fixer1

Too bad that people could not be forced to become mature enough to take care of themselves before they ever become pregnant, but that is just the way of life. many young mothers thought having a child was a way to gain their independence, and that must have been a real shocker afterward to find out they were now more dependent then they ever were, on the help of others. I am all for there being a place where these young mothers can leave their children and still attend classes. Maybe we should use parenting classes at high schools as on the job training for how and why Babies have needs that demand attention when they have it, not when you want to give it. The same couldbe said for Colleges and Universities. We should never purposely make a barrier to getting an education, when we can easily find other ways to make things work. As for the young mothers who have decided to just stay home and have more children, so they can get higher welfare benefits,.... well lets just say that we should have a ceratin level of education required in this country, that all people must have or they would be denied welfare. yes we would have to make some exceptiions for those willing to learn, but those who are not willing then should be monitored and their children removed from their care until they can better take care of them. I like the $1200.00 per child under 6 better then the other plans because it directly reaches all people who have children, and treats them equally. The trouble with the other plans, it is more designed to help fewer people and not always those in most need. yes it would be nice if all p;eople who have children never had to worry about child care, while they pursue their careers. But we know that it is all part and parcel with being a parent. Today, taking responsibility is something that should be given reward and praise, but that would offend those who want to be responsible for nothing.

I will agree that immigrants who are part of gangs and caught doingcrimes should be deported immediately, no matter what faces them upon return to their country of origin. As for the Canadian born and bred ones go, we need to make them serv sentences that are in keeping with the crimes they commit. All murders should be tried as an adult crime no matter the age of the accused and the sentences should be the same as adults. While I will say that it is going too far to make membership in gangs an offence, it should be a mitigating factor in sentencing. What I would like to see done is make parents responsible for acts of their children right up to the age of 18, as for damage etc. We will also need to allow the corpral punishment of these same children up to adult, as there has to be the tools for the parenbts etc.. If a parent finds they can not control a child they can and should turn over their rights in rasing that child to Childrens Aid. This will allow the incorrigible children to be removed from parental responsibility. there was a time when teenagers were much more respectful of others and they were better prepared for life in the real world. We seem to have lost any respect that teenagers used to have, and it all started with the times where the physcoligists started telling us what we were doing wrong. We have since that time lost control of our youth and many people still think the physc's were right. So I will ask you, were we better off with the youth of the 1950's or the youth of the 2006's? It changebecause we allowed the way of life to change. It will only change back if we again make it a change in the way of life. Every child should be trained by the time they are 18 to be able to cope with life on their own. this is not to say that we kick them out at that stage, but we need for them to make clear choices that we as a society can accept as proper behaviour. The work ethic of our youth is so far out of wack that they demand your time money and never with your ever knowing what their intentions are. I can remember in my youth getting into minor trouble and having a police officer give me a boot in the arse and told me to go home and behave as next time I would be arrested. In those days being arrested meant something. No parent would have ever complained that the officer was being cruel by booting me in the butt. Today that just is never done and even if an officer raises his voice at the youth, they claim brutiality. I say better the old way and the community standards of that time, then what you see now.

