Refugee claimant `not gay enough'
February 08, 2007
Nicholas Keung
IMMIGRATION/DIVERSITY REPORTER
The city's gay community and the Toronto Youth Cabinet are rising to the defence of a gay runaway from Nicaragua who faces deportation next Tuesday after losing his asylum claim because "he did not have any same-sex relationships."
Alvaro Antonio Orozco based his refugee claim on fears of homophobia and domestic abuse. He said he left Managua in 1998 at age 12 because he was regularly beaten with sticks and whips by an alcoholic father who threatened to "kill any child of his that was homosexual."
After a year hitchhiking through Central America, living off the kindness of strangers, Orozco, now 21, arrived in Texas. He was detained in a group home but left it for Toronto in January 2005, after learning Canada respects gay rights.
"Gay people in Latin America have to act straight to hide their (sexual) identity because people there are Catholic and are very conservative. I was afraid," the stocky construction worker said softly. "The (refugee) judge just didn't think I was gay enough and I didn't qualify to be gay."
Adjudicator Deborah Lamont, who conducted the Oct. 6, 2005, hearing from Calgary via videoconference, took issue with his lack of same-sex relationships during his six years in the U.S.
"I determined on a balance of probabilities the claimant did not pursue same-sex relationships in whatever capacity ... because he is not a homosexual," she wrote in her decision.
Lawyer El-Farouk Khaki said his client had to hide his orientation from the conservative church people who helped him.
"Did (Lamont) expect all gay teens to be sexually active at 14, 15, 16 years old? That's horrid," said Khaki, who will file a motion in federal court tomorrow to stay the removal. "In my view, the refugee board has failed to recognize that my client is a victim of violence, a victim of abuse. He's simply vulnerable, whether he's gay or straight."
Suhail Abualsameed of Supporting Our Youth, a gay-immigrant support group, said the case highlights the shortcomings of videoconferencing.
"That someone's gay or not is not going to come across through a TV screen, unless he's visibly queer. But it's the refugee adjudicator's conviction and belief that Alvaro is not gay enough," said Abualsameed.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
McGinty Lied? Come On, Get Serious. Where Is Your Proof
Students say McGuinty `lied' about tuition hikes
Nationwide protests call for lower fees; counter-protest blasts `truant hippies'
February 08, 2007
Louise Brown
Education Reporter
Chanting "Liar, liar, pants on fire! You said fees would go no higher," thousands of college and university students marched through downtown Toronto yesterday pushing the Ontario government to lower tuition.
It was one of a string of protests held by students in 30 cities across Canada to lobby provincial governments for more funding for higher learning.
In Toronto, busloads of students from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie, Peterborough and Barrie braved sub-zero winds alongside peers from across Greater Toronto at a rally at Queen's Park to demand tuition be rolled back to 2004 levels.
"Every generation has a cause to fight for, so this is my bra-burning issue; lower tuition for my children's children," said York University student Crystal Vogan at the rally organized by the Canadian Federation of Students.
The province had slapped a two-year freeze on post-secondary fees in 2004, and lifted it last fall to let campuses raise tuition by up to 5 per cent overall, including 8 per cent more for professional programs such as law and medicine.
Who will they vote for come October?
Nationwide protests call for lower fees; counter-protest blasts `truant hippies'
February 08, 2007
Louise Brown
Education Reporter
Chanting "Liar, liar, pants on fire! You said fees would go no higher," thousands of college and university students marched through downtown Toronto yesterday pushing the Ontario government to lower tuition.
It was one of a string of protests held by students in 30 cities across Canada to lobby provincial governments for more funding for higher learning.
In Toronto, busloads of students from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie, Peterborough and Barrie braved sub-zero winds alongside peers from across Greater Toronto at a rally at Queen's Park to demand tuition be rolled back to 2004 levels.
"Every generation has a cause to fight for, so this is my bra-burning issue; lower tuition for my children's children," said York University student Crystal Vogan at the rally organized by the Canadian Federation of Students.
The province had slapped a two-year freeze on post-secondary fees in 2004, and lifted it last fall to let campuses raise tuition by up to 5 per cent overall, including 8 per cent more for professional programs such as law and medicine.
Who will they vote for come October?
The Obscenity Of Your City Councillors
The art of affordable housing
By SUE-ANN LEVY
So let me get this straight.
Mayor David Miller and his NDP minions are on a veritable crusade to create 1,000 units of affordable housing each year for the next 10 years.
I heard just last week how his special $3.1-million Affordable Housing office is buzzing with new affordable projects, ground breakings, ribbon cuttings and the like. Deputy city manager Sue Corke was positively over the moon about a Request for Proposal (RFP) that had just closed days before to bring another 600 units on stream.
One of the applicants for that RFP is Verdiroc Developments Corp. with 190 units proposed at 48 Abell St. in the West Queen West Triangle -- an industrial building that has been turned into studio/living spaces for artists.
The Verdiroc plan is to build that 18-storey affordable rental building in conjunction with St. Clare's Multifaith Housing Society, a not-for-profit on the city's A list.
In fact, as Verdiroc's lawyer David Bronskill told me, of the 1,400 units in the pipeline as of last June, 400 of them were created by St. Clare's and Verdiroc. "These are the heavyweights of affordable housing," Bronskill said.
But never mind that. It seems the same council who embrace affordable housing with a religious fervour would sooner make a political statement, or appease a few starving artists much as they did with the Toronto islanders.
In a decision bordering on ludicrous, council voted 31-11 earlier this week to appeal a recent OMB ruling paving the way for the 48 Abell St. development, along with two other buildings on the site.
The appeal is far, far from a sure thing. Coun. Doug Holyday, who voted against it, said the city could end up spending $1 million on a court case they have a "poor chance of winning."
Yet in a speech worthy of an Oscar, Miller said there was "no more important" OMB decision to overturn because he needs to ensure there is "no net loss of jobs" in creative spaces -- implying the current artists would move out of the 48 Abell site, once redeveloped, because they would not be able to afford it. "Even Jane Jacobs spoke of the importance of old buildings where entrepreneurs start their creativity," he said.
Coun. Adam Giambrone, who represents the area, suggested that the developer refused to include affordable housing for the artists that is especially designed as live-work space.
Cary Green, Verdiroc's executive v-p of development bristled at Giambrone's words. He said in the 21/2 years they've worked on the project with city planning officials they've done everything to respect the needs of the artists there -- creating an affordable building with "special units all designed for the artists," a public gallery and a commitment to use their art for the decor.
Green said the city even recognized 48 Abell St. as an "absolute desirable" affordable housing site by giving it relief on development charges two years ago.
He feels a small "loud" local group of artists are crying in the mayor's and Giambrone's ears about not wanting affordable housing in that neighbourhood. Green also thinks the mayor and his team are using his development to take on the OMB.
For heck's sake. I can't make this kind of lunacy up. If their mouths were shaped like stop signs, the socialists would be talking out of all eight sides.
Look, if council really wanted to be responsive to a vocal majority, why didn't they take on the OMB over the obscenely high Four Seasons Yorkville development which everyone in my own neighbourhood was against.
Guess one can only be a NIMBY if you're a starving artist that is building the so-called creative city Miller can only dream about.
Green wonders why any developer would invest their time in Toronto, given the socialist attitude at City Hall. I agree.
"The message to the development community is you go through the whole process and play by the rules and at the end of the day it means nothing," he said. "Why should people develop here?"
By SUE-ANN LEVY
So let me get this straight.
Mayor David Miller and his NDP minions are on a veritable crusade to create 1,000 units of affordable housing each year for the next 10 years.
I heard just last week how his special $3.1-million Affordable Housing office is buzzing with new affordable projects, ground breakings, ribbon cuttings and the like. Deputy city manager Sue Corke was positively over the moon about a Request for Proposal (RFP) that had just closed days before to bring another 600 units on stream.
One of the applicants for that RFP is Verdiroc Developments Corp. with 190 units proposed at 48 Abell St. in the West Queen West Triangle -- an industrial building that has been turned into studio/living spaces for artists.
The Verdiroc plan is to build that 18-storey affordable rental building in conjunction with St. Clare's Multifaith Housing Society, a not-for-profit on the city's A list.
In fact, as Verdiroc's lawyer David Bronskill told me, of the 1,400 units in the pipeline as of last June, 400 of them were created by St. Clare's and Verdiroc. "These are the heavyweights of affordable housing," Bronskill said.
But never mind that. It seems the same council who embrace affordable housing with a religious fervour would sooner make a political statement, or appease a few starving artists much as they did with the Toronto islanders.
In a decision bordering on ludicrous, council voted 31-11 earlier this week to appeal a recent OMB ruling paving the way for the 48 Abell St. development, along with two other buildings on the site.
The appeal is far, far from a sure thing. Coun. Doug Holyday, who voted against it, said the city could end up spending $1 million on a court case they have a "poor chance of winning."
Yet in a speech worthy of an Oscar, Miller said there was "no more important" OMB decision to overturn because he needs to ensure there is "no net loss of jobs" in creative spaces -- implying the current artists would move out of the 48 Abell site, once redeveloped, because they would not be able to afford it. "Even Jane Jacobs spoke of the importance of old buildings where entrepreneurs start their creativity," he said.
Coun. Adam Giambrone, who represents the area, suggested that the developer refused to include affordable housing for the artists that is especially designed as live-work space.
Cary Green, Verdiroc's executive v-p of development bristled at Giambrone's words. He said in the 21/2 years they've worked on the project with city planning officials they've done everything to respect the needs of the artists there -- creating an affordable building with "special units all designed for the artists," a public gallery and a commitment to use their art for the decor.
Green said the city even recognized 48 Abell St. as an "absolute desirable" affordable housing site by giving it relief on development charges two years ago.
He feels a small "loud" local group of artists are crying in the mayor's and Giambrone's ears about not wanting affordable housing in that neighbourhood. Green also thinks the mayor and his team are using his development to take on the OMB.
For heck's sake. I can't make this kind of lunacy up. If their mouths were shaped like stop signs, the socialists would be talking out of all eight sides.
Look, if council really wanted to be responsive to a vocal majority, why didn't they take on the OMB over the obscenely high Four Seasons Yorkville development which everyone in my own neighbourhood was against.
Guess one can only be a NIMBY if you're a starving artist that is building the so-called creative city Miller can only dream about.
Green wonders why any developer would invest their time in Toronto, given the socialist attitude at City Hall. I agree.
"The message to the development community is you go through the whole process and play by the rules and at the end of the day it means nothing," he said. "Why should people develop here?"
We Know Where Harper Stands. Where Does Dion Stand
EDITORIAL: Harper a true friend of Israel
One thing we admire about Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Mideast policy is that he has chosen sides.
He has spoken plainly.
He has provided "clarity."
Harper's position is that Canada is Israel's friend.
Not it's friend only when it is expedient to be one.
But rather, a true friend.
As Harper put it in a speech to the Canadian Council for Israel this week, "a battle between a democratic state and the terrorist groups who seek to destroy both it and its people, is not a matter of shades of gray. It is a matter of right and wrong ... When faced with such threats, Israel will always have a steadfast friend" in Canada.
Bravo. We have urged Canadian governments to take this position for years. Because it is the right position.
Harper has not changed his view from the moment he took power a year ago, despite constant whining from the opposition parties and many in the media that his position lacks "nuance" and betrays Canada's traditional role as an "honest broker" in the Mideast.
Actually, that was the Liberals' position when they were in government and there was nothing "honest" about it. It was a position of unceasing moral equivalency, in which Israel was deemed a "friend" only when it was easy to be one. Harper, has been a friend of Israel even when it was not easy.
To be sure, Harper went too far last summer when he accused the Liberals of being anti-Israel during its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In fact, Liberal policy toward Israel -- as indicated by Liberal leader Stephane Dion, who spoke to the same group on the same night as Harper -- is not actively "against" Israel. The problem is it is not actively for it, either. Dion gave the traditional Liberal line that Canada supports Israel's right to exist in a secure and peaceful Mideast.
Two points. First, the Mideast is not peaceful. Nor has Israel's place in it ever been secure.
For anyone, including Dion, to say they recognize Israel's right to exist, is really to say they recognize the facts on the ground in the Mideast today. Yes, Israel exists.
The question is, given that Israel exists, do you support its right to defend itself?
Dion is merely the latest Liberal leader to fudge the answer.
One thing we admire about Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Mideast policy is that he has chosen sides.
He has spoken plainly.
He has provided "clarity."
Harper's position is that Canada is Israel's friend.
Not it's friend only when it is expedient to be one.
But rather, a true friend.
As Harper put it in a speech to the Canadian Council for Israel this week, "a battle between a democratic state and the terrorist groups who seek to destroy both it and its people, is not a matter of shades of gray. It is a matter of right and wrong ... When faced with such threats, Israel will always have a steadfast friend" in Canada.
Bravo. We have urged Canadian governments to take this position for years. Because it is the right position.
Harper has not changed his view from the moment he took power a year ago, despite constant whining from the opposition parties and many in the media that his position lacks "nuance" and betrays Canada's traditional role as an "honest broker" in the Mideast.
Actually, that was the Liberals' position when they were in government and there was nothing "honest" about it. It was a position of unceasing moral equivalency, in which Israel was deemed a "friend" only when it was easy to be one. Harper, has been a friend of Israel even when it was not easy.
To be sure, Harper went too far last summer when he accused the Liberals of being anti-Israel during its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In fact, Liberal policy toward Israel -- as indicated by Liberal leader Stephane Dion, who spoke to the same group on the same night as Harper -- is not actively "against" Israel. The problem is it is not actively for it, either. Dion gave the traditional Liberal line that Canada supports Israel's right to exist in a secure and peaceful Mideast.
Two points. First, the Mideast is not peaceful. Nor has Israel's place in it ever been secure.
For anyone, including Dion, to say they recognize Israel's right to exist, is really to say they recognize the facts on the ground in the Mideast today. Yes, Israel exists.
The question is, given that Israel exists, do you support its right to defend itself?
Dion is merely the latest Liberal leader to fudge the answer.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
A Quick Technical Question
Is it possible for more than one person to use the same name in the various blogs....Anonymous is an example and I am confused whether when I see a comment from a person with that handle whether it is one person.
Is Garth Turner joining the Liberals? Is Garth Turner a liar?
A couple of questions posed by Steve Janke. We have the answer to the first question and Steve supplies the answer to the second question.
Is Garth Turner joining the Liberal caucus? If so, what will Garth Turner have to say about this?
From CKNW News/Talk 980:
Former Conservative-now-Independent MP Garth Turner reportedly joining the Liberals.
I've always said floor-crossing is allowed -- it is a consequence of the sort of system we have. On the other hand, some people are quite against the idea of floor-crossing:
I am a democrat who believes everyone in the House of Commons, including the cabinet members who make up the government, should be elected. They should sit in Parliament as they were elected. If they decide to change parties, they should go and get re-elected.
Who said that? Garth Turner on his blog. Will Turner run for re-election? Hell no. I bet he'll make up an excuse along the lines that since he was ejected from the Tory caucus, he's free to cross the floor, even though his previous pronouncement on the subject said his re-election requirement applied to all members of the House, not just the ones in good standing with their parties. Politicians can rationalize anything.
But then maybe he'll surprise us all, join the Liberals, and immediately resign his seat to fight for re-election.
Is Garth Turner joining the Liberal caucus? If so, what will Garth Turner have to say about this?
From CKNW News/Talk 980:
Former Conservative-now-Independent MP Garth Turner reportedly joining the Liberals.
