Arthur Weinreb

Toronto – was there ever a possibility of a transit strike?

Probably not. Last week, 640 am talk show host John Oakley opined in the National Post that there would not be a transit strike this week. According to Oakley, the union would threaten a strike until Sunday at which point a deal would be reached and Mayor David Miller would breeze in from China and play the role of the superhero.

Dalton: he truly is the education premier

As a result of a financial shortfall, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has voted to close 39 school swimming pools by 2009.

Using universal health care as a weapon

A couple of weeks ago a serious car accident took place on Highway 401 in the Toronto area. A speeding van containing seven people lost control and flipped over. The driver was subsequently charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The Liberals – they don’t even pretend anymore

It has never been a secret that the Liberal Party of Canada is all about power. It is often said that the Liberals only have two core principles - they believe in God and they believe that God is a Liberal. And nobody is really sure about the first one.

A further attack on property rights

Ontario Liberal MPP Mike Colle is introducing a private member’s bill entitled the “Unlawful Firearms in Vehicles Act”. The bill provides for lengthy license suspensions for drivers of vehicles in which a gun is found. The proposed legislation also allows police to seize vehicles where there is reason to believe that the vehicle contains a gun. Not surprisingly Colle, who never brags about being an original thinker, has modeled his private member’s bill after Ontario’s street racing legislation.

A sensible decision on disciplining children

In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada considered the constitutionality of section 43 of the Criminal Code. Section 43 provides that what would otherwise be an assault on a child in not an offence if force is used by a parent, someone standing in for a parent or a teacher for purposes of correction and the amount of force that is used is reasonable in the circumstances.

Homework – the “progressives” strike again

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is discussing making changes to schools’ policies regarding homework. There is nothing inherently bad about taking a look at the amount of homework that students are getting and making change if necessary. But whenever the word “progressive” is used to describe policies under discussion, you just know it does not bode well for children.

The incredible shrinking surplus

A Canadian Press story last Friday talked about the latest fiscal monitor that had been just released by the federal government. According to the document, economic growth has slowed (surprise, surprise) and the amount of the surplus had fallen.

Time to end zero tolerance policy for domestic assaults

Last Wednesday, Toronto City Councillor Rob Ford was arrested at his home and charged with uttering death threats and assault against his wife. Ford was led away from his house in handcuffs, taken to a police station, processed and released.

Calls to boycott Mexico - a couple of years too late

Independent MP Bill Casey is advising his Nova Scotia constituents to refrain from travelling to Mexico. This is in response to the plight of 51-year-old Canadian, Brenda Martin.

TTC – the expensive way

The Toronto Transit Commission is offering Toronto’s university and college students a deal. Students will get transit passes for “only” $60 a month during the school year which is substantially cheaper than the cost of Metropasses that students can now purchase.

Don’t deport him again – just make him a citizen

A 39-year-old Nigerian, Edmund Ezemo, was recently arrested and charged with over 25 fraud related charges.

The death penalty and the “dangerous double standard”

A few months ago the governing Conservatives were criticized when Public Safety Minister, Stockwell Day, announced that Canada’s policy of fighting to prevent Canadians abroad from being subject to the death penalty would cease.

Crime and punishment: fetuses and the pig farmer

Bill C-484 is winding its way through the parliamentary process. Named the Unborn Victims of Crime Act, the proposed legislation is a private members’ bill sponsored by Conservative MP Ken Epp. The bill provides for penalties under the Criminal Code for injuring or killing unborn children.

There’s no welfare like show welfare

Bill C-10, now being debated in the Senate, contains provisions that allow the government to withhold tax credits for films and other artistic works that the Department of Heritage finds “offensive”.

 Here it comes – a further erosion of rights

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said yesterday that he is reconsidering his opposition to an Ontario-wide law that would ban smoking in vehicles where children under the age of 16 are present.

Afghanistan – party leaders haggle over the price

The governing Conservatives and opposition Liberals are pretty close to a compromise on Afghanistan regarding when to end the combat mission.

Hello Tory, Goodbye Tories

It’s only natural for political leaders to look back in time and try and find an historical figure that they most resemble.

 Kosovo – Canada ignored by world media

On Sunday, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia and the further breaking up of what was once Yugoslavia was naturally major news around the globe.

Jack Layton has a good idea – well, kind of

NDP leader Jack Layton is urging Prime Minister Harper to follow Ontario’s lead and create a February holiday throughout the country. According to Layton another day off would be a good thing because it would increase productivity.