Ontario Byelections …

 

What do you think they mean Galagher – if anything?

And here is what I think:

• The Tories will win the next general provincial election;
• The big winner last evening was the NDP;
• The big loser …was Kathleen Wynne – followed closely by Tim Hudak.

How so?

Well let’s look at the numbers:

1. Etobicoke-Lakeshore;

        The PC vote went up from 2011 (29.5) to 46% last evening and a win – a gain of some +16.5 per cent.

    The Liberal vote went down from (51%) to 42% a drop of some - 9%.

 

2.   London West:

      The NDP vote went up from 16% in 2011 to winning last eve with 45.65% a gain of +30 %

   The Liberals dropped from 45.65 % to 16 % last evening a drop of nearly 30%

    3.   Ottawa South:

      The Liberals won taking 42% of the vote – but it represented a drop of –7%.

The Tories lost but their popular vote increased from 33.4% to 39% a gain of some +5.5%

   4.   Scarborough – Guildwood

    The Liberals took this riding as well with 36% of the vote – down from 49% in the last general provincial election – a loss of some – 13%

The Tories – vote increased marginally from 28.6% to 31% last night – a gain of about +3.5%.

The NDP had the greatest increase here going from 19.4% to 28% a gain of + 9%.

   5.   Windsor Tecumseh

    The NDP won this going away increasing their % of the vote from 33 to 61% – some +28%

The Liberals dropped from 42.8% to 12% a fall of some – 30%.

A summary:

The Liberal Vote on average dropped from 47.5% to 29.5 an overall decline of -18.00%

The Conservative Vote on average increased from 28% to 34% an increase of +6%.  Of greater importance – the Tory average vote of 34% is higher than the Liberal average of 29.60 % and this coming from long time Liberal held ridings.

The NBP average % vote in these 5 byelection ridings was up from 20.5% in 2011 to 30.5% an increase of +10%.  So even though this represents a substantial come back for the Dippers – it still falls short of the overall Tory %.

The big takeaway here is that these byelections last night were held in staunch long time Grit Ridings.

The numbers – as per above – are instructive in that they show the Liberals to be very much on the ropes – regardless how the Wynnites try to spin it.

Strange as it may seem – the big winner last night turns out to be the Tory Party – despite gaining only 1 seat – and at the same time, one of the big losers is Tim Hudak – for the that self same reason – he only won one, out of 5 last night.

And although the NDP appears to be the big winner – it really isn’t since it does not resonate with Ontarians generally.

Simply stated these 5 ridings are not representative of the majority and the fact that the Tories received the highest overall % average is quite amazing.

Hopefully when these facts sink in – talk about replacing Hudak will stop; the bottom-line is that even with a weak leader – the Tories should form Ontario's next Government.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Gun Control …. Maybe Its Time Has Come

 

And not to control the bad guys; rather to control our cops !!

It seems that barely a week goes by when we do not hear of a police killing / shooting someone on Canadian streets.  (In America, one person per day is shot and killed by their police).

The most recent example occurred in Toronto this past Friday when 18 year old Sammy Yatim was gunned down by a bevy of Toronto’s finest.

I do not know, nor do I care whether young Sammy was white, black or polka dot – he was a human being like you and me.  And by all accounts he was a great guy.

But again, I do not care if he was as mean as a junk yard dog – he did not deserve to die.

I say this because unfortunately for the police, the shooting was caught on tape.  Here was a guy hold-up in an otherwise empty streetcar – armed with a knife. If he was a danger to anyone – it was to himself.

The cops on the other hand had the bus totally surrounded and accordingly had numerous ways open to them to deal with this situation: they could have simply waited Sammy out; or they could have lobbed a stun grenade into the bus; or finally they could have resorted to their tasers.

But no – this pack decided the situation called for nothing short of a shoot out – a one way barrage that cut the young guy down like a scythe through ripened wheat.

