The Liberal Party Of Canada Is Set To Elect A New Leader This Weekend

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP HOPEFULS GATHER IN QUEBEC THIS WEEKEND FOR CONVENTION

Canadas' Liberal party is set to elect a new front man this weekend after weeks and months of hard campaigning.

The main front runners in the campaign would appear to be Bob Rae(the former Ontario premier), Michael Ignatieff(the former US citizen), Stephane Dion(a large E enviromentalist), and a late player Gerard Kennedy.(former operator of Torontos' Food Bank.)

The main four contenders will square off on Saturday after speeches from all 11 candidates on Friday.

This convention has been a long time coming. The leadership campaign for the party lasted for 8 months after Paul Martin stepped down after his trouncing at the polls last January 23, 2006.

It is expected that if Bob Rae wins the vote, he will force an election by way of a vote of non-confidence.

Any alternative to Harper and his right wing fundies has got to be good.

Antiquidated Sewer Systems Threaten great Lakes Stability

GREAT LAKES ARE FILLED WITH RAW SEWAGE FROM MANY WATERFRONT CITIES

The Sierra Legal Defence Fund has commissioned a study that identifies the mass devastation that raw sewage has on the great lakes.

Each year, the equivalent of 37,000 olympic sized pools of sewage is released into the great lakes basin from numerous Canadian cities including Kingston, Toronto and London.

During periods of heavy rainfall, these systems traditionally become overwhelmed and are unable to treat the large amounts of rainwater combined with sewage and as a result, city officials just release the extra volume into the river and great lakes systems.

Information on the discharges was compiled by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, based mainly on estimates the environmental group obtained from the municipalities themselves. According to city figures, sewage dumping occurs hundreds of times a year, releasing a cocktail of human waste, disease-causing organisms and hundreds of synthetic chemicals from drugs and personal care products.
The total volume of untreated waste at the 20 cities from which the group obtained information was about 98 billion litres a year.

"It's appalling. I think countries as wealthy as Canada and the U.S. can do a hell of a lot better in terms of managing their sewage. The fact that we live on the shores of 20 per cent of the world's supply of fresh water and we treat it this way, there is just no excuse for it," said Dr. Elaine MacDonald, the author and a staff scientist with the group.
Sierra Legal began studying the fate of Great Lakes sewage after conducting similar studies on cities along Canada's coasts, where it found major centres, including Victoria and Halifax, dumping waste water into the ocean with little or no treatment.
Although sewage treatment is more extensive along the five Great Lakes, where governments have been fighting water pollution for more than three decades, the group was unable to find any municipality with what it considered a fully up-to-date wastewater treatment system. Green Bay, Wisc., and Ontario's Peel Region came closest.
The cities it considered to have the most antiquated systems were Detroit, Cleveland and Windsor, Ont. Toronto was ranked in the middle.
The biggest factor leading to pollution problems is municipal use of the same network of pipes to carry both sewage and storm water runoff from streets and roofs.
These pipes, built decades ago, are found in varying numbers in almost all older urban areas along the Great Lakes.

Combined storm and sanitary sewers aren't big enough to handle both sewage and rainwater flows whenever there is precipitation, so cities divert the contents of these pipes into the lakes during storms to prevent sewage from backing up into homes.
In Detroit, all sewer pipes in older parts of city also carry storm water, and an estimated 5 per cent of wastewater is dumped untreated into Lake Erie tributaries whenever it rains. The city had the largest flow of raw sewage entering the Great Lakes of any community. "Detroit is quite a quagmire," Dr. MacDonald said.

Detroit city officials state that they have spent more than 1 billion dollars on updates to their system in the hopes of reducing the runoff into the lakes.

Most of these cities as well draw their fresh water from these sewage laden sources, and thus the reason for the huge purification costs.

There is this old saying...don't eat where you shit my friend....I would suggest...don't eat, drink or bath where you shit my friends.

Warehouse Fire Closes 6 Block Area To The Public

THIRD FIRE IN THREE WEEKS FINALLY CLAIMS WAREHOUSE

A huge fire has resulted in the complete destruction of a Mill street warehouse that formerly housed a paintball arena and several smaller businesses over the years.

A fire that happened at the building 10 days ago was still under investigation for suspected arson when the building exploded into flames around 9:00 PM Monday evening.

Firefighters from 4 departments responded to the balze, which sent residents of the area into evacutation mode after fire marshall officials requested they leave due to the chemicals and large embers floating through the air.

Police remained on the scene overnight, and traffic was rerouted through other areas of the city.

Trucks blasted thousands of gallons of water on the property in an effort to prevent the fire from psreading to neighbouring homes and businesses.

Hundreds of spectators lined the streets with their children in order to catch a glimpse of the largest fire in recent memory in the friendly city.

Police and fire department arson investigators continue to investigate the blaze.

