TTC Strike, Part Deux

Apparently I still need to rant about Monday's wildcat TTC strike. Even though the labour action is over, the story continues to unfold.

Bob Kinnear, a slime ball and Toronto Transit Union President, is still in the media spotlight over Monday's strike. In a CTV interview yesterday, he had the audacity to say with a straight face that he did not authorize a wildcat strike. Instead, he laid the blame at the feet of the union membership for spontaneously not reporting for work. Solidary indeed!

Torontonians were really good about handling the strike, given there was no notice given. Well, sorry, that's not true. Mayor David Miller was notified of the "non-strike" by the union on Sunday, but decided not to tell the public. I'm not making this up.

What's more, Kinnear is up for re-election as union president, so most likely, the reason for the strike was to justify his existence to his membership.

For those of you who have never been to Toronto, let me tell you that our city is BIG. People rely on transit to get to important medical appointments they have been waiting months for. Many use transit to travel to their jobs which do not pay if you're not there. Plenty of seniors will have to do without this week because their homeworker couldn't make it to their place.

All of this because some jerk wants to keep his six figure salary.

Useless Unions

Well, it's nearing the lunch hour in Toronto and by now, every man, woman and child in the country is FULLY aware of the transit situation in our fair city. Why? Because anything that happens in our city is far more important than anything that could ever happen anywhere else. Hear that Calgary?

Most likely after today, Torontonians will be criticized for being whiners and complainers just because they can't catch their bus. However, this widcat strike is significant. Three quarters of a million people use the TTC every day to get to work. During rush hour, subway trains run almost back to back, filled with communters.

Sadly, this strike is centred around 106 TTC employees who are not losing their jobs or being asked to put their life in danger. They are being asked to work the night shift. Boo hoo. 53 janitors and 53 maintenance workers don't want to work the night shift, so they have shut down the transportation artery of Toronto, inconveniencing a little under a million people.

The union representing transit workers have used up what very little goodwill they had with the public and they have contributed to the tarnished image of the union movement in general.

Too bad if you don't want to work the night shift. Suck it up, buttercup.

Stating the Obvious

So yesterday, the Prime Minister accused the national media of bias against his government. What other obvious facts can we state? The sky is blue?

The childish antics of the national press gallery has reached a level beyond comparison. Staging a walk out of a Prime Minister's press conference? Refusing to ask questions? On the bright side, the press coverage of the Conservative government has been really good and their polling numbers have reached a twenty year high.

Their latest grievance relates to having to put their name down on a list in order to ask a question of the Prime Minister. Reporters would much rather scream and yell over one another to ask a question. However, didn't reporters put their name on a list to ask a question of previous Prime Minister's when news conferences were held at their press theatre in the past?

In light of these developments, I am left wondering what the news directors for all the major media outlets are thinking. Why are they willing to pay a huge salary for their Ottawa reporters when they aren't doing their job? Why have they allowed the quality of their journalism to deteriorate to such a poor level?

Gone are the days when journalists had integrity.

Get yer tea leaves out

Samy, it ain't lookin' good buddy.

The Privy Council Office is going to be slimmed down by 250 people as part of an effort to downsize the office. You know what they say, last one in, first one out.

I recommend visiting a couple of websites, like this one, or this one.

Cheese, please?

Strangely, I found the photo on the front cover of today's Star to be hilarious. Too bad it was a photo about a fairly serious situation.


What I want to know is, who throws cheese? Honestly. Cheese? Come on man.

Census Day!

Monday, May 15, 2006 is the day every Canadian is required to complete their 2006 Census questionnaire.

The Census provides critical information on communities across Canada which is used by government and business for the delivery of services and products.

Do your part by completing your Census questionnarie on-line: www.census2006.ca

My beloved Senators...

... need all the support they can get!

The playoffs are really down to the wire for my Sens, having lost the first three games of their series against Buffalo.

Tonight, they need all support they can get, so this blog entry is a call to arms of sorts. I don't care if you have to leave work early, fast for a month or divorce your spouse - do whatever it take to show your support for the Senators!

Go Sens Go!!

Jane Taber and the Goblet of Fire

Last weekend, I watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance between reporter in the movie and Jane Taber of the Globe and Mail.

Not only do they look alike, they act much the same. The reporter in the movie, Rita Skeeter, is a devious and calculating gossip columnist for the Daily Prophet. Jane Taber is also a devious and calculating gossip columnist for the Globe and Mail.

For anyone who has ever been interviewed by Jane Taber knows that she can make you tremble with fear. Jane is such a good journalist, she could pry information out of a mute.

I have no doubt in my mind J.K. Rowling based her Rita Skeeter character on Jane Taber.

See ya, Samy!

