I was talking to a friend's little girl, and when I asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, she said she wanted to be Prime Minister some day.
Both of her parents, Social Liberals, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?' She replied, 'I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people.'
'Wow - what a worthy goal,' I told her.
'You don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where that homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food or a new house.'
She thought that over for a few seconds because she's only 6. And while her mother glared at me, the little girl looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work and you can just pay him the $50?'
And I said, 'Welcome to the Conservative Party.'
Her folks still aren't talking to me.
Coalition-Coup nonsense
This whole Coalition-Coup nonsense was going to happen sooner or later. The catalyst just happened to be the PM’s attempt at getting rid of the $1.95 per vote, per party. (Which I agree with, the public should not be in the business of financing political parties.) If it wasn’t the political financing issue, it would have been something else later.
The BQ, the NDP and the LPC needed to be seen as having some type of relevance to the Country and to their membership, for some reason, this was perceived as the only way to do it. Larry, Moe and Shemp's time was up as political Leaders, they needed to do something/anything to stay around.
You can’t keep saying how bad a government is, and then keep supporting them, you look like a fool.
In Canada the tradition has always been a minority government, governs through the support of smaller parties. The Canadian people see it as a training ground for future majority governments, or keeping a short leash on parties they are still unsure of. They see minority governments as sometimes the best governments, as the parties have little choice but to get along. Legislation is generally based on compromise.
Budgets and important pieces of legislation are/can be confidence motions. Even then, there is back room talking and dealing to get a compromise. It’s not strong arm tactics.
A coalition coup is a majority government. Something that no one in the Canadian public wanted. This was not what the people wanted, drop the government in January and lets have another election.
The BQ, the NDP and the LPC needed to be seen as having some type of relevance to the Country and to their membership, for some reason, this was perceived as the only way to do it. Larry, Moe and Shemp's time was up as political Leaders, they needed to do something/anything to stay around.
You can’t keep saying how bad a government is, and then keep supporting them, you look like a fool.
In Canada the tradition has always been a minority government, governs through the support of smaller parties. The Canadian people see it as a training ground for future majority governments, or keeping a short leash on parties they are still unsure of. They see minority governments as sometimes the best governments, as the parties have little choice but to get along. Legislation is generally based on compromise.
Budgets and important pieces of legislation are/can be confidence motions. Even then, there is back room talking and dealing to get a compromise. It’s not strong arm tactics.
A coalition coup is a majority government. Something that no one in the Canadian public wanted. This was not what the people wanted, drop the government in January and lets have another election.
More student garbage
I guess white people, and males are not as important as everyone else?
Is it any wonder so many of our politicans are stupid? When we have student groups like this as the training ground?
All people are important. White, black, green, plaid. As are both sex's. God....get past race, religion and gender folks, it's not that hard.
Students fire back in CF charity flap
By AEDAN HELMER, SUN MEDIA
The Ottawa Sun
Carleton University student Marissa Hofteizer, center, walks with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Regional Director, Nadine Imbleau-Redman, right, while participating in a fundraising demonstration on campus one day after the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) overturned a decision to cancel the Shinerama fundraising campaign which benefits Cystic Fibrosis, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
OTTAWA -- When the Carleton University Students' Association voted to scrap a popular cystic fibrosis fundraiser because the disease "only affect(s) white people, and primarily men," Christine Skobe was shocked.
But the Carleton student, who was diagnosed with the degenerative disease when she was 12, isn't getting mad. She's trying to get even.
Skobe and 25 other students marched through campus yesterday, collecting donations for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) in an impromptu fundraiser.
"As a person who has cystic fibrosis, it's unacceptable for my school to be like this," said Skobe.
"I can honestly say that the donations that have come from Shinerama and other CF fundraisers have improved my quality of life, and it's terrible that my school wants to stop supporting that because it's helping me live."
Nadine Imbleau-Redman, regional director with CCFF, said the widespread media coverage "hasn't been all that bad for CF."
"It's given us an opportunity to re-educate the public to allow people to truly understand how devastating a disease it is, how widespread it is and that it is the most common fatal genetic disease among young Canadians," she said.
But as CUSA moves into full damage-control mode, a student coalition is forming on campus to impeach CUSA president Brittany Smyth and councillor Donnie Northrup, the student who wrote the controversial motion to scrap Shinerama in favour of "a new broad-reaching charity."
Coun. Kailey Gervais circulated a petition calling for Smyth and Northrup's resignations, and collected more than 500 signatures in two hours.
According to CUSA policy, 1,250 signatures are needed to impeach Smyth, while 90 science students are required to sign the petition to force Northrup, who represents the faculty of science, from office.
"If the students feel they need to remove two people from office to show the world that we are responsible and that the students can take action and be heard, then that's what needs to be done," said Gervais.
Gervais also wants to reform the political process at council, saying the motion tabled by Northrup allowed "no time for research and no time for consultation."
"Because we did not talk to our constituency, we acted unilaterally at that table and that's incorrect for council," said Gervais.
Is it any wonder so many of our politicans are stupid? When we have student groups like this as the training ground?
All people are important. White, black, green, plaid. As are both sex's. God....get past race, religion and gender folks, it's not that hard.
Students fire back in CF charity flap
By AEDAN HELMER, SUN MEDIA
The Ottawa Sun
Carleton University student Marissa Hofteizer, center, walks with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Regional Director, Nadine Imbleau-Redman, right, while participating in a fundraising demonstration on campus one day after the Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) overturned a decision to cancel the Shinerama fundraising campaign which benefits Cystic Fibrosis, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.
OTTAWA -- When the Carleton University Students' Association voted to scrap a popular cystic fibrosis fundraiser because the disease "only affect(s) white people, and primarily men," Christine Skobe was shocked.
But the Carleton student, who was diagnosed with the degenerative disease when she was 12, isn't getting mad. She's trying to get even.
Skobe and 25 other students marched through campus yesterday, collecting donations for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) in an impromptu fundraiser.
"As a person who has cystic fibrosis, it's unacceptable for my school to be like this," said Skobe.
"I can honestly say that the donations that have come from Shinerama and other CF fundraisers have improved my quality of life, and it's terrible that my school wants to stop supporting that because it's helping me live."
Nadine Imbleau-Redman, regional director with CCFF, said the widespread media coverage "hasn't been all that bad for CF."
