INSANITY

FORD AIRS AN ATTACK AD ON TRUMP IN THE U.S. AND TRUMP TERMINATES ALL TARIFF AND TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUST AS IT HAPPENS, CARNEY JUMPS ON A PLANE FOR A WEEK-LONG TRIP TO ASIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're doomed!  And yes, those caps are intentional because I'm yelling here!

Incomprehensible

So, Mark Carney addressed Ottawa U students yesterday with a stunt speech to "explain" what his budget will contain.  This is some of what he said: 

"I will introduce a budget that will contain a climate competitiveness strategy, which will focus on results over objectives."

What does that even mean???  What's a "climate competitiveness strategy"?  Naturally, he didn't say.  Then he went on to say it will focus on "results over objectives".  What does that mean?  No objectives?  What results?  As measured by what?  By whom?  It's all so ludicrous.  His hubris is breathtaking!

He concluded by saying he will, "Double exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade."  He can't even tell what will happen in the next 10 minutes, let alone in another 10 years!  Then he justified the coming huge deficit by saying it will grow the economy, "Like it has never seen before."  Really?  What have you done so far?  Nothing.

He said all this standing at a lectern that made me despair.  It said, "Building Canada Strong".  Does that mean "Building Canada Strongly", or "Building a Strong Canada."???  Either way, it's incorrect and very annoying.  He needs to dump his communications staff.

Just another meaningless slogan.

So, if you're still enamored with Mr. Carney, give your head a shake and wake up!  

This is a mistake

After years of pressure, the Vatican will be returning Indigenous artifacts back to Canada, to be entrusted into the care of the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), with some to be sent to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.

That's a mistake.

Having them showcased at the Vatican meant they were exposed to millions of people worldwide.  They were given the respect they deserved, but what will the CCCB do with them?  I have no clue, but I bet they won't be there for long because the families from whence they came say they want them back.

After complex negotiations, 100,000 such artifacts are finally set to return home, but their fate is at stake because what will the families whose ancestors donated them do with them?  Will they end up in someone's shack on a reserve?  Will internal family scabbling and law suits erupt over which descendents should have them?  Should they go to the maternal side, or the paternal?  All this could very well happen because Indigenous leaders will not stand for them to be housed in a federal museum in Ottawa, or a church basement.  They just won't.

So, history is being re-written, as these treasures will be scattered hither and yon and who knows what will befall them?

Magnificent Indigenous gloves currently in the Vatican museum.

As I said, it's a mistake.  They should remain in the Vatican as embodiments of the history of Canada, its Indigenous culture and controversial relationship with the Catholic Church. 

I agree with Derek Burney

Now 85 years old, Burney's marbles are neither scrambled, nor lost.  The former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. and chief of staff to PM Brian Mulroney still regularly appears on political shows and offers a sharp, insightful look at the political lay of the land.

A voice of sanity, Derek Burney.

Today he said that Mark Carney needs to get his act together.  I agree.  Carney has been to Europe eight times, but never to our real threat China, where actual danger lies.  He seems to go where he feels most comfortable -- which is certainly not to various lowly Canadian hinterlands, where the great unwashed dwell in their piteous ignorance.  

Carney needs to try harder not to suck.  So far, I'm giving him an F as prime minister.  And as for his cabinet, half of them seem off their meds!  Take Patty Hajdu, minister of jobs and families, for example.  She needs to put down her juice box and crayons and start tackling the problem.  Canada's economy is in freefall!  Where are the jobs?  What are Canadian families supposed to do to get food on their plates?  Why are food banks overrun?  Ya, those problems, Patty.

Now Trump is targeting the auto sector, the one upon which the entire economy relies.  Whither the car, whither the economy and on that file, we're f-cked if Trump pushes ahead with shutting the industry here -- which he is doing.  What's Carney's response?  Zilch.  Nada.  Crickets. 

So far, the general public -- yes, the great unwashed -- are giving Carney a pass.  But his numbers are slipping.  I hear he's planning to call an election while there may be some hope left for him.  Gawd, I hope not.  Please wait until more Canadians emerge from their torpor so we can give Pierre a shot.

As I said, I live in hope, faint though it is.    

A direct and truthful look at reality

I am re-posting this by the women below, found on Facebook in "Canada wants Pierre Poilievre."  She nails Carney:

_____________________________ 

Melanie in Saskatchewan, Unfiltered Opinions: Political Edition

Mark Carney: The Spineless Sellout Who Fearmongered His Way to Power and Belly-Flopped Into Trump's Lap

"Mark Carney here we are again, you pathetic, elbow-less invertebrate of a prime minister – how dare you slither into office on a tidal wave of manufactured terror about Donald Trump, only to roll over like a gutless lapdog the moment you sniffed power? Your bait-and-switch tactics aren't just political sleight-of-hand; they're a grotesque betrayal, a stinging indictment of your utter lack of spine, principles, or basic human decency.