It is obvious here that this chap was mentally ill as are many of these victims. They are society’s most vulnerable and it is sad to say the ones they may fear the most are the ones paid to protect them. 

It does not bodes well for the rest of us.

Just this past month here in Ottawa, another mentally ill fellow was shot off the hood of car – once in the arm and once in the chest.  He fortunately survived. This chap too held a knife but what real danger were the police in – armed as they were with guns and presumably stun guns?

Where do these bozos come from?

We all remember only too well the senseless killing of Robert Dziekanski in the Vancouver Airport by a pack of RCMP.  Dziekanski was ‘armed’ with a tiny collapsible table which justified the police to take him down with 5 shots of the taser gun. They then stood idly by and did nothing as his life slipped out of him.

Just today a fellow died in Kingston General Hospital of several gun shots wounds delivered by the Sharbot detachment of the OPP. The official statement indicated that it was the result of an interaction between the allegedly armed 45 year old.

In the past, such stories would not evoke scepticism about the circumstances surrounding such a death – but that has all changed.  I still hope the police did the right thing in this particular case – but would not be surprised if it turns out to be another instance where they over-reacted.

I am not dissing all police – of course not – but there are far too many instances of late where certain police have over-reacted – often when they find themselves travelling in packs.

Maybe it is time to take their arms from them and let them walk the beat as Bobbies did in days of yore.

We might all be safer.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

Often these shootings are of people who are mentally disturbed. 

 

Something Is Rotten In The State Of Denmark.

 

Rather, in the Province of Ontario, which is committed to introducing State Sponsored Pornography in our schools: in particular, graphic sex education for our young public schoolers.

This controversial curriculum, was first proposed by Kathleen Wynne while she was Education Minister in Dalton McGuinty’s Cabinet.  Now that she is Premier, Wynne is proposing to move to its implementation.

And what exactly is she proposing?

• sex education beginning in grade 1 (6 year olds)
• discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation for those in grade 3 (8 year olds)
• explanation of masturbation and oral and anal sex for our grades 6 and 7.

No doubt all supported with props, charts and pictures.

Of interest, her sex-ed curriculum was formulated in 2010 when one of her key advisors was then Deputy Minister of Education – one Benjamin Levin. And this is the same Ben Levin, U of T Professor, who was recently charged with child pornography offences including the actual making of it. 

For me, and I expect many of you, sex education should not be foisted on children below grade 6 and even for those in 6, 7 and 8, such education should not dwell on topics of masturbation / oral & anal sex.

If parents want to deal with those subjects with their own children – so be it.  It is not though something our educators should be concerning themselves with.

This week British Prime Minister David Cameron came out with a challenge to protect children from the damage caused to them by internet pornography and good for him.

I wonder what he would think about our provincial government’s effort to spread pornography amongst our young kids in the guise of sex education?

Some final questions for you:

1.  Do 6 year olds – still trying to learn how to tie their shoes – need sex ed?

2.  Do 8 year olds – still playing with kiddie toys need to know about gays and transvestites?

3.  Do 11 year olds need to be shown how to do anal sex safely?

If you said no to these questions I suggest you speak up before Premier Wynne is allowed to commit another grievous misstep one that could potentially scar a youngster forever.

As I see it…

"’K.D. Galagher’

THE BIG THREE …

 

Not to be confused with the Yalta Conference of February 1945, which occurred three (3) months before the end of WWII in Europe.  As an added note – Franklin Delano Roosevelt – one of the Big Three, had but two months to live, succumbing to a massive brain haemorrhage on April 12th of that same year.

But as I said, The Big Three does not pertain to that historic conference …rather it refers to Brighton’s (my home town) first Chinese Restaurant.  At least I think it was our first Chinese Restaurant but it certainly was not Brighton’s last …but I digress.

The Big Three, a strange name for a Chinese Restaurant even then, was located near the corner of Main (Highway Two) and Young Streets  It was located just a few doors in on the north side of Main and occupied barely 20 feet of frontage.

