Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor Says The Polls Are Wrong

DEFENCE MINISTER GORDON O'CONNOR SAYS ALL CANDIANS SUPPORT THE AFGHAN MISSION, WE JUST USED THE WRONG POLLSTERS

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor has reiterated once again that an "overwhelming" majority of Canandians would like to see the presence in Afghanistan increased until all the Taliban are gone. He has stated that the Canadian contingent in Afghanistan has been met with "overwhelming support from people everywhere"(most notably from the conservative caucus) except for the Taliban that is.

So, I suppose we'll be there until Armageddon now, or until the whole Canadian military comes home in zip lock bags, if what he says is true.

He claims that over the next 10 years or so, we should be able to stop these fighters from fighting this occupation by use of brute force against them. The retired general also says public support for the mission in Afghanistan remains steadfast, despite recent polls that say support is lagging in huge amounts for this measure. He says that even though Quebecers have expressed outrage for the war, they secretly support it in strong numbers.

O'Connor pointed out that" we are here to do a job, and we must remember why we are here". " Some soldiers asked why we were there, and O'Connor responded by saying he wasn't sure, because he hasn't been told this yet, but that he would call Sandra Buckler in to find out what to say next.

O'Connor is in Kandahar on a visit to assess the situation and help give troops a morale boost by perfroming a version of Fiddler on the Roof for the troops. It is unsure whether he will play the starring role of Tevye the Milkman , or the cart-horse, nicknamed "Shmuel".

CONservatives Announce A $110 Million Dollar Birthday Party For Quebec City.

QUEBECERS ECSTATIC OVER HUGE BIRTHDAY BASH THANKS TO STEPHEN HARPER

Stephen Harper has announced that his government will spend $110 million of taxpayer money in support of Quebec cities' 400th birthday, in a bid to get some votes in Quebec where his support is faltering badly.

Harpers' people in Quebec say Ottawa will provide $40 million for festivities to mark the occasion and $70 million for various infrastructure projects,according to Heritage Minister Beverly Oda and Francophonie Minister Josee Verner . "We are concerned about our support levels here, and of course, we need to make people everywhere that if it wasn't for Quebecs' founding, we wouldn't be here".

Well, I might beg to differ on that one.

The Quebec government is also providing $40 million for the festivities, while Quebec City is contributing $10 million.
Quebec City Mayor Andree Boucher said the city can't be expected to cover any cost overruns for security once the event is completed. "The feds have agreed to pay all of the security costs as this is a national event of historic value".
She joked about imposing a marijuana tax to pay for any added costs.
"Quebecers smoked cigarettes for 40 years to pay for the Olympic Games,'' she told reporters, referring to the provincial tax to pay for the 1976 Games in Montreal.
"I don't want to make people smoke pot for three generations after me, but if we have to we will.''
As ambassador for the event, Boucher also said she would dress up for the occasion. Boucher suggested she might even wear the colourful Yves St-Laurent gown she wore on an official visit to France earlier this year that attracted unflattering headlines back home.

So, here you have it, another blatant misuse of taxpayer money.

That $110 million could have paid for day care spaces, or even water treatment facilities, or sewage facilities, or affordable houising, but no, it goes to a friggin' birthday party, a vote getting measure by a greed driven, vote driven government that knows no boundaries in attempts to solidify its' power base.

Canadians did not elect this government to spend our money in such a reckless fashion. In fact, I would argue the propensity for misuse of dollars is gigantic. Is this just another scam waiting to blow up or what?

The Liberals, accused of misusing tax dollars in Quebec will certainly almost be laughing their asses off.

If Quebec wants a birthday party, let them pay for it themselves.

I can only hope that there is a forensic accountant waiting somewhere, or that Sheila Fraser keeps her eye on this one.

Michael Ignatieff The Supposed Liberal Leadership Front-Runner..Does A Grand Flip-Flop

MICAHEL IGNATIEFF BACKTRACKS ON STATEMENTS MADE TO THE PRESS

Michael Ignatieff , the percieved front runner in the Fiberal leadership race has no idea what he's doing from one day to the next.

Ignatieff commented on Monday to several national media sources that if he "lost the leadership race, he would not run in an election again". Yesterday, he changed his mind after being told what a petulant little comment could do to his chances...

Hmmm..sounds a little petty to me, but hey, we're talking about Canadas' premier emminent intellectual master here..yu know, the guy that knows better for all of us?

Michael, should just go back to the USA where he came from. The chance this guy could lead the FIBS into an election is pretty good, but the chance he'll win it with his" I'm just too good for most of you peons attitude" is pretty minute.

And for the Fiberals, just what the hell are you doing, dragging on a leadership drive for the last 7 months, with another 3 to go? This is a longer process than the US elections. Dumb, dumb and dumber.

Scott Brison said Ignatieff's repeated screw ups suggest the MP has poor political judgment and insufficient experience to lead a national party.
"These gaffes are damaging to a leadership campaign but they will be terminal to a national general election campaign," Brison said in an interview. Brison is running for the leadership of the party as well. He formerly was a member of the old CONservative party, but dumped the party after it united with the right wing Alliance-Reform Party. Brison, openly gay, was told by the new CONservative party that his membership was not welcome, as he is a gay rights activist, and the party was against gays and lesbians.

So, the FIberlas are gettin' busy...I'm pretty sure we'll see the mud fly in coming weeks.

Jason Kenney, PM Harpers' Right Hand Man, Chills With Iranian Terrorists!

JASON KENNEY, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO OUR CURRENT PRIME MINISTER, TALKS FROM TWO SIDES OF HIS MOUTH!!!(KINDA REMINDS ME OF ED THE TALKING HORSE...)