As a Canadian I have travelled many places in the world, and I have always been aware of the laws that certain contries have that are different from my own. If I can not abide by those laws I simply will not go to that country. I used to go and travel through out the USA, but back in 1999 I was involved here in Canada with somethings that if I was in the USA I could have been charged with. Also I had been to Cuba several times and it was stamped right in my passport. So I did not travel to the USA anymore and would not even think of doing so especially now that they have the Patriot Act. I am aware of this and have seen others who were much like me that did cross over to visit relatives and were jailed and detained. So no, I would not travel to the USA any more. I like Europe much better and the Carbbean can easily satisfy my need for warm climates in winter time. If I was to cross thwe border I would not get very far before I was arrested and charges for satellite offences and also under the Helms Burton act for having done business with Cuba. Hell, they would also use the Patriot act to have bail refused and could then wait as long as they pleased to charge me with anything. So knowing what I know, I would be crazy to travel there, even though after checking with the government, it has been said there are no outstanding issues present. My friend is serving 7 years in a Florida jail because he thought he was ok to go there as well. He got absolutely zero help from the Canadian government. Just because the USA has not formally laid any charges does not mean that they will not once your name is flagged at the border. Remember the zero tolerance rules of yesterday where complete transport trucks were seized and sold just for having a roach in the ashtry of the vehicle? This is all from a country we call our friend and have many trade issues with them right next door. Our government will do nothing but shrug its shoulders when it is really an easy thing to work out, at times as these. Then you know that when you are in a foreign country who may not have any ties to Canada trade wise, you know that you are really on your own. The way I look at it is, I know what I did and I knew what the ramifications were, so I just do not go there any more. People need to do the same, and when travelling to countries that you are not sure of the laws, you will need to do your home work first, before buying the ticket. reading from a book when you are sitting in the country is not too wise.

In short Canada was supportive of the attack in afghanistan to oust the Taliban and the terrorists. We then have an obligation to help with the rebuilding and stabilizing the country. We have been asked through Nato for our presence to be there in a two fold scope. One Peace Keeping and secondly battle, and fighting duties. It is well within our governments rights to go about this and since it was the Liberals who last agreed to do it. Then why should they even debate it. It is not up to the MP's to have a say in our military, beyond the inital orders to participate in the actions. All of this is just political posturing that does show derespectfor our troops being there. We do not have to aggree in all things but while our troops are out there doing a job that is so very dangerous, we do not need this kind of talk here at home. This kind of talk is what gives terrorists the idea that what they are doing does change things etc. I do not like war, I do not think the war in Iraq was justified and therefore illegal. I do though think that this action in Afghanistan is valid and does serve a greater purpose. You are welcome to disagree with me, but you should not let our disagreements get to the level of our government, because the nest time terrorists want to sway a government they will know Canada as a soft country and will think an attack here will get the attantion they want and need.

Sapiro has pretty much been a failure ever since he took the post of Ethics Commissioner. He has not made any decisions or investigations into the ethics of anyone, that has stuck with any value. He could not find any ethoics breaches during the scandlelus year of the Liberals, and we all know that should have been like shooting fish in a barrel. He now in looking into the ethics of Harper in inviting Emmerson to cross the floor, when it has already been said by both sides in all of this that it is not an ethics issue. Yes he thinks that he can give himself job security by starting this investigation and drag it out, as it will look bad to be fired while it is still running. But since we can all prove him to be incompetent in his job firing would be the best thing to do, and I would not give any to end of Contract severance, as his inability to do the job is more then grounds for firing without special compensation. The contract is null and void if the person is unable to do the work it was set out to be done.