Trump, with Carney on the right.

"You scared Canadians shitless to steal votes, painting Trump as the big bad wolf ready to devour our sovereignty, economy, and souls. Then, in your last two groveling encounters with the man, you turned into a simpering fanboy, as--kissing with such fervor it was like you were auditioning for a spot in Trump's inner circle. Shame on you, – your about-face isn't diplomacy; it's disgusting capitulation from a man whose "elbows" are apparently made of wet noodles, making it all too easy to fold, flop, and fondle your way through surrender.

"Let's discuss this revolting charade, shall we? During that shameless snap election in April 2025, you, Carney, weaponized Trump like a cheap horror flick villain. You thundered from podiums that his tariffs were an "existential crisis," that he'd "break us so America can own us," turning the vote into a referendum on your supposed toughness. Desperate Canadians – overtaxed, overstressed — bought your bullsh-t because you promised to "fight when we must," to retaliate, diversify trade, and stand tall against the bully.

"You demonized Trump to distract from your Liberal party's decade of decay, raking in votes from terrified voters who saw you as the banker-savior with the guts to stare down the orange menace. It was pure fearmongering filth, a calculated con that exploited our anxieties over jobs, borders, and bills. And for what? A narrow mandate you're not sticking to, built on lies?

"Fast-forward to your pathetic pilgrimages to Trump, and the mask rips off like cheap velcro. First, that October 7 White House visit: You show up in a red tie — Trump's colors, you bootlicking wannabe — grinning like a starstruck schoolboy as you laugh off annexation threats and call him a "transformative president" who's "strengthened the economy, secured borders, and combated opioids." What in the world were you thinking, Mark? No pushback on the 25% tariffs crippling our exports, no forceful demands for relief — just endless ass-kissing, praising his NATO spending while your own country bleeds jobs.

"You emerged with zilch, claiming a "meeting of minds," but it was clear: You rolled over, belly up, giving Trump that metaphorical raspberry right on his ego, complete with a reach-around full of concessions like scrapping our Digital Services Tax to appease him, and dropping every counter tariff behind the scenes where Canadians cant question ir scrutinize. Easy to do when you have no elbows, no fight, no moral backbone to throw a punch or even stand straight.

"And then, not even a week later, the October 14 Summit for Peace in Egypt – your bro-fest sequel. There you are again, chuckling at Trump's "president" gaffe like it's the funniest thing since your own election lies, exchanging pleasantries in a relaxed huddle while global eyes watch. No tough talk, no leverage on trade wars — just more chummy vibes, steering clear of confrontation as if your campaign rhetoric was a bad dream you woke up from mid-makeout session.

"Critics nailed it: This wasn't negotiation; it was a bromance bloom, with you cooing over shared "strengths" instead of the forceful defense you swore to voters. You gave Trump everything but a happy ending, pledging Canadian investments southward while our economy crumbles under your watch. Rolled over again, eh, Mark? Must be effortless with those phantom elbows – limp, useless appendages that let you twist into whatever pretzel shape suits your survival, not Canada's.

"This isn't mere flip-flopping; it's a critically savage rebuke to your shyster character. You promised voters a lion against Trump, and delivered a lamb that licks boots and blows kisses. Your about-face exposes you as a spineless opportunist, easy to intimidate, easier to buy off with flattery and failure. No elbows means no resistance, just endless capitulation: Belly raspberries and reach-arounds for a deal that shafts Canadians, all while deficits explode and families like mine pay the price.

"You're not a leader; you're a laughingstock, a traitor to your own words, condemned to history's hall of shame for peddling fear to win, then fraternizing with the foe. Resign in disgrace, you elbow-less embarrassment — Canada deserves better than your belly-crawling betrayal."

Melanie in Saskatchewan

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Grade nine hair

Watching Mélanie Joly being skewered by the brilliant Vassy Kapelos, I thought, am I watching someone auditioning for a Bunny position at the Playboy Mansion?  What is she doing with that hair?!

Grade nine hair.

She's a minister in Carney's government and too old to be walking around professionally with grade nine hair.  Time to lose it.  In my opinion, professional women in the public eye of a certain age should get a professional hairdo -- or at least tie it back when you're leading a group or on TV.  I don't care what you do in your private life, but in the public thoroughfare, you need to look the part.

As I always say, we are our hair.  

