Dr Roy's Thoughts

McGill Alumni Event with Mike Babcock

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:40:18 PST

I am not a big hockey fan. I am a big McGill fan! I was able to go to an alumni event to see Mike Babcock, the Coach of the Detroit Red Wings and the coach of the winning 2010 Canadian Men's team. It was a wonderful evening. My brother is a huge hockey fans and he came too, which made it a even more special evening. It was held at the private club at the Bell Center. Babcock is an amazing guy, humble and quite inspiring. He showed a video of the Olympic 2010 winning game clips. It gave me goose bum[ps. i don't have that video, but here's another of that famous red McGill Tie. I was wearing my blue McGill Tie. I was so impressed by Coach Babcock's speech. He is a great McGillian and I thank him for coming back to share his experiences. Coach Babcock spoke lovingly about McGill , hockey, Canada and his family. We Tories should recruit him! And of course Gold!!

No surprises?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:16:52 PST

The lame stream media is again shocked that the Tories are cutting government , overhauling pensions and trying to fix immigration.... I guess that have not been paying attention to what the Tories have been saying or what the Tory base and bloggers have been saying for a very long time. They are so used to their grits never actually doing anything they promised or doing the opposite. The grits ignored their grassroots since their origin. Grit poobahs know best. The Tories understand that the grassroots of the party should have a big say in what happens. That is why the Tory grassroots have been so loyal. Know that the Tories have a majority, many of us see no more excuses why Tory policies should not. E in place. That's why we vote Tory. we want to make the grit nanny state back off. Less government, more liberty, that's what we want. Perhaps the grit media should actually pay attention and they wouldn't be so shocked all the time. Or is it that the msm , their grit masters and dipper friends are just feigning outrage as a maneuver?

Yawn

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:04:08 PST

Who pays attention to these useless polls 4 years before the next election? The red star of course. Guess they don't want to pay attention to their fellow socialists and potential grit dipper coalition partners, ripping off the Canadian people.

Hebert on separatism

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:37:17 PST

If it's not dead it is on life support and fading fast. Pauline Marois is trying to survive, but the cost of her survival seems to be to destroy the separatist movement. I couldn't be more pleased. The window for sovereignty that opened in 1990 is now closed Published On Mon Jan 23 2012 Despite major concessions to sovereignist hardliners, including a controversial tougher language regimen, they are clamouring for Pauline Marois' head, writes Chantal Hébert. By Chantal Hébert National Columnist MONTREAL—It could reasonably be argued that former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe was swept out of federal politics by an undiscriminating NDP tsunami last spring. The Bloc, more so than its leader, was seen by many Quebecers as having exhausted its welcome. The weekend’s decisive blow to Duceppe’s provincial ambitions on the other hand had all the features of an ordered hit. There is little doubt that the hand that delivered the coup de grâce to his attempt at reincarnation as Parti Québécois leader was that of a sovereignist comrade-in-arms. Only a Bloc insider could have had enough access to the party’s jealously guarded books to leak the fact that for seven years its chief political operative had been paid out of the House of Commons budget. Whoever leaked the information had to be fairly high up the ladder. Former MP Michel Guimond — who was the third highest-ranking MP in the Bloc’s pecking order — told the Journal de Québec he had never been privy to such details. BQ Leader Daniel Paillé washed his hands of the affair within hours of it breaking in La Presse’s Saturday edition. Upon becoming leader last fall, he fired Duceppe’s former associates. His newly appointed director-general is paid out of party funds. The Liberals, the Conservatives and the NDP all stand to benefit from a controversy that they may yet pursue in a parliamentary committee. With only four MPs, the BQ is in no shape to mount much of a defence of its former leader — even if it wanted to. But in the immediate, it is PQ leader Pauline Marois who has gained the most from the episode. The leak stopped the latest challenge to her leadership in its tracks on the eve of a fractious caucus meeting and a make-or-break party gathering. Duceppe has formally ruled out a return to active politics. This was his second aborted attempt at becoming PQ leader. Few expect that there could ever be a third. Without him, those most unhappy with Marois’ leadership no longer have a dog in the fight. But this latest victory comes at the price. Despite the Bloc’s rout last May, Duceppe remained more popular than Marois. Polls suggest he was the only sovereignist who might have had a shot at leading the PQ to an election victory. Now he is damaged goods. And that is only the latest parcel of scorched earth left behind Marois as she struggles to keep a step ahead of her sovereignist critics on the way to a do-or-die election campaign.