I for one am sure that we can not afford the system as it stands. The methods and structure of the healthcare system is such that all too much money goes to administration. During the last Election the Block made a ver important point that there are 4,000 more employees on the advertising and admin side of things then there were 10 years ago. And not one of these people do anything for frontline healthcare. Maybe if these people were let go and replaced by lest say 4,000 nurses, things may well improve. Also since the average Civil servant makes more then a nurse, we could probably hire even more. That fact alone would save many lives. The admin and paper work can take as much time as it needs to be done, as lives as not in the balance. We need to have atleast 1000 new doctors per year to graduate and stay and practice in Canada, to really keep things going. That just is not being done. Many of the new doctors are specializing and few are becoming family doctors. This means that the doctor patient relationship is disappearing. That can also cost lives. Hospital administration should be cut back to minimum and nurses and doctors should be hired in place of them. There are many registered nurses that have long since given up the calling because they can make more as a private health consultant, or physical trainer etc. This is a weird world where those who help save lives get so little and those who really do nothing to save lives can make a better living. Ralph Kliens methods while they break the healthcare act to some degree, seem to be the way things will have to eventually play out. I am 55 and I do have health problems. I probably would never be able to afford healthcare if it was like the USA system, and most healthcare providers for private insurance would not give me coverage. So, yes I probably am one of the users that make up for the more healthier ones. The cost of drugs is also very high and I am covered under a employers plan. But if things were different I could see me having to make choices of pills, food, or some of each. Do not get me wrong my family has a higher then average income. But that is the point, it takes just a small turn of fate and your life can be turned around. That is what I like about the public system. I also know that it can not go on for ever, so I try to look ahead and see what there will be for me later on. It is not the kind of thing you do half hearted. I have seen first hand just what the hospitals get involved with, and they are buried by administration. That is wrong, sweet and simply wrong. You could take away most of that need by having smart health cards that would hold complete medical charts and prescriptions. That way every person would have this copy when ever they go to the hospital, and it would be updated when you leave. The same can be said for family doctors etc. With better tracking with out the admin costs. things would improve. But unfortunately in the end there are going to be those who will be able to pay money to get better service. It is going to happen sooner or later. The only other thing that might be is a community healthcare setup where the hospital is setup and supported by those in the community around it and the costs could be added to property tax bills etc. But then some communities would rise above others. No matter which way you cut it, paying money for care is coming.

I may agree that abolishing the senate is a good idea, but maybe we can abolish McGuinty all with the senate. They both have about the same usefulness.

I just think this kind of crap is just as digusting as it can evr be. Does anyone here need to have an investigation into this? Of course there were talks about crosing the floor and yes, being that he needed somone from Vancouver to be in his cabinet, does it surprise anyone that he got a cabinet position. It will all come down to a who approached who, and we all know that merrygo round is one long ride and nothing ever comes of it. I guess if Shapiro does not have anything else to look at he might as well look at this, but is it just such a slow news day that this kind of crap actually gets printed. Man I wish Harper would recall parliament sooner so we can at least have some news that has some degree of thought behind it.

I am all for weapons to hunt and sport shooting even archery, but for the Supreme Court to rule as they have is nothing less then astounding. I do not care about anyones religion when they are in our public schools they are just like every other boy and girls there. I would fight to make it so they are equal, but this ruling makes some higher then others, when it comes to rights. I am not sure I would ever let a child saty in a school that allowed this no matter the reason. Religion does not have any place in our public school systems period. Too bad we can not pound that into the SC justices who have made this ruling. Now I am probably going to wonder why they can have this right, but other children have been expelled for having a table knife to butter buns and bread, at school. This now makes Sikth children to have more rights then other children and that is just wrong. If I am caught with a kirpan concealled in my clothing I would be charged will having a concealled weapon. Even if I say I am a new follower of the sikth religion. Well so much for the Supreme Court having advance minds and thinkers, because I can only say that the Jusytices in this case have now shown they can make very stupid decisions that can not be reasoned with any normal interpitation of the laws of our country. I guess we will need parliament to sort this out once and for all. No you see why the not withstanding clause may be a very important tool, as judges too can be brain dead some times.

Out of all the countries in the middle east, Afghanistan is the one country that probably has the biggest chance of being reformed into a democracy. While it will never be a christian based democracy, it will be more of a muslim hybrid based. The reason for it being ready where others are not, is the fact that they have been ravaged by wars and invading armies for decades, and through all of this they have still managed, to survive as a people. They have so little left to lose that they will welcome, any path that allows them to gain back their own lands and once again develope some sort of community that is not based on who has the biggest weapons. Yes it will not be a state where everything is like our own. It would be nice to see some sort of freedom for women, and better treatment of them. Yes ideally women would be equall, but for now I would just like to see a move where women are not property of men, and they should have the same rights to education etc. If that can be achieved then it will not be long before women will be equal. So for all those who just seem to always disagree with all things in the middle east, just what would your plan be? It would be nice to see people giving ideas instead of just always saying it can not be done. This is a country where it has been beaten down so far that they really have nothing more to lose, but they also seem to be willing to give many new things a try. So it is a clean slate so to speak. How would you try and fill in the space and the lay of the land? How would you go about doing this?

