The great rural divide

Progressive Conservatives are keeping their policy cards close to their chest till spring but they seem comfortable giving us a peek at their rural/ municipal hand. Why? Because the damage is done in rural Ontario. Dalton McGuinty can't trump anything coming from the Conservatives because nothing he says will be believed.

A word to my Alberta friends who think they are the masters of Toronto bashing - rural Ontario in revolt is an awesome force.

Tory calls for different approach for municipalities.

Tory, who is from Toronto but represents the largely rural constituency of Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey, outlined the different approach rural Ontario would see under a PC government. He said first and foremost, rural Ontario needs a strong economic plan to deal with the over 120,000 manufacturing job losses over the last two years, mill closures in Northern and Eastern Ontario, and farmers who have been abandoned by the McGuinty government and its policies.

27th Cabinet Minister will cost $2.5 million

From McGuinty Watch. According to their calculations Ontario's 27th cabinet minister will cost tax payers $2.5 million.

McGuinty Watch estimates that putting Michael Chan, the newly elected Markham MPP, into cabinet will fleece taxpayers of at least $2.5 million. This estimate reflects the typical main office costs for a Cabinet Minister including the expenses of political staff, limousine and driver, basic office costs such as stationary, a Deputy Minister, a Parliamentary Assistant and administrative support. We also conservatively added a single civil servant to oversee what seems to be the only responsibility assigned to Chan by the Premier: a tax collection agreement with the federal government that has already been negotiated, signed and announced.

Cui prodest? Been wondering the same thing myself

Things just seemed to fall into Stephen Harper's lap the last few weeks. I'd begun to wonder if some Liberals weren't ready to put a quick end to this thing. Angelo Persichilli's been thinking about it too.

There are many other issues the Liberals can use to attack the Conservative government. They should have a long list. So, why are they using issues to embarrass the Conservative government but also the former Liberal governments? Cui prodest?

Indeed. Who gains?

h/t

Men in parkas

Men in parkas are just naturally funny I guess. You'll laugh, I promise.

Why the OSC must probe trust trades

They were asked to investigate. They were given reasons why they should investigate.

Today would be a good day to ask. Did they?

h/t mkbraaten

Today is Cathy's Birthday!!!

I've been prodded by a reader to help Woody make today a birthday Cathy will not forget. He's calling for a "can of birthday spam for his lovely." I hope he's right on this or he's going to be getting a can of something he won't forget.

So, if you have Cathy's email address send her a birthday greeting. If you don't and want to be part of Woody's shenanigans leave a message in the comments I guess. I'll make sure she gets it cause I'm sure as hell not posting her address here.

If you don't know Cathy and Woody please just ignore this post.

Hollow Promises

Not satisfied with broken promises it looks like Dalton McGuinty is now making hollow promises.

"The difference between then and now is that today, and as we go into the election, we have a record,'' Sorbara said as the Liberals wrapped up their weekend policy convention. "We think it's a pretty darned good record. When you're renewing your contract, you speak to that and what you're proposing in the next period.

"The message is going to be clearer and simpler.'

That platform will be sold by an increasing number of women, Sorbara added. The party is reviewing its campaign and nomination strategies to ensure 50 per cent of its new candidates are women, Sorbara said.

The provincial Liberals are going to lose seats. That's a given. Most of the new liberal candidates will be in ridings they don't already hold and realistically don't have a chance in hell of winning. But, because they're so enlightened and supportive of women, they're going to ensure that half of their defeated candidates are female. And that's the message. Clear and simple.

He just wanted to say hi

What a touchy bitch you are!

Sitting quietly on the mall bench beside my husband, I was minding my own business when the man approached. I glanced up as the man sat next to me. He was a bit close for my comfort, so I edged a little closer to my husband who, busy reading a book, ignored me. Still feeling a bit uncomfortable with the strange man so close, I then turned my head slightly away from him, politely indicating I was not interested in any interaction. To my horror, the man leaned over me and began licking my neck while rudely groping me.

I'm reminded as well of the many times I've seen people try to over-come apprehension and shyness with coaxing and kind words. That just makes it so much worse. Turn your head and ignore them. In time they'll be eating right out of your hand.