I've always said floor-crossing is allowed -- it is a consequence of the sort of system we have. On the other hand, some people are quite against the idea of floor-crossing:
I am a democrat who believes everyone in the House of Commons, including the cabinet members who make up the government, should be elected. They should sit in Parliament as they were elected. If they decide to change parties, they should go and get re-elected.
Who said that? Garth Turner on his blog. Will Turner run for re-election? Hell no. I bet he'll make up an excuse along the lines that since he was ejected from the Tory caucus, he's free to cross the floor, even though his previous pronouncement on the subject said his re-election requirement applied to all members of the House, not just the ones in good standing with their parties. Politicians can rationalize anything.
But then maybe he'll surprise us all, join the Liberals, and immediately resign his seat to fight for re-election.
A Fitting Tribute During Black History Month
Nation To Celebrate First-Ever Black History Month History Week
February 5, 2007 | Issue 43•06
WASHINGTON, DC—Saying the time had come for America to recognize "some of its most unsung heroes," President Bush issued a statement Tuesday announcing the creation of Black History Month History Week, which is to be held in the last seven days of February and will honor the men and women who pioneered the commemoration of Black History Month.
"From Monday, February 19, to Sunday, February 25, I invite the American people to join Laura and me in remembering those who made a difference in remembering those who made a difference in the rich history of this great land of ours," read Bush's statement. "People like Cleveland Mayor Michael White, who recited Martin Luther King, Jr's famous 'I Have A Dream' speech during Black History Month in 2004; event planner Sheila Carter, whose passion and determination forever changed the face of commemorating civil rights in America; and, of course, the Father of Black History Month, Gerald Ford, who first signed [Black History Month] into law."
"Without the achievements and sacrifices of these brave folks, it's hard to imagine where African Americans would be today—especially during February," the statement continued. "We must never, ever take Black History Month for granted."
All four major television networks are planning to preempt Black History Month programming with airing Black History Month History Week specials every weeknight. The networks have scheduled more than two dozen 30-second profiles of various Black History Month pioneers, including Annette Van Stijn, a former CBS News producer who created the first Black History Month network interstitial spots in 1980, and William Thorndike III, the first man to register the domain name "BlackHistoryMonth.com."
PBS, meanwhile, will air a two-part Ric Burns documentary on the towering Black History Month figure, documentary maker Ken Burns.
Lest We Forget
February 5, 2007 | Issue 43•06
WASHINGTON, DC—Saying the time had come for America to recognize "some of its most unsung heroes," President Bush issued a statement Tuesday announcing the creation of Black History Month History Week, which is to be held in the last seven days of February and will honor the men and women who pioneered the commemoration of Black History Month.
"From Monday, February 19, to Sunday, February 25, I invite the American people to join Laura and me in remembering those who made a difference in remembering those who made a difference in the rich history of this great land of ours," read Bush's statement. "People like Cleveland Mayor Michael White, who recited Martin Luther King, Jr's famous 'I Have A Dream' speech during Black History Month in 2004; event planner Sheila Carter, whose passion and determination forever changed the face of commemorating civil rights in America; and, of course, the Father of Black History Month, Gerald Ford, who first signed [Black History Month] into law."
"Without the achievements and sacrifices of these brave folks, it's hard to imagine where African Americans would be today—especially during February," the statement continued. "We must never, ever take Black History Month for granted."
All four major television networks are planning to preempt Black History Month programming with airing Black History Month History Week specials every weeknight. The networks have scheduled more than two dozen 30-second profiles of various Black History Month pioneers, including Annette Van Stijn, a former CBS News producer who created the first Black History Month network interstitial spots in 1980, and William Thorndike III, the first man to register the domain name "BlackHistoryMonth.com."
PBS, meanwhile, will air a two-part Ric Burns documentary on the towering Black History Month figure, documentary maker Ken Burns.
Lest We Forget
CDN Kyoto $$$$ To Support China's Economy
It would seem that this is fitting if Canadians want to be able to enjoy "clean air" and of course they will have more time on their hands to enjoy a cleaner environment as more and more jobs move to China.
Clean coal a problem, China says
ALEXA OLESEN
Associated Press
BEIJING — China will spend more to research global warming but lacks the money and technology to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are worsening the problem, a government official said Tuesday.
China “lags behind Europe and the United States” in the technology needed to clean its coal, which accounts for 69 per cent of its energy output, said Qin Dahe, chief of the China Meteorological Administration.
“It takes time to catch up,” said Mr. Qin, who served as one of China's representatives to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that last week announced that global warming is very likely caused by mankind and will continue for centuries.
His comments at a news conference Tuesday, the first official Chinese response to the report, came as winter temperatures in China's capital hit a 30-year high, state media said.
We are nice people Eh!
Canadians Express Themselves
China blames the west for global warming
Clean coal a problem, China says
ALEXA OLESEN
Associated Press
BEIJING — China will spend more to research global warming but lacks the money and technology to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are worsening the problem, a government official said Tuesday.
China “lags behind Europe and the United States” in the technology needed to clean its coal, which accounts for 69 per cent of its energy output, said Qin Dahe, chief of the China Meteorological Administration.
“It takes time to catch up,” said Mr. Qin, who served as one of China's representatives to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that last week announced that global warming is very likely caused by mankind and will continue for centuries.
His comments at a news conference Tuesday, the first official Chinese response to the report, came as winter temperatures in China's capital hit a 30-year high, state media said.
We are nice people Eh!
Canadians Express Themselves
China blames the west for global warming
Critics Of NAFTA & US/Canada Relations Pay Heed
Your bitching and complaining is minor when you consider the powers given to members of the European Union which is really an expansion of the NAFTA concept.
Criminal code raises fear over EU powers
By George Parker in Brussels and Nikki Tait and Michael Peel in London
Published: February 7 2007 02:00 | Last updated: February 7 2007 02:00
For eurosceptics, the European Court of Justice ruling in September 2005 was like giving a child a loaded gun. It opened the way for the European Union to designate a new class of pan-European crimes, and how they should be punished.
In Britain there was an outcry. In future decisions taken in Brussels could be applied to the British courts, denying parliament the right to determine what constituted a crime and levels of sentencing.
Concerns grew when the European Commission interpreted the ruling as being far wider than the case at issue: environmental crime. It produced a list of offences it believed should also be covered by the new rules, including counterfeiting, money laundering and computer hacking.
The Commission's decision this week to create common criminal rules for environmental crimes is seen by some as a sign that Brussels will take full advantage of the court ruling to stealthily advance EU powers.
Franco Frattini, the EU's justice commissioner, is said by aides to be fully aware that the court has handed him a powerful legal weapon, but it is one that he will use with restraint.
"Member states are concerned about sovereignty on this issue and that was made very clear by justice ministers in 2005 after the court ruling," said one of Mr Frattini's aides.
He points to the fact that in the 18 months since the ruling, Mr Frattini has only acted to create common criminal standards in two areas: counterfeiting and now environmental crime.
"We don't see this as the beginning of a European criminal law or as a mandate to start writing a European criminal code," said a senior EU official.
But what is to stop zealous Brussels officials fulfilling the Napoleonic tendencies often ascribed to them by eurosceptics and laying down the law to member states?
The first limit was applied by the European court, which said the EU could only use criminal law to achieve its objectives when it could show that "effective, proportionate and dissuasive" penalties were essential to combating serious environmental offences.
In many cases where the EU makes law, member states may already apply criminal sanctions across the board. However, in cases - like environmental crime - where some countries only apply civil penalties, the Commission may be tempted to act to bring consistency.
Secondly, any attempt to designate such a euro-crime would still have to be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states and the European parliament. Mr Frattini has promised he would only make proposals in this area if he was already sure of widespread support.
Last night British lawyers said the 2005 European Court ruling did not appear to have had any significant practical consequences.
But the sceptics argue that these are early days. They fear that in time Brussels might forget the court's reminder that as a general rule "neither criminal law nor the rules of criminal procedure fall within the Community's competence".
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Provincial Liberal Promises.....Oxymorinic
Delays deny justice
February 06, 2007
About 10,000 traffic and bylaw charges were tossed out last year in Toronto because there were not enough justices of the peace to hear the cases. And across the GTA, thousands more charges have been withdrawn or are at risk of being dismissed because of the shortage.
Scofflaws are likely cheering the backlog, which has let some people dodge fines and other penalties.
But this is an alarming development that demands quick action by Queen's Park. Letting people walk away scot-free from sometimes serious offences undermines the justice system by sending the message that laws can be broken with impunity.
True, this is not a new problem. Cities have complained about chronic staffing shortages for years, especially after Ontario downloaded the administration and prosecution of provincial offences to municipalities in 1999 but kept the power to appoint justices of the peace.
Recently, however, municipal leaders in the GTA and Hamilton passed a resolution asking the province to hire more justices of the peace.
Their concern is well founded. In Mississauga, 1,200 challenges to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were launched last year due to delays in provincial offences courts. Officials there say 6,200 charges are in danger of being dismissed in the first half of this year because of the shortage of JPs. Durham, York and Halton regions face similar problems.
As a result, dangerous drivers are getting off, public safety is being compromised and municipalities are losing revenue. Toronto alone missed out on an estimated $1 million last year in potential fines.
Some relief is coming for Toronto, where more provincial offences courts are slated to open this spring. But other municipalities say the problem is only going to get worse unless the province steps in.
The government is making promises of more appointments to come. Hopefully that's true because Attorney General Michael Bryant needs to fill the current vacancies without further delay. Justice demands it.
February 06, 2007
About 10,000 traffic and bylaw charges were tossed out last year in Toronto because there were not enough justices of the peace to hear the cases. And across the GTA, thousands more charges have been withdrawn or are at risk of being dismissed because of the shortage.
Scofflaws are likely cheering the backlog, which has let some people dodge fines and other penalties.
But this is an alarming development that demands quick action by Queen's Park. Letting people walk away scot-free from sometimes serious offences undermines the justice system by sending the message that laws can be broken with impunity.
True, this is not a new problem. Cities have complained about chronic staffing shortages for years, especially after Ontario downloaded the administration and prosecution of provincial offences to municipalities in 1999 but kept the power to appoint justices of the peace.
Recently, however, municipal leaders in the GTA and Hamilton passed a resolution asking the province to hire more justices of the peace.
Their concern is well founded. In Mississauga, 1,200 challenges to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were launched last year due to delays in provincial offences courts. Officials there say 6,200 charges are in danger of being dismissed in the first half of this year because of the shortage of JPs. Durham, York and Halton regions face similar problems.
As a result, dangerous drivers are getting off, public safety is being compromised and municipalities are losing revenue. Toronto alone missed out on an estimated $1 million last year in potential fines.
Some relief is coming for Toronto, where more provincial offences courts are slated to open this spring. But other municipalities say the problem is only going to get worse unless the province steps in.
The government is making promises of more appointments to come. Hopefully that's true because Attorney General Michael Bryant needs to fill the current vacancies without further delay. Justice demands it.
A Cottage Industry I Support
Scavenging blue boxes for returnable bottles.....it will help Mayor Miller meet his waste reduction goals.
Gunther Is Right On The Money
If Garth thinks he will be better off with the liberals he is in for a rude awakening. Dion is fighting for his life and he already has Holland so I don't think he needs a second spoiler dragging him down to defeat. Garth is not a team player and it was a big blow to his ego when Harper told him to get in line with the party or suffer the consequences.
For Garth, it's always about Garth
Lorne Gunter, National Post
Published: Wednesday, February 07, 2007
There's no mystery about why Garth Turner, the ousted Tory MP, has joined the Liberals. He wants to remain an MP after the next election, pure and simple. And the Liberals offer him his best chance--his only chance--of being re-elected.
Mr. Turner will no doubt explain away his decision to join Stephane Dion's caucus as a tough choice, made after the most profound consideration of all the options, and only after wide consultation with his constituents. But that's because Mr. Turner -- a shameless self-promoter and limelight hog, who nevertheless fancies himself a humble servant of the common man -- casts all his decisions as agonizing moral quandaries.
"I was unsure whether to have the white or orange cheddar on my ham sandwich. However, after carefully contemplating all the options (havarti, Swiss, edam), and speaking with the working people of my riding, I made the choice to have Brick."
More
Where Is The Change McGinty Promised You
We won't even mention the broken promises, which was a big change from when Harris made promises, but the following is just another example of what it takes to provide leadership......
School budget hypoGrits
The Liberals chastised Ernie Eves' Tories over balanced books at school boards. That was then
By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD
Not that I'm being smug or anything, but I couldn't help a slight smirk when Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed his, "disappointment" with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board yesterday.
On Monday, the province stripped the board of all power over its finances after trustees refused to balance the budget -- as they are required to do by law.
The province has appointed a supervisor -- oops an overseer -- to get the board back in the black.
Where have I heard all this before? Oh, I know. It was back under the Ernie Eves Conservatives, when Paul Christie was publicly flogged -- usually by Liberals -- on a daily basis for attempting to get the Toronto District School Board's $100-million deficit under control in 2002.
That was then, apparently. And co-incidentally Education Minister Kathleen Wynne was one of those pesky trustees who voted against balancing that budget back then. Now she's playing the heavy and sending in the cavalry to balance the books? Make that smug smirk a snicker.
A spokesperson for Wynne said these are entirely different circumstances. Sure they are. The Toronto board back then missed the mark by $100 million, while the Dufferin-Peel board is looking at a piddling $7.5 million -- with a projected $14 million in the hole next year.
Ernie & Mike haven't been around for a long time.....
School budget hypoGrits
The Liberals chastised Ernie Eves' Tories over balanced books at school boards. That was then
By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD
Not that I'm being smug or anything, but I couldn't help a slight smirk when Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed his, "disappointment" with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board yesterday.
On Monday, the province stripped the board of all power over its finances after trustees refused to balance the budget -- as they are required to do by law.
The province has appointed a supervisor -- oops an overseer -- to get the board back in the black.
Where have I heard all this before? Oh, I know. It was back under the Ernie Eves Conservatives, when Paul Christie was publicly flogged -- usually by Liberals -- on a daily basis for attempting to get the Toronto District School Board's $100-million deficit under control in 2002.
That was then, apparently. And co-incidentally Education Minister Kathleen Wynne was one of those pesky trustees who voted against balancing that budget back then. Now she's playing the heavy and sending in the cavalry to balance the books? Make that smug smirk a snicker.
A spokesperson for Wynne said these are entirely different circumstances. Sure they are. The Toronto board back then missed the mark by $100 million, while the Dufferin-Peel board is looking at a piddling $7.5 million -- with a projected $14 million in the hole next year.
Ernie & Mike haven't been around for a long time.....
What Are The Penalties For Councillors
Who fail to report contacts? When does a citizen become a lobbyist? What do we get for the $1 Million we spend each year? Do other mayors or councillors from other jurisdictions have to register as lobbyist when they want support for their pet projects that require provincial approval.
Lobbyists must join registry
By BRODIE FENLON, TORONTO SUN
Forget secret face time with your local councillor if you're a paid lobbyist.
Toronto council voted last night to establish a lobbyist registry that sets fines of $25,000 up to $100,000 for lobbyists who fail to report meetings and contacts with local politicians and city staff.
The registry, mandated by the new City of Toronto Act, will cost just under $1 million a year. Toronto is the first city in Canada to operate its own lobbyist registry.
"We should be proud that we're doing this," said Mayor David Miller.
"We are taking the first steps ... to ensure that when members of council are lobbied by people seeking legal change at the city -- particularly legal change that benefits them directly economically -- it's disclosed to the public."
