Harper Government Frees Teen Stuck in Cuba

Cody LeCompte, a teen who has been stuck in Communist Cuba since April will soon be coming home possibly next Tuesday.  He had gotten into an accident while driving a rental car and was never charged with anything and could face up to three years in jail but had to stay there.  Jailed in Cuba, how awful!

Thank God the Harper government has finally intervened and has an agreement with Cuban authority. Cody can come home providing he return for a possible trial (let's hope and pray that doesn't happen so he doesn't have to go back) and he pay for the repair of the other vehicle that was damaged.

In an exclusive interview with the Toronto Sun moments after a tentative deal was worked out with Cuban authorites, Cody was also emotional as he thought about the prospect of finally going home.“I am very surprised,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
The relieved teen thanked the Canadian government for getting involved in the case.
And Cody also expressed his gratitude to the thousands of Canadians across the country who have been “so supportive.”
“It’s nice to know that people care,” he said.
After 13-weeks of being trapped at a Cuban resort as police investigated a car crash, the teen’s family posted bail of $2,000 Cuban pesos (about $2,200) Wednesday that should allow him leave.
“In exchange for promising to appear at a future trial date if need be, they agreed release Cody,” his elated uncle, Gary Parmenter, said. “It’s obvious that some pressure was put on the Cuban and Canadian governments as a result of the articles the Sun ran.”
Parmenter said after weeks of nothing happening, things suddenly started to move Wednesday on the heels of the Canadian government issuing a news release indicating holding Cody any longer could affect tourism.
The deal to pay the bail was worked out in the town of Minas, about 30 minutes from the Gran Club resort in Santa Lucia, where Cody has been stranded.
“It’s a win-win for both governments.” said Parmenter “They both get to save face.”
The meeting came after comments made in Ottawa by Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), who hinted holding a Canadian for this long could have repercussions on Canadians deciding on Cuba as a vacation destination.
Parmenter said Cuban officials have indicated they will now work with the family to get Cody on the plane Tuesday.
There is, however, one more hurdle to clear — the cost of repairing the damage to the truck that allegedly broadsided the Hyundai Accent Cody was driving.
Cuban officials want to check with the driver to see if he expects the family to cover the estimated $500 in repairs.
No problem, says the family: “It would cost us a lot more than that to keep Cody here so I don’t foresee it as an issue” said Parmenter.
Danette said although she wishes the federal government had stepped in sooner, she’s happy they finally “came through.”

 She’s not ready just yet to think about the possibility of Cody having to return to the communist country for a potential trial or about the $30,000 of debt she’s accumulated during this ordeal.

“I’m just focused on getting my son back on Canadian soil,” she said. “Nothing else matters right now.”

This is wonderful news.  Cody will soon be back home.  I say thank you too to Minister Peter Kent and PM Harper for finally coming to bat for this innocent young man who did nothing wrong.  This maybe is a lesson  for anyone else who travels to Cuba, don't drive in that country, you could end up in the same boat.
I wish Cody and his mom all the best.  I hope they can get their lives back in order soon!

Federal Liberal Candidate Won't Stepdown.

A federal Liberal candidate from Calgary, Jennifer Pollock won't quit for her racist remarks she made concerning the Calgary Police Service on a twitter post. 

CALGARY - Embattled federal Liberal candidate Jennifer Pollock won't resign after posting online remarks accusing some Calgary cops of being racist.

 The Calgary West candidate, who twice lost to Conservative MP Rob Anders, courted controversy over the weekend by suggesting on Twitter that while she isn't condemning the force, she still contends some city police are racist.

Responding to reports of a memo sent to Tory faithful Sunday evening calling for Liberal boss Michael Ignatieff to axe the veteran campaigner, Pollock said she has no intention of stepping down and the government is simply using the gaffe as a smokescreen.
"This is a common tactic - the Conservatives are trying to change the channel by talking about this," she said. "I think in a big force in a big complex city there are some police who are racist.
"But I'm saying these things because I care about the police."
Pollock received some Twitter backlash Sunday after publicly agreeing with another person's statement that Calgary cops display "blatant racism."
She went further, saying: "My statement is not condemning the Calgary Police Service - but admitting the need for change - yes (there are) some racist cops in (Calgary)."
Police union boss John Dooks said he was offended by the remark but he's not ready to back calls for her resignation.
"It's insulting and offensive that somebody would say that," he said.
"I don't necessarily think someone should be fired for (saying) that but I'd like to hear her respond to it - she owes it to the community."
Dooks said racism is not tolerated in the service and "the only intolerance officers have generally is that against anti-societal behaviour."
Pollock noted she called police Chief Rick Hanson on Sunday night, leaving a message inviting him to give her a call if he wants to discuss her comments.
The party is continuing to back Pollock, with press secretary Michel Liboiron saying her candidacy is safe and the party believes the Calgary force is top-notch.
"Our position on the Calgary police department is crystal clear: They are a fine and respected force, and we have the utmost confidence and respect in them and their work," he wrote in an email.
"Our candidate simply wants to ensure that the police service has the resources to do its job - including the training and community outreach that is now an essential part of any police force in a world-class city such as Calgary."

 Mr. Iffy obviously is not going to call for her head he and the party are standing behind her.   If they think they can unseat Rob Anders in Calgary West, they have another thing coming and this surely doesn't help.
You can bet your booty that  if this were a Conservative candidate, there would be demands for the person to stepdown and an apology from all quarters, Liberals and their cheerleader media, calling the CPC racist and all sorts of names.

Could it be that Liberals  actually support racism?   They support affirmative action which is blatantly racist.  You make the call.

Mr. Ziffy's Magical Bus Tour

Well two weeks into the Mr. Ziffy's magical bus tour making him into something he's not so he can connect with the regular lowly Joe and Mary sixpack is turning out to be not so magical as stated by the Sun's editorial board with David McGuinty griping about the Sun's reporting on the cabal.

