Wednesday, September 30, 2009

14 Year Old British Girl Dies After HPV Vaccination

COVENTRY, UK, September 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Natalie Morton, a 14-year-old girl who attended the Blue Coat Church of England School in Coventry, died today, hours after being given Cervarix - the controversial cervical cancer vaccine manufactured for the UK market by Glaxo SmithKline.

Natalie was injected with the vaccine as part of the UK National Health Service's (NHS) immunization program directed at teenage girls with the purpose of protecting them against strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted disease.

The NHS started the HPV vaccination program in April last year and has recorded 2,137 reports of adverse effects following the injection.
Unfortunately, Canada too is not immune from HPV vaccine-related deaths, as Gardasil not only was approved by Health Canada, but the government even went as far as allocating $300 million for the vaccine to be given to girls aged 9 to 12. Can we look forward for the vaccinations to stop following this death? I wish we could, but there's little hope. After all, it's not the first time when the controversial vaccine turns out to be deadly. Which means - it's the parents that must watch the schools and make sure that nobody injects this trash to their children.

Right Equation For The Wildrose Alliance?

(h/t 'lampshade' user from Free Dominion.) Right on! Danielle Smith is another Belinda Stronach, another Christine Elliot, another poor-choice Libertarian, indifferent to traditional family values, who thinks that a mere belief in low taxes, small government and balanced budgets somehow puts her to the right of the Alberta Tories. Sure, now she says that she is in favor of defunding abortions on demand. But once she's elected - how eager will she be to defund what she believes is a "choice", especially if that may result in alienating the very electorate she is expected to attract?

So, unlike so many of my Conservative friends, I'm not excited about the rumors that as many as ten Alberta Tory MLAs could cross the floor to Wildrose Alliance if Danielle Smith wins. If anything - to me it looks more like a campaign trick - to sway the undecided party members, to convince them that a "broad base appeal" is more important than values. And, just days before the registration deadline, the "broad base" side gets a solid proof that their approach works - just elect a Libertarian woman as a leader - and the Wildrose Alliance will become the official opposition.

But let's not forget - those are just rumors. Plus - you never know who those 10 MLAs are. Maybe those are actually the people that most of the Wildrose Alliance members wouldn't want to represent them... So I hope the party members don't take the bait and I wish the best luck to Mark Dyrholm.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Cost Of "Saving The Planet"

We know that all those "green" initiatives, aimed to combat "global warming" and "climate change" are nothing but scams. But there's more to it than money.
Hysteria is an amazing tool for controlling a population's behavior. The government knows that if they convince every one how dire the environmental crisis is, people will be willing to pay money they don't have for increased energy costs in order to save the suffering planet.

...Cap and Trade is a lot like Obama's other proposals. It has nothing to do with "saving the planet," and everything to do with controlling your behavior, and adjusting your behavior by putting a leash on your wallet. That, coupled with crippling the U.S. Economy through inflation-inducing fiat money being fed into the system, is a part of the design to destroy capitalism, and force America into a new, socialistic, global government.
Sounds like some sort of a conspiracy theory? Maybe. But it's hard to believe that a government would commit itself to billions in new spending (passing the cost to taxpayers) and force crippling "carbon costs" on businesses (further depleting the tax revenues) merely to address a non-pressing environmental issue, especially when there's no solid proof that the environmental issue in question even exists.

Will The Pro-Aborts Respond To The Challenge?

Kathryn Sawyer wonders how come not a single pro-abortion speaker is willing to confront Jose Ruba, the co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, as the latter plans to address McGill students on sanctity of life issues in early October:
So here is what I don’t understand. Choose Life is hosting a pro-life speaker, Jose Ruba from the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, on campus in early October. The original goal of having a speaker in the first place was to be able to host a formal, civilized, intellectual debate between pro-life and pro-choice speakers. However, and this is what I don’t understand, Choose Life has been entirely unable to find a pro-choice speaker to participate in this debate. If the club is lying, if the club is wrong, here is your chance to prove it! Stand up and formally, publicly, voice your well-reasoned and well-supported pro-choice views in a balanced, moderated space. Like it or not, abortion is still a very controversial topic in Canada. It makes perfect sense that opposing ideas regarding it should be debated in open forum. But the debate cannot happen without a solid, well-informed, and well-spoken pro-choice representative who has the guts to stand up and be heard. I assure you, you and your views will find overwhelming support in the McGill student body.
The answer is quite simple - they just have no arguments against us. Can they disprove scientific facts that life begins at conception, that a baby's heart starts beating just 18 days later, that just weeks after conception, a baby can feel pain, has unique set of fingerprints, can recognize voices...? Of course they can't. All they've got is a bunch of fancy slogans with the word "choice" in them. But if they try to use those slogans in an open debate, or if they try to counter our arguments by claiming that the unborn is merely "a blob of tissue" or that the mother and her baby are "one body" - this will end in a huge embarrassment for the pro-abortion side.

That's why I doubt that there will be a pro-abortion speaker willing to accept the challenge - despite the overwhelming support from the student organization. Instead, the pro-aborts are likely to either try to boycott the event (letting Jose Ruba do his presentation in front of a handful of campus pro-lifers) or, if the audience appears to be large enough to make them feel threatened, the pro-aborts may actually show up - shouting slogans and banging on the walls in an attempt to drown out the speaker and to get the presentation cancelled. Because there's just no other way for them to counter the pro-life message in the public square.

Monday, September 28, 2009

London S.O.S. (Stop Over-Spending) Rally

From the Forest City Institute website:
Did you Know?

London’s property taxes have increased by more than 31% since 2000, while supplementary fees have increased an astounding 60%, vastly outstripping the rate of inflation; economic growth or real wage increases over the same time period?

Despite the huge increase in taxes and spending London consistently places in the “top ten” for Ontario’s worst roads.

High taxes and unfriendly regulation has resulted in London having the second highest unemployment level in Ontario?

As a result of declining economic opportunities, the median income of Londoners is $10,000 per year lower than 30 similar Canadian cities?

Is this the city council we want?

It’s time to make your voices heard.

On October 3 2009 from 12:00pm until 2:00pm, the Forest City Institute invites you to join us at Reg Cooper Square (behind City Hall) and let London’s city council and bureaucrats know it is time to end London’s decade of darkness.
Finally we're having some protest rallies against runaway spending. Let this be just the beginning. We need similar rallies on the federal level to stop the runaway program spending (that has more than doubled since 1999/2000) from reaching new heights. We just can't afford to wait until 2016 when the economy is expected to finally catch up with the overblown government expenses, getting us out of deficit with some $170B of extra debt. We need to make tough deficit decisions now, to cut all the wasteful spending, so we could balance the books if not in 2011, then in 2012 at the latest.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

"Post Turtle"

H/t Marginalized Action Dinosaur
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old farmer, who’s hand was caught in the gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually, the topic got around to Ignatieff and his bid to be the PM of Canada.

