Woodstock Hydro Issue Requires An Independant Forensic Audit.

WOODSTOCK HYDRO DEBACLE WILL BITE SOMEONE IN THE ASS HERE

This issue is sure to find its' way into the local rag at some point...

This past week, information was gained by me that would indicate something seriously awry, has gone on at Woodstock Hydro.

Whether it is rumour and innuendo driving this story, we will not know...because..our local council has kept the information sealed, from the eyes of the public.

Last night I questioned councils' actions on this matter, and received a poor response from Jim Northcott (who is running to be re-elected, even though he was actually appointed...never elected)...he's the Michael Fortier of Woodstock...who eerily condemned my statement, and defended council and his role on it, and defended the actions of Woodstock Hydro....

Northcott is the same guy that says everyone should be happy with their huge tax assesments.....

(that huge assesment means that he...as well as the balance of council...have a new way of extracting more of your money for him and his buddies; the present council...

How can you defend the actions of Woodstock Hydro when they are completely in the wrong? And why did our council let this debacle go on for so many years? And are we to beleive that this has been an honest transaction?

I do not think so...and many others in attendance last night did not beleive it either.

So...

In that tone, I must say this;

If indeed we are democracy, and if indeed there is something wrong here, then why, would our local councillors...go out of their ways to ensure that privacy and secrecy is ensured?

That indicates to me..that someone knows something...more than they are choosing to disclose, and these actions have no place in our local democracy.

It is a shameful excercise to keep this information from the public...in order to protect the council.

If I should make it onto council...I will ask for a forensic audit into the spending, and into the arrangement made with the city. This is a no brainer.

And this is exactly what the electorate wants, and what is required, no less than that.

jim bender

woodstock

The Text of My Speech From Goff Community Complex, All Candidates Debate

ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE, WOODSTOCK CITY COUNCIL, 2006

I'd like to thank everyone for their participation in this event, and of course I would like to thank our present council for the huge tax assesment I recieved this year..way to go...
...you have broadened our industrial economic horizons, and in the wake of that, bulldozed some of the best agriculural land on the planet, to put up a new car plant.
Woodstock is a great place to be: If you're selling your home. If you are looking to buy here, you might as well forget it.
The cost of purchasing a home has outstripped the ability to pay for it for the average person or family. You will need a job at that new car plant just to pay your property taxes. Dramatic, perhaps, but peoples' wages, and pensions haven't risen, in conjunction with the huge increase in cost of living here, so therefore the economic boom that we are experiencing is not of great benefit to all of us, but only a few.
They've been good to the large industrial base. This is clear. They have kept large industrial tax rates articficially low, while driving up homeowners' assesments.
The relevant priorities of our community, have become missplaced. Small and medium businesses, the mainstay employers of all of Canada, have been left out of this municipal goodwill.
This is clearly unacceptable, this lack of planning, resulting in a lack of affordable housing. And what has our council done to alleviate this? Nothing, just ask them.
Our local waterways are polluted, and there is garbage strewn all over the place; just ask the 40 people, who came out on September 23 with myself and my family, to pickup trash at Pittock, along our common trails. Fact is, it is a brutal mess, and a testament to a lack of concern from the present council. A few garbage cans would help in that area of town.
Our streets are disintegrating, and services neglected: political inaction is the reason.
Our council recently initiated the usage of "traffic calming" signs.
The Canada Safety Council says that these are ineffectual, a poor replacement for police enforcement,have no enforcement component, and recoup no money.
Traffic enforcement units work, and helps to find more serious criminals who may be driving around.
Woodstock needs a strong, united, fire protection service. We lack proper equipment and have relied on other municpalities for such.
This council has become bellicose, intolerant and silent in their operation.I would argue for the unfettered public access to all meetings, no holds barred.
I believe that as we are in the midst of a democracy, that only democratic decisions, reflective of all the people need to be made. We need to make the process of municipal politics accessible to all. I will advocate for a new exciting method of voter interaction. I will respond to your needs as though they were my own.
We need to protect those who are most vulnerable in our community, our seniors and children, and we need to help others grow into strong adults, capable of making decent decisions, the building blocks of all future communities.
Consider voting for me.