LABOUR UNIONS
Several opponents took issue with the registry's exemption of city unions, which are not required to disclose discussions with councillors about labour relations issues. "The unions here at City Hall, they can literally grind the city to a halt," said councillor Mike Del Grande, who voted against the registry. "To pretend that they're not strong or powerful is again not being realistic ... the playing field (should) be level for everyone."
The new registry also requires former councillors and senior city staff to sit out for a one-year cooling off period before they can act as lobbyists at City Hall.
Marilyn (Lyn) Abraham, a former registrar with the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, has been named Toronto's first lobbyist registrar.
Lobbyists must join registry
By BRODIE FENLON, TORONTO SUN
Forget secret face time with your local councillor if you're a paid lobbyist.
Toronto council voted last night to establish a lobbyist registry that sets fines of $25,000 up to $100,000 for lobbyists who fail to report meetings and contacts with local politicians and city staff.
The registry, mandated by the new City of Toronto Act, will cost just under $1 million a year. Toronto is the first city in Canada to operate its own lobbyist registry.
"We should be proud that we're doing this," said Mayor David Miller.
"We are taking the first steps ... to ensure that when members of council are lobbied by people seeking legal change at the city -- particularly legal change that benefits them directly economically -- it's disclosed to the public."
LABOUR UNIONS
Several opponents took issue with the registry's exemption of city unions, which are not required to disclose discussions with councillors about labour relations issues. "The unions here at City Hall, they can literally grind the city to a halt," said councillor Mike Del Grande, who voted against the registry. "To pretend that they're not strong or powerful is again not being realistic ... the playing field (should) be level for everyone."
The new registry also requires former councillors and senior city staff to sit out for a one-year cooling off period before they can act as lobbyists at City Hall.
Marilyn (Lyn) Abraham, a former registrar with the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, has been named Toronto's first lobbyist registrar.
The Better Way Or The Bitter Way
It depends on whether you talk to the user or the TTC media flacks......
The Bitter Way, TTC riders say
Drivers are ill-mannered, surly lot, passengers claim
By MIKE KOREEN, SUN MEDIA
If the TTC really wants to be the better way, its employees might want to enrol in customer service 101.
Never mind the much-discussed funding woes.
More often than not, riders point to poor organization and bad behaviour from employees when asked what they'd like to see change on the TTC.
"The people who take your money are surly and rarely look you in the eye," said Paul Chodirker, an articling student at Heenan Blaikie.
"I feel bad for people who are from out of town because they're going to be in for a rude awakening (when they take the TTC)," he said yesterday.
If that's not bad enough, Chodirker figures travellers might be even more turned off if they have the misfortune of having to visit one of the two token booths at Union Station during rush hour.
"You have to wait in line for 20 minutes before you can even get on the train," he said. "And at the start of the month (when people) are buying Metropasses, it's just ridiculous."
PURE UGLINESS
Speaking of ridiculous, Christina Kim couldn't believe her eyes or ears recently when a dispute broke out between a bus driver and passenger. The passenger pulled a stop cord by mistake and the driver stopped the bus. What followed was pure ugliness.
"(The driver) said, 'If you don't get off, I won't start again,' " said Kim, who works in telecommunications. "(The driver wasn't) even a human being. So many people were upset."
Alex Bartlett also has issues with the drivers.
"I would get them to be more pleasant," the restaurant manager said. "I think it's a great system, but (the drivers) tend to be grumpy and miserable. You can just be nice. It's a service. To improve it, (drivers have to) be more friendly."
Bartlett had his worst experience on the TTC a few years ago with an employee on the Scarborough RT system. He helped break up a fight and the security alarm was pressed. By the time the vehicle was stopped and the employee had arrived on the car, the fight had stopped. He said he had pressed the alarm, even though he did not, leading to a nasty exchange with the employee.
"(The employee) said (the alarm) is for an emergency and I said, 'I think getting the crap kicked out of you' is an emergency,' " Bartlett said. "He said, 'I should charge you for (pressing the alarm). It was pretty amazing."
STATIONS DIRTY
Another relatively simple request from riders involves keeping transit property clean. Accountant Alirio Rengifo, 65, said he is disgusted by the dirtiness of many subway stations.
"I don't have a problem with the service, but people are sleeping in the stations and food is on the floor everywhere," he said.
"We pay a lot of money for (the TTC). It should be cleaner."
The Bitter Way, TTC riders say
Drivers are ill-mannered, surly lot, passengers claim
By MIKE KOREEN, SUN MEDIA
If the TTC really wants to be the better way, its employees might want to enrol in customer service 101.
Never mind the much-discussed funding woes.
More often than not, riders point to poor organization and bad behaviour from employees when asked what they'd like to see change on the TTC.
"The people who take your money are surly and rarely look you in the eye," said Paul Chodirker, an articling student at Heenan Blaikie.
"I feel bad for people who are from out of town because they're going to be in for a rude awakening (when they take the TTC)," he said yesterday.
If that's not bad enough, Chodirker figures travellers might be even more turned off if they have the misfortune of having to visit one of the two token booths at Union Station during rush hour.
"You have to wait in line for 20 minutes before you can even get on the train," he said. "And at the start of the month (when people) are buying Metropasses, it's just ridiculous."
PURE UGLINESS
Speaking of ridiculous, Christina Kim couldn't believe her eyes or ears recently when a dispute broke out between a bus driver and passenger. The passenger pulled a stop cord by mistake and the driver stopped the bus. What followed was pure ugliness.
"(The driver) said, 'If you don't get off, I won't start again,' " said Kim, who works in telecommunications. "(The driver wasn't) even a human being. So many people were upset."
Alex Bartlett also has issues with the drivers.
"I would get them to be more pleasant," the restaurant manager said. "I think it's a great system, but (the drivers) tend to be grumpy and miserable. You can just be nice. It's a service. To improve it, (drivers have to) be more friendly."
Bartlett had his worst experience on the TTC a few years ago with an employee on the Scarborough RT system. He helped break up a fight and the security alarm was pressed. By the time the vehicle was stopped and the employee had arrived on the car, the fight had stopped. He said he had pressed the alarm, even though he did not, leading to a nasty exchange with the employee.
"(The employee) said (the alarm) is for an emergency and I said, 'I think getting the crap kicked out of you' is an emergency,' " Bartlett said. "He said, 'I should charge you for (pressing the alarm). It was pretty amazing."
STATIONS DIRTY
Another relatively simple request from riders involves keeping transit property clean. Accountant Alirio Rengifo, 65, said he is disgusted by the dirtiness of many subway stations.
"I don't have a problem with the service, but people are sleeping in the stations and food is on the floor everywhere," he said.
"We pay a lot of money for (the TTC). It should be cleaner."
The People Speak Out On Improving TTC
A free ride not as goofy as it sounds
By JOE WARMINGTON
Is it time to make every ride on the TTC free?
Of course, it would not really be free. But free as in you don't have to drop $2.75 every time you jump on. Free in that you don't have to pay for a monthly pass.
I'd love your feedback on this. Remember the first ride on the Toronto subway in 1954 was 10 cents.
What I am asking is for government to think outside the subway car, steetcar and bus and think about a new approach to fund the service so important to our city.
With my suggestion, it essentially becomes a road. It's the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley, the 401. Same thing.
You don't pay anything (yet) for each trip on those highways, so maybe it should be the same with your subway, bus or streetcar ride. Should it be covered in your tax bill?
Now before you scoff, consider what this leftist council is setting up to do.
Down the road you can see a rider's increase, you can see tolls on highways and you can see a downtown car fee, as they have in London, England. That will suck and we have to prevent it.
They are trying to find ways of getting themselves on environmentally friendly magazines as green crusaders. So let's do it.
But let's not nail the working stiff anymore. Let's not penalize them for having a car or penalize them for not having one. Let's help them. Let's surprise and delight them.
They are good people -- people like Danny Elabd and Petra Hamspey who ride the TTC every day and think it's not far off from being great.
They are what it is all about.
More than 400-million trips each year, that's what the transit system accommodates.
The TTC is no different than a school or hospital or the police or fire department.
It belongs to everyone.
So let's end the charade. Let's get on with it, fund it as a vital service and let the working person gain the benefit.
And the green mayor can't balk. You want green? You want fewer emissions? People will definitely ride it and leave their cars at home if it's free.
That should help David Miller get his blond hair a magazine cover. But equally as important (more actually) is it would really help the working Torontonian. There would be fewer cars on the road and less traffic.
Now I know you're thinking. "How would this work?" It's not hard. Take this year's TTC operating budget request for 2007. They estimate their needs to be just below $1.1-billion.
To get there, they estimate they'll get $811 million from fares and $297.8 million from city subsidy. The city is expected to offer $246 million, leaving a $33.5-million shortfall.
It's a pittance for what it does every day and how important it is to families. The overall taxes can absorb that easily. They waste so much more on their collective silly projects.
With the province, federal government and private sector, this would be a new way of doing things that would acknowledge the transit system as sparkplug in the biggest engine of Canada's economy.
Councillor Rob Ford said yesterday he liked the idea of "privatizing it" or "selling it off to the province" and let them run it. Ideas are good.
Whatever way it works best for the rider is what I am for. If privatizing part of it, or letting certain companies sponsor certain stations, is a way to getting to where we need to go then why not?
Let them ride for free.
By JOE WARMINGTON
Is it time to make every ride on the TTC free?
Of course, it would not really be free. But free as in you don't have to drop $2.75 every time you jump on. Free in that you don't have to pay for a monthly pass.
I'd love your feedback on this. Remember the first ride on the Toronto subway in 1954 was 10 cents.
What I am asking is for government to think outside the subway car, steetcar and bus and think about a new approach to fund the service so important to our city.
With my suggestion, it essentially becomes a road. It's the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley, the 401. Same thing.
You don't pay anything (yet) for each trip on those highways, so maybe it should be the same with your subway, bus or streetcar ride. Should it be covered in your tax bill?
Now before you scoff, consider what this leftist council is setting up to do.
Down the road you can see a rider's increase, you can see tolls on highways and you can see a downtown car fee, as they have in London, England. That will suck and we have to prevent it.
They are trying to find ways of getting themselves on environmentally friendly magazines as green crusaders. So let's do it.
But let's not nail the working stiff anymore. Let's not penalize them for having a car or penalize them for not having one. Let's help them. Let's surprise and delight them.
They are good people -- people like Danny Elabd and Petra Hamspey who ride the TTC every day and think it's not far off from being great.
They are what it is all about.
More than 400-million trips each year, that's what the transit system accommodates.
The TTC is no different than a school or hospital or the police or fire department.
It belongs to everyone.
So let's end the charade. Let's get on with it, fund it as a vital service and let the working person gain the benefit.
And the green mayor can't balk. You want green? You want fewer emissions? People will definitely ride it and leave their cars at home if it's free.
That should help David Miller get his blond hair a magazine cover. But equally as important (more actually) is it would really help the working Torontonian. There would be fewer cars on the road and less traffic.
Now I know you're thinking. "How would this work?" It's not hard. Take this year's TTC operating budget request for 2007. They estimate their needs to be just below $1.1-billion.
To get there, they estimate they'll get $811 million from fares and $297.8 million from city subsidy. The city is expected to offer $246 million, leaving a $33.5-million shortfall.
It's a pittance for what it does every day and how important it is to families. The overall taxes can absorb that easily. They waste so much more on their collective silly projects.
With the province, federal government and private sector, this would be a new way of doing things that would acknowledge the transit system as sparkplug in the biggest engine of Canada's economy.
Councillor Rob Ford said yesterday he liked the idea of "privatizing it" or "selling it off to the province" and let them run it. Ideas are good.
Whatever way it works best for the rider is what I am for. If privatizing part of it, or letting certain companies sponsor certain stations, is a way to getting to where we need to go then why not?
Let them ride for free.
Transparency & Openness At City Hall
You won't find any union members, social in-activists, waterfront condo owners, island squatters and environuts in this picture.......
The Leader Of Our City Can't Handle A Group Of Children
The province gave the mayor more power, a group of short sighted taxpayers elected him mayor and he has the power to lead us to bankruptcy but he can't control something as simple as a "class" photo. A leader leads..here is where you will stand/sit when the photo is taken. If you don't then you will not be in the photo.
Council brats nix pic
Ootes: Mayor threw 'hissy fit'
Council photo shoot cancelled over seating dispute
Squabbling over seating arrangements caused Toronto Mayor David Miller to cancel a photo session with the city's new council on Tuesday morning.
The far-from-picture-perfect group complained about an arrangement that some said they were not told of ahead of time.
Left-wing councillors blamed several right wingers, including Mike Del Grande, Denzil Minnan-Wong and Case Ootes, for refusing to take the photographer's direction on where to sit.
The formal portrait was to replace the 2003 council group, but Miller cancelled the shoot.
Embarrassed councillors described each other as children throwing temper tantrums.
Del Grande was one the members who refused to budge from his spot near the front.
"I don't like to be pushed and I felt that I was being pushed," he said.
Councillor Pam McConnell, who sits on the new executive committee, was stuck near the back of the group, and not very pleased by the actions of some.
"If Councillor Del Grande and a couple of his cohorts want to play silly games, they should go to kindergarten and to schoolyards," she said.
In past years, seating for the council's photo was organized on the spot, with the mayor and deputies front and centre. The other councillors were arranged based mostly on their height.
This year the plan was to have the new executive committee in the front row flanking the mayor, the Toronto Star reported.
A few key councillors, such as speaker Sandra Bussin and budget chief Shelley Carroll, were to be placed in the second row, directly behind Miller.
Each councillor was assigned a specific slot, but some refused to move to their spots when shown the plan.
"I think elected officials should be able to behave and take a photograph -- my kids can on their hockey teams and I think they should too," Miller said.
"I guess I'm sort of like the principal. I had to go downstairs and phone their parents."
Right-leaning Councillor David Shiner said Miller's reaction was ridiculous.
"I think the mayor should not have run off. It's completely the wrong way to act as the head of council," he said.
Rookie Councillor Adam Vaughan defended the mayor.
"Throwing hissy fits in the middle of the class photo is an asinine way to establish some sort of political ideology," Vaughan said. "Is there any principle here?"
A city hall spokesperson said even though a city photographer was used, additional equipment rentals cost at least $1,000.
Council will try to have its portrait taken again, but a date hasn't yet been set.
Meanwhile, budget deliberations begin next month.
With a report from CTV's Chris Eby
Council brats nix pic
Ootes: Mayor threw 'hissy fit'
Council photo shoot cancelled over seating dispute
Squabbling over seating arrangements caused Toronto Mayor David Miller to cancel a photo session with the city's new council on Tuesday morning.
The far-from-picture-perfect group complained about an arrangement that some said they were not told of ahead of time.
Left-wing councillors blamed several right wingers, including Mike Del Grande, Denzil Minnan-Wong and Case Ootes, for refusing to take the photographer's direction on where to sit.
The formal portrait was to replace the 2003 council group, but Miller cancelled the shoot.
Embarrassed councillors described each other as children throwing temper tantrums.
Del Grande was one the members who refused to budge from his spot near the front.
"I don't like to be pushed and I felt that I was being pushed," he said.
Councillor Pam McConnell, who sits on the new executive committee, was stuck near the back of the group, and not very pleased by the actions of some.
"If Councillor Del Grande and a couple of his cohorts want to play silly games, they should go to kindergarten and to schoolyards," she said.
In past years, seating for the council's photo was organized on the spot, with the mayor and deputies front and centre. The other councillors were arranged based mostly on their height.
