Is this unwanted Election perhaps the most important in Canadian History?

May 2nd 2011 Canada goes goes to the polls to elect the next government of Canada. It is an election many have have called unnecessary, and by most unwanted but none the less the opposition parties of the house now was the time. The reasons provided by the opposition parties were based on two false pretences, first was the budget which none of them read and decided not to support before even looking at and second was a trumped up contempt of parliament issue.

Not even reading the budget and rejecting is contemptuous in of it's self, and reinforced by the fact opposition parties were already putting election signs out. As for the contempt of parliament which what the gov't fell on means nothing in my opinion. How can it be of any merit when the committee that ordered this vote was a majority of the opposition parties looking for an election and also had a large component of separatists in this committee? How can any party, politician be in more contempt of Canada than the Bloc? How can one who is a separatist and wishes to destroy Canada even be part of national policy decisions? Only in Canada and hopefully this insanity ends soon.
Further to confirm this contempt is nothing more than a cheap political stunt is the fact none of the opposition parties that voted on this are bringing it during the campaign nor is the taxpayer funded, liberal PR machine the CBC. This tells me it can't be that serious of a matter and a cheap stunt as if it were the CBC, CTV and other left leaning biased media would be all other this by having this as a lead story every night instead of silly stories of people not allowed into conservative rallies who some it turned out to be very radical protesters linked to the Green and NDP party. Which by the way the main stream media forgets to report as per usual biased newscasts. Another question that needs to be asked is why haven't the Liberals, NDP, Bloc and even the fringe Green party are not bringing it up every day? The only logical answer to everyday Canadians it is just another political stunt and they just don't care as there are more important issues to deal with.

So just why is this unwanted Election about nothing possibly the most important in our history? The reasons are this;
1) If Prime Minister Harper and the conservatives do not get a majority the chances are the oppositions will join with a group of separatists and form a coalition government against the wishes of the majority of Canadians. What makes this even more offensive is the leader of the Liberal party Michael Ignatieff refuse to admit he will do this despite his signing the attempted coalition a few years ago. He will do it just as he was willing to do it before. Jack Layton of the NDP has already said he will join with separatists to form this coalition.
This dangerous coalition will change Canada forever and for the worse. First the economic recovery we are enjoying thanks to the current government will most likely fail. We will see see the Bloc wag the tail of this coalition donkey for all the money, benefits it can get for Quebec at the detriment of the rest of Canada. Then you will have Jack of the NDP force the coalition to spend like crazy on more entitlements for their union friends and many many special interest groups. The Liberals have released their pipe-dream programs for Canada, that alone will send Canada to a economic recession with high taxes, high unemployment and a nanny state supreme.
This coalition will set the future course for Canadians and we may never turn back from. It doesn't matter coalition are popular in the EU and other areas, they are not the norm here and the big difference is that were coalitions are the norm the people know this and vote along those lines, a big difference from back dooring and lying to the Canadian public to form this coalition.

2) This coalition will adopt insane CO2 cap and trade legislation not in order to save the planet as we know it won't but will destroy the oil and gas industry in Canada but will falsely raise billions in dollars for the government as the economy will die with this. This is apparent in the EU as the CO2 cap & trade experiment has failed by nearly destroying some EU economies. In all likely hood will also see a new NEP program that will send Canada back into double digit inflation, interest rates and unemployment much like the Trudeau days.

3)  The country needs strong leadership on crime, the Harper government will introduce strong crime laws so that the law is on the side of the victims, not the criminal like we have now thanks to previous liberal governments. The coalition will stop this and move to give more rights to the criminal as they have done before and continue to do by blocking this legislation. With them there is no self responsibility, it is always someone else's fault and that is how they build their criminal justice system.

4) The country needs strong leadership on security and again the Harper government will do this by it's continued strong support of the military that the NDP and Liberals will destroy if elected like they nearly did before. We need to F-35 not only for national security but for our international commitments with NATO and the UN. The jobs it will create are also another great benefit along allowing Canada to showcase its technological advances and capabilities.

5) Healthcare, the Liberals, NDP will destroy healthcarehealthcare issue, a slash of billions to the provinces by the previous Liberal government.

Canada is at a crossroads with this election. Do we do the right thing, vote for a strong Canada, strong as it's people that just go get it done, believe in a hand up, not hand outs, believe in self reliance and self responsibility or do we elect a coalition of progressive leftist elites who think only they know what is best for us and increase dependence on government handouts while inflicting Canadians with high taxes, more restrictions and less freedoms.

I say vote for a strong Canada and the only way Canada can be strong and get stronger in by electing a Harper lead conservative majority.

