. Emily Christine with Dad and Mom and Ninangs and Ninongs... Philadelphia Familia de la Vida... Emily Christine is the daughter of my Nephew, our eldest brother's son, (now retired and residing in Manila) and sister to older daughter Francine (chin chin). Family live in Philadelphia and both parents are RNs... Somewhere in the 5th av and 53rd street to see the bright lights at Rockefeller Centre, Christmas night..with uncle Gene, also her physician... She came to see the snow, but the streets of NYC are clear and the temps above freezing, but may see some by Jan. 5 before returning home to California. Also 2 days late for Emily's baptismal party; blame the late Christmas Break...bibs in NYC HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND TO ALL A PROSPEROUS 2008...From me, bibs, the newest bibs and sister chin and the whole family...

The Pixs Say it All...

2007-12-16T14:30:00.000-05:00

Snow, Snow and more snow...

THE BIG CLEAN UP

Dec 16, 2007 06:00 PM Andrew Chung
Staff Reporter
If Toronto were human, today it would be undergoing thousands of emergency angioplasties to unclog every inch of its 5,200 kilometres of roadways in a scale of operation not seen since the "disaster" of 1999.
So if you're wondering when your street will be cleared, the answer is, soon. Harried city workers are asking for patience - promising to get to you eventually.
the cleanup begins
digging up the white stuff.

But if you click in here, all sunshine enough to melt the snow and ice...

Lord Black of Crossharbour, 61/2 years, $6.1millions forfeiture and $215 thousands fine..

2007-12-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

Black fell down the Black Hole...

Paying the Price...the rise and fall of Lord Black of Crossharbour61/2 years,$ 215 thous, $6.1 millions forfeitures and both sides claim victory...

The time and life of Once a Great Canadian wiki here before he renounced his citizenship and becomes the Baron Black of Crossharbour...now he will be known..The Lord of the U.S. Penitentiary....

Conrad Black, Business Magnate, Once the owner of Newspaper Empire, Knighted by the Queen of England, Lord Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, Historian and the latest to be added to his long and illustrious career and resume, a convicted felon, sentence 6 ½ years, $125, 000 fine, and $6.1 Millions forfeiture.

In Sentencing Conrad Black Judge Amy St. Eve in Chicago courtroom told him:

“Mr. Black, you have violated your duty to Hollinger International and its shareholders. I frankly cannot understand how somebody of your stature could engage in the conduct you have engaged in and put everything at risk ... In the U.S., there's equal justice under the law. No one is above the law and that, Mr. Black, includes you."

Mr. Black who through his lawyers asked re-acquisition of his Canadian Citizenship after Renouncing it, to accept peerage or Knighthood conferred by Queen Elizabeth II but not after suing then PM Martin for not giving him an exemption retaining his Citizenship while accepting the peerage.

Note: The Nickel Resolution of l919 barred Canadians from accepting knighthood or peerage from the Crown of England, unless after renouncing the citizenship.

The reason of course of Mr. Black wanting his citizenship back is to avail the prisoner exchange program, where each country can have each citizen serve his or her sentences in her or his country of citizenship and in the U.S. the felon there is no parole eligibility although a prisoners can pare 15 % of their sentences for good behaviour, while in Canada, prisoners are eligible for parole after serving one third for good behaviour and compulsory parole after serving two thirds. That is for crimes with no minimum sentences, like first degree murder or serious crimes.

Well, both sides claiming victory. On the prosecutors side, headed by the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who said that they have a case of fraud to prove and they did and 6 ½ years is a lot of time and warning to anyone about stealing money from anyone.

From the Defense, Toronto Lawyer Eddie Greenspan, said they came in the trial accused of stealing $90 millions and expecting 20 years and what his client got is 6 ½ years and $6.1 millions way down from what he was accused of.

I wonder who really is victorious, one guy is going to prison, the shareholders lost millions, another tale of greed and most like what Judge Amy St. Eve, could not understand why, a man born wealthy, have everything, made more, arrogant to no limit, insulted his own country and now beg to be taken under her wing again. Yes, Canada may be one or perhaps the most compassionate nation in this planet, yet she has her limit, Will she takes Mr. Conrad Black again as her Citizen? Majority of Canadians don’t think so...

Here are some of the famous or infamous quotes from Mr. Black and you may search for more...

'PORN' Furor Grips MPs

2007-12-06T09:25:00.000-05:00

TOM HANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Government MP James Moore

update: 9.05 am, Dec 7, 07...And here's some more from the NDP, (New Democratic Party, or Socialists).. Yesterday, Deputy Leader Libbyy Davies offered yet the latest mea culpa, a stunning climb down from her party's accusation that a Liberal Candidate had tried to bribe his NDP rival into quiting the race. The result was devastating for the Liberal Candidate as he was dumped by then PM Paul Martin as the Party Flag Bearer after the allegation became public. The candidate already settled the lawsuit and still has to receive an apology from then PM Martin for dumpint him without looking at the matter further. Election Canada had cleared him of all Allegations...to look at the accusation of the NDP Junkyard Dog Tatics Check the star

Shame and Scandal in the House?

Opposition MP attacked a member of the Governing Party, accusing him of viewing some kind of 'Soft Porn' in the House of Commons, only to Apologize hours later when told by the young MP that the pictures of scantily clad woman he was looking at his laptap was that of his girlfriend.

New Democrat MP Irene Mathyssen launched an explosive attacked in the house of common that she saw Conservative MP James Moore looking at Playboy type picture of a scantily clad woman at his laptop moment before the parliament has to adjourn last Tuesday.

Noting that the Conservative Government cuts to a number of women’s program, Mathyssen said that Moore action give the impression that the government is no friend of women especially the 18 anniversary of the Montreal massacre of 14 women.

Since December 2004, when the chamber received a number of technological upgrades, MPs have had access to wireless Internet. Unlike many work environments, however, there are no restrictions placed on what websites politicians can look at.
MP Mathyssen said that she will make a formal apology in the house of commons at the earliest possible time and MP Moore when asked if he will file a lawsuit, has no comments.

MPs are protected from lawsuits and immune from prosecution of the actions and speech delivered in the House, but MP Mathyssen repeated her accusation to the reporters outside the house. We’ll see...for detail of the Porn that was not check just my girlfriendbut thanks for the compliments...

First of Many-Snow Storm hits GTA

2007-12-02T11:23:00.000-05:00

RICHARD MARSHALL/AP PHOTO
not a nice day for biking

First major snow storms hit most of Midwest and Eastern Canada, including GTA.

Well, the weatherman forecast this is going to be the year of La Nina, meaning a cold and bitter winter and more snow. Well, He is right if last night is the indicator. Woke up for my mid-morning coffee walk and have to struggle a 10 minutes walk to Tim Hortons into a 20 minutes and had to stop to help a woman driving her brand new Honda Accord stuck in a driveway in a “fresh” snow. Finally a fellow helping me pushing the car decided to ask her if she will allow one of us to drive and she willingly allowed the fellow to do it and it was the driver, not the snow that got the car stuck, she was spinning the wheels so hard. We gave her a quick tips of how to get unstuck in snow in any kind of situation, whether driving a four wheels traction or rear wheels or front wheels.

After the coffee, went back home, cranked up the old trusty snow thrower and made two passes over my neighbors walkways, shovels the edges and went back browsing the net.

And the weatherman says more snow expected for tomorrow, Monday and warning the early morning motorists to work to drive according to road conditions. And don’t forget to maintain that safe distance to the car in front.

To look on how the boys and girls work so hard to make our roads and highways safe to drive and ready during and immediately after a major Snow Storm, check this Video courtesy of the toronto star.

And to monitor the conditions and collisions and road emergencies, here are the maps of the of the monitoring cams and overhead displays along the major highways and roadway

For Southern Ontario Residents you may check here for up to the minute Weather Warming and do it before you go out especially on inclement weather to make sure you’ll get where you’re going....

The Explorer...Now She is Lost...

2007-11-25T02:33:00.000-05:00

REUTERS/CHILEAN NAVY
The Explorer lists in Antarctic waters yesterday after it hit some ice. The ship’s 154 passengers and crew escaped after a Norwegian boat picked them up.

UPDATE

`They promised an adventure but I don't think they ever intended to make it this good'

Now She is Lost...

The Explorer ended her 40 years of crisscrossing the Antarctica as she becomes the First Ship to sink in the frigid depth of the Ocean.

The first ship built to sail the Antarctic, she has the Firsts of many.

Operated by Toronto-based G.A.P. Adventures, Explorer is a small ship (75 meter long and 2,200 tonnes) with capacity of 100 passengers and 54 crews. But she was built to crunch ice as she plies the ice surfaced Antarctica.

All l54 passengers and crew were safely rescued by the National Geographic Expedition Ship Endeavor along with another bigger Norwegian Tourist Ship, The Nord Norge who arrived at the same time responding to the distress calls, and taken the passengers and crews on board and transported them all to Chile’s Air Force Base..

When Kruess’s ship arrived at the same, it was already four hours of waiting for the passengers and crew on board life boats and zodiacs and still dark.
There were 90 passengers, including 10 Canadian tourists, who paid Toronto's G.A.P. Adventures for a trip on its Antarctic cruise ship. Two of the crew were Canadian as well.

And here is an observation from Captain Kruess, Master of Expedition:

We experience breathtaking things down here, the landscapes, the whales, the penguins, the seals, it is difficult to describe, but this was the most dramatic thing I have ever seen,"

Kruess had worked on the Explorer for "one full Antarctic season" a few years ago, and knew many of the crew.

"We all know each other down here," he said
In an interview with the Star, Kruess called the rescue a masterful execution of seamanship and once the passengers and crew were accounted for, the shock set in that the Explorer, the ship that many of them had at one time or another worked on, was lying on her side, sinking as floes surrounded her.

And from one of the Endeavor’s crew “It was a small ship with a great crew, great camaraderie and lots of like-minded travellers. She went through some of the most incredible places in the world”.

The Explorer, she had gone places where few ships had been, finally gone to where few ships would ever want to be, under...

Read more from the pages of the toronto star, canada's largest...

--------------------And in a Sad Note:
Are we going for the Record?:

With Three Homicides (murders) in a span of 12 hours to Yesterday, the tally for this year is already 77, closing in the record of 89 in l991 and out of these, 35 were victims of guns...five more days and a month more to go and this could be one bloody year to remember..

Taxing Bottled Water wouldn't just wash up....

2007-11-22T10:19:00.000-05:00

Toronto City Council Plans to Tax Bottled Water Won’t Wash Up.

The idea was floated by one city councillor to tax bottled water at 5-cent for water bottled in the Province and 10-cents bottled outside at point of sale. But considering the number of retailers, this type of tax collection is soo expensive that the city Budget Chief is opposed to the idea and is not even certain if the city has the power to impose such tax. Under the law, the city can only collect taxes on alcohol, tobacco and entertainment, like concert tickets.

Unlike the province or the federal government, which already collect sales taxes, the city would have to set up a new bureaucracy.

I don't want to set up a department that's going to cost $8 million to $10 million to collect $15 million," said the budget chief.

But she added that if the city could have a sales tax that would generate $400 million a year, she'd be prepared to consider.

The idea of taxing bottle water is more of conservation than revenue. Most of these bottled water source are the same source of the tap water. And only 65% of bottles used for bottled water and other liquid drinks are recyclables and it took 20 million barrels of oil to produce the bottles for bottled water in America every year and imagine the oil used to transport them. Just turn on your taps, chill it and bottle it yourself and refill. Great lakes water tastes Great.

Before taking another sip from that expensive bottle of water, take a look at these facts..

Black-Focused Schools within the System??

2007-11-19T04:26:00.000-05:00

CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR
Donna Harrow, left, and Angela Wilson say black-focused schools are available, as a right, if only the board follows its own alternative schools policy

Black Schools in Focus....

Royson James-Toronto Star Columnist:
There's a good chance that a mug shot of a young, black male will be on the pages of this newspaper this weekend – another victim of gun violence and public retribution that flows from the gang-and-drug culture. Almost immune, Torontonians spend little time connecting the dots between blood on the streets and failure at school. Until, maybe, when a stray bullet hits an innocent bystander like Jane Creba* in a public space.

*Jane Creba was a 15 year-old, on a Boxing Day shopping (a holiday after Christmas Day, Dec. 26, 2005) when she was fatally hit by a stray bullet fired during a running gunbattle between gangs of Black Youths, right on the busy downtown Toronto Streets.
Angela Wilson and Donna Harrow, both black parents have connected the dots and asked the Toronto District School Boards this summer to experiment with the black-focused schools as way of reaching at -risk students before they become thugs.
The Proposal ignited a fiery debate, that even the Premier toss his own Two Cents’ worth.
Donna Harrow, a grandma and runs a downtown community program has these to say:

The kids are killing each other. If we don’t take this as sympton of something, we are remiss as adults. It’s not going to fix itself.

Common estimate of Blacks dropping out of school at 40% and at age 16 more than half fell far behind in the Public School system that the only option is to quit.

'I can count more people who died from violent crime in Flemingdon Park than graduated from university'---MICHAEL COTEAU, school trustee.

Yet, Premier Dalton McGuinty says he's uncomfortable with an alternative school that aims to reach such kids. It upsets his sensibilities – along with those of many middle-class blacks – because it would be race-based.

The Toronto board has 33 alternative schools, created for all kinds of reasons – some pressing, like fear of physical attacks on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students; others merely philosophical, such as parents wanting a looser, less formal and structured school environment for their kids. Or one that stresses performing arts. Or year-round schools, of which there are an additional four. In all, 4,852 students attend alternative Toronto public schools.

