Perogying Parliament

I believe that perogying parliament is the only option for our dysfunctional government. Everybody likes perogies. A cooling off period with snacks of yummy hot perogies is just what is needed. They are a diverse food that will bring harmony to parliament. Different fillings can be used for different likes and dislikes: from potatoes and cheese, to onions and bacon, to spinach and almonds, to strawberry chocolate dessert perogies. They can be boiled, baked, fried, or even microwaved for cooking purposes. I agree wholeheartedly with the Conservatives on perogying parliament. Even diverse parties like the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, and Bloc (sorry - no Greens allowed yet) can agree on the merits of perogying parliament. Perhaps sending bags of perogies to every household in Canada could bring about unity and provide economic stimulus to help lift Canada out of the worldwide economic downturn. I sincerely hope that Governor General Michaëlle Jean will accept Prime Minister Harper's request for perogying parliament; however, it is still her perogy-tive.

Learn more about perogies:
wikipedia perogies
google perogy search

Prorogation

Prorogation is the period between two sessions of a legislative body. When a legislature or parliament is prorogued, it is still constituted (that is, all members remain as members and a general election is not necessary), but all orders of the body (bills motions, etc.) are expunged. (In the British parliament, this has now changed somewhat in that Public Bills can be carried over from one session to another.)

In the British and Canadian parliamentary systems, this is usually due to the completion of the agenda set forth in the Speech from the Throne in the UK, called the legislative programme). Legislatures and parliaments, once prorogued, remain in recess until summoned again by the Queen, Governor General, or Lieutenant Governor, and a new session is begun with the State Opening of Parliament and the Speech from the Throne.

In the parliament of the United Kingdom, prorogation is immediately preceded by the prorogation speech. Prior to the speech, the House of Commons is summoned by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to the House of Lords. The speech is approved by the queen but is rarely delivered by the sovereign in person (Queen Victoria being the last sovereign to attend prorogation in person); instead it is presented by the Lords Commissioners and read by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. This speech looks back at the legislative session, noting major bills passed and other actions of the government. The Lord Chancellor wears a tricorn hat for the occasion and the Lords Commissioners wear bicornhats.

When King Charles I of England dissolved Parliament in 1628 after the Petition of Right, he gave a prorogation speech that effectively cancelled all future meetings of Parliament, at least until he once again required finances.

In Australia, the Parliament is prorogued before an election to prevent the Senate from sitting during the campaign and to expunge all existing senate business before the start of the next parliament. Prorogations not related to the conduct of an election are unusual.

This text above is an excerpt taken from wikipedia

Political Crisis!!!!

We should keep this political crisis in perspective:

Robert Mugabe is not holding on to power by dispatching killing gangs across the country

Gulags do not exist in Canada

There is no gross exploitation or persecution of minorities (except maybe persecution of Conservatives)

That being said, however, paraphrasing CBC mouthpiece Rex Murphy "Stephen Harper should never have pushed the metaphoric hand grenade down the pants of the opposition parties in the form of pulling their funding."

The reaction from the opposition parties was predictable, bring down the government or form a coalition government. There are no other viable alternatives.

The coalition is something that should not be permitted. There is no Canadian precedent for a three-party coalition government - let alone one with a separatist party holding the balance of power! The Bloc presence alone should be repugnant enough for the GG to refuse Dion's proposal.

Libs, NDP, Bloc - Change we can Believe in???

Someone please pinch me. Wake me up from my restless sleep filled with nightmarish visions of separatists in bed with liberal socialists. Perhaps these political lapdogs took the Obama election slogan - "Change we can Believe in" - too much to heart. This Coalition of the Willing Sore Losers do not have the best interests of Canadians in mind. They have their political pocketbooks, personal egos, and non-so-hidden-socialist and separatist agendas as their top priorities. I can only imagine what effect this will have on the already downtrodden Canadian stock market.

The last time I checked Elections Canada, the Parliament seat count and the percentage of the popular vote was:

National Party Party standing %   Popular vote %

AAEV Party of Canada	0	0.0		529	0.0
Bloc Québécois	50	16.2		1,379,565	10.0
CAP	0	0.0		3,508	0.0
Christian Heritage Party	0	0.0		26,722	0.2
Communist	0	0.0		3,639	0.0
Conservative	143	46.4		5,205,334	37.6
FPNP	0	0.0		1,640	0.0
Green Party	0	0.0		940,747	6.8
Independent	2	0.7		89,524	0.7
Liberal	76	24.7		3,629,990	26.2
Libertarian	0	0.0		7,382	0.1
Marxist-Leninist	0	0.0		8,753	0.1
NDP-New Democratic Party	37	12.0		2,517,075	18.2
neorhino.ca	0	0.0		2,263	0.0
NL First Party	0	0.0		1,801	0.0
No Affiliation	0	0.0		5,458	0.0
PC Party	0	0.0		5,920	0.0
PPP	0	0.0		185	0.0
Radical Marijuana	0	0.0		2,319	0.0
WBP	0	0.0		195	0.0
Work Less Party	0	0.0		423	0.0

Total number of valid votes:

13,832,972

Polls reporting: 69,601/69,630	Voter turnout: 13,832,972 of 23,401,064 registered electors (59.1%)
The number of registered electors shown in this table does not include electors who registered on election day.