And yet, it soon became one of Brighton’s icon establishments during the heady 1950s and 1960s when I was growing into my teenage years.

The restaurant was owned and operated by Bill Chong and his wife Joan and they had one child…Larry, who would become as famous as his parents’ restaurant during their time in our fair village.  (Perhaps more on that another time).

I got to thinking about The Big Three earlier this week when I was listening to jukebox music.  You see, TB3 had a jukebox and my Sandford Street Buddy – Johnny and I would often go there to play our favourites of the time: Elvis; Del Shannon; Neil Sedaka; the Everly Brothers; Bobbie Vinton; Gene Pitney …the list goes on and on. 

In fact, for me, it was a time that music reached its zenith.  But then again, I have reached the age of olde fogey-hood so I am admittedly biased.

I told Johnny the other day that I thought I might do a blog on TB3 and we exchanged some e-mails…here is what he had to say:

A few things I remember about the Big Three was the jukebox terminals attached to the wall of each booth. When you came into the restaurant the was a counter on your left with spinning stools attached to the floor maybe 5 or 6.  Further along, the coolers with mirrors held the desserts like boston cream pie and rice pudding and in the front of that were two Beach Blenders for making milk shakes.

And of course – to your right as your entered were booths that ranged from front to back.

Many upstart establishments today try to copy that look but they all fall short – for me, there will never again be a Big Three.

Surprisingly, what I do not recall is ever having eaten chinese food there.  This was a time before Mickey Dees and fast food generally and I was accustomed to eating rather plain fare.  Plus, in those days, money was short for eating out.

I do recall though having chips (french fries) and a coke there – all for the grand sum of .25 cents (15 cents for the fries and 10 cents for the coke).  Fortunately for me, my allowance at that time totalled that very same sum – a quarter.

In fact, that is all I can recall ever having ordered there.  Well maybe on a special occasion a piece of the boston cream pie.

But just as important as the food for Johnny and me was the jukebox.  As I recall, it cost us a nickel a song.  Each of those terminals Johnny talks about above had loads of selections each selection marked with a letter and a number – like J3.  All you did was punch that in on the attached key board and your song played for all of 2 – 3 minutes. 

We loved it.

Now you might say with a 25cent allowance the cost of the cost of the chips and pop – where did we get the money to play the jukebox.

Great question.

I ran a bit of a scam back in those days and will leave Johnny’s name out to protect the innocent.

Back then little confectionary stores took pop bottles back and gave you 2 cents for a small bottle and 5 cents for a large one.

We did most of our dealings at Bonisteels – located on Young Street, just up from TB3.

By happenstance, right next door to Bonisteels stood the Macklin’s Bottling Works. They bottled popular soft drinks of the time and as part of their quality control, rejected bottles that were cracked or chipped.  They then threw these bottles out behind to await the trash pick-up.

Well we felt that the Macklin’s were a bit too picky in selecting their cast offs so every so often we rooted through their rejected bottles to find those least impacted and quickly took them next door to Bonisteel’s for redemption.  (I can never recall Bonisteel’s ever turning us down).

Bonisteel’s then sold those self same bottles back to Macklin’s …  In these later years, I often wonder how many times some of these inferior bottles got recycled?  I guess I am better off not knowing.

Anyway by the 1970s The Big Three gave way to progress and in the words of Joni Mitchell, “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot”.

Indeed Brighton has a lot of parking lots now but the memories of its institutions like The Big Three will stay with folks like Johnny and me a lifetime.

As I see it…

“K.D. Galagher’

 

Mere Pawns on a

 

Very Big Board.

I am speaking of the late Trayvon Martin and his recently acquitted killer, George Zimmerman.

Non-Blacks – tend to say that race played no part in this young chap’s death.

Blacks, on the other hand, say race had everything to do with it.

And the Blacks are correct, but not for the reasons you might think nor for the ones they espouse.

