MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
Embrace change … make it work                                         CONTACT MARK
LETTERS TO CNEWS -- YOUR VIEW

| HOME | NEXT |

Clark urges decriminalized pot
It seems that the federal government is bent on sticking its collective head in the sand like an ostrich with respect to decriminalizing the use of marijuana.
When many institutions such as the chiefs of police start asking for decriminalization on the grounds that more harm is done to society by creating criminals who shouldn't be than allowing controlled use like they do for other drugs such as alcohol, one wonders when will the government bend to the majority of Canadians who indulge responsibly?
I look forward to the day when I can "spark one up" without fearing that I will be labeled a criminal. Up till then if anyone in authority asks, I "don't inhale". It worked for our Liberal Member of Parliament Sheila Copps didn't it?
Copps denies she's mounting leadership bid
It's not surprising that more than a few rabid Liberal dogs like Sheila Copps would be nipping at Jean Chretiens tired old political heels.
After all, what "true" Liberal of the venal sort would want to miss out on the perks paid for by the great unwashed to the tune of an extra 15 billion a year?
The winner would be able to funnel millions of dollars into their respective riding, al la Shawanigate fountains and federal job creations funds thrown about in an obscene fit of government largesse preceding the last Federal election. By the time the next election rolls around, electoral short term memory loss will have set in once again. They've got to be putting something in Hamilton's water to cause this strange infection.
Who would make the best leader of a united right-wing party?
Obviously Michael D. Harris, Premier of Ontario has the skill set and leadership ability to bring together Canada's small 'c' conservatives with a heart.
Ontario is clearly leading the pack when it comes to economic prosperity that you can take to the bank. As a proud Ontarian, I owe Mike a vote of thanks for managing our province through the prevailing negative economic times. A man of integrity and caring Premier who can be taken at his word and can get the job done. Thanks to Mike's good stewardship, my take home salary has increased more than the rate of inflation thanks to cost saving measures by his government. Go Mike go.
Is the government purposely spreading negative publicity about the PQ?
To fully understand the reasoning of the Quebec government one need only take in the federal landscape as envisioned by Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Quebecois ultimate "orphaned" child, too unruly and unpredictable to take home to Quebec's Mother, the pure laine elements of the Quebec separatist government regime.
By any measure it is an endless war of attrition with two self serving players who have amassed many acrimonious national unity debates that serve none, which has finally soured average Canadians to the notion that left to their own devices Quebec Leaders and politicians will serve themselves first when they finally get down to dinner with the rest of Canada. Perpetual naval gazing and blame assessment, even seemingly justified is no way to show leadership in Quebec, who need the rest of Canada's vitality to keep their moribund politics alive as a simmering melting pot of tribalism and insular diplomatic behavior.
To a truly benign and caring observer from Ontario this latest revelation seems nothing more than the predictable moves of a Quebec government losing touch with the younger mainstream Quebecois of today. We Ontarians have grown to love their strong spirituality and conviction to succeed in spite of the actions of their leadership. when they visit our province for their vacations in the summer many of us feel as brothers in arms with them for Canada.
To them the Bernard Landries of the world are nothing more than "live" imitations of their one dimensional alter ego's portrayed in many Quebec editorial cartoons. An amusing side note to democracy as long as the rest of Canada subsidized Quebec above all other provinces in Canada. The cost to Qubecers would be too great with a level playing field with the rest of Canada and they know is as sure as sunshine.

| HOME | NEXT |