The old rancher said, ‘Well, ya know, he’s a ‘Post Turtle”.

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a ‘post turtle’ was.

The old rancher said, ‘When you’re driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a ‘post turtle’.

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain. ’You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him there to begin with’.
Unfortunately, Ignatieff is not the only "post turtle" out there. There are just too many politicians that seem to have no vision, no long-term plans; that just make it up as they go along, trying to win an extra point or two in the opinion polls, hoping that it would bring them a majority government after the next election :(

Will The Conservatives Learn From Their Opponents' Mistakes?

Not that long ago, some newspapers reported that the Liberals have lost much of their support among the Catholic voters. Now, it turns out, that they've lost their Evangelical supporters as well:
OTTAWA — The Liberal Party was once the most popular political party with Canada’s millions of Evangelical Christians but has lost much of that support to the Conservatives and the New Democrats, says a new study.
...
The Liberals used to be a natural home for Evangelical Christians who care about issues such as social justice. In 1996, the Liberals were by far the most popular party with Evangelical Christians in every region except the West where the Reform Party was slightly more popular.

However, those voters began to move away from the Liberals after the Liberals denigrated and marginalized them, says the study. “Each time Canadians went to the federal polls in 2004, 2006 and 2008, the Liberals only managed to hold on to roughly half of the evangelical voters they had had at the previous election,” says the report. “When evangelical voters left, they generally went to the Conservatives and the NDP, in a 2 to 1 ratio.”
So, the Conservatives have gained Evangelical support. The question is - will they be willing to learn from their opponents' mistakes? Up until recently, those concerned about the economy, as well as those concerned about moral values could align themselves with the Conservatives. They seemed to be the party that opposed runaway deficits and, when it came to values, the perception was that we may still see some improvement, should the Conservatives win majority. Now, when the government has declared its intention to wait 6 more years for the economy to catch up with the mammoth program expenses and when the Conservative party keeps appealing to the moderates and the social libertarians at the expense of its Social Conservative grassroots, both those notions seem doubtful.

So, could the Conservative party lose its new supporters as fast as it has gained them? It can happen. After all, we do have another political party that is both fiscally and socially Conservative - yes, I'm talking about the CHP. If anything, the CHP policy could attract both those Evangelicals that are concerned about the economy and those that prioritize social justice - not to mention those who put the moral issues first. And, unlike Catholics, the Evangelical Christians don't have any problems accepting the CHP biblical principles. So I won't be surprised if, an election or two from now, we have the CHP running some 150-200 candidates and receiving more than a million votes - not just from the Evangelicals, but also from anyone else who is tired of fiscal mismanagement and social decay that we've been witnessing for decades.

Unless of course the Conservatives learn their lesson and return to the good old Conservative principles.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

40 Days For Life — Fredericton And Moncton

Several months ago, one of the executives of the Morgentaler's abortion facility in Fredericton published an open letter to pro-lifers in the Daily Gleaner. In the letter, apart from accusing us of misleading and harassing women (things for which abortion mill workers themselves could usually be blamed,) she asked if we could stage our protests on other weekdays than Tuesdays - when their abortion facility isn't open.

Well, they've got their wish. Sort of. Obviously, we're not going to stop the protests on Tuesdays. But on top of that - we now have the 40 Days for Life Vigil at their "clinic" seven days a week. I was there on Thursday, along with 4 other devoted pro-lifers from Moncton. We stayed in Fredericton for about 6 hours, helping the vigil keepers to fill the gaps. The "clinic" was closed, but our vigil kept going on.

And, if you think that it doesn't make sense for us to stand across the street from an abortion facility when the staff and, most important, the clients, are not there - think again. Yes, there was nobody at the abortion mill itself. But there were people walking by and driving by (especially when the afternoon rush hour began) - those people saw us there and, those who drive there often, could notice that there was always a couple of people out there praying to end abortion.

Let's not forget that every surgical abortion that takes place in a clinic or a hospital, is always preceded by a spiritual abortion; one that takes place in a woman's heart. Before a woman (or one of her family members) picks up the phone and schedules an appointment in a facility like Morgentaler's, a woman and whoever convinces her to abort, must make the decision in their mind, must get comfortable with the thought that their baby will not be allowed to see daylight. And that's what we're confronting with our prayer.

That's also why we're there even if the "clinic" is closed. After all - those who actually consider having an abortion, they too, might be there, driving around to memorize directions, or checking the business hours. They too, can notice our vigil, notice that even if there aren't that many of us - we're there all the time. And, eventually, they may reconsider. Sure, we'll never know if they do. We walk by faith, not by sight. That's what the prayer vigil is all about.

As for the five of us - the next day after our long stay in Fredericton, we also had an hour of prayer in front of the George Dumont Hospital here, in Moncton. The weather was terrible and yet it worked to our advantage, as everyone was concerned that others may not come, so everyone did his best to be there.

We were standing across the street from the main entrance, clearly seen by those that were leaving. A lot of them honked or gave us the thumbs up. And then I was surprised to see some people walking towards us and actually joining our prayer - despite the pouring rain. (As I found out later - they had heard about the vigil, but didn't know where it is and how to join.) I told them about the Life Chain, that is to take place on October 4th. Hopefully - there will be a lot more of us there, helping to get the pro-life message out.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Professional Complainer Investigated By CHRC For Hate Speech

It's hard to believe, but Richard Warman, a man who launched all but two "hate speech" complaints to the CHRC, is now on the receiving end:
Here is a copy of the CHRC's recent, four-page ruling confirming that they are proceeding with their investigation against Warman, despite his several objections.