This debate will get heat up, depending and how the pages of the dailies turn up with more mug shots of young Black Males victims of the night before and mug shots of Young Black males wanted for killings...or like Royson James wrote, when another stray bullet hit another innocent bystander in the Public Space like Jane Creba, that wakes up the consciousness of the whole city that there is a problem that’s needed some fixing, whatever it takes.... Check the pages of the Toronto Star for more details....
----------------------------------
Voices:

"This is a program that we need. I'm in the system. I'm a teacher. This is not the ultimate solution. But we take what we can get." -Kevin Cato, teacher

"There are important things to work through – content of curriculum, discipline, approaches to learning and navigating the differences in class, race, culture and differing immigration experiences of blacks. That doesn't mean it's not worth a try. I'm curious to see where it goes." "I'm trying to figure out why the angst. This is the fourth or fifth time this has surfaced. If it's about the achievement of black students, we should be willing to try what's possible. We need a curriculum and a school program that responds to the needs and expectations of students who are black." - Carl James, professor of education and sociology, York University

"You're talking about a 40 per cent failure rate. If this were any other community, something would be done. They would get on the stick." - David Watkins, teacher

We don't want a school where the first call is a call to the police; that has to stop. People are going to be teaching the children who are academically bright, capable, disciplined. We know they can learn. I've seen them in Africa, the Caribbean, in England. I've seen black schools where children sit and listen to their teachers and it can happen here as well. There are no guns. There is no need to beat them up." - Winston LaRose, Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens

"It must be funded by the government. It must be monitored by the best minds in our community and the broader society. What do the best minds mean? People who are trained with the sincerity and the morality and the understanding and the pride in our people. Not just see them as a number who come and because they come with a hood and a baggy pants, you pass judgment. You must love to educate. And ultimately, the Safe Schools Act that brings the police in and kick them out of school – there must be a way to respond to that, so we can show the world that we are about excellence and we are about education. - Dari Meade, concerned citizen
---------------------------------------

Lest We Forget...

2007-11-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

LORRAINE M. WILLIAMS PHOTO

The Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek is located atop a low, green hill just inside Holland on the Dutch-German border. More than 2,300 Canadians are buried or memorialized there, along with another 300 or so Allied war dead, mostly British.

On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month...

WE REMEMBER
A tribute by the Veterans to their fallen comrades... please watch and listen to this reading of "In Flanders Fields" by three World War II veterans for whom this poem has special significance.

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Are They Less Canadians???

2007-11-04T03:52:00.000-05:00

FRED THORNHILL FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Ken Cao, centre, from Markham, fishes with friends near Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe. There have been reports of assault, mischief and theft against Asian-Canadian fishermen in the area.

Hate Crimes or Just Hooliganism? The Human Rights Commission will soon find out and the Police is investigating them as Hate Crimes...

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into a string of recent assaults against Asian Canadian fishermen.

Chief commissioner and former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall made the announcement just days after York police revealed they'd laid more charges in the recent attacks.

"The first part is we're setting up a hotline, which we'll run for a month. We're encouraging people who have experienced violence or witnessed violence to contact us," Hall said after the news conference. "Then we'll be providing support, whether it's legal support (for anyone seeking damages) or counseling."

The commission plans to report back with recommendations.

A month ago, the Toronto Star broke the story about Asian Fishermen victimized by theft, assaults and mischiefs and four cases were confirmed. Since, more came forward, saying they too had been a victim of what the local youths called “nippertipping”.

"Nippertipping," a term coined from a derogatory word for the Japanese and the rural prank known as cow tipping, consists of sneaking up behind fishermen and shoving them in the lake.

Account of assaults stretch from Peterbourough to Kingston (Peterborough is 135 kms from Toronto, while Kingston is 260, both East) although is some cases in Westport for example, (45 minutes north of Kingston), some residents say the motivation for the attacks is not “racism’ but illicit nighttime fishing in supposedly protected sanctuary.

A coalition of Asian Canadian community groups called on police to investigate the attacks as hate crimes. Both York police and the Ontario Provincial Police announced they would be calling in their hate-crimes units, and last Sunday, police announced they had laid charges in four of six confirmed assaults.

Throughout these developments, a 23-year-old Toronto man has been fighting for his life. Yesterday marked an important day for Colin and Terry Berwick – their son, Shayne, pulled through a milestone surgery.

His skull was successfully put back together."You just can't imagine. The first time he opened his eyes. Elation. You just can't describe," Colin Berwick said yesterday after leaving the hospital. "Things are still crazy. I'm only working half days. I go to work, come home, pick up Terry. We're at the hospital every day. (Our son) Michael is there every night. Then on Saturdays we try to take some time for ourselves. We volunteer at the arena."

Doctors initially gave Shayne a 10 per cent chance of surviving. He and some friends had been fishing off Mossington Bridge in the town of Sutton, late at night Sept. 16, when two of his friends where pushed into the river by some locals, police said.

A fight broke out between the two groups. Shayne and his friends sped away from the bridge in a Honda Civic. One of the town kids chased them in a truck, police said, eventually running them off the road. Shayne and a friend were thrown from the car.

He's been in hospital ever since.

Trevor Middleton, 20, of Sutton was charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. On Oct. 22, police said he would also be charged with two additional assaults in the bridge incident. Last Sunday, Nicholas Perry, 19, also of Sutton, was also charged in the same altercation.

Police also learned of a fifth incident on Aug. 5, where a 37-year-old Toronto man was thrown into the water. Scott MacEachern, 19, who had already been charged in connection with an assault Aug. 6, was charged.

"We've now laid charges in four of six known incidents," Staff Sgt. Ricky Veerappan said following yesterday's news conference. "These are being investigated by the hate crimes unit, these are lengthy investigations, and we're still looking for witnesses."

"This is incredible news," said lawyer Avvy Go.

"Since the story was reported, we've heard of at least one incident going back as far as two years ago," she said.

People who believe they've been the victim of a racially motivated assault while fishing can call 1-866-237-1897 after Nov. 7. Interpreters fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Korean and Tagalog are available.

From the Toronto Star, published November 3, 2007 in its Toronto and Area Section

Jimmy the Slasher (tax Cuts) and shootout in Downtown TO

2007-10-31T09:41:00.000-04:00

Trick or Treat!!! Finance Minister Jim Flaherty doling out Tax Cuts instead of candies this Halloween.

Jim the Slasher...Finance Minister Jim FlahertySlashes Taxes Left and Right..

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's election-ready minority government has offered most Canadians tax savings of several hundred dollars a year by trimming income taxes and cutting the GST by one percentage point

With the Government projecting a Budget Surplus surpassing last year $13.8 billions, it is getting ever ready for Election by further trimming down the Good and Services Tax another 1% from 6 after another 1% was trimmed last year. Personal Income tax was also lowered .5 (half a percent) point to 15 %.

And here is what the Slasher said about his mini-budget (annual budget would be tabled in Spring):

Canadians deserve a tax cut and all Canadians will get one.

And here are where the taxes are cut:
1. Goods and Services Tax..further 1% from 6% on top of 1% reduction last year, effective January 2008..Cost to Govt. in lower tax revenue $5 billions.

2. Income tax for personal income cut to 15 % from 15.5%, retro-active January 1, 2007.

3. Personal Exemption increase to $9,600 from the current threshold of $ 8,929 (the amount where all Canadians can earn without having to pay Federal Income Tax. And will further increase to $10,500 next year..

Combining 2 and 3 would mean income tax savings next year of $300 on average for a family bringing in between $30,000 to $45,000 a year. A Family earning 15 and 30 thousands would save 180 in 2008.

And while the two income tax measures will benefit all taxpayers, they are of particular value to low-income individuals. As a result, 385,000 people will be removed from the income tax rolls altogether, Flaherty estimated.
Including the latest GST cut, the government yesterday proposed personal tax reductions of $9.4 billion annually.

Flaherty also used his budget surpluses, which would have hit $16 billion this year without the new tax measures, to reduce corporate taxes "much deeper and much faster than ever contemplated before."

(So everyone gets a Treat from Ottawa this Halloween.)

Finance Minister Flaherty had to deliver his mini-budget in National Press Theater across the House of Commons because the opposition NDP (New Democtratic Party) refused his 11th hour request to deliver the Mini in the house.

NDP Leader Jack Layton said he would not co-operate with the Conservative Publicity Gimmick.
(No wonder the NDP ever since its founding could not win a Federal Government, even though its Provincial counterparts have been winning governments most especially in Saskatchewan and Manitoba).

Well the NDP has always been in opposition, so it is getting comfortable with its role, whereas the Liberal and the Conservative have been alternating leading the Government. Forget about the Parti Québécois, it is only running candidates in the Province of Quebec, not Federally all over...

And what the Provincials and Municipal government have to say about the Federal surplus. Nothing much except asking some handouts, instead of putting their own houses in order...

For the mini budget and more, it’s h e r e

GANGSTA CAN’T JUST SHOOT STRAIGHT AND FOR THAT WE THANK THEM...

Betsy Powell
Crime Reporter--Toronto Star
A wounded man was the only victim of a running gun battle between two armed groups who fired at least 40 shots on a downtown Toronto street early yesterday, police said.
The fusillade blew out car windows and left bullet holes in storefronts on Adelaide St. W.

It was 3 am and the rival gangs decided to shoot it out after a night a partying and maybe some ‘praining’.

For eye witnesses accounts and video visit thetoronto star here

Tackling Official Corruptions...the Canadian Way..

2007-10-28T22:02:00.000-04:00

Federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser..started the ball rolling after an article in a Daily Paper Globe and Mail questioned the Government in what it suspected as "fraud" in Sponsorship Program...

Tackling Official Corruptions, the Canadian Way..

Corruptions by Elected Officials and Public Servants are happening in almost Every Government and Country anywhere. It is endemic to most countries where Governments are weak and to some where Poverty and Widespread Inequity are the realities of everyday existence. But First World countries are not exempt, not even in our case to which a few years ago the now famous Sponsorship Programs Scandal was exposed and made every Canadian wondering why such corruptions of the scope unimaginable would ever happen in this Country so Proud of its Transparency and Accountability of the people who were elected to led.

What is the Sponsorship Program?

It was the Federal Program set up in the wake of 1995 Quebec Sovereignty to help promote Federalism and the money was supposed to be used to raise Canada’s profile in Quebec.

How the Scandal was exposed?
In 2002 the PM of the day, Jean Chretien was forced to address the issue when the Globe and Mail, a major daily paper, Under the Access of Information Act, tried to find out why the Government paid $550,000 to the advertising firm Groupaction Marketing for a report that could not be found, and no one at the Public Works ministry or the ad firm could answer it.

PM Chretien called on federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser to look at the matter. She found out a lot to launch a full investigation and ask the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to get involved as well..

Short of two years later, Fraser released her explosive report, and not shy to use the words such as “appalling”and “scandalous” to describe how the Liberals abused the system.

She found out that money in the amount of $100 millions were paid to various communications agencies in the form of commissions and fees and said the program was basically designed to generate commissions to the said companies than to benefit Canadians.

That Public Works officials “just broke every rule in the book” awarding contracts to the company Groupaction which was paid millions. Details of federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser’s report can be checked here (auditor’s report 2004)

PM Chretien had already resigned after 11 years and Paul Martin replaced him as the Party Leader and PM and Martin promptly called on Justice Gomery to conduct an Inquiry and promised to resign if there was evidence that he knew of the frauds in the program. Final reports didn’t implicate Paul Martin, but he resigned after the Liberal lost the government after the election that was called when the Parliament lost the confidence of the Government due to the Scandal.

Justice Gomery's Reports phase 1 and 2 can also be read here..phase 1 and phase 2 and final report

Important note: Both PM Paul Martin and former PM Chretien appeared before the Inquiry to give testimonies under oath. For PM Martin it was the first time since Canada was Six Years old that a sitting PM appeared before a Public Inquiry.

The RCMP was also involved, investigating allegations of fraud beginning in May 2002.

Aftermath:

Justice Gomery's reports were conclusive and painted the picture clearly of what happened to the program. Who were responsible and also recommended to the Government of measures to strengthened accountability in governance.

RCMP criminal investigations resulted in Criminal Charges and Convictions for the officials and business people involved in frauds and conspiracy.

Former PM Chretien against his strong protestation was implicated lightly as not diligence in his watch, but absolved of any direct knowledge of fraud committed by his party members and officials. He was a Good Prime Minister and still other than this scandal during his Eleven Years as PM, will be remembered as One Great Leader and a very distinguished career for his decades of government service in many other positions.

PM Paul Martin was not implicated as having any knowledge of the ongoing scandal while Finance Minister during the time.

Although he lost the government due to the scandal and resigned as party leader, he came out clean and his reputations untarnished. Another Good Leader who didn’t have much chance to prove himself, but proved it in another capacity as Former Finance Minister, bringing Canada to a healthy budget surplus, that is still enjoyed by the current government, from deficit in previous years. A very successful businessman in his private life, a well respected family man and he has done a good job to his country and people in public and private.

Thus, we have concluded one of the biggest scandals in our history as a nation born some 140 years ago (1867). We may have some in the future, but I believe that if it ever happens again, we have the resolve to face up to it and have the courage to deal with it squarely and in our own way bring each and everyone to proper resolution...

For indepth details and related items you may go tothis site

And for more readings here arethe top 10 scandals in Canadian Political History...some were just scandals and remained scandals while others were later proven more than just scandals, some funny, some serious..

Government Introduces Law banning veiled voting...