This year the plan was to have the new executive committee in the front row flanking the mayor, the Toronto Star reported.
A few key councillors, such as speaker Sandra Bussin and budget chief Shelley Carroll, were to be placed in the second row, directly behind Miller.
Each councillor was assigned a specific slot, but some refused to move to their spots when shown the plan.
"I think elected officials should be able to behave and take a photograph -- my kids can on their hockey teams and I think they should too," Miller said.
"I guess I'm sort of like the principal. I had to go downstairs and phone their parents."
Right-leaning Councillor David Shiner said Miller's reaction was ridiculous.
"I think the mayor should not have run off. It's completely the wrong way to act as the head of council," he said.
Rookie Councillor Adam Vaughan defended the mayor.
"Throwing hissy fits in the middle of the class photo is an asinine way to establish some sort of political ideology," Vaughan said. "Is there any principle here?"
A city hall spokesperson said even though a city photographer was used, additional equipment rentals cost at least $1,000.
Council will try to have its portrait taken again, but a date hasn't yet been set.
Meanwhile, budget deliberations begin next month.
With a report from CTV's Chris Eby
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Stephane's Cape Must Of Just Come Back From Cleaners
Otherwise how can admit failure last summer but project success now.....only liberals would think this "super hero" actually exists.
Stephane Dion's Kyoto problem
National Post
Monday, February 05, 2007
Stephane Dion, the Liberal leader, is in full-fledged denial of the obvious.
Last summer, he admitted to National Post columnist John Ivison that if he became prime minister, Canada would remain part of the Kyoto treaty through to when it runs out in 2012, but that it would never meet its emission-reduction targets. Specifically, Mr. Dion told Mr. Ivison: "In 2008, I will be part of Kyoto but I will say to the world I don't think I will make it." However, now that Mr. Dion wants to convince voters he is Captain Kyoto - the most environmentally committed politician in the country's history - he is claiming that he meant something completely different, and that he can still reach Canada's Kyoto targets providing he becomes prime minister in 2007.
For years, the Liberals -- who signed Kyoto in 1997 and ratified it in 2002 -- struggled with how to reach Canada's mandated target of a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (not pollution) below 1990 levels. They never settled on a plan. Meanwhile, they watched as emissions rose to nearly 30% above 1990 levels.
Stephane Dion's Kyoto problem
National Post
Monday, February 05, 2007
Stephane Dion, the Liberal leader, is in full-fledged denial of the obvious.
Last summer, he admitted to National Post columnist John Ivison that if he became prime minister, Canada would remain part of the Kyoto treaty through to when it runs out in 2012, but that it would never meet its emission-reduction targets. Specifically, Mr. Dion told Mr. Ivison: "In 2008, I will be part of Kyoto but I will say to the world I don't think I will make it." However, now that Mr. Dion wants to convince voters he is Captain Kyoto - the most environmentally committed politician in the country's history - he is claiming that he meant something completely different, and that he can still reach Canada's Kyoto targets providing he becomes prime minister in 2007.
For years, the Liberals -- who signed Kyoto in 1997 and ratified it in 2002 -- struggled with how to reach Canada's mandated target of a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (not pollution) below 1990 levels. They never settled on a plan. Meanwhile, they watched as emissions rose to nearly 30% above 1990 levels.
Not High On My List But If Ann Thinks It's Important
Free the Fitzgerald 1!
Conservatives often ask why so many Republicans go native when they get to Washington, D.C. The answer is: Because you don't defend them when they come under relentless attacks from liberal hatchet men. Lewis Libby did what you wanted.
~Ann Coulter
Conservatives often ask why so many Republicans go native when they get to Washington, D.C. The answer is: Because you don't defend them when they come under relentless attacks from liberal hatchet men. Lewis Libby did what you wanted.
~Ann Coulter
Hmm! This Seems To Be A Strange Decision
It would seem to say that homosexuality is not an accepted lifestyle in some countries. But then gays and lesbians are in the same class as jews when it comes to recognition by the UN.
Canadian and Swedish gay groups frowned on at UN
By Evelyn LeopoldFri Feb 2, 6:42 PM ET
A U.N. committee rejected credentials of a Canadian gay and lesbian organization seeking consultative status with the United Nations and deferred the application of a similar body from Sweden, according to documents circulated on Friday.
Accreditation, which has been given to more than 2,000 groups, enables them to take part in U.N. conferences and offer advice in their field of expertise, such as human rights, health and humanitarian aid.
Envoys from the Canadian and Swedish U.N. missions criticized the U.N. Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) at its Wednesday meeting, with Canada's Nell Stewart expressing dismay at the panel's "pattern of discrimination" in treating groups on sexual orientation.
The Canadian group was the Coalition of Gays and Lesbians of Quebec (Coalition Gaie et Lesbienne du Quebec), a national organization. The Stockholm group was the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights.
On the rejection of the Canadian group, the vote was 8 to 6. Against were Burundi, China, Egypt, Guinea, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia and Sudan. Voting in favor were Colombia, Israel, Peru, Romania, Britain and the United States. Abstaining were Angola, India and Turkey.
The U.N. committee is a subsidiary of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, which can reverse the panel's decisions. But with notable exceptions it agrees with the committee's rulings.
British delegate Thomas Woodruffe told the panel that every NGO that met the criteria approved by the U.N. Economic and Social Council should be admitted in the fields of health, gender and human rights.
He noted that 100 groups had been accepted with varying viewpoints not all governments accepted.
Human rights groups are often turned down, particularly when they deal with dissidents in authoritarian countries. Even the influential New York-based Human Rights Watch was rejected in 1992 before being admitted a year and a half later.
Jewish groups also have a problem, and their applications are usually deferred or rejected. Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization that runs hospitals in Israel, succeeded after lengthy diplomatic fights in 2001.
In its decisions this week, the committee admitted the American Conservative Union and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the (U.S.) Southern Baptist Convention.
Canadian and Swedish gay groups frowned on at UN
By Evelyn LeopoldFri Feb 2, 6:42 PM ET
A U.N. committee rejected credentials of a Canadian gay and lesbian organization seeking consultative status with the United Nations and deferred the application of a similar body from Sweden, according to documents circulated on Friday.
Accreditation, which has been given to more than 2,000 groups, enables them to take part in U.N. conferences and offer advice in their field of expertise, such as human rights, health and humanitarian aid.
Envoys from the Canadian and Swedish U.N. missions criticized the U.N. Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) at its Wednesday meeting, with Canada's Nell Stewart expressing dismay at the panel's "pattern of discrimination" in treating groups on sexual orientation.
The Canadian group was the Coalition of Gays and Lesbians of Quebec (Coalition Gaie et Lesbienne du Quebec), a national organization. The Stockholm group was the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights.
On the rejection of the Canadian group, the vote was 8 to 6. Against were Burundi, China, Egypt, Guinea, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia and Sudan. Voting in favor were Colombia, Israel, Peru, Romania, Britain and the United States. Abstaining were Angola, India and Turkey.
The U.N. committee is a subsidiary of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, which can reverse the panel's decisions. But with notable exceptions it agrees with the committee's rulings.
British delegate Thomas Woodruffe told the panel that every NGO that met the criteria approved by the U.N. Economic and Social Council should be admitted in the fields of health, gender and human rights.
He noted that 100 groups had been accepted with varying viewpoints not all governments accepted.
Human rights groups are often turned down, particularly when they deal with dissidents in authoritarian countries. Even the influential New York-based Human Rights Watch was rejected in 1992 before being admitted a year and a half later.
Jewish groups also have a problem, and their applications are usually deferred or rejected. Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization that runs hospitals in Israel, succeeded after lengthy diplomatic fights in 2001.
In its decisions this week, the committee admitted the American Conservative Union and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the (U.S.) Southern Baptist Convention.
Developer Not Mayor's Favorite List
That is the only reason I can see the Mayor opposing the developement. One of the reasons Miller is opposed is "that the area is a "creative and cultural hub" and that artists and jobs would be displaced" and I would ask the mayor about the Wychwood Barns Project which the Miller and Mihevic hijacked. How much did taxpayers pour into this project and now Miller wants to spend another $350K to fight a project. How much did his bridge fiasco cost the taxpayers?
Fight condo plan in court, mayor urges
Rejects as `utter nonsense' developer's claim that critics oppose project because of its affordable housing component
February 06, 2007
John Spears
City Hall Bureau
A developer who won Ontario Municipal Board approval for a condo development in the Queen West Triangle says critics of his application are opposed to the fact it envisions a high-rise with affordable housing.
"The only reason anyone would be blocking this, as far as we're concerned, is to stop the affordable housing," Cary Green, executive vice-president of the Verdiroc Development Corporation, told reporters at Toronto City Hall yesterday.
His firm's plan proposes an 18-storey building with 190 units of affordable housing – 30 to 40 for artists – as well as a 14-storey condo tower with market units, and an eight-storey podium connecting both buildings.
The project is planned for 48 Abell St. and is one of three OMB-approved projects in the Queen West triangle. The Abell address is now an industrial building that's been converted to artists' studios and homes. It would be demolished under the proposal.
Toronto Mayor David Miller and some city councillors oppose the projects. Among their concerns, Miller says, is that the area is a "creative and cultural hub" and that artists and jobs would be displaced by the overdevelopment of residences.
The OMB ruling came despite the objections of local residents and city planners.
Toronto councillors yesterday debated a motion that would see the city going to Ontario Divisional Court in a bid to win a new OMB hearing.
But city councillors heard it could cost as much as $350,000 if the city is granted leave to appeal the initial OMB ruling, then loses the appeal.
"There is something very special going on in that area of the city," Miller told council yesterday, urging the court challenge. He wants the "mixed-use" character of the area maintained.
Miller described as "utter nonsense" claims that critics of the 48 Abell St. project are opposed to affordable housing.
"I haven't heard a single resident talk about that. This is about the heart of Toronto. The big cities that succeed in the world are ones that nurture their creative economy ... (the Queen West Triangle) is the heart of that," he told reporters.
But Councillor John Parker questioned whether the city has "satisfactory grounds" for an appeal to take the OMB to court.
Fight condo plan in court, mayor urges
Rejects as `utter nonsense' developer's claim that critics oppose project because of its affordable housing component
February 06, 2007
John Spears
City Hall Bureau
A developer who won Ontario Municipal Board approval for a condo development in the Queen West Triangle says critics of his application are opposed to the fact it envisions a high-rise with affordable housing.
"The only reason anyone would be blocking this, as far as we're concerned, is to stop the affordable housing," Cary Green, executive vice-president of the Verdiroc Development Corporation, told reporters at Toronto City Hall yesterday.
His firm's plan proposes an 18-storey building with 190 units of affordable housing – 30 to 40 for artists – as well as a 14-storey condo tower with market units, and an eight-storey podium connecting both buildings.
The project is planned for 48 Abell St. and is one of three OMB-approved projects in the Queen West triangle. The Abell address is now an industrial building that's been converted to artists' studios and homes. It would be demolished under the proposal.
Toronto Mayor David Miller and some city councillors oppose the projects. Among their concerns, Miller says, is that the area is a "creative and cultural hub" and that artists and jobs would be displaced by the overdevelopment of residences.
The OMB ruling came despite the objections of local residents and city planners.
Toronto councillors yesterday debated a motion that would see the city going to Ontario Divisional Court in a bid to win a new OMB hearing.
But city councillors heard it could cost as much as $350,000 if the city is granted leave to appeal the initial OMB ruling, then loses the appeal.
"There is something very special going on in that area of the city," Miller told council yesterday, urging the court challenge. He wants the "mixed-use" character of the area maintained.
Miller described as "utter nonsense" claims that critics of the 48 Abell St. project are opposed to affordable housing.
"I haven't heard a single resident talk about that. This is about the heart of Toronto. The big cities that succeed in the world are ones that nurture their creative economy ... (the Queen West Triangle) is the heart of that," he told reporters.
But Councillor John Parker questioned whether the city has "satisfactory grounds" for an appeal to take the OMB to court.
Lorrie Goldstein Is Right
The debate on the environment is just beginning and no matter what poll you look at we are looking at a chicken/egg debate. Respondents are split pretty evenly on the issue.
February 6, 2007
It's the weather, stupid!
So much for media reports of our 'mild' winter being a sign of global warming
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN
Another day, another chance to shoot down more nonsense about global warming. Let's get started:
Read the facts.......
February 6, 2007
It's the weather, stupid!
So much for media reports of our 'mild' winter being a sign of global warming
By LORRIE GOLDSTEIN
Another day, another chance to shoot down more nonsense about global warming. Let's get started:
Read the facts.......
Transparency & Democracy In Action
Your $4.5 million at work
By 5 p.m. yesterday under its new 'streamlined' rules, city council had passed just one item
By SUE-ANN LEVY
Midway through yesterday's first meeting of the new city council -- and a particularly raucous morning -- Coun. Mike Del Grande concluded that the Millerites want not just to be in control but to have "absolute control.
"We might as well sit in the gallery with our mouths taped shut," he said.
Indeed, Del Grande and his colleagues on the right -- or for that matter any opposition to Mayor David Miller and his ruling socialist seals -- seem to have good reason to be concerned with council's new rules.
Despite the $4.5 million spent by the City Clerk's office to develop new meeting rules that are supposed to streamline decision-making, the proceedings were anything but that yesterday.
In fact, by 5 p.m., the new improved council had approved one lone item -- the appointment of Richard Butts to deputy city manager at an annual salary between $207,432 and $238,548.
The rest of the time, they bobbed and weaved from item to item as in council meetings of years gone by.
Despite the contentions of new speaker Sandra Bussin that she intends to be "as fair as possible," councillors like Del Grande and Denzil Minnan Wong say they observed nothing to that effect.
Del Grande said Bussin would not permit them to get up on a point of order or personal privilege, unless they first ran up to her like kindergarten kids to ask her permission privately. Even the motions he put on the order paper now have to be run by city staff, who make suggestions to do it their way, he said.
Minnan-Wong said the order paper was only provided to council at 9 a.m. yesterday. "We were kept completely in the dark until the last minute ... so they can control the agenda and suppress debate," he said.
He ran into trouble with "Madame Speaker" when he tried to question the order paper items deemed time-sensitive and confidential.
It got so heated that at 12 noon Bussin, who looked teary-eyed, was forced to call a recess to confer with the Clerk.
At 12:05 she declared that Minnan-Wong had not taken the opportunity to amend the order paper so he was out of luck.
When the councillor pleaded for some indulgence, given that it was the first meeting with the new procedural rules, Bussin repeated more than once: "I have ruled on this ... we're beyond that point." She even goaded the councillor into challenginig her ruling, knowing full well she had enough trained seals to support her (the vote was 27-13 in her favour).
Subsequent efforts by Minnan-Wong and Coun. David Shiner to question the proceedings were met with catcalls from the seals and a reprimand from Miller himself.
"You are repeating yourself over and over again ... move on," Coun. Kyle Rae said to Minnan-Wong.
ORDER PAPER PASSED
"Over and over," echoed Coun. Pam McConnell, instructing her colleagues to "vote" on the order paper as presented.
Not surprisingly the order paper passed 27-12.
"This is ridiculous ... it's really an embarrassment to the citizens of the city of Toronto," said Shiner. "We're in chaos here."
Minnan-Wong said he wasn't surprised with the catcalls. "They're high on their own power," he said in reference to Miller's minions.
As for Bussin, he's convinced she got her marching orders from the mayor to restrict debate and push things through. "It's arbitrary and iron-fisted ... it's dictatorial," he complained.
