Now that's Olympic style Sacrifice.
St. Catharines rocker leaps to aid of fan
Posted By MONIQUE BEECH, QMI AGENCY
St. Catharines-born musician Dallas Green was jamming hard on his guitar, entertaining the fans gathered for Alexisonfire's Olympic concert.
Moments later, the rocker leapt offstage to help a distressed teenage female fan who was injured when a barricade came crashing down during the free event Tuesday night in downtown Vancouver.
It all happened within about 20 seconds of the five-member St. Catharines-based band's first song of the night at David Lam Park -- part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.
The crammed crowd of about 7,600 took out the temporary barrier, injuring 19 people as it collapsed. Nine were taken to hospital to be treated for mostly minor injuries.
It wasn't until a security guard came onstage that Green, 29, who plays the heavy rock gigs without his glasses, realized something had gone wrong.
The singer/guitarist looked down to see several people toppled on the ground. Green called out to the crowd before leaping from the stage to check on injured fans.
That's when Green spotted a shaken girl, who looked about 16 or 17 years old, who had badly injured her feet.
The tattooed rocker picked her up in his arms and carried her to a medical tent.
"It's just the kind of person I was raised to be, you know?" Green said in a phone interview from Vancouver Wednesday.
"You see someone that's in trouble, you go and help them. It was such a moment of chaos that I thought maybe if I go and help them and sit beside this girl, maybe it will help her calm down."
Meanwhile back onstage, bandmates George Pettit, Wade MacNeil, Chris Steele and Jordan Hastings tried to keep fans aware of the situation, and asked them to back up and clear the venue.
City of Vancouver officials, who organized the event, praised the band for acting quickly and keeping the crowd calm.
Barricades have collapsed before at the band's concerts and other hyper fans have been injured thrashing to the group's hardcore rock music, but never on this scale, said Green, adding the safety of the crowd always comes first.
"We've been touring for eight, almost nine years now, and played thousands and thousands of concerts, and this is the first time we've ever had something like this happen."
Green said he and his band-mates, who also visited fans in the medical tent, are relieved no one was seriously injured.
Still, Green said having to cancel the show only a few minutes in was disappointing.
"Not only was it a chance for us to be part of a monumental occasion, this being the first Olympics on home soil where Canadians have won a gold, and the chance to do really well, it was our chance to be part of Canadian history. Now, we're sort of part of Canadian history in a bad way."
Green, who also fronts the band City and Colour, said Alexisonfire hopes to return to Vancouver for a makeup concert in the future.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thank YOU!!!
I'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the unwavering support that you have offered me over these past few months.
Many more thanks to my campaign TEAM for putting in the never-ending and thankless hours that go into a campaign such as this one.
To the many donors that helped make the campaign look as professional as it did, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Looking good is sometimes half the battle - and your generosity sure did make us look good.
I congratulate the Jamie Maloney campaign on their efforts and look forward to working with Jamie in the near future to put forward your issues you have raised with me over the course of the campaign.
Sincerely,
Jim
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Many more thanks to my campaign TEAM for putting in the never-ending and thankless hours that go into a campaign such as this one.
To the many donors that helped make the campaign look as professional as it did, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Looking good is sometimes half the battle - and your generosity sure did make us look good.
I congratulate the Jamie Maloney campaign on their efforts and look forward to working with Jamie in the near future to put forward your issues you have raised with me over the course of the campaign.