And So...We Are Off To The Races!

WOODSTOCK ONTARIO CITY COUNCIL ALL CANDIDATES DEBATE AN AWESOME EVENT!

Well...what an interesting evening it was!

The debate was well attended...perhaps 250 persons...as well attended as any federal debate I've been involved in the past.

Wha was exciting though was the breadth and depth of the questions from both the moderator, Brent Van Parys, and from the audience as a whole.

There are many concerns from many individuals...most notably on taxes; the spending/misspending of those taxes, and the lack of decent servicing to core projects...like fire, water, police and shelters.

Personally, I think that all of the candidates made good statements on their objectives, hopes and dreams for Woodstock when it comes down to it, but I suppose what really matters is what is really important to ones' own self. and that is the kicker. The diversity of our city is immense, and so our council should be reflective of this immense diversity.

Everyone in attendance has similar issues in mind, or frankly, they wouldn't have turned out.

Several people touted public transportation, while others looked at reductions. Some folks want better equipment for their fire service, such as trucks, buldings and even manpower, while others wish to study the issue longer.

Police protection is lacking; the streets are havens for racing, our residential areas have tractor trailers running through them and year after year...the same people continue complaining, but recieve justice.

The issue of Woodsingford will be the death knell of more than one candidate I presume. The massive cost overruns, the mismanagement, the poor attention paid to labour woes. It appears it may come back to haunt them.

On a personal note...myself, I feel well, and feel positive, and feel as though I answered honestly and effectively, but as well, feel discontent with myself for failing to not lose my cool...on an issue of some old lady that sent her sparsely clad photo in to my website, which an audience member percieved as being reflective of myself...which clearly(after viewing said photo at me wifes' behest), determined that wow...someone was feeling a little prickly about a viewer submitted photo( ughhh!!), which was placed on my website....(http://www.ladygodivas.ca/Costume%20contest.htm) which was actually kind of benign in scope...An old lady, dressed only in witch cap, and I'm not sure if there was anything else on her...but there should have been! I was too shocked to look! But then I laughed....

Unfortunately, he and I failed to agree on that subject, and so I being the defensive little guy sitting on the outside, thought I was well within my right to defend myself as I was being attacked on a point of business, and his personal opinion of morals vs mine.

Not a good thing to blow off a bit of steam..but I suppose on the other hand...that's reality, it's done, and I guess it's better to look like a schmuck and defend what little you have...instead of begging for forgiveness.

Personally...I could care less what anyone thought of me...It doesn't take a moralistic individual to make a balanced decision. I often wonder what these people are actually hiding behind these funny moral veneers? Personally..that frightens me more than anything.

But on a better note...perhaps, it does do some good to at least have the ability to be honest..even if its' not what everyone wants to hear, and so I feel that on the whole, I made a point and left feeling satisfied that people understood that someone launched a personal attack against me for some odd reason, even though they must know how I stand on the issues of spousal abuse, stable funding for womens shelters, as well as persons shelters in general.(there ought to be gender equality on this measure)

jim bender

woodstock

Canadian Prime Minister Caught Misusing Taxpayers' Property.

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER AND HIS CONSERVATIVE PARTY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY BACK MOEY TO THE GOVERNMENT AFTER MISUSING TAXPAYER FUNDED GOVERNMENT JETS FOR PRIVATE PARTIES AND HOCKEY GAMES.

Canadas' Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who campaigned on a platform of accountability, and clarity, has reportedly paid back part of the costs for misuse of government property.

Harper was forced to pay back at least $9,600.00 to our country for the misuse of the government Challenger Jet, after using the plane to load up his buddies for a beer and popcorn tour.