More DR Roy on SunTV

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:10:07 PST

I was on with David Akin discussing Quebec politics. Thanks again to SDMatt!!

Burka Ban and the MCC

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:15:42 PST

HM Minister Jason Kenney Tarek Fatah

MP Joe Daniel

MCC President Intizar H. Zaidi

Raheel Raza and Nargis Tapal

Raheel in disguise

Secretary General

Tahir Aslam Gora

I attended a Muslim Canadian Congress event yesterday to Thank HM Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney for the burka ban during the Oath of Allegiance for citizenship. It was a wonderful event. It was a packed house. It was nice to hear HM Minister Speak about Canadian values and the value of Canadian Citizenship. There was even a an anti burka activist disguised in burka. I must say that gave me a feeling of unease. I was relieved when I saw it was my friend Raheel Raza. The event got good coverage in the Sun and Post Many called for more of a burka ban and more limited immigration from some countries like pakistan both of which I support. You can see an interview with Jerry Agar( guest host The Source) and Tarek Fatah on SunTV today.

HLIM QUEEN VICTORIA , Mother of Confederation

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:53:11 PST

Died today in 1901. In this the Sixtieth year of HM Queen Elizabeth's reign, we remember also the reign of HLIM Queen Victoria, Mother of Confederation, Our first Sovereign.

Canadian tax dollars at work?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:53:50 PST

So the bq used parliamentary budgets to pay for partisan staff. This is even with electoral welfare. I have long said that political welfare helped separatists at the federal and provincial levels. If this is not allowed the bq must be forced to repay every last dime. Perhaps we can garnish duceppe's $141000 a year pension. This should eliminate duceppe as a contender for pq leadership. Madame Marois is intent ob going down on her sinking ship. I say let her do exactly that. MONTREAL — Former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe was facing some tough questions on Saturday after a report was published claiming his party used taxpayers’ money to pay the salary of the party's general manager. The report, which appeared in Saturday’s edition of La Presse, states that the party used funds allocated by the House of Commons to pay Gilbert Gardner over a period of seven years beginning in 2004. The story claims that the practice broke the rules governing the House, which state that the money provided to each party is to be used solely for parliamentary functions, and not for partisan purposes.

Dr Roy on Jerry Agar

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:49:05 PST

Jerry Agar of CFRB was discussing Matt Gurney's article on Harper derangement syndrome. After the interview with Matt Gurney, I called in. Here it is ( audio only it is radio).

Canada is AAA

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:38:17 PST

It seems that Canada will be of the few countries in the world to have an AAA credit rating in the future. Canada is a wonderful place to invest your money! So which ratings are safe? Smaller European countries, like Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden seem to have fairly solid triple-A credit ratings. But that doesn’t leave a big group. “Our projection implies that in a few years, there may well be very few pure AAAs (ie top rated with stable outlook and ratings watch) – just Canada, some smaller European economies, and the Antipodean countries,” the said.

Dalton's caregiver

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:57:55 PST

The ever incompetent dalton has appointed himself a caregiver to change his diapers.. He needs someone to actually do the work of governing Ontario. Apparently dalton's finance minister and cabinet are also too incompetent to balance the books. The people of Ontario deserve better. It’s as if Premier Dalton McGuinty gave economist Don Drummond the province of Ontario tied up in a nice big bow. In a career brimming with plum positions, Drummond calls this one his “dream job.” McGuinty put him in charge of a commission on the public service with the power to affect all our lives in Ontario with a series of recommendations to find ways to raise money, as well as pinpointing the inevitable cuts. It recommends that Ontarians play slots at “alternative sites” to racetracks so they won’t have to hike out of town to play. Wine, beer and liquor prices would go up and stores would have “anti-zapper” software installed in cash registers to stop the practice of hiding sales from tax collectors by deleting selected sales. More than 400 recommendations include consolidation of some ministries, overhaul of others and a major reorganization of medical services and how patients interact with health care providers, right down to the protocol for patients with congestive heart failure and the restoration of hospital privileges for physicians who have let them lapse.

