it's about time we fight back!

The federal Liberals have finally decided to fight back. "Highly partisan" flyers are now being sent out to Conservative-held ridings.

It's about time we fight back! Fight fire with fire. Playing Mr. Nice Guy has been slightly ineffective, in my opinion.

art is only for straight ivory tower elitists anyways, right?

In lieu of the recent Toronto Pride federal funding fiasco, the Harper Conservatives have recently turned down funding for a Montreal arts festival that is geared toward the LGBT community.

With their poll numbers sinking lower and lower in La Belle Province and fully knowing the immense value and importance of arts, heritage and culture to the Québecois, you would think they would have handled this differently.

But this comes as no surprise. This is a Reform Party Kodak moment: Harper thinks the arts is exclusive to elitists and the so-cons, like Brad Trost, will do anything they can to strategically outcast the LGBT community. Shocking? I expect no less.

congrats jean

Congratulations Prime Minister Chrétien on his appointment to the Order of Merit by her majesty.

With a long history in public service, an immpecable record of fiscal responsibility as leader, and unmatched electoral success (other than by Mackenzie King), I consider Jean Chrétien to be one of greatest Prime Ministers in recent history. The Queen made a very wise choice.

anti-union satire makes me less of a moderate?

I would expect that most politically minded readers (of all political stripes) could tell the difference between satirical humour and me being a "fascist" seriously wanting to start military coups on a municipal level.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Fellow blogger Kirbycairo described me as being irrational and a"wacko". To my defence, how does being critical of organized-labour make me any less of a moderate ? There are many so called blue-Liberals/red-Tories who feel that the effectiveness of organized labour has had its day. What makes the Liberal Party so appealing to so many Canadians across this great country is its big-tent nature. We have members who are on the political left and those on the political right. Why is it so surprising that politically moderate individuals, like myself, have opinons that lie on both sides of the political spectrum?

If me showing my disdain toward the inaction of Mayor Miller is considered "undemocratic", as Kirbycairo put it, then I don't know what democracy is.

a honduras-like coup here in toronto?

It's been over 2 weeks, and the city continues to pile up with garbage. We can literally hear a pin drop at City Hall. Toronto needs a new mayor. Not just any mayor, we need an effective one who isn't leashed and gagged by organized labour. David Miller needs to go.

What do we Torontonians need to do to make him take action? Maybe we need to pull a Honduras-like coup here in Toronto? Afterall, like President Zelaya, Miller will have the option of parachuting back into the city and land safely on the heaps of trash.

canada, a nation of opportunity

The first of July is a day of reflection and celebration. Whether you are a citizen, a refugee, a permanent resident or a student, today is a day to reflect upon the great nation in which we live.

My middle-class parents and I immigrated from Hong Kong to Canada when I was at the tender age of 3. Canada welcomed us with open arms and opened doors to opportunities we never thought was possible. Despite the up's and down's, my parents worked very hard, each and every single day, to give me the best upbringing possible. I grew up in Canada, I went to school in Canada, and currently developing my career in Canada. Without any hesitation, I can proudly consider myself a Canadian first, before all else.

I feel very lucky to be living in a nation where democracy is practised freely without doubt and violence. I feel very lucky to have grown up with people from all over the world, of all colours, of all sexualities, of all political stripes, and of all religions. I feel very lucky to be a citizen of a country where I can determine my own destiny, succeed, and learn from my failures with peace and without repression.

As Canadians, we certainly don't express our patriotism as outwardly as our gracious American neighbours. Why? Because I believe our patriotism and our love for our nation is intrinsic. This past weekend was Pride Week in Toronto for the LGBT community. Three days later, we celebrate pride once more, this time as Canadians.

Happy Birthday Canada! I will forever be grateful.


PHOTO CREDIT & SOURCE: Official Canada Day poster by 15 year old Allison Forseille of Saskatchewan (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/05/22/art-poster-canada-day-123.html)

disruptive strikes and inept city councils.. let's PRIVATIZE

This recent Toronto city workers strike has tipped me over the edge. We are in the dead heat of summer and festivals (i.e. Pride, Toronto Jazz Festival) are starting soon. Children are also out of school and outdoors enjoying the fresh summer air. The fear of H1N1 has spooked the entire world. Tourism here in Toronto is expected to boom in these upcoming summer months. The last thing that we need at this moment in time is garbage making our sidewalks unsanitary and unpleasent to even walk along. An essential service like garbage disposal should never be compromised because unions aren't willing to make sacrifices during a recession.