2007-10-27T02:11:00.000-04:00

Lifting the Veil

Just last month, Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand, challenged the government on the law that requires voters in federal elections to identify themselves and noted that the law does not specify... how? And said that he will allow Muslim women voters wearing veil to vote without uncovering their faces for identification. Threat and counter threats of lawsuits between the Government and the Chief ensued, but during a press conference the Chief challenged the Government if to show faces is what the MPs intended, then change the law and the Government responded by doing just that, introducing the law banning veiled voting". And more debates ensued...funny those politicians..

And here are the Two Cents from some of them:

Peter Van Loan, the minister responsible for democratic reform:

said he hopes the bill will settle the potentially corrosive debate over the accommodation of diverse religious beliefs.

Liberal deputy leader Michael Ignatieff:

I do not want this debate imported into the House of Commons,"
While he supports requiring all voters to identify themselves, he added "What I don't like about this whole project is the idea that we take a bunch of women wearing veils and we make a whole big deal about this . . . Let's not have politicians fishing around and creating divisions between Canadians about this."

Mohamed Elmasry of the Canadian Islamic Congress:

the law is unnecessary and will feed discrimination against Muslim Canadians. And he suggested the Tories are hoping to make "political mileage among Islamophobes."

Sameer Zuberi, of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Canada:

the federal Tories are trying to "win over Quebec" by jumping on an issue that is already raging in the province. He questioned the urgency of the matter given that "there are hardly any" women in Canada who choose to wear niqabs or burkas to cover their faces.

The issue of veiled voters first came up during the Quebec provincial election last spring, adding fuel to an already heated debate over how far the province should go in accommodating newcomers. Action démocratique du Québec Leader Mario Dumont's popularity surged after he suggested Quebec has gone too far in catering to immigrants.

Last month, the issue popped up on the national radar during three federal byelections in Quebec. Marc Mayrand, the country's chief electoral officer, opened a political storm when he said the law did not require byelection voters to uncover their faces.

For details and more Two Cents from all parties of interest, you may go to the link in first paragraph, for the background and how it all started here is my previous post on the subject but here is for the sunshines of the week...

Measures Against Crime and Terrorism...

2007-10-21T22:14:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: TTC’s Cameras face Probe...

Toronto Star
Oct 25, 2007 04:30 AM Paola Loriggio
Staff Reporter

Ontario's privacy commissioner will investigate whether installing thousands of security cameras in Toronto's transit system would breach riders' privacy.

Privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian's involvement was in response to a complaint filed yesterday by the London-based organization Privacy International, which argues there is no public-interest justification for the $21 million security system approved by the TTC last spring.

The London organization contends the security project violates Canadian privacy laws.
TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, who has not seen the document, said the transit authority is acting in line with privacy regulations.
He said the cameras will not be monitored and that only police can access the footage.
"This kind of system is common in transit communities across Canada," including Montreal and Vancouver, Giambrone said.

The project calls for up to 10,000 cameras to be installed in TTC subway cars, buses and streetcars, on top of the 1,500 or so currently in place.
Many of the new cameras have already been installed but are not yet switched on, Giambrone said.

The project's completion is scheduled for June.

"It would be unusual if only Toronto were segregated when every major city with a transit authority has a surveillance system," Giambrone said.
He said the TTC will co-operate with the probe by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, but will not interrupt the project unless a stop order is issued.

The commissioner's office will take a full look at the complaint, though it's too early to say how this will play out, spokesperson Bob Spence told The Canadian Press.
"We're looking at exactly why they're putting up cameras – are they putting up signs so that people are aware of the cameras?"

Well, there you go... Less than a week after the installation of the surveillance cameras had been announced, challenge number one has already on the book...

In my Main Entry, I am quite sure that someday if the challenge is brought before the courts, the installation of Cameras will be upheld as reasonable since all precautions and assurances to respect privacy of every citizen been carefully considered...but it is always better to have all the challenges cleared, before switching the Cameras on...

TTC announced Installation of Additional 10000 Cameras on all TTCs vehicles, stations and properties...

TTC chairman Adam Giambrone shows off a newly installed security camera at Ossington subway station yesterday. (Alex Urosevic, Sun Media)

Every Rider in Toronto Transit System will be on Camera.
Another anti-crime, anti-terrorism measure will be in place by June. In a world where a threat from terrorists attacks anytime is now everyone subconscious state of mind, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC, the public mass transit system, serving 1.5 million riders daily) is trying to help ease up this concern a lot.

City Councillor and TTC Chair Adam Giambrone is quoted here for his Security Measures..

"There will be cameras everywhere. Everyone who enters the TTC legally or illegally will be photographed. He said the photographs will be accessible only to police to help solve crimes"."

"Workers or police at the TTC's command centre will be able to instantly view live video or hear audio from any of the security cameras installed on subway cars".

"We don't believe this is an invasion of privacy since police will be the only ones with access to the information. We believe the cameras will help solve crimes and act as a deterrent. We want to ensure the safety of the public traveling on the TTC"."

Controllers will also be able to obtain a live audio feed for incidents on other TTC vehicles for emergency issues..

The Chair added:

"The tiny cams (12000 of them) are one of many features of an overall TTC security plan that includes increasing the amount of TTC constables and adding motion detectors on its property".

TTC spokesman Marilyn Bolton said transit officials worked with police to obtain good-quality cameras that can capture images that will stand up in court.

"Our employees have no access to the images," Bolton said. "The information is not available to everybody."

Councillor Peter Milczyn added his two cents:

"There was a need for the cameras to protect the traveling public.
This is something that we need in our society today. They can help with terrorism and day-to-day cases." (Now you said the dreaded word T).

But on the other side of the coin, Alice Barton, of Toronto Public Space Committee, said her group disagrees with the use of the TTC cameras, which she feels violate the privacy of riders.

"We are very opposed to the use of cameras in public spaces . It is very intrusive when police can keep track on the movements of people."

She said her group is concerned that police will have full access of the images without oversight of their use.

But then it was calls from the public for cameras that escalated after a number of robberies and shootings, including a stabbing in one of the subway stations. Police issue photos by TTC on a regular basis for wanted criminals.

Proponents also maintain the cams can be used -- as was done by police in London, England -- to nab terrorists or break up their cells.
For more of the story visit the other Toronto's daily toronto sun. and for the sunshine of your life just point your mouse you are the sunshine of my life and clik..

My thoughts: someday some accused arrested and charged as the result of the images and audio taken by the TTC cams will challenge its constitutionality as a violation of privacy. But recent rulings by the courts that give precedence to Public Safety may rule that such limits to privacy rights are reasonable under Section 1 of the Charter which states:

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
So, the question if this measure and other measures being installed and implemented by the TTC are reasonable limits? I believe so, considering the crimes and vandalism on the properties of the Publicly Funded Transit system is on the rise and the threats of Terrorism on a daily basis is of everyone concern, the courts would be taking the safety of the public as their primary consideration and would let the limits stand as constitutional...

Take it or Leave it...

2007-10-19T13:42:00.001-04:00

Prime Minister Harper responding to the Liberal Amendment to his Anti-Crime Bill...
Take it or Leave it..Government warns oppositions to pass the Bill without changes

That’s the message of PM Harper Minority Government to the Oppositions in the house for the Omnibus Crime Bill to be introduced after the Throne Speech that outlined the Government Plan of Action during this year’s session of Parliament.

That daring do challenge was the result of Opposition Liberal Leader Stephan Dion announcement that his Party is not ready for an immediate election for not supporting the Throne Speech.

Some of the provision of Tough Crime Legislation is the Automatic Refusal of Bail for Gun Crime and the other contentious one is the Strike Three you’re out Provision for individual convicted of Serious Crimes.

And still the other one is the raising the age of consent of sexual activities from 14 to l6...for details on this proposed change, you may read here the intentions of the ressurected bill , the move that will Bring Canada in line with other countries such as U.S, Britain and Australia.

The proposed bill revives Criminal Code reforms to:
*Automatically refuse bail to those charged with gun crimes.

*Provide longer mandatory minimum jail terms for gun- and gang-related crimes.

*Make it easier for police to detect and charge drivers impaired by drugs.

*Raise the legal age of consent for sexual activity to 16 from 14.

*Make it easier to prosecute and indefinitely jail "dangerous offenders" after three convictions for serious crimes.

With the omnibus bill, and the threat of a confidence vote on it – which could trigger an election if the government doesn't win – the Conservatives are boasting of having boxed in the Liberals.

"If they have a problem with the area on dangerous offenders and that's the hill they want to die on – standing up for dangerous offenders in this country – that's their decision," said Nicholson.

Liberal justice critic Marlene Jennings said the Liberal caucus would have to decide, given the government's threat, "if that's a battle we want to fight."
The Prospect of Election is still with us, if the Liberal do not support the Bill without Changes or do not support the bill at all, as promised by the Government every vote will be a vote of Confidence and the defeat of any bill as outline in the Throne Speech will be a lost of Confidence...

To read the details of this Take it or Leave it offer check the Threats Here..

A Mistake Corrected..the Mullins-Johnson Case...

2007-10-16T10:53:00.000-04:00

William Mullins-Johnson gets a hug from his aunt, Linda Lariviere, yesterday. He said most family members spurned him after his conviction.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeals of Ontario, acquited Mullins-Johnson for the Murder and Rape of his 4-year old niece for which he already spent 12 years in Jail..

For details of this case you may check the previous entry, in which I first posted the developments leading to the latest decision by the Appeal Court archives...

Also the Crown Prosecutor offered an Apology to Mullins-Jonhson and family on behalf of the Attorney General of Ontario..

Mullins-Johnson's lawyers, James Lockyer, David Bayliss and Michael Lomer, are also asking the court to more formally express a belief in their client's "factual innocence," if indeed that's what the court believes. "This is a human request ... not a legal one," Lockyer told the panel, which reserved its decision on the issue.

For more of this, and how the Panel came to its decision you may go the toronto star for details ..

Federal Election in fall or winter... the Trap is set....

2007-10-14T06:19:00.000-04:00

Prime Minister Steven Harper... confident and ready for Election...

Update: October 18, 2007 8:30 am.. the official opposition Liberal Party decided that it is not ready for Election now. Leader Stephan Dion announced in the House that his party is not going to vote against the Throne Speech by the Governing Conservatives..the other two parties already announced that they are not going to support the Speech, but between them, they don't have enough numbers to force an Election. So for now business as usual...

****************
Canadians, are you ready for the Fall Election? Or maybe the same as the last one, in Winter?
The sign is that, the Minority Conservative Government is primed and ready for election. The PM may not call it, but let the oppositions get in the trap and it is about to be set...

And from today’s Toronto Star headlines the trap is set.. Read the rest of the story of the possible showdown this fall or winter ...

OTTAWA — Since his first Speech from the Throne 20 months ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made a high art of treading thin political lines and carving off even thinner wedges of territory in which he can plant the Conservative party's flag.

He has courted ethnic votes across the country, ramped up support for the military, shifted focus on the environment and championed a get-tough approach to criminal justice. This is to say nothing of the many efforts Harper has made to win over Quebec voters.

His second throne speech, which will be delivered Tuesday evening, is expected to trumpet those causes as promises both made and kept, and to build on them in small but meaningful ways. Harper has promised a tax cut, a limit on Ottawa's ability to spend money in provincial jurisdictions, more crime bills and additional initiatives to protect the environment.

But the Prime Minister's framing of the debate that begins with the throne speech also promises to kick off a frantic period of political jousting in the capital. It will ensure that MPs are never more than a phone call away from Parliament Hill. They will be keeping their flashy election signs even closer.

In his search for a stronger hold on power, Harper has laid down an aggressive ultimatum to opposition parties that puts the trigger for an election in their hands, but ensures that he remains the one directing the firing squad.

His audacious threat to make every piece of legislation that stems from the speech subject to a confidence vote – meaning a defeated bill would spark an election – appears designed to force the hand of a Liberal party in disarray that is ill-prepared for an election. It comes from an election-ready government that, as of last week, was said to be writing the throne speech, campaign platform and debate preparation all at the same time.

What is the Throne Speech...

A Speech from the Throne is prepared by the Prime Minister’s office and delivered by the Governor General (as the representative of the Queen) that reveals to the House of Commons and Senate, the work the Government proposes for the new session of the Parliament. It contains comments on the state of the nation and outlines measures on which the government will seek Parliamentary action.

The Parliamentary system of Government as adapted in most commonwealth and former British colonies follow the system of the present United Kingdom set-up, although some have modifications and refinements, best suited for each independent country.

Canadian system as it is now, the Party in Government has a mandate of 5 years (usually election is called in four years) but the Government of the Day has the option of calling it anytime within the process.

In a majority government, where it can proceed and implement it’s own programs and can assure of the vote of the house of commons, it will call election almost to the expiration of its mandate. But it is a different matter for a minority government (which the sitting government is the minority). It is governing with the support of anyone party or combination of parties, in every major legislation that it proposes. And the defeat of the Budget is an automatic loss of confidence that will necessitate dissolution and call for election.

And also a minority government can call an election when it feels the tide is in its favour to return a majority government. But short of calling the Election, it can force the opposition by exactly doing what the Current Government is doing. Setting the Trap and let the oppositions decide if they are as ready for the Showdown...

Liberals back in Government with a Majority...

2007-10-11T09:30:00.001-04:00

A triumphant Dalton McGuinty gets a congratulatory kiss from wife Terri, as supporters chanted, "Four More Years".. First Back to Back majority for the Liberals in 70 years...

Provincial Election Results:
Liberal Back in Government with a MAJORITY:

Liberals: 71 seats - 42 % popular, lost 1 seat.

Conservatives: 26 seats -32 % popular vote. gained 2 seats.

New Democrats: 10 seats - 17 % popular vote. Gained 3 seats same popular vote.