"It's given us an opportunity to re-educate the public to allow people to truly understand how devastating a disease it is, how widespread it is and that it is the most common fatal genetic disease among young Canadians," she said.
But as CUSA moves into full damage-control mode, a student coalition is forming on campus to impeach CUSA president Brittany Smyth and councillor Donnie Northrup, the student who wrote the controversial motion to scrap Shinerama in favour of "a new broad-reaching charity."
Coun. Kailey Gervais circulated a petition calling for Smyth and Northrup's resignations, and collected more than 500 signatures in two hours.
According to CUSA policy, 1,250 signatures are needed to impeach Smyth, while 90 science students are required to sign the petition to force Northrup, who represents the faculty of science, from office.
"If the students feel they need to remove two people from office to show the world that we are responsible and that the students can take action and be heard, then that's what needs to be done," said Gervais.
Gervais also wants to reform the political process at council, saying the motion tabled by Northrup allowed "no time for research and no time for consultation."
"Because we did not talk to our constituency, we acted unilaterally at that table and that's incorrect for council," said Gervais.
Do provinces have a right to ill-gotten gains?
This is such crap. On suspicion only, the government can take your assets????
Do provinces have a right to ill-gotten gains?
KIRK MAKIN
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
November 8, 2008 at 12:06 AM EST
When Toronto police officers pulled over Robin Chatterjee's car on March 27, 2003, they detected the reek of fresh marijuana – but couldn't find a trace of it.
Aside from $29,020 in cash, an exhaust fan and a light ballast, there was a dearth of even circumstantial evidence to link Mr. Chatterjee to a marijuana grow operation. The Carleton University student was freed without charges.
But that was not the end of Mr. Chatterjee's troubles. Provincial prosecutors moved in swiftly and seized the cash and the contents of his car under a controversial forfeiture law that will be tested in the Supreme Court of Canada next week.
Because Mr. Chatterjee could not explain the source of the money, and the equipment was the type frequently used in grow-ops, the law allowed them to be deemed to be connected to crime.
The stakes in the case are enormous: Future forfeitures are expected to bring in tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars.
James Diamond, a lawyer for Mr. Chatterjee, said that his client's case is a perfect vehicle “to expose the shortcomings in the legislation. There were absolutely no drugs whatsoever found anywhere. The file was closed, and that was the end of the investigation.”
Yet it is not the Draconian elements of the law that will be under challenge. Instead, the case will focus on whether the provinces have any right to seize the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
Mr. Diamond alleges that Ontario's Civil Remedies Act is criminal legislation that has been cunningly disguised to look as if it pertains to property and civil rights – valid areas of provincial jurisdiction.
“But the act cuts and pastes the entire Criminal Code – along with every other piece of federal legislation which may create offences, from the Customs Act to the Income Tax Act,” Mr. Diamond said in an interview.
Under the Civil Remedies Act, an Ontario Superior Court judge must decide, on “a balance of probabilities,” that an item was obtained by unlawful conduct.
(The provision is entirely distinct from federal criminal forfeiture laws, which are part of the criminal sentencing process, and widely conceded to be constitutional.) Since 2002, Ontario has seized or launched forfeiture proceedings involving almost $16-million in property; 73 per cent of it was from drug-related cases.
B.C. has seized $4.5-million under its own provision since 2006. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Quebec have created forfeiture laws, but have delayed using them until the Supreme Court rules. The remaining provinces are almost sure to pass their own laws should the Supreme Court rule in their favour.
In a brief to the court, Ontario prosecutors Robin Basu and James McKeachie argue that deterring the creation of grow operations is linked directly to civil rights and property because grow-ops consume inordinate amounts of electricity and are potentially dangerous.
They also emphasized that the civil remedies law does not penalize or punish individuals, it merely seeks to retrieve property that did not rightfully belong to the owner.
B.C. prosecutors J. Gareth Morley and Bryant Mackey bolstered that point in their brief, adding: “If a child takes a cookie that she is not allowed to take and is required to return the cookie, she is not ‘punished.' “A bank robber who repays the stolen funds is, likewise, not punished,” they added. “Assuming, as this Court must, that Mr. Chatterjee obtained the $29,020 from the illegal drug trade, it would abuse the English language to say that he has been ‘punished' simply because he can no longer use his ill-gotten gains.”
Mr. Diamond warned that, while the provinces have been careful to restrain their greed pending the court's ruling, the floodgates could quickly open to a court-sanctioned plundering of homes, property and bank accounts based on nothing more than suspicion.
He also warned that potentially innocent third parties are bound to fall prey to forfeitures, such as a pair of Barrie, Ont., landlords he represents whose buildings are being seized because some tenants sold crack cocaine there.
Mr. Diamond noted that the province originally marketed its forfeiture legislation as a method of defeating organized crime while helping victims obtain compensation.
In reality, he said, only about 15 per cent of the seizures have gone to victims, and a great many of those targeted for forfeiture had no organized crime connections.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a legal intervenor in the case, said that the act is so broadly worded that Ontario can plow the proceeds of forfeitures into police budgets.
In a moderate surprise, the federal government has thrown its support behind Ontario: “Forfeiture of the proceeds of crime is an important part of society's response to the various kinds of harm that profit-driven crime visits on individuals and communities at the local, national and international level,” said a federal brief by prosecutor Cheryl Tobias.
Do provinces have a right to ill-gotten gains?
KIRK MAKIN
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
November 8, 2008 at 12:06 AM EST
When Toronto police officers pulled over Robin Chatterjee's car on March 27, 2003, they detected the reek of fresh marijuana – but couldn't find a trace of it.
Aside from $29,020 in cash, an exhaust fan and a light ballast, there was a dearth of even circumstantial evidence to link Mr. Chatterjee to a marijuana grow operation. The Carleton University student was freed without charges.
But that was not the end of Mr. Chatterjee's troubles. Provincial prosecutors moved in swiftly and seized the cash and the contents of his car under a controversial forfeiture law that will be tested in the Supreme Court of Canada next week.
Because Mr. Chatterjee could not explain the source of the money, and the equipment was the type frequently used in grow-ops, the law allowed them to be deemed to be connected to crime.
The stakes in the case are enormous: Future forfeitures are expected to bring in tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars.
James Diamond, a lawyer for Mr. Chatterjee, said that his client's case is a perfect vehicle “to expose the shortcomings in the legislation. There were absolutely no drugs whatsoever found anywhere. The file was closed, and that was the end of the investigation.”
