Canuck E Stan

I guess if Rick's message said things like" take transit " "or turn down your air conditioner" there would have been some facts that people would get out of the commercial. How many people do you know phoned for a pamphlet to be sent to their home. I know of none. It just seems like a poorly thought out campaign. Remember Hinderland spots? what if the voice over told you to phone for more information instead of giving you factual information?

One thing that always bothered me about Mercer and the one tonne challege was after listening to Rick telling us about the challenge and how inportant it is, he always ended his commercial without actually going into specifics about what we could do. Instead he gave us a phone number to get more info. If I was in the advertising business wouldn't it have been better to use the time to actually tell people some of the things they could do. There must of been a lot of money spent on TV ,radio and newspaper ads that all said to take the challenge and to phone the number. Looking at ads and commercials I see all of them sending out their messages in their a short period of time. Drink Pepsi, drive a Ford,use Sunlight. How many people would bother to phone for a pamphlet. With all the fuss to phone why not have the pamphlet available in stores, inside newspapers ect. Seems like a poorly thought out campaign. How would you have gotten the message across?

What's the difference between the Canadian government and the Mafia? One of them is organized.

The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it. One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice " I'd like to try the bet" After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man. But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man "what do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?" The man replied "I work for the Revenue Canada."

My diplomatic doctor said(and this is the truth) I'm too short for my weight.

After years of toil at the back benches of Parliament, an MP was burning the midnight oil at his office. Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and a tower of smoke burst from the floor. Satan stepped out of the smoke, and addressed the MP: "I understand you'd give absolutely anything to be made a cabinet minister," said the devil, "So I've come here to make you an offer. I'll make you a Cabinet Minister, but in return I will take the souls of your wife, your parents, your children, your grandchildren, and all of your friends." The MP looked strangely puzzled, and thought hard for several minutes. Finally, he turned to Satan and asked, "Okay,what's the catch?"

Paul Martin is in southern Alberta checking out the flood situation when he trips and falls over a bridge railing and into the river below. Before his body guards can get to him, three kids who are helping clean the river pull him out of the raging water. He’s so grateful, he offers the kids whatever they want. The first kid shouts, “I want to go to Toronto with my friends and see a Blue Jays game!” and Paul replies, “No problem. I’ll take you on my private government jet.” The second kid says, “I want to meet Bono and see a U2 concert,” to which Paul says, “Not a problem,I'll get you tickets and I'll get Bono to autograph a picture for you!” The third kid says, “I want a motorized wheelchair with a built-in TV and stereo headset!” Martin, looking perplexed, utters: “But, the fact is son, you don’t look like you’re handicapped.” The kid answers, “I will be once my dad finds out I saved your sorry ass from drowning.”

Prime Minister Paul Martin and U2 singer Bono are sitting in a bar. A guy walks in and asks the bartender, “Isn’t that Martin and Bono?” The barkeep says, “Yep, that’s them.” So, the guy walks over to the two and says, “Hello, what are you guys doing?” Martin says, “We’re going to help the people of the world,” to which the guy replies, “Really? What’s going to happen?” Martin says, “Well, we’re going to save 10 million Africans and one Eskimo.” And the guy exclaims, “You're going to save One Eskimo!?!” With that, Martin turns to Bono and says, “See, I told you no one would care about the 10 million Africans!”

Can anyboby out there verify that the Ottawa press gallery is held by 25-30% CBC (get my paycheck from the government)people? I seem to remember Doug Fisher saying so in one of his columns. I believe he stated that this was too many from one news source.

At two in the morning, the phone rang at the Prime Minister's residence. His wife finds herself talking to a party MP, who insisted that he must speak to the Prime Minister immediately. Despite pleas to postpone his call until morning, the MP insisted that the call was over a matter of utmost urgency, and that he could not wait. Eventually, the Prime Minister's wife reluctantly decided to wake up the Prime Minister. "So, what is it?" grumbled the Prime Minister. "One of your cabinet minister's just died," announced the MP, "and I want to take his place." The Prime Minister shot back, "It's okay with me if it's okay with the undertaker."