The ‘racist’ dye leading to this unfortunate incident was cast when the first slave arrived on America’s shores in the early 1600s.

And we all know the history leading up to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Slavery was abolished from that day forward but had to await the end of the Civil War in 1865 to see it put into effect in the Confederacy.

Blacks though continued to be treated as lesser citizens, until the passage of the Civil Rights Legislation in the 1960s, most especially in the old south.

Since then, White America has moved on – racism is no longer rampant amongst them but sadly it continues to fester within the Black Community itself. Tragically, many Blacks harbour feelings of hate and ill will against their White Brothers. 

And who can blame them; how would we feel if our ancestors had been held in slavery for over 250 years? And how would we feel being the brunt of racism well into the last century?

But, as is the case of with our natives here in Canada, resentment against Whites only serves to keep them from fully participating in society – and most especially, economically. Blaming Whites gives them a scapegoat, but does nothing to alleviate their problems; and boy do they have problems.

So given this hatred, coupled with the following statistics, who can blame Whites for fearing their Black Brothers?

• 55% of all crime is committed by Blacks although Blacks make up only 13% of America’s population;
• 75% of all serious crime is committed by Blacks;
• 70% of black children are being raised without fathers;

So what exactly does this have to do with a young Black being killed in the streets of Miami some 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation?

One need go no further than to consider the reaction of Whites and Blacks following Trayvon’s shooting:

• White America came out saying let the judicial decide the facts and determine whether or not Zimmerman was guilty.
• The Black Leadership – the Reverends Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson came out quickly to say how this was just another case of a white racist killing a defenceless black person. (This despite the fact that Zimmerman’s physical appearance is Hispanic).
• And not to be out-done, the little guy in the White House too piled on saying that young Trayvon was just like the son he never had - suggesting thereby that Trayvon was faultless in bringing about his own death.

(Imagine you or I facing a murder charge here in Canada believing in our innocence and out comes the most powerful figure in our land – the Prime Minister to say he personally believed in our guilt before we were even tried!)

Zimmerman was part of Community Watch an organization which has sprung up right across America, along with Gated Communities. And an organization deemed necessary due to America’s high crime rate – one in which Blacks overly participate in.

On the night Trayvon Martin died, Zimmerman was trying to do his civic duty, but he made a mistake which would end badly.

After he called 911, he continued to follow Martin when he should backed off and let the police takeover. In the end he was found not legally guilty  but he most assuredly was morally to blame and he – as they say – will have to live with that for the rest of life.

But the evidence at trial showed that Zimmerman was no racist but rather if there was some minor racism evidenced that night – it was on the part of young Trayvon who called his follower at one point a “creepy ass cracker”.  But then again, here was a kid who innocently was out that evening buying some skittles. I would have probably called Zimmerman worse.

So for me, racism was not that evident on the part of either fellow.

But yes it was indeed present, it began hundreds of years ago and has hung on through great diligence and efforts on the part of Blacks and their Leaders. 

Perversely, racism gives their Leaders power to address boogie men when they should be addressing the very real problems that affect their people and racism excuses Blacks generally from for their failure to successfully integrate into modern society.

(If this is not the case – just ask yourself why immigrants of colour – especially those from South East Asia as well a Hispanics, do so well economically?)

So while White Society and American Society generally has moved on, Blacks continue to wallow in self pity.  It may be understandable, but it certainly does not help them in their cause for equality.

All the while, two star crossed actors played out their insignificant roles, ending with a preordained finish.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

 

“There You Go Again” …

 

As per Ronald Reagan’s reply to Jimmy Carter during the 1980 US Presidential Debate.

But I use his comment today to apply equally derisively to CBC’s lead item on last night’s news complaining about nutritional studies allegedly carried out on native children in the early 1940s.

This ties in with the the operation of Residential Schools of the same era and I believe the main purpose of yesterday’s CBC coverage is to once again poison relations between natives, the government of the rest of Canadians. 

