* * * *
![]()
Phone: 416-699-1335
300 Coxwell Avenue
PO Box 3037
Toronto, Ontario
M4L 2A0 Canada
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
TO
OUR VISITORS: We will do the same. Occasionally, we will make comments of rebuttal — hopefully, not as smarmy as those in the Toronto Sun. We keep our comments brief . . .
___________________________
Toronto Star - February 5
Favoring the Wealthy?
The letter writer fails to mention that Stephen Harper has banned corporate political donations entirely, and that donations from individuals are limited to $1,100 a year. This hardly favors the wealthy. By eliminating public funding as well, parties can no longer be artificially propped up, and we will see which parties Canadians actually favor.
Nathaniel Montague, Mississauga, Ontario Re: What’s wrong with this picture? Everything, Feb. 3 I was shocked by this story. Since its inception, Sun TV has stood for all that is good and righteous in its full disclosure of all aspects of reporting the news, sometimes being highly critical of other media who are, in their opinion, not as forthcoming. Blaming an “ex-staffer” hardly explains how a debacle of this nature could occur. This happened last October. Where was Sun TV's full disclosure? Unfortunately, this casts serious aspersions on all media.
Donald Cangiano, Oakville, Ont. ___________________________
Toronto Star - February 3
Catholic Teachers Back Gay Alliances
“Respecting Differences” is a document produced by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, which represents the officials elected to sit on Catholic school boards in Ontario. The document is not reflective of any views or input from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), which represents the 45,000 elementary and secondary teachers who work in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. OECTA has stated its support for gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and other student-led anti-homophobia groups. OECTA teacher members are in schools every day working with students championing efforts to make our schools more respectful and welcoming places for everyone. They are supporting students, including LGBT students, who are struggling with the consequences of schools that are not safe and accepting. Our faith teaches us to treat everyone equitably and with dignity. We teach students to embrace and promote our common humanity. Our mandate as teachers includes promoting active citizenship. We encourage students to exercise leadership and take initiative in solving problems such as bullying and homophobia. Empowering students to deal with issues with their peers is essential if we are to make any progress in eradicating bullying and all forms of discrimination in our schools. It is not enough to tell students “it gets better” someday — when their reality is today. That starts now with Bill 13, The Accepting Schools Act.
Kevin O’Dwyer, President, Ontario English
Catholic Teachers’ Association ___________________________
National Post - February 3
Falklands Tension
At the end of the 1982 war, the commander of the British land forces, Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, stated: "The Falkland Islands are once more under the government desired by their inhabitants." Nothing in the intervening 30 years has changed and the fact that 255 British servicemen died to restore that right of self determination, represents 255 reasons why anyone else who questions British sovereignty over the Falklands can go to Hell.
Paul Higgins, North Vancouver, B.C. ___________________________
Globe and Mail - February 2
Harper's Pension Plan
If they simply started clawing back payments at half that amount, billions would be saved. Many working families have never had a combined income over $69,562 and have managed to raise a family. Let’s put the money where it’s needed, not in the hands of those whose future is already secure.
Bruce Henry,
Brampton, Ont. ___________________________
National Post - February 2
Canadians' Right of Liberty
Every Canadian has the inalienable right to life, liberty and security of property and person. Mr. Thomson decided to fight for his rights. And now he must fight again, seemingly because he loaded a firearm too quickly. These charges represent an encroachment of the very legal rights Mr. Thomson fought to protect on Aug. 22, 2010, and should stand as an affront to all Canadians. Unfortunately for Mr. Thomson, the state will be harder to repel than a few Molotov wielding thugs. His toughest battle lies ahead. Godspeed.
Robert Weiland, Toronto. Canadians might be surprised to learn that the term "safe storage" is not defined in either the law or its regulations, and further that when asked, the Canadian Firearms Centre will not offer an opinion as to what constitutes "safe storage." When pressed, Alan Rock - the grand architect of Canada's Kafkaesque gun laws - posited that self defense was "expressly forbidden" and he took the steps to make it so. Canadians can sleep well in their beds tonight knowing that were someone to invade their home in the middle of the night, they have the legal right to "run away."
Robert S. Sciuk, Oshawa, Ont.
(Allan Rock, globalist asshole) ___________________________
Toronto Star - February 1
Canada, Banana Republic
t would seem that Vic Toews has a problem with memory. The utopian Parliamentary system he speaks of is not in Canada. I have watched this Parliament for quite a few years, and not just the 15 minutes allocated by CBC. Among other egregious behavior, the dysfunctional of Parliamentary committees is legendary — ask any opposition member. Under this government, Parliament per se, has degenerated almost beyond redemption. It is ludicrous to expect Canadians to believe anything coming out of the Prime Minister’s Office, where all messages originate. While this government, an unholy alliance of Reform, Alliance and three Conservatives, pretends to espouse Conservative values, the opposite is true. Canadians are waking up (finally and far too late) to the fact that according to the rest of the world, Canada is little short of a Banana Republic. How very sad.
J.M. Laxton, Ajax, Ontario Journalist Paul Watson confirmed that it was he who went looking for Afghan applicants such as Sayed Shah Sharifi who were at “individual risk” from working with Canadian troops in Kandahar province and were applying for special visas. It is a blight on Canada’s reputation that our backs are now turned on brave men such as this who so nobly assisted our troops on the battlefield, in villages and in prison cells of Taliban fighters. The clock is ticking for someone who has done this work in good faith and now languishes in his home country. All the while Jason Kenney’s Ministry of Citizenship and Culture office will give no answers to explain recent documents tersely stating that Sharifi is “ineligible.” In addition to this lack of accountability, is the secrecy surrounding the “Joint Referral Committee,” which rubber-stamped this heartless decision of visa rejection. One additional hero in all of this is Toronto immigration lawyer Lorne Waldman who represents Sharifi and vindicates Canadians somewhat in his attempt to rescue his client from a predictably grave outcome. How can the two members of the committee, Col. J.P. Davis and Shelley Whiting, refuse to defend their decisions? We Canadians pay their salaries and deserve to know how capably they are doing their jobs. We must keep up the heat on bureaucrats such as this who appear to be shirking a moral and ethical duty when assistance and support are certainly required in an eleventh hour situation.
Brenda Weeks-Clarke, Toronto ___________________________
* * * *
Phone: 416-699-1335
|