As you can see, Warman tried to get the CHRC to back off by claiming, among other things, that his motivations were pure. But section 13 doesn't care what your intentions were -- or even if your comments were true. Warman knows that -- that's one of the reasons he loves that law, or did until now. And, hilariously, Warman whined to the CHRC that the complaint against him should be thrown out because it was embarrassing. Funny how that never occured to Warman when he was holding the section 13 stick in his own hands.
...
I can't believe I'm writing these words: the Canadian Human Rights Commission is proceeding with an investigation against Richard Warman for hate speech. The maximum disruptor is now about to be disrupted himself.
It's sure unbelievable. And it's quite tempting to teach this professional complainer a lesson. But here's the catch:
Question: note the date on this ruling, September 9th. That's a week after the tribunal declared section 13 was illegal. The CHRC is obviously still investigating section 13 cases, even though the law has been declared unconstitutional. How does Rob Nicholson, the Justice Minister, feel about his agency continuing to prosecute a law that has been declared illegal?
Shows what kind of establishment the CHRC is. So we better don't lower ourselves to their level and don't expect anything good to come out of such blatant disregard to the rule of law. I agree with the Blazing Cat Fur blogger - no matter how tempting it is to give Richard Warman a dose of his own medicine, it's not worth resurrecting the subsection 13(1). If Warman & Co have broken the law - they should be tried in a criminal court, where the defense of truth is accepted and the right to a fair trial is respected.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

40 Days For Life - Day 1

Tens of thousands of people across 212 cities are uniting in this prayerful effort — as well as countless others in places from coast to coast who will be praying from their homes and churches — imploring God to end the scourge of abortion.

For this effort to have grown to such an amazing size — and to have already saved 1,561 children from abortion over the last two years — is, to me, proof that this is God’s work.

HE is the answer to this crisis of abortion, so let’s pray harder than we’ve ever prayed before!

And speaking of blowing the trumpet, I can’t help but mention how effectively many of the local 40 Days for Life campaigns are “tooting their horns” about this effort. Media outlets across the country are buzzing with news reports about this fall’s campaign.
Here's also a blog report, pictures and videos from the kick-off rally in Ottawa. We had a good start - let's keep it up.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

"Men Need Not Apply" Policy — Even Senior Liberals Feel The Impact

Among the most recent victims - Former Liberal cabinet minister Martin Cauchon. He thought about returning to politics and running in the Quebec riding of Outremont - the very same riding that Liberals had lost to NDP a couple years ago. But it turned out that the riding is reserved for a female candidate:
"I told him that we have been soliciting female candidates and we not only intend to have women candidates, we want them where they can win."

Last week, Liberal MP and Quebec lieutenant Denis Coderre announced the nomination was closed to Cauchon and instead reserved for a female Quebec candidate. Cauchon, a former justice minister, appealed to the Liberal leader on Sunday to intervene and reverse Coderre's decision.
...
The controversy is a harbinger for other difficulties in the Quebec wing of the party. Coderre has pressured some long-serving MPs with safe seats to resign, according to a number of Liberal sources. They told CBC News the party wants those seats for star female candidates as part of its renewal process.

The sources said former party leader Stéphane Dion, along with Bernard Patry, Raymonde Folco, and Lise Zarac, have all been asked to step aside.
You see, before, the idea of "getting women involved" merely amounted to ensuring that out of every 3 candidates, there is at least 1 woman nominated. Now, the Liberals believe that's not enough, and they want some of those token women candidates to run in safe ridings - even if that means tossing aside veteran MPs whose efforts contributed greatly to keeping those seats "safe", when so many others were lost.

Well, let's see how the veteran MPs like the idea that they're now second class members in their own party. Sure, as good Liberals, they should have mastered the art of double-think by now, so they could probably find a way to explain why a "man need not apply" discrimination is good. Still, it's not easy to justify a discrimination when you too are among the ones affected by it.

40 Days For Life Vigil Starts Tomorrow

Join tens of thousands of pro-lifers across North America (and not just North America now) in a 40-day prayer vigil to end abortion.
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-lifers are gearing up for the start of a new 40 Days for Life campaign starting September 23, during which tens of thousands of pro-lifers across America and the world will join in the popular semi-annual marathon of prayer, fasting, abortion clinic vigil, and community activism to help save unborn lives.

212 cities in 45 U.S. states, 5 Canadian provinces, and Denmark have signed on to the latest campaign, making it the largest 40 Days for Life thus far.

"With abortion advocates trying to exploit the current health care reform debate to mandate taxpayer funding of abortion," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, "we are incredibly encouraged to see record numbers of people in cities across America willing to take a stand by participating in 40 Days for Life to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and seek God's protection for innocent children in the womb - and mothers - at risk of abortion."

The campaign, completed four times in the past two years, has exploded in popularity and reaped enormous benefits. The campaign's coordinators said that, in these four campaigns:

- 466 local efforts have taken place in 240 separate cities in all 50 states plus seven other nations
- More than 200,000 people have participated
- More than 4,000 churches have been involved
- At least 1,517 babies were spared from abortion
- At least 17 clinic employees quit their jobs
- Three abortion facilities closed their doors following 40 Days for Life campaigns

In the last campaign, from February 25 to April 5 of this year, 135 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland joined the initiative. During that campaign alone, 40 Days for Life received reports of 389 babies saved from abortion while pro-lifers were on vigil.
The vigil begins tomorrow (September 23rd) and lasts until November 1. Many cities are having a kick-off rally today, among them - Ottawa and Fredericton. In Fredericton this will be the first 40 Days for Life vigil ever. As for Moncton - we'll mark the beginning of the vigil with a pro-life rosary. We don't have a full-scale vigil yet, but we'll have several hours of prayer at the George Dumont hospital, praying to end all those abortions on demand that take place there. And of course, many of us are going to Fredericton to participate in the vigil itself. That's for sure.

About 100,000 unborn Canadian babies die in abortions year after year. We need to redouble our efforts to help save at least some of these lives.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Blood Money — New Documentary Exposes Abortion Business

The name speaks for itself - it's all about profit; never - about women's rights or women's health.
The film, entitled "Blood Money," includes numerous interviews with leaders of the pro-life movement, in which they lay out the facts about the abortion industry and the effects that abortions have on women.

The film covers a variety of issues, including "Roe V. Wade, Planned Parenthood, the scientific fact that life begins at conception, and how abortion affects women who have had one" the director of the film, David K. Kyle, told LSN in an interview today.

The original title of the film had been "The American Holocaust." However, as filming progressed, the filmmakers found that the business aspect of abortion kept coming to the forefront.

"As I traveled around the country last September doing all these interviews with various pro-life leaders and women who had had abortions, the money part just kept coming up."

Sunday, September 20, 2009

National Campus Life Network Annual Symposium

Attention young pro-lifers from Toronto area and beyond — NCLN is having its Annual National Symposium on September 25th - 27th:
Making Waves:
The Campus Pro-Life Movement


The *must* attend event for post-secondary pro-life students of the year!