After the first day of the so-called new, improved council, Del Grande was already disheartened.
"This is what I feared about a strong mayor system," he said.
"I was not elected to be a seal or to sit and watch the action go by."
By 5 p.m. yesterday under its new 'streamlined' rules, city council had passed just one item
By SUE-ANN LEVY
Midway through yesterday's first meeting of the new city council -- and a particularly raucous morning -- Coun. Mike Del Grande concluded that the Millerites want not just to be in control but to have "absolute control.
"We might as well sit in the gallery with our mouths taped shut," he said.
Indeed, Del Grande and his colleagues on the right -- or for that matter any opposition to Mayor David Miller and his ruling socialist seals -- seem to have good reason to be concerned with council's new rules.
Despite the $4.5 million spent by the City Clerk's office to develop new meeting rules that are supposed to streamline decision-making, the proceedings were anything but that yesterday.
In fact, by 5 p.m., the new improved council had approved one lone item -- the appointment of Richard Butts to deputy city manager at an annual salary between $207,432 and $238,548.
The rest of the time, they bobbed and weaved from item to item as in council meetings of years gone by.
Despite the contentions of new speaker Sandra Bussin that she intends to be "as fair as possible," councillors like Del Grande and Denzil Minnan Wong say they observed nothing to that effect.
Del Grande said Bussin would not permit them to get up on a point of order or personal privilege, unless they first ran up to her like kindergarten kids to ask her permission privately. Even the motions he put on the order paper now have to be run by city staff, who make suggestions to do it their way, he said.
Minnan-Wong said the order paper was only provided to council at 9 a.m. yesterday. "We were kept completely in the dark until the last minute ... so they can control the agenda and suppress debate," he said.
He ran into trouble with "Madame Speaker" when he tried to question the order paper items deemed time-sensitive and confidential.
It got so heated that at 12 noon Bussin, who looked teary-eyed, was forced to call a recess to confer with the Clerk.
At 12:05 she declared that Minnan-Wong had not taken the opportunity to amend the order paper so he was out of luck.
When the councillor pleaded for some indulgence, given that it was the first meeting with the new procedural rules, Bussin repeated more than once: "I have ruled on this ... we're beyond that point." She even goaded the councillor into challenginig her ruling, knowing full well she had enough trained seals to support her (the vote was 27-13 in her favour).
Subsequent efforts by Minnan-Wong and Coun. David Shiner to question the proceedings were met with catcalls from the seals and a reprimand from Miller himself.
"You are repeating yourself over and over again ... move on," Coun. Kyle Rae said to Minnan-Wong.
ORDER PAPER PASSED
"Over and over," echoed Coun. Pam McConnell, instructing her colleagues to "vote" on the order paper as presented.
Not surprisingly the order paper passed 27-12.
"This is ridiculous ... it's really an embarrassment to the citizens of the city of Toronto," said Shiner. "We're in chaos here."
Minnan-Wong said he wasn't surprised with the catcalls. "They're high on their own power," he said in reference to Miller's minions.
As for Bussin, he's convinced she got her marching orders from the mayor to restrict debate and push things through. "It's arbitrary and iron-fisted ... it's dictatorial," he complained.
After the first day of the so-called new, improved council, Del Grande was already disheartened.
"This is what I feared about a strong mayor system," he said.
"I was not elected to be a seal or to sit and watch the action go by."
Mayor Miller's City Hall
Councillors say new rules gag themNow they have to line up to get the right to pose challenges or questions
By ZEN RURYK, CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
City council got snagged in political gridlock yesterday as some Toronto councillors cried foul over new procedural rules.
At the second council meeting since last fall's municipal election, councillors spent most of the morning wrangling over new rules that govern how they conduct city business.
"It was a mess. Council is becoming more arbitrary -- there is less opportunities to ask questions," Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong complained. "There is less opportunities for the public to learn and know."
The new procedural rules are being used to limit debate, he said.
Councillors now have to line up to inform the person chairing the meeting -- Speaker Sandra Bussin -- that they wish to pose procedural questions or challenges.
Mayor David Miller dismissed the complaints, saying: "There's always shenanigans at council and it's to be expected."
The rules are needed to ensure councillors have a chance to debate issues while preventing them from abusing "the privilege of other members" by just standing up and talking, he said.
What Is The Problem?
If this individual is spouting hate then he should be charged under Canadian hate laws. I have said it before...the mosque is bricks & mortar and doesn't pose a problem.
Mosque and Imam spark controversy in Newmarket
Construction of a proposed mosque sparked a heated meeting in Newmarket's town hall Monday afternoon. But the mosque itself is not the source of controversy. Instead, people in the community are worried about the Imam.
Members of the community packed the town hall, asking for a public meeting about the zoning of a proposed mosque.
Residents are concerned by the Imam's published views on controversial subjects, saying Zafar Bangash's comments could be considered hateful.
"Diversity is welcome. Religion is welcome. We have no problems with any of that," neighbourhood resident George Cunningham said. "But what we don't want is someone with such radical beliefs as this gentleman."
Freedome of expression is a two way street.
Mosque and Imam spark controversy in Newmarket
Construction of a proposed mosque sparked a heated meeting in Newmarket's town hall Monday afternoon. But the mosque itself is not the source of controversy. Instead, people in the community are worried about the Imam.
Members of the community packed the town hall, asking for a public meeting about the zoning of a proposed mosque.
Residents are concerned by the Imam's published views on controversial subjects, saying Zafar Bangash's comments could be considered hateful.
"Diversity is welcome. Religion is welcome. We have no problems with any of that," neighbourhood resident George Cunningham said. "But what we don't want is someone with such radical beliefs as this gentleman."
Freedome of expression is a two way street.
Monday, February 05, 2007
We Had 13 Years And Things Just Got Worse But....
It wasn't our fault it was the other guy. The fact that we had a majority most the time the other guys wouldn't let us do what needed to be done. This is right out of the Liberal Red Book.....look for someone to blame.
Ex-minister provides background on Dion, Kyoto
Ex-minister provides background on Dion, Kyoto
Do You Know What Issues Your Police Are Dealing With...
I came acroos a very interesting LINK while reading GirlOnThe Right's blog
Take the time to visit both sites........
Take the time to visit both sites........
The Baskin Robbins Social Flavour Of The Day
Very popular with those liberals who are bored with gays, blacks, the disabled, feminism, indians, etc. and their committment is based on distance from the problem.
THE LITTLE MOSQUE THAT COULDN'T
Excerpt from Mark Steyn below:
The other day I was giving a speech in Washington and, in the questions afterwards, the subject of Little Mosque On The Prairie came up. "Muslim is the new gay," I said. Which got a laugh. "That's off the record," I added. "I want a sporting chance of getting home alive." And I went on to explain that back in the Nineties sitcoms and movies began introducing gay characters who were the most likeable and got all the best lines, and that Muslims were likely to be the lucky beneficiaries of a similar dispensation. In both cases, the intent is the same: to make Islam, like homosexuality, something only uptight squares are uncool with.
At the time I hadn't seen so much as a trailer for Little Mosque. But it seemed a reasonable enough assumption that nine times out of ten the joke would be on the "irrational" prejudices and drearily provincial ignorance of the Saskatchewan hicks. And sure enough, if you settled down to watch the first episode, it opened up with some stringy stump-toothed redneck stumbling on a bunch of Muslims praying and racing for the telephone. "Is this the Terrorist Attack Hotline? You want me to hold?"
Well, of course, the local Anglican vicar tries to explain that he's just rented the parish hall to a harmless group of local Mohammedans. "This is simply a pilot project," he says reassuringly. "Pilot?" gasps the redneck. "They're training pilots?" And off he goes to the talk-radio blowhard who is, naturally, a right-wing hatemonger.
Meanwhile, the mosque's dishy new imam is waiting to board his flight and yakking into his cell phone about how taking the gig in Mercy, Saskatchewan is going to be career suicide. Another passenger overhears that last word and the cops pull the guy out of line and give him the third degree: "You lived for over a year in Afghanistan?"
"I was volunteering for a development agency," says the metrosexual cappuccino-swilling imam, who's very droll about his predicament: if my story doesn't hold up, he cracks, "you can deport me to Syria." "Hey," warns the bozo flatfoot sternly, "you do not get to choose which country we deport you to."
Fair enough. Never mind that, in the real Canada, the talk-radio guy would be off the air and hounded into oblivion by the Saskatchewan Humans Rights Commission; and that, instead of looking like Rick Mercer after 20 minutes on a sunbed and being wry and self-deprecating and Toronto-born, your typical western imam is fiercely bearded, trained in Saudi Arabia and such linguistic dexterity as he has is confined to Arabic; and that airline officials who bounce suspicious Muslims from the flight wind up making public apologies and undergoing sensitivity training; and that, in the event they do bust up a terrorist plot, the Mounties inevitably issue statements saying this in no way reflects on any particular community in our glorious Canadian mosaic, particularly any community beginning with "Is-" and ending with "-lam"; and that the most prominent Canadians "volunteering" for good works in Afghanistan were the Khadr family, whose pa was sprung from the slammer in Pakistan by Prime Minister Chretien in order that he could resume his "charity work" and, for his pains, he had to suffer vicious Islamophobic headlines like "Caught In A Muddle: An Arrested Aid Worker Appeals For Chretien's Help" (Maclean's).
Never mind all that. There is after all no more heartwarming tradition in Canadian popular culture - well, okay, unpopular culture: it's the CBC, after all - than the pleasant frisson induced by the routine portrayal of rural Canadians as halfwit rednecks. One would characterize it as Canadophobic were it not for the fact that the CBC's enthusiasm for portraying us as a nation of knuckle-dragging sister-shaggers reinforces our smug conviction that we're the most progressive people on the planet: we celebrate diversity through the ruthless homogeneity of CBC programming; we're so boundlessly tolerant we tolerate an endless parade of dreary sitcoms and dramas about how intolerant we are. In that sense, the relentlessly cardboard stereotypes are a way of flattering the audience. In the second episode of Little Mosque, for example, the non-Muslim gals of Mercy, Sask stage a protest against the mosque: every single woman in the march is large and plain and simple-minded. The only white folks who aren't condescended to are the convert wife of the Muslim patriarch and the impeccably ecumenical Anglican minister (though his church, unlike the mosque, is dying).
More
THE LITTLE MOSQUE THAT COULDN'T
Excerpt from Mark Steyn below:
The other day I was giving a speech in Washington and, in the questions afterwards, the subject of Little Mosque On The Prairie came up. "Muslim is the new gay," I said. Which got a laugh. "That's off the record," I added. "I want a sporting chance of getting home alive." And I went on to explain that back in the Nineties sitcoms and movies began introducing gay characters who were the most likeable and got all the best lines, and that Muslims were likely to be the lucky beneficiaries of a similar dispensation. In both cases, the intent is the same: to make Islam, like homosexuality, something only uptight squares are uncool with.
At the time I hadn't seen so much as a trailer for Little Mosque. But it seemed a reasonable enough assumption that nine times out of ten the joke would be on the "irrational" prejudices and drearily provincial ignorance of the Saskatchewan hicks. And sure enough, if you settled down to watch the first episode, it opened up with some stringy stump-toothed redneck stumbling on a bunch of Muslims praying and racing for the telephone. "Is this the Terrorist Attack Hotline? You want me to hold?"
Well, of course, the local Anglican vicar tries to explain that he's just rented the parish hall to a harmless group of local Mohammedans. "This is simply a pilot project," he says reassuringly. "Pilot?" gasps the redneck. "They're training pilots?" And off he goes to the talk-radio blowhard who is, naturally, a right-wing hatemonger.
Meanwhile, the mosque's dishy new imam is waiting to board his flight and yakking into his cell phone about how taking the gig in Mercy, Saskatchewan is going to be career suicide. Another passenger overhears that last word and the cops pull the guy out of line and give him the third degree: "You lived for over a year in Afghanistan?"
"I was volunteering for a development agency," says the metrosexual cappuccino-swilling imam, who's very droll about his predicament: if my story doesn't hold up, he cracks, "you can deport me to Syria." "Hey," warns the bozo flatfoot sternly, "you do not get to choose which country we deport you to."
Fair enough. Never mind that, in the real Canada, the talk-radio guy would be off the air and hounded into oblivion by the Saskatchewan Humans Rights Commission; and that, instead of looking like Rick Mercer after 20 minutes on a sunbed and being wry and self-deprecating and Toronto-born, your typical western imam is fiercely bearded, trained in Saudi Arabia and such linguistic dexterity as he has is confined to Arabic; and that airline officials who bounce suspicious Muslims from the flight wind up making public apologies and undergoing sensitivity training; and that, in the event they do bust up a terrorist plot, the Mounties inevitably issue statements saying this in no way reflects on any particular community in our glorious Canadian mosaic, particularly any community beginning with "Is-" and ending with "-lam"; and that the most prominent Canadians "volunteering" for good works in Afghanistan were the Khadr family, whose pa was sprung from the slammer in Pakistan by Prime Minister Chretien in order that he could resume his "charity work" and, for his pains, he had to suffer vicious Islamophobic headlines like "Caught In A Muddle: An Arrested Aid Worker Appeals For Chretien's Help" (Maclean's).
Never mind all that. There is after all no more heartwarming tradition in Canadian popular culture - well, okay, unpopular culture: it's the CBC, after all - than the pleasant frisson induced by the routine portrayal of rural Canadians as halfwit rednecks. One would characterize it as Canadophobic were it not for the fact that the CBC's enthusiasm for portraying us as a nation of knuckle-dragging sister-shaggers reinforces our smug conviction that we're the most progressive people on the planet: we celebrate diversity through the ruthless homogeneity of CBC programming; we're so boundlessly tolerant we tolerate an endless parade of dreary sitcoms and dramas about how intolerant we are. In that sense, the relentlessly cardboard stereotypes are a way of flattering the audience. In the second episode of Little Mosque, for example, the non-Muslim gals of Mercy, Sask stage a protest against the mosque: every single woman in the march is large and plain and simple-minded. The only white folks who aren't condescended to are the convert wife of the Muslim patriarch and the impeccably ecumenical Anglican minister (though his church, unlike the mosque, is dying).
More
If You Are Not Watching Him You Should Be
Link
Muslim lobby seeks to muzzle Glenn Beck
"The Saudi-funded Muslim lobby has found a new target: a conservative broadcaster that warns of terrorist plots against the United States. Arab and Muslim groups have launched a campaign to block the hiring of Glenn Beck as a commentator on ABC's "Good Morning America." The Arab American Institute, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Mr. Beck engages in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric and his hiring would incite hatred....
In a Jan. 18 letter, ABC President David Westin appeared to rule out any reversal of his decision to hire Mr. Beck. But he said "Good Morning America" senior executive producer Jim Murphy would be in touch with the organizers to discuss how ABC would respond to any statements by Mr. Beck that would anger the Muslim lobbyists.
Source
The Leftist Media Matters site has some grumbles about the above report but carefully avoids to tackle the free speech issues involved. They probably don't believe there are any -- except for themselves, of course.
posted by jonjayray at 12:27 AM
Muslim lobby seeks to muzzle Glenn Beck
"The Saudi-funded Muslim lobby has found a new target: a conservative broadcaster that warns of terrorist plots against the United States. Arab and Muslim groups have launched a campaign to block the hiring of Glenn Beck as a commentator on ABC's "Good Morning America." The Arab American Institute, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Mr. Beck engages in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric and his hiring would incite hatred....