There are, however, three women who get a pass:  Maureen Callahan, Megyn Kelly and Vassy.  Why?  Because their brains give them licence to do what they want with their hair.  No one else gets one.

Speaking of Vassy, she is relentless and so well-briefed.  When she says, "With respect, minister........" watch out!  If you want to be informed on Canadian politics, you need to catch her daily program, 'Power and Politics'.  

You also need to read 'The Globe and Mail'.  When someone tries to talk politics with me, I say, "Do you read 'The Globe and Mail?"  If they don't, I take a page out of Helen Mirren's philosophy, who said, "There's no point wasting energy and brain power engaging with someone ill-informed and ignorant."  

Hear, hear!

So, that's my take on things today.  

Off again

Carney is off on yet another flight of fancy to take credit where none is due.  He did nothing to bring about this peace deal.  It was all Trump.  In fact, he, Starmer and Macron did much to aggravate and set the process back by formally recognizing a Palestinian state while the parties were actively working on an agreement. 

How dumb can you be?  Just to be more irresponsible, he chartered a huge jet to take him to Egypt for one day because the regular plane wasn't available.  What did that cost!!???  There is a great video of Trump thanking every country who assisted (even though none did), with all the leaders standing behind him.  He left Carney out entirely! In fact, Carney was relegated to the kids' table in the audience -- not even on the stage!  I told you Trump can't stand him.  

Have a listen to what Conrad Black thinks of Carney, to which I wholeheartedly agree.  Also give a listen to John Mearsheimer, who says the so-called "peace" won't last because Israel's objective of annihilating all of Hamas has yet to be accomplished.  

 In the meantime, this is from AP and CP:

________________________________

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney was set to leave Sunday afternoon for Egypt, to take part in a hastily organized summit surrounding the truce U.S. President Donald Trump helped arrange between Israel and Hamas.

Here he goes again.  Bye bye Canada!

Carney will join leaders from more than 20 countries in the Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says he will co-chair a “peace summit.”

Heads of government and state will be represented from across the Middle East as well as France, Germany and the U.K.

Media were not notified of Carney’s trip before it had been confirmed through an update to his Sunday itinerary, roughly three hours before his plane was set to depart.

Sunday marked three days of a truce in which aid agencies are preparing to rush in food and medicine for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, just as Israel gradually draws back its soldiers.

Hamas is expected to release roughly 20 living hostages as early as Monday morning, in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hamas would then release the bodies of about 28 dead Israeli hostages.

Trump brokered the truce, but questions remain over a longer-term ceasefire or whether a detailed peace deal will be reached.

He has said that the Sunday meeting will take a wider look at the Middle East, such as whether rich Arab nations could help finance the reconstruction of Gaza and how to end decades of strife between Israelis and Palestinians and possibly normalizing Israel’s relations with many Arab countries.

— With files from The Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2025.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

Thumbed his nose...

...at the residence of the Canadian Ambassador and stayed instead at cushy Blair House, the place where heads of state stay when visiting Trump.  That's where Carney opted to stay when he fled to Washington the other day to take another beat down from Trump.

The Blair House

That's outrageous!  Instead of staying in the Canadian Embassy residence, Carney stayed in a visitor's hotel, reserved for guests of the US president and vice-president.  What message does that send?  It says, "I'm at your beck-and-call, Mr. President, and I will eschew my own country's residence to be able to rush over to the White House to take a knee."

Canadian Embassy in Washington, apparently not prestigious enough for Carney.

Am I the only one who picked up on this?  As usual, yes.  Apart from the fact that he came back with nothing to show for his eighth trip abroad at enormous financial and environmental cost, Carney continues to claim he's negotiating at top speed and that deals are nearing completion.

Oh really?  The day before his sojourn to the Oval, Trump imposed a huge tariff on trucks made in Canada.  What a slap in the face for our brilliant negotiator-in-chief PM.  I mean, it couldn't have been worse!  There he was, sitting with flunkies Leblanc, Joly and Anand beside him as he kowtowed away.    

I suppose that's all that's left to him in the face of Trump's tariff wrath.  What gets me is that only Congress can impose tariffs, but the meek occupants of that chamber are so scared of him they daren't do anything.  The whole mess is currently being challenged in court, but even if the court decides the tariffs are illegal, Trump won't abide by the ruling.  He'll just ignore it and carry on.

Where this all leads is anyone's guess?  But you do have to hand it to Trump for securing a ceasefire in Gaza, which might lead to a peace plan -- although I highly doubt it.  The Arab world's hatred of Israel is so entrenched and its determination wipe it off the face of the world is matched only by Israel's resolve to eliminate every vestige of Hamas and Hezbollah everywhere.

