The Winnipeg Sun:

The National Anti-Poverty Organization has filed a legal challenge in Court of Queen's Bench against the Obstructive Solicitation Bylaw which took effect in 2005, banning public begging at locations where so-called "captive audiences" can be targeted -- at pay phones, transit stops and around banks, bar patios and taxi stands, among other such sites. NAPO and the Public Interest Law Centre -- a branch of Legal Aid Manitoba -- yesterday joined other social support groups in attacking the clampdown that they say is a wrong-headed move "making poverty illegal" in much of the city while violating human rights.

The error in NAPO's argument is that the bylaw does nothing to make "poverty illegal". It doesn't even ban panhandling. All you need to do is go to downtown Winnipeg to see that panhandling is still alive and well in this city.

What the bylaw does stop is those aggressive beggars who stalk their prey at ATM's and try to intimidate the rest of the population. The bylaw is not aimed at the down-on-their-luck types who find an intersection to solicit donations. Those are the ones who are usually fairly polite and don't have a problem when you say "sorry dude". It's aimed at the thugs who verbally and physically assault anybody who's not willing to hand over their wallet. When Winnipeg police see a panhandler using intimidation tactics on the general public, they need to be able to take that individual off the streets.

Aside from protecting the public from these few menacing individuals, the bylaw also will help to curb the poverty problem in Winnipeg. The bylaw allows for a sentence of up to six months to be handed down to aggressive beggars. A six month penitentiary term would give many of these individuals the opportunity they need to get help; be it with an addiction, mental illness, or even with job-finding skills.

Toronto is having the same problem with troublesome panhandlers that Winnipeg was having, until the bylaw was passed. Unfortunately for Torontonians, their city council has decided to take a more "holistic" approach, with an emphasis on maintaining "the rights and dignity of the urban poor".

The problem with Toronto's approach is that the victims of these aggressive and abusive vagrants are often those passive panhandlers who don't bother anybody. And "holistic" approach will only work with those panhandlers who need a hand-up; whereas the violent panhandlers are only looking for a hand-out.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz should fight this to the Supreme Court if necessary. It's not a matter of the "human rights" of panhandlers, it's a matter of human rights for the rest of us who want to be able to safely walk down the streets of our cities without fear.

Labels: Human Rights, Ontario, Winnipeg Crime, Winnipeg Police

Justin Trudeau gave a speech yesterday to several hundred Windsor, ON high school students. Following in his father's footsteps, the theme presented to those young minds was of course: the evils of capitalism (h/t Uncommon Truths).

Justin Trudeau called on hundreds of high school students in Windsor Wednesday to rethink the capitalist system and reconsider Canada's reputation as a model nation. [...]

Trudeau suggested to the students the capitalist "machine" that sustains modern existence may also become modern civilization's downfall.

The system promotes exploitation of natural resources without accounting for future consequences of consumption, he said.

"Our capitalist model has given us tremendous things," Trudeau said. "But the time has come for us to look at it critically and try to improve on it, given the accelerated pace of change and the fact that we have limited space."

Well, at least we know that he's cut from the same cloth as his father. On the other hand, if I were an inquisitive reporter type, I'd ask Stephane Dion if "rethinking" the capitalist system is official Liberal Party policy.

I'd bet that half the kids in that room have a better understanding of ecenomics than Trudeau does. As Colby Cosh points out:

The prize quote from the Windsor Star's account of his anti-capitalist speech has to be this highlight reel of the chief social and environmental injustices of our time: "We consume more water per capita than anyone else on the planet. We produce more solid waste than just about anyone else on the planet. In terms of social justice, our treatment of our aboriginal communities are an absolute disgrace."

Notice anything about these crimes of "capitalism"? Right — none of them have anything to do with the free market. Water is a resource that has long been allocated by government utilities as a public trust, is generally not covered by classical property rights and is still unpriced for many users; commoditizing it would be an excellent first step toward conservation in places like Alberta, where water is essentially commandeered without limit or unit cost by industry.

Disposal of solid waste is another government-provided service that almost no one is forced to pay a market price for. As for our aboriginal communities, you can go to any reserve and ask the locals whether they consider the Department of Indian Affairs a benign paternal institution that has done an excellent job of protecting them from the tender mercies of capitalism.