Green: 0 seats - 8% popular vote..about the same as last election...

(four seats added from 103 to 107, regular re-adjustments).

Forgiving his broken promise not to raise taxes in 2003, voters yesterday handed Premier Dalton McGuinty the first back-to-back Liberal majority government since Mitch Hepburn won 70 years ago. Read the complete coverage here..

I would say, Conservatives leader John Tory ran a very, very bad campaign...

First, the issue of Publicly funding all faith-base schools at an estimated initial costs of $400 annually for 53,000 thousands students, a 3 % of the total provincial students (Separate School system, the Catholic Schools account for 600,000 students) and could grow up is just too much for the voters. I mentioned in previous post that this is the hottest issue, that voters almost disregard all other issues Election hottest issue..

However, the gravest concern with the Conservative plan came from within the party, where there are still wounds from Davis's (former Conservative Premier) Catholic school funding proclamation a generation ago. The unrest within the party forced Tory to reverse his stance and say that a free vote would be held in the Legislature on the issue.

Second, Party leader Tory run against Liberal Education Minister Kathleen Wayne, a very popular member of the Liberal who promised to also strengthened her Education Ministry, hoping to Unseat the minister on his promise of Funding all faith-based schools that even Fragmented his own party candidates. Tory Failed to win a seat.

Tory has forgotten the rule of Politics, a good manager does not really translate to being a winning politician. That he can not underestimate the voters by forcing his agenda before consulting the public for their sentiments or even his own caucus, which were not unanimous with his major campaign programs..

For Referendum results, the first referendum in 83 years was a disappointment, not because the voters voted 2-1 to stay for the same First Past the Post system than to change to Mixed Member Proportional Representation, but because of the failure by referendum body to fully inform the voters what the Referendum was about...

I myself was surprised that so many voters do not even knew or understood what a mixed member proportional meant. Considering that the province has no referendum experience for the last 83 years, this is not surprising....

Election Day - polls open 9:00am to 9:00pm EDT

2007-10-10T08:34:00.000-04:00

Party Leaders: Left top-Dalton McGuinty-Liberals
Right top-John Tory-Conservatives
Bottom left-Howard Hampton, New Democrats
Bottom right-Frank De Jong-Green

Last words from the Leaders:

Dalton McGuinty:We’re working with Toronto and cities across Ontario — fixing the problems created by the Harris Tory party. We have uploaded costing and responsibilities. We’ll keep working together, and we have asked the federal government to do its part too.

John Tory :Throughout this election, I strived to be straightforward, honest and accountable. I have not shied away from difficult issues or from real voters, and have willingly answered all of their questions.
My party has laid out a plan that is affordable, realistic and fair for every person in Ontario.

Howard Hampton:More and more people are coming to the New Democrats. They know we're the only party they can count on to stick up for them and fight for a fair deal for Toronto.
The NDP has run a positive campaign, speaking about issues that working families care about. We put forward a clear alternative – six practical, fully-costed and affordable commitment.

Frank De Jong:Ontarians should vote for the Green party because ours is the only party that's willing to say what needs to be said, and to do what needs to be done to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a future.
Our policies recognize that the health of our society, environment and economy are interdependent, and that any solution to current challenges must address that reality.

To read more of the last words from the four leaders, you may go to the Star forcomplete coverage

Reminders to all Voters: If you can not be able to vote before going to work, that by law each eligible voter is allowed a Three Hours window after the polls opening and before closing. That you should be off by 6:00pm or start after 9:00 up to 12:00 noon..inform your employer if you're going to vote... it is the Law...

9:50 am - just back home from 3 kms. walk to the polling place to cast my vote. all the way to the Public School Gym where the polls located there was not a single campaign poster along the way. There are few in some houses down our road and they are all small ones in a removable posts displayed on the lawn. clean up is done within two days after election day.

How we vote in the Provincial Election:
The voting process is as simple as it can get. Voter bring along a registration notice mailed at least two weeks before election day to the polling place where young clerks will direct the voter to the poll assigned. Present the registration card to the returning officer and he or she will jot down the voters name along with the registration number, cross out the voter's name in the list and the clerk will give out the ballots with his or her initials. An id (preferably driver's license or any valid photo id maybe asked for verification) then a voter will proceed to a table where a pair of two cardboard boxes with a pencil and mark X opposite the name of candidate of choice, only one candidate..Candidates are listed in alphabetical order and noted within the box under which party they are running for.

Takes less than a few seconds to do the X inside the small circle and this year there is a referendum proposed by the Citizen Assembly to give the voters a choice to change the election system to Mixed Members Proportional Representation or stay with the status quo First Past the Post system. also an X will indicate the choice.

After all the Xes done, bring back the ballots to the clerk folded with the clerk's initial showing. The returning officer will note in his logbook that voting is done. Ballots are returned back to the voter to drop in a ballot box where they will stay until the closing time, where they will be brought to a location for electronic counting.

Results will start pouring in the Media counts within 30 minutes and as long as everything is going fine, final tallying will be available by midnight, 3 hours after closing, unofficially, but usually the same as the official results. Ballots are kept in safe locations known only to the election officers and witnesses, and will be retrieved only under court order if there is any election protest or if automatic recount would not resolve the issue...Automatic recount is only done if the winning candidate margin is too narrow within the pre-established number.

If the party who win the election is in majority, the mandate is four years at a fixed date for the next election, unless the parliament is dissolve for any other reason. If it is a minority, election can be called anytime if the government loss the confidence of the Parliament...done my civic duty in about a minute...

I'LL POST THE OFFICIAL RESULTS BY 9:00AM TOMORROW:

American Desperately Seeking Medicare....

2007-10-08T17:34:00.000-04:00

Jeanne Sather as pictured in her WEBSITE... assertivepatient .com,

Lately, we have been bombarded with a few ‘Brouhahas’ directed to the medical profession of the Philippines and also to the former President, what most Filipinos all over the globe considered as some kind or racial slurs and belittling of the Filipinos as a whole.

Well there are too many already who have taken the cause; wrote about them, demanding this and that from the parties of interests so instead this Entry is about one American in particular who again raise the issue of the U.S. very “excellent” health care for many but not all Americans.

It concerns one American named Jeanne Sather who initially as joke put out an ad which contents I will post here:

Me: Writer, artist, teacher ... mother of two almost-grown sons ... vegetarian (but you don't have to be). Loves animals (two large dogs and three cats), gardening, house projects. The beach. Books. Travel. Financially solvent except for absurdly expensive health insurance premiums and medical costs.

You: Age 45 to about 57. Canadian citizen living in Vancouver, B.C., or willing to relocate there. Cancer patient or survivor. Open-minded. Bit of a risk taker. Warm hearted but not clinging. bald OK.

Check this article from seatlepi.com to know more about Sather search for Canadian Husband..

This ad solicited all kind or responses, some for support and also scorn from both Americans and Canadians.

Just two days after she posted her ad on her blog assertivepatient .com, on Labour Day, Sather received her first serious response. That set her wondering if she could connect with someone who could solve her financial worries.

What began as a joke has become a serious enough quest that Sather has found herself fantasizing about marriage to two men she has never met.

A third proposal is from a female University of Toronto student who is not gay but nevertheless offered to marry Sather.

And here's what a female U.T. student has to say of her proposal: "The fact that your country doesn't have a universal health-care program when most every other industrialized nation in the world has seen to putting one together is completely inexcusable".

"As such, I'm offering my hand in marriage if it will help you receive treatment without having to declare bankruptcy."

To read more of the articles and the one from Canadian Daily check this out..Deserately Seeking Medicare..

Although most Americans are covered by their “Excellent Medical” care, there are also a large percentage that fall thru the Non-Universality of the system that is Profit Oriented. And considering the cost of today’s Health care, it will put even a middle class family among the marginalized segment of the great American society.

This coming Presidential Election, presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton floated the idea of adapting a universal health care scheme for the whole U.S.A. The idea was floated during the tenure of her Husband Bill Clinton, but never gain any ground due to strong resistance from the Insurance business and the profitable health care providers.

Will the Americans ever see a Universal Care system the likes of United Kingdom, Canada and most industrialized countries? It will take a great courage and convictions for any administration to push the system, considering that Health Care American style is a Big Business. Still it is possible. Americans are a people of great convictions and courage and can do whatever they set out to do. She is economically sound and ready for such system, but then it is up for the Americans as Americans are the master of their own fate...

And most of my family members reside, work and study in America and that is including our bibs...

Ontrario Vote Countdown -- Three more days to go...

2007-10-07T05:31:00.000-04:00

Ontario Vote Countdown – Three more days to go...

Parties Platforms: start with governing party, the Liberals to Conservatives, the official opposition and the New Democrats, the other party in Government. The Green party, although has candidates in every riding is not included as it has to win a seat yet.

Liberal Party Platforms: * Continue levying health tax up to $900 per person.

Begins measuring emergency room wait times.

100 new medical school spaces.

Free PSA test for men and fertility test for women.

Electronic health records for every citizens by 2015.

Progressive Conservatives:
* Phase out Health tax over four years.

Electronic health care records by 2014.

Send out Premier John Tory to the U.S. to lure more than 9000 Canadian Doctors working there. (Come home sis and bro-in-law).

Allow more Private Clinics but only if Ontarians would be able to pay for care with OHIP cards (our health care cards, all residents have one)

Allow private sectors to build more modern Health-Care facilities.

New Democrats:
*Reduce health tax for people earning less than $80 thousands and eliminate it under $48 thousands.

Raise price of cigarettes by 17% to encourage smokers to quit.
Resume health care coverage for optical care, physiotherapy and chiropractic care removed by the current Liberals.

Minimum of 3.5 hours of personal daily care of residents of nursing homes.

Note: the NDP platforms look so good, but chances of winning the government is quite dim.

On Education:

Liberals:
**Expand kindergarten to a full day.

Ban trans fat from school cafeterias and require healthy menus.

Introduce on line Homework help.

$300 “textbook and technology” grant for post secondary students.

$10 Millions to prepare school to deliver Autism Therapy (I like this one).

Review school funding by 2010.

Conservatives: **$400 millions to extend funding to all Faith based schools following the Ontario curriculum and hiring accredited Teachers.

Annual Review of school funding formula.

Frequent standardized testing of students.

Limit homework to TEN MINUTES per grade level each night.

$75 millions annually to expand Autism therapy into classrooms. (Even better).

New Democrats: **$800 million to expand kindergarten to a full day.

$100 million to improve services for children with autism. (much better than the Liberals).
Roll back and freeze University and College tuition to 2003 level.(University and College fees are not fully funded, but subsidized to up to 60 % and student loans are available to qualified post secondary students).

$75 Millions more for School supplies so Parents would no longer to have to hold Bake Sales (True: some parents do hold bake sale to supplement their children school supplies).

I just post the platforms for two of the most important issues in our society. To check the rest regarding the Environment, Poverty, Economy, and download to Municipalities and Cities you may check the complete list at this PDF files..Political Parties Election Campaign Platforms here...

My comments: The polls show that the Liberal is still leading three days going into the polls. Polls survey give the Liberal 43%, Conservative 32% and the New Democrats 18%. The rest are for the Green party and other independent candidates. You may check the complete polls surveys by several polling agencies,surveys here.

The Conservatives going into the Campaign as the favourite to unseat the Liberals. But their Trojan Horse that may bring back the Liberals is the Promise of Public Funding to all Faith based schools that the Public is not quite ready to embrace yet. Although party leader John Tory, did a “wee bit” of backtracking that if elected Premier, he will allow a Free Vote on the issue. Maybe a little too late, because the issue even caused fragmentation within the Party Caucus.

On Matter of Referendum..Note; the parties are not allowed by law to campaign on referendum issue:

The YES VOTE: Allowing Mixed Members Proportional(MMP) Representations in Provincial Parliament. Explanation: if carried, the Parliament will be adjusted to 129 members from l07 by 2012, 90 of which will be elected directly by voters in 90 ridings and the other 39 from the Party List in proportion to their Popular votes..

The NO VOTE: Maintain the Status Quo or First Past the Post ( or a simple majority votes).

My Prediction: the NO Vote will carry the day. Voters, minority of which would like to see other parties, like the Green or even Communist Party get representations in the Parliament, the Majority still prefer the old system where Members are Accountable to both their Parties and the Voters of every riding. Most voters feel comfortable meeting their representatives face to face and talk about the issues of the day and that is not possible for party list members that represent no riding and only accountable to their parties and the chance of representatives nominated by their parties not acceptable to the General Public...I will vote a Big NO.

For Ontarians of voting age, no matter how you vote, Please go out and Vote this Wednesday, October 10, 9:00am to 9:00pm. Plenty of time before and after work. Or make sure to remind your employer that a THREE HOURS window is in effect and it is the Law. And even if not registered go to your polling station, (the list is available from Election Ontario) and register right at the Polls. Bring at least two ids with photo. Do not let others speak out for you... Vote...

Filipino Housekeeper Found Slain in her Employer's House...

2007-10-04T09:11:00.000-04:00

Jocelyn Dulnuan - Peel Police file photo...

UPDATE: October 7, Sunday 12:15 pm

Help sought to help send Jocelyn home.

A trust fund for Jocelyn is set up and be ready by Thursday at Dominion Bank.

Meanwhile, the friends of Jocelyn has not heard from the Philippine Consulate about the request to help facilitate the shipment of her body to her family home. There were already reports that the Department of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Philippine Consulate in Toronto to extend full assistance to the victim. For details of the update, you may read it herehelp sought..

Maid Found Slain..Peel Police released the name of the Filipino Maid found slain in her Employer’s House Monday afternoon. Jocelyn Dulnuan, 27 years old and has been here since November of last year on working permit.