The morning after a federal political party leader passed away unexpectedly, the party's national receptionist answered the phone. "Is the leader of the party there?" the caller asked. "I'm very sorry, but he passed away last night," the receptionist answered. "Is party leader there?" repeated the caller. The receptionist was perplexed. "Perhaps you didn't understand me I'm afraid he passed away last night." "Is the federal party leader there?" asked the caller again. "Madam, do you understand what I'm saying?" said the exasperated receptionist. " he is dead." "I understand you perfectly," the caller sighed. "I just can't hear it often enough."

After a long life, dutifully serving his parishioners, the elderly priest died. He found himself in Heaven, where he was warmly greeted by St. Peter. "Welcome," St. Peter said, "You have lived a good life. Let me take you to your quarters, and then I'll show you around Heaven." St. Peter took the man to a rather plain building, and escorted him to a small room. The room was humbly furnished, but was functional. The priest was a bit surprised, having expected Heaven to be a bit more extravagent, but he was happy to be there. They then began their tour of Heaven, and it was absolutely beautiful. The priest felt silly for his initial resentment over his room. Finally, they came upon an enormous mansion. A butler opened the door to the mansion and a man came out, dressed to the nines, and proceeded down a long walkway to the front gate, as servants rolled a red carpet before him. When he reached the gate, a chauffeured limousine pulled up, and the man got in. It drove off. "Was that God," the priest asked, stunned by the display. "Oh heavens no," replied St. Peter. "That was a politician." "I don't want to seem ungrateful, but can you answer a question for me?" The priest continued, "I spent my entire life devoted to my parishioners, and teaching the gospel, and I have very humble quarters in Heaven. I just don't understand what that politician did, which would merit such a beautiful mansion." "It isn't what he did," St. Peter replied. "You see, we have thousands upon thousands of priests up here. But he's our first politician."

With the new book out about Harper Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada by William Johnson So Harper is very much like Trudeau. I guess "I Miss Trudeau" can now add to his identity "And Harper's Like Him" http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...rtainment/Books "Harper rates better than any other leader on the federal scene since Pierre Trudeau." For Johnson, a writer who likes to be intentionally provocative, Trudeau is the colossus against whom all other politicians need be measured. The Conservative Party Leader best meets the test because, like him, he is a public intellectual with "a clear sense of the non-negotiable underlying conditions for a civil society, including above all the rule of law." What entranced Johnson about Trudeau was his bristling, uncompromising stance against sovereigntists and special status for Quebec. He sees Harper as following in those footsteps because he was the first to set forth the intellectual framework for a legal challenge to secession. It was later manifest in the form of the Chrétien government's Clarity Act.

After waiting a year to see a specialist, a Ottawa government politician finally gets in to see him only to be informed that it is too late to do anything for him and that he has little time left. Accepting his fate he goes home to make plans for the little time he has left. Going into his closet he retrieves two big bags of cash that he had embezzled from the taxpayers. He tells his wife the bad news. "Honey, I don't have too much time left. Just before I die make sure you take these two bags of money and put them in the attic." "How can you think about something stupid at a time like this?" she asks him. "It's important. If the money is in the attic, then when I go I can grab them on my way up to Heaven. This way I'll have spending money when I get there." A few weeks later, the politician is on his death bed and his wife fulfils his wish and puts the bags in the attic. He dies and life carries on. One day months later, his son is in the attic clearing out some of his father's government papers and comes across the two bags of money. "Hey Mom, where did this money come from?" he asks her. She tells her son of his father's plan. "Perhaps you should have put in the basement," he responds.

A man sat down at a bar, looked into his shirt pocket and ordered a double scotch. A few minutes later, the man again peeked into his pocket and ordered another double. This routine was followed for some time, until after looking into his pocket, the man told the bartender he'd had enough. The bartender said, "I've got to ask you. What's with the pocket business?" "Oh," said the man, "I have a picture of the Liberal MP's in here, and when they start to look honest and trustworthy, I know I've had enough."