I agree with Cotler...

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:07:28 PST

and think dan gardner is a disgrace. The ottawa citizen is virtually unreadable these days because of potter, gardner et al. Thank goodness for David Warren and Michael Taube. It's time to list Iran's Revolutionary Guard as terrorists Irwin Cotler, National Post · Jan. 21, 2012 | Last Updated: Jan. 21, 2012 5:14 AM ET Iran's Supreme Court has now confirmed the death sentence of Iranian-born web programmer Saeed Malekpour, a Canadian permanent resident. Malekpour was convicted of "crimes against Islam" and "spreading corruption on Earth" - which have emerged as classic trumped-up charges in the Iranian pattern of the criminalization of innocence. For supposedly creating pornography websites in Iran, Malekpour is set to receive the death penalty. Malekpour maintains his innocence, insisting that image-uploading software he developed as a web programmer was used by an illicit site without his knowledge or consent. The international community spoke out against his death sentence when it was first handed down, and Iran moved to suspend it; however, with the escalation of rhetoric between the West and Iran - and the case disappearing from the radar screen - Malekpour is back on death row.

R.I.P. Etta James

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:24:32 PST

A wonderful talent has been extinguished. My deepest sympathies to her family and friends. You will be missed.

cbc ombudsmen humiliated

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:43:59 PST

by the truth. You owe Chief Blair and Mayor Ford an apology and you need to resign. So much for the impartial cbc. Ever more reasons to sell the cbc. TORONTO - Toronto police chief Bill Blair's account that Mayor Rob Ford didn't verbally abuse 911 dispatchers during a series of emergency calls made in October is "accurate," the provincial police commissioner says. In a statement released Friday afternoon, Commissioner Chris Lewis says he listened to Toronto Police Service recordings of the emergency calls, and Blair's "statement (he) made in a public release on October 28... is an accurate interpretation of the content of the tapes." Lewis' statement comes less than a month after CBC ombudsman Kirk LaPointe said he couldn't accept Blair's account of what is on those 911 recordings because Blair's objectivity was compromised because of Ford's role in setting the city's police budget.

the biased liberal media

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:09:06 PST

I have been irritated by the media attacks on my friend and Blogging Tory co founder Stephen Taylor. Stephen Taylor unlike the lame steam media is open with his partisanship. He always tries to be fair. The ad on bob are is the truth. Get used to it grits. This is only the beginning if you decide to have are as your leader. You are complaining about this ad which cost almost nothing to make, yet the families coalition spent millions and I saw very little object from the grit backing media. Then we have franky graves who has given large amounts to the grit and consistently underestimates Tory support in his polls as a cbc expert. All the media has accomplished is getting more people to see the truth about bob rae. It is also energizing the conservative base. I have no doubt the NCC will be getting many more donations. The lame stream media is in full Harper derangement syndrome these days comparing HM Pm to Kim il sun, hitler, mussolini... The media and the grits can dish it out but they can't take it. Good work Stephen!!!

Very Sad

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:31:36 PST

I was saddened to read of the death of Champion Skier Sarah Burke. I had been praying for her recovery since I heard of her accident. My deepest sympathies to her friends and families. She worked tirelessly for the glory of her sport and Canada. Canada is poorer for her loss. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Officials at the University of Utah Medical Center say champion skier Sarah Burke has passed away. Burke was injured on Tuesday, January 10 during a practice run for a sponsored superpipe event at Park City Mountain Resort. Burke had been in a coma ever since at the U of U Medical Center. On January 11, Burke underwent neurosurgery to repair a tear in one of the four major arteries to her brain. Burke was a free-style skier from Canada. She has won gold medals in the Winter X-Games and World Free Style Skiing Championships.