Yet it is not the Draconian elements of the law that will be under challenge. Instead, the case will focus on whether the provinces have any right to seize the proceeds of unlawful conduct.
Mr. Diamond alleges that Ontario's Civil Remedies Act is criminal legislation that has been cunningly disguised to look as if it pertains to property and civil rights – valid areas of provincial jurisdiction.
“But the act cuts and pastes the entire Criminal Code – along with every other piece of federal legislation which may create offences, from the Customs Act to the Income Tax Act,” Mr. Diamond said in an interview.
Under the Civil Remedies Act, an Ontario Superior Court judge must decide, on “a balance of probabilities,” that an item was obtained by unlawful conduct.
(The provision is entirely distinct from federal criminal forfeiture laws, which are part of the criminal sentencing process, and widely conceded to be constitutional.) Since 2002, Ontario has seized or launched forfeiture proceedings involving almost $16-million in property; 73 per cent of it was from drug-related cases.
B.C. has seized $4.5-million under its own provision since 2006. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Quebec have created forfeiture laws, but have delayed using them until the Supreme Court rules. The remaining provinces are almost sure to pass their own laws should the Supreme Court rule in their favour.
In a brief to the court, Ontario prosecutors Robin Basu and James McKeachie argue that deterring the creation of grow operations is linked directly to civil rights and property because grow-ops consume inordinate amounts of electricity and are potentially dangerous.
They also emphasized that the civil remedies law does not penalize or punish individuals, it merely seeks to retrieve property that did not rightfully belong to the owner.
B.C. prosecutors J. Gareth Morley and Bryant Mackey bolstered that point in their brief, adding: “If a child takes a cookie that she is not allowed to take and is required to return the cookie, she is not ‘punished.' “A bank robber who repays the stolen funds is, likewise, not punished,” they added. “Assuming, as this Court must, that Mr. Chatterjee obtained the $29,020 from the illegal drug trade, it would abuse the English language to say that he has been ‘punished' simply because he can no longer use his ill-gotten gains.”
Mr. Diamond warned that, while the provinces have been careful to restrain their greed pending the court's ruling, the floodgates could quickly open to a court-sanctioned plundering of homes, property and bank accounts based on nothing more than suspicion.
He also warned that potentially innocent third parties are bound to fall prey to forfeitures, such as a pair of Barrie, Ont., landlords he represents whose buildings are being seized because some tenants sold crack cocaine there.
Mr. Diamond noted that the province originally marketed its forfeiture legislation as a method of defeating organized crime while helping victims obtain compensation.
In reality, he said, only about 15 per cent of the seizures have gone to victims, and a great many of those targeted for forfeiture had no organized crime connections.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a legal intervenor in the case, said that the act is so broadly worded that Ontario can plow the proceeds of forfeitures into police budgets.
In a moderate surprise, the federal government has thrown its support behind Ontario: “Forfeiture of the proceeds of crime is an important part of society's response to the various kinds of harm that profit-driven crime visits on individuals and communities at the local, national and international level,” said a federal brief by prosecutor Cheryl Tobias.
LPC is not dead!
Since before the election I’ve been hearing and reading about the demise of the Liberal Dinosaur. Apparently a comet containing financial and moral bankruptcy has lit up the skies over Canada and is about to descend into the ranks of LPC members and supporters, annihilating them all. Perhaps we’ll see them in the museums of the future; little boys and girls will have small plastic LPC figurines on their windowsills. Movies will be made with computer animated LPC members chasing down fleeing explorers in jeeps.
Folks we’ve seen this time and time again in Canada, people getting cocky, for various reasons when their political party dominates other political parties. It’s the ups and downs of a cycle.
And what always happens? Parties get cocky, arrogant, and complacent. Then the other parties walk up and knock them on their asses.
I get the horrible feeling that the CPC will be entering a stage of arrogance, one which may sow the seeds of their own defeat.
The LPC is not dead. They will regroup, reorganize and do whatever is necessary to make a comeback in the later rounds. Do not write them off, do not get complacent.
The CPC needs to stay lean and hungry if the want to dominate politics in Canada for the foreseeable future. Eye of the Tiger man, eye of the tiger.
Folks we’ve seen this time and time again in Canada, people getting cocky, for various reasons when their political party dominates other political parties. It’s the ups and downs of a cycle.
And what always happens? Parties get cocky, arrogant, and complacent. Then the other parties walk up and knock them on their asses.
I get the horrible feeling that the CPC will be entering a stage of arrogance, one which may sow the seeds of their own defeat.
The LPC is not dead. They will regroup, reorganize and do whatever is necessary to make a comeback in the later rounds. Do not write them off, do not get complacent.
The CPC needs to stay lean and hungry if the want to dominate politics in Canada for the foreseeable future. Eye of the Tiger man, eye of the tiger.
Cell phone ban
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid our political leaders are. The coming ban in Ontario against cell phones is just another example of a knee jerk, political law that has little merit.
I agree cell phones should not be used when driving.
But we have laws against careless driving, reckless driving as well as others; these should be strong enough to do something about the problem, assuming there is a problem at all.
I guess its still okay to read a map while driving, eat while driving, drink while driving, look for that CD under the seat, look for a radio station that plays good music, watch DVD’s, shave, put on make-up, threaten the kids in the back seat while driving, get caught up on books on tape or talk radio. There are tonnes of distractions that hamper our driving abilities, but they’re not cool enough to do anything about. Cell phone bans make it look like our Leaders are doing something, when in fact they again, do nothing.
I agree cell phones should not be used when driving.
But we have laws against careless driving, reckless driving as well as others; these should be strong enough to do something about the problem, assuming there is a problem at all.
I guess its still okay to read a map while driving, eat while driving, drink while driving, look for that CD under the seat, look for a radio station that plays good music, watch DVD’s, shave, put on make-up, threaten the kids in the back seat while driving, get caught up on books on tape or talk radio. There are tonnes of distractions that hamper our driving abilities, but they’re not cool enough to do anything about. Cell phone bans make it look like our Leaders are doing something, when in fact they again, do nothing.
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers part 8
Recruitment photo 1903.
My grandfather is middle row, 4th from the left.
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers part 7
As it says, Malta 1908. My grandfather is front row, left.
