Brantord Letters to the editor

All governments must pay closer attention to hardship

Two recent items by local news outlets should be cause for the members of our city council, MPP and MP to sit up, very straight, and take serious note of what is happening to the people living and paying taxes in this city.

Food bank demands are increasing. Brantford has an unemployment rate hovering around 10.9%, Canadian unemployment numbers hover around 8.6%.

Our MP voted to stall EI restructuring. We are second in the filing of personal bankruptcy in Ontario, up 60.3% over the same period in 2008.

The article touches on, but does not provide, the number of homes in the city that are going into bank foreclosure, or forced sale because people can no longer afford them. Businesses throughout this city are suffering as these numbers grow.

Our MPP lauds the new harmonized tax that will be the largest tax grab in this province's history and add further burdens to families already struggling.

The city receives their property taxes, be it from the bank or homeowner, but the loss to these families cannot have a price attached to it.

This council lauds the stimulus money being poured into the city, as photo opportunities are taken with each handout, but they are not providing the cost to the city taxpayer.

We will pay once at the federal level, once at the provincial level and once at the city level for every dollar attached to stimulus spending.

This city needs to stop spending and not just focus on a "zero budget increase" but on a "zero tax increase."

Mary O'Grady Brantford


Let's get a new city team for new talks with county

Land negotiations between the City of Brantford and the County of Brant must be reestablished with a new negotiation team for the greater common good.

The taxpayers of Brant and Brantford should not be penalized by the breakdown between the city and the county in land negotiations. We believe cooler heads should prevail to unlock the new tax revenue, the new jobs and new business potential represented by the estimated 5,000 acres held hostage by the dispute. Not using the land potential for a higher and needed use is both unfair and wasteful to all -- the property owners, the general taxpayers and the local economy.

If we cannot resolve local issues amongst ourselves, the province, as a higher authority, can force terms that could be less beneficial than a locally negotiated and controlled solution. This is a bad precedent for our local long-term autonomy.

Prior to giving up our jurisdiction over this dispute, we, the Brant Taxpayers Coalition, recommend that a new, more senior negotiation committee be established to resolve the issue. We suggest that the mayor and mayoral candidates -- councillors Littell, Sless and Cesci- Smith -- be part of this new committee. All members proposed have a track record of steady leadership and cool-headed, not inflammatory, and fair actions -- traits needed to resolve this important growth or anti-stagnation local issue with the county.

If it is broken, we can and should fix it locally, and remove those who are obstacles or in the way of progress, positive benefits and results for all parties concerned.

S. Holle Brantford

City cleared to buy properties - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

City cleared to buy properties - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "In a report released Tuesday on the results of a hearing of necessity under the Expropriation Act, inquiry officer Victor Freidin held that the city's bid 'is reasonably defensible' to acquire 'in the public interest' all the lands belonging to owners who objected to the city's ongoing bid to take over 41 properties on or around the south side of Colborne is 'reasonably defensible.'
The sole exception is the property with the tall building at 35 to 39 Colborne, owned Donald Fines and Co. Inc.
Freidin held that the city's case fell short on several points, and that the 'private interest outweighs the public interest.'"

taxpayer alert - how much will this cost? PR

Whistle-blowing, public appointments, conflicts offices have no influence

Whistle-blowing, public appointments, conflicts offices have no influence: "Whistle-blowing, public appointments, conflicts offices have no influence
Stephen Harper set up watchdog offices, but most have yet to make an impact on government.
By Cynthia Münster
Hill Times: July 13th, 2009
The Commissioner of Lobbying, the Public Appointments Commission, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, and the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, all created by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Federal Accountability Act have yet to make a difference in the federal landscape, say machinery of government experts.
With the visible exception of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the offices and commissioners created have not yet had a measurable impact."

