Sgt. Darrall Randy Kotchon of the Winnipeg Police Service said officers began finding empty containers last year and the problem has steadily grown. It’s gotten to the point where the product is so popular people are stealing it from store shelves.

So how has the government addressed the problem? By coming down on store owners. Armed with the Liquor Control Act, police are now warning shop keepers to be weary of where they keep the product and who they sell it to. Although no one yet has been charged, police remind everyone that selling the product to the “wrong person” could result in fines between $2,000 and $20,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Great. Once again let’s place the onus on shopkeepers, the babysitters of society. I have an idea. Maybe we should license the stuff. Perhaps we could create a hand sanitizer registry. One would have to apply for a Hand Sanitizer Acquisition Certificate to purchase a 2L bottle and then register it. 8oz bottles would be classified as prohibited and thus be illegal to own or sell.

Ridiculous? So is the government’s response to this problem.

In an effort to get a handle on the province’s finances, Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk wants all public employees to take a two-year wage freeze. The problem is the government is currently in the middle of negotiations with its nurses. It also starts to bargain with the Manitoba Government Employees Union next month.

The timing of Ms. Wowchuk’s announcement didn’t go over to well with MGEU president Peter Olfert who accused the Minister of “negotiating in the media”.

Citing healthcare wages and civil servants salaries of nearly $4 billion Ms. Wowchuk said,

“Those are big costs. If we can contain those costs, maintain them where we are without having increases then we can look at ensuring that we don’t layoff people and maintain services.”

I can only imagine what an NDP Opposition would have said in response to a Tory government that said that. The next few months are going to be very interesting.

Credit: www.winnipegfreepress.com

On marijuana:

“Smoking was part of our culture in Vancouver and Whistler, but I stopped 10 months before Nagano. What happened was that a few weeks before the Games I went to two parties where there was a lot of smoking.”

This is where I should express disbelief and shock after all isn’t that what one should do publicly? Sorry, feigning outrage to look good in the eyes of others is not my bag. If anyone wants to label me as someone who condones drugs go for it. That doesn’t concern me either.

On PM Stephen Harper:

“He is disconnected from society. Only an arrogant man can play The Beatles on the piano wearing a tuxedo.”

and,

“We know that what he really wanted was to be the president of the United States. He was Bush’s puppet.”

Take it with a grain of salt. We all know is he trying to fit in with his LPC pals so of course he is going to flap his gums. I don’t think anyone believes a word of it – himself included.

On Queen Elizabeth II:

“Don’t know what the official position is, but I think the Commonwealth is over. We have to move forward. To have the Queen apointing a governor general… I don’t know.”

Outside of having a philosophical discussion I really don’t care if the Queen is the head of state or not. I occupy my time with other concerns such as, the economy, health care, looking after my family, paying bills – you know, the really exciting stuff.

On himself:

“And I gave a speech before the Liberals at the Ottawa parliament without being an MP. That is something that had never happened in history, I’m like a star.”

Arrogant? Yup. Cocky? For sure. But that’s a character trait I’ve missed in Canadian politics for some time. Pierre Trudeau was a colourful character. I didn’t much care for his politics but he was colourful. The same can be said for Jean Chretien.

All in all I don’t think it’s worth the effort to get bent out of shape over the remarks of this guy. He’s young and cocky. He’ll keep talking until Michael Ignatieff figures out he’s a liability and either slaps him down or throws him out. Or he doesn’t and Mr. Rebagliati eventually says something the LPC will regret.

Credit: www.monstersandcritics.com

A body of North American Islamic scholars has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, forbidding Muslims from passing through the devices …

Now, it isn’t my intention to slam Islam in this post. Truth be told I dislike all organized religion. Some of my libertarian friends oppose the scanners for philosophical reasons.

While I understand the resistance I disagree with it. Airplane hijacking and/or bombing is a favourite tactic of terrorists. One only has to look at the events of Sept. 11 to see how deadly the results can be. Frankly, when I get on a plane I want to be assured that I’ll be getting off safe with all body parts intact.

Flying is not a right, it’s a privilege. It’s also a contractual arrangement. By purchasing a ticket you agree to be bound by whatever terms are in place. If one finds the terms unacceptable then the solution is obvious – don’t purchase a ticket.

Of course the exercise is academic anyway since compliance is currently voluntary.

“Vancouver Police are engaged with a group of more than 200 masked protesters near Granville and Georgia who are marching through the downtown core, kicking and causing damage to numerous cars, and businesses,” police said in a statement.

Why do some people feel they have the right to damage both public and private property? Whatever happened to protesting in a peaceful and civil manner? The behaviour exhibited by some of the protesters is not only childish but criminal.

For her part, Alissa Westergard-Thorpe, of the Olympic Resistance Network, seems to be of the opinion that because no one was hurt the protest was non-violent. Moreover, she accused the police of being the only group engaged in violence.

She said she considers the action non-violent as long as no one was hurt, no matter how much damage is caused.

Westergard-Thorpe did not condemn the broken windows and vandalism that touched off the stand-off.

“People can choose the tactics that they like,” she said, saying police were responsible for most of the violence.

So much for Ms. Westergard-Thorpe’s credibility.

Update: Seven protesters were arrested and face charges. Via CTV,

The demonstration involved a number of anarchists, some of whom dress all in black and employ a tactic, called Black Bloc. This included a loosely organized group of thugs from central Canada known to attach themselves to any cause, travel to any event that attracts media coverage and promote anarchy wherever they go.

Hopefully the authorities make an example of them. If I were one of the unfortunate victims who had property damaged by these thugs I would be tempted to launch a civil action just to make a point.