Pro-life Apologetics, Campus Advocacy, Networking

Learn how to effectively run a pro-life club!
Meet pro-life campus leaders from around the country!
Receive training in defending LIFE on your campus!

Excellent speakers including:AND MORE!!!

September 25th - 27th 2009

*Begins Friday afternoon at 2:30, ends Sunday after lunch at 1:00

Toronto, Ontario

One student registration fee of $130.00 (includes room, meals, and airport pick-up/drop-off)

Register Here!

It's a pity that the symposium takes place on the same weekend as the ECP Conference in Halifax, so I won't be able to attend. But if you live in Ontario or anywhere else where Toronto is within reach - don't miss the opportunity.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Over 100 Quebec Doctors Say No To Euthanasia

Despite the support which bill C-384 has received from the Québec College of Physicians, over one hundred doctors in the province are standing up for the principles of life in a newly drafted document rejecting assisted suicide. The brief, entitled 'Say No to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: No Special Circumstance Can Justify Them', was co-authored by Québec physicians Joseph Ayoub, André Bourque, Catherine Ferrier, François Lehmann and Josée Morais and submitted to the provincial college earlier this month:
2. Ending the patient’s life is not a humane solution to tragic situations of pain and suffering: the physician’s duty is always to kill the pain, not the patient. Proposing euthanasia shows a lack of confidence in the progress of medical science. There are no limits imposed on the physician’s means of relieving pain. The means are many, accessible, increasingly sophisticated and constantly developing. In extreme cases, heavy sedation that puts patients to sleep can even be a last resort to sustain them through their suffering, until death takes place from natural causes.
...
5. Decriminalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide would create unwarranted pressure on the chronically ill, the severely disabled and those who require a lot of assistance or expensive treatments: they could begin to think that they are an undue burden on their loved ones or on society and that they should consider euthanasia or assisted suicide. The possibility of euthanasia would distort social attitudes toward the seriously ill, the disabled and the old.
It's great to hear some common sense voices from Quebec. Too bad that those voices are unlikely to convince any MPs from the party that supposedly acts in Quebec's best interest to vote against the euthanasia bill.

h/t No Apologies

Friday, September 18, 2009

Time For A Canadian Tea Party

Stephen Harper was right on one thing: once you get into deficit, it spirals out of control. And that's exactly what has happened lately. Let's look at it again: Back in late November of 2008, we were promised a balanced budget for 2009/10. Later it was announced that lower revenues might result in some $11-15 billion deficit. The Liberals wanted more stimulus spending in the 2009 budget - they got it; the deficit went up to $34B. Then came the time to bail out the auto industry, literally buying out their shares at face value - so the deficit went over $50B and now, according to the recent projections, it's expected to hit ~$56B. Similarly, the deficit for 2010/11, initially estimated at $29.5B is expected to climb over $45B.

But that's because we're in recession, isn't it? The stimulus spending - isn't this just a temporary measure to keep the wheels of the economy turning during the crisis? And, since it's not part of the "base" program expenses, these should be just temporary deficits, shouldn't they? If that was the case - then we would see the winter's budget projecting surpluses as early as 2011/12. But somehow, the budget projected $13B deficit for 2011/12 and $7B deficit for 2012/13. In other words - even back in January, the budget already included at least $13B in excess "base" spending, which was nothing but a structural deficit.

Since then, that structural deficit has more than doubled (from $13B to $27.4B in 2011/12) and it will take not 2 more years but 4, until 2015/16, for the revenues to finally outgrow the inflated program expenses. So, for the next 6 years we should expect no tax relief; at least - not on the Federal level. For the next 6 years, the debt will keep piling up, threatening to reach $1 Trillion (Federal and provincial debt combined) and undoing more than a decade of surpluses. For the next six years we'll be working overtime so that our big government could keep throwing away cash, overspending roughly $75B every year.

And if you think that things will be better under Ignatieff - sorry to disappoint you - they won't. The moment his new government is sworn in, Ignatieff will tell us "oh, I wish I could keep my campaign promise and balance the books without raising taxes" - and he'll bring in a tax hike or a new tax - such as carbon tax or federal healthcare premiums or anything else his finance minister could think of... And we'll end up with a weaker economy, heavier tax burden and - even bigger deficits. Because, apart from "not raising taxes", Liberals will have some other costly campaign promises. And they won't want to alienate their many supporters among special interest groups that will demand cash, cash and more cash.

So, how can we get out of that deficit hole? There's only one solution: cut wasteful spending.
This is a "no more taxes" rally from 1995. It was thanks to these rallies that Jean Chretien's government realized that people are not going to tolerate any more taxes and that it's the time to cut spending to eliminate the deficit. In just a year's time, the deficit went down from $30B (1995/96) to $8.7B. Considering that the GDP back then (as well as government revenues and expenses) stood at about half of what they are now, slashing 21.3B from the deficit back then could be compared to reducing it by $43B these days. All what's needed is enough political will.
Here's a US Taxpayers' Tea Party March. It's time to have a similar protest here in Canada. In the US, 2 million people came to Washington DC to protest runaway spending and the imminent tax hikes. Here, we may not even have enough space in Ottawa for that many people, but at the very least, we can have 2 million people (which is roughly 1 in 10 registered voters) sign the petition to cap program spending and balance the books in 2011/12.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

You're Teaching My Child What?

A question that every parent better asks before it's too late:
Don’t be fooled. If you have a child in school, you should read “You’re Teaching My Child What?” by Dr. Miriam Grossman. Rather than learning just the facts, students are schooled in gender politics and feminist ideology—an ideology that is highly dogmatic and scientifically unsupported.

Planned Parenthood, for example, wants to teach your kids that “All people are ‘gendered beings’ by virtue of the fact that we are socialized into a heavily gendered culture.” In other words, differences between boys and girls are the result of socialization, not biology. The feminist sex-ed web site Scarleteen claims that “gender is a man-made set of concepts and ideas…What our mind is like—the way we think, what we think about, what we like, what skills we have—really is not, so far as data has shown us so far—about gender or biological sex, period.”
And, as if that wasn't bad enough, we have the UNESCO claiming in its report that "sexuality education is an integral component to human rights". Their recommendations include teaching 5 year-olds the joys of masturbation. By the age of 15, their report suggests, students should be exposed to "advocacy to promote the right to and access to safe abortion". (Without mentioning any of the known health complications resulting from abortion, of course; not to mention - fetal development.)

