A windy question!

Help me understand, oh wise persons of the far-right. 

Farmers are fighting to own "their" land (Back off government!). Con MPP Randy Hillier and his buddy, Con-candidate Jack MacLaren, are in the vanguard of that fight. 

Farmers are fighting to gain revenue from wind towers on "their" land in North Gower. 

A bunch of local residents in North Gower are fighting against the towers (using exaggerated health claims in place of their NIMBY argument). One of the NIMBY-ites' biggest supporters is Con MPP Lisa MacLeod. She has pledged to fight the project "tooth and nail". 

How do you square the fact that MacLeod is fighting against the land-owners that Hillier and MacLaren support?

Let the squirming begin!

The final demise of the Canadian Wheat Board

Two years ago, Mysteries of Canada posted a history of the Canadian Wheat Board - the CWB.   (http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canadian_Political_System/canadian_wheat_board.htm).  Pretty soon, if the government of Canada has its way, the CWB will be deader than a door nail.

Leaving aside that the "majority" government recieved a mandate from only 24% of Canadian eligible voters, the real problem is that the government is using its majority to trample the democratic rights of Canadian farmers who are part of the CWB.

The CWB is a Canadian-farmer controlled single-desk marketing system for Barley and Wheat.  Throughout its almost 100 years of existence, it has managed the flow of grain from the farm gate to the foreign purchasers.  Through thick and thin it has provided a stable income for farmers - back when farmers actually owned farms, that is.  Now that corporations own large the farms they want to squeeze out the remaining "little" guys by cutting off their legs at the ankles and the government is in lock-step with them.  If you want details on this, check out the report delivered by the National Farmers Union of Canada in 2010 (www.nfu.ca/press_releases/2010/06-07-losing_grip.pdf).

So farmers are the losers - well then, who are the winners?

A handful of private companies who own the large farms and the private (mostly foreign-controlled) elevator systems.  And, surprisingly - the railways who can up their rates whenever they want because the government will eliminate the Revenue Cap on freight rates.  They can also shut down short line routes that service farmer-owned elevators, forcing small farmers to haul their grain to big-corporation elevators.

What the dust-bowl period of the 1930's could not do - the government will be doing!

It is a tragedy!

Whither the F35?

Anyone seen any mention of the F35 stealth jet recently?  Seems the Con strategy of misdirection worked.  Bravo for them and more's the pity for us.  What strategy, you may ask?  The RCAF-strategy.

Understand that I am a product of the RCAF.   My father toiled in the service for my entire formative years.  We moved every 18 months and I attended so many schools before I left primary school that I lost count.  Did I like the idea of the RCAF designation being returned?  On one hand I liked it - on the other I could not give a rats butt.

But the strategy worked for the Cons.  While we debated the name change, they changed the game. 

Playing mind games

I have been having a good time the last few days playing on-line mind games with a Conservative blogger here in Ottawa.  In general I would not go out my way to do it but this guy just set me off.  He describes himself as "non-partisan" and goes on to smugly state that there are "bright lights" on both side of the house.  Then he routinely launches into a tirade against everything not-Conservative and promotes only Con candidates in the election.  That is his right, I do not deny it, but he is being a lot less than honest. 

Now I do not get abusive or hit him with zingers.  I calmly make a case that there is more to a story than just his side.  For example, in a recent entry on the provincial election he wrote this,

"OMG.  Sorry I’m so late posting my blog today but I really couldn’t stop laughing long enough to type.  Yesterday, the CBC posted a news story where the Liberal finance minister, Dwight Duncan made a promise that if re-elected in October, the Liberals will guarantee that they will not raise taxes or implement new fees. I’ll wait for you to stop laughing and to regain your composure… This is the same government that said in 2007 that they would hold the line on taxes then introduced the HST and tried to introduce the ECO fees on almost everything you buy (by the way, ECO fees are only on hold while they study another way to implement it).  And this is the same party that in 2003 signed a pledge they would not raise taxes and after winning the election, introduce the health tax  in their very first budget.  So really it makes one wonder, if they are saying the same thing again, knowing full well that voters will be very skeptical of this promise, what is the value or veracity of anything else the Liberals say in this election campaign?  It really makes one wonder what Dalton McGuinty and the provincial Liberals know about the Ontario public that me and many of the people I know are missing.  Remember the saying George Bush made famous: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. What is the saying if we get fooled a third time?  My stomach is cramping!"

What was my response?

"Have to join in this guffaw, -----.  Kinda reminds me of a government that told us that the budget was balanced when they had run up a $5.2 billion deficit. Or remember that guy, I can’t recall his name - Stephen Something, that broke his own election day law by proroguing parliament and calling an election?  How about that guy who lied about needing $50 million for border security only to spend it on gazebos and port-a-potties in his own riding.  Ah, politics. Ya gotta love it."