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers part 6
Egypt 1915, just before Gallipoli. My grandfather is on the right in the hat. The other two gentleman are Australian. It would be interesting to findout who they were.
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers part 5
Fifth from the right seated on the ground.
China?
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers part 2
My grandfather is dead centre...the one with his arms crossed, in the funny hat...
Note the man to his left, his arms are forward, hands upright....must be something to that.
Again, China, i believe.
1st battalion, Royal inniskilling Fusiliers
I love genealogy, exploring my family tree and such. I'm going to post some photo's of my grandfather from his time in the British army. He joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1903 and was discharged in 1918. He was with A company, 1st battalion. As such he seen a great deal of the empire, Crete, Malta, India, China, Egypt, and Gallipoli.
My interest in posting these photo's is just to get them out there, and see if anyone else has any other photo's or even stories to share.
This photo I believe was taken in China, my Grandfather is in the first row, second from the left.
I was right!
Back on September 22, 2008 I said,
“My prediction.It will be a record low voter turnout. Unlike past low voter turnouts, this one will result in a strong CPC minority government. (Generally low voter turnouts, result in a LPC win, and a CPC loss.)”
And I was right!!
I was wrong about Guelph however, but it was a close race none the less. Eight more people out per poll, and Gloria could have won.
I know Glo would have worked hard for Guelph, I just hope Frank will work harder then his predecessor. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until we see what happens.
“My prediction.It will be a record low voter turnout. Unlike past low voter turnouts, this one will result in a strong CPC minority government. (Generally low voter turnouts, result in a LPC win, and a CPC loss.)”
And I was right!!
I was wrong about Guelph however, but it was a close race none the less. Eight more people out per poll, and Gloria could have won.
I know Glo would have worked hard for Guelph, I just hope Frank will work harder then his predecessor. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until we see what happens.
Election day
Ok, it is E-day, time to get out and vote for the candidate you think will best represent Guelph.
If you’re reading this you already know that my bias is for Gloria Kovach> she has a proven track record of working hard for Guelph. No offence…but who the hell is everyone else????
I’m familiar with Mike Nagy as he’s run unsuccessfully twice before for MP here, but what has he done for Guelph? Nothing I can think of…
Really who is Tom King? Unless you listen to CBC radio you may never have heard of him before, and again what’s he done for Guelph? Nothing I can think of…
And Frank Valeriote, besides being a very expense, high profile lawyer what has he done for Guelph? I mean besides joining every committee that was looking for members.
Folks, Gloria was working her butt off for Guelph long before any of these guys popped up. I know Glo, she will give it everything she’s got to make Guelph a better place. It’s about time we send someone to Ottawa who’s going to sit in the front benches of the governing party.
Please get out and vote for Gloria Kovach.
If you’re reading this you already know that my bias is for Gloria Kovach> she has a proven track record of working hard for Guelph. No offence…but who the hell is everyone else????
I’m familiar with Mike Nagy as he’s run unsuccessfully twice before for MP here, but what has he done for Guelph? Nothing I can think of…
Really who is Tom King? Unless you listen to CBC radio you may never have heard of him before, and again what’s he done for Guelph? Nothing I can think of…
And Frank Valeriote, besides being a very expense, high profile lawyer what has he done for Guelph? I mean besides joining every committee that was looking for members.
Folks, Gloria was working her butt off for Guelph long before any of these guys popped up. I know Glo, she will give it everything she’s got to make Guelph a better place. It’s about time we send someone to Ottawa who’s going to sit in the front benches of the governing party.
Please get out and vote for Gloria Kovach.
Predictions
So what if they had an election and nobody showed up?
My prediction.
It will be a record low voter turnout. Unlike past low voter turnouts, this one will result in a strong CPC minority government. (Generally low voter turnouts, result in a LPC win, and a CPC loss.)
There are going to be many LPC supporters not showing up, and there will be/has been a general “whatever” approach to this election among most people.
The LPC, the Greens and the NDP are just not inspiring enough and the people are not falling for the scary CPC stuff anymore. There is just no compelling issue that is grabbing people this time. Hence a CPC victory.
In Guelph? For various reasons I have to give it to Gloria. I just don’t see the numbers falling any other way. (BTW, I am not involved in the CPC or the election at all) So I’m really trying to be non partisan with my thoughts. The numbers just are not there for Frank, Tom or Mike.
My prediction.
It will be a record low voter turnout. Unlike past low voter turnouts, this one will result in a strong CPC minority government. (Generally low voter turnouts, result in a LPC win, and a CPC loss.)
There are going to be many LPC supporters not showing up, and there will be/has been a general “whatever” approach to this election among most people.
The LPC, the Greens and the NDP are just not inspiring enough and the people are not falling for the scary CPC stuff anymore. There is just no compelling issue that is grabbing people this time. Hence a CPC victory.
In Guelph? For various reasons I have to give it to Gloria. I just don’t see the numbers falling any other way. (BTW, I am not involved in the CPC or the election at all) So I’m really trying to be non partisan with my thoughts. The numbers just are not there for Frank, Tom or Mike.
bail outs
It always amazes me, that in good times business Leaders want nothing to do with governments, while in bad times business almost begs for help, and governments have no choice but to help out. Note this story, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7620127.stm , becoming all too common as of late, and more than likely to become more common place still.
Business can make bad decisions, bad investments, cut tens of thousands of jobs, incur massive financial losses, have CEO’s make absurd salaries, yet governments have to bail them out for the good of the economy.
I understand the situation, the economics, but my God, why do we reward failure so often in our society?
I support business and their right to make money, provided its legal, they pay taxes, and contribute jobs to a society, but I think we’ve gotten to the point in the past thirty years of looking at dividends and stock prices, (for our pension plans, and our other investments), that are the end all and be all of our society. It doesn’t matter just as long as my shares produce.
That is and will bite us in the ass. I’m certainly no economist, but I still think the worst is yet to come. The US has been running an economy on huge debts for over a decade, it has to stop. Who ever is elected President in the fall has some serious economic problems to address, problems that will effect the rest of the world for quite a few years.
Business can make bad decisions, bad investments, cut tens of thousands of jobs, incur massive financial losses, have CEO’s make absurd salaries, yet governments have to bail them out for the good of the economy.
I understand the situation, the economics, but my God, why do we reward failure so often in our society?
