Ignatieff to Run For Liberal Leadership

Posted On: Out of the Shadows
Michael Ignatieff has announced his intention to run for the Liberal Leadership. He ran and lost the last time in a contest that was bitterly fought with former NDP Premier of Ontario Bob Rae. In the last race Ignatieff had recently returned to the country after many years away in high profile teaching positions. I objected to his leadership on that basis the last time. -- read more

PickupPal Illegal in Ontario

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
The Toronto Star reports today that the Ontario Highway Transport Board has ruled the activities of PickupPal illegal in Ontario. The site is a ride sharing site operated from Roseneath, Ontario with members from around the world. The idea is to reduce pollution through coordinating car pooling. Some public transit firms like Trentway Wager had asked the board to rule on the site under the Public Vehicles Act. -- read more

Highway of Heroes on NBC Nightly News

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
In a rare moment of notice from our neighbours to the south, a segment on the Highway of Heroes which stretches from Trenton to Toronto along Canada’s busiest highway the 401 was broadcast on NBC on our Remembrance Day. Myself and a contingent from my Legion branch are among those who stand on those bridges in all weather to show our regard and our respect for those who have given their lives in Afghanistan. -- read more

Rotary Club Presentation

Posted on: Ides of May
In my role as Legion President I was asked to be the guest speaker at the Colborne Rotary Club meeting tonight. Here are my remarks: -- read more

Sacrifice Medal Criteria to Be Reviewed

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Back in July the Governor General approved a new medal for our forces. The Sacrifice Medal was meant to replace the often understated ‘wound stripes’ worn be Canadian Forces personnel when they were wounded. The new medal was to cover wounds as the direct result of hostile action and could be earned posthumously. It also includes those who suffer PTSD as a result of hostile action. -- read more

Obama’s Big Shoes

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
To read the papers today one gets the sense that Obama’s victory in the American election has sparked an almost messianic response. Expectations seem to be high that Obama is going to change not only the USA but every other problem in the world. Unless he’s hiding the fact that he’s Christ incarnate, that would be pretty much impossible. -- read more

History is Made — Obama Elected President

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
I just watched a class act take place. Senator John McCain completed one of the classiest concession speeches I’ve ever seen. He conceeded the election to Senator, now President elect, Barack Obama. I don’t normally care about an American election (in case you are new around here, I’m Canadian) and as intrigued as I was by this one, I never truly thought that this would happen. -- read more

Election Dust Settles

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Ok, it is now almost 10 days after the Canadian election and I haven’t yet commented. No, I haven’t been licking my wounds because the boy Harper got back in and with more seats. Life just has been a bit rushed lately. It will be a bit rushed for the next two to three weeks as Remembrance Day approaches. Damn offline life intruding into my blogging time! -- read more

Busy Time Approaching

Posted on: Ides of May
Hard to believe that October is almost over. Sometimes the months just fly by. As October ends, my thoughts and attention shifts to several areas. The first and most important is Remembrance Day. In Canada and many countries throughout the world we pause on November 11th to remember those who came before us, their service and their sacrifice to keep us free during the last century and now Afghanistan. -- read more

VOTE! Vote! vote

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Okay Canada, we’ve had 30+ days of politicians begging, lying, cajoling trying to get our support. Today is the day. We might not like any of those running to run our country but the fact is, they are all we have at this time and ONE of them has to be elected. Pick the one you dislike the least and mark your ballot but for god’s sake, VOTE. -- read more

Vote Day Tomorrow

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
A quiet Thanksgiving weekend is winding down as I write this. Quiet for me, but for politicians in Canada the weekend has been a mad sprint to the finish line. The campaign ends today and tomorrow Canada votes. If the polls are right, Harper will be held to another minority. With a bit of luck, a smaller minority than the last one. -- read more

A Time of Thanksgiving

Posted on: Ides of May
It’s Friday of the long weekend which marks the Canadian Thanksgiving, a traditional time to celebrate the end of harvest. A transition of sorts towards the long cold winter that is to come. Somehow it seems so right that the transition is marked in nature by the changing of the trees, to a blaze of fall colours just before they fall off their trees which are preparing for their winter rest.

I’d like to be preparing for my winter rest, I’m not a winter lover. I do have to admit to admiring the cleansing effect of fresh fallen snow on the landscape. As long as I don’t have to drive in it. I’m fortunate in that I do have the freedom to be able to draw the line in the snow and refuse to drive when snow or sleet is falling. The only time I really get caught in it is if I’m away from home when it gets underway. -- read more

Harper’s Election to Lose

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
You know, two weeks ago, I would have been willing to bet that Harper was going to manage to hoodwink the Canadian people enough to win the majority he has lusted after and that Dion would do well to elect a handful of MPs. How quickly things can change.

Here we are two weeks later, two debates and world markets in a tailspin, it looks like Harper will not get his majority and if the current trend continues, he may even end up where he belongs — in the Official Opposition. The last part is a bit of a longshot but then so was Harper being held to a minority two weeks ago.-- read more

One Week Left in Election Campaign

Posted on: Out of the Shadows
Today is the last day of the advanced polls in our election and then next Tuesday is vote day. I’ve not been posting much on the election but have been watching very closely. I tuned into and listened closely to the English language debate last Thursday. I was glad that I did, as it is likely one of the very few times that Harper has been forced out of his ‘bubble’ in this election and it was long overdue.

Until now, Harper has managed to appear only at well staged events with only pre-registered attendees. When the press started to blow the whistle on the fact that Harper was keeping a bubble around him, and avoiding any unexpected outbursts by the electorate who have the right to answers from him, his campaign claimed that it was necessary due to security issues. Yeah right. -- read more

Busy week ends -- ouch!!

Posted on: Ides of May
I’m really glad that I stole last Sunday for a day for myself, this last week has been a pretty busy one. A good part of the non-work part of the week was getting ready for a roast beef dinner at the Legion on Friday night. What a meal that was, we served 142 people in just less than an hour and then had to cut the sales off as we had almost run out of meat. We were tired but really pleased. Attendance at these meals is always a guessing game.

Yesterday wasn’t such a good day for me. My stomach decided it was as good a time as any to go into spasms. I had to bail from the preparations and serving of our monthly brunch and retreat to my bed. It’s still hurting today but at least I can sit up and get some writing done.-- read more