In a Jan. 18 letter, ABC President David Westin appeared to rule out any reversal of his decision to hire Mr. Beck. But he said "Good Morning America" senior executive producer Jim Murphy would be in touch with the organizers to discuss how ABC would respond to any statements by Mr. Beck that would anger the Muslim lobbyists.
Source
The Leftist Media Matters site has some grumbles about the above report but carefully avoids to tackle the free speech issues involved. They probably don't believe there are any -- except for themselves, of course.
posted by jonjayray at 12:27 AM
This In From France....About What You Would Expect
February 4, 2007
Islam and Europe: Intellectuals capitulate
Filed under: Loony Left, Moral Equivalence, Old Europe, Islam, Culture Wars, Islamists — Jerry @ 1:55 pm
Appeasement takes hold again
Continue reading:
Link
Islam and Europe: Intellectuals capitulate
Filed under: Loony Left, Moral Equivalence, Old Europe, Islam, Culture Wars, Islamists — Jerry @ 1:55 pm
Appeasement takes hold again
Continue reading:
Link
This Environmentalist Should Get 100% Support
As opposed to those that want to save the world but......
Serving Real Coffee Low On The List
5 February 2007 07:46
Sexpresso coffee shops take Seattle by storm
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
Published: 05 February 2007
At the Sweet Spot Cafe in the northern suburbs of Seattle, you get more than a foam topping on your cappucino. You get a waitress in a bikini, or maybe a tight-fitting T-shirt, and a choice of drinks with names such as Wet Dream (with caramel and white chocolate), Sexual Mix (a caramel macchiato) or Erotic Pleasure.
South of the city, in Tukwila, the baristas at Cowgirls Espresso wear sheer negligees and visible pink panties. It's the same story in any number of other suburban bars and drive-through stands, like the Natte Latte in Port Orchard or Moka Girls in Auburn - bikinis, racy lingerie, fetish clothing, and plenty of suggestively exposed flesh.
Not To Go......
At Best Friend Espresso in Kenmore, at the northern end of Lake Washington, the outfits take their inspiration from Playboy-style sex fantasies. The staff will go for the naughty schoolgirl look one week, then don black-framed glasses the next to look like sexy secretaries.
Welcome to "sexpresso" - the latest coffee fad to hit America, in which the country's seemingly boundless fascination for Italian-style Java is combined with its equally boundless fascination for half-naked women.
Sexpresso coffee shops take Seattle by storm
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
Published: 05 February 2007
At the Sweet Spot Cafe in the northern suburbs of Seattle, you get more than a foam topping on your cappucino. You get a waitress in a bikini, or maybe a tight-fitting T-shirt, and a choice of drinks with names such as Wet Dream (with caramel and white chocolate), Sexual Mix (a caramel macchiato) or Erotic Pleasure.
South of the city, in Tukwila, the baristas at Cowgirls Espresso wear sheer negligees and visible pink panties. It's the same story in any number of other suburban bars and drive-through stands, like the Natte Latte in Port Orchard or Moka Girls in Auburn - bikinis, racy lingerie, fetish clothing, and plenty of suggestively exposed flesh.
Not To Go......
At Best Friend Espresso in Kenmore, at the northern end of Lake Washington, the outfits take their inspiration from Playboy-style sex fantasies. The staff will go for the naughty schoolgirl look one week, then don black-framed glasses the next to look like sexy secretaries.
Welcome to "sexpresso" - the latest coffee fad to hit America, in which the country's seemingly boundless fascination for Italian-style Java is combined with its equally boundless fascination for half-naked women.
Screw Them! They Don't Vote In Municipal Elections
Over 75 per cent of motorists opposed to toll roads
Sarah Matthews
National Post
Friday, February 02, 2007
More than 75 per cent of motorists are opposed to toll roads, according to an online poll conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association for South Central Ontario.
The online census polled 12,000 members.
"Almost all say they already pay too much in fuel, taxes and licensing fees and are seeing little in return in terms of investment in infrastructure," Faye Lyons, government relations specialist for CAASCO, said in a press release yesterday.
Tolls are a hot topic in Toronto, with an integrated transportation strategy to be presented to Mayor David Miller later this month.
Up for debate is the viability of a congestion charge, which is similar to the one currently used in London, England, for commuters who don't live within the city or pay taxes --but still use the city's roads.
© National Post 2007
Sarah Matthews
National Post
Friday, February 02, 2007
More than 75 per cent of motorists are opposed to toll roads, according to an online poll conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association for South Central Ontario.
The online census polled 12,000 members.
"Almost all say they already pay too much in fuel, taxes and licensing fees and are seeing little in return in terms of investment in infrastructure," Faye Lyons, government relations specialist for CAASCO, said in a press release yesterday.
Tolls are a hot topic in Toronto, with an integrated transportation strategy to be presented to Mayor David Miller later this month.
Up for debate is the viability of a congestion charge, which is similar to the one currently used in London, England, for commuters who don't live within the city or pay taxes --but still use the city's roads.
© National Post 2007
How Effective Were Liberals & Dion?
PM is ineffective on environment
February 05, 2007
Getting warmer
Feb. 3.
With climate change poised to unleash a storm upon our world, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it painfully clear there will be no storm of action from Canada and ur "new government." Far from it. In fact, the only intensity Harper seems able to muster on this vital issue is for the cynical and ridiculous stratagem of intensity targets for greenhouse-gas emissions.
This is ultimately nothing more than a ploy for disguising rising absolute emissions by measuring them as a share of economic output. By this standard, the unbridled expansion of oil-sands projects will qualify as sound environmental policy.
While we're at it, why don't we determine acceptable rates of cancer and other environmental diseases by measuring them against units of pollution output?
Harper is quoted as saying: "I don't think, realistically, we can tell Canadians, `Stop driving your car, stop going to work, stop heating your house in the winter.'" But what is realistic about failing to take action against the existential threat of runaway climate change?
Canadians are saying loudly and clearly that we are deeply worried about climate change, that we want action and that we are willing to make personal sacrifices to avoid sacrificing the health of our planet.
What we need is leadership. To adopt greener lifestyles, Canadians need coherent and effective public policy. To shift to a sustainable economy, business needs new standards and a level playing field. But instead of action, Harper offers us attack ads; instead of government, we get partisan politicking; instead of policy, we are given apology.
Called to confront the challenge of our age, Harper, in his own words, has declared himself to be inadequate for the task. Since he prefers the role of spectator, let us quickly give him a seat on the sidelines. The sooner we relegate Harper to an unfortunate footnote in the history of this crisis, the better.
Kevin Farmer, Toronto
[Star Poll]
thestar.com Poll
Will the latest report on climate change prompt you to make changes in your lifestyle?
Yes 1141 41%
No 1622 58%
Electoral Reform In Toronto! Get In Line......
Behind the unions, environuts, social inactivists, waterfront condo owners, island squatters......
Electoral reform depends on Miller
February 05, 2007
In perhaps one of the most selfless moments in its history, Toronto City Council approved reforms in the fall of 2004 designed to make it easier for political newcomers to win elections. Unfair advantages enjoyed by incumbent councillors were voluntarily surrendered. Speeches were made lauding this move and advocates of reform were elated.
Unfortunately, their celebration was premature. Almost 2 1/2 years after city council's principled decision, measures meant to enhance municipal democracy remain undelivered. The old, unfair rules prevailed during last November's civic election. And, to little surprise, every incumbent but one seeking re-election was returned to Toronto council.
Clearly, the current system is badly out of balance. That's why steps must be taken now to fix it before another election is fought under flawed rules that city council meant to correct years ago.
To that end, reformers led by councillor Michael Walker are putting a motion before council urging that democratic change be put back on track. The measure, likely to go to council today or tomorrow, directs city staff to review the status of the lapsed election reform and study what could be done to rectify the situation.
It also calls for a bylaw that would ban corporate and union donations to municipal campaigns. Such a ban was a key part of the reform package approved in 2004 by the council. It would help political newcomers because unions and companies tend to back sitting councillors, with some incumbents getting 70 per cent of their contributions from such sources.
Other elements of the old reform package included counting the cost of gala parties for backers as a campaign expense, instead of exempting it.
In addition, all campaign money raised, but not used, would have to be turned over to the city instead of amassed for future elections. It is estimated this change alone would have added more than $1 million to Toronto's coffers, had it been in effect in the past.
As well, Elections Ontario would monitor and police local elections. Under current rules, there is no credible arbiter when disputes arise.
These measures withered and died when Queen's Park failed to act upon them in time for the last election, despite having well over a year to do so. This time around, with Toronto receiving new powers from the province, it is unclear how much the city could do on its own and what steps would still need provincial approval. That is why council should instruct staff to sort out jurisdictions and then boldly move forward on election reform.
To ensure action, Mayor David Miller should become the champion of this reform movement. Democracy requires a fair, open and accountable election process. Miller will have a chance to display his commitment to those principles through his reaction to this proposal. Recent changes to Toronto's power structure have given the mayor immense new clout.
Simply put, if Miller wants election reform to happen, it will. And if it ends up dismissed, shunted aside, shoved to the bottom of the agenda and delayed for several more years, then that too would be Miller's choice.
Electoral reform depends on Miller
February 05, 2007
In perhaps one of the most selfless moments in its history, Toronto City Council approved reforms in the fall of 2004 designed to make it easier for political newcomers to win elections. Unfair advantages enjoyed by incumbent councillors were voluntarily surrendered. Speeches were made lauding this move and advocates of reform were elated.
Unfortunately, their celebration was premature. Almost 2 1/2 years after city council's principled decision, measures meant to enhance municipal democracy remain undelivered. The old, unfair rules prevailed during last November's civic election. And, to little surprise, every incumbent but one seeking re-election was returned to Toronto council.
Clearly, the current system is badly out of balance. That's why steps must be taken now to fix it before another election is fought under flawed rules that city council meant to correct years ago.
To that end, reformers led by councillor Michael Walker are putting a motion before council urging that democratic change be put back on track. The measure, likely to go to council today or tomorrow, directs city staff to review the status of the lapsed election reform and study what could be done to rectify the situation.
It also calls for a bylaw that would ban corporate and union donations to municipal campaigns. Such a ban was a key part of the reform package approved in 2004 by the council. It would help political newcomers because unions and companies tend to back sitting councillors, with some incumbents getting 70 per cent of their contributions from such sources.
Other elements of the old reform package included counting the cost of gala parties for backers as a campaign expense, instead of exempting it.
In addition, all campaign money raised, but not used, would have to be turned over to the city instead of amassed for future elections. It is estimated this change alone would have added more than $1 million to Toronto's coffers, had it been in effect in the past.
As well, Elections Ontario would monitor and police local elections. Under current rules, there is no credible arbiter when disputes arise.
These measures withered and died when Queen's Park failed to act upon them in time for the last election, despite having well over a year to do so. This time around, with Toronto receiving new powers from the province, it is unclear how much the city could do on its own and what steps would still need provincial approval. That is why council should instruct staff to sort out jurisdictions and then boldly move forward on election reform.
To ensure action, Mayor David Miller should become the champion of this reform movement. Democracy requires a fair, open and accountable election process. Miller will have a chance to display his commitment to those principles through his reaction to this proposal. Recent changes to Toronto's power structure have given the mayor immense new clout.
Simply put, if Miller wants election reform to happen, it will. And if it ends up dismissed, shunted aside, shoved to the bottom of the agenda and delayed for several more years, then that too would be Miller's choice.
Are we in denial over slave role?
No Royson, we are not in denial just a little tired of paying for the sins of our forefathers, who in my particular case had no contact with the slave trade, we are pissed off with being labelled racists when we speak out about problems in the black community and being blamed if we are more successful than our black brothers. There is no question that "whitey" benefitted from the "slave trade" but why is it we never hear about the involvement of blacks and arabs in the procurement of the people who were sold into slavery.
I support recognizing the abolition of slavery in Canada but if it is not happening then I would ask where are the black leaders.....
# Lionel Jones
# Emery Barnes
# Lincoln Alexander
# Anne Cools
# Alvin Curling
# Howard Douglas McCurdy
# Rob Davies.
Where is the Governor General, where are the prominent black sport figures, where are the "community leaders."
Canada largely ignores bicentenary marking history of a monstrous crime
I support recognizing the abolition of slavery in Canada but if it is not happening then I would ask where are the black leaders.....
# Lionel Jones
# Emery Barnes
# Lincoln Alexander
# Anne Cools
# Alvin Curling
# Howard Douglas McCurdy
# Rob Davies.
Where is the Governor General, where are the prominent black sport figures, where are the "community leaders."
Canada largely ignores bicentenary marking history of a monstrous crime
Ottawa Tour dE Farce
The sooner we have an election and give Harper a majority the sooner we can start dealing with problems that we can solve.......
Canadians urged to go green
Dion was not so hot on warming: Ex-minister
NDP two-faced about Tories: Ignatieff
Canadians urged to go green
Dion was not so hot on warming: Ex-minister
NDP two-faced about Tories: Ignatieff
Quebec Might Lead The Blind Out Of The Wilderness
It is ironic, but not surprising, that a province that is known for it's suspension of civil liberties of anglophones would be the home for a movement to rein in diversity and set an example for all of Canada. But in fairness to the people in these two towns Ontario has taken similar action when they denied the implementaion of Shiara law.
Quebec town spawns uneasy debate
Accommodation of religious and ethnic minorities reveals ugly urban-rural split
February 05, 2007
Sean Gordon
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
MONTREAL–The hamlet of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, home to 308 souls, perches on the banks of the St. Maurice River, hard by the verdant hills of La Mauricie National Park.
According to the most recent Statistics Canada figures, there are precisely zero foreign-born residents in the town and zero visible minorities, neither of which has deterred Saint-Roch's civic leaders from adopting a code of conduct for new arrivals.
The document, which was approved unanimously at a council meeting Friday night, mirrors a citizens' code adopted by nearby Hérouxville, which solemnly forbids stoning women, the donning of burqas, and wearing Sikh ceremonial daggers in school.
"This should have been done here long ago," Claude Dumont, Saint-Roch's elected mayor, said last week.
Dumont admitted he doesn't know much about immigrant communities and that "we don't live with them side-by-side here like they do in Montreal, but if I've chosen to live here it's because I like the way we live ... and I don't want it to change."
While the council decisions in Hérouxville and Saint-Roch have been vigorously attacked for being over-the-top, there is nevertheless strong public support for a discussion on how far a society should go to accommodate religious and ethnic minorities.
more
Quebec town spawns uneasy debate
Accommodation of religious and ethnic minorities reveals ugly urban-rural split
February 05, 2007
Sean Gordon
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
MONTREAL–The hamlet of Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, home to 308 souls, perches on the banks of the St. Maurice River, hard by the verdant hills of La Mauricie National Park.
According to the most recent Statistics Canada figures, there are precisely zero foreign-born residents in the town and zero visible minorities, neither of which has deterred Saint-Roch's civic leaders from adopting a code of conduct for new arrivals.
The document, which was approved unanimously at a council meeting Friday night, mirrors a citizens' code adopted by nearby Hérouxville, which solemnly forbids stoning women, the donning of burqas, and wearing Sikh ceremonial daggers in school.
"This should have been done here long ago," Claude Dumont, Saint-Roch's elected mayor, said last week.
Dumont admitted he doesn't know much about immigrant communities and that "we don't live with them side-by-side here like they do in Montreal, but if I've chosen to live here it's because I like the way we live ... and I don't want it to change."