Why we need more public oversight - the Canadian Citizen Accountaility Act- How about building confidence and trust by using the public as an oversight group? PR

John Tory would beat David Miller, Ipsos-Reid poll finds - Posted Toronto

John Tory would beat David Miller, Ipsos-Reid poll finds - Posted Toronto: "John Tory would beat David Miller, Ipsos-Reid poll finds
Posted: June 25, 2009, 7:15 AM by Rob Roberts
By Joseph Brean, National Post
Mayor David Miller’s support among Toronto voters has “plummeted” to the point where a majority disapprove of his performance, and he would lose in a race against possible challenger John Tory, a new poll shows.

The dismal poll numbers, which also suggest the incumbent, two-term mayor would lose to Deputy Premier George Smitherman, come as Mr. Miller struggles to contain the political fallout of a crippling strike of municipal workers.

But the collapse in Mr. Miller’s support -- from 69% four years ago to 43% today -- is not just an expression of frustration with the stopped garbage collection and closed public services."

An interesting read and primer for those that want to run in a political hot spots-;....Arrogance and complacency cannot offset the stench of bad management practises and the stench of a garabage strike . Pr

Effective local solutions please

fyi-- pass it on please

 

Land Negotiations between the City of Brantford and the County of Brant must be re-established with a new negotiation team for the greater common good.

 

 

The taxpayers of Brant and Brantford should not be penalized by the break down in negotiations between the city and the county in land negotiations. We believe cooler heads should prevail to unlock the new tax revenue, the new jobs and new business potential represented by the estimated 5000 acres held hostage by the dispute. Not using the land potential for a higher and needed use is both unfair and wasteful to all-  the property owners, the general taxpayers and the local economy .

 

If we cannot resolve local issues amongst ourselves, the province, as a higher authority, can force terms that could be less beneficial than a locally negotiated and controlled solution. This is a bad precedent for our local long term autonomy.

 

Prior to giving up our jurisdiction over this dispute, we, the Brant Taxpayers Coalition recommend that a new more senior negotiation committee be established to resolve the issue. We suggest that the Mayor and Mayoral candidates : councillors Littel,  Sless  and Marguerite Chesci Smith be part of this new committee   All members proposed have a track record of steady leadership, cool headed "not inflammatory" and fair  actions , traits needed to resolve this important growth or anti-stagnation local issue with the county   .

 

If it is broken we can and should fix it locally, and remove those who are obstacles or in the way of progress, positive benefits and results for all parties concerned.

 

S. Holle

Communications Director

Brant-Taxpayers Coalition 

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backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com

: Excellent letter! on being a real Canadian !

As a born german -I am a proud Canadian and believe that this is a good letter . Stop the political correctness. expensive nonsense which devalues our country values.

 

 

 Canadians -time to get our country back

 

"Ships in the harbour are safe, but that's not what ships are built for." William Shedd

 

 

 

A Letter to the Editor (excellent letter)

 

So many letter writers have explained how this land is made up of immigrants.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people why today's Canadian

is not willing to accept the new kind of immigrant any longer.

 

Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to Canada,

people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in Halifax and be documented.

Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground.

They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times.

They made learning English a primary rule in their new Canadian households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in
their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.

 

Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labour laws to protect them. All they had were the skills, craftsmanship and desire they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

 

Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out.

Canadians fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Sweden, Poland and so many other places.

None of these first generation Canadians ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Canadians fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the
Emperor of Japan. They were defending the Freedom as one people.

When we liberated France, no-one in those villages was looking for the
Ukrainian-Canadian or the German-Canadian or the Irish-Canadian.

The people of France saw only Canadians.

 

And we carried one flag that represented our country.

Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up
another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would
have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here.
These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be a Canadian.

They stirred the melting pot into one red and white bowl.

 

And here we are in 2009 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges.

Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes a Canadian passport and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country.

I'm sorry, that's not what being a Canadian is all about. Canadians have been very open-hearted and open-minded regarding immigrants, whether they were fleeing poverty, dictatorship,

persecution, or whatever else makes us think of those aforementioned immigrants who truly did ADOPT our country, and our flag and our morals and our customs. And left their wars, hatred,and divisions behind. I believe that the immigrants who landed in Canada in the early 1900s deserve better than that for the toil, hard work and sacrifice those legally searching for a better life.