Homicide detectives have remained tight-lipped about who killed the 27-year-old and why, but friends say she'd been feeling uneasy.
"There's a second door in the back of the house that leads to the basement where her room is. She told me the last time I saw her that there's a river behind the house, so someone could just pass onto the (property) there, around the gates," said Lyn, 27, who is also a housekeeper. Lyn, who did not want her last name published, said she spoke with Dulnuan the morning she was killed.

Peel homicide Insp. Norm English refused to say how many suspects are being sought or reveal details of the crime, including how Dulnuan died and when.
"The persons that would know that are the killers and I'll hold that off until we interview them," he said at a media conference.

Peel police assured the public this is an Isolated case and the place was targeted for some specific reason (but would not say if it's roberry) and its Homicide Investigators are working around the Clock to try and solve the Crime. Forensic personnel are doing the painstaking gathering of evidence and said it may take a week to process the Crime Scene..
And it is also asking anyone with any information to call the Peel Police or Peel Crimes Stopper.

Jocelyn Dulnuan is a graduate of Criminology from the University of Baguio and has worked in Hongkong, where her mother is laso working, before moving to Canada.

She left a 3-year old daughter and fiancee. The family would long to have the body home, but Unfortunately the Philippine Consulate can not fund the Shipment..

Friends are planning to set up a Trust Fund for Jocelyn.
For details of the case and more from the Police and Friends of Jocelyn, please read more at... toronto star, gta section here..

If I were an Idiot-I would be among the first 28s

2007-10-01T03:42:00.000-04:00

A very Important Breaking News--9:30am, October 3..Police say they have reason to suspect foul play after housekeeper found dead in Mississauga.
Radio Stations reported in their News update that the victim is a 27 years old Filipino woman working as housekeeper maid in the sprawling two-story mansion.
Police said they will release the name of the victim at the news coference this morning..
For details of this incident check the initial reports at the Toronto Star here.

A very Important Reminder to those who drive with a lead foot and say "ain't too drunk to drive tonight, darling". The New Street Racing Law takes effect Midnight tonight (Sept. 30, 2007) and the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) warms that this will be 'shock and awe' to those that have the inclinations to do following things.

>>go over the limit at more than 50 kms, car will be impounded on the spot and license suspended for one week immediately (pending resolution of the charges) and minimum fine of $2000 and a few other stunts that might endangered those who want to share the roads.

For those that still do not know, the immediate suspension of Licence of 1 week for these offences pending resolution of the charges, have no right for appeal.. take a look at what's coming on your streets and highways and drive accordingly or be very ready to get a Bus Pass out or have money for a ride home. The Police will just drive the apprehended driver to a safe place and it is your responsibility how to get home. Street racers warned..OPP warns street racers to get a bus pass out..now don't blame me, I warned you...Mario Andretti!!!

UPADATE ON THE New Street Racing Law, October 1, 3:l5 am:

The law was in effect barely less than 24 hours ago and the Police already announced as of 8:00pm yesterday, Sunday that the already netted 28 drivers, breaking the 50 kms. over the limit. Following are the excerpt from the announcement:

For the 28 drivers charged today, the costs hit home immediately: vehicle impounded for seven days, driver’s licence suspended for seven days and, if found guilty in court, a minimum $2,000 fine.

It was enough to drive one young man to tears after he became one of the first stopped by the Ontario Provincial Police after the law — aimed at drivers doing more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit — came into effect today.

“A young man started crying as his mom’s car was impounded,” said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley, unable to say if the tears were prompted by the temporary loss of the car, the potential fine, or in anticipation of mom’s wrath.

Another driver, who just got his new car, promptly lost it after he was clocked doing 174 km/h on Highway 401, which has a 100 km/h speed limit. “He only had the car for two days, and the car will be impounded longer than he owned it,” Woolley noted.

for more of the lead-foot who ignores the new traffic law check...some just don't get it

Now, don't wonder why vast majority of Ontarians are inclined to obey the law, instead of breaking it for the Pain of Penalties is too much to bare and the enforcement of the law that cater no favour to whom the "braves" (or idiots) who dare...

Posted by vic at 2:56 AM 0 comments

Party's Over-Tories (Conservatives) Plan Anti-Drug Crackdown.

2007-09-30T02:56:00.000-04:00

Party is over, but who could blame him?

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement says, (Tories' drug strategies) the Harper government will soon unveil a $64 million drug strategy. It will involve increased criminal penalties, prevention and treatment programs and a crackdown on smuggling.

Lest everyone forgets, the proposal by the previous government of the Liberals to decriminalize use of Cannabis and possession of small amount had not been enacted and passed as law and the current Conservative Government of PM Harper decided to shelve it.

During an Interview after the a symposium designed to bring together Canada’s arts and health communities to combat mental health issues yesterday (Saturday), Health Minister Tony Clement announced the Party is Over and the Government in a few days will be in business of Anti-drug strategy.

Reported increases in arrests for possession and use of marijuana in major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Ottawa, was due to many young people under the impression that the Bill decriminalizing the use of Cannabis had been passed and many boldly use cannabis than ever before..

The Conservatives’ wide-ranging $64 million anti-drug strategy is expected to combine treatment and prevention programs with stiffer penalties for illicit drug use, and a crackdown at the border against drug smuggling.

Health Minister Clement in the past, opposes the harm reduction strategies which includes among others where governments provide safe injection sites for drug addicts where nurses supervise and provide clean needles to users to avoid spreading the disease such as AIDs and Hepatitis.

At a Canadian Medical Association meeting last month, he was quoted saying “harm reduction, in a sense, takes many forms. To me, prevention is harm reduction. Treatment is harm reduction. Enforcement is harm reduction.

A day after that speech, 130 physicians and scientists signed a petition condemning the Conservative Government “potentially deadly” misrepresentations of the positive evidence of harm reduction programs.

Dr. Keith Martin, a B.C. Liberal MP and former substance abuse physician, said that the renewal for safe injection sites operating license will not get approval from the current government. And he has this to say about the Tories anti-drug strategies:

“I can’t understand why the Conservatives are embracing a war-on-drugs approach that has proven to fail. By all means, go after the pushers. By all means, absolutely go after the organized crime gangs that are the real parasites in this situation. “But for heaven’s sake, treat the user as a medical problem and adopt the solutions that have proven to work in other countries.”

My Say:
Well, the former Liberal Government strategies of Fighting Drugs, its use and possession had not succeeded. I would give this Government a Crack at doing their plans and see if it will succeed where all others had failed. Drugs addiction has not only contributing to increase in criminal activities, but also cost society in term of more Health Care spending and also the interruptions of family lives and the economic loss is also huge.

Take a look at how many Grow-ops discovered by the Law in the Toronto area during 2006. Check this..map and see why a new Anti-Drug strategies are needed...

A very Important Reminder to those who drive with a lead foot and say "ain't too drunk to drive tonight, darling". The New Street Racing Law takes effect Midnight tonight (Sept. 30, 2007) and the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) warms that this will be 'shock and awe' to those that have the inclinations to do following things.

>>go over the limit at more than 50 kms, car will be impounded on the spot and license suspended for one week immediately (pending resolution of the charges) and minimum fine of $2000.
and a few other stunts that might endangered those who want to share the roads. For those that still do not know, the immediate suspension of Licence of 1 week for these offences pending resolution of the charges, have no right for appeal.. take a look at what's coming on your streets and highways and drive accordingly or be very ready to get a Bus Pass out or have money for a ride home. The Police will just drive the apprehended driver to a safe place and it is your responsibility how to get home. Street racers warned..OPP warns street racers to get a bus pass out..now don't blame me, I warned you...Mario Andretti!!!

UPADATE ON THE New Street Racing Law, October 1, 3:l5 am:

The law was in effect barely less than 24 hours ago and the Police already announced as of 8:00pm yesterday, Sunday that the already netted 28 drivers, breaking the 50 kms. over the limit. Following are the excerpt from the announcement:

For the 28 drivers charged today, the costs hit home immediately: vehicle impounded for seven days, driver’s licence suspended for seven days and, if found guilty in court, a minimum $2,000 fine.

It was enough to drive one young man to tears after he became one of the first stopped by the Ontario Provincial Police after the law — aimed at drivers doing more than 50 kilometres over the speed limit — came into effect today.

“A young man started crying as his mom’s car was impounded,” said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley, unable to say if the tears were prompted by the temporary loss of the car, the potential fine, or in anticipation of mom’s wrath.

Another driver, who just got his new car, promptly lost it after he was clocked doing 174 km/h on Highway 401, which has a 100 km/h speed limit. “He only had the car for two days, and the car will be impounded longer than he owned it,” Woolley noted.

for more of the lead-foot who ignores the new traffic law check...some just don't get it

Now, don't wonder why vast majority of Ontarians are inclined to obey the law, instead of breaking it, the Pain of Penalties and the enforcement of the law that cater no favour to whom the "braves" (or idiots) who dare...

And before you go have a little Sunshine and have a pleasant week ahead.

Election Hottest Issue: Public Funding for all Faith-Based Schools..

2007-09-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

Hottest Issue of this Provincial Election Campaign: Public Funding for all Faith-Based Schools...

Aside from the Current Government Broken Promises, one that is still very
Fresh on every voter's mind was the Premier McGuinty last Election Campaign Promise not to Raise Taxes during its Mandate. But as soon as the Liberals took power, they imposed a Health Premium for those earning $20 thousands or more with the minimum of $300. That’s is not a Big Tax, but the issue is a Broken Promises.

Now comes opposition leader John Tory of the Progressive Conservatives Party campaign program to extend Public Funding for all faith-based Schools same as Catholic Schools as long as they adapt the Ontario’s curriculum and hire the Province accredited teachers..Initial cost for the funding is around $400 millions for 53,000 students of Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and other faith-based schools. That represents approximately 3% of the total students. Catholic Schools have the enrollment of 600,000 students.

The Liberals and the New Democrats oppose the Conservative proposal, while the Green Party wants to have only one Secular Public School system with no funding for all religious schools, taking away funding fo Catholic Schools.. Public funding.

Other Campaign promises:
John Tory..Progressive Conservatives....More aid to Autistic Children.

Howard Hampton..New Democrats....Pay for delisted services, such as Physiotherapy, chiropractic and optometry services, once covered, but delisted by the Liberals. bring back delisted services..

While the Liberal Leader McGuinty, keep attacking the Tories comparing them to the Previous Government which his party defeated the last election..attack..

And the countdown continues..l4 days to go and counting...

Conservative Leader John Tory listens during a discussion on autism in London, Ont., yesterday as Leela Sharma and Madi, her 7-year-old autistic daughter, look on. Tory pledged more support for families dealing with autism.

Referendum Issue..same, same or Proportional Representations?

2007-09-23T23:04:00.000-04:00

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, campaigning in one of the Ridings vowing to address the Energy Issues (fast-tracking of More Nuclear Plants) if he wins the Government this October 10 election...

Energy Issue is taking centre stage as the election campaign enters final stage...

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory vows that if he is elected Premier that he will fast-track building of more Nuclear Plants by any means possible, an apparent reversal of the stand he took a few months ago.

The stand in which earlier this year, Tory called for the resignation of Environment Minister for exempting the Liberal Nuclear Plan from Provincial Environment Assessment, as Minister Laurel Broten noted that The Environment Assessment for Nuclear plans is entirely Federal.

The pledge came yesterday as energy issues took centre stage in the campaign to the Oct. 10 provincial election, with NDP Leader Howard Hampton calling for lower electricity rates to help struggling Northern Ontario mills and Premier Dalton McGuinty rejecting the idea.

For more of the election issues you may want to check the Toronto Star coverage of the Election.
here

For this week Toronto Sun's sunshines..Sunshine Girls

Referendum Issue:
This coming provincial election, there is also a question regarding the reform of how the MPP (members of Provincial Parliament) would be elected.

At present we have a direct voting system known as First Past the Post or whichever candidate in a Riding, whether representing a Political party or independent, gets the most vote, will represent the Riding. This year there will be 107 Members, Four more than the last parliament. The Party who wins the most seats wins the Government and its leader will become the Premier.
That is regardless of the Popularity vote.

The referendum will ask the voters if Proportional Representation will be introduced by 2012. The Parliament membership in this proposed referendum will compose of 90 directly elected members and 39 from the parties in proportion to their popular votes. Thus, other parties with garnered some popular votes, but do not translate to winning any seat, will have representation in the Parliament out of the 39 remaining posts. The Green Party, which fields candidates in all ridings this election but may not win a single seat, will have a chance to have members appointed by the a Party to represent the total popularity votes out of the 39 reserved seats (the Green, according to the polls could cast 10% of the Popular votes).

This Proportional System, as some critiques would suggest would undermine the individual Accountability of the Member as he or she is only accountable to the party he or she represents, but not the constituents of any riding. While its supporters insist that is a fairer systems, a chance to have a non-seat winning party or even a Party whose share of popular votes does not translate to equal percentage of seats, voices heard in the Parliament, instead of just in the Media and in the Streets.

Well, in the End issue as important as this will be decided by the Ontarians. This system will be popular among the supporters of weaker Parties, such as the New Democrats, always the 3rd party among the 3 Mainstreams, (in the last provincial parliament, all members represent only these 3 major parties) who consistently gets 18 to 20 % of the Popular votes, but only wins 10% of the seats. But for the other Two main parties and their supporters , this system is foreign and my bet will soundly rejected.. And considering that the two main parties command somewhere in the 70% of the votes, the Chances of this Referendum issue to win the Yes vote is very dim indeed.