While in opposition, Harper routinely claimed that the jet costs $11,000.00 an hour to operate.

Wierd, I cannot imagine the price of running these things going down when every other aircraft carrier on earth has seen increased costs in operations. Looks like a bunch of crap to me from Stevie!

Harper, not yet in office for 1 year, has not made a public statement about the incident, but the alleged flights apparently took place in the middle of June, when he ferried 6 CONservative MP's, several RCMP security staffers, himself and numerous conservative press people to the final , game 6 of the NHL playoffs in Edmonton.

Edmonton Conservative MP Laurie Hawn listed the other Tory MPs at the game as Rahim Jaffer, Kevin Sorenson, Mike Lake, James Rajotte and Manitoba MP Rob Bruinooge, who flew in from Winnipeg. We still haven't determined who paid for his personal flight to the game...but I suspect it was us...again.

Sandra Buckler, Harpers' communications director, stated publicly that it was important for Harper to be there to support the city of Edmonton during the game, and besides, he had to be in Vancouver on Monday, June 19, to attend the World Urban Forum in Vancouver.

Hmmm. How long does it take to fly from Edmonton to Vancouver?

Well, I'm not a rocket scientist, but I do know that I could drive from Edmonton to Vancouver in 12 hours or less in a 1976 Plymouth Fury, with no brakes and bad tires. And as well, I took a wrong turn.

Buckler claims that the Prime Ministers' office paid for its' own game tickets, and as well the MPs' paid for their own tickets, but the question is...who paid for the flight of all these MP's that obviously weren't headed to Vancouver for a conference, and did not represent Edmonton as MP's? They haven't told us this.

Buckler says that the unscheduled, scheduled stopover in Edmonton, only cost us $9,600.00 for the several hours it sat on a runway, the fuel consumed, the pilots pay, the security detail and the toilet scrubbing lady, and that the Prime Minister was on his way to Vancouver anyway????

The same thing that Harper had blamed the Fiberals for, seems to be taking place here as well. The advent of pork barrelling is upon us again.

Harper sat in the 15th row of the ''Gold Club'' section, near the visitors' blue-line, in one of two seats that sold for $390 plus taxes during the final and were purchased by the Prime Minister's Office. The MPs sat in a section higher up in the Rexall Place, but took turns sitting beside Harper, across from the television cameras.
Buckler said the staff press secretary Carolyn Stewart-Olsen; deputy press secretary Demitri Soudas; Harper's executive assistant, Ray Novak; and special assistant Karine Leroux were on hand to co-ordinate the media interviews the prime minister did that night. They did not watch the game, she said.
Jaffer said he and several other Edmonton-area MPs began lobbying the prime minister to come after the ''We thought if he could stop by and see the game and be there, it would be a real boost to the city.''

Well...good thing is....Ottawa hasn't changed...I was pretty concerned about all that CON talk about...Change, Accountability, and Progress. Now I see I really had nothing to be concerned about, and hey...this is just like a Fiberal government..with a lack of experience, but well on it's way to gaining some!

Wasn't the Harper Government Doomed From The Start?

PROPSPECT OF ELECTION LOOMS AS HARPERS' GOVERNMENT LOSES CONTROL OVER PARLIAMENT

Stephen Harpers' barely one year old government, appears to be on the verge of collapse after rumours emerge of a possible snap election call, timed a few weeks later than the two by-elections taking place November 27, 2006 in London-Middlesex, and a Quebec riding where a well liked Bloc MP was killed in an auto crash earlier this fall.

Bloc MP's are placing enormous pressure on Harper to comply with the Kyoto Protocol, signed onto by their predecessors, the Liberals, or face the possibility of a defeat in the House Of Commons.

Gilles Duceppe, the crafty Bloc Leader, has previously described events in Quebec as tenuous at best for Harper. Duceppe has been encouraged by recent polls showing a massive Conservative slip in support, and as well, the popular support in Quebec for a strong environmental protocol; supportive of reducing greenhouse gases, and carbon emissions at a faster pace than the Conservative Clean Air Act.