Sincerely,
Jim
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
It's Official...Bob Chiarelli Will Run in Ottawa West Nepean
January 31, 2010 Bob Chiarelli nominated as Liberal candidatein Ottawa West-Nepean (Nepean)–
Bob Chiarelli – former Mayor, Regional Chair, and MPP – has been nominated as the Liberal candidate in the provincial riding of Ottawa West-Nepean. “I have spent my entire life working to make our community better,” said Chiarelli. “I believe I can continue the tradition of strong representation that Ottawa West-Nepean seniors and families expect.” As MPP for Ottawa West from 1987-1997, and later as Regional Chair of Ottawa-Carleton and Mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa, Bob Chiarelli has worked hard to improve the quality of life in Ottawa West-Nepean. He has been a champion of public transit, including clean light-rail expansion, and helped build over $150 million in new recreational and health care infrastructure in the community. As mayor of Ottawa, Bob ensured the city maintained its Triple-A fiscal rating. Bob and his partner, Randi Hansen, live in Ottawa. For further information about the candidate, please visit www.bobchiarelli.com.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Bob Chiarelli – former Mayor, Regional Chair, and MPP – has been nominated as the Liberal candidate in the provincial riding of Ottawa West-Nepean. “I have spent my entire life working to make our community better,” said Chiarelli. “I believe I can continue the tradition of strong representation that Ottawa West-Nepean seniors and families expect.” As MPP for Ottawa West from 1987-1997, and later as Regional Chair of Ottawa-Carleton and Mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa, Bob Chiarelli has worked hard to improve the quality of life in Ottawa West-Nepean. He has been a champion of public transit, including clean light-rail expansion, and helped build over $150 million in new recreational and health care infrastructure in the community. As mayor of Ottawa, Bob ensured the city maintained its Triple-A fiscal rating. Bob and his partner, Randi Hansen, live in Ottawa. For further information about the candidate, please visit www.bobchiarelli.com.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Friday, January 29, 2010
Khadr Ruling = Senate Appointments
The good news is that Omar Khadr will probably be receiving a favourable ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada today which will order the Government of Canada to bring him home from Guantanamo Bay.
The bads news is that the Conservative Oil salesmen, currently posing as the Government of Canada, will try to cover the good news up by appointing the 5 new members of the Senate shortly thereafter.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
The bads news is that the Conservative Oil salesmen, currently posing as the Government of Canada, will try to cover the good news up by appointing the 5 new members of the Senate shortly thereafter.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tonight In BRAMPTON.....
As I've said many times...Rik Emmett is one of the best guitarists on the planet. The other guys ain't too shabby either. I'm pumped.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Monday, January 25, 2010
Liberals pledge to prevent abuse of prorogation
OTTAWA – Surrounded by members of the Liberal caucus in front of the House of Commons on the day when Parliament should have resumed, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced that the Liberal Party of Canada will seek changes to the House of Commons’ rules that would prevent the Prime Minister from using prorogation illegitimately.
“Twice in one year, Mr. Harper has abused his powers by shutting down Parliament to save his political skin,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “In appropriate circumstances, prorogation is a legitimate procedure, but we need new rules to prevent Mr. Harper – or any other Prime Minister – from using it to escape democratic scrutiny.”
"Today, we're putting forward a concrete, practical proposal that will set out clear terms for how and when a Prime Minister can ask to prorogue," said Mr. Ignatieff. "I pledge that a Liberal government will respect these rules and the role of Parliament in ensuring accountability to the people of Canada."
To prevent future abuses of prorogation, the Liberal Party of Canada will seek to amend the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to:
• Require at least 10 days written notice from the Prime Minister of his intention to seek to prorogue, together with his specific reasons for doing so;
• Require the Prime Minister to bring the issue of prorogation before the House of Commons for a full debate;
• Prevent a request for prorogation within the first year after a Speech from the Throne, unless the House consents;
• Prevent a prorogation longer than one calendar month without the consent of the House;
• Prevent a request for prorogation if a matter of confidence has been scheduled in the House unless the House consents; and,
• Allow Parliamentary Committees to continue to function during the period when Parliament is prorogued until the start of the new session.
“Parliament should not prevent a Prime Minister from using prorogation in proper circumstances,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. “But the Prime Minister must be held to account for why he is using it, and the rules must be clear on when shutting down Parliament would be wrong.”
Liberals intend to submit their proposal to the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for consideration by all parties, and will then bring forward amendments to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, in the form of legislation if necessary.
“Parliament doesn’t serve the Prime Minister – it serves Canadians,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “That’s why Canadians need clear, binding conventions on the proper use of prorogation.”