And by the Way, the Alimodiananon sa Canada, the association of town mates from the the town of Alimodian, Iloilo along with our town mates in the U.S.A. and all over the world, celebrated our Town Fiesta Yesterday, Saturday, September 22, in honor of St. Thomas of Villanova, the Patron of the Poor and also our town patron Saint.

A mass was said by a visiting Priest from General Santos and after we had a buffet of all kinds of Filipino dishes including the always omnipresent Pizza for the kids, who always would scream Pizza, and also the olds..
To view the pictures taken by our resident professional photagraphers inday Lyn and dol Noel with his Canon SLR go to Alimodian.net gallery ..here and enjoy

Election Ontario Countdown..Leaders Making Hay with Farmers..

2007-09-19T09:43:00.000-04:00

Update: 9:00pm The First Televised Leaders Debate is now History. For the Media anylysis of the Leaders' Debate check the account from the Toronto Star...leaders' debate

Today's September 20, 10:00am update:

First Leaders Debate, sans Green Party, of the 2007 election campaign starting at 6:30pm and last for 90 minutes.

And from the Toronto Sun Daily here are the personal vitae of the Three Leaders:

JOHN TORY Conservative

- Age: 53

- Training: Lawyer

- Best round: Almost knocked out lefty David Miller in 2003 Toronto mayor's race, with 38.5% of the vote to 43.5%.

- Win streak: Party leader since 2004, he easily won his seat, Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey, in a 2005 byelection.

- Party cred: Shrewd political backroomer, under the spotlight for first time, he's run campaigns for many others.

- Ring style: A former Rogers Cable exec and CFL boss, he's not afraid to tackle but has never fought such a title bout.

- TV election debates: None, the rookie in the ring.

DALTON MCGUINTY Liberal

- Age: 52

- Training: Lawyer

- Best round: Took down front-runner Gerard Kennedy for the Grit leadership in 1996, in a gruelling, five-ballot win.

- Win streak: Four straight election wins since 1990 on his Ottawa home turf, filling the shoes of his late MPP father.

- Party cred: The only rookie Liberal elected in the NDP's 1990 rout of the ruling Grits, he led them back to power in 2003.

- Ring style: Raised in a family of 10, he can scrap with the best but quiet, persistent jabs are often his best weapon.

- TV election debates: Two under his belt, 1999 and 2003.

HOWARD HAMPTON New Democrat

- Age: 55

- Training: Lawyer

- Best round: Cracked Bob Rae's first cabinet lineup in 1990 in an all-important role, as Ontario's attorney-general.

- Win streak: Five straight election wins dating back to 1987 on his Fort Frances home turf, in a vast northern riding.

- Party cred: Took its helm in 1996 after the Rae government was booted, keeping the NDP pulse alive at Queen's Park.

- Ring style: Ivy League-educated, on a hockey scholarship, he can punch with logic or union-hall verbal barrages.

- TV election debates: Two under his belt, 1999 and 2003.

My bet-Howard Hampton can easily wins the debate, but the election, Nah!! Ontario voters one time gave the New Democrats (socialists) during the Leadership of Bob Rae a crack at Government, but Tommy Douglas Bob Rae wasn't...

the toronto sun

New Democrats Leader Howard Hampton, the Best with the Tractor, 3rd in the Opinion Polls...

Party Leaders Make Hay with Farmers: Election Ontario Countdown..

Crosby, Ontario International Plowing Match, Sept. 18..

He maybe No. 3 in Opinion Polls (last among the mainstreams) but he is number on the Tractor.
New Democrats Leader Howard Hampton easily beat the other two leader by plowing the Straightest furrow at the Fastest Time. But will it translate into votes this October 10 election, remain to be seen.

Dressed in their country-best jeans and checked shirts, Premier Dalton McGuinty and Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory joined Hampton and a number of eastern Ontario candidates at the match on a farm north of Kingston. The event is an annual ritual but takes on added significance in an election year.
Politicians were eager to make their case before the agricultural community, with McGuinty on the defensive over his record with farmers and Hampton and Tory on the attack.
"It influences the rural vote to some degree," said Bruce McCready of the Ontario Ploughman's Association. "You can't change that many people's politics, but it all helps."
And Here’s what the Champion Plower has to say about the Government or Premier McGuinty, the Liberal Leader:

“The Liberals haven't done enough for farmers who face hard times with the rising dollar, foreign subsidies and low prices for some commodities. They see the $40,000 pay raise for Dalton McGuinty while many of them are having to subsidize their farm by working off the farm."

And the other Opposition Leader, Conservative John Tory has also something to say, of course this is the campaign period and if the Farmers really listen to them, or maybe they do...

Tory noted 650,000 Ontario jobs depend on a healthy agriculture industry and said he's talked to "far too many farmers who are in doubt ... whether they can tell their sons and daughters whether there's a future for them at all in farming."

For More of What the Farmers had to say and the spectators about the Leaders and the Promises and Election Programs and about the Local Candidates and Also the VIDEO of the PLOWING Competition and comments (or Judging) go to: (copy and paste)
http://www.thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/258095

Election Ontario-Election Day...October 10---the countdown begins..

2007-09-16T00:56:00.000-04:00

Premier Dalton McGuinty and Wife Terri

Today's Issue: September 18, Tuesday Morning 9:00am Eastern Daylight...Today’s Issue: Should public funding extended to all faith- based schools?

The current Liberal Government is against the idea and would not even consider calling a referendum on the issue.

The opposition Conservative proposed the issue and will start the initiative of implementing public funding to the approximately 53,000 students of other faith- based schools (about 3% of the total) if it wins the government this coming election.

The other two parties, the New Democrat is against and the Green would like to revert back to Secularism.

At present the Catholic Schools get the same public funding as the Public Schools. Together both School Boards serve 95% of the students from Junior kin to Senior High (grade 12). While 2% are students of purely private or others, and 3 % of other religious based schools, e.g. Muslims, Hindus, Jewish, etc...

According to the Surveys done by two different pollsters, the results were entirely the opposite:

A CTV News-Strategic Counsel poll released last night found 71 per cent of 850 people surveyed oppose the funding of "private, faith-based schools," with just 26 per cent in favour. The poll, conducted last Thursday to Sunday, is accurate to within 3.4 percentage points.
An Environics poll last week showed dramatically different results, with 48 per cent supporting the extension of funding to schools of all religious denomination, 44 per cent opposed and 8 per cent undecided.
At the moment, I belong to the undecided..for now, I would continue the policy of giving tax credit (percentage) for the fees to the faith-based school to the amount not more than of that of public funding. Or go with Green Party Leader Frank de Jong pledged to eliminate all funding of faith-based schools and ensure world religion classes are taught in one secular public system.

September 16, 5:00am eastern daylight...

Election Update (provincial): Today, the New Democrats announced the Party Policy towards Intensive Behavioural Intervention (BPI)-a very expensive one-in-one treatment in a classroom for all autistic children, while the Governing Liberal insists that the issue go beyond funding, but the lack of trained support providers in the province which it said the govt. already started addressing by hiring more specialists and expand college training for more therapists. The Conservatives also pledge to address the issue, but no specific yet... It's about time the Autistic Children will get all the attention and intervention needed, spare no expense, we will foot the bill.

Promises

And from our 'USELESS BUT AMUSING SKILLS' file: when asked to recite a couple of lines from the poem they know by heart, the campaign front runners (party leaders) cheerfully obliged:
Read it Here

MORE ON ELECTION UPDATE Sept 17, 5am: this site will be updating and concentrate on Election Ontario issues for the next few weeks until election day of October 10. Election results will be available hours after official polls closing.

The first Party Leaders televised weekly debates will be on Thursday Evening. The issues and subjects of the debates are not published yet, but it will touch on the two main issues, medical care and education and also the crimes. Not sure if the Green Party leader, which do not represent any seat in the legislature will be represented in the debates, but the environment is also one of the forefront among the issues: Election Ontario

Is this a dirty campaign or not? Health Minister Smitherman said that candidate Klees of the opposition Tories, mused during one of the debates among local candidates that patients should be charged User Fees every time they visit Emergency rooms for non-emergency cases to avoid abuse of the privileges and clogging up emergency rooms, but not mentioning that the Party Leadership do not support such policy as it against the rule of the Federal Law to charge any patient for Medical care. This idea had been floated around just like calling for 911 and ambulance and fire for non emergency cases, but it is kind of hard to judge which are emergencies before the facts...and to punish people without malicious intents is against the spirit of the fair and honest democracy, which this country was founded upon... come on, let not indulge in dirty campaign without disclosing the party's stand.
Patient's user fee

The Chief versus the Prime Minister

2007-09-10T15:05:00.000-04:00

Veiled

And the argument is about something that is a non-issue, but now becomes the main issue. The subject, the Muslim Women and a very few minority who wears Burgas and Veils who do not object at all for uncovering their faces if required and even their own community who insist that wearing them are for Cultural and Social Reasons and nothing to do with Muslim Faith, has now become the centre which the Parliament would have to clarify or may have to re-examine the recently passed law that requires visual verification for Federal Elections.

And here is the Argument on the side of the Chief. The PM has said much of his piece in my previous post (scroll down to Breaking News), but knowing the young PM, he's hot blooded and sometimes his step is a little too fast for him.

He also said that all parties participated in a conference call on July 26, in which the veiled-vote issue had arisen, and they were all informed of the way Elections Canada was planning to interpret the law.

The chief said he is just following the law by allowing some Muslim Women to vote with their faces covered. The law state that if challenged the voter should identify self by presenting two ids and the Chief said if the voter refuse to show his or her face, a sworn statement is acceptable. He also added that visual verification is not required for those who votes by Mail and Proxy and said last election there were 80 thousands who voted by mail.

He is throwing back the Controversy at the lap of the PM and other politicians - arguing that they have all ample chance to make clear that people need to show their faces at the voting booth.

Chief Marc Mayrand replaced JP Kingsley who resigned the post last February after 17 years of service. Of course he was appointed by the current Government of PM Harper, but that doesn’t mean that his Independence is somehow affected.

Election Canada is an Independent Agency responsible for Federal Elections and Referendums and Reports to Parliament. The Chief is Appointed by the Governor General at the Recommendation of the Government of the Day and has the tenure of up to 65 years of age or resigned and can only be fired with cause by the Majority vote of the Parliament, the Senate and the House of Commons.

For Ontario Voters this coming October 10 election, don’t worry, Election Ontario doesn’t care if you wear a golie mask or paper bag over your head, it loves you to come and cast your vote, just show your voter’s Election Notice or your ID and do your civic duty.

The Muslim Canadian Congress says Elections Ontario should require everyone to show their face when casting a ballot.
A spokesman for the group says veils and burkas are worn for cultural and social reasons and have nothing to do with the Muslim faith.

the argument

Not a big deal... sure the parliament will thresh out this issue and make it very clear with election canada the intention of the law. Nobody wants this matter up to the court to decide.

Drama at City Hall...Staged or Real??

2007-09-09T01:34:00.000-04:00

Today's Toronto Sunday Sun's Sunshine Girl. A daily must see for those who appreciate the Sun..

Nothing to do with Today's Entry...but the weatherman said today's weather going to be little colder 24C high and cloudy (intermittent showers) and here's Angelic Angela to put a little warm on everyone's Sunday..For more of Sun's Sunshine Girls visit this site:
Sunshine

Toronto City Hall

Tempers and Insults flew at The City Council Meeting as the First days of the Cut of Services come into effect starting Today. The cuts were announced by Mayor David Miller few weeks ago after the Council defeated the new measures of "taxation" proposed by the Mayor to cover the shortfall. Now, they are blaming each others.
http://truenorthandme.blogspot.com/2007/08/get-ready-city-about-to-cut-quality-of.html

The cut that causes most concern, especially among the Seniors and Parents of Young Children is the closing of 130 Community Centres on Mondays and to the lesser extent of 16 Public Libraries on Sundays, until the city puts its house back in Order...

To read the council members throwing insults at one another check the Council Chamber...

Toronto Star

And also from the people who are directly affected by the cuts, the Seniors, the Parents of Young Children and the workers. Never mind the Politicians, they’re all full of hot air and they could had done something before these matters come to this point. The Provincial Government and even the Federals are ignoring their cries anyways. But just like anywhere, try to give themselves a raise and quietly and softly they become friends again..hehehe...might even see them having lunch together...

September 10, 5:00am current temp. 14 today's high 20 low 14...

Breaking News: PM Steven Harper threatened legal action against Election Canada if it doesn’t back off its decision of allowing Muslim women to vote covering their faces. Election Canada is an Independent Agency responsible for conducting elections and referendums and reports to the Parliament.

Last spring the Parliament passed Bill C-31, a law designed to have visual identification of voters and Election Canada is supposed to implement the law, not to make its own.

Today, Election Canada is holding a news conference to address the issue and to also address the Protests even from the Muslim Communities that do not agree with its decision. All political parties are solid in their opposition to the electoral body decision. Where’s JP Kingsley in times like this?

Toronto Star

Provincial Election...October 10, 2007

2007-09-04T07:42:00.001-04:00

Howard Hampton, New Democrat Party Leader

Liberal Party Leader Dalton McGuinty

Conservative Party Leader John Tory and wife Barbara Hackett

Gentlemen, On your Post, Get Set, Goooo...

They’re off and running. Actually only John Tory, The Provincial Conservative Party Leader started his campaign for October 10 Provincial Elections for Members of Ontario Parliament. Premier Dalton McGuinty, Liberals Leader won’t officially start his campaign until next Monday when the writ is signed, while New Democrats Party Howard Hampton, start his by joining the Labour Day parade, without announcing any party policy.