Go Stamps Go!

The Calgary Stampeders are facing off with the Montreal Alouettes in the 2008 CFL Grey Cup Championship this Sunday.
GO STAMPS GO!

Letter to Council.

The proposed $3/day parking charge will disuade people from parking in transit parking lots, but will also promote parking in residential areas. Additionally, a number of riders will basically drop transit altogether. With the increase in a transit pass to $90 in the new year, the opportunity cost for driving and parking downtown has become less - especially if you can arrange a carpool. You are nickle and diming us to death!

Perhaps there should be free parking for carpoolers.

I am disappointed in this council turning down the proposal to return the budget to the administration. The nit-pick - we saved $40,000 here and $22,000 here WILL NOT CUT IT when we are dealing in a couple BILLION dollars!

The $1,000,000 workout facility that was approved for city hall has to be the final straw for this council. The excuse by the mayor that city workers need a place to work out may be true, but I don't see one at my place of employ. Where is my free pass?

There had been several reports that due to the small number of taxpayers in council chambers during the week has shown that people are just fine and dandy with the tax increases. This is ridiculous - it means people are working during the week!


UPDATE 21Nov2008:
Part of my letter was printed in the Calgary Sun

Calgary City Budget Review Open to Public

The Calgary budget review is coming up and is open to the public. I hope the active public outcry at the out-of-control spending by Silly Hall will result in a large taxpayer attendance. The open house will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Plaza level of the Municipal Building 800 Macleod Trail S.E.

The current city council has been arrogantly pushing spending to unreasonable levels.
If rate inflation is only at a maximum of 4% why are the increases over three years amounting to 25%?

Is it time to ask for Cochrane to annex parts of NW Calgary?


Text below is from the link at www.calgary.ca:

The City released its 2009-2011 proposed business plans and budgets on Thursday, 2008 November 6. This marks the second cycle of multi-year planning and budgeting, which builds upon The City's commitment to municipal excellence, accountability, transparency and excellence in financial management.

The proposed business plans and budgets together provide a view of what citizens can expect from City services over the next three years. The proposed capital and operating budgets provide the financial resources required to implement the proposed business plans, which are, in turn, reflective of Council's declared priorities for 2009-2011.

The 2009-2011 proposed plans and budgets are also available for viewing at all branches of the Calgary Public Library and at the City Clerk's office in Historic City Hall, Municipal Building Complex.

City Council and Administration will host a public open house:
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Plaza level of the Municipal Building
800 Macleod Trail S.E.

Senior City staff will be on hand to speak with citizens about The City's 2009-2011 proposed business plans and budgets.

City Council meets to discuss the 2009-2011 proposed business plans and budgets beginning Monday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Public speakers will be heard after an opening presentation. Presenters may address Council for a maximum of five minutes and should bring 35 copies of presentation material. For questions regarding meeting procedures please contact the Legislative Assistant, City Clerk's Office at 403-268-5861.

For those unable to attend the meeting on Nov. 17, communications concerning this matter should be received by the City Clerk before Friday, Nov. 14.
Mail to: City Clerk (#8007),
City of Calgary,
P.O. Box 2100, Postal Station "M",
Calgary, AB T2P 2M5.
Fax: 403-268-2362.
Email: cityclerk@calgary.ca
Deliver to: City Clerk's,
Main Floor, Historic City Hall,
700 MacLeod Trail S.E.

If you have questions regarding meeting procedures please contact the Legislative Assistant, City Clerk's office at 403-268-5861.

City of Calgary Tax Gorging

The City of Calgary has tabled its next budget. It includes a proposed property tax increase of 23.3% over three years - 9.6% next year, 6.8% in 2010, and 6.9% in 2011. This is even more than what was predicted!

Congradulations to the Americans

Yesterday the United States voters elected a black man to be their president. I am encouraged that a new generation has finally found their political voice. After listening to multiple reports, reporters, evaluations, and group discussions on this election, I have come to the following conclusion.

If one more reporter uses the word historic to describe the election results, I will scream.
Additionally, the phrase "I would have never believed that in my lifetime...." seems ingrained in the lexicon of news writers.

I wonder if I should start selling "I Backed Obama" t-shirts......

