The Chosen Few

Prelude

On Oct. 19/15 Canada held a Federal election. Elections Canada stated more than 68% of eligible voters cast a ballot, meaning 17,546,697 Canadians voted. Justin Trudeau became Canada's Prime Minister and the Liberals obtained a majority government with 184 seats in the House of Commons.

Our teenage P.M. (Prime Minister) has certainly journeyed the seven seas since he entered office two years ago. He has also traveled a vast amount throughout the "great white north" spreading his self-styled "good word" throughout the land.

Evidently, he enjoys Gay Pride Parades, participating in spectacles in Toronto Ontario, Vancouver British Columbia, and Montreal Quebec. I think it's quite obvious the L.G.B.T.Q. (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning) community thoroughly loved his presence and in return (five will get you ten) they will be liberal supporters...almost as phony like shaking hands and kissing babies.

He also ventured to the Calgary Stampede, Vancouver City Hall, Tofino British Columbia for a vacation (maybe he was burnt out after the Pride Parade in Vancouver) and the Yukon. Just recently he had another vacation to the Bahamas. He is definitely a globe trotter on behalf of taxpayers money. He also visited a mosque and partook in a ceremony as reported by the Toronto Sun Sept. 12/16. Let's not forget, he has never met a camera he didn't like.

For a guy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never really worked a day in his life, undoubtedly he has a passion to spend OUR MONEY especially giving it away to foreign countries.

The Libertarian reported on Nov. 28/15 in Trudeau's first month of office he "donated" OUR MONEY to various overseas countries:

(1) $2.65 billion to aid developing nations to combat climate change. My comment, I believe climate change is a fallacy and if it isn't, keep OUR MONEY for Canada. (2) $13 million to Vietnamese farmers. My comment, let that communist country look after their own people...they fought for communism, now they have it. (3) $15 million for job training in Africa. My comment, again reroute those funds for job training in Canada. (4) $14.25 million for infrastructure in Indonesia. My comment, how many times do I have to say this, retain OUR MONEY in Canada.

An article in the Toronto Sun, Nov. 18/16 stated the Trudeau regime announced it would send $25 million to the U.N.R.W.A. (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) to provide relief and social services to Palestinian people.

The article continued to say the U.N.R.W.A. has, according to various experts, been infiltrated by Hamas members and sympathizers. Hamas is an Islamist terrorist group designated by the Government of Canada. If this is true and it wouldn't surprise me if it is, it's disgraceful, scandalous, disgusting and FUCKING CRIMINAL!!

While I was writing this rant I received an e-mail from a very good friend of mine. It was an article from the National Post Nov. 14/16 titled "Mega sized Canadian delegation in Morocco for this year's United Nations climate change conference. Without a doubt an enormous number of representatives, 225...party hearty, eat, drink and be merry...what a fucking joke.

On Nov. 14/16 C.B.C. News published a story about Trudeau had selected twenty-one senators...the positions had been vacant for a long time for that exclusive boys and girls club.

The Canadian Senate was established in 1867. There are 105 members and they must retire at 75 years of age. A Senators yearly salary is $132,000 and overall the Senate costs taxpayers $106,264,100 per year. They are appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the advice from the P.M....as if the Governor General is going to dispute or disagree with the P.M. selections. The Senate is also referred to as the Upper House or Upper Chamber.

Since Senators aren't elected they represent their own self-interest and party loyalties. Trudeau promised a Senate reform for a less partisan house. All the individuals he did appoint were independent Senators. Hmm...I wonder, of the twenty-one new appointees, how many are Grits?

I browsed more than a few websites and observed a Senator's job description is extremely smooth and polished and their job duties are lengthy. It's quite evident that most employees beef up and boost their job function and responsibilities...in all probability, it means additional income.

Some of their apparent tasks are to provide Parliament with a second chance to consider bills before they are passed, representing groups often unrepresented in Parliament such as Aboriginal, visible minorities and women and offer regional representation of Senators from across the country.

"IN THEORY" any piece of government legislation must be approved by the Senate. Other words or expressions to describe the term "IN THEORY" are supposedly, hypothetically, on paper and in an ideal world. I think what they are really trying to mention, it doesn't happen too often, if at all.