A solution? Well as painful of a concept that it is for the political left, a solution to all of this is to PRIVATIZE city services! A great example is in Etobicoke. Although it is technically part of the mega-city, Etobicoke has their trash pick-up services outsourced to an efficient, non-picketing, private entity. Residents of Etobicoke are officially unaffected by such disruptive labour movements. When we privatize, we won't held to our necks by unions with inflated benefits and legacy costs.

The lack of accountability and action by David Miller and his NDP-stacked city council is also appalling. In 2010 we need a new mayor. I certainly hope John Tory throws his hat in the ring. As much as I was against his policies during his leadership as Ontario PC leader, I think he will make an excellent Mayor for our great city. His business know-how is just what Toronto needs.

cheap politics? come again?

Harper accused the opposition today in the House for playing "cheap politics" in their attacks against Natural Resources Lisa Raitt. Threatening to release "videos" and releasing attack ads during non-election times, isn't cheap? Come again?

Apparently cancer is sexier than a $50-billion budget deficit and stray confidential government documents.

a conversation with george w. bush & bill clinton

Last Friday, on May 29, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend the highly anticipated talk with Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The afternoon started off with the President and CEO of TD Bank Financial Group (the top sponser of the event) introducing the two Presidents. Both men got an opportunity to speak to the audience on their own. This was followed by Frank McKenna, former Ambassador to the US (and currenty Deputy Chair of TD Bank Financial Group) sitting down with the two former leaders (on green couches... TD had no shame). He asked them questions regarding various issues affecting the world today and issues that were critical during their time in power.

Throughout the afternoon, both Presidents delivered their individual opening speeches and responses to McKenna's questions in such a way that clicked with the professional audience by using humour and insight into their combined 16 years in office . Without having to worry about political filters that come with being the current president, it was very interesting to see both men, especially President Bush, be in such a state of ease throughout the entire event. They both discussed about their lives in post-presidency and their current chartitable and global inititaives. Frank McKenna asked questions regarding

• the war in Afghanistan/Iraq,
• Clinton's lack of action during the Rwanda genocide and how it relates to Bush's response to the events in Darfur,
• Same-sex marriage and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell",
• the Cuban embargo,
• and the new requirement for Canadians to hold passports to enter the USA (to everyone's suprised, both former Presidents had no clue that this policy was being enacted)

I hate to spoil everyone's party, but there was no tension between the two former presidents. As eager as it was for the audience to see the former Democratic president and the former Rebpulican president brawl it out on stage, they were actually very cordial and brotherly to one another. Unlike Canadian politics, I assume it is a custom in the United States for former presidents to refrain from criticizing their successors regardless of party affliation.

To no one's suprise, Clinton was an excellent speaker. As the New York Times put it, he has officially spent more time as a former-President than as President. Throughout his 8+ post-Whitehouse years, Bill has made hundreds, if not thousands, of speeches across the world, set up many global initiatives and was recently named the special envoy to Haiti by President Obama. He joked about the swapping of roles with his wife and is now known across the world as "Hillary's wife". With the present Democratically controlled congress and a Democratic president, Bill Clinton had to be careful as to his responses to Frank McKenna's questions. For example, when McKenna asked Bill about his views on Cuba, he simply responded by saying, with a humourous tone, that his views concurred with those of the current Secretary of State. It was also very refreshing to see Clinton outwardly reflecting and regretting some decisions he made as President, such as his inaction toward the Rwanda genocide, and having to "settle" on the mediocre "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy because of the GOP dominated congress at the time.

Everyone knew what to expect from President Clinton, so I assume that many others in the audience, like myself, were highly anticipating the entrance of George W. Bush. To my surprise, Bush was very well spoken. He delievered his speech and answered McKenna's questions with ease and confidence. He spoke in such a way that I have never seen him speak before throughout his tenure as President of the United States. This lead me to suspect that his "non-elitist" (to be politically correct) nature during the presidency was an attempt to appeal to those voters who value politicians that resemble themselves. Other than an abrupt and incomplete response to McKenna's question regarding Cuba, I give President bush 4 out of 5 stars that afternoon. It would definitely have been tempting for Frank McKenna to go on a Bush-bashing streak during the Q and A session by outlining all the negatives during his presidency. But instead, McKenna approached the more controversial issues carefully with professionalism. President Clinton and Frank McKenna even outlined the positives by priasing Bush for doing more for the HIV/AIDS cause than any other of his predecessors and for forging a historic partnership with India.