I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags, fighting foreign battles on our soil, making Canadians change to suit their religions and cultures, and wanting to change our countries fabric by claiming discrimination when we do not give in to their demands.

 

Its about time we get real and stand up for our forefathers rights.

We are CANADIAN Lest we forget it!!!

I am a Citizen of this Country & proud of it!

 

NO MORE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
NO MORE not saying CHRISTMAS in
stores and our schools!
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
I Want my Canada of birth BACK !!!

 

P. S. -- Please pass this on to everyone you know!!!

KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING!!

 

Hope this letter is read by millions of people all across Canada!!

 

 

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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown

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Gmail - Should We Sell Our Water? - Frontier Online - siegholle@gmail.com

Gmail - Should We Sell Our Water? - Frontier Online - siegholle@gmail.com

Interesting source of free revenue for Canadians -how is water different from selling power or energy? PR

Calls for Whistle-Blowing Watchdog to Step Down

Calls for Whistle-Blowing Watchdog to Step Down: "Calls for Whistle-Blowing Watchdog to Step Down
Andrew Mayeda — Canwest News Service
July 5, 2009

Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet
testifies in the Senate on Jun. 19, 2007.
Photo: Chris Wattie/ReutersOTTAWA -- Nearly two years since she was appointed by the Harper government, the head of a federal agency designed to protect whistleblowers is off to an underwhelming start, critics say.
As part of the accountability reforms put in place in the wake of the sponsorship scandal, the Conservatives beefed up legislation that gives public servants a confidential outlet for reporting wrongdoing, while protecting them from reprisals. In August 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet to enforce the new act.
However, Ouimet has yet to report a single case of public-sector wrongdoing to Parliament. Her office has not referred any cases to a new tribunal of senior judges that has the power to award as much as $10,000 in compensation to whistleblowers who have been punished for coming forward, as well as to discipline their bosses."


The faint hope clause in politic should prevail -get people with knowledge and aility to really do the job in the public interest, PR

Fwd: Calls for Whistle-Blowing Watchdog to Step Down

I would love a job like this  What accountaility could really and easily;be acheived with some skill , knowledge and integrity - chuckle   Sieg  

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <newsletter@fairwhistleblower.ca>
Date: Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Subject: Calls for Whistle-Blowing Watchdog to Step Down
To: sieg H <siegholle@gmail.com>

FAIR Newsletter                                                           6 July 2009 Calls for whistle-blowing watchdog to step down National Post Andrew Mayeda -- Canwest News Service OTTAWA -- Nearly two years since she was appointed by the Harper government, the head of a federal agency designed to protect whistleblowers is off to an underwhelming start, critics say... ..."For the system to work, whistleblowers must trust the person to whom they report wrongdoing, and believe that action will be taken, said Hutton. "I think she has completely blown her credibility with those people." See full text of article: Calls for whistle-blowing watchdog to step down FAIR (Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform) http:fairwhistleblower .ca Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR) promotes integrity and accountability within government by empowering employees to speak out without fear of reprisal when they encounter wrongdoing. Our aim is to support legislation and management practices that will provide effective protection for whistleblowers and hence occupational free speech in the workplace. FAIR is a registered Canadian charity. Click here to unsubscribe from FAIR newsletter

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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown

backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

Fwd: [Skimaire High Tech] Canada has a great energy future

why Canadians have a future

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Q-jumpers <siegholle@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Subject: [Skimaire High Tech] Canada has a great energy future
To: siegholle@gmail.com


[http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/06/canadian-oil-sands-more-oil-than-saudi.html]
Canadian Oil Sands: More Oil Than Saudi Arabia?

Canada's oil sands hold an estimated 170 billion barrels of oil that can be recovered with existing technology and as much as 1.7 trillion barrels -- more than five times the size of Saudi Arabia's reserves -- that could be produced with the use of new methods that are being developed.