I don't recall the Senate squashing too many bills, however, I did find one proposal they vetoed. An article in the Globe and Mail Sept. 10/12 stated the Senate killed an N.D.P. (New Democratic Party) climate change bill that was passed by a majority in the House of Commons. Fifteen Liberal Senators were absent...I wonder where they were? Nevertheless maybe a blessing in disguise.

I noticed a website titled JJ's Complete Guide to Canada. A columnist wrote the most common speech heard in the Senate is "Why the Senate Is So Important"...of course, everyone thinks their job is of high priority, why not Senators.

The site also stated a lot of Senate work revolves around ensuring the institution maintains a positive, and respectable image in the minds of Canadians...I think that means try to justify your job and make sure you cover your ass at all times.

Quite a few years ago I read an article in the Toronto Sun about a Canadian Senator. His picture was on the front page. He was wearing a bathing suit in front of his beachfront home...he lived in Mexico for nine months of they year...our tax money at work.

The Upper Chamber has had some dishonest and devious individuals. Mike Duffy had 31 criminal charges brought against him...I still find it mind boggling that he was acquitted of all offenses.

Patrick Brazeau was charged with assault and sexual assault and suspended from the Senate in 2013. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault and possession of cocaine...the sexual assault was dropped because the crown didn't have enough evidence. He returned to the Senate in Sept. 2016 after charges of fraud and breach of trust were withdrawn by the crown.

Pamela Wallin and Mac Harb were charged with misuse of their expenses. Harb repaid all of his $231,649.07 he claimed in living expenses in 2005 and criminal charges were withdrawn. Wallin had her charges dropped by the R.C.M.P. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) due to the absence of evidence.

Raymond Lavigne was charged with breach of trust on improper use of taxpayers funds using cash for personal use. He served six months in prison and six months house arrest...WOW, such a harsh and bitter sentence.

Pierre Hugue Boisueno repaid funds he stated were mistakenly claimed...L.O.L., we all make that mistake. Retired Senator Terry Stratton also repaid funds for his fraudulence.

With the exception of Lavigne (he received actual jail time) the rest of these "decent" people escaped serious retribution. It certainly reminds me how bureaucrats are bomb proof such as Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne...different strokes for different folks.

Epilogue

The Senate members and government may justify the Upper House existence. In my opinion, it's just more bureaucracy...pointless and unneeded. A lot of their duties are duplicated into the same tasks MP's (Member of Parliament) perform. Canada should be able to govern without additional legislation. We elect our politicians to accomplish the correct decisions for the electorate...sadly, quite frequently their resolutions are illogical and absurd. Every so often we will hear gibberish about abolishing the Senate but it's nothing more than cheap gossip. Whoever the P.M. is, he or she will always recommend, then demand their favorite buddies for the Upper House.

The End

The Harvenut Puritan Project

Puritan will return with "Continuous Failure."

Reality Check

Editor's note: this rant consists of the contents of a letter sent to a local Hamilton politician.

Hello Donna, hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I received your Xmas newsletter in December of last year. I don't think I'm the only Ward 7 taxpayer who felt frustrated and annoyed after reading the section titled "2017 Budget Crunch". I will refresh your memory of what you said.

We are facing an extremely challenging task, as we begin debate on the City of Hamilton's 2017 operating budget. It would take an extra $42 million just to maintain 2016's level of service, which would increase your taxes by 4.2% or around $140 for the average taxpayer. Clearly, that is not acceptable. Instead, Hamilton City Council have directed staff to come back with a maximum of 1.8%. That means we can't hire additional staff or expand department budgets. We hope to have the final budget approved by early March.

Here are my thoughts. When you say no additional staff will be hired and department budgets won't be expanded, well, let me just say, I'll believe that when I see it. We all know government loves to flourish with employees and thoroughly enjoys spending tax payer's money.

May I suggest City Council stop playing Santa Claus and cease donating our money to various special interest groups such as Boris Brott and his Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Supercrawl and Theatre Aquarius.

I know one of the city's past practices has been funding to certain arts groups as the article in The Record, April 10/13 stated City Council passed the 2013 budget and $1.9 million will be forwarded to seven arts groups.

Obviously, most of these groups are having a lot of trouble attracting clientele to their functions and performances and can't operate or survive without government assistance. Maybe these organizations should re-evaluate their programs and objectives and pinpoint the problem why they need government handouts...I've always had the attitude if the product or service is good no matter what the cost people will come.