I really do not care if the olympics is in Canada or some where else. I do wonder at the one upsmanship each place that has the olympics goes enthusiastically about. I think we should spend what we need to on good sites and buildings, but not try and out do the rest of the world, and then take a lot more money to support our athletes and also any medal winners of the olympics. This would then be money better spent. All the pomp and pagentry is of no consequence to me. Yes it is a big deal to many people, and I would not stop them from having it. I just think it can all be done for a lot less money.

Well that is what happens when you get government involved with anything. They would easily lose their own heads if it were not attached. But come to think of it over there in those arabic states head being attached is some times optional

It seems sad to me that people just can not get over the fact that Canada may have to shoot at someone, now that it will be taking over NATO troops in Afghanistan. Tes we are still there doing peace keeping, but now if we are fired upon and we will be, we are allowed to fire back and even pursue the insurgents. And some say this is a bad thing?! Yes even Canada will have to face the insurgent groups with full on attacks. We probably still will have a small degree less attacks, only because we are seen as not occupying forces. I belive that the world will see most of the Al Qeda attacks still to be in Iraq, and you will see less and less in Afghanistan. The Canadian troops are also training afgahn police forces, how to fight the drug trade in that country, and if all goes well they may even find a crop they can grow and make a living at. The War Lords that were so present eraly on in Afghanistan are being less and less heard from. The search for Bin Ladin will still go on but I believe that he will probably hide some where along the borders of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Those areas where he still can find people willing to hide him and give him cover. Pakistan is now moving more and more to closing the borders with Afghanistan so terrorists are not so easy to come and go. This is why I belive Bin Ladin will have moved else where. The most dangerous missions in Afghanistan are those that hunt for Bin Ladin and yes Canada will be involved in this kind of missions. I personally can see a clear cause for the war in Afghanistan, so I believe that it is Canadas obligation to help out there, and yes we will have casualties. That always happens in a war, so people need to get over it. The fight is for a just cause, therefore worth fighting for.

It would not be discrimination for a private club to have a rule that all members must speak french or any other language. I agree with that as long as my public tax dollars are not supporting the club. The same should be for medical clinics if they are private and not using public funds. The trouble with this is the clinic in Cornwal is part of the public system. The doctor should also be made aware that he is spending more time at the private clinic that has language restrictions and that maybe it would be better to divide his time more in line with the percentage of the population on a language basis. It is more of the doctors call then any other thing. Welcome to the private medical clinics. Once it is outside the public domain nothing can be done.

How do you think this meeting will play out? It looks to me that it is a smart move by Harper as it will show he is moving to try and address the fiscal imbalance, as well as showing the premiers that the federal government is willing to work with each of them. I would imagine that while any co-operation of Harper and quebecs interests will make sure Harper has enough votes to carry on. The ability to talk to the premiers, without sounding all powerful, will also play well with the rest. I just wonder if it will all fall apart with too many demands. If he can have this meeting and leave it with eveyone on good terms, I think he will have no problem then with bringing his 5 main priorities about, and there will not be too much to stop him even from the opposition. What do the rest of you think about this?

I think we all can stick our collective Canadian chests out a little. This week I read an article where the people in Afgahnistan were volentarily turning in weapons and explosive devices to Canadian soldiers, saying they do not have any use for them any more. It goes a long way when the people find the soldiers not only doing peace keeping but also battle ready to stand and defend the afghan public, are willing to disarm and let them do their jobs. I have always supported the war in Afghanistan as it was a direct action on the Taliban who were a terrorist government. While the invasion of Iraq was different and I do not support that in any way. I think Canada can do a lot to help rebuild and show a counrty that has 30 years of endless war, that peace is a great thing and it is achievible. Not many countries have the reputation for peacekeeping that Canada has. We may not be the most advance army in the world, but we are one of the most welcomed army. Yes, we will see casualties since our troops are also fighting as well as peace keeping, but this cause is more agreeable to me. I just seem to see that there is value in it.

