133

Sapper Steven Marshall, RIP.

Sapper Marshall was killed yseterday near one of the "model villages" which are a key part of Canada's new counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. He was only 24, the second Canadian to die in three days, and the 133rd since Canada joined the American invasion of Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan sacrifices may have been in vain" is the title of Thomas Walkom's thoughtful column in today's Toronto Star. Read it and think how many more lives will be lost while we try to save face.

The last line from Walkom's column: The war we never should have waged is effectively lost. We have only to admit it.

What the HSP will mean to Ontarians

The following comes from Agent 23. Walt is signing the petition and hopes all Ontarians reading these words will unite to fight a regressive tax that punishes those who can least afford it.

Next summer the Ontario Government of Dalton McGuinty and Dwight Duncan -- pushed and cajoled by "Call Me Steve" Harper and Jim "What Recession?" Flahtery -- is set to put into force its new harmonized GST/PST. Thus a 13% sales tax will be applied to virtually everything we purchase.

Things that were not previously taxed under the current Ontario Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will be taxed at 8%. The new 13% tax will therefore apply to things like your electric bill, your gas bill, your water bill, condominium fees, insurance premiums, and every other good and service you purchase. There are almost no exemptions.

The current Ontario PST tax does not apply to services, nor does it apply to the purchase of certain goods. The new 13% tax will therefore extend the old 8% PST tax rate to the purchase of all goods and all services. You'll have to pay the new tax on your haircut!

The new HST will also apply to all purchases of all new homes. If a person were to purchase a new $1 million dollar home in Toronto, they would have to pay roughly $200,000 in taxes as a result of the Ontario land transfer tax, the new city of Toronto land transfer tax, and the new harmonized 13% GST/PST.

Think about that and what that would do to real estate values in Toronto. It will cause property values to fall and kill the new home construction industry and the jobs it creates. And it won't be long before you'll hear our elected representatives telling us that, because of the harm that has been inflicted to the new home construction industry by the new 13% tax, it would be "fair" to extend the new 13% tax to sales of existing homes.

Canadians have had two things that they have always been able to count on as being tax free - things that they could use to save money and accumulate wealth. They are your: (a) primary home; and (b) RRSP. That's it.The extension of the new 13% HST to homes is simply a tax assault by the government on your primary home. They want to tax your primary home and you will suffer because of it. Why? Because if a purchaser has to pay almost $200,000 in taxes to buy your $1 million dollar home, the purchaser is going to pay less to you for your home. The purchaser will reduce the amount he or she is willing to pay to you in order to pay all the taxes.

Your income tax will go up! The combined Federal/Ontario income tax rates are roughly 25% on the first $20,000 of taxable income, 42% on the next $40,000 of taxable income, and 46.5% on each dollar of taxable income over $60,000. On top of that you have to add the "Fair Share Health Tax" of up to $1,000 each of us has to pay.

If the Ontario Government gets away with implementing their new harmonized GST/PST sales tax of 13%, the top effective income tax rates in Ontario will be as follows (since you can't spend any of your tax paid dollars without paying the new harmonized 13% GST/PST tax): 38% on the first $20,000, 53% on the next $40,000, 59.5% on every dollar over $60,000.

On top of that, you have to pay your Ontario Fair Share Health Tax, your city realty taxes, your city garbage fees, your city water fees, your city street parking permit fees, your annual Ontario and new city of Toronto vehicle license plate fees, your Ontario land transfer tax, your new city of Toronto land transfer tax, your gasoline taxes, your liquor taxes, your air departure taxes, your entertainment taxes, and so on.

OF ALL THE MONEY YOU WORKED HARD TO EARN, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE YOU REALLY KEEPING FOR YOUR OWN USE? 25%? 20%? 10%? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - FIGHT BACK!

I URGE YOU TO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND TO FILL AND AND SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST THE NEW HST AT www.unfairtaxgrab.com.

When you visit the site you'll see that it's an NDP initiative. Even though the NDP has a snowball's chance of forming the next provincial government, Walt congratulates them for leading the fight against the HST. The McGuinty Liberals have proposed it, the federal Liberals are waffling, and the provincial Tories are sitting firmly on the fence. claims "no one is complaining" about his unfair tax grab. You proved him wrong this week.

Every now and then -- as in the Maid of the Mist lease story yesterday -- the voice of the people prevails! Sign the petition! Pass this post on to your friends, your family, your neighbours...everybody! Together we can stop the HST!

Power to the people of Niagara Falls

The Niagara Parks Commission has been, for years and years, a notoriously secretive and arrogant agency of the Province of Ontario.

Governed by a law passed in the 19th century which has barely changed since, it is pretty well a law unto itself. Its members, although public officials, are sworn to secrecy and cannot divulge what goes on at its meetings to anyone, even the municipal councils whom some of them represent.

Their books are not open to the public. Audited accounts have not been published in a timely fashion. Management and business decisions have been made on the bases of cronyism, favouritism and, allegedly, corruption.