And shall I mention the ill-famous "Corren agreement" or the "little black book"? The public school system has long ceased to be about education, becoming nothing but a network of indoctrination centers for children.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Global Warming — On Hold For A Generation

That's what one of the leading proponents of the man-made global warming theory suggests. Not only there has been no global warming for a while, but we won't have any until 2030 or so:
Prof. Latif is one of the leading climate modellers in the world. He is the recipient of several international climate-study prizes and a lead author for the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has contributed significantly to the IPCC's last two five-year reports that have stated unequivocally that man-made greenhouse emissions are causing the planet to warm dangerously.

Yet last week in Geneva, at the UN's World Climate Conference -- an annual gathering of the so-called "scientific consensus" on man-made climate change -- Prof. Latif conceded the Earth has not warmed for nearly a decade and that we are likely entering "one or even two decades during which temperatures cool."

The global warming theory has been based all along on the idea that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would absorb much of the greenhouse warming caused by a rise in man-made carbon dioxide, then they would let off that heat and warm the atmosphere and the land.

But as Prof. Latif pointed out, the Atlantic, and particularly the North Atlantic, has been cooling instead. And it looks set to continue a cooling phase for 10 to 20 more years. "How much?" he wondered before the assembled delegates. "The jury is still out."

But it is increasingly clear that global warming is on hiatus for the time being. And that is not what the UN, the alarmist scientists or environmentalists predicted. For the past dozen years, since the Kyoto accords were signed in 1997, it has been beaten into our heads with the force and repetition of the rowing drum on a slave galley that the Earth is warming and will continue to warm rapidly through this century until we reach deadly temperatures around 2100.

While they deny it now, the facts to the contrary are staring them in the face: None of the alarmist drummers every predicted anything like a 30-year pause in their apocalyptic scenario.
So maybe all the Kyoto industry, including carbon markets, carbon taxes and "cap-and-trade" quotas should also be put on hold for a generation? Instead of battling non-existing trends and trying to reduce CO2 emissions - how about taking rational steps to reduce air and water pollution? CO2 is not a pollutant. Exhaust fumes and toxic waste - are. It's easy to slap a new tax on hot air. But if all those politicians and scientists truly care about the environment - they better find a solution that will reduce the number of smog days in our cities.

Monday, September 14, 2009

One More Vote Against Euthanasia

As the ill-famous bill C-384 is about to receive its first hour of debate in the House of Commons, some MPs took their time to respond to their constituents who petitioned them to vote against C-384.

Here's a letter I received from my Member of Parliament, Mr. Brian Murphy:
Dear Mr. ######

Thank you for your letter regarding Bill C-384 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity).

Like you, I am in favour of a society where vulnerable citizens are not directly threatened by a law that allows to kill them. That is why I would like to reassure you that the Liberal Party does not support the legalization of euthanasia or assisted suicide in Canada.

We are concerned about how people are cared for at the end of their lives, and previous Liberal governments consistently funded palliative care programs across Canada. I believe it is important that we continue to work on finding the best ways to care for individuals and families confronting serious or life-threatening illness.

Thank you, once again, for taking the time to write to me on this very important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me on this or any other matter.

Sincerely (signed)
Brian Murphy,
M.P. for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
To be honest - that's more than I expected. Mr. Murphy and I disagree on the question of abortion, we disagree on the definition of marriage, we're unlikely to agree on plenty of other issues, but at least we both agree that bill C-384 must be defeated.

Not sure, if Brian Murphy actually speaks on behalf of the entire Liberal caucus in the House of Commons, or at least - on behalf of the vast majority of it. Obviously, we won't see a whipped vote and, most likely, there will be many Liberal MPs voting for the bill - either because they like it as it is or because they look forward for the committee to work out a "reasonable compromise". But at least Brian Murphy won't be among them.

I'm glad to know that I can count on my Member of Parliament to stand up for the sanctity of life and vote against bill C-384.

Stop Bill C-384

The London, Ontario-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition has produced a Stop Bill C-384 information package, equipping concerned citizens across the country with key details about the bill and cutting-edge research outlining the worrying implications of legalized euthanasia/assisted suicide in other jurisdictions across the globe. The coalition has also established a Stop Bill C-384 website at www.stopbillc-384.com:
Society cannot legislate autonomy and choice in relation to acts that intentionally and directly cause death. No statutes that allow for intended death can protect vulnerable people from the subtle pressure to “choose” death.

Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide is always wrong because: It directly and intentionally threatens the lives of the most vulnerable members of society. The lives of people with disabilities and chronic conditions, people who live with depression and mental illness, and others are directly threatened by intended death. It establishes intended death as a treatment option for problems that are properly solved by effective and compassionate medical care. It changes the trust relationship between the medical practitioner and the patient.
While it may seem like the bill C-384 is too controversial to be passed, there are many MPs that intend to vote for the bill. Those MPs oppose euthanasia, but they support assisted suicide; so they look forward for the bill C-384 to go to the committee, which will rewrite it, taking out all the radical provisions and hiding the rest (including assisted suicide) behind fancy words and ambiguous legal rhetoric.

If that happens - the rewritten bill (which will be regarded as a "reasonable compromise" by the moderates and as a "foot in the door" by the pro-death camp) will be virtually impossible to defeat. So we need to act now, we need to petition our MPs, so that bill C-384 doesn't pass the second reading.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

And This Man Wants To Be Our Next Prime Minister

He left Canada and slammed the door behind him. Then he came back to become a Prime Minister - with this kind of attitude:

Well, if he goes ahead with his plan and brings down the government, triggering fourth election in mere five years - here's what I wish him:
The governing Ontario Liberal Party led by Premier David Peterson, was defeated by a large unexpected protest vote. Peterson was accused of opportunism in calling an election just three years into his mandate.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Pro-Life Activist Gunned Down In Michigan

James Pouillon has done nothing violent, let alone - illegal. He was merely telling the truth about abortion; that it stops a beating heart. For some crazed maniac that was enough of a reason to murder him.
OWOSSO, Michigan, September 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An elderly pro-life activist was shot multiple times and killed this morning in front of Owosso High School in Michigan while he was peacefully protesting abortion with a sign depicting a baby and the word "Life," according to local police cited in the Flint Journal newspaper.

Locals say that the victim, James Pouillon of Owosso, was well-known in the area for his pro-life activities. Columnist Doug Powers wrote on his blog that Pouillon, called “the abortion sign guy" by Owosso locals, was known for standing on street corners holding up signs with pictures of aborted children.

According to friends, Pouillon, 63, was a born-again Christian and longtime resident of Owosso. They say he was divorced, with a son and a daughter as well as grandchildren.

LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) spoke with Cal Zastrow, a longtime friend of Pouillon's, who described the pro-life activist as "one of the most loving, compassionate people, peaceful people I've ever met in my life."

Zastrow says Pouillon began his pro-life work with the rescue movement spearheaded by Operation Rescue in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988, and has been active ever since.

"He was 100% non-violent. He never threatened anyone. He never condoned violence ever," said Zastrow.
Lately it became known that the murderer was "offended" by James Pouillon's signs. Well, here's the sign that James Pouillon was carrying at the time he was killed; it's posted just above this paragraph. How insane, selfish and morally corrupt should one really be to find that offensive?!

P.S. As it turns out, the same man had also killed Mike Fuoss, a business owner, before gunning down Jim Pouillon. According to the County Prosecutor Randy Colbry, the murderer intended to kill a third man, but was arrested before he could do so. The motive behind the second killing is still unknown. But it almost looks as if that crazed maniac went on a killing spree against pro-lifers. (And he chose September 11th for his massacre.)

Friday, September 11, 2009

Are We Fighting A War On Terror Or Aren't We?

Written by a housewife in New Brunswick to her local newspaper. Republished at Free Dominion:
Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since? Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11. I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search of Nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens. In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it, I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior! If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button.

Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!
Well said. And if you believe that's hate-mongering - I don't care. For all the reasons outlined above. If it bothers them - then they better stop their hate-mongering against us.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Watch The Third Jihad Movie For Free On September 11

Watch the film below for free this September 11, in honor of the memory of those who were murdered on that day 8 years ago. Tell your friends and raise awareness. (h/t Dr. Roy.)
The Third Jihad, the newest offering from the producers of the captivating documentary film, Obsession, explores the existence of radical Islam in America and the emerging risk that this “homegrown jihad” poses to national security, western liberties and the “American way of life.”
If you happen to miss the free offer - click here for a few exclusive clips from the movie.

Two Days Too Young — Unworthy Of Living

In the eyes of those who deny personhood to the unborn, a premature baby could be still "unperson", ("just a fetus",) if, in their opinion, he was born way too early.
GORLESTON, UK, September 9, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A young British mother has criticized medical guidelines that, she said, resulted in doctors refusing treatment and leaving her newborn premature son to die. 23 year-old Sarah Capewell told media that her son Jayden, born at 21 weeks and five days gestation, was refused intensive care because he was two days under the limit set by the British government's National Health Service (NHS) rationing guidelines.

Capewell said that her son Jayden cried and lived for two hours before dying in her arms. During that time, his mother took photos of him and pleaded with doctors that he be admitted to the special baby unit at James Paget University Hospital (JPH). Staff at the hospital, in Gorleston, Norfolk, told her that had Jayden been born two days later they would have helped him.

Since her son's death, Capewell has launched an internet campaign to change the guidelines and says that she has received messages of support from around the world.

Health care rationing guidelines set down by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in 2006 say that intensive care should never be given to babies below 22 weeks gestation, and rarely to those below 23 weeks. In secular bioethics, this is called Futile Care Theory, which holds that in cases where there is no hope for improvement of an incapacitating condition, such as extreme prematurity, no treatment should be offered.
Who gave them the right to decide whose life is worthy of living and whose life - isn't? Even if there was no way a premature baby at 215/7 weeks could be saved - they should have tried to save his life anyway, because that's what hospital is for - to save lives, not to take away lives. But they chose to abide by their health service rationing guidelines.

Notice the word rationing. (Healthcare for me, but not for thee.) A baby is a baby, even if he was born way ahead of schedule. Denying treatment to a premature baby (regardless of the gestational age) is nothing but a cold-blooded murder. Not sure, if Canada too has such "rationing" guidelines. If there are such guidelines in Canada - they must be abolished.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Truth About The Tyranny Of Political Correctness

The full title of the video is "MSNBC & The Great Liberal Narrative: The Truth About The Tyranny of Political Correctness". It's an excellent 13-minute documentary on the history of political correctness - from WW1 to nowadays. I wish I could embed it in this blog post. But Pajamas TV won't allow embedding so just follow this link and watch it.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

It's Official: White Guys Need Not Apply (For Refugee Status)

It's sad to see the government once again caving in to pressure from a foreign country and domestic "anti-racism" activists for whom racial discrimination against white people is not really a discrimination:
OTTAWA — The federal government is taking the rare step of appealing a ruling that granted asylum to a white South African who claimed his skin colour would put his life in danger if he returned to his home country.
...
If the ruling is allowed to stand, it will pose a threat to South Africa's pursuit of a "harmonious, non-racist society," said Abraham Sokhaya Nkomo, who is South Africa's top diplomat in Canada.
...
Nkomo had vowed to pursue all avenues in lobbying the Canadian government to appeal and he was meeting with Foreign Affairs officials Thursday when he learned that the decision would be challenged.
Too bad the government cares more about building a "harmonious, non-racist society" in a country that has recently elected a Mugabe-like radical as president, than about its own sovereignty, let alone - common sense.

Harmonious non-racist society in a country that dictates its businesses how many black employees and shareholders they must have? Yeah, right!
In Zimbabwe this took about twenty years and lead to the ethnic cleansing of the white population and the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy. (My kids have the 100 trillion dollar notes that the bright boys in Harare figured should buy a half dozen eggs.) In Zimbabwe there is no question at all that the land confiscations for political reasons were profoundly racial.

South Africa is not there…yet. But, when it is, do we admit South African, white, refugees?

Mr. Huntley is either showing foresight or he is a couple of years premature: either way appealing his decision is stupid and racist. He adduced evidence of feeling threatened. In case after case the Refugee Board has accepted such feeling as sufficient. There is no reason not to just because the man happens to be on the pinkish end of the human scale.
But at least, as Ian Robinson suggests, we've got an opportunity to discuss all the faults of our refugee determination system without being called racists. In the end this could result in a major overhaul of the IRB and related institutions... Or couldn't it?
Our refugee-granting system has long operated as a pork barrel reward for political hacks of various parties, governed by one essential philosophy: When the going gets tough, everybody comes to Canada.

In all of 2008, a mere 15 cases were reviewed by higher authority.

The system has long been broken but there has been little open outrage.

If you complain about any aspect of our immigration system, those on the political left, those guardians of political correctness devoted to virtually criminalizing debate, declare that the critic is a racist.

But when the broken system is manipulated for the benefit of one of those evil white guys -- from South Africa no less -- let the games begin.

So at least now we can talk about overhauling the refugee system so we're not being taken advantage of.

