Saturday, October 24, 2009
It's Amazing that Talent Can be Found in Your Own Home at Times
My high school buddy's young daughter does this tune and I'd like to share it with you.
Yet Another Journalist that doesn't Like that fringe group called WOMEN
Interesting, yet inaccurate, article in the Globe. Let me ask you something Mr Friesen. Where is the interviews of Sikh women and youth??? Why is it only the Sikh men get to get interviewed? In one case, a room full of Sikh men?
And What about facts? Don't let those stand in your way either Mr. Friesen.
It was, in fact, Dr. Ruby Dhalla that introduced the motion for the government apology for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, when a ship carrying 340 Sikhs was turned away at the Port of Vancouver. it was Dr. Dhalla that forced the government to apologize. Are these so-called Sikh leaders forgetful of that?
When on earth are Canadian journalists going to get their heads out of their asses and start reporting facts instead of fiction at the behest of Conservative spin machines.
And What about facts? Don't let those stand in your way either Mr. Friesen.
It was, in fact, Dr. Ruby Dhalla that introduced the motion for the government apology for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, when a ship carrying 340 Sikhs was turned away at the Port of Vancouver. it was Dr. Dhalla that forced the government to apologize. Are these so-called Sikh leaders forgetful of that?
When on earth are Canadian journalists going to get their heads out of their asses and start reporting facts instead of fiction at the behest of Conservative spin machines.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Who said this?
Everyday Canadians – the hardworking people who pay their taxes and play by the rules – want and deserve a new government that will put the people’s interest ahead of self-interest.
-Stephen Harper, Conservative Election Platform 2006
Welcome to the Cheque Republic!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
JOAQUIN-G in UNIONVILLE
UPDATE: Unionville Election Fundraising Dinner on Sunday, October 18, 2009 Time: 6pm at La Rosa Banquet Hall, 25 Lanark Road, Markham ON L3R8E8 (South Hwy.7 off Woodbine Ave.) RSVP for tickets call me 416.846.2243 or 905.477.4982.
Those of you that have been paying attention at my seminars of late will understand the importance of getting this guy elected. I've long held the view that the Liberal Party does not pay enough attention to getting our guys and gals elected at the municipal level.
To that end, any of you that can get out to help our Liberal friend Ed Joaquin win the Unionville by-election, please make the effort. He's worth the time.
Those of you that have been paying attention at my seminars of late will understand the importance of getting this guy elected. I've long held the view that the Liberal Party does not pay enough attention to getting our guys and gals elected at the municipal level.
To that end, any of you that can get out to help our Liberal friend Ed Joaquin win the Unionville by-election, please make the effort. He's worth the time.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dhalla Gains Support from Greens...
...Shame on the Liberals turning their backs on her. They otta reconsider. Did you hear that Ms. Sgro?
Greens Urge Support for Bill C-428
Posted October 8th, 2009
OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada has examined the private members' bill put forward by Member of Parliament Dr. Ruby Dhalla. "In our view, this bill is a positive initiative and reasonable step to reduce poverty in seniors," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.
"We are very concerned about the poverty rate among seniors, "said Human Rights critic Joe Foster. "The requirement for a three year residency period, the same amount required for Canadian citizenship, is reasonable and ensures that claimants are legitimately relocated to Canada, generally as part of family reunification."
The Greens note that the entitlement to an OAS pension for those who had only three years residency would be far less than for a Canadian who had 40 years residency. While a Canadian with 40 years residency would receive $516.96, a new Canadian senior with three years residency would only receive $38.77/month. Both groups may also qualify for Guaranteed Income Supplements. For a low income single senior with three years residency, the combined pensions would be an estimated $690/month, while for a 40 year resident, the OAS and GIS combined would be $1,169.47/month.
The bill was previously nearly through the Parliamentary process when the 2008 election was called and was supported by the Liberal, NDP, and Bloc Committee members. Its key elements were also recommended by the Special Senate Committee on Aging.
"We believe that no Canadian senior should live in poverty. With an estimated cost of $400 million/year, this expense is affordable and may have significant cost saving impacts in our health care system," noted Elizabeth May. "We urge MPs to support Bill C-428."
Greens Urge Support for Bill C-428
Posted October 8th, 2009
OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada has examined the private members' bill put forward by Member of Parliament Dr. Ruby Dhalla. "In our view, this bill is a positive initiative and reasonable step to reduce poverty in seniors," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.
