msj

And that syntax! Terrific! The Best!

Yes, his use of only the best words, with so few syllables, confuses me.

Yes, Trump's humour is so sophisticated that only non-college educated people can truly understand it.

Yes, Trump has developed such a keen sense of sarcasm that he comes across as stupid. No other possible explanation.

I have read the fiscal update at Nov 1, 2016 which is out not all that long ago. Even the worst case scenarios in there appear to be looking at a deficit for 16/17 of $26B. Looking to the fiscal monitor, which only goes to August, we see year to date a deficit of $5.4 B. The month of August is terrible for the defict, adding $2.7B to it however that compares to $2.3B in 2015. So, given these facts, what part of the process is understating the fiscal year deficit? Should they be expecting a black swan event in CDN housing? Maybe, since the typical Canadian has taken on debt with a nod to there being no tomorrow. Maybe they should have expected the Trump increase in interest rates? Exactly how should the government budget for such events though? They already build in contingencies and presumably will adjust the budget each year as we move forward whoch is the same as any government would do. In fact, 2017 budget consultations are already started. So, specifically, how, where, and in what ways are they demonstrating "no clue" about running the economy? Keep in mind that we already have at least one pipeline in the works and likely will get another one approved next week so don't expect to be taken serioulsy on that. We also have Keystone to look forward to.

Agreed. I have a BA degree with one of my majors' in history so I know all about overexposure to Canadian history (FN, French, English - it's all boring).

Hmmm, in 1977 one would be forgiven for thinking that things were looking dour for the GOP: Carter was president, both houses held by the Dems. I think it was 37 to 12 in governorships held. Who would have predicted the rise of the GOP in the 80's. Who will predict the rise of the Dems now?

Yeah, becuase wanting to learn something new because of too much exposure to one part of a program is the same thing as kids in America scrawling pro-Trump graffiti...

Agreed, she is very brave going up against the politically correct industry for the indocritnation of our children. My own niece, 13 years old, who did very well on her sympathetic report of Gord Downie's Secret Path (a book about residential school etc), said to me today: I'm so sick and tired of natives, I want to learn something else. Funny, I remember when I was a kid feeling the same way even though I'm sure the curriculum is vastly different now. But some kids are going to smell the BS no matter how hard they try to cover it up with burning sage.

And your point is irrelevant. No one is calling for elementary students to only learn science and maths. What we have stated is that there are many ways kids can learn about various cultures without foisting religous rituals upon them.

And what is my opinion of social sciences and humanities courses? Please tell me for my own sake.

Not sure why you feel the need to attack Candice Servatius with such childish name calling. As for your Xmas lights analogy: it is poorly conceived, nonsensical and demonstrates that you have a poor understanding of the issues involved here. Oh, I don't know, how about "The Ecstasy of Rita Joe?" I would guess that grade school kids could come up with their own plays. I remember having to do this as part of a group back in grade 7. It was very painful, being a shy kid, but very worthwhile, in hindsight.

Rereading the legal documents I find the allegation that Greg Smyth (school superintendent) may have stated something to the effect of "there is more tolerance for Aboriginal religion than your religion. " Would certainly explain his rude response (or lack thereof) to the parents complaints (on two counts: the smudge ceremony and the second incident of a prayer given without any letter warning parents). He was supposed to get back to them by April, 2016 in writting but I understand that he would not want to put such a statement down on paper or in an email. Hope this does go to court as it will be excellent reading along with other cases mentioned in those legal documents. Highly recommend people take the time to look them up and review them as it is better to read them as primary sources than rely on the snippets and interpreations of some dumb journalist retelling and rehashing them.

I'd rather have kids participate in science experiments, create and participate in plays, do classroom presentations than partake in religious ceremonies. Want to teach them religion? Let them read the first five books of the OT, a few of the gospels from the NT, selections from the Koran, Bhagavad Gita, Tao te Ching, etc... Religion is such a waste of time for children. There is little to be learned from the hateful Bible/Koran. It is sad that we live in a world where people still need to read this hateful crap to have an appreciation of Ulysses or Paradise Lost. In hindsight, I'd have rather lived in a world without that kind of literature if it meant I could live in a world without the Bible/Koran. To waste kids time with smudge ceremonies and Catholic masses is particularly funny in a province with ever decreasing instruction days. Want to do it? Then do it on your own time when there is plenty of opportunity for parents to ensure they are comfortable with it.

If we all go back far enough then we should all move back to Africa. Maybe we can force smudge ceremonies on them?

I'm a Liberal/Progressive and resent that you would lump CC and BC Chick, who are obviously NDP SJW types, in with me. I AM SO OFFENDED!!!!! [This is a snarky joke, I'm not really offended - I just disagree with them for reasons already outlined. And any reasonable person would agree that my reasons are the best reasons!]

Um, my original homeland is Canada. I was born here. Don't think Italy/England/Scotland/German/wherever else is going to say: oh, well Mr. MSJ since your great great great grandparents were born in Europe back in the 1800's then we must accept you back. No, seriously, think about this for a minute: I was born in Canada so the only "home" I have ever known is Canada. Just because I may pass for a white guy does not mean that a European country is going to accept me. To them I am Canadian. Hell, when I fill out a census I put down Canadian and don't bother with the Italian/English/Scottish/First Nation/German/African(?) nonsense because myself and my most recent immediate family (and theirs and so on) have all been born in Canada. How far back do we have to go before a Turk will consider us to be true Canadians, I wonder? Maybe we need some smudge rituals to be accepted?

Fucking on the front lawn is related to indecency laws. Xmas lights are not indecent. You are proving yourself to be quite the hyperbolic silly person on this front. Maybe we can have a serious discussion when you come to your senses.

As for purification rituals, interesting to see what Wikipedia has to say: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_purification Trigger Warning: It is possible one may learn something merely from the description of the ritual and without participating in it. Mileage will vary.

Um, what people do on their own private property is up to them so stop being silly. For a government to interfere with such displays would be a violation of the Charter unless some logical reasons were used: light pollution perhaps? Fire hazard? Traffic posed a danger? Those would seem reasonable. Because you don't like it? No, not gonna work.

What can I say, it's a flex day so I'm taking it easy, getting winter tires on my car, walking down the street whistling "O Come All Ye Faithful."

Do you remember the lyrics though? I mean, all types of bad come out of that song: The eyes of coal is an obvious nod to the coal industry - Frosty is probably a Trump voter! He is a snowman that came to life one day - a reference to Christ's resurrection? You be the judge. He began to dance around - well, okay, so he's not a Baptist. The sun was hot that day - an obvious slag against Apollo and the Greek/Roman pantheon. A crude, petty, mean allegation. And obeying a traffic cop! Yeah, he's not a #blacklivesmatter protestor, that's for sure. https://kidsongs.com/lyrics/frosty-the-snowman.html/