It has occured to me that many here are very upset in this country about child care. I know that when I was a young parent it was hard to find good cild care at a reasonable price. Many parents now look at this problem to be also one of early education etc. I see many incentives for employers to start and have daycare for their employees right at the working offices. It seems to me that many places are doing this which means more daycare spaces are coming available every day. Back in my day part of having children was planning to have either one parent stay home and rasie them, or find other arrangements. Quite often family could be found to look after the children, and grandparents loved the chance to help. Now I know times have changed, but have we lost the family unit that much, and also, are there not still many people who babysit that are not registered daycare facilities? It would seem to me that planning to have children, should at least have all these things taken into account. It seems now that employers are being more and more competitive in their search for employees and office daycare, is one way many will find to get the employees they want to stay with the company. The tax incentives to companies also should be a large factor as well. So, as much as it would be nice to have daycare that would cost less then a minimum wage employee would make, would be nice. But at what cost to the rest of the population. I am starting to see just how big the numbers are for this plan, and it is starting to look to me like this will be a very large perk to people with young children. If we are to subsidize daycare costs that are $120.00 per week per child to reduce it to $35 per week per child ( as per Quebecs $7.00 per day), that is like giving a family with two small children $660.00 per month. It would be cheaper to give them all a free economy car and pay for their gas. Just why do the rest of Canadians have to give you that money when it is really your responsibility to pay for your own children. It would be better to start them in school at age 4, for a full day and half day at age 3. But is that not just passing off the raising of your child to the school system. Do the parents today really believe that this would be good?

From my own prospective it is not that Muslims do not fit in but they want to not fit in. Being a muslim is not just a religion but a way of life to them. The koran has its rules laid out on how you are supposed to live your life and serve your riligion. That leaves very little left to try and fit into our open society. In fact many of the rules under the Koran are illegal here in Canada, even though we turn a blind eye to much of it. I would say that a religious muslim who is a moderate probably would make an ok neighbour, but that you probaly would not approve of the heirarchy within their family values. It is also quite possible that if you were a daughter in this family that you would not be happy, but that does not mean their daughters must also be unhappy. While we have cut them much slack on their reigious views, we also have to be prepared to grant any one the rights we all have here in Canada if they so seek it. We can not force it upon them.

I believe Canada was one of the countries that agreed to never negoiate with hostages. I see no reason why that would be any different now then it was back then.

Hollus You probably are what I would call a problem. You take simple things that are said and then try to make them fit some wild idea you have. That makes you a big problem. It is people of that type that make it harder for anyone who would do things. I never said I would shoot out from the window of my house. Where did you even get that. I have lived in the city and yes I have stood up to gang bangers. I am still here they are not. No I did not kill them. They simply went away to both people who do not stand up to these types. Do not get me wrong though I would not want to stand up to them unarmed if they had any time to plan their responce. Yes I have been shot at. Would I do it again? Yes, when you do the good thing and the right thing it is easy to say you would do it again. Yes I would expect people who are shopping to jump in and help if someone tacked a gunman, but I can never count on it. I do not hate city people, I feel sorry for them not understanding that they first must learn to help themselves before any police agency can finish the job. The plane that was hijacked and the people fought the hijackers and crashed before it could be used to fly into a building, do you understand that I stand proud of each and everyone of them, they did the smartest thing they could, and unfortunately paid the ultimate price. Just by what I have seen of you here, I am sure you would just sit there and not lift a finger, as that is what you have police for right? Also the problem with gangs does not only come when the shooting starts. It starts with bully's picking on smaller younger kids and grows from there. When was the last time you decided to stop an act of one kid bullying another? That is where it al starts, but that is not your problem is it? So you can take what I say and try and find some extreme situation to denigrate it, but just remeber the sometime when you are all alone on the street at night and some punks are following you calling you pussy etc. It may well be me who is driving by and sees it. I will stop and help you out of that situation, even though I am endangering myself. Can you say the same?