(It was interesting to note last eve CBC’s failure to mention that the government of the day was headed by one Liberal Mackenzie King).

As anticipated its coverage caused great indignation amongst the aboriginal community which is now – surprise / surprise - demanding an apology from the Stephen Harper government despite the fact that none of his government was even alive when these ‘atrocities’ took place.

Money demands are sure to follow.

What CBC fails to grasp in all of this is that the only group it is hurting with its report are the Indians themselves since such old news items only serves to delay the day when they begin to take responsibility for themselves.

I say that since this reporting only further entrenches their perceived victimization which may well have a basis in history but does nothing whatsoever to help them now. 

So why does CBC go out of its way to cause such hardship and poisoning of the well?

First off, it is seen by the CBCers as another golden opportunity to embarrass the Tory Government an opportunity they are not apt to pass by;

Second, it cannot resist poking a stick in the eye of organized religion prepared as it is to go back over 70 years to do just that.

And third, it sees itself as the keeper of all things politically correct regardless of the harm it does to those finding themselves in difficult circumstances.

Harper and company can take care of themselves but organized religion is at a disadvantage in that it is not in their makeup to fight back.

In fact, I can easily see why the Residential School Systems were established in the first place ; native children faced a very bleak future on the reserves and in many respect this sad state of affairs remains to this very day.

That there was abuse – I have no doubt – but that it occurred on the large scale reported – I doubt it very much.  It is obvious to me why it would be overstated and I expect you can guess why too.

I have heard some natives kids that went through the system so many years ago report that they owe their success and happiness in life due to the good work done in those very schools.  You are not likely to see those types of reports ever appear on programing of nation’s broadcaster.

In my wish list in a recent blog I hoped for the day when CBC T.V. was defunded and yesterday’s segment only serves to reinforce my wish.

One final comment.  James Moore’s name has been bandied about as a possible heir to Stephen Harper – but I can tell you this will never happen – given his soft spot for CBC.

I guess I should never say never – indeed he could become Leader but it would have to be with the Liberal Party and certainly not the Tories.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

It’s High Dudgeon…

 

In Ottawa.

All over the Prime Minister’s Office asking outgoing Ministers to list who their friends and enemies were for their incoming replacements.

Why, Canadian Press Journalist Jennifer Ditchburn was beside herself with delight; you could tell by the glint in her eye that she thought she was on to the biggest political scandal in Ottawa since Senator Mike Duffy fudged his expense accounts.

(Never mind that it has just been confirmed that Ontario’s orange ambulance fiasco resulted in avoidable deaths)

As a former Minister’s Chief of Staff, I can tell you that I would have welcomed such a list coming into my new office.  Sadly, the vacating Government was Liberal and they did not see fit to leave me with any such valuable intelligence.

So we had to take months trying to sift the wheat from the chaff on our own.

But back to our story, it does not surprise me that The Liberal Media is trying to classify this as Nixonian in scale but that said, I do find it a little rich in that they steer clear of calling it Obamaonian since it is his administration that recently sicked the IRS on their Teaparty enemies.

But sadly too is a fact that this is the state of media in the Western World – it tilts solidly to the left and goes out of its way to play gotcha politics against any Conservative. 

That said, if it comes out that the Tory’s had any sinister intent in regard to their lists – such as that which happened south of the border – I would be horrified and would be the first to commend the Ditchburns of Ottawa for their journalistic integrity.

But between you and me – but given their reputation, don’t expect this to happen.

Harper too has made it clear that he has little use for the media as he recently demonstrated by announcing his new cabinet via twitter.

In that, I am reminded of Joseph Heller’s quote in Catch-22 – “just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they aren’t out to get you” since in the case of our Media that would not be an unreasonable assumption to make.

But to return pettiness for pettiness is not the answer either.

If I was advising Harper, I would encourage him to play nicer with them and if they continue to get that glint in their eyes, then let the people decide what best be done.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’