To my delight the audience remained very professional. There was no heckling, no booing, and no shoe-throwing. The mood outside the Convention Centre, on the other hand, was starkly different. The CBC building side walk across the street from the MTCC was littered with protestors. Some were holding signs accusing both President Bush and President Clinton of being war criminals. Some were calling 9/11 a fixed event by the US government. Overall I was fairly unimpressed. Not only were some protest messages over-the-line, but I believe there could have been more productive and effective means for individuals to get their message across. Ever since I returned from the States earlier this year, I notice myself having less and less patience for impractical populist movements, like this demonstration and the recent Tamil Tigers protest.

But to end a brighter note, I thoroughly found this once-in-a-lifetime event to be quite the experience. I recommend all political-fanatics to take advantage of such opportunities in the future. Even though I was indirectly contributing to the G.W.Bush and Bill Clinton retirement fund (as some ultra-leftist protestors accused me of doing as I walked across the street), it was definitely worth the money to see two very different, yet similar, men share the stage and share with us what it was like being the most powerful man in the world.

a sad day for canadian political journalism

Sources have confirmed that CBC is in fact cancelling their "Politics" show. Now that Don Newman is retiring, CBC has decided not to replace him.

This is sad and dissappointing news for Canadian political journalism. Cancelling "Politics" is equivalent to cancelling "Meet the Press" in the United States. Like Meet the Press, Politics with Don Newman is a main source of Canadian political news for myself and for Canadians everywhere. Don Newman is well respected amongst legistlators from all political stripes and provides a very unique and bi-partisan edge to informing Canadians about the going-ons in political trench-warfare. Despite his retirement, I am absolutely confident that someone can fill his shoes and continue this long-standing Canadian tradition (maybe have the members of the At-Issue Panel take over at the hosts). Its alternatives like CTV's Question Period just doesn't measure up!

Maybe Stephen Harper and his anti-CBC goons are behind this! (when in doubt, blame the Tories!)

thanks michael bryant

Michael Bryant recently announced that he's leaving provincial politics to become the CEO of Invest Toronto. Michael is a rock in the McGuinty cabinet and an extremely valuable asset to the Ontario Liberal Party.

After being shuffled demoted from Attorney General to the relatively lower profile Aboriginal Affairs and Economic Development portfolios, I suspect Bryant feels he has reached a plateau within the McGuinty government. Like Jean Chretien and Ernie Eves, Bryant is looking for opportunities outside the legislature. However, I suspect that, like Chretien was with John Turner and Eves was with Mike Harris, Bryant will return after the incumbent leader (Dalton) steps down.

St. Paul's will be losing a great provincial representative. This is a great loss for the OLP and for the people of Ontario.

ndp blowing hot air... again

Brian Topp, national campaign director for the NDP, has told the Globe and Mail that the reason why the NDP is no longer eager to have an election is because the Liberals "reneged" on their coalition promise. Apparently we crushed Jack Layton's fantasy of becoming a cabinet minister (violin playing in the background). A coalition, led temporarily by Stephane Dion, with the help of Jack and Gilles would have pummeled the confidence of consumers and investors in our already fragile economy. All for what? To make Jack seem like the kingmaker? I say, no thanks. I am confident that 88% of Canadians can agree with me on that.

This is coming from the leadership of a man, who not too long ago, voted against the socialist-leaning-Harper budget before it was even released. This is coming from a man who declared his party to be the "real opposition". If the NDP truly respresented the people they claim to voice for, then they should stop being such cry babies and admit why they don't want an election. I wouldn't want to lose seats either Jack, trust me. The sudden turn around of strategy is blantently transparent.

I certainly hope Michael Ignatieff continues to stand at arms length from this petty pre-school mentality.

the new tory backbench puppet

The country is enduring one of the most troubling economic times and governments all over the world are trying really hard to minimize their partisan shenanigans and stick to governing and fixing the economy. Here at home, Harper and his buddies in the front-benches are trying really really hard not to SEEM like they are reverting back to the Dion-era ways of partisan smearing and bullying. So it looks like they're trying to make a puppet out of backbench MP Daryl Kramp (Prince Edward Hastings, ON) to do their dirty work for them. Luckily no one cares what Kramp has to say and its nice to see Peter Milliken making a better effort to crack down on playground behaviour in the House of Commons.

local values trump john tory ambitions

Yesterday's by-election has demonstrated the power and the importance of local and grassroots politics. Unlike the former riding of Dufferin-Grey-Wellington-Peel (now Dufferin-Caledon), which has been used in the past by many Conservative leaders (including Tory himself) as a surrogate riding, the residents of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock have voted loud and clear that they will not be labelled and will not be taken for granted. Rural voters saw through John Tory's intentions and decided to go instead with a local, like Laurie Scott, who actually lives in the riding and who actually understands the realities and struggles of the surrounding area.