I support business and their right to make money, provided its legal, they pay taxes, and contribute jobs to a society, but I think we’ve gotten to the point in the past thirty years of looking at dividends and stock prices, (for our pension plans, and our other investments), that are the end all and be all of our society. It doesn’t matter just as long as my shares produce.
That is and will bite us in the ass. I’m certainly no economist, but I still think the worst is yet to come. The US has been running an economy on huge debts for over a decade, it has to stop. Who ever is elected President in the fall has some serious economic problems to address, problems that will effect the rest of the world for quite a few years.
Again, the united left.
Gee this sounds somewhat like my column from the other day.
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/498604
Layton's flawed strategy
Sep 14, 2008 04:30 AM
Angelo Persichilli
"I'm applying for the job of prime minister," Jack Layton said last Sunday.
It sounds like a joke, but it's not. Layton knows that his supporters have had enough of being members of the fourth party and the NDP being just a parking space for the conscience of the nation. They now want their party in government.
But there's a problem: Layton could only become prime minister as the leader of a coalition supported by all the centre-left electorate. This means that if he wants the job, he has to deal with the Liberals first.
It's highly unlikely that federally we will ever have two left-leaning parties in government and in opposition at the same time. Even when the Conservatives were destroyed in 1993, the NDP didn't succeed in becoming the official opposition.
Layton is doing the right thing in applying for Stephen Harper's job, but I hope he knows that convincing Canadians that the Conservatives are bad is only half the challenge. The most difficult part is convincing the centre-left electorate that his party, not the Liberals, is the alternative.
Unfortunately for him, while Harper is building a centre-right coalition, the centre-left vote is split between the Liberals, NDP and now also the Green party.
The collapse of Brian Mulroney's leadership in the early '90s split the conservative vote into three parts: Quebec nationalists went to the Bloc; the right went to the Reform party, mainly in the West, while moderates stuck with the Progressive Conservatives.
In the last election, Harper brought Canadian Alliance voters and most Progressive Conservatives back into the same tent. In this election, he is trying to recapture the conservative votes in Quebec. At the same time, the centre-left electorate remains fractured.
So who is going to unify the left in Canada? Who is going to lead it into a two-party system?
Considering that the monothematic Green party can mainly be just a temporary shelter for dissatisfied Liberal and NDP voters, the answer is restricted to these two parties and, in a two-party system, one of them will go. Currently, the NDP looks to be that party.
The strategic vote is the first and strongest signal of this trend. Political hatred for the Conservatives is much stronger among some socialist voters than their loyalty to the NDP. If the Tories are strong, NDP support is weakened by strategic votes cast for Liberals in the hope of stopping the right.
This also means that the more the NDP leader attacks the Conservatives and demonizes its leaders, the more his supporters are scared and vote for the Liberals. In fact, the first victim of the political demonization of the Mike Harris Conservatives in Ontario in the late '90s was NDP Leader Howard Hampton, and the NDP lost party status at Queen's Park – twice.
The federal NDP will always be in this unhealthy situation until its leaders solve this dilemma and understand that in a two-party political system, they have to deal with the Liberals first. The best time to do that is when the Liberals are weak, as they are now. It almost happened in the '80s with Ed Broadbent.
In this election, the NDP fight to increase popular support by a few percentage points will only help the Conservatives to remain the governing party. You may or may not agree with Buzz Hargrove's ideological creed, but he has clearly understood that the presence of two parties fishing in the same centre-left pond will weaken both.
Pretty soon Layton will be forced to fish or cut bait.
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/498604
Layton's flawed strategy
Sep 14, 2008 04:30 AM
Angelo Persichilli
"I'm applying for the job of prime minister," Jack Layton said last Sunday.
It sounds like a joke, but it's not. Layton knows that his supporters have had enough of being members of the fourth party and the NDP being just a parking space for the conscience of the nation. They now want their party in government.
But there's a problem: Layton could only become prime minister as the leader of a coalition supported by all the centre-left electorate. This means that if he wants the job, he has to deal with the Liberals first.
It's highly unlikely that federally we will ever have two left-leaning parties in government and in opposition at the same time. Even when the Conservatives were destroyed in 1993, the NDP didn't succeed in becoming the official opposition.
Layton is doing the right thing in applying for Stephen Harper's job, but I hope he knows that convincing Canadians that the Conservatives are bad is only half the challenge. The most difficult part is convincing the centre-left electorate that his party, not the Liberals, is the alternative.
Unfortunately for him, while Harper is building a centre-right coalition, the centre-left vote is split between the Liberals, NDP and now also the Green party.
The collapse of Brian Mulroney's leadership in the early '90s split the conservative vote into three parts: Quebec nationalists went to the Bloc; the right went to the Reform party, mainly in the West, while moderates stuck with the Progressive Conservatives.
In the last election, Harper brought Canadian Alliance voters and most Progressive Conservatives back into the same tent. In this election, he is trying to recapture the conservative votes in Quebec. At the same time, the centre-left electorate remains fractured.
So who is going to unify the left in Canada? Who is going to lead it into a two-party system?
Considering that the monothematic Green party can mainly be just a temporary shelter for dissatisfied Liberal and NDP voters, the answer is restricted to these two parties and, in a two-party system, one of them will go. Currently, the NDP looks to be that party.
The strategic vote is the first and strongest signal of this trend. Political hatred for the Conservatives is much stronger among some socialist voters than their loyalty to the NDP. If the Tories are strong, NDP support is weakened by strategic votes cast for Liberals in the hope of stopping the right.
This also means that the more the NDP leader attacks the Conservatives and demonizes its leaders, the more his supporters are scared and vote for the Liberals. In fact, the first victim of the political demonization of the Mike Harris Conservatives in Ontario in the late '90s was NDP Leader Howard Hampton, and the NDP lost party status at Queen's Park – twice.
The federal NDP will always be in this unhealthy situation until its leaders solve this dilemma and understand that in a two-party political system, they have to deal with the Liberals first. The best time to do that is when the Liberals are weak, as they are now. It almost happened in the '80s with Ed Broadbent.
In this election, the NDP fight to increase popular support by a few percentage points will only help the Conservatives to remain the governing party. You may or may not agree with Buzz Hargrove's ideological creed, but he has clearly understood that the presence of two parties fishing in the same centre-left pond will weaken both.
Pretty soon Layton will be forced to fish or cut bait.