"We are very concerned about the poverty rate among seniors, "said Human Rights critic Joe Foster. "The requirement for a three year residency period, the same amount required for Canadian citizenship, is reasonable and ensures that claimants are legitimately relocated to Canada, generally as part of family reunification."
The Greens note that the entitlement to an OAS pension for those who had only three years residency would be far less than for a Canadian who had 40 years residency. While a Canadian with 40 years residency would receive $516.96, a new Canadian senior with three years residency would only receive $38.77/month. Both groups may also qualify for Guaranteed Income Supplements. For a low income single senior with three years residency, the combined pensions would be an estimated $690/month, while for a 40 year resident, the OAS and GIS combined would be $1,169.47/month.
The bill was previously nearly through the Parliamentary process when the 2008 election was called and was supported by the Liberal, NDP, and Bloc Committee members. Its key elements were also recommended by the Special Senate Committee on Aging.
"We believe that no Canadian senior should live in poverty. With an estimated cost of $400 million/year, this expense is affordable and may have significant cost saving impacts in our health care system," noted Elizabeth May. "We urge MPs to support Bill C-428."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Susan Delacourt, Judy Sgro...Then and Now
It's no great secret that the Conservative Party (in particular Jason Kenney) has made it their special mission to destroy Dr. Ruby Dhalla and win the riding of Brampton Springdale in the next general election.
Yesterday the Star's Susan Delacourt was caught wearing her tin foil hat when Conservative spinster Alykhan Velshi lied about three Liberal MPs crossing the floor. Not only could she not verify the story, but she also protected Velshi's identity as the source of the bullshit.
The same Delacourt then issues a veiled threat in Dr. Dhalla's direction:
Then, today, Delacourt tries the old backhanded apology after the PMO outs her source for her:
At this point I'm not sure which of the two, Delacourt or Velshi is more full of shit.
This is the same Toronto Star that broke the bullshit Nannygate story about nothing. I'm going to bet lots that Kenney's office had a lot to do with seeking out the immigrant nannies that made up the false allegations about Dr. Dhalla.
But the story doesn't end with the Conservatives. No Sirry. The Geniuses at the OLO thought they better put some MORE distance between themselves and the star MP Dhalla. So they get Judy Sgro to come out against one of their own's private members bills. Problem with that is that Sgro supported this bill in the past.
If the OLO is serious about winning back the immigrant vote, they otta start thinking of ways to circle the wagons against Jason Kenney's spin machine.
As for Sgro? She owes Dr. Dhalla an apology I would think.
THEN
Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.) May 13, 2007 at committee:
NOW
Yesterday the Star's Susan Delacourt was caught wearing her tin foil hat when Conservative spinster Alykhan Velshi lied about three Liberal MPs crossing the floor. Not only could she not verify the story, but she also protected Velshi's identity as the source of the bullshit.
The same Delacourt then issues a veiled threat in Dr. Dhalla's direction:
Q: Is the Star picking on Ruby Dhalla?
A: I see that Ms. Dhalla has posted on Twitter today that it's tough to be a female politician. Indeed it is. It is also difficult to balance on one leg, have a telephone conversation with the TV blaring and type on the blackberry while walking. Those examples are just as relevant to this story as Ms. Dhalla's gender. I believe she knows that the story could have been much worse, and we'll leave it at that.
Then, today, Delacourt tries the old backhanded apology after the PMO outs her source for her:
Velshi, when asked on Monday whether there was any truth to speculation about Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla (Brampton-Springdale) crossing the floor to the Conservatives, said that there had been talks with three Liberal MPs, but Dhalla was not among them. Velshi made the remarks in the Commons foyer, with other reporters nearby.
According to Velshi, the three Liberal MPs had made the approach to the Conservatives, but he did not know their names. He volunteered, however, that Dhalla wouldn't be a good catch because "she's going to lose" to the Tories in the next election.
At this point I'm not sure which of the two, Delacourt or Velshi is more full of shit.
This is the same Toronto Star that broke the bullshit Nannygate story about nothing. I'm going to bet lots that Kenney's office had a lot to do with seeking out the immigrant nannies that made up the false allegations about Dr. Dhalla.
But the story doesn't end with the Conservatives. No Sirry. The Geniuses at the OLO thought they better put some MORE distance between themselves and the star MP Dhalla. So they get Judy Sgro to come out against one of their own's private members bills. Problem with that is that Sgro supported this bill in the past.
If the OLO is serious about winning back the immigrant vote, they otta start thinking of ways to circle the wagons against Jason Kenney's spin machine.
As for Sgro? She owes Dr. Dhalla an apology I would think.