More Harper Derangement Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:20:54 PST

A great article by Matt Gurney. Lefties paranoia will destroy ya!!! Perhaps the paranoid left and their media friends will attend The Fabulous Blue Tent party that I and my gay friends had at the Tory Convention. We will certainly throw another one at the next Tory convention next year. Matt Gurney Jan 18, 2012 – 2:03 PM ET Last week, it was revealed that a lawyer employed by the federal government had argued in court that same-sex marriages performed in Canada would hold no legal force if the couple in question resided in a jurisdiction that did not recognize same-sex marriages. Despite the Prime Minister’s obvious ignorance of the legal case in qestion, critics of the Harper government fell all over themselves in their haste to claim this proved that the Conservatives indeed have a long-harboured anti-gay hidden agenda. Tim Harper, a national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star, was typical of the rest in his comments: “[W]hile the legions of Harper opponents were waiting for the hard-right social agenda to be firmly planted in Ottawa, the Conservatives are actually exporting those policies.” Ooh, clever. Devious, even. Keep saying that the debate is closed at home, but screw the gays abroad. Genius! No one really explained how that helped the Tories politically in any way — it was seemingly plausible to the anti-Harper crowd that the government would do this just for the thrill of giving homosexuals a hard time. Gay bashing writ large, as it were.

Bo is bad for Canada and the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:28:46 PST

Bo has rejected the Keystone pipeline. This during Au time when the Iranians are threatening to block the strait of Hormuz. His ideological idiocy is costing the US a reliable source of energy and 20000 American jobs. Canadians should be rooting for a GOP victory in November in the Senate and Whitehouse. Statement by Danielle Smith on Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline EDMONTON, AB (January 18,2012): Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith today released the following statement on the announcement by United States President Barack Obama rejecting the current Keystone XL Pipeline proposal: “President Obama’s rejection of the current Keystone XL pipeline is certainly bad news for Alberta. Additional pipeline capacity is essential to Alberta’s future economic growth and to ensure Albertans get full value for our energy resources. The absence of this pipeline continues to cost Albertans nearly $2 billion a year in resource revenue. “It is clear now that Premier Redford’s refusal to advocate directly for the Keystone XL pipeline and Alberta’s interests abroad is harming our province’s economy. Now more than ever, Alberta needs strong leadership to promote our interests as they relate to the oil sands and energy production. We need a Premier who is willing to defend our province and energy sector against the baseless attacks which appear to have driven the President’s decision today. “Pipelines from Alberta’s oil sands will benefit Alberta, Canada and the rest of North America. Our oil sands are the most abundant, secure and ethical energy supply on the planet. It is crucial that the Alberta government works tirelessly to convince our provincial neighbours of the necessity for the Northern Gateway Pipeline to diversify Alberta’s export markets and to make the case for Alberta energy to our American friends while TransCanada reapplies for the Keystone project.”

The Crown and First Nations

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:53:29 PST

A great article by John Ivison. I believe we have a duty to make it possible for First Nations to be more involved in the Canadian economy. Treaties made w. ith the Crown must be honored, but the INAC culture of dependence must go. Property rights for Natives is a good first step. Many bands are actually doing well. Best practices should be studied and adopted. We need to move ahead. We eventually need to get rid of INAC!! John Ivison: Pragmatic motives behind Stephen Harper’s meeting with First Nations John Ivison Jan 17, 2012 – 6:25 PM ET Ben Nelms for National Post; Chris Wattie/Reuters Assembly of First Nations chief Shawn Atleo and Prime Minister Stephen Harper: No tub-thumping allowed. Sir John A. Macdonald “thumped no tubs, he banged no pulpits,” according to biographer Donald Creighton. Even when debating as ambitious a project as Confederation, he refused to pander to romanticism. “I am satisfied not to have a reputation for indulging in imaginary schemes and harbouring visionary ideas … always utopian and never practical,” he said. That passage came to mind while watching Stephen Harper’s new interview with Peter Mansbridge on CBC. The Prime Minister was asked whether he hopes significant changes will result from his first meeting with the collective native leadership at a Crown-First Nations gathering next week in Ottawa. “The obvious answer is yes. Significant change needs to happen. Aboriginal people are not anywhere near where we want them, or need, those communities to be. That said, my own experience is that it will not be grand visions and declarations that achieve these things – it will be moving forward, one step at a time in areas like water and investment in education,” he said.

dippers and grits want to limit free speech

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:45:34 PST

Apparently the dippers and grits have their knockers in a twist over an ad put on youtube by the NCC. It is actually quite an effective ad reminding Canadians about the second worst premier in Ontario history. Immediately censorship is called for. This ad has only appeared on youtube. I bet it cost less than $100 to make. Maybe the grits and dippers need to get someone on their side to make a youtube ad. are they really calling for the banning of youtube bits between elections. By the way kudos to my friend Stephen Taylor!!!