As I said, where this all leads is anyone's guess, but it won't be pretty. 

p.s.  Instead of giving the Nobel Peace Prize to the unknown and ineffectual Venezuelan Leader of the Opposition (currently in hiding), it should have been awarded to Trump for achieving something no one else has ever done in that godforsaken region.     

        

Why??!!

So, Mark Carney is fleeing to Washington again to indulge in a little when-you-wish-upon-a-star talk.  Does he actually think he will get a deal with Trump?  Won't happen.  I think he's off to Washington simply to get away from doing his job in Ottawa and trying to dance to the dangerous music he has wrought.  He also can't face Pierre Poilievre in the House, as was on dismal display the couple of times he actually showed up last week, where he was pummeled.

Here's the question:  What have Dominic Leblanc, Mélanie Joly and Anita Anand been doing in Washington for months?  They practically live there, but so far, have accomplished nothing,.  Neither will Carney.

He isn't governing as a prime minister.  He's governing as chairman and CEO of some board, with his ministers and flunkies acting as impotent, feckless, empty suits.  It's appalling.  Parliament?  What's that?  "Just an annoying impediment to my personal agenda."

He governs with a velvet fist, but he is a dictator nonetheless.

And make no mistake, his mother -- masquerading as his wife, but still looking like his mother -- is clearly right in there setting the agenda.  What was she doing addressing the UN and speaking for Canada??!!??  He himself doesn't speak for Canada because more Canadians voted for other candidates, so his ludicrous wife is even more out-of-line.

Carney's simply filling out his resumé to include a stint as PM so he can move into his next job, which I predict will be as head of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank or the World Economic Forum.  That's where he really belongs -- not stumping across pathetic, little Canada helping Canadians and strengthening the country.

G-d knows we have multiple messes right here at home, which is where he should be spending his time.  But not wandering around clutching podiums, making announcements, setting up new offices and agencies and appointing more people to more useless positions, which is what he has been doing.  He needs to actually DO something!

There was a very scary article in 'The Globe and Mail' yesterday about how Trump's threats to annex Canada as the 51st state are no longer a joke.  It could really happen and all we have defending the Arctic are a couple of rangers with a few rifles.  Read it and weep.

In my view, here's who has to go:  Trump, Putin, Zelensky and Xi.  Carney is a bit player, but he also has to go for the sake of Canada.  The big four are the ones threatening the world on all sides.  

G-d help our children and grandchildren.  

   

Back with Dick and Jane

Last year, I tutored grade two kids with reading in English (See "Ten!", February 17, 2025).  This year I'm back, but tutoring two classes, one French, the other English at the local elementary school here in Cochrane.  As usual, it's delightful!

I am using old-fashioned phonetics, but since that is a taboo word in the world of the brilliant PhD minds who develop curricula, they now call breaking down a word into sounds and syllables "de-coding".  Remember when educators decided to chuck out phonetics to teach "whole word" reading?  Ya, didn't go so well.  So it's back to phonetics, er de-coding, because that's the only thing that works.

Me tutoring phonetics.

It's so funny to see the kids sound out each part of the word, then string it together and exclaim, "Oh!", when they finally get the word.

Other tools available include games and pictures to figure out a word, but I prefer just getting them to read and figure out the words as they go along.  With games, they figure them out pretty quickly and avoid actually reading.

A new phenomenon -- at least new for me -- is afoot in this school, and I presume others.  Children with anti-social behaviours now have personal, fulltime minders to teach them outside the regular classroom.  Sitting at my station in the hall, I heard a loud meowing noise, then a lot of screaming.  Startled, I jumped up.  "Oh, that's just Johnny, he thinks he's a cat," said my charge.  Whaaaat??!!!  "Can he not stop?" I asked.  "Yes, but he doesn't want to."

WTH!!??  Yep, apparently kids can do and be anything in school these days.  I asked if there was kitty-litter in the washroom.  No, not yet, but who knows?!  As I said, kids like this are given personal, highly-paid minders who accompany them all day long.  In my view, that's insane, but I can see the hand of many "expert" child psychologists in the school board at work here.  In my day, a kid like this would be sent to the principal's office, made to sit in the hall, or worse yet, given the strap.  

But not today.  Are schools doing these aberrant kids any favours?  When they grow up, will they ever get a job?  If so, will acting like a cat in the office be tolerated?  Rhetorical.  But, as I said, lots of child psychologists are making big money off it, so it will continue. 

So, tutoring is my contribution to early education.  Unfortunately, the teachers go on strike on Monday, so I will have to wait until that's over.  By the way, teachers will not receive strike pay while out, which I find ludicrous.  They pay big dues, but can't collect when they need it?

(Personally, I don't think the teachers should strike, but that's another blog for another day.)  

