Yesterday some union bosses decided to do what they do best: protest.
This time they were protesting the visit to Canada of Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
Why?
Well, Prime Minister Howard had the temerity to modernize and reform Australia’s labour laws, making them more flexible and granting more choice to employees.
Needless to say such moves are an anathema to Canada’s union establishment, which is still stuck in a class-war mentality.
Also needless to say, Canada’s labour laws need reforming as well. And Prime Minister Stephen Harper would do well to emulate his Aussie counter-part in this area.
For more on this check out John Mortimer’s piece which appeared yesterday in the Financial Post. John heads up a fantastic group called Labour Watch.
Have a great long weekend everybody!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Howard and Harper
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is in Ottawa today visiting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Now I am no expert in international relations, but I do know Howard is one of the world’s most successful conservative politicians and that he has provided principled and courageous leadership in the war on terrorism.
And that little bit of knowledge came in handy a couple of days ago when an Australian reporter called me up to get my opinion on Howard’s visit.
You can read the resulting article here.
Now I am no expert in international relations, but I do know Howard is one of the world’s most successful conservative politicians and that he has provided principled and courageous leadership in the war on terrorism.
And that little bit of knowledge came in handy a couple of days ago when an Australian reporter called me up to get my opinion on Howard’s visit.
You can read the resulting article here.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Clipping Canadian Content
In a column in Sun media newspapers, radio talk show host Charles Adler does a magnificent job skewering one of my pet peeves: Canadian content laws.
Writes Adler:
Writes Adler:
The rogue's gallery of groups lining up to line their pockets with your money is diverse. The most shameless are those representing Canadian recording artists, and their fellow travellers, who claim to represent public broadcasting. These groups won't admit they are trying to enhance their prestige, power and portfolios. Instead, they wrap themselves in the Maple Leaf and portray themselves as fighting for Canadian culture. You are supposed to believe that the Canadian recording industry is Hans Solo, making the Canadian private broadcasting industry Darth Vader.And Adler has more good stuff:
The so-called artists who want to get their work on the radio have zero confidence in the free market. They don't trust you to make your own buying and downloading decisions. They feel that the only way you will support their music is to be attacked with it over and over and over again for long periods of time by radio stations. They accuse the radio station ownership of putting profits before people. But the people they are talking about are not consumers.
They are the small handful of people who want their records played. Just because the consumer buys all those products advertised on the radio doesn't mean that they are entitled to have their favourite tunes played. That sense of entitlement belongs exclusively to the phoney flag wavers who call themselves artists.
Exactly.
That’s why it’s time we scrap these dopey Canadian content laws and let consumers rule the airwaves.
Scrap the Gun Registry
Here’s a news release I sent out yesterday following the Auditor-General’s report:
NCC Says Scrap the Gun Registry
(May 16, 2006)The National Citizens Coalition says today’s Auditor-General report should sound the death knell for the gun registry program.
“On top of all the other massive problems associated with the gun registry, the auditor-general now reveals the Liberals tried to hide the true costs of this program,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls.
Nicholls says this should be the final straw.
“It’s time to stop throwing good money after bad. It’s time to scrap the gun registry.”
Nicholls says the money used to pay for a poorly managed gun registry program could be better spent elsewhere.
“Rather than financing a poorly managed registry, that money could be used to toughen border security or to hire more police, or to improve anti-terrorism intelligence,” says Nicholls.
Nicholls says the government should act soon on this matter.
“Canadians need to know their money is being used wisely,” says Nicholls. “And they need to know the government is acting to truly protect their security.”
NCC Says Scrap the Gun Registry
(May 16, 2006)The National Citizens Coalition says today’s Auditor-General report should sound the death knell for the gun registry program.
“On top of all the other massive problems associated with the gun registry, the auditor-general now reveals the Liberals tried to hide the true costs of this program,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls.
Nicholls says this should be the final straw.
“It’s time to stop throwing good money after bad. It’s time to scrap the gun registry.”
Nicholls says the money used to pay for a poorly managed gun registry program could be better spent elsewhere.
