Newfie Canadian

Me thinks Ralph Goodale just cost PM PM a Liberal seat in the impending Labrador by-election and the 5 Liberal seats in NL total in the next general election. http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...iams041222.html

I appreciate your points, I Miss Reagan. Some would say that Canada has begun to assert it's own will in regards to domestic and international policies irrespective of the wishes of the American government, as is our right as a democratic, soveriegn nation. And some would say finally. No arguments here. They should be sent back. Hopefully the Immigration Review Board will do the right thing and send them packing. However, in defence of the system, it is there for everybody, and the US does not have a monopoly on due process and rule of law. Before we say we're harboring these people, let the process take it's course. If the review board grants them assylum (which no American service person has been granted, BTW) I'll be right there with you saying it's not good. It wasn't a Fox poll, if I understand the poll you're talking about. It was a poll "...commissioned by CanWest News Service and sponsored by the Dominion Institute and Navigator Ltd...." O'Reilly and Gibson really took up the charge over it though. A telephone poll of 500 teens? IMR, that is hardly a reliable indication of the attitudes of young people. How many teens do you know that have a workable, even passable understanding of international affairs? I wonder what the results would be like for British, Australian, French and German teens? Just to be sure we're talking about the same poll, is it the one where: If it isn't the same poll, I apologize. I'm on the record as saying Carolyn Parrish is out to lunch, and she is hardly representative of Canadians as a society. I find that the Canadians I know have much more maturity and class.

The humour I found in that part of your post, IMR, was the use of the term "enemy". To me an enemy is someone out to destroy you. I hardly think Canada and Canadians are out to destroy the US. According to a recent poll reported on by FoxNews {shudders}, Canadians aren't as "anti-American" as some of America's other allies. I think it is worth distinguishing between anti-Americanism" and "anti-Bush".

This has been a fascinating thread. I've already stated my opinion on the Forces, but I'm intrigued about the conversation about Rwanda. The report by the independent inquiry into the actions of the UN in Rwanda was very critical of UN attitudes towards the situation. Here's a link to the report. The conclusions start on page 30. http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/rwanda.htm Interesting stuff.

Alas, the era of chivalry and honour has passed Sweal, and we shall never see it's likes again. NL representative in the cabinet is making waves over this situation. http://stjohns.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/...x-20041221.html

While it's a provincial matter, it's pertinent to this thread so I'll put it here. NL court has cleared the way for SSM, making it the 7th province to do so. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...8443?hub=Canada

That's gotta be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Thanks IMR. Except apparently, when it concerns people of the left or fellow countrymen. Unnecessary and uncalled for. Hubris? I love some of the stereotyping going on here. Westerners are this; Atlantic Canadians are that; Québecers are something else; the left is the devil; the right is the devil; and Americans are whatever. I think it just goes to show the one thing that everyone, no matter who they are, can have in common: pettiness. Is that a stereotype?

Getting the troops in Rwanda wasn't the problem , it's what they were not allowed to do once they got there, which falls back to a lack leadership and cooperation at the UN.

Not to nitpick Stoker, but I checked out the CPC website regarding the issues, and while Defence is listed there are no details. I will give them credit for putting a retired general in the shadow cabinet as Defence critic though. Canada will never be an interventionist nation. It's not in the nature of our national psyche. Canada will never be a military powerhouse, and with a population of 30,000,000 why would we? I think our place should probably be where we have the most experience: cleaning up other people's messes, otherwise known as Peacekeeping, and if necessary, Peacemaking (which is what was needed in Rwanda IMO). It would however, presuppose our involvement in a multinational group, not the UN as it now exists. Perhaps NATO? Foreign aid is not what's making people in Canada do without, as far as I am concerned. We waste more than enough money inside our own borders to make that happen. I think the question isn't so much as who's to blame and why (I would suggest it is obvious), but how can it be fixed or what's the alternative?