Jason Kenney the parliamentary assistant to Stephen Harper, has spent the past week bashing some silly Liberals about hangin' out with the Hezbollah, a banned terrorist group in Canada.

Kenney denounced Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj as being a friend of terrorism by stating that he believes Hezbollah should be removed from the banned list of terrorist groups, in order that the government may open talks with them, to facilitate a peace negotiation.

So Mr Jason Kenney, how do you broker a peace deal with ANYONE, when you cannot talk/negotiate or communicate with these people...

Hmmm...me thinks, you have a fast lip, and a low cranium capacity...

So, it was pleasantly refreshing when the Libs came out swingin', with a good photo of Jason Kenney,taken in April, at a public rally, in support thereof, Chillin' with Iranian terrorist organization, National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political wing of the PMOI, or People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, obviously not too concerned about anyone there in attendance.

The PMOI is one of many names used by the MEK, or Mujaheedin-e-Khalq, an armed Iranian group formally designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of Canada, the United States and the European Union. The Canadian government put the group on its list in May 2005.

So what the hell...fundamentally, this guy is a "talk out of both sides of the mouth" kinda man, so why would we ever believe anything he has to say can possibly be true? He is the official mouth of the CONS, direct into the PMO, and he will never serve the people of Canada in any capacity, except for the intereststhe PM tells him to invest in. It is obvious that his unique inept handling of this crisis in management of an international problem is ridiculous, and must have come direct from the PMO itself.

Harper has just burned up one more peon in his quest for self interest, his method of crash and burn politics is to blame.

In order to develope a decent policy, all sides must be invited to the table, whether we like them or not. Siding unequivocally with either set of people, will only set into motion, a continuum of hatred and violence towards the west.

The west needs to get in, rebuild those areas, faster than Hezbollah can afford to(they have money, but not that much), and this will endear the people to us and our policy, but both sides need the same approach handed to them.

Shame on Stephen Harper and his official mouthpiece for sticking it to the Libs, when they were just as guilty of supporting the "bad guys" as the Liberals had been accused of a few days before....

jim bender

woodstock

jim@ladygodivas.ca

Voters Lists May Contain Names Of Dead Persons Numbering In The Thousands!

MPAC EMPLOYEES TELLS MEDIA THAT VOTERS LISTS ARE MASSIVELY FLAWED

Syd Howse, an elections specialist with Ontario's Municipal Property Assessment Corp has stated to the media today that Ontarios' voters list are in jeopardy.

Howse stated that Ontarios' lists have not been audited, EVER!

In the USA many presidential elections have been stolen using names from gravestones, most notably in the 1960 presidential race when JFK won by a margin of 9,000 votes in Chicago; mostly names of people pulled from tombstones.

Andrew Sancton of the University of Western Ontario(political sciences) said "the presence of dead people on voters' lists make the lists more vulnerable to fraud, that's something that should be fixed without waiting any longer. It leaves a legal option for anyone to explore after an election, similar to the US race in which Geroge Bush and Al Gore duked it out in the Florida Courts."

In London, Ontario, 32,000 "extra names" have turned up on this years voters list. City Clerk, Kevin Bain said that he doesn't bother to check to see if there's names on the list that may be deceased. "MPAC provided the information, and this is what we're using".

So, there you go folks...the elections are a big scam. I wonder how many "dead" people voted in Woodstock last election?

I'm doubting our city clerk will be looking into this.

jim bender

woodstock

jim@ladygodivas.ca

Canadas' Health Minister, Tony Clement, Takes A Taxpayer Funded Ride To Sweden

A GOOD DISGUISE FOR A FOREIGN HOLIDAY

Tony Clement, our beleagured nations' health minister, has earned a slot at the trough.

Canadas' first and only safe injection site is about to close, unless the federal government decides to extend its' certificate of approval from Health Canada.

So, instead of looking at the statistics from the centre on issues such as disease prevention, Clement has brought it upon himself to look at Sweden's system of drug treatment.

Not that it's wrong to look at other countries systems, but what is wrong, is that he could have made a phone call, or a video over internet conference, instead of flying, first class, staying at the best hotels, in order to achieve something in 5 days, that could have been done in an hour.

Why not have someone just "fax" the info?

Geez, that's a waste of money!

I'm just waiting to find out who gets off the plane with him! Wifey...the kids...perfect timing for the end of summer vacation he's always wanted....

Basically, shit or get off the pot...

Insite has done an astounding job fostering a clean environment for drug addicts to exchange needles, and to obtain information on health care and drug rehabilition.

We cannot reasonably expect people to come in from the streets, if we can't take the program to the streets where its' needed the most.

The prevention of healthcare pandemics in the nature of AIDS and Hepatitis is of paramount interest to most Canadians. The amount of money spent in comparison to the looming spectre of unfettered diseases spreading through our communities is small. Inaction on any governments behalf in this human trgaedy is unforgiveable.

But hey, the good thing is, Tony got a free trip, and a way out of the bad media spotlight he's had in recent weeks.

jim bender

woodstock

jim@ladygodivas.ca

CMA Elects An Anti-Public Health Care Leader!!!!(not good for us peons!)

CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ELECTS ANTI-PUBLIC HEALTH CARE DOCTOR

Canadian doctors have sadly elected a new president and leader in Brian Day, the operator of a private "for profit" medical centre(Cambie) in Vancouver, Canada.

This does not sit well with most Canadians who have financed a public system since the 1960's, and who by most measures will be unable to pay the cost of private care.