Liberal support for the Bill is nil at best, with attacks against the government rising in complete conjunction with their gain in the opinion polls. Bill Graham, temporary anus of the party, and the NDP, naturally, is against the Bill which leaves open, the possibility of consultations well into the middle of the century, without making an actual dent in the environmental problem of a faltering planet.

It is viewed internationally that the failure of Canada to comply with, after agreeing to the Kyoto Accord, side-steps its' popularity with environmentalists and puts Canada in a very negative light.

The Conservative Clean Air Act, according to some NDP members, has little more than a 10% chance of surviving its' vote in the house.

Of course I am not suggesting that anyone needs to acquiesce here, but one thing I feel that must comment on is the political maneuvering, the conning, and the fleecing of Canadians.

This screwing around with the environment, by all members of the house is a stinking, despicable attempt at brinkmanship, with a stunned desire to fulfill their own fantasies of filling a government with themselves, in order to obtain majorities, or even return to the House, or in some cases, fantasize about possibly taking the levers of government in some wierd sort of way,while leaving Canadians on the whole to suck up dirty air, water and food. We are quickly becoming a dump, and our water stinks like sewage untreated.

Personally, after speaking to many people, it would appear that the largest majority of Canadians seemingly could care less who governs, as long as they govern with the ideal of making our country a better place, for ourselves and our future generations, while not impeding on the rights of people to exist, and to co-exist in this patchworked land called Canada.

It is a feeble minded person that believes that they are in control, and it is stunned to think that Harper, Graham ,Layton and May, think that their four brains are better than the thirty million others that live in this land..

Jim Bender

Woodstock

AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET, IF WE CANNOT STOP BICKERING ABOUT STUPID SHIT LIKE WHO MADE WHAT ACCORD, ACT OR IDEA OR WHATEVER. LETS JUST CLEAN THE COUNTRY UP..WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING NOW, NOT LATER!

Today is Picture Day...

ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT LEGAL POT...THEY STILL ARREST, DETAIN AND CONVICT PEOPLE OF THIS VICTIMLESS CRIME.

The Definitive Stephen Harper

And this folks..IS Stephen Harper at his very best.

PM Harper Calls Byelections In Two Ridings November 27, 2006

PRIME MINISTER HARPER HAS CALLED BYELECTIONS IN TWO VACANT RIDINGS

Stephen Harper, defying the wishes of his own party, has decided to call byelections in the ridings of London North-Centre, Ont., and for Repentigny, Que.

The London riding became vacant this year after veteran Liberal MP, Joe Fontana called it quits in order to run in the hotly contested race for the job of London Mayor. The Repentigny seat came open when Benoit Sauvageau, 42, a father of four and a Bloc Quebecois MP, died when his car crashed into a tow truck in his riding east of Montreal on Aug. 30. He was widely mourned by all parties.

Liberal leadership front-runner, Michael Ignatieff, welcomed the by-election call by stating, "This will be the first opportunity for Canadians to express their dissatisfaction with the Harper government. I look forward to campaigning for the Liberal party in both ridings."

Last week, Liberal party officials called for byelections to be held after their leadership convention, which has a registration start date of November 27.

"This tops the cynicism scale," Steven MacKinnon, executive director of the Liberal party, said from Ottawa yesterday. "They are calling the election in the middle of a hotly contested mayoralty race in London, and literally for the day registration opens for our national convention."

Patrice Ryan, a public relations consultant and Ignatieff supporter in Montreal, said yesterday that the Liberals have a good chance of picking up the Quebec seat even though Harper has called it during the leadership convention.

"It really feels as though the wind has shifted in Quebec," Mr. Ryan said, noting the party's Quebec wing on Saturday in Montreal adopted a resolution recognizing Quebec as a nation.
"The Liberals are more open to Quebec," he said.

