Blog… Phlog… Phil’s Blog The writings and ventings of a 30-something in Ontario

This is just plain stupid. Since Harper was elected, mainstream media outlets have been crying foul about changes to the free-rein they had on the Hill during the Liberal dynasty.

Too bad. Journalists are suppose to be unbiased and professional. Their actions today show they are neither. A journalist by definition is to report the news, to be an observer. Not to make the news.

Since Harper took over, they have complained that they are not being talked to, not able to get the stories they want. I argue that in the last 14 years journalists have gotten too used to Liberal government handing them their stories on a silver platter and getting too cozy with them.

Quite frankly I don't blame Harper and Company in clamming up. But have they really? Because the Conservatives have plugged up the leaks in information in government, is that clamming up? By not making every issue, every meeting, every petty little nuance of government open to media cameras is that clamming up?

In a word, no.

If journalists don't want to have to work to get their stories, there are plenty of writers and journalists who would love to climb up to Parliament Hill and get paid to write the news. Get paid to do the work to get a story.

And as for walking out on the Prime Minister. That takes real class. Regardless of your opinion, you are still suppose to STFU and report the story. Walking out is childish. I for one would love to see Harper's press secretary go and cancel the passes for all those who walked out today.

Note to Journalists, grow up and enjoy a cup of STFU!

Cindy Sheehan, peacenik from the US, has commented that the Canadian public does not like Stephen Harper. Perhaps if Sheehan had bothered to check out a Canadian newspaper, blog, website or so on to see the opinion polls of Stephen Harper, she would think differently. I am not a big fan of Harper, but so far he hasn't done a bad job. Canadians generally have a favourable opinion of him and/or his policies. After being bent over by the Liberals for the last 13 years, the Conservatives are change in pace.

However all of these facts, Sheehan should enjoy a cup of STFU (Shut-The-Fuck-Up for those not up on net-parlance). Worry about your own country, where you live Sheehan. And if you do wish to comment on Canadian politics or Canada in general, read up on the subject. Become informed before you open your yap!

STFU Sheehan, Yankee go home!

Some say he is the dark horse of the race to succeed Paul Martin, and on the outside he might look ideal. Young, semi-charismatic, passionate and appeals more to the left side of the political spectrum. While Education minister for Ontario, he didn't really screw up anything, and in Ontario politics that's a real feat.

BUT! Read the article from the Toronto Star about his plans to move to Quebec, so he is more in-touch with the province (because reading a newspaper or talking to people is just so passé.

Kennedy and his wife, Jeanette Arsenault, are now looking for a home as well as schools for their children, aged 3 and 7. They'll move as soon as they can and spend at least several months there in advance of the Dec. 2-3 leadership vote.

The Kennedy family all speak French to varying degrees. Arsenault, an early childhood education administrator, is an Acadian from Prince Edward Island and the children have been enrolled in French-immersion programs in Toronto.

He has a three year old, who is enrolled in french-immersion. In what province? Even in private schools there is no french immersion for a 3 year old. I would have thought the former education minister of Ontario would know that. Perhaps that explains why our kids need to bring their own glue sticks to class and use calculators in Gr. 5.

Here I was thinking Bob Rae would be the best thing for the Liberals, boy am I glad Kennedy is in the race now. At this rate, Hedy Fry might do something great and be a shoo in.

We could all hope.

Good job GG Jean. Good job. In one fell swoop you managed to make widows of the Canadian military cry.

The GG is, by tradition as passed from the royal tradition, suppose to be above politics. And yet GG-bonehead goes and asks grieving wives about the media ban on services for the recently killed soldiers in Afganistan.

Appointed by Paul Martin before his whirlwind defeat (crash and burn), this round of blunder is not to be unexpected.

Its just unfortunate it happened to those who are grieving.

Memo to Mme. GG, you are going to have to open that mouth just a little wider to stick your foot in. As the one who appointed you, he's good at it.

I rarely speak of my kids anywhere on the internet, but this has been really bothering me. My daughter is in the public education system. For the second time this school year, we have been asked to send in glue sticks and art supplies for class room use. Now its not that I mind doing that, but I was under the impression that these were things that our tax dollars pay for. Compare that to someone my wife knows who's daughter is in Kindergarten in the Catholic school system. To learn about transportation, the class is going on a train ride between two stations, and then hopping on a coach bus to return. That way they learn about trains and buses. To top it all off, the field trip is entirely paid for by the school, parents do not need to fork out one penny for it.

How is it that one school system cannot even afford to buy art supplies, and the other can afford to put kids on VIA Rail?

When the public education system was founded in 1871, it was basically the protestant and the catholic systems. Protestant was the dominate because of the predominately English (British) decent of most Ontarians, but both were treated equally for funding purposes. Even in the last 20 years that I remember, the catholic system had better books, better class choices, smaller class sizes. What was to be a fair and equitable system has become a two-tiered education system.

I am not advocating that the Catholic board should lose funding, or singling them out because of religion, however I am advocating that both streams be funded equally. Fairness, something that McNutty promised, and yet all we get is a larger nose.