250 delegates to the CMA's annual meeting voted in droves to keep the message of "we want a private option" on the table, and as a result, have elected one of the most anti-public health system in its' history.

A day earlier, they overwhelming approved a resolution asking governments across the country to remove existing bans that prevent physicians from practising in both the private and public sectors. They rejected an amendment that said such a move would be allowed only if there was no negative impact on the publicly funded system.

So folks, there we have it...the answer to everything.

My personal thought on the matter is as such.

Doctors bristle at the notion of publicly controlled wages. Many docotors whine and complain about high costs of tuition, and the difficulties in managing day to day health care needs on a system that is flawed in its' design.

I've always felt that it is wrong for the government to control wages, but charge maximum rates for its' education of doctors.

The change on this should be in the way education is handled.

There should be no charge education for medical doctors, and wages should be controlled by the government.

There should be a requirement that doctors spend 10 years serving the nation, (that would pay back the costs of educating them), and then are free to go wherever they wish.

This would stop the bickering over high debt repayments, and would allow for Canada to build upon services.

If the government controls your wages, then the government should take charge of educating them as well.

jim bender

woodstock

Holy Shit Batman, I Smell A Skunk In Woodstock/County Council!

OXFORD COUNTY WARDEN, DON WOOLCOTT, ANNOUNCES TERMINATION OF CONTRACT WITH CANNING CONSTRUCTION, IN ORDER TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF BUILDING THE THING HIMSELF

Okay now Billy Bob, where's the friggin' money here?

There is definetely something amiss with the way in which our local officials have dealt with this from the beginning.

An announcement several weeks past that the COUNTY OF OXFORD had allowed for 10's of thousands of dollars worth of landscaping products, and newly planted trees...just die, would indicate a lack of intellectual wealth, and for shit sakes, do we want these fools to be running the show? Holy crap. It does not take a rocket scientist to determine that there is something offbeat here. Then Woolcott announces 2 weeks past that "the trees died because last winter was one of the harshest on record". I swear he was in Nunavut!( John Duffy..Norwich wrote in about this one to the S-R as well..great letter.

Hmmm....

Perhaps dealing with the public in an honest manner would have been good to begin with, disclosing all of the escalating costs, placing someone in charge that KNOWS what they are doing, and lastly, get DON WOOLCOTT the hell out of the contruction of this thing! What has become an excercise in authority for him, has become a gigantic financial fiasco.

Buildings poorly engineered, work stoppages due to failed inspections, roofing problems, furnishings thrown out, landscaping ruined, workers not paid for their work, and too many bosses, runnin' around, wanting to be the biggest boss of all.

Woodstock residents and Oxford residents, demand an answer for what has become an accounting nightmare, and a bungling effort to ingratiate some local politicians'(and politician in the worst sense of the word)bad sense of judgement into the collective mental realm.

And is this part of the reason for the rise in our local assesments?

jim bender

Woodstock

Justice Minister Hopes To Get Rid Of Preliminary Trials In Canada

CANADIAN STUNNED JUSTICE MINISTER TOEWS WANTS TO GET RID OF PRELIMINARY INQUIRIES IN COURT TRIALS

Okay...this is just absolutely stunned.

Justice Minister Vic Toews has announced he will do away with preliminary inquiries if he has his way as they are a hinderance to getting people into jails quickly.

I think they fucked up...the reduced wait time thing, was meant for the Health Ministry, not the Justice Ministry, but no ones' telling Vic, 'cuz what Vic wants, Vic gets, and good ole Vic knows it best!(what he knows is in dispute)

Last week he decided that 10 year olds should be jailed for their crimes.

I'm thinking, perhaps he's trying to get more kids into jail, so the pedophiles don't have to wait to apply for parole in order to get some kids for sex.(like Peter Whitmore)Another fine example of reducing wait times...for sex offenders.

So anyways, was this idea was spurred as a result of consultations with the right wing side of the CONservative party, the association of police chiefs, and Pedophiles for Fair Access to juveniles?

In Canada, the function of the preliminary trial is to ascertain evidence, and whether or not the evidence would stand up in court under trial. Many judges have moved to dismiss charges during this point as a result of shaky, incomplete evidence, therefore saving the justice system immeasureable time and monies.

Yesterday the Justice Ministry was in utter shock, reeling from these announcements(that no one knew were coming), scrambling to find a solution to the problem of Toews shooting off his mouth in public.

Harper Fails Miserably At Reducing Hospital Wait Times

STEPHEN HARPER APPEARS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON HIS ONCE ILLUSTRIOUS AGENDA

The CONservative minority government has lied to us, again.

One more major point of his limited 5 point platform, has fallen by the wayside with the admission that he doesn't know how to reduce wait times when he has no money to spend on it.

Tony Clement was in Toronto to speak to a group from the CMA. He stated repeatedly during his speech that provinces were doing a great job, and that this fall he would hold a conference on wait times successes!

Health Minister Tony Clement wasn't and still isn't, the guy for the job.

This individual butchered Ontarios' medical system, and to have placed him into a position as the Health Ministry was a foolhardy move on Harpers' behalf. Tony Clement is not a medical expert, nor has he ever been. It's like putting a fatty in charge of the skinny ministry. Not much will ever be accomplished as long as we have the same old, dumb old ideas going on here.

Well, I suppose not cutting the GST would have helped. Not sending out these silly ass child benefit supplement cheques would be another.(who the hell can obtain child care on $1.19 a day?)

During the 2006 federal election, Harper touted his plan to have wait times reduced by the end of 2006. He constantly accused the Liberals of failing the population by not speeding up the process in wait rooms.