As the only non-OPEC source with the capability for large production growth during the next several years, oil sands have the potential to reduce the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' revenues, weakening the cartel and those members that often undertake policies hostile to U.S. interests.

By getting more of their oil from Canada, refineries in the Midwest are moving from being at the back of the crude oil supply line to the front. With these secure supplies, Midwest refineries are not as vulnerable to supply disruptions from overseas producers or hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.

So who would object to Canadian oil sands?

Eenvironmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club are trying to shut down Canadian oil sands production and block the expansion of refineries here in the U.S.

If the environmental groups truly cared about achieving results in their battle against global warming, they would better focus their energy on the construction of scores of power plants in rapidly developing economies like China and India that account for most of the increase in the world's carbon emissions. These developments pose the real global environmental danger, not the Canadian oil sands.

~From my editorial in today's Detroit News
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/06/canadian-oil-sands-more-oil-than-saudi.html

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Posted By Q-jumpers to Skimaire High Tech at 6/25/2009 07:12:00 AM

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Back to Eden communities
Sunridge -261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford
New Beginnings -23 Richards Ridgetown

backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
www.backtoeden.bravehost.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -quality 24/7 care

Harper, Ignatieff are both winners - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

Harper, Ignatieff are both winners - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "Who hates this? Not surprisingly, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois do. It must gall Jack and Gilles that they gave Ignatieff just the leverage he needed to bring Harper to the table, by blurting their intention to vote non-confidence at the first opportunity.
They could have hedged their bets and denied Iggy his platform. Do these two never learn?
As for the media, we're guilty of theatrics of our own, it seems to me. During an otherwise newsless June we put up a rash of breathless stories speculating about a summer election. Will they? Won't they? Once the 'crisis' has passed we immediately rush to determine who won, who lost, who 'caved' and who didn't, and heap scorn on the entire process.
Does any of this noise matter? Surely it matters most that our MPs, whom we pay upwards of $175,000 a year, will stay on the job for another few months and that the two grown-up parties in Parliament are working together, for a change. Government should be about give and take. When did compromise become grounds for ridicule?"


This is a sound reality assessment PR

Reversal of decision 'pleases' builder - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

Reversal of decision 'pleases' builder - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA: "A city homebuilder has the green light to begin the next stage of his controversial housing project along the Grand River waterfront.
After much debate Monday, city council approved, 7-3, a site plan agreement that will allow Mike Quattrociocchi and his company, Mayberry Homes, to proceed with the third stage of his housing project on Grand River Avenue, between Jarvis and Hilda streets.
The vote reversed a decision in a committee of the whole meeting two weeks earlier, when Quattrociocchi's application failed on a tie vote."

A wise business decision ? PR

Expropriation-a Necessity or a can of worms ?

No need to take over properties, owners say Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION

The city says its bid to expropriate the south side of downtown Colborne Street is a "reasonably necessary" move to end three decades of inaction by the private sector.

But some of the aff ected property owners say the municipality has yet to demonstrate a need to take over their land.

Those were the main competing themes at city hall during Thursday's hearing of necessity under the Expropriation Act. Three property owners and one tenant are objecting to council's decision in February to expropriate 41 properties on the south side of Colborne to clear the way for redevelopment.

Hearing chairman Victor Freidin is expected to deliver his report this summer.

Testimony and evidence Thursday reveal an interesting glimpse of the politics and business dealings swirling around the stretch of disputed properties.

Chris Tsekas of Weir Foulds, the law firm representing Brantford, said the city's downtown revitalization program has had "some traction." But the south side of Colborne with its increasingly decrepit and often vacant buildings has not had a "spark" that would spur the private sector in the past three decades, he said.

"It is an area that is affected by blight and it is an area that needs redevelopment," he said. "The city is tired of waiting for the private sector. All you have to do is walk by all those storefronts to realize that something is wrong."