The allegations have been made by Bob Gale, a Niagara Falls businessman and former NPC member who resigned in disgust, and by Preserve Our Parks, a citizens' action group which has taken on the mission of lobbying for Niagara Parks to be managed in the best interests of all the residents of Niagara.

The most monstrous example of puck-nailed-to-the-stick decision-making was the NPC's decision to renew the lease contract for the famous Maid of the Mist, made in haste and secrecy in April 2008, more than a year before the current lease expired. A sweetheart deal was given to a company controlled by James Glynn, an American with close connections to prominent politicians -- both Liberal and Conservative -- and the supposedly independent Commission.

Under the new lease, the NPC would actually have received less revenue, over the course of the 25-year contract, than it does now. Who would have kept the rest of the money? Glynn, of course. Worse yet, NPC chairman Jim Williams kept hidden from the Commission the fact that at least two other boat tour operators had expressed interest in taking over the operation, providing more modern equipment, enhanced service and increased (and direly needed) revenue for NPC.

In the face of the hue and cry raised by Bob Gale, Preserve Our Parks and Bill Windsor (one of the would-be bidders for a new lease), Ontario's Integrity Commissioner launched an investigation. In her report, Lynn Morrison said she "could not find any evidence of wrongdoing" on the part of Commissioner Williams. It is rumoured that the Integrity Commissioner also has trouble finding a blackberry in her saucer of milk.

However, the Integrity Commissioner suggested that it might be in order for the NPC to "review" its decision to renew the lease with Glynn. This the NPC did. To no-one's surprise, the NPC found it had done nothing wrong, and recommended the same renewal, on the same terms, without any tender or competitive bidding!

Like King Balthasar (Daniel 5), the NPC would not read the handwriting on the wall!

In response, Preserve Our Parks and Messrs Gale and Windsor stepped up the pressure on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and the feckless Minister of Tourism Monique Smith. (Ms Smith owes her position chiefly to being a pliable woman, appointed to pretty up the cabinet picture.) And, believe it or not, they won!

Yes, Minister Smith (not Chairman Williams) announced yesterday that the Niagara Parks Commission will at last solicit competing bids from companies interested in leasing the property needed to provide the Maid of the Mist tours.

"For once, the taxpayers have won. It's unbelievable," said Bob Gale. Click here to read his statement, published by OPSEU Local 217, the union representing NPC employees. The union has for years complained of the mismanagement and high-handed attitude of the Commission and its chairman, and has been very vocal in calling for reform of the NPC.

In effect, the Liberal government told NPC to get real! How could they just, for the sake of doing a favour for a friend, leave on the table nearly $100 million of potential income from a new boat tour operator, especially when NPC is running deeply in the red, as at present.

After the eHealth scandal, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced a new policy aimed at opening government-issued contracts to competitive bids more regularly. Why a new policy should have been required is a good question, but nevertheless...

"We think that this process aligns itself well with that," Smith said in an interview just hours after she recommended [really? it was her idea? ed.] cabinet not give its approval to the deal the NPC handed on a platter to Glynn's Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co.
"I think this is the appropriate course," Smith said. "It ensures all interested parties get the opportunity to submit proposals in a fair and open competition."

Parks commission chairman Jim Williams said his board will abide by the order. According to the Niagara Falls Review, Williams said, "As a dutiful agency of government, we are not our own masters. We work for the government. They're wanting an open, transparent process. We will certainly follow that recommendation." Snorts of derision were not recorded in the Review account.

Speaking for Preserve Our Parks, James Bannister said the group was encouraged that at last a proper and businesslike bidding process -- one that was called for by the government's rules -- would be followed. However, he cautioned, "the NPC is still badly in need of reform. The old boys club that tried to push through the sweetheart deal is still in charge of NPC. Preserve Our Parks won't rest until the rascals are thrown out!"

132

Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry yesterday became the 132nd Canadian to die in Afghanistan. RIP.

The media are telling us Lt. Boyes is "the first in over a month" to die, as if that's supposed to make his family or us feel better. The tide of the war has not changed. It is against us.

Meanwhile, the focus of the "war on terror" seems to be shifting northeastward, to some more "stans"...Waziristan, which is a province of Pakistan. Al Qaeda and the Taliban have killed hundreds in the "stans" this week alone. The armed forces of Pakistan, America, Canada and the rest do not seem to be making any headway in containing, let alone eliminating them.

Those who have eyes to see, let them see.

Rearranging the deck chairs

The good ship Liberal looks this week like a latter-day Titanic. The party's poll numbers keep going down, and the lifeboats are starting to fill up. All that's needed is a band to play "Nearer Dion to Thee".

So what does that fearless leader, Prince Michael Ignatieff, do? Why, get a new chief of staff of course! Or maybe not.

CBC's Power and Politics reported yesterday that Ian "Rainmaker Junior" Davey had either jumped or been pushed over the side, to be replaced by Peter Donolo, former communications director to prime minister Jean Chrétien. Then Jill Fairbrother, Iggy's current [for how long? ed.] director of communications, said no, Davey was not leaving, under a cloud or otherwise. Jill, by the way, happens to be Ian's "partner".