“Rather than financing a poorly managed registry, that money could be used to toughen border security or to hire more police, or to improve anti-terrorism intelligence,” says Nicholls.
Nicholls says the government should act soon on this matter.
“Canadians need to know their money is being used wisely,” says Nicholls. “And they need to know the government is acting to truly protect their security.”
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Bruce Willis and Capitalism
A while back I attended a libertarian-oriented conference and the question came up as to whether or not capitalism would survive.
To me it was the wrong question.
It isn’t will capitalism survive; it’s can capitalism be destroyed.
I wrote a column on this which appeared in Report magazine.
You can read it here.
To me it was the wrong question.
It isn’t will capitalism survive; it’s can capitalism be destroyed.
I wrote a column on this which appeared in Report magazine.
You can read it here.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Bush and Conservatives
It’s been well reported that U.S. President George Bush is having a hard time in the polls these days.
Less reported, however, is the growing disillusionment among American conservatives with Bush’s leadership.
This editorial from the Washington Examiner helps to explain what’s going on and why the Republicans should be concerned.
The Canadian Conservative Party should also take heed.
(H/T Powerlineblog)
Less reported, however, is the growing disillusionment among American conservatives with Bush’s leadership.
This editorial from the Washington Examiner helps to explain what’s going on and why the Republicans should be concerned.
The Canadian Conservative Party should also take heed.
(H/T Powerlineblog)
Friday, May 12, 2006
Guns and Freedom
The Auditor-General will release her report next week on the much-maligned gun registry program.
The media buzz is that it will be another Ad Scam-like bombshell.
But the problem with the registry goes beyond just excessive cost and waste.
There are also important principles involved.
My friend Pierre Lemieux – a libertarian’s libertarian – has written extensively on this subject.
He makes a good case for freedom.
The media buzz is that it will be another Ad Scam-like bombshell.
But the problem with the registry goes beyond just excessive cost and waste.
There are also important principles involved.
My friend Pierre Lemieux – a libertarian’s libertarian – has written extensively on this subject.
He makes a good case for freedom.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Union Facts
In 2004 American unions faced a total of 6,917 allegations of wrongdoing and more than 80 percent of those charges alleged illegal restraint and coercion of employees.
That’s just one item gleaned from a great site called unionfacts.com, which is the project of an American group called The Center for Union Facts.
The Center gathers a wealth of information about the size, scope, political activities, and criminal activity of the labor movement in the United States of America and then publicizes them through the internet and through some great ad campaigns.
It also provides information for workers so they understand their rights when it comes to American labour laws.
The Center says it has 12.5 million facts union officials want to keep secret.
I wonder how many secrets Canadian union bosses have.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Freedom and Democracy
Political philosopher and author William Gairdner has some interesting commentary on the speech I gave on Sunday regarding the NCC’s fight against the election gag law.
Gairdner raises some interesting points about the nature of freedom and democracy.
Check it out.
By the way, I have come up with a new name for my blog. What do you think?
Gairdner raises some interesting points about the nature of freedom and democracy.
Check it out.
By the way, I have come up with a new name for my blog. What do you think?
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Conservative Groups
What is it about conservative organizations that get left-wingers into such a tizzy?
During the last federal election, union boss Buzz Hargrove called my group, the National Citizens Coalition, a “secret society,” and now the Civitas Society is getting the same treatment.
Maybe they think we are all hatching some sort of “hidden agenda.”
Or maybe they don’t like the fact that conservative organizations tend to rely on voluntary contributions and grassroots support.
By contrast, many left-wing organizations subsist on either government subsidies or big union hand outs.
That means conservative groups are more independent, more representative of their members and more likely to come up with good ideas.
During the last federal election, union boss Buzz Hargrove called my group, the National Citizens Coalition, a “secret society,” and now the Civitas Society is getting the same treatment.
Maybe they think we are all hatching some sort of “hidden agenda.”
Or maybe they don’t like the fact that conservative organizations tend to rely on voluntary contributions and grassroots support.
By contrast, many left-wing organizations subsist on either government subsidies or big union hand outs.