He and associate Constance Lantaigne led a succession of senior city officials through evidence and testimony on the history of the downtown's decline, and the city's efforts to revitalize it in the past decade with a community improvement plan approved by the provincial government, a grants program and other policies.

It culminated in a detailed examination of a downtown master plan approved by council late last year to carry the goal to its conclusion, with the south side of Colborne as the No. 1 priority.

Coun. Mark Littell is chairman of the South Side of Colborne Task Force, which was formed last year to act as a political facilitator between property owners and Laurier Brantford, Nipissing University, Mohawk College and the YMCA.

He said the task force turned to expropriation after it became clear that one developer, Jack Lechcier-Kimel of Torontobased Summit Glen, was unable to assemble land he had optioned from businessman Steve Kun and other owners and meet deadlines to get proposals moving.

One project being watching closely, said Littell, is a $40-million joint athletic and recreation complex proposed for the south side of Colborne by Laurier and the Y.

Steve Kun, who owns 20 properties in the stretch, remained an objector to expropriation, and did not withdraw as was reported Thurdsay in The Expositor.

Some city officials misinterpreted a letter from Kun's lawyer that he had withdrawn. In fact, the letter merely declared that the lawyer himself had been instructed to withdraw from the hearing. Kun intended to represent himself.

In his testimony, Kun said he is not opposed to the city's redevelopment drive on south Colborne, only to council's method.

He said that his business goal was to purchase downtown properties to facilitate big projects.

He said he has sold blocks, when requested. For example, a group of eight properties on north Colborne were sold to the city, and later became part of the Harmony Square development. Another group of properties was turned into Laurier Brantford's Heritage Block project.

He also participated in a series of failed proposals to give the YMCA a new permanent home.

But he is adamant that the city did not talk seriously with him about the south side of Colborne. And he was never officially asked to attend any meetings of the task force, which met with other property owners.

In testimony, Kun recounted that city manager John Brown had asked him to a meeting last Jan. 8 to talk about south Colborne and the properties he had optioned to Lechcier- Kimel.

Kun said he told Brown that the options had been extended to the end of February because Lechcier-Kimel was having trouble with financing to close the major purchase. If it didn't work out, Kun said the city could buy his properties on the same deal given to Lechcier-Kimel.

He said Brown told him "the city is definitely not interested in any purchase of properties on the south side of Colborne."

The next month, council approved expropriation, a move that made it impossible for Lechcier-Kimel to get the necessary financing to buy the properties, said Kun.

"In all fairness to the developer (Lechchier-Kimel), the city did not give him the cooperation he needed," said Kun, accusing city officials of "duplicity" in their dealings.

"The city has not acted in good faith. I don't think it's fair, I don't think it's sound and I don't think it's necessary to expropriate in this way. There are willing sellers and willing buyers."

Dick Waterous, principal in Tutela Properties Ltd., argued the city could not demonstrate it needs to expropriate a vacant property his company owns at the western end of Colborne, near Icomm Drive.

He pointed out sections in the downtown master plan, which identify the property as a "gateway," but did not recommend immediate action because more technical information was needed about its condition.

"What do you think of the prudence of purchasing land without that information?" he asked Ross Burnett, a consultant who helped write the downtown master plan.

Paul Scargall, a lawyer for Donald Fines, whose company of the same name owns a large building at 35-39 Colborne, also argued the city has no compelling case to take over his client's property.

He pointed out that the building is occupied and has heritage significance, which would suggest it be left alone.

Waterous and Scargall both kept pressing the message that the city is trying to expropriate a large section of properties with no immediate purpose to show, other than the Laurier-Y project, which needs only a portion of the area.

Tzekas countered that it may be an "unusual expropriation" but the city has the power under Section 28 of the Expropriations Act to acquire land for provincially approved community improvement programs, which could have wider purposes.

"Cities can do that," he said.