Fortunately prostate cancer can be successfully treated if detected early enough.

At a time like this I want to put petty partisan politics to the side and wish Mr. Layton a full and speedy recovery. With any luck he’ll be back in the House raising hell in no time.

Mr. Prymak was icefishing with a group of friends up in Lac du Bonnet three years ago when they heard the screams of a snowmobiler who had fallen through the ice.

Despite not being a strong swimmer, he risked his life by sliding on his belly over to the hole in the ice where the victim was. As he pulled the man up from the water the ice broke and he too fell in. He continued to go after the drowning man until both were plucked from the water by his friends.

Other Manitobans who received the Medal of Bravery are:

Transit driver Jerry Beernaerts, who jumped out of his bus and helped rescue Winifred Lindsay, whose motorized scooter had overturned on railway tracks with a train coming.

RCMP Cpl. James Allan Munro, of Dauphin, who rescued a man from an apartment fire in Flin Flon in June 2005.

Mst. Cpl. Jonas Denechezhe and Clifford Tssessaze, of Lac Brochet, who helped save a woman and her two-year-old son from a house fire in that community in October 2006.

In all, 47 people were honoured, some posthumously.

Congrats Harry and everyone else! You deserve it.

Credits:
www.winnipegfreepress.com

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has plans to address the B.C. Legislature the day before the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. It’s expected PM Harper will congratulate everyone involved in putting on the Games and what better way to do it than in the provincial Legislature.

The visit is also noteworthy for another reason: it will be the first time a Prime Minister has addressed the B.C. legislature.

Not everyone is happy about the decision however. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff quipped,

“It does seem a little odd that he’s prepared to address a working legislature while he’s closed down his own. Go figure, is what I’d say about that.”

I can see it now. Had PM Harper decided not to address the citizens of BC, Mr. Ignatieff would of accused him of ignoring the efforts of thousands of volunteers in the wake of this historic event. Perhaps he is upset because he didn’t think of it?

Of course this is an attempt to exploit the unhappiness expressed by some Canadians over the PM’s decision to prorogue Parliament. Moreover, Mr. Ignatieff makes it a point to tell anyone who is willing to listen that the Liberals returned to work on Jan. 25 insinuating the Conservatives are not working. Rubbish.

Just as the Liberals, the CPC too have been working albeit not in the House. Actually, in a strange sort of way, I enjoy the fact the House is not sitting for the time being. While politicians of ALL parties continue to work the only thing not being accomplished at the moment is the passage of yet more bills into laws … something we could do with a little less of.

Besides, if Mr. Ignatieff and the LPC have that much disdain for PM Harper and the CPC the House will be sitting soon enough. Challenge the government with a vote of non-confidence. Quit talking the talk.

The new Equality Bill is currently winding its way through Parliament in the UK, and while from far perfect, came under a vicious attack from the Vatican for all of the wrong reasons. From the the Times Online,

The Vatican condemned Britain’s proposed equality law yesterday, complaining that legislation to give homosexual equal rights “violates natural law”.

The Vatican condemned the proposed equality law? Really? Well I condemn the Vatican and its medieval mentality. The Vatican further stated the equality bill violates natural law. I accuse the Vatican of not only violating common sense but of trying to interfere with the process of granting basic human rights.

While I respect the right of the knuckle-draggers in the Vatican to hold to any belief they like the sexual orientation of a person is nobody’s damn business. I’m a little sick and tired of the practice of prying into the private lives of others and dictating to them how those lives should be lived.

The fact a basic right can be denied someone purely on the basis of sexual orientation disgusts me. What disgusts me even more is those who defend the practice.

Blogging Tories member Rightchik stated something in a recent post that struck a chord in me. I quote,

What isn’t natural is that a young man I truly cared about is dead. Dead because life was unbearable because of the constant beatings and discrimination he took from people who thought his sexual orientation wasn’t natural.

As I have progressed through life I like to think I have evolved, have become wiser. Things I used to believe in I no longer do and vice-versa. The fact someone took his life because society (and I speak in generalities) made it unbearable troubles me.

Lest I be accused of being a sanctimonious oaf let me state for the record that I am far from perfect. I have my faults, biases and weaknesses just like the rest of you. But I am trying to work through those. And when I find sanctioned discrimination such as the type outlined here it angers me.

Here’s a little tip for those in the Vatican who would impose their antiquated views on the masses. You want more people to flock to the church and embrace your god? Drop the medieval rhetoric and join the rest of us in the 21st century. It’s not that bad. Really.

Credits:
photo courtesy Wikipedia
quotes www.timesonline.co.uk
http://rightchik.blogspot.com

Winnipeg resident Peter Vandenberg parked his car at the Wal-Mart on Regent Ave at about 5:00 p.m Saturday when he noticed something sticking out from the snow. He got out of his vehicle and retrieved the mysterious item only to discover it was a wallet containing … get this … $700 CAN, some US cash and a photograph of four children.

Mr. Vandenberg went into the store to ask if anyone had reported a lost wallet. After making a few more unsuccessful inquiries he turned the wallet over to Winnipeg Police.

There is no doubt Peter Vandenberg did the right thing. But how many other people would have done the right thing? I’d like to think most but I’m not so sure. The temptation to keep the cash and throw away the wallet would be so strong. Mr. Vandenberg resisted that temptation and in doing so reminded the rest of us that ideals like honesty and integrity are to be treasured.

I’m proud to be able to share this city with people like Peter Vandenberg. Well done sir.

By the way, in case you’re wondering Winnipeg Police located the owner of the wallet.

Hat tip:
CJOB 68: Manitoba’s Information Superstation