NOW GET OUT AND VOTE ON MAY 2nd! 

people are dying today for this priceless freedom we have, don't waste such a gift

How the NHL is Destroying the Game of Hockey (part 1)

Well we are at the glorious part of the NHL season where we get to enjoy the wonderful All-Star weekend. Sure some fan like it but when you look at it, it just gets goofier every year and insults a serious hockey fan more and more every year.
This years All-Star Game has reached new lows, first a garbage draft by the players that even the NHL whipped media had a very hard time promoting. Next up the "Guardian" project, a collection absolutely stupid cartoon characters that represent each NHL team. This is just beyond sad for any professional league to sink this low in a pathetic attempt to promote itself. Again Bettman and the NHL fail to understand that improving the game on the ice is the best way to to increase the games profile, NOT cheap ass gimmicks.
As if this humiliation wasn't bad enough if you look back since Bettman took over the NHL one can see the slow destruction of the game's integrity and any respect of its roots.
The systematic destruction of the game of hockey and it's Canadian roots can easily be chronicled here and I hope to show you how and why.

First off the focus of the NHL has been US expansion in hopes of landing the big US TV contract that still eludes the NHL. The majority of the new teams play to empty buildings, have a zero fan base and even less in local TV coverage but Bettman and the NHL are still hellbend on keeping teams in these non-hockey markets like Nashville, Florida (2) Atlanta, and of course the well documented Phoenix disaster. The NHL and Bettman have a strong dislike of the canadian market and is easily seen by the refusal to move these failed franchises to a viable Canadian market. This weekend Bettman again showed his hatred for Canada by refusing to go on live with Hockey Night in Canada during the All Start Game broadcast. To read more on this read this great post; on the Bleacher Report Blog - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/590060-its-time-for-canada-to-say-goodbye-to-the-nhl

Media Control - The NHL keeps very tight dictatorship style controls on how the media, players, teams can comment on anything that is not positive for the NHL. While this is a bit understandable the NHL fails again by not allowing debate on the game in the media as other leagues have such as the NFL, MLB and NBA has. Open debate on officiating, rule changes etc has made all those leagues better. Rumors abound that if any media types "dis" the NHL their press passes will be revoked and players, coaches teams get heavy fines for saying anything that does not fit in with Bettman's and the NHL propaganda guidelines. This media control does more harm then good for the game of hockey.

Biased Officiating - This is perhaps the 2nd biggest issue facing the NHL and is tied in closely with the #1 issue facing the NHL. To be honest and to be blunt the officiating in the NHL is a joke on many levels and has the appearance of being corrupted to such a point it is manipulated as to effect the outcome games and playoff series. Again with the media controls put out there by the NHL it cannot be criticized publicly without fear of losing your press pass or big fines. But yet the NHL fails again to learn from other leagues where honest criticism is welcomed and acted upon.
The media is just as much to blame with it's most insulting excuses for bad officiating, "well it evens up", "he is a veteran so he will get that break". All of which is just BULLSHIT! A call is a call, it should not matter id it was by a veteran or a rookie, in the first minute or last minute and make up calls are total garbage, it doesn't even and if anyone thinks it does they are total idiots. When team gets a few penalties early in the game in a row and finds itself down a couple of goals because of those bad calls the make up calls in the final couple minutes mean shit but look good on the stat sheet at the end of the night. There also never appears repercussions for bad officiating. the the NFL, NCAA, MLB bad refs gets fined, suspended, banned from playoff games but not in the NHL.

Fixing of Games - Yes the NHL fixes games so they get the results they want, it is hard to say but when you look at the history of certain playoff series and games it leaves no doubt. The obvious distain the NHL and Bettman have for Canada and Canadian teams and with the 100's of millions of dollars the NHL has has invested in non-hockey markets the NHL will do anything to help those markets, even if it means fixing games with biased officiating, scheduling irregularities and anything else they can do. The worst thing that could happen to the NHL and what they fear most is to have two Canadian teams in the cup final. The ratings in the almighty US market would plummet and the NHL will do anything to prevent it.
This is evident with the last three times a Canadian team made it to the Stanley Cup final. In 1994 it was Vancouver against the NY Rangers. The NHL was desperate for the Rangers to win that cup, what great  news it would be for a huge US market and raise the NHL profile in the US. Well the CanucksCanucks found themselves penalized early many times in a row early in the game on very questionable calls and soon a 2 goal deficit they couldn't overcome even with a few make up calls late in the game that made the game stat sheet look good but sealed the win for the NHL and the Rangers. This was again repeated in 2004 when the Calgary Flames forced a game 7 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Again that series was plagued by bad calls, questionable allowed-disallowed goals that mostly went in favour of Tampa. this thought was echoed by coach Sutter of the Flames who did get a huge fine by the NHL for saying so. Again the NHL was desperate the "Bolts" win the cup in order to increase the NHL profile in a loser hockey market where they had to give tickets away to cup final games. Again the final game was decided by one sided, strategic timed penalties in favour of Tampa. The last time a Canadian team made it to the Cup final was in 2006 when Edmonton Oilers went against Carolina. The Oilers climbed a huge mountain to get there throughout the playoffs with many games in previous series tainted with corrupted officiating. For example in one game against Anaheim the Oilers set a record for most 2 man down penalties in a period, the media didn't report it that way, they reported on the record 5 goals in one period by the Ducks not the garbage calls that lead to so many 5 on 3 for the Ducks. Then in the finals, game one a direct run at the the Oilers goalie that put him out for the series, no call. Through out the series there were many questionable calls and when Oiler's coach MacT questioned this he too was fined like Sutter was two years before. Through careful manipulation of how the refs call the game the NHL was able to have these series go to 7 games and assure the end result was a win for a US based team all with the goal of increasing the NHL profile in the US and in non-hockey markets.
No one to admit it but it does, there is too much at stake for the NHL, too much money and they are willing to do what ever it takes. Bettman himself has said in the past his ideal NHL would only have 2 canadian teams and he seems hellbent on achieving that goal.