Harpers CONservatives have become wildly unpopular in Quebec with most Quebecers expressing disdain over the Afghanistan crisis.

Oddly, Harper has not asked Michael Fortier, (the unelected Minister of Public Works) to run in either of these byelections.

Fortier stated to the media yesterday that "I do not have to run as I was appointed to the position, and the position runs out when the government loses control of the house", and as well, " I was placed into a position of authority by virtue of being placed into the senatorial chamber, which does not have an elective component, so why would I run in a byelection that has no meaning?"

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, who hails from Cape Breton Island and lives in Ottawa, said yesterday that she will seek the London seat.
"The Greens in London are very thrilled about her running there," Camille Labchuk, spokeswoman for the Green Party, said from Ottawa yesterday. "Getting a seat in the House of Commons is a priority."
She added that the Greens are still "pretty optimistic" that Garth Turner, kicked out of the Conservative caucus last week for criticizing the government, will join their party.

So folks, as you can see, the politics is as full of shit as its' ever been.

jim bender

woodstock

CONservative Clean Air Act Will Die On House Floor

LIBERAL FORTUNES APPEAR TO RISE AFTER GOVERNMENT TRIPS AND STUMBLES ON ITS' POOR EXCUSE FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACT

Tories begin running for shelter as the fallout from this failed policy gains momentum.

The Clean Air Act that the minority government hoped would revive their poor polling results, appears to be dead before it hits the house floor.

Opposition and environmental groups complained that the proposed legislation is a "dirty air act" and a "hot air plan."

In other words...a smoke and mirrors project.

All three opposing parties in the House said they will vote down the bill, meaning it has no chance of passing into law in the current minority Parliament.
The CONS are eager to dispel the notion that the party is soft on the environment in hopes of regaining support in Quebec and among moderate voters . The bill was to be the centrepiece of proposed "green agenda".
But it contains no short-term targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions .

Instead, the bill sets a goal of cutting such emissions to about half of 2003 levels by 2050. Holy crap, we'll all be dead by then, and if not sooner from inhaling exhaust fumes and poisons!
"This sounds to me like a dirty air act," stated officials of Friends of the Earth Canada.

National objectives for chemicals that cause smog, such as particulate matter and ozone, would be set in 2020.

Do they not realize that we have a smog problem NOW?
In the interim, the government will set so-called "intensity targets" which would require industry to reduce the amount of energy used per unit of production, without placing a hard cap on emissions.
"This is part of our vision for the environment and a significant part of our green plan, which reflects the very best of Canadian values," Environment Minister Rona Ambrose said of the bill.

I suppose that those Canadian values are up for dispute as most Canadians I have spoken to can barely believe the government would forego a chance at greatness, for a chance at stupidity. Ms Ambrose has a very peculiar sense of what Canadians wish for.
She said the act will enhance the government's monitoring and enforcement of pollution laws. But they made no measures for hiring people to enforce the suggested act.
Binding fuel efficiency regulations for new cars and trucks would be introduced after a current voluntary agreement with the auto industry expires in 2010, but there is no mention of matching strict California standards. So why passa law at all we must ask, if it has no teeth, and no binding committments.
The government also says it will:
-Harmonize vehicle emissions standards with those of the United States over the next 12 months.
-Regulate indoor air contaminants, including radon gas and commercial and consumer products.
-Introduce regulations to reduce emissions from motorcycles, outboard engines, all-terrain vehicles and off-road diesel engines. Officials were unable to say what proportion of Canada's emissions come from those sources, or by how much they will be reduced as they have not studied the matter completely.
The bill makes no mention of the Kyoto Protocol, under which Canada committed itself to cutting emissions six per cent from 1990 levels by 2012. The Conservatives say that target is unachievable.
Polls suggest that the climate treaty remains popular, especially in Quebec and British Columbia - provinces where the Conservatives must gain ground if they hope to form a majority in the next election, which at present seems increasingly unlikely as the government spends it's time in damage control mode.
The Kyoto omission was praised by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce: "We are pleased the federal government has acknowledged that the unrealistic and impractical, short-term targets of Kyoto cannot be met.