Runciman running for diabetes in Reykjavik

MPP Bob Runciman has joined Team Diabetes to raise funds for diabetes.

He's committed to raising a minimum of $6,000 in pledges to support the work of the Canadian Diabetes Association including leading-edge diabetes research, diabetes education in the community, local programs and national advocacy. He'll be training to complete a half marathon (21 kilometres) race with Team Diabetesat, the Iceland Marathon taking place in August 2007.

If you'd like to support Bob with a pledge go to teamdiabetes.ca and click Pledge a participant. Tip: key in Robert not Bob.

Real-world political action

A challenge from democraticSpace

The Bloggers-Are-Not-Lonely-Outcasts Contest

So here’s a challenge to all readers: give me a list of 9 bloggers (Canadian or otherwise) who are actively involved in real-world political action. I will put together a top 9 (or 10) based on the most often mentioned. Leave your list here or free feel to email it to me if you don’t want it public.

Note:
Just to be clear, send your list over to democraticSpace. He's the one issuing the challenge. But put them in the comments here too if you like.

Third Man In

In the PC nomination race for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, Randy Hillier looks to be third man in.

One and perhaps two other men have their eye on the prize. Political activist and author Brent Cameron of Godfrey made his intention to seek the nomination known in November. There is no incumbent in this newly created riding.

From the Ottawa Citizen:

Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington will be a new riding created at the provincial level in the next election, in October (federally, it was established in 2004 and is held by Scott Reid). It will be created from the current provincial ridings of Lanark Carleton, held by Conservative Norm Sterling and Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, held by Liberal Leona Dombrowsky.
Mr. Hillier said Sunday night that he doesn’t expect Mr. Sterling or Ms. Dombrowsky will run in Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.

Randy Hillier seeks PC nomination

Randy Hillier, the architect of the rural revolution wants to take a run at the Progressive Conservative nomination in the eastern Ontario riding of Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. I think it's going to be an interesting news week in the Ottawa Valley.

From News Release
Sunday, February 04, 2007

Lanark County - Randy Hillier (past president & co-founder of the Lanark & Ontario Landowners' Association) is seeking the Ontario Progressive Conservative nomination in the upcoming provincial election for the new riding of Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (LFLA).

After much encouragement from, and significant discussions with many federal and provincial members of the legislature, municipal mayors, councillors, and overwhelming public support, Hillier said "it is time to bring our strong rural voices directly to Queens Park."

stuff you don't see down here on the farm

I want one of these to throw in the back of the truck the next time we go camping .

Lovers appear to dance a water ballet of gentle circles and S-curves in the canals of Amsterdam.

Two cardboard boxes, some aluminum foil and you have an oven.

Carbonated strawberries and, from the same site , how perfect does a boiled egg have to be?

Who is John Tory?

With nomination races underway, and a poll suggesting a minority government in Ontario, you have to wonder how many rural Liberal MPPs are considering or re-considering their political future this weekend. John Laschinger, the Conservatives' campaign director thinks Dalton is trailing because of broken promises.

"People don't even remember what promises he broke," Laschinger says. "They just know he broke promises."

Don Guy, Liberal campaign director claims John Tory is less well known now than he was when first elected leader in 2004.

"I think he's lost his window to define himself," Guy says.

His windows are presenting themselves everywhere I would say. Who is John Tory? He is a man who likes brownies.

Dalton has already lost rural ridings in the double digits and he's going to lose more. Will the 905 bring him to defeat?

The poll man isn't as optimistic.

one two three

New blogger test.

Sex Links for Liberal Chicks

This blog began as a newsletter for the women in my address book. When it became a blog with a political slant I promised to include sex links so the liberal chicks would keep stopping by. I haven't done a very good job of keeping that promise because ... well... my mother reads this blog.

It's just as well. With my repeated reference to things down here on the farm and words like girls, chicks, barnyard and animals in my tagline I get more than enough bizarre google referrals.

The quality and quantiy of women bloggers is always a subject for spirited discussion. This week a liberal chick took on a challenge and created a smart list. It was reproduced here.

I'm a dog person myself but I do have to say ... thanks Catnip.
I hope this means I didn't need the sex links after all.