Letter To Michael Harding Sent November 28, 2006

OPEN LETTER TO MICHAEL HARDING

Hi Michael,
Congratulations on your win in the recent municipal election.
I do have a question or two for you, and was wondering if you could honour or humour me with a response?
Is a timeline for the release of Mr. Bedards' report on the hydro issue available to the general public?
If so, is it possible to share this date at this time?
And, will the public be able to access this report from the City website?
And, is there a possibility of recouping funds from persons responsible for the loss? (if there is indeed a wrongdoing either by error or omission?)
As a ratepayer I find it disturbing that our tax dollars were used to finance this foray into a somewhat private business venture. Perhaps better management oversight would have negated the opportunity for such a loss.
Please reSpond to this request.
And now for a second issue that has arisen in recent days.
This week I noticed in the news that someone had written a letter, Nancy Rohrer(to the S-R) stating the city refused to allow her to act as power of attorney in her fathers' case.(even though this method of proxy is valid in every other municipality in the country)
My concern is this:
As a caregiver of a child with major disabilities, I would hope the city does not prevent myself from accessing services, and conducting business on my sons' behalf as has been the case with the city and this publicized incident regarding Ms Rohrer.
It would be impossible for my son to handle these dealings himself with the city, due to the nature of his disability and therefore, it requires a power of attorney, held by a caregiver to make those requests on his behalf. If this is a rejected measure in Woodstock, than how exactly is one to deal with the city, when they are caring for another person who cannot take care of themselves?
I just wanted to tell you that I find this disturbing, and that it is your job to deal with those issues, regardless of the CAO's position on the matter.
If Woodstock is truly a progressive city it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to determine that there are some pretty plain old fashioned, backwoods kind of iscriminatory ideals operating in City Hall. Not permitting the usage of a power of attorney when dealing with the city is ridiculous in the case of caregivers and their family members.
As the elected leader of the community, is this the type of community you are standing for and projecting? As the Chairman of the Board, you and the directors(council), have the obligation to deal with rogue staff, and have the ability to make direct policy change in the way the city deals with these persons.
Hopefully you and your staff will reconsider the actions taken against Ms Rohrer. This is matter that requires your urgent attention, more than anything I can think of.
Please respond,and Kind Regards,
Jim Bender

Harper Government Begins To Disintegrate

HARPER GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO UNRAVEL AFTER CABINET MINISTER RESIGNS IN CONDEMNATION OF THE "QUEBEC NATIONHOOD" MOTION PUT FORTH BY HARPERS' GOVERNMENT.

Yesterday, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Michael Chong quit his prestige position rather than vote for a motion that he said endorses ethnic nationalism and racism.

"I believe that recognizing the Quebecois as a nation even within a united Canada is nothing else than the recognition of an ethnic nationalism, and that I cannot support," Chong said.
"It cannot be interpreted as the recognition of a territorial nationalism, for it does not refer to a geographic entity but to a group of people."

Chong, who represents the Ontario riding of Wellington-Halton Hills, decided that the only way to avoid the wrath of his party boss, Stephen Harper was to resign his position so he could vote against the motion in the house of commons.

Chong was clearly upset by events leading up to the house vote. He stated that Harper had contacted Stephen Dion, asking his opinion of the situation, but refused to speak with his own on government staff and ministers about the issue. Chong stated that he resigned because he was kept in the dark about the motion completely, and that it reduced his role a intergovernmental affairs minister as he should have been apprised of the situation prior to any vote.

Harper has been repeatedly accused of operating in an a singular fashion with a lack of consultation amongst his own party members.

Liberal leadership rival Ken Dryden also opposed the motion,stating this is a move to win political games.
"This is pure politics," he told the House of Commons.
"All this started with the ludicrous concept of having a debate fundamental to the country based on different understandings of the word 'nation.' In the last few days, it has deteriorated into the ludicrous reality of such a debate in practice."

Conservatives Get An Ass Kicking In London

LIBERAL GLENN PEARSON TAKES LONDON RIDING EASILY

Otherwise known as...Dianne Haskett goes into the good night.(yahoooooo!!)

Number of votes..folowed by their percentages...

London North Centre

Canadian Action
Will Arlow
51
0.1
Independent
Robert Ede
73
0.2
Conservative
Dianne Haskett
8,936
24.4
PC Party
Steve Hunter
136
0.4
Green Party
Elizabeth May
9,476
25.9
Liberal
Glen Pearson
12,767
34.8
N.D.P.
Megan Walker
5,218
14.2
Total number of valid votes:

36,657


Polls reporting: 247/253
Voter turnout: 36,657 of 89,139 registered electors (41.1%)

Obviously this is an indication of the mass voter dissatisfaction with the ruling CONservative party.

Goodbye to Dianne...and holy shit...Ms May almost smoked the Libs!

Standard Tube Park, and Burgess Park Are Given Away

CITY OF WOODSTOCK GIVES AWAY PARKLAND TO SALLY CREEK DEVELOPERS...FOR FREE

Big developers...get your asses out to Woodstock. Land is cheap...in fact, it's free!

Council recently approved paying for an environmental assesment on Burgess and Standard Tube Parks...just so we could give it away for free to some big ass developers...

Nice...

So, now that we are giving away green space and parklands...I would like my chunk.

I will gladly accept Southside Park...if the kindly councillors agree to give it to me...

I would even hope they pay the costs of land transfer for me...or the costs of archaelogical assesments..just pay for it and hand it over....