The Country the World Forgot - Again

This article from Kevin Myers was written Friday, April 26, 2002, but seems still appropriate today.

I heard it for at least the second time on the Charles Adler radio show just today.

It was published in the UK newspaper The Sunday Telegraph
The original online article is here

By Kevin Myers
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 21/04/2002

UNTIL the deaths last week of four Canadian soldiers accidentally killed by a US warplane in Afghanistan, probably almost no one outside their home country had been aware that Canadian troops were deployed in the region. And as always, Canada will now bury its dead, just as the rest of the world as always will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does.

It seems that Canada's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored. Canada is the perpetual wallflower that stands on the edge of the hall, waiting for someone to come and ask her for a dance. A fire breaks out, she risks life and limb to rescue her fellow dance-goers, and suffers serious injuries. But when the hall is repaired and the dancing resumes, there is Canada, the wallflower still, while those she once helped glamorously cavort across the floor, blithely neglecting her yet again.

That is the price which Canada pays for sharing the North American Continent with the US, and for being a selfless friend of Britain in two global conflicts. For much of the 20th century, Canada was torn in two different directions: it seemed to be a part of the old world, yet had an address in the new one, and that divided identity ensured that it never fully got the gratitude it deserved.
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Yet its purely voluntary contribution to the cause of freedom in two world wars was perhaps the greatest of any democracy. Almost 10 per cent of Canada's entire population of seven million people served in the armed forces during the First World War, and nearly 60,000 died. The great Allied victories of 1918 were spearheaded by Canadian troops, perhaps the most capable soldiers in the entire British order of battle.

Canada was repaid for its enormous sacrifice by downright neglect, its unique contribution to victory being absorbed into the popular memory as somehow or other the work of the "British". The Second World War provided a re-run. The Canadian navy began the war with a half dozen vessels, and ended up policing nearly half of the Atlantic against U-boat attack. More than 120 Canadian warships participated in the Normandy landings, during which 15,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore on D-Day alone. Canada finished the war with the third largest navy and the fourth largest air force in the world.

The world thanked Canada with the same sublime indifference as it had the previous time. Canadian participation in the war was acknowledged in film only if it was necessary to give an American actor a part in a campaign which the US had clearly not participated - a touching scrupulousness which, of course, Hollywood has since abandoned, as it has any notion of a separate Canadian identity.

So it is a general rule that actors and film-makers arriving in Hollywood keep their nationality - unless, that is, they are Canadian. Thus Mary Pickford, Walter Huston, Donald Sutherland, Michael J Fox, William Shatner, Norman Jewison, David Cronenberg and Dan Aykroyd have in the popular perception become American, and Christopher Plummer British. It is as if in the very act of becoming famous, a Canadian ceases to be Canadian, unless she is Margaret Atwood, who is as unshakeably Canadian as a moose, or Celine Dion, for whom Canada has proved quite unable to find any takers.

Moreover, Canada is every bit as querulously alert to the achievements of its sons and daughters as the rest of the world is completely unaware of them. The Canadians proudly say of themselves - and are unheard by anyone else - that 1 per cent of the world's population has provided 10 per cent of the world's peace-keeping forces. Canadian soldiers in the past half century have been the greatest peace-keepers on earth - in 39 missions on UN mandates, and six on non-UN peace-keeping duties, from Vietnam to East Timor, from Sinai to Bosnia.

Yet the only foreign engagement which has entered the popular non-Canadian imagination was the sorry affair in Somalia, in which out-of-control paratroopers murdered two Somali infiltrators. Their regiment was then disbanded in disgrace - a uniquely Canadian act of self-abasement for which, naturally, the Canadians received no international credit.

So who today in the US knows about the stoic and selfless friendship its northern neighbour has given it in Afghanistan? Rather like Cyrano de Bergerac, Canada repeatedly does honourable things for honourable motives, but instead of being thanked for it, it remains something of a figure of fun. It is the Canadian way, for which Canadians should be proud, yet such honour comes at a high cost.

This weekend four shrouds, red with blood and maple leaf, head homewards; and four more grieving Canadian families know that cost all too tragically well.

USA 2008 Election Prediction

CNN has a neat flash interactive called the CNN Electoral Map Calculator where you can predict the results of the United States election by choosing electoral college votes for each state. Below is my prediction - not that I know anything about American politics....





UPDATE:
Okay the numbers and states are a little screwed up, but the overal result was never in doubt.

22% tax increase! Contact Calgary city hall (or burn it down!!)

Contact your alderman and the mayor to protest the 22% tax increase and the frivolous spending on exotic pedestrian bridges. Stress the fact that these measures has called into question your political support. For property taxpayers this will mean an extra $400 or more per year.