My question is, where do the dues go?  A quick check of the union org chart tells me there is a president, two vice-presidents, a past-president, an executive secretary and 15 members.  So, that's where the money is going -- to keep that afloat and finance their fancy headquarters and offices.

So, I'll only have to get up early three days a week to hit the pool, instead of another two to get to class.  

May she Rest in Peace

Jane and one of her buddies.

The death of chimpanzee-expert and icon Jane Goodall has been mourned by millions all over the world.  But as I pondered her contributions to humanity, you know what I came up with?  Nothing.  I know this will be greeted as a sacrilege to her work and memory, but honestly, how did her study of chimps contribute to a better understanding of humans?

As I said, it didn't.

Humans didn't evolve from apes or chimps because were that true, why are there still apes and chimps around?  They'd have disappeared and morphed into humans, but they remain a separate species unto themselves, just as we remain human.  Frankly, the average pig is closer genetically to humans.  (I agree because I often act like a pig around certain foods, get my drift?)

So, may Jane Rest in Peace, but I give her no credit for improving humanity via the study of chimps.  Chimps are still chimps and we are still humans.  Farewell, Jane, and may those carrying on the study of chimps enjoy themselves.  

Bait and Switch

To get elected, Mark Carney pulled off one of the greatest 'Bait and Switch' cons in recent memory.  And it worked -- at least for the gullible Canadians who didn't do their homework on what this guy was actually all about:  A green, net zero zealot in banker economist's clothing.

Carney's phony stump slogan.

Yep folks, we were had and now we're starting to see just how devastating the economic destruction he is wreaking is.  He's still conning people into thinking that losing the US trade relationship is no big deal because, "Look how much trade we're doing with Europe!"  

Actually, no.  Our biggest trading partners are China and India, but even that doesn't amount to a hill of economic peanut beans, in comparison with what we have lost with the US.  And as for Europe, we do about four percent of our trade with them.  So, Canada is basically going down the tubes.  Fast.

James Moore had an interesting analysis on what $65 billion -- the projected deficit -- looks like in layman's terms.  Apparently, it would buy all of Canada's sports teams, as well as Air Canada and a number of other multi-billion dollar companies.  It was shocking!    

So, "Elbows up" has become "Knees down", as Trump continues to punish Canada because, frankly, he doesn't like the cut of Carney's jib.  Simple as that.  Just to drive Carney's agenda home, he has stock in 567 companies.  Know how many are Canadian?  Three!!!!  That tells you everything about where his confidence is:  Not in Canada!

______________________________

A lot of Koolaid was drunk and orange shirts worn yesterday on 'National Day of Truth and Reconciliation'.  You'd think Indigenous women were being killed by evil Caucasian men all-day-every-day, but in reality, a quick check of the RCMP stats (readily available online) shows they are actually being killed by their own kith and kin.  It's not hard to figure out what "reconciliation" means.  

Money.  

Carney's speech was pitiable.  I thought he was going to burst out Trudeau-crying, as he apologized for giving natives an education, while they were being tortured daily in boarding schools.  Remember, folks, every single Indigenous leader went to one -- often at the request of their parents to save them from starvation and disease on the reserves.  And also remember the majority of assault was perpetrated by older students on younger, not by teachers and priests.  Those are facts.  (Google Judge Brian Geisbrecht for the truth on this file.)

So, another con has been baked into the Canadian identity.  People need to do a little research and wake up because billions are at stake.      

What??!!

"The problem isn't the UN, it's the member states," said soon-to-be ex Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae on 'Question Period' this morning.

What the h-ll, Bob!?  The UN is its member states.  So, ergo, if the problem is the member states, the problem is the UN itself because without the member states, there is no UN.  So duh, yes Bob, the UN is the problem.  It's moribund, ineffectual and incapable of doing anything to solve any conflict anywhere.  And if it can't solve anything because of its own charter and members, why does it even exist??!!  I'm with Trump on that one.

Bob has always been the master of "word salads", hence his successful transition from an NDP Ontario premier who destroyed the province's economy to a guy who landed a cushy $250,000 job in New York.  Not a bad gig, Bob.

Bob's brain at work.

(Just had to jot this down, but now back to the brilliant David Starkey on YouTube.)

   

Insufferable

I just have to put it out there, in my opinion, Andrew Coyne is insufferable.  He's there, on the inside front page of the 'Opinion' Section of 'The Globe and Mail' every Saturday in all his stupefying verbosity with four columns of superfluous opinions and thoughts that go on forever.

A typical Coyne column -- never-ending!