And here are what we expect from the Three Parties representing the Members of the Parliament:

Although the Liberals have not started their campaign yet (they are the government) Finance Minister Greg Sorbora announce that if the Liberal is re-elected it, would create a New Statutory Holiday in February (one of the Months without a day-off, the other are November and June) probably on the third Monday.

Opposition John Tory, can’t wait to question the timing of the announcement and asked...why just now? And added it is cynical (the opposition Leader forgot that this is Election campaign). Of course people have been asking ever since for a long weekend in mid-winter, imagine from January 1 until the Good Friday?

And here’s the Major Issue this Election and the Party’s stand on them:

But the major issues in the campaign will focus on the economy, the environment, help for cities and the working poor, along with the hot-button issue of funding for faith-based schools, which Tory ignited by saying he would fund them, while McGuinty supports the status quo – funding for public and Catholic schools.

Don’t Know yet where the NDP stands on these issues.

The Parties go into the campaign with these standing:

Liberal: 68 out of 103 seats
Tories : 24
Democrats: 10
I seat vacant.. There will be an additional 4 seats to be contested this October 10 election (re-adjustment)..

And also there will be a referendum for Proportional Representation System of electing members and if carried will take effect in 2011.

Finally NDP Leader has something to say:

Hampton said the Liberals can't be counted on to keep their promise of a new holiday given that the government effectively killed a private member's bill in 2003 that would have created such a holiday.
"Dalton McGuinty found the time to give himself a $40,000 raise but didn't get around to giving working families a much-needed day off," Hampton said in a statement.

I’d say what about a Statutory Holiday in November? Third Monday would be perfect...

Care to read more related articles?
Toronto Star

Gunfight at the Cigar Store...

2007-09-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

Police checking a 'getaway van' with a blown out rear and driver side window after a shootout between the armoured truck guards and the robbers during a foiled robbery. Hospitals are advised to lookout for gun wounded patient as the police had suspected one or more of the robbers been wounded....

Score 1 for the good guys, 0 for the bad guys.

One robber maybe wounded after a shootout between the Brink Guards (armoured courrier) and suspected three robbers during an attempted “hijacked” during one of the cash pick ups.

One of the guards suffered a gash on the forehead where he was pistol whipped by one of the robbers. The guards who gave his name only as Steve said he was OK.

Police advised hospitals in the area to look out for gun-wounded patient.

The robbers abandoned their first get away car with blown out rear window and driver side glass.

Witnesses said at least three men bailed from the shot-up minivan, ran south across the road to a semi-vacant parking lot and jumped into another vehicle to flee the scene.
The armoured car pick up at the same high end cigar store at the same time every time and may have been stalked out by the robbers. Plenty of cash on that truck, plus the cigar are selling at $500 per box, could be Cuban and perhaps the reason why the Robbers choose the particular store just in case all they can snatch are the loots from that store. Only the guards can open the safe once the cash on them...Usually on this type of Robbery the Bad Guys get away with something, not a shootout “stolen getaway van”.

toronto star

The Wrongly Convicted...

2007-08-27T06:46:00.000-04:00

Breaking NEWS and UPDATE: 11:18 AM August 28, 2007

The Court of Appeal Acquited Steven Truscott of the Rape-Murder of Lynne Harper and declared it a Miscarriage of Justice, but said it is not in legal position to declare him Innocent...The Panel was Unanimous in its decision handed shortly before 11:00 and the Crown has already announced that it is not planning to appeal the decision and accept the CA decision as the final test of the evidence presented by Mr. Truscott Team...

Analysis of the court decision is still been going on and details of the decision not yet available...for the breaking news...
http://www.torontosun.com/News/2007/08/28/4452385.html
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/250586

_____________
TORONTO (CP) — Steven Truscott is no longer a convicted murderer.

His 48-year fight to clear his name ended Tuesday as Ontario’s highest court acquitted him of the 1959 rape and murder of 12-year-old Lynne Harper.

In a unanimous decision, five justices of the Ontario Court of Appeal say new evidence satisfies them that Truscott’s conviction constituted a “miscarriage of justice.”

However, the court says it’s not in a position to declare Truscott innocent of the crime.

Truscott, who was 14 at the time, became the youngest Canadian to be sentenced to hang. He spent 10 years in prison before he was released on parole in 1969 after which he married and raised a family in Guelph under an assumed surname.

Steven Truscott as seen in 2001

Steven Truscott at 14

Lynne Harper at 12

The year was l959. A 14 years old Steven Truscott was convicted by an all-male jury for Rape-Murder of his 12 years old classmate Lynne Harper. Three days after the reported disappearance of Lynne Harper, her body was found, Steven Truscott was arrested, charged for her murder and after two weeks of trial was sentenced to hang, the youngest ever on death row. He spent four months under the shadow of the rope, until his sentence was commuted to life and was paroled in l969.

He re-surfaced in 2001 to clear his name and tomorrow the Court of Appeal of Ontario will bring down the ruling to upheld the conviction or overturned it.

For the summary of the case please check this link...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/truscott/

And for the women who fought for the cause at the time when women were just relegated as the back passengers of the Justice System and a noted crusader Isabel LeBourdais, whose only concern at that time not to see a child get hanged, and a stay at home housewife whose book titled the Trial of Steven Truscott didn’t see print in this country, but later was published in England and was instrumental in the review of the case and the abolition of Capital Punishment.

The very first woman to ever said the word “Penis” in National T.V. during her interview with the CBC program This Hour has Seven Days contending that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor during the Trial that the Lesion on Steven’s Penis was caused by raping a Virgin, may had been caused by dermatological condition, which was later confirmed.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/250130

Tomorrow will be the Day if Steven Truscott and the Whole Country will find out if his fight for his innocence for 5 decades and the fight for Justice for the Wrongly Convicted by these women (Isabel LeBourdais passed away in 2003) will be one of their successes.

bibs and others...

2007-08-19T02:04:00.000-04:00

feeling too lazy today, so just uploaded these pics of bibs with cousins and family. the top pics are my eldest brother's grandchildren. girl, we call chin-chin and the boy josh. chin is expecting a sibling (mom won't tell if boy or girl) this november. they live in philadelphia, parents are pinas # 1 exports..RNs . josh is with her mom and my brother's family in Pinas.

next are my elder bro's (late brother) grandchildren. the eldest is chico, from dad's but with a first name from brother. then barely a month after chico 1st birthday, another brother with somehow unique nick, maui, this time sounds my bro's name. picture with mom. they live in toril and both parents are dentists.

the rest are the usual bida, bibs and family some pics scanned from the film pictures of yesteryears during her school days in manila, and two items on her first trip outside the Phil. with her teachers and classmates to china (macau). bibs and family now live in northern california since december 2005. even got one of mine with bibs in niagara falls during her visit to celebrate her 15th birthday in toronto, summer of '06..

DOG FIGHT!!!

2007-08-16T11:44:00.000-04:00

Tre Smith, an Animal Investigator with the Toronto Humane Society with Cyrus, the Rottweiler he rescued from inside the overheated locked SUV. A brouhaha ensued after the incident that was all over the Front Page of Today's Dailies...

The Dog Fight..

Looking at Today’s Toronto Star Print Edition Headline I was thinking no more worthy news that this deserve the Front Page. Well this is the worthy news.

The article asked did animal rescuer go too far? The debate is still ongoing.

Tre Smith, the animal investigator with Toronto Humane Society and Paul Sonderholm, the owner of the dog named Cyrus, had both been telling Night and Day versions of what happened between them July 31.

The indisputable facts however, Smith, the investigator smashed the rear window of a SUV to rescue the overheated Cyrus inside, and when owner Paul came to the scene from somewhere, handcuffed him to the passenger side of the car, waiting for the police while rushing Cyrus to an emergency, and Paul lost Three teeth from animal lovers vigilantes nearby.

And the incident also re-discovered the dangling faulty lines between the Ontario Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals and the Toronto Humane Society, Still Deep, that refused fixing for a long time...

The Toronto Humane Society who employed Tre said that he did the right thing both with Cyrus and his owner Paul, While the OSPCA said that what he did to the owner was not within his mandate and suspended Smith until the investigations resolve the issue. Note: although Smith is employed by the THS, as an Animal Investigator, his profession is regulated by the OSPCA.

And here’s is the summary of each character version of the event.

The Dog Owner
Paul: He said he left Cyrus in the back seat of his Equinox SUV to visit a friend and leave a little opening in the window as to allow a “cool breeze” and he check once in while to run the air-con to cool the dog.

But the visit lasted longer than expected and when he went down to check, he saw Smith and others trying to cool Cyrus, the Rottweiler down with a bowl of water. And as he approached the Dog investigator “yelled” at him asking “ is that your dog?” and as soon as he said yes, he was handcuffed and called names and said the investigator was trying to incite the crowd around to take the law into their hands.

And he said he was in his best behaviour despite Smith belligerence. Believe it or Not.. And added Cyrus didn’t look comatose....

The Investigator:

Tre: He said when he arrived at the scene upon reports of witnesses seeing Cyrus locked inside an closed SUV, he say the dog slumped in the back seat foaming in the Mouth, gasping for Breath.

He immediately summoned Police and called out to some passerby to bring buckets of water and after smashing the window, pour the water to cool off Cyrus. That when the ‘villain’ appeared to the scene and more perturbed about his car than his dog. He added that Paul scared him and other bystanders by spouting profanities and tried to pull and push Smith away from the Pet.

After repeated pleas to allow him to do his job, he decided to handcuffed the “bad guy” and push him to a picnic table but it didn’t work and decided to handcuff him to his SUV and put him in a gentle watch of five female friends instead of an angry mob. He called police again as he realized Cyrus needed to have an emergency attention as he rushed the Dog to the clinic. the “stoning of the sinner”, begins.

Now back to the OSPCA who suspended the investigator:

The SPCA doesn’t train its investigators in handcuff use. And the spokesperson said that animal investigators don’t exactly have the same power as the Police, simply because they are not trained to use weapons. But she also added that the Society has not received the full report of the incident yet and the lead investigator has yet to put the whole matter together.

This is not the first time both societies butt heads. In mid-8o the SPCA accused the Humane Society of unethical conduct of its internal fights, links to vandalism and the way it nominate its board.

The Humane Society challenged the SPCA Act in Court for the ability to train its own investigators to gain more control of its activities. It lost.

Aftermath:
Paul the Dog Owner was Charged with Cruelty to Animals (the cops did eventually came to the scene).

Two bystanders (both male vigilantes) were charged with assaults, one assault with a weapon (stone).

Cyrus, the Rottweiler: Recovering quite well and his fate will be decided by the Court soon.

Smith: Animal Investigator, appeared in reality show ‘lofters”, also a regular in an animal show, was suspended from work by the Regulating Body, the SPCA but has the support of his Employer, the Humane Society and suddenly will get his t.v. shows ratings a few bars higher and a hero to most animal lover and city residents...

Police-like powers unleashed

Animal cruelty investigations by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and its affiliated Humane Societies are governed by the Ontario SPCA Act.

The province's 205 inspectors and agents are trained criminal investigators.
The act specifically states that investigators have the same powers as police officers when enforcing animal cruelty laws, issue orders to relieve an animal's distress and enter private property.

The legislation also provides investigators with police powers to investigate Criminal Code offences related to animal cruelty.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/246856

Access to Justice a Basic Right...Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin

2007-08-12T06:52:00.001-04:00

The justice system risks losing the confidence of the public when "wealthy corporations," or the poor, who qualify for legal aid, have the means to use the court system, she said, noting that for "middle-class" Canadians, resolving a legal problem of any significance often requires taking out a second mortgage or draining their life savings.

With this message in her speech before the Canadian Bar Association in Calgary Alberta, Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin has issued a call to governments, lawyers and judges to find solutions to the "crisis" to the access to justice that is imperiling the country’s legal system that is becoming expensive and complicated.

In her speech, she declared the access to Justice a "Basic Right" for Canadians, like Education and Health Care.

The Chief Justice Added:

"The price of justice should not be so dear". McLachlin said in a speech to the bar association's governing council at the opening of a four-day legal conference here.
"Something must be done," she urged. "We must all get on the same track and move down it together."

There's "no point" in having a justice system that nobody can afford to use, McLachlin said. "We need to keep the justice system relevant and available to Canadian men, women and children.

Echo of Tommy Douglas call to keep the Health Care available to all Canadian men, women, girls and boys. And the call was heeded.

Commenting on recent cover story of a weekly magazine portraying lawyers as money-grubbing and unprincipled by one of the members in his recently published book, Lawyers Gone Bad the Chief Justice said name-calling and exaggeration would not help.

The process to Criminal Justice has become complicated of late after the passing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, where an accused can tie up too much of a court time challenging the constitutionality of the law and the admissibility of evidence.

On the civil side, the use of pre-trial hearings known as "examinations for discovery," which can drag on for months and even years, as well as an increased tendency to rely on expert witnesses, is contributing to longer trials ,chief justice McLachlin said, with often devastating consequences for litigants.

"People need prompt resolution of issues so they can move on with their lives or businesses."

toronto star..Justice for All

Get Ready- The City About to Cut the Quality of Life of its Residents..

2007-08-11T10:10:00.000-04:00

mother and child enjoying a swim at one of the city's community centres facilities, which will become the victim of cost saving measures by the city, will be closed on Mondays.

City cuts quality of Life...

City mayor David Miller said that the city must cut the quality of life to its residents and citizens as he struggles with a shortfall of $575 millions projected for 2008.

Dirtier streets, more graffiti and potholes, less snow removal, city golf courses closing a week earlier, and no Monday service at community centres.

And it is not getting any better from now on.

Read the rest of the Article and see how the Locals (the council members "insult" and shout at each others like anywhere else).
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/245340

From Toronto Star on-line edition ( the blog publisher subscribes to the Print Edition).