You maybe right on the grandfathering the 32cal, I was told they had to be rendered unservicable to collect but that was quite a while back, and as you say there has been a lot of back and forth going on. I keep up with my own firearm requirements but I will admit I only half skim the others things just for the jist of it.

The CPP is supposed to be there to help people who at a time of old age want to retire and be able to do so if you are thrifty and not seeking a life of comforts. This would only cover you for the basics, if that. If you are a Canadian and want to have a good life when you retire, you will need to have between $250,000.00to $350,000.00 in RSP type investments. This is really not beyond the means of most Canadians, but yes there are many who will never be able to do that. If you could reasonably expect to get a 6% return on investments, you should be able to then have an income in your retirement of $40,000.00 per year. If your house and other debts are all gone, you will have a modest but good lifestyle. there are many who are reverse mortaging their homes etc to get more to life on in retirement, but that does mean quite a bite less left for inheritence. Both the wife and myself worked all our lives and she is still working while I have retired, and it will be another 6 years before she is ready (her choice not mine ), but when all is said and done between the two of us we will be able to do the world travel but not the 5 star fashion we were used to before. I would love to have a horse farm in the foothills of the rockies and a home somewhere in South America, for winter living. It is not out of our grasp, but it takes some working to get it all. I may well decide to return to work for the next 6 years just to help make it all doable. When we are ready I will be 61 and my wife will be 60. If our health holds out we will get our plan done. The problems will be the high cost of health care outside of Canada. The wife works for CCHSA which does health care acreditation of hospitals and other health care services. They do this internationally, and Brazil and Argentina are not so far off the costs that we would have here in Canada. That is why I would rather winter there then the USA south. The costs of healthcare in the USA are just too crazy and while there are many well accredited hospitals, they also have many that lets just say would make third world like firstclass. But for the most part they are pretty good. Not what I would say it worth the costs they want, but service is good. So yes you can retire in Canada and live a simple life not much higher then basic living on the CPP and Old Age pension. Burt if you want more then that, you need to start squirrelling away some money. RSP's are fine, but you should also try your hand at soem other investing, but do your home work. If I know back when I was twenty what I know now, I would have been much more careful in some of the things I did, but I think we all can say that same thing.

But of course it was registered and the police just had to look up the serial number right?? What a joke, people that kill people with guns don't register them first. I can't believe the stupidity of those that support the registry, its actually so far beyond common sense I just can't comprehend it. Those that fear guns are those that aren't familiar with them. Guns in the hands of safety minded gun owners are pretty safe, way more safe than a car in the hands of most drivers on the road. Car accidents and fatalities far outnumber gun accidents and fatalities! Guns aren't the danger, stupid people are the danger. Not to mention these thug wanna-be criminals, who 99 times out of 100 fit into that stupid category... What is meant by this is that certain caliber guns are already banned and even collectors are not allowed to have them registered or not. The only way to have them in a collec tions is to render them nonservicible Any caliber higher then 22cal all thru to 32 cal are banned from ownership. Since the bullets found in the boxing day shooting were 32 cal. it was from a weapon already banned here in Canada. It seems to me to be that they have banned the guns of calibers that are most easily used to make them concealled.

Liberal inteligence say you always poke your oppoent in the chest when making a point, but poking yourself in the eye hurts. NDP just pokes everyone in the eye and keeps taxing them for the privilage, and open eye clinics as a social program.

I almost forgot to mention that the caliber of gun used in the boxing day shootings was of the type where that gun is banned in Canada. So how well did that ban work?