Category: Canada

Well, there really hasn’t been much buzz over this weekend, has there? Nope, not much at all. Nada from the NDP, nary a trifle from the Tories, and the Greens seem to have gagged themselves (okay, so the weekend wasn’t a total writeoff…). The Grits, however, did finally manage to corral some poor bastard into running for them in London North Centre. So, without any further ado, adon’t or whatevertheheckhaveyou, here we go with what I’ve got for ya. Grab a coffee and have yourself a read. But make it a small one; there ain’t much here…:

The Freeps
Second round for Ross, Pearson
Pearson to carry Liberal banner

And here we go again. It now looks like we have a full slate in the London North Centre riding except, of course, for the Grits, who still haven’t been able to find anybody that wants the job (what’s that old adage about rats and ships, again?). I have to admit, I was damned surprised to see Stephen Maynard fall on his sword like he did, especially after the showing that he managed to pull off in the general election back in January. Getting some orders from above, were ya, Steve?

He denied top party brass, including NDP Leader Jack Layton, pressured him to step aside for the more experienced Walker.

No, of course you weren’t. 😉 Okay, folks; here we go with all the byelection ‘bojumbo you can find here:

The Freeps
Walker handed NDP banner
Grits pick hopeful Sunday
Megan Walker launches byelection campaign

The TO Star
Gay priest seeks Bloc nomination
Bloc acclaims priest as candidate

Canada.com
Gerard Kennedy not running in byelection
Bloc Quebecois acclaims controversial priest as byelection candidate

LifeSite
Pro-abortion/Pro-gay Marriage Quebec Catholic Priest Running for Office

CTV
Elizabeth May formally chosen to run for Greens

I usually like to put my own opinion on just about everything, but sometimes, it’s better to shut up and let something speak for itself. The following is a press release found at newswire.ca detailing the deeds of four of our soldiers serving in the Afghan theatre and the honours that they have earned. I believe no further embelishment is required.

Attention News Editors:
Governor General announces the first-ever awarding of Military Valour Decorations

OTTAWA, Oct. 27 /CNW Telbec/ – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, announced today the awarding of the first four Military Valour Decorations to members of the Canadian Forces who have displayed gallantry and devotion to duty in combat.

The recipients will be invited to receive their decoration from the Governor General at a presentation ceremony to be held at a later date.

Military Valour Decorations are national honours awarded to recognize acts of valour, self-sacrifice or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. They consist of the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour. This marks the first time that these decorations, which were created in 1993, have been awarded.

Note that the rank used in this document reflects the substantive rank held by the member at the time of the incident.

<< Star of Military Valour ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Name Current posting and hometown ---------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Patrick Tower, S.M.V, C.D. Edmonton, Alta., and Victoria, B.C. ---------------------------------------------------------- Medal of Military Valour ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- Name Current posting and hometown ---------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Edmonton, Alta. Denine, M.M.V., C.D. ---------------------------------------------------------- Master Corporal Collin Ryan Shilo, Man., and Morrisburg, Ont. Fitzgerald, M.M.V. ---------------------------------------------------------- Private Jason Lamont, M.M.V. Edmonton, Alta., and Greenwood, N.S. ---------------------------------------------------------- The citations for the recipients (Annex A), as well as additional information on the Military Valour Decorations (Annex B) are attached. Annex A ------- Sergeant Patrick Tower, S.M.V., C.D. Edmonton, Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia Star of Military Valour Sergeant Tower is recognized for valiant actions taken on August 3, 2006, in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan. Following an enemy strike against an outlying friendly position that resulted in numerous casualties, Sergeant Tower assembled the platoon medic and a third soldier and led them across 150 metres of open terrain, under heavy enemy fire, to render assistance. On learning that the acting platoon commander had perished, Sergeant Tower assumed command and led the successful extraction of the force under continuous small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Sergeant Tower's courage and selfless devotion to duty contributed directly to the survival of the remaining platoon members. Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Denine, M.M.V., C.D. Edmonton, Alberta Medal of Military Valour Sergeant Denine deployed with 8 Platoon, C Company, 1 PPCLI during Operation ARCHER in Afghanistan. On May 17, 2006, while sustaining concentrated rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire, the main cannon and the machine gun on his light armoured vehicle malfunctioned. Under intense enemy fire, he recognized the immediate need to suppress the enemy fire and exited the air sentry hatch to man the pintle-mounted machine gun. Completely exposed to enemy fire, he laid down a high volume of suppressive fire, forcing the enemy to withdraw. Sergeant Denine's valiant action ensured mission success and likely saved the lives of his crew. Master Corporal Collin Ryan Fitzgerald, M.M.V. Shilo, Manitoba, and Morrisburg, Ontario Medal of Military Valour Master Corporal Fitzgerald deployed with 5 Platoon, B Company, 1 PPCLI Battle Group in Afghanistan. He is recognized for outstanding selfless and valiant actions carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush involving intense, accurate enemy fire. Master Corporal Fitzgerald repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free. Master Corporal Fitzgerald's courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members. Private Jason Lamont, M.M.V. Edmonton, Alberta, and Greenwood, Nova Scotia Medal of Military Valour Private Lamont deployed with the Health Support Services Company, 1 PPCLI Battle Group during Operation ARCHER. On July 13, 2006, an element of the reconnaissance platoon came under heavy enemy fire from a compound located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and was isolated from the rest of the platoon. During the firefight, another soldier was shot while attempting to withdraw back to the firing line and was unable to continue. Without regard for his personal safety, Private Lamont, under concentrated enemy fire and with no organized suppression by friendly forces, sprinted through open terrain to administer first aid. Private Lamont's actions demonstrated tremendous courage, selflessness and devotion to duty. >>