Although hospital wait times have consistently fallen over the past 10 years, the Harper Conservatives turned the issue into an election issue by manufacturing the problem themselves, making people believe there was a drastic wait time problem.

Tony Clement has stated that provinces will not get any more money, and they will have to reduce the wait times without increasing staff, wages, infrastructure or anything.

If they just let people die outside of the hospital,(don't even let them into the waiting rooms!) they won't have to include them in any future studies on wait times...because well, they never were actually IN the hospital, so theoretically, they never were there....and therefore, wait times have been reduced...voila!

But really...

During the federal election campaign, Harper said that under his plan, provinces that didn't provide speedy health services to their citizens would be required to send patients to other jurisdictions — and that this would cost them more. The Conservative leader said he was introducing his care guarantee plan because nothing was being done as long as things remained under the Fiberals watch.
But in his speech yesterday, Clement said provincial governments across the country have been making great strides for years. (this would be completely opposite from what he and the COnservatives campaigned on)
Some simple administrative reforms, he said, have significantly reduced hospital wait times without the need for a formal guarantee.
Indeed, he said, matters are going so well on the waiting-list front that he wants to hold a federal-provincial "success conference" this fall to highlight the fine job governments are doing.

So there you have, staright from the elected liars mouth. The wait time crisis was a manifatured crisis, a scare tactic, something to fleece the population with.

Canadians have become isolated in their own nation by this cabal of fools. It is time to take back what is ours, and time to send them back from where they came, the bowels of Alberta.

Letter to The Editor...Woodstock Sentinel Review

DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR FROM COUNCILLORS NADALIN AND TAIT

As a ratepayer in my community, I'm thinking I would like a rebate on wages paid to the city councillors, Nadalin and Tait who chose to walk out on the balance of councillors who were trying to do their jobs at the August 10, 2006 council meeting. It is disgusting that they feel they were representing their community by doing this. As an employer, if my staff walked off the job after screaming at me, they wouldn't be invited back for a replay. In fact, they would be unemployed, or suspended at the very least, without pay. There is no room for abuse and personal attacks, and no one individual should be subjected to this poor behaviour. But as elected officials these people are not really fully accountable to the ratepayer.If they were, they would have remained on the job, no matter what the circumstances were. Is there not a requirement for these people to actually remain in attendance? There ought to be, or they should be subject to forfeiture of their pay for the day they walked out. Perhaps there should be a fine for public elected officials that fail their constituents, by not remaining present . I'm thinking that not much could have been accomplished that day as a result of these councillors vacating the chamber. (Although there was some indication that before storming out, Councillors Tait and Nadalin did achieve a fee break for some developer that wasn't even on the agenda for the day) This is grossly unfair to all ratepayers here in our community. We have all been robbed of our representation in council by these peoples' actions. If they wish to grandstand, and be opportunists, they ought to do this on their own dime, not mine. Take out some airwave time if you wish, but don't do this on OUR time. We are paying you to be there, and you weren't. Instead for the money we spent on their wages that day, we got nothing. In fact, I would say that we lost several hundred dollars to a developer that well could have afforded to pay his own fees.Disgusting.

Jim Bender

jim@ladygodivas.ca

519-537-8144

Oxford NDP Riding Elections Now Final

THE OXFORD NDP RIDING ASSOCIATION PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE AND ELECTS A NEW PRESIDENT

The Oxford NDP riding assocoation has elected its' new executive for a new future.

Elections were held Tuesday, August 15th at the Woodstock Legions' fireside room after presentations by Shawn Rouse(former president), Terry Coleman and guest speaker, Irene Mathysson, the NDP housing critic.

Mathysson regaled the audience with tales of Stephen Harpers' insolence, childish explosions and threats to reduce parliament to rubble, with a non-confidence vote.

Mr Coleman identified Oxford as a winnable riding, citing the rise in votes cast between the 2004 and 2006 elections, with 2006 being the best year they've ever had politically, garnering more than 17% of the vote in Oxford.

The rise in popularity of the party can be attributed to many things. Voter discontent with the governing parties, and the growing rate at which Canadas' social safety net seems to be disappearing have all been cited as reasons for the increase in voter appeal for the NDP. As well, the hard work of two time candidate Zoe Kuncshner was instrumental in bringing up the ridings' fortunes. Kuncshner moved on this year, selling her proerty, and moving to the east coast of Canada to operate a B&B.(eventually she says!) Oxfords' loss, PEI's win!

Many Oxford residents fear the deeper intergration policies of the two main parties into the US system of trade, foreign policy, militarism and the supposed war on terror, which recently, the conservatives have brought to Canada.(sounds like a travelling worldwide show to me)

Official results of the election are as follows;

Connie Durling as President, Shawn Rouse as Vice President, Terry Coleman as treasurer, and Broderick Carey as recording secretary.

This executive is now charged with finding potential candidates for any upcoming federal and provincial campaigns.

Headed Into Week #3, Pittock Remains Officially Closed

PITTOCK LAKE REMAINS CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A RESULT OF HIGH BACTERIA COUNTS

Woodstocks' man made lake at Pittock has become too polluted for even...the fish!

For the third straight week in a row, Pittock remains closed for E-Coli and high bacteria levels in the water.

Much of this organic pollution is resultant from run-off from farmers' fields.

High e-coli can result in severe rashes, eyes burning, diahhrea(what a dirty word) and of course, as in Walkerton, Ontario, even death.

Our provincial and federal governments have lacked the will to make changes necessary for the protection of our waterways, and as a result, each year, this park closes up after a big rain which flushes livestock manure straight into the lake, killing many fish and plants.