So, why did our council vote on giving away our parks?? You have to wonder. I will not say that anyone actually received money in their pockets...but you have to wonder???

Were these parks declared surplus lands? Wasn't Standard Tube Park donated to the residents of Woodstock? A golf course will not be public...it is to be privately owned.

Shame on our councillors for allowing this to happen. You guys just suck.

Numerous Arrests Made After Crack Houses Raided

TWO CRACK HOUSES ON CHAPEL STREET(ACROSS FROM OLD CHAPEL SCHOOL) ARE RAIDED

OCPS have raided 2 Chapel street residences in an effort to reduce the number of rock star homes in the area.

Police acting on a tip, investigated these places for approximately 3 months before taking actions.

Charged are: 31-year-old Amey Miller, 43-year-old Ron Green, 40-year-old Amanda Griffin, 39-year-old Kurt Sutherland, 36-year-old Anna Keith, 61-year-old Dianne Watling, 46-year-old Patti Shillolo, 32-year-old Jody King, 45-year-old Doreen Burke, 31-year-old Christina Morrison, 21-year-old Matthew Edwards, 23-year-old Phillip McKay, Shari Jones, Adam Halashewski, and 49-year-old Norman Bushfield.

Numerous drug charges were laid, as well, charges for posession of stolen property.

One of the properties was used as a holding place for stolen goods.

Later the same day, warrants were excercised at 5 Broadway street, resulting in the arrests of a group of teens. Police left these people handcuffed on the side of the street while searching the properties with police dogs.

The primary target of these investigations seems to be the growing pill trade, and the crystal meth trade.

Perhaps the police should spend some time investigating the doctors who routinely sell their prescription granting rights to the highest bidder.

Oxycontin comes direct from the pharmacist. They are prescribed by doctors for everything.

Our medical community is at the heart of this problem. The police should investigate these doctors. Instead, they will investigate the users...cuz the doctors have too much money and power to piss off.

London Byelection Will Be The First Test For Tories

DIANNE HASKETT(THE RABIDLY HOMOPHOBIC CONTENDER FOR MP) HOLDS CONSERVATIVE PARTY FORTUNES IN THE BALANCE

You can bet the PMO is watching this one.

Stephen Harper, the CONServative Canadian Prime Minister must be holding his breath this morning as the polls in London prepare to open. Hopefully he holds it until he passes out...

This race in London has become one of the most hotly contended electoral races in Canadian history with Elizabeth May(the recently elected leader of the green party), and 6 other contenders vying for the chance to represent London-North-Centre on the federal stage.

It is interesting to note that not one of the London candidates were actually living in London at the time the byelection was called. Elections Canada permits the "parachuting" of candidates from other ridings in the federal elections.

Dianne Haskett, a 2 time CONservative London mayor in the late 80's had been living in the USA for at least 8 years and Elizabeth May resides on the west coast of Canada. These are the two percieved front runners in the London race.

Haskett has a tremendous history of human rights violations, and was sued during her tenure as London mayor for violating the rights of gay and lesbians in the forest city regarding a gay pride event.

There will be election results posted this evening as the numbers start to flow in.

Quebec Motion On A "Nation Within A Nation" Is Mindless

QUEBECS', "NATION WITHIN A NATION" STATUS UNDERMINES CANADIAN FEDERALISM

Or better yet: Our politicians are dumb, dumb, dumb...

It is one thing to allow for the unique cultural identity that Quebec itself posesses, but to allow for the ideal of a unique "nation within a nation" will undoubtedly complicate the identity and constitutional makeup of Canada Itself.

Canada is built upon the unique cultures and identities of literally hundreds of thousands of peoples and their unique heritage. Perhaps it will boil down to each province asking for the same right.

Or maybe, municipalities that fail to co-exist may ask to seperate and be indentified as a new state within a state.

Just where does this take us as a country, and will this be the demise of our federal state?

The balance of Canada was not manufactured with a cookie cutter mould, and I would like to suggest that the last 35 years of unrestricted immigration policy has certainly changed the shape and form of our country.

It is true that we are a melting pot, and to permit by law, or act of parliament, the legalization of a seperate nation of Quebecers has no jurisdictional benefit to the balance of the country, or even to Quebec itself.

The elitist community of Quebec seperatists have changed very little in the past 30 years, save for the introduction of Gilles Duceppe, a staunch socialist. The partys' main power lies within the oldest families of Quebec, and their hard done by feelings should be ignored enmasse.

The Bloc and the Parti Quebecois, have failed their peoples' and as well, our federal government leaders of all political stripes have failed the balance of the country.

The primary goal of the elitists is to free Quebec of its' federal bonds, and to force upon the collective population of Canada, some forced right of existence, which they lost by virtue of military conflict many years past during the formation of Canada.

This pandering to the interests of Quebec needs to come to an end. We are no further ahead by enshrining statehood in law for this province, and in fact will fail our nations' founders by allowing this to be legislated.

The aim of the federal government should be to protect the state of Canada first and foremost, nothings less, and certainly nothing more.