As a season ticket holder for the Oilers I know myself as do many other Canadian team season ticket holders it is getting harder every year to renew. It is NOT because of how our team is doing but because of how the NHL is destroying the game.

Stay tuned for part 2 on this where I will break down the issues with the NHL rule changes and inconsistent officiating that is leading to the destruction of hockey in the NHL

NOW DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!

Why We Fight!

Thought I would repost this, this being Remembrance week. I find it to be very heartfelt and to the point from one that paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am sure you will hear and see this many times this week of remembrance but we should never tire of hearing it. We owe these brave souls and their families our deepest respect.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Why We Fight


I've often asked myself why we are here.

Why my government actually agreed to send troops to this God-forsaken place.

There are no natural resources.

No oil, gold, or silver. Just people.

People who have been at war for the last 40 plus years.

People who want nothing more than their children to be safe.

People who will do anything for money; even give their own life.



I look into the eyes of these people.

I see hate, destruction and depression.

I see love, warmth, kindness and appreciation.



Why do we fight? For in this country, there are monsters.

Monsters we could easily fight on a different battlefield, at a different time.

Monsters that could easily take the fight to us.
Surrounding these mud walls and huts is a country in turmoil.

A country that is unable to rebuild itself.

A country that cannot guarantee a bright future for its youth.

Why do we fight? Because, if we don't fight today, on THIS battlefield, then our children will be forced to face these monsters on our own battlefield.



I fight because I'm a soldier.

I fight because I'm ordered.

I fight, so my children won't have to.

-By Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon (2PPCLI)

Killed in action 3 September 2008. Zhari District, Afghanistan.

The Poppy, The Poem The History of Remembrance Day's Honoured Symbol

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky            

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.


Courtesy of Bee MacGuire


Obtained From TheMcCrae Museum of The Guelph Museum

McCrae's "In Flanders Fields" remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypres salient in the spring of 1915. Here is the story of the making of that poem:

Although he had been a doctor for years and had served in the South African War, it was impossible to get used to the suffering, the screams, and the blood here, and Major John McCrae had seen and heard enough in his dressing station to last him a lifetime.
As a surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Major McCrae, who had joined the McGill faculty in 1900 after graduating from the University of Toronto, had spent seventeen days treating injured men -- Canadians, British, Indians, French, and Germans -- in the Ypres salient.

It had been an ordeal that he had hardly thought possible. McCrae later wrote of it:

"I wish I could embody on paper some of the varied sensations of that seventeen days... Seventeen days of Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not have been done."

One death particularly affected McCrae. A young friend and former student, Lieut. Alexis Helmer of Ottawa, had been killed by a shell burst on 2 May 1915. Lieutenant Helmer was buried later that day in the little cemetery outside McCrae's dressing station, and McCrae had performed the funeral ceremony in the absence of the chaplain.

The next day, sitting on the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Canal de l'Yser, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, McCrae vented his anguish by composing a poem. The major was no stranger to writing, having authored several medical texts besides dabbling in poetry.

In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.

A young soldier watched him write it. Cyril Allinson, a twenty-two year old sergeant-major, was delivering mail that day when he spotted McCrae. The major looked up as Allinson approached, then went on writing while the sergeant-major stood there quietly. "His face was very tired but calm as we wrote," Allinson recalled. "He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave."

When McCrae finished five minutes later, he took his mail from Allinson and, without saying a word, handed his pad to the young NCO. Allinson was moved by what he read:

"The poem was exactly an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

In fact, it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied with it, McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it