Cool
I love this stuff.
http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/80912_1516.html
September 12, 2008
Kimmirut site suggests early European contact
Hare fur yarn, wooden tally sticks may mean visitors arrived 1,000 years ago
JANE GEORGE
Vikings - or perhaps other Europeans - may have set up housekeeping and traded with Inuit 1,000 years ago near today's community of Kimmirut.
That's the picture of the past emerging from ancient artifacts found near Kimmirut, where someone collected Arctic hare fur and spun the fur into yarn and someone else carved notches into a wooden stick to record trading transactions.
Dorset Inuit probably didn't make the yarn and tally sticks because yarn and wood weren't part of Inuit culture at that time, said Patricia Sutherland, an archeologist with the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Other artifacts from the area, such as a small wooden carving of a mask, missing its nose, also suggest face-to-face contacts with Europeans.
That's because, although the mask is carved in a Dorset Inuit manner, it shows a long and possibly bearded face with straight and heavy eyebrows, wearing what may be Viking headgear.
Analysis on ancient yarn spun from Arctic hare fur, which was found near Pond Inlet, shows the yarn may pre-date the arrival of the Vikings. Similar yarn and cordage has been found near Kimmirut as well as in Greenland.(PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA SUTHERLAND)
To Sutherland, these artifacts all seem to point to prolonged contact in south Baffin between Inuit and Vikings, or some other mariners, from 1000 AD to 1450 AD or even earlier.
The dating of microscopically identified rat droppings found near Kimmirut may hold the key to learning more about the timing and origin of contact with Europeans, Sutherland said.
If there were rats in south Baffin, it shows European ships were also in the area because "rats aren't found in the Arctic."
Further analysis of the rat droppings is expected to provide even more information about exactly where these ships called, Sutherland said.
Many scholars already believe Baffin Island was Helluland, the name the Vikings' sagas gave to the land of rocks and glaciers they found west of Greenland.
But uncertainty about the age and origin of artifacts attributed to Vikings continues to raise questions about the nature of the contact between Inuit and mariners and whether Greenlandic Vikings were the first travelers that Dorset Inuit met.
Dating of some yarn and other artifacts, presumed to be left by Vikings on Baffin Island, have produced an age that predates the Vikings by several hundred years.
So, as Sutherland said, if you believe that spinning was not an indigenous technique that was used in Arctic North America, then you have to consider the possibility that as "remote as it may seem," these finds may represent evidence of contact with Europeans prior to the Vikings' arrival in Greenland.
Artifacts, stored in collections at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, first drew Sutherland to two old sites near Kimmirut in 2000.
When Sutherland learned that yarn, found near Kimmirut during earlier archeological digs, came from Arctic hare, she started to wonder about the nature of the contact between Inuit and Vikings - also known as Norse.
Because if they were weaving local fur, then maybe they were living there.
"Were the Norse spending more time in Arctic Canada than we previously thought?" And could someone have visited Baffin Island before the Vikings?
For the past five summers, Sutherland has conducted new excavations for the CMC's Helluland project on Cape Tanfield, assisted by local youth.
Cape Tanfield has many Dorset Inuit sites, which were occupied over many generations, as well as some "unusual" architecture.
But Sutherland said she not "prepared to say at this time that it's European."
Unlike L'Anse-aux-meadows in Newfoundland where remnants of Viking houses have been found, Kimmirut sites contain a mix of cultures over time, which makes understanding them more challenging, Sutherland says.
If the community wants to promote and preserve its rich heritage, Cape Tanfield could be nominated as a national historic site, Sutherland suggests.
http://www.nunatsiaq.com/news/nunavut/80912_1516.html
September 12, 2008
Kimmirut site suggests early European contact
Hare fur yarn, wooden tally sticks may mean visitors arrived 1,000 years ago
JANE GEORGE
Vikings - or perhaps other Europeans - may have set up housekeeping and traded with Inuit 1,000 years ago near today's community of Kimmirut.
That's the picture of the past emerging from ancient artifacts found near Kimmirut, where someone collected Arctic hare fur and spun the fur into yarn and someone else carved notches into a wooden stick to record trading transactions.
Dorset Inuit probably didn't make the yarn and tally sticks because yarn and wood weren't part of Inuit culture at that time, said Patricia Sutherland, an archeologist with the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Other artifacts from the area, such as a small wooden carving of a mask, missing its nose, also suggest face-to-face contacts with Europeans.
That's because, although the mask is carved in a Dorset Inuit manner, it shows a long and possibly bearded face with straight and heavy eyebrows, wearing what may be Viking headgear.
Analysis on ancient yarn spun from Arctic hare fur, which was found near Pond Inlet, shows the yarn may pre-date the arrival of the Vikings. Similar yarn and cordage has been found near Kimmirut as well as in Greenland.(PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA SUTHERLAND)
To Sutherland, these artifacts all seem to point to prolonged contact in south Baffin between Inuit and Vikings, or some other mariners, from 1000 AD to 1450 AD or even earlier.
The dating of microscopically identified rat droppings found near Kimmirut may hold the key to learning more about the timing and origin of contact with Europeans, Sutherland said.
If there were rats in south Baffin, it shows European ships were also in the area because "rats aren't found in the Arctic."
Further analysis of the rat droppings is expected to provide even more information about exactly where these ships called, Sutherland said.
Many scholars already believe Baffin Island was Helluland, the name the Vikings' sagas gave to the land of rocks and glaciers they found west of Greenland.
But uncertainty about the age and origin of artifacts attributed to Vikings continues to raise questions about the nature of the contact between Inuit and mariners and whether Greenlandic Vikings were the first travelers that Dorset Inuit met.
Dating of some yarn and other artifacts, presumed to be left by Vikings on Baffin Island, have produced an age that predates the Vikings by several hundred years.
So, as Sutherland said, if you believe that spinning was not an indigenous technique that was used in Arctic North America, then you have to consider the possibility that as "remote as it may seem," these finds may represent evidence of contact with Europeans prior to the Vikings' arrival in Greenland.
Artifacts, stored in collections at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, first drew Sutherland to two old sites near Kimmirut in 2000.
When Sutherland learned that yarn, found near Kimmirut during earlier archeological digs, came from Arctic hare, she started to wonder about the nature of the contact between Inuit and Vikings - also known as Norse.