COnservatives Bent On Reducing Feds Constitutional Powers

PM HARPER INTRODUCES PLAN TO LIMIT FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO SPEND ON NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Bob Rae, Liberal leadership contender has lambasted the Harper government for its' decision to limit its' own spending powers in areas of provincial concern.

Rae, contacted by media sources, stated that "it's time for this guy to go", after being told of the pending arrangement by the feds.

Harper has been bent on redefining the way in which Canada does business with its' provinces.

This type of constitutional arrangement would see Canada unable to maintain a national health care system, or even spend money on disablity pensions or CPP, as these issues would become the right of the provinces to administer.

Any new social spending would have to be brought in by the provinces in the future, which means there will be a lack of a National cohesive strategy , as at least 7 provinces are required to make a constitutional amendment.

It is believed that at least 5 provinces are willing to back this change.

Perhaps we should rename our country...The Federated states of Canada.

Local Political Stalwart Passes On To The Great Debate In The Sky

KAYE SARGENT, OXFORDS' PERENNIAL LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE PASSES AWAY THIS WEEK

Kaye Sargent was a kind and wonderful lady in a unique kind of way.

She ran in numerous elections, 13 I believe in total.

Kaye never won, but she did win in the end as she never wavered from her beliefs, and took those beliefs very seriously.

This year in the 2006 federal election, I noticed that Kaye appeared somewhat tired and little weaker than the election 18 months earlier. At the HPSS debate she tripped and lost her balance and seemed to have a more difficult time keeping her balance on the whole.

My partner Angie helped her off the ground once.

We will miss Kaye at these local electoral events.

She was a great person, and I'm sure that if there's a debate in the sky....she'll be there.

PM Harper is correct in condemnation of Chinese State policy on Human Rights

CANADIANS OF ALL STRIPES URGED TO SUPPORT THE PRIME MINISTERS' EFFORT TO FORCE ACCOUNTABLE HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES UPON CHINA

Jim Bender, Woodstock.

Many countries around the world are in major violation of international United Nations developed standards on treatment of persons, but none so public as the Communist state of China.

China has for many years strongly opposed fundamental freedoms granted under these internationally developed laws(accepted in most countries). These freedoms, include freedom of expression, thought and religion, political expressions and the right to fair and equitable treatment under the law.

It is about time that a Canadian PM actually has the nuts to say, 'Shit or get off the pot, China".

It is just not correct that people would lambast him for this ideal, but, on the other hand, some political tact, could have been utilized, and perhaps the ideal expressed to Chinese leaders should have been that; Canadians enjoy the benefits of cheap Chinese manufactured goods, but persistently wish the goods to be manufactured not by state sponsored slavery, but by equitable and fair paying circumstances.

There should never be usage of child labour, or prisoner forced labour to perform these manufacturing jobs, and the state of China requires a major thought overhaul on it's lack of Human Rights Observations.

It's about time we forced some Canadian conscience on these people. Their poor treatment of it's citizens, and the mass murder of political adversaries, is terrible, disgusting and requires nothing less than a world wide effort to force change, accountable social practices and an end to slave trade goods, manufactured for our consumer driven society.

It does not feel good to see kids' toys in buck stores, made by chinese kids, forced to work in factories, that will never play with those action figure toys, or even eat a decent meal, while we in western society choke on overwhelmingly large mouths of food, spilling more than we can chew.

jim bender, Woodstock.

Letter to the Editor Of S-R

REGARDING CLEMENTS' ANNOUNCMENT OF ANOTHER PROGRAM FOR AUTISM

As the parent of an autistic child I feel some pressure to write this after reading the announcement in the papers that Health Minister Tony Clement has decided to fund a most basic autism program in Canada. I'm here to say: don't bother.You are once more wasting tax money, by not comprehensively funding this well studied problem. If you cannot fund this decently, then it is nothing more than a bureacratic make work program. The health minister has announced an $800,000.00 program. Divide this number by the amount of autistic kids in Ontario and Quebec,(approx. 40,ooo), and you will get a new program that looks like $20.00 a year in spending on autism for each child in Ontario and Quebec. What about the other provinces? Have you people no understanding of the real difficulties facing parents? Did you not have any public consultation on this? Do any of you elected people actually know any families that are living with this? By the time you factor in these provinces, the number becomes more like $5.00 per child. Some program, some announcement. This is discouraging. The majority of this money will be spent on administration costs, and I challenge Clement and Dave Mackenzie to prove that it will not be a waste of money. Using the parents of autistic kids in this manner is gross, perverted and smacks of political opportunism. Keep the kids out of your silly political moves people. When Dave Mackenzie told me about this program coming up(on november 13th he released these details to me in Woodstock)...he did say it would be baby steps. I did not realize that it would be a failure of a program before it even got started. This is more of an appeasement measure than a real meat and potatoes program to assist parents and the kids involved. This looks like an assistance measure for a failing government, that has lost its' focus, and is clamouring for a revival of its' fortunes. It is terrible that these governments use these kids and long suffering parents as a ways and means to garner public opinion or to gain a vote. Dalton MacGuinty is a prime example of this. While campaigning several years ago he and his liberal buddies duped parents of autistic kids(myself included) into believing that they would fund, or at least attempt to build programs for these kids that were relevant to their communities and families. They lied, it never happended. Now we have a federal government who sees many votes to be gained by announcing a thinly disguised vote grabbing program, that has no substance. Save the $800,000.00 and put it to better usage. There is no point in wasting our dollars just so you can say you have developed another program. This program will be as useless as the rest we've seen come and go, and after 11 years of waiting for something good to come out of any government I've decided that I'm not listening anymore to the lies and deceit. You folks have decieved and duped us into believing that help was on its' way. We've been going it alone for a long time now, so please, don't interfere with us and the real progress we are making by announcing some silly get a vote program that will have absolutely zero impact on anyone who lives with this serious and destabilizing social illness. I don't know who designs and developes these ideas, but I do know that it is a waste of time and resources, unless you actually fund it, and design it around the family that requires it. There is absolutely no use in designing another underfunded program. A brick to both of you and your compatriots in government.

