Canada Customs Christmas Spirit

Over the holidays, I was fortunate enough to travel to California to spend Christmas in the sun. I was quick to learn flying is no longer a pleasant experience it once used to be.

At Pearson, it took me an hour and half to clear the ticket line, Homeland Security and then Canadian airline security. They herd people like cattle, but that's life nowadays.

Arriving back home was an interesting experience. Clearing Customs in Canada is always an aggravating gong show. For some reason, our border security agency insists on treating its own citizens as criminals. Only in Canada.

On my return from California, as soon as the Customs agent learned my trip was to spend Christmas with family, she grilled me with questions about my Christmas gifts of all things. Not questions to verify my identity, but questions to find out if I owe them any money. Silly me only declared the $30 of purchases I made, not the FREE gifts I received.

Well, clearly not satisfied with my replies, the agent scribbled some code on my Customs card and off I went, only to be pulled aside by another agent waiting by the door to the luggage carrousels. Again, the questions about the gifts! "What gifts did you get? How many gifts did you get? What are the value of the gifts?" It seemed every Customs agent I happened upon failed to understand the concept of Christmas gifts and my inability to put a value to them, because, well, they were gifts.

Although my experience was an isolated experience, it speaks to the larger mentality of our federal government and maybe our society. Since when did it become okay for our government to treat its citizens like lying criminals? When did it become acceptable to interrogate Canadians like they were visitors to a foreign country? Why do I have to dread returning to my own country?

I *heart* the CBC

Ever since I moved to Toronto, I have found myself listening more and more to CBC Radio. Sometimes I find the topics discussed truly intriguing, other times, blood boiling outrageous!

This morning on The Current, their guest for the show will be a self-described 'feminist religious scholar'. This person disputes whether Jesus ever existed because "it's just not possible for a virgin to have a baby." Otherwise, if Mary did have Jesus, there's no way she was a virgin!

My question is, that for someone who at least in part claims to be a religious scholar, how can she fail to grasp the concept of faith (a mildly important component of any religion)?

Well, there's CBC "Jesus was a lie" Christmas programming for yah. Merry Christmas!

My Kind of Photojournalism

I spotted this picture of Harper at a campaign event and could not resist putting it up on the blog. The photo is awe inspiring and adds a bit of Christmas spirit to the campaign!

Another photo worthy of mention was posted by fellow blogger and political force to be reckoned with, Warren Kinsella, found here.

Comme on dit, 'dirty Liberal', en français?

Tonight is the French debate for the national leaders. Average Canadians will have their chance to put their questions to the leaders.

Leaders' debates are superbowl of politics. Can't wait!

Ticketing Tim's

I am an unapologetic fan of Tim Horton's coffee. I can't get enough of the stuff.

On my drive to work somedays, I will try to sneak into my local Tim's for a brew. Only problem is there's no parking. As a result, it's a common practice for people to illegally park to run in for a coffee - even the cops do it.

Well it seems the Toronto Parking Authority are wise to the lawbreaking practice. After 'running in' for a coffee, I got dinged for parking illegally. The parking officer, who must have camped out there to bounce on unsuspecting commuters, was busy writing me at ticket when I returned to my car.

Being the nice guy that I am, I started chatting with the guy. I started the conversation with some parking humour - everyone loves jokes about parking! "Guess I wasn't fast enough?" Rah-ha-ha-ha! His response? Kind advice! He told me the next time he sees someone writing me a ticket, I should get in my car and drive away so that I can legitimately say I never received a ticket.

Mum's the word...

A Blogging Pioneer?

Welcome!

After spending way too much time reading blogs on Canadian politics, I've decided to jump into the fray with my very own blog! With a federal election currently taking place, my blog has arrived just in the nick of time to provide political commentary from the perspective of a conservative living in Toronto. Yes, such a creature does exist and they don't just live on Post Road.

To save everyone the suspense, I'll have you all know I am a diehard supporter of Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party.

Contained within this blog you can expect to find the odd entry ranting about how great the Conservative party is, however, more of often than not, my rants will be limited to railing against those dirty Liberals. (Note: Every reference to the Liberals in this blog will always be preceeded with the word, 'dirty'. It's Political Communications 101 and a fair representation of the party.)

Yeehaw! Let the bloggin' begin!