Toronto Star is Canada’s largest daily serving Toronto Greater Area and the rest of Canada..

A subdued looking Mayor David Miller told a news conference at City Hall that the changes are unavoidable given the city's fiscal crisis. The crisis peaked during the past two weeks after councillors, in a 23-22 vote, deferred a motion – backed by Miller – to raise about $350 million by increasing the land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee.

"All of these things are a diminution of the quality of life in Toronto, and from my perspective that's why it was so important to try and avoid this day," the mayor said.

"All of it is something I don't think any member of council wishes to do, but we face a real choice. It's time for people to understand that you either pay for a quality of life in a city that you want, or you get a different quality of life. There is no way to provide good quality of life without paying for it," Miller said.

Savings from Hoy's reductions include: (Shirley Hoy is the City Manager, the top Civil Servant)
$700,000 by closing all city community centres on Mondays beginning mid-September.

$800,000 by opening outdoor artificial ice rinks in January instead of December.

$1 million by providing sidewalk and windrow plowing only when there's 15 cm of snow. The current standard is 8 cm.
(start wearing a higher sole snow boots, hehehe, by 7 cm, good for shorties)

$120,000 by cancelling December yard waste pickup.
(we can always haul our own yard waste to the designated drop off locations anytime).

$125,000 by reducing automated leaf pickup, in areas that have it, from two pickups to one.

$230,000 by releasing seasonal litter-picking staff two weeks earlier than normal.
(people just simply stop littering, problem solved)

Miller says the city still needs the new taxes and council is to vote on them Oct. 22.
Yesterday's announcement led to emotional outbursts, with Councillor Howard Moscoe, a supporter of the new taxes, saying seniors will be crying foul over the reductions in snow removal, especially the windrow service,* which is available in certain parts of the city.

*windrow service is the service provided by the city, removing the snow dumped by the road clearing at the end of the driveway. During heavy snowstorm windrow could be waist deep, though only the lenght of the driveway will be taxing to clear, especially of senior citizens. glad got myself a powerful snow thrower. neighbors ( those without) better be nice to me..

"It's going to be awful. We've got an aging population, senior citizens who shovel their driveway, then the snow plow dumps the snow in front."

An ugly shouting match erupted immediately after the cuts were revealed, as councillors launched personal attacks against one another.

"You're a hypocrite, Denzil. You're an absolute hypocrite, and you haven't done the research. You've been on council since you were 12 years old and you don't even know the details in this budget. That's embarrassing,'' Councillor Adam Vaughan shouted at Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong.

"Adam, you may be interested in increasing the ratings on your television program, but I'd like to answer this (reporter's) question ... do you mind?'' Minnan-Wong fired back, a reference to the fact Vaughan hosts Hour Town, a monthly political special on CP24.
(Although by law, Municipal politics are not allowed to have political parties, still councils are some kind of "buddy, buddy party".)

In giving her presentation, Hoy said the city's "financial issues'' are on the revenue side.
Under provincial law, the city is required to balance its operating budget every year, she said, adding it has done that over the past few years in part by depleting the city's reserve funds and exhausting all potential one-time fixes.

Hoy said the "long-term sustainable solution'' to the city's financial challenges must include: Getting the province to pay the true costs of its social programs and resume carrying half of the TTC's operating budget; obtaining new and diverse revenue sources; and continuing cost-control measures.

The city's operating budget in 2007 is $7.8 billion. One-quarter of that pays for roads, garbage collection, recycling, parks and recreation services and libraries.
A third covers provincially mandated programs, and another third is spent on TTC**, police, fire and ambulance.
(glad, ms Hoy didn't ask any savings from fire and ambulance budget, wise move)

Hoy asked for $30 million in savings from the TTC and $10 million from the police.
The TTC came up with $6 million, police $3 million.
(not enough, you two!!)

Still up for consideration by the TTC are measures such as mothballing the Sheppard subway line, eliminating more than 20 bus routes, and a fare hike. The transit commission plans to hold public consultations in September and make a final decision on those reductions afterward.

**Toronto Transit Commission (mass transit system)

Public Service from Police Services:
THE ARE 4000 bikes stolen every year in the City. To help the Police Re-unite the re-covered Bicycles to their rightful owners and help prosecute the criminals, registration of Bikes is now offered on Line Free of Charge... visit this link and help stop the crime, register your bike...

http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/bike/

Sickening..this One Is...

2007-08-09T09:47:00.000-04:00

Police probe handicapped agency theft...

Public Guardian official fired, OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) investigates money missing from handicapped client.

Attorney General Michael Byrant (file photo), said today that a Public Servant was terminated and under police investigation for misappropriation of funds entrusted...

Police probe handicapped agency theft...
Public Guardian official fired, OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) investigates money missing from handicapped client.

This is unbelievable.. A client Representative of the Public Guardian Trustee since l995 went on vacation on May and a colleague took over her files and found out anomalies regarding the management of funds of one of her clients, a Mentally Handicapped.

.
Ontario Attorney General Michael Brant said that there was misappropriation of funds, a significant amount of funds but decline to give the amount and added " the very idea that someone entrusted that trust violate that trust is SICKENING".

The internal Probe started in May upon discovery and the public servant was suspended pending preliminary report. She was terminated Thursday and the Police taking over the Criminal Investigation. She can not be named for Privacy reasons as she has not been charged in proper court yet. As always presumption of innocence is a constitutional right and until a person is charged, he or she can not be named and even if charged he or she can not be presented to the the Media or images published unless for public interest (like for asking for more witnesses, the image of the accused maybe necessary) or an accused is at large. For minor, a court permission is necessary..

Opposition parties yesterday blamed the Liberals for not having proper safeguards in place. "This thing was discovered, it sounds to me, by accident," said Progressive Conservative justice critic Bob Runciman, a former solicitor general.

Auditor General Jim McMaster said he's reported on other problems in the guardian's office before, including questions about whether investment portfolios were being managed properly, but never allegations of theft.

"I can't say that anything really (similar) stands out in my mind," he said yesterday.

The guardian's office administers $1 billion in financial assets for about 9,000 Ontario citizens who are unable to govern their own affairs. Officials are checking to see if more than one client was cheated out of money.

Bryant also announced that former Ontario integrity commissioner Coulter Osborne has been hired to help guardian office clients and their families with any concerns and to arrange for reimbursement of any losses they suffered. At this point, there is "zero evidence" other staff at the guardian's office have been involved in schemes to cheat clients, Bryant said, but McMaster, along with an outside accounting firm called in to help, are keeping an eye out for any signs that has happened.

"They will follow the money," Bryant said. "The government is focused on moving as quickly as possible."

Ontario Residents and all Canadians who are Physically and Mentally handicapped and are not capable of managing their own affairs are wards of the Government. They are provided with social assistance and all available medical care and whatever assets they may have from their inheritance or from family is managed by the Public Guardian Trustee. Trust among employees of this government agency is thereby absolute and violation of such trust is Sickening....

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/244581

Caribana 2007 ... Welcome All..

2007-08-05T02:52:00.000-04:00

This Weekend the City is Celebrating its 40th Caribana Festival.. Come and Join Us.
Click the links for articles and videos:
For the video: http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/video/243288

For 2007 gallery: http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/photo/243315
For more details: http://www.thestar.com/News/article/243289

With tens of thousands of revellers flocking to town from the U.S. and beyond, the mood was electric at the annual Caribana parade Saturday as an estimated 25,000 dancers made their way along a sunny stretch of the city's waterfront.

This weekend this city is the Carribean of North America, sans the Pirates. It will be Music, Dances, Foods and Parties and thousands of tourists mingling with the locals. Welcome all to the Caribana 2007...

Something Good for the Health of Womanhood...

2007-08-02T07:33:00.000-04:00

Dr. Jenny Blake, chief of obstretics at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, who has treated Cerivical Cancer patients, has already taken daughter Allie DePetrillo, 16, for HPV shots at her expense and she takes issue against those who questions the merits of the vaccine..

Girls to Get Cervical Cancer Vaccine... Gardasil..

Premier to announce $39 million voluntary immunization program for Grade 8 students
Starting this fall Grade 8 girls a cross Ontario will be offered Free Vaccines to prevent them from sexually transmitted virus that cause cervical cancer.

This program was financed by the Federal Government $300 millions voluntary vaccination program across Canada. In Ontario it is expected to immunize up to 84,000 students this year and will continue for at least another 2 years. After that it is not know if the Province will take over the program.

The vaccine, Gardasil, immunizes against the most deadly forms of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer.

It's the second most common cancer for women aged 20 to 44, after breast cancer.
In Ontario, some 550 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 150 die every year.
Gardasil is already available in Ontario but OHIP does not cover the $400 per person cost of the vaccine. Some employee benefit plans may cover it.

Health Canada approved Gardasil last summer for use in girls and women aged 9 to 26.
(Anyone under the age group who wish to have the vaccines, talk to your Doctor and check the coverage of your Extended Care, or your parents or guardian, otherwise be ready to fork out $400.)

Note: The Universal Health Care are not the same for every Province. Basic care like Hospital care for all sickness and illness are covered including procedures and medical bills and hospital stays with no limit, including medications during confinement, but maintenance medication and prescription pills are only covered fully under a separate Drug Plan Programs for Senior Citizens, Physically and Mentally disabled, indigents, social assistance recipients, or disabled due to health or accident, minors and basically all those that can not afford or without means. And there are medications and appliances not covered by these Drug Plans, but most often covered by those who are gainfully employed thru the Extended Insurance Plan by Employers. And that could include medication for ED (erectile dysfuncitons) and other lifestyle drugs...

The vaccine protects against infection from four separate strains of HPV, which combined, cause 70 per cent of all cases of cervical cancer.

But a Canadian Medical Association Journal paper, released online yesterday, says there is no "epidemic" of cervical cancer in Canada to warrant a vaccination program for girls
(Can’t understand the contention of the CMA, to me 400 deaths annually is a concern)

Across Canada, cervical cancer kills 400 women each year.
Worldwide, about 250,000 women die from the disease annually.

http://www.thestar.com/living/Health/article/242383

Is this Good or Bad? http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/242910

Eligible expenses for people taking the altruistic step of donating a kidney or part of their liver, whether to a loved one or a stranger, must be pre-approved by officials. Once that approval is obtained, the program will reimburse donors up to $5,500 for any travel, accommodation or meal expenses, or for lost income. August 3, 2:45 PM eastern daylight....

Something Different..Worst Canadian of all???

2007-07-31T11:29:00.000-04:00

"Rock star" ex-PM Trudeau is worst Canadian: poll
Mon Jul 30, 11:45 AM
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Pierre Trudeau, the former prime minister who worked to unite French and English Canada, topped an Internet poll as the worst Canadian, a history magazine revealed on Monday.

"For many Canadians, he is just larger than life. Whether you love him or hate him, he is the guy who shaped Canada," said Deborah Morrison, president of Canada's National History Society, which publishes The Beaver magazine.

"He was our first rock-star politician," she said.
Trudeau was reviled by some for his flamboyance and liberal social policies, while many Western Canadians disliked his energy and farm policies, Morrison said.

Trudeau, who was named the third-greatest Canadian in a 2004 television contest, pipped serial killers Clifford Olson, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, singer Celine Dion and disgraced newspaper tycoon Conrad Black in the new poll.

The magazine organized the open poll, which received 15,000 submissions, to promote its August issue.

Current Prime Minister Stephen Harper was No. 6 on the worst Canadians poll, and former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Jean Chretien also made the list.

Morrison said she was initially surprised that Trudeau topped the poll, but realized he was an obvious target for Canadians, whom she said had little knowledge of their country's short history.

"He in many ways became the inevitable choice, because for a lot of Canadians, he is the history figure they know," Morrison said.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/canada_trudeau_worstcanadian_poll_col

Something Political...

2007-07-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

PM Harper with other G-8 Leaders during the

Last summit.

Today received an email from the Conservative Party, after a conversation with volunteer fundraiser that we could have an Election before the year’s end. Being a long-time Card-Carrying Party Member, we are, along with other parties members, the voters and the General Public, time to again participate in our democratic duty of electing our next Government if an election is called.

Since our election campaign expense now has to come from only two sources; from individual contribution of citizens, subject to limits and from the Government, it is imperative that we support the process. But donating to a Candidate or to a Party or to a Party Association, an individual is not only doing his or her share in making Democracy works, but get back part of his contribution from the Government in the form of Tax Refunds of Reduction of Tax Payable..

And here is the formula for Tax Credit of political Contributions.

The refund (or reduction in tax payable) depends only on the amount donated and not on taxable income. One only needs to file a tax return in order to receive it. The 2005 tax credit formula is:

for contributions between 0 and $400, you will get back 75%;
for contributions between $400 and $750, you will get back $300 plus 50% of the amount over $400;
for contributions over $750, you will get back $475 plus 33 1/3% of the amount over $750 up to a maximum of $650 annually.

Maximum individual Limits including Candidates... $5400 annually...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION!

Dear Mr. Vic ... .....

Thank you for your generous contribution of $( amount) when we spoke to you on the phone on Saturday, July 28, 2007.

THANK YOU!

Stéphane Dion and his "new" team are confused, divided and for themselves: they will not get things done for families and taxpayers.

It seems all but inevitable that unwanted and unnecessary election will be forced on Canadians in 2007. Your generous gift is helping us be prepared to stop Stéphane Dion.

As a minority government, we can't prevent an unwanted election. But we can prepare for victory.

Thank you once again for your generous contribution and your on-going support of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Sincerely,
The Fundraising Department
http://www.conservative.ca/