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement Announces Tiny Program To Help Families Of Autistic Kids

TONY CLEMENT TOUTS AUTISM PROGRAM

Well, I suppose I shouldn't really be lambasting these guys over this one...but I must.

On the 13th of November, Dave Mackenzie, Oxford MP, announced to me(at Woodstock City Hall where he attended his daughters election aprty) that the government was making plans to develope an autism identification program. The program, according to Mr Mackenzie would be very basic at the beginning, with an emphasis on new identification processes.

According to todays Globe & Mail, Clememt has announced that the program would be funded with a miniscule $800,000.00 payment.

Jesus guys....$800,000.00 ?

Now just what the heck do you think $800,000.00 will do in this case?

There are at least 10,000 kids in Ontario alone suffering this same illness, ranging from minor problems, to globally encompassing ailments.

In Quebec, the numbers are identical.

This would mean in two provinces, there are approximately 20,000 afflicted children. (if not more, these numbers are 10 years old according to the provnce of Ontario)

This new program, amounts to $40.00 per child.(if we only look at those two provinces...if we actually include all of the provinces, the number becomes almost non-existent.)

Most of this money will be spent on administration, and in fact, the government has already earmarked 65% of these dollars towards the administration costs of the program.

This is a make work program of low value.

The government can keep it's silly $40.00 a year program.(minus the administration costs)

I have no use for stupid ideas like this.

Autism is a massive social illness, with gigantic social costs.

The families of these children have suffered immensely, and to be teased with dumbass programming is sick.

This low-brow attempt at placating an entire population of grieving families is terrible and will not work.

Canada has billions of dollars sitting in the bank. The government has consistently overcharged its' citizens for the right to live here. We have paid into the system, but are not granted assistance when and where it is required. Families deserve better than this, especially those of us who have suffered for these years at the hands of uncaring governments.

The Liberals(provincially) and now the CONservatives (federally) are making a mockery of us parents, by making us believe that this new program is the be all and end all to everything, when in fact it is a collossal waste of time, effort and citizens' monies.

Shame on Tony Clement, and yes, you too Dave Mackenzie. Dave, you should know better than anyone the damage that autism causes a family. You have been to my home, you have met my son, and it is horrible to see that you would think that a program as poorly funded as this would make a differnece. Is our government so flush with cash that they need to come up with stupid ideas like this? Rethink this....it is wasteful, deceptive in its' manner, and if you need a hand designing something for autism, give me a call. I have a few ideas...like placing Autism under the Health Act, instead of allowing each province to determine the treatment program which is presently handled through each provinces Social Services Ministry.

That would be a first step....building a system, country wide, that would be responsive to families.

Save the $800,000.00 folks, and put it to better use. For gosh sakes, let's not hire more bureacrats to waste more time and money.

jim bender, woodstock

South Park "Stars" Lambast Canadian Prime Minister for Bottom Trawling

TV LANDS SOUTHPARK CHARACTERS ATTACK SPAIN AND CANADA FOR THEIR BOTTOM TRAWLING PROGRAM

http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/fun-stuff/e-cards/blame-canada-and-espa-a

Greenpeace has posted a spoof on its' webpage using the characters of South Park to exemplify their concerns over bottom trawling fishing methods that our government in Canada has refused to ban.

Bottom trawling is a disturbing method of fishing that kills, and maims thousands of sea animals that are not utilized for food.

The boys -- animated as different species of fish -- single out Canada and Spain, expletives included, before a large net scoops "Squiddy" off the ocean floor.
"Oh my God! They killed Squiddy!" Stan yells. You bastards he screams!

Then they bust out into the timeless musical masterpiece, " Blame Canada".

Greenpeace is hoping to attract more interest to the dragging of the sea floor, and the devastation caused to precious fishery ecosystems.

Gordon O'Connor, Canadian Defence Minister Misled Parliament on costs of Afghanistan Conflict

DEFENCE MINISTER O' CONNOR MISLED PARLIAMENT ON AFGHANISTAN MISSION

Federal defence Minister Gordon O'Connor knowingly misled a House of Commons Comittee when he testified before them that the Afghanistan mission costs have not yet reached the $2 billion mark for this year.

The commons comittee that heard the information studied his statements and then requested further informations from the finance ministry, which provided further lists of expenditures that exceeded half a billion dollars.

