Eagle

So it is okay to ignore the issue because it isn't a vote winner? I think you might be taking my post out of context. First, it should be understood that I'm a Liberal supporter. However, I do feel that the government was in fact represented by the attendance of the Health Minister. I don't feel that he should ignore an issue because it isn't a vote winner, that's not what I was implying. The voters who are concerned about the AIDS conference will hold him accountable because in their eyes, he should have attended. The ones who feel burned because the PM didn't show up, obviously do not agree that the government was sufficiently represented by the Minister of Health attending the conference. They will likely vote against Harper, or at least keep this issue in mind come election time.

I don't feel that it was crucial that Stephen Harper attended the conference. The Minister of Health was present, that should show the representation of the Canadian government. However, I do believe that AIDS activists will likely hold his feet to the fire when it comes to election time.

I do agree Politika that the structure of the Senate is useless. It's main purpose was to have a parliamentary system based on the British system. Senators were typically meant to be the social elite who represent politics in Canada-hence the Constitutional requirments to become a Senator. What I would personally like to see, is the structure of the Senate reformed. Perhaps if we were to elect members of the Senate, they would vote for/against bills at the will of the people. In the current structure, you're right, the Senate is pretty much useless. I feel we should make it an important part of the democratic system. If we cannot do this, then we should consider abolishing it. But I would like to keep the Senate as a house in parliament, but have members elected.

I feel things should be left the way they are. It should not be assumed that anyone can take someone's organs. If the government feels it so important to promote organ donation, why not post big large signs, even electronic ones at the MTO offices et al. that reminds people to ask about organ donation. Have a separate desk open and available for those individuals who'd like to make those changes. Personally, I support organ donation. However, I do not support taking something from someone that they did not indicate that they wanted you to take.

This story can be found at Toronto Star Sorbara to return to cabinet: McGuinty Comments follow judge's ruling on search warrant Timing of shuffle not yet known as appeal possible May 20, 2006. 01:00 AM ROBERT BENZIE AND LES WHITTINGTON STAFF REPORTERS Premier Dalton McGuinty says Greg Sorbara is heading back into his cabinet now that a judge has removed the former treasurer's name from an RCMP search warrant. In his first public comments since Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer's ruling Thursday, McGuinty said Sorbara would soon be returning to the executive council. "I'm going to take a few days to consider where we're going to go from here, but it's no secret I would be pleased to be able to return Greg to cabinet," the premier said after a Toronto Star editorial board meeting yesterday. Sorbara was forced to resign as finance minister on Oct. 11, 2005, after he was named in a search warrant obtained by the RCMP as part of their ongoing criminal investigation of Royal Group Technologies. He was a former Royal Group director and a part owner of Sam-Sor Enterprises Inc., which sold two Brampton properties to Royal for $2.5 million in 1996 and 1997 when he was out of politics. According to an affidavit sworn by RCMP Staff Sgt. Mel Young to obtain the warrants, Sorbara failed to inform Royal of his interest in the deals. But the Vaughan-King-Aurora MPP went to court to have his name removed from the warrants and Nordheimer ruled in his favour with a 24-page decision that blasted the Mounties. The judge castigated the RCMP for a probe plagued with "flaws" and suggested the force misled Ontario Court Justice Lauren Marshall by providing "insufficient evidence" to secure the warrant. "I am left with the nagging concern that the application for a search warrant, at least as it related to (Sorbara), was very much premature," the judge admonished. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Acting Sgt. Michele Paradis of the RCMP said that from the Mounties' point of view "nothing has really changed." "We have said all along that we're looking into the activities of Royal Group and some of the principals, and anything further we can't speak to because this is an ongoing investigation." While a cabinet shuffle is expected as early as next week, McGuinty suggested changes might have to wait until the Crown, which has 30 days to appeal Nordheimer's ruling, announces its next move. "We'll get some advice from the (attorney general's) ministry and see what our options are," said the premier, acknowledging the difficulties inherent in any shuffling of cabinet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- `It's no secret I would be pleased to be able to return Greg (Sorbara) to cabinet' Premier Dalton McGuinty, below left -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's going to present some challenges, but again I will do what serves the public interest," he said. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan succeeded Sorbara as finance minister and is considered to have performed well. McGuinty declined to say whether he would create a deputy premier's post as a consolation prize for either Sorbara or Duncan. Sorbara said he is just grateful to have been exonerated after a "six-figure" legal and public relations battle. "I'm pleased that the premier is taking the time to give it some thought," said the former Ontario Liberal Party president and architect of the 2003 electoral victory. "We should all simply just enjoy the first long weekend of the summer and get back to work next week," he said. Sorbara insisted he bears no malice toward the RCMP despite his name being dragged through the mud, saying, "no public organization is infallible." Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory pointed out that while Nordheimer concluded Sorbara was wrongly included in the warrant, the judge never said the Liberal MPP was not part of the RCMP's probe into Royal Group. "We all hope for the sake of our system and for the sake of Mr. Sorbara personally that he is not part of this anymore," said Tory, urging McGuinty to proceed cautiously before reinstating Sorbara. "Mr. McGuinty has the obligation to do due diligence in whatever way he can to satisfy himself that Mr. Sorbara won't get ... wound up in this again a few months from now," he said. Meanwhile, in the premier's meeting at the Star, he discussed Canada's fiscal imbalance and his testy relationship with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "We need more opportunities to better understand each other's position and one of the things I'm determined to do is to convince the PM that we can build a win-win," said McGuinty, referring to his ongoing crusade for more funding from Ottawa. "We can find a way to meet Ontario's concerns in a way that strengthens the country as a whole," he said, emphasizing that he's glad that Harper has former MPPs like Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Health Minister Tony Clement and Treasury Board President John Baird at his side. "One of the things that I do take some comfort in is that some of the most important people around his cabinet table do understand Ontario, do understand the nature of our financial challenges and hopefully will bring that to bear in their cabinet discussions."

I believe it was Peter Kormos, MPP, NDP (Ontario-Niagara Centre) who also introduced a bill in the Ontario Legislative Assembly. Presumed Consent . Personally, I feel that if someone wants to be an organ donor, then they should make the appropriate arrangements to indicate their wishes. The government should not presume that it, nor any medical professional, has the right to extract an organ. Under this proposed legislation, as I understand it, your organs can be extracted unless a family member contests the situation with proof that the deceased did not wish to donate their organs. It isn't difficult to make the arrangements to become an organ donor. For those that wish to donate, by all means.

An article I found on the Internet can give a good description of the Canadian Senate. This article can be found at The Canadian Senate Should Canada change the way that individuals become Senators-from appointment to say, election? Should the number of Senators from each 'division' change to properly represent the population in each division? Should we appoint/elect the same number of Senators from each Province instead? Should the constitutional requirements of owning land of $4000 and real assets be amended?