Reading him reminds me of the stream-of-consciousness novels by Virginia Woolf I studied in university.  Every thought that comes into his head he puts down, yet he never gets to a point.  Sometimes, in the very last paragraph, he'll make one, but boy, you have to really hunt to stumble upon it!

He's also a fan of unnecessary words and complicated punctuation.  Here's a perfect example:

"The ruckus began, you'll recall, over the federal government's intervention in a case now before the Supreme Court of Canada involving a legal challenge to Bill 21, Quebec's infamous law banning the wearing of religious symbols across much of the public service, which for some religions is tantamount to a hiring bar."

Phew!  That was one sentence!!  The italics are mine, where these words are not needed.  But he loves to add them all over the place as they pop up in his tumbling head!  Here's another:

"To be sure, it would have no legal effect."  What's with the "To be sure"?  Just make your point.

I learned tight editing when I laboured under the ruthless red pen of the late Mrs. Jean Portugal at Maclean Hunter (M-H) in the early seventies.  Back then, we used hot type, so every word cost money and Mrs. Portugal (never Jean!) cut out so many.  She was always correct and the work she handed back was much better than what I had submitted.  It was tight, clear and concise and I imitate her when I read columnists today who stick words willy-nilly into every piece. 

I was a contemporary of the late Christie Blatchford, "Blatch", and Margaret Wente -- both superb columnists -- and probably would have hit similar heights, were it not for the fact that my late ex-husband moved us to Ottawa to start a business that went bankrupt.  Had I stayed with M-H, in Toronto I am sure I would have done very well.  Alas, didn't happen.  Sigh............  

Anyway, here is a snap of the late, great Jean Portugal with her husband Felix:

The peerless Mrs. Portugal on one of her exotic travels with her husband, Felix.

Coyne seems to be trying to show off his education and many degrees.  Doesn't work.  Ever seen him on 'At Issue' on Thursdays?  What a bore!  Talk about taking yourself inordinately seriously!  And to boot, he has no sense of humour, a sin in my world.  If you can't laugh at yourself, you're hopeless.

He can't.

He went to the London School of Economics and obtained an MA in Economics.  B got an MA from there too, but he went on a scholarship; Coyne didn't.  Guess from whom I take my economic advice?

So, that's my take on Coyne -- just my opinion, so don't sue me, but what I wouldn't give to be his editor!  His columns would go from four to one or maybe two at the most.  Now and then I toy with the idea of sending him an edited version of one of his, but since I have many letters in there, I don't want to upset the apple cart.  

Andrew, if you're reading this, for Gawd's sake red-pen yourself!   

 

I agree with Poilievre

Carney is proving to be worse than Justin Trudeau, if that's possible.  Poilievre said it would be unfair to Trudeau to compare him to Carney because, "Carney's even worse," said the leader of the Opposition.

So far, that's correct.  He was elected as some sort of economic guru who was going to be the only guy capable of bringing Trump to heel on the tariff file, but so far that has backfired spectacularly.  Did he think going to Mexico to unilaterally cook up some deal with them just ahead of CUSMA negotiations was a great idea?  If so, dumb and if so, fail.

Did he think going to Poland and Ukraine on his own was a brilliant move?  If so, dumb and if so, fail.  Did he think recognizing a Palestinian state was going to stop the war?  If so, dumb and if so, fail.  

Hamas real purpose in continuing the war is to make Israel a pariah state and on that, it's winning handsomely.  Canada did not have to join this charade.  Most European nations are not granting recognition, including Germany and Italy; neither are Singapore, South Korea and Japan.

Every time the guy makes a move it's to stick a fork in Trump's eye.  That's a recipe for disaster, as Trump outlined in his tirade at the United Nations yesterday.

Carney's foreign policy.

Trump's right, of course.  The UN is an unmitigated disaster, incapable of settling anything on any file in any country.  It was long ago taken over by Arab countries, with an agenda to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  All the aid the UN sends to Gaza is highjacked and never reaches those who need it.  Now he's musing about sending troops to Gaza and even Ukraine.  Why?  That would be another disaster.

Carney said Canada will conduct its own foreign relations policies, "For the benefit of Canadians."  Of course, he doesn't say what those policies are because so far they're not turning out too well.

So, another brilliant move by our wonder boy prime minister.  Hang onto your hats.

He's a despot

A rogue prime minister.

I'm talking about Carney.  He has just announced that Canada will officially recognize a Palestinian state.  Really??!!  On what authority?  Certainly not Parliament's.  He just unilaterally announced Canada will formally recognize Palestine as an official state.