That means conservative groups are more independent, more representative of their members and more likely to come up with good ideas.
Monday, May 08, 2006
More Civitas Stuff
Here's me at the Civitas conference speaking with a former National Citizens Coalition employee. That's Al Gordon from the Canadian Coalition for Democracies in the middle.
(Thanks to Rondi for this photo.)
Post Civitas
Had a great time at the Civitas conference this weekend.
Some of the topics covered during the sessions included private property rights, the morality of war, electoral reform and the role of courts.
They were all quite interesting.
But of course, the best thing about meetings like this is that you get a chance to meet old friends and to make new ones.
I also had a chance to chat with several bloggers such as Russ Kuykendall, Stephen Taylor, Rondi Adamson, and Adam Daifallah.
On Sunday morning, despite operating on about two hours sleep, I gave a talk on the NCC’s fight against the election gag law. You can read it here.
Some of the topics covered during the sessions included private property rights, the morality of war, electoral reform and the role of courts.
They were all quite interesting.
But of course, the best thing about meetings like this is that you get a chance to meet old friends and to make new ones.
I also had a chance to chat with several bloggers such as Russ Kuykendall, Stephen Taylor, Rondi Adamson, and Adam Daifallah.
On Sunday morning, despite operating on about two hours sleep, I gave a talk on the NCC’s fight against the election gag law. You can read it here.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Conservatve Movies
I always thought the term “conservative movie” was an oxymoron.
After all, it seems just about everything Hollywood churns out these days has some sort of left-wing message.
Yet, while attending the Civitas convention I met Govindini Murty who has set something up called The Liberty Film Festival, which is “liberating Hollywood one film at a time.”
The festival celebrates classic films, such as John Wayne’s The Searchers, while also giving an audience to conservative-themed documentaries and short subjects.
Murty says anyone with a digital video camera can make a documentary or movie and she encourages all conservatives to go out there and start filming.
That’s a great idea, and you know I always thought I kind of looked like Tom Cruise anyway.
You can also check out Murty’s blog here.
After all, it seems just about everything Hollywood churns out these days has some sort of left-wing message.
Yet, while attending the Civitas convention I met Govindini Murty who has set something up called The Liberty Film Festival, which is “liberating Hollywood one film at a time.”
The festival celebrates classic films, such as John Wayne’s The Searchers, while also giving an audience to conservative-themed documentaries and short subjects.
Murty says anyone with a digital video camera can make a documentary or movie and she encourages all conservatives to go out there and start filming.
That’s a great idea, and you know I always thought I kind of looked like Tom Cruise anyway.
You can also check out Murty’s blog here.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Harper Eating Baby Case Cracked?
Blogger Steve Janke says he may have cracked the “Harper Eats Babies” case.
Check his blog for all the exciting details.
Check his blog for all the exciting details.
Civitas Meeting
I am off to Ottawa today to attend the 10th annual Civitas Society meeting this weekend.
The Civitas Society’s official goal is to “promote and deepen understanding through the exchange of a wide range of political, economic, social, religious, cultural and philosophical ideas concerning the principles and traditions of a free and ordered society.”
I will be speaking at one session about the National Citizen Coalition’s fight against election gag laws.
If anybody out there reading this blog is also attending this meeting be sure to say hello.
The Civitas Society’s official goal is to “promote and deepen understanding through the exchange of a wide range of political, economic, social, religious, cultural and philosophical ideas concerning the principles and traditions of a free and ordered society.”
I will be speaking at one session about the National Citizen Coalition’s fight against election gag laws.
If anybody out there reading this blog is also attending this meeting be sure to say hello.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Magna and the Unions
It’s not getting a lot of media attention but Magna International chairman Frank Stronach is holding discussions with major unions.
For Magna, which is a non-union business, this is quite a major development.
According to press reports, Stronach told a recent Magna meeting that “unions fulfill a very important role” and they balance the naked profit motive of corporations and promote social justice and fairness.
Bet the shareholders just loved that kind of talk.
I wonder why Stronach is suddenly so enamored with unions?