Contradicting St Jack?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:39:37 PST

Seems mulcair doesn't pay much attention to St Jack. Guess he's already forgotten by opportunists like mulcair.

Bob Rae, who also holds only a Canadian passport, marvels at the hypocrisy of the NDP – and the hole they’ve dug for themselves on this issue.

The Interim Liberal Leader was referring to criticism by the late Jack Layton of Stéphane Dion, the former Official Opposition leader who is also a dual citizen of France and Canada.

In 2006, Mr. Layton said he “would prefer that a leader of a party hold only Canadian citizenship, because one represents many Canadians, and for it’s better to remain the citizen of one country.”

Remarked Mr. Rae: “There is a terrible sense of irony that while Mr. Layton didn’t hesitate to take a run at Mr. Dion in 2007, he didn’t seem to have the same view about his candidate or member from Outremont, Mr. Mulcair.”

A former cabinet minister in Jean Charest’s Liberal government, Mr. Mulcair won his federal seat in Montreal in a 2007 by-election.

Abortion on demand

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:41:53 PST

I do not support abortion on demand. Third wave feminists and their friends think this is a fundamental right. Millions of female children are swept away every year, even in Canada. Is it cinsistent to stop these abortions when you support abortion for any reason... abortion for sex selection is odious, but I find all abortions odious and anti human. I am at least consistent with the Hippocratic Oath.

MONTREAL • An editorial in a major Canadian medical journal Monday urges doctors to conceal the gender of a fetus from all pregnant women until 30 weeks to prevent sex-selective abortion by Asian immigrants.

A separate article in the same issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal warns that Canada has become “a haven for parents who would terminate female fetuses in favour of having sons” because of the country’s advanced prenatal testing and easy access to abortion.

“Female feticide happens in India and China by the millions, but it also happens in North America in numbers large enough to distort the male-to-female ratio in some ethnic groups,” said the editorial by interim editor-in-chief Rajendra Kale.

While few studies have been done to assess how frequent the practice may be among immigrant communities in Canada, the editorial points to research that suggests sex-selection is more common among immigrants from India, China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines who already have at least one daughter.

I will not be seeing the Baroness Thatcher movie

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:12:37 PST

Baroness Thatcher is one of my heroes. I was afraid of what leftists hollywood would do to her legacy. Apparently I was right to worry.

One wonders whether Meryl Streep’s forgetting her spectacles on the way up to collect her Golden Globe on Sunday was deliberate: an attempt to counter the criticism that her presentation of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a pathetic, semi-demented crone in the Iron Lady was a cruel and unusual portrayal. “Hey look, I’m a losing it too.”

The conceit of Baroness Thatcher’s remarkable life being told in a series of flashbacks during conversations with her dead husband, Denis (played by Jim Broadbent), looks an awful lot like revenge on a figure the lefty liberal arts community has not merely never understood, but actively hated. Ms. Streep’s thanking the English for allowing her to come and “trample all over their history” was also telling.

Diamond Jubilee Stamps

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:09:18 PST

Governor General Johnston Head of Canada Post Deepak Chopra and Senator Lebretton

The engravers

The whole team

I had the privilege of attending the unveiling , by His Excellency the David Johnston Governor General, of the Diamond Jubilee Stamps in Ottawa. Senator Lebretton was also in attendance. There were school children from Queen Elizabeth School and Pierre Elliot Trudeau School. The speakers all spoke warmly of HM's 22 homecomings to Canada. Of HM affection for this Great Dominion. Canada Post hhas done an amazing job. One of the stamp is a replica of HLIM Victoria's Diamond Jubilee stamp. The kids went on a scavenger hunt and we had macaroons. The stamps are lovely/ An amazing day.
HM Minister Steven Fletcher was supposed to be in attendance, but I hear he has had some health issues. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Get Well Soon!!!