THEN
Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.) May 13, 2007 at committee:
I'll keep my comments as brief as possible.
Ms. Beaumier, I appreciate your being here. I know this is an important issue to all of us. You're aware that we are currently undertaking a poverty study. Hence, this whole issue you are raising of course becomes part of the overall strategy we are looking at--how we deal with poverty in Canada, such as whether or not everybody who lives in this country should be able to receive some sort of guaranteed income to ensure they have a few cents in their pocket, and dignity.
You referenced the south Asian community in particular. And you can tell by the people who are in attendance today that they're clearly watching this issue very carefully. Many of them come over as family members, we all know that, and they end up providing the child care that many of the parents can't find otherwise. The $100 they may receive as a child care benefit isn't going to the senior anyway, because the reality is that it's going in to help them maintain their living standards.
NOW
The legislation, tabled by Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla, was designed to allow elderly immigrants to qualify for the pension benefits after being in the country for three years, instead of the current requirement of 10. But Judy Sgro, the seniors and pensions critic, said the Liberal party wants to come up with a more comprehensive approach to addressing pension issues.
“The leader (Michael Ignatieff) and the Liberal caucus feel the solutions to the challenges facing our national pension and retirement systems must be addressed holistically and with a comprehensive national vision,” Sgro said in a statement released late on Monday afternoon. “Expenditure of public dollars must never be made without careful consideration of the long-term ramifications on the public treasury.”
Sgro said the Liberal party believed that increasing Old Age Security benefits “was not the most appropriate method” to improve government support for new Canadians. She estimated that, if adopted, the plan would cost the government between $300 million to $700 million.
The Harper government blasted Dhalla’s legislation last week after it was introduced, saying that ministers and MPs were being flooded with phone calls complaining about the proposal. But at the time, Dhalla said that it was not a Liberal bill and should be viewed only as a private member’s bill.
A spokesperson for Ignatieff said that Sgro issued her release to make it clear that the legislation was not party policy, but that MPs are not forced to vote in any particular way on a private member’s bill.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Susan Delacourt and Irresponsible Non-journalism
Irresponsible? Yes! And, from my favourite journalist in the country at that!!!
I'm not even going to link to her article as that would be giving it some form of credence. The media in this nation has sunk to depths that we have never, ever seen before in this country. No wonder bloggers and the likes are now being named as sources of information for the general public.
We shouldn't be surprised though given the way that Ottawa operates these days with all sense of decorum fallen by the wayside. Where mud - and the slinging thereof - seems to be the order of the day. Where a person's private life and reputation is at stake on a daily basis. But I digress.
Back to the topic at hand. When a nationally published journalist and respected author such as Susan Delacourt begins to write articles based on rumours we, as Canadians, are screwed. We're screwed.
It means that the the days of responsible journalism are over. You know, the days when FACTS meant something. It means that the media has succumbed to the hyperbole of spin. It means there is no time for "original thought" anymore.
And what? Susan couldn't even name the so-called "Conservative government official"? So she writes an article, based on a rumour, and was suggested by an unnamed source? Now that, my friends, is what we call horseshit!
I'm not even going to link to her article as that would be giving it some form of credence. The media in this nation has sunk to depths that we have never, ever seen before in this country. No wonder bloggers and the likes are now being named as sources of information for the general public.
We shouldn't be surprised though given the way that Ottawa operates these days with all sense of decorum fallen by the wayside. Where mud - and the slinging thereof - seems to be the order of the day. Where a person's private life and reputation is at stake on a daily basis. But I digress.
Back to the topic at hand. When a nationally published journalist and respected author such as Susan Delacourt begins to write articles based on rumours we, as Canadians, are screwed. We're screwed.
It means that the the days of responsible journalism are over. You know, the days when FACTS meant something. It means that the media has succumbed to the hyperbole of spin. It means there is no time for "original thought" anymore.
And what? Susan couldn't even name the so-called "Conservative government official"? So she writes an article, based on a rumour, and was suggested by an unnamed source? Now that, my friends, is what we call horseshit!
Big Congratulations to My Friends Justin Trudeau and Ruby Dhalla Today
Many of you may remember that I implored the Liberal Party to name Mr. Trudeau as the Youth and Multiculural Critic back in the spring. Today that plea has been answered.
The bonus part about all of this is that Michael Ignatieff has found the perfect person to address one of the most infectious problems in our country today: Child Poverty. That person is none other than Dr. Ruby Dhalla. Dr. Dhalla has been at the forefront of the youth movement for years and knows all too well how child poverty affects our communities in more ways than one.
