Former Leadership Candidates Call, Credit Counselling Canada

Looks like six former Liberal leadership candidates have missed the deadline for repaying their loans. (h/t) Canada.com

What is going to happen next? Elections Canada had granted them an 18 month extention but is not allowed to further extend their time for repayment. Perhaps they should call Credit Counselling Canada.

They blame the recession, general election, constant election speculation and the Conservatives rules. Maybe they can blame the recession to a point. The general election, constant election speculation, that's pretty weak in my opinion.

The Conservative's $1,100 rule? I don't buy that either. How come the CPC has been able to raise plenty of funds even with $1,100 limit, recession, etc., yada, yada, yada, all those excuses the LPOC recites?

Here is what the CPC raised in the first three quarters in 2009 (Third quarter not recorded yet.)



Click to image to enlarge

Here's what the LPOC raised in the same time period.



Click to image to enlarge

So it seems like the CPC had no problem raising a lot cash even with the dip in 2nd quarter in which it's possible you could attribute that to the recession, I don't know. I think CPC supporters got complacent. The amount picked up again in the third quarter.


This is what stood out for me. Notice, in the same 2nd quarter period, you can see that the LPOC were actually able to raise more than the CPC. So recession?......hmm......that doesn't quite fly. I would rather attribute that to the relative popularity that Michael Ignatieff had back then. He was the newly appointed leader and there was high hopes. The polls were rather positive for the Iffy and the Libs. That probably motivated supporters to give. Third quarter, as you notice, contributions dropped again.

So this is an example why the Lib excuses for this leadership candidate delinquency on loans doesn't wash for me. These candidates have had 18 months to clear their debts! It remains to be seen what step Elections Canada takes next.

Rules on loans here.

Two New Wildrose Alliance MLAs

Wow, two PC MLAs crossing the floor to the Wildrose Alliance to join the only current WAP MLA, Paul Hinman. I'm not surprised. There were rumors months ago. Now it looks like it's actually happening. (h/t) Calgary Sun

"Two Tory MLAs will cross the floor today to join the upstart Wildrose Alliance, which is hosting a news conference this morning to announce "significant changes" to its team.

Wildrose's southern Alberta regional director Said Abdulbaki last night confirmed two Tories will today join the fledgling party."

Will be interesting if this is the beginning of an exodus or is this it. For sure the tide is changing in Alberta.

Must Be Something New on The MacDonald's Menu

Have you ever had this happen to you? A man finds ants in his burrito. (h/t) Ottawa Sun



"MARKHAM -- Having Aunt Martha stop by for dinner over the holiday season is one thing, but having 50 ants for breakfast was more than Tommy Lam could stomach.

The jeweller said he found them lining his McDonald's burritos.

"It was disgusting!" Lam told the Sun yesterday soon after he said he made the gruesome discovery.

The 28-year-old said he and his girlfriend stopped by the busy fast-food restaurant at Markham Rd. and Denison St. around 11 a.m. yesterday to grab a quick bite to eat on their way to work.

After waiting 15 minutes in line, the couple said they ordered two sausage and egg burrito combos to go, which includes a total of four pita-wrapped sandwiches.

Soon after, they sat down to eat at his business, Jewellery Box, just around the corner at Steeles Ave. E. and Middlefield Rd. That's when Lam claims they spotted dozens of ants inside and outside their burritos."

I have never had ants in my burrito but I did find a hair once in my Chinese food. I found it totally disgusting,and it put me off of Chinese food for awhile. I never went back to that particular restaurant again.

Time for This Again

The remains of our latest fallen arrive home today at CFB Trenton for another repatriation ceremony. It never gets easier, it's always hard to see. In fact it should never get easier because we would tend to forget quicker. We must never forget those brave ones that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Later they travel down the Highway of Heroes.



Thank you, Sgt. George Miok, 28; Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21; Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28; Pte. Garrett Chidley, 21; and Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang, 34 and all those who have sacrificed before.

Global Warming? Where is it?

Your alarmists like Al Gore and David Suzuki preach, "There's global warming, we must take action now." Um..... where is it?

It's not here, or here, here. Britian is having one of it's coldest winters in 100 yrs. Even India experiencing below normal temperatures.

So where is it? I want Gore, Dr. Fruit Fly and the IPCC scam artists to tell me. They're probably too busy right now trying to keep warm.

I WANT some global warming, bring it on!

Update: Great column, by Bjorn Lomborg,

Global warming will save millions of lives