While the council decisions in Hérouxville and Saint-Roch have been vigorously attacked for being over-the-top, there is nevertheless strong public support for a discussion on how far a society should go to accommodate religious and ethnic minorities.
more
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Mexico In The News Again
Two Ontario residents shot in Mexico: reports
toronto.ctv.ca
There are reports that two residents from Woodbridge, Ont., have been shot while vacationing in Acapulco, Mexico.
Reports say the pair, a man and a woman, were wounded at the Casa Inn hotel. The extent of their injuries is not yet known, but they are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Additional information is not yet available.
Another teen from Woodbridge, just northwest of Toronto, died last month while vacating in Acapulco.
Adam DePrisco, 19, was killed after attending a popular nightclub. Preliminary autopsy reports support the claim by Mexican police that he was struck in a hit-and-run crash.
DePrisco's family, however, believes he was beaten to death by locals for dancing with a man's girlfriend.
Less than two weeks after DePrisco's death, an elderly man from southwestern Ontario was killed in a hit-and-run accident that left his wife in a coma.
Clifford Glasier and his wife Janette Lerch, of Chatham, had been renting a house in the country for four months when they were struck crossing a street near Lake Chapala.
Glasier's death came about 11 months after Woodbridge couple Dominic and Nancy Ianiero were found slain at a resort near Cancun.
Mexican authorities have been accused of bungling their murder investigation.
toronto.ctv.ca
There are reports that two residents from Woodbridge, Ont., have been shot while vacationing in Acapulco, Mexico.
Reports say the pair, a man and a woman, were wounded at the Casa Inn hotel. The extent of their injuries is not yet known, but they are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Additional information is not yet available.
Another teen from Woodbridge, just northwest of Toronto, died last month while vacating in Acapulco.
Adam DePrisco, 19, was killed after attending a popular nightclub. Preliminary autopsy reports support the claim by Mexican police that he was struck in a hit-and-run crash.
DePrisco's family, however, believes he was beaten to death by locals for dancing with a man's girlfriend.
Less than two weeks after DePrisco's death, an elderly man from southwestern Ontario was killed in a hit-and-run accident that left his wife in a coma.
Clifford Glasier and his wife Janette Lerch, of Chatham, had been renting a house in the country for four months when they were struck crossing a street near Lake Chapala.
Glasier's death came about 11 months after Woodbridge couple Dominic and Nancy Ianiero were found slain at a resort near Cancun.
Mexican authorities have been accused of bungling their murder investigation.
Level Of Concern/Sacrifice On Global Warming
It is not at the top of everyone's list and the committment comes with a very large back door.......China & Russia buy into Kyoto but are not required to walk the talk.
A canary in the Chinese coal mine
Are you prepared to make some sacrifice in your own standard of living to help fight global warming?
Yes, unequivocally.
7954 votes (26%) 7954 votes
Yes, but only if governments and industries around the world also join the fight.
20008 votes (65%) 20008 votes
No, global warming is occurring but we don't need to act right now.
1069 votes (3%) 1069 votes
No, I don't believe that global warming is occurring.
1862 votes (6%) 1862 votes
Total votes: 30893
There are many issues confronting Canada right now - where do you place climate change on the list?
At the very top
9258 votes (10%) 9258 votes
In the top three
18651 votes (20%) 18651 votes
In the top five
50366 votes (55%) 50366 votes
It's not that big an issue
12752 votes (14%) 12752 votes
Total votes: 91027
A canary in the Chinese coal mine
Are you prepared to make some sacrifice in your own standard of living to help fight global warming?
Yes, unequivocally.
7954 votes (26%) 7954 votes
Yes, but only if governments and industries around the world also join the fight.
20008 votes (65%) 20008 votes
No, global warming is occurring but we don't need to act right now.
1069 votes (3%) 1069 votes
No, I don't believe that global warming is occurring.
1862 votes (6%) 1862 votes
Total votes: 30893
There are many issues confronting Canada right now - where do you place climate change on the list?
At the very top
9258 votes (10%) 9258 votes
In the top three
18651 votes (20%) 18651 votes
In the top five
50366 votes (55%) 50366 votes
It's not that big an issue
12752 votes (14%) 12752 votes
Total votes: 91027
Fighting Racism
Blacks, Whites Put Differences Aside, Work Together To Make Better Burger
January 12, 2005 | Issue 41•02
LOUISVILLE, KY—Sadly, in 2005, America remains a nation deeply divided along racial lines. It's enough to cause one to lose hope. But divided as we are, every now and again something comes along to remind us just how much can be achieved when we view our differences as assets rather than liabilities.
The afternoon crew at Louisville's Carver Street McDonald's is just such a beacon of hope.
In a powerful and touching example of what can happen when people join together without concern for race, this McDonald's multiethnic, seven-person crew has been working in harmony for months now, blind to differences in skin color, united by the common goal of creating a better burger.
"Like our nation itself, this restaurant's crew is made up of a diverse pastiche of backgrounds," day-shift manager Ray Garner said. "But while, all too often in America, people tend to 'stick to their own kind,' fearful of those who are different, around here blacks and whites work side by side, committed to cooking up the freshest, tastiest Big Macs and double cheeseburgers possible for our valued customers."
According to Garner, in many fast-food restaurants across the U.S., black employees tend to cluster in the grill area, while whites like to position themselves at the preparation table. Typically, the result of such voluntary racial segregation, Garner said, is a hamburger that is not as good as it could have been.
"This sort of lack of communication between the grill and prep stations can result in the cooking of too many beef patties, which in turn can lead to the serving of burgers with insufficiently fresh patties. In short, the racial tensions that have simmered in the U.S. for centuries are still keeping many fast-food establishments from cooking up the best possible food for their customers. And that is just sad."
Each day, before the start of the afternoon shift, Garner gives his crew a pep talk to remind them what it is they are fighting against.
"I tell them, 'It's not about black or white, or my color versus your color. We're here with one purpose, and that is to serve our customers the freshest, highest quality burgers possible. Around here, the only color that matters is the deep-brown hue of a well-cooked Quarter Pounder."
"When I first started working here, I would occasionally allow my anger over American society's oppression of blacks to keep me from interacting positively with white co-workers," said lead grill cook Malik Turner, 19, one of four blacks on the seven-person crew. "But I soon realized that such resentment was not just hurting me, but also the customer. And that's a tragedy."
Prep cook Brian Schickle, a 20-year-old white, agreed. "When I look at Malik, I see not someone whose skin color is different from mine, but rather a fellow human being with whom I share the planet, a human being who needs to know how we're doing on patties if our customers are to leave as satisfied as possible with their McDonald's dining experience."
Apparently, the crew's color-blindness is paying off, as the restaurant's burgers are earning accolades from diners of all races.
"I don't believe I've ever been served so delicious and fresh-tasting a hamburger in my life," said Louisville-area bank teller Morton Wallensky, who visited the restaurant Monday on his lunch hour. "This is the taste of love and cooperation among all God's children, and I wish that the people of all nations could take a big bite for themselves."
"I'd like to think that what's happening here is taking root with our customers and changing their lives for the better," Garner said. "And when I read the comment cards in the suggestion box, I can't help but think that it is."
Anti-Racism Laws Mutate Racism Into Newer, Stronger Form
January 12, 2005 | Issue 41•02
LOUISVILLE, KY—Sadly, in 2005, America remains a nation deeply divided along racial lines. It's enough to cause one to lose hope. But divided as we are, every now and again something comes along to remind us just how much can be achieved when we view our differences as assets rather than liabilities.
The afternoon crew at Louisville's Carver Street McDonald's is just such a beacon of hope.
In a powerful and touching example of what can happen when people join together without concern for race, this McDonald's multiethnic, seven-person crew has been working in harmony for months now, blind to differences in skin color, united by the common goal of creating a better burger.
"Like our nation itself, this restaurant's crew is made up of a diverse pastiche of backgrounds," day-shift manager Ray Garner said. "But while, all too often in America, people tend to 'stick to their own kind,' fearful of those who are different, around here blacks and whites work side by side, committed to cooking up the freshest, tastiest Big Macs and double cheeseburgers possible for our valued customers."
According to Garner, in many fast-food restaurants across the U.S., black employees tend to cluster in the grill area, while whites like to position themselves at the preparation table. Typically, the result of such voluntary racial segregation, Garner said, is a hamburger that is not as good as it could have been.
"This sort of lack of communication between the grill and prep stations can result in the cooking of too many beef patties, which in turn can lead to the serving of burgers with insufficiently fresh patties. In short, the racial tensions that have simmered in the U.S. for centuries are still keeping many fast-food establishments from cooking up the best possible food for their customers. And that is just sad."
Each day, before the start of the afternoon shift, Garner gives his crew a pep talk to remind them what it is they are fighting against.
"I tell them, 'It's not about black or white, or my color versus your color. We're here with one purpose, and that is to serve our customers the freshest, highest quality burgers possible. Around here, the only color that matters is the deep-brown hue of a well-cooked Quarter Pounder."
"When I first started working here, I would occasionally allow my anger over American society's oppression of blacks to keep me from interacting positively with white co-workers," said lead grill cook Malik Turner, 19, one of four blacks on the seven-person crew. "But I soon realized that such resentment was not just hurting me, but also the customer. And that's a tragedy."
Prep cook Brian Schickle, a 20-year-old white, agreed. "When I look at Malik, I see not someone whose skin color is different from mine, but rather a fellow human being with whom I share the planet, a human being who needs to know how we're doing on patties if our customers are to leave as satisfied as possible with their McDonald's dining experience."
Apparently, the crew's color-blindness is paying off, as the restaurant's burgers are earning accolades from diners of all races.
"I don't believe I've ever been served so delicious and fresh-tasting a hamburger in my life," said Louisville-area bank teller Morton Wallensky, who visited the restaurant Monday on his lunch hour. "This is the taste of love and cooperation among all God's children, and I wish that the people of all nations could take a big bite for themselves."
"I'd like to think that what's happening here is taking root with our customers and changing their lives for the better," Garner said. "And when I read the comment cards in the suggestion box, I can't help but think that it is."
Anti-Racism Laws Mutate Racism Into Newer, Stronger Form
Home Cooked Food And.........
Family-Style Restaurant Offers Accusations, Belittlement With Entree Selections
February 3, 1998 | Issue 33•04
GARDEN CITY, NY—With its colorful striped awning, kids' jungle gym in the parking lot, and all-American fare, Ernie's Family Restaurant resembles many other down-home restaurants that promise to treat its customers like family. But what sets this nationwide chain apart is that it actually delivers on its pledge.
Family-Style Restaurant
The recently opened Ernie's Family Restaurant serves up down-home, family-style anger, bitterness and denial at reasonable prices.
"We believe in treating our customers like part of the family," manager Dean Friesz said during Friday's grand opening of a new Ernie's location on Jericho Turnpike in Garden City. "That's why Ernie's offers, free with every Old-Fashioned Super-Duper Ernie's Entree, accusations, belittlement, and other barely disguised expressions of bitterness, despair and sour regret that typify American family interaction."
During the Ernie's grand opening, families waited upwards of 45 minutes to be seated. Among them were Deborah and George Sutton of Manhasset, NY, who, along with their two children, Jessica and Todd, were angrily berated by restaurant hostess Julie Templeton while waiting for a table.
"Look at you, George, you're so obsessed with work, you don't even know what's going on in your own kids' lives. It's no wonder they're repressed and emotionally stunted," Templeton said. "And Deborah, maybe if you carved out some sort of life of your own, you'd have a little self-esteem, and you wouldn't constantly turn to food as a means of coping with your deep anger and frustration."
When the Suttons were finally seated and George ordered a T-bone steak, waitress Karla Teicher eyed him disdainfully. "As if you really need it, from the looks of it," Teicher said. "If you want to worry about someone's stomach, worry about mine. You knocked me up higher than a kite, and you couldn't care less, you selfish bastard." Teicher then burst into tears and ran into the kitchen.
The commitment to family-style service extends beyond the waitstaff. During the grand opening, head chef Wayne Esteban periodically emerged from the kitchen to pace the aisles and make acerbic comments to random customers. "Are you going to go out and get a job, or are you going to keep stuffing your face with my food and sleeping under my roof without pitching in at all?" he asked customer Douglas Conrad, 22, of East Meadow.
Waiter Craig "Loser Dropout" Schneider served an elderly customer a BLT combo. "Why don't you finally admit you're a faggot?" Schneider shouted. "Mom died of a broken heart because of you. You and your stinking homo lies! I found those magazines and Cub Scout badges in your tool chest in the garage. Everyone knows, you perverted old shit, so why don't you just come out and admit it?"
Friesz said that, beginning March 1, Ernie's will feature special "theme nights" to lure the all-important dinner crowd. "Tuesdays will be All You Can Eat Salad Bar And You Never Do Anything Right Night; Thursdays will be Prime Rib And My God You've Let Yourself Go Since We Got Married Night; and Saturdays will be Popcorn Shrimp And I Know You're Fucking That Slut Lorraine From The Health Club Night," he said.
Friesz also noted that, while accusations and belittlement are not available to those who order only appetizers or dessert, the waitstaff does give such customers an icy, contemptuous glare that is only a thin mask for the seething cauldron of hatred and resentment that lies just beneath the surface.
"We're so sincere about our pledge to treat you like family," Friesz said, "that if we fail to do so in any way, you'll automatically receive a gift certificate redeemable for a free meal and a cutting remark about your sarcastic, negative attitude about everything."
But dissatisfaction doesn't seem likely judging from customer response on opening day.
"I'll be taking the kids here from now on," Deborah Sutton said. "Places like Chili's and Applebee's try hard, but that just makes them seem all the more phony. You scarcely get that feeling of real deep-seated resentment there. But here at Ernie's, you get the genuine, dysfunctional article."
What Do Postal Workers/Gang Members Have In
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of nigh nor cold weather alerts stop either group from their appointed tasks.
Teen dies after triple shooting at house party
toronto.ctv.ca
A 17-year-old boy is dead and two others are in hospital after a triple shooting at a house party in the city's east end.
Police were called to a home at 53 Scarborough Heights Blvd., near McCowan and Kingston roads, just after midnight.
Two victims were shot in the chest and a third was hit in the leg, police said.
The 17-year-old was pronounced dead at hospital. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. He becomes the city's sixth homicide of the year.
The teen's identity is being withheld until his family is notified.
A second victim, a 28-year-old man, underwent surgery and remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, police said.
The third victim, an 18-year-old man, is listed in stable condition and is expected to survive.
Two male suspects were seen fleeing the home.
Those who attended the party are being asked to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Wayne Fowler at 416-808-7418, Det. Graham Gibson at 416-808-7405, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be left online at www.222tips.com.
Meanwhile, Durham police are investigating a multiple stabbing at a house party in Ajax.
Officers who were called to a home on Pickering Beach Road before 4 a.m. found two men, aged 19 and 21, stabbed several times. Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police said the incident appears to have started when several people tried to barge their way into the party.
Investigators have received little co-operation from the victims and ask anyone who hasn't already spoken to police to call Det. Const. Robin Roychoudhury at 905-579-1520, ext. 2534 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Teen dies after triple shooting at house party
toronto.ctv.ca
A 17-year-old boy is dead and two others are in hospital after a triple shooting at a house party in the city's east end.
Police were called to a home at 53 Scarborough Heights Blvd., near McCowan and Kingston roads, just after midnight.
Two victims were shot in the chest and a third was hit in the leg, police said.
The 17-year-old was pronounced dead at hospital. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. He becomes the city's sixth homicide of the year.