Trudeau has his father's rabid socialist streak, and apparently has picked up Al Gore's fanatacism for all things green. Combine these two former leaders and you have a Communists wet-dream come true.

Labels: Capitalism, Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party, Ontario, politics, Stephane Dion

National Newswatch is reporting that Belinda Stronach will not run for re-election.

This shouldn't come as a surprise, as her political career has been bleak, to say the least. She entered politics with the Conservative Party of Canada, and made a run for the party leadership, but failed. Consequently, she later crossed the floor to prop up the Liberal minority government in exchange for a cabinet posting under Paul Martin.

Her political fortunes continued to flounder after that, with the Liberal Party losing the 2006 election to the Conservative party.

After Paul Martin's retirement in 2006, Belinda expressed an interest in seeking the Liberal leadership. Quickly realizing she had no chance of winning, she announced that should not seek the party leadership. Seeking the leadership of two different parties, within two years would have taken a toll on her credibility.

Stronach also made big news with her high-profile, home-wrecking affair with former NHL tough-guy, and current TSN loud-mouth Tie Domi.

Not surprisingly, Stronach also announced she will be taking the cushy position of Executive Vice-Chairman at her fathers auto parts company Magna International, effective immediately.

It should also be noted that she did not resign her seat, and seems to be attempting to collect two paychecks at the same time. I sincerely hope this was an omission in the press release. But it would be the "Liberal way" to keep collecting checks and providing nothing in return.
Update: Steve Janke posts about how Magna had a press release out about the situation, before the Liberals even knew what was going on. Not good news for Stephane Dion.
Update 2: Right in Manitoba translated an article from Le Presse claiming that Stephen Harper is planning on a Spring 2008 election. How the hell can Belinda fake being an MP for an entire year? She's obviously got to resign her seat, which will cost the Liberals yet another vote in the House.

Labels: Dirty Liberals, Liberal Party, Ontario, politics, Stephane Dion

You can't have your cake, and eat it too (h/t).

Buried in the release of Ontario Power Generation's 2006 financial results last Friday was an intriguing paragraph:

"OPG is exploring the potential development of a gas-fuelled electricity generation station at its Lakeview site and is continuing with the decommissioning and demolition of the Lakeview coal-fired generating station."

So, when the oil-sands are shut down because of the bitching and moaning political pressure coming from Ontario, are these bastards going to pay market prices for their gas-powered electricity? Doubtful. More likely is we'll start to hear about another National Energy Program.

And for a province who's number one concern is the environment, can't they do any better than gas? Why not go nuclear? If Ontario is all about "alternative energy", why can't they come up with any alternatives? Because the economic price would be too high, of course. Those who think that the price would be too high for Ontario should keep in mind the damage that would be done to Alberta by over-regulating the oil-sands.

Labels: Dalton McGuinty, Environment, Liberal Party, Ontario

Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty has decided again, to attack the Federal Government over the fiscal imbalance.

"At present, we are not being treated fairly whether you're talking about the funding we receive for our health care, for our post-secondary education, for our roads, for our bridges, for supports for our unemployed workers," the premier said.

"Any way you look at it, Ontario is being shortchanged by billions of dollars annually. If the Prime Minister is intent on demonstrating his commitment to the people of Ontario then he's going to have to treat Ontario families fairly."

Dalton followed up his press conference with a letter to all of Ontarios 109 MP's, saying "I have been campaigning for fairness for Canadians living in Ontario for two years," he wrote. "Now I am asking you to do the same." McGuinty has also said he will try to turn this into a federal election issue, and is planning a $300,000 internet campaign.

So, what's this "fairness" McGuinty seeks?

Speaking to reporters, McGuinty said the Harper government is not living up to its promise to honour the six-year, $6.9 billion Canada-Ontario agreement signed with former prime minister Paul Martin in 2005 for programs ranging from climate change to job training.

"What they have effectively done is said here are new monies available for all Canadians and all provinces and `By the way, McGuinty, that special deal that you had with Martin? We're now going to account for that by way of these new monies that are being distributed to all Canadians,'" the premier said.

$6.9 billion for one province, and one province only doesn't really seem fair, does it?

Labels: Dalton McGuinty, Liberal Party, Ontario, politics