However, one suspects that in true, wimpy Canadian fashion, we won't perform an adequate overhaul.

We'll no doubt concentrate on this case as an aberration rather than a symbol of a generalized problem.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Video: Women's Voices Health Care Debate

Great video by Silent No More.
Pro-aborts often use the euphemism "reproductive health". In reality, abortion means - no reproduction and no health.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

The War On Kids: Is That A School Or A Prison?

Check out this comprehensive 95-minute documentary on public schools, directed by Cevin Soling.

From the movie website:
Blame for problems with schooling in America is often assigned to insufficient funding or the inherent failings of today's kids. In rare cases, parents, teachers and administrators are also implicated. However, all efforts to improve the quality of education are doomed to fail if the system itself is not examined and understood to be the most significant impediment. After over six years in the making, THE WAR ON KIDS reveals that the problems with public education ultimately stem from the institution itself. Astonishingly all efforts at reform consistently avoid even considering this to be a possibility and the future for children and American democracy are at stake.

In 95 minutes, THE WAR ON KIDS exposes the many ways the public school system has failed children and our future by robbing students of all freedoms due largely to irrational fears. Children are subjected to endure prison-like security, arbitrary punishments, and pharmacological abuse through the forced prescription of dangerous drugs. Even with these measures, schools not only fail to educate students, but the drive to teach has become secondary to the need to control children.
Visit The War On Kids movie website to watch the trailer and to order the DVD.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

A Liberal's Alternative To Elected Senate

Looks like they'll come up with the lamest excuses just to explain us why we shouldn't have an elected Senate. Like this one:
Making the upper chamber elected could, in most aspects render the Senate a second House of Commons. It would be more likely to have proportions of senators similar to the House. In other words, depending on when elections were held, it could become obsolete, a simple rubber stamp to whatever legislation is put forward by the House.
Oh, really? First of all, let's remember that the House is elected using the First Past The Post system, while the Senate election would be held on the more proportional Single Transferable Vote system, which not only produces different outcome, but also - establishes different voting patterns. (Small party supporters wouldn't be afraid to vote their conscience.) So even if both chambers are elected all at the same time - they won't mirror each other.

But many countries that have an elected upper chamber, don't elect their Senators all at once; they usually elect one third at a time or half at a time. The Conservative proposal for a Senate reform would set an 8-year term for elected Senators, as opposed to the House 4-year term. Thus - only half of the Senators would be elected at a time. That way the House and the Senate won't mirror each other and the Senate would be exactly what we want it to be - a directly elected 'sober second thought' chamber that protects the nation from sharp turns when the government changes.

But the Young Liberal blogger believes he has a better idea:
Instead, one could change the Senate's powers, so that it does not have a veto as it does now. Instead, it could take on more of the characteristics of the UK's House of Lords, which only has the power to delay legislation for a 12-month period. This would eliminate the Senate's current absolute veto on legislation, while ensuring that it could limit the powers of the government.
Yeah, reducing the Senate's power to a mere 12-month filibustering would sure limit the power of the government. Hmm... didn't Brian Mulroney come up with a similar proposal back in 1984, when he saw no other way to overcome the Liberal super-majority in the Senate?

Now, let's imagine what the Senate would look like - a bunch of unelected, unaccountable politicians assembling, voting, presiding in commissions, working three-day weeks, taking 3-month vacations and 14-day long weekends, receiving 6-figure salaries regardless of their attendance and, in the end, making absolutely no difference in the nation's politics - how would you like that? If you hate a certain piece of legislation - would you want it defeated (or at the least - amended) or would you be ok with the bill you hate getting passed as it is, just after a 12 month delay?

If anything, the NDP proposal to just abolish the Senate altogether makes more sense than this 12-month filibustering Senate. The UK House of Lords is designed to provide token positions for the British nobility. But Canada doesn't have its own nobility. (Even if the Liberal elite, that believes it's their God-given right to govern this country, keeps acting like one.) The Senate is designed to give equal representation for Canada's diverse regions. And the best way to achieve this is by making the Senate elected, equal and efficient.

Friday, September 4, 2009

United We Stand — 40 Days For Life Video

The 40 Days For Life Vigil is just three weeks away. Devoted pro-lifers will unite in prayer to end abortion in over 200 cities, not just all across the US, but also - in Canada and even... in Denmark.

And, for the first time, there will be a 40-day vigil here in New Brunswick. Great job, Peter Ryan and all those who helped him to organize the vigil. New Brunswick, which has been facing tremendous pressure from the pro-aborts over "clinic" abortion funding, in in dire need of our prayers. Vigils will also be held in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto (downtown and Scarborough locations), Kitchener and Winnipeg. That's 8 locations - the most we've had in Canada so far.

From SoCon or Bust blog:
During these unified efforts, participants witnessed countless blessings from God:
  • Over 200,000 have joined together in an historic display of unity to pray and fast for an end to abortion
  • More than 70,000 people have taken to the streets, forming peaceful 40-day prayer vigils outside of Planned Parenthood centers and abortion facilities
  • Reports document 1,561 lives that have been spared from abortion — and those are just the ones we know about
  • Eighteen abortion workers have quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
  • Three abortion facilities completely shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns
  • Hundreds of women and men have been spared from the tragic effects of abortion, including a lifetime of regrets
  • More than 400 news stories have been featured in newspapers, magazines, radio shows and TV programs from coast to coast … and overseas
  • Many people with past abortion experiences have stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery
After so many years of legalized abortion, many people of faith are experiencing a renewed sense of HOPE!
Let us be there. Let's ask the Lord to heal our country and our nation. Let's pray to end abortion.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Refugee Status — Whites Need Not Apply?

That's what South African government believes Canada's policy on refugees should be:
A decision by a Canadian immigration tribunal to grant a white South African refugee status on claims he was persecuted because of his skin colour "perpetuate racism," the South African government says.

Last week, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada granted refugee status to Brandon Huntley, who claimed he was the victim of numerous attempted robberies and muggings.

According to Huntley, whites in South Africa are often the target of black criminals, and the government has done nothing to intervene. He says he has been unable to find a job in his home country, and has lived in Canada illegally since 2006.

Huntley's lawyer, Russell Kaplan, said tribunal chair William Davis ruled that his client's skin colour would make him stand out in the country like a "sore thumb."