The Chamber of Commerce is dead set against any reductions as it would impede the "right" of business to generate profits.
But the bill was dismissed as window dressing by critics.
"There is really no news here," said Green party Leader Elizabeth May. "Canada stands alone repudiating Kyoto."
The NDP called it a "hot air plan."
"Today, with the tabling of the Conservative government's Clean Air Act, Canadians' worst fears were confirmed," the party said in a news release.
"The Conservatives' made-in-Washington green plan means it will be years before any action will be taken to reduce pollution and halt climate change."
Former environment minister Stephane Dion, a Liberal leadership candidate, said the bill is a "disaster" and "a way to kill Kyoto."
But Ambrose defended the legislation, saying it will give Ottawa "new and stronger powers to do the things we need to do to protect the health of Canadians and our environment."
"We will be the first federal government to introduce mandatory regulations on all industry sectors across Canada to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases," she said.
"We will be the first government to establish national air-quality objectives."
The Sierra Club slammed the vehicle emissions plan as too little too late.
"The proposed federal regulations presented today by the Harper government line up with the outdated and weak standards of the Bush Administration, not the stringent standards of the state of California," the group said in a news release.
Aaron Freeman of Environmental Defence called the bill's targets "weak, vague and delayed." He was mostly concerned with the abnormal length of consultations that could take until 2050 to complete.
However, he praised some elements of the bill, such as its promise to regulate smog-causing emissions from off-road vehicles and an array of commercial products, but pounced on the idea that the government required massive consultations to ensure that it was doing what real Canadians wanted.
Industry groups offered a generally favourable assessment as it would not reduce their ability to operate at the present.
"I think overall we're going in the right direction," said Don Lowry, chief executive officer of EPCOR, an Alberta-based power utility.
"If you set to cut emissions by 45 to 50 per cent, that is ambitious . . . To get from now to there takes time. Going through a consultative process to establish how we get there - I think that's good."

It is obvious however that no matter how hard the government tries to put it's best foot forward, it can't, because it lacks feet to begin with.

I'm wondering where Rona will be in 1 year from now?

CONservative MP, Garth Turner Tossed By The Neo-Cons

VOCAL MP IS TOSSED OUT OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Garth Turner, MP for Halton region finds himself tossed onto the sidewalk after having the plug pulled on his membership in the CONservative party.

Turner, who has worked hard to usher in a new age of electronic voter interaction, was harshly criticized for having a free for all on his weblog by PM Harper.

Although Harper claims not to have anything to do with Turners' demise, it is believed that he issued the order to nuke this poor bugger.

This reduces the already thin CONservative minority, to an even shakier one.

Perhaps through attrition we'll see these right wingers lose their position as Canadas' governing parties.

Stephen Harper Calls Liberal Leadership Contenders Anti-Jew

CANADAS' PRIME MINISTER CALLS OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP RIVALS JEW HATERS

This name calling hits home for one leadership contender in a very personal way.

Bob Rae, former NDP premier of Ontario who is now in contention for the Liberal Party leadership was taken back by comments that the PM has made in reference to his party.

Rae, who is married to a woman of Jewish faith, and who has raised his family in the Jewish faith was quick to condemn the comments made by Harper as being crass, weak and politically unjust.

"I think what he said was disgraceful," said Rae. "To suggest that there's a pro-Israel party in Canada and that there's an anti-Israel party in Canada is something of which he should be thoroughly ashamed."
"I think it's the most divisive thing in this context that one can say. And it's one to which I take enormous exception not just personally but as someone involved in public life."