Because if they were weaving local fur, then maybe they were living there.
"Were the Norse spending more time in Arctic Canada than we previously thought?" And could someone have visited Baffin Island before the Vikings?
For the past five summers, Sutherland has conducted new excavations for the CMC's Helluland project on Cape Tanfield, assisted by local youth.
Cape Tanfield has many Dorset Inuit sites, which were occupied over many generations, as well as some "unusual" architecture.
But Sutherland said she not "prepared to say at this time that it's European."
Unlike L'Anse-aux-meadows in Newfoundland where remnants of Viking houses have been found, Kimmirut sites contain a mix of cultures over time, which makes understanding them more challenging, Sutherland says.
If the community wants to promote and preserve its rich heritage, Cape Tanfield could be nominated as a national historic site, Sutherland suggests.
Unite the left?
With a possible agreement between Dion & May, perhaps all the talk of a“unite the left” movement is not so far fetched after all. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, as the old saying goes.
Really, when you think about it, it’s got some merit.
The LPC is about to get annihilated in the general election we are now in. They are financially deep in debt and only plunging further down the trail, their campaign in the first week is plain boring, no policy bombshells, no huge grassroots movement underway for change, poor campaign leadership, while the CPC and Harper control the centre of the Board, and outside of a few stupid mistakes seem to be running a very well oiled machine.
The Greens and the NDP will for the foreseeable future always hold 3rd or 4th party status. Canadians just aren’t that far left. The NDP want to take your hard earned money and give it to everyone else, the Greens, regardless of what they say, are still a one issue party. Really? They’re the two friend you had in high school who were always so negative, the doom and gloom parties.
The LPC does not want to be the PC party of 1993. A merger between the three left leaning parties looks very likely to me if the LPC wants to live to fight another day.
Really, when you think about it, it’s got some merit.
The LPC is about to get annihilated in the general election we are now in. They are financially deep in debt and only plunging further down the trail, their campaign in the first week is plain boring, no policy bombshells, no huge grassroots movement underway for change, poor campaign leadership, while the CPC and Harper control the centre of the Board, and outside of a few stupid mistakes seem to be running a very well oiled machine.
The Greens and the NDP will for the foreseeable future always hold 3rd or 4th party status. Canadians just aren’t that far left. The NDP want to take your hard earned money and give it to everyone else, the Greens, regardless of what they say, are still a one issue party. Really? They’re the two friend you had in high school who were always so negative, the doom and gloom parties.
The LPC does not want to be the PC party of 1993. A merger between the three left leaning parties looks very likely to me if the LPC wants to live to fight another day.
economic downturn
A column from the Sun today, http://www.torontosun.com/money/columnists/linda_leatherdale/2008/09/11/6732271-sun.html
I’ve heard several doom and gloom predictions over the past year very similar to what Linda’s saying, from local businessmen and from economic professionals.
When I was in Northern Ireland and Scotland a few months back, the housing market was dropping like a stone, the economy in general was on its way down. In fact the whole EU is in a down turn cycle.
Canada has 0.5% of the world population, with 2.3% of the worlds GDP, no matter how important we feel we are, we are irrelevant to the vast majority of the world economically. China has cities with a greater population then our entire country.
The credit crunch south of the border is coming to bite us in the rear end very soon. We’re just along for the ride folks.
I don’t care who the PM is, we’re going to get hit hard. Increasing taxes and increasing the price of goods, is not the thing you do in an economic downturn.
I’ve heard several doom and gloom predictions over the past year very similar to what Linda’s saying, from local businessmen and from economic professionals.
When I was in Northern Ireland and Scotland a few months back, the housing market was dropping like a stone, the economy in general was on its way down. In fact the whole EU is in a down turn cycle.
Canada has 0.5% of the world population, with 2.3% of the worlds GDP, no matter how important we feel we are, we are irrelevant to the vast majority of the world economically. China has cities with a greater population then our entire country.
The credit crunch south of the border is coming to bite us in the rear end very soon. We’re just along for the ride folks.
I don’t care who the PM is, we’re going to get hit hard. Increasing taxes and increasing the price of goods, is not the thing you do in an economic downturn.
Dion can't win
Alright, I haven’t written anything political in a while. Mostly because I haven’t cared too, but we are in an election so…
Dion and his LPC simply can not win this election. Why?
Because the current LPC strategy is the same strategy they ran unsuccessfully with in 2004 and in 2006. Yes they won a minority in 2004, but they were damn close to losing it until the last two weeks when the Conservatives imploded, giving the Liberals the election.
Constantly compare Harper to Bush. People aren’t buying this load of crap anymore, Canadians have seen Harper in action, and while he is far from perfect he isn’t even close to GB. I can think of a tomato plant in my garden that is closer to Bush then Harper. Bush is an idiot IMHO.
Scare people with the religious right talk, and how these folks dominate the CPC. Really? Well in my experience in the party I can count on one hand that’s short a few fingers, the seriously religious people I’ve met in the party. Most members are normal people, some Atheists, Agnostics, Muslims, Pastafarians, and Hebrew. Funny how we crucify people for being Christian in the party, but ignore comments regarding all other faiths, because then we would seem intolerant. Again Canadians don’t care about the issue. Get over it.
The old hidden agenda card. Yawn. That’s right the CPC is just waiting for that elusive majority government to spring on Canadians their evil plan…..of lowering taxes and being hard on crime.
Stéphane if you want to win this, or at least not bleed your party into oblivion come up with a strategy that produces policies everyone can buy into. They need universal appeal across the spectrum. Raising my taxes and increasing the cost of goods is not going to get my support. I looked, and any income tax savings for me will be as minimal as you can possibly get. How many more manufacturing jobs are going to go over seas because of an added tax burden?
I’m happy with a CPC minority, if the Invisible Pink Unicorn blesses the CPC, and they get a majority, then so be it. It certainly can’t be any worse then the 12 years of a Liberal majority we had to put up with.
Dion and his LPC simply can not win this election. Why?
Because the current LPC strategy is the same strategy they ran unsuccessfully with in 2004 and in 2006. Yes they won a minority in 2004, but they were damn close to losing it until the last two weeks when the Conservatives imploded, giving the Liberals the election.
Constantly compare Harper to Bush. People aren’t buying this load of crap anymore, Canadians have seen Harper in action, and while he is far from perfect he isn’t even close to GB. I can think of a tomato plant in my garden that is closer to Bush then Harper. Bush is an idiot IMHO.