I have been patiently waiting for this news release. I admire how the PMO Press Office eloquently worded the release.

A Coles notes version would read: "Samy will be give the most junior level position in the Privy Council Office until such time he decides to quit so that we will not have to pay him severance."

Nice.

Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service
May 5, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was pleased to announce today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service, effective May 23, 2006:

Samy Watson, currently Deputy Minister of the Environment, becomes Special Advisor to the Privy Council Office, pending his next assignment.
Michael Horgan, currently Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, becomes Deputy Minister of the Environment.
Michael Wernick, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), becomes Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Margaret Biggs, currently Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning), Privy Council Office, becomes, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations), Privy Council Office.

Advice Best Left Alone

Scott Reid, Paul Martin's former advisor, picked up his pen to write for the Star today.

He laid out a strategy for his fellow Liberal comrades in a five-point plan. His column outlines some of the worst political advice I have ever seen - not that I am complaining. Should it really be surprising coming from an advisor who oversaw the defeat of the 13-year reign of Liberal power?

Here are my comments on his advice:

1. Get over the defeat: In otherwords, don't go around town thinking the defeat was your fault. Blame someone else! It's easier!

2. Define Harper: This is my favourite! He overtly states that Liberals should make up lies about the Prime Minister. "Caucus can best contribute by revealing the Harper whom Conservatives would prefer to conceal: a calculating lead who enthusiastically imports Bush's politics and views all who dare to disagree as enemies. It's hardly a stretch." But a stretch nonetheless. Right, Scotty? Conservatives can now point to your column as evidence of the Liberals contorting the facts (a.k.a. lying) for their own political gain.

3. It's about Quebec, stupid: Is he just clueing into this now? A more apt description would be: it was about Quebec, stupid. The Liberals failed to gain control of their campaign in Quebec. If memory serves, I recall stories about Liberals who stopped campaigning in parts of the province. Prime Minister Harper saw an opportunity to gain political support in the province and seized it.

4. Own the economy: Is this a strategy that involves Liberals holding on to our own money because the government knows how to spend it best? The government wouldn't want us to run out and buy beer and popcorn with, *gasp*, our own money? Tax cuts will mean the end of humanity as we know it!

5. Woo the cities: In other words, crawl back into your little pockets of voter support across the country and hide. After all, expanding a political party's base of support is nonsense! There's no need for any Liberal leader to actually win the hearts and minds of voters. If Canadian voters knew what was good for them, they should automatically vote Liberal.

With this stellar advice and shabby writing skills, I don't think Scott's new 'writing and communications consulting' firm will get far off the ground. Perhaps Scott should put down his pen to exlore other avenues of expressing himself, like with finger painting, for instance.

Federal Budget (of the Century)

Do you feel that? That's one big breath of fresh air. It's incredible how a Conservative budget can change the air quality in Toronto.

I had a little chuckle this morning when I read the headline of the Toronto Star which read, "I'm OK, You're OK". What kind of grudging endorsement is that? Gee, Prime Minister Harper's budget didn't cause the the earth didn't open up and envelop Toronto after all - I guess we can live another day.

Most criticism of the budget is directed toward the child care amount to be given to parents. Over and over, people criticize it for "not nearly covering the costs of child care." At what point did it become expected of the federal government to pay for the entire cost of child care?

The other day, I was speaking with a work colleague with Liberal tendencies. She was explaining how she tried child care centres for her kids, but it just didn't work for her family. Instead, she hired a nanny, but apparently that is rife with problems as well. "She won't do my laundry" "dinner is not ready for when I get home" "the floors aren't polished" blah, blah, blah.

Presented with an opportunity to stir up trouble, I asked her if she was happy with the Conservative's child care payment since she used a non-traditional form of child care. Her response? A laughing response of how ridiculous a payment would be because it doesn't come close to covering all the costs.

This brings me to my point: As a taxpayer, I don't want MY tax dollars to pay for other people's child care costs. I don't mind giving parents some help, but there is no way I should have to pay for the entire cost of caring for their kids. No way! If you have children, you should pay for your own bloody costs and not expect others to be burdened because of it!

So yes, $1200/year per child does not cover all the costs of child care - and so it should be!

Indie Can Film Fest

This past weekend, I attended the very first annual Indie Can Film Fest in Toronto. This film festival is dedicated to the low-budget, independent filmmaker.

Since one of my friends from university had a film featured at the festival, I decided to attend to show my support. Brett and his brother Jason have done quite well for themselves. They have started up their own company, Substance Productions, and so far produced two fims with a third in the works.

Their first production, Bums, was shown at the festival. It's actually quite a brilliant movie, especially considering it was made over a couple of weekends and only cost a little more than two grand. Everyone should go out to see this flick and support the Canadian independent film industry.