A Wee Bit Of Strategy Started...Send me Some Ideas to Add!!

SOME THINGS I(AND A FEW HELPERS)THINK WOULD BE GREAT TO WORK ON...

I'm working on developing some issues to put forth.
I think...
Having the city stop using chemicals to treat weeds/flower gardens..
Finding an alternative to mowing large tracts of land . (maybe a few goats would help!hahahehe...THERE ARE A FEW COUNCILLORS THAT COULD CHEW THE STUFF FOR US!)
Perhaps looking at new methods of sewage treatment could help. (some places are using organics to treat sewage...we need to look at alternative solutions to this crisis.)
Having the industrial base assume responsibility for their large unfettered usage of local resources, water, smog, industrial highway traffic, environmental hazards related to the conduct of their business, and a threshold of no less than 90% recycled on their industrial waste, or they need to pay higher rates for consuming our landfills, much higher.)
A moratorium on further industrial growth in outlying areas, and removal of farmland from that strategem that they have developed.Builders should be forced to build "up", and recycle existing land masses that are outfitted with outdated buildings.
The encroachment of developement on waterways, parks and farmland is regrettable, but within grasp of council to reduce. The shape of Woodstock should be defined not by developers, but by the people and the environmental component.
Our resources are precious to say the least. The long term solution to energy is to go green, utilize wind, and look at thermal energy solutions for heating.
A bylaw that will ensure that people over industry, will recieve first right of refusal on water and electricity and landfill. No industry should be permitted to utilize any of the resources of our community without paying a bond of surety that would ensure that monies are retained for the potential cleanup of their sites should they close.
A facility for seniors, that is operated by the city, with a duly elected(not appointed)board, unpaid, but filled with a desire to be assistive to those who choose to use it. If the city pays the bills, it ought to have 100% control.
And if this is the case, the reinvention of municipal daycare is required, and could be run out of the same building..perhaps even southgate being we own it anyhow...(could be good for a day care near our park with the new accessible playground).
An environmental levy on all new devlopement that would go to fund new greenspace expansion
(that levy would be a write off, and if you wanna open up here in order to profiteer from the big Toyota scam, you have to pay to play...geez...chavez would love me!)I think that to open the office of mayor up...no more closed door crap, would be the most prudent of all things. It was always beyond me why these people have to lock themselves up after they get elected...
Accessible and truly transparent would be better...internet voting on the issues could be achieved...direct city staff to redefine local elections to fit a proportional system of voting, and petition the provincial government to move fully, to a proprtionally representative system of elections without the 60% BS threshold they've been talking about, but a 51/49 split would be the majority in my eyes.
A requirement that the council must invite the public to participate at all times.
Unfettered access to councillors..emails should be accounted for and responded to(aside from threats against ones personal being)There needs to be a complaint mechanism for people to deal with ineffectual councillors. A by-law that would ensure the right of recall on a 51% ballott.
Shit...looks like a list from hell...but I could think of more....
New groups homes for assisted living as I believe we are facing a crisis in management of handicapped persons, especially with an aging population of parent caregivers. This is reprehensible that our city could blow the dough on a factory(that could have paid its' own way easily..), and they'd leave handicapped/menatlly disabled persons on the streets.

Former CUture Club Singer, Boy George Ordered To Pick Up Garbage In New YorkCity

BOY GEORGE(GEORGE O'DOWD FORMERLY A BOXER) EX-LEADER OF POP GROUP CULTURE CLUB...HAS A BIRD

Boy George has been ordered to pick up garbage by a New York city judge after making a false police report, and being charged for it.

George was arrested after complaining to police that his flat in New York had been broken into. During a search of the premises, police uncovered Georges' stash of cocaine and assorted drug paraphenelia.

As he went about his duties, the singer was swarmed by reporters and photographers while he stood on the median of a Lower East Side Street . He used his broom to sweep dust and leaves into the lens of a video camera.
"You think you're better than me?" he yelled. "Go home. Let me do my community service."
"This is supposed to be making me humble. Let me do this," he said. "I just want to do my job."
Shortly before that, his manager, Jeremy Pearce, told reporters: "He doesn't show any kind of emotion about these things. He takes it in his stride."
"He doesn't need to be humiliated. He's a humble person," Pearce said before the incident, calling the judge's remarks "an unfortunate comment."
"It's been a bit over the top, I guess," Pearce conceded later.
Boy George's workday had begun at 7 a.m., as a sport utility vehicle pulled up at a Lower East Side sanitation depot. The singer, who wore dark pants, shoes without socks, a black sweatshirt and black wraparound sunglasses, walked inside without speaking to reporters.

Boy George has suffered for 20 years from heroin and cocaine addiction. This is likely not the last time we'll be seeing him in the news for this type of crime.

Massive Fire In Windsor Forces Evacuation of Hundreds

A MASSIVE FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN AT A WINDSOR ONTARIO RECYCLING PLANT

Amherstburg fire Chief Richard Murray said the blaze at Enviro-Tech Plastics was first noticed early inthe morning but was expected to be extinguished by 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, but it wasn't.

Enviro-Tech is a plastics recycler located in Amherstberg, Ontario, near Windsor.

Officials in Detroit were monitoring air quality as the thick black smoke drifted over the lake into the USA.

Officials were concerned with air quality, and the presence of dioxins, but after some neglible testing decided that people should just return home and inhale whatever's there.

Ontario has suffered numerous recycling plant fires over the year, most notably, the massive tire fire in Hagersville, Ontario which resulted in hundreds of thousands of tires being burnt into the environment.

So, who is responsible for the environmental cleanup of these messes?

