Centerpiece

It's been mentioned several times - we've had a paradigm shift in the last 25 years that's become more and more pronounced. When the Left is in power, the "opposition" - as reported by the media - is generally accepting of the results. When the so-called Right wins, there are immediate cries that democracy is being trampled. Why the big difference? From my vantage point, as many others have noted - it's the Liberal lens of Left-leaning media and academics who are so willing to cheer on the social engineering guided by a socialist ideology - aided and abetted by unions whose influence admittedly is slowly waning. When the Clintons and Obama were creating the conditions that led to Trump's election - the Right wasn't demonstrating....the media wasn't whining about America's waning influence in world affairs - his toothless "lines in the sand" - the massive problems with Obamacare. Not being an American, I'm sure there was much, much more to complain about but either the Trump-like protests never happened or were never reported. The Obama years were pretty "media muted". Here in Canada, Mike Harris won two majority governments and transformed a government that was deficit-ridden to the extent that credit rating agencies had hit us with credit downgrades and higher debt interest - and over a million people on welfare. Yet he was continually pilloried in the media and demonstrations by the Left were virtually non-stop. Then came the McGuinty/Wynne years. Protests, demonstrations? Hardly any - the Right sucked it up and took it. And now we've got Doug Ford - and again the Left are at it with demonstrations and lawsuits. What has happened is completely predictable - just a matter of time really. It wasn't the Fake News - it's the Censored News - and Americans were tired of it. Ontarians tired of it too. Next up is Trudeau - who more than anyone exemplifies Censored News.

To be a Supreme Court judge, you need to have a passion for the Constitution and a passion for democracy. The Democrats have sullied both with their antics - and in the process, ruined Kavanaugh's personal life. If this travesty wouldn't invoke anger and disgust, I'd consider him brain dead and unable to connect with the people who should always be protected by the Constitution.

Yes - it would be - pretty easy. All the FBI have to do is find one person - anyone - who can corroborate Ford's accusations. Anyone. As you say - it should be pretty easy - and if they can't find anyone? What would you have to say then? Honestly - what would you think?

Sorry Reefer - at this stage, you'd better tell the truth or you'll be in big trouble. And now, it's called amnesty for doing so. stay tuned.

Where will this spectacle go after the FBI completes its investigation and once again finds absolutely no corroborating evidence from anyone? That's why it was so despicable for the Democrats to hold back the accusation for so long - instead of conducting an investigation in private to see if it could be corroborated. They may have again shot themselves in the foot - if uncorroborated, their openly malicious actions just continue to fuel the narrative of an angry, "fake news" Left.

Facts: a lot of money is fleeing the Green Energy market - AND the global warming alarmist scientific community - that's what this topic is about. The article gives a lot of clues as to WHY it's fleeing. Other than wringing you hands and crying that the world will end, do you have any pragmatic ideas/thoughts on how various countries will proceed? Ironically, the US has arguably reduced their C02 emissions more than any other country - even though Obama bragged that his administration built enough pipelines to circle the world - and then some. You could rant on endlessly about "studies" and end-of-world scenarios but all that hand-wringing won't get you anywhere.

Blah, blah, blah. As you can see by the article - and many more supporting ones that are easily found........governments worldwide have been souring on the results of Solar and wind boondoggles.......and if you're as smart as you seem to think you are, you'll at least agree that glaciers have advanced and retreated before, the arctic has been ice-free before - and the planet has warmed and cooled many times without human-caused C02. But this topic is not about arguing the merits or demerits of the so-called "science" - it's about what is going on in the world and how it appears the pendulum is swinging away from alarmism and towards more pragmatic approaches.

.....although I believe humans are adding to C02 - and C02 has a yet-to be-determined incremental impact on warming, I think I'm pretty safe in predicting that it will be several centuries before we see an increase of 4 degrees in global temperatures. I'm also pretty sure that if the day does come, we'll have the knowledge - and technology to either overcome it - or adapt to it. The only thing that's scary is that there are still some people who think that Armageddon is just around the corner.

Subsidies have driven Solar and Wind projects all over the world. The bloom has been coming off the rose for several years as "Green Energy" has failed to deliver the expected (AKA propaganda) economic benefits. The subsidies are drying up and taking solar and wind projects with them. The eco-nuts and their media enablers have enjoyed shooting the messengers who tried to debate Climate Alarmism. It's getting exceedingly difficult to argue with the realities of economics. Hello coal and natural gas. "The global-warming cause won’t be completely expunged, however, until its last man standing, heading the last politically correct government, leaves the field. That would be the world’s finest, if most retrograde, exemplar of the global warming orthodoxy: Canada’s own Justin Trudeau." Link: https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/lawrence-solomon-trudeau-stands-alone-as-canada-and-the-world-abandons-green-energy#comments-area

It was somewhat tongue in cheek as a response to Turningrite's "Number One Complaint" about massive condo development. Good or bad, that's a city planning issue and the number of councilors is irrelevant. That said, if Turningrite DID think councilors could impact condo decisions in his Ward, he'd have a better chance being one of 25 instead of one in 45. That chance of course, would still be just about zero. That's what I'm talking about.

Thank you. I think you've added points as to why it's so disgusting.