Do not do it without the real facts or a real plan -an expropriation caution to taxpayers - Haste makes for potential waste - TAXPAYER Comment

Expropriation is a Property rights game. If this was a legitimate game -win or lose on the merits -the city lost the game big time in the Necessity hearings and proceedings Listening to the testimony of the " city staff experts and witnesses" only re-enforced why the City should not be in the development business partiularly with " with free" taxpayer money and the bully power(Section 28 of the Expropriations Act ) to do it . Having a real plan- not a warm good feel fuzzy dream driven by political expediency, with real information about the properties and the remediation costs certainly would have helped save the day .

Which 200 stakeholders did they consult to justify this potential next Eaton ICOMM type unsinkable titanic clone project? Which Stakeholders did they consult? The stakeholder definition given by the embattled consultant was people with an economic interest or stake in the program- specifically a list of approved names given to him by the City. It is most unfortunate that the property owners, or Taxpayers for that matter, where not deemed worthy stakeholders entitled to provide input. In this case the property owner input was compelling and should be heard.

Everyone in Brant, should worry what this dream will cost Brantford and the precedent it sets for the future. The pleasant dream of dynamic ,academic growth,prosperity and a new tax base could turn into a expensive gateway nightmare if not properly planned and executed on the real facts or economic merits. S. HOLLE

Old car reduction incentive

The incentives proposed could be a win -win for the auto industry and the taxpayer-by providing a stimulus to reduce the estimated 2 year new car inventory. PR

Waterfront mike

Homebuilder, council face off again
Posted By MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION

Brantford homebuilder and former city councilor Mike Quattrociocchi will find out tonight if council will approve his application for a site plan agreement governing the third phase of his controversial housing project on Grand River Avenue.

The application failed on a tie vote two weeks ago, but it is on tonight's council agenda for consideration.

At first, Quattrociocchi held out hope that he may still win, because Coun. Vince Bucci was absent on the first vote, and was believed to support his application. But when he found out the Mayor Mike Hancock, who did support it the first time, is away on business, he began lobbying other councillors over the weekend.

"I still hope to get enough support," he said.

mistakes lead to success

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…."1

Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"

What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.

I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.

In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."

mistakes lead to success

"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…."1

Many years ago, in much younger days, I used to work in construction. On a construction site in which I was in charge I made what to me was a whopping error and was scared to death to tell my boss. Fortunately for me when I did tell him, he simply said, "Dick, the man who never made a mistake never made anything!"

What a relief it was to know my "error" was forgiven! Then we set about to correct my mistake.

I think it was Robert Schuller who said, "A high jumper never knows how high he can jump until he reaches a failure point." That's a good point, for we too will never know how high we can reach in fulfilling our personal goals until we also reach a failure point.

In fact, we probably learn a lot more through our failures than we do through our successes. The important thing when we fail is to get up, learn from our mistake, and go on to achieve better things. As another has said, "Not failure, but low aim is crime."

Brantford.com -

Brantford.com -: "The return of Lloyd St. Amand
Last Updated: Wed, 17 Jun 2009

BRANTFORD (BCN) - Lloyd St. Amand, who lost his federal seat in Brant to Phil McColeman in the last election, will be back to lead the local Liberals next time around. He was acclaimed last night in front of about 80 members of his party at the Polish Hall at 126 Albion Street. He won the two previous local federal battles in 2004 and 2006, but lost by over 3,000 votes to McColeman in 2008."

Lloyd St. Amand is a good choice who did an honest credible worthy job in the past. He is a quality contender for the post. PR

Whose Ego is Bigger?

Ignatieff, Harper in duel of egos
Posted By GREG WESTON
Posted 3 hours ago


This week's sabre-rattling between Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper over a summer election has all the makings of an epic battle over which leader has the biggest, um, sword.

Forget the worst economic crash in decades, the collapsing industries, the thousands of Canadians losing their their jobs, their savings, their pensions, their homes.

If the political jousting between Iggy and the PM is any indication, the country is at risk of being dragged out of the pool and off to the polls in July over duelling egos.

Harper, of course, is no slouch in the larger-than-life department, having spent the past three years successfully muzzling his ministers, and generally trying to put an iron grip on everyone and everything government.