The total expenditure for the mission this year(from what we can tell)is approximately $2.7 billion for this fiscal year. This is a much different number than the Conservatives have been touting as the real cost.

The mission in Afghanistan is unwinnable.

The solution to that very problem lies in the hnads of the people of Afghanistan.

Military intervention will not bring the sectarian violence to an end. Only the people of this messed up country can do this job.

It is time we leave this country, and bring those troops home.

One more reason for Canadians to not trust the CONservatives

Conservatives introduce major funding loophole into their much touted accountability act.

The Harper government is about to open a loophole in its federal accountability act by declaring that party convention fees should not be counted as political contributions.
They have also rejected Liberal amendments that would toughen the legislation.
The Conservative party, which is under investigation by Elections Canada for failing to declare almost $2 million in fees paid by delegates to the party's 2005 convention have introduced this as a means of circumventing the existing law.
In a newly posted order paper, the Conservatives have conceded they were mistaken when they made the claim there was no need to declare the fees.
They are now proposing that convention fees shouldn't count as contributions, nice.
This item is their response to the Senate regarding more than 100 Liberal dominated Senate-proposed amendments to the accountability act.
The government says it accepts almost 50 of the changes, but not any of the Liberal amendments.

So, once again, we have placed our trust in a bunch of liars.

It is disturbing that when a government finds themselves in a position of power, they spend more of their time attempting to solidify that power they have gained by modifying the law to their personal benefit, and agendas. This behaviour is demonstrated equally amongst all tiers of government and I find it particularly amusing that many people placed their trust in these people when their character was prominently displayed from the onset.

And so the PIGARSE award goes to:

Council intends on selling off Parks

THIS IS MORE THAN STUPID, IT'S REALLY STUPID!

Just great, so our newly elected(and in some cases re-elected) council has decided to open up the possiblity of Burgess and Standard Tube Parks being turned over to a developer to build a new golf course. This is dumb, but more than this, it's sick, shows a lack of concern for the future of Woodstock, and more than this, who gave them the right to sell off or giveaway our parks and green spaces? If they are selling parks,I would like to buy one myself...like say, hmmm, Southside Park. I could build a great monument to myself there on that little island or something, or perhaps, I could just put up a nice factory there. Even better, city council is just silly enough to pay for the environmental and archaelogical assesments! These parks are held in the public trust. The stunned argument that they need to come up with more tax revenues is gross, and a failure of public policy. I never heard of this once during the election. Does anyone else remember this being on the old councils' agenda?(which happens to be the same as the new one...sounds like a bad WHO song) This is our local greenspace, it belongs to all of us. Some of the property was donated,(not so you could build a nice (PRIVATE) golf course). And It is gross that this item was even placed on councils' agenda, or that council actually thought it to be a good idea by hiring consultants to do assesments(kind of giving one the impression that it is a done deal as they are already spending the money to make it happen) Who actually placed it on the agenda I would like to know? Perhaps we should sell off Lansdowne Park as well ? Or how about Roth Park? Maybe even Brompton Park? In an effort to find new ways of bringing tax dollars into the city, our council has decided to spend our tax dollars on an environmental and archaeological assesment on the area. Any idea of the cost? Perhaps one way to have more tax dollars, is not to spend them in the first place especially investigating stunned ideas like this. The potential giveaway of our parkland to the abutting Sally Creek developement is disgusting. If we need more taxes, then take it from the freeloading corporations that are already here, or on their way to Woodstock. The ones that have an artificially low rate of taxation anyways. Perhaps takes back the millions from Blandford Blenheim that we signed away with the Toyota deal.(and will continue to pay long after we are dead)That might help to alleviate the cash crunch. Or better yet, quit spending tax dollars in a loose manner, and you wouldn't have to start selling off our parks. Perhaps, tightening your belts a bit instead of searching for new tax extraction methods would be good. There's tons of money peed away on many a stunned thing, like dinners out and paid meals for people working overtime(yes, our city hands out food vouchers to many workers who stick in a few hours here and there. I know a local restaurant owner who makes a good business out of that food voucher system alone)(heck, last time I worked overtime, I just got paid, and seemed to be happy with the money...it's hard to believe that free meals are in order for city staff) The people of Woodstock didn't elect any of you to sell off our Parklands. Pay some heed to that. There should be a public protest on this one. And if there isn't, I guess we'll see you all on the golf course.

It's Been An Interesting Week Here In Woodstock

THANKS WOODSTOCK FOR THE AWESOME SHOW OF SUPPORT THIS WEEK

Like the old saying goes: Is the glass half full or half empty?

Me, I decided early on that it was always half full.

I decided that this week I was spend sometime sitting on my ass. It's been full month or so.

After 2 federal campaigns in which we yanked incredible numbers for a small and largely misunderstood political party, the Marijuana Party, I am extraordinarily flattered to see a result of almost 25% of the popular vote from the Woodstock Municipal Election.

We garnered approximately 2023 votes here, of a total of 8500 votes that were cast. This number reflects the distaste in general for a council that failed its' people on many issues.