So who's in charge...really? If Donolo accepts the position of first mate, he will be the third in the last year. And he will doubtless bring with him a new director of communications, who can assure us that there's nothing wrong, the ship just stopped for ice!

I hate to say this, but the problem in the OLO [not LOL? ed.] is not one of communications. It is one of leadership! [You did say this, just a few days ago. ed.]

Mr. Ignatieff does not know where he wants to lead the Liberal Party, other than back into power. Thus there is simply nothing of substance to communicate. Until that is changed, Mr. Donolo or Mr. Davey or whoever is nominally in charge had better be sure their lifevest is securely fastened. Oh, and some armour plate across the back wouldn't hurt either.

Paul Theroux writes about travel

I read a lot! My favourite genre is travel writing...not guidebooks but what is sometimes called "travel adventure" or "travel biography". To my mind, the leader in the field is Paul Theroux, author of Dark Star Safari, which I just finished.

Here, from that book, is Theroux's explanation of why people travel, or at least why he travels.

The wish to disappear sends many travelers away. If you are thoroughly sick of being kept waiting at home or at work, travel is perfect: let other people wait for a change. Travel is a sort of revenge for having been put on hold, having to leave messages on answering machines, not knowing your party’s extension, being kept waiting all your working life -- the homebound writer’s irritants. Being kept waiting is the human condition.

I wish I'd written that! As it is, I can only recommend Theroux's books...well, his travel books rather more than his fiction...to you. If you'd like to get your feet wet, so to speak, check your library's catalogue for Fresh-air Fiend or To the Ends of the Earth, two compilations of excerpts from his late 20th-century books.

The troubling case of David Dewees

Agent 18 writes concerning the disturbing case of David Dewees, pictured. Earlier this month Mr. Dewees threw himself in front of a Toronto subway train. Why?

Well, Mr. Dewees had been charged by Toronto police with sexual offences involving boys. The charges provoked a media frenzy, with the newspapers and TV vying to give maximum exposure to Dewees' photo. Since Dewees was a high school teacher, there was an implication that he must have had improper relations with some of his students. Appeals were made for "other victims" to come forward.

In fact the alleged offences occurred near the sleepy village of Port Sydney, in the Muskokas, at a summer camp where Mr. Dewees had worked as a counsellor. Agent 18 and Walt both spent happy summers at the same camp, many years before Dewees was there, hence the letter.

Agent 18 writes: I wonder, when he was at camp with a tent full of boys, what he was doing. I think it is sad we have come to that place in this world, that we cannot trust people to the fullest.
Indeed. Agent 18 says the Presbyterian church requires all those involved with children to be made aware of the church's policies and sign a statement confirming their awareness. (I wonder if the Roman Catholic Church has such policies? ed.) The Boy Scouts, after years of jokes about the foxes looking after the chickens, has put in place strict vetting procedures for scout leaders. Probably they are also asked to sign a piece of paper. As if that would do any good.

What is the reason for the apparent increase in the incidence of sexual abuse of minors by those standing in loco parentis, like camp counsellors and clergymen? I'm inclined to blame, amongst other factors, the relentless campaign of the homosexuals imbedded in the media to persuade us that being gay is OK!

There is no shame or stigma attached to homosexuality any more. "We're here! We're queer! Get used to it!" We hear this not just during Gay Pride Week (!!!) but the other 51 weeks of the year as well. And because of political correctness, no-one dares say homosexuality is not OK!

Even now I can hear the crayons being sharpened to accuse Walt of being homophobic. The term itself is a misnomer. Those of us who are "anti-gay" are not afraid of homosexuals. Rather, we detest them and their "lifestyle choice". We wish they would shut up about it, and go back in the closet where they belong!

Not so long ago -- yet it seems a long time -- the fathers of modern psychiatry, such as Freud and Kraft-Ebbing, regarded homosexuality as deviant behaviour. Deviant...as in disordered or abnormal. Even now the official teaching of the Church is that is "morally disordered".

But what we hear from the media is that there's nothing wrong with being gay. It's not even a sickness. It's just a "lifestyle choice". Some of us choose to be surfer dudes. Some of us choose to be queers. That's all. And just as there's nothing wrong with trying to persuade someone to join your political party, there's nothing wrong with trying to get someone to switch from AC to DC.

So who is to blame for Mr. Dewees' decision to end it all? Why, the media of course! In an e-mail to the Toronto Sun, one of his friends wrote "Does the government not provide some kind of 'babysitter' in these situations or put him on suicide watch? Or did they just let him go and say deal with it?"

"Many will say this proves he was guilty," he added. "And maybe he was. Or maybe he wasn't guilty. His career and reputation ruined, maybe he was so embarrassed with his name and face plastered all over the media and felt that no matter what the outcome, people would always write him off as a pervert. Maybe he just couldn't deal with that."

You can make a good argument that Dewees was tried and convicted in the media, without having had his day in court. But the threat of exposure is one of the few sanctions left against improper and illegal behaviour. If you do nothing, even in your private life, that can't stand the light of day, you have nothing to fear.