Annex B
——-

The three Military Valour Decorations, namely the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour, were created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on January 1, 1993. The Decorations may be awarded posthumously.

The Victoria Cross is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy.

The Star of Military Valour is awarded for distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy.

The Medal of Military Valour is awarded for an act of valour or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.

Anyone can propose a nomination for the Military Valour Decorations. If a member of our Canadian Forces meets the criteria, submission will be made through the member’s chain of command for consideration by the Military Valour Decorations Advisory Committee, and the Governor General. For all three Military Valour Decorations, recipients must be a member of the Canadian Forces or a member of an allied armed force that is serving with, or in conjunction with, the Canadian Forces, on or after January 1, 1993.

Shortly after the beginning of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, it was established that the basic conditions for the awarding of the Decorations were met. The gallant actions of Canadian Forces members in the face of increased hostilities in recent months have provided the occasion to award them.

For further information: Media information: Lucie Brosseau, Rideau Hall Press Office, (613) 998-0287; Media Liaison Office: Department of National Defence, (613) 996-2353 or (613) 996-2354; Public information: Chancellery of Honours, 1-800-465-6890

Well, what can I say? Another day, another bunch o links. And oh, lookie here! Why it didn’t take the MSM any time at all to start subtly wafting out the Christian Boogeyman angle. Seriously. Click the link that says “Tory byelection candidate tied to U.S. faith-based diplomacy group” and see for yourself. The Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen carried it too. While they don’t come right out and say it (big surprise), the implication is obvious: vote for Haskett and the big, bad Tory party that’s been “taken over by Evangelical Christians” will turn Canada into a theocracy. Talaban a la Canuckistan. Gimme a break. 🙄

The Freeps
Candidates do parachute in and win
Grits still seek candidate

Canada.com
Tory byelection candidate tied to U.S. faith-based diplomacy group

Vancouver Sun
Byelections show it’s bare-knuckled politics as usual in Ottawa

canoe.ca
May wants to colour London riding green

Well now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was about due for some good news. So here it is: Hamilton’s CH News (along with a bunch of other outlets) are reporting that Malcolm Watson has been arrested at an Ontario – New York border crossing while trying to enter Canada.

Watson, you might remember, is the perv teacher from south of the border who was “exiled to Canada” for being caught having sex with one of his students. Some bozo judge in Buffalo thought it would be a good idea for him to run around free up here instead of locking his sorry ass up in a US jail.

Well, guess what, buddy? We aren’t taking him! Keep your trash in your own backyard.

Here we have it, yet more judicial asshattery. And here we have yet another frazzled cop sounding off what everyone with two brain cells to rub together has known for years: courts coddle criminals. As some of you might remember, I wrote a while ago about a scumbag named Ahmed Moalin-Mohamed who was caught after shooting four (count ’em: FOUR) people in downtown London less than three weeks ago. And guess what? Even though he faces 13 charges, including attempted murder, Moalin-Mohamed (of NO FIXED ADDRESS, no less. No, I’m not making that up.) strolled out of court, free as a bird, on bail.

London police Chief Murray Faulkner, however, summed it up by saying what was pretty much on everybody’s minds:

Faulkner said he wasn’t surprised Ahmed Moalin-Mohamed was released Tuesday to live with his mother in Toronto. “I see this time and time again,” he said.

The justice system too often releases people on bail awaiting trial despite long records or alleged participation in a violent crime, he said.

Click here for the full article in the Freeps.