Here are the appointments made by Mr. Ignatieff this morning:
• Navdeep Bains – Small Business and Tourism
• Siobhan Coady – Treasury Board
• Bonnie Crombie – Crown Corporations
• Ujjal Dosanjh – National Defense
• Kirsty Duncan – Public Health
• Marlene Jennings – Government Ethics and Democratic Reform
• Derek Lee – National Revenue
• Joyce Murray – Amateur Sport and Vancouver Olympics
• Robert Oliphant – Veterans Affairs
• Justin Trudeau – Youth and Multiculturalism
Marcel Proulx was also named Associate Critic, National Defense.
Mr. Ignatieff also appointed several new special advisors:
• Ruby Dhalla – Child Poverty
• Mario Silva – Latin America
• Bryon Wilfert – Asia Pacific
• Borys Wrzesnewskyj – Emerging Democracies
Yasmin Ratansi was also nominated the new Chair of the Government Operations Committee.
The bonus part about all of this is that Michael Ignatieff has found the perfect person to address one of the most infectious problems in our country today: Child Poverty. That person is none other than Dr. Ruby Dhalla. Dr. Dhalla has been at the forefront of the youth movement for years and knows all too well how child poverty affects our communities in more ways than one.
Here are the appointments made by Mr. Ignatieff this morning:
• Navdeep Bains – Small Business and Tourism
• Siobhan Coady – Treasury Board
• Bonnie Crombie – Crown Corporations
• Ujjal Dosanjh – National Defense
• Kirsty Duncan – Public Health
• Marlene Jennings – Government Ethics and Democratic Reform
• Derek Lee – National Revenue
• Joyce Murray – Amateur Sport and Vancouver Olympics
• Robert Oliphant – Veterans Affairs
• Justin Trudeau – Youth and Multiculturalism
Marcel Proulx was also named Associate Critic, National Defense.
Mr. Ignatieff also appointed several new special advisors:
• Ruby Dhalla – Child Poverty
• Mario Silva – Latin America
• Bryon Wilfert – Asia Pacific
• Borys Wrzesnewskyj – Emerging Democracies
Yasmin Ratansi was also nominated the new Chair of the Government Operations Committee.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
About Conservative Attacks on Bill C-428
Ruby Dhalla has introduced a private member's bill. It's Bill C-428. Nothing new. The same bill received support when it was introduced by Colleen Beaumier not so long ago.
Because it IS Dr. Dhalla that introduced the bill, every Conservative blogger, TV station and radio call-in show has viciously attacked her and the bill. Misinformation seems to be their game.
Not one of them seems to recall that it was, in fact CONservative MP Gurmant Grewal that brought this to Parliament back in November 2004:
Motion M-187
Title: OAS Reform
Description: That, in the opinion of the House, the government should end the disparity of the 10-year residency requirement for Old Age Security eligibility.
Status: Placed on the Order Paper on November 3, 2004
___________________________________________________________
Where was the faux outrage then?
NDP MP Denise Savoie, with Olivia Chow also supported the bill:
For seniors
C-261 Establish a pension ombudsman
C-262 Ensure a guaranteed monthly income for seniors
C-336 Full retroactivity for pensions beginning at age seventy
C-432 Establish the first Sunday in February as Seniors’ Day
M-96 Eliminate the 10-year residency requirement for OAS
M-120 Half-price passports for seniors
M-135 Create a dedicated federal department for seniors to implement the NDP’s seniors charter
Because it IS Dr. Dhalla that introduced the bill, every Conservative blogger, TV station and radio call-in show has viciously attacked her and the bill. Misinformation seems to be their game.
Not one of them seems to recall that it was, in fact CONservative MP Gurmant Grewal that brought this to Parliament back in November 2004:
Motion M-187
Title: OAS Reform
Description: That, in the opinion of the House, the government should end the disparity of the 10-year residency requirement for Old Age Security eligibility.
Status: Placed on the Order Paper on November 3, 2004
___________________________________________________________
Where was the faux outrage then?
NDP MP Denise Savoie, with Olivia Chow also supported the bill:
For seniors
C-261 Establish a pension ombudsman
C-262 Ensure a guaranteed monthly income for seniors
C-336 Full retroactivity for pensions beginning at age seventy
C-432 Establish the first Sunday in February as Seniors’ Day
M-96 Eliminate the 10-year residency requirement for OAS
M-120 Half-price passports for seniors
M-135 Create a dedicated federal department for seniors to implement the NDP’s seniors charter
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