Today, the Conservative administration remains predominantly all Harper all the time.

But make no mistake, there's a new ego-slinger in town with the potential to make "l'etat c'est moi" an understatement in both official languages.

As the Commons headed into its final week before the scheduled (and long overdue) summer break, Ignatieff held a press conference to set out the Liberal party's four conditions for not voting the country into a mid-summer's nightmare election.

For the first 15 minutes, Ignatieff spoke from a written text about what his party and fellow MPs were expecting from the Harper government.

But as soon as Ignatieff left his prepared text and went to questions from reporters, the political situation at hand was suddenly all about him.

By our rough count, in less than 20 minutes of answering reporters, Ignatieff used one word over 100 times -- "I."

For example, one of the Liberal demands on the Harper government to avoid an election vote at the end of this week is some enriched proposals for employment insurance (EI).

"I have said that I'm looking for co-operation," Ignatieff said.

"I will judge the proposals that I'm calling for . . . I require he (the PM) come forward with proposals now, not in the fall . . . I am pragmatic. I am prepared to make compromises."

Ignatieff was asked about leaving Harper an easy way out of a summer election.

"I know Canadians aren't crazy about an election, especially eight months after the last one . . . I accept the results of that election, and I'm just trying to work with government.

"I voted for the (January) budget even though I had some questions about it because I thought it was better for Canadians than the opposite. So that's why I did it."

And so it went for the entire press conference. As it happens, Ignatieff's proposed changes to EI

have caused divisions within his own caucus and party, just as there is among Canadian voters.

No surprise there -- the Liberals are proposing to change EI to provide a full year of payments to anyone who works a minimum 360 hours -- what the Conservatives accurately call a 45-day working year.

Asked if the Liberals would bend to a compromise from the Conservatives, Iggy said he would consider proposals from Harper, and "I will determine whether he's helping out the unemployed."

One of the Conservatives' latest attack ads aimed at Ignatieff claims the Liberal leader is in national politics for himself: "It's not about you; it's just about him."

While there seems to have been mixed reaction to the ads among average Canadian voters, Liberal MPs must be wondering if the Conservatives have a point.

Adding a crisis to a crisis is not impressive - lets get people working stop making useless points at our taxpayers expense PR

With Win -Win Standards The Indians win , Canadians win

National Post editorial board: Report, then reform reserves
Posted: June 16, 2009, 8:00 AM by NP Editor


We have long been advocates of more independence and responsibility for First Nations governments; not just more money and power — the typical demands of national Aboriginal politicians — but more transparency and accountability to those governed by band councils, too.


That is why we applaud the efforts of Winnipeg’s Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Last week the FCPP released its third annual ranking of the effectiveness of administration on Prairie reserves based on five criteria: impartiality of elections, effectiveness of band administration, respect for human rights, transparency of band business and success at generating economic activity.
Many non-Aboriginal communities would have trouble scoring well, measured against those yardsticks. Happily, a good number of First Nations did very well. Ten of the 68 reserves measured in the study received scores of 65% or higher. Based on more than 5,000 surveys conducted with band councillors and ordinary band residents, the FCPP results paint a reliable picture of the state of Aboriginal local governance. As the centre points out, while it found some examples of abysmal reserve administration, there was also plenty of “positive news.” Many bands who have been surveyed all three years now are using the results to encourage internal reforms, while others with high rankings have used their scores to attract non-Aboriginal business investment.

Not all Prairie reserves participate in the FCPP assessment, so it would be inaccurate to insist the survey necessarily identifies the very best or worst bands. But to the extent it forces band leaders and members to examine what they are doing right and wrong, it is more than just a useful exercise. The FCPP survey could be a catalyst for better governance on reserves.
As the authors point out, “good governance is crucial” as a precursor to self-government and prosperity. The Frontier Centre survey, then, may be a useful step toward those goals.

It is true to say that without measurable standards there is waste and chaos -good for the Frontier Centre in leading the way PR