PONDERABLES
Given the reported turmoil in the upper echelons of the Green Party, are former leader Elizabeth May and her husband, John Kidder, still running the show? And how long can the official leader, Annamie Paul, tolerate the situation?
Is there anyone in Toronto stupid enough to run against the immensely popular incumbent John Tory in next year’s mayoral election? (Answer: probably.)
Don’t the proponents of a wealth tax realize the “wealth” they want taxed is what was left over after having already been taxed (possibly twice) as income?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
The Ontario Ministry of Health, by using the term “pregnant individuals” instead of “pregnant women,” in a recent press release, pushed political correctness beyond idiocy.
Mass shootings in the US have become so commonplace they no longer qualify as breaking news.
There are people who are so caught up in their own fantasies they actually believe them; Donald Trump for example.
The best way for young people to choose a career is to find something they enjoy doing so much that they’d do it for nothing, and then do it so well that people will pay them to do it.
DEFENSE MINISTER HAJIT SAJJAN’S CRINGEWORTHY PERFORMANCE
And it wasn’t just one event, it was every public appearance Hajit Sajjan made this week in connection with the armed forces sexual misconduct scandal. His evasive dissembling was, to say the least, dumbfounding. There must be more than the possible loss of Sikh votes in Vancouver preventing Justin Trudeau from removing this lying, pathetically incompetent minister from his defense post. Surmising what it might be is as intriguing as trying to figure out what Trudeau is still going to such great lengths to cover up in the WE scandal.
ANOTHER ONE?
Speaking of dissembling cabinet ministers, when Minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair, was Toronto’s police chief he was caught out being less than truthful about his role in police action during the G20 riots. By selectively distorting data on COVID-19 infections caused by international travel, is he at it again?
WHICH TRUDEAU BIAS IS IT THIS TIME?
A few weeks ago the Trudeau government announced that because of the horrendous working conditions in the Chinese district of Xinjiang it would be cracking down on imports, such as cotton and tomatoes, from there. At a meeting of the commons international trade committee this week, Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, evaded every question the Conservative committee members asked about the “crackdown,” parroting meaningless talking points like “the government is taking a comprehensive approach.” It’s obvious she was ordered by her boss to stick to the talking points, and it’s probable that the reason is because the promised government “crackdown” is non-existent. What’s not clear, though, is which of Trudeau’s two main biases is at work here: his disdain for Parliament or his admitted admiration for the Chinese dictatorship? Probably both.
NO SURPRISE
John Ivison wrote in the National Post on Tuesday that Infrastructure and Communities Minister, Catherine McKenna, was caught saying that if politicians “holler their talking points, then repeat them louder still, people will totally believe (them).” That belief shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Catherine McKenna has the biggest and loudest mouth in Ottawa..
ANNOYING WASTES OF AIRTIME
CTV’s Evan Solomon constantly telling all his guests that “it’s great to have you on the show,” and the guests almost always respond with “thank you for having me,” has become annoyingly trite; and the order is actually backwards. If Evan merely thanked the guests for appearing, the guests could simply say “you’re welcome.” Precious airtime would be saved and an annoyance avoided.
Journalists thanking those holding press conferences “for taking my question,” and conversely, the journalists being thanked “for asking the question,” are two even more annoying time-wasters. For Pete’s sake, cut it out! Asking and answering questions is what press conferences are for.