The teen's identity is being withheld until his family is notified.
A second victim, a 28-year-old man, underwent surgery and remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, police said.
The third victim, an 18-year-old man, is listed in stable condition and is expected to survive.
Two male suspects were seen fleeing the home.
Those who attended the party are being asked to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Wayne Fowler at 416-808-7418, Det. Graham Gibson at 416-808-7405, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be left online at www.222tips.com.
Meanwhile, Durham police are investigating a multiple stabbing at a house party in Ajax.
Officers who were called to a home on Pickering Beach Road before 4 a.m. found two men, aged 19 and 21, stabbed several times. Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police said the incident appears to have started when several people tried to barge their way into the party.
Investigators have received little co-operation from the victims and ask anyone who hasn't already spoken to police to call Det. Const. Robin Roychoudhury at 905-579-1520, ext. 2534 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Minority Groups Not Capable Of HATE
That is what the following incident seems to indicate.......(NOTE: The fact that we are bringing this to your attention will automatically allow leftwingnuts to label us as racists.
Monday, February 05, 2007
BLACK HATE CRIME GETS A SLAP ON THE WRIST
First the media coverup that facilitated it. Post lifted from Ace
Ghastly:
Last Halloween in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach, where neighbors put on a lavish fright fest each year, three young women left a haunted house and found themselves caught in a street brawl with a crowd of teenagers. By melee's end, one woman's face was fractured in 12 spots, her teeth were broken and she'd suffered partial loss of sight in one eye. Two of the women suffered brain concussions and assorted broken bones after being kicked, punched and even struck by a skateboard wielded as a weapon.
The story broke on November 3, when local Web site editor William Pearl scooped other media on LBReport.com, quoting Long Beach police spokeswoman Jacqueline Bezart as saying a crowd of black attackers hurled racial taunts ("White bitches!" "We hate whites!") at the young women, and the police were pursuing it as a hate crime.
At the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, reporter Tracy Manzer quickly landed an exclusive interview with the victims, introducing awkward issues of race and culture rarely seen in California media. Said one victim, identified as Laura: "They asked us, `Are you down with it?' We had no idea what that meant so we didn't say anything and just walked by them up to the haunted house. They were grabbing their crotches - we didn't know if it was a gang thing or what."
Suddenly, newspaper editors, TV-news directors and other media faced an unsettling prospect of their own: If white-on-black hate crime is covered with an apologetic tone and references to the legacy of slavery, what's the tone for covering black-on-white hate crime? Can a minority be a racist? And how can we, the media, get out of this?
They've gotten out of it, by and large, by their preferred method: burying the story, sanitizing it, failing to cover the trial. Even while many black writers rail against the disturbing double-standard at work here...
The piece prompted a fiery response by David Mills, a black former Washington Post reporter turned Emmy-winning screenwriter. In a letter to the popular Romenesko media blog, the Glendale-based Mills wrote: "You don't have to be a card-carrying Klansman to point out that the L.A. Times surely would be treating this story differently if three black women had been attacked by 30 white teenagers hurling words like `F--- black people.' "
... the media has seemed blithely unconcerned about this particularly vicious example of one of their favorite subjects -- racial hatred.
Even the fact that a good samaritan witness who attempted to rescue the girls from the savage beating has been intimidated by gang members and no longer is willing to identify the thugs can't quite provoke the media into any particular interest in the story.
Borrowing from Matthew McConnaughey in A Time To Kill: Now imagine that good samaritan forced to flee his home by black gang members is black -- which he is. Still, even that isn't enough of an angle to interest the media.
I do to some extent sympathize with the media's self-made plight here. It's hard to write about racially charged issues without 1) riling up racists who just need an excuse to sound off or 2) failing to "balance" onself to the point of bloodlessness in order to avoid any possible charge of racism. ("Defensive writing," just as doctors are often prompted to perform "defensive medicine" due to the ominipresent threat of malpractice lawsuits. And like OBGYN's who bail out of the high-risk profession of delivering babies, more often than not one finds it's simply easier and less risky to avoid writing about racially-charged issues altogether.)
But if the media so worries that reporting on this story will inflame white thugs into an orgy of counter-thuggery, why is it they seem so eager to sensationalize white-on-black racial violence? Do they not have similar fears that their wholly unbalanced coverage -- portraying racial violence is a nearly uniquely white phenomenon -- won't have the effect of provoking monsters such as these?
It would be facile to claim "the media" caused these clearly dysfunctional monsters to engage in this repellent mayhem. And it it would be equally facile to suggest that negative portrayals of blacks in the media caused the dragging death of James Byrd. And yet the media does seem to buy into one of these theories and not the other.
If the media is so worried that portraying black -- or Muslim -- violence will set off thousands of white racists into racial marauding, why so little concern when the roles are reversed? And why no worry at all that constantly sending out the message that whites like to beat and stomp minorities might -- just might -- give some blacks the idea that maybe stomping in the faces of "white bitches" is a perfectly valid form of racial payback?
I always credit liberals for pushing, for forty some years, the virtue of racial tolerance, while also pushing for social scorn for those who are not racially tolerant. True enough, liberals have frequently gone too far, attempting to use charges of "racial insensitivity" to shut up their opponents in legitimiate political discussions in which race is an issue; but still, on the whole, they should be lauded for their efforts.
And true enough-- many conservatives are heroes in this cause, but I think it would be hackery of the highest order to claim that conservatives, as they've identified themselves through the decades, have been the primary proponents of racial tolerance. Yes, it was Northeastern Republicans who passed the Civil Rights Act and such over the strenuous objections of Southern Dixiecrat Democrats; but it seems to me the Republicans were on the "liberal" side of things in this respect, and the Dixiecrats on the "conservative" side. (Again-- as the labels were applied at the time.)
But liberals shy away from using the same tactics of moral suasion and social scorn to preach tolerance to minorities -- which is why black racism (and Muslim corelgionist soldiarity bordering on KKK-level xenophobia) remains more or less tolerated in this country.
Is it hate liberals oppose, or merely white hate? And if they're proud of their legacy of greatly reducing white racism in this country -- something I will unstintingly credit them for -- why are they so damnably cowardly in calling out racism when it comes from anyone who's not safely pale?
I do buy into a very soft version of racist-apologist blacks' claims that blacks simply can't be racist, because Racism = Power. True enough, white racism can cause a great deal more misery for blacks than black racism can cause for whites; there are a lot more whites, after all, and whites disproportionately control the levers of economic power.
But just because black racism has less potential for widespread harm does not mean it's not also evil. And it's hardly a victimless crime. Just ask those three women who had the "power" that night as they were pummeled to the point of maiming for committing the greivous sin of Walking While White.
Via Kaus, who wonders wheter hate-crime laws ameliorate racial tensions, as is usually claimed, or exacerbate them, by turning simple, vicious evil into competitive sport of racial greivance "can you top this."
I'm not terribly curious about the question, because I think hate-crime laws are jackass on a fundamental level. I think those poor women are rather more traumatized that they were beaten to the point of permanent physical disability than the fact the crowd shouted "We hate white bitches." And the monsters who did this evil should be severely punished for their actions, not their motivations.
Bonus! Four of the Perpetrators Given Merely Probation: ...and sentenced to time served (95 days), probation, and "anger management and racial tolerance programs."
Jesus. When I read they were up on hate-crimes charges, I imagined those charges would be used to increase their sentencing, not reduce their sentences to a few dozen hours of Racial Tolerance Puppet Theater.
Beating victim Laura Schneider, 19, cried at the judge's decision.
When the young man's twin sister was to be sentenced, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Bouas returned to court wiping tears from her eyes and argued for a stronger penalty on grounds that the young woman was responsible for causing an injury that forced a victim to have surgery.
"Punishment is part of rehabilitation," the prosecutor said. "To allow a human being to do that and go home is an abomination to the justice system." ...
The prosecution had asked that the three siblings get nine months of detention in a youth camp. Instead they were credited with 95 days already spent in custody.
Justice is served, huh? Well at least we can take solace in the fact that our liberal judges are very concerned about black-on-white racial violence, even if our liberal media aren't.
Thanks to the Feisty One.
Monday, February 05, 2007
BLACK HATE CRIME GETS A SLAP ON THE WRIST
First the media coverup that facilitated it. Post lifted from Ace
Ghastly:
Last Halloween in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach, where neighbors put on a lavish fright fest each year, three young women left a haunted house and found themselves caught in a street brawl with a crowd of teenagers. By melee's end, one woman's face was fractured in 12 spots, her teeth were broken and she'd suffered partial loss of sight in one eye. Two of the women suffered brain concussions and assorted broken bones after being kicked, punched and even struck by a skateboard wielded as a weapon.
The story broke on November 3, when local Web site editor William Pearl scooped other media on LBReport.com, quoting Long Beach police spokeswoman Jacqueline Bezart as saying a crowd of black attackers hurled racial taunts ("White bitches!" "We hate whites!") at the young women, and the police were pursuing it as a hate crime.
At the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, reporter Tracy Manzer quickly landed an exclusive interview with the victims, introducing awkward issues of race and culture rarely seen in California media. Said one victim, identified as Laura: "They asked us, `Are you down with it?' We had no idea what that meant so we didn't say anything and just walked by them up to the haunted house. They were grabbing their crotches - we didn't know if it was a gang thing or what."
Suddenly, newspaper editors, TV-news directors and other media faced an unsettling prospect of their own: If white-on-black hate crime is covered with an apologetic tone and references to the legacy of slavery, what's the tone for covering black-on-white hate crime? Can a minority be a racist? And how can we, the media, get out of this?
They've gotten out of it, by and large, by their preferred method: burying the story, sanitizing it, failing to cover the trial. Even while many black writers rail against the disturbing double-standard at work here...
The piece prompted a fiery response by David Mills, a black former Washington Post reporter turned Emmy-winning screenwriter. In a letter to the popular Romenesko media blog, the Glendale-based Mills wrote: "You don't have to be a card-carrying Klansman to point out that the L.A. Times surely would be treating this story differently if three black women had been attacked by 30 white teenagers hurling words like `F--- black people.' "
... the media has seemed blithely unconcerned about this particularly vicious example of one of their favorite subjects -- racial hatred.
Even the fact that a good samaritan witness who attempted to rescue the girls from the savage beating has been intimidated by gang members and no longer is willing to identify the thugs can't quite provoke the media into any particular interest in the story.
Borrowing from Matthew McConnaughey in A Time To Kill: Now imagine that good samaritan forced to flee his home by black gang members is black -- which he is. Still, even that isn't enough of an angle to interest the media.
I do to some extent sympathize with the media's self-made plight here. It's hard to write about racially charged issues without 1) riling up racists who just need an excuse to sound off or 2) failing to "balance" onself to the point of bloodlessness in order to avoid any possible charge of racism. ("Defensive writing," just as doctors are often prompted to perform "defensive medicine" due to the ominipresent threat of malpractice lawsuits. And like OBGYN's who bail out of the high-risk profession of delivering babies, more often than not one finds it's simply easier and less risky to avoid writing about racially-charged issues altogether.)
But if the media so worries that reporting on this story will inflame white thugs into an orgy of counter-thuggery, why is it they seem so eager to sensationalize white-on-black racial violence? Do they not have similar fears that their wholly unbalanced coverage -- portraying racial violence is a nearly uniquely white phenomenon -- won't have the effect of provoking monsters such as these?
It would be facile to claim "the media" caused these clearly dysfunctional monsters to engage in this repellent mayhem. And it it would be equally facile to suggest that negative portrayals of blacks in the media caused the dragging death of James Byrd. And yet the media does seem to buy into one of these theories and not the other.
If the media is so worried that portraying black -- or Muslim -- violence will set off thousands of white racists into racial marauding, why so little concern when the roles are reversed? And why no worry at all that constantly sending out the message that whites like to beat and stomp minorities might -- just might -- give some blacks the idea that maybe stomping in the faces of "white bitches" is a perfectly valid form of racial payback?
I always credit liberals for pushing, for forty some years, the virtue of racial tolerance, while also pushing for social scorn for those who are not racially tolerant. True enough, liberals have frequently gone too far, attempting to use charges of "racial insensitivity" to shut up their opponents in legitimiate political discussions in which race is an issue; but still, on the whole, they should be lauded for their efforts.
And true enough-- many conservatives are heroes in this cause, but I think it would be hackery of the highest order to claim that conservatives, as they've identified themselves through the decades, have been the primary proponents of racial tolerance. Yes, it was Northeastern Republicans who passed the Civil Rights Act and such over the strenuous objections of Southern Dixiecrat Democrats; but it seems to me the Republicans were on the "liberal" side of things in this respect, and the Dixiecrats on the "conservative" side. (Again-- as the labels were applied at the time.)
But liberals shy away from using the same tactics of moral suasion and social scorn to preach tolerance to minorities -- which is why black racism (and Muslim corelgionist soldiarity bordering on KKK-level xenophobia) remains more or less tolerated in this country.
Is it hate liberals oppose, or merely white hate? And if they're proud of their legacy of greatly reducing white racism in this country -- something I will unstintingly credit them for -- why are they so damnably cowardly in calling out racism when it comes from anyone who's not safely pale?
I do buy into a very soft version of racist-apologist blacks' claims that blacks simply can't be racist, because Racism = Power. True enough, white racism can cause a great deal more misery for blacks than black racism can cause for whites; there are a lot more whites, after all, and whites disproportionately control the levers of economic power.
But just because black racism has less potential for widespread harm does not mean it's not also evil. And it's hardly a victimless crime. Just ask those three women who had the "power" that night as they were pummeled to the point of maiming for committing the greivous sin of Walking While White.
Via Kaus, who wonders wheter hate-crime laws ameliorate racial tensions, as is usually claimed, or exacerbate them, by turning simple, vicious evil into competitive sport of racial greivance "can you top this."
I'm not terribly curious about the question, because I think hate-crime laws are jackass on a fundamental level. I think those poor women are rather more traumatized that they were beaten to the point of permanent physical disability than the fact the crowd shouted "We hate white bitches." And the monsters who did this evil should be severely punished for their actions, not their motivations.
Bonus! Four of the Perpetrators Given Merely Probation: ...and sentenced to time served (95 days), probation, and "anger management and racial tolerance programs."
Jesus. When I read they were up on hate-crimes charges, I imagined those charges would be used to increase their sentencing, not reduce their sentences to a few dozen hours of Racial Tolerance Puppet Theater.
Beating victim Laura Schneider, 19, cried at the judge's decision.
When the young man's twin sister was to be sentenced, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Bouas returned to court wiping tears from her eyes and argued for a stronger penalty on grounds that the young woman was responsible for causing an injury that forced a victim to have surgery.
"Punishment is part of rehabilitation," the prosecutor said. "To allow a human being to do that and go home is an abomination to the justice system." ...
The prosecution had asked that the three siblings get nine months of detention in a youth camp. Instead they were credited with 95 days already spent in custody.
Justice is served, huh? Well at least we can take solace in the fact that our liberal judges are very concerned about black-on-white racial violence, even if our liberal media aren't.
Thanks to the Feisty One.
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About Me
- Unhypentated Canadian
- I lean to the right but I still have a heart and if I have a mission it is to respond to attacks on people not available to protect themselves and to point out the hypocrisy of the left at every opportunity.MY MAJOR GOAL IS HIGHLIGHT THE HYPOCRISY AND STUPIDITY OF THE LEFTISTS ON TORONTO CITY COUNCIL. Last word: In the final analysis this blog is a relief valve for my rants/raves.