You and me.

I think that these companies should have to provide a bond of some sort to the government before beginning operations, and they should also ensure that they have properly trained people on hand to extinguish anything before it grows out of control. Many companies have no idea what to do in the event of an emergency and most times the calls to fire departments are way too late for anything to be done.

This fire at Amhersburg quickly grew out of control, consuming plastics the size of two football fields.

Also...in Quebec a massive fire at a paint plant continues to burn out of control this morning.

Justice Minister Toews Would Like To Arrest Small Children

CANADIAN JUSTICE MINISTER TOEWS, ANNOUNCES HE WOULD LOVE TO PUT SMALL CHILDREN IN PRISON, WHERE THEY BELONG!

Vic Toews, the justice minister of Canada announced to a stunned crown comprised of members of the Canadian Bar asscociation, that he would introduce legislation allowing for judges to imprison children, as young as 10 years of age for criminal offences.

Wow, I think that perhaps worrying about the existing criminal problems in Canada would be a good idea...like what about the gun problem in Canada? But no, our justice point man thinks, hell, we have empty courts, lets fill them with kids instead of bikers and organized crimesters cuz kids are easier to arrest, and most of them can't afford a lawyer, and besides, the real threat to Canada is....kids.

Shit, does this guy eat kids on his shreddies or what?

Perhpas Vic Toews should go to jail for suggesting such a thing.

Sending kids down the path of institutionalization is absolutely wrong. This does absolutely nothing to get to the root of the problem. Canada has long involved itself in the arehousing of criminals: people who deserved a better chance, usually end up spending years in jail as a result of the cycle of violence imposed on them in the penal system.

Prison is no place for children, at least not in our country.

We hope this one doesn't make it through committee.

André Boisclair, Parti Quebecois Leader Wins An Astounding 71% Of The Votes In His Riding!

PQ WINS TWO BY-ELECTIONS WITH STAGGERING NUMBERS

Andre Boisclair easily won his riding of Pointe-aux-Trembles on Monday, delivering a massive blow to the Liberal and Action Democratique du Quebec, both of who refused to run candidates against Boisclair in this Montreal riding.

They also easily won the riding of Taillon, garnering 45% of the vote, while the nearest contender, Liberal candidate, Veronique Mercier garnering around 30% of the vote.

This election marks the return of Boisclair to the Quebec legislature where he once worked for Lucien Bouchard, and later for Bernard Landry, as environment minister.

Boisclair stepped out of politics in 2004 so that he could continue his education at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Boisclair is 40 years old.

Woodstock City Councillor, Nadalin, Freaks Out During Council Session

DAVE NADALIN, WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCILLOR FREAKS OUT AND DUMPS ON MAYOR AND EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE

Woodstock Council Session Thursday, Aug. 10

Coun. Dave Nadalin convinced council to decrease the fees for a zone change application by half for two applications that were not even in front of them.

Apparently the cost to us will be around $300.00

At the end of the session, a motion that was on the agenda with a blank ("fill in name here") came before council.

The motion covered the vacancy left by Jack Dunn’s death.

Nadalin filled in the blank and was seconded by Deb Tait.

Other councillors were concerned at the manner in which this had been decided(nadalin and tait decided everything) and Sandra Talbot made a motion to suspend the motion until council had opportunity to discuss the method and the names of those who could fill the spot. According to published reports, Dave Nadalin freaked and became extremely argumentative. Mayor Harding attempted to chair the meeting and became the target of Nadalin’s horrendous mouth.(although i can understand why Harding would be a target, it still isn't nice to swear, name call and abuse people. The belittling of the system so he can push people around is disgusting.)

Well, as far as I am concerned, Nadalin is on the short end of a long rope now anyways, and basically if he doesn't get what HE wants, HE flips out, abuses people(myself included via email from him), and subjects everyone to insubordinate amounts of verbal diahhrea.

November is pretty close....Only a few more months of this guy...

Cubas' President Castro Appears In Public, Looking Quite Healthy

FIDEL CASTRO, CUBAN PRESIDENT HAS RETURNED TO THE PUBLIC EYE

Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba, has returned somewhat to the public eye.

Castro, who celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday, appeared with his brother Raul(who has been very quiet since Castro stepped down for surgery), and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Sunday in Havana.

Chavez's visit came the same day Castro sent a message to the Cuban people, warning them that he faces a long and difficult recovery after his surgery.
In all of Monday's pictures, Castro is in bed, wearing what looks like a red sweatshirt. In a seventh photograph, Raul Castro is shown embracing Chavez when he arrived in Havana on Sunday. It was the younger Castro's debut appearance as acting Cuban president, but it will not be his last for Castro senior has reiterated again that Raul should nad will remain in a leadership position during this transition period.

It would appear that unlike other dictatorships around the world, Castro has made advanced plans for what will take place after his demise, and the Cuban people seem to admire that, and would appear to be ready and willing to accept that.

"The revolution will continue in some form or another,with Castro or not, as the revolution is not 1 singular ideal, but the forward motion of thousands of ideals, constantly moving like sands on a beach", Fidel.

Castro, the most hated of all US enemies seemed at ease with himself, and carried on conversations for several hours, but was most interested in Cuban affairs, and the war on terror taking place throughout the middle east. He expressed concerns that the Israeli army, and that the Hezbollah fighters would not cease until either 1 or both were annilhated.

jim bender

woodstock

Canadian Firms Snapped Up In Record Numbers Since CONservative Took Power.

zHUNDREDS OF CANADIAN FIRMS ARE ON THE WAY TO BECOMING US FIRMS

Canada, one of the only nations on earth with no foreign ownership laws, is fast becoming a shopping destination for US multinationals looking to snap up on good Canadian firms.