Inflation in Calgary for families should not be exasperated by a City Council gone mad with spending. Everyone - families, small businesses, and large corporations - is cutting back spending, why should the city be any different? I suspect I will not be the only resident and taxpayer to feel this way.

Bronco and Ward 1 alderman Dale Hodges have lost my vote if this huge increase goes ahead.

Contact the Mayor

Contact your Alderman (or whatever they call themselves this week!)


UPDATE:
1. My letter to the editor to the Calgary Sun was printed.

2. I received an email today (04November2008) from the Constituent Assistant to Alderman Hodges responding to the email that I sent. I am a little flabergasted that Mr. Hodges had more important things to do than vote on spending $25 million on pedestrian bridges. As the email explicitly states that:

This communication is intended ONLY for the use of the person or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient named above or a person responsible for delivering messages or communications to the intended recipient, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any use, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of the information contained in it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and then destroy or delete this communication, or return it to us by mail if requested by us. The City of Calgary thanks you for your attention and co-operation.

I will paraphrase the content.

• Thank you for the comments.
  
• THE ALDERMAN WAS NOT PRESENT IN CHAMBERS AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE ON THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES!
  

There better be a damn good reason why Hodges was absent from an important vote, where Ric McIver was looking for support for the quashing of the designer pedestrian bridges. Even a doctor's note should not suffice. Could he not vote in proxy?

Stéphane Dion to stay on as Liberal Leader until Liberal Leadership Convention

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion will stay on as Liberal party leader until a leadership convention is held. He then will step down to become the 2nd Liberal leader in history not to become prime minister. Edward Blake, who held the party's top job from 1880-87, previously left the post without ever serving as prime minister.

Obvious potential leadership candidates are: Bob Rae, Michael Ignatieff, Frank McKenna, John Manley, Brian Tobin, and for an outside chance coming up the rail brushing his hair - Justin Trudeau.

My picks for Liberal leader include: Céline Dion, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Edward Blake, John Turner, Sheila Copps, Elizabeth May, or Hedy Fry.

Calgary Premiere of Passchendaele

I attended the Calgary premiere of the Canadian-made war movie Passchendaele on the evening of Wednesday, October 15th.

The Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary was transformed into a grande movie theatre with attendees ranging from dignitaries, crew members, the general public, and a large military presence from the Canadian Forces.

The movie was shot in various locales around the Calgary area including Heritage Park and the T'suu Tina Reserve. Entirely produced with Canadian funds, Passchendaele features all-Canadian actors, and a Canadian film crew with mostly local workers.

Paul Gross co-produced, wrote, and starred in this love story with the backdrop of the Great War. He named his movie persona after his maternal grandfather, Michael Joseph Dunne (reg#447977), whose stories of his involvement in World War One - and Passchendaele in particular - inspired Gross to tell this story. Gross also dedicated the film to his relative as well.

Our Canadian actors put in good performances especially the female lead Caroline Dhavernas. The battle scenes compare well with any high budget Hollywood movie effects. Some reviewers have put the realistic nature of the war scenes on a par with Saving Private Ryan. But if you are expecting just action, you will be disappointed.

The film opens with Canadian Sargent Michael Dunne in close combat with the Germans. He returns to Canada recovering from his injuries and falls for his military nurse Sarah Mann. Circumstances force him to return to the Western front to protect Sarah's brother. They are both thrown into the hell known as Passchendaele.

Spoiler Alerts!
The appearance of his love Sarah in the medical hospital at Passchendaele before the battle and the subsequent love scene reeks with incredulity. The love scene itself seems lifted from the 2001 WWII movie Enemy at the Gates.

Although it had been foreshadowed earlier in the film, I found the symbolism in the final scenes to be a little over the top with an injured Dunne carrying Sarah's near-to-death brother to safety across the battlefield on a cross-like pole.

Overall, I enjoyed the film and the fact that it is bringing Canadian war history to the masses is a positive.

My great grandfather Robert A. Malcolm (reg#709485) also served in the Great War. I have to request documents from the DOD for his service record. Exposure to mustard gas did not kill him on the battlefield, but severely damaged his lungs making life very difficult as he never fully recovered. I hope that Passchendaele will help bring more stories to today's youth. I want my daughter to realise the sacrifices that were made on our behalf.

At the reception after the screening guests mingled with actors and crew. I saw Paul Gross picking his teeth and lamented that I was too far away to come to the rescue with my spare dental floss. Perhaps next time.....

Reviews of the film:
Bruce Kirkland, Calgary Sun

Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Canadian Press

Eye Weekly, Jason Anderson

Tribute Magazine Online Public Reviews

Chris Knight, National Post

2008 Canadian Election Results

Total number of seats in the New Canadian Parliament

143	76	50	37	2	0
				Ind