The "bye-bye-bye-election" results have definitely sealed John Tory's fate as party leader. Instead of returning to the opposition front bench, the voters have sent former school board chairman Rick Johnson to the backbenches of the Liberal government caucus. Laurie Scott, the unfortunate sacrificial lamb in this situation, will now have to run against a Liberal incumbent 2011 in what was suppose to be her riding. After losing three elections, I think it's time for John to hang up his political ambitions for now. After being beaten down so many times, I doubt, but I do hope he will consider running again for Mayor of Toronto in the next muncipal election. I truly believe that he will make an excellent mayor for our financially troubled city.

So now that John is more than likely leaving, who is going to take his spot? Who wants the honour to rebuild the party and lead the Tories in the next election (only a short 2 years away)? Tim Hudak? Christine Elliot? Jim Flaherty? Frank Klees? Lizzy Witmer? Let the predictions begin!

I want to also congratulate Rick Johnson on his victory! He went against the "conservative stronghold" tide and prevailed. It was well deserved and well earned!

an ethnic, big-city, liberal canadian in small town conservative USA

Canadians are filled with optimism and excitement in anticipation of the visit by non other than the grand-pumba himself, U.S. President Barack Obama. Many Americans across the United States are filled with optimism and hope that their new President is going to shoot down a beam of light from political heaven to solve the country's domestic and international problems. Little does the rest of the world see "the other side" behind all the smiles and cheers from the international liberal media.

Since the start of the year, I have been residing temporarily, for work purposes, in a small town called Elko in "the silver state" of Nevada. Well away from the lights, the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, Elko is considered to be one of the gold mining capitals of world. With the steadiness of commodity prices and despite the economic recession, Elko is now famously labelled as having the highest paying and most accessible jobs in the state. Containing two main thoroughfares, a Walmart superstore, a one-story JC Penny, a few gun stores and a population of a little under 17,000, Elko is the postcard of small town USA. As the host of the annual national Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the home of the Western Folklife Centre, this small town bears a culture far different from the metropolises of Las Vegas, San Francisco or NYC.

Despite Barack Obama winning Nevada's five electoral votes on November 4, 2008, Elko county gave John McCain a whopping 70% of the votes. In 2004 G.W. Bush ousted John Kerry 78 to 22. It's highly conservative atmosphere is clearly reflected in the nature of the industries and lifestyles of the people. For example, despite being next to the green state of California, Nevada painstakingly lacks a viable recycling program (it breaks my heart to throw away my egg cartons). Furthermore, majority of Elkonians are family oriented church-goers, most of whom work in the mining industry and hunt during their spare time. Democrats are infamously labelled here as being "tree-huggers", "anti-mining" and "anti-gun". To no one's surprise, not a soul in my office, but myself, was cheering and excited during the "much anticipated" day of Obama's inauguration. Not only was the energy we see on TV not present, but some were even explicitly expressing concerns over what the Democratic controlled Whitehouse and congress would do with respect to the mining industry (i.e. over regulate) and with social issues like abortion, gay marriage, gun ownership, and "socialized" healthcare.

I am an agnostic Chinese Canadian who has grown up and thrived in the urban settings of multicultural downtown Toronto. I consider myself socially liberal and fiscally moderate. I put my career first and don't see myself settling down, starting a family , nor having kids anytime soon. Contrastingly Elko is 81% Caucasian, 17% Latino or Hispanic, and 2% "other". Sixty percent of the population is married and 73% of married couples have two or more kids. So where do I fit in? Definitely in the "other" category in many regards. Needless to say living here required
a big adjustment and a lot of understanding on my part.

Over the months, after having interesting conversations about life with many fascinating people (both white and blue collar) and experiencing the unique small town USA culture, I have come to learn many things and to dispel many myths and stereotypes. Besides the occasional awkward stares and questions, I have not met one person who has been rude, discriminatory or unhelpful. As a pleasant surprise, I have come to realize that many are in fact fairly tolerant, very intelligent, accepting and welcoming despite the clichéd negative stereotypes of small-town Americans.

As a politics fanatic, it was good for me to realize the importance of "reaching across the aisle" to work together, patiently, with those who think differently in order to achieve that common goal. Every single American has the similar of intention of wanting the city, state or nation to prosper as a whole. This experience has also taught me the importance of being politically pragmatic and flexible by not adhering strictly to some sort of hard line right or left ideology. Abe Lincoln and FDR had the right idea... and maybe Barack Obama will espouse the same.

But don't worry... these moments of self-actualization doesn't mean I'm going to start voting Conservative or Republican anytime soon.