-30-
Contact:
Office of MP Ralph Goodale
613-947-1153
Press Office
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
613-996-6740
Backgrounder
The Prorogation Power
Prorogation is a procedure which allows a Prime Minister to shut-down all the official work of both the House of Commons and the Senate, without dissolving Parliament altogether for an election.
The constitutional power to prorogue is vested in the Governor General. The request to exercise it is made by the Prime Minister.
When conventionally used in traditional circumstances, a request for prorogation is a legitimate tool for bringing one session of Parliament to an end, after the bulk of the work laid out for that session has been completed. This clears up Parliament’s agenda for a new Speech from the Throne to launch a new session.
Until recently, Canadians have been able to take for granted the proper use of the prorogation power. Past Prime Ministers have used prorogation in a manner that supports the proper functioning of our basic democratic institutions.
Stephen Harper, however, has corrupted the traditional use of prorogation by using it twice in the past year to arbitrarily shut down Parliament for the illegitimate purpose of evading transparency and democratic accountability.
Mr. Harper sought prorogation in December of 2008, to avoid scheduled confidence votes on his Fall Economic Statement, and again in December of 2009, to stop all Parliamentary examination of what his government knew and when they knew it about allegations of torture in Afghanistan.
To find a precedent for such abuses of power, you have to reach all the way back to 1873, when Sir John A. Macdonald tried to stop Parliament from probing his railway scandal.
Mr. Harper’s most recent Parliamentary shutdown will last 63 days after a session of 128 days in length. Since 1964, prorogations have lasted 12 days on average, while Parliamentary sessions have averaged 187 days.
The Liberal Proposal
Since the conventional principles of Parliamentary democracy are not secure in the hands of the Harper government, the Liberal Party proposes remedial action to restore traditional standards of democratic behavior in future requests for prorogation.
The Liberal Party of Canada will present Motions in the House of Commons to amend the Standing Orders of the House and, if necessary, propose legislation to achieve the following:
1. Require the Prime Minister, before making a request for prorogation, to provide written notice of his intention to do so at least 10 days in advance, together with his specific reasons for seeking prorogation;
2. Require the Prime Minister to bring the issue of prorogation, and his reasons for seeking it, before the House of Commons immediately for a full debate;
3. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation within the first 12 months of any session;
4. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation that would last longer than one calendar month;
5. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation when a vote of confidence has been scheduled in the House; and
6. Allow the Committees of the House of Commons to continue to function during the period of time that Parliament is prorogued.
If possible, Liberals intend to submit their proposal to the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for consideration by all parties before bringing forward amendments to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.
The Standing Orders have been amended in the past to improve accountability. For example, changes to the Standing Orders now prevent Parliamentary orders for the production of documents from being extinguished by prorogation, as well as prevent Private Member’s Bills from being killed when the House of Commons is prorogued.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
“Twice in one year, Mr. Harper has abused his powers by shutting down Parliament to save his political skin,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “In appropriate circumstances, prorogation is a legitimate procedure, but we need new rules to prevent Mr. Harper – or any other Prime Minister – from using it to escape democratic scrutiny.”
"Today, we're putting forward a concrete, practical proposal that will set out clear terms for how and when a Prime Minister can ask to prorogue," said Mr. Ignatieff. "I pledge that a Liberal government will respect these rules and the role of Parliament in ensuring accountability to the people of Canada."
To prevent future abuses of prorogation, the Liberal Party of Canada will seek to amend the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to:
• Require at least 10 days written notice from the Prime Minister of his intention to seek to prorogue, together with his specific reasons for doing so;
• Require the Prime Minister to bring the issue of prorogation before the House of Commons for a full debate;
• Prevent a request for prorogation within the first year after a Speech from the Throne, unless the House consents;
• Prevent a prorogation longer than one calendar month without the consent of the House;
• Prevent a request for prorogation if a matter of confidence has been scheduled in the House unless the House consents; and,
• Allow Parliamentary Committees to continue to function during the period when Parliament is prorogued until the start of the new session.