Firstly, what is Palestine?  It currently is not a state.  It's a territory stuck in between Israel and the Jordan River to the Mediterranean sea.  It's not actually a country or a state, it's a territory with a terrorist head, so, how can it be recognized?  Hamas runs Gaza and Hezbollah the West Bank.  What exactly would he be recognizing?  He'd be dealing with terrorist organizations.  Brilliant!

Carney earlier said he would only recognize it as an official state (which was ludicrous) if Hamas agreed to immediate elections and that no Hamas leaders would be in the government.  As I have blogged, the guy running Gaza has not had elections since 2005, so obviously won't hold any now.  But Carney jettisoned that condition today by recognizing it.  Abas is head of an officially-recognized terrorist organization!  And Carney recognized him as Head!!!!

Right after Carney's announcement, Hamas executed three people in the public square for alleged ties to Israel.  Wow, so civilized!  Then Trump tweeted that it would be very difficult to get a deal with Canada, now that Carney has done what he's done.  Remember, dealing with Trump was Carney's hallmark position?  He was going to handle Trump.  WTF!  Now that's definitely off the table.  

How dumb!?

Who is advising him?  He is a rogue prime minister doing whatever he wants with absolutely no Parliamentary oversight.  Remember, 40 percent of Canadians voted Conservative, but Carney went ahead and announced he would recognize Palestine anyway??!!

This is criminal and he has to be stopped.  Now he's off to New York and the UN, which is why he made the announcement he did when he did.  He had no authority to do this.  He has been acting as a despot and it has to end.  As an aside, why does his wife tag along on every state visit?  No one voted for her, yet there she is beside him on panels blabbing away.  Please.      

I told you so

Hate to say it, but I did.  I said Mark Carney would not be able to withstand Poilievre's relentless and brilliant criticisms and interrogation of him in The House and he couldn't.  Off Carney desperately fled to Mexico after just one day -- ONE DAY -- in Question Period.  That was it.  He abandoned his post as "leader" of the country after only a couple of hours of actually doing his job responding to Opposition questions.

Carney in Mexico avoiding doing his job in The House.

I told you it would happen.  The worst of it was his smirking and laughing when being questioned about the shocking loss of jobs and the fleeing of billions in capital from this country.  We get it, Mark, you're a billionaire so you don't care about the millions of Canadians who have to choose between putting food on the table, or paying the rent?!  Hey, what me worry?!

Again, to all of you who voted for him -- especially those of you in the cocooned Ottawa Bubble -- I hope you're starting to realize what a colossal mistake you've made.  He ate the Conservative's lunch the minute he got into office.  That was tragic for the Conservatives, but Pierre is still hanging in there and is on his case.

What has he accomplished in Mexico?  He's signed a "strategic partnership agreement", in other words, NOTHING.  It's going to be a rough ride for all Canadians and it's all our own fault.  And what's to negotiate in Mexico anyhow?  The entire economy runs on only two things:  Tourism and drug cartels.  That's it.  

The only thing he's done that makes sense is dump the odious Freeland, Lametti, Wilkinson, Guilbeault and Blair.  Finally!  I was shocked when he re-appointed so many of the tired, old Trudeau clubhouse gang, but at least they're gone -- to nice, cushy postings -- but out of The House and out of sight.  Now get rid of Anand, Joly and Hajdu -- all disgraces to their gender -- and a few more freeloaders and hangers-on and real progress might be made.  

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A word about Danielle Smith's government and its decision to have drivers' licences include the citizenship status.  If you're a Canadian citizen, you will have a "CAN" stamped on it.  I think it's high time, but, of course, the workery are up-in-arms.  Why, I have no clue?  Why shouldn't your status be readily and visibly available?

I have said for years that currently there is no way to ensure voters are Canadian citizens when they go to the polls.  All you have to produce is a driver's licence, which shows your address -- not proof you are a citizen.  That means you can just go ahead and vote, which is against the law.

"Don't you have to ask for proof of citizenship when people show up to vote?" I asked a scrutineer during an election.  "Oh, no, we trust you."  How dumb!  You have to wonder how many non-citizens have been voting illegally for years in municipal, provincial and federal elections.

Who's voting?  No clue??!!

So, if you're not a Canadian, you can't vote.  Plain and simple.  I'm all for proof.    

 

 

This is the guy who runs the public service

 

Incoherence at its finest.

"The public service's job is to be disciplined and concentrate, resist distractions from the prime minister's missions.  (This is incoherent because what he is saying is "Don't be distracted by the prime minister's missions," instead of what he means is, "Don't be distracted from what the prime minister's missions are."  Who's writing this stuff?) Be organized, but intense.  Be in a hurry, but better organized and done with the public service and not to it," wrote PCO Clerk Michael Sabia to all deputy ministers.

Huh??!!