Unfortunately the truth is manufacturing is being eroded in all those places you mention. Plants are being closed while unions are losing membership. Labour costs are sending the work to places where it's cheaper to operate. GM makes more in financing than in selling cars.Canada in actual fact does not have a CANADIAN car company and hasn't since the 40's, and most of our manufacturing is operated as a subsidiary of a company outside of Canada.Canada is becoming a service country. Our greatest asset is our natural resouces without them there would be no investment in Canda.Everything else can be made elsewhere.Government subsidies keep the businesses here for the short term and once a better deal is to be had somewhere else they will leave. If the Loonie ever climbs to greater heights watch the manufacturing sector disappear even quicker. Wait for the effects of our constant gas price increases lately to take it's toll on manufacturing, the small car plants will survive(Toyota in Onatrio) but what will happen to the Big Three and their big trucks and vans being built in Ontario. Will they build in Ontario or will the U.S. states pressure them to stay within their borders. The world is changing very quickly and Canda really doesn't have a game plan to get ahead of the change.We rely on the U.S. for 80% of our trade and the continued investment of foreign companies into our natural resouces shows how we are losing control of our own destiny.

Canada's Top Ten http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Comment...30/1112621.html

On this day of Live Aid it should be noted that the Liberal government's share of foreign aid is 0.23% of GDP. During the conservative government of Brian Mulroney, foreign aid spending averaged out at around 0.44 to 0.5% of GDP. All these extensive surpluses that the government has and they still can't match Lyin' Brian's output. And you wonder why Bob and Bono are pissed off.

I am proud to be Canadian and today is special,but so is everyday living in this great country, but reality does bite, even on Canada's biggest moving day.

And on this glorious day we got from Paul Martin (the ultimate Canadian cheerleader): "The flag is an enduring presence. It's in our lives wherever we go," said Martin. "It's why we pin it on our lapels, it's why we sew it on our backpacks. It's why, including one of my own sons, tattoo it on ourselves." Maybe Paul should tattoo a flag on one of his ships to show how proud a Canadian he is. Paul's philosophy: Do as I say and not as I do.

In the news http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...hill050701.html Martin focused his speech on the flag and the Maple Leaf as the symbol of Canada. "The flag is an enduring presence. It's in our lives wherever we go," said Martin. "It's why we pin it on our lapels, it's why we sew it on our backpacks. It's why, including one of my own sons, tattoo it on ourselves." Maybe Paul could tattoo one on his ships to show he's a proud Canadian.

Dear Abby: My boss is a habitual liar . He has lied to me from the beginning, and when I confront him, he denies everything. What's worse, everyone knows he's a liar. It is so humiliating. Also, since he became my boss he hasn't even shown me any respect for my abilities. All he does is travel the world and constantly makes comments on how things should be done back home.He hangs out with a bunch of guys just like he is and he thinks he's King of the Hill.Meanwhile I work hard at the office because I have principals and I worry about the resources and hope that my boss's lies don't become a problem . Since I started working for him I feel that I'm not appreciated and I'm left to fend for myself.I'm in a dilemma about this job and my boss.What should I do? Signed, Clueless Dear Clueless: Grow up and dump him. For Pete's sake, you don't need him anymore. You're a former auto executive and your father will give you your old job back.

Yes, manufacturing and the creation of a manufacturing base out of nothing requires real entrepreneurship.But constantly throwing in $500 million from the government here and there for the auto industry and the airline industry to survive or compete and you get to see how great this country's major manufacturing base really is.With 80% of our trade dependant on the U.S., the Chinese could do it all at a fraction of the cost and our manufacturing sector would be gone. We have nothing to offer the world except our natural resouces,and unfortunately this country is a society that benefits from nature and always will.

Things sure have changed with Mr.Dithers and Bono, looks like the once pride of the Liberal Convention is getting the boot from the Dithers. What happened? http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?...81-563b6230ca19

While walking down the street one day, a high ranking government Liberal is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in." says the Liberal. "Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity." "Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the Liberal. "I'm sorry but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts the Liberal to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his Liberal friends and other government politicians who had worked with him, everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. Also present is the Devil (a Liberal, too), who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that, before he realises it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit Heaven." So 24 hours pass with the high ranking Liberal joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realises it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity." He reflects for a minute, then the Liberal answers: "Well, I would never have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell." So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to the Liberal and lays an arm on his neck. "I don't understand," stammers the Liberal. Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!"