Getting on with more wasteful spending, I would hope you and your colleagues would terminate the senseless bike lanes, 2-way conversions, and pedestrian crossover programs. It's very evident to me and many other Hamiltonians, the city has declared war on the "horseless carriage". Your associates appear to thrive on annoying, irritating and inconveniencing vehicle owners.

Your city hall crew would certainly save a large amount of money if you would abort the pointless and needless bike lanes and 2-way conversions...all they do is exasperate drivers. For the life of me, I still can't comprehend the logic of making traffic flow slower and continuously aggravating folks who journey to and from work or drive for a living.

Since I'm on the topic of the city infuriating drivers, discontinue installing those three-foot high plastic yellow delineators that are located throughout the city especially on Barton Street, east of Ruth Street, they are completely fatuous.

Now the city has a new fad and fixation with pedestrian crossovers. The Mountain News, Sept. 22/16 stated pedestrian crossovers can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 and the city is looking to install about 200 at various sites.

I think it would be an extremely reasonable and sensible notion to squash this misuse of taxpayers money...you specifically stated that council is in a budget crunch. Whatever happened to good sound judgment of crossing the street...it's a remarkable simple task, look both ways and proceed when it's safe...quite elementary.

I read another article in the Mountain News Aug. 25/16 that said you want to make Upper James more pedestrian friendly with the possibility of bike lanes...are you talking Upper James in Hamilton, Ontario or Upper James in Timbuktu? This is where we have to call time out,

I have driven Upper James (Hamilton, Ontario) on numerous occasions and completely agree with your colleague Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr when he stated (regarding pedestrians and cyclists on Upper James) "very rarely do I see one". It's safe to say pedestrians and cyclists are few and far between.

I was absolutely amazed when you stated the possibility of bicycle lanes in the article...where would they be located? There is, by no means, any space unless this is another chapter of the city's aggressive campaign of the war against the internal combustion engine.

If somehow that does happen (nothing surprises me anymore) the ramifications for drivers will be hellish. The traffic flow will be bumper to bumper and time consuming but then again it appears to me the city enjoys (for some bizarre reason) gridlock...I can't help but think the persistent crusade against the automobile.

The added trees, boulevards and other amenities you would like to see on Upper James (again the city is supposedly in a budget crunch) is more waste from taxpayers pockets.

I realize you didn't hold office until 2016 but the article I read in the Hamilton Spectator Sept. 16/14 placed me in a mode of shock and disbelief. The story stated the City of Hamilton had no money for pot holes...to this day I still can't believe it...completely absurd.

Another report from the Hamilton Spectator Feb. 12/15 said "City passes budget that leaves little room for road repairs," as well as claiming the city is about $120 million behind what is needed for road repairs. Who are these individuals finalizing the budgets? Unbelievable, a very sad state of affairs.

Road repairs are a huge priority and a major component of public safety. One of the functions and responsibilities a municipality has to their taxpayers is to preserve and maintain safe roads. However, council gives me the impression they judge bike lanes, 2-way conversions, and pedestrian crossovers are more pivotal and urgent.

I hope you and your associates don't procrastinate and neglect the Claremont Access problem. I think you would agree this dilemma has to be rectified immediately with no makeshift repairs...it's infrastructure.

A budget is a budget. It doesn't matter what type of budget exists, operating, capital, rate or departmental. The end result is the money will be spent from the same source...tax payers pockets.

I will conclude with the following: concentrate on public safety (fire, police, paramedic service) and infrastructure and terminate meaningless and aimless programs specifically (I know I'm repeating myself) bike lanes, 2 way conversions and pedestrian crossovers...I don't consider them infrastructure. That said, I do sense I'm spitting into the wind.

Respectfully yours,
Harvenut Puritan

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Uncle Block's Two Cents Worth

You're not just spitting in the wind, you're pissing in the wind.

The current crop of politicians who have been given decision-making authority in the City of Hamilton have to be the most incompetent bunch in the last half century. It's not hard to imagine that if the city were being run by a bunch of juvenile delinquents the results would be much different.

What this city needs is sober people with a clear understanding that their main responsibility is maintaining the roads, getting rid of the garbage and sewage, and little else. Above all, their job SHOULD NOT BE trying to impose some hippy-dippy "vision" where the population skips through fields of daisy's, and gazes in wonder at subsidized art, blissfully unencumbered by crude trivialities like earning a living and getting back and forth to work.