McGuinty can mix apples and oranges all he wants -- prisons and schools, like corporate tax cuts and home care, do not belong in the same sentence -- but don't try to pass this nonsense off as if Ignatieff has answers.
He's making it up on the fly. There's no substance.
This six-week dupe show is all about Ignatieff's image being in the tank, and the Liberal Party plummeting in the polls.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Ask any journalist on the bus.

It seems like turnout for Mr. Ziffy's appearances are not that empressive either.  There is no Ziffymania and it's mainly Liberal friendly events he's attending.    Failed Lib Leader John Turner got bigger turnout and he was  a disaster as a  leader.  Even  Lib supporters aren't exactly getting excited about this man. 

 Former Perth-Wellington Liberal Riding Association president Adam Mair was disappointed by yesterday's turnout to a potential prime minister of Canada, however.
"I'm comparing to the same site when John Turner rolled in here, the very same spot and it was wall to wall to city hall with people," he said.

Meanwhile Liberal party president Alf Apps is still not  a happy camper telling Libs to take a valium and still blaming the media for his dear leader and his party tanking. As Paul Wells so aptly puts it:

 But Maclean's columnist Paul Wells, who has written about the media's treatment of the Liberal Party in the past, said that while Ottawa journalists are prone to "group think," the prevailing opinion that Mr. Ignatieff is politically inept did not develop out of nowhere.

But then goes on later to state that overall Mr. Ziffy has been getting positive press.

Mr. Wells also noted that the national coverage of the "Liberal Express" bus tour, in which Mr. Ignatieff is travelling around the country meeting with supporters, has been largely favourable.

Mr. Apps needs to look in the mirror it's his leader and his party and about what they do or do not stand for and their extremely partisan tactics.  Maybe it is he who should take the Valium.
His leader is an elite, arrogant, condesending and a flip flopper and just can't relate to us regular people. He is not PM material.
On the other hand PM Stephen Harper is a regular middle class Canadian who knows what it's like to work hard, and pay the bills.  That's why he can relate to many of us. Liberals just don't get it!

Liberals and NDP Are in Favor of Affirmitive Action

The government has ordered an affirmative action overhaul.

This is why.  When fellow BT blogger Sara Landriault who had applied for a job at Citizenship and Immigration  had her application blocked because she is white. Why, if Sarah is qualified for the job that she is discriminated from even applying? Doesn't make sense. The government has listened and is taking action rectify that problem . 

The Liberals and NDP are not happy though. They are belly aching. They seem to think that discriminating against someone applying for a government job based on race is quite fine.   Are the Liberals and NDP in favor of  racial discrimination?  I thought both those parties believed in equality. Go figure! 

Equality is equality. Whatever happened to being chosen for a position based on merit? Liberals and NDP mustn't think merit is important.  It shouldn't matter what race you are.  If you have the qualifications for a certain position,  no matter if you're black, white, red, yellow or pink with purple polka dots, you should be able to at least apply.

Good for Sarah for speaking out and good for the government for acting so quickly.

Remember this from a famous American civil rights leader:

 I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sidenote: I wish Sarah the best on her job hunt and hope she lands one soon.  Go Sarah!

Liberals All Over the Map on New F-35 Fighter Jets

Liberals can't make up their minds where they stand on anything.  The latest is the  government's procurement of 65 new F-35 fighter jets.  First spaceman Marc Garneau came out with feigned outrage railing against the deal saying the Libs would cancel it.  The same Lib spaceman Garneau  then said they would put it hold and review the it to make sure Canadians got the best deal.

"We just spent $2.6 billion to upgrade our current fleet of CF-18 aircraft and the replacement date that's forecast for these aircraft is not until 2017," said Garneau. "We need to make sure that Canadians get the best possible deal in the circumstances," he said.

Ujjal Dosanjh has  asked budget officer Kevin Page to examine whether or not we got a good deal.

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh asked Parliament's budget officer Kevin Page Wednesday to investigate the F-35 deal — comparing it to other countries that have purchased the fifth-generation jet — and see whether Canada got good value for money.

Now retired general, current Liberal Senator, Romeo Dallaire figures it's a great deal and that we should buy more.

Dallaire called its main rival — Boeing's F-18E Super Hornet — "old" and hailed the government's $9-billion military investment as “essential.
“It's an excellent plane that's built in North America," Dallaire said Wednesday, noting he does take issue with the sole source government contract. "We need more than that but we can only afford 65."

In the meantime so much for the feigned outrage over the  so called "the lack of a competive process."   It was a joint decision with our allies that was properly deliberated for years.
Former Quebec Liberal MP Jacques Saada  agreed with the government and commented on the issue. 

While Liberals have been decrying the sole-source deal, former Quebec Liberal MP Jacques Saada, now president of Quebec's aerospace association, agreed with the government earlier this week when he told QMI Agency there was a "very serious" competitive bid process in the late-90s.
Those deliberations, he said, last nearly five years and in the end the nine Joint Strike Fighter partners — including Canada, United States, Britain and Australia — all decided to buy the F-35.

Ralphy Goodale should know better. He was a part of that government that started this process.  He  has said they would "revisit it" if they formed the next government.

The Liberals have pledge to “revisit” the jet deal if they form the next government, “and would insist on a competitive process,” Goodale said.

So where exactly DO the Liberals stand on this?  Mr. Iffy needs to get his Libs together and decide where they stand.
They have flip, flopped and have been all over the map on this as they are on many other issues. The deal was originally started by them when they were still in office. The current government continued the process.
It just proves they don't have a coherent stand on anything and are not ready to govern.  Voters are not going to vote for a party that can't make up their mind who they are and what they stand for.