When inexperienced critics are taken to task by simple logic it stops them dead in their tracks.  They seldom have a witty response available to them so they move on to the next criticism.

I told my kids when they were growing up that is easier to be a critic than an author.  Maybe some of those bloggers out there could start to pay attention to that.

Where was I on 9/11?

I had planned to post this yesterday on 9/11 but was tied up with other duties.  People seem to want to know where I was on that fateful day in 2001.

I remember the time frame well.  I traveled frequently to New York and generally stayed at the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel.  My mother was concerned that I was there.  I was not, thankfully.

I was in San Antonio Texas at an oil industry conference.  The conference had begun on Monday September 10.  The attendees were mostly exploration engineers and geologists - lookers but not purchasers.  Tuesday was always the big day because that was when the executives arrived and deals would be stuck.  The conference started at 8 AM and I was due on the floor at 9 AM.  As I was leaving my hotel, I noted the crowd around a lobby TV set.  They were looking at images of a fire in one of the towers of the World Trade Center.  I did not want to be late for my meetings so I rushed to the conference site.

At about 9:05 AM and announcement came on over the PA system in the hall asking us all to stay calm and vacate the aisles of the trade show area.  There were cell phones going off all over the floor.  About three minutes later a gaggle of armed guards entered the room and started to gather up all the executives.  They were led out of the building to a fleet of waiting limos; I assume there to whisk them to the airport to return to Houston or wherever.

Geez!

By the time I was back to my hotel, the skies were clear of all transportation.  The trade show was cut short and here I was in San Antonio and no way to get out.  The rental cars were sold out and trains and buses were packed.  Not knowing how long this would last, I set about calling my family to make sure they knew I was OK and to cancel dinner appointments for Thursday in Ottawa.  Turns out it was six or seven days before I could get a seat to go home.

San Antonio is a nice city but there are only so many times that you can eat ice cream on the Riverwalk or visit the Alamo before it all grows a bit tedious.

Having been a Liberal for over forty years, paying dues and Laurier memberships for much of that time, you would think that Bob Rae might be interested in what I think about the state of the party.  But you would be wrong.

The Liberal Party of Canada is going through a process of renewal which is fine enough but when the tough questions come up, there is a bee-line for the door and a block on the web site.  Think I am kidding?  Just go to Liberal.ca and click on any hyperlink that suggests that there is feedback.

The page image suggests you have been transferred to the far north where there is no one to listen to you, except a few reindeer (including one being kidnapped or taught to fly by geese).

But guess what.  The donation link works.

I have a lot to say.  Too bad they won't listen.

Are citizens really being heard at City Hall?

  On June 1, 2011 I made a presentation to the Transportation Committee at City Hall concerning the Environmental Assessment for the Widening of Prince of Wales Drive project.  I was given five minutes for my presentation and then answered questions for another ten minutes.  My presentation was quite simple.  Residents along certain parts of Prince of Wales are experiencing excessive vibration, vehicular noise levels from large trucks are excessive and because the problem with traffic on Prince of Wales Drive is an east-west problem at Hunt Club Road, no amount of widening will work until that problem is addressed and fixed.  I made it clear that I was not against the project – I only wanted to make sure that the consequences of the project were understood and addressed.

I have been following this project for a number of years.  I do not make rash claims that cannot be backed up.  When I told the committee that there was excessive vibration from the current roadway that can only be made worse by increasing the traffic throughput, I was met with the statement, “According to our consultants report there is no significant vibration along the corridor.”  I have a copy of the vibration study report and the drawings show that there were no sensors placed along the corridor near my home.  The closest sensor was at Prince of Wales Drive and Crestway Drive where they detected “some” vibration.  I expressed doubt on the validity of the report’s finding and was not questioned on that expression.

At the end of the day (and some 15 or so presenters) the committee unanimously accepted the EA report with a few minor comments – none of which touched on the issue of vibration.

So what does this mean?  Did the committee decide that my concerns were not valid?  They certainly did not indicate anything to me… positive or negative.  Does acceptance of the EA saying that vibration is not an issue absolve the city for damage currently done or done in the future to homes or property due to the vibration?  What happens if the Leda Clay upon which the area of Prince of Wales Drive is built one day liquefies due to heavy rain and excessive vibration (It has happened many times in eastern Ontario including Ottawa.) causing property damage - or worse?  Will the city claim it to be an Act of God because their EA stated that there was no perceptible vibration along the corridor?

When citizens follow a project, make valid observations and take time from their day to attend meetings at City Hall and make reasoned arguments, it is the responsibility of councilors to listen, act and communicate.  If the citizen is wrong on an issue, point out the error and discuss it.  Don’t just walk on by like nothing has happened.

Did they even hear what I said at City Hall on June 1, 2011?  I honestly do not know.