His Excellency's Speech

Unveiling of Canada Post Stamps in Commemoration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee

Unveiling of Canada Post Stamps in Commemoration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee

Gatineau, Monday, January 16, 2012

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

It is such a pleasure to be here with you today at the unveiling of new stamps to honour the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.

How many of you know what a diamond jubilee is?

That’s right; it’s when you celebrate something that’s 60 years old. And that is what Canada and the world will do this year as we celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II being Queen of Canada.

Imagine your moms and dads when they were your age. Back then, Queen Elizabeth was already on the throne. Indeed, she is the only Queen they have ever known. But the history of the Crown in Canada, and the history of the role of the governor general, is long and interesting, and I hope that you will take the time to ask your teachers about it later on.

Many of you may know what the governor general does, but did you know that in my role, I also act in place of The Queen when she is not in Canada? That means that I’m responsible for things such as signing new bills into law, giving what is called Royal Assent.

I also get to hand out medals and decorations to Canadians across the country, including the brand new Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, which will be given to 60 000 deserving Canadians throughout the year in recognition of what they have done to make this country great.

In fact, the very first medals will be given out on February 6, the exact date when, 60 years earlier, Princess Elizabeth, who was just 25 years old at the time, became Queen.

But one of the best parts of my job is that I get to speak to children just like you who are beginning to learn about our country’s history.

During the reign of Her Majesty, she has seen 11 governors general come and go, and each one did his or her duty of representing the Crown in Canada.

But The Queen also enjoys coming to visit Canada. She has been here 22 times over the past 60 years, and each time she has said that she feels at home in this country and that she takes great pride in being our Queen.

And Canadians have always shown her respect because of the type of person she is and the dedication she has shown to serving her people.

We are also excited when her family comes to visit. Do you remember when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came to Canada last summer? Canadians gave them a rock star reception! My wife and I were so honoured to host the recently married couple here in Canada.

And I know that Canadians will also be excited to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales when he and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive in Canada later this year to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

So it is fitting that Canada Post has chosen to honour The Queen with new stamps, as they have done throughout Her Majesty’s life.

With stamps, Canada Post has always celebrated the people and occasions that are significant for Canadians. Whether it is a Royal visit, hockey players or even past governors general, they rejoice in what it means to be Canadian. I congratulate all those involved in the creation of these stamps. It is a wonderful tribute to Her Majesty.

Let me end with the motto that is etched on the Diamond Jubilee Medal: VIVAT REGINA, which is Latin for “Long live The Queen.”

Thank you.

warman blues

noreply@blogger.com (Roy Eappen) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:38:26 PST

I am not a fan of richard warman, quite the opposite. I think his outrageous actions over the years have helped make hrcs and so called human rights lawyers anathema to lovers of freedom. He must be quite depressed now that section 13 a , the free speech killer, will soon be a bad memory. I am very happy this horrible piece of legislation will soon die. Apparently there was a debate between warman and the head of the Canadian Civil Liberties association.

Mr. Warman, who has brought a total of 16 hate speech cases to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal over the last decade, has only lost once, but he lost so big he may never win such a case again.

“I tried to make sure that I was not approaching that line [of entrapment, or participation in hate speech], and I did my best to avoid anything that might look that way,” he said of his Nazi posing. “In hindsight, there are easy ways to look back and dissect whatever actions you’ve taken seven or eight years ago…. It was always a means of last resort, but I think [in future] it would be a very far-off distant means of last resort, because the benefit did not outweigh the issues that it subsequently created.”

That is an understatement. Ever since the federal government announced its intention to repeal Section 13, and two courts heard cases that could also kill it, Canada’s noisy hate speech debate appears to be all over but the crying. Even Mr. Warman’s big loss, in the case of webmaster Marc Lemire, could prove little more than a convoluted sideshow.

So when Mr. Warman took the stage in Toronto this week to argue in support of Section 13 against the head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association at an event sponsored by a new Jewish group, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, there was a sense of futility in the room. This was no “congress,” as the host grandly said, coyly usurping the name of CIJA’s predecessor, the Canadian Jewish Congress, which once gave Mr. Warman a major award. This was not even a seminar. This was a pantomime, with Mr. Warman as the villain.