Disgusting that the Democrats sat on Ford's complaint for two months and sprung it at the last moment - instead of bringing it to the committee for investigation and validation - or not. I watched the Blaisey Ford hearing and found her to be credible - but very meek - almost frail. Anyone with any connection to the supposed event have been unable to corroborate her testimony. It would appear that SOMETHING happened to this woman but it appears it had nothing to do with Kavanaugh - whose own testimony was also very credible. Overlaying this whole process was the stink of Democratic malice - from their holding the accusations till the last minute to their phony calls for an FBI investigation to their total ignoring the fact that nothing has been corroborated. American politics has sunk even lower.

So you liked things the way they were? Maybe even MORE councilors? Then we'll just agree to disagree. I lived in Toronto most of my life before coming here last year. It was painful to watch Council "in action" over the past 20 years. So much time wasted on "progressive" pet projects instead of concentrating on providing the best roads, transit, water, sewage - and yes - disability access. Those are the things that people expect and can appreciate It's not about small town Ontario - it's about Toronto. If Ontario is ever going to get its economy rolling again, it has to be led by Toronto. Things need to get done. You complain about Condos - your councilor was one of 45 who considered the approvals. Maybe you'll have more clout with one of 25.

Perhaps it's time to accept that what's done is done and get on with building a better city. Although the Province can alter the size of council, the City of Toronto Act gives the city full control the council interacts with its constituents. This is where there is a huge opportunity to bring the city closer to its people - and actually improve democracy. As a compelling example, most large American cities have a similar sized council - but they make use of neighbourhood/district committees. These committees are mostly volunteer-based but do have a few nominally paid positions and some office budgets. They are advisory committees and report to the Ward Councillor. Wards are large enough that several have distinct neighbourhoods (Leaside, Unionville, etc) that could benefit from more focused representation. As I said - this is an example of the opportunity that is now in front of us. Some of the money that Ford has "forced" the city to save could be re-allocated. It wasn't just about saving money - it was about more efficient government.

Just to follow up and support Goddess's article - here is very recent article from our own CBC about the continued violence against Jews across Europe - and specifically in the two largest countries - France and Germany. Thinking that this could never happen in Canada is nothing short of foolish. Here's a quote - but the entire article is worth reading.... Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/europe-anti-semitism-don-murray-analysis-1.4644885

Over the past 21 months 900 illegal border crossers have arrived in Canada after facing deportation orders in the US. Of those only SIX have been removed. Incredible. Link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/blair-apology-asylum-seekers-1.4836471

I had heard about Freeland's participation in a panel called "Taking on the Tyrant" but had not seen any footage. Talk about bad, bad judgement. She may not have personally said anything that slurred Trump - but the context of this event was clear - evidenced by the ominous prelude that's included in the attached video. As mentioned before, both Freeland and Trudeau have managed to alienate themselves with the most important trading partner that we have. Incompetence, insanity. Link:

Very true. A good friend's son is 26 - in tremendous shape, has passed the entry tests - but has been unable to land a firefighter or police job in the past 3 years. Almost time for him to give that dream up.

Yes - you indeed won.... Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23168191@N00/sets/72157601647382234/

You're making an argument that says the niqab/burka is related to extremism. I know you don't mean it that way and maybe you won't even see it - but your falling into the same trap as Neville Chamberlain - be nice to them, accommodate them and they'll leave us alone.

Is that the way the conversation went in the growing list of countries that have already banned the Niqab/Burkha - including France, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Bulgaria? Several others have partial bans. What do you think their motivations were?

Is that all you've got to support her international trade negotiation expertise? As I said - negotiations were completed in August, 2014 and as Freeland indicated, the Agreement could not be renegotiated. Read the Liberal Party Bio that I gave you and see if you can find anything that says anything to the contrary. I grant that she helped stick handle the ratification process - but that's after the fact. My point was not primarily her competence (because she is very intelligent and we have a good team) - my point was her inappropriate participation in anti-Trump activities that clearly has alienated her. Pile that onto Trudeau's G7 debacle and we have no one to meet privately with Trump to close the deal.

You're right - she is no dummy. But let's be clear - CETA negotiations were concluded in August, 2014 - considerably before the Liberals came into power. Freeland's background is in journalism - really smart but as I said, inexperienced in trade negotiations. Link: https://cfreeland.liberal.ca/biography/

It appears that the Trudeau government made a major strategic error in appointing Freeland as lead negotiator. Putting aside her lack of experience in trade negotiations, Freeland has recently found herself a somewhat willing participant in some anti-Trump situations - including a key foreign policy speech that she made in Washington. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact she is married to a New York Times investigative reporter - Graham Bowley. Trump hates the Times. With Trudeau shooting himself in the foot with his G7 shenanigans, Canada now has no one who can meet with Trump to have that final "save the day" and close the deal conversation - like Mulroney was able to do with Reagan.

I'd love to open another topic on "The Dangers of Judicial Over-reach" but I don't want to clutter the forum. Judge Belobaba provided a blatant example of over-reach. In doing so, he laid bare the fact that politically appointed judges are not only human, and can carry biases into their rulings. As the appellate court not so discretely ruled - “It is not in the public interest to permit the impending election to proceed on the basis of a dubious ruling that invalidates legislation duly passed by the legislature,”. The danger goes beyond this judge's competence - it attacks the integrity and credibility of the Charter itself. "Inconveniences" are not affronts to Rights and Freedoms and legislation arrived at through our democratic process is not to be trivialized as such. I would hope that judges will take notice - and Canadians will be a little wiser.