We will not go gently into the good night.(okay, we stole that line)

There were many interesting items that came before us during this election.

The rise in assesment rates has automatically given our council a cash cow. Although they do not need to increase the mil rates here, they will gain more taxes from us, as our homes rise in value.

This rise is fine, if you are planning on selling and moving out of town. But not good if you intend on staying here.

For those who cannot afford to pay the tax increase, the city of Woodstock offers this suggestion: move.

For the rest of us...pay up and shut up.

Paying tax is fine, but paying tax to sponsor corruption, deception and greed is not.

Our local council has been privy to information regarding misspent funds and refused to come clean on it. Some councillors even back the folks who did the spending...dumb or what?

Jim Northcott stated during the debate that "although I've only been on council 2 months, the other councillors guaranteed that no wrong doing was committed." Oh, and we are to beleive that they are committed to honesty and more.

In fact there was, but they've chosen to cover up the information.

There were some people who benefitted from the loss of public monies. In fact, George Bedard(the consultant in charge of investigating this thing) has stated that money is missing, and it points to several people.

The OPP should be investigating this.

The re-elected mayor, Michael Harding is very full of himself, and I would bet that he knows more about this missing money than what he chooses to discuss with us lowly people on the bottom rung.

My thoughts on this after discussing the issue would be to order a forensic audit(which yes would imply that a crime has taken place), and to audit top tier management, and their respective spouses. As well, chances are that details pertaining to this issue were buried as a result of investigation.

Several Hydro officials have fired off nasty letters regarding this to one journalist in particular that I am aware of. I suppose he's not wanting to retire with a black mark on his record, but I think it is unavoidable.

If he took the cash...he deserves to be prosecuted.

So....here comes the dirt awards....

The first "dirt award" goes to....

Deb Tait.

Deb is a great reader of notes, and as well, worked very hard to pretend that she did not have the Chamber Of Commerce questions in advance. As Deb read from her notes during the debate, it became sadly apparent that she had cheated, and in fact the Chamber had cheated as well.

This is gross, but expected from someone who couldn't think up and answer on her own.(yes, we have a crystal clear video of her stumbling through her pre-written answers, and turning the pages to read them during the "surprise" question and answer session.

I will suggest that she is as stunned as a sack of nails, and liars and cheats are not representative of what us Woodstonians stand for....unless you are one of the incumbents...but they are a minority here.

Our Mayor is an ass. This guy spent his time badmouthing people and not running on merit. His idealistic rants about Trevor Birtch, obviously had him concerned. Of course he had to attack the guy on his youth...because there was nothing else to attack him on. The mayor then set his sights on Dave Nadalin.

By not standing up against the release of Daves' personal legal issues, he has condoned them, therefore I beleive that the mayor, Michael Harding, was not operating with honesty at heart.

Two thirds of Woodstock did not vote for this man, and the only people he represents are his friends.(just wondering how much money there is to be made being a mayor here???)

The mayor should be forced to divulge his financial dealings, and as well, his spouse.

If there is nothing to hide, then they would not object to this. If there is something to hide, then he will try to hide it even more by refusing access to these things.

Every elected official and as well all top tiers of the bureacracy should be forced to divulge their personal hodings and as well, all monies received from all sources.

Our city is run by crooks, obviously, or they would not reject such a measure.

Being open and honest is the first step. Getting rid of the dead wood at city hall is the second. The job of the staff at city hall is to defend the people who are the shareholders of the corporation. Us.

They fail to do this, and their prime reason for existing is to save the corporation from any exposure to liability.

This is disgusting.

So, here I am, still jaded, still disgusted, and yes, I feel sick paying taxes for these assholes to run us into the ground.

Woodstock needed better representation than this, but Woodstock decided that they are happy with lies, deceit and missing funds. Obviously, those folks that voted for the status quo have too much money, and obviously they feel nothing about having people rip their monies off.

Makes me wonder how many of them were in on the deal too?

Jim Bender

Woodstock

Canadian Foreign Minister Announces Microcredit Program

PETER MACKAY, CANADIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED A MICROCREDIT FINANCE PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS

"Around the world, the power of microfinance is transforming lives," Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay announced in a statement released to the press.

Okay, this is good, but why don't they extend this into Canada as well? Or is it because the big banks have gained control over our territory by virtue of the government failing to act in the interest of Canadians?

I would say so.

Canada could use a very similar typed program in order to raise people from the bonds of poverty, with the same lack of requirement in order to obtain the grant.

It is with great merit that our government has announced this, and hopefully they will follow through with this massive program, especially given that they are familiar with not keeping their word.(Just look at Kyoto, The Income Trust Scandal(lied to the electorate, thereby confusing them into believing that their retirements' were safe, invested in Income Trusts.), the issue of tighter integration with the US government, and their failed policy of extending the Afghanistan mission.

So...hopefully Mr Government of Canada, you will keep your word on this one.

Oooooh, Just Friggin' Gross!

NOW...HOW IN THE HECK DOES SALMONELLA GET INTO YOUR CHOCOLATE???

Nations' Chocolate Supply In Jeopardy Of Shrivelling Up!