What does that even mean?  He then goes on to say, "There is always the risk that following the process is so time-consuming that everything slows down at a time when we need to speed up because the world is moving as fast as it is.  (I'd say, "...the world is moving fast," but I digress again on such bad writing.) When standard operating procedures just don't work anymore, rigorous debate is the best path to the best decisions."

Huh??!!

I still have no clue what he is saying?  Is it, speed up, but risk the process will break down?  How would that get anything done?  Will he be playing by Queensberry rules, or is it playoff hockey -- or even a barfight?  

Then he goes onto accountability:  "It is divided into two key elements:  senior-manage-informed structured decision-making and personal accountability based on commitment and initiative."  What the hell does that even mean?  It's totally incoherent.  

Then he closes with this:  "Diversity in thought is certainly important, but is nevertheless a departure from the recent emphasis on the representational aspect of diversity."  Huh??!!  More incoherence.

"Listening to the open and honest debates is what the public service needs in order to capitalize on the differing perspectives of diversity," he concludes.  Complete gobble gook.  His mother, Laura, was insane, so I guess the apple didn't fall far.

Where I a deputy minister reading this, I'd throw up my hands.  It's a no-win mandate.  Do I debate, or do I lead?  Do I have to be open to diversity, but not too open?  Do I follow process, or do I throw it out the window and start a barfight?

It's all bullsh-t.  And this from the guy who is going to lead the charge.  Man, am I glad I'm retired.

It's official

As you know, thanks to DNA, I learned two years ago who my birth Father really was and that I had five sisters and two brothers. It was such a shock, but a welcome one! I had found my birth Mother pre-internet 40 years ago through dogged research and sleuthing, but sadly, she had died at 49 (yikes!) the year before I discovered who she had been.

I was told who her boyfriend was at the time and assumed for the next 35 years that he was the father.  But lo and behold, DNA revealed that someone named William Doyle was my genetic father.  As I say, this led to the revelation of five sisters and two brothers; Bill Doyle was one of them.  

My niece, one of his daughters, sent me the obituary, below, and I shocked to see I had been mentioned as one of his sisters too!  When you're adopted, you are not part of the "official" birth family circle, but thanks to Maureen and Nora, I was actually added to the obituary.  Although I never met brother Bill, I am there as a sister.  What an honour and I thank my niece, Kristin, for sending his obit to me.  Here it is:

_________________________________ 

My late bother, Bill Doyle II

William "Bill" P. Doyle II, 75, of Watertown, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on September 10, 2025.

Born March 4, 1950, in Potsdam, NY, he was the son of the late William P. Doyle and Mary Keegan Doyle. Bill graduated from Immaculate Heart Central School in 1968 and attended Jefferson Community College before beginning his professional career at Century Housewares, where he advanced through the company to become a district manager. He later retired from WWTI TV 50 as a sales executive, where he was respected for his dedication and strong work ethic.

Bill proudly served in the Army Reserves and was an active member of his community throughout his life. He was a 46-year life member of the Elks Lodge 496, a member of Morning Rotary, and a devoted member of the Watertown Golf Club for more than 30 years. An avid golfer and bowler, Bill also loved cheering for his favorite teams-the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Cowboys-and never missed an opportunity for a spirited football debate with his son-in-law over the annual Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry game.

After high school, Bill married Christine Clement, and together they shared two daughters: Amy J. (Patrick) Thompson, Woodside, Queens; and Kristin (Scott) Doyle-Edmondson, Concord, MA. He later married Debra Platko in Saginaw, MI, and together they shared a son and a daughter: William P. (Amanda) Doyle III, Massena; and Shannon DeMarco, Watertown. He is also survived by six beloved grandchildren: Skylar, Emily, Aidan, Madelaine, Landon, and Samuel; and two great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Brynlee.

In addition, he is survived by his six sisters: Nancy Marley-Clarke, Cochrane, Alberta; Dr. M. France Doyle, Rochester; Margaret Doyle, Rochester; Eleanor Goldfarb, Rochester; Dr. Nora M. Doyle, San Antonio, TX; and Maureen Doyle, Rochester; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Theodore Michael "Tim" Doyle.

As per his wishes, Bill is donating his body for science. A Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on September 23 at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, a luncheon will be hosted at Art's Jug in Watertown, where family and friends are invited to gather in his memory.

Arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Watertown, and online condolences may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com (http://www.cummingsfuneral.com/). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support a scholarship fund established in Bill's name to: Northern NY Community Foundation, 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

Bill's warmth, sense of humor, and love of life touched everyone who knew him. He will be remembered for his generosity, his easy laugh, and the countless friendships he nurtured over the years.

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Rest in Peace, brother Bill.