I agree with kimmy that it seems like an awfully long time to replace some equipment after the order is signed. Yes these are complex machines, but come on. The Sikorsky website says the contract to replace the Sea Kings has been signed, with deliveries to begin in late 2008. It takes 4 years to get a helicopter. At least 4 more years of 40 hrs. of maintenance for 1 hour of flight time. On the upside, Sikorsky contracts some work to Canadian companies.

Well Scotty, I can't remember the last time a politician showed some scruples and quit over impropriety in their department.

I'm of the mind that the political leadership has deprived the military of funding necessary for equipment replacement, and instead has kept giving just enough money to repair or refit, when replacement is absolutely necessary. The Sea Kings are a prime example of this.

Anyone expecting anything concrete out of this? http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...103313529233_34

"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us." JFK

Sea King that hit Iroquois' deck won't fly again. Here's a significant part of the problem. Wasted money.

Well Stoker, I'm on the record here in this forum as saying that Chrétien's Liberals (with Martin being a major part of it) have all but dismantled our military, so we can agree there. I read that article and it further proves Chrétien's disregard for the military, and his own onus in the matter. It certainly shifts the primary responsibility to the government of Canada. But I still maintain that the RN should be responsible for certain upgrades and information sharing that apparently weren't done or passed on. In regards to the Australian Hornet story, that's the first I have heard of it, and it truly saddens me. A wealthy country like Canada should be able to procure it's own new equipment, not the second hand junk we appear to be willing to saddle our Armed Forces with. It further proves the lack of government will to fund and equip the military.

There's always: "I'm not going to play politics on the floor of the House of Commons." Liberal leader John Turner, in the Commons.

I didn't mean to imply that anyone was to blame. The current sitution with Sgro, getting hammered day after day after day about a litany of problems in her department reminds me of how Stewart got hammered day after day after day about problems at HRDC.

The Liberal MP for the federal district of Labrador has passed away after a long fight against cancer. http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...dies041217.html He was a good MP and well-liked. My condolences to his family. EDIT- I realized after I posted this that it maybe should have gone in the 'Federal Politics' section.

Looks like that ministry (with Sgro) is starting to become to Paul Martin what HRDC was to Chrétien (with Stewart.)

In one of the links I posted, it says that the Brits knew about the problem, never told the RCN about it outright, and implied that the upgrade had taken place on some of the subs. I agree with you to a point Stoker. If I were going to buy a used car I'd get it checked out and make sure it was fit. I don't know what the RCN did, but it do seem that they could have done a better assessment of the subs. But to say it is a total 'buyer beware' situation with complex and expensive submarines is impossible. The Brits had these subs built, they used them, they knew them. If they knew of the problem, they should have fixed it or at least notified the RCN about that problem.

All I'm saying Stoker is that the Brits, as I understand it, said they brought the sub up to RN standards, which included the upgraded wire insulation. That's the billion dollar question, isn't it?

With all due respect Syrup, hardly. The kind of thing you're talking about would put the money pit called the Gun Registry to shame in regards to operating costs.

Is marriage entirely exclusive to religious ceremonies and practice? I believe you can get "married" by a Justice of the Peace, or a Mayor, hell even a ship's Captain (don't know if that one still applies.) Heterosexual couples that go those routes are still married, so "marriage" has already fallen outside the domain of religion, hasn't it? They aren't "unions" or anything like that. If so, why cite religion as a reason for not allowing homosexual couples to "marry"? Let same sex couples marry, and divorce, like everyone else. My interest in this comes from what the politicals are going to do, as I personally have no problem with the concept. You have at least one cabinet minister saying he may not be able to vote for it and may have to quit (Efford); Klein is stabbing Harper in the back over the 'Notwithstanding Clause"; Harper is shooting himself in the foot for the same reason; and you've got Paul Martin complementing Klein for his "honesty" for his comments concerning Harper. This is why I love Canadian politics.

"There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with its verile, aspiring, cultured, and generous-hearted people." Sir Winston Churchill "There is nothing on the planet that so exemplifies 'two-faced' as a Canadian politician." Me