Scare people with the religious right talk, and how these folks dominate the CPC. Really? Well in my experience in the party I can count on one hand that’s short a few fingers, the seriously religious people I’ve met in the party. Most members are normal people, some Atheists, Agnostics, Muslims, Pastafarians, and Hebrew. Funny how we crucify people for being Christian in the party, but ignore comments regarding all other faiths, because then we would seem intolerant. Again Canadians don’t care about the issue. Get over it.
The old hidden agenda card. Yawn. That’s right the CPC is just waiting for that elusive majority government to spring on Canadians their evil plan…..of lowering taxes and being hard on crime.
Stéphane if you want to win this, or at least not bleed your party into oblivion come up with a strategy that produces policies everyone can buy into. They need universal appeal across the spectrum. Raising my taxes and increasing the cost of goods is not going to get my support. I looked, and any income tax savings for me will be as minimal as you can possibly get. How many more manufacturing jobs are going to go over seas because of an added tax burden?
I’m happy with a CPC minority, if the Invisible Pink Unicorn blesses the CPC, and they get a majority, then so be it. It certainly can’t be any worse then the 12 years of a Liberal majority we had to put up with.
Ontario Iaido Open Seminar in Toronto the other weekend
Kim Taylor instructing at the iaido seminar. One of Guelph best kept secrets.
A phone call from the NDP...
This is a call I received a few days ago.
Me: Hello
Caller: Who is this?
Me: ??? Who am I talking to?
Caller: Who am I talking to?
Me: What number are you trying to call?
Caller: 519 8** ****’
Me: Buddy, the only numbers you got right was the area code. You’re not even close with every other number. What can I do for you?
Caller: Oh, So who is this?
Me: I choose not to tell you. Who am I talking to?
Caller: My name is D**** ******, I’m calling for Jack Layton and Tom King. From the NDP.
Me: Ok. What can I do for you?
Caller: I want to know if the NDP can count on your support?
Me: I do not support your Leader, candidate or party. Sorry.
Caller: Oh okay, thank you.
Me: Bye.
In the conversation I understood that the person on the other end was a volunteer, yes 99.99% of all local workers are volunteers, was elderly and obviously wasn’t trained properly. I wasn’t angry, but I felt embarrassed for the gentleman to be put in that situation.
IDing supporters is meant to focus your energies on those that support you, and get them out to vote. This gentleman did not have my name or my phone number correct, even if I was a supporter, that knowledge would have been useless to him.
I’m not going to rant about NDP volunteers, that wouldn’t be fair. All the parties use volunteers, and some of them just shouldn’t be volunteering, or should be given extra training. Sad.
Me: Hello
Caller: Who is this?
Me: ??? Who am I talking to?
Caller: Who am I talking to?
Me: What number are you trying to call?
Caller: 519 8** ****’
Me: Buddy, the only numbers you got right was the area code. You’re not even close with every other number. What can I do for you?
Caller: Oh, So who is this?
Me: I choose not to tell you. Who am I talking to?
Caller: My name is D**** ******, I’m calling for Jack Layton and Tom King. From the NDP.
Me: Ok. What can I do for you?
Caller: I want to know if the NDP can count on your support?
Me: I do not support your Leader, candidate or party. Sorry.
Caller: Oh okay, thank you.
Me: Bye.
In the conversation I understood that the person on the other end was a volunteer, yes 99.99% of all local workers are volunteers, was elderly and obviously wasn’t trained properly. I wasn’t angry, but I felt embarrassed for the gentleman to be put in that situation.
IDing supporters is meant to focus your energies on those that support you, and get them out to vote. This gentleman did not have my name or my phone number correct, even if I was a supporter, that knowledge would have been useless to him.
I’m not going to rant about NDP volunteers, that wouldn’t be fair. All the parties use volunteers, and some of them just shouldn’t be volunteering, or should be given extra training. Sad.
Details about CAO's departure ordered released
Surprise, surprise...
Magda Konieczna
GUELPH
Former CAO Larry Kotseff got 13 months of pay when he left his job,after working for the city for 20 months.
And the city agreed to not make public the details of his departure.
The Mercury requested Kotseff's contract and the terms of his departurefrom the city in May 2007, shortly after Kotseff left his job. The citydenied the request, and the Mercury appealed.
This month, the Information and Privacy Commissioner's office orderedthe information be released. Among the things revealed in the documents:
When Kotseff signed the contract in 2005, his annual salary was$165,500. The Ministry of Finance reported that in 2006, he earned$192,129.
His salary, benefits -- except disability -- and pension contributionswere to continue for 13 months after he left.
The city and Kotseff agreed to "not disclose to others, save and excepttheir professional advisers, the circumstances of termination or theterms of this mutual release." That's even though the original contractstipulates otherwise: "It is understood that the salary range of thisposition and policies governing benefits for management employees of theemployer are a matter of public record. The employee acknowledges theemployer may release details of this contract relating to severancearrangements after first informing the employee of its intention to doso.
"He received a $600-a-month car allowance.
Magda Konieczna
GUELPH
Former CAO Larry Kotseff got 13 months of pay when he left his job,after working for the city for 20 months.
And the city agreed to not make public the details of his departure.
The Mercury requested Kotseff's contract and the terms of his departurefrom the city in May 2007, shortly after Kotseff left his job. The citydenied the request, and the Mercury appealed.
This month, the Information and Privacy Commissioner's office orderedthe information be released. Among the things revealed in the documents:
When Kotseff signed the contract in 2005, his annual salary was$165,500. The Ministry of Finance reported that in 2006, he earned$192,129.
His salary, benefits -- except disability -- and pension contributionswere to continue for 13 months after he left.
The city and Kotseff agreed to "not disclose to others, save and excepttheir professional advisers, the circumstances of termination or theterms of this mutual release." That's even though the original contractstipulates otherwise: "It is understood that the salary range of thisposition and policies governing benefits for management employees of theemployer are a matter of public record. The employee acknowledges theemployer may release details of this contract relating to severancearrangements after first informing the employee of its intention to doso.
"He received a $600-a-month car allowance.
New painting
first one in a very long time....
I can think of at least a couple of dozens things I would have not done, and an equal amount of things I should have done.
Anyone know where in Guelph this door is??
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