This is a look at political baggage Canadians are dragging into the New Year. And none is more fascinating than Nigel Wright. The former chief of staff to the prime minister has been keeping his own counsel long enough. Is there a six figure book deal in the offing? Could
Continue readingAuthor: Peter Lowry
Babel-on-the-Bay: Pension poaching on federal preserves.
That is an interesting strategy. We are supposed to ignore the blunders of the last ten years. Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne is going to run for re-election as premier on a strategy of fixing federal pensions. Lord knows, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) needs fixing but this might not
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The bitterness of the bitumen battle.
Reading a story this morning about New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair and the upcoming battle for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in the next federal election was less than enlightening. If Tommy really believes what he said to the reporter, he is, as we used to say: Dreaming in Technicolor.
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Is there hope for Ontario condo owners?
With more than a million Ontario voters living in condominiums, you would think that condo owners would get more attention from Ontario politicians. You might even think that some of those politicians who are not in power would consider that condominium owners deserve ownership rights. The problem is that these
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Glad tidings from Regg Cohn of the Star.
You just hate to be the curmudgeon who is always complaining about those damn filthy, smelly beer stores in Ontario. A complainant can feel lonely. You start to doubt yourself. You feel guilty. You begin to think that you are the only person in this God-forsaken province who knows that
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Some political thoughts on 2013
It was certainly an active political year, But not one that we will hold very dear. New federal leaders for Liberals, NDP, And that will change things, you’ll see. Ontario’s Cabinet plays musical chairs, A lady’s now bossing provincial affairs. It seems very bad she has no opposition. Not
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: More thoughts on tidings from the Hair.
Taking a second look at that awful, overdone and trite Christmas message from the Prime Minister on Global was sad. Knowing that he was born and raised in Toronto did not allow him to use a down-east “Well look,” in every second sentence. He reminded you of the old joke
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Tidings of comfort and joy from the Hair.
The Hair was in his environment. Every lock was in line. The light touch of make-up was set to the softer lighting. It was time for the Prime Minister’s holiday greetings to his nation. It was time to tell the peons how it is going to be. This was the
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Canada’ military at war with Tories.
It is one of those times when you need retired generals to lead the charge. The war, at this time is with the government that pays them. And it is all about Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s balanced budgets. Flaherty—the Grinch—is taking another two billion from the military’s $20 billion to
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Kiss-off for Kitimat.
Surprise, surprise: The jewel of Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast is now to be a commercial port for supertankers carrying tar sands bitumen to the Orient. Did you think the exercise would end otherwise? When the Conservative government makes a mockery of democracy, ignores our environment, chooses the panel and reserves
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Why would Wynne want by-elections?
Obviously Premier Kathleen Wynne was not listening to the results of the last provincial by-elections in Ontario. She wants to stick her neck in a noose in two more. The lady is not a fast learner. The five by-elections in the summer left the Liberals behind and demonstrated the frustration
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: This must be why Harper holds on.
There have been conflicting opinions about whether Stephen Harper is going to stay on as prime minister to fight another election. In some cases, his expected departure might just be wishful thinking. While there is well reasoned logic as to why he might step aside at this juncture, the truth
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Jim Flaherty: one sick leprechaun.
The federal Finance Minister was spreading nothing more than germs at the Meech Lake meeting yesterday. He was probably high on amphetamines, his nasal passages completely blocked and one step away from falling down, only wishing he was dead. He probably should not have been there. It was not a
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Rosie DiManno, the quintessential blogger.
Having never been a fan of Rosie DiManno, this is by way of apology. She deserves a further read. This is because of today’s epic by Rosie that so scathingly cuts Lord Cross-the-pond—Conrad Black into little pieces. And in typical DiManno fashion, it involves hundreds of more words than needed
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Making it one simple idea.
An election campaign usually comes down to be one basic proposition. If the perception of this proposition is not obvious, the news media will often pick something. What most political observers agree on about this is that while the political parties would like to choose this one thing, they rarely
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Business as corporate citizens.
Do you know why Heinz closed its Leamington plant? Or why Kellogg closed its London, Ontario plant? The plants were old. They had been there for a long time. We are just not privy to the decision making process of a board of directors in another country. Why should they
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Making a sham of fair elections.
The third party advertising in Ontario has already gone too far. Now the Conservatives are proving it is a sham. And it is hardly to their credit. A new group, calling themselves “Working Canadians” has emerged to counter the so called “Working Families.” Neither group is particularly subtle in letting
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: The squeeze on the political middle.
If the Liberal Party of Canada thinks it is going to please the middle class with its policy plans, it is deluded. The party cannot even define middle class. The Liberals who gather in Montreal for the party’s biennial convention and policy fest on February 20, 2014 have a single
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Time for the Tory backbench rebellion.
It is the last chance for the drones of parliament. They can either rebel now or fade away with their ill-fated Conservative Party of Canada. Those who have done nothing before or during the time of a majority have a last chance to stand on their hind legs and speak
Continue readingBabel-on-the-Bay: Conceiving a caring Canada.
Your country is like your garden. It takes care, cultivating, weeding and the approval of others to make it a source of pride. And if Canada is your garden, it is showing a serious lack of care and concern. And everyone has to care. There is no exception. No one
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