It is disgraceful as far as I am concerned that anyone would come out and and make a stupid statement like that. Harper must be scared of the possibility that one of these Liberal leadership contenders might be powerful enough to unseat him...or he just wouldn't have spent the time on an issue that otherwise would not concern him.

Local Group Will Work Towards A Pesticide Ban

A LOCAL GROUP OF ACTIVISTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PESTICIDE BAN ENACTED

A group of people met this past week in Woodstock at the Womens' Employment Resource Centre to discuss the formation of a group whose primary objective would be the complete ban of all home use type pesticides which are believed to be the primary cause of many environmental problems, including birth defects.

This group will hold a formation meeeting on Novemeber 11, 2006, 7:00 pm at the Womens' Employment Resource Centre, Dundas street, Woodstock.

Woodstock, Ontario Council Election Heats Up

CAMPAIGN POSTERS DISAPPEAR LIKE MAGIC!

So, of hundreds of posters we've put up in the past few days, only a few remain. I'm thinking to myself that either people really like these things, or perhaps someone is kind of concerned.

I suppose we'll have to wait another 30 days to discover whether or not that theory actually holds water.

There are numerous canddiates in this local municipal election. But not in certain areas.

Within the realm of Oxford, there are several people who were acclaimed back into their positions just by the sheer fact that there is so little public interest that the contenders just weren't there.

It just isn't feasible that of all the people living in the area, that there isn't even one iota of public discord?

I find this sadly amusing in some draconian way.

Is it the idea that perhaps it really doesn't matter what we do, that things will always remain the same, or is it just that people have become unconcerned in the way their local municipalities operate?

I find when looking at these situations that perhaps there

are some good things that have been done, but I also see in these areas that things are not on the up and up, and that people in general are used to being shit on by the politicians who exert their sad influence over many issues in the communities.

Just look at the massive continual flooding problem in Tavistock, where by the way, the township mayor was just acclaimed, and where nothing has been done to alleviate the potential for more catastrophic damages next time a heavy rain falls, which is very likely.(especially in this season)

These people are paying their taxes, only to be snubbed by the people who are in charge of the area.

So really, a brick to the public inaction. If you really want to see things change, you need to stand up and argue your point in order to succeed. After all, this is your town, city and country, and the fight that we are all embroiled in is a fight for the existence of a decent place to live.

So...on a happier note, let's all have a good time, be responsive and perhaps there'll be a better council in the future, but only if the people concerned come out and make that difference..

Cast a vote, it's the most basic freedom we have.

Canadian Federal Environment Minister says "Environment Is Not A Priority Of Her Government

RONA AMBROSE...PLEASE GO HOME

Canadas' Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose, has decided that the environment is not really an issue, as it wasn't one of her governments' priorities in the January 2006 election.

I think this person forgot what her job is...

Rona, speaking to a commons committee on the environment, has stated publicly that "the climate change we are experiencing is a result of liberal inaction".

Well, she is undoubtedly an idiot for blaming this climate change on any government, when really it is a culmination of events throughout our history that have driven us to the point of environmental catastrophe.

I am not a liberal, nor have I ever been one. Last year I drove a car, and cut my grass. I contributed to the effects of climate change, just by doing those things. Rona seems to forgot that this is a man made problem, and not an issue of which politics are running the show. This is a direct response from the environment to the problem of rampant consumerism. Our environment is puking up a lung today.

This is stupid. The political backbiting of this government is brutal. The stunned responses of our environment minister are brutal. The blaming of all that is wrong on the previous is government is stupid, weak, and points to an obvious problem with what Ambrose is doing: she's too dense to put together a program, and force Canadians to contribute.

This type of political inaction is A weak kneed response to a massive growing issue.

The Harper COnservatives are not fit to govern and do not have the interests of our children at heart. They are far too indebted to big oil to force them to change.

Canada is in need of a green agenda, that is balanced and derived from the people itself. We must balance the environemntal component with the needs of industry, and the needs of our people.