Jesus, Mel Hurtig, where are you now?

This year alone since the CONservatives achieved power, Dofasco Inc. sold for $5.6-billion, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. went for US$3.9-billion and Vincor International Inc. sold for more than US$1-billion. Inco Ltd. could soon prove to be the country's largest foreign cash takeover, while Falconbridge Ltd. and ATI Technologies Inc. are in the process of ending up in foreign hands. Yesterday, Intrawest Corp. agreed to a US$1.8-billion offer from a U.S. private-equity firm and Sleeman Breweries Ltd. agreed to be acquired by Sapporo Breweries Ltd. of Japan for $293-million plus debt.

Our country's strong dollar, good economic conditions and lax regulatory rules regarding foreign ownership have made Canada a prime target for Americans hoping to shore up their faltering companies.

"It is easier here for a foreign company," said Norman Levine, managing director of Portfolio Management Corp. in Toronto. "Investment Canada doesn't make you go through hoops, especially when you compare it to Europe. And in the U.S., antitrust is a lot stronger, you've got Sarbanes-Oxley to deal with and a lot of companies want to avoid that."

"Most US multinationals prefer an environment without regulatory burdens such as the EPA in the USA". " In Canada you people don't have to go through hoops to buy someone out, and there are no environmental protections that will cost us money to operate like it would back home". "This is why companies like Texaco went to Nicaragua: to avoid the environmentalists who were stalking us like rapists in our own country". " See, if you go to a foreign country, then you can operate with relative impunity, and the chance of being sued is slim as you can just pull up and leave whenever you want...when the heats get to be too much". " US law proetects us from being sued, because US law expresses dominion over all nations on earth".

Nice....where's our friggin' leaders here?

Canada has been sold down the river. It started in the 80's, and it will end when we are flying the Yankee flag..

I hope I'm not here when that day comes...but I feel sad for my kids.

jim bender

woodstock

Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin Lambasts Legal System

SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BEVERLEY McLACHLIN COMPLAINS OF GROSS INEQUITIES IN LEGAL SYSTEM

Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin has with vigour denouced the Canadian legal system as being unbalanced, unfair and punitive by nature.

She has claimed that access to legal assistance for defendants has come to a halt, and that thousands of people are unable to afford legal opinions as a result of exceedingly high lawyer prices and that they are being left to defend themselves(as is their right) even though some of them can't read, write or even communicate correctly.

There's an old saying that "One who defends himself has a fool for a lawyer".

Hmmm. I could have told you that myself Beverley!

She stated at the annual meeting of the Canadian Bar Association that access to legal services throughout the country are dismal at best, and that if you do not have money, then justice may not be served in a decent manner.

Basically, she is saying, if you do not have money, then you get screwed.

Interesting synopsis from someone who came from money, has lots of money,and was appointed by big money politicians.

So, now that we all know that the Supreme court of Canada is skewered in its' judgements, then that should leave much room for appeal for any "victims" of the Supreme Court.

Yes, this is justice, Canada style!

PM Harper Dumps On AIDS Activists!

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER TRADES A WEEK LONG AIDS CONFERENCE IN TORONTO FOR A WEEK LONG GREAT WHITE NORTH RETREAT...HMMMMM

Today in Toronto is the beginning of an International AIDS conference with over 20,000 people in attendance.

Our Prime Minister is not amongst them. Nor will he ever be amongst those who are calling for increased funding for the gigantic problem of AIDS.

Harper officially declined his invitation to the week-long conference in a letter to organizers three weeks ago. His spokesperson would not discuss the specifics of Harper's schedule this week but said the PM had no time to appear in Toronto, as he was "too busy doing things that Canadians care about".

I guess no one in Canada cares about AIDS, but holy shit, him saying we all care about sovereignty in the great white north is just well...shit.

Stephen Lewis said it correctly that "Harper is afraid to show up because he's afraid to be booed."

Delegates to the conference were aghast to hear the news that Canadas' PM would not be attending, nor was he interested in the problem.

"It's a dreadful mistake in political judgment, and it's not excusable," said Stephen Lewis, the Canadian who is UN special envoy for AIDS/HIV in Africa. "It's a lost opportunity to tell the world how Canada feels about this pandemic.
"The Arctic sovereignty issue will still be there on August 18 (when the AIDS conference ends)," said Lewis. "Forty million people worldwide carry this virus, and most will die preventable deaths. What greater scourge is there than that?"

Harper replied, " The protection of the economic 200 mile zone around Canada is of major importance". "In fact, there is no more pressing issue than that".

"This will become more important in the decades to come because northern oil and gas, minerals and other resources of the northern frontier will become ever more valuable," Harper told hundreds of residents, politicians and military personnel who met him at Nunavut's legislature yesterday.

Harper had been given several months advanced notice of the conference, but apparently his trip to Nunavut was planned as soon as he realized he would have to sit in a crowd of bleeding heart liberals begging for more money for AIDS research. " I just feel I'm on more familiar territory up here, besides, Toronto is kinda warm for a guy with a heart of ice, and you wouldn't want me melting down in front of a bunch of foreign dignataries would you?"

So you see, he really did have a good reason for staying away from Canadas' warmer climates, and really, he wasn't snubbing anyone.

And when you think about it that way, hell, I'm sure he believes the crisis in AIDS will continue on, and that he'll be able to tackle it whenever he feels comfortable in doing so, maybe next term, or the one after.

Besides, who in Africa, or any other third world nation will vote for him, so what's the point of helping?