Could it have something to do with the fact that union boss Buzz Hargrove was in Aurora during the last election campaigning for his daughter Belinda?
Nah, that’s just a coincidence I’m sure.
For Magna, which is a non-union business, this is quite a major development.
According to press reports, Stronach told a recent Magna meeting that “unions fulfill a very important role” and they balance the naked profit motive of corporations and promote social justice and fairness.
Bet the shareholders just loved that kind of talk.
I wonder why Stronach is suddenly so enamored with unions?
Could it have something to do with the fact that union boss Buzz Hargrove was in Aurora during the last election campaigning for his daughter Belinda?
Nah, that’s just a coincidence I’m sure.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
NCC Welcomes Tax Relief in Budget
Here's a news release I sent out today on the federal budget:
(May 2, 2006)The National Citizens Coalition says the Conservative government deserves credit for keeping its election promise to provide tax relief for Canadian families.
“The government as promised cut the GST, cut corporate taxes and provided other tax credits to Canadians,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “This is good news for over-burdened taxpayers.”
However, the NCC vice president says he was disappointed the government did not go further in cutting income taxes.
“I hope if government surpluses continue to mount, the Conservatives will provide more income tax relief for Canadians,” says Nicholls.
Nicholls also praised the government for pumping more money into Canada’s military.
“For far too long, governments have under funded Canada’s military,” says Nicholls. “In this dangerous world, boosting our defence must be a priority.”
(May 2, 2006)The National Citizens Coalition says the Conservative government deserves credit for keeping its election promise to provide tax relief for Canadian families.
“The government as promised cut the GST, cut corporate taxes and provided other tax credits to Canadians,” says NCC vice president Gerry Nicholls. “This is good news for over-burdened taxpayers.”
However, the NCC vice president says he was disappointed the government did not go further in cutting income taxes.
“I hope if government surpluses continue to mount, the Conservatives will provide more income tax relief for Canadians,” says Nicholls.
Nicholls also praised the government for pumping more money into Canada’s military.
“For far too long, governments have under funded Canada’s military,” says Nicholls. “In this dangerous world, boosting our defence must be a priority.”
Baby Blog Breakthrough
I finally did it.
My blog broke a story before the MSN, the dream of all bloggers.
I am talking, of course, about the “Harper Eating Babies” story which I first blogged about on Friday.
It’s now front page news in both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.
And the Toronto Sun featured it in their “Best of the Blogs” section, writing:
“When Gerry Nicholls, VP of the National Citizens Coalition noticed a strange message on the advertising screens on the Go Train on Thursday, he didn’t just sit there, he asked questions. Turns out a hacker put up the phrase, “Stephen Harper Eats Babies” on the screens where it ran for four days. Nicholls broke the story and mainstream media picked it up yesterday.”
Of course, I had lots of help from Steve Janke over at Angry in the Great White North and it’s not exactly on the same level as the Rathergate/Bush National Guard story, but heck it’s still pretty good.
I wonder if I could win a Pulitzer for this?
Media Update:
I will talking about Harper's dietary tastes on Adler Online at about 2:05 PM EST and on the Gary Doyle Show (570 News Kitchener)
Also check out this story on CTV News and on the CBC website, 640 News and Reuters.
My friend Joel over at Proud to Be Canadian also has some insights on this.
My blog broke a story before the MSN, the dream of all bloggers.
I am talking, of course, about the “Harper Eating Babies” story which I first blogged about on Friday.
It’s now front page news in both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.
And the Toronto Sun featured it in their “Best of the Blogs” section, writing:
“When Gerry Nicholls, VP of the National Citizens Coalition noticed a strange message on the advertising screens on the Go Train on Thursday, he didn’t just sit there, he asked questions. Turns out a hacker put up the phrase, “Stephen Harper Eats Babies” on the screens where it ran for four days. Nicholls broke the story and mainstream media picked it up yesterday.”
Of course, I had lots of help from Steve Janke over at Angry in the Great White North and it’s not exactly on the same level as the Rathergate/Bush National Guard story, but heck it’s still pretty good.