“Parliament should not prevent a Prime Minister from using prorogation in proper circumstances,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. “But the Prime Minister must be held to account for why he is using it, and the rules must be clear on when shutting down Parliament would be wrong.”
Liberals intend to submit their proposal to the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for consideration by all parties, and will then bring forward amendments to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, in the form of legislation if necessary.
“Parliament doesn’t serve the Prime Minister – it serves Canadians,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “That’s why Canadians need clear, binding conventions on the proper use of prorogation.”
-30-
Contact:
Office of MP Ralph Goodale
613-947-1153
Press Office
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
613-996-6740
Backgrounder
The Prorogation Power
Prorogation is a procedure which allows a Prime Minister to shut-down all the official work of both the House of Commons and the Senate, without dissolving Parliament altogether for an election.
The constitutional power to prorogue is vested in the Governor General. The request to exercise it is made by the Prime Minister.
When conventionally used in traditional circumstances, a request for prorogation is a legitimate tool for bringing one session of Parliament to an end, after the bulk of the work laid out for that session has been completed. This clears up Parliament’s agenda for a new Speech from the Throne to launch a new session.
Until recently, Canadians have been able to take for granted the proper use of the prorogation power. Past Prime Ministers have used prorogation in a manner that supports the proper functioning of our basic democratic institutions.
Stephen Harper, however, has corrupted the traditional use of prorogation by using it twice in the past year to arbitrarily shut down Parliament for the illegitimate purpose of evading transparency and democratic accountability.
Mr. Harper sought prorogation in December of 2008, to avoid scheduled confidence votes on his Fall Economic Statement, and again in December of 2009, to stop all Parliamentary examination of what his government knew and when they knew it about allegations of torture in Afghanistan.
To find a precedent for such abuses of power, you have to reach all the way back to 1873, when Sir John A. Macdonald tried to stop Parliament from probing his railway scandal.
Mr. Harper’s most recent Parliamentary shutdown will last 63 days after a session of 128 days in length. Since 1964, prorogations have lasted 12 days on average, while Parliamentary sessions have averaged 187 days.
The Liberal Proposal
Since the conventional principles of Parliamentary democracy are not secure in the hands of the Harper government, the Liberal Party proposes remedial action to restore traditional standards of democratic behavior in future requests for prorogation.
The Liberal Party of Canada will present Motions in the House of Commons to amend the Standing Orders of the House and, if necessary, propose legislation to achieve the following:
1. Require the Prime Minister, before making a request for prorogation, to provide written notice of his intention to do so at least 10 days in advance, together with his specific reasons for seeking prorogation;
2. Require the Prime Minister to bring the issue of prorogation, and his reasons for seeking it, before the House of Commons immediately for a full debate;
3. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation within the first 12 months of any session;
4. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation that would last longer than one calendar month;
5. Unless the House otherwise consents, prohibit a request for a prorogation when a vote of confidence has been scheduled in the House; and
6. Allow the Committees of the House of Commons to continue to function during the period of time that Parliament is prorogued.
If possible, Liberals intend to submit their proposal to the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for consideration by all parties before bringing forward amendments to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.
The Standing Orders have been amended in the past to improve accountability. For example, changes to the Standing Orders now prevent Parliamentary orders for the production of documents from being extinguished by prorogation, as well as prevent Private Member’s Bills from being killed when the House of Commons is prorogued.
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
Conservative MP California Dreamin'....in Technicolor that is
"Our constituents have more concerns on their minds," he said by phone Tuesday from California, where he is vacationing. "They want us to concentrate on jobs, get people back to work, and get the budget back in order. And that's what I'll focus on when I get back to Parliament and that's what I'm focusing on now."
Keeping in mind that Canada has elected three Prime Ministers from the Prince Albert riding, I think this guy ain't got a clue about irony or what the pulse of the electorate is.
H/t to Scott Ross
ONTARIO! Ours to Recover
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