This is the second major international event in Canada the PM has snubbed. Last month, he was a no-show in Montreal for the 2006 World Outgames, a celebration of elite gay, lesbian, and transgendered athletes. The AIDS conference is expected to be the largest in history.

Woodstock City Council Is In Violation Of The Municipal Act

WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL VIOLATES THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL ACT

Any decisions made by Woodstock City Council from this date forward should be called illegal by all respects.

After long time council member Jack Dunn passed away this past spring, city council decided to hold off on a by-election to replace Dunn.

As a result of this action, the municpality finds itself in violation of the OMA which requires that a vacant seat be filled within 60 days of a vacancy, or if the vacancy takes places within 90 days of a general election, the seat may by law be left vacant. Unfortunately, this is not the case here, and council is acting outside of the law.

As a result of this action, all decisions made by council could be legally challenged in a court, or through the OMA.

Members Nadalin, and Tait have recommended ressurecting former Mayor Downing to fill the seat on council until the general election this November.

Shame on council for letting this get out of hand...but then again, maybe this is a way for us to get out of the stunned decisions these people bicker about routinely.

jim bender woodstock

New Inclusive Playground is A Spectacular Addition to Woodstock Recreation

NEW INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND HAS SOMETHING FOR ALL TO ENJOY

My family and I had the opportunity to investigate the new inclusive playground at Southside Park this past week. I have to say that everyone involved in this effort to include all children in recreation should be commended wholeheartedly.

Thank you Woodstock for this new and engaging playground, designed for all people. The facilities are outstanding, the grounds are beautiful, but the real payoff is watching tons of kids, just out there doing their thing, having a great time, regardless of ability or disability. One can easily determine whether or not the money was well spent by the crowds! And it's amazing...everyone on equal ground for one small moment!

Yes, the cost was huge, I've heard some folks say, but really, how can one value the big smile on a kids' face? You just can't! My son has no speech...but wow, can he sure smile! That is communication enough for me...sometimes words just don't do it anyways, but that smile sure tells me something good is going on!

So as a parent of a son with Autism spectrum disorder, to all the ratepayers in Woodstock, I'd personally like to thank you all for the dollars spent on this new inclusive facility for kids of all abilities. Woodstock is fast becoming a city for all to live in and enjoy, regardless of ability. After all the years I've spent in Woodstock, I've never seen crowds at a playground like the crowds that are swarming to this new area. That is indication enough for me that the money,(although lots of it was used),was spent in a decent manner. Although a few of us may be too old to climb the climbers, and to make it up the artificial cliff wall, we can still watch and remember when we were kids. And I bet a few of us would love to be 8 ,9 or 10 again just to get a shot at the rope climber!

So come on Woodstock, if you've not been to Southside Park lately, you have to get there. The entire park has been turned into a destination for the entire family, and an afternoon spent watching the kids laugh and run and play is about as good as it gets.

jim bender

woodstock

Another Canadian Soldier Dies(this should just be a permanent headline I think)

MORE CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN CASKETS THAN IN THE FIELD

Canada is facing a crisis in military staffing as a result of many soldiers being killed off in Afghanistan.

It seems now that each day that passes we hear of a new attack on our forces by insurgents in the Kandahar region , but now, our own soldeirs are killing themselves off without help from the Taliban.

Master Cpl. Jeff Walsh, from Regina and based out of Shilo, Man., with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was conducting routine operations along Highway One near the Zhari district centre, 20 kilometres west of Kandahar when he was accidently fired upon by our own troops. Military sources refuse to serve up any information on the shooting, saying it was just "unfortunate".

He was the sixth member of the armed forces to die in the past 7 days in Afghanistan.

Canadas' military is dwindling, due to attrition.

Opinion polls have pitted the Canadian public against a government that feels it is just, moral and within its legal right to send soldiers into dangerous situations without necessary equipment, training, resources and leadership.

This will not be the last soldier flown home for burial.

Harper Delivers Canadian Wheat Board To America

AMERICA HAS HAD ITS' SIGHTS ON THE WHEAT BOARD SINCE FREE TRADES' INCEPTION...HARPER JUST GAVE IT TO THEM

At a July 27th meeting between Chuck Strahl and Stephen Harper and his American agricultural counterparts, it was determined that the Canadian Wheat Board would lose its' right to be the single seller of Cnadian Wheat Products.

Throughout the 1980's, 1990's and into the millenium, the Americans have pressured Ottawa to divest itself of the marketing of wheat, and have challenged Canadas' government repeatedly on this issue through the usage of counterveil, and WTO legal battles.

Canada has won these legal battles every time, while the Americans have lost.

Now Stephen Harper says, fuck it, lets' just give them the damned thing so we don't have to argue about it anymore....

Geez.....are we that friggin' weak that we cannot stand up for these things that are legally within our jurisdiction?

Why would Mr Harper go against the will of the people, and the will of the WTO?

In April 2002, following a meeting with top U.S. trade officials, North Dakota Wheat Commission Chair Maynard Satrom assured growers “the common objective of both the U.S. government and U.S. wheat producers is the ultimate reform of the monopolistic Canadian Wheat Board.”
Two weeks later, in Senate testimony, the U.S. Department of Agriculture argued that the special privileges of single-desk sellers gave “unfair advantages” to CWB farmers, adding that American grain should be able to freely compete with Canadian grain for Canadian rail shipments.
Complaining that the practices of the CWB restrict U.S. access to our market and make U.S. producers less competitive on world markets, the USDA called for “fundamental reform” of organizations such as the CWB “to permanently assure that U.S.