I wonder if I could win a Pulitzer for this?
Media Update:
I will talking about Harper's dietary tastes on Adler Online at about 2:05 PM EST and on the Gary Doyle Show (570 News Kitchener)
Also check out this story on CTV News and on the CBC website, 640 News and Reuters.
My friend Joel over at Proud to Be Canadian also has some insights on this.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Baby Eating Update
More news on the “Harper Baby Eating” front.
Earlier this afternoon I got an email from Exclusive Advertising, the folks in charge of advertising on the Go Trains.
Here’s what they have to say:
“We would like to take this opportunity to advise the public that these ads are the result of a hacker who has unlawfully tampered with the LED sign boards displayed by GO Trains. This message was in no way authorized by Exclusive Advertising or GO Transit, and is not condoned. We have taken measures to rectify this matter and are in the process of enhancing security.”
You can read the whole thing on their website. Look for the line: Stephen Harper LED Message.
I hope they do rectify this matter. The last thing I need to look at on the way home is socialist propaganda.
Earlier this afternoon I got an email from Exclusive Advertising, the folks in charge of advertising on the Go Trains.
Here’s what they have to say:
“We would like to take this opportunity to advise the public that these ads are the result of a hacker who has unlawfully tampered with the LED sign boards displayed by GO Trains. This message was in no way authorized by Exclusive Advertising or GO Transit, and is not condoned. We have taken measures to rectify this matter and are in the process of enhancing security.”
You can read the whole thing on their website. Look for the line: Stephen Harper LED Message.
I hope they do rectify this matter. The last thing I need to look at on the way home is socialist propaganda.
More on Harper and Babies
Steve Janke over at Angry in the Great White North has picked up my story about the “Stephen Harper Eats Babies” on the Go Transit ad and run with it.
You can check out his posting here. Among other things Janke dug around and found out the ads are put up by a company called Exclusive Advertising.
As for me, well I am too lazy to do any digging but my wife isn’t. She called Go Transit and they told her the Harper message was a result of somebody hacking into the computer system.
Fine.
But it would be nice if Go Transit apologized publicly for this incident through a news release or something.
And the ad company should be apologizing as well.
As Janke writes: “Exclusive Advertising should be concerned. GO Transit is their only customer, and if they can't control what goes up on those boards . . .”
Media Alert:
I will talking about this incident on the Roy Green Show (CHML Hamilton) at 11:33 EST
Update:
For all you out there who doubted my story, I just got the following email from Go Transit:
Reference No: 2006002535
Mr. Gerry Nichollsgnicholl@ncc-on.org
Dear Mr. Nicholls:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your experience while travelling on the Lakeshore West Rail service.
Please be assured that GO Transit is aware of the electronic signage and is in the process of rectifying the situation. GO Transit does not endorse the expressed opinion.
Thank you for your concerns.
Sincerely,Trudy Taylor-SteeleCustomer Service Representative
You can check out his posting here. Among other things Janke dug around and found out the ads are put up by a company called Exclusive Advertising.
As for me, well I am too lazy to do any digging but my wife isn’t. She called Go Transit and they told her the Harper message was a result of somebody hacking into the computer system.
Fine.
But it would be nice if Go Transit apologized publicly for this incident through a news release or something.
And the ad company should be apologizing as well.
As Janke writes: “Exclusive Advertising should be concerned. GO Transit is their only customer, and if they can't control what goes up on those boards . . .”
Media Alert:
I will talking about this incident on the Roy Green Show (CHML Hamilton) at 11:33 EST
Update:
For all you out there who doubted my story, I just got the following email from Go Transit:
Reference No: 2006002535
Mr. Gerry Nichollsgnicholl@ncc-on.org
Dear Mr. Nicholls:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your experience while travelling on the Lakeshore West Rail service.
Please be assured that GO Transit is aware of the electronic signage and is in the process of rectifying the situation. GO Transit does not endorse the expressed opinion.
Thank you for your concerns.
Sincerely,Trudy Taylor-SteeleCustomer Service Representative
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