Canada was a beautiful country, but now is a quagmire of polluted waterways, dying trees, and thick plumes of exhaust.

Shame on Rona Ambrose, and shame on Stephen Harper. You folks just suck.

Communist North Korea's Intent To Launch Nuclear Tipped Rocket Has International Community in Quandry

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE TODAY IN JAPAN, CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA AS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SEEKS END TO NUCLEAR HOSTILITIES.

Creepy North Korean dictator, Kim Jong II, has reiterated his intent to launch a nuclear missile in the next few days.

North Korea, long considered an international pariah has once more declined an invitaion to resolve the issue of the, arming themselves with nuclear weapons.

In the balance of the world, nations are removing these nukes from their arsenals, but not in North Korea, where the aim of the government is to force the international community to provide relief to them.

North koreas' people are starving, and are subject to human rights abuses that are far too many to list on this blog.

The international community has attempted to negotoate with this country, but how can you negotiate when one side is not prepared to make amends, and the other is not prepared to assist in developement in the country. This division is the result of political divide. The north Koreans' lack of democratic rule, and the west lacks the stomach to deal with this communist nation.

Tensions continue to rise along the DMZ.(de-militarized zone) On Saturday, South Korean troops fired 40-50 shots in the North Koreans' general direction in an attempt to prevent a small contingent of North Koreans' from entereing the zone. It is unclear why the North Koreans breached the zone, but at this point it may appear that they were actually "fishing". (The North Korean has a requirement that their soldiers attempt to scavenge 1 meal a day from the surrounding hills. North Koreas' waterways are heavily polluted and lack a sustainable fishery so it is beleived that these men crossed over to fish in a small stream just south of their border.

The international community needs to come up with a sane and decent policy for dealing with North Korea. This regime is probably the most dangerous regime on earth, and as a result of a weak minded dictator, cannot be trusted to remain on the side of decency.

Harper Chastises Bush(in his own unique way) For Arar Treatment

PM HARPER GIVES GW A DRESSING DOWN ON THIS ARAR CASE

Prime Minister Harper has contacted the Whitehouse in an effort to bring about a resolution to the ongoing Arar case.

GW said he'd "look into the matter' for Harper. beyond that, there is nothing new. There was no timeframe given for a report, and there is no other information, just that Harper contacted Bush.

Arar, a Canadian of Arab descent, was turned over to American Authorities several years past after the 9/11 attacks. Canada and the US spent a great deal of time hunting down Arabs in order to deport them. Some Arabs have remained in custody for several years while waiting for charges or deportation.

It is beyond human to keep these people in jail in this manner without charge or merit to charge.

He was shipped from the United States(where he was held without a legal recourse option) into Syria where he was beaten and tortured with the full knowledge of Canadian and US officials.

The RCMP commissioner should have resigned over this, but instead was given a big hug from his political superiors.

There is no room in Canada for this type of co-operation between the US and Canada.

Canada needs to devlope its' own method of dealing with terrorism. It is quite obvious that adopting the US stance has put us into this type of silliness.

Our country will pay millions of dollars for this error to Arar. This is silly.

Peter MacKay, Canadas' Foreign Affairs Minister Is Hoodwinked

IT'S HORRIBLE, BUT IS THIS WHAT A NIGHT WITH BELINDA DOES TO THE BRAIN?

Peter MacKay, the poor foreign affairs minister has been hoodwinked by his leader.

This poor bugger in the face of mass protest, criticisms, and opinion polls that shows a majority of Canadians are opposed to the lack of plan on the Afghanistan issue.

Mackay(being ordered to shut up except for when the PM requires an alternative voice), spoke in volumes about the necessity of backing the troops during such an important mission.

We back the troops we lowly Canadians do, in fact, we back them so much, we'd like to have them back home, where they belong.

So today, the CONservatives made arrangements to ship a couple more home....in body bags...

Bricks to the PM, and a big one for the one time leader of the real conservatives, Peter Mackay.