Chocolate fanatics from the west to the east of Canada, are in a frantic stampede to their local convenience stores in hopes of obtaining once last smidgeon of the ancient delicacy before sources dry up after a massive recall of Hershey chocolate products for a suspected salmonella contamination...

Ooooh, how in the heck does salmonella get into chocolate? Isn't this like a chicken and pork thingy??

News reports are sparse at this time, with Hershey releasing few details of the problem, but it is believed the recall could ultimately affect more than 25 products, many of which are in the distribution system.

Anyone have the squirts lately???

The plant located in Smith Falls, Ontario, employs more than five hundred(500) people, and has been in operation for many years, but closed on Novemeber 9, 2006 after the outbreak was identified during a routine inspection.

Company officials reported the outbreak to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency which oversees food manufacturers in Canada.

So folks....toss out that chocolate, as well as that luncheon meat from last weeks food alert in our region.

I'm wondering if this is a result of environmental contamination from a lack of clean water supplies used in the manufacturing process?

We'll report on this as we hear more.

Jim Bender

Woodstock

Hey Folks...Get Out And Vote

TODAY IS THE ONLY DAY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THAT YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR OPINION

Here we are once again in the middle of an election. The only difference that anyone can make is to get out, cast your vote, and hope the bastards do what we ask.

Outgoing Council Approves New Shopping Mall

MAJOR BUSINESS LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT FOR THE NEW COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON

Woodstock City Council has approved a request for a zone change, allowing for a new Shoppers' Drug Mart, a Shoeless Joes Restaurant, and a new A & P Grocery store located near the Norwich Ave big box developement.

This business should never have been approved without having someone look at the ramifications of introducing another grocery giant into the Woodstock economy.

Personally, I do not feel that it is feasible to be adding another grocery chain at this time.

Sobeys, at the corner of Dundas street and Springbank Avenue, has been suffering in recent years as WalMart has introduced small grocery items into their shopping experience.

IGA in the downtown core will also suffer as a result, but may hold their own in the long run as the store is surrounded by seniors' complexes, and still remains high on the agenda of Woodstock shoppers with its' good location aside Zellers.

The problems with these big box developements is the lack of local community ownership; they are generally head office operated, have no real concern for the communities in which they operate, and in the case of A &P stores, left town long ago leaving people unemployed and broken.

I'm not sure if this is something that could be placed back on the new councils' agenda, but, I do beleive that in the future, their needs to be a better system in place to protect the emenities that are already existing.

It does the community no good to open up a new store, while closing down another. There is no increase in jobs...and aside from the construction jobs, will not bring long term stability to the area.

Walmart at present is working on carrying groceries, and in the future will be looking to expand into that particular profitable area of operations. Don't think they won't. When that developement occurs...the shit will hit the fan...many will lose their jobs in existing shops...and I highly suspect that more than one grocery chain might take this as an opportunity to pick up and run while they can...

We need to support our existing business establishments. And we need to think a little longer on new developements, and we need to analyze the long term effects they will have on our communities. Council has once more failed the existingpeople of our community in favour of bringing the big prize home for a short term gain, and a long term loss.

Everyone..Please Lower Your Flags And Say A Prayer For Those Who Gave their Lives For Our Freedoms

THANK A VETERAN...YOUR FREEDOM DEPENDS UPON IT!!

Today is remembrance day.

For the tens of thousands of Canadians that spent their lives defending our freedom we offer you our gratitude eternally.

Many of us weren't even born when you guys were out there scrambling away from shell fire.

Many of us only have a distorted vision on what it must have been like.

I have a neighbour who was liberated by our forces in Holland..she tells my son stories about how the Canadians came and saved them, and helped release her family from the bondage of slave labour under Nazi control.

Holland was not a pretty place. Many people starved, many people died. Helen has the most amazing stories.

She married one of her armed saviours, coming to Canada in the late 1940's. He passed away 2 years ago this coming Christmas day.

My son doesn't understand why she's so thankful, him being 14 year and thinking the world is a tough place.

I tell him the world was a much tougher place when Helen was young, and his age.

Will our kids pay any attention to this after we are gone from the planet?

Will they remember that someone gave their lives away in order to ensure stability, freedom and democracy reigned at the end of the day?

So folks...even though our democracy is fractured and in many cases broken, we still have thousands of reasons to celebrate....

Remember..they fought for us..they gave their lives...and here we are...be thankful for the decent lives we are all able to afford to live as a result of their actions.

Why the Poppy?
Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France. A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended. During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again. After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle. Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield. During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada. Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.

And As Well...Lets Not Forget This One!

And Of Course...Ms...Lets Guve Our Resources To Someone Else.

This lady was as well instrumental in making Woodstock...inaccessible, excessively taxed and overburdened by the county.

And...The Rest....

JUST ANOTHER WASTEFUL BYLINE......BUT THE PICS ARE NICE.

It is interesting to note that of all of these folks have one thing in common....

They all sat on the past council...all are incumbents...and all took no time blaming everyone for the Hydro/Woodingford and County Administration debacles...excepting themselves of course.

They seemingly lack the capacity to understand that they are apparently not committed to anyone but themselves.

Say no to INCUMBENTS!!