In a written decision, Davis said: "I find that the claimant was a victim because of his race (white South African) rather than a victim of criminality."
Apparently, SA government believes that only white people can be racist, that black people never despise (let alone - assault) anyone just because of his skin color. Somehow they're unable (or unwilling) to notice that their policy during all those post-apartheid years has shifted from truth and reconciliation to "Africa - for Africans"; that their "positive discrimination" laws and "black empowerment" programs which compel corporations to transfer some of their stock to black South Africans, effectively force white South African professionals and businessmen out of the country.

Luckily, they don't have the power to appeal the IRB decision. So Brandon Huntley stays in Canada - much to the dismay of the South Africa's officials as well as all the one-sided "anti-racism" activists out there. Hopefully - the case sets the precedent for other white South Africans that are treated as foreigners in their home country.

Refugee determination system has long served as a backdoor to Canada for various special interest groups. It's time for someone who truly faces persecution, yet is not so lucky to be a member of a designated victim group, to benefit from the program for a change.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

A Human Rights Tribunal Rules Against Section 13(1)? Can This Be True?

I checked the calendar everywhere I could - it's September 2nd, not April 1st, so this National Post Article must be true or, at least, something close to the truth.
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ruled that Section 13, Canada's much maligned human rights hate speech law, is an unconstitutional violation of the Charter right to free expression because of its penalty provisions.

The decision released this morning by Tribunal chair Athanasios Hadjis appears to strip the Canadian Human Rights Commission of its controversial legal mandate to pursue hate on the Internet, which it has strenuously defended against complaints of censorship.

It also marks the first major failure of Section 13(1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act, an anti-hate law that was conceived in the 1960s to target racist telephone hotlines, then expanded in 2001 to the include the entire Internet, and for the last decade used almost exclusively by one complainant, activist Ottawa lawyer Richard Warman.
...
He cited Mr. Warman's request for a $7500 penalty against Mr. Lemire. Mr. Warman has won over a dozen other Section 13(1) cases, many leading to similar fines as well as legal restrictions on Internet activity.

This criticism about a penal law masquerading as a remedial one echoes that of Richard Moon, a law professor hired by the CHRC last year to provide an expert analysis of their online hate speech mandate. In essence, his advice was that it could not be done fairly, and so should not be done at all.
I can't believe it. Who could have thought that a blow to the nearly unrestricted censorship powers of the "human rights" commissions would come from one of their own?

But here's the catch - once again (for yet another time,) a precedent-setting decision that concerns our rights and freedoms, was made by an unelected adjudicator. What happens? Who is the real governing body here - the Parliament or a quasi-judiciary tribunal? Today they chose to give us our freedom of speech back. Tomorrow they may reconsider and take it away. Our laws should be made by elected representatives, not by unelected unaccountable bureaucrats.
Mr. Hadjis' decision to reject the law as unconstitutional, in light of its penalty provisions, leaves a central area Canada's human rights in limbo, and kicks a political hot potato over to the government and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which can appeal the ruling to Federal Court.
It's time for the government to act. Section 13(1) must be removed from the Act so that it couldn't be reinstated in the future. I hope Harper remembers that his own party voted near unanimously in support of such a legislation. Now, when the subsection has been struck down by a "human rights" adjudicator himself, the opposition won't have that many arguments left.

So this is Stephen Harper's last chance. He failed to reform the Senate. He was unable or unwilling to rein in runaway spending; couldn't prevent the nation from going back into deficit. His time as PM is running out, election or no election. (Even if he wins majority, he's likely to resign in a couple of years.) But he could still be the Prime Minister to enshrine our freedom of speech in law.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Environmentalism Is Murdering Science

Radical environmentalists may claim that their theories are based on science, but in fact, environmentalism has long become a cult that is suppressing science. No wonder they don't even try to prove their point to those who don't believe in man-made global warming; they just dismiss them as "deniers" - which is the newspeak word for "heretic":
The Environmentalist Movement (EM) is inherently humanistic because its proposed solutions to problems always require more laws and government regulations always at the expense of free markets, private property rights and wealth creation. This is sufficient evidence of the inherent anti-Christian nature of the EM.

But the EM is also inherently pantheistic. They pretend that the “nature worship” is only around the edges of the Movement and even many Christians pretend that Gaia worship is only around the fringes of Environmentalism because these Christians want to appear as intellectually respectable as possible by embracing as much of the EM as possible. But Pantheism is in fact central to the whole EM. Elementary to Environmentalist Movement thinking is a radical repositioning of the role of man in the world in terms of his relationship to the rest of creation and the analysis of man’s impact on the world. Since man is God’s vice-regent, having been delegated authority to rule over this world, attempts to reposition man also necessarily reposition God, tearing Him off His throne and casting Him to the ground. Environmentalism, then, elevates the natural world over God and man in importance and also for worship.
And here's another great essay by Joseph D’Aleo. 12 facts about global climate change that you won't read in the popular press:
  1. Temperatures have been cooling since 2002, even as carbon dioxide has continued to rise.

  2. Carbon dioxide is a trace gas and by itself will produce little warming. Also, as CO2 increases, the incremental warming is less, as the effect is logarithmic so the more CO2, the less warming it produces.

  3. CO2 has been totally uncorrelated with temperature over the last decade, and significantly negative since 2002.

  4. CO2 is not a pollutant, but a naturally occurring gas. Together with chlorophyll and sunlight, it is an essential ingredient in photosynthesis and is, accordingly, plant food.
Oh, sure, it's those who dispute Al Gore's "inconvenient truth" that are at odds with science.

One Less Social Conservative Voice On The Radio

Michael Coren, one of Canada's key champions of pro-life, pro-family and pro-faith values, was among the 12 on-air personalities that were terminated by CFRB as part of station's restructuring process.
Coren, who assumed the popular mid-afternoon time slot with co-host Tarek Fatah, has built a strong following with social conservatives and faith-based activists over Toronto’s airwaves, both on radio and right across Canada on the popular broadcaster’s Crossroads Television Station-produced television talk show and in print through a weekly column in the Toronto Sun. CFRB maintains the changes are part of a larger restructuring move to boost ratings. Another case of how mainstream media decision-makers completely ignore grassroots listeners and large listening bases to pursue the failed business model of political correctness.
The fans of Michael Coren however can still watch his show on TV or, even - get a hold of Michael on facebook:
Many thanks to all of you who have sent me notes about leaving CFRB radio. Of course it's a shame but my TV show is stronger than ever, my columns appear in dozens of newspapers and I'm sure I'll be back on radio before too long. I also have my books. My latest is AS I SEE IT, available at Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/As-I-See-Michael-Coren/dp/0981276709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251308133&sr